with life who was seen to enter there Therefore when Theseus came to Minos he sent him to be devoured by this Minotaur of which Ariadne having notice being enamoured of Theseus she sent him a sword by which he slew the monstrous Homicide and that was the clew so often remembred by the Poets which guided Theseus out of the Labyrinth Canace Canusia Valeria Tusculana MAcareus and Canace were brother and sister the sonne and daughter to Aeolus King of the winds for so the Poets feigned him because the clouds and mists arising from the seven Aeolian Islands of which he was King alwaies pretended great gusts and tempests he is reported to be the son of Jupiter and Alceste daughter to Hyppotes the Tyrian of whom he had the denomination of Hippotides This Macareus and Canace having most lewdly and incestuously loved one another covering their bedding and bosoming under the unsuspected pretext of consanguinity and neernesse in blood It could no longer be conceal'd by reason Canace at length brought forth a son which as she would secretly have conveied out of the Court by the hands of her trusty Nurse who had been before acquainted with all their wicked proceedings the infant by crying betraied it selfe to the grandfather who searching the Nurse examining the matter finding the incest and miserably distracted with the horridnesse of the fact instantly in the heat of his incensed anger caused the innocent infant to be cut in pieces and limb by limp cast to the dogs and before his face devoured This Macareus hearing took sanctuary in the Temple of Apollo but Canace by reason of her greennesse and weak estate not able to make escape and shun the violence of her fathers threatned fury he sent her a sword and withall commanded her to punish her selfe according to the nature of the fact Which she receiving writ a passionate letter to her brother in which she first besought him to have a care of his safety and next to cause the bones of the slaughter'd infant to be gathered together and put into an urn with hers this having done with the sword sent her by her father she transpierc'd her self and so expired The like weread of Canusia daughter of Papirius Volucris who being found with child by Papirius Romanus her own naturall brother when the heinousnesse of the fact came to the knowledge of the father he sent to either of them a sharp sword with which they as resolutely slew themselves as they had before rashly offended The like successe of her incestuous affection had Valeria Tusculana who as Plutarch relates by the counsell of one of her handmaids comming privately in the night into the arms of her father and the deed after made known to Valerius he in detestation of the act slew her with his own hand Julia the Empresse THese abominable sins that have been punisht in inferiour persons have in great ones been countenanced Sextus Aurelius and Aelius Spartianus both testifie That Antonius Caracalla Emperour doting upon his stepmother Julia was often heard to say in her presence I would if it were lawfull at length apprehending his purpose to these his words she made this reply What you list to doe O Emperour you may make lawfull Princes have power to make Lawes but are not tied to keep any by which words imboldned he took her to his bed whose son Geta but a while before he had caused to be slain Herodotus remembers us of one Opaea the stempmother to Scithes King of the Scythians who likewise took her to his bed and made her his Queen So Berenices the sister of Ptolomaeus Evergetes was made partner both of his bed and Kingdome Arsinoe the sister of Ptolomaeus Philadelphus became his concubine The like did Herod Antipas unto Herodias the wife of his brother Philip. We read also of one Leucon who slew his brother Oxilochus King oâ— Pontus for the love of his wife whom he after married Faustina the sister of Marcus Antonius Emperour became her brothers paramour on whom he begat Lucilla whom he after gave in marriage to his brother L. Antonius Theodoricus King of the Frenchmen married the daughter of his own brother whom he before had slain And Pontanus remembers us of one Johannes Ariminensis who espoused his own sister Philip the brother of Alphonsus the tenth King of Spaine forcibly married Christiana daughter to the King of Dacia his own brothers wife all Christianity and Religion set apart Volaterranus remembers us of one Stratonice who being devishly doted on by Antiochus Soter King of Syria his own father at his importunity gave her up into his sons incestuous embraâ—es Virgil in his tenth book speaks of Casperia stepmother to Anchemolus the son of Rhaetus King of the Marâ—ubians who was by him adulterated These prodigious acts have been encouraged by Kings drawing their presidents from Jupiter who vitiated Ceres and married his sister Juno when in my opinion the industry of the Poets in illustrating the escapes of Jupiter and the other gods was aimed at no other end then to manifest unto all men That such deities were not worthy adoration that were calumnized with so many whoredomes adulteries and incests The sisters of Cambyses THese might seem fearfull enough before related but I will give you a short taste of some more abominable I have shewed the examples of Lust but these following are besides lust polluted with unheard of Tyranny Herodotus in his third book speaking at large of the life and acts of Cambyses the great Persian King and son of Cyrus relates that having shewed his puissance abroad in Egypt Greece and other places to the terror of the greatest of the world he caused his innocent brother Smerdis to be secretly made away by the hand of his most trusted Praxaspes The next inhumanity which he purposed to exemplifie unto the world was the death of his sister who followed him in his Camp to Egypt and back again being not only his sister by parents but his wife also The manner how she came to be his Queen was as followeth Before his time it was not lawfull but punishable amongst the Persians to marry into that proximity of blood but Cambyses surprized with the love of his sister and having resolved by what means soever to make her his wife yet to colour his purpose he sent for those honourable persons who were stiled the Kings Judges being selected men for their wisedomes and of great place and quality as those that enjoy their offices Durante via unlesse some capitall crime be proved against them besides they are the expounders of the Lawes and to their causes all matters of doubt and controversie are referred These being convented The King demanded of them Whether they had any one law amongst so many which licenc'd a man that had a will so to do to contract matrimony with his sister to whom the Judges thus ingeniously answered We
a City of Cipria others amongst the Argives Aristarchus and Dyoâ—isius Thrax derive him from Athens c. But I may have occasion to speak of him in a larger work intituled The lives of all the Poets Modern and Forreign to which work if it come once againe into my hands I shall refer you concluding him with this short Epitaph An Epitaph upon Homer the Prince of Poets In Colophon some think thee Homer borne Some in faire Smyrna soâ—e in Ius isle Some with thy birth rich Chius would adorn Others say 〈◊〉 a first on thee did smile The Argives lay claim to thee and aver Thou art their Country man Aemus saies no. Strong Salamine saith thou tookest life from her But Athens thou to her thy Muse dost owe As there first breathing Speak how then shall I Determine of thy Country by my skill When Oracles would never I will try And Homer well thou give me leave I will The spatious Earth then for Country chuse No mortall for thy mother but a Muse 〈◊〉 the sister of Nereus the Sea-god was by him stupratedâ— of whom he begot the Nymphs called Nercides Ovid in his sixt book Metamorph telleth us of Philomela daughter to Pandion King of Athens who was forced by Tereus King of Thrace the son of Mars and the Nymph Bâ—stonides though he had before married her own dear and naturall sister Progne the lamentable effects of which incest is by the same Author elegantly and at large described as likewise Beblis the daughter of Miletus and Cyane who after she had sought the embraces of her brother Caumus slew her selfe Mirrha daughter to Cyniras King of the Cyprians lay with her father and by him had the beautifull child Adonis Europa the mother and Pelopeia the daughter were both corrupted by Thyestes Hypermestra injoied the company of her brother for whom she had long languished Menephron most barborously frequented the bed of his mother against whom Ovid in his Metamorph. and Quintianus in his Cleopol bitterly inveigh Domitius Calderinus puts us in mind of the Concubine of Amintor who was injoied by his son Phaenix Rhodope the daughter of Hemon was married to her father which the gods willing to punish they were as the Poets feign changed into the mountains which still bear their names Caeleus reports of one Policaste the mother of Perdix a hunts-man who was by him incestuously loved and after injoied Lucan in his eight book affirms that Cleopatra was polluted by her own brother with whom she communicated her selfe as to a husband Nictimine was comprest by her father Nictus King of Aethiopia Martial in his twelfe book writing to Fabulla accuseth one Themison of incest with his sister Plin. lib. 28. cap. 2. speaks of two of the Vestals Thusia and Copronda both convicted of incest the one buried alive the other strangled Publius Claudius was accused by M. Cicero of incest with his three sisters Sextus Aurelius writes that Agrippina the daughter of Germanicus had two children by her brother Claudius Caesar Cornalius Tacitus saith that she often communicated her body with her own son Nero in his cups and heat of wine he after commanded her womb to be ripped up that he might see the place where he had laien so long before his birth and most deservedly was it inflicted upon the brutish mother though unnaturally imposed by the inhumane son Ansilaena is worthily repoved by Catullus for yielding up her body to the wanton imbraces of her uncle by whom she had children Gidica the wife of Pomonius Laurentius doted on her son Cominus even to incest but by him refused she strangled her selfe The like did Pheora being despised by her son Hippolitus Dosithaeus apud Plutarch speaks of Nugeria the wife of Hebius who contemned by her son in Law Firmus prosecuted him with such violent and inveterate hate that she first sollicited her own sons to his murder but they abhorring the vilenesse of the fact she watcht him sleeping and so slew him John Maletesta deprehending his wife in the arms of his brother Paulus Maletesta transpierc'd them both with his sword in the incestuous action Clepatra daughter to Dardanus King of the Scythians and wife to Phinaeus was forced by her two sons in law for which fact their father caused their eies to be plucked out Plutarch reports of Atossa that she was doted on by Artaxerxes insomuch as that after he had long kept her as his strumpet against the Laws of Persia and of Greece to both which he violently opposed himself he made her his Queen Curtius writes of one Si simithres a Persian souldier that had two children by his mother Diogenian also speaking of Secundus the Philosopher saith that he unawares to them both committed incest with his mother which after being made known to them she astonied with the horror of the fact immediately slew her selfe and he what with the sorrow for her death and brutishnesse of the deâ—d vowed never after to speak word which he constantly performed to the last minute of his life Manlius in his common places reports from the mouth oâ— D Martin Luther that this accident hapned in Erphâ—rst in Germany There was saith he a maid of an honest family that was servant to a rich widdow who had a son that had many times importuned the girle to lewdnesse insomuch that she had no other way to avoid his continuall suggestions but by acquainting the mother with the dissolute courses of the son The widdow considering with her self which was the best course to childe his libidirous purpose and divert him from that lewd course plotted with the maid to give him a seeming consent and so appoint him a place and time in the night of meeting at which he should have the fruition of what he so long had sued for she her selfe intending to supply the place of her servant to school her son and so prevent any inconvenience that might futurely happen The maid did according to her appointment the son with great joy keeps his houre so did the mother who came thither on purpose to reform her son but he being hot and too forward in the action and she overcome either by the inticements of the devill the weaknesse of her Sex or both gave her selfe up to incestuous prostitution the young man knowing no otherwise but that he had enjoied the maid Of this wicked and abominable congression a woman child was begot of whom the mother to save her reputation was secretly delivered and put it out privately to nurse but at the age of seven years took it home When the child grew to years the most infortunate sonne fell in love with his sister and daughter and made her his unhappy wife what shall I think of this detestable sinne which even beasts themselves abhor of which I will give you present instance Aristotle in his history Animal who was a diligent searcher into all naturall things affirms that a Camel being bliâ—ded
〈◊〉 talk and discourse that tended to immodestly she refreined all affected habit 〈◊〉 favoured of pride or might be imputed to lightnesse she detested she was only addicted to Câ—ivalry to be accounted valiant and vertuous that was her honourable aim and such her memorable â—nd Bona was a Lady of Lombaâ—dy and was sirnamed Longabarba and not 〈◊〉 â—anked with these she was a woman warriour and lived in the year of grace 1568. she was the wife of Bâ—unorius Parmensis a worthy and rerenownâ—d souldâ—er her viâ—gin youth was continually exercised in hunting and the chace she attended her husband in all 〈◊〉 expeditions not as a partner of his pleasures but a companion in his dangers she kept not the City when he was in the camp nor lodged in tent when he lay in the field noâ— crept she more close to him in bed then she stood last by him in battell after many great services performed and glorious victories atchieved he fell into the displeasure of Alexander King of Sicily who cast him into prison But this noble Lady Bona good both in name and conditions never lâ—ft soliciting the Emperor and other Christian Princes both by petitions and friends till she had purchased him a safe an honourable release The next Virago that comes in place is Atalanta Apollodorus Atheniensis lib. 3. de deorum origine thus compiles her history Of Lycurgus and Cleophile or as some will have it Eurinome were born Ancaeus Epochus Amphidamus and Idaeus of Amphidamus Melamian a son and Antimalâ—e a daughter whom Euristhaeus married of Jasus and Clymene the daughter of Mimia was Atalanta born whose father desirous of masculine issue cast her out to a desperate fortune whom a she-Beare finding fed her with her milk till certain â—untsmen coursing that way and chancing upon so sweet and beautifull an infant took her home and saw her fairly and liberally educated She being grown to mature age notwithstanding she was sollicited by many suitors took upon her the strict vow of virginity and arming her selfe after the maner of Diana solely devoted her selfe to hunting and the chace and increasing in beauty as she did in years she was ambushed by two Centaurs Rhaecus and Hyllaeus who insidiating her virgin chastity she with two shafts transpierc'd them and left them dead in the place The next heroick action which made her famous she came with all the noble youths of Greece to the hunting of the Calidonian Boar and was the first that drew blood of the beast in the presence of Meleager Prince of Aetolia and all the other brave Heroes of whom Putanus lib. 3. de Stellis thus speaks Qualis in Aetolum campis Meleagria virgo Stravit aprum c. As did the Meleagrian girle Who in the Aetolian plain Laid flat the foaming Boare and was The formost of the train That gave him bold encounter and As ignorant of feare Noct her sharp arrow and the string Pluckt close up to her care The first that day in field that blood From the stern monster drew Bearing the honour spoile and palme From all that Princely crew Of the love of Meleager to her and of his death I either have or shall find occasion to speak elsewhere Her next aâ—chievement by which she purchased her selfe honour was her contention in the sports of Peleus It shall not be amisse to tell â—ou what these sports and pastimes were They were the twelve in number that were celebrated amongst the Greeks Acastus the son of Peleus instituted them in honour of his father Zâ—thas the son of Aquilo overcame in that which was called Doliâ—hodromus which signifies a race of twelve furlongs Calais his brother had the best in the Diantus which was a race of two furlongs Castor the son of Jupiter was victor in the Stadium which was a place of running or exercise as well for men as horse the word signifies a furlong or a measure of ground there be of them three sorts one of Italy containing 615 feet which amounteth to 125 paces the second is called Olympicum which exists of 600 feet which is an hundred and twenty paces the third Pythicum conteining 1000 feet which comes to 200 paces About these Stadia â—liny and Diodorus differ in the description of Sicily eight of these furlongs make an Italian mile conteining 1000 paces and every pace five feet Polluâ— carried away the prize called Cestus which signifies a married belt or girdle which the husband used to tie about the wast of his bride and unloose the first night of their wedding Telamon the son of Ajax had the praise in Disco or casting the bullet or the stone Peleus in wrestling Meâ—â—ager the son of Oereus in casting of the dart Cignus the son of Mars slew Pilus the son of Dâ—odatus Bellerophon was the most eminent for riding the horse And Iolaus the son of Iphicles for managing the Chariot Hercules overcame in many things but Atalanta in all Noâ— long after this comming to the knowledge of her parents and being by them perswaded to marry to prevent the loathed embraces of a husband trusting to her own incomparable swiftnesse she devised a race in which she proposed her selfe the prize of the victor but the vanquished were mulcted with the loss of their heads after the slaughter of many Princes Melanion before spoken of inflamed with her love received of Venus three golden apples which he let fall one after another in the swiftnesse of their course she by stooping to take them up slackned her speed and by losing the race became his prize and bride Some write that they ran in Chariots and armed trusting to the swiftnesse of their steeds not the velocity of their own feet The manner of their running is elegantly described in Ovid of which I will give you present expression Hesiod Naso and others will not allow Atalanta to be the daughter of Jasus but Schoeneus Euripides derives her from Menelaus making her the bride of Hyppomanes the son of Megaraeus grand-child of Neptune not of Melamion The manner of their course is thus set down Metamorph lib. 10. Signa tubae dederunt c. The signall given whilst both prepared stand Now on they go their heels but kisse the sand And leave no print behind you would suppose They might passe seas and yet their nimble toes Not mingle with the billowes or extend Their course o'r ripe ears yet the stalks not bend On all sides the young men spectators cry Well run Hippomenes who seems to flie More swiftly then their voices if thy meed Be worth thy toile now now 't is time to speed Clamour and shouts encourage both her pace She sometimes slacks to look back on his face His labour made it lively on the way Which forc'd her oft when she might passe him stay She outstrips him though but halfe against her will And feels his drie breath on her locks play still Which her speed cast behind The course
age and being disfurnished 〈…〉 how to come by the like therefore his 〈…〉 neither to depart from her for love nor monie The Gentleman grew so obstinate to have her and the other so sâ—lfe-will'd to keep her that at length the son in law old him plainly That if he would not â—ell him his Maâ—e he would not marry his daughter The father 〈◊〉 this grew into choler and â—â—ld him If he respected his child no better but set her so slight he had him come when he sent for him and upon these short terms they parted A fortnight passed in this discontent at length the young gallant better advising with himselfe and the Gentlewomans beauty still sticking in his stomack he began to recant his former obstinacy and purposely took horse to renew old acquaintance and give her a fresh visitation and comming something neer the house it was the young Gentlewomans fortune to spie him from a bay window who instantly steps down to the gate meaning her selfe to play the porter Three or four times he knocks at the Gate but no body answered at length he rapt so loud that she opened the wicket and asked him Who he was and what he would have He seeing it was she smilingly answered It is I sweet-heart doe you not know me Not I indeed replied she for to my remembrance I never saw you before To whom he again answered I am such a man and by these and these tokens I can put you in mind that you cannot chuse but know me Oh I cry you mercy it is true indeed saith she I now very well remember you You are he that came a wooing to my fathers Mare so clapt to the Gate and left him and never after would give him the least entertainment Of Women Deformed IT is remembred of the Poet Hypponax by Pliny Lib. 36. cap. 5. to be of that unhappy shape unseemly presence and uncomely countenance so deformed both in face and feature that he became a generall scorn to all insomuch that two famous Painters Bubulus and Anterinus drawing his Picture and setting it out to sale and pencil'd him in such ridiculous and unfashionable manner that the Table begot laughter from all such as passed by and beheld it Which Hypponax hearing he so persecuted the pâ—or Painters in his bitter lambicks and invective Satyrs 〈◊〉 despairing they hanged themselves Then blame me not if I be sparing in ripping up the deformities of women lest 〈◊〉 pâ—â—secute me as severely with their railing tongues as the Poet did the Painters with his Satyrical pen. It is 〈…〉 therefore that I desire to be brief in 〈…〉 Anacharsis the Philosopher sitting 〈…〉 who was a wondrous black and 〈…〉 woman one of the guests that sate with him at the Table being in his cups could not contain himselfe but said aloud O Anacharsis you have married a wife deformed enough to whom the Philosopher with great modesty replied I have indeed But boy saith he calling to one that attended on the Cup board fill the Gentleman more wine and she will then appear to him sufficiently beautifull more taunting his intempeperance then be her deformity As Ovid speaks of the Night so may it be said of Wine Nocte latent mendae The Night hides faults the Midnight houre is blind And no mishap'd deformitie can find Martial Lib. 3. describes one Vetustina She hath saith he only threâ— tâ—eth and three hairs the breast of a Grass-hopper the leg of an Ant the belly of a Spider a rough and rugged brow her mouth in smiling shewed like the Crocodiles her voice in singing like the Frogs and Gnats her face like the Owls and her sâ—vour like the Goats with other such like offensive imperfections The same Author lib. 1. speaks of Philenis Oâ—ulo Philenis semper altero plorat Quo fiat istud quaeris modo Lusca est Philenis seems with one eie stâ—ll to mone Wouldst thou the reason know she hath but one I see no cause why any man should mock such imperfections as come by nature therefore I commend the answer of a Gentlewoman who being followed by a gallant at thâ— heels and seeing her to be of an upright and straight body slender wasted and clean legged he commended her in his thoughts for an exceeding proper and well-limb'd woman who mending his pâ—ce to overtake her and spying her masked entreated her in 〈◊〉 to unpin her mask with purpose to kisse her but seeing her face to be swarthy and somewhat wrinckled and not according to his expâ—ctâ—tion answering to the other parts of her body Mistress saith he I 〈◊〉 purposed to have begged a kisse of you had I liked you before as well as did behind Then Sir quoth she so please you you have leave to kisse me where you best like The 〈…〉 such as have hooked Noses those the Greeks call 〈◊〉 and such they hold to beautifie the face best because 〈◊〉 to which Nation no Kings memory was ever 〈◊〉 had his Nose so fashioned There are of those two kinds one which in the dâ—scent from the brow instantly ariseth in the fashion of a Crowes bill and such saith 〈◊〉 is a mark of impudence the second hath his bending separate from the brow and the swelling in the middle part of the Nose like a Hawks bill and those are the marks of Courage and Beauty and such we term a Haws Nose or a Roman Nose I know noâ— which of these it was the weâ—ch had of whom Sir Thomas Moor compiled his Epigram which was after this manner A lovely Lasse that had a Roman nose Meeting with Tyndarus he would have kist her But when he should have met her at the close I would quoth he but can not kisse you sister For had not your egregiâ—us long Nose bin I would have kist your lips and not your chin The poor wencht blusht and burnt with secret ire Which set her changing colour all on flame And saith to him To furnish your desire Since that you fain would kisse and crave the same Because my Nose no more shall let your will Kisse where is none there freely tâ—ke your fill Thus you see the greatest schollers and gravest men will sometimes make sport with the Muses Many other things there are which blast the brightest beauties making women loathed where they have been most liked their number is infinite Amongst many I will give you a taste of one borrowed from an Elegy in Ovid which bears Title Ad Amicam to his Mistresse that demanded hire for her prostitution As faâ—r as she that made two husbands jar Raising twixt Troy and Greece a Ten years war As bright as feathered Laeda great Joves rape She that was chang'd into a Swar-like shape As faire as Amimone even so bright Were you my Mistresse That which Poets write Of metamorphos'd Jove how oft love chang'd him And from his own coelestiall shape estrang'd him To an Eagle or a Bull I fear'd lest he Would likewise
chast life Infinite to this purpose are remembred by Fulgosius Marullus Albertus Cranzius c. as of Maria Desegnies Margarita Aegypta Cecilia Virgo Kâ—nâ—gunda Augusta wife to Henry of that name the first Emperor 〈◊〉 espoused to Julianus Antiâ—chenus Stamberga the Niece of cloâ—ovius married to Arnulphus a noble Frenchman 〈◊〉 and others without number which is somewhat difficult 〈…〉 wedded bended boarded lien and lived together yet went as pure Virgins to their graves as they came first to their â—â—adles Of these I may say as Ovid 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 Sh' abhorr'd the nuptiall bed and held it sin With modest blushes did the tender skin Of her fair cheek then to her father growes And her white arms about his neck she throwes And saith Deer Sir this one thing grant your child That I may live from lustfull man exil'd A voteresse 〈◊〉 Diana this desired And from her father had what she required I will produce one history or two at the most from our modern Histories and so cease further to speak of our married Virgins It is reported in the Legend That after Editha the daughter of Earl Godwin was married to King Edward otherwise called St Edward they mutually vowed betwixt themselves perpetual chastity and therein persevered to the end of their lives There continued in them saith the Legend a Conjugall love without any conjugall act and favourable embraces without any deflowring of Virginity for Edward was beloved but not corrupted and Editha had favour but was not touched she delighted him with love but did not tempt him with lust she pleased him with discourse and sweet society yet provoked him to no libidinous desire It is moreover in that Treatise recorded That they used to call marriage a shipwreck of Maidenhead comparing it to the fiery furnace of the Chaldaeans to the Mantle that Joseph left in the hâ—nd of a strumpet the wife of Potiphar to the lascivious outrage of the two wicked Elders who would have oppressed and vitiated Susanna the wife of Ioachim and lastly to the enticements of drunken Holoâ—ernes towards faire Judith one of the deliverers of her people And so much for the Legend But Richardus Davisiensis saith That being awed by Earle Godwin â—nd for the feare of hazarding his life and Kingdome Edward was compelled by threats and menaces to the 〈◊〉 of Editha Moreover Polidore 〈◊〉 That for the haâ—e he bore her father who had not long before most trâ—iterously slain his brother Alphred he caused himselfe to be divorced from her seizing her goods and dower to his own use and pleasure Ranulphus and one that 〈◊〉 himselfe Anonymos as willing to conceal his name say That she was disrobed of all her Queen-like honours and confined into the Abbey of Warnwel with only one maid to attend her and so committed to the strict custody of the Abbâ—sse William of Malâ—sbury and Marianus Scotus have left remembred That he neither dismissed her his bed nor carnally knew her but whether it was done in hatred to her Kindred or purpose of chastity they are not able to determine Robert Fabian confesseth as much in his Chronicle Part. 6. cap. 210. Howsoever the effects of that abstemious life were not only prejudiciall but brought lamentable effects upon this distracted Kingdome namely Innovation and Conquest for Edward dying without issue England was invaded and opprest by the Normans and the people brought to that miserie that happy was that subject that could say I am no Englishman And in this agree Matthew Paris Capgrave Fabian and Polydore As I hold it not necessary for married folk to tie themselves to this strict kind of abstinence so I hold it not convenient for any such as have to themselves and in their souls taken upon them the strict life of Virginity to be compelled to an enforced marriage as may appeaâ—â—y this discourse following recorded by Gulielm â—â—â—sburien Simeon Danelmens Matthew Paris Roger Hovedâ—â— Capgrave c. Henry the first of that name King of England and crowned in the year of Grace 1101 was by the instigation of Anselm once a Monk of Normandy but after by William Ruâ—us constituted Archbishop of Canterbury married unto Maud daughter to Malcolm the Scottish King she having taken a Vow and being a profest Nun in the Abbey of Winchester Much ado had the King her father the Queen her mother her Confessor Abbesse or the Bishop to alienate her from her setled resolution or perswade her to marriage but being as it were violently compelled thereunto she cursed the fruit that should succeed from her body which after as Polydore affirms turned to the great misfortune and misery of her children for afterwards two of her sons William and Richard were drowned by Sea Besides her daughter Maud who was afterwards Empresse proved an untortunate Mother and amongst many other things in bringing forth Henry the second who caused Thomas Becket to the slain it thus hapned All forreign wars being past and civill combustions being pacified in the year of our Lord 1120 Henry the first with great joy and triumph left Normandy and came into England But within few daies following this great mirth and jollity turned into a most heavy and fearfull sorrow for William and Richard his two sons with Mary his daughter Otwell their 〈◊〉 and Guardian Richard Earl of Chester with the Countesse his wife the Kings Neece many Chaplains Chamberlains Butlers and Servitors for so they are tearmed in the story the Archdeacon of Hereford the Princes play-fellowes Sir Geffrey Rydell Sir Robert Maldvyle Sir William Bygot with other Lords Knights Gentlemen great Heirs Ladies and Gentlewomen to the number of an hundred and forty besides Yeomen and Mariners which were about fifty all these saving one man which some say was a Butcher were all drowned together and not one of their bodies ever after found Many attribute this great Judgement to the heavy curse of Queen Maud others censure of it diversly Howsoever in this King as Polydore saith ended the Descent and Line of the Normans Of this Anselm before spoken of there are divers Epistles yet extant to many women in those daies reputed of great Temperance and Chastity as To Sister Frodelina Sister Ermengarda Sister Athelytes Sister Eulalia Sister Mabily and Sister Basyle To Maud Abbesse of Cane in Normandy and Maud the Abbesse of Walton here in England He writ a Treatise about the same time called Planctus amissae Virginitatis i. e. A bewailing of lost Virginity So far John Bale And so much shall serve for Chast wives in this kind being loth to tire the patience of the Reader Of Women Wantons DIon the Historiographer in Tiberio saith that Livia the wife of Augustus Caesar beholding men naked said to the rest about her That to continent and chast matrons such objects differed nothing from statues or images for the modest heart with immodest sights ought not to be corrupted The unchast eie more drawes
for be that about him by which he should be better 〈◊〉 His entrance was granted but being suspected by the guard because they perceived him hide something fâ—lded up in his garment they searched him and found a head cut off but by reason of the palenesse of the face which was disfigured with the clottered and congealed blood the countenance thereof could hardly be discerned The servant was brought in with the head still dropping blood in his hand At which the King more wondring desired by her to be better satisfied concerning the Novel to whom she boldly replied Lo here O Alexander the end of thy many troubles and fears the head of the great Captain Spitamenes who though my husband yet because he was thine enemy I have caused his head to be cut off and here present it unto thee At the horridnesse of these words the King with all that stood by were abashed every one glad of the thing done but in their hearts detesting the manner of the deed The Lady still expecting an answer Alexander after some pause thus replied I must confesse Lady the great câ—urtesie and infinite benefit received from you in presenting me the head of an out-Law a Traitor and one that was to me a great obstacle and an hinderance in the smooth passage to my intended victories but when I understand it to be done by the hands of a woman nay a wife the strange horridnesse of the fact tâ—kes away all the thanks and reward due to the benefit I therefore command you instantly to depart the Camp and that with all speed possible for I would not have the savage and inhumane examples of the Barbarians contaminate and infect the mild and sort temper of the noble Grecians With which words she was instantly hurried from his presence As noble a president of Justice in a Prince as it was an abhorred example of cruelty in a most unnaturall wife Q. Curt. lib. 8. de Alexandri Hâ—stor From a remorselesse wife I come now to as obdurate a stepmother Pelops having married Hyppodamia the daughter of Tantaâ—us and Eurianassa had by her two sons Thiestes and Atreus and by the nymph Danais a third son called Crisippus to which he seemed outwardly better affected then 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 sons by Hyppodamia made war upon Laius took him prisoner and recovered Crisippus and when he truly understood that love was the cause of his rape he was attoned with Laius and an inviolable league of amity combined betwixt them Whilst the Theban yet sojourned with Pelops Hyppodamia perswaded with Atreus and Thiesles to conspire against the life of Crisippus as one that aimed at the succession of the Kingdome but not prevailing she meditated with her selfe how to despoile him of life with her own hands when having conveied 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 leaving the sword still in his body and left the place still undiscovered accusing the Theban for his death but the youth not fully dead recovered so much spirit as to discover the murtheresse for which King Laius was acquitted and she from her husband received condign punishment for her immâ—nity and murther Dosythaeus in Pelopedâ—s Progne to revenge the rape of her sister Philomela upon her husband Terâ—us King of Thrace feasted him with the body of his own son Ilis of which you may read at large in Ovid's Metamorphosis Some women have been so unnaturall as to betray their fathers After Troy was utterly subverted and despoiled King Diomede one of the most valiant amongst the Kings of Greece in the return towards his Country being by storms and tempests violently cast upon the coast of Thrace where Lycas the son of Mars 〈◊〉 reigned and according to the bloody custome of the Country sacrificed all such strangers as landed upon his Continent his daughter Callirhoe surprised with the love of King Diomede not only released him from durance but betraied the life of Lycus her father into into his hands notwithstandingâ—â—ne most â—â—eâ—cherously left her for which ingratitude and urged with remorse of conscience for proving so unnaturall to him from whom she had her being by strangling her selfe she despairingly expired Juba lib. 3. Libicorum Paralleld with this is that which we read of Calphâ—nius 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 surprized in the siege thereof and reserved the next day to be sacrificed to Saturn being in despair either of rescue or life Besaâ—ia daughter to the King who was then possest of the Fort falling in love with Calphurnius not only delivered up unto him the Keies of the Castle that he might freely escape with life but betraied unto him the liberty and life of her father but after being degenerately forsaken by him she desperately slew herself Hegesinax lib. 3. rerum Africarum I am weary with setting down these immauities in women and Polyhymnia invites me to a new argument Of Women strangely preserved from death and such as haue unwillingly been the death of their fathers NIceas Maleotes as Plutarch in his thirteenth Parallel testates reports that when Hercules for the love of Iâ—le the daughter of Cacus invaded Occhalia and she abhorring the embraces of him who had before slain her father retired her selfe for safety into the strongest Cittadell in her Country in which being straightely besieged by Hercules and the Fort ready to be surprized and taken she having no way to escape and unwilling to stand to the mercy of so loving an enemy mounted up into the highest Turâ—et of the Castle and from thence cast her selfe headlong down towards the Earth but the wind gathering under her loose garments so extenuated the fall that she came the ground without any hurt at all by which miraculous fortune she enjoied a desperate life and Hercules a most desired mistresse Answerable to this is that which Theophilus Italicorum tertio relates The Romans in the Etrurian war instituted Valerius Torquatus Generall of their forces he having beheld Clusia the daughter of the Tusoan King grew enamoured of the Virgin and sent Embassadors to demand her of her father but she not willing to make any contract with her Countries enemy and her father as loth to contradict his daughter the motion and offer of Torquatus was peremptorily denied at which inraged he begitt the City with a strong and fearful siege ingaging the defendants to all dangers and difficulties insomuch that Clusia timorous of surprisall and pâ—â—ferring death before captivity threw her selfe from the highest part of the wall to destroy her selfe in the open view and face of the enemy but either as the former late mentioned favoured by the winds or as
King is betwixt them slain over whose dead body she caused her Chariot to be drawn Her cheeks blushed not when the wheels of her Waggon were stained with her fathers blood And so much to give Tullia a short character the most insolent of Wives and the worst of Daughters Of a lower voice softer spirit and more temperate condition were these wives following Chilonia the wife of Cleombrotus King of Sparta and daughter of Leonides who had before soverainised when in those civil combustions the â—on in law had expulsed the father and compelled him into exile she never ceased to importune her hnsband till she had called him home from banishment But in processe of time when Fortune had turned her wheel and Leoâ—ides in those dissentions having got the better had confined Cleombrotus she was an hourly intercessor for the repeal of her husband but finding her father to be obdure and her 〈◊〉 by him not listned to though she might in all pleasure and â—ase have happily spent her age in her own City with her father she rather made choise to be a faithfuâ—l companion in all distresses with her husband Fulgos lib. 6. cap. 7. Anaxandrâ—des the son of Leontias married with his sisters daughter whom he exceedingly loved but because she was 〈◊〉 and that by her he had no issue the Ephori made suit unto him to be divorced from her and would have compelled him unto it but when he had absolutely denied to condescend with them in that point they made another request unto him That he would take unto him another wife more fruitfull lest the most fortunate issue of Euristaeus might in him be extingished He therefore at their intreaties took to him a second wife namely Perinetades the daughter of Demarmenus and so brought her home to his house where which is strange the two women lived together peaceably without emulation or envy His last wife brought him a son whom he called Cleomenes and not long after his first wife before barren made him the fortunate father of three sons the first Dorieus the second Leonides the third Cleombrotus but Cleomenes the eldest by the second wife succeeded in the sovereignty Herodot lib. 5. Thesca the sister of Dionysius being married to Polixenus who having entred into a conjuration with other noble Gentlemen to supplant the Tyrant but fearing discovery fled for his best safety Upon whose flight Dionysius cals his sister into question as one that must of necessity be privy to his escape To whom she boldly thus answered Thinkest thou O Dionysius thy sister to be a woman of that servile and degnerate condition that had she known the least purpose of his retirement she would not have made her selfe a companion in all his Navigations and Travel Erasm Apophtheg lib. 5. Caius Caligula the Emperor having found Herod the husband to Herodias Tetrarch of Galilee engaged in a revolt from the Empire with Artabanus King of the Parthians amerced him in a great sum of monie for that defect and till it was levied and paied into the Treasury gave him in custody to King Agrippa whom he had found loiall unto him and in whose fidelity he much trusted He after banished Herod into a Lyons a City of France with an irrevocable doom of exile imposed upon him but understanding Herodias to be sister to the wife of Agrippa whom he much favoured out of Herods mulct or sine he proportioned her a large Dower reserved in the hands of Agrippa to her use as not dreaming she would have been a companion with him in his confinement To which extraordinary grace from the Emperor she thus replied You O Emperor as best becomes your Majesty speak like a roiall and munificent Prince but the Conjugal Bond of Love and Piety in which I am tied to a husband is to me an impediment that I am not capable of this great Largesse and unmerited bounty Unmeet it is that I who have been a partaker with him in all his prosperous and flourishing fortunes should now forsake him and not be a companion with him in the worst that disaster or adversity can inflict This noble answer Caeligula took in such scorn and high displeasure to see himself in magnanimity and greatnesse of spirit to be exceeded by a woman that he banished her with her husband Herod and the bounty before bestowed on her he conferred upon her brother in law Agrippa Joseph in Antiq. Cleomenes the son of Anaxandrides and Perinetades but lately spoken of being expulsed from Sparta by Antigonus King of Macedonia fled for refuge to Ptolomeus King of Aegypt whither his wife would have followed him but disswaded by her parents notwithstanding a strict gard was set over her yet in the night she beguiled her keepers and having provided a horse for the purpose posted with all possible speed to the next Port Town that was least suspected where hiring a ship with all the Coin and Jewels then about her she sailed into Aegypt and there spent the remainder of her daies with him in his uncomfortable exile Fulgos lib. 6. cap. 7. I have but one more gentle Reader to trouble thy patience with at this present Blanca Rubea Patavina the wife of Baptista a Porta betaking her selfe into the same free priviledged Town of which Bassianus was then governor and whither her husband for his safety was retired in the year of our Redemption 1253. when Acciolinus the Tyrant having lost Padua when bending all his forces to the surprisall of Bassianus compassing that at length by fraud and stratagem which by opposition and violence he could never have accomplished in the entring of which Town Baptista was slain and Blanca Rubea being armed and fighting boldly by his side till she saw him fall was notwithstanding her masculine valour taken prisoner by a souldier and presented to the Tyrant who gazing on her rare feature much more beautified by the rich armor she then had on grew exceedingly enamoured on this manly Virago and first with fair enticing blandishments he courted her love but finding no possibility to satiate his libidinous affections that way where fair means failed he purposed force which to avoid and to prevent the dishonour intended her she cast her self out from an high Bay-window two-stories from the gronnd where being taken up half dead with much difficulty she was recovered No sooner was she wel able to walk but the Tyrant still prosecuted his beastly and bruitish desires which she still opposing with that small strength he had his left he caused his servants to bind her according to lustfull direction and not able to stir hand nor 〈◊〉 in that horrible manner ravished her At length being loosed from those hatefull and unsufferable bonds she with what patience she could dissembled her griefe and wrought so far with some that compassioned her miseries that she had liberty to visit her dead husband in his Tomb into which with loud shrieks and passionate lamentation she entred still invoking her
the infant any way betray the Sex for as Ovid Metamorph. lib. 9. saith of it Cultus erat 〈◊〉 facies quam sive puellae Sive dares pueri â—icrat formosus uterque The habit of a Bâ—y she wore And it had such a face As whether she were Boy or Girl It either Sex would grace Lictus gives it the name of the grandfather and cals it Iphis a name that may belong equally either to man or woman the mother holds it as a fortunate Omen The infant growes to be ripe for marriage and the father is as ready to provide a wife for his supposed son Ianthe is found the daughter of Dyctaeus and Thaleste a young damosel of large dower and commendable beauty Iphiâ— and Ianthe were of equall years and alike in feature they were bred together brought up and schooled together and as they had like instructions so they had like affections they were paralell'd in love but not in hopes Ianthe expected to be possessed of Iphis Iphis was in despair ever to enjoy Ianthe as her fear stil growes greater so the marriage day approacheth neerer the fathers joy and comfort is the mothers dread and grief the ones exaltation to bliss the others dejection to sorrow The Contract is past the Nuptial day come there are two Brides and no Bridegroom notwithstanding Hymen is present Juno at hand Vâ—nus not far off and Lucina the goddesse of Child-birth in hope of future imploiment The mother retires to her praiers the daughter to her tears Where humane hope fails and Nature opposeth or at least helpeth not whither should we slie but to the gods for assistance So they repair to the Altar where they humbly kneel and as devoutly pray Praiers are said to be the daughters of Jupiter and have at all hours accesse to the ears of their father Their Orisons ended the mother and the daughter returned if not helped yet in their resolutions armed against hurt In the way back as Ovid my Master tels me it thus hapned Mater abit Templo sequitur Comes Iphis euntem Quam solita est majore gradu c. The mother from the Temple Iphis guides She followes her but yet with larger strides Then when she thither went and thinks it strange To find within her self such sudden change Because she feels about her something grow The like she never saw nor yet doth know The whitenesse in her cheek begins to fade She seems more swart besides more breadth is laid Vpon her spreading shoulders she is now More strong then erst and in her modest brow A look more manly her fair hair that hung Below her Waste still shortens and her Tongue Hath got a bigger tone nor marvel when Iphis the Maid may now be rank'd ' mongst men What and how great joy this prodigious change was I leave to them that can truly apprehend the happinesse of such a hopelesse and unexpected fortune betwixt two Lovers but whether this was done meerly by the miraculous work of the gods or were possible in Nature might be disputed To this purpose he that collected the Memorable Histories of these times hath quoted an Author in many things beleevable That the like hath been known in our later ages yea children have been born that by the Midwives Nurses and Parents have been mistaken for daughters and so continued for some years But growing to the age of twelve or thereabouts and are able to distinguish of good or evil being capable of passions and subject to affections whether Love or Time hath produced these strange effects I am not certain but those manly parts that were before inverted and concealed within the body have burst forth and been made apparent insomuch that they have been forced to change their womens names into mens with the exchange of their habits and after made choice of wives and as this Iphis to Ianthe have been joifully married Ovid in his twelfth book of Metamorphosis remembers the like transhape from the mouth of Nestor Caenis saith he the daughter of Elataeus one of the most beautiful virgins of Thessaly and of such fame that even Peleus the father of Achilles amongst many others was an earnest suitor unto her to have made her his Bride and Queen but the proud Girl despising both his proffers and person gave him a like repulse with the rest pretending a perpetual vow of Chastity At length Neptune grew enamoured of her and encountred her at such opportunity and advantage that maâ—ger all resistance she was by him vitiated and devirgined To recompence which injury he bad her ask whatsoever was in his power being a god to grant and she should be recompenced to the fulnesse of her wishes and desires She fearing lest the temptation of her incomparable beauty might bring her in danger of the like violence and to base prostitution which she above all things hated to him she thus answered Magnum Caenis ait facit haec injuria votam Tale pati jam posse nihil da femina ne sim Omnia praestiteris c. My injury doth make me Caenis said To ask a mighty 〈◊〉 which grant I pray That I no more in this kind be betraâ—'d Make me to be no woman from this day 'T is all I beg The last words that she spake Seemd to be utter'd with more manly sound Then were the first Great Neptune for her sake Had granted it which in her self she found And added more to recompence this deed Never shall that smooth skin by weapon bleed After which time she proveth invulnerable changed her name to Caneus practised arms and proved a famous souldier She was in that great battel betwixt the Centaurs and the Lapithes where fel by her hand Stiphilus Bromus Antimachus Helimus and Pyrachmon five valiant Centaurs Now though this may seem somewhat to savour of fabulous Poetry may not she leaving out the compression of Neptune or being made wound free by the former probability so late remembred being born of a warlike race and having in her the inherent seeds of hereditary valor though she was first thought a damosel yet when time produced her virility make shew of that imperfect Nature had not til then ripened and practise Aâ—ms agreeable with the brave spirits of her ancestors And because either her good fortune assisted her or 〈…〉 her that she never received any apparant wound in battel may she not therefore and without any palpable absurdity be thought invulnerable And so much to Apology in the way of discourse for those supposed impossibilities only producing these Histories least any thing that savors not of immodesty that can be spoke of women should be left unremembred 〈…〉 Polyhimnia FINIS THE EIGHTH BOOK inscribed VRANIA Intreating of Women every way learned of Poetresses and Wiâ—ches c. POlyhimnia remembers me to look up to her Sister Vrania whose contemplation is in the Stars and Planets where me thinks I behold the tâ—â—lve Signs as Maniâ—us in his first book Astronomicon thus
to Troy in Asia The Princes of Greece redemanding her answer was returned That since they made no restitution of Europa nor of Medea nor Hesione neither would they of Hellena which was the originall of that memorable siege of Troy and the destruction of that famous City Herodotus lib. 1. Thrasimenes being enamored of the fair daughter of Pisistratus and his affection daily more and more encreasing he gathered himselfe a society of young men and watching the Lady when she came with other young damosels to offer sacrifice according to the custome of the Country by the Sea side with their swords drawn they set upon the company that attended her and having dispersed them snatched her up and hurrying her aboord sailed with her towards Aegina But Hyppias the eldest son of Pisistratus being then at Sea to clear those coasts of Pirats by the swiftnesse of their Oars imagined them to be of the fellowship of the Sea-robbers pursued them boorded them and took them who finding his sister there brought her back with the ravishers Thrasimenes with the rest of his faction being brought before Pisistratus notwithstanding his known austerity would neither do him honor nor use towards him the least submission but with bold and undaunted constancy attended their sentence telling him That when the attempt was first proposed they then armed themselves for death and all disasters Pisistratus admiring their courage and magnanimity which shewed the greater in regard of their youth called his daughter before him and in the presence of his nobility to recompence his celsitude of mind spirit freely bestowed her upon Thrasymenes by which mens he reconciled their opposition and enterteined them into new faith and obedience no more expressing himselfe a Tyrant but a loving and bountiful father and withall a popular Citizen Polin lib. 5. The daughters of King Adrastus were ravished by Acesteneutrix as Statius lib. 1. hath left remembred Buenus the son of Mars and Sterope married Marpissâ— daughter to Oenemaus and Alcippa whom Apharetas espying as she danced amongst other Ladies grew enamoured of and â—orcibly rapt her from her company Plutarch in Paral. Hersilia with the Sabine Virgins were likewise rap'd by Romulus and his souldiers at large described by Ovid. lib. de Arte Amandi 1. Lucrece the chast Roman Matron was stuprated by Sextus Tarquinius of whom Seneca in Octavia thus saith Nata Lucreti stuprum saevi passa Tyranni Eudoxia being left by Valentinianus was basely ravished by the Tyrant Maximus who usurped in the Empire for which she invited Gensericus out of Africk to avenge her of the shame and dishonour done unto her Sigebertus in Chronicu The same Author tels us of Ogdilo Duke of Boiaria who forced the sister of King Pepin for which injury done to her the King oppressed him with a cruell and boody war Of Handmaids Nurses Midwives and Stepdames PEecusa was a Handmaid to Diana whom Martial lib. 1. thus remembers Et â—â—eidit sectis Iâ—la Plâ—cusa Crinis Lagopice is another lib. 7. remembred by the same Author Cibale was the maid-servant to a poor man called Similus remembred by Virgil in Morete Phillis Troiana was the Handmaid to Phoceus as Briseis was to Achilles Pliny lib. 36. cap. 27. makes Ocrisia the damosell to the Queen Tanaquil so Horace makes Cassandra to Agamemnon Gyge as Plutarch relates was such to Parysatis Queen of Persia and mother to Cyrus Thressa was maid-servant to Thales Milesius who as Theodoricus Cyrenensis affirms when she saw her Master come home dirty and miry as being newly crept out of a ditch chid him exceeding for gazing at the Stars to find those hidden things above and had not the foresight to see what lay below at his feet but he must stumble Herodotus in Euterpe cals Rhodope the famous Aegyptian the Handmaid of Iadmon Samius a Philosopher Elos was a damosell to King Athamas from whom a great City in Achaia took denomination and was called Aelos Lardana as Herodotus affirms was at first no better then a servant from whom the noble Family of the Heraclidae derive their first orginall Titula otherwise called Philotis was a Roman Virgin of the like condition and is remembred for such by Plutarch in Camillo as also by Macrob. lib. 1. Saturnalium Proconnesia is remembred by Pliny who in one day brought forth two children the one like her Master and the other like another man with whom she had had company and being born delivered either child to his father Lathris was the handmaid to Cinthia so much spoken of by Propert. as Cypassis was to Cersinna the mistresse of Ovid of whom he thus writes Eleg. lib. 2. Commendis in mille modis praefecta capillis Comere sed solas digna Cipasse Deas She rules her mistresse hair her skill is such A thousand severall waies to her desires O worthy none but goddesses to touch To comb and deck their heads in costly Tires Chionia was Hand-maid to the blessed Anastasia so likewise was Galanthis to Alâ—mena the mother of Hercules of whom the same Author lib. 9. thus saies Vna ministrarium media de plebe Galanthis Flava comas aderat faciendis strenua jussis Amidst them all Galanthis stood With bright and yellow hair A 〈◊〉 that quick and nimble was Things needfull to prepare From Hand-maids I proceed to Nurâ—es Annius upon Berosus and Calderinus upon Statius nominace Caphyrna or Calphurâ—â—a the daughter of Oceanus to have been the Nurse of Neptune as Amalthea and Melissa were to Jupiter who fed him with the milk of a Goat in his infancy when he was concealed from his father Hence it came that the Poets fabled how Jupiter was nursed by a Goat for which courtesie he was translated amongst the stars Others say he was nursed by Adrastea and Ida the two daughters of King Melisaeus for so Erasmus teacheth in the explanation of the Adage Copiae Cornu Ino was the nurse of Bacchus as Ovid witnesseth in Ib. where he likewise cals her the Aunt to Bacchus in this Verse Vt teneri Nutrix eadem Matertera Bacchi Of the same opinion with him is Statius lib. 2. Silv. But Ammonius Grammaticus makes Fesula the woman that gave him such Pliny cals her Nysa saith she was buried neer to the City Scythopolis Polycha was the Nurse of Oedipus who fostered him when his father Laius cast him out in his infancy because the Oracle had foretold he should perish by the hand of his son Barce was the Nurse of Sychaeus the most potent and rich King of the Phoenicians and husband to Dido Her Virgil remembers Aenead lib. 4. Charme was Nurse to the Virgin Scilla of whom the same Author in Syri thus saies Illa autem quid nunc me inquit Nutricula torques i. Why O Nurse dost thou thus torment me Beroe Epidauria was Nurse to Cadmeian Semele the mother of Bacchus as Aceste was to the daughters of Adrastus Stat. lib. 1. Theb. Eupheme is memorated to be the Nurse to
