pittied her grauitie or suspected her innocence did not cause her to be instantly strangled according to the rigor of her sentence At the importunacie of the daughter he gaue her leaue to visit and comfort her mother but narrowly searcht before her entrance into the prison least shee should carrie with her any food or sustenance to her reliefe rather desiring she should perish by famine and dye that way than himselfe to haue any violent hand in her execution The daughter hauing dayly accesse to the mother who now had past ouer more dayes than the keeper thought was possible by nature and wondering in himselfe how she should draw her thred of life out to that length without any meanes to maintaine it hee casting a more curious eye vpon the young woman and watching her might perceiue how shee first drew out one breast and after another with her owne milke relieuing her mothers famine At the noueltie of so strange and rare a spectacle being amazed he carryed newes thereof to the Triumvir he to the Praetor the Praetor he related it to the Consuls they brought it before the Senate who to recompence what was good in the daughter pardoned all that was before thought ill in the mother For what will not loue deuise or whither true zeale not penetrate What more vnheard or vnexpected thing could be apprehended than for a mother to be fed from the breasts of her daughter Who would not imagine this to be against nature but that we see by proofe true naturall pietie transcends all bounds and limits The like of this we may read of in Plinie of another young marryed woman who when her father Cimon was afflicted with the same sentence and subiect to the like durance prolonged his life from her breasts for which she deserues to be equally memorized Our Parents in no dangers or necessities are to be by vs abandoned and that by the example of Aeneas in whose person Virgil thus speakes as to his father Anchises Aeneid 2. Eia age chare pater ceruici imponere nostrae Ipse subibo numeris nec me labor iste grauabit c. Come my deare father and get vp for see No burthen to my shoulders you can bee No weight at all and hap what can betide One danger or one safetie wee 'l abide Sabellic lib. 3. cap. 6. remembers vs of Rusticana a noble Matron of Rome and the daughter of Synnarchus who with his brother Boetius the famous Philosopher being put to death by Theodoricus king of the Gothes Shee after the Tirants miserable end was the cause that all his Statues in Rome were demollished and ruined purposing vtterly if it were possible to extirpe his memorie that was the inhuman murderer of her father for which fact of hers being called in question before king Totila who succeeded him she was so far from excuse or deniall that she approued the deed with all constancie whose noble magnanimitie resolution prooued more auailable to her saftie than any timerous euasion could haue done for he not only dismissed her vnpunished but highly applauded and commended Fulgos. Sabellicus and Egnatius writing of Alboinus king of the Longobards who at his first enterance into Italie hauing subdued and slaine Turismundus whom some call Cunimundus sonne to Cunimundus king of the Gepidanes and after taken his daughter Rosamunda to wife the Historie sayth hee made a bole of her fathers skull in which one night hauing drunke somewhat lauishly he caused it to be filled with wine and sent to Rosamunda then in her chamber with this message Commend me to my Queene and say I command her to drinke with her father The Ladie though shee knew him to be slaine by the Longobards receiuing his death by a common casualtie and chance of war and by this assuring her selfe that he fell by the hand of her husband betwixt filiall dutie and coniugall loue being for a time destracted the bond of affection towards her father preuailed aboue those nuptiall fetters in which she was tyde to her Lord in so much that to reuenge the death of the one she resolued to take away the life of the other to bring which about she deuised this proiect she had obserued one Hemegildus a noble man amongst the Lumbards to bee surprised with the loue of one of her waiting gentlewomen with whom she dealt so far that when her maid had promised to giue this Hemegildus meeting in a priuate and darke chamber she her selfe supplyde the place of her seruant after which congression she caused lightes to be brought in that he might know with whom he had had carnall companie and what certeine preiudice he had therein incurred protesting withall that vnlesse he would ioyne with her in the death of the king shee would accuse him of rape and outrage The Lumbard to preuent his own disaster vndertooke his soueraignes death which was accordingly betwixt them performed The murder done they fled together to Rauenna she preferring the reuenge of a slaughtered father before the life of a husband the title of a Queene State Soueraigntie or any other worldly dignitie whatsoeuer Something is not amisse to be spoken in this place concerning the loue of mothers towards their children which as Plutarch in his Grec Apotheg saith was excellently obserued in Themistocles Prince of the Athenians who was wont to say That hee knew no reason but that his young sonne whom his mother most dotingly affected should haue more power and commaâ—nd than any one man in Greece whatsoeuer and being demanded the reason hee thus answered Athens sayth he commands all Greece I Themistocles haue predominance ouer Athens my wife ouer-swayes me â—nd my sonne ouer-rules his mother Olympias the mother of Alexander caused Iollaes graue to be ript vp who was Butler to her sonne and his bones to be scattered abroad raging against him in death on whom in his life time shee could not be reuenged on for the death of her sonne to whom this Iollas was said to haue ministred poyson Agrippina the mother of Domitius Nero by all meanes and industrie possible labouring to confirme the Empire vnto her sonne enquired of the Chaldaeans and Astrologers Whether by their calculations they could find if he should liue to be created Caesar who returned her this answer That they found indeed by their Art that he should be Emperour but withall that he should be the death of his mother To whom she answered Inter-ficiat modo Imperet i. I care not though he kill me so I may but liue to see him raigne Sab. lib. 3. cap. 4. The same Author tells vs that in the second Punick warre the Romanes being ouerthrowne with infinite slaughter in the battailes fought at Thrasiamenus Cannas many that were reported to be assuredly dead escaping with life after their funeralls had beene lamented returning home vnexpectedly to their mothers such infinite ioy oppressed them at once that as if sinking beneath too
