intreated her to vouchsafe to peruse in his absence in which his mind was fully signified Imagine them with the rest of the company divided every one wishing the Gentleman good speed and safe return when she retyring her selfe opens the letter wherein was laid open every passage concerning her lust what he himselfe personally had heard and known the place where the time when the very words whispered with every undeniable circumstance and these exprest with such passionate efficacy in which he laboured to make known his injuries and her treacheries the sole occasions of his voluntary exile all these I say were so feelingly set down that they strook her to the heart insomuch that she fell into a present frenzy and despairingly soon after died Which newes came to the Gentleman before he had past Gravesend by which he understood himselfe to be quite released of all his intricate oaths and promises whose noble disposition the old Gentleman understanding instated him in a great part of his land which he enjoies to this day and in my opinion not altogether undeservedly A homely tale I am next to tell you were it of one of our own Countrywomen I would conceal it but since it concerns a French woman out it shall to the full the rather for the authority of the author who affirms it In the time that King Aethelwold reigned in Mercia and Stephanus Paulus was Pope one Gengulphus a good and devout man lived in Burgoign It is said that he bought a well in France and at his praiers it sunk there and rose againe in Burgoign But the greater miracle is behind for thereby hangs a tale This man sued a divorce and was separated from his wife upon whom the story vouchsafes no name she confederated with a Clerk who was the adulterer to take away his life he being dead as 〈◊〉 testatâ—s there were many miracles seen about his grave This being told to his wife sitting at a banquet and being in her jollity she fell into a loud laughter and thus said When my husband Gengulphus doth any such miracles then do you all take notice that my taile shall sing These words as my author saith were no sooner uttered but instantly there was heard from under her a filthy foul noise and so oft as she spake so often it was heard and that continued until her dying day The history of Italy remembers us of one Isabella the wife of Luchinus a Viscount who was the strumpet of Vgolinus Gonsaga Prince of Mantua as also of Vittoria Corumbona who slew her husband to enjoy the Duke Brachiano Friga was the wife of Othimus King of the Danes and as Saxo Grammaticus affirms prostituted her body to one of her servants So Baptista Egnatius informs us of the Empresse Zoe who slew Romanus Argâ—ropilus that she might freelier injoy the company of Michael Paphlagon who after succeeded in the Empire Lewis Seneshall of Normandy taking his wife in adultery named Carlotta with Johannes Laverinus slew them both in the act Gregory Turonensis nominates one Deuteria a beautifull French Lady who was adulterated by King Theobert as Agrippina the mother of Nero was corrupted by the Emperor Domitian Macrobius speaks of one Julia a Greekish woman who being suspected of adultery by the great Orator Demosthenes his servant â—sopus who was conscious of all their meetings could neither by faire means be won nor torments compell'd to betray hers or his masters secrets till Demosthenes himselfe made of it a voluntary confession Blondus Martinus Platina Robert Berns and others writ of Maud the Dutchesse of Lâ—rrein who was after wife to a second husband Aooron Marquesse of Esten from whom she was divorced by Pope Hildeâ—â—and betwixt whom and her it is said there were Furtivae Complexus i. Imbraces by stealth she was after called the daughter of Saint Peter because in her last will and Testament she bequeathed to the Church of Rome a great part of Hetruria which is called unto this day the Patrimony of Saint Peter Trevisa reports that in the time when Marcus Commodus was Emperor he sent into Aegypt one Philippus as President over a Province then in the jurisdiction of the Romans This Philippus had a beautiful yong daughter called Eugenia who being wholly devoted to the Christian faith but not daring to professe it because of her father who protested all rigour to those of that Sect she disguised her selfe in mans habit stealing from her fathers house and made such means that she was baptized by the name of Eugenius and after became a Monk In processe the old Abbot being dead she had so well demeaned her selfe in the Monastery that she had the voice to be made Abbot in his stead Being possessed of the place a lewd and an adulterous woman called Malentia by all allurements possible would have tempted Eugenius to lust but not prevailing she with loud acclamations pretending the other would have forced