The philosophie, commonlie called, the morals vvritten by the learned philosopher Plutarch of Chæronea. Translated out of Greeke into English, and conferred with the Latine translations and the French, by Philemon Holland of Coventrie, Doctor in Physicke. VVhereunto are annexed the summaries necessary to be read before every treatise

THE VERTVOVS DEEDS OE WOMEN.

The Summarie. [ 20]

VErtue alwaies deserveth praise wheresoever it is found, but especially when is procee∣deth from feeble instruments, and those of small shew; for by that meanes the excellen∣cie thereof is so much better seene: our Author therefore in that regard, hath made here a collection of histories, relating the woorthy demeanours of many women who have shewed manly courage in sundry dangers; the consideration whereof, is able greatly to move and affect the reader. In the Preface of this discourse, after he had refuted the opinion of Thucydides, who would confine women (as it were) into a perpetuall ermitage, he proveth by divers reasons, that vertue being alwaies the selfe-same, notwithstanding that it hath objects and subjects [ 30] different, it were meere injurie and too much iniquitie, either to forget or to de spise those women who for their valour have deserved, that their name and example should continue; to the end that the same might be imitated as occasion requireth in many sorts, not onely by other women, but also by the most part of men. Which done, he describeth the notable exploits of some in generall: and then he commeth to speake of certeine in particular, noting and observing in them divers graces and commendable parts, but especally an extreame hatred of tyrannie and servitude, an 〈◊〉〈◊〉 love and affection toward their countrey, a singular affection to their husbands, rare honestie, pudicitie, chastitie joined with a generous nature, which hath caused them, both to enterprise and also to execute heroique acts, and well deserving that praise, which hath beene preservedentire for such women, after so many yeeres untill this day, by the meanes of this present historicall fragment; the which conteineth goodly instru∣ctions [ 40] for men and women of name and marke, to induce them to governe themselves in such sort, that in the mids of the greatest confusions, they might take a good courage, and lay their hands to that which their vocation requireth; and to hold this for certeine, that enterprises lawfull and necessarie, will sooner or later have good issue, to the shame and ruine of the wic∣ked, but to the repose and quietnesse of all per∣sons, who desire, seeke, and procure that which is good. [ 50]

THE VERTUOUS DEEDS of women.

I Am not of Thucydides minde (dame Clea) touching the vertue of women; for he is of this opinon: That she is the best & most vertu∣ous, of whom there is least speech abroad, aswell to her praise as her dispraise; thinking that the name of a woman of honour, ought to be shut up and kept fast within, like as her bodie, that it never may [ 10] go forth. Gorgias yet (me thinks) was more reasonable, who would have the renowme and fame, but not the face & visage of a woman, to be knowen unto men: and it seemeth unto me, that it was an ex∣cellent law and custome among the Romans, which imported thus much: That women aswell as men, after their death might be ho∣noured publickly at their funerals, with such praises as they had deserved: and therefore imme∣diatly after the decease of the most vertuous ladie Leontis, I discoursed with you at large upon this matter; which discourse (in my conceit) was not without some consolation founded upon reason & Philosophy: and now also (according to your request at that time) I send you in wri∣ting, the rest of our speech and communication, tending to this point: That the vertue of man [ 20] and woman is all one and the very same; which appeareth by the proofe and testimony of many and sundry examples, drawen out of ancient histories, collected by me, not upon any intention to please the eare; but if the nature of an example be such, as alwaies, to the periwasive power that it hath to proove, there is joined also a lively vertue to delight. This treatise of mine reje∣cteth not the grace of that pleasure, which doth second and favourise the efficacie of a proofe; neither is it ashamed to join Graces with Muses; which (as Eurypides saith) is the best conjuncti∣on in the world, inducing the minde most easily to give eare and credit unto good reasons, by meanes of the delectation which it there findeth. For if to proove, that it is all one art, to paint and draw the life of women and men, I should produce and bring foorth such pictures of wo∣men as Apelles, Zeuxis or Nicomachus have left behinde them; hath any man reason to finde [ 30] fault and to charge me, that I aime and intend to delight the eie and content the minde, rather than to verifie my assertion? I suppose that no man will so doe: semblably, if otherwise to shew, that the art of Poetrie, or skill to represent in verse, all things whatsoever, is the same in women and men, and nothing different one from the other, I should conferre the Odes and verses of Sappho with those of Anacreon; or the oracles penned by the Sibylles with those which are set downe by Bacchis; is there any man that could justly blame such a demonstration, for that it draweth the hearer to beleeve with some pleasure and content? no man (I trow) would ever so fay; and yet there were no better way to know either the resemblance, or the difference in the vertue of man and woman, than in comparing lives with lives, and deeds with deeds; as if wee should lay together the works of some noble science, and consider them one by another; even [ 40] so likewise, to see whether the magnificence of queene Semiramis, hath all one forme and figure with that of king Sesostris; and the wisedome of queene Tanaquil, with that of king Servius; or the magnanimitie of ladie Porcia, with that of Brutus; or of dame Timoclea, with that of Pelopi∣das; namely, in that quality which is most principall, and wherein lieth the chiefest point and force of these vertues: for vertue admitteth certeine other differences, as proper and particular colours, according to divers natures, and is in some sort conformable to the maners and condi∣tions of those subjects wherein they be, and to the temperatures of their bodies, or to the verie nutriments and divers diets and fashions of their life. For Achilles was after one sort valiant, and Ajax after another; the wisdome of Ulysses was not like unto Nestors; neither were Cato and A∣gesilaus just alike; Irene loved not her husband in that maner as Alcestis loved hers; nor Cornelia [ 50] & Olympias were alike magnanimous; and yet for all that, we say not, that there be many and di∣verskinds of fortitude, sundry sorts of prudence and wisdome, nor different justices, in regard of the dissimilitude and varietie which ariseth particularly in ech one person, so as the said peculiar differences, do not exclude any one vertue from the proper definition thereof. As for such ex∣amples as are most divulged and published abroad (of which I presume you have already suffi∣cient knowledge, and firmely remember their historie, by that which you have read in ancient books) I wil passe them over at this present; unlesse haply there be some acts worthy of remem∣brance

which they were ignorant of, who before our time have written the common histories and vulgar Chronicles. But for that the women in times past, aswell in common as particular, have performed many memorable deeds, it will not be amisse in the first place to set downe briefly what some of them have done in societie and companie together.

THE TROJANE DAMES.

OF those Trojanes who escaped after the winning and destruction of Troie the Great, the most part went to seeke their fortune, and by force of tempest (the rather for that they had no skill in navigation, and were not acquainted with the seas) were cast upon the coast of Italie, [ 10] where putting into such baies, ports & creeks as they could meet with, in that very place (whence the river Tybris dischargeth it selfe into the sea) with much adoe and great difficultie they lan∣ded, and the men went wandring up and downe the countrey, for to see if they could light upon those that might direct them in their voiage, and give them some light and intelligence of those coasts. Meane while the women communed and devised thus among themselves: That since they had beene the most fortunate and happie nation in the world, it were better for them to settle in any one certaine place whatsoever, than still to wander uncertainely upon the seas, and to make that, their countrey and seat of habitation, since they were not able to recover that native soile which they had lost: to which motion after they had all with one accord agreed, they set fire on their ships, and the first ring-leader in this action was a Ladie (by report) named [ 20] Roma; which done, they went farther up into the continent to meet with the men afore said, who now by this time were cōming apace to the sea for to succour their ships on fire, & fearing their furious anger, they fell to embrace and kisse them very kindly, some their husbands, others their kinsfolk, and by this means appeased their wrath. Hereupon arose that custom, which con∣tinueth at this day among the Romanes, that no men should salute their kinsfolke, and those that be joined in blood to them, by kissing their lips: for the Trojan men seeing (as it should seeme) in what necessitie they stood, were well enough content; and withal, finding the inhabi∣tants of the sea-coasts courteous, and ready to receive and entertaine them friendly, approoved that which the women had done, and so remained and dwelt in the same part of Italy among the Latines. [ 30]

THE DAMES OF PHOCIS.

