comely that the nether part of my smocke should be â—â—â—ned up and kisse the lippes of my lord at which the duke was much delighted And that night was begot Williaâ— the Bastard whom our Chronicles honour with the name of Conqueror whether at first in memorie of this least or since in disgrace of the Wanton it is not decided But from that Harlotta or Arlotta our prostitutes and common wenches â—re to this day in our vulgar Tongue called Harlots In the yeere of our Lord 1036 Henry the second Emperour of that name was marryed to Guinilde the daughter of Canâ—tus a Dâ—ne and king of England This Empeâ—our had a sister a professed Nunne whom he loued so entirely that oft times he would haue her lye in his owne Pallace and neere to his owne priuie chamber It happened in a cold Winters night a Chaplaine belonging to the Court it seemes to keepe her the warmer and one that had beene before much suspected lay with her and in the morning least both their footings should be seene in the Snow newly fallen that night shee tooke him vp and carryed him out of the Court towards his chamber The Emperour chancing as his custome was to rise iust at the same houre was spectator of this close conueyance and beheld how all the businesse happened Not long after fell a Bishopricke which the Priest expected and a Nunnerie which the Nunne much desired Whereupon the Emperour calling them before him the one after the other Take that Benefice saith he to the Priest but saddle no more the Nunne And you the Abbesse saith hee to his Sister saddle no more the Priest or looke thou neuer more beare Clerke riding vpon thy backe It is said that this serued after for a modest chiding betwixt them and that they were parted vpon these friendly tearmes Of diuerse Wantons belonging to sundry famous men and others ARistophanes Appollodorus Ammonius Antiphanes and Georgia Atheniensis of your Athenian strumpets haue writ at large as also of the like argument Theomander Cyrenaus Eleus Amasides Theophrastus in libro Amatorio Polemon de Tabellis lib. 3. Ouid and infinite others out of whom may be collected many famous wantons in their times Ocymus is the name of a strumpet much beloued of a skilfull Sophist in Corinth Thalatra of Diocles Corianno of Pherecrates Antea of Philillius otherwise called Eunicus Thais and Phannium of Menander Opora of Alexis Clepsydra of Eubulus for so Asclepiades the sonne of Arius reports in his Commentarie vpon Demetrius Phalareus where hee affirmes her proper name to be rather Methica which Antiphanes writes to be the name of a wanton The Poet Timocles speakes of Cina Nannium Plangon Lyca Pithionica Myrhina Chrisis Conallis Ieroclea Lopadium Of these likewise Amphis makes mention Anaxandries in his description of the madnesse of old men amongst others hee reckons vp Lagisca and Theolyte Polemon the Historiographer speakes of one Cottina whose Statue is erected in the citie of Lacedemon not farre from the Temple of Dionisius she is mounted vpon a brasen Bull. Alcibiades was beloued by a woman of Aegida of whom hee was likewise amorous after relinquishing Athens and Lacena of one Meâ—ontide of Abidos and with her sayled through the Hellespont with Axiochâ—s a friend of his and much deuoted to his fellowship for so the Orator Lysias witnesseth of him in an Oration made against him Hee had two other mistresses with whom hee was conuersant Damasandra the mother of Lais Iunior and Theodota by whom hee was preserued when remaining in Melissa a citie of Phrygia Pharnabazus layd traines entrap his life Abrotonax was the mother of Themistocles a strumpet as Amphicrates relates Neanthes Cyzicenus a Greeke Historiographer calls him the sonne of Euterpe The second Philodelphus king of Aegypt had many famous Concubines as Ptolomaeus Eâ—â—rgetes in his Commentaries witnesseth Didima and Bilistiche besides these Agathoclea and Stratonica whose monument was erected in the sea Elâ—sina Myrtium with many others Polybius in his foureteenth booke of Histories remembers one Clino that was his Cup-bearer in whose honor many Statues were erected in Alexandria Mnesides a shee-Musitian of the citie Mnesis and one Pothinae his most delicate houses in which he tooke much delight he was wont to call after the name of two of his Paramours eyther Myrtiae or Pothinae Timothaeus the great Captaine of the Athenians was knowne to be the sonne of a common woman of Threissa which being obiected to him as an aspersion hee answered I am glad to haue beene borne of such a mother that had the wisedome to chuse Conon to bee my father Caristius in his Historicall Commentaries auerres Phileterus who soueraignized in Pergamus and the new Region called Boca to be the sonne of a wanton shee-Minstrell borne in Paphlagonia Aristophon the Orator who in the reigne of king Euclides published a Law That all such as were not borne of ciuile and free women approued for their modestie and temperance should be held as bastards yet hee himselfe is mocked by the Comicke Poet Calliades for being the sonne to the Prostitute Chorides as may appeare in the third booke of his Commentaries Of Lamia the strumpet the king Demetrius had a daughter called Phila Polemon affirmes Lamia to haue been the daughter of Cleonor the Athenian Machon the Comick Poet numbers Leaena amongst this kings mistresses with many others Ptolomaeus the sonne of Agesarchus in his Historie of Philopater speaking of the mistresses of kings bestowes Philinna a Dancer vpon Philip of Macedon by whom he had Aridaeus who succeeded after Alexander Damo was the delight of Antigonus by whom he had Alcyonaeus Mysta and Nisa were the beloued of Seleucus Iunior and Mania most famous for her wit and ingenious discourse of Demetrius Poliorcetes Of her Machon the Poet writes much as also of Gnathaena who with Depithaea were said to be two Lasses much beloued of the Poet Diphilus The citie of Athens was so full of famous strumpets that Aristophanes Byzantius reckon'd vp at one time 135. but Appollodorus more so likewise Gorgias as these Parenum Lampride Euphrosine the daughter of a Fuller of Cloth Megista Agaellis Thaumarium Theoclea otherwise called Corone Lenetocistus Astra Gnathaena with two neeces by her daughter Gnathenum and Siga Synoris sirnamed Lichnus Euclea Grammea Thriallis Chimaera Lampas Glicera Nico sirnamed Capra Hippe Metanira of whom many things worthie obseruation are remembred One Sapho is likewise numbred amongst these loose ones not Sapho the Lyrick Poetresse but another borne of a strumpet Many Roman wantons may here likewise not vnfitly be inserted as some related others beloued and celebrated by them in their Poems as Ipsithilla of Catullus Quintilia of Caluus Licinius Lyde of Calimachus Bathis of Phileta Lycinea and Glicera of Horace Leucadia of Terentius Varro Arecinus Delia Sulpitia Nemesis Neaera all these affected by Tibullus Hostia otherwise called Cinthia by
deliuerers of her people And so much for the Legend But Richardus Diuisiensis sayth That being awed by Earle Godwin and for the feare of hasarding his life and kingdome Edward was compelled by threats and menaces to the marriage of Editha Moreouer Polydore reports That for the hate he bore her father who had not long before most trayterously slaine his brother Alphred hee caused himselfe to be diuorced from her seising her goods and dower to his owne vse and pleasure Ranulphus and one that writes himselfe Anonimos as willing to conceale his name say That shee was disrobed of all her Queene-like honors and confined into the Abbey of Warnwell with only one maid to attend her and so committed to the strict custodie of the Abbesse William of Malmesbury and Marianus Scotus haue left remembred That hee neyther dismissed her his bed nor carnally knew her but whether it was done in hatred to her kindred or purpose of Chastitie they are not able to determine Robert Fabian confesseth as much in his Chronicle Part. 6. cap. 210. Howsoeuer the effects of that abstenious life were not onely preiudiciall but brought lamentable effects vpon this distracted kingdome namely Innouation and Conquest for Edward dying without issue England was inuaded and opprest by the Normans and the people brought to that miserie that happie was that subiect that could say I am no Englishman And in this agree Matthew Paris Capgraue Fabian and Polydore As I hold it not necessarie for marryed folke to tye themselues to this strict kind of abstinence so I hold it not conuenient for any such as haue to themselues and in their soules taken vpon them the strict life of Virginitie to be compelled to an enforced marriage as may appeare by this discourse following recorded by Gulielm Malmsburien Simeon Danelmens Matthew Paris Roger Houeden Capgraue c. Henry the first of that name king of England and crowned in the yeere of Grace 1101 was by the instigation of Anselme once a Monke of Normandie but after by William Rufus constituted Archbishop of Canterburie marryed vnto Maude daughter to Malcolme the Scottish king she hauing taken a Vow and being a profest Nunne in the Abbey of Winchester Much adoe had the King her father the Queene her mother her Confessor Abbesse or the Bishop to alienate her from her setled resolution or persuade her to marriage but being as it were violently compelled thereunto she cursed the Fruit that should succeed from her bodie which after as Polydore affirmes turned to the great misfortune and miserie of her children for afterwards two of her sonnes William and Richard were drowned by Sea Besides her daughter Maude who was afterwards Empresse prooued an vnfortunate Mother and amongst many other things in bringing forth Henry the second who caused Thomas Becket to be slaine it thus happened All forraine warres being past and ciuile combustions pacified in the yeere of our Lord 1120 Henry the first with great ioy and triumph left Normandie and came into England But within few dayes following this great mirth and iollitie turned into a most heauie and fearefull sorrow for William and Richard his two sonnes with Mary his daughter Otwell their Tutor and Guardian Richard Earle of Chester with the Countesse his wife the Kings Neece many Chapleines Chamberlaines Butlers and Seruitors for so they are tearmed in the storie the Archdeacon of Hereford the Princes play-fellowes Sir Geffrey Rydell Sir Robert Maldvyle Sir William Bygot with other Lords Knights Gentlemen great Heires Ladyes and Gentlewomen to the number of an hundred and fortie besides Yeomen and Mariners which were about fiftie all these sauing one man which some say was a Butcher were all drowned together and not any one of their bodyes euer after found Many attribute this great Iudgement to the heauie Curse of Queene Maude others censure of it diuersly Howsoeuer in this King as Polydore sayth ended the Descent and Lyne of the Normans Of this Anselme before spoken of there are diuerse Epistles yet extant to many women in those dayes reputed of great Temperance and Chastitie as To Sister Frodelina Sister Ermengarda Sister Athelytes Sister Eulalia Sister Mabily and Sister Basyle To Maude Abbesse of Cane in Normandie and Maude the Abbesse of Walton here in England Hee writ a Treatife about the same time called Planctus a missae Virginitatis i. A bewayling of lost Virginitie So farre Iohn Bale And so much shall serue for Chast Wiues in this kind being loth to tyre the patience of the Reader Of Women Wantons DIon the Historiographer in Tiberio sayth that Lyuia the wife of Augustus Caesar beholding men naked sayd to the rest about her That to continent women and chast matrons such obiects differed nothing from statues or images for the modest heart with immodest sights ought not to be corrupted The vnchast eye more drawes the poyson of sinne from beautie which is Gods excellent workemanship from which the chast and contrite heart deriues the Creators praise and glorie But my hope is that in exposing vnto your view the histories of these faire Wantons you will looke vpon them should I strip them neuer so naked with the eyes of Lyuia that is to hold them but as beautifull statues or like Appelles his woman not better than a picture of white Marble I haue heard of a man that liuing to the age of threescore and ten had led so austere a life that in all that time he neuer touched the bodie of a woman and had proposed to himselfe to carrie that Virginall vow with him to his graue but at length being visited with sickenesse and hauing a faire estate purchased with his small charge and great husbandrie and therefore willing to draw out the thread of his life to what length he could hee sent to demaund the counsell of the Phisitians who hauing well considered the estate of his bodie all agreed in this that since the phisick of the soule belonged not to them but onely the phisick of the bodie they would freely discharge their duties and indeed told him that this present estate was dangerous and they found but onely one way in art for his cure and recouerie which was in plaine tearmes To vse the companie of a woman and so tooke their leaues and left him to consider of it Loath was the old man to loose his Virginitie which hee had kept so long but more loath to part with his life which he desired to keepe yet longer and hauing meditated with himself from whom he was to depart and what to leaue behind him namely his possessions his money his neighbours friends and kindred and whether hee was to remooue to the cold and comfortlesse graue he resolued with himselfe to prolong the comfort of the first and delay as long he could the feare of the last Therefore hee resolued rather than to be accessorie to the hastening his owne death to take the counsell of the doctors It was therfore so ordered by
