then again he called him a Divine necessity Zeno Citteieus called him a divine and naturall Law and sometimes the Firmament Zenophanes Collophonius called him Whatsoever was infinite in a conjoined mind or one universall and every thing that as Theophrastus saith of him he imagined to be God Parmenides Eliates called him â—aâ—taâ—me or an apprehension of an Imaginary thing something resembling a Crown which the Greeks call 〈◊〉 conteining within it a fiery light an orb or girdle 〈◊〉 compasseth and embraceth the heavens adhering to â—his fantasie were Cicero and Simplicius Empedocles Agrigentinus he would have four natures of which all things should subsist and these he taught to be divine as also that they had birth and should see end for so Cicero writes in his book de natura deorum Theodorus and Epiphanius speak of one Theodorus sirnamed Atheos the Atheist He affirmed the gods to be meer ioies and not worthy of divine honours that would perswade men by their examples to theft perjury and rapine Protagoras Abderita was of opinion That it was not lawfull to enquire concerning the gods whether they were or were not or of what nature and quality Xenocrates Chalcedonius made eight gods in the wandring stars the number of five in the whole number of the Planets one a seventh in the Sun an eighth in the Moon Plato Atheniensis went more divinely to work who taught that it is neither the aire nor reason nor nature but that there is one only God by whom alone the world was fashioned and made perfect and miraculous Zenophon Socraticus held argument That the form of the true God was not visible and therefore his essence nor lawfull to be sought into Ariston the Sâ—oick affimed than God might be comprehended within his own substance Aristotle proposed That one Mind governed the whole world and that it was the prime and principall cause of all things Speâ—sippus constituted a naturall living power by which all things were governed and that he stil'd a Deity for so Arnob. in his eighth book reports Alâ—maeon Crotoniates did attribute a Deity to the Sun Moon and the rest of the Planets in his ignorance as Cicero speaks of him giving immortality to things meerly mortall Ecphantus Siracusanus as Erigines relates of him imagined the divinity to exist in the mind and soule Brachmanae who were the Indian wise men or Sophoi called it the Light but not as the splendour of the Sun or Air but the light of reason by which wise and understanding men might enquire into the dark and mysticall secrets of nature Lactantius and Cicero say that it was the opinion of the Stoicks for the most part That this instrumentall power was a divine substance intelligible and airy but wanting form yet to be transhap'd or made like to whatsoever it best pleased it selfe The same Philosophers attributed a god-hood to the stars and all other coelestiall bodies Heraclides Ponticus thought the World and the Mind both divine and was of opinion that this form of the Deity was mutable reducing the earth and the heavens within the compasse of Godhead Epicurus Atheniensis he made him gods of Atomes or Mâ—ats allowing them bodies differing from men but beaâ—ing humane form M. Terentius Varro supposed him to be the soule of the world and the world it selfe to be god Cicero defines him thus a certaine pure and free mind separate from all mortall commixtion ever moving and all things knowing and Origenes adhering to the opinion of Exilneus concludes that the gods are eveâ— during not subject to corruption and yet altogether without providence But lest I should grow tedious in the search of so many divers opinions which to some may appear impertinent to the tractate in hand yet not altogether unnecessary â—o such who have not travelled in the search of these Antiquities I will come neerer to the matter and to speak of the goddesses as we promised Hesiod hath left to memory that there are no lesse then thirty thousand gods within the compass of the world and every one have several predominance over men beasts fish fouls and al other creatures vegetative and sensitive Tertullian speaks of three hundred Joves or Jupiters counted by M. Varro Therefore it was not permitted amongst the Romans to adore any other gods or goddesses then such as were approved and allowed by the Senate In the books of the high Priest it was thus written Let no man bring in an innovation of any new gods or aliens to be privately adored unlesse they be publickly approved only such as have from antiquity been held coelestiall and unto whom Temples and Altars have been consecrated let none else have divine worship The Heathen of old amongst their goddesses counted these Pudicitia Concordia Mens Spes Honor Clementia and Fides that is Bashfulnesse Concord the Mind Hope Honour Clemency and Faith Pliny writes of a Temple in Rome dedicated to Honor. Certaine living creatures and other things were in the old time reverenced as gods The Trogloditae as the same author testifies worshipped a Tortoise The Aegyptians had in honour Garlick and Onyons they have the Crocodile likewise in divine adoration to whom they offer Sacrifice But the Ombytae chiefly a people of that Country by whom he is held most sacred and if it so happen that their children be by him devoured the parents rejoice imagining they are specially beloved of the gods that are thought worthy to beget food to please their appetites Serpents are honoured by the Phoenicians In Gadeta a City of Spain two Temples were erected the one to Age the other to Death to one as the Mistresse of Experience to the other as a quiet harbor or cessation from all miseries and calamities In other Cities were the like instituted to Poverty and to Fortune lest the one should afflict them and that the other should favour them Floods likewise and Rivers were esteemed as deities some portrai'd in the figure of men and others in the semblance of beasts Amongst the Lacedemonians as Plutarch relates Temples were edified one to Feare another to Laughter a third to Death The Aegyptians worshipped the Sun and Moon the goddesse Ibis a Cat an Eagle and a Goat The Syrians adored a Dove The Romans a Goose by reason that by the cackling of Geese the Capitoll was preserved from the sack Amongst the Thâ—â—alians it was held an offence Capitall to kill a Stork These that inhabite the Island Syâ—en 〈◊〉 the fish called Phaâ—os Those that dwell in Mâ—â—tis the fish Oxiringus In Ambracia a Lyonesse because in times past a Lyonesse seised upon a Tyrant and tore him to pieces by which they were restored to their ancient liberties Those that live by Delphos a Wolfe who by scraping up the earth discovered a great quantity of gold buried and till then concealed The men of Samos a Sheep the Argives a Serpent the Islanders of Tenedos a Cow with Calfe after whose conception they tender her as much service as to a
causes devised but by the superstition of the people of ancient daies who left nothing unmeditated that might stirre up men to the adoration of the divine powers since in every thing they demonstrated a deity If they were spoken as truths I rather beleeve them to be the meer illusions of devils and spirits themselves then the genii of plants and trees that made such apparitions Of the Goddesses Infernall IT lies with much convenience in our way to make discourse of Pluto the third brother of Satuâ—n of the river Acheron and the properties thereof Of Styx a flood terrible to the gods themselves and by which they use to swear of Cocytus of Charon of Cerberus of the three infernall judges Minos Aeacus and Rhadamant of Tartarus with divers others out of all which many excellent fables pleasant to read and profitable to make both morall and divine use of might be collected but I skip them of purpose since I am injoined to it by promise for but women only I have now to deal with It therefore thus followes Of the Parcae OF Proserpina we have treated already amongst the supernall goddesses above and therefore must necessarily spare her here amongst these below The Paâ—cae or fatall goddesses are three Cloâ—ho Lachesis and Atropos Ceselius Vindex he gives them three other names Nona Decima and Morta and cites this verse of Livius a most ancient Poet Quaendo dies venit quam praefata Morta est When the day commeth that Morta hath presaged Some cals them the daughters of Demorgorgon others as Cicero of Herbus and Noz Hell and Night by another name they are called Fata the Fates as Seneca Multa ad Fata venere suum dum fata timeant As much as to say Many come to their death whilst they feare it They are said moreover to measure the life of man with a spindle and thread which they spin from their distaffe from which they are called Lanificae by the Poets Lanificas nulli tres exorare puellas Contigit observant quem statuere diem The three wool-weaving sisters none can pray To change their time they fix a constant day They are said to be inexorable and by no praiers or intreaties be moved to alter the limit of the fixed time or prorogue the life of man one minute after the date be expired which was proposed at our births therefore Seneca Nulli susso cessare licet Nulli scriptum proferre diem The Poets thus distinguish their offices one begins the life of man and plucks the towe from the distaffe the second makes the thread and continues it the third cuts it off and so ends it The first is Clotho whom Satius cals Ferrea or hard hearted Seneca Grandaeva or extreamly aged Pontanus Improba and Sedula obstinate and yet carefull and diligent The second Lachesis called by Ovid Dura hard by Martiali Invida envious by Claudian Ferrea obdure and rude The third Atropos of whom Statius Hos ferrea neverat annos Atropos Some number Illithia amongst the Parcae Plutarch speaking of the face that is visible within the Orb of the Moon saith some are of opinion that the soules of men are resolved into the Moon as their bodies into the Earth Aliquanto post tempore eas quoque animas in se recepit Luna at quae composuit 1. After some time the Moon receives into her selfe those souls which she had before framed restoring their mindes before lost for they are all in a dream like the soule of Endimion and by coadjuting with the Seminary and vitall powers of the Sun makes them as new soules The Tetra that is the number of Foure supplying the body for she gives nothing after death who receives towards generation The Sun takes nothing from but receives again the mind which he gives the Moon both receives and gives and composeth or makes and divides when she makes she is called Lucina when she divides Diana So of the 〈◊〉 Parcae Atropos is placed about the Sun as the beginning of this new birth Clotho is carried about the Sun to collect and mingle Lachesis the last her office is upon the Earth but these are riddles rather to trouble the brain than profit the understanding Parcae the mother of these three sisters is said to be the daughter of Necessity doubtlesse the Ethick writers held these to be most powerfull goddesses because all things born or that had subsistence were thought to be under their jurisdiction and power and therefore they were imagined by some to be the daughters of Jupiter and Themis because as the Pythagoreans taught Jove gave to every one a body and form suitable to the merits or misdeeds of their former life or else because the divine Wisdome allotted to every soule rewards or punishments as their good deeds or bad deserved the cause of which division the ancient Writers not truly understanding appropriated all to â—ate and the Parcae Furiae or the Eumemides THose whom the Poets call Furiae Virgil terms the daughters of Night and Acheron Therefore Galtreus in his twelfth book de Alexand. cals them by a sit Epithite Noctiginae Ego si dea sum qua nulla potentior inter Noctigenus si me vestram bene nostis alumnam If I a goddesse be of whom Amongst the night born none More potent is it 's well you knew Me for your nurse alone By the same law Mantuan cals them Achecontiginae as born of Acheron they are called by Lucan amongst the infernals Canes dogs Stygiasque Canes in luce superna Destiluana In the upper light I will forsake the Stygian dogs meaning the sisters Amongst mortals they are called Furiae because they stir up and spur on rage and malice in the hearts of men They are called also Eumenides by an Antiphrasis in a contrary sence for Eumenis signifieth Bene volens or well wishing therefore Ovid Eumenides tenuere faces de funere raptas Their temples and foreheads instead of hair are said to crawle with snakes and serpents as witnesseth Catullus Statius Mantuanus in Apollon and others By Virgil they are called Dirae Vltricesque sedent in Limine dirae Lactantius in his sixt book de Vero Cultu writes after this manner There be three affections or passions which precipitate into all violent and facinerous actions therefore Poets call them Furies Ire which covets revenge Covetousnesse which desires riches and Lust whose itching appetite is after all unlawfull pleasure The first of these Furies called Alecto discovered by Virgil where he terms her Luctifica as making strife and contention The second is Tesiphone or Tisiphone the daughter of Acheron whom Ovid thus delineates Nec mora Tesiphone madefactam sanguine sumit Importuna facem stuidoque cruore madentem Induitur pallam tortoque incingitur angue Egreditur que domo luctus comitatur euntem Et pavor terror trepidoque insania vultu Importunate Tesiphone without delay makes speed And snatcheth up a smoaking brand which burning seems to bleed A
