this is kept the perpetuall fire for the Etymology of Vesta is nothing else but Purus ignis i. pure Fire Some are of opinion that in that Temple are kept the remembrances of many both sacred and secret monuments some strange and unknown even to Priests and Virgins Some speak of two tuns of no great quantity the one continually shut the other open and empty some of the Virgins have reported that the Palladium that fell from Heaven and was received into Troy is there still to be seen The first Virgins appointed by Numa were foure Gegania Berenia Camilla Tarpeia two others were added by Servius Tullius Their vowes of virginity were unalterable for thirty years In the first ten yeares they were to learn the ceremonies and to be as ministers aud handmaids in the rest she was to govern and instruct others and the thirty years expired she had liberty if she pleased to marry If any of these Vestals had wantonly offended she was to be chastised by the Priest but such â—s were found incestuous were punished after this manner Being first bound she was laid upon a Beer like a coarse already deceased and so carried through the mid Forum to the port or gate called Collina for there betwixt two wals is the grave of the unchast Vestals still apparant there is a cave hollowed under the earth the descent is with a ladder by the mouth which is of no great widenesse in this vault is a bed ready prepared a light burning with bread milk and oile these things being all made ready for the purpose the delinquent is set down her hands loosed and her head covered the high Priest whispering certain secret things in her eare the other Priests turning their faces from her which is no sooner done but she is let down into the cavern earth thrown upon her the grave filled and she stifled alive and that day on which this execution is done there is a generall silence and sadnesse through the whole City Oppia SHe was one of the Vestall virgins who being taken in whordome and the fast manifestly proved she was convented convicted and had her doom to be buried alive Upon whom Strozza filius inscribed this Epitaph Vestalis virgo laesi damnata pudoris Contegor hoc vivens Oppia sub tumulo I Oppia once a Vestall that For sinne my judgement have Condemn'd for lust am living shut And covered in this grave Claudia There were two of that name as Livy in his 22 book reports who were addicted to the ceremonies of Vesta Fonteia was the sister of Marc. Fonteius who being a Prefect or Governour amongst the Gauls was accused before the Senate of injustice and misgovernment as transgressing the lawes and edicts of the Romans Marcia was a Vestall virgin and one that attended upon the sacred ceremonies she was condemned of incest and as Oppia was before her buried alive Minutia also a minister of Vesta's sacrifices who for her elegant feature and extraordinary beauty and withall because the costly ornaments with which she used to attire her selfe exceeded the precise custome of her Order she was brought within the suspition of lust and inchastity for which being call'd into question and not able legally to acquit quit her selfe she was brought within the compasse of the law and for her supposed offence had both the sentence and execution due to the like delinquents Justin in his 43. book commemorates this history Aeâ—eas after many tedious travels landing in Italy was by marrying Lavinia the daughter of King Latinus made partner with him in the Kingdome for which marriage war was commenc'd betwixt them two of the one party and Turnus King of the Rutilians on the other In which combustions Turnus being slain and Latinus yielding to Fate Aeneas both by the right of victory and succession became Lord of both the Kingdome and people erecting a City called Lavinium in remembrance of his wife Lavinia In processe he made warre against Mezentius King of the Etruscians whom having slaine Ascanius the son of Aeneas succeeded in the principality Ascanius leaving Lavinium built the City Alba which for three hundred years space was the Capitall City of that Kingdome After many descents the regall honours were conferred upon Numitor and Amulius These two Princes emulous of each others greatnesse Amulius the younger having opprest his brother Numitor surprised also his sole daughter Rhaea who was immediate heir to her fathers honours and regall dignities all which he covetous to ingrosse to himselfe and fearing withall left from her issue might in time descend some one that might punish his insolencies and revenge her and her fathers injuries devised with himselfe how to prevent both and fearing lest by putting her to death he might incur a generall hate amongst the people in whose love he was not as yet fully setled he apprehended as his safest course to shadow her wrong beneath a veile of honour and so caused her with a strict vow of virginity to be elected into the sacred service of Vesta Being thus confin'd into the grove celebrated to Mars whether begot by Mars himselfe as was then beleeved or otherwise adulterously conceived it is uncertain but she was delivered of two sons This being know to Amulius increased his fears who commanded the infants to be cast forth and Rhaea to be loaden with irons under whose severe sentence expiring she yielded to Fate The two children ready to perish were miraculously nursed by a she wolfe and after found by the shepherd Faustulus were by him brought up and called Remus and Romulus and so much of Rhaea Tranquillus and Cornelius Tacitus both of them remember one Rubria a Vestall virgin who was forceably defloured by Nero. Another whose name was Pompilia because by her inchastity she prophaned the sacred orders of Vesta was buried alive the same death for the like offence suffered Cornelia Floronea the Vestall was convicted of whoredome but she to prevent one death made choice of another For taking to her selfe a brave Roman spirit she with her own hands boldly slew her selfe Posthumia taxed for her too curious habit and gaudiness in attire as much transcending the custome of that more strict Order was suspected of Lust and accited before the Senate and there arraigned she wittily and nobly answered to whatsoever could be objected against her so that being found guiltlesse she was absolved by the sentence of the high Priest or Arch-Flammin Sextilia sped not so well as this Posthumia for she being suspected of inchastity and found culpable suffered according to the law made for the punishment of the like offenders The like suffered Tutia the Vestali for her unlawfull prostitution Plutarch in Gracchis in the Catalogue of these consecrated virgins numbers Licinia And Pliny relates that when Clodius the Emperor was in opposition with his wife Messalina that sink of lust and most incontinent
suffer Harpalus to assume the Diadem till she were likewise crowned and in Rhossus where his statue was erected in brasse she caused hers to be placed for so Clearchus writes in his history of Alexander as likewise Catanaeus Clearchus observes of her that when any fair young Lad appeared before her she used to say Then doe boies appear most beautifull when they most resemble the looks and gestures of women She was affected by Pansia Sicionius a famous Painter Harpalus the Macedonian having robbed Alexander the Great of much treasure flying to Athens sollicited there Pythonica and by many great gifts won her to his embraces she dying he profusely lavished many talents upon her obsequies and as Possidonius in his Histories affirms not only with the artificiall skill of many of the best artists and workmen but with Organs Voices and all kinds of musicall harmony decorated her funerall Dicaearchus writes That whosoever shall travell towards Athens by the sacred way called Elusinis there he shall behold a goodly Temple built in state height and compass exceeding all others which who so shall considerately peruse he shall guesse it either to be the cost of Miltiades Pericles Cimon or of some other Athenian equally with them illustrious and especially of such a one that for merit towards the Common-weal might command a voluntary contribution from the publike treasury Theopompus in an Epistle to Alexander thus carps at the intemperance of Harpalus Consider quoth he and enquire of the men of Babylon with what superfluous charge he had interred his strumpet Pythonica who was but handmaid to Bachis the she-musitian and Bachis the servant of Synope Threissa who from the City of Aegina transported her Bawdries into Athens she being not only of the third rank and degree of servants but of Bawds for with more then two hundred Talents charge he hath dedicated unto her two sumptuous monuments to the admiration of all men when it hath not been known the like honour or cost to have been bestowed by him or any other in memory of any brave souldier or of such as perished in Cilicia for the Empire and liberty of whole Greece shee only having perdurable monuments raised to her as well in Babylon as in Athens Temples and Altars with sacrifices offered her by the name of Venus Pythonica With other such upbraidings he complained on him to Alexander of whom Alâ—xis in Licisca likewise speaks as also that after her death he took to his bed the before named Glicera Next her followes Irene That Ptolomaeus that placed garrisons in Ephesus and was the son of King Philadelphus had a beautifull mistresse called Irene she when Ptolomaeus was assaulted by the Thracians in the City of Ephesus and to shun their violence fled into a Chappell consecrated to the goddesse Diana would not in that distresse forsake him but entred the place together and when the souldiers broke open the gates upon them to kil the King she removed not her hand from the ring of the door but with her own blood sprinkled the Altar till the souldiers likewise falling upon her she expired in the arms of the slaughtered King As noble was that of Danae Philarchus remembers one Sophron of Ephesus to have had in his delights Danae daughter to Leontius of the Sect of the Epicures a man well seen in the speculations of Philosophy To her trust were all the domestick affairs of the house committed even by the consent of his wife Laodice who at length perceiving his love to encline to Danae she purposed at her next best opportunity to make away with her husband This being found out by Danae and in great secrecy revealed to Sophron he gave at the first no credit to the report yet at her importunacy he promised within two daies to consider of the matter and in that time to deliberate what was best to be done in the prevention of such a mischiefe and in that interim conceals himselfe in the City by which Laodice finding her purpose to be discovered she accused Danae for his murther and instantly without further process by the help of her friends and servants hurried her to the top of a high Promontory from thence to throw her headlong who seeing imminent death before her eies fetching a deep sigh she thus said I marvell not now that the gods have so small honour done to them in regard of their injustice since I am thus punisht for saving the life of my friend and thâ—s Laodice is thus honoured that would have took away the life of her husband Agathoclaea VVArs having been long continued betwixt Ptolomey of Aegypt and Antiochus of Syria insomuch that Ptolomaeus was by his Embassadors rather by fear then necessity as it were inforced to sollicite a peace notwithstanding Antiochus invading Aegypt took from him many Towns and Cities of consequence which proffer drawing Ptolomey to the field be gave him a brave affront and foile and had he taken the advantage of a present fortune had paid him home with an irrecoverable overthrow but Ptolomey wholly devoted to effeminacy and luxury only contented with what he had recovered of his own and pursuing no further advantages made choice of a dishonourable peace before a just war and so concluded all dissention with an unalterable league And being free from all forrein invasions he began domestick troubles at home For being given over to his own appetite and besotted to his insatiate pleasures he first began with Laodice both his sister and wife causing her to be slain that he might the more freely enjoy the society and fellowship of his most rare and beautifull mistress Agathoclea so that the greatness of his name and the splendor of his majesty both set apart he abandoned himselfe solely to whoredomes by night and to banquets and all profuseness of riot by day And now liberty being grown to law the boldness of the strumpet for no better my Author stiles her cannot be contained within the wals of the Kings house which the overdotage of the King the extraordinary grace and honours conferred for her sake on her brother Agathocles together with her own ambitions growing every day more and more to greater insolence made still more manifest Nâ—xâ— there was her old mother called Evanthe a cunning Hâ—gâ—l may term her who by reason of her double issue Agathocles and Agathoclea had a great hand with the King or rather a great power over him Therefore not contented with the King alone they possess the Kingdome also They ride abroad in all state to be seen are proud to be by all saluted and with such great trains to be attended Agathocles as if â—owed to the Kings elbow was not seen without him but with a nod or word swaied and governed the City The gifts of all military honours as the Tribunes Prefects and Captains all these were appointed by the women neither was there any in the Kingdome that had lesse
power then the King himselfe who long sleeping in this dream of majesty having given away all that was essentiall in a King he fell sick and died leaving behind him a child of five years old by his afore murthered wife and sister Laodice But his death was by these favourites long concealed whilst they had by all covetous Rapine snatched what they might out of the Kings treasurie by this to strengthen a faction of the most base and dissolute subjects that by monie thus ill got and debauch'd souldiers thus levied they might set safe footing in the Empire but it fel out far otherwise for the Kings death and their design was no sooner discovered but in the rude Concourse of the multitude the Minion Agathocles was first slain and the two women the mother and the daughter were in revenge of murthered Laodice hanged upon gybets being now made a scorn to every man that was before a terror to all the pupillage of the infant and the sâ—feâ—y of the Realm to his use the Romans most nobly after took to their protection Cleophis ALexander the Great after many conquests entring into India that he might contermine his Empire with the Ocean and the utmost parts of the East and to which glory that the ornaments of his army might suit the trappings of his horses and the armor of his souldiers were all studded with silver and his main army of their Targets of silver as Curtius writes he caused to be called Argyraspides In processe by gentle and pleasurable marches they came to the City Nisa the Citizens making no opposition at all trusting to the reverence due to Liber Pater by whom they say the City was first erected and for that cause Alexander caused it to be spared passing those fruitfull Hils where grapes grow in abundance naturally and without the help of aiâ— or hand of man he thence passed the Dedalian mountains even to the Provinces and Kingdome of the Queen Cleophis who hearing of his victories and fearing of his potency thought rather to affront him by fair means then by force by policy then power for knowing her self to be a woman of extraordinary state and beauty the by her Embassadors sollicited an enterview which Alexander granting she appeared before him of such a Queen-like majesty and her accomplishments of nature so helpt with the ornaments of art for she was adorned with the richest and best shining stones of India that her glory so captivated the heart of the conqueror that they came to treat of composition she proposing to him That it were no honour for so magnificent a victor so famous through the world for his conquests over men to insult upon the weak spoils of a woman inured to no other arms then the arms of a sweet and loving bedfellow yet if for the ransome of her Empire he would accept of her love and service in that kind she was there in person at his command his subject and servant Her beauty with this submission wrought such impression in the King that it was concluded betwixt them and by both parties agreed That at her honour should be the ranson of her Empire In conclusion they lovingly lay together and so ended these threatned hostilities in an amorous peace her body he left tainted but her Kingdome untouched She was that night with child by him of a son whom after his fathers name she called Alexander he inherited the Kingdome after her but by the Indians from that time forward in regard of her prostitution she was called the Kings whore Callipyge SO much were the Grecians given to all voluptuousnesse and pleasure that amongst others divers Chappels and Temples were dedicated to Venus Callipyga the word importing Quasi pulchras habens nates i. She that hath faire buttocks the originall of that superstition as Aegenaeus relates was this A Countrey Farmer being the father of two beautifull young Virgins these two concluded betwixt themselves which should have the priority in beauty But modesty forbidding them to dispute it with open faces they concluded between themselves to come to a place adjoining to the high-way and there to expose their back-parts naked to all such as passed by and so by the most voices to be censured Amongst many others a noble young young Gentleman of the next City by accident passing that way and somewhat astonished at so unwonted an object enquired the reason thereof and by one of the spectators being presently resolved â—e as suddenly gave the Palm to the elder and intimating by that he saw what the rest might prove grew greatly enamored and returning to his fathers house surprized with melancholly was of his brother demanded the cause he after some few bashful denials stil urged with the others importunacies discovered to him the whole circumstance of the businesse The brother desirous to be further instructed was by the lover conducted to the place and object which made him first grow enamoured whither he was no sooner brought but he grew presently inflamed with the love of the younger and gave his censure on her part These two had an old Senator to their father who much observed his children of him they demanded these virgins in marriage but he proposing to themselves matches more honourable they would no way assent But won at length with their importunacies he sent in their behalfe to the Farmer to demand his daugters in marriage An enterview was granted the parties agreed a marriage concluded and after comsummate with satisfaction on all sides From which time ever after the two young married wives were called Callipyga Of these Cercidas Megapolitanus in his lambicks to this purpose speaks These two lived in Syracusa who by their marriage having attained to wealth sufficient erected a famous Chappell to Venus whom they stiled Dea Callipyga These divers other Cities of Greece after them imitated This History Archelaus likewise in his Lambicks records Alogunes Cosmartidenes Andia YOU shall read in the History taken out of Ex Ctesiae Persicis That Artaxerxes being dead Xerxes his sonne succeeded the legitimate heir by his wife Damaspia who died the same day with her husband therefore to be registred amongst the women most illustrious after their deaths the Eunuch Bagorazus caused both their bodies to be born into Persia and there to be entombed amongst their ancestors It is remembred of this Emperor Artaxerxes that he had by severall concubins seventeen bastards amongst these was Secundianus born of Alogunes he by treason succeeded Xerxes having before slain his brother this Alogunes was born in Babylon By another concubine in the same City called Cosmartidenes he had two sons Ochus and Arsiâ—es this Ochus by supplanting his brother Secundianus reigning some few months succeeded him in the Empire Xerxes had issue likewise by one Andia a Lady of the same Nation Bagapaeus and Parisatis who was the mother of one Cyrus and another Artaxerxes Xerxes the Persian Emperour yet living gave to his
snakes made a noise most dreadfull and horrible From whence Pallas first devised the pipe with many heads The form and shape of these Phorcidae Hesiod elegantly describes Crisaor and Pegasus were begot of the blood dropping from Medusa's head as Apollonius Rhodius writes in his building of Alexandria The Gorgons were called Graee as Zetzes explicates in his two and twentieth History Mâ—nander in his book de Mysteriis numbers Sâ—ylla amongst these Gorgons and that they inhabited the Doracian Islands scituate in the Aethiopick sea which some call Goâ—gades of whom they took the names of Gorgones Nimphodorus in his third book of Histories and Theopompus in his seventeenth affirm their girdles to be of wreathed vipers so likewise Polemo in his book to Adaeus and Antigonus The occasion of these fictions are next to be inquited after By these Graee the daughters of Sea-monsters is apprehended Knowledge and such Wisedome as is attained too by Experience They are said to have but one ere which they used when they went abroad because Prudence is not so altogether necessary to those that stay within and solely apply themselves to domestick affairs as to such who look into the world and search after difficulties Of this Wisedome or these Graee not impertinently called the sisters of the Gorgons is meant the pleasures and vain blandishments of the world with the dangers that appertaine to the 〈…〉 from either of which no man without the counsell of 〈◊〉 can acquit himselfe Therefore is Perâ—â—us said to overcome the Gorgons not without the 〈◊〉 of Pluto the eie of the Graeâ— the sword of Mercury and the mirror of Pallas all which who shall use aâ—ight shall pâ—ove himself to be Perseus the friend and son of Iupiter Scylla and Charybdis ACusilaus and Apollonius both nominate Scylla to be the daughter of Phâ—â—cia and Hâ—caete but Homer that her mothers name was Crataeis Chariclides cals her the issue of Phoâ—bantes and Hâ—cate Steâ—ichorus of Lamia Tymeus terms her the daughter of the â—â—ood Cratus Pausanias in Atticis and Strabo in l. 8. agree that this Scylla was the daughter of Nysus King of the Megarenses who surprised with the love of King Mâ—nos stole from her fathers head that purple lock in which consisted the safety of his own life and Kingdome The Athenians having invaded his dominion and seised many of his Townes and wasted the greatest part of his country by their fierce and bloody incursions they at length besieged him in the City Nysaea Some are of opinion that â—â—sus incensed with the foulnesse of that treason caused her to bee cast into the sea where shee was turned into a sea-monster Pausanias avers that she was neither changed into a bird nor a monster of the sea nor betrai'd her father nor was married to Nisus as he had before promised her but that having surprised Nysaea he caused her to be precipitated into the sea whose body tost to and fro by the waves of the Ocean till it was transported as far as the Promontory caâ—led Scylaea where her body lay so long upon the continent unburied till it was devoured by the sea-fouls this gave plâ—ce to that fable in Ovid. Filia purpureum Nisi furata capillum Puppe cadens navis facta refertur avis 'T is said the daughter having stoln her fathers purple hair sair Fals from the hin-deck of the ship and thence sores through the Zâ—nodorus saith that she was hanged at the stern of Minos his ship and so dragged through the waters till she died and that Scylla the daughter of Phorcus was a damosel of incomparable beauty and vitiated by Neptune which known to Amphitrite she cast such an invenomous confection into the fountain where she accustomed to bath her selfe that it cast her into such a madnesse that she drowned her selfe Of his mind is Miro Prianaeus in his first book Rerum Messanicarum Others imagine that she had mutuall consociety with Glaucus the sea god which Circe who was before inamoured of him understanding she sprinkled the well wherein she used to lave her self with such venomous juice that from her wast downwards she was translated into divers monstrous shapes which as Zenodotus Cyrenaeus saith was the occasion of the Fable commented upon her Isaoius thus describes her deformity She had six heads the one of a canker-worm the other of a dog a third of a Lâ—on a fourth of a Gorgon a fifth of a whirl-poole or a Whale the sixâ— of a woman Homer in his Odysses describes her with six heads and twelve feet every head having three order of teeth Virgil in Sileno saith that all ships were wrackt and devoured by those drugs that grew beneath her navell Charybdis She was likewise a most devouring woman who having stolne many Oxen from Hercules which he before had taken from Geryon was by Jupiter stroke with a thunderbolt and so transformed into that monster of the sea others contest that she was slaine by Hercules and after so transhap'd of these divers are diversly opinionated Strabo saith that Homer imagined the vehement flux and reflux of that sea about the concaves of those rocks made so terrible a noise that therefore the Poets fabulated that in her sides and about her interiour parts were the barkings of dogs continually heard Isacius writes that Scilla is a proeminent promontory over against Rhegium in Sicily hanging over the sea under which are many huge and masâ—ie stones hollowed by the billowes in whose concavities many sea-monsters inhabit and when there is shipping in those parts amongst those rocks and shelves they are either swallowed by Charybdis or Scylla Charybdis being scituate directly against Messina and Scylla against Rhegium they are therefore said to be women because afar off these promontories appeare as it were in a feminine shape what fleet soever by the tides and tempests was forc'd upon Charybdis were there shipwrackt and such as by Charybdis were â—ost on the rocks of Scylla were there swallowed In which fable is included the nature of Vertue and Vice No man but in the progresse of his life sailes betwixt these two quicksands if he incline to one hand more then the other he is either swallowed by Scylla or devoured by Charybdis What else doth this signifie but that which Aristotle in his Ethicks illustrates Vertue which is the medium betwixt two extreams both which are to be avoided and the middle wherein is safety to imbraced for mans life is nothing else but a continuall navigation betwixt divers molestations of one hand and tempting and unlawfull pleasures on the other both which are comprehended in these Syrtes or places of certaine destruction For Scylla is so called 〈◊〉 spoliandâ— or repando of spoiling or grieving And Charybdis of sucking up and swallowing betwixt which two dangerous and almost inevitable gulfs a vertuous and a pious man shall in the greatest storms and tempests neither inclining to the right nor the lese securely and with great safety attain
