a fourth to make it sleep a fifth against wild Beasts and so in the rest giving to each fetisso a several name They quickly learn them to eat and then leave them about the House like Dogs they soon learn to go to speak to swim when they are first born they are not black but reddish as the Brasilians Each Woman brings up her own they teach them no Civility and beat them sometimes cruelly with staves when they are eight or ten or twelve years old they learn them to spin Bark-thread and make Nets After that they go with their Fathers to fish at eighteen Years old they begin to set up for themselves two or three of them together hiring a House and Canoe and then they cover their Privities grow amorous and their Fathers look out Wives for them They have little Hair on their face at thirty they wear Nails as long as the Joynt of a Man's Finger as a token of Gentility which is also observed by Merchants they keep them very clean and as white as Ivory they are great in Flesh beyond Men of these Parts at threescore and ten or fourscore their blackness decays and they grow yellow they have small Bellies long Legs broad Feet long Toes sharp Sight quick Wit Estridge maws are spiteful curiously neat Drunkards Thieves leacherous and subject to the Pox whereof they are not ashamed as neither of shewing their Nakedness LXXI If a Man amongst the Turks liketh a young Woman he buyeth her of her Father and then enrolleth her in the Cadies Book the Marriage following with all Bacchanal Solemnities Many Women are invited by the Brides Mother the Night before when after the feasting they bathe her and the next Morning trick her in her richest Ornaments tying on her silken Buskins with Knots not easily unknit which the Bridegroom must untie though with his Teeth after that with much Solemnity his Companions on horseback riding two in a Rank and conducted by the Sacdish who is nearest of his Kindred have fetched her home the Bride being delivered with her Face close covered set a stride on Horse-back with a Canopy over her head and received of him at his door thence led if she be of Quality by an Eunuch to the Bride-Chamber The Guests honour him with Presents yet go not in The Father also giveth only some pieces of Houshold stuff carried openly by Particulars through the Streets Now he is to entertain the VVives with an equal Respect Alike is their Diet Apparel yea and Benevolence unless they consent to change and give turns or else they may complain to the Cady and procure a Divorce but the Husband may put away his VVives at pleasure who may marry unto another within five Months after except she prove with Child and then she must stay so long after her delivery but if he will have her again he must buy her and if after the third Divorce another is first to lye with her as a Punishment of his Levity They will sell some of them or give them to their Slaves the VVives give him the reverence of a Master They are at no time to deny him their Embracements whom he toucheth not again untill he hath been at the Bath They hold their Chastisement which they receive from him as an Argument of Affection They intermeddle not with Houshold Affairs only it is required of them to content their Husbands to nurse their own Children and to live peaceably together which also they do without Jealousie or Envy They are exceeding beautiful for the most part ruddy clear and smooth as the polished Ivory tender and soft as frequenting the Baths daily and never open to the Weather but wither quickly Great and black Eyes are the greatest Beauty to the Eyes of a Turk They sit not at Table with their Husband but wait and serve them and then they dine by themselves admitting no Mankind with them above twelve Years old and they never go abroad without leave except to the Bath and on Thursday to weep at the Graves of the dead they rise to their Husbands and stand while they are in Presence and besides them come in no Company of men nor do they speak with a Man or in any other part of their Body are seen of any Man because they think sight especially where Beauty and Comliness is cannot be without sin only the Brother may be permitted to see the Sister but not the Husband's Brother yea their Sons when they come to growth are separated from them For this cause that Sex is not suffered to buy and sell but is closely mewed save that their Law alloweth them to frequent the publick Baths The Wife and Concubine differ in the right to a Dowry which the latter wanteth but the Wife must cause the other to be her Husband's Bed-fellow when he commandeth without gain-saying except on their Sabbath or Friday nights which is the Wives peculiar Yet are the Turks given in both Sexes to unnatural Lusts even the Women in publick Baths sometimes are so inflamed in that Filthiness as is intollerable Busbequius tells of one Woman who falling in love with a young Maid and no way else prevailing cloathed her self in Man's Apparel and hiring a House near procured the Fathers good Will to have that his Daughter in Marriage which being solemnized between them and the truth discovered which black Mantle of Night could not cover them from Hymen's Torch Complaint was made and the Governour quenched the hot flames of this new Bridegroom causing her to be drowned for that offence If the Man abuse the Wife to unnatural Lust she may have her Remedy by Divorce if she accuse her Husband which Modesty forbiddeth to be done in Words and therefore she puts off her Shoe and by inverting the same accuseth her Husband's Perverseness There are some Turks who keep Boys gallantly arrayed to serve for the worse than beastly Lust of such as will hire them They have this loathsome Punishment for that loathsome Sin of Whoredom to take the Paunch of a Beast new killed and cutting a Hole thorough to thrust the Adulterers Head in this Dung-Wallet and so carry him in Pomp thorough the Streets It is Death either to the Body by Judicial Sentence or the Soul by turning Turk for a Christian to have carnal Dealing with any of their Women A Jew who had dealing with a Turk's Wife with her Husband's Consent could not escape hanging therefore this indeed was a favour for he should have been burned notwithstanding his rich Countrey-men offered two thousand Duckats to save him her Husband was hanged for his wittally Perswasion and she her self drowned It is certain that they buy Boys of an hundred or two hundred Duckets and mew them up for their filthy Lust till they prove bearded they will also steal Boys for that Villany LXXII In Negapatan upon the River Ganges in the East-Indies the manner of their Marriages is extraordinary for many times the Priest with
