vsher in the Worke especially being so much and so long conuersant amongst the Poets which is able to discourage a Booke wanting their approbation and countenance Let that I entreat be no preiudice to my Labours since I did not communicate them vnto any And how can any man truly commend what he hath not aduisedly perused Neither doe I thinke I am so little knowne or ill beloued amongst them that any one would haue denyed me so small a courtesie But being onely a matter of forme and neither helpe nor hinderance to that which hath alreadie past the Presse I expose it naked to the free view and vnguarded with any such faction of friends either by the worth thereof to be commended and so liue or by the weakenesse to be disparaged and so perish And these are all the difficulties of which I am now to expostulate desiring thee to excuse a suddaine Businesse which began with the Presse kept it still going and ended some few dayes before it These things well considered may in any generous spirit preuent all Cauill and Criticisme and to such onely I submit my selfe Thine who for thy sake desires to be still industrious T. H. AN INDEX OR TABLE of Nine Bookes of Various Historie onely concerning Women inscribed by the Names of the Nine MVSES The Contents of the first Booke intituled Clio Treating of the Goddesses Celestiall Terrestriall Marine and Infernall c. A Proeme of the seuerall opinions of all the antient Philosophers concerning the Deitie Fol. 1 Of the Goddesses Celestiall and first of Iuno 5 Of Sybil. 7 Of Venus 8 Of Minerua 10 Of Diana 15 Of Ceres 16 Of Proserpina 18 Of Nemesis 19 Of Latona 20 Of Fortune 22 Of the Goddesses called Selecta 25 Of the Goddesse Rhaea 29 Of Isis or Io. 30 Of Ate. 31 Of Pandora 32 Of the Marine Goddesses 33 Of Amphetrite ibid. Of Thesis or Tethies 34 Of the Nereides 36 Of the daughters of Triton 37 Of the wiues and daughters of Proteus 38 Of the daughters of Phoreis 39 Of Scilla and Charibdis 40 The Goddesses of Hills Woods Grouâ—s and Trees c. 42 Of the Oreades 43 The Driades and Hamadriades 44 Of the Goddesses Infernall 45 Of the Furiae or Eumenides 46 An abstract of all the Fables in the fifteene bookes of Ouids Metamorphosis as they follow in the Poeme 48 The Contents of the second Booke inscribed Euterpe Treating of the Muses Sybils Vestals Prophetesses Hesperides the Graces c. A Discourse concerning the Muses 57 Of Clio. 61 Of Euterpe 63 Of Thalia 65 Of Melpomene 66 Of Terpsichore 68 Of Erato 70 Of Polymnia or Polyhimnia 71 Of Vrania 73 Of Calliope 74 A discourse of the Sybils 76 Sybilla Perfica and her Prophesies 79 Sybilla Lybica and her Prophesies 81 Sybilla Delphica and her Prophesies 82 Sybilla Cumaea and her Prophesies 83 Sybilla Samia and her Prophesies 85 Sybilla Cumana and her Prophesies 86 Sybilla Hellespontiaca her Prophesies 88 Sybilla Phrygia and her Prophesies 89 Sybilla Europaea and her Prophesies 90 Sybilla Tiburtina and her Prophesies 91 Sybilla Aegyptia and her Prophesies 93 Sybilla Erithraea and her Prophesies 94 A discourse of the Virgin Vestals 95 Of Oppia Claâ—dia Fonteia Martia c. 97 Of the Prophetesses 99 The Historie of a great Magician 101 Of the Hesperides 103 The Pleiades or Hyades and why of the seuen Starres but six appeare at once 105 106 Of the Graces 106 Of the Howres 108 Of Aurora or the Morning 109 Of the Night 112 Of Sleepe 114 Of Death ibid. The Contents of the third Booke inscribed Thalia Treating of Illustrious Queenes famous Wiues Mothers Daughters c. A Discourse concerning Illustrious Women 118 How kissing first came vp ibid. Of three gentlemen and their wiues 121 Of Illustrious Queenes 122 A Funerall Ode vpon the death of Anna Panareta 123 Of diuerse Ladies famous for their Modestie 125 The wife of Fuluius 127 Of Aretaphila 128 Of Pieria Aspasia c. 130 The memorable Historie of Odatis 133 Of Aristomache Hyppo and Chiâ—mara c. 135 Of Tertia Aemilia Turia Sulpitia Iulia and Portia 136 Of Horestilla Artimesia and Hormisda 137 Of Queene Ada and Zenocrita 138 Of the wife of Pythes 139 Of the wife of Nausimenes 140 Of Ciano Medullina and Erixo 141 A woman of the citie Pergamus 142 Of Stratonica Valeria and Claelia 143 Of Olimpias and the Troades 144 Of the Phocides women of Chios 145 Of the Persides Celtae Melitae and Tyrrhaenae 147 Examples of Modestie and Magnanimitie 148 Of Dido Caesara Gumilda and Ethelburga 152 Of Policrita 154 Of Queenes and other Ladies for diuers Vertues memorable 155 Of women remarkable for their loue to their husbands 159 The Contents of the fourth Booke inscribed Melpomene Of Women Incestuous Adulteresses and such as haue come by strange deaths A Discourse persuading to good life 163 Of women incestuous and first of Queen Semiramis 165 Of Tagenna a woman of seuentie Cubits high 167 Of Paâ—iphae ibid. Of Canace Canusia Valeria Tusculana 169 Of Iulia the Empresse ibid. The sisters of Cambises 170 Of Liuia Horestilla Lollia Paulina Cesonia c. 171 Of Iocasta ibid. Of Crythaeis the mother of Homer 173 An Epitaph vpon Homer Prince of Poets 175 A strange Incest 176 Of Cyborea mother to Iudas Iscariot 177 Of Veronica 178 A discourse concerning Adulteresses ibid. Of many great Ladies branded with Adulterie amongst the Romans 181 A countrey fellow and his mistresse ibid. The water of a chast woman excellent for the eye-sight 182 Of Laodice an vnnaturall wife 183 The birth of Antoninus Commodus 184 Of Phedima and a notable Impostor ibid. Of Begum Queene of Persia. 186 Of Queene Olimpias and the birth of Alexander 188 The death of Olimpias 189 Of Romilda with rare examples of Chastitie 190 Of Ethelburga with her Epitaph 191 A merrie accident concerning a Adulteresse ibid. A true moderne Historie of an Adulteresse 192 The wife of Gengulphus and diuerse others 196 The Historie of Elphritha 198 Of Gunnora with other intermixture of Historie 200 Of women that haue come by strange deaths 202 Women that died golden deaths ibid. Women that died in Child-birth 203 Women that suffered Martyrdome 204 The strange death of Aristoclaea Democrita c. 206 207 The Hostlers Tale. 213 The Contents of the fift Booke inscribed Terpsichore Entreating of Amazons and other women famous either for Valour or Beautie A Discourse whether Valor or Beautie may clayme prioritie 215 Of the Amazons their originall c. 218 220 Of other warlike women and those of masculine Vertue 224 Examples of Feare 225 Of Helerna Camilla Maria Puteolana and others 226 The race of Hyppomanes and Atlanta 229 Of other warlike Ladies 230 A description of the Messagets 231 Of Zantippe and Mirhâ— 233 Of a Sheepe and a Shrow 234 A tricke of an English Skould c. 235 Of English Virago's of Ioan de Pucil 236 A discourse of Faire women 240 Of Faire women 245 The faire
Mistresse of Pisistratus 248 Of Nitâ—tis 249 Of Bersaâ—e 250 Of the wife of Candaules 251 Rowan and Estrilda 252 The faire Lady of Norwich 253 Of Calirrhoe daughter to Boetius 256 Of the wiues of Cabbas and Phaillus c. 257 The daughters of Danaus and the sonnes of Aegyptus 259 Of Manto 260 The wife of Agetas c. 261 A Vicars daughter 262 A faire wittie Wench ibid. Of women deformed 264 The Contents of the sixt Booke inscribed Erato Treating of Chast women and Wantons A Discourse concerning Chastitie and Wantonnesse 267 Of Mary the blessed Virgin 271 Of Petronilla the daughter of S. Peter and other chast Virgins 273 Of chast Wiues and first of Penelope 276 The Historie of a woman of Casa Noua 280 Of Edeltrudis Editha and others 282 Of Wantons 284 Of common Strumpets Concubines and priuate Mistresses 285 Of such as merited the name of Honest Whores 286 Of Lais. 289 Of Glicerium alias Glicera others 293 Of Agathoclea 295 Of Cleophis 296 Callipigae Alogunes Cosmartidenes Audia c. 297 Iulia the daughter of Augustus Caesar. 298 Harlotta the mother to William the Conqueror 300 Of diuers Wantons belonging to sundry famous men Poets and others 301 Of famous Wantons 304 Of Mista and others 308 Of Wantons conuerted 312 The Contents of the seuenth Booke inscribed Polihymnia or Memorie Entreating of the Pietie of Daughters Mothers Sisters and Wiues A Discourse concerning Lyes Ieasts and wittie Sayings 313 Of Pious Daughters 319 The loue of Mothers to their Children 321 Friendship betwixt women 323 The loue of Sisters towards their Brothers 324 Of Matrimonie and Coniugall loue 327 Times forbidden in Marriage 328 Ceremonies before Marriage 329 Of Contracts 330 Of Nuptiall Dowers ibid. Of Nuptiall Gifts or Presents ibid. Of Nuptiall Ornaments Pompe Feasts and Epithalamions c. 332 A description of the Bride comming from her Chamber 333 The Bridegroomes first appearing 334 The Nuptiall Offering ibid. The Nuptiall Song 335 The entrance into their Bedchamber ibid. Sacred Auguries and Nuptiall Expiations 337 The Coniugall Loue of Women to their Husbands 339 Of Bawds 343 Of Age. 345 Of women addicted to Gluttonie or Drunkennesse 346 Of women beloued of diuerse creatures 349 Of women excellent in Painting Weauing c. 350 Of women contentious and bloudie 353 Of women strangely preserued from death and such as haue vnwillingly bin the deaths of their Parents 358 Of Clamorous women commonly called Skoulds 360 Of Tullia and her sister 362 Examples of Patience in women 363 Varietie of discourse concerning women 364 The daughters of Apollo ibid. The Syrens ibid. Women that haue dissembled their shape to good purposes or to bad 365 Women that haue changed their Sex 366 The Contents of the eight Booke inscribed Vrania Entreating of Women euery way Learned Of Poetresses and Witches A Discourse of Astrologie 369 Of famous Astrologians 370 Of women Orators that haue pleaded their owne Causes or others 373 Of women studious in Diuinitie 375 Of women excellent in Philosophie and other Learning 377 A discourse of Poetrie 383 Of women excellent in Poetrie 384 Of Minerua and others 387 Of Sapho 388 Of Cleobule Lindia other Poetesses 394 Of Telesilla Poetria 396 Of Perhilla c. ibid. A discourse of Witches 399 How the Deuill rewards his seruants 400 The wretched ends of sundry Magicians ibid. Seuerall sorts of superstitious Iugling 401 Of Cyrce Medea and other Witches remembred by the Poets 403 Of Witches transported from one place to another by the Deuill 406 Of Witches that haue either changed their owne shapes or transformed others 409 Lycantropia 410 A Piper transformed into an Asse 411 Other miraculous transformations ibid. Of shee Deuils 412 A Witch of Amsterdam 414 A Witch of Geneua 415 Examples of strange kinds of Witchcraft 416 Witches called Extasists 417 Diuerse things to be obserued in Witches 419 The Contents of the ninth Booke inscribed Calliope Entreating of Women in generall with the Punishments of the Vitious and Rewards due to the Vertuous interlaced with sundry Histories A Discourse of Death 419 Of women rauished 421 Of Handmaids Nurses Midwiues and Stepdames 424 The punishment of Incest in the sister of Leucippus 429 The punishment of Adulterie 432 Sisters that haue murthered their Brothers 434 The punishment of Fratricides 435 Of Mothers that haue slaine their Children and Wiues their Husbands ibid. Punishment due to Regicides 436 Punishment of vniust Diuorce 437 Whoredome punished 438 Loquacitie punished 439 Lying punished ibid. Periurie punished 440 Prodigalitie and Excesse punished 441 Witchcraft punished 444 Honor and Reward due to Fortitude 449 Honor and Reward due to Temperance 450 Reward due to Fertilitie or many Children illustrated in diuerse Histories 451 Of Beautie and the Reward thereof 453 A Conuertite rewarded 458 Of Cura or Care 462 Rewards due to women Philosophers Orators or Poetesses 463 FINIS TABVLAE NINE BOOKES OF VARIOVS HISTORIE ONELIE concerning Women Inscribed by the names of the nine Muses The first booke which is CLIO treating of the Goddesses Coelestiall Terrestriall Marine and Infernall BEFORE wee enter into a particular tractate of these Goddesses it shall not bee amisse to speake something of the opinions setled in sundry Nations concerning them Who were their first Adorers and Worshippers the multiplicitie of their gods and what seuerall rights and customes obseruations and Ceremonies they vsed in their Oblations and Sacrifices The Aethiopians are said to bee the most ancient and the first beginners of Diuine adoration as Diodorus is of opinion Imagining in themselues and verely beleeuing some of their gods to bee euerlasting and others to participate of a mortall and corruptible nature The Phoenicians they deliuered admirable and strange things concerning their gods and the first beginning and Creation of things aboue all others hauing in Diuine worship Dagona and Chamas The Atlantides a people of Affrica they are confident that the generation of the gods proceeded from them and the first that raigned amongst them they called Coelum which is heauen The Augitae another nation in the Affricke Continent acknowledged no other deityes than the Ghosts of such noble persons as were deceased to whose sepulchers they vsuallie repayred to demand answers of all such things wherein they doubted The Theologie of the Phrygians was not much different from theirs The Persians neither erected Statues nor Altars they worshipped the Heauen which they called Iupiter the Sunne by the name of Mithra the Moone Venus the Fire the Earth the Winds and the Water Isiodorus saith the Graecians first honoured Cecrops whom they stiled Iupiter and were the first deuisers of Images erecters of Altars and offerers of sacrifice The Iewes as Cornelius Tacitus relates apprehended but one diuine power and that onely they acknowledged The Germans of old as the same author affirmes were of opinion That the gods could not bee comprehended within walles nor haue any humane shape appropriated vnto them measuring their incomprehensible power by the magnitude of the heauens Now
houre so did the mother who came thither on purpose to reforme her sonne but he being hot and too forward in the action and she ouercome either by the inticements of the diuell the weakenesse of her Sex or both gaue herselfe vp to Incestuous prostitution the young man knowing no otherwise but that hee had inioyed the maid Of this wicked and abhominable congression a woman child was begot of whom the mother to saue her reputation was secretly deliuered and put it out priuately to nourse but at the age of seuen yeares tooke it home When this child grew to yeares the most infortunate sonne fell in loue with his sister and daughter and made her his vnhappie wife what shall I thinke of this detestable sinne which euen beasts themselues abhor of which I will giue you present instance Aristotle in his historie Annimal who was a diligent searcher into all naturall things affirmes that a Cammell being blinded by his keeper was brought to horse his damme but in the action the cloth falling from his eyes and he perceiuing what he had done presently seised vpon his keeper and slew him in detestation of the act he had committed and to reuenge himselfe vpon him that had betraied him to the deed The like the same author reports of a horse belonging to a king of Scythia who could by no meanes be brought to couer his damme but being in the same fashion beguiled and the cloath falling away and perceiuing what hee had done neuer left bounding flinging and galloping till comming vnto an high rocke hee from thence cast himselfe headlong into the sea If then this sinne be so hatefull in bruite beasts and vnreasonable creatures how much more ought it to be auoided in men and women and which is more Christians Cyborea the mother of Iudas Iscariot THis that I now speake of is remembred by Ranulphus Monke of Chester Ierome and others There was a man in Ierusalem by name Reuben of the Tribe of Isachar his wife was called Cyborea The first night of their marriage the woman dreamed that she was conceiued of a sonne who should bee a traytour to the Prince of his owne people she told it to her husband at which they were both sad and pensiue The child being borne and they not willing to haue it slaine and yet loath to haue it prooue such a monster to his owne nation they in a small boat cast it to sea to try a desperate fortune this vessell was driuen vpon an Island called Iscariot where the Queene of that place had then no child This babe being found she purposed to make it her owne and put it to be nobly nurced and educated calling his name Iudas and Iscariot of the Island where he was taken vp But not long after shee was conceiued of a sonne who prouing a noble and hopefull gentleman Iudas whose fauour in court began to wane and his hope of inheritance which but late flourisht now quite to wither he plotted against his life and priuately slew him but fearing least the murder might in time bee discouered and hee compeld to suffer according to the nature of the fact hee fled thence to Ierusalem where he got into the seruice of Pontius Pilatus and found meanes to be protected by him being then in the cittie deputie gouernour for the Romans Iudas because their dispositions were much of one condition grew into his especiall familiaritie and fauour The Pallace of Pilot hauing a faire bay window whose prospect was into Reubens Orchard he had a great appetite to eate of some of those ripe apples which shewed so yellow and faire against the sunne This Iudas vnderstanding promist him to fetch him some of that fruit and mounting ouer the orchard wall he was met by his father who rebuking him for the iniurie Iudas with a stone beat out his braines and vnseene of any conueyed himselfe backe Reubens death was smothered and the murderer not knowne Cyborea being a rich widdow Pylate made a match betwixt her and his seruant Iudas who being marryed to his mother was now possest of his owne fathers inheritance Not long this incestuous couple had liued together but Cyborea being vpon a time wondrous sad and melancholy and Iudas demanding the cause she began to relate to him her many misfortunes First of her dreame then of her sonne in what manner he was put to sea then how she lost her husband being slaine and the murderer not found and lastly how by the authoritie of Pilat she was now compeld to match against her will who had protested to her selfe a lasting widdowhood By these circumstances Iudas most assuredly knew that he had slaine his father and had marryed his mother which acknowledging to her she persuaded him to repent him of these great euills and to become a Disciple of Iesus who was then an eminent Prophet amongst the Iewes It shall not be amisse to speake a word or two of Pilate It is said that a king whose name was Tyrus begat him on a Millers daughter Pyla whose father was called Atus who from his mother and grandfather was called Pylatus at foure yeares of age he was brought to his father who by his lawfull wife had a prince iust of the same age These were brought vp together in all noble exercises in which the prince hauing still the best Pylat awaited his opportunitie and slew him loath was the king to punish him with death least he should leaue himselfe altogether Issulesse therefore hee sent him an hostage to Rome for the payment of certaine tribute which was yearly to be tendred into the Roman treasurie Liuing there as hostage he assotiated himselfe with the son to the king of France who lay pledge in Rome about the like occasion and in a priuate quarrell was also slaine by Pylat The Romans finding him of an austere brow and bloodie disposition made him gouernour of the Island called Pontus the people were irregular and barbarous whom by his seueritie he reduced to all ciuill obedience for which good seruice he was remooued to Ierusalem bearing the name of Pontius from that Island there hee gaue sentence against the Sauiour of the world Tiberius Caesar being then Emperour was sicke of a grieuous maladie who hearing that in Ierusalem was a Prophet who with a word healed all infirmities whatsoeuer hee sent one Volutianus to Herod to send him this man but Christ was before condemned and crucified There Volutianus acquainted himselfe with one Veronica a noble Ladie of the Iewes who went with him to Rome and carried with her the lynnen cloth which still bore the impresse and likenesse of Christs visage vpon which the Emperour no sooner looked but he was immediately healed The Emperour then vnderstanding the death of this innocent and just man caused Pylat to be brought to Rome who being called before Caesar the historie saith he had at that time vpon him the roabe of our Sauiour which was called Tunica
fire Vpon whose smooth brow cannot â—it a frowne She can make flints seeme feathers bare boords downe I will now trouble thy patience gentle Reader with a discourse that hath in it more mirth than murther and more sport than spight and yet a touch of both A mad fellow newly married had onely one yong child by his wife of some quarter old whom he deerely and tenderly loued as being his first but he was much giuen to good fellowship and shee altogether addicted to sparing and good huswiferie still when he vsed to come merrie from the tauerne where he had beene frollicke with his boone companions she being as sparing of his purse as prodigall of her tongue for she was little better than a skold would often vpbraide him with his expences that what hee wasted at the Tauerne were better bestowed at home that he spent both his mony time and that being so often drunke it was preiudiciall both to his bodie and estate with many such matron-like exhortations but alwaies concluding her admonitions with a vow That if euer he came home againe in that pickle shee would happen what could come fling the child into the moat for the house was moated about It hapned about some two daies after that he reuelling till late in the euening in a cold frostie winters night and she hauing intelligence by her scouts where he was then drinking and making no question but he would come home flustred she commanded her maide to conueigh the infant to the further part of the house and to wrap the cat in the blankets and put it in the cradle and there to sit and rocke it presently home comes the husband shee falls to her old lesson and beginnes to quarrell with him and he with her Ill words begot worse and much leaud language there was betwixt them when the woman on the sudden stepping to the cradle hauing spyde her aduantage I haue long sayth she threatned a mischiefe and that reuenge I cannot worke on thee come dogs come diuells I will inflict vpon the brat in the cradle and instantly snatching it vp in her armes ran with it to the moate side and flung it into the middle of the water which the poore affrighted man following her and seeing leauing to pursue her and crying saue the child ô saue the child in that bitter cold night leapt vp to the elbowes in water and waded till hee brought out the mantell and with much paine comming to the shore and still crying alas my poore child opened the cloathes at length the frighted cat crying mewe being at libertie leapt from betwixt his armes and ran away the husband was both amased and vexed the woman laught at her reuenge and retyred her selfe and the poore man was glad to reconcile the difference before she would yeeld to allow him either fire or dry linnen Considering this me thinkes it was not amisse answered of a gentleman who being persuaded by a friend of his not to marry with such a gentlewoman to whom hee was a suitor his reasons alleadged were because she had no quicke and voluble tongue neither was she of any fine witte or capacitie to whom he instantly replyde I desire to haue a woman to bee my wife that shall haue no more tongue to answer mee to a question than yea or nay or to haue more wit than to distinguish her husbands bed from another mans Another woman hauing a husband who customably came drunke home and shrinking from his stoole or chaire would oft fall vpon the floore and there lie along stil when she cald him to bed he would answer her Let me alone the tenement is mine owne and I may lye where I list so long as I pay rent for the house Some few nights after comming home in the like tune and sitting asleepe in a chaire before the chimney his wife being gone to bed presently the man falls into the fire the maide cryes out to her Mistresse Oh mistresse my master is falne and lyes in the fire euen in the midst of all the fire shee lay still and turning her on the other side sayd so long as hee payes rent for the house he may lye where he please But to more serious businesse for I haue now done sporting Of English Viragoes And of Ioan de Pucil OF Guendoline the wife of king Locrine and daughter to Corinaeus duke of Cornwall I shall take more occasion to speake at large in the discourse of the beautifull Estreld Elphleda was sister to king Edward before the conquest sirnamed the fourth she was wife to Etheldredus duke of Mercia who assisted her husband in the restoring of the citie of Chester after it had beene destroyed and demolished by the Danes encompassing it with new walls he was generall to the king in all his expeditions against the Danes in the last battaile that he fought against them at a place cald Toten Hall in Staffordshire hee gaue them a mightie auerthrow but a greater at Wooddensfield where were slaine two kings two Earles and of the souldiours many thousands which were of the Danes of Northumberland In this battaile were the king and Elphleda both present Soone after this victorie Etheldredus dyed and she gouerned many yeres after him in all Mercia or middle England except in the two cities of London and Oxford which the king her brother reserued to himself She builded many cities and townes and repayred others as Thatarne Brimsbury the bridge vpon Seuerne Tamwoorth Liechfield Stafford Warwicke Shrewsbury Watrisbury Edisbury in the Forrest besides Chester which is since vttery defaced and destroied Also shee built a cittie and a castle in the North part of Mercia which then was cald Runcofan and after Runcorn Thus farre Ranulphus William de regib with others giue her this noble character This Lady hauing once assayde the throwes of childbirth would neuer after bee drawne to haue any carnall societie with her husband alleaging that it was not sitting or seemely for a woman of her degree being a princesse a kings daughter and a kings sister to inure herselfe to such wanton embraces wherof should ensue so great paine and sorrow She tamed the Welchmen and in many conflicts chased the Danes after whose death the king tooke the prouince of Mercia intirely into his owne hand disinherited her daughter Elswina whom he led with him into West-Saxon Henricus lib. 5. hath left this Epitaph as a memoriall ouer her Tombe Oh Elphlede mightie both in strength and mind The dread of men and victoresse of thy kind Nature hath done as much as nature can To make thee maide but goodnesse makes the man Yet pittie thou should'st change ought saue thy name Thou art so good a woman and thy fame In that growes greater and more worthie when Thy feminine valour much out-shineth when Great Caesars acts thy noble deeds excell So sleepe in peace Virago maide farewell Much to this purpose hath Treuisa expressed
that all her meanes and substance was consumed and wasted by her impious and sacrilegious husband who most vnnaturally deteined her in prison This deuout woman for the Faith and ministring to the Saints was arraigned and condemned to the fire where shee publikely suffered a most glorious Martyrdom of her Volateran makes mention Giliberta Anglica was borne in Maguns or Mens in Germanie where shee was beloued of a young scholler for whose sake and least their priuat and mutuall affection should at length come to the eares of her parents all virginall modestie and womanish feare set aside she put her selfe into a yong mans habit fled from her fathers house and with her deere friend and paramour came into England where as well as to his obseruance and loue shee gaue her selfe to the practise of the Arts and to attaine to the perfection of Learning At length the young man dying finding her selfe entred into some knowledge and desirous to bee further instructed as one hauing a wondrous prompt and acute braine shee still continued her habite and withall her laborious studie as well in the Scriptures as other humane Learnings At length comming to Rome shee read publiquely in the Schooles where shee purchased her selfe a great and frequent Auditorie And besides her singular wisedome shee was much admired and beloued for her seeming sanctitie and austeritie of life and after the death of Leo the fift elected and confirmed in the Papall Dignitie for thus writes Volaterran Sigebertus Platina and others that haue writ the Liues of the Roman Bishops shee is remembred likewise to this purpose by Boccatius in his booke de Claris Mulieribus But Sabellicus Lib. 1. Aeneadis calls her Ioanna Anglica i. Ioane English who in her minoritie dissembled her Sex and so habited trauailed as farre as Athens and there studied with infinite gaine and profite insomuch that comming to Rome few or none could equall her in Disputation or Lectures which begot her such reuerence and authoritie with all men that shee was by a generall Suffrage elected into the Papacie and succeeded Leo the fourth Rauisius in Officina tit 6. Others will not allow that euer any such woman was Pope and excuse it thus There was one Bishop of Rome who was a decrepit and weake old man He by reason of age not being well able to manage his temporall affaires and domesticke businesse receiued into his Pallace as a guide and gouernesse a woman called Ioanna his sister or neere kinswoman this woman tooke vpon her great pride and state and vsurped vpon the infirmitie of her brother insomuch that hauing the command of all things and being auaricious by nature no businesse was dispatched but by her nor any thing concluded without her for which shee was both hated and scorned and therefore vpon her that vsurped the authoritie of the Pope they likewise bestowed his stile and nick-named her Pope Ioane This I haue not read but I haue heard some report it From her I come to Rosuida borne in Germanie and by Nation a Saxon shee liued vnder Lotharius the first and was of a religious place called Gandresenses in the Diocesse of Hildesemensis shee was facundious in the Greeke and Roman Tongues and practised in all good Arts shee composed many Workes not without great commendation from the Readers one especially to her fellow Nunnes and Votaresses exhorting them to Chastitie Vertue and Diuine worship Shee published six Comedies besides a noble Poeme in Hexameter Verse of the Bookes and Heroicke Acts done by the Otho Caesars Shee writ the Liues of holy women but chiefely a Diuine Worke of the pious and chast life of the blessed Virgin in Elegeicke Verse which began thus Vnica spes Mundiem Cranzius Lib. 6. cap. 20. Metrapoleos Fulgos Lib. 8. cap. 3. Elizabetha Abbesse of Schonaugia zealously imitated the practise and studies of this Rosuida which shee professed in the citie of Triers Shee writ many things in the Latine Tongue of which shee was diuinely admonished and inspired from aboue besides many persuasiue Epistles to her Couent of Sisters and others full of great conceit and elegancie A Booke also that was entituled A path to direct vs the way to God besides a Volume of many learned Epistles full of great iudgement and knowledge Fulgos. Lib. 8. cap. 3. and Egnat ibidem Constantia the wife of Alexander Sforza is deseruedly inserted in the Catalogue of women famous and excellent in Learning Shee from her child-hood was so laborious in the best Disciplines that vpon the suddaine and without any premeditation she was able sufficiently to discourse vpon any argument eyther Theologicall or Philosophicall besides shee was frequent in the Workes of S. Hierome S. Ambrose Gregorie Cicero and Lactantius For her extemporall vaine in Verse shee was much admired in which shee was so elegantly ingenious that shee attracted the cares of many iudicious schollers to be her dayly Auditors And this facilitie is reported to be innate and borne with her as proceeding with such smoothnesse and without the least force or affectation Her daughter Baptista succeeded her both in fame and merit beeing accepted and approoued for one equally qualified with her mother Constantia Therefore Politianus in Nâ—tricia doubts not to ranke her amongst the best learned and most illustrious women Baptista Prima the daughter of Galeatinus Malatesta Prince of Pisauria and after the wife of Guido Montefelcrensis Earle of Vrbin made many commendable proofes of her wit and learning for shee held many disputations euen with those that were best practised and grounded in the Arts from whence shee came off with no common applause Shee writ a Volume in Latine which shee titled The Frailetie of mans Life with other prayse-worthie bookes De vera Religione i. Of true Religion Fulgos Lib. 8. cap. 3. Isota Nauarula Veronensis deuoted her life wholly to the studie of all humane knowledge and withall to the contemplation of Diuine Mysteries to which shee added the honour of perpetuall Chastitie Shee writ many eloquent Epistles to Pope Nicolaus Quintus as also to Pius the second being sufficiently seene as well in Theologie as Philosophie Amongst other Workes shee composed a Dialogue in which it was disputed which of the two of our Parents Adam and Eue sinned first or more offended in the beginning Egnat and Fulgos. Lib. 8. cap. 3. Alpiades a Virgin who much desired to be instructed in the true Faith was inspired from aboue with a miraculous knowledge in the Scriptures Rauis in Offic. Of Women excellent in Philosophie and other Learning FRom Theologie I descend to Philosophie Nicaula Queene of Saba trauelled from the farthest part of Aethiopia vp to Hierusalem to prooue the wisedome of Salomon in darke Problemes and hard Questions which when he had resolued and satisfied her by his diuine wisedome inspired into him from aboue she returned into her countrey richer by her gifts more benefited by her knowledge and fruitfull as
bearing with her in her wombe a child begot by Salomon Lycasth in Theat Human. vitae Lib. 1. cap. de Femin doctis Adesia a woman of Alexandria a neere kinswoman to the Philosopher Syrianus both for her Chastitie and Learning is commemorated by Suidas Vata Lib. 13. cap. 3. Antrop Nicostrata by some called Carmentis helped to make vp the number of the Greeke Alphabet shee is also said to haue added to our Roman Letters Hermodica was the wife of Midas king of Phrygia shee is not onely celebrated for her rare feature and beautie but for her wisedome shee was the first that euer stamped Money or made Coyne amongst the Cimenses Heraclides Numa was the first that made Money amongst the Romanes of whose name it was called Nummus Isiodor Lib. 16. cap. 17. It is likewise called Pecunia of Pecus which signifies Cattell for the first that was made to passe currant betwixt man and man was made of the skinnes of beasts stamped with an impression It hath beene currant amongst our English Nation part of it may at this day be seene as an antient Monument in the Castle of Douer Saturne made Money of Brasse with inscriptions thereon but Numa was the first that coyned Siluer and caused his name to be engrauen thereon for which it still retaines the name in the Roman Tongue and is called Nummus Aspasia was a Milesian Damosell and the beloued of Pericles shee was abundantly skilled in all Philosophicall studies shee was likewise a fluent Rhetorician Plutarchus in Pericles Socrates imitated her in his Facultas Politica as likewise Diotima whom he blushed not to call his Tutresse and Instructresse Of Lasthenea Mantinea Axiothaea and Phliasia Platoes schollers in Philosophie I haue before giuen a short Character Themiste was the wife of Leonteius Lampsacenus and with her husband was the frequent Auditor of Epicurus of whom Lactantius sayth That saue her none of the ancient Philosophers euer instructed any woman in that studie saue that one Themiste Arete was the wife of Aristippus the Philosopher and attained to that perfection of knowledge that shee instructed her sonne in all the liberall Arts by whose industrie hee grew to be a famous professor Hee was called Aristippus and shee surnamed Cyrenaica Shee followed the opinions of that Aristippus who was father to Socrates Shee after the death of her father erected a Schoole of Philosophie where shee commonly read to a full and frequent Auditorie Genebria was a woman of Verona shee liued in the time of Pius the second Bishop of Rome Her Workes purchased for her a name immortall Shee composed many smooth and eloquent Epistles polished both with high conceits and iudgement shee pronounced with a sharpe and lowd voyce a becomming gesture and a facundious suauitie Agallis Corcyrua was illustrious in the Art of Grammar Caelius ascribes vnto her the first inuention of the play at Ball. Leontium was a Grecian Damosell whom Gallius calls a strumpet shee was so well seene in Philosophicall contemplations that she feared not to write a worthie booke against the much worthie Theophrastus Plin. in Prolog Nat. Histor. Cicero lib. de Natur. Deorum Dâ—mâ— the daughter of Pythagâ—ras imitated the steps of her father as likewise his wife Theâ—no her husband the mother and the daughter both prouing excellent schollers Laerâ— Themistoclea the sister of Pythagoras was so practised a student that in many of his workes as he himselfe confesseth hee hath implored her aduise and iudgement Istrina Queene of Scythia and wife to king Ariâ—ithes instructed her sonne Sythes in the Greeke Tongue as witnesseth Herodotus Plutarch in Pericte saith That Thargelia was a woman whom Philosophie solely illustrated as likewise Hyparchia Greca Laâ—râ—â— Cornelia was the wife of Africanus and mother to the noble Familie of the Gracobi who left behind her certaine Epistles most elaborately learned From her as from a Fountaine flowed the innate eloquence of her children therefore Quintil thus sayth of her Wee are much bound to the Mother or Matron Cornelia for the eloquence of the Gracchi whose vnparaleld learning in her exquisite Epistles she hath bequeathed to posteritie The same Author speaking of the daughters of Laelius and Quint. Hortensius vseth these words The daughters of Laelius is sayd in her phrase to haue refined and excelled the eloquence of her father but the daughter of Q. Hortensius to haue exceâ—ded her Sex in honor So likewise the facundity of the two Lyciniaes flowed hereditarily from their father L. Crassus as the two daughters of Mutia inherited the learning of either parent Fuluia the wife of M. Antonius was not instructed in womanish cares and offices but as Volater lib. 16. Antrop reports of her rather to direct Magistracies and gouerne Empires she was first the wife of Curio Statius Papinius was happie in a wife called Claudia excellent in all manner of learning Amalasuntha Queene of the Ostrogothes the daughter of Theodoricus king of those Ostrogothes in Italie was elaborately practised in the Greeke and Latine Tongues shee spake distinctly all the barbarous Languages that were vsed in the Easterne Empires Fulgosius lib. 8. cap. 7. Zenobia as Volaterran speakes from Pollio was Queene of the Palmirians who after the death of Odenatus gouerned the kingdome of Syria vnder the Roman Empire shee was nominated amongst the thirtie Tyrants and vsurped in the time of Gallenus but after beeing vanquished in battaile by the Emperour Aurelianus was led in triumph through Rome but by the clemencie of that Prince she was granted a free pallace scituate by the riuer of Tyber where shee moderately and temperatly demeaned her selfe shee is reported to be of that chastitie that she neuer entertained her husband in the familiar societie of bed but for issues sake and procreation of children but not from the time that shee found her conception till her deliuerie shee vsed to bee adored after the maiesticke state and reuerence done to the great Sophies of Persia. Beeing called to the hearing of any publique Oration shee still appeared with her head armed and her helmet on in a purple mantle buckled vpon her with rich jems she was of a cleare and shrill voice magnanimous and haughtie in all her vndertakings most expert in the Aegyptian and Greeke Tongues and not without merit numbred amongst the most learned and wisest Queenes Besides diuerse other workes she composed the Orientall and Alexandrian Historie Hermolaus and Timolus her two sonnes in all manner of disciplines shee liberally instructed of whose deaths it is not certaine whether they dyed by the course of nature or by the violent hand of the Emperour Olimpia Fuluia Morata was the ornament and glorie of our latter times the daughter of Fulu Moratus Mantuanus who was tutor in the Arts to Anna Prince of Ferrara shee was the wife of Andreas Gunthlerus a famous Physitian in Germanie shee