THE woorthy act of the dames of Phocis, whereof we now meane to make mention, no Historiographer of name hath yet recorded and set downe in writing: howbeit there was never a more memorable deed of vertue wrought by women, and the same testified by the great sacrifices, which the Phocians do celebrate even at this day, neere unto the citie Hyampolis, and that according to the ancient decrees of the countrey. Now is the totall historie of this whole action from point to point particularly recorded in the life of Daiphantus; as for that which the said women did, thus stood the case. There was an irreconcilable and mortall warre betweene the Thessalians and those of Phocis, for that the Phocians upon a certaine fore-set day. killed all [ 40] the magistrates and rulers of the Thessalians, who exercised tyrannie in the cities of Phocis: and they againe of Thessalia had beaten and bruised to death two hundred and fiftie hostages of the Phocaeans, whom they had in custodie; and after that, with all their puissance entred and in∣vaded their countrey by the way of the Locrians; having before hand concluded this resolution in their generall counsell, not to pardon nor spare any one that was of age sufficient to beare armes, and as for their wives and children, to leade them away captives as slaves: whereupon Daiphantus the sonne of Bathyllus, one of the three soveraign governours of Phocis, mooved and perswaded the Phocaeans (as many as were of yeeres to fight) for to go forth and encoun∣ter the Thessalians; but their wives and children, to assemble all together unto a certaine place in Phocis, & environe the whole pourprise and precinct thereof with a huge quantity of wood, and [ 50] there to set certaine guards to watch and ward; whom hee gave in charge, that so soone as ever they heard how their countrey-men were defaited, they should set the wood on fire, and burne all the bodies within the compasse thereof: which desseigne when all others had approoved, there was one man among them, stood up and said: It were just and meet, that they had the con∣sent also of the women as touching this matter; and if they would not approve and allow of this counsell, to leave it unexecuted, and not to force them thereto: this consultation being come to the eares of the said women, they held a counsell together apart by themselves as touching

this entended action, where other resolved to follow the advice of Daiphantus, and that with so great alacritie and contentment, that they crowned Daiphantus with a chaplet of flowers, as ha∣ving given the best counsell that could be devised for Phocis. It is reported also, that their verie children sat in counsell hereabout by themselves, and concluded the same: but it fortuned so, that the Phocaeans having given the Thessalians battell neere unto a village, called Cleonae, in the marches or territorie of Hyampolis, defaited them. This resolution of the Phocaeans, was afterwards by the Greekes named Aponaea, that is, A desperat desseigne: and in memoriall of the said victorie, all the people of Phocis to this day do celebrate in Hyampolis, the greatest and most solemne feast that they have, to the honour of Diana, and call it Elaphebolia.

THE WOMEN OF CHIOS. [ 10]

THE men of Chios inhabited sometime the colonie Leuconia, upon such an occasion as this. A gentleman, one of the best houses in Chios, chanced to contract a marriage; and when the bride was to be brought home to his house in a coach, King Hippoclus being a familiar friend unto the bridegroom, & one who was present with others at the espousales and wedding; after he had taken his wine wel, being set upon a merrie pin, and disposed to make sport, leapt up into the coach where the new wedded wife was; not with any entent to offer violence or vilanny, but only to dallie, toy & make pastime in a meriment, as the maner was at such a feast: howbeit the friends of the bridegroome tooke it not so, but fell upon him and killed him outright in the [ 20] place: upon which murder there appeered unto those of Chios many evident tokens and signes of Gods anger; yea and when they understood by the oracle of Apollo, that for to appease their wrath, they should put all those to death who had murdered Hippoclus; they made answere: That they all were guiltie of the fact: and when the god Apollo commanded them, that if they were all tainted with the said murder, they should all depart out of the citie Chios, they sent away (as ma∣nie, as either were parties and principals, or accessaries and privie to the said blood-shed; yea, and whosoever approoved and praised the fact, and those were neither few in number, nor men of meane qualitie and power) as far as to Leuconta; which citie the Chians first conquered from the Coroneans, and possessed by the helpe of the Erythraeans: but afterwardes when there was warre betweene the said Chians and the Erythraeans (who in those daies were the mightiest [ 30] people in all Ionia) insomuch as the Erythraeans came against Leuconia, with a power intending to assault it: the Chians being not able to resist, grew to make a cōposition; in which capitulated it was & agreed, that they should quit the city, & depart every person with one coat & cassock on∣ly, without taking any thing els with them. The women understanding of this agreement, gave them foule words, & bitterly reproched them, for being so base minded as to lay off their armor, & thus to go naked thorow the mids of their enimies: but when their husbands alleaged that they had sworn & taken a corporal oth so to do, they gave them counsel in any wise, not to leave their armes and weapons behind them, but to say; that a javelin was a coat, and a shield the cassocke of a valiant and hardie man. The Chians perswaded hereunto spake boldly to the Erythraeans to that effect, and shewed them their armes, insomuch as the Erythraeans were affraid to see their [ 40] resolute boldnesse, and there was not one of them so hardie as to come neere for to empeach them, but were verie well content that they abandoned the place, and were gone in that sort. Thus you may see how these men having learned of their wives to be couragious and confident, saved their honours and their lives. Long after this, the wives of the Chians atchieved an other act nothing inferiour to this in vertue and prowesse. At what time as Philip the sonne of De∣metrius, holding their citie besieged, caused this barbarous edict, and proud proclamation to be published: That all the slaves of the citie should rebell against their masters, and come to him: for that he would make them all free, and give them libertie to espouse and marie their mi∣stresses, even the wives of their former masters. The dames conceived hereof so great choler and indignation in their harts (together with the slaves themselves, who were provoked likewise [ 50] to anger as well as they, and readie to assist their mistresses) that they tooke heart to mount up∣on the walles of the citie, and to carrie thither stones, darts and all manner of shot, beseeching their husbands to fight lustily and with good courage, & eftsoones admonishing and encoura∣ging them to quit themselves like men, and do their devoir; which they did so effectually both in word and deed, that in the end they repulsed the enemie, and constrained Philip to raise his siege from before the citie without effecting his purpose, and there was not so much as one slave that revolted from his master unto him.

THE WOMEN OF ARGOS.