who for her elegant feature and extraordinarie beautie and withall because the costlie ornaments with which she vsed to attire herselfe exceeded the precise custome of her Order she was brought within suspition of lust and inchastitie for which being cal'd into question and not able legallie to acquit 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 Iustin in his 43 booke commemorates this historie Aeneas after many tedious trauells landing in Italie was by marrieng Lauinia the daughter of King Latinus made partner with him in the Kingdome for which marriage warre was commenst betwixt them two of the one partie and Turnus King of the Rutilians on the other In which combustions Turnus being slaine and Latinus yeelding to Fate Aenaeas both by the right of victorie and succession became Lord of both the Kingdome and poeple erecting a cittie called Lauinium in remembrance of his wife Lauinia In processe he made warre against Mezentias king of the Etruscians whom hauing slaine Ascanius the sonne of Aenaeas succeeded in the principalitie Ascanius leauing Lauinium built the cittie Alba which for three hundred yeares space was the capitall cittie of that Kingdome After many discents the regall honours were conferred vpon Numitor and Amulius These two Princes emulous of each others greatnesse Amulius the younger hauing opprest his brother Numitor surprised also his sole daughter Rhaea who was immediate heire to her fathers honours and regall dignities all which he couetous to ingrosse to himselfe and fearing withall least from her issue might in time descend some one that might punish his insolencies and reuenge her and her fathers iniuries deuised with himselfe how to preuent both and fearing least by putting her to death he might incurre a generall hate amongst the people in whose loue hee was not as yet fullie setled he apprehended as his safest course to shadow her vow of virginitie to be elected into the sacred seruice of Vesta Being thus confin'd into the groaue celebrated to Mars whether begot by Mars himselfe as was then beleeued or otherwise adulterouslie conceiued it is vncertaine but she was deliuered of two sonnes This being knowne to Amulius increased his feares who commanded the infants to be cast foorth and Rhaea to bee loaden with yrons vnder whose seuere sentence expiring she yeelded to Fate The two children ready to perish were miraculouslie nourced by a she wolfe and after found by the shepheard Faustulus were by him brought vp 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 deflowred by Nero. Another whose name was Pompilia because by her inchastitie she prophaned the sacred orders of Vesta was buryed aliue the same death for the like offence suffered Cornelia Floronea the Vestall was conuicted of whoredome but she to preuent one death made choice of another For taking to her selfe a braue Roman spirit shee with her owne hands boldlie slew her selfe Posthumia taxed for her two curious habit and gaudinesse 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 wittilie and noblie answered to whatsoeuer could be obiected against her so that being found guiltlesse she was absolued by the sentence of the high Priest or Archflammin Sextilia sped not so well as this Posthumia for she being suspected of inchastitie and found culpable suffered according to the law made for the punishment of the like offenders The like suffered Tutia the Vestall for her vnlawfull prostitution Plutarch in Gracchis in the Catalogue of these consecrated virgins numbers Licinia And Pliny relates that when Clodius the Emperour was in opposition with his wife Messalina that sinke of lust and most incontinent of women when their differences could be no wayes decided Messalina sent to Vbidia one of the most reuerent amongst the Vestalls by whose mediation attonement was made betwixt her and the Emperour The vestfall fire vpon a time going out and it being imputed to their inchastitie Aemilia with these words besought the goddesse Oh Vesta thou that art the protectour of this famous cittie Rome as I haue truelie and chastlie almost for thirtie yeares space celebrated thy sacrifices so either at this present crowne my puritie with fame or before this multitude brand my lust with infamy These words were no sooner spoken but casting her mantle vpon the Altar the fire instantlie brake foorth where before there was nothing in place saue cold embers by which prodigie her innocent life was protected Claudia the Vestall was of no lesse remarkeable chastitie who when a barke laden with the sacreds of the goddesse stucke fast in the riuer Tyber and by no human strength could be loosed from the sand she thus openlie protested before the people If quoth she ô goddesse I haue hitherto kept my chastitie vndefiled vouchsafe these may follow me when fastning a cord to the stearne of the ship she without any difficultie drew it along the riuer Tuscia likewise suspected of incontinence by the like wonder gaue testimonie of her innocence who inuocating Vesta in these words If saith she ô mother of the gods I haue offered thy sacrifices with chast and vndefiled hands grant that with this sieue I may take vp water from the riuer Tyber and without shedding the least droppe beare it vnto thy Altar which when she had obtained and accordinglie performed with lowd acclamations of the multitude she was absolued and her austere life euerafter held in reuerence The attributes of Modestie and Temperance are greater ornaments to a woman than gold or iewells and because all perfections cannot be in one woman at one time this Modestie is that which supplyes all things that are wanting It is a dower to her that hath no portion not onelie an ornament to deformitie but in blacknesse it impresses a kind of beautie it illustrates the ignobilitie of birth supplying all those defects wherein fortune hath beene scanting And so much shall suffice for the Vestalls Of the Prophetesses COncerning these Prophetesses I will onely make a briefe catalogue of some few whom the antient writers haue made most eminent We reade of Hyrtia the daughter of Sesostris king of Aegypt most skilfull in diuination who to her father foretold his Amplitude and Monarchy Volatteranus in Georg. writes of one Labissa a diuining woman that was eminent for many predictions in Bohemia whom succeeded her daughter Craco as well in skill as in fame Plutarch in Mario speakes of one Martha whom Marcius most honourablie circumducted in a horse-litter and at her appointment celebrated many sacrifices her the senate with a generall suffrage for her approued skill in augurie rewarded with libertie making her a free woman of the cittie Polyxo is the name of
both of them being so naturallie beautifull that they were said to be the sonnes of Adonis and Venus The elder raigned in the lower parts of Media the Iunior kept his principalitie in the higher countrey as farre as the riuer Taâ—ais not many leagues distant from thence there liued the king Homartes who had one onely daughter cald Odatis whom as diuers Authours affirme seemed in a dreame to haue seene this Zariadres and of his person to be much inamoured The like in a vision happening to him in so much that he was ardentlie affected to her whome as yet he had neuer seene This Odatis was the fairest Princesse in that time liuing in Asia and Zariadres no whit to her inferiour who sent to the king Homartes to demand her in marriage he would by no meanes yeeld to the motion because not hauing any male issue he was loath to transferre the succession of his kingdome vpon a stranger purposing rather to bestow her on some Prince of his countrey though a subiect Not long after he caused to be assembled all the friends kinsmen Nobilitie and Gentrie of his land inuiting them to his daughters marriage but not yet knowing or hauing determined in himselfe on whom to conferre her His subiects thus assembled hee inuited them all to a solemne and high feast whither hauing called his daughterâ— in the hearing of all his guests he thus bespake her We are now ô Princely daughter to celebrate thy nuptialls take therfore this golden bowle filled with rich Greekish wine and hauing throughlie and aduisedlie perused all this noble companie to whom thou shall daine first to drinke he is vndoubtedlie thy husband She hauing viewed and reuiewed them all none pleasing like that person presented to her in her dreame she demanded of her father some few daies respight which granted she sent word to Zariadres how her affaires stood concerning her marriage and withall much desiring his speedy presence He being in his army neere to Tanais and hearing this newes secretlie conueyed himselfe out of his tent and without any seruant or attendant sauing his chariotter came priuatelie into the Cittie of Homartes hauing in wondrous short space runne 8000 furlongs this done he disposed both of his charriot and driuer and withall putting himselfe into a Scythians habit hee came to the place where this marriage was to be celebrated and thronging in amongst the rest he beheld the beautifull Odatis sad in countenance and tempering her draught with a slow and vnwilling hand to whom approaching more neerer he thus whispered Behold Odatis thy dearest Zariadres for whom thou didst latelie send ready to doe thee all seruice She casting an aduised eye vpon him and perceiuing him to be a stranger beautifull and in all semblance so like the person of whom she had dreamt in a great extasie of ioy dranke to him and gaue him the cup and whilst the rest were amased at the nouell hee snatcht her vp and carryed her where his charriot stood ready and so transported her into Media This their loue was so famous amongst the barbarous people that the history was portraied in all their Pallaces and Temples nay euen in their priuate houses many of the Nobilitie in memorie of her calling their daughters by the name of Odatis Dionisius the Tyrant banisht Dion out of Sicily taking into his owne custody the exyles wife Aristomache and her daughter but after at the great intercession of one of his seruants Polycrates a man by him much affected he compelled the Lady who stil lamented the absence of her Lord vnto a second marriage with this Polycrates who was by nation of Syracusa But Dion hauing gathered fresh forces and expelling Dionisius from Syracusa vnto the Locrenses Arâ—â—e his sister meeting him and congratulating his famous victorie made intercession for Aristomache who with great shame had sequestred her selfe from the presence of her first husband not daring to looke him in the face howsoeuer her second nuptialls were made by force and compulsion But the necessitie of the cause the wondrous submission and modest excuse of Aristomache together with the mediation of Arete so much preuayled with Dion all confirming hir innocence that he receiued his wife and daughter into his familie still continuing their former loue and societie Hippo a woman of Greece trauelling by sea with her husband and being surprised by Pyrats finding the chiefe of them to be inamoured of her beautie rather than yeeld to his lustfull desires she voluntarilie threw her selfe into the sea and was drowned leauing behind her a remarkable president of chastitie her body was driuen vpon Ericheon or as some will haue it the Erythean shore in memorie of whom a sacred monument was raysed which was many yeares after yeerely celebrated with many condigne honours Valer. Max. lib. 7. cap. 1. Chiomara of whom Liâ—ius Frontinus Florus and others haue written was the wife of Orgiantes Regulus and borne in Galatia Plutarch calls her Oriagontes it is thus related of her The army and the forces of the Gallogrecians being part of them defeated and the rest taken captiue by Ca. Manlius then consull neere to the mount Olimpus this Chiomara the wife of Regulus a woman of most knowne modestie and chastitie being first taken and after committed to the custody of a Roman Centurion was forceably by him adulterated A commandement comming from the Consull that all the treasure of which the Lady was possest should be confiscate to the Centurion onely her selfe with that ransome to bee returned safe and vntoucht to her husband she presently promist the captaine to bring him to a place where all his desires should be satisfied He of a couetous disposition with all celeritie hasted with her to the discouerie of this Magazin where she before had placed a company of Gallogrecians her countrey men and in their language commanded them to fall vpon him kill him which done she cut off his head and presented it to her husband and kneeling to him both expressed the nature of her iniury and the manner of her reuenge The censures of the Consull Manilius and her husband Regulus both assented in this That she was of a courage vnmatchable for though her body was brought vnder the subiection of an enemy neither her mind could be conquered nor her chastitie made captiue An antient woman amongst the Syracusans when all the subiects of Dionysius with many execrations cursed and openlie inueighed against his insufferable cruelties she onely was obserued morning and euening to sollicite the gods for his long life and happinesse which comming to the eare of the king he caused her to be called before him and demanded of her the cause Why amongst all his oppressed subiects who dayly wisht his ruin she alone inuoakt the gods for his health and preseruation to whom with an vndaunted resolution she thus answered That which I doe ô King is not without due premeditation and grounded both vpon reason