stripping his body and joining it to the corse of his wife and adding more combustible matter to the fire burnt them both together Over the urn that covered their ashes the Tarentines erected a famous sepulcher which they called The two lovers By Plantius and Horestilla it may appeare that where the greatest and most honest love is setled betwixt man and wife it is oft times more happy to be joined in death then to be separated in life Artimesia Queen of Caria so much honoured the remembrance of her husband Mausolus being dead that after meditation and deliberate counsell which way she might best decorate his hearse and withall to expresse to perperuity her unmatchable love she caused to be erected over him a tombe so magnificent that for the cost and state it was not doubted to be worthily reckoned amongst the nine wonders But what do I speak of so rich a structure when she her selfe became the living sepulcher of her dead husband by their testimonies who have recorded that she preserved his bones and having beaten them to pouder mingled their dust with her wine in remembrance of him every morning and evening Cicer. Tusc lib. 3. and Plin. lib. 36. cap. 5. Of womans fortitude and magnanimity I will add one admirable president in two virgins of Syracusa equally resolute when by the intestine sedition and civill wars in Syracusa the stock and family of Gelo in these combustions was quite extirpt and rooted out even to his only daughter Harmonia and all the seditious weapons of the enemy now drawn and aim'd at her bosome her nurse piâ—ying her threatned ruin made choice of a young virgin like to her in favour and of equall stature and attiring her in the habit and ornaments of a Princesse offered her to the points of their yet bloody weapons this damsel was of that constancy and noble resolution that notwithstanding she saw eminent death before her was not affrighted with the terror thereof nor would reveal her name or tell of what condition she was Which Harmonia seeing and admiring at her loialty and faith she call'd out to the murdereâ—s and discovering her selfe to preserve her handmaid offered her own naked breast to the slaughter telling them she was present whom they sâ—ught for so that a covered â—allacy to the one and open troth the other in both an admirable and undanted constancy was the cause of their deaths This Hormisda was a great and mighty man amongst the Persians and of one of the most noblest families amongst them as Zozimus Mercellinus and others commemorate He being confin'd unto a certain 〈◊〉 and fettered was there kept with a strict guard of 〈◊〉 who against the lawes of the Kingdom had purpose 〈◊〉 invest his younger brother in the state imperiall 〈◊〉 that in the time of his 〈◊〉 his 〈◊〉 the remembrance of whose name it is pity time hath abolisht and not left it to posterity thus devised for his enlargement she sent to him a fish as a present of an extraordinary bignesse in whose belly she had hid an iron file and other like engines fit for his purpose committing it to the charge of one of her most faithfull Ennuchs desiring her husband by his mouth not to have the fish cut up in the presence of any only to make happy use of such things as he found enclosed therein To his keepers the better to hide her stratagem she sent Camels laden with sundry kind of meats and severall wines Hormisdâ— apprehending the plot gave it a bold and resolute performance for having first filed off his irons he changed his habit with that of his Eunuchs and taking the advantage of their feasting and healthing past safe through them all and by study and policy of his wife came after to the possession of his right which his younger brother had usurped Alexander the Great amongst his many other conquests having besieged the great City Halicarnassus and by reason of opposition made against him leveld it with the ground He entred Caâ—ia where Ada then reigned Queen who being before opprest by Orontobas imploied by Darius was almost quite beaten out of her Kingdome having at that time no more of all her large dominions left her saving Alynda the most defenced City into which she had retired her selfe for safety She hearing of Alexanders approach gave him a roiall meeting and submitted her selfe her subjects and her City into his power withall adopting him by the name of son The King neither despising her liberality nor the name gave her back the City entire as it was and made her keeper and governesse thereof who soon after recovering all those Cities Darius by invasion had usurped from her in gratitude of her former curtesie reduced her Country and people to their pristine estate and stablisht her in her former Empire This Zenocrita was born in Cuma whose father was at that time amongst many other oppressed Citizens in exile Her the bloody Tyrant Aristodemus was much enamoured of but not daining so much as to court her or to perswade her to his love he imagined in the pride of his heart that the damosell would think it grace and honour sufferent to her to be seen in his company and only for that cause to be held blest and fortunate of all such as should behold her But far other cogitations troubled her more noble mind being tormented in soule to lead such an unchast life though with a Prince who never had motioned contract or promised her marriage her apprehensions were rather how to purchase her Countries freedome and rid the earth of a Tyrant About the same time that she was busied in these and the like imaginations it hapned Aristodemus would needs compasse in a certaine spatious peece of ground with a broad and deep ditch not that it was any way necessary or profitable but only to vex and weary the Citizens with extraordinary pains and insufferable labours for to every man was so much ground limited as a daily task which whosoever in the least kind neglected he was fined in a great mulct either of purse or person It hapned she being abroad to take the aire neer to the place where the Citizens were hard at work that Aristodemus with his traine came thither also to over-look his laborers who after some faults found and other directions given left the place and in his return past by where Zenocrita was then standing she spying him come towards her made him a low obeisance and withall covered her face with her apron The Tyrant being gone the young men in the way of jesting and sport and seeming a little to touch her inchastity demanded the reason why to all other men her face was bare and free only to him vailed intimating that something had past betwixt them which might discover her blushes to whom she made this plain and serious answer I did it to him as an honour because amongst all the
no more kick and spurn against me with thy heels I will not henceforth feed thee with Barley but chaff I will abate thy wantonness with hanger and thirst I will load thy back with grievous burdens I will inure thee to the Summers heat and the Winters cold After which time he used the spare diet of roots and the juice of herbs and these only when necessity compelled him to eat He enjoined himselfe the time of praâ—er excepted to strict and continuall labour to encrease his appetite but not augment his diet Therefore Hierom against Lust prescribes these three soveraign remedies Fast Praier and hard Labour The examples are innumerable as well amongst Ethnick men as Christians Alexander supping with Antipadres there was brought to the table and see just against the King a wondrous beautifull woman as excellent in voice as in face both tempting so far that Alexander began suddenly to be surprised with her love and demanded of Antipadres If she were a woman whom he any way affected To whom he answered That she was endeared to him above all other creatures living Then thou fool repli'd the King cause her instantly to rise and be conveied hence from the banquet How farre then was this temperate Prince from adulterating another mans wife that was affraid to do his host the least injury in his strumpet Therefore Julianus the Emperor having took the City Nalaca wherein were many women of rare and extraordinary feature was so far from corrupting their vertues that he commanded not any of them should be suffered to come in his presence Caelius lib. 7 cap 27. tels us that so great was the chastity of the Paduan women in times past that not any of them walked out of their doors but with their faces covered Therefore Caius Sulpitius Galla sued a divorce against his wife because she was met bare-browed in the streets against whom he thus pleaded Thou art only to be governed and guided by the lawes of mine eies thy beauty is to be approved by them and to please them alone thou oughtest to adorn thy self but to desire to seem fair in the eies of strangers incurs the imputation both of suspâ—tion and trespass What should we think then of that fantastick attire and gawdy ornaments so much in use now adaies which as well in youth as age rather seem openly to proâ—esse lust then inwardly to protect chastity Oâ— these curiosities in vain and unnecessary attire Plautus in Peâ—ulo thus speaks Negotii sibi qui volet vim parare navem mulierem Hec duo sibi comparato c. He that is idle and would businesse have Let him of these two things himselfe provide A Woman and a Ship no two things crave More care or cost to suit the one for pride Th' other for tackles they are both like fire For still the more they have they more desire And this I speak by proof from morn to noon Their labours and their travels have no end To wash to rub to wipe and when that 's done To strive where nothing is amisse to mend To polish and expolish paint and stain Vnguents to daub and then wipe out again c. Now what generall censures these fantastick garbs and meer importunities incur if any demand I answer What lesse then weaknesse of the brain or loosnesse of life This jest following though it be old yet me thinks it is pity it should die unremembred A Gentleman meeting in the streets with a brave gallant wench and richly accommodated seeing her walk with her breasts bare almost down to the middle laying his hand upon them demanded of her in her ear whether that slesh were to be sold who scornfully answered No to whom he modestly replied Then let me advise you to shut up your shop windowes I will end this monitory counsell with an Epigram out of Ausonius which bears title of two sisters of unlike conditions Delia nos miramur est mirabile quod tam Dissimiles estis c. We wonder Delia and it strange appears Thou and thy sister have such censure past Though known a where the habit 's chast she wears Thou save thy habit nothing whorish hast Though thou chast life she hath chast habit sought Her manners her thy Habit makes thee nought In memory of virgiâ— chaâ—tity I will cite you one history out of Marullus lib. 4. cap. 8. The monument of Aegypta the daughter of Edgar King of England a professed Virgin in her life time being opened after she had many years lain in the grave all her body was turned into dust saving her womb and bowels and they were as fresh and faire without any corruption as at the first day of her interment Those that stood by wondring at the object one Clerk amongst the rest broke forth into these terms Wonder not to see the rest of the body tast of putrifaction and the womb still sound and perfect which never was contaminated with the least stain or blemish of lust Of her Bishop Dunstan thus speaks Worthy is her remembrance to be honoured upon Earth whose chast life is celebrated amongst the Saints in Heaven O great reward due to Virgin chastity by which such felicity is attained that their souls are not only glorified in Heaven but their bodies are not subject to corruption on earth But because the Theam I am next to speak of is of Virgins give me leave to begin with the best that ever was since the beginning for Beauty Chastity and Sanctity nor shall it be amisse to speak a word or two concerning her Genealogy Mary the mother of Christ was the daughter of Joachim of the Tribe of Juda her mothers name was Anna the daughter of Isachar of the Tribe of Levi. Here as Saint Hierome observes is to be noted That Anna and Emeria were two sisters of Emeria came Elizabeth the mother of John Baptist also Anna was first married to Ioachim and had by him Mary the mother of Christ and was after espoused to Clcophas by whom she had Mary Cleophe who was married to Alphaeus From them two cames James the lesse surnamed Alphaeus Simon Cananaeus Judas Thaddaeus and Joseph otherwise called Barsabas Eusâ—bius in his Ecclesiasticall history lib 2. cap. 2. saith That James the lesse was called the brother of our Lord because he was the brother of Joseph the husband of Mary but his opinion is not altogether authenticall Also Anna was espoused to Salome and had by him Mary Salome after married to Zebedeus and had by him James the greater and John the Evangelist Josâ—ph the husband of Mary was the brother of Cleophas It is also observed That in the one and fortieth yeare of the reigne of Augustus Caesar in the seventh month which is September in the eleventh day of the Moon which is the four and twentieth day of the month on a Thursday Iohn Baptist was conceived and two hundred threescore and fifteen daies after on a
skies Th' halfe godded Souls inhabit such are nam'd There whom bright fiery Vertue hath inflam'd And were of pious life their hopes are fair Made Citizens and Free-men of the aire And such redeem'd from all that was infected Are now within th' eternall Orbs collected This somewhat more illustrated by the Tragick Poet Seneca in Hercule Oeteo thus saying Nunquam Stigias fertur ad undas Inclita Virtus c. To the dark and Stigian shades Vertue when it seeming fades Is never born Then O you chast And valiant though your yeers may wast No limit Time to that can give It Death survives then ever live The cruel Fates can claim no due Nor the black Stigian waves in you But when wasted Age hath spent The utmost minute Time hath lent Then glory takes in charge the Spirit And guides it to the place of Merit Let these serve for an encouragement to Vertue and the attaining unto all commendable Arts and Disciplines by which the Body is honoured the Soule glorified And thus I take leave of the Female Students in Theology and Philosophy and now consequently come to the Poetesses may the Muses be favourable to me in their relation Of Poetry HOrace saith Et prodesse solent delectare Poetae In Poets there is both pleasure and profit who are for the most part I mean the best studious for the pleasingest phrase and most moving eloquence From hence it grew that those of the first age first instroduced common civility and humane morality amongst men reducing them from irregular and brutish conditions into a mutuall and wel govern'd society for by pleasant and delightfull language refined upon the vulgar Barbarisme they first drew the ears of the ruder people to attention from attention to instruction and by instruction to practise so that in processe of time by their smooth and gentle perswasions illustrated with facundity and eloquence they brought them from voluptuousnesse to temperance from the fields into houses from living in villages to walled Cities and by degrees from edifying of houses for themselves to erect Temples to the gods by whose adoration it impressed a reverend fear to offend them and so consequently reduced them from rudenesse to a more formall regularity They were the first that taught them shame and fear shame to seem bruitish to humauity fear to appear inhumane before a deity They moderated the ferocity of their minds by smooth Orations profitable documents and learned writings and the more to insinuate into their dul underwanding when prose seemed unto them lesse delightful they devised verse and stil as one kind grew stale or common they apprehended new and thus that eloquence that before lay loose and scattered was first contracted within feet and number Then when the vulgar seemed lesse capable of deep Sophisms tending to morality and civil government and therefore their graver doctrines appeared to their ears harsh and unpleasant they dealt with them as careful fathers use to doe with their untoward children when things profitable will not still them they seek to still them with toies so the Poets when wholsome food would not taste their mouths they devised sweet meats to relish their pallats finding out merry and delightful tales best agreeable with their itching ears comprehending notwithstanding golden truths in leaden fables They after instituted good and wholsome lawes to incourage the good and deject the bad to raise the vertuous and wel disposed to honor and to punish the evil doer either with pennance or shame then came the industrious man to be first distinguished from the sloathful and the thrifty from the prodigal things were no more made common every man eat of his own labor and what he earned he might call his own Hence first grew industry without which no Common weal nor publike State can stand And these and much greater were the first fruits of Poetry now in this age so much despised the use whereof was ancient the apprehension divine the practise commendable and the name rerevrent There is a sympathy and correspondence betwixt Poetry and Rhetorick Apollo is god of the fiâ—st and Mercury the Mecenas of the second which â—he ancient writers the better to signifie unto us say That Apollo acquainted Mercury with the Muses and Mercury in requital first invented the Harp and gave it to Apollo beeing the instrument to which the Mâ—ses most delighted to sing as if they more plainly would have said A Poet cannot be excellent unlesse he be a good Rhetorician nor any Rhetorician attain to the height of eloquence unlesse he hath first laid his foundation in Poetry They are two excellencies that cannot wel exist one without the other Poetry is the elder brother and more plain in his condition Rhetorick the younger but more crafty in his profession hence it comes Poets are so poor and Lawyers so rich for they have made a younger brother of the elder and possesse all the Land Besides as much as Apollo is excellent above Mercury as being God of Light of Musick of Physick of Arts c. and the other God of Bargaining Buying Selling of Cozening Theeving and of Lies so far doth the first claim due priority above the second They may be thus distinguished Poets in that which outwardly appears fabulous colour and shadow golden truths to their own painful studies and labour and to the pleasure and profit of others But many Orators under seeming truths apparel scandalous fictions aimed only at their own benefit to the impoverishing of others and many times stripping them out of a fair inheritance I speak of some not all and I honour the Law because I live under it Poets they were the first teachers and instructers the people held them to be inspired from above and to speak as from the mouths of the gods some were holy as Ennius some Divine as Homer others Prophets as having the name of Vates conferred upon them and amongst these may be numbred the Sybils the Priests of Apollo and such as belonged to all the other Oracles Of the Poets there were many sorts and such as writ in divers kinds yet all these imitated at least if not equalled by women There were such as were call'd Physiologi that Poetised in Physick as Palephatus Atheniensis Pronopides Xenophanes Coliphonius and others there were Poetae Mathematici that writ of the Mathematicks as Ma Manilius Thales Milesius Aratus Solensis c. Poetae Medici as Thaletas Cretenses Damocrates Servilius Andromachus Cretensis c. Poetae Vates or Prophets as Moses David Jeremias Isaiah c. Poetae Theologi as Solomon Dante 's Alegerius Florentinus and amongst the Heathens Linus Chalcedensis Pyerius Thamyras Amphion Orpheus c. There are besides Ethici Impudici Historici Mechanici Epici Heroici Eliogeographaei Satyrici Epigrammatographi Comicâ— Tragici Mimographi Histrionici Melopaei Lyrici Melisi â—ambiei Himnographi and amongst these not any whom some ingenious women in one age or other hath not facetiously imitated I