THe exploit of the Argive dames against Cleomenes king of Lacedaemon, in defence of the citie Argos, which they enterprised under the conduct and by the perswasion of Telesilla the poëtresse, is not lesse glorious and renowmed, than any action that ever was atchieved by a crew of women. This dame Telesilla (as the fame goeth) was descended of a noble and famous house, howbeit in body she was very weake and sickly; by occasion wherof, she sent out to the oracle for to know how she might recover her health: answer was made, that she shoulde serve, honour and worship the Muses: she yeelding obedience to this revelation of the god, and gi∣ving [ 10] herselfe to learne poesie, and likewise vocall musicke, and skill in song, in short time was delivered from her maladie, and became most renowmed and highly esteemed among women for hir poeticall veine, and musicall knowledge in this kind: in processe of time it fortuned that Cleomenes the king of the Spartans, having in a battell slaine a great number indeed of Argives, but not as some fabulous writers have precisely set downe (seven thousand, seven hundred, seven∣tie and seven) advaunced directly to the citie of Argos, hoping to finde and surprize the same void of inhabitants: but the women, as many as were of age sufficient (as it were by some heavenly and divine instinct) put on a resolute minde, and an extraordinary courage, to doe their best for to beate backe their enemies that they should not enter the citie; and in very truth under the leading of Telesilla, they put on armes, tooke weapon in hand, and mounting up the [ 20] wals stood round about the battlements thereof, and environed them on every side, defending the citie right manfully, to the great wonder & admiration of the enemies: thus they gave Cleo∣menes the repulse, with the losse and carvage of a great number of his men. Yea and they chased Democrates another king of Lacedaemon out of their citie, as Socrates saith, who had made en∣trance before, and seised that quarter which is called Pamphyliacum: when the citie was thus sa∣ved by the prowesse of these women, ordeined it was, that as many of them as chaunced in this service to be slaine, should be honorably enterred, upon the great causey or high-way called Argeia; and unto them who remained alive, graunted it was for a perpetuall monument and memoriall of their prowesse, to dedicate and consecrate one statue unto Mars. This combat and fight (as some have written) was the seventh day, or (as other say) the first of that moneth [ 30] which at Argos in old time they called Tetartos, but now Hermeus, on which day the Argives do celebrate even in this age, a solemne sacrifice and feast which they call Hybristica (as one would say) reprochfull and infamous; wherein the custome is, that women went clad in soldiers coates and mantels, but men were arraied and attired in womens peticoates, frocks, and veiles. Now to replenish and repeople the citie againe, for default of men who died in the wars, they did not (as Herodotus writeth) use this pollicie, to marrie their slaves to their widdowes, but they gran∣ted free burgeosie of their citie, unto the better sort of men who were their neighbors and bor∣derers, and granted unto them for to affiance and espouse the said widowes: but it should seeme that these wives disdained & despised (in some sort) these husbands of theirs, as not comparable to their former; for they made a law, that these wives should have counterfeit beards set to their [ 40] chins whensoever they slept and lay with their husbands.

THE PERSIAN WOMEN.

CYrus (having caused the Persians to rebel against king Astyages & the Medes) hapned to be discomfited & vanquished together, with the Persians: now when the Persians fled amaine toward the city, and their enemies followed hard at their heeles, ready to enter pel-mell with thē; the women issued out of the gates, met them even before the citie, and plucking up their clothes before, from beneath, to their waste, cried unto them: Whither away, and whither doe you flie, the most beastly cowards that ever were? for run as fast as you wil there is no reentrance here for [ 50] you into that place, out of which you came first into the world: the Persians being ashamed as well to see such a sight, as to heare those words, blamed and rebuked themselves; whereupon they turned againe, and made head at their enemies, sought freshly, and put them to flight: from which time forward, there was a law established: That whensoever the king returneth from some farre voiage, and entreth into the citie, everie woman should receive of him a piece of gold, and that by the ordinance of king Cyrus, who first enacted it. But it is reported, that king Ochus one of his successors (who being bad enough otherwise) was the most covetous prince

that ever raigned over them, turned alwaies out of the way, passed besides the citie, and never would come into it after such a journey; whereby the women alwaies were disappointed of that gratuitie and gift which they ought to have had: but king Alexander contrariwise entred the citie twice, and gave to every woman with childe, double so much, that is to say, two such pie∣ces of gold.

THE WOMEN OF GAULE.

BEfore that the Gaules passed over the mountaines called Alpes, and held that part of Italy which now they doe inhabit; there arose a great discord and dangerous sedition among [ 10] them, which grew in the end to a civill warre: but when both armies stood embattailed and ar∣ranged, ready to fight, their wives put themselves in the very mids betweene the armed troupes, tooke the matter of difference and controversie into their hands, brought them to accord and unitie, and judged the quarrell with such indifferent equitie, and so to the contentment of both parts, that there ensued a woonderfull amitie, and reciprocall good will, not onely from citie to citie, but also betweene house and house; insomuch that ever after, they continued this custome in all their consultations, aswell of warre as peace, to take the counsell and advice of their wives; yea to compose and pacifie all debates and braules with their neighbours and allies, by the mediation of them: and therefore in that composition and accord which they made with Anniball, at what time as he passed through their citie, among other articles this went for one: [ 20] That in case the Gaules complained of any wrongs done unto them by the Carthaginians, the Carthaginian captains and governors which were in Spain should be the judges betweene them; but contrariwise, if the Carthaginians pretended that the Gaules had wronged them, the Gaule dames should decide the quarrell.

THE WOMEN OF MELOS.

THe Melians purposing to seeke for another land to inhabit, more large and fertile than their owne, chose for the captaine and leader of that troupe or colonie which was sent forth, a yoong gentleman of singular beautie, named Nymphoeus; but first they had consulted [ 30] with the oracle, where they received this answere: That they should take the seas, and saile; and looke in what place soever they happened to leese their porters and cariers, there they should rest and inhabit: now it happened as the coasted along Caria, and were set aland, their ships were lost in a tempest and perished; and then the inhabitats of the city Cryassa in Caria, (were it that they had pity of their necessitie, or feared their hardinesse and valour) requested them to make their abode with them, and granted them a part of their territorie to holde and occupie: but af∣terwards the Carians seeing, that in a small time the Melians mightily increased and waxed great, they complotted and laid ambushes for to murder them al, at a certeine solemne feast and supper which they prepared for them: but it fell out so, that a yoong damosell of Caria named Cophene (who secretly was in love and enamoured upon Nymphaeus abovesaid, and could not en∣dure [ 40] that her love Nymphaeus should so treacherously be murdered) discovered the said plot and intended desseigne of her countreymen: now when the Cryassians came to call them to the feast abovesaid, Nymphaeus made them this answere: That the custome of the Greeks was not to go unto any great suppers or feasts, unlesse they had their wives with them; which when the Ca∣rians heard, they said: Bring your wives with you and spare not, they shall be welcome: thus when he had advertised his countreymen the Melians, what had passed betweene him and the Carians, he gave order that they should themselves come unarmed in their plaine apparell, but every one of their wives should bring with them a skeing or dagger under their clothes, and so ech of them sit close unto her husband: now in the mids of supper, when the signall was given to the Carians for to go in hand with the execution of their desseigne, they Greeks knew thereby [ 50] incontinently, that the time was now come to execute this feat; and then the women all at once opened their bosoms, and their husbands caught the skeines aforesaid, ran upon the barbarous Carians, and massacred all in the place, insomuch as not one of them escaped with life: and thus being masters of the countrey, they rased the city, and built another, which they called New Cryassa: Cophene then was maried to Nymphaeus, and woon much honour and favor, which she right well had deserved for the great good service that she did: but in my conceit, the prin∣cipall matter in this whole action, and that which is most to be commended, was the silence

and secrecie of these dames, that being so many as they were, there was not one whose hart fain∣ted in the execution of this enterprise, nor perforce and for feare against her will, failed in her dutie.