might giue them their answer which granted Returne said she my humble duty and vassaladge to my Lord the King and tell him withall That vnlesse he receiue my faith and renouncing his false Idolls beleeue in the onely true God he can claime no interest at all in me The messenger dispatcht and this short answer returned to the Sophy he leuied an army of forty thousand men and comming into Greece the Emperour and he came vnto a peacefull enterview at which by the mediation of this royall and religious Empresse the Sophy with all his princes and souldiers there present receiued the Christian faith and after the interchange of many Princely and magnificicent gifts returned with his wife into his own countrey Another noble history I thinke not amisse to be here inserted which is recorded by one Willielmus de reg lib. 20. Gunnilda the daughter of Canutus and Emma who being accused of adultery by her husband Henry the Emperour who to iustifie his accusation had prouided a champion in stature a giant and for his presence and potencie much feared she notwithstanding relying vpon God and her owne innocence put her life vpon the valour of a priuat young gentleman of England whoÌ„ she brought with her to the same purpose These Champions adventuring their liues fought a braue and resolute combat but in the end the victory inclined to the Empresse her aduerse champion being vanquished confest his treasons and she was noblie acquit but after by no intreaties or intercessions made by the Emperour or others shee could bee wonne vnto his embraces but abiuring his bed and vowing an austere and sequestred life she retired her selfe into a Monasterie Three royall presidents of three vâ—matchable queenes the first for Magnanimitie the second for Religion and deuotion and the last for Chastitie To these I will yet adde another Willielmus de Regibus in his first booke writes that king Iue betooke his kingdom of the West-Saxons to his cosin Ethelardus and vndertooke a pilgrimage to Rome the occasion of his iournie was this The queene Ethelbnrga had often counselled her husband the king to forsake the pride and riches of the world and to haue a respect to his soules health especially now in the latter dayes of his life but not able to preuaile with him she bethought her selfe of a queint stratagem after they had left their royal pallace where they had but latly feasted in all pompe pleasure and delicacies and remoued into another house she caused him to whose charge the place from whence they departed was committed to take downe all the hangings make foule and and filthy euerie roome and chamber nay in the verie place where the king had but the other day sported with his queene was lodged a sow and pigges with all the loathsomenesse that could be deuised this done according to her commaund she by a wile inticed the king to the place thus strangely disguised The king wondering at this sudden change stood amased to whom she thus spoke I pray you my Lord where be now these rich hangings and curtaines either for state or ornament Where is all the glyttering pompe aâ—d rich array tending to nothing else saue gluttonie and luxurie Alas how suddenly are they all vanished Shall not my Lord this beautie of ours so fade and this fraile flesh euen so fall a way This with other her words to the like purpose tooke such impression in the kings brest that he resigned his kingdome to his Nephew and betooke himselfe to a religous and Monasticke life after his vowed pilgrimage The queene Ethelburga went to the Abbey at Berking in which place her sister had beene before Abbesse and there spent the remainder of her life in deuotion and penitence Polycrita THere arose great warres betweene the Milesians and Naxians kindled by the adultrate practise of the wife of Hypsicreon a Milesian who violating her coniugall vowes by throwing her selfe into the lustfull imbraces of Promedon a Naxian then her guest and fearing the iust anger of her husband and withall the punishment due to her adultrate sinne fled with him into Naxos from whence being againe demanded but denied this priuate wrong turned to a publique ruin for deuouring warre accompained with many calamities preyed vpon both their countries But as this Beacon was first fired by a womans lewdnesse so was it at last extinguished by a womans vertue Diognetus who had the command of those Erythraeans which came in ayde of the Milesians had committed to his custodie a certaine strong hold scituated against the citie Naxos who hauing taken from the Naxians a prize of women and free virgins he was deepely stroke in loue with one Polycrata whom he led with him not as a captiue but as his wife It chanced that the Miletians celebrated a generall festiuall day Polycrita besought Diognetus to make her so far indebted to his fauour as to suffer her to send her brothers part of those iuncates then at the table which willingly he granted she secretly writ vpon the leaden table of the marchpane what shee had proiected withall charging the bearer to intreat her brothers not to let any participate therof saue themselues when they had heard the writing which contained thus much in effect Take hold vpon the opportunitie which occasion thrusts into your hands this night you may seise the Castle for the enemie will lie downe in wine and sleepe in a presumptious securitie They shew it to the chiefe commanders of Naxos who vniting themselues giue the affrighted vnweaponed Miletians a sudden and vnexpected assault and hauing slaughtred many possesse themselues of the castle But by Polycritas intercessiue intreaties surprised Diognetus scapes with life And for this noble exploit of hers the glad citisens running to meete her with shoutes and acclamations euery one bearing in his hand a Garland to receiue her with those wreathes of honor Polycrita was so farre extaside that her sudden ioy vshered a sudden death for as she stood amased at the gate she instantly fell downe exanimated in which gate she was buried and her sepulchre called The tombe of Enuie because it is supposed that Fortune grew so enuious of her merits that thus she robd her of her life that so she might cheat her of her deserued honors And thus much speakes the histories of the Naxians Aristotle affirmes Polycrita was no captiue but onely that Diognetus hauing seene her hee grew so far enamoured of her that to enioy her he proferred her any thing that was in his power to giue She promises to yeeld to his desire if he will grant her the fruition of one boone which when hee had confirmed to her by oath shee demanded Delium to be surrendred vp for the castle was so called Diognetus being so much inchanted with her beautie and moreouer bound by the religion of his vow deliuered vp to her and the cittisens the castle Delium Of Queenes and other Ladies for diuers vertues memorable WEe reade
early to attend the king who was that day to bee entertained by the earle his father in law All things were noblie prouided and Edgar royally receiued and set to dinner some write that Ethelâ—old had caused a kitchin maid to put on his wiues habit and sit at the kings Table but I find no such matter remembered in my Author the truth is the king about the middest of dinner cald for the Earle Orgarus and demanded of him whether he had a wife or no if he had why he might not haue her companie knowing it was a generall obseruation in England that without the wiues entertainement there could be no true and heartie welcome The earle replied that at that time he was an vnhappie widdower he then demaunded whether he had any children to continue his posteritie to which he answered heauen had onely blest him with one daughter a plaine damosell yet the sole hope of his future memorie The king was then importunate to see her and commanded her to be instantly brought vnto his presence which put Ethelwold into a strange agonie yet still hoping she had done as hee had late inioyned her when shee contrarie to his expectation came in apparelled like a bride in rich and costly vestures her golden haire fairely kembed and part hanging downe in artificiall curles her head stoocke with jewells and about her neck a chaine of diamonds which gaue a wonderous addition to that beautie which naked of it selfe without any ornament was not to bee paraleld a contrarie effect it wrought in the king and her husband To Edgar she seemed some goddesse at least a miracle in nature to Ethelwold in regard of his feare a furie or what worse hee could compare her to O fraile woman in this one vanitie to appeare beautifull in the eyes of a king thou hast committed two heinous and grieuous sinnes Adulterie and Murder for accordingly it so fell out Edgar was as much surprised with her loue as incensed with hate against her lord both which for the present he dissembled neither smiling on the one nor frowning on the other In the afternoone the king would needes hunt the stagge in the forrest of Werwelly since called Hoore-wood In the chace by the appointment of Edgar Earle Ethelwold was strooke through the bodie with an arrow and so slaine the king after made Elfritha his bride and queene The Earle had a base sonne then present at the death of his father of whom the king asked how hee liked that manner of hunting to whom he answered Royall sir what seemeth good to you shal be to me no way offensiue from that time forward he was euer gratious with the king And Elfritha thinking to make attonement with heauen for the murder of her husband or rather as Ranulphus saith for causing Edward to whom she was step-mother to be slaine that her owne sonne Egelredus might raigne builded an Abbie for Nunnes at Worwell where she was after buried Gunnora IN the time that Agapitus was Pope Lewis king of Fraunce the sonne of Charles caused William Longa Spata the second duke of Normandie to bee treacherously slaine this William was sonne to Rollo The Lords of Normandie with this murder much insenced watched their aduantage and surprised the king in Rhothemage where they committed him to safe custodie till he had promised and sworne to yeeld vp Normandie to Richard sonne and immediate heire to William the late murdered duke and moreouer in what place soeuer the king and the yong duke should haue meeting to conferre that Richard should weare his sword but king Lewis neither to haue sword nor knife about him This Richard being yong was called Richard the Old he had besides another attribute giuen him which was Richard without Feare because he was neuer known to be dismayde at any thing but a third aboue these was that he pretended to be wonderous religious He was duke two and fiftie yeares and tooke a Ladie to his bed from Denmarke whose name was Gunnora by whom he had fiue sonnes and two daughters the eldest of which was married to Etheldredus king of England her name was Emma and shee was called the flower of Normandie