Thither Europa comes sweet flowers to cull Her Jove transports to Creete in shape of Bull. Cadmus her brother by Aegenor charg'd To see his sister by some means inlarg'd In his long search a monstrous Dragon slew From whose sown teeth men ready armed grew With these he founded Thebes after laments Actaeons fall born to such strange events Who by Diana to a Hart transform'd Was worried by his hounds Then Cadmus storm'd At his neer Kinsmans death This Juno joies Who in her hate faire Semele destroies The shape of her Nurse Beroe she assumes By whose bad counsell Semele presumes To ask her own death Now some few daies after Jove with his Queen dispos'd to mirth and laughter Dispute of Venus and desire to find Which Sex to pleasure should be most inclin'd Tiresius who before both sexes prov'd Judgeth the cause on Joves side Juno mov'd Deprives him fight to recompence his eies Jove fils him with spirit of Prophesies His augury Narcissus first made good Who ' gainst all womens loves opposed stood ' Mongst whom the faire Nymph Eccho by her sorrow Lost all save voice which she from voice doth borrow He pining with selfe-love was the same hower â—â—â—ing his sorm transhap'd into a flower Pentheus the sage Tâ—resius doth deride Though he before the truth had prophesied 〈◊〉 when god Bacchus writes were celebrated One of his Priests who had before related Of saylers turn'd to fishes he keeps bound Receiving from the Bacchides many a wound This makes the wine gods Orgyes of more fame Alcathoe with her sisters mock the same And at their distaffes many tales they tell First what unto the blacked Moors besell Of Phoebus to Eurinome transverst By which all lets and troubles are disperst That he may freely with Leucothoe lie For which the jealous Clytie seems to die But turns into a Turnsole they relate Hermophraditus next by wondrous fate And Salmacis both in one body mixt This done the sisters in their madnesse fixt Convert to Baâ—â— their spindles change to vines Their webs to leaves made by the god of wines At which whilst Agave rejoic'd her glee Is turn'd to discontent so she may see Ino and Arâ—amas of great renown Run headlong to a rock and thence leape down These being made sea gods whilst the Theban dames Lament their new change and invoke their names Amidst their sorrowes and sad funerall mones Part are made birds and part are turn'd to stones Cadmus with these calamities distrest Leaves Thebes and in Illyria he seeks rest Where with his wife debating ' midst the brakes They soon may see each other turn'd to snakes Alone 〈◊〉 still remains instated Of all that Bacchus and his Oryges hated Perseus his grand-child of faire Danae bred With crooked harp cuts off Gorgones head Whose purple drops as to the earth they fall Turn into Serpents and before him crawl Atlas he changeth into a mountain hie â—nd all those shackles that Andronia 〈◊〉 Are into stones converted many a â—old guest Intends to interrupt his bridall feast Where Phineus Pretus and their furious band Are chang'd â—o Marble and before him stand Pallas till now the noble Perseus guide Leaves him and through the aire doth gently glide To Helicon there doth the goddesse mean To view the famous Well call'd Hippocrene The nine Muse sisters of the Pyrens tell And what to the Pyerides befell How they contending with the Muses were Tran form'd to Pies still chattering every where By whose example Pallas soon puts on A Beldams shape transports her selfe anon To Ariachne who with her compares And having after strife wrought sundry chares Pallas transhapes her to a spider leaving Her antient Art to take delight in weaving This moves not Niobe who late had lost Her children and in divers turmoils tost Is chang'd to stone Now when the people knew This portent they the memory renew Of the base Lysian rusticks turn'd to Frogs And by Diana doom'd to live in bogs They Marsias likewise can remember still Who ranks his musick with Apollo's quill But he that ' gainst the gods sought praise to win In this contention lost both lawd and skin When all the neighbouring Cities came to chere Distressed Thebes the Athenians absent were And to their sorrowes can no comfort bring Being at home aw'd by a tyrant King Tereâ—s who the faire Philomel ' deflowring Turns to a Lapwing in the aire still towring As Philomel ' into a Nightingale And Progne to a Swallow This sad tale Vnto Pandion told he dies with griefe In whose sad Kingdome next succeeds as chiefe Ericteus Orithea the faire His daughter Boreas to his Kingdome bare Of her 〈◊〉 Calâ—in and Zâ—thus got Amongst the Argonauts these took their lot There Jason the white teeth of serpents sew Of which men arm'd in compleat harnesse grew The waking dragon made to sleep the Fleece Of gold from Phasis after brought to Greece Medea he bears thence She by her art Makes young old Aeson promising to impart Like good to Peleâ—s to his daughters showing From a decrepit Ram a young lamb growing But slew him by her fraud Transported thence She with Aegeus makes her residence Against whom Minos wars having collected Men from all places by his skill directed As some from Paros which long time before Arne betrai'd for which she ever wore The shape of Daw. King Aeacus supplies With Mirmidons that did from Pismires rise King Minos Cephalus these forces led Who seeking to adulterate his own bed Prevaiâ—â— with Procris whilst his dogs in chace Of a wild Fox both in the selfe same place Are chang'd â—o sione Minos Alchathoe won Nâ—â—us and Scylla are in shape foredone He to a Hawk she to a Larke is shifted And through the aire with their light feathers listed Thence he returns to Creet all sad and dul Where liv'd the Minotaure halfe Man halfe Bull Him Thâ—seus slew and after doth beguile Faire Ariadne left in Naxos Isle With her god Bacchus enters amorous wars And placeth on her head a Crown of stars Young Icarus with his old father flies And down into the sea drops from the skies His death whil'st Daedalus laments this sees The Patridge new transformed Now by degrees Theseus wins fame scarce spoken of before Being call'd to hunt the Calidoman Boare Which Mealeager slew and died by th' hand Of his own mother in the fatall brand His sisters with loud shreeks his death proclaime Being all chang'd into birds that bear his name He visits Acâ—elous in his way And all these Islands that but th' other day Were Nymphs and Nai'des which appeared true Since the like transformation Lelex knew In Baucis and Philemon whom he sees Growing before him in the shape of trees Their cottage made a Temple for their sakes The village where they dwelt all standing lakes Achelous adds to these the transformations Of Proteus and of Mestra with the fashions That he himselfe appeared in when he prov'd His strength
The fast two under the Messias awe And as repose by Sabbath is exprest Sun Moon and Stars all things shall then have rest It is likely and may be conjectured that she came to the light of Elias prophesies for in the like manner he distributed the world divining of the continuance of mankind and the change of times the first two thousand yeares he call Tempus inane which may be thus interpreted because the many regions of the earth were not fully inhabited Babylon not yet built and divers spatious Provinces undiscover'd or else because the politick estate of the Church was not yet visibly established and separated from other nations For then were no Empires extant which after were apparant in the Monarchies Yet doubtlesse it is that the first age was the golden and most flourishing because the nature of man was then most potent and vigorous as may appeare by their longevity living so many hundred years moreover it bred many wise old men full of the divine light that spake of God of the Creation and were witnesse of the Arts and Sciences The second time was numbred from the Circumcision to Christs comming in the flesh and being born of a Virgin which conteins little lesse than two thousand years and that is under the Law The third time if it reach not to the full number to equall the former it is for our sins which are many and great for which mankind shall be the sooner destroi'd and Christ for his elect sake will hasten his judgement Sybilla Cumana SHe was likewise called Amalthaea Hyginus in his second book speaks of Amalthaea that gave suck to Jupiter in his infancy his history he derives from Parmenesius and relates it thus There was a certaine King of Creet called Mellisaeus to whose daughters young Jupiter was sent to be nursed but they wanting milk brought unto him a goat called by that name which gave him suck This goat was so fruitfull that she ever brought forth two Kids and was then newly eased of her burden when Jupiter was brought thither to be fostred In gratitude of which good done to him he after translated her and her kids amongst the stars which Cleostratus Tenedius first observed Musaeus reports otherwise That Athemides and Amalthaea were two nurses to whom the charge of Jupiters infancy was committed both beautifull Nymphs Amalthaea having a goat whom she much loved and with whose milk she brought him up Palepbatus in his fabulous narrations speaks of the horn of Amalthaea which Hercules still bore about him which was of that vertue that it still supplyed him with all necessaries whatsoever from which grew a Proverb That all such as were supplyed without complaining of want were said to have the 〈◊〉 of Amalthaea the history is thus Hercules travelling through Boeotia to visit his Nephew Iolaus sojourned by the way for a season amongst the Thespians where lived a woman of approved beauty and vertue called Amalthaea with whose feature Hercules being much delighted he hosted there longer than his purpose which Iolaus taking ill Amalthaea out of a horn in which she had hoarded some quantity of monie furnisht Hercules with all things needfull which some strangers taking especiall notice of they rumour'd it abroad and from thence first grew the Proverb But to return to our Amalthaea Cumana This was she by whose conduct Aeneas had free passage into hell as Virgil expresseth at large in his sixth book She brought to Tarquinius Priscus those three books of Prophesies of which two were burnt and one preserved By which computation comparing the time betwixt Aeneas and Tarquin she could live no lesse then five hundred years nor is it altogether incredible since when Livia the daughter of Rutilius Terentia of M. Cicero and Clodia of Aulus the first lived ninety seven yeares the second a hundred and thirty the third a hundred and fifteen after the bearing of fifteen children Gorgias Leontius the tutor of Isocrates and many other learned men in the hundred and seventh year of his age being asked Why he desired to live any longer answered Because he felt nothing in his body by which to accuse age Herodotus Pliny Cicero and others speak of one Arganthonius Gaditanus who raigned fourscore yeares being sixty yeares of age before he came to his crown Solinus and Ctesias with others averre that amongst the Aethiopians a hundred and thirty years is but a common age and many arrive unto it Hellanicus testates that the Epians a people of Aetolia attained to two hundred whom Damiales exceeds naming one Littorius that reached to three hundred the like we read of Nestor I will conclude with Dondones whom Pliny affirms survived five hundred years yet never stooped with age More liberally speaks Zenophon who bestowes on one of the Latine Kings eight hundred and six hundred upon his father but I will forbear further to speak of her age and come to her Oracle Vnto the Assyrian Monarchy we assigne One thousand yeares two hundred thirty nine When thirty six successions shall expire The last his glories pomp shall end in â—iâ—e Thence to the Meads it transmigrates and they Shall in nine full successions beare chiefe sway Three hundred years shall memorise their deeds Wanting just eight The Persian then succeeds In th' universall Empire which must last Fourteen Kings reigns and then their sway be past Over to Greece but ere the light blow out Two hundred fifty years shall come about Adding five months The Monarchy now stands Transferr'd on Macedonia who commands The world but Alexander by him is guided The spatious earth but in his death divided Amongst his Captains Macedon one ceaseth Asia another Syria best pleaseth A third Egypt a fourth thus lots are cast Two hundred eighty eight their pomp shall last And then expire Great Rome shall then look hie Whose proud towers from 7. hils shall brave the skie And overlook the world In those blest daies Shall come a King of Kings and he shall raise A new plantation and though greater far Than all the Monarchs that before him are In majesty and power yet in that day So meek and humble he shall dain to pay Tribute to Caesar yet thrive happy he That shall his subject or his servant be After the death of Alexander the Kingdome of Macedonia was successively injoied by fifteen Kings and indured a hundred fifty seven years and eight months Asia and Syria were governed by nineteen Kings and lasted two hundred eighty nine years Egypt was possest by ten Ptolomies and lastly by Cleopatra and it continued two hundred eighty eight years These Kingdomes failing the Romans gained the chiefe predominance Of this Sybill S. Isiodore Virgil and Ovid writ more at large she writ her Prophesie in leaves of trees and then plac'd them over the Altar which when the wind moved or made to shake they had no efficacy but when they remained firm and without motion they received their
appeared in the eies of all men the fairest of women especially in the Kings much surprised with her extraordinary beauty still perswading her to raze out the memory of Cyrus dead and in his room to admit of Artaxerxes living which slowly and at length though late he obtained respecting her above all other his wives and concubines Soon after his Eunuch Toridates died more then a child and scarce full man the most beautifull youth in Asia and of the King the most beloved who so much lamented his death that all the pricipalities and nations under him seemed to participate of his griefe yet none that durst be so bold as to come into his presence or minister to him any words of comfort Three daies being past in these lamentations and sorrowes Aspasia in a funerall habit and with her eies fixt upon the earth appeared before the King who no sooner espied her demanded the cause of her comming To comfort thee said she O King if thou beest so pleased else to return to the place of sorrow from whence I came At which seeming to rejoice the King intreated her to her chamber whither he would presently repaire to whom she obeied And having put on a robe of the Eunuchs so much bewailed and in that casting her selfe upon her bed she gave the King such content that he commanded her till the daies of mourning were past never to appear to him but in that habit she more prevailing with him then all his Princes wives subjects and servants about him stil living in his most especiall grace and favour And so far Aelianua The Matrons of Lacedemon in all battel 's sought against the common enemy as many of their husbands sons or allies as they found slain they used to search what wounds they had about them if the greater number were in the face or breast with great joy and solemnity they bore them to be intombed in the monuments of their ancestors but it on the contrary those on their backs exceeded the number of the former surprised with shame and sorrow they either left them to the common buriall or gave them such private interment as if they wisht their memories to have perisht with their bodies This history Aelianus in his twelfth book records This discourse for the rarenesse of it I hold not impertinent to insert amongst the women most illustrious Chares Mitylenus in his tenth book of Histories thus writes Zariadres the younger brother of Hystaspes both of them being so naturally beautifull that they were said to be the sons of Adonis and Venus The elder reigned in the lower parts of Media the junior kept his principality in the higher Countrie as farre as the river Tanais not many leagues distant from thence there lived the King Homartes who had one onely daughter called Odaâ—â—s whom as divers authors affirm seemed in a dream to have seen this Zariadres and of his person to be much enamoured The liek in a vision hapning to him insomuch that he was ardently affected to her whom as yet he had never seen This Odaâ—â—â— was the fairest Princesse in that time living in Asia and Zariadres no whit to her inferior who sent to the King Homartes to demand her in marriage he would by no 〈◊〉 yeeld to the motion because not having any â—ale issue he was â—oth to transfer the succession of 〈◊〉 Kingdome upon a stranger purposing rather to bestow her 〈…〉 Prince of his Countrie though a subject Not long 〈◊〉 caused to be assembled all the Friends 〈…〉 and Gentry of his land inviting them to his daughâ—â—â—s 〈◊〉 but not yet knowing or having 〈…〉 on whom to confer her His subject 〈◊〉 assembled he invited them all to a solemn and high Priest 〈…〉 having called his daughter in the hearing of all his gueste 〈…〉 bespake 〈◊〉 We are now â— Princeâ—ly daughter 〈…〉 thy nuptials take therefore this golden 〈…〉 with rich Greekish wine and having throughly and advisedly perused all this Noble 〈◊〉 to 〈…〉 shal◠〈…〉 to drink he is undoubtedly thy husband 〈◊〉 having viewed and reviewed them all and 〈…〉 like that person presented to her in her 〈…〉 some few daies respite which 〈…〉 word to Zariadres bow her affairs stood 〈…〉 her marriage and withall much 〈…〉 in his army neer 〈…〉 conceived himselfe 〈…〉 or auendâ—nt saving 〈…〉 into the City of 〈◊〉 having 〈…〉 this done 〈…〉 his Chariot and driver and withall 〈…〉 he came to the place where this marriage was to be celebrated and 〈◊〉 in amongst the rest he behold the beautifull 〈…〉 countenance and tempering her draught with all 〈◊〉 unwilling hand to whom approching more 〈◊〉 he thus whispered Behold Odatis thy 〈…〉 for whom didst lately send ready to do thee all service She casting an advised eie upon him and receiving him to be a stranger beautifull and in all semblance so like the person of whom she had dreamt in a great extasie of joy drank to him and gave him the cup and whilst â—â—â—rest were amazed at the novel he snatcht her up and carried her where his Chariot stood ready and so transported her into Media This their love was so famous amongst the barbarous people that the history was portraied in all their Palaces and Temples nay even in their private houses many of the Nobility in memory of her calling their daughters by the name of Odatis 〈◊〉 the Tyrant banisht Dâ—on out of Sicily taking into his own custodie the exiles wife Aristomache and her daughter but after at the great intercession of one of his servants Polycrates â— man by him much affected he compelled the Lady who still lamented the absence of her Lord 〈…〉 second marriage with this Polycrates who was by 〈…〉 But Dâ—on having gathered fresh forces and expelling Dionysius from Syracusa unto the Locrenses 〈◊〉 his sister meeting him and congratulating his famous victory made intercession for Aristomache who with great shame had kept her selfe from the presence of her first husband not daring to look him in the face howsoever her second nuptials were made by force and compulsion But the necessity of the cause the wondrous submission and modest excuse of Aristomache together with the mediation of Arete so much he prevailed with Dion all confirming her innocence that he received his wife and daughter into his family still continuing their former love and society Hippo a woman of Greece travelling by sea with her husband and being surprised by Pirats finding the chiefe of them to be enamoured of her beauty rather then yield to his lustfull desires she voluntarily threw her selfe into the sea and was drowned leaving behind her a remarkable president of chastity her body was driven upon Ericheon or as some will have it the Erythrean shore in memory of whom a sacred monument was raised which was many years after yearly celebrated with many condign honours Valer. Max. lib. 7. cap. 1. Chiomara of whom Livius Frontinus Florus and others have written was the
