Friday was born So that he was the fore-runner of Christ both in his Conception his Birth his Baptism his Preaching and his Death A woman goeth with child two hundred threescore and sixteen daies for so long by computation was Christ in the womb of the blessed Virgin though all women goe not so long with child S. Augustine observes lib. 4. de Civitate Dei cap. 5. So that Christ was longer in the womb by a day and more then St Iohn Baptist Iohn also was born when the daies began to shorten and wane and Christ when they began to wax long Concerning these Antiquities I conclude with a sentence of St Augustins Against Reason saith he no sober man will dispute against the Scripture no Christian man contest and against the Church no religious man oppose And so I proceed to the History Of Mary the blessed Virgin LEt it not be held unnecessary or appear out of course amongst these Virgins to insert a history memorable for the rarenesse thereof to all posterity Iohannes Wyerius in his book intituled de Praestigiâ—s demonum hath collected it out of Suidas In the mean time that Iustinian was Emperor there was a Prince amongst the Jewes whose name was Theodosius He having great aequaintance and familiarity with one Philippus a Christian a bancker or one that dealt in the exchange of monie for he was called Philippus Argentarius this Philip did often sollicite and exhort him to leave his Judaisme and be a convert and turn to the Christian religion to whom he answered Indeed he must ingeniously confesse he made no question but that Jesus whom the Christians adored was the same Messias of whom the holy Prophets foretold yet he could not be perswaded to relinquish the honours and profits that he had amongst his own Nation and give himselfe up to a name which they knew not or at least would not acknowledge yet that he beleeved so of Christ he was not only perswaded by the Oracles of the holy Prophets but he found it approved by a certain mystery namely a writing most charily stil kept amongst the Jewes in a place most safe and secret where their choice records with the especiallest care and trust are reserved which was of this nature It was a custome amongst the Jewish Nation at what time the holy Temple was yet standing in Jerusalem to have continually the number of 22 chief and selected Priests just so many as there be letters in the Hebrew language or books of the old Testament and so often as any of these was taken away by death immediately another was elected to succeed in his place and being chosen in a book kept in the treasury for that only purpose expressly to write down his own name and the names of both his parents with the daies punctually set down of the decease of the one and the succession of the other Now in the time that Christ was conversant in Judaea and yet had not shewed himselfe to the world nor preached the Word openly to the people it hapned that one of the Priests of the foresaid number died neither after many voices and sundry nominations was any agreed upon or thought fit to be ascribed into his place At length was propounded JESUS the son of the Carpenter Ioseph for so they termed him a man though young yet for the sanctity of his life his behaviour and doctrine above all the rest commended This suffrage standing as having generall approbation from all it was convenient to send for his mother for his father Ioseph was late dead into the Consistory only to know their names and to register them in the aforesaid book She therefore being called and diligently questioned of her son and his father thus answered That indeed she was the mother of JESUS and brought him into the world of which those women are testates that were present at his birth but that he had no father from earth in which if they desired to be further instructed she could make it plainly appear For being a Virgin and then in Galilee the Angel of God saith she entred the house where I was and appearing unto me not sleeping but thus as I am awake he told me That by the Holy Ghost I should conceive and bring forth a son and commanded me that I should cal his name JESUS Therefore being then a Virgin by that Vision I conceived I brought forth JESUS and I still remain a Virgin unto this day When the 〈◊〉 heâ—â—d this they appointed faithfull and trusty Midwiveâ— with all diligence and care to make proof whether Mary were a Virgin or no they finding the truth most appâ—â—ant and not to be contradicted delivered up to the Priests That she 〈◊〉 Virgin pure and immaculate Then they sent for those women that were known to be at her delivery and were witnâ—sses of the Infants comming into the world all which did attest and justity That she was the mother of the same JESUS With these things the Priests amazed and astonished they presently entreated Mary that she would freely professe unto unto them what his Parents were that their names according to custome might be registred amongst the others To whom the blessed Virgin thus answered Certain I am that I brought him into the world but know no father that he hath from the Earth but by the Angel it was told me That he was the son of GOD He therefore is the son of GOD and me This the Priests understanding called for the book which being laid open before them they caused these words to be inscribed Upon such a day deceased such a Priest born of such and such Parents in whose place by the common and unite suffrage of us all is elected Priest JESUS the Son of the living GOD and the Virgin MARY And this book Theodosius affirmed by the especiall diligence of the most noble amongst the Jewes and the chiefe Princes was reserved from the great sack and destruction of the City and Temple and was transferred into the City of Tiberias and there kept a long time after Suidas testifies that he hath heard this discourse from honest men who delivered it to him word by word as they themselves have heard it from the mouth of Philippus Argentarius This most blessed and pure Virgin Mary the mother of our Lord and Saviour was born of the holy Matron St Anne in the year of the world 3948 and in the year before Christ fifteen Of him Claudian thus elegantly writes in one of his Epigrams Proles vera Dei cunctisque antiquior Annis Nunegenitus qui semper eras True Son of God older then time that hast Thy birth but now yet from beginning wast Author of Light and Light before all other O thou that art the parent of thy mother And by thâ—ne equall-aged father sent From Heaven unto this terrene continent Whose word was made Flesh and constrain'd to dwell In the streight prison of a Virgins cell And in a narrow angle to
the Muses she had a son called Erotus who inhabited the mountain Pernassus and was wholly devoted to Hunting and the Chase Spaco was Nurse to Cyrus who because that word in the Median Language signifies a Brache for so saith Herodotus in Clio. Archimorus the son Licurgus King of Thrace whose Nurse was called Hypsiphyle being left by her in the fields was fed by a Serpent Teste Statio Ericlia or Euriclia was the Nurse to Vlysses Homer in Odyss and Ovid. in Epist Cajeta was Nurse to Aeneas lib. 7. Aenead Tu quoque â—â—toribus nostris Aeneia Nutrix Aeternam moriens famam Cajeta dedisti And thou Aeneas Nurse Cajeta Vnto our Shores hast left A never dying fame because There of thy life bereft Alcibiades had a Nurse whose name was Amiâ—la or as some would have it Amida his schoolmaster was Zopyrus so saith Plutarch in Lycurg Alcibiad Hellanice was the Nurse to Alexander the great witnesse Qu. Curtius Acca Laventia was Nurse to Alexander so saith Pliny lib. 18. cap. 2. so Statius lib. 1. Sil. in this Disticon Jam secura parens Thuscis regnabat in agris Ilia portantem lassabat Romulus Accam Our parent Ilia now secure The Tuscan waters keeps The whilst in Accaes wearied arms Young Romulus fast sleeps Yet Livy and almost all the Roman Historiographers write rhat Romulus and Remus were nursed by Lupa wife to the shepherd Faustulus she was so called because she prostituted her selfe for gain they were cast out by the King Amulius and was found by the bounds of Tyber Pliny cals her Acca Laurentia Philix was Nurse to the Emperor Domitian who when he was slain and his corse lay derided and neglected took up his body and putting it into a common Bear caused it by ordinary and mercenary bearers to be carried to the suburbs wherein she lived and interred it in the Latin high way Author Sueton. Macrina was a pious and religious woman the disciple and scholer of Greg. Neocaesariensis she was Norse and school mistress in the first foundation of Christian Religion to the great Basilius as he himselfe witnesseth in an Epistle to the Neocaesarienses From Nurses a word or two of Midwives Phaenarite was one the mother of Athenean Socrates she is remembred to be the first that disputed of Morality that which we call Ethick Instructions and taught the mysticall Philosophy of the Stars and Planets how it might be made familiar and have correspondence with our humane and terrestriall actions The son imitated the mother and proved as happy a Midwife of the mind as she of the body both helping into the world ripe timely and fruitful issues Volaterran lib. 19. Laertius in ejus vita and Valerius Maxim lib. 3. cap. 4. Pliny lib. 28. cap. 7. speaks of two Midwives the one called Sotyra the other Salpe whose opinions and rules he observeth in the cures of many diseases of Salpe he speaks more largely lib. 32. cap. 6. Lycosthenes speaks of one Philippa Midwife to Iolanta who indured many distresses and changes of fortune Of Stepmothers I will only name some few and so passe them over because where they be can be exprest nothing but malice and unnaturall cruelty in women The histories must of force appear harsh and unpleasant besides some of their bloody acts I have touched before under another title Ino was Stepmother to Phrixus and Helles the daughter of Athamus Hyppodamia to Chrisippus Stratonice to Antiochus Soter Julia to Anton. Caracalla Gedica to Cominius Juno to Hercules Opaea to Scylis King of Scythia Eribaea to Mercury Alphriga to Edward the second of that name before the Conquest King of England Martina to Constantinus Heraclius whom she slew by poison c. Of Women for their Piety and Devotion remembred in the sacred Scriptures I Desire to leave nothing unspecified or not remembred in this work that might not make the excellency of good Women oppose in all contradiction the excesse of the bad and to draw if it were possible the worst to the imitation of the best Hanapus cap. 125. commemorates these Rebecka who when she saw the servant of Abraham at the Well where she came to draw water and desiring to drink answered cheerfully and without delay Drink Sir and I will also draw water for thy Camels till they have all drunk their fill Genes 24. The Midwives feared God and did not according to the command of Pharaoh King of Aegypt but preserved the male-children whom they might have destroied Exodus 1. The daughter of Pharaoh comming down to the river to wash her selfe with her handmaid and finding the young child Moses in the Ark amongst the bulrushes she had compassion on the infant and said Surely this is a child of the Hebrews so caused him to be nursed brought up in her fathers Court and after adopted him to be her son Exod. 2. Rahab the strumpeâ— when she knew the spies of Joshua to be pursued and in danger of death concealed them and returned them safe to the army Josh 2. The messengers that were sent to David in the wildernesse to inform him of the proceeding of his son Absolon were by a woman hid in a Well which she covered and by that means deluded their pursuers 1 King 2. 17. When two common women contended before Solomon about the living and dead infant the one had a tender and relenting breast and could not endure to see the living child perish 1 Kin. 3. 3. The widdow woman of Zarephath enterteined Eliah as her guest and by her he was relieved 1 King 17 9. The Shunamitish woman perswaded with her husband that the Prophet Elisaeus might have a convenient lodging in her house to go and come at his pleasure 1 King 4. 2. When wicked Athalia had given strict command to destroy all the Kings seed Josaba the daughter of King Ioram took Ioas one of the Kings children and by hiding him out of the way preserved his life 1 King 4. 11. Hester having commiseration of her people when a severe edict was published to destroy them all and sweep them from the face of the earth she exposed her selfe with the great danger of her own life to the displeasure of King Ahashuerosh purchasing thereby the freedome of her Nation and her own sublimity Hester 4. 5. Women ministred to the Savior of the world in his way as he went preaching to the Towns and Cities Luke 8. when he walked from place to place preaching and teaching he is said never to have had more free and faithfull welcome then in the house of Martha and Mary Luke 10. Iohn 12. When the Scribes and Pharisees blasphemed at the hearing and seeing the Doctrine and Miracles of Christ a certain woman giving devour attention to his words as extasi'd with his divine Sermon burst forth into this acclamation Blessed be the womb that bare thee and the brests that gave thee suck Luke 11. Christ being in Bethania in the house of Simon the leaper as
113 Sybilla Cumaea and her Prophesies 114 Sybilla Samia and her Prophecies 116 Sybilla Cumana and her Prophesies 118 Sybilla Hellespontiaca and her Prophecies 121 Sybilla Phrygia and her Prophesies 122 Sybilla Europaea and her Prophecies 124 Sybilla Tiburtina and her Prophesies ib. Sybilla Aegyptia and her Prophesies 126 Sybilla Erithraea and her Prophecies 127 A discourse of the Virgin Vestals 128 Of Oppia Claudia Fonteia Martia c. 131 Of the Prophetesses 134 The History of a great Magician 136 Of the Hesperides 141 The Pleiades or Hyades and why of the seven Stars but six appear at once 143 Of the Graces 145 Of the Hours 148 Of Aurora or the Morning 149 Of the Night 153 Of Sleep 155 Of Death 159 The Contents of the third Book inscribed Thalia Treating of Illustrious Queens famous Wives Mothers Daughters c. A Discourse concerning Illustrious Women 161 How kissing first came up ibid. Of three Gentlemen and their wives 166 Of Illustrious Queens 167 A Funerall Ode upon the death of Anna Panareta 169 Of divers Ladies famous for their Modesty 171 The wife of Fulvius 174 Of Aretaphila 176 Of Pieria Aspasia c. 178 The memorable History of Odatis 184 Of Aristomache Hyppo and Chiomara c. 185 Of Tertia Aemilia Turia Sulpitia Julia and Portia 187 Of Horestilla Artimesia and Hormisda 188 Of Queen Ada and Zenocrita 190 Of the wise of Pythes 192 Of the wise of Nausimenes 192 Of Ciano Medullina and Erixo ib. A Woman of the City Pergamus 195 Of Stratonica Valeria and Cloelia 196 Of Olympias and the Troades ib. Of the Phocides and women of Chios 200 Of the Persides Celtae Melitae and Tyrrhaenae 202 Examples of Modesty and Magnanimity 204 Of Dido Caesara Gumilda and Ethelburga 209 Of Policrita 213 Of Queens and other Ladies for divers Vertues memorable 214 Of women remarkable for their love to their husbands 220 The Contents of the fourth book inscribed Melpoment of Women incestuous Adulteresses and such as have come by strange deaths A Discourse perswading to good life 225 Of Women incestuous and first of Queen Sâ—miramis 228 Of Tagenna a woman of seventy Cubits high 231 Of Pasiphae 232 Of Canace Canusia and Valeria Tusculana 233 Of Iulia the Empresse 234 The sisters of Cambyses 235 Of Livia Horestilla Lollia Paulina Cesonia c. 237 Of Iocasta 238 Of Crythaeis the mother of Homer 240 An Epitaph upon Homer Prince of Poets 242 A strange Incest 244 Of Cyborea mother to Iudas Iscariot 245 Of Veronica 247 A discourse concerning Adulteresses 248 Of many great Ladies branded with Adultery amongst the Romans 251 A Country fellow and his mistresse 252 The water of a chast woman excellent for the eie-sight 254 Of Laâ—dice an unnaturall wife 255 The birth of Antoninus Commodus 256 Of Phedima and a notable Imposter ibid. Of Beguâ— Queen of Persia 259 Of Queen Olympias and the birth of Alexander 261 The death of Olympias 264 Of Romilda with â—are examples of Chastity ib. Of Ethethurga with her Epitaph 266 A merry accident concerning an Adulteresse 267 A true modern History of an Adulteresse 268 The wife of Gengulphus and divers others 274 The history of Elphritha 276 Of Guâ—â—â—ra with other intermixture of History 280 Of Women that have come by strange deaths 283 Women that died golden deaths ibid. Women that died in Child birth 285 Women that suffered Martyrdome 286 The strange death of Aristoclaea Democrita c. 289 The Hostlers Tale. 292 The Contents of the fifth Book inscribed Terpsichore Entreating of Amazons and other women famous either for Valor or Beauty A Discourse whether Valor or Beauty may claim priority 302 Of the Amazons their originall c. 310 Of other warlike women and those of masculine vertue 316 Examples of Fear ibid. Of Helerna Camilla Maria Puteolana and others ibid. The race of Hyppomanes and Atlanta 322 Of other warlike Ladies 323 A description of the Messagers 325 Of Zantippe and Mirho 327 Of a Sheep and a Shrow 329 A trick of an English scold c. 330 Of English Virago's and of Ioan de Pucil 330 A discourse of Fair women 337 Of Fair women ib. The fair Mistresse of Pisistratus 349 Of Niâ—â—tis 350 Of Bersane 352 Of the wife of Candaules ibid Rowan and Estrilda 355 The fair Lady of Norwich 356 Of Calirrhoe daughter to Boetius 361 Of the wives of Cabbas and Phaillus c. 362 The daughters of Danaus and the sons of Aegyptus 365 Of Manto 366 The wife of Agetus c. 36â— A Vicars daughter 369 A fair witty wench 376 Of women deformed 371 The Contents of the sixt Book inscribed Erato Treating of Chast women and Wantons A Discourse concerning Chastity and wantonness 375 Of Mary the blessed Virgin 380 Of Petronilla the daughter of St. Peter and other chast Virgins 383 Of chast wives and first of Penelope 388 The History of a woman of Casa Nova 393 Of Edeltrudis Editha and others 355 Of wantons 398 Of common Strumpets Concubines and private Mistresses 402 Of such as merited the name of Honest Whores 403 Of Lais. 405 Of Glicerium alias Glicera and others 411 Of Agathoclea 413 Of Cleophis 415 Callipigae Alogunes Cosmartidenes Audia c. 416 Iulia the daughter of Augustus Caesar 418 Harlotta the mother of William the Conqueror 421 Of divers Wantons belonging to sundry famous men Poets and others 422 Of famous Wantons 426 Of Mista and others 427 Of Wantons converted 432 The Contents of the seventh Book inscribed Polihymnia or Memory Entreating of the Piety of Daughters Mothers Sisters and Wives A Discourse concerning Lies Jeasts witty Sayings 439 Of Pious Daughters 447 The love of Mothers to their children 451 Friendship betwixt women 453 The love of Sisters towards their Brothers 456 Of Matrimony and Conjugall love 458 Ceremonies before Marriage 461 Times forbidden in marraige 461 Of Contracts 462 Of Nuptiall Dowers 463 Of Nuptial Gifts or Presents ibid. Of Nuptial Ornaments Pomp Feasts and Epithalamions c. 465 A description of the bride comming from her chamber 467 The bridegroome first appearing 468 The Nuptiall Oâ—â—ering ibid. The Nuptiall Song 469 The entranâ—ce into their Bedchamber ibid. 〈◊〉 Anguries and Nuptiall Expiations 472 〈…〉 of Women to their Hubands 475 Of Bawds 480 Of Age. 483 Of women addicted to Gluttony or Drunkennesse 484 Of women beloved of divers creatures 488 Of women excellent in Painting Weaving c. ibid. Of women contentious and bloody 494 Of women strangely preserved from death and such as have unwillingly been the deaths of their Parents 501 Of Clamorous women commonly called scolds 504 Of Tullia and her sister ibid. Examples of Patience in women 506 Variety of discourse concerning women 510 The daughters of Apollo ibid. The Syrens ibid. Women that have dissembled their shape to good purposes or to bad 511 Women that have changed their Sex 512 The Contents of the eight Book inscribed Urania Entreating of Women every way Learned Of Poetesses and Witches A Discourse of Astrology