THE TUSCANE WOMEN.

THere were in times past certeine Tyrrhenians or Tuskanes, who seized upon the isles of of Lemnos and Imbros; yea and ravished certeine Athenian wives out of Brauron, and begat children of them; but afterwards, the Athenians chased that generation out of the said isles, as being mungrels and halfe Barbarians, who fortuning to arrive at the cape or head of Taenarus, did very good service under the Spartans in their wars against the Ilots; and for this cause ob∣teined [ 10] their freedome and burgeosie in Sparta, yea, and were allowed to take wives and marrie among them; onely they were not capable of any office of State or magistracie, nor admit∣ted into the counsell of the citie: howbeit, suspected they were in the end, that they con∣spired and went about a change and alteration in the government: whereupon the Spartans apprchended their bodies, and cast them in prison, where they kept them very straight, as close prisoners, to see if they could convince them by some proofes and undoubted evidence. Mean∣while, the wives of these prisoners came to the goales, and by their earnest praiers and importu∣nate sute, wrought so with their keepers, that they suffred them to have accesse unto their hus∣bands, onely to visit, salute, and speake unto them: they were no sooner entred in, but they ad∣vised [ 20] and perswaded their husbands, with all speed to put off their owne clothes, and doe on their apparell, and so to get away with their faces vailed and covered; which presently was put in exe∣cution, and themselves remained fast shut up in the said prison, prepared and resolute to abide all the miseries and tortures that might be done unto them: thus the goalers let out their hus∣bands, taking them to be their wives. No sooner were they at libertie, but immediately they went and seized the mountaine Taygeta, and sollicited withall the Ilots to take armes and rebell; which the men of Sparta much fearing, sent unto them an herald with atrumpet, by whose entercourse they agreed upon these articles of composition. Inprimis, to deliver them their wives. Item, to restore unto them their money and all their goods. Item, to furnish them with ships to passe upon the seas for to seeke their adventure: and when they had found a commodi∣ous [ 30] land, in one place or other, & were provided of a citie to inhabit; that they should be named and reputed kinsfolke to the Lacedaemonians, and a colonie derived and discended from them. The same did the Pelasgians, who tooke for their captaines in this voiage, Pollis, Adelphus, and Crataidas, all three Lacedaemonians; for when one part of them staied in the isle Melos, the greater troupe under the conduct of Pollis arrived in Candie, attending and expecting if those signes which had beene foretold them by the oracles would happen; for answer was given them by oracle: That whensoever they had lost their ankor and goddesse, then they were at an end of their voiage and should build them a citie: being come therefore unto the demie island Cherso∣nesus, and their ship lying at ankor in the harbour; there hapned in the night a sudden feare and fright among them without any apparant cause, such as they call Panique Frights, wherewith [ 40] being woonderfully troubled and scarred, they went a shipboord, without all order, and in a tu∣multuous multuous maner, leaving behinde them for haste, the image of Diana upon the land, which had remained a long time among them, and had passed by descent from father to sonne, and by their forefathers had beene first brought unto them from Brauron unto the isle Lemnos, and which they caried with them from thence into all places wheresoever they came: after this sudden fright and tumult was passed, as they sailed in the open sea, they missed the said image, and with∣all Pollis also was advertised, that a flouke of an anker was wanting and lost; for that when they came to weigh anker by great force (as commonly it hapneth in such places where it taketh hold of the ground among rocks) it brake and was left behinde in the bottome of the sea; whereupon he said that the oracles were now fulfilled which foretold them of these signes, and therewith [ 50] gave signall to the whole fleete for to retire backe, and so he entred upon that region to his owne use: and after he had in many skirmishes vanquished those who were up in armes against him, he lodged at length in the citie Lyctus, and wan many more to it. Thus you see how at this day they call themselves the kinsfolke of the Athenians by the mothers side; but indeed by the fa∣ther they are a colonie drawne from Lacedaemon.

THE LYCIAN WOMEN.

THat which is reported to have beene done in Lycia, as a meere fable and tale devised of pleasure, yet neverthelesse testified by a constant same that runneth verie currant. For Amisodarus (as they say) whom the Lycians name Isarus, came from about the marches of Zelea, a colonie of the Lycians, with a great fleet of rovers and men of warre, whose captaine or admirall, was one Chimaerus) a famous arch-pirate, a warlike man but exceeding cruell, savage and inhumane) who had for the badges and ensignes of his owne ship, in the prow a lion, and at the poope a dragon: much hurt hee did upon all the coasts of Lycia; inso∣much [ 10] as it was not possible either to saile upon the sea, or to inhabit the maritime cities and townes, neere unto the sea side for him. This man of warre or arch-rover, Bellerophon∣tes had slaine who followed him hard in chase with his swift pinnace (Pegasus) as he fled, untill he had overtaken him, and withall had chased the Amazones out of Lycia; yet for all this, he not onely received no worthy recompence for his good service, at the hands of Iobates king of Ly∣cia, but also which was woorse, sustained much wrong by him: by occasion whereof Bellerophon∣tes taking it as a great indignitie, went to sea againe, where he praied against him unto Neptune, that he would cause his land to be barraine and unfruitfull; which done, hee returned backe a∣gaine: but behold a strange and fearfull spectacle, for the sea swelled & overflowed all the coun∣trey, following him everie where as he went, and covering after him the face of the earth: and for [ 20] that the men of those parts, who did what possibly they could to entreat him for to stay this in∣undation of the sea, could not obtaine so much at his hands, the women tooke up their petti∣cots before & went to meet him, & shewed their nakednes; wherupon for very shame he retur∣ned back, & the sea likewise (by report) retired with him into the former place. But some there be (who more civilly avciding the fabulosity of this tale) say: That it was not by praiers & impreca∣tions that he drew after him the sea, but because that part of Lycia which was most sertill, being low and flat, lay under the levell of the sea: there was a banke raised along the sea side which kept it in; and Bellerophon cut a breach thorow it, and so it came to passe that the sea with great vio∣lence entred that way, and drowned the flat part of the countrey; whereupon the men did what they could by way of praiers and intrearie with him, in hope to appease his mood, but could not [ 30] prevaile: howbeit, the women environing him round about by great troups & companies, pres∣sed him so on all sides, that he could not for verie shame deny them, & so in favour of them, said downe his anger. Others affirme that Chimaera was an high mountaine, directly opposite to the sunne at noon-tide, which caused great reflections and reverberations of the sunne beames, and by consequence, ardent heats in manner of a fire, in the said mountaine, which comming to be spread and dispersed over the champion ground, caused all the fruits of the earth, to dry, fade, and wither away: whereof Bellerophontes (a man of great reach and deepe conceit) knowing the cause in nature, caused in many places, the superfice of the said rocke or mountaine to be cloven and cut in two, which before was most smooth & even, and by that reason consequently, did send back the beames of the sun, & cansed the excessive heat in the countrey adjoining: now for that [ 40] he was not well considered and regarded by the inhabitants, according to his demerit, in despite he meant to be revenged of the Lycians; but the women wrought him so, that they allaied his fury. But surely that cause which Nymphus alleageth in his fourth booke as touching Heraclea, is not fabulous nor devised to delight the Reader: for he saith: That this Bellerophontes having kil∣led a wilde bore that destroied all the fruits of the earth, & all other beasts within the Xanthiens countrey, had no recompense therefore; whereupon, when he had powred out grievous impre∣cations against those unthankfull Xanthiens, unto Neptune, hee brought salt-water all over the land, which marred all and made all become bitter, untill such time as he (being wonne by the praiers and supplications of the women) besought Neptune to let fal his wrath. Loe whereupon the custome arose and continueth still in the Xanthiens countrey: That men in all their affaires [ 50] negotiate not in the name of their fathers, but of their mothers, and called after their names.

