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

Romilda.

ABout the time that the Hunnes came first into Italie and expelled the Longobards, they layd siege to the cittie Anguilaea, and in a hot assault ha∣uing slaine the duke Gysulphus, his wife (the dutchesse Romilda) making the Towne defensible, brauely and resolutely maintained it against the enemie. But as Cacana king of the Anes approched neer vnto the walls, incouraging his souldiers to hang vp their scaling ladders and enter; Romilda at the same time looking from a Cittadel, cast her eie vpon the king, who as he seemed vnto her, with wonderous dexteritie behaued himselfe, and with an extraordinarie grace became his armes. This liking grew into an ardencie of loue, for shee that at first but allowed of his presence, now was affected to his person: in so much that in the most fierce assaults, though within the danger of their crosse-bows and slings, she thought her selfe secure, so she had the king her obiect. This fire was alreadie kindled in her brest, which nothing could qualifie, in so much that impatient of all delay, shee sent vnto her publike enemie priuate messen∣gers, That if it pleased the king (being as she vnderstood a batchilor) to accept her as his bride, she would without further opposition surrender vp the towne peaceably into his hands: these conditions are first debated, next concluded, and lastly confirmed by oath on both sides. The towne is yeelded vp, and Ca∣cana according to his promise takes Romilda to wife, but first he makes spoyle of the towne, kills manie, and leads the rest captiue. The first night he bedded with his new reconciled bride, but in the morning abandoned her vtterly, commanding twelue Hunnes, and those of the basest of his souldiers, one af∣ter another to prostitute her by turnes: that done, hee caused a sharpe stake to bee placed in the middle of the field, and pitched her naked bodie vpon the top thereof, which entering through the same made a miserable end of her life, at which sight the tyrant laughing said, Such a husband best becomes so mer∣cilesse an harlot. This was the bloodie and miserable end (as Polycronicon saith) of Romilda. But better it happened to her two beautifull and chast daughters, who fearing the outrage of the lustfull and intemperat souldiors tooke putrified flesh of chickens and colts, and hid it raw betwixt their breasts: the souldiors approaching them, tooke them to be diseased, as not able to come neere them by reason of the smell; by which meanes they preserued their honours for the present, and they for their vertues sake were after bestowed vpon gentlemen of noble qualitie. The same Authour puts me in mind of another Adulteresse, who to her guilt of inchastitie added the bloody sin of murder. Our moderne Chroniclers remember vs of one Ethelburga, daughter to king Offa, and wife to Brithricus king of the West-Saxons, who aiming at nothing so much as her own libidinous delights, that she might the more freely and securely inioy them, by many sundry treasons conspired the death of her husband: but hauing made many attempts, and not preuailing in any, the diuell (to whom she was a con∣stant votaresse) so farre preuailed with her, that she neuer gaue ouer her damna∣ble purpose till she had not onely dispatcht him of life by poyson, but was the death also of a noble young gentleman the chiefe fauourite of the king, and one whom in all his disseignes he most trusted. These mischiefes done, and fea∣ring to be questioned about them, because she had incurd a generall suspition, she packt vp her choicest iewells, and with a trustie squire of hers, one that had beene an agent in all her former brothelries, fled into France, where by her counterfeit teares and womanish dissimulations, she so farre insinuated into

the kings breast, that the wrinckles of all suggestions were cleared, and shee freely admitted into the kings court, and by degrees into his especiall fauour: so rich were her iewells, so gorgeous her attire, so tempting her beautie being now in her prime, and withall so cunning and deceitfull her behauiour; that all these agreeing together, not onely bated the hearts of the courtiers, but at∣tracting the eyes of the great Maiestie it selfe, in so much, that the king spor∣ting with her in a great Bay window, the prince his son then standing by him, he merrily demanded of her, If she were instantly to make election of a hus∣band, whether she would chuse him or his sonne? to whom shee rashly answe∣red, That of the two she would make choice of his son. The king at this som∣what mooued and obseruing in her a lightnesse of behauiour, which his blind affection would not suffer him before to looke into, thus replied, Haddest thou made election of mee, I had possest thee of my sonne; but in chusing him, thou shalt in∣ioy neither. So turning from her, commaunded her to be stripped out of her jewells and gay ornaments, and presently to be shriuen and sent to a monaste∣rie: where she had not long beene cloystred, but to her owne infamie, and the disgrace of the religious house, she was deprehended in the dissolute imbra∣ces of a wanton and leaude fellow, for which she was turned out of the cloy∣ster and after died in great pouertie and miserie. In memorie of whom there was a law established amongst the West-Saxons, which disabled all the kings wiues after her, either to be dignified with the name of queene, or vpon any occasion to fit with him in his regall throne: yet this woman, though she died poorely, yet died (as it is said) penitently, therefore me thinkes I heare her leaue this or the like memorie behind her.