off that had sacrificed to the devil confessing that he had never any inspection into that damnable Art til he was Archbishop of Rhemes These are the best rewards that Satan bestowes upon his suppliants and servants how comes it else so many wretched and penurious Witches some beg their bread some die of hunger others rot in prisons and so many come to the gallowes or the stake It is reported of a Gentleman of Mediolanum that having his enemy at his mercy held his steeletto to his heart and swore that unlesse he would instantly abjure his faith and renounce his Saviour had he a thousand lives he would instantly with as many wounds despoile him of all which the other for fear assenting to and he having made him iterate over and over his unchristian-like blasphemies in the middle of his horrible abjuration stabb'd him to the heart uttering these words See I am revenged of thy soule and body at once for as thy body is desperate of life so is thy soul of mercy This uncharitable wretch was an apt scholer to the grand Devil his Master who in like manner deals with all his servants who after he hath made them renounce their faith blaspheme their Maker and do to him all beastly and abominable adoration such as in their own confessions shall be hereafter related he not only leaves them abjects from Gods favour whose divine Majesty they have so fearfully blasphemed but delivers them up to all afflictions and tribulations of this life and all exâ—â—uciation and torments in the world to come Horrible and fearful have been the most remarkable deaths of many of the professors of this diabolicall Art for whom the lawes of man hath spared as a terror to others the hand of heaven hath punished I wil only give you a taste of some few Abdias Bab. Episcopus lib. 6. Certam Apostol writes That Zaroes and Arphaxad two famous Magitians amongst the Persians with their exorcisms and incantations deluding the people in the hour when Simon and Jude suffered martyrdome were struck with lightning from heaven and so perished Lucius Piso in the first book of his Annals speaks of one Cinops a Prince amongst the Magitians who at the praier of St Iohn the Evangelist was swallowed up in a river Olaus Magnus lib. 2. cap. 4. de gentib Septentrional tels us of one Methotis who by his prestigious juglings had insinuated into the hearts of the people and purchast that opinion and authority amongst them that he was called The high and chiefe Priest to the gods who was after torn to pieces by the multitude from whose scattered limbs such a contagion grew that it infected the air of which much people perished Hollerus the Magitian was slain Oddo the Dane was besides his skil in Magick a great pyrat it is written of him Wierius lib. 2. cap. 4. that without ship or boat he would make his transmarsne passage over the Ocean and by his Inchantments raise storms to shipwreck the vessels of his enemies there most wretchedly perished Dr Iohn Faustus born at Kuneling a Village neer Cracovia was found dead by his bed side his face blasted and turned backward in the Dukedome of Wittenburgh at which time the house wherein he died was shaken with a tempest and horrible Earthquake The Earl Matisconensis a practitioner in the same devilish study sitting at dinner amongst many Lords Barons Captains and others was snatcht from the boord by devils and in the sight and view of all the people three times hurried swiftly round about the City being heard to cry Succurrite Succurrite i. Help Help of him Hugo Cluniacensis writes more largely A Priest at Noremburgh searching for hidden treasure in a place where the devill had directed him found it garded by a spirit in the semblance of a great black dog in the search of which the earth fell upon him and buried him alive And this hapned in the year 1530. Wierius A Magician of Salsburgh undertook to call all the Serpents together within a mile of the place and bring them into one pit digged for the purpose in the train of which came after the rest a great Serpent supposed to be the devill and twining about him cast him in amongst the rest where they together perished The like untimely deathâ— we read of Appion Grammaticus Iulian Apostata Artephius Robertus Anglicus amongst the Helvetians Petrus Axâ—nensis sirnamed Conciliator Albertus Teutonicus Arnoldus de villa nova Anselmus Parmensis Pycatrix Hispanus Cuchus ascalus Florentinus and many others Commendable therefore it was in the French King who when one Friscalanus Cenomannus a man excellent in this Science came to shew divers prestigious seats and tricks before him for which he expected reward amongst others he caused the links of a golden chain to be taken asunder and removed them to divers remote places of the chamber which came of themselves to one place and were instantly joined together as before Which the King seeing and being thereat astonished he commanded him instantly from his sight never again to behold his face and after caused him to be arraigned and judged And these are the Graces Honours and Advancements Offices and Dignities to which the devill exalts his â—â—ege people Of these severall sorts of Juglings with which the devill deludes his scholers besides such as I have before spoken of amongst such as predicted of things to come I will nominate some few One thing which is used now amongst our cunning Women and Witches is so ancient that it was before the age of Lucian or Theocritus it is called Caskinomanteia i. 〈◊〉 saltatio i. as we call it The Sive and the Shears and that is not shamed to be publiquely used Bodinus himselfe saith that he saw in Lutetia a boy in a Noblemans house and before many honest and judiciall spectators by speaking of a few French words make a Sive turn which way he pleased but the same words uttered by another could not make it to move at all Another superstition is with a Knife or a Key If any be suspected of 〈◊〉 read but such a Psalm and name the party accused if the Knive at speaking of his name move to stir he is then held guilty and that 〈◊〉 is called Axinomanteia That which is done by a Ring out over a Cruse of water is called Daktuliomanteia And this is is a famous sorcery much in use with the Witches of Italy Ioachimus Cameraccusis had a speaking Ring in which was a familiar or a devill that kind is called Vdromanteia as also Dactyliomanteia i. A Ring wherein Spirits are worn Conjectures made from Wels andâ— Fountains were called Idromanteia these Numa Pompilius was said to be the first inventor of which Varro otherwise interprets i. Of a boy imploied by the Magicians to look upon Images in the watâ—r one of which pronounced distinctly fifty verses of the wars of Mithridates before any such rumour was spread or purpose of the
' gainst Hercules both dearly lov'd Faire Deianeâ—â—a who having understood Her husbands scapes dipt in the Centaures blood A fatall shirt Alcides doth expire Being after made a a star Lychas her squire Is fixt a sea-rock whilst Alcmena hies To Iole and as they two devise She tels her of Galantis before made A monstrous Weasil th' other showes the glade In which at that time she might growing see Her elder sister now grown to a tree To them comes Iolaus in the way Made young by Hebe Jove himselfe can say And instance Aeacus this to be true From him Mileâ—us sled and thence withdrew Himselfe to Asia from whom descended Caâ—nus and Biblis whose hot love extended To her own brother as the stories tell And weeping was dissolv'd into a well This had appear'd more strange were it not known Young Iphis on her marriage day was grown To be a compleat man these nuptials saw Hymen and thence he doth himselfe withdraw To Orpheus spousals but his bright robes di'd In funerall black Euridice the bride Expires upon her marriage day being stung In th' anckle by a snake when Orpheus sung His various transformations to the Lyre The trees to hear him from all parts desire Amongst whom came the Cypresse and Vine The one clasps Cyparissus in her twine The other Aris every Thrasian fro That in his death had hand besides them grow And are made trees Bacchus departs from Thrace And because Midas gave Silenus place With entertainments due to quittance this He guerdons Midas with his golden wish Who fâ—er wearried with his ravishing dreams Was made to wash him in Pactolus streams They since that time their golden tincture keep Stil glistring when the Sun shines on the deep Pan's musick and Apollo's Midas hears And by false sentence gains him Asses eares Phoebus this done an humane shape put on And build's Troy's wals to be excess'd by none This City great Alcides having rac't With Priam's sister be the valor grac't Of Ajax â—elamon who in these brauls Was fixt set foot upon the Dardan wals Peleus weds Thetis though against her will For though she by her godhead had the skill To shift in sundry shapes yet was comprest And Peleus lodg'd upon her ivorie brest To Ceix he past thence one of his blood Where he part saw and partly understood Dedalion take on him a goshawkes shape And Wolfe made stone that flying thought to scape Soon after this Alcinoe in her bed Dreaming she saw her Lord shipwreckt and dead And from the shrre his livelesse body floting Both were made birds which some spectatours noting Straight call to mind how Aesacus before Was chang'd into a Sea-gull him deplore Priam and all his sons as lost and dead Excepting Paris who to Greece was sped And brought thence Hellen him the Greeks pursue At Aulis Gulfe they anchor where in view Of the whole fleet 〈◊〉 Dragon they espie Obdur'd to stone To Troy-ward thence they hie Where Cygnus on whose skin no steel could bite Was by the great Achâ—lles bruis'd in fight And at the instant made a silver Swan So Coenis once a woman now a man Was after likewise to a bird converted This tale ' mongst others Nestoâ— had inserted Periclimenes change to her repeats Neptune mean time the other gods intreats About Achilles death being much offended At his late losse he dead Ajax contended With slie Ulyâ—â—es for his arms and shield Ajax disgrac't expires and in the field Where his blood dropt a purple Hycinth grew In memory that Ajax Ajax slew Troy fact by th' Aâ—gives Hâ—cuba the Queen Turns to ash dog keeping still her spleen Her sad disaster all the gods lament Aurora sheds most 〈◊〉 still discontent For Memnons death Aeneas leaving Troy To Anius comes a Prince depriv'd all joy Because his daughters were made house-doves sad That be of them no greater comfort had Thence past he divers shores and sundry nations With wonders â—â—ll'd and various transformations Till piercing Italy yet free from scar With the bold Turnus he begins new war He sends to importune Diomedes aid By Venulus whose fellowes were all made Light feathered birds th' imbassador deni'd And back returning by a rivers side Spies a wild Olive which before had bin A lovely shepherd but now chang'd for sinne Aeneas ships are in the haven burn'd But pitied by the gods to sea nymphs turn'd Ardea to a bird more strange then these Himselfe into a god call'd Indiges Him other Kings succeed and ' mongst the rest Liv'd under Proca that faire Nymph who best Can skill of Gardens unto whom resorted The fresh Vertumnus and Pomona courted He in an old wives shape to her relates The tale of Anaxarites how the fates For her obdurenesse turn'd her into stone Pomona listning and they both alone He to his youthfull shape again retires And in the garden quencht his amorous fires In processe under Numitor the King Where earst cold waters slid now warm baths spring Him Romulus succeeding is created The god Quirinus and his wife instated The godâ—esse Ora ' Him Numa next ensues Who of the birth of Croton asking newes He chanc'd on pebbles who in all mens sight Once being black were chang'd to perfect white He likewise heard Pythagoras declame All the transhapes beneath the heavenly steam Aegeria next King Numa's death deploring Not comforted at all with thy restoring Hippolitus nor yet to hear thee tell Thy change she wept her selfe into a well Nor is this to he wondered since we see Tâ—y Lance oh Romulus a flourishing tree And Cyppus to weare horns having gone so far We end with Julius Caesar made a star Explicit lib. primus Inscriptus CLIO THE SECOND BOOK inscribed EUTERPE Of the Muses the Sybils the Vestals the Prophetesses the Hesperides the Graces c. THE bodies of all reasonable creatures as Ficinus saith are naturally pregnant as having in them the seeds of issue so likewise is the mind both still procreating and bringing forth as we see at such a time the heire appeares after the teeth break forth of the gums at such an age the beard growes upon the chin and in time alters and changes colourâ— and still the naturall faculties are in action If then the body be so fertile how much more is the nobler part of man the Soule and the Mind plentifully furnisht with these seeds that long for production as the instinct of manners of arts of disciplines and such like which are generated in the breast and in their fit and due time have their seasonable birth For no sooner are we past the cradle but we begin to affect few things good honest or profitable but none at that age acquires after things unknown It is therefore a consequent that there is born with us and bred in us certain notions of those outward things the forms of which we apprehend and their practice study to imitate This every man if he will but observe may