THE WOMEN OF SALMATICA.

ANnnibal of the house of Barca, before that he went into Italic to make warre with the Ro∣maines, laid siege unto a great citie in Spaine, named Salmatica: the besieged were at

the first affraid, and promised to do whatsoever Annibal would commaund them; yea and to pay him three hundred talents of silver; for securitie of which capitulation to be performed, they put into his hands three hundred hostages: but so soone as Anmbal had raised his siege, they repented of this agreement which they had concluded with him, and would do nothing ac∣cording to the conditions of the accord; whereupon hee returned againe for to besiege them afresh: and to encourage his souldiers the better to give the assault, he said: That hee would give unto them the saccage and pillage of the towne; whereupon the citizens within, were won∣derfully affraid, and yeelded themselves to his devotion, upon this condition; That the Barbari∣ans would permit as many as were of free condition, to goe foorth, every man in his single gar∣ment, leaving behind them their armes, goods, money, slaves and the citie. Now the dames and [ 10] wives of the towne, fearing lest the enemies would search and rifle their husbands as they went forth of the gates, and not once touch and meddle with them, tooke unto them short curtelasses or skeines, hid them under their clothes, and so went forth together with their husbands. When they were all out of the towne, Annibal (having set a guard of Mafaesylians to attend them) staied them at the end of the suburbs: meane while the rest of his armie, without all order put them∣selves within the citie, and fell to the spoile and sackage of it: which when the Masaesylians per∣ceived, they grew out of all patience, & could not containe themselves, nor looke wel unto their prisoners; but were woonderous angrie, and in the end meant for to have as good a part and share as the rest, of the spoile: hereupon the women tooke up a crie, and gave unto their hus∣bands the swords which they had brought with them, yea & some of them fel upon the guard or [ 20] garrison, insomuch as one of them was so bold, as to take from Banon (the Truchman or interpre∣tor) the speare which he had, and thrust at him with it, but he had on a good corps of a cuirace which saved him: but their husbands having wounded some of them, and put the rest to flight, escaped by this meanes away, together in a troupe with their wives; which when Annibal under∣stood, he set out immediately after them, and surprised those who were left behind; whiles the rest got away and saved themselves for the present, by recovering the mountaines adjoining; but after they sent unto Annibal and craved pardon, who graciously granted it; yea and permitted them to returne in safetie and reinhabit their owne citie.

THE MILESIAN WOMEN. [ 30]

THE Milesian maidens upon a time, were surprized with a verie strong passionate fit of a fearfull melancholicke humour, without any apparant cause that could be rendred there∣of, unlesse it were (as men most conjectured:) that the aire was infected and empoisoned, which might cause that alienation of the mind, and worke a distimperature in their braines, to the overthrow of their right wits; for all on a sudden, every one had a great desire to die, and namely, in a furious rage would needs hang themselves; and in truth many of them secretly knit their neeks in haltars, and so were strangled: no, reasons and remonstrances, no teares of father and mother, no perswasions and comfortable speeches of their friends would serve the turne; but looke what keepers soever they had, and how carefully soever they looked unto them, they [ 40] could find meanes of evasion to avoide and goe beyond all their devices and inventions; in such sort, that it was thought to be some plague and punishment sent from the gods above; and such as no humaine provision could remedie, untill such time as by the advice of a sage and wise citi∣zen, there went foorth a certaine edict, and the same enacted by the counsell of the citie: That if any one more, hapned to hang herselfe, she should be carried starke naked as ever she was borne throw the market place in the view of the whole world: this proclamation being thus ratified by the common-counsell of the citie, did not onely represse for a while, but also staied for alto∣ther, this furious rage of the maidens and their inordinate desire to make themselves away. Thus we may see, that the fear of dishonor, shame & infamy, is a great signe & infallible token of good nature and vertue, considering that they feared neither death nor paine, which are the most hor∣rible [ 50] accidents that men can endure; howbeit they could not abide the imagination of vilannie, shame and dishonor, though it hapned not unto them, untill they were dead and gone.

THE WOMEN OF CIO.

THe maner and custome was for the yoong virgins of Cio, to goe altogether unto their pub∣lick temples and churches, and so to passe the time al the long day there, one with another:

where their lovers who wooed them for marriage, might behold them disport and daunce: and in the evening they went home to each of their houses, in order, where they waited upō their fa∣thers and mothers, yea and the brethren, one of another, even to the very washing of their feet. Now it hapned sometimes that many yoong men were enamoured of one and the same maide; but their love was so modest, good, and honest, that so soone as a maiden was affianced and be∣trothed unto one, all the rest would give over sute, & so cease to make any more love unto her: In summe, the good order and cariage of these women of Cio might be knowen in this: that in the space of seven hundred yeeres, it was never knowen nor appeered upon record, that anie wife committed adulterie, nor maiden unmaried lost her virgnitie.

THE WOMEN OF PHOCIS. [ 10]

THe tyrants of Phocis, surprized upon a time and seized the citie of Delphos; by occasion whereof, the Thebans made that warre upon them, which was called the Holy warre; at which time it so befell, that the religious women consecrated unto Bacchus, named Thyades, be∣ing bestraught and out of their right wits, ranne wandring like vargrants up and downe in the night, and knew not whither, untill ere they were aware, they ranne unto the citie Amphissa, where being wearie (but yet not come againe to their senses) they lay along in the mids of the market place, and couched themselves scattering heere and there to take their sleepe: the wives of Amphissa being advertised heereof, and fearing lest their bodies should be abused by the [ 20] soldiers of the tyrants (whereof there lay a garrison within the citie, for that Amphissa was of the league, and confederate with the Phocaeans) ranne all thither to the place, standing round about them with silence, and not saying one word, and so long as they slept, troubled them not; but soone as they wakened of themselves and were gotten up, they tooke the charge of them, gave them meat, and each of them looked to one; yea, and afterwards having gotten leave of their husbands, they conveighed and accompanied them in safetie, so farre as to the mountains and marches of their owne territorie.

VALERIA and CLOELIA.

