leaving the Wives and the Brethren their Sisters unto their Pleasures and therefore departing out of the House when they come in and hence it is that no Man's Son inheriteth his Fathers Goods but the Sister's Son succeedeth as being most certain of the Blood So in the Kingdom of Calicat when the King marrieth a Wife one of the principal Bramanes hath the first Nights lodgings with her for which he hath assigned him by the King four hundred or five hundred Ducats The King committeth the Custody of his Wife to the Bramanes when he travelleth any whither and taketh in too honest part their dishonest Familiarity but for this cause the King's Son succeedeth not in the Crown but his Sisters Son as being certainly of his Blood These Sisters of the King choose what Gentleman they please on whom to bestow their Virginity and if they prove not in a certain time to be with Child they betake them to these Bramane Stallions the Gentlemen and Merchants have a Custom to exchange VVives in token of great Friendship Some VVomen amongst them have six or seven Husbands fathering her Children on which of them she best pleaseth The Men when they marry get others to use them if they be Virgins fifteen or twenty days before they themselves will bed them LXXIX As for the Marriages in Peru the Men had many VVives but one was principal which was wedded with Solemnity and that in this sort The Bridegroom went to the Bride's House and put O Hoya which was an open Shoe on her foot this if she were a Maid was of VVool otherwise of Reeds and this done he led her thence with him If she committed Adultery she was punished with Death VVhen the Husband died she carried a mourning VVeed of black a Year after and might not marry in that time which befell not the other VVives The Ingua or Emperour himself with his own hand gave this VVoman to his Governours and Captains and the Governours assembled all the young Men and Maids in one place of the City where they gave to every one his VVife with the aforesaid Ceremony in putting on the O Hoya the other VVives did serve and honour this None might marry with his Mother Daughter Grand Mother or Grand Child and Yupangui the Father of Guayanacapa was the first Ingua that married his Sister and confirmed his Fact by a Decree That the Ingua's might do it commanding his own Children to do it permitting the Noble-men also to marry their Sisters by the Father's side LXXX In the Canaries they used for Hospitality to let their Friends lye with their VVives and received theirs in like courtesie and therefore as in India the Sisters Son inherited Amongst the Georgians too the Husband bringing home a Guest commends him to his VVIfe and Sister with charge to yield him Content and Delight esteeming it a Credit that their VVives can please and be acceptable Their Virgins become Mothers very soon most of them at ten years old can bring witnesses in their Arms little bigger than a great Frog which yet after grow tall and square men to prove that there is never a Maid the less for them So in Chamul a Province in Tartary they not only permit but account it a great Honour to have their VVives and Sisters at the pleasure of such Strangers as they entertain themselves departing the while and suffering all things to be their Guests VVill for so are their Idols served who therefore for this Hospitality they think will prosper all that they have And when one of their Chams forbad them this beastly practise they abstained three Years but then sent a lamentable Embassage to him with request that they might continue their former Custom for since they left it they could not thrive who overcome by their fond Importunity granted their Requests which they with Joy accepted and do still observe LXXXI In Carazan another Province of Tartary they have a barbarous Custom which they used when any proper and personable Gentleman of valourous Spirit and goodly Presence lodged in any House amongst them in the Night they killed him not for the spoil but that his Soul furnished with such parts of Body and Mind might remain in that House much hope of future happiness to that House did they repose in such unhappy Attempts There too when a VVoman is delivered of a Child the Man lieth in and keepeth his Bed with Visitation of Gossips the space of forty days they worship the ancientest Person in the house ascribing to him all their good In some part of the Country Knights and Souldiers never marry but lye with such Women or Daughters as like them leaving his VVeapon mean while at the door which forbid any Man else although it be the good man himself to enter till he hath ended his Business and be gone At a place in the Kingdom of Fez there was a Temple built to which at certain times in the Year resorted Men and VVomen in the night where after Sacrifices the Candles were put out and each Man lay with the VVoman he first touched Those Women were forbidden to lye with any other for a Year after The Children begotten in