Musc called Astrologia or Vrania intimates nothing else then after mature judgement to deliberate what to speak what to despise to make election of what is usefull and profitable and to cast off what is frivolous and impertinent is the adjunct of a mind coelestiall and a wisedome inculpable Mâ—st true there ore is the sentence of Plato who tels us that Vrania is she that first attracts the eies of our mind to sublime things above and if it were possible would draw our selves after Calliope THere are two things in the mind chiefly predominant Knowledge and Disposition which as Plato saith are in continuall and restlesse motion Knowledge which by the Sophists under a colour of truth is abused with things false and erroneous and Disposition or Affection which tempted by the popular Poets under a bait of delight and pleasure swallowes the hook of many perturbations and distractions those Orators that are merely superficiall and not seen in the grounds of wisedome corrupted with idle and vaine reasons they delude the knowledge and with unnecessary curiosities precipitate the affection From Sophists we must altogether beware as pestiferous and infectious from Poets and Oratours in some kinds but not in all cases plato confineth Sophisters every where and from all places and Poets too but not all such only as comment false and scandalous tales of the gods nor these from all places but from the Cities only that is from the society of of young men and such as are ignorant prone to perturbation and not capable of the allegoricall sence included admitting only such as speak well of the gods sing divine Hymns and bravely register the acts of noble and illustrious persons Such is the practise that Calliope teacheth her Poets which practise as Ficinus witnesseth is nothing but the rapture of the soule with a transmigration into the majesty of the Muses This Poesie rouseth us from the sleep of the body to the awaking of the mind from the darknesse of ignorance to the light of knowledge from death to life and from dull oblivion to a contemplation divine and heavenly But where the wit failes there is no help to be expected from the invention for it is noâ— within the compasse of mans capacity to compasse deep and great matters in a moment for all knowledge is inspired from above And since Poetry comes not by fortune nor can be attained to by art it must consequently be a gift from the gods and Muses For when Plato names the god he intends Apollo when the Muses he understands the soules of the spheares for Jupiter is the mind of the deity who extasies and illuminates Apollo Apollo the Muses the Muses the Poets the Poets inspire their interpreters the interpreters make impression in the auditors By divers Muses divers souls are enlightned as it is in Timaeus that sundry souls are attributed to sundry sphears The Muse Calliope is a voice resulting or rebounding from the sound of the other sphears and of the rest the most excellent who is not only a friend of Poets but the companion of Kings as Hesiod saith Calliopeque haec excellentissima est omnium Haec enim reges venerandos comitatur He makes her the mother of Orpheus and to inspire him as Vrania did the Poet Musaeus Clio Homerus Polyhimnia Pyndarus Erato Sapho Melpomene Thamyras Terpsichore Hesiodus Thalia Virgilius Euterpe Pub. Ovidius Thus the nine Muses who have reference and hold correspondence with the nine coelestiall sounds make one harmony and consent by inspiring nine illustrious Poets Amongst them Calliope is held to be the most ancient Ancient likewise is Poesie whose invention is given to Calliope as to the Championess that defends the standard of the Muses Besides Orpheus some say she had two other sons Ialmus and Hymenaeus of whom we spake before Hymenaeus was beloved of Thamâ—â—as who was the first Poetiser of unchast venery She is also said to have a sonne called Cymothon by Oeagrus some also make the Syres the daughters of Calliope others of Melpomene Venus because Orpheus the son of Calliope discovered Adonis whom she had delivered to Proserpina to be six months concealed gave him to be lacerated and torn in pieces by the Thracian women But now to search what was chiefly aim'd at by the Poets in this Muse Calliope It appears that by her they apprehended the sweetnesse and modulation of song as taking her denomination à bona voce of a good and tuneable cleer voice therefore she is called Vox deae clamantis The voice of the calling goddesse from which they gave her the dominion over the persuasive art of Rhetorick and Poetry The generall tractate of the Muses aiming only at this That the first thing requisite is to have a will to knowledge and learning the second to be delighted in that will the third to be constant in that we delight the fourth to attain to that in which we are constant the fifth to commemorate that which we have attained the sixt to make similitude and compare what we have commemorated the seventh to judge of those likes which we have made and compared the eighth to make elections of such things as thou hast judged the last eloquently to speake and facundiously to delate of that thing of which before thou hast made election So much Fulgentius And those no doubt that have long and much exercised themselves in these disciplines and have been the devout adorers of the Muses the daughters of Jupiter and practised themselves as well in the gentler Sciences as the hidden mysteries of Philosophy shall not only by their endeavours attain to the perfection of fame and glory but purchase to themselves incredible joy pleasure content and delectation A word or two of the Muses in generall and so conclude with them They are held to be the soules of the Sphears Vrania of the starry heaven and of that Sphear which is called Aplanes Polybimnia of Saturn Terpsichore of Jupiter Clio of Mars Melpomene of the Sunne Erato of Venus Euterpe of Mercury Thalia of Luna These eight Muses are referred to the eight tones of the sphears from all which Calliope not till now named amongst them ariseth and is begot these being neer to the body that is first moved which is said to be next to the seat of the supreme deity are said by Hesiodus to dance about the Altar of Jupiter But because divers and sundry are the studies of these Muses therefore by their influence the minds of mortall men are inspired with sundry and divers delectations which as the Pythagoreans think descend down upon them from these sphears â—hose over whom the Moon hath predominance participate of the nature of Thalia and are therefore delighted with comick lasciviousnesse and wantonnesse Those whom the sphear of Saturn governs or Polyhimnia being of a drie and cold temperature they are wondrous retentive in the remembrance of things long past For the dispositions of the mind and constitutions
Tyrants wife to prevent their fury made fast her dore and in her private chamber strangled her selfe Aristotemus had two beautifull young virgins to his daughters both marriageable these they were about to drag into the streets with purpose to destroy them but first to excruciate them with all disgraces and contumacies Which Megisto seeing with her best oratory appeased their present fury proposing to them how shamefull a thing it were for a noble and free state to imitate the insolencies of a bloody and inhumane tyranny liberty therefore was granted the young Damosels at her intercession to retire themselves into their chambers and to make choice of what death best suited with their present fears Myro the elder sister unloosing from her wast a silken girdle fastned it about her own neck and with a smiling and chearfull look thus comforted the younger My sweet and dear sister I more commiserate thy fate then lament mine own yet imitate I intreat thee my constancy in death lest any abject thing or unworthy may be objected against us unagreeable with our blood and quality To whom the younger replied That nothing could appeare more terrible to her then to behold her die therefore besought her by the affinity of sisterhood to be the first that should make use of that girdle and dying before her to leave to her an example of resolution and patience Myro to her made answer I never denied thee any thing sweet soule in life neither will I oppose thee in this thy last request at thy death and for thy sake will I indure that which is more grievous to me then mine own death namely to see thee die When accommodating all things for the present execution she no sooner saw her dead but she gently laid her out and with great modesty covered her Then she besought Megisto on her knees to have a care of them in their deaths that nothing immodest or uncomely might be done to their bodies which granted she not only with courage but seeming joy underwent her fate till she expired nor was there any spectator there present to whom the memory of the tyrant was never so hatefull from whose eies and hearts this object did not extract tears and pity In Megisto is exprest the Magnanimity of spirit but in these following I will illustrate Fortitude in action The Turks busied in the siege of some Towns in Catharo Vluzales and Carocossa two of no mean place and eminence among them wrought so far with the great Admirall that he delivered into their charge the managing of threescore Gallies with munition and men in number competent to make incursions into the bordering Islands then under the State of Venice These two Turkish Captains land their forces before Curzala a City that gives name to the Countrie with purpose invest themselves before it which Antonius Contarinus then Governour of the City understanding like a timeâ—ous and fearfull coward taking the advantage of the night fled with his souldiers thence not leaving the Town any way deâ—ensible which the Citizens understanding all or the most followed after The Town thus left to the weak guard of some twenty men and about fourescore women the Turks give them a bold and fierce assault when these brave viragoes chusing rather to die like souldiers then like their husbands run like cowards some maintaine the Ports others defend the wals and with that noble resolution that what with fire stones scâ—lding water and such like muniments then readiest at hand so opposed the assailants that many of the Turks in that conflict were slain and all repulst retiring themselves with purpose some rest given to the souldiers to salute them with a fresh alarum But fortune was so favourable to these Amazonian spirits that a mighty tempest from the North so cost and distrest the Turks Gallies that they were forced to abandon the Island to dishonour leaving to the besieged a memory worthy to outlive all posterity Of Dido Cesara Gumilda and Ethelburga OF Dido Queen of Carthage all Authors agree to have falne by the sword and to have died by her own bold resolute hand but about the cause that moved her thereto divers differ Ausonius is of opinion That her husband Sychaeus being dead she did it to preserve her viduall chestity and so free her selfe from the importunities of Hyarbus King of Getulia of his mind is Marullus and of these Remnius or as some will have it Priscianus in the Geography of Dionysius writing De scitu orbis i. the Scituation of the world Contrary to these is the Prince of Poets he whom Scaâ—ger cals Poeta noster Pub Virgilius who ascribes her death to an impatience of grief conceived at the unkind departure of Aeneas which though it carry no great probability of truth yet all the Latine Poets for the most part in honour of the author have justified his opinion as Ovid in his third book De fâ—stis his Epistles Metamorph. and others works so likewise Angelus Politianus in his Mâ—nto with divers others Just ne in his eighteenth book of Histor speaking of the first erecting of Carthage saith That where they began to dig with purpose to lay the first foundation they found the head of an Oxe by which it was predicted that the City should be futurely fertill and commodious but withall full of labour and subject to perpetuall servitude therefore they made choice of another peece of earth where in turning up the mould they chanced upon the head of a horse by which it was presaged their Collony should in time grow to be a warlike nation fortunate and victorious In what manner she died I refer you to Virgil and will speak a word or two of her sister Anna the daughter of Belus She after the death of her sister forsaking of the City of Carthage then invested with siege by Hyarbus fled to Battus King of the Island Mâ—lita but making no long sojourn there she put again to sea and fell upon the coast of Laurentum where being well known by Aeneas she was nobly received but not without suspition of too much familiarity betwixt them insomuch that jealousie possessing Lavâ—nia the wife of Aenea she conceived an iâ—reconcilable hatâ—ed against Aâ—na insomuch that fearing her threatned displeasure she cast her selfe headlong into the river Numicus and was there drowned for so Ovid reports to his book De fastâ—s But touching the illustrious Queen Didâ— under her statue were these verses or the like engraven in a Greek character interpreted into Latiâ—e by Ausoâ—us and by me in the sacred memory of so eminent a Queen thus Englished I am that Dido look upon me well And what my life was let mâ— viâ—age tell 〈◊〉 farre and smooth what wrinckle can you find In this plain Table to expresse a mind So sordid and corrupt Why then so uneven And black a soule should to a face be given That promiseth all vertue 〈◊〉 where Begott'st thou those all thoughts that
her before the President who at first despising her youth began to talk with her as to a child but finding her answers modest and weighty began further to argue with her but seeing himselfe unable to hold argument as being convinced in all things he grew into such a malitious rage that he first caused her to be scourged before his face even till the flesh gave way to discover the bones but this not prevailing he commanded her instantly to be dragged from thence and from an high place to be cast headlong into the sea I will conclude this discourse of Martyrs with one of our own modern stories Our English Chroniclers report that Maximus the Emperour having held long war with one Conon Meridock a reâ—olute and bold Brittain having in many bloody conflicts sped diversly sometimes the victory inclining to one side and then to another but in conclusion to the losse of both their hostility was by mediation at length attoned and a firm peace establisht betwixt them that done Maximus made war upon the Gals and invading a Province then called America but since Little Brittain he won it by the sword and after surreendered it to Conon to hold it for ever as of the Kings of Great Brittain This Conon Meridock was a Welch man and from these it may be That all that Nation assume to themselves the name of Brittains This eminent Captain being only furnisht with souldiers for the present warres but wanting women to maintein further issue to him was sent S. Vesula with eleven thousand virgins to be espoâ—to Conon and his Knights But being met at sea by Pagan Pirates because they would neither change their faith nor prostitute themselves to their barbarous and beastly lusts they were all by these inhumane wretches cut to pieces and cast over booâ—d and therefore in mine opinion not unworthily reckoned amongst the Martyrs From these I will proceed to others Aristoclaea OF all the deaths that I have read of this of Aristoclaea methinks exceeds example with which howsoever her body was tormented 〈◊〉 soul could not be grieved for never woman died such a loving death Plutarch in his Amatorious narrations hath thus delivered it Aliartes is a City of Boeotia in which was born a virgin so beautified and adorned with all the gifts and perfections of nature as she seemed unparalleld through Greece her name was Aristoclaea the sole daughter of Theophanes To her there were many sutors but three especially of the noblest families of the City Strato Orchomenius and Calisthenes Aliartius Of these Strato being the richest he seemed the most endeared to her in affection for he had first seen her at Lebedaea bathing her selfe in the fountaine Hercyne from whence having a basket upon her arm which she was to use in the sacrifice to Jupiter he took a full view of her in her way to the Temple yet Callisthenes he sed himselfe with the greater hopes because he was of more proximity and virgin in in alliance betwixt these two Orchomenius stood as a man indifferent Her father Theophanes