her against her will caused her to be apprehended and brought before the Judge which was the President Philip the father to Eugenia who being an enemy to all of Religious Orders was easily induced to give beleefe to any accusations commenc'd against them and punisht even sleight faults with the extreamest severity Eugenius is accused the circumstances examined and carry great shew of truth The Judge is ready to proceed to sentence when Eugenia falling upon her knees discloseth her selfe to her father and humbly intreated his pardon To whom notwithstanding her disguise her face is easily known his fellow Monks stands amased Malentia the accuser confounded but all in generall wonder-strook till Philippus raising his faire daughter from the earth embraceth her lovingly as extasi'd with her recovery beyond all expectation for whose sake he renounced all his false heathen gods and was christned with his whole houshold and family Thus the wickednesse of one woman turned to the blessednesse and proâ—â—â— of many Elfritha RAnulphus Monk of Chester tels this story King Edgar saith he being in his youth much addicted to the love of faire women had intelligence that one Elfritha daughter to Orgarus was for 〈◊〉 feature and accomplishâ—â—â—â—s 〈…〉 surpassing all the Virgins of her time insomuch that he not only greatly desired to see her but purposed that if her beauty were any way answerable to that which fame had blazoned her to be to make her his Queen This secret apprehension he communicated to one Earl Ethelwold a Noble Gentleman in his great favour and best acquainted with his privacies commanding him to make a journy to the Earl of Devonshire her father and there to take of her a free and full surveigh and finding her answerable to the publike rumour not only to demand her of the Earl Orgarus but to bring her along with her father roially attended like the bride of a King to partake with him all regall honours This journy Ethelwold with great willingnesse
in the presence of the Damosel that 〈◊〉 freely kisse and embrace her at his will and 〈…〉 so whom she instantly replied upon his words 〈…〉 the Emperors pardon That she had made a Vow 〈◊〉 she would never kisse any man save him whom she 〈◊〉 knew should futurely be her husband Which answer the 〈…〉 in such good part as that he purposed her vertue should not passe without reward who asking If she were yet contâ—â—cted to any and she answering No Then saith the Emperor give me leave to provide thee of a husband when calling to him one Guido Germanus a noble young Gentleman and one in his especiall favour to him he presently contracted her a man as he was approved in Arms and Vertue so he was eminent in his Stock and Family being nobly descended and gave her for her Dower all that large Valley which lies beneath the Hill Caâ—entinus in the fields that are called Aretini Agâ—â— and made it an Earldo ne which Title he bestowed on him And from them two proceeded the famous family of the Earls Guidons whose eminence endured many herediâ—ary successions Fulgos lib. 6. cap. 1. I could amplifie the Reward due to Temperance and illustrate it with as many modest and chast women before remembred as I have Magnanimity in the Heroick Queens and Warlike Ladies But to avoid proâ—â—â—xity which I labor to shun let this one suffice for many The reward due to Fertility or many Children with such as have restored their decaâ—ed Families THere was a law amongst the Spartans that whosoever had three sons that family should be quit from watching and warding and such common service but he that stored the Common-weal with five he claimed immunity in all publike offices Aelian lib. 6. de Var. Histor Amongst the Persians those that had the most numerous off-spring were capable of the most honors to whom the King yearly sent rich presents Herodot lib. 1. What merited honors then deserved Regina the daughter of Mascinus Scaliger and Thaedaea Carroriensis who being married to Prince Barnobonus Viscount of Mediolanum had by him four sons and twelve daughters The first and eldest was married to Peter King of Cyprus the second to Lewis Dolphin and first born son to the French King the third to the Duke of Bavaria the fourth to the Duke of Austria the fifth to Vicount Gallentius the sixth to Leopoldus of Austria grandfather to Frederick the third Emperor the seventh to another Duke of Bavaria the eighth to Frederick King of Sicilia the ninth to Frederick Gonzage the tenth to Duke Ernestus Monachus the eleventh to Frederick his younger brother the twelfth and last to the Earl of Kent eldest son to the King of great Brittain from whose generous off-spring most of the roialest houses of Christendome such as still flourish in their pristine honors claim their descent so that this fruitfull Queen may be called Cybele