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

Of Queenes Illustrious.

SEmiramis was Queene of the Assyrians, Camilla of the Volscians, Nicaul•• (whom some call Saba) of the Aethiopians, Athalia of the Hebrewes, Thomi∣ris of the Scithians, Hesther of the Persians, Cleopatra of the Aegyptians, Zenobia of the Palmyriens, Amalasuntha of the Gothes; of these wee shall speake more at large, as they fall in course. Theolinda of the Longobards or Lombards succeedes. This nation dwelt first in Pannonia, and were gouerned by the king Albinus: now the reason why they were first so called, was this. In the time that Iustinus sirnamed the Lesse, wore the imperiall purple, Narses the Eunuch had fought vnder him many braue and victorious battells against the Gothes, who had vsurped the greatest part of Italie, from whence he expeld them, slew their king, and freed the whole countrey from many outrages. Notwithstanding his great good seruice, he was calumniated to the Emperour, and so hated by the Emperesse Sophia, that she sent him word, That she would make him lay by his sword and armour, and with a distaffe spinne wooll amongst her maides: to which message he returned answer, That hee would make such a thread to put into her loome, that all the weauers in the Empire should scarce make good cloath on. Vpon this ground he sent to Albi∣nus king of the Hunnes, who then inhabited Pannonia, asking him, Why hee would dwell in the barren continent of Pannonia, when the most fertile coun∣trey of Italie lay open to his inuasion? Albinus apprehending this incourage∣ment from Narses, in the yeare six hundred threescore and eight, made his first incursion into the Emperours confines, who sent certaine spyes to disco∣uer the forces of Albinus; of which he hauing intelligence, caused all the wo∣men to vntye their haire and fasten it about their chinnes, thereby to seeme men, and make the number of his army appeare the greater. The spyes obser∣uing them, wondred amongst themselues, and askt what strange people these were with the Long beards? and from hence their names were first deriued, which hath since beene remarkeable in the most pleasant and fertill climate of all Italy, from them called Lombardie. Others say, that when they went to fight against the Vandales, There was a man that had the spirit of Prophesie, whom they besought to pray for them and their good successe in the battaile; now when the Prophet went to his orisons, the queene had placed her selfe and hir women iust against the window where he prayd, with their heire disposed as aforesaid; and iust as he ended his deuotions, they opened their casements and appeared to him, who presentlie said to himselfe, what be these Long-beards? to whom the queene replyed, To these Long-beards then whom thou hast named, let the victorie happen, thus saith the history. Rhodegondis was queene of

France, but after her not any. Now some may demand the reason why the Sa∣licke law was first made, by which all women were made incapable of succes∣sion in the principalities, which (as Plicronicon relates) was this; The crowne li∣neallie descending to a Princesse of the blood, whom for modesties sake hee forbeares to name, or at least their owne Chronicles are loath to publish; this Lady hauing many Princelie sutors, neglected them all, and fell in loue with a Butcher of Paris, whom she priuatelie sent for, and as secretlie married: since when, all of that sex were by an irreuocable decree disabled of all soueraign∣tie. Cassiope was the famous Queene of Aethiopia; Harpalice, of the Amazons; Hyppolite, of Magnesia; Teuca, of the Illyrians, &c. Of these in their places. A∣mongst whom let me not be so vnnaturall to her merit, or so ingratefull to my countrey (thrice blest and diuinelie happie in her most fortunate raigne) as not to remember that euer to be celebrated Princesse, Elizabeth of late memory, Queene of England: She that was a Saba for her wisedome, an Harpalice for her magnanimitie (witnesse the Campe at Tilburie) a Cleopatra for her boun∣tie, a Camilla for her chastitie, an Amalasuntha for her temperance, a Ze∣nobia for her learning and skill in language; of whose omniscience, pantarite, and goodnesse, all men heretofore haue spoke too little, no man hereafter can write too much: sacred be still her memorie to vs on earth, as her blessed soule liues euer glorified in heauen. Her succeeded (though not in her absolute Mo∣narchy, yet a Princesse of vnspotted fame, incomparable clemencie, vnmatch∣able goodnesse, and most remarkable vertue) Queene Anne, whom all degrees honored, all nations loued, and no tongue was euer heard to asperse with the least callumnie: who in her too short eminence heere amongst vs, was knowne to be the step of dignitie to many, but detriment to none; in whom all were glad, by whom none had euer the least cause of sorrow, vnlesse in the lamen∣ted losse of so graue and gratious a princesse. And for my owne part (gentle and curteous reader) let me borrow so much of thy patience, that I may vpon this so iust and good occasion, remember a long neglected dutie, by inserting in this place a few funerall teares vpon her hearse.