Concerning this bold yet religious duke it is reported by Marianus lib. 2. Henricus Ranulphus and others that besides many other testimonies of his sanctitie this one made him most eminent A Monke of Andoenus in Rothomage a town in Normandie going one night to meete with his sweet heart his way lay ouer a bridge and vnder that bridge was a deepe foord or riuer it so happened that mistaking his footing hee fell into the water and there was drowned He was no sooner dead but there came to carrie away his soule an Angell and a Fiend these two contended about it the one would haue it so would the other great was the controuersie betwixt them at length they concluded to put the case to duke Richard both to stand to his arbitrement much pleading there was on both sides at length the duke gaue sentence That the soule should be restored againe to the bodie be placed againe vpon that bridge from whence he had falne and if then he would offer to goe from thence to his sweet heart the diuell should take him but if otherwise he because he was a Church-man should be still in the Angels protection This was done and the Monke left his way to the woman and fled to the church as to a sanctuarie whether the duke went the next day and found the Monkes clothes still wet and told the Abbot euerie circumstance as it fell out therefore the Monke was shriuen did penance was absolued and reconciled This I haue read which I persuade no man to beleeue This duke liued with the faire Gunnora long time dishonestly and without marriage had by her those children aforesaid but at length by the persuasion of the nobilitie and intercession of the cleargie he tooke her to wife The first night after the marriage when the duke came to her bed she turned her backe towards him which she had neuer done till that time at which hee maruelling demaunded of her the reason why she did so To whom she answered before I was your strumpet and therfore as a seruant was tide to doe your pleasure in althings but now I am your wife and made part of your selfe therefore henceforth I claime with you an equall soueraigntie and will doe what mee list bearing my selfe now like a princesse not like a prostitute This I am easily induced to beleeue for how soone do honoures change manners Iuuenall in his sixt Satire speaking of marriage thus sayth Semper habet lites aeternaque iurgia lectus c. The marriage bed is sildome without strife And mutuall chidinges hee that takes a wife Bargaines for mightie trouble and small rest Sleepe growes a stranger then whilest in her brest She lodgeth Passion Selfe-will Anger Feare And from her eyes drops many a
alwayes can the purple violet smell Or Lillies bloome in whitenesse that excell The fragrant rose whose beautie we desire The leaues once falne shewes but a naked brire O thou most faire white heires come on apace And wrinckled furrowes which shall plow thy face So likewise Petronius Arbiter in one of his Satyres Quod solum formae decus est cecidere Capillae The onely beautie of her shape her haire Fell from her head her beautie to impaire Summer succeedes the Spring her Autumne chaceth And them sad Winter with his snow disgraceth Deceitfull Nature all these youthfull ioyes Thou gau'st vs first thou art the first destroyes Now the fruits and effects of this fraile beautie especially where a faire face meeteth with a corrupted mind I will next shew you by historie Achab by the persuasion of his faire wife Iesabell was the death of many of the Prophets of the Lord. Dalila was the confusion of Sampson the Strong Strange women brought Salomon the Wise to Idolatrie and to forget God Ioram a king of Israell at the instigation of Athalia committed many horrible outrages Helena's beautie was the occasion of that infinite slaughter betwixt the Greekes and Troians Pelops succeeding in the kingdome of Phrygia made warre vpon Oenomaus the father of Hyppodamia because being surprised with her beautie she was denyde him in marriage Another Hyppodamia the wife of Perithous was the occasion of that great Centauromachia or battaiâ—e betwixt the Centaures and the Lapithes for which Propertius calls her Ischomache of the greeke word Isco which signifieth Habeo and Mache Pugna his words are these Qualis Iscomache Lapithae genus Heroinae Centauris medio grata rapina mero Such as Iscomache that was Of the Lapythaean line She whom the Centaures would haue rapt Amidst their cups of wine Pericles for his loue to Aspasia made warre against the Samians For Chrisaeis the daughter of Chrises Priest to Apollo vitiated by Agamemnon a plague was sent amongst the Greekish host which ceased not till she was returned backe to her father for so writes Tortellius Lauiniaes beautie the daughter of King Latinus and the Queene Amata was cause of the combustion betwixt Turnus and Aeneas so saith Pontanus lib. 4. de Stellis Lysimachus the sonne of Agathocles poysoned his owne sonne Agathocles by whose fortunate hand he had receiued the honour and benefit of many glorious victories at the instigation of his wife Arsinoe the sister of Ptoloâ—teus Vollateran Iphis a youth of exquisite feature strangled himselfe because he was despised by the faire but cruell Anaxarite Archilâ—â—us king of Macedon was slaine by a young man called Crateua because hauing first promised him his faire daughter he after bestowed her vpon another The Poet Archilocus called Iambographus because Lycambes denyde him his daughter in marriage writes against him such bitter Iambicks that hee despaired and hanged himselfe therefore Ouid thus writes Post modo si perges in te mihi liber Iambus Tincta Licambaeo sanguiâ—e tela dabit If thou pursu'st me still my booke Iust vengeance shall implore And in Lambickes weapons yeeld Dipt in Lycambes gore Iustine in his 27 booke relates That Seleneus Callinicus king of Syria for exiling Berenice his steppe-mother sister to Ptolomaeus was by the same Ptolomaeus inuaded and prosecuted by armes Deiphebus after the death of Paris hauing marryed Hellen to which infortunate match her beautie had inuited him was by her treacherie not onely murdered but his body hackt and mangled being almost made one vniuersall wound Tortellius reports of one Euander the nephew of Pallas king of the Arcadians at the persuasion of his mother Nicostrate slew his owne father Orestes the sonne of Agamemum slew Pyrrhus the sonne of Achilles being surprised with the beautie of Hermione daughter to Menalâ—us and Helena Pteleras king of the Thebans was slaine by king Craeon being betrayde by his owne Polydices Cleopatra was the cause of that bloody warre betwixt Ptolomaeus Philopaser and her owne father Alexander king of Syria Idas and Lyncaeus the sons of Aphareus and Arbarne fought a great battaile neere to Sparta about the two faire daughters of Leucippus Phebe and Ilaira against Castor and Pollux both which were slaine in that battaile and perisht not by shipwracke as some write in the pursuite of Paris by sea for the rape of their sister Hellen Liuie lib. 36. writes of Antiochus who warring against Rome was so taken with the beautie of a Chalcidonian damsell that neglecting all warlike discipline to spend his time in dalliance with his wanton hee became a shamefull and dishonourable prey to the enemy Octauia the sister of Augustus being repudiated by Anthony was the occasion of a ciuill and intestine war The Poet Lucretius growing mad for the loue of a faire damsell dranke poyson and so dyed Tullia incited Tarquinius Superbus to kill her owne father Seruius Tullius Martia the strumpet caused Autonius Commodus the Emperour whose Concubine she was to bee slaine by a souldiour with whom shee had many times had lustfull congression Tytus Corrancanus being sent on embassie to Teuca queene of the Illyrians because hee spake to her freelie and boldlie she caused him to be put to death against the lawes of kingdomes and nations Liuius and Florus Vollateranus writes of one Rhodoricus king of the Gothes who because he stuprated the daughter of Iulianus who was Prefect in the Prouince of Tingitana the father of the rauisht virgin brought in the Moores and raised a warre which before it was ended was the death of seauen hundred thousand men Chilpericus the sonne of Clotharius was slaine by the instigation of his wife Fridegunda in his returne from hunting Luchinus a Count of Italy warred vpon Vgolinus Gonzaga because hee had adulterated his faire wife Isabella Vollateran Otratus king of Bohemia accused of sloath and cowardise by his wife Margarita for entering league with Rodulphus Caesar raised warre betwixt them in which her husband was defeated Gandulphus the Martyr for but counselling his wife to a more chast and temperate life was murdered betwixt her and the adulterer Of warres and many other mischiefes of which faire women haue beene the originall Ouid elegantly deliuers in 2 Eleg. thus concluding Vidi ego pro â—iuea pugnantes coniâ—ge tauros Spectatrix animos ipsa innenca dabat For a white heyfer I haue seene bulls sight Both gathering rage and courage from her sight At the building of Rome Romulus to people the cittie and get wiues for his souldiers caused them to rauish the Sabine women and damsells for which warre grew betwixt the two nations Of which Proper lib. 2. Cur exempla petam Gracum Tu criminis auâ—hâ—r Nutribus duro Romule lacte lupae c. What neede I from the Greekes examples aske Thou Romulus by a fell she-wolfe nurst To rape the Sabines
c. The same author lib. 2. speakes of one Tiburna Saguntina the wife of one Marhus a braue and bold female warrior Zenobia queene of the Palmyrians after the death of her husband Odenatus tooke vpon her the imperiall regencie and made tributarie the kingdome of Syria neither feared shee to take armes against the Emperour Aurelianus by whom she was ouercome and led in triumph but when it was obiected to Caesar as a dishonour and reproach that he had triumpht ouer a woman he answered It was no disgrace at all being ouer such a woman as excelled most men in Masculine vertue Of whom Pontanus thus speakes Qualis Aethiopum quondam sitientibus aruis In fuluum regina gregem c. As did the Aethiopian queene In the dry fields of old Incounter with the yellow heards whose rough haires shin'd like gold Opposing the sterne Lions paw Alone and without ayde To see whom wrestle men aloofe stood quaking and afraid Such 'tweene two warlike hosts appeares This Amasonian Queene Zenobia with her strong bow arm'd And furnisht with shafts keene Hypsicrataea the wife of Mithridates was still present with him in battaile and left him in no danger cutting her haire short least it should offend her when she put on her beauer Artimesia queene of Caria after the death of her husband was admired through Greece who not onely in a nauall expedition ouercame the inuading Rhodians but pursued them euen vnto their owne coasts and tooke possession of the Island amidst whose ruines she caused her owne glorious statue to be erected of whom Herodotus thus writes I cannot wonder sufficiently at this warlike queene Artimesia who vnforced and vncompeld followed the expedition of Xerxes against Greece out of her owne manly courage and excellencie of spirit She was the daughter of Lydamus her father was of Halicarnassus her mother of Creete shee furnished fiue shippes of her owne charge with Halicarnassaeans Coeans Nisirians and Calidnians in the great sea fight neere Salamine to behold which battaile Xerxes had retired himselfe and stood but as a spectator Iustine lib. 2. saith There was to bee seene in Xerxes womanish feare in Artimesia manly audacitie for shee demeaned herselfe in that battaile to the admiration of all men of whose ships the king taking especiall notice but not knowing to whom they belonged nor in whose management they then were one spake to the king and said Great Lord behold you not how brauely the queene Artimesia beares her selfe this dayâ— the king would not at first beleeue that such resolution could bee in that Sex at length when notwithstanding her braue seruice hee perceiued his nauie beaten and put to flight he sighing thus said All my men this day haue shewed themselues women and there is but one woman amongst them and she onely hath shewed herselfe a man Many of the most illustrious persons dyed that day as also of the Meades amongst whom was the great captaine Aria Begnes the sonne of Darius and brother of Xerxes Cleopatra queene of Aegypt the daughter of Dionisius Auletes after the death of Iulius Caesar hauing taken Antonius in the bewitching snares of her beautie shee was not contented with the kingdomes of Aegypt Syria and Arabia but she was ambitious to soueraignise ouer the Roman Empire in which though she fayled it shewed as inuincible