vnquam huic feminae comparandus est virorum tanta in eius vita scribuntur cum ad vituperationem tum maxime ad laudem i. No man was euer to be compared with this woman such great things haue beene written of her partly to her disgrace but chiefely to her praise He proceedes further She was the fourth that raigned in Assiria for so it is approued Nimrod was the first being father to Belus and grand-father to Ninus which Ninus was the first that made warre vpon his neighbours and vsurped their dominions in whom began to cease the Golden world whom his widdow Queen succeeded counterfetting the shape of man She was after slaine by her sonne Ninus the second of that name who as Eusebius writes after her death swaid the scepter thirtie and eight yeares One memorable thing is recorded of her by Diodorus Siculus lib. 3. as also by Vitruuius This queene being making her selfe readie in her pallace royall when the one part of her haire was bound vp and the other halfe hung loose vpon her shoulders suddenly newes was brought her That the cittisens of Babylon were reuolted and all or the most of them in mutinie and vprore She presently posted into the citie and what with her presence and persuasion attonde the discord before she had leasure to put her disordered curles in forme reconciled the hearts of that innumerable people to her obedience for which her statue was erected in the cittie being pourtraied halfe readie halfe vnreadie in memorie of that noble and magnanimous aduenture Some thing of the best that was in her though not all you haue heard the worst is to come Iuba apud Pli. relates that she immitated the fashions of men neglecting the habit of her own Sex and in her latter yeares grew to that deboisht effeminacie and forâ—id lust that shee did not onely admit but allure and compell into her goatish embraces many of her souldiers without respect of their degrees or places so they were well featured able and lustie of performance whom when they had wasted their bodies vpon her shee caused to be most cruelly murdered Shee was slaine by her owne sonne because shee most incestuously sought his bed but which of all the rest is most prodigious and abhominable she is reported to haue had companie with a horse on whom shee vnnaturally doted But these things whether related for truth or recorded of malice I am altogether ignorant and therefore leaue it to censure Herodotus Plutarch and others writ that she caused these words to be inscribed vpon her Tombe Quicunque rex pecunijs indiget aperto monumento quod voluerit accipiat that is What king soeuer hath neede of coyne search this moâ—ument and he shall find what he desires This when king Darius had read thinking some Magazin of treasure had beene there included he caused the Tombe-stone to be remooued where he found vpon the other side thereof these words ingrauen Misi rex auarus esses pecuniae insatiabilis mortuorum monumenta non viâ—lasses i. Haddest thou not been an auaritious king and insasiable of Coyne thou wouldest not haue ransacked the graue of the dead Thus as Franciscus Patritius Pontifex saith the excellent Ladie in her death taunted the gripple auarice of the liuing That the monuments of the dead are no way to be violated or defaced Sertorius hath taught vs who hauing subdued the cittie Tigenna scituate in the countrey of Maurusia in which a noble sepulchre was which the inhabitants sayd belonged to Antaus which was the gyant slaine by Hercules when the greatnes of the graue exceeded all beleefe Sertorius caused it to be ruined and there digged vp a bodie as Plutarch witnesseth of seuentie cubits in length which beholding and wondering at hee caused it to be repaired with greater beautie than before least by deminishing that he might haue ruined a great part of his owne honour Some thinke it was the bodie of Tagenna the wife of Antaeus whom Hercules prostituted after the death of her husband of her he begot Siphax who after erected that cittie and in memorie of his mother called it by her name Pasiphae THis Ladie though I cannot fitly introduce her within the number of the incestuous yet for that horrid act which the Poets haue reported of her I shall not impertinently place her next to Semiramis Appollodorus Gramatticus in his booke de Deorum origine as Benedictus Aegius Spoletinus interprets him thus sets downe her historie Ninus king of Creet espoused Pasiphae daughter of the Sunne and Perseis or as Asclepiades calls her Creta the daughter of Aterius she had by him foure sonnes Cretaeus Deucalion Glaucus and Androgeus and as many daughters Hecate Xenodice Ariadne and Phaedra This Minos peaceably to inioy his kingdome had promised to offer such a Bull to Neptune but hauing obtained his desires hee sent that Bull before markt out backe to the heard and caused another of lesse value to bee sacrificed at which Neptune inraged knew not with what greater punishment to afflict him for the breach of his faith than to make his wife most preposterously and against nature to dote on that beast which he had so carefully preserued She therefore confederated with Dedalus a great Artsmaster one that for murder had fled from Athens and with his sonne Icarus there secured himselfe hee deuised by his mischieuous skill a wodden cow hollowed within with such artificiall conuayance that the Queene inclosed had satisfaction of her desires to the glutting of her libidinons appetite Of this congression she conceiued and brought forth a sonne called Asterion or as the most will haue it Minotaurus shaped with a Bulls head and a mans body About this monstrous issue Minos consulted with the Oracle which aduised him to shut him in a Labyrinth and there see him safelie brought vp and kept This Labyrinth the first that euer was was built by Dedalus beeing a house so intricated with windings and turnings this way and that way now forward then backward that it was scarce possible for any that entered therein to finde the direct way backe thus farre Apollodorus But Palephatus in his Fabulous narrations reduceth all these commented circumstances within the compasse of meere impossibilitie and thus deliuers the truth concerning Pasiphae Minos being afflicted with a disease in his secret parts with which he had beene long grieued was at length by Crides who belonged to Pandion cured In the interim of this his defect and weakenesse the queene cast an adulterat eye vpon a faire young man called Taurus whom Seruius saith was the scribe or secretary to the king shee prostituting her selfe to his imbraces when the full time was expired shee produced her issue Which Minos seeing and taking a true supputation of the time comparing the birth with his discontinuance from her bed by reason of his disease apprehended the adulterie notwithstanding hee was vnwilling to kill the bastard because it had a resemblance to the rest of
braue souldier or of such as perished in Cilicia for the Empire and libertie of whole Greece shee onely hauing perdurable monuments raised to her as well in Babilon as in Athens Temples and Altars with sacrifices offered her by the name of Venus Pythonica With other such vpbraidings he complained on him to Alexander of whom Alexis in Licisca likewise speakes as also that after her death hee tooke to his bed the beforenamed Glicera Next her followers Irene That Ptolomaeus that placed garrisons in Ephesus and was the sonne of king Philadelphos had a beautifull mistresse called Irene she when Ptolomaeus was â—ssaulted by â—he Thracians in the cittie 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 role open the gates vpon them to kil the king she remoued not her hand from the ring of the doore but with her owne blood sprinkled the altar till the souldiers likewise falling vpon her shee expired in the armes of the slaughtered king As noble was that of Danae Philarchus remembers one Sophron of Ephesus to haue had in his delights Danae daughter to Leontius of the Sect of the Epicures a man well seene in the speculations of Philosophie To her trust were all the domesticke affaires of the house committed euen by the consent of his wife Laodice who at length perceiuing his loue to encline to Danae shee purposed at her next best opportunitie to make away with her husband This being found out by Daâ—ae and in great secrecie reuealed to Sophron he gaue at the first no credit to the report yet at her importunacie hee promised within two dayes to consider of the matter and in that time to deliberate what was best to bee done in the preuention of such a mischiefe and in that interim conceales himselfe in the citie by which Laodice finding her purpose to be discouered she accused Danae for his murther and instantly without further processe by the helpe of her friends and seruants hurryed her to the top of a high Pâ—omontorie from thence to throw her headlong who seeing imminent death before her eyes fetching a deepe sigh she thus said I meruaile 〈◊〉 now that the gods haue so small honour done to them in regard of their iniustice since I am thus punisht for sauing the life of my friend and this Laodice is thus honoured that would haue tooke away the life of her husband Agathoclaea WArres hauing beene long continued betwixt Ptolomey of Aegypt and Antiochâ—s of Syria insomuch that Ptolomaeus was by his embassadors rather by feare than necessitie as it were enforced to sollicite a peace notwithstanding Antiochâ—s inuading Aegypt tooke from him many townes and ciâ—ies of consequence which proffer drawing Ptolomey to the field hee gaue him a braue affront and foyle and had he taken the aduantage of the preseâ—t fortune had payd him home with an irrecouerable ouerthrow but Ptolomy wholly deuoted to effeminacie and luxurie onely contented with what hee had recouered of his owne and pursuing no further aduantages made choyse of a dishonorable peace before a iust warre and so concluded all dissention with an vnalterable league And being free from all forraine invasions he began domesticke troubles at home For being giuen ouer to bâ— owne appetite and beâ—orted to his insatiate pleasures he first began with 〈◊〉 both his sister and wife causing her to be slaine that hee might the more freely enioy the societie and fellowship of his most rare and beautifull mistresse Agaâ—hoclea so that the greatnesse of his name and the splendor of his maiestie both set apart he abandoned himselfe solely to whoredomes by night and to banquets and all profusenesse of riot by day And now libertie being growne to law the boldnesse of the strumpet for no better my Author styles her cannot be contayned within the walls of the kings house which the ouer doâ—agâ— of the king the extraordinarie graces and honoâ—s conferred for her sake on her brother Agathocles together with her owne ambitions growing euery day more and more to greater insolence made still more manifest Next there was her old mother called 〈◊〉 a cunning Hagge I may tearme her who by reason of her double issue Agathocles and Agathoclea had a great hand with the king or rather a great power ouer him Therefore not contented with the king alone they possesse the kingdome also They ride abroad in all state to be seene are proud to be by all saluted and with such great traynes to be attended Agathocles as if sowed to the kings elbow was not seene without him but with a nod or word swayed and gouerned the citie The gifts of all militarie honors as the Tribunes Prefects and Captaines all these were appointed by the women neyther was there any in the kingdome that had lesse power than the king himselfe who long sleeping in this dreame of maiestie hauing giuen away all that was essentiall in a king he fell sicke and dyed leauing behind him a child of fiue yeeres old by his afore-murthered wife and sister Laodice But his death was by these fauorites long concealed whilest they had by all couetous rapine snatched what they might out of the kings treasurie by this to strengthen a faction of the most base and desolate subiects that by mony thus ill got and deboisht souldiers thus leuied they might set safe footing in the Empire but it fell out farre otherwise for the kings death and their dissigne was no sooner discouered but in the rude concourse of the multitude the Minion Agathocles was first slaine and the two women the mother and the daughter were in reuenge of murdered Laodice hanged vpon gybets being now made a skorne to euerie man that was before a terror to all the pupillage of the infant and the safetie of the realme to his vse the Romans most noblie after tooke to their protection Cleophis ALexander the Great after many glorious conquests entring into India that hee might contermine his Empire with the Ocean and the vtmost parts of the East and to which glorie that the ornaments of his armie might suit the trappings of his horses and the armour of his souldiers were all studded with siluer and his maine armie of their Targets of siluer as Curtius writes he caused to be called Argyraspides In processe by gentle and pleasurable marches they came to the cittie Nisa the cittisens making no opposition at all trusting to the reuerence due to Liber Pater by whom they say the cittie was first erected and for that cause Alexander caused it to bee spared passing those fruitfull Hills where grapes grow in aboundance naturally and without the helpe of art or hand of man hee thence passed the Dedalian mountaines euen to the prouinces and kingdome of the queene Cleophis who hearing of his victories and fearing his potencie thought rather to affront
him by faire meanes than by foâ—ce by policie than power for knowing her selfe to bee a woman of extraordinarie state and beautie she by her Embassadors sollicited an interuiew which Alexander graunting she appeared before him with such a Queenelike maiestie and her accomplishments of naâ—ure so helpâ— with the ornaments of are for she was adorned with the richest and best shining stones of India thâ—â— her glorie so captiuated the heart of the conquerour that they came to treat of composition shee proposing to him That it were no honour for so magnificent a victor so famous through the world for his conquests oueâ— men to insult vpon the weake spoyles of a woman iâ—ured to no other armes than the armes of a sweet and louing bedfellow yet if for the ransome of her Empire hee would accept of her loue and seruice in that kind shee was there in person at his command his subiect and seruant Her beautie with this submission wrought such impression in the king that it was concluded betwixt them and by both parties agreed That her honour should bee the ransome of her Empire In conclussion they louingly lay together and so ended these threatned hostilities in an amorous peace her bodie he left tainted but her kingdome vntouched She was that night with child by him of a sonne whom after his fathers name she called Alexander hee inherited the kingdome after her but by the Indians from that time forward in regard of her prostitution she was called The kings whore Callipygae SO much were the Grecians giuen to all voluptuousnesse and pleasure that amongst others diuers Chappels and Temples were dedicated to Venus Callipyga the word importing Quasi pulchras habens nates i. She that hath faire buttocks the originall of that superstition as Aegenaeus relates was this A countrey Farmer beeing the father of two beautifull young Virgins these two concluded betwixt themselues which should haue the prioritie in beautie But modestie forbidding them to dispute it with open faces they concluded betweene themselues to come to a place adioyning to the high-way and there to expose their backe-parts naked to all such as passed by and so by the most voices to bee censured Amongst many others a noble young gentleman of the next citie by accident passing that way and somewhat astonished at so vnwonted an obiect enquired the reason thereof and by one of the spectators being presently resolued he as suddenly gaue the Palme to the elder and intimating by that he saw what the rest might proue grew greatly enamoured and returning to his fathers house surprised with melancholly was of his brother demanded the cause hee after some few bashâ—ull denialls still vrged with the others importunacies discouered to him the whole circumstance of the businesse The brother deâ—iâ—ous to be further instructed was by the louer conducted to the place and obiect which made him first grow enamorated whither he was no sooner brought but he grew presently inflamed with the loue of the yonger and gaue his censure on her part These two had an old Senator to their father who much obserued his children of him they demanded these Virgins in marriage but he proposing to them matches more honourable they would no way assent But wonne at length with their importunacies hee sent in their behalfe to the Fâ—â—mer to demand his daughters in marriage An Enterview was granted the parties agreed a marriage concluded and after consummate with satisfaction on all sides From which time euer after the two young marryed wiues were called Callipygae Of these Gerâ—ldas Megapelitanus in his Iambicks to this purpose speakes These two liued in Syracuâ—a who by their marriage hauing attayned to wealth sufficient erected a famous Chappell to Venâ—â— whom they styled Dea Callipygae These diuers other cities of Greece â—â—ter them imitated This Historie Archeâ—aâ—s likewise in his Iambicks records Alogunes Cosmartidenes Andia YOu shall read in the Historie taken out of Ex Ctesiae â—ersicis That Artaxerxes being dead Xerxes his sonne succeeded the legitimate heire by his wife Damaspia who dyed the same day with her husband therefore to be registred amongst the women most mastrious after their deaths the Eunuch Bagorazus caused both their bodyes to be borne into Persia and there to bee intombed amongst their ancestors It is remembred of this Emperour Artaxerxes that he had by seuerall concubines seuenteene bastards amongst these was Secundianus borne of Alogunes hee by treason succeeded Xerxes hauing before slaine his brother this Alogunes was borne in Babylon By another concubine of the same cittie called Cosmartidenes hee had two sonnes Ochus and Arsites this Ochus by supplanting his brother Secundianus raigning some few months succeeded him in the Empire Xerxes had issue likewise by one Andia a Ladie of the same nation Bagapaeus and Parisatis who was the mother of one Cyrus and another Artaxerxes Xerxes the Persian Emperour yet liuing gaue to his second sonne Ochus the Prefect-ship ouer the Hircanians Likewise Parisatis to wife daughter to Xerxes and naturall sister to Ochus This Ochus was after called Dariaeus who in all his counsells and proiects neuer did any thing without the aduise of his sister queene before his aspiring to the Empirie hee had issue by his wife Parisatis two children a daughter called Amistris and a sonne Arsaca who after changed his name to his grandfathers and was called Artaxerxes after his instalment she brought him a sonne called Cyrus after him Artostes and so to the number of thirteene of all which onely the fourth sonne called Oxendras suruiued the rest perished in their minoritie These were concubines of Persia. Iulia. IT is remembred of Augustus Caesar whose daughter this Iulia was that hee established a law which was called Lex Iulia concerning adulterers after what processe persons so offending should be punished being conuicted and found guiltie It happened that a young gentleman of Rome being accused of the same fact with the Emperours daughter Iulia before named Augustus grew into such furie that not able to conteine himselfe he fell vpon the gentleman and gaue him many violent and sound buffets till the supposed offendor cryed out ô Emperour where is your Iustice you haue made a law concerning these matters why am I not then iudged by that At which words it so repented him of his rashnesse that all that day and night he forbore to tast any food At a certaine sword-playing or such like pastime solemnised in the great Roman Theatre Lyuia the mother and Iulia the daughter had turned the eyes of all the multitude vpon them twaine and that by reason of the difference of their habits and their attendants Lyuia being matron-like attired was accompanied with aged Senators and Ladies of approued modestie and grauitie Iulia on the contrarie loosely and wantonly habited had in her traine none but butterflie-pages wild fashion-mongers and fantasticke gallants which obserued by Augustus he the next day admonished her by letters To obserue
workemanship In Ceres right hand was the image of Victorie most curiouslie forged This Historie with many other is with much nimble and dextrous witte fabulated by Ouid to whose Metamorphesis I referre you In Ceres is figured to vs an exhortation to all men to bee carefull in the manuring and tilling of the Earth since Ceres is taken for the Earth the treasuresse of all riches whatsoeuer and iust is that vsurie and commendable which arriseth from thence for the fertilitie that growes that way is begot by the temperature of the weather and the industrie of mans labours Shee is therefore sayd to wander round about the earth and ouer the spatious Vniuerse because of the obliquitie of the signe-bearing circle and the progresse of the Sunne beneath that by which Sommer is in some parts of the world at all seasons of the yeare and elsewhere when not here Besides from hence this moralitie may bee collected No man vnpunished can despise the gods for miseries are the hand-maides of dishonestie therefore of force a wicked and irreligious man is subiect and incident to fall into many distresses and casualties therefore Pietie towards heauen Wisedome in managing our affaires and Thriftinesse in the disposing of our priuat fortunes are all requisite in an honest religious a parsimonious and well disposed man PROSERPINA THe daughter of Iupiter and Ceres shee was honoured in Cicilie of which Prouince shee was called Cicula of whom Seneca thus speakes Vidisti Siculae regna Proserpinae Hast thou seene the kingdomes of Sicilian Proserpine She is likewise called by Lucan Ennaea of the citie Enna Eloâ—uar immenso terrae sub pondere quae te Cintineant Ennaea dapes Shall I oh Ennaea discouer on what dainties thou feedest Beneath the huge waight of the Massie earth Manie fables of Proserpina haue bin introduc'd for our better instruction by the ancient Poets which is onely to expresse to vs the nature of the seedes and plants for Proserpina by whom is signified the Moone shining to vs one halfe of the moneth and lying the other halfe in the armes of her husband Pluto that is being halfe the yeare in Heauen and the other in Hell sixe moneths beneath the earth and as manie aboue so is it with the vertue of plants whose sappe for sixe moneths space is by reason of the subterren cold forc't and diffused vpward into the boughes and branches againe by the extreamitie of the Winters vpper cold it is compulsiuely driuen backe downeward into the roote beneath the earth for so doth nature impart her power and vertue to all creatures and naturall bodies whatsoeuer that they many obserue a mutualitie if I may tearme it so in their cooperation After the like manner is the day sorted out for our labours and affaires the night for our rest and repose So likewise in explicating the power of Luna or the Moone some call her the daughter of Hiperion or the Sunne because shee being Corpus diaphanes that is a bodie cristaline like reflectiue glasse transferres the light receiued from her father vpon the earth to vs for which cause she is called also the sister of the Sunne by the swiftnesse of her course her proper motions are declared To expresse her nature alwaies appearing to vs greater or lesser is to signifie her strength and multiplicitie of working therefore they alot her a garment of diuers and sundrie colours In attributing to her the double sexes of male and female as some haue commented the reason is in that as shee is woman shee infuseth an humor necessarie and profitable to the nutriment of all creatures in respect of her virile nature shee allowes a moderate and sensible heate much auailable to increase for without this heate in vaine were her opperation which is easily proued in all creatures that are pregnant and bringing foorth therefore shee is called Lucina as the goddesse that brings creatures to light She is likewise operatiue to corruption which is the reason that sicke men and such as are troubled with anie greeuous maladie are most in daunger of death in the criticall daies of the Moone NEMESIS SHee is the goddesse of Reuenge and Wrath and punisher of the proude and vaineglorious She had a Temple in Ramnus a towne in Attica from which shee tooke the name of Rhamnusia Aristotle by the passion of Indignation and affection of Commiseration saith Nemesis is figured and both of these tooke in the better part Indignation when good men are troubled and vexed to see bad men vse good things ill Commiseration to see honest and just men crost with the disasters of the world Plutarch in his booke de capienda ex hostibus vtilitate speaking how ridiculous it is for anie man to reproue another of that vice of which hee is himselfe guiltie or taint anie man for the least deformitie vnto which hee is subiect himselfe brings in Leo Bizantius a crooked back't fellow gybing at him because hee had a weakenesse and an infirmitie falne into his eies to him he thus answered Why dost thou mock me for this mischance by fortune when thou thy selfe carriest Nemesis vpon thy backe by nature Of what power this Nemesis was and how honoured manie Authors as well amongst the Greekes as the Latines haue laboured industriously to make manifest I will insist on few Ausonius from the Greeke interpreted this Epigram Me lapidem quondam Persae advexore trophaeum Vt fierem bello nunc Ego sum Nemesis Ac sicut Graecis victoribus asto trophaeum Punio sic Persas vaniloquos Nemesis The Persians tooke me hence long since From Greece a stone and vow To make me a warres-Trophy stand But Nemesis I am now But as I to the victor Greekes A Trophy now appeare The prating Persians Nemesis I punish with my feare The Historie from which both Epigrams are deriued Pausanias recites much after this manner From Marathon saith he some threescore leagues distant is Rhamnus a citie bordering vpon the Sea iust in the way to Oroxus by which stands the Temple of Nemesis a goddesse who is the ineuitable reuenger of such men as are haughtie proud and contumelious It seemes the barbarous Perseans vnder the name of Nemesis doe comprehend Indignatio for comming towards Marathon and despising the Athenians as not able to interpose their incurâ—ions They tooke a stone of white Marble as if they had alreadie obtained the victorie of which stone Phidias the excellent statuarie made the portraiture of Nemesis A faire crowne vpon her head with forrest harts carued about it and many small Imageries pourtraieng Victorie in her right hand a golden cuppe in which the Aethiopians were figured Some thinke her the daughter of Oceanus some of Iupiter others of Iustice. Ammianus Marcellinus in his booke of the deedes of the Emperour Gallus speakes to this effect These and such like things saith he Adrastia vnder whose name by a double signification we vnderstand Nemesis oft times workes in vs being a certaine sublime law
who for her elegant feature and extraordinarie beautie and withall because the costlie ornaments with which she vsed to attire herselfe exceeded the precise custome of her Order she was brought within suspition of lust and inchastitie for which being cal'd into question and not able legallie to acquit 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 Iustin in his 43 booke commemorates this historie Aeneas after many tedious trauells landing in Italie was by marrieng Lauinia the daughter of King Latinus made partner with him in the Kingdome for which marriage warre was commenst betwixt them two of the one partie and Turnus King of the Rutilians on the other In which combustions Turnus being slaine and Latinus yeelding to Fate Aenaeas both by the right of victorie and succession became Lord of both the Kingdome and poeple erecting a cittie called Lauinium in remembrance of his wife Lauinia In processe he made warre against Mezentias king of the Etruscians whom hauing slaine Ascanius the sonne of Aenaeas succeeded in the principalitie Ascanius leauing Lauinium built the cittie Alba which for three hundred yeares space was the capitall cittie of that Kingdome After many discents the regall honours were conferred vpon Numitor and Amulius These two Princes emulous of each others greatnesse Amulius the younger hauing opprest his brother Numitor surprised also his sole daughter Rhaea who was immediate heire to her fathers honours and regall dignities all which he couetous to ingrosse to himselfe and fearing withall least from her issue might in time descend some one that might punish his insolencies and reuenge her and her fathers iniuries deuised with himselfe how to preuent both and fearing least by putting her to death he might incurre a generall hate amongst the people in whose loue hee was not as yet fullie setled he apprehended as his safest course to shadow her vow of virginitie to be elected into the sacred seruice of Vesta Being thus confin'd into the groaue celebrated to Mars whether begot by Mars himselfe as was then beleeued or otherwise adulterouslie conceiued it is vncertaine but she was deliuered of two sonnes This being knowne to Amulius increased his feares who commanded the infants to be cast foorth and Rhaea to bee loaden with yrons vnder whose seuere sentence expiring she yeelded to Fate The two children ready to perish were miraculouslie nourced by a she wolfe and after found by the shepheard Faustulus were by him brought vp 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 deflowred by Nero. Another whose name was Pompilia because by her inchastitie she prophaned the sacred orders of Vesta was buryed aliue the same death for the like offence suffered Cornelia Floronea the Vestall was conuicted of whoredome but she to preuent one death made choice of another For taking to her selfe a braue Roman spirit shee with her owne hands boldlie slew her selfe Posthumia taxed for her two curious habit and gaudinesse 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 wittilie and noblie answered to whatsoeuer could be obiected against her so that being found guiltlesse she was absolued by the sentence of the high Priest or Archflammin Sextilia sped not so well as this Posthumia for she being suspected of inchastitie and found culpable suffered according to the law made for the punishment of the like offenders The like suffered Tutia the Vestall for her vnlawfull prostitution Plutarch in Gracchis in the Catalogue of these consecrated virgins numbers Licinia And Pliny relates that when Clodius the Emperour was in opposition with his wife Messalina that sinke of lust and most incontinent of women when their differences could be no wayes decided Messalina sent to Vbidia one of the most reuerent amongst the Vestalls by whose mediation attonement was made betwixt her and the Emperour The vestfall fire vpon a time going out and it being imputed to their inchastitie Aemilia with these words besought the goddesse Oh Vesta thou that art the protectour of this famous cittie Rome as I haue truelie and chastlie almost for thirtie yeares space celebrated thy sacrifices so either at this present crowne my puritie with fame or before this multitude brand my lust with infamy These words were no sooner spoken but casting her mantle vpon the Altar the fire instantlie brake foorth where before there was nothing in place saue cold embers by which prodigie her innocent life was protected Claudia the Vestall was of no lesse remarkeable chastitie who when a barke laden with the sacreds of the goddesse stucke fast in the riuer Tyber and by no human strength could be loosed from the sand she thus openlie protested before the people If quoth she ô goddesse I haue hitherto kept my chastitie vndefiled vouchsafe these may follow me when fastning a cord to the stearne of the ship she without any difficultie drew it along the riuer Tuscia likewise suspected of incontinence by the like wonder gaue testimonie of her innocence who inuocating Vesta in these words If saith she ô mother of the gods I haue offered thy sacrifices with chast and vndefiled hands grant that with this sieue I may take vp water from the riuer Tyber and without shedding the least droppe beare it vnto thy Altar which when she had obtained and accordinglie performed with lowd acclamations of the multitude she was absolued and her austere life euerafter held in reuerence The attributes of Modestie and Temperance are greater ornaments to a woman than gold or iewells and because all perfections cannot be in one woman at one time this Modestie is that which supplyes all things that are wanting It is a dower to her that hath no portion not onelie an ornament to deformitie but in blacknesse it impresses a kind of beautie it illustrates the ignobilitie of birth supplying all those defects wherein fortune hath beene scanting And so much shall suffice for the Vestalls Of the Prophetesses COncerning these Prophetesses I will onely make a briefe catalogue of some few whom the antient writers haue made most eminent We reade of Hyrtia the daughter of Sesostris king of Aegypt most skilfull in diuination who to her father foretold his Amplitude and Monarchy Volatteranus in Georg. writes of one Labissa a diuining woman that was eminent for many predictions in Bohemia whom succeeded her daughter Craco as well in skill as in fame Plutarch in Mario speakes of one Martha whom Marcius most honourablie circumducted in a horse-litter and at her appointment celebrated many sacrifices her the senate with a generall suffrage for her approued skill in augurie rewarded with libertie making her a free woman of the cittie Polyxo is the name of
one of the Phebaiedes of whom Val. Flaccus in his Argonauts thus writes Tunc etiam vates Phoebo delecta Polixo Where he calls her a Prophetesse beloued of Phoebus Sosipatra a woman by nation a Lydian and the wife of Aedesius the Sophist was possest with that diuining spirit and true coniecture of future things that in their times accordinglie happened that she was said to be educated and instructed by the gods themselues Of the like approbation was Spurina who as Tranquillus testates forewarned Caesar to beware of the Ides of March who in the same day was murdered in the Capitoll of which he bid him beware Martianus Capella speakes of one Symachia and calls her one of the Sybells and of tenne by all authours granted will allow but two namelie Herophile Troiana the daughter of Marmensis and Symachia the issue of Hippotensis who was borne in Erythraea and prophesied in Cuma Theano and Eucyppa the daughters of one Scedasus sung many oraculous cautions to the people of Sparta yet could they not predict their owne disaster for after they were forciblie defloured by the young men of the same cittie and slaine and their bodies cast into a well their father after long search finding them confounded with the sight of so sad a spectacle vpon the fight thereof slew himselfe Caelius writes of a woman borne in his countrey called Iacoba out of whose bellie vncleane spirits made acclamations of future things to come of which one of them called himselfe Cincinnatulus who gaue maruellous answers to such as demanded of him but spake as oft falselie as truelie Of better knowledge as it seemes was Appollonius of Tyana a cittie in Greece who told one Cylix a man giuen to all voluptuousnesse That before three dayes were expyred he should be slaine which accordinglie happened He vsed to protest that he spake nothing without the counsell of the gods and direction of the spirit that attended him he professed the knowledge of all languages and tongues to haue insight into the thoughts of men to discourse any thing punctuallie that had past and diuine as truelie of any thing to come he was moreouer an exact interpreter of dreames his life is compendiouslie set downe by Vollaterranus Parialla liued in the age of Cleomines and was called the championesse of all the Delphian prophetesses Now how the diuell should come to the foreknowledge of things to come it shall be held no vnnecessarie digression briefly to inquire These spirits being of a thinne substance by their tenuitie subtiltie and incredible celeritie moreouer by the quicknesse of their apprehensions in which they farre excell the slownesse and dulnesse of all earthlie bodies by the diuine permission vnderstand and deliuer many things which appeare to vs miraculous Therefore S. Augustine in his booke De Spiritu Anima saith That by reason of their antiquitie and benefit of the length of time as hauing continued from the beginning of the world they haue gathered to themselees that absolute and vnmatchable experience of which man by reason of the breuitie of his age is no way capable by which meanes some of their actions seeme the more admirable some things they fashion out of the holy Scriptures themselues as hauing them all at their fingers ends and oft times predict such things as they themselues haue purpose to act by this meanes tempting and seducing mankind Therefore Plato in Epinomide attributes vnto them acutenesse of witte retentiue memorie and admirable knowledge Clemens in Recog saith That these spirits therefore know more and much more perfectlie as not being burdened or dulled with the grosse weight of the body Tertullian in his Apologie against the nations thus argues All spirits are winged and therefore are euery where in an instant the spatious earth and all the corners thereof are to them but as one place and whatsoeuer is therein done they can as easily know as suddenlie declare by this means they make themselues the authours of many things and so they are indeed of mischiefes often of good things neuer The Croesians and the Pirhians make it most apparant with what deceiuing cunning he hath shadowed the ambiguities of his Oracles No question but the diuell by the infallible prophesies of Esay and Daniell both which had liuelie and expresselie deliniated the young man Alexander knew that this Alexander by subduing Darius should enioy all Asia and transferre the Monarchy from the Babylonians to the Graecians The Prince therefore comming to the Delphian Oracle and of the Prophetesse demanding the successe that should follow his intended expeditions shee of long time made him no answer but he not so satisfied by intreaties menacies and all manner of importunities at length wrested from her these few words Inuictus eris Alexander Oh Alexander thou shalt be inuincible which words had they fayled in the successe of his warres yet had a shadow of truth in that his vrgence ouercame the silence of the Oracle After traiecting his army against the Persians diuers prodigies appeared at his entrance into Asia the statue of Orpheus was seene to sweat in his conflict with Darius an Eagle was still visibly seene soaring and houering ouer his head and as it were menacing the enemie these were no question the mockeries of the diuell to auert the opinions of such as gaue not much credit to the superstitions of these vaine Auguries and to the firmer establishment of his own kingdome He knew before out of the Prophesies of Esay That Tyrus should be destroyed by the Macedonians for so saith the Prophet The burden of Tyrus howle ye ships of Tarshish for it is destroyedâ— so that there is no house none shall come from the land of Chittim it is reuealed vnto them This land Cethim many hold to be Macedonia for after that dialect the Macedonians are called by Homer Others by Cethim interpret the land of the Cyprians Now when after the defeate and vtter subuersion of Darius Alexander had inuested his army before Tyrus the diuell by oracle forewarned one of the prime cittisens That Appollo would instantlie forsake the Cittie that the euent answering the prediction might the more firmelie establish the confidence setled vpon these false idols To this purpose makes that of the Pithian damsell in the Acts of the Apostles thus saith the text And it came to passe as we went to prayer a certaine maide hauing a spirit of diuination met vs which gate her maister much vantage with diuining she followed Paul and vs and cryed saying These men are the seruants of the most high God which shew vnto you the way of saluation and thus did she many dayes Here we see the diuell confesseth the truth but not with th' intent to mooue the people to giue beleefe to his doctrines For that appeares by the sequele For when Paul grieued turned about and said to the spirit I command thee in the name of Iesus that thou come out of her and he
both of them being so naturallie beautifull that they were said to be the sonnes of Adonis and Venus The elder raigned in the lower parts of Media the Iunior kept his principalitie in the higher countrey as farre as the riuer Taâ—ais not many leagues distant from thence there liued the king Homartes who had one onely daughter cald Odatis whom as diuers Authours affirme seemed in a dreame to haue seene this Zariadres and of his person to be much inamoured The like in a vision happening to him in so much that he was ardentlie affected to her whome as yet he had neuer seene This Odatis was the fairest Princesse in that time liuing in Asia and Zariadres no whit to her inferiour who sent to the king Homartes to demand her in marriage he would by no meanes yeeld to the motion because not hauing any male issue he was loath to transferre the succession of his kingdome vpon a stranger purposing rather to bestow her on some Prince of his countrey though a subiect Not long after he caused to be assembled all the friends kinsmen Nobilitie and Gentrie of his land inuiting them to his daughters marriage but not yet knowing or hauing determined in himselfe on whom to conferre her His subiects thus assembled hee inuited them all to a solemne and high feast whither hauing called his daughterâ— in the hearing of all his guests he thus bespake her We are now ô Princely daughter to celebrate thy nuptialls take therfore this golden bowle filled with rich Greekish wine and hauing throughlie and aduisedlie perused all this noble companie to whom thou shall daine first to drinke he is vndoubtedlie thy husband She hauing viewed and reuiewed them all none pleasing like that person presented to her in her dreame she demanded of her father some few daies respight which granted she sent word to Zariadres how her affaires stood concerning her marriage and withall much desiring his speedy presence He being in his army neere to Tanais and hearing this newes secretlie conueyed himselfe out of his tent and without any seruant or attendant sauing his chariotter came priuatelie into the Cittie of Homartes hauing in wondrous short space runne 8000 furlongs this done he disposed both of his charriot and driuer and withall putting himselfe into a Scythians habit hee came to the place where this marriage was to be celebrated and thronging in amongst the rest he beheld the beautifull Odatis sad in countenance and tempering her draught with a slow and vnwilling hand to whom approaching more neerer he thus whispered Behold Odatis thy dearest Zariadres for whom thou didst latelie send ready to doe thee all seruice She casting an aduised eye vpon him and perceiuing him to be a stranger beautifull and in all semblance so like the person of whom she had dreamt in a great extasie of ioy dranke to him and gaue him the cup and whilst the rest were amased at the nouell hee snatcht her vp and carryed her where his charriot stood ready and so transported her into Media This their loue was so famous amongst the barbarous people that the history was portraied in all their Pallaces and Temples nay euen in their priuate houses many of the Nobilitie in memorie of her calling their daughters by the name of Odatis Dionisius the Tyrant banisht Dion out of Sicily taking into his owne custody the exyles wife Aristomache and her daughter but after at the great intercession of one of his seruants Polycrates a man by him much affected he compelled the Lady who stil lamented the absence of her Lord vnto a second marriage with this Polycrates who was by nation of Syracusa But Dion hauing gathered fresh forces and expelling Dionisius from Syracusa vnto the Locrenses Arâ—â—e his sister meeting him and congratulating his famous victorie made intercession for Aristomache who with great shame had sequestred her selfe from the presence of her first husband not daring to looke him in the face howsoeuer her second nuptialls were made by force and compulsion But the necessitie of the cause the wondrous submission and modest excuse of Aristomache together with the mediation of Arete so much preuayled with Dion all confirming hir innocence that he receiued his wife and daughter into his familie still continuing their former loue and societie Hippo a woman of Greece trauelling by sea with her husband and being surprised by Pyrats finding the chiefe of them to be inamoured of her beautie rather than yeeld to his lustfull desires she voluntarilie threw her selfe into the sea and was drowned leauing behind her a remarkable president of chastitie her body was driuen vpon Ericheon or as some will haue it the Erythean shore in memorie of whom a sacred monument was raysed which was many yeares after yeerely celebrated with many condigne honours Valer. Max. lib. 7. cap. 1. Chiomara of whom Liâ—ius Frontinus Florus and others haue written was the wife of Orgiantes Regulus and borne in Galatia Plutarch calls her Oriagontes it is thus related of her The army and the forces of the Gallogrecians being part of them defeated and the rest taken captiue by Ca. Manlius then consull neere to the mount Olimpus this Chiomara the wife of Regulus a woman of most knowne modestie and chastitie being first taken and after committed to the custody of a Roman Centurion was forceably by him adulterated A commandement comming from the Consull that all the treasure of which the Lady was possest should be confiscate to the Centurion onely her selfe with that ransome to bee returned safe and vntoucht to her husband she presently promist the captaine to bring him to a place where all his desires should be satisfied He of a couetous disposition with all celeritie hasted with her to the discouerie of this Magazin where she before had placed a company of Gallogrecians her countrey men and in their language commanded them to fall vpon him kill him which done she cut off his head and presented it to her husband and kneeling to him both expressed the nature of her iniury and the manner of her reuenge The censures of the Consull Manilius and her husband Regulus both assented in this That she was of a courage vnmatchable for though her body was brought vnder the subiection of an enemy neither her mind could be conquered nor her chastitie made captiue An antient woman amongst the Syracusans when all the subiects of Dionysius with many execrations cursed and openlie inueighed against his insufferable cruelties she onely was obserued morning and euening to sollicite the gods for his long life and happinesse which comming to the eare of the king he caused her to be called before him and demanded of her the cause Why amongst all his oppressed subiects who dayly wisht his ruin she alone inuoakt the gods for his health and preseruation to whom with an vndaunted resolution she thus answered That which I doe ô King is not without due premeditation and grounded both vpon reason
king Deiotarus and barren and knowing how desiroâ—s her husband was to haue issue from his owne loynes to succeede in the kingdome sollicited him and that with great importance to select some beautifull Ladie whom he best fancied and by her to raise his posteritie which the king ouercome with so vnexpected a curtesie and therefore vnwilling to wrong her bed refusing she of her owne accord out of many captiue virgins chused one who seemed to excell all the rest in feature and modestie and suiting her in all respects like a princesse presented her to the king as a jewell to be receiued from her hand This Virgins name was Electra by whom Deiotarus had faire and fortunate issue to whom Stratonica was a second mother and sawe them educated with as much magnificence and state as if they had beene borne of her bodie and shee giuen them sucke from her owne brests Her example is memorable but since her time by few that I can reade of immitated Valeria and Cloelia TArquinus Superbus being expulsed the kingdome because his sonne Sextus had stuprated the faire Lucretia wife to Collatine to reobtaine his principalitie hee insinuated vnto his aide Porsenna king of the Tuscans These with an infinite armie besieged Rome insomuch that the cittisens were not onely wearied with long warre but opprest with famine therefore knowing Porsenna as well in warre as peace to be a prince eminent both for justice and humanitie they made choise of him to arbitrate and determine all controuersies betwixt Tarquine and them This motion being offered by the Romanes Tarquine refused to stand to any such comprimise not allowing Porsâ—â—â—â— a lawfull iudge in regard of their late league commensed This Porsenâ—â— not well relishing treated with the Romans about a peace conditionally that they should restore backe certaine lands before taken from the Etruscians and of them put him in peaceable possession and till this were performed to send him tenne young men and as many virgins of the noblest families for hostage which was accordinglie done and he dismist his armie These virgins walking by the riuer side which parted the campe and cittie for though he had sent away the greatest part of his armie he had not yet raised his tents two of the chiefe the one Cloelia the other Valeria daughter to the Consull Publicola persuaded the rest and by persuading so farre preuailed that they were all resolued to passe the riuer when stripping themselues naked and holding as well as they conuenientlie could their cloathes aboue their heads they ventured ouer that vnknowne passage full of whirlepooles and where there was no stedfast footing and what by wading and swimming to all mens wonders got safe to shore and presented themselues to their fathers and friends who though they admired their boldnesse and commended their resolutions yet disallowing the Act it selfe as those that in their faith and honour would not be outbid by any they sent them backe to king Porsenna and submitted their rashnesse to be punisht at his pleasure These virgins being presented before him he demanded of them Which she was that first animated and incouraged the rest to so rash and dangerous an enterprise when Cloelia beckning to the rest to keepe silence tooke all the iniurie contempt or whatsoeuer they pleafed to call it vpon her selfe protesting the rest innocent and she of what would be obiected the sole authour Porsenna obseruing and withall admiring her vndanted courage caused presently a horse furnished with rich trappings to be broughtâ— which he gaue to Cloelia in recompence of her magnanimous attempt sending them all in his regall curtesie back to their friends and parentsâ— Vpon this horse giuen to Cloelia by Porsenna some haue grounded that she first past the riuer on horsebacke sounding the way for the rest which others deny onely that the king thought to gratifie her manly courage with the meede of a souldier Her statue on horsebacke is erected in Via sacra This some confer vpon Cloelia others on Valeria Olympias ALexander hauing caused himselfe to be called the sonne of Iupiter writ to his mother in this maneer King Alexander the sonne of Iupiter Hamon to his mother Olimpias sends health to whom with great modestie she thus rescribed Deare sonne as you loue me insteed of doing me honour proclaime not my dishonour neither accuse me before Iuno besides it is a great aspertion you cast vpon nice to make me a strumpet though to Iupiter himselfe A great moderation in a woman who for no swelling title or vaine ostentation could be woon to loose the honour to be called a Loyall and chast wife Troades AMongst those frighted Troians that fled from the fearfull ruins of subuerted Troy some by the violence of outragious tempests were driuen vpon the coasts of Italy where landing at certaine ports neere to the riuer Tygris they made vp into the countrey the better to acquaint themselues with the conditions of those places In which interim the women began to apprehend that they had better farre to take vp an abiding place in any land than againe to commit themselues to the mercilesse furie of the seas Wherefore with one ioynt consent they agreed to make that their fixed habitation seeing all hope of their former losses at Troy were vtterly desperate Hauing thus conspired together with all possible expedition they burnt the shippes in this exploit one Roma is reported to be chiefe which being done they ran to meet their husbands making to their Nauie to quench it fearing their anger for their rash enterprise some of them embracing their husbands others their friends and acquaintance they tempred their amorous kisses with such persuasiue Rhetoricke that soone allayd the angry tempest of their husbands furie From these as some haue writ the custome of kissing at salutations by the Roman women to their kinsmen first tooke Originall The Troianes now tyed by necessitie and likewise finding the inbahitants so louing and curteous they much applauded this deede of the women and dwelt there with the Latines The Phocides AFter an implacable war betwixt the Thessalians and the Phocenses which had long lasted with much slaughter on both sides those of Thessaly bringing their army through the Locrenses inuaded the men of Phocis on all sides making a decree to kill all that were of age and the women and children to beare away captiue Diaphantes the sonne of Bathillius with his two colleagues then gouerning the cittie he persuaded the besieged boldlie and valiantlie to issue out and giue the enemy battaile but with this caution That all their wiues daughters and children euen to one soule should be brought into a place circled and compast in with all manner of dry wood and matter combustible and the dores by which they entered to be shut after them and so guarded and if the day were lost and they perisht in battaile the pile to bee kindled and all their bodies to be burned at once This being not onely proposed
pourtrayde the picture of the Sauiour of the world with a flower-de-lyce in his hand and so marched to Orleance Her first exploit was fortunately to raise the siege and releeue the towne From thence shee passed to Reames tooke the cittie and caused the Dolphin there to proclaime himselfe king and take vpon him the crowne of France She after tooke Iargueux a strong towne and in it the Earle of Suffolke with many other braue English gentlemen She fought the great battaile of Pathay with good successe in which were taken prisoners the lord Talbâ—â— the skourge and terror of the French nation the lord Seales the lord Hungerfâ—rd with many others both of name and qualitie she tooke in Benueele Mehun Trois and diuers other townes of great import and consequence at length in a camisado or skirmish she was taken prisoner by sir Iohn of Entenburch a Burgonian captaine and sent to Roan The French Cronicles affirme that the morning before she was surprised she tooke the sacrament and comming from Church told to diuerse that were about her that she was betraide her life sold and should shortly after be deliuered vp vnto a violent death For sir Iohn gaue a great sum of money to betray her The English comming to inuest themselues before Mondidier Ioan was aduised to issue out by Elaâ—ie and skirmish with them who was no sooner out but he shut the gates vpon her being taken she was sent to Peter Bishop of Beuoise who condemned her to the fire for a sorceresse which iudgement was accordingly executed vpon her in Roane in the market place Twentie six yeares after Charles the king for a great summe of money procured an annichilation of the first sentence from the Pope in which she was proclaimed a Virago inspired with diuine instinct in memorie of whose vertuous life and vniust death he caused a faire crosse to â—ee erected iust in the place where her bodie was burned I returne againe to the English Fabian and Harding speake of Emma sister to the Norman duke called Richard who for her extraordinarie beautie was called The flower of Normandie she was married to Ethelred king of England By her heroicke spirit and masculine instigation the king sent to all parts of the kingdome secret and strict commissions That vpon a certaine day and hour assigned all those Danes which had vsurped in the land and vsed great crueltie should be slaughtered which at her behest and the kings commaund was accordingly performed which though it after prooued ominous and was the cause of much miserie and mischiefe yet it shewed in her a noble and notable resolution Of queene Margaret the wife of Henrie the sixt her courage resolution and magnanimitie to speake at large would aske a Volume rather than a compendious discourse to which I am strictly tyed And therefore whosoeuer is deâ—irous to be further instructed in the successe of those many battailes fought against the house of Yorke in which she was personally present I referre them to our English Chronicles that are not sparing in commending her more than womanish spirit to euerlasting memorie With her therefore I conclude my female Martiallists And now me thinkes I am come where I would be and that is amongst you aire Fones Of Faire Women IT is reported of a king that for many yeeres had no issue and desirous to haue an heire of his owne bloud and begetting to succeed in the Throne vpon his earnest supplication to the diuine powers he was blessed with a faire sonne both of beautie and hope And now being possest of what he so much desired his second care was to see him so educated that hee might haue as much comfort of him in his growth as hope in his infancie hee therefore sent abroad to find out the most cunning Astrologians to calculate of his natiuitie that if the starres were any way maleuolent to him at his birth he might by instruction and good education as farre as was possible preuent any disaster that the Planets had before threatened A meeting to that purpose being appointed and the Philosophers and learned men from all parts assembled after much consultation it was concluded amongst them That if the infant saw Sunne or Moone at any time within the space of ten yeeres hee should most assuredly be depriued the benefit of sight all his life time after With this their definitiue conclusion the father wondrously perplexed was rather willing to vse any faire meanes of preuention than any way to tempt the crosse influence of the starres Hee therefore caused a Cell or Caue to be cut out of a deepe Rocke and conueying thither all things necessarie for his education hee was kept there in the charge of a learned tutor who well instructed him in the Theorie of all those Arts which best suited his apprehension The time of ten yeeres being expired and the feare of that ominous calculation past ouer the day was appointed when his purpose was to publish his sonne to the world and to shew him the Sunne and Moone of which he had often heard and till then neuer saw entire and to present vnto his view all such creatures of which he had beene told and read but could distinguish none of them but by heare-say They brought before him a Horse a Dogge a Lion with many other beasts of seuerall kindes of which he onely looked but seemed in them to take small pleasure They shewed him Siluer Gold Plate and Iewels in these likewise hee appeared to take small delight or none as not knowing to what purpose they were vsefull yet with a kind of dull discontent he demanded their names and so past them ouer At length the king commanded certaine beautifull virgins gorgeously attyred to be brought into his presence which the Prince no sooner saw but as recollecting his spirits with a kind of alacritie and change of cheare he earnestly demanded What kind of creatures they were how bred how named and to what vse created To whom his tutor ieastingly replyed These be called Deuills of which I oft haue told you and they are the great tempters of mankind Then his father demanded of him To which of all these things he had beheld he stood affected best and to whose societie hee was most enclined who presently answered O Father I onely desire to be attended by these Deuils Such is the attractiue power of beautie which women cannot fully appropriate to themselues since it is eminent in all other creatures Who wonders not at the beautie of the Sunne the glorie of the Moone and the splendor of the starres the brightnesse of the morning and the faire shutting in of the euening Come to the flowers and plants what artificiall colour can be compared to the leaues of the Marigold the Purple of the Violet the curious mixture of the Gillyflower or the whitenesse of the Lilly to which Salomon in all his glorie was not to be equalled You that are prowd of your haire
against all Law or Iustice to behold me against reason or modestie naked Gyges at these words was first wonderously amazed but after recollecting himselfe entreated her not to compell him to so hard an exigent as to the choyse of eyther But finding that necessitie that he must be forced to one or the other to kill the king or to be slaine by others he rather made choyse to suruiue and let the other perish and thus answered her Since generous Ladie you vrge me to an enterprise so much opposite to my milder nature and disposition propose some safe course how this may be done Euen sayth she in the selfe-same place where he deuised this mischiefe against himselfe namely his bed-chamber where to thee I was first discouered Therefore prouiding all things necessarie for so determinate a purpose and the night comming on Gyges who knew no euasion but to kill his maister or dye himselfe awaited his best aduantage and hauing notice when Candaules was asleepe followed the queene into her chamber and with a Ponyard by her prouided for the purpose stabbed him to the heart by which hee attayned both the queene and kingdome Of this historie Archilochus Parius makes mention in his Iambicks who liued 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 soueraigntie Rowan and Estrilda ROwan was a maid of wonderfull beautie and pleasantnesse daughter to Hengest a captaine of the Saxons Of this Ladie Vortiger then king grew so enamored that for her sake hee was diuorced from his wife by whom hee had three sonnes for which deed the greatest part of the Brittaines forsooke him therefore hee by the instigation of Rowan still caused more and more Saxons to be sent for vnder pretence to keepe the Land in subiection But the Brittaines considering the dayly repayre of the Saxons came to the King and told him the danger that might ensue entreating him whilest it waâ— yet time and to preuent a future miserie to expell them the Land But all in â—aine for Vortiger was so besotted in the beautie of his faire wife by whose counsaile he was altogether swayed that he would in no wise listen to the counsaile of his subiects Wherefore they with one vnited consent depriued him of his Crowne and dignitie making Vortimerus his eldest sonne king in his stead Who was no sooner crowned but with all expedition he raysed an armie and pursued the Saxons and in foure maine battailes besides conflicts and skirmishes became victorious ouer them The Saxons and their insolencies thus supâ—â—est and the king now gouerning the Land in peace after he had reigned seuâ—â— yeeres was by this Rowan in reuenge of the disgrace done to her king deposed and her countreymen disgraced most trecherously poysoned Locrin the eldest sonne of Brute chased the Hunnes which inuaded the realme of England and so hotely pursued them that many of them with their king were drowned in a riuer which parteth England and Scotland and after the name of the king of the Hunnes who there perished the riuer is to this day called Humbar This king Locrin had to wife â—â—â—â—doline a daughter of Coriâ—eus duke of Cornwall by whom he had a sonne calâ—â—d Madâ—n He kept also a Paramour called the beautifull Ladie Estrilda by whom hee had a daughter called Sabrina Locrine after the death of Corineus of whom he stood in awe diuorsed himselfe from his lawfull wife and tooke to his embraces his faire concubine mooued with this iniurie Guendoline retired herselfe into Cornewall where she gathered a great power fought with her husband slew him in battaile and after caused him to be buried in Troy-nouant That done she caused the faire Estrilda with her daughter Sabrina to be drowned in a riuer that which parts England and Wales which still beares the name of the yong Virgin and is called Seuerne These her dessignes accomplished for so much as Madun her yong sonne was but in his pupillage and not of capacitie or age to gouerne the Land by the common sufferage of all the Brittons she was made Protectoresse and Ladie Regent of the kingdome which to the comfort of the subiects and the weale of the kingdome she discreetly gouerned for the space of fifteene yeares and therefore her memorie might fitly haue beene rancked amongst the most Illustrious women Her sonne comming to age and yeares of discretion shee to him resigned the Scepter The Faire ladie of Norwich ANd now because wee traffique altogether with Historie it shall not bee amisse sometimes to mingle Seria Iocis as shall appeare by this discourse which I haue often heard related A knight both of same and memorie and whose name is still vpon record beeing eminent and of note with Henrie the fift as personally with him in all the warres in France after the king had both conquered and quieted the Land this noble Englishman retyred himselfe into his countrey He had a Ladie that was of such beautie that she attracted the eyes of all beholders with no common admiration in briefe I cannot speake of her feature sufficiently as being farre beyond the compasse of my penne and therefore I put her into the number of my Faire ones This ladie with her husband residing in the cittie of Norwich He after so many troubles and torments purposed a more sequestred life and next the solace he had in the beautie and vertues of his wife to take a course meerely contemplatiue and thought out of the aboundance of his wealth to doe some pious deeds for the good of his soule hee therefore erected in the cittie and neere to the place where his house stood a goodly Church at his owne charge and betwixt them a Religous house that entertained twelue Friers and an Abbot allowing them demeanes competent for so small a brother-hood In this couent there were two Frier Iohn and Frier Richard these were still at continuall enmitie and especiall notice taken of it amongst the rest which by no mediation could be truely reconciled but omitting that it was custome of the knight and his ladie dayly to rise to morning Mattins and she being affable and courteous to all it bred a strange inciuile boldnesse in Frier Iohn for she neuer came through the cloyster but he was still with duckes and cringes attending her which she suspecting nothing simply with modest smiles returned thankes to him againe which grew so palpable in the Frier that as farre as they durst it was whispered in the couent Briefly after these incouragements as he constered them it bred in him that impudencie that he presumed to write a letter to her in which he layde open a great deale of more than necessarie loue This letter with great difficultie came to her hand at which the ladie astonished as not dreaming that such leaudnesse should come from one that professed chastitie and not knowing whether it might be a tricke
writ many learned and elaborate workes in either tongue at length in the yeare of our Lord 1555 in the moneth of October being of the age of twentie nine yeares she dyed in Hedelburgh Saint Hâ—lena may amongst these be here aptly registred for thus Stow Harding Faâ—ian and all our moderne Chroniclers report of her Constantius a great Roman Consull was sent into Brittaine to demaund the tribute due vnto Rome immediately after whose ariuall before he could receiue an answer of his Embassie Coill who was then king dyed therefore the Brittaines the better to establish their peace dealt with the Roman Embassador to take to wiâ—e Helenâ— the daughter of the late deceased king a young Ladie of an attractiue 〈◊〉 adorned with rare gifts and indowments of the Mind 〈◊〉 Learning Vertâ—â— the motion was no sooner made but accepted so that Constantius hauing receiued the Brittish tribute returned with his new bryde to Rome and was after by the Senat constituted chiefe ruler of this kingdome After twentie yeares quiet and peacefull gouernement which was thought her wisedome Constantius dyed and was buried at Yorke in his time was Saint Albon martyred at Verolam since called Saint Albones as Iohn Lidgate Monke of Burie testifies who in English heroicall verse compiled his Historie Constantius sayth hee the younger succeeded his father Constantius as well in the kingdome of England as diuers other Prouinces a noble and valiant Prince whose mother was a woman religious and of great sanctimonie this young Prince was borne in Brittaine and prooued so mightie in exploits of warre that in time hee purchased the name of Magnus and was stiled Constantine the Great a noble protector and defender of the true Christian Faith In the sixt yeare of his raigne he came with a potent armie against Maxentius who with greeous tributes and exactions then vexed and oppressed the Romans and being vpon his march hee saw in a Vision by night the signe of the Crosse shining in the Ayre like fire and an Angell by it thus saying Constantine in hoc signo vinces i. Constantine in this signe thou shalt conquer and ouercome with which beeing greatly comforted be soone after inuaded and defeated the armie of Maxentius who flying from the battaile was wretchedly drowned in the riuer Tiber. In this interim of his glorious victorie Helena the mother of Constantine being on pilgrimage at Ierusalem there found the Crosse on which the Sauiour of the world was crucified with the three nayles with which his hands and feete were pierced Ranulphus amplifies this storie of Helena somewhat largelier after this manner That when Constantine had surprised Maxentius his mother was then in Brittaine and hearing of the successe of so braue a conquest shee sent him a letter with great thankes to heauen to congratulate so faire wished a Fortune but not yet being truely instructed in the Christian Faith she commended him that he had forsaken idolatrie but blamed him that hee worshipped and beleeued in a man that had beene nayled to the Crosse. The Emperour wrote againe to his mother That she should instantly repaire to Rome and bring with her the most learned Iews and wisest Doctors of what faith or beleefe so euer to hold disputation in their presence concerning the Truth of religion Helena brought with her to the number of seuenscore Iewes and others against whom Saint Siluester was only opposed In this controuersie the misbeleeuers were all nonplust put to silence It hapned that a Iewish Cabalist among them spake certain words in the eare of a mad wild Bull that was broke loose and run into the presence where they were then assembled those words were no sooner vttered but the beast sunck down without motion and instantly dyed at which accident the iudges that sat to heare the disputation were all astonished as wondering by what power that was done To whom Siluester then spake What this man hath done is onely by the power of the deuill who can kill but not restore vnto life but it is God onely that can slay and make the same bodie reuiue againe so Lyons and other wilde beasts of the Forrest can wound and destroy but not make whole what is before by them perished then saith hee if hee will that I beleeue with him let him rayse that beast to life in Gods name which hee hath destroyed in the Deuils name But the Iewish Doctor attempted it in vaine when the rest turning to Siluester said If thou by any power in Heauen or Earth canst call backe againe the life of this beast which is now banished from his bodie wee will beleeue with thee in that Deitie by whose power so great a miracle can be done Siluester accepted of their offer and falling deuoutly on his knees made his prayers vnto the Sauiour of the world when presently the beast started vp vpon his feete by which Constantius was confirmed Helena conuerted and all the Iewes and other Pagan Doctors receiued the Christian Faith and were after baptised and after this and vpon the same occasion Helena vndertooke to seeke and find out the Crosse. Ambrose and others say she was an Inne-keepers daughter at Treuerent in France and that the first Constantius trauailing that way married her for her beautie but our Histories of Brittaine affirme her to be the faire chast and wise daughter of king Coil before remembred The perfections of the minde are much aboue the transitorie gifts of Fortune much commendable in women and a Dowrie farre transcending the riches of Gold and Iewels Great Alexander refused the beautifull daughter of Darius who would haue brought with her kingdomes for her Dower and infinite Treasures to boot and made choyse of Barsine who brought nothing to espouse her with saue her feature and that shee was a Scholler and though a Barbarian excellently perfect in the Greeke Tongue who though poore notwithstanding deriued her pedigree from kings And vpon that ground Licurgus instituted a Law That women should haue no Dowers allotted them that men might rather acquire after their Vertues than their Riches and women likewise might the more laboriously imploy themselues 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 persuade both men and women to instruct their Mindes more carefully than they would adorne their Bodies and striue to heape and accumulate the riches of the Soule rather than hunt after Pompe Vaine-glorie and the wretched Wealth of the world the first being euerlastingly permament the last dayly and hourely subiect to corruption and mutabilitie Horace in his first Epistle to Mecaenas sayth Vitius Argentum est Auro virtutibus Aurum Siluer is more base and cheape than Gold and Gold than Vertue To encourage which in either Sex Plautus in Amphit thus sayes Virtus praemium est optimum virtus omnibus Rebus anteit profecto c. Vertue 's the best