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

Of Women Contentious, and Bloodie.

TExtor in his Officine remembers vs of one Kailla,* 1.1 who was of that bar∣barous and inhuman crueltie, that being at dissention with her husband Vazules, she hauing banished all coniugall pietie and pittie, caused his eyes to be digged out of his head, spending the remainder of his age in vn∣comfortable darknesse. These subsequent stories of flintie and obdure hearted women, though I could willingly haue spared them out of this worke, that the world might almost be induced to beleeue that no such im∣manities could euer haue place in the smooth & soft bosomes of women, yet in regard I haue promised briefly to run ouer all Ages, Features, Affections, Conditions, and Degrees, though they might perhaps haue beene thought well spared by some, yet I make no question but they might be challenged at my hands by others. The rather I present them and with the more confi∣dence vnto your view, because, though their actions to the tender brested may seeme horrid and feareful, and therfore the hardlier to purchase credit, yet the testimonie of the Authors being authenticke and approoued, will not onely beare me out as their faithfull remembrancer, but in the things them∣selues fasten an inherent beleefe. I proceed therfore.* 1.2 Cyrce the Witch slew the king of Sarmatia to whom shee was married, and vsurping the regall Throne, did much oppresse her subiects: of her Sabellicus writes more at large.* 1.3 Clitemnestra was the wife of Agamemnon Archduke or Generall of the Gretians at the siege of Troy, she by the helpe of Aegistus (with whom she adultrated) slew her husband, of this Virgill speakes, lib. 11. Seneca in Agamem∣nonae and Iuvenall in Satyr. Danaus the sonne of Belus had fiftie daughters, who were espoused to the fiftie sonnes of Aegistus; these made a coniuration in one night to kill all their husbands, which they accordingly did, all saue the yongest, Hypermnestra, who spared the life of her husband Lynceus, Senec. Her∣cul. Fur. Alexander Phaereus,* 1.4 a tyrant of Thessaly, when hee had shewed his wife naked to a certaine Barbarian, she tooke it so impatiently, that she cut his throat sleeping:* 1.5 Ouid in Ibin. Volaterranus reports that Albina daughter to a king of Syria had two and thirtie sisters, who all in one night slew their husbands, who beeing exild their countrey, landed in Brittaine; and that of this Albina this Kingdome first tooke the name of Albion.* 1.6 Laodice was the wife of Antiochus king of Syria, who caused himselfe to be cald God: She poysoned her husband because of his too much familiaritie with Berenice the sister of Ptolome. Fabia slew Fabius Fabriclanus,* 1.7 that shee might the more freely inioy the companie of Petronius Volentanus a young man of extraordi∣narie feature, with whom shee had often before accompanied.* 1.8 Agrippina