granting and she as vnfortunately obtaining was the occasion that she with her pallace were both consumed in his fires and thunders It is related of Iuno further that when shee and her husband being reconciled and pleasantly discoursing held argument betwixt themselues Whether in the act of generation men or women tooke the greatest delight and that by ioint consent their controuersie was to be determined by Tyresias one that had beene of both sects Tyresias giuing vp his censure That women were by nature the most wanton her sport turned into spleene and her mirth into such madnesse that shee instantly bereaued him of his sight and strucke him blinde to recompence which losse Iupiter inspired him with the spirit of Diuination and Prophesie to which her continnued anger further added That howsoeuer hee truely prophesied yet his presages should neuer bee beleeued Alcmena too growing great of Hercules and readie to bee deliuered shee taking on her the shape of a beldame sat her downe before her owne altar with her knees crossed and her hands clutched by which charme shee stopped the passage of her child-birth which Gallantis espying and aprehending as it was indeed that to be the occasion why her ladie could not be deliuered she bethought her of a craft to preuent the others cunning for leauing Alcmena in the middest of her throwes shee assumes a counterfeit ioy and with a glad countenance approcheth the altar to thanke the gods for her Ladies safe deliuerie Which Iuno no sooner heard but vp shee riseth and casts her armes abroad her knees were no sooner vncrost and her fingers open but Alcmena was eased and Hercules found free passage into the world Gallantis at this laughing and Iuno chasing to be thus deluded she afflicted her with an vnheard off punishment by transhaping her into a Weesill whose nature is to kindle at the mouth that from the same jawes with which shee had lied to the gods about Alcmenaes childbearing she should euer after bring foorth her young No lesse was her hatred to all the posteritie of Cadmus for when Agaue had lost Penthaus and Antinoe Acteon and Semele had beene consumed by Ioues thunders and there remained onely two Athames and Ino shee possest them both with such madnesse that hee being on hunting transpierst his sonne Learchus mistaking him for the game he chased and Ino snacht vp young Melicertes and with him cast her selfe downe headlong into the Sea from the top of an high promontorie But at the intercession of Venus who was borne of the waues Neptune was pleased to ranke them in the number of the Sea-gods so that Melicertes is called Palemon and Ino Leucothoe I could further relate of manie other poeticall Fables as of Ixion who entertained and feasted by Iupiter attempted to strumpet Iuno and adulterat the bed of Iupiter which to preuent and shunne the violence of a rape she fashioned a Clowd into her owne similitude and semblance which Ixion mistaking for Iuno of that begot the Centaures As also the birth of her sonne Vulcane and her daughter Eccho he lame and shee so deformed that being ashamed to shew her selfe or appeare to the eyes of any she hath so conceald her selfe in thicke woods and hollow vaults and cauernes that neuer any part of her could euer yet be discouered more than her voice Yet to shew that in all these seeming fables golden meanings were intended I will briefely thus illustrate them Iuno was therefore called the daughter of Saturne because the world was created by God the great worke-master of Nature Then in his course was Time borne from thence Ether which is whatsoeuer is aboue the Element of Fire the Firmament or the Sky and next that the Elements The highest next Iupiter is Aër namely Iuno the moderatresse of the life of man by whom the treasures of raine and haile are disposed and gouerned of the Aire waxing hot are generated creatures trees and plants c. whose temperature hath an influence in the bodies and mindes of reasonable creatures therefore when from water Aer is next begot shee is sayd to be nourisht by Oceanus and Thetis when the force of the Element workes with the Aer in the procreation of creatures shee is then sayd to be the wife of Iupiter when shee is changed into fire then shee brings forth Vulcan when the benignitie of the aire hath cooperation with such things as are generated shee is then stiled the goddesse of marriage So likewise it is saied of Ixion that for attempting the bed of Iupiter he was from heauen cast downe into hell which some would bring within the compasse of historie But that hee is there tortured vpon a wheele incessantly turning round must needs include moralitie Most probable it is that Ixion disgrac't and banisht from the court of that king whose wife he had sought to adulterat was thereby made of all men the most wretched and miserable as one excruciated with perpetuall ambition and enuie for such as vnder the imaginarie Idea of vertue apprehend the realitie of vaine glorie they can attempt nothing good nothing sincere or lawdable but all their actions are criminall irregular and meerely absurd importing thus much That their estates can haue no continuance that by sinister and indirect courses seeke to clime to the heigth and crowne of glorie CYBELE SHe is the wife of Saturne and is called the mother of the gods Her Chariot is drawne with Lions To her Ida and Dindimus two mountains of Phrygia weare sacred whereupon Virgill saith Alma parens Idaea deûm cui Dindima sacer From that place she is called Dindimene by Martiall Non per mistica sacra Dindimenes Not by the mysticall oblations of Cibele In Phrygia the ministers of this goddesse called Galli kept certaine feast daies in her honour after the manner of Fencers or Gladiators contending amongst themselues euen to the shedding of much blood which when they saw to flow plentifully about their heads and faces they ranne to a certaine floud not farre thence sacred to the goddesse and in that washt both their wounds and weapons the like did the Romanes in Almo a riuer neere to Rome the eleauenth of the Calends of Aprill which Valerius Flaceus remembers Sic vbi Migdonios Planctus sacer abluit Almo Letaque iam Cybile Where Almo the Migdonian knockes laues off And Cybele now reioyceth Reate as Sylius saith a citie in Vmbria is sacred to her so is Berecinthus a mountaine in Phrygia of whom she takes the name of Berecinthâ—a Apuleius lib. 11. calls her Pesinuntica of Pesinuntium a citie amongst the Phrygians Ouid in his Metamorp amongst her priests reckons vp Alphitus and Virgill in his 11 booke Choreus Melissa was a woman priest of whom all that succeeded her were called Melissae Plutarch in Mar. nominats one Barthabaces Per ea tempora c. About those times came Barthabaces priest to the great mother of the gods saying she had spoken to him in her Temple
of some High power effectuall in the opinions of men and plac't or hauing residence about the Lunarie circle who suppresseth the loftie neckes of the proude and from the lowest of despaire erects the minds of the humble For when the wise and vnderstanding men would illustrate to vs nothing to be more acceptable to heauen or more commodious to the life of man than a moderation of the mind as well in prosperitie as aduersitie they deuised many fables to exhort men nobly to indure the miseries and afflictions of this life with constant sufferance and resolued patience And because many had by such examples yeelded their submisse shoulders to the burden of disasters but in prosperitie and in the superabundance both of Wealth and Honour knew not how well to behaue themselues they therefore introduc't Nemesis the daughter of Iustice a most graue and seuere goddesse to see punishment inflicted vpon such that in the excesse of their felicitie and height of their authoritie prooue ouer other men Tyrants and therefore intollerable LATONA SHe was honoured in Delos as there being deliuered of Apollo and Diana to illustrat whose historie the better I will giue you a taste out of Lucians dialogues the interloquutors are Iuno and Latona You haue brought to Iupiter two beautifull children saith Iuno To whom she replyde We cannot all we can not all indeede be the mothers of such sweete babes as Vulcan Iuno replyes Though he be lame as falling from the vpper region downe to the earth by the negligence of his father yet is he profitable and vsefull both to gods and men for Iupiter he prouides thunders for men armour and weapons when on the contrarie thy daughter Diana imployes her selfe onelie in hunting and vnnecessarie pastime an extrauagant huntresse neuer satiate with the blood of innocent beasts Thy beautifull sonne pretending to know all things to bee an exquisite Archer a cunning Musitian a Poet a Physitian and a Prophet and not of these alone the professour but the Patron To this purpose hath he set vp Temples and Oracles here in Delphos there in Claros and Didimus by his dilemmaes and oblique answers to questions demanded such as which way soeuer they be taken must necessarilie fall out true deluding and mocking all such as come rather to bee resolued of their doubts and feares or to know things future by these illusions raising an infinite gaine and riches to himselfe to the losse and discommoditie of others his foreknowledge meerelie consisting of legerdemaine and iugling Nor is it concealed from the wise how in his predictions he dictates false things as often as true For could he exactlie and punctuallie presage all things to come why did he not foresee the death of his Minion and know before that he was to perish by his owne hand why did he not predict that his â—oue Daphne so faire hair'd and beautifull should flie and shunne him as a monster hated and scorned these with infinite others consideredâ— I see no reason thou shouldst thinke thy selfe more happie in thy children than the most vnfortunate Niobe To whom Latona replyed I well perceiue great goddesse wherein this many killing and much gadding daughter and this lying and false prophesieing son of mine offends you namely that they are still in your eie glorious numbered amongst the gods and of them esteemed the most beautifull yet can you not denie but that he is most skilfull in the Voice and the Harpe exceeding whatsoeuer can be vpon the earth and equalling if not preceading that of the Spheres in heauen I cannot chuse but smile sayth Iuno Is it possible his skill in musicke should beget the least admiration when poore Marsias had the Muses not bin partiall but judg'd indifferently of his side had gain'd of him prioritie but he alas by their vniust sentence lost not only his honor in being best but being vanquished hee most tyranously had his skinne stead off for his ambition and this your faire Daughter and Virgin is of such absolute feature and beautie that being espied naked by Acteon bathing her selfe in the fountaine shee transform'd him into a Hart and caused him by his owne dogges to bee torne in peeces least the young man should suruiue to blabbe her deformities Besides I see no reason why to women in labour and trauell in child-birth shee should shew herselfe so carefull and common a mid-wife euerie where and to all if shee were as shee still pretends to be a Virgin With her Latona thus concluded You are therefore of this haughtie and arrogant spirit because you are the sister and wife of Iupiter and raigne with him together which makes you to vs your inferiours so contumelious and harsh but I feare I shall see you shortly againe weeping when your husband leauing the heau'ns for the earth in the shape of a Bull an Eagle a Golden shower or such like shall pursue his adulterate pleasures Ouid in his sixt booke Metamor and his third fable sayth That Niobe the daughter of Tantalus borne in Sypile a citie of Lidia hauing by Amphion sixe braue sonnes and as many daughters though shee were forewarned by the daughter of Tyresias to bee present with the Thebans at their sacrifice to Latona and her children yet shee contemptuously denied it preferring her selfe in power and maiestie before the goddesse and her owne beautifull issue before the others at which contempt the goddesse much inraged complained to Appollo and Diana in whose reuenge he slew all the young men and shee the virgins with griefe whereof Amphion slew himselfe and Niobe burst her heart with sorrow Latona is by interpretation Chaos it was beleeued that all naturall bodies seedes of things mixt and confused lay buried in darknesse Some take Latona for the earth and therefore Iuno did oppose the birth of the Sunne and Moone by reason of the frequent fogges and damps arising by which the sight of these two glorious planets are shadowed and kept from our eyes for when by the thickenesse and tenebrositie of the clowdes the Sunne is weakned and made of lesse force oft times there proceeds a pestilent aire with many pests and diseases preiudiciall both to sensible creatures and to plants but when the Sunne resumes his vertue and vigor then by the purifying of the aire all these infections are dispersed and scattered vnlesse they haue proceeded so farre as to contagion And so much for Latona FORTVNA ANtium a citie of the Latines bordering vpon the Sea had Fortune in great reuerence to whom they erected a magnificent Temple Wherefore Horace thus speakes Oh Diuae gratum quae regis Antium So Rhamnus or Rhamnis a towne in Attica where Nemesis and Fortune were held in equall reuerence and from hence rather called Ramnusia In Praeneste a citie of Italy Sortes and Fortuna were held in like adoration of which they were called Praenestine Petrus Crinitus in his first booke of honest discipline and the sixt chapter concerning this goddesse rehearseth these verses
of the world haue their denominations from women Asia was so called of the nymph Asia from whom and Iaphethus Prometheus descended Europe of Europa the daughter of Aegenor Lybia which is Africa of Lybia the daughter of Epaphus in like manner America since discouered beareth the like female figure which as Beroaldus saith if the women of our age did fully apprehend and truely vnderstand how insolently would they boast of their worth and dignitie how would they glorie in vaine boasts and ostentations how much vncontinuall chidings would they vpbrayde their husbands still casting in their dishes their owne vetues and goodnesse still commemorating and vrging that women beare the names of all the foure parts of the diuided world that wisedome and the theological vertues are personated vnder the sex of women that the Arts the Disciplines the Muses the Graces and almost whatsoeuer is good are deciphered both by the names and in the persons of women therefore I feare this had beene better kept as secret as mysteries in Sanctuaries and not to haue beene published to them in their owne mothers tongue in which they are so nimble and voluble least calling a Counsell about this argument it may adde to their insolencies who haue too great an opinion of their owne worths alreadie I will onelie speake brieflie from what places they tooke their generall denominations and so proceede to euery particular person They were called Pierides of the mountaine Pieris or as some will haue it of Picrius who had nine daughters Likewise Camoenae à Canendo of singing Heleconiades of the fountaine called Helicon that flowed from a mountaine in Boetia Pernassides of the hill Pernassus scituate in the Region of Phocis Aonides of the Aonian mountaine Pegasides from a spring or well so called first discouered by the hooffe of Pegasus the horse of Perseus Cithereides of Citheron a hill neere to Thebes Libethrides from a fountaine in Magnesia Pimplaeades from a place in Macedonia Ilisstades from a flood by Athens Thespiades from the Thespians Ligyae of a people of Larissina who ayded Xerxes against the Greekes Castalides of the fountaine so called Corycides of a hill or rather a caue amongst the Delphians Patâ—ides of a well in Macedonia Olimpiades of the mount Olimpus Ardalides of Ardalus the sonne of Vulcan of these you may further reade in Varro Herodotus Terentianus Plutarchus Pompeius Pausonias Solinus Seruius Macrobius Sidonius Placiades Lilius Gregorius Picus Mirandula and others CLIO HEsiodus in his Theogonia saith that Clio is the daughter of Iupiter and Memoria and is the eldest of those Muses which he was nine nights a getting she is called Clio apo tou kleno which is Laudo to praise or of apo toâ— cleous for glorie which learned men acquire or that glorie which is conferred on eminent and great men by the encomiasticks of Poets so saith Diodorus But Placidus deriues the Etimologie of her name from the cogitation and inuestigation of arts and sciences Some say that she hath the preheminence and gouernment ouer histories as Apollonius in his Commentaries relates and therefore at this time I am to inuocate her ayde and assistance in the prosecutition and perfecting of this worke in hand She is moreouer taken for the mother of Hyalemus and Hymenaeus the god of marriage who are therefore called the sonnes of Clio because of their knowledge in Historie for so Iohannes Grammâ—ticus is of opinion the first the Author of sad and mourning Madrigalls the other of pleasant and ioyfull Epithalamions and nuptiall songs the first in melancholie Elegeicks The last in loftie Iambicks Apollodorus in his first booke of the Originall of the gods saith that Clio was besotted with the loue of Pierius the sonne of Magneâ—is by the incensed wrath of Venus because she reprooued her for too much dotage on Adonis and that by Pierius she had the boy Hyacinthus But that it is she by whom all men are accited and spur'd on to the purchase of honour and glorie whence else came that magnanimous and bold enterprise of Hercules in that great Centauromachia against the sons of Ixion to call to combat all the rebustious pyrats at sea and robbers and spoylers on earth Tyrants and euill doers to tame and horrid and dreadfull labours to ouercome the invulnerable Lyon of Cytharon to teare in pieces The many headed monster Hydra to suffocate and strangle the Eremanthian boare to slaughter and the golden horned hart to ouercome The rauenous Stimphalides to repell and all the monsters and terrours of the earth in single monomachy to ouercome but to attaine to the Apex and heigth of fame and glorie What mooued Theseus the second Hercules to remooue the rocks and plucke thence and beare away the inchanted sword the Minotaure to kill the tedious way to Athens to trauell the streights and passages in his iourney to cleere and free Corineta with his owne proper mace to ruin Pitiocamptes Sinis the sonne of Polypones to oppresse and many other enterprises of no lesse danger to acquire and accomplish What incouraged the Captaines and Generalls of the Graecian and Roman Empire to such noble atchieuements saue onelie the spurre of glorie to immortalise their names to all perpetuitie So did his Poetrie illustrate Homer his eloquence Demosthenes and his integritie Aristydes In like manner others by other meanes haue celebrated their names to posteritie to whom this Encomium may bee iustlie giuen Such as haue vertue in prise and estimation they tread the illustrious path for euery mans proper action doth nobilitate his owne name Such therefore as desire to be eternised it behooues them auspiciously to begin with some act either of consequence or danger For so saith Pindarus in his sixt Hymne Olimp. In the beginning of an enterprise a couragious and an vndaunted countenance is behoouefull For vertues are senselesse of dangers And Hesiod saith Virtutem posuere dij sudore parandum The gods haue plac't vertue not to be arriued too without sweat and trauell But it is next to be inquired what the ancient Poets chiefly intimated in this Nymph Clio She is called the daughter of Iupiter and signifies Glorie If it be lawfull therefore to acquire glorie and to leaue the memorie of your noble actions to posteritie farre be it we should seeke the daughter but from the father or court her without his consent who from the memorie and contemplation of a deed well done deriues to vs a fame in no age not to be celebrated She is called Prima cogitation i. The first thought of seeking knowledge and because no mans meditations are about that by which he hath not a purpose to inlarge the dignitie of his owne name therefore she is called the first of the Muses Plutarch in his Simposaicon diuides the nine Muses into two halfes the one to gouerne and haue dominion ouer pastimes and pleasures least any man should foolishlie and vnaduised fall vpon actions dishonest or vncomelie stirring him vp with songs
incertaine course they were driuen neere vnto Paâ—is Epitherses with manie of the other passengers being then awake â— voice was heard from the Island which to the admiration of them all called vpon the name of one Thamus this Thamus was an Aegyptian and his name scarce knowne to any in the ship twice he was cald but aunswered not but at the third summons breaking scilence these wordes with a loude voice were vttered Thamus greatâ—an â—an is dead Epitherses reported that these words put them into an vniuersall feare diuerse arguments being held amongst them and it being long disputed Whether it were necessarie that this command should be performed or omitted But Thamus thus resolued that if the wind stood faire he would not alter his course but passe the Island but otherwise he would deliuer the message according as he was inioyned Comming neere the Palodes their sayles were on the suddaine becalmed for neither wind was felt to blow nor tyde or water perceiued to mooue whith he perceiuing turned himselfe towards the Island and made this lowd acclamation The great god Pan is dead which words were no sooner vttered but a great intermixture of howling yelling and mourning was heard from the Island to the infinite amasement of them all This was done in the presence of so many witnesses that the rumor thereof spread so farre as Rome euen to the eares of Tyberius Caesar by whom Thamus being sent for he related the circumstance in the presence of the Emperour and many learned men all which concluded that this Pan before spoken of was the same who was held to be the sonne of Mercury and Penelope The truth is and agreed vpon by all approoued authours that at the birth of Christ all Oracles ceased and since that time were neuer heard to giue answer vnto any demand whatsoeuer And thus I take leaue of the second Sybill Phoemonoe SYBILLA DELPHICA SHe was called Daphne and said to be the daughter of the Prophet Tyresias many of whose verses Homer is said to assume to himselfe and make them his owne She prophesied of the warres and destruction of Troy Tyrasius was king of Thebes who as some say was strucke blind because he vnawares saw Diana naked bathing her selfe in a fountaine Of whom Ouid speakes in Metamorph. At pater omnipotens c. Omnipotent Ioue did for his losse of eyes Inspire him with the spirit of Prophesies Things future to predict which was I guesse To make his plague seeme in his honour lesse Of him Statius likewise speakes in the second booke of his Thebaiedes Some thinke Daphnis the neateheard who was the first inuenter of the Bucolick verse to be her brother he as Sindus and Vollateranus both auerre was strooke blind because he adulterated a woman in his drunkennesse the circumstance is so set downe by Aelianus He was the darling of Mercury and no sooner borne but laid out vnder a Lawrell tree the kine which he fed were said to be the sisters of the Sunne for so Homer in his Odissaea relates In his flower of youth he was beloued of a beautifull nymph who grew enamoured of him in Sicilia with whom he made a couenant That if euer he cast himselfe into the embraces of any second loue he desired of the Fates that his eyes might for euer loose the benefit of the Sunne Not long after the Kings daughter fell in loue with him whom hee vitiated in the heat of his wine and grew blind soone after Some make him the inuentor of the Beucolicks which others confer vpon Stesichorus Himeraeus But touching Daphne thus Palephatus in his fabulous Narrations speakes of her Terra or the Earth fell in loue with the flood Ladon of their mutuall compression Daphne was begot of her Apollo grew inamoured and layd daylie siege to her chastitie but shee not able to oppose his importunities and willing to preserue her virginitie pure and without blemish petitioned to her mother Earth That she would againe receiue her to conceale her from the Sunne into her bosome from whence shee at first proceeded to whose request her mother condiscended and kept her so long till from her brest shee sprong out a Laurell tree whom Phoebus notwithstanding courted but in vaine The manner of her transportation Ouid with great elegancie relates in his Metamorph. Without this Laurell as some thinke the Tripos in Boetia plac't neere the vaticinating caue cannot be erected All writers confirme a her Sybell and a Prophetesse belonging to the Delphian Oracle howsoeuer the Poets haue fabled Her prophesie was to this purpose An Angell shall descend and say Thou blessed Marie haile Thou shalt conceiue bring foorth yet be A Virgin without faile Three gifts the Chaldaeans to thy sonne Shall tender with much pietie Myrrhe to a Man Gold to a King And Incense to a Deitie SIBILLA CVMAEA SHe was called Cimmeria and was one of Apollo's Priests borne in Cuma a citie of Aeolia Leonard Aretine in his booke de Aquila volante calls her Omeria and would deriue her from Italie Herodotus in his first booke hath left this historie recorded That Pactias the Persian flying for refuge into the citie Cuma hee was demaunded thence by Mazares the great generall but the Cumaeans would not deliuer him vp without aduise from the Oracle There was in those daies an antient and much adored altar sacred to Apollo to which the Aeolaes and the Ionians in all their hesitations repaired for counsell it was scituate in the Milesian fields neere to the port called Panormus to this place were sent men both of birth and trust to demand from the Cumaeans Whether Pactias should bee deliuered vnto the Persians who answered Let him be surrendered vp which when the men of Cuma heard they with a ioynt sufferage concluded to send him thence and to obey the Oracle To which decree Aristodicus the sonne of Heraclius violently opposed himselfe a man amongst the rest at that time most illustrious either not giuing credit at all to the answere or distrusting their fidelitie that brought it therefore hee himselfe with other of the prime citisens prepared themselues for a second expedition these repairing to the Branchidae or Priests of which this Cumaea was one Aristodicus humblie kneeling before the altar thus bespake Apollo Pactyas the Lidian oh king and god to shunne a violent death gaue himselfe into our patronage the Persians redemaund him of the Cumaeans we though we feare not their forces yet dare not surrender vp a suppliant to death who hath tendred his safetie into our hands till wee heare from thee what in this destraction is most fit to be done To these words the Priest as from Apollo returned this answere Let Pactias be deliuered vp to the Persians This done Aristodicus it seemes not well pleased to betray the life of his friend surueying the Temple round he spyde where sparrows and other small birds had builded their neasts who taking away their young was about to
nobilitated as others by their vitious actions haue studied to disgrace of both which though my promise binde me to speake in their course yet you Ladies in this treatise as you most worthily deserue haue the precedence and prioritie of place What man was euer knowne to be eminent whom woman in some manner hath not equalled Come to Fortitude as there was an Hercules and a Theseus so there was a Menalippe and an Hippolite to encounter them who as they conquered not so they were not vanquished Come to limning or drawing of Pictures as there was a Zeusis a Timanthes an Androcides and a Parhasius so the world yeelded a Timarete the daughter of Micaon an Irene the daughter and scholler of Cratinus an Anistarite the issue and puple of Nearchus a Lala Cizizena and a Martia M. Varronis to boote to them in that art no whit inferiour In Poetrie compare the Lyrickes of Sapho with Anacreons and Corinnaes with Pindarus and it shall be easily made manifest that Sapho in all points paraleld the first and Corinna in fiue seuerall contentions for the palme preceded the last But the similitude or discrepance of men womens vertues conferd together can be made no better apparant as Plutarch saith than by comparing Life with Life and Action with Action by which we shall see they haue almost one and the same effigies For oppose the magnificence of Sesostris against that of Semiramis tha craft subtlety of Seruius Tullius against Tanaquills the magnanimitie of Brutus against Porceaees compare Pelopidas with Timoclea and which shall yeeld to the other preheminence especially if wee exactly consider the end at which the vertue it selfe doth ayme for diuerse vertues haue diuers colours laid vpon them according to the temperature of body or the disposition of the mind Achilles was valiant one way and Aiax another yet both their indeuours intended to one Fortitude the Prudence of Nestor vnlike that of Vlysses yet both wise men Cato and Agesilaus were both vpright men yet executed justice two sundrie waies Irene loued one way Alceste another yet both endeeredly affected their husbands so likewise Cornelia and Olimpias were differently magnanimious yet either of them attained to that height of honour to which their heroick mindes aspired But to come to our former comparison from which I haue somewhat digrest in what greater vertue can either sex expresse themselues than in true coniugall loue Cicero de Diuinatione and Plinie in lib. 1. cap. 16. report of Tiberius Gracchus That finding two snakes in his house male and female hee consulted with a south-sayer concerning the prodegie who told him as a consequence infallible That if hee slew the male swift death should surprise himselfe but if hee killed the female himselfe should escape death and his wife in 〈◊〉 like manner perish but to one of them that fate must necessarily happen He therefore preferring the safetie of his wife before his owne health caused the male to be instantly cut in peeces and the female let goe beholding with his owne eyes his owne instant destruction in the death of the serpent Therefore it was disputed whether Cornelia were more happie in inioying such a husband or made more wretched in loosing him An admirable and rare president in man and a husband which I can easily instance in woman and a wife for as there is nothing more diuelish and deadly than a malitious and ill disposed woman so there is on the contrarie nothing more wholesome and comfortable to man than one prouident gentle and well addicted for as she that is good and honest will vpon iust necessitie lay downe her life for her husbands health and safetie so the other will as willingly prostitute hers for his distruction and ruin Therefore a wife by how much neerer she is to vs in the strict bond both of diuine and humane lawes by so much either the sweetenesse of her behauiour tasts the pleasanter or the harshnesse of her crabbed condition relishes more bitter for she is euer either a perpetuall refuge or a continuall torment she of whom I intend to speake is none such as the last her historie I thus receiue in briefe Admetus a king of Greece demanded Alceâ—te in marriage whose father had publisht an edict That none should inioy her saue such a one as could reconcile two wild beasts of contrarie cruelties and natures opposit to drawe without iarring together in his Chariot This Admetus hearing he petitioned to Apollo and Hercules who commiserating his suit the one brought him a Lion the other a Beare both made tame and gentle to his hand who presenting them to the father of Alceste and hauing yoaked them and made them drawe according to the Edict receiued her as his bride and departed with her thence into his owne countrie of Thessaly Not long after Admetus falling into a great infirmitie of sicknesse and consulting with the Oracle about his health answere was returned That he must necessarily leaue the world vnlesse he could procure some friend kinsman courtier or other who by sacrificing their owne liues to his loue might ransome his and by no other meanes his health to be restored This motion being made to many both neere and deere to him who no doubt had promised more with purpose to performe lesse in conclusion it was refused by all which comming to the eare of Alceste she gaue her selfe vp to a most willing death to redeeme the health and life of her husband and with her owne hands slew her selfe Now tell me ô you Satyrists against the sex of women that call them fraile inconstant weake and timerous in which of these two did manly courage noble resolution or coniugall loue most shine in him that by suffering death to steale vpon him yeelded himselfe to the necessitie of fate or in her who like a bold Virago with an vnmatchable resolution with her owne hand extracted that blood from her chast brest with which shee writ herselfe a character of honour to outlast all antiquitie In these things then you see they may justly claime an equall competence with men but in many things a iust prioritie as in noursing and bringing vp their children in mannaging the affaires of the house and care of all domestick businesse in prouiding vs Diet Linnen for the backe and bed in sewing weauing and in spinning for who cannot imagine how ill great Hercules did become the distaffe But I will cease further to speake in their praise least I be taxed of palpable flatterie and some may lay on mean aspertion That either I lou'd that sex wondrous well in my youth or perhaps now begin to dote on them in my age And since I last spake of that conioyned loue that ought to be betwixt man and wife I will produce an Epigram taken from Ausonius to that purpose the inscription is as followeth Ad Vxorem Liue as we haue liu'd still to each other new And vse those names we did when
say nothing sir for all the time of the feast mine eyes were stedfastle â—ixt vpon you my deare husband for what other mens beauties are it becoms not a married wife to inquire Cornelia the wife of Aemilius Paulus when a great lady of Campania came to her house and opening a rich casket as the custome of women is to be friendly one with another shee shewed her gold rings rich stones and iewels and causing her chests to be opened exposed to her view great varietie of costly and pretious garments which done she intreated Cornelia to doe her the like curtesie and to shew her what iewels and ornaments she had stored to beautifie her selfe which hearing she protracted the time with discourse till her children came from schoole and causing them to be brought before her turned vnto the Lady and thus said These be my iewells my riches and delights nor with any gayer ornaments desire I to be beautified Filij bonae indolis parentum lauta supellex Viz. No domesticke necessaries better grace a house than children wittie and well disposed Many haue bin of that continence they haue imitated the Turtle who hauing once lost her mate will euer mourne but neuer enter into the fellowship of another Therefore Ania Romana a woman of a noble familie hauing buryed her first husband-in her youth when her friends and kindred continuallie layd open the sollitude of widdowhood the comfort of societie and all things that might persuade her to a second marriage she answered It was a motion to which she would by no meanes assent for saith she should I happen vpon a good man such as my first husband was I would not liue in that perpetuall feare I should bee in least I should loose him but if otherwise Why should I hazard my selfe vpon one so badde that am so late punisht with the losse of one so good It is reported of Portia Minor the daughter of Cato That when a woman who had marryed a second husband was for many vertues much commended in her presence Peace saith she That woman can neither bee happy well manner'd nor truely modest that will a second time marry But I hold her in this to be too censorious yet the most antient Romans onelie conferred on her the Crowne of modestie and continence that was contented with one matrimonie as making expression of their vncorrupted sinceritie in their continewed widdowhood Especiallie such were most discommended to make choice of a second husband who had children left them by the first resembling their father To which Virgill in the fourth booke of his Aeneid seemes elegantly to allude Dido thus complaining of the absence of Aenaeas Siqua mihi de te suscepta fuisset Ante fugam soboles c. Had I by thee but any issue had Before thy flight some pretie wanton lad That I might call Aeneas and to play And praâ—e to me to driâ—e these thoughts away And from whose smiling countenance I might gather A true presentment of the absent father I should not then my wretched selfe esteeme So altogether lostâ—â—â— I now seeme Plutarch much commends the widdowhood of Cornelia the illustrious mother of the Gracchi whose care hauing nobly prouided for her children familie after the death of her husband she exprest her selfe euery way so absolute a matron that Tiberius Gracchus of whom we spake before was not ill counselled by the gods by preseruing her life to prostrate his owne for she denied to marry with king Ptolomeus and when he would haue imparted to her a diadem and a scepter she refused to be stiled a queene to keepe the honour of a chast widdow Of the like puritie was Valeria the sister Messalar who being demaunded by her kindred and deerest freinds why her first husband dead she made not choice of a second answered that she found her husband Seruius to liue with her still accounting him aliue to her whom shee had euer in remembrance A singular remarkeable sentence proceeding from a most excellent matron intimating how the sacred vnitie in wedlock ought to be dignified namely with the affections of the mind not the vaine pleasures of the body This was proued in the daughter of Democion the Athenian who being a virgin and hearing that Leosthenes to whom she was contracted was slaine in the Lemnian wars and not willing to suruiue him killed her selfe but before her death thus reasoning with her selfe Though I haue a bodie vntoucht yet if I should fall into the imbraces of another I should but haue deceiued the second because I am still married to the first in my heart Not of their minds was Popilia the daughter of Marcus who to one that wondered what should be the reason why all feminine beasts neuer admitted the act of generation but in their time and when they couet issue and woman at all times desires the companie of man thus answered the reason is onely this Because they are beasts The wife of FVLVIVS THis Fuluius the familiar and indeered friend of Augustus Caesar heard him priuatly complaine of the great solitude that was then in his house since two of his grand-children by his daughter were taken away by death and the onely third that remained was for some calumnies publisht against the Emperour now in exile so that he should bee forced to abandon his owne blood and constitute a sonne in law and a stranger to succeed in the Imperiall purple and therefore he had many motions in himselfe and sometimes a purpose to recall the yong mans banishment and to restore him to his fauour and former grace in the court This Fuluius hearing went home and vpon promise of secresie told it to his wife shee could not containe her selfe but makes what speede she can and tells this good newes to the Empresse Liuia Liuia she speeds to Augustus and briefly expostulates with him about the banishment of her grand-child what reason he had not to restore him to his former honors and why he would preferre a stranger before his own blood with many such like vpbraidings The next morning Fuluius comming as his custome was into the Presence and saluting the Emperour Augustus cast an austere looke vpon him and shaking his head sayd onely thus You haue a close brest Fuluius by this he perceiuing his wife had published abroad what he had told her in secret posts home with what speede hee can and calling his wife before him ô woman sayth he Augustus knowes that I haue reuealed his secret therefore I haue a resolution to liue no longer to whom she replied Neither is that death you threaten to your selfe without merite who hauing liued with me so long and knowne my weakenesse and loquacitie had not the discretion to preuent this danger to which you haue drawne your selfe by tempting my frailetie but since you will needs die it shall be my honour to precead you in death which she had no sooner
