concerning the diuers opinions of men what this supreame deity should be some held it the vniuerse or the gloabe of the world of which opinion was Origines in his fift booke against Celsus The Stoicks held it to bee the first world the Platonists a second world and diuerse other Sectists of Greece to bee a third world Thales Milesius called God a Mind that fashioned all creatures out of the water that knew no beginning and was not capable of end Anaxmiander he ascribed a deity to the starres and the planets and these coelestiall bodies attributing no honor to that Mind of which Thales dreamed Anaximenes thought it to be the Infinite ayer to which hee attributed the Originall of all causes and deriued the birth of the gods from thence for so Saint Augustine and Cicero affirmes Democritus Abderites as Cicero and Arnobius testifie of him was of opinion that it was a Mind of fire and the soule of the world Plutarch in the life of Nuâ—â— sets downe Pythagoras his opinion concerning this godhead and thus defines it A Minde still trauelling neuer out of motion but disperst and diffus'd through all the parts of the world and things naturall from which all creatures whatsoeuer that are borne take life Lysis and Philolaus call it an vnspeakeable number or a summity of the greatest or smallest number for so Origines faith Archelaus Physicus would haue all things to be created of earth and as Epiphanius testates of him the beginning of all things to proceede from thence Pherecidas taught that the earth was before all other things and therefore to that he appropriated a diuinitie Heraclius Ephesius contested the gods to be made of Fire so Varro writes of him of the same beleefe was Hippasus Metapontinus witnesse Simplicius Anaxagoras Clazomen called his god Homoeomeria that is Likenesse of parts and that a diuine thought was the producter of all things whatsoeuer So Augustine reports of him others that he held an infinite Mind to be the first moouer Prodicus Coeus as Epihanius tels vs plac't his god in the foure Elements likewise in the Sun and the Moone in which two planets there existed a liuing vertue Diogenes Apollonaites deriued his god from the Ayre as the matter from whence all things had their reality as likewise that it did participate of diuine reason without which nothing could be created Cleanthes Assius would haue his god of the Firmament as diuerse other of the Stoicks And as Arnobius witnesseth of him sometimes he called him the Will now the Minde then that part of the ayer which is aboue the fire and sometimes againe the Reason Straton made Nature his summum bonum Antisthenes Atheniensis he taught that there were many popular gods but one onely Architector of the fabricke of the world Chrysippus Silix the Stoicke hee taught that god was a naturall power endued with diuine reason and then againe he called him a Diuine necessity Zeno Citteieus called him a diuine and naturall Law and sometimes the Firmament Zenophanes Colophonius called him Whatsoeuer was infinite in a conioyned mind or one vniuersall and euery thing that as Theophrastus saith of him he imagined to be god Parmenides Eliates called him fantasme or an apprehension of an Imaginarie thing something resembling a crown which the greeks call Stephanos conteining within it a fierie light an orbe or girdle which compasseth and embraceth the heauens adhearing to his fantasie were Cicero and Simplicius Empedocles Agrigentinus he would haue foure natures of which all things should subsist and these he taught to be diuine as also that they had byrth and should see end for so Cicero writes in his book de natura deorum Theodorus and Epiphanius speake of one Theodorus sirnamed Atheos the Atheist He affirmed the gods to be meere toyes and not worthie of diuine honors that would persuade men by their examples to theft periurie and rapine Protagoras Abderita was of opinion That it was not lawfull to inquire concerning the gods whether they were or were not or of what nature and qualitie Xenocrates Chalcedonius made eight gods in the wandering starres the number of fiue in the whole number of the planets one a seauenth in the Sunne an eight in the moone Plato Atheniensis went more diuinely to worke who taught that it is neither the ayre nor reason nor nature but that there is one onely God by whom alone the world was fashioned and made persect and miraculous Zenophon Socraticus held argument That the forme of the true God was not visible and therefore his essence not lawfull to be sought into Ariston the Stoicke affirmed that God might be comprehended within his owne substance Aristotle proposed That one Mind gouerned the whole world and that it was the prime and principall cause of all things Speucippus constituted a naturall liuing power by which all things were gouerned and that he stil'd a deity for so Arnob in his eighth booke reports Alcmaeon Crotoniates did attribute a deitie to the Sunne the Moone and the rest of the Planets in his ignorance as Cicero speakes of him giuing immortality to things meerely mortall Ecphantus Siracusanus as Erigines relates of him imagined the diuinitie to exist in the mind and soule Brachmanae who were the Indian wise men or Sophoi called it the Light but not as the splendour of the Sunne or Ayre but the light of reason by which wise and vnderstanding men might enquire iâ—to the darke and mysticall secrets of nature Lactantius and Cicero say that it was the opinion of the Stoicks for the most part That this instrumentall power was a diuine substance intelligeable and ayerie but wanting forme yet to bee transhapt or made like to whatsoeuer it best pleased it selfe The same Philosophers attributed a god-hood to the starres and all other coelestiall bodies Heraclides Ponticus thought the World and the Minde both diuine and was of opinion that this forme of the deity was mutable reducing the earth and the heauens within the compasse of Godhead Epicurus Atheniensis hee made him gods of Atoms of Moates allowing them bodies differing from men but bearing humaine forme M. Terentius Varro supposed him to be the soule of the world and the world it selfe to be god Cicero defines him thus a certaine pure and free mind seperate from all mortall commixtion euer moouing and all things knowing and Origines adhering to the opinion of Exilneus concludes that the gods are euer during not subiect to corruption and yet altogether without prouidence But least I should grow tedious in the search of so many diuerse opinions which to some may appeare impertinent to the tractate in hand yet not altogether vnnecessary to such who haue not trauelled in the search of these Antiquities I wil come neerer to the matter and to speake of the goddesses as we promist Hesiod hath left to memorie that there are no lesse than thirtie thousand gods within the compasse of the world and euery one haue seuerall predominance ouer men