THe outrage committed upon the person of a Roman ladie, named Lucretia, and her vertue [ 30] together, were the cause that Tarquinius Superbus (the seventh king of the Romanes after Romulus) was deprived of his roiall estate, and driven out of Rome: This dame being married unto a great personage, descended of the bloud roiall, was abused and forced by one of the sons of the said king Tarquin, who was enterteined and friendly lodged in her house: by occasion of which villanous fact, she called all her kinsfolke and friends together about her; unto whom af∣ter she had delcared and given them to understand the shamefull dishonour that he had done upon her body, she stabbed herselfe in the place before them: and Tarquin the father (for this cause being deposed from his princely dignitie, and chased out of his kingdome) levied manie warres against the Romans, thinking thereby to recover his state; and among the rest in the end [ 40] wrought so effectually with Porsena king of the Tuskanes, that he perswaded him to laie siege to the citie of Rome, and to beleaguer it with a puissant power: Now over and besides this hosti∣litie, the Romans within, were afflicted also and sore pressed with famine; but hearing that the said Porsena was not onely a valiant captaine in armes, but withall a good and righteous prince, they were willing to make him the indifferent umpire and judge betweene them and Tarquin: but Tarquin standing stiffe in his owne opinion, and highly conceited of himselfe, giving out also, that Porsena if he continued not a fast and constant ally, he would not afterwards be a just & equal judge: whereupon Porsena forsaking him, and leaving his alliance, capitulated and promi∣sed to depart in good tearmes of amitie & peace with the Romans, upon condition to recover of them all those lands which they had occupied in Tuskane, & to have away with him those pri∣soners [ 50] whom they had taken in those wars: now for the better assurance of this composition so concluded, there were delivered into his hands as hostages, ten boies, and as many yoong mai∣dens; among whom Valeria the daughter of Poplicola the consull was one: which done, pre∣sently he brake up his campe and dislodged, yea and gave over preparation of farther warre; notwithstanding that all the articles of the said capitulation were not yet accomplished. These yong virgins before said, being in his campe, went down as it were to bath and wash themselves, unto the river side, which ran a good way from the campe; and by the motion and instigation

of one among the rest named Cloelia; after they had wrapped and wreathed their clothes fast about their heads; they tooke the river which ran with a very strong streame and swift current, and by swimming crosse over it, helping one another what they could amid the deepe channell, and surging whirlpoles thereof, untill with much travell, they hardly recovered the banke on the other side. Some report, that this damosell Cloclia, made meanes to get an horse, mounted his backe, and gently by little and little passed overthwart the river, shewing the way unto the rest of hir fellowes, encouraging, yea, and supporting them as they swomme on each side and round about her: but what the reason is of this their conjecture, I will shew anon: when the Romans saw that they were gotten over in safetie, they woondered at their boldnesse and rare vertue; howbeit they were nothing well pleased with their returne, neither could they en∣dure [ 10] to be chalenged and reproched: that in fidelitie and troth, they all should be inferior to one man, and therefore gave commandement that these virgins should returne from whence they came, and sent with them a guard to conduct them; but when they were passed over the river Tybris againe, they escaped very hardly of being surprized by an ambush that Tarquin had laid for them by the way: as for Valeria the consull Poplicolaes daughter, she fled at first with three servants into the campe of Porsena: and the rest, Arnus the sonne of king Porsena, who ran presently to the rescue, recovered out of the hands of the enemies: now when they were all presented and brought before the king; he demaunded which of them it was, who had encoura∣ged her companions to swim over the river, and given them counsell so to doe: all the rest fearing lest the king would doe Cloelia some harme, would not speake a word; but she her selfe [ 20] confessed all: Porsena highly esteeming her valour and vertue, caused one of the fairest horses to be fetched out of his stable, richly trapped and set out with costly furniture, which he bestowed upon her, yea, and that which more is (for her sake and to grace her) curteously and kindly dis∣missed all her fellowes, and sent them home. This is the gesse (I say) by which some thinke that Cloelia passed over the river on horse-back: but others say no; who deliver the storie thus. That the king marvelling at this valour and extraordinarie hardinesse, above the proportion of that sex, thought her woorthy of a present, which is woont to be given unto a valiant man at armes and a brave warrior: but how ever it was, for a memoriall of this act, there is to be seene her statue at this daie, to wit, a maiden sitting on horse-backe, and it standeth in the street called Via sacra, which some say, representeth Cloelia, others Valeria. [ 30]

MICCA and MEGISTO.

ARistotimus having usurped tyranny and violent dominion over the Elians, bare himselfe much upon the favor and countenance of king Antigonus, established the same; but so cruelly and excessively he abused this power and authoritie under him, that in nothing he was tolerable; for over and besides that, he was a man by nature given to violence (by reason that he stood in some servile feare, and was glad to please the guard that he had about him of mixt Bar∣barians, whom he had gotten together from divers parts, for the defence of his state and person) he suffered them also to commit many insolent parts and cruell outrages upon his subjects; and [ 40] among the rest, that unhappie indignitie which befell to Philodemnus, who had a faire damosell to his daughter, named Micca, unto whom one of the captaines of the said tyrant, named Luci∣us, seemed to make court, not for any true love and heartie affection that he bare unto her, but upon a wanton lust to abuse and dishonour her bodie: so he sent for this maiden to come and speake with him: her parents seeing, that whether they would or no, constrained they should be to let her goe, gave her leave; but the damosell her selfe of a generous spirit and magnani∣mous heart, clasped them about and hung upon them, fell downe at their feet, and humbly be∣sought them, all that ever she could, rather to kill her out of hand, than to suffer her thus shame∣fully to be betraied, and villanously to be despoiled of her maidenhead: but for that she staied longer than was to the good liking of the foresaid Lucius, (who burned all this whiles in lust, and [ 50] had withall taken his wine liberally) he rose from the table in great choler, and went himselfe to∣ward her: when he came to the house, he found Micca with her head upon her fathers knees, and her he commanded to follow him; which she refused to do; whereupon he rent her clothes from her bodie, and whipped her starke naked; and she, without giving one word againe, endu∣red for her part with patience and silence all the smart and paine: but her father and mother, see∣ing, that with all their piteous praiers and tender teares, they could not prevaile nor boot anie thing with this wretch, turned to call and implore the helpe both of God and man, crying with a

