Mistresse of Pisistratus 248 Of Nitâ—tis 249 Of Bersaâ—e 250 Of the wife of Candaules 251 Rowan and Estrilda 252 The faire Lady of Norwich 253 Of Calirrhoe daughter to Boetius 256 Of the wiues of Cabbas and Phaillus c. 257 The daughters of Danaus and the sonnes of Aegyptus 259 Of Manto 260 The wife of Agetas c. 261 A Vicars daughter 262 A faire wittie Wench ibid. Of women deformed 264 The Contents of the sixt Booke inscribed Erato Treating of Chast women and Wantons A Discourse concerning Chastitie and Wantonnesse 267 Of Mary the blessed Virgin 271 Of Petronilla the daughter of S. Peter and other chast Virgins 273 Of chast Wiues and first of Penelope 276 The Historie of a woman of Casa Noua 280 Of Edeltrudis Editha and others 282 Of Wantons 284 Of common Strumpets Concubines and priuate Mistresses 285 Of such as merited the name of Honest Whores 286 Of Lais. 289 Of Glicerium alias Glicera others 293 Of Agathoclea 295 Of Cleophis 296 Callipigae Alogunes Cosmartidenes Audia c. 297 Iulia the daughter of Augustus Caesar. 298 Harlotta the mother to William the Conqueror 300 Of diuers Wantons belonging to sundry famous men Poets and others 301 Of famous Wantons 304 Of Mista and others 308 Of Wantons conuerted 312 The Contents of the seuenth Booke inscribed Polihymnia or Memorie Entreating of the Pietie of Daughters Mothers Sisters and Wiues A Discourse concerning Lyes Ieasts and wittie Sayings 313 Of Pious Daughters 319 The loue of Mothers to their Children 321 Friendship betwixt women 323 The loue of Sisters towards their Brothers 324 Of Matrimonie and Coniugall loue 327 Times forbidden in Marriage 328 Ceremonies before Marriage 329 Of Contracts 330 Of Nuptiall Dowers ibid. Of Nuptiall Gifts or Presents ibid. Of Nuptiall Ornaments Pompe Feasts and Epithalamions c. 332 A description of the Bride comming from her Chamber 333 The Bridegroomes first appearing 334 The Nuptiall Offering ibid. The Nuptiall Song 335 The entrance into their Bedchamber ibid. Sacred Auguries and Nuptiall Expiations 337 The Coniugall Loue of Women to their Husbands 339 Of Bawds 343 Of Age. 345 Of women addicted to Gluttonie or Drunkennesse 346 Of women beloued of diuerse creatures 349 Of women excellent in Painting Weauing c. 350 Of women contentious and bloudie 353 Of women strangely preserued from death and such as haue vnwillingly bin the deaths of their Parents 358 Of Clamorous women commonly called Skoulds 360 Of Tullia and her sister 362 Examples of Patience in women 363 Varietie of discourse concerning women 364 The daughters of Apollo ibid. The Syrens ibid. Women that haue dissembled their shape to good purposes or to bad 365 Women that haue changed their Sex 366 The Contents of the eight Booke inscribed Vrania Entreating of Women euery way Learned Of Poetresses and Witches A Discourse of Astrologie 369 Of famous Astrologians 370 Of women Orators that haue pleaded their owne Causes or others 373 Of women studious in Diuinitie 375 Of women excellent in Philosophie and other Learning 377 A discourse of Poetrie 383 Of women excellent in Poetrie 384 Of Minerua and others 387 Of Sapho 388 Of Cleobule Lindia other Poetesses 394 Of Telesilla Poetria 396 Of Perhilla c. ibid. A discourse of Witches 399 How the Deuill rewards his seruants 400 The wretched ends of sundry Magicians ibid. Seuerall sorts of superstitious Iugling 401 Of Cyrce Medea and other Witches remembred by the Poets 403 Of Witches transported from one place to another by the Deuill 406 Of Witches that haue either changed their owne shapes or transformed others 409 Lycantropia 410 A Piper transformed into an Asse 411 Other miraculous transformations ibid. Of shee Deuils 412 A Witch of Amsterdam 414 A Witch of Geneua 415 Examples of strange kinds of Witchcraft 416 Witches called Extasists 417 Diuerse things to be obserued in Witches 419 The Contents of the ninth Booke inscribed Calliope Entreating of Women in generall with the Punishments of the Vitious and Rewards due to the Vertuous interlaced with sundry Histories A Discourse of Death 419 Of women rauished 421 Of Handmaids Nurses Midwiues and Stepdames 424 The punishment of Incest in the sister of Leucippus 429 The punishment of Adulterie 432 Sisters that haue murthered their Brothers 434 The punishment of Fratricides 435 Of Mothers that haue slaine their Children and Wiues their Husbands ibid. Punishment due to Regicides 436 Punishment of vniust Diuorce 437 Whoredome punished 438 Loquacitie punished 439 Lying punished ibid. Periurie punished 440 Prodigalitie and Excesse punished 441 Witchcraft punished 444 Honor and Reward due to Fortitude 449 Honor and Reward due to Temperance 450 Reward due to Fertilitie or many Children illustrated in diuerse Histories 451 Of Beautie and the Reward thereof 453 A Conuertite rewarded 458 Of Cura or Care 462 Rewards due to women Philosophers Orators or Poetesses 463 FINIS TABVLAE NINE BOOKES OF VARIOVS HISTORIE ONELIE concerning Women Inscribed by the names of the nine Muses The first booke which is CLIO treating of the Goddesses Coelestiall Terrestriall Marine and Infernall BEFORE wee enter into a particular tractate of these Goddesses it shall not bee amisse to speake something of the opinions setled in sundry Nations concerning them Who were their first Adorers and Worshippers the multiplicitie of their gods and what seuerall rights and customes obseruations and Ceremonies they vsed in their Oblations and Sacrifices The Aethiopians are said to bee the most ancient and the first beginners of Diuine adoration as Diodorus is of opinion Imagining in themselues and verely beleeuing some of their gods to bee euerlasting and others to participate of a mortall and corruptible nature The Phoenicians they deliuered admirable and strange things concerning their gods and the first beginning and Creation of things aboue all others hauing in Diuine worship Dagona and Chamas The Atlantides a people of Affrica they are confident that the generation of the gods proceeded from them and the first that raigned amongst them they called Coelum which is heauen The Augitae another nation in the Affricke Continent acknowledged no other deityes than the Ghosts of such noble persons as were deceased to whose sepulchers they vsuallie repayred to demand answers of all such things wherein they doubted The Theologie of the Phrygians was not much different from theirs The Persians neither erected Statues nor Altars they worshipped the Heauen which they called Iupiter the Sunne by the name of Mithra the Moone Venus the Fire the Earth the Winds and the Water Isiodorus saith the Graecians first honoured Cecrops whom they stiled Iupiter and were the first deuisers of Images erecters of Altars and offerers of sacrifice The Iewes as Cornelius Tacitus relates apprehended but one diuine power and that onely they acknowledged The Germans of old as the same author affirmes were of opinion That the gods could not bee comprehended within walles nor haue any humane shape appropriated vnto them measuring their incomprehensible power by the magnitude of the heauens Now
incertaine course they were driuen neere vnto Paâ—is Epitherses with manie of the other passengers being then awake â— voice was heard from the Island which to the admiration of them all called vpon the name of one Thamus this Thamus was an Aegyptian and his name scarce knowne to any in the ship twice he was cald but aunswered not but at the third summons breaking scilence these wordes with a loude voice were vttered Thamus greatâ—an â—an is dead Epitherses reported that these words put them into an vniuersall feare diuerse arguments being held amongst them and it being long disputed Whether it were necessarie that this command should be performed or omitted But Thamus thus resolued that if the wind stood faire he would not alter his course but passe the Island but otherwise he would deliuer the message according as he was inioyned Comming neere the Palodes their sayles were on the suddaine becalmed for neither wind was felt to blow nor tyde or water perceiued to mooue whith he perceiuing turned himselfe towards the Island and made this lowd acclamation The great god Pan is dead which words were no sooner vttered but a great intermixture of howling yelling and mourning was heard from the Island to the infinite amasement of them all This was done in the presence of so many witnesses that the rumor thereof spread so farre as Rome euen to the eares of Tyberius Caesar by whom Thamus being sent for he related the circumstance in the presence of the Emperour and many learned men all which concluded that this Pan before spoken of was the same who was held to be the sonne of Mercury and Penelope The truth is and agreed vpon by all approoued authours that at the birth of Christ all Oracles ceased and since that time were neuer heard to giue answer vnto any demand whatsoeuer And thus I take leaue of the second Sybill Phoemonoe SYBILLA DELPHICA SHe was called Daphne and said to be the daughter of the Prophet Tyresias many of whose verses Homer is said to assume to himselfe and make them his owne She prophesied of the warres and destruction of Troy Tyrasius was king of Thebes who as some say was strucke blind because he vnawares saw Diana naked bathing her selfe in a fountaine Of whom Ouid speakes in Metamorph. At pater omnipotens c. Omnipotent Ioue did for his losse of eyes Inspire him with the spirit of Prophesies Things future to predict which was I guesse To make his plague seeme in his honour lesse Of him Statius likewise speakes in the second booke of his Thebaiedes Some thinke Daphnis the neateheard who was the first inuenter of the Bucolick verse to be her brother he as Sindus and Vollateranus both auerre was strooke blind because he adulterated a woman in his drunkennesse the circumstance is so set downe by Aelianus He was the darling of Mercury and no sooner borne but laid out vnder a Lawrell tree the kine which he fed were said to be the sisters of the Sunne for so Homer in his Odissaea relates In his flower of youth he was beloued of a beautifull nymph who grew enamoured of him in Sicilia with whom he made a couenant That if euer he cast himselfe into the embraces of any second loue he desired of the Fates that his eyes might for euer loose the benefit of the Sunne Not long after the Kings daughter fell in loue with him whom hee vitiated in the heat of his wine and grew blind soone after Some make him the inuentor of the Beucolicks which others confer vpon Stesichorus Himeraeus But touching Daphne thus Palephatus in his fabulous Narrations speakes of her Terra or the Earth fell in loue with the flood Ladon of their mutuall compression Daphne was begot of her Apollo grew inamoured and layd daylie siege to her chastitie but shee not able to oppose his importunities and willing to preserue her virginitie pure and without blemish petitioned to her mother Earth That she would againe receiue her to conceale her from the Sunne into her bosome from whence shee at first proceeded to whose request her mother condiscended and kept her so long till from her brest shee sprong out a Laurell tree whom Phoebus notwithstanding courted but in vaine The manner of her transportation Ouid with great elegancie relates in his Metamorph. Without this Laurell as some thinke the Tripos in Boetia plac't neere the vaticinating caue cannot be erected All writers confirme a her Sybell and a Prophetesse belonging to the Delphian Oracle howsoeuer the Poets haue fabled Her prophesie was to this purpose An Angell shall descend and say Thou blessed Marie haile Thou shalt conceiue bring foorth yet be A Virgin without faile Three gifts the Chaldaeans to thy sonne Shall tender with much pietie Myrrhe to a Man Gold to a King And Incense to a Deitie SIBILLA CVMAEA SHe was called Cimmeria and was one of Apollo's Priests borne in Cuma a citie of Aeolia Leonard Aretine in his booke de Aquila volante calls her Omeria and would deriue her from Italie Herodotus in his first booke hath left this historie recorded That Pactias the Persian flying for refuge into the citie Cuma hee was demaunded thence by Mazares the great generall but the Cumaeans would not deliuer him vp without aduise from the Oracle There was in those daies an antient and much adored altar sacred to Apollo to which the Aeolaes and the Ionians in all their hesitations repaired for counsell it was scituate in the Milesian fields neere to the port called Panormus to this place were sent men both of birth and trust to demand from the Cumaeans Whether Pactias should bee deliuered vnto the Persians who answered Let him be surrendered vp which when the men of Cuma heard they with a ioynt sufferage concluded to send him thence and to obey the Oracle To which decree Aristodicus the sonne of Heraclius violently opposed himselfe a man amongst the rest at that time most illustrious either not giuing credit at all to the answere or distrusting their fidelitie that brought it therefore hee himselfe with other of the prime citisens prepared themselues for a second expedition these repairing to the Branchidae or Priests of which this Cumaea was one Aristodicus humblie kneeling before the altar thus bespake Apollo Pactyas the Lidian oh king and god to shunne a violent death gaue himselfe into our patronage the Persians redemaund him of the Cumaeans we though we feare not their forces yet dare not surrender vp a suppliant to death who hath tendred his safetie into our hands till wee heare from thee what in this destraction is most fit to be done To these words the Priest as from Apollo returned this answere Let Pactias be deliuered vp to the Persians This done Aristodicus it seemes not well pleased to betray the life of his friend surueying the Temple round he spyde where sparrows and other small birds had builded their neasts who taking away their young was about to