517 Of famous Astrologians 518 Of Women Orators that have pleaded their own causes or others 523 Of women studious in Divinity 525 Of women excellent in Philosophy other Learning 529 A discourse of Poetry 536 Of women excellent in Poetry 538 Of Minerva and others 542 Of Sapho 543 Of Cleobule Lindia and other Poetesses 550 Of Telesilla Poetria 552 Of Perhilla c. 554 A discourse of Witches 556 How the Devil rewards his servants 558 The wretched ends of sundry Magicians 559 Severall sorts of superstitious Jugling 560 Of Cyrce Medea and other Witches remembred by the Poets 563 Of Witches transported from one place to another by the Devil 567 Of Witches that have either changed their own shapes or transformed others 572 Lycantropia 573 A piper transformed into an Asse 574 Other miraculous transformations 575 Of she Devils 576 A Witch of Amsterdam 581 A Witch of Geneva 582 Examples of strange kinds of Witchcraft 583 Witches called Extasists ibid. Divers things to be observed in witches 585. The Contents of the ninth Book 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 586 Of women ravished 589 Of Handmaids Nurses Midwives and Stepdames 592 The punishment of Incest in the sister of Leucippus 603 The punishment of Adultery 605 Sisters that have murthered their brothers 606 The punishment of Fratricides 607 Of mothers that have slain their children and wives their husbands 608 Punishment due to Regicides 609 Punishment of unjust Divorce 611 Whoredome punished 612 Loquacity punished 613 Lying punished 614 Perjury punished ibid. Prodigality and Excesse punished 616 Witchcraft punished 619 Honor and Reward due to Fortitude 627 Honor and Reward due to Temperance 629 Reward due to fertility or many children illustrated in divers Histories 630 Of Beauty and the Reward thereof 638 A Convertite rewarded 641 Of Cura or Care 647 Rewards due to women Philosophers Orators or Poetesses 648 Nine Books of various History only concerning Women Inscribed by the names of the nine Muses The first Book which is CLIO treating of the Goddesses Coelestiall Terrestriall Marine and Infernall BEfore we enter into a particular tractare of these Goddesses it shall not be amisse to speak something of the opinions setled in sundry Nations concerning them Who were their first Adorers and Worshippers the multiplicity of their gods and what several Rights and Customs Observations and Ceremonies they used in their Oblations and Sacrifices The Aethiopians are said to be the most ancient and first beginners of Divine adoration as Diodorus is of opinion Imagining in themselves and verily beleeving some of their gods to be everlasting and others to participate of a mortall and corruptible nature The Phoenicians they delivered admirable and strange things concerning their gods and the first beginning and Creation of things above all others having in Divine 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 reigned amongst them they called Coelum which is heaven The Augitae another Nation in the Affrick Continent acknowledged no other Deities then the Ghosts of such Noble persons as were deceased to whose Sepulchres they usually repaired to demand answers of al such things wherein they doubted The Theology of the Phrygians was not much different from theirs The Persians neither erected Statues nor Altars they worshipped the Heaâ—ens which they called Jupiter the Sun by the name of 〈◊〉 the Moon Venus the Fire the Earth the Winds and the Water Isiodorus saith the Graecians first honoured 〈◊〉 whom they stiled Jupiter and were the first devisâ—rs 〈◊〉 Images erecters of Altars and offerers of Sacrifice The Jewes as Cornelius Tacitus relates apprehended but one divine power and that onely they acknowledged The German of old as the same Author affirms were of opinion That the gods could not be comprehended within wals not have any humane shape appropriated unto them measuring theâ—â— incomprehensible power by the magnitude of the heavens Now concerning the divers opinions of men what this supreme Deity should be some held it the universe or the globe of the world of which opinion was Origenes in his fifth book against Câ—â—sus The Stoicks held it to be the first world the Platonists a second world and divers other Sâ—ctâ—sts of Greece to be a third world Thales Mâ—lesius called God a Mind that fashioned all creatures out of the water that knew â—o beginning and was not capable of end Anaximander he ascribed a Deity to the Stars and the Planets and these coelestiâ—ll bodies attributing no honour to that Mind of which Thales dreamed Anaximenes thought it to be Infinite 〈◊〉 to which he attributed the Originall of all causes and derived the birth of the gods from thence for so Saint Augustine and Cicero affirms Democritus Abderites as Cicero and Arnobius testifie of him was of opinion that it was a Mind of fire and the soule of the world Plutarch in the 〈◊〉 of Numa sets down Pythagoras his opinion concerning this godhead and thus defines it A Mind still travelling never out of motion but dispers'd and diffus'd through all the parts of the world and things naturall 〈◊〉 which all creatures whatsoever that are born take life â—ysis and Philolaus call it an unspeakable number or a summity of the greatest or smalest number for so Origenes saith Archelaus Physicus would have all things to be created of earth and as Epiphanius testates of him the beginning of all things to proceed from thence Phâ—recidas taught that the earth was before all other things and therefore to that he appropriated a divinity Heraclius Ephesius contested the gods to be made of 〈◊〉 so Varro writes of him of the same beleefe was Hippasus Metapontinus witnesse Simplicius Anaxagorâ—s Clazâ—â—en called his god Homoeomeria that is Lâ—â—â—â—esse of parte and that a divine thought was the producter of all things whatsoever So Augustine reports of him others that he held an infinite mind to be the first mover Prodicus Coeus as Epiphaenius tels us plac'd his god in the foure Elements likewise in the Sun and the Moon in which two Planets there existed a living vertue Diogenes Apollonaites derived his god from the Air as the matter from whence all things had their reality as likewise that it did participate of divine reason without which nothing could be created Cleanthes Assius would have his god of the Firmament as divers others of the Stoicks And as Arnobius witnesseth of him sometimes he call'd him the Will now the Minde then that part of the aire which is above the fire and sometimes again the reason Straton made Nature his summum bonum Antisthenes Atheniensis he taught that there were many popular gods but one onely Architector of the fabricke of the world Chrysippus Silix the Stoick hee taught that God was a naturall power endued with divine reason and
and others infinite besides fourescore whose names are remembred there are others scarce to be numbered for as Zetzes saith in his History Elatos animo enim omnes omnes strenuos Filios amicos dicunt amatos à Neptuno All that are high minded and strong men were esteemed as the sons and friends and beloved of Neptune Amphitrite signifies nothing else but the body and matter of all that moist humour which is earth above below or within the earth and for that cause she is called the wife of Neptune Euripides in Cyclope takes her for the substance of water it self Orpheus cals her Glaâ—cae and Piscosa that is blew and ful of fish being attributes belonging solely to the goddesse of the Sea And by the Dolphins soliciting the love of Neptune to Amphitrite and reconciling them is meant nothing else but to illustrate to us That of all the fishes that belong to the sea he is the swiftest the most active and apprehensive Thetis or Tethies HEsiod cals her the wife of Oceanus who is stiled the father of all the floods creatures and gods because as Orpheus Thales and others are of opinion all things that are bred and born have need of humour without which nothing can be beget or made corruptible Isacius hath left recorded that besides her he had two wives Partenope and Pamphoâ—â—â—e by Parâ—â—nope he had two daughters Asia and Libia by Pampholige Europa and Thracia and besides them three thousand other children for so many Hesiod numbers in his Theogonia This Thetis was the daughter of the earth and heaven and therefore as Oceanus is called the father of the 〈◊〉 so is she is esteemed as the mother of the goddesses 〈◊〉 cals one Thetis the daughter of Chiâ—on the Câ—ntaure and Homer in his hymn to Apollo the child of Nereus which 〈◊〉 confirms as also Euripides in Aphigema and in 〈◊〉 she was the wife of Peleus and of all women living the most beautiâ—â—ll of whom Apollodorus thus speaks They say Iupiter and Neptune contended about her Nuptias but she not willing to incline to Iupiter be-because because she was educated by Juno therefore he in his rage allotted her to be the bride of a mortall man Homer writes that she was angry being a Marine goddesse to be the wife of a man therefore to avoid his embraces she shifted her selfe into sundry shapes and 〈◊〉 but Peleus being advised by Chiron notwithstanding all her transformations as into 〈◊〉 into a Lion and others never to let go his hold till she returned into her own naturall form in which he vitiated her and of her begot Aâ—â—illes the last shape she took upon her was a Sepia which is a fish called a Cuttle whose blood is as black as ink now because this was done in Magnesia a City of Thessaly the place as Zertzes in his history records is called Sepias Pithenaetus and others say that she was not compelled or forced to the marriage of Peleus but that it was solemnized in the mountain Pelius with her full and free consent where all the gods and goddesses saving Discord were present and offered at the wedding for such hath been the custome from antiquity Pluto gave a rich Smaragd Neptune two gallant steeds Xanthus and Ballia Vulcan a knife with an hast richly carved and some one thing and some another By Peleus she had more sons then Achilles which every night she used to hide beneath the fire that what was mortall in them might be consumed by which they all died save Achilles who was preserved by being in the day time annointed with Ambrosia therefore as Amestor in his Epithalamium upon Thetis 〈◊〉 relates he was called Piresous as preserved from the fire additur hinc nâ—men Piresous She was the sister of Titaa and brought forth Ephire who was after married to 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 who as Ovid relates in his book de Fastâ— was the 〈…〉 Atlas These are likewise numbred amongst the daughters of Oceanus and Thetis Acaste Admete Asia that gave name to a part of the world till now called Asia Climâ—ne Idyâ—a Ephire Eudora Eurâ—ome Jamra 〈…〉 Plexame Primno Rhodia Thea Thoe 〈…〉 who was beloved of Apollo but being jealous or his affection to Leucothoë she had discovered it to her father Orchamus Apollo therefore left her in griefe of which she vowed an abstinence from all sustenance whatsoever onlâ— with fixt eies still gazing upon the course of the Sun which the gods commiserating changed her into an Helâ—â—aropiâ—n which is called the Suns flower which still inclines to what part soever he makes his progresse But whether she be Tethies or Thetis she is no other than the reputed goddesse of the Sea her name importing that huge masse of water or element as Virgil in his Pollio saith necessary to the generation of all creatures whatsoever Towards the East she is called Indica towards the West Atlanticaâ— where she divides Spain and Mauritania towards the North Pontica and Glaciatis as likewise Rubra and Aethopica for so Strabo relates as also Rhianus in the navigation of Hanno the Carthaginian Stiphilus in his book de Thessalia hath bequeathed to memory That Chiron a wise and skilfull Astrologian to make Peleus the more famous consulted with the daughter of Acloris and Mirmidon and betwixt them published abroad that he by the consent of Jupiter should match with the goddesse Thetis to whose nuptials all the gods came in great showers and tempests for he had observed a time when he knew great store of raine would fall and from that the rumour first grew That Peleus had married Thetis But Dailochus and Pherecides report that Peleus having purged himself of the murder of his brother Phocus murdered Antigone others say that he first took Antigone and after her death Thetis and that Chiron being an excellent Chirurgeon was so called for the lightnesse and dexterity of hand which is an excellent gift in the searching and dressing of wounds in any of that profession Apollodorus saith that Thetis after many windings and turnings and transhapes to preserve her virginity was at length comprest by Iupiter The Nymphs called Dorides were her Ministers and handmaids Nereides THey were the daughters of Nereus and Doris he is said by Hesiod to be the son of Oceanus and Thetis he is stiled a Prophet or South saier who as Horace tels us did predict to Paris all the calamities that were to succeed at Troy Apollonius tels us that his chiefe mansion or place of residence is in the Aegean sea The same is that Hercules being sent to fetch the golden apples of the Hesperides and not knowing where abouts they grew went to the Nymphs that dwel by the banks of Eridamus to be resolved by them they sent him to demand of Nereus who thinking to delude him by shifting himselfe into sundry shapes was notwithstanding held so fast by Hercules that he was forced to assume his own
when th' one is fail'd And the other not yet perfect duls the sight No wakefull dog or clamorous cock hath rail'd Vpon the drowâ—ie Morn early to dight The Suns steeds Here the bird that sav'd of old Romes Capitâ—l is never heard to scold The brawling Crane nor yet the pâ—ating Crowe Or tatling Parret to dâ—sturb the eaâ—â— No bellowing Bull swift Hartâ—or Asse more slow Is heard to bray we have all silence here Only a murmuring river which doth flow From Lethe with his streams mongst pebbles cleer Luls the dull sense to soft and feathered rest Charming the cares and sorrowes in the brest Before the gate the drowsie Poppy springs With thousand plants and simples without number Not one but to the brain a numnessi brings Inviting all the powers of man to slâ—mber Whose milkie juice the Night on her black wings Beares t'wart the earth and scatters Who dares cumber This universall whistnesse where none come But taciturnity and silence dumbe Vpon the door no ratling hammers stroke Is heard without to startle those withn No creeking â—hinge by which oft sleep is broke Than to speak loud there 's held no greater sin Midst a vast room a bed hew'd out of Oke That had of late some ancient relâ—que been Fring'd with thâ—â—kâ—â—st and lasie â—obwebs stands Not in an age 〈…〉 with carefull hands Vpon this easie couch with 〈◊〉 hung Of duskie coloured silk you may behold The god of slâ—ep in carelesse fashion flung Stretching his drowsie limbs whom nâ—ne 〈◊〉 so bold To â—og or 〈◊〉 where snortings are heard sung Th' are pincht to softer breath Some dream of gold Of trâ—stes some his Court here Morpheus keeps Which no man sooner enters then he sleeps And this description begins to make me drowsie already But lest speaking too much of sleep I may be taxed and so taken napping my selfe I leave the brother fast sleeping to find out the sister who to the worlds end shall ever be waking Death is said to be educated by her mother Night Pausanias puts us in mind that in a Temple amongst the Eleans there was a woman poâ—tâ—aied leading two sleepy children that in her right hand White that in her left hand Black both with 〈◊〉 legs and mishapen feet the inscription upon the one Sleep upon the other Death the woman that cherâ—sht them Night This death of all the powers that are is most impartiall and implacable and because by no praiers nor intercessions she is to be moved therefore there are no Altars nor Temples nor sacrifices celebrated to her honour her impartiality and implacability Orpheus hath signified in one of his hymns Nec prece muneribus nec tu placabilis ullis She is attired in a sable garment spotted with stars The wise men of the former ages extold her with miraculous praises calling her the portand only secure harbor of rest she frees the body from a thousand pains and diseases delivers the subject from the cruelty of the tyrant and makes the begger equall with his Prince She to all good men is acceptable and welcome only dreadfull to the wicked who have a presage and feare of punishments to come Alcidamus writ an excellent book in the praise of Death having a large and copious argument in which he strove to expresse with what an equall sufferance and modest patience she was to be enterteined Of the same argument writes Plutarch in Consolator for life is nothing else but a light lenâ— us by the Creator of all mankind which if it be redemanded of us ought no more grudgingly to be paid back then comming to a friends house to be merry in the morning and having feasted there all the day to return to our home at night or to pay back what we borrow to the owner For there is no injury done to us if God demand that back at our hands which he hath before but lent