in despight or disgrace of her first purposed to cast herselfe from Leucate a high promontorie in Epyre downe into the Sea which she after did yet before she would attempt it she first in an Epistle thought by all the allurements of a womans wit to call him backe againe into his countrey which Ouid in her behalfe most feelingly hath exprest And since it lies so fitly in my way for the opening of the Historie I thus giue it English Ecquid vt aspecta est c. I st possible as soone as thou shalt see My charracter thou knowst it comes from mee Or else not reading of the authors name Could'st thou haue knowne from whence this short worke came Perhapes thou maist demand Why in this vaine I court thee that professe the Lyricke straine My lou 's to be bewept and that 's the reason No Barbit number suits this tragicke season I burne as doth the corne-fields set on fire When the rough East winds still blow high and higher Now Phaon the Typhoean fields are thine But greater flames than Aetnaes are now mine No true disposed numbers flow from hence The emptie worke of a distracted sence The Pirhian gyrle nor the Methimnian lasse Now please me not the Lesbians who surpasse Vil's Amithon vile Cidno too the faire So Atthis that did once appeare most rare And hundreds more with whom my sinn's not small Wretch thou alone inioyest the loues of all Thou hast a face and youth too fit for play Oh tempting face that did'st mine eyes betray Take Phoebus Faith vpon thee and his bow And from Apollo who can Phaon know Take hornes and 'bout thy temples wreaths of vine What 's he can say but th' art the god of Wine Phoebus lou'd Daphne Bacchus Gnosis bright Yet neither she nor she could Lyrickes write The nine Muse-sisters of my verse dispose And what my numbers are the whole world knowes Nor can my countrey-man Alcaeus more Than I though he in age stand rank't before Nor though his name sound louder can he raise Or from his Lyre or Country greater praise If niggard Nature haue denide things fit Yet what I want in shape I haue in wit My statur's low but know my name is high And bruited through all regions farre and nigh I am not faire what therein doe I lacke Andromida pleas'd Perfeus yet she blacke The whitest Doues with mingled colours make And the blacke Turtle will the Greene-bird take If none can be thought worthie of thy loue But such as shall thy like in beautie proue Young man despaire thou art for euer free None such ere was none such shall euer bee When first thou readst my Verses thou didst say I onely pleas'd and I was faire that way That I became my phrase and none so well Then did I sing wee louers all must tell And I remember thou 't is still my pride At euery Note didst on my lippes diuide Nay euen those kisses pleas'd thee wondrous well But most of all when I beneath thee fell My wantonnesse contented thee ' boue measure My nimble motion and words apt for pleasure Then when in confus'd rapture we both lay Fulnesse of ioy depriu'd all vse of plaâ— Now the Sicilian girles are thy new spoyle I le be of them and leaue the Lesbian sayle You Nisean mothers and faire daughters bred In Sicilie let him be banished From forth your earth nor let the many Lyes The smoothnesse of his false tongue can deuise Beguile your simple truth what to you â—e Speaks now h' hath spoke a thousand times to me And goddesse Erecina thou that do'st The barbarous rude Sicania honor most Aduise thy Poetesse by thy wit diuine And giue me counsell since thou know'st I am thine Can Fortune in this bitter course still run Vowes she to end those Ills she hath begun Six yeeres are past since my abortiâ—e grâ—nes Mourn'd and my teares wet my dead parents bones My needie brother as a second crosse Dotes on a strumpet suff'ring shame with losse Turn'd Pyrate prooues the Seas with sayle and oare And badly seekes wealth lost as ill before Because my faithfull counsaile that course rated My guerdon is that I by him am hated And least my endlesse torments should find ease My yong irregular daughter addes to these The last and great'st cause why I thus miscarrie Thou art my Barke still sayles with winds contrariâ— Behold my erst well-ord'red Locks mis-plac'd And those that in times past my temples grac'd Neglected are as if they were not mineâ— No precious gemmes vpon my fingers shine My habit 's vile my haire no Crispin weares Nor smell my Locks of sweet Arabian teares Whom should I seeke to please since â—ee's absent That was sole author of mine ornament My soft heart is with easie shafts imprest There 's still new cause to lodge loue in my brest Either because the Sisters three had force When I was borne to spin my thread so course Or this my studies in the Arts constraine Since soft Thalia doth infuse my braine What wonder if a youth of the first chinne Surprise me yeres which man to man might winne I was afraid least faire Aurora thou For Cephalus would'st steale him and I now Am still in feare for surely this had past But that thy first loue holds thee still so fast If Phoebus that spyes all things thee had seene Phaon in lasting slumbers cast had beene Venus had rapt him into heauen by this But that she fear'd Mars would haue made him his Thou that no child and yet scarce man appeares Best age the pride and glorie of thy yeares Returne vâ—to my bosome since of thee I beg not loue but that thou lou'd would'st bee Lo as I write teares from mine eyes amaine Still drop behold how they my paper staine Thy parting had beene gentler in words few Had'st thou but sayd Sweet Lesbian lasse adue Thou took'st with thee no parting kisse no teares I little dream't I was so neere my feares Of thine saue wrong I nothing haue no more Thou let that mooue thee all my loue dost store I gaue thee no command nor had that day Vnlesse some such Do not forget me pray By Loue that neuer can forsake that brest By our nine sacred sisters I protestâ— He 's gone when some but who I know not sayd For a long space both words and teares were stayd Mine eyes had banish't teares and greefe my tongue Through cold my heart vnto my ribs was clung My greefe retyr'd I gaâ— to beat my brest To teare my haire nor blush to walke vndrest Like carefull mothers who with loude exclaimes Beare their dead children to their funerall flames Charaxus walkes by lang hing too and fro And from my extasie his pleasures grow And which more shame vnto my sorrow giues Askes why this woman weepes her daughter liues But Shame and Loue are two the people stare To see my garments torne and brests vnbare Thou
commemorates these Rebecka who when she saw the seruant of Abraham at the Well where she came to draw water and desiring to drinke answered cheerefully and without delay Drinke sir and I will also draw water for thy Cammells till they haue all drunke their fill Genes 24. The Midwiues feared God and did not according to the command of Pharaoh king of Aegypt but preserued the male-children whom they might haue destroyed Exodâ—s 1. The daughter of Pharaoh comming downe to the riuer to wash herselfe with her handmaid and finding the young child Moses in the arke amongst the bulrushes she had compassion on the infant and said Surely this is a child of the Hebrewes so caused him to be nursed brought vp in her fathers court and after adopted him her sonne Exod. 2. Rahab the strumpet when she knew the spies of Ioshua to be pursued and in danger of death concealed them and returned them safe to the armie Iosh. 2. The messengers that were sent to Dauid in the wildernesse to informe him of the proceedings of his sonne Absolon were by a woman hid in a Well which she couered and by that meanes deluded their pursuers Kings 2.17 When two common Women contended before Saloman about the liuing and dead infant the one had a tender and relenting brest and could not indure to see the liuing child to perish Kings 3.3 The widdow woman of Zerephath entertained Eliah as hir guest and by her he was relieued Kings 3. 17. The Shunamitish woman persuaded with her husband that the Prophet Elisaeus might haue a conuenient lodging in her house to go and come at his pleasure Kings 4. 2. When wicked Athalia had giuen strict command to destroy all the Kings seed Iosaba the daughter of King Ioram tooke Ioas one of the Kings children and by hiding him out of the way preserued his life Kings 4. 