this Adultery were brought up by the Priests of the Temple But having spoken of the strange Rites and Ceremonies used in Marriage by many Nations of the Universe it will not be unseasonable to give some Instances of such unnatural Wives and Husbands as we meet with recorded in History LXXXII 1. Joan Grand-child to Robert King of Naples by Charles his Son succeeded her Grand-father in the Kingdom of Naples and Sicily Anno 1343. a Woman of a beautiful Body and rare Endowments of Nature she was first marryed to her Cousin Andrew a Prince of Royal Extraction and of a sweet and loving Disposition but he being not able to satisfie her Wantonness she kept company with low Persons at last she grew weary of him complaining of his Insufficiency and caused him in the City of Arersa to be hung upon a Beam and strangled in the night time and then threw out his Corps into a Garden where it lay some days unburied It is said that this Andrew on a day coming into the Queen's Chamber and finding her twisting a thick string of Silk and Silver demanded of her for what purpose she made it she answered to hang you in which he then little believed the rather because those who intend such mischief use not to speak of it before hand but it seems she was as good as her word LXXXIII 2. Cicero put away his Wife Ferentia for divers Reasons as because she had made small account of him in the time of the Wars which were betwixt Caesar and Pompey so that when he went from Rome to Pompey she provided no fit Accommodations for his Journey and when he came back again into Italy she never shewed the least spark or sign of Love or good Will towards him for though he staid long at
matters of Love as within his Empire caused the Roman Argyropulus to be sought out and commanded him to repudiate his Wife whom he had lawfully married to take his Daughter on Condition that he would make him Caesar and associate him with himself in his Dignity but if he condescended not to his Will he threatned to pull out his Eyes and to make him all the days of his Life miserable The Lady who was present seeing her Husband involved in all the Perplexities that might be and ignorant what Answer to give unto the Emperour Ah! Sir said she I see you are much hindred in a brave way if it only rest in your Wife that you be not great and happy I freely deprive my self of all yea of your Company which is more precious to me than all the Empires of the World rather than prejudice your Fortune for know I love you better than my self And saying this she cut off her Hair and voluntarily entred into a Monastery which the other was willing enough to suffer preferring Ambition before Love CIV 3. The Emperour Conrad the Third besieged Guelphus Duke of Bavaria in the City of Hensbery in Germany The Women perceiving that the Town could not possibly hold out long petitioned the Emperour that they might depart only with so much as each of them could carry upon their Backs which the Emperour condescended to expecting they would have loaden themselves with Silver and Gold c. But they came all forth with every one her Husband on her Back whereat the Emperour was so moved that he wept received the Duke into his favour gave all the Men their Wives and extoll'd the Women with deserved Praises CV 4. Hota was the Wife of Rahi Benxamut a valiant Captain and of great Reputation amongst the Alarbes she had been bravely rescued out of the hands of the Portugals who were carrying her away Prisoner by the exceeding Courage and Valour of Benxamut her Husband She shewed her thankfulness to him by the ready performance of all the Offices of Love and Duty Some time after Benxamut was slain in a Conflict and Hota performed her Husbands Funeral Obsequies with infinite Lamentations laid his Body in a stately Tomb and then for nine days together she would neither eat nor drink whereof she died and was buried as she had ordained in her last Will by the side of her beloved Husband He first deceas'd she for a few days try'd To live without him lik'd it not and dy'd CVI. 5. King Edward the First while Prince warr'd in the Holy Land where he rescued the great City of Acon from being surrendred to the Souldan after which one Anzazim a desperate Saracen who had often been employ'd to him from the General being one time upon pretence of some secret Message admitted alone into his Chamber he with an empoyson'd Knife gave him three Wounds in the Body two in the Arm and one near the Arm-pit which were thought to be mortal and had perhaps been so if out of unspeakable Love the Lady Elianor his Wife had not suck'd out the Poyson of his Wounds with her Mouth and thereby effected a Cure which otherwise had been incurable Thus it is no wonder that Love should do Wonders seeing it is it self a Wonder CVII 6. Artemisia the Queen of Caria bore so true a Love to her Husband Mausolus that when he was dead she prepared his Funeral in a sumptuous Manner she sent for the chiefest and most eloquent Orators