upon their importunities doubtfull and not yet having determined on which to confer his daughter as fearing Strato's potency who in wealth and nobility equalled if not anteceded the best the in the City he therefore put it off to one Trophonius to be decided but Strato most confident in his own opinion and strength took the power of her disposing from Tropâ—onius and gave it up freely into her own will The damosell in a confluence of all her kindred and friends gathered for that purpose and in the sight of heâ— suitors was publickly demanded of which of them she made choice who answered of Callisthenes Strato taking this in an iâ—â—econcilable disgrace and in the greatnesse of his spirit not able to disgest an injury as he took it of that 〈…〉 his spleen and some two daies after meeting with Thâ—ophanes and Callisthenes he gave them a friendly and an unexpected salutation 〈◊〉 still a continuance of their ancient love and friendship that since what many covet one can but enjoy he could content himselfe with his own lot howsoever deâ—â—â—ing that their amity might remain perfect and unchanged these words came so seemingly from the heart that they with great joy did not only enterteine his love and voluntary reconcilement but in all courtesie gave him a solemn invitation to the wedding which he as complementally enterteined 〈◊〉 upon these terms they paâ—ted 〈…〉 a crew 〈◊〉 as he might best trust and add them to the number of his servants these he ambushes in divers places selected for his purpose but all to be ready at a watch-word Callisthenes bringing Aristoclaea towards the 〈◊〉 called 〈◊〉 theâ—e to perform the first sacreds belonging to marriage according to the custome of her ancestors Strato with his faction ariseth and with his own hands selfeth upon the virgin on the other side Callisthenes he catcheth the fastest hold he can to keep her Strato and his pull one way Callishenes and his another thus both contending in the heat of their affection but not regarding her safety whom they did affect she as it were set upon the rack of love plucked almost to peeces betwixt them both expired Which seeing Callisthenes he was suddenly lost neither could any man ever after tell what became of him whether he punished himselfe by some extraordinary death or betook himselfe to voluntary exile Strato openly before his own people transpierc'd himselfe and fell down dead before the body of Aristoclaea Of no such death died Democrita whose history next ensueth Alcippus the Lacedemonion had two daughters by his wife Democrita He having with great justice and integrity mannaged the weal publick more for the common good then any peculiar gain or profit of his own was affronted by an opposite faction which emulated his goodnesse and being brought before the Ephori it was delivered to them in a scandalous and lying oration how and by what means Alcippus intended to abrogate and annihilate their lawes for which he was confind from Sparta neither could his wife and daughters who willingly offered themselves to attend upon his adversity be 〈◊〉 to associate him but they were deteined by the power and command of the Magistrate Moreover an edict was made That neither the wiâ— was capable of inheritance nor the daughter of dower out of their fathers goods notwithstanding they had many 〈◊〉 of such noble Gentlemen as loved them for their father vertues It was likewise by the enemy most enviously suggested to the Senate that the two Ladies might be debarred from 〈…〉 their reason was that Democrita was heard often to wish and withall to presage that she should see children born of her daughters who would in time revenge the wrongs of their grandfather This being granted and she every way circumscribed both in her selfe her husband and issue every way confin'd she expected a publick solemnity in â—hich according to the Custome
neighbour we feare to offend the higher Majesty and next that fear the terrour of eternall death and dammation by the first we preâ—evâ— our bodies by the second our honours by the last our soules But those other â—bject fears I purpose â—ere to exemplifie only such as proceed from Effeminacy and Cowardâ—â—â— It is read of Pysander of Greece that being alive he â—eared leâ—t his soul had already forsaken his body Likewise of one Artemon who was of that haâ—â—-hearted disposition 〈◊〉 he moved not abroad without Targers of bâ—asse borne over him like Canopies lest any thing should â—â—ll from aloft and â—eat out his brains or if he rid it was 〈◊〉 horse-litter ceiled and crosse-barâ—'d with gadâ— oâ— steel and plates of iron for which he was called Peripharetes Sâ—bellicus writes that Cassander so feared Alexander that long time after his death comming to Delphos to behold the goodâ—y statues there erected at the very sight of his old masteâ—s eâ—â—igies he fell into such a timorous feâ—ver that his very 〈◊〉 danced in his skin and long time it was â—re they could constantly settle themselves in them own places This was that Cassander who had caused Olympias the mother of Alexander to be so cruelly butchered It is 〈◊〉 of St Valleâ—â— Duke of Valentinois in France that being condemned to death for not disclosing the treasons of the Duke of Burbon just at the instant when the executioner should have strook off his head the King sent him his gracious pardon but all in vain the fear of the blow before it came had dispatched him of life Hereof hath grown a proverb to any man that hath a strong apprehension of feare they will say he hath La fieure de Saint Vallier i. the feaver of Saint Vallier Another thing is recorded of a fellow that was so affraid of the name of Hercules that he hid himselfe in caves and rocks though he knew not of any quarrell betwixt them at length stealing from the obscure cavern where he had denned himselfe to see if the coast were clear casting his eie by chance on the one side and espying Hercules who came that way by chance his life blood sinking into his heels she shook them a little and died in that feaver I could recite terrors and vain fears which have arisen from nothing that have terried whole Cities of Grecians armies of Romans and multitudes of other nations but these particulars shall suffice for my purpose is not too farre to esteminate men nor too much to embolden women since the most valiant man that is is timorous enough and the modestest woman that is may be made sufficiently bold But to the purpose in hand Debora a warlike woman was a Prophetesse and judged Israel by whose counsell and courage they were not only freed from the inroads and incursions of the neighbour nations but many times returned from the field with rich spoiles and glorious conquests of her you may read more at large in the Judges Janus was an ancient King of Italy he enterteined King Saturn when by his son Jupiter he was châ—ced out of Creet Because he was a provident and wise Prince the Romans pictured him with two faces and received him into the number of their gods they attributed to him the beginning and end of things celebrating to his honour the first month January which took the denomination of Janus from his name one face looked upon the year to come the other looked back on the yeare past in his right hand he had a golden key which 〈◊〉 the Temple of Peace in his left a staffe which he strook upon a stone from whence a spring of water seemed to issue out he is thus described by Albricus the Philosopher in his book de Deorum Imaginibus This Janus left behind him a beautiful fair daughter whose name was Helerna she succeeded her father in his Kingdom which was 〈◊〉 by the river Tiber and was a woman of masculine spirit and vertue she reigned over men without the counsell or assistance of men she subdued Nations by her valour and conquered Princes by her beauty of whom may be truly spoken as Propertius lib. 2. writes of the Queen Penthisilaea Ausa ferox ab equo quondam oppugnare sagittis c. Penthisilaea from her steed When her high courage rose Durst with her shaâ—â—s and warlike darts The Darnish fleet oppose No sooner was her beaver up And golden caske laid by But whom by force she could not take She captiv'd with her eie Camilla and others THis Camilla was Queen of the Volscians who even in her craâ—le gave manifest tokens of her future vertue and valour for in her infancy she was neither swathed in soft cloathing nor wrapt in silken mantle not attended by a tender nurse nor â—ed with curious dainties or â—arre fetcht delicates but fostered by her father Meâ—abus with the milk of hinds and wild goats her court was a forrest and her palace a dark and obscure cave Having somewhat outgrown her infancy she took no pleasure in rattles puppets or timbrels in which children for the most part delight neither did she inure her hands to spinning or any such like womanish chares her cloathing was the skins of wild beasts her exercise hunting her practise shooting her arms the bow and quiver her drink the fountain water and her food Venison To this â—bsteâ—â—ous life she vowed the strict vow of chastity At length war being commenc'd betwixt Turnus and Aeâ—eas she adhered to the Ruâ—ilian faction and to those wars brought a regiment of gallant horse which she in person 〈◊〉 Her magnanimity Virgil in the latter end of his 〈◊〉 book thus sets down Hos super 〈◊〉 volsca de gente Camilla Agmea 〈◊〉 equâ—um florentes aere catervas To their supply Camilla came The gallant Volscian Lasse Who bravely did command the horse With troops that shin'd in brasse Of the like condition was Maria Puteolana so called of Peuâ—eolum a City of Campania she was of a warlike condition and an invincible courage and flourisht in the age of Franciis Pitrarch she is described to be most patient of labour and untired with travell moderate in diet but altogether abstinent from wine sparing of words 〈◊〉 boasting but alwaies daring The needle the wheel and the 〈…〉 horse armour the bow the 〈◊〉 and the target above all other delights she embraced she used to walk whole nights without the least sleep and travell whole daies together without rest if necessity at any time compelled her eies to wink or her body to lie down the earth was her bed and her shield her pillow she abandoned the society of women her continuall conversation was with Captains and Commanders which though 〈…〉 a face of boldnesse and as some term it impudency yet his apparant to all men in what a soveraign respect she held her chastity and honour which she maintained without the least blemish unspotted to the end from
chast life Infinite to this purpose are remembred by Fulgosius Marullus Albertus Cranzius c. as of Maria Desegnies Margarita Aegypta Cecilia Virgo Kâ—nâ—gunda Augusta wife to Henry of that name the first Emperor 〈◊〉 espoused to Julianus Antiâ—chenus Stamberga the Niece of cloâ—ovius married to Arnulphus a noble Frenchman 〈◊〉 and others without number which is somewhat difficult 〈…〉 wedded bended boarded lien and lived together yet went as pure Virgins to their graves as they came first to their â—â—adles Of these I may say as Ovid 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 Sh' abhorr'd the nuptiall bed and held it sin With modest blushes did the tender skin Of her fair cheek then to her father growes And her white arms about his neck she throwes And saith Deer Sir this one thing grant your child That I may live from lustfull man exil'd A voteresse 〈◊〉 Diana this desired And from her father had what she required I will produce one history or two at the most from our modern Histories and so cease further to speak of our married Virgins It is reported in the Legend That after Editha the daughter of Earl Godwin was married to King Edward otherwise called St Edward they mutually vowed betwixt themselves perpetual chastity and therein persevered to the end of their lives There continued in them saith the Legend a Conjugall love without any conjugall act and favourable embraces without any deflowring of Virginity for Edward was beloved but not corrupted and Editha had favour but was not touched she delighted him with love but did not tempt him with lust she pleased him with discourse and sweet society yet provoked him to no libidinous desire It is moreover in that Treatise recorded That they used to call marriage a shipwreck of Maidenhead comparing it to the fiery furnace of the Chaldaeans to the Mantle that Joseph left in the hâ—nd of a strumpet the wife of Potiphar to the lascivious outrage of the two wicked Elders who would have oppressed and vitiated Susanna the wife of Ioachim and lastly to the enticements of drunken Holoâ—ernes towards faire Judith one of the deliverers of her people And so much for the Legend But Richardus Davisiensis saith That being awed by Earle Godwin â—nd for the feare of hazarding his life and Kingdome Edward was compelled by threats and menaces to the 〈◊〉 of Editha Moreover Polidore 〈◊〉 That for the haâ—e he bore her father who had not long before most trâ—iterously slain his brother Alphred he caused himselfe to be divorced from her seizing her goods and dower to his own use and pleasure Ranulphus and one that 〈◊〉 himselfe Anonymos as willing to conceal his name say That she was disrobed of all her Queen-like honours and confined into the Abbey of Warnwel with only one maid to attend her and so committed to the strict custody of the Abbâ—sse William of Malâ—sbury and Marianus Scotus have left remembred That he neither dismissed her his bed nor carnally knew her but whether it was done in hatred to her Kindred or purpose of chastity they are not able to determine Robert Fabian confesseth as much in his Chronicle Part. 6. cap. 210. Howsoever the effects of that abstemious life were not only prejudiciall but brought lamentable effects upon this distracted Kingdome namely Innovation and Conquest for Edward dying without issue England was invaded and opprest by the Normans and the people brought to that miserie that happy was that subject that could say I am no Englishman And in this agree Matthew Paris Capgrave Fabian and Polydore As I hold it not necessary for married folk to tie themselves to this strict kind of abstinence so I hold it not convenient for any such as have to themselves and in their souls taken upon them the strict life of Virginity to be compelled to an enforced marriage as may appeaâ—â—y this discourse following recorded by Gulielm â—â—â—sburien Simeon Danelmens Matthew Paris Roger Hovedâ—â— Capgrave c. Henry the first of that name King of England and crowned in the year of Grace 1101 was by the instigation of Anselm once a Monk of Normandy but after by William Ruâ—us constituted Archbishop of Canterbury married unto Maud daughter to Malcolm the Scottish King she having taken a Vow and being a profest Nun in the Abbey of Winchester Much ado had the King her father the Queen her mother her Confessor Abbesse or the Bishop to alienate her from her setled resolution or perswade her to marriage but being as it were violently compelled thereunto she cursed the fruit that should succeed from her body which after as Polydore affirms turned to the great misfortune and misery of her children for afterwards two of her sons William and Richard were drowned by Sea Besides her daughter Maud who was afterwards Empresse proved an untortunate Mother and amongst many other things in bringing forth Henry the second who caused Thomas Becket to the slain it thus hapned All forreign wars being past and civill combustions being pacified in the year of our Lord 1120 Henry the first with great joy and triumph left Normandy and came into England But within few daies following this great mirth and jollity turned into a most heavy and fearfull sorrow for William and Richard his two sons with Mary his daughter Otwell their 〈◊〉 and Guardian Richard Earl of Chester with the Countesse his wife the Kings Neece many Chaplains Chamberlains Butlers and Servitors for so they are tearmed in the story the Archdeacon of Hereford the Princes play-fellowes Sir Geffrey Rydell Sir Robert Maldvyle Sir William Bygot with other Lords Knights Gentlemen great Heirs Ladies and Gentlewomen to the number of an hundred and forty besides Yeomen and Mariners which were about fifty all these saving one man which some say was a Butcher were all drowned together and not one of their bodies ever after found Many attribute this great Judgement to the heavy curse of Queen Maud others censure of it diversly Howsoever in this King as Polydore saith ended the Descent and Line of the Normans Of this Anselm before spoken of there are divers Epistles yet extant to many women in those daies reputed of great Temperance and Chastity as To Sister Frodelina Sister Ermengarda Sister Athelytes Sister Eulalia Sister Mabily and Sister Basyle To Maud Abbesse of Cane in Normandy and Maud the Abbesse of Walton here in England He writ a Treatise about the same time called Planctus amissae Virginitatis i. e. A bewailing of lost Virginity So far John Bale And so much shall serve for Chast wives in this kind being loth to tire the patience of the Reader Of Women Wantons DIon the Historiographer in Tiberio saith that Livia the wife of Augustus Caesar beholding men naked said to the rest about her That to continent and chast matrons such objects differed nothing from statues or images for the modest heart with immodest sights ought not to be corrupted The unchast eie more drawes