spoke but snacht out his sword and with it slew her selfe A noble resolution in an heathen Ladie to punish her husbands disgrace and her owne ouersight with voluntarie death and a notable example to all women that shall succeede her to be more charie in keeping their husbands secrets all which I would wish to follow the counsell of the comick Poet Philippides who when king Lysimachus called him vnto him and vsing him with all curtesie spake thus What of the things that are within or without me shall I impart vnto thee ô Phillippides he thus answered Euen what thou pleasest oh king so thou still reseruest to thy selfe thy counsells This puts me in mind of king Seleucus Callinicus who hauing lost a battaile against the Galatians and his whole armie being quite subuerted and disperced casting away his crowne and and all regall ornaments was forced to flie onely attended with two or three seruants and wandering long through many deserts and by-pathes as fearing to be discouered and growing faint with hunger he came to a certaine ruinate cottage where he deâ—ired bread and water the maister of the house not onely affoorded him that but whatsoeuer else the place could yeeld or the suddennesse of the time prouide with a large welcome In the interim of dinner fixing his eyes vpon Seleucus face he knew him to be the king and not able to containe his owne ioyes nor conceale the kings dssimulation after dinner the king being redie to take horse and bidding his host farewell hee replied againe And farewell ô king Seleucus who finding himselfe discouered reached him his hand as to imbrace him beckning to one of his followers who at the instant at one blow strooke off his head so that as Homer Sic caput estque loquentis ad huc cum puluere mistum These were the fruits of vnseasonable babling for this fellow had he kept his tongue till the king had beene restored to his former dignities might haue receiued large rewardes for his hospitallitie who suâ—ered an vnexpected death for his loquacitie Aretaphila ARetaphila Cyrenaea is deseruedly numbered amongst the heroick Ladies she liued in the time of Mithredates and was the daughter of Aeglatur and the wife of Phedimus a woman of excellent Vertue exquisit Beautie singular Wisedome and in the managing of common-welthes businesse and ciuill affaires ingeniously expert this Ladie the common calamities of her countrie made eminent for Nicocaentes the tyrant hauing vsurped the principallitie ouer the Cirenaeans amongst many other of his inhumane butcheries slew Menalippus the Priest of Apollo and assumed to himselfe the sacred office and dignitie In the number of these noble citisens hee caused Phedimus the husband of Aretaphila to be iniuriously put to death married her against her will who as well distrest with her priuate discontents as suffering in the publique calamitie meditated a remedie for both and by aduise of some of her neerest allies attempted to poyson the king but the proiect being discouered was preuented and vpon that ground Calbia mother to Nicocrates a woman of an implacable spirit and prone to any thing wherin there might be blood and slaughter first condemned her to insufferable torture and next to violent death but the tyrant her sonne in regard of the extraordinarie loue he bore vnto her being the more relenting and humane of the two was pleased to put her cause first to examination and after to censure In which triall shee answered boldly and with great courage in the defence of her owne innocence but being by manifest proofes conuicted in so much that her purpose could not be denied she then descended so low as to excuse herselfe alleaging that indeed apprehending the greatnesse of his person and that she was in degree no better to him than an handmaide and fearing least some other more accomplisht beautie might steppe betwixt him and her to insinnuate into his fauour and grace shee therefore had prepared an amatorious confection minding only to continue his loue not to betray his life and if her womanish weakenesse had in any kind through ignorance transgrest the bounds of loyaltie she submitted her selfe to his royall clemencie whose approoued judgement shee made no doubt knew how to distinguish betwixt folly and malice Notwithstanding these smooth euasions Nicocrates fully possest of the truth gaue her vp into the hands of his mother to be tormented who as shee is before charractered being a harsh and mercilesse woman left nothing vnattempted that torture could deuise to wrest from her a capitoll confession but Aretaphila with wonderous patience and constancie induring whatsoeuer the beldame could inflict vpon her Calbia grew as wearie in punishing as she in suffering insomuch that Nicocrates was in some sort persuaded of her innocencie commanded her release seeming sorrowfull for the torments she had indured so that his former loue conquering his suspition he began to studie a new reconcilement and excusing his too much credulousnesse renewed his antient familiaritie and custome But she not forgetting her former rackes and strapadoes now began to meditate vpon his death another way she had a daughter of exquisite feature and the tyrant had a brother called Leander a wilde-headed yong man and apt for any innouation or hair-braind attempt shee wrought so far with her and so inwardly with him that by the consent of the king a match was concluded betwixt them All these things falling out according to her wishes her daughter by the mothers instigation wrought so farre vpon his rashnesse in priuate and the mother gaue him such incouragement withall that putting him in hope to inioy the soueraignetie to himselfe they persuaded him to supplant his brother This tooke such prosperous effect that he suborned a seruant of his called Daphries who attending his opportunitie slew the tyrant Aretaphila not with this contented whose reuenge aymed to extirpat the whole familie of the tyrant and whose goodnesse to free her countrie from all seruitude instigated the citisens against Learchus for the murder of her king and second husband drawing him into the compasse of that publike hate that he was forced to flie as a traitour and a fratricide neither was she satisfied whilst he yet liued therefore by her wit and policie and the industrie of one Anabas hee was at length subtlely surprised by which the citie receiued her pristine libertie and freedome For which the people would haue done her diuine honours as to a goddesse which shee vtterly refused They next proceeded to justice vpon the delinquents where Calbia was iudged to the fire and burnt a liue and Leander to be sowed in a sacke and so cast into the Sea both which executions were accordingly performed The people then once againe assembled and prostrated themselues before her ioyntly beseeching her either to take vpon her the primacie and chiefe gouernment or at least to be a gracious assistant to the magistrates and princes with her directions and counsell both which shee vtterly refused
both of them being so naturallie beautifull that they were said to be the sonnes of Adonis and Venus The elder raigned in the lower parts of Media the Iunior kept his principalitie in the higher countrey as farre as the riuer Taâ—ais not many leagues distant from thence there liued the king Homartes who had one onely daughter cald Odatis whom as diuers Authours affirme seemed in a dreame to haue seene this Zariadres and of his person to be much inamoured The like in a vision happening to him in so much that he was ardentlie affected to her whome as yet he had neuer seene This Odatis was the fairest Princesse in that time liuing in Asia and Zariadres no whit to her inferiour who sent to the king Homartes to demand her in marriage he would by no meanes yeeld to the motion because not hauing any male issue he was loath to transferre the succession of his kingdome vpon a stranger purposing rather to bestow her on some Prince of his countrey though a subiect Not long after he caused to be assembled all the friends kinsmen Nobilitie and Gentrie of his land inuiting them to his daughters marriage but not yet knowing or hauing determined in himselfe on whom to conferre her His subiects thus assembled hee inuited them all to a solemne and high feast whither hauing called his daughterâ— in the hearing of all his guests he thus bespake her We are now ô Princely daughter to celebrate thy nuptialls take therfore this golden bowle filled with rich Greekish wine and hauing throughlie and aduisedlie perused all this noble companie to whom thou shall daine first to drinke he is vndoubtedlie thy husband She hauing viewed and reuiewed them all none pleasing like that person presented to her in her dreame she demanded of her father some few daies respight which granted she sent word to Zariadres how her affaires stood concerning her marriage and withall much desiring his speedy presence He being in his army neere to Tanais and hearing this newes secretlie conueyed himselfe out of his tent and without any seruant or attendant sauing his chariotter came priuatelie into the Cittie of Homartes hauing in wondrous short space runne 8000 furlongs this done he disposed both of his charriot and driuer and withall putting himselfe into a Scythians habit hee came to the place where this marriage was to be celebrated and thronging in amongst the rest he beheld the beautifull Odatis sad in countenance and tempering her draught with a slow and vnwilling hand to whom approaching more neerer he thus whispered Behold Odatis thy dearest Zariadres for whom thou didst latelie send ready to doe thee all seruice She casting an aduised eye vpon him and perceiuing him to be a stranger beautifull and in all semblance so like the person of whom she had dreamt in a great extasie of ioy dranke to him and gaue him the cup and whilst the rest were amased at the nouell hee snatcht her vp and carryed her where his charriot stood ready and so transported her into Media This their loue was so famous amongst the barbarous people that the history was portraied in all their Pallaces and Temples nay euen in their priuate houses many of the Nobilitie in memorie of her calling their daughters by the name of Odatis Dionisius the Tyrant banisht Dion out of Sicily taking into his owne custody the exyles wife Aristomache and her daughter but after at the great intercession of one of his seruants Polycrates a man by him much affected he compelled the Lady who stil lamented the absence of her Lord vnto a second marriage with this Polycrates who was by nation of Syracusa But Dion hauing gathered fresh forces and expelling Dionisius from Syracusa vnto the Locrenses Arâ—â—e his sister meeting him and congratulating his famous victorie made intercession for Aristomache who with great shame had sequestred her selfe from the presence of her first husband not daring to looke him in the face howsoeuer her second nuptialls were made by force and compulsion But the necessitie of the cause the wondrous submission and modest excuse of Aristomache together with the mediation of Arete so much preuayled with Dion all confirming hir innocence that he receiued his wife and daughter into his familie still continuing their former loue and societie Hippo a woman of Greece trauelling by sea with her husband and being surprised by Pyrats finding the chiefe of them to be inamoured of her beautie rather than yeeld to his lustfull desires she voluntarilie threw her selfe into the sea and was drowned leauing behind her a remarkable president of chastitie her body was driuen vpon Ericheon or as some will haue it the Erythean shore in memorie of whom a sacred monument was raysed which was many yeares after yeerely celebrated with many condigne honours Valer. Max. lib. 7. cap. 1. Chiomara of whom Liâ—ius Frontinus Florus and others haue written was the wife of Orgiantes Regulus and borne in Galatia Plutarch calls her Oriagontes it is thus related of her The army and the forces of the Gallogrecians being part of them defeated and the rest taken captiue by Ca. Manlius then consull neere to the mount Olimpus this Chiomara the wife of Regulus a woman of most knowne modestie and chastitie being first taken and after committed to the custody of a Roman Centurion was forceably by him adulterated A commandement comming from the Consull that all the treasure of which the Lady was possest should be confiscate to the Centurion onely her selfe with that ransome to bee returned safe and vntoucht to her husband she presently promist the captaine to bring him to a place where all his desires should be satisfied He of a couetous disposition with all celeritie hasted with her to the discouerie of this Magazin where she before had placed a company of Gallogrecians her countrey men and in their language commanded them to fall vpon him kill him which done she cut off his head and presented it to her husband and kneeling to him both expressed the nature of her iniury and the manner of her reuenge The censures of the Consull Manilius and her husband Regulus both assented in this That she was of a courage vnmatchable for though her body was brought vnder the subiection of an enemy neither her mind could be conquered nor her chastitie made captiue An antient woman amongst the Syracusans when all the subiects of Dionysius with many execrations cursed and openlie inueighed against his insufferable cruelties she onely was obserued morning and euening to sollicite the gods for his long life and happinesse which comming to the eare of the king he caused her to be called before him and demanded of her the cause Why amongst all his oppressed subiects who dayly wisht his ruin she alone inuoakt the gods for his health and preseruation to whom with an vndaunted resolution she thus answered That which I doe ô King is not without due premeditation and grounded both vpon reason
and iudgement for we were before opprest with a tyrant whose gouernment was very grieuous vnto vs after him succeeded another farre more burdensome and cruell than the former for whose destruction I amongst the rest besought the powers aboue now you being by succession the third and more bloody and inhumane than the former I therefore with great deuotion pray for your continuance least when you be taken from vs the diuell himselfe take vpon him the scepter and succeede you in your principalitie The Tyrant though toucht to the quicke yet in regard of her age and fearelesse libertie of her language suffered her to depart vnpunisht This Tertia Aemilia a famous Roman Lady was the wife of the first Affricanus the mother of Cornelia mother to Caius and Titus Gracchus She was of such gentlenesse and patience that knowing her husband to be familiar with one of her handmaides yet she dissembled it least hee that had conquered a third part of the world should haue the imputation of any such lightnesse laid vpon him being so farre from reuenge that her husband being dead shee gaue her bondwoman manumission and marryed her richly to a free'd man of her owne Turia was the wife of Quint. Lucretius who when her husband was proscribed by the Triumuirate and therefore instantlie to depart into exile onely trusting the secresie of her chambermaid she hid her husband in her house betwixt two chambers where no search could discouer him where to her great perill she kept him long without any preiudice or danger expressing therein her singular faith and loyaltie that when the rest that were confined into countreyes remote were exposed to the labour of the body and discontent of the mind he alone vnder his owne roofe and in his owne chamber liued safe in the bosome of his wife so remarkably louing and constant Sulpitia being strictlie kept by her mother Iulia least she should follow her husband Lentulus Crustellio into banishment who by the Triumuirate was confined into Sicily notwithstanding putting on the habit of a seruant past through their guards and watches attended only with two hand-maids and as many men-seruants by secret flight came to the place whether he was proscribed leauing all the pleasures and choice delicates of Rome to participate with the miseries of a husband Pliny writes of another Sulpitia a famous Roman Lady daughter to Paterculus and wife to Quint. Fuluius Flaccus she when the Senat and Decemuirat by inspection into the books of Sibill had decreed that an image should be dedicated to Venus Verticordia by which the minds both of virgins and matrons might be the more alienated from libidinous affections and reduced to the strict rules of modestie and shamefastnes when to the dedication of this worke out of the whole cittie a hundred of the most chast matrons were to be selected and then out of these hundred tenne supposed to be pure aboue the rest and out of these tenne one to be preferred this Sulpitia carryed the suffrage from all for vertue modestie and incomparable chastitie This Iulia was the daughter of Caius Caesar and wife of Pompeius Magnus after the battaile of Pharsalia seeing the garment of her husband brought home sprinkled with his blood and not yet knowing of his death the obiect so affrighted her that instantlie at the sight thereof she sunke downe to the earth and in the extremitie of that passion was with much paine and anguish deliuered of that burden in her wombe which no sooner parted from her but in that agony she expired Portia the wife of Brutus and daughter of Cato whose noble resolution and coniugall loue to her husband all future ages may admire for hearing that in the battaile at Philippi he was vanquisht and slaine when all weapons and instruments of death were strictlie kept from her shee feared not with her womanish spirit to imitate if not exceed the resolution of her father in his death for by swallowing hot burning coales she expired Herein onely they differ that he by a common she by an vnheard of death were extinct Horestilla was the wife of Marcus Plautius who by the commandement of the Senat hauing the charge of threescore shippes to passe into Asia his wife so entirely was deuoted to his loue that she shipt her selfe with him exposing her selfe to the dangers of the sea but not able through her weaknesse to endure the casualties appending on so harsh a iourney as the distemperature of weather and such like in the cittie Tarentum fell sicke and dyed Plautius willing to shew himselfe a husband worthy such a wife when her body was brought to the funerall fire betwixt the ceremonies of annoynting her body and taking his leaue with a parting kisse fell suddenlie vpon his naked sword and so slew himselfe which his friends seeing and lamenting they tooke him as he was apparrelled without so much as stripping his body and ioyning it to the corse of his wife and adding more combustible matter to the fire burnt them both together Ouer the vrne that couered their ashes the Tarentines erected a famous sepulcher which they called The two louers By Plautius and Horestilla it may appeare that where the greatest and most honest loue is setled betwixt man and wife it is oft times more happy to be ioyned in death than to be separated in life Artimesia Q. of Caria so much hououred the remembrance of her husband Mausolus being dead that after meditation deliberat counsell which way she might best decorate his hearse and withall to expresse to perpetuitie her vnmatchable loue she caused to be erected ouer him a tombe so magnificent that for the cost and state it was not doubted to bee worthily reckoned amongst the nine wonders But what doe I speake of so rich a structure when she her selfe became the liuing sepulcher of her dead husband by their testimonies who haue recorded that she preserued his bones and hauing beaten them to powder mingled their dust with her wine in remembrance of him euery morning and euening Cicer. Tusc. lib. 3. and Plin. lib. 36. cap. 5. Of womans fortitude and magnanimitie I will adde one admirable president in two virgins of Syracusa equallie resolute when by the intestine sedition and ciuill warres in Syracusa the stocke and familie of Gelo in these combustions was quite extirpt and rooted out euen to his onely daughter Harmonia and all the seditious weapons of the enemy now drawne and aym'd at her bosome her nurse pittying her threatned ruin made choice of a young virgin like to her in fauour and of equall stature and attyring her in the habit and ornaments of a Princesse offered her to the points of their yet bloody weapons this damsell was of that constancy and noble resolution that notwithstanding she saw imminent death before her was not affrighted with the terror thereof nor would reueale her name or tell of
king Deiotarus and barren and knowing how desiroâ—s her husband was to haue issue from his owne loynes to succeede in the kingdome sollicited him and that with great importance to select some beautifull Ladie whom he best fancied and by her to raise his posteritie which the king ouercome with so vnexpected a curtesie and therefore vnwilling to wrong her bed refusing she of her owne accord out of many captiue virgins chused one who seemed to excell all the rest in feature and modestie and suiting her in all respects like a princesse presented her to the king as a jewell to be receiued from her hand This Virgins name was Electra by whom Deiotarus had faire and fortunate issue to whom Stratonica was a second mother and sawe them educated with as much magnificence and state as if they had beene borne of her bodie and shee giuen them sucke from her owne brests Her example is memorable but since her time by few that I can reade of immitated Valeria and Cloelia TArquinus Superbus being expulsed the kingdome because his sonne Sextus had stuprated the faire Lucretia wife to Collatine to reobtaine his principalitie hee insinuated vnto his aide Porsenna king of the Tuscans These with an infinite armie besieged Rome insomuch that the cittisens were not onely wearied with long warre but opprest with famine therefore knowing Porsenna as well in warre as peace to be a prince eminent both for justice and humanitie they made choise of him to arbitrate and determine all controuersies betwixt Tarquine and them This motion being offered by the Romanes Tarquine refused to stand to any such comprimise not allowing Porsâ—â—â—â— a lawfull iudge in regard of their late league commensed This Porsenâ—â— not well relishing treated with the Romans about a peace conditionally that they should restore backe certaine lands before taken from the Etruscians and of them put him in peaceable possession and till this were performed to send him tenne young men and as many virgins of the noblest families for hostage which was accordinglie done and he dismist his armie These virgins walking by the riuer side which parted the campe and cittie for though he had sent away the greatest part of his armie he had not yet raised his tents two of the chiefe the one Cloelia the other Valeria daughter to the Consull Publicola persuaded the rest and by persuading so farre preuailed that they were all resolued to passe the riuer when stripping themselues naked and holding as well as they conuenientlie could their cloathes aboue their heads they ventured ouer that vnknowne passage full of whirlepooles and where there was no stedfast footing and what by wading and swimming to all mens wonders got safe to shore and presented themselues to their fathers and friends who though they admired their boldnesse and commended their resolutions yet disallowing the Act it selfe as those that in their faith and honour would not be outbid by any they sent them backe to king Porsenna and submitted their rashnesse to be punisht at his pleasure These virgins being presented before him he demanded of them Which she was that first animated and incouraged the rest to so rash and dangerous an enterprise when Cloelia beckning to the rest to keepe silence tooke all the iniurie contempt or whatsoeuer they pleafed to call it vpon her selfe protesting the rest innocent and she of what would be obiected the sole authour Porsenna obseruing and withall admiring her vndanted courage caused presently a horse furnished with rich trappings to be broughtâ— which he gaue to Cloelia in recompence of her magnanimous attempt sending them all in his regall curtesie back to their friends and parentsâ— Vpon this horse giuen to Cloelia by Porsenna some haue grounded that she first past the riuer on horsebacke sounding the way for the rest which others deny onely that the king thought to gratifie her manly courage with the meede of a souldier Her statue on horsebacke is erected in Via sacra This some confer vpon Cloelia others on Valeria Olympias ALexander hauing caused himselfe to be called the sonne of Iupiter writ to his mother in this maneer King Alexander the sonne of Iupiter Hamon to his mother Olimpias sends health to whom with great modestie she thus rescribed Deare sonne as you loue me insteed of doing me honour proclaime not my dishonour neither accuse me before Iuno besides it is a great aspertion you cast vpon nice to make me a strumpet though to Iupiter himselfe A great moderation in a woman who for no swelling title or vaine ostentation could be woon to loose the honour to be called a Loyall and chast wife Troades AMongst those frighted Troians that fled from the fearfull ruins of subuerted Troy some by the violence of outragious tempests were driuen vpon the coasts of Italy where landing at certaine ports neere to the riuer Tygris they made vp into the countrey the better to acquaint themselues with the conditions of those places In which interim the women began to apprehend that they had better farre to take vp an abiding place in any land than againe to commit themselues to the mercilesse furie of the seas Wherefore with one ioynt consent they agreed to make that their fixed habitation seeing all hope of their former losses at Troy were vtterly desperate Hauing thus conspired together with all possible expedition they burnt the shippes in this exploit one Roma is reported to be chiefe which being done they ran to meet their husbands making to their Nauie to quench it fearing their anger for their rash enterprise some of them embracing their husbands others their friends and acquaintance they tempred their amorous kisses with such persuasiue Rhetoricke that soone allayd the angry tempest of their husbands furie From these as some haue writ the custome of kissing at salutations by the Roman women to their kinsmen first tooke Originall The Troianes now tyed by necessitie and likewise finding the inbahitants so louing and curteous they much applauded this deede of the women and dwelt there with the Latines The Phocides AFter an implacable war betwixt the Thessalians and the Phocenses which had long lasted with much slaughter on both sides those of Thessaly bringing their army through the Locrenses inuaded the men of Phocis on all sides making a decree to kill all that were of age and the women and children to beare away captiue Diaphantes the sonne of Bathillius with his two colleagues then gouerning the cittie he persuaded the besieged boldlie and valiantlie to issue out and giue the enemy battaile but with this caution That all their wiues daughters and children euen to one soule should be brought into a place circled and compast in with all manner of dry wood and matter combustible and the dores by which they entered to be shut after them and so guarded and if the day were lost and they perisht in battaile the pile to bee kindled and all their bodies to be burned at once This being not onely proposed
buâ— confirmed by the men the resolution of the women was demaunded who all with one vnanimous consent applauded the decree not one amongst them hauing will to suruiue her husband sonne or father to fall into the captiuitie of a fierce and bloody enemy This concluded the Phocenses issue and encounter the enemy and fought against them a noble and victorious battaile in which they returned conquerors The Edict made they called Aponaea as signifying A bold action arising from a desperate foundation On the day that battaile was fought and so remarkable a victory atchieued they yearely celebrate a feast to Minerua which they call Elaphebolia The Women of Chios IN Chios a gentleman of a noble familie riding through the cittie with his contracted Lady in a charriot as the custome was then amongst them king Hippasus being a familiar friend of the bride groomes meeting him in the streetes with no pretence of iniurie but rather as a testimony of their former familiaritie leapt vp into the charriot betwixt them which act beeing mistaken by the Cittisens he was violentlie assaulted and cruellie murdered in their furie Not long after their affaires on all sides succeeding but ill they perceiued they had incurd the anger of the gods and therefore sent to consult with the Oracle who returned them this answer That nothing could expiate the Butchery of Hippasus till all the Regicides were to one man exild the cittie But when all of them confest themselues guiltie of the fact the god imposed on them all an equall doome of banishment so that as well the murderers themselues as the abettors and accessaries howsoever many and mighty were forced to transport themselues with their wiues and families into Leuconia where they had not long soiourned but growing distastfull to the Leuconians as fearing their power who began to increase both in wealth and number they were commanded by such a day to depart the cittie and bound by oath to beare nothing forth the gates sauing a coat close girt to them and a loose mantle or cloake ouer them The Chij distrusting their owne strength as no way able to affront them in power and number were forced to submit themselues to the present necessitie binding themselues by oath to obserue the couenants before rehearsed The day comming on and the women seeing their sons and husbands thus meanly accoutred demanded of them Why vnarmed they would passe by the face of a publicke enemy They excused themselues by the strictnesse of the oath inioyned them to whom the women with a ioint acclamation thus replyed Shew your selues worthy the nation from whence you are deriued and guirt your armes about you if they exact from you the strict conditions of an oath answer them thus That to a souldiour and a man magnanimous his Speare is in stead of his cloake and his Target in place of the garment which he should buckle about him To whose counsell they assented and at their departure appearing so stronglie arm'd and their countenances menacing and daring It strooke such a terrour into the hearts of the Leuconians that as men amased they suffered them peaceablie to depart with honour who but by the noble and braue counsell of their women had left the place with shame and infamy As noble an act worthy memorie was not long after done by the women of Chios what time Philip the son of Demetrius opposed the cittie who published a proud and barbarous Edict to insinuate the slaues of the cittie to his aide promising them not onely free manumission but to marry them to their mistresses and possesse them of their masters fortunes which kindled such an vnquenchable wrath in the ladies and matrons of the cittie that fired with rage and disdaine they together with their seruants assisting them with incredible faith and honesty maintained the breaches defended the walls guarded the ports casting stones darts fighting exhorting and incouraging one another euen to the beating of the enemies backe raysing their shamefull siege and pursuing them flying with their weapons till Philips army was quite discomfited In all this troublous warre notwithstanding the proclamation not one seruant amongst so many had the least suspition much lesse aspersion cast vpon his fidelitie Persides CYrus hauing alienated the Persians from King Astiages was ouercome in battaile his souldiers flying towards the cittie for refuge in so much that the enemy was ready to enter with them the women this seeing issued from the gates and holding vp their cloathes as high as their breasts met them running and said Whether flye you oh you cowards basest of men haue you any hope to hide your selues in these places from whence you came Which obiect cast such a shamefull blush vpon them that renewing the battaile the conquerors were defeated and they obtained a glorious victorie In memorie of which Cyrus made a law That what Persian King should euer after approach that cittie so often as he entred it should bestow on euery woman a peece of gold It is said of Occhus his successour a couetous King that he often past by it and compast it but would neuer enter the gates onely to spare his purse and to defraud the women of their reward But euer-renowned Alexander visited the cittie twice according to the custome bestowing on euery woman one piece and vpon all such as were with child two pieces to shew himselfe as royally bountifull as the other was penuriously sparing Celtae THese be a people of France betweene the riuers Graumna and Sequana who dissenting amongst themselues fell into an intestine and implacable ciuill warre After many bloody conflicts being ready once more to ioyne battaile the women presented themselues betwixt their armies and with such smooth Oratory and persuasiue arguments layd open the miseries of warre with the aboundant commodity arising from peace and amitie that they not onely reconciled all hostilitie for the present but betwixt all the citties and chiefe families confirmed an indissoluble league of friendship which continued many yeares after Since which time either in forreine differences or domesticke quarrells as well in warre as peace their counsell is euer demanded and for the most part followed Therefore in the league which this people made with Hanniball it is thus written If the Celtae haue any thing worthy taxation to obiect against the Carthaginians let it be disputed by the generalls and Praefects in Spaine If the Carthaginians find any thing iustlie to reprooue the Celtae the matter shall be discust and arbitrated by their women Melitae THis people growing to that multitude that the citties in which they inhabited could neither conuenientlie containe their number nor supply them with victuall sufficient sought the plantation of a Collony elsewhere vnder the command of a beautifull young man called Nymphaeus These falling vpon the coast of Caria were no sooner landed to discouer the countrey but by a mighty tempest their ships were either swallowed in the sea or scattered and disperst The
Carians who then inhabited the cittie Cryassa either commiserating their distresse or fearing that boldnesse their necessities might inforce them too were pleased to allot them part of their land and suffer them peaceablie to dwell amongst them But finding them in a short space to increase both in wealth and power they consulted amongst themselues by what meanes to destroy them and vtterly extirpe their memorie this stratagem was agreed vpon to be performed at a banquet It happened that one of the Carian damsells cald Caphana a Lady of a noble familie grew much enamoured of this Nimphaeus and loath that the least detriment should happen to her best respected friend especiallie loath to see him perish she opened to him the full purpose of the cittie wishing him to vse all meanes of preuention When therefore the Cryassences came to inuite them to the feast Nimphaeus answered them that it was not the custome of the Graecians to assemble vnto any such feasts without the company of their women which the Carians hearing intreated them likewise to grace the solemnitie with their presence This done Nymphaeus relates the whole circumstance to the Melians his countreymen intreating them to beare him company to the feast all ciuilly habited and without weapons onely that euery 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 giue the watchword the Graecians perceiuing that the instant for the pretended execution drew on all the women opening their garments at once shewed their concealed weapons which their hudbands snatching from their sides assaulted the barbarous Carians and slew them all to one man by which preuention they possest themselues both of the countrey and cittie But relinquishing that they built another which they called the new Cryassa and in which they planted themselues Caphaena was marryed to Nymphaeus hauing honours done to her worthy her noble fidelitie One thing in this historie 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 prouidentlie kept and guarded purposing to question them for their liues The wiues of the captiues this hearing came to the prison doores and with humble prayers 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 importunitie granted they were admitted where suddenlie they caused their husbands to change habits with them which they did and so were let forth in stead of the women they arming themselues against all the spight and furie of the Spartanes The men that had escaped repaired to Taygeta entering league with the Heilotes by which confederacie the Spartans somewhat affrighted by intercessours concluded a peace with them conditionally that taking backe their imprisoned women they should be furnished with ships and coine to seeke new fortunes elswhere they therefore made a brotherhood betwixt them and the Lacedemonians Of which Collony two brothers Pollis and Crataida of the cittie of Lacedemon were made gouernours Part of them made residence in Melo the rest with Pollis sailed into Creete and hauing asked counsell of the Oracle answer was returned them That in the place where they should leaue their goddesse and loose part of their anchor they should find a period of their trauells and vpon that continent make their aboad plant their collony and erect a cittie In processe arriuing in a part of Creete called Cheronesus a place halfe inuironed with water or almost an Island a sudden feare surprised them in so much that hasting to get backe to the nauie they left behind them the image of Diana which they had receiued from their ancestors by Brauron first brought into Lemnos and borne by them a ship-bord in all their nauigation The feare being past ouer and the tumult appeased they weighed anchor to make from shoare but Pollis perceiuing a great part of his anchor missing and left in the rockes hee remembred the Oracle and causing his people to land againe hee made his plantation in that countrey and after many battailes in which he preuailed against the inhabitants he subdued Lictium with diuers other citties of which he had prosperous and peaceable possession Examples of Modestie and Magnanimitie THe Phocenses opprest by the tyrants of Delphos in that commenced warre which was called Bellum sacrum in which the Thebans were ingaged it happened that the Bacchinalls who were women that were vsually drunke in the celebrations of the feasts of Bacchus and were called Thiades extasied in their deuine furor for so they tearmed it in their nightly wandering lost their way and erred so farre that vnwittingly they happened vpon the cittie of Amphissa and wearied as they were cast themselues dispersedly abroad in the market place there to repose themselues till they came to their better sences The Amphissesian matrons fearing least any outrage of offence might be done vnto them by reason there were at that time many forraine souldiers who were in league with the Phocenses themselues in person watched these Bacchides till morning guarding and gyrting them round least any thing vnseemely might be spied amongst them and only with a reuerent silence attended them till they awaked but finding them in their better temper ministered vnto them all such necessaries as the cittie yeelded and sent them though the wiues of their enemies in the charge safe conduct of their owne husbands peaceably home to their owne cities Comparable to their Modestie was the Magnanimitie of Megisto an eminent Ladie of the citie Elis. Aristotemus the tyrant hauing by the power of Antigonus vsurped the Franchises and Liberties of that cittie oppressed the people with infinite calamities amongst which that of Philodemus was not the least who hauing a beautifull daughter called Micca when Lacinus one of the Captaines of Aristotemus in the heate of wine and lust would forceably haue rauished her and the poore innocent Virgin fled for refuge into the armes of her father he there most inhumanly transpierced her mixing the teares of the reuerend old man with the blood of his daughter The horridnes of this nothing moued the tyrant but that if greater could possiblie be deuised he gaue countenance euen to such mischeifes causing many of the prime cittisens to be slaine and to the number of eight hundred banished But fearing in regard of their number hee might be in time by them subuerted 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 conueniently carrie with their children haue peaceable passage from the cittie into Aetolia where many or the most of their exiled friends then soiourned Many of the women incouraged by this edict being to that purpose assembled and with such goods as they had departed the citie he