or mother of the gods Bernardus Scardeonus lib. 3. Hâ—stor Pat. Pliny confers great felicity upon a Lacedemonian Lady called Lampedo because she was the daughter of a King the wife of a King and mother to a King when a certain rich Lady of Ionia came to Lacena and with great boâ—sting and pride shewed her her pretious jewels and rich garments she pointed to her four fair children whom she had liberally and vertuously educated and sâ—id These are treasures only in which modest and discreet women ought to glory Plutarch in Apophtheg Laconic Eumele the wife to Bâ—silius Helenopontanus of Pontabus as Nazianzenus testifies had by him some five sons of which three at one time were learned Bishops stout champions for the Gospel namely Gregorius Nissenus Basilius Magnus Caesariensis and Petrus Sebasta then I blame not Epaminondas who in all his noblâ— exploits and prosperous successes in war was often heard to say That nothing was so pleasing and delightful to him as that both his parents were yet alive to participate with him in his honors he in the great battel called Lâ—uctricum had a glorious victory over the Lacedemonians Plutarch in Graec. Apophtheg So Basilius Magnus Bishop of Cesarea gloried of nothing so much with daily thanks to God as that he was born of Christian parents namely Helenopontanus his father and school-master and Enâ—â—ele Capadoce his mother and that he was nursed by Macrine who had been a zealous and frequent auditor of Gregory Naeocae Soriensis his grandfather in that bloody persecution under the Emperor Maximinus with his kinsmen and family retired himselfe into a Cave in a moat where with bread only he miraculously fed himselfe and the rest for the space of seven years and after for the Faith of the Gospel suffered a blessed and glorious Martyrdome Licosck in Theat Human. Vitae Saint Hierom commends Paula the religious Roman matron for her nobility of birth as being begot by Rogatas a Grecian who derived himselfe from Agamemnon King of Mecene and roiall Generall of those famous expeditions against Troy and born of Blesilla Romana of the ancient family of the Scipios and the Gracchi and was married unto Toxilius illustrious in his blood as claiming his descent from Aeneas and the Julian pedigree but nobility of birth not being our own but our ancestors it is not my purpose to insist of it any further It followes that I should speak something of such as have been the restorers of ancient and decaied Families even when they were at the last gasp and ready to perish and be as it were swept from the face of the Earth Vitalis Michael Duke of Venice returning with his weather beaten Navy out of Greece where almost for the space of 2 years together without cessation he had opposed Prince Emanuel Constantinopolitanus being so exhausted that scarce Commanders Marriners or navall protection sufficiently accommodated was left to bring back his fleet whether by a pestilentiall mortality or that Prince Manuel had poisoned the Springs and Fountains where the Venerian souldiers had furnished themselves with fresh water is 〈◊〉 certain but most sure it is besides many other disasters and discommodities that which he held to be the greatest was that there was not any of male issue of the Justinian Family left alive but all of them in that infortunate expedition perished to one man not any of that noble stock surviving by whom the memory thereof might be restored to posterity This the Duke Michael often pondering with himself in great sadness and sorrow at length he bethought him of one Nicholaus a young man who had devoted himselfe to a sequestred and religious life and was of the order of the Benedictian Friers he had besides one only daughter whose name was Anna her he had a great desire to confer upon Nicholaus so he could any way admit a dispensation from Alexander then Pope therefore to that purpose he earnestly petitioned him and made great friends to sollicit him in that behalfe who willing to repair the ruins of so noble a family now
of the body This was proved in the Daughter of Democion the Athenian who being a virgin and hearing that Leosthenes to whom she was contracted was slain in the Lemnian wars and not willing to survive him killed her selfe but before her death thus reasoning with her self Though I have a body untoucht yet if I should fall into the embraces of another I should but have deceived the second because I am still married to the first in my heart Not of their minds was Popilia the daughter of Marcus who to one that wondred what should be the reason why all feminine beasts never admitted the act of generation but in their time and when they covet issue and woman at all times desires the company of man thus answered the reason is only this Because they are beasts The wife of Fulvius THis