a Cow and the Man and Woman go together to the Water-side where the Bramane first mutters a short Prayer and then links their Hands about the Cow's Tail pours upon them all his hallowed Oyl and lastly forces the Beast into the River whereinto she goes willingly so far as till they be to the middle in Water neither returns she nor do they disunite till the Waves advise them when being on shore they unite and hold that mysterious Tye forcible and sacred ever after LXXIII The Manner of the Tartars wedding is as follows The Husband covenanteth with the Father of the Maid who having given him power to take her wheresoever he shall find her he seeketh her among some of her Friends where she hath then of purpose hidden her self and by a kind of force carryeth her away They marry with any except their own Mother and Sister Their Widdows seldom marry because of their Service to their former Husbands in another World except the Son marry his Fathers Wives or the Brother his Brother's because they can there in the next World be content to resign them to their former Husbands again The Women sell and provide all Necessaries into the House the Men intending nothing but their Arms Hunting and Hawking If one hath buried a Male-child and another a Female the Parents contract a Marriage between those two and painting in Papers Servants Horses Cloaths and Houshold and making Writings for the Confirmation of the Dower burn these things in the Fire by the smoke whereof they in their smoky conceits imagine all these things to be carried and confirmed to their Children in the other world and the Parents of the two dead Parties claim kindred each of other as if they indeed had married their Children whilst they lived yet they do not account the woman they have married a Wife until she hath honoured them with the name of a Father and then beginneth he to take Dowry of her Friends of Horses Sheep Kine c. But if she be barren after a certain time he turneth her home again LXXIV In China their Marriages and Espousals want not many Ceremonies both are done in their Youth they like equality of age and state betwixt the Parties The Parents make the Contracts not asking the Childrens consent neither do they ever refuse As for their Concubines every one keeps according to his pleasure and ability respecting in them especially their Beauty and buy them for the most part their price being an hundred Crowns or less The common People also buy their Wives and sell them at their pleasure The Magistrates marry in their own Rank their Legitimate wife This chief wife only fits at Table with her husband the rest except in the Royal Families are as Servants which in the presence of either of the former may not sit but stand Their Children also call that wife their Mother not their Natural Parent and for her Funerals alone solemnize three years mourning or leave their Office not for their own Mother In these Marriages they are very scrupulous that the Wife have not the same sirname with her Husband although there be no kindred betwixt them and the sirnames in China are not a thousand neither may any devise new but must have one and that the same which their Ancestors by the Fathers side not the Mothers had except they be adopted into another Family They had no degrees of Affinity or Consanguinity so the sirname differ and therefore marry in the Mothers Kindred be it almost never so near The Bride brings no Portion to her Husband and yet the first day she comes to his House she hath to attend abundance of Houshold-furniture even the Streets being filled with it all at the Husbands cost who some Months before sends her a great Sum of Money to this purpose There are many who being poor do for Lust make themselves Slaves to rich men that so they may be furnished with a wife amongst his Women-Slaves whereby also the Children become perpetually bond Others buy their wives but seeing their increasing Family grow chargeable beyond their ability sell their young Sons and Daughters at the same price they would sell a Swine or Beast or some two or three Duckats more yea though they be not by Dearth compelled thereto LXXV If any Merchant resort into Pegu he shall have many Maids offer'd him by their Parents to take his choice and having agreed with the Parents he may for the time of his abode use her as his Slave or his Concubine without any discredit to her Yea if he come again after she is married he may for the time he stayeth there demand her in like sort to his use And when a man marrieth he will request some of his Friends to lye the first night with his Bride There are also among them that sow up the privy Parts of their Daughters leaving only passage for Urine which when they marry pass under the Surgeons hand for Remedy LXXVI The Marriages of the Bengalans are after this sort The man and woman come to the Water-side where standeth a Bramane or Priest with a Cow and a Calf or a Cow with Calf These all go into the water together the Bramane holding a white Cloth of four yards long and a Basket cross bound with divers things in it This cloth he layeth upon the back of the Cow by the Tail and saith certain words She hath a Copper or brass Pot full of Water The Man holdeth his hand by the Braman's Hand and the Wives hand by her Husbands and all have the Cow by the Tail Then they pour Water out of the Pot upon the Cow's Tail which runneth thorough all their hands and they lade up Water with their hands and then the Bramane tieth their Cloaths together After this they go round about the Cow and Calf and give somewhat to the Poor there attending leaving the Cow and Calf for the Braman's use and offer to divers of their Idols Money then lying down upon the ground they kiss it divers times and go their way LXXVII The young men in Arabia may go a wooing to divers Maids till such time as they have sped of a Wife yea the Father of the Maid most friendly welcometh her Suitor so that I think scarce any Noble or Gentleman among them can choose a Virgin for his House albeit so soon as any Woman is married she is quite forsaken of all her Suitors who then seek out new Paramours for their liking LXXVIII The Bramanes marry but once and that not all but only the eldest of the Brethren to continue the Succession who is also Heir of the Father's Substance and keepeth his Wife straitly killing her if he find her adulterous with Poyson The younger Brethren lye with other Mens Wives who account the same as a singular Honour done unto them having Liberty to enter into any Man's house yea of the Kings no less than of the Subjects of that Religion the Husbands
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