out of all Greece to speak Orations in his Praise upon the chief day of the Solemnity When the Body was burn'd she had the Ashes carefully preserv'd and by degrees in her Drink she took down those last Remainders of her Husband into her own Body and as a further Testimony of her love to his Memory she built him a Sepulchre with such Magnificence that it was numbred amongst the seven Wonders of the World CVIII 7. Camma the Wife of Sinatus the Priestess of Diana was a Person of most rare Beauty and no less Virtue Erasmoria to enjoy her had treacherously slain her Husband he had often attempted in vain to perswade her to his Embraces by fair Speeches and Gifts and she fearing he would add force to these feigned her self to be overcome with his Importunity To the Temple they went and standing before the Altar as the Custom was the new Bride drank a Cup of Wine in a golden Viol to the Bridegroom which he received and drank of with great Pleasure which done falling on her Knees with a loud Voice she said I thank thee O venerable Diana that thou hast granted me in thy Temple to revenge the blood of my Husband which was shed for my sake which said she fell down and died Now did Erasinorix perceive the Wine he had drank was poysoned nor was it long e're he himself as another Sacrifice fell dead at the foot of the Altar CIX 8. Pandocrus was one of the Captains of the Men of War under Jacobus King of Persia who was the Son of Vsun Cassan this Man had a most beautiful young Lady to his Wife though not above sixteen Years of Age by whom he was most entirely beloved He having rebelled against his Sovereign she long besought him that he would not enter Battel with his Enemy but when he would not agree to her in that she then intreated that at least he would kill her before the Fight that so she might not be compelled to out-live him when he had also denied her in this he gave Battel wherein he was overcome and slain and his Wife being taken was by the King bestowed upon one of his Captains When therefore he would take her to Wife she long opposed his Intentions and when at last she perceived he went about to gain that by force which he could not by entreaty she requested some time wherein to deliberate upon the Matter it was granted and when she had sent him a Note wherein she had written No Man shall ever say that the Wife of Pandocrus did long survive him she fell upon a Sword and died CX 9. Leonidus King of Sparta had married his Daughter Chelonis to Cleambrotus afterwards he fell out with him and would have slain him Chelonis taking her two little Sons went to her Husband earnestly begging his Life of her angry Father telling him that if he proceeded to kill her Husband she would first kill her self and pitifully complaining she laid her Face upon Cleombrotus his Head and casting her swoln and blubber'd Eyes upon the Standers by Leonidus was mov'd to Pity and commanded Cleombrotus to get him thence into Exile withall praying his Daughter for his sake to remain with him and not to forsake her Father who did so dearly love her as for her sake alone to save the forfeit Life of her Husband But she by no means would yield to his Request but rising up with her Husband she gave him one of his Sons and taking
Paint and Yellings for twenty four hours None but the King and Priest may enter these Houses where the Images of Devils and their Kings are kept Instead of saying Grace at Meat they fling the first Bit into the Fire and when they will appease a Storm they cast Tobacco into the Water sometimes they sacrifice Children to the Devil XVIII In Hispaniola they worshipped the Sun and Moon which they say at first shined out of a Cave and their Tradition is That out of two Caves came Mankind the biggest men out of the greatest Cave and the least men out of the lesser Cave They worship also divers Idols with ugly Shapes by which the Devil useth to speak to them these they call Zermes to which they kept divers Festivals In these they had their publick Dances with the Musick of Shells tyed about their Arms Thighs and Legs The King fits drumming when the People present themselves having their Skins painted with divers Colours of Herbs When they sacrifice they use with a sacred Hook to thrust down their Throats to turn up their Stomachs then they sitdown in a Ring cross-legged and wry-necked about the Idol praying their Sacrifice might be accepted In some places the Women dance about their Idols and sing the Prayers of their ancient Kings then both Sexes on their Knees offer Cakes which the Priests cut and give to every one a piece this each Man keeps as a Relick against Dangers If any fall sick the Priests impute this to their neglect in the Idol's Service therefore exhort them to build a Chappel or dedicate a Grove to their God they think the Ghosts of the dead walk who assault such as are fearful and vanish from them who are not afraid XIX In Malabar they have a Pagod or Idol which they worship seated upon a brazen Throne and crowned with a rich Diadem From his Head issue out four Horns from his Mouth four Tusks his Eyes fiery like a Glow-worm his Nose flat and ugly his Visage terrible his Hands like Claws his Legs and Thighs like those of a Lion in a word we cannot paint the Devil in a more ugly Figure than they do their God Unto this Pagod or his Priest they offer the Virginity of all their Daughters the Pagod having in the place of his Privy Parts a Bodkin of Gold or Silver upon which the Bride marryed most commonly at ten or twelve years of Age is forcibly set the sharpness of it being such that it forceth out the Blood in great Abundance and if she prove with Child that Year it is said to be of his begetting and the more esteemed Others with more Humanity instead of torturing their Daughters on this wretched Idol paralel almost to the offering their Sons to Moloch amongst the Syrians present them to the Bramini or Idol-Priest to be defloured the first Night of the Wedding and without one of these two Handsels no man is suffered to enjoy the use of his Wife not their Kings themselves More priviledged yet than many VVomen neighbouring on them in that they are not compelled to burn themselves with their Husbands Bodies but may have many Husbands either successively or at once as they list themselves and if at once she sends her Children to that Husband as we know who did who she thinks to have the best right to them XX. The former Story brings to mind a Custom amongst the Scots which took beginning as the Scottish Historians affirm in the Reign of Ewen the Third who is the fifteenth King in their Catalogue after the first Fergus This Ewen being a Prince much addicted or wholly rather given over unto lasciviousness made a Law that himself and his Successors should have the Maiden-Head or first Nights Lodging with every VVoman whose Husband held Land immediately from the Crown and the Lords and Gentlemen of all those whose Husbands were their Tenants or Homagers This was it seems the Knights Service which men held their Estates by and continued till the days of Malcolm Commor who at the Request of his VVife Margaret she was the Sister of Edgar Atheling abolished this Law and ordained That the Tenants by way of Commutation should pay unto their Lords a Mark in Money which Tributes the Historians say is still in force XXI In Loango a Country under the Line they worship Idols and are circumcised Every Tradesman appeaseth his God with such things as belong to his Trade the Husband-man with Corn the VVeaver with Cloath c. At the Death of their Friends they kill Goats to the honour of their Idols and make divers Feasts in memorial of the dead They will rather dye than touch any Meat which is prohibited by their Priests At Keaga the Sea-Port of Loango there is an Idol kept by an old VVoman which is once a Year honoured with great Solemnity and feasting There is another Idol at Morumba thirty Leagues Northward where Boys are sworn to serve this God and are initiated with hard Diet ten days Silence Abstinence from certain Meats and a Cut in their Shoulder the Blood of which is sprinkled at the Idol's Feet Their Tryals of Life and Death are in the Presence of this Idol At Anzichi they are circumcised worship the Sun and Moon and each man his particular Idol In some of these neighbouring Countries the People are Man-eaters and worship the Devil to whom they offer Sacrifice which they continue from Morning till Night using charming Vociferations dancing and piping XXII Gentilism is likewise professed in Guinea for they adore strawen things instead of God of whom they speak blasphemously calling him evil black and the Author of their Miseries and that they are no ways beholding to him for what they enjoy but to their own Industry They put within their Rings Wheat Water and Oyl for their God to feed upon such Rings are worn by many as Preservatives against Danger Their Priests use to preach to them on Festival days and after Sermon to besprinkle the Infants with Water in which a Newt doth swim They consecrate to their Idol the first Bit and Draught of their Meat and Drink But I believe this black God they rail against is the Devil whom their cunning Priests represent to that ignorant People in some black and ugly Shape sometimes of a black Dog If they paint themselves with Chalk they think they do good Service to their God When he is angry with them they use to bribe the Priest with Gold so their Fishermen are use to do when they have no success at Sea the Priest with his Wives walk in Procession knocking his Breasts and clapping his Hands then hanging some Boughs from their Necks and playing on a Timbrel the Priests fling Wheat into the Sea to appease the angry God They have certain Trees in great Veneration consulting with them as with Oracles using divers foolish Ceremonies They worship a certain Bird which hath Feathers like Stars and a voice like a Bull. The Tunny is
the open Air the People sounding their Acclamations Blessed be he which cometh The Bride being led by others goeth three times about the Bridegroom as a Cock goeth about a Hen and that forsooth to fulfill that Prophecy A Woman shall compass a Man he also must fetch one Compass about her the People also besprinkle the Bride with Wheat crying out Encrease and multiply according to that of the Psalmist He filleth thee with the Fat of Wheat In some places they mingle Money with the Wheat which the poor Jews gather up The Bride stands on the right hand for it is written Thy Wife standeth on thy right hand with her Face also to the South for then she shall be fruitful The Rabbi who marrieth them taketh the end of the Vestment about the Bride-groom's Neck they call it Talles and puts it on the Bride's head after the example of Boaz and Ruth and then takes a Glass filled with Wine over which he uttereth the Marriage Blessing praising God by whose instinct these Persons were espoused and so reacheth the Glass to them and bids them drink This Glass if she be a Virgin hath but a narrow Mouth at Wormes they use an earthen Pot. Now the Rabbi receiving a Ring of pure Gold without any Jewel in it sheweth it to some Witnesses asking them if it be good and worth the Money it cost and then puts it on the Bride's Finger and with a loud Voice pronounceth the Spousal Letters After this he takes another Glass of Wine and blesseth God that the Bridegroom and Bride have accepted of each other and gives it them to taste This done the Bridegroom breaketh the former Glass against the Wall or Ground in remembrance of the Destruction of Jerusalem in which respect in some places they put Ashes on the Bridegroom's head he weareth for this cause a black Hood on his Head like a Mourner and the Bride likewife weareth a black Cloath fit to terrifie Children with the Deformity Thus do they mix Mirth and Mourning as David warneth Rejoyce unto him in trembling This ended they sit down at Table and then must the Bridegroom make Tryal of his Breast in singing a long Prayer others in the mean time call to make ready the Hen. Then is there an Hen and an Egg set before the Bride of that the Bridegroom carveth her a piece and then presently all the Company Men and Women tear the Hen amongst them like hungry Hounds snatching out of each others Hands and Mouths all to glad the new married Couple The Egg is not sod but in another Scene of Mirth one casteth it in the face of another of some Christian especially if any be present at the Nuptials in the same is a Mystery included for the Bride that she shall have as easie Travel in Child-birth as the Hen layeth her Eggs. After this they fall to their Chear and Dances one they call the Mitzvah or Commandment-dance as if God had enjoyned it The chief Guest takes the Bridegroom by the hand another him and so on through the Company likewise the chief Woman takes the Bride another her and so one another then do they dance in a long row with a tumultuous noise and so end the Nuptial Sports Amongst all their other Blessings the Bridegroom is to say one Vbi perspexerit sanguinem Virginum to use the words of Genebrad who expresseth it being borrowed from some Words of the Canticles fleshly abused by such Application The Marriage commonly lasteth eight days and on the Sabbath they dance the lustiest of all doing the Sabbath herein a singular Honour because that also is called a Bride It is prohibited to bid any uncircumcised Guest to this Banquet for Solomon saith The Stranger doth not intermeddle with his Joy yea the good Angels seeing such there will depart and the evil will come and raise Strifes and Contentions for they think no place empty from the Earth to the Sky but all full of good or bad Angels flying or standing in the same The Marriage is in publick lest Whoredom should be covered under that Pretext pretending themselves married when they were not LXVI Let it not grieve the Reader to hear something of the Duties betwixt Man and Wife The Husband oweth ten things to the Wife three according to the Law her Nourishment her Cloathing and her Time namely of due Benevolence to be performed and seven things according to the Words of the Scribes the first whereof is the Foundation of Dowry viz. two hundred Denarii if she be a Virgin otherwise a hundred The other concern the Condition of the Dowry the Woman which rendreth not her Husband his due is rebellious and refractory and he is bidden to expell her without a Dowry The Conditions of the Dowrâ— were first to cure her in Sickness secondly to redeem her being captive thirdly to bury her being dead fourthly to nourish her out of his own Goods and that she dwell in his House in her Widdow-hood fifthly to keep her Daughters till Marriage fixthly that her Sons inherit They appoint not only Love but Honour to the Wife as Peter also enjoyneth to this weaker Vessel which Honour they say is Meat and Drink and goodly Garments for which he shall this was a Woman's Friend have favour with God The Author of Arbaa Turim addeth That a Man should love his Wife as his own Body and honour her above his Body and keep her as one of his Members for the Wife is the other half of Man and a Wife without a Man is but half a Man And let him take heed of striking his Wife said another or to be virulent in terms against her for for her Tears how pitifully easie are they to some his Punishment is near And howsoever since the Destruction of the Temple the door of Prayers hath been shut yet the door of Tears hath not been shut as saith David Be not thou silent at my Tears And should not a Man honour his Wife Yes saith R. Hanina for a Man hath no Blessing but for his Wife as it is written He blessed Abraham for her Let a Man cloath himself I would not have Women hear it beneath his Ability his Children according to his Ability and his Wife above his Ability Let the Wife honour her Husband as her Father and fear to displease him and let him spare her in his Anger remembring that she was taken out of his Ribs But for the Wives choice a Man ought saith one to sell all that he hath and buy a Wife the Daughter of a wise Disciple if he find not such a one let him take a Daughter of the Great Men of his time if not such the Daughter of a Synagogue Ruler in that defect let him take the Daughter of one which gathereth Alms if not then of a School-Master and not the Daughter of the People of the Land of whom the Scripture saith Cursed be he that lyeth with a Beast They say that a Man ought
the other in her own Arms she voluntarily went with him into Banishment CXI 10. Portia the Daughter of Cato and Wife of Marcus Brutus when she conjectur'd by the sleepless and restless Nights of her Husband that he had conceived some great thing in his Mind and concealed it from her in suspicion of her Weakness she to give her Husband an instance of her Constancy and Secrecy made her a deep Wound in her Thigh with her Razor there followed a stream of Blood Debility and a Fever When Brutus came home sad at so unexpected an accident she causing all to withdraw Sit down Husband said she I have something that is serious to discourse with you When I married you I came to your House as a Wife not as a Mistress or Whore not only as a Companion of your Bed and Board but of all prosperous and adverse things I am Cato's Daughter and reckon you that I am of that Blood What then Do I complain of you Not at all if I look at other Matters conjugal Solemnities good Will and this external Love but I look higher and would have your Friendship also and that is the only grief of my Mind which torments me that you have my Fidelity in suspicion for wherefore should you dissemble Do not I perceive the care you are in That there is some secret and great Enterprise that you are in Agitation about Why do you conceal it from me If I can lend you no Assistance expect some Comfort at least from me for as to my Secrecy I am able to engage Consider not the rest of my Sex I say again that I am the Daughter of Cato and I add thereunto that I am the Wife of Brutus either Nature being from such a Father or Conversation with such a Husband will render me constant and invincible against all that is to be feared Why do I multiply Words I my self have made experiment of my self and see this Wound which of my own Accord I have given my self that I might know whether I could undergo with Courage any Grief and Torments I can believe it I am able to bear them to despise them and I can dye Brutus with and for my Husband If therefore you are about any thing that is just and honourable and worthy of us both conceal it no longer Brutus admiring the greatness of her Mind and surprized with the discovery of such an Affection lift up his Hands for Joy and O all ye Powers above said he be ye favourable and propitious to my Desires and make me a Husband that is worthy of Portia Then he recited in order to her the Conspiracy against Caesar and who they were that were concerned therein She was so far from being affrighted therewith or deterring him from it that she encouraged him to proceed But the day they were to perform the Enterprise being in fear for Brutus she swooned and was secretly recovered by him At the last Brutus being overcome and slain at Philippi she determined to dye and when her Friends being ever with her deprived her of the opportunity and means she at last snatch'd the burning Coals with her hands out of the Fire and thrusting them into her Mouth she kept them there till she was choak'd CXII 11. In the reign of Vespasian there was a Rebellion in Gaul the chief leader of which was Julius Sabinus the Gauls being reduced the Captain was sought after to be punished But he had hid himself in a Vault or Cave which was the Monument of his Grand-Father he caused a report to be spread of his Death as if he had voluntarily poysoned himself and the better to perswade men of the truth of it he caused his House to be set on fire as if his Body had therein been burnt He had a Wife whose name was Eponina she knew nothing of his safety but bewail'd his death with inconsolable Tears There were only two of his Free-men who were privy to it who pittying their Lady who was determined tody and in order thereunto had now abstain'd from Food three days together declar'd her purpose to her Husband and besought him to save her that lov'd him so well It was granted and she was told that her Sabinus lived she came to him where they lived with secrecy and undiscovered for the space of nine years together she conceived and brought forth Children in that solitary mansion At last the place of their abode came to be known they were taken and brought to Rome where Vespasian commanded they should be slain Eponina producing and shewing her Children Behold O Caesar said she such as I have brought forth and brought up in a Monument that thou mightst have more supplicants for our Lives Cruel Vespasian that could not be moved at such words as these well they were both led to death and Eponina joyfully died with her Husband who had been before buried with him for so many years together CXIII 12. Eumines burying the Dead that had fall'n in the Battel of Jabins against Antigonus amongst others there was found the Body of Ceteas the Captain of those Troops that had come out of India This man had two Wives who accompanied him in the Wars the one of which he had newly married and another which he had married a few years before but both of them bore an intire love to him for whereas the Laws of India require that one Wife shall be burnt with her dead Husband both proffer'd themselves to Death and strove with that ambition as if it was some Glorious Prize they sought after Before such Captains as were appointed their Judges the younger pleaded that the other was with Child and that therefore she could not have the benefit of that Law The elder pleaded that whereas she was before the other it was also fit that she should be before her in honour since it was customary in other things that the elder should have place The Judges when they understood by Midwives that the elder was with Child passed Judgment that the younger should be burnt which done she that had lost the Cause departed rending her Diadem and tearing her Haire as if some grievous calamity had befallen her The other all Joy at her victory went to the Funeral fire magnificiently dressed up by her Friends led along by her Kindred as if to her Nuptials they all the way singing Hymns in her praises When she drew near the Fire taking off her Ornaments she delivered them to her Friends and Servants as tokens of remembrance they were a multitude of Rings with variety of precious Stones Chains and Stars of Gold c. this done she was by her Brother placed upon the Cumbustible matter by the side of her Husband and after the Army had thrice compassed the Funeral Pile fire was put to it and she without a word of Complaint finished her life in the Flames CXIIII 13. Clara Cerenda was one of the most beautiful and fairest Virgins in all Bruges
the desires of those things which the one had begun or the faint-heartedness of the other should occasion them to fight feebly and also by their fears possess the hearts of such as were Bold and Valiant CLIII It was a common use among the Romans and divers other Nations as well amongst Princes as Private Persons that if there had happened any difference of an extraordinary Character amongst them they used to send a publick Officer or private Messenger to let them know whom they conceived they had Injury by that they did solemnly renounce all friendship with them and that they did forbid them their House and all expectations of any Rites of Hospitality And they thought it unreasonable to hear him by Word or deed who had been their Friend till they had sent him this Declaration that he might stand upon his Guard Thus Badius the Campanian betwixt both Armies renounced friendship with Crispinus a Roman that so he might have the freedom to assault him as an Enemy and thus dealt King Amasis with Polycrates not that he had dissobliged him but that he feared his misfortune CLIV. Amongst the Persians they had this custome that when any one was accused in the Court for the breach of the Laws though it did plainly appear that he was guilty yet should he not be immediately condemned but first there should be an exact inquiry made into the whole course of his life and a strict account should be taken whether his evil and unhandsom actions or his gallant and commendable ones were the most and then if the number of his base and unworthy doings were found to be the greatest he was condemned if otherwise he was absolved For they thought it was beyond human power perpetually to keep that which was right and that they were to be accounted good not who never did amiss but who for the most part did that which was honest CLV The custom of establishing a mutual and lasting Friendship betwixt two and also of Princes when they entred into inviolable Leagues or Alliances was this they joyned their right Hands and then both their Thumbs were hard bound about with a string as soon as the Blood came into the Extremities of them they were lightly pricked that the Blood came and then each licked some of the others Blood The Friendship or League contracted by this ceremony was held most sacred as being signed with their own Blood In this manner the Inhabitants of the Island Palmaria the Scythians Georgians and divers other Nations begin their Friendship and as we read in Athenaeus the Germans themselves CLVI The Corinthians were wont without much examination to hang up such as were suspected of Theft and upon the third day after the matter was strictly examined of the Judge then if it was found that they had really committed the Theft whereof they had been accused they left them hanging upon the Gallows but if they were judged to be innocent they were taken thence and buried with a Preface of Honour at the Publick charge But for the Readers greater Diversion after a draught of such variety of Customs I will give him the Life of George Castriot alias Scanderbeg King of Epirus especially since Hungary and other it's bordering Countries do now daily afford us matter of Discourse This George was descended of an ancient Family which had long reigned in Epirus or Asbania a part of Macedonia his Father surmounted his Predecessors in Prudence Gravity and Magnanimity in corporal Beauty and comeliness of Person his Mother was Voisava Daughter of the King of the Tribullians a Woman for Beauty Wisdom and Excellency of Spirit surpassing most of her Sex God blessed these Persons with nine Children four Sons and five Daughters whereof this George was the youngest upon whose Arm when he was born appeared the form of a Sword as naturally imprinted as if it had been engraven by the most dexterous Artificer Then it was the Turks extended their Conquests into Europe John Castriot amongst other Princes was constrained to sue for Peace which he obtained upon Condition of delivering up his Sons in Hostage who being in the Grand Seignior's hands he caused them to be circumcised giving to George in whom something more than ordinary appeared at his Circumcision the name of Scanderbeg i. e. Lord Alexander he was about nine years old at this time and Amurath taking a liking to him appointed him good Masters and Instructers under whom he quickly learned the Turkish Arabian Greek Italian and Sclavonian Languages and as his Strength encreased he acquired all those Exercises as might fit him for the War and sometimes with his Sword and sometimes with his Bow on Horseback and foot he gave incredible testimonies of agility and readiness of Body and of an undertaking couragious Spirit hereupon the Sultan made him a Sunziack and Collonel of five thousand Horse His Brethren also proving very good Souldiers he employed them in several parts of his Empire Scanderbeg when he was eighteen years old was sent by Amurath into Natolia where in his first Enterprise his Virtue and good Success in War appeared and he returned victorious and afterwards he with his Regiment always made one in all Enterprizes and the good Success was by the common Consent of all the Souldiery still cast upon him And now Troubles arising in Asia he at those Years was chosen General of the whole Army by which means and the quick and speedy defeat of his Enemies he surmounted all the glory of his former Performances About this time there came a Gyant-like Scythian to the Court demanding if there were any that durst encounter him in Arms and prove himself in fight against him Amurath the Sultan proclaimed and promised to the Conquerour a great Reward to encourge his Men to undertake the Combate But when every one dreaded the purchase of Honour upon such desperate Conditions for they were to fight in their Shirts in a narrow place with their Swords only Scanderbeg stepping to him said Either shalt thou not O Scythian bear away this Prize and Glory or else being made more glorious by my Death thou shalt be enriched with these Spoils and Ornamenas In the Duel Scanderbeg slew the Scythian without receiving the least Wound from him and presenting his Head to Amurath received the reward of his Victory Afterwards two Persians of a fair and goodly Stature came and made the like Challenge to fight on Horseback and when all refused he took up the Gantlet against them and whereas contrary to the Agreement after his first Course they both assaulted him together he so acquitted himself that he slew them both and presented their Heads to Amurath About this time died John Castriot his Father in Epyre upon notice whereof Amurath seized upon his Kingdom put Garrisons into all the Cities and strong Holds and poysoned all the Brethren of Scanderbeg Now though Scanderbeg dissembled his Resentment of this Conduct yet the Sultan growing jealous of him put him