Fulvius the familiar and indeered friend of Augustus Caesar heard him privately complain of the great solitude that was then in his house since two of his grand-children by his daughter were taken away by death and the only third that remained was for some calumnies publisht against the Emperour now in exile so that he should be forced to abandon his own blood and constitute a son in law and a stranger to succeed in the Imperiall purple and therefore he had many motins in himselfe and sometimes a purpose to recall the young mans banishment and to restore him to his favour and former grace in the Court This Fulvius hearing went home and upon promise of secresie told it to his wife she could not contain her selfe but makes what speed she can and tels this good newes to the Empresse Livia Livia she speeds to Augustus and briefly expostulates with him about the banishment of her grand-child and what reason he had not to restore him to his former honors and why he would prefer a stranger before his own blood with many such like upbraidings The next morning Fulvius comming as his custome was into the Presence and saluting the Emperor Augustus cast an austere look upon him and shaking his head said only thus You have a close breast Fulvius by this he perceiving his wife had publisht abroad what he had told her in secret posts home with what speed he can and calling his wife before him O woman saith he Augustus knowes that I have revealed his secret therefore I have a resolution to live no longer to whom she replied Neither is that death you threaten to your selfe without merit who having lived with me so long and known my weaknesse and loquacity had not the discretion to prevent this danger to which you have drawn your selfe by tempting my frailty but since you will needs die it shall be my honour to precede you in death which she had no sooner spoke but snatcht out his sword and with it slew her selfe A noble resolution in an heathen Lady to punish her husbands disgrace and her own oversight with voluntary death and a notable example to all women that shall succeed her to be more chary in keeping their husbands secrets all which I would wish to follow the counsell of the comick Poet Philippides who when King Lysimachus called him unto him and using him with all curtesie spake thus What of the things that are within or without me shall I impart unto thee O Philippides he thus answered Even what thou pleasest O King so thou still reservest to thy selfe thy counsels This puts me in mind of King Seleucus Callinicus who having lost a battell against the Galatians and his whole army being quite subverted and dispersed casting away his Crown and all regall ornaments was forced to flie only attended with two or three servants and wandering along through many deserts and by-paths as fearing to be discovered and growing faint with hunger he came to a certain ruinate cottage where he desired bread and water the master of the house not only afforded him that but whatsoever else the place could yield or the suddennesse of the time provide with a large welcome In the interim of dinner fixing his eys upon Seleucus face he knew him to be the King and not able to contain his own joies nor conceal the Kings dissimulation after dinner the King being ready to take horse and bidding his host farewell he replied again And farewell O King Seleucus who finding himselfe discovered reached him his his hand as to imbrace him beckoning to one of his followers who at the instant at one blow stroke off his head so that as Homer Sic caput estque adhuc cum pulvere mistum These were the fruits of unseasonable babling for this fellow had he kept his tongue till the King had been restored to his former dignities might have received large rewards for his hospitality who suffered an unexpected death for his loquacity Arctaphila ARetaphila Cyrenaea is deservedly numbred amongst the heroick Ladies she lived in the time of Mithridates and was the daughter of Aeglatur and the wife of Phedimus a woman of excellent Vertue exquisit Beauty singular Wisedom and in the managing of the Common-weals business and civill affairs ingeniously expert this Lady the common calamities of her Country made eminent for Nicocaentes the Tyrant having usurped the principality over the Cyrenaeans amongst many other of his humane butcheries slew Menalippus the Priest of Apollo and assumed to himselfe the sacred office and dignity In the number of these noble Citizens he caused Phedimus the wife of Aretaphila to be injuriously put to death and married her against her will who as well distrest with her private discontents as suffering in the publique calamity meditated a remedy for both and by advise of some of her neerest allies attempted to poison the King but the project being discovered