owne death namely to see thee die When accommodating all things for the present execution shee no sooner saw her dead but she gentlely layd her out and with great modestie couered her Then she besought Megisto on her knees to haue a care of them in their deaths that nothing immodest or vncomely might bee done to their bodies which graunted she not only with courage but seeming ioy vnderwent her last fate till she expired nor was there any spectator there present to whom the memorie of the tyrant was neuer so hatefull from whose eyes and hearts this obiect did not extract teares and pittie In Megisto is exprest the Magnanimitie of spirit but in these following I will illustrate Fortitude in action The Turkes busied in the siege of some townes in Catharo Vluzales Carocossa two of no meane place and eminence among them wrought so farre with the great Admirall that he deliuered into their charge the managing of threescore gallies with munition and men in number competent to make incursions into the bordering Islands then vnder the state of Venice These two Turkish captaines land their forces before Curzala a citie that giues name to the countrie with purpose to inuest themselues before it which Antonius Contarinus then gouernour of the cittie vnderstanding like a timerous and fearefull coward taking the aduantage of the night fled with his souldiors thence not leauing the â—owne any way defensible which the cittisens vnderstanding all or the most followed after The towne thus left to the weake guard of some twenty men about fourescore women the Turks giue them a bold and fierce assault when these braue viragoes chusing rather to dye like souldiers than like their husbands runne like cowards some maintaine the Ports others defend the walls and with that noble resolution that what with fire stones scalding water and such like muniments then readiest at hand so opposed the assailants that many of the Turks in that conflict were slaine and all repulst retyring themselues with purpose some rest giuen to the souldiours to salute them with a fresh alarum But fortune was so fauourable to these Amazonian spirits that a mighty tempest from the North so tost and distrest the Turks gallyes that they were forced to abandon the Island with dishonour leauing to the besieged a memory worthy to outliue all posteritie Of Dido Cesara Gumilda and Ethelburga OF Dido queene of Carthage all Authours agree to haue falne by the sword and to haue died by her owne bold and resolute hand but about the cause that mooued her thereto diuerse differ Ausonius is of opinion That her husband Sychaeus being dead shee did it to preserue her viduall chastitie and so free hir selfe from the importunities of Hyarbus king of Getulia of his mind is Marullus and of these Remnius or as some will haue it Priscianus in the Geography of Dionisius writing De scitu orbis i. the Scituation of the world Contrary to these is the Prince of Poets he whom Scalliger cals Poeta noster Pub. Virgilius who ascribes her death to an impatience of griefe conceiued at the vnkind departure of Aeneas which though it carry no great probabilitie of truth yet all the Latin Poets for the most part in honour of the authour haue iustified his opinion as Ouid in his third booke De fastis his Epistles Metamorph. and others workes so likewise Angelus Polytianus in his Manto with diuers others Iustine in his eighteenth booke of Hystor speaking of the first erecting of Carthage saith That where they began to digge with purpose to lay the first foundation they found the head of an Oxe by which it was predicted that the cittie should be futurelie fertill and commodious but withall full of labour and subiect to perpetuall seruitude therefore they made choice of another peece of earth where in turning vp the mould they chanced vpon the head of a horse by which it was presaged their collony should in time grow to be a warlike nation fortunate and victorious In what manner she dyed I referre you to Virgill and will speake a word or two of her sister Anna the daughter of Belus She after the death of her sister forsaking of the cittie of Carthage then inuested with siege by Hyarbus fled to Battus king the Island Melita but making no long soiourne there she put againe to sea and fell vpon the coast of Laurentum where being well knowne by Aeneas she was nobly receiued but not without suspition of too much familiaritie betwixt them in so much that iealousie possessing Lauinia the wife of Aeneas she conceiued an irreconcilable hatred against Anna in so much that fearing her threatned displeasure she cast her selfe headlong into the riuer Numicus and was there drowned for so Ouid reports in his booke de Fastis But touching the illustrious Queene Dido vnder her statue were these verses or the like engrauen in a Greeke character interpreted into Latine by Ausonius and by me in the sacred memorie of so eminent a queene thus englisht I am that Dido looke vpon me well And what my life was let my visage tell 'T is faire and smooth what wrinckle can you find In this plaine Table to expresse a mind So sordid and corrupt Why then so vneuen And blacke a soule should to a face be giuen That promiseth all vertue Virgill where Begott'st thou those ill thoughts that brand me here With lust and incest Neuer I protest Was that Aenaeas whom thou calst the best Of men in Lybia Neuer saw I land One Troian on the Carthaginian strand Because Sychaeus my first husband dead To keepe my sacred vowes to him I fled Th' imbraces of Hyarbus am I made A prostitute to nothing to a shade He came in armes to force me and compell Me a chast widdow to another hell A second marriage 'T is the gods aduise No woman can be chast that marryeth twice To auoide that sinne I slew my selfe ô why Couldst thou ô Maro then comment a lye With lust to brand my memory When heauen knowes To saue mine honour I my life did lose Giue faith to History you that Readers are Before this fabling Poesie since that far Transcends the bounds of truth for Poets can Make the high gods much more corrupt than man So much touching queene Dido and as farre as probabilitie can to acquit her of all incontinence One Paulus an historiographer in his fifth booke remembers vs of Cesara a queene of Persia who hauing some light of the Gospell trauelled as farre as Constantinople in Greece to be further instructed onely attended by a few priuat followers who being satisfied in all the fundamentall points of her faith she with her small traine was christened The Persian Sophy hauing notice thereof sent embassadours to the Emperour to know the reason why he deteined his queene wishing him to returne her safe vpon such easie sommons Cesara being in presence when this embassie was deliuered desired the Emperour that she
might giue them their answer which granted Returne said she my humble duty and vassaladge to my Lord the King and tell him withall That vnlesse he receiue my faith and renouncing his false Idolls beleeue in the onely true God he can claime no interest at all in me The messenger dispatcht and this short answer returned to the Sophy he leuied an army of forty thousand men and comming into Greece the Emperour and he came vnto a peacefull enterview at which by the mediation of this royall and religious Empresse the Sophy with all his princes and souldiers there present receiued the Christian faith and after the interchange of many Princely and magnificicent gifts returned with his wife into his own countrey Another noble history I thinke not amisse to be here inserted which is recorded by one Willielmus de reg lib. 20. Gunnilda the daughter of Canutus and Emma who being accused of adultery by her husband Henry the Emperour who to iustifie his accusation had prouided a champion in stature a giant and for his presence and potencie much feared she notwithstanding relying vpon God and her owne innocence put her life vpon the valour of a priuat young gentleman of England whoÌ„ she brought with her to the same purpose These Champions adventuring their liues fought a braue and resolute combat but in the end the victory inclined to the Empresse her aduerse champion being vanquished confest his treasons and she was noblie acquit but after by no intreaties or intercessions made by the Emperour or others shee could bee wonne vnto his embraces but abiuring his bed and vowing an austere and sequestred life she retired her selfe into a Monasterie Three royall presidents of three vâ—matchable queenes the first for Magnanimitie the second for Religion and deuotion and the last for Chastitie To these I will yet adde another Willielmus de Regibus in his first booke writes that king Iue betooke his kingdom of the West-Saxons to his cosin Ethelardus and vndertooke a pilgrimage to Rome the occasion of his iournie was this The queene Ethelbnrga had often counselled her husband the king to forsake the pride and riches of the world and to haue a respect to his soules health especially now in the latter dayes of his life but not able to preuaile with him she bethought her selfe of a queint stratagem after they had left their royal pallace where they had but latly feasted in all pompe pleasure and delicacies and remoued into another house she caused him to whose charge the place from whence they departed was committed to take downe all the hangings make foule and and filthy euerie roome and chamber nay in the verie place where the king had but the other day sported with his queene was lodged a sow and pigges with all the loathsomenesse that could be deuised this done according to her commaund she by a wile inticed the king to the place thus strangely disguised The king wondering at this sudden change stood amased to whom she thus spoke I pray you my Lord where be now these rich hangings and curtaines either for state or ornament Where is all the glyttering pompe aâ—d rich array tending to nothing else saue gluttonie and luxurie Alas how suddenly are they all vanished Shall not my Lord this beautie of ours so fade and this fraile flesh euen so fall a way This with other her words to the like purpose tooke such impression in the kings brest that he resigned his kingdome to his Nephew and betooke himselfe to a religous and Monasticke life after his vowed pilgrimage The queene Ethelburga went to the Abbey at Berking in which place her sister had beene before Abbesse and there spent the remainder of her life in deuotion and penitence Polycrita THere arose great warres betweene the Milesians and Naxians kindled by the adultrate practise of the wife of Hypsicreon a Milesian who violating her coniugall vowes by throwing her selfe into the lustfull imbraces of Promedon a Naxian then her guest and fearing the iust anger of her husband and withall the punishment due to her adultrate sinne fled with him into Naxos from whence being againe demanded but denied this priuate wrong turned to a publique ruin for deuouring warre accompained with many calamities preyed vpon both their countries But as this Beacon was first fired by a womans lewdnesse so was it at last extinguished by a womans vertue Diognetus who had the command of those Erythraeans which came in ayde of the Milesians had committed to his custodie a certaine strong hold scituated against the citie Naxos who hauing taken from the Naxians a prize of women and free virgins he was deepely stroke in loue with one Polycrata whom he led with him not as a captiue but as his wife It chanced that the Miletians celebrated a generall festiuall day Polycrita besought Diognetus to make her so far indebted to his fauour as to suffer her to send her brothers part of those iuncates then at the table which willingly he granted she secretly writ vpon the leaden table of the marchpane what shee had proiected withall charging the bearer to intreat her brothers not to let any participate therof saue themselues when they had heard the writing which contained thus much in effect Take hold vpon the opportunitie which occasion thrusts into your hands this night you may seise the Castle for the enemie will lie downe in wine and sleepe in a presumptious securitie They shew it to the chiefe commanders of Naxos who vniting themselues giue the affrighted vnweaponed Miletians a sudden and vnexpected assault and hauing slaughtred many possesse themselues of the castle But by Polycritas intercessiue intreaties surprised Diognetus scapes with life And for this noble exploit of hers the glad citisens running to meete her with shoutes and acclamations euery one bearing in his hand a Garland to receiue her with those wreathes of honor Polycrita was so farre extaside that her sudden ioy vshered a sudden death for as she stood amased at the gate she instantly fell downe exanimated in which gate she was buried and her sepulchre called The tombe of Enuie because it is supposed that Fortune grew so enuious of her merits that thus she robd her of her life that so she might cheat her of her deserued honors And thus much speakes the histories of the Naxians Aristotle affirmes Polycrita was no captiue but onely that Diognetus hauing seene her hee grew so far enamoured of her that to enioy her he proferred her any thing that was in his power to giue She promises to yeeld to his desire if he will grant her the fruition of one boone which when hee had confirmed to her by oath shee demanded Delium to be surrendred vp for the castle was so called Diognetus being so much inchanted with her beautie and moreouer bound by the religion of his vow deliuered vp to her and the cittisens the castle Delium Of Queenes and other Ladies for diuers vertues memorable WEe reade
the bounds of any lawfull modestie that their familiaritie grew almost into a by-word as farre as his iust taxation the Queenes dishonour and the kings scorne insomuch that both court and cittie made them not onely their argument of discourse but theame of table talke Yet in all this banding of their disreputation and the kings infamy nothing euer came within the compasse of his eare knowledge or suspition insomuch that seeing him to be so wel a featured gentleman knowing the Tartar to bee so braue a souldiour and approouing him to bee so compleate a courtier and withall acknowledging from what high lignage he was descended as boasting himselfe to bee the brother of the great Tartar Chan The king of Persia therefore determined to marry him to his daughter hoping by that meanes to vnite such a league and confirme such an animitie betwixt the Tartarian Precopenses and himselfe that they might not onely deny all ayde and assistance to Amurath the third of that name and then the sixt Emperour of the Turks but also if need were or should any future discontent arise oppose him in hostilitie But this politicke purpose of the kings arriuing almost at the wished period seemed so distastfull to the Sultans of Casbia that they first attempted by arguments and reasons to diuert the king from this intended match but finding themselues no wayes likelie to preuaile to make the king see with what errours he was maskt and with what sorceries deluded They diligently awayted when in the absence of the king the Tartar and the queene Begum kept their accustomed appointment of which the Sultans hauing notice they entered that part of the Pallace brake ope the doores and rushed into the Queenes bed-chamber where finding Abdilcherai in suspitious conference with the Queene they slew him with their Sables and after cutting off his priuie parts most barbarously thrust them into his mouth and after as some report slew the queene Though this historie show great remisnes in the king most sure I am it was too presumptiue an insolence in the subiect To this Persian queene I will ioyne the wife of Otho the third Emperour of that name This lustfull ladie as Polycronicon makes mention was of somewhat a contrarie disposition with the former For neglecting the pride and gallantrie of the court she cast her eyes vpon an homely husbandman better supplied it seemes with the lineaments of nature than the ornaments of art but with an honestie of minde exceeding both for when this libidinous lady could by no tempting allurements abroad nor fitting opportunitie sorted in priuate insinuate with him either to violate his allegeance to his prince or corrupt his owne vertue her former affection turned vnto such rage and malice that she caused him to be accused of a capitall crime conuicted and executed But the plaine honest man knowing her spleene and his own innocencie he called his wife to him at the instant when his head was to be cut off and besought her as she euer tendered his former loue which towards her he had kept inuiolate to meditate vpon some course or other by which his guiltlesse and vnmerited death might be made manifest to the world which she with much sorrow and many teares hauing promised hee gently submitted to his fate and his bodie was deliuered to the charge of his widdow Within few dayes after the Emperour kept a day solemne in which his custome was being mounted vpon his royall Throne to examine the causes of the fatherlesse and widdows and to search wherein they were oppressed and by whom and in person to doe them justice Among the rest came this iniured widdow and brings her husbands head in her hand humblie kneeling before the Emperors throne demaunding of him What that inhumane wretch deserued who had caused an innocent man to be put to death to whom the Emperour replyed Produce that man before the judgement seat and as I am royall hee shall assuredly loose his head To whom she answered Thou art that man ô Emperour for by thy power and authoritie this murder was committed and for an infallible testimonie that this poore husband of mine perished in his innocence commaund red hot yrons to be brought into this place ouer which if I passe barefooted and without any damage presume he was then as much iniured in his death as I am now made miserable in his losse The yrons being brought and her owne innocence together with her husbands being made both apparant the Emperour before all his nobilitie submitted himselfe to her own sentence But at the intercession of the Bishop the woman limitted him certaine daies in which he might find out the murder he first demanded ten daies after eight then seuen and last six in wich time by inquirie and curious examinations he found his wife to be the sole delinquent for which she was brought to the barre sentenced and after burned This done Otho to recompence the woman for the losse of her husband gaue her foure Castles and Townes in the Bishopricke of Beynensis which still beare name according to the limit of those daies First the Tenth second the Eight third the Seuenth fourth the Sixt. Olimpias OThas of Persia hauing defeated Nectenabus king of Aegypt and expelled him from his kingdome he the better to secure himselfe from the Sophyes tyrannie shaued his head and disguising himselfe with all such jewells as he could conueniently carrie about him conueyed himselfe into Macedonia the authors of this historie are Vincentius and Treuisa There as they say he liued as a Chaldaean or Cabalist where by his Negromancie and art Magick he wrought himselfe so deepely into the brest of Olimpias that taking the opportunitie whilest Philip was abroad in his forreine expeditions hee lay with her in the shape of Iupiter Hammon and begot Alexander the Great After the Queenes conception many fowles vsed to flie about Philip when hee was busied in his warres amongst others there was a Henne that as he sate in his tent flew vp into his lap and there layd an egge which done she cackling flew away The king rising vp hastily cast it vpon the ground and brake it when suddenly a young Dragon was seene to leape out of the shell and creeping round about it and making offer to enter therein againe died ere it had quite compassed it The king at this prodigie being startled called all his Astrologers together demâ—unding of one Antiphon the noblest artist amongst them What the omen might be of that wonder who answered him That his wife Olimpias was great with a sonne whose conquests should fill the world with astonishment ayming to compasse the whole vniuerse but should dye before he could reduce it into one intire Monarchie the Dragon being the embleme of a royall conquerour and the round ouall circumference the symboll of the world With this answere Phillip was satisfied When the time came of Olimpias her trauell there were earth-quakes lightnings and thunders
early to attend the king who was that day to bee entertained by the earle his father in law All things were noblie prouided and Edgar royally receiued and set to dinner some write that Ethelâ—old had caused a kitchin maid to put on his wiues habit and sit at the kings Table but I find no such matter remembered in my Author the truth is the king about the middest of dinner cald for the Earle Orgarus and demanded of him whether he had a wife or no if he had why he might not haue her companie knowing it was a generall obseruation in England that without the wiues entertainement there could be no true and heartie welcome The earle replied that at that time he was an vnhappie widdower he then demaunded whether he had any children to continue his posteritie to which he answered heauen had onely blest him with one daughter a plaine damosell yet the sole hope of his future memorie The king was then importunate to see her and commanded her to be instantly brought vnto his presence which put Ethelwold into a strange agonie yet still hoping she had done as hee had late inioyned her when shee contrarie to his expectation came in apparelled like a bride in rich and costly vestures her golden haire fairely kembed and part hanging downe in artificiall curles her head stoocke with jewells and about her neck a chaine of diamonds which gaue a wonderous addition to that beautie which naked of it selfe without any ornament was not to bee paraleld a contrarie effect it wrought in the king and her husband To Edgar she seemed some goddesse at least a miracle in nature to Ethelwold in regard of his feare a furie or what worse hee could compare her to O fraile woman in this one vanitie to appeare beautifull in the eyes of a king thou hast committed two heinous and grieuous sinnes Adulterie and Murder for accordingly it so fell out Edgar was as much surprised with her loue as incensed with hate against her lord both which for the present he dissembled neither smiling on the one nor frowning on the other In the afternoone the king would needes hunt the stagge in the forrest of Werwelly since called Hoore-wood In the chace by the appointment of Edgar Earle Ethelwold was strooke through the bodie with an arrow and so slaine the king after made Elfritha his bride and queene The Earle had a base sonne then present at the death of his father of whom the king asked how hee liked that manner of hunting to whom he answered Royall sir what seemeth good to you shal be to me no way offensiue from that time forward he was euer gratious with the king And Elfritha thinking to make attonement with heauen for the murder of her husband or rather as Ranulphus saith for causing Edward to whom she was step-mother to be slaine that her owne sonne Egelredus might raigne builded an Abbie for Nunnes at Worwell where she was after buried Gunnora IN the time that Agapitus was Pope Lewis king of Fraunce the sonne of Charles caused William Longa Spata the second duke of Normandie to bee treacherously slaine this William was sonne to Rollo The Lords of Normandie with this murder much insenced watched their aduantage and surprised the king in Rhothemage where they committed him to safe custodie till he had promised and sworne to yeeld vp Normandie to Richard sonne and immediate heire to William the late murdered duke and moreouer in what place soeuer the king and the yong duke should haue meeting to conferre that Richard should weare his sword but king Lewis neither to haue sword nor knife about him This Richard being yong was called Richard the Old he had besides another attribute giuen him which was Richard without Feare because he was neuer known to be dismayde at any thing but a third aboue these was that he pretended to be wonderous religious He was duke two and fiftie yeares and tooke a Ladie to his bed from Denmarke whose name was Gunnora by whom he had fiue sonnes and two daughters the eldest of which was married to Etheldredus king of England her name was Emma and shee was called the flower of Normandie Concerning this bold yet religious duke it is reported by Marianus lib. 2. Henricus Ranulphus and others that besides many other testimonies of his sanctitie this one made him most eminent A Monke of Andoenus in Rothomage a town in Normandie going one night to meete with his sweet heart his way lay ouer a bridge and vnder that bridge was a deepe foord or riuer it so happened that mistaking his footing hee fell into the water and there was drowned He was no sooner dead but there came to carrie away his soule an Angell and a Fiend these two contended about it the one would haue it so would the other great was the controuersie betwixt them at length they concluded to put the case to duke Richard both to stand to his arbitrement much pleading there was on both sides at length the duke gaue sentence That the soule should be restored againe to the bodie be placed againe vpon that bridge from whence he had falne and if then he would offer to goe from thence to his sweet heart the diuell should take him but if otherwise he because he was a Church-man should be still in the Angels protection This was done and the Monke left his way to the woman and fled to the church as to a sanctuarie whether the duke went the next day and found the Monkes clothes still wet and told the Abbot euerie circumstance as it fell out therefore the Monke was shriuen did penance was absolued and reconciled This I haue read which I persuade no man to beleeue This duke liued with the faire Gunnora long time dishonestly and without marriage had by her those children aforesaid but at length by the persuasion of the nobilitie and intercession of the cleargie he tooke her to wife The first night after the marriage when the duke came to her bed she turned her backe towards him which she had neuer done till that time at which hee maruelling demaunded of her the reason why she did so To whom she answered before I was your strumpet and therfore as a seruant was tide to doe your pleasure in althings but now I am your wife and made part of your selfe therefore henceforth I claime with you an equall soueraigntie and will doe what mee list bearing my selfe now like a princesse not like a prostitute This I am easily induced to beleeue for how soone do honoures change manners Iuuenall in his sixt Satire speaking of marriage thus sayth Semper habet lites aeternaque iurgia lectus c. The marriage bed is sildome without strife And mutuall chidinges hee that takes a wife Bargaines for mightie trouble and small rest Sleepe growes a stranger then whilest in her brest She lodgeth Passion Selfe-will Anger Feare And from her eyes drops many a
that cause many women in their modestie rather suffered themselues to perish for want of helpe than that any man should bee seene or knowne to come about them Aboue all the Athenians were most curious that no seruant or woman should learne the art of Chyrurgerie There was a damosell of that cittie that was verie industrious in the search of such mysteries whose name was Agnodice but wanting meanes to attaine vnto that necessarie skill she caused her haire to be shorne and putting on the habit of a yong man got her selfe into the seruice of one Heirophilus a Phisitian and by her industrie and studie hauing attained to the deapth of his skill and the height of her own desires vpon a time hearing where a noble ladie was in child-birth in the middest of her painfull throwes she offered her selfe to her helpe whom the modest Ladie mistaking her Sex would by no persuasion suffer to come neere her till she was forced to strip her selfe before the women and to giue euident signes of her woman-hood After which shee had accesse to many proouing so fortunate that she grew verie famous In so much that being enuied by the colledge of the Phisitians shee was complained on to the Ariopagitae or the nobilitie of the Senat such in whose power it was to censure and determine of all causes and controuersies Agnodice thus conuented they pleaded against her youth and boldnesse accusing her rather a corrupter of their chastities than any way a curer of their infirmities blaming the matrons as counterfeiting weakenesse onely of purpose to haue the companie and familiaritie of a loose and intemperate yong man They prest their accusations so farre that the Iudges were readie to proceede to sentence against herâ— when shee opening her brest before the Senat gaue manifest testimonie that she was no other than a woman at this the Phisitians the more incenst made the fact the more henious in regard that being a woman she durst enter into the search of that knowledge of which their Sex by the law was not capable The cause being once more readie to goe against her the noblest matrons of the cittie assembled themselues before the Senat and plainely told them they were rather enemies than husbands who went about to punish her that of all their Sex had beene most studious for their generall health and safetie Their importancie so farre preuailed after the circumstances were truely considered that the first decree was quite abrogated and free libertie granted to women to imploy themselues in those necessarie offices without the presence of men So that Athens was the first cittie of Greece that freely admitted of Mid-wiues by the meanes of this damosell Agnodice Of Women that suffered Martyrdome ANd of these in briefe Corona was a religious woman who suffered martyrdome vnder the tyrannie of Antonius the Emperour Her death was after this manner she was tyde by the armes and legges betwixt two trees whose stiffe branches were forced and bowed downe for the purpose the bowes being slackned and let loose her bodie was tost into the ayre and so cruelly dissâ—uered limbe from limbe Anatholia a Virgin by the seuere commaund of Faustinianus the President was transpierst with a sword Felicula as Plutarch witnesseth when by no persuasion or threats promises or torments she could be forced to renounce the Christian Faith by the command of Flaccus Comes shee was commanded to be shut vp in a Iakes and there stifled to death Murita had likewise the honour of a Martyr who being banished by Elphedorus a certaine Arrian opprest with cold and hunger most miseraby died Hyrene the Virgin because shee would not abiure her faith and religion was by Sisimmius shot through with an arrow The like death suffered the martyr Christiana vnder Iulian the Apostata Paulina a Roman Virgin and daughter to the Prefect Artemius was with her mother Candida stoned to death by the commaund of the tyrant Dioclesian Agatho virgo Catanensis was strangled in prison by the command of the Consâ—ll Quintianus Theodora a Virgin of Antioch was beheaded by the tyrannie of Dioclesian Iulia Countes of Eulalia suffered the same death vnder the President Diaconus Margaritu a maide and a martyr had her head cut off by Olibrius Zoâ— the wife of Nicostratus was nayled vnto a crosse and so ended her life partly with the torture of the gybbet and partly with the smoke that the executioner made at the foot of the gallowes suffocated Iulia Carthagensis because she would not bow to Idolls and adore the false heathen gods but was a constant professor of the true Christian faith was martyred after the selfe same manner Emerita the sister of Lucius king of England who had the honour to be called the first Christian king of this countrie shee suffered for the Faith by fire Alexandria was the wife of Dacianus the President who being conuerted to the Faith by blessed saint George was therefore by the bloodie murderer her husbands owne hands strangled Maximianus the sonne of Dioclesian with his owne hands likewise slew his naturall sister Artemia because that forsaking all Idolatrie shee prooued a conuertite to the true Christian Faith Flauia Domicilla a noble Ladie of Rome was banished into the Isle Pontia in the fifteenth yeare of the raigne of Domitian for no other reason but that shee constantly professed her selfe to bee a Christian. These two following suffered persecution vnder Antonius Verus in France Blondina who is sayd to wearie her tormentors patiently induring more than they could malitiously inflict in so much that before shee fainted they confessed themselues ouercome she readie still to suffer and beare when they had not blows to giue for as oft as she spake these words I am a Christian neither haue I committed any euill she seemed to the spectators of her martyrdome to bee so refreshed and comforted from aboue that she felt no paine or anguish in the middest of her torture and in that patience she continued without alteration euen to the last gaspe Biblis one that before through her womanish weakenesse had fainted for feare of torments comming to see her with others executed was so strengthened to behold their constancie that as it were awakened out of her former dreame and comparing those temporall punishments which lasted but a moment with the eternall paines of Hell fire gaue vp her selfe freely for the Gospels sake Dionisius in an Epistle to Fabius Bishop of Antioch reckons vp those that suffered martyrdome vnder Decius the Emperour Quinta a faithfull woman was by the Infidels brought into a Temple of their Idolls vnto which because she denied diuine adoration they bound her hand and foot and most inhumanly dragged her along the streets vpon the sharpe stones but when that could not preuaile with her they beat her head and sides and bruised them against Mill-stones that done shee was pitiously scourged and lastly bloodily executed The same Lictors layd hands on Appolonia a Virgin
transpierst himselfe and fell downe dead vpon the body of Aristoclaea Of no such death dyed Democrita whose history next ensueth Alcippus the Lacedemonian had two daughters by his wife Democrita He hauing with great iustice and integritie managed the affaires of the weale publike more for the common good than any peculiar gaine or profit of his own was affronted by an opposite faction which emulated his goodnesse and being brought before the Ephori it was deliuered to them in a scandalous and lying oration how and by what meanes Alcippus intended to abrogate and adnichilate their lawes for which he was confind from Spatta neither could his wife daughters who willingly offered themselues to attend vpon his aduersity be suffered to associate him but they were deteined by the power and command of the publike magistrate Moreouer an edict was made That neyther the wife was capable of inheritance nor the daughter of dower out of their fathers goods notwithstanding they had many sutors of such noble gentlemen as loued them for their fathers virtues It was likewise by the enemy most enuiously suggested to the Senat that the two Ladies might be debard from marriage their reason was that Democrita was heard often to wish and withall to presage that she should see children borne of her daughters who would in time reuenge the wrongs of their grandfather This being granted and shee euery way circumscribed both in her selfe her husband and issue euery way confind she expected a publike solemnitie in which according to the custome the women of the cittie with the virgins houshold seruants and infants had meeting but the matrons and wiues of the nobilitie kept their night-festiuall in a conclaue or parlor by themselues Then she guirt her selfe with a sword and with her two daughters secretlie conueyd her selfe into the Temple attending the time when all the matrons were most busie about the ceremonies and mysteries in the conclaue then hauing made fast the doores and shut vp the passages and heaped together a great quantitie of billets with other things combustible prouided for the purpose but especially all that sweete wood that was ready for the sacrifice of that solemnitie she set all on fire which the men hastening to quench in multitudes she before them all with a constancie vndaunted first slew her daughters and after her selfe making the ruins of this Temple their last funerall fire The Lacedemonians hauing 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 earth-quake happened which had almost ouerturned the cittie of Lacedemon from Democrita I come to Phillis Demophrâ—â— the sonne of Theseus and Phadra the halfe brother of Hippolitus returning from the warres of Troy towards his countrey by tempests and contrarie winds being driuen vpon the coast of Thrace was gently receiued and affectionately entertained by Phillis daughter to Lycurgus and Crustâ—â—ena then king and queene of that countrey and not onely to the freedome of all generous hospitalitie but to the libertie and accesse vnto her bed He had not long soiourned there but he had certaine tydings of the death of Muestham who after his father Theseus was expulsed Athens had vsurped the principalitie pleased therefore with the newes of innouation and surprised with the ambition of succession he pretending much domesticke businesse with other negotiations pertaining to the publike gouernment after his faith pawned to Phillis that his returne should be within a moneth hee got leaue for his countrey therefore hauing calked and moored his ships making them seruiceable for the sea he set saile towards Athens where arriued he grew altogether vnmindfull of his promised faith or indented returne Foure moneths being past and not hearing from him by word or writing she sent him an Epistle in which she complaines his absence then persuades him to call to mind her more than common curtesies to keepe 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 cruell and violent death which she accordingly did for knowing her selfe to bee despised and vtterly cast off she in her fathers Pallace hung her selfe From Phillis I proceede to Deiaâ—eira Iâ—piter begat Hercules of Alcmena in the shape of her husband Amphitrio ioyning three nights in one whom Euristius king of Micena at the vrgence of his stepmother Iuno imployd in all hazardous and fearefull aduentures not that thereby he might gaine the greater honour but by such meanes sooner perish but his spirit was so great and his strength to eminent that from foorth all these swallowing dangers he still plunged a victor amongst these difficulties was that combat against Achelous a Flood in Aetolia who transhapt himselfe into sundry figures for the loue of Deianeira daughter to Oeneus and Althaea king and queene of Calidon and sister to Meleager he whom no monsters nor earthly powers could tame by the conquest of Achelous wonne Deianeira for his bride But he whom all tyrants and terrours were subiect to submitted himselfe to effeminacie and the too much dotage vpon women for when Euritus king of Oechalia had denied him his daughter Iöle before promist him the citty taken and the king slaine he tooke her freely into his embraces with whose loue he was so blinded that at her imperious command hee layd by his clubbe and Lions skinne the trophyes of his former victories and which was most vnseemely for so great a conquerour put on a womanish habit and blusht not with a distaffe in his hand to spinne amongst her damsells In briefe what slauerie and seruitude soeuer he had before suffered vnder the tyranny of Omphale queene of Lydia of whom he had begot Lamus he indured from her which Deianeira hearing in a letter she layes open to him all his former noble acts and victories that by comparing them with his present deboishtnesse it the better might incourage him to returne to the first and deterre him from the last But hauing receiued newes of Hercules calamitie by reason of the poisoned shirt sent him by her seruant Lychas dipt in the blood of the Centaure Nessus in which she thought there had beene the vertue to reuoke him from all new loues and establish him in his first for so Nessus had persuaded hir when in her transwaftage ouer the flood Euenus he was slaine by the arrow of Hercules dipt in the poyson of Lerna when she I say heard of the death of her husband and that though vnwillingly it happened by her meanes shee dyed by a voluntarie wound giuen by her owne hand Not such was that which followes The Ionians through all their Prouince being punisht with a most fearfull and horrible pest in so much that it almost swept the cittie and countrey and had it longer continued