An Epitaph vpon Ethelburga Queene of the West-Saxons.

I was, I am not; smild, that since did weepe; Labour'd, that rest; I wak't, that now must sleepe: I playde, I plaie not; sung, that now am still; Sawe, that am blind; I would, that haue no will. I fed that, which feedes wormes; I stood, I fell: I ••ad God saue you, that now bid farewell. I felt, I feele not; followed, was pursude: I war'd, haue peace; I conquer'd, am subdude. I moou'd, want motion; I was stiffe, that bow Belowe the earth; then something, nothing now. I catcht, am caught; I trauel'd, here I lie; Liu'd in the world; that to the world now dye.

This melancholly it is not amisse to season with a little mirth. In some other countrie it was, for I presume ours affoards none such, but a common house∣wife there was, who making no conscience of spouse-breach or to vitiate her lawfull sheets, had interteined into her societie a swaggering companion, such a one as amongst vs we commonly call a Roring boy. This lad of mettall, who sildome went with fewer weapons about him than were able to set vp againe a trade-falne cutler, had (to maintaine his mistresses expenses and his owne riots) committed a robberie, and likewise done a murder, and being ap∣prehended for the fact, iudged, condemned, and (according to the law in that case prouided) hanged in chaines: the gybbet was set neere to the common

hie-way, aud some mile distant from the cittie where this sweete gentle∣woman with her husband then inhabited, who because in regard of the com∣mon fame that went vpon them, she durst neither giue her Loue visitation in prison, bee at his arraignement, or publike execution, her purpose was (as af∣fection that breedes madnesse, may easilie beget boldnesse) vnknowne to her husband or any other neighbour, to walke in the melancholly euening and to take her last leaue of him at the gallows. Imagine the night came on and she on her iourney. It happened at the same time a traueller beeing a footeman whose iourny was intended towards the towne, as purposing to lodge there that night•• but being alone, and darkenesse ouertaking him, he grew doubtfull of the way and fearefull of robbing, therefore hee retired himselfe out of the road and lay close vnder the gybbet•• still listning if any passenger went by to direct him in the way, or secure him by his companie: as he was in this deepe meditation, the woman arriues at the place, and not able to containe her passion breaks out into this extasie, And must I needes then goe home againe without thee? at which words the trauellor starting vp in hast, No by no meanes (quoth hee) I shall bee glad of your company; and with what speed hee can makes towards her: away runnes the woman, thinking her sweet heart had leapt downe from the gibbet and followed her, after speedes the man as loath to be destitute of companie, still crying, Stay for me, Stay for me: but the faster he called, the faster she ran, feare added to both their hast, downe they tumbled often, but as quickly they were vp againe, still she fled, still hee pursued. But contrary was the issue of their feares, for she neuer looked backe till she came to her owne house, where finding the doores open and her husband set at supper, for hast tumbled him and his stoole downe one way, and the table and meat another: hee rising with much adoe, askt what the pox she ayled, and if she brought the diuel in with her at her taile? long it was ere she could make him any answer or come to her right sences: how she excused it I knew not, the traueller when he found himselfe neere the cittie, and saw light, slackned his pace, and went quietlie to his Inne, whether they euer met after to reconcile their mistake or no I know not, nei∣ther is it much pertinent to inquire.

Notes

• A miserable death.
• A rare ex∣ample of cha∣stitie.
• Ethelburga.
• A merrie accident.