was prevented and upon that ground Calbia mother to Nicocrates a woman of an unplacable spirit and prone to any thing wherein there might be blood and slaughter first condemned her to insufferable torture and next to a violent death but the tyrant her son in regard of the extraordinary love he bore unto her being the more relenting and humane of the two was pleased to put her cause first to examination and after to censure In which triall she answered boldly and with great courage in the defence of her own innocence but being by manifest proofs convicted insomuch that her purpose could not be denied she then descended so low as to excuse her selfe alledging that indeed apprehending the greatnesse of his person and that she was in degree no better to him then an bandmaid and fearing lest some other more accomplisht beauty might step betwixt him and her to insinuate into his favour and grace she therfore had prepared an amatorious confection minding only to continue his love not to betray his life and if her womanish weaknesse had in any kind through ignorance transgrest the bounds of Ioialty she submitted her selfe to his â—oiall clemency whose approved judgement she made no
where she in his presence having annointed her body with a certain unguent from the crown to the heel naked fell into a sodain apoplex appearing to them as dead deprived of all sence or motion but after five hours returning to her selfe as if she awaked out of a dream she related many things done neer and far off in that interim of which sending to know the truth they found her to erre in nothing This was confirmed to Codinus by an Earl of great honour who was then present when this thing was done Olaus Magnus in his History saith That those things are common in the Northern parts of the world and that the friends of those Extasis diligently keep and safeguard their bodies whilst their spirits are abroad either to carry rings tokens or letters to their friends though never so far off and bring them answers back again with infallible tokens of their being there Many I could here produce to the like purpose I will end with Saint Augustine lib. de Civitate Dei 18. who affirms the father of Prestantius hath confest himselfe to have been transported with such extasies that when his spirit hath returned to him again he hath constantly affirmed that he hath been changed into an horse and in the company of others carried provision into the camp when in the mean time his body was known to lie at home in his chamber breathlesse and without moving and this hath reference to Liranthropia i. The changing of men into beasts So much spoken of by the ancient writers and now so frequent in the Orientall parts of the world Some observe as Strangerus Danaeus and others that no Witch can weep or shed a tear Others as the Germans in some parts that a Witch cannot sink nor drown in the water and therefore to trie them being suspected they cast them into moats and rivers They can do nothing in prison neither will they confesse any thing till the devill hath quite forsaken them I mean in his power to help them not in his covenant to enjoy them They are all penurious and needy neither have they the least power of the Judges they have 〈◊〉 to hurt others but none any way to benefit themselves There is not any of them but wears the devils mark about her They never look any man or woman stedfastly in the face but their eies wander of the one side or other but commonly they are dejected downward they answer peâ—tinently to no question demanded them They all desire to see the Judges before they come to their arraigâ—ment being of a confident opinion that if they behold them first the Judges have no power to condemn them but if they be first brought to the place all their Sorceries are vain and of no validity Others are remembred by D. Adamus Martinus Procurator of Laodunum proved upon the famous Witch Beibrana whom he sentenced to the stake But these shall suffice for this present for Calliope now plucks me by the elbow to remember her Explicit lib. Octavus Inscriptus Urania THE NINTH BOOK inscribed CALLIOPE Intreating of Women in generall with the punishments appertaining to the Vitious and rewards due to the Vertuous WHen I enter into a true consideration of how many severall Affections Dispositions Actions and passions in Women I have had occasion to speak of the Good and Bad Famous and Infamous Vertuous and Dishonest Illustrious and Obscure next of all Ages from the Cradle to the Grave the Swathband to the Winding sheet then of all Estates Degrees and Callings from the Empresse in the Court to the Shepherdesse in the Village when I next ponder with my selfe that all these are gathered to the Earth from whence they came and that we who are yet breathing do but hourly