a spirit in the attempt as shee exprest an vnmatched courage in the manner of her voluntary death Cyrus the Persian inuading the Messagets and Scythians of which Tomyris then raigned queene she sent against him her onely sonne Spargapises with a puissant army to beat him back againe beyond the riuer Araxes which he had late with a mightie host traiected But the young man not inured to the stratagems and policies of warre suffered his souldiours in the height of wine and surfets to be inuaded his tents rifled his army defeated and himselfe taken prisoner by Cyrus To whom the queene sent to this purpose Thou hast surprised my sonne by fraud not strength by deceit not warre be now counselled by me Returne me the Prince and with the honour to haue vanguisht the third part of my people vnpunished depart out of my countrey which if thou dost not I vow by the Sunne the Lord and God to which the Messagets giue due adoration that I will quench thy thirst beest thou neuer so much insatiate of blood This message being deliuered to Cyrus he regarded it not but held it as the vaine boast of a franticke woman But Spargapises the sonne of Tomyris being awaked from the drowsinesse of wine and perceiuing into what mischiefe he was falne intreated Cyrus he might be released from his bonds to which the Persian granted who no sooner found his legges vnbound and his hands at libertie but he instantly catcht hold of a weapon with which he slew himselfe The queene hauing intelligence of the death of her sonne and withall that Cyrus gaue no heed to her admonition collected a puissant armie of purpose to giue him battaile who inticed him by a counterfeit flight into certaine straits of her countrey where hauing ambusht her men she fell vpon the Persians and made of them an infinite slaughter to the defeating of their whole host In this strange and bloody execution Cyrus himselfe fell whose body Tomyris caused to be searcht for and being found filled a vessell with blood into which commanding his head to be throwne shee thus insultingly spake Of human blood in thy life thou weart insatiate and now in thy death thou mayst drinke thy fill The fashions of the Messagets are after this manner described by Herodotus Their habit and their food is according to the Scythians they fight as well on horsebacke as on foot being expert in both they are both archers and lanciers in all their weapons armour or caparisons vsing gold and brasse in the heads of their speares their quiuers their daggers and other armour they were brasse but whatsoeuer belongs to the head or to the belt is of the purest gold the breast-plates of their horses and what belongs to their trappings and caparisons are buckled and studded with brasse but that which appertaines to the headstall or raines is of gold of yron and siluer they haue small vse or none as being rare in their countrey but gold and brasse they haue in aboundance Euery man marrieth a wife but not to his owne peculiar vse for they keepe them in common for what the Greeks in this kind remember of the Scythians they do not it is customable onely amongst the Messagets if any man haue an appetite to a woman he onely hangs his quiuer vpon the next bough prostitutes her in publike without taxation or shame There is no limit proposed to terminate their liues when any growes old his neighbours about him make a generall meeting and with great ceremony after the manner of a sacrifice cause him to be slain with
they could not be forced with their rude feet to leaue the least character of violence vpon limbes so faire and exquisitely fashioned The same Author remembers vs of Seritha and Signis the first a virgin of incomparable splendor to whom one Otharus was a robustious suitor the other was the daughter of one Sygarus who paralleld the first and was importunately sollicited by Hyldegislaeus Teutonicus Bryseis was so faire that she endeered vnto her loue the noblest of the Greekes Achilles who though she was but his damosell or handmaid yet he was enamored of her aboue all his other women of whom Horace Prius Insolentem Serua Bryseis niueo colore Mouit Achillem His maid Bryseis with her colour white Insolent Achilles mooued to delight Of her Ouid likewise speakes lib. 2. de Arte Amandi Fecit vt in capta Lyrneside magnus Achilles Cum premeret mollem lassus ab hoste torum This great Achilles of his Loue desired When with the slaughter of his enemies tyred He doff'd his Cushes and vnarm'd his head To tumble with her on a soft day-bed It did reioyce Bryseis to embrace His bruised armes and kisse his bloud-stain'd face Those hands which he so often did imbrew In bloud of warlike Troians whom he slew Were now imploy'd to tickle touch and feele And shake a Lance that had no point of steele Thargelia Milesia was of that excellent aspect that as Hyppias the Sophist testifies of her shee was marryed by course to foureteene seuerall husbands for so he writes in a Treatise entituled De inscripta Congregatione in which besides her character of beautie he giues her a worthie attribute for her wisedome in these words Perpulcra sapiens Anutis was the wife of a noble person called Bogazus and sister to Xerxes by the fathers side Shee as Dinon writes in his Persicke historie in the chapter entituled De prima Coordinatione in these words Haec vt pulcherrima fuit omnium mulierum quae fuerant in Asia c. Shee saith hee as shee was the fairest of all women in Asia so of them all shee was the most intemperate Timosa as Philarchus in his Lib. 19. contends was the mistresse of Oxiartes who in the accomplishments of nature anteceded all of her age shee was for her beautie thought worthie to be sent as a present from the king of Aegypt to the most excellent queene of king Statyra but rather for a wonder of nature than a president of chastitie Theopompus in his fiftie sixth booke of Historie records That Zenopithia the mother of Lysandrides was the fairest of all the women in Peloponnesus Shee with her sister Chryse were slaine by the Lacedemonians at the time when Agesilaus in an vprore and mutinous sedition raysed gaue command That Lysandrides as his publike enemie should be banished from Lacedemon Patica Cipria was borne in Cyprus Philarchus remembers her in his tenth booke of Historie Shee attending vpon Olympias the mother of Alexander was demanded in marriage by one Moâ—imus the sonne of Pythioa But the Queene obseruing her to be of more beautie in face than temperance in carriage O vnhappie man said shee that chusest a wife by the eye not by counsaile by her beautie and not behauior Violentilla was the wife of the Poet Stella shee for all accomplishments was much celebrated by Statius of her Lib. 1. Syll. he thus speakes At tu pulcherrima forma Italidum tandem casto possessa marito Thou of our Latium Dames the fair'st and best Of thy chast husband art at length possest Agarista as Herodotus calls her was the daughter of Clisthenes the Syconian shee was of that vnexpressable forme that her beautie attracted suitors from all parts of Greece amongst whom Hypocledes the sonne of Tisander is numbred From Italie came Smyndrides Sibarites Syritanus and Damnasus From the coast of Ionia Amphimnestrus Epidamnius Aetolus and Meges From Peloponnesus Leocides Amianthus Archas Heleus Laphanes Phidon son to the king of the Argiues From Attica Megacles the son of Alâ—menon From Etruria Lysanius From Thessalie Diacrides and Cranomius From Molossus Alcon in number 20. These came into Greece to expresse themselues in many noble contentions because Clistthines the son of Aristonius and father of Agarista had made proclamation that he only should inioy the Virgin who could best expresse himself in noble action and valour Hyppodamia was daughter to Oenemaus king of Aelis and of such attractiue beautie that she likewise drew many princely suitors to her fathers court though to the most certain danger of their liues Caelius writes that Marmax was the first that contended with her in the charriot race and failing in his course was slaine by the tyrant the Mares with which hee ran as some write were called Parthenia and Eripha whose throats Oenemaus caused to be cut and after buried After him perished in the same manner Alcathus the son of Parthaon Eurialus Eurimacus Crotalus Acrius of Lacedemon Capetus Licurgus Lasius Chalcodas Tricolonus Aristomachus Prias Pelagus Aeolius Chromius and Eritheus the son of Leucon Amongst these are numbered Merimnes Hypotous Pelops Opontius Acaruan Eurilachus Antomedon Lasius Chalcon Tricâ—ronus Alcathus Aristomachus and Crocâ—lus Sisigambis as Q. Curtius relates was inferiour to no ladie that liued in her age yet notwithstandig Alexander the Great hauing ouercome her husband Darius in battaile was of that continence that he onely attempted not to violate her chastitie but became her guardian and protected her from all the iniuries that might haue beene done to a captiue Plutarch writes of a Roman Ladie called Praecia of that excellent shape and admired feature as she indeered Cethegus vnto her so farre that he enterprised no dissigne or managed any affiaire without the aduise and approbation of the beautifull Praâ—cia So precious likewise was the faire Roxana in the eies of Alexander that hauing subdued all the Easterne kingdomes and being Lord of the world yet from being the daughter of a mercinarie souldier and a Barbarian he tooke her into his bosome and crowned her with the Imperiall Diademe Aegina the daughter of Aesopus king of Boetia for her excellent pulchritude was beloued of Iupiter of whom Ouid Aureus in Danaen Aesopida luseritignis In Gold faire Danae had her full desire But with th'Aesopian Girle he play'd in fire So likewise Antiopa the daughter of Nycteis and wife of Lycus king of Thebes was for the rarenesse of her forme comprest by him of whom hee begot Zethus and Amphion O what a power is in this beautie It made the Cyclops Poliphemus turne Poet who as Ouid in his Lib. 13. thus writes in the prayse of his mistresse Galataea Candidior folio niuei Galataea ligustri c. Oh Galataea thou art whiter farre Than leaues of Lillies not greene Medowes are More flourishing thy stature doth appeare Straighter than th'Elmes than Glasse thou art
them with garlands vpon their heads of which whilest some are called apart others still returne for their passages to and fro are distinguished by small cords or strings which direct strangers vnto such women to whom they are most addicted But of these not any returne to their houses after they haue once tooke vp their seats till some clyent hath cast some coyne or other into her lappe be it neuer so small or great and haue had carnall companie with her in a sequestred place of the Temple which done hee is to say So much I did owe thee ô goddesse Melitta Nor was any woman to refuse the money that was offered her whatsoeuer it were because it was to be employed in their supposed pious vses Neyther was it lawfull for a woman to refuse any man but she was compelled to follow him that cast the first coyne into her apron This beeing done it was lawfull for her to mingle her selfe in prostitution with whom she pleased The fairest and most beautifull were for the most part soonest dispatcht but others that haue beene vgly and deformed haue beene forced to sit in the Temple some one some two some three yeeres and vpwards before they could meet with any by whose helpe they might giue satisfaction to the Law returne to their owne houses and make vse of their free libertie The like custome though not in euerie particular was in Cyprus Amongst the Caunians a people in Coria there was a yeerely conuention of yong men and women to the like purpose as the same Author in the same booke affirmes Aelianus de var. Histor. lib. 4. sayth That the Lydian women before their marriage presented themselues for gaine till they had purchased to themselues a competent dowrie but hauing once selected a husband they from that time liued in all continence and chastitie From this generalitie I come to particulars and first of Thais Shee was a strumpet of Corinth whose beautie bewitched all the Atticke youth Her the Greeke Poet Menander in his workes most celebrated of whom shee was called Menandraea Clitarchus specifies vnto vs That shee was much beloued of Alexander the Great at whose request after the conquest of Cyrus all the Imperiall Pallaces in Persepolis with the greatest part of the citie were set on fire and burned downe to the earth This strumpet after the death of Alexander was marryed to the first Ptolomey of Aegypt by whom she had two sonnes Leontiscus and Lagus with one daughter called Irene whom Solon king of Cyprus after tooke to wife Lamia was a Courtizan of Athens and entyred to Demetrius a lord of many Nations insomuch that in his Armour and Crowne with his Imperiall Diademe he was often seene publikely to enter her roofe to conuerse with her and eate at her Table It had beene lesse dishonour for so great a person to haue giuen her meeting more priuately In this one thing Diodorus the Minstrell was preferred before Demetrius who being diuerse times sent for to this Courtezans house refused to come This Lamia was wont as Aelianus Lib. 12. reports to compare the Greekes to Lyons and the Ephesians to Wolues Gnathana was of the same countrey and borne in Athens of whom it is thus remembred A noble fellow drawne as farre as the Hellespont by the attractiue fame of her beautie shee gaue him both meeting and entertainment of which he growing proud and somewhat insolent vsing much loquacitie and superfluous language being in the heat of wine and lust shee asked him Whether as he pretended he came from the Hellespont To whom he answered He did She replyed And doe you know the name of the chiefe citie there He told her Yes She then desired him to giue it name Hee told her it was called Sygaeum By which shee ingeniously reproued his verbositie since Syga of which Greeke word the citie takes denomination signifieth silence and taciturnitie Of her prompt and wittie answeres the Poet Machon sets downe many for shee was held to bee wondrous facetious and scoffing and exceedingly beloued of the Poet Diphilus Lynceus likewise remembers many things concerning her Pausonius Lacus beeing dauncing in her presence in doing a loftie tricke aboue ground and not able to recouer himselfe hee fell headlong into a Vessell that stood by See sayth she Lacus in cadum incidit i. The Poole hath powred himselfe into the Vessell Lacus not only signifies a Poole but a Vessell which receiueth the wine when it is pressed Another offering her a small quantitie of wine in a great and large Bole and told her withall That it was at least seuenteene yeeres old Truly answered she it is wondrous little of the age Two young men in the heat of wine quarrelling about her and going to buffets to him that had the worst shee thus said Despayre not youth Non enim Coronarium est certamen sed Argenteum i. This was a prize for Money onely not for a Garland When one had giuen her faire daughter who was of the same profession a piece of Gold valued at a pound and had receiued no more than labour for his trauaile and bare lookes for his money to him she said Thou for this pound art made free of my daughter as those that are admitted into the schoole of Hyppomachus the maisterwrastler who oft times see him play but seldome prooue his strength admire his skill but neuer trie his cunning Many such with great elegancie came frequently from her for as Lynceus sayth of her shee was Concinna admodum vrbana Aristodemus in his second booke Ridiculorum memorab relates That when two men had bargained for her at once a souldier and a meane fellow the souldier in great contumelie called her Lacus or Lake Why doe you thus nick-name me sayth she because you two flouds fall into me Lycus and Liber Lycus is a riuer not farre from Laodicea which sometimes runneth vnder the earth and in many places bursteth vp againe Shee writ a booke which shee called Lex Conuinalis imitating the Philosophers of those times who had compiled workes of the like subiect The proiect of her booke was how her guests ought to behaue themselues at Table towards her and her daughter The like Law Callimachus composed in three hundred and three and twentie Verses Rhodope was a Curtesan of Aegypt one that by her prostitution came to such a masse of wealth that she of her own priuate charge caused to be erected a magnificent Pyramis equalling those that were raised by the greatest Princes Sapho calls her Dorica and makes her the mistresse of her brother Charaxus vpon whom he spent and consumed all his fortunes euen to the vtmost of penurie of whom Ouid thus writes Arsit inops frater c. Aelianus and others report her for a woman most beautifull who bathing herselfe in a pleasant and cleere fountaine in her garden her handmaides attending her with all things necessarie vpon a sudden an Eagle sowsing downe snatched
inequalitie of manners Therefore bold and bloodie Tullia poysons her faire and gentle-conditioned Aruns the other modest and mild-tempered sister is made away by the proud and ambitious Superbus the best are lostâ— the worst left They two contract an incestuous Marriage Pride with Crueltie and Immanitie with Ambition Murther is the ground or cause and Treason and Vsurpation the prodigious effect shee complots the death of her owne naturall father and hee the ruine of his liege Lord and Soueraigne shee a Parricide hee a Regicide The king is betwixt them slaine ouer whose dead bodie shee caused her Chariot to be drawne Her cheekes blushed not when the wheeles of her Waggon were stained with her fathers blood And so much to giue Tullia a short character the most insolent of Wiues and the worst of Daughters Of a lower voice softer spirit and more temperate condition were these wiues following Chilonia the wife of Cleombrotus king of Sparta and daughter of Leonides who had before soueranised when in those ciuile combustions the sonne in law had expulsed the father and compelled him into exile shee neuer ceased to importune her husband till shee had called him home from banishment But in processe of time when Fortune had turned her Wheele and Leonides in those dissentions hauing got the better had confined Cleombrotus shee was an hourely intercessor for the repeale of her husband but finding her father to bee obdure and her suit by him not listened too though she might in all pleasure and ease haue happily spent her age in her owne cittie with her father shee rather made choise to be a faithfull companion in all distresses with her husband Fulgos. lib. 6. cap. 7. Anaxandrides the sonne of Leontias marryed with his sisters daughter whom hee exceedingly loued but because shee was barraine and that by her he had no issue the Ephori made suit vnto him to be diuorsed from her and would haue compelled him vnto it but when he had absolutely denied to condiscend with them in that point they made another request vnto him That hee would take vnto him another wife more fruitfull least the most fortunate issue of Euristaeus might in him bee extinguished Hee therefore at their intreaties tooke to him a second wife namely Perinetades the daughter of Demarmenus and so brought her home to his house where which is strange the two women liued together peaceably without emulation or enuie His last wife brought him a sonne whom hee called Cleomenes and not long after his first wife before barraine made him the fortunate father of three sonnes the first Dorieâ—s the second Leonides the third Cleombrotus but Cleomenes the eldest by the second wife succeeded in the Soueraigntie Herodot Lib. 5. Thesca the sister of Dionisius beeing marryed to Polixenus who hauing entred into a Coniuration with other noble gentlemen to supplant the Tyrant but fearing discouerie fled for his best safetie Vpon whose flight Dionisius calls his sister into question as one that must of necessitie be priuie to his escape To whom shee boldly thus answered Thinkest thou ô Dionisius thy sister to be a woman of that seruile and degenerate condition that had shee knowne the least purpose of his retyrement shee would not haue made her selfe a companion in all his Nauigations and Trauaile Erasm. Apotheg Lib. 5. Caius Caligula the Emperour hauing found Herod the husband to Herodias Tetrarch of Galilee engaged in a reuolt from the Empire with Artahanus king of the Parthians amerced him in a great summe of money for that defect and till it was leuied and payed into the Treasurie gaue him in custodie to king Agrippa whom he had found loyall vnto him and in whose fidelitie hee much trusted Hee after banished Herod into Lyons a citie of France with an irreuocable doome of exile imposed vpon him but vnderstanding Herodias to be sister to the wife of Agrippa whom hee much fauoured out of Herods mulct or fine hee proportioned her a large Dower reserued in the hands of Agrippa to her vse as not dreaming shee would haue beene a companion with him in his confinement To which extraordinarie grace from the Emperour shee thus replyed You ô Emperour as best becomes your Maiestie speake like a royall and munificent Prince but the Coniugall Bond of Loue and Pietie in which I am tyed to a husband is to me an impediment that I am not capable of this great Largesse and vnmerited bountie Vnmeet it is that I who haue beene a partaker with him in all his prosperous and flourishing fortunes should now forsake him and not be a companion with him in the worst that disaster or aduersitie can inflict This noble answere Caligula tooke in such scorne and high displeasure to see himselfe in magnanimitie and greatnesse of spirit to be exceeded by a woman that hee banished her with her husband Herod and the bountie before bestowed on her hee conferred vpon her brother in law Agrippa Ioseph in Antiquitatibus Cleomenes the sonne of Anaxandrides and Perinetades but lately spoken of being expulsed from Sparta by Antigonus king of Macedonia fled for refuge to Ptolomeus king of Aegypt whither his wife would haue followed him but dissuaded by her parents notwithstanding a strict guard was set ouer her yet in the night shee beguiled her keepers and hauing prouided a Horse for the purpose posted with all possible speed to the next Port Towne that was least suspected where hyring a shippe with all the Coyne and Iewels shee had then about her shee sayled into Aegypt and there spent the remainder of her dayes with him in his vncomfortable exile Fulgos. lib. 6. cap. 7. I haue but one more gentle Reader to trouble thy patience with at this present Blanca Rubea Patauina the wife of Baptista a Porta betaking her selfe into the same free priuiledged Towne of which Bassianus was then Gouernour and whither her husband for his safetie was retyred in the yeere of our Redemption 1253 when Aâ—â—iolinus the Tyrant hauing lost Padua and bending all his forces to the surprisall of Bassiâ—â—â—â— compassing that at length by fraud and stratagem which by opposition and violence hee could neuer haue accomplished in the entring of which Towne Baptista was slaine and Blanca Rubea being armed and fighting boldly by his side till shee saw him fall was notwithstanding her masculine valour taken prisoner by a souldier and presented to the Tyrant who gazing on her rare feature much more beautified by the rich armour shee then had on grew exceedingly enamoured on this manly Virago and first with faire enticing blandishments hee courted her loue but finding no possibilitie to satiate his libidinous affections that waye where faire meanes fayled hee purposed force which to auoid and to preuent the dishonour intended her shee cast her selfe out from an high Bay-window two stories from the ground where being taken vp halfe dead with much difficultie shee was recouered No sooner was shee well able