11. Esther hauing commiseration of her people when a seuere Edict was published to destroy them all and sweepe them from the face of the earth she exposed her selfe with the great danger of her owne life to the displeasure of King Ahashuerosh purchasing thereby the freedome of her nation and her owne sublimitie Esther 4.5 Women ministred to the Sauiour of the world in his way as he went preaching to the towns and cities Luk. 8. when he walked from place to place preaching and teaching he is said neuer to haue had more free and faithfull welcome than in the house of Martha and Marie Luke 10. Iohn 12. When the Scribes and Pharisees blasphemed at the hearing and seeing the Doctrine and Miracles of Christ a certaine woman giuing deuout attention to his words as extasied with his diuine Sermon burst forth into this acclamation Blessed bee the wombe that bore thee and the brests that gaue thee sucke Luke 11. Christ being in Bethania in the house of Simon the leaper as he sate at the table there came a woman with a box of ointment of Spicknard verie costly and she brake the box and poured it vpon his head and when some said disdaining To what end is this wast for it might haue beene sold for more than 300 pence and giuen to the poore Iesus said Let her alone she hath wrought a good worke on me c. and proceeded Verily I say vnto you wheresoeuer this Gospell shall be preached throughout the whole world this also that she hath done shall bee spoken in remembrance of her The woman of Canaan was so full of naturall pittie and maternall pietie that she counted her daughters miserie and affliction her owne when she said to Iesus Haue mercie vpon me oh Lord the sonne of Dauid for my daughter is vexed with an euill Spirit Math. 15. The women stood by to see the Lord suffer and followed the crosse when he was forsaken of his Apostles Luke 23. Iohn 19. they were carefull likewise to visit him in his sepulchre Math. 28. Luke 24. The wife of Pilat had more compassion of Christ and more vnwilling that he should suffer vpon the crosse than any man of whom the Scripture makes mention Math. 27. Marke 16. Iohn 20. For deeds of charitie and dealing almes to the poore and needie widdowes and orphans they intreated Peter weeping that he would visit Tabitha being dead who mooued with their teeres kneeled and praied at whose intercessions she was restored to life Act. Apost 9. Herod hauing slaine Iames the brother of Iohn with the sword and seeing that it pleased the people he proceeded further to take Peter and put him in prison deliuering him to the charge of foure quaternions of souldiers to be kept but the Angell of the Lord appeared to him in the night tooke off his double chaines and led him out of prison who hauing past the first and second watch the yron gate opened to the Angell and him and finding that which he thought to be a vision to be a reall truth he came to the house of Marie the mother of Iohn whose sirname was Marke where many had seperated themselues to praier Peter knocking a maide whose name was Rhode came to the doore who hearing and knowing Peters voice the Scripture saith she opened not the doore for gladnesse but ran in and told them that Peter stood without at the entrie In which are to be obserued two memorable women for their zeale and pietie namely Rhode the handmaid whose ioy was so great at the verie voice of Peter released from the prison of Herod and Mary her mistresse who was a deuout harboresse and one that gladly entertained the Disciples of Christ into her owne house notwithstanding the persecution to performe their zealous and religious exercises Act. Apost 12. Lydia a dier of purple beleeuing the gospell which Paul preached was baptised with her whole household after which she intreated them in these words If thou thinke me worthie saith she to be a faithfull seruant to my Lord and God vouchsafe to enter my house and abide there and she compelled vs as Luke saith By which is concluded that women haue beene the readie willing and deuout hearers of the word of God Act. Apost 16. Many no question zealous and religious women haue to their power striued to imitate those with their best of industrie Amongst others I might instance one now of a great age as hauing much past that number by which Dauid reckons the yeares of man yet from her youth hath lead a life without any noted staine or blemish deuout in her zeale remarkeable in her charitie beloued of all hated of none a Phisitian to the sicke and Chirurgion to the wounded who with her owne hands hath sent more lame and diseased persons from her gate whole and sound than Lazarus had sores about him when he lay at the rich mans gate vnrelieued she feeding with loaues when that purple glutton would not spare his crummes she doing this out of a widowes mite when he would
Queene of Aethiopia Harpalice of the Amazons Hyppolite of Magnesia Teuca of the Illyrians c. Of these in their places Amongst whom let me not be so vnnaturall to her merit or so ingratefull to my countrey thrice blest and diuinelie happie in her most fortunate raigne as not to remember that euer to be celebrated Princesse Elizabeth of late memory Queene of England She that was a Saba for her wisedome an Harpalice for her magnanimitie witnesse the Campe at Tilburie a Cleopatra for her bountie a Camilla for her chastitie an Amalasuntha for her temperance a Zenobia for her learning and skill in language of whose omniscience pantarite and goodnesse all men heretofore haue spoke too little no man hereafter can write too much sacred be still her memorie to vs on earth as her blessed soule liues euer glorified in heauen Her succeeded though not in her absolute Monarchy yet a Princesse of vnspotted fame incomparable clemencie vnmatchable goodnesse and most remarkable vertue Queene Anne whom all degrees honored all nations loued and no tongue was euer heard to asperse with the least callumnie who in her too short eminence heere amongst vs was knowne to be the step of dignitie to many but detriment to none in whom all were glad by whom none had euer the least cause of sorrow vnlesse in the lamented losse of so graue and gratious a princesse And for my owne part gentle and curteous reader let me borrow so much of thy patience that I may vpon this so iust and good occasion remember a long neglected dutie by inserting in this place a few funerall teares vpon her hearse A Funerall Oade vpon the death of ANNA PANARETA NOw Hymen change thy saffron weedes To roabe and habit sable For ioyfull thoughts vse funerall deedes Since nothing's firme or stable This alas we May read and see As in a mappe or printed table It was not at the time of yeare Birds bid the Spring god-morrow Nor when we from the Summer cleare Her warmth and pleasures borrow Nor when full fields Ripe Autumne yeelds That we are thus inuolu'd in sorrow But when the barren earth denyes Fruits to the reapers mowing When Meteors muster in the skyes And no faire fruits are growing When winter cold Dry seare and old His frozen fingers or'e the fire sits blowing When the Sunne scants vs of his heat And Phoebe tempests threateth When Boreas blustring in his seat His frozen pineons beateth And as a King Aboue the Spring The fresh and timely budds defeateth In this great barrennesse were we Our plenty made to smother But what might this rare iewell be A Saint a Queene a Mother An Hester faire A Iudith rare These dead oh point me out another Saue Debora that 's likewise dead Fam'd for her countries freeing But shall we henceforth see or reade Of such another being Oh what a dearth Is now on earth