not to lodge in the same Chamber no not with his Sister Daughter or Daughter-in-law yea their wise Men forbid Conference with a Woman altogether LXVII But now it will be convenient to proceed to their way of Divorce and other Marriage-Ceremonies The Bill of Divorce is still practised among the Jews it must be written in twelve Lines it is therefore called Get neither more nor less and delivered to the Woman before three credible Witnesses under their Hands and Seals Then doth the Husband deliver it to her saying Lo Woman the Bill of this Divorce take it of me by it being divorced from me be thou free to another Husband The Tenor of this Bill is this The second day of the Week the eight and twentieth of the Month in the Year of the World 5363. as we here at Mentz upon Rhine use to reckon I Isaac sirnamed Eckenderf Son of R. Abr. now dwelling at Mentz of my free Will without Constraint thee Sarah sirnamed Trummerle Daughter of R. Levi which hitherto hath been my Wife have determined to free forsake and divorce and now do forsake free and put thee from me that thou mayst be thine own and at thine own free Will and Pleasure mayst depart whither thou wilt and none from henceforth for ever shall prohibit thee and thou art so freed that thou may'st marry to any other Man This Divorce may not be done in every place but they have some special place appointed noted and known scituate on some known River whereto certain chief Rabbies are called by writing if there be none there dwelling which consummate the business By the old Law a Woman might be reconciled to her Husband before the Bill of Divorce given or after The Observation of the Brother to marry the Wife of the Brother deceased without Issue or else to lose the Inheritance which was testified by pulling off his Shooe and spitting in his Face is now thus ruled by the Rabbies That none shall marry such a Widdow but rather suffer the premised Ignominy which is performed in this sort She comes before the chief Rabbi with five Witnesses where the Rabbi demands if she have been three Months a Widdow if her Husband had a Brother unmarried if the Party convented be he c. and lastly if she be fasting for otherwise she might not spit in her Brothers Face of him also the Rabbi likewise asketh like Questions and receiving a denial of Marriage there is brought a Shoo of singular Fashion for that purpose which he putteth on his right foot bare and then setteth himself against a Wall The Woman comes and disclaiming his Affinity stoopeth and with her right hand for if she want a right hand it putteth the Rabbies out of their Wits to scan whether with her Teeth or how else it may be done unlooseth the Shoo and taking it off spits in his face so that the five Witnesses may see it saying Thus shall it be done with him which will not build the House of his Brother In the time of her Uncleanness a Woman may not enter into the Synagogue nor pray nor name the Name of God nor handle any holy Book which if they observe the Rabbies promise them longer Life As soon as she knoweth of her Uncleanness she presently separateth her self from her Husband the space of seven days not touching him nor sitting on the same Seat nor eating in the same Dish or on the same Cloath nor may drink out of the same Cup nor stand against him nor speak in his Face if one will give any thing to the other one layeth it on a Bench or Table and goeth away and the other cometh and taketh it they say it procureth the Leprosie in the Children which are then gotten which they object to Christians When she hath numbred seven dayes of her Uncleanness she proceedeth to number as many of her Purification after which time finding her self pure she cloatheth her self in white and taking a Woman with her washeth her self in cold Water some in Winter put in warm Water to it which others in the coldest Season refuse and leaves not a hair of her Head unwashed as before is described Some fast till they have done it lest the flesh in the Teeth should hinder the Water from coming to them for Mouth and Eyes must be open and they must stoop that the Pap keep not the Water from the Breast and if they have a Plaister on a sore it must off and their Nails must be pared They write That if any shall exceed twenty years and not marry or if he shall marry a Wife which is barren he sinneth as much as if he had slain a Man and deserveth the Punishment of Onan whom God slew provided if he addict himself to the Study of the Law and findeth no need of a Wife but if he find Concupiscence prevail he ought to marry notwithstanding And this necessity remaineth untill he hath begotten a Son and a Daughter But having forgotten to speak of Circumcision under the Head of Religion it will not be improper to touch something upon that Point in this place The Child is first washed and laid in clean Linnen for if he be foul or defile himself while he is circumcised the Mohel or Circumciser is to suspend or interrupt his Prayer till he be washed again In the Morning of the eighth day the God-father seateth himself down in a Seat placed near the Ark and the Mohel near him twelve wax-candles are brought in to represent the twelve Tribes then two Cups of red Wine the circumcising Knife with two Dishes the one of Oyl the other of Sand. When the Child is brought to the door by the Woman the Congregation riseth up the God-father takes the Child and sits down in his Seat There is also a Seat prepared for Eliah whose coming they expect at the Circumcision The Child is then named and usually by the name of some of his Ancestors so that Luke 1.61 it was wondred at that Zachary should name his Son John seeing none of his Kindred was named with his Name The eighth day was so strictly observed that if it fell on the Sabbath the Child was then circumcised not sooner lest God should be thought to be tied to the Sacrament and because the Child the first seven days after the Birth was held legally unclean and yet remaining in his Blood Levit. 12.2 3. and 22.27 nor later lest the Parents should be longer with-held from the comforts of the Sacrament The penalty of Contempt or neglect of Circumcision was a cutting off from the People Gen. 17.14 that is by Excommunication or bodily death of the Parents Therefore God would have killed Moses for not circumcising his Son or else by the death of the Son himself when he comes to years of discretion if he be not circumcised either by himself or by his Parents or by the Judges Now the manner of the Mohel's cutting off the foreskin is that he first rubs
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