loud voice: Out upon such injurious indignity and intolerable villany: whereupon, this barba∣rous villaine (growen now to be furious and enraged, partly with choler, and in part with drun∣kennesse) killed this silly poore girle, even as she couched her face in the very lap and bosome of her father: howbeit, for all this and such like wicked pranks plaied, the tyrant was nothing at all moved to pitie and compassion, but many citizens he murdered, and more he banished and caused to leave their countrey; in such sort, that (as the speech went) no fewer than eight hun∣dred fled to the Aetolians, craving at their hands to make meanes unto the tyrant, that they might have away their wives and little children also. Not long after, the tyrant of his owne ac∣cord caused proclamation to be made by sound of trumpet; that as many women as were willing to go unto their husbands, should make them ready and depart, yea, and cary with them as much [ 10] of their goods as they would: now when he understood, that they all with great joy of this pro∣clamation thus published, and that they were assembled together with much contentment of minde, to the number of sixe hundred, he commanded that they should depart, and put them∣selves in their journey all together on a certeine day by him prefixed, making semblant against that time, to provide a good convoy for their better security: when the time appointed was come, they flocked thicke to the gates of the city, having brought with them their trusses and fardles of such goods as they meant to have away with them, carying some of their little babes in their armes, taking order for others for to be brought in waggons; and so they staied there, & attended one anothers comming: but suddenly, many of the souldiers and those of the tyrants guard, came running toward them, and crying aloud afarre off: Stay, stay: now when they ap∣proched [ 20] nere, all the women they commanded to go backe againe, but the waines and waggons they turned together with the horses full upon them, and drave them amaine thorow the mids of the troupe and throng of the women, not suffering them either to follow, or to stay or succor their poore little infants, whom they saw to die before their faces: for some of them perished with falling out of the chariots to the ground, others were destroied and trampled under the horse feet; and all this while, these pensioners of the guard, with loud out-cries and with whip∣ping, drave the women before them, like as they had bene so many sheepe, and thronged them so hard, that one tumbled upon another; and thus they chased them, untill such time as they had cast them all into prison: but all their bag and baggage was seized upon, and brought unto Ari∣stotimus. Now when the men of Elis were were heerewith mightily offended; the religious wo∣men [ 30] consecrated to the service of Bacchus, whom they call the Sixteene (carrying in their hands boughs of olive trees, like suppliants, and chaplets of vine branches about their heads, which they tooke from the god whom they served) went to meet with Aristotimus about the market∣place of the citie: his squires and pensioners about him for the guard of his bodie, made a lane for them, and seemed (upon some reverence) to give them way that they might come nere: and the women at first kept silence, doing nought els but in most humble and deuout maner tender unto him their branches, like suppliants: but after that the tyrant understood that it was for the Eliens wives that they came thus to make supplication, and namely, that hee would take some commiseration of them; being wroth & displeased with his guard, he cried out upon them for suffering the said women to approch so neere unto his person; and thereupon commanded [ 40] them to drive some and to beat others, untill they were all chased out of the market-place; and more than all this, he condemned these religious votaries in a fine of two talents a piece. Du∣ring these occurrences, there was within the citie, one of the burgesses named Hellanicus, a man very farre stept in age, who was the authour of a conspiracie and insurrection against the tyrant; one that of all others he least distrusted, and whom he never thought likely to practise against him, both for that he was very aged, and also because but a little before he had buried two of his children: and it fortuned at the very same time, that frō Aetolia the exiles before named, passed into the territorie of Elis, and seized upon a fort called Amymom, situate in a very commodious place for to mainteine warre; where they received and enterteined many other inhabitants of the citie, who immediatly resorted thither, and ran apace: upon these tydings, the tyrant Ari∣stotimus [ 50] much fearing the sequel hereof, went unto their wives in prison; and thinking to com∣passe his desseignes better by feare, than favor and love, he commanded them to send unto their husbands, & to write unto them, for to abandon their holde and depart out of the countrey, me∣nacing the poore women, that if they did not so, he would cause their children first to be man∣gled with whips, and so killed before their face, and then put themselves also to death: all of them were silent a good while, & notwithstanding he importuned them a long time, and urged them to speake at once whether they would doe it or no? they looked one upon another without say∣ing

a word, giving him thereby to understand, that they stood in no feare, and were not astonied for all his threats: at the last, one of them, named Megisto, wife to Timoleon, and a woman whom the rest regarded and held as their captainesse, aswell in respect of her husbands honour, as her owne vertue, deigned not to rise up from her seat herselfe, nor suffered any of the rest to stand up; but sitting still in her place, thus said: If thou wert a wise man, thou wouldest not deale thus as thou doest, betweene women and their husbands, but rather send unto them, as to those who have the power and authoritie over their wives, and to deliver unto them better speeches than such, whereby thou hast deceived us; now if (being past hope to perswade them) thou thin∣kest to circumvent and delude them by the meanes of us, never looke that thou shalt abuse us any more, nor thinke that they will be so ill advised or so base minded, as that for to spare their [ 10] wives and little children, they will abandon and lose the libertie of their countrey: for surely the losse of us will not be to them so much, considering that they now enjoy us not, as the gaine and benefit, in delivering their countrey and fellow-citizens from such outrageous crueltie. Whiles Megisto enterteined Aristotimus with these speeches, he could no longer endure, but commanded her little sonne to be brought before him, for to murder him before her eies; and when the pensioners about the tyrant searched for him among other little boies that were play∣ing & wrestling together, his mother called unto him by name, saying: Come hither to me my boy, that thou maiest be delivered from the crueltie of this tyrant, before thou hast any sense or understanding to know what tyranny is: for a greater griefe it would be unto me another day to see thee for to serve like a slave vnworthily, than to die here presently: hereat Aristotimus through [ 20] impatience of furious anger, drew his sword upon the woman herselfe, meaning to run her tho∣row; but one of his familiar friends, named Cylon (who made semblant to be true & faithful unto him but hated him secretly in his hart, & indeed was of the complices in that conspiracy of Hel∣lanicus) stepped before him, and by his effectuall praiers turned his hand, making remonstrance unto him, that it was no generous and manly deed, but a womanish act: neither savoured it of a prince or such a personage as knew how to manage great affaires of State, to deale in that sort, which he forced and pressed so instantly that hardly and with much ado though it were; Aristo∣tinus was of a better minde, bethought himselfe and went his way. Now there befell unto him a strange accident, which presaged what mischiefe was toward him; for about high noone it was, when being in his bed-chamber, & reposing himself with his wife, whiles his dinner was now rea∣die [ 30] to be served up, those of his houshold might perceive an eagle soaring round over his house; and she let fal a bigge stone directly upon the very place of the roofe of the said chamber where he lay, as if upon deliberate purpose she had aimed and leveled as it were so to doe, himselfe hearing the noise and rap that the stone gave upon the house top over his head, and withall, the outcry beneath of those who beheld the foule, was mightily affrighted, and demanded what the matter might be? when he understood what it was; hee sent presently for the wizard or sooth∣saier, whom he was wont to use in such cases, and all troubled and perplexed in spirit, asked him what this signe might presage? the soothsaier cōforted him, & willed him to be of good cheere, saying unto himselfe: That it was Jupiter who wakened him, & shewed how willing he was to as∣sist and succour him; but unto other citizens whom he might trust, he expounded it otherwise, [ 40] and assured them that it was the vengeance of God, which speedily would light upon the tyrants head: whereupon Hellanicus and his adherents were resolved to deferre the execution of their desseignes no longer, but to set upon the enterprise the next morrow: in the night that came be∣tweene, Hellanicus as he slept, dreamed, and in that vision he thought, that one of his sons late deceased stood before him & said: Father, what meane you to lie a sleepe, considering that once to morrow you must be captaine general and sovereigne governor of this citie: Hellanicus won∣derfully encouraged by this vision, started up, and went to sollicit the rest of his complices and companions in the said conspiracie. By this time was Aristotimus advertised that Craterus was comming to aide him with a puissant armie, and lay encamped neere to Olympia; in the as∣surance and confidence whereof, he presently tooke Cylon with him, and went foorth with∣out [ 50] any guard about his person: Hellanicus seeing the opportunitie now offred, and taking the vantage thereof, gave not the signal and watchword which was agreed upon, with those who first were to set to the execution of their entended enterprise; but stretching foorth both his hands with a loud voice cried out: Now, now, my masters and valiant men, what staie you for? can you desire a fairer theater to shew your valour in, than to fight for the defence of your liber∣tie, in the very heart of your native countrey? At which words, Cylon drew his sword first, and smot one of them that followed and accompanied Aristotimus; but Thrasibulus and Lampis