He that is idle and would businesse haue Let him of these two things himselfe prouide A Woman and a Ship no two things crane More care or cost to suite the one for pride Th' other for tackles they are both like fire For still the more they haue they more desire And this I speake by proofe from morne to noone Their labour and their trauells haue none end To wash to râ—b to wipe and when that 's done To striue whore nothing is amâ—sse to mend To polish and expolish painâ— and staine Vnguents to daube and then wipe out againe c. Now what generall censures these fantasticke garbes and meere importunities incurre if any demaund I answere What lesse than weakenesse of the braine or loosenesse of life This iest following though it be old yet me thinkes it is pittie it should dye vnremembered A gentleman meeting in the streets with a braue gallant wench and richly accommodated seeing her walke with her brests bare almost downe to the middle laying his hand vpon them demaunded of her in her eare whether that flesh were to bee sold who skornefully answered No to whom he modestly replyed Then let me aduise you to shut vp your shop-windowes I will end this monitorie counsell with an Epigram out of Ausonius which beares title of two sisters of vnlike conditions Delia nos miramur est mirabile qoud tam Dissimiles estis c. Wee wonder Delia and it strange appeares Thou and thy sister haue such censure past Though knowne a whore the habit 's chast she woares Thou saue thy habit nothing whorish hast Though than chast life she hath chast habit sought Her Manners her thy Habit makes thee nought In memorie of Virgin chastitie I will cite you one historie out of Marullus lib. 4. cap. 8. The monument of Aegiptae the daughter of Edgar king of England a professed Virgin in her life time beeing opened after shee had many yeares lyen in the graue all her bodie was turned into dust sauing her wombe and bowells and they were as fresh and faire without any corruption as at the first day of her interment Those that stood by wondering at the obiect one Clerke amongst the rest broke foorth into these tearmes Wonder not to see the rest of the bodie to taste of putrifaction and the wombe still sound and perfect which neuer was contaminated with the least stayne or blemish of lust Of her Bishop Danstan thus speakes Worthie is her remembrance to be honoured vpon Earth whose chast life is celebrated amongst the Saints in Heauen O great reward due to Virgin chastitie by which such felicitie is attayned that their soules are not onely glorified in Heauen but their bodies are not subiect to corruption on earth But because the Theame I am next to speake of is of Virgins giue me leaue to begin with the best that euer was since the beginning for Beautie Chastitie and Sanctitie nor shall it be amisse to speake a word or two concerning her Genealogie MARY the Mother of CHRIST was the daughter of Ioachim of the Tribe of Iuda her mothers name was Anna the daughter of Isachar of the Tribe of Leui. Here as S. Hierome obserues is to be noted That Anna and Emeria were two sisters of Emeria came Elizabeth the mother of Iohn Baptist also Anna was first marryed to Ioachim and had by him Mary the mother of Christ and was after espoused to Cleophas by whom she had Mary Cleophe who was marryed to Alphaeus From them two came Iames the lesse surnamed Alphaeus Symon Canâ—â—â—aus Iudas Thaddaus and Ioseph otherwise called Barsabas Eusebius in his Ecclesiasticall Historie Lib. 2. cap. 2. sayth That Iames the lesse was called the Brother of our Lord because hee was the brother of Ioseph the husband of Mary but his opinion is not altogether authenticall Also Anna was espoused to Salome and had by him Mary Salome after marryed to Zebedeus and had by him Iâ—mes the greater and Iohn the Euangelist Ioseph the husband of Mary was the brother of Cleophas It is also obserued That in the one and fortieth yeere of the reigne of Augustus Caesar in the seuenth moneth which is September in the eleuenth day of the Moone which is the foure and twentieth day of the moneth on a Thursday Iohn Baptist was conceiued and two hundred threescore and fifteene dayes after on a Fryday was borne So that he was the fore-runner of Christ both in his Conception his Birth his Baptisme his Preaching and his Death A woman goeth with child two hundred threescore and sixteene dayes for so long by computation was Christ in the wombe of the blessed Virgin though all women goe not so long with child as S. Augustine obserues Lib. 4. de Ciuitate Dei cap. 5. So that Christ was longer in the wombe by a day and more than S. Iohn Baptist. Iohn also was borne when the dayes began to shorten and wane and Christ when the dayes began to waxe long Concerning these Antiquities I conclude with a sentence of S. Augustines Against Reason sayth hee 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 Historie Of MARY the Blessed Virgin LEt it not be held vnnecessarie or appeare out of course amongst these Virgins to insert a historie memorable for the â—arenesse thereof to all posteritie Iohannes Wyerius in his booke intituled de Prestigijs demonum hath collected it out of Suidas In the time that Iâ—stinianuâ— was Emperour there was a prince amongst the Iewes whose name was Theodosius He hauing great acquaintance and familiaritie with one Philippâ—s a Christian a bancker or one that dealt in the exchange of money for hee was called Philippus Argentarius this Philip did often sollicite and exhort him to leaue his Iudaisme and be a conuertite and turne to the Christian religion to whom he aunswered Indeed he must ingeniosly confesse he made no question but that Iesus whom the Christians adored was the same Messias of whom the holie Prophets foretold yet he could not bee persuaded to relinquish the honours and profits that he had amongst his owne nation and giue himselfe vp to a name which they knew not or at least would not acknowledge yet that he beleeued so of Christ he was not onely persuaded by the Oracles of the holie Prophets but he found it approoued by a certaine mysterie namely a writing most charily still kept amongst the Iewes in a place most safe and secret where their choise records with the especiallest care and trust are reserued which was of this nature It was a custome amongst the Iewish nation at what time the holie Temple was yet standing in Ierusalem to haue continually the number of twentie two chiefe and selected Priests iust so many as there bee letters in the Hebrew language or bookes of the old Testamenâ— and so often as any one of these was taken away by