Neoptolemus the sonne of Achilles and Deiadamia rap't Lanissa the niece of Hercules Aiax the sonne of Telamon did the like to Tecmessa of whom Horace Mouit Aiacem Telemone satam Forma captiuae dominum Tecmessae Captiue Tecmessas beautiegaz'd vpon Insnar'd her lord the sonne of Telamon Aiax Oilaeus rauished Cassandra Nessus the Centaure Deineira the wife of Hercules sister to Meleager and daughter to Oeneus and Althea king and queene of Calidonâ— Tleoptolemus stole Axiothia from Ephira a citie of Peloponessus hee was the sonne of Hercules and Astioche he was first a suitor to Hellen and came to the siege of Troy with nine shippes and was after slaine by the hand of king Sarpedon Hypodamia the daughter of Atracius and wife of Perithous suffered the like violence by the Centaures being heated with Wine and Lust especially by Euritus of whom Ouid lib. 12. thus speakes Euritus Hyppodamea alij quam quisque probabat Aut poterat rapiunt Euritus rap't Hyppodame and after him the rest By his example did the like and snatcht where they lik't best The great enmitie betwixt the Grecians and Barbarians though it might seeme to arise by reason of the distance of countries and difference of manners yet most probable it is that their inueterate hate and irreconsilable malice tooke first originall from diuerse rapes committed on either part for first the Phoenician Merchanrs exposing their commodities to publique sale in the citie of Argis when Iö the kings daughter amongst other damosells came downe to the Key to take view of what marchandise she best liked to furnish her selfe according to her womanish fancie the Merchants beeing extreamely surprised with her beautie seised both her and the rest of her attendants and stowing them vnder hatches hoised saile and transported them into Aegypt Not long after the Cretenses awaiting the like opportunitie stole away Europa the daughter of the king of the Tyrians and bore her into Creet in requitall of the former rape The Heroes of Greece next sailed in the great Argoe to Cholcos pretending their iourney for the golden fleece and raped thence Medea the daughter of Areta after whom sending Embassadors into Greece to redemand his daughter they returned him answere That the barbarous Phoenicians had made no restitution nor satisfaction at all for the rape of Io neither would they for Medea After that Paris the son of Priam rather to reuenge the iniurie done to his Aunt Hesione than for any loue or affection to Spartan Hellen stole her from Lacedemon and brought her to Troy in Asia The Princes of Greece redemanding her answere was returned That since they made no restitution of Europa nor of Medea nor Hesione neither would they of Hellena which was the originall of that memorable siege of Troy and the destruction of that famous citie Herodotus Lib. 1. Thrasimenes being enamored of the faire daughter of Pisistratus and his affection dayly more and more encreasing he gathered to himselfe a societie of young men and watching the Ladie when shee came with other young damosells to offer sacrifice according to the custome of the countrey by the Seaside with their swords drawne they set vpon the companie that attended her and hauing dispiersed them snatched her vp and hurrying her aboord sailed with her towards Aegina But Hyppias the eldest sonne of Pisistratus beeing then at Sea to cleere those coasts of Pyrats by the swiftnesse of their Ores imagining them to be of the fellowship of the Sea robbers pursued them boorded them and tooke them who finding his sister there brought her backe with the rauishers Thrasimenes with the rest of his faction being brought before Pisistratus not withstanding his knowne austeritie would neither doe him honour nor vse towards him the least submission but with bold and vndaunted constancie attended their sentence telling him That when the attempt was first proposed they then armed themselues for death and all disasters Pysistratus admiring their courage and magnanimitie which showed the greater in regard of their youth called his daughter before him and in the presence of his nobilitie to recompence his celsitude of minde and spirit freely bestowed her vpon Thrasimenes by which meanes he reconciled their opposition and entertained them into new faith and obedience no more expressing himselfe a Tyrant but a louing and bountifull father and withall a popular citisen Polinae lib. 5. The daughters of king Adrastus were rauished by Acesteneutrix as Statius lib. 1. hath left remembred Euenus the sonne of Mars and Sterope married Marpissa daughter to Oenemaus and Alcippa whom Apharetas espying as she daunced amongst other Ladies grew innamoured of and forcibly rapt her from her companie Plutarch in Paral. Hersilia with the Sabine Virgins were likewise rap't by Romulus and his souldiers at large described by Ouid. Lib. de Arte Amandi 1. Lucrece the chast Roman Matron was stuperated by Sextus Tarquinius of whom Seneca in Octauia thus saith Nata Lucreti stuprum saeui passa Tyranni Eudoxia being left by Valentinianus was basely rauished by the Tyrant Maximus who vsurped in the Empire for which shee inuited Gensericus out of Africke to auenge her of the shame and dishonour done vnto her Sigebertus in Chronicis The same Author tells vs of Ogdilo Duke of Boiaria who forced the sister of king Pepin for which iniurie done to her the king opprest him with a cruell and bloudie warre Of Handmaids Nurses Midwiues and Stepdames PLecusa was a Handmaid to Diana whom Martial Lib. 1. thus remembers Et cecidit sectis Icla Plecusa Crinis Lagopice is another Lib. 7. remembred by the same Author Cibale was the maid-seruant to a poore man called Similus remembred by Virgil in Morete Phillis Troiana was the Handmaid to Phoceus as Briseis was to Achilles Plinie Lib. 36. cap. 27. makes Ocrisia the Damosell to the Queene Tanaquil so Horace makes Cassandra to Agamemnon Gyge as Plutarch relates was such to Parysatis Queene of Persia and mother to Cyrus Thressa was maid-seruant to Thales Milesius who as Theodoricus Cyrenensis affirmes when shee saw her maister come home durtie and myrie as being newly crept out of a Ditch chid him exceedingly for gazing at the starres to finde those hidden things aboue and had not the foresight to see what lay below at his feet but hee must stumble Herodotus in Euterpe calls Rhodope the famous Aegyptian strumpet the Handmaid of Iadmon Samiâ—s a Philosopher Elos was a Damosell to king Athamas from whom a great citie in Achaia tooke denomination and was called Aelos Lardana as Herodotus affirmes was at first no better than a seruant from whom the noble Familie of the Heraclidae deriue their first originall Titula otherwise called Philotis was a Roman Virgin of the like condition and is remembred for such by Plutarch in Camillo as also by Macrob. Lib. 1. Saturnalium Proconnesia is remembred
commemorates these Rebecka who when she saw the seruant of Abraham at the Well where she came to draw water and desiring to drinke answered cheerefully and without delay Drinke sir and I will also draw water for thy Cammells till they haue all drunke their fill Genes 24. The Midwiues feared God and did not according to the command of Pharaoh king of Aegypt but preserued the male-children whom they might haue destroyed Exodâ—s 1. The daughter of Pharaoh comming downe to the riuer to wash herselfe with her handmaid and finding the young child Moses in the arke amongst the bulrushes she had compassion on the infant and said Surely this is a child of the Hebrewes so caused him to be nursed brought vp in her fathers court and after adopted him her sonne Exod. 2. Rahab the strumpet when she knew the spies of Ioshua to be pursued and in danger of death concealed them and returned them safe to the armie Iosh. 2. The messengers that were sent to Dauid in the wildernesse to informe him of the proceedings of his sonne Absolon were by a woman hid in a Well which she couered and by that meanes deluded their pursuers Kings 2.17 When two common Women contended before Saloman about the liuing and dead infant the one had a tender and relenting brest and could not indure to see the liuing child to perish Kings 3.3 The widdow woman of Zerephath entertained Eliah as hir guest and by her he was relieued Kings 3. 17. The Shunamitish woman persuaded with her husband that the Prophet Elisaeus might haue a conuenient lodging in her house to go and come at his pleasure Kings 4. 2. When wicked Athalia had giuen strict command to destroy all the Kings seed Iosaba the daughter of King Ioram tooke Ioas one of the Kings children and by hiding him out of the way preserued his life Kings 4. 11. Esther hauing commiseration of her people when a seuere Edict was published to destroy them all and sweepe them from the face of the earth she exposed her selfe with the great danger of her owne life to the displeasure of King Ahashuerosh purchasing thereby the freedome of her nation and her owne sublimitie Esther 4.5 Women ministred to the Sauiour of the world in his way as he went preaching to the towns and cities Luk. 8. when he walked from place to place preaching and teaching he is said neuer to haue had more free and faithfull welcome than in the house of Martha and Marie Luke 10. Iohn 12. When the Scribes and Pharisees blasphemed at the hearing and seeing the Doctrine and Miracles of Christ a certaine woman giuing deuout attention to his words as extasied with his diuine Sermon burst forth into this acclamation Blessed bee the wombe that bore thee and the brests that gaue thee sucke Luke 11. Christ being in Bethania in the house of Simon the leaper as he sate at the table there came a woman with a box of ointment of Spicknard verie costly and she brake the box and poured it vpon his head and when some said disdaining To what end is this wast for it might haue beene sold for more than 300 pence and giuen to the poore Iesus said Let her alone she hath wrought a good worke on me c. and proceeded Verily I say vnto you wheresoeuer this Gospell shall be preached throughout the whole world this also that she hath done shall bee spoken in remembrance of her The woman of Canaan was so full of naturall pittie and maternall pietie that she counted her daughters miserie and affliction her owne when she said to Iesus Haue mercie vpon me oh Lord the sonne of Dauid for my daughter is vexed with an euill Spirit Math. 15. The women stood by to see the Lord suffer and followed the crosse when he was forsaken of his Apostles Luke 23. Iohn 19. they were carefull likewise to visit him in his sepulchre Math. 28. Luke 24. The wife of Pilat had more compassion of Christ and more vnwilling that he should suffer vpon the crosse than any man of whom the Scripture makes mention Math. 27. Marke 16. Iohn 20. For deeds of charitie and dealing almes to the poore and needie widdowes and orphans they intreated Peter weeping that he would visit Tabitha being dead who mooued with their teeres kneeled and praied at whose intercessions she was restored to life Act. Apost 9. Herod hauing slaine Iames the brother of Iohn with the sword and seeing that it pleased the people he proceeded further to take Peter and put him in prison deliuering him to the charge of foure quaternions of souldiers to be kept but the Angell of the Lord appeared to him in the night tooke off his double chaines and led him out of prison who hauing past the first and second watch the yron gate opened to the Angell and him and finding that which he thought to be a vision to be a reall truth he came to the house of Marie the mother of Iohn whose sirname was Marke where many had seperated themselues to praier Peter knocking a maide whose name was Rhode came to the doore who hearing and knowing Peters voice the Scripture saith she opened not the doore for gladnesse but ran in and told them that Peter stood without at the entrie In which are to be obserued two memorable women for their zeale and pietie namely Rhode the handmaid whose ioy was so great at the verie voice of Peter released from the prison of Herod and Mary her mistresse who was a deuout harboresse and one that gladly entertained the Disciples of Christ into her owne house notwithstanding the persecution to performe their zealous and religious exercises Act. Apost 12. Lydia a dier of purple beleeuing the gospell which Paul preached was baptised with her whole household after which she intreated them in these words If thou thinke me worthie saith she to be a faithfull seruant to my Lord and God vouchsafe to enter my house and abide there and she compelled vs as Luke saith By which is concluded that women haue beene the readie willing and deuout hearers of the word of God Act. Apost 16. Many no question zealous and religious women haue to their power striued to imitate those with their best of industrie Amongst others I might instance one now of a great age as hauing much past that number by which Dauid reckons the yeares of man yet from her youth hath lead a life without any noted staine or blemish deuout in her zeale remarkeable in her charitie beloued of all hated of none a Phisitian to the sicke and Chirurgion to the wounded who with her owne hands hath sent more lame and diseased persons from her gate whole and sound than Lazarus had sores about him when he lay at the rich mans gate vnrelieued she feeding with loaues when that purple glutton would not spare his crummes she doing this out of a widowes mite when he would