us Now from the daughter to come back to the mother and know what is allegorically meant by Night These pests and mischiefes before commemorated are therefore said to be her sons and daughters because the ignorance and malice of man which is indeed the night of the mind is the parent and nurse of all calamities incidents to us yet may some of their violences by wisedome be mitigated though not frustrated of their ends namely Age Love Fate Death and the like who though they be in perpetuall motion their speed may be slackned though not staied and their pace slowed though not quire stopt She was called the most Ancient because before the Heavens and the Sunne were created there was no light extâ—nt which is said to proceed from the lower parts of the earth in regard that the Sunne compassing the world when he lights the Antipodes with his beams the earth shadowes them from us which shadow is nothing else then Night She is called the mother of all as being before the birth of any thing The word Nox is derived à Nocendo of hurting or harming the reason is as some Physitians hold opinion because the corrupt humors of the night are infectious and dangerous especially to men any way diseased of which there is continuall experience in all such as have either wounds or aches or agues or feavers or the like to all such weaknesses or imperfections the humours of the night are still most hurtfull and obnoxious And so much briefly what morally can be gathered by that which hath been fabulously commented of Night That Sleep could not fasten on the eies of Jupiter it is intended not to be convenient for him that hath the charge and protection of the whole Universe to whose care and foresight the administration and guidance of all things are committed should so much as slumber or wink at all neither doth the divine Nature need any rest to repaire and comfort his troubled spirits when he is not capable of either labour or discommodity And Lethe is called the sister of Somnuâ— in regard that by our naturall repose we for the time forget all paine anguish or trouble Because he comes to many creatures and at the same time he is said to be winged in regard the humour of the Night encreaseth the vapours of the stomack ascending to the higher parts of the body which after by the frigidity of the braine descend againe lower and more cool by which Sleep is begot he is therefore not unproperly called the son of Night which Night cals me now to rest with the finishing of this second book called Euterpe Explicit Lib. 2. THE THIRD BOOK of Women inscribed THALIA Treating of Illustrious Queens Famous Wives Mothers Daughters c. Containing the Histories of sundry Noble Ladies GOrgias held opinion that Women were not to be honoured according to their form but their fame preferring actuall vertue before superficiall beauty to incourage which in their sex funerall orations were allowed by the Roman Lawes to be celebrated for all such as had been either presidents of
The Queen of women and the best of Queens whose magnanimity in war and gentlenesse in peace resolution in the one and generous affability in the other have so sweet a correspondence that when the Canon roared loud at the gates and the bullet forced a passage even through the Palace where she lodged was no more danted in courage nor dismaied in countenance then when the gentle and soft musick melodiously sounded at the celebration of her espousâ—ls Sacred Oh Princely Lady for ever be your memory and fortunate and happy your hopefull posterity may your womb prove a bed of souldiers and your breasts the nursery of Kings may the sons victories redeem the losses or the father and the daughters surmount the fertility of their mother may your future fortunes be answerable to your former vertues that as you have the earnest praiers of all good men so you may have the successe of their wishes which millions that never yet saw you desire but all that understand you know you worthily deserve And to conclude that as you are the last of these in this my Catalogue by order posterity may reckon you the first amongst the Illustrious by merit Of divers Ladies famous for their Modesty OH thou chastity and purity of life thou that art the ornament as well of man as woman from whence shall I invoke thee thou diddest first help to kindle the sacred fires of Vesta where virginity was made Religion Thou that was wont to frequent the chambers of great Ladies with sinlesse and undefiled hands make the beds of the City Matrons and to be obsequious about the Pallats strowed in the Countrie Cottages where I shall find thee now to direct this my pen in her large and unbounded progresse or to tutor me so far that I may know what on this argument thou thy selfe wouldest have done Livy Florus Plutarch and others speaking of the wonder of the Roman chastity Lucretia accuse fortune or nature of error for placing such a manly heart in the breast of a woman who being adulterated by Sextua Tarquinius after she had sent to her friends and to them complained her injuries because she would not live a by-word to Rome nor preserve a despoiled body for so noble a husbands embraces with a knife which she had hid under her garment for the same purpose in presence of them all slew her selfe which was after the cause that the tyrannicall Monarchy of Rome was transferr'd into a Consular dignity Armenia the wife of Tygranes having been with her husband at a sumptuous banquet made by King Cyrus in his Palace Roiall when every one extoll'd the majestie and applauded the goodlinesse of the Kings person at length Tygranes askt his Queen what her opinion was of his magnitude and person She answered I can say nothing Sir for all the time of the Feast mine eies were stedfastly fixt upon you my dear husband for what other mens beauties are it becomes not a married wife to enquire Cornelia the wife of Aemilius Paulus when a great Lady of Campania came to her house and opening a rich casket as the custome of women is to be friendly one with another she shewed her gold rings rich stones and jewels and causing her chests to be opened exposed to her view great variety of costly and pretious garments which done she intreated Cornelia to do her the like curlesie and to shew her what jewels and ornaments she had stored to beautifie her selfe which hearing she protracted the time with discourse till her children came from school and causing them to be brought before her turned unto the Lady and thus said These be my jewels my riches and delights nor with any gayer ornaments desire I to be beautified Fâ—â—i bonae indolis parentum lauta supellex Viz. No domestick necessaries better grace a house then children witty and well disposed Many have been of that continence they have imitated the Turtle who having once lost her mate will ever mourn but never enter into the fellowship of another Therefore Ania Romana a woman of a Noble family having buried her first husband in her youth when her friends and kinred continually laid open the solitude of widdowhood the comfort of society and all things that might perswade her to a second marriage she answered It was a motion to which she would by no means assent For saith she should I happen upon a good man such as my first husband was I would not live in that perpetuall feare I should be in lest I should lose him but if otherwise Why should I hazard my selfe upon one so had that am so late punisht with the losse of one so good It is reported of Portia Minor the daughter of Cato That when a woman who had married a second husband was for many vertues much commended in her presence Peace saith she That woman can neither be happy well manner'd nor truly modest that will a second time time marry But I hold her in this too censorious yet the most ancient Romans only conferred on her the Crown of modesty and continence that was contented with one matrimony as making expression of their uncorrupted sincerity in their continued widdowhood Especially such were most discommended to make choice of a second husband who had children left them by the first resembling their father To which Virgil in the fourth book of his Aeneid seems elegantly to allude Dido thus complaining of the absence of Aeneas Siqua mihi de te suscepta fuisset Ante fugam soboles c. Had I by thee any issue had Before thy slight some pretty wanton lad That I might call Aeneas and to play And prate to me to drive these thoughts away And from whose smiling countenance I might gather A true presentment of the absent father I should not then my wretched selfe esteem So altogether lost as I now seem Plutarch much commends the widdowhood of Cornelia the illustrious mother of the Gracchi whose care having nobly provided for her children and family after the death of her husband she exprest her selfe every way so absolute a matron that Tiberius Gracchus of whom we spake before was not ill counselled by the gods by preserving her life to prostrate his own for she denied to marry with King Ptolomeus and when he would have imparted to her a diadem and a Scepter she refused to be stiled a Queen to keep the honour of a chast widdow Or the like purity was Valeria the sister of Mssâ—lar who being demanded by her kinred and deerest friends why her first husband dead she made not choice of a second answered that she found her first husband Servius to live with her still accounting him alive to her whom she had ever in remembrance A singular and remarkable sentence proceeding from a most excellent matron intimating how the sacred unity in wedlock ought to be dignified namely with the affections of the mind not the vain pleasures
bestowing on every woman one piece and upon all such as were with child two pieces to shew himselfe as roially bountifull as the other was penuriously sparing Celtae THese be a people of France between the rivers Graumna and Sequana who dissenting amongst themselves fell into an intestine and implacable civill war After many bloody conflicts being ready once more to joine battell the women presented to themselves betwixt their armies and with such smooth Oratory and perswasive arguments laid open the miseries of warre with the abundant commodity arising from peace and amity that they not only reconciled all hostility for the present but betwixt all the Cities and chiefe families confirmed an indissoluble league of friendship which continued many years after Since which time either in forrein differences or domestick quarrels as well in war as peace their counsell is ever demanded and for the most part followed Therefore in the league which this people made with â—annibal it is thus written If the Celtae have any thing worthy taxation to object against the Carthaginians let it be disputed by the Generals and Praefects in Spain If the Carthaginians find any thing justly to reprove the Celtae the matter shall be discust and arbitrated by their women Melitae THis people growing to that multitude that the Cities in which they inhabited could neither conveniently contain the number nor supply them with victuall sufficient sought the plantation of a colony elsewhere under the comband of a beautifull young man called Nymphaeus These falling upon the Coast of Caria were no sooner landed to discover the Countrie but by a mighty tempest their ships were either swallowed in the sea or scattered and disperst The Carians who then inhabited the City Cryassa either commiserating their distresse or fearing that boldnesse their necessities might inforce them too were pleased to allot them of their land and suffer them peaceably to dwell amongst them But finding them in a short space to increase both in wealth and power they consulted amongst themselves by what means to destroy them and utterly extirp their memory this stratagem was agreed upon to be performed at a banquet It hapned that one of the Carian damosels call'd Caphaena a Lady of a noble family grew much enamoured of this Nymphaeus and loath that the least detriment should happen to her best respected friend especially loath to see him perish she opened to him the full purpose of the City wishing him to use all means of prevention When therefore the Cryassences came to invite them to the feast Nymphaeus answered them that it was not the custome of the Graecians to assemble unto any such feasts without the company of their women which the Carians hearing intreated them likewise to grace the solemnity with their presence This done Nymphaeus relates the whole circumstance to the Melians his countrimen intreating them to beare him company to the feast all civilly habited and without weapons only that every woman should weare a sword beneath her kirtle and sit close by her husband About the midst of the banquet when the Carians were ready to give the watchword the Graecians perceiving that the instant for the pretended execution drew on all the women opening their garments at once shewed their concealed weapons which their husbands snatching from their sides assaulted the barbarous Carians and slew them all to one man by which prevention they possest themselves both of the Countrie and City But relinquishing that they built another which they called the new Cryassa and in which they planted themselves Caphaena was married to Nymphaeus having honours done to her worthy her noble fidelity One thing in this history is worthy especiall admiration namely Secresie to be kept amongst so many women Tyrrhenae THE Tyrrhenians were by the Spartans opprest and cast into Prison where they were providently kept and guarded purposing to question them for their lives The wives of the captives this hearing came to the prison doors and with humble praiers and infinite teares besought those that had the charge of them that by their visitation they might administer some small comfort to their husbands which after much importunity granted they were admitted where suddenly they caused their husbands to change habits with them which they did and so were let forth instead of the women they arming themselves against all the spight and fury of the Spartans The men that had escaped repaired to â—aygeta entering league with the Heilotes by which confederacy the Spartans somewhat affrighted by intercessors concluded a peace with them conditionally that taking back their imprisoned women they should be furnished with ships and coin to seek new fortunes elsewhere they therefore made a brotherhood betwixt them and the Lacedemonians Of which Collony two brothers Pollis and Crataida of the City of Lacedemon were made governours Part of them made residence in Melo the rest with Pollis sailed into Creet and having asked counsell of the Oracle answer was returned them That part in the place where they should leave their goddesse and lose of their anchor they should find a period of their travels and upon that continent make their aboad plant their Collony and erect a City In processe arriving in a part of Creet called Cheronesus a place halfe invironed with water or almost an island a sudden fear surprized them insomuch that hasting to get back to the Navy they left behind them the image of Diana which they had received from their ancestors by Brauron first brought into Lemons and borne by them a ship-board in all their navigation The feare being past over and the tumult appeased they weighed anchor to make from shoare but Pollis perceiving a great part of his anchor missing and left in the rocks he remembred the Oracle and causing his people to land again he made his plantation in that Countrie and after many battels in which he prevailed against the inhabitants he subdued Lictium with divers other Cities of which he had prosperous and peaceable possession Examples of Modesty and Magnanimity THE Phocenses opprest by the Tyrants of Delphoâ— in that commenced warre which was called Bellum sacrum in which the Thebans were ingaged it hapned that the Bacchanals who were women that were usually drunk in the celebrations of the feasts of Bacchus and were called Thyades extasied in their divine furor for so they termed it in their nightly wandring lost their way and erred so far that unwittingly they hapned upon the City of Amphissa and wearied as they were cast themselves dispersedly abroad in the market place there to repose themselves till they came to their better sences The Amphissesian matrons fearing lest any outrage or offence might be done unto them by reason there were at that time many forrein souldiers who were in league with the Phocences themselves in person watched these Bacchides till morning guarding and girting them round lest any thing unseemly might be spied amongst them and only with a reverend silence