the poison of sin from beauty which is Gods excellent workmanship from which the chast and contrite heart derives the Creators praise and glory But my hope is that in exposing unto your view the histories of these faire Wantons you will look upon them should I strip them never so naked with the eies of Lyvia that is to hold them but as beautifull statues or like Apelles his woman no better then a picture of white Marble I have heard of a man that living to the ago of threescore and ten had led so austere a life that in all that in all that time he never touched the body of a woman and had proposed to himselfe to carry that virginall vow with him to his grave but at length being visited with sicknesse and having a fair estate purchased with his small charge and great husbandry and therefore willing to draw out the thread of his life to what length he could he sent to demand the counsell of the Physitians who having well considered the estate of his body all agreed in this that since the Physick of the soul belonged not to them but only the physick of the body they would freely discharge their duties and indeed told him that his pâ—esent estate was dangerous and they found but only one way in art for his cure and recovery which was in plain terms To use the company of a woman and so took their leaves and left him to consider of it Loath was the old man to lose his Virginity which he had kept so long but more loath to part with his life which he desired to keep yet longer and having meditated with himselfe from whom he was to depart and what to leave behind him namely his possessions his monie his neighbours friends and kindred and whether he was to remove to the cold and comfortlesse grave he resolved with himselfe to prolong the comfort of the first and delay as long as he could the fear of the last Therefore he resolved rather then to be accessory to the hastning his own death to take the counsell of the doctors It was therefore so ordered by some that were about him that the next night a lusty young wench was brought to his bed one that feared not the robustious violence of youth much lesse to encounter the imbecillity of sick and weak age I know noâ— with what squeasie stomack the patient relished his physick but early in the morning he gave content to his she-Apothecary who was conveied out of the house undiscovered The next day divers of his friends comming to comfort him they found him sadly weeping and by no means could they wean him from that extasie at length the one of them who was privy to the former nights passage began to compassionate with him and told him he was sorry for his extream heavinesse and as knowing the cause said No doubt but God was merciful and wished him not to despair but be of good comfort and with ghostly councell perswaded him to take nothing to his heart because he hoped all would be well The old man told him he understood not his meaning but desired him to be more plain that he might know to what purpose his language did intend His neighbour answered him again Sir I have been acquainted with you long have known your continence and strictnesse of life and withall your abstinence from women and I am sorry that your last nights businesse should be the occasion of this melancholy and these tears To whom the sick but pretty well recovered man thus replied Neighbour you much mistake the cause of my sorrow I neither grieve nor weep for the good and wholsome physick I had the last night but I now vex and torment my selfe that I have so idly spent mine age there being such a pleasure upon earth above all that I have hitherto enjoied that I never had the grace to know it sooner and try what it was before this time If then Lust can strike this stroke and have this efficacy in age O how much should we pitty youth ready daily and hourly to run into this dangerous inconvenience Of these wantons there be two sorts Meretrices and Scorta that is Whores and common Women such as either for Lust or Gain prostitute themselves to many or all The second are Concubina or Pellices Concubines to Kings and Princes or such as we call the private mistresses to great men The last are as our Accidence teacheth like Edvardus and Gulielmus proper names to this man or that The first like Homo common to all men both degrees sinners but not in the like kind I have read a third sort but know not what consonant or agreeing name to confer upon them I have heard of some that have been called honest whores It may be those that I shall speake of were such and because they are the strangest I will begin with them first Dosithaeus lib. 3. Lydiacorum tels us that the Sardians having commenced war with the Smyrnaeâ—ns invested themselves before the City of Smyrna and having begirt them with a streight and difficult siege those of 〈◊〉 it seems being hot fellowes sent their Embassadors into the City to this purpose That unlesse they would send them their wives to adulterate at their pleasures they would not only raze their City and levell it with the earth but kill man woman and child and so extirp their memory This message bringing with it not only terror but horror much perplexed the besiâ—ged and betwixt the distractions of perpetuall infamy and most certein death not able what to determine and having sate long in councell but nothing amongst them concluded a young lusty Virago one that was handmaid or bond-woman to Philarchus desired to be admitted into the Senate And being called in amongst them to know what she had to say she told them That understanding to what miserable exigent they were driven she had dâ—â—ised so pleased them to be swaied by her direction a â—eans nâ—t only to deliver themselves from scorn their wives from dishonour and their children from the reproach of bastardy and their lives and goods from spoil but to subject the barbarous enemie into their hands with a noble and memorable victory No marvell if to such a project they gave attention when greedily demanding By what means the least of these proposed blessings might be accomplished she thus counselled them Send saith she to the â—e lustfull Sardinians and tel them you wil in all points satisfie their desires At the time appointed let me with the rest of your slaves and vassals be attired in the habits of our Lâ—dies and Mistresses for no question being deckt in their ornaments and jewels we shall appeare not only free women but sufficiently beautifull Now in the night when we are fast lodged in their embraces and they dreaming of no further dangers then their delights and that you think we have sufficiently cooled their hot courages arm your selves against
together one morning in the fields our words still as we spoke them froze before us in the air and that so hard that such as the next day past that way might read them as perfectly and distinctly as if they had been texted in Capitall Letters to which one of the Gentlemen with great modesty replied Truly Sir methinks that should be a dangerous Country to speak treason in especially in the depth of winter Something before this discourse was fully ended came up the Gentlewoman of the house to bid her guests welcome and taking her chair at the upper end of the table It seems Gentlemen saith she your discourse is of Russia my first husband God rest his soule was a great Traveller and I have heard him in his life time speak much of that Country but one thing amongst the rest which I shall never forget whilst I have an hour to live That riding from Mosco the great City to a place in the Countrie some five miles off in a mighty great Snow and the high way being covered and he mistaking the path he hapned to tumble horse and man into a deep pit from which he could not find any possible way out either for himselfe or for his beast and lying there some two hours and ready to starve with cold as necessity will still put men to their wits so he bethought himselfe and presently stepping to a Village some half a mile off borrowed or bought a spade with which comming back he fell to work and first digged out himselfe and after his horse when mourning he without more 〈◊〉 came to the end of his journey And this saith she 〈◊〉 told to a hundred and a hundred Gentlemen 〈…〉 own hearing To end this discourse in a word which by examples might be exemplified into an infinite one of the guests sitting by said I can tel you a stranger thing then all these being demanded what he answered I beleeve all these things related to be true Plutarch in his book De educandis liberis saith Praeter haec omnia adsuefaciendi sunt pueri ut vera dicant c. Above all things children ought to be accustomed to speak the truth in which consisteth the chiefe sanctimony but to lie is a most servile thing worthy the hate of all men and not to be pardoned in servants Homer Iliad 1. to shew the difference betwixt Truth and Falshood hath these words Poene mihi est orci portis invisior ipsis Cujus verba sonant aliud quam mente recondit He 's to me hatefull as the doors of hell That when he ill doth mean doth promise well Juvenal in his third Satyr gives it a more ful and ample expression after this manner Quid Romae feciam mentiri nescio librum Si malus est nequeo laudare c. What should I do at Rome I cannot lye If a bad Book be laid before me I Nor praise it nor desire it I have no skill In the Stars motions neither can nor will I make deep search into my fathers fate To know when he shall die nor calculate From the Frogs entrails by inspection never Was it my study how by base endeavour To panderize or close conveiance hide Betwixt th' Adulterer and anothers Bride These practises seek they that list t' attain Such as I have been I will still remain This Muse Polyhimnia under whom I patronize this seventh Book as she is the Mistresse and Lady of Memory and consequently of the multiplicity both of Hymns and Histories so from her I assume a kind of liberty to continue my variety of discourse and from Mendacia come to Sales or Dicteria i. From Lies to Jeasts or ingenious witty answers For which Athenaeus in his Dypnos lib. 13. remembers these women famous Lamia Gnathena Lais Glicera Hyppo Nico Phrine Thais Leontium and others Yet lest women should not be content to equall men only but to antecede them I wil here commemorare some things wittily and facetiously spoken by Princes and others Auton in Melissa Part. 1. Serm. 56. speaks of an unskilfull Physitian comming to visit an old friend of his or at least an acquaintance saluting him in this manner Sir God be thanked you have lived to a fair age and are grown an old man Yes Sir said he and you have my health too for I never made use of any Physitian Cicero thus plaid upon Vatinius who was but a few daies Consul A great prodigy saith he there hapned in the year of his Consul-ship That there was neither Spring Summer Autum nor Winter one asking him Why he had neglected to visit the Consul in his honour he answered He had purposed it but the night prevented him He sported in the like kind upon Caninius of him saith he we had a most vigilant Consul who never so much as slept in his Consulship Lucilius Manilius an excellent Painter had drawn wondrous beautiful faces but his children were exceedingly deformed A friend of his supping with him one night taunted him in these words Non similiter â—ingis pingis as much to say Thou dost not get thine own children as thou dost paint others No wonder answered he For I get those faces in the dark but when I paint others I do them by the light of the Sun The Christian Princes having united their forces to redeem the Holy Land from the oppression of the Infidels Santius brother to the King of Spain was made Generall of the Christian forces a man of great sanctity and of an austere life and withall a noble souldier he amongst other Princes sitting in Council with the Pope but not understanding the Roman Tongue in which the businesse was then debated only having his interpreter placed at his feet upon the sudden after their Decree there was a great acclamation and clamour with flinging up their caps c. At which Santius demanded of his interpreter what that sudden joy meant he told him It was because the Pope and Colledge of Cardinals had by their publick sustrage created him King of Aegypt for the Saladine then usurped in the Holy City Is it so saith he then arise and proclaim the Pope Caliph of Baildacha Thus with a Princely liberty modestly taxing their forwardness who as they gave him a Kingdome without a Country he to requite the Popes gratitude gave him a Bishoprick without a Diocesse Pacuvius Taurus having for his former service sued to Augustus Caesar for some great and grosse sum of money and the rather to induce the Emperor to bounty told him That it was voiced in the City and was frequent in every mans mouth how he had already received a large donative from Caesar to whom he answered Let them say what they will but donot thou Pacuvius beleeve it To another that was removed from his command and sued for a pension yet insinuating with the Emperor that it was for no covetous intent or any hope of gain but because it should be
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
counsell with her about his recovery who told him there was no hope of his life unlesse he would yield that his young son then sucking at the Nurses breast should have his mortall infirmity confirmed upon it The father to save his own life yields that his son should perish of which the Nurse hearing just at the hour when the father should be healed is absent and conceals the child The father is no sooner toucht but helped of his disease the Witch demands for the child to transfer it upon him the child is missing and cannot be found which the Witch hearing broke out into this exclamation Actum est de me puer ubinam est i. I am undone where is the child when scarce having put her foot over the threshold to return home but she fell down suddenly dead her body being blasted and as black as an Aethiope The like remarkable Judgement fell upon a Witch amongst the Nanvetae who was accused of bewitching her neighbor The Magistrates commanded her but to touch the party distempered with her Inchantments which is a thing that is used by all the German Judges even in the Imperiall chamber it selfe The Witch denied to do it but seeing they began to compell her by force she likewise cried out I am then undone when instantly the sick woman recovered and the Witch then in health fell down suddenly and died whose body was after condemned to the fire And this Bodinus affirms to have heard related from the mouth of one of the Judges who was there present In Thoâ—oâ—a there was one skilful in Magick who was born in Burdegall he comming to visit a familiar friend of his who was extreamly afflicted with a Quartane Ague almost even to death told him he pitied his case exceedingly and therefore if he had any enemy but give him his name and he would take away the Feaver from him and transfer it upon the other The sick Gentleman thanked him for his love but told him there was not that man living whom he hated so much as to punish him with such a torment Why then saith he give it to my servant the other answering That he had not the conscience so to reward his good service Why then give it me saith the Magician who presently answered With all my heart take it you who it seemeth best knowes how to dispose it Upon the instant the Magician was stroke with the Feaver and within few daies after died in which interim the sick Gentleman was perfectly recovered Gregory Turonensis lib. 6. cap. 35. saith That when the wife of King Chilperick perceived her young son to be taken away by Witchcraft she was so violently incensed and inraged against the very name of a sorceresse that she caused diligent search to be made and all such suspected persons upon the least probability to be dragged to the stake or broken on the wheel most of these confessed that the Kings son was bewitched to death for the preservation of Mummo the great Master a potent man in the Kingdom this man in the midst of his torments smiled confessing that he had received such inchanted drugs from the Sorcerists that made him unsensible of pain but wearied with the multitude of torments he was sent to Burdegall where he not long after died I desire not to be tedious in any thing for innumerable Histories to these purposes offer themselves unto me at this present but these few testimonies â—roceeding from authentique Authors and the attestations 〈◊〉 such as have been approvedly learned may serve in this place as well as to relate a huge number of unnecessary discourses from writers of less fame and credit Neither is it to any purpose here to speak of the Witches in Lap-land Fin land and these miserable wretched cold Countries where to buy and sell winds betwixt them and the Merchants is said to be as frequent familiarly done amongst them as eating and sleeping There is anâ—ther kind of Witches that are called Extasists in whose discovery 〈◊〉 strive to be briefe A learned Neapolitan in a history 〈◊〉 since published that treats altogether of naturall Magick speaks of a Witch whom he saw strip her 〈◊〉 naked and having annointed her body with a certain 〈◊〉 fell down without sence or motion in which extasie she remained the space of three hours after she came to her selfe discovering many things done at the same time in divers remote places which after enquiry made were found to be most certain Answerable to this is that reported by the President Turetranus who in the Delphinate saw a Witch burned alive whose story he thus relates She was a maid-servant to an honest Citizen who comming home unexpected and calling for her but hearing none to answer searching the rooms he found her lying all along by a fire which she had before made in a private chamber which seeing he kickt her with his foot and bid her arise like a lazy huswiâ—e as she was and get her about her businesse but seeing her not to move he took a tough and smart wand and belaboured her very soundly but perceiving her neither to stir nor complain he viewing her better and finding all the parts of her body unsensible took fire and put it to such places of her body as were most tender but perceiving her to have lost all feeling was perswaded she was dead and called in his next neighbors telling them in what case he found her but concealing unto them the shrewd blowes he had given her the neighbors left the house the master and mistresse caused her to be laid out so left her and went to their rest but towards the morning hearing some body to stir and grone in the chamber they found their servant removed and laid in her bed at which the good man much amazed asked her in the name of God being late dead how came she so soon recovered to whom she answered Oh master master why have you beaten me thus the man reporting this amongst his neighbors one amongst the rest said if this be true she is then doubtlesse a Witch and one of these extasists at which the Master growing suspitious urged her so strictly that she confessed though her body was there present yet her soul was abroad at the assembly of divers Witches with many other mischiefs for which she was held worthy of death and judged At Burdegall in the year 1571 when there was a decree made in France against the strict prosecution of Witches an old Sorceresse of that place amongst many horrid and fearfull things confessed by her she was convicted and imprisoned where D. Boletus visited her desiring to be eie-witnesse of some of those things before by her acknowledged to whom the Witch answered That she had not power to do any thing in prison But desirous to be better satisfied concerning such things he commanded her for the present to be released and brought out of the Goale to another lodging
hand against him he retired himselfe into his Country and laying aside his victorious arms which won him fame and honour abroad he abandoned himselfe to ease and the private pleasures of his fathers house and now wanting other imploiment as idlenesse is the greatest corrupter of vertue he began to entertein such unusuall flames and unaccustomed cogitations as before he had no time to feel or leisure to think on for now he cast his incestuous eie upon his sister His passions much troubled him at the first and all possible means he used to shake them off but in vain he lived in the same house with her they dieted at one table had liberty of unsuspected conference and he having nothing else to do had only leisure to meditate on that which was fearful to apprehend but horrible to enterprize To this purpose Ovid with great elegancy in remed Amor. lib. 1. speaking of Aegistus who in the absence of Agamemnon adulterated his Queen Clitemnestra thus writes Queritur Aegistus quare sit factus adulter In promptu causa est desidiosâ—â— erat c. Doth any man demand the reason why Aegistus an adulterer was Lo I Can tell Because that he was idle when Others at Troy were sighting and their men Led stoutly on 〈◊〉 to which place were accited The Grecian Heroes with a force united He no imploiment had There was no war In Argos where he lived from Troy so far No strife in Law to which being left behind He carefully might have imploi'd his mind That which lay plain before him the man prov'd And lest he should do nothing therefore lov'd As Ovid of Aegistus so may I say of Leucippus whom rest and want of action in a stirring brain and body wrought this distemperature Ashamed he was to court his sister first because he knew her modest a second impediment was she was elsewhere disposed and contracted to a Gentleman of a Noble family besides she was his sister to whom he wishâ— all good and then to corrupt her honor he could devise for her no greater ill he considered that to perswade her to her own undoing would shew ill in a stranger but worse in a brother In these distractions what should he do or what course take the thing he apprehended was preposterous and the means to compass it was prodigious for he came to his mother told her his disease and besought her of remedy his words as they were uttered with tear so they were heard with trembling for they foavered her all over Being in to the knees he cared not now to wade up to the chin and proceeded That if she would not be the means for him to compasse his sister notwithstanding all obstacles whatsoever he would by speedy and sudden death rid himselfe out of all his miseries desiring her speedy answer or with his naked poniard in his hand he was as ready for execution as she to deny her assistance I leave to any mothers consideration but to imagine with what strange ambiguities his words perplexed her what convulsions it bred in her bosome even to the very stretching of her heart strings but as she knew his courage to dare so she feared his resolution to act therefore more like a tender hearted mother then a vertuous minded matron rather desiring to have wicked children then none at all she promised him hope and assured him help and after some perswasive words of comfort left him indifferently satisfied What language the mother used to the daughter to invite her to the pollution of her body and destruction of her soul is not in me to conceive I only come to the point by the mothers mediation the brother is brought to the bed of his sister she is vitiâ—ted and his appetite glutted yet not so but that they continued their private meetings insomuch that custome bred impudence and suspition certain proof of their incestuous consociety At length it comes to the ear of him that had contracted her with attestation of the truth thereof he though he feared the greatnesse of Leucippus his known valour and popular favour yet his spirit could not brook so unspeakable an injury he acquaints this novell to his father and certain noble friends of his amongst whom it was concluded by all jointly to inform Xanthius of his daughters inchastity but for their own safety knowing the potency of Leucippus to conceal the name of the adulterer They repair to him and inform him of the businesse intreating his secrecy till he be himself eie-witness of his daughters dishonor The father at this newes is inraged but arms himselfe with patience much longing to know that libidinous wretch who had dishonored his family The incestuous meeting was watcht and discovered and word brought to Xanthius that now was the time to apprehend them he cals for lights and attended with her accusers purposes to invade the chamber great noise is made she affrighted rises and before they came to the door opens it slips by thinking to flie and hide her selfe the father supposing her to be the adulterer pursues her and pierceth her through with his sword By this Leucippus starts up and with his sword in his hand hearing her last dying shreek prepares himself for her rescue he is incountred by his father whom in the distraction of the sudden affright he unadvisedly assaulted and slew The mother disturbed with the noise hasts to the place where she heard the tumult was and seeing her husband and daughter slain betwixt the horridness of the sight and apprehension of her own guilt fell down suddenly and expired And these are the lamentable effects of Incest the father to kill his own daughter the son his father and the mother the cause of all ill to die suddenly without the least thought of repentance These things so infortunately hapning Leucippus caused their bodies to be nobly interred when forsaking his fathers house in Thessaly he made an expedition into Creet but being repulst from thence by the inhabitants he made for Ephesia where he took perforce a City in the province of Cretinaea and after inhabited it It is said that Leucophria the daughter of Mandrolita grew enamored of him and betraied the City into his hands who after married her and was ruler thereof This history is remembred by Parthenius de Amatoriis cap. 5. Of incest betwixt the father and the daughter Ovid. lib. Metam speaks of whose verses with what modesty I can I will give you the English of and so end with this argument Accipit obscoeno genitor sua viscera lecto Virgeneosque metus levat Hortaturque timentem c Into his obscene bed the father takes His trembling daughter much of her he makes Who pants beneath him ' bids her not to fear But be of bolder courage and take chear Full of her fathers sins loath to betray The horrid act by night she steals away Fraught that came thither empty for her womb Is now of impious incest made
Lycuâ—gus for Adulterers he mounted him upon an Asse with his face towards the tail which being forced to hold in his hand and putting a Garland of Deâ—ision about his temples commanded him to be led through all the streâ—ts of the City allowing all men and women to speak against him what opprobâ—y they pleased without limitation and do him all outrages that stretched not to destroy his life Thus was the Tyrant conducted along through an implacable multitude enterteined by the way with Clamors Shouts Railings Curses and all manner of Contempts and deâ—isions some spitting others casting soile and durt the women emptying uncleanly vessels upon his head insomuch that no disgrace or abject usage could be devised of which he was not then in some kind sensible This done he was carried to the common place of execution and there like a Felon hanged upon the gallowes Guielo Bituricensis And this which was done to him undoubtedly belongs to all such shamelesse barbarous and bruitish women who with brazen impudence having abandoned all grace and goodnesse expose themselves to the profession of all impurity and abominable dâ—shonesty making their corrupt bodies no better then Sinks of Sins and Spittles of diseases not only pleased in their own ruins without the destruction of others till their souls be as leprous as their infacted Bodies nay more since the Maladies and Aches of the one is but momentary and for them the Grave is a Bed of Rest and Death the Surgeon but the other are permanent and endlesse namely those of the Soul of which Hell is the Prison and the Devil the Tormentor From these greater I now proceed to lesse and though not in that measure yet in some kind punishable O Loquacity and Excesse and how they have been punished BEcause I desire Women to entertein nothing either to the prejudice of themselves or others I could ingeniously wish by taking away the cause to remove the effect and by suppressing the temptation to cut off all occasion that might allure men to offend Two things there are that be great corrupters of Modesty and provokers to Sinne namely Wanton and unbridled Discourse and vain and fantastick prodigality in Attire I will speak a little of the due repâ—ehension belonging unto these ere I begin with others If then the tongue be the Orator of the heart and by our words our minds are especially signified how much care ought women to have what they speak and with what modesty to govern the Oâ—gan of their thoughts since corrupt words arise from corrupt apprehensions and nothing but what is pure and irreprovable should proceed from a heart that is without stain and blemish Besides too much Loquacity I could wish you to forbear with which many of your Sex hath been unsparingly branded Many also have accused you to be so open breasted that you cannot conceal any secret committed unto your trust I advise you to to be counselled by Horace lib 1. Epistol ad Saevam Sed tacitus pasci si posset Corvus haberet Plus dapâ—s rixae multo minus invidiaeque Would the Crow eat in silence and not prate Much better she might feed with much lesse hate It is reported of Theocritus Chius being taken in battell that in the way as the souldiers conducted him with purpose to present him before the King Antigonus they perswaded him when he appeared before the eies of the Conqueror to bear himselfe with all submiss humility and no doubt but he should find the Prince roiall He rather willing to hazard his life then lose his jeast notwithwanding his bonds and captivity thus answered If I cannot be assured of safety till I be brought before the eies of your King Antigonus he having but one eie for he had 〈◊〉 the other in battell what then shall become of me At which words Antigonus being 〈…〉 to be slain who had he kept his tongue might have been sent home safe and ransomlesse Fubgos lib. 8. cap. 1. Plautus in