That heare none liues with these agreeing Saba was wise so was our Queene For beautie others famed Some for their vertue crown'd haue beene And in large legends named Who liuing shall Contend in all With her alas shall be but shamed But since our prayses at their best Shorten so farre her merit Leaue her to her eternall rest A glorious Sainted spirit For aye to sing Vnto heauens King Thanks for these ioyes she doth inherit Yet 't is a duty that we owe To giue our griefe expression The greater that our sorrowes grow It shewes the lesse transgression A losse like this T is not a misse That we then leaue to all succession Skyes mourne her death in stormie cloudes Seas weepe for her in brine Thou earth that now her frailtie shroudes Lament though she be thine Onely reioyce Heauen with lowd voyce That you are now become her shrine For this appear'd the Blazing starre Yet fresh in our memory That Christendome both neere and farre Might tell it as a story Great Ioue it sent With an intent Onely to get her to her glory In this Catalogue of Queenes hauing so late remembred the mother how can I forget the daughter she to whom I must giue that attribut which all soldiers bestow vpon her The Queene of women and the best of Queenes whose magnanimitie in war and gentlenes in peace resolution in the one and generous affabilitie in the other haue so sweet a correspondence that when the Canon roared lowd at the gates and the bullet forced a passage euen through the Pallace where she lodged was no more daunted in courage nor dismayd in countenance than when the gentle and soft musicke melodiouslie sounded at the celebration of her espousalls Sacred oh Princely Lady for euer be your memorie and fortunate and happy your hopefull posteritie may your wombe prooue a bed of souldiours and your breasts the nursserie of Kings may the sonnes victories redeeme the losses of the father and the daughters surmount the fertilitie of their mother may your future fortunes be answerable to your former vertues that as you haue the earnest prayers of all good men so you may haue the successe of their wishes which millions that neuer yet saw you desire but all that vnderstand you know you worthilie deserue And to conclude that as you are the last of these in this my Catalogue by order posterity may reckon you the first amongst the Illustrious by merit Of diuers Ladies famous for their Modestie OH thou Chastitie and puritie of life thou that art the ornament as well of man as woman from whence shall I inuoke thee thou diddest first helpe to kindle the sacred fires of Vesta where virginitie was made Religion Thou that was wont to frequent the chambers of great Ladies with sinnelesse and vndefiled hands make the beds of the cittie Matrons and to be obsequious about the Pallats strowed in the countrey cottages where shall I find thee now to direct this my pen in her large and vnbounded progresse or to tutour me so farre that I may know what on this argument thou thy selfe wouldest haue done Liuie Florus Plutarch and others speaking of the wonder of the Roman chastitie Lucresse accuse fortune or nature of error for placing such a manlie heart in the breast of a woman who being adulterated by Sextus Tarquinius after she had sent to her friends and to them complained her iniuries because she would not liue a by-word to Rome nor preserue a despoiled body for so noble a husbands embraces with a knife which she had hid vnder her garment for the same purpose in presence of them all slew her selfe which was after the cause that the Tyrannicall monarchy of Rome was transferd into a Consular dignitie Armenia the wife of Tygranes hauing beene with her husband at a sumptuous banquet made by King Cyrus in his Pallace Royall when euery one extold the maiestie and applauded the goodlinesse of the Kings person at length Tygranes askt his queene what her opinion was of his magnitude and person She answered I can
say nothing sir for all the time of the feast mine eyes were stedfastle â—ixt vpon you my deare husband for what other mens beauties are it becoms not a married wife to inquire Cornelia the wife of Aemilius Paulus when a great lady of Campania came to her house and opening a rich casket as the custome of women is to be friendly one with another shee shewed her gold rings rich stones and iewels and causing her chests to be opened exposed to her view great varietie of costly and pretious garments which done she intreated Cornelia to doe her the like curtesie and to shew her what iewels and ornaments she had stored to beautifie her selfe which hearing she protracted the time with discourse till her children came from schoole and causing them to be brought before her turned vnto the Lady and thus said These be my iewells my riches and delights nor with any gayer ornaments desire I to be beautified Filij bonae indolis parentum lauta supellex Viz. No domesticke necessaries better grace a house than children wittie and well disposed Many haue bin of that continence they haue imitated the Turtle who hauing once lost her mate will euer mourne but neuer enter into the fellowship of another Therefore Ania Romana a woman of a noble familie hauing buryed her first husband-in her youth when her friends and kindred continuallie layd open the sollitude of widdowhood the comfort of societie and all things that might persuade her to a second marriage she answered It was a motion to which she would by no meanes assent for saith she should I happen vpon a good man such as my first husband was I would not liue in that perpetuall feare I should bee in least I should loose him but if otherwise Why should I hazard my selfe vpon one so badde that am so late punisht with the losse of one so good It is reported of Portia Minor the daughter of Cato That when a woman who had marryed a second husband was for many vertues much commended in her presence Peace saith she That woman can neither bee happy well manner'd nor truely modest that will a second time marry But I hold her in this to be too censorious yet the most antient Romans onelie conferred on her the Crowne of modestie and continence that was contented with one matrimonie as making expression of their vncorrupted sinceritie in their continewed widdowhood Especiallie such were most discommended to make choice of a second husband who had children left them by the first resembling their father To which Virgill in the fourth booke of his Aeneid seemes elegantly to allude Dido thus complaining of the absence of Aenaeas Siqua mihi de te suscepta fuisset Ante fugam soboles c. Had I by thee but any issue had Before thy flight some pretie wanton lad That I might call Aeneas and to play And praâ—e to me to driâ—e these thoughts away And from whose smiling countenance I might gather A true presentment of the absent father I should not then my wretched selfe esteeme So altogether lostâ—â—â— I now seeme Plutarch much commends the widdowhood of Cornelia the illustrious mother of the Gracchi whose care hauing nobly prouided for her children familie after the death of her husband she exprest her selfe euery way so absolute a matron that Tiberius Gracchus of whom we spake before was not ill counselled by the gods by preseruing her life to prostrate his owne for she denied to marry with king Ptolomeus and when he would haue imparted to her a diadem and a scepter she refused to be stiled a queene to keepe the honour of a chast widdow Of the like puritie was Valeria the sister Messalar who being demaunded by her kindred and deerest freinds why her