presenting himselfe to the block it hapned on that time that he had a rich and precious garment of purple embroidered with gold of which the executioner being greedy and carefull to keep it from blood thereby to make the better sale of it he spent so much time this and that way not for the prisoners case but for his own advantage till the messengers appeared from the King and called aloud to make stay of justice by which means Bepolitanus his garment was as much beneficiall to his life as the Kings mercy and covetousnesse that hath been the destruction of many was the means of his unexpected safety The executioner in his greedinesse making good the old English Adage All covet all loose To leave circumstances and come to the matter The body of Toredorix was cast out and by the Kings edict denied all rites of buriall with a grievous penalty imposed upon any such as should contradict the Kings writ This notwithstanding dismaied not a faire Pergamaean damosell with whom Toredorix had been in familiarity to accomplish the vowed office of a lover and a friend who in the night watched the opportunity to take thence the body and bestow on it a fair interment but being taken by the souldiers in the performance of this last memorable duty and brought before the Tyrant either her beauty so much moved him or her rears so far prevailed with him as that his body was not only left freely to her dispose but to recompence her love and loialty she had a fair and competent dower allotted her out of the lands and goods of the trespasser Stratonica OF Stratonica Galatia may boast as breeding a Lady scarce marchable before her time or since in her condition she being the wife of King Deiotarus and barren and knowing how desirous her husband was to have issue from his own â—oâ—ns to succeed in the Kingdome sollicited him and that with great importance to select some beautifull Lady whom he best fancied and by her to raise his posterity which the King overcome with so unexpected a curtesie and therefore unwilling to wrong her bed refusing she of her own accord out of many captive virgins chused one who seemed to excell all the rest in feature and modesty and suiting her in all respects like a Princesse presented her to the King as a jewell to be received from her hand This virgins name was Elâ—ctra by whom Deiotatarus had faire and fortunate issue to whom Stratonica was a second mother and saw them educated with as much magnificence and state as if they had been born of her body and she given them suck from her own brests Her example is memorable but since her time by few that I can read of imitated Valeria and Cloelia TArquinius Superbus being expulsed the Kingdome because his sonne Sextus had stuprated the faire Lucretia wife to Collatine to reobtaine his principality he insinuated unto his aid Porsenna King of the Tuscans These with an infinite army besieged Rome insomuch that the Citizens were not only wearied with long war but opprest with famine therefore knowing Porsenna as well in war as peace to be a Prince eminent both for justice and humanity they made choice of him to arbitrate and determine all controversies betwixt Tarquin and them This motion being offered by the Romans Tarquin refused to stand to any such comprimise not allowing Porsenna a lawfull judge in regard of their late league commenced This Porsenna not well relishing treated with the Romans about a peace conditionally that they should restore back certain lands before taken from the Etruscians and of them put him in peaceable possession and till this were performed to send him ten young men and as many virgins of the noblest families for hostage which was accordingly done and he dismist his army These virgins walking by the river side which parted Camp and City for though he had sent away the greatest part of his army he had not yet raised his Tents two of the chiefe the one Cloelia the other Valeria daughter to the Consul Publicola perswaded the rest and by perswading so far prevailed that they were all resolved to passe the River when stâ—ipping themselves naked and holding as well as they conveniently could their cloaths above their heads they ventured over that unknown passage full of whirlpools and wheâ—e there was no stedfast footing and what by wading and swimming to all mens wonders got safe to shore and presented themselves to their fathers and friends who though they admired their boldnesse and commended their resolutions yet disallowing the act it selfe as those that in their faith and honour would not be outbid by any they sent them back to King Porsenna and submitted their rashnesse to be punished at his pleasure These Virgins being presented before him he demanded of them Which she was that first animated and encouraged the rest to so rash and dangerous an enterprize When Cloelia beckning to the rest to silence took all the injury contempt or whatsoever they pleased to call it upon her selfe protesting the rest innocent and she of what would be objected the sole author Porsenna observing and withall admiring her undanted courage caused presently a horse furnished with trappings to be brought which he gave to Cloelia in recompence of her magnanimous attempt sending them all in his regall curtesie back to their friends and parents Upon this horse given to Cloelia by Porsenna some have grounded that she first past the river on horseback sounding the way for the rest which others denie only that the King thought to gratifie her manly courage with the meed of a souldier Her statue on horseback is erected in Via sacra this some confer upon Cloelia others on Valeria Olympias ALexander having caused himselfe to be called the son of Jupiter writ to his mother in this manner King Alexander the son of Jupiter Hamon to his mother Olympias sends health to whom with great modesty she thus rescribed Dear son as you love me instead of doing me honour proclaim not my dishonour neither accuse me before Juno besides it is a great as persion you cast upon me to make me a strumpet though to Jupiter himselfe A great moderation in a woman who for no swelling title or vaine oftentation could be won to lose the honour to be called a loyall and chast wise Troades AMongst those frighted Trojans that fled from the fearfull ruines of subverted Troy some by the violence of outragious tempests were driven upon the coasts of Italy where landing at certain Ports neer to the river Tygris they made up into the Countrie the better to acquaint themselves with the conditions of those places In which interim the women began to apprehend that they had better far to take up an abiding place in any land then again to commit themselves to the mercilesse furie of the seas Wherefore with one joint consent they agreed to make that their fixed habitation seeing all hope of
brand me here With lust and incest Never I protest Was that Aenaeass whom thou call'st the best Of men in Lybia Never saw I land One Trojan on the Carthaginian strand Because Sychaeus my fiâ—st husband dead To keep my sacred vows to him I fled Th' embraces of Hyarbus am I made A prostitute to nothing to a shade He came in arms to fâ—rce me and compell Me a chast widow to another hell A second marriage 'T is the gods advice No woman can be chast that marrietâ— twice To avoâ—d that sin I slâ—w my selfe O why Could'st thou O Maâ—o thâ—â— comment a 〈◊〉 With lust to 〈◊〉 my memory When heaven knowes To save mine honour I my life did lose Give faith to History you that Readers are Before this fabling Poesiâ— since that far Transcends the bounds of truth so Poets can Make the high gods much more corrupt then man So much touching Queen Dido and as far as probability can to acquit hero of â—ll incontinenâ—e One Paulus an histo 〈◊〉 in his fiâ—â—h book remembers us of Cesara a Queen of Persia who having some light of the Gospell travelled as far as Constantinople in Gâ—eece to be further instructâ—d only attended by a few private followers who being satisfied in all the fundamentall points of her faith she with her small â—â—aine was châ—istened The Persian Sophy having notice thereof sent Embassadors to the Emperour to know the reason why he deteined 〈◊〉 Queen wishing him to return her safe upon such easie summons Cesara being in pâ—esence when this embassie was deliveâ—ed desired the Emperor that she might give them their answer which granted Return said she my humble duâ—y and vassalage to my Lord the King and tell him withall That unlesse he receive my faith and renouncing his false idols beleeve in the only true God he can claim no interest al in me The messenger dispatcht and this short answer returned to the Sophy he levied an army of forty thousand men and comming into Greece the Emperor and he came unto a peacefull interview at which by the mediation of this roiall and religious Empresse the Sâ—phy with all his Princes and Souldiers there present received the Christian Faith and after the interchange of many Princely and magnificent giâ—ts returned with his wife into his own Country Another noble history I think not amisse to be here inserted which is recorded by one Willielmus de reg lib. 20. Gunnilda the daughter of Canulus and Emma who being accused of adulteâ—y by her husband Henry the Emperour who to justifie his accusation had provided a Champion in stature a Giant and for his presence and potency much feared she notwithstanding relying upon God and her own innocence put her life upon the valour of a private young gentleman of England whom she brought with her to the same purpose These Champions adventuring their lives fought a brave and resolute combat but in the end the victorie inclined to the Empresse her adverse Champion being vanquished confest his treasons and she was nobly acquit but after by no intreaties or intercessions made by the Emperour or others she could be won unto his embraces but abjuâ—ing his bed and vowing an austere and sequestred 〈◊〉 she retired her selfe into a Monastery Three roiall presidents of three unmatchable Queens the first for magnanimy the second for Religion and devotion and the last for Chastity To these I will add yet another Williâ—lmus de Râ—gibus in his first book writes thâ—â— King Ive betook his Kingdome of the West-Saxons to his Cousin Ethelardus and undertook a pilgrimage to Rome the occasion of his journie was this The Queen Ethilburga had often counselled her husband the King to forsake the pride and riches of the world and to have a respect to his soulâ— health especially now in the latter daies of his life but not able to prevaile with him she bethought her selfe of a quaint stratagem after they had left their roiall Pallace where they had but lately feasted in all â—omp pleasure and delicacies and removed into another house she caused him to whose charge the place from whence they departed was committed to take down all the hangings make soule and filthy every room and chamber nay in the very place where the King had but the other day sported with his Queen was lodged a sow and pigs withall the loathsomnesse that could be devised this done according to her command she by a wile inticed the King to the place thus strangely diâ—guised The King wondering at this sudden change stood amazed To whom she thus spoke I pray you my Lord where be now these rich hangings and curtains either for state or ornament Where is all the glittering pomp and rich array tending to nothing else save gluttony and luxury Alas how suddenly are they all vanished Shall not my Lord this beauty of ours so fade and this fraile flesh even so fall away This with other her words to the like purpose took such impression in the Kings brest that he resigned his Kingdome to his Nephew and betook himselfe to a religious and Monastick lite after his vowed pilgrimage The Queen Ethelburga went to the Abby at Berking in which place her sister had been before Abbesse and there spent the remainder of her life in devotion and penitence Polycrita THere arose great warres between the Milesians and Naxians kindled by the adulterate practice of the wife of Hypsicreon a Milesian who violating her conjugall vowes by throwing her selfe into the lustfull embraces of Promedon a Naxian then her guest and fearing the just anger of her husband and withall the punishment due to her adulterate sin fled with him into Naxos from whence being againe demanded but denied this private wrong turned to a publick ruin for devouting warre accompanied with many calamities preyed upon both their Countries But as this Beacon was first fired by a womans lewdnesse so was it last extinguished by a womans vertue Diognetus who had the command of those Erythraeans which came in aid of the Milesians had committed to his custody a certain strong hold scituated against the City Naxos who having taken from the Naxians a prize of women and free virgins he was deeply strook in love with one Polycrita whom he led with him not as a captive but as his wife It chanced that the Miletians celebrated a generall festivall day Polycrita besought Diognetus to make her so far indebted to hâ—s favour as to suffer her to send her brothers part of those juncates then at the table which willing he granted she secretly writ upon the leaden table of the Marchpane what she had projected withall charging the bearer to intreat her brothers not to let any participate thereof save themselves when they had heard the writing which contained thus much in effect Take hold upon the opportunity which occasion thrusts into your hands this night you mâ—y seâ—se the Castle for the enemy will lie down in wine and sleep in
as also by Vitruvius This Quâ—en being making her selfe ready in her Palace roiall when the one part of her hair was bound up and the other halfe hung loose upon her shoulders suddenly newes was brought her That the Citizens of Babylon were revolted and all or most of them in mutiny and uprore She presently posted into the City and what with her presence and perswasion atton'd the discord and before she had leasure to put her disordered curls in form reconciled the hearts of that innumerable people to her obedience for which her statue was erected in the City being pourtraied half ready halfe unready in memory of that noble and magnananous adventure Something of the best that was in her though not all you have heard the worst is to come Juba apud Pli. relates that she imitated the fashions of men neglecting the habit of her own Sex and in her latter years grew to that debauch'd effeminacy and sordid lust that she did not only admit but allure and compell into her goatâ—sh embraces many of her souldiers without respect of their degrees or places so they were well featured able and lusty of performance whom when they had wasted their bodies upon her she caused to be most cruelly murthered She was slain by her own sonne because most incestuously sought his bed but which of all the rest is most prodigious and abominable she is reported to have company with a horse on whom she unnaturally doted But these things whether related for truth or recorded of malice I am altogether ignorant and therefore leave it to censure Herodotus Plutarch and others wrâ—t that she caused these words to be inscribed upon her Tomb. Quicunque Rex pecunâ—â— indiget apâ—â—to monumento quod voluerit accipiat that is What 〈…〉 hath need of coin search this monument and 〈…〉 find what 〈◊〉 desires This when King Darius 〈…〉 thinking some magazine of treasure had been therein included he caused the Tomb stone to be removed where he found upon the other side thereof these words engraven Nisi Rex avarus esses pecuniae insatiabilâ—s morâ—uorum monâ—menta non violassis i. Hadst thou not been an avaritioas King and insatiable of coâ—n thou wouldst not have ransacked the grave of the dead Thus as Franciscus Patricius Pontifex saith the excellent Lady in her death â—â—unted the 〈◊〉 avarice of the living That the monuments of the deâ—d are no way to be violated or detaced Sertorâ—us hath taught us who having subdued the City Tigenna scituate in the Countrie of Maurusia in which a noble sepulchre was which the inhabitants said belonged to Antaeus which was the gyant slain by Hercules when the greatnesse of the grave exceeded all beliefe Sertorius caused it to be ruined and there digged up a body as Plutarch witnesâ—eâ—h of seventy cubits in length which beholding and wondering at he caused it to be repaired with greater beauty then before lest by diminishing that he might have ruined a great part of his own honour Some think it was the body of Tagenna the wife of Antaeus whom Hercules prostituted after the death of her husband of her he begot Siphax who after erected that City and in memory of his mother called it by her name Pasiphae THis Lady though I cannot fitly introduce her within the number of the incestuous yet for that horrid act which the Poets have reported of her I shal not impertinently place her next to Semiramis Apollodorus Grammaticus in his book de Deorum origine as Benedictus Aeginus Spoletinus interprets him thus sets down her history Ninus King of Creet espoused Pasiphae daughter of the Sun and Perseis or as Asclepiades cals her Creta the daughter of Aterius she had by him foure sons Cretaeus Deucalion Glaucus and Androgeus and as many daughters Hecate Xenodice Ariadne and Phaedra This Minos peaceably to enjoy his Kingdome had promised to offer such a bull to Neptune but having obtained his desires he sent that Bull before markt out back to the herd and caused another of lesse value to be sacrificed at which Neptune inraged knew not with what greater punishment to afflict him for the breach of his faith then to make his wife most preposterously and against nature to dote on that beast which he had so carefully preserved She therefore confederated with Dedalus a great Artsmaster one that for murder had fled from Athens and with his son Icarus there secured himselfe he devised by his mischievous skill a woodden Cow hollowed within with such artificiall conveyance that the Queen enclosed had satisfaction of her desires to the glutting of her libidinous appetite Of this congression she conceived and brought forth a son called Asterion or as the most will have it Minotaurus shaped with a buls head and a mans body About this monstrous issue Minos consulted with the Oracle which advised him to shut him in a Labyrinth and there see him safely brought up and kept This Labyrinth the first that ever was was built by Dedalus being a house so intricated with windings and turnings this way and that way now forward then backward that it was scarce possible for any that entred therein to find the direct way back thus far Apollodorus But Palephatus in his fabulous Narrations reduceth all these commented circumstances within the compasse of meer impossibility and thus delivers the truth concerning Pasiphae Minos being afflicted with a disease in his secret parts with which he had been long grieved was at length by Crides who belonged to Pandion cured In the interim of this his defect and weaknesse the Queen cast an adulterate eie upon a fair young man called Taurus whom Servius saith was the scribe or secretary to the King she prostituting her selfe to his embraces when the full time was expired she produced her issue which Minos seeing and taking a true supputation of the time comparing the birth with his discontinuance from her bed by reason of his disease apprehended the adultery notwithstanding he was unwilling to kill the bastard because it had a resemblance to the rest of his children though an impression of the fathers face by which the adulterer might easily be known Minos therefore to conceal his own discontents and as much as in him lay to hide his wives shame whom no endearedly affected caused the infant to be carried into a remote mountain and there by the Kings herds men to be fostered But growing towards manhood he likewise grew intractable and disobedient to those whose charge he was committed The King therefore confin'd him into a deep cave digg'd in a rock of purpose not to curb his fierce and cruell disposition but rather encourage it for whosoever at any time he feared or whatsoever he was that had offended him he sent him to this Minotaur on some impertinent or other by whom he was cruelly butchered The cave was called Labyrinthus and therefore described with so many intricate blind Meanders in regard of the difficulty of his return
with life who was seen to enter there Therefore when Theseus came to Minos he sent him to be devoured by this Minotaur of which Ariadne having notice being enamoured of Theseus she sent him a sword by which he slew the monstrous Homicide and that was the clew so often remembred by the Poets which guided Theseus out of the Labyrinth Canace Canusia Valeria Tusculana MAcareus and Canace were brother and sister the sonne and daughter to Aeolus King of the winds for so the Poets feigned him because the clouds and mists arising from the seven Aeolian Islands of which he was King alwaies pretended great gusts and tempests he is reported to be the son of Jupiter and Alceste daughter to Hyppotes the Tyrian of whom he had the denomination of Hippotides This Macareus and Canace having most lewdly and incestuously loved one another covering their bedding and bosoming under the unsuspected pretext of consanguinity and neernesse in blood It could no longer be conceal'd by reason Canace at length brought forth a son which as she would secretly have conveied out of the Court by the hands of her trusty Nurse who had been before acquainted with all their wicked proceedings the infant by crying betraied it selfe to the grandfather who searching the Nurse examining the matter finding the incest and miserably distracted with the horridnesse of the fact instantly in the heat of his incensed anger caused the innocent infant to be cut in pieces and limb by limp cast to the dogs and before his face devoured This Macareus hearing took sanctuary in the Temple of Apollo but Canace by reason of her greennesse and weak estate not able to make escape and shun the violence of her fathers threatned fury he sent her a sword and withall commanded her to punish her selfe according to the nature of the fact Which she receiving writ a passionate letter to her brother in which she first besought him to have a care of his safety and next to cause the bones of the slaughter'd infant to be gathered together and put into an urn with hers this having done with the sword sent her by her father she transpierc'd her self and so expired The like weread of Canusia daughter of Papirius Volucris who being found with child by Papirius Romanus her own naturall brother when the heinousnesse of the fact came to the knowledge of the father he sent to either of them a sharp sword with which they as resolutely slew themselves as they had before rashly offended The like successe of her incestuous affection had Valeria Tusculana who as Plutarch relates by the counsell of one of her handmaids comming privately in the night into the arms of her father and the deed after made known to Valerius he in detestation of the act slew her with his own hand Julia the Empresse THese abominable sins that have been punisht in inferiour persons have in great ones been countenanced Sextus Aurelius and Aelius Spartianus both testifie That Antonius Caracalla Emperour doting upon his stepmother Julia was often heard to say in her presence I would if it were lawfull at length apprehending his purpose to these his words she made this reply What you list to doe O Emperour you may make lawfull Princes have power to make Lawes but are not tied to keep any by which words imboldned he took her to his bed whose son Geta but a while before he had caused to be slain Herodotus remembers us of one Opaea the stempmother to Scithes King of the Scythians who likewise took her to his bed and made her his Queen So Berenices the sister of Ptolomaeus Evergetes was made partner both of his bed and Kingdome Arsinoe the sister of Ptolomaeus Philadelphus became his concubine The like did Herod Antipas unto Herodias the wife of his brother Philip. We read also of one Leucon who slew his brother Oxilochus King oâ— Pontus for the love of his wife whom he after married Faustina the sister of Marcus Antonius Emperour became her brothers paramour on whom he begat Lucilla whom he after gave in marriage to his brother L. Antonius Theodoricus King of the Frenchmen married the daughter of his own brother whom he before had slain And Pontanus remembers us of one Johannes Ariminensis who espoused his own sister Philip the brother of Alphonsus the tenth King of Spaine forcibly married Christiana daughter to the King of Dacia his own brothers wife all Christianity and Religion set apart Volaterranus remembers us of one Stratonice who being devishly doted on by Antiochus Soter King of Syria his own father at his importunity gave her up into his sons incestuous embraâ—es Virgil in his tenth book speaks of Casperia stepmother to Anchemolus the son of Rhaetus King of the Marâ—ubians who was by him adulterated These prodigious acts have been encouraged by Kings drawing their presidents from Jupiter who vitiated Ceres and married his sister Juno when in my opinion the industry of the Poets in illustrating the escapes of Jupiter and the other gods was aimed at no other end then to manifest unto all men That such deities were not worthy adoration that were calumnized with so many whoredomes adulteries and incests The sisters of Cambyses THese might seem fearfull enough before related but I will give you a short taste of some more abominable I have shewed the examples of Lust but these following are besides lust polluted with unheard of Tyranny Herodotus in his third book speaking at large of the life and acts of Cambyses the great Persian King and son of Cyrus relates that having shewed his puissance abroad in Egypt Greece and other places to the terror of the greatest of the world he caused his innocent brother Smerdis to be secretly made away by the hand of his most trusted Praxaspes The next inhumanity which he purposed to exemplifie unto the world was the death of his sister who followed him in his Camp to Egypt and back again being not only his sister by parents but his wife also The manner how she came to be his Queen was as followeth Before his time it was not lawfull but punishable amongst the Persians to marry into that proximity of blood but Cambyses surprized with the love of his sister and having resolved by what means soever to make her his wife yet to colour his purpose he sent for those honourable persons who were stiled the Kings Judges being selected men for their wisedomes and of great place and quality as those that enjoy their offices Durante via unlesse some capitall crime be proved against them besides they are the expounders of the Lawes and to their causes all matters of doubt and controversie are referred These being convented The King demanded of them Whether they had any one law amongst so many which licenc'd a man that had a will so to do to contract matrimony with his sister to whom the Judges thus ingeniously answered We