poysoned her husband Tiberius Claudius the Emperor.* 1.9 Lucilla the wife of An∣tonius Verus Emperor, poysoned her husband because she thought him too fa∣miliar with Fabia.* 1.10 Galeotus prince of Forolinium, married with the daughter of Ioannes Bentiuolus, of whom being despised and finding her selfe neglected, she hyred certaine cut-throat Phisitians, who slew him in his chamber. An∣dreas the sonne of Carolus king of Pannonia,* 1.11 was slaine by his wife Ioanna Queene of Cicily, for no other reason but that he was idle and held vnpro∣fitable to the weale publique.* 1.12 Althaea sorrowing that her two brothers Plexip∣pus and Toxeus were slaine by her sonne Meleager, shee burned that Brand, of which the fatal Sisters had made a prediction, That his life and health should continue as long as that was preserued:* 1.13 Ouid Trist. lib. 1. Bocat. in Geneol. Agaue a Theban woman slew her sonne Penth••us, because he would not honour the feast of the Bachinalls, with the rest of the Menades: Virgill in Culice. Eric∣thaeus taking armes against Eumolpus, and hauing an answere from the Oracle, That he should haue a certaine victorie, if he would sacrifice his only daugh∣ter to the gods;* 1.14 by the persuasion of his wife Praxitha gaue her vp to slaugh∣ter: Euripides apud Plutarch. Elearchus one of the kings of Creet, at the per∣suasion of his second wife Phronima,* 1.15 commaunded his onely daughter by the hand of one Themisones to bee cast into the riuer and there drowned: He∣rodot. Polidice* 1.16 betrayde her father king Pletera to Creon king of Thebes and caused him to bee slaine; as likewise Nisus being besieged by Min••s, by the treason of his daughter lost that purple hayre which was the stay of his so∣ueraigntie: Ouid Metam. and Seruius. Tiphon Aegiptius, as Berosus, Seneca, Dio∣dorus, and others relate, slew his brother Osiris then raigning in Aegypt and gouerning iustly, which done hee caused him to be cut into twentie six pie∣ces, and to euerie one of the conspirators gaue a part, the better to secure him of their fidelities:* 1.17 but Isis their sister after she had lamented the death of her brother Osiris, by the assistance of her sonne (who was called Oros) slew Typhon and auenged his death. Draomitia was a queen of Bohemia,* 1.18 she caused Ludimillia (much deuoted to religion) to bee slaine:* 1.19 by her instigation her sonne Boleslaus was the murderer of his brother Wenceslaus: Volaterran. The nymph Lara was of that loquacitie,* 1.20 that raising dissention betwixt Iupiter and Iuno, by telling her of his escapes, that in reuenge thereof he pluckt out her tongue.* 1.21 Talantia Spartana hauing intelligence that her sonne Pedaretes tyranni∣sed ouer the men of Chius, writ to him in this or the like language, Or gouerne there better, or remaine there; if thou returnest to me, thou art not safe: thus ad∣monishing him of better gouernment, or menacing him with death. Da∣mariana was a woman of Sparta,* 1.22 and with her owne hands slew her sonne, because shee found him of a timorous condition and would not be drawne to the warres. Amastris was the wife of Xerxes,* 1.23 and did prosecute the wife of Massissa the President with that inhumane and barbarous crueltie, that ha∣uing first slaine her, shee caused her breasts to be cut off, and cast vnto the dogges, dismembring her of her Nose, Eares, Eyes, Lippes, and Tongue. Rauis. Textor. Cisenis,* 1.24 the daughter of Diogerides king of Thrace, was of that sauage inhumanitie, that shee tooke pleasure to see liuing men to be dismembred and cut in pieces, causing young children to be killed and drest, after commanding them to be serued in to their parents, and to be by them eaten. Solinus. Tullia,* 1.25 the wife of Tarquinius Superbus, she caused her Chariot to be drawne ouer the face of her dead father Seruius Tullius, pre∣sently before murthered by her husband in the Capitoll. Liuie.* 1.26 Irene the

Empresse was wife to Leo the fourth, and caused her owne sonne Constan∣tius Sextus to be first cast in prison, and after to haue his eyes digged out, be∣cause before shee had by him beene expelled the Empire.* 1.27 Fuluia was the wife of Marcus Antoninus: and how the excellentest of Orators, M. Tullius, being dead, was tyrannized ouer by him, many Authors haue commended to posteritie; whose sacred hands and head being cut off, were nayled vnto that Pulpit where hee had often most learnedly declaimed. His head was first brought to Anthonie, which he caused to be placed before him vpon a Table, and scarce in a whole day could hee satiate his rancorous mallice with so sad and pittifull a spectacle; but at length (as Appianus Alexandrinus reports) he commanded it to be tooke thence: And (as it is gathered out of the collections of Dion, Prusius, and Suidas) when Fuluia, the wife of Antoninus, came to the sight of it, shee tooke it in her hands, and after the breathing of many fearefull maledictions, execrations, and curses against it, spit in the face thereof: then taking it into her lappe, with a Bodkin or Pen∣ner which she wore in her haire for an ornament, pricked his tongue, which she had caused violently to be forced out of his iawes, least there should be any thing wanting that might adde to an vndiscreet womans hate and inhu∣mane crueltie. This murther and horride act against so worthie a Senatour, hath beene deplored by many, as well in Prose, as in Verse; as Portius Latro, Albutius Sylo, Caestius Murrhedius, and others: but none more elegantly than Seuerius Cornelius, in these Verses of his, which we haue by tradition from A••••aeus Seneca:

Ora{que} magnanimum spirantia pene virorum In rostris iacuere suis, &c.