alwayes can the purple violet smell Or Lillies bloome in whitenesse that excell The fragrant rose whose beautie we desire The leaues once falne shewes but a naked brire O thou most faire white heires come on apace And wrinckled furrowes which shall plow thy face So likewise Petronius Arbiter in one of his Satyres Quod solum formae decus est cecidere Capillae The onely beautie of her shape her haire Fell from her head her beautie to impaire Summer succeedes the Spring her Autumne chaceth And them sad Winter with his snow disgraceth Deceitfull Nature all these youthfull ioyes Thou gau'st vs first thou art the first destroyes Now the fruits and effects of this fraile beautie especially where a faire face meeteth with a corrupted mind I will next shew you by historie Achab by the persuasion of his faire wife Iesabell was the death of many of the Prophets of the Lord. Dalila was the confusion of Sampson the Strong Strange women brought Salomon the Wise to Idolatrie and to forget God Ioram a king of Israell at the instigation of Athalia committed many horrible outrages Helena's beautie was the occasion of that infinite slaughter betwixt the Greekes and Troians Pelops succeeding in the kingdome of Phrygia made warre vpon Oenomaus the father of Hyppodamia because being surprised with her beautie she was denyde him in marriage Another Hyppodamia the wife of Perithous was the occasion of that great Centauromachia or battaiâ—e betwixt the Centaures and the Lapithes for which Propertius calls her Ischomache of the greeke word Isco which signifieth Habeo and Mache Pugna his words are these Qualis Iscomache Lapithae genus Heroinae Centauris medio grata rapina mero Such as Iscomache that was Of the Lapythaean line She whom the Centaures would haue rapt Amidst their cups of wine Pericles for his loue to Aspasia made warre against the Samians For Chrisaeis the daughter of Chrises Priest to Apollo vitiated by Agamemnon a plague was sent amongst the Greekish host which ceased not till she was returned backe to her father for so writes Tortellius Lauiniaes beautie the daughter of King Latinus and the Queene Amata was cause of the combustion betwixt Turnus and Aeneas so saith Pontanus lib. 4. de Stellis Lysimachus the sonne of Agathocles poysoned his owne sonne Agathocles by whose fortunate hand he had receiued the honour and benefit of many glorious victories at the instigation of his wife Arsinoe the sister of Ptoloâ—teus Vollateran Iphis a youth of exquisite feature strangled himselfe because he was despised by the faire but cruell Anaxarite Archilâ—â—us king of Macedon was slaine by a young man called Crateua because hauing first promised him his faire daughter he after bestowed her vpon another The Poet Archilocus called Iambographus because Lycambes denyde him his daughter in marriage writes against him such bitter Iambicks that hee despaired and hanged himselfe therefore Ouid thus writes Post modo si perges in te mihi liber Iambus Tincta Licambaeo sanguiâ—e tela dabit If thou pursu'st me still my booke Iust vengeance shall implore And in Lambickes weapons yeeld Dipt in Lycambes gore Iustine in his 27 booke relates That Seleneus Callinicus king of Syria for exiling Berenice his steppe-mother sister to Ptolomaeus was by the same Ptolomaeus inuaded and prosecuted by armes Deiphebus after the death of Paris hauing marryed Hellen to which infortunate match her beautie had inuited him was by her treacherie not onely murdered but his body hackt and mangled being almost made one vniuersall wound Tortellius reports of one Euander the nephew of Pallas king of the Arcadians at the persuasion of his mother Nicostrate slew his owne father Orestes the sonne of Agamemum slew Pyrrhus the sonne of Achilles being surprised with the beautie of Hermione daughter to Menalâ—us and Helena Pteleras king of the Thebans was slaine by king Craeon being betrayde by his owne Polydices Cleopatra was the cause of that bloody warre betwixt Ptolomaeus Philopaser and her owne father Alexander king of Syria Idas and Lyncaeus the sons of Aphareus and Arbarne fought a great battaile neere to Sparta about the two faire daughters of Leucippus Phebe and Ilaira against Castor and Pollux both which were slaine in that battaile and perisht not by shipwracke as some write in the pursuite of Paris by sea for the rape of their sister Hellen Liuie lib. 36. writes of Antiochus who warring against Rome was so taken with the beautie of a Chalcidonian damsell that neglecting all warlike discipline to spend his time in dalliance with his wanton hee became a shamefull and dishonourable prey to the enemy Octauia the sister of Augustus being repudiated by Anthony was the occasion of a ciuill and intestine war The Poet Lucretius growing mad for the loue of a faire damsell dranke poyson and so dyed Tullia incited Tarquinius Superbus to kill her owne father Seruius Tullius Martia the strumpet caused Autonius Commodus the Emperour whose Concubine she was to bee slaine by a souldiour with whom shee had many times had lustfull congression Tytus Corrancanus being sent on embassie to Teuca queene of the Illyrians because hee spake to her freelie and boldlie she caused him to be put to death against the lawes of kingdomes and nations Liuius and Florus Vollateranus writes of one Rhodoricus king of the Gothes who because he stuprated the daughter of Iulianus who was Prefect in the Prouince of Tingitana the father of the rauisht virgin brought in the Moores and raised a warre which before it was ended was the death of seauen hundred thousand men Chilpericus the sonne of Clotharius was slaine by the instigation of his wife Fridegunda in his returne from hunting Luchinus a Count of Italy warred vpon Vgolinus Gonzaga because hee had adulterated his faire wife Isabella Vollateran Otratus king of Bohemia accused of sloath and cowardise by his wife Margarita for entering league with Rodulphus Caesar raised warre betwixt them in which her husband was defeated Gandulphus the Martyr for but counselling his wife to a more chast and temperate life was murdered betwixt her and the adulterer Of warres and many other mischiefes of which faire women haue beene the originall Ouid elegantly deliuers in 2 Eleg. thus concluding Vidi ego pro â—iuea pugnantes coniâ—ge tauros Spectatrix animos ipsa innenca dabat For a white heyfer I haue seene bulls sight Both gathering rage and courage from her sight At the building of Rome Romulus to people the cittie and get wiues for his souldiers caused them to rauish the Sabine women and damsells for which warre grew betwixt the two nations Of which Proper lib. 2. Cur exempla petam Gracum Tu criminis auâ—hâ—r Nutribus duro Romule lacte lupae c. What neede I from the Greekes examples aske Thou Romulus by a fell she-wolfe nurst To rape the Sabines
to the knowledge of her parents and being by them persuaded to marrie to preuent the loathed embraces of a husband trusting to her owne incomparable swiftnesse she deuised a race in which she proposed her selfe the prise of the victor but the vanquished were mulcted with the losse of their heads after the slaughter of many princes Melanion before spoken of inflamed with her loue receiued of Venus three golden apples which he let fall one after another in the swiftnesse of their course she by stooping to take them vp slackened her speed and by loosing the race became his prise and bride Some write that they ran in chariots and armed trusting to the swiftnesse of their steeds not the verocitie of their owne feet The manner of their running is elegantly described in Ouid of which I will guie you present expression Hesiod Naso and others will not allow Atalanta to be the daughter of Iasus but Schoeneus Euripides deriues her from Menalus making her the bride of Hyppomanes the sonne of Megaraeus grand-child of Neptune not of Melamion The manner of their course is thus set downe Metamorph. lib. 10. Signa tubae dederuns c. The signalls giuen whilest both prepared stand Now on they goe their heeles but kisse the sand And leaue no print behind you would suppose They might passe seas and yet their nimble toes Not mingle with the billowes or extend Their course ore ripe eares yet the stalks not bend On all sides the young men spectators cry Well runne Hippomenes who seemes to flye More swiftly than their voyces if thy meed Be worth thy toyle now now t is time to speede Clamour and shoutes incourage both her pace She sometimes slackes to looke backe on his face His labour made it liuely on the way Which forc't her oft when she might passe him stay She outstrippes him tho but halfe against her will And feeles his dry breath on her lockes play still Which her speede cast behind The course is long He seemes to faint and she appeares more strong The bold Neptunian Heroe from his hand One of those golden apples on the strand Before her bowles she stoopes amaz'd and wonne With th'riches of the iewell is out-runne Stooping to take it vp he now gets ground Whilst lowd applaâ—siue shoutes the people sound At which her slacknesse she redeemes and time Lost in that small delay she as a crime Now in her speed corrects and like the wind Flyes towards the goale and leaues the youth behind Againe he drops another and againe She for the second stoopes whilst hee amaine Striues for the start and gets it but her pace She still maintaines being formost in the race The last part of the course lyes plaine before He now begins faire Venus to implore And the third fruit pluckt from the golden tree He further casts yet where she needes must see The apple shine 't was throwne out of the way The ground vneuen to mooue the more delay The warlike lasse though tempted with the show Doubts in her selfe to take it vp or no. Venus persuades in fauour of her knight And made it weightie which before seemd light Which as from th' earth she labours to diuide He gaines the goale and her for his faire bride It is said by Palephatus Appollodorus Ouid and others That for their ingratitude to Venus he was turned into a Lion and she into a Lionesse The probabilitie is that being in the chace they retyred themselues into a caue which proued to be a denne of Lions where they were torne to pieces and deuoured They being mist by the people who after saw two Lions issue from that place the rumour grew that they were transform'd into beasts of that shape This Atlanta had by Meâ—amion or Hyppomanes or as some write by Mars Parthenopaeus who after made warre vpon the Thebans Of other warlike Ladies ABout Meroe raigned the queene Candaces and had principalitie ouer the Aethiopians a woman of a mightie spirit who in all her conquests in person led her people to the field amongst whom she obtained that dignitie and honour that as amongst the kings of Aegypt from the first of that name that was renowned and beloued they were for many successions cald Pharaoes and after Ptolomyes and since the time of Iulius all the Roman Emperours haue in memory of him taken vpon them the sirname of Caesar so for many yeares after her decease the queenes of Aethiopia were cald Candaces The women of Lacena imitated the men in all things in schooles in hunting and in armes These in the warre commenst against the Messenians aduentured equally in the battaile with their husbands by whose assistance they purchased a noble victorie It is reported of Valasca a queene of the Bohemians that hauing made a coniuration with the women of her countrey to take away all the prerogatiue and iurisdiction from the men she instructing them in Militarie exercises leuied an armie of her owne sex with which they met their husbands and ouerthrew them by which meanes they attained the soueraigne principalitie and as the Amasons had before times done for many yeares space mannaged all affaires as well for offence as defence without the helpe or counsel of men The women of Bellouaca being long and fearfully besieged by Charles the great duke of Burgundie most resolutely defended the walls tumbling the assailants from their scaling ladders into the ditches to the euerlasting honour of their Sex and the reproach of the enemy Lesbia a virgin beeing besieged by the Turkes hazarded her selfe to discouer their workes and mines and when the cittisens were deliberating to surrender vp the towne to the mercilesse enemy shee opposed their purpose and presented her selfe vpon the walls to the violence of their arrowes and engines by whose onely valour and encouragement the citie was preserued the assailants repulst with dishonor Amalasuntha queeene of the Gothes kept her principalitie neere to Rauenna and as Volaterran hath left recorded by the helpe of Theodotus whom she made competitor in the Empire shee expeld from Italy the Burgonians Almaines and Ligurians Teuca the wife of Argon tooke vpon her the soueraigntie shee was queene of the Illyrians a warlikenation whom she wisely gouerned by whose valour and fortitude she not only opposed the violence of the Romans but obtained from them many noble victories Hasbites was a warlike Virago and lead armies into the field of her Siluius lib. 1. thus speakes Haec ignara viri vacuoque assuâ—ta cubili Venatu siluis primos defenderat as â—nnos c. She knew not man but in a single bed Vpon an emptie pillow cast her head Her youth she spent in hunting to th'alarâ—e Of the shrill bugle on her sinâ—wy arme She wore no Osier basket would not know Or teach the fingers how to spinne or sow To trace Dictinna she did most desire And in swift course the long breath'd stagge to tyre
c. The same author lib. 2. speakes of one Tiburna Saguntina the wife of one Marhus a braue and bold female warrior Zenobia queene of the Palmyrians after the death of her husband Odenatus tooke vpon her the imperiall regencie and made tributarie the kingdome of Syria neither feared shee to take armes against the Emperour Aurelianus by whom she was ouercome and led in triumph but when it was obiected to Caesar as a dishonour and reproach that he had triumpht ouer a woman he answered It was no disgrace at all being ouer such a woman as excelled most men in Masculine vertue Of whom Pontanus thus speakes Qualis Aethiopum quondam sitientibus aruis In fuluum regina gregem c. As did the Aethiopian queene In the dry fields of old Incounter with the yellow heards whose rough haires shin'd like gold Opposing the sterne Lions paw Alone and without ayde To see whom wrestle men aloofe stood quaking and afraid Such 'tweene two warlike hosts appeares This Amasonian Queene Zenobia with her strong bow arm'd And furnisht with shafts keene Hypsicrataea the wife of Mithridates was still present with him in battaile and left him in no danger cutting her haire short least it should offend her when she put on her beauer Artimesia queene of Caria after the death of her husband was admired through Greece who not onely in a nauall expedition ouercame the inuading Rhodians but pursued them euen vnto their owne coasts and tooke possession of the Island amidst whose ruines she caused her owne glorious statue to be erected of whom Herodotus thus writes I cannot wonder sufficiently at this warlike queene Artimesia who vnforced and vncompeld followed the expedition of Xerxes against Greece out of her owne manly courage and excellencie of spirit She was the daughter of Lydamus her father was of Halicarnassus her mother of Creete shee furnished fiue shippes of her owne charge with Halicarnassaeans Coeans Nisirians and Calidnians in the great sea fight neere Salamine to behold which battaile Xerxes had retired himselfe and stood but as a spectator Iustine lib. 2. saith There was to bee seene in Xerxes womanish feare in Artimesia manly audacitie for shee demeaned herselfe in that battaile to the admiration of all men of whose ships the king taking especiall notice but not knowing to whom they belonged nor in whose management they then were one spake to the king and said Great Lord behold you not how brauely the queene Artimesia beares her selfe this dayâ— the king would not at first beleeue that such resolution could bee in that Sex at length when notwithstanding her braue seruice hee perceiued his nauie beaten and put to flight he sighing thus said All my men this day haue shewed themselues women and there is but one woman amongst them and she onely hath shewed herselfe a man Many of the most illustrious persons dyed that day as also of the Meades amongst whom was the great captaine Aria Begnes the sonne of Darius and brother of Xerxes Cleopatra queene of Aegypt the daughter of Dionisius Auletes after the death of Iulius Caesar hauing taken Antonius in the bewitching snares of her beautie shee was not contented with the kingdomes of Aegypt Syria and Arabia but she was ambitious to soueraignise ouer the Roman Empire in which though she fayled it shewed as inuincible a spirit in the attempt as shee exprest an vnmatched courage in the manner of her voluntary death Cyrus the Persian inuading the Messagets and Scythians of which Tomyris then raigned queene she sent against him her onely sonne Spargapises with a puissant army to beat him back againe beyond the riuer Araxes which he had late with a mightie host traiected But the young man not inured to the stratagems and policies of warre suffered his souldiours in the height of wine and surfets to be inuaded his tents rifled his army defeated and himselfe taken prisoner by Cyrus To whom the queene sent to this purpose Thou hast surprised my sonne by fraud not strength by deceit not warre be now counselled by me Returne me the Prince and with the honour to haue vanguisht the third part of my people vnpunished depart out of my countrey which if thou dost not I vow by the Sunne the Lord and God to which the Messagets giue due adoration that I will quench thy thirst beest thou neuer so much insatiate of blood This message being deliuered to Cyrus he regarded it not but held it as the vaine boast of a franticke woman But Spargapises the sonne of Tomyris being awaked from the drowsinesse of wine and perceiuing into what mischiefe he was falne intreated Cyrus he might be released from his bonds to which the Persian granted who no sooner found his legges vnbound and his hands at libertie but he instantly catcht hold of a weapon with which he slew himselfe The queene hauing intelligence of the death of her sonne and withall that Cyrus gaue no heed to her admonition collected a puissant armie of purpose to giue him battaile who inticed him by a counterfeit flight into certaine straits of her countrey where hauing ambusht her men she fell vpon the Persians and made of them an infinite slaughter to the defeating of their whole host In this strange and bloody execution Cyrus himselfe fell whose body Tomyris caused to be searcht for and being found filled a vessell with blood into which commanding his head to be throwne shee thus insultingly spake Of human blood in thy life thou weart insatiate and now in thy death thou mayst drinke thy fill The fashions of the Messagets are after this manner described by Herodotus Their habit and their food is according to the Scythians they fight as well on horsebacke as on foot being expert in both they are both archers and lanciers in all their weapons armour or caparisons vsing gold and brasse in the heads of their speares their quiuers their daggers and other armour they were brasse but whatsoeuer belongs to the head or to the belt is of the purest gold the breast-plates of their horses and what belongs to their trappings and caparisons are buckled and studded with brasse but that which appertaines to the headstall or raines is of gold of yron and siluer they haue small vse or none as being rare in their countrey but gold and brasse they haue in aboundance Euery man marrieth a wife but not to his owne peculiar vse for they keepe them in common for what the Greeks in this kind remember of the Scythians they do not it is customable onely amongst the Messagets if any man haue an appetite to a woman he onely hangs his quiuer vpon the next bough prostitutes her in publike without taxation or shame There is no limit proposed to terminate their liues when any growes old his neighbours about him make a generall meeting and with great ceremony after the manner of a sacrifice cause him to be slain with
they could not be forced with their rude feet to leaue the least character of violence vpon limbes so faire and exquisitely fashioned The same Author remembers vs of Seritha and Signis the first a virgin of incomparable splendor to whom one Otharus was a robustious suitor the other was the daughter of one Sygarus who paralleld the first and was importunately sollicited by Hyldegislaeus Teutonicus Bryseis was so faire that she endeered vnto her loue the noblest of the Greekes Achilles who though she was but his damosell or handmaid yet he was enamored of her aboue all his other women of whom Horace Prius Insolentem Serua Bryseis niueo colore Mouit Achillem His maid Bryseis with her colour white Insolent Achilles mooued to delight Of her Ouid likewise speakes lib. 2. de Arte Amandi Fecit vt in capta Lyrneside magnus Achilles Cum premeret mollem lassus ab hoste torum This great Achilles of his Loue desired When with the slaughter of his enemies tyred He doff'd his Cushes and vnarm'd his head To tumble with her on a soft day-bed It did reioyce Bryseis to embrace His bruised armes and kisse his bloud-stain'd face Those hands which he so often did imbrew In bloud of warlike Troians whom he slew Were now imploy'd to tickle touch and feele And shake a Lance that had no point of steele Thargelia Milesia was of that excellent aspect that as Hyppias the Sophist testifies of her shee was marryed by course to foureteene seuerall husbands for so he writes in a Treatise entituled De inscripta Congregatione in which besides her character of beautie he giues her a worthie attribute for her wisedome in these words Perpulcra sapiens Anutis was the wife of a noble person called Bogazus and sister to Xerxes by the fathers side Shee as Dinon writes in his Persicke historie in the chapter entituled De prima Coordinatione in these words Haec vt pulcherrima fuit omnium mulierum quae fuerant in Asia c. Shee saith hee as shee was the fairest of all women in Asia so of them all shee was the most intemperate Timosa as Philarchus in his Lib. 19. contends was the mistresse of Oxiartes who in the accomplishments of nature anteceded all of her age shee was for her beautie thought worthie to be sent as a present from the king of Aegypt to the most excellent queene of king Statyra but rather for a wonder of nature than a president of chastitie Theopompus in his fiftie sixth booke of Historie records That Zenopithia the mother of Lysandrides was the fairest of all the women in Peloponnesus Shee with her sister Chryse were slaine by the Lacedemonians at the time when Agesilaus in an vprore and mutinous sedition raysed gaue command That Lysandrides as his publike enemie should be banished from Lacedemon Patica Cipria was borne in Cyprus Philarchus remembers her in his tenth booke of Historie Shee attending vpon Olympias the mother of Alexander was demanded in marriage by one Moâ—imus the sonne of Pythioa But the Queene obseruing her to be of more beautie in face than temperance in carriage O vnhappie man said shee that chusest a wife by the eye not by counsaile by her beautie and not behauior Violentilla was the wife of the Poet Stella shee for all accomplishments was much celebrated by Statius of her Lib. 1. Syll. he thus speakes At tu pulcherrima forma Italidum tandem casto possessa marito Thou of our Latium Dames the fair'st and best Of thy chast husband art at length possest Agarista as Herodotus calls her was the daughter of Clisthenes the Syconian shee was of that vnexpressable forme that her beautie attracted suitors from all parts of Greece amongst whom Hypocledes the sonne of Tisander is numbred From Italie came Smyndrides Sibarites Syritanus and Damnasus From the coast of Ionia Amphimnestrus Epidamnius Aetolus and Meges From Peloponnesus Leocides Amianthus Archas Heleus Laphanes Phidon son to the king of the Argiues From Attica Megacles the son of Alâ—menon From Etruria Lysanius From Thessalie Diacrides and Cranomius From Molossus Alcon in number 20. These came into Greece to expresse themselues in many noble contentions because Clistthines the son of Aristonius and father of Agarista had made proclamation that he only should inioy the Virgin who could best expresse himself in noble action and valour Hyppodamia was daughter to Oenemaus king of Aelis and of such attractiue beautie that she likewise drew many princely suitors to her fathers court though to the most certain danger of their liues Caelius writes that Marmax was the first that contended with her in the charriot race and failing in his course was slaine by the tyrant the Mares with which hee ran as some write were called Parthenia and Eripha whose throats Oenemaus caused to be cut and after buried After him perished in the same manner Alcathus the son of Parthaon Eurialus Eurimacus Crotalus Acrius of Lacedemon Capetus Licurgus Lasius Chalcodas Tricolonus Aristomachus Prias Pelagus Aeolius Chromius and Eritheus the son of Leucon Amongst these are numbered Merimnes Hypotous Pelops Opontius Acaruan Eurilachus Antomedon Lasius Chalcon Tricâ—ronus Alcathus Aristomachus and Crocâ—lus Sisigambis as Q. Curtius relates was inferiour to no ladie that liued in her age yet notwithstandig Alexander the Great hauing ouercome her husband Darius in battaile was of that continence that he onely attempted not to violate her chastitie but became her guardian and protected her from all the iniuries that might haue beene done to a captiue Plutarch writes of a Roman Ladie called Praecia of that excellent shape and admired feature as she indeered Cethegus vnto her so farre that he enterprised no dissigne or managed any affiaire without the aduise and approbation of the beautifull Praâ—cia So precious likewise was the faire Roxana in the eies of Alexander that hauing subdued all the Easterne kingdomes and being Lord of the world yet from being the daughter of a mercinarie souldier and a Barbarian he tooke her into his bosome and crowned her with the Imperiall Diademe Aegina the daughter of Aesopus king of Boetia for her excellent pulchritude was beloued of Iupiter of whom Ouid Aureus in Danaen Aesopida luseritignis In Gold faire Danae had her full desire But with th'Aesopian Girle he play'd in fire So likewise Antiopa the daughter of Nycteis and wife of Lycus king of Thebes was for the rarenesse of her forme comprest by him of whom hee begot Zethus and Amphion O what a power is in this beautie It made the Cyclops Poliphemus turne Poet who as Ouid in his Lib. 13. thus writes in the prayse of his mistresse Galataea Candidior folio niuei Galataea ligustri c. Oh Galataea thou art whiter farre Than leaues of Lillies not greene Medowes are More flourishing thy stature doth appeare Straighter than th'Elmes than Glasse thou art
The king of England and Francis the first of that name king of France being at oddes Henry was much incensed and appointed Bishop Bonner his Embassadour to debate with him sharpely about the designes then in hand who hauing accommodated all things fitting for the journey came to take his leaue of the king his maister who vttered many bitter and disdainefull words against Francis all tending to his opprobrie and dishonour And in these tearmes sayth hee deliuer vnto him thy Embassie To whom Bonner replyed If it please your Maiestie if I should giue him such harsh and despightfull language and in his owne Court too he can doe no lesse than take off my head Thy head answered the king If hee doe it is no matter but tell him further If hee dares to cut off thy head ten thousand of his subiects heads shall be sent after it To whom Bonner after some small deliberation againe replyed But I am doubtfull my Liege whether any of these ten thousand heads will fit my shoulders in that short answere as well taxing the kings rash furie as prouident for his owne safetie With which the king somewhat satisfied and better considering with himselfe deliuered vnto him a more calme and milder Embassie So though those heads may fauour both of more Iudgement and Reading I am doubtfull whether they could more naturally sute with my owne method and stile though neuer so meane or barbarous Therefore Deo adiuvante Erato assistente I proceede The Spartans had a custome in their solemne feasts to haue a song of three parts sung by three seuerall Chorusses The first was of weake old men The second of yong able men The third of Boyes and pretie growne children The old men began with this verse Olim iuuentutem nos strenuam egimus We haue beene Strong that now Decrepit are To whom the yong men in a second quire answered Sortes sumus nos fac si vis periculum Wee are both Yong and Strong prooue vs who dare To them in a third tone the children ecchoed Nos erimus his prestantiores plurimo With these in Youth and Strength wee shall compare To this three-fold age I compare the triplicitie of the Muses The first three books are by this alredie spent in your iudgements The second three of which this is the last are the pyth and strength of my present worke in hand to which the three succeeding though yet in their infancie I shall striue to paralell if not exceed the rest And first of Chastitie It is reported of a woman of Lacena that a great man sending her rich gifts to corrupt her chastitie she returned him this answere Whilest I was a Virgin I was taught to obey my father which I accordingly did and being a wife to submit my selfe to my husbands will if then you desire any courtesie at my hands get first his consent and you shall after vnderstand my further pleasure Plutarch in Lacon Institut relates that diuerse of these Lacenaean Virgins were taken captiues and sold in open market one of them beeing cheapened was demaunded what she knew she answered To be faithfull Another being asked if he should buy her whether she would proue chast answered Whether he bought her or no she would be chast howsoeuer her maister after seeking to corrupt her she slew herselfe vttering these her last words See what a treasure thou hast lost that knewest not my worth whilest thou wast possessed of me There haue beene many men that haue left vnto women strict rules of Chastitie by their examples Saint Augustine being asked why hee would not suffer his owne sister to dwell in the house with him answered Because such as may conuerse with her are not my sisters intimating that all such as would auoid the sinne ought to shun temptation for he was wont to say It is not good to looke vpon a woman it is worse to conuerse with her but worst of all to touch her Therfore these sences of ours that are most subiect to danger ought most to be supprest and bridled Marul lib. 4. Capit. 7. and Sabin lib. 5. Hierome reports of the Abbot Hylarian That when hee found any vnchast cogitations arise in his brest hee would beate himselfe vpon the bosome as if with blowes and buffets hee would expell them thence and thus sayd I will tame thee ô Asse that thou shalt no more kick and spurne against me with thy heeles I will not henceforth feed thee with Barley but chaffe I will abate thy wantonnesse with hunger and thirst I will loade thy backe with grieuous burdens I will inure thee to the Sommers heate and the Winters cold After which time he vsed the spare dyet of rootes and the iuice of hearbes and these onely when necessitie compelled him to eate Hee inioyned himselfe the time of prayer excepted to strict and continuall labour to increase his appetite but not augment his dyet Therfore Hierom against Lust prescribes these three souereigne remedies fast prayer and hard labour The examples are innumerable as well amongst Ethnick men as Christians Alexander supping with Antipadres there was brought to the table and set iust against the king a wonderous beautifull woman as excellent in voice as in face both tempting so farre that Alexander began suddenly to be surprised with her loue and demaunded of Antipadres If she were a woman whom he any way affected To whom he answered That she was indeered to him aboue all other creatures liuing Then thou foole replyde the king cause her instâ—ntly to rise and be conueyed hence from the banquet How farre then was this temperate Prince from adulterating another mans wife that was affraid to doe his host the least iniurie in his strumpet Therefore Iulianus the Emperour hauing tooke the cittie Nalaca wherein were many women of rare and extraordinarie feature was so farre from corrupting their vertues that he commanded not any of them should be suffered to come in his presence Calius lib. 7. cap. 27. tells vs that so great was the chastitie of the Paduan women in times past that not any of them walked out of their doores but with their faces couered Therefore Caius Salpitius Gallus sued a diuorse against his wife because she was met bare-browed in the streetes against whom he thus pleaded Thou art onely to be gouerned and guided by the lawes of mine eyes thy beautie is to be approoued by them and to please them alone thou oughtest to adorne thy selfe but to desire to seeme faire in the eyes of strangers incurres the imputation both of suspition and trespasse What should wee thinke then of that fantastique attyre and gawdie ornaments so much in vse now adayes which as well in youth as age rather seeme openly to professe lust than inwardly to protect chastitie Of these curiosities in vaine and vnnecessarie attire Plautus in Penâ—lo thus speakes Negotij sibi qui voleâ— vim parare nauem mulierem Hec duo sibi comparato
to stuprate Calisto the daughter of Lycaon and attyring himselfe in the habite of a female Huntresse was entertayned by Diana and admitted into their number where he grew familiar with all and especially endeared to Daphne insomuch that shee thought no houre spent well without him Of which acquaintance Apollo being iealous in regard they had such conuenience of time place and opportunitie he put his owne dearely beloued Daphne in mind to entice Leucippus to a riuer where Diana with all their nymphes intended to bathe themselues Whither when they came the Virgins disrobed themselues euen to nakednesse and being all stript to their skinnes but finding Leucippus onely to mooue delayes they pluckt off his garments by force and so discouered him to be of the contrarie Sex at which Diana enraged commanded all her Virgins to take vp their Bowes and Quiuers and so they shot him to death with their Arrowes This is recorded by Parthen de Amator Theodor. Flaietes in Eleg. and Philarchus lib. 15. Of Chast Wiues AN excellent president of Chastitie was that in Rhodogune the daughter of Darius who caused her Nurse to be slaine because her husband being dead she persuaded her to a second marriage A more admirable remarke of Nuptiall Chastitie it was of the Wiues of the Theutonicks remembred by Hieron in his Epistle to Gerontia whose husbands being slaine and they taken captiue by Marius humbly besought him on their knees that they might be sent to the Vestalls in Rome as a present protesting they would be equally with them still from the societie of men and professe perpetuall Chastitie but their request being denyed by the Consull Marius the next night following all of them with an vnite consent strangled themselues Theoxena was famous for her Chastitie who being enuironed at Sea by the Nauie of Philip king of Macedon seeing her husband throwne ouer-boord leapt after him to follow him in death not onely to expresse her loue to her husband but her skorne to stand to the mercie of the Conqueror Baptista Pius Lib. 2. Elegiar speakes of Tyro a woman of Thessalia who her husband being dead could by no counsaile of friends or persuasion of kindred be woon to suruiue him Plutarch in Pompeio speaking of Hypsicrataea sayth shee was so endearedly affected to her husband king Mithridates that for his loue she made a voluntarie change of her most becomming womanish shape and habit into a mans for cutting her hayre she accustomed her selfe to the practise of Horse and Armes that shee might with the more facilitie endure the labours and dangers of the warres Her husband being subdued by Cn. Pompeius and his Armie quite dissipate and ouercome shee followed him flying through many barbarous Nations where her life and safetie were in hourely hazard and these shee enterprised with a mind vndaunted and a bodie vnwearyed her faith and loyaltie in all his extremities being to him no small sollace and comfort for though an Exile being still in the societie of his Queene and bed-fellow he imagined himselfe in what place soeuer he reposed to haue beene in his owne pallace and amongst his household gods Of Penelope THe beautie of Penelope attracted a number of suitors who from diuerse countreyes came to adulterate the bed of Vlysses From Dulichim came two and fiftie from Samos foure and twentie from Xacynthus twentie from Ithaca two and twentie of which these are nominated by Homer Antinous Eurinous Eurimachus Leocritus Neso Pysander Hesippus Agatus Leocles Ampinomus Demotholomaeus Medoâ— a common Cryer Euphemus a Minstrell and Irus a Begger all which Vlysses at his returne from his twentie yeeres trauailes slew in his owne house Some of these Ouids Penelope reckons vp in these verses Dulichij Samijque quos â—â—lit alia Xacinthus c. Dulichium Samos and Xaciâ—â—hus Hill Throng me with troopes of wantâ—n sâ—itors still What should I speake to thee of Medon fell Of Polibus or of Pysander tell What of Antinous giddie head deplore Couetous Eurimachus and otherâ— more These in thine absence cannot be withstood But still thou feed'st them with thy wealth and blood The Begger Irus and Melanthius too The Heardsman c. And since we are in the historie of Penolope It shall not be amisse to delate it a little further out of Homer who in his first booke intituled Odissaea of Phaemius the Harper speakes to this purpose Phaemius the Haerper to the bâ—â—rd inâ—ited Where the bold suitors bid theâ—selâ—es to feastâ— A dolefull song to a sad tune recited Of th' Argiue fleete in their returne distrest And cast in sundrie exiles on what coast Such men miscarie where such Princes perish Vpon what rockes and shelues such ships were â—ost Him wil'st Penelopes bold suitors cherish The discontented Queene with Prayres and Teares Wills him desist the Harper soone forbeares But to leape from the first to the seuenteenth booke and to omit all Vlysses trauells and aduentures till his meeting with his sonne Telemachus who brought him into his owne court in the disguise of a begger to see what reuells were kept there in his absence Known only to his sonne and his friend Eumaeus and not yet to Penelope Iam Caelum roseis rutilat Tritonia bigiâ— Telemacus vnto the Queen relates The processe of his long peregrination Eumaeus brings Vlisses 'mongst those States That sought his bed where they in courtly fashion Were sat at a rich banquet with his wife There he begg's meat Antinous 'mongst the rest Threats with iniurious words to câ—ise his life But the milde queene inuites him as her guest Vlysses for that time forbeares their sight But sâ—nds the queene word he will come at night Irus adest populi per mendicabula notus In his owne Pallace whilest Vlysses craues Their Charitie Irus that was indeed One of that ranke and begg'd 'mongst ragged slaues Boldly thrasts in amongst the rest to feed From words these grow to blowes the suitors they Encourage both parts to maintaine the â—ray Proposing him that shall 〈◊〉 for prise The intrailes of a Goaâ— Vlysses hee Proues victor in his beggers base disguise And halfe-dead Irus of the place doth free For which hee 's guerdâ—â—'d as the Queenes request With a rich Gift from many vnbid guest At parte interiore dâ—mus sacratus Vlysses Vlysses with Telemachus conspires The death of all those suitors both deuising How to release the Queene to her deâ—ires And free the Pallace from their tyrannizing And that they neither may offend nor stand Complâ—t by night their weapons how to steale Now by Eumaeus to the Queenes faire hand Her Lord is brought who will 〈◊〉 yâ—â— reueale Himselfe to her but sayth he is of Creâ—â—e To whom her husband once had beene a guest They part the Queene commands to wash his feet And for that night betakes her to her rest That taske Euriclia takes his Nurse before She a knowne skarre vpon his flesh espyes On Mount Pernassus giuen