have indeed no Law which gives licence for a brother to marry with a sister but we have found a Law O Soveraigne which warrants the King of Persia to do whatsoever liketh him best Thus they without abrogation of the Persian Laws soothed the Kings humor and preserv'd their own honours and lives who had they crost him in the least of his designs had all undoubtedly perished This he made the ground for the marriage of the first and not long after he adventured upon the second The younger of these two who attended him into Egypt he slew whose death as that of her brother Smerdis is doubtfully reported The Graecians write that two whelps the one of a Lion the other of a Dog were brought before Cambyses to sight and try masteries at which sight the young Lady was present but the Lion having victory over the Dog another of the same â—itter broke his chain and taking his brothers part they two had superiority over the Lyon Cambyses at this sight taking great delight she then sitting next him upon the sudden fell a weeping this the King observing demanded the occasion of her teares she answered it was at that object to see one brother so willing to help the other and therefore she wept to remember her brothers death and knew no man then living that was ready to revenge it and for this cause say the Greeks she was doom'd to death by Cambyses The Egyptians report it another way That she sitting with her brother at table out of a sallet dish took a lettice and pluckt off leafe by leafe and shewing it to her husband asked him Whether a whole lettice or one so despoiled shewed the better who answered a whole one then said she behold how this lettice now unleaved looketh even so hast thou disfigured and made naked the house of King Cyrus With which words he was so incensed that he kicked and spurned her then being great with child with that violence that she miscarried in her child birth and died ere she was delivered and these were the murderous effects of his detestable incest Of Livia Horestilla Lollia Paulina Cesonia c. IT is reported of the Emperour Caligula that he had not onely illegall and incestuous converse with his three naturall sisters but that he after caused them before his face to be prostitued by his ministers and servants thereby to bring them within the compasse of the Aemilian Law and convict them of adultery He vitiated Livia Horestilla the wife of C. Pisonius and Lollia Paulina whom he caused to be divorced from her husband C. Memnius both whose beds within lesse then two years he repudiated withall interdicting the company and society of man for ever Caesonia he loved more affectionately insomuch that to his familiar friends as boasting of her beauty he would often shew her naked To add unto his insufferable luxuries he defloured one of the vestall virgins Neither was the Emperor Commodus much behind him in devilish and brutish effeminacies for he likewise strumpeted his own sisters and would wittingly and willingly see his mistresses and concubines abused before his face by such of his favourites as he most graced he kept not at any time lesse then to the number of three hundred for so Lampridius hath left recorded Gordianus junior who was competitioâ— with his father in the Empire kept two and twenty concubines by each of which he had three or foure children at the least therefore by some called the Priamus of his age but by others in derision the Priapus The Emperor Proculus took in battell a hundred Sarmatian virgins and boasted of himselfe that he had got them all with child in lesse then fifteen daies this Vopiscus reports and Sabellicus But a great wonder is that which Johannes Picus Mirandula relates of Hercules as that he lâ—y with fifty daughters of Lycomedes in one night and got them all with child with forty nine boies only failing in the last for that proved a girle Jocasta APollodorus Atheniensis in his third book De deorum origine records this history After the death of Amphion King of Thebes Laius succeeded who took to wife the daughter of Menocoeas called Jocasta or as others write Epicasta This Laius being warned by the Oracle that if of her he begat a son he should prove a Parricide and be the death of his father notwithstanding forgetting himselfe in the distemperature of wine he lay with her the same night she conceived and in processe brought forth a male issue whom the King caused to be cast out into the mountain Cytheron thinking by that means â—o prevent the predicted destiny Polybus the herdsman to the King of Corinth finding this infant bore it home to his wife Periboea who nursed and brought it up as her own and causing the swelling of the feet with which the child was then troubled to be cured they grounded his name from that disease and called him Oedipus This inâ—ant as he had increased in years so he did in all the perfections of nature as well in the accomplishments of the â—ind as the body insomuch that as well in capacity and volubility of speech as in all active and generous exercises he was excellent above all of his age his vertues being generally envied by such as could nor equall them they thought to disgrace him in something and gave him the contemptible name of counterfeit and bastard this made him curiously inquisitive of his supposed mother and she not able in that point to resolve him he made a journy to Delphos to consult with the Oracle about the true knowledge of his birth and parents which forewarned him from returning into his own Countrie because he was destined not only to be the deaths-man of his father but to add misery unto mischiefe he was likewise born to be incestuous with his mother Which to prevent and still supposing himselfe to be the son of Polybus and Peribaea he forbore to return to Corinth and hiring a Chariot took the way towards Phocis It hapned that in a strait and narrow passage meeting with his father Laius and Polyphontes his Charioter they contended for the way but neither willing to give place from words they fell to blowes in which contention Polyphontes kill'd one of the horses that drew the Chariot of Oedipus at which inraged he drew his sword and first slew Polyphontes and next Laius who seconded his servant and thence took his ready way towards Thebes Damasistratus King of the Plataeenses finding the body of Laius caused it to be honourably interred In this interim Creon the son of Menecoeus in this vacancy whilst there was yet no King invades Thebes and after much slaughter possesseth himselfe of the Kingdome Juno to vex him the more sent thither the monster Sphinx born of Eâ—hidna and Tiphon she had the face of a woman the wings of a fowle and the breast feet and taile of a Lion she
having learned certaing problems and aenigmas of the muses disposed her selfe in the mountaine Phycaeus The riddle that she proposed to the Thebans was this What creature is that which hath one distinguishable voice that first walkes upon four next two and lastly upon three feet and the more legs it hath is the lesse able to walk The strict conditions of this monster were these that so often as he demanded the solution of this question till it was punctually resolved he had power to chuse out any of the people where he best liked whom he presently devoured but they had this comfort from the Oracle That this Aenigma should be no sooner opened and reconciled with truth but they should be freed from this misery and the monster himselfe should be destroied The last that was devoured was Aemon son to King Creon who fearing lest the like sad fate might extend it selfe to the rest of his issue caused proclamation to be made That whosoever could expound this riddle should marry Jocasta the wife of the dead King Laius and be peaceably invested in the Kingdome this no sooner came to the ears of Oedipus but he undertook it and resolved it thus This creature saith he is man who of all other hath only a distinct voice he is born four footed as in his infancy crawling upon his feet and hands who growing stronger erects himselfe and walkes upon two only but growing decrepit and old he is fitly said to move upon three as using the help of his staffe This solution was no sooner published but Sphinx cast herselfe headlong from the top of that high Promontory and so perished and Oedipus by marrying the Queen was with a generall suffrage instated in the Kingdome He begot of her â—wo sons and two daughters Eâ—eocles and Polâ—nâ—ces Ismâ—ne and Antigone though some write that Oedipus had these children by Rurigenia the daughter of Hyperphantes These former circumstances after some years no sooner came to light but Jocasta in despair strangled her selfe Oedipus having torn out his eies was by the people expulsed Thebes cursing at his departure his children for suffering him to undergo that injury his daughter Antigone lead him as far as to Colonus a place in Attica where there is a grove celebrated to the Eumenides and there remained till he was removed thence by Theseus and soon after died And these are the best fruits that can grow from so abominable a root Of the miserable end of his incestuous issue he that would be further satisfied let him read Sophocles Apollodorus and others Oâ— him Tyresias thus prophesied Neque hic laetabitur Calibus eventis suis nam factus c. No comfort in his fortunes he shall find He now sees clearly must at length be blind And beg that 's now a rich man who shall stray Through forrein Countries for his doubtfull way Still gripping with his staffe The brother he And father of his children both shall be His mothers son and husband first strike dead His father and adulterate next his bed Crithaeis SHE was wife to one Phaemius a schoolmaster and mother to Homer Prince of the Greek Poets Ephorus of Coma in a book intiteled the Cumaean Negotiation leaves her story thus related Atelles Maeones and Dius three brothers were born in Cuma Dius being much indebted was forced to remove thence into Ascra a village of Boeotia and there of his wife Pâ—cemedâ— he begot Hesiodus Atelles in his own Country dying a naturall death committed the pupillage of his daughter Crithaeis to his brother Maeones but comming to ripe growth she being by him vitiated and proving with child both fearing the punishment due to such an offence she was conferred upon Phaemius to whom she was soon after married and walking one day out of the City to bath her selfe in the river Miletus she was by the stood side delivered of young Homer and of the name thereof called him Mâ—lesigines But after losing his sight he was called Homer for such of the Cumaeans and Ionians are called Omouroi Aristotle he writes contrary to Ephorus that what time Neleus the son of Codrus was President in Ionia of the Collony there then newly planted a beautifull Virgin of this Nation was forced and deâ—â—oured by one of the Genius's which used â—o dance with the Muses who after remâ—ved to a place called Aegina and meeting with certain forragers and robbers that made sundry incursions into the Country she was by them surprized and brought to Smyrna who presented her to Meonides a companion to the King of the Lydians he at the first sight inamoured of her beauty took her to wife who after sporting her selfe by the banks of Milâ—rus brought forth Homer and instantly expired And since we had occasion to speak of his mother let it not seem altogether impertinent to proceed a little of the son who by reason of his being hurried in his childhood from one place to another and ignorant both of his Country and parents went to the Oracle to be resolved concerning them both as also his future fortunes who returned him this doubtfull answer Foelâ—x miser ad sortemes quia natus utramque Perquiris patrians matris tibi non patris câ—â—tat c. Happy and wretched both must be thy fate That of thy Country dost desire to heare Known is thy 〈◊〉 clime thy father 's not An Island in the sea to Creet not neer Nor yet far â—ss in which thou shalt expire When 〈◊〉 a riddle shalt to thee propose Whose dark Aenigma thou canst not acquire A double Fate thy life hath thou shalt lose Thine eies yet shall thy lofty Muse ascend And in thy death thou life have without end In his later daies he was present at Thebes at their great feast called Saturnalia and from thence comming to Ius and sitting on a stone by the water port there landed some fishermen whom Homer asked what they had taken but they having got nothing that day but for want of other work only lousing themselves thus merily answered him Non capta afferimus fuerant quae capta relictis We bring with us those that we could not find But all that we could catch we lâ—ft behind Meaning that all such vermine as they could catch they cast away but what they could not take they brought along Which riddle when Homer could not unfold it is said that for very griefe he ended his life This unmatchable Poet whom no man regarded in his life yet when his works were better considered of after his death he had that honour that seven famous Cities contended about the place of his birth every one of them appropriating it unto themselves Pindarus the Poet makes question whether he were of Chius or Smyrna Simonides affirms him to be of Chius Antimachus and Nicander of Colophon Aristotle the Philosopher to be of Ius Ephorus the Historiographer that he was of Cuma Some have been of opinion that he was born in Salamine
to the Adulteresses Aulus Gellius in his first book de Mortibus Atticis cites these words out of Varro's Memppea The errors saith he and vices of the wife are either to be corrected or endured he that chastiseth her makes her the more conformable he that suffers her makes himselfe the better by it thus interpreting Varro's meaning That husbands ought to reprove the vices of their wives but if they be perverse and intractable his patience though it prevaile not with them yet much benefits himself yet are not their insolencies any way to be much incouraged because it is a duty exacted from all men to have a respect to the honour of their houses and families Besides such as will not be reformed by counsell are by the lawes to be punished Caesar sued a divorce from his wife because she was but suspected of adultery though no manifest guilt could be proved against her Lysias the famous Oratour declaimed against his wife in a publick oration because he was jealous of her spouse-breaâ—h But much is that inhumane rashnesse to be avoided by which men have undertook to be their own justifiers and have mingled the pollution of their beds with the blood of the delinquents Cato Censorius reckons such in the number of common executioners and counts them little better then bloody hangmen For saith he impious and abominable it is for any man to pollute his hands in such unnatural murder he may with as much justice violate the ordinances of the Common weal or with as great integrity prophaâ—e the sacreds of the gods Sufficient it is that we have lawes to punish and judges to examine and sentence all such transgressors Nero the most barbarous of Princes after that by kicking and spurning he had slain his wife Poppaea in his anger though he was altogether composed of mischiefe yet when he recollected himselfe and truly considered the vilenesse of the fact he had not only with great sorrow bewailed her death to make what amends he could to the dead body before outraged but he would not suffer her course to be burned in the Roman fires but caused a funerall pile of all sweet and odoriferous woods fetcht from the furthest parts of the world to be erected sending up her smoke as incense offered unto the gods and after caused her ashes in a golden â—urn to be conserved in the famous sepulchre of the Iulian family Neither is this discourse aimed to perswade men to too much remisnesse in wincking at and sleeping out the adulteries of their wives A most shamefull thing it was in Antonius the best of the Caesars to extoll his wife Faustina for the best of women and most temperate of wives when it was most palpably known to all men how in Cajeâ—a she commonly prostituted her selfe to Plaiers and Ministrels L. Sylla that was surnamed Happy was in this most infortunate because his easie nature was perswaded that his wise Metella was the chastest of matrons when her known looseness and notorious incontinence was ballated up and down the City Disgracefull it was in Philip King of Macedon who having conquered divers nations and subdued many Kingdomes yet could not govern one wife at home who though he had manifest probability of her loosnesse and riots yet suffered with all patience her insolencies and being violently thrust out of her bedchamber by her and her maids dissembled the injury to his friends excusing the wrong and seeming to laugh at the injury In like manner Clodius the Emperour excused his wife Messalina being taken in adultery this liberty grew to boldnesse and that boldnesse to such an height of impudency that from that time forward she took pride to commit those luxuries in publike which at first she not without blushes adventured on in private It is related of her that before the faces of her handmaids and servants she dissolutely I might say brutishly cast her selfe into the embraces of one Sylius not content with secret inchastity unlesse she had a multitude to witnesse her abominable congression of whom the most excellent of the Satyrists thus speaks Qid privata domus quid fecevit Hippa curas Respice rivales divorum Claudius audi Quae tulerit Dost thou thou take care what 's done at home Or Hippa dost thou feare Behold the rivals of the gods What Claudius he doth hear The sacred institution of marriage was not only for procreation but that man should make choice of a woman and a woman to make election of a husband as companions and comforters one of another as well in adversity as prosperity Aristotle confers the cares and businesses that lie abroad upon the husband but the domestick actions within doors he assigns to the wife for he holds it as inconvenient and uncomely for the wife to busie her selfe about any publick affaires as for the man to play the cotquean at home Marriage as Franciscus Patricius saith becomes the civil man to which though he be not compelled by necessity yet it makes the passage of life more pleasing and delightfull not ordained for the satisfying of lust but the propagation of issue Aelius Verus one of the Roman Emperors a man given to all voluptuousnesse when his wife complained unto him of his extravagancies as never satisfied with change of mistresses and concubines he thus answered her Suffer me O Wife to exercise my delights upon other women for the word Wife is a name of dignity and honour not of wantonnesse and pleasure The punishment of a woman taken in adultery as Plutarch in his Quaest Graec. relates was amongst the Cumaeans after this manner She was brought into the market place and set upon a stone in the publick view of all the people when she had certain hours sate there as a spectacle of scorn she was mounted upon an Asse and led through all the streets of the City and then brought back again and placed upon the same stone ever after reputed notorious and infamous and had the name of Onobatis i. riding upon an Ass end the stone on which she was seated held as polluted 〈…〉 Aelianus in his twelfe book thus sets down the punishment of an adulterer amongst the Cretâ—ns 〈…〉 brought before the judgement seat and being convicted he was crowned with wool to denote his effeminacy 〈◊〉 with an extraordinary mulct held infamous amongst the people and made uncapable of office or dignity in the Common-weal Amongst the Parthians no sin was more severely punished then adultery Carondas made a decree That no Citizen or matron should be taxed in the comedy unlesse it were for Adultery or vain curiosity Plutarch remembers two young men of Syracusa that were familiar friends the one having occasion to travell abroad about his necessary occasions left his wife in charge of his bosome companion whom he most trusted who broke his faith and viâ—iated the woman in his friends absence he returning and finding the injury done him concealed his revenge for a
season till he found an opportunity to strumpet the others wiâ—e which was the cause of of a bloody and intestine war almost to the ruin of the whole City The like combustion was kindled betwixt Pardalus and Tyrrhenus upon semblant occasion Livy in the tenth book of his Decades relates that Q. Fabius Gurges son to the Consul amerced the matrons of Rome for their adulteries and extracted from them so much coin at one time as builded the famous Temple of Venus neer to the great Circus So much of the same in generall now I come to a more particular survey of the persons Of many great Ladies branded with Adultery amongst the Romans and first of Posthumia THis Posthumia was the wife of Servius Sulpitius as Lollia the wiâ—e of Aulus Gabinus Tertullia of Marcus Crassus Mutia the wife of C. Pompâ—ius Servitia the mother of Marcus Brutus Iulia the daughter of Servitia and the third wife of Marcus Crassus Furies Maura the Queen of King Bogades Cleopatra of Aegypt and after beloved of Marcus Antonius and of the Triumviraâ—e all these Queens and noble Matrons is Iulius Caesar said to have adulterated Livia the wife of Augustus Caesar was by him first strumpetted and being great with child to recompence her wrong he hastned the marriage This was objected to him in an oration by Antonius Tertullia Dâ—usilla Salvia Scribonia Tilisconia with all these noble matrons he is said to have commerce Likewise with a great Senators wife whose name is not remembred Augustus being at a publike banquet in his own palace withdrew himselfe from the table in the publick view and before the cloth was taken up brought her back again and seated her in her own place with her haire rufled her cheeks blushing and her eies troubled Messalina the wife of Claudius Tibezius first privately then publickly prostituted her selfe to many insomuch that custome grew to that habit that such as she affected and either for modesties sake or for fear durst not enter into her imbraces by some stratagem or other she caused to be murdred as Claudian saith her insatiat desires yet stretched further making choice of the most noble virgins and matrons of Rome whom she either perswaded or compelled to be companions with her in her adulteries She frequented common brothel houses trying the abilities of many choice and able young men by turns from whence it is said of her she returned wearied but not satisfied if any mâ—n refused her imbraces her revenge stretched not only to him but unto all his family And to crown her libidinous actions it is proved of her that in the act of lust she contended with a mercenary and common strumpet which in that kind should have the priority and that the Empresse in the 25 action became victor Of her Pliny Iuvenal and Sex Aurelius speaks more at large a strange patience it was in an Emperour to suffer this I rather commend that penurious fellow who having married a young wife and keeping her short both in liberty and diet she cast her eies upon a plain Country fellow one of her servants and in short time grew with child the old churle mistrusting his own weaknesse being as much indebted to his belly as to his servants for their wages for his parsimony made 〈◊〉 gâ—d to both and now fearing a further charge would come upon him he got a warrant to bring them both before a Justice They being convented and he having made his case known the Gentlewoman being asked upon divers interrogatives modestly excused her selfe but not so cleanly but that the complaint sounded in some sort just and the case apparant The Country fellow was next call'd in question to whom the justice with an austere countenance thus spake Syria 〈◊〉 resolve me truly saith he and it shall be the better for thee Hast thou got this woman with child yea or no to whom the plain fellow thus bluntly answered Yes Sir I think I have how quoth the justice thou impudent and bawdy knave shew me what reason thou hadst to get thy mistresse with child to whom the fellow replied I have served my master a very hard man so many years and I never got any thing else in his service How this businesse was compounded I know not certainly only of this I am assured that our English women are more courteous of their bodies then bloody of their minds Such was not Roman Fabia who as Plutarch in his Parallels relates was the wife of Fabius Fabricanus and gave her selfe up to a young Gentleman of Rome called Petroniuâ— Valentianus by whose counsell she after slew her husband that they might more freely enjoy their luxuries Salust and Valerius Maximus both report of Aurelia Oristilla who suffered her selfe to be corrupted by Catalin against whom Cicero made many eloquent Orations who the freelier to enjoy her bed caused her son to be poisoned Comparable to Fabia saving in murder was Thimen the wife of King of Agis who forsaking the lawful bed of her husband suffered her selfe to be vitiated by Alcibiades of Athens Martial in his Epigrams writes of one Nevina who going chast to the Bath returned thence an adulteresse of her thus speaking Incidit in Flammam veneremque secula relicto Conjuge Penelope venit abitque Helena Which is thus Englished She fell in fire and followed lust Her husband quite rejected She thither came Penelope chast Went Hellen thence detected Paula Thelesina Proculina Lectoria Gellia all these are by some authors branded for the like inchastities An Egyptian Lady I Have heard of a young Citizen who having married a pretty wanton lâ—sse and as young folke love to be dallying one with another set her upon his knee and sporting with her and pointing one of his fingers at her face now my little rogue saith he I could put out one of thine eies to whom with her two longest fingers stretched forth right and aiming at him in the like fashion she thus answered If with one finger thou put out one of mine eies with these two I will put out both yours This was but wantonnesse betwixt them and appeared better in their action then in my expression and though I speak of a blind King he lost not his eies that way Herodotus relates that after the death of Sesostris King of Egypt his son Pherâ—nes succeeded in the Kingdome who not long after his attaining to the principality was deprived of his sight The reason whereof some yeeld to be this Thinking to passe the river Nilus either by inundations or the force of the winds the waters were driven so far back that they were flowed eighteen cubits above their wonted compasse at which the King inraged shot an arrow into the river as if he would have wounded the channell Whether the gods took this in contempt or the Genius of the river was inraged is uncertain but most sure it is that not long after he lost all the use of sight