bearing with her in her wombe a child begot by Salomon Lycasth in Theat Human. vitae Lib. 1. cap. de Femin doctis Adesia a woman of Alexandria a neere kinswoman to the Philosopher Syrianus both for her Chastitie and Learning is commemorated by Suidas Vata Lib. 13. cap. 3. Antrop Nicostrata by some called Carmentis helped to make vp the number of the Greeke Alphabet shee is also said to haue added to our Roman Letters Hermodica was the wife of Midas king of Phrygia shee is not onely celebrated for her rare feature and beautie but for her wisedome shee was the first that euer stamped Money or made Coyne amongst the Cimenses Heraclides Numa was the first that made Money amongst the Romanes of whose name it was called Nummus Isiodor Lib. 16. cap. 17. It is likewise called Pecunia of Pecus which signifies Cattell for the first that was made to passe currant betwixt man and man was made of the skinnes of beasts stamped with an impression It hath beene currant amongst our English Nation part of it may at this day be seene as an antient Monument in the Castle of Douer Saturne made Money of Brasse with inscriptions thereon but Numa was the first that coyned Siluer and caused his name to be engrauen thereon for which it still retaines the name in the Roman Tongue and is called Nummus Aspasia was a Milesian Damosell and the beloued of Pericles shee was abundantly skilled in all Philosophicall studies shee was likewise a fluent Rhetorician Plutarchus in Pericles Socrates imitated her in his Facultas Politica as likewise Diotima whom he blushed not to call his Tutresse and Instructresse Of Lasthenea Mantinea Axiothaea and Phliasia Platoes schollers in Philosophie I haue before giuen a short Character Themiste was the wife of Leonteius Lampsacenus and with her husband was the frequent Auditor of Epicurus of whom Lactantius sayth That saue her none of the ancient Philosophers euer instructed any woman in that studie saue that one Themiste Arete was the wife of Aristippus the Philosopher and attained to that perfection of knowledge that shee instructed her sonne in all the liberall Arts by whose industrie hee grew to be a famous professor Hee was called Aristippus and shee surnamed Cyrenaica Shee followed the opinions of that Aristippus who was father to Socrates Shee after the death of her father erected a Schoole of Philosophie where shee commonly read to a full and frequent Auditorie Genebria was a woman of Verona shee liued in the time of Pius the second Bishop of Rome Her Workes purchased for her a name immortall Shee composed many smooth and eloquent Epistles polished both with high conceits and iudgement shee pronounced with a sharpe and lowd voyce a becomming gesture and a facundious suauitie Agallis Corcyrua was illustrious in the Art of Grammar Caelius ascribes vnto her the first inuention of the play at Ball. Leontium was a Grecian Damosell whom Gallius calls a strumpet shee was so well seene in Philosophicall contemplations that she feared not to write a worthie booke against the much worthie Theophrastus Plin. in Prolog Nat. Histor. Cicero lib. de Natur. Deorum Dâ—mâ— the daughter of Pythagâ—ras imitated the steps of her father as likewise his wife Theâ—no her husband the mother and the daughter both prouing excellent schollers Laerâ— Themistoclea the sister of Pythagoras was so practised a student that in many of his workes as he himselfe confesseth hee hath implored her aduise and iudgement Istrina Queene of Scythia and wife to king Ariâ—ithes instructed her sonne Sythes in the Greeke Tongue as witnesseth Herodotus Plutarch in Pericte saith That Thargelia was a woman whom Philosophie solely illustrated as likewise Hyparchia Greca Laâ—râ—â— Cornelia was the wife of Africanus and mother to the noble Familie of the Gracobi who left behind her certaine Epistles most elaborately learned From her as from a Fountaine flowed the innate eloquence of her children therefore Quintil thus sayth of her Wee are much bound to the Mother or Matron Cornelia for the eloquence of the Gracchi whose vnparaleld learning in her exquisite Epistles she hath bequeathed to posteritie The same Author speaking of the daughters of Laelius and Quint. Hortensius vseth these words The daughters of Laelius is sayd in her phrase to haue refined and excelled the eloquence of her father but the daughter of Q. Hortensius to haue exceâ—ded her Sex in honor So likewise the facundity of the two Lyciniaes flowed hereditarily from their father L. Crassus as the two daughters of Mutia inherited the learning of either parent Fuluia the wife of M. Antonius was not instructed in womanish cares and offices but as Volater lib. 16. Antrop reports of her rather to direct Magistracies and gouerne Empires she was first the wife of Curio Statius Papinius was happie in a wife called Claudia excellent in all manner of learning Amalasuntha Queene of the Ostrogothes the daughter of Theodoricus king of those Ostrogothes in Italie was elaborately practised in the Greeke and Latine Tongues shee spake distinctly all the barbarous Languages that were vsed in the Easterne Empires Fulgosius lib. 8. cap. 7. Zenobia as Volaterran speakes from Pollio was Queene of the Palmirians who after the death of Odenatus gouerned the kingdome of Syria vnder the Roman Empire shee was nominated amongst the thirtie Tyrants and vsurped in the time of Gallenus but after beeing vanquished in battaile by the Emperour Aurelianus was led in triumph through Rome but by the clemencie of that Prince she was granted a free pallace scituate by the riuer of Tyber where shee moderately and temperatly demeaned her selfe shee is reported to be of that chastitie that she neuer entertained her husband in the familiar societie of bed but for issues sake and procreation of children but not from the time that shee found her conception till her deliuerie shee vsed to bee adored after the maiesticke state and reuerence done to the great Sophies of Persia. Beeing called to the hearing of any publique Oration shee still appeared with her head armed and her helmet on in a purple mantle buckled vpon her with rich jems she was of a cleare and shrill voice magnanimous and haughtie in all her vndertakings most expert in the Aegyptian and Greeke Tongues and not without merit numbred amongst the most learned and wisest Queenes Besides diuerse other workes she composed the Orientall and Alexandrian Historie Hermolaus and Timolus her two sonnes in all manner of disciplines shee liberally instructed of whose deaths it is not certaine whether they dyed by the course of nature or by the violent hand of the Emperour Olimpia Fuluia Morata was the ornament and glorie of our latter times the daughter of Fulu Moratus Mantuanus who was tutor in the Arts to Anna Prince of Ferrara shee was the wife of Andreas Gunthlerus a famous Physitian in Germanie shee
writ many learned and elaborate workes in either tongue at length in the yeare of our Lord 1555 in the moneth of October being of the age of twentie nine yeares she dyed in Hedelburgh Saint Hâ—lena may amongst these be here aptly registred for thus Stow Harding Faâ—ian and all our moderne Chroniclers report of her Constantius a great Roman Consull was sent into Brittaine to demaund the tribute due vnto Rome immediately after whose ariuall before he could receiue an answer of his Embassie Coill who was then king dyed therefore the Brittaines the better to establish their peace dealt with the Roman Embassador to take to wiâ—e Helenâ— the daughter of the late deceased king a young Ladie of an attractiue 〈◊〉 adorned with rare gifts and indowments of the Mind 〈◊〉 Learning Vertâ—â— the motion was no sooner made but accepted so that Constantius hauing receiued the Brittish tribute returned with his new bryde to Rome and was after by the Senat constituted chiefe ruler of this kingdome After twentie yeares quiet and peacefull gouernement which was thought her wisedome Constantius dyed and was buried at Yorke in his time was Saint Albon martyred at Verolam since called Saint Albones as Iohn Lidgate Monke of Burie testifies who in English heroicall verse compiled his Historie Constantius sayth hee the younger succeeded his father Constantius as well in the kingdome of England as diuers other Prouinces a noble and valiant Prince whose mother was a woman religious and of great sanctimonie this young Prince was borne in Brittaine and prooued so mightie in exploits of warre that in time hee purchased the name of Magnus and was stiled Constantine the Great a noble protector and defender of the true Christian Faith In the sixt yeare of his raigne he came with a potent armie against Maxentius who with greeous tributes and exactions then vexed and oppressed the Romans and being vpon his march hee saw in a Vision by night the signe of the Crosse shining in the Ayre like fire and an Angell by it thus saying Constantine in hoc signo vinces i. Constantine in this signe thou shalt conquer and ouercome with which beeing greatly comforted be soone after inuaded and defeated the armie of Maxentius who flying from the battaile was wretchedly drowned in the riuer Tiber. In this interim of his glorious victorie Helena the mother of Constantine being on pilgrimage at Ierusalem there found the Crosse on which the Sauiour of the world was crucified with the three nayles with which his hands and feete were pierced Ranulphus amplifies this storie of Helena somewhat largelier after this manner That when Constantine had surprised Maxentius his mother was then in Brittaine and hearing of the successe of so braue a conquest shee sent him a letter with great thankes to heauen to congratulate so faire wished a Fortune but not yet being truely instructed in the Christian Faith she commended him that he had forsaken idolatrie but blamed him that hee worshipped and beleeued in a man that had beene nayled to the Crosse. The Emperour wrote againe to his mother That she should instantly repaire to Rome and bring with her the most learned Iews and wisest Doctors of what faith or beleefe so euer to hold disputation in their presence concerning the Truth of religion Helena brought with her to the number of seuenscore Iewes and others against whom Saint Siluester was only opposed In this controuersie the misbeleeuers were all nonplust put to silence It hapned that a Iewish Cabalist among them spake certain words in the eare of a mad wild Bull that was broke loose and run into the presence where they were then assembled those words were no sooner vttered but the beast sunck down without motion and instantly dyed at which accident the iudges that sat to heare the disputation were all astonished as wondering by what power that was done To whom Siluester then spake What this man hath done is onely by the power of the deuill who can kill but not restore vnto life but it is God onely that can slay and make the same bodie reuiue againe so Lyons and other wilde beasts of the Forrest can wound and destroy but not make whole what is before by them perished then saith hee if hee will that I beleeue with him let him rayse that beast to life in Gods name which hee hath destroyed in the Deuils name But the Iewish Doctor attempted it in vaine when the rest turning to Siluester said If thou by any power in Heauen or Earth canst call backe againe the life of this beast which is now banished from his bodie wee will beleeue with thee in that Deitie by whose power so great a miracle can be done Siluester accepted of their offer and falling deuoutly on his knees made his prayers vnto the Sauiour of the world when presently the beast started vp vpon his feete by which Constantius was confirmed Helena conuerted and all the Iewes and other Pagan Doctors receiued the Christian Faith and were after baptised and after this and vpon the same occasion Helena vndertooke to seeke and find out the Crosse. Ambrose and others say she was an Inne-keepers daughter at Treuerent in France and that the first Constantius trauailing that way married her for her beautie but our Histories of Brittaine affirme her to be the faire chast and wise daughter of king Coil before remembred The perfections of the minde are much aboue the transitorie gifts of Fortune much commendable in women and a Dowrie farre transcending the riches of Gold and Iewels Great Alexander refused the beautifull daughter of Darius who would haue brought with her kingdomes for her Dower and infinite Treasures to boot and made choyse of Barsine who brought nothing to espouse her with saue her feature and that shee was a Scholler and though a Barbarian excellently perfect in the Greeke Tongue who though poore notwithstanding deriued her pedigree from kings And vpon that ground Licurgus instituted a Law That women should haue no Dowers allotted them that men might rather acquire after their Vertues than their Riches and women likewise might the more laboriously imploy themselues 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 persuade both men and women to instruct their Mindes more carefully than they would adorne their Bodies and striue to heape and accumulate the riches of the Soule rather than hunt after Pompe Vaine-glorie and the wretched Wealth of the world the first being euerlastingly permament the last dayly and hourely subiect to corruption and mutabilitie Horace in his first Epistle to Mecaenas sayth Vitius Argentum est Auro virtutibus Aurum Siluer is more base and cheape than Gold and Gold than Vertue To encourage which in either Sex Plautus in Amphit thus sayes Virtus praemium est optimum virtus omnibus Rebus anteit profecto c. Vertue 's the best