but to graunt her the hearing of a few words at which the prince making a sudden pause shee poynting with her finger to the picture of the blessed Virgin for Sforza was neuer without that or the like in his bed-chamber she intreated him euen for the remembrance he bore to the person whom that Table presented for the honour due to her Sonne and his Sauiour and for the dignitie of his goodnesse and for the sacred memorie of his noble auncestors not to infringe her matrimoniall Vow nor violate her coniugall Chastitie but deliuer her backe an vnspotted wife to her vnfortunate husband who was then a prisoner amongst many other wretched captiues Her words tooke such impression in the noble General that notwithstanding her tempting beautie the motiues to inchastitie his present opportunitie and absolute power ouer her as she was his vassall and prisoner yet to show his miraculous temperance hee preferred the name of a chast and continent prince before the imputation of a tyrant or an adulterer and instantly leapt out of the bed and left her to her modest and more quiet rest In the morning he sent for her husband to whom after a great character of her Chastitie giuen he deliuered her not onely freeing them both without ransomeâ— but from his owne coffers bountifully rewarding her vertue in the subduing of his owne affections gaining more honour than in the conquest of so great a cittie In this act not onely imitating but exceeding Scipio For that incomparable Ladie that was presented vnto him was of high linage and of princely parentage besides he liued in a free cittie and to haue dishonoured her he had not onely incurred censure but being then in a forrein nation purchased to himselfe the name of tyrant and hazarded a new reuoult of the people but that was nothing to oppose prince Sforza in the satisfying of his lust saue his owne goodnesse for what conquerour hath not power ouer his captiue Fulgos. lib. 4. cap. 3. Anastatia Constantino politana when Theodora Augusta was iealous that shee was not beloued of her husband Iustinianus Augustus and hauing to that purpose receiued some taunting words from the Emperesse to approue her innocencie shee fled both court and cittie and retyred her selfe into Alexandria where shee liued obscured in the societie of certaine chast Virgins But after hearing of the death of Theodora her feares were not diminished but augmented for the Emperors loue appeared to her a greater burden than the hate of the Emperesse therfore to auoid that which many would haue sought with greedinesse shee changed her habit and taking the shape of a young man vpon her fled into the furthest part of Aegypt called by the name of Anastatius where shee liued priuately austerely and ended her chast life in great sanctitie Hieronim writes that Paula Romana after the death of her husband was so farre from being persuaded to a second that shee was neuer knowne from that time to eate or drinke in mans companie Of a contrarie disposition was Barbara the wife of Sigismund Emperor Aenaeus Silu. relates of her that her husband being dead when diuers persuaded her to continue still in her widowhood proposing vnto her that women ought to imitate the Turtles who if one be taken away by death the other will neuer chuse other mate but deuote her selfe to perpetuall chastitie thus answered If you haue none else to bid me imitate but byrds that haue no reason why doe you not as well propose me for example the Doues or the Sparrowes As contrary againe to her was the daughter of Demotian prince of the Arcopagitae who no sooner heard that her husband Leosthenes was slaine in the Lamick warre but inâ—tantly slew her selfe least she should suruiue a second marriage Others there bee that haue kept a viduall chastitie euen in wedlocke The Virgin Edeltrudis as Sigilbertus and Beda both witnesse was the daughter of Annas a Christian king of the East-Angles shee was first deliuered by her father in marriage to Candibertus a great prince who were no sooner married but by mutuall consent they vowed lasting Virginitie at length he dying shee was by her father compelled to a second nuptialls with king Cephordus with whom shee liued twelue yeares yet neuer as they could adiudge it vnloosed her Virgin gyrdle After which time by her husbands consent she tooke vpon her a religious life and entered a monasterie where as Marullus lib. 4. cap. 8. sayth she liued a more secure but not a more chast life Infinite to this purpose are remembered by Fulgosius Marullus Albertus Cranzius c. as of Maria Desegnies Margarita Aegypta Cecilia Virgo Kunegunda Augusta wife to Henry of that name the first Emperour Bafilissa espoused to Iulianus Antiochenus Stamberga the niece of Clodonius married to Arnulphus a noble Frenchman These and others without number which is somewhat difficult to beleeue haue wedded bedded boorded lyne and liued together yet went as pure Virgins to their graues as they came first to their cradles Of these I may say as Ouid Metamorph. lib. 1. of Daphne Saepe pater dixit generum mihi filia debes Saepe pater dixit c. Thou ow'st me sonnes oft would her father say Yong Boyes and Gyrles with whom my age might play Thou ow'st me child this would he oft repeat When shee as if with skorne and hatred great Sh'abhor'd the nuptiall bed and held it sinne With modest blushes dyde the tender skinne Of her faire cheeke then to her father growes And her white armes about his neck she throwes And saith Deere sir this one thing grant your child That I may liue from lustfull man exil'd A voteresse Diana this desired And from her father had what she required I will onely produce one historie or two at the most from our moderne Histories and so cease further to speake of our marryed Virgins It is reported in the Legend That after Editha the daughter of Earle Godwin was married to king Edward otherwise called S. Edward they mutually vowed betwixt themselues perpetuall chastitie and therein perseuered to the end of their liues There continued in them sayth the Legend a Coniugall loue without any Coniugall act and fauourable embraces without any deflowring of Virginitie for Edward was beloued but not corrupted and Editha had fauour but was not touched she delighted him with loue but did not tempt him with lust she pleased him with discourse and sweet societie yet prouoked him to no libidinous desire It is moreouer in that Treatise recorded That they vsed to call Marriage a shipwracke of Maiden-head comparing it to the fierie Furnace of the Chaldaeans to the Mantle that Ioseph left in the hand of a strumpet the wife of Putiphar to the lasciuious outrage of the two wicked Elders who would haue oppressed and vitiated Susanna the wife of Ioachim and lastly to the enticements of drunken Holofernes towards faire Iudith one of the
deliuerers of her people And so much for the Legend But Richardus Diuisiensis sayth That being awed by Earle Godwin and for the feare of hasarding his life and kingdome Edward was compelled by threats and menaces to the marriage of Editha Moreouer Polydore reports That for the hate he bore her father who had not long before most trayterously slaine his brother Alphred hee caused himselfe to be diuorced from her seising her goods and dower to his owne vse and pleasure Ranulphus and one that writes himselfe Anonimos as willing to conceale his name say That shee was disrobed of all her Queene-like honors and confined into the Abbey of Warnwell with only one maid to attend her and so committed to the strict custodie of the Abbesse William of Malmesbury and Marianus Scotus haue left remembred That hee neyther dismissed her his bed nor carnally knew her but whether it was done in hatred to her kindred or purpose of Chastitie they are not able to determine Robert Fabian confesseth as much in his Chronicle Part. 6. cap. 210. Howsoeuer the effects of that abstenious life were not onely preiudiciall but brought lamentable effects vpon this distracted kingdome namely Innouation and Conquest for Edward dying without issue England was inuaded and opprest by the Normans and the people brought to that miserie that happie was that subiect that could say I am no Englishman And in this agree Matthew Paris Capgraue Fabian and Polydore As I hold it not necessarie for marryed folke to tye themselues to this strict kind of abstinence so I hold it not conuenient for any such as haue to themselues and in their soules taken vpon them the strict life of Virginitie to be compelled to an enforced marriage as may appeare by this discourse following recorded by Gulielm Malmsburien Simeon Danelmens Matthew Paris Roger Houeden Capgraue c. Henry the first of that name king of England and crowned in the yeere of Grace 1101 was by the instigation of Anselme once a Monke of Normandie but after by William Rufus constituted Archbishop of Canterburie marryed vnto Maude daughter to Malcolme the Scottish king she hauing taken a Vow and being a profest Nunne in the Abbey of Winchester Much adoe had the King her father the Queene her mother her Confessor Abbesse or the Bishop to alienate her from her setled resolution or persuade her to marriage but being as it were violently compelled thereunto she cursed the Fruit that should succeed from her bodie which after as Polydore affirmes turned to the great misfortune and miserie of her children for afterwards two of her sonnes William and Richard were drowned by Sea Besides her daughter Maude who was afterwards Empresse prooued an vnfortunate Mother and amongst many other things in bringing forth Henry the second who caused Thomas Becket to be slaine it thus happened All forraine warres being past and ciuile combustions pacified in the yeere of our Lord 1120 Henry the first with great ioy and triumph left Normandie and came into England But within few dayes following this great mirth and iollitie turned into a most heauie and fearefull sorrow for William and Richard his two sonnes with Mary his daughter Otwell their Tutor and Guardian Richard Earle of Chester with the Countesse his wife the Kings Neece many Chapleines Chamberlaines Butlers and Seruitors for so they are tearmed in the storie the Archdeacon of Hereford the Princes play-fellowes Sir Geffrey Rydell Sir Robert Maldvyle Sir William Bygot with other Lords Knights Gentlemen great Heires Ladyes and Gentlewomen to the number of an hundred and fortie besides Yeomen and Mariners which were about fiftie all these sauing one man which some say was a Butcher were all drowned together and not any one of their bodyes euer after found Many attribute this great Iudgement to the heauie Curse of Queene Maude others censure of it diuersly Howsoeuer in this King as Polydore sayth ended the Descent and Lyne of the Normans Of this Anselme before spoken of there are diuerse Epistles yet extant to many women in those dayes reputed of great Temperance and Chastitie as To Sister Frodelina Sister Ermengarda Sister Athelytes Sister Eulalia Sister Mabily and Sister Basyle To Maude Abbesse of Cane in Normandie and Maude the Abbesse of Walton here in England Hee writ a Treatife about the same time called Planctus a missae Virginitatis i. A bewayling of lost Virginitie So farre Iohn Bale And so much shall serue for Chast Wiues in this kind being loth to tyre the patience of the Reader Of Women Wantons DIon the Historiographer in Tiberio sayth that Lyuia the wife of Augustus Caesar beholding men naked sayd to the rest about her That to continent women and chast matrons such obiects differed nothing from statues or images for the modest heart with immodest sights ought not to be corrupted The vnchast eye more drawes the poyson of sinne from beautie which is Gods excellent workemanship from which the chast and contrite heart deriues the Creators praise and glorie But my hope is that in exposing vnto your view the histories of these faire Wantons you will looke vpon them should I strip them neuer so naked with the eyes of Lyuia that is to hold them but as beautifull statues or like Appelles his woman not better than a picture of white Marble I haue heard of a man that liuing to the age of threescore and ten had led so austere a life that in all that time he neuer touched the bodie of a woman and had proposed to himselfe to carrie that Virginall vow with him to his graue but at length being visited with sickenesse and hauing a faire estate purchased with his small charge and great husbandrie and therefore willing to draw out the thread of his life to what length he could hee sent to demaund the counsell of the Phisitians who hauing well considered the estate of his bodie all agreed in this that since the phisick of the soule belonged not to them but onely the phisick of the bodie they would freely discharge their duties and indeed told him that this present estate was dangerous and they found but onely one way in art for his cure and recouerie which was in plaine tearmes To vse the companie of a woman and so tooke their leaues and left him to consider of it Loath was the old man to loose his Virginitie which hee had kept so long but more loath to part with his life which he desired to keepe yet longer and hauing meditated with himself from whom he was to depart and what to leaue behind him namely his possessions his money his neighbours friends and kindred and whether hee was to remooue to the cold and comfortlesse graue he resolued with himselfe to prolong the comfort of the first and delay as long he could the feare of the last Therefore hee resolued rather than to be accessorie to the hastening his owne death to take the counsell of the doctors It was therfore so ordered by
him by faire meanes than by foâ—ce by policie than power for knowing her selfe to bee a woman of extraordinarie state and beautie she by her Embassadors sollicited an interuiew which Alexander graunting she appeared before him with such a Queenelike maiestie and her accomplishments of naâ—ure so helpâ— with the ornaments of are for she was adorned with the richest and best shining stones of India thâ—â— her glorie so captiuated the heart of the conquerour that they came to treat of composition shee proposing to him That it were no honour for so magnificent a victor so famous through the world for his conquests oueâ— men to insult vpon the weake spoyles of a woman iâ—ured to no other armes than the armes of a sweet and louing bedfellow yet if for the ransome of her Empire hee would accept of her loue and seruice in that kind shee was there in person at his command his subiect and seruant Her beautie with this submission wrought such impression in the king that it was concluded betwixt them and by both parties agreed That her honour should bee the ransome of her Empire In conclussion they louingly lay together and so ended these threatned hostilities in an amorous peace her bodie he left tainted but her kingdome vntouched She was that night with child by him of a sonne whom after his fathers name she called Alexander hee inherited the kingdome after her but by the Indians from that time forward in regard of her prostitution she was called The kings whore Callipygae SO much were the Grecians giuen to all voluptuousnesse and pleasure that amongst others diuers Chappels and Temples were dedicated to Venus Callipyga the word importing Quasi pulchras habens nates i. She that hath faire buttocks the originall of that superstition as Aegenaeus relates was this A countrey Farmer beeing the father of two beautifull young Virgins these two concluded betwixt themselues which should haue the prioritie in beautie But modestie forbidding them to dispute it with open faces they concluded betweene themselues to come to a place adioyning to the high-way and there to expose their backe-parts naked to all such as passed by and so by the most voices to bee censured Amongst many others a noble young gentleman of the next citie by accident passing that way and somewhat astonished at so vnwonted an obiect enquired the reason thereof and by one of the spectators being presently resolued he as suddenly gaue the Palme to the elder and intimating by that he saw what the rest might proue grew greatly enamoured and returning to his fathers house surprised with melancholly was of his brother demanded the cause hee after some few bashâ—ull denialls still vrged with the others importunacies discouered to him the whole circumstance of the businesse The brother deâ—iâ—ous to be further instructed was by the louer conducted to the place and obiect which made him first grow enamorated whither he was no sooner brought but he grew presently inflamed with the loue of the yonger and gaue his censure on her part These two had an old Senator to their father who much obserued his children of him they demanded these Virgins in marriage but he proposing to them matches more honourable they would no way assent But wonne at length with their importunacies hee sent in their behalfe to the Fâ—â—mer to demand his daughters in marriage An Enterview was granted the parties agreed a marriage concluded and after consummate with satisfaction on all sides From which time euer after the two young marryed wiues were called Callipygae Of these Gerâ—ldas Megapelitanus in his Iambicks to this purpose speakes These two liued in Syracuâ—a who by their marriage hauing attayned to wealth sufficient erected a famous Chappell to Venâ—â— whom they styled Dea Callipygae These diuers other cities of Greece â—â—ter them imitated This Historie Archeâ—aâ—s likewise in his Iambicks records Alogunes Cosmartidenes Andia YOu shall read in the Historie taken out of Ex Ctesiae â—ersicis That Artaxerxes being dead Xerxes his sonne succeeded the legitimate heire by his wife Damaspia who dyed the same day with her husband therefore to be registred amongst the women most mastrious after their deaths the Eunuch Bagorazus caused both their bodyes to be borne into Persia and there to bee intombed amongst their ancestors It is remembred of this Emperour Artaxerxes that he had by seuerall concubines seuenteene bastards amongst these was Secundianus borne of Alogunes hee by treason succeeded Xerxes hauing before slaine his brother this Alogunes was borne in Babylon By another concubine of the same cittie called Cosmartidenes hee had two sonnes Ochus and Arsites this Ochus by supplanting his brother Secundianus raigning some few months succeeded him in the Empire Xerxes had issue likewise by one Andia a Ladie of the same nation Bagapaeus and Parisatis who was the mother of one Cyrus and another Artaxerxes Xerxes the Persian Emperour yet liuing gaue to his second sonne Ochus the Prefect-ship ouer the Hircanians Likewise Parisatis to wife daughter to Xerxes and naturall sister to Ochus This Ochus was after called Dariaeus who in all his counsells and proiects neuer did any thing without the aduise of his sister queene before his aspiring to the Empirie hee had issue by his wife Parisatis two children a daughter called Amistris and a sonne Arsaca who after changed his name to his grandfathers and was called Artaxerxes after his instalment she brought him a sonne called Cyrus after him Artostes and so to the number of thirteene of all which onely the fourth sonne called Oxendras suruiued the rest perished in their minoritie These were concubines of Persia. Iulia. IT is remembred of Augustus Caesar whose daughter this Iulia was that hee established a law which was called Lex Iulia concerning adulterers after what processe persons so offending should be punished being conuicted and found guiltie It happened that a young gentleman of Rome being accused of the same fact with the Emperours daughter Iulia before named Augustus grew into such furie that not able to conteine himselfe he fell vpon the gentleman and gaue him many violent and sound buffets till the supposed offendor cryed out ô Emperour where is your Iustice you haue made a law concerning these matters why am I not then iudged by that At which words it so repented him of his rashnesse that all that day and night he forbore to tast any food At a certaine sword-playing or such like pastime solemnised in the great Roman Theatre Lyuia the mother and Iulia the daughter had turned the eyes of all the multitude vpon them twaine and that by reason of the difference of their habits and their attendants Lyuia being matron-like attired was accompanied with aged Senators and Ladies of approued modestie and grauitie Iulia on the contrarie loosely and wantonly habited had in her traine none but butterflie-pages wild fashion-mongers and fantasticke gallants which obserued by Augustus he the next day admonished her by letters To obserue
her euen to this day all brothel-houses are called Lupanaria She nursed and brought vp Romulus and Remus Liu. lib. 1. Decad. 1. Plutarch in Vita Romuli Flora the strumpet who was likewise called Laurentia constituted the people of Rome her heire from her came the yearely feasts celebrated called Floralia of her Gellius lib. 6. cap. 7. and Vollat lib. 16. speakes more at large Manilia was a Roman Curtesan whom Hostilius Mancinus called into question because a stone was cast vpon him from one of her galleries Gellius Phebe was a freed woman to Iulia the daughter of Augustus Caesar and a companion with her in all her lusts and brothelries who when she heard that her mistresse was confined by her father fearing some seuere censure from the Emperor slew her selfe to preuent further torture Dion in Augusto The immoderate lust of Caelia Martial lib. 7. thus reprooues Das Cattis das Germanis das Caelia Dacis Nec Cilicum spernis Cappoducumque toros c. To th'Catti Germans and the Dacians thou Caelia giu'st welcome and thou do'st allow The Cappadians and Cilicians bed Besides from Pharo thou art furnished With Memphian whorers from the red sea sailes The swarthie Indian and he brings thee vailes And thou tak'st all neither wilt thou refuse The offer of the circumcised Iewes c. Catullus of his Lesbia thus speakes Nulla potest mulier tantum se dicere amatum Vere quantum a me Lesbia amata mea est No woman truly can report to be So well belou'd as Lesbia thou of me So Quintus Frabaeus Comediographus of his loue Chrysis De improuiso Chrysis vbi me aspexerit Alacris obuiam mihi veniet c. When Chrysis on the sudden me espide She look'd vpon me with a chearefull face Wishing withall that me she might embrace To whom she owes her selfe this I haue tri'de It is a fortune I haue seldome knowne And such as I preferre before mine owne Dion Nicaeus and Xiphilinus in the life of the Emperour Commodus besides the strumpet Martia whom hee tooke to wife remembers one Damostratâ— whom he after bestowed vpon Cleander him whom from a bondman he raised to be of his priuie-chamber Time Paper and Leysure would faile me before example and I desire not to be tedious I haue hitherto shewed you what whoores are I now desire to expresse vnto you what they should bee Marie Magdalen the daughter of Syrus and Eucharia and sister to Lazarus and Martha for some yeares gaue her selfe vp to all voluptuousnesse and pleasure in so much that she had incurred the name of a common strumpet but after when shee cast her selfe prostrat and washed the feet of our Sauiour with her teares and dryde them with the haires of her head and annointing him with costly oyntment in the house of Simon the Leaper her sinnes were forgiuen her We reade likewise of Aphra who was borne in Creet her mothers name was Hylaria a notorious bawde This Aphra with her three seruants Dimna Eugenia and Eutropia for mony prostituted themselues to all men but she her selfe being after conuerted to the Faith by Narcissus bishop of Ierusalem abiured all incontinence and adhering to the Christian religion prooued so constant in the same that for the true Faith she suffered martyrdome Nicaeta and Aquilina were two beautifull strumpets and made gaine of their bodies these were imployed by king Dagnes to tempt and traduce the blessed Saint Christopher and to vpbraide him of false religion but it fell out contrarie to the purpose of the tyrant for those two being by him conuerted to the true Faith and not to bee remooued by menaces or torments were after by the same king both caused to bee slaine Faucula Clauia is remembred by the Historiographer Lyuie who though she was of that wanton and loose behauiour yet highly to be commended for her pietie she to her great charge ministered food and sustenance to many of the distressed Roman souldiers all the time that Hannibal was possessed of Capua Marullus lib. 2. cap. 12. and Sabin lib. 5. cap. 5. speake of Thais an Aegyptian strumpet who by the often admonitions of the Abbot Pannutius repented her of her wicked leaud life and to giue the best satisfaction to the world that she was able shee caused a great fire to bee made and all that wealth which she had gathered by her prostitution she cast therein and caused it to be burned before her face and from a common Brothel-house retyred her selfe to a priuat Monasterie where after three yeares penetentiall sollitude she expired Pelagia Antiochena so called because she was borne in Antioch exceeding in wealth and excelling in beautie was wholy giuen ouer to immoderate luxuries in so much that no woman appeared in publike more gawdily apparrelled or more voluptuouslly minded than her selfe but being drawne by some religiously disposed friend of hers to heare the Sermons of Nonius Bishop of Heliopolis shee acknowledged her error cast off her gay and gawdie attyre bewayled her sinnes and lamented her leaud course of life distributing her wealth amongst the poore and as a farwell to all loosenesse and intemperance builded a poore Cottage in the Mount of Oliues And least any violence in such a sollitude might be done vnto her in the way of preuention shee changed her habite and called her selfe Pelagius proceeding in that sanctitie of life that where before of Pelagia shee was called Pelagus Vitiorum i. A Sea of Vices shee was after stiled Pelagus Virtutum amarissimus Marath aquas in dulces conuertens i. An Ocean of Vertues turning the most bitter Waters of Marath into sweet And thus I conclude with these Wantons wishing all such whose liues haue beene as ill and infamous that their ends might prooue as good and glorious Explicit Liber Sextus Inscriptus ERATO THE SEVENTH BOOKE Inscribed POLYHIMNIA or MEMORIE Intreating of the Pietie of Daughters towards their Parents Women to their Children Sisters to their Brothers Wiues to their Husbands c. THERE is no gift according to Reason bestowed vpon man more sacred more profitable or auayling towards the attayning of the best Arts and Disciplines which include all generall Learning than MEMORIE which may fitly be called the Treasure-house or faithfull Custos of Knowledge and Vnderstanding Therefore with great wisedome did the Poets call her the Mother of the Muses with no lesse elegancie did they place Obliuion below in Hell in regard of their opposition and antipathie Our Memorie as Sabellicus saith is a benefit lent vs from aboue that hath her existence in Nature but her ornament and beautie from Art Alexand. ab Alex. Lib. 2. cap. 19. That the Aegyptians in their Hieroglyphicks when they would figure any man of an excellent memorie they would doe it by a Fox or a Hare with vpright and erected eares But when they would represent one dull and blockish they did it by a
Pest or pernicious diseases from euer hauing entrance into that house Some vsed to sprinkle their heads with a rough kind of hearbe called Carix much like vnto Broome with the fruits of Palme-trees with Pulse or Pease and with a kind of powder which belongs to Painting this office was still performed by new seruants at their first entrance into the houses of their maisters The Law of Lycurgus amongst the Spartans was That the Bride should cut her haire and putting her selfe into mans habite be brought into her chamber by the Bride-maids who had before prepared it and being left by them the Bridegroome then entred and first vnloosing her Virgin Girdle hee had free libertie of congression In Boeotia their Virgins were crowned with a wreath made of the hearbe called Sperage In the Isle Cous the husbands were compelled to enter the Bride-chamber attyred like women It was an vse amongst the Locrenses for the Matrons to picke and gather selected flowers to make garlands for the Brides but such as were bought for money were held vile and contemptuous The antient Latines as well the Bride as Bridegroome wore Ribbands and Laces partie-coloured White and Purple so likewise they are apparcelled in checkred garments of the same colours or else their neckes are put into one yoake a ceremonie they haue of which Iuno the goddesse of Marriage is called Iugalis intimating that with concordant minds and equall sufferance they should beare all distresses and disasters All Marriages amongst the Lusitanians were celebrated in Rose-coloured garments or else not permitted The Chelidonian women that had prostituted themselues to strangers went with halfe of their faces open the other halfe couered else it was not lawfull for them to be seene abroad They wore Girdles of Sheepes wooll wouen about their Wasts which was fastened about them with an Herculean Knot which was not lawfull for any to vnloose but either in the Bride-bed or in the celebration of the Sacreds in which they obserue a kind of Omen that they should prooue as fruitfull in the propagation of issue as Hercules was in getting of children The German Virgins when they prepared to giue meeting to their betrothed and so to proceed to the Coniugall ceremonie put on a straight or plaine garment such a one as they in some places call a Huke and ouer that a Cloake without spot or stayne bearing a garland wouen of Veruaine an hearbe dedicated to Venus with other selected flowers intermixed And so much for their Habite and Nuptiall Ornaments vsed amongst forraine Nations I will now giue you the description of a Bride in her way to the Bride-chamber Descriptio Egredientis Sponsae At length comes forth the Bride in all parts rare Full ripe for man of Venus the iust care A Virgins face a Virgins chast active She weares Now modest blushes kindle fire Within her bashfull cheeke which by degrees Growes still more hot and warmes all that she sees The youthfull friâ— dispersed here and there On tip-toe mooue to see this starre appeare And rise with such refulgence on each hand The aged Fathers and the Matrons stand And make a reuerent Lane for her to passe She makes them thinke vpon the time that was Their prime their youth their strength now gone and wasted And Nuptiall sweets which they before haâ—e tasted On still she goes and by the armes her lead Two Ganimedes where she vouchsafes to tread The Earth would haue her feet still to insist As loth to part with what so late it kist Still further she proceedes vpon the way With her loose locks the Winds delight to play And Boreas as if once againe turn'd Louer Blowes off her Veyle the better to discouer So rare a Beautie and amaz'd dare sweare A new Orythea doth in hâ—r appeare He wantons with her garments to behold Her pictured Vesture clouded late in Gold Did not her modest hands her coates keâ—â—â— downe Hee 'd blow her bare them seize her as hiâ— ownâ— Thus habited was Argius Hellen seenâ— When Menelaus made her Spartaâ—s Qâ—eene The Goddesses celestiall when they trace The milkie path to Ioues high Pallace grace Their rich attyre no better scarce so well They in some one thing ' boue the rest excell But she in youth strength state maiesticall In vntoucht puritie pulchritude all That beautifies the Sex Thus is the Bride Brought to the place where she must now reside Egrediens Sponsus See from another part the gates spread wyde From whence the Bridegroome issues tow'rds the Bride A Youth of the first haire whose tender skinneâ— Yet neuer rasor felt his budding chinne Saue Downe can nothing show vpon him flowes A curious mantle which he carelesse throwes About him with neglect as skorning pride The ground thereof in Tyrian Purple dide And mixt with golden Wyres for vnderstand 'T was wouen with his carefull mothers hand About the edge double meanders run 'T was long in worke but against this day done His count'nance loftie and his shoulders spred As sometimes we haue seene gods figured In whose bright eye the life of youth doth shine And as the day-starre from the Oceans bryne Where he hath newly wash't himselfe appeares And as he mooues the place about him cleeres So he his star-like eyes ayme at the place To which he hasts his deere loue to embrace Loue troubles him whil'st she attends him still Till entring hee finds time to gaze his fill And feasts his eyes vpon his souereigne blisse That done they first take hands embrace then kisse Oblatio munerum or the Offering The young men with their Presents next proceed With an affected gate they neither speed Nor doth their pace seeme tarde but on row In order march to make the goodlier show Their parents set about them now behold The first a rich roabe offers stain'd with gold Figured with beasts and birds and creeping things Talents of gold and yuorie the next brings One an embrodered Chaire and then another A Cabinet which for the time doth smother Iewels and Gemmes The Tables seeme to bend And swell with golden heapes the offerers send Of Coyne and Plate the next before them throwes Chaplets set round with stones to decke their browes To her a hand-maid's giuen as tither brest A sucking babe the morall is exprest In fertile marriage as he would haue sed Loe here the faire fruits of a nuptiall bed Foure young men and as many Virgins stand Obsequious all to hers and his command Their hair 's alike as 't is the custome shorne And all their neckes rich chaines of gold adorne The Epithalamium or Nuptiall song The mothers then with more than common care Make businesse and bestirre them who prepare To leade them to their rest whom as they bring Neere to the chamber doore the Quirers thus sing Oh you most Faire most Chast and meriting Bride Of a like Husband now to sports vntride Applie your selues and may your Nuptiall sheetes Flowe and abound with all delicious
buried it in an obscure and remote place not far from the Altar thereby signifiing that all marriage ought to bee without gall or bitternesse Amongst the Boetians and Locrensâ—s no contract was held firme vnlesse they had before offered at the Altar of the Virgin Euclia In Rome there was a custome of old that all maides before marriage should kneele some certeine houres in the Temple of the god Futinus whom wee may tearme the god predominant in the act of Copulation and of him intreate happie successe in their future congression The Etrurians in their Hymenaenan bargaines from the noblest to the lesse qualified slew hogges in their sacrifices by that calling the gods to witnesse That their league and couenant was from thencefoorth inviolable not to be altered but by lawfull Diuorse Death Captiuitie or Slauerie and losse of freedome Many other are reckoned vp by Alex. ab Alex. too tedious here to insert a word or two of their Hymnes and Nuptiall Inuocations The antient Greekes vsed a kind of Verse which they called Amboeum carmen the same which they say was sung by the gods at the brydalls of Peleus the father of Achilles and Thetis Aristophanes in Auibus saith That they were wont to cry aloud Humin Ho Humenai Ho Humin In other places at their marriages the Matrons held the Tapers and Torches at which time were sung Fesciuini which were broad and bawdie Verses and they being ended that which they call the solemne and sacred Hymne in the Athenian Espousals was sung Bonos ama timidos repelle c. Loue those that good are and the fearefull shun Obseruing these thou do'st what 's to be done Plato in Gorgia affirmes That at Nuptiall Feasts was vsed to be sung this short Hymne following Formosum esse diuitem beâ—e valere Summum existimari bonum To attaine the soueraigne blisse let vs implore Health Wealth and Beautie then we need no more The Romans as Liu. lib. 1. Decad. and Plin. cap. 2. de viris illustribus affirme in all their celebrations called aloud vpon the name of Thalassius which they held as an Omen to their future successe and prosperitie Their Brides when they entred into the houses of their husbands whilest their feet were yet vpon the threshold inuoked the name of Caia Cecilia by another name called Tanaquilla continuing and not surceasing to iterate that name from the doore till she came into the Bride-chamber Tanaquilla was the wife of Tarquinius Priscus king of the Romans for temperance modestie vertue and all the accomplishments that best grace a woman most eminent thus intimating that by remembring her name they might imitate her life All other Ornaments layd apart there was onely borne before them a Distaffe and a Spindle and thus the mothers of Martia of Portia of Lucretia were first vshered to their Nuptiall chambers Touching their Diet Solon published a Law That no Virgin might be permitted to enter the Bride-bed if at supper her husband and shee had not before tasted of a Quince-Peare which they call Malum Cydonium The Naucratians in all such Feasts forbid both Egges sweet-meats or any confection in which there was Honey Amongst them no seruice was admitted sauing Skallions or such roots as were diuided into cloues Pine-apple Nuts the iuice of the hearbe called Rochet and Pepper and these were in the place of a Banquet Amongst the Persians the husband was not permitted to come to visit his Bride vnlesse he had first eaten an Apple or else tasted of a sweet Rush called Squinanthum or Camels meat neither might he eat of any thing else for that day Amongst the Babylonians they bedded not without red Storax first tasted The Carthaginians in their Hymenaean Feastiuals sliced the fish called a Tunny without the eating of which there was no perfect and absolute celebration Alex. ab Alex. From their Feasts I come to ceremonies obserued concerning the copulation in or before Marriage and of that briefly Amongst the Trogloditae their betrothed Virgins were first brought forth by their neerest kinsmen and allyes and by them promiscuously prostituted After which time they betake themselues to all ciuilitie and continence which whosoeuer was knowne to violate or digresse from was most seuerely chastised without all commiseration or pitie The same custome is obserued amongst the Gymnesians the Lydians and the inhabitants of the Islands Baleares The Andrimachides a people of Africa before they can bestow their daughters offer their Virginities to their Princes first and such as he best affects he vitiates at his pleasure and then they are permitted to marrie The like custome was held in Scotland but since the Christian Religion was there professed that Law hath beene abrogated onely the maids redeeme their Virginities with a certaine piece of money and by that Tenure their lands are held to this day The Volcinienses are tyed to a more base seruitude because they are compelled before marriage to prostitute their free daughters to their slaues and seruants Alex. ab Alex. lib. 1. cap. 24. Herodotus writes That the Adyrmachidae present their daughters maidenheads first to their king ere their betrothed husbands can be admitted any congresse with them The Babylonians neuer haue companie with their wiues but they before sitting about a fire make a fume of a strong sent which they snuffe vp at their nosthrils by the Authors description it should not much differ from that which we haue now in such frequent vse and call Tabacco In the morning they both wash before they touch any Vessell whatsoeuer The Spartans by the Decrees of Lycurgus in all their Bridals the man still came into the womans chamber the Light being first extinct where with bashfull feare and a religious kind of modestie they performed the offices of Nature Loue and Custome The Coniugall Loue of Women towards their Husbands HAuing done with the superstitious ceremonies of the Gentiles concerning Marriage as farre as Polyhimnia or Memorie will helpe me I will now proceed with some few remarkable examples of Coniugall Loue being an argument that cannot be too oft remembred nor ouer-much handled I begin with the women of India These according to the custome of the country being many married vnto one man he is no sooner dead but they all contend together which of them was of him in his life time best beloued and if it cannot be determined amongst themselues they bring the controuersie before the Iudges and plead as earnestly to accompanie him in death as for some great fortune and honour shee amongst the rest that preuailes exults with ioy as hauing attained a great victorie when being led by her best friends and neerest of kinred partakers with her in the same triumph vnto the place where her husbands bodie is readie to bee consumed with a pleasant and merrie countenance shee casts her selfe into the fire and is thâ—re burned with him together the rest that suruiue and were depriued of this last