and in that darknesse remained for the space of ten years After which time in great melancholly expired he received this comfort from the Oracle which was then in the City Butis That if he washt his eies in the urine of a woman who had been married a full twelve month and in that time had in no waies falsified in her own desires nor derogated from the honour of her husband he should then assuredly receive his sight At which newes being much rejoiced and presuming both of certain and sudden cure he first sent for his wife and Qu. and made proofe of her pore distillation but all in vain he sent next for all the great Ladies of the Court and one after one washt his eies in their water but still they smarted the more yet he saw no whit the better but at length when he was almost in despaire he hapned upon one pure and chast Lady by whose vertue his sight was restored and he plainly cured who after he had better considered with himselfe caused his wife withal those Ladies saving she only by whose temperance and chastity he had reobtained the benefit of the Sun to be assembled into one City pretending there to feast them honourably for joy oâ— his late recovery Who were no sooner assembled at the place called Rubra Gleba apparelled in all their best jewels and chiefest ornaments but commanding the City gates to be shut upon them caused the City to be set on fire and sacrificed all these adulteresses as in one funerall pile reserving only that Lady of whose loialty the Oracle had given sufficient testimony whom he made the partaker of his bed and Kingdome I wish there were not so many in these times whose waters if they were truly cast by the doctors would not rather by their pollution put out the eies quite then with their clearnesse and purity minister to them any help at all Laodice JVstine in his 37. book of History speaks of this Laodice the wife and sister to Mithridates King of Pontus After whose many victories as having overthrown the Scythians and put them to flight those who had before defeated Zopyron a great Captain of Alexanders army which consisted of thirty thousand of his best souldiers the same that overcame Cyrus in battell with an army of two hundred thousand with those that had affronted and beaten King Philip in many oppositions being fortunately and with great happinesse still attended by which he more and more flourisht in power and increased in majestie In this height of fortune as never having known any disaster having bestowed some time in managing the affairs of Pontus and next such places as he occupied in Macedonia he privately then retired himselfe into Asia where he took view of the scituation of those defenced Cities and this without the jealousie or suspition of any From thence he removed himselfe into Bythinia proposing in his own imaginations as if he were already Lord of all After this long retirement he came into his own Kingdome where by reason of his absence it was rumour'd and given out for truth that he was dead At his arrivall he first gave a loving and friendly visitation to his wife and sister Laudice who had not long before in that vacancy brought him a young son But in this great joy and solemnity made for his welcome he was in great danger of poison for Laodice supposing it seems Mithridates to be dead as it before had been reported and therefore safe enough had prostituted her selfe to divers of her servants and subjects and now fearing the discovery of her adultery she thought to shadow a mighty fault with a greater mischiefe and therefore provided this poisoned draught for his welcome But the King having intelligence thereof by one of her handmaids who deceived her in her trust expiated the treason with the blood of all the conspirators I read of another Laodice the wife of Ariarythres the King of Cappadocia who having six hopefull sons by her husband poisoned five of them after she had before given him his last infectious draught the youngest was miraculously preserved from the like fate who after her decease for the people punished her cruelty with death succeeded in the Kingdome It is disputed in the Greek Commentaries by what reason or remedy affection once so devilishly setled in the breast or heart of a woman may be aâ—ered or removed or by what confection adulterous appetite once lodged and kindled in the bosome may be extinguished The Magicians have delivered it to be a thing possible so likewise Cadmus Milesius who amongst other monuments of history writ certain tractates concerning the abolishing of love for so it is remembred by Suidas in his collections And therefore I would invite all women of corrupted breasts to the reading of this briefe discourse following A remarkable example was that of Faustina a noble and illustrious Lady who though she were the daughter of Antonius Pius the Emperor and wife to Marcus Philosophus notwithstanding her fathers majesty and her husbands honour was so besotted upon a Gladiator or common fencer that her affection was almost grown to frensie for which strange disease as strange a remedy was devised The Emperor perceiving this distraction still to grow more and more upon his daughter consulted with the Chaldeans and Mathematicians in so desperate a case what was best to be done after long consideration it was concluded amongst them that there was but only one way left open to her recovery and that was to cause the fencer to be slaine which done to give her a full cup of his luke-warm blood which having drunk off to go instantly to bed to her husband This was accordingly done and she cured of her contagious disease That night was as they sad begot Antoninus Commodus who after succeeded him in the Empire who in his government did so afflict the Common-weal and trouble the Theater with fensing and prizes and many other bloody butcheries that he much better deserved the name of Gladiator then Emperor This that I have related Julius Capitolinus writes to Caesar Dioclesianus Were all our dissolute matrons to be cured by the like Phisick there would no question be amongst men lesse offenders and among women fewer patients that complained of sick stomacks Phaedima CAmbyses having before unnaturally slain his brother Smerdis by the hands of his best trusted friend Praxaspes but after the death of the King for the horridnesse of the fact the Regicide not daring to avouch the deed to the people lest it might prejudice his own safety one Smerdis a Magician whose ears Cambises had before caused to be cut off took this advantage to aspire to the Kingdome and being somewhat like in favour to the murdered Princes who was by the Souldiers generally believed to live it purchased him so many abettors such as were deluded with his impostures that he was generally saluted and crowned Emperor This was
the sixt Emperour of the Turks but also if need were or should any future discontent arise oppose him in hostility But this politick purpose of the Kings arriving almost at the wished period seemed so distastfull to the Sultans of Casbia that they first attempted by arguments and reasons to divert the King from this intended match but finding themselves no waies likely to prevaile to make the King see with what errours he was maskt and with what sorceries deluded They diligently awaited when in the absence of the King the Tâ—â—taâ— and the Queen Begum kept their accustomed appointment of which the Sultans having notice they entered that part of the Palace brake ope the doors and rushed into the Queens bed-chamber where finding Abdilcherai in suspitious conference with the Queen they slew him with their Sables and after cutting off his privy parts most barbarously thrust them into his mouth and after as some report slew the Queen Though this history shew great remisness in the King most sure I am it was too presumptive an insolence in the subject To this Persian Queen I will join the wife of Otho the third Emperour of that name This lustfull Lady as Polycronicon makes mention was of somewhat a contrary disposition with the former For neglecting the pride and gallantry of the Court she cast her eies upon an homely hushand better supplied it seems with the lineaments of nature then the ornaments of art but with an honesty of mind exceeding both for when this libidinous Lady could by no tempting allurements abroad nor fitting opportunity sorted private insinuate with him eiâ—sieâ— to violate his allegeance to his Prince or corrupt his own vertue her former affection turned unto such rage and malice that she caused him to be accused of a capitall crime convicted and executed But the plain honest man knowing her spleen and his own innocency he called his wife to him at the instant when his head was to be cut off and besought her as she ever tendred his former love which towards her he had kept inviolate to meditate upon some course or other by which his guiltlesse and unmerited death might be made manifest to the world which she with much sorrow and many tears having promised he gently submitted to his faâ—e and his body was delivered to the charge of his widdow Within few daies after the Emperour kept a day solemn in which his custome was bring mounted upon his â—oiaâ—ll throne to examine the causes of the fatherlesse and widdowes and to 〈◊〉 whereâ—n they were oppressed and by whom and in person to do them justice Among the rest came this injured widdow and brings her husbands head in her hand humbly kneeling before the Emperors Throne demanding of him What that inhumane wretch deserved who had caused an innocent man to be put to death to whom the Emperour replied Produce that man before the judgement seat and as I am royall he shall assuredly lose his head To whom she answered Thou art that man O Emperor for by thy power and authority this murder was committed and for an infallible testimony that this poor husband of mine perisht in his innocence command red hot irons to be brought into this place over which if I pass bare footed and without any damage presume he was then as much injured in his death as I am now made miserable in his losse The irons being brought and her own innocence together with her husbands being made both apparant the Emperour before all his nobility submitted himselfe to her sentence But at the intercession of the Bishop the woman limited him certaine daies in which he might find out the murder he first demanded ten daies after eight then seven and last six in which time by inquiry and curious examinations he found his wife to be the sole delinquent for which she was brought to the bar sentenced and after burned This done Otho to recompence the woman for the loss of her husband gave her four Castles and Towns in the Bishoprick of Beynensis which still beare name according to the limit of those daies First the Tenth second the Eight third the Seventh fourth the Sixt. Olimpias OThas of Persia having defeated Nectenabus King of Aegypt and expelled him from his Kingdome he the better to secure himselfe from the Sophies tyranny shaved his head and disguising himselfe with all such jewels as he could conveniently carry about him conveied himselfe into Macedonia the authors of this history aâ—e Vincentius and Trevisa There as they say he lived as a Chaldeâ—n or Cabalist where by his Negromancie and Art Magicâ— he wrought himselfe so deeply into the brest of Olympias that taking the opportunity whilest Philip was abroad in his forrein expeditions he lay with her in the shape of Jupiter Hammon and begot Alexander the Great After the Queens conception many fowles used to flie about Philip when he was busied in his wars amongst others there was a Hen that as he sate in his Tent flew up into his lap and there laid an egg which done she cackling flew away The King rising up hastily cast it upon the ground and brake it when suddenly a young Dragon was seen to leap out of the shel and creeping round about it and making offer to enter therein againe died ere it had quite compassed it The King at this prodigie being staâ—â—led called all his Astrologers together demanding of one Antiphon the noblest Artist amongst them What the omen might be of that wonder who answered him That his wife Olympias was great with ason whose conquests should fill the world with a stonishment aiming to compass the whole universe but should die before he could reduce it into one entiâ—e Monarchy the Dragon being the 〈◊〉 of a â—oiall conquerour and the round ovâ—ll circumâ— erence the symbol of the world With this answer Philip was satisfied When the time came of Olympias her travell there were earthâ—quaâ—es lightnings and thunders as if the last dissolution had been then pâ—esent when were seen two Eagles pearched upon the top of the Pallace presaging the two great Empires of Europe and Asia Young Alexander being grown towards manhood it hapned that walking abroad with Nectenâ—bus in the presence of his father Philip the young Prince requested the Astrologian to instruct him in his art To whom Nectenabus answered that with all willingnesse he would and comming neer a deep pit Alexander thrust the Magician headlong into that descent by which sudden fall he was wounded to death yet Nectebanus calling to the Prince demanded for what cause he had done him such outrage Wâ—o answered I did it by reason of thy art for ignoble it were in a Prince to study those vain scienâ—es by which men will undertake to predict other mens fates when they have nor the skill to prevent their own To whom Nectenâ—bus answered Yes Alexander I calculated mine own destiny by which I knew I should be slain by mine own naturall son
master kept great store of pullen about the house and that was all Hens dung Hens dung saith the Gentleman I have a peece of land at home I would it were all there if thou canst help me to any quantity of it being sure that is such I will give thee twenty shillings a load for as much as thou canst provide and fetch it away with my own carriage The fellow hearing this promised within a month to furnish him with twenty load at least at the same price The match was made and the Gentleman after breakfast took horse and departed The hostler bespeaks all such soile as the Town could affoard or the next Villages by and made such a huge heap as annoied the whole yard knowing the Gentleman to have been ever a man of his word who came according to the time appointed The hostler is glad to see him and tels him he hath provided him of his commodity and withall brings him to the place where it lay like a laystall The Gentleman seems wondrous glad of this new merchandise and drawer out certain peeces out of his pocket as if he meant to give him present paiment but withall asked him Art thou sure all this is hens dung upon my life it is saith the hostler expecting still to finger the gold But replied the Gentleman art thou sure there is no cocks dung amongst it O lord yes saith the hostler how can it be else why then quoth the Gentleman I pray thee make thy best of it good friend for iâ— there be the least â—â—cks dung amongst it it will do me no pleasure I will not give thee three farthings for it all Thus was the bostler notwithstanding his former cost forced to â—â—move all that muckhill and make the yard clean at his own charge with much addition of mockery and laughter Iâ— for a little quantity of cocks dung you 〈◊〉 at all the rest here included the better judgement I hope will imputâ— it as to my simplicity so to your over 〈◊〉 Another main thing is to be feared wherein I must of force 〈◊〉 the censure of some or other namely Why amongst 〈◊〉 histories I have inserted Mortyrs and to confirm their truth have brought Authors that have been held superstitious I answer to all in generall I have only specified such things as I have read and for my own opinion I keep it reserved But because I now come to a conclusion I will end this book thus briefly in regard that women die and so do many die and that they die at all I will give you a womans reason why it is so Because they can live no longer Explicit lib. quartus Inscriptus Melpomene THE FIFTH BOOK inscribed TERPSICHORE Intreating of Amazons and other Women famous either for Valour or for Beauty A Question may be demanded Why under the Muse 〈◊〉 I personate the Bold and the Beautifull the War-like and the Faire she being the Muse to whom measureâ— and dances are solely peculiar as being of them the only and first inventresse I 〈◊〉 and I hope not impertinently that considering every circumstance I know not how to commâ—nd them to a more fit Mecaenâ—â— or Patron for what doth all your martial discipline consist but upon 〈◊〉 number measure distance and order and all these in Choâ—eis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 danceâ— especially we obseâ—ved In dances we keep time to the musick so in marching or drâ—lling our ears are attentive to the voice of the Captaine or Generall In the figures of the one and files of the other number is necessarily observed so is measure distance and order for in these they have an equall correspondence Now concerning fair women whom in all masks at the Court City or elsewhere do your gallants pick out but the Virgins or Ladies most beautifull nay even at Wakes or Weddings in the Country the fairest lasse is continually called out to dance be it but to the harp taber or bag pipe Amongst the souldiers were celebrated the Pyrrhick dance in armour first instituted by King Pyrrhus of Epire so likewise the Matachine or sword dance what measures have been devised for the exercise of faire Ladies Custome derived from all Antiquity still makes frequent amongst us It was used amongst the Jewes witnesse Herodias and is still continued in Spain France and England A second doubt is whether the magnanimous or the exquisitely featured whether Fortitude or Pulchritude ought to have precedence and first place It is a maxime amongst the Physitians Plus necat gula quam gladius i. surfets have been the destruction of more then the sword so I am of opinion That beauty hath been the ruine of more Cities the depopulation of more Kingdoms and destruction of more men then the sword But in this place since the courage of the mind and excellence of form contend for the upper hand I take it from Feature to bestow it on Magnanimity and spirit since the deeds of the one live to all posterity but the frailty of the other is subject to every small infirmity Therefore Ovid in his book de arte amandi thus writes Forma bonum fragile est quantumque accedit ad annos Fit minor Gradu carpitur ipse suo c. Form's a frail good as time runs on it wasts And the more spends it selfe the more it hasts Nor alwaies can the purple violet smell Or Lillies bloom in whitenesse that excell The fragrant rose whose beauty we desire The leaves once falne shewes but a naked brier O thou most faire white haires come on a pace And wrinckled furrowes which shall plow thy face So likewise Petronius Arbiter in one of his Satyrs Quod solum formae decus est cecidere Capillae The only beauty of her shape her haire Fell from her head her beauty to impaire Summer succeeds the Spring her Autumn chaceth And them sad Winter with his snow disgraceth Deceitfull Nature all these youthfull joies Thou gav'st us first thou art the first destroies Now the fruits and effects of this frail beauty especially where a faire face meeteth with a corrupted mind I will next shew you by history Ahab by the perswasion of his faire wife Jesabel was the death of many of the Prophets of the Lord. Dalila was the confusion of Sampson the strong Strange women brought Solomon the Wise to idolatry and to forget God Joram a King of Israel at the instigation of Athalia committed many horrible outrages Helena's beauty was the occasion oâ— that infinitâ— slaughter betwixt the Greeks and Trojans Pâ—lops succeeding in the Kingdome of Phâ—ygia made warre upon Oâ—nomaus thâ— fatâ—er of Hyprodamia because being surprized with her beauty she was denied him in 〈◊〉 Another Hyppodamia 〈◊〉 wife of Perithous was the occasion of that great 〈◊〉 or battel betwixt the 〈◊〉 and the Lâ—pithes for which Pâ—â—pertius cals her Ischomache of the 〈…〉 Isco which signifieth Habeo and Mache Pâ—gna his words are these Qualis Iscomache
her Let me alone the tenement is mine own and I may lie where I list so long as I pay rent for the house Some few nights after comming home in the like tune and sitting asleep in a chair before the chimnie his wife being gone to bed presently the man fals into the fire the maid cries out to her Mistresse O mistresse my Master is falne and lies in the fire even in the midst of all the fiâ—e she lay still and turning her on the other side said so long as he paies rent for the house he may lie where he please But to more serious businesse for I have done sporting Of English Viragoes And of Joan de Pucil OF Guendoline the wife of King Locrine and daughter to Corinaeus Cuke of Cornwall I shall take more occasion to speak more at large in the discourse of the beautifull Estreld Elphleda was sister to King Edward before the conquest sirnam'd the fourth she was wife to Etheldredus Duke of Mercia who assisted her husband in the restoring of the City of Chester after it had been destroied and demolished by the Danes encompassing it with new wals he was Generall to the King in all his expeditions against the Danes in the last battell that he fought against them at a place called Toten Hall in Stafforshire he gave them a mighty overthrow but a greater at Wooddensfield where were slain two Kings two Earls and of the souldiers many thousands which were of the Danes of Nothumberland In this battel were the King and Elphleda both present Soon after this victory Etheldredus died and she governed many years after him in all Mercia or middle England except the two Cities of London and Oxford which the King her brother reserved to himselfe She builded many Cities and Towns and repaired others as Thatarn Brimsbury the Bâ—idge upon Sâ—vern Tamworth Liechfield Stafford Warwick Shrewsbury Watrisbury Edisbury in the Forrest besides Chester which is since utterly defaeced and destroied Also she built a Cily and a Castle in the North part of Mercia which then was called Runcofan and after Runcorn Thus far Ranulphus William de regib with others give her this noble Character This Lady having once assaid the throwes of childbirth would never after be drawn to have any carnall society with her husband alledging that it was not sitting or seemly for a woman of her degree being a Princesse a Kings daughter and a Kings sister to 〈◊〉 selfe to such wanton embraces whereof should 〈◊〉 so great pain and sorrow She tamed the Welchmen and in many conflict chased the Danes after whose death the King took the province of Mercia intirely into his own hand 〈◊〉 her daughter Elswina whom he led with him into West-Saxon Henricus lib. 5. hath left this Epitaph as a memoriall over her Tomb Oh Elphlede mighty both in strength and mind The dread of men and victoresse of thy kind Nature hath done as much as nature can To make thee maid but goodnesse makes the man Yet pity thou shouldst change ought save thy name Thou art so good a woman and thy same In that growes greater and more worthy when Thy seminine valour much out shineth men Gâ—eat Caesars acts thy noble deeds excell So sleep in peace Virago maid farewell Mucâ— to this purpose hath Trevisa expressed these verses in old English Maud the daughter of Henry the fourth Emperour of that name after the death of her husband she bore the title of Maud the Empresse her father in his life time swore all the nobility to her succession but he being dead many fell from their oaths of Alleagiance adhering to Stephen Earl of Bullein who by the sisters side was Nephew to the deceased King He notwithstanding he had before sworn to her homage caused himselfe to be crowned at London upon St Stephens day by William Archbishop of Canturbury one that had before past his Oath of Alleapiance to the Empress Much combustion there was in England in those daies betwixt Maud and Stephen and many battel 's fought in which the successe was doubtfull the victory sometimes inclining to the one and again to the other the circumstances rather would become a large Chronicle then a short tractate I will therefore come to that which sorts best with my present purpose This Lady took the King in battell and kept him prisoner at Bristoll from Candlemas day to Holyrood day in harvest for which victory the people came against her with procession which was approved by the Popes legate From Bristol she came to Winchester thence to Wilton to Oxford to Reding and St Albans all the people acknowledging her their Queen and soveraign excepting the Kentish men only she came thence to London to settle the estate of the Land whither came King Stephen for her husbands delivery upon condition that Stephen should surrender the Kingdome up entirely into her hands and betake himselfe ever after to a sequestred and religious life But to this motion the Empresse would by no means assent the Citizens likewise intreated her that they might use the favourable lawes of S Edward and not those strict and severe Statutes and Ordinances devised and established by King Henry her father neither to this would the bold spirited Lady agree For which the people began to withdraw their affections from her and purposed to have surprized her of which she having notice left all her houshold provision and furniture and secretly conveied her selfe to Oxford where she attended her forces who were by this time dispersed and divided But taking with her her Uncle David King of the Scots she came before Winchester laying a strong siege to the Bishops Tower which was defended by the brother of King Stephen But now observe another another female warrior The wife of the imprisoned King being denied his freedome now takes both spirit and arms and associated with one William Iperus came with such a thundring terror to raise the siege that the hardy Empresse to give way to her preâ—ent â—ury was from strength forced to sâ—e to stratagem for finding her powers too weak to withstand the incensed Queen she counterseited her selfe dead and as a Corse caused her body to be conveied to the City of Glocester and by this means escaped But Robert her brother was there taken prisoner and committed to safe custody Then the Queen emploied her selfe on the one part for the release of her husband and the Empresse on the other for the enfranchisement of her brother at length after long debating of the businesse it was determined by the mediators on both sides that Stephen should be restored to the Kingdome and Duke Robert to his Lordship and Earldome and both as they had disturbed the peace of the Land so now to establish it To this the Earl would not assent so that all that year there was nothing but spoile man-slaughter direptions and all manner of violence robbing of the rich and oppressing of