first husband dead she made not choice of a second answered that she found her husband Seruius to liue with her still accounting him aliue to her whom shee had euer in remembrance A singular remarkeable sentence proceeding from a most excellent matron intimating how the sacred vnitie in wedlock ought to be dignified namely with the affections of the mind not the vaine pleasures of the body This was proued in the daughter of Democion the Athenian who being a virgin and hearing that Leosthenes to whom she was contracted was slaine in the Lemnian wars and not willing to suruiue him killed her selfe but before her death thus reasoning with her selfe Though I haue a bodie vntoucht yet if I should fall into the imbraces of another I should but haue deceiued the second because I am still married to the first in my heart Not of their minds was Popilia the daughter of Marcus who to one that wondered what should be the reason why all feminine beasts neuer admitted the act of generation but in their time and when they couet issue and woman at all times desires the companie of man thus answered the reason is onely this Because they are beasts The wife of FVLVIVS THis Fuluius the familiar and indeered friend of Augustus Caesar heard him priuatly complaine of the great solitude that was then in his house since two of his grand-children by his daughter were taken away by death and the onely third that remained was for some calumnies publisht against the Emperour now in exile so that he should bee forced to abandon his owne blood and constitute a sonne in law and a stranger to succeed in the Imperiall purple and therefore he had many motions in himselfe and sometimes a purpose to recall the yong mans banishment and to restore him to his fauour and former grace in the court This Fuluius hearing went home and vpon promise of secresie told it to his wife shee could not containe her selfe but makes what speede she can and tells this good newes to the Empresse Liuia Liuia she speeds to Augustus and briefly expostulates with him about the banishment of her grand-child what reason he had not to restore him to his former honors and why he would preferre a stranger before his own blood with many such like vpbraidings The next morning Fuluius comming as his custome was into the Presence and saluting the Emperour Augustus cast an austere looke vpon him and shaking his head sayd onely thus You haue a close brest Fuluius by this he perceiuing his wife had published abroad what he had told her in secret posts home with what speede hee can and calling his wife before him ô woman sayth he Augustus knowes that I haue reuealed his secret therefore I haue a resolution to liue no longer to whom she replied Neither is that death you threaten to your selfe without merite who hauing liued with me so long and knowne my weakenesse and loquacitie had not the discretion to preuent this danger to which you haue drawne your selfe by tempting my frailetie but since you will needs die it shall be my honour to precead you in death which she had no sooner
expectation of the obiect so much desired the messenger is summond who appeares before them with his bagge at his backe or rather vpon his necke he is commanded to discouer this strange creature so often spoken of but till then in that place not seene the sackes mouth is opened out flyes the mastiffe amongst them who seeing so many ougly creatures together thought it seemes he had beene amongst the beares in Paris garden but spying Lucifer to be the greatest and most ill-fauoured amongst them first leapes vp into his face and after flyes at whomsoeuer stood next him The diuels are disperst euery one runnes and makes what shift he can for himselfe the sessions is dissolued the bench and bale-docke cleered and all in generall so affrighted that euer since that accident the very name hath beene so terrible amongst them as they had rather entertaine into their darke and sad dominions tenne thousand of their wiues then any one man who beares the least character of a cuckold But hauing done with this sporting I proceede to what is more serious Of Women remarkeable for their loue to their Husbands IT is reported of the wiues of Wynbergen a free place in Germany that the towne being taken in an assault by the Emperour and by reason the cittisens in so valiantlie defending their liues and honours had beene the ouerthrow of the greatest part of his army the Emperour grew so inplacable that he purposed though mercy to the women yet vpon the men a bloody reuenge Composition being granted and articles drawne for the surrender of the towne it was lawfull for the matrons and virgins by the Emperours edict to carry out of their owne necessaries a burden of what they best liked The Emperour not dreaming but that they would load themselues with their iewels and coyne rich garments and such like might perceiue them issuing from the Ports with euery wife her husband vpon her backe and euery virgin and damsell her father or brother to expresse as much loue in preseruing their liues then as the men had before valour in defending their liberties This noble example of coniugall loue and pietie tooke such impression in the heart of Caesar that in recompence of their noble charitie hee not onely suffered them to depart peaceably with their first burdens but granted euerie one a second to make choice of what best pleased them amongst all the treasure and wealth of the cittie Michael Lord Montaigne in his Essayes speakes onely of three women for the like vertue memorable the first perceiuing her husband to labour of a disease incurable and euery day more and more to languish persuaded him resolutelie to kill himselfe and with one blow to be ridde of a lingring torment but finding him to be somewhat faint-hearted she thus put courage into him by her owne noble example I quoth she whose sorrow for thee in thy sicknesse hath in some sort paraleld thy torment am willing by one death both to giue date vnto that which hath for thy loue afflicted me and thy violent and vnmedicinable torture So after many persuasiue motiues to incourage his fainting resolution she intended to dye with him in her armes and to that purpose least her hold by accident or affright should vnloose she with a cord bound fast their bodies together and taking him in her louing imbraces from an high window which ouerlooked part of the sea cast themselues both headlong into the water As pious an affection shewed that renowned matron Arria vulgarlie called Arria mater because she had a daughter of the name shee seeing her husband Poetus condemned and willing that hee should expire by his owne hand rather than the stroake of the common hangman persuaded him to a Roman resolution but finding him somewhat daunted with the present sight of death she snatcht vp a sword with which she transpierst her selfe and then plucking it from her bosome presented it vnto her husband onely with these few and last words Poete non dolet Hold Poetus it hath done mee no harme and so fell downe and dyed of whom Martial in his first booke of Epigrams hath left this memory Casta suo gladium cum traderet Aria Poeto Quem dedit visceribus traxerat illa suis Si qua fides vulnus quod feci non dolet inquit Sed quod â—u facies hoc mihi Poete dolet When Aria did to Poetus giue that steele Which she before from her owne breast had tane Trust me saith she no smart at all I feele My onely wound 's to thinke vpon thy paine The third was Pompeia Paulina the wife of Seneca who when by the tyrranous command