tread upon our Graves lingring and prolonging a few uncertain minutes and must necessarily follow and that our lives are but a Circular motion or a Circle drawn by a Compass ending where it first began being but as the wheels of a Clock wound up and as we move in the passage of life like the Hand of a Dyall point first to one hour then a second so to a third still shewing our years in our growth that any man may read what a Clock it is with us by our Age but when the Plummets and Weights have forced our Wheels so often about till there is no more Line left then we cease both motion noise and being Next that all know they must die but none the time when they shal die and that as Seneca in Hercule Furente saith Prima quae vitam dedit hora carpsit i. That the first hour of our life takes an hour from our life These considerations of human frailty as that there is but one Life but many waies to destroy it but one Death but a thousand means to hasten it moves me to perswade all as well men as women young as old noble as base of both Sexes and of what calling or condition soever to arm themselves with constancy to abide it and courage to entertein it For as Ausonius in Perlandri Sententiae saith Mortem optare malum timere peius i. As it is ill to wish death so it is worse to fear it besides as it is base Cowardise dishonourably to shun â—t so it is meer Pusillanimity despairingly to hasten it It is observed such as live best dread it least Let this then perswade you unto Vertue since to the Vicious only it seems terrible why should we fear the Grave since there the modest and chast Virgin lies fearless and secure though by the side of the libidinous Adulterer there the true man may rest and though he have twenty theeves about him sleep soundly and never dream of Robbing there the poor Tenant is not afraid of his oppressing Landlord nor trembles the innocent to lie next the wicked and corrupt Judg the Handmaid is not afrighted with the tongue of her proud and curst Mistresse nor quakes the young scholler at the terrible voice of his Master There is no Brawling but all Peace no Dissention but all Concord Unity and Equality which Propertius in his third book Eleg. 5. elegantly illustrates Haud ullas portabas opes Acherontis ad undas Nudus ad Infernas stulte vehere rates c. No wealth thou canst bear with thee O thou fool All naked thou must passe the Stigian Pool There is no strife in Weapons or in Wits But now the vanquisht with the victor sits The Captive Jugurth hath an equall place With Consul Marius now in eithers face Shines Love and Amity There is no Throne For Lydian Croesus he is now all one With poor Dulichian Irus no regard Of persons there he dies best dies prepar'd Then since all things acquire and pursue their ends that no earthly thing hath been made that shall not be destroied why should we not with as much chear and alacrity welcome our newest and last hour as the Laborer desires to
undertakes without disclosing to any the secrets of his message and comming to the place where the damosell with her father then sojourned he was nobly enterteined as a fellow peer and an especiall favourit to the King No sooner came the Lady in presence but Ethelwold began to conceive that report had been too niggardly in her praise for he had not in his life time seen a Lady of so incomparable a feature to whom all the Court-beauties appeared scarce good Christall to that unmatchable Diamond What cannot love work in the heart of man when such a beauty is his object it makes the son forger his father and the father not remember that he hath a son but either hath made the others bed incestuous It hath subjected Cities and depopulated Countries made the subject forget his allegeance to his soveraign and the soveraign most unnaturall and inhumane to his subject as may appear by this history This Earl surprised with the love of this Lady hath either quite forgot the message he was sent about or else is not pleased to remember it Not speaking of the King at all but counterfeting some occasions into that Country and as if he had hapned upon that place by accident or come to give him visitation in noble courtesy at supper finds discourse concerning the Lady and at length prevailed so far with the old Earl that they were contracted that night and the next morning married After some few daies journie there the Kings impositions inforced him to take an unwilling farewel of his new married bride only at parting he earnestly intreated them for divers reasons which much imported him to keep the marriage as secret as possibly might be and so posted back to the Court He was no sooner arrived but the King inquisitive concerning the beauty of the Lady how tall how strait of what haire what complection whether her looks were cheerfull or sad her