the poor The King upon Holy-Rood day was released and besieged the Empresse in the City of Oxford from Michelmas day to mid winter where being oppressed with famine she took the advantage of the Frost and Snow and attiring her selfe all in white escaped over the Fens and came to the Castle of Wallingford And so much shall suffice to expresse the magnanimity and warlike dispositions of two noble and heroick English Ladies A French Lady comes now in my way of whom I wil give you a short character In the minority of Henry the sixt when France which was once in his entire possession was there governed by our English Regents the famous Duke of Bedsord and others Charls the Dolphin stiled after by the name of Charls the seventh being a Lord without land yet at that time maintaining what hostility he was able whilst the English forraged through France at their will and commanded in all places at their own pleasure the French in utter despaire of shaking oft the English yoke there arose in those desperate times one Joane Are the daughter of James Are and his wife Isabel born in Dâ—mprin This James was by profession a Shepherd and none of the richest Joane whom the French afterwards called Joane de Pucil whilst she was a young maid and kept her fathers sheep would report to divers That our blessed Lady S. Agnes and S. Katharine had appear'd unto her and told her that by her means France should regain her pristine liberty and cast off the yoke of English servitude This comming to the eare of one Peter Bradicourt an eminent Captain then belonging to Charls the Dolphin he used means that she should be sent to have conference with his master who sojourned then in Chynon in his lowest of dejection and despair of hope supply or comfort In her journie thither she came to a Town called Faire-bois where taking up her Inne a place which she had never before seen she desired a souldier to goe to a secret by-corner where was a heap of old iron and from thence to bring her a sword The souldier went according to her direction and searching the place amidst a great quantity of old tongs shovels hand irons and broken horse shooes found a faire bright sword with five Flower-Deluces upon either side engraven This sword with which she after committed many slaughters upon the English she girt to her and so proceeded to Chynon to give the Dolphin meeting Being there arrived Charls concealed himself amongst many others whilst he was brought into a faire long gallery where he had appointed another to take his place and to assume his person she looking upon him gave him neither respect nor reverence but sought out Charls among all the other in that assembly and pickt him from amongst the rest to whom making a low obeisance she told him that to him only was her businesse The Dolphin at this was amazed the rather because she had never before seen him and was somewhat comforted by reason that she shewed chear and alacrity in her countenance they had together long and private conference and shortly after she had an army given him to be disposed and directed by her She then bespake her selfe armor Cap a Pe bearing a white Ensign displaid before her in which was pourtraied the picture of the Saviour of the world with a Flower-de-luce in his hand and so marched to Oâ—leance Her first exploit was fortunately to raise the siege and â—elieve the Town From thence she passed to Reams took the City and caused the Dolphin there to proclaim himselfe King and take upon him the Crown of France She after took Jargueux a strong Town and in it the Earl of 〈◊〉 with many other brave English Gentlemen She â—ought the great battell of Pathay with good successe in which were taken prisoners the Lord Talbot the scourge and terror of the French Nation the Lord Scales the Lord Hungerford with many others both of name and quality she took in Benveele Mehun Trois and divers other Towns of great import and consequence at length in a caâ—â—â—ado or skirmish she was taken prisoner by Sir John of Entenburch a Burgonian Captain and sent to Roan The French Chronicles affirm that the morning before she was surprized she took the Sacrament and comming from Church told to divers that were about her that she was betraid her life sold and should shortly after be delivered up unto a violent death For Sir John gave a great sum of monie to betray her The English comming to invest themselves before Mondidier Joan was advised to issue out by Flaâ—y and skirmish with them who was no sooner out but he shut the gates upon her being taken she was sent to Peter Bishop of Bevoise who condemned her to the fire for a forceresâ—e which judgement was accordingly executed upon her in Roan in the Market place Twenty six years after Charls the King for a great sum of monie procured an annihilation of the first sentence from the Pope in which she was proclaimed a Viâ—ago inspired with divine instinct in memory of whose vertuous life and unjust death he caused a faire crosse to be erected just in the place where her body was burned I return again to the English Fâ—bâ—an and Harding speak of Emma sister to the Norman Duke called Richard who for her extraordinary beauty was called The flower of Normandy she was married to Eâ—helâ—ed King of England By 〈◊〉 heroick spirit and masculine instigation the King seat to all parts of the Kingdome secret and strict commissions That upon a day and hour assigned all these Danes which had usurped in the Land and used great cruelty should be slaughtered which at her behest and the Kings command was accordingly performed which though it after proved ominous and was the cause of much misery and mischiefe yet it shewed in her a noble and notable resolution Oâ— Queen Margaret the wiâ—e of Henry the sixt her courage resolution and magnanimity to speak at large would ask a Volume rather then a compendious discourse to which I am strictly tied And therefore whosoever is desirous to be further instructed in the successe of those many battels fought against the house of York in which she was personally present I refer them to our English Chronicles that are not sparing in commending her more then womaâ—ish spirit to everlasting memory With her therefore I conclude my female Martialists And now me thinks I am come where I would be and that is amongst you faire ones Of faire Women IT is reported of a King that for many yeers had no issue and desirous to have an heire of his own blood and begetting to succeed in the throne upon his earnest supplication to the divine powers he was blessed with a faire son both of beauty and hope And now being possessed of what he so much desired his second care was to see him so educated that he might have as much comfort
common sofferage of all the Brittains she was made Protectoresse and Lady Regent of the King which to the comfort of the Subjects and the weal of the Kingdome she disâ—râ—â—tly governed for the space of fifteen years and therefore her memory might fitly hath been ranked amongst the most illustrious women Her son comming to age and years of discretion she to him resigned the Sâ—epter The faire Lady of Norwich AND now because we traffick altogether with history it shall not be amisse sometimes to mingle Serâ—a Jocis as shall appear by this discourse which I have often heard related A Knight both of fame and memory and whose name is still upon record being eminent and of note with Henry the fift as personally with him in all the wars in France after the King had both conquered and quiered the Land this noble Englishman retired himselfe into his Country He had a Lady that was of such beauty that she attracted the eies of all beholders with no common admiration in briefe I cannot speak of her feature sufficiently as being far beyond the compasse of my pen and therefore I put her into the number of my Fair ones This Lady with her husband residing in the City of Norwich He after so many troubles and torments purposed a more sequestred life and next the solace he had in the beauty and vertues of his wife to take a course meerly contemplative and thought out of the abundance of his wealth to do some pious deeds for the good of his soul he therefore erected in the City and neer to the place where his house stood a goodly Church at his own charge and betwixt them a Religious house that entertained twelve Friers and an Abbot allowing them demeans competent for so small a brother-hood In this covent there were two Frier John and Frier Richard these were still at continuall enmity and especiall notice taken of it among the rest which by no mediation could be truly reconciled but omitting that it was the custome of the Knight and his Lady daily to rise to morning Mattins and she being affable and courteous to all it bred a strange incivil boldnesse in Frier John for she never came through the Cloister but he was still with ducks and cringes attending her which she suspecting nothing simply with modest smiles returned thanks to him again which grew so palpable in the Frier that as farre as they durst it was whispered in the covent Briefly after these encouragements as he construed them it bred in him that impudency that he presumed to write a letter to her in which he laid open a great deal of more then necessary love This letter with great difficulty came to her hand at which the Lady astonished as not dreaming that such lewdnesse should come from one that professed chastity and not knowing whether it might be a trick complotted by her husband to make triall of her chastity howsoever lest her honour should be any way called in question she thought it the best and safest course to shew the letter to her husband of which he had no sooner took a view but he began to repent him of his former charity in regard of their so great ingratitude But there yet wants revenge for so great a wrong the Knight concealing his â—age causes an answer of this letter to be drawn to which he commanded her to set to her hand the contents to this effect That she was greatly compassionate of his Love and that such a night her husband being to ride towards London he should be admitted lodged and entertained according to his own desires This letter was sealed closely sent received by the Frier with joy unspeakable against the night he provides him clean linnen a perfumed night-cop and other necessaries he keeps the time observes the place is closely admitted and by her selfe without witnesse and so conveied him into a close chamber Which he was no sooner entred but in comes the Knight with his man and in great fury without giving him the least time either to call for help to the house or to heaven strangled the poor Frier and left him dead upon the ground The deed was no sooner done and his rage somewhat appeased but he began to enter into consideration of the foulnesse of the fact and heinousnesse of the murder withall the strict penalty of the law due for such an offence which would be no lesse then forfeiture of life and estate and now he begins better to ponder with himselfe how to prevent the last which may give him further leasure to repent the first After divers and sundry projects cast betwixt him and his man it came into his mind by some means or other to have his body conveied back into the Monastery which being divided from his house only with a brick wall might be done without any great difficulty this was no sooner motioned but instantly his man remembers him of a ladder in the back-yard fit for the purpose briefly they both lay hand to the body and the man with the Frier on his back mounts the ladder and sits with him astride upon the wall then drawing up the ladder to the contrary side descends with him down into the Monastery where spying the house of office he set him upon the same as upright as he could there leaves him and conveies himselfe again over the wall but for hast to getting the ladder and so delivers to his master how and where he had bestowed the Frier at which being better comâ—orted they betook themselves both to their rest All this being concealed as well from the Lâ—dy as the rest or the hoâ—shold who were in their depth of sleep It hapned at the same instant that 〈◊〉 Râ—chard being much troubled with a loosnesse in his body had occasion to rise in the night and being somewhat hastily and unhandsomely taken makes what speed he can to the house of office but by the light of the Moon discerning some one before him whilst he could and was able he conteined himselfe but finding there was no remedy he first called and then in â—eated to come away but hearing no body answer he imagin'd it to be done on purpose the rather because approaching the place somewhat neerer he might plainly perceive it was Frier John his old adversary who the louder he called he seemed the lesse to listen I loath he was to play the sloven in the yard the rather because the whole covent had taken notice of a cold he had late goâ— and how it then wrought with him therefore thinking this counterfeit deasnesse to be done of purpose and spight to make him ashamed of himselfe he snatcht up a brick-bat to be revenged and hitting his adversary full upon the brest down tumbles Frier John without life or motion which he seeing thought at first to raise him up but after many proofs finding him to be stone dead verily beleeves that he had slain him What shall he now do The
profession a piece of gold valued at a pound and had received no more then labour for his travell and bare looks for his monie to him she said Thou for this pound art made free of my daughter as those that are admitted into the school of Hyppomachus the Master-wrestler who oft times see him play but seldome prove his strength admire his skill but never trie his cunning Many such with great elegancy came frequently from her for as Lynceus saith of her she was Concinna admodum urbana Aristodemus in his second book Ridiculorum memorab relates That when two men had bargained for her at once a souldier and a mean fellow the souldier in great contumely called her Lacus or Lake Why do you thus nick-name me saith she because you two floods fall into me Lycus and Liber Lycus is a river not far from Laodicea which sometimes runneth under the earth and in many places bursteth up again She writ a book which she called Lex Convinalis imitating the Philosophers of those times who had compiled works of the like subject The project of her book was how her guests ought to behave themselves at Table towards her and her daughter The like Law Callimâ—chus composed in three hundred and three and twenty Verses Rhodope was a Courtisan of Aegypt one that by her prostitution came to such a masse of wealth that she of her own private charge caused to be erected a magnificent Pyramis equalling those that there raised by the greatest Princes Sapho cals her Dorica and makes her the mistresse of her brother Charapus upon whom he spent and consumed all his fortunes even to the utmost of penury of whom Ovid thus writes Arsit inops frater c. Aelianus and others report her for a woman most beautiful who bathing her self in a pleasant and cleer fountain in her garden her handmaids attending her with all things necessary upon a sudden an Eagle sowsing down snatched up one of her shooes and flying with it as far as the great City Memphis let it fall from above into the lap of the King Psamneticus then sitting in publike judgement who much amazed at the strangenesse of the accident but most at the riches proportion and curiositie of the shooe instantly commanded that all Aegypt should be through-sought till they could find the owner thereof by matching it with the fellow which hapned soon after Being brought before the King he was so infinitely surprized with her feature that the same hour he contracted her in marriage and consequently made her his Queen Some say she was first a Thracian Damosel and servant to Iadmone of Samos she was after carried into Aegypt by the Philosopher Zanthus Samius She was a friend and patronesse of Aesopus so famous for his Fables still frequent amongst us Metra was the daughter of Erisicâ—thon a Thessalian who having spent all his fortunes and wasted even his necessary means as brought to the lowest exigent of penury was forced to make merchandise of his daughters Chastitie but she would not yield her selfe to the imbraces of any man without the gift and tender of a horse an oxe a cow a sheep or a goat or some such like commodity to the supply of her fathers necessity for it seems that coin and jewels were not then in use For the exchange aforesaid the Thessalians fabled That she could transhape her selfe into all creatures presented unto her by her lovers And hence came that old â—dage More changeable then Erisicthons Metirâ— Much of the like continence was Cyâ—ene a notious strumpet who as Erasmus reports explaining of that old proverb Duodecim artium nemo i. A man of twelve Arts or Trades could use her professed Venery twelve severall waies Archianasse was sirnamed â—â—â—phonia as born in the City of Colophon and was beloved of Plato the Divine Philosopher of whom he himself thus protested Archianassam ego teneo Colophonis amicam Cujus in rugis mollia ludit amor Archianasse I still hold Mistresse and I say There is no wrinckle in her face In which love doth not play Thus we see the deepest Philosophers and the wisest men have made themselves the captives of beauty and vassals lust Demâ—sthenes the Orator was guilty of the like aspersions and subject to much intemperance It is said that having children by a noted strumpet when both the mother and the children were cited before the judgement seat to avoid calumny he presented the children without the mother though it were against the custome of the City for as Idomeneus saith notwithstanding he were outwardly of a modest disposition and carriage yet inwardly he was profuse and incontinent It is reported of him that he was wandrous prodigall and expensice in banquets and women insomuch that the publike scribe speaking of him in an Oration thus said What shall we then think of the Orator Demosthenes when what he hath by his great travel and industry purchased in a whole year he will dissolutely spend in one night upon a woman The like Nicolaus Damascenus writes of Demetrius the last of that succession who so much doted on Myrina Samia That she commanded from him all things save his Diadem so that not only Philosophers but even Kings have made themselves subject to all kind of voluptuousnesse and luxuries and what hath been the lamentable successe but shame and dishonour the wasting of private estates and the miserable subversion of Kingdomes Therefore Claudian in his third book in Stiliconis Laudes thus saith Nam caetera regna Luâ—eurâ—â— vitiâ— edusque superbia vertit c. Of other Kingdomes the imperâ—â—l state Last doth subvert with vices Pâ—â—e with hate So by the Spartons Aâ—thens was subdu'd And so 〈◊〉 fell The Medes did first intrude Into the Assyrian Monarchy their lust Burted their towring honours in the dust From the luxurious Medes the Persians reft Their proud dominion they grown lustful left Their Empire to the Macedonian sway Who kept it till they wanton grew then they Their honours to the temperate Romans sold For so the ancient Sibils had fore-told The effects of this will more plainly appear in the History ensuing Aspasia otherwise called Socratica is numbred amongst the fairest women of her time insomuch that she had several suitors from all the Provinces of Greece as Aristophanes delivers in his discourse of the Peloponnesian war insomuch that Periâ—les for the love of this Aspasia and for some servants of hers taken from her by force begun and established that terrible decree against the Mâ—garenses remembred by Stesombrotus Thasius She about her private and necessary occasions sending her bawd Symaetha to the City of Megara the young men of the City detained her upon which restraint she sent two others who not being suffered to return from these strumpets did arise a war almost to the depopulation of the greatest part of Greece It is likewise spoken of that Cyrus who warred against his brother to have had a Mistresse of great wisdome