As they were at large remembred in Crinitus. Euridice,* 1.28 the wife of Amintas king of Macedonia, who had by him three sonnes, Alexander, Perdicas, and Philip, father to Alexander the Great; as likewise a daughter, called Euryones. This Euridice not onely polluted the bed of her husband, but sought his life, to transferre the Principalitie into the hand of the adulterer: and least her daughter should discouer either her whoredome or treason, she likewise plotted against her life. The old man in the middest of these dangers dyed, leauing the kingdome to his eldest sonne Alexander; she after caused him to be slaine: A president of strange and (almost) vnheard of crueltie in a mo∣ther. Iustine Histor. lib. 7.

Spitamenes (a puissant Captaine that had long opposed Alexander the Great in many battailes and conflicts,* 1.29 with his competitor Daha) so dearely loued his faire wife, that he drew her to be a partner with him in his warres, and lodged her in his Tent: But being put to many affrights and distresses, (the common casualties belonging to warre) shee grew so tyred with Ala∣rums, tumults, mutinies, affrights, slaughters, and such like, that shee dayly importuned him (being before onely vsed to feasts, banquets, and effemi∣nate delicacies) to submit him to the Macedonian Conqueror. So long and so vrgently she sollicited him to peace, both by her children, her friends, and her selfe in person, that being a blunt and plaine souldier, traded in com∣bustion (and to whom the very thought of submission was more odious than death) though hee entirely affected her, yet vpon a time hee aduanced his hand to haue strucke her, and had done it, had not his brother come in by ac∣cident and supprest his incensed furie: yet he concluded, That if euer after

she persuaded him to peace, or troubled his eares with that base word of submission, that Hand which so long had opposed Alexander (all Coniugall amitie set apart) should be her luddaine and assured ruine. The Ladie af∣frighted with the name of death, thought it no safetie to interpose so ro∣bustious and setled a constancie, especially in a souldier dayly and hourely enured to bloud and massacre, therefore considering with her selfe what was best to be done; in meditating for her owne safetie, she thought it bet∣ter, by yeelding, to conquer, than by contending against power and aduan∣tage, to be ouercome. After submission therefore made, and a new recon∣cilement established betwixt them, shee inuited him to a banquet in her Tent (which was furnished with all the dainties the Campe would yeeld, and whatsoeuer rarietie remote places could affoord) where she carryed her selfe with all humilitie and obedience. At this feast shee caused him to be plyed with Healths, and lauish Cups, till the Wine hauing got the prehemi∣nence of his better sences, hee grew drowsie, and retyred himselfe to his Pallat. The Tables were then withdrawne, and euerie man that was inui∣ted, repaired either to his charge in the Armie, or to his rest. They hauing disposed of themselues, and the place now priuate, shee had confederated with one of her seruants, by whose assistance, shee in his depth of sleepe cut off the head of her husband, and gaue it to him. This done (hauing the Word) they past through the Watches and Guards, and by the breake of day came vnto the Campe of Alexander, desiring to haue conference with him about affaires which concerned him neerely. The Prince vnderstan∣ding it was a woman, commanded shee should be admitted into his Tent; which was accordingly done, and she appeared before him all stayned and sprinkled with blood (for she had not yet changed her habite) at which hee grew at the first amased, demaunding the cause of her repaire thither? She desired her seruant might be likewise admitted (who attended at the doore of his Tent) for hee had that about him by which he should be better in∣formed. His entrance was graunted: but being suspected by the guard (be∣cause they perceiued him hide something folded vp in his garments) they searcht him, and found a head cut off, but by reason of the palenesse of the face (which was disfigured with the clottered and congealed bloud) the countenance thereof could hardly be discerned. The seruant was brought in, with the head (still dropping blood) in his hand. At which the king more wondering, desired by her to be better certified concerning the No∣uell; to whom she boldly replyed, Loe here (ô Alexander) the end of thy many troubles and feares, the head of the great Captaine Spitamenes, who though my husband, yet because hee was thine enemie, I haue caused his head to be cut off, and here present it vnto thee. At the horridenesse of these words, the king, with all that stood by, were abashed; euerie one glad of the thing done, but in their hearts detesting the manner of the deed. The Ladie still expecting an answer, Alexander (after some pawse) thus re∣plyed: I must confesse (Ladie) the great courtesie and infinite benefit re∣ceiued from you, in presenting me the head of an Out-Law, a Traytor, and one that was to mee a great obstacle and an hinderance in the smooth pas∣sage to my intended Victories; but when I vnderstand it to be done by the hands of a woman, nay a wife, the strange horridenesse of the fact takes away all the thankes and reward due to the benefit. I therefore command you instantly to depart the Campe, and that with all speed possible; for I would not

