sea-fight neer Salamine to behold which battel Xerxes had retired himselfe and stood but as a spectator Justine lib. 2. saith There was to be seen in Xerxes womanish feare in Artimesia manly audacity for she demeaned her selfe in that battell to the admiration of all men of whose ships the King taking especiall notice but not knowing to whom they belonged nor in whose management they then were one spake to the King and said Great Lord behold you not how bravely the Queen Artimesia bears her selfe this day the King would not at first beleeve that such resolution could be in that Sex 〈…〉 when notwithstanding her brave service he perceiv'd 〈…〉 and put to flight he sighing thus said All my men this day have shewed themselves women and there is but one woman amongst them and she onely hath shewed her selfe a man Many of the most illustrious persons died that day as also of the Meads amongst whom was the great Captain Aria Begnes the sonne of Darius and brother of Xerxes Cleopatra Queen of Aegypt the daughter of Dionysius Auleies after the death of Julius Caesar having taken Antonius in the bewitching 〈◊〉 of her beauty she was not contented with the Kingdomes of Aegypt Syria and Arabia but she was ambiâ—ious to sovereignize over the Roman Empire in which though she failed it shewed as invincible a spirit in 〈◊〉 as she exprest an unmatched 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of her voluntary death 〈◊〉 the Persian invading the Messagers and Scythians of which 〈◊〉 then reigned Queen she sent against him her only son 〈◊〉 with a puissant army to beat him back again beyond the river Araxes which he had 〈◊〉 with a mighty host rejected But the young man not 〈◊〉 to the 〈◊〉 and policies of war suffered his souldiers in 〈…〉 to be invaded his 〈◊〉 rifled his army defeated and himselfe taken prisoner 〈…〉 the Queen sent to this purpose 〈…〉 This message being delivered to 〈◊〉 he regarded 〈…〉 but held it at the vain boast of a 〈◊〉 woman 〈…〉 being awaâ—â—d fromthe drinking 〈◊〉 wine and perceiving 〈…〉 Cyrus that he might be released from his bands to which the Persian granted 〈…〉 sooner found his legs unbound and his hands 〈…〉 cathct hold of a weapon and slew 〈…〉 The Queen having intelligence of the death of the 〈◊〉 of her son and withall that 〈◊〉 gave no heed to her admonition collected a puissant army of purpose to give him battell who inticed him by a counterfeit 〈…〉 straights of her Countery where having 〈…〉 her men she fell upon the Persians and made 〈…〉 the slaughter even to the defeating of their whole 〈…〉 strange and bloody execution Cyrus himselfe fell whose body Tâ—myris caused to be sercht for and being found filled a vessel full of blood into which commanding his head to be thrown she thus insultingly spake Of humane blood in thy life thou wert insatiate and now in thy death thou maist drink thy fill The fashions of the Messagets are after this manner described by Herâ—dotus Their habit and their food is according to the Scythians they â—ight as well on horseback as on foot being expert in both they are both Aâ—chers and Lanciers in al their weapons armor or caparisons using gold and brasse in the heads of their spears their quivers their daggers and other armor they wear brasse but whatsoever belongs to the head or to the breast is of the purest gold the breast places of their horses and what belong to their trappings and caparisons are buckled and studâ—ed with brasse but that which appertains to the head-stal or reins is of gold of iron and silver they have small use or none as being rare in their Country â—ut gold and brasse they have in abundance Every man marrieth a wiâ—e but not to his own peculiar use for they keep them in common for what the Greeks in this kind remember of the Scythians they do not it is customable only amongst the Messagets if any man have an appetite to a woman he only hangs his quiver upon the next bough and prostitutes hee in publike without taxation or shame There is no 〈◊〉 proposed to terminate their lives when any growes old his neighbours about him make a generall meeting and with great ceremony after the manner of a sacrifice cause him 〈◊〉 slain with other cattell in number according to 〈…〉 with whose â—lesh â—oil'd together they make a 〈…〉 him to dye in the most blessed estate 〈…〉 slain and eaten such as die of consumption or disease they eat not but â—ury in the earth accounting all 〈…〉 that suffered not immolation and whose 〈◊〉 was not â—easted with They neither sow nor reap but 〈…〉 their cattell and fish oâ— which the river Araxes yields them plenty they drink milk and honour the Sun and to the gods whom they most â—eare they sacrifice such 〈◊〉 beasts as they hold most fearfull and 〈◊〉 for the customes of the Mâ—ssagets Now lest it might 〈◊〉 almost against nature that amongst so many fighting women there should be no scolding at all let it not be taken amisse if I put you in mind of two or three shrowes by the way and so return again to my former argument Xantippe and Mirho HIeronymo writ a book against Iovinian in which he copiously discourses of the praise of Virginity reckoning a Catalogue of divers famous and renowned in that kind amongst sundry Nations besides the discommodities and inconveniences of scolding and contentious wives and amongst other husbands much troubled in that kind he speaks of Socrates who having two curst queans and both at once for the law of Athens did allow duplicity of wives could endure their scoldings and contumacie with such constancy and patience for having Zantippe and Mirho the daughters of Aristides the house was never without brawling and uprore One Euthidemus comming from the wrastling place and Socrates meeting him by chance compelled him home to supper and being sate at board and in sad and serious discourse Zantippe spake many bitter and railing words of disgrace and contumely against her husband but he nothing moved therewith nor making her the least answer she tipped up the Table and flung down all that was upon it But when Euthidemus being therewith much moved arose to be gone and instantly depart Why what harm is there quoth Socrates did not the same thing chance at your house when I dined with you the last day when a cackling hen cast down such things as were upon the board yet we your guests notwithstanding left not your house unmannerly Another time in the market she snatching his cloak from his back the standers by perswaded him to beat her but he replied so whilst she and I be tugging together you may stand by laughing and cry O wel done Zantippe O well done Socrates Another time she with her much loquacity had made him weary of the house therefore he sate him down upon a bench before the street door but she
power then the King himselfe who long sleeping in this dream of majesty having given away all that was essentiall in a King he fell sick and died leaving behind him a child of five years old by his afore murthered wife and sister Laodice But his death was by these favourites long concealed whilst they had by all covetous Rapine snatched what they might out of the Kings treasurie by this to strengthen a faction of the most base and dissolute subjects that by monie thus ill got and debauch'd souldiers thus levied they might set safe footing in the Empire but it fel out far otherwise for the Kings death and their design was no sooner discovered but in the rude Concourse of the multitude the Minion Agathocles was first slain and the two women the mother and the daughter were in revenge of murthered Laodice hanged upon gybets being now made a scorn to every man that was before a terror to all the pupillage of the infant and the sâ—feâ—y of the Realm to his use the Romans most nobly after took to their protection Cleophis ALexander the Great after many conquests entring into India that he might contermine his Empire with the Ocean and the utmost parts of the East and to which glory that the ornaments of his army might suit the trappings of his horses and the armor of his souldiers were all studded with silver and his main army of their Targets of silver as Curtius writes he caused to be called Argyraspides In processe by gentle and pleasurable marches they came to the City Nisa the Citizens making no opposition at all trusting to the reverence due to Liber Pater by whom they say the City was first erected and for that cause Alexander caused it to be spared passing those fruitfull Hils where grapes grow in abundance naturally and without the help of aiâ— or