together one morning in the fields our words still as we spoke them froze before us in the air and that so hard that such as the next day past that way might read them as perfectly and distinctly as if they had been texted in Capitall Letters to which one of the Gentlemen with great modesty replied Truly Sir methinks that should be a dangerous Country to speak treason in especially in the depth of winter Something before this discourse was fully ended came up the Gentlewoman of the house to bid her guests welcome and taking her chair at the upper end of the table It seems Gentlemen saith she your discourse is of Russia my first husband God rest his soule was a great Traveller and I have heard him in his life time speak much of that Country but one thing amongst the rest which I shall never forget whilst I have an hour to live That riding from Mosco the great City to a place in the Countrie some five miles off in a mighty great Snow and the high way being covered and he mistaking the path he hapned to tumble horse and man into a deep pit from which he could not find any possible way out either for himselfe or for his beast and lying there some two hours and ready to starve with cold as necessity will still put men to their wits so he bethought himselfe and presently stepping to a Village some half a mile off borrowed or bought a spade with which comming back he fell to work and first digged out himselfe and after his horse when mourning he without more 〈◊〉 came to the end of his journey And this saith she 〈◊〉 told to a hundred and a hundred Gentlemen 〈…〉 own hearing To end this discourse in a word which by examples might be exemplified into an infinite one of the guests sitting by said I can tel you a stranger thing then all these being demanded what he answered I beleeve all these things related to be true Plutarch in his book De educandis liberis saith Praeter haec omnia adsuefaciendi sunt pueri ut vera dicant c. Above all things children ought to be accustomed to speak the truth in which consisteth the chiefe sanctimony but to lie is a most servile thing worthy the hate of all men and not to be pardoned in servants Homer Iliad 1. to shew the difference betwixt Truth and Falshood hath these words Poene mihi est orci portis invisior ipsis Cujus verba sonant aliud quam mente recondit He 's to me hatefull as the doors of hell That when he ill doth mean doth promise well Juvenal in his third Satyr gives it a more ful and ample expression after this manner Quid Romae feciam mentiri nescio librum Si malus est nequeo laudare c. What should I do at Rome I cannot lye If a bad Book be laid before me I Nor praise it nor desire it I have no skill In the Stars motions neither can nor will I make deep search into my fathers fate To know when he shall die nor calculate From the Frogs entrails by inspection never Was it my study how by base endeavour To panderize or close conveiance hide Betwixt th' Adulterer and anothers Bride These practises seek they that list t' attain Such as I have been I will still remain This Muse Polyhimnia under whom I patronize this seventh Book as she is the Mistresse and Lady of Memory and consequently of the multiplicity both of Hymns and Histories so from her I assume a kind of liberty to continue my variety of discourse and from Mendacia come to Sales or Dicteria i. From Lies to Jeasts or ingenious witty answers For which Athenaeus in his Dypnos lib. 13. remembers these women famous Lamia Gnathena Lais Glicera Hyppo Nico Phrine Thais Leontium and others Yet lest women should not be content to equall men only but to antecede them I wil here commemorare some things wittily and facetiously spoken by Princes and others Auton in Melissa Part. 1. Serm. 56. speaks of an unskilfull Physitian comming to visit an old friend of his or at least an acquaintance saluting him in this manner Sir God be thanked you have lived to a fair age and are grown an old man Yes Sir said he and you have my health too for I never made use of any Physitian Cicero thus plaid upon Vatinius who was but a few daies Consul A great prodigy saith he there hapned in the year of his Consul-ship That there was neither Spring Summer Autum nor Winter one asking him Why he had neglected to visit the Consul in his honour he answered He had purposed it but the night prevented him He sported in the like kind upon Caninius of him saith he we had a most vigilant Consul who never so much as slept in his Consulship Lucilius Manilius an excellent Painter had drawn wondrous beautiful faces but his children were exceedingly deformed A friend of his supping with him one night taunted him in these words Non similiter â—ingis pingis as much to say Thou dost not get thine own children as thou dost paint others No wonder answered he For I get those faces in the dark but when I paint others I do them by the light of the Sun The Christian Princes having united their forces to redeem the Holy Land from the oppression of the Infidels Santius brother to the King of Spain was made Generall of the Christian forces a man of great sanctity and of an austere life and withall a noble souldier he amongst other Princes sitting in Council with the Pope but not understanding the Roman Tongue in which the businesse was then debated only having his interpreter placed at his feet upon the sudden after their Decree there was a great acclamation and clamour with flinging up their caps c. At which Santius demanded of his interpreter what that sudden joy meant he told him It was because the Pope and Colledge of Cardinals had by their publick sustrage created him King of Aegypt for the Saladine then usurped in the Holy City Is it so saith he then arise and proclaim the Pope Caliph of Baildacha Thus with a Princely liberty modestly taxing their forwardness who as they gave him a Kingdome without a Country he to requite the Popes gratitude gave him a Bishoprick without a Diocesse Pacuvius Taurus having for his former service sued to Augustus Caesar for some great and grosse sum of money and the rather to induce the Emperor to bounty told him That it was voiced in the City and was frequent in every mans mouth how he had already received a large donative from Caesar to whom he answered Let them say what they will but donot thou Pacuvius beleeve it To another that was removed from his command and sued for a pension yet insinuating with the Emperor that it was for no covetous intent or any hope of gain but because it should be
thought that for no criminall cause he was put out of his place and dismist his office that he desired an annuall fee from the treasury to whom Augustus replied Do thou then report openly that thou hast a pension and if any shall ask me about it I will not deny but that I have given it The same Augustus going into a shop to buy Purple or Scarlet for in those daies the Emperours were not so curious as some gentlemen are now he cheapning a piece of cloth but not liking the colour of it because it was not bright enough and the Draper having it seems a dark shop such as are common amongst us in our daies saith the Draper to him So please your Majesty but to hold it up into the light and you shall the colour more perfect Gramercy for that saith he so when I purpose to shew my selfe amongst my subjects to shew the true colour of my garments I must lâ—kewise be tied to walk upon the Tarresses and tops of houses Many other things are remembred of him worthy to be commended to posterity Philip the father of Alexander the Great had a custome when his army was in the field to leave his own Tent and come into the private Hals and Cabbins of his souldiers and observe how they spent their idle hours The Poet Calliniad then following the Camp to whom the King had a particular love he stole upon him one day and found him busily seething a Conger stirring up the fire skimming the Kettle and doing other such Cook-like offices for his particular diet the King clapt him upon the shoulder and said I never read O Poet that Homer when he was writing his famous work called the Iliaâ—ls could ever find so much spare time as to kindle a fire set on water and skimm a Conger To whom he presently answered Neither remember I O King that I ever read in Homer the Prince of Poets that Agamemnon in all the time of the ten years siege of Troy had such vacancy as thou hast now to prie into the Booths of his souldiers and neglecting the publike affairs to busie himselfe to know how every private man cookt his own diet This was a modest passage betwixt him that contended to art noble deeds and him that the King knew could give them full expression Erasmus lib. 6. Apoth speaks of the Orator Crassus That when one Piso being accused by Sylus for some words speaking had incurred a Censure and Crassus being then the advocate of Piso found that Sylus his testimony proceeded meerly from malice and envy after the Sentence was past Crassus thus spoke to Sylus It may be saith he this Piso notwithstanding this accusation was moved or angry when he spake those words who answered as reverencing his authority Sir It may be so It may be too Sylus said he thou didst not at that time rightly understand him who again answered It was like enough And it may be said Crassus again somewhat hastily That Piso never spoke those words which thou saiest thou heardest who answered unadvisedly and it may be so too At which the auditory fel into a great laughter Piso was acquit and Sylus punisht by the reversement of judgement It pleased a King of France who had heard a great fame of the learned Scotus to send for him and to seat him at his Table which was a grace not common with expectation it seems to hear from him some extraordinary rare discourse answerable to the fame was given him The scholler seeing such rarity and variety set before him only intended that for which he came and eat with a good â—ound stomak Which the King a pretty while observing interrupts him thus Domine quae est dâ—sserentia inter Scotum Scotum i. Sir What is the difference betwixt a Scot and a Scot To whom he without pause replied Mensa tantum i The Table only the King playing up in his name and be taxing the Kings ignorance A great Earl of this Kingdome was sent over by Queen Elizabeth to debate concerning State-businesse and joined with him in commission one Doctor Dale a worthy and approved scholler to meet with these froÌ„ the Spaniard were sent amongst other Commissioners Richardetti that was Secretary to K. Philip. These meeting about State-affairs question was made In what Language it was most fit to debate them Richardetti standing up and belike having notice that our Embassador was not well practised in the French tongue thus said In my opinion it is most fit that this businesse about which we are met be discoursed in French and my reason is because your Queen writes her selfe Queen of France At which word up start the Doctor and thus repli'd Nay then rather let it be debated in the Hebrew tongue since your King writes himselfe King of Jerusalem These may appear digressions I wil only because this is a womans book end this argument with the answer of a woman remembred by Petrarch Azo the Marquesse of Este was eminent for many extraordinary blessings both of Nature and Fortune But as these were never perfectly enjoied without some difficulty and trouble so it proved in him for having a beautiful to his wife he grew extreamly suspitious of her faith and loialty He having by her a young son and heir then in the Cradle looking earnestly upon him he 〈◊〉 a deep sigh of which she demanding the cause he thus said I would God wife this child were as certainly mine as it is assuredly thine to confirm which to mine own wishes and desires I would willingly part with the greatest moity of my means and fortunes To whom she answered Let this be neither griefe to your heart nor trouble to your mind for of this doubt I will instantly resolve you and taking the infant from the Cradle and holding it in her arms she thus said No man Sir I hope makes question but this child is mine to which words he assenting she thus proceeded Then to clear all former doubts and suspiâ—ions Receive him freely from my hands as my giâ—t and now you may presume he is only and absolutely yours Whether she equivocated or no I am not certain only this I am most sured of That she hath left a precedent behind her to all succeeding wives how their jealous husbands may be best confirmed in their suspected issue I fear I have been somwhat too long in the Preamble I wil therefore now proceed to the matter And first of Filial piety ascending from daughters to their Parents Of Pious Daughters OF Sons that have been remarkably grateful to their Parents for their birth and breeding the histories are 〈◊〉 and the examples infinite as of Coriolanus to his 〈…〉 in Lelio Dionysius Haâ—icarnâ—ssru◠〈…〉 Appianus c. as likewise of 〈…〉 of M Cotta Caius Flaminius Cimon remembred by â—ustine lib. 2. Cleobis and Bithon Amphinomus and Anapus recorded by Herodotus and Solinus the son of Croesus c. Yet should I undertake to
it was called The work of Acecaeus and Helicon Above others most magnified by Ovid. Metamorph. lib. 6. is Arachne Lydia the daughter of Idmones whose mother was born in the smal City Hypepis she having by many degrees exceeded all mortall women and that without difficulty durst compare with Minerva her selfe who for her boldnesse and pertinacy she turned into a Spider Her controversie with Pallas is with great elegancy expressed in Ovid. Alexander of Macedon and Octavius Augustus the one wore a Garment woven by his Mother the other a Mantle by the hands of his Wife These Ladies had sequestred places in some part of their Pallaces and kept their hand-maids and damosels at work of which these two potent and mighty Queens disdained not to be the daily Directoresses and Over-seers Alex. ab Alex. cap. 4. lib. 8. Part of the Wool which Tanaquil spun with her Distaffe Spindle and Slippers were long time reserved as sacred Reliques in the Temple of Ancus Martius as also a Kingly Garment or Imperiall Robe woven quite through with Raies and Flames of Gold wrought with her own hand in which Servius Tullius oft went in state and saâ—e in the high Judgement-Seat in the Capitol Varro apud eundem By the Law called Pagana all women were forbidden to spin or draw out any thread in the streets or common high waies because they held it ominous to the prosperity of the Grain sown in the Earth or the Fruits blossomed or growing upon the Trees as the same Author testifies Ausonius speaks af one Sabina not only excellent in this Science but a Poet withall which he left to posterity in one of his Epigrams Sive probas Tyrio textam sub tegmine vestra Seu placet inscripti commoditus tituli c. Which is thus Englished If thou affect'st a purple Robe Woven in the Tyrian stain Or if a Title well inscrib'd By which thy wit may gain Behold her works unpartially And censure on them well Both one Sabina doth professe And doth in both excell And thus I take leave of weaving for Memory now transports me to another Argument Of Women Contentious and Bloody TExtor in his Ossicine remembers us of one Kailla who was of that barbarous and inhumane cruelty that being at dissention with her husband Vazules she having banished all conjugall piety and pitty caused his eies to be digged out of his head spending the remainder of his age in uncomfortable darknesse These subsequent stories of flinty and obdure hearted women though I could willingly have spared them out of this work that the world might almost be induced to beleeve that no such immanities could ever have place in the smooth and soft bosomes of women yet in regard I have promised briefly to run over all Ages Features Affections Conditions and Degrees though they might perhaps have been thought well spared by some yet I make no question but that they might be challenged at my hands by others The rather I present them and with the more confidence unto your view because though their actions to the tender breasted may seem horrid and fearful and therefore the hardlier to purchase credit yet the testimony of the Authors being authentick and approved will not only bear me out as their faithfull remembrancer but in the things themselves fasten an inherent beleefe I proceed therefore Cyrce the Witch slew the King of Sarmatia to whom she was married and usurping the regall throne did much oppresse her subjects of her Saâ—â—llâ—cus writes more at large Clitemnestra was the wife of Agamemnon Arch Duke or Generall of the Grecians at the siege of Trâ—y she by the help of Aegistus with whom she adulterated slew her husband of this Virgil speaks lib. 11. Seneca in Agâ—memnon and Juvenal in Satyr Danaus the son of 〈◊〉 had fifty 〈◊〉 who were espoused to the fifty son of Aegustus 〈◊〉 made a eonjuration in one night to kill all their husbands which they accordingly did all save the 〈…〉 who spared the liâ—e of her husband 〈…〉 Hercul Fur. Alexander Phaeâ—cus a Tyrant of 〈◊〉 when he had shewed his wife 〈◊〉 to a 〈…〉 it so impatiently that she cut his throat sleeping Ovid in Ibâ—n Volâ—teâ—ranus repoâ—e that Albina daughter to a King of Syria had two and thirty sisters who all in one night slew their husbands who being exil'd their Countrie landed in Brittain and that of this Albina this kingdome first took the name of Albion Laodice was the wife of Antiochus King of Syria who caused himself to be call'd God the poison'd her husband because of his too much familiarity with 〈◊〉 the sister of Ptolomey Fabia slew Fabius Fabricianue that she might the more freely enjoy the company of Petronius Volentanus a young man of extraordinary feature with whom she had often before accompanied Agrippina poisoned her husband Tiberius Claudius the Emperor Lucilla the wife of Antonius Verus Emperor poisoned her husband because she thought him too familiar with Fabia Aaâ—â—oâ—us Prince of Ferolivium married with the daughter of Joannes Bentivolus of whom being despised and finding her self neglected she hired certain cot-throat Physitians who slew him in his chamber Andreas the son of Carolus King of Pannonia was slain by his wife Joanna Queen of Sicily for no other reason but that he was iâ—le and held unprofitable to the weal publick Althaea sorrowing that her two brothers Plexippus and Toxeus were slain by her son Meleager she burned that Brand of which the fattall Sisters had made a prediction That his life and health should continue as long as that was preserved Ovid Trist lib. 1. Bocat in General Agave a Theban woman slew her son Penthaeus because he would not honour the feast of the Baâ—hinals with the rest of the Menades Virg. in Culiceâ—â—â—ctha taking arms against Eumolpus and having an answer from the Oracle That he should have a certain victory of the would sacrifice his only daughter to the gods by the perswâ—sion of his wife Prâ—xitha gave her up to slaughter Euripides apud Plutarch Elearchus one of the Kings of Creet at the perswasion of his second wife Phroâ—â—ma commanded is only daughter by the hand of one Themisones to be cast into the river and there drowned Herodot Polidice betraied her father King Pletera to Crocon King of Thebes and caused him to be slain as likewise Niâ—us being besieged by Minos by the treason of his daughter lost that purple hair which was the stay of his sovereignty Ovid Metam and Servius Tiphon Aegyptius as Berosus Seneca Diodorus and other relate slew his brother Osiris then reigning in Aegypt and governing justly which done he caused him to be cut in twenty six pieces and to every one of the conspirators gave a part the better to secure him of their fidelities but Isis their sister after she had lamented the death of her brother Osiris by the assistance of her son who was called Oâ—os flew Tiphon and avenged his death Draomitia was a Queen of Bohemia
Lâ—dgate Monk of Buty testifies who in English heroical verse compiled his History Constantius saith he the younger succeded his father Constantius as wel in the Kingdome of England as divers other Provinces a noble and valiant Prince whose mother was a woman religious and of great sanctimony this young Prince was born in Britain and proved so mighty in exploits of war that in time be purchased the name of Magnus and was stiled Constantine the Great a noble protector and defender of the true Christian Faith In the sixt year of his reign he came with a potent Army against Maxentius who with grievous tributes and exactions then vexed and oppressed the Romans and being upon his match he saw in a vision by night the sign of the Cross in the air like fire and an Angel by it thus saying Constantine in hoc signo vinces i. Constantine in this sign thou shalt conquer and overcome with which being greatly comforted he soon after invaded and defeated the army of Maxentius who flying from the battel was wretchedly drowned in the river Tiber. In this interim of his glorious victory Helena the mother of Constantine being on pilgrimage at Jerusalem there found the Crosse on which the Saviour of the world was crucified with the three nails on which his hands and feet were pierced Ranulphus amplifies this story of Helena somewhat larger after this manner That when Constantine had surprized Maxentius his mother was then in Brittain and hearing of the successe of so brave a conquest she sent him a letter with great thanks to heaven to congratulate so fair and wished a Fortune but not yet being truly instructed in the Christian Faith she commended him that he had forsaken idolatry but blamed him that he worshipped and beleeved in a man that had been nalled to the Cross The Emperor wrote again to his mother That she should instantly repair to Rome and bring with her the most learned Jewes and wisest Doctors of what faith or beleefe soever to hold disputation in their presence concerning the truth of Religion Helena brough with her to the number of seven score Jewes and others against whom Saint Silvester was only opposed In this controversie the misbeleevers were all nonplust and put to silence It hapned that a Jewish Cabalist among them spake certain words in the ear of a mad wild Bull that was broke loose run into the presence where they were then assembled those words were no sooner uttered but the beast sunk down without motion and instantly died at which accident the judges that sate to hear the disputation were all astonished as wondring by what power that was done To whom Silvester then spake What this man hath done is only by the power of the devil who can kil but not restore unto life but it is God only that can slay and make the same body revive again so Lyons and other wild beasts of the Forrest can wound and destroy but not make whole what is before by them perished then saith he if he will that I beleeve with him let him raise that beast to life in Gods name which he hath destroied in the devils name But the Jewish Doctor attempted it in vain when the rest turning to Silvester said If thou by any power in Heaven or Earth canst call back again the life of this beast which is now banished from his body we wil beleeve with thee in that Deity by whose power so great a miracle can be done Silvester accepted of their offer and falling devoutly on his knees made his praiers unto the Saviour of the world and presently the beast started up upon his feet by which Constantius was confirmed Helena converted al the Jews and other Pagan Doctors received the Christian Faith and were after baptized and after this and upon the same occasion Helena undertook to seek and find out the Cross Ambrose and others say she was an Inne-keepers daughter at Treverent in France and that the first Constantius travelling that way married her for her beauty but our Histories of Britain affirm her to be the fair chast and wise daughter of King Coil before remembred The perfections of the mind are much above the transitory gifts of Fortune much commendable in women and a dowry far transcending the riches of gold jewels Great Alexander refused the beautiful daughter of Darius who would have brought with her Kingdomes for her Dower and infinite treasures to boot and made choice of Barsine who brought nothing to espouse her with save her feature and that she was a scholer and though a Barbarian excellently perfect in the Greek tongue who though poor yet derived her pedigree from Kings And upon that ground Lycurgus instituted a Law That women should have no Dowers allotted them that men might rather acquire after their Vertues then their Riches and women likewise might the more laboriously imploy themselves in the attaining to the height of the best and noblest Disciplines It is an argument that cannot be too much amplified to encourage Vertue and discourage Vice to perswade both men and women to instruct their minds more carefully then they would adorn their bodies and strive to heap and accumulate the riches of the Soul rather then hunt after pomp Vain glory and the wretched wealth of the world the first being everlastingly permanent the last dayly and hourly subject to corruption and mutability Horace in his first Epistle to Mecaenas saith Vitius Argentum est Auro virtutibus Aurum Silver is more base and cheap then Gold and Gold then Vertue To encourage which in either Sex Plautus in Amphit thus saies Virtus praemium est optimum virtus omnibus Rebus anteit profecto c. Vertue 's the best reward and before all Justly to be preferr'd That which we call Liberty Life our Parents Children Wealth Our Country Reputation Honour Health By this are kept though by the bad despis'd All that is good in Vertue is compris'd Moreover all that are Noble Vertuous Learned Chast and Pious have their places allotted them above when on the contrary their souls are buried lower in the locall place of torment then their souls that are laid to sleep iâ— the grave At the blessednesse of the good and future glory assigned unto them Lucan most elegantly aimed at lib. 9. de bello Civili where he thus writes Ac non in Pharia manes jacuere favilla Nec cinis exiguus tantum compescuit umbram c. Which I thus English In th' Pharian flames the bright Soul doth not sleep Nor can so small a Dust and Ashes keep So great a Spirit it leaps out of the fire And leaving the halfe burnt menbers doth aspire And aims up to the place where Jove resides And with his power and wisdome all things guides For now no air his subtil passage bars To where the Axle-tree turns round the stars And in that vast and empty place which lies Betwixt us and the Moon the visible