attended them while they waked but finding them in their better temper ministered unto them all such necessaries as the City yielded and sent them though the wives of their enemies in the charge and safe conduct of their own husbands peaceably home to their own Cities Comparable to their modesty was the magnanimity of Megisto an eminent Ladie of the City Elis. Aristotemus the Tyrant having by the power of Antigonus usurped the Franchises and Liberties of that City oppressed the people with infinite calamities amongst which that of Philodemus was not the least who having a beautifull daughter called Micca when Lucinus one of the Captains of Aristotemus in the heat of wine and lust would forceably have ravisht her and the poor innocent virgin fled for refuge into the arms of her father he there most inhumanely transpierced her mixing the teares of the revend old man with the blood of his daughter The horridnesse of this nothing moved the Tyrant but that if greater possibly could be devised he gave countenance even to such mischiefs causing many of the prime Citizens to be slaine and to the number of eight hundred banished But fearing in regard of their number he might be in time subverted he made Proclamation That all such women that had a desire to visit their absent husbands should with such gold and treasure as they could conveniently carry with their children have peaceable passage from the City into Aetolia where many or the most of their exiled friends then sojourned Many of the women encouraged by this Edict being to that purpose assembled and with such goods as they had departed the City he sent after them his horsemen who not only rifled them but stampt their children beneath their horses feet where many of the infants perished and so in confused heaps hurried them back into the Town bearing the spoile into the Tyrants treasury These outrages were the least of many which I purposely omit There lived at that time an ancient Noble man in the City called Hellanicus who entered into a combination with the exiles about the suppressing of the Tyrant and by reason of his years was neither by him feared nor suspected by the encouragement of this Hellanicus the confined Citizens assembled themselves into a City most convenient for their design called Amimona to whom many of their allies and friends copartners in the publique calamity resorted Aristotemus somewhat affrighted with this new faction repaired to a place of publick assembly whither he had caused all the chiefe matrons to be before called and there in a premeditated oration stuft with many threats and menaces protested to inflict upon them racks tortures and lingring deaths unlesse by speedy letters they did not only perswade but prevaile with their husbands instantly to abandon the place where they had fortified To whom Megisto the wife of Tymoleon a Lady amongst the rest most respected not daigning the Tyrant the least honour or so much as rising to do him reverence but sitting with a bold and undanted courage thus spake Wert thou a true spirited man as nothing less appears in thee thou wouldst not threaten women in this base kind to betray their husbands but wouldest rather have negotiated with them who have entire power and command over us and that in smoother and more deceitfull language then such by which thou hast hitherto beguiled us But if thy cowardise and desperation compell thee to this exigent as thinking by our means to complot their ruines thou art in that hope destitute of all comcomfort let that day never be callendred to memorise them among men so void of counsell and discretion that by sparing the lives of their wives and children they should betray the sacred liberty of their countrie for the mischiefe is not so great to lose us altogether whom they have already wanted so long as the good and profit that must necessarily accrue by redeeming the Cities from thy insolency and tyranny These words were no sooner uttered but Aristotemus distracted with rage and fury commanded her young son to be sought and brought whom he purposed to massacre before the mothers face and whilst his lictors and serjeants were inquiring for him amongst others that were then busied about their childish sports she spying him of her own accord called him to her with these words Come hither to me O my son and now in thy childhood before thou hast apprehension or passionate feeling of tyrannie be freed both from the terror and burden thereof or mine own part I had rather see thee innocently dying then basely and ignobly serving The Tyrant at her last speech more inraged then the former drew out his sword on purpose to have slain her when Cylo one of his familiar friends but indeed a chiefe man in the confederacie with Hellanicus staid his hand and by gentle words so tempered his spleen that he departed thence without any act of murder yet purpose of a future revenge Upon a day as he was sporting upon the bed with his wife untill dinner was prepared and disposed upon the table it hapned that an Eagle soaring above the Palace let fall a great stone upon the battlements just over the bed where the King then lay and alighting there made such a fearfull and prodigious noise that it not only amased the King within but was wonderfull to all that beheld it without The Augurers were sent for to know what omen should succeed they flatter the Tyrant and promise nothing but what is good and prosperous Hellanicus the same night in his dream imagined his son appeared to him which son was by Aristotemus before murdered with his brother who spoke to him to this effect O father arise is this a time to sleep when the whole government of the City must depend on you to morrow with this dream incouraged he comforted his adherents all attending the opportunity of revenge Aristotemus mean time hearing that Craterus was marched as far as Olympius with a great army leavied for his safety and support grew so bold upon the rumour of so great a power that without his guard accompanied with Cylo only he adventured into the market place whom Hellanicus meeting by chance and almost extasied to see him so weakly attended with both his hands advanced and with an audible and cleer voice he made this clamour Where be you you good and long oppressed Countrymen a brave Theatre is this for so noble a contention as our liberty being seated in the middest of our Countrie and centre of our City This Cylo invaded the next man to the King and slew him Thrasibulus and Lampides assaulted the Tyrant who fled to the Temple of Jupiter where they fell upon him and killed him then dragging his body into the market place proclaimed their libeâ—ty The women issued out of their houses with joy and clamour embracing their husbands fathers and friends with loud and glad acclamations thence in multitudes they made concourse to the Pallace The
season till he found an opportunity to strumpet the others wiâ—e which was the cause of of a bloody and intestine war almost to the ruin of the whole City The like combustion was kindled betwixt Pardalus and Tyrrhenus upon semblant occasion Livy in the tenth book of his Decades relates that Q. Fabius Gurges son to the Consul amerced the matrons of Rome for their adulteries and extracted from them so much coin at one time as builded the famous Temple of Venus neer to the great Circus So much of the same in generall now I come to a more particular survey of the persons Of many great Ladies branded with Adultery amongst the Romans and first of Posthumia THis Posthumia was the wife of Servius Sulpitius as Lollia the wiâ—e of Aulus Gabinus Tertullia of Marcus Crassus Mutia the wife of C. Pompâ—ius Servitia the mother of Marcus Brutus Iulia the daughter of Servitia and the third wife of Marcus Crassus Furies Maura the Queen of King Bogades Cleopatra of Aegypt and after beloved of Marcus Antonius and of the Triumviraâ—e all these Queens and noble Matrons is Iulius Caesar said to have adulterated Livia the wife of Augustus Caesar was by him first strumpetted and being great with child to recompence her wrong he hastned the marriage This was objected to him in an oration by Antonius Tertullia Dâ—usilla Salvia Scribonia Tilisconia with all these noble matrons he is said to have commerce Likewise with a great Senators wife whose name is not remembred Augustus being at a publike banquet in his own palace withdrew himselfe from the table in the publick view and before the cloth was taken up brought her back again and seated her in her own place with her haire rufled her cheeks blushing and her eies troubled Messalina the wife of Claudius Tibezius first privately then publickly prostituted her selfe to many insomuch that custome grew to that habit that such as she affected and either for modesties sake or for fear durst not enter into her imbraces by some stratagem or other she caused to be murdred as Claudian saith her insatiat desires yet stretched further making choice of the most noble virgins and matrons of Rome whom she either perswaded or compelled to be companions with her in her adulteries She frequented common brothel houses trying the abilities of many choice and able young men by turns from whence it is said of her she returned wearied but not satisfied if any mâ—n refused her imbraces her revenge stretched not only to him but unto all his family And to crown her libidinous actions it is proved of her that in the act of lust she contended with a mercenary and common strumpet which in that kind should have the priority and that the Empresse in the 25 action became victor Of her Pliny Iuvenal and Sex Aurelius speaks more at large a strange patience it was in an Emperour to suffer this I rather commend that penurious fellow who having married a young wife and keeping her short both in liberty and diet she cast her eies upon a plain Country fellow one of her servants and in short time grew with child the old churle mistrusting his own weaknesse being as much indebted to his belly as to his servants for their wages for his parsimony made 〈◊〉 gâ—d to both and now fearing a further charge would come upon him he got a warrant to bring them both before a Justice They being convented and he having made his case known the Gentlewoman being asked upon divers interrogatives modestly excused her selfe but not so cleanly but that the complaint sounded in some sort just and the case apparant The Country fellow was next call'd in question to whom the justice with an austere countenance thus spake Syria 〈◊〉 resolve me truly saith he and it shall be the better for thee Hast thou got this woman with child yea or no to whom the plain fellow thus bluntly answered Yes Sir I think I have how quoth the justice thou impudent and bawdy knave shew me what reason thou hadst to get thy mistresse with child to whom the fellow replied I have served my master a very hard man so many years and I never got any thing else in his service How this businesse was compounded I know not certainly only of this I am assured that our English women are more courteous of their bodies then bloody of their minds Such was not Roman Fabia who as Plutarch in his Parallels relates was the wife of Fabius Fabricanus and gave her selfe up to a young Gentleman of Rome called Petroniuâ— Valentianus by whose counsell she after slew her husband that they might more freely enjoy their luxuries Salust and Valerius Maximus both report of Aurelia Oristilla who suffered her selfe to be corrupted by Catalin against whom Cicero made many eloquent Orations who the freelier to enjoy her bed caused her son to be poisoned Comparable to Fabia saving in murder was Thimen the wife of King of Agis who forsaking the lawful bed of her husband suffered her selfe to be vitiated by Alcibiades of Athens Martial in his Epigrams writes of one Nevina who going chast to the Bath returned thence an adulteresse of her thus speaking Incidit in Flammam veneremque secula relicto Conjuge Penelope venit abitque Helena Which is thus Englished She fell in fire and followed lust Her husband quite rejected She thither came Penelope chast Went Hellen thence detected Paula Thelesina Proculina Lectoria Gellia all these are by some authors branded for the like inchastities An Egyptian Lady I Have heard of a young Citizen who having married a pretty wanton lâ—sse and as young folke love to be dallying one with another set her upon his knee and sporting with her and pointing one of his fingers at her face now my little rogue saith he I could put out one of thine eies to whom with her two longest fingers stretched forth right and aiming at him in the like fashion she thus answered If with one finger thou put out one of mine eies with these two I will put out both yours This was but wantonnesse betwixt them and appeared better in their action then in my expression and though I speak of a blind King he lost not his eies that way Herodotus relates that after the death of Sesostris King of Egypt his son Pherâ—nes succeeded in the Kingdome who not long after his attaining to the principality was deprived of his sight The reason whereof some yeeld to be this Thinking to passe the river Nilus either by inundations or the force of the winds the waters were driven so far back that they were flowed eighteen cubits above their wonted compasse at which the King inraged shot an arrow into the river as if he would have wounded the channell Whether the gods took this in contempt or the Genius of the river was inraged is uncertain but most sure it is that not long after he lost all the use of sight
at his patience being the more impatient and much more angry because she was not able to move in him the least anger she mounts up in a garret window and from thence pours a full pispot upon his head such as came by extreamly moved as much in derision of his person as at the suddennesse of the action he took up a laughter as high and as loud as the best expressing no more anger then in these words Nay I thought verily in my mind and could easily judge by the weather that after so great a thunder we must necessarily have rain Aulus Gellius writes that Alcibiades demanding why he would keep two such scolding queans in his house and at once who never ceased brawling when either of them both were sufficient to put any man of the gentlest temperance quite beyond his patience he thus answered him These women O Alcibiades teach me at home that sufferance which I ought to practise when I am abroad for being as you see I am well exercised and broken with the factions of these two I shall be the more gentle to deal withall in the socety of other men and so much for Zantippe and Socrates But since I am falne into a discourse of Shrowes let it nor seem much impertinent to insert what mine own opinion was when a Gentleman demanded of me the difference between a shrow and a sheep I considering with my selfe that there were so many of the one party and so few of the other thought it the most generous to take the weaker side and therefore because some speak too much for themselves and the modesty of the others will not give them boldnesse to say what is sufficient I thus determined in their behalfe What 's he can teach me by their seeming show Whether's the best to chuse a Sheep or Shrow A Sheep what 's that A beast of gentle kind Harmless in nature and of modest mind If mind may be in beasts she 's of voice low Affraid of the least clamour when the Shrow In calmes makes tempests and to all mens wonder Speaks in the fairest weather fire and thunder What 's he that 's wise and would in warmth compare To th' English wool the Barbary Lions haire Th' Hircanian Tygers or the Musco Bears The Spanish Jinnets trapt in all his gears The Lapland Hart or the swift Finlands Dow The Arabian Panther spotted for the show Doth not the Indian Dromedary want Her riches or the jointlesse Elephant Or can the Italian Fox or German Bore The Danish Elke or Cammell boast her store Who that loves warmth and would desire to pull The Irish Woolf and leave the English wool When as the first would aim to tear thy throat The latter gently cloath thee in her coat Yet were it best a modest medium keep Chuse neither compleat Shrow nor perfect Sheep I would have my wife neither tongue-ti'd quite Nor yet all tongue so much as could accite To affability and amorous prate So much I 'd have her use and more I hate But with a voice like Steutors should she raile Or like Xantippe scold and when words fail Be sullen dogged pout and lour and whine Or chide or be still dâ—mb if such were mine From her I 'd wish my selfe remote as far As such from vertue and true goodnesse are She of the two exâ—reams if you demand With which I would be troubled understand I 'd take the gentlier beast the harmlesse Sheep Whose calmnesse would not fright me from my sleep Or make the down within my bed appear Lâ—ke knotted â—tocks or 〈◊〉 of a rough Bear◠〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 I will now trouble my patience gentle Reader with a discourse that hath in it more mirth then murther and more spirit then might and yet a touch of both A mad fellow newly married had only one young child by his wife of some quarter old whom he deerly and tenderly loved as being his first but he was much given to goodfellowship and she altogether addicted to spâ—â—ing and good 〈…〉 stiâ—l when he used to come merry from the tavern where he had been frollick with his boon companions she being as sparing of his purse as prodigall of her tongue for she was little better then a scolâ— would often upbraid him with his expences 〈◊〉 what he wasted at the Tavern were better bestowed at home that he spent both his monie and 〈…〉 it was so prejudiciall to his body and estate with many such matron like exhortations but alwaies concluding her admonitions with a vow That if ever he came home again in that pickle she would happen what would come fling the child into the moat for the house was moted about It hapned about some two daies after that he revelling till late in the evening in a cold frosty winters night an she having intelligence by her scouts where he was then drinking and making no question but he would came home flustred she commanded her maid to conveigh the infant to the further part of the house and to wrap the cat in the blankets and put it in the cradle and to sit and rock it presently home comes the husband she fals to her old lesson and begins to quarrel with him and he with her 〈◊〉 words begot worle and much lewd language there was betwixt them when the woman on the suddain stepping to the cradle having spied her advantage I have long saith she threatned a mischiefe and that 〈◊〉 I cannot work on thee come dogs come devils I will inflict upon the brat in the cradle and instantly snatching it up in her arms ran with it to the moat side and slung it into the middle of the water which the poor affrighted man following her and seeing leaving to pursue her and crying save the child O save the child in that bitter cold night leapt up to the elbowes in water and waded till he brought out the mantle and with much pain comming to the shore and still crying alas my poor child opened the cloths at length the frighted cat crying mew being at liberty leap'd from betwixt his arms and ran away the husband was both amazed and vexed the woman laught at her revenge and retired her selfe and the poor man was glad to reconcile the difference before she would allow him either fire or dry linnen Considering this methinks it was not amisse answered of a Gentleman who being perswaded by a friend of his not to marry with such a 〈…〉 to whom he was a suitor his reasons alledged 〈◊〉 because she had no quick and voâ—uble tongue 〈…〉 or capacity to whom he instantly 〈…〉 have a woman to be my wife that 〈…〉 answer me to a question then 〈…〉 more wit then to distinguish her 〈…〉 from another mans Another woman having a husband who customably 〈…〉 home and shrinking from his stool or chair would 〈◊〉 fall upon the floor and there lie along and stil when she called him to bed he would answer