haue the sauage and inhumane examples of the Barbarians contaminate and infect the mild and soft temper of the noble Grecians: With which words she was instantly hurried from his presence. As noble a president of Iustice in a Prince, as it was an abhorred example of crueltie in a most vnnaturall wife. Q. Curt. lib. 8. de Alexandri Histor. From a remorselesse wife, I come now to as obdurate a step-mother.

Pelops hauing married Hyppodamia,* 1.30 the daughter of Tantalus and Eurianassa, had by her two sonnes, Thiestes and Atreus, and by the Nymph Danais a third sonne, called Crisippus, to which he seemed outwardly better affected than to the former; on whom king Laius of Thebes casting an amorous eye, at length stole him from his father. But Pelops, with his two sonnes by Hyppo∣damia, made warre vpon Laius, tooke him prisoner, and recouered Crisippus: and when hee truly vnderstood that loue was the cause of his rape, hee was attoned with Laius, and an inuiolable league of amitie combined betwixt them. Whilest the Theban yet soiourned with Pelops, Hyppodamia persua∣ded with Atreus and Thiestes to conspire against the life of Crisippus, as one that aymed at the succession in the kingdome: but not preuayling, she me∣ditated with her selfe, how to despoyle him of life with her owne hands; when hauing conueyed the sword of Laius out of his chamber, when he was fast sleeping, she came to the bed of Crisippus, and transpierced him as he lay, leauing the sword still in his bodie, and left the place vndiscouered, accusing the Theban for his death: but the youth not fully dead, recouered so much spirit as to discouer the murtheresse; for which, king Laius was ac∣quitted, and she from her husband receiued condigne punishment for her immanitie and murther. Dosythaeus in Pelopedis. Progne,* 1.31 to reuenge the rape of her sister Philomela vpon her husband Tereus, king of Thrace, feasted him with the bodie of his owne sonne Itis; of which, you may read at large in Ouids Metamorphosis. Some women haue beene so vnnaturall, as to betray their fathers. After Troy was vtterly subuerted and despoyled, king Dio∣mede (one of the most valiant amongst the kings of Greece) in the returne towards his countrey, being by stormes and tempests violently cast vpon the coast of Thrace, where Lycas the sonne of Mars then reigned, and according to the bloodie custome of the countrey, sacrificed all such strangers as lan∣ded vpon his Continent;* 1.32 his daughter Callirhoe surprised with the loue of king Diomede, not onely released him from durance, but betrayed the life of Lycus her father into his hands; notwithstanding, hee most trecherously left her: for which ingratitude (and vrged with remorse of conscience, for proouing so vnnaturall vnto him from whom she had her being) by strang∣ling her selfe, shee despairingly expired, Iuba, lib. 3. Libicorum. Paralleld with this, is that which wee reade of Calphurnius Crassus, an illustrious Ro∣man, and sent by M. Regulus against the Massilians, to take in a most defen∣sible Castle called Garaetium: but by the crosse disaster of fortune being surprised in the siege thereof, and reserued the next day to be sacrificed to Saturne, being in despaire either of rescue, or life; Besalia,* 1.33 daughter to the king (who was then possest of the Port) falling in loue with Calphurnius, not onely deliuered vp vnto him the keyes of the Castle, that hee might freely escape with life, but betrayed vnto him the libertie and life of her father: but after being most degenerately forsaken by him, she desperately slew her selfe. Hegesinax, lib. 3. rerum Africarum. I am wearie with setting downe these immanities in women, and Polihimnia now inuites me to a new argument.