hand against him he retired himselfe into his Country and laying aside his victorious arms which won him fame and honour abroad he abandoned himselfe to ease and the private pleasures of his fathers house and now wanting other imploiment as idlenesse is the greatest corrupter of vertue he began to entertein such unusuall flames and unaccustomed cogitations as before he had no time to feel or leisure to think on for now he cast his incestuous eie upon his sister His passions much troubled him at the first and all possible means he used to shake them off but in vain he lived in the same house with her they dieted at one table had liberty of unsuspected conference and he having nothing else to do had only leisure to meditate on that which was fearful to apprehend but horrible to enterprize To this purpose Ovid with great elegancy in remed Amor. lib. 1. speaking of Aegistus who in the absence of Agamemnon adulterated his Queen Clitemnestra thus writes Queritur Aegistus quare sit factus adulter In promptu causa est desidiosâ—â— erat c. Doth any man demand the reason why Aegistus an adulterer was Lo I Can tell Because that he was idle when Others at Troy were sighting and their men Led stoutly on 〈◊〉 to which place were accited The Grecian Heroes with a force united He no imploiment had There was no war In Argos where he lived from Troy so far No strife in Law to which being left behind He carefully might have imploi'd his mind That which lay plain before him the man prov'd And lest he should do nothing therefore lov'd As Ovid of Aegistus so may I say of Leucippus whom rest and want of action in a stirring brain and body wrought this distemperature Ashamed he was to court his sister first because he knew her modest a second impediment was she was elsewhere disposed and contracted to a Gentleman of a Noble family besides she was his sister to whom he wishâ— all good and then to corrupt her honor he could devise for her no greater ill he considered that to perswade her to her own undoing would shew ill in a stranger but worse in a brother In these distractions what should he do or what course take the thing he apprehended was preposterous and the means to compass it was prodigious for he came to his mother told her his disease and besought her of remedy his words as they were uttered with tear so they were heard with trembling for they foavered her all over Being in to the knees he cared not now to wade up to the chin and proceeded That if she would not be the means for him to compasse his sister notwithstanding all obstacles whatsoever he would by speedy and sudden death rid himselfe out of all his miseries desiring her speedy answer or with his naked poniard in his hand he was as ready for execution as she to deny her assistance I leave to any mothers consideration but to imagine with what strange ambiguities his words perplexed her what convulsions it bred in her bosome even to the very stretching of her heart strings but as she knew his courage to dare so she feared his resolution to act therefore more like a tender hearted mother then a vertuous minded matron rather desiring to have wicked children then none at all she promised him hope and assured him help and after some perswasive words of comfort left him indifferently satisfied What language the mother used to the daughter to invite her to the pollution of her body and destruction of her soul is not in me to conceive I only come to the point by the mothers mediation the brother is brought to the bed of his sister she is vitiâ—ted and his appetite glutted yet not so but that they continued their private meetings insomuch that custome bred impudence and suspition certain proof of their incestuous consociety At length it comes to the ear of him that had contracted her with attestation of the truth thereof he though he feared the greatnesse of Leucippus his known valour and popular favour yet his spirit could not brook so unspeakable an injury he acquaints this novell to his father and certain noble friends of his amongst whom it was concluded by all jointly to inform Xanthius of his daughters inchastity but for their own safety knowing the potency of Leucippus to conceal the name of the adulterer They repair to him and inform him of the businesse intreating his secrecy till he be himself eie-witness of his daughters dishonor The father at this newes is inraged but arms himselfe with patience much longing to know that libidinous wretch who had dishonored his family The incestuous meeting was watcht and discovered and word brought to Xanthius that now was the time to apprehend them he cals for lights and attended with her accusers purposes to invade the chamber great noise is made she affrighted rises and before they came to the door opens it slips by thinking to flie and hide her selfe the father supposing her to be the adulterer pursues her and pierceth her through with his sword By this Leucippus starts up and with his sword in his hand hearing her last dying shreek prepares himself for her rescue he is incountred by his father whom in the distraction of the sudden affright he unadvisedly assaulted and slew The mother disturbed with the noise hasts to the place where she heard the tumult was and seeing her husband and daughter slain betwixt the horridness of the sight and apprehension of her own guilt fell down suddenly and expired And these are the lamentable effects of Incest the father to kill his own daughter the son his father and the mother the cause of all ill to die suddenly without the least thought of repentance These things so infortunately hapning Leucippus caused their bodies to be nobly interred when forsaking his fathers house in Thessaly he made an expedition into Creet but being repulst from thence by the inhabitants he made for Ephesia where he took perforce a City in the province of Cretinaea and after inhabited it It is said that Leucophria the daughter of Mandrolita grew enamored of him and betraied the City into his hands who after married her and was ruler thereof This history is remembred by Parthenius de Amatoriis cap. 5. Of incest betwixt the father and the daughter Ovid. lib. Metam speaks of whose verses with what modesty I can I will give you the English of and so end with this argument Accipit obscoeno genitor sua viscera lecto Virgeneosque metus levat Hortaturque timentem c Into his obscene bed the father takes His trembling daughter much of her he makes Who pants beneath him ' bids her not to fear But be of bolder courage and take chear Full of her fathers sins loath to betray The horrid act by night she steals away Fraught that came thither empty for her womb Is now of impious incest made
sister received with joy and of the people with loud acclamations and being now possessed of the Imperiall dignity the better as he thought to secure himselfe having power answerable to his will after the barbarous custome of the Turkish tyranny he first caused his eight younger brothers to be beheaded stretching his bloody malice to all or the most part of his own affinity not suffering any to live that had been neer or deer to his deceased brother so that the City Casbin seemed to swim in blood and ecchoed with nothing but lamentations and mournings His cruelty bred in the people both fear and hate both which were much more increased when they understood he had a purpose to alter their form of religion who with great adoration honour their prophet Aly into the Turkish superstition his infinite and almost incredible butcheries concern not my project in hand I therefor leave them and return to his sister whose name was Periaconcona who when this Tyrant was in the middest of his securities and the sister as he imagined in her sisterly love and affection upon a night when he was in all dissolute voluptuousnesse sporting amidst his concubines she into whose trust and charge he had especially committed the safety of his person having confederated with Calilchan Emirchan Pyrymahomet and Churchi Bassa the most eminent men in the Empire admitted them into the Seraglio in womans attire by whom with her assistant hand in the midst of his luxuries he was strangled an act though happily beneficiall to the common good yet ill becomming a sister unlesse such an one as strived to parallel him in his unnaturall cruelties Turkish History Equall with this was that of Quendreda who after the death of Ranulphus King of Mercia his young son Kenelm a child of seven years of age raigning in his stead whose roiall estate and dignity being envied by his sister she conspired with one Heskbertus by whose treacherous practise the King was enticed into a thick forrest and there murdered and privately buried his body long missed and not found and the conspirators not so much as suspected But after as Willielm de regib lib. 1. and de Pontificibus lib. 4. relates a Dove brought in her bill a scrole written in English golden letters and laid it upon the Altar of Saint Peter which being read by an Englishman contained these words by which the place where the body lay was discovered At Clent in Cowbach Kenelme Keneborn lieth under Thorn heaved by weaved that is in plainer English At Clent in Cowbach under a thorn Kenelm lieth headlesse slain by treason Some say it was found by a light which streamed up into the air from the place where his body lay covered His hearse being after borne towards his sepulchre to be a second time interred with solemn Dirges sung by the Churchmen Quendreda sitting then in a window with a Psalter in her hand to see the funerall solemnly pass by whether in scorn of the person deâ—ision of the Ceremony or both is not certain but she began to sing the Psalm of Te Deum laudamus backward when instantly both her eies dropped out of her head with a great flux of blood which stained her book and it was after kept as a sacred relique in memory of the Divine judgement What need I trouble you with citing antiquities how this sin ought to be punished on earth when we see how hatefull it is in the eies of heaven besides to insult upon the bodies of the dead is monstrous and even in things senslesse to be punished Ausonius remembers us of one Achillas who finding a dead mans scull in a place where three sundrie waies divided themselves and casting to hit it with a stone it rebounded again from the scull and stroke himself on the forehead his words be these Abjecta in triviis inhumati glabra jacebat Testa hominis nudum jam cute calvicium Fleverant alii fletu non motus Achillas c. Where the three waies parted a mans soul was found Bald without hair unburied above ground Some wept to see 't Achillas more obdure Snatcht up a stone and thinks to hit it sure He did so at the blow the stone rebounds And in the eies and face Achillas wounds I wish all such whose impious hands prophane The dead mans bones so to be stroke again Of Mothers that have slain their Children or Wives their Husbands c. MEdea the daughter of Oeta King of Colchos first slew her young brother in those Islands which in memory of his inhumane murther still bear his name and are called Absyrtides and after her two sons Macarâ—â—â— and Pherelus whom she had by Iason Progne the daughtâ—er of Pandion murthered her young son It is begot by Terâ—us the son of Mars in revenge of the rape of her sister 〈◊〉 Ino the daughter of Cadmus Melicertis by 〈◊〉 the son of Aeolus Althea the daughter of Theseus slew her son Meleager by Oeneus the son of Parthaon Themisto the daughter of Hypseus Sphincius or Plinchius and Orchomenus by 〈◊〉 at the instigation of Ino the daughter of Cadmus Tyros the daughter of Salmoneus two sons begot by 〈◊〉 the son of Aeolus incited thereto by the Oracle of Apollo Agave the daughter of Cadmus Pentheus the son of Echiâ—â— at the importunity of Liber Pater Harpalice the daughter of Climenus slew her own father because he forcibly despoiled her of her honor Hyginus in Fabulis These slew their Husbands Clitemnestra the daughter of Theseus Agamemnon the son of Atreus Hellen the daughter of Iupiter and Laeda Deiphobus the son of Priam and Hecuba he married her after the death of Paris Agave Lycotherses in Illyria that she might restore the Kingdom to her father Cadmus Deianeira the daughter of Oeneus Althea Hercules the son of Iupiter Alomena by the Treason of Nessus the Centaur Iliona the daughter of Priam Polymnestor King of Thrace Semyramis her husband Ninus King of Babylon c. Some have slain their Fathers others their Nephewes and Neeces all which being of one nature may be drawn to one head And see how these prodigious sins have been punished Martina the second wife to Heraclius and his Neece by the brothers side by the help of Pyrrhus the Patriarch poisoned Constantinus who succeeding in the Empire fearing left her son Heraclius should not attain to the Imperiall Purple in regard that Constantinus left issue behind him two sons Constantes and Theodosius which he had by Gregoria the daughter of Nycetas the Patritian notwithstanding he was no sooner dead but she usurped the Empire Two years of her Principality were not fully expired when the Senate reassumed their power and called her to the bar where they censured her to have her tongue cut out lest by her eloquence she might perswade the people to her assistance her son Heraclius they maimed off his Nose so to make him odious to the multitude and after exiled them both
through the Tritonian Fen. They have it by tradition that Minerva was the daughter of Neptune and the Fen before named and being reproved by her father she â—â—ok it in such scorn that she utterly rejected him and gave â—he selfe to Iupiter who adopted her his daughter Zaleucus when â—e commended his lawes to the Locrenses to make them the better observed by the people told them Minerva had appeared to him and did dictate and propose to him whatsoever he had delivered to them The most famous of Poets Homer he mad Minerva a companion of Vlysses in his travels in whom he personated the most wise man amongst the Grecians who freed him from all dangers labours and ship-wrecks and brought him in safety to his Country Parents Queen Sonne and Subjects thereby intimating That by Wisedome and Knowledge all difficult things may be easily undergone This is that winged horse Pegasus by which Perseus subdued so many monsters This is that shield of Pallas to which the Gorgons head being fastned turns the beholders to stone amazing the ignorant and unlearned Agreeable to this is Homers first book of his Odyssae the argument I give you thus in English Pallas by Joves command from heaven descends And of the Paphian Mentor takes the shape In which she to Telemachus commends Such Greeks as from revenging Hellens rage Were home return'd Nestor amongst the rest And Menelaus urging him to enquire Of them who in the wars at Troy did best And whose heroick acts did most aspire But of Ulysses chiefly to learn newes What course he takes or what attempt pursues Again in the second Book Vnknown to fierce Antinous and his mates Telemachusâ— from Court in secret steals On him Joves daughter bright Minerva waits And taking Mentors shape her selfe conceals He by the goddesse Urgence straight prepares For such a voiage instantly providing All needfull helps apt for such great affairs Their ship made ready unto Pallas guiding He trusts himselfe by help of saile and oare They put to sea and lose the sight of shore Vlysses suffering ship-wreck and cast naked upon the shore of Pheacus he was assisted further by her as followes in the sixt and seventh arguments The wearied Greek all naked steps on shore Whether Nausiaca descends to play With other Virgins as it was before Their custome up the Greek starts spying day With a fair slock of Ladies him beside Vp by the roots he tears the herbs and grasse Thinking with them his nakednesse to hide And so proceeds unto the queenlike lasse Pallas his patronesse moves her to pity She gives him both her chariot and attire So to Minervas Temple neer the City He 's proudly drawn guarded by many a squire Thus in her altars sight being lodg'd that night Ne sâ—ives with incense Pallas to requite Minerva takes a virgins shape upon her And to the City first Ulysses brings But after to aspire him to more honour Into the Pallace th' ancient seat of Kings Arete wife to Alcinous first demands Where he receiv'd those garments and what fate Brought him that way the Princesse understands The utmost that Ulysses can relate Therefore the Queen accepts him as her guest The night perswades they part to severall rest In all his negotiations and travels Pallas was still his assistant for Wisedome never forsakes any man in necessities insomuch that after he had freed his Court of his wives unruly â—utors having slain them all and was now peaceably possest of his Kingdome she was still constant to him in all his extremities Which I will conclude with the foure and twentieth argument of Homers Odysse and the last book Tartaream vocat in sedem Cillenius umbras The mutinous Ghosts of the sad woers slain Mercury forceth to the vaults below What Time th' heroick spirits thronging complain That Agamemnon should be murd'red so These being young men of chiefe beauty and age Why they so presse in heaps demands the cause And are resolv'd ' mongst whom Ulysses sage And chast Penelope gain much applause Especially from Agamemnons ghost Who had to him a fate much contrary Yet whom in lâ—fe he had respected most Mean time Ulysses that 〈◊〉 lâ—ng'd to see His Father old Laeâ—tes 〈…〉 His fortunes dangers travels misery Both forrein and domestick what strange spels Witchcrafts and shipwracks had so long detein'd him From his grave Father and his constant Queen And to what dire exigents constrein'd him In what strange coasts and climats he had been By this the Fathers of the sutors dead Grieving their sons should so untimely fall Take counsell and ' gainst th' Ithacan make head These he opposes and repels them all But gathering new supplies by Joves command Pallas from descends t' at tone these â—ars To free all forrein forces from the land And by her wisedome compromise these wars By his decrees and her own wisedome guided Arms are surceast all difference is decided Pallas hath been often invocated by the Poets but amongst infinite I will only instance one and that for the elegancy Homer in his long peregrination through Greece and other Countries sometimes by sea and sometimes by land and by the reason of his blindnesse grooping his way he hapned to passe by a place where Potters were at work and setting such things as they had newly moulded into their furnace who finding by his harp for he seldome travelled without it being one of the best means he had to get his living that he had some skill in Musick intreated him that he would play them a fit of miâ—th and sing them a fine song which if he would do they would give him so many small pots and necessary drinking cups for his labour vailes that belonged to their trade The conditions were accepted and he presently to his harp sung this extemporall ditty called Caminus or Fornax Oh Potters if you 'll give to me that hire Which you have promis'd thus to you I 'll sing Descend O Pallas and their brains inspire And to their trade thy best assistance bring That their soft chaâ—ices may harden well And their moist cups of clay wax brown and dry This being done they may with profit sell And customers from all parts come to buy Not to the market onely but even here Where they be forg'd and burnt so shall it be When I am pleas'd and you have sold them deâ—râ— Profit to you and covenant with me But if you mock me and my meed deny All hideous mischifes to this furnace throng May those grosse plagues that thicken in the skie Meet at this forge to witnesse this my wrong Hither rush Smaragus and with him bring Asbetes and Sabactes quench their fire Oh Pallas 'bout their rooms their models flâ—ng On Oven Shop and Furnace vent thine ire Else let Omodomas with too much heat Crack all their vessels and their art confound Bash all their works to mammocks I intreat Pull furnace forge harth house and all to ground That they may bruise
Floralia Of her Ovid thus speaks in his fifth book Fastorum Hunc mens implevit generosa Flore maritus Atque ait arbitrium tu dea Floris eris Tro and Thor. These are the names of a goddesse and a god spoken of in the history of Saxo Grammaticus Furina Is the goddesse of theeves her sacrifices are kept in the night as best affecting deeds of darknesse The Etruscians call her the goddesse of lots such as are drawn for the taking up of controversies Hippona She hath the government and protection of Horses whom hostlers and grooms of stables have in great adoration her picture is still in the place where their horses stand of her Juvenal speaks in his eighth Satyre Horchta is a goddesse worshipped in the City of Etruria as the genius of the same place From her the village by called Horchianus takes name Laverna She is over theeves who make supplication to her for good and rich booties as that she would charm the houshold with sleep keep the dogs from barking and the door hinges from creeking to detend them from shame and keep them from the gallowes Horace in his first book of Epistles Pulchra Laverna Da mihi â—allere da sanctum justumque videri Viz. Oh faire Laverna grant me that I may cousen and deceive but grant me withall that I may appear to the world a just man and an holy Mania was a goddesse and mother of the Lares or houshold gods to whom children were used to be offered in sacrifice for the safety of their familiar friends that were in travell by land or sea or in any feare of danger But Junius Brutus in his Consulship altered the property of that oblation and changed the innocent lives and blood of Infants into the heads of garlick and poppie which served in the stead thereof Medetrina Mellonia Mena Murcea c. Medetrina She was the medicinall goddesse and was called so à Medendo she had power in the ministring of Physick her solemnities were called Medittinatia So likewise Mellonia was thought to be goddesse and chiefe Patronesse of honie Mena had predominance of some secrets belonging to women Murcea was she that was worshipped by such as were lazie idle and sloathfull Nundina She was a goddesse amongst the Romans taking her denomination of the ninth day called dies Lustricus In that day children had their names given them as Macrobius relates the males on the ninth day the females on the eight day after their birth Pecunia likewise was numbred among their goddesses Pitho Razinna Robigo Rumilia Pitho was thought to be the goddesse of eloquence the Latines called her Suada Razenna was one amongst the Etruscians who was to rule in Wedlock and marriages Robigo and Robigus were a two sex deity of whom the Romans were opinionated that they could preserve their sheaves and unthresh'd corn from being musty or mouldy Their Festivals were called Robigalia Rumilia was the protectâ—â—sse of sucking infants as ancient Writers are of opinion for Ruma signifies mamma a dug and therefore sucking lambs are called Subrumi Runcina belongs to the gardens and is said to be the goddesse of weeding her the poor women weeders have in great reverence Seia Segesta Tutilina c. Seia the ancients report to be the goddess of sowing and Segesta had her name from the binding up of the sheaves both these had their Temples in Rome in the time of Pliny Tutilina and Tutanus were gods so called of Tutando preserving or keeping safe Eanius cals them Aevilernos and Aevilogros as much as Ever liv'd and ever in the perfectness and strength of their age because it was in full power and vigour not subject to mutability or capable of alteration In naming of gods we may as well use the feminine as the masculine and the masculine as the feminine gender as Virgil speaking of Venus Discendo ducente deo Flammam inter hostes Expedior Down come I and the god my guide I make no stay But boldly through the enemy and fire I force my way Vacuna dea was Lady and Governess over those that were vacant and without business especially had in reverence by swains and husbandmen who after the gathering of their harvest had a cessation from labour Vallania was held to be the goddess of vallies Vitula dea had predominance over youthfull mirth and blandishments For Vitulari was by the ancient grammarians taken for gaudere to be glad or rejoice Volupta is held to be the goddess of Pleasure Rhaea This goddess hath by the Poets allowed her a Charriot drawn by four Lyons a Crown upon her head of Cities Castles and Towers and in her hand a golden Scepter Priests could not offer at her Altar before they were guelded which order was strictly observed in memory of Atyos a beautifull Phâ—ygian youth and much beloved of Ceres but would no waies yeeld to her desires because as he excused himselfe he had a past vow of perpetuall chastity but after not mindfull of his promise as Dorytheus Corinthius in his histories relates he comprest and defloured the nymph Sagaritides of whom he begat Lydus and Tyrhenus Lydus gave name to Lydia as Tyrhenus to Tyrhena For this the imaged goddess strook him with such furie and madnesse that he guelded himselfe and after would have cut his own throat had not she commiserating his penitence transform'd him to a Pine-tree or as others will have it restored him to his sences and made him one of her Eunuch Priest N. cander in Alexâ—pharm saith her sacrifices were observed every new Moon with much tinckling of brass sound of timbrels and strange vociferation and clamours Some fable that Jupiter being asleep and dreaming let that fall to the earth which may be called Filtus ante patrem of which the earth conceiving produc'd a genius in an humane shape but of a doubtfull sex male and female called Agdâ—stâ— the gods cut off all that belonged to the masculme â—ex and casting it away out of that first grew the Almond tree whose fruit the daughter of the flood Sangatius first casting and hiding part thereof in her bosome as they wasted there and vanished so she began to conceive and in time grew great and brought forth a son whom laying out in the wood he was nursed by a goat and fostered till he was able to shift for himself As he grew in years so he did in beauty insomuch that he exceeded the ordinary feature of man of him was Agdistes wondrously inamored who when he should have married with the daughter of the King of Pestinuntium by the inter-comming of Agdiste such a madness possest them borth that not only Attes but his father in law likewise caused their parts of generation to be cut quite away Pausanias in Achaicis saith that for his tare beauties sake Rhea selected Attes into her service and made him her Priest Those of that order were called Matragyrte as either begging publickly or going
have indeed no Law which gives licence for a brother to marry with a sister but we have found a Law O Soveraigne which warrants the King of Persia to do whatsoever liketh him best Thus they without abrogation of the Persian Laws soothed the Kings humor and preserv'd their own honours and lives who had they crost him in the least of his designs had all undoubtedly perished This he made the ground for the marriage of the first and not long after he adventured upon the second The younger of these two who attended him into Egypt he slew whose death as that of her brother Smerdis is doubtfully reported The Graecians write that two whelps the one of a Lion the other of a Dog were brought before Cambyses to sight and try masteries at which sight the young Lady was present but the Lion having victory over the Dog another of the same â—itter broke his chain and taking his brothers part they two had superiority over the Lyon Cambyses at this sight taking great delight she then sitting next him upon the sudden fell a weeping this the King observing demanded the occasion of her teares she answered it was at that object to see one brother so willing to help the other and therefore she wept to remember her brothers death and knew no man then living that was ready to revenge it and for this cause say the Greeks she was doom'd to death by Cambyses The Egyptians report it another way That she sitting with her brother at table out of a sallet dish took a lettice and pluckt off leafe by leafe and shewing it to her husband asked him Whether a whole lettice or one so despoiled shewed the better who answered a whole one then said she behold how this lettice now unleaved looketh even so hast thou disfigured and made naked the house of King Cyrus With which words he was so incensed that he kicked and spurned her then being great with child with that violence that she miscarried in her child birth and died ere she was delivered and these were the murderous effects of his detestable incest Of Livia Horestilla Lollia Paulina Cesonia c. IT is reported of the Emperour Caligula that he had not onely illegall and incestuous converse with his three naturall sisters but that he after caused them before his face to be prostitued by his ministers and servants thereby to bring them within the compasse of the Aemilian Law and convict them of adultery He vitiated Livia Horestilla the wife of C. Pisonius and Lollia Paulina whom he caused to be divorced from her husband C. Memnius both whose beds within lesse then two years he repudiated withall interdicting the company and society of man for ever Caesonia he loved more affectionately insomuch that to his familiar friends as boasting of her beauty he would often shew her naked To add unto his insufferable luxuries he defloured one of the vestall virgins Neither was the Emperor Commodus much behind him in devilish and brutish effeminacies for he likewise strumpeted his own sisters and would wittingly and willingly see his mistresses and concubines abused before his face by such of his favourites as he most graced he kept not at any time lesse then to the number of three hundred for so Lampridius hath left recorded Gordianus junior who was competitioâ— with his father in the Empire kept two and twenty concubines by each of which he had three or foure children at the least therefore by some called the Priamus of his age but by others in derision the Priapus The Emperor Proculus took in battell a hundred Sarmatian virgins and boasted of himselfe that he had got them all with child in lesse then fifteen daies this Vopiscus reports and Sabellicus But a great wonder is that which Johannes Picus Mirandula relates of Hercules as that he lâ—y with fifty daughters of Lycomedes in one night and got them all with child with forty nine boies only failing in the last for that proved a girle Jocasta APollodorus Atheniensis in his third book De deorum origine records this history After the death of Amphion King of Thebes Laius succeeded who took to wife the daughter of Menocoeas called Jocasta or as others write Epicasta This Laius being warned by the Oracle that if of her he begat a son he should prove a Parricide and be the death of his father notwithstanding forgetting himselfe in the distemperature of wine he lay with her the same night she conceived and in processe brought forth a male issue whom the King caused to be cast out into the mountain Cytheron thinking by that means â—o prevent the predicted destiny Polybus the herdsman to the King of Corinth finding this infant bore it home to his wife Periboea who nursed and brought it up as her own and causing the swelling of the feet with which the child was then troubled to be cured they grounded his name from that disease and called him Oedipus This inâ—ant as he had increased in years so he did in all the perfections of nature as well in the accomplishments of the â—ind as the body insomuch that as well in capacity and volubility of speech as in all active and generous exercises he was excellent above all of his age his vertues being generally envied by such as could nor equall them they thought to disgrace him in something and gave him the contemptible name of counterfeit and bastard this made him curiously inquisitive of his supposed mother and she not able in that point to resolve him he made a journy to Delphos to consult with the Oracle about the true knowledge of his birth and parents which forewarned him from returning into his own Countrie because he was destined not only to be the deaths-man of his father but to add misery unto mischiefe he was likewise born to be incestuous with his mother Which to prevent and still supposing himselfe to be the son of Polybus and Peribaea he forbore to return to Corinth and hiring a Chariot took the way towards Phocis It hapned that in a strait and narrow passage meeting with his father Laius and Polyphontes his Charioter they contended for the way but neither willing to give place from words they fell to blowes in which contention Polyphontes kill'd one of the horses that drew the Chariot of Oedipus at which inraged he drew his sword and first slew Polyphontes and next Laius who seconded his servant and thence took his ready way towards Thebes Damasistratus King of the Plataeenses finding the body of Laius caused it to be honourably interred In this interim Creon the son of Menecoeus in this vacancy whilst there was yet no King invades Thebes and after much slaughter possesseth himselfe of the Kingdome Juno to vex him the more sent thither the monster Sphinx born of Eâ—hidna and Tiphon she had the face of a woman the wings of a fowle and the breast feet and taile of a Lion she
by his keeper was brought to horse his dam but in the action the cloth falling from his eies and he perceiving what he had done presently seised upon his keeper and slew him in detestation of the act he had committed and to revenge himselfe upon 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 means be brought to cover his dam but being in the same fashion beguiled and the cloath falling away and perceiving what he had done never left bounding flinging and galloping till comming unto an high rock he from thence cast himselfe headlong into the sea If this sinne be so hatefull in brute beasts and unreasonable creatures how much more ought it to be avoided in men and women and which is more Chrisioans Cyborea the mother of Judas Iscariot THis that I now speak of is remembred by Ranulphus Monke of Chester Jerome and others There was a man in Jerusalem by name Râ—uben of the Tribe of Isachar his wife was called Cyborea The first night of their marriage the women dreamed that she was conceived of a sonne who should be a traytor to the Prince of his own people she told it to her husband at which they were both sad and pensive The child being born and they not willing to have it slain and yet loath to have it prove such a monster to his own nation they in a small boat cast it to sea to try a desperate fortune This vessell was diven upon an Island called Iscariot where the Queen of that place had then no child This babe being found she purposed to make it her own and put it to be nobly nursed and educated calling his name Judas and Iscariot of the Island where he was taken up But not long after she was conceived of a son who proving a noble and hopefull Gentleman Iudas whose favour in Court began to wane and his hope of inheritance which but late flourishe now quite to wither he plotted against his life and privately slew him but fearing lest the murder in time might be discovered and he compell'd to suffer according to the nature or the fact he fled thence to Jerusalem where he got into the service of Pontius Pilatus and found means to be protected by him being then in the City Deputy Governour of the Romans Iudas because their dispositions were much of one condition grew into his especiall familiarity and favour The Palace of Pilat having a faire bay window whose prospect was into Râ—ubâ—ns Orchard he had a great appetite to eat of some of those ripe Apples which shewed so yellow and faire against the Sun This Iudas understanding promised him to fetch him some of that fruit and mounting over the Orchard wall he was met by his father who rebuking him for the injury Iudas with a stone beat out his brains and unseen of any conveied himselfe back Reubens death was smothered and the murderer not known Cyborea being a rich widow Pilate made a march betwixt her and his servant Iudas who being married to his mother was now possest of his own fathers inheritance Not long this incestuous couple had lived together but Cyborea being upon a time wondrous sad and melancholy and Iudas demanding the cause she began to relate to him her many misfortunes First of her dream them of her son in what manner he was put to sea then how she lost her husband being slain and the murderer not found and lastly how by the authority of Pilat she was now compell'd to match against her will who had protested to her selfe a lasting widdowhood By these circumstances Judas most assuredly knew that he had slain his father and had married his mother which acknowledging to her she perswaded him to repent him of these great evils and to become a Disciple of Jesus who was then an eminent prophet amongst he Jewes It shall nor be amisse to speak a word or two or Pilat It is said that a King whose name was Tyrus begat him on a Millers daughter Lyla whose father was called Aâ—us who from his mother and grand-father was called Pylatus at four years of age he was brought to his father who by his lawfull wife had a Prince just of the same age These were brought up together in all noble exercises in which the Prince having still the best Pilat awaited his opportunity and slew him loath was the King to punish him with death lest he should leave himselfe altogether issulesse therefore he sent him an hostage to Rome for the paiment of certain tribute which was yearly to be tendred into the Roman treasury Living there as hostage he associated himselfe with the son to the King of France who lay pledge in Rome about the like occasion and in a private quarrell was also slain by Pilat The Romans finding him of an austere brow and bloody disposition made him governour of the Island called Pontus the people were irregular and barbarous whom by his severity he reduced to all civill obedience for which good service he was removed to Jerusalem bearing the name of Pontius from that Island there he gave sentence against the Saviour of the world Tiberius Caesar being then Emperor was sick of a grievous malady who hearing that in Jerusalem was a Prophet who with a word healed all infirmities whatsoever he 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 Lady of the Jewes who went with him to Rome and carried with her the linnen cloth which still bore the impresse and likeness of Christs visage upon which the Emperour no sooner looked but he was immediately healed The Emperor then understanding the death of this innocent and just man caused Pilat to be brought to Rome who being called before Caesar the history saith he had at that time upon him the robe of our Saviour which was called Tunica insutilis a garment without seam which whilst it was about him nothing could be objected against him to his least dammage or disgrace this was three times proved and he still came off unaccused but when by the advise of this Veronica and other Christians the garment was took off he was then accused for causing guiltlesse men to be slain for erecting statues of strange nations in the Temple against the ordinances of the Jewes that with mony wrested and extorted from the holy treasures he had made a water-conduit to his own house that he kept the Vestments and sacred robes of the Priests in his own house and would not deliver them for the service of the Temple without mercenary hire of these and other things being convicted he was sent to prison where borrowing a knife to pare an apple he slew himselfe his body after was fastned to a great stone and cast into the river Tiber. Of Adulteresses FRom the Incestuous I proceed
To whom the Prince in derision thus spake Basâ— Negromancer how canst thou be my father seeing that to the mighty King Philip here present I owe all filiâ—ll duty and obedience to whom Nectenabus rehearsed all the circumstances before related from the beginning and as he concluded his speech so ended his life How the husband upon this information behaved himselfe towards his wife or the son to his mother I am not certain this I presume it was a kind of needfull policy in both the one to conceale his Câ—coldry the other his Bastardy so much of Olympias concerning the birth of her son Alâ—xander I will proceed a little further to speak of her remarkable death being as majestically glorious as the processe of her life was in many passages thereof worthily infamous Justine in his history relates thus Olympias the wife of Philip and mother of Alexander the Great coming from Epirus unto Macedonia was followed by Aeacâ—dâ—â— King of the Molossians but finding her selfe to be prohibited that Câ—untry whether annimated by the memory of her husband encouraged with the greatnesse of her son or moved with the nature of the affâ—ont and injury as she received it I am not certain but she assembled unto her all the forces of Macedoniâ— by whose power and her command they were both slaâ—â— About seven years after Alexander was possessed of the Kingdome neither did Olympias reign long after for when the murdeâ—â— of many Pâ—iâ—ces had been by her committed rather after an effâ—minate then â—egall manner it converted the favour of the multitude into an irreconcileable hatred which â—eaâ—ing and having withall intelligence of the approach of Cassander now altogether distrusting the fidelity of her own Countrymen she with her sons wife Roxana and her Nephew young Hercules retired into a City called 〈◊〉 or Pictuaâ— in this almost forsaken society were Deidamia daughter to King Aeacidus Thessalonice her own daughtâ—â— in law famous in her father King Philip's memory with diveâ—â— other Princely matrons a small train attending upon them â—ather for shew and state then either use or profit These things being in order related to Cassander he with all speed possible hastens towards the City Pictua and invests himselfe before it compassing the place with an invincible siege Olympias being now oppressed both with sword and tamine besides all the inconveniences depending upon a long and tedious war treated upon conditions in which her â—aâ—e conduct with her trains being comprehended she was willing to submit her selfe into the hands of the conquerour at whose mercy whilst her wavering fortunes yet stood Cassander convents the whole multitude and in a publick oration desires to be counselled by them how to dispose of the Queen having before suborned the parents of such whose children she had caused to be murdered who in sad and funerall habits should accuse the cruelty and inhumanity of Olympias Their tears made such a passionate impression in the breasts of the Macedonians that with loud acclamations they doomed her to present slaughter most unnaturally forgetting that both by Philip her husband and Alexander her son their lives and fortunes were not only safe amongst their neighbour nations but they were also possessed of a forrein Empire and 〈◊〉 from Provinces 〈◊〉 their times scarce heard of but altogether unknown Now the Queen perceiving armed men make towards her and approach her to the same purpose both with resolution and obstinacy she attâ—â—ed in a Princely and majestick habit and leaning in state upon the shoulders of two of her most beautifull handmaids gave them a willing and undanted meeting which the souldiers seeing and calling to mind her former state beholding her present majesty and not forgetting her roiall off-spring illustrated with the names of so many successive Kings they stood still amazed without offering her any 〈◊〉 violence til others sent thither by the command of Cassâ—nder throughly pierced her with their weapons which she 〈…〉 with such constancy that she neither offeâ—â—d 〈…〉 avoid their wounds or expresse 〈…〉 by any 〈◊〉 clamour but after the manâ—◠〈…〉 men submitted her selfe to 〈…〉 her 〈…〉 expressing the invincible spirit 〈…〉 Alexander in which she likewise shewed a singuâ—â—r 〈◊〉 for with her disheveled hair she shadowed her 〈◊〉 leâ—t in sâ—rugling between life and death it might 〈…〉 and with her garments covered her legs and 〈◊〉 lest any thing aboâ—â— her might be found uncomely 〈…〉 Cassander took to wife Thessalonice the the daughâ—â—◠〈◊〉 Aridaeus causing the son of Alexander with his 〈◊〉 Roxane to be keep prisoners in a â—ower called â—â—â—â—phipositana 〈◊〉 ABout the time 〈◊〉 the Huns came 〈◊〉 into Italy and expoiled the Longâ—hards 〈◊〉 laid 〈◊〉 to the City 〈◊〉 and in a hot assault having slain the Duke Oysulphus his wife 〈…〉 Râ—milda 〈◊〉 the Town defensible bravely and resolutely mainteined it against the enemy But as Cacana King of the Anes approached neer unto the wals encouraging his souldiers to hang up their scaling ladders and enter Romilda at the same time looking from a Cittadel cast her eie upon the King who as he seemed unto her with wondrous dexterity behaved himself and with an extraordinary grace became his arms This liking grew into an ardency in love for she that at first but allowed of his presence now was affected to his person insomuch that in the most fierce assaults though her self danger of their crosse-bows and slings she thought within the secure so she had the King her object This fire was already kindled in her breast which nothing could qualifie insomuch that impatient of all delay she sent unto her publike enemy private messengers That if it pleased the King being as she understood a batchelor to accept her as his bride she would without further opposition surrender up the Town peaceably into his hands these conditions are first debated next concluded and lastly confirmed by oath on both sides The Town is yeelded up and Cacana according to his promise takes Romilda to wife but first he makes spoile of the Town kils many and leads the rest captive The first night he bedded with his new reconciled bride but in the morning abandoned her utterly commanding twelve Huns and those of the basest of his souldiers one after another to prostitute her by turns that done he caused a sharp stake to be placed in the middle of the field and pitched her naked body upon the top thereof which entring through the same made a miserable end of her life at which sight the Tyrant laughing said Such a husband best becomes so mercilesse an harlot This was the miserable end as Polycronicon saith of Romilda But better it hapned to her two beautifull and chast daughters who fearing the outrage of the lustfull and intemperate souldiers took purrified flesh of chickens and colts and hid it raw betwixt their breasts the souldiers approaching them took them to be diseased as not able to come neer them by reâ—son of the
Lapithae genus Heroinae Centaurâ—s mâ—dâ—o grata rapâ—â—a meâ—o Such as Iscomache that was Of the Lâ—â—y 〈…〉 She whom the Centaurs would have rapt Amâ—dst their cups of wine Perâ—â—les for his love to Aspasia made was against the Samians For Chrysaeis the daughter of Chryses Priest to Apollo 〈◊〉 by 〈◊〉 a plague was sent amongst the the Greekish host which ceased not till she was returned back to her father for so writes Tortellius Lavinia's beauty the daughter of King Latinus and the Queen Amata was cause of the combâ—â—ion betwixt Turnus and Aeneas so saith 〈◊〉 lib. 4. de Sâ—â—llis Lysimachâ—â— the son of Agathocles poisoned his own son Agathocles by whose fortunate hand he had received the honour and benefit of many glorious victories at the instigation of his wife Arsinoe the sister of Prolomaeus 〈◊〉 Iphis a youth of exquisite feature stranglâ—â— himselfe because he was despised by the fair but cruell Anaxarite Archelaus King of Macedon was slain by a young man called Craâ—â—na because having first promised him his faire daughter he after bestowed her upon another The Poet Archilocus called Iambographus because Lycâ—â—bes denied him his daughter in marriage writes against him such bitter Iambicks that he despaired and hanged himselfe therefore Ovid thus writes Post modo si pâ—ges in te mihi liber Iambus Tincta Licambaeo sanguine â—ela dabit If thou pursu'st me still my book Just vengeance shall implore And in Iambick weapons yeeld Dipt in Lycambes gore Justine in his twenty seventh book relates That Seleucus Callinicus King of Syria for exiling Berenice his step-mother sister to Ptolomaeus was by the same Ptolomaeus invaded and prosecuted by armes Deipâ—â—bus after the death of Paris having married Hellâ—n to which infortunate match her beauty had invited him was by her treachery not only murdered but his body hackt and mangled being almost made one universall wound Tortellius reports of one Evander the nephew 〈◊〉 Pallâ—s King of the Arcadians at the perswasion of his mother Nicostrate slâ—w his own father Orestes the son of Agameâ—â—â—n slew Pyrrhus the son of Achilles being surprised with the beauty of Hermione daughter to Meneâ—eus and Helena 〈◊〉 King of the Thebans was slain by King Crâ—eon being betraied by his own Polydices Cleopatra was the cause of that bloody war betwixt Ptolomaeus Philâ—pater and her own father Alexander King of Syria Idas and Lyncaeus the sons of Aphareus and Arbarne fought a great battel neer to Sparta about the two fair daughters of Leuâ—ippus Phebe and â—â—aira against Castor and Pollux both which were slaine in that battell and perisht not by shipwrack as some write in the pursuit of Paris by sea for the rape of their sister Hellen. Liâ—y lib 36. writes of Antiochus who warning against Rome was so taken with the beauty of a 〈…〉 that neglecting all warlike discipline to spend his 〈…〉 with his wanton he became a 〈…〉 to the enemy Octavia the sister of Augâ—lius being repudiâ—ted by Anthony was the 〈◊〉 of a civill and intestine war The Poet Lucretius growâ—â—◠〈◊〉 for the love of a 〈◊〉 damosell drank poison and so died Tullia incited â—â—rquinius Sâ—perbus to kill her own father Servius Tullius Martia the strumper caused Antonius Commodus the Emperor whose Concubine she was to 〈◊〉 slain by a souldier with whom she had many times lustfull congression Titus Corrancanus being sent on Embassie to Teuca Queen of the Illyrians because he spake to her â—reely and boldly she caused him to be put to death against the lawes of Kingdomes and Nations Livius and Florus Vollaâ—eranus writes of one Rhodoricus King of the Goths who because he stupâ—ated the daughter of Iulianus who was Prefect in the Province or Tingitana the father of the ravisht virgin brought in the Mooâ—s and raised a war which before it was ended was the death of seven hundred thousand men Chilpericus the son of Clothâ—rius was slain by the instigation of his wife Fridegunda in his return from hunting Luchinus a Court of Italy waâ—ied upon Vgolinus Gonzaga because he had adulterated his fair wife Isabella Vollaâ—â—ran Otratus King of Bohemia accused of sloath and cowardise by his wife Margarita for entring league with Rodulphus Caesar raised war 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 wars and many other mischiefes of which faire women have been the originall Ovid elegantly delivers in 2 Eleg. thus concluding Vidi ego pro nivea pugnantes conjuge tauros Spectatrix animos ipsa 〈…〉 For a white Heâ—fer I have seen 〈◊〉 â—ight Both gathering rage and couâ—age frâ—â— her sight At the building of Rome Râ—mâ—lus to people the City and get wives for his souldiers caused them to ravish the Sabin women and demosels for which waâ— grew betwixt the two Nations Of which Proper lib. 2. Cur exempla 〈◊〉 Graecum Tu criminis author Nutribus 〈…〉 lactâ— lupae c. What need I from 〈◊〉 Greekâ— example ask Thou 〈◊〉 by 〈…〉 she-woâ—fe nurs'd To rape the 〈◊〉 mâ—d'st thy souldiers task Rape Rome still loveâ— because thou taught'st it fiâ—st Since men the form at best 〈◊〉 â—oon fades and thâ— beauty hath been the came of so much blood-shed Why should women be so proud of that which rated 〈◊〉 the highest is no better then in excellent evill or a wretched wonder that had beginning therefore subject to end created from earth and therefore consequently transâ—â—â—ry but on the contrary since the vertues of the mind â—â—ely acquire after 〈◊〉 and glory conquer oblivion and survive envy and Phâ—nix-like recover fresh youth from forgotten ashes To such I yeeld the first place and so begin with the Amazons Of the Amazons AND first of their Country Cappadocia is a land that breedeth goodly and brave horses it hath on the East side Armenia on the West Asia the lesse on the North Amazonia on the South Mount Taurus by which lieth Sicilia and 〈◊〉 as far as the Cilicke Sea that stretcheth towards the Island of Cyprus The lesse Asia called Asia minor joineth to Cappadocia and is closed in with the great sea for it hath on the North the mouth and sea that is called Euxinus on the West Propontides on the South the Aegyptian sea This lesse Asia conteineth many Provinces and Lands 〈◊〉 the North side Bythinia butting upon the sea against Thracia and is called Phrygia the greater The chiefe City of Bythinia is Nicomedia Galathia takes name of the 〈◊〉 that assisted the King of Bythinia in his wars and therefore had that Province given them to inhabit It was first called Gallograecia as being people mixt of the Gals and Grecians but now they be called Galathians and these are they to whom Saint Paul writ his Epistles Ad Galatas The third part of
Lady with her son to King Polydectes He surprized with her beauty married her and caused her son Perseus to be educated in the Temple of Minerva and after made attonement betwixt them and Acrisius But Polydectes dying at the funerall games celebrated at his death in casting of a mighty stone being one of the exercises then used Perseus whose hand failed him cast it unawares upon the head of Acrisius and slew him against his own purpose making good the will of the Oracle Acrisius being buried Perseus succeeded his grandfather in the City Argos Helena was first â—avished by Theseus and afterwards by Paris she had these suitors Antiochus Ascalaphus Ajax Oeleus Antimachus Aeceus Blanirus Agapenor Ajax Telamonius Clyrius Cyanaeus Patroclus Diomedes Penelaeus Phaemius Nyraeus Polyâ—â—tes Elephenor Fumetus Stâ—nelus Tlepolemus Protesilaus Podalyrius Euripilus Idomâ—naeus Telioâ—es Tallius Polyxeâ—us Protus Menestaeus Machaon Thoas Vlysses Philippus Meriones Mâ—ges Philocletes Laeonteus Talpius Prothous but she was possessed by 〈◊〉 Auge was the faire daughter of Aleus and comprest by Hercules and delivered of her son in the mountain Parthenius at the same time Atalanta the daughter of Jasius exposed her son begot by Mâ—leager unto the same place these children being found by the Shepherds they called the son of Hercules Telephus because he was nursed by a Hart which sed him with her milk they called the son of Meleager Parthenopaeus of the mountain Auge fearing her fathers displeasure fled into Moesia to King Teâ—thrus who for her beauties sake having himselfe no children adopted her his heire These following are the fiâ—ty fair daughters of Danaeus with the fifty sons of Aegiptus whom the first night of their marriage they slew Idea killed Antimachus Philomela Pantheus Scilla Pâ—oteus Philomone Plexippus Euippe Agenor Demoditas Chrysippus Hyale Perius Trite Enceladus Damone Amintor Hypothoe Obrimus Mirmidone Mineus Euridice Canthus Cleo Asterius Arcania Xanthus Cleopatra Metalces Philea Phylinas Hyparite Protheon Chrysothemis Asterides Pyraule Athamas her name is lost that slew Armoasbus Glaucippâ— Niavius Demophile Pamphilus Antodice Clytus Polyxena Egyptus Hecabe Driantes Achemantes Echominus Arsalle Ephialtes Monuste Euristhenes Amimone Medamus Helice Evideus Amoeme Polydector Polybe Iltonomus Helicta Cassus Electra Hyperantus Eubule Demarchus Daplidice Pugones Hero Andromachus Europone Atlites Pyrantis Plexippus Critomediâ— Antipaphus Pyrene Dolychus Eupheno Hyperbius Themistagora Podasiâ—us Palaeno Ariston Itaea Antilochus Erate Endemon Hypâ—â—â—â—nestra was the only Lady that in that great slaughter spaâ—ed her husband Lyncaeus What should I speak of Antigona the sister of Polynices Electra the daughter of Clytemneâ—tâ—a Hermâ—â—ne of Heten Polyxena of Hecuba Iphigenia of Agameniaon Erigone Merope Proserpina Amimone Oenone Calisâ—e Alope the daughter of Cercyon and Theophane of Bysaltis both stuprated by Neptune Theonoe and Zeutippe the daughters of Thestor Chione otherwise called Philâ—nide the daughter of Dedalion Coramis the daughter of Phlegia adulterated by Apollo Nictimine comprest by her father Epopeus The very Index or Catalogue of whose names only without their histories would ask a Volume For their number I will refer you to Ovid in his first book de Aâ—te Amandi Gargara quot sâ—getes c. Thick as ripe ears in the Gargarian fields As many green boughs as Methimna yeelds Fâ—sh Foule or Stars in Sea Air Heaven there be So many pretty wenches Rome in thee Aeneas mother is still lov'd and fear'd In that great City which her son first rear'd If only in young girls thou do'st rejoice There 's scarce one house but it affoords thee choice If in new-married wives but walk the street And in one day thou shalt with thousands meet Or if in riper years but look before Where ere thou go'st thou shalt find Matrons store If then one City and at one time could affoord such multiplicity of all ages and degrees how many by that computation may we reckon from the beginning amongst all the nations of the world I doubt not then but this draught of water fetch'd from so vast a fountain may at least cool the palate if not quench the thirst of the insatiate Reader Manto ZEbalia a man whose birth ranked him in the file of nobility being emploied upon service in the Turkish wars brought with him his most estimated and greatest treasure his deerest spouse stiled Manto But he dying in the crimson bed of honour the sinister hand of war gave her into the captivity of Bassa Jonuses who beholding with admiration a creature of so divine a feature was though her conqueror taken captive by her beauty who having put her vertue to the Test found it to parallel if not out shine her form Wherefore being covetous to engrosâ— so rich a booty to himselfe he took her to wife bestowing on her a more honourable respect then on his other wives and concubines and she likewise endeavoured to meet his affection with an answerable observance and obedience This fervent and mutuall love continued long inviolate betwixt them insomuch that they were no lesse honoured for their eminence of state then remarkable for their conjugall affection but that cursed fiend Jealousie envying at their admired sympathy stâ—aight usurpâ— the throne of reason and sits a predominant tyrant in his fantastick brain for he grew so strangely jealous that he thought some one or other to corrivall him but yet knew noâ— whom to â—aint with any just suspicion nay he would confesse that he had not catcht the least spark of loosenesse from her that might thus fire this beacon of distraction in him Briefly his wife as beautifull in mind as feature wearied with his daily peevish humours and seeing all her studies aimed at his sole content were enterteined with neglect and insolent scorn she resolved to leave him and secretly to flie into her native Country to further which she unlocks this her secret intent to an Eunuch of the Bassaes giving him withall certain letters to deliver to some friends of hers whom she purposed to use as agents in the furtherance of her escape but he proving treacherous in the trust committed to his charge betrai'd her to her husband shewing her letters as testimonies to his allegations The Bassa at this discovery swoln big with rage called her before him whom in his desperate fury he immediately stabbed with his dagger thus with the cause of jealousie taking away the effect But this bloody deed somewhat loosened him 〈◊〉 the peoples hearts where he before grew deeply and â—â—st rooted nor did he out-run vengeance for at the last her leaden feet overtook him and in this manner Selymus the first at his departure from Cairo his soldiers whom he there left in garrison made suit unto his Highnesse That in consideration of the great labours they had already undergone together with the many dangers they were hourly in expectation of that their wages might be enlarged which he granted and withall gave this Bassa Jonuses the charge to see the performance thereof At last the
pay day came but their hopes proving abortive the souldiers mutined to conjure down which spirit of insurrection messengers are dispatched to the Emperor to certifie him of the neglective abuse of his roiall word and fear of sedition this newes overtook him at Larissea in Judea Selymus inraged at this relation sends for Bassa Jonuses and examines the cause of his neglect in such and so weighty a charge Jonuses somewhat abashed as being conscious yet withall high-spirited gave the Emperour a peremptory answer at which being mightily incensed he commanded his head to be cut off which was forthwith done and thus justice suffered not innocent Manto to die unrevenged The wife of Agetus the Lacedemonian HErodotus l. 6. thus writes of this Lady the daughter of Aleydes the Spartan first wife to Agetus and after to the King Ariston She of the most deformed became the excellentest amongst women Her nurse to whose keeping she was given for the parents were asham'd of their Issue went with her every day to the Temple of Helena which stands in Therapne neer to the Church of Apollo and kneeling before the Altar besought the goddesse to commiserate the child and free her from her native uglinesse and loathsome deformity Upon a time returning from the Temple a woman appeared to her of a venerable aspect and desired to see what she carried so tenderly in her arms the nurse told her it was an infant but such an one as she was loath to shew and therefore desired to be excused the rather because she was enjoined by the parents not to expose it to the sight of any The more the nurse put her off with evasions the more importunate the strange woman was to behold it At length prevailing she gently with her hand stroaked the face of the child and kissing it thus said Go nurse and bear her home to her parents who shall in time become the most beautifull of all the Spartan Ladies From that time forward her deformity began to fall away and a sweet grace and delightfull comelinesse to grow as well in face as every other lineament Comming to marriage estate she was solicited by many but only possest by Agetus yet after by the craft of Ariston she was divorced from Agetus and conferred upon him Dion in Augusto speaks of Terentia the wife of Mecaenas to be of that rare beauty that she dared to contend with Livia the wife of Augustus Caesar who was held to be the most amiable and exquisite Lady of those daies Of Terentia the daughter of Cicero I have thus read Titus the son of Milo and Appius the son of Clodius were as remarkable for their noble friendship as their fathers notorious for their irreconcilable hatred Titus was for his fathers sake welcome to Cicero but Appius much hated in regard of enmity betwixt him and his father Clodius for Cicero was of Milo's faction Titus had long and dearly loved the faire Terentia but understanding that his friend Appius was likewise exceedingly enamoured of her he left his own suit and earnestly sollicited the Lady in his behalfe who was easily perswaded to the motion having long before cast an effectionat eie upon Appius but durst make no expression thereof much fearing the displeasure of her father Titus so well managed the businesse for his friend that he brought him privily into the house of Cicero where the two lovers had mutuall conference her father comming home by accident and finding them together in the heat of his impatience excluded him and lockt her up in safe and close custody Which the poor Lady took so to heart that she fell into an extream feaver and languishing daily her father now when it was too late desired to know what he might doe to minister to her the least comfort she only besought him that before her death she might take her last and loving leave of Appius who was instantly sent for at his sudden comming in she was extasi'd with his sight and expired in his embraces which the noble youth perceiving he drew out a short dagger which he then wore about him and in the presence of her father and his own deer friend slew himselfe A more comicall conclusion hath that which I shall next tel you An old Vicar in the Countrie having a wondrous fair wench to his daughter it hapned that a young scholler that for want of means had left the University was preferred to the serving of a cure some what neer him by which he had opportunity to woo the maid and after had the parents consent to marry her It hapned not long after this young man had a Parsonage bestowed upon him by his patron the father and the son meeting upon a time at a Market Town with divers gentlemen of the Country being at dinner amongst other discourse cavilling about an argument they fell into controversie which should be the Better man many rough words passed insomuch that the Gentlemen were forced to come betwixt them to keep the peace The old man stood upon his gravity and the name of father the young man pleaded That in regard he was a Parson and the other but a Vicar he was the better of the two This raised the uprore afresh which the Gentlemen had much ado to appease at length the young man demanded audience but for a few words in which saith he if I do not convince him and make it plain and palpable before you all that I am the worthier of the two for name place and antiquity I will yield him priority and precedence for ever after The words of Name and Antiquity the old man heard with much impatience at length audience being granted and silence obtain'd Now young knave saith the old Vicar what canst thou say for thy selfe I only desire answered the young man to be resolved in one question propound it saith the other Marry thus saith he When the world was destroied in the generall deluge all save eight persons tell me where were the Vicars then The old man was blank the Gentlemen smiled and the young man carried it so that ever after the old man took place of the father and the faire daughter of the mother I will only remember you of a fair young Gentlewoman a Country woman of mine and so conclude with my Fair ones A Gallant newly come to his lands became a suiter to a proper young Virgin her fathers only child and heire He having had conference with her father conditions on both sides were debated the match concluded and the day of marriage appointed the father and the son in law riding abroad one morning to take the air the ancient Gentleman was mountâ—d on an easie paced Mare which he kept for his own saddle this beast the young Gallant was so enamoured of that he 〈…〉 at any rate though never so unreasonable but 〈…〉 man intreated him to hold 〈◊〉 excused because the beast was 〈…〉 gentle fitting his
