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

Polycrita.

THere arose great warres betweene the Milesians and Naxians, kindled by the adultrate practise of the wife of Hypsicreon a Milesian, who violating her coniugall vowes, by throwing her selfe into the lustfull imbraces of Pro∣medon, a Naxian, then her guest, and fearing the iust anger of her husband, and withall the punishment due to her adultrate sinne, fled with him into Naxos: from whence being againe demanded, but denied, this priuate wrong turned to a publique ruin: for deuouring warre accompained with many calamities preyed vpon both their countries. But as this Beacon was first fired by a wo∣mans lewdnesse, so was it at last extinguished by a womans vertue: Diognetus who had the command of those Erythraeans which came in ayde of the Mile∣sians, had committed to his custodie a certaine strong hold, scituated against the citie Naxos: who hauing taken from the Naxians a prize of women and free virgins, he was deepely stroke in loue with one Polycrata, whom he led with him not as a captiue, but as his wife. It chanced that the Miletians cele∣brated a generall festiuall day, Polycrita besought Diognetus to make her so far indebted to his fauour, as to suffer her to send her brothers part of those iun∣cates then at the table, which willingly he granted: she secretly writ vpon the leaden table of the marchpane what shee had proiected, withall charging the bearer to intreat her brothers not to let any participate therof saue themselues:

when they had heard the writing, which contained thus much in effect, Take hold vpon the opportunitie which occasion thrusts into your hands: this night you may seise the Castle, for the enemie will lie downe in wine, and sleepe in a presumptious securitie. They shew it to the chiefe commanders of Naxos, who vniting themselues, giue the affrighted & vnweaponed Miletians a sudden and vnexpected assault, and hauing slaughtred many, possesse themselues of the castle: But by Polycri∣tas intercessiue intreaties, surprised Diognetus scapes with life. And for this no∣ble exploit of hers, the glad citisens running to meete her with shoutes and ac∣clamations, euery one bearing in his hand a Garland to receiue her with those wreathes of honor; Polycrita was so farre extaside, that her sudden ioy vshered a sudden death, for as she stood amased at the gate, she instantly fell downe ex∣animated: in which gate she was buried, and her sepulchre called The tombe of Enuie, because it is supposed that Fortune grew so enuious of her merits, that thus she robd her of her life, that so she might cheat her of her deserued ho∣nors. And thus much speakes the histories of the Naxians. Aristotle affirmes Polycrita was no captiue, but onely that Diognetus hauing seene her, hee grew so far enamoured of her, that to enioy her he proferred her any thing that was in his power to giue. She promises to yeeld to his desire, if he will grant her the fruition of one boone, which when hee had confirmed to her by oath, shee de∣manded Delium to be surrendred vp (for the castle was so called.) Diognetus be∣ing so much inchanted with her beautie, and moreouer bound by the religion of his vow, deliuered vp to her and the cittisens the castle Delium.