honour consume the remainder of their liues in great discontent sorrow and anguish Of this custome Cicero remembers vs Tusc. Quest. lib. 5. Vaeler Maxim lib. 2. cap. 1. Alex. ab Alex. Aelianus Egnatius and others This funerall ceremonie as Fulgos. lib. 2. cap. 6. is continued amongst them vnto this day alluding to this purpose is that of Propert. lib. 3. Foelix eo is lex funeris vna maritis c. Which I thus paraphrase in English You Easterne Husbands in your funerall Lawes Most happie and their first inuentors wise In which you are more famous then because On you the blushing morning first doth rise When Death hath with his last mortiferous wound The Husband strucke his last Rites to prepare A pious troupe of Wiues engirt him round Drying their moist cheekes with their scatt'red haire Who striue which shall associate him in fate And bed with him together in the flame To liue beyond him is a thing they hate And he once dead life is to them a shame She that can die with him hath her desire And leapes with ioy into the funerall fire The like is obserued by a people of Thrace that inhabite a little aboue the Crestonaeans They likewise are delighted with pluralitie of wiues who after the decease of their husbands enter into the like contention as the women of India and she that is Victoresse as if glorying in some great conquest adorned in her best and richest ornaments is with great ceremonious pompe amongst all her kindred and allyes conducted vnto the place where his bodie is to be interred where being slaine by her next of kinne as the best office he can doe her she is buried in the same graue with her husband Herod lib. 5. The wiues amongst the Geates repayre to their husbands Sepulchre and holding all life tedious and burthensome without them offer their bodies willingly either to the sword or to the fire The custome of the Catheoreans was That when the Bride chose her husband she made a couenant with him at his death to be burnt in the same Pile Alex. ab Alex. lib. 1. cap. 25. The women amongst the Herulians a people that inhabite beyond the riuer of Danubius repayre to the graues of their husbands and iust ouer-against them strangle themselues Which marriage-loue appeares the more strange because the men are of that barbarous and inhumane incontinence that they hold it no shame to leaue the societie of their women and haue congression with brute beasts Bonifacius in his Epistle vnto king Ethelbaldus as Gulielm Malmsbur lib. 1. cap. 64. de Anglia relates it sayth That the Winedi are the worst and the most nastie people among the Germans yet their wiues are of that incomparable zeale and pietie toward their husbands that shee is held to be the most laudable and prayse-worthie that with her owne hand kills her selfe to burne with him in his last funerall fire From the generalitie of women I descend to particulars Admirable was the loue of Phila towards her husband king Demetrius and haughtie and magnanimous her spirit who receiuing newes of his defeat in battaile and that his whole armie being dispersed and scattered he was retyred into Cassandria dranke poyson and so died The wife of Straton Prince of Sydonia when the citie was straitly besieged by the Persians her greatest care was least the person of her husband should fall into the hands of the mercilesse enemie which she purposed to preuent by death When therefore shee heard they had skaled the walls and were readie to be instantly possest of the towne and seize vpon the person of her husband she snatcht from him his sword with which she first â—lew him and then laying out his bodie with as much comelinesse as the shortnesse of the time would permit after fell vpon the same sword thus by voluntarie death preuenting the dishonor of captiuitie Fulgos. lib. 4. cap. 6. Fannia the daughter of Arria the younger wife to Poetus Patauinus before remembred in her braue and heroick death with her husband was the Spouse of Heluidius Priscus who followed him in all his exile euen to his vnfortunate and most vniust death she was the third time confined from the reigne of Tiberius Nero to the death of Domitian Plinie with infinite prayses applauds the incomparable vertues of this Fannia with both the Arriaes in Lib. 9. in his Epistle to Quadratus and in his seuenth to Genitor and Priscus Triaria was the noble and chast wife of L. Vitellius brother to Aul. Vitellius the Emperor who as Hypsicrataea followed Mithridates in all his combustious warres so she neuer forsooke her husband but was present with him in all those ciuile dissentions against Vespasian And the night when Vitellius her Lord with a great armie of souldiers inuaded and entred the citie Terecyna shee presented her selfe in the middest of the slaughter not onely daring but doing equally with the most valiant killing on all sides till shee had hemmed her selfe in with dead bodies slaine by her owne hand so bold and magnanimous a spirit had the coniugall loue to her husband imprest in her Her memorie is made famous by the same Author Antonia Flaxilla by some called Archona when her husband Priscus was found guiltie of the Pysonian Faction and for that cause exiled by Nero and when shee might haue enioyed all the plentie and abundance in Rome left all the pleasures and delights of the citie to accompanie her desolate Lord in his penurious and vncomfortable banishment Her example Egnatia Maximilla imitated who likewise associated her husband Gallus guiltie of the same Conspiracie with Priscus Fulgos. lib. 6. cap. 7. From Iacobus the sonne of Vsson Cassannus amongst many other Captaines that reuolted there was one eminent in that Rebellion called Pandoerus who had a most beautiful young wife her age exceeded not sixteene yeeres to whom he was ardently and in conioyned loue affected He being by her often earnestly entreated to forbeare all conflicts with the enemie but by no meanes either mooued by her teares or perswaded with her intercessions and prayers persisting resolute for a present encounter shee then begged of him That before he hasarded himselfe to the extremitie of danger hee would first take away her feares by transpiercing her with his sword which when he likewise denyed he presently left her and gaue signall of battaile in which conflict he was vanquished and slaine his Tent rifled his wife surprised and committed into the hands of one of the chiefe Captaines belonging to the king who pittying her teares and sorrow to which her feature and beautie gaue no common lustre made instant suit vnto her to make her his wife Shee whilest shee could put him off with all possible delayes but after perceiuing that what hee could not compasse with her good will hee purposed to attaine vnto by compulsion and force shee craued onely some few houres of
hee was yet aliue tooke occasion in an humour to make a purposed Iourney to giue him visitation but especially to obserue the manner of his shop and worke-house and crossing an Arme of the Sea hee came to the citie where Zeuxes then liued and enquiring out his house was directed thither where knocking the maid came to the doore Apelles asked her for her maister shee told him hee was gone into the Towne about very serious occasions and was not then within but I pray Sir when my maister returnes who shall I say was heere to speake with him Apelles spying a faire Table hanging in the shop readie to be wrought but no worke therein and the Pensils and Colours all readie by it By thy leaue maid saith hee and entring the shop chused out a Pensill with which hee onely drew a curious small Line crosse the Table almost of that finenesse to deceiue the eye which hauing suddainely ended Tell thy maister saith hee to the maid That hee that drew this Line was here to haue spoken with him and so away hee goes who was no sooner out but Zeuxes returning and asking her If any man had beene there to aske for him in his absence shee told him all and shewed the Line drawne vpon the Table on which hee looking with admiration suddainely broke out into an acclamation saying This could neuer haue beene done but by the hand of Apelles and instantly sent vp and downe the Towne to seeke him In the Interim this president being still standing before him in a kind of emulation it animated him to aduenture on something worthie the sight of Apelles when chusing out another colour differing from that Apelles had wrought he with his Pensill cut the first Line iust in the middle with a kind of miraculous sted fastnesse and euennesse when glorying in his worke which indeed was rare Now tell the Painter saith he if he come againe to enquire of me that I haue been since at home witnesse that and shew him the Table and so retyred himselfe into the inner part of the house Soone after comes Apelles and askes the maid If her maister had beene yet at home Yes Sir saith she and bad me shew you this and aske you how you like it Apelles wondered as thinking it had scarce beene to be found in Art and was startled at the first but as one that had neuer beene equalled and loth now to be exceeded he againe tooke the Pensill and altering the colour in the very life and spirit of Art he diuided the almost inuisible Line of Zeuxes parting it in the middest with such a constant proportion that it seemed altogether to exceed the practise of Science Which hauing done Now saith hee commend me once more to thy maister and aske him from me If this last Line hath not made good the imperfections of the former at which word Zeuxes appeared and before he had the power to giue him any salutation looking vpon what he had done acknowledged him Victor yet held it no dishonor to him to be so ouercome This Table was after held as a rare and an vnparalleld maister-piece and being sold for a great summe of money as a choyse Iewell hung vp in the Capitoll of Rome where it was long preserued euen till time had defaced the colours and raced out the memorie thereof Amongst thousand Excellencies both in their Workes and Inuentions these shall suffice in this place I now come to my Women Painters Tymarete the daughter of Mycon or Mycaon a man eminent in that qualitie amongst other curious Pieces wrought by her owne hand made that admirable Picture of Diana which was hanged vp in the Temple of Ephesus clayming prioritie aboue many that proceeded from the best Artists Shee flourished in the time that Archelaus reigned in Macedonia Plinie Lib. 35. cap. 11. Irene was the daughter and scholler of the Painter Cratinus shee was famous for pensilling the Maid whose effigies was kept as a Relike sacred to Memorie in the citie Eleusina Calipsoes excellencie was expressed to the life in drawing the old Iugler Theodorus Alcisthine limned a Dancer and shee-Minstrell and by that got her a name amongst the best Aristarete was the daughter and scholler of the Painter Marchus and drew Aesculapius One Olimpias professed the same Art and instructed many schollers amongst whom as Plinie saith was Antobulus Lala Cyzizena liued a perpetuall Virgin and was the sole daughter of Marcus Varro shee practised in Rome and drew both with the Pensill and with a sharpe-pointed Quill called Cestrum shee cut in Iuorie Shee medled not with the Faces of men but women only shee made her owne Picture from a Looking-glasse shee was commended for the nimblenesse and dexteritie of hand for none euer equalled her in quicknesse and for curiositie she exceeded two of the greatest and best practitioners in her dayes Sopylon and Dionisius From Painting I come to Weauing The practise of which was held in great vse and estimation amongst Princesses and the chiefe Matrons in which to be excellent was held as a prime honour The Exercise thereof was accounted a commendable thing in Wiues and a great signe of womannish modestie in Virgins It was first brought from the Phrygians to the Romanes King Attalus was the first that deuised to weaue with threads of Gold It grew to that reuerent and respected custome that sisters for their brothers mothers for their sonnes and women for their husbands with their owne hands weaued Cloakes and Gownes And therefore the Romanes in all their Marriages caused the new married Virgins to present their husbands with a Distaffe Thread and Spindle it is a custome which the Iberians still obserue as also That whatsoeuer their women first spinne and after weaue is brought to be viewed in publique and rated shee that hath done most and best hath so much the more respect and honour Alexand. ab Alex. Lib. 4. cap. 8. Amongst the Phoeacenses the men mind onely Nauigation and the women Texture and Weauing but amongst the women of Persia it is held a great dishonour to lay her hand to the Webbe or Needle Penelope by the testimonie of Homer and other Poets in this Art was excellently practised of which came the Prouerbe Tela Penelopis Icariotis The Webbe of Penelope or Icariotes because shee was the daughter of Icarus Virg. Aenead Lib. 5. nominates one Pholoe to be eminent in that exercise Plin. lib. 11. cap. 22. conferres the inuention of Weauing vpon Pamphile the daughter of Plates who deuised it in the Isle Coos In this Acecaeus Patarensis and Helicon Caristius exceeded all others these two brothers woaue and embrodered a Vesture and a Hood for Pallas Poliades who was honoured in the Temple of Athens which was done with such vnimitable cunning that thereupon came the Adage in Greece if any thing were curiously or exquisitely performed it was called The Worke of Acecaeus
and Helicon Aboue others most magnified by Ouid Metamorph. lib. 6. is Arachne Lydia the daughter of Idmones whose mother was borne in the small citie Hypepis shee hauing by many degrees exceeded all mortall women and that without difficultie durst compare with Minerua her selfe who for her boldnesse and pertinacie she turned into a Spyder Her controuersie with Pallas is with great elegancie expressed in Ouid. Alexander of Macedon and Octauius Augustus the one wore a Garment woauen by his Mother the other a Mantle by the hands of his Wife These Ladies had sequestred places in some part of their Pallaces and kept their handmaids and damosells at worke of which these two potent and mightie Queenes disdayned not to bee the dayly Directoresses and Ouer-seers Alexand. ab Alex. cap. 4. lib. 8. Part of the Wooll which Tanaquil spunne with her Distaffe Spindle and Slippers were long time reserued as sacred Reliques in the Temple of Ancus Martius as also a Kingly Garment or Imperiall Roabe woauen quite through with Rayes and Flames of Gold wrought with her owne hand in which Seruius Tullius oft went in state and sat in the high Iudgement-Seat in the Capitoll Varro apud eundem By the Law called Pagana all women were forbidden to spinne or draw out any thread in the streetes or the common high-wayes because they held it ominous to the prosperitie of the Graine sowne in the Earth or the Fruits blossomed or growing vpon the Trees as the same Author testifies Ausonius speakes of one Sabina not onely excellent in this Science but a Poet withall which he left to posteritie in one of his Epigrams Siue probas Tyrio textam sub tegmine vestra Seu placet inscripti commoditus tituli c. Which is thus Englished If thou affect'st a purple Roabe Woauen in the Tyrian staine Or if a Title well inscrib'd By which thy wit may gaine Behold her workes vnpartially And censure on them well Both one Sabina doth professe And doth in both excell And thus I take leaue of weauing for Memorie now transports me to another Argument Of Women Contentious and Bloodie TExtor in his Officine remembers vs of one Kailla who was of that barbarous and inhuman crueltie that being at dissention with her husband Vazules she hauing banished all coniugall pietie and pittie caused his eyes to be digged out of his head spending the remainder of his age in vncomfortable darknesse These subsequent stories of flintie and obdure hearted women though I could willingly haue spared them out of this worke that the world might almost be induced to beleeue that no such immanities could euer haue place in the smooth soft bosomes of women yet in regard I haue promised briefly to run ouer all Ages Features Affections Conditions and Degrees though they might perhaps haue beene thought well spared by some yet I make no question but they might be challenged at my hands by others The rather I present them and with the more confidence vnto your view because though their actions to the tender brested may seeme horrid and feareful and therfore the hardlier to purchase credit yet the testimonie of the Authors being authenticke and approoued will not onely beare me out as their faithfull remembrancer but in the things themselues fasten an inherent beleefe I proceed therfore Cyrce the Witch slew the king of Sarmatia to whom shee was married and vsurping the regall Throne did much oppresse her subiects of her Sabellicus writes more at large Clitemnestra was the wife of Agamemnon Archduke or Generall of the Gretians at the siege of Troy she by the helpe of Aegistus with whom she adultrated slew her husband of this Virgill speakes lib. 11. Seneca in Agamemnonae and Iuvenall in Satyr Danaus the sonne of Belus had fiftie daughters who were espoused to the fiftie sonnes of Aegistus these made a coniuration in one night to kill all their husbands which they accordingly did all saue the yongest Hypermnestra who spared the life of her husband Lynceus Senec. Hercul Fur. Alexander Phaereus a tyrant of Thessaly when hee had shewed his wife naked to a certaine Barbarian she tooke it so impatiently that she cut his throat sleeping Ouid in Ibin Volaterranus reports that Albina daughter to a king of Syria had two and thirtie sisters who all in one night slew their husbands who beeing exild their countrey landed in Brittaine and that of this Albina this Kingdome first tooke the name of Albion Laodice was the wife of Antiochus king of Syria who caused himselfe to be cald God She poysoned her husband because of his too much familiaritie with Berenice the sister of Ptolome Fabia slew Fabius Fabriclanus that shee might the more freely inioy the companie of Petronius Volentanus a young man of extraordinarie feature with whom shee had often before accompanied Agrippina poysoned her husband Tiberius Claudius the Emperor Lucilla the wife of Antonius Verus Emperor poysoned her husband because she thought him too familiar with Fabia Galeotus prince of Forolinium married with the daughter of Ioannes Bentiuolus of whom being despised and finding her selfe neglected she hyred certaine cut-throat Phisitians who slew him in his chamber Andreas the sonne of Carolus king of Pannonia was slaine by his wife Ioanna Queene of Cicily for no other reason but that he was idle and held vnprofitable to the weale publique Althaea sorrowing that her two brothers Plexippus and Toxeus were slaine by her sonne Meleager shee burned that Brand of which the fatal Sisters had made a prediction That his life and health should continue as long as that was preserued Ouid Trist. lib. 1. Bocat in Geneol Agaue a Theban woman slew her sonne Penthâ—us because he would not honour the feast of the Bachinalls with the rest of the Menades Virgill in Culice Ericthaeus taking armes against Eumolpus and hauing an answere from the Oracle That he should haue a certaine victorie if he would sacrifice his only daughter to the gods by the persuasion of his wife Praxitha gaue her vp to slaughter Euripides apud Plutarch Elearchus one of the kings of Creet at the persuasion of his second wife Phronima commaunded his onely daughter by the hand of one Themisones to bee cast into the riuer and there drowned Herodot Polidice betrayde her father king Pletera to Creon king of Thebes and caused him to bee slaine as likewise Nisus being besieged by Minâ—s by the treason of his daughter lost that purple hayre which was the stay of his soueraigntie Ouid Metam and Seruius Tiphon Aegiptius as Berosus Seneca Diodorus and others relate slew his brother Osiris then raigning in Aegypt and gouerning iustly which done hee caused him to be cut into twentie six pieces and to euerie one of the conspirators gaue a part the better to secure him of their fidelities but Isis their sister after she had lamented the
death of her brother Osiris by the assistance of her sonne who was called Oros slew Typhon and auenged his death Draomitia was a queen of Bohemia she caused Ludimillia much deuoted to religion to bee slaine by her instigation her sonne Boleslaus was the murderer of his brother Wenceslaus Volaterran The nymph Lara was of that loquacitie that raising dissention betwixt Iupiter and Iuno by telling her of his escapes that in reuenge thereof he pluckt out her tongue Talantia Spartana hauing intelligence that her sonne Pedaretes tyrannised ouer the men of Chius writ to him in this or the like language Or gouerne there better or remaine there if thou returnest to me thou art not safe thus admonishing him of better gouernment or menacing him with death Damariana was a woman of Sparta and with her owne hands slew her sonne because shee found him of a timorous condition and would not be drawne to the warres Amastris was the wife of Xerxes and did prosecute the wife of Massissa the President with that inhumane and barbarous crueltie that hauing first slaine her shee caused her breasts to be cut off and cast vnto the dogges dismembring her of her Nose Eares Eyes Lippes and Tongue Rauis Textor Cisenis the daughter of Diogerides king of Thrace was of that sauage inhumanitie that shee tooke pleasure to see liuing men to be dismembred and cut in pieces causing young children to be killed and drest after commanding them to be serued in to their parents and to be by them eaten Solinus Tullia the wife of Tarquinius Superbus she caused her Chariot to be drawne ouer the face of her dead father Seruius Tullius presently before murthered by her husband in the Capitoll Liuie Irene the Empresse was wife to Leo the fourth and caused her owne sonne Constantius Sextus to be first cast in prison and after to haue his eyes digged out because before shee had by him beene expelled the Empire Fuluia was the wife of Marcus Antoninus and how the excellentest of Orators M. Tullius being dead was tyrannized ouer by him many Authors haue commended to posteritie whose sacred hands and head being cut off were nayled vnto that Pulpit where hee had often most learnedly declaimed His head was first brought to Anthonie which he caused to be placed before him vpon a Table and scarce in a whole day could hee satiate his rancorous mallice with so sad and pittifull a spectacle but at length as Appianus Alexandrinus reports he commanded it to be tooke thence And as it is gathered out of the collections of Dion Prusius and Suidas when Fuluia the wife of Antoninus came to the sight of it shee tooke it in her hands and after the breathing of many fearefull maledictions execrations and curses against it spit in the face thereof then taking it into her lappe with a Bodkin or Penner which she wore in her haire for an ornament pricked his tongue which she had caused violently to be forced out of his iawes least there should be any thing wanting that might adde to an vndiscreet womans hate and inhumane crueltie This murther and horride act against so worthie a Senatour hath beene deplored by many as well in Prose as in Verse as Portius Latro Albutius Sylo Caestius Murrhedius and others but none more elegantly than Seuerius Cornelius in these Verses of his which we haue by tradition from Aâ—â—aeus Seneca Oraque magnanimum spirantia pene virorum In rostris iacuere suis c. As they were at large remembred in Crinitus Euridice the wife of Amintas king of Macedonia who had by him three sonnes Alexander Perdicas and Philip father to Alexander the Great as likewise a daughter called Euryones This Euridice not onely polluted the bed of her husband but sought his life to transferre the Principalitie into the hand of the adulterer and least her daughter should discouer either her whoredome or treason she likewise plotted against her life The old man in the middest of these dangers dyed leauing the kingdome to his eldest sonne Alexander she after caused him to be slaine A president of strange and almost vnheard of crueltie in a mother Iustine Histor. lib. 7. Spitamenes a puissant Captaine that had long opposed Alexander the Great in many battailes and conflicts with his competitor Daha so dearely loued his faire wife that he drew her to be a partner with him in his warres and lodged her in his Tent But being put to many affrights and distresses the common casualties belonging to warre shee grew so tyred with Alarums tumults mutinies affrights slaughters and such like that shee dayly importuned him being before onely vsed to feasts banquets and effeminate delicacies to submit him to the Macedonian Conqueror So long and so vrgently she sollicited him to peace both by her children her friends and her selfe in person that being a blunt and plaine souldier traded in combustion and to whom the very thought of submission was more odious than death though hee entirely affected her yet vpon a time hee aduanced his hand to haue strucke her and had done it had not his brother come in by accident and supprest his incensed furie yet he concluded That if euer after she persuaded him to peace or troubled his eares with that base word of submission that Hand which so long had opposed Alexander all Coniugall amitie set apart should be her luddaine and assured ruine The Ladie affrighted with the name of death thought it no safetie to interpose so robustious and setled a constancie especially in a souldier dayly and hourely enured to bloud and massacre therefore considering with her selfe what was best to be done in meditating for her owne safetie she thought it better by yeelding to conquer than by contending against power and aduantage to be ouercome After submission therefore made and a new reconcilement established betwixt them shee inuited him to a banquet in her Tent which was furnished with all the dainties the Campe would yeeld and whatsoeuer rarietie remote places could affoord where she carryed her selfe with all humilitie and obedience At this feast shee caused him to be plyed with Healths and lauish Cups till the Wine hauing got the preheminence of his better sences hee grew drowsie and retyred himselfe to his Pallat. The Tables were then withdrawne and euerie man that was inuited repaired either to his charge in the Armie or to his rest They hauing disposed of themselues and the place now priuate shee had confederated with one of her seruants by whose assistance shee in his depth of sleepe cut off the head of her husband and gaue it to him This done hauing the Word they past through the Watches and Guards and by the breake of day came vnto the Campe of Alexander desiring to haue conference with him about affaires which concerned him neerely The Prince vnderstanding it was a woman commanded shee should be admitted into his Tent which was
accordingly done and she appeared before him all stayned and sprinkled with blood for she had not yet changed her habite at which hee grew at the first amased demaunding the cause of her repaire thither She desired her seruant might be likewise admitted who attended at the doore of his Tent for hee had that about him by which he should be better informed His entrance was graunted but being suspected by the guard because they perceiued him hide something folded vp in his garments they searcht him and found a head cut off but by reason of the palenesse of the face which was disfigured with the clottered and congealed bloud the countenance thereof could hardly be discerned The seruant was brought in with the head still dropping blood in his hand At which the king more wondering desired by her to be better certified concerning the Nouell to whom she boldly replyed Loe here ô Alexander the end of thy many troubles and feares the head of the great Captaine Spitamenes who though my husband yet because hee was thine enemie I haue caused his head to be cut off and here present it vnto thee At the horridenesse of these words the king with all that stood by were abashed euerie one glad of the thing done but in their hearts detesting the manner of the deed The Ladie still expecting an answer Alexander after some pawse thus replyed I must confesse Ladie the great courtesie and infinite benefit receiued from you in presenting me the head of an Out-Law a Traytor and one that was to mee a great obstacle and an hinderance in the smooth passage to my intended Victories but when I vnderstand it to be done by the hands of a woman nay a wife the strange horridenesse of the fact takes away all the thankes and reward due to the benefit I therefore command you instantly to depart the Campe and that with all speed possible for I would not haue the sauage and inhumane examples of the Barbarians contaminate and infect the mild and soft temper of the noble Grecians With which words she was instantly hurried from his presence As noble a president of Iustice in a Prince as it was an abhorred example of crueltie in a most vnnaturall wife Q. Curt. lib. 8. de Alexandri Histor. From a remorselesse wife I come now to as obdurate a step-mother Pelops hauing married Hyppodamia the daughter of Tantalus and Eurianassa had by her two sonnes Thiestes and Atreus and by the Nymph Danais a third sonne called Crisippus to which he seemed outwardly better affected than to the former on whom king Laius of Thebes casting an amorous eye at length stole him from his father But Pelops with his two sonnes by Hyppodamia made warre vpon Laius tooke him prisoner and recouered Crisippus and when hee truly vnderstood that loue was the cause of his rape hee was attoned with Laius and an inuiolable league of amitie combined betwixt them Whilest the Theban yet soiourned with Pelops Hyppodamia persuaded with Atreus and Thiestes to conspire against the life of Crisippus as one that aymed at the succession in the kingdome but not preuayling she meditated with her selfe how to despoyle him of life with her owne hands when hauing conueyed the sword of Laius out of his chamber when he was fast sleeping she came to the bed of Crisippus and transpierced him as he lay leauing the sword still in his bodie and left the place vndiscouered accusing the Theban for his death but the youth not fully dead recouered so much spirit as to discouer the murtheresse for which king Laius was acquitted and she from her husband receiued condigne punishment for her immanitie and murther Dosythaeus in Pelopedis Progne to reuenge the rape of her sister Philomela vpon her husband Tereus king of Thrace feasted him with the bodie of his owne sonne Itis of which you may read at large in Ouids Metamorphosis Some women haue beene so vnnaturall as to betray their fathers After Troy was vtterly subuerted and despoyled king Diomede one of the most valiant amongst the kings of Greece in the returne towards his countrey being by stormes and tempests violently cast vpon the coast of Thrace where Lycas the sonne of Mars then reigned and according to the bloodie custome of the countrey sacrificed all such strangers as landed vpon his Continent his daughter Callirhoe surprised with the loue of king Diomede not onely released him from durance but betrayed the life of Lycus her father into his hands notwithstanding hee most trecherously left her for which ingratitude and vrged with remorse of conscience for proouing so vnnaturall vnto him from whom she had her being by strangling her selfe shee despairingly expired Iuba lib. 3. Libicorum Paralleld with this is that which wee reade of Calphurnius Crassus an illustrious Roman and sent by M. Regulus against the Massilians to take in a most defensible Castle called Garaetium but by the crosse disaster of fortune being surprised in the siege thereof and reserued the next day to be sacrificed to Saturne being in despaire either of rescue or life Besalia daughter to the king who was then possest of the Port falling in loue with Calphurnius not onely deliuered vp vnto him the keyes of the Castle that hee might freely escape with life but betrayed vnto him the libertie and life of her father but after being most degenerately forsaken by him she desperately slew her selfe Hegesinax lib. 3. rerum Africarum I am wearie with setting downe these immanities in women and Polihimnia now inuites me to a new argument Of Women strangely preserued from death and such as haue vnwillingly beene the death of their Fathers NIceas Maleotes as Plutarch in his thirteenth Paralell testates reports That when Hercules for the loue of Iole the daughter of Cacus inuaded Oechalia and shee abhorring the embraces of him who had before slaine her father retyred herselfe for safetie into the strongest Cittadell in her countrey in which beeing straightly besieged by Hercules and the Fort readie to be surprised taken she hauing no way to escape and vnwilling to stand to the mercie of so louing an enemie mounted vp into the highest Turret of the Castle and from thence cast her selfe headlong downe towards the Earth but the wind gathering vnder her loose garments so extenuated the fall that she came to the ground without any hurt at all by which miraculous fortune shee inioyed a desperate life and Hercules a most desired mistresse Answerable vnto this is that which Theophilus Italicorum tertio relates The Romans in the Etrurian warre instituted Valerius Torquatus Generall of their forces hee hauing beheld Clusia the daughter of the Tuscan king grew innamoured of the Virgin◠and sent Embassadors to demaund her of her father but shee not willing to make any contract with her countries enemie and her father as loth to contradict his daughter the motion and offer of Torquatus was peremptorily denied at which inraged hee begyrt
which he had prettily well euaded namely Grammer and Pouertie but the morositie of a Skould hee could neuer put off Anton. Parle 2. Meless Serm. 34. The like may be sayd of Sausarion the Comicke Poet equally tormented with a bitter and rayling wife Pittacus Mitelenus hauing married the sister of Draco the sonne of Penthilius a proude insolent and rayling woman persuaded a deere friend of his to marrie with the other sister for if hee were neuer so much giuen to wrath and anger shee would teach him sufferance and patience Laertius when Georgias the Sophist at the solemnitie of the Olimpicke games had made an elabourat Oration Concerning concord and to persuade men to vnitie one Melanthius in the conclusion or catastrophe thereof spake aloude This man persuades all Greece to peace who hauing but one wife and three maides at home yet his house is neuer without clamour and dissention and with all his smooth and filed phrases cannot make his owne peace Erasm. 6. Apotheg Mar. Pacuvius vpon a time sayd weeping to his familiar friend and neighbour Actius alias Arius Deere friend saith he I haue a tree in my garden in my minde the most prodigious and vnhappie that euer the earth produced or gaue sappe vnto for vpon that my first wife hanged her selfe and after that the second and now but this morning my third and last to whom Arius his neighbour replyde I wonder you beeing a learned man and approoued for your wisedome should be any way greeued at these successes and chances Dij boni inquit quot tibi dispendia arbor iste suspendit i. Oh you gods how many of thy dammages and losses hast thou hanged vpon that tree and proceeded thus Deere friend giue me some of those grafts and scientes tha I may plant them in my orchard or garden Valerius records this in an epistle to Rufinus As also Cicero reports the like of a Sicilian in 2. de Orat. and Gyraldus Dial. 8. Histor. Poetarum Euen Cato Censorius could not escape a brawling and crabbed wife though he married her from an ignoble stocke and familie Guid. Bitturn sayth That Hadrianus had a wife called Sabina hard peruerse vntoward rude in her behauiour towards her husband and worthie to be repudiated and her bed and societie abandoned Alphonsus king of Naples demaunding of one Antonius Panormita What noble Neapolitane gentlemen were delighted in Hunting or whether any late Writer had published any Treatise concerning the goodnesse and excellencie of Dogges To whom Panormita answered I beseech thee ô king rather aske this knight pointing to one that was then in presence who can better resolue you who for the space of fortie yeeres hath beene continually so conseruant amongst such creatures that euerie night he beddeth with a Canicula which word as it signifieth a Brach or Bitch so it is taken for a detractor or snarling slanderer as also for a Dogge-fish and proceeded Therefore hee ô king can best describe vnto you their natures and conditions This knight of Naples whose name for his honors sake is concealed onely smiled at the taunt giuen by Antonius well apprehending that by Canicula hee intended his wife a woman barkingly clamorous most contentious and bitter Pontanus Gregorius Hamburgensis a famous and eloquent Lawyer amongst all the German practisers the most approoued when all his busie imployments were ended in the Court of Caesar where hee was stayed some two moneths or thereabouts and as wee say in our English phrase the Terme being done and hee returning home to his owne house not farre from the Towne of Nurimburch where hee then dwelled hee met with a friend and neighbour who after some familiar salutes past betwixt them told him That his wife was liuing and in good health at home to whom shaking his head he made this short reply Si vxor viuit saene obij i. If my wife be liuing then am I but dead thereby intimating that the morositie of a curst wife is no better than a dayly death to her husband Aeneas Sylu. Lib. 3. Commentar de reb Cestis Alphonsi Thisponius the Lawyer and of the learned Councell to king Alphonsus hauing at one time three hundred pieces of Gold stolne from him which was part of the Dower of a peruerse and peeuish wife whom hee had lately married for which being wondrous sad and pensiue in the presence of the king Alphonsus looking vpon him and seeming to commiserate his sadnesse broke out into these tearmes O how happie a man were Thisponius if the theeues had stolne away his wife and left the Gold behind them Panormita Lib. 1. de Gestis Alphons Euripides the most excellent of the Greeke Tragicke Poets had two wiues the name of the first was Cherile or as Suidas calls her Charine the daughter of Mnesilochus by whom hee had three sonnes Mnesiloches the Actor or Stage-player Mnesarchides the Marchant and the third Euripides the Orator yet partly for suspition of adulterie and by reason hee led with her an vnquiet life after so hopefull an issue shee was diuorced from him After this separation hee married another called Melitto who being apprehended in adulterie with Ctesiphon the Player hee was so branded for a Cuckold and so taunted and ieasted at by the Comicke Poets in the publique Theatre that he was forced to leaue the citie and to remoue himselfe into Macedonia where hee spent the remainder of his life in the Court of king Archelaus Gell. Lib. 15. cap. 20. Athenaeus Lib. 13. Arnus Tarquinius and Tullia liued together in perpetuall discord and dissention by reason of her vntoward and crabbed condition Adrianus Berlandus tells vs of an Inne-keeper or Host a pleasant and frolicke fellow who when a guest of his complained vnto him that he could not endure such noyse and clamour for his wiues tongue neuer ceased walking finding fault with this thing then that besides there was no cessation of her perpetuall brawling and chiding with her maids and seruants To whom the merrie Host replyed And I pray my friend is this a iust cause for your impatience or discontent What doe you thinke of me then that for two and thirtie yeeres space haue had this noyse and clamour continually in mine eares night and day without ceasing and yet you see with what sufferance I beare it and cannot you endure it for the space of a few minutes By which words hee not onely gaue present satisfaction to his guest but conuerted his wiues anger into laughter Seruius Tullius king of the Romanes conferred his two daughters vpon the two Tarquius Aruns and Superbus of seuerall dispositions were the men and of sundrie conditions the women as they were opposite in humour they were as vnfitly disposed To Aruns a man of a quiet and mild temper Tullia a Ladie bold and daring was giuen on Superbus a Prince haughtie and insolent the other beeing a modest and meeke Ladie was bestowed Disparitie of mindes could not brooke the