after she insinuated with him and told him she would conduct him to a place in which was hid much treasure of which he being covetous she brought him to the brink of a deep Well being in a remote place of the house to which he presenting himselfe and bending his body downwards to satisfie his expectation concerning the treasure she apprehending that advantage thrust him headlong into the Well and casting huge stones after him revenged her selfe upon the ravisher Brasilla Dyrrachina a prime Lady as Ludovic Viues lib. 1. de Instit Tem. Christian relates being taken prisoner and seeing an immediat shipwrack of her chastity threatned by her cruell victor she covenanted with him that if he would but reprieve her honour for the present she would give him an herb with whose juice if he would annoint any part of his body it should preserve it wound-free The souldier accepts of the condition she from a neighbour garden plucking up the weed that came next to hand with the sap or moisture thereof annoints her own neck and throat bidding him to draw out his sword and make triall of her selfe whether she kept not with him faithfull covenant The souldier giving crâ—dit to her words in regard of her constancy and courage with one strong blow dispatched her or life O resolute and Noble Lady saith Nicephorus lib. 7. cap. 15 to prefer death before the losse of her honour Francis Sforza Prince of Mediolâ—num being Generall of the Florentine Army having taken the City Casanova certain souldiers brought befoâ—e him a beautifull captive who with great vociferation called out Bring me to your Prince Bring me to your chiefe Generall The souldiers moved with her earnest clamour brought her before him who demanded of the woman Why she was 〈◊〉 importunate to be conducted into his presence to whom she answered For no other reason but to submit her selfe wholly to his pleasure conditionally he would secure her from the injurie of the souldiers to which he willingly assented and seeing her of such exquisite feature and so tempting a presence he purposed to make use of her libeâ—all and free proffer that night therefore he commanded a bed to be made ready in which she was lodged thether he presently repairs and being unclothed casts himselfe by her naked side but reaching his arm to embrace her her eies being full of tears and her heart of sorrow she humbly besought him before he touched her body but to grant her the hearing of a few words at which the Prince making a sudden pause she pointing with her finger to the picture of the blessed Virgin for Sforza was never without that or the like in his bed chamber she intreated him even for the remembrance he bore to the person whom that Table presented for the honour due to her Son and his Saviour and for the dignity of his goodnesse and for the sacred memory of his noble ancecestors not to infringe her matrimoniall Vow nor violate her conjugall Chastity but deliver her back an unspotted wife to her unfortunate husband who was then a prisoner amongst many other wretched captives Her words took such impression in the noble General that notwithstanding her tempting beauty the motives to inchastity his present opportunity and absolute power over her as she was his vassal and prisoner yet to shew his miraculous temperance he preferred a 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 test In the morning he sent for her husband to whom after a great character of her Chastity given he delivered her not only freeing them both without ransome but from his own coffers bountifully rewarding her vertue in the subduing of his own affections gaining more honor then in the conquest of so great a City In this act not only imitating but exceeding Scipto For that incomparable Lady that was presented unto him was of high linage and princely parentage besides he lived in a free City and to have dishonoured her he had not only incurred censure but being then in a forrein nation purchased to himselfe the 〈◊〉 of tyrant and hazarded a new revolt of the people but that was nothing to oppose Prince Sforza in the satisâ—ying of his lust save his own goodnesse for what conqueror hath not power over his captive Fulgos lib 4 cap. 3. Anastatia Conflantinopolitana when Theodora Augusta was jealous that she was not beloved of her husband Justinianus Augustus and having to that purpose received some taunting words from the Emperesse to approve her innocencie she fled both to Court and City and retired her selfe into Alexandria where she lived obscured in the society of certain chast Virgins But after hearing of the death of Theodora her fears were not diminished but augmented for the Emperors love appeared to her a greater burden then the hate of the Empresse therefore to avoid that which many would have sought with greedinesse she changed her habit and taking the shape of a young man upon her fled into the furthest part of Aegypt called by the name of Anastasius where she lived privately austerely and ended her chast life in great sanctity Hieronym writes that Paula Romana after the 〈◊〉 of her husband was so far from being perswaded to a second that she was never known from that time to eat or drink in mans company Of a contrary disposition was Barbara the wife of Sigismund Emperor Aenaeus Silus relates of her that her husband being dead when divers perswaded her to continue still in her widdowhood proposing unto her that wamen ought to imitate the Turtles who if one be taken away by death the other will never chuse other mate but devote her selfe to perpetuall chastity thus answered If you have none else to bid me imitate but birds that have no reason why do you not as well propose me for example the Doves or the Sparrowes As contrary again to her was the daughter of Demotian Prince of the Areopagitae who no sooner heard that her husband Leosthenes was stain in the Lamick warre but instantly slew her selfe lest she should survive a second marriage Others there be that have kept a viduall chastity even in wedlock The Virgin Edeltrudis as Sigilbertus and Beda both witness was the daughter of Annas a Christian King of the East-Angles she was first delivered by her father in marriage to Candibertus a great Prince who were no sooner married but by mutuall consent they vowed lasting virginity at length he dying she was by her father compelled to a second nuptials with King Câ—phordus with whom she lived twelve years yet never as they could adjudge it unloosed her Virgin girdle After which time by her husbands consent she took upon her a religious life and entred a Monastery where as Marullus l. 4. cap. 8. saith she lived a more secure but not a more
Almighty that she might not so vively love so their chast bodies might not be separated in death As she earnestly praied so it futurely hapned 〈◊〉 died in one day and were both buried in one Sâ—pulchre â—â—ing â—ellowes in one House 〈◊〉 bed and Graâ—â— and now no question 〈◊〉 and 〈…〉 Kingdome Thus 〈…〉 But now to return 〈…〉 have been kind to their parenâ—◠〈…〉 Sicilia when the mountain Aetna began first to burn Damon snatcht his mother from the 〈◊〉 Aeneas in the fatall massacre of Troy took his father upon his back his son Ascanius in his hand his wife Câ—â—usa following him and pasâ—ed through the sword and fiâ—e We read like wise in Hyginus of Cleops and Bilias whom Herodotus cals Cleobis and 〈◊〉 who when their mother Câ—dâ—ppe the Priest of Juno Are you should be at the Temple at the appointed hour of the Sacrifice or failing to furfeit her life but when she came to yoke the Oxen that should draw her Châ—rior they were found dead her two sons before named laid their necks under the yoke and supplying the place of those beasts dâ—ew her in time convenient unto the place where the sacred Ceremonies were according to the custome celebrated The Oblations ended and she willing to gratifie theâ—â— filiall duty besought of the goddesse That it ever with chast and undefiled hands she had observed her sacrifice or iâ— her sons had born themselves prouâ—ly and religiously towards her that she would grant unto them for their goodnesse the greatest blessing that could happen to any 〈◊〉 or humane creatures This Praier was heard and the two zealous sons drawing back their mother in her chariot from the Temple unto the place where she then sojourned being weary with their travell laid them down to sleep The mother in the morning comming to give her sons visitation and withall thanks for their extraordinary and unexpected pains and travel found them both dead upon their Pallers by which she conceived That there is no greater blessing to be conferred upon man then a fair death when Love good Opinion and Honor attend upon the Hearse These I must confesse are worthy eternall memory and never dying admiration But hath nor the like piety towards their parents been found in women I answer Yes How did Pelopea the daughter of Thâ—estes revenge the death of her father Hypsile the daughter of 〈◊〉 â—ave her father life when he was utterly in despair of hope or comfort Calciope would not lose her father oâ— leave him though he had lost and left his opinion 〈◊〉 the daughter of Harpalicus restored her father in battel and after defeated the enemy and put him to slight Erâ—gonâ— the daughter of Icarus hearing of the death of her father strangled her selfe Agave the daughter of Cadmuâ— slew the King 〈◊〉 in Illyâ—i and pastest her father of his before usurped Diadâ—m Xantippe fed her father Nyâ—onus or as some will have it Cimonus in prison with milk from her breasts Tyro the daughter of Salmoneus to relieve her father slew her own children Who will be further resolved of these let him search Hyginus And so much shall suffice for filiall duty towards their Pâ—â—eâ—ts Of Sâ—sters that have been kind to their Brothers THE Poets and Historiographers to impresse into us the like naturall piety have left divers presidents to posterity Innumerable are the examples of fraternall love betwixt Brother and Brother To illustrate the other the better I will give you 〈◊〉 of some few Volater lib. 14. cap. 2. dâ— Aâ—ropo relates how in that war which Cai. Cornelius Cinna Tribune being expelled the City with Calus Marius and others commenced against the Romans there were two brothers one of the Pompey's army the other of 〈◊〉 who meeting in the battel in single encounter one slew the other but when the victor came to rifle the deâ—d body and found it to be his own naturall brother after infinite sorrow and lamentation he cast himselfe into the fire where the sloughtered carcasâ—e was burned M. Fabius the Consul in the great conflict against the Heâ—rutians and Veâ—entians obtained a gloâ—ious victory when the Senate and the people of Rome had with great magnificence and cost at their own charge prepared for him an illustrious triumph he absolutely refused that honour because Q. Fabius his brother fighting manfully for his Countrie was slain in that battel What a fraternal piety lived in his breast may be easily conjectured who refused so remarkable on honour to mourn the losse of a beloved brother Valer cap 5. lib. 5. We read in our English Chronicles of Archigallo brother to Gorbomannus who being crowned King of Brittain and extorting from his subjects all their goods to enrich his own Coffers was after five years deposed and deprived of his roiall dignity in whose place was elected Elidurus the third son of Morindus and brother to Archigallo a vertuous Prince who governed the people gently and Justly Upon a time being hunting in the Forrest he met with his brother Archigallo whom he lovingly embraced and found such means that he reconciled him both to the Lords and Commons of the Realm that done he most willingly resigned unto him his Crown and Scepter after he himselfe had governed the Land five years Archigallo was re-instated and continued in great love with his brother reigning ten years and was buried at York after whose death Elidurus was again chosen King What greater enterchange of fraternall love could be found in brothers To equall whom I will first begin with the sisters of Phaeton called by some Heliades by others Phaetontides who with such funerall lamentation bewailed the death of their brother that the gods in commiseration of their sorrow turned them into trees whose transformations Ovid with great elegancy expresseth lib. 1. Metamorph as likewise Virgil in Cutice their names were Phaethusa Lampitiae Phebe c. Antigone the daughter of Oedipus when her brother Eteocles was slain in battel she buried his body maâ—gre the contradiction of the Tyrant Creon of whom Ovid lib. 3. Tristium Fratrem Thebana peremptum Supposuit tumulo rege vetante soror The Theban sister to his Tomb did bring Her slaught'red brothers Corse despight the king Hyas being devouted of a Lyon the Hyades his sisters deplored his death with such infinite sorrow that they wept themselves to death And for their piety were after by the gods translated into stars of whom Pontanus Fratris Hyae quas perpetuus dolor indidit asâ—ris Thus you see how the Poet did strive to magnifie and eternize this Vertue in Sisters No lesse compassionate was â—lectra the daughter of Agameâ—nâ— on her brother Oâ—estes and Iliona the issue of Priam when she heard of the death of young Polydore Stobaeus Serm. â—2 out of the History of Nicolaus de morib gentum saith That the Aethiopians above all others have their sisters in greatest reverence insomuch that their Kings leave their succession not to their children but to these sisters
elements of nature on which the life of mâ—n in our common food most essentially exist Amongst the Indians unlesse both the husband and wife annointed their bodies all over with a certain gum or oile distilling from certain trees growing by the River Phasis the matrimony was not to be allowed The Persians and the Assyrians only joined their right hands in contract so likewise the ancient Germans accounting that the only fiâ—m pledge of their love and loialty Amongst the Galathians in their 〈…〉 the bridegroom drunk to the bride a cup of Greekish wine in other places of milk which she pledged him by this ceremony intending that their nuptials were not only firmly contracted by that mutuall love equall society conjugall loialty marriage concord but like food and diet should alwaies be common betwixt them Alex. ab Alex. lib 2 cap. â— Concerning nuptiall Dowries by some Nations approved by others interdicted Lycurgus and Solon because they would not have the Virgins oppressed by the coverousnesse of men forbad by their Lawes that any man should demand a dower with his wife a necessary and profitable decree by which he was condemned that being a long suitor to the daughter of Pysander and promising her marriage in her fathers life time rependiated the Contract after his death because he dying poor her dower did not answer his expectation Aelian lib. 6. de Var. Histor Amongst the Hetrurians it was held base and ignoble and absolutely forbidden by their inscribed statutes for a man to send tokens or gifts to her whom he affected accounting them no better then bribes or mercenary hire not fit to be thought on in such a sacred commixion where nothing should be meditated save sincere love and conjugall piety The Aegyptians were so opposite to demanding of portions with their wives that they called all such as received them no better then slaves to them and their dowries Now touching bridall gifts and presents It was an ancient custome among the Greeks that the father the day after the solemnization of the marriage sent to the Bride some spousall offerings which they called Epanlia dora they were ushered by a beautiful young lad attired in a long white vesture reaching to his heel bearing in his hand a bright burning taper in order followed after him all such young men and maids youthfully attired that brought the presents one presented Gold another Gems a third a Bason and Ewre with other Plate dishes a fourth Boxes of Alabaster ful of sweet oils and unguents a fift rich Sandals or Slippers with other necessaries belonging as wel to the whole house as to their private bed-chamber Alex. ab Al x. lib. â— cap. 5. Solon to this marriage offering allowed only three sorts of garments for the Bride to bring with her besides such smal gifts as were tendred by the kindred friends and houshold servants A damosel of Lacaena being poor and demanded What Dower she had to bring to her husband and to marry her withâ— answered That which was left me as an inheritance from mine ancestors namely Vertue and Modestly Ingeniously inferring that there is no more commendable Dower to be expected in marriage then chastity and uncorrupt manners The daughters of C. Fabritius Cn. Scipio and Manius Curius because their fathers left them not portions sufficient to bestow them according to their birth and quality had their dowers allotted them from the common treasurie There was a Law among the Romans That no virgins Dower should exceed the sum of ten thousand pieces of silver But after that limitation was taken away and brought to forty thousand and upward Insomuch that Metulia because the Dower of which she possessed her husband amounted to five hundred thousand pieces had a sirname bestowed upon her being ever after called Dotata In ancient times the husbands wooed their Brides with a Ring of Iron without any Stone or Gem but meerly circular and round by that denoting the parsimony of diet and frugality in living Homer the Prince of Poets having no wealth with which to bestow his daughter upon a thrifty Citizen gave her only an Epithalamium with certain Cyprian Elegies for so Pindarus and Aelianus lib. 9. affirm The Carthaginians gave no Portions with their Virgins but were only at the charge of the Nuptiall Feasts which grew to be immoderate and wasteful Amongst the Indians none can claim a greater Dower with his wife then the price of a yoke of Oxen neither can he marry out of his own Tribe The Assyrians brought their noblest Virgins into the market place and their prices there publikely proclaimed by the Cryer whosoever wanted a wife and would reach to the sum propounded might there be furnished and he that had had not ready mony if he could put in good security it was held sufficient The like custome was amongst the Babylonians in which they observed this order They first set out to sale the most ingenuous and beautiful and those at an high rate and when they were put off they brought forth the worser featured even unto the degree of deformity and then the Crier proclaims That who will marry any of them he shall have so much or so much to recompence her foulnesse or lamenesse And this mony which sels them is collected from the overplus of the price of the other so that the beauty of the fair ones helps to bestow and dispose of the foul The Massilienses would not suffer any man to receive with his wife more then an hundred pieces of Gold Amongst the Cretans halfe the brothers estate was conferred upon the sister to make her a Dowrie The ancient Germants when they had made choise of such with whom they meant to marry at their proper charge provided them of Dowries Which custome even to these letter times hath been continued amongst the Celriberians who dwelt in a part of the Pyrenes a Province which his now called Biskay Fulgâ—s lib 2. cap. 1. And with the Dower which he sent he was tied to present her likewise with a Horse bridled a Sword a Target and an Armour with a yoake of Oxen. And these were held to be the most assured pledges of Conjugall love without which no nuptials were legally solemnized Alexand. ab Alex lib. 2. cap. 5. Idem lib. 4 cap 8. Of Nuptiall Ornaments Pomp Feasts Epithalamions c. AMongst the Greeks the Bride was crowned with 〈◊〉 Mints or Cresses her head was kembed with a piece of a Lance or Spear of a Fencer with which some man had been slain it is was called Caelibaris which imported that the new-married Bride should be as can joinedly commixt with her husband in mutuall affection as that spear was inward in the transpâ—erced body when it was drawn from the wâ—â—nd A strange Aenigma it appears to me howsoever it is so recorded Her hair was parted the one way and the other leaving a seem in the middest that her forehead and face might be the plainer discovered Some
the Muses she had a son called Erotus who inhabited the mountain Pernassus and was wholly devoted to Hunting and the Chase Spaco was Nurse to Cyrus who because that word in the Median Language signifies a Brache for so saith Herodotus in Clio. Archimorus the son Licurgus King of Thrace whose Nurse was called Hypsiphyle being left by her in the fields was fed by a Serpent Teste Statio Ericlia or Euriclia was the Nurse to Vlysses Homer in Odyss and Ovid. in Epist Cajeta was Nurse to Aeneas lib. 7. Aenead Tu quoque â—â—toribus nostris Aeneia Nutrix Aeternam moriens famam Cajeta dedisti And thou Aeneas Nurse Cajeta Vnto our Shores hast left A never dying fame because There of thy life bereft Alcibiades had a Nurse whose name was Amiâ—la or as some would have it Amida his schoolmaster was Zopyrus so saith Plutarch in Lycurg Alcibiad Hellanice was the Nurse to Alexander the great witnesse Qu. Curtius Acca Laventia was Nurse to Alexander so saith Pliny lib. 18. cap. 2. so Statius lib. 1. Sil. in this Disticon Jam secura parens Thuscis regnabat in agris Ilia portantem lassabat Romulus Accam Our parent Ilia now secure The Tuscan waters keeps The whilst in Accaes wearied arms Young Romulus fast sleeps Yet Livy and almost all the Roman Historiographers write rhat Romulus and Remus were nursed by Lupa wife to the shepherd Faustulus she was so called because she prostituted her selfe for gain they were cast out by the King Amulius and was found by the bounds of Tyber Pliny cals her Acca Laurentia Philix was Nurse to the Emperor Domitian who when he was slain and his corse lay derided and neglected took up his body and putting it into a common Bear caused it by ordinary and mercenary bearers to be carried to the suburbs wherein she lived and interred it in the Latin high way Author Sueton. Macrina was a pious and religious woman the disciple and scholer of Greg. Neocaesariensis she was Norse and school mistress in the first foundation of Christian Religion to the great Basilius as he himselfe witnesseth in an Epistle to the Neocaesarienses From Nurses a word or two of Midwives Phaenarite was one the mother of Athenean Socrates she is remembred to be the first that disputed of Morality that which we call Ethick Instructions and taught the mysticall Philosophy of the Stars and Planets how it might be made familiar and have correspondence with our humane and terrestriall actions The son imitated the mother and proved as happy a Midwife of the mind as she of the body both helping into the world ripe timely and fruitful issues Volaterran lib. 19. Laertius in ejus vita and Valerius Maxim lib. 3. cap. 4. Pliny lib. 28. cap. 7. speaks of two Midwives the one called Sotyra the other Salpe whose opinions and rules he observeth in the cures of many diseases of Salpe he speaks more largely lib. 32. cap. 6. Lycosthenes speaks of one Philippa Midwife to Iolanta who indured many distresses and changes of fortune Of Stepmothers I will only name some few and so passe them over because where they be can be exprest nothing but malice and unnaturall cruelty in women The histories must of force appear harsh and unpleasant besides some of their bloody acts I have touched before under another title Ino was Stepmother to Phrixus and Helles the daughter of Athamus Hyppodamia to Chrisippus Stratonice to Antiochus Soter Julia to Anton. Caracalla Gedica to Cominius Juno to Hercules Opaea to Scylis King of Scythia Eribaea to Mercury Alphriga to Edward the second of that name before the Conquest King of England Martina to Constantinus Heraclius whom she slew by poison c. Of Women for their Piety and Devotion remembred in the sacred Scriptures I Desire to leave nothing unspecified or not remembred in this work that might not make the excellency of good Women oppose in all contradiction the excesse of the bad and to draw if it were possible the worst to the imitation of the best Hanapus cap. 125. commemorates these Rebecka who when she saw the servant of Abraham at the Well where she came to draw water and desiring to drink answered cheerfully and without delay Drink Sir and I will also draw water for thy Camels till they have all drunk their fill Genes 24. The Midwives feared God and did not according to the command of Pharaoh King of Aegypt but preserved the male-children whom they might have destroied Exodus 1. The daughter of Pharaoh comming down to the river to wash her selfe with her handmaid and finding the young child Moses in the Ark amongst the bulrushes she had compassion on the infant and said Surely this is a child of the Hebrews so caused him to be nursed brought up in her fathers Court and after adopted him to be her son Exod. 2. Rahab the strumpeâ— when she knew the spies of Joshua to be pursued and in danger of death concealed them and returned them safe to the army Josh 2. The messengers that were sent to David in the wildernesse to inform him of the proceeding of his son Absolon were by a woman hid in a Well which she covered and by that means deluded their pursuers 1 King 2. 17. When two common women contended before Solomon about the living and dead infant the one had a tender and relenting breast and could not endure to see the living child perish 1 Kin. 3. 3. The widdow woman of Zarephath enterteined Eliah as her guest and by her he was relieved 1 King 17 9. The Shunamitish woman perswaded with her husband that the Prophet Elisaeus might have a convenient lodging in her house to go and come at his pleasure 1 King 4. 2. When wicked Athalia had given strict command to destroy all the Kings seed Josaba the daughter of King Ioram took Ioas one of the Kings children and by hiding him out of the way preserved his life 1 King 4. 11. Hester having commiseration of her people when a severe edict was published to destroy them all and sweep them from the face of the earth she exposed her selfe with the great danger of her own life to the displeasure of King Ahashuerosh purchasing thereby the freedome of her Nation and her own sublimity Hester 4. 5. Women ministred to the Savior of the world in his way as he went preaching to the Towns and Cities Luke 8. when he walked from place to place preaching and teaching he is said never to have had more free and faithfull welcome then in the house of Martha and Mary Luke 10. Iohn 12. When the Scribes and Pharisees blasphemed at the hearing and seeing the Doctrine and Miracles of Christ a certain woman giving devour attention to his words as extasi'd with his divine Sermon burst forth into this acclamation Blessed be the womb that bare thee and the brests that gave thee suck Luke 11. Christ being in Bethania in the house of Simon the leaper as
together in their fall Whilst all the Potters quake with such a ruine As when huge masts are split and crackt withall The warring winds the seamans wrack pursuing In such a tempest let the Chimnies shatter And the vast frame within its basses sink Whilst 'bout their cars the tiles and rafters clatter That all their pipkins steaâ— and pots for drink And other uses may be crusht to pouder And so convert again into that mire Whence they were forg'd Or if a horror lowder May be devis'd here vent thy worst of ire Else let that Witch that cals Apollo father Who can from hell the blackest furies call And her infectious drugs and poisons gather And sprinkle them on work-men work and all Let Chiron to this forge his Centaurs bring All that survived the battell ' gainst Jove's son That they these pots against the wals may ding And all their labours into ruine run Till what they see he nothing and these here Spectators of this wrack may howl and yell And their great losse lament with many a teare Whilst I may laugh aloofe and say 't was well And to conclude that he that next aspires But to come nere the furnace where they stand May be the fuel to these raging fires And be consum'd to ashes out of hand So may the rest that shall escape this danger Be warn'd by these how to deride a stranger That the former writers might demonstrate unto us That humane actions are not altogether so governed by the force coelestiall but that there is some place left open for mans prudence and wisedome and besides to deliver unto us how acceptable the knowledge of good things is to him who is the giver of all graces they therefore left this expression to posterity that Wisedome was the daughter of Jupiter and born without a mother since God is only wise and men not so but meerly in a similitude or shadow Therefore to manifest the power of Wisdome they feigned her to come into the world armed because the wise man respects not the injuries of Fortune nor puts his trust in any worldly felicity further then by counsell and patience to subdue the one and moderate the other stil placing his hopes in that fountaine from whence she first proceeded Next because the feare of the Lord is the beginning of Wisedome she is said to have combated Giants the sonnes of the earth such as in that Gigomantichia would have pluckt Jupiter out of his throne by which are intended the presumptions of nature and the insolencies of men who all service and adoration to the divine powers neglected are not affraid to make insurrection against heaven it selfe I may therefore conclude that all humane wisedome different against the divine will is vain and contemptible since the good man is onely wise and in the grace and favour or his Maker Diana SHE is the daughter of Iupiter and Latona the goddesse of Virginity and Chastity In the heaven she is called Luna the Moon in the earth Diana in Hell or amongst the Infernals Prosâ—erpina of which three-fold power she is called Triformis and Triula The places sacred to her were as Valerius Flaccus affirms Parthenius a flood of Paphlagonia She with her brother Apollo was born in Cinthus a mountain hanging over Delos of whom Statius saith they are both called Cinthii In Ephesus a City of Ionia or Lydia she had a magnificent Temple numbred amongst the seven wonders of the world In Bauron a City of Attica she was likewise honoured And as Lucan testates in Taurus a mountain in Sicily and as Virgil in Delos Notior ut canibus non jam sit Delia nostris Not Delia to our dogs is better known Horace reports her to have two mountains in Italy dedicated to her deity Aventinus and Algidus In her sacrifices a Hart was stall offered at her Altar and dogs or hounds as Ovid writes Extra canum Triviae vidi mactare Sabaeos Et quicunque tuas accolit Haeme Nyves The Sâ—baeans and the Thessalians inhabiting the snowie mountain Haemus used dogs in their oblations Of her Temple at Ephesus it shall not be amiss to speak a word or two by the way Plutarch in his book De vitando Aere alieno saith that the Temple of Diana was a Sanctuary wherein all debtors were safe from their creditors As the Vestals of Rome had the time of their service distinguished into three parts in the first to learn the mysteries of Vesta in the second to do the ceremonies and in the third to instruct others that were ignorant So amongst the Priests of Diana in Ephesus the first order of them gave them the name of Melieres that is to be capable of the Priesthood but not admitted the second was Hieres that was in present office the third Parieres that was dead from the service This stately and magnificent structure was first erected by the Amazons so beautifull and sacred that when Xerxes had with sword and fire wasted and demolisht all the Temples of Asia he spared only that as the richest jewell of the world It is reported of one Herostratus a wicked and debauch'd fellow who finding in himselfe nothing good to preserve his memory and willing that his name should live to posterity set this Temple on fire for no other purpose but that he would be talkt on the Ephesians understanding this his malicious ambition they made it death once to name him Cornelius Nepos writes that the same night that this famous structure was ruin'd and defaced by fire Alexander was born in Pella in the three hundred and eighth yeare after the building of Rome so that at the extinguishing of one light of the world another was kindled It being demanded of one of Diana's Priests Why Diana being a goddess would suffer her Temple to be utterly destroied and what she was a doing the while It was answered again That it was done unawares to the goddess for she was that night at the labour of Olympias and busied about bringing Alexander into the world Notwithstanding this great ruine the people of Ephesus caused it to be re-erected and made both richer and more beautifull than before of which work Dinocrates an Architectour of Macedonia was chiefe Diana as Plutarch in his Symposaicon saith is called Elitheia or â—ucina as also Locheia as goddessâ— of child-birth she is called also Dictiana And in his Solertia animalium that Apollo would be called Lycoconos and Diana Multicida Elaphibolos The one for killing so many wolves the other Harts Amongst the Aegyptians she is called Bubastis she is celebrated witnesse Herodotus amongst the Thressae and the Peloniates amongst the Bizantians she hath the name of Diana Orthosia The Poets fain that she is continually exercised in hunting for no other reason but to instruct and incourage all such as professe virginity to shun sloath and idlenesse so Ovid Otia si tollas periere cupidinis areus Take sloth away and Cupids how unbends His brands â—â—â—inguish
and his false fire spends Diana and Phoebus were therefore said to be the children of Latona because in that the ancient Poets would signifie the beginning of the world so when the matter whereof it was made was a meer confused Masse and without shape because all things were obscure and hid that darknesse is signified in Latona and whereas they make Iupiter their Father it imperts as much as if they should fetch Iupiter out of this darknesse called the Sun and the Moon More plainly the Spirit of the Lord said Let there be light of which light Apâ—â—llo and Diana the one by day and the other by night are the greatest by this inferring that the generation of the world began first from Light Ceres THE Goddesse of fruits and grain and daughter to Saturn and Ops a Law-giver to the Sicilians therefore by Virgil called Segifera In Eleusis a City of Artica she had divine worship because she there taught plantation and agriculture and of that place had the name of â—lusina she was honoured in the mount Aetna in Aeona and Catana two Cities of Cicily From whence as Claudian â—â—lates she had the name of Aetnaea Aennaea and Catanensis the like doth Selius c. Lactantius reports that into these her Temples erected in these Cities it was not lawfull â—o any man to enter The manner of the rights among the Philagenses were that no sacrifices should be slain only the fruits of planted trees Honycombs and new shorn wool were laid upon the Altar and sprinkled with sweet oile and were set a fire burnt and offered these Customes were privately and publickly observed yearly as Pausanias left recorded The Argives sacrifice to this goddesse by the name of Ceres Clithonia upon certain set daies in the Summer after this manner Their sacrificial pomp is attended by the chiefe Magistrats of the City after which company the women and children next followed the boies all in white robes with chaplers about their browes of Hyacinthes interwoven and in the lag end of the same troop were driven a certain number of faire and goodly Oxen but bound in the strict bands and drag'd towards the Temple being thither come one of these beasts with his cords loosed was driven in the rest of the people standing without the gates and looking on who no sooner see him entred but shut the gates upon him within the Temple are four old women Priests with hatches and knives by whom he is slain and one of them hath by lot the office to cut off the head of the sacrifice This done the doors are againe set open and the rest one by one forc'd in and so in order by the same women slain and offered In a book of the scituation of Sicily composed by Cl. Marius Aretius a Patritian and of Syracula Intituled Charographia Siciliae In the City Aenna saith he as Strabo consenting with him were born Ceres and her daughter Libera whom some call Proscrpina From which place she was rapt and therefore is this City to her sacred Neer to this City is a river of an infinite depth whose mouth lieth towards the North from whence it is said Dis or Pluto with his chariot made ascent and hurrying the virgin thence to have penetrated the earth againe not far from Syracusa This is that most ancient Ceres whom not Sicilia only but all other nations whatsoever celebrated Most certain it is that she was Queen of the Sicilians and gave them lawes taught them the use of â—illage and husbandry and that her daughter Libera was transported thither by Oâ—cus or Dis King of the Molossians In her Temple part of which not many years since was standing were two statues of Marble one sacred to her another to Proserpina another of brasse beautifull and faire but wondrous ancient At the entrance into the Church in an open place without were two other faire portraictures one of her another of Triptolemus large and of exquisite workmanship In Ceres right hand was the image of victory most curiously forged This History with many other is with much nimble and dextrous with fabulated by Ovid to whose Metamorphosis I refer you In Ceres is figured to us an exhortation to all men to be carefull in the manuring and â—illing of the earth since Ceres is taken for the Earth the treasuress of all riches whatsoever and just is that usury and commendable which ariseth from thence for the fertility that growes that way is begot by the temperature of the weather and the industry of mans labours She is therefore said to wander round about the earth and over the spacious Universe because of the obliquity of the sign-bearing circle and the progress of the Sun beneath that by which Summer is in some parts of the world at all seasons of the year and elsewhere when not here Besides from hence this morality may be collected No man unpunished can despise the gods for miseries are the hand-maids of dishonesty therefore of force a wicked and irreligions man is subject and incident to fall into many distresses and casualties therefore Piety towards heaven Wisdome in managing our affairs and Thriâ—â—◠〈◊〉 in the disposing of our private fortunes me all requisite in an honest religious a parsimonious and well disposed man Proserpina THE daughter of Iupiter and Ceres she was honoured in Sicily of which Province she was called Sicula of whom Seneca thus speaks Vâ—disti Siculae regna Proserpinae Hast thou seen the Kingdomes of Sicilian Proserpine She is likewise called by Lucan Ennaea of the City Enna Eloquar 〈◊〉 terrae sub pondere quae te Contineant Ennaea dapes Shall I 〈…〉 discover on what dainties thou seedest Beneath the huge waight of the Massie earth Many fâ—â—les of Proserpina have been introduc'd for our better instruction by the ancient Poets which is onely to express to us the nature of the seeds and plants for Proserpina by whom is signified the Moon shining to us one halfe of the month and lying the other halfe in the arms of her husband Pluto that iâ— being halfe the year in Heaven and the other in Hell six months beneath 〈…〉 and as many above so is it 〈…〉 whose 〈◊〉 for six months space is by 〈…〉 cold forc'd and 〈◊〉 upword 〈…〉 and branches agâ—ine by the extremity of the Winters upper cold it is compulsively driven back downward into the â—oot beneath the earth for so doth nature 〈◊〉 her power and vertue to all creatures and naturall bâ—dies whatsoever that thâ—â— may observe a mutuality if I may tearm it so in their cooperation After the like manner iâ— the day sorted out for our labours and affairs the â—ight for our rest and repose So likewise in explicating the power of Luna or the Moon some call her the daughter of Hâ—perion or the Sun because she being Corpus diaphanes that is a body christallâ—n like reflective glass transfers the light received from her father upon the earth to us for which cause
she is called also the sister of the Sun by the swiftness of her course her proper motions are declared To express her nature alwaies appearing to us greater or lesser is to signifie her strength and multiplicity of working therefore they allot her a garment of divers and sundry colors In attributing to her the double sexes of male and female as some have commented the reason is in that as she is woman she inâ—useth an humour necessary and profitable to the 〈◊〉 of all creatures in respect of her virile nature she allowes a moderate and sensible heat much available to increase for without this heat in vain were her operaâ—â—â—n which is easily proved in all creatures that are pâ—egnaâ—t and briâ—ging forth therefore she is called 〈◊〉 as the goddess that bâ—ings creatures to light She is likewise operative to 〈◊〉 which is the reason that siâ—k men and such as are troubled with any grievous mâ—lady are most in danger of death in the criticall daies of the Moon Nemesis SHE is the goddess of Revenâ—e and Wrath and 〈◊〉 of the proud and vain-glorious She had a Temple in Râ—mnus a Town in Arâ—â—ca 〈◊〉 which she took the name of Rhamnusia Aristotle by the passion of Indignation and affection of Commiseration saith Nemesis is figured and both of these took in the better part Indignation when good men are troubled and vexed to see bad men use good things ill Commiseration to see honest and just men crost with the disasters of the world Plutarch in his book de capienda ex hostibus utilitate speaking how ridiculous it is for any man to reprove another of that vice of which he is himselfe guilty or taint any man for the least deformity unto which he is subject himselfe bring in Leo Bizantius a croked back'd fellow gybing at him because he had a weaknesse and infirmity falne into his eies to him he thus answered Why dost thou mock me for this mischance by fortune when thou thy selfe carriest Nemesis upon thy back by nature O what power this Nemesis was and how honoured many authors as well amongst the Greeks as the Latines have laboured industriously to make manifest I will insist on few Ausonius from the Greek interpreted this Epigram Me lapidem quondam Persae advexore trophaeum Vt fierem bello nunc ego sum Nemesis Ac sicut Graecis victoriâ—us asto trophaeum Punio sic Persas vaniloquos Nemesis The Persians took me hence long since From Greece a stone and vow To make me a wars-Trophy stand But Nemesis I am now But as I to the victor Greeks A Trophy now appear The prating Persians Nemesis I punish with my feare The History from which both Epigrams are derived Pausanias recites much after this manner From Marathon saith he some threescore leagues distant is Rhamnus a City bordering upon the Sea just in the way to Oroxus by which stands the Temple of Nemesis a goddesse who is the inevitable revenger of such men as are haughty proud and contumelious It seems the barbarous Persians under the name of Nemesis do comprehend Indignatio for comming towards Marathon and despising the Athenians are not able to interpose their incursions They took a stone of white Marble as if they had already obtained the victory of which stone Phidias the excellent statuary made the portraicture of Nemesis A faire Crown upon her head with forrest Harts carved about it and smal Imageries pourtraying Victory in her right hand a golden cup in which the Aethiopians were figured Some think her the daughter of Oceanus some of Jupiter others of justice Ammâ—anus Marcellanus in his book of the deeds of the Emperour Gallus speaks to this effect These and such like things saith he 〈◊〉 under whose name by a double signification we understand Nemesis oft times works in 〈◊〉 being a certaine sublime law of some high and power effectuall in the 〈…〉 and plac'd or having residence about the 〈◊〉 circle who suppressâ—th the lofty necks of the proud and from the lowest of despaire erects the minds of the humble For when the wise and understanding men would illustrate to us nothing to be more acceptable to heaven of more commodious to the life of man than a moderation of the mind as well in prosperity as adversity they devised many fables to exhort mâ—n nobly to indure the miseries and afflictions of this life with constant sufferance and resolved patience And because many had by such examples yeelded their submissive shoulders to the burden of disasters but in prosperity and in the superabundance both of Wealth and Honour knew not how well to behave themselves they therefore introduc'd Nemesis the daughter of Justice a most grave and severe goodesse to see punishment inflicted upon such that in the excesse of their felicity and height of their authority prove over other men Tyrants and therefore intollerable Latona SHE was honoured in Delos as there being delivered of Apollo and Diana to illustrate whose history the better I will give you a taste out of Lucians dialogues the interlocutors are Juno and Laâ—onae You have brought to Jupiter two beautifull 〈◊〉 saith Iuno To whom she replied We cannot 〈◊〉 cannot all indeed be the mothers of such sweet babes as Vulcan Iuno replies Though he be Iame as falling from the upper region down to the earth by the negligence of his father yet is he profitable and usefull both to gods and men for Iupiter he provides thunders for men armour and weapons when on the contrary thy daughter Diana imploies her selfe onely in hunting and unnecessary pastime an extravagant huntresse never satiate with the blood of innocent beasts Thy beautifull son pretending to know all things to be an exquisite Archer a cunning Musitian a Poet a Physitian and a Prophet and not of these alone the professor but the Patron To this purpose hath he set up Temples and Oracles here in Delphos there in Câ—atos and Dydimus by his dilemmaes and oblique answers to questions demanded such as which way soever they be taken must necessarily fall out true deluding and mocking all such as come rather to be resolved of their doubts and fears or to know things future by these illusions raising an infinite gain and riches to himselfe to the losse and discommodity of others his foreknowledge meerly consisting of legerdemain and jugling Nor is it concealed from the wise how in his predictions he dictates false things as often as true For could he exactly and punctually presage all things to come why did he not foresee the death or his Minion and know before that he was to perish by his own hand why did he not predict that his love Daphne so fair hair'd and beautiful should flie and shun him as a monster hated and scorned these with infinite others considered I see no reason thou shouldst think thy selfe more happy in thy children than the most unfortunate Niobe To whom Latona replyed I well perceive great goddess wherein this many
and others infinite besides fourescore whose names are remembred there are others scarce to be numbered for as Zetzes saith in his History Elatos animo enim omnes omnes strenuos Filios amicos dicunt amatos à Neptuno All that are high minded and strong men were esteemed as the sons and friends and beloved of Neptune Amphitrite signifies nothing else but the body and matter of all that moist humour which is earth above below or within the earth and for that cause she is called the wife of Neptune Euripides in Cyclope takes her for the substance of water it self Orpheus cals her Glaâ—cae and Piscosa that is blew and ful of fish being attributes belonging solely to the goddesse of the Sea And by the Dolphins soliciting the love of Neptune to Amphitrite and reconciling them is meant nothing else but to illustrate to us That of all the fishes that belong to the sea he is the swiftest the most active and apprehensive Thetis or Tethies HEsiod cals her the wife of Oceanus who is stiled the father of all the floods creatures and gods because as Orpheus Thales and others are of opinion all things that are bred and born have need of humour without which nothing can be beget or made corruptible Isacius hath left recorded that besides her he had two wives Partenope and Pamphoâ—â—â—e by Parâ—â—nope he had two daughters Asia and Libia by Pampholige Europa and Thracia and besides them three thousand other children for so many Hesiod numbers in his Theogonia This Thetis was the daughter of the earth and heaven and therefore as Oceanus is called the father of the 〈◊〉 so is she is esteemed as the mother of the goddesses 〈◊〉 cals one Thetis the daughter of Chiâ—on the Câ—ntaure and Homer in his hymn to Apollo the child of Nereus which 〈◊〉 confirms as also Euripides in Aphigema and in 〈◊〉 she was the wife of Peleus and of all women living the most beautiâ—â—ll of whom Apollodorus thus speaks They say Iupiter and Neptune contended about her Nuptias but she not willing to incline to Iupiter be-because because she was educated by Juno therefore he in his rage allotted her to be the bride of a mortall man Homer writes that she was angry being a Marine goddesse to be the wife of a man therefore to avoid his embraces she shifted her selfe into sundry shapes and 〈◊〉 but Peleus being advised by Chiron notwithstanding all her transformations as into 〈◊〉 into a Lion and others never to let go his hold till she returned into her own naturall form in which he vitiated her and of her begot Aâ—â—illes the last shape she took upon her was a Sepia which is a fish called a Cuttle whose blood is as black as ink now because this was done in Magnesia a City of Thessaly the place as Zertzes in his history records is called Sepias Pithenaetus and others say that she was not compelled or forced to the marriage of Peleus but that it was solemnized in the mountain Pelius with her full and free consent where all the gods and goddesses saving Discord were present and offered at the wedding for such hath been the custome from antiquity Pluto gave a rich Smaragd Neptune two gallant steeds Xanthus and Ballia Vulcan a knife with an hast richly carved and some one thing and some another By Peleus she had more sons then Achilles which every night she used to hide beneath the fire that what was mortall in them might be consumed by which they all died save Achilles who was preserved by being in the day time annointed with Ambrosia therefore as Amestor in his Epithalamium upon Thetis 〈◊〉 relates he was called Piresous as preserved from the fire additur hinc nâ—men Piresous She was the sister of Titaa and brought forth Ephire who was after married to 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 who as Ovid relates in his book de Fastâ— was the 〈…〉 Atlas These are likewise numbred amongst the daughters of Oceanus and Thetis Acaste Admete Asia that gave name to a part of the world till now called Asia Climâ—ne Idyâ—a Ephire Eudora Eurâ—ome Jamra 〈…〉 Plexame Primno Rhodia Thea Thoe 〈…〉 who was beloved of Apollo but being jealous or his affection to Leucothoë she had discovered it to her father Orchamus Apollo therefore left her in griefe of which she vowed an abstinence from all sustenance whatsoever onlâ— with fixt eies still gazing upon the course of the Sun which the gods commiserating changed her into an Helâ—â—aropiâ—n which is called the Suns flower which still inclines to what part soever he makes his progresse But whether she be Tethies or Thetis she is no other than the reputed goddesse of the Sea her name importing that huge masse of water or element as Virgil in his Pollio saith necessary to the generation of all creatures whatsoever Towards the East she is called Indica towards the West Atlanticaâ— where she divides Spain and Mauritania towards the North Pontica and Glaciatis as likewise Rubra and Aethopica for so Strabo relates as also Rhianus in the navigation of Hanno the Carthaginian Stiphilus in his book de Thessalia hath bequeathed to memory That Chiron a wise and skilfull Astrologian to make Peleus the more famous consulted with the daughter of Acloris and Mirmidon and betwixt them published abroad that he by the consent of Jupiter should match with the goddesse Thetis to whose nuptials all the gods came in great showers and tempests for he had observed a time when he knew great store of raine would fall and from that the rumour first grew That Peleus had married Thetis But Dailochus and Pherecides report that Peleus having purged himself of the murder of his brother Phocus murdered Antigone others say that he first took Antigone and after her death Thetis and that Chiron being an excellent Chirurgeon was so called for the lightnesse and dexterity of hand which is an excellent gift in the searching and dressing of wounds in any of that profession Apollodorus saith that Thetis after many windings and turnings and transhapes to preserve her virginity was at length comprest by Iupiter The Nymphs called Dorides were her Ministers and handmaids Nereides THey were the daughters of Nereus and Doris he is said by Hesiod to be the son of Oceanus and Thetis he is stiled a Prophet or South saier who as Horace tels us did predict to Paris all the calamities that were to succeed at Troy Apollonius tels us that his chiefe mansion or place of residence is in the Aegean sea The same is that Hercules being sent to fetch the golden apples of the Hesperides and not knowing where abouts they grew went to the Nymphs that dwel by the banks of Eridamus to be resolved by them they sent him to demand of Nereus who thinking to delude him by shifting himselfe into sundry shapes was notwithstanding held so fast by Hercules that he was forced to assume his own
him the issue of Polybus the son of Mercury and Euboea Promothidas Heraclâ—ota derives him from Phorbus and the Nymph Pampaea born in Aothedon a famous City of Boeâ—tia Thelytus Methimnaeus in his Bacchick numbers brings his progenie from Nopaeus Epicus in one of his hymns from Evanthes the son of Neptune and Maedis He is said to have ravisht Syma the daughter of Iclemis and Doris and to have transported her into Asia and was after married to Hidua the daughter of Sydnus Scioneus one that used to dive and fetch things up from the bottome But of his issue there is nothing left remembred It is commented of him that being a fisherman and having taken more fishes then he could carry upon his back with ease and laying down his burden to rest him by the shore there grew an herb which the dead fishes no sooner touched or tasted but they instantly recovered life and one by one leapt into the sea he by tasting the same herb to prove the vertue thereof was forced to leap after them and so was made a Sea-god Others are of opinion that wearied with the tediousnesse of his age hee willingly drowned himselfe The wives and daughters of Proteus ZEtzes in his foure and fortieth history cals Proteus the sonne of Neptune and the nymph Phenica who travelling from Aegypt into Phlegra there took to wife Torone by whom he had three sonnes Toronus Timilus and Telegonus all wicked and bloody minded men who for their cruelty perisht by the hands of Hercules Euripides speaks of one Psamethes a second wife by whom he had Theonone and Theolymenus He had moreover these daughters Cavera Rhetia and Idothaea This was she that when Menelaus doubted of his returne into his countrey having sojourned somewhat long in Aegypt counselled him to apparell himselfe and his followers in the fresh skins of Porposes and counterfeit themselves to sleep amongst these Sea-cattell and that about the heat of the day at what time Proteus used to come out of the deeps upon the dry land and there take a nap with his Porposes then to catch fast hold on him sleeping and notwithstanding all his changeable shapes and figures not to dismisse him till he had reduc'd himself to his own naturall form and then hee would predict to him whatsoever was to come This counsell given by Idothaea Homer excellently expresseth in his fourth book of his Odyssaea It is said of him that he could change himselâ—e sometimes into water and againe to fire to 〈…〉 birds trees or serpents c. Neither did this mutability of shape belong to him onely for we read the like of Thetis and Mestra or Metre the daughter of Eresicthan the Thessalian Periclemenus the son of Neleus and Polymela and brother of Nestor obtained the same gift of Neptune of him Euphorâ—on and Hesiod speaks more at large Empusa is remembred by Aristophanâ—s to have the same faculty and dexterity in changing her shape so likewise Epicharmus Empusa planta bos fit atque vipera Lupisque musca pulchra illa semina Quicquid cupit vel denique ille conferat Empusa is made a plant an â—xe a viper A stone a flie and a fair woman too What she desires that she doth still resemble The Poets in these changing of shapes and turning themselves into so many sundry sorts of creatures importing nothing else but the wisdome of such persons who have searcht into the hidden mysteries of Philosophy and acquired the natures and properties of water fire herbs 〈◊〉 and plants beasts birds and serpents in which being perfect they may be and not altogether unproperly said to change themselves into the similitudes of so many creatures The daughters of Phorcis THis Phorcis whom the Latines call Phorcus was the sonne of Terra and Pontus the Earth and the Sea as Hesiod in his Theogonia makes him But Varro will have him to be the issue of Neptune and the Nymph Thosea He had besides those daughters begot one Ceto the Phâ—rcidae namely the Gorâ—ons and Thoosa who lay with Neptune and brought forth the Cyclops Polyphemus as Homer witnesseth He is called also the father of the serpent that kept the Heâ—perides by Hesiod But I will forbear the rest to speak something of his daughter Medusa Medusa She for her lust and immoderate appetite to inchastity incurred the ire of the gods being so impudent as to suffer the imbraces of Neptune in the â—emple of Minerva There were divers of that name one the daughter of Priam another of Sthenelus and Niciope Paâ—sanias in Corinthiacis cals her the daughter of Phorhus others of 〈◊〉 sea-monster which I take to be Phorcus before mentioned Minerva for the prophanation of her Temple being grievously incens'd thought to punish her in those hairs which a little before were so wondrous pleasing to Neptune and turned them into hissing and crawling snakes giving her this power that whosoever gazed upon her face should be in the instant converted into stone Isacius is of opinion that that was not the cause of her calamity but relates it another way That Medusa was of Pisidia and the fairest of all women who glorying in her feature but especially the beauty of her hair dared to contend with Pallas which arrogant impudency the goddesse heinously taking her hair in which she so ambitiously gloried she changed into filthy and terrible snakes and then gave her that killing look before mentioned but pitying at length so generall a mischiefe incident to mortall men by that means she sent Perseus the son of Jupiter and Dana or rather as some wil have it he was imploied by Polydectes King of the Seriphians to cut off her head who having before received a hooked skein called Harpe from Mercury and a shield from Pallas came to the â—en called Tritonides amongst whose inhabitants she exercised her mischiefe and first approaching Pephredo and Aenio two of the Phorcidae and of the Gorgonian sisterhood who were old and wrinckled crones from their nativity they had betwixt them but one eie and one tooth which they did use by turns and when they went abroad or when they had no occasion to imploy them laid them up in a casker for so Ascilus relates He borrowed of them that eie and tooth neither of which he would restore till they had brought him to the Nymphs with winged shooes which taking from them and being armed with the Helmet of Pluto the sword of Mercury and the mirrour of Pallas he fled to Tartessus a City of Iberiae where the Gorgons then inhabited whose heads crawled with adders whose teeth were like the tusks of a boare their hands of brasse and their wings of gold and there arriving found them asleep and spying her head in Minerva's glasse in which he still looked it directed him so that at one blow be cut it off out of whose blood Pegasus sprung forth The other two sisters Sthumo and Aeuryale awaking and this seeing with the loud hissing of these innumerable