death immediately another was elected to succeed in his place and being chosen in a booke kept in the treasurie for that onely purpose expressely to write downe his owne name and the names of both his parents with the dayes punctually set downe of the decease of the one and the succession of the other Now in the time that Christ was conuersâ—nt in Iudaea and yet had not shewed himself to the world nor preached the Word openly to the people it happened that one of the Priests of the foresaid number dyed neyther after many voyces and sundrie nominations was any agreed vpon or thought fit to be ascribed into his place At length was propounded IESVS the sonne of the Carpenter Ioâ—eph for so they tearmed him a man though young yet for the sanctitie of his life his behauiour and doctrine aboue all the rest commended This suffrage standing as hauing generall approbation from all it was thought conuenient to send for his mother for his father Ioseph was late dead into the Consistorie onely to know their names and to register them in the aforesaid booke She therefore being called and diligently questioned of her sonne and his father thus answered That indeed she was the mother of IESVS 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 shee could make it plainely appeare For being a Virgin and then in Galilee the Angell of God sayth shee entred the house where I was and appearing vnto me not sleeping but thus as I am awake he told me That by the Holy-Ghost I should conceiue and bring foorth a sonne and commanded me that I should call his name IESVS Therefore beeing then a Virgin by that Vision I conceiued I brought foorth IESVS and I still remaine a Virgin vnto this day When the Priests heard this they appointed faithfull and trustie Midwiues with all diligence and care to make proofe whether Mary were a Virgin or no they finding the truth most apparant and not to be contradicted deliuered vp to the Priests That shee was a Virgin pure and immaculate Then they sent for those women that were knowne to be at her deliuerie and were witnesses of the Infants comming into the world all which did attest and iustifie That shee was the mother of the same IESVS With these things the Priests amazed and astonished they presently entreated Mary that shee would freely professe vnto them what his Parents were that their names according to custome might be registred amongst the others To whom the blessed Virgin thus answered Certaine I am that I brought him into the world but know no father that he hath from the Earth but by the Angell it was told me That hee was the Sonne of GOD Hee therefore is the Sonne of GOD and me This the Priests vnderstanding they called for the Booke which being layd open before them they caused these words to be inscribed Vpon such a day deceased such a Priest borne of such and such Parents in whose place by the common and vnite suffrage of vs all is elected Priest IESVS the Sonne of the liuing GOD and the Virgin MARY And this Booke Theodosius affirmed by the especiall diligence of the most noble amongst the Iewes and the chiefe Princes was reserued from the great sacke and destruction of the citie and Temple and was transferred into the citie of Tiberias and there kept a long time after Sâ—idas testifies That hee hath heard this discourse from honest men who deliuered it to him word by word as they themselues haue heard it from the mouth of Philippus Argentarius This most blessed and pure Virgin Mary the mother of our Lord and Sauiour was borne of the holy Matron S. Anne in the yeere of the World 3948 and in the yeere before Christ fifteene Of him Claâ—dian thus elegantly writes â—n one of his Epigrams Proles vera Dei â—unctisque antiquior Annis Nâ—â—c geniâ—â—s qui semper er as True Sonne of God older than Time that hast Thy byrth but now yet from beginning wast Author of Light and Light before all other Oh thou that art the parent of thy mother And by thine equall-aged father sent From Heauen vnto this terrhene continent Whose word was made Flesh and constrain'd to dwell In the straight prison of a Virgins cell And in a narrow angle to remaine Whose power no limit can no place conteine Who being borne did'st now begin to see All these great workes created first by thee The worke and workeman of thy selfe not skorning Tâ—obey those wearie houres of Eu'n and Morning Of which th' art Lord and tell each minute ore Made by thy Wisdome for mans vse before And took'st on thee our shape onely to show To vs that God we did till then not know c. Petronilla WHen Peter the Apostle had by his Faith cured all infirmities and diseases and in all places yet he suffered his daughter Petronilla to bee grieuously afflicted with a Feauor and being demanded why hee that had cured others did not helpe her he answered Because hee knew her sickenesse to be most behoofefull for her soules health for the weaker she was in bodie she was so much the stronger in Faith setling her cogitations on the ioyes of Heauen and not the pleasures of the world desiring of God that she might rather die a chast Virgin than to be the wife of the Consull Flaccus by whom she was at that time most earnestly sollicited whose prayer was heard for she dyed of that sicknesse and the Consull was preuented of his purpose who had long insidiated her chastitie Marull lib. 4. cap. 8. The like we reade of Hillarius Pictauiensis Episcopus who hauing long trained vp his daughter Appia in chastitie and sanctitie of life fearing least time might alter her vowes and tempt her with the vaine pleasures of the world hee besought the giuer of all graces that hee might rather with ioy follow her to her graue than 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 onely president of Virginall chastitie Tora the virgin was of that chast and austere life that hauing tooke a vow and once entered her profession shee neuer put on her backe any new garment or so much as changed her shooes Maria Aegyptiaca liued the life of an Hermit in the sollitude of an vnfrequented desart some write of her that as often as she was seene to pray shee seemed to be lifted vp from the Earth into the Ayre the heigth of a cubit Columba a Virgin of Perusina is reported to be of that chastitie and abstinence that she neuer tasted any other food than the bare fruits of the Earth from the yeares of her discretion till the houre of her death
Vates Ancirrae and as most will haue it this was Cassandra the daughter of King Priamus and Hecuba their femall issue are thus numbred Creâ—sa Cassandra Ilione Laodice Lycaste Medesicastis Polixena Climene Aristomache Xenodice Deimone Metioche Pisis Cleodice and Medusa Amongst which she onelie attained to the spirit of Prophesie and predicted of the destruction of Troy but her Augurie was neuer credited Appollodorus as also Higinus giues this reason Appollo inflamed with her beautie promist if she would prostitute herselfe to his pleasure he would inspire her with the spirit of Diuination which he accordinglie performed but she failing in her promise to him he in reuenge of that iniurie caused that her Prophesies howsoeuer true should neuer haue credit which makes her in her diuination thus complaine The world to Troy I fitlie may compare Erected first by Neptune and the Sonne These two the aptest Heirogliphicks are For water and for fire The buildings donne Laoâ—edon their right the gods denyes For which by water Troy was first destroid So was the world for mans false periuries In the great Deluge where but eight inioyd The benefit of life Troy happy were If it by water could forewarned be So were the worldâ— 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 wombe conceiu'd a brand To giue it flame he that shall many a mile Trauell by water to bring fire to land Lust is the fuell Lust and other sinnes Are the combustible stuffe will bring to nought The worlds great fabricke since from them begins All desolation first to mankind brought The world like Troy must burne 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 scorne This doth Cassandra greeue To speake all truth when none will truth beleeue The better to illustrate this Oracle know that Laomedon about to build the walls of Troy borrowed much coine of the Priests of Neptune and Phoebus to accomplish the worke vpon promise of due payment when the walls were finished But breaking his faith and denying restitution of those summes lent the gods inraged at his periurie Neptune brought vp his waues so high that he in a deluge vtterly destroied the citie whilst Apollo by the scorching of his beames made the vpper countries barren For the burning of Troy it happened after the ten yeares siege elaboratly described by Virgill in his Aeneidos when Aenaeas discourses the whole desolation of the citie to Dido in which he speakes of the prince Chorebus to bee much inamoured of Cassandra who rescued her when shee was dragd by the haire from Apollo's altar and was slaine in the attempt The death of Cassandra is thus reported by Hyginus in Fabulus When the spoiles and prisoners of Troy were diuided amongst the Princes of Greece Cassandra fell by lot to the archduke and generall Agamemnon with whom he safely arriued in Mycene of which place he was king and gouernour But Clitemnestra the daughter of Tindarus sister to Hellen and wife to Agamemnon being before their landing possest by Oeaces or as some call him Cethus the brother of Palamides that Cassandra was the prostitute of Agamemnon and had supplanted her from his loue which lie he had forged to be reuenged of the Generall for his brothers death before Troy Clitemnestra therefore surprised with iealosie complotted with Aegistus the sonne of Thiestas to murder them both the first night they lodged in the Pallace which was accordingly performed but Electra the daughter of Agamemnon stole thence her brother Orestes then but an infant who else had perished with his father and conueyed him to be safe kept to one Sihophius of Phocis who had before bin married to Astichaea the sister of Agamemnon he brought him vp to manhood till Orestes found fit oportunitie to reuenge himselfe on the two Regicides his mother and Aegistus SIBILLA EVROPAEA SHe is said to be Incertae patriae as no man knowing from what perticular region to deriue her and therefore is knowne by no perticular name nor by the antient Historiographers numbred amongst the ten only amongst the twelue she hath place as may appeare by this her Prophesie When the great King of all the world shall haue No place on Earth by which he can be knowne When he that comes all mortall men to saue Shall find his owne life by the world orethrowne When the most just iniustice shall depraue And the great judge be judged by his owne Death when to death a death by death hath giuen Then shall be op't the long shut gates of Heauen SIBILLA TIBVRLINA IT seemes she deriues her selfe from the riuer Tiber she is otherwise called Albunaea of the cittie Alba which was erected before Rome as also Italica and by some Alburnea It is reported that the Romans going about to deifie Augustus Caesar demaunded aduise of this Sybill who after three daies fast standing before the altar where the Emperour himselfe was then present after many hidden words miraculously spoke concerning Christ vpon the sudden Heauen opened and Caesar saw a beautifull Virgin standing before the Altar who held in her armes as louely an infant at this apparition Caesar afrighted fell on his face at which instant was heard a voice as from Heauen saying This is the altar of the Sonne of God In which place was after built a Temple dedicated to the Virgin Marie and called Ara Caeli i. The altar of Heauen This Policronicon affirmes and for the truth thereof citeth saint Augustine lib. 18. cap 24. There is little more remembered of her life sauing that in her bookes she prophesied of the comming of the Sauiour of the world much after this manner Seuen wonders of the world haue bin proclaimed But yet a greater than these are not named The Egyptians high Pyramides who seem'd To meet the starres a worke once much esteem'd The Tower of Pharos The miraculous wall That Babylon begyrt The fourth wee call Diana's Church in Ephesus Fame sings ' Thad fix and thirtie Pillers built by kings As many Next to these Mausolus Tombe Than which the Earth supporteth on her wombe No brauer structure Next to these there was The huge Colossus that was cast in Brasse Of height incredible whom you may espye Holding a lampe fiftie seauen cubits hye Bestriding an huge riuer The seuenth wonder Was of great Ioue that strikes with trisulck thunder His Statue caru'd in Yuorie and contriu'd By Phideas the best workeman then suruiu'd What at these trifles stands the world amaz'd And hath on them with admiration gaz'd Then wonder when the troubled world t' appease He shall descend who made them that made these Of these Wonders briefly to make her diuination the more plaine Of these Pyramides there were diuerse of which the greatest tooke vp eight acres of ground parted into
noblest families were chosen as directors and chiefe ouerseers of that Order by whose negligence if by chance at any time that sacred Fire was extinguished thier iudgement was to bee beaten to death with strokes by the hand of the chiefe Priest or Flamin Valerius Maximus reports that the same judgement was executed vpon the same negligence by P. Licinius Crassus then in the high Priesthood All such as were found guiltie of incest were condemned to bee buried aliue nor was it lawfull as Labeo Antistius writes for any vnder six yeares or aboue ten to be admitted into that seruice besides she must not be the onely child of her father and mother neither must shee haue a lisping or stammering tongue bee deafe of her eares nor marked with any blemish about her bodie neither such an one whose parents one or both haue liued in seruitude or haue bin conuersant in any base offices neither such a one whose sister hath beene elected into the Priesthood all these are excused from the seruice of Vesta neither she whoâ—e father is a Flamin a South-sayer or one of the Decemuirie in the sacrifices or of the Septemuirate in the banquets There is likewise a dispensation with the daughters of kings and priests as vncapable of this ministerie neither can that mans child be admitted that hath not a knowne house and an abiding place in Italie for so Capito atteius writes so likewise the children of all such are restrained as haue the number of Three or more By the edict of the Praetor that no Virgin Vestall or Dialis which belongs to the sacrifices of Iupiter shall be compelled to any thing these be the words of the Praetor by the mouth of the crier Through all my iurisdiction I wil not vrge or force an oath from the Vestall Virgins nor from the Flamin Dialis in the chusing of the Vestall these things were obserued There is a caution by the law called Lex Pâ—pia That by the approbation of the chiefe Priest and by his special appointment twenty virgins were selected out of the people but this ordinance with many other were abrogated and abolisht by Time in so much that it was sufficient if any of free parents and honestlie descended petitioned or made meanes to the high Priest she might without more difficultie enter her oath and be admitted into the sacred order being receiued by him as one snatcht and taken violently from the hands of her enemies The words he vsed were these This vestall Priest whom I enter into this holy office according to the institution of the best law I receiue by the name of Amata to make her intercessions for the Nobilitie and people of Rome It was a custom to admit them all by the name of Amata because she that was first chosen by king Numa was so called and with these ceremonies shee was as it were hurried to the Temple of Vesta In Labeons commentaries it is thus found recorded The Vestall virgin is incapable to be made heire of any man or woman that dies intestate her goods likewise after her death returne to the common treasurie Pomponius Latus in his booke de Sacerdotijs agrees with Fenestella That Aeneas first brought the Vestal fire from Troy into Italy and Lauinium being built he there erected a Temple to her honour After this Ascanius consecrated another in a part of the hill Alba beneath which or at the foote thereof was a thick groue in which Mars vitiated Illia the mother of Romulus These Ministers of Vesta were tied to an oath of perpetuall virginitie for it was a custome amongst the Latines to make choice of the most noble and chast virgins After many yeres Romulus deuised all the chast ceremonies belonging to that Order and as Varro declares to vs created three score Priests to those publique seruises selected by their Tribes and Families but of the most noble vnblemisht stocks amongst the Romans The temple of Vesta is built round and is scituat betwixt the Capitoll and the Pallace in this is kept the perpetuall Fire for the Etimologie of Vesta is nothing else but purus ignis i. pure Fire Some are of opinion that in that Temple are kept the remenbrances of many both sacred and secret monuments some strange and vnknowne euen to the Priests and Virgins Some speake of two toonnes of no great quantitie the one continually shut the other open emptie some of the Virgins haue reported that the Palladium that fell from Heauen and was receiued into Troy is there still to be seene The first Virgins appointed by Numa were foure Gegania Berenia Camilla Tarpeia two others were added by Seruius Tullius Their vowes of virginitie were vnalterable for thirtie yeares In the first ten yeares they were to learne the ceremonies and to be as ministers and handmaides in the rest she was to gouerne and instruct others and the thirtie yeares expired she had libertie if she pleased to marrie If any of these Vestalls had wantonly offended she was to bee chastised by the Priest but such as were found incestuous were punished after this manner Being first bound she was laid vpon a beere like a coarse alreadie deceased and so carried through the midde Forum to the port or gate called Collina for there betwixt two walls is the graue of the vnchast Vestalls still apparant there is a caue hollowed vnder the earth the descent is with a ladder by the mouth which is of no great widenesse in this vault is a bed readie prepared a light burning with bread milke and oyle these things being all made readie for the purpose the delinquent is set downe her bands loosed and her head couered the high Priest whispering certaine secret things in her eare the other priests turning their faces from her which is no sooner done but shee is let downe into the cauerne earth throwne vpon her the graue filled and shee stifled aliue and that day on which this execution is done there is a generall silence and sadnesse through the whole cittie OPPIA SHe was one of the Vestall virgins who being taken in whordome and the fact manifestlie prooued she was conuented conuicted and had her doome to bee buryed aliue Vpon whom Strozzafilius inscribed this Epitaph Vestalis virgo laesi damnata pudoris Contegor hoc viuens Oppia sub tumulo I Oppia once a Vestall that For sinne my iudgement haue Condemn'd for lust am liuing shut And couered in this graue Claudia There were two of that name as Liuy in his 22 booke reports who were addicted to the ceremonies of Vesta Fonteia was the sister of Marc. Fonteius who being a Prefect or gouernour amongst the Galls was accused before the Senat of iniustice and misgouernment as transgressing the lawes and edicts of the Romans Marcia was a Vestall virgin and one that attended vpon the sacred ceremonies she was condemned of incest and as Oppia was before her buried aliue Minutia also a minister of Vestaes sacrifices