sight of this Ark of the new Covenant the Dagon of Idolatry fell to the ground When this Lyon of the Tribe of Judah did roar all the Beasts of the Forrest that is the Pagan Idols or Devil rather hid themselves in their Dens Apollo complained that his Oracles failed him and that the Hebrew Child had stopped his Mouth When it was proclaimed at Palotci by Thanas the Egyptian Ship-Master that the great God Pan was dead all the Evil Spirits were heard to howl and bewail the Overthrow of their Kingdom Porphyri complained that the Preaching of Christ had weakned the Power of their Gods and hindred the Gain of their Priests The Bones of Babylas so hindred Apollo that he could deliver no Oracle while they were there The Delphick Temple fell down with Earth-quake and Thunder when Julian sent to consult with the Oracle Such was the irresistable Power of the two-edged Sword which came out of Christ's Mouth that nothing was able to withstand it The little Stone cut out of the Mountain without Hands smote the great Image of Nebuchadnezzar and brake it in pieces To the Doctrine of twelve poor Fisher-men did the great Potentates of the World submit their Scepters Thus the Stone which the Builders refused became the head of the Corner The terrible Beast which with his iron Teeth destroyed all the other Beasts is destroyed by the weakness of preaching against which the more the Roman Empire strugled the more it was foiled and found by Experience that the blood of Martyrs was the Seed of the Church which conquered the great Conquerours not with acting but with suffering not by the Sword but by the Word and more by their Death than by their Life like so many Sampsons triumphing over these Philistines in their Death and Torments But long did it not continue in it's Splendour and Purity Heresie and Persecution did quickly break in upon it Persecution first beginning under Nero and continued with all the Barbarity imaginable under his Successors but Heresie broke forth much sooner and made way for Mahumetanism XXVII The first Heretick was Simon called Magus because he was a Witch a Samaritan by Birth and a Christian by Profession he would have bought the Gifts of the Holy Ghost for Money Act. 8.13 He deny'd the Trinity and affirmed himself to be the true God he taught that the World was made by the Angels not by God and that Christ came not into the World nor did he truly suffer he deny'd also the Resurrection of the Flesh and permitted promiscuous Marriages he likewise affirmed that the true God was never known to the Patriarchs and Prophets Besides these impious Opinions he held Magick and Idolatry lawful he gave to the Angels barbarous Names he slighted the Law of Moses as being not from God and blasphemously denied the Holy Ghost to be a Substance but a bare Vertue or Operation and caused his Disciples to worship his Whore Helena or Selena for a Goddess XXVIII 2. Nicholas of whom are the Nicholaitans was a Proselite of Antioch and one of the seven Deacons mentioned Acts 6. He had a most beautiful Wife and being upbraided by the Apostles that he was jealous of her he brought her out before them and to clear himself gave her Liberty to marry to whom she pleased neither did he afterwards marry any other but taught his Sons and his Daughters to follow Chastity But certain perverse men who boasted that they were his Followers gave themselves to all Uncleanness teaching that Men ought to have their Wives in common they scrupled not to eat of things offered to Idols at their Love-Feasts they used to put out their Lights and commit promiscuous Adulteries with each others Wives They said that not God but Angels created the World Not long did they retain this Name but were called Gnosticks from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Knowledge as if therein they excelled other Men. They taught also that in faithful Men were two Souls one holy of the Divine Substance the other adventitious by Divine Insufflation common to Man and Beasts Their Doctrine began to spread about the beginning of Domitian's Reign after Christ fifty two Years XXIX 3. Corinthus was a Jew by Birth and circumcised taught that all Christians ought to be so also he taught that it was Jesus that dyed and rose again but not Christ he denyed the Article of Eternal Life and taught that the Saints should enjoy in Jerusalem carnal Delights for one thousand Years he denyed the Divinity of Christ he owned no other Gospel but that of St. Matthew rejected Paul as an Apostate from the Law of Moses and worshipped Judas the Traytor in most things they agreed with the Ebionites so called from Ebion a Samaritan St. John would not enter the same Bath with the pernicious Heretick Corinthus but against his and the Heresie of Ebion he wrote his Gospel He spread his Heresie in Domitian's time about sixty two Years after Christ XXXI 4. Carpocrates of whom came the Carpocratians was born at Alexandria in Egypt he flourished about the Year of Christ 109. in the time of Antoninus Pius Eusebius accounts him the Father of the Gnosticks and saith That his Followers gloried of charmed love Drinks of devilish and drunken Dreams of ossistane and associate Spirits and taught That he who would attain to Perfection in their Mysteries must commit the most filthy Acts nor could they but by doing evil avoid the Rage of Evil Spirits They said that Christ was but a mere Man and that only his Soul ascended into Heaven They hold Pythagorean Transmigration but denyed the Resurrection They said not God but Satan made this World and that their Disciples should not publish their abominable Mystery they bored their right Ear with a Bodkin XXXI 5. Valentinus an Egyptian lived in the time of Antoninus Pius When Hyginus was Bishop of Rome he began to spread his Heresie He held that there were many Gods and that he that made the World was the Author of Death that Christ took Flesh from Heaven and passed through the Virgin as Water through a Pipe or Conduit He said there were thirty Ages or Worlds the last of which produced the Heaven Earth and Sea out of the Imperfections of this Creator were procreated divers Evils as Darkness from his Fear evil Spirits out of his Ignorance out of his Tears Springs and Rivers and out of his Laughter Light They have Wives in common and say that both Christ and the Angels have Wives They celebrated the Heathenish Festivals were addicted to Magick and what not This Heretick was of great Reputation in Rome from whence he went to Cyprus and thence into Egypt XXXII 6. Marcion of whom came the Marcionites was of Senope a City of Pontus or Paphlagonia being driven from Ephesus by St. John he went to Rome he was the Son of a Bishop in Pontus and by his Father exiled for Fornication being not received by the Brethren in Rome he fell in