snakes made a noise most dreadfull and horrible From whence Pallas first devised the pipe with many heads The form and shape of these Phorcidae Hesiod elegantly describes Crisaor and Pegasus were begot of the blood dropping from Medusa's head as Apollonius Rhodius writes in his building of Alexandria The Gorgons were called Graee as Zetzes explicates in his two and twentieth History Mâ—nander in his book de Mysteriis numbers Sâ—ylla amongst these Gorgons and that they inhabited the Doracian Islands scituate in the Aethiopick sea which some call Goâ—gades of whom they took the names of Gorgones Nimphodorus in his third book of Histories and Theopompus in his seventeenth affirm their girdles to be of wreathed vipers so likewise Polemo in his book to Adaeus and Antigonus The occasion of these fictions are next to be inquited after By these Graee the daughters of Sea-monsters is apprehended Knowledge and such Wisedome as is attained too by Experience They are said to have but one ere which they used when they went abroad because Prudence is not so altogether necessary to those that stay within and solely apply themselves to domestick affairs as to such who look into the world and search after difficulties Of this Wisedome or these Graee not impertinently called the sisters of the Gorgons is meant the pleasures and vain blandishments of the world with the dangers that appertaine to the 〈…〉 from either of which no man without the counsell of 〈◊〉 can acquit himselfe Therefore is Perâ—â—us said to overcome the Gorgons not without the 〈◊〉 of Pluto the eie of the Graeâ— the sword of Mercury and the mirror of Pallas all which who shall use aâ—ight shall pâ—ove himself to be Perseus the friend and son of Iupiter Scylla and Charybdis ACusilaus and Apollonius both nominate Scylla to be the daughter of Phâ—â—cia and Hâ—caete but Homer that her mothers name was Crataeis Chariclides cals her the issue of Phoâ—bantes and Hâ—cate Steâ—ichorus of Lamia Tymeus terms her the daughter of the â—â—ood Cratus Pausanias in Atticis and Strabo in l. 8. agree that this Scylla was the daughter of Nysus King of the Megarenses who surprised with the love of King Mâ—nos stole from her fathers head that purple lock in which consisted the safety of his own life and Kingdome The Athenians having invaded his dominion and seised many of his Townes and wasted the greatest part of his country by their fierce and bloody incursions they at length besieged him in the City Nysaea Some are of opinion that â—â—sus incensed with the foulnesse of that treason caused her to bee cast into the sea where shee was turned into a sea-monster Pausanias avers that she was neither changed into a bird nor a monster of the sea nor betrai'd her father nor was married to Nisus as he had before promised her but that having surprised Nysaea he caused her to be precipitated into the sea whose body tost to and fro by the waves of the Ocean till it was transported as far as the Promontory caâ—led Scylaea where her body lay so long upon the continent unburied till it was devoured by the sea-fouls this gave plâ—ce to that fable in Ovid. Filia purpureum Nisi furata capillum Puppe cadens navis facta refertur avis 'T is said the daughter having stoln her fathers purple hair sair Fals from the hin-deck of the ship and thence sores through the Zâ—nodorus saith that she was hanged at the stern of Minos his ship and so dragged through the waters till she died and that Scylla the daughter of Phorcus was a damosel of incomparable beauty and vitiated by Neptune which known to Amphitrite she cast such an invenomous confection into the fountain where she accustomed to bath her selfe that it cast her into such a madnesse that she drowned her selfe Of his mind is Miro Prianaeus in his first book Rerum Messanicarum Others imagine that she had mutuall consociety with Glaucus the sea god which Circe who was before inamoured of him understanding she sprinkled the well wherein she used to lave her self with such venomous juice that from her wast downwards she was translated into divers monstrous shapes which as Zenodotus Cyrenaeus saith was the occasion of the Fable commented upon her Isaoius thus describes her deformity She had six heads the one of a canker-worm the other of a dog a third of a Lâ—on a fourth of a Gorgon a fifth of a whirl-poole or a Whale the sixâ— of a woman Homer in his Odysses describes her with six heads and twelve feet every head having three order of teeth Virgil in Sileno saith that all ships were wrackt and devoured by those drugs that grew beneath her navell Charybdis She was likewise a most devouring woman who having stolne many Oxen from Hercules which he before had taken from Geryon was by Jupiter stroke with a thunderbolt and so transformed into that monster of the sea others contest that she was slaine by Hercules and after so transhap'd of these divers are diversly opinionated Strabo saith that Homer imagined the vehement flux and reflux of that sea about the concaves of those rocks made so terrible a noise that therefore the Poets fabulated that in her sides and about her interiour parts were the barkings of dogs continually heard Isacius writes that Scilla is a proeminent promontory over against Rhegium in Sicily hanging over the sea under which are many huge and masâ—ie stones hollowed by the billowes in whose concavities many sea-monsters inhabit and when there is shipping in those parts amongst those rocks and shelves they are either swallowed by Charybdis or Scylla Charybdis being scituate directly against Messina and Scylla against Rhegium they are therefore said to be women because afar off these promontories appeare as it were in a feminine shape what fleet soever by the tides and tempests was forc'd upon Charybdis were there shipwrackt and such as by Charybdis were â—ost on the rocks of Scylla were there swallowed In which fable is included the nature of Vertue and Vice No man but in the progresse of his life sailes betwixt these two quicksands if he incline to one hand more then the other he is either swallowed by Scylla or devoured by Charybdis What else doth this signifie but that which Aristotle in his Ethicks illustrates Vertue which is the medium betwixt two extreams both which are to be avoided and the middle wherein is safety to imbraced for mans life is nothing else but a continuall navigation betwixt divers molestations of one hand and tempting and unlawfull pleasures on the other both which are comprehended in these Syrtes or places of certaine destruction For Scylla is so called 〈◊〉 spoliandâ— or repando of spoiling or grieving And Charybdis of sucking up and swallowing betwixt which two dangerous and almost inevitable gulfs a vertuous and a pious man shall in the greatest storms and tempests neither inclining to the right nor the lese securely and with great safety attain
in melancholy Elegracks The last in 〈◊〉 lambicks Aâ—ollodorus in his first book of the Originall of the gods saith that Clâ—o was besotted with the love 〈…〉 the son of Magnâ—â—is by the incensed wrath oâ— Venus because she reproved her for too much doâ—age on 〈◊〉 and that by 〈◊〉 she had the boy Hyacinthus But that it is she by whom all men are accited and 〈◊〉 on to the purchase of honour and glory whence elle came that magnanimous and bâ—ld enterprise of Hercuâ—es in that great 〈…〉 against the sons of Ixion to call to combat all the obuâ—tious pyrots at sea and robbers and spoileâ—s on earth Tyrants and evill doers to tame and horrid and dreadfull labours to overcome the invulnerable Lyon of Cythâ—â—on to tear in pieces The many headed monster Hydra to suffâ—cate and strangle the Eâ—emanthian Boare to slaughter and the golden horned Hart to overcome The ravenous Stymphalides to repell and all the monsters and terrours of the earth in single monomachy to overcome but to attaine to the Apex and height of fame and glory What moved Theâ—eus the second Hercules to remove the 〈◊〉 and pluck thence and beare away the inchanted 〈…〉 to kill the tedious way to 〈◊〉 to traveli the streights and passages in his journey to 〈…〉 with his own proper 〈…〉 Sinis the son of 〈◊〉 to oppresse and many other enterprises of no 〈…〉 to acquire and accomplish What incouraged the 〈◊〉 and Generals of the Gâ—aecian and Râ—man Empire to such noble â—chievements save only the spur of â—lory to 〈…〉 their names to all perpetuity So did 〈◊〉 Poetry 〈◊〉 Homer his eloquence Demosthenes and his integrity 〈◊〉 In like manner others by other means have celebrated their names to posterity to whom this Encomium may be justly given Such as have 〈…〉 and 〈◊〉 they tread the illustrious path 〈…〉 doth nobilitate his own name Such 〈…〉 it behoves them auspiâ—â—◠〈…〉 act either of consequence or danger For so saith Pâ—â—darus in his sixth Hymn Olymp. In the beginning of an enterprize a couragious and an undaunted countenance 〈◊〉 housefull For Vertue are senslesse of dangers And Hâ—siod saith Vâ—rttutem posuere dii sudore parandum The gods have placed Vertue not to be arrived to without sweat and travell But it is next to be enquired what the ancient Poets chiefly intimated in this Nymph Clio She is called the daughter of Jupiter and signifies glory If it be lawfull therefore to acquire glory and to leave the memory of your noble actions to posterity far be it we should seek the daughter but from the father or court her without his consent who from the memory and contemplation of a deed well done derives to us a fame in no age not to be celebrated She is called Prima cogitatio 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 dignity of his own name therefore she is called the first of the Muses Plutarch in his Symposaicon divides the nine Muses into two halfes the one to govern and have dominion over pastimes and pleasures lest any man should foolishly and unadvisedly fall upon actions dishonest or uncomely stirring them up with songs dances and sweet sounding instruments to vertuous exercises and reteining and keeping him back from lusts both unlawfull and pernitious the other division incourages us to actions difficult to affairs serious and of import and these are Clio Calliope and Thalia for all things ought to be done in Symmetria and due proportion of mediocrity that in our sports we slide not into lusts and in things serious wee stumble not at the morosity and peevishnesse of age She had two sons Ialmus and Hymenaeus men of two sundry lots and conditions the one in no place but where there was ejulation and mourning the other where there was ever sport mirth banqueâ—s and nuptiall joies And as Athenaeus observes from Aristophanes In Luctu Ialmus in nuptiis Hymenaeus Nothing else is apprehended by these two brothers of such contrary dispositions but that all such as seek after glory and the immortality of their names are sometimes with crosse and sinister accidents oppressed and sometimes with faire and prosperous successes incouraged and puffed up singing sometimes the joyfull songs of Hymenaeus and forc'd 〈◊〉 other times to be subject to the sad and melancholy howlings of Ialmus And so much of Clio. Euterpe EVery man hath his pleasures and delights as well wise men as fools there is no man of so severe gravity or austere a condition no not Timon himselfe whose nature is not mollified and made more tractable with the delight of some one thing or other One is much pleased with horses of good stomack another with dogs of excellent scent or swiftnesse some with wealth others with honour and so of the rest and thus we passe through the pilgrimage of a life full of infelicities and calamities with the greater content and case by pondering some such things in our minds in which we take the greatest pleasure and comfort Neither are the wise men without this alacrity being sometimes extasi'd in the contemplation of things sublime and high Plato in Philebis saith he As the intemperate man takes pleasure so doth the temperate man in his temperance As the fool is delighted in his foolish opinions and vaine hopes so is the wise man in his wisedome and constant purposes but that their contents are different and of contrary qualities no man makes question The wise man therefore and the unwise have both their pleasures but so far pre-excelling is the one as the other is vile abject and contemptible for the one is gorged and surfeited with his delicacies even to loathing and vomit the other inebriated or rather quickned and inspired with the sprightly nectar of contemplation flies into the celsitude and majesty of things inscrutable neither conteins he himselfe within the narrow and streight empire of this universe but acquires things above capacity and transcending nature for incited with the deep study of metaphysicall Philosophy he strives even to trace the steps of infinite majesty though it be confest that this ambition of his is both foolish and arrogant yet is it daring and noble that not satisfied with the knowledge of humble and terrene things pierceth deeper and aimeth higher till it attain that perfection of height that the mind or understanding being filled may stop at the farthest as there having fixt non ultra But this small digression being of Euterpe which word implies nothing else but true delectation or delight I hope hath not been much impertinent Hesiod cals her the second Muse in order and the daughter of Jupiter and Memory Neanthes in his book entituled Rerum Graecarum cals her the mother of Themistocles but Amphicrates in his tractat of illustrious men contraries that and affirms the strumpet Abrotonum to be his mother Euterpe is called the goddesse of pleasantnesse and jollity said
to nothing no man could distinguish one from the other Simonides by remembring in what place every man sate notwithstanding that confusion distinguisht the bodies and gave to every one his friend and kinsman to give unto them their due rights of buriall according as their births or offices in the Common-weale deserved This approves unto us that order is a chiefe rule in memory which Cicero himselfe hath observed Ammianus Marcellinus is of opinion that he strengthened and preserved his memory with potions extracted from the juice of divers drugs and simples Most requisite and necessary is Polyhimnia to all such as shall enter the Chappell where the holy things of the Muses are kept Whether the memory come by nature or by art or practise and exercise who knowes not but all men are retentive of such things as they are first instructed in and that by nature neverthelesse it is to be observed that children and old men the first have not their memories so perfect the latter not so full and strong for being in continuall motion the brains of the one not ripe and of the other somewhat decaied answer not to the vaâ—eity or greatnesse of the body the prime sences being opprest with an unwieldy and unprofitable burthen in those likewise that are fat and full of thick and grosse humours the exact forms of things are not so easily designed or exprest Plutarch in his book of Oracles cals the Antistrophon to Divination for things past only belong to Memory and things present are the objects of the senses Themistius saith that the Sâ—uthsayer deals only in predictions And Plato in his Philebus affirms That memory is neither sence nor imagination nor understanding but an habit or affection of these with Time added by which there is made an impression and a spectre or imaginary fancy lâ—ft in the soule Lucian saith he that proposeth to himselfe to have Polymnia propitious unto him endeavours to keep all things in memory She is called also Polyhimnia by Horace à multudine cantus of the multiplicity of songs as Lambinus observes in his Commentaries Ovid gives them the same title as Muretus writes upon this verse Dissensere Deae quarum Polyhimnia prima Caepit The goddesses were at odds of which Polyhimnia first began So Virgil Nam verum fateamna amat Polyhimnia verum We must confesse it sooth For Polyhimnia nothing loves but truth In many place and by divers Authors she is sometimes called Polymnia of Memory and againe Polyhimnia of variety in history In the commentary upon the Argonauts she is said to be the mistresse of the Lyre or Harp Hesiod gives Geometry to her and other of the Greek Poets Grammer Cassiodorus in variis intreating of the Comedy makes her the first inventresse of Mimick action and Plutarch in Symâ—â—sia of Histories For saith he She is the remembrancer of many Polymnia therefore or Polyhimnia is called Multa memoria because memory is most behovefull to all such as practise the study of Arts and Disciplines De Vrania FRom Polymnia I proceed to Vrania and from Memory we are drawn up to Heaven for the best remembrancers as Pliny saith comprehend the whole world or universe in which the heavens are included and all the secrets therein as much as by investigation can be attained to have the full and perfect knowledge for the most secret and hidden things are contained in the heavens above and therefore such as are expert in them cannot be ignorant of these lesse and more easie to be apprehended below Plutarch of Vrania thus speaks Plato as by their steps hath traâ—'d all the gods thinking to find out their faculties by their names By the same reason we place one of the Muses in the Heavens and about coelestiall things which is Urania for that which is above hath no need of diversity of government 〈…〉 full directresse which is Nature where 〈…〉 excesses and transgresses there 〈…〉 to be transmitted and one particular Muse still reserved one to correct this fault and another that Vrania therefore according to Plutarch hath predominance in things coelestiall which by how much they are above things terrestriall in excellence they are so much the more difficult Some stretch the influence of the stars to Zoriasta's magick in which he was popularly famous nay more his name by that art enobled notwithstanding the annals testifie that he was subdued and slain in battell by Ninus Pompey the great was curiously addicted to these divinations yet his potency fail'd him and he dyed a wretched death in Aegypt Howbeit by these instances it is not to be inferred as the mysticallest and powerfull part of the Mathematicall Disciplines The inventions of Manilius most indirectly confers it upon Mercury Plato in Epinomide would have all that contemplate Astrology to begin in their youth such is the excellency of the art and the difficulty to attain unto it for these be his words Be not ignorant that Astrology is a most wise secret for it is necessary that the true Astronomer be not that man according to Hesiod that shall only consider the rising and setting of the stars but rather that hath a full inspection into the eight compasses or circumferences and how the seven are turned by the first and in what order every star moves in his own sphear or circle in which he shall not find any thing which is not miraculous If therefore the praise of Astronomy be so great What encomium then is Vrania worthy who first illustrated the art This only shall suffice that by her is meant coelestiall Astrology so call'd of the Heaven for as Pharnutus saith The intire universe the ancients call'd by the name of Heaven So by this means Vrania is acknowledged to be frequent in all Sciences below and speculations above whatsoever Her etymology importing Sublimia spectantem that is Beholding things sublime and high Or her Ovid thus Incipit Urania secere silentia cunctae Et vox audiri nulla nisi illa potest Urania first began to speak The rest themselves prepar'd To heare with silence for but hers No voice could then be heard She is then received from the heaven either because all nations and languages beneath the firmament have some learned amongst them or that such as are furnisht with knowledge she seems to attract and carry upwards or to conclude because glory and wisedome elevate and erect the mind to the contemplation of things heavenly Fulgentius saith That some of the Greek authors have left written that Linus was the son of Vrania but it is elsewhere found that she was called Vrania of her father Vranus otherwise stil'd Caelum whom his son Saturn after dismembred Xenophon in Sympos remembers that Venus was called Vrania speaking also of Pandemius of both their Temples and Altars the sacrifices to Pandemius were called Radiovorgaraera those to Venus Agnotaera Some as Lactantius Placidas call Helenevae that menacing star Vrania In a word that coelestiall
full power and vertue therefore Dante the famous Italian Poet thus writes Come la neve al sole se distilla Cosi al vento nelle soglie leve Si perdea la sententia de Sybille I cannot here pretermit Ovids expression of this Sybill who when Aeneas having received from her that great curtesie to enter Hell and to come safe thence and for that would have sacrificed to her and done her divine adoration she thus answered him Nec dea sum dixit nec sacri thuris honore c. I am no goddesse goddesse sonne 't is true Nor are these divine honours to me due I had been such and darknesse not have seen Had I a prostitute to Phoebus been For whilst he courts my love and day by day Hopes with large gifts mine honour to betray Ask what thou wilt oh bright Cumaean maid It shall be granted thee Apollo said Iâ— willing that my daies should ever last Prostrate upon the earth my selfe I cast And graspt as much dust as my hand could hold Let me then live said I till I have told So many years as there are bodies small Lockt in this hand The god could not recall Nor I unsay I had forgot in truth To insert in my rash boon All years of youth Even that too to have yielded to his will I might have had but I a virgin still Have to this houre remain'd my happier daies Are all forespent Decrepit age now laies His weak hand on me which I must endure Long time to come seven ages I am sure Are past nor shall my thread of life be spun Vntill the number of these sands be run The houre shall be when this my body here Shall small or nothing to the sight appear This time and age have power to doe and when I shall not lovely seem as I did then Nay doubtlesse Phoebus will himselfe deny That e'r he cast on me an amorous eie Save by my voice I shall no more be known But that the fates have left me as mine own Ovid hath fabulated that she was changed into a Voice the word Sybilla importing Vox She prophesied much of the Roman wars and the successe of their Empire Sybilla Hellespontica SHe hath the denomination of Marrinensis and as most Authors affirme derives her selfe Ex agro Trojano from Troy in Asia She sung of the wars betwixt the Trojans and the Greeks I will be briefe with her because I fear I have been too tedious in the former her Prophesie of Christ I have included in these few lines When Atlas shoulders shall support a star Whose ponderous weight he never felt before The splendour of it shall direct from far Kings and Wise men a new light to adore Peace in those daies shall flourish and stern war Be banisht earth lost mankind to restore Then shall the Eastern Monarchs presents bring To one a Priest a Prophet and a King And so much for Sybilla Hellespontica Sybilla Phrygia SHe was called Vates Ancirrae and as most will have it this was Cassandra the daughter of King Priamus and Hecuba their female issue are thus numbred Creusa Cassandra Ilione Laodice Lycaste Medesicastis Polixena Climene Aristomache Xenodice Deimone Metioche Pisis Cleodice and Medusa Amongst which she only attained to the spirit of Prophesie and predicted of the destruction of Troy but her Augurie was never credited Apollodorus as also Higinus gives this reason Apollo inflamed with her beauty promised if she would prostitute her selfe to his pleasure he would inspire her with the spirit of Divination which he accordingly performed but she failing in her promise to him he in revenge of that injury caused that her Prophesies howsoever true should never have credit which makes her in her divination thus complain The world to Troy I sitly may compare Erected first by Neptune and the Sunne These two the aptest Hieroglyphicks are For water and for fire The buildings done Laomedon their right the gods denies For which by water Troy was first destroi'd So was the world for mans false perjuries In the great Deluge where but eight enjoi'd The benefit of life Troy happy were If it by water could forewarned be So were the world but oh too much I feare In their like fatall ruin they agree Troy must be burnt to ashes woe the while My mother in her womb conceiv'd a brand To give it flame he that shall many a mile Travell by water to bring fire to land Lust is the fuell Lust and other sinnes Are the combustible stuffe will bring to naught The worlds great fabrick since from them begins All desolation first to mankind brought The world like Troy must burn they both before Suffered by water so they must by fire We Prophesie these things what can we more But after our predictions none inquire Vnlesse in scorn This doth Cassandra grieve To speak all truth when none will truth beleeve The better to illustrate this Oracle know that Laomedon about to build the wals of Troy borrowed much coine of the Priests of Neptune and Phoebus to accomplish the work upon promise of due paiment when the wals were finished But breaking his faith and denying â—estitution of those sums lent the gods inraged at his perjury Neptune brought up his wave so high that he in a deluge utterly destroi'd the City whilst Apollo by the scorching of his beams made the upper Countries barren For the burning of Troy it hapned after the ten years siege elaborately described by Virgil in his Aenâ—idos when Aeneas discourses the whole desolation of the City to Dido in which he speaks of the Prince Chorebus to be much inamoured of Cassandra who rescued her when she was dragg'd by the haire from Apollo's Altar and was slain in the attempt The death of Cassardia is thus reported by Higinus in Fabulus when the spoiles and prisoners of Troy were divided amongst the Princes of of Greece Cassandra fell by lot to the Arch-Duke and Generall Agamemnon with whom he safely arrived in Mycene of which place he was King and governour But Clitemnestra the daughter of Tindarus sister to Hellen and wife to Agamemnon being before their landing possest by Oâ—aces or as some call him Cethus the brother of Palamedes that Cassandra was the prostitute of Agamemnon and had supplanted her from his love which lie he had forged to be revenged of the Generall for his brothers death before Troy Clitemnestra therefore surprized with jealousie complotted with Aegistus the son of Thiestas to murder them both the first might they lodged in the Pallace which was accordingly performed but Electra the daughter of Agamemnon stole thence her brother Orâ—stes then but an infant who else had perished with his father and conveied him to be safe kept to one Sthophius of Phocis who had before been married to Astichaa the sister of Agamemnon he brought him up to manhood till Orestes found fit opportunity to revenge himself on the two Regicides his mother and Aegistus Sybilla Europaea SHe
this is kept the perpetuall fire for the Etymology of Vesta is nothing else but Purus ignis i. pure Fire Some are of opinion that in that Temple are kept the remembrances of many both sacred and secret monuments some strange and unknown even to Priests and Virgins Some speak of two tuns of no great quantity the one continually shut the other open and empty some of the Virgins have reported that the Palladium that fell from Heaven and was received into Troy is there still to be seen The first Virgins appointed by Numa were foure Gegania Berenia Camilla Tarpeia two others were added by Servius Tullius Their vowes of virginity were unalterable for thirty years In the first ten yeares they were to learn the ceremonies and to be as ministers aud handmaids in the rest she was to govern and instruct others and the thirty years expired she had liberty if she pleased to marry If any of these Vestals had wantonly offended she was to be chastised by the Priest but such â—s were found incestuous were punished after this manner Being first bound she was laid upon a Beer like a coarse already deceased and so carried through the mid Forum to the port or gate called Collina for there betwixt two wals is the grave of the unchast Vestals still apparant there is a cave hollowed under the earth the descent is with a ladder by the mouth which is of no great widenesse in this vault is a bed ready prepared a light burning with bread milk and oile these things being all made ready for the purpose the delinquent is set down her hands loosed and her head covered the high Priest whispering certain secret things in her eare the other Priests turning their faces from her which is no sooner done but she is let down into the cavern earth thrown upon her the grave filled and she stifled alive and that day on which this execution is done there is a generall silence and sadnesse through the whole City Oppia SHe was one of the Vestall virgins who being taken in whordome and the fast manifestly proved she was convented convicted and had her doom to be buried alive Upon whom Strozza filius inscribed this Epitaph Vestalis virgo laesi damnata pudoris Contegor hoc vivens Oppia sub tumulo I Oppia once a Vestall that For sinne my judgement have Condemn'd for lust am living shut And covered in this grave Claudia There were two of that name as Livy in his 22 book reports who were addicted to the ceremonies of Vesta Fonteia was the sister of Marc. Fonteius who being a Prefect or Governour amongst the Gauls was accused before the Senate of injustice and misgovernment as transgressing the lawes and edicts of the Romans Marcia was a Vestall virgin and one that attended upon the sacred ceremonies she was condemned of incest and as Oppia was before her buried alive Minutia also a minister of Vesta's sacrifices who for her elegant feature and extraordinary beauty and withall because the costly ornaments with which she used to attire her selfe exceeded the precise custome of her Order she was brought within the suspition of lust and inchastity for which being call'd into question and not able legally to acquit quit her selfe she was brought within the compasse of the law and for her supposed offence had both the sentence and execution due to the like delinquents Justin in his 43. book commemorates this history Aeâ—eas after many tedious travels landing in Italy was by marrying Lavinia the daughter of King Latinus made partner with him in the Kingdome for which marriage war was commenc'd betwixt them two of the one party and Turnus King of the Rutilians on the other In which combustions Turnus being slain and Latinus yielding to Fate Aeneas both by the right of victory and succession became Lord of both the Kingdome and people erecting a City called Lavinium in remembrance of his wife Lavinia In processe he made warre against Mezentius King of the Etruscians whom having slaine Ascanius the son of Aeneas succeeded in the principality Ascanius leaving Lavinium built the City Alba which for three hundred years space was the Capitall City of that Kingdome After many descents the regall honours were conferred upon Numitor and Amulius These two Princes emulous of each others greatnesse Amulius the younger having opprest his brother Numitor surprised also his sole daughter Rhaea who was immediate heir to her fathers honours and regall dignities all which he covetous to ingrosse to himselfe and fearing withall left from her issue might in time descend some one that might punish his insolencies and revenge her and her fathers injuries devised with himselfe how to prevent both and fearing lest by putting her to death he might incur a generall hate amongst the people in whose love he was not as yet fully setled he apprehended as his safest course to shadow her wrong beneath a veile of honour and so caused her with a strict vow of virginity to be elected into the sacred service of Vesta Being thus confin'd into the grove celebrated to Mars whether begot by Mars himselfe as was then beleeved or otherwise adulterously conceived it is uncertain but she was delivered of two sons This being know to Amulius increased his fears who commanded the infants to be cast forth and Rhaea to be loaden with irons under whose severe sentence expiring she yielded to Fate The two children ready to perish were miraculously nursed by a she wolfe and after found by the shepherd Faustulus were by him brought up and called Remus and Romulus and so much of Rhaea Tranquillus and Cornelius Tacitus both of them remember one Rubria a Vestall virgin who was forceably defloured by Nero. Another whose name was Pompilia because by her inchastity she prophaned the sacred orders of Vesta was buried alive the same death for the like offence suffered Cornelia Floronea the Vestall was convicted of whoredome but she to prevent one death made choice of another For taking to her selfe a brave Roman spirit she with her own hands boldly slew her selfe Posthumia taxed for her too curious habit and gaudiness in attire as much transcending the custome of that more strict Order was suspected of Lust and accited before the Senate and there arraigned she wittily and nobly answered to whatsoever could be objected against her so that being found guiltlesse she was absolved by the sentence of the high Priest or Arch-Flammin Sextilia sped not so well as this Posthumia for she being suspected of inchastity and found culpable suffered according to the law made for the punishment of the like offenders The like suffered Tutia the Vestali for her unlawfull prostitution Plutarch in Gracchis in the Catalogue of these consecrated virgins numbers Licinia And Pliny relates that when Clodius the Emperor was in opposition with his wife Messalina that sink of lust and most incontinent
of women when their differences could be no waies decided Messalina sent to Vbidia one of the most reverent amongst the Vestals by whose mediation attonement was made betwixt her and the Emperor The Vestall fire upon a time going out and it being imputed to their inchastity Aemilia with these words besought the goddesse Oh Vesta thou that art the protectour of this famous City Rome as I have truly and chastly almost for thirty yeares space celebrated thy sacrifices so either at this present crown my purity with fame or before this multitude brand my lust with infamy These words were no sooner spoken but casting her mantle upon the Altar the fire instantly brake forth where before there was nothing in place save cold embers by which prodigie her innocent life was protected Claudia the Vestall was of no lesse remarkable chastity who when a bark laden with the sacreds of the goddesse stuck fast in the river Tyber and by no humane strength could be loosed from the sand she thus openly protested before the people If quoth she O goddesse I have hitherto kept my chastity undefiled vouchsafe thesie may follow me when fasting a cord to the stearn of the ship she without any difficulty drew it along the river Tuscia likewise suspected of incontinence by the like wonder gave testimony of her innocence who invocating Vesta in these words If saith she O mother of the gods I have offered thy sacrifices with chast and undefiled hands grant that with this sieve I may take up water from the river Tyber and without shedding the least drop bear it unto thy altar which when she had obtained and accordingly performed with loud acclamations of the multitude she was absolved and her austere life ever after held in reverence The attributes of Modesty and Temperance are greater ornaments to a woman than gold or jewels and because all perfections cannot be in one woman at one time this Modesty is that which supplies all things that are wanting It is a dower to her that hath no portion not only an ornament to deformity but in blacknesse it impresses a kind of beauty it illustrates the ignobility of birth supplying all those defects wherein fortune hath been scanting And so much shall suffice for the Vestals Of the Prophetesses COncerning these Prophetesses I will onely make a briefe catalogue of some few whom the ancient writers have made most eminent We read of Hyrcia the daughter of Sesostris King of Aegypt most skilfull in divination who to her father foretold his amplitude and Monarchy Volatteranus in Georg. writes of one Labissa a divining woman that was eminent for many predictions in Bohemia whom succeeded her daughter Craco as well in skill as in fame Plutarch in Mario speaks of one Martha whom Marcius most honourably circumducted in a horse-litter and â—t her appointment celebrated many sacrifices her the Senate with a generall suffrage for her approved skill in augury rewarded with liberty making her a free woman of the City Polyxo is the name of one of the Phebaiedes of whom Val. Flaccus in his Argonauts thus writes Tunc etiam vates Phoebo delecta Polyxo Where he cals her a Prophetesse beloved of Phoebus Sâ—sipatra a woman by nation a Lydian and the wife of Aedesius the Sophist was possest with that divining spirit and true conjecture of future things that in their times accordingly hapned that she was said to be educated and instructed by the gods themselves Of the like approbation was Spurina who as Tranquillus testates forewarned Caesar to beware of the Ides of March who in the same day was murdered in the Capitoll of which he bid him beware Martianus Capella speaks of one Symachia and cals her one of the Sybils and often by all authors granted will allow but two namely Herophile Trojana the daughter of Marmensis and Symachia the issue of Hippotensis who was born in Erythraea and prophefied in Cuma Theano and Eucyppa the daughters of one Scedasus sung many oraculous cautions to the people of Sparta yet could they not predict their own disaster for after they were forcibly defloured by the young men of the same City and slain and their bodies cast into a well their father after long search finding them confounded with the sight of so sad a spectacle upon the sight thereof slew himselfe Caelius writes of a woman born in his Countrie called Jacoba out of whose belly unclean spirits made acclamations of future things to come of which one of them called himselfe Cincinnatulus who gave marvellous answers to such as demanded of him but spake as oft falsely as truly Of better knowledge as it seems was Apollonius of Tyana a City in Greece who told one Cylix a man given to all volu ptuousnesse That before three daies were expired he should be slain which accordingly hapned He used to protest that he spake nothing without the counsell of the gods and direction of the spirit that attended him he professed the knowledge of all languages and tongues to have insight into the thoughts of men to discourse any thing punctually that had past and divine as truly of any thing to come he was moreover an exact interpreter of dreams his life is compendiously set down by Vollatterranus Parialla lived in the age of Cleomines and was called the championesse of all the Delphian Prophetesses Now how the Devill should come to the foreknowledge of things to come it shall be held no unnecessary digression briefly to inquire These spirits being of a thin substance by their tenuity subtilty and incredible celerity moreover by the quicknesse of their apprehensions in which they far excell the slownesse and dulnesse of all earthly bodies by the divine permission understand and deliver many things which appear to us miraculous Therefore S. Augustine in book De Spiritu Anima saith That by reason of their antiquity and benefit of the length of time as having continued from the beginning of the world they have gathered to themselves that absolute and unmatchable experience of which man by reason of the brevity of his age is no way capable by which means some of their actions seem the more admirable some things they fashion out of the holy Scriptures themselves as having them all at their fingers ends and oft times predict such things as they themselves have purpose to act by this means tempting and seducing mankind Therefore Plato in Epinomide attributes unto them acutenesse of wit retentive memory and admirable knowledge Clemens in Recog saith That these spirits therefore know more and much more perfectly as not being burdened or dulied with the grosse weight of the body Tertullian in his Apology against the nations thus argues All spirits are winged and therefore are every where in an instant the spatious earth and all the corners thereof are to them but as one place and whatsoever is therein done they can as easily know as suddenly declare by this means they
were two brothers famous and renowned in these Provinces Hespereus and Atlas that were possest of sheep beautifull and fair whose fleeces were yellow and of the colour of gold Hesperus having a daughter called Hesperia conferr'd her on his brother Atlas of this Hesperia the region was called Hesperitis By her Atlas had six daughters and therefore they had a double denomination from him Atlantides from her Hesperides Their beauties being rumour'd far off it came to the ears of Busiris who desirous of so rich a prey sent certain pirats and robbers with a strict command by some stratagem or else by force to steal them thence and so to transport them within the compasse of his dominions These Damosels sporting themselves in the garden were by these spies and outliers surprised and borne thence which hapned just about the time that Hercules combatted Antaeus these Virgins being shipt away the pirats went on shore to repose themselves with their prey upon the beach of which Hercules having notice who had heard before of the rape he sallied upon them and slew them all to one man returning the Virgins safe to their father for which he received not only a present of those sheep the reward of so great a benefit but many other courtesies amongst other things he instructed him in Astronomy and to distinguish of the stars which knowledge Hercules first bringing into Greece he was therefore said to ease Atlas and in his stead to support heaven upon his shoulders So the Hesperides are called the daughters of Hesperus which signifies the evening And they are said to have gardens in the Occident which bringeth froth golden Apples by reason the colour of the stars are like gold and their orbs round as apples neither rise they but in the west because instantly after the setting of the Sun the Stars appear which by reason of his splendour are concealed and obscured all the day time the Dragon some think it to be the Sign-bearing Circle ther 's a river that by many windings and serpent-like indents incompast the Orchard And so much for the explanation of the Hesperides Pleiades or Hyades OVid in his first book de Fastis leaves remembred how Atlas took to wife Pleione the daughter of Oceanus and Thetis by whom he received seven daughters these when Orion with their mother had for the space of five yeares together prosecuted only to vitiate and deflower them they all jointly petitioned to the gods That they might be rescued from all violence whose praiers Jupiter hearing and withall commiserating their distresse he changed the seven sisters into seven stars whose names Aratnâ— in Astronomicis thus recites Septem illae esse feruntur Quamvis sint oculis hominam sex obvia signa Alcinoe Meropeque Electraque diva Celaeno Taigete Sterope praeclaro Lumine Maia Seven stars th' are held to be Though we with our weak eies but six can see Celaeno Electra Alcyone Merope Clere-sighted Maia Taygete Sterope All these stars are plac'd in the head of the Bull two in his ears two in his eies two in his nostrils and one in the middle of his forehead where the haire curls and turns up Some reckoned the daughters of Atlas to the number of twelve and that Hyas was their brother who being stung to death by a serpent five of his sisters took his death so grievously that they died with sorrow of whom Jupiter took such pity that he translated them into so many stars which still beare their brothers name and are called Hyades Hesiod thus gives us their names Phoeola Coronis Cleia Phoeo and Eudora Quas nymphas Hyades mortales nomine dicunt Others nominate them after this manner Ambrocia Coronis Eudora Dione Aesila and Polyxo Others have added to thâ—â—â— Thicâ— and Proitele which they have beleeved to be Nâ—â—ses of Bacchus as also Dodoninas so called of Dodonus the son of Europa but write them as descended from other parents whence some held them for the daughters of Erecheus others of Cadmus some would have Calypso to be the daughter of Atlas Neither is their number free from controversie for Thales Milesius holds them but two the one Australis the other Borealis Euripides in his Tragedy de Phactonte adds a third Achaeus makes them foure and Euripides six some think them called Hyades because they were the Nurses of Bacchus who is also called Hyes of which opinion Euphorion is Hyae cornuto Dionysio Iratae Others think them to have took name of the Raine because their rising still portends shewers in the spring Besides these are the most certaine signes of weather which the Navigators at sea gather from the rising of these stars as Euripides in Ione most perspicuously demonstrates These Pleiades and Hyades are therefore called the daughters of Atlas because Atlas signifies Axis mundi i. the axeltree of the world The Columns of Atlas are the North and the Meridian or South poles on which the heaven is thought to be supported Now the axeltree first made the stars were next created some think them the issue of Atlas Libicus who being a most skilfull Astronomer called his daughters by the names of the stars thereby to eternise their memory as divers others have done the like Amongst whom was Conon who liv'd in the time of Pâ—olomaeus who called his Coma and Berenices Proclus in his Comment upon Hesiodus his works and daies writes that these Pleiades are all divine and their stars the souls of the Planets as Ceraeno is the soule of Saturn Sterope of the sphear of Jupiter Merope of Mars Electra of Apollo or the Sun Alcione of Venus Maia of Mercury and Taigete of the Moon Of whom some have had congresse with their own Planets and some with other of the gods Which Ovid in his fourth book Fastor hath with much elegancy related Pleiades Incipiunt humeros relevare paternos The wandring Pleiades gadding abroad Begin to ease their father of his Load Who though in number Seven all shining bright Yet only six of them appear in sight Twice three of these themselves have prostrate cast Into the gods imbraces Mars clings fast To Sâ—erope Alcione the faire And sweet Celaeno Neptunes darlings are Maia Electra and Taigete three Of that bright sister-hood Joves wantons be But Merope the seventh of mind more base Stoop'd lower to a mortall mans imbrace The thought of which fact she doth so detest She since nere shew'd her face amongst the rest And so much for the Pleiades and Hyades shall suffice Of the Graces THese whom the Latines call Gratiae or Graces the Greeks call Charites Hesiod cals them the daughters of Jupiter and Eurinome these called Oceanus father Orpheus in an hymn sung to the praise of these sisters cals them the daughters of Eunomea and Jupiter Antilemachus derives them from Aegles and the Sun others from Antinoe and Jupiter as they differ in their birth so they do in their names and number some allow but two and name them Clita
a good and commendable life or otherwise illustrious for any noble or eminent action And therefore lest the matrons or virgins in Rome the one should divert from her staied gravity or the other from her virgins professed integrity the use of Wine was not known amongst them for that woman was taxed with modesty whose breath was known to smell of the grape Pliny in his naturall history saith That Cato was of opinion that the use of kissing first began betwixt kinsman and kinswoman howsoever neer allied or far off only by that to know whether their wives daughters or Neeces had tasted any wine to this Juvenal seems to allude in these verses Paucae adeo cereris vitas contingere dignae Quarum non timeat pater oscula As if the father were jealous of his daughters continence if by kissing her he perceived she had drunk wine But kissing and drinking both are now grown it seems to a greater custome amongst us then in those daies with the Romans nor am I so austere to forbid the use of either both which though the one in surfets the other in adulteries may be abused by the vicious yet contrarily at customary meetings and laudable banquets they by the nobly disposed and such whose hearts are fixt upon honour may be used with much modesty and continence But the purpose of my tractate is to exemplify not to instruct to shew you presidents of vertue from others not to fashion any new imaginary form from my selfe and that setting so many statues of honour before your eies of Beauty Noblenesse Magnanimity Bounty Curtesie Modesty Temperance and whatsoever else in goodnesse can be included each heroick and well disposed Lady or woman lower degreed and underqualified may out of all or some of these at least apprehend some one thing or other worthy imitation that as the best of Painters to draw one exquisite Venus had set before him a hundred choise and selected beauties all naked to take from one an eie another a lip a third a smile a fourth a hand and from each of them that speciall lineament in which she most excelled so having in these papers as many vertues exposed to your view as the Painter had beauties and all leâ—t as naked to your eies you may make like use of it draw from one a noble disposition bounty and curtesie the ornaments of great Ladies from others temperance sobriety and government things best beseeming matrons the married wives conjugall love and sincerity the virgins chast life and purity and every of you fashion her selfe as compleat a woman for vertue as Apelles made up the pourtraiture of his goddesse for beauty I need not speak much of the worth of your sex since no man I think that remembers he had a mother but honours it the renown of which some by their vertues have as much nobilitated as others by their vitious actions have studied to disgrace of both which though my promise bind me to speak in their course yet you Ladies in this treatise as you most worthily deserve have the precedence and priority of place What man was ever known 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 Parrhasius so the world yielded a Timarete the daughter of Micaon an Irene the daughter and scholler of Cratinus an Anistarite the issue and pupil of Nearchus a Lala Cizizena and a Martia M. Varronis to boot to them in that art no whit inferior In Poetry compare the Lyricks of Sapho with Anacreons and Corinnaes with Pindarus and it shall be easily made manifest that Sapho in all points parallel'd the first and Corinnae in five severall contentions for the palm preceded the last But the similitude or discrepance of men and womens vertues conferr'd together can be made no better apparant as Plutarch saith then by comparing Life with Life and Action with Action by which we shall see they have almost one and the same effigies For oppose the magnificence of Sesostriâ— against that of Semiramis the craft and subtilty of Servius Tullius against Tanaquils the magnanimity of Brutus against Porceas compare Pelopidas with Timoclea and which shall yield to the other preheminence especially if we exactly consider the end at which the vertue it self doth aime for divers vertues have divers colours laid upon them according to the temperature of body or the disposition of the mind Achilles was valiant one way and Ajax another yet both their endeavours intended to one Fortitude the Prudence of Nestor unlike that of Vlysses yet both wise men Cato and Agesilaus were both upright men yet executed justice two sundry waies Irene loved one way Alceste another yet both enderedly affected their husbands so likewise Cornelia and Olympias were differently magnanimous yet either of them attained to that height of honour to which their heroick minds aspired But to come to our former comparison from which I have somewhat digrest in what greater vertue can either sex expresse themselves than in true conjugall love Cicero de Divinatione and Pliny in lib. 1. cap. 16. report of Tiberius Gracchus That finding two snakes in his house male and female he consulted with a south-sayer concerning the prodigy who told him as a consequence infallible That if he slew the male swift Death should surprise himselfe but if he killed the female himself should escape death and his wife in like manner perish but to one of them that fate must necessarily happen He therefore preferring the safety of his wife before his owne health caused the male to be instantly cut in pieces and the female let goe beholding with his own eies his own instant destruction in the death of the serpent Therefore it was disputed whether Cornelia were more happy in enjoying such a husband or made more wretched in losing 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 divelish and deadly than a malitious and ill disposed woman so there is on the contrary nothing more wholsome and comfortable to man than one provident gentle and well addicted for as she that is good and honest will upon just necessity lay down her life for her husbands health and safety so the other will as wilingly prostitute hers for his destruction and ruin Therefore a wife by how much neerer she is to us in the strict bond both of divine and humane lawes by so much either the sweetnesse of her behaviour tasts the pleasanter or the harshnesse of her crabbed condition relishes more bitter for she is ever either a perpetuall refuge or a continuall torment she of whâ—m I intend to speak is none such as
doubt knâ—w how to distinguish betwixt folly and malice Notwithstanding these smooth evasions Nicocrates fully pâ—llest of the truth gave her up into the hands of his mother to be tormented who as she is before charactered being harsh and mercilesse woman left nothing â—unâ—tâ—â—â—pted that torture could devise to wrest from her a capitall confession 〈…〉 with wondrous patience and constancy enduring whatsâ—ever the beldam could inflict up in her Culbia grew as weary in punishing as she in suffâ—â—ing insomuch that Nicocrates was in some sort perswaded of her innocency and commanded her release seeming sorrowfull for the torments she had endured so that his former loâ—e conquering his suspition he began to study a new reconcilement and excusing his too much credulousnesse renued his ancient familiarity and custome But she not forgetting her former rocks and strapadoes now bâ—gan to meâ—itate upon his death another way she had a daughter of exquisite feature and the Tyrant had a brother called Leander a wild headed young man and apt for any innovation or haiâ—-brain'd attempt she wrought 〈◊〉 far with her and so inwardly with him that by the consent of the King 〈…〉 was concluded betwixt them All these things â—â—lling out according to her wishes her daughter by the mothers instigation wrought so far upon his rashnedâ— in private and the mother gave him such incouragement with all that putting him in hope to enjoy the soveraignty 〈…〉 they perswaded him to supplant his brother This took such prosperous effect that he suborned a 〈…〉 who attending his opportunity 〈…〉 not with this contented 〈…〉 the whole family of the 〈…〉 her Countrie from all 〈…〉 the Citizens against 〈◊〉 for the murder of her King and second husband dâ—awing him into the 〈◊〉 of that publike hate that 〈◊〉 was forced to flie as a traitor and â—aâ—â—â—icide neither was she satisfied whilst he yet lived therefore by her wit and policy and the industry of one Anabas he was at length subtilly surprised by which the City received her pristine liberty and freedome For which the people would have done her divine honors as to a goddesse which she utterly refused They next proceeded to justice upon the delinquents where Calbia was judged to the fire and burnt alive and Leander to be sowed in a sack and so cast into the sea both which executions were accordingly performed The people then once againe assembled and prostrated themselves before her jointly beseeching her either to take upon her the primacy and chiefe government or at least to be a gracious assistant to the Magistrates and Princes with her directions and counsell both which she utterly refused betaking her selfe to a solitary and retired life spending the rest of her age in spinning weaving and the like womanish chares amongst her handmaids Many of the Iones by reason of a discord that fell betwixt them and the sons of of Neleus were forced to leave the City Miletum where they before inhabited and were driven to plant a new Colony in Manus betwixt which Cities there was a perpetuall jar and enmity insomuch that from a private quarrell it grew to a publike war yet nor in that violence but that upon certain festivall daies there was free recourse betwixt the Citizens of the one and the other to be present at the sacred solemnities There was amongst these of the City of Minus one of a Noble family whose name was Pythes his wife was called Japigia and his daughter Pyeria He when the great Feast celebrated to Diana called Nelaim of the opposite family was kept sent thither his wife and daughter intreating the Milesians to suffer them to participate of their solemnities which was granted at which enterview Phrigius the chiefe of the sons of Neleus a man post potent in the City grew enamoured on Pyeria and in couâ—ting her desired her to demand what curtesie soever the City or his power could yeeld and it should be instantly granted to which he answered That nothing could be more acceptable unto her then that the 〈◊〉 might have more often and peaceable recourse into their City By which he apprehended that she desired no more then a cessation of arms and that peace might be established betwixt the two Cities which by their marriage was accordingly effected and Pyeria ever after honoured for the motion Insomuch that it grew to a Proverb All the Milesian women desiring to be no better beloved of their husbands then Pyeria was of her Phrigius Aspasia being the daughter of Hermotimus Phocencis her mother dying of her in childbirth was by her fathers care brought up though meanly yet modestly and growing towards understanding she had many dreams as presages of her future fortunes namely that succeeding times should afford her a husband faire good and rich In this interim she was troubled with an unseemly swelling of the chin so great that it grew almost to a deformity being a sorrow to the father and almost a heart-break to the daughter Hermotimus carefull of her health presents her malady to the Physitian who was willing to undertake the patient but withall proposed too great a summe for the cure the one replying The demand is above my strength the other answered Then is the cure above my skill and so departed This discouragement from a Tumour without grew to a Corrasive within as much tormented with the despair of her recoveries as the violence of the disease In this anxiety of thoughts and agony of paine being much perplexed she gave her selfe to all abstinence and forbare to eat till on a time gentle slumber stealing upon her there appeared to her a Turtle which was instantly transhapt into a woman most beautifull who drawing more neer bids her take courage and be of comfort and forgetting the Physitians with all their drugs unguents and emplasters only to apply to the place then grieved Rose leaves dried to powder and not to doubt of her present recovery and having thus said upon the instant vanisht Aspasia awaking and by this vision much comforted applied to her face such things as she was taught in short time all swelling was taken away and she restored to her pristine beauty with such an addition of comelinesse that those with whom she before was held but equall she in the eies of all men might now claim over them a just precedence for she is thus described Her hair somewhat yellow and from her temples naturally curling her eies big and clear her nose somewhat but most becommingly hooked her ears short her skin white and soft her cheeks seeming to lodge the sweet blushes of the Rose for which cause the Phocenses call'd her from an infant Milto her lips red her teeth then snow more white her feet without all fault her voice so sweet and ravishing that when she spake she would put you in mind of what you have read of the Syrens From all effeminate curiosities she studied to alienate her selfe these being commonly the superfluities of wealth