of Nero she saw the sentence of death denounced against her husband though she was then young and in the best of her yeares and he aged and stooping notwithstanding so pure was her affectionat zeale towards him that as soone as she perceiued him to bleed caused her owne vaine to be opened so to accompany him in death few such presidents this our age affordeth Yet I haue lately seene a discourse intituled A true narration of Rathean Herpin who about the time that Spinola with the Bauarians first entred the Pallatinate finding her husband Christopher Thaeon apoplext in all his limbes and members with an inuincible constancie at seuerall iournies bore him vpon hir backe the space of 1300 English miles to a Bath for his recouerie These and the like presidents of nuptiall pietie make me wonder why so many Satyrists assume to themselues such an vnbridled libertie to inueigh without all limitation against their Sex I happened not long since to steale vpon one of these censorious fellowes and found him writing after this manner I wonder our forefathers durst their liues Hazzard in dayes past with such choise of wiues And as we reade to venture on so many Me thinkes he hath enow that hath not any Sure either women were more perfect then Or greater patience doth possesse vs men Or it belongs to them since Eu's first curse That as the world their Sex growes worse and worse But who can teach me Why the fairer still They are more false good Oedipus thy skill Or Sphinx thine to resolue me lay some ground For my instruction good the like is found Mongst birds and serpents did you neuer see A milke white swan in colour like to thee That wast my mistresse once as white as faire Her downie breasts to touch as soft as rare Yet these deepe waters that in torrents meete Can neuer wash the blackenesse from her feete Who euer saw a Dragon richly clad In golden skales but that within he had His gorge stuft full of Venome I behold The woman and me thinkes a cup of gold Stands brim'd before me whence should I but sip I should my fate and death tast from thy lip But henceforth I le beware thee since I know That vnder the more spreading Misceltow The greater Mandrake thrines whose shrieke presages Or ruin or
answered If with one finger thou put out one of mine eyes with these two I will put out both yours This was but wantonnesse betwixt them and appeared better in their action than in my expression and though I speake of a blind King hee lost not his eyes that way Herodotus relates that after the death of Sesostris king of Aegypt his sonne Pherones succeeded in the kingdome who not long after his attaining to the principalitie was depriued of his sight The reason whereof some yeeld to bee this Thinking to passe the riuer Nilus either by inundations or the force of the winds the waters were driuen so farre backe that they were flowed eighteene cubites aboue their woonted compasse at which the king inraged shot an arrow into the riuer as if he would haue wounded the channell Whether the gods tooke this in contempt or the Genius of the riuer was inraged is vncertaine but most sure it is that not long after hee lost all the vse of sight and in that darknesse remained for the space of tenne yeares After which time in great melancholly expired hee receiued this comfort from the Oracle which was then in the cittie Butis That if hee washt his eyes in the vrine of a woman who had beene marryed a full twelue moneth and in that time had in no wayes falsified in her owne desires nor derogated from the honour of her husband he should then assuredlie receiue his sight At which newes beeing much reioyced and presuming both of certaine and sudden cure he first sent for his wife and queene and made proofe of her pure distillation but all in vaine he sent next for all the great Ladies of the Court and one after one washt his eyes in their water but still they smarted the more yet hee saw no whit the better but at length when hee was almost in despaire he happened vpon one pure and chast lady by whose vertue his sight was restored and he plainely cured who after hee had better considered with himselfe caused his wife withall those Ladies sauing she onely by whose temperance and chastitie hee had reobtaind the benefite of the Sunne to bee assembled into one cittieâ— pretending there to feast them honourably for ioy of his late recouerie Who were no sooner assembled at the place called Rubra Gleba apparrelled in all their best iewells and chiefest ornaments but commaunding the cittie gates to be shut vpon them caused the cittie to be set on fire and sacrificed all these adulteresses as in one funerall pile reseruing onely that Lady of whose loyaltie the Oracle had giuen sufficient testimony whom he made the partaker of his bed and kingdome I wish there were not so many in these times whose waters if they were truely cast by the doctors would not rather by their pollution put out the eyes quite than with their cleerenesse and purity minister to them any helpe at all Laodice IVstine in his 37 booke of History speakes of this Laodice the wife and â—ister to Mithridates king of Pontus After whose many victories as hauing ouerthrowne the Scythians and put them to flight those who had before defeated Zopyron a great captaine of Alexanders army which consisted of thirtie thousand of his best souldiours the same that ouercame Cyrus in battaile with an armie of two hundred thousand with those that had affronted and beaten king Philip in many oppositions being fortunately and with great happines stil attended by which he more and more flourisht in power and increased in maiestie In this height of fortune as neuer hauing knowne any disaster hauing bestowed some time in managing the affaires of Pontus and next such places as he occupyed in Macedonia he priuately then retyred himselfe into Asia where he tooke view of the scituation of those defensed citties and this without the iealousie or suspition of any From thence he remooued himselfe into Bythinia proposing in his owne imaginations as if hee were already Lord of all After this long retirement hee came into his owne kingdome where by reason of his absence it was rumoured and giuen out for truth that he was dead At his arriuall he first gaue a louing and friendly visitation to his wife and sister Laodice who had not long before in that vacancie brought him a young sonne But in this great ioy and solemnitie made for his welcome hee was in great danger of poyson for Laodice supposing it seemes Mithridates to be dead as it before had beene reported and therefore safe enough had prostituted her selfe to diuers of her seruants and subiects and now fearing the discouerie of her adulterie shee thought to shaddow a mightie fault with a greater mischiefe and therefore prouided this poysoned draught for his welcome But the king hauing intelligence thereof by one of her handmaides who deceiued her in her trust expiated the treason with the bloods of all the conspirators I reade of another Laodice the wife of Ariarythres the king of Cappadocia who hauing six hopefull sonnes by her husband poysoned fiue of them after she had before giuen him his last infectious draught the youngest was miraculously preserued from the like fate who after her decease for the people punisht her crueltie with death succeeded in the kingdome It is disputed in the greeke Commentaries by what reason or remedy affection once so diuelishly setled in the brest or heart of a woman may bee altered or remooued or by what confection adulterous appetite once