Gynaikeion: or, Nine bookes of various history. Concerninge women inscribed by ye names of ye nine Muses. Written by Thom: Heywoode.

Sacred Auguries and Nuptiall Expiations, &c.

THe Auspices or Auguries, were Southsayers and such as vsed to handfast or contract marriages, and these were still consulted with, as well in vn∣dertaking Warres as propounding Nuptialls, as also in most of their pub∣lique enterprises or priuate imployments: these diuined either from the voyces or by the flying of birds. The women supt with their husbands the first night in their beds as they lay together, which seemed to be an inuitati∣on of the gods, Because Iupiters banquets are (as some report) after the same manner celebrated, for he still feasted in his bed, and Iuno and Minerua sitting in chaires or vpon benches, Valer. lib. 2. cap. 1. The Athenians at their bridalls had the roome fumed with the skin of a blacke dogge, burned in the fire, his p••iuie parts were buried vnder the threshold of the doore; at the outward gate was hid in the Earth the snowt of a Wolfe, & these they held to expell all Effacinations and Witch-crafts from the house: others vse a Fish called Stella Marina or the Sea-starre,* 1.1 which sprinckled with the blood of a Wolfe preserued the marriage couple from all dangers or disasters. Cynxia and Gamelia Iuno were deuoutely celebrated in Hymenaean contracts.* 1.2 In all their sacrifices they tooke from the entrailes the Gall of the beast, and buried it in an obscure and remote place not far from the Altar, thereby signifiing that all marriage ought to bee without gall or bitternesse. Amongst the Boetians and Locrens••s no contract was held firme vnlesse they had before offered at the Altar of the Virgin Euclia.* 1.3 In Rome there was a custome of old, that all maides before marriage should kneele some certeine houres in the Tem∣ple of the god Futinus (whom wee may tearme the god predominant in the act of Copulation) and of him intreate happie successe in their future con∣gression. The Etrurians in their Hymenaenan bargaines from the noblest to the lesse qualified, slew hogges in their sacrifices, by that calling the gods to witnesse, That their league and couenant was from thencefoorth inviolable not to be altered but by lawfull Diuorse, Death, Captiuitie, or Slauerie and

losse of freedome. Many other are reckoned vp by Alex. ab Alex. too tedious here to insert: a word or two of their Hymnes and Nuptiall Inuocations.

* 1.4The antient Greekes vsed a kind of Verse, which they called Amboeum carmen, the same which (they say) was sung by the gods at the brydalls of Peleus, the father of Achilles and Thetis. Aristophanes in Auibus saith, That they were wont to cry aloud, Humin Ho Humenai Ho Humin. In other places, at their marriages, the Matrons held the Tapers and Torches, at which time were sung Fesciuini, which were broad and bawdie Verses: and they being ended, that which they call the solemne and sacred Hymne in the Athenian Espousals, was sung;

Bonos ama timidos repelle, &c.

Loue those that good are, and the fearefull shun; Obseruing these, thou do'st what's to be done.

Plato in Gorgia affirmes, That at Nuptiall Feasts was vsed to be sung this short Hymne following:

Formosum esse & diuitem & be••e valere, Summum existimari bonum.

To attaine the soueraigne blisse, let vs implore Health, Wealth, and Beautie, then we need no more.

The Romans (as Liu. lib. 1. Decad. and Plin. cap. 2. de viris illustribus, affirme) in all their celebrations called aloud vpon the name of Thalassius, which they held as an Omen to their future successe and prosperitie. Their Brides, when they entred into the houses of their husbands, whilest their feet were yet vpon the threshold, inuoked the name of Caia Cecilia,* 1.5 by another name called Tanaquilla, continuing and not surceasing to iterate that name from the doore till she came into the Bride-chamber. Tanaquilla was the wife of Tarquinius Priscus, king of the Romans, for temperance, modestie, vertue, and all the ac∣complishments that best grace a woman, most eminent; thus intimating, that by remembring her name, they might imitate her life. All other Ornaments layd apart, there was onely borne before them a Distaffe and a Spindle: and thus the mothers of Martia, of Portia, of Lucretia, were first vshered to their Nuptiall chambers.

* 1.6Touching their Diet, Solon published a Law, That no Virgin might be permitted to enter the Bride-bed, if at supper her husband and shee had not before tasted of a Quince-Peare, which they call Malum Cydonium. The Nau∣cratians in all such Feasts forbid both Egges, sweet-meats, or any confection in which there was Honey: Amongst them no seruice was admitted sauing Skallions, or such roots as were diuided into cloues, Pine-apple Nuts, the iuice of the hearbe called Rochet, and Pepper, and these were in the place of a Banquet. Amongst the Persians, the husband was not permitted to come to visit his Bride, vnlesse he had first eaten an Apple, or else tasted of a sweet Rush called Squinanthum, or Camels meat; neither might he eat of any thing else for that day. Amongst the Babylonians they bedded not, without red Storax first tasted. The Carthaginians in their Hymenaean Feastiuals sliced the fish called a Tunny, without the eating of which there was no perfect and ab∣solute celebration. Alex. ab Alex. From their Feasts I come to ceremonies ob∣serued concerning the copulation in or before Marriage; and of that briefly.

Amongst the Trogloditae,* 1.7 their betrothed Virgins were first brought forth by their neerest kinsmen and allyes, and by them promiscuously pro∣stituted. After which time, they betake themselues to all ciuilitie and conti∣nence, which whosoeuer was knowne to violate or digresse from, was most seuerely chastised, without all commiseration or pitie. The same custome is obserued amongst the Gymnesians, the Lydians, and the inhabitants of the Islands Baleares. The Andrimachides (a people of Africa) before they can bestow their daughters, offer their Virginities to their Princes first, and such as he best affects, he vitiates at his pleasure, and then they are permitted to marrie. The like custome was held in Scotland: but since the Christi∣an Religion was there professed, that Law hath beene abrogated; onely the maids redeeme their Virginities with a certaine piece of money, and by that Tenure their lands are held to this day. The Volcinienses are tyed to a more base seruitude, because they are compelled before marriage to pro∣stitute their free daughters to their slaues and seruants. Alex. ab Alex. lib. 1. cap. 24. Herodotus writes, That the Adyrmachidae present their daughters maidenheads first to their king, ere their betrothed husbands can be admit∣ted any congresse with them. The Babylonians neuer haue companie with their wiues, but they before sitting about a fire, make a fume of a strong sent, which they snuffe vp at their nosthrils; by the Authors description, it should not much differ from that which we haue now in such frequent vse, and call Tabacco: In the morning they both wash, before they touch any Vessell whatsoeuer. The Spartans (by the Decrees of Lycurgus) in all their Bridals, the man still came into the womans chamber, the Light being first extinct; where (with bashfull feare, and a religious kind of modestie) they perfor∣med the offices of Nature, Loue, and Custome.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Alex. ab. Alex. lib. 1 cap. 24.
• * 1.2

  Cinxia. Gamelia.
• * 1.3

  Euclia.
• * 1.4

  Hymnes and Inuocations.
• * 1.5

  Caia Cecilia, or Tanaquil.
• * 1.6

  Nuptiall Diet.
• * 1.7

  Nuptiall Co∣pulation.