hand of man he thence passed the Dedalian mountains even to the Provinces and Kingdome of the Queen Cleophis who hearing of his victories and fearing of his potency thought rather to affront him by fair means then by force by policy then power for knowing her self to be a woman of extraordinary state and beauty the by her Embassadors sollicited an enterview which Alexander granting she appeared before him of such a Queen-like majesty and her accomplishments of nature so helpt with the ornaments of art for she was adorned with the richest and best shining stones of India that her glory so captivated the heart of the conqueror that they came to treat of composition she proposing to him That it were no honour for so magnificent a victor so famous through the world for his conquests over men to insult upon the weak spoils of a woman inured to no other arms then the arms of a sweet and loving bedfellow yet if for the ransome of her Empire he would accept of her love and service in that kind she was there in person at his command his subject and servant Her beauty with this submission wrought such impression in the King that it was concluded betwixt them and by both parties agreed That at her honour should be the ranson of her Empire In conclusion they lovingly lay together and so ended these threatned hostilities in an amorous peace her body he left tainted but her Kingdome untouched She was that night with child by him of a son whom after his fathers name she called Alexander he inherited the Kingdome after her but by the Indians from that time forward in regard of her prostitution she was called the Kings whore Callipyge SO much were the Grecians given to all voluptuousnesse and pleasure that amongst others divers Chappels and Temples were dedicated to Venus Callipyga the word importing Quasi pulchras habens nates i. She that hath faire buttocks the originall of that superstition as Aegenaeus relates was this A Countrey Farmer being the father of two beautifull young Virgins these two concluded betwixt themselves which should have the priority in beauty But modesty forbidding them to dispute it with open faces they concluded between themselves to come to a place adjoining to the high-way and there to expose their back-parts naked to all such as passed by and so by the most voices to be censured Amongst many others a noble young young Gentleman of the next City by accident passing that way and somewhat astonished at so unwonted an object enquired the reason thereof and by one of the spectators being presently resolved â—e as suddenly gave the Palm to the elder and intimating by that he saw what the rest might prove grew greatly enamored and returning to his fathers house surprized with melancholly was of his brother demanded the cause he after some few bashful denials stil urged with the others importunacies discovered to him the whole circumstance of the businesse The brother desirous to be further instructed was by the lover conducted to the place and object which made him first grow enamoured whither he was no sooner brought but he grew presently inflamed with the love of the younger and gave his censure on her part These two had an old Senator to their father who much observed his children of him they demanded these virgins in marriage but he proposing to themselves matches more honourable they would no way assent But won at length with their importunacies he sent in their behalfe to the Farmer to demand his daugters in marriage An enterview was granted the parties agreed a marriage concluded and after comsummate with satisfaction on all sides From which time ever after the two young married wives were called Callipyga Of these Cercidas Megapolitanus in his lambicks to this purpose speaks These two lived in Syracusa who by their marriage having attained to wealth sufficient erected a famous Chappell to Venus whom they stiled Dea Callipyga These divers other Cities of Greece after them imitated This History Archelaus likewise in his Lambicks records Alogunes Cosmartidenes Andia YOU shall read in the History taken out of Ex Ctesiae Persicis That Artaxerxes being dead Xerxes his sonne succeeded the legitimate heir by his wife Damaspia who died the same day with her husband therefore to be registred amongst the women most illustrious after their deaths the Eunuch Bagorazus caused both their bodies to be born into Persia and there to be entombed amongst their ancestors It is remembred of this Emperor Artaxerxes that he had by severall concubins seventeen bastards amongst these was Secundianus born of Alogunes he by treason succeeded Xerxes having before slain his brother this Alogunes was born in Babylon By another concubine in the same City called Cosmartidenes he had two sons Ochus and Arsiâ—es this Ochus by supplanting his brother Secundianus reigning some few months succeeded him in the Empire Xerxes had issue likewise by one Andia a Lady of the same Nation Bagapaeus and Parisatis who was the mother of one Cyrus and another Artaxerxes Xerxes the Persian Emperour yet living gave to his
to Larissa in Thessaly he was hired for eight pieces of Gold to watch a dead body but one night for fear the Witches of which in that place there is abundance should gnaw and devour the flesh of the party deceased even to the very bones which is often found amongst them Also Murther by the Laws of God and man is punishable with death besides they that eat mans flesh or deliver it to be eaten are not worthy to live Cornel. lib de Sicariâ—s A twelfth is That they kill as oft by Poisons as by Powders and Magick Spels now the Law saith It is worse to kill by Witchcraft then with the Sword Lib. 1. de Maâ—â—sic A thirteenth is That they are the death of Cattell for which Augustanus the Magician suffred death 1569. A fourteenth That they blast the Corn and Grain and being barrennesse and scarcity when there is a hoped plenty and abundance A fifteenth That they have carnall corsociety with the Devill as it hath been approved by a thousand severall confessions Now all that have made any compect or covenant with the Devill if not of all these yet undoubtedly are guilty of many or at least some and there one coâ—sequently not worthy to live And so much for the Punishment 〈…〉 and other known malefactors I come now to the Rewards due to the Vertuous and first of 〈…〉 Ladies for divers excellencies worthy to be remembred Of Tirgatao Moeotis Comiola Tuâ—ingâ— and others TIrgatao a beautifull and vertuous Lady was joined in marriage to Hecataeus King of those Indians that inhabit â—eer unto the Bosphor which is an arm of the Sea that runneth betwixt two coasts This Hecataeus being cast out of his Kingdome Satyrus the most potent of these Kings reinstated him in his Principality but conditionally That he would marry his only daughter and make her Queen by putting Tirgatao to death But he though forced by the necessity of the time and present occasion yet loving his first wife still would not put her to death according to the Covenant but caused her to be shut in his most defenced Castle there to consume the remaindeâ— of her life in perpetuall widowhood The Lady comforted with better hopes and born to fairer fortunes deceived the eies of her strict keepâ—â—s and by night escaped out of prison This being made known to the two Kings the sonne in law and the father they were wonderfully perplexed with the newes of her flight as fearing if she arrived in her own Country she might accite the people to her revenge They therefore pursued her with all diligence and speed but in vain for hiding her selfe all the day time and travelling by night through pathlesse and unfrequented places at length she arrived amongst the â—xomatae which was the Countrey of her own friends and kindred But finding her father dead she married with him that succeeded in the Kingdome by which means now commanding the Ixomatae she insinuated into the breasts of the most warlike people inhabiting about Moeotis and so levied a brave army which she her selfe conducted She first invaded the Kingdome of Hecataeus and infested his Country with many bloody incursions she next wasted and made spoil of the Kingdome of Satyrus insomuch that they both were forced with all submisse entreaties by embassadors to sue unto her for peace to which she assented having before as hostage of their truce received Metrodorus the son of Satyrus But the two Kings falsified to her their faith and honour for Satyrus dealt with two of his subjects whom he best trusted with whom he pretended heinous displeasure for which flying and retiring themselves to her for refuge they there attend a convenient opportunity to insiderate her life They submitting to her her Court becomes their sanctuary Satyrus sends to demand the offenders she by her letters entreats and mediates their peace and pardon These attend their next occasion the one pretends private conference with her and bowing submissly to her as she enclines her body to attend him the other invades her with his sword her fortunate Belt kept the steel from entring Clamor is made her servants enter the Traitors are apprehended and confesse all that before had passed betwixt Satyrus and them Therefore she commands his son Metrodorus the Hostage to be slain and the two conspirators with him gathers another army and invades the Bosâ—â—â—ean Tyrant She punisheth his perfidiousnesse with Rapes Murthers Combustions and all the Calamities of war till Satyrus himselfe oppressed with miseries and surcharged with griefe expired whom Gorgippus his son succeeded in the Principality but not with any security till he had acknowledged his Crown as given to him by her and with many costly and rich gifts compounded for his peace Polyb. lib 8. This Lady hath a merited name for an invincible courage and a masculine spirit No lesse worthy to be remembred is Comiola Turinga her history is thus reported In that great Navy which Peter King of Sicily sent against Robert King of Naples in the aid of the Lyparitans with other Pâ—inces 〈◊〉 Nâ—â—lemen there was in that fleet one Roland bâ—stard brother to King Peter The Sicilians being defeated by 〈…〉 Roland amongst many other Gentlemen was surpâ—â—â—ed and cast into prison Now when the friends and kinsmen of all such Captives had been carefull of their release and almost all of them were ransomed thence King Peter 〈◊〉 the sloth and cowardise of his subjects the Sicilians neglected his brother and would entertein no discourse that tended to his redemption Whereupon he was put into a more close prison no better then a Dungeon where he was debarred the benefit of light and shortned of his diet where he spent his time in discontent and misery This extremity of his with the Dukes slackneâ—â— in his release comming to the ear of a beautiful young widow of Messana who had a large Dower from her parents and was left infinitely rich by her husband she pitying his distressed estate and withall being somewhat enamored of his person sent to him privately by such as he best trusted to know of him if he would accept of her as his wife if she did instantly pay down his ransome The motion being made he seemed overjoied thanked the heavens for their assistance and with great willingnesse accepted of the motion They are contracted by Proxie and she paies down two thousand ounces of gold for his freedome This done and Roland comming back to Messana he was so far from acknowledging the Contract that he would not so much as see her or confesse himselfe obliged unto her in the smallest courtesie who had it not been for her charitable love and piety might have languished in an uncomfortable durance all the daies of his life Comiola Turninga at this ingratitude much grieved for she had not only paid down so great a sum but that which most afflicted her was that the fame of her marriage being â—ll over-spread the Contract being denied and by
The fast two under the Messias awe And as repose by Sabbath is exprest Sun Moon and Stars all things shall then have rest It is likely and may be conjectured that she came to the light of Elias prophesies for in the like manner he distributed the world divining of the continuance of mankind and the change of times the first two thousand yeares he call Tempus inane which may be thus interpreted because the many regions of the earth were not fully inhabited Babylon not yet built and divers spatious Provinces undiscover'd or else because the politick estate of the Church was not yet visibly established and separated from other nations For then were no Empires extant which after were apparant in the Monarchies Yet doubtlesse it is that the first age was the golden and most flourishing because the nature of man was then most potent and vigorous as may appeare by their longevity living so many hundred years moreover it bred many wise old men full of the divine light that spake of God of the Creation and were witnesse of the Arts and Sciences The second time was numbred from the Circumcision to Christs comming in the flesh and being born of a Virgin which conteins little lesse than two thousand years and that is under the Law The third time if it reach not to the full number to equall the former it is for our sins which are many and great for which mankind shall be the sooner destroi'd and Christ for his elect sake will hasten his judgement Sybilla Cumana SHe was likewise called Amalthaea Hyginus in his second book speaks of Amalthaea that gave suck to Jupiter in his infancy his history he derives from Parmenesius and relates it thus There was a certaine King of Creet called Mellisaeus to whose daughters young Jupiter was sent to be nursed but they wanting milk brought unto him a goat called by that name which gave him suck This goat was so fruitfull that she ever brought forth two Kids and was then newly eased of her burden when Jupiter was brought thither to be fostred In gratitude of which good done to him he after translated her and her kids amongst the stars which Cleostratus Tenedius first observed Musaeus reports otherwise That Athemides and Amalthaea were two nurses to whom the charge of Jupiters infancy was committed both beautifull Nymphs Amalthaea having a goat whom she much loved and with whose milk she brought him up Palepbatus in his fabulous narrations speaks of the horn of Amalthaea which Hercules still bore about him which was of that vertue that it still supplyed him with all necessaries whatsoever from which grew a Proverb That all such as were supplyed without complaining of want were said to have the 〈◊〉 of Amalthaea the history is thus Hercules travelling through Boeotia to visit his Nephew Iolaus sojourned by the way for a season amongst the Thespians where lived a woman of approved beauty and vertue called Amalthaea with whose feature Hercules being much delighted he hosted there longer than his purpose which Iolaus taking ill Amalthaea out of a horn in which she had hoarded some quantity of monie furnisht Hercules with all things needfull which some strangers taking especiall notice of they rumour'd it abroad and from thence first grew the Proverb But to return to our Amalthaea Cumana This was she by whose conduct Aeneas had free passage into hell as Virgil expresseth at large in his sixth book She brought to Tarquinius Priscus those three books of Prophesies of which two were burnt and one preserved By which computation comparing the time betwixt Aeneas and Tarquin she could live no lesse then five hundred years nor is it altogether incredible since when Livia the daughter of Rutilius Terentia of M. Cicero and Clodia of Aulus the first lived ninety seven yeares the second a hundred and thirty the third a hundred and fifteen after the bearing of fifteen children Gorgias Leontius the tutor of Isocrates and many other learned men in the hundred and seventh year of his age being asked Why he desired to live any longer answered Because he felt nothing in his body by which to accuse age Herodotus Pliny Cicero and others speak of one Arganthonius Gaditanus who raigned fourscore yeares being sixty yeares of age before he came to his crown Solinus and Ctesias with others averre that amongst the Aethiopians a hundred and thirty years is but a common age and many arrive unto it Hellanicus testates that the Epians a people of Aetolia attained to two hundred whom Damiales exceeds naming one Littorius that reached to three hundred the like we read of Nestor I will conclude with Dondones whom Pliny affirms survived five hundred years yet never stooped with age More liberally speaks Zenophon who bestowes on one of the Latine Kings eight hundred and six hundred upon his father but I will forbear further to speak of her age and come to her Oracle Vnto the Assyrian Monarchy we assigne One thousand yeares two hundred thirty nine When thirty six successions shall expire The last his glories pomp shall end in â—iâ—e Thence to the Meads it transmigrates and they Shall in nine full successions beare chiefe sway Three hundred years shall memorise their deeds Wanting just eight The Persian then succeeds In th' universall Empire which must last Fourteen Kings reigns and then their sway be past Over to Greece but ere the light blow out Two hundred fifty years shall come about Adding five months The Monarchy now stands Transferr'd on Macedonia who commands The world but Alexander by him is guided The spatious earth but in his death divided Amongst his Captains Macedon one ceaseth Asia another Syria best pleaseth A third Egypt a fourth thus lots are cast Two hundred eighty eight their pomp shall last And then expire Great Rome shall then look hie Whose proud towers from 7. hils shall brave the skie And overlook the world In those blest daies Shall come a King of Kings and he shall raise A new plantation and though greater far Than all the Monarchs that before him are In majesty and power yet in that day So meek and humble he shall dain to pay Tribute to Caesar yet thrive happy he That shall his subject or his servant be After the death of Alexander the Kingdome of Macedonia was successively injoied by fifteen Kings and indured a hundred fifty seven years and eight months Asia and Syria were governed by nineteen Kings and lasted two hundred eighty nine years Egypt was possest by ten Ptolomies and lastly by Cleopatra and it continued two hundred eighty eight years These Kingdomes failing the Romans gained the chiefe predominance Of this Sybill S. Isiodore Virgil and Ovid writ more at large she writ her Prophesie in leaves of trees and then plac'd them over the Altar which when the wind moved or made to shake they had no efficacy but when they remained firm and without motion they received their
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
presenting himselfe to the block it hapned on that time that he had a rich and precious garment of purple embroidered with gold of which the executioner being greedy and carefull to keep it from blood thereby to make the better sale of it he spent so much time this and that way not for the prisoners case but for his own advantage till the messengers appeared from the King and called aloud to make stay of justice by which means Bepolitanus his garment was as much beneficiall to his life as the Kings mercy and covetousnesse that hath been the destruction of many was the means of his unexpected safety The executioner in his greedinesse making good the old English Adage All covet all loose To leave circumstances and come to the matter The body of Toredorix was cast out and by the Kings edict denied all rites of buriall with a grievous penalty imposed upon any such as should contradict the Kings writ This notwithstanding dismaied not a faire Pergamaean damosell with whom Toredorix had been in familiarity to accomplish the vowed office of a lover and a friend who in the night watched the opportunity to take thence the body and bestow on it a fair interment but being taken by the souldiers in the performance of this last memorable duty and brought before the Tyrant either her beauty so much moved him or her rears so far prevailed with him as that his body was not only left freely to her dispose but to recompence her love and loialty she had a fair and competent dower allotted her out of the lands and goods of the trespasser Stratonica OF Stratonica Galatia may boast as breeding a Lady scarce marchable before her time or since in her condition she being the wife of King Deiotarus and barren and knowing how desirous her husband was to have issue from his own â—oâ—ns to succeed in the Kingdome sollicited him and that with great importance to select some beautifull Lady whom he best fancied and by her to raise his posterity which the King overcome with so unexpected a curtesie and therefore unwilling to wrong her bed refusing she of her own accord out of many captive virgins chused one who seemed to excell all the rest in feature and modesty and suiting her in all respects like a Princesse presented her to the King as a jewell to be received from her hand This virgins name was Elâ—ctra by whom Deiotatarus had faire and fortunate issue to whom Stratonica was a second mother and saw them educated with as much magnificence and state as if they had been born of her body and she given them suck from her own brests Her example is memorable but since her time by few that I can read of imitated Valeria and Cloelia TArquinius Superbus being expulsed the Kingdome because his sonne Sextus had stuprated the faire Lucretia wife to Collatine to reobtaine his principality he insinuated unto his aid Porsenna King of the Tuscans These with an infinite army besieged Rome insomuch that the Citizens were not only wearied with long war but opprest with famine therefore knowing Porsenna as well in war as peace to be a Prince eminent both for justice and humanity they made choice of him to arbitrate and determine all controversies betwixt Tarquin and them This motion being offered by the Romans Tarquin refused to stand to any such comprimise not allowing Porsenna a lawfull judge in regard of their late league commenced This Porsenna not well relishing treated with the Romans about a peace conditionally that they should restore back certain lands before taken from the Etruscians and of them put him in peaceable possession and till this were performed to send him ten young men and as many virgins of the noblest families for hostage which was accordingly done and he dismist his army These virgins walking by the river side which parted Camp and City for though he had sent away the greatest part of his army he had not yet raised his Tents two of the chiefe the one Cloelia the other Valeria daughter to the Consul Publicola perswaded the rest and by perswading so far prevailed that they were all resolved to passe the River when stâ—ipping themselves naked and holding as well as they conveniently could their cloaths above their heads they ventured over that unknown passage full of whirlpools and wheâ—e there was no stedfast footing and what by wading and swimming to all mens wonders got safe to shore and presented themselves to their fathers and friends who though they admired their boldnesse and commended their resolutions yet disallowing the act it selfe as those that in their faith and honour would not be outbid by any they sent them back to King Porsenna and submitted their rashnesse to be punished at his pleasure These Virgins being presented before him he demanded of them Which she was that first animated and encouraged the rest to so rash and dangerous an enterprize When Cloelia beckning to the rest to silence took all the injury contempt or whatsoever they pleased to call it upon her selfe protesting the rest innocent and she of what would be objected the sole author Porsenna observing and withall admiring her undanted courage caused presently a horse furnished with trappings to be brought which he gave to Cloelia in recompence of her magnanimous attempt sending them all in his regall curtesie back to their friends and parents Upon this horse given to Cloelia by Porsenna some have grounded that she first past the river on horseback sounding the way for the rest which others denie only that the King thought to gratifie her manly courage with the meed of a souldier Her statue on horseback is erected in Via sacra this some confer upon Cloelia others on Valeria Olympias ALexander having caused himselfe to be called the son of Jupiter writ to his mother in this manner King Alexander the son of Jupiter Hamon to his mother Olympias sends health to whom with great modesty she thus rescribed Dear son as you love me instead of doing me honour proclaim not my dishonour neither accuse me before Juno besides it is a great as persion you cast upon me to make me a strumpet though to Jupiter himselfe A great moderation in a woman who for no swelling title or vaine oftentation could be won to lose the honour to be called a loyall and chast wise Troades AMongst those frighted Trojans that fled from the fearfull ruines of subverted Troy some by the violence of outragious tempests were driven upon the coasts of Italy where landing at certain Ports neer to the river Tygris they made up into the Countrie the better to acquaint themselves with the conditions of those places In which interim the women began to apprehend that they had better far to take up an abiding place in any land then again to commit themselves to the mercilesse furie of the seas Wherefore with one joint consent they agreed to make that their fixed habitation seeing all hope of
brand me here With lust and incest Never I protest Was that Aenaeass whom thou call'st the best Of men in Lybia Never saw I land One Trojan on the Carthaginian strand Because Sychaeus my fiâ—st husband dead To keep my sacred vows to him I fled Th' embraces of Hyarbus am I made A prostitute to nothing to a shade He came in arms to fâ—rce me and compell Me a chast widow to another hell A second marriage 'T is the gods advice No woman can be chast that marrietâ— twice To avoâ—d that sin I slâ—w my selfe O why Could'st thou O Maâ—o thâ—â— comment a 〈◊〉 With lust to 〈◊〉 my memory When heaven knowes To save mine honour I my life did lose Give faith to History you that Readers are Before this fabling Poesiâ— since that far Transcends the bounds of truth so Poets can Make the high gods much more corrupt then man So much touching Queen Dido and as far as probability can to acquit hero of â—ll incontinenâ—e One Paulus an histo 〈◊〉 in his fiâ—â—h book remembers us of Cesara a Queen of Persia who having some light of the Gospell travelled as far as Constantinople in Gâ—eece to be further instructâ—d only attended by a few private followers who being satisfied in all the fundamentall points of her faith she with her small â—â—aine was châ—istened The Persian Sophy having notice thereof sent Embassadors to the Emperour to know the reason why he deteined 〈◊〉 Queen wishing him to return her safe upon such easie summons Cesara being in pâ—esence when this embassie was deliveâ—ed desired the Emperor that she might give them their answer which granted Return said she my humble duâ—y and vassalage to my Lord the King and tell him withall That unlesse he receive my faith and renouncing his false idols beleeve in the only true God he can claim no interest al in me The messenger dispatcht and this short answer returned to the Sophy he levied an army of forty thousand men and comming into Greece the Emperor and he came unto a peacefull interview at which by the mediation of this roiall and religious Empresse the Sâ—phy with all his Princes and Souldiers there present received the Christian Faith and after the interchange of many Princely and magnificent giâ—ts returned with his wife into his own Country Another noble history I think not amisse to be here inserted which is recorded by one Willielmus de reg lib. 20. Gunnilda the daughter of Canulus and Emma who being accused of adulteâ—y by her husband Henry the Emperour who to justifie his accusation had provided a Champion in stature a Giant and for his presence and potency much feared she notwithstanding relying upon God and her own innocence put her life upon the valour of a private young gentleman of England whom she brought with her to the same purpose These Champions adventuring their lives fought a brave and resolute combat but in the end the victorie inclined to the Empresse her adverse Champion being vanquished confest his treasons and she was nobly acquit but after by no intreaties or intercessions made by the Emperour or others she could be won unto his embraces but abjuâ—ing his bed and vowing an austere and sequestred 〈◊〉 she retired her selfe into a Monastery Three roiall presidents of three unmatchable Queens the first for magnanimy the second for Religion and devotion and the last for Chastity To these I will add yet another Williâ—lmus de Râ—gibus in his first book writes thâ—â— King Ive betook his Kingdome of the West-Saxons to his Cousin Ethelardus and undertook a pilgrimage to Rome the occasion of his journie was this The Queen Ethilburga had often counselled her husband the King to forsake the pride and riches of the world and to have a respect to his soulâ— health especially now in the latter daies of his life but not able to prevaile with him she bethought her selfe of a quaint stratagem after they had left their roiall Pallace where they had but lately feasted in all â—omp pleasure and delicacies and removed into another house she caused him to whose charge the place from whence they departed was committed to take down all the hangings make soule and filthy every room and chamber nay in the very place where the King had but the other day sported with his Queen was lodged a sow and pigs withall the loathsomnesse that could be devised this done according to her command she by a wile inticed the King to the place thus strangely diâ—guised The King wondering at this sudden change stood amazed To whom she thus spoke I pray you my Lord where be now these rich hangings and curtains either for state or ornament Where is all the glittering pomp and rich array tending to nothing else save gluttony and luxury Alas how suddenly are they all vanished Shall not my Lord this beauty of ours so fade and this fraile flesh even so fall away This with other her words to the like purpose took such impression in the Kings brest that he resigned his Kingdome to his Nephew and betook himselfe to a religious and Monastick lite after his vowed pilgrimage The Queen Ethelburga went to the Abby at Berking in which place her sister had been before Abbesse and there spent the remainder of her life in devotion and penitence Polycrita THere arose great warres between the Milesians and Naxians kindled by the adulterate practice of the wife of Hypsicreon a Milesian who violating her conjugall vowes by throwing her selfe into the lustfull embraces of Promedon a Naxian then her guest and fearing the just anger of her husband and withall the punishment due to her adulterate sin fled with him into Naxos from whence being againe demanded but denied this private wrong turned to a publick ruin for devouting warre accompanied with many calamities preyed upon both their Countries But as this Beacon was first fired by a womans lewdnesse so was it last extinguished by a womans vertue Diognetus who had the command of those Erythraeans which came in aid of the Milesians had committed to his custody a certain strong hold scituated against the City Naxos who having taken from the Naxians a prize of women and free virgins he was deeply strook in love with one Polycrita whom he led with him not as a captive but as his wife It chanced that the Miletians celebrated a generall festivall day Polycrita besought Diognetus to make her so far indebted to hâ—s favour as to suffer her to send her brothers part of those juncates then at the table which willing he granted she secretly writ upon the leaden table of the Marchpane what she had projected withall charging the bearer to intreat her brothers not to let any participate thereof save themselves when they had heard the writing which contained thus much in effect Take hold upon the opportunity which occasion thrusts into your hands this night you mâ—y seâ—se the Castle for the enemy will lie down in wine and sleep in
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
Great Agrippa Aristobulus and Herod that was strook by the Angell also on the aforesaid Beronica he begot two daughters Mariamnes and Herodias who was after Philips wife that was Uncle to Aristobulus neverthelesse whilst Philip was yet alive Herodias became wife to his brother Herod At length there fell debate betwixt her Mariamnes and Saloma Herods sister Herod by the instigation of Saloma â—lew Hyrcanus the Priest and after Jonathas the brother of Mariamnes who against the law he had caused to be consecrated Priest at the age of seventeen years After that he caused Mariamnes to be put to death with the husband of his sister Saloma pretending that Hyrcanus and Jonathas had adulterated his sister After these murders Herod grew mad for the love of Mariamnes who was held to be the fairest Lady then living and innocently put to death He then took again his wife Dosides and her son Antipater to favour sending Alexander and Aristobulus the sons of Mariamnes to Rome to be instructed in the best literature whom after he caused to be slain And these were the fruits of Adulterous and Incestuous marriages Of women that have come by strange deaths THere are many kinds of deaths I will include them all within two heads Violent and Voluntary the Violent is when either it comes accidentally or when we would live and cannot the Voluntary is when we may live and will not and in this we may include the blessedest or all deaths Martyrdome I will begin with the first and because gold is a mettall that all degrees callings trades mysteries and professions of either Sex especially acquire after I will therefore first exemplifie them that have died golden deaths Of the Mistresse of Brennus Of Tarpeia and Acco a Roman Matron OF Midas the rich King and of his golden wish I presume you are not ignorant and therefore in vain it were to insist upon his history my businesse is at this time with women Brennus an Englishman and the younger brother to Belinus both sons of Donwallo was by reason of composition with his brother with whom he had been competitor in the Kingdome disposed into France and leading an army of the Gals invaded forrein Countries as Germany Italy sacking Rome and piercing Greece Insomuch that his glory was stretched so far that the French Chroniclers would take him quite from us and called him Rex Gallorum witnesse Plutarch in his seventeenth Parallel This Brennus spoiling and wasting Asia came to besiege Ephesus where falling in love with a wanton of that City he grew so inward with her that upon promise of reward she vowed to deliver the City into his hands the conditions were that he being possessed of the Town should deliver into her â—ate custody as many jewels rings and as much treasure as should countervaile so great a benefit to which he assented The Town delivered and he being victor she attended her reward when Brennus commanded all his souldiers from the first to the last to cast what gold or silver or jewels they had got in the spoil of the City into her lap which amounted to such an infinite masse that with the weight thereof she was suffocated and prest to death This Clitiphon delivers in his first book Rerum Gallicar to answer which Aristides Melesius in Italicis speaks of Tarpeia a Noble Virgin or at least nobly descended and one of the Keepers of the Capitol she in the war betwixt the Sabines and the Romans covenanted with King Tatius then the publick enemy to give him safe accesse into the mountain Tarpeia so he would for a reward but possesse her of all the gold and jewels which his souldiers the Sabins had then about them This she performing they were likewise willing to keep their promise but withall loathing the covetousnesse of the woman threw so much of the spoile and treasure upon her that they buried her in their riches and she expiâ—ed admist a huge Magazin But remarkable above these is the old woman Acco or Acca who having done an extraordinary courtesie for the City of Rome they knew not better how to require her then knowing her a varitious disposition to give her free liberty to go into the common treasury and take thence as much gold as she could carry The wretched woman overjoied with this donative entered the place to make her pack or burden which was either so little she would not beare or so great she could not 〈◊〉 and swetting and striving beneath the burden so expâ—â—ed The like though something a more violent death died the Emperor Galba who in his life time being insatiate oâ— gold as being covetous above all the Emperors before him they poured molten gold down his throat to confirm in him that old Adage Qualis vita finis ita The like was read of the rich Roman Crassus Of such as have died in child-birth THough of these be infinites and daily seen amongst us yet it is nor altogether amisse to speak something though never so little which may have reference to antiquity Volaterranus remembers us of Tulliota the daughter of Marcus Cicero who being first placed with Dolobella and after with Piso Crassipides died in Child-bed The like Suetonius puts us in mind of Junia Claudilla who was daughter to the most noble Marcus Sillanus and wife to the Emperor Caâ—us Caligula who died after the same manner Hâ—ginus in his two hundred threescore and fourth Fable tels this tale In the old time saith he there were no midwives at all and for that cause many women in their modesty rather suffered themselves to perish for want of help then that any man should be seen or known to come about them Above all the Athenians were most curious that no servant or woman should learn the art of Chirurgery There was a damosell of that City that was very industrious in the search of such mysteries whose name was Agnodice but wanting means to attaine unto that necessary skill she caused her head to be shorn and putting on the habit of a young man got her selfe into the service of one Hierophilus a Physitian and by her industry and study having attained to the depth of his skill and the height of her own desires upon a time hearing where a Noble Lady was in child-birth in the middest of her painfull throwes she offered her selfe to her help whom the modest Lady mistaking her Sex would by no perswasion suffer her to come neer her till she was forced to strip her selfe before the women and to give evident signe of her woman-hood After which she had accesse to many proving so fortunate that she grew very famous Insomuch that being envied by the Colledge of the Physitians she was complained on to the Areopagitae or the nobility of the Senate such in whose power it was to censure and determine of all causes and controversies Agnodice thus convented they pleaded against her youth and boldnesse accusing her
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
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
they proposed unto us honest rules and examples among which this was one That every man should have inspection into his own and guide himselfe by that compasse I verily beleeve she is matchlesse above all other women and deservedly to merit that character you have given her but withall I beseech you that you will not perswade me to any thing which is not lawfull At these words the King seemed to be displeased and repli'd Be confident O Gygâ—s and neither distrust me in so perswading thee nor my wife who is altogether ignorant of what I intend since from neither of us any damage or detriment no not so much as the least displeasure can arise for first I have devised that she shall not know nor once suspect that thou hast beheld her for I will order it that thou shalt be secretly conveied into the chamber and unseen behold every passage of her making unready and comming to bed Now when thou hast freely surveied her in every part and lineament and spiest her back towards thee convey thy selfe out of the room only in this be carefull that at thy removing she cast no eie upon thee This done the next morning give me thy free and true censure Gyges that could by no means avoid his importunity was prepared against the time The King according to his accustomed hour conveys himselfe into his chambâ—â— and so to bed the Queen soon after entring â—â—poils her selfe of all her 〈◊〉 and ornaments even to her 〈◊〉 all which Gyges was spectator of who no soner spied her back 〈◊〉 to go towards bed but Gyges slips from the place where he was hid which was not so cuâ—â—ingly done â—ut he 〈◊〉 espied by the Queen she demanding the reason of it from her husband and ne certifying the truth but 〈◊〉 what modesty he could excusing it she neither seemed to be angry nor a â—rogether well pleased but in her silence meditated revenge for amongst the Lydians and almost all those barborous nations it is held great incivility and immodesty to behold a man much more a woman naked The next morning by such servants as she best trusted she caused Gyges to be sent for who misdoubting nothing that had past as one that had many times free accesse unto her instantly came she causing her servants to withdraw themselves thus bespake him Two waies are proposed thee O Gyges and one of them instantly and without least premeditation to make choise of Either thou must kill Candaules and that done be possessed of me and with me the Crown of Lydia or instantly die for thy doom is already determined of because thou shalt know that in all things it is not convenient to obey the King or search into that which thou oughtest not to know There is now a necessity that either he that counselled thee to this must perish or thou that obeiedst him against all Law or Justice to behold me against reason or modesty naked Gyges at these words was first wondrously amazed but after recollecting himselfe entreated her not to compell him to so hard an exigent as to the choice of either But finding that necessity that he must be forced to one or the other to kill the King or to be slain by others he rather made choice to survive and let the other perish and thus answered her Since generous Lady you urge me to an enterprize so much opposite to my milder nature and disposition propose some safe course how this may de done Even saith she in the selfe-same place where he devised this mischiefe against himselfe namely his bed-chamber where to thee I was first discovered Therefore providing all things necessary for so determinate a purpose and the night comming on Gyges who knew no evasion but to kill his master or die himselfe awaited his best advantage and having notice when Candaules was asleep followed the Queen into her chamber and with a Ponyard by her provided for the purpose stabbed him to the heart by which he attained both the Queen and Kingdome Of this history Archilochus Parius makes mention in his Iambicks who lived about the same time affirming that Gyges was by the Oracle of Delphos confirmed in the Kingdome after the faction of the Heraclides had opposed his soveraignty Rowan and Estrilda ROwan was a maid of wonderfull beauty and pleasantnesse daughter to Hengest a Captain of the Saxons Of this Lady Vortiger then King grew so enamoured that for her sake he was divorced from his wife by whom he had three sons for which deed the greatest part of the Brittains forsook him therefore he by the instigation of Rowan still caused more and more Saxons to be sent for under pretence to keep the Land in subjection But the Brittains considering the daily repair of the Saxons came to the King and told him the danger that might ensue entreating him whilst it was yet time and to prevent a future miserie to expell them the Land But all in vain for Vortiger was so besotted in the beauty of his fair wife by whose counsell he was altogether swaied that he would in no wife listen to the counsell of his subjects Wherefore they with one united consent deprived him of his Crown and dignity making Vortimerus his eldest son King in his stead Who was no sooner Crowned but with all expedition he raised an army and pursued the Saxons and in four main battels besides conflicts and skirmishes became victorious over them The Saxons and their insolencies thus supprest and the King now governing the Land in peace after he had reigned seven years was by this Rowan in revenge of the disgrace done to her King deposed and her Countrimen disgraced most trecherously poisoned Locrin the eldest son of Brute chased the Huns which invaded the realm of England and so hotly pursued theâ—â— that many of them with their King were drowned in a river which parteth England and Scotland and after the name of the King of the Huns who there perished the river is to this day called Humber This King Locrin had to wife Guendoline a daughter of Corineus Duke of Cornwall by whom he had a son called Madan He kept also a Paramour called the beautifull Lady Estrilda by whom he had a daughter called Sabrina Locrine after the death of Corineus of whom he stood in awe divorced himselfe from his lawfull wife and took to his embraces his fair concubine moved with this injury Guendoline retired her self into Cornwall where she gathered a great power fought with her husband slew him in battell and after caused him to be buried in Troy-novant That done she caused the fair Estrilda with her daughter Sabrina to be drowned in a river that which parts England and Wales which still bears the name of the young Virgin and is called Severn These her designs accomplished for so much as Madan her young son was but in his pupillage and not of capacity or age to govern the Land by the
suffer Harpalus to assume the Diadem till she were likewise crowned and in Rhossus where his statue was erected in brasse she caused hers to be placed for so Clearchus writes in his history of Alexander as likewise Catanaeus Clearchus observes of her that when any fair young Lad appeared before her she used to say Then doe boies appear most beautifull when they most resemble the looks and gestures of women She was affected by Pansia Sicionius a famous Painter Harpalus the Macedonian having robbed Alexander the Great of much treasure flying to Athens sollicited there Pythonica and by many great gifts won her to his embraces she dying he profusely lavished many talents upon her obsequies and as Possidonius in his Histories affirms not only with the artificiall skill of many of the best artists and workmen but with Organs Voices and all kinds of musicall harmony decorated her funerall Dicaearchus writes That whosoever shall travell towards Athens by the sacred way called Elusinis there he shall behold a goodly Temple built in state height and compass exceeding all others which who so shall considerately peruse he shall guesse it either to be the cost of Miltiades Pericles Cimon or of some other Athenian equally with them illustrious and especially of such a one that for merit towards the Common-weal might command a voluntary contribution from the publike treasury Theopompus in an Epistle to Alexander thus carps at the intemperance of Harpalus Consider quoth he and enquire of the men of Babylon with what superfluous charge he had interred his strumpet Pythonica who was but handmaid to Bachis the she-musitian and Bachis the servant of Synope Threissa who from the City of Aegina transported her Bawdries into Athens she being not only of the third rank and degree of servants but of Bawds for with more then two hundred Talents charge he hath dedicated unto her two sumptuous monuments to the admiration of all men when it hath not been known the like honour or cost to have been bestowed by him or any other in memory of any brave souldier or of such as perished in Cilicia for the Empire and liberty of whole Greece shee only having perdurable monuments raised to her as well in Babylon as in Athens Temples and Altars with sacrifices offered her by the name of Venus Pythonica With other such upbraidings he complained on him to Alexander of whom Alâ—xis in Licisca likewise speaks as also that after her death he took to his bed the before named Glicera Next her followes Irene That Ptolomaeus that placed garrisons in Ephesus and was the son of King Philadelphus had a beautifull mistresse called Irene she when Ptolomaeus was assaulted by the Thracians in the City of Ephesus and to shun their violence fled into a Chappell consecrated to the goddesse Diana would not in that distresse forsake him but entred the place together and when the souldiers broke open the gates upon them to kil the King she removed not her hand from the ring of the door but with her own blood sprinkled the Altar till the souldiers likewise falling upon her she expired in the arms of the slaughtered King As noble was that of Danae Philarchus remembers one Sophron of Ephesus to have had in his delights Danae daughter to Leontius of the Sect of the Epicures a man well seen in the speculations of Philosophy To her trust were all the domestick affairs of the house committed even by the consent of his wife Laodice who at length perceiving his love to encline to Danae she purposed at her next best opportunity to make away with her husband This being found out by Danae and in great secrecy revealed to Sophron he gave at the first no credit to the report yet at her importunacy he promised within two daies to consider of the matter and in that time to deliberate what was best to be done in the prevention of such a mischiefe and in that interim conceals himselfe in the City by which Laodice finding her purpose to be discovered she accused Danae for his murther and instantly without further process by the help of her friends and servants hurried her to the top of a high Promontory from thence to throw her headlong who seeing imminent death before her eies fetching a deep sigh she thus said I marvell not now that the gods have so small honour done to them in regard of their injustice since I am thus punisht for saving the life of my friend and thâ—s Laodice is thus honoured that would have took away the life of her husband Agathoclaea VVArs having been long continued betwixt Ptolomey of Aegypt and Antiochus of Syria insomuch that Ptolomaeus was by his Embassadors rather by fear then necessity as it were inforced to sollicite a peace notwithstanding Antiochus invading Aegypt took from him many Towns and Cities of consequence which proffer drawing Ptolomey to the field be gave him a brave affront and foile and had he taken the advantage of a present fortune had paid him home with an irrecoverable overthrow but Ptolomey wholly devoted to effeminacy and luxury only contented with what he had recovered of his own and pursuing no further advantages made choice of a dishonourable peace before a just war and so concluded all dissention with an unalterable league And being free from all forrein invasions he began domestick troubles at home For being given over to his own appetite and besotted to his insatiate pleasures he first began with Laodice both his sister and wife causing her to be slain that he might the more freely enjoy the society and fellowship of his most rare and beautifull mistress Agathoclea so that the greatness of his name and the splendor of his majesty both set apart he abandoned himselfe solely to whoredomes by night and to banquets and all profuseness of riot by day And now liberty being grown to law the boldness of the strumpet for no better my Author stiles her cannot be contained within the wals of the Kings house which the overdotage of the King the extraordinary grace and honours conferred for her sake on her brother Agathocles together with her own ambitions growing every day more and more to greater insolence made still more manifest Nâ—xâ— there was her old mother called Evanthe a cunning Hâ—gâ—l may term her who by reason of her double issue Agathocles and Agathoclea had a great hand with the King or rather a great power over him Therefore not contented with the King alone they possess the Kingdome also They ride abroad in all state to be seen are proud to be by all saluted and with such great trains to be attended Agathocles as if â—owed to the Kings elbow was not seen without him but with a nod or word swaied and governed the City The gifts of all military honours as the Tribunes Prefects and Captains all these were appointed by the women neither was there any in the Kingdome that had lesse
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
Lâ—dgate Monk of Buty testifies who in English heroical verse compiled his History Constantius saith he the younger succeded his father Constantius as wel in the Kingdome of England as divers other Provinces a noble and valiant Prince whose mother was a woman religious and of great sanctimony this young Prince was born in Britain and proved so mighty in exploits of war that in time be purchased the name of Magnus and was stiled Constantine the Great a noble protector and defender of the true Christian Faith In the sixt year of his reign he came with a potent Army against Maxentius who with grievous tributes and exactions then vexed and oppressed the Romans and being upon his match he saw in a vision by night the sign of the Cross in the air like fire and an Angel by it thus saying Constantine in hoc signo vinces i. Constantine in this sign thou shalt conquer and overcome with which being greatly comforted he soon after invaded and defeated the army of Maxentius who flying from the battel was wretchedly drowned in the river Tiber. In this interim of his glorious victory Helena the mother of Constantine being on pilgrimage at Jerusalem there found the Crosse on which the Saviour of the world was crucified with the three nails on which his hands and feet were pierced Ranulphus amplifies this story of Helena somewhat larger after this manner That when Constantine had surprized Maxentius his mother was then in Brittain and hearing of the successe of so brave a conquest she sent him a letter with great thanks to heaven to congratulate so fair and wished a Fortune but not yet being truly instructed in the Christian Faith she commended him that he had forsaken idolatry but blamed him that he worshipped and beleeved in a man that had been nalled to the Cross The Emperor wrote again to his mother That she should instantly repair to Rome and bring with her the most learned Jewes and wisest Doctors of what faith or beleefe soever to hold disputation in their presence concerning the truth of Religion Helena brough with her to the number of seven score Jewes and others against whom Saint Silvester was only opposed In this controversie the misbeleevers were all nonplust and put to silence It hapned that a Jewish Cabalist among them spake certain words in the ear of a mad wild Bull that was broke loose run into the presence where they were then assembled those words were no sooner uttered but the beast sunk down without motion and instantly died at which accident the judges that sate to hear the disputation were all astonished as wondring by what power that was done To whom Silvester then spake What this man hath done is only by the power of the devil who can kil but not restore unto life but it is God only that can slay and make the same body revive again so Lyons and other wild beasts of the Forrest can wound and destroy but not make whole what is before by them perished then saith he if he will that I beleeve with him let him raise that beast to life in Gods name which he hath destroied in the devils name But the Jewish Doctor attempted it in vain when the rest turning to Silvester said If thou by any power in Heaven or Earth canst call back again the life of this beast which is now banished from his body we wil beleeve with thee in that Deity by whose power so great a miracle can be done Silvester accepted of their offer and falling devoutly on his knees made his praiers unto the Saviour of the world and presently the beast started up upon his feet by which Constantius was confirmed Helena converted al the Jews and other Pagan Doctors received the Christian Faith and were after baptized and after this and upon the same occasion Helena undertook to seek and find out the Cross Ambrose and others say she was an Inne-keepers daughter at Treverent in France and that the first Constantius travelling that way married her for her beauty but our Histories of Britain affirm her to be the fair chast and wise daughter of King Coil before remembred The perfections of the mind are much above the transitory gifts of Fortune much commendable in women and a dowry far transcending the riches of gold jewels Great Alexander refused the beautiful daughter of Darius who would have brought with her Kingdomes for her Dower and infinite treasures to boot and made choice of Barsine who brought nothing to espouse her with save her feature and that she was a scholer and though a Barbarian excellently perfect in the Greek tongue who though poor yet derived her pedigree from Kings And upon that ground Lycurgus instituted a Law That women should have no Dowers allotted them that men might rather acquire after their Vertues then their Riches and women likewise might the more laboriously imploy themselves in the attaining to the height of the best and noblest Disciplines It is an argument that cannot be too much amplified to encourage Vertue and discourage Vice to perswade both men and women to instruct their minds more carefully then they would adorn their bodies and strive to heap and accumulate the riches of the Soul rather then hunt after pomp Vain glory and the wretched wealth of the world the first being everlastingly permanent the last dayly and hourly subject to corruption and mutability Horace in his first Epistle to Mecaenas saith Vitius Argentum est Auro virtutibus Aurum Silver is more base and cheap then Gold and Gold then Vertue To encourage which in either Sex Plautus in Amphit thus saies Virtus praemium est optimum virtus omnibus Rebus anteit profecto c. Vertue 's the best reward and before all Justly to be preferr'd That which we call Liberty Life our Parents Children Wealth Our Country Reputation Honour Health By this are kept though by the bad despis'd All that is good in Vertue is compris'd Moreover all that are Noble Vertuous Learned Chast and Pious have their places allotted them above when on the contrary their souls are buried lower in the locall place of torment then their souls that are laid to sleep iâ— the grave At the blessednesse of the good and future glory assigned unto them Lucan most elegantly aimed at lib. 9. de bello Civili where he thus writes Ac non in Pharia manes jacuere favilla Nec cinis exiguus tantum compescuit umbram c. Which I thus English In th' Pharian flames the bright Soul doth not sleep Nor can so small a Dust and Ashes keep So great a Spirit it leaps out of the fire And leaving the halfe burnt menbers doth aspire And aims up to the place where Jove resides And with his power and wisdome all things guides For now no air his subtil passage bars To where the Axle-tree turns round the stars And in that vast and empty place which lies Betwixt us and the Moon the visible
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