Eucharist they held Baptism without Crism ineffectual they used Rebaptization they permitted the Husband to dissolve Matrimony when he pleased and denyed Prayers for the Dead and the Eternity of Hell Fire and that the Souls were not in Bliss till the Resurrection and taught that then there should be no Women at all but that they should be converted into Men. Chazinzarii were so called from Chazus which in their Language signifieth the Cross for they taught that the Cross was only to be worshipped therefore they were named Cross-Worshippers they professed all Nestorianism The Thnetopsychitae held that the Souls dyed with the Bodies Theocatus Nostor were such as reprehended some of God's Actions and Words Ethnophrones were Paganising Christians who with Christianity taught Gentile Superstition But passing over the rest let us pass on to Mahomet the greatest of all Impostors The Life of Mahomet SOME Men have brave Names but mean Actions some brave Actions and mean Names and some both brave Names and Actions In the first number Mahomet may not be unfitly reckoned who in excellency of Name was second to none and yet in depravity of Manners had few Equals for we are assured by the learned in the Arabian Language that Mahomet comes of a Word signifying Praise and Honour and that this Notation of his Name was but a Presage of his future Actions whereby he merited and purchased both Others say Mahomet imports Thanksgiving which is to be understood with respect to their Duty of Gratitude who believe he procured great Benefits for them And that there might want nothing of lucky Abodement in the Name of this great Impostor some of his flattering Doctors paraphrase it by a Man of Desires But be his name what it will we shall proceed to give an account of the Life of this Impostor according as we find it written by the Saracens themselves The Book of the Generation of Mahomet the Messenger of God the Prayer and Salvation of God be upon him from Adam and Eve to the time when God brought him forth gracious perfect and fit for himself When as Rabachbar had learned out of the Scriptures and by Astrology that this Prophet should be born to the World he heard that there was a Man born in Jeseras a City of Arabia having all such Marks and Tokens as he had fore-seen by the Prophesies and his Arts viz. a spot on his Fore-head a print between his Shoulders c. and to satisfie his desire he went thither to see where finding those Tokens fulfilled in young Mahomet he thereupon expounded the dark Mystery of his far-fetch'd Light learned of his Master Kabelmedi in this manner When Adam was newly created as he stood up his Brain shaked and made a Noise as the Leaves do which are shaken with the Wind whereat Adam wondring God said unto him The sound which thou hast heard is the sign of the Prophets and Messengers of my Commandments take heed therefore that thou commit this Seed of Light only to worthy Loyns and to a clean Womb and this Light of Mahomet that should be born shined from the face of Adam as the Sun or Moon at the full And when he had begotten Seth that Light passed instantly from the Face of Adam into the Face of Eve insomuch that the Birds of the Air and Beasts of the Earth wondred at her Beauty yea the Angels every day saluted her and brought her Odours out of Paradise till she brought forth Seth alone having before at every Burthen brought forth a Brother and a Sister Seth inherited this Light which remained between Heaven and Earth the Angels thereby ascending and descending upon Seth and crying always Rejoyce thou Earth worthy of the Light of Mahomet on him be Prayer and Salvation of God Adam drawing near to his end declared unto him by his Testament the Mysteries of that Light and the Genealogy of the Prophets Then descended Gabriel accompanied with threescore and ten thousand Angels bearing every one of them a white Leaf and a Pen which signed the Writing for the Continuance of the Order of the prophetical Generation Seth received this Writing and was cloathed with a double red Garment shining as the Sun as soft as the Violet Flower From him it passed by Succession to Noah and Sem then to Abraham at whose Birth two Lights from the East and West meeting in the midst lightned the whole World and the Angels were heard singing that it was the light of the Prophet Mahomet who should be born of his Seed whose Words should be the virtue of God This Light passed from Abraham to the face of Hagar being with Child and after to Ishmael and God told him that the Soul of Mahomet in the beginning of the Creation was mingled with his and that his name in Heaven should be Asmet in Earth Mahomet and in Paradise Abvaltrazim At this Sarah grieved untill three Angels comforted her with the Promise of Isaac From Ishmael it removed to Keydar his Son who being endued with seven Gifts marryed Nulta of the Land of Isaac but being warned by an Oracle he took to Wife Algadira an Arabian and after by divine warning carried the Chest of this Light unto Jacob. Then was Hamel born to him and received the same Light in which succeeded Thebickt Hamiessa Adoth Adure Adne Machat Nizar Musar Aliez Madraca Hoocima Knieva Anofro Melic Falhrem Luic Galiben Kab Murran Cudai Abdamenef Hesim a man by divine Testimony free of all uncleanness To him did all Kings offer their Daughters in Marriage and amongst the rest Constantine which he refused and married Selina the Daughter of Geit and had by her Abdalmutalib whose Light caused Rain in the Drought To him an Elephant prostrated himself and said with Man's Voice Selvation be on you and on the Light that shineth out of your Reins Divinity Fame Honour and Victory be on you and that there should proceed from him a King greater than all the Kings of the Earth Another time as he slept on the Stone which was placed by Abraham in his Oratory at Mecca he dreamed of a Chain reaching East and West and to Heaven and to the Depth which was presently converted into a flourishing Herb. Noe and Abraham presented themselves Interpreters of this dream Abdalla's Son the Father of Mahomet had a Tutor given unto him to defend him from his Enemies who seemed a Man but was none He was preserved from the lying in wait of the Jews by threescore and ten Angels which seemed men He wedded Hermina and therefore two hundred Women perished for his love some hanging some burning themselves When the prescribed time was come in the Month Dulheia on a Friday night God bad Ariduran to open the Gates of Paradice that the innermost of his Secrets might be manifested for it pleaseth me said he this night to transport the Light of my Prophet from the Reins of Abdalla into the Womb of Hermina and that it come into the World This