pay day came but their hopes proving abortive the souldiers mutined to conjure down which spirit of insurrection messengers are dispatched to the Emperor to certifie him of the neglective abuse of his roiall word and fear of sedition this newes overtook him at Larissea in Judea Selymus inraged at this relation sends for Bassa Jonuses and examines the cause of his neglect in such and so weighty a charge Jonuses somewhat abashed as being conscious yet withall high-spirited gave the Emperour a peremptory answer at which being mightily incensed he commanded his head to be cut off which was forthwith done and thus justice suffered not innocent Manto to die unrevenged The wife of Agetus the Lacedemonian HErodotus l. 6. thus writes of this Lady the daughter of Aleydes the Spartan first wife to Agetus and after to the King Ariston She of the most deformed became the excellentest amongst women Her nurse to whose keeping she was given for the parents were asham'd of their Issue went with her every day to the Temple of Helena which stands in Therapne neer to the Church of Apollo and kneeling before the Altar besought the goddesse to commiserate the child and free her from her native uglinesse and loathsome deformity Upon a time returning from the Temple a woman appeared to her of a venerable aspect and desired to see what she carried so tenderly in her arms the nurse told her it was an infant but such an one as she was loath to shew and therefore desired to be excused the rather because she was enjoined by the parents not to expose it to the sight of any The more the nurse put her off with evasions the more importunate the strange woman was to behold it At length prevailing she gently with her hand stroaked the face of the child and kissing it thus said Go nurse and bear her home to her parents who shall in time become the most beautifull of all the Spartan Ladies From that time forward her deformity began to fall away and a sweet grace and delightfull comelinesse to grow as well in face as every other lineament Comming to marriage estate she was solicited by many but only possest by Agetus yet after by the craft of Ariston she was divorced from Agetus and conferred upon him Dion in Augusto speaks of Terentia the wife of Mecaenas to be of that rare beauty that she dared to contend with Livia the wife of Augustus Caesar who was held to be the most amiable and exquisite Lady of those daies Of Terentia the daughter of Cicero I have thus read Titus the son of Milo and Appius the son of Clodius were as remarkable for their noble friendship as their fathers notorious for their irreconcilable hatred Titus was for his fathers sake welcome to Cicero but Appius much hated in regard of enmity betwixt him and his father Clodius for Cicero was of Milo's faction Titus had long and dearly loved the faire Terentia but understanding that his friend Appius was likewise exceedingly enamoured of her he left his own suit and earnestly sollicited the Lady in his behalfe who was easily perswaded to the motion having long before cast an effectionat eie upon Appius but durst make no expression thereof much fearing the displeasure of her father Titus so well managed the businesse for his friend that he brought him privily into the house of Cicero where the two lovers had mutuall conference her father comming home by accident and finding them together in the heat of his impatience excluded him and lockt her up in safe and close custody Which the poor Lady took so to heart that she fell into an extream feaver and languishing daily her father now when it was too late desired to know what he might doe to minister to her the least comfort she only besought him that before her death she might take her last and loving leave of Appius who was instantly sent for at his sudden comming in she was extasi'd with his sight and expired in his embraces which the noble youth perceiving he drew out a short dagger which he then wore about him and in the presence of her father and his own deer friend slew himselfe A more comicall conclusion hath that which I shall next tel you An old Vicar in the Countrie having a wondrous fair wench to his daughter it hapned that a young scholler that for want of means had left the University was preferred to the serving of a cure some what neer him by which he had opportunity to woo the maid and after had the parents consent to marry her It hapned not long after this young man had a Parsonage bestowed upon him by his patron the father and the son meeting upon a time at a Market Town with divers gentlemen of the Country being at dinner amongst other discourse cavilling about an argument they fell into controversie which should be the Better man many rough words passed insomuch that the Gentlemen were forced to come betwixt them to keep the peace The old man stood upon his gravity and the name of father the young man pleaded That in regard he was a Parson and the other but a Vicar he was the better of the two This raised the uprore afresh which the Gentlemen had much ado to appease at length the young man demanded audience but for a few words in which saith he if I do not convince him and make it plain and palpable before you all that I am the worthier of the two for name place and antiquity I will yield him priority and precedence for ever after The words of Name and Antiquity the old man heard with much impatience at length audience being granted and silence obtain'd Now young knave saith the old Vicar what canst thou say for thy selfe I only desire answered the young man to be resolved in one question propound it saith the other Marry thus saith he When the world was destroied in the generall deluge all save eight persons tell me where were the Vicars then The old man was blank the Gentlemen smiled and the young man carried it so that ever after the old man took place of the father and the faire daughter of the mother I will only remember you of a fair young Gentlewoman a Country woman of mine and so conclude with my Fair ones A Gallant newly come to his lands became a suiter to a proper young Virgin her fathers only child and heire He having had conference with her father conditions on both sides were debated the match concluded and the day of marriage appointed the father and the son in law riding abroad one morning to take the air the ancient Gentleman was mountâ—d on an easie paced Mare which he kept for his own saddle this beast the young Gallant was so enamoured of that he 〈…〉 at any rate though never so unreasonable but 〈…〉 man intreated him to hold 〈◊〉 excused because the beast was 〈…〉 gentle fitting his
profession a piece of gold valued at a pound and had received no more then labour for his travell and bare looks for his monie to him she said Thou for this pound art made free of my daughter as those that are admitted into the school of Hyppomachus the Master-wrestler who oft times see him play but seldome prove his strength admire his skill but never trie his cunning Many such with great elegancy came frequently from her for as Lynceus saith of her she was Concinna admodum urbana Aristodemus in his second book Ridiculorum memorab relates That when two men had bargained for her at once a souldier and a mean fellow the souldier in great contumely called her Lacus or Lake Why do you thus nick-name me saith she because you two floods fall into me Lycus and Liber Lycus is a river not far from Laodicea which sometimes runneth under the earth and in many places bursteth up again She writ a book which she called Lex Convinalis imitating the Philosophers of those times who had compiled works of the like subject The project of her book was how her guests ought to behave themselves at Table towards her and her daughter The like Law Callimâ—chus composed in three hundred and three and twenty Verses Rhodope was a Courtisan of Aegypt one that by her prostitution came to such a masse of wealth that she of her own private charge caused to be erected a magnificent Pyramis equalling those that there raised by the greatest Princes Sapho cals her Dorica and makes her the mistresse of her brother Charapus upon whom he spent and consumed all his fortunes even to the utmost of penury of whom Ovid thus writes Arsit inops frater c. Aelianus and others report her for a woman most beautiful who bathing her self in a pleasant and cleer fountain in her garden her handmaids attending her with all things necessary upon a sudden an Eagle sowsing down snatched up one of her shooes and flying with it as far as the great City Memphis let it fall from above into the lap of the King Psamneticus then sitting in publike judgement who much amazed at the strangenesse of the accident but most at the riches proportion and curiositie of the shooe instantly commanded that all Aegypt should be through-sought till they could find the owner thereof by matching it with the fellow which hapned soon after Being brought before the King he was so infinitely surprized with her feature that the same hour he contracted her in marriage and consequently made her his Queen Some say she was first a Thracian Damosel and servant to Iadmone of Samos she was after carried into Aegypt by the Philosopher Zanthus Samius She was a friend and patronesse of Aesopus so famous for his Fables still frequent amongst us Metra was the daughter of Erisicâ—thon a Thessalian who having spent all his fortunes and wasted even his necessary means as brought to the lowest exigent of penury was forced to make merchandise of his daughters Chastitie but she would not yield her selfe to the imbraces of any man without the gift and tender of a horse an oxe a cow a sheep or a goat or some such like commodity to the supply of her fathers necessity for it seems that coin and jewels were not then in use For the exchange aforesaid the Thessalians fabled That she could transhape her selfe into all creatures presented unto her by her lovers And hence came that old â—dage More changeable then Erisicthons Metirâ— Much of the like continence was Cyâ—ene a notious strumpet who as Erasmus reports explaining of that old proverb Duodecim artium nemo i. A man of twelve Arts or Trades could use her professed Venery twelve severall waies Archianasse was sirnamed â—â—â—phonia as born in the City of Colophon and was beloved of Plato the Divine Philosopher of whom he himself thus protested Archianassam ego teneo Colophonis amicam Cujus in rugis mollia ludit amor Archianasse I still hold Mistresse and I say There is no wrinckle in her face In which love doth not play Thus we see the deepest Philosophers and the wisest men have made themselves the captives of beauty and vassals lust Demâ—sthenes the Orator was guilty of the like aspersions and subject to much intemperance It is said that having children by a noted strumpet when both the mother and the children were cited before the judgement seat to avoid calumny he presented the children without the mother though it were against the custome of the City for as Idomeneus saith notwithstanding he were outwardly of a modest disposition and carriage yet inwardly he was profuse and incontinent It is reported of him that he was wandrous prodigall and expensice in banquets and women insomuch that the publike scribe speaking of him in an Oration thus said What shall we then think of the Orator Demosthenes when what he hath by his great travel and industry purchased in a whole year he will dissolutely spend in one night upon a woman The like Nicolaus Damascenus writes of Demetrius the last of that succession who so much doted on Myrina Samia That she commanded from him all things save his Diadem so that not only Philosophers but even Kings have made themselves subject to all kind of voluptuousnesse and luxuries and what hath been the lamentable successe but shame and dishonour the wasting of private estates and the miserable subversion of Kingdomes Therefore Claudian in his third book in Stiliconis Laudes thus saith Nam caetera regna Luâ—eurâ—â— vitiâ— edusque superbia vertit c. Of other Kingdomes the imperâ—â—l state Last doth subvert with vices Pâ—â—e with hate So by the Spartons Aâ—thens was subdu'd And so 〈◊〉 fell The Medes did first intrude Into the Assyrian Monarchy their lust Burted their towring honours in the dust From the luxurious Medes the Persians reft Their proud dominion they grown lustful left Their Empire to the Macedonian sway Who kept it till they wanton grew then they Their honours to the temperate Romans sold For so the ancient Sibils had fore-told The effects of this will more plainly appear in the History ensuing Aspasia otherwise called Socratica is numbred amongst the fairest women of her time insomuch that she had several suitors from all the Provinces of Greece as Aristophanes delivers in his discourse of the Peloponnesian war insomuch that Periâ—les for the love of this Aspasia and for some servants of hers taken from her by force begun and established that terrible decree against the Mâ—garenses remembred by Stesombrotus Thasius She about her private and necessary occasions sending her bawd Symaetha to the City of Megara the young men of the City detained her upon which restraint she sent two others who not being suffered to return from these strumpets did arise a war almost to the depopulation of the greatest part of Greece It is likewise spoken of that Cyrus who warred against his brother to have had a Mistresse of great wisdome
wondrous prompt and accute brain she stil continued her habit and withal her laborious study as wel in the Scriptures as other humane Learnings At length comming to Rome she read publickly in the Schools where she purchased her selfe a great and frequent Auditory And besides her singular wisedome she was much admited and beloved for her seeming sanctity and austerity of life and after the death of Leo the fifth elected and confirmed in the papall Dignity for thus writes Volaterran Sigebertus Platina and others that have writ the lives of the Roman Bishops she is remembred likewise to this purpose by Boccatius in his book de Claris Mulieribâ—â— But Sabellicus lib. 1. Aneadis cals her Joanna Anglica i. Joan English who in her minority dissembled her Sex and so habited travelled as far as Athens and there studied with infinite gain and profit insomuch that comming to Rome few or none could equall her in Disputation or Lectures which begot her such reverence and authority with all men that she was by a general Suffrage elected into the Papacy and succeeded Leo the fourth Ravisius in Officina tit 6. Others will not allow that ever any such woman was Pope and excuse it thus There was one Bishop of Rome who was a decrepit and weak old man He by reason of age not being well able to manage his temporall affairs and domestick businesse received into his Pallace as a guide and governesse a woman called Joanna his sister or neer kinswoman this woman took upon her great pride and state and usurped upon the infirmity of her pride and state and usurped upon the infirmity of her brother insomuch that having the command of all things and being avaricious by nature no businesse was dispatched but by her nor any thing concluded without her for which she was both hated and scorned and therefore upon her that usurped the authority of the Pope they likewise bestowed his stile and nick-named her Pope Joan. This I have not read but I have heard some report it From her I come to Rosuida born in Germany and by Nation a Saxon she lived under Lotharius the first and was of a religious place called Gandresenses in the Diocesse of Hildesemensis she was facundious in the Greek and Roman Tongues and practised in all good Arts she composed many Works not without great commendation from the Readers one especially to her fellow Nuns and Votaresses exhorting them to Chastity Vertue and Divine worship She published six Comedies besides a noble Poem in Hexameter verse of the Books and Heroick Acts done by the Otho Caesars She writ the Lives of holy women but chiefly a Divine Work of the pious and chast life of the blessed Virgin in Elegick verse which began thus Vnica spes Mundiem Cranzius lib. 6. cap. 20. Metrapoleos Fulgos lib. 8. cap. 3. Elizabeth Abbesse of Schonaugia zealously imitated the practise and studies of this Rosuida which she professed in the City of Triers She writ many things in the Latin Tongue of which she was divinely admonished and inspired from above besides many perswasive Epistles to her Covent of Sisters and others ful of great conceit and elegancy A Book also that was entituled A path to direct us the way to God besides a Volume of many learned Epistles ful of great judgement and knowledge Fulgos lib. 8. cap. 3. and Egnat ibidem Conâ—lantia the wife of Alexander Sforza is deservedly inserted in the Catalogue of women famous and excellent in Learning She from her childhood was so laborious in the best Disciplines that upon the sudden and without premeditation she was able sufficiently to discourse upon any argument either Theological or Philosophical besides she was frequent in the works of St Hierom St Ambrose Gregory Cicero Lactantius For her extemporal vein in Verse she was much admired in which she was so elegantly ingenious that she attracted the ears of many judicious scholers to be her daily Auditors And this facility is reported to be innate and born with her as proceeding with such smoothness and without the least â—orce or affectation Her daughter Baptista succeeded her both in fame and merit beeing accepted and approved for one equally qualified with her mother Constantia Therefore Politianus in Nutricia doubts not to rank her amongst the best learned and most illustrious women Baptista Prima the daughter of Galeatinus Malatesta Prince of Pisauriâ— and after the wife of Guido Monteseltrensis Earl of Urbin made many commendable proofs of her wit and learning for she held many disputations even with those that were best practised and grounded in the Arts from whence she came off with no common applause She writ a Volume in Latin which she titled The frailty of mans Life with other praise-worthy books De vera Religione i. Of true Religion Fulgos lib. 8. cap. 3. Isota Navarula Veronensis devoted her life wholly to the study of all humane knowledge and withall to the contemplation of Divine Mysteries to which she added the honour of perpetuall Chastity She writ many eloquent Epistles to Pope Nicolaus Quintus as also to Piuâ— the second being sufficiently seen as wel in Theology as Philosophy Amongst other Works she composed a Dialogue in which it was disputed which of the two of our parents Adam and Eve sinned first or more offended in the beginning Egnat and Fulgos lib. 8. cap. 3. Alpiadâ—s a Virgin who much â—â—sired to be instructed in the true Faith was inspired fâ—om above 〈◊〉 a miraculous knowledge in the Scriptures 〈…〉 Of Women excellent in Philosophy and other Learning FRom Theology I descend to Philosophy Nicaula Queen of Saba travelled from the farthest part of Aethiopia up to Hierusalem to prove the wisdome of Solomon in dark Problems and hard Questions which when he had resolved and satisfied her by his divine wisdome inspired into him from above she returned into her Country richer by her gifts more benefited by her knowledge and fruitfull as bearing with her in her womb a child begot by Solomon Lycosth in Theat Human. vitae lib. 1. cap. de Femin doctis Adesia a woman of Alexandria a neer kinswoman to the Philosopher Syrianus both for her Chastity and Learning is commemorated by Suidas Vata lib. 13. cap. 3. Antrop Nicâ—strata by some called Carmentis helped to make up the number of the Greek Alphabet she is also said to have added to our Roman Letters Hermodica was the wife of Midas King of Phrygia she is not only celebrated for her rare feature and beauty but for her wisedome she was the first that ever stamped Money or made Coin amongst the Cimenses Heraclides Numa was the first that made mony amongst the Romans of whose name it was called Nummus Isiodor lib. 16. cap. 17. It is likewise called Pecunia of Pecus which signifies Cattel for the first that was made to passe currant betwixt man and man was made of the skins of beasts stamped with an impression It hath been currant amongst our English Nation