lodged and kindled in the bosome may bee extinguished The Magitians haue deliuered it to bee a thing possible so likewise Cadmus Milesius who amongst other monuments of history writ certaine tractates concerning the abolishing of loue for so it is remembred by Suidas iu his collections And therefore I would inuite all women of corrupted breasts to the reading of this briefe discourse following A remarkeable example was that of Faustina a noble and illustrious Lady who though she were the daughter of Antonius Pius the Emperour and wife to Marcus Philosophus notwithstanding her fathers maiestie and her husbands honor was so besotted vpon a Gladiator or common fencer that her affection was almost growne to frensie for which strange disease as strange a remedie was deuised The Emperour perceiuing this distraction still to grow more and more vpon his daughter consulted with the Chaldaeans and Mathematicians in so desperat a case what was best to bee done after long consideration it was concluded amongst them that there was but onely one way left open to her recouerie and that was to cause the fencer to be slaine which done to giue her a full cuppe of his luke-warme blood which hauing drunke off to goe instantlie to bed to her husband This was accordingly done and she cured of her contagious disease That night was as they said begot Antoninus Commodus who after succeeded in the Empire who in his gouernment did so afflict the Commonweale and trouble the Theatre with fensing and prises and
that cause many women in their modestie rather suffered themselues to perish for want of helpe than that any man should bee seene or knowne to come about them Aboue all the Athenians were most curious that no seruant or woman should learne the art of Chyrurgerie There was a damosell of that cittie that was verie industrious in the search of such mysteries whose name was Agnodice but wanting meanes to attaine vnto that necessarie skill she caused her haire to be shorne and putting on the habit of a yong man got her selfe into the seruice of one Heirophilus a Phisitian and by her industrie and studie hauing attained to the deapth of his skill and the height of her own desires vpon a time hearing where a noble ladie was in child-birth in the middest of her painfull throwes she offered her selfe to her helpe whom the modest Ladie mistaking her Sex would by no persuasion suffer to come neere her till she was forced to strip her selfe before the women and to giue euident signes of her woman-hood After which shee had accesse to many proouing so fortunate that she grew verie famous In so much that being enuied by the colledge of the Phisitians shee was complained on to the Ariopagitae or the nobilitie of the Senat such in whose power it was to censure and determine of all causes and controuersies Agnodice thus conuented they pleaded against her youth and boldnesse accusing her rather a corrupter of their chastities than any way a curer of their infirmities blaming the matrons as counterfeiting weakenesse onely of purpose to haue the companie and familiaritie of a loose and intemperate yong man They prest their accusations so farre that the Iudges were readie to proceede to sentence against herâ— when shee opening her brest before the Senat gaue manifest testimonie that she was no other than a woman at this the Phisitians the more incenst made the fact the more henious in regard that being a woman she durst enter into the search of that knowledge of which their Sex by the law was not capable The cause being once more readie to goe against her the noblest matrons of the cittie assembled themselues before the Senat and plainely told them they were rather enemies than husbands who went about to punish her that of all their Sex had beene most studious for their generall health and safetie Their importancie so farre preuailed after the circumstances were truely considered that the first decree was quite abrogated and free libertie granted to women to imploy themselues in those necessarie offices without the presence of men So that Athens was the first cittie of Greece that freely admitted of Mid-wiues by the meanes of this damosell Agnodice Of Women that suffered Martyrdome ANd of these in briefe Corona was a religious woman who suffered martyrdome vnder the tyrannie of Antonius the Emperour Her death was after this manner she was tyde by the armes and legges betwixt two trees whose stiffe branches were forced and bowed downe for the purpose the bowes being slackned and let loose her bodie was tost into the ayre and so cruelly dissâ—uered limbe from limbe Anatholia a Virgin by the seuere commaund of Faustinianus the President was transpierst with a sword Felicula as Plutarch witnesseth when by no persuasion or threats promises or torments she could be forced to renounce the Christian Faith by the command of Flaccus Comes shee was commanded to be shut vp in a Iakes and there stifled to death Murita had likewise the honour of a Martyr who being banished by Elphedorus a certaine Arrian opprest with cold and hunger most miseraby died Hyrene the Virgin because shee would not abiure her faith and religion was by Sisimmius shot through with an arrow The like death suffered the martyr Christiana vnder Iulian the Apostata Paulina a Roman Virgin and daughter to the Prefect Artemius was with her mother Candida stoned to death by the commaund of the tyrant Dioclesian Agatho virgo Catanensis was strangled in prison by the command of the Consâ—ll Quintianus Theodora a Virgin of Antioch was beheaded by the tyrannie of Dioclesian Iulia Countes of Eulalia suffered the same death vnder the President Diaconus Margaritu a maide and a martyr had her head cut off by Olibrius Zoâ— the wife of Nicostratus was nayled vnto a crosse and so ended her life partly with the torture of the gybbet and partly with the smoke that the executioner made at the foot of the gallowes suffocated Iulia Carthagensis because she would not bow to Idolls and adore the false heathen gods but was a constant professor of the true Christian faith was martyred after the selfe same manner Emerita the sister of Lucius king of England who had the honour to be called the first Christian king of this countrie shee suffered for the Faith by fire Alexandria was the wife of Dacianus the President who being conuerted to the Faith by blessed saint George was therefore by the bloodie murderer her husbands owne hands strangled Maximianus the sonne of Dioclesian with his owne hands likewise slew his naturall sister Artemia because that forsaking all Idolatrie shee prooued a conuertite to the true Christian Faith Flauia Domicilla a noble Ladie of Rome was banished into the Isle Pontia in the fifteenth yeare of the raigne of Domitian for no other reason but that shee constantly professed her selfe to bee a Christian. These two following suffered persecution vnder Antonius Verus in France Blondina who is sayd to wearie her tormentors patiently induring more than they could malitiously inflict in so much that before shee fainted they confessed themselues ouercome she readie still to suffer and beare when they had not blows to giue for as oft as she spake these words I am a Christian neither haue I committed any euill she seemed to the spectators of her martyrdome to bee so refreshed and comforted from aboue that she felt no paine or anguish in the middest of her torture and in that patience she continued without alteration euen to the last gaspe Biblis one that before through her womanish weakenesse had fainted for feare of torments comming to see her with others executed was so strengthened to behold their constancie that as it were awakened out of her former dreame and comparing those temporall punishments which lasted but a moment with the eternall paines of Hell fire gaue vp her selfe freely for the Gospels sake Dionisius in an Epistle to Fabius Bishop of Antioch reckons vp those that suffered martyrdome vnder Decius the Emperour Quinta a faithfull woman was by the Infidels brought into a Temple of their Idolls vnto which because she denied diuine adoration they bound her hand and foot and most inhumanly dragged her along the streets vpon the sharpe stones but when that could not preuaile with her they beat her head and sides and bruised them against Mill-stones that done shee was pitiously scourged and lastly bloodily executed The same Lictors layd hands on Appolonia a Virgin