Of Women strangely preserued from death, and such as haue vnwillingly beene the death of their Fathers.

* 1.34NIceas Maleotes (as Plutarch in his thirteenth Paralell testates) reports, That when Hercules for the loue of Iole the daughter of Cacus inuaded Oechalia, and shee abhorring the embraces of him who had before slaine her father, retyred herselfe for safetie into the strongest Cittadell in her countrey; in which beeing straightly besieged by Hercules, and the Fort readie to be surprised & taken, she hauing no way to escape, and vnwilling to stand to the mercie of so louing an enemie, mounted vp into the highest Tur∣ret of the Castle, and from thence cast her selfe headlong downe towards the Earth, but the wind gathering vnder her loose garments so extenuated the fall, that she came to the ground without any hurt at all; by which miracu∣lous fortune shee inioyed a desperate life, and Hercules a most desired mi∣stresse. Answerable vnto this, is that which Theophilus Italicorum tertio re∣lates: The Romans in the Etrurian warre, instituted Valerius Torquatus Gene∣rall of their forces,* 1.35 hee hauing beheld Clusia the daughter of the Tuscan king, grew innamoured of the Virgin•• and sent Embassadors to demaund her of her father: but shee not willing to make any contract with her coun∣tries enemie, and her father as loth to contradict his daughter, the motion and offer of Torquatus was peremptorily denied; at which inraged, hee be∣gyrt the citie with a strong and fearefull siege, ingaging the defendants to all dangers and difficulties, in so much that Clusia timerous of surprisall, and preferring death before captiuitie, threw her selfe from the highest part of the wall, to destroy her selfe in the open view and face of the enemie: but either (as the former late mentioned) fauoured by the windes, or (as my Au∣thor tels me) greatly supported by the hand of Venus, or whether the pittious Earth vnwilling to hurt or harme such faire and well featured limbes, and therefore with more than accustomed courtesie fauorably receiued her into her lappe, I am not certaine, but the Ladie (to the wonder of all the behol∣ders) was taken vp whole and sound, without wound or the least-astonish∣ment, and from thence conducted to the Tent of the Generall; who bee∣cause he made but offer to violate her chastitie, the euer nobly minded Ro∣mans, not onely tooke from him the charge of the armie (alleaging that hee that could not gouerne his owne affections, was not fit to command others) but confined him into the Island Corsica adiacent, neere to the continent of Italie. Not much lesse strange was that of Perhibaea,* 1.36 the daughter of Acca∣thous, who when Telamon the sonne of Aeacus and Eudeides, came into the cit∣tie of Euboea where shee then soiourned with her father, and tooke her at that aduantage, that shee was by him devirgined and deflowred, his name or person not being knowne by her or any, and so priuily escaped and fled away by night. Accathous after perceiuing her by assured tokens to bee growne bigge with child, and suspecting it to be done by some one of his citisens or subiects, hee was thereat so incensed, that banishing all pietie or paternall pittie, he deliuered her into the hands of one of his captaines, com∣maunding him either to kill her with his sword, or cast her into the Sea: the souldier vndertakes the imposition of his soueraigne vpon him, with many vowes and protestations to performe his pleasure with all strictnesse and se∣ueritie; but by the way commiserating her wretched fortune, and loth to be