Apollo who can Phaon know Take borns and 'bout thy temples wreaths of vine What 's he can say but th' art the god of Wine Phoebus lov'd Daphne Bacchus Gâ—osis bright Yet neither she nor she could Lyricks write The nine Muse-sisters of my verse dispose And what my numbers are the whole world knowes Nor can my Country-man Alcaeus more Then I though he in age stand ranck'd before Nor though his name sound louder can he raise Or from his Lyre or Country greater praise If niggard Nature have deni'd things fit Yet what I want in shape I have in wit My stature's low but know my name is high And bruited through all regions far and nigh I am not fair what therein do I lack Andromeda pleas'd Perseus yet she black The whitest Doves with mingled colors make And the black turtle the Green-bird take If none can be thought worthy of thy love But such as shall thy like in beauty prove Young man despair thou art for ever free None such ere was none such shall ever be When first thou readst my Verses thou didst say I only pleas'd and I was fair that way That I became my phrase and none so well Then did I sing we lovers all must tell And I remember thou 't is still my pride At every note didst on my lips divide Nay even those kâ—sses pleas'd thee wondrous well But most of all when I beneath thee fell My wantonnesse contented thee 'bove measure My nimble motion and words apt for pleasure Then when in confus'd rapture we both lay Fulness of joy depriv'd all use of play Now the Sicilian girls are thy new spoil I 'll be of them and leave the Lesbian soil You Nisean mothers and fair daughters bred In Sicilie let him be banished From forth your earth nor let the many lies The smoothnesse of his false tongue can devise Beguile your simple truth what to you he Speaks uow h' hath spoken a thousand times to me And goddesse Erecina thou that do'st The barbarons rude Sicania honor most Advise thy Poet by thy wit divine And give me counsel since thou know'st I am thine Can Fortune in this bitter course still run Vowes she to end those ills she hath begun Six yeers are past since my abortive grones Mourn'd and my tears wet my dead Parents bones My needy brother as a second crosse Dotes on a strumpet suffring shame with losse Turn'd Pirate and proves the seas with sail and oar And badly seeks wealth lost as ill before Because my faithfull counsell that course rated My guerdon is that I by him am hated And lest my endlesse torments should find ease My young irregular daughter adds to these The last and great'st cause why I thus miscarry Thou art my Baâ—k still sails with winds contrary Behold my erst well-ord'red Locks mis-plac'd And those that in times past my temples grac'd Neglected are as if they were not mine No precious gems upon my fingers shine My habit 's vile my hair no crisp in wears Nor smâ—ll my locks of sweet Arabian tears Whom should I seek to please since he 's absent That was sole author of mine ornament My soft heart is with easie shafts imprest There 's still new cause to lodge love in my breast Either because the Sisters three had force When I was born to spin my thread so course Or this my studies in the Arts constrain Since 〈◊〉 Thalia doth infuse my brain What wonder if a youth of the first chin Surprize me years which man to man might win â—was afraid lest fair Aurora thou For Cephalus wouldst steal him and I now Am still in fear for surely this had past But that thy first love holds thee still so fast If Phoebus that 〈◊〉 all things thee had seen Phaon in lasting slumbers cast had been Venus had rapt him into heaven by this But that she fear'd Mars would have made him his Thou that no child yet scarce man appears Best age the pride and glory of thy years Return unto my bosome since of thee I beg not love but that thou lov'd would'st be Lo as I write tears from mine eies amain Still drop behold how they my paper stain Thy parting had been gentler in words few Hadst thou but said Sweet Lesbian lasse adue Thou took'st with thee no parting kiss no tears I little dream'd I was so neer my fears Of thine save wrong I nothing have no more Thou let that move thee all my love dost store I gave thee no command nor had that day Vnlesse some such Do not forget me pray By Love that never can forsake that breast By our nine sacred sisters I protest He 's gone when some but who I know not said For a long space both words and tears were staid Mine eies had banisht tears and grief my tongue Through cold my heart unto my ribs was clung My grief retir'd I gan to beat my breast To tear my hair nor blush to walk undrest Like carefull mothers who with loud exclaims Bear their dead children to their funerall flames Charaxus walks by laughing to and fro And from my extasie his pleasures grow And which more shame unto my sorrowes gives Asks why this woman weeps her daughter lives But Shame and Love are two the people stare To see my garments torn and breasts unbare Thou Phaon art my care and my dreams stay Thee fled your dreams that have made night my day I find thee there though absent many a mile But O my dreams last but a little while Oft think I that thy arms my neck infold As likewise these two are with thine like hold I know thy kisses thy tongue-sport I know Which thou wast wont to take and to bestow More pleas'd sometimes words like to truth I spake And to thy form my sences are awake What 's more I shame to tell and blush to write Dreaming all done may perfect our delight No sooner Titan dons his golden beams And with them all things sees I curse my dreams Desarts and Dens I then seek as if they Could profit me â—â—nce guilty of our play Madly like her whom mad Erictho bears I thither â—un my hair 's faln 'bout mine ears I see the Caverâ—s with rough gravel strew'd To me they like Mygdonian Marble shew'd The shades I find that gave us oft our rest And friendly Herbage by our burthenâ— prest Thee master of those Groves and me no place Can shew me therefore they appear most base I knew the very flowers where we have line Our weights have made their upright heads decline Where thou hast falne I threw me in that place But first the gratefull flowers drink from my face The boughes despoil'd a sadnesse seem to bring And on their top most branches no birds sing Only the Daulian bird her discontents Chams out aloud and Itis still taments Iris the bird laments Sapho th' affright Of Love forsaken so we spend the night There is a perfect
at all only he could not sleep but spent the tedious night in 〈◊〉 and cold 〈◊〉 that there was despair of the Kings 〈◊〉 and safety There was at length a 〈◊〉 published That the Moravians certain inhabitants of Scotland once great rebels and enemies of the King but since made regular and reconciled to their faithfull obeisance had hyred certain Witches to destroy King Dussus upon which report one Dovenaldus was made Prefect to enquire after this businesse and had authority to pass into Morâ—via and if he found any such malefactors to punish them according to their offences he being carefull of the charge imposed on him had such good intelligence and withall used such providence that he came just at the instant when certain Witches were rosting of a Picture called by the name of the King and basted it with a certain liquor Dovenaldus surprising them in the act examined them who confessed the treason and were condemned to the stake at which instant by all just computation the King recovered and was restored to his pristine rest health After the same manner it seems Meleager was tormented by his mother the Witch Althaea who in the fatall Brand burned him alive as it is expressed at large by Ovid in his Metamorph. The like effascinations we have had practised in our memory even upon the person of Queen Elizabeth A woman of good credit and reputation whom I have known above these foure and twenty yeares and is of the same parish where I now live hath often related unto me upon her credit with many deep protestationâ— whose words I have heard confirmed by such as were then passengers with her in the same ship That comming from the Landsgraves Court of Hessen where she had been brought a bed to travel for England and staying something long for a passage at Amsterdam either her businesse or the wind detaining her there somewhat longer then her purpose an old woman of the Town entreated her to lend her some of a Kettle which she did knowing it to be serviceable for her to keep a Charcoal fire in at Sea to comfort her and her child When the wind stood fair and that she with her servants had bargained for their passage and they were ready to go aboord she sent for this woman to know if she would redeem her pawn for she was now ready to leave the Town and depart for her Country The old woman came humbly entreating her she would not bear away her Kettle notwithstanding she had as then no monie to repay of that she had borrowed but hoped that she was a good gentlewoman and would prove her good Mistresse c. she answered her again That she had lent her so much monie and having a pawn sufficient in her hand finding it necessary for her purpose she would make the best use of it she could a ship-broad The old woman finding her resolute left her with these words Why then saith she carry it away if thou canst Marry and I will try what I can do replied she again and so they parted The Master called aboord the wind stood fair the Sea was calm and the weather pleasant but they had not been many hours at sea when there arose a sudden sad and terrible tempest as if the winds and waters had been at dissention and the distempered air at war with both A mighty storm there arose insomuch that the Master protested that in his life time he had not seen the like and being in despair of shipwrack desired both sailers and passengers to betake themselves to their praiers This word came from them that laboured above the hatches to those that were stowed under their present fear made them truly apprehend the danger and betake themselves to their devotions when suddenly one casting up his eies espied an old woman sitting upon the top of the main mast the Master saw her and all those that were above being at the sight much amazed The rumour of this went down which the Gentlewoman heating who was then sitting with her child in her Cabbin and warming it over a Charcole fire made in the Kettle O God saith she remembring her former words then the old woman is come after me for her Kettle the Master apprehending the businesse Marry then let her have it saith he and takes the Kettle coles and all and casts them over-boord into the Sea This was no sooner done but the Witch dismounts her selfe from the mast goes aboord the Brasse Kettle and in a moment sails out of sight the air cleared the winds grew calm the tempests ceased and she had a fair and speedy passage into England and this the same Gentlewoman hath often related Nor is this more incredible then that which in Geneva is is still memorable A young wench instructed in this damnable science had an Iron Rod with which whomsoever she touched they were forced to dance without ceasing til they were tired lay down with wearinesse She for her Witchcraft was condemned to the fire to which she went unrepentant and with great obstinacy and since which time as Bodinus saith who records this history all dancing in memory of her is forbidden and held til this day abominable amongst those of Geneva Our most learned Writers are of opinion that these Inchantresses can bewitch some but not all for there are such over whom they have no power The same Author testifies That he saw a Witch of Avern in the year 1579. who was taken in Luteria about whom was found a book of a large Volume in which were drawn the hairs of Horses Oxen Mules Swine and other beasts of all colours whatsoever She if any beasts were sick would undertake their cure by receiving some number of their hairs with which she made her Spels and Incantations neither could she help any beast by her own confession but by transferring that disease or malady upon another neither could she cure any creature if she were hired for monie therefore she went poorly in a coat made up with patches A Noble man of France sent to one of these Witches to cure a sick horse whom he much loved she returned him answer That of necessity his Horse or his Groom must die and bid him chuse whether The Nobleman craving some time of pause and deliberation the servant in the interim died and the horse recovered for which fact she was apprehended and judged It is a generall observation That the devil who is a destroier never heals one creature but by hurting another and commonly he transmits his hate from the worse to the better For instance if a Witch cure a horse the disease fals upon one of a higher price if she heal the wife she harms the husband if helps the son she infects the father Of this I will produce one or two credible instances The first of the Lord Furnerius Aureliensis who finding himselfe mortally as he thought diseased sent to a Witch to
instructing your Tongues I come next to your Attires but having touched it elsewhere I will only speak of the just Taxation luxurious habit or prodigality in Apparell hath been branded with all ages and reproved in all persons especially in such whose garments exceed their estates which argues apparant pride or such as pretend to be meer Fashion mongers pursuing every fantastick and outlandish garb and such may be justly reproved of folly but since they are both so common in our Nation to discover both too plainly I should but contend against custome and seeking to please a few offend many There was a law amongst the Grecians that all such as vainly spent their patrimony either in riotous excesse or prodigality in attire as well women as men were not suffered to be buried in the sepulchers of their fathers Alex. lib. 6. cap. 14. So hatefull was spruceness in habit and effeminacy amongst the Macedonians that Philip the father of Alexander deprived a Nobleman of Terentum of all his Honours and Offices because he but delighted in warm Baths thus reproving him It seems thou art neither acquainted with the customes nor manners of the Macedonians amongst whom thou hast not once heard of a woman though great with child that ever washt but in cold water I see not how that which is so reprovable in men can be any way commendable in women What shall we think then of those affected pleasures now adaies so much in use as Riots Revels Banquet Pride Suâ—fets Vinocity Voracity which as in men I mean being used in excesse they appear oâ—ious so in young Virgins in whom should be nothing but affected modesty in married Wives that ought to be presidents of Chastity and temperate and grave Matrons that should be the patterns and imitable objects of sincere Vertue they cannot but shew abominable The inconvenience of these Excesse Silius Italicus well observed lib. 15 de bello Punici when he thus said Inde aspice late Florentes quondam luxus quas vertitit urbes Quippe nec Ira Deum tantum nec tela c. Thence look abroad and see How many flourishing Cities ruin'd bee Famous of old since neither the Gods Rage The hostile Weapon nor the enemies strage Hath ruin'd Man in that abundant measure As Riot hath mixt with unlawfull pleasure These are the sins that punish themselves who as it is said of Lust carry their own whips at their girdles I was bold in some part of this Work presuming on the goodnesse of your Sex as to say There was no excellent gift in man which was not in some sort paralleld by one woman or other Therefore if any of you have been or are still addicted to these enormities I entreat them but to remember what is writ of Themistocles who in his youth was so wholly given over to all dissolutenesse namely these two excesses Wine and Women that his father banished him his house and his own mother through griefe strangled her selfe Valer. Max lib. 6. cap. 11. But after Miltiades was made Generall and fought that memorable battel at Marathon in which against infinite ods he defeated the Barbarians there was never any thing seen or known in him which was not modest and comely And being demanded how he came so suddenly changed Militia inquit c. The thought of War saith he will admit neither sloth in me nor wantonnesse Plutareh in Grecor Apophtheg Would you but entertein into your thoughts as setled an enmity against all Vices your publique enemies as he did against the Persians the forreign invaders you would undoubtedly after the battel of the mind constantly fought against all barbarous temptations be ranked equall with him in all his triumphs It is likewise recorded of Isaeus an Assyrian Sophist who in his youth being given to all voluptuousnesse and effeminate delicacies but comming to riper underderstanding assumed to himselfe a wondrous continency of life and austerity in all his actions insomuch that a familiar friend of his seeing a beautifull woman passe by and asking him if she were not a fair one To him he answered 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. De sii laborare de oculis i. I am no more sick of sore eies To another that demanded What Fish or Fowl was mow pleasant to the taste he replied 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. I have forgot to look after them and proceeded I perceive that I then gathered all my Fruits out of the Garden of Tantalus insinuating unto us that all those vain Pleasures and Delights of which youth is so much enamored are nothing else but shadows and dreams such as Tantalus is said to be fed with Of severall degrees of Inchastities and of their Punishments PHilip of Macedon making war against the Thebans Aeropus and Damasippus two of his chiefe Captains had hired a mercenary strumpet and kept her in one of their tents which the King hearing he not only cashiered them from their commands but banished them his Kingdome Polynaeus lib. 4. In Germany Chastity and Modesty is held in that reverent respect that no mean Artificer though of the basest trade that is will entertein a Bastard into his service or teach him his science neither in the Academies will they permit any such to take degree in schools though it bee a strange severity against innocent children who gave no consent to the sins of their parents yet it is a mean to curb the libeâ—â—ies of men and women deterring them from the like offences Aeneus Silvius lib. 1. of the sayings and dâ—eds of King Alphonsus tels us of one Manes Florentinus who being in forbidden congression with a strumpet was adjudged 〈◊〉 pennance which was not altogether as our custome in England is to stand in a white sheet but naked all save a linnen garment from his wast to the knees after the fashion of Basex the Priests comming to strip him in the Vestrie would have put upon him that robe to cover his shame which he no way would admit but was constantly resolved to stand as our phrase is stark naked but when the Church Officers demanded of him If he were not ashamed to shew his virile parts in such a publique assembly especially where there were so many Virgins marriried Wives and widow Women he answered Minime gentium nam pudenda haec quae peccaverunt ea potissimum dare poenas decet i. By no means quoth he most fit it is that those shamefull things that have offended and brought me to this shame should likewise do open penance Pontius Offidianus a Knight of Rome after he had sound by infallible signs his daughters virginity to be deâ— poiled and vitiated by Fannius Saturnius her School-master was not to content to extend his just rage upon his servant and punish him death but he also slew his daughter who rather desired to celebrate her untimely exequies then follow her to her contaminated Nuptials Val. lib. 6. cap. 1. Pub. Attilius Philiscus notwithstanding in his youth he