houre so did the mother who came thither on purpose to reforme her sonne but he being hot and too forward in the action and she ouercome either by the inticements of the diuell the weakenesse of her Sex or both gaue herselfe vp to Incestuous prostitution the young man knowing no otherwise but that hee had inioyed the maid Of this wicked and abhominable congression a woman child was begot of whom the mother to saue her reputation was secretly deliuered and put it out priuately to nourse but at the age of seuen yeares tooke it home When this child grew to yeares the most infortunate sonne fell in loue with his sister and daughter and made her his vnhappie wife what shall I thinke of this detestable sinne which euen beasts themselues abhor of which I will giue you present instance Aristotle in his historie Annimal who was a diligent searcher into all naturall things affirmes that a Cammell being blinded by his keeper was brought to horse his damme but in the action the cloth falling from his eyes and he perceiuing what he had done presently seised vpon his keeper and slew him in detestation of the act he had committed and to reuenge himselfe vpon him that had betraied him to the deed The like the same author reports of a horse belonging to a king of Scythia who could by no meanes be brought to couer his damme but being in the same fashion beguiled and the cloath falling away and perceiuing what hee had done neuer left bounding flinging and galloping till comming vnto an high rocke hee from thence cast himselfe headlong into the sea If then this sinne be so hatefull in bruite beasts and vnreasonable creatures how much more ought it to be auoided in men and women and which is more Christians Cyborea the mother of Iudas Iscariot THis that I now speake of is remembred by Ranulphus Monke of Chester Ierome and others There was a man in Ierusalem by name Reuben of the Tribe of Isachar his wife was called Cyborea The first night of their marriage the woman dreamed that she was conceiued of a sonne who should bee a traytour to the Prince of his owne people she told it to her husband at which they were both sad and pensiue The child being borne and they not willing to haue it slaine and yet loath to haue it prooue such a monster to his owne nation they in a small boat cast it to sea to try a desperate fortune this vessell was driuen vpon an Island called Iscariot where the Queene of that place had then no child This babe being found she purposed to make it her owne and put it to be nobly nurced and educated calling his name Iudas and Iscariot of the Island where he was taken vp But not long after shee was conceiued of a sonne who prouing a noble and hopefull gentleman Iudas whose fauour in court began to wane and his hope of inheritance which but late flourisht now quite to wither he plotted against his life and priuately slew him but fearing least the murder might in time bee discouered and hee compeld to suffer according to the nature of the fact hee fled thence to Ierusalem where he got into the seruice of Pontius Pilatus and found meanes to be protected by him being then in the cittie deputie gouernour for the Romans Iudas because their dispositions were much of one condition grew into his especiall familiaritie and fauour The Pallace of Pilot hauing a faire bay window whose prospect was into Reubens Orchard he had a great appetite to eate of some of those ripe apples which shewed so yellow and faire against the sunne This Iudas vnderstanding promist him to fetch him some of that fruit and mounting ouer the orchard wall he was met by his father who rebuking him for the iniurie Iudas with a stone beat out his braines and vnseene of any conueyed himselfe backe Reubens death was smothered and the murderer not knowne Cyborea being a rich widdow Pylate made a match betwixt her and his seruant Iudas who being marryed to his mother was now possest of his owne fathers inheritance Not long this incestuous couple had liued together but Cyborea being vpon a time wondrous sad and melancholy and Iudas demanding the cause she began to relate to him her many misfortunes First of her dreame then of her sonne in what manner he was put to sea then how she lost her husband being slaine and the murderer not found and lastly how by the authoritie of Pilat she was now compeld to match against her will who had protested to her selfe a lasting widdowhood By these circumstances Iudas most assuredly knew that he had slaine his father and had marryed his mother which acknowledging to her she persuaded him to repent him of these great euills and to become a Disciple of Iesus who was then an eminent Prophet amongst the Iewes It shall not be amisse to speake a word or two of Pilate It is said that a king whose name was Tyrus begat him on a Millers daughter Pyla whose father was called Atus who from his mother and grandfather was called Pylatus at foure yeares of age he was brought to his father who by his lawfull wife had a prince iust of the same age These were brought vp together in all noble exercises in which the prince hauing still the best Pylat awaited his opportunitie and slew him loath was the king to punish him with death least he should leaue himselfe altogether Issulesse therefore hee sent him an hostage to Rome for the payment of certaine tribute which was yearly to be tendred into the Roman treasurie Liuing there as hostage he assotiated himselfe with the son to the king of France who lay pledge in Rome about the like occasion and in a priuate quarrell was also slaine by Pylat The Romans finding him of an austere brow and bloodie disposition made him gouernour of the Island called Pontus the people were irregular and barbarous whom by his seueritie he reduced to all ciuill obedience for which good seruice he was remooued to Ierusalem bearing the name of Pontius from that Island there hee gaue sentence against the Sauiour of the world Tiberius Caesar being then Emperour was sicke of a grieuous maladie who hearing that in Ierusalem was a Prophet who with a word healed all infirmities whatsoeuer hee sent one Volutianus to Herod to send him this man but Christ was before condemned and crucified There Volutianus acquainted himselfe with one Veronica a noble Ladie of the Iewes who went with him to Rome and carried with her the lynnen cloth which still bore the impresse and likenesse of Christs visage vpon which the Emperour no sooner looked but he was immediately healed The Emperour then vnderstanding the death of this innocent and just man caused Pylat to be brought to Rome who being called before Caesar the historie saith he had at that time vpon him the roabe of our Sauiour which was called Tunica
many other bloody butcheries that he much better deserued the name of Gladiator than Emperour This that I haue related Iulius Capitolinus writes to Caesar Dioclesianus Were all our dissolute matrons to be cured by the like Phisicke there would no question be amongst men lesse offendors and among women fewer patients that complained of sicke stomackes Phaedima CAmbises hauing before vnnaturally slaine his brother Smerdis by the hands of his best trusted friend Praxaspes but after the death of the king for the horridnes of the fact the Regicide not daring to auouch the deed to the people least it might preiudice his owne safetie One Smerdis a Magician whose eares Cambises had before caused to be cut off tooke this aduantage to aspire to the kingdome and beeing somewhat like in fauour to the murdered Prince who was by the souldiours generally beleeued to liue it purchast him so many abettors such as were deluded with his impostures that he was generally saluted and crowned Emperour This was done whilest the greatest part of the Nobilitie were absent and none since admitted into the pallace much lesse into the presence least the Magitian might bee vnviserded and the deceit made palpable The greater feares and doubts still inuironing the Princes because Praxaspes not daring to iustifie the murder kept it still lockt in his own breast The Magitian in this interim was not onely possest of all the Kings Pallaces and Treasures but he inioyed all his wiues and concubines amongst which was a beautifull Lady called Phaedima the daughter of Otanes a man of great power amongst the Persians This Lady first of all the rest most indeered to Cambyses and now since to the counterfeit Smerdis Otanes apprehends to bee the first instrument by which to discouer the truth He therefore by a secret messenger sends to his daughter to know by whom she nightly lay whether with Smerdis the sonne of Cyrus or with some other to whom she answered that it was altogether vnknowne to her who was her bedfellow because shee yet had neither seene Smerdis the sonne of Cyrus nor that man whatsoeuer he was into whose imbraces she was commanded He then sent her word that if she her selfe could not come to the sight of him to demaund of Atossa the daughter of Cyrus and brother to Smerdis who doubtlesse could decipher him in euery true lineament To which the daughter returnes him That she was separated both from the societie and sight of Atossa for this man whatsoeuer he is as soone as hee had possest himselfe of the Empire commanded all the women into seuerall lodgings neither could they haue any discourse or intercourse at all together This answer made Otanes the more and more suspitious and desirous with any danger to finde out the truth he aduentured a third message to Phaedima to this purpose It behooues you ô daughter being descended from noble ancestours to vndergoe any hazzard especially at the request of your father when it aimes at the generall good of the common-weale and kingdome if that imposter bee not Smerdis the brother of Cambises as I much feare it becoms him neither to prostitute and defile your body nor to mocke and abuse the whole estate of Persia vnpunished therefore I charge you as you tender my loue your owne honour and the Empires weale that the next night when you are called vnto his bed you watch the time when he is soundliest asleepe and then with your fingers gently feele both the sides of his head if thou perceiuest him to haue both his eares presume then thou lodgest by the side of Smerdis the sonne of Cyrus but if on the contrary thou findest his eares wanting then thou lyest in the bosome of Smerdis that base Magitian To this she replyed by letter Though I truely apprehend the danger should I be taken seeking of such things as hee perhaps knowes wanting which can be no lesse than death yet for your loue and the common good I will vndergoe the perill and with this briefe answer gaue satisfaction to her father But greater content he receiued from her when hauing discouered and layd open whatsoeuer her father suspected she sent him a faithfull relation of euery circumstance These things discouered by Phaedima Otanes makes a coniuration amongst the Princes all vowing the supplantation of this vsurper who in the interim the more to confirme the people in their errour he sent to Praxaspes promising him honours and treasures but to pronounce him once more before the people to bee the true and legitimate heire This charge Praxaspes vndertakes the multitude from all parts of the cittie were by the Magi assembled and he mounted vnto the toppe of an high Turret the better to be heard silence being made and attention prepared Praxaspes begins his oration in which hee remembers all the noble acts of Cyrus with the dignitie of his blood and progenie and passing ouer Cambises to come to speake of his brother Smerdis contrary to the expectation of the Magitian with teares began to commemorate the death of the Prince murdered and made away by his infortunate hand Then told them whom in his stead they had voyced into the Sacred Empire namely a groome and one of low and base descent one that for cousenages and forgeries had lost his eares a Magitian a Coniurer one that had long deluded them with his diuelish sorceries a slaue not worthy at all to liue much lesse to raigne and gouerne so noble a people and as a further confirmation that dying men speake true these words were no sooner ended but he casts himselfe off from the toppe of the Turret and slew himselfe After this the Pallace was assaulted by the Princesse the imposter slaine and all his adherents put to massacre Of the sequel of the history the succession of Darius c. you may further reade in Herodotus But concerning Phaedima onely for whose sake I haue introduced the rest I know not whether I haue indirectly brought her into this catalogue because she was so noble a meanes of so notable a discouerie yet considering she was one of the wiues of Cambises and he being dead so suddenly changing her affection to another and after being inioyed by him of what condition soeuer to betray him all these circumstances considered I giue hir free liberty to bee ranked amongst the rest Begum Queene of Persia. ABdilcherai a braue and valiant Prince of Tartaria taken prisoner by Emirhamze Mirize eldest sonne to the king of Persia in a battaile betwixt the Persians and Tartarians was sent to the king into Casbia where his captiuity in regard of his birth and valour was so easie that hee rather seemed a denison than a forreiner a Prince of the blood than a captiue hee not long soiourned there but he insinuated himselfe into the loue of the Queene Begum wife to the then king of Persia who spent their time together in such publike daliance not able to containe themselues within
fire Vpon whose smooth brow cannot â—it a frowne She can make flints seeme feathers bare boords downe I will now trouble thy patience gentle Reader with a discourse that hath in it more mirth than murther and more sport than spight and yet a touch of both A mad fellow newly married had onely one yong child by his wife of some quarter old whom he deerely and tenderly loued as being his first but he was much giuen to good fellowship and shee altogether addicted to sparing and good huswiferie still when he vsed to come merrie from the tauerne where he had beene frollicke with his boone companions she being as sparing of his purse as prodigall of her tongue for she was little better than a skold would often vpbraide him with his expences that what hee wasted at the Tauerne were better bestowed at home that he spent both his mony time and that being so often drunke it was preiudiciall both to his bodie and estate with many such matron-like exhortations but alwaies concluding her admonitions with a vow That if euer he came home againe in that pickle shee would happen what could come fling the child into the moat for the house was moated about It hapned about some two daies after that he reuelling till late in the euening in a cold frostie winters night and she hauing intelligence by her scouts where he was then drinking and making no question but he would come home flustred she commanded her maide to conueigh the infant to the further part of the house and to wrap the cat in the blankets and put it in the cradle and there to sit and rocke it presently home comes the husband shee falls to her old lesson and beginnes to quarrell with him and he with her Ill words begot worse and much leaud language there was betwixt them when the woman on the sudden stepping to the cradle hauing spyde her aduantage I haue long sayth she threatned a mischiefe and that reuenge I cannot worke on thee come dogs come diuells I will inflict vpon the brat in the cradle and instantly snatching it vp in her armes ran with it to the moate side and flung it into the middle of the water which the poore affrighted man following her and seeing leauing to pursue her and crying saue the child ô saue the child in that bitter cold night leapt vp to the elbowes in water and waded till hee brought out the mantell and with much paine comming to the shore and still crying alas my poore child opened the cloathes at length the frighted cat crying mewe being at libertie leapt from betwixt his armes and ran away the husband was both amased and vexed the woman laught at her reuenge and retyred her selfe and the poore man was glad to reconcile the difference before she would yeeld to allow him either fire or dry linnen Considering this me thinkes it was not amisse answered of a gentleman who being persuaded by a friend of his not to marry with such a gentlewoman to whom hee was a suitor his reasons alleadged were because she had no quicke and voluble tongue neither was she of any fine witte or capacitie to whom he instantly replyde I desire to haue a woman to bee my wife that shall haue no more tongue to answer mee to a question than yea or nay or to haue more wit than to distinguish her husbands bed from another mans Another woman hauing a husband who customably came drunke home and shrinking from his stoole or chaire would oft fall vpon the floore and there lie along stil when she cald him to bed he would answer her Let me alone the tenement is mine owne and I may lye where I list so long as I pay rent for the house Some few nights after comming home in the like tune and sitting asleepe in a chaire before the chimney his wife being gone to bed presently the man falls into the fire the maide cryes out to her Mistresse Oh mistresse my master is falne and lyes in the fire euen in the midst of all the fire shee lay still and turning her on the other side sayd so long as hee payes rent for the house he may lye where he please But to more serious businesse for I haue now done sporting Of English Viragoes And of Ioan de Pucil OF Guendoline the wife of king Locrine and daughter to Corinaeus duke of Cornwall I shall take more occasion to speake at large in the discourse of the beautifull Estreld Elphleda was sister to king Edward before the conquest sirnamed the fourth she was wife to Etheldredus duke of Mercia who assisted her husband in the restoring of the citie of Chester after it had beene destroyed and demolished by the Danes encompassing it with new walls he was generall to the king in all his expeditions against the Danes in the last battaile that he fought against them at a place cald Toten Hall in Staffordshire hee gaue them a mightie auerthrow but a greater at Wooddensfield where were slaine two kings two Earles and of the souldiours many thousands which were of the Danes of Northumberland In this battaile were the king and Elphleda both present Soone after this victorie Etheldredus dyed and she gouerned many yeres after him in all Mercia or middle England except in the two cities of London and Oxford which the king her brother reserued to himself She builded many cities and townes and repayred others as Thatarne Brimsbury the bridge vpon Seuerne Tamwoorth Liechfield Stafford Warwicke Shrewsbury Watrisbury Edisbury in the Forrest besides Chester which is since vttery defaced and destroied Also shee built a cittie and a castle in the North part of Mercia which then was cald Runcofan and after Runcorn Thus farre Ranulphus William de regib with others giue her this noble character This Lady hauing once assayde the throwes of childbirth would neuer after bee drawne to haue any carnall societie with her husband alleaging that it was not sitting or seemely for a woman of her degree being a princesse a kings daughter and a kings sister to inure herselfe to such wanton embraces wherof should ensue so great paine and sorrow She tamed the Welchmen and in many conflicts chased the Danes after whose death the king tooke the prouince of Mercia intirely into his owne hand disinherited her daughter Elswina whom he led with him into West-Saxon Henricus lib. 5. hath left this Epitaph as a memoriall ouer her Tombe Oh Elphlede mightie both in strength and mind The dread of men and victoresse of thy kind Nature hath done as much as nature can To make thee maide but goodnesse makes the man Yet pittie thou should'st change ought saue thy name Thou art so good a woman and thy fame In that growes greater and more worthie when Thy feminine valour much out-shineth when Great Caesars acts thy noble deeds excell So sleepe in peace Virago maide farewell Much to this purpose hath Treuisa expressed
vsher in the Worke especially being so much and so long conuersant amongst the Poets which is able to discourage a Booke wanting their approbation and countenance Let that I entreat be no preiudice to my Labours since I did not communicate them vnto any And how can any man truly commend what he hath not aduisedly perused Neither doe I thinke I am so little knowne or ill beloued amongst them that any one would haue denyed me so small a courtesie But being onely a matter of forme and neither helpe nor hinderance to that which hath alreadie past the Presse I expose it naked to the free view and vnguarded with any such faction of friends either by the worth thereof to be commended and so liue or by the weakenesse to be disparaged and so perish And these are all the difficulties of which I am now to expostulate desiring thee to excuse a suddaine Businesse which began with the Presse kept it still going and ended some few dayes before it These things well considered may in any generous spirit preuent all Cauill and Criticisme and to such onely I submit my selfe Thine who for thy sake desires to be still industrious T. H. AN INDEX OR TABLE of Nine Bookes of Various Historie onely concerning Women inscribed by the Names of the Nine MVSES The Contents of the first Booke intituled Clio Treating of the Goddesses Celestiall Terrestriall Marine and Infernall c. A Proeme of the seuerall opinions of all the antient Philosophers concerning the Deitie Fol. 1 Of the Goddesses Celestiall and first of Iuno 5 Of Sybil. 7 Of Venus 8 Of Minerua 10 Of Diana 15 Of Ceres 16 Of Proserpina 18 Of Nemesis 19 Of Latona 20 Of Fortune 22 Of the Goddesses called Selecta 25 Of the Goddesse Rhaea 29 Of Isis or Io. 30 Of Ate. 31 Of Pandora 32 Of the Marine Goddesses 33 Of Amphetrite ibid. Of Thesis or Tethies 34 Of the Nereides 36 Of the daughters of Triton 37 Of the wiues and daughters of Proteus 38 Of the daughters of Phoreis 39 Of Scilla and Charibdis 40 The Goddesses of Hills Woods Grouâ—s and Trees c. 42 Of the Oreades 43 The Driades and Hamadriades 44 Of the Goddesses Infernall 45 Of the Furiae or Eumenides 46 An abstract of all the Fables in the fifteene bookes of Ouids Metamorphosis as they follow in the Poeme 48 The Contents of the second Booke inscribed Euterpe Treating of the Muses Sybils Vestals Prophetesses Hesperides the Graces c. A Discourse concerning the Muses 57 Of Clio. 61 Of Euterpe 63 Of Thalia 65 Of Melpomene 66 Of Terpsichore 68 Of Erato 70 Of Polymnia or Polyhimnia 71 Of Vrania 73 Of Calliope 74 A discourse of the Sybils 76 Sybilla Perfica and her Prophesies 79 Sybilla Lybica and her Prophesies 81 Sybilla Delphica and her Prophesies 82 Sybilla Cumaea and her Prophesies 83 Sybilla Samia and her Prophesies 85 Sybilla Cumana and her Prophesies 86 Sybilla Hellespontiaca her Prophesies 88 Sybilla Phrygia and her Prophesies 89 Sybilla Europaea and her Prophesies 90 Sybilla Tiburtina and her Prophesies 91 Sybilla Aegyptia and her Prophesies 93 Sybilla Erithraea and her Prophesies 94 A discourse of the Virgin Vestals 95 Of Oppia Claâ—dia Fonteia Martia c. 97 Of the Prophetesses 99 The Historie of a great Magician 101 Of the Hesperides 103 The Pleiades or Hyades and why of the seuen Starres but six appeare at once 105 106 Of the Graces 106 Of the Howres 108 Of Aurora or the Morning 109 Of the Night 112 Of Sleepe 114 Of Death ibid. The Contents of the third Booke inscribed Thalia Treating of Illustrious Queenes famous Wiues Mothers Daughters c. A Discourse concerning Illustrious Women 118 How kissing first came vp ibid. Of three gentlemen and their wiues 121 Of Illustrious Queenes 122 A Funerall Ode vpon the death of Anna Panareta 123 Of diuerse Ladies famous for their Modestie 125 The wife of Fuluius 127 Of Aretaphila 128 Of Pieria Aspasia c. 130 The memorable Historie of Odatis 133 Of Aristomache Hyppo and Chiâ—mara c. 135 Of Tertia Aemilia Turia Sulpitia Iulia and Portia 136 Of Horestilla Artimesia and Hormisda 137 Of Queene Ada and Zenocrita 138 Of the wife of Pythes 139 Of the wife of Nausimenes 140 Of Ciano Medullina and Erixo 141 A woman of the citie Pergamus 142 Of Stratonica Valeria and Claelia 143 Of Olimpias and the Troades 144 Of the Phocides women of Chios 145 Of the Persides Celtae Melitae and Tyrrhaenae 147 Examples of Modestie and Magnanimitie 148 Of Dido Caesara Gumilda and Ethelburga 152 Of Policrita 154 Of Queenes and other Ladies for diuers Vertues memorable 155 Of women remarkable for their loue to their husbands 159 The Contents of the fourth Booke inscribed Melpomene Of Women Incestuous Adulteresses and such as haue come by strange deaths A Discourse persuading to good life 163 Of women incestuous and first of Queen Semiramis 165 Of Tagenna a woman of seuentie Cubits high 167 Of Paâ—iphae ibid. Of Canace Canusia Valeria Tusculana 169 Of Iulia the Empresse ibid. The sisters of Cambises 170 Of Liuia Horestilla Lollia Paulina Cesonia c. 171 Of Iocasta ibid. Of Crythaeis the mother of Homer 173 An Epitaph vpon Homer Prince of Poets 175 A strange Incest 176 Of Cyborea mother to Iudas Iscariot 177 Of Veronica 178 A discourse concerning Adulteresses ibid. Of many great Ladies branded with Adulterie amongst the Romans 181 A countrey fellow and his mistresse ibid. The water of a chast woman excellent for the eye-sight 182 Of Laodice an vnnaturall wife 183 The birth of Antoninus Commodus 184 Of Phedima and a notable Impostor ibid. Of Begum Queene of Persia. 186 Of Queene Olimpias and the birth of Alexander 188 The death of Olimpias 189 Of Romilda with rare examples of Chastitie 190 Of Ethelburga with her Epitaph 191 A merrie accident concerning a Adulteresse ibid. A true moderne Historie of an Adulteresse 192 The wife of Gengulphus and diuerse others 196 The Historie of Elphritha 198 Of Gunnora with other intermixture of Historie 200 Of women that haue come by strange deaths 202 Women that died golden deaths ibid. Women that died in Child-birth 203 Women that suffered Martyrdome 204 The strange death of Aristoclaea Democrita c. 206 207 The Hostlers Tale. 213 The Contents of the fift Booke inscribed Terpsichore Entreating of Amazons and other women famous either for Valour or Beautie A Discourse whether Valor or Beautie may clayme prioritie 215 Of the Amazons their originall c. 218 220 Of other warlike women and those of masculine Vertue 224 Examples of Feare 225 Of Helerna Camilla Maria Puteolana and others 226 The race of Hyppomanes and Atlanta 229 Of other warlike Ladies 230 A description of the Messagets 231 Of Zantippe and Mirhâ— 233 Of a Sheepe and a Shrow 234 A tricke of an English Skould c. 235 Of English Virago's of Ioan de Pucil 236 A discourse of Faire women 240 Of Faire women 245 The faire
of some High power effectuall in the opinions of men and plac't or hauing residence about the Lunarie circle who suppresseth the loftie neckes of the proude and from the lowest of despaire erects the minds of the humble For when the wise and vnderstanding men would illustrate to vs nothing to be more acceptable to heauen or more commodious to the life of man than a moderation of the mind as well in prosperitie as aduersitie they deuised many fables to exhort men nobly to indure the miseries and afflictions of this life with constant sufferance and resolued patience And because many had by such examples yeelded their submisse shoulders to the burden of disasters but in prosperitie and in the superabundance both of Wealth and Honour knew not how well to behaue themselues they therefore introduc't Nemesis the daughter of Iustice a most graue and seuere goddesse to see punishment inflicted vpon such that in the excesse of their felicitie and height of their authoritie prooue ouer other men Tyrants and therefore intollerable LATONA SHe was honoured in Delos as there being deliuered of Apollo and Diana to illustrat whose historie the better I will giue you a taste out of Lucians dialogues the interloquutors are Iuno and Latona You haue brought to Iupiter two beautifull children saith Iuno To whom she replyde We cannot all we can not all indeede be the mothers of such sweete babes as Vulcan Iuno replyes Though he be lame as falling from the vpper region downe to the earth by the negligence of his father yet is he profitable and vsefull both to gods and men for Iupiter he prouides thunders for men armour and weapons when on the contrarie thy daughter Diana imployes her selfe onelie in hunting and vnnecessarie pastime an extrauagant huntresse neuer satiate with the blood of innocent beasts Thy beautifull sonne pretending to know all things to bee an exquisite Archer a cunning Musitian a Poet a Physitian and a Prophet and not of these alone the professour but the Patron To this purpose hath he set vp Temples and Oracles here in Delphos there in Claros and Didimus by his dilemmaes and oblique answers to questions demanded such as which way soeuer they be taken must necessarilie fall out true deluding and mocking all such as come rather to bee resolued of their doubts and feares or to know things future by these illusions raising an infinite gaine and riches to himselfe to the losse and discommoditie of others his foreknowledge meerelie consisting of legerdemaine and iugling Nor is it concealed from the wise how in his predictions he dictates false things as often as true For could he exactlie and punctuallie presage all things to come why did he not foresee the death of his Minion and know before that he was to perish by his owne hand why did he not predict that his â—oue Daphne so faire hair'd and beautifull should flie and shunne him as a monster hated and scorned these with infinite others consideredâ— I see no reason thou shouldst thinke thy selfe more happie in thy children than the most vnfortunate Niobe To whom Latona replyed I well perceiue great goddesse wherein this many killing and much gadding daughter and this lying and false prophesieing son of mine offends you namely that they are still in your eie glorious numbered amongst the gods and of them esteemed the most beautifull yet can you not denie but that he is most skilfull in the Voice and the Harpe exceeding whatsoeuer can be vpon the earth and equalling if not preceading that of the Spheres in heauen I cannot chuse but smile sayth Iuno Is it possible his skill in musicke should beget the least admiration when poore Marsias had the Muses not bin partiall but judg'd indifferently of his side had gain'd of him prioritie but he alas by their vniust sentence lost not only his honor in being best but being vanquished hee most tyranously had his skinne stead off for his ambition and this your faire Daughter and Virgin is of such absolute feature and beautie that being espied naked by Acteon bathing her selfe in the fountaine shee transform'd him into a Hart and caused him by his owne dogges to bee torne in peeces least the young man should suruiue to blabbe her deformities Besides I see no reason why to women in labour and trauell in child-birth shee should shew herselfe so carefull and common a mid-wife euerie where and to all if shee were as shee still pretends to be a Virgin With her Latona thus concluded You are therefore of this haughtie and arrogant spirit because you are the sister and wife of Iupiter and raigne with him together which makes you to vs your inferiours so contumelious and harsh but I feare I shall see you shortly againe weeping when your husband leauing the heau'ns for the earth in the shape of a Bull an Eagle a Golden shower or such like shall pursue his adulterate pleasures Ouid in his sixt booke Metamor and his third fable sayth That Niobe the daughter of Tantalus borne in Sypile a citie of Lidia hauing by Amphion sixe braue sonnes and as many daughters though shee were forewarned by the daughter of Tyresias to bee present with the Thebans at their sacrifice to Latona and her children yet shee contemptuously denied it preferring her selfe in power and maiestie before the goddesse and her owne beautifull issue before the others at which contempt the goddesse much inraged complained to Appollo and Diana in whose reuenge he slew all the young men and shee the virgins with griefe whereof Amphion slew himselfe and Niobe burst her heart with sorrow Latona is by interpretation Chaos it was beleeued that all naturall bodies seedes of things mixt and confused lay buried in darknesse Some take Latona for the earth and therefore Iuno did oppose the birth of the Sunne and Moone by reason of the frequent fogges and damps arising by which the sight of these two glorious planets are shadowed and kept from our eyes for when by the thickenesse and tenebrositie of the clowdes the Sunne is weakned and made of lesse force oft times there proceeds a pestilent aire with many pests and diseases preiudiciall both to sensible creatures and to plants but when the Sunne resumes his vertue and vigor then by the purifying of the aire all these infections are dispersed and scattered vnlesse they haue proceeded so farre as to contagion And so much for Latona FORTVNA ANtium a citie of the Latines bordering vpon the Sea had Fortune in great reuerence to whom they erected a magnificent Temple Wherefore Horace thus speakes Oh Diuae gratum quae regis Antium So Rhamnus or Rhamnis a towne in Attica where Nemesis and Fortune were held in equall reuerence and from hence rather called Ramnusia In Praeneste a citie of Italy Sortes and Fortuna were held in like adoration of which they were called Praenestine Petrus Crinitus in his first booke of honest discipline and the sixt chapter concerning this goddesse rehearseth these verses
with great bribes and rewards corrupts Somnus that hee would amongst the rest charme the eyes of Iupiter which hee attempting and the other perceiuing the inraged god feeling Sleepe to steale vpon him vnawares cast him headlong from heauen into the sea where hee had doubtlesse for euer perisht had not Night snacht vp her sonne and in her darknesse hid him from the wrath of Iupiter But had he beeene destroyed Sleepe had bin exiled the Earth and so all creatures depriued of their quotidian rest From hence likewise may be collected how wretched those sleeping gods are when Iupiter the onely wise and potent is euer awake to see prouide foresee and gouerne by his infinite prouidence both men and creatures The citie of Sleep Lucianâ—â— in his second booke Verarum Historiarum though fabulously yet hath facundiously described This cittie sayth he is scituate in â— most spatious and silent plaine yet round incompast with tall and spreading trees amongst whose leaues the wind onely whispers but neuer robustiously blowes There Poppy growes aboundantly Mandragora and all such plants hearbes and simples as haue the innate vertue to procure and prouoke sleepe There are multitudes of Battes which flie continually this way and that and betwixt one tree and another great store of Night-rauens Owles and Screechowles no bird that is ashamed of day but is here frequently to be found But neither the crowing Cocke the chattering Pie the quacking Duck the gagling Goose nor any other fowle either of song or clamor can thither haue accesse Fast by this citie glydes a riuer with a slow silent pace making a murmure but no noyse rather to rocke and lull asleepe than to waken the water is thicke and soft like oyle the floods name is Lethe whom others call Nictyporus it flowes from two fountaine heads both hid and obscured in places to no man knowne the one is called Pannychius the other Negretas This citie hath two ports or gates one of home composed with miraculous workemanship in which as in a table are expressed all such true dreames as exercise the fantasies of men in their depth of rest The other is made of the most purest and most white yuorie in which are carued all sorts of dreames but these as it were artificially shaddowed by the pensell but none fully drawne and exprest to the life Within this cities walls is a magnificent and spatious structure called the Temple of Nighâ— which with all superstitious ceremonies is religiously honored there is a second instituted to the goddesse Apales and a third to Alethia in both which there are Oracles The sole inhabitants of this place are an infinite companie but not a cittisen in shape or fauour one like another some are leane lancke and little with crooked legges and hutch-backes rather like monsters than men others are comely well featured tall and proper with cheerefull faces and promising lookes some are of a froward and terrible aspect as if they threatned mischiefe and disaster others portly gallant and regally habited and whosoeuer shall enter the gates of this cittie some domesticke dreame or other continually will encounter him and giue him a familiar and friendly salute in the shape of some one of these formerly rehearsed relating to him some sad things some pleasant things to minister content or distast somtimes they whisper truthes but that sildome for the greatest part of that multitude are lying and deceitfull because for the most part they speake one thing and intend another and thus far Lucianus of the house of Sleepe I had once occasion to write my selfe in this manner Neare to the darke Cimerians lies a caue Beneath the foote of a declining hill Deepe in the earthes warme intrailes like a graue Where charming Silence makes all husht and still Hither did neuer piercing Sunne beame craue Admittance nor the voice of hunter shrill Fieres through the crannies of this concaue deepe Where stands the dull and leaden house of Sleepe Here the thicke vapoures from the earth exhaild Mystâ— all the place about a doubtfull light 〈◊〉 twixt night and day when 〈◊〉 is faild And the other not yet perfect dulls the sight No wâ—â—efull doggâ— oâ— clamorous cooke hath raild Vpon the drowsie Morne earely to dight The Sunnes steedes Here the bird that faâ—'d of old Romes Capitoll is neuer heard to scould The brawlling Crane nor yet the prating Crowe Or tatling Parret to desturbe the eare No bestowing Bull swift Hart or Asse more flow Is heard to bray wee haue all silence here Only a murmuring riuer which doth flow From Lethe with his streames 'mongst peables cleere Lulls the dull sence to soft and feathered rest Charming the cares and sorrowes in the brest Before the gate the drowsie Poppie springs With thousand plants and simples without number Not one but to the braine a numnesse brings Inâ—iting all the powers of man to slumber Whose milkie iuice the Night on her blacke wings Beares t'wart the earth and scatters Who dares cumber This vniuersall whistnesse where none come But Taciturnitie and Silence dâ—mbe Vpon the doore no ratling hammers stroke Is heard without to startle those within No creeking hinge by which soft sleepe is broke Than to speake loude ther 's held no greater sinne Midst a vast roome a bed Hewd out of Oke That had of late some antient relique bin Fring'd with thick dust and lasie cobwebs stands Not in an age once stird with carefull hands Vpon this easie couch with curtaines hung Of duskie coloured silke you may behould The god of Sleepe in carelesse fashion flung Stretching his drousie limbes whom now 's so bold To iogge or stirre where snortings are heard sung They are pincht to softer breath Some dreame of gold Of Trifles some his court here Morpheus keepes Which no man sooner enters than be sleepes And this description begins to make me drowsie alreadie But least speaking too much of sleepe I may be taxed and so taken napping my selfe I leaue the brother fast sleeping to find out the sister who to the worlds end shall euer be waking Death is sayd to be educated by her mother Night Pausanias puts vs in mind that in a Temple amongst the Elaeans there was a woman pourtraied leading two sleepy children that in her right hand White that in her left hand Blacke both with crooked legges and mishapen feet the inscription vpon the one was Sleepe vpon the other Death the woman that cherisht them Night This Death of all the powers that are is most impartiall and implacable and because by no prayers nor intercessions shee is to bee mooued therefore there are no altars nor temples nor sacrifices celebrated to her honourâ— her impartialitie and implacabilitie Orpheus hath signified in one of his hymnes Nec prece muneribus nec tu placabilis vllis She is attyred in a sable garment spotted with starres The wise men of the former ages extold her with miraculous praises calling her the port and onely secure harbor or rest
they could not be forced with their rude feet to leaue the least character of violence vpon limbes so faire and exquisitely fashioned The same Author remembers vs of Seritha and Signis the first a virgin of incomparable splendor to whom one Otharus was a robustious suitor the other was the daughter of one Sygarus who paralleld the first and was importunately sollicited by Hyldegislaeus Teutonicus Bryseis was so faire that she endeered vnto her loue the noblest of the Greekes Achilles who though she was but his damosell or handmaid yet he was enamored of her aboue all his other women of whom Horace Prius Insolentem Serua Bryseis niueo colore Mouit Achillem His maid Bryseis with her colour white Insolent Achilles mooued to delight Of her Ouid likewise speakes lib. 2. de Arte Amandi Fecit vt in capta Lyrneside magnus Achilles Cum premeret mollem lassus ab hoste torum This great Achilles of his Loue desired When with the slaughter of his enemies tyred He doff'd his Cushes and vnarm'd his head To tumble with her on a soft day-bed It did reioyce Bryseis to embrace His bruised armes and kisse his bloud-stain'd face Those hands which he so often did imbrew In bloud of warlike Troians whom he slew Were now imploy'd to tickle touch and feele And shake a Lance that had no point of steele Thargelia Milesia was of that excellent aspect that as Hyppias the Sophist testifies of her shee was marryed by course to foureteene seuerall husbands for so he writes in a Treatise entituled De inscripta Congregatione in which besides her character of beautie he giues her a worthie attribute for her wisedome in these words Perpulcra sapiens Anutis was the wife of a noble person called Bogazus and sister to Xerxes by the fathers side Shee as Dinon writes in his Persicke historie in the chapter entituled De prima Coordinatione in these words Haec vt pulcherrima fuit omnium mulierum quae fuerant in Asia c. Shee saith hee as shee was the fairest of all women in Asia so of them all shee was the most intemperate Timosa as Philarchus in his Lib. 19. contends was the mistresse of Oxiartes who in the accomplishments of nature anteceded all of her age shee was for her beautie thought worthie to be sent as a present from the king of Aegypt to the most excellent queene of king Statyra but rather for a wonder of nature than a president of chastitie Theopompus in his fiftie sixth booke of Historie records That Zenopithia the mother of Lysandrides was the fairest of all the women in Peloponnesus Shee with her sister Chryse were slaine by the Lacedemonians at the time when Agesilaus in an vprore and mutinous sedition raysed gaue command That Lysandrides as his publike enemie should be banished from Lacedemon Patica Cipria was borne in Cyprus Philarchus remembers her in his tenth booke of Historie Shee attending vpon Olympias the mother of Alexander was demanded in marriage by one Moâ—imus the sonne of Pythioa But the Queene obseruing her to be of more beautie in face than temperance in carriage O vnhappie man said shee that chusest a wife by the eye not by counsaile by her beautie and not behauior Violentilla was the wife of the Poet Stella shee for all accomplishments was much celebrated by Statius of her Lib. 1. Syll. he thus speakes At tu pulcherrima forma Italidum tandem casto possessa marito Thou of our Latium Dames the fair'st and best Of thy chast husband art at length possest Agarista as Herodotus calls her was the daughter of Clisthenes the Syconian shee was of that vnexpressable forme that her beautie attracted suitors from all parts of Greece amongst whom Hypocledes the sonne of Tisander is numbred From Italie came Smyndrides Sibarites Syritanus and Damnasus From the coast of Ionia Amphimnestrus Epidamnius Aetolus and Meges From Peloponnesus Leocides Amianthus Archas Heleus Laphanes Phidon son to the king of the Argiues From Attica Megacles the son of Alâ—menon From Etruria Lysanius From Thessalie Diacrides and Cranomius From Molossus Alcon in number 20. These came into Greece to expresse themselues in many noble contentions because Clistthines the son of Aristonius and father of Agarista had made proclamation that he only should inioy the Virgin who could best expresse himself in noble action and valour Hyppodamia was daughter to Oenemaus king of Aelis and of such attractiue beautie that she likewise drew many princely suitors to her fathers court though to the most certain danger of their liues Caelius writes that Marmax was the first that contended with her in the charriot race and failing in his course was slaine by the tyrant the Mares with which hee ran as some write were called Parthenia and Eripha whose throats Oenemaus caused to be cut and after buried After him perished in the same manner Alcathus the son of Parthaon Eurialus Eurimacus Crotalus Acrius of Lacedemon Capetus Licurgus Lasius Chalcodas Tricolonus Aristomachus Prias Pelagus Aeolius Chromius and Eritheus the son of Leucon Amongst these are numbered Merimnes Hypotous Pelops Opontius Acaruan Eurilachus Antomedon Lasius Chalcon Tricâ—ronus Alcathus Aristomachus and Crocâ—lus Sisigambis as Q. Curtius relates was inferiour to no ladie that liued in her age yet notwithstandig Alexander the Great hauing ouercome her husband Darius in battaile was of that continence that he onely attempted not to violate her chastitie but became her guardian and protected her from all the iniuries that might haue beene done to a captiue Plutarch writes of a Roman Ladie called Praecia of that excellent shape and admired feature as she indeered Cethegus vnto her so farre that he enterprised no dissigne or managed any affiaire without the aduise and approbation of the beautifull Praâ—cia So precious likewise was the faire Roxana in the eies of Alexander that hauing subdued all the Easterne kingdomes and being Lord of the world yet from being the daughter of a mercinarie souldier and a Barbarian he tooke her into his bosome and crowned her with the Imperiall Diademe Aegina the daughter of Aesopus king of Boetia for her excellent pulchritude was beloued of Iupiter of whom Ouid Aureus in Danaen Aesopida luseritignis In Gold faire Danae had her full desire But with th'Aesopian Girle he play'd in fire So likewise Antiopa the daughter of Nycteis and wife of Lycus king of Thebes was for the rarenesse of her forme comprest by him of whom hee begot Zethus and Amphion O what a power is in this beautie It made the Cyclops Poliphemus turne Poet who as Ouid in his Lib. 13. thus writes in the prayse of his mistresse Galataea Candidior folio niuei Galataea ligustri c. Oh Galataea thou art whiter farre Than leaues of Lillies not greene Medowes are More flourishing thy stature doth appeare Straighter than th'Elmes than Glasse thou art
The king of England and Francis the first of that name king of France being at oddes Henry was much incensed and appointed Bishop Bonner his Embassadour to debate with him sharpely about the designes then in hand who hauing accommodated all things fitting for the journey came to take his leaue of the king his maister who vttered many bitter and disdainefull words against Francis all tending to his opprobrie and dishonour And in these tearmes sayth hee deliuer vnto him thy Embassie To whom Bonner replyed If it please your Maiestie if I should giue him such harsh and despightfull language and in his owne Court too he can doe no lesse than take off my head Thy head answered the king If hee doe it is no matter but tell him further If hee dares to cut off thy head ten thousand of his subiects heads shall be sent after it To whom Bonner after some small deliberation againe replyed But I am doubtfull my Liege whether any of these ten thousand heads will fit my shoulders in that short answere as well taxing the kings rash furie as prouident for his owne safetie With which the king somewhat satisfied and better considering with himselfe deliuered vnto him a more calme and milder Embassie So though those heads may fauour both of more Iudgement and Reading I am doubtfull whether they could more naturally sute with my owne method and stile though neuer so meane or barbarous Therefore Deo adiuvante Erato assistente I proceede The Spartans had a custome in their solemne feasts to haue a song of three parts sung by three seuerall Chorusses The first was of weake old men The second of yong able men The third of Boyes and pretie growne children The old men began with this verse Olim iuuentutem nos strenuam egimus We haue beene Strong that now Decrepit are To whom the yong men in a second quire answered Sortes sumus nos fac si vis periculum Wee are both Yong and Strong prooue vs who dare To them in a third tone the children ecchoed Nos erimus his prestantiores plurimo With these in Youth and Strength wee shall compare To this three-fold age I compare the triplicitie of the Muses The first three books are by this alredie spent in your iudgements The second three of which this is the last are the pyth and strength of my present worke in hand to which the three succeeding though yet in their infancie I shall striue to paralell if not exceed the rest And first of Chastitie It is reported of a woman of Lacena that a great man sending her rich gifts to corrupt her chastitie she returned him this answere Whilest I was a Virgin I was taught to obey my father which I accordingly did and being a wife to submit my selfe to my husbands will if then you desire any courtesie at my hands get first his consent and you shall after vnderstand my further pleasure Plutarch in Lacon Institut relates that diuerse of these Lacenaean Virgins were taken captiues and sold in open market one of them beeing cheapened was demaunded what she knew she answered To be faithfull Another being asked if he should buy her whether she would proue chast answered Whether he bought her or no she would be chast howsoeuer her maister after seeking to corrupt her she slew herselfe vttering these her last words See what a treasure thou hast lost that knewest not my worth whilest thou wast possessed of me There haue beene many men that haue left vnto women strict rules of Chastitie by their examples Saint Augustine being asked why hee would not suffer his owne sister to dwell in the house with him answered Because such as may conuerse with her are not my sisters intimating that all such as would auoid the sinne ought to shun temptation for he was wont to say It is not good to looke vpon a woman it is worse to conuerse with her but worst of all to touch her Therfore these sences of ours that are most subiect to danger ought most to be supprest and bridled Marul lib. 4. Capit. 7. and Sabin lib. 5. Hierome reports of the Abbot Hylarian That when hee found any vnchast cogitations arise in his brest hee would beate himselfe vpon the bosome as if with blowes and buffets hee would expell them thence and thus sayd I will tame thee ô Asse that thou shalt no more kick and spurne against me with thy heeles I will not henceforth feed thee with Barley but chaffe I will abate thy wantonnesse with hunger and thirst I will loade thy backe with grieuous burdens I will inure thee to the Sommers heate and the Winters cold After which time he vsed the spare dyet of rootes and the iuice of hearbes and these onely when necessitie compelled him to eate Hee inioyned himselfe the time of prayer excepted to strict and continuall labour to increase his appetite but not augment his dyet Therfore Hierom against Lust prescribes these three souereigne remedies fast prayer and hard labour The examples are innumerable as well amongst Ethnick men as Christians Alexander supping with Antipadres there was brought to the table and set iust against the king a wonderous beautifull woman as excellent in voice as in face both tempting so farre that Alexander began suddenly to be surprised with her loue and demaunded of Antipadres If she were a woman whom he any way affected To whom he answered That she was indeered to him aboue all other creatures liuing Then thou foole replyde the king cause her instâ—ntly to rise and be conueyed hence from the banquet How farre then was this temperate Prince from adulterating another mans wife that was affraid to doe his host the least iniurie in his strumpet Therefore Iulianus the Emperour hauing tooke the cittie Nalaca wherein were many women of rare and extraordinarie feature was so farre from corrupting their vertues that he commanded not any of them should be suffered to come in his presence Calius lib. 7. cap. 27. tells vs that so great was the chastitie of the Paduan women in times past that not any of them walked out of their doores but with their faces couered Therefore Caius Salpitius Gallus sued a diuorse against his wife because she was met bare-browed in the streetes against whom he thus pleaded Thou art onely to be gouerned and guided by the lawes of mine eyes thy beautie is to be approoued by them and to please them alone thou oughtest to adorne thy selfe but to desire to seeme faire in the eyes of strangers incurres the imputation both of suspition and trespasse What should wee thinke then of that fantastique attyre and gawdie ornaments so much in vse now adayes which as well in youth as age rather seeme openly to professe lust than inwardly to protect chastitie Of these curiosities in vaine and vnnecessarie attire Plautus in Penâ—lo thus speakes Negotij sibi qui voleâ— vim parare nauem mulierem Hec duo sibi comparato
deliuerers of her people And so much for the Legend But Richardus Diuisiensis sayth That being awed by Earle Godwin and for the feare of hasarding his life and kingdome Edward was compelled by threats and menaces to the marriage of Editha Moreouer Polydore reports That for the hate he bore her father who had not long before most trayterously slaine his brother Alphred hee caused himselfe to be diuorced from her seising her goods and dower to his owne vse and pleasure Ranulphus and one that writes himselfe Anonimos as willing to conceale his name say That shee was disrobed of all her Queene-like honors and confined into the Abbey of Warnwell with only one maid to attend her and so committed to the strict custodie of the Abbesse William of Malmesbury and Marianus Scotus haue left remembred That hee neyther dismissed her his bed nor carnally knew her but whether it was done in hatred to her kindred or purpose of Chastitie they are not able to determine Robert Fabian confesseth as much in his Chronicle Part. 6. cap. 210. Howsoeuer the effects of that abstenious life were not onely preiudiciall but brought lamentable effects vpon this distracted kingdome namely Innouation and Conquest for Edward dying without issue England was inuaded and opprest by the Normans and the people brought to that miserie that happie was that subiect that could say I am no Englishman And in this agree Matthew Paris Capgraue Fabian and Polydore As I hold it not necessarie for marryed folke to tye themselues to this strict kind of abstinence so I hold it not conuenient for any such as haue to themselues and in their soules taken vpon them the strict life of Virginitie to be compelled to an enforced marriage as may appeare by this discourse following recorded by Gulielm Malmsburien Simeon Danelmens Matthew Paris Roger Houeden Capgraue c. Henry the first of that name king of England and crowned in the yeere of Grace 1101 was by the instigation of Anselme once a Monke of Normandie but after by William Rufus constituted Archbishop of Canterburie marryed vnto Maude daughter to Malcolme the Scottish king she hauing taken a Vow and being a profest Nunne in the Abbey of Winchester Much adoe had the King her father the Queene her mother her Confessor Abbesse or the Bishop to alienate her from her setled resolution or persuade her to marriage but being as it were violently compelled thereunto she cursed the Fruit that should succeed from her bodie which after as Polydore affirmes turned to the great misfortune and miserie of her children for afterwards two of her sonnes William and Richard were drowned by Sea Besides her daughter Maude who was afterwards Empresse prooued an vnfortunate Mother and amongst many other things in bringing forth Henry the second who caused Thomas Becket to be slaine it thus happened All forraine warres being past and ciuile combustions pacified in the yeere of our Lord 1120 Henry the first with great ioy and triumph left Normandie and came into England But within few dayes following this great mirth and iollitie turned into a most heauie and fearefull sorrow for William and Richard his two sonnes with Mary his daughter Otwell their Tutor and Guardian Richard Earle of Chester with the Countesse his wife the Kings Neece many Chapleines Chamberlaines Butlers and Seruitors for so they are tearmed in the storie the Archdeacon of Hereford the Princes play-fellowes Sir Geffrey Rydell Sir Robert Maldvyle Sir William Bygot with other Lords Knights Gentlemen great Heires Ladyes and Gentlewomen to the number of an hundred and fortie besides Yeomen and Mariners which were about fiftie all these sauing one man which some say was a Butcher were all drowned together and not any one of their bodyes euer after found Many attribute this great Iudgement to the heauie Curse of Queene Maude others censure of it diuersly Howsoeuer in this King as Polydore sayth ended the Descent and Lyne of the Normans Of this Anselme before spoken of there are diuerse Epistles yet extant to many women in those dayes reputed of great Temperance and Chastitie as To Sister Frodelina Sister Ermengarda Sister Athelytes Sister Eulalia Sister Mabily and Sister Basyle To Maude Abbesse of Cane in Normandie and Maude the Abbesse of Walton here in England Hee writ a Treatife about the same time called Planctus a missae Virginitatis i. A bewayling of lost Virginitie So farre Iohn Bale And so much shall serue for Chast Wiues in this kind being loth to tyre the patience of the Reader Of Women Wantons DIon the Historiographer in Tiberio sayth that Lyuia the wife of Augustus Caesar beholding men naked sayd to the rest about her That to continent women and chast matrons such obiects differed nothing from statues or images for the modest heart with immodest sights ought not to be corrupted The vnchast eye more drawes the poyson of sinne from beautie which is Gods excellent workemanship from which the chast and contrite heart deriues the Creators praise and glorie But my hope is that in exposing vnto your view the histories of these faire Wantons you will looke vpon them should I strip them neuer so naked with the eyes of Lyuia that is to hold them but as beautifull statues or like Appelles his woman not better than a picture of white Marble I haue heard of a man that liuing to the age of threescore and ten had led so austere a life that in all that time he neuer touched the bodie of a woman and had proposed to himselfe to carrie that Virginall vow with him to his graue but at length being visited with sickenesse and hauing a faire estate purchased with his small charge and great husbandrie and therefore willing to draw out the thread of his life to what length he could hee sent to demaund the counsell of the Phisitians who hauing well considered the estate of his bodie all agreed in this that since the phisick of the soule belonged not to them but onely the phisick of the bodie they would freely discharge their duties and indeed told him that this present estate was dangerous and they found but onely one way in art for his cure and recouerie which was in plaine tearmes To vse the companie of a woman and so tooke their leaues and left him to consider of it Loath was the old man to loose his Virginitie which hee had kept so long but more loath to part with his life which he desired to keepe yet longer and hauing meditated with himself from whom he was to depart and what to leaue behind him namely his possessions his money his neighbours friends and kindred and whether hee was to remooue to the cold and comfortlesse graue he resolued with himselfe to prolong the comfort of the first and delay as long he could the feare of the last Therefore hee resolued rather than to be accessorie to the hastening his owne death to take the counsell of the doctors It was therfore so ordered by
them with garlands vpon their heads of which whilest some are called apart others still returne for their passages to and fro are distinguished by small cords or strings which direct strangers vnto such women to whom they are most addicted But of these not any returne to their houses after they haue once tooke vp their seats till some clyent hath cast some coyne or other into her lappe be it neuer so small or great and haue had carnall companie with her in a sequestred place of the Temple which done hee is to say So much I did owe thee ô goddesse Melitta Nor was any woman to refuse the money that was offered her whatsoeuer it were because it was to be employed in their supposed pious vses Neyther was it lawfull for a woman to refuse any man but she was compelled to follow him that cast the first coyne into her apron This beeing done it was lawfull for her to mingle her selfe in prostitution with whom she pleased The fairest and most beautifull were for the most part soonest dispatcht but others that haue beene vgly and deformed haue beene forced to sit in the Temple some one some two some three yeeres and vpwards before they could meet with any by whose helpe they might giue satisfaction to the Law returne to their owne houses and make vse of their free libertie The like custome though not in euerie particular was in Cyprus Amongst the Caunians a people in Coria there was a yeerely conuention of yong men and women to the like purpose as the same Author in the same booke affirmes Aelianus de var. Histor. lib. 4. sayth That the Lydian women before their marriage presented themselues for gaine till they had purchased to themselues a competent dowrie but hauing once selected a husband they from that time liued in all continence and chastitie From this generalitie I come to particulars and first of Thais Shee was a strumpet of Corinth whose beautie bewitched all the Atticke youth Her the Greeke Poet Menander in his workes most celebrated of whom shee was called Menandraea Clitarchus specifies vnto vs That shee was much beloued of Alexander the Great at whose request after the conquest of Cyrus all the Imperiall Pallaces in Persepolis with the greatest part of the citie were set on fire and burned downe to the earth This strumpet after the death of Alexander was marryed to the first Ptolomey of Aegypt by whom she had two sonnes Leontiscus and Lagus with one daughter called Irene whom Solon king of Cyprus after tooke to wife Lamia was a Courtizan of Athens and entyred to Demetrius a lord of many Nations insomuch that in his Armour and Crowne with his Imperiall Diademe he was often seene publikely to enter her roofe to conuerse with her and eate at her Table It had beene lesse dishonour for so great a person to haue giuen her meeting more priuately In this one thing Diodorus the Minstrell was preferred before Demetrius who being diuerse times sent for to this Courtezans house refused to come This Lamia was wont as Aelianus Lib. 12. reports to compare the Greekes to Lyons and the Ephesians to Wolues Gnathana was of the same countrey and borne in Athens of whom it is thus remembred A noble fellow drawne as farre as the Hellespont by the attractiue fame of her beautie shee gaue him both meeting and entertainment of which he growing proud and somewhat insolent vsing much loquacitie and superfluous language being in the heat of wine and lust shee asked him Whether as he pretended he came from the Hellespont To whom he answered He did She replyed And doe you know the name of the chiefe citie there He told her Yes She then desired him to giue it name Hee told her it was called Sygaeum By which shee ingeniously reproued his verbositie since Syga of which Greeke word the citie takes denomination signifieth silence and taciturnitie Of her prompt and wittie answeres the Poet Machon sets downe many for shee was held to bee wondrous facetious and scoffing and exceedingly beloued of the Poet Diphilus Lynceus likewise remembers many things concerning her Pausonius Lacus beeing dauncing in her presence in doing a loftie tricke aboue ground and not able to recouer himselfe hee fell headlong into a Vessell that stood by See sayth she Lacus in cadum incidit i. The Poole hath powred himselfe into the Vessell Lacus not only signifies a Poole but a Vessell which receiueth the wine when it is pressed Another offering her a small quantitie of wine in a great and large Bole and told her withall That it was at least seuenteene yeeres old Truly answered she it is wondrous little of the age Two young men in the heat of wine quarrelling about her and going to buffets to him that had the worst shee thus said Despayre not youth Non enim Coronarium est certamen sed Argenteum i. This was a prize for Money onely not for a Garland When one had giuen her faire daughter who was of the same profession a piece of Gold valued at a pound and had receiued no more than labour for his trauaile and bare lookes for his money to him she said Thou for this pound art made free of my daughter as those that are admitted into the schoole of Hyppomachus the maisterwrastler who oft times see him play but seldome prooue his strength admire his skill but neuer trie his cunning Many such with great elegancie came frequently from her for as Lynceus sayth of her shee was Concinna admodum vrbana Aristodemus in his second booke Ridiculorum memorab relates That when two men had bargained for her at once a souldier and a meane fellow the souldier in great contumelie called her Lacus or Lake Why doe you thus nick-name me sayth she because you two flouds fall into me Lycus and Liber Lycus is a riuer not farre from Laodicea which sometimes runneth vnder the earth and in many places bursteth vp againe Shee writ a booke which shee called Lex Conuinalis imitating the Philosophers of those times who had compiled workes of the like subiect The proiect of her booke was how her guests ought to behaue themselues at Table towards her and her daughter The like Law Callimachus composed in three hundred and three and twentie Verses Rhodope was a Curtesan of Aegypt one that by her prostitution came to such a masse of wealth that she of her own priuate charge caused to be erected a magnificent Pyramis equalling those that were raised by the greatest Princes Sapho calls her Dorica and makes her the mistresse of her brother Charaxus vpon whom he spent and consumed all his fortunes euen to the vtmost of penurie of whom Ouid thus writes Arsit inops frater c. Aelianus and others report her for a woman most beautifull who bathing herselfe in a pleasant and cleere fountaine in her garden her handmaides attending her with all things necessarie vpon a sudden an Eagle sowsing downe snatched
her euen to this day all brothel-houses are called Lupanaria She nursed and brought vp Romulus and Remus Liu. lib. 1. Decad. 1. Plutarch in Vita Romuli Flora the strumpet who was likewise called Laurentia constituted the people of Rome her heire from her came the yearely feasts celebrated called Floralia of her Gellius lib. 6. cap. 7. and Vollat lib. 16. speakes more at large Manilia was a Roman Curtesan whom Hostilius Mancinus called into question because a stone was cast vpon him from one of her galleries Gellius Phebe was a freed woman to Iulia the daughter of Augustus Caesar and a companion with her in all her lusts and brothelries who when she heard that her mistresse was confined by her father fearing some seuere censure from the Emperor slew her selfe to preuent further torture Dion in Augusto The immoderate lust of Caelia Martial lib. 7. thus reprooues Das Cattis das Germanis das Caelia Dacis Nec Cilicum spernis Cappoducumque toros c. To th'Catti Germans and the Dacians thou Caelia giu'st welcome and thou do'st allow The Cappadians and Cilicians bed Besides from Pharo thou art furnished With Memphian whorers from the red sea sailes The swarthie Indian and he brings thee vailes And thou tak'st all neither wilt thou refuse The offer of the circumcised Iewes c. Catullus of his Lesbia thus speakes Nulla potest mulier tantum se dicere amatum Vere quantum a me Lesbia amata mea est No woman truly can report to be So well belou'd as Lesbia thou of me So Quintus Frabaeus Comediographus of his loue Chrysis De improuiso Chrysis vbi me aspexerit Alacris obuiam mihi veniet c. When Chrysis on the sudden me espide She look'd vpon me with a chearefull face Wishing withall that me she might embrace To whom she owes her selfe this I haue tri'de It is a fortune I haue seldome knowne And such as I preferre before mine owne Dion Nicaeus and Xiphilinus in the life of the Emperour Commodus besides the strumpet Martia whom hee tooke to wife remembers one Damostratâ— whom he after bestowed vpon Cleander him whom from a bondman he raised to be of his priuie-chamber Time Paper and Leysure would faile me before example and I desire not to be tedious I haue hitherto shewed you what whoores are I now desire to expresse vnto you what they should bee Marie Magdalen the daughter of Syrus and Eucharia and sister to Lazarus and Martha for some yeares gaue her selfe vp to all voluptuousnesse and pleasure in so much that she had incurred the name of a common strumpet but after when shee cast her selfe prostrat and washed the feet of our Sauiour with her teares and dryde them with the haires of her head and annointing him with costly oyntment in the house of Simon the Leaper her sinnes were forgiuen her We reade likewise of Aphra who was borne in Creet her mothers name was Hylaria a notorious bawde This Aphra with her three seruants Dimna Eugenia and Eutropia for mony prostituted themselues to all men but she her selfe being after conuerted to the Faith by Narcissus bishop of Ierusalem abiured all incontinence and adhering to the Christian religion prooued so constant in the same that for the true Faith she suffered martyrdome Nicaeta and Aquilina were two beautifull strumpets and made gaine of their bodies these were imployed by king Dagnes to tempt and traduce the blessed Saint Christopher and to vpbraide him of false religion but it fell out contrarie to the purpose of the tyrant for those two being by him conuerted to the true Faith and not to bee remooued by menaces or torments were after by the same king both caused to bee slaine Faucula Clauia is remembred by the Historiographer Lyuie who though she was of that wanton and loose behauiour yet highly to be commended for her pietie she to her great charge ministered food and sustenance to many of the distressed Roman souldiers all the time that Hannibal was possessed of Capua Marullus lib. 2. cap. 12. and Sabin lib. 5. cap. 5. speake of Thais an Aegyptian strumpet who by the often admonitions of the Abbot Pannutius repented her of her wicked leaud life and to giue the best satisfaction to the world that she was able shee caused a great fire to bee made and all that wealth which she had gathered by her prostitution she cast therein and caused it to be burned before her face and from a common Brothel-house retyred her selfe to a priuat Monasterie where after three yeares penetentiall sollitude she expired Pelagia Antiochena so called because she was borne in Antioch exceeding in wealth and excelling in beautie was wholy giuen ouer to immoderate luxuries in so much that no woman appeared in publike more gawdily apparrelled or more voluptuouslly minded than her selfe but being drawne by some religiously disposed friend of hers to heare the Sermons of Nonius Bishop of Heliopolis shee acknowledged her error cast off her gay and gawdie attyre bewayled her sinnes and lamented her leaud course of life distributing her wealth amongst the poore and as a farwell to all loosenesse and intemperance builded a poore Cottage in the Mount of Oliues And least any violence in such a sollitude might be done vnto her in the way of preuention shee changed her habite and called her selfe Pelagius proceeding in that sanctitie of life that where before of Pelagia shee was called Pelagus Vitiorum i. A Sea of Vices shee was after stiled Pelagus Virtutum amarissimus Marath aquas in dulces conuertens i. An Ocean of Vertues turning the most bitter Waters of Marath into sweet And thus I conclude with these Wantons wishing all such whose liues haue beene as ill and infamous that their ends might prooue as good and glorious Explicit Liber Sextus Inscriptus ERATO THE SEVENTH BOOKE Inscribed POLYHIMNIA or MEMORIE Intreating of the Pietie of Daughters towards their Parents Women to their Children Sisters to their Brothers Wiues to their Husbands c. THERE is no gift according to Reason bestowed vpon man more sacred more profitable or auayling towards the attayning of the best Arts and Disciplines which include all generall Learning than MEMORIE which may fitly be called the Treasure-house or faithfull Custos of Knowledge and Vnderstanding Therefore with great wisedome did the Poets call her the Mother of the Muses with no lesse elegancie did they place Obliuion below in Hell in regard of their opposition and antipathie Our Memorie as Sabellicus saith is a benefit lent vs from aboue that hath her existence in Nature but her ornament and beautie from Art Alexand. ab Alex. Lib. 2. cap. 19. That the Aegyptians in their Hieroglyphicks when they would figure any man of an excellent memorie they would doe it by a Fox or a Hare with vpright and erected eares But when they would represent one dull and blockish they did it by a
hee was yet aliue tooke occasion in an humour to make a purposed Iourney to giue him visitation but especially to obserue the manner of his shop and worke-house and crossing an Arme of the Sea hee came to the citie where Zeuxes then liued and enquiring out his house was directed thither where knocking the maid came to the doore Apelles asked her for her maister shee told him hee was gone into the Towne about very serious occasions and was not then within but I pray Sir when my maister returnes who shall I say was heere to speake with him Apelles spying a faire Table hanging in the shop readie to be wrought but no worke therein and the Pensils and Colours all readie by it By thy leaue maid saith hee and entring the shop chused out a Pensill with which hee onely drew a curious small Line crosse the Table almost of that finenesse to deceiue the eye which hauing suddainely ended Tell thy maister saith hee to the maid That hee that drew this Line was here to haue spoken with him and so away hee goes who was no sooner out but Zeuxes returning and asking her If any man had beene there to aske for him in his absence shee told him all and shewed the Line drawne vpon the Table on which hee looking with admiration suddainely broke out into an acclamation saying This could neuer haue beene done but by the hand of Apelles and instantly sent vp and downe the Towne to seeke him In the Interim this president being still standing before him in a kind of emulation it animated him to aduenture on something worthie the sight of Apelles when chusing out another colour differing from that Apelles had wrought he with his Pensill cut the first Line iust in the middle with a kind of miraculous sted fastnesse and euennesse when glorying in his worke which indeed was rare Now tell the Painter saith he if he come againe to enquire of me that I haue been since at home witnesse that and shew him the Table and so retyred himselfe into the inner part of the house Soone after comes Apelles and askes the maid If her maister had beene yet at home Yes Sir saith she and bad me shew you this and aske you how you like it Apelles wondered as thinking it had scarce beene to be found in Art and was startled at the first but as one that had neuer beene equalled and loth now to be exceeded he againe tooke the Pensill and altering the colour in the very life and spirit of Art he diuided the almost inuisible Line of Zeuxes parting it in the middest with such a constant proportion that it seemed altogether to exceed the practise of Science Which hauing done Now saith hee commend me once more to thy maister and aske him from me If this last Line hath not made good the imperfections of the former at which word Zeuxes appeared and before he had the power to giue him any salutation looking vpon what he had done acknowledged him Victor yet held it no dishonor to him to be so ouercome This Table was after held as a rare and an vnparalleld maister-piece and being sold for a great summe of money as a choyse Iewell hung vp in the Capitoll of Rome where it was long preserued euen till time had defaced the colours and raced out the memorie thereof Amongst thousand Excellencies both in their Workes and Inuentions these shall suffice in this place I now come to my Women Painters Tymarete the daughter of Mycon or Mycaon a man eminent in that qualitie amongst other curious Pieces wrought by her owne hand made that admirable Picture of Diana which was hanged vp in the Temple of Ephesus clayming prioritie aboue many that proceeded from the best Artists Shee flourished in the time that Archelaus reigned in Macedonia Plinie Lib. 35. cap. 11. Irene was the daughter and scholler of the Painter Cratinus shee was famous for pensilling the Maid whose effigies was kept as a Relike sacred to Memorie in the citie Eleusina Calipsoes excellencie was expressed to the life in drawing the old Iugler Theodorus Alcisthine limned a Dancer and shee-Minstrell and by that got her a name amongst the best Aristarete was the daughter and scholler of the Painter Marchus and drew Aesculapius One Olimpias professed the same Art and instructed many schollers amongst whom as Plinie saith was Antobulus Lala Cyzizena liued a perpetuall Virgin and was the sole daughter of Marcus Varro shee practised in Rome and drew both with the Pensill and with a sharpe-pointed Quill called Cestrum shee cut in Iuorie Shee medled not with the Faces of men but women only shee made her owne Picture from a Looking-glasse shee was commended for the nimblenesse and dexteritie of hand for none euer equalled her in quicknesse and for curiositie she exceeded two of the greatest and best practitioners in her dayes Sopylon and Dionisius From Painting I come to Weauing The practise of which was held in great vse and estimation amongst Princesses and the chiefe Matrons in which to be excellent was held as a prime honour The Exercise thereof was accounted a commendable thing in Wiues and a great signe of womannish modestie in Virgins It was first brought from the Phrygians to the Romanes King Attalus was the first that deuised to weaue with threads of Gold It grew to that reuerent and respected custome that sisters for their brothers mothers for their sonnes and women for their husbands with their owne hands weaued Cloakes and Gownes And therefore the Romanes in all their Marriages caused the new married Virgins to present their husbands with a Distaffe Thread and Spindle it is a custome which the Iberians still obserue as also That whatsoeuer their women first spinne and after weaue is brought to be viewed in publique and rated shee that hath done most and best hath so much the more respect and honour Alexand. ab Alex. Lib. 4. cap. 8. Amongst the Phoeacenses the men mind onely Nauigation and the women Texture and Weauing but amongst the women of Persia it is held a great dishonour to lay her hand to the Webbe or Needle Penelope by the testimonie of Homer and other Poets in this Art was excellently practised of which came the Prouerbe Tela Penelopis Icariotis The Webbe of Penelope or Icariotes because shee was the daughter of Icarus Virg. Aenead Lib. 5. nominates one Pholoe to be eminent in that exercise Plin. lib. 11. cap. 22. conferres the inuention of Weauing vpon Pamphile the daughter of Plates who deuised it in the Isle Coos In this Acecaeus Patarensis and Helicon Caristius exceeded all others these two brothers woaue and embrodered a Vesture and a Hood for Pallas Poliades who was honoured in the Temple of Athens which was done with such vnimitable cunning that thereupon came the Adage in Greece if any thing were curiously or exquisitely performed it was called The Worke of Acecaeus
and Helicon Aboue others most magnified by Ouid Metamorph. lib. 6. is Arachne Lydia the daughter of Idmones whose mother was borne in the small citie Hypepis shee hauing by many degrees exceeded all mortall women and that without difficultie durst compare with Minerua her selfe who for her boldnesse and pertinacie she turned into a Spyder Her controuersie with Pallas is with great elegancie expressed in Ouid. Alexander of Macedon and Octauius Augustus the one wore a Garment woauen by his Mother the other a Mantle by the hands of his Wife These Ladies had sequestred places in some part of their Pallaces and kept their handmaids and damosells at worke of which these two potent and mightie Queenes disdayned not to bee the dayly Directoresses and Ouer-seers Alexand. ab Alex. cap. 4. lib. 8. Part of the Wooll which Tanaquil spunne with her Distaffe Spindle and Slippers were long time reserued as sacred Reliques in the Temple of Ancus Martius as also a Kingly Garment or Imperiall Roabe woauen quite through with Rayes and Flames of Gold wrought with her owne hand in which Seruius Tullius oft went in state and sat in the high Iudgement-Seat in the Capitoll Varro apud eundem By the Law called Pagana all women were forbidden to spinne or draw out any thread in the streetes or the common high-wayes because they held it ominous to the prosperitie of the Graine sowne in the Earth or the Fruits blossomed or growing vpon the Trees as the same Author testifies Ausonius speakes of one Sabina not onely excellent in this Science but a Poet withall which he left to posteritie in one of his Epigrams Siue probas Tyrio textam sub tegmine vestra Seu placet inscripti commoditus tituli c. Which is thus Englished If thou affect'st a purple Roabe Woauen in the Tyrian staine Or if a Title well inscrib'd By which thy wit may gaine Behold her workes vnpartially And censure on them well Both one Sabina doth professe And doth in both excell And thus I take leaue of weauing for Memorie now transports me to another Argument Of Women Contentious and Bloodie TExtor in his Officine remembers vs of one Kailla who was of that barbarous and inhuman crueltie that being at dissention with her husband Vazules she hauing banished all coniugall pietie and pittie caused his eyes to be digged out of his head spending the remainder of his age in vncomfortable darknesse These subsequent stories of flintie and obdure hearted women though I could willingly haue spared them out of this worke that the world might almost be induced to beleeue that no such immanities could euer haue place in the smooth soft bosomes of women yet in regard I haue promised briefly to run ouer all Ages Features Affections Conditions and Degrees though they might perhaps haue beene thought well spared by some yet I make no question but they might be challenged at my hands by others The rather I present them and with the more confidence vnto your view because though their actions to the tender brested may seeme horrid and feareful and therfore the hardlier to purchase credit yet the testimonie of the Authors being authenticke and approoued will not onely beare me out as their faithfull remembrancer but in the things themselues fasten an inherent beleefe I proceed therfore Cyrce the Witch slew the king of Sarmatia to whom shee was married and vsurping the regall Throne did much oppresse her subiects of her Sabellicus writes more at large Clitemnestra was the wife of Agamemnon Archduke or Generall of the Gretians at the siege of Troy she by the helpe of Aegistus with whom she adultrated slew her husband of this Virgill speakes lib. 11. Seneca in Agamemnonae and Iuvenall in Satyr Danaus the sonne of Belus had fiftie daughters who were espoused to the fiftie sonnes of Aegistus these made a coniuration in one night to kill all their husbands which they accordingly did all saue the yongest Hypermnestra who spared the life of her husband Lynceus Senec. Hercul Fur. Alexander Phaereus a tyrant of Thessaly when hee had shewed his wife naked to a certaine Barbarian she tooke it so impatiently that she cut his throat sleeping Ouid in Ibin Volaterranus reports that Albina daughter to a king of Syria had two and thirtie sisters who all in one night slew their husbands who beeing exild their countrey landed in Brittaine and that of this Albina this Kingdome first tooke the name of Albion Laodice was the wife of Antiochus king of Syria who caused himselfe to be cald God She poysoned her husband because of his too much familiaritie with Berenice the sister of Ptolome Fabia slew Fabius Fabriclanus that shee might the more freely inioy the companie of Petronius Volentanus a young man of extraordinarie feature with whom shee had often before accompanied Agrippina poysoned her husband Tiberius Claudius the Emperor Lucilla the wife of Antonius Verus Emperor poysoned her husband because she thought him too familiar with Fabia Galeotus prince of Forolinium married with the daughter of Ioannes Bentiuolus of whom being despised and finding her selfe neglected she hyred certaine cut-throat Phisitians who slew him in his chamber Andreas the sonne of Carolus king of Pannonia was slaine by his wife Ioanna Queene of Cicily for no other reason but that he was idle and held vnprofitable to the weale publique Althaea sorrowing that her two brothers Plexippus and Toxeus were slaine by her sonne Meleager shee burned that Brand of which the fatal Sisters had made a prediction That his life and health should continue as long as that was preserued Ouid Trist. lib. 1. Bocat in Geneol Agaue a Theban woman slew her sonne Penthâ—us because he would not honour the feast of the Bachinalls with the rest of the Menades Virgill in Culice Ericthaeus taking armes against Eumolpus and hauing an answere from the Oracle That he should haue a certaine victorie if he would sacrifice his only daughter to the gods by the persuasion of his wife Praxitha gaue her vp to slaughter Euripides apud Plutarch Elearchus one of the kings of Creet at the persuasion of his second wife Phronima commaunded his onely daughter by the hand of one Themisones to bee cast into the riuer and there drowned Herodot Polidice betrayde her father king Pletera to Creon king of Thebes and caused him to bee slaine as likewise Nisus being besieged by Minâ—s by the treason of his daughter lost that purple hayre which was the stay of his soueraigntie Ouid Metam and Seruius Tiphon Aegiptius as Berosus Seneca Diodorus and others relate slew his brother Osiris then raigning in Aegypt and gouerning iustly which done hee caused him to be cut into twentie six pieces and to euerie one of the conspirators gaue a part the better to secure him of their fidelities but Isis their sister after she had lamented the
which he had prettily well euaded namely Grammer and Pouertie but the morositie of a Skould hee could neuer put off Anton. Parle 2. Meless Serm. 34. The like may be sayd of Sausarion the Comicke Poet equally tormented with a bitter and rayling wife Pittacus Mitelenus hauing married the sister of Draco the sonne of Penthilius a proude insolent and rayling woman persuaded a deere friend of his to marrie with the other sister for if hee were neuer so much giuen to wrath and anger shee would teach him sufferance and patience Laertius when Georgias the Sophist at the solemnitie of the Olimpicke games had made an elabourat Oration Concerning concord and to persuade men to vnitie one Melanthius in the conclusion or catastrophe thereof spake aloude This man persuades all Greece to peace who hauing but one wife and three maides at home yet his house is neuer without clamour and dissention and with all his smooth and filed phrases cannot make his owne peace Erasm. 6. Apotheg Mar. Pacuvius vpon a time sayd weeping to his familiar friend and neighbour Actius alias Arius Deere friend saith he I haue a tree in my garden in my minde the most prodigious and vnhappie that euer the earth produced or gaue sappe vnto for vpon that my first wife hanged her selfe and after that the second and now but this morning my third and last to whom Arius his neighbour replyde I wonder you beeing a learned man and approoued for your wisedome should be any way greeued at these successes and chances Dij boni inquit quot tibi dispendia arbor iste suspendit i. Oh you gods how many of thy dammages and losses hast thou hanged vpon that tree and proceeded thus Deere friend giue me some of those grafts and scientes tha I may plant them in my orchard or garden Valerius records this in an epistle to Rufinus As also Cicero reports the like of a Sicilian in 2. de Orat. and Gyraldus Dial. 8. Histor. Poetarum Euen Cato Censorius could not escape a brawling and crabbed wife though he married her from an ignoble stocke and familie Guid. Bitturn sayth That Hadrianus had a wife called Sabina hard peruerse vntoward rude in her behauiour towards her husband and worthie to be repudiated and her bed and societie abandoned Alphonsus king of Naples demaunding of one Antonius Panormita What noble Neapolitane gentlemen were delighted in Hunting or whether any late Writer had published any Treatise concerning the goodnesse and excellencie of Dogges To whom Panormita answered I beseech thee ô king rather aske this knight pointing to one that was then in presence who can better resolue you who for the space of fortie yeeres hath beene continually so conseruant amongst such creatures that euerie night he beddeth with a Canicula which word as it signifieth a Brach or Bitch so it is taken for a detractor or snarling slanderer as also for a Dogge-fish and proceeded Therefore hee ô king can best describe vnto you their natures and conditions This knight of Naples whose name for his honors sake is concealed onely smiled at the taunt giuen by Antonius well apprehending that by Canicula hee intended his wife a woman barkingly clamorous most contentious and bitter Pontanus Gregorius Hamburgensis a famous and eloquent Lawyer amongst all the German practisers the most approoued when all his busie imployments were ended in the Court of Caesar where hee was stayed some two moneths or thereabouts and as wee say in our English phrase the Terme being done and hee returning home to his owne house not farre from the Towne of Nurimburch where hee then dwelled hee met with a friend and neighbour who after some familiar salutes past betwixt them told him That his wife was liuing and in good health at home to whom shaking his head he made this short reply Si vxor viuit saene obij i. If my wife be liuing then am I but dead thereby intimating that the morositie of a curst wife is no better than a dayly death to her husband Aeneas Sylu. Lib. 3. Commentar de reb Cestis Alphonsi Thisponius the Lawyer and of the learned Councell to king Alphonsus hauing at one time three hundred pieces of Gold stolne from him which was part of the Dower of a peruerse and peeuish wife whom hee had lately married for which being wondrous sad and pensiue in the presence of the king Alphonsus looking vpon him and seeming to commiserate his sadnesse broke out into these tearmes O how happie a man were Thisponius if the theeues had stolne away his wife and left the Gold behind them Panormita Lib. 1. de Gestis Alphons Euripides the most excellent of the Greeke Tragicke Poets had two wiues the name of the first was Cherile or as Suidas calls her Charine the daughter of Mnesilochus by whom hee had three sonnes Mnesiloches the Actor or Stage-player Mnesarchides the Marchant and the third Euripides the Orator yet partly for suspition of adulterie and by reason hee led with her an vnquiet life after so hopefull an issue shee was diuorced from him After this separation hee married another called Melitto who being apprehended in adulterie with Ctesiphon the Player hee was so branded for a Cuckold and so taunted and ieasted at by the Comicke Poets in the publique Theatre that he was forced to leaue the citie and to remoue himselfe into Macedonia where hee spent the remainder of his life in the Court of king Archelaus Gell. Lib. 15. cap. 20. Athenaeus Lib. 13. Arnus Tarquinius and Tullia liued together in perpetuall discord and dissention by reason of her vntoward and crabbed condition Adrianus Berlandus tells vs of an Inne-keeper or Host a pleasant and frolicke fellow who when a guest of his complained vnto him that he could not endure such noyse and clamour for his wiues tongue neuer ceased walking finding fault with this thing then that besides there was no cessation of her perpetuall brawling and chiding with her maids and seruants To whom the merrie Host replyed And I pray my friend is this a iust cause for your impatience or discontent What doe you thinke of me then that for two and thirtie yeeres space haue had this noyse and clamour continually in mine eares night and day without ceasing and yet you see with what sufferance I beare it and cannot you endure it for the space of a few minutes By which words hee not onely gaue present satisfaction to his guest but conuerted his wiues anger into laughter Seruius Tullius king of the Romanes conferred his two daughters vpon the two Tarquius Aruns and Superbus of seuerall dispositions were the men and of sundrie conditions the women as they were opposite in humour they were as vnfitly disposed To Aruns a man of a quiet and mild temper Tullia a Ladie bold and daring was giuen on Superbus a Prince haughtie and insolent the other beeing a modest and meeke Ladie was bestowed Disparitie of mindes could not brooke the
her ancestors And because eyther her good fortune assisted her or her valour so protected her that shee neuer receiued any apparant wound in battaile may shee not therefore and without any palpable absurditie bee thought invulnerable And so much to apologie in the way of discourse for those supposed impossibilities onely producing these Histories least any thing that sauours not of immodestie that can bee spoke of Women should be left vnremembred Explicit Liber Septimus Inscriptus POLYHIMNIA THE EIGHTH BOOKE Inscribed VRANIA Intreating of Women euerie way Learned of Poetresses and Witches c. POLYHIMNIA remembers me to looke vp to her Sister VRANIA whose contemplation is in the Starres and Planets where mee thinkes I behold the twelue Signes as Manilius in his first booke ASTRONOMICON thus describes their order Aurato Princeps Aries in vellere fulgens Respicit admirans aduersum surgere Taurum c. The Princely Ramme clad in his golden Wooll Lookes backe admiring to behold the Bull Against him rise who with a chearefull face Calls to the Twinnes to bid them mend their pace The Crab these followes and the Lyon than Next the Celestiall Maid not knowne by man Libra comes after who least Time should faile Weighes out the Nights and Dayes in equall Skale And calls the Scorpion on who in his trayne Beares a bright fulgent starre at which in vaine The Centaure with his string drawne to his eare Aimes his keene shaft the Goat doth next appeare That 's Capricornus call'd who oft-times lowres Because to quench his starre Aquarius powres His Lauer forth next after him are plac't Pisces that of the twelue Signes are the last And now whilest mine eyes are yet fixt vpon the starres let it appeare no vnprofitable digression to speake something concerning Astronomie Atlas for his skill in that Art the Poets fabled him to support Heauen on his shoulders and Endimion for obseruing the course of the Moone was therefore sayd to be her friend and louer The Babylonians are reported to bee the first obseruers of the Starres and Planets by whom the Grecians being instructed found out the two Poles deuised the Dyall and distinguished the Day and the Night into foure and twentie houres Zoroastres that flourished in the time that Ninus raigned in Assiria was in this Art famous Palamides the sonne of Nauplius and Climene was the first amongst the Greekes that accommodated the Weekes Moneths and Yeares and proportioned them to the true course of the Sunne hee obserued the terrible eclipse of the Sunne and taught it to be a meere natural cause and not prodigious as it was then feared Philostratus in Heroicis Thales Milesiuâ— one of the seuen wisemen of Greece applyde himselfe to this studie and as Calimachus witnesseth of him was the first that disputed vpon Vrsa maior as Eâ—demus predicted the Eclips of the Sunne to the Ionians which happened in the time that Haliattes was king of Lidia and fought a great and terrible battaile against Aiaxaris king of the Medes Herodotus in Clio. Laertius Lib. 1. Anaximander Milesius the scholer of Thales first taught that the Moone shined only by a borrowed Light and that the Sunne equalled in bignesse the compasse of the whole frame of the Earth and was the purest fire he made the first Sun-dyall in Lacedemon and placed it where it might best giue a shaddow from the reflection of the Sunne he obserued the Aequinoctiall and made Spheres and Horoscopes Laert. lib. 2. Anaxagoras Clazimonius taught That the Sunne was a fire perpetually burning greater in the Circumference than the Island of Peloponessus hee called it a fierie Stone he predicted that a stone should fall from the Orbe of the Sunne which happened neere to Aegos a flood in Thrace in the second yere of the seuentie eight Olimpiad This made Euripides his scholer in Phaâ—tontide to call the Sunne a golden Turfe and that the Moone conteined within her Sphere Houses and Dwellings Hills Valleys Forrests Beasts and People Hee affirmed the Galaxia or Milkie-path to be a meere reflex of the Sunne and no inter-light arising from the Starres Commets he taught to bee a concourse of the wandering Starres and the flames or beards which proceed from them loose sparkes shaken by the Ayre Being asked to what end he was borne into the world hee answered Onely to haue inspection into the Sunne the Moone and the Planets Laert. li. 2. Plin. lib. 2. cap. 60. In this were eminent Parmenides Eleates the scholer of Xenophon Leucippus Eleates Democrates Abderites Xenocrates Chalcidonius who writ six bookes de Astrologia as Laertius witnesseth lib. 4. Eâ—doxus Guidius Theophrastus Erisius Oenopides Chius Meton Lacedemonius both remembred by Aelianus Protagorus Astrologus with infinite others and among these Hyppatia a learned woman of Alexandria daughter of Theon the famous Geometrition and wife to the Phylosopher Isiodorus shee writ of Astronomie kept schoole in Alexandria where she was frequented by many worthie schollers shee flourished in the time of Arcadius the Emperour and was after by such as enuied her fame in learning pittifully slaine and massacred From the professors of this Art I come to the effects therof It is related of Meton the expert Astrologian when the Athenian forces were to be shipped into Sicily to fight against the Syracusans hee foreseeing by his Art the lamentable successe of that battell which after proued accordingly to auoid the danger thereof being a man of especiall imployment in that businesse and to come off without suspision of feare or cowardise hee counterfeited madnesse which the better to confirme hee fiâ—ed a Summerâ—house of his owne which stood neere Pyceta by which act he was iudged to be distracted in his sences and for that reason dismist from his charge Plutarch in Alcebiad P. Nigidiâ—s Figalus was of the Pythagorian Sect excellent both in the Mathematickes and Physicke of whom Lucian lib. 1. At Figulus cui cura deos secretaque mundi Nosse fuit But Figulus whose cheife care was to find And know the gods with secrets from mankind Conceald c. Hee flourished in the time of Caesar hee was skillfull in the reuolutions of the Heauens aboue all that liued in his time amongst other notable effects of his Art hee predicted to Angustus beeing an infant the Imperiall Purple Xiphilin in Augusto Scribonius Mathematicâ—â— told Lyuia the mother of Tiberius Caesar being with child that shee was great with a male infant not a female adding wherein his Art failed Verum sine diademate i. But without a Diademe as ignorant then to what height the maiestie of the Caesars were to ascend Sabellicus lib. 1. cap. 1. It is reported of the Astrologian Thrasillus that when Tiberius was banished by Augustus into the Island of Rhodes and in his greatest mellancholly and discontent had beene often comforted by Thrasillus his schoole-maister as promising him some speedie good newes apprehended from his Art But on a time they two walking together vpon the bankes
that all her meanes and substance was consumed and wasted by her impious and sacrilegious husband who most vnnaturally deteined her in prison This deuout woman for the Faith and ministring to the Saints was arraigned and condemned to the fire where shee publikely suffered a most glorious Martyrdom of her Volateran makes mention Giliberta Anglica was borne in Maguns or Mens in Germanie where shee was beloued of a young scholler for whose sake and least their priuat and mutuall affection should at length come to the eares of her parents all virginall modestie and womanish feare set aside she put her selfe into a yong mans habit fled from her fathers house and with her deere friend and paramour came into England where as well as to his obseruance and loue shee gaue her selfe to the practise of the Arts and to attaine to the perfection of Learning At length the young man dying finding her selfe entred into some knowledge and desirous to bee further instructed as one hauing a wondrous prompt and acute braine shee still continued her habite and withall her laborious studie as well in the Scriptures as other humane Learnings At length comming to Rome shee read publiquely in the Schooles where shee purchased her selfe a great and frequent Auditorie And besides her singular wisedome shee was much admired and beloued for her seeming sanctitie and austeritie of life and after the death of Leo the fift elected and confirmed in the Papall Dignitie for thus writes Volaterran Sigebertus Platina and others that haue writ the Liues of the Roman Bishops shee is remembred likewise to this purpose by Boccatius in his booke de Claris Mulieribus But Sabellicus Lib. 1. Aeneadis calls her Ioanna Anglica i. Ioane English who in her minoritie dissembled her Sex and so habited trauailed as farre as Athens and there studied with infinite gaine and profite insomuch that comming to Rome few or none could equall her in Disputation or Lectures which begot her such reuerence and authoritie with all men that shee was by a generall Suffrage elected into the Papacie and succeeded Leo the fourth Rauisius in Officina tit 6. Others will not allow that euer any such woman was Pope and excuse it thus There was one Bishop of Rome who was a decrepit and weake old man He by reason of age not being well able to manage his temporall affaires and domesticke businesse receiued into his Pallace as a guide and gouernesse a woman called Ioanna his sister or neere kinswoman this woman tooke vpon her great pride and state and vsurped vpon the infirmitie of her brother insomuch that hauing the command of all things and being auaricious by nature no businesse was dispatched but by her nor any thing concluded without her for which shee was both hated and scorned and therefore vpon her that vsurped the authoritie of the Pope they likewise bestowed his stile and nick-named her Pope Ioane This I haue not read but I haue heard some report it From her I come to Rosuida borne in Germanie and by Nation a Saxon shee liued vnder Lotharius the first and was of a religious place called Gandresenses in the Diocesse of Hildesemensis shee was facundious in the Greeke and Roman Tongues and practised in all good Arts shee composed many Workes not without great commendation from the Readers one especially to her fellow Nunnes and Votaresses exhorting them to Chastitie Vertue and Diuine worship Shee published six Comedies besides a noble Poeme in Hexameter Verse of the Bookes and Heroicke Acts done by the Otho Caesars Shee writ the Liues of holy women but chiefely a Diuine Worke of the pious and chast life of the blessed Virgin in Elegeicke Verse which began thus Vnica spes Mundiem Cranzius Lib. 6. cap. 20. Metrapoleos Fulgos Lib. 8. cap. 3. Elizabetha Abbesse of Schonaugia zealously imitated the practise and studies of this Rosuida which shee professed in the citie of Triers Shee writ many things in the Latine Tongue of which shee was diuinely admonished and inspired from aboue besides many persuasiue Epistles to her Couent of Sisters and others full of great conceit and elegancie A Booke also that was entituled A path to direct vs the way to God besides a Volume of many learned Epistles full of great iudgement and knowledge Fulgos. Lib. 8. cap. 3. and Egnat ibidem Constantia the wife of Alexander Sforza is deseruedly inserted in the Catalogue of women famous and excellent in Learning Shee from her child-hood was so laborious in the best Disciplines that vpon the suddaine and without any premeditation she was able sufficiently to discourse vpon any argument eyther Theologicall or Philosophicall besides shee was frequent in the Workes of S. Hierome S. Ambrose Gregorie Cicero and Lactantius For her extemporall vaine in Verse shee was much admired in which shee was so elegantly ingenious that shee attracted the cares of many iudicious schollers to be her dayly Auditors And this facilitie is reported to be innate and borne with her as proceeding with such smoothnesse and without the least force or affectation Her daughter Baptista succeeded her both in fame and merit beeing accepted and approoued for one equally qualified with her mother Constantia Therefore Politianus in Nâ—tricia doubts not to ranke her amongst the best learned and most illustrious women Baptista Prima the daughter of Galeatinus Malatesta Prince of Pisauria and after the wife of Guido Montefelcrensis Earle of Vrbin made many commendable proofes of her wit and learning for shee held many disputations euen with those that were best practised and grounded in the Arts from whence shee came off with no common applause Shee writ a Volume in Latine which shee titled The Frailetie of mans Life with other prayse-worthie bookes De vera Religione i. Of true Religion Fulgos Lib. 8. cap. 3. Isota Nauarula Veronensis deuoted her life wholly to the studie of all humane knowledge and withall to the contemplation of Diuine Mysteries to which shee added the honour of perpetuall Chastitie Shee writ many eloquent Epistles to Pope Nicolaus Quintus as also to Pius the second being sufficiently seene as well in Theologie as Philosophie Amongst other Workes shee composed a Dialogue in which it was disputed which of the two of our Parents Adam and Eue sinned first or more offended in the beginning Egnat and Fulgos. Lib. 8. cap. 3. Alpiades a Virgin who much desired to be instructed in the true Faith was inspired from aboue with a miraculous knowledge in the Scriptures Rauis in Offic. Of Women excellent in Philosophie and other Learning FRom Theologie I descend to Philosophie Nicaula Queene of Saba trauelled from the farthest part of Aethiopia vp to Hierusalem to prooue the wisedome of Salomon in darke Problemes and hard Questions which when he had resolued and satisfied her by his diuine wisedome inspired into him from aboue she returned into her countrey richer by her gifts more benefited by her knowledge and fruitfull as
dayes affected it for seldome doth Adulterie but goe hand in hand with Murther From the Sinne I come to the Punishment Amongst the Israelites it was first punished with Finâ—s as may be collected from the historie of Thamar who being with child by Iudas hee threatened her to the stake and had accordingly performed it had shee not shewed by manifest tokens that he himselfe was the author of her vnlawfull issue Genes 38. The Aegyptians condemned the Adulterer so deprehended to a thousand Scourges the Adulteresse to haue her Nose cut off to the greater terror of the like Delinquents Diodor. Sicul. Lib. 2. cap. 2. Coel. Lib. 21. cap. 25. By Solons Lawes a man was permitted to kill them both in the act that so found them Rauis In Iudaea they were stoned to death Plat. Lib. 9. de Legibus punisheth Adulterie with death The Locrenses by tradition from Zaluces put out the Adulterers eyes The Cumaei prostituted the Adulteresse to all men till shee died by the same sinne shee had committed Alex. ab Alex. Lib. 4. cap. 1. It was a custome amongst the antient Germans for the husband to cut off his wiues haire so apprehended to turne her out of doores naked and scourge her from Village to Village One bringing word to Diogenes That a fellow called Dydimones was taken in the Act Hee is worthie then saith hee to be hanged by his owne name for Didymi in the Greeke Tongue are Testiculi in English the Testicles or immodest parts By them therefore from whence he deriued his name and by which he had offended he would haue had him to suffer Laert. Lib. 6. Hyettus the Argiue slew one Molurus with his wife apprehending them in their vnlawfull congression Coelius Iulius Caesar repudiated his wife for no other reason but because P. Clodius was found in his house in womans Apparrell And being vrged to proceed against her hee absolutely denyed it alledging That hee had nothing whereof to accuse her but being further demanded Why then hee abandoned her societie hee answered That it was behoofefull for the wife of Caesar not onely to be cleare from the sinne it selfe but from the least suspition of crime Fulgos Lib. 6. cap. 1. Augustus banished his owne Daughter and Neece so accused into the Island called Pandateria after into Rhegium commanding at his death That their bodies being dead should not be brought neere vnto his Sepulchre To omit many Nicolaus the first Pope of that name excommunicated king Lotharius brother to Lewis the second Emperour because hee diuorced his wife Therberga and in her roome instated Gualdrada and made her Queene Besides he degraded Regnaldus Archbishop of Treuers and Gunthramus Archbishop of Collen from their Episcopall dignities for giuing their approbation to that adulterate Marriage And so much for the punishment I will conclude with the counsaile of Horace Lib. 1. Satyr 2. Desine Matronas sectarier vnde laboris Plus haurire mali est quam ex re decerpere fructum est Cease Matrons to pursue for of such paine Thou to thy selfe more mischiefe reap'st than gaine Sisters that haue murdred their Brothers AFter the vntimely death of Aydere his brother Ismael succeeded him in the Persian Empire who arriuing at Casbin was of his sister receiued with ioy and of the people with loude acclamations and beeing now possessed of the Imperiall dignitie the better as hee thought to secure himselfe hauing power answerable to his will after the barbarous custome of the Turkish tyrannie he first caused his eight younger brothers to be beheaded stretching his bloodie malice to all or the most part of his owne affinitie not suffering any to liue that had beene neere or deere to his deseased brother so that the â—â—ttie Casbin seemed to swimme in blood and ecchoed with nothing but lamentations and mournings His crueltie bred in the people both feare and hate both which were much more increased when they vnderstood hee had a purpose to alter their forme of religion who with great adoration honour their prophet Aly into the Turkish superstition his infinite and almost incredible butcheries concerne not my proiect in hand I therefore leaue them and returne to his sister whose name was Periaconcona who when this Tyrant was in the middest of his securities and the sister as hee imagined in her sisterly loue and affection vpon a night when he was in all dissolute voluptuousnesse sporting amidst his concubines she into whose trust and charge he had especially committed the safetie of his person hauing confederated with Calilchan Emirchan Pyrymahomet and Churchi Bassa the most eminent men in the Empire admitted them into the Seraglio in womans attyre by whom with her assistant hand in the middest of his luxuries hee was strangled an act though happily beneficiall to the common good yet ill becomming a sister vnlesse such an one as striued to paralel him in his vnnaturall cruelties Turkish Histor. Equall with this was that of Quendreda who after the death of Ranulphus king of Mercia his young sonne Kenelme a child of seuen yeares of age raigning in his stead whose royall estate and dignitie beeing enuied by his sister shee conspired with one Heskbertus by whose treacherous practise the king was inticed into a thick forrest there murdered and priuatly buried his bodie long missed and not found and the conspirators not so much as suspected But after as Willielm de regib li. 1. and de Pontificibus lib. 4. relates a Doue brought in her bill a scroule written in English golden letters and layde it vpon the Altar of Saint Peter which being read by an Englishman contained these words by which the place where the bodie lay was discouered At Clent in Cowbach Kenelme Keneborne lyeth vnder Thorne heaued by weaued that is in plainer English At Clent in Cowbach vnder a thorne Kenelme lyeth headlesse slaine by treason Some say it was found by a light which streamed vp into the Ayre from the place where his bodie lay couered His hearse being after borne towards his sepulchre to be a second time interred with solemne Dyrges sung by the Churchmen Quendreda sitting then in a window with a Psalter in her hand to see the funerall solemnely passe by whether in skorne of the person derision of the ceremonie or both is not certaine but she began to sing the Psalme of Te Deum laudamus backeward when instantly both her eyes dropped out of her head with a great flux of blood which stained her booke and it was after kept as a sacred relique in memorie of the diuine iudgement What need I trouble you with citing antiquities how this sinne ought to be punished on earth when we see how hatefull it is in the eyes of Heauen besides to insult vpon the bodies of the dead is monstrous and euen in things sencelesse to be punished Ausonius remembers vs of one Achillas who finding a dead mans skull in a place where three sundrie wayes