came afront, and ran upon the tyrant himselfe, who preventing the venue of their stroake, fled for refuge and sanctuarie into the temple of Jupiter, where they slew him out-right, and drew his dead corps into the market place; and then assembled all the citizens thither, for to recover their freedome: but many of the people could not prevent the women; for they ranne out with the first in great alacritie, weeping and crying out for very joy, and environing their husbands round about, crowned them, and set chaplets of flowers upon their heads: then the multitude of the common people set upon the tyrants house, and assaulted it; his wife having shut her-selfe within her chamber, there hung herselfe, and whereas she had two daughters, virgins as yet, but in the prime and flower of their yeeres, ready for marriage; those they tooke, and by force haled them out of the house, with full intent to kill them; in the end after they had abused their bo∣dies [ 10] first, and then perpetrated all the villanie & shame they could devise unto them; which no doubt they would have put in execution, but that Megisto with other honest matrons of the citie, opposed themselves and came betweene, who cried aloud unto them; that in so dooing they should commit an indignitie unbeseeming them, if considering, that now being in the ve∣rie traine and high way of recovering their libertie, for to live from hencefoorth in a popular government, they should perpetrate as violent outrages, as the most bloudy and cruell tyrants are used to commit: the people in good respect and reverence to the honour and authoritie of this vertuous and honest dame, who spake her minde so frankely unto them with teares gushing out of her eies, were reclaimed and advised to offer no abuse nor vilanie unto their persons; but to put unto their choise what death they would die? and when they had brought them both back [ 20] againe into the house, and intimated unto them, that there was no other remedie but die they must, and that presently; the elder of the twaine named Myro, untied her girdle from about her waste, and with a running noose did it about her owne necke in maner of an halter; then kissing and embracing her yoonger sister, she praied her to marke what she did, and according to her example to doe thereafter: To the end (quoth she) that we may not die basely, unwoorthy the place from whence we are come and descended: but the yoonger desired againe, that she might die first, caught hold of the girdle and snatched it from her; then the elder: Well sister (quoth she) I never yet refused to do any thing that you desired at my hands; & even now content I am to doe so much for you as to endure and suffer that, which will be more greevous unto me than death it selfe, namely, to see my most deere and best beloved sister to die before me; which said, [ 30] she her selfe taught her how to fit the said girdle to her necke, and to knit it for the purpose, and when she perceived once that the life was out of her bodie, she tooke her downe and covered her breathlesse corps; then addressing her speech unto dame Megisto her selfe, she besought her, that she would not suffer her bodie after she was dead, to lie shamefully above the ground, and not interred: the sight heereof and the words withall were so patheticall, that there was not one present so hard hearted, or so spightfully and malicously bent against the tyrant, but deplo∣red their wofull estate, and pitied the generositie and magnanimitie of these two yoong ladies. Now albeit there be infinit presidents of noble deeds, that in old time, women have done in companies together; yet me thinkes these few examples which I have already delivered, may suffice: from hencefoorth therefore I will rehearse the particular vertuous acts of severall wo∣men [ 40] by themselves, as they come scattering into my remembrance: for I suppose that such nar∣rations and histories as these, doe not require of necessitie the precise order and consequence of the times.

PIERIA.

OF those Ionians who were come to dwell in the citie of Miletum, some chaunced to be at variance and debate with the children of Neleus; by occasion whereof in the end, they thought the city too hot for them, and constreined they were to remoove and retire themselves into the citie Myus, where they made their abode & habitation; and yet even there also, much [ 50] molested they were and troubled by the Milesians, who warred upon them, for their revolt and apostasie: howbeit this warre was not so bloudie and mortall, but that they used to send one un∣to another, yea and to communicate and negotiate reciprocally in divers things: for even up∣on certaine solemne and festivall daies, the wives and women of Myus would repaire boldly un∣to Miletum: now among these Myuntines, there was a noble man and of great name, one Py∣thes, who had to wife a ladie called Japygia, by whom he was father of a faire daughter, cleped Pieria: when as therefore the great feast unto Diana and a solemne sacrifice called Neleus, was

celebrated by the Milesians: Pythes, sent thither unto this solemnitie, his wife and daughter aforesaid, for they had requested leave of him to be partakers of the feast. It fortuned whiles they were there, that one of the sonnes of Neleus (a man of most credit and greatest authoritie in the citie) named Phrygius, cast a fancie to Pieria; and in courting her after the manner of lovers, desired to know of her what it might be, wherein he might gratifie her most, and best content her, unto whom she answered: If Sir you will so bring about, that I my selfe with many more may oftentimes resort hither, you shall doe me the greatest pleasure that you can devise: Phrygius (conceiving presently what her meaning was, namely that there might bee continuall peace and amitie betweene those two cities) wrought so, that he composed the warre on both sides: in regard hereof Pieria was highly esteemed and honoured in both cities; in such wise, [ 10] that unto this day the Milesian dames do wish ordinarily and pray unto the gods, that they may be as well beloved, as Pieria was of Phrygius.

POLYCRITE.

THere was in times past, warre betweene the Naxians and the Milesians, about Neaera the wife of Hypsicreon, and the same arose upon this occasion. This Neaera was enamoured up∣on Promedon, a Naxian, insomuch as she would embarke, take the sea, and saile with him: for why? an ordinarie guest he was of Hypsicreons, and used to lodge in his house whensoever hee came to Miletum: yea and secretly she had him to lie with her, she loved him so well: but [ 20] in processe of time when shee feared that her husband perceived it, he faire tooke her cleane away with him to Naxos, where he ordained, that she should be a suppliant of Vesta. Hypsicreon sent for her againe; but when the Naxians in favour of Promedon refused to render her, allea∣ging for a colourable pretense of their excuse the priviledge and franchises of suppliants: here∣upon the warre began between them; in which quarrell the Erythraeans favoured the Milesians verie assectionatly and sided with them, insomuch as it grew to a long and lingering warre, and many miseries and calamities that follow warres, it drew withall, as well to the one part as the other; until at last the quarrel was finally ended by the vertue of one woman, like as it began first by the vice and wickednesse of another. For Diognetus the captaine generall of the Erythraeans, (unto whom was cōmitted the charge of keeping a fort, seated upon a very commodious place [ 30] to annoy & endamage the Naxians) made rodes and incursions into their territorie, where with many other huge booties that he drave and carried away, he took and led as his prisoners many maidens and wives of good houses and parentage; among whom there was one named Poly∣crite, whom himselfe fancied and fell in love with; her he kept and entertained not like a captive or prisoner, but as if she had beene his espoused wife: now it fortuned that the day was come when the Milesians lying in campe, were to solemnize a great feast; by reason where of they fel to drinking freely and making good cheere, inviting one another as the maner was: thon Poly∣crite asked captaine Diognetus, whether hee would be offended if she should send certaine tarts, pies, and cakes, provided for that feast unto her brethren? who answered: that he not onely per∣mitted, but also willed her so to doe: she taking the opportunitie of good occasion, put within [ 40] one of these tarts, a little thinne plate of lead which was written upon, charging him expressely who had the carriage thereof, to say unto her brethren, that in any case none but they, should taste of the said cakes or tarts: this message was done accordingly, and when they came to eate the tarts, they found within one, a writing of their sisters; whereby shee advertised and advised them not to faile, but that very night to come and assaile their enemies, for that they should finde them in great disorder, without sentinell and corps-de-guard, without any watch and ward at all, for that they were all drunke by occasion of the good cheere that they had made at that feast: having this intelligence, they presently acquainted the captaines generall of the Naxi∣ans armie therewith, praying them to enterprise this service by their direction and with them: [ 50] thus were the Erythraeans deseized of their strong hold, and a great number of them within, put to the sword: but Polycrite craved Diognetus of her fellow-citizens, and by that meanes saved his life; now when she approched neere unto the gates of Naxos, seeing all the inhabitants com∣ming foorth to meet her with exceeding great joy and mirth, putting garlands of flowers upon her head, and chanting songs of her praises, her heart was not able to endure so great joy; for she died at the very gate of the citