The generall history of vvomen containing the lives of the most holy and prophane, the most famous and infamous in all ages, exactly described not only from poeticall fictions, but from the most ancient, modern, and admired historians, to our times / by T.H., Gent.

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Title
The generall history of vvomen containing the lives of the most holy and prophane, the most famous and infamous in all ages, exactly described not only from poeticall fictions, but from the most ancient, modern, and admired historians, to our times / by T.H., Gent.
Author
Heywood, Thomas, d. 1641.
Publication
London :: Printed by W.H. for W.H. ...,
1657.
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Subject terms
Women -- Biography.
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"The generall history of vvomen containing the lives of the most holy and prophane, the most famous and infamous in all ages, exactly described not only from poeticall fictions, but from the most ancient, modern, and admired historians, to our times / by T.H., Gent." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/a43596.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 1, 2024.

Pages

Cyborea, the mother of Judas Iscariot.

THis that I now speak of is remembred by Ranulphus, Monke of Chester, Jerome, and others. There was a man in Jerusalem, by name Ruben, of the Tribe of Isachar, his wife was called Cyborea: The first night of their marri∣age, the women dreamed that she was conceived of a sonne, who should be a traytor to the Prince of his own people: she told it to her husband, at which they were both sad and pensive. The child being born, and they not willing to have it slain, and yet loath to have it prove such a monster to his own nation, they in a small boat cast it to sea to try a despe∣rate fortune: This vessell was diven upon an Island called Iscariot, where the Queen of that place had then no child.

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This babe being found, she purposed to make it her own, and put it to be nobly nursed and educated, calling his name Judas, and Iscariot of the Island where he was taken up. But not long after, she was conceived of a son, who proving a noble and hopefull Gentleman, Iudas (whose favour in Court began to wane, and his hope of inheritance, which but late flourishe now quite to wither) he plotted against his life, and privately slew him: but fearing lest the murder in time might be discovered, and he compell'd to suffer according to the nature or the fact, he fled thence to Jerusalem where he got into the service of Pontius Pila∣tus, and found means to be protected by him, being then in the City, Deputy Governour of the Romans. Iudas (because their dispositions were much of one condition) grew into his especiall familiarity and favour. The Palace of Pilat having a faire bay window, whose prospect was into Rubns Or∣chard, he had a great appetite to eat of some of those ripe Apples, which shewed so yellow and faire against the Sun. This Iudas understanding, promised him to fetch him some of that fruit, and mounting over the Orchard wall, he was met by his father, who rebuking him for the injury, Iudas with a stone beat out his brains, and unseen of any, conveied himselfe back. Reubens death was smothered, and the murde∣rer not known. Cyborea being a rich widow, Pilate made a march betwixt her and his servant Iudas, who being marri∣ed to his mother, was now possest of his own fathers inheri∣tance. Not long this incestuous couple had lived together, but Cyborea being upon a time wondrous sad and melan∣choly, and Iudas demanding the cause, she began to relate to him her many misfortunes; First, of her dream, them of her son in what manner he was put to sea, then how she lost her husband being slain, and the murderer not found; and lastly, how by the authority of Pilat she was now com∣pell'd to match against her will, who had protested to her selfe a lasting widdowhood. By these circumstances, Judas most assuredly knew that he had slain his father, and had married his mother; which acknowledging to her, she per∣swaded him to repent him of these great evils, and to be∣come a Disciple of Jesus, who was then an eminent prophet amongst he Jewes. It shall nor be amisse to speak a word or two or Pilat. It is said that a King whose name was Tyrus, begat him on a Millers daughter, Lyla, whose father was called Aus, who from his mother and grand-father, was

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called Pylatus, at four years of age he was brought to his father, who by his lawfull wife had a Prince just of the same age. These were brought up together in all noble exerci∣ses, in which the Prince having still the best, Pilat awaited his opportunity and slew him: loath was the King to pu∣nish him with death, lest he should leave himselfe altoge∣ther issulesse, therefore he sent him an hostage to Rome, for the paiment of certain tribute which was yearly to be ten∣dred into the Roman treasury. Living there as hostage, he associated himselfe with the son to the King of France, who lay pledge in Rome about the like occasion, and in a private quarrell was also slain by Pilat. The Romans find∣ing him of an austere brow and bloody disposition, made him governour of the Island called Pontus: the people were irregular and barbarous, whom by his severity he re∣duced to all civill obedience, for which good service he was removed to Jerusalem, bearing the name of Pontius from that Island; there he gave sentence against the Saviour of the world. Tiberius Caesar being then Emperor, was sick of a grievous malady, who hearing that in Jerusalem was a Prophet, who with a word healed all infirmities whatsoever, he sent one Volutianus to Herod, to send him this man; but Christ was before condemned and crucified. There Volutia∣nus acquainted himselfe with one Veronica a noble Lady of the Jewes, who went with him to Rome, and carried with her the linnen cloth, which still bore the impresse and likeness of Christs visage, upon which the Emperour no sooner looked, but he was immediately healed. The Emperor then understanding the death of this innocent and just man, cau∣sed Pilat to be brought to Rome, who being called before Cae∣sar (the history saith) he had at that time upon him the robe of our Saviour, which was called Tunica insutilis, a garment without seam, which whilst it was about him, nothing could be objected against him to his least dammage or disgrace; this was three times proved, and he still came off unaccu∣sed; but when by the advise of this Veronica and other Chri∣stians, the garment was took off, he was then accused for causing guiltlesse men to be slain, for erecting statues of strange nations in the Temple, against the ordinances of the Jewes; that with mony wrested and extorted from the holy treasures, he had made a water-conduit to his own house, that he kept the Vestments and sacred robes of the Priests in his own house, and would not deliver them for

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the service of the Temple, without mercenary hire: of these and other things being convicted, he was sent to prison, where borrowing a knife to pare an apple he slew himselfe, his body after was fastned to a great stone, and cast into the river Tiber.

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