A Funerall Oade vpon the death of ANNA PANARETA.

NOw Hymen change thy saffron weedes To roabe and habit sable: For ioyfull thoughts, vse funerall deedes Since nothing's firme or stable; This (alas) we May read and see, As in a mappe or printed table.

It was not at the time of yeare Birds bid the Spring god-morrow, Nor when we from the Summer cleare Her warmth and pleasures borrow.

Nor when full fields Ripe Autumne yeelds, That we are thus inuolu'd in sorrow.

But when the barren earth denyes Fruits to the reapers mowing: When Meteors muster in the skyes And no faire fruits are growing. When winter cold, Dry, seare, and old, His frozen fingers or'e the fire sits blowing.

When the Sunne scants vs of his heat, And Phoebe tempests threateth: When Boreas blustring in his seat, His frozen pineons beateth; And as a King Aboue the Spring, The fresh and timely budds defeateth.

In this great barrennesse were we Our plenty made to smother: But what might this rare iewell be? A Saint, a Queene, a Mother, An Hester faire, A Iudith rare; These dead, oh point me out another!

Saue Debora, that's likewise dead, Fam'd for her countries freeing: But shall we henceforth see or reade Of such another being. Oh what a dearth Is now on earth That heare none liues with these agreeing.

Saba was wise, so was our Queene, For beautie others famed, Some for their vertue crown'd haue beene, And in large legends named. Who liuing shall Contend in all With her (alas) shall be but shamed.

But since our prayses at their best, Shorten so farre her merit, Leaue her to her eternall rest, A glorious Sainted spirit: For aye to sing Vnto heauens King Thanks, for these ioyes she doth inherit.

Yet, 'tis a duty that we owe To giue our griefe expression, The greater that our sorrowes grow, It shewes the lesse transgression, A losse like this Tis not a misse That we then leaue to all succession.

Skyes mourne her death in stormie cloudes, Seas weepe for her in brine: Thou earth that now her frailtie shroudes, Lament though she be thine; Onely reioyce Heauen with lowd voyce, That you are now become her shrine.

For this appear'd the Blazing starre, Yet fresh in our memory, That Christendome both neere and farre Might tell it as a story. Great Ioue it sent With an intent Onely to get her to her glory.

In this Catalogue of Queenes, hauing so late remembred the mother, how can I forget the daughter? she to whom I must giue that attribut which all sol∣diers bestow vpon her, The Queene of women, and the best of Queenes, whose mag∣nanimitie in war, and gentlenes in peace, resolution in the one, and generous affabilitie in the other, haue so sweet a correspondence, that when the Ca∣non roared lowd at the gates, and the bullet forced a passage euen through the Pallace where she lodged, was no more daunted in courage nor dismayd in countenance, than when the gentle and soft musicke melodiouslie sounded at the celebration of her espousalls. Sacred (oh Princely Lady) for euer be your memorie, and fortunate and happy your hopefull posteritie; may your wombe prooue a bed of souldiours, and your breasts the nursserie of Kings, may the sonnes victories redeeme the losses of the father, and the daughters surmount the fertilitie of their mother: may your future fortunes be answerable to your former vertues, that as you haue the earnest prayers of all good men, so you may haue the successe of their wishes: which millions that neuer yet saw you desire, but all that vnderstand you, know you worthilie deserue. And to con∣clude, that as you are the last of these in this my Catalogue by order, posterity may reckon you the first amongst the Illustrious by merit.

Notes

• Wherfore the Hunnes were first called Lombards or Longbeards.
• Why women in France are disabled from bearing Soue∣raigntie.
• The memory of Queene Elizabeth.
• Q. Anne.
• The Lady Elizabeth.