gentlewoman all this while let him alone to see what he would doe and hauing made proofe of him to the full she might verie well perceiue what his vnchast intent was when clinging him close too her least hee should escape vndiscouered She asked what bold sawsie knaue he was that durst offer her that iniurie the young fellow knowing her voice and finding his mistake down on his knees and besought her to pardon him not to tell his maister for he to 〈◊〉 her for one of the maides The maides sayth she which of the maidesâ— hee answered The kitchin-maid and is it so sayth shee well 〈◊〉 I will henceforth preuent the getting of Bastards in my house without knowing who shall father them and for that night sayd no more but the next morning to preuent all future danger pickt a quarell with the kitchin-wench payde her her wages and turned her away It seemes after the yongman did well for shee made him before his time was fully out both her iourneyman and foreman It followes next in course that I should define vnto you what these prostitutes and common women are but what need I trouble my selfe so farre when in these corrupt daies almost euerie Boy of fifteene or sixteen yeres old knowes what a strumpet is better by his own practise than I can illustrate to him by all my reading And for Concubines wee need not trauell so farre as the Turkes Seâ—aglio since but few kings pallaces are without them And for such as wee call Sweet-hearts Friends or Good wenches should we but search noble mens Diaries gentlemens Summer-lodges or cittisens Garden-houses and trauell no further wee should no question find plentie sufficient It would also become this place well to persuade these loose and incontinenâ— women with some elaborat exhortation to retyre themselues from that wicked and abhominable course of life But I am altogether discouraged when I remember the positions of one most notorious in that trade word being brought her as of a strange and vnexpected noueltie That one who had beene a famous strumpet had retyred her selfe from all her leaude courses and was lately turned honestwoman Tush sayth she tell mee that as often as you will I will neuer beleeue it For once a whore and euer a whâ—re I know it by my selfe Of these Plautus thus speakes in Truculento Meretricem ego item esse reor Mare vt est Strumpets are like the Sea which doth deuour Riuers and brookes and what so else you poure Into his vastnesse neither hath it beene Fuller by them nor their great bountie seene So what so ere thou spend'st vpon a whore It doth not make her rich but thee still poore Terentius in Helyra sayth Nee pol-istae metuunt Deos nec hos respicere Deos opinor They feare not God and he regards not them I could produce innumerable adages and sayings of wise men both Poets Hystoriographers to the like purpose but I desire to be prolix in nothing Petronius Arbiter in his Satyricon hath left remembred that when Panachis a gyrle of seuen yeares old was brought to the faire youth Gyton robe strumpeted one wondering that so young a thing was capable of prostitution to him Quartilla the bawde thus answered Minor est ilia quam ego fui cum primum virum passa sum i. Is she lesse than I was when I lost my Virginitie and thus proceeded May Iuno euer be displeased with me if I can remember since I was first a maid for being an infant I commixt my selfe and had congresse with little ones like my selfe and as I grew in yeares so I pickt out children of equall age euen till I came vnto this burden that you now see and hereupon sayth she I thinke came the prouerbe Such may easily be brought to carrie an Oxe that practised at first to carrie a Calfe I thinke the name of Quartilla was giuen her because she began to practise at foure yeares and held on to fourescore From common strumpets I should proceed to priuat mistresses I will begin and end with them in this Sonnet A Sonnet Though my Mistresse seeme in show Whiter than the Pyrene Snow Though I sitly might compare her To the Lyllies or things rarer Christall or to yce congeal'd If those parts that lie conceal'd Be others giuen and kept from mee What care I how faire she bee Though her visage did comprise The glorious wonder of all eyes Captiue led she hearts in chaines Kil'd or cur'd with her disdaines Chus'd Beautie that commandeth fate Her forebeadwhere to keepe her state Should another step in place I care not I 'd not loue that face Imagine next her braine diuine Or mansion for the Muses nine Did her bosome yeeld choise places For the Charites and Graces Had she stately Iunos stileâ— Pallas front or Venus smile If he inioy her and not I For those vertues what care I. Trac't she Loues queene in her treasure And could teach the act of pleasure Make Lais in her trade a foole Phrine or Thais set to schoole To Helen reade or could she doâ— Worth Io and Europa too If these sweets from me she spare I le count them Toyes nor will I care But if my Mistresse constant be And loue none aliue saue me Be chast although but something faire Her least perfection I le thinke rare Her I le adore admire preferre Idolatrize to none but her When such an one I find and trye For her I le care I le liue I le dye Lais. THis Lais as Aristophanes Bizantius relates was a strumpet of Corinth she was called Axine for her ferocitie and rudenesse of manners Her all the prime and noblest Heroes of Greece frequented and extasied with her beautie came dayly in troupes to visit her Athenaeus in his Dipnosoph speakes of her countrey behauiour and sepulchre reporting her to be so beautifull that the most exquisite Painters of Greece came frequently to her and besought her to bare her necke breasts and other parts of her bodie before them For when they were to limne any extraordinarie Piece wherein was to be expressed Iuno Venus Pallas or any well-shaped goddesse or woman her faire feature or lineaments might be their example Shee had a great emulation with Phrine the Courtizan for they liued both in one age Aristippus the Philosopher sirnamed Cyrenaicus about the season that the Feasts were celebrated to Neptune did yeerely for the space of two moneths together associate himselfe with this Lais. Diogenes meeting him vpon a time O Aristippus sayth hee thou keepest companie with a common strumpet be rather a Cinicke of my Sect than a Philosopher of such loose and dissolute behauiour To whom Aristippus answered Appeares it to thee ô Diogenes a thing absurd to dwell in an house which others haue before inhabited who answered No Or to sayle in the same Ship sayth Aristippus in which diuerse passengers haue before-time put to sea Againe hee answered Neither Nor doe I thinke it replyes