and abundance she being but of humble fortunes and descended from me in parentage It hapned this Aspasia was by a Persian souldier taken from her father as all their Cities in those daies were subject to the like oppressions and presented unto Cyrus the son of Darius and Parasatides but much against her own will or the liking of her father thus presented to him in the company of other to the most choice virgins she was commended above them all both for the modesty of her countenance the civility of her carriage and an irreprovable beauty without all stame or blemish and that which heightned the love of all men towards her she was of singular wisedome for which Cyrus afterward often admitted her into his counsels and so oft as he was swar'd by her advise his designs never failed their wished successe The first time she stood before the King was at supper time which ended and Cyrus after the Persian manner willing to take his cups somewhat lavishly in middest of their healthing there were presented before him â—ouâ— Grecian damosels with Aspâ—sia the Phocensian making up the number the other three being richly adorned whose friends had set their 〈◊〉 out in 〈◊〉 beautified their heads with jewels and polisht their face and bodies with sweet odouis and unguents besides they had instructions how to behave themselves towards the King how to insinuate into his favour not to mâ—ve back when he câ—me forward not make squemish of any curtesie he should 〈◊〉 but freely to recompence kisse for kisse being rolly instructed in the amoâ—orious precept belonging to such a businesse But on the contrary Aâ—pasia would not present here felte in any curious or gay vesture nor suffer any robe of â—â—uour or state to be put upon her neither would she wash or bath her selfe but in sadnesse and sorrow she invoked all the Graecian and Eâ—â—â—therian gods to her assistance shall calling upon her fathers name accounting those unusuall arguments and superâ—â—uous 〈◊〉 rather the marks 〈◊〉 servitude then honour 〈…〉 could she be forced to appear 〈◊〉 any 〈…〉 cast and unblemisht virgin 〈…〉 comming before Cyrus smiled using 〈…〉 gestures she only with her eies 〈…〉 in her cheeks by her tears expressed an extraordinary bashfulnesse The King commanding them to sit down in his presence the rest boldly contended who should place her selfe next him but this Phocean damosell at first seemed not to hear nor without the robustious usage of that souldier who first surprised her could be won to sit downe The King beginning to dallie with them and playing with their cheeks necks and brests the rest willingly suffered him she only struck his head aside and if he offered but to touch her in the least part she presently 〈…〉 and told him he should not do it unpunished The King much delighted with this unexpected 〈…〉 every offer of his she fled his embraces which was against the custome of the Persians he more ardently fixe his affection upon her and turning to the Souldiers who first presented them thus said This Phocean onely thou hast brought me chast and uncorrupted the rest both in beauty and behaviour are impostures and from thenceforth she was sollicited and beloved of the King above all others with whom he had before or after converst with and from that time a mutuall affection grew betwixt them so great that it increased as far as the modest and absolute confirmation of marriage conformable to the custome of the Graecians Insomuch that the love of the King to Aspasia was not rumoured in Ionia solely but through all the spacious Provinces of Greece even Peloponnesus was filled with the bruit thereof to the glory of the great King who after his familiar acquaintance with her was never known to have used the company of any other woman And now began the vision of Aspasia concerning the Dove to be much spoken of and of the goddesse that appeared to her to whom she dedicated after a goodly statue called the image of Venus beautified with many rich jewels withall the picture of a Dove to which she made daily supplications sacrifices and oblations still imploring the favour of the goddesse To her father Hermotimus she sent many rich and unvalued presents making him of a subject almost unparalleld for wealth using in the processe of her life as witnesse as well the Persian as Graecian Ladies a wonderous modesty and continence Hormus sometimes of Thessaly was sent from Scopa the junior who was of Sicily with an admirable rich jewell to Cyrus for a present Who having shewed it to many all wondering at the cost and workmanship and proud of so rich a gem presently after dinner repaired to the chamber of Aspasia and finding her asleep cast himselfe upon the bed by her without disturbing her rest who waking and espying the King so neer began to imbrace him according to her accustomed manner who presently taking the jewel from the casker shewed it to her using these words This I bestow on thee as a gift worthy the daughter or mother of an Emperor which I charge thee to wear for my sake in a carkanet about thy neck To whom she wisely and considerately answered And how dare I be the possessor of so great a treasure which rather becomes the majesty and estate of your mother Parasatides therefore I intreat you send it to her for I without this ornament can present you with a neck sufficiently beautiful The King much pleased with her answer daily and hourly more and more increased his love towards her and what she said and did sent in a letter to his mother with the jewell inclosed For which she was not only much graced and favoured by the Princesse but after by Cyrus rewarded with mony rich gifts of value inestimable all which she modestly sent back with this message These things O King may be usefull to thee that hast the charge of such infinites of men when my greatest riches is to be solely beloved of thee with these and the like she tied the King in inseparable bonds of affections towards her For without all competitorship in the beauty of face feature of body integrity of life and noblenesse of mind she was above all those of her time admirable But after Cyrus being slain in battell by his brother and his whole army overthrown she likewise fell into the hands of the enemy whom the King Artaxerxes with singular care and diligence caused to be sought and brought before him as one whose name and vertues he held in great respect and estimation and being presented before him bound he grew wondrous angry commanding all such to prison as were the authors of her least durance withall commanding a costly and magnificent robe to be cast about her which she with many tears and much sorrow refused till she was compell'd to it by the King still taking to heart and lamenting the death of Cyrus But thus adorned according to the Persian state she
attended them while they waked but finding them in their better temper ministered unto them all such necessaries as the City yielded and sent them though the wives of their enemies in the charge and safe conduct of their own husbands peaceably home to their own Cities Comparable to their modesty was the magnanimity of Megisto an eminent Ladie of the City Elis. Aristotemus the Tyrant having by the power of Antigonus usurped the Franchises and Liberties of that City oppressed the people with infinite calamities amongst which that of Philodemus was not the least who having a beautifull daughter called Micca when Lucinus one of the Captains of Aristotemus in the heat of wine and lust would forceably have ravisht her and the poor innocent virgin fled for refuge into the arms of her father he there most inhumanely transpierced her mixing the teares of the revend old man with the blood of his daughter The horridnesse of this nothing moved the Tyrant but that if greater possibly could be devised he gave countenance even to such mischiefs causing many of the prime Citizens to be slaine and to the number of eight hundred banished But fearing in regard of their number he might be in time subverted he made Proclamation That all such women that had a desire to visit their absent husbands should with such gold and treasure as they could conveniently carry with their children have peaceable passage from the City into Aetolia where many or the most of their exiled friends then sojourned Many of the women encouraged by this Edict being to that purpose assembled and with such goods as they had departed the City he sent after them his horsemen who not only rifled them but stampt their children beneath their horses feet where many of the infants perished and so in confused heaps hurried them back into the Town bearing the spoile into the Tyrants treasury These outrages were the least of many which I purposely omit There lived at that time an ancient Noble man in the City called Hellanicus who entered into a combination with the exiles about the suppressing of the Tyrant and by reason of his years was neither by him feared nor suspected by the encouragement of this Hellanicus the confined Citizens assembled themselves into a City most convenient for their design called Amimona to whom many of their allies and friends copartners in the publique calamity resorted Aristotemus somewhat affrighted with this new faction repaired to a place of publick assembly whither he had caused all the chiefe matrons to be before called and there in a premeditated oration stuft with many threats and menaces protested to inflict upon them racks tortures and lingring deaths unlesse by speedy letters they did not only perswade but prevaile with their husbands instantly to abandon the place where they had fortified To whom Megisto the wife of Tymoleon a Lady amongst the rest most respected not daigning the Tyrant the least honour or so much as rising to do him reverence but sitting with a bold and undanted courage thus spake Wert thou a true spirited man as nothing less appears in thee thou wouldst not threaten women in this base kind to betray their husbands but wouldest rather have negotiated with them who have entire power and command over us and that in smoother and more deceitfull language then such by which thou hast hitherto beguiled us But if thy cowardise and desperation compell thee to this exigent as thinking by our means to complot their ruines thou art in that hope destitute of all comcomfort let that day never be callendred to memorise them among men so void of counsell and discretion that by sparing the lives of their wives and children they should betray the sacred liberty of their countrie for the mischiefe is not so great to lose us altogether whom they have already wanted so long as the good and profit that must necessarily accrue by redeeming the Cities from thy insolency and tyranny These words were no sooner uttered but Aristotemus distracted with rage and fury commanded her young son to be sought and brought whom he purposed to massacre before the mothers face and whilst his lictors and serjeants were inquiring for him amongst others that were then busied about their childish sports she spying him of her own accord called him to her with these words Come hither to me O my son and now in thy childhood before thou hast apprehension or passionate feeling of tyrannie be freed both from the terror and burden thereof or mine own part I had rather see thee innocently dying then basely and ignobly serving The Tyrant at her last speech more inraged then the former drew out his sword on purpose to have slain her when Cylo one of his familiar friends but indeed a chiefe man in the confederacie with Hellanicus staid his hand and by gentle words so tempered his spleen that he departed thence without any act of murder yet purpose of a future revenge Upon a day as he was sporting upon the bed with his wife untill dinner was prepared and disposed upon the table it hapned that an Eagle soaring above the Palace let fall a great stone upon the battlements just over the bed where the King then lay and alighting there made such a fearfull and prodigious noise that it not only amased the King within but was wonderfull to all that beheld it without The Augurers were sent for to know what omen should succeed they flatter the Tyrant and promise nothing but what is good and prosperous Hellanicus the same night in his dream imagined his son appeared to him which son was by Aristotemus before murdered with his brother who spoke to him to this effect O father arise is this a time to sleep when the whole government of the City must depend on you to morrow with this dream incouraged he comforted his adherents all attending the opportunity of revenge Aristotemus mean time hearing that Craterus was marched as far as Olympius with a great army leavied for his safety and support grew so bold upon the rumour of so great a power that without his guard accompanied with Cylo only he adventured into the market place whom Hellanicus meeting by chance and almost extasied to see him so weakly attended with both his hands advanced and with an audible and cleer voice he made this clamour Where be you you good and long oppressed Countrymen a brave Theatre is this for so noble a contention as our liberty being seated in the middest of our Countrie and centre of our City This Cylo invaded the next man to the King and slew him Thrasibulus and Lampides assaulted the Tyrant who fled to the Temple of Jupiter where they fell upon him and killed him then dragging his body into the market place proclaimed their libeâ—ty The women issued out of their houses with joy and clamour embracing their husbands fathers and friends with loud and glad acclamations thence in multitudes they made concourse to the Pallace The
the best How much then is it to be underprized when it is contaminated and spotted with lust and unlawfull prostitution since it is a maxime That things common are so far from begetting appetite and affection that they rather engender the seeds of contempt and hatred for how should any thing festered and corrupt please the eie or that wich is rotten and unsound give content unto the palate But to return to my first Apology needfull it is that to the Tragick Muse Melpomene I should suit Tragicall history wherein if any women be personated for Inconstancy Intemperance Adultery Incest or any such vile and abominable action she hath in that disgraced her selfe not her sex as stretching no further then the delinquent It any man object and say they are bad presidents to him I answer they are examples of horror to be eschewed not imitated which in their own natures beget a loathing not liking and for placing them next to and so neer to the women Illustrious I will excuse my selfe in this short Epigram A skilfull Painter having limm'd a face Surpassing faire of admirable feature Sets by the same to give it the more grace The pourtrait of some foule deformed creature No doubt as much art in the last is shown As in the first albeit that pleaseth most How ever to the workman 't is 〈…〉 They both to him arâ— of likâ— care and cost 'T is so with me I have set before you many Bâ—ave Ladies of theâ— all to take full view Pleasing to th' eie 〈…〉 Whom a more willing workman 〈…〉 Should these appeare rough hew'd or of bad savour And whose aspect cannot so well 〈◊〉 you Perhaps the next of more delight 〈…〉 And grinding other colours I 'll preâ—â—â— you A smoother piece and liâ—â—â— if I be able A fairer face in a more curious fable Of women incestuous and first of Q. Semiramis IT is questioned by some authors concerning this potent and mighty Queen whether she be more renowned for her brave and magnanimous exploits or notorious for her ignoble and infamous actions some willing that for her vertues sake her vices should be utterly buried in oblivion others in regard of what was bad in her that nothing good or commendable might of her to posterity be remembred I purpose to give you a taste of both Some say she was called Semiramis of the birds named Semiramides by which it is said she was fostered in her infancy but that bearing no shew of truth others derive her denomination from Samir which in the Hebrew and the Syrian dialect imports as much as Adamant because her noble and brave atchievements attracted the hearts of that barbarous rude Nation to her admiration and love as the Adamant drawes iron Plutarch in libro Amator saith she was a damosell of Syria and concubine to the King of that Country with whose love Ninus being after besotted took her to his wife of whom she had that predominance that though before he had conquered all the Eastern parts subjugated his neighbour Kings and subdued Zoroastres Monarch of the Bactrians he that was the first inventor of the Art magick that devised the principles of Astrology and found out the true motions of the stars notwithstanding she so far prevailed with him that for one day she might sit in the roiall throne and for that space have the regall jurisdiction in her full power with intire command over the whole Empire In the morning of her soveraignty she imposed upon the subjects such modest and mild injunctions that ere noon she had insinuated into their bosomes so far that she found them so pliable and conformable to her desires that she presumed there was nothing so difficult and impossible which for her sake they would not boldly and resolutely undertake Upon this presumption she stretched her usurpation so far that she commanded them to lay hands upon the King her husband before night and committing him to prison caused him within few daies to be put to death She had by Ninus one son called Ninus junior who should have succeeded his father that for fifty two years space had swaied the Babylonian Empire but whether in her own ambition desirous of the principality or finding her son too effeminate to be Lord over so great a people and uncertaine withall whether so many men and of so many sundry Nations would submit themselves to the soveraignty of a woman all these suppositions being doubtfull certain it is that instead of the mother of Ninus she assumed the person of Ninus her son changing her womans shape into the habit of a mans for they were of one stature proportioned in lineaments alike semblant in voice and in all accomplements difficultly to be distinguished insomuch that never mother and child could have more true resemblance having therefore lull'd her son in all effeminacy and atâ—iâ—â—d him in her Queen-like vesture the better to shadow her own proportion she suited her selfe in long garments and commanded all her subjects to do the like which habit hath been amongst the Assyrians Bactrians and Babylonians in use even to this day Upon her head she wore a Turbaâ—â— oâ— Myter such as none but Kings used to adorn their heads with so that in the beginning she was known for no other then the Prince in whose name she accomplisht many notable and noble atchievements at whose amplitude Envy and Emulation stood amazed confessing her in all her attempts supereminent neither did her heroick actions any way derogate from the honour of the Empire but rather add to the splendour thereof admiration in regard a woman had not only excelled all of her sex in valour but might claim a just priority over men She built the mighty City Babylon and the stately wals reckoned amongst the seven wonders She not only conquered all Aethiopia and made that Kingdome to her state tributary but invaded India being the first that durst attemptie and saving her no 〈…〉 but Alexander who was the second and the last Thus 〈◊〉 Justin out of the history of Trogus Pompeius Berosus affiâ—ms as mâ—ch these be his words Nemo unquam huic seminae comparandus est virorum tanta in ejus vita scribuntur cum ad vituperationem tum maxime ad laudem No man was ever to be compared with this woman such great things have been written of her partly to her disgrace but chiefly to her praise He proceeds further She was the fourth that reigned in Assyria for so it is approved Nimâ—oâ— was the first being father to Belus and grand-father to Ninus which Ninus was the first that made war upon his neighbours and usurped their dominions in whom began to cease the Golden world whom his widdow Queen succeeded counterfeiting the shape of man She was after slain by her sonne Ninus the second of that name who as Eusebius writes after her death swai'd the Scepter thirty and eight years One memorable thing is recorded of her by Diodorus S. culuâ— lib. 3.
having learned certaing problems and aenigmas of the muses disposed her selfe in the mountaine Phycaeus The riddle that she proposed to the Thebans was this What creature is that which hath one distinguishable voice that first walkes upon four next two and lastly upon three feet and the more legs it hath is the lesse able to walk The strict conditions of this monster were these that so often as he demanded the solution of this question till it was punctually resolved he had power to chuse out any of the people where he best liked whom he presently devoured but they had this comfort from the Oracle That this Aenigma should be no sooner opened and reconciled with truth but they should be freed from this misery and the monster himselfe should be destroied The last that was devoured was Aemon son to King Creon who fearing lest the like sad fate might extend it selfe to the rest of his issue caused proclamation to be made That whosoever could expound this riddle should marry Jocasta the wife of the dead King Laius and be peaceably invested in the Kingdome this no sooner came to the ears of Oedipus but he undertook it and resolved it thus This creature saith he is man who of all other hath only a distinct voice he is born four footed as in his infancy crawling upon his feet and hands who growing stronger erects himselfe and walkes upon two only but growing decrepit and old he is fitly said to move upon three as using the help of his staffe This solution was no sooner published but Sphinx cast herselfe headlong from the top of that high Promontory and so perished and Oedipus by marrying the Queen was with a generall suffrage instated in the Kingdome He begot of her â—wo sons and two daughters Eâ—eocles and Polâ—nâ—ces Ismâ—ne and Antigone though some write that Oedipus had these children by Rurigenia the daughter of Hyperphantes These former circumstances after some years no sooner came to light but Jocasta in despair strangled her selfe Oedipus having torn out his eies was by the people expulsed Thebes cursing at his departure his children for suffering him to undergo that injury his daughter Antigone lead him as far as to Colonus a place in Attica where there is a grove celebrated to the Eumenides and there remained till he was removed thence by Theseus and soon after died And these are the best fruits that can grow from so abominable a root Of the miserable end of his incestuous issue he that would be further satisfied let him read Sophocles Apollodorus and others Oâ— him Tyresias thus prophesied Neque hic laetabitur Calibus eventis suis nam factus c. No comfort in his fortunes he shall find He now sees clearly must at length be blind And beg that 's now a rich man who shall stray Through forrein Countries for his doubtfull way Still gripping with his staffe The brother he And father of his children both shall be His mothers son and husband first strike dead His father and adulterate next his bed Crithaeis SHE was wife to one Phaemius a schoolmaster and mother to Homer Prince of the Greek Poets Ephorus of Coma in a book intiteled the Cumaean Negotiation leaves her story thus related Atelles Maeones and Dius three brothers were born in Cuma Dius being much indebted was forced to remove thence into Ascra a village of Boeotia and there of his wife Pâ—cemedâ— he begot Hesiodus Atelles in his own Country dying a naturall death committed the pupillage of his daughter Crithaeis to his brother Maeones but comming to ripe growth she being by him vitiated and proving with child both fearing the punishment due to such an offence she was conferred upon Phaemius to whom she was soon after married and walking one day out of the City to bath her selfe in the river Miletus she was by the stood side delivered of young Homer and of the name thereof called him Mâ—lesigines But after losing his sight he was called Homer for such of the Cumaeans and Ionians are called Omouroi Aristotle he writes contrary to Ephorus that what time Neleus the son of Codrus was President in Ionia of the Collony there then newly planted a beautifull Virgin of this Nation was forced and deâ—â—oured by one of the Genius's which used â—o dance with the Muses who after remâ—ved to a place called Aegina and meeting with certain forragers and robbers that made sundry incursions into the Country she was by them surprized and brought to Smyrna who presented her to Meonides a companion to the King of the Lydians he at the first sight inamoured of her beauty took her to wife who after sporting her selfe by the banks of Milâ—rus brought forth Homer and instantly expired And since we had occasion to speak of his mother let it not seem altogether impertinent to proceed a little of the son who by reason of his being hurried in his childhood from one place to another and ignorant both of his Country and parents went to the Oracle to be resolved concerning them both as also his future fortunes who returned him this doubtfull answer Foelâ—x miser ad sortemes quia natus utramque Perquiris patrians matris tibi non patris câ—â—tat c. Happy and wretched both must be thy fate That of thy Country dost desire to heare Known is thy 〈◊〉 clime thy father 's not An Island in the sea to Creet not neer Nor yet far â—ss in which thou shalt expire When 〈◊〉 a riddle shalt to thee propose Whose dark Aenigma thou canst not acquire A double Fate thy life hath thou shalt lose Thine eies yet shall thy lofty Muse ascend And in thy death thou life have without end In his later daies he was present at Thebes at their great feast called Saturnalia and from thence comming to Ius and sitting on a stone by the water port there landed some fishermen whom Homer asked what they had taken but they having got nothing that day but for want of other work only lousing themselves thus merily answered him Non capta afferimus fuerant quae capta relictis We bring with us those that we could not find But all that we could catch we lâ—ft behind Meaning that all such vermine as they could catch they cast away but what they could not take they brought along Which riddle when Homer could not unfold it is said that for very griefe he ended his life This unmatchable Poet whom no man regarded in his life yet when his works were better considered of after his death he had that honour that seven famous Cities contended about the place of his birth every one of them appropriating it unto themselves Pindarus the Poet makes question whether he were of Chius or Smyrna Simonides affirms him to be of Chius Antimachus and Nicander of Colophon Aristotle the Philosopher to be of Ius Ephorus the Historiographer that he was of Cuma Some have been of opinion that he was born in Salamine
and in that darknesse remained for the space of ten years After which time in great melancholly expired he received this comfort from the Oracle which was then in the City Butis That if he washt his eies in the urine of a woman who had been married a full twelve month and in that time had in no waies falsified in her own desires nor derogated from the honour of her husband he should then assuredly receive his sight At which newes being much rejoiced and presuming both of certain and sudden cure he first sent for his wife and Qu. and made proofe of her pore distillation but all in vain he sent next for all the great Ladies of the Court and one after one washt his eies in their water but still they smarted the more yet he saw no whit the better but at length when he was almost in despaire he hapned upon one pure and chast Lady by whose vertue his sight was restored and he plainly cured who after he had better considered with himselfe caused his wife withal those Ladies saving she only by whose temperance and chastity he had reobtained the benefit of the Sun to be assembled into one City pretending there to feast them honourably for joy oâ— his late recovery Who were no sooner assembled at the place called Rubra Gleba apparelled in all their best jewels and chiefest ornaments but commanding the City gates to be shut upon them caused the City to be set on fire and sacrificed all these adulteresses as in one funerall pile reserving only that Lady of whose loialty the Oracle had given sufficient testimony whom he made the partaker of his bed and Kingdome I wish there were not so many in these times whose waters if they were truly cast by the doctors would not rather by their pollution put out the eies quite then with their clearnesse and purity minister to them any help at all Laodice JVstine in his 37. book of History speaks of this Laodice the wife and sister to Mithridates King of Pontus After whose many victories as having overthrown the Scythians and put them to flight those who had before defeated Zopyron a great Captain of Alexanders army which consisted of thirty thousand of his best souldiers the same that overcame Cyrus in battell with an army of two hundred thousand with those that had affronted and beaten King Philip in many oppositions being fortunately and with great happinesse still attended by which he more and more flourisht in power and increased in majestie In this height of fortune as never having known any disaster having bestowed some time in managing the affairs of Pontus and next such places as he occupied in Macedonia he privately then retired himselfe into Asia where he took view of the scituation of those defenced Cities and this without the jealousie or suspition of any From thence he removed himselfe into Bythinia proposing in his own imaginations as if he were already Lord of all After this long retirement he came into his own Kingdome where by reason of his absence it was rumour'd and given out for truth that he was dead At his arrivall he first gave a loving and friendly visitation to his wife and sister Laudice who had not long before in that vacancy brought him a young son But in this great joy and solemnity made for his welcome he was in great danger of poison for Laodice supposing it seems Mithridates to be dead as it before had been reported and therefore safe enough had prostituted her selfe to divers of her servants and subjects and now fearing the discovery of her adultery she thought to shadow a mighty fault with a greater mischiefe and therefore provided this poisoned draught for his welcome But the King having intelligence thereof by one of her handmaids who deceived her in her trust expiated the treason with the blood of all the conspirators I read of another Laodice the wife of Ariarythres the King of Cappadocia who having six hopefull sons by her husband poisoned five of them after she had before given him his last infectious draught the youngest was miraculously preserved from the like fate who after her decease for the people punished her cruelty with death succeeded in the Kingdome It is disputed in the Greek Commentaries by what reason or remedy affection once so devilishly setled in the breast or heart of a woman may be aâ—ered or removed or by what confection adulterous appetite once lodged and kindled in the bosome may be extinguished The Magicians have delivered it to be a thing possible so likewise Cadmus Milesius who amongst other monuments of history writ certain tractates concerning the abolishing of love for so it is remembred by Suidas in his collections And therefore I would invite all women of corrupted breasts to the reading of this briefe discourse following A remarkable example was that of Faustina a noble and illustrious Lady who though she were the daughter of Antonius Pius the Emperor and wife to Marcus Philosophus notwithstanding her fathers majesty and her husbands honour was so besotted upon a Gladiator or common fencer that her affection was almost grown to frensie for which strange disease as strange a remedy was devised The Emperor perceiving this distraction still to grow more and more upon his daughter consulted with the Chaldeans and Mathematicians in so desperate a case what was best to be done after long consideration it was concluded amongst them that there was but only one way left open to her recovery and that was to cause the fencer to be slaine which done to give her a full cup of his luke-warm blood which having drunk off to go instantly to bed to her husband This was accordingly done and she cured of her contagious disease That night was as they sad begot Antoninus Commodus who after succeeded him in the Empire who in his government did so afflict the Common-weal and trouble the Theater with fensing and prizes and many other bloody butcheries that he much better deserved the name of Gladiator then Emperor This that I have related Julius Capitolinus writes to Caesar Dioclesianus Were all our dissolute matrons to be cured by the like Phisick there would no question be amongst men lesse offenders and among women fewer patients that complained of sick stomacks Phaedima CAmbyses having before unnaturally slain his brother Smerdis by the hands of his best trusted friend Praxaspes but after the death of the King for the horridnesse of the fact the Regicide not daring to avouch the deed to the people lest it might prejudice his own safety one Smerdis a Magician whose ears Cambises had before caused to be cut off took this advantage to aspire to the Kingdome and being somewhat like in favour to the murdered Princes who was by the Souldiers generally believed to live it purchased him so many abettors such as were deluded with his impostures that he was generally saluted and crowned Emperor This was
done whilst the greatest part of the Nobility were absent and none since admitted into the Palace much lesse into the presence lest the Magician might be unvizarded and the deceit made palpable The greater fears and doubts still invironing the Princes because Praxaspes not daring to justifie the murder kept it still lockt in his own breast The Magician in this interim was not only possest of all the Kings Pallaces and treasures but he enjoied all his wives and concubines amongst which was a beautifull Lady called Phaedima the daughter of Otanes a man of great power amongst the Persians This Lady first of all the rest most indeared to Cambyses and now since to the counterfeit Smerdu Otanes apprehends to be the first instrument by which to discover the truth He therefore by a secret messenger sends to his daughter to know by whom she nightly lay whether with Smerdis the sonne of Cyrus or with some other to whom she answered that it was altogether unknown to her who was her bedfellow because she yet had neither seen Smerdis the son of Cyrus nor that man whatsoever he was into whose embraces she was commanded He then sent her word that if she her selfe could not come to the sight of him to demand of Atossa the daughter of Cyrus and brother to Smerdis who doubtlesse could decipher him in every true lineament To which the daughter returns him That she was separated both from the society and sight of Atossa for this man whosoever he is as soon as ever he had possest himselfe of the Empire commanded all the women into severall lodgings neither could they have any discourse or entercourse at all together This answer made Otanes the more and more suspitious and desirous with any danger to find out the truth he adventured a third message to Phaedima to this purpose It behooves you O daughter being descended from noble ancestors to undergo any hazard especially at the request of your father when it aims at the generall good of the Common-weal or Kingdome if that impostor be not Smerdu the brother of Cambyses as I much feare it becomes him neither to prostitute and defile your body nor to mock and abuse the whole estate of Persia unpunished therefore I charged you as you tender my love your owne honour and the Empires weale that the next night when you are called unto his bed you watch the time when he is soundliest asleep and then with your fingers gently feel both the sides of his head if thou perceivest him to have both his ears presume then thou lodgest by the side of Smerdis the son of Cyrus but if on the contrary thou findest his cors wanting then thou liest in the bosome of Smerdis that base Magician To this she replied by letter Though I truly apprehend the danger should I be taken seeking of such things as he perhaps knowes wanting which can be no less then death yet for your love and the common good I will undergo the perill and with this briefe answer gave satisfaction to her father But greater content he received from her when having discovered and laid open whatsoever her father suspected she sent him a faithfull relation of every circumstance These things discovered by Phaedima Olanes makes a conjuration amongst the Princes all vowing the supplantation of this usurper who in the interim the more to confirm the people in their errour he sent to Praxaspes promising him honours and treasures but to pronounce him once more before the people to be the true and legitimate heire This charge Praxaspes undertakes the multitude from all parts of the City were by the Magi assembled and he mounted unto the top of an high Turret the better to be heard silence being made and attention prepared Praxaspes begins his oration in which he remembers all the noble acts of Cyrus with the dignity of his blood and progeny and passing over Cambyses to come to speak of his brother Smerdis contrary to the expectation of the Magician with teares began to commemorate the death of the Prince murdered and made away by his infortunate hand Then told them whom in his stead they had voiced into the sacred Empire namely a groom and one of low and base descent one that for cozenages and forgeries had lost his ears a Magician a Conjurer one that had long deluded them with his devilish sorceries a slave not worthy at all to live much lesse to raign and govern so noble a people and as a further confirmation that dying men speak true these words were no sooner ended but he casts himselfe off from the top of the Turret and slew himselfe After this the Pallace was assaulted by the Princesse the imposter slaine and all his adherents put to massacre Of the sequel of the history the succession of Darius c. you may further read in Herodotus But concerning Phaedima only for whose sake I have introduced the rest I know not whether I have indirectly brought her into this catalogue because she was so a noble a means of so notable a discovery yet considering she was one of the wives of Cambyses and he being dead so suddenly changing her affection to another and after being injoied by him of what condition soever to betray him all these circumstances considered I give her free liberty to be ranked amongst the rest Begum Queen of Persia ABdilcherai a brave and valiant Prince of Tartaria taken prisoner by Emirhamze Mirize eldest son to the King of Persia in a battell betwixt the Persians and Tartarians was sent to the King into Casbia where his captivity in regard of his birth and valour was so easie that he rather seemed a deâ—ison then a forreiner a Prince of the blood then a Captive he not long so journed there but he insinuated himselfe into the love of the Queen Begum wife to the then King of Persia who spent their time together in such publicke dalliance not able to contain themselves within the bounds of any lawfull modesty that their familiarity grew almost into a by-word as far as his just taxation the Queens dishonour and the Kings scorn insomuch that both Court and City made them not only their argument of discourse but theam of table talk Yet in all this banding of their reputation and the Kings infamy nothing ever came within the compasse of his ear knowledge or suspition insomuch that seeing him to be so well a featured Gentleman knowing the Tartar to be so brave a souldier and approving him to be so compleat a Courtier and withall acknowledging from what high linage he was descended as boasting himselfe to be the brother of the great Tartar Chan The King of Persia therefore determined to marry him to his daughter hoping by that means to unite such a league and confirm such an amity betwixt the Tartarian Precopenses and himselfe that they might not only denie all aid and assistance to Amurath the third of that name and then
Adulteresse THE King of Scythia observing a man to go still naked whereas the coldnesse of the clime enforceth them to enquire after fables furs and the warmest garments can be found in a violent and continued snow meeting him demanded of him whether he were not cold Of whom the fellow asked another question Whether his forehead were cold or not neither can I be cold O King replied he where custome hath made me all forehead This may aptly allude to many as well in these our daies as the former in whom sin hath begot such a habit that where it once possesseth it selfe it compels all the other powers and affections of the body and mind to become ministers and vassals for sin wheresoever it doth usurp doth tyrannize and as we see the dier when he would stain white cloath and put it into another hew doth it with a small mixture being nothing comparable either in weight or quantity to the stuffe he would have changed so be the mind never so chast or the body of never so white and unblemished a purity yet if the devill once come to put in his ingredients with great facility and easinesse he will change the whole peece into his own colour and complexion and of this we have both daily and lamentable experience and therefore custome is called a second nature for alas how easily we see boldnesse grow to impudence and satiety into surfet This puts me in mind of seven short questions asked of the seven wise men of Greece and by them as briefely answered What 's the best thing in man the mind that 's pure What 's worst A man within himselfe unsure Who 's rich He that nought covets What 's he poor The covetous man that starves amids his store Womans chiefe beauty what Chast life is such Who 's chast She only whom no fame dares touch Who 's wise The man that can but acts no ill The fool That cannot but intends it still They that can contain themselves within these few prescriptions may undoubtedly store up a good name to themselfs and honor to their posterity But what the neglect of those may grow unto I will in some sort illustrate unto you in a modern History lately hapning and in mine own knowledge An ancient Gentleman as well grown in reputation as years and in those parts where he lived having purchased to himself a generall respect for both married a beautifull young Gentlewoman of good parts and parentage But having no issue by her he selected unto his acquaintance a Noble young Gentleman one that had travelled France Italy Spaine and had been at the Sepulchre making that happy use of his travell that he was able to discourse properly and without affectation either of the scituation of Cities oâ— the conditions and customes of people and in oneword to give him his own deserved character there was nothing iâ— him wanting that might become a perfect and a compleat Gentleman This young mans father was a 〈…〉 and familiar neighbour to this old man before spoken of who had observed his modesty and courteous behaviour even from his infancy and therefore was the more affected to his discourse and company his affection grew so far that he purposed to make him a peece of his heire Whilst they continued in this familiarity and the young man still frequented the house theâ—â—â— grew great acquaintance betwixt him and the Gentlewoman No marvell for they had been both play-fellowes and school-fellowes and by reason of their parity in years used through an honest yet a kind of suspected familiarity insomuch that it grew to a calumny still passing from one man to another it arrived 〈◊〉 length to the cars of the young mans father who soâ—ted opportunity to talk with his son demanding of him how that fire was kindled from whence this smoke grew who notwithstanding many protestations of his own innocence in which he derogated nothing from truth was charged by his father to avoid all rumour and aspersion to forbear the occasion and absent himselfe from the house and this he imposed him upon his blessing To this the young man with great modesty assented as unwilling to contradict his fathers counsell as to encrease that injurious suspition concerning the Gentlewomans honor which was undeservedly called in question It is to be understood that many friendly and modest courtesies had past betwixt this young couple insomuch that having all liberty granted both of society and discourse he prest her upon a time so far to know if it should please God to call away her husband being very old and by the course of nature not likely to live long how she purposed to dispose of her selfe To whom she protested that though she wisht her aged husband all along life and happiness yet if it pleased the higher powers to lay the crosse of widdowhood upon her she would if he so pleased confer upon him her youth her fortunes and whatsoever she was endowed with before any man living if it pleased him to accept of them and this she bound with an oath This the Gentleman betwixt honouring and loving her could not chuse but take wondrous kindly at her hands and vowed to her the like The conditions on both sides were accepted only as she had bound her selfe by one oath she imposed upon him another namely that till that time of her widdowhood he should neither associate himselfe privately converse nor contract matrimony with any woman whatsoever These things thus accorded betwixt them yet the fathers conjurations so far prevailed with the sons obedience that notwithstanding many urgent and important messages from the good old man the husband who wondered what distaste might breed his sudden discontinuance as suspecting nothing from either he still excused his absence and forbore the house It hapned that some months after riding to a market Town not far off equally distant betwixt his own fathers house and the old gentlemans to give a meeting to some Gentlemen of the Country by chance he hapned upon a chambermaid that belonged to his betro hed mistreste whom he well knew he saluted her and she him and after some complement past betwixt them he asking how every body did at home and she on the other side wondring at his strangenesse telling him how long he had been expected and how much desired of all the house these things over he entreated her to drink a cup of wine which the maid willingly accepted They being alone and falling into discourse of many old passages well known to them both the young man began to speak how much he respected her mistresse and how deaâ—ly tendred her honour she on the other side began a contrary discourse as that for his own part she knew him to be a noble Gentleman and wel parted one whom her old master affected above al men proceeding that she was not altogether ignorant what
intreated her to vouchsafe to peruse in his absence in which his mind was fully signified Imagine them with the rest of the company divided every one wishing the Gentleman good speed and safe return when she retyring her selfe opens the letter wherein was laid open every passage concerning her lust what he himselfe personally had heard and known the place where the time when the very words whispered with every undeniable circumstance and these exprest with such passionate efficacy in which he laboured to make known his injuries and her treacheries the sole occasions of his voluntary exile all these I say were so feelingly set down that they strook her to the heart insomuch that she fell into a present frenzy and despairingly soon after died Which newes came to the Gentleman before he had past Gravesend by which he understood himselfe to be quite released of all his intricate oaths and promises whose noble disposition the old Gentleman understanding instated him in a great part of his land which he enjoies to this day and in my opinion not altogether undeservedly A homely tale I am next to tell you were it of one of our own Countrywomen I would conceal it but since it concerns a French woman out it shall to the full the rather for the authority of the author who affirms it In the time that King Aethelwold reigned in Mercia and Stephanus Paulus was Pope one Gengulphus a good and devout man lived in Burgoign It is said that he bought a well in France and at his praiers it sunk there and rose againe in Burgoign But the greater miracle is behind for thereby hangs a tale This man sued a divorce and was separated from his wife upon whom the story vouchsafes no name she confederated with a Clerk who was the adulterer to take away his life he being dead as 〈◊〉 testatâ—s there were many miracles seen about his grave This being told to his wife sitting at a banquet and being in her jollity she fell into a loud laughter and thus said When my husband Gengulphus doth any such miracles then do you all take notice that my taile shall sing These words as my author saith were no sooner uttered but instantly there was heard from under her a filthy foul noise and so oft as she spake so often it was heard and that continued until her dying day The history of Italy remembers us of one Isabella the wife of Luchinus a Viscount who was the strumpet of Vgolinus Gonsaga Prince of Mantua as also of Vittoria Corumbona who slew her husband to enjoy the Duke Brachiano Friga was the wife of Othimus King of the Danes and as Saxo Grammaticus affirms prostituted her body to one of her servants So Baptista Egnatius informs us of the Empresse Zoe who slew Romanus Argâ—ropilus that she might freelier injoy the company of Michael Paphlagon who after succeeded in the Empire Lewis Seneshall of Normandy taking his wife in adultery named Carlotta with Johannes Laverinus slew them both in the act Gregory Turonensis nominates one Deuteria a beautifull French Lady who was adulterated by King Theobert as Agrippina the mother of Nero was corrupted by the Emperor Domitian Macrobius speaks of one Julia a Greekish woman who being suspected of adultery by the great Orator Demosthenes his servant â—sopus who was conscious of all their meetings could neither by faire means be won nor torments compell'd to betray hers or his masters secrets till Demosthenes himselfe made of it a voluntary confession Blondus Martinus Platina Robert Berns and others writ of Maud the Dutchesse of Lâ—rrein who was after wife to a second husband Aooron Marquesse of Esten from whom she was divorced by Pope Hildeâ—â—and betwixt whom and her it is said there were Furtivae Complexus i. Imbraces by stealth she was after called the daughter of Saint Peter because in her last will and Testament she bequeathed to the Church of Rome a great part of Hetruria which is called unto this day the Patrimony of Saint Peter Trevisa reports that in the time when Marcus Commodus was Emperor he sent into Aegypt one Philippus as President over a Province then in the jurisdiction of the Romans This Philippus had a beautiful yong daughter called Eugenia who being wholly devoted to the Christian faith but not daring to professe it because of her father who protested all rigour to those of that Sect she disguised her selfe in mans habit stealing from her fathers house and made such means that she was baptized by the name of Eugenius and after became a Monk In processe the old Abbot being dead she had so well demeaned her selfe in the Monastery that she had the voice to be made Abbot in his stead Being possessed of the place a lewd and an adulterous woman called Malentia by all allurements possible would have tempted Eugenius to lust but not prevailing she with loud acclamations pretending the other would have forced her against her will caused her to be apprehended and brought before the Judge which was the President Philip the father to Eugenia who being an enemy to all of Religious Orders was easily induced to give beleefe to any accusations commenc'd against them and punisht even sleight faults with the extreamest severity Eugenius is accused the circumstances examined and carry great shew of truth The Judge is ready to proceed to sentence when Eugenia falling upon her knees discloseth her selfe to her father and humbly intreated his pardon To whom notwithstanding her disguise her face is easily known his fellow Monks stands amased Malentia the accuser confounded but all in generall wonder-strook till Philippus raising his faire daughter from the earth embraceth her lovingly as extasi'd with her recovery beyond all expectation for whose sake he renounced all his false heathen gods and was christned with his whole houshold and family Thus the wickednesse of one woman turned to the blessednesse and proâ—â—â— of many Elfritha RAnulphus Monk of Chester tels this story King Edgar saith he being in his youth much addicted to the love of faire women had intelligence that one Elfritha daughter to Orgarus was for 〈◊〉 feature and accomplishâ—â—â—â—s 〈…〉 surpassing all the Virgins of her time insomuch that he not only greatly desired to see her but purposed that if her beauty were any way answerable to that which fame had blazoned her to be to make her his Queen This secret apprehension he communicated to one Earl Ethelwold a Noble Gentleman in his great favour and best acquainted with his privacies commanding him to make a journy to the Earl of Devonshire her father and there to take of her a free and full surveigh and finding her answerable to the publike rumour not only to demand her of the Earl Orgarus but to bring her along with her father roially attended like the bride of a King to partake with him all regall honours This journy Ethelwold with great willingnesse
undertakes without disclosing to any the secrets of his message and comming to the place where the damosell with her father then sojourned he was nobly enterteined as a fellow peer and an especiall favourit to the King No sooner came the Lady in presence but Ethelwold began to conceive that report had been too niggardly in her praise for he had not in his life time seen a Lady of so incomparable a feature to whom all the Court-beauties appeared scarce good Christall to that unmatchable Diamond What cannot love work in the heart of man when such a beauty is his object it makes the son forger his father and the father not remember that he hath a son but either hath made the others bed incestuous It hath subjected Cities and depopulated Countries made the subject forget his allegeance to his soveraign and the soveraign most unnaturall and inhumane to his subject as may appear by this history This Earl surprised with the love of this Lady hath either quite forgot the message he was sent about or else is not pleased to remember it Not speaking of the King at all but counterfeting some occasions into that Country and as if he had hapned upon that place by accident or come to give him visitation in noble courtesy at supper finds discourse concerning the Lady and at length prevailed so far with the old Earl that they were contracted that night and the next morning married After some few daies journie there the Kings impositions inforced him to take an unwilling farewel of his new married bride only at parting he earnestly intreated them for divers reasons which much imported him to keep the marriage as secret as possibly might be and so posted back to the Court He was no sooner arrived but the King inquisitive concerning the beauty of the Lady how tall how strait of what haire what complection whether her looks were cheerfull or sad her behaviour sober or suspitious To all which he answered in few she was indeed a Lady and that was her best an Earls daughter and therefore flattered for what in a private woman is commendable is in such excellent and what in the former praise worthy in the latter 〈◊〉 and admirable but for this Lady Elfritha she was a course home spun peece of flesh whose nobility and dower might make her capable of being wife to some honest Justice of peace or Sheriffe of the Shire but not becomming the bed of any of the nobility unlesse some one whose estate was decaid indeed a meer Rook and most unworthy the eie of the Princely Eagle With this answer the King was satisfi'd and for the present dispos'd his affection elsewhere imagining these praises might be divulg'd abroad as wel in scorn of her person as otherwise so for some few weeks it rested in which interim Ethelwold was oft mist in the Court and discontinued his wonted service no man could scant tell or inform the King how he disposed himselfe and still when he came to present his service he would excuse his absence with some infirmity or other which was the reason of his inforced retirement besides he was often observed to intreat leave to recreate himselfe in the Country and take the benefit of the fresh aire as commodious for his health in all which liberty he past his limits This bred some jealousie in the King and the rather because the fame of this Ladies unmatched beauty more and more increased Therefore to be more punctually informed of the truth he sent another private messenger who brought him intelligence how all things stood with the certeinty of every accident how it befell The King not knowing how to disgest such an injury from a subject smothered his grievance for a space and at length caused the gests to be drawn for he purposed a progresse into the West Ethelwold yet nothing suspecting was the formost man to attend the King upon his journie but when they came almost to Excester he began to mistrust the Kings purpose the rather because he sent to the Earl Orgarus that at such a time he meant to feast with him Now must Ethelwold bestir himself or instantly hazard the Kings high displeasure he therefore posts in the night to his wife and to his father in law reports the truth of every circumstance from the beginning how he was sent by the King and to what purpose how her beauty had so enflamed him that he was compelled by violence of affection to deceive the Kings trust and lastly to secure his own life which for the love of her he had hazarded he was forced to disparage her feature dissemble her worth and disgrace her beauty and therefore besought her as she tendred his safety being her husband either not to appear before the King at all or if she were called for and so compelled to be seen in that fashion as he had described her to his soveraign namely with a smodged face counterfeit haire uncomely habit and in her behaviour to put on such a garb of folly as might rather breed loathing then liking in his majesty The first of his speech she heard with patience but when he came to deliver to her how he had disparaged her beauty and to the King too nay more would have her derogate from her own worth and be accessary to the blasting of that beauty which nature had made so admirable this her womanish spleen could hardly disgest yet she soothed him up with fair and promising language and told him she would better consider of it and so dismissed him in part satisfied In the morning he presented himselfe early to attend the King who was that day to be enterteined by the Earle his father in law All things were nobly provided and Edgar roially received and set to dinner some write that Ethelwold had caused a kitchin maid to put on his wives habit and sit at the Kings table but I find no such matter remembred in my author the truth is the King about the middest of dinner called for the Earle Orgarus and demanded of him whether he had a wife or no if he had why he might not have her company knowing it was a general observation in England that without the wives entertainment there could be no true and hearty welcome The Earl replied that at that time he was an unhappy widdower he then demanded whether he had any children to continue his posteritie to which he answered Heaven had only blest him with one daughter a plain damosell yet the sole hope of his future memory The King was then importunate to see her and commanded her to be instantly brought unto his presence which put Ethelwold into a strange agony yet still hoping she had done as he had lately enjoined her when she contrary to his expectation came in apparalled like a bride in rich and costly vestures her golden haire fairely kembed and part hanging down in artificiall curls her 〈◊〉 stuck with jewels and about her neck
her before the President who at first despising her youth began to talk with her as to a child but finding her answers modest and weighty began further to argue with her but seeing himselfe unable to hold argument as being convinced in all things he grew into such a malitious rage that he first caused her to be scourged before his face even till the flesh gave way to discover the bones but this not prevailing he commanded her instantly to be dragged from thence and from an high place to be cast headlong into the sea I will conclude this discourse of Martyrs with one of our own modern stories Our English Chroniclers report that Maximus the Emperour having held long war with one Conon Meridock a reâ—olute and bold Brittain having in many bloody conflicts sped diversly sometimes the victory inclining to one side and then to another but in conclusion to the losse of both their hostility was by mediation at length attoned and a firm peace establisht betwixt them that done Maximus made war upon the Gals and invading a Province then called America but since Little Brittain he won it by the sword and after surreendered it to Conon to hold it for ever as of the Kings of Great Brittain This Conon Meridock was a Welch man and from these it may be That all that Nation assume to themselves the name of Brittains This eminent Captain being only furnisht with souldiers for the present warres but wanting women to maintein further issue to him was sent S. Vesula with eleven thousand virgins to be espoâ—to Conon and his Knights But being met at sea by Pagan Pirates because they would neither change their faith nor prostitute themselves to their barbarous and beastly lusts they were all by these inhumane wretches cut to pieces and cast over booâ—d and therefore in mine opinion not unworthily reckoned amongst the Martyrs From these I will proceed to others Aristoclaea OF all the deaths that I have read of this of Aristoclaea methinks exceeds example with which howsoever her body was tormented 〈◊〉 soul could not be grieved for never woman died such a loving death Plutarch in his Amatorious narrations hath thus delivered it Aliartes is a City of Boeotia in which was born a virgin so beautified and adorned with all the gifts and perfections of nature as she seemed unparalleld through Greece her name was Aristoclaea the sole daughter of Theophanes To her there were many sutors but three especially of the noblest families of the City Strato Orchomenius and Calisthenes Aliartius Of these Strato being the richest he seemed the most endeared to her in affection for he had first seen her at Lebedaea bathing her selfe in the fountaine Hercyne from whence having a basket upon her arm which she was to use in the sacrifice to Jupiter he took a full view of her in her way to the Temple yet Callisthenes he sed himselfe with the greater hopes because he was of more proximity and virgin in in alliance betwixt these two Orchomenius stood as a man indifferent Her father Theophanes upon their importunities doubtfull and not yet having determined on which to confer his daughter as fearing Strato's potency who in wealth and nobility equalled if not anteceded the best the in the City he therefore put it off to one Trophonius to be decided but Strato most confident in his own opinion and strength took the power of her disposing from Tropâ—onius and gave it up freely into her own will The damosell in a confluence of all her kindred and friends gathered for that purpose and in the sight of heâ— suitors was publickly demanded of which of them she made choice who answered of Callisthenes Strato taking this in an iâ—â—econcilable disgrace and in the greatnesse of his spirit not able to disgest an injury as he took it of that 〈…〉 his spleen and some two daies after meeting with Thâ—ophanes and Callisthenes he gave them a friendly and an unexpected salutation 〈◊〉 still a continuance of their ancient love and friendship that since what many covet one can but enjoy he could content himselfe with his own lot howsoever deâ—â—â—ing that their amity might remain perfect and unchanged these words came so seemingly from the heart that they with great joy did not only enterteine his love and voluntary reconcilement but in all courtesie gave him a solemn invitation to the wedding which he as complementally enterteined 〈◊〉 upon these terms they paâ—ted 〈…〉 a crew 〈◊〉 as he might best trust and add them to the number of his servants these he ambushes in divers places selected for his purpose but all to be ready at a watch-word Callisthenes bringing Aristoclaea towards the 〈◊〉 called 〈◊〉 theâ—e to perform the first sacreds belonging to marriage according to the custome of her ancestors Strato with his faction ariseth and with his own hands selfeth upon the virgin on the other side Callisthenes he catcheth the fastest hold he can to keep her Strato and his pull one way Callishenes and his another thus both contending in the heat of their affection but not regarding her safety whom they did affect she as it were set upon the rack of love plucked almost to peeces betwixt them both expired Which seeing Callisthenes he was suddenly lost neither could any man ever after tell what became of him whether he punished himselfe by some extraordinary death or betook himselfe to voluntary exile Strato openly before his own people transpierc'd himselfe and fell down dead before the body of Aristoclaea Of no such death died Democrita whose history next ensueth Alcippus the Lacedemonion had two daughters by his wife Democrita He having with great justice and integrity mannaged the weal publick more for the common good then any peculiar gain or profit of his own was affronted by an opposite faction which emulated his goodnesse and being brought before the Ephori it was delivered to them in a scandalous and lying oration how and by what means Alcippus intended to abrogate and annihilate their lawes for which he was confind from Sparta neither could his wife and daughters who willingly offered themselves to attend upon his adversity be 〈◊〉 to associate him but they were deteined by the power and command of the Magistrate Moreover an edict was made That neither the wiâ— was capable of inheritance nor the daughter of dower out of their fathers goods notwithstanding they had many 〈◊〉 of such noble Gentlemen as loved them for their father vertues It was likewise by the enemy most enviously suggested to the Senate that the two Ladies might be debarred from 〈…〉 their reason was that Democrita was heard often to wish and withall to presage that she should see children born of her daughters who would in time revenge the wrongs of their grandfather This being granted and she every way circumscribed both in her selfe her husband and issue every way confin'd she expected a publick solemnity in â—hich according to the Custome
the women of the City with the Virgins houshold servants and intent 〈◊〉 meeting but the matrons and wives of the nobility 〈…〉 night-festivall in a conclave or parlor by themselves 〈◊〉 she 〈◊〉 her selfe with a sword and with her two daughters secretly conveied her selfe into the Temple 〈◊〉 the time when all the matrons were most busie about the ceremonies and mysteries in the conclave then having made fast the doors and shut up the passages and heaped together a great quantity of billets with other things combustible provided for the purpose but especially all that sweet wood that was ready for the sacrifice of that solemnity she set all on fire which the men hastning to quench in multitudes she before them all with a constancy undaunted first slew her daughters and after her selfe making the ruins of this Temple their last funerall fire The Lacedemonians having now nothing left of Alcippus against which to rage they caused the bodies of Democrita and her daughters to be cast out of the confines of Sparta For this ingratitude it is said by some that great earthquake hapned which had almost overturned the City of Lacedemon from Democrita I come to Phillus Demophron the son of Theseus and Phaedra the halfe brother to Hippolitus returning from the wars of Troy towards his Country by tempests and contrary winds being driven upon the coast of Thrace was gently received and affectionately enterteined by Phillis daughter to Lyâ—urgus and Crustumena then King and Queen of that Country and not only to the freedome of all generous hospitality but to the liberty and accesse unto her bed He had not long sojourned there but he had certain tidings of the death of Muesthaeus who after his father Thesâ—us was expulsed Athens had usurped the principility pleased therefore with the newes of innovation and surprized with the ambition of succession he pretending much domestick businesse with other negotiations pertaining to the publike government after his faith pawned to Phillis that his return should be within a month he got leave for his Countrie therefore having calked and moored his ship making them serviceable for the sea he set saile towards Athens where arrived he grew altogether unmindfull of his promised faith or indented return Four months being past and not hearing from him by word or writing she sent him an Epistle in which she complains of his absence then perswads him to cal to mind her more then common courtesies to keep his faith ingaged to her and their former contract to make good by marriage the least of which if he refused to accomplish her violated honour she would recompence with some cruel and violent death which she accordingly did for knowing her selfe to the despised and utterly cast off she in her fathers Palace hanged her selfe From Phillis I proceed to Deianeira Jupiter begat Hercules of Alâ—mena in the shape of her husband Amphitrio joining three nights in one whom Euristius King of Micena at the urgence of his stepmother Juno imploid in all hazardous and fearfull adventures not that thereby he might gaine the greater honour but by such means sooner perish but his spirit was so great and his strength so eminent that from forth all these swallowing dangers he still plunged a victor amongst these difficulties was that combat against Achelous a Flood in Aetolia who transhaped himself into sundry figures for the love of Deianeira daughter to Oeneus and Althaea King and Queen of Calidon and sister to Meleager he whom no monsters nor earthly powers could came by the conquest of Achilous won Deianeira for his bride But he whom all tyrants and terrours were subject to submitted himselfe to effeminacy and the too much dotage upon women for when Euritus King of Oechalia had denied him his daughter Iole before promised him the City taken and the King slaine he took her freely into his embraces with whose love he was so blinded that her imperious command he laid by his club and Lions skin the trophies of his former victories and which was most unseemly for so great a conquerour parâ—on a womanish habit and blusht not with a distasse in his hand to spin amongst her damosels In briefe what slavery and servitude soever he had before suffered under the tyranny of Omphale Queen of Lydia of whom he begot Lamus he endured from her which Deianeira hearing in a letter she â—aies open to him all his former noble act and victories that by comparing them with his present 〈◊〉 it the better might encourage him to 〈◊〉 the first and deter him from the last But having receved newes of Hercules calamity by reason of the poisoned shire sent him by her servant Lychas dipt in the blood of the Centaur Nessus in which she thought there had been the vertue to revoke him from all new loves and establish him in his first for so Nessus had perswaded her when in her transwafcage over the flood Evenus he was slain by the arrow of Hercules dipt in the poison of Lerna when the I say heard of the death of her husband and that though unwilling it hapned by her means she died by a voluntary wound given by her own hand Nor such as that which followes The Ionians through all their Province being punisht with a most fearfull and horrible pest insomuch that it almost swept the City and Country and had it longer continued would have left their places and habitations desolate they therefore demanded of the Oracle a remedy for so great a mischiefe which returned them this answer That the plague should never cease till the young man Menalippus and the faire Cometho were slain and offered in sacrifice to Diana Tryclaria and the reason was because he had strumpeted her in the Temple And notwithstanding their deaths unlesse every yeare at the same season a perfectly featured youth and a virgin of exquisite beauty to expiate their transgression were likewise offered upon the same Altar the plague should still continue which was accordingly done and Menalippus and the faire Cometho were the first dish that was served up to this bloody feast The same author speaks of the daughter of Aristodemus in this manner The Messenians and the Lacedemonians have continued a long and tedious war to the great depopulation of both their Nations those of Missenâ— sent to know of the event of the Oracle at Delphos and to which party the victory would at length incline Answered is returned That they shal be conquerors and the Lacedemonians have the worst but upon this condition To chuse out of the family of the Aepitidarians a virgin pure and unblemisht and this damosel to sacrifice to Jupiter This Aristodemus hearing a Prince and one of the noblest of the family of the Aepitidarians willing to gratifie his Countrie chused out his only daughter for immolation and sacrifice which a noble youth of that Nation hearing surprized both with love and pity love in hope to enjoy her and
pity as grieving she should be so dismembred he thought rather to make shipwrack of her honour then her life since the one might be by an after-truth restored but the other by no earthly mediation recovered And to this purpose presents himselfe before the Altar openly attesting that she was by him with child and therefore not only an unlawfull but abominable offering in eies of Iupiter No sooner was this charitable slander pronounced by the young man but the father more inraged at the losse of her honour now then before commiserating her death bâ—ing full of wrath he usurps the office of the Priest and wash his sword hewes the poor innocent Lady to peeces But not many nights after this bloody execution the Idaea of his daughter bleeding and with all her wounds about her presented it selfe to him in his troubled and distracted sleep with which being strangely moved he conveied himselfe to the tombe where his daughter lay buried and there with the same sword slew himselfe Herodotus in Euterpe speaks of one Pheretrina Queen of the Bâ—cchaeaus a woman of a most inhuman cruelty she was for her tyranny strook by the hand of heaven her living 〈…〉 up with worms and â—â—ce and in that languishing misery gave up the ghost Propert in his third book speakâ— of one Dyrce who much grieved that her husband Lycus was surprized with the love of one Antiopa caused her to be bound to the horns of a mad bull but her two sons Zâ—â—bus and Amphtoa comming instantly at the noise of her loud acclamation they released her from the present danger and in revenge of the injury offered to their mother fastned Dyrce to the same place who after much affright and many pitifull and deadly wounds expired Consinge was the Queen of Bithinia and wife to Nicomedes whose gesture and behaviour appearing too wanton and libidinous in the eies of her husband he caused to be worried by his own dogs Plin. lib. 7. Pyrene the daughter to Bâ—brâ—x was comprest by Hercules in the mountains that divide Italy from Spaine she was after torn in pieces by wild beasts they were called or her Montes Pyreneae i. The Pyrenean mountains Antipater Tarcenses apud Vollateran speaks of one Gatis a Queen of Syria who was cast alive into a moat amongst fishes and by them devouted she was likewise called Atergatis Sygambis was the mother of Darius King of Persia as Quintus Curtius in his fourth book relates she died upon a vowed abstinence for being taken prisoner by Alexander yet nobly used by him whether tired with the continuall labour of her journie or more afflicted with the disease of the mind it is not certain but falling betwixt the arms of her two daughters after five daies abstinence from meat drink and light she expired Semele the mother of 〈◊〉 a Thebâ—n Lady and of the roial race of Cadmus 〈…〉 thunder Pliny in his second book writes of one Martia great with child who was strook with thunder but the 〈◊〉 in her womb strook dead only she her selfe not suffering any hurt or dammage in which place he remembers one Marcus Herennius a Decurion who in a bright and cleare day when there appeared in the skie no sign of storm or tempest was slain by a thunderclap Pausanias apud Vollâ—teran saith that Helena after the death of her husband Mentlaus being banished into Rhodes by Megapenthus and Nicostratus the sons of Orestes came for rescue to Polyzo the wife of Pleopolemus who being jealous of too much familiarity betwixt her and her husband caused her to be strangled in a bath others write of her that growing old and seeing her hairs grown gray that face grown withered whose lustre had been the death of so many hundred thousands she caused her glasse to be broken and in despair strangled her selfe The like Caelius lib. 6. cap. 15. remembers us of one Acco a proud woman in her youth and grown decrepit through age finding her brow to be furrowed and the fresh colour in her cheeks to be quite decaied grew with the conceit thereof into a strange frenzy some write that she used to talk familiarly to her owne image in the myrrhor sometimes smile upon it then again menace it promise to it or flatter it as it came into her fancy in the end with meer apprehension that she was grown old and her beauty faded she fell into a languishing and so died Jocasta the incestuous mother to Aeteocles and Polynices beholding her two sons perish by mutuall wounds strook with the terror of a deed so facinorous instantly slew her selfe So Bisalâ—ia a maid despised by Calphurnius Crassus into whose hands she had betraied the life of her father and freedome of her Country fell upon a sword and so perished Zoe the Empresse with her husband Constantius Monachus both about one time died of the Pestilence Gregorius Turonensis writes of one Austrigilda a famous Queen who died of a disease called Disenteria which is a flâ—x or wringing of the bowels Of the same griefe died Sausones son to Chilperick Serena the wife of Dioclesian for very griefe that so much Martyrs blood was spilt by her husbands remorselesse tyranny fell into a feaver and so died Glausinda daughter to the King of the Goths and wife to Athanagildus was slain by Chilperick the son of Clotharius at the instigation of the strumpet Fredegunda so saith Volateranus Sextus Aurelius writes that the Emperor Constantius son to Constantius and Helena caused his wife Fausta by whose instigation he had slain his son Crispus to die in a hoâ—scalding bath Herodotus speaks of Lysides otherwise called Melissa the wife of Periander who at the suggestion of a strumpet caused her to be slaine which makes Sabellicus amongst others to wonder why for that deed only he should be numbred amongst the wise men of Greece 〈◊〉 Cecilius in his seven and twentieth book upon Pliny accuseth Calphurnius Bestia for poisoning his wives sleeping Pliny in his fourteenth book nominates one Egnatius Melentinus who slew his wife for no other cause but that she had drunk wine and was acquitted of the murder by Romulus Auctoclea the daughter of Sinon and wife of Laeâ—â—es King of Ithaca when by a false messenger she heard that her son Vlysses was slain at the siege of Troy suddenly fel down and died The mother of Antista seeing her daughter forsaken by Pompey the Great and Aemâ—lâ—a received in her stead overcoâ—e with griefe slew her selfe Perimela a damosell was vitiated by Achelous which her father Hippodamus took in such indignation that from an high promontory he cast her headlong down into the sea Hyppomanes a Prince of Achens deprehending his daughter Lymone in adultery shut her up in a place with a fierce and cruell horse but left no kind of food for one or the
other insomuch that the horse opprest with hunger devoured her hence came that Adage 〈◊〉 upon Diogineanus More cruel then Hyppomanes Gregorius Turonensis remembers one Deuteria fearing lest her young daughter now grown ripe and marriageable who might be deflâ—ured by King Theodebertus cast her headlong into the river that runs by the City Viridunum where she was drowned Orchamus finding his daughter Leucothoe to be vitiated by Apollo caused her to be buried alive Lucilla the daughter of Marcus Antonus and Fausta as Herodian reports was slaine by the hand of her brother Commodus against whom she had before made a conjuration Lychione the daughter of Dedalion because she durst compare her selfe with Diana was by the goddesse wounded to death with an arrow at the celebration of whose exequies when her body was to be burnt her father likewise cast himselfe into the fire Hylonome the she Centaur seeing her husband Cillarius slain in the battell betwixt the Centaurs and the Lapithes fell upon his sword and so expired Anmianus and Marcellus lib. 16. have left recorded that Mithridates King of Pontus being overcome in a battell by Pompey committed his daughter Dyraptis to the safe custody of the Eunuch Menophilus to be kept in a strong Cittadel called Syntiarium which when Manutius Priscus had straitly besieged and the Eunuch perceived the defenders of the Castle dismaid and ready to submit themselves and give up the fort he drew out his sword and slew her rather then she should be mode a captive to the Roman General Sextas Aurelius writes of the Empresse Sabina the wife of Adrian who having suffered from him many grosse and servile injuries gave her selfe up to a voluntary death when she considered she had supported so inhumane a tyrant and such a contagious pest to the Common weal. Pontus de Fortuna speaks of a virgin amongst the Salattines called Neaera who grieving that a young man to whom she was betrothed had forsaken her and made choise of another caused her veins to be opened and bled to death Cleopatra after the death of Anthony lest she should be presented as a Captive to grace the triumphs of Augustus gave her arm to the biting of an Asp of which she died for in that manner was her picture presented in Rome of whom Propertius lib. 3. thus speaks Brachia spectavi sacris admorsa colubris Neaera and Charmione were the two handmaids of Cleopatra These as Plutarch and others report of them would by no perswasion survive their Queen and mistresse who perceiving as they were gasping betwixt life and death the Crown to be falne from the temples of their dead Lady raised themselves from the earth with the small strength they had left and placed it right again on her forehead that she might the better become her death which they had no sooner done but they both instantly fell down and breathed their last an argument of an unmatchable zeal to the Princesse their Lady Monima Miletia and Veronicha Chia were the wives of Mithridates who understanding of his tragicall fall and miserable end gave up their lives into the hands of the Eunuch Bochides Monima first hanged her self but the weight of her body breaking the cord she grew somewhat recovered and fell into this sad acclamation O execrable power of a diadâ—â— whose command even in this small sad service I cannot use which words were no sooner spoke but she offered her 〈◊〉 to the sword of the Eunuch who instantly dispatched 〈◊〉 both of life and torment Veronica drank oft a 〈◊〉 of wine tempered with person which dispersing into her veins and keeping her in a languishing torment her death was likewise hastned by the Eunuch Bochides A strange madnesse possest the Virgins of Milesia these as Aeltanus and others have writ gave themselves up to voluntary deaths many or the most strangling themselves this grew so common amongst them that scarce one day past in which some one or other of them were not found dead in their chambers To remedy which mischiefe the Senators of the City made a decree That what maid soever should after that time lay violent hands upon her self the body so found dead should be stript naked and in publick view dragg'd through the streets freely exposed to the â—ies of all men The impression of which shame more prevailing then the terror of death none was ever after known to commit the like outrage upon themselves Phaedra the step-mother to Hippolitus her son in law and wife of Theseus when she could not corrupt a young man her son in law to make incestuous the bed of his father despairing hung her selfe yet before her death she writ certain letters in which she accused Hippolitus to his father of incest which after proved the speedy cause of his death Amongst many strange deaths these of two mothers are not the least remarkable most strange it is that sudden joy should have much power to suffocate the spirits as the power of lightning The rumour of the great slaughter at the Lake of Thrasimenes being published one woman when beyond all hope she met her son at the City gate safely returned from the generall defeats cast her selfe into his arms where in that extasie of joy she instantly expired Another hearing her son was slain in the battell after much sorrow for his death sitting in her own house and spying him unexpectedly comming towards her safe and in health she was so overcome with sudden joy that not able to rise and give him meeting she died as she sate in her chaire Most strange it is that joy should make speedier way to death then sorrow these mothers Zoe remembred by Valerius Maximus lib. 9. cap. 12. So much I hope shall suffice for women that have died strange deaths for I had rather hear of many to live well then that any one should die ill I only intreat patience of the courteous Reader that as I have begun this book in sadnesse so he will give me leave to conclude it in jest Some no doubt though not justly will tax me for my too much intermixtion of history and say there be many things inserted not pertinent to my project in hand which might better have been left out then put in They in my conceit do but dally with me and put such a trick upon me as a Gentleman did upon a Country hostler My tale is but homely but it hath a significant Moral This traveller often using to a thorowfare Inne was much annoied by reason that betwixt his chamber and the stable where he commonly used to see his horse drest and meated there lay great heaps of pullens dung in his way which much offended him and being willing either to be rid of that inconvenience or punish him that might remedy it he took occasion to ask the hostler what dâ—nghill that was which was so offensive He answered him his
neighbour we feare to offend the higher Majesty and next that fear the terrour of eternall death and dammation by the first we preâ—evâ— our bodies by the second our honours by the last our soules But those other â—bject fears I purpose â—ere to exemplifie only such as proceed from Effeminacy and Cowardâ—â—â— It is read of Pysander of Greece that being alive he â—eared leâ—t his soul had already forsaken his body Likewise of one Artemon who was of that haâ—â—-hearted disposition 〈◊〉 he moved not abroad without Targers of bâ—asse borne over him like Canopies lest any thing should â—â—ll from aloft and â—eat out his brains or if he rid it was 〈◊〉 horse-litter ceiled and crosse-barâ—'d with gadâ— oâ— steel and plates of iron for which he was called Peripharetes Sâ—bellicus writes that Cassander so feared Alexander that long time after his death comming to Delphos to behold the goodâ—y statues there erected at the very sight of his old masteâ—s eâ—â—igies he fell into such a timorous feâ—ver that his very 〈◊〉 danced in his skin and long time it was â—re they could constantly settle themselves in them own places This was that Cassander who had caused Olympias the mother of Alexander to be so cruelly butchered It is 〈◊〉 of St Valleâ—â— Duke of Valentinois in France that being condemned to death for not disclosing the treasons of the Duke of Burbon just at the instant when the executioner should have strook off his head the King sent him his gracious pardon but all in vain the fear of the blow before it came had dispatched him of life Hereof hath grown a proverb to any man that hath a strong apprehension of feare they will say he hath La fieure de Saint Vallier i. the feaver of Saint Vallier Another thing is recorded of a fellow that was so affraid of the name of Hercules that he hid himselfe in caves and rocks though he knew not of any quarrell betwixt them at length stealing from the obscure cavern where he had denned himselfe to see if the coast were clear casting his eie by chance on the one side and espying Hercules who came that way by chance his life blood sinking into his heels she shook them a little and died in that feaver I could recite terrors and vain fears which have arisen from nothing that have terried whole Cities of Grecians armies of Romans and multitudes of other nations but these particulars shall suffice for my purpose is not too farre to esteminate men nor too much to embolden women since the most valiant man that is is timorous enough and the modestest woman that is may be made sufficiently bold But to the purpose in hand Debora a warlike woman was a Prophetesse and judged Israel by whose counsell and courage they were not only freed from the inroads and incursions of the neighbour nations but many times returned from the field with rich spoiles and glorious conquests of her you may read more at large in the Judges Janus was an ancient King of Italy he enterteined King Saturn when by his son Jupiter he was châ—ced out of Creet Because he was a provident and wise Prince the Romans pictured him with two faces and received him into the number of their gods they attributed to him the beginning and end of things celebrating to his honour the first month January which took the denomination of Janus from his name one face looked upon the year to come the other looked back on the yeare past in his right hand he had a golden key which 〈◊〉 the Temple of Peace in his left a staffe which he strook upon a stone from whence a spring of water seemed to issue out he is thus described by Albricus the Philosopher in his book de Deorum Imaginibus This Janus left behind him a beautiful fair daughter whose name was Helerna she succeeded her father in his Kingdom which was 〈◊〉 by the river Tiber and was a woman of masculine spirit and vertue she reigned over men without the counsell or assistance of men she subdued Nations by her valour and conquered Princes by her beauty of whom may be truly spoken as Propertius lib. 2. writes of the Queen Penthisilaea Ausa ferox ab equo quondam oppugnare sagittis c. Penthisilaea from her steed When her high courage rose Durst with her shaâ—â—s and warlike darts The Darnish fleet oppose No sooner was her beaver up And golden caske laid by But whom by force she could not take She captiv'd with her eie Camilla and others THis Camilla was Queen of the Volscians who even in her craâ—le gave manifest tokens of her future vertue and valour for in her infancy she was neither swathed in soft cloathing nor wrapt in silken mantle not attended by a tender nurse nor â—ed with curious dainties or â—arre fetcht delicates but fostered by her father Meâ—abus with the milk of hinds and wild goats her court was a forrest and her palace a dark and obscure cave Having somewhat outgrown her infancy she took no pleasure in rattles puppets or timbrels in which children for the most part delight neither did she inure her hands to spinning or any such like womanish chares her cloathing was the skins of wild beasts her exercise hunting her practise shooting her arms the bow and quiver her drink the fountain water and her food Venison To this â—bsteâ—â—ous life she vowed the strict vow of chastity At length war being commenc'd betwixt Turnus and Aeâ—eas she adhered to the Ruâ—ilian faction and to those wars brought a regiment of gallant horse which she in person 〈◊〉 Her magnanimity Virgil in the latter end of his 〈◊〉 book thus sets down Hos super 〈◊〉 volsca de gente Camilla Agmea 〈◊〉 equâ—um florentes aere catervas To their supply Camilla came The gallant Volscian Lasse Who bravely did command the horse With troops that shin'd in brasse Of the like condition was Maria Puteolana so called of Peuâ—eolum a City of Campania she was of a warlike condition and an invincible courage and flourisht in the age of Franciis Pitrarch she is described to be most patient of labour and untired with travell moderate in diet but altogether abstinent from wine sparing of words 〈◊〉 boasting but alwaies daring The needle the wheel and the 〈…〉 horse armour the bow the 〈◊〉 and the target above all other delights she embraced she used to walk whole nights without the least sleep and travell whole daies together without rest if necessity at any time compelled her eies to wink or her body to lie down the earth was her bed and her shield her pillow she abandoned the society of women her continuall conversation was with Captains and Commanders which though 〈…〉 a face of boldnesse and as some term it impudency yet his apparant to all men in what a soveraign respect she held her chastity and honour which she maintained without the least blemish unspotted to the end from
is long He seems to faint and she appears more strong The bold Neptunian Heroe from his hand One of those golden apples on the strand Before her bowls she stoops amaz'd and won With th' riches of the â—â—well is out-run Stooping to take it up he now gets ground Whilst loud applausive shouts the people sound At which her slacknesse she redeems and time Lost in that small delay she as a crime Now in her speâ—d corrects and like the wind Flies towards the goal and leaves the youth behind Again he drops another and again She for the second stoops whilst he amain Strives for the start and gets it but her pacâ— She still maintains being formost in the race The last part of the course lies plain before He now begins fair Venus to implore And the third fruit pluckt from the golden tree He further casts yet where she needs must see The apple shine 't was thrown out of the way The ground uneven to move the more delay The warlike â—asse though tempted with the show Doubts in her selfe to take it up or no. Venus peâ—rswades in favour of her Knight And made it weighty which before seem'd light Which as from th' earth she labours to divide He gains the goale and her for his fair bride It is said by Palephatus Apollodorus Ovid and others That for their ingratitude to Venus he was turned into a Lion and she into a Lionesse The probability is that being in the chase they retired themselves into a cave which proved to be a den of Lions were they were torn to pieces and devoured 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 Metamion or Hyppomanes or as some write by Mars Parthenopaeus who after made war upon the Thebans Of other warlâ—ke Ladies ABout Meroe reigned the Queen Candaces and had principality over the AEâ—hiopians a woman of a mighty spirit who in all their conquests in person led her people to the field amongst whom she obtained that dignity and honour that as amongst the Kings of Aegypt from the first of that name that was renowned and beloved they were for many successions called Pharaos and after Ptolomies and since the time of Julius all the Roman Emperours have in memory of hiâ—â— taken upon them the sirname of Caesar so for many years after her decease the Queens of Aethiopia were called Candaces The women of Lacena imitated the men in all things in schools in hunting and in arms These in the war commenc'd against the Messenians adventured equally in the battell with their husbands by whose assistance they purchased a noble victory It is reported of Valasca a Queen of the Bohemians that having made a conjuration with the women of her Country to take away all the prerogative and jurisdiction from the men she instructing them in Military exercises levied an army of her own Sex with which they met their husbands and overthrew them by which means they atteined the soveraign principality as the Amazons had before times done for many years space managed all affairs as well for offence as defence without the help or counsell of men The women of Bellovaca being long and fearfully besieged by Charls the Great Duke of Burgundy most resolutely defended the wals rumbling the assailants from their sealing ladders into the ditches to the everlasting honour of their Sex and the reproach of the enemy Lesbia a virgin being besieged by the Turks hazarded her selfe to discover their works and mines and when the Citizens were deliberating to surrender up the Town to the mercilesse enemy she opposed their purpose and presented her selfe upon the waâ—s to the violence of their arrowes and engines by whose only valour and encouragement the City was preserved and the assailants repulsed with dishonour Amalasuntha Queen of the Goths kept her principality neer to Ravenna and as Volateran hath left recorded by the help of Theodotus whom she made competitor in the Empire the expelled from Italy the Burgonians Almains and Ligurians Teuca the wife of Argon took upon her the soveraignty she was Queen of the Illytians a warlike nation whom she wisely governed 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 Sylvius lib. 1. thus speaks Haec ignara viri vacuoque assueta cubili Venatu silvis primos defenderat annos c. She knew not man but in a single bed Vpon an empty pillow cast her head Her youth she spent in hunting to th' alarm Of the shrill bugle on her sinowie arm She ware no Oâ—â—er basket would not know Or teach the fingers how to spin or sow To trace Dictinna she did most desire And in swift course the long breath'd stag to tire c. The same author lib 2. speaks of one Tiburna Saguntina the wife of one Muâ—â—us a brave and bold female warrior Zenobia Queen of the Palmyrians after the death of her husband Odenatus took upon her the imperiall regency and made tributary the Kingdome of Syria neither feared she to take arms against the Emperour Aurelianus by whom she was overcome and led in triumph but when it was objected to Caesar as a dishonour and reproach that he had triumph'd over a woman he answered It was no disgrace at all being over such a woman as excelled most men in Masculine vertue Of whom Pontanus thus speaks Qualis Aethiopum quondam sitientibus arviâ— In fulvum regina gregem c. As did the Aethiopian Queen In the dry fields of old Incounter with the yellow heards whose rough hairs shin'd likegold Opposing the stern Lions paw Alone and without aid To see a whom wrestle men aloof stood quaking and afraid Such â—â—ween two warlike hosts appears this Amazonian Queen Zenobia with her strong bow arm'd And furnish'd with shafts keen Hypsicrataea the wife of Mithridates was still present with him in battell and left him in no danger cutting her hair short lest it should offend her when she put on her beaver Artimesia Queen of Caria after the death of her husband was admired through Greece who not only in a navall expedition overcame the invading Rhodians but pursued them even unto their own coasts and took possession of the Island amidst whose ruines she caused her own glorious statue to be erected of whom Herodotus thus writes I cannot wonder sufficiently at this warlike Queen Artimesia who unforced and uncompelled followed the expedition of Xerxes against Greece out of her own manly courage and excellency of spirit She was the daughter of Lydamus her father was of Halicarnassus her mother of Creet she furnished five ships of her own charge with Halicarnassaeans Coeans Nisirians and Calidnians in the great
her Let me alone the tenement is mine own and I may lie where I list so long as I pay rent for the house Some few nights after comming home in the like tune and sitting asleep in a chair before the chimnie his wife being gone to bed presently the man fals into the fire the maid cries out to her Mistresse O mistresse my Master is falne and lies in the fire even in the midst of all the fiâ—e she lay still and turning her on the other side said so long as he paies rent for the house he may lie where he please But to more serious businesse for I have done sporting Of English Viragoes And of Joan de Pucil OF Guendoline the wife of King Locrine and daughter to Corinaeus Cuke of Cornwall I shall take more occasion to speak more at large in the discourse of the beautifull Estreld Elphleda was sister to King Edward before the conquest sirnam'd the fourth she was wife to Etheldredus Duke of Mercia who assisted her husband in the restoring of the City of Chester after it had been destroied and demolished by the Danes encompassing it with new wals he was Generall to the King in all his expeditions against the Danes in the last battell that he fought against them at a place called Toten Hall in Stafforshire he gave them a mighty overthrow but a greater at Wooddensfield where were slain two Kings two Earls and of the souldiers many thousands which were of the Danes of Nothumberland In this battel were the King and Elphleda both present Soon after this victory Etheldredus died and she governed many years after him in all Mercia or middle England except the two Cities of London and Oxford which the King her brother reserved to himselfe She builded many Cities and Towns and repaired others as Thatarn Brimsbury the Bâ—idge upon Sâ—vern Tamworth Liechfield Stafford Warwick Shrewsbury Watrisbury Edisbury in the Forrest besides Chester which is since utterly defaeced and destroied Also she built a Cily and a Castle in the North part of Mercia which then was called Runcofan and after Runcorn Thus far Ranulphus William de regib with others give her this noble Character This Lady having once assaid the throwes of childbirth would never after be drawn to have any carnall society with her husband alledging that it was not sitting or seemly for a woman of her degree being a Princesse a Kings daughter and a Kings sister to 〈◊〉 selfe to such wanton embraces whereof should 〈◊〉 so great pain and sorrow She tamed the Welchmen and in many conflict chased the Danes after whose death the King took the province of Mercia intirely into his own hand 〈◊〉 her daughter Elswina whom he led with him into West-Saxon Henricus lib. 5. hath left this Epitaph as a memoriall over her Tomb Oh Elphlede mighty 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 maid but goodnesse makes the man Yet pity thou shouldst change ought save thy name Thou art so good a woman and thy same In that growes greater and more worthy when Thy seminine valour much out shineth men Gâ—eat Caesars acts thy noble deeds excell So sleep in peace Virago maid farewell Mucâ— to this purpose hath Trevisa expressed these verses in old English Maud the daughter of Henry the fourth Emperour of that name after the death of her husband she bore the title of Maud the Empresse her father in his life time swore all the nobility to her succession but he being dead many fell from their oaths of Alleagiance adhering to Stephen Earl of Bullein who by the sisters side was Nephew to the deceased King He notwithstanding he had before sworn to her homage caused himselfe to be crowned at London upon St Stephens day by William Archbishop of Canturbury one that had before past his Oath of Alleapiance to the Empress Much combustion there was in England in those daies betwixt Maud and Stephen and many battel 's fought in which the successe was doubtfull the victory sometimes inclining to the one and again to the other the circumstances rather would become a large Chronicle then a short tractate I will therefore come to that which sorts best with my present purpose This Lady took the King in battell and kept him prisoner at Bristoll from Candlemas day to Holyrood day in harvest for which victory the people came against her with procession which was approved by the Popes legate From Bristol she came to Winchester thence to Wilton to Oxford to Reding and St Albans all the people acknowledging her their Queen and soveraign excepting the Kentish men only she came thence to London to settle the estate of the Land whither came King Stephen for her husbands delivery upon condition that Stephen should surrender the Kingdome up entirely into her hands and betake himselfe ever after to a sequestred and religious life But to this motion the Empresse would by no means assent the Citizens likewise intreated her that they might use the favourable lawes of S Edward and not those strict and severe Statutes and Ordinances devised and established by King Henry her father neither to this would the bold spirited Lady agree For which the people began to withdraw their affections from her and purposed to have surprized her of which she having notice left all her houshold provision and furniture and secretly conveied her selfe to Oxford where she attended her forces who were by this time dispersed and divided But taking with her her Uncle David King of the Scots she came before Winchester laying a strong siege to the Bishops Tower which was defended by the brother of King Stephen But now observe another another female warrior The wife of the imprisoned King being denied his freedome now takes both spirit and arms and associated with one William Iperus came with such a thundring terror to raise the siege that the hardy Empresse to give way to her preâ—ent â—ury was from strength forced to sâ—e to stratagem for finding her powers too weak to withstand the incensed Queen she counterseited her selfe dead and as a Corse caused her body to be conveied to the City of Glocester and by this means escaped But Robert her brother was there taken prisoner and committed to safe custody Then the Queen emploied her selfe on the one part for the release of her husband and the Empresse on the other for the enfranchisement of her brother at length after long debating of the businesse it was determined by the mediators on both sides that Stephen should be restored to the Kingdome and Duke Robert to his Lordship and Earldome and both as they had disturbed the peace of the Land so now to establish it To this the Earl would not assent so that all that year there was nothing but spoile man-slaughter direptions and all manner of violence robbing of the rich and oppressing of
the poor The King upon Holy-Rood day was released and besieged the Empresse in the City of Oxford from Michelmas day to mid winter where being oppressed with famine she took the advantage of the Frost and Snow and attiring her selfe all in white escaped over the Fens and came to the Castle of Wallingford And so much shall suffice to expresse the magnanimity and warlike dispositions of two noble and heroick English Ladies A French Lady comes now in my way of whom I wil give you a short character In the minority of Henry the sixt when France which was once in his entire possession was there governed by our English Regents the famous Duke of Bedsord and others Charls the Dolphin stiled after by the name of Charls the seventh being a Lord without land yet at that time maintaining what hostility he was able whilst the English forraged through France at their will and commanded in all places at their own pleasure the French in utter despaire of shaking oft the English yoke there arose in those desperate times one Joane Are the daughter of James Are and his wife Isabel born in Dâ—mprin This James was by profession a Shepherd and none of the richest Joane whom the French afterwards called Joane de Pucil whilst she was a young maid and kept her fathers sheep would report to divers That our blessed Lady S. Agnes and S. Katharine had appear'd unto her and told her that by her means France should regain her pristine liberty and cast off the yoke of English servitude This comming to the eare of one Peter Bradicourt an eminent Captain then belonging to Charls the Dolphin he used means that she should be sent to have conference with his master who sojourned then in Chynon in his lowest of dejection and despair of hope supply or comfort In her journie thither she came to a Town called Faire-bois where taking up her Inne a place which she had never before seen she desired a souldier to goe to a secret by-corner where was a heap of old iron and from thence to bring her a sword The souldier went according to her direction and searching the place amidst a great quantity of old tongs shovels hand irons and broken horse shooes found a faire bright sword with five Flower-Deluces upon either side engraven This sword with which she after committed many slaughters upon the English she girt to her and so proceeded to Chynon to give the Dolphin meeting Being there arrived Charls concealed himself amongst many others whilst he was brought into a faire long gallery where he had appointed another to take his place and to assume his person she looking upon him gave him neither respect nor reverence but sought out Charls among all the other in that assembly and pickt him from amongst the rest to whom making a low obeisance she told him that to him only was her businesse The Dolphin at this was amazed the rather because she had never before seen him and was somewhat comforted by reason that she shewed chear and alacrity in her countenance they had together long and private conference and shortly after she had an army given him to be disposed and directed by her She then bespake her selfe armor Cap a Pe bearing a white Ensign displaid before her in which was pourtraied the picture of the Saviour of the world with a Flower-de-luce in his hand and so marched to Oâ—leance Her first exploit was fortunately to raise the siege and â—elieve the Town From thence she passed to Reams took the City and caused the Dolphin there to proclaim himselfe King and take upon him the Crown of France She after took Jargueux a strong Town and in it the Earl of 〈◊〉 with many other brave English Gentlemen She â—ought the great battell of Pathay with good successe in which were taken prisoners the Lord Talbot the scourge and terror of the French Nation the Lord Scales the Lord Hungerford with many others both of name and quality she took in Benveele Mehun Trois and divers other Towns of great import and consequence at length in a caâ—â—â—ado or skirmish she was taken prisoner by Sir John of Entenburch a Burgonian Captain and sent to Roan The French Chronicles affirm that the morning before she was surprized she took the Sacrament and comming from Church told to divers that were about her that she was betraid her life sold and should shortly after be delivered up unto a violent death For Sir John gave a great sum of monie to betray her The English comming to invest themselves before Mondidier Joan was advised to issue out by Flaâ—y and skirmish with them who was no sooner out but he shut the gates upon her being taken she was sent to Peter Bishop of Bevoise who condemned her to the fire for a forceresâ—e which judgement was accordingly executed upon her in Roan in the Market place Twenty six years after Charls the King for a great sum of monie procured an annihilation of the first sentence from the Pope in which she was proclaimed a Viâ—ago inspired with divine instinct in memory of whose vertuous life and unjust death he caused a faire crosse to be erected just in the place where her body was burned I return again to the English Fâ—bâ—an and Harding speak of Emma sister to the Norman Duke called Richard who for her extraordinary beauty was called The flower of Normandy she was married to Eâ—helâ—ed King of England By 〈◊〉 heroick spirit and masculine instigation the King seat to all parts of the Kingdome secret and strict commissions That upon a day and hour assigned all these Danes which had usurped in the Land and used great cruelty should be slaughtered which at her behest and the Kings command was accordingly performed which though it after proved ominous and was the cause of much misery and mischiefe yet it shewed in her a noble and notable resolution Oâ— Queen Margaret the wiâ—e of Henry the sixt her courage resolution and magnanimity to speak at large would ask a Volume rather then a compendious discourse to which I am strictly tied And therefore whosoever is desirous to be further instructed in the successe of those many battels fought against the house of York in which she was personally present I refer them to our English Chronicles that are not sparing in commending her more then womaâ—ish spirit to everlasting memory With her therefore I conclude my female Martialists And now me thinks I am come where I would be and that is amongst you faire ones Of faire Women IT is reported of a King that for many yeers had no issue and desirous to have an heire of his own blood and begetting to succeed in the throne upon his earnest supplication to the divine powers he was blessed with a faire son both of beauty and hope And now being possessed of what he so much desired his second care was to see him so educated that he might have as much comfort
Attica Megacles the son of Alcmenon From Etruria Lysanius From Thessaly Diacrides and Cranomius From Molossus Alcon in number 20. These came into Greece to express themselves in many noble contentions because Clâ—sthenes the son of Aristonius and father of Agarista had made proclamation that he only should enjoy the virgin who could best express himselfe in noble action and valour Hyppodamia was daughter to Oenemaus King of Aelis and of such attractive beauty that she likewise drew many Princely suitors to her fathers Court though to the most certain danger of their lives Caelius writes that Marmax was the first that contended with her in the Chariot race and failing in his course was slain by the tyrant the Mares with which he 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 Eurimachus Crotalus Acrius of Lacedemon Capetus Lycurgus Lasius Chaâ—codus Tricolonus Aristomachus Prias Pelagus Aeolius Chromius and Eritheus the son of Leucon Amongst these are numbred Merimnes Hypotous â—elops Opontius Acarnan Eurilachus Antomedon Lasius Chalcon Tricoronus Alcathus Aristomachus and Crocâ—lus Sisigambis as Q. Curtius relates was inferiour to no Lady that lived in her age yet notwithstanding Alexander the Great having overcome her husband Darius in battell was of that continence that he only attempted not to violate her chastity but became her guardian and protected her from all the injuries that might have been done to a captive Plutarch writes of a Fâ—man Lady called Praecia of that excellent shape and admired feature as she endeared Cethegus unto her so far that he enterprized no designe or managed any affair without the advise and approbation of the beautifull Praecia So precious likewise was the faire Roxana in the eies of Alexander that having subdued all the Eastern Kingdomes and being Lord of the world yet from being the daughter of a mercenary souldier and a Barbarian he took her into his bosome and crowned her with the Imperiall Diadem Aegina the daughter of Aesopus King of Boetia for her excellent pulchritude was beloved of Jupiter of whom Ovid Aureus in Dâ—naen Aesopida luserit ignis In Gold faire Danaâ— had her full desire But with th' Aesopian 〈◊〉 he plai'd in â—ire So likewise Antiopa the daughter of Nycteis and wife of Lycus King of Thebes was for the carenesse of her form comprest by him of whom he begot Zethus and Amphion O what a power is this beauty It made the â—yclops Polyphemus turn Poet who as Ovid in his lib. 13. thus writes in the praise of his mistresse Galataea Candidior solio nivei Galataea ligustri c. Oh Galataea thou art whiter far Then leaves of Lillies not green Medowes are More flourishing thy stature doth appear Straighter then th' Elmes then glasse thou art more clear More wanton then the young Kid and more light Then those loose shels the hâ—llowes have made white Still tumbled with the waves more grace th ' hast won Then is in Summers shade or Winters Sun Lovelier then is the Apple when his side Turns yellow then the Plane tree of more pride Transparent then Isicles that meet With rising Phoebus then ripe Grapes more sweet Thou art of all choice things the gene all Theam Soft as Swans plumes and faire as clowted cream Therefore you faire ones the more choice your heauey is you ought of it to be more chary the sweeter the flower is the sooner it loseth the smell the fairer the colour it the sooner fades and the purer the blood the apter to take putrifaction Take heed then lest by unlawfull prostitution you â—â—ar that by which in outward appearance you come neerest to your Maker who as he is the Summum bonum so he is the soveraign and only peâ—fect beauty A Tyrant having studied many fearfull and terrible deaths to inflict upon such as his malice would punish when he thought none grievous enough at length as his master-peece of Tyranny he devised to bind the living to the body of the dead that the stench and corruption of the one might stiâ—â—e and suffocate the other In what greater torment then is that man who shall marry a fair false one that shall bed with sin and bosome diseases The dead body to which the living is bound as the blood dries and the flesh consumes so doth the loathsomnesse of the smell till in time it wast to ashes and so to participate of the same earth from whence it came but your catching and infectious loathsomnesse from lust growes to leprosie still encreasing in you to the impairing of his health and the impoverishing his estate consuming his purse and contaminating his person O miserable man whom thy rash choice shall cause to die of this wretched consumption But this is but a caveat or admonition by the way I proceed now with history The faire Mistresse of Pisistratus PHilarchus speaks of a beautifull woman on whom he hath vouchsafed no mame who first brought Pisistratus from a private man to a government Monarchicall She took upon her the name and habit of Pallas as paralleld with her both in state and beauty being thought by the people in all accomplishments to resemble the goddesse she is said to have dealt Scepters and made sale of Crowns distributing them where she pleased and to whom she affected Pisistratus after gave her to his son in marriage who was called Hypparchus for so Clidemus in his eight book intituled Redditionum leaves recorded in these words He gave unto his son Hypparchus a woman by whom he was overcome who was a Pallas for her State and for Wisedom might be called the daughter of Socrates and where beauty and counsel meet there cannot chuse but be a sweet concordance and harmony It shall not be amisse in the next place briefly to discover unto you what plâ—ces have been the most eminent for the breeding of the rarest beauties and which by the antient Authors have been most celebrated Hesiodus in his Melampodia nominates the City Chalcides in Euboea to breed the choicest beauties as that the most exquisite women are there born Of the same opinion with him is Theophrastus but Nymphoâ—orus in his navigation and travels through Asia affirms That the most incomparable features above all others whatsoever 〈◊〉 in Tenedos an Isle belonging to Troy Dionysius Leucâ—ricus hath left recorded That for many years continuance there was an annuall contention of beauty held amongst the Elians in the City of Elis and that she that pâ—ovâ—d victoresse was honoured with the Arms consecrated to Pallas Others in other places as Mysilus in his historicall Paradoxes hath left remembed were crowned with wreaths of Myâ—â—le In other places as Theophrastus writes there were meetings and solemnities kept to censure women for their temperance and good huswifery as among the Barbarians but for the form
great congregation complained of the murder of her father capitulating all their insolencies and her own injuries which she did with such feeling words and passionate tears that she not only attracted the eies of every one to behold but moved the hearts of all to pity which perceiving and how the multitude was affected towards her she gave to every of the murderers a particular nomination both of the families from whence they came and the places where they had then their residence The rioters this hearing and finding how the people were animated and incens'd against them they fled to Orchomenus but were not there admitted but excluded from forth the gates from thence they fled to Hippota a small City neer Hellicon scituate betwixt the Thebanes and the Corineans and were there received To them the Thebans sent that these murderers and ravishers might be surrendred up to their justice But being deni'd they with other Booetians made an expedition against them of which forces Phaedus then Pretor amongst the Tâ—ebans was made Captain the City Hippota was bravely besieged and assaulted so likewise as resolutely defended but number prevailing they were compelled to yield themselves with their City The murderers now surprized they were condemned to be stoned to death and had the execution of their judgement the rest of the Hippotenses were brought under bondage and made slaves their wals and houses demolished to the earth their fields and possessions being equally distributed betwixt the Thebans and the Corineans It is said that the same night before the surrender of the City that a voice was often heard to call aloud from Helicon Adsum Adsum i. I am here I am here which the thirty suitors affirmed to be the voice of Phocus as likewise the same day of their executions and at the instant when they were stoned saffron was seen to distill out of a monument which was erected in the City Glisantes Phaedus being newly returned from the â—ight a messenger brought him newes of a young daughter that day born whom for omens sake he caused to be called Nicostrate The wives of Cabbas and of Phaiâ—lus A Preposterous thing and almost against nature at least humanity and good manners it is that I read of these two who after the example of Domitian and Commodus those monsters of nature have not only made their strumpets but their own wives either for servile fear or abominable lucre prostitutes to other men This Cabbas a Roman worthy for ever to be branded with base Wittoldrie had a Lady to his wife of incomparable beauty insomuch that all men beholding her apprehended what happinesse he was possessed of above others The report of her rare accomplishments amongst many attracted Mecenas then a great favourite of the Emperor of Augustus to invite himselfe to his house where he was nobly feasted Mecenas being of a corrupt and licentious disposition and much taken with her beauty could not contain himselfe but he must needs be toying with her using action of plain Incontinence in the presence of her husband who perceiving what he went about and the servants it seems for modesty having withdrawn themselvs from forth the chamber the table not yet being taken away Cabbas to give Mecenas the freer liberty casts himselfe upon the bed and counterfeits sleep Whilst this ill-managed businesse was in hand one of the servants listning at the door and hearing no noise but all quiet with soft steps enters the chamber to steal away a flaggon pot that stood full of wine upon the Table Which Cabbas espying casts up his head and thus softly said to him Thou rascall Dost thou not know that I sleep only to Mecenas A basenesse better becomming some Jeaster or Buffoon then the noble name of a Roman In the City of Argis grew a contention betwixt Nicostratus and Phaillus about the management of the Common-weal Philip of Macedon the father of Alexander comming then that way Phaillus having a beautifull young wife one esteemed for the very Paragon of the City and knowing the disposition of the King to be addicted to all voluptuousnesse and that such choice beauties and to be so easily come by could not lightly escape his hands presently apprehends that the prostitution of his wife might be a present Ladder for him to climb to the principality and have the entire government of the City Which Nicostratus suspecting and many times walking before his gates to observe the passage of the house within he might perceive Phaillus fitting his wives feet with rich embroidered Pantoffes jewels about her haire rings on her fingers bracelets about her wrists and carkanets upon her arm in a Macedonian vesture and a covering upon her in the manner of a hat which was onely lawfull for the Kings themselves to wear And in this manner habited like one of the Kings Pages but so disguised that she was scarce known of any he submitted her to the King There are too many in our age that by as base steps would mount to honour I could wish all such to carry the like brand to posterity Chloris was the daughter of Amphion and the wife of Neleus the son of Hyppocoon as fruitfull as beautifull for she brought twelve sonnes to her husband of which ten with their father were slain by Hercules in the expugnation of Pylus the eleventh called Periclemenes was transformed into an Eagle and by that means escaped with life the twelfth was Nestor who was at that time in Ilos He by the benefit of Apollo lived three hundred years for all the daies that were taken from his father and brothers by their untimely death Phoebus conferred upon him and that was the reason of his longevity Aethra the daughter of Pytheus was of that attractive feature that Neptune and Aegeus both lay with her in the Temple of Minerva but Neptune disclaiming her issue bestowed it on Aegeus who leaving her in Troezene and departing for Athens left his sword beneath a huge stone enjoining Aethra That when his son was able to remove the stone and take thence his sword she should then send him to him that by such a token he might acknowledge him his son Theseus was born and comming to years she acquainted him with his fathers imposition who removed the stone and took thence the sword with which he slew all the theeves and robbers that interposed him in his way to Athens Danae the daughter of Acrisius and Aganippe had this fate assigned her by the Oâ—â—cle That the child she bore should be the death of her father Acrisius which he understanding shut her in a bâ—â—zen Tower â—estraining her from the society of men but Jupiter enamoured of her rare feature descended upon her in a shower of Gold of which congression Perseus was begot whom Acrisius caused with his mother to be sent to sea in a mastâ—â—lesse boat which touching upon the Island Seriphus was found by a fisher-man called Dyctis who presents the desolate
Friday was born So that he was the fore-runner of Christ both in his Conception his Birth his Baptism his Preaching and his Death A woman goeth with child two hundred threescore and sixteen daies for so long by computation was Christ in the womb of the blessed Virgin though all women goe not so long with child S. Augustine observes lib. 4. de Civitate Dei cap. 5. So that Christ was longer in the womb by a day and more then St Iohn Baptist Iohn also was born when the daies began to shorten and wane and Christ when they began to wax long Concerning these Antiquities I conclude with a sentence of St Augustins Against Reason saith he no sober man will dispute against the Scripture no Christian man contest and against the Church no religious man oppose And so I proceed to the History Of Mary the blessed Virgin LEt it not be held unnecessary or appear out of course amongst these Virgins to insert a history memorable for the rarenesse thereof to all posterity Iohannes Wyerius in his book intituled de Praestigiâ—s demonum hath collected it out of Suidas In the mean time that Iustinian was Emperor there was a Prince amongst the Jewes whose name was Theodosius He having great aequaintance and familiarity with one Philippus a Christian a bancker or one that dealt in the exchange of monie for he was called Philippus Argentarius this Philip did often sollicite and exhort him to leave his Judaisme and be a convert and turn to the Christian religion to whom he answered Indeed he must ingeniously confesse he made no question but that Jesus whom the Christians adored was the same Messias of whom the holy Prophets foretold yet he could not be perswaded to relinquish the honours and profits that he had amongst his own Nation and give himselfe up to a name which they knew not or at least would not acknowledge yet that he beleeved so of Christ he was not only perswaded by the Oracles of the holy Prophets but he found it approved by a certain mystery namely a writing most charily stil kept amongst the Jewes in a place most safe and secret where their choice records with the especiallest care and trust are reserved which was of this nature It was a custome amongst the Jewish Nation at what time the holy Temple was yet standing in Jerusalem to have continually the number of 22 chief and selected Priests just so many as there be letters in the Hebrew language or books of the old Testament and so often as any of these was taken away by death immediately another was elected to succeed in his place and being chosen in a book kept in the treasury for that only purpose expressly to write down his own name and the names of both his parents with the daies punctually set down of the decease of the one and the succession of the other Now in the time that Christ was conversant in Judaea and yet had not shewed himselfe to the world nor preached the Word openly to the people it hapned that one of the Priests of the foresaid number died neither after many voices and sundry nominations was any agreed upon or thought fit to be ascribed into his place At length was propounded JESUS the son of the Carpenter Ioseph for so they termed him a man though young yet for the sanctity of his life his behaviour and doctrine above all the rest commended This suffrage standing as having generall approbation from all it was convenient to send for his mother for his father Ioseph was late dead into the Consistory only to know their names and to register them in the aforesaid book She therefore being called and diligently questioned of her son and his father thus answered That indeed she was the mother of JESUS and brought him into the world of which those women are testates that were present at his birth but that he had no father from earth in which if they desired to be further instructed she could make it plainly appear For being a Virgin and then in Galilee the Angel of God saith she entred the house where I was and appearing unto me not sleeping but thus as I am awake he told me That by the Holy Ghost I should conceive and bring forth a son and commanded me that I should cal his name JESUS Therefore being then a Virgin by that Vision I conceived I brought forth JESUS and I still remain a Virgin unto this day When the 〈◊〉 heâ—â—d this they appointed faithfull and trusty Midwiveâ— with all diligence and care to make proof whether Mary were a Virgin or no they finding the truth most appâ—â—ant and not to be contradicted delivered up to the Priests That she 〈◊〉 Virgin pure and immaculate Then they sent for those women that were known to be at her delivery and were witnâ—sses of the Infants comming into the world all which did attest and justity That she was the mother of the same JESUS With these things the Priests amazed and astonished they presently entreated Mary that she would freely professe unto unto them what his Parents were that their names according to custome might be registred amongst the others To whom the blessed Virgin thus answered Certain I am that I brought him into the world but know no father that he hath from the Earth but by the Angel it was told me That he was the son of GOD He therefore is the son of GOD and me This the Priests understanding called for the book which being laid open before them they caused these words to be inscribed Upon such a day deceased such a Priest born of such and such Parents in whose place by the common and unite suffrage of us all is elected Priest JESUS the Son of the living GOD and the Virgin MARY And this book Theodosius affirmed by the especiall diligence of the most noble amongst the Jewes and the chiefe Princes was reserved from the great sack and destruction of the City and Temple and was transferred into the City of Tiberias and there kept a long time after Suidas testifies that he hath heard this discourse from honest men who delivered it to him word by word as they themselves have heard it from the mouth of Philippus Argentarius This most blessed and pure Virgin Mary the mother of our Lord and Saviour was born of the holy Matron St Anne in the year of the world 3948 and in the year before Christ fifteen Of him Claudian thus elegantly writes in one of his Epigrams Proles vera Dei cunctisque antiquior Annis Nunegenitus qui semper eras True Son of God older then time that hast Thy birth but now yet from beginning wast Author of Light and Light before all other O thou that art the parent of thy mother And by thâ—ne equall-aged father sent From Heaven unto this terrene continent Whose word was made Flesh and constrain'd to dwell In the streight prison of a Virgins cell And in a narrow angle to
remain Whose power no limit can no place contein Who being born did'st now begin to see All these great works created first by thee The work and workman of thy selfe not scorning T' obey those weary hours of Ev'n and Morning Of which th' art Lord and tell each minute o'r Made by thy Wisdome for mans use before And took'st on thee our shape only to show To us that God we did till then not know c. Petronilla VVHen Peter the Apostle had by his faith cured all infirmities and diseases and in all places yet he suffered his daughter Petronilla to be grievously afflicted with a Feaver and being demanded why he that had cured others did not help her he answered Because he knew her sicknesse to be most behoofful for her souls health for the weaker she was in body she was so much the stronger in faith setling her cogitations on the joies of heaven and not the pleasures of the world desiring of God that she might rather die a chast Virgin then to be the wife of the Counsull Flaccus by whom she was at that time most earnestly solicited whose praier was heard for she died of that sicknesse and the Consull was prevented of his purpose who had long insidiated her chastity Marul lib 4 cap. 8. The like we read of Hillarius Pâ—ctaviensis Episcopus who having long trained up his daughter Appâ—a in chastity and sanctity of life fearing lest time might alter her vowes and tempt her with the vain pleasures of the world he besought the giver of all graces that he might rather with joy follow her to her grave then with sorrow to her marriage bed which was accordingly granted as the same Author testifies Eustochium the daughter of Paula a Noble matron of Rome is celebrated by Saint Hierom for the only president of Virginall chastity Tora the virgin was of that chast and austere life that having took a vow and once entred her profession she never put on her back any new garment or so much as changed her shooes Maria Aegyptiaca lived the life of an Hermit in the solitude of an unfrequented desart some write of her that as aften as she was seen to pray she seemed to be lifted up from the Earth into the Aire the height of a cubit Columba a Virgin of Perusina is reported to be of that chastity and abstinence that she never tasted any other food then the bare fruits of the earth from the years of her discretion till the hour of her death Amata was a professed Virgin who in forty yeâ—rs space never set foot over the threshold of that Cloister wherein she had confined her self in which time she never tasted food save bread and roots Sara lived in the time of Theodosius the elder she made a Vow never to lodge beneath any roof but inhabiting the bank of a certain river removed not from that place in threescore years The like is read of Sylvia a Virgin the daughter of Russinus a Prefect or Ruler in Alexandria who betook her selfe to solitude for the space of threescore years in which time she never washt any part of her body save her hands nor reposed her selfe upon any bed save the ground It is reported by Edward Hall John Leisland John Sleyden and others of S. Ebbe Abbesle of Collingham That to preserve her own and her sisters chastities and keep their vowes inviolate because they would seem odible to the Danes who had done many outrages both against Law and Religion and then tyrannized in the Land she cut off her own nose and upper lip and perswaded all the other Nuns to do the 〈◊〉 for whâ—â—h act the Danes burnt the Abby with all the 〈…〉 Fulgos lib. 4. cap. 3. speaks of Ildegunda a Germane Viâ—gin born in Nassau who after many temptations to which she feared her beauty might subject her in the year 1128 she changed her habit got to be entertein'd in a Priory neer unto worms called Scuâ—na beu Hiem in which she lived long by the name of Joseph in singular continence and modesty stil conversing amongst the learnedst and best approved schollers even till the time of her death neither was she then known to be a woman till comming to wash her body her Sex was discovered In the same Monastry and amongst that Covent lived Euphrosyna a Virgin of Alexandria by the name of Smaragdus as also one Marina who called her selfe Marinus both dissembling their Sex Gunzonis daughter to the Duke of Arboa was possessed by an evil spirit but after by the praiers of holy men being recovered she vowed perpetuall Virginity And after being demanded in marriage by Sigebertus King of the French men she was delivered unto him by her father who debating with her concerning his present purpose she humbly desired to be excused by his majesty in regard she had already past a pre contract The King demanding To whom she answered She was a betrothed Spouse to her Redeemer At which the King being startled forbore to compell her any further but suffered her to take upon her a religious life she preferring her Virgin Chastity before the state and title of a Queen And these shall suffice for Religious Virgins I now proceed to others that grounded their vertue on meer morality Baldraca was a Virgin but of mean parentage and of a dejected fortune yet to her never-dying honour and president to all ages to come notwithstanding she was not able to supply her selfe with things needfull and necessary either for sustenance or ornament neither by threats or menaces promises of worldly honours or promotion she could not be tempted to prostitute her selfe to the Emperor Otho Saxo Grammaticus writes of Serytha the daughter of Synaldus King of the Danes to be of that modesty that when the fame of her beauty had attracted a confluence of many suitors to the Court of her father yet she could never be won either to converse with or so much as to look upon any of them Tara was a French Lady of a noble and illustrious family she lived in the time of Heracâ—ius who when her father Hagerticus and her mother Leodegunda would have compell'd her to marry she fell into that excesâ—e of weeping that with the extraordinary flax of â—eares she grew blind soon after Dula was â— Virgin famous for her chastity who chose rather to be slain by the hand of a Souldier then to be despoiled of her Virginity Statyra and Roxana were the sisters of 〈◊〉 King of Pontus who for the space of forty yeers had kept their vow of Virginity inviolate these hearing the sad fate of their brother and fearing to be ravished by the enemy at least to fall into their captivity by taking of poison finished both their daies and sorrowes Plutarch writes of one Roxana drowned in a Well by Statyra It is reported of an
second son Ochus the Prefectship over the Hircanians Likewise Parisatis to wife daughter to Xerxes and naturall sister to Ochus This Ochus was â—â—ter called Dariaeus who in all his counsels and projects â—â—er did any thing without the advice of his sister Queen â—â—fore his aspiring to the Empire he had issue by his wife â—â—risatis two children a daughter called Amistris and a 〈◊〉 Arsaca who after changed his name to his grandfaâ—â—â—rs and was called Artaxerxes after his instalment she â—â—ght him a son called Cyrus after him Artostes and so the â—â—â—ber of thirteen of all which only the fourth son called â—â—â—dras survived the rest perished in minority These 〈◊〉 concubins of Persia Julia. IT is remembred of Augustus Caesar whose daughter this Julia was that he established a Law which was called 〈◊〉 Julia concerning adulteters after what processe persons so offending should be punished being convicted and â—ound guilty It hapned that a young Gentleman of Rome being accused of the same fact with the Emperors daughter Julia before named Augustus grew into such a fuâ—y that not able to come in himselfe he fell upon the Gentleman and gave him many violent and sound buffeâ—s till the supposed offender cried out O Emperor where is your Justice you have made a law concerning these matters why am I not then judged 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 certain sword-playing of such like pastime solemnized in the great Roman Theater Livia the mother and Julia the daughter had turned the eies of the multitude upon them twain and that by reason of the difference of their habits and their attendants Lyvia being matron-like attired was accompanied with aged Senators and Ladies of approved modesty and gravity Julia on the contrary loosâ—ly and wantonly habited had in her train none but butterflie-pages wild fashion-mongers and fantastick gallants which observed by Augustus he the next day admonished her by letters To observe what difference and ods there was in the appearance of two such high and noble persons which having read she returned him only this short answer Well and these people about me shall be old likewise when I am This Julia to a noble Senator of staâ—ed gravity giving her counsell to frame her selfe after her fathers grave and sober behaviour she presently replied Though my father doth not remember that he is an Emperour yet I cannot forget that I am an Emperours daughter It is further remembred of her that beginning to have gray hairs with the soonest and before she was old as her maids and gentle women were kembing her head the Emperour came in suddenly upon her and espi'd them picking and plucking the white hairs up by the roots which still stuck upon their garments the Emperor for that present said â—â—â—ning 〈◊〉 â—ut long after amongst many other discourseâ— taking occâ—siâ—n to speak of old age he demanded of his daughter Whether she had rather in the processe of a few years have a reverent white head or to be directly without any hair at all she answered She had rather to have a white head Why then said he do thy damosels all they can to make thee clean bald before thy time Augustus much grieved with her licentiousnesse and seeing it subject to no reformation he banished her the Court and with her her daughter Julia his grandchild who took something too much after the mother and after that Agrippa whom he had once adopted his heir but after for his intemperance and brâ—tish and luxurious riots cast out of his favour Whensoever mention was made of any of these three he would recite a verse out of Homer which imports thus much What 's now my sorrow would have been my pride If I as some might issuelesse have di'd He used not to call any of those three by any other names then Ulcers or rotten Imposthumes Cankers and such like for he used much more patiently to take the deaths of his friends then their dishonours He further provided by his last will That whensoever either Iulia his daughter or Iulia his grandchild expired their bodies should not rest beneath his monument One thing of her I had almost forgot Upon a time comming to visite and do her dutie to her father she perceived his eies to be much offended with the gawdinesse of her attire as savering of immodestâ— the next day taking occasion to revisi him she changed her habit into a comely civill and matronly garb and in that sort came to embrace her father Caesar who had the day before suppressed his griefe was not now able to contein his joy but brok out into these terms O how much more decent and seemly are these ornaments for the daughter of Augustus to whom she instantly replied Indeed this day I apparelled my selfe to please the eies of a father but my yesterdaies habit was to content the eies of a husband She when some that knew of her frequent inchastities demanded how it was possible she should bring forth children so like her husband considering her so often prostitution with strangers answered Because I never take in passenger till my ship have her full fraught and lading Macrob. l 2. cap. 5 Satur. And so much for Iulia. Phileterus speaking of those wantons that lived afore his time and were now dead scoffs them thus Nonne Câ—â—cope jam egit annorum tria millia c. i. Hath not Cercope already lived three thousand years and proceeding and rough haired Diopethâ—â— and a second Telesis ten thousand for Theolite none knowes or can remember when she was born Was not Thais dead when she should have prostituted her selfe and come under Ioâ—nas and Neaera are now dead and rotten so is Philaâ—e Or Siphas Gâ—linas and Coronas I speak not Of Nais I hold my peace because her teeth are now no grinders Sinope and Phanostrate with others are remembred by Demosthenes in his Oration against Androtiones Herdicus Crateticus speaks of this Sinope in his Commentaries and saith That when she grew into years she was called Abâ—dus she was no question of a famous strumpeâ— in her youth for Antâ—phanes speaks of her in many of his Comedies in Arcade in Horlicomo in Medicatrice in Piscante in Neottide in Neottide So likewise Alexâ—s in Cleobulina and Calicrates in Moscione Of Phanostrate Apollodorus writes That she was a prostitute in Athens and that of her rank were many others and was called Phttherophile of Phther Pediculus and Paele Porta Propter quod pediculos cum staret in limine Portae queritâ—bat Menander in Aâ—â—ulatore he numbers these wantons Christs Coronis Antâ—cyâ—â— Ischades and Nanniculum whom he cals Formâ—suâ—â— vaâ—de Exceeding faiâ— Quintius Curtâ—us in his tenth book of the life of Alexander the Great writes That after many honourable Conquests having already subjected sundry Nations to his jurisdiction being now in India where all his attempts were prosperous and his
designs successfull proud of his victories and thinking himselfe to be Fortunes minion insomuch that despising the off-spring from whence he came he caused himselfe to be called the Son of Iupiter Being pufâ—ed up with these thoughts and swelling up in all ambitions he betook himselfe to all voluptuous delicâ—cies and of them to the most tempting riots of wine and women insomuch that lulled in all effeminacy he so far forgot both his high majesty and that commendable temperance for which he was before all his predecessors renowned that he sent as far as Athens for a notorious strumpet branded in her life though famous for her beauty called Potonice on whom the King was so much besotted that he not only gave her most Princely and magnificent gifts in her life time but after her death caused a Tomb to be erected over her body on which structure the King bestowed thirty talents It were strange if our English Chronicles should not affoord some or other to have correspondence with these Harlotta or Arlotta THis History is recorded by an Historiographer of ancient times who writes himselfe Anonymus or without name by Gulielm Malmsbury Vincentius Ranulphus Fabian Polydore and others As Robert Duke of Normandy and father to William the Conqueror rid through the Town of Falois he beheld a beautifull Virgin a Skinners daughter playing and dancing amongst other Virgins with whose feature being on the sudden surprized he so far prevailed by his secret messages and gifts that she was privatly conveied into the Dukes Chamber and there lodged and put in a bed to await his comming who glad of such a purchase without much circumstance made himselfe ready for the businesse intended The chamber cleared and the place voided and he ready to accomplish his desires she rent her smook from the chin to the foot to make the freer way for the Prince and he demanding the reason of her so doing she made him this pretty and ready answer It were neither fit nor comely that the neither part of my smock should be turned up and kisse the lips of my Lord at which the Duke was much delighted And 〈◊〉 night was begot William the Bastard whom our Chronicles honour with the name of Conquerour whether at first in memory of this least or since in disgrace of the Wanton it is not decided But from that Harlotta or Arlotta our prostitutes and common wenches are to this day in our Vulgar Tongue called Harlots In the yeer of our Lord 1036 Henry the second Emperour of that name was married to Guinilde the daughter of Canutus a Dane and King of England This Emperor had a sister a professed Nun whom he loved so entirely that oft times he would have her lie in his own Pallace and neer to his own privy chamber It hapned in a cold Winters night a Chaplain belonging to the Court it seems to keep her the warmer and one that had been before much suspected lay with her and in the morning lest both their fâ—otingâ— should be seen in the Snow newly fallen that night she took him up and carried him out of the Court towards his chamber The Emperour chancing as his custome was to rise just at the same hour was spectator of this close conveâ—ance and beheld how all the businesse hapned Not long after fell a Bisopwrick which the Priest expected and a Nunnery which the Nun much desired Whereupon the Emperour calling them before him the one after the other Take that Benefice saith he to the Priest but faddle no more the Nun And you the Abbesse saith he to his sister saddle no more the Priest or look thou never more bear Clerk riding upon thy back It is said that this served after for a modest chiding betwixt them and that they were parted upon these friendly terms Of divers Wantons belonging to sundry famous men and others ARistophanes Apollodorus Ammonius Antiphanes and Georgia Atheniensis of your Athenian strumpets writ at large as also of the like argument Theomander Cyrenaeus Elâ—us Amasides Theophrastus in lâ—bro Amatorio Polemon de Tabellis lib. 3. Ovid and infinite others out of whom may be collected many famous wantons in their times Oâ—ymus is the name of a strumpet much beloved of a skilfull Sophist in Corinth Thalatra of Dâ—ocles Corianno of Phâ—recrates Antea of Philillius otherwise called Eunicus Thais and Phannium of Menander Opora of Alexis Clepsydra of Eubulus for so Aâ—clepiades the son of Arius reports in his Commentary upon Demetrius Phalareus where he affirms her proper name to be rather Methica which Antiphanes writes to be the name of a wanton The Poet Timocles speaks of Cinâ— Nannium Plangon Lyca Pithionica Myrhina Christis Covallis Ieroclea Lopadium Of these likewise Amphis makes mention Anaxandries in his description of the madnesse of old men amongst others he reckons up Lagisca and Theolyte Polemon the Hâ—storiographer speaks of one Cottina whose Sâ—atue is erected in the City of Lacedemon not far from the Temple of Dionysius she is mounted upon a brazen Bull. Alcibiades was beloved by a woman of Aegida of whom he was likewise amorous after relinquishing Athens and Lacena of one Medontide of Abidos and with her sailed through the Hellespont with Axiochus a friend of his and much devoted to his fellowship for so the Orator Lysias witnesseth of him in an Oration made against him He had two other mistresses with whom he was conversant Damasandya the mother of Laâ—s Junior and Theodota by whom he was preserved when remaining in Melissa a City of Phrygia Pharnabazus laid trains to entrap his life Abrotonax was the mother of Themâ—stocles a strumpet as Amphicrates relates Neanthes Cyzicenus a Greek Historiographer cals him the son of Euterpe The second Philadelphus King of Aegypt had many famous Concubines as Ptolomaeus Everges in his Commentaries witnesseth Didima and Bilistiâ—he besides these Agathoclea and Stratonica whose monument was erected in the sea Elusina Myrtium with many others Polybius in his fourteenth book of Histories remembers one Clino that was his Cup-bearer in whose honour many Statues were erected in Alexandria Mnesides a she musician of the City Mnesis and one Pothinae his most delicate houses in which he took much delight he was wont to call after the name of two of his Paraâ—ors either Myrtiae or Pothinae Timothaeus the great Captain of the Athenians was known to be the son of a common woman of Threissa which being objected to him as an aspersion he answered I am glad to have been born of such a mother that had the wisedome to chuse Coâ—on to be my father Caristius in his historicall Commentaries avers Phileterus who soveraignized in Pergamus and the new Region called Boca to be the son of a wanton she Minstrel born in Paphlagonia Aristophon the Orator who in the reign of King Euclides published a Law That all such as were not born of civill and free women
profession a piece of gold valued at a pound and had received no more then labour for his travell and bare looks for his monie to him she said Thou for this pound art made free of my daughter as those that are admitted into the school of Hyppomachus the Master-wrestler who oft times see him play but seldome prove his strength admire his skill but never trie his cunning Many such with great elegancy came frequently from her for as Lynceus saith of her she was Concinna admodum urbana Aristodemus in his second book Ridiculorum memorab relates That when two men had bargained for her at once a souldier and a mean fellow the souldier in great contumely called her Lacus or Lake Why do you thus nick-name me saith she because you two floods fall into me Lycus and Liber Lycus is a river not far from Laodicea which sometimes runneth under the earth and in many places bursteth up again She writ a book which she called Lex Convinalis imitating the Philosophers of those times who had compiled works of the like subject The project of her book was how her guests ought to behave themselves at Table towards her and her daughter The like Law Callimâ—chus composed in three hundred and three and twenty Verses Rhodope was a Courtisan of Aegypt one that by her prostitution came to such a masse of wealth that she of her own private charge caused to be erected a magnificent Pyramis equalling those that there raised by the greatest Princes Sapho cals her Dorica and makes her the mistresse of her brother Charapus upon whom he spent and consumed all his fortunes even to the utmost of penury of whom Ovid thus writes Arsit inops frater c. Aelianus and others report her for a woman most beautiful who bathing her self in a pleasant and cleer fountain in her garden her handmaids attending her with all things necessary upon a sudden an Eagle sowsing down snatched up one of her shooes and flying with it as far as the great City Memphis let it fall from above into the lap of the King Psamneticus then sitting in publike judgement who much amazed at the strangenesse of the accident but most at the riches proportion and curiositie of the shooe instantly commanded that all Aegypt should be through-sought till they could find the owner thereof by matching it with the fellow which hapned soon after Being brought before the King he was so infinitely surprized with her feature that the same hour he contracted her in marriage and consequently made her his Queen Some say she was first a Thracian Damosel and servant to Iadmone of Samos she was after carried into Aegypt by the Philosopher Zanthus Samius She was a friend and patronesse of Aesopus so famous for his Fables still frequent amongst us Metra was the daughter of Erisicâ—thon a Thessalian who having spent all his fortunes and wasted even his necessary means as brought to the lowest exigent of penury was forced to make merchandise of his daughters Chastitie but she would not yield her selfe to the imbraces of any man without the gift and tender of a horse an oxe a cow a sheep or a goat or some such like commodity to the supply of her fathers necessity for it seems that coin and jewels were not then in use For the exchange aforesaid the Thessalians fabled That she could transhape her selfe into all creatures presented unto her by her lovers And hence came that old â—dage More changeable then Erisicthons Metirâ— Much of the like continence was Cyâ—ene a notious strumpet who as Erasmus reports explaining of that old proverb Duodecim artium nemo i. A man of twelve Arts or Trades could use her professed Venery twelve severall waies Archianasse was sirnamed â—â—â—phonia as born in the City of Colophon and was beloved of Plato the Divine Philosopher of whom he himself thus protested Archianassam ego teneo Colophonis amicam Cujus in rugis mollia ludit amor Archianasse I still hold Mistresse and I say There is no wrinckle in her face In which love doth not play Thus we see the deepest Philosophers and the wisest men have made themselves the captives of beauty and vassals lust Demâ—sthenes the Orator was guilty of the like aspersions and subject to much intemperance It is said that having children by a noted strumpet when both the mother and the children were cited before the judgement seat to avoid calumny he presented the children without the mother though it were against the custome of the City for as Idomeneus saith notwithstanding he were outwardly of a modest disposition and carriage yet inwardly he was profuse and incontinent It is reported of him that he was wandrous prodigall and expensice in banquets and women insomuch that the publike scribe speaking of him in an Oration thus said What shall we then think of the Orator Demosthenes when what he hath by his great travel and industry purchased in a whole year he will dissolutely spend in one night upon a woman The like Nicolaus Damascenus writes of Demetrius the last of that succession who so much doted on Myrina Samia That she commanded from him all things save his Diadem so that not only Philosophers but even Kings have made themselves subject to all kind of voluptuousnesse and luxuries and what hath been the lamentable successe but shame and dishonour the wasting of private estates and the miserable subversion of Kingdomes Therefore Claudian in his third book in Stiliconis Laudes thus saith Nam caetera regna Luâ—eurâ—â— vitiâ— edusque superbia vertit c. Of other Kingdomes the imperâ—â—l state Last doth subvert with vices Pâ—â—e with hate So by the Spartons Aâ—thens was subdu'd And so 〈◊〉 fell The Medes did first intrude Into the Assyrian Monarchy their lust Burted their towring honours in the dust From the luxurious Medes the Persians reft Their proud dominion they grown lustful left Their Empire to the Macedonian sway Who kept it till they wanton grew then they Their honours to the temperate Romans sold For so the ancient Sibils had fore-told The effects of this will more plainly appear in the History ensuing Aspasia otherwise called Socratica is numbred amongst the fairest women of her time insomuch that she had several suitors from all the Provinces of Greece as Aristophanes delivers in his discourse of the Peloponnesian war insomuch that Periâ—les for the love of this Aspasia and for some servants of hers taken from her by force begun and established that terrible decree against the Mâ—garenses remembred by Stesombrotus Thasius She about her private and necessary occasions sending her bawd Symaetha to the City of Megara the young men of the City detained her upon which restraint she sent two others who not being suffered to return from these strumpets did arise a war almost to the depopulation of the greatest part of Greece It is likewise spoken of that Cyrus who warred against his brother to have had a Mistresse of great wisdome
fourth Olympiad in the time that Hippias and Hipparchus tyrannised in the City of Athens as Eusebius relates in his Annals Harmodius and Aristogiton with others but those of the most note made a conjuration against the two Princes and in this conspiracy was Hypparchus slain Leaena a famous strumpet being known to be affected to some of that faction as being endeered to them for some former curtesies was called into question and being commanded to discover the Regicides and obstinately refusing it she was adjudged to the rack where with wondrous patience enduring many almost insufferable torments and still being urged to discover what she knew concerning that confederacy she with a noble and memorable resolution bit out her tongue and cast it into the face of the tyrant Hyppias which act Pliny and others record as a president of admirable patience in a woman Let Leaena saith he the strumpet be memorized for her inconstancy who by no tortures could be inforced to discover Harmodius and Aristogiton by whose hands the tyrant Hypparchus fell For the like resolution is Anaxarchides renowned amongst men by Zeno and others Erasmus in Chiliad speaks of Sinope before named a famous strumpet of Corinth to be so extreamly given over to lust that from her came the Latine word Sinopissare which signifieth to be in the highest degree libidinous or voluptuous Suidas saith That Nannium the whore was called Capra because she devoured a Vintner or made him break called Thallus which word sometimes signifies Germen i. A bough or sprig on which Goats love to feed Acca Laurentia the wife of Faustulus the Kings shepherd who being a beautifull woman prostituted her body for gain she was sirnamed Lupa and from her even to this day all brothel-houses are called Lupanaria She nursed and brought up Romulus and Remus Liv. lib. 1. Decad. 1. Plutarch in Vita Romuli Flora the strumpet who was likewise called Laurentia constituted the people of Rome her heiâ— from her came the yearly feasts celebrated called Floralia of her Gellius lib. 6. cap. 7. and Vollat lib. 16. speaks more at large Manilia was a Roman Curâ—esan whom Hostilius Mâ—ncinus called into question because a stone was cast upon him from one of her galleries Gellius Phebe was a freed woman to Julia the daughter of Augustus Caesar and a companion with her in all her lusts and brothelries who when she beard that her mistress was confined by her father earing some severe censure from the Emperer slew her selâ— to prevent further torture Dion in Augusto The immoderate lust of Caelia Martial lib. 7. thus reproves Das Cattis das Germanis das Caelia Dacis Nec Cilicum spernis Cappadocumque toros c. To th' Catti Germans and the Dacians thou Caelia giv'st welcome and thou dost allow The Cappadians and Cilicians bed Besides from Pharo thou art furnished With Memphian whorers from the red sea sails The swarthy Indian and he brings thee vails And thou tak'st all neither wilt thou refuse The offer of the circumcised Jewes c. Catullus of his Lesbia thus speaks Nulla potest mulier tantum se dicere amatum Vere quantum à me Lesbia amata mea est No woman truly can report to be So well belov'd as Lesbia thou of me So Quintus Frabaeus Comediographus of his 〈…〉 De improviso Chrysis ubi me aspexerit Alacris obviam mihi veneit c. Wheu Chrysis on the sudden me espi'd She look'd upon me with a chearful face Wishing withall that me she might embrace To whom she owes her selfe this I have tri'd It is fortune I have seldome known And such as I prefer before mine own Dion Nicaeus and Xâ—philinus in the life of the Emperour Commodus besides the strumpet Martia whom he took to wife remembers one Damostrata whom he after bestowed upon Cleander him whom from a bondman he raised to be of his privy chamber Time Paper and Leisure would faile me before example and I desire not to be tedious I have hitherto shewed you what whores are I now desire to expresse unto you what they should be Mary Magdalen the daughter of Syrus and Eucharia and sister to Lazarus and Martha for some years gave her selfe up to all voluptuousnesse and pleasure insomuch that she had incurred the name of a common strumpet but after when she cast her selfe prostrate and washed the feet of our Saviour with her tears and dried them with the hairs of her head and annointing him with costly ointment in the house of Simon the Leper her sins were forgiven her We read likewise of Aphra who was born in Creet her mothers name was Hylaria a notorious bawd This Aphra with her three servants Dimna Eugenia and Eutropia for mony prostituted themselves to all men but she her selfe being after converted to the Faith by Narcissus Bishop of Jerusalem abjured all incontinence and adhering to the Christian Religion proved so constant in the same that for the true Faith she suffered martydome Nicaeta and Aquilina were two beautifull strumpets and made gaine of their bodies these were imploied by King Dagnes to tempt and traduce the blessed Saint Christopher and to upbraid him of false Religion but it fell out the contrary to the purpose of the tyrant for those two being by him converted to the true faith and not to be removed by meanaces or torments were after by the same King both caused to be slain Faucula Clavia is remembred by the Historiographer Livy who though she was of that wanton and loose behaviour yet highly commended for her piety she to her great charge ministred food and sustenance to many of the distressed Roman souldiers all the time that Hannibal was possessed at Capua Marullus lib. 2. cap. 12. and Sabin lib. 5. cap. 5. speak of Thais an Egyptian strumpet who by the often admonitions of the Abbot Pannutius repented her of her wicked and lewd life and to give the best satisfaction to the world that she was able she caused a great fire to be 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 retired her selfe to a private Monastery where after three years penitentiall solitude she expired Pelagia Antiochena so called because she was born in Antioch exceeding in wealth and excelling in beauty was wholly given over to immoderate luxuries insomuch that no woman appeared in publike more gawdily apparelled or more voluptuously minded then her selfe but being drawn by some religiously disposed friend of hers to hear the Sermons of Nonius Bishop of Heliopolis she acknowledged her error cast off her gay and gawdy attire bewailed her sins and lamented her lewd course of life distribiting her wealth amongst the poor and as a farewel to all loosenesse and intemperance builded a poor Cottage in the mount of Olives And lest any violence in such a solitude might be done unto her in the way of prevention she changed her
write them all at large they cannot exceed that piety of which I have read in women Suetonius and Cicero in an Oration pro Caelio speaking of Claudia one of the Vestall Virgins thus report of her She seeing her father in his triumphant Chariot riding through the streets of Rome and by the Tribunes of the people who envied his glory pluckt and haled from his seat she with a wondrous dexterity and a masculine audacity freed him from the hands of their Tribunes and their Lictors and maugre all their opposition lifted him up into his chariot nor sook him till she saw him in all magnificent pomp received into the Capitol insomuch that it was questioned amongst the Romans which of them merited the greater triumph he for his vertue and valour in the Forum or she for her zeal and piety in the Temple of Vesta nor can it yet be decided which may claim a just prioritie the Father for his victory or the Daughter for her goodnesse Plin. lib. 7. cap. 36. and Solinus speak of another Roman Lady of a noble Family who when her mother was condemned at the judgement-seat by the Praetor and delivered up to one of the Triumviri to be committed to strait prison and there for her offence to be privately executed But the keeper of the Goale commiserating the Matron so sentenced either because he pitied her gravity or suspected her innocence did not cause her to be instantly strangled according to the rigour of her sentence At the importunacy of the daughter he gave her leave to visit and comfort her mother but narrowly searcht before her entrance into the prison lust she should carry with her any food or sustenance to her relifefe rather desiring she should perish by famine and die that way then himselfe to have any violent hand in her execution The daughter having daily accesse to the mother who now had past over more daies then the keeper thought was possibly by nature and wondring in himself how she should draw her thred of life out to that length without any means to maintein it he casting a more curious eie upon the young woman and watching her might perceive how she first drew out one breast and after another with her own milk relieving her mothers famine At the novelty of so strange and rare a spectacle being amazed he carried newes to the Triumvir he to the Praetor the Praetor related it to the Consuls they brought it before the Senat who to recompence what was good in the daughter pardoned all that was before thought ill in the mother For what will not love devise or whither true zeal not penetrate What more unheard or unexpected thing could be apprehended then for a mother to be fed from the breast of her daughter Who would not imagine this to be against nature but that we see by proof true naturall piety transcends all bounds and limits The like of this we may read â—f in Pliry of another young married woman who when her father Cimon was afflicted with the same sentence and subject to the like durance prolonged his life from her breasts for which she deserves equally to be memorised Our parents in no danger or necessities are to be by us abandoned and that by example of Aeneas in whose person Virgil thus speaks as to his father Anchises Aeneid 2. Eia agâ— chare pater cervici imponere nostrae Ipse suâ—â—bo numeris nec me laboriste gravabit c Come my dear father and get up for see No burthen to my shoulders you can be No weight at all and hap what can betide One danger or one safety we 'll abide Sabellâ—â— lib. 3. cap. 6. remembers us of Rusticana a noble Matron of Rome and the daughter of Synnarchus who with his brother Boetius the famous Philosoher being put to death by Theodoricirs King of the Gotâ—s She after the Tirants miserable end was the cause that all his Statues in Rome were demolished and ruined purposing utterly if it were possible to extirp his memory that was the imhumane murderer of her father for which fact of hers being called in question before King Totila who succeeded him she was so far from excuse or deniall that she approved the deed with all constancy whose not le magnanimity and resolution proved more available to her safety then any timorous evasion could have done for he not only dismissed her unpunished but highly applauded and commended Fulgos Sabellicus and Egnâ—tius writing of Alboinuâ— King of the Longobards who at his first entrance into Italy having subdued and slain Tâ—rismundus whom some call Cunimundus son to Cunimundus King of the Gepidanes and after taken his daughter Rosamunda to wife the History faith he made a bole of her fathers scul in which one night having drunk somewhat lavishly he caused it to be filled with wine and sent to Rosamunda then in her chamber with this message Commend me to thy Queen aâ—d â—ay I command her to drink with her father 〈…〉 though she knew him to be slain by the 〈◊〉 gobards receiving his death by a common casualtie and chance of 〈◊〉 by this assuring her selfe that he â—ell by the â—and oâ— her husband betwixt 〈…〉 and conjugall love being for a time distracted the bond of her affectiâ—n towards her father prevailed above those nuptial setters in which she was tied to her Lord insomuch that to revenge the death of the one she resolved to take away the life of the other to bring which about she devised this project she had observed one Hemegâ—ldus a noble man amongst the Lambard to be surprized with the love of one of her waiting Gentlewomen with whom she dealt so far that when her maid had promised to give this Hemegildus meeting in a private and dark chamber she her selfe supplied the place of her servant after 〈◊〉 congression she caused lights to be brought in that he â—iâ—ht know with whom he had had carnall company and what certein prejudice he had the 〈◊〉 incurred protesting 〈◊〉 that 〈◊〉 he would join with her in the dear 〈…〉 she would accuse him of rape and outrage The Lambâ—â—d to prevent his own disaster undertook his soveraign â—eath which was accordingly betwixt them performed The murder done they sled together to Ravenna she preferring the revenge of a slaughtered father before the life of a husband the title of a Queen State Sovereignty oâ— any other worldly dignity whatsoever Something is not amisse to be spoken in this place concerning the love of mothers to their children which as Plutarch in his 〈…〉 saith was excellently observed in 〈…〉 Prince of the Athenians who was wont to say That he â—new no reason but that this young son whom his mother most datâ—ngly affected should have more power and command thâ—n any one man in Greece whatsoever and being demanded the reason he thus answered Athens saith he commands all Greece I Themistocles have predominance ever Athens my wife over swaies me and my
son over-rules his mother Olympias the mother of Alexander caused Iollas grave to be â—ipt up who was Butler to her son and his bones to be scattered abroad raging against him in death on whom in his life time she could not be revenged on for the death of her sonne to whom this Iollas was said to have minstred poison Agrippina the mother of Domitius Nero by all means and industry possible labouring to confirm the Empire unto her son enquired of the Chaldaeans and Astrologers Whether by their calculations they could find if he should live to be created Caesar who returned her this answer That they found indeed by their Art that he should be Empeâ—our but withall that he should be the death of his mother To whom she answered Inter ficiat modo Imperet i. I care not though he kill me so I may live to see him reign Sab. lib. cap. 4. The same Author tels us that in the second Punick war the Romans being overthrown with infinite slaughter in the battel 's fought at Thrasymenus and Cannas many that were reported to be assuredly dead escaping with liâ—e after their funerals had been lamented returning home unexpectedly to their mothers such infinite joy oppressed them at once that as if sinking beneath too great a burthen betwixt their kisses and embraces they suddenly 〈…〉 the Roman being proscribed by the Triumâ—irate his wife would needâ— have him take her dearly beloved son along with him to associate and comfort him in his travels who when they were gone a ship-boord intending for Sicilia and crost by an adverse tempest could neither proceed on in their voyage not return to any safe landing such was their faâ—e that they perished by â—amine which the mother understanding more â—or the gâ—iefe of her son whom she her selfe proscribed then for her husband â—xiled by the Triumvirate slâ—w her selfe The 〈◊〉 Carthage in the third Punick war when the 〈◊〉 of all the Noble young men of the City were selected to be sent as hostages into Sicilia with weeping and 〈◊〉 followed them to the water â—ide and kept them hugged in their strict embraces not suffering them to go aboord but when they were forcibly plucked from them and sent unto the ships they no sooner â—oiâ—â—d saiâ—e but many of these woful and lamenting mothers opprest with the extremity of sorrow cast themselves head long into the sea and there were drowned Sabel lib. 3. cap. 4. The wife of Proclus Nausâ—atiâ—es having a wild and misgoverned son addicted meerly to voluptuousnesse and pleasure and withall to Cocks Horses Dogs and such like pastimes his mother did not onely not 〈…〉 in this licentiousnesse but would be still present with him to feed his Cocks diet his Horses and châ—rish his Dogs for which being reproved by some of her friends as an incourager of his unstaid and irregular courses to whom she answered No such matter he will sooner see then into himselfe and correct his own vices by conversing with old folks then keeping company with his equals Niobes sorrow for her children Auctoliaos death at the false rumour of her son Vlysses his Tragedy Hecuba's revenge upon Polymnestor for the murder of her young sonne Polydore and Tomirâ—s Queen of the Massagers against Cyrus for the death of her son Sargapises are all rare presidents of maternall piety nay so superabundant is the love of mothers to their children that many times it execeds the bounds of common reason therefore Terence in Heuton thus saith Matres omnes filiis In peccato adjutrices auxilio in patres Solent esse â— All mothers are helpers in their childrens transgressions and aid them to commit injuries against their fathers Therefore Seneca in his Tragedy of Hippolitus breaks out into this extasie Oh nimium potens Quanto parentes sanguinis vâ—do tenes Natura quam te colimus inviâ—â— quoque Nature oh Too powerfull in what bond of blood thou stâ—ll Bind'st us that parents are commanding so We must obey thee though against our will So great was the love of Parisatis the mother of Cyrus the lesse to her son that he being slain her revenge upon the murtherers exceeded example for she caused one of them whose name was Chaâ—etes to be ten daies togetheâ— excruciated with sundry tortures after commanded his eies to be put out and then moulten lead to be pâ—nâ—ed down into the hollow or his ears the second Metroâ—ates for the same treason she commanded to be boâ—nd â—ast betwixt two boats and to be sed with figs and honie leaving him there to have his guts gnawn out by the worms which these sweet things bred in his enâ—rails of which lingring torment he after many daies perished the third Metasabates she caused to be slayed alive and his body to be stretched upon three sharp pikes or stakes and such was his miserable end a just reward for Traytors Fulgos lib. 5. cap. 5. tels us That Augustus Caesar having subdued Cappadocia and taken the King Adiatoriges prisoner and his wife and two sons after they had graced his triumphs in Rome he gave command That the father with the eldest son should be put to death now when the ministers designed for that execution came to demand which of the two brothers was the elder for they were both of a sâ—ature they exceedingly contended and either affirmed himselfe to be the eldest with his own death to repâ—â—eâ—e the others life this pious strife continuing long to the wonder and amazement of all the beholders At length 〈◊〉 at the humble intercession of his mother who it seems loved him some deal above the other gave way though most unwillingly for the younger to perish in his stead Which after being known and told to Augustus he did not only lament the innocent young Princes death but to die elder who was yet living with his mother he gave great comforts and did them after many graces and favours so great a reverence and good opinion doth this 〈…〉 love be get even amongst enemies Neither was this Queen to be taxed of severâ—y or rigour to the youngest since it was a necessity that one must die it was rather a Religion in her hoping to leave her first-born to his true and lawfull inheritance Now lest I should leave any thing unremembred that comes in my way that might â—end to the grace and honour oâ— the Sex there is not any vertue for which men have been famous in which some women or other have not been eminent namely for mutuall love amity and friendship Marul lib. 3. cap. 2. tels us of a chast Virgin called Bona who lived a retired 〈◊〉 in a house of religious 〈◊〉 She had a bedfellow unto whom above all others she was entired who lying upon her death-bed and no possible help to be devised for her recovery this Bonae being then in perfect health of body though sick in mind for the infirmity of her sister full upon 〈◊〉 and devoutly besought the
it was called The work of Acecaeus and Helicon Above others most magnified by Ovid. Metamorph. lib. 6. is Arachne Lydia the daughter of Idmones whose mother was born in the smal City Hypepis she having by many degrees exceeded all mortall women and that without difficulty durst compare with Minerva her selfe who for her boldnesse and pertinacy she turned into a Spider Her controversie with Pallas is with great elegancy expressed in Ovid. Alexander of Macedon and Octavius Augustus the one wore a Garment woven 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 hand-maids and damosels at work of which these two potent and mighty Queens disdained not to be the daily Directoresses and Over-seers Alex. ab Alex. cap. 4. lib. 8. Part of the Wool which Tanaquil spun with her Distaffe Spindle and Slippers were long time reserved as sacred Reliques in the Temple of Ancus Martius as also a Kingly Garment or Imperiall Robe woven quite through with Raies and Flames of Gold wrought with her own hand in which Servius Tullius oft went in state and saâ—e in the high Judgement-Seat in the Capitol Varro apud eundem By the Law called Pagana all women were forbidden to spin or draw out any thread in the streets or common high waies because they held it ominous to the prosperity of the Grain sown in the Earth or the Fruits blossomed or growing upon the Trees as the same Author testifies Ausonius speaks af one Sabina not only excellent in this Science but a Poet withall which he left to posterity in one of his Epigrams Sive probas Tyrio textam sub tegmine vestra Seu placet inscripti commoditus tituli c. Which is thus Englished If thou affect'st a purple Robe Woven in the Tyrian stain Or if a Title well inscrib'd By which thy wit may gain Behold her works unpartially And censure on them well Both one Sabina doth professe And doth in both excell And thus I take leave of weaving for Memory now transports me to another Argument Of Women Contentious and Bloody TExtor in his Ossicine remembers us of one Kailla who was of that barbarous and inhumane cruelty that being at dissention with her husband Vazules she having banished all conjugall piety and pitty caused his eies to be digged out of his head spending the remainder of his age in uncomfortable darknesse These subsequent stories of flinty and obdure hearted women though I could willingly have spared them out of this work that the world might almost be induced to beleeve that no such immanities could ever have place in the smooth and soft bosomes of women yet in regard I have promised briefly to run over all Ages Features Affections Conditions and Degrees though they might perhaps have been thought well spared by some yet I make no question but that they might be challenged at my hands by others The rather I present them and with the more confidence unto your view because though their actions to the tender breasted may seem horrid and fearful and therefore the hardlier to purchase credit yet the testimony of the Authors being authentick and approved will not only bear me out as their faithfull remembrancer but in the things themselves fasten an inherent beleefe I proceed therefore Cyrce the Witch slew the King of Sarmatia to whom she was married and usurping the regall throne did much oppresse her subjects of her Saâ—â—llâ—cus writes more at large Clitemnestra was the wife of Agamemnon Arch Duke or Generall of the Grecians at the siege of Trâ—y she by the help of Aegistus with whom she adulterated slew her husband of this Virgil speaks lib. 11. Seneca in Agâ—memnon and Juvenal in Satyr Danaus the son of 〈◊〉 had fifty 〈◊〉 who were espoused to the fifty son of Aegustus 〈◊〉 made a eonjuration in one night to kill all their husbands which they accordingly did all save the 〈…〉 who spared the liâ—e of her husband 〈…〉 Hercul Fur. Alexander Phaeâ—cus a Tyrant of 〈◊〉 when he had shewed his wife 〈◊〉 to a 〈…〉 it so impatiently that she cut his throat sleeping Ovid in Ibâ—n Volâ—teâ—ranus repoâ—e that Albina daughter to a King of Syria had two and thirty sisters who all in one night slew their husbands who being exil'd their Countrie landed in Brittain and that of this Albina this kingdome first took the name of Albion Laodice was the wife of Antiochus King of Syria who caused himself to be call'd God the poison'd her husband because of his too much familiarity with 〈◊〉 the sister of Ptolomey Fabia slew Fabius Fabricianue that she might the more freely enjoy the company of Petronius Volentanus a young man of extraordinary feature with whom she had often before accompanied Agrippina poisoned her husband Tiberius Claudius the Emperor Lucilla the wife of Antonius Verus Emperor poisoned her husband because she thought him too familiar with Fabia Aaâ—â—oâ—us Prince of Ferolivium married with the daughter of Joannes Bentivolus of whom being despised and finding her self neglected she hired certain cot-throat Physitians who slew him in his chamber Andreas the son of Carolus King of Pannonia was slain by his wife Joanna Queen of Sicily for no other reason but that he was iâ—le and held unprofitable to the weal publick Althaea sorrowing that her two brothers Plexippus and Toxeus were slain by her son Meleager she burned that Brand of which the fattall Sisters had made a prediction That his life and health should continue as long as that was preserved Ovid Trist lib. 1. Bocat in General Agave a Theban woman slew her son Penthaeus because he would not honour the feast of the Baâ—hinals with the rest of the Menades Virg. in Culiceâ—â—â—ctha taking arms against Eumolpus and having an answer from the Oracle That he should have a certain victory of the would sacrifice his only daughter to the gods by the perswâ—sion of his wife Prâ—xitha gave her up to slaughter Euripides apud Plutarch Elearchus one of the Kings of Creet at the perswasion of his second wife Phroâ—â—ma commanded is only daughter by the hand of one Themisones to be cast into the river and there drowned Herodot Polidice betraied her father King Pletera to Crocon King of Thebes and caused him to be slain as likewise Niâ—us being besieged by Minos by the treason of his daughter lost that purple hair which was the stay of his sovereignty Ovid Metam and Servius Tiphon Aegyptius as Berosus Seneca Diodorus and other relate slew his brother Osiris then reigning in Aegypt and governing justly which done he caused him to be cut in twenty six pieces and to every one of the conspirators gave 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 son who was called Oâ—os flew Tiphon and avenged his death Draomitia was a Queen of Bohemia
she caused Ludimillia much devoted to Religion to be slain by her instigation her son Bolesâ—aus was the murderer of his brother Wenceslaus Volaterran The nymph Lara was of that loquacity that raising dissention betwixt Jupiter and Juno by telling her of his escapes that in revenge thereof he pluckt out her tongue Talantia Spartana having intelligence that her son Pedaretes tyrannized over the men of Chius writ to him in this or the like language Or govern there better or remain there if thou returnest to me thou art not safe thus admonishing him of better government or menacing him with death Damariana was a woman of Sparta and with her own hands slew her son because she found him of a timorous condition and would not be drawn to the warres Amastris was the wife of Xerxes and did prosecute the wife of Massissa the President with that inhumane and barbarous cruelty that having first slain her she caused her breasts to be cut off and cast unto the dogs dismembring her of her Nose Ears Eies Lips and Tongue Ravis Textor Cisenis the daughter of Diogerides King of Thrace was of that savage inhumanitie that she took pleasure to see living men dismembred and cut in pieces causing young children to be drest after commanding them to be served in to their parents and to be by them eaten Solinus Tullia the wife of Tarquinius Superbus she caused her Chariot to be drawn over the face of her dead father Servius Tullius presently before murthered by her husband in the Capitol Livy Irene the Empresse was wife to Leo the fourth and caused her own son Constantius Sextus to be first cast in Prison and after to have his eies digged out because before she had by him been expelled the Empire Fulvia was the wife of Marcus Antonius and how the excellentest of Orators M. Tulliâ—â—s being dead was tyrannized over by him many Authors have commended to posterity whose sacred hands and head being cut off were nailed unto that Pulpit where he had often most learnedly declaimed His head was first brought to Anthony which he caused to be set upon a table and scarce in a whole day could he satiate his rancorous malice with so sad and pitifull a spectacle but at length as Applanus Alexandrinus reports he commanded it to be took thence And as it is gathered out of the collections of Dion Prusius and Suidas when Fulvia the wife of Antoninus came to the sight of it she took it in her hands and after the breathing of many fearfull maledictions execrations and curses against it spit in the face thereof then taking it into her lap with a Bodkin or Penner which she wore in her hair for an ornament pricked his tongue which she had caused violently to be forced out of his jawes lest there should be any thing wanting that might add to an undiscreet womans hate and inhumane cruelty This murther and horrid act against so worthy a Senator hath been deploted by many as well in Prose as in Verse as Portius Lacro Albutius Sylo Caestius Murrhedius and others but none more elegantly then Severius Cornelius in these Verses of his which we have by tradition from Annaeus Seneca Oraque magnanimum spirantia pene virorum In rostris facuere sui c. As they were at large remembred in Crinitus Euridice the wife of Amintas King of Macedonia who had by him three sons Alexander Perdicas and Philip father to Alexander the Great as likewise a daughter called Euryones This Euridice not only polluted the bed of her husband but sought his life to transfer the Principality into the hand of the adulterer and lest her daughter should discover either her whoredome or treason she likewise plotted against her life The old man in the middest of these dangers died leaving the Kingdome to his eldest son Alexander she after caused him to be slain A president of strange and unheard of cruelty in a mother Justin Histor lib 7. Spitaâ—enes a puissant Captaine that bad long opposed Alexander the Great in many battels and conflicts with his competitor Dahae so dearly loved his fair wife that he drew her to be a partner with him in his wars and lodged her in his Tent But being put to many affrights and distresses the common casualties belonging to warre shee grew so tired with alarums tumults mutinies affrights slaughters and such like that she daily importuned him being before only used to feasts banquets and effeminate delicacies to submit him to the Macedonian Conquerour So long and so urgently she sollicited him to peace both by her children her friends and her self in person that being a blunt and plain souldier traded in combustion and to whom the very thought of submission was more odious then death though he entirely affected her yet upon a time he advanced his hand to have struck her and had done it had not his brother come in by accident and supprest his incensed futy yet he concluded That if ever after she perswaded him to peace or troubled his eares with that base word of submission that Hand which so long had opposed Alexander all Conjugall amity set 〈◊〉 should be her sudden and assured ruine The Lady affrighted with the name of death thought it no safety to interpose so â—obustious and setled a constancy especially in a souldier daily and hourly enured to blood and 〈…〉 therefore considering with her self what was best to be done in meditating for her own safety she thought it better by yielding to conquer then by contending against power and advantage to be overcome After submission therefore made and a new reconcilement established betwixt them she invited him to a banquet in her Tent which was furnished with all the dainties the Camp would yeeld and whatsoever variety remote places could affoâ—â—d where she carried her selfe with all humility and obedience At this feast she caused him to be plied with Healths and lavish Cups till the Wine having got the preheminence of his better â—â—nces he grew drowsie and retired himselfe to his Pallat. The Tables were then withdrawn and every man that was invited repaired either to his charge in the Army or to his rest They having disposed of themselves and the place now private she had confederated with one of her servâ—nts by whose assistance she in his depth of sleep cut off the head of her husband and gave it to him This done having the Word they past through the Watches and Guards and by the break of day came unto the Camp of Alexander desiring to have conference with him about affairs which concerned him neerly The Prince understanding it was a woman commanded she should be admitted into his Tent which was accordingly done and she appeared before him all stained and sprinkled with blood for she had not yet changed her habit at which he grew so amazed demanding the cause of her repair thither She desired her servant might be likewise admitted who attended 〈◊〉 the door of his Tent
my Author tels me greatly supported by the hand of Venus or whether the pitious earth unwilling to hurt or harm such fair and wel-featured limbs and therefore with more then accustomed courtesie favourably received her into her into her lap I am not certaine but the Lady to the wonder of all the beholders was taken up whole and sound without wound or the least astonishment and from thence conducted to the Tent of the Generall who because he made but offer to violate her chastity the ever nobly minded Romans not only took from him the charge of the Army alledging that he that could not govern his own affections was not fit to command others but confined him into the Island Coâ—sica adjacent neer to the continent of Italy Not much lesse strange was that of Perhibaea the daughter of Accathous who when Telamon the son of Aeacus and Eudeides came into the City of 〈◊〉 where she then 〈◊〉 with her father and took her at that advantage that she was by him deviâ—gined and 〈◊〉 his name or person not being known by her oâ— any and so privily escaped and fled away by night 〈◊〉 after perceiving her by assured tokens to be grown big with child and suspecting it to be done by some one of his Citizens or Subjects he was thereat so incensed that banishing all piety or patenall pity he delivered her into the hands of one of his Captains commanding him either to kil her with his sword or cast her into the sea the souldier undertakes the imposition of his Soveraign upon him with many vowes and protestations to perform his pleasure with all strictness and severity but by the way commâ—â—â—â—ting her wretched fortune and loth to be the 〈◊〉 of such youth and beauty created for better use comming neer the Sea-shore and spying a ship there at Anchor he sold her to the chief merchant for a sum of monie returning to the father with an assured relation of his daughters death The 〈◊〉 presently with this fair purchase hoised saile and a 〈◊〉 and gentle gale favouring them they attained unto the Port of Salamine and there harboured where purposing to make sale of their merchandise they exposed them to the publique view amongst the rest they set a price on the Princesse Perhibaea Tâ—lamon who was Duke of Salamine and then resiant in the City took his attendants with him and hearing of this new Merchant went down to the 〈◊〉 to take the first view of his goods and provide himselfe of such things as he wanted amongst all the fair Perhibaea pleased him best whose face he well knew and still remembred what had past betwixt them he bargained for her paid down her price conducted her to his Pallace and there acquainted her with the true passage of all his former proceedings Within few months she brought him a son which he called Ajax and this was that Ajax Telamon who at the siege of Troy betwixt the two armies combatted with bold Hector in the plain of Scamander you shall read this History in Aretades Guidius in his second book inscribed Insulâ— The next that insues hath correspondence with this Lucius Trocius had a beautifull young daughter called Florentia she was stuprated by the Roman Calphurnius and when the act came to the knowledge of her father delivered to the trusty executioner to be cast into the Sea who in the same manner was by him pitied and sold to a Merchant his ship being then bound for Italy where she being exposed to publique sale was seen known and bought by Calphurnius by whom he had a son called Contruscus I proceed to such as have unwittingly been the death of their parents Evenus the son of Mars and Steropes by his wife Alcippa the daughter of Oâ—nnemanus had a beautifull female issue whom he called Marpissa who had vowed perpetuall virginity her Idas the son or Aphareus ravished and stole away which her father hearing prosecuted him even unto his own Country but in vain for not able to overtake them and returning without her in griefe of his lost daughter whom he so deerly loved he threw himselfe into the river Lycormus and was there drowned some think that by his death the stood lost his name and was ever after celled Evenus Dâ—sithae lib 1. rerum Italicarum Anius King of the Etruscious having a rarely featured damosell to his daughter called Salia whose virginity he had vowed to Diana and therefore admitted no suitors though many great and rich offers made unto her at length as she was spotting abroad amongst other Virgins she was espied by one Calthetas a hopefull young Gentleman and â—â—nobled by his family who at the stâ—st sight of her was so extasi'd with her beauty that maugre all tear of pursuit or danger he snatcht her up in his arms and used such means that he got her safe within the wals of Rome Her father following the ravisher but not overtaking him was struck into such a deep sorrow that desperate of all comfort or counsel he violently cast himselfe into the next Foord that parted Rome and his own Kingdome which ever since that time still bears the name of Anius Calihetus had by Salia two brave sons Latinus and Salinus who were famous in their noble and flourishing issue insomuch that some of the best and greatest Families in Rome were proud from them to derive their ancestrie This history is recorded by Aristides Milesius by Alexander and Polihistor lib. tertio Italicorum Of Clamorous Women commonly called Scolds GNeius Pompeius to make his faction the stronger by his friend Munatius sent to Cato that he would be pleased of his two Neeces to contract the one of them to himselfe the other to his son by whom Cato sent word back to Pompeius That though he as a friend took gratefully the free proffer of his friendship and allyance yet being a man he had ever kept himselfe from being intricated in the snares of women but he protested he would adhere unto him in a more firm league of amity than could be contracted by kindred if he would study any thing conducent and profitable for the Common-weal but against the publique good he would neither give nor take hostages calling his Neeces who as some write were his daughters given so in matrimony no better then pledges of much future inconvenience especially in matters of State where the Common-weal is distracted and divided Eras 5. Apophtheg Socrates was wont to say that he had patiently suffered three torments Grammer Poverty and a scolding Wife Xintippe two of which he had prettily well evaded namely Grammer and Poverty but the morosity of a scold he could never put off Anton. Parle 2. Meless Serm. 34. The like may be said of Sausarion the Comick Poet equally tormented with a bitter and railing wife Pittacus Mitelenus having married the sister of Dâ—aco the son of Penthilius a proud insolent and railing woman perswaded a deer friend of his to marry with the
reports iâ— thus Tiberius walking with Thraâ—illus and privately intending to cast him from the rock without any appearance of anâ—er on the sudden he grew wondrous melancholy and sad upon which Tiberius demanding the cause Thrasillus answered because I find there is now a prâ—sent mischiefe intended against me upon which words the purpose of Tiberius was altered and the otheâ—s prescience by him much commended Even Tiberius himself was studious and expert in Astrology Astronomy and other mystical and hidden Arts insomuch that he caused many noble Gentlemen of Rome to be innocently put to death for no other reason then by calculating upon their nativity he presupposed them dangerous to the State he observed the carriage and conditions of all men and whosoever excell'd others in vertue or entred into the least popular love him he cut off It is said that meeting with Galba upon his marriage day he cast a stedfast look upon him and withall uttered these words Et tu aliquando Principetum degustâ—his i. And thou also shalt in time attain unto the Principality The Emperor Hadrianus was not only industrious in the attaining to the height of perfection in the knowledge of all other general learning but also in the Mathematicks insomuch that Marius Maxim affirms of him That he assuredly knew all things that were spoken of or by him he writ down every morning with his own hand the chances and successions that should follow the same day and thus he continued to the hour of his death He was often heard to say of Verus whom he had adopted Oâ—â—endent terris hunc tantum fata nec ultra Esse sinent c. The fates will to the earth but shew him then Eâ—e fully seen snatch him away agen Volaterran Anturo lib. 23. saith That he continued the writing down daily of those predictions even to the last month of the year in which he died and then gave over speaking openly that within the compasse of that month he should be gathered to his fathers Fulgos lib. 8. cap. 11. Severus Pertinax having buried his wife Martia made choice of a second called Julia born of obscure parents for no other reason but that by the inspiration into those Stars that were predominant at her birth he found that she was born to participate of Imperial honours Polaterran lib 23. An Astrologian in the Court of Frederick the second â—mperor with great ceremony and diliâ—â—nce observed Rodulphus Earl of Hausburch a plain Gentleman of meâ—n fortunes and lesser hopes and one whom all the other Courtiers despised and still he was mocked when he had neglected others of great place and office to be only obsequious to him this being told to the Emperor he commanded the Artist before him demanding the reason of his so doing to whom he answered Because O Frederick in this Rodulphus I see a succeeding Emperor who when thy issue shall fail must repair the â—ignity of the Caesars and his noble memorable acts â—il all Christendome with condign praises neither was this presage frivolous or vainly spoken for in the year of our redemption 1273 in the Calends of October this Rodulphus was by the princes of Germany confirmed in the Imperiall dignity and crowned at Frankford Caspinianus in Caesaribus Marullus speaks of one Byliotus an Astronomer who died with eating of Mushroms or such as we call Toad-stools his words be these Dum cavet Astrologus prituris is sidera amicis Dum sibi Boletos non cavet ipse perit Whilst to foresee his friends mishhaps His skil the Artist tri'd His own sad fate he could not find But eating Mushromes di'd Rare effects of this Art were shewed in Guido Bonatus forâ— liviensis who lived under Martin the fourth who sent to Guido Earl of Mountferrat that if such a day and at such an hour he would issue out of the City and by stratagem invade his enemies posterity should remember him in that honorable victory in which he should give them a strange defeat and assuredly overcome and himself receive a dangerous wound in the thigh The Earl at the day appointed issued from the City and assaulted them providing himself of all things necessary about him for a wound He wins the day followed the victory was hurt in the same place and after healed Fulgos lib 8 cap. 11. Egnat lib. 8. cap. 11. Paulus tertius Pope Farnesius was miraculously skilful in Astrology He sent to his son Peter Aloysius who at that time with great cruelty usurped in the Dukedome of Parma and Placentia and warned him to beware and take heed of his own safety the 10 day of September in the year of Grace 1547. for that day was malignant to his life and opposite to his good above all others The father as my Author saith had power to forewarn his son but the son had not grace to prevent the danger for the same day predicted he was slain in his own Castle by Augustinus Landus and Jacobus Scotus two Earls of Placentia who pretended private conference with him Being dead he was delivered to the long afflicted people who first hanged him up by the privy parts and after without all humane pity tore him limb from limb to satisfie their malicious vengeance Sleidanus lib. 19. Comment I fear I have staied too long amongst the Stars and conferred so much amongst those men that some may fear I have forgot the Women but it is otherwise for I now proceed with them And first Of Women Orators that have pleaded their own Causes or others Strange and admirable is the efficacy and force of Eloquence It is writ of the Poet Tyrtaeus That when the Lacedemonians had been in three sundry battels defeated and were in despair for ever reobtaining their pristine honours and dignities in this lowest of their dejectednesse he with his excellently eloquent Verses so kindled and awaked their dul and drowsie courages that they the fourth time opposed the Messenians their enemies and wearing about them the names of their noble ancestors whose brave exploits he in his Poems had celebrated they re-assumed their former forces and courages with such an addition and encrease of fortitude that they after grew unresistable Answerable to the facundity and eloquence of the Poet Tyrtaeus was that of Amesia a modest Roman Lady who being of a great crime accused and ready to incur the sentence of the Praetor she in a great confluence stept up among the people and without any advocate pleaded his own cause so effectually and strongly that by the publique Suffrage she was freed and acquit from all aspersions whatsoever Which she did with such a manly yet modest constancy that from that time forward she was called Androgine Val. Max. lib. 8. cap. 3. Equall to her was Hortensia the daughter of Q. Hortensius she when the Roman Matrons had a grievouâ— fine put upon them by the Tribunes and when all the Tribunes Lawyers and Orators were afraid to take upon them the patronage of
part of it may at this day be seen as an antient Monument in the Castle of Dover Saturn made Money of Brasse with inscriptions thereon but Numa was the first that coined Silver and caused his name to be engraven thereon for which it still retains the name in the Roman Tongue and is called Nummus Aspasia was a Milesian Damosel and the beloved oâ— Pericles she was abundantly skilled in Philosophicall studies she was likewise a fluent Rhetorician Plutarchus in Pericles Socrates imitated her in his Facultas Politica as likewise Dâ—otima whom he blushed not to call his Tutresse and Instructresse Of Lasthenea Mantinea Axiothaea and Phliasia Plato's scholers in Philosophy I have before given a short Character Themiste was the wife of Leonteius Lampsucenus and with her husband was the frequent Auditor of Epicurus of whom Lactantius saith That save her none of the Ancient Philosophers ever instructed any woman in that study save that one Themiste Arete was the wife of Aristippus the Philosopher and attained to that perfection of knowledge that she instructed her son in all the liberall Arts by whose industry he grew to be a famous professor He was called Aristippus and she surnamed Cyrenaica She followed the opinions of that Aristippus who was father to Socrates She after the death of her father erected a School of Philosophy where she commonly read to a full and frequent Auditory Genebria was a woman of Verona she lived in the time of Pius the second Bishop of Rome Her works purchased for her a name immortal She composed many smooth and eloquent Epistles polished both with high conceits and judgement she pronounced with a sharp and loud voice a becomming gesture and a facundious suavity Agallis Corcyrua was illustrious in the Art of Grammar Caelius ascribes unto her the first invention of the play at Ball. Leontium was a Grecian Damosel whom Gallius cals a strumpet she was so well seen in Philosophicall contemplations that she feared not to write a worthy book against the much worthy Theophrastus Plin. in Prolog Nat. Hist Cicero lib. de Natur. Deorum Dama the daughter of Pythagoras imitated the steps of her father as likewise his wife Theano her husband the mother and the daughter both proving excellent scholars Laert. Themistoclea the sister of Pythagoras was so practised a studient that in many of his works as he himselfe confesseth he hath implored her advice and judgement Istrina Queen of Scythia and wife to King Aripithes instructed her son Sythes in the Greek Tongue as witnesseth Herodotus Plutarch in Pericte saith That Thargelia was a woman whom Philosophy solely illustrated as likewise Hyparchia Greca Laert. Cornelia was the wife of Africanus and mother to the noble family of the Gracchi who left behind her certain Epistles most elaborately learned From her as from a fountain 〈◊〉 the innate eloquence of her children therefore Quintil. thus saith of her We are much bound to the Mother or Matron Cornelis for the eloquence of the Gracchi whose 〈…〉 learning in her exquisite Epistles she hath bequeathed to posterity The same Author speaking of the daughters of Laelius and Quint. Hortensius useth these words The daughters of Laelius is said in her phrase to have refined and excelled the eloquence of her father but the daughter of Q. Hortensius to have exceeded 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 Fulvia 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 govern Empires she was first the wife of Curio Statius Papinius was happy in a wife called Claudia excellent in all manner of learning Amalasuntha Queen of the Ostrogoths the daughter of Theodoricus King of those Ostrogoths in Italy was elaborately practised in the Greek and Latin Tongues she spake distinctly all the barbarous languages that were used in the Eastern Empires Fulgos lib. 8. cap. 7. Zenobia as Volateran speaks from Pollio was Queen of the Palmirians who after the death of Odenatus governed the Kingdome of Syria under the Roman Empire she was nominated amongst the thirty Tyrants and usurped in the time of Gallenus but after being vanquished in battel by the Emperor Aurelianus was led in triumph through Rome but by the clemency of that Prince she was granted a free Pallace scituate by the river of Tyber where she moderately and temperately demeaned her selfe she is reported to be of that chastity that she never enterteined her husband in the familiar society of her bed but for issues sake and procreation of children but not from the time that she found her conception till her delivery she used to be adored after the majestick state and reverence done to the great Sophies of Persia Being called to the hearing of any publick Oration she still appeared with her head armed and her helmet on in a purple mantle buckled upen her with rich jems she was of a clear and shril voice magnanimous and haughty in all her undertakings most expert in the Aegyptian and Greek Tongues and not without merit numbred amongst the most learned and wisest Queens Besides divers other works she composed the Orientall and Alexandrian History Hermolaus and Timolus her two sons in all manner of disciplines she liberally instructed of whose deaths it is not certain whether they died by the course of nature or by the violent hand of the Emperor Olympia Fulvia Morata was the ornament and glory of our later times the daughter of Fulv. Moratus Montuanus who was tutor in the Arts to Anna Pâ—ince of Ferrara she was the wife of Andreas Gunthlerus a famous Physitian in Germany she writ many and elaborate works in either tongue at length in the year of our Lord 1555 in the month of October being of the age of twenty nine years she died of Hedelburgh Saint Helena may amongst these be here aptly registred for thus Stow Harding Fabian and all our modern Chroniclers report of her Constantius a great Roman Consul was sent into Britain to demand the tribute due unto Rome immediately after whose arivall before he could receive an answer of his Embassie Coil who was then King died therefore the Britains the better to establish their peace dealt with the Roman Embassador to take to wife Helena the daughter of the late deceased King a young Lady of an attractive beauty adorned with rare gifts and endowments of the Mind namely Learning and Vertue the motion was no sooner made but accepted so that Constantius having received the Brittish tribute returned with his new Bride to Rome and was after by the Senate constituted chiefe Ruler of this Kingdome After twenty years quiet and peacefull government which was thought her wisedome Constantius died and was buried at York in his time was Sâ— Albon married at Verolam since called St. Albons as John
clear and Glasse-like Well Sacred and where some thinks the gods do dwell O'r which the waâ—rie Lotos spreads her bowes The ground a soft and gentle turf allowes Here as I lay to rest me drown'd in tears One of the Nayades before m' appears And standing thus spake Thou that scorcht dost lie In flames unequall to Ambracia flie Hence Phoebus from on high survives the sea Some Actium cals the place some Leueate Deucalion from this rock his Pyrha craves First seen and she undanger'd proves the waves Here Pyrha prostitutes to his desires Deucalion here first quencht his amorous fires The place the same law keeps climb Leucats crown And from that high rock fear not to leap down This spoke she vanisht I affrighted rise Whilst my wet cheeks are moistned by mine eies Thither let 's run Nymphs till that Rock appear From Love distracted we should banish fear Prove how it can much better than you see It hath yet chanc'd it needs must fall to me And gentle Love to me thy feathers lend Still to support me as I shall descend Lest being dead by my untimely fall Leucadia for my sake be curst of all Then Phoebus I 'll bequeath into thine hand My Harp and by it shall this Distick stand Sapho thy grateful Poetesse doth assign This Lyre to thee being hers as well as thine Why dost thou send me to Actia hence When thou maist call thy exile fool from thence Safer to me than can those waters prove Thou mai'st so Phoebus did he Sapho love Canst thou O harder then the Rocks endure It should be said Thou didst my death procure Thy Sapho's ruine O how better far Were it these breasts that now disjoined are Should friendly meet and mutually please Than mine alone be swallow'd in the Seas These are the breasts thou Phaon once didst praise Which seen they fire did from thy coldnesse raise O would I were as eloquent as then But sorrow takes all fluence from my Pen So might my brain have every ill withstood But now my passion makes nothing seem good My Verse is of her first power destitute Silent's my Quill my Harp with sorrow mute You Lesbian Matrons and you Lesbian young Whose names have to my Lyre been oft times sung You for whose loves my fame hath suffred wrong No more in troops unto my Musick throng Phaon hath stole all that you nam'd Divine I was O wretch about to call him mine Make him return my Muse shall then retire He duls my wits or can my brain inspire Can praiers prevail or such a stubborn mind Be softned or made rougber Shall the wind Disperse my words as meerly spoke in vain Would the same winds could bring thee back again That mock my sighs and make thy sails to swell It were a work that would become thee well If so thou mean'st why dost thou keep away From all those vow'd gifts that thy comming stay Why dost thou with thy absence my breast teare Loose from the Haven 〈…〉 and do not stear She 's Sea-born Venus call'd and therefore still She makes the waves calm to a lovers will The gracious winds shall in thy course prevail And bring thee safe when thou art under sail Even Cupid at the helm shall sit and stear He shall diâ—rct which way thy course to beare If so thou please thy Sapho shunn'd must be Yet thou shalt find there 's no just cause in me At lest thy cruell answer she now craves To end her fate in the Leucadian waves From that Rock she cast her selfe headlong into the Sea and so perished For preposterous and forbidden luxuries which were imputed unto her Horace cals her Mascula Sapho yet many are of opinion this to be the same whom Plato tearms the Wise of her Antipater Sydonius thus writes Dulcia Mnemosine demirans carmina Saphus Quesierit decima Pyeris unde foret Mnemosine When Sapho's Verse she did admiring read Demanded whence the tenth Muse did proceed As likewise Ausonius Leshia Pyeriis Sapho soror addita Musis i. Lesbian Sapho a Sister added to the Pyerian Muses Her Papinius and Horace with many others celebrate Of Cleobule Lindia and other Poetesses SHe was the daughter of Cleobulus Lindius one of the seven wise men of Greece she was called also Eâ—mite and Cleobulina in her writing she imitated her fathe◠〈◊〉 was eminent for Aenigmaes and Riddles of which this one is redeemed from oblivion and remembred of her Est unus genitor 〈◊〉 sunt pignora 〈◊〉 sex His quoque trigima natae sed disparâ— forma Hae niviae aspectu nigâ—â—s sunt vultibuâ—s illae Sunt immortales omnes mortuntur omnes One father hath twelve children great and small They beget thirty daughters unlike all Halfe of them white halfe black immortall made And yet we see how every hour they fade Elpis was wife of the famous Philosopher and Poet Boethius Seâ—verinus a Roman Patrician she was by Nation a Sicilian of an eleganâ— wit and capacious invention Many of her Hymns to the Apostles are yet extant one began Aurea Luce another Foelix per omnes mundâ— cardines i. Thou Feast that are happy in being celebrated 〈◊〉 all the Countries of the world Ranulphus cals her the daughter to the King of Sicily and the best Writers constantly affirm these holy songs to be hers witnesse Gyraldus Dialogo 5. Histor Poeâ— She writ her Epitaph with her own hand which was after inscribed upon her Tomb which I thus give you in English something neer to Trevisa's as he translated it from Ranulphus An Epitaph Elpis my name me Sicily 〈◊〉 bred A husbands love drew me from hence to Rome Where I long liv'd in joy but now lye dead My soul submitting to the Almighties doom And I beleeve this flesh again shall rise And I behold my Saviâ—â— with these eies Eudexia or Eudâ—cia was the wife of the Emperor Theodosius Junior She was excellently qualified and her chief delight was to be conversant amongst the Muses for which she was stiled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 She was the daughter of Leontius of no higher degree then a Sophist of Athens she was first called Athenais but after being married to the Emperor he caused her to be baptized by Atticus the great Bishop of Constantinople and for Athenais gave her the name of Eudocia which much pleased the Emperor her husband Some attribute a Centon unto her of Christ the Saviour of the world it was called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which others would confer upon Proba Cyrus Panopolita she advanced unto the Praetorship Gyrald ex 5. Dialog Philenis was a Strumpet of Leucadia her Verses were as impurely wanton as her life was immodest and unchast she imitated Elephantis if we may beleeve Suidas and they both Astianassa one of Hellens maids the wife to Menelaus She was the first that devised 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Venereal Trade and left certain books behind her of Venereall Copulation This you may read
being to them left as hereditary by her Who would read further of her I refer him to Ovid who in his Metamorphosis gives her a full and large character so Homer in his tenth book of his Odysses the argument of which for her better expression I thus English Aeoliam ventorum agimur patriamque domumque Ulysses thence into Aetolia past Where Aeolus the King of Winds then raign'd Who the four brothers gave him closed fast In leathern bags for so they were constrain'd With prosperous speed he sails and growing neer His native Ithaca whil'st he was sleeping His men suppos'd some wealth inclosed there Within those bags given to their masters keeping And opening them the imprisoned winds now free With adverse guâ—â—s despight his helm and glasse Blow him quite back so he is forc'd to see Antiphates and the Lestrigone's Some ships there lost he attains the Cercian shore Where the most powerfull goddesse as she feasts Transhapes Eurilochus with many more Of his companions into sundry beasts The wytie Greek by Mercuries admonishment Alone escapes the Witches transformation Who failing in her Art bred both astonishment And of his many vertues admiration His wisedome so prevailed him Cyrce ador'd And to his mates their pristine shape restor'd Medea was the daughter of Otes and Ispaea King and Queen of the Colchians and sister to Cyrce she found out the Vertues of many Herbs Plants and Roots and tempered their juice to her devilish purposes growing to that height of cunning that by their incantations she tamed the mad Buls that from their mouths and nostrils breathed fire and bellowed terror charming asleep the ever-waking Serpent that kept the Golden fleece lest they should hinder Jason her beloved in the purchase thereof for which courtesie he took her to wife and by long tâ—avel arriving in Thessaly Aeson the father of Jason now grown decrepit through age she restored to his former youth and strength nowithstanding her husband forgetful of this great benefit done to his father forsook her bed and married Creusa daughter to Creon King of Corinth with which ingratitude Medea inraged yet distembling her malice she after some insinuation presents Creusa with a glorious Mantleto the eie which she no sooner saw put on but her whole body was in a flame and she consumed to ashes after the same sort perished King Creon with his Queen This done she murdered her children had by Jason and being openly hurried by winged dragons through the air she fled to Athens and there was married to King Aegeus whose son Theseus when she attempted to have poisoned in a cup of gold tempered with Aconitum gathered from an herb that grew from the some of Cerberus her treason being discovered and prevented by her Magick skil she shut her selfe within a cloud in which with her young son Medus whose father Aegeus was she escaped into Asia Of her Ovid speaks Propertius Valerius Flaccus Pliny and many others Vitiae were so called of an infamous Witch called Vitia these as some Authors write have power like the Basilisk to kill with the eie especially all such on whom they cast an envious and malicious look of the selfe-same condition are a certain people among the Tribullians and Illyrians Textor in Officin Mycale is the name of a Witch in Ovid likewise Dipsas of the one he writes thus Mater erat Mycale quem deduxisse canendo Sepe reluctantis constabat cornua lunae Her mothers name was Mycale Known to have had the skill By spels to pull the horned Moon From heaven against her will And of the other in the first book of his Elegies Est quaedam quicunque volet c. Locusta is numbred amongst the rest and remembred by Cornelius Tacitus for making certain venomous confections with which Agrippina poisoned her husband Claudius from her many of the most of her diabolicall practise are called Locustae she is likewise spoken of by Juvenal in one of his Satyrs Eriphila was an inchantresse of that devilish condition that upon whomsoever she cast an envious eie that creature was sure to come to some extraordinary mischiefe of whom was raised a proverb cast as an aspersion upon all such kind of women Anus Eriphus Textor in 〈◊〉 in cap. de Veneficis Thracia was a Nymph famous for her incantations who for skill in herbs and cunning in exorcismes was by some adored as a goddesse of her came the people amongst whom she lived to be called by the name of Thracians Gyge was the name of a Beldam who was a houshold servant to Parasatis the mother of King Cyrus and by the Queen especially imploied in all her sorceries Herodotus Canidia Neopolitana was a confectioner of unguents a Witch and practised in divers kinds of sorceries excellently described by Horace Erictho was the name of a notorious Witch of Thessaly deciphered by Lucan whom who shall read and desire plainly to be instructed in that horrible Art he shall not find it more truly and punctually discovered by any of the Latine Poets Gunthrune was a Witch of a strange devilish condition who by her incantations was the death of many creatures as well beasts as men yet being dead there was no wound or mark of death appearing about them Sagana Veia and Folia were professors of the selfe same devilish Art and 〈◊〉 remembred by Tacitus Juvenal and Horace these were said to have had hand in the death of the noble chil 〈◊〉 It shall not be amiss to insert amongst these what I have heard concerning a Witch of Scotland One of that Country as by report there are too many being for no goodnesse by the Judges of Assize arreigned convicted and condemned to be burnt and the next day according to her judgement brought and tied to the stake the reeds and fagots placed round about her and the executioner ready to give fire for by no perswasion of her ghostly father nor importunity of the Sheriffs she could be wrought to confesse any thing she now at last cast to take her farewell of the world casting her eie a tone side spied her only son and cals to him desiring him very earnestly as his last duty to her to bring her any water or the least quantity of liquor be it never so small to comfort her for she was extreamly athiest at which he shaking his head said nothing she 〈◊〉 importuned him in these words Oh my dear son help me to any drink be it never so little for I am most extreamly a dry oh dry drie to whom the young fellow answered by no means deare mother will I doe you that wrong For the drier you are no doubt you will burn the better Of Witches transported from one place to another by the Devill THe difference betwixt Witches or to define what Magae are and what Lamiae were but time mispent the rather because it hath been an argument so much handled in our mother tongue I will only rehearse unto you some few particular
counsell with her about his recovery who told him there was no hope of his life unlesse he would yield that his young son then sucking at the Nurses breast should have his mortall infirmity confirmed upon it The father to save his own life yields that his son should perish of which the Nurse hearing just at the hour when the father should be healed is absent and conceals the child The father is no sooner toucht but helped of his disease the Witch demands for the child to transfer it upon him the child is missing and cannot be found which the Witch hearing broke out into this exclamation Actum est de me puer ubinam est i. I am undone where is the child when scarce having put her foot over the threshold to return home but she fell down suddenly dead her body being blasted and as black as an Aethiope The like remarkable Judgement fell upon a Witch amongst the Nanvetae who was accused of bewitching her neighbor The Magistrates commanded her but to touch the party distempered with her Inchantments which is a thing that is used by all the German Judges even in the Imperiall chamber it selfe The Witch denied to do it but seeing they began to compell her by force she likewise cried out I am then undone when instantly the sick woman recovered and the Witch then in health fell down suddenly and died whose body was after condemned to the fire And this Bodinus affirms to have heard related from the mouth of one of the Judges who was there present In Thoâ—oâ—a there was one skilful in Magick who was born in Burdegall he comming to visit a familiar friend of his who was extreamly afflicted with a Quartane Ague almost even to death told him he pitied his case exceedingly and therefore if he had any enemy but give him his name and he would take away the Feaver from him and transfer it upon the other The sick Gentleman thanked him for his love but told him there was not that man living whom he hated so much as to punish him with such a torment Why then saith he give it to my servant the other answering That he had not the conscience so to reward his good service Why then give it me saith the Magician who presently answered With all my heart take it you who it seemeth best knowes how to dispose it Upon the instant the Magician was stroke with the Feaver and within few daies after died in which interim the sick Gentleman was perfectly recovered Gregory Turonensis lib. 6. cap. 35. saith That when the wife of King Chilperick perceived her young son to be taken away by Witchcraft she was so violently incensed and inraged against the very name of a sorceresse that she caused diligent search to be made and all such suspected persons upon the least probability to be dragged to the stake or broken on the wheel most of these confessed that the Kings son was bewitched to death for the preservation of Mummo the great Master a potent man in the Kingdom this man in the midst of his torments smiled confessing that he had received such inchanted drugs from the Sorcerists that made him unsensible of pain but wearied with the multitude of torments he was sent to Burdegall where he not long after died I desire not to be tedious in any thing for innumerable Histories to these purposes offer themselves unto me at this present but these few testimonies â—roceeding from authentique Authors and the attestations 〈◊〉 such as have been approvedly learned may serve in this place as well as to relate a huge number of unnecessary discourses from writers of less fame and credit Neither is it to any purpose here to speak of the Witches in Lap-land Fin land and these miserable wretched cold Countries where to buy and sell winds betwixt them and the Merchants is said to be as frequent familiarly done amongst them as eating and sleeping There is anâ—ther kind of Witches that are called Extasists in whose discovery 〈◊〉 strive to be briefe A learned Neapolitan in a history 〈◊〉 since published that treats altogether of naturall Magick speaks of a Witch whom he saw strip her 〈◊〉 naked and having annointed her body with a certain 〈◊〉 fell down without sence or motion in which extasie she remained the space of three hours after she came to her selfe discovering many things done at the same time in divers remote places which after enquiry made were found to be most certain Answerable to this is that reported by the President Turetranus who in the Delphinate saw a Witch burned alive whose story he thus relates She was a maid-servant to an honest Citizen who comming home unexpected and calling for her but hearing none to answer searching the rooms he found her lying all along by a fire which she had before made in a private chamber which seeing he kickt her with his foot and bid her arise like a lazy huswiâ—e as she was and get her about her businesse but seeing her not to move he took a tough and smart wand and belaboured her very soundly but perceiving her neither to stir nor complain he viewing her better and finding all the parts of her body unsensible took fire and put it to such places of her body as were most tender but perceiving her to have lost all feeling was perswaded she was dead and called in his next neighbors telling them in what case he found her but concealing unto them the shrewd blowes he had given her the neighbors left the house the master and mistresse caused her to be laid out so left her and went to their rest but towards the morning hearing some body to stir and grone in the chamber they found their servant removed and laid in her bed at which the good man much amazed asked her in the name of God being late dead how came she so soon recovered to whom she answered Oh master master why have you beaten me thus the man reporting this amongst his neighbors one amongst the rest said if this be true she is then doubtlesse a Witch and one of these extasists at which the Master growing suspitious urged her so strictly that she confessed though her body was there present yet her soul was abroad at the assembly of divers Witches with many other mischiefs for which she was held worthy of death and judged At Burdegall in the year 1571 when there was a decree made in France against the strict prosecution of Witches an old Sorceresse of that place amongst many horrid and fearfull things confessed by her she was convicted and imprisoned where D. Boletus visited her desiring to be eie-witnesse of some of those things before by her acknowledged to whom the Witch answered That she had not power to do any thing in prison But desirous to be better satisfied concerning such things he commanded her for the present to be released and brought out of the Goale to another lodging
the Tomb. Next to the sin I will place the punishment Jacob blessing his children said to Reuben Thou shalt be poured out like water thine excellency is gone because thou hast defiled thy fathers bed Gen. 49. Absolon went in to his fathers concubines and was soon after slain by the hand of Joab 1 Kings 2. 16. 18. Of later times I will instance one Nicolaus Estensis Marquesse of Ferrara who having notice that his son Hugo a toward and hopefull young Gentleman had borne himself more wantonly then reverence and modesty required in the presence of his stepmother Parisia of the family of Malatestae and not willing rashly either to reprove or accuse them he watch them so narrowly by his intelligencers and spies that he had certain and infallible testimony of their incestuous meetings for which setting aside all conjugall affection or paternall pity he caused them first to be cast in strict and close prison and after upon more mature deliberation to be arraigned where they were convicted and lost their heads with all the rest that had been conscious of the act Fulgos lib. 6. cap. 1. I will borrow leave to insert here one remarkable punishment done upon a Jew at Prague in Bohemia in the year 1530 who being then in adultery with a Christian woman they compelled him to stand in a ton pitched within they bored a hole in which they forced him to put in that part with which he had offended just by him was placed a knife without edge blunred for the purpose and there he stood loose save fastned by the part aforesaid fire being given he was forced through the torment of the heat with that edgelesse knife to cut away that pars virilis and ran away bleeding after whom they set fierce mâ—stiffs who worried him to death and after tore him in pieces Lycostin Theatro Human. vitae Of Adultery THe wife of Argento-Coxus Calidonius being taunted by Julia Augusta because it was the custome of their Country for the noble men and women promiscuously to mix themselves together and to make their appointments openly without blushing to her thus answered I much commend the custome of our Country above yours we Calidonians desire consociety with our equals in birth and quality to satisfie the necessary duties belonging to love and affections and that publiquely when your Roman Ladies professing outward temperance and chastity prostitute your selves privately to your base grooms and vassals The same is reported to have been spoken by a Bâ—itish woman Dion Nicaeus Xiphilin in vita Severi Her words were verified as in many others I could here produce so in the French Queen Fredigunda who though she infinitly flattered the King Chilpericus her husband outwardly yet she inwardly affected one Laudricus to whom she communicated her person and honor these in the Kiugs absence were scarce to be found asunder insomuch that Chilperick himselfe could not more freely command her person by his power then the other by his loose and intemperete effeminacies It hapned the King being on hunting and leaving the Chase before his hour stole suddenly upon his Queen and comming behind her as she was taking her Prospect into the Garden sportingly toucht her upon the head with the switch he had then in his hand without speaking she not dreaming of the Kings so sudden return and thinking it had been her private friend without looking back Well sweet-heart Landricus saith she you will never leave this fooling and turning towards him withall discovered the King who only biting his lip departed in silence She feaâ—â—ng the Kings distaste and consequently his revenge sends for Landricus and as if the King had been the offender betwixt them two conspired his death and within few daies effected it for seldome doth Adultery but go hand in hand with Murther From the Sin I come to the Punishment Among the Israelites it was punished with fines as may be collected from the history of Thamar who being with child by Judas he threatned her to the stake and had accordingly performed it had she not shewed by manifest tokens that he himselfe was the author of her unlawfull issue Gen. 38. The Aegyptians condemned the Adulterer so deprehended to a thousand scourges the Adulteresse to have 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 Ravis In Judaea they were stoned to death Plat. lib. 9. de Legibus punisheth Adultery with death The Locrenses by tradition from Zaluces put out the Adulterers eies The Cumaei prostituted the Adulteresse to all men till she died by the same sin she had committed Alex. ab Alex. lib. 4. cap. 1. It was a custome amongst the ancient Germans for the husband to cut off his wives hair so apprehended to turn her out of doors naked and scourge her from Village to Village One bringing word to Diogenes That a fellow called Dydimones was taken in the act He is worthy then saith he to be hanged by his own name for Didymi in the Greek Tongue are Testiculi in English the Testicles or immodest parts By them therefore from whence he derived his name and by which he had offended he would have had him to suffer Laert. lib. 6. Hyeâ—tuâ— the Argive slew one Molurus with his wife apprehending them in their unlawfull congression Coelius Iulius Caesar repudiated his wife for no other reason but because P. Clodius was found in his house in Womans Apparell And being urged to proceed against her he absolutely denied it alledging That he had nothing whereof to accuse her but being further demanded Why then he abandoned her society he answered That it was behoofefull for the wife of Caesar not only to be clear from the sin it selfe but from the least suspition of crime Fulgos lib. 6. cap. 1. Augustus banished his own 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 neer unto his Sepulcher To omit many Nicolaus the first Pope of that name excommunicated King Lotharius brother to Lewis the second Emperor because he divorced his wife Therberga and in her room instated Gualdrada and made her Queen Besides he degraded Regnaldus Archbishop of Tâ—evers and Gunthramus Archbishop of Collen from their Episcopall dignitie for giving their approbation to that adulterate Marriage And so much for the punishment I will conclude with the counsel of Horace lib. 1. Satyr 2. Desine Matronas sectarier unde laboris Pluâ—haurire mali est quam ex re decerpere fructum est Cease Matrons to pursue for of such pain Thou to thy selfe more mischief reap'st then gain Sisters that have murdred their Brothers AFter the untimely death of Aydere his brother Ismael succeeded him in the Persian Empire who arriving at Caâ—bin was of his
Judges called the Areopagitae when they deprehended a Witch and were to deliver her to death if she were with child staied the execution till she were delivered of her Infant because they would not punish the innocent with the delinquent Aelian de var. Histor lib. 5. The Law to punish Witches amongst the Persians was to bring them to a place where their heads were beaten to pieces betwixt two Rocks So suffered Gyge the hand-maid to Parisatides the mother of Cyrus Plutarch in Artaxerxes Charls the seventh King of France or the Frenchmen caused Prince Egidius de Roxa Marshall of France to be first hanged then burnt because he confessed himselfe to be a Witch and professor of Magick and withall to have been the death of an hundred and twenty children and women great with child A Witch of Avern was burnt alive for killing young infants and salting their flesh and putting them into pies and baking them for publique sale Fulgos lib. 9. cap. 2. Johannes Bodinus lib. Mag. Demonomaniae 4. cap. 5. tels us that there is a Law sacred in France that if any Magician or Witch or Soothsaier or Mathematician that shall go beyond the true rules of Astrology or expounder of Dreams shall frequent the Court be he never so great in favor or potent in office he shall be immediately degraded from all his honours and put to the rack and torture And this Law is fitting saith he to be writ in golden Characters upon every Court gate because there is no greater Pest extant to Prince or people then this viperous brood therefore above our Christian Princes he commends the Ethnick Kings In the time of Marius an Inchantress whose name was Martha who pretended to foretell to the Roman Senat the successe of the Cimbrian war was banished Plutarch in Mario Claudius Caesar condemned a Knight of Rome to death and forfeited all his goods to the people because he wore about him a Cocks egge as a Charm to dispence of Religion and that all the causes which he had in controversie should in despight of the Judges paste of his side Even fellowes that were scarce of any name or opinion in the world that were but suspected of Negromancy were condemned to death under Tiberius Caesar The Emperor Caracalla adjudged all such as but used inchanted herbs to the curing of Agues and Feavers Spartian in Caracalla The Scripture saith Thou shalt not suffer a Witch to live Bodinus contrary to Wyerius who will scarce beleeve there be any such accounting all those Judges 〈◊〉 condemn them to the Stake or Gallowes no better then Executioners and Hangmen he shewes divers probable Reasons why they ought not to live The first is Because all Witches renounce God and their Religion now the Law of God saith Whosoever shall forsake the God of Heaven and adhere to any other shall be stoned to death which punishment the Hebrews held to be the greatest could be inflicted R. Maymon lib. 3. The second thing is That having renounced God and their Religion they curse blaspheme and provoke the Almighty to anger The law saith Whosoever shall blaspheme their sin shall remain with them and whosoever shall take his name in vain or in contempt shall be punished with death The third thing is That they plight faith and make covenant with the Devil adore him sacrifice unto him as Apâ—lâ—ius testifies of Pamphila Larissana a Witch of Thessaly as liâ—ewise a Witch of the Laodunensian suburbs in the month or May 1578. who blushed not to do the like before many witnesses now the Law saith Who that shall but incline or bow down to Images which the Greeks call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 shall be punished with death The Hebrew word 〈◊〉 and the Chaldaean Fisgud which all our Latine Interpreters translate Adorare imports as much as to incline or worship now these Witches do not only incline unto him but invoke and call upon him A fourth thing is which many have confessed That they have vowed their children to the Devil now the Law saith God is inflamed with revenge against all such as shall offer their children unto Moloch which Josephus interprets Priapus and Philo Satanus but all agree that by Moloch in signified the Devill and malignant spirits A fifth thing is gathered out of their own confessions That they have sacrificed Infants not yet baptized to the Devill and have kill'd them by thrusting great pins into their heads Sprangerus testifies that he condemned one to the fire who confessed that she by such means had been the death of one and forty children A sixth thing is That they do not only offer children in the manner off sacrifice against which the Holy Ghost speaks That for that sin alone God will extirp and root out the people but they vow them in the womb A seventh is That they are not themselves blasphemers and Idolaters only but they are tied by covenant with the Devil to allure and perswade others to the like abominations when the Law teacheth That whosoever shall perswade another to renounce his Creator shall be stoned to death An eighth is That they not only call upon the Devil but swear by his name which is directly against the Law of God which forbids us to swear by any thing save his own Name A ninth is That adulterate incests are frequent amongst them for which in all ages they have been infamous and of such detectable crimes convicted so that it hath almost grown to a Proverb No Magician or Witest but was either begot and born of the father and daughter or the mother and son which Caâ—ullas in this Distick expresseth Nam Magus ex Matre gnato gignatur oportet Si vera est Prâ—sarum impia Religio Infimating that if the impious Religion of the Persians were true Witches of necessity should be the incestuous issue of the mother and son or else è contra A tenth That they are Homicides and the murtherere of Infants which Sprangerus observes from their own confessions and Baptista Porta the Neapolitan in his book de Magia Next That they kill children before their baptism by which circumstances their offence is made more capitall and heinouâ— The eleventh That Witches eat the flesh of Infants and commonly drink their bloods in which they take much delight To which Horace seems to allude when he saith Nâ—u pransae Lamiae vinum pucrum extrahat Alvo Noâ— from the stomack of a Witch new din'd Plucks he a yet live infant If children be wanting they dig humane bodies from their sepulchers or feed upon them that have been executed To which purpose Lucaâ— writes Liqueam nodosque nocentes Ore 〈…〉 corpora carpsit Abrasit 〈◊〉 c. The Felons strongling 〈◊〉 she nothing fears But with her teeth the fatall Knot she tears The hanging bodies from the 〈◊〉 she takes And shaves the Gallowes of which dust she makes c. Apuletus reports That comming
Roland abjured must at least redound to her perpetuall scorn if not to the disparagement of her fame and vertue To salve both with what convenience she could she was advised to accite him into the Ecclesiasticall Court by Processe and to plead the forenamed Contract and which she could easily doe prove it by witnesse Which the friends and kindred of Roland hearing perswaded him to shun the common fame which went of his ingratitude to reconcile the tongues of evill speakers and to prevent all controversies and troubles in Law to accept of her as one that best deserved him With much ado he accepts of the motion A publique confluence of friends kindâ—ed at an appointed day are assembled where when the â—â—stard expected to hear her her friends sollicit him conceâ—ning the marriage she there first ript up her courtesies and with what a charitable and chast purpose she had 〈◊〉 them next she laid open his barbarous ingratitude not to acknowledge them and lastly his corrupt and dishonest heart in lying to God and her by denying a contract past in the presence of so many witnesses therefore she told him she now renounced both contract claim or interest in him accounting it a dishonor unto her to cast her selfe away upon one persidious and a coward As for marriage she had now contracted her selfe to single chastity and all the wealth she had she vowed to the service of God and his Church and so left him with a kind of noble disdain being by all that saw and heard her constant resolution as much commended for her courage as he condemned for his mutability and cowardise Fulgos lib. 5. cap. 3. If Lucius Aemulius Regillus in a Navall fight having defeated Annibal then Generall for the King Antiochus was brought into the Temple of Apollo by the Senate where first having all his brave service rehearsed by the Herald or Crier with how puissant a Navy he had fought how many of the enemies ships he had foundred in the Sea and how many taken and brought to Rome for which by the consent of the Fathers he was granted a Triumph Liv. lib. 8. de Bello Macedon and Volater lib. 13. cap. 3. Anthrop If Aurelius Alex. Emperor for fighting against the Persians and vanquishing the King Artaxerxes whom Herodian in his History cals Artaxaces for this act alone after a large and learned Encomiastick Oration made of the excellency of his valor had likewise a publique Triumph allowed him by the Senate Volater lib. 3. If Leocritus the Athenian and son of Protarchus being but a private souldier under the generall Olympiodorus at the assault of Pyraeum then guarded and defenced by Demetrius the son of Antigonus because he was the first that mounted and broke into the Rampier then called Musaeum in entring which he was slain yet for this only brave act of Resolution had all Military Honours done to his Body his Shield with his name engraven thereon with his valiant Enterprize inscribed as a thing sacred to perpetuall memory and dedicated to Jupiter the Deliverer Pausan lib. 1. What praise what admiration and condign honours may this magnanimous Queen Tyrgatao Meotu claim who not in one but many battels opposed two potent and puissant Kings whose martiall valor righted her own injuries in person met them braved them and beat them in field after many victorious defeats vassalled their insolent pride and subjected them to her own Heroicall mercy If amongst the Romans he that in battell had saved but the life of one Citizen and bestrid him in battel and in the same conflict had slain an enemy was honored with a Civick Crown and Garland to which the Golden Honours the Murall and those Wreaths of Dignity that either belonged to the Camp or the Pulpit gave place which as he was tied perpetually to wear so all the people were enjoined to give him way and do him honor insomuch that if he came late to be a spectator of the Sports in the Theater at his first appearance in the Orchestra all the Princes and Senators arose from the highest to the lowest and offered him place How shall we celebrate the ever to be admired magnanimity of the Amazons Marpesia Lampedo Orythea Antiope Penthesilea and others of that masculine Vertue and courage The Archduke Agamemnon because Ajax had but fought with Hector though not vanquisht him caused an Oxe to be sacrificed unto him rewarding him with the hinder Loins and the Horns Homer lib. 7. Iliad 10. What Immolations then deserved Menalippe for combatting Hercules or Hippolite who hand in hand encountred Theseus The same Generall presented Achilles for his valor because he flew Hector though as some write with the ods of base advantage with seven threefooted Pots of Brasse twenty Cauldrons ten Talents of Gold twelve Steeds and seven beautifull Lesbian Damosels Idem How would he have guerdoned the magnanimity of Teuca the wife of Argon and Queen of Illyria who not only led valiant men in person to the field but opposed the Roman Legions in all their might and flourishing time of their Empire obtaining from them many glorious Victories The ordinary souldiers in Rome even for private and common services were guerdoned some with Obsidionall Navall and Civick Garlands others with Lâ—nces headed with Gold some with Ivory Chairs others with Statues of Ivory figured Gowns called Vestes Palmatae which were wrought or embroidered all over with Palm trees such Conquerors used in War and Consuls in the time of Peace blew Ensigns for Sea-conquest golden Chains double Corn double stipendary Wagâ—s or Pay and sometimes with the dignity of civil Mâ—gistracy and Office Others were presented with Rings 〈◊〉 Flags or Pendants Coats of Mail and golden Vâ—ssels some were allowed Ovations others Triumphs Lâ—udations Acclamations Gratulations c. If these thing were allowed to men only born for action What Celebrations Dignities Praises and Encomiums what rich Chains of Pearls and Carkanets of Diamonds nay Crowns embelished with Carbuncles what Pictures Statues Sepulchers and Monuments to eternize their memory if it were possible beyond all posterity merits Hypsicratea the wife of Mithridates Artemisia of Mausolus Tomyris Queen of the Scythians Zenobia of the Palmirians Amalasuntha of the Goths who have changed their soft effeminacies into noble Virility and their feminine weaknesse into masculine Valor in which by following they have got the start and by imitating excelled I now proceed to the honor due to Modesty and Temperance lately expressed in Comiola Turinga Otho the fourth Emperor being in Florence and amongst many other beautiful young Damosels then in thâ— flower of their age casting his eie upon one Galdrata 〈◊〉 daughter to a Florentine Citizen whose name was 〈◊〉 he spake liberally of her beauty in the presence of her father insomuch that his words savoured of great love and affection towards the Virgin which apprehended by Bâ—llincionus he told the Emperor That if his fancy were that way addicted and