behaviour sober or suspitious To all which he answered in few she was indeed a Lady and that was her best an Earls daughter and therefore flattered for what in a private woman is commendable is in such excellent and what in the former praise worthy in the latter 〈◊〉 and admirable but for this Lady Elfritha she was a course home spun peece of flesh whose nobility and dower might make her capable of being wife to some honest Justice of peace or Sheriffe of the Shire but not becomming the bed of any of the nobility unlesse some one whose estate was decaid indeed a meer Rook and most unworthy the eie of the Princely Eagle With this answer the King was satisfi'd and for the present dispos'd his affection elsewhere imagining these praises might be divulg'd abroad as wel in scorn of her person as otherwise so for some few weeks it rested in which interim Ethelwold was oft mist in the Court and discontinued his wonted service no man could scant tell or inform the King how he disposed himselfe and still when he came to present his service he would excuse his absence with some infirmity or other which was the reason of his inforced retirement besides he was often observed to intreat leave to recreate himselfe in the Country and take the benefit of the fresh aire as commodious for his health in all which liberty he past his limits This bred some jealousie in the King and the rather because the fame of this Ladies unmatched beauty more and more increased Therefore to be more punctually informed of the truth he sent another private messenger who brought him intelligence how all things stood with the certeinty of every accident how it befell The King not knowing how to disgest such an injury from a subject smothered his grievance for a space and at length caused the gests to be drawn for he purposed a progresse into the West Ethelwold yet nothing suspecting was the formost man to attend the King upon his journie but when they came almost to Excester he began to mistrust the Kings purpose the rather because he sent to the Earl Orgarus that at such a time he meant to feast with him Now must Ethelwold bestir himself or instantly hazard the Kings high displeasure he therefore posts in the night to his wife and to his father in law reports the truth of every circumstance from the beginning how he was sent by the King and to what purpose how her beauty had so enflamed him that he was compelled by violence of affection to deceive the Kings trust and lastly to secure his own life which for the love of her he had hazarded he was forced to disparage her feature dissemble her worth and disgrace her beauty and therefore besought her as she tendred his safety being her husband either not to appear before the King at all or if she were called for and so compelled to be seen in that fashion as he had described her to his soveraign namely with a smodged face counterfeit haire uncomely habit and in her behaviour to put on such a garb of folly as might rather breed loathing then liking in his majesty The first of his speech she heard with patience but when he came to deliver to her how he had disparaged her beauty and to the King too nay more would have her derogate from her own worth and be accessary to the blasting of that beauty which nature had made so admirable this her womanish spleen could hardly disgest yet she soothed him up with fair and promising language and told him she would better consider of it and so dismissed him in part satisfied In the morning he presented himselfe early to attend the King who was that day to be enterteined by the Earle his father in law All things were nobly provided and Edgar roially received and set to dinner some write that Ethelwold had caused a kitchin maid to put on his wives habit and sit at the Kings table but I find no such matter remembred in my author the truth is the King about the middest of dinner called for the Earle Orgarus and demanded of him whether he had a wife or no if he had why he might not have her company knowing it was a general observation in England that without the wives entertainment there could be no true and hearty welcome The Earl replied that at that time he was an unhappy widdower he then demanded whether he had any children to continue his posteritie to which he answered Heaven had only blest him with one daughter a plain damosell yet the sole hope of his future memory The King was then importunate to see her and commanded her to be instantly brought unto his presence which put Ethelwold into a strange agony yet still hoping she had done as he had lately enjoined her when she contrary to his expectation came in apparalled like a bride in rich and costly vestures her golden haire fairely kembed and part hanging down in artificiall curls her 〈◊〉 stuck with jewels and about her neck