early to attend the king who was that day to bee entertained by the earle his father in law All things were noblie prouided and Edgar royally receiued and set to dinner some write that Ethelâ—old had caused a kitchin maid to put on his wiues habit and sit at the kings Table but I find no such matter remembered in my Author the truth is the king about the middest of dinner cald for the Earle Orgarus and demanded of him whether he had a wife or no if he had why he might not haue her companie knowing it was a generall obseruation in England that without the wiues entertainement there could be no true and heartie welcome The earle replied that at that time he was an vnhappie widdower he then demaunded whether he had any children to continue his posteritie to which he answered heauen had onely blest him with one daughter a plaine damosell yet the sole hope of his future memorie The king was then importunate to see her and commanded her to be instantly brought vnto his presence which put Ethelwold into a strange agonie yet still hoping she had done as hee had late inioyned her when shee contrarie to his expectation came in apparelled like a bride in rich and costly vestures her golden haire fairely kembed and part hanging downe in artificiall curles her head stoocke with jewells and about her neck a chaine of diamonds which gaue a wonderous addition to that beautie which naked of it selfe without any ornament was not to bee paraleld a contrarie effect it wrought in the king and her husband To Edgar she seemed some goddesse at least a miracle in nature to Ethelwold in regard of his feare a furie or what worse hee could compare her to O fraile woman in this one vanitie to appeare beautifull in the eyes of a king thou hast committed two heinous and grieuous sinnes Adulterie and Murder for accordingly it so fell out Edgar was as much surprised with her loue as incensed with hate against her lord both which for the present he dissembled neither smiling on the one nor frowning on the other In the afternoone the king would needes hunt the stagge in the forrest of Werwelly since called Hoore-wood In the chace by the appointment of Edgar Earle Ethelwold was strooke through the bodie with an arrow and so slaine the king after made Elfritha his bride and queene The Earle had a base sonne then present at the death of his father of whom the king asked how hee liked that manner of hunting to whom he answered Royall sir what seemeth good to you shal be to me no way offensiue from that time forward he was euer gratious with the king And Elfritha thinking to make attonement with heauen for the murder of her husband or rather as Ranulphus saith for causing Edward to whom she was step-mother to be slaine that her owne sonne Egelredus might raigne builded an Abbie for Nunnes at Worwell where she was after buried Gunnora IN the time that Agapitus was Pope Lewis king of Fraunce the sonne of Charles caused William Longa Spata the second duke of Normandie to bee treacherously slaine this William was sonne to Rollo The Lords of Normandie with this murder much insenced watched their aduantage and surprised the king in Rhothemage where they committed him to safe custodie till he had promised and sworne to yeeld vp Normandie to Richard sonne and immediate heire to William the late murdered duke and moreouer in what place soeuer the king and the yong duke should haue meeting to conferre that Richard should weare his sword but king Lewis neither to haue sword nor knife about him This Richard being yong was called Richard the Old he had besides another attribute giuen him which was Richard without Feare because he was neuer known to be dismayde at any thing but a third aboue these was that he pretended to be wonderous religious He was duke two and fiftie yeares and tooke a Ladie to his bed from Denmarke whose name was Gunnora by whom he had fiue sonnes and two daughters the eldest of which was married to Etheldredus king of England her name was Emma and shee was called the flower of Normandie Concerning this bold yet religious duke it is reported by Marianus lib. 2. Henricus Ranulphus and others that besides many other testimonies of his sanctitie this one made him most eminent A Monke of Andoenus in Rothomage a town in Normandie going one night to meete with his sweet heart his way lay ouer a bridge and vnder that bridge was a deepe foord or riuer it so happened that mistaking his footing hee fell into the water and there was drowned He was no sooner dead but there came to carrie away his soule an Angell and a Fiend these two contended about it the one would haue it so would the other great was the controuersie betwixt them at length they concluded to put the case to duke Richard both to stand to his arbitrement much pleading there was on both sides at length the duke gaue sentence That the soule should be restored againe to the bodie be placed againe vpon that bridge from whence he had falne and if then he would offer to goe from thence to his sweet heart the diuell should take him but if otherwise he because he was a Church-man should be still in the Angels protection This was done and the Monke left his way to the woman and fled to the church as to a sanctuarie whether the duke went the next day and found the Monkes clothes still wet and told the Abbot euerie circumstance as it fell out therefore the Monke was shriuen did penance was absolued and reconciled This I haue read which I persuade no man to beleeue This duke liued with the faire Gunnora long time dishonestly and without marriage had by her those children aforesaid but at length by the persuasion of the nobilitie and intercession of the cleargie he tooke her to wife The first night after the marriage when the duke came to her bed she turned her backe towards him which she had neuer done till that time at which hee maruelling demaunded of her the reason why she did so To whom she answered before I was your strumpet and therfore as a seruant was tide to doe your pleasure in althings but now I am your wife and made part of your selfe therefore henceforth I claime with you an equall soueraigntie and will doe what mee list bearing my selfe now like a princesse not like a prostitute This I am easily induced to beleeue for how soone do honoures change manners Iuuenall in his sixt Satire speaking of marriage thus sayth Semper habet lites aeternaque iurgia lectus c. The marriage bed is sildome without strife And mutuall chidinges hee that takes a wife Bargaines for mightie trouble and small rest Sleepe growes a stranger then whilest in her brest She lodgeth Passion Selfe-will Anger Feare And from her eyes drops many a
his ieast notwithstanding his bonds and captiuitie thus answered If I cannot be assured of safetie till I be brought before the eyes of your king Antigonus he hauing but one eye for he had lost the other in battaile what then shall become of me At which words Antigonus being enraged caused him instantly to be slaine who had he kept his tongue might haue beene sent home safe and ransomelesse Fulgos. Lib. 8. cap. 1. Plautus in Asinaria thus reprooues your verbositie Nam multum loquaces merito habemur omnes Nec mutam profecto repertam vllam esse Hodie dicunt mulierem illo in seculo Great praters all we women are they say And full of words there 's not amongst vs found Any that can keepe silence but betray Our selues we must and seeke the whole world round If then Loquacitie be so reproueable in your Sex how ill then would Lyes which women tearme Excuses appeare in your mouthes For who will beleeue the chastitie of your Liues that finds no truth in your Lippes It is reported of two Beggars who watching Epiphanius a zealous and charitable man as he came forth of his gates to gaine of him the greater almes the one of them fell prostrate vpon the earth and counterfeited himselfe dead whilest the other seemed pittiously to lament the death of his companion desiring of Epiphanius something towards his buriall The good man wished rest to the bodie diseased and drawing out his Purse gaue bountifully towards his Funerall with these words Take charge of his Corse and cease mourning my sonne for this bodie shall not presently rise againe and so departed who was no sooner gone but the Beggar commending his fellow for so cunningly dissembling iogges him on the elbow and bids him rise that they might be gone but he was iustly punisht for his dissimulation for he was strucke dead by the hand of Heauen which his fellow seeing ran after Epiphanius with all the speed he could make desiring him humbly to rayse his companion againe to life to whom he answered The Iudgements of God once past are vnchangeable therefore what hath happened beare with what patience thou canst Zozomenus Lib. 7. cap. 26. Therefore Plantus in Mercatore thus sayth Mihi scelus videtur me parenti proloqui mendacium i. It appeares a heynous thing to me to lye to my father If Lying be so detestable what may we thinke of Periurie The Indians vsed to sweare by the water Sandaracines a floud so called and who violated that Oath was punished with death or else they were curtailed of their Toes and Fingers In Sardinia was a Water in which if the Periurer washt his eyes hee was instantly strucke blind but the innocent departed thence purer in his fame and more perfect in his sight Alex. Lib. 5. cap. 10. Miraculous are those Ponds in Sicilia called Palici neere to the riner Simethus where Truths and Falsehoods were strangely distinguished The Oathes of men and women being written in Tables and cast in them the Truths swum aboue water and the Lyes sunke downe to the bottome All such as forswore themselues washing in these waters dyed not long after but others returned thence with more validitie and strength The sinne of Periurie was hatefull amongst the Aegyptians and the punishment fearefull All Periurers had their heads cut off as those that had two wayes offended in their pietie towards the gods and in their faith to men Diodor. Sicul. Lib. 2. cap. 2. de rebus antiquis From instructing your Tongues I come next to your Attyres but hauing touched it elsewhere I will onely speake of the iust Taxation luxurious Habite or prodigalitie in Apparrell hath been branded with in all ages and reprooued in all persons especially in such whose garments exceed their estates which argues apparant pride or such as pretend to be meere Fashion-mongers pursuing euery fantasticke and outlandish garbe and such may iustly be reprooued of folly but since they are both so common in our Nation to discouer both too plainely I should but contend against custome and seeking to please few offend many There was a Law amongst the Grecians That all such as vainely spent their patrimonie either in riotous excesse or prodigalitie in attyre as well women as men were not suffered to be buried in the sepulchres of their fathers Alex. Lib. 6. cap. 14. So hatefull was sprucenesse in habite and effeminacie amongst the Macedonians that Philip the father of Alexander depriued a Nobleman of Tarentum of all his Honours and Offices because hee but delighted in warme Bathes thus reproouing him It seemes thou art neither acquainted with the customes nor manners of the Macedonians amongst whom thou hast not once heard of a woman though great with child that euer washt but in cold water I see not how that which is so reprooueable in men can be any way commendable in women What shall we thinke then of those affected pleasures now adayes so much in vse as Riots Reuels Banquets Pride Surfets Vinocitie Voracitie which as in men I meane being vsed in excesse they appeare odious so in young Virgins in whom should be nothing but affected Modestie in married Wiues that ought to be presidents of Chastitie and temperate and graue Matrons that should be the patternes and imitable obiects of sincere Vertue they cannot but shew abhominable The inconuenience of these Excesses Silius Italicus well obserued Lib. 15. de Bello Punici when he thus said Inde aspice late Florentes quondam luxus quas vertitit vrbes Quippe nec Ira Deum tantum nec tela c. Thence looke abroad and see How many flourishing Cities ruin'd bee Famous of old since neither the Gods Rage The hostile Weapon nor the Enemies strage Hath ruin'd Man in that abundant measure As Riot hath mixt with vnlawfull pleasure These are the sinnes that punish themselues who as it is said of Lust carrie their owne whips at their girdles I was bold in some part of this Worke presuming on the goodnesse of your Sex as to say There was no excellent gift in man which was not in some sort paralleld by one woman or other Therefore if any of you haue beene or are still addicted to these enormities I entreat them but to remember what is writ of Themistocles who in his youth was so wholly giuen ouer to all dissolutenesse namely these two excesses Wine and Women that his father banished him his house and his owne mother through griefe strangled her selfe Valer. Max. Lib. 6. cap. 11 But after Miltiades was made Generall and fought that memorable battaile at Marathon in which against infinite oddes hee defeated the Barbarians there was neuer any thing seene or knowne in him which was not modest and comely And being demanded how hee came so suddainely changed Militia inquit c. The thought of Warre saith hee will admit neither slouth in me nor wantonnesse Plutarch in Grecor Apotheg Would you but entertaine into your thoughts as
at once shee thus spake to them If not in Art yet Berta was before you in time I thanke your loue and commend your skill but shee hath preuented you of the blessing Which saying of hers is still remembred as a Prouerbe in all that Countrey for when any thing is done vnseasonably or not in due time they say Mon e pui quel tempo che Berta filaua i. You come not in the time when Berta spunne or as our English Prouerbe is You come a day after the Faire Bernard Scardeonus Lib. 3. Histor. Patau In which the Empresse expressed great wisedome who as shee shewed a rare bountie in which men and women come neerest the Gods who are the free giuers of all good things so shee knew how to dispose it namely to heâ— that came to tender her loue not such as auariciously presented their Offerings meerely for lucre and benefit for such come but like faire weather after Haruest And how could the Empresses Vertue bee better rewarded than to haue her Bountie outlast her Death and her Wisedome suruiue her Dust Touching Charitie Bruson Lib. 2. cap. 21. relates That a poore begger desiring an almes of Lacon hee thus answered himâ— If I giue thee any thingâ— I make thee a greater begger and thoâ—â— mayest curse him that first gaue thee for it was hee that made thee one Amongst the Lacedemoniansâ— nothing was more shamefull than to begge being an industrious Nation hating slouth and contenting themselues with little Notwithstanding Charitie is commendable in all and reckoned amongst the best Theologicall Vertues neyther is it any fault in such if their goodnesse and bountie be not a meanes to encourage idlenesse and slouth in bad people who make a pretence of want and penurie therefore commendable it is in any man that is apt to giue to know vpon whom hee doth bestow King Archelaus being at a banquet where such as hee vouchsafed to set at his Table were wonderous pleasant about him amongst others one that had great familiaritie with him demanunded as a gift a great standing bole which the king had then in his hand which hee had no sooner spoken but the king called to one that waited at his elbow to whom hee sayd Hold take this bole and beare it to the Poet Euripides and tell him I bestow it on him as my free gift The other demanding the reason thereof Archelaus answered Thou indeede art onely worthie to aske but not receiue but Euripides is worthie to receiue without asking In which hee nothing abated of his kingly bountie onely hee apprehended how most worthily to dispose it Plutarch in Regum Apotheg But how this Charitie in women is rewarded I will onely instance Tabitha spoken of in the Acts who beeing dead was thought worthie for her former Charitie in relieuing Widowes and Orphants to haue Peters knees and prayers to restore her againe to life Now of the reward of religious Pietie in which many Matrons and godly martyred Virgins amongst such as haue suffered strange deaths may be included as some by the Sword some by Fire others suffocated by Smoake stifled in Iakes shot with Arrowes tortured vpon Wheeles scourged with Whips seared with Irons boyled in Caldrons c. their Crownes are glorie their Rewards neither to bee expressed by penne tongue or apprehension of man Loosenesse of life first conuerted and the conuersion rewarded in a home-bred Historie A Ciuile gentleman within memorie in the heat of Summer hauing beene walking alone in the fields contemplating with himselfe and returning backe not the same way hee went out but through another part of the Suburbes to which hee was a meere stranger and finding himselfe extreamely athirst hee stepped into the first house that fairelyest offered it selfe to him and called for a Cup of Beere seating himselfe in the first Roome next to the street He had not well wiped the sweat from his face with his Handkerchiefe but two or three young Wenches came skittishly in and out the Roome who seeing him a man of fashion and therefore likely to be of meanes they thought to make of him some bootie being it seemes set on by the Grandam of the house for as it prooued it was a common Brothelhouse The youngest and handsomest amongst the rest was put vpon him who entreated him not to be seene below where euerie Porter Câ—â—â—an and common fellow came to drinke but to take a more conuenient â—nd retyred Roome The gentleman suspecting the place as it was indeed to be no better than it should be and being willing to see some fashions tooke her gentle proffer and went with her vp the stayres where they two being alone and a Bed in the Roome Beere being brought vp shee began to offer him more than common courtesie being so farre from modestie that shee almost prostituted her selfe vnto him Which hee apprehending asked her in plaine tearmes If these were not meere prouocations to incite him to Lust which shee as plainely confessed To whom he replyed That since it was so he was most willing to accept of her kind proffer onely for modestie sake hee desired her to shew him into a darker roome To which she assented and leads him from one place to another but hee still told her that none of all these was darke enough insomuch that shee began at length somewhat to distaste him because in all that time hee had not made vnto her any friendly proffer At length shee brought him into a close narrow roome with nothing but a Loope-hole for Light and told him Sir vnlesse you purpose to goe into the Coale-house this is the darkest place in the house How doth this please you To whom he answered Vnlesse thou strumpet thou canst bring me to a place so palpably tenebrious into which the eyes of Heauen cannot pierce and see me thou canst not persuade me to an act so detestable before God and good men For cannot he that sees into the hearts and reines of all behold vs here in our wickednesse And further proceeding told her the heynousnesse of her sinne towards God that her prostitution was in sight of him and his Angels and the euerlasting punishment thereto belonging Or if irreligious as shee was shee held these but Dreames and Fables hee bad her consider her estate in this world and what her best could be a Whore the name odious the profession abhominable despised of the indifferent but quite abandoned of those confirmed in Vertue That shee was in her selfe but a meere Leprosie to destroy her selfe and infect others a Sinke of Sinne and Diseases Or if her extraordinarie good fortune were such to escape the Spittle and the Surgeon yet shee was a continuall vasall to euerie Constable and Beadle neuer certaine of her Lodging if not in the Stocks in the Cage but the chiefest of her hopes in Bridewell c. To conclude hee read vnto her so strict and austere a Lecture concerning her base and debosht life that