Asinaria thus reproves your verbosity Nam multum loquaces merito habemur omnes Nec mutam profecto repertam ullam esse Hodie dicunt mulierem illo in seculo Great 〈…〉 they say And 〈…〉 found Any that can keep silence but betray Our selves we must and seek the whole world round If then Loquacity be so reprovable in your Sex how ill then would Lies which women term Excuses appear in your mouths For who will believe the chastity of your Lives that finds no truth in your Lips It is reported of two Beggars who watching Epiphanius a zâ—alous and charitable man as he came forth of his gates to gain of him the greater alms the one of them fell prostrate upon the earth and counterfeited himselfe dead whilst the other seemed piteously to lament the death of his companion desiring of Epiphanius something towards his buriall The good man wished rest to the body deceased and drawing out his Purse gave bountifully towards his funerall with these words Take charge of his Corse and cease mourning my son for this body shall not presently rise again and so departed who was no sooner gone but the 〈◊〉 commending his fellow for so cunningly dissembling jogs him on the elbow and bids him rise that they might be gone but he was justly punisht for his dissimulation for he was struck dead by the hand of Heaven which his fellow seeing ran after Epiphamus with all the speed he could make desiring him humbly to 〈◊〉 his companion again to life to whom he answered The judgements of God once past are unchangeable therefore what hath hapned bear with what patience thou canst Zozamenus lib. 7. cap. 6. Therefore Plautus in Meâ—catore thus saith Mihi scelus videtur me parenti proloqui mendacium â— It appears to me 〈◊〉 heinous thing to lie to my father If Lying be so detestable what may we think of Perjury The Indians used to swear by the water Sandaracines a flood so called and who violated that Oath was punished with death or else they were curtailed of their Toes and Fingers In Sardinia was a Water in which if the Perjurer washt his eies he was instantly struck blind but the innocent departed thence purer in his fame and more perfect in his sight 〈◊〉 lib. 5. cap. 10. Miraculous are those ponds in Sicilia called Palici neer to the river Simethus where Truths and Falshoods are strangely distinguished The Oaths of men and women being written in Tables and cast in them the Truths swam above water and the Lies sunk down to the bottom All such as forswore themselves washing in these waters died not long after but others returned thence with more validity and strength The sin of Perjury was hatefull amongst the Aegyptians and the punishment fearfull All Perjureâ—s had their heads cut off as those that had two waies offended in their piety towards the gods and in their faith to men Diodor. Sicul. lib. 2. cap. 2. de rebus antiquis From
and out the room who seeing him to be a man of fashion and therefore likely to be of means they thought to make of him some booty being it seems set on by the Grandam of the house for as it proved it was a common Brothel house The youngest and handsomest amongst the rest was put upon him who entreated him not to be seen below where every Porter Carman and common fellow came to drink but to take a more convenient and retired room The Gentleman suspecting the place as it was indeed to be no better then it should be and being willing to see some fashions took her gentle proffer and went with her up the stairs where they two being alone and a bed in the room beer being brought up she began to offer him more then common courtesie being so far from modesty that she almost prostituted her selfe unto him Which he apprehending asked her in plain terms If these were not meer provocations to incite him to lust which she as plainly confessed To whom he replied That since it was so he was most willing to accept of her kind proffer only for modesty sake he desired her to shew him into a darker room To which she assented and leads him from one place to another but he still told her that none of all these was dark enough insomuch that she began at length somewhat to distaste him because in all that time he had not made unto her any friendly proffer At length she brought him into a close narrow room with nothing but a Loop-hole for light and told him Sir unlesse you purpose to go into the Cole-house this is the darkest place in the house How doth this please you To whom he answered Unlesse thou strumpet thou canst bring me to a place so palpably â—enebrious into which the eies of heaven cannot pierce and see me thou canst not perswade me to an act so detestable before God and good men For cannot he that sees into the hearts and reins of all behold us here in our wickednesse And further proceeding told he the heinousnesse of her sin towards God that her prostitution was in sight of him and his Angels and the everlasting punishment thereto belonging Or if irreligious as she was she held these but dreams and fables he bad her consider her estate in this world and what her best could be a Whoâ—e the name odious the profession abominable despised of the indifferent but quite abandoned of those confirmed in Vertue That she was in her selfe but a meer leprosy to destroy her self and insect others a Sink of Sin diseases Or if her extraordinary good fortune were such to escape the Spittle and the Surgeon yet she was a continual vassal to every Constable and Beadle never certain of her Lodging if not in the Stocks in the Cage but the chiefest of her hopes in Bridewell c. To conclude he read unto her so strict and austere a Lecture concerning her base and 〈◊〉 life that from an impudent Strumpet he wrought her to be a repentant Convertite Her brazen forehead melted at his fiery zeal and all those scales of immodesty like a mask plucked off fel from her face and she appeared to him in her former simple and innocentious life When further asking her of her birth and Countrie she freely confessed unto him That she was born in the North Countrie her father a Gentleman once of fair revenue but being impoverished by peevish suits in Law her mother first and he whether by age or grief she knew not soon after died She being an Orphan and left distressed loth to beg of those whom her parents had before relieved finding charity there cold and willing rather to appear base any where then where she was known sold such small things as she had to come up to London with the Carriers where she was no sooner alighted at her 〈◊〉 but she was hited by this Bawd altogether unacquainted with her base course of life who by degrees trained her to such base prostitution but withall protested with tears that course of life was hatefull unto her and had she any friend or kinsman that could propose her any means to relinquish that Trade which in her soul she detested she would become a new woman desiring that one month of her lewdnesse might be forgot for from that hour she protested Chastity all her life time after Her apparant tears and seeming penitence much perswading with the Gentleman he protested If it lay in him he would otherwise dispose of her according to her wishes and withall charging her That if he sent unto her within two or three daies with monie to acquit her of the house that she would attire her selfe as modestly as she could possibly not bringing with her any one rag that belonged to that abominable house or any borrowed garment in which she had offended but instantly to repair unto him at his fiâ—st sending and this being agreed betwixt them for that time they parted The Gentleman wondrous careful of his undertaking because she was now his new creature câ—me to a Matron-like Gentlewoman a kinswoman of his 〈◊〉 off with whom and her husband he had familiar acquaintance and by that means daily accesse to the house who had pretty fine children and were of fair revenue and told her there was a civil maid a kinswoman of his lately come out of the Countrie who wanted a service whom if she pleased to enteriem it might prove a great good to her and no less courtesie to him Briefly the motion was accepted she sent for according to appointment and after he had tutored her in all things which shâ— should answer accepted and enterteined Her modest behavior and fair carriage with her tender love and diligence about the children won her in short time a good opinion of her master a greater affection from her mistresse and a generall love of the whole household insomuch that within lesse then a year she was raised from a Chambermaid to be a Waiting Gentlewoman and the only bosome friend of her mistresse who falling sick even to death ready to expire her last so much doted on her new servant that she sent for her husband and besought him if it stood with his good liking so to dispose of himselfe after her decease to make that woman his wife and mother to his children for one more loving and carefull he should not find and search England thorow and thorow The Gentlewoman soon after dies he is left a widower and the charge of the whole house committed to our new Convertite with the bringing up of his children Which she executed with such fidelity that he casting a more curious eie upon her youth and beauty and withall remembring his wives last words not knowing for the present how better to dispose of himselfe Time Place and Opportunity all things furthering her preferment he contracted himselfe unto her and they were soon after married But before any of
Only of the honor due to Poetesses because it belongs something to mine own profession I will borrow my conclusion from Ovid in his last Elegy of the first book Amorum the title is Ad invidos quod fama poetarum sit perennis Quod mihi livor edax ignavos objicis annos Ingeniique vocas carmen inerte meum Why eating envy dost thou as a crime Object unto me sloth and mispent time Terming the Muse and sacred Numbers vain The fruitlesse issue of an idle brain I am not won to spend my youth in war By which our predecessors famous are It tempts not me to search the brabling lawes Orat the bar to quarrell in a cause These 〈◊〉 mortall 〈◊〉 and transitory When 〈◊〉 purchase 〈◊〉 eternall glory Whilst Ida stands or Tenâ—dos hath name Oâ— Symois streams shall run so long thy same Meonides shall live whilst grain shall grow Which men with syth or sicle reap or mow Whilst vineyards grapes and these grapes yields us wine Famous Ascraeus even so long shall thine Battiades the whole world shall impart For what he wants in wit he hath in art No lesse can chance to thy Cothurnate strain Oh Saphâ—cles nor Aratus thy vain The honours by the Muses you have won Shall last if not outlast both Moon and Sun Whilst there 's a crafty Servant or hard Sire Fat 〈…〉 men shall admire 〈…〉 Ennius although obscure 〈…〉 you shall both endure All shall 〈◊〉 Varro that but hear of Greece 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 Shall both be famous Whilst there 's Tree or Stone Or Plant or Herb or Ground to tread upon When 〈◊〉 consume and when the Plow shall wast And be forgot yet Numbers still must last Vnto the Muses even Monarches must yield And glorious triumphs purchast in the field To her yield Tagus with thy golden shine You Terrhene are and only she divine Let then the vulgar what is vile admire That nothing else save earthly drosse desire Gold hair'd Apollo with full hand shall bring My flowing cup fill'd from the Muses spring And crown'd with myrtle I shall now be sung And be made frequent in each lovers tongue Envy the living soul detracts but Fate Concluding life she likewise ends her hate And then her rancor is no longer fed When living Honor shall maintain us dead And when my Funerall Rites their last fires give Then shall the great'st part of my selfe still live And this perpetuity of Fame which Ovid in giving to others likewise attributes to himselfe is that which all the truly Noble Chast Wife Vertuous Learned and Religious Virgins Wives and Matrons have proposed as their just Reward who lift their thoughts upward and despising the Frailties Uncertainties and Vanities of the Earth aim their Meditations Contemplations and Pious Actions at the sublimities of Heaven FINIS Morall Perioch 6. Periocâ—â— 7. * Circe Lib. de Solert animal Morall Lucian in Dial. superior Morall Liv. lib. 2. Lib. 8. Lib. 2. c. 8. Strabo Tibul. lib. 1. Saxo Grammat Iuven. Saâ—yr 8. Horat. epi. lib. 1. Macrobius * Call'd Attis De diis l. 3â— Argon l. 1. * A wagtail Lib. 10. * The Cow-house Carm. l. 1. In Atticis Lib. 3. de 〈◊〉 Hist 51. chil 2. In Cyclop In Argonaut In Theog In Hebes nupt In Anax. Hist 46. Chil. 2. In prin rer Aeginitarum Lib. 5. She was called Pâ—ilomela In Scuto 〈…〉 〈…〉 21. Hydriades Nymphs belonging to the Rivers and Wells Lib. 1. Metam The tale of Pan and Syrinx * A river of Arcadia compassing the Fen where the reeds first grew Lib. 1. Lib. 2. Lib. 3. Lib. 4. Lib. 5. Lib. 6. Lib. 7. Lib. 8. * Birds called 〈…〉 Lib. 9. Lib. 10. Lib. 11. Hesion * Esacus the sonne of Priam. Lib. 12. Lib. 13. Plutarch in Graecis petit * Or Jalemus Lib. 3. Lib. Sherap Lib. 5. Eclog. 6. * à Virescendo L. 30. c. 34. * Melos Five severall sorts of songs Lib. de Divinis nominibus In Cant. Maior Lib. 16. * Antistrophe is where between two things conjoined that have mutuall dependency there is a concesion by course Lib. 1. Carmin Lib. 7. de Repub. Plat in Gor. L. 2. Theog Lib. 4. Lib. 2. c. xx Lib. 1. c. 7. The white Sybils Mirandula in Hymnis Age 1. Age 2. Age 3. Age 4. Age 5. Age 6. Age 7. Plin. lib. 20. The beginning of Oracles Lib. 3â— Lib. 10. Lib. prim Lib. 2. 22. She was derived from Jupiter and Lamia the daughter of Neptune Cap. de Heniacho Lib. â— Vale. Max. lib. 8. cap. de Sen. Monarch 1. * It ended in Sardana who burnt himselfe his concubines and jewels Monarch 2. Monarch 3. Monarch 4. 1. Wonder 2. Wonder 3. Wonder 4. Wonder 5. Wonder 6. Wonder 7. Wonder That 60000 men were 20. years in building * As divining three sundry waies * Meant naturall Philosophy Fenest l. de Sacerdot cap. 6. Virgiâ— lib. 2. Eneid Gegania Berenia Camilla Terpeia Claudia Fonteia Marcia Minutia Rhaea Vestalis Rubria Pompilia Cornelia Floronea Posthumia Sextilia Tutia Lycinia Vbidia Aemilia Claudia Tuscia Cap. 8. Lib. 4. Cap. 22. Esa 23. Joseph l. 1. Antiquit. Act. 16. 16. Cap. 15. Iliad 5. Aeneid 6. Aeneid l. 1. Lect. cap. 10 A cunning woman Lib. 4 Lib. 10. * Merope was the prostitute of Sysiphus In Boetick Lib. 9. Lib. 4. Fastor l. 1. L. de Sypacus lib. 5. Lib. 6. Theoc. in Hâ—la Odyss lib. 5. In reb Phocen Lib. 16. Lib. 5. Lib. 2. L. 2. de diis Operib dieb Lib. 11. Lib. 2. In Eliacis Lib. 14. How kissing first came up Tiber. Graâ— Alceste * 〈…〉 Of three Gentlemen and their wives Wherefore the Huns were first called Lombards or Long-beards Why women in France are disabled from bearing Soveraignty The memory of Queen Elizabeth Q. Anne The Lady Elizabeth Lucretia Armenia Cornelia Ania Portia Mi. Cornelia Valeria Democion Filia Popilia He was called Posthumus Pyeria Aspasia The women of Lacedemon Athenaeus in Dipsonoph lib. 13. Aristomache Aelian lib. 2 Hippo. Chiomara cap. 12. Plin. de viris illustr cap. 55. V. Maxim lib. 6. cap. 2. Val. Max. lib. 7. cap. 2. Tertia Aemilia Turia Val. Max. lib. 6. cap. 7. Sulpitia Plin. lib. 4. Plin. Nat. Hist lib. 7. cap. 35. Julia. Plut. in Pomp. Portia Val. Max. lib. 4. cap. 6. Horestilla Val. Max. cap. de amore conjugal Artimesia Herod l. â— Strab. l. 13. Harmonia V. Max. l. 3 The wife of Hormisda Pet. Crinit lib. 18. c. 1. Quint. Cu. lib. 2. Queen Ada Zenocrita Plutarch de virtat Mulier The wife of Pythes V. Max. l. 1 Lib. 3. Plutarch Aponaea Base avarice in a King Thyades Myro The building of Carthage Cesara Gunnilda Dominica 〈…〉 Placidia Inguldis Cleotilda Helena * This some think to be Pauls Chu others Blackwell hall Marcia A Lady of Coventry Of the name Cuckold Arria mater Arria mater Pompeia Paulina Rathean Herpin * The name of birds common in 〈◊〉 Counâ—â—â— Herod l 1. These