the destroyer of such youth and beautie created for better vse: comming neere the Sea-shore, and spying a ship there at Anchor, he sold her to the cheefe marchant for a summe of money, returning to the father with an as∣sured relation of his daughters death. The marriners presently with this faire purchase hoysed sayle, and a faire and gentle gale fauouring them, they attained vnto the port of Salamine, and there harboured, where purposing to make sale of their marchandise, they exposed them to the publique view, amongst the rest they set a price on the Princesse Perhibaea. Telamon who was duke of Salamine and then resiant in the cittie, tooke his atten∣dants with him, and hearing of this new marchant, went downe to the Key to take the first view of his goods, and prouide himselfe of such things as he wanted; amongst all, the faire Perhibaea pleased him best, whose face he well knew and still remembred what had past betwixt them: hee bargained for her, payd downe her price, conducted her to his pallace, and there acquain∣ted her with the true passage of all his former proceedings. Within few moneths shee brought him a sonne which he called Aiax: and this was that Aiax Telamon, who at the siege of Troy betwixt the two armies combatted with bold Hector in the plaine of Scamander: you shall reade this historie in Aretades Guidius in his second booke inscribed Insulis. The next that in∣sues hath correspondence with this. Lucius Trocius had a beautifull young daughter called Florentia,* 1.37 shee was stuprated by the Roman Calphurnius, and when the act came to the knowledge of her father, deliuered to the trustie executioner to bee cast into the Sea; who in the same manner was by him pittied and sold to a marchant, his ship beeing then bound for Italie, where she being exposed to publique sale, was seene, knowne, and bought by Cal∣phurnius, by whom hee had a sonne called Contruscus. I proceede to such as haue vnwittingly beene the death of their parents.

Euenus, the sonne of Mars and Steropes, by his wife Alcippa the daughter of Oennemanus had a beautifull female issue,* 1.38 whom hee called Marpissa who had vowed perpetuall virginitie; her, Idas the sonne of Aphareus rauished and stole away, which her father hearing, prosecuted him euen vnto his owne countrey, but in vaine, for not able to ouertake them, and returning without her, in greefe of his lost daughter whom he so deerely loued, hee threw himselfe into the riuer Lycormus and was there drowned; some thinke that by his death the flood lost his name, and was euer after called Euenus. Dosithae lib. 1. rerum Italicarum. Anius king of the Etruscians, hauing a rarely featured damosell to his daughter called Salia,* 1.39 whose virginitie he had vowed to Diana, and therefore admitted no suitors, though many great and rich offers were made vnto her: at length, as shee was sporting abroad amongst other virgins shee was espyed by one Calthetas, a hopefull young gentleman and ennobled by his familie, who at the first sight of her was so extaside with her beautie, that maugre all feare of pursuit or danger, hee snatcht her vp in his armes, and vsed such meanes that hee got her safe with∣in the walls of Rome. Her father following the rauisher, but not ouertaking him, was strucke into such a deepe sorrow, that desparate of all comfort or counsell, hee violently cast himselfe into the next Foord that parted Rome and his owne Kingdome, which euer since that time still beares the name of Anius. Calihetus had by Salia two braue sonnes, Latinus and Salinus, who were famous in their noble nad flourishing issue, insomuch, that some of the best and greatest families in Rome, were proud from them to deriue

their ancestrie. This historie is recorded by Aristides Milesius, by Alexander and Polihistor lib. tertio Italicorum.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Kailla.
• * 1.2

  Cyrce.
• * 1.3

  Clitemnestra
• * 1.4

  The wife of Alex. Phaereus.
• * 1.5

  Albina.
• * 1.6

  Laodice.
• * 1.7

  Fabia.
• * 1.8

  Agrippina.
• * 1.9

  Lucia.
• * 1.10

  Filia Bentiu.
• * 1.11

  Ioanna.
• * 1.12

  Althaea.
• * 1.13

  Agaue.
• * 1.14

  Praxitha.
• * 1.15

  Phronima.
• * 1.16

  Polidice.
• * 1.17

  Isis.
• * 1.18

  Draomitia.
• * 1.19

  Ludimillia.
• * 1.20

  Lara.
• * 1.21

  Talantia.
• * 1.22

  Damariana.
• * 1.23

  Amastris.
• * 1.24

  Cisenis.
• * 1.25

  Tullia.
• * 1.26

  Irene.
• * 1.27

  Fuluia.
• * 1.28

  Euridice.
• * 1.29

  The wife of Spitamenes.
• * 1.30

  Hyppoda∣mia.
• * 1.31

  Progne.
• * 1.32

  Callirhoe.
• * 1.33

  Besalia.
• * 1.34

  Iole.
• * 1.35

  Clusia.
• * 1.36

  Perhibaea.
• * 1.37

  Florentia.
• * 1.38

  Marpissa.
• * 1.39

  Salia.