Judges called the Areopagitae when they deprehended a Witch and were to deliver her to death if she were with child staied the execution till she were delivered of her Infant because they would not punish the innocent with the delinquent Aelian de var. Histor lib. 5. The Law to punish Witches amongst the Persians was to bring them to a place where their heads were beaten to pieces betwixt two Rocks So suffered Gyge the hand-maid to Parisatides the mother of Cyrus Plutarch in Artaxerxes Charls the seventh King of France or the Frenchmen caused Prince Egidius de Roxa Marshall of France to be first hanged then burnt because he confessed himselfe to be a Witch and professor of Magick and withall to have been the death of an hundred and twenty children and women great with child A Witch of Avern was burnt alive for killing young infants and salting their flesh and putting them into pies and baking them for publique sale Fulgos lib. 9. cap. 2. Johannes Bodinus lib. Mag. Demonomaniae 4. cap. 5. tels us that there is a Law sacred in France that if any Magician or Witch or Soothsaier or Mathematician that shall go beyond the true rules of Astrology or expounder of Dreams shall frequent the Court be he never so great in favor or potent in office he shall be immediately degraded from all his honours and put to the rack and torture And this Law is fitting saith he to be writ in golden Characters upon every Court gate because there is no greater Pest extant to Prince or people then this viperous brood therefore above our Christian Princes he commends the Ethnick Kings In the time of Marius an Inchantress whose name was Martha who pretended to foretell to the Roman Senat the successe of the Cimbrian war was banished Plutarch in Mario Claudius Caesar condemned a Knight of Rome to death and forfeited all his goods to the people because he wore about him a Cocks egge as a Charm to dispence of Religion and that all the causes which he had in controversie should in despight of the Judges paste of his side Even fellowes that were scarce of any name or opinion in the world that were but suspected of Negromancy were condemned to death under Tiberius Caesar The Emperor Caracalla adjudged all such as but used inchanted herbs to the curing of Agues and Feavers Spartian in Caracalla The Scripture saith Thou shalt not suffer a Witch to live Bodinus contrary to Wyerius who will scarce beleeve there be any such accounting all those Judges 〈◊〉 condemn them to the Stake or Gallowes no better then Executioners and Hangmen he shewes divers probable Reasons why they ought not to live The first is Because all Witches renounce God and their Religion now the Law of God saith Whosoever shall forsake the God of Heaven and adhere to any other shall be stoned to death which punishment the Hebrews held to be the greatest could be inflicted R. Maymon lib. 3. The second thing is That having renounced God and their Religion they curse blaspheme and provoke the Almighty to anger The law saith Whosoever shall blaspheme their sin shall remain with them and whosoever shall take his name in vain or in contempt shall be punished with death The third thing is That they plight faith and make covenant with the Devil adore him sacrifice unto him as Apâ—lâ—ius testifies of Pamphila Larissana a Witch of Thessaly as liâ—ewise a Witch of the Laodunensian suburbs in the month or May 1578. who blushed not to do the like before many witnesses now the Law saith Who that shall but incline or bow down to Images which the Greeks call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 shall be punished with death The Hebrew word 〈◊〉 and the Chaldaean Fisgud which all our Latine Interpreters translate Adorare imports as much as to incline or worship now these Witches do not only incline unto him but invoke and call upon him A fourth thing is which many have confessed That they have vowed their children to the Devil now the Law saith God is inflamed with revenge against all such as shall offer their children unto Moloch which Josephus interprets Priapus and Philo Satanus but all agree that by Moloch in signified the Devill and malignant spirits A fifth thing is gathered out of their own confessions That they have sacrificed Infants not yet baptized to the Devill and have kill'd them by thrusting great pins into their heads Sprangerus testifies that he condemned one to the fire who confessed that she by such means had been the death of one and forty children A sixth thing is That they do not only offer children in the manner off sacrifice against which the Holy Ghost speaks That for that sin alone God will extirp and root out the people but they vow them in the womb A seventh is That they are not themselves blasphemers and Idolaters only but they are tied by covenant with the Devil to allure and perswade others to the like abominations when the Law teacheth That whosoever shall perswade another to renounce his Creator shall be stoned to death An eighth is That they not only call upon the Devil but swear by his name which is directly against the Law of God which forbids us to swear by any thing save his own Name A ninth is That adulterate incests are frequent amongst them for which in all ages they have been infamous and of such detectable crimes convicted so that it hath almost grown to a Proverb No Magician or Witest but was either begot and born of the father and daughter or the mother and son which Caâ—ullas in this Distick expresseth Nam Magus ex Matre gnato gignatur oportet Si vera est Prâ—sarum impia Religio Infimating that if the impious Religion of the Persians were true Witches of necessity should be the incestuous issue of the mother and son or else è contra A tenth That they are Homicides and the murtherere of Infants which Sprangerus observes from their own confessions and Baptista Porta the Neapolitan in his book de Magia Next That they kill children before their baptism by which circumstances their offence is made more capitall and heinouâ— The eleventh That Witches eat the flesh of Infants and commonly drink their bloods in which they take much delight To which Horace seems to allude when he saith Nâ—u pransae Lamiae vinum pucrum extrahat Alvo Noâ— from the stomack of a Witch new din'd Plucks he a yet live infant If children be wanting they dig humane bodies from their sepulchers or feed upon them that have been executed To which purpose Lucaâ— writes Liqueam nodosque nocentes Ore 〈…〉 corpora carpsit Abrasit 〈◊〉 c. The Felons strongling 〈◊〉 she nothing fears But with her teeth the fatall Knot she tears The hanging bodies from the 〈◊〉 she takes And shaves the Gallowes of which dust she makes c. Apuletus reports That comming
in the presence of the Damosel that 〈◊〉 freely kisse and embrace her at his will and 〈…〉 so whom she instantly replied upon his words 〈…〉 the Emperors pardon That she had made a Vow 〈◊〉 she would never kisse any man save him whom she 〈◊〉 knew should futurely be her husband Which answer the 〈…〉 in such good part as that he purposed her vertue should not passe without reward who asking If she were yet contâ—â—cted to any and she answering No Then saith the Emperor give me leave to provide thee of a husband when calling to him one Guido Germanus a noble young Gentleman and one in his especiall favour to him he presently contracted her a man as he was approved in Arms and Vertue so he was eminent in his Stock and Family being nobly descended and gave her for her Dower all that large Valley which lies beneath the Hill Caâ—entinus in the fields that are called Aretini Agâ—â— and made it an Earldo ne which Title he bestowed on him And from them two proceeded the famous family of the Earls Guidons whose eminence endured many herediâ—ary successions Fulgos lib. 6. cap. 1. I could amplifie the Reward due to Temperance and illustrate it with as many modest and chast women before remembred as I have Magnanimity in the Heroick Queens and Warlike Ladies But to avoid proâ—â—â—xity which I labor to shun let this one suffice for many The reward due to Fertility or many Children with such as have restored their decaâ—ed Families THere was a law amongst the Spartans that whosoever had three sons that family should be quit from watching and warding and such common service but he that stored the Common-weal with five he claimed immunity in all publike offices Aelian lib. 6. de Var. Histor Amongst the Persians those that had the most numerous off-spring were capable of the most honors to whom the King yearly sent rich presents Herodot lib. 1. What merited honors then deserved Regina the daughter of Mascinus Scaliger and Thaedaea Carroriensis who being married to Prince Barnobonus Viscount of Mediolanum had by him four sons and twelve daughters The first and eldest was married to Peter King of Cyprus the second to Lewis Dolphin and first born son to the French King the third to the Duke of Bavaria the fourth to the Duke of Austria the fifth to Vicount Gallentius the sixth to Leopoldus of Austria grandfather to Frederick the third Emperor the seventh to another Duke of Bavaria the eighth to Frederick King of Sicilia the ninth to Frederick Gonzage the tenth to Duke Ernestus Monachus the eleventh to Frederick his younger brother the twelfth and last to the Earl of Kent eldest son to the King of great Brittain from whose generous off-spring most of the roialest houses of Christendome such as still flourish in their pristine honors claim their descent so that this fruitfull Queen may be called Cybele or mother of the gods Bernardus Scardeonus lib. 3. Hâ—stor Pat. Pliny confers great felicity upon a Lacedemonian Lady called Lampedo because she was the daughter of a King the wife of a King and mother to a King when a certain rich Lady of Ionia came to Lacena and with great boâ—sting and pride shewed her her pretious jewels and rich garments she pointed to her four fair children whom she had liberally and vertuously educated and sâ—id These are treasures only in which modest and discreet women ought to glory Plutarch in Apophtheg Laconic Eumele the wife to Bâ—silius Helenopontanus of Pontabus as Nazianzenus testifies had by him some five sons of which three at one time were learned Bishops stout champions for the Gospel namely Gregorius Nissenus Basilius Magnus Caesariensis and Petrus Sebasta then I blame not Epaminondas who in all his noblâ— exploits and prosperous successes in war was often heard to say That nothing was so pleasing and delightful to him as that both his parents were yet alive to participate with him in his honors he in the great battel called Lâ—uctricum had a glorious victory over the Lacedemonians Plutarch in Graec. Apophtheg So Basilius Magnus Bishop of Cesarea gloried of nothing so much with daily thanks to God as that he was born of Christian parents namely Helenopontanus his father and school-master and Enâ—â—ele Capadoce his mother and that he was nursed by Macrine who had been a zealous and frequent auditor of Gregory Naeocae Soriensis his grandfather in that bloody persecution under the Emperor Maximinus with his kinsmen and family retired himselfe into a Cave in a moat where with bread only he miraculously fed himselfe and the rest for the space of seven years and after for the Faith of the Gospel suffered a blessed and glorious Martyrdome Licosck in Theat Human. Vitae Saint Hierom commends Paula the religious Roman matron for her nobility of birth as being begot by Rogatas a Grecian who derived himselfe from Agamemnon King of Mecene and roiall Generall of those famous expeditions against Troy and born of Blesilla Romana of the ancient family of the Scipios and the Gracchi and was married unto Toxilius illustrious in his blood as claiming his descent from Aeneas and the Julian pedigree but nobility of birth not being our own but our ancestors it is not my purpose to insist of it any further It followes that I should speak something of such as have been the restorers of ancient and decaied Families even when they were at the last gasp and ready to perish and be as it were swept from the face of the Earth Vitalis Michael Duke of Venice returning with his weather beaten Navy out of Greece where almost for the space of 2 years together without cessation he had opposed Prince Emanuel Constantinopolitanus being so exhausted that scarce Commanders Marriners or navall protection sufficiently accommodated was left to bring back his fleet whether by a pestilentiall mortality or that Prince Manuel had poisoned the Springs and Fountains where the Venerian souldiers had furnished themselves with fresh water is 〈◊〉 certain but most sure it is besides many other disasters and discommodities that which he held to be the greatest was that there was not any of male issue of the Justinian Family left alive but all of them in that infortunate expedition perished to one man not any of that noble stock surviving by whom the memory thereof might be restored to posterity This the Duke Michael often pondering with himself in great sadness and sorrow at length he bethought him of one Nicholaus a young man who had devoted himselfe to a sequestred and religious life and was of the order of the Benedictian Friers he had besides one only daughter whose name was Anna her he had a great desire to confer upon Nicholaus so he could any way admit a dispensation from Alexander then Pope therefore to that purpose he earnestly petitioned him and made great friends to sollicit him in that behalfe who willing to repair the ruins of so noble a family now
wals the Queen Nicocris who after some years succeeded her made much more stately exceeding her in all her 〈◊〉 Tagenna a women of seventy cubits high Lib. 1. Canusia Valer. Tus Opaea Berenices Arsinoe Herodias Faustina Lucilla Christiana Stratonice Casperia Livia Horestilla Lollia Paul Caesonia Commod born the same day that Calig vitiated the Vestall virgin Capitolin The riddle of Sphinx Plutarh de Homero De re Poet. lib. 3. * Aemus a hil in Thessaly where same say Homer was born A strange Incest L. 9. c. 47. Incest abominable in beasts 〈◊〉 Veronica Cap. 17. Faustina the wife of Claudius Lib. 4. The punishment of adultery De reip Gerevi praeceptis An impudent whoredome Messalina A Countrie fellow and his mistress Fabia Thimen Nevina A young Citizens wife A strange cure An unnaturall wife Faustina â—ife to Marcus Philosophus The birth of Commodus A notable Imopster Phaedima â—â—â—ceit discovered Adultery The wife of Otho the 3. Noble justice The birth of Alexander Lib. 14. * By Euridice and King Aristaeus 〈…〉 A miserable death A rare example of chastity Ethelburga A merry accident Aelian l. 7. Bias Prianaeus Pittacus Matilaenus Clâ—obuluâ— Lindius Peâ—tandâ— Corintâ—◠〈…〉 〈◊〉 Lâ—cedemâ— Thales Mâ—â—eliuâ— A true discourse The wife of Gengulphus Isabella Corumbona Friga Zoe Carlotta Deuteria Julia Grecâ— Eugenia Malentia Elfritha Emma A strange Tale. Justina Mariamnes Dosides Metheta Cleopatra Beronica Saloma Herodias The reward of Covetousnesse Tarpeia Acco Tulliota Junia Claudilla Agnodice Corona Theodosia How Welchmen come to be called Brittains Plutarch in Amatorâ— narrat Democrita Phillis Joannes Wyerius lib. 1. Cometho The daughters of Aristodemus Pheretrina Dyrce Antiopa Consinge Pyrene Gatis Atergatis Sygambes Semele Martia Helena Polyzo Acco Jocasta Bisalcia Zoe Austrigilda Serena Glausinda Fredegunda Fausta Lysides Melissa Auctoclea Antista Perimela Lymone Deuteria Leucothoe Lucilla Lychione Dyraptis Sabina Neaera Cleopatra Neaera and Charmione Monima Milesia Veronica Chya The Milesian Virgins Phaedra Two mothers The Hostlers Tale. Jesabel Dalila Athalia Helena Hippodam Ischomach Aspasia Chrysaeis Lavinia Arsinoe Anaxarite Berenice Nicostrate Hermione Polydices Plebe Ilairae Octavia Tullia Martia Teuca Fridegund Margarita Lib. 1. cap. de Amazonib The custome of the Scythians The brave acts of Scythians A base slight The first beginning of the Amazons Whence the name of Amazons was derived Marthesia Lampedo Orythia Menalippe Hyppolite Penthisilaea Minithra or Thalestris Harpalice Harpe A law among the Amazons * Venus * Cupid Of Feare Examples of Feare Deborae Helerna Meâ—abus Maria Puteolana Bona Longabarba Atalanta Three sorts of Furlongs The race of Hippomenes and Atlanta Candaces Lacena Valasca Bellovacae Amalasuntha Teuca Hasbites Tiburna Saguntina Zenobia Hypsicrataeae Artimesia Cleopatra Tomyris 〈◊〉 in a Prince A description of the Messagets Petr. Crinit lib. 1. cap. 11 Aulus Gel. A Sheep A Shrow 〈…〉 A pretty revenge Guendoline Elphleda * Toten Hall Elswina Maud. Another English Viâ—ago Joane de Are or de Pucil Emma Queen Margaret Sthenoboea Herodica Panthaea Theodole Suabilda Seritha Signis Bryseis Thargelia Molesia Anutis Timosa Zenopithia Patica Cipria Violentilla Agarista Hyppodamiâ— Sisigambis Praecia Roxana Aegina Antiopa Galataea Pisistratâ— amica Lib. 3. Athenae lib. 13. cap. 7. Athenae lib. 13. cap. 4. Lib. 3. Lib. 6. 