to walke but the Tyrant still prosecuted his beastly and bruitish desires which shee still opposing with that small strength shee had left hee caused his seruants to bind her according to his lustfull direction and not able to stirre hand nor foot in that horrible manner rauished her At length being loosed from those hatefull and vnsufferable bonds shee with what patience shee could dissembled her griefe and wrought so farre with some that compassioned her miseries that shee had libertie to visit her dead husband in his Tombe into which with lowd shrikes and passionate lamentation shee entred still inuoking her husbands name and with all the force shee had plucked the great and ponderous Tombe-stone vpon her the weight whereof forced the breath out of her bosome And by this meanes shee purchased the honourable name of a most chast wife at which her life still aymed and a common graue with her husband which euen in death shee most desired one Stone beeing the couer to both their Hearses Bernard Scardeonus Lib. 3. Histor. Pataminae Varietie of Discourse concerning Women APOLLO or the Sunne is said to haue fiue Daughters which by their names appeare to be no other than the fiue Sences The first is called Pasiphâ—â— or Sight of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. Omnibus apparens i. Visible to all for the Sight is a Sence that hath inspection into all the rest for the Eye sees him that calls or clamours beholds him that feeles obserues those that taste and intend such as smell The Sunnes second Daughter is Medea or Hearing of the Greeke word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. Nullam visionem The third Phaedra or Odoratus of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Afferens sâ—auitatem i. Affoording sweetnesse and pleasantnesse Dirce is deriued of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. Saporis Index To iudge by taste or Acre Iudicare that is To censure acutely The Syrens were the daughters of the floud Achelous and the Muse Melpomene so saith Hyginus others deriue them from Calliâ—pe They are by the Greekes called Tractatoriae as attracting or insinuating into the eares of man by their seuerall illecebrations or enticements by Song by Sight by Custome They are three in number the first excels in Voice the second in the Harpe the third in the Pype it was so ordered by the Fates that whosoeuer listned to their musicke should instantly perish but when any one escaped their Incantations they themselues should liue no longer which destinie of theirs was made good in Vlysses For stopping his owne eares and the eares of his saylers with waxe by the counsell of Mercurie and causing them all to bee tyde to the Masts of the ship when these Syrenes perceiued that they were preuented they tumbled themselues from the Rockes headlong into the Seas and were so drowned The place still beares their name and is called Syrenides it lyes betwixt Sicilia and Italie Some think that by these Syrenes were intended no other than strumpets who by their inchanting insinuations and luxurious flatteries haue beene the ruine of many eminent and excellent men as likewise of others meanlier degreed and quallified but whatsoeuer he be that by his wisedom can preuent them is his own preseruer and their destroyer Their bodies vpward were feminine withall faire and from the nauell downward beastiall or fishie denoting vnto vs the vglinesse of sinne and deformitie of lust Diuerse differ about their number These are reckoned vnto vs Aglaosi Telsipoi Pisno Iligi some thinke the cittie Parthinope to take denomination from Parthenopaea once numbred amongst these Mermaides because she was there buried Others reckon amongst them the two nymphs Leucosia and Lygia Plutarch in Amatâ—r speakes of Oenanthe a she minstrell and a dauncer as also Aristonica Aglais and others These and the like of their alluring profession to these Syrens may not vnfitly be compared Some women haue to honest purposes changed their garments and dissembled themselues in mens habits laudable it was in Theodora a Virgin of Antioch who when a rude and rough hewed souldier was sent vnto her into prison forcibly to despoyle her of her virgin chastitie shee with her modest lookes becomming teares mixt with passionat persuasions not only mollified his obdurate heart and deterred from his wicked purpose but woon him to change habits with her by which fortunate stratageme shee escaped out of prison and so preuented the threatened slaughter intended her by the tyrant Dioclesian Ambros. lib. 2. de Virgin Euphrosina a maide of Alexandria tooke vpon her a mans habit and for the space of thirtie six yeres dissembled her Sex vnknowne to any all which time she spent in a religious monasterie onely for deuotion sake Volaterran Dicearchus apud Caelium testates That only for the loue of learning and to bee truely instructed in the grounds of Phylosophie Lasthenia Martinea Axiothea and Phliasia came disguised in mens habits into Platos schoole and were his daily auditors into which place women were not to be admitted Pelagia a woman of Antioch being in her youth solely giuen ouer to voluptuousnesse and pleasure at length was so retyred from all worldly delights and vanities that abandoning humane societie she assumed the shape of a man least her Sex might be discouered and so betaking her selfe to the sollitude of a most disolate wildernesse led a contemplatiue and deuoute life till she expired her last The like I haue before related of Marina who with her habit changed her name to Marinus and Eugenia to Eugenius Here I might fitly introduce Iohanna Anglicana but I haue reserued a place for her amongst the learned Not to the like commendable purpose we reade how Semiramis betrayde her Sex and for many yeares together beguiled the eyes of her people tooke vpon her the stile of a king and raigned in the person of her sonne As those before remembred haue dissembled their shape so there bee some recorded in historie that haue miraculously changed their Sex In Phestus a citie of Creet liued one Lictus or Lignus of a noble family who being married to Telethusa a Ladie of equall byrth both nobilitated as well in wealth as parentage he as an addition to the rest being honourable aboue others by his place and office his wife being great with child and something neere her deliuerie he not onely besought her at the first but after inioyned her vpon her life of two things the one was that shee should bring him a male child to inherit the other that if it prooued to be a gyrle she should instantly bereaue it of life Hard was the imposition to a mother it somwhat penterated the heart of the father for he no lesse wept to speake it than shee moystned her cheekes to heare it it drew teares from both yet by reason of a vow solemnely made to the gods notwithstanding all her passionate intersessions he stood obstinate from being remooued and she
her ancestors And because eyther her good fortune assisted her or her valour so protected her that shee neuer receiued any apparant wound in battaile may shee not therefore and without any palpable absurditie bee thought invulnerable And so much to apologie in the way of discourse for those supposed impossibilities onely producing these Histories least any thing that sauours not of immodestie that can bee spoke of Women should be left vnremembred Explicit Liber Septimus Inscriptus POLYHIMNIA THE EIGHTH BOOKE Inscribed VRANIA Intreating of Women euerie way Learned of Poetresses and Witches c. POLYHIMNIA remembers me to looke vp to her Sister VRANIA whose contemplation is in the Starres and Planets where mee thinkes I behold the twelue Signes as Manilius in his first booke ASTRONOMICON thus describes their order Aurato Princeps Aries in vellere fulgens Respicit admirans aduersum surgere Taurum c. The Princely Ramme clad in his golden Wooll Lookes backe admiring to behold the Bull Against him rise who with a chearefull face Calls to the Twinnes to bid them mend their pace The Crab these followes and the Lyon than Next the Celestiall Maid not knowne by man Libra comes after who least Time should faile Weighes out the Nights and Dayes in equall Skale And calls the Scorpion on who in his trayne Beares a bright fulgent starre at which in vaine The Centaure with his string drawne to his eare Aimes his keene shaft the Goat doth next appeare That 's Capricornus call'd who oft-times lowres Because to quench his starre Aquarius powres His Lauer forth next after him are plac't Pisces that of the twelue Signes are the last And now whilest mine eyes are yet fixt vpon the starres let it appeare no vnprofitable digression to speake something concerning Astronomie Atlas for his skill in that Art the Poets fabled him to support Heauen on his shoulders and Endimion for obseruing the course of the Moone was therefore sayd to be her friend and louer The Babylonians are reported to bee the first obseruers of the Starres and Planets by whom the Grecians being instructed found out the two Poles deuised the Dyall and distinguished the Day and the Night into foure and twentie houres Zoroastres that flourished in the time that Ninus raigned in Assiria was in this Art famous Palamides the sonne of Nauplius and Climene was the first amongst the Greekes that accommodated the Weekes Moneths and Yeares and proportioned them to the true course of the Sunne hee obserued the terrible eclipse of the Sunne and taught it to be a meere natural cause and not prodigious as it was then feared Philostratus in Heroicis Thales Milesiuâ— one of the seuen wisemen of Greece applyde himselfe to this studie and as Calimachus witnesseth of him was the first that disputed vpon Vrsa maior as Eâ—demus predicted the Eclips of the Sunne to the Ionians which happened in the time that Haliattes was king of Lidia and fought a great and terrible battaile against Aiaxaris king of the Medes Herodotus in Clio. Laertius Lib. 1. Anaximander Milesius the scholer of Thales first taught that the Moone shined only by a borrowed Light and that the Sunne equalled in bignesse the compasse of the whole frame of the Earth and was the purest fire he made the first Sun-dyall in Lacedemon and placed it where it might best giue a shaddow from the reflection of the Sunne he obserued the Aequinoctiall and made Spheres and Horoscopes Laert. lib. 2. Anaxagoras Clazimonius taught That the Sunne was a fire perpetually burning greater in the Circumference than the Island of Peloponessus hee called it a fierie Stone he predicted that a stone should fall from the Orbe of the Sunne which happened neere to Aegos a flood in Thrace in the second yere of the seuentie eight Olimpiad This made Euripides his scholer in Phaâ—tontide to call the Sunne a golden Turfe and that the Moone conteined within her Sphere Houses and Dwellings Hills Valleys Forrests Beasts and People Hee affirmed the Galaxia or Milkie-path to be a meere reflex of the Sunne and no inter-light arising from the Starres Commets he taught to bee a concourse of the wandering Starres and the flames or beards which proceed from them loose sparkes shaken by the Ayre Being asked to what end he was borne into the world hee answered Onely to haue inspection into the Sunne the Moone and the Planets Laert. li. 2. Plin. lib. 2. cap. 60. In this were eminent Parmenides Eleates the scholer of Xenophon Leucippus Eleates Democrates Abderites Xenocrates Chalcidonius who writ six bookes de Astrologia as Laertius witnesseth lib. 4. Eâ—doxus Guidius Theophrastus Erisius Oenopides Chius Meton Lacedemonius both remembred by Aelianus Protagorus Astrologus with infinite others and among these Hyppatia a learned woman of Alexandria daughter of Theon the famous Geometrition and wife to the Phylosopher Isiodorus shee writ of Astronomie kept schoole in Alexandria where she was frequented by many worthie schollers shee flourished in the time of Arcadius the Emperour and was after by such as enuied her fame in learning pittifully slaine and massacred From the professors of this Art I come to the effects therof It is related of Meton the expert Astrologian when the Athenian forces were to be shipped into Sicily to fight against the Syracusans hee foreseeing by his Art the lamentable successe of that battell which after proued accordingly to auoid the danger thereof being a man of especiall imployment in that businesse and to come off without suspision of feare or cowardise hee counterfeited madnesse which the better to confirme hee fiâ—ed a Summerâ—house of his owne which stood neere Pyceta by which act he was iudged to be distracted in his sences and for that reason dismist from his charge Plutarch in Alcebiad P. Nigidiâ—s Figalus was of the Pythagorian Sect excellent both in the Mathematickes and Physicke of whom Lucian lib. 1. At Figulus cui cura deos secretaque mundi Nosse fuit But Figulus whose cheife care was to find And know the gods with secrets from mankind Conceald c. Hee flourished in the time of Caesar hee was skillfull in the reuolutions of the Heauens aboue all that liued in his time amongst other notable effects of his Art hee predicted to Angustus beeing an infant the Imperiall Purple Xiphilin in Augusto Scribonius Mathematicâ—â— told Lyuia the mother of Tiberius Caesar being with child that shee was great with a male infant not a female adding wherein his Art failed Verum sine diademate i. But without a Diademe as ignorant then to what height the maiestie of the Caesars were to ascend Sabellicus lib. 1. cap. 1. It is reported of the Astrologian Thrasillus that when Tiberius was banished by Augustus into the Island of Rhodes and in his greatest mellancholly and discontent had beene often comforted by Thrasillus his schoole-maister as promising him some speedie good newes apprehended from his Art But on a time they two walking together vpon the bankes
c. My wandring Letter to Perhilla goe Greet her as one that doth my mind best know Find her thou shalt or with her mother sit Or 'mongst her Bookes and Muses searching wit What ere she be a doing when she knowes Thee thither come her worke away she throwes And without least delay she will enquire Wherefore thou com'st or what thou canst desire Tell her I liue but so as life bemoning Mischiefes augment but do not ease my groning Though by the Muses harm'd I loue their name And to euen numbers how my words to frame Still doe you to your common studies cling And your learn'd Verse to forraine fashions sing Nature that gaue you Beautie thought it fit To adde rare Gifts chast Manners and choise Wit I taught you first from Hellecon to write Least such a fertile Spring should perish quite I saw how farre in youth it did extend I was your Father Captaine and your Friend If the same fires within your breast still liue To none saue Lesbian Sapho the Palme giue I feare my fate your forwardnesse may slack And from your course my fortunes pluck you back The time was when your Lines to me were read And when by me your Muse was censured 'T was lawfull then with both and in those dayes You did me as your Iudge and Tutor prayse Either vnto your Verses I gaue eare Or made you blush when I forbore to heare Perhaps by my example since my Muse Hath done me hurt that practise you 'l not vse And feare because I suâ—â—er in my Art That in my ruine you shall beare a part Feare not Perhilla for no woman shall Or man by thy Muse learne to loue at all Therefore most learn'd all cause of slouth adiorne And to these sacred and good Arts returne That comely fauour will in time decay And rugged furrowes in thy cheekes display Age without noyse will by thee stealing passe When some will say by thee once faire she was Thou then wilt grieue thy faded front despise Or else complaining sweare thy Steele-glasse lyes Your Riches are not great O worthie more But say you Wealth had in the amplest store Fortune bestowes or takes at her owne pleasure Hee 's Irus now that late had Cressus Treasure ' Briefe saue corrupt things here we nothing gaine Except the Treasures of the Breast and Braine I that my House my Countrey and you lacke In all they would take from me suffred wracke My Braine I still keepe with me to this howre For ouer that great Caesar had no power Who though in rage he doome me to be slaine When I am dead my fame shall still remaine Whil'st warlike Rome on seuen Hils lifts her head To o'relooke the conquer'd World I shall be read And you whom happier studies still inspire Preserue your name from the last comming fire Before many or most of those I may iustly and without flatterie preferre the famous Queene Elizabeth Of her Wisdome and Gouernment all the Christian Princes that flourished in her time can giue ample testimonie of her Oratorie those learned Orations deliuered by her owne mouth in the two Academies in the Latine Tongue beare record in her behalfe In the Greeke Tongue she might compare with Queene Istrina before remembred amongst the Linguists In the French Italian and Spanish she needed no Interpreter but was able to giue answere to such Embassadours in their owne Language Of whose pleasant Fancies and ingenious Ditties I haue seene some and heard of many Others there haue beene likewise of our owne Nation of whose elegancie in these kinds the World hath taken notice and pittie it were their memories should not be redeemed from obliuion as the Ladie Iane Grey daughter to the Duke of Suffolke the vnhappie wife of as vnfortunate an husband L. Guilford Dudley Here likewise worthily may be inserted the excellent Ladie Arabella who had a great facilitie in Poetrie and was elaborately conuersant amongst the Muses as likewise the ingenious Ladie the late composer of our extant Vrania For others let me referre you to Sir Iohn Harrington in his Allegorie vpon the 37. booke of Ariosto where he commends vnto vs the foure daughters of Sir Anthonie Cooke the Ladie Burleigh the Ladie Russell the Ladie Bacon and Mistresse Killegrewe giuing each of them in that kind a worthie Character In the same place the Author commends vnto vs a great Italian Ladie called Vittoria who writ largely and learnedly in the praise of her dead husband with whom though not in that Funerall Elegeick straine I may ranke if in the comparison I vnderprise not the beautifull and learned Ladie Mary Countesse of Penbrooke the worthie sister to her vnmatchable brother Sir Philip Sydney But not to dwell too long on her prayse whom I neuer can commend sufficiently I will onely bestow vpon her Muse that Character which Horace bequeathed to Sapho Viuuntque commissi Calores Aeoliae fidibus Puellae Of Witches IOhannes Bodinus Andegauensis lib. 3. cap. 3. de Magorum Demonomania writes That there is nothing which precipitates men or women to perdition or more allures and incites them to deuote and giue themselues vp to the Deuill than a sortish and meere Artheisticall opinion setled in them That he hath power and will to giue to the needie riches to the afflicted ease to the weake strength to the deformed beautie the ignorant knowledge the abiect honor grace and fauour to them whom birth hath nobilitated and meanes and supplie to such as aduersitie hath deiected when on the contrarie we see by common proofe than such miscreants none more miserably base more penurious more ignorant more deboisht and contemned Plutarch remembers vs that when Olimpias the wife of Philip king of Macedon hearing that her husband was ensnared and extreamely besotted with the beautie of a noble yong ladie she much desired to see her who being brought vnto her presence and beholding a woman with all the accomplishments of nature so euery way graced one of so exquisit feature she hauing neuer beheld the like till then she grew astonished and without offring her the least discourteous violence brake out into these tearmes This rare and incomparable beautie which hath bewitched my husband is likewise of force to effacinate the gods Most certaine it is nothing seemes fairely featured and beautifully composed within this large vniuerse but it shewes to vs the glorie of the maker who is the only true and perfect pulchritude neither is theâ—e any thing louely or amiable which proceeds not from his especiall grace and miraculous workemanship But it was neuer found or knowne that euer any Witch could by exorsismes or incantations adde any thing to Nature to make her selfe in any part appeare more comely It is further obserued that all such are for the most part stigmaticall and ouglie in so much that it is growne into a common Adage Deformis vt Saga i. As deformed as a Witch Moreouer Cardanus who was not held the
his sight neuer againe to behold his face and after caused him to be arraigned and iudged And these are the Graces Honors and Aduancements Offices and Dignities to which the Deuill exalts his liege people Of these seuerall sorts of Iuglings with which the Deuill deludes his schollers besides such as I haue before spoken of amongst such as predicted of things to come I will nominate some few One thing which is vsed now amongst our cunning Women and Witches is so antient that it was before the age of Lucian or Theocritus it is called Coskinomanteia i. Cribri saltatio i. as wee call it The Syue and the Sheeres and that is not shamed to be publiquely vsed Bodinus himselfe sayth that hee saw in Lutetia a Boy in a Noblemans house and before many honest and iudiciall spectators by speaking of a few French wordsâ— make a Syue turne which way he pleased but the same words vttered by another could not make it to mooue at all Another superstition is with a Knife or a Key If any be suspected of Theft reade but such a Psalme and name the partie accused if the Knife at the speaking of his name mooue or stirre hee is then held guiltie and that practise is called Axinomanteia That which is done by a Ring put ouer a Cruse of Water is called Daktuliomanteia And this is a famous Sorcerie much in vse with the Witches of Italie Ioachimus Cameracensis had a speaking Ring in which was a Familiar or a Deuill that kind is called Vdromanteia as also Dactyliomanteia i. A Ring wherein Spirits are worne Coniectures made from Wells and Fountaines were called Idromanteia these Numa Pompilius was said to be the first inuentor of which Varro otherwise interpretes i. Of a Boy employed by the Magicians to looke vpon Images in the water one of which pronounced distinctly fiftie Verses of the warres of Mithridates before any such rumor was spread or purpose of the like businesse intended Aeromanteia is a superstitious prediction by the ayre but most certaine when the wind is South Another was made from Meale or Chaffe and was called Alphitomanteia or Aleuromanteia remembred by Iamblicus but to what purpose it was hee explaneth not as likewise of Lythomanteia which was practised by Stones Diuination by Lawrell was called Daphnomanteia The praescience which they gathered from the head of an Asse Kephaleomanteia Puromanteia and Kapnomanteia were coniectures from Fire Rabdomanteia was vsed by a Physician of Tholosa in speaking certaine mysticall words in a low and submisse voyce The like vnto that was Zulomanteia with loose chippes of Wood much practised in Illyria But of all these diuellish and detestable practises there is none saith Bodinus more Heathenish irreligious and dangerous than that so commonly in vse now adayes and by Witches continually practised to the iniurie and wrong of new married women it is commonly called Ligare ligulam or to tye knots vpon a point which as it is vsuall so it is not new For Herodot Lib. 2. reports That Amasis king of Aegypt was by the like Exorcisme bound and hindered from hauing any mutuall congresse with his wife Laodice till those ligatorie Spells were after vncharmed Paulus Aemilius in the life of Clotharius the second witnesseth That king Theodoricus was by the like ligaments effascinated by his Concubines from hauing lawfull consocietie with his wife Hermamberga Bodinus reports That he heard from the mouth of Roileus Embassadour generall amongst the Blesenses who affirmed That at the marriage of a young couple iust as they were to receiue the benediction from the Priest a Boy was seene by him tying one of these Magicke knots in the Temple whom thinking to haue deprehended the Boy fled and was not taken Bodinus further addes That in the yeere 1567. he then being Procurator in Patauia the gentlewoman in whose house he soiourned being it seemes a pregnant scholler in this Art related vnto him in the presence of one Iacobus Baunasius That there were fiftie seuerall wayes of tying this knot to hinder copulation either to bind the Husband or the Wife onely that one hating the others infirmitie might the freelyer pollute themselues with Adulteries Shee said moreouer the man was often so charmed the woman seldome and difficultly besides this knot might be tyed for a day for a yeere for the present time or for euer or whilest the same was vnloosed That it might be tyed for one to loue the other and not be againe beloued or to make a mutuall and ardent loue betwixt them but when they came to congression to bite and scratch and teare one another with their teeth and nayles In Tholosia a man and his wife were so bewitched who after three yeeres being vncharmed had a faire and hopefull issue and which is more to be wondered at in that time there appeared vpon some part of their bodies so many tumors or swellings like small knobs of flesh as they should haue had children if that impediment had not happened Some there are that may be charmed before wedlocke and some after but those hardly There are others whom their effascinations can keepe from eiecting their Vrine others to make them that they cannot restraine it at all but of the first diuerse haue perished Shee likewise told him sundrie speeches belonging to these Witcheries the words whereof were neither Hebrew Greeke Latine French Spanish Italian nor indeed deriuing their Etimologie from any knowne Language whatsoeuer Erasmus in his explanation of the Adage Pasetis Semiobulus writes of some Witches that by their Incantations could commaund in any voyd roome Tables on the sudden to bee spread and furnished with meates and iunkets of all varieties to tast the palat and when the guests had sufficiently fed and satisfied euerie man his owne appetite with one word could likewise command all things away as if no such thing had beene others also that when they had bought any commoditie of any man their backes were no sooner turned but the money they layde out would instantly forsake the seller and returne into the purse of the buyer But to begin with the antient Poets by their testimonies it is manifest that the practise of Witches and Witch-craft hath beene so great that by their Charmes and Spells they haue had the power to transhape men into bruit beasts to alter the course of the Planets and Starres haue changed the Seasons making the naturall course of the yeare preposterous further that their exorcismes haue extended to Hearbes Flowers Fruits and Graine to infect men with Diseases and cattell with Murren to delude the Eyes and weaken the Sences bewitch the Limbes binde the Hands gyue the Feete and benumbe the other Members apoplex all the vitall Spirits and raise vp dead bodies from their Sepulchres nay more to call the Moone downe from her Sphere with other most strange things as miraculous to relate as difficult to beleeue of such in his first booke Tibullus speakes Hanc ego
dayes affected it for seldome doth Adulterie but goe hand in hand with Murther From the Sinne I come to the Punishment Amongst the Israelites it was first punished with Finâ—s as may be collected from the historie of Thamar who being with child by Iudas hee threatened her to the stake and had accordingly performed it had shee not shewed by manifest tokens that he himselfe was the author of her vnlawfull issue Genes 38. The Aegyptians condemned the Adulterer so deprehended to a thousand Scourges the Adulteresse to haue her Nose cut off to the greater terror of the like Delinquents Diodor. Sicul. Lib. 2. cap. 2. Coel. Lib. 21. cap. 25. By Solons Lawes a man was permitted to kill them both in the act that so found them Rauis In Iudaea they were stoned to death Plat. Lib. 9. de Legibus punisheth Adulterie with death The Locrenses by tradition from Zaluces put out the Adulterers eyes The Cumaei prostituted the Adulteresse to all men till shee died by the same sinne shee had committed Alex. ab Alex. Lib. 4. cap. 1. It was a custome amongst the antient Germans for the husband to cut off his wiues haire so apprehended to turne her out of doores naked and scourge her from Village to Village One bringing word to Diogenes That a fellow called Dydimones was taken in the Act Hee is worthie then saith hee to be hanged by his owne name for Didymi in the Greeke Tongue are Testiculi in English the Testicles or immodest parts By them therefore from whence he deriued his name and by which he had offended he would haue had him to suffer Laert. Lib. 6. Hyettus the Argiue slew one Molurus with his wife apprehending them in their vnlawfull congression Coelius Iulius Caesar repudiated his wife for no other reason but because P. Clodius was found in his house in womans Apparrell And being vrged to proceed against her hee absolutely denyed it alledging That hee had nothing whereof to accuse her but being further demanded Why then hee abandoned her societie hee answered That it was behoofefull for the wife of Caesar not onely to be cleare from the sinne it selfe but from the least suspition of crime Fulgos Lib. 6. cap. 1. Augustus banished his owne Daughter and Neece so accused into the Island called Pandateria after into Rhegium commanding at his death That their bodies being dead should not be brought neere vnto his Sepulchre To omit many Nicolaus the first Pope of that name excommunicated king Lotharius brother to Lewis the second Emperour because hee diuorced his wife Therberga and in her roome instated Gualdrada and made her Queene Besides he degraded Regnaldus Archbishop of Treuers and Gunthramus Archbishop of Collen from their Episcopall dignities for giuing their approbation to that adulterate Marriage And so much for the punishment I will conclude with the counsaile of Horace Lib. 1. Satyr 2. Desine Matronas sectarier vnde laboris Plus haurire mali est quam ex re decerpere fructum est Cease Matrons to pursue for of such paine Thou to thy selfe more mischiefe reap'st than gaine Sisters that haue murdred their Brothers AFter the vntimely death of Aydere his brother Ismael succeeded him in the Persian Empire who arriuing at Casbin was of his sister receiued with ioy and of the people with loude acclamations and beeing now possessed of the Imperiall dignitie the better as hee thought to secure himselfe hauing power answerable to his will after the barbarous custome of the Turkish tyrannie he first caused his eight younger brothers to be beheaded stretching his bloodie malice to all or the most part of his owne affinitie not suffering any to liue that had beene neere or deere to his deseased brother so that the â—â—ttie Casbin seemed to swimme in blood and ecchoed with nothing but lamentations and mournings His crueltie bred in the people both feare and hate both which were much more increased when they vnderstood hee had a purpose to alter their forme of religion who with great adoration honour their prophet Aly into the Turkish superstition his infinite and almost incredible butcheries concerne not my proiect in hand I therefore leaue them and returne to his sister whose name was Periaconcona who when this Tyrant was in the middest of his securities and the sister as hee imagined in her sisterly loue and affection vpon a night when he was in all dissolute voluptuousnesse sporting amidst his concubines she into whose trust and charge he had especially committed the safetie of his person hauing confederated with Calilchan Emirchan Pyrymahomet and Churchi Bassa the most eminent men in the Empire admitted them into the Seraglio in womans attyre by whom with her assistant hand in the middest of his luxuries hee was strangled an act though happily beneficiall to the common good yet ill becomming a sister vnlesse such an one as striued to paralel him in his vnnaturall cruelties Turkish Histor. Equall with this was that of Quendreda who after the death of Ranulphus king of Mercia his young sonne Kenelme a child of seuen yeares of age raigning in his stead whose royall estate and dignitie beeing enuied by his sister shee conspired with one Heskbertus by whose treacherous practise the king was inticed into a thick forrest there murdered and priuatly buried his bodie long missed and not found and the conspirators not so much as suspected But after as Willielm de regib li. 1. and de Pontificibus lib. 4. relates a Doue brought in her bill a scroule written in English golden letters and layde it vpon the Altar of Saint Peter which being read by an Englishman contained these words by which the place where the bodie lay was discouered At Clent in Cowbach Kenelme Keneborne lyeth vnder Thorne heaued by weaued that is in plainer English At Clent in Cowbach vnder a thorne Kenelme lyeth headlesse slaine by treason Some say it was found by a light which streamed vp into the Ayre from the place where his bodie lay couered His hearse being after borne towards his sepulchre to be a second time interred with solemne Dyrges sung by the Churchmen Quendreda sitting then in a window with a Psalter in her hand to see the funerall solemnely passe by whether in skorne of the person derision of the ceremonie or both is not certaine but she began to sing the Psalme of Te Deum laudamus backeward when instantly both her eyes dropped out of her head with a great flux of blood which stained her booke and it was after kept as a sacred relique in memorie of the diuine iudgement What need I trouble you with citing antiquities how this sinne ought to be punished on earth when we see how hatefull it is in the eyes of Heauen besides to insult vpon the bodies of the dead is monstrous and euen in things sencelesse to be punished Ausonius remembers vs of one Achillas who finding a dead mans skull in a place where three sundrie wayes
from an impudent Strumpet hee wrought her to be a repentant Conuertite Her Brasen forhead melted at his fierie zeale and all those skales of Immodestie like a Maske plucked off fell from her face and shee appeared to him in her former simple and innocentious life When further questioning with her of her birth and countrey shee freely confessed vnto him That shee was borne in the North countrey her father a gentleman once of faire Reuenue but being impouerished by peeuish Suites in Law her mother first and hee whether by age or griefe shee knew not soone after died Shee being an Orphant and left distressed loth to begge of those whom her Parents had before relieued finding charitie there cold and willing rather to appeare base any where than where shee was knowne sold such small things as shee had to come vp to London with the Carriers where shee was no sooner allighted at her Inne but shee was hyred by this Bawd altogether vnacquainted with her base course of life who by degrees trayned her to such base prostitution but withall protested with teares that course of life was hatefull vnto her and had shee any friend or kinsman thaâ— could propose her any meanes to relinquish that Trade which in her soule she detested she would become a new woman desiring that one moneth of her leaudnesse might be forgot for from that houre shee protested Chastitie all her life time after Her apparant teares and seeming penitence much perswading with the gentleman he protested If it lay in him he would otherwise dispose of her according to her wishes and withall charging her That if hee sent vnto her within two or three dayes with money to acquit her of the house that shee would attyre her selfe as modestly as shee could possibly not bringing with her any one ragge that belonged to that abhominable house or any borrowed garment in which she had offended but instantly to repaire vnto him at his first sending and this being agreed betwixt them for that time they parted The gentleman wonderous carefull of his vndertaking because shee was now his new creature came to a Matron-like gentlewoman a kinswoman of his afarre off with whom and her husband hee had familiar acquaintance and by that meanes daily accesse to the house who had prettie fine children and were of a faire reuenue and told her there was a ciuile maid a kinswoman of his lately come out of the countrey who wanted a seruice whom if shee pleased to entertaine it might prooue a great good to her and no lesse courtesie to him Briefely the motion was accepted shee sent for according to appointment and after he had tutored her in all things which shee should answere accepted and entertained Her modest behauior and faire carriage with her tender loue and diligence about the children woon her in short time a good opinion of her maister a greater affection from her mistresse and a generall loue of the whole household insomuch that within lesse than a yeere shee was raysed from a Chambermaid to be Waiting-gentlewoman and the onely bosome friend of her mistresse who falling sicke euen to death readie to expire her last so much doted on her new seruant that shee sent for her husband and besought him if it stood with his good liking so to dispose of himselfe after her decease to make that woman his wife and mother to his children for one more louing and carefull hee should not finde and search England thorow and thorow The gentlewoman soone after dyes hee is left a widower and the charge of the whole house committed to our new Conuertite with the bringing vp of his children Which shee executed with such fidelitie that hee casting a more curious eye vpon her youth and beautie and withall remembring his wiues last words not knowing for the present how better to dispose of himselfe Time Place and Opportunitie all things furthering her preferment hee contracted himselfe vnto her and they were soone after married But before any of these late passages happened I must remember you that instantly vpon the preferment of this young woman the gentleman who brought her this fortune aduentured all his meanes vpon a Voyage which miscarryed for the shippe wherein hee sayled was taken by the Spaniard and hee almost a tweluemoneth kept prisoner in Lisbone But at length by what meanes I know not being ransomed he came for his countrey but so poorely and deiected that hee was ashamed to shew himselfe to any of his friends for hauing tryed some and finding their charitie cold hee was loth to make proofe of the rest insomuch that hee walked by Owle-light without a Cloake and scarce had honest ragges to couer him from nakednesse or hide him from shame It happened that iust vpon his returne the old gentleman died too and left her possessed of eight hundred a yeere during the minoritie of the children but the thirds howsoeuer and withall so great and good opinion he had of her that he made her full Executor Now iust as shee followed the Herse to the Church hauing diuerse suitors before her husbands bodie was scarce cold this gentleman by chance comming by like the picture of the Prodigall as I before relate him to you shee casting her eye aside had espyed him and presently apprehended him to be the man he was and whispering a seruant in the eare willing to be truly satisfied bad him to fall into discourse with him to enquire his name his Lodging with other questions as she directed him and so proceeded to the Funerall but in any case to speake nothing as from her The seruant fell off from the Trayne and did as he was commanded and without suspition of him that was questioned brought her true word how all things stood The next morning by her appointment came a gentleman very early to his Lodging shee hauing taught him his Lesson before hand who desired to speake with him and first asked him his name which though loth he told him the other proceeded that if he were the same man he pretended he had heard of his worth and noble qualities and withall of his casualties at Sea and not willing that any gentleman should groane beneath so great a burthen told him there was a hundred pounds bad him furnish himselfe with apparrell and other necessaries and so was readie to take his leaue The other extasied with so great a courtesie from a stranger whom hee had not seene before enforced him backe to know what reason he had to be so charitable entreating him to consider what hope he had of future satisfaction or at least to resolue him what securitie he demanded The other answered That for the first his courtesie was grounded vpon his worth his satisfaction was in his acknowledgement and his securitie in that he knew him honest and told him some three dayes after he would call vpon him when hee was habited like himselfe to entreat his further acquaintance and so presently left him