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

Tyrrhenae.

THe Tyrrhenians were by the Spartans opprest and cast into prison, where they were prouidentlie kept and guarded, purposing to question them for their liues. The wiues of the captiues this hearing, came to the prison doores and with humble prayers and infinite teares, besought those that had the charge of them, that by their visitation they might administer some small comfort to their husbands: which after much importunitie granted, they were admitted, where suddenlie they caused their husbands to change habits with them, which they did, and so were let forth in stead of the women; they ar∣ming themselues against all the spight and furie of the Spartanes. The men that had escaped repaired to Taygeta, entering league with the Heilotes: by which confederacie the Spartans somewhat affrighted, by intercessours con∣cluded a peace with them, conditionally that taking backe their imprisoned women, they should be furnished with ships and coine to seeke new fortunes elswhere; they therefore made a brotherhood betwixt them and the Lacede∣monians. Of which Collony two brothers, Pollis and Crataida of the cittie of Lacedemon were made gouernours. Part of them made residence in Melo, the rest with Pollis sailed into Creete, and hauing asked counsell of the Oracle, answer was returned them, That in the place where they should leaue their goddesse, and loose part of their anchor, they should find a period of their trauells, and vpon that continent make their aboad, plant their collony, and erect a cittie. In processe, arriuing in a part of Creete called Cheronesus (a place halfe inuironed with water (or almost an Island) a sudden feare surprised them, in so much that hasting to get backe to the nauie, they left behind them the image of Diana which they had receiued from their ancestors, by Brauron first brought into Lemnos, and borne by them a ship-bord in all their nauigation. The feare being past ouer, and the tumult appeased, they weighed anchor to make from shoare: but Pollis percei∣uing a great part of his anchor missing, and left in the rockes, hee remembred the Oracle, and causing his people to land againe, hee made his plantation in that countrey, and after many battailes in which he preuailed against the inha∣bitants, he subdued Lictium with diuers other citties, of which he had prospe∣rous and peaceable possession.