8. Berseba Herodotus in Clio. â—â—lat 2. de Repub. Stowe Harding Estrilda Harding in Fabian Plut. Amat Narration Plutarch in Amatorio Chloris Aethra Danae Helenaâ— Auge The daughters of Danaeus * Venus Terentia Mecenatis Terentia Ciceronis A Vicarâ— daughter A faire witty Wench Vetustina Philenis Plut. in Apo. Caelius l. 24. c. 26. 〈◊〉 Plutarch in Lacoa Apo. Plut. Apo. Reg. Fulgos l 4. cap. 3. Erasmus l. 6. Apotheg Aegipta Ranulphus Marian. l. 2. Iohan. Wyerius de Lamiis lib. 3. Suidas Appâ—a Eustochium Tora Maria. Aegypt Columba Amata Sara Sylvia S. Ebbe Ildegunda Euphrosyna Marina Gunzonis Baldraca Scrytha Tara Dula Statyra Roxana Eâ—rusca Vâ—rgo Isabella Martia 〈…〉 〈◊〉 Daphne Rhodogune Theoxena Tyro Hypsicrataea Homer l. 1. Odyss Odyss lib 17 Perioch 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 Perioch 21. Perioch 22. Perioch 23. Evadne Loadamia Panthaea Sophronia Antonia Timoclea Brasilla Dyrrachina A woman of Casanova She was the contracted bride to the Prince Indiâ—ilis Anastasias Paula Romana Barbara Edeltrudis Edithae Susanna Judith Maud. Retana Panachis Quartilla Timandra Campaspe Satyrus in vitu Plin lib. 21. cap. 2. Pythonica Dicaearch de discensu ad Trophonium Irene Athenae Dipr. lib. 13. Lib. 12. Danae and Laodice Just. l. 30. Laodice Justin Hist lib. 12. Aâ—â—enaeus In Conegide Joan Bal. Act Eng. Votar Guliel 〈◊〉 lâ—b 2. de reg c Athen. in Dypnos In Agrestis In Novaculis Athen in Dypnes Hist liâ— 3. Lib. 3. Polemon de Var. Porticu Heraâ—l Lambus Histor l. 33 Lynceâ—s Comicus Prop. lib. 1. Origines Athenae Gimos lib. 13. cap. 18. Clearch in reb Amator Nicol. Damascen The maner of the Babylonians A poor man a Bear A cold countrey My Hostesses Lie â— Physitian Santius of Spain Philip of Macedon The wifeâ— the Marquess of Este The History of a Pious Daughter The love of mothers to their children Loving Mothers The mothers of Carthage The wife of Proclus The wife of Adiatoriges Friendship in women Examples of fraternall piety The wife of Intaphernes Times forbidden in Marriage Ceremonies before Marriage Of Contracts Of Nuptiall Dowries Of Nuptiall Gifts or Presents Nuptiall Ornaments The Bride comming out of her chamber The Bridegrooms first appearing The Nuptiall offering The Nuptiall Song A ceremony for them to casâ— Nuts about used amongst the Romans Their going 〈◊〉 Nuptiall Pomp. Alex. ab Alex. lib. 1. cap. 24. Hymns and Invocations Nuptiall Diet. Nuptiall Copulation Indian women Thracians Geates Catheoreans Herulians Winedi Of him camâ— the Nicolaâ—â—â— Of Age. The first drinking of Healths Gratitude * From him al rich and costly Arras Hangings are called Attalia Women that have dissembled their shape Women that hâ—ve changed their Sex * Barbiâ—os id est Carmen Lyricum * Alcaeus a Lyrick Poet of Myâ—elene * Nisea a mountainous country neer Aetna * Venus called so of Erix a mountain Sicily where she had a famous Temple * Choranus who doted on the famous strumpet Rhodope whom he bought of Aesopus for a great sum of money * Claeis a wanton daughter to Sapho * The tears of Mâ—rrha with which they used to perfume their hair * Philomela * Lothos the daughter of Neptune turnd into a 〈◊〉 so called * Ambracia a City in Epire so called of King Ambraces How the Devil rewards his servants The 〈…〉 Severall sorts of superstitious Jugling * From the Ilâ—nd of the â—velops where he thrust out Polyphemus his eie * Islands in the Sea so called 〈…〉 A Spanish Magician A Witch of Brill Lycaon who was transformed into a Wolfe A strange Witchcrafte Miraculous transformations She-Devils A Tale of a Witch A Witch of Geneva Another kind of Witchcraft Example of the like Witches called Extasists A strange kind of Witchcraft Things observed in Witches Cynarus Mirha The punishment of Incest The punishment of Adultery Fratricides The punishment of Fratricides â—arricides c. Punishment due to Regicides Punishments of unjust Divorce Whoredome punished Punishment of Loquacity Punishment of Lying Punishment of Perjury Aristotle cals this Fountain Acedinus Punishment of Prodigality and Excesse Punishment of Witchcraft Some say a Serpents egge Deut. 13. Levit. 24. Exod. â—0 22 Dâ—ut 13 27 Numb â—5 Levit. 21. Deut. 18. Deut. 18. Deut. 13. Ier. 5 12 9. Deut. 19. Honor and Reward to Fortitude * Orchestra a place in the Theater only for the nobility Honor due to Temperance Reward of Beauty * The Province belonging to Padua Bounty rewarded Charity rewarded A Convertire rewarded So called of Sabbea chiefe City of Arabia
her before the President who at first despising her youth began to talk with her as to a child but finding her answers modest and weighty began further to argue with her but seeing himselfe unable to hold argument as being convinced in all things he grew into such a malitious rage that he first caused her to be scourged before his face even till the flesh gave way to discover the bones but this not prevailing he commanded her instantly to be dragged from thence and from an high place to be cast headlong into the sea I will conclude this discourse of Martyrs with one of our own modern stories Our English Chroniclers report that Maximus the Emperour having held long war with one Conon Meridock a reâ—olute and bold Brittain having in many bloody conflicts sped diversly sometimes the victory inclining to one side and then to another but in conclusion to the losse of both their hostility was by mediation at length attoned and a firm peace establisht betwixt them that done Maximus made war upon the Gals and invading a Province then called America but since Little Brittain he won it by the sword and after surreendered it to Conon to hold it for ever as of the Kings of Great Brittain This Conon Meridock was a Welch man and from these it may be That all that Nation assume to themselves the name of Brittains This eminent Captain being only furnisht with souldiers for the present warres but wanting women to maintein further issue to him was sent S. Vesula with eleven thousand virgins to be espoâ—to Conon and his Knights But being met at sea by Pagan Pirates because they would neither change their faith nor prostitute themselves to their barbarous and beastly lusts they were all by these inhumane wretches cut to pieces and cast over booâ—d and therefore in mine opinion not unworthily reckoned amongst the Martyrs From these I will proceed to others Aristoclaea OF all the deaths that I have read of this of Aristoclaea methinks exceeds example with which howsoever her body was tormented 〈◊〉 soul could not be grieved for never woman died such a loving death Plutarch in his Amatorious narrations hath thus delivered it Aliartes is a City of Boeotia in which was born a virgin so beautified and adorned with all the gifts and perfections of nature as she seemed unparalleld through Greece her name was Aristoclaea the sole daughter of Theophanes To her there were many sutors but three especially of the noblest families of the City Strato Orchomenius and Calisthenes Aliartius Of these Strato being the richest he seemed the most endeared to her in affection for he had first seen her at Lebedaea bathing her selfe in the fountaine Hercyne from whence having a basket upon her arm which she was to use in the sacrifice to Jupiter he took a full view of her in her way to the Temple yet Callisthenes he sed himselfe with the greater hopes because he was of more proximity and virgin in in alliance betwixt these two Orchomenius stood as a man indifferent Her father Theophanes upon their importunities doubtfull and not yet having determined on which to confer his daughter as fearing Strato's potency who in wealth and nobility equalled if not anteceded the best the in the City he therefore put it off to one Trophonius to be decided but Strato most confident in his own opinion and strength took the power of her disposing from Tropâ—onius and gave it up freely into her own will The damosell in a confluence of all her kindred and friends gathered for that purpose and in the sight of heâ— suitors was publickly demanded of which of them she made choice who answered of Callisthenes Strato taking this in an iâ—â—econcilable disgrace and in the greatnesse of his spirit not able to disgest an injury as he took it of that 〈…〉 his spleen and some two daies after meeting with Thâ—ophanes and Callisthenes he gave them a friendly and an unexpected salutation 〈◊〉 still a continuance of their ancient love and friendship that since what many covet one can but enjoy he could content himselfe with his own lot howsoever deâ—â—â—ing that their amity might remain perfect and unchanged these words came so seemingly from the heart that they with great joy did not only enterteine his love and voluntary reconcilement but in all courtesie gave him a solemn invitation to the wedding which he as complementally enterteined 〈◊〉 upon these terms they paâ—ted 〈…〉 a crew 〈◊〉 as he might best trust and add them to the number of his servants these he ambushes in divers places selected for his purpose but all to be ready at a watch-word Callisthenes bringing Aristoclaea towards the 〈◊〉 called 〈◊〉 theâ—e to perform the first sacreds belonging to marriage according to the custome of her ancestors Strato with his faction ariseth and with his own hands selfeth upon the virgin on the other side Callisthenes he catcheth the fastest hold he can to keep her Strato and his pull one way Callishenes and his another thus both contending in the heat of their affection but not regarding her safety whom they did affect she as it were set upon the rack of love plucked almost to peeces betwixt them both expired Which seeing Callisthenes he was suddenly lost neither could any man ever after tell what became of him whether he punished himselfe by some extraordinary death or betook himselfe to voluntary exile Strato openly before his own people transpierc'd himselfe and fell down dead before the body of Aristoclaea Of no such death died Democrita whose history next ensueth Alcippus the Lacedemonion had two daughters by his wife Democrita He having with great justice and integrity mannaged the weal publick more for the common good then any peculiar gain or profit of his own was affronted by an opposite faction which emulated his goodnesse and being brought before the Ephori it was delivered to them in a scandalous and lying oration how and by what means Alcippus intended to abrogate and annihilate their lawes for which he was confind from Sparta neither could his wife and daughters who willingly offered themselves to attend upon his adversity be 〈◊〉 to associate him but they were deteined by the power and command of the Magistrate Moreover an edict was made That neither the wiâ— was capable of inheritance nor the daughter of dower out of their fathers goods notwithstanding they had many 〈◊〉 of such noble Gentlemen as loved them for their father vertues It was likewise by the enemy most enviously suggested to the Senate that the two Ladies might be debarred from 〈…〉 their reason was that Democrita was heard often to wish and withall to presage that she should see children born of her daughters who would in time revenge the wrongs of their grandfather This being granted and she every way circumscribed both in her selfe her husband and issue every way confin'd she expected a publick solemnity in â—hich according to the Custome
the women of the City with the Virgins houshold servants and intent 〈◊〉 meeting but the matrons and wives of the nobility 〈…〉 night-festivall in a conclave or parlor by themselves 〈◊〉 she 〈◊〉 her selfe with a sword and with her two daughters secretly conveied her selfe into the Temple 〈◊〉 the time when all the matrons were most busie about the ceremonies and mysteries in the conclave then having made fast the doors and shut up the passages and heaped together a great quantity of billets with other things combustible provided for the purpose but especially all that sweet wood that was ready for the sacrifice of that solemnity she set all on fire which the men hastning to quench in multitudes she before them all with a constancy undaunted first slew her daughters and after her selfe making the ruins of this Temple their last funerall fire The Lacedemonians having now nothing left of Alcippus against which to rage they caused the bodies of Democrita and her daughters to be cast out of the confines of Sparta For this ingratitude it is said by some that great earthquake hapned which had almost overturned the City of Lacedemon from Democrita I come to Phillus Demophron the son of Theseus and Phaedra the halfe brother to Hippolitus returning from the wars of Troy towards his Country by tempests and contrary winds being driven upon the coast of Thrace was gently received and affectionately enterteined by Phillis daughter to Lyâ—urgus and Crustumena then King and Queen of that Country and not only to the freedome of all generous hospitality but to the liberty and accesse unto her bed He had not long sojourned there but he had certain tidings of the death of Muesthaeus who after his father Thesâ—us was expulsed Athens had usurped the principility pleased therefore with the newes of innovation and surprized with the ambition of succession he pretending much domestick businesse with other negotiations pertaining to the publike government after his faith pawned to Phillis that his return should be within a month he got leave for his Countrie therefore having calked and moored his ship making them serviceable for the sea he set saile towards Athens where arrived he grew altogether unmindfull of his promised faith or indented return Four months being past and not hearing from him by word or writing she sent him an Epistle in which she complains of his absence then perswads him to cal to mind her more then common courtesies to keep his faith ingaged to her and their former contract to make good by marriage the least of which if he refused to accomplish her violated honour she would recompence with some cruel and violent death which she accordingly did for knowing her selfe to the despised and utterly cast off she in her fathers Palace hanged her selfe From Phillis I proceed to Deianeira Jupiter begat Hercules of Alâ—mena in the shape of her husband Amphitrio joining three nights in one whom Euristius King of Micena at the urgence of his stepmother Juno imploid in all hazardous and fearfull adventures not that thereby he might gaine the greater honour but by such means sooner perish but his spirit was so great and his strength so eminent that from forth all these swallowing dangers he still plunged a victor amongst these difficulties was that combat against Achelous a Flood in Aetolia who transhaped himself into sundry figures for the love of Deianeira daughter to Oeneus and Althaea King and Queen of Calidon and sister to Meleager he whom no monsters nor earthly powers could came by the conquest of Achilous won Deianeira for his bride But he whom all tyrants and terrours were subject to submitted himselfe to effeminacy and the too much dotage upon women for when Euritus King of Oechalia had denied him his daughter Iole before promised him the City taken and the King slaine he took her freely into his embraces with whose love he was so blinded that her imperious command he laid by his club and Lions skin the trophies of his former victories and which was most unseemly for so great a conquerour parâ—on a womanish habit and blusht not with a distasse in his hand to spin amongst her damosels In briefe what slavery and servitude soever he had before suffered under the tyranny of Omphale Queen of Lydia of whom he begot Lamus he endured from her which Deianeira hearing in a letter she â—aies open to him all his former noble act and victories that by comparing them with his present 〈◊〉 it the better might encourage him to 〈◊〉 the first and deter him from the last But having receved newes of Hercules calamity by reason of the poisoned shire sent him by her servant Lychas dipt in the blood of the Centaur Nessus in which she thought there had been the vertue to revoke him from all new loves and establish him in his first for so Nessus had perswaded her when in her transwafcage over the flood Evenus he was slain by the arrow of Hercules dipt in the poison of Lerna when the I say heard of the death of her husband and that though unwilling it hapned by her means she died by a voluntary wound given by her own hand Nor such as that which followes The Ionians through all their Province being punisht with a most fearfull and horrible pest insomuch that it almost swept the City and Country and had it longer continued would have left their places and habitations desolate they therefore demanded of the Oracle a remedy for so great a mischiefe which returned them this answer That the plague should never cease till the young man Menalippus and the faire Cometho were slain and offered in sacrifice to Diana Tryclaria and the reason was because he had strumpeted her in the Temple And notwithstanding their deaths unlesse every yeare at the same season a perfectly featured youth and a virgin of exquisite beauty to expiate their transgression were likewise offered upon the same Altar the plague should still continue which was accordingly done and Menalippus and the faire Cometho were the first dish that was served up to this bloody feast The same author speaks of the daughter of Aristodemus in this manner The Messenians and the Lacedemonians have continued a long and tedious war to the great depopulation of both their Nations those of Missenâ— sent to know of the event of the Oracle at Delphos and to which party the victory would at length incline Answered is returned That they shal be conquerors and the Lacedemonians have the worst but upon this condition To chuse out of the family of the Aepitidarians a virgin pure and unblemisht and this damosel to sacrifice to Jupiter This Aristodemus hearing a Prince and one of the noblest of the family of the Aepitidarians willing to gratifie his Countrie chused out his only daughter for immolation and sacrifice which a noble youth of that Nation hearing surprized both with love and pity love in hope to enjoy her and