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
Brundusium she never went to see him and when his Daughter took that Journey to visit him she neither provided Company to conduct her nor gave her Money or other Necessaries for the way yea she so handled the matter that when Cicero came to Rome he found nothing in his House but bare Walls and yet he was much set in debt by her LXXXIV 3. Bithricus King of the West-Saxons married Ethelburga the Daughter of Offa King of Mercia by whom after he had reigned seventeen Years he was poysoned and buried at Warham upon which occasion it was ordained by the Nobles That from thenceforth the King's Wives should not be called Queens nor suffered to sit with them in place of State This Ethelburga fled into France with infinite Treasure where offering a mighty Sum of her Gold to Charles King of France he put her to her choice whether she would have him or his Son to her Husband she chose the Son for the Reason as she said that he was the youngest then said Charles had'st thou chosen me thou should'st have had my Son but now thou shalt neither have him nor me and then sent her to a Monastery wherein she professed her self a Nun and became there the Abbess for some years but afterwards being found to have committed Adultery with a Lay-man she was cast out of the Monastery and ended her Life in Poverty and much Misery LXXXV 4. Alboinus the first King of Italy of the Lombards having slain Cummundus King of the Gepidae made a drinking-cup of his Skull Rosamond the Daughter of that King he had taken to Wife and being one day very merry at Verona forced her to drink out of that detested Cup which she so stomached that she promised one Hemichild a Courtier that if he would aid her in killing the King she would give him both her self and the Kingdom of Lombardy This when he consented to and performed they were so hated that they were constrained to fly to Rarenna unto the Protection of Longinus the Exarch who perswaded her to dispatch Hemichild out of the way and to take him for her Husband to which she willingly agreed Hemichild coming out of the Bath called for Drink and she gave him a strong Poyson half of which when he had drunk and found by the strange Operation how the matter went he compelled her to drink the rest and so both died together LXXXVI 5. When Alexander the Great had determined to invade the Daca where he knew Spitamenes was who not only had revolted himself but had also drawn several others into the Society of his Rebellion and had at sometimes overthrown some of Alexander's Captains there fell out one thing remarkable The Wife of Spitamenes upon whom he extreamly doted when by her feminine Flatteries she was not able to perswade her Husband to make tryal of the Victor's Clemency and to endeavour to appease that Alexander whom he could not avoid nor escape she set upon her Husband when intoxicated with Wine He lay fast asleep and drawing a Sword that she had concealed under her Garments she cut off his Head delivered it to a Servant that was conscious of her fact and with him only in her Company as she was with her Garments besprinkled with his Blood she went directly to Alexander's Camp and caused him to be informed that there was one there to inform him of something that he was concerned to know from her When she was admitted she desired the Servant might come in who shewed the Head of Spitamenes to those that searched what he carried wrapt up under his Garment When the King knew this though he look'd upon it as a very considerable piece of Service to him that a Renegado and a Traytor was dispatched yet had he a horror of the Fact that she should insnare his Life that had well deserved at her hands who was her Husband and Parent of the Children which they had betwixt them so that considering the Atrocity of the Fact over-weighed any pretended merit from himself he sent her Word that she should forthwith depart his Camp lest she should infect the barbarity of her Example LXXXVII 6. Semiramis the Wife of Ninus King of Assyria was a witty and beautiful Woman beloved of her Husband even unto Dotage as she was one day in discourse with him she told him that she was exceedingly desirous of a Thing yet because of the greatness of it she durst not discover it nor could hope to prevail Ninus not apprehending her subtilty bad her tell him what it was she answered that he should deliver to her the Government of his Empire for five days which when she had obtained she caused her Husband to be slain and so usurped his Throne LXXXVIII 7. Fulvius understanding that he was proscribed by the Tryumvirate betook himself to his Wife hoping to be hid and some way kept private by her in this time of his Extremity He might the rather expect her fidelity in this thing for of a Slave he had made her a free Woman and received her to his Bed but he found a deadly Enemy instead of a Friend for she suspecting that he was in love with another Woman did her self accuse and discover him to the Triumviri by whose order he died in a miserable manner LXXXIX 8. The noble Pittacus so famous for his Valour and as much renowned for his Wisdom and Justice feasted upon a time certain of his Friends who were Strangers His Wife coming in at the midst of the Dinner being angry at something else overthrew the Table and tumbled down all the Provision under foot Now when his Guests and Friends were wonderfully dismayed and abashed hereat Pittacus made no more ado at the matter but turning to them There is not one of us all saith he but he hath his Cross and one thing or other wherewith to exercise his Patience and for my own part this is the only thing that checketh my Felicity for were it not for this shrewing Wife I were the happiest Man in the World so that of me these Verses may be verified This Man who while he walks the Street Or publick Place is happy thought No sooner sets in House his feet But woe is him and not for ought His Wife him rules and that 's a spight She scolds she fights from Noon to Night But now it is time to say something of unnatural Husbands XC 1. Anno Dom. 1652. in the Isle of Thanet in Kent lived one Adam Sprackling Esquire who about twenty Years before had married Katharine the Daughter of Sir Robert Leukner of Kent This Sprackling had a fair Estate but had exhausted it by Drinking Gaming c. At last Executions were out against him and he forced to keep home and make his House his Prison This filled him full of Rage so that his Wife was constrained many times to lock her self from him But upon Saturday night Dec. 11. 1652. as it seems he resolved to mischief her and being