counsell with her about his recovery who told him there was no hope of his life unlesse he would yield that his young son then sucking at the Nurses breast should have his mortall infirmity confirmed upon it The father to save his own life yields that his son should perish of which the Nurse hearing just at the hour when the father should be healed is absent and conceals the child The father is no sooner toucht but helped of his disease the Witch demands for the child to transfer it upon him the child is missing and cannot be found which the Witch hearing broke out into this exclamation Actum est de me puer ubinam est i. I am undone where is the child when scarce having put her foot over the threshold to return home but she fell down suddenly dead her body being blasted and as black as an Aethiope The like remarkable Judgement fell upon a Witch amongst the Nanvetae who was accused of bewitching her neighbor The Magistrates commanded her but to touch the party distempered with her Inchantments which is a thing that is used by all the German Judges even in the Imperiall chamber it selfe The Witch denied to do it but seeing they began to compell her by force she likewise cried out I am then undone when instantly the sick woman recovered and the Witch then in health fell down suddenly and died whose body was after condemned to the fire And this Bodinus affirms to have heard related from the mouth of one of the Judges who was there present In Thoâ—oâ—a there was one skilful in Magick who was born in Burdegall he comming to visit a familiar friend of his who was extreamly afflicted with a Quartane Ague almost even to death told him he pitied his case exceedingly and therefore if he had any enemy but give him his name and he would take away the Feaver from him and transfer it upon the other The sick Gentleman thanked him for his love but told him there was not that man living whom he hated so much as to punish him with such a torment Why then saith he give it to my servant the other answering That he had not the conscience so to reward his good service Why then give it me saith the Magician who presently answered With all my heart take it you who it seemeth best knowes how to dispose it Upon the instant the Magician was stroke with the Feaver and within few daies after died in which interim the sick Gentleman was perfectly recovered Gregory Turonensis lib. 6. cap. 35. saith That when the wife of King Chilperick perceived her young son to be taken away by Witchcraft she was so violently incensed and inraged against the very name of a sorceresse that she caused diligent search to be made and all such suspected persons upon the least probability to be dragged to the stake or broken on the wheel most of these confessed that the Kings son was bewitched to death for the preservation of Mummo the great Master a potent man in the Kingdom this man in the midst of his torments smiled confessing that he had received such inchanted drugs from the Sorcerists that made him unsensible of pain but wearied with the multitude of torments he was sent to Burdegall where he not long after died I desire not to be tedious in any thing for innumerable Histories to these purposes offer themselves unto me at this present but these few testimonies â—roceeding from authentique Authors and the attestations 〈◊〉 such as have been approvedly learned may serve in this place as well as to relate a huge number of unnecessary discourses from writers of less fame and credit Neither is it to any purpose here to speak of the Witches in Lap-land Fin land and these miserable wretched cold Countries where to buy and sell winds betwixt them and the Merchants is said to be as frequent familiarly done amongst them as eating and sleeping There is anâ—ther kind of Witches that are called Extasists in whose discovery 〈◊〉 strive to be briefe A learned Neapolitan in a history 〈◊〉 since published that treats altogether of naturall Magick speaks of a Witch whom he saw strip her 〈◊〉 naked and having annointed her body with a certain 〈◊〉 fell down without sence or motion in which extasie she remained the space of three hours after she came to her selfe discovering many things done at the same time in divers remote places which after enquiry made were found to be most certain Answerable to this is that reported by the President Turetranus who in the Delphinate saw a Witch burned alive whose story he thus relates She was a maid-servant to an honest Citizen who comming home unexpected and calling for her but hearing none to answer searching the rooms he found her lying all along by a fire which she had before made in a private chamber which seeing he kickt her with his foot and bid her arise like a lazy huswiâ—e as she was and get her about her businesse but seeing her not to move he took a tough and smart wand and belaboured her very soundly but perceiving her neither to stir nor complain he viewing her better and finding all the parts of her body unsensible took fire and put it to such places of her body as were most tender but perceiving her to have lost all feeling was perswaded she was dead and called in his next neighbors telling them in what case he found her but concealing unto them the shrewd blowes he had given her the neighbors left the house the master and mistresse caused her to be laid out so left her and went to their rest but towards the morning hearing some body to stir and grone in the chamber they found their servant removed and laid in her bed at which the good man much amazed asked her in the name of God being late dead how came she so soon recovered to whom she answered Oh master master why have you beaten me thus the man reporting this amongst his neighbors one amongst the rest said if this be true she is then doubtlesse a Witch and one of these extasists at which the Master growing suspitious urged her so strictly that she confessed though her body was there present yet her soul was abroad at the assembly of divers Witches with many other mischiefs for which she was held worthy of death and judged At Burdegall in the year 1571 when there was a decree made in France against the strict prosecution of Witches an old Sorceresse of that place amongst many horrid and fearfull things confessed by her she was convicted and imprisoned where D. Boletus visited her desiring to be eie-witnesse of some of those things before by her acknowledged to whom the Witch answered That she had not power to do any thing in prison But desirous to be better satisfied concerning such things he commanded her for the present to be released and brought out of the Goale to another lodging
into Cappadocia Cuspinianus in vita Heraclii A more terrible judgement was inflicted upon Bâ—unechildis whose History is thus related Theodericus King of the Frenchmen who by this wicked womans counsel had polluted himselfe with the blood of his own naturall brother and burthened his conscience with the innocent deaths of many other noble gentlemen as well as others of meaner 〈◊〉 and quality was by her poisoned and deprived of 〈◊〉 when he had made a motion to have taken to wife his Neece a beautifull young Lady and the daughter of his late slain brother Brunechildis with all her power and industry opposed the Match affirming that Contract to be meerly incestuous which was made with the brothers daughter she next perswaded him that his son Theodebertus was not his own but the adulterate issue of his wife by another at which words he was so incensed that drawing his sword he would have instantly transpierc'd her but by the assistance of such Courtiers as were then present she escaped his fury and presently 〈◊〉 plotted his death and effected it as aforesaid Trittenbemâ—â—s de Regib 〈◊〉 and Roberâ—us Gaguinus lib. 2. Others write that he was drowned in a River after he had reigned 〈◊〉 years Aventinus affirms That presently after he had slain his brother entring into one of his Cities he was struck with thunder Annal. Boiorum lib. 3. But this 〈◊〉 Butcheresse Brunechildis after she had been the 〈…〉 an infinit number of people and the death of 〈◊〉 Kings at length moving an unfortunate war against Lotharius to whom she denied to yield the Kingdome she was taken in battell and by the Nobility and Captain of the Army condemned to an unheard of punishment She was first beaten with four Bastoons before she was brought before Lotharius then all her Murthers Treasons and Inhumanities were publiquely proclaimed in the Army and next her legs and hands being fastned to the tails of wild horses pluckt to pieces and dissevered limb from limb Anno 1618. Sigebertus Trittemhemius Gaguinus and Aventinus And such be the earthly punishments due to Patricides and Regicides Touching Patricides Solon when he instituted his wholsome Lawes made no Law to punish such as thinking it not possible in nature to produce such a Monster Alex. lib. 2 cap. Romulus appointing no punishment for that inhumanity included Patricides under the name of Homicides counting Manslaughter and Murther abhorred and impious but the other impossible Plutarch in Romulo Marcus Malleolus having slain his mother was the first that was ever condemned for that fact amongst the Romans his Sentence was to be sowed in a sack together with a Cock an Ape and a Viper and so cast into the river Tiâ—er a just infliction for such immanity The Macedonians punished Patricides and Traitors alike and not only such as personally committed the fact but all that were any way of the comederacy Alex. ab Alex. lib 3. cap. 5. and all such were â—â—â—ned to death The Aegyptians stabbed them with Needles and Bodkins wounding them in all the parts of their body but not mortally when bleeding all over from a thousand small orifices they burnt them in a pile of thorns Diodor. Sicul. lib. 2. de rebus antiq The Lusitanians first exiled them from their own confines and when they were in the next forreign air stoned them to death Nero having slain his mother Agrippina by the hand of Anicetes had such terror of mind and unquietnesse of conscience that in the dead of the night he would leap out of his bed horribly affrighted and say when they that attended him demanded the cause of his disturbance That he heard the noice of trumpets and charging of battels with the grones of slaughtered and dying men from the place where his mother was interred Therefore he often shifted his houses but all in vain for this horror still pursued him even to his miserable and despairing end for so Xâ—philâ—nus testates the Abbreviator of Dion in Nerone The perfidiousnesse of Husbands to their Wives hath been thus punished By the Law of Julia all such were condemned as rioted and wasted the dowries of their Wives The Romans did not only hold such impious and sacrilegious that prophaned their Temples and despised the Altars of the gods but those also that were rudely robustious and laid violent hands upon their wives and children in such a reverent estimation they held fatherly issue and conjugal piety Alex. lib. 4. cap. 8. Almaricus having married the sister of the French King and using her most contumeliously and basely for no other reason but that she was a faithful follower of the true Religion and quite renounced Arianisme was by her brother Chilbertus vexed and tormented with a bloody and intestine war Michael Ritius lib. 1. de Regib Francorum M. Valerius Maximus and Cai. Junius Brutus being Censors removed L. Antonius from the Senate for no other reason but that without the advice and counsell of his friends he had repudiated a virgin to whom he had been before contracted Val. Maxim lib. 2. cap. 4. So Tiberius Caesar discharged an eminent Roman from his Quaestorship for divorcing his wife the tenth day after he had been married accounting him meerly void of faith or constancy that in a businesse so weighty and of so great moment in so small a time exprest himselfe variable and inconstant Alex. lib. 4. cap. 8. Rodulphus Veromandorum Comes forsook his wife to marry the sister of the Queen Petronilla for which he was excommunicated by the Church of Rome and the Bishop Laudunensis Bartholomaeus Noviocomensis and Simon Peter Sylvanectensis that were assistants to the Earl Rodulphus in that unjust divorce were all suspended by the Pope Robertus in Chronicis The revenge of these libidinous insolencies was most apparant in the Emperor Andronicus who after the death of Emanuel who preceded him caused his son the immediate heir to the Empire to be sowed in a sack and cast into the sea And being now securely installed in the Constantinopolican Principality besides a thousand butcheries slaughters and other insufferable cruelties he addicted himselfe to all luxurious intemperance as vitiating virgins corrupting Matrons contaminating himselfe with shamefull Whoredomes and Adulteries not sparing the religious Nunneries but forcing the Cloisters ravishing thence whom he pleased to glut his greedy and insatiate lust and when 〈◊〉 own desires were qualified would deliver them up to be stuprated by his grooms and vassals With whose unbridled appetites and insufferable madnesse the people being vexed and tired they invited Isacius to the 〈…〉 besieging the Tyrant took him and presented him before the Emperor elected who because he had so malitiously trespassed against every man devised for him a punishment that might give satisfaction to all he therefore caused him to put off his Imperiall Robes and to appear no other then a private man such as he had maliciously offended next caused one of his eies to be pluckt out the punishment devised by
instructing your Tongues I come next to your Attires but having touched it elsewhere I will only speak of the just Taxation luxurious habit or prodigality in Apparell hath been branded with all ages and reproved in all persons especially in such whose garments exceed their estates which argues apparant pride or such as pretend to be meer Fashion mongers pursuing every fantastick and outlandish garb and such may be justly reproved of folly but since they are both so common in our Nation to discover both too plainly I should but contend against custome and seeking to please a few offend many There was a law amongst the Grecians that all such as vainly spent their patrimony either in riotous excesse or prodigality in attire as well women as men were not suffered to be buried in the sepulchers of their fathers Alex. lib. 6. cap. 14. So hatefull was spruceness in habit and effeminacy amongst the Macedonians that Philip the father of Alexander deprived a Nobleman of Terentum of all his Honours and Offices because he but delighted in warm Baths thus reproving him It seems thou art neither acquainted with the customes nor manners of the Macedonians amongst whom thou hast not once heard of a woman though great with child that ever washt but in cold water I see not how that which is so reprovable in men can be any way commendable in women What shall we think then of those affected pleasures now adaies so much in use as Riots Revels Banquet Pride Suâ—fets Vinocity Voracity which as in men I mean being used in excesse they appear oâ—ious so in young Virgins in whom should be nothing but affected modesty in married Wives that ought to be presidents of Chastity and temperate and grave Matrons that should be the patterns and imitable objects of sincere Vertue they cannot but shew abominable The inconvenience of these Excesse Silius Italicus well observed lib. 15 de bello Punici when he thus said Inde aspice late Florentes quondam luxus quas vertitit urbes Quippe nec Ira Deum tantum nec tela c. Thence look abroad and see How many flourishing Cities ruin'd bee Famous of old since neither the Gods Rage The hostile Weapon nor the enemies strage Hath ruin'd Man in that abundant measure As Riot hath mixt with unlawfull pleasure These are the sins that punish themselves who as it is said of Lust carry their own whips at their girdles I was bold in some part of this Work presuming on the goodnesse of your Sex as to say There was no excellent gift in man which was not in some sort paralleld by one woman or other Therefore if any of you have been or are still addicted to these enormities I entreat them but to remember what is writ of Themistocles who in his youth was so wholly given over to all dissolutenesse namely these two excesses Wine and Women that his father banished him his house and his own mother through griefe strangled her selfe Valer. Max lib. 6. cap. 11. But after Miltiades was made Generall and fought that memorable battel at Marathon in which against infinite ods he defeated the Barbarians there was never any thing seen or known in him which was not modest and comely And being demanded how he came so suddenly changed Militia inquit c. The thought of War saith he will admit neither sloth in me nor wantonnesse Plutareh in Grecor Apophtheg Would you but entertein into your thoughts as setled an enmity against all Vices your publique enemies as he did against the Persians the forreign invaders you would undoubtedly after the battel of the mind constantly fought against all barbarous temptations be ranked equall with him in all his triumphs It is likewise recorded of Isaeus an Assyrian Sophist who in his youth being given to all voluptuousnesse and effeminate delicacies but comming to riper underderstanding assumed to himselfe a wondrous continency of life and austerity in all his actions insomuch that a familiar friend of his seeing a beautifull woman passe by and asking him if she were not a fair one To him he answered 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. De sii laborare de oculis i. I am no more sick of sore eies To another that demanded What Fish or Fowl was mow pleasant to the taste he replied 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. I have forgot to look after them and proceeded I perceive that I then gathered all my Fruits out of the Garden of Tantalus insinuating unto us that all those vain Pleasures and Delights of which youth is so much enamored are nothing else but shadows and dreams such as Tantalus is said to be fed with Of severall degrees of Inchastities and of their Punishments PHilip of Macedon making war against the Thebans Aeropus and Damasippus two of his chiefe Captains had hired a mercenary strumpet and kept her in one of their tents which the King hearing he not only cashiered them from their commands but banished them his Kingdome Polynaeus lib. 4. In Germany Chastity and Modesty is held in that reverent respect that no mean Artificer though of the basest trade that is will entertein a Bastard into his service or teach him his science neither in the Academies will they permit any such to take degree in schools though it bee a strange severity against innocent children who gave no consent to the sins of their parents yet it is a mean to curb the libeâ—â—ies of men and women deterring them from the like offences Aeneus Silvius lib. 1. of the sayings and dâ—eds of King Alphonsus tels us of one Manes Florentinus who being in forbidden congression with a strumpet was adjudged 〈◊〉 pennance which was not altogether as our custome in England is to stand in a white sheet but naked all save a linnen garment from his wast to the knees after the fashion of Basex the Priests comming to strip him in the Vestrie would have put upon him that robe to cover his shame which he no way would admit but was constantly resolved to stand as our phrase is stark naked but when the Church Officers demanded of him If he were not ashamed to shew his virile parts in such a publique assembly especially where there were so many Virgins marriried Wives and widow Women he answered Minime gentium nam pudenda haec quae peccaverunt ea potissimum dare poenas decet i. By no means quoth he most fit it is that those shamefull things that have offended and brought me to this shame should likewise do open penance Pontius Offidianus a Knight of Rome after he had sound by infallible signs his daughters virginity to be deâ— poiled and vitiated by Fannius Saturnius her School-master was not to content to extend his just rage upon his servant and punish him death but he also slew his daughter who rather desired to celebrate her untimely exequies then follow her to her contaminated Nuptials Val. lib. 6. cap. 1. Pub. Attilius Philiscus notwithstanding in his youth he
to Larissa in Thessaly he was hired for eight pieces of Gold to watch a dead body but one night for fear the Witches of which in that place there is abundance should gnaw and devour the flesh of the party deceased even to the very bones which is often found amongst them Also Murther by the Laws of God and man is punishable with death besides they that eat mans flesh or deliver it to be eaten are not worthy to live Cornel. lib de Sicariâ—s A twelfth is That they kill as oft by Poisons as by Powders and Magick Spels now the Law saith It is worse to kill by Witchcraft then with the Sword Lib. 1. de Maâ—â—sic A thirteenth is That they are the death of Cattell for which Augustanus the Magician suffred death 1569. A fourteenth That they blast the Corn and Grain and being barrennesse and scarcity when there is a hoped plenty and abundance A fifteenth That they have carnall corsociety with the Devill as it hath been approved by a thousand severall confessions Now all that have made any compect or covenant with the Devill if not of all these yet undoubtedly are guilty of many or at least some and there one coâ—sequently not worthy to live And so much for the Punishment 〈…〉 and other known malefactors I come now to the Rewards due to the Vertuous and first of 〈…〉 Ladies for divers excellencies worthy to be remembred Of Tirgatao Moeotis Comiola Tuâ—ingâ— and others TIrgatao a beautifull and vertuous Lady was joined in marriage to Hecataeus King of those Indians that inhabit â—eer unto the Bosphor which is an arm of the Sea that runneth betwixt two coasts This Hecataeus being cast out of his Kingdome Satyrus the most potent of these Kings reinstated him in his Principality but conditionally That he would marry his only daughter and make her Queen by putting Tirgatao to death But he though forced by the necessity of the time and present occasion yet loving his first wife still would not put her to death according to the Covenant but caused her to be shut in his most defenced Castle there to consume the remaindeâ— of her life in perpetuall widowhood The Lady comforted with better hopes and born to fairer fortunes deceived the eies of her strict keepâ—â—s and by night escaped out of prison This being made known to the two Kings the sonne in law and the father they were wonderfully perplexed with the newes of her flight as fearing if she arrived in her own Country she might accite the people to her revenge They therefore pursued her with all diligence and speed but in vain for hiding her selfe all the day time and travelling by night through pathlesse and unfrequented places at length she arrived amongst the â—xomatae which was the Countrey of her own friends and kindred But finding her father dead she married with him that succeeded in the Kingdome by which means now commanding the Ixomatae she insinuated into the breasts of the most warlike people inhabiting about Moeotis and so levied a brave army which she her selfe conducted She first invaded the Kingdome of Hecataeus and infested his Country with many bloody incursions she next wasted and made spoil of the Kingdome of Satyrus insomuch that they both were forced with all submisse entreaties by embassadors to sue unto her for peace to which she assented having before as hostage of their truce received Metrodorus the son of Satyrus But the two Kings falsified to her their faith and honour for Satyrus dealt with two of his subjects whom he best trusted with whom he pretended heinous displeasure for which flying and retiring themselves to her for refuge they there attend a convenient opportunity to insiderate her life They submitting to her her Court becomes their sanctuary Satyrus sends to demand the offenders she by her letters entreats and mediates their peace and pardon These attend their next occasion the one pretends private conference with her and bowing submissly to her as she enclines her body to attend him the other invades her with his sword her fortunate Belt kept the steel from entring Clamor is made her servants enter the Traitors are apprehended and confesse all that before had passed betwixt Satyrus and them Therefore she commands his son Metrodorus the Hostage to be slain and the two conspirators with him gathers another army and invades the Bosâ—â—â—ean Tyrant She punisheth his perfidiousnesse with Rapes Murthers Combustions and all the Calamities of war till Satyrus himselfe oppressed with miseries and surcharged with griefe expired whom Gorgippus his son succeeded in the Principality but not with any security till he had acknowledged his Crown as given to him by her and with many costly and rich gifts compounded for his peace Polyb. lib 8. This Lady hath a merited name for an invincible courage and a masculine spirit No lesse worthy to be remembred is Comiola Turinga her history is thus reported In that great Navy which Peter King of Sicily sent against Robert King of Naples in the aid of the Lyparitans with other Pâ—inces 〈◊〉 Nâ—â—lemen there was in that fleet one Roland bâ—stard brother to King Peter The Sicilians being defeated by 〈…〉 Roland amongst many other Gentlemen was surpâ—â—â—ed and cast into prison Now when the friends and kinsmen of all such Captives had been carefull of their release and almost all of them were ransomed thence King Peter 〈◊〉 the sloth and cowardise of his subjects the Sicilians neglected his brother and would entertein no discourse that tended to his redemption Whereupon he was put into a more close prison no better then a Dungeon where he was debarred the benefit of light and shortned of his diet where he spent his time in discontent and misery This extremity of his with the Dukes slackneâ—â— in his release comming to the ear of a beautiful young widow of Messana who had a large Dower from her parents and was left infinitely rich by her husband she pitying his distressed estate and withall being somewhat enamored of his person sent to him privately by such as he best trusted to know of him if he would accept of her as his wife if she did instantly pay down his ransome The motion being made he seemed overjoied thanked the heavens for their assistance and with great willingnesse accepted of the motion They are contracted by Proxie and she paies down two thousand ounces of gold for his freedome This done and Roland comming back to Messana he was so far from acknowledging the Contract that he would not so much as see her or confesse himselfe obliged unto her in the smallest courtesie who had it not been for her charitable love and piety might have languished in an uncomfortable durance all the daies of his life Comiola Turninga at this ingratitude much grieved for she had not only paid down so great a sum but that which most afflicted her was that the fame of her marriage being â—ll over-spread the Contract being denied and by