at ten a Clock at night in his Kitchin he sent for one Martin a poor old Man out of his Bed to him so that there were in the Kitchin Sprackling and his Wife one Ewell and this Martin Sprackling commanded Martin to bind Ewell's Legs which the one did and the other suffered thinking it had only been a ranting humour of their Master then he began to rage against his Wife who sat quietly by and though she gave him none but sweet and loving words yet he drew his Dagger and struck her over the face with it which she bore patiently though she was hurt in the Jaw He still continuing to rage at her she weary and in great fear rose up and went to the door Her Husband followed her with a chopping-knife in his hand with which he struck at her wrist and cut the bone in sunder so that her hand hung down only by the Sinews and Skin No help was near Ewell was bound and Martin being old and weak durst not interpose fearing his own Life only prayed his Mistris to stay and be quiet hoping all should be well and so getting a Napkin bound up her hand with it After this towards Morning still rayling and raging at his Wife he dashed her on the Forehead with the Iron Cleaver Whereupon she fell down bleeeding but recovering her self on her Knees she cryed and prayed unto God for the pardon of her own and her Husband's Sins praying God to forgive him as she did but as she was thus praying her bloody Husband chopt her head in the midst of the very Brains so that she fell down and died immediately Then did he kill six Dogs four of which he threw by his Wife and after she was dead chopping her twice into the Legs compelled Martin to wash Ewell's Face with her Blood himself also dipping Linnen in her Blood washed Martin's face and bloodied his own face with it For all which being apprehended and carried to Sandwich Goal at the Sessions following which were April the 22. 1653. he was araigned condemned and hanged on the 27. day dying very desperately and not suffering any either Minister or Gentleman to speake with him after his Condemnation XCI 2. Periander the Corinthian in a high fit of Passion trod his Wife under Foot and although she was at that time with Child of a Boy yet he never desisted from his injurious treatment of her till such time as he had killed her upon the place Afterwards when he was come to himself and was sensible that what he had done was thorough the calumniating instigation of his Concubines he caused them all to be burnt alive and banished his Son Lycophron as far as Corcyra upon no other occasion than that he lamented the death of his Mother with tears and out-cries XCII 3. Nero the Emperour being once incensed against his Wife Poppora Sabina gave her such a kick with his Foot upon the Belly that she thereupon departed this Life But though he was a man that seemed to be born to Cruelty and Blood yet he afterwards so repented himself of this act that he would not suffer her Body to be burn'd after the Roman manner but built the Funeral Pile for her of odours and persumes and so ordered her to be brought into the Julian Monument XCIII 4. Herod the Sophist being offended at his Wife Rhegilla for some slight fault of his commanded his Freed-man Alcimedon to beat her she was at that time eight Months gone with Child or near upon so that by the imprudence of him who was imployed to chastize her she received some blows upon her Belly which occasioned first her Miscarriage and soon after her Death Her Brother Brudeas a Person of great Nobility cited her Husband Herod to answer the Death of his Sister before the Senate of Rome where if he had not it is pitty but he should have received a Condign punishment XCIV 5. When M. Antonius was overcome at Actium Herod King of Judea believing that he was in danger to lose his Kingdom because he had been a fast friend to Antonius determined to meeet Caesar Augustus at Rhodes and there indeavoured to assure his favour to him having resolved upon his Journey he committed the care and custody of his Wife to Sohemus his Friend giving him withall thus much in command that in case he should hear of his death by the way or at the place whither he was intended that then he should not fail forthwith to kill Mariamne his Wife yielding this only reason of his injunction that it might not be in the power of any man to enjoy so great a Beauty after his death Mariamne had extorted this Secret from Sohemus and at Herod's return twitted him with it Herod caused Sohemus unheard to be immediately put to death and not long after he also beheaded Mariamne his beloved Queen and Wife But Herod had impotent desires of her even after she was dead he often called upon her name and frequently betook himself to uncomely lamentations he invented all the delight he could he feasted and drank liberally and yet to small purpose he therefore left off the care of his Kingdom and was so overcome with his grief that he often commanded his Servants to call Mariamne as if she had been still alive his grief increasing he exiled himself in Solitudes under pretence of hunting where continuing to afflict himself he fell into a grievous Disease and when recovered of it he became so fell and cruel that for slight causes he was apt to inflict death XCV 6. Amalasunta had raised Theodahitus at once to be her Husband and King of the Goths but upon this Proviso that he should make Oath that he would rest contented with the Title of a King and leave all matters of Government to her sole dispose But no sooner was he accepted as King but he forgot his Wife and Benefactress recalled her Enemies from banishment put her Friends and Relations many of them to death banished her self into an Island in the Vulsiner Lake and there set a strong guard upon her At last he thought himself not sufficiently safe so long as Amalasunta was alive and thereupon he dispatched certain of his Instruments to the place of her Exile with order to put her to death who finding her in a Bath gave her no further time but strangled her there But on the other side it will be fitting to give a few Instances of the Love of some Husbands XCVI 1. Darius the last King of the Persians supposing that his Wife Statira was slain by Alexander filled all the Camp with lamentations and outcryes O Alexander said he whom of thy Relations have I put to Death that thou should'st thus retaliate my severities thou hast hated me without any provocation on my part but suppose thou hast Justice on thy side should'st thou manage the War against Women Thus he bewailed the supposed death of his Wife but as soon as he heard she was
of his afflicted Condition As soon as the King knew him though he was not ignorant how he had sought his Restauration both by Force and Fraud yet he lovingly embraced him and caused him privately to be conveyed into the City The King pretended he was sick and giving forth that he would dispose of the Affairs of his Realm by his last Will and Testament he called his Nobles together He then signified that he would confer in private with each of them singly and as every Man entred his Chamber he caused him to be laid hold on threatning him with Death if he would not consent to the sparing of his Brother and that he should resign the Throne and Kingdom to him Having by this means gained an universal Assent he then opened the business in the presence of them all together So Archigallus was restored to the Kingdom and he dying in few Years Heliodorus succeeded him with equal Justice and Glory CXXV Rare and memorable was the Love that was betwixt the Vitellii they were named Johannes Camillus Paulus and Vitellorius these four were the Sons of Nicolaus Vitellius a principal Person in the City of Tifernas to whom while he lived they performed all due Obedience He dead all the rest were all ways and in all things obedient to the Commands of their elder Brother and although for the greatness of their Military Virtue they were all in high Reputation amongst them that bare Arms and were Leaders of Armies in Italy and were hired with great Stipends to assist on this or the other side yea tho they were all married and had attained the Name of their Father yet were they not affected with the least Ambition amongst themselves nor was there ever any Breach of Love betwixt them When the eldest of them died the other yielded the Power of Command to him that was next in Age in all things else they were alike in such manner that it is a difficult thing to find such another example of brotherly Love and Concord CXXVI Darius King of the Persians extreamly provoked by Crimes of an extraordinary Nature had pronounced a Sentence of Death upon Ithaphernes his Children and the whole Family of them at once the Wife of Ithaphernes went to the King's Palace and there all in Tears was so loud in her mournful Lamentations that her Cries coming to the King's Ears moved him in such manner to Compassion that the King sent her word that with her own he gave her the Life of any single Person whom she would make choice of among the condemned The Woman begged the Life of her Brother Darius wondred that she should rather ask his Life than the Life of her Husband or any of her Children and therefore asked the Reason who replied That since her Father was dead she could never hope for a Brother more if she should lose this but that her self being but young as yet might hope for another Husband and other Children Darius was moved with this answer and being himself repleat with brotherly Love as well as prudence he gave her likewise the life of her elder Son CXXVII In the division of the Norman Empire Robert promised to his Brother Roger the half of Calabria and all Scicily but when it came to sharing and dividing Robert would give his Brother nothing in Calabria but Meto and Squillaci and bade him the purchase of the Realm which he already began to possess meaning Scicily and in the end resolved as Artaxander wrote to Darius that as the World could not endure two Suns so one Realm could not endure two Sovereign Lords Roger being much displeased herewith made War upon him and after many adventures having taken him Prisoner in a Castle where Robert was unwisely entred in the habit of a Peasant with a purpose to bring it to his own Devotion Roger of a Brotherly love and pity not only saved his life but also restored him to his Estate which by right of War and bring a Prisoner he had lost CXXVIII there was a Souldier in the Camp of On. Pompeius who was in the War with Scitorius perceiving a Souldier on the other side to press hard upon him he fought with him hand to hand and having slain him he went about to strip him of his Arms here it was that he found it was his Brother who had fallen under him which when he discerned having long and much reproached the Gods for their gifts of so impious a Victory to him he carried his dead Brother into the Camp and having covered the Body with a precious Garment he laid the Corps upon the Funeral Pile and put fire to it which done he immediately drew the same Sword wherewith he had slain his Brother he thrust it into his Breast and so falling prostrate upon the dead Body of his Brother they were both burned together CXXIX And now an Example or two of the singular love of some Servants to their Masters and for that purpose tell how Grimoaldus Duke of Benevento was invited by Gondibert King of the Lombards to assist him against Partharis his Brother he came accordingly and having ejected the one he slew the other Brother he came to defend and so made himself King of the Lombards and when he knew that Partharis was retreated to Cacanus Duke of Bavaria he wrought so that he was expelled from thence Partharis not knowing wither to betake himself in safety comes as a Suppliant and commits himself to the Faith of Grimoaldus But he observing that Numbers of the Scicinensians flocked daily to him and fearing lest by the favour of the People he should some time or other recover the Kingdom not regarding his Oath he resolved to make him away and that he might perform it with less noise and tumult he intended first to make him Drunk and then send his Guards to cut his Throat while he lay baried in Wine and sleep This counsel of his was not so privately carried but that it came to the Ear of Partharis he therefore commands his Gup-bearer to give him Water in stead of Wine knowing then he could not indulge his Genius lest his troubled head should prove unmindful of the danger he was in nor could he abstain altogether from drinking lest Grimoaldus's Spies should discover that he had intimation of his intentions The better therefore to colour the matter after large drinking he caused himself to be carried by his Servants into his Chamber as to sleep out his Debauch There he consults with Hunnulphus his most faithful Servant who thought it not safe to go forth since the Servants of Grimoaldus stood at the Gate But in regard necessity compelled and that there was no other way of escape he orders it thus he covers his Head and Shoulders with the Skin of a Bear which was there by chance after the manner of a Rustick and layeth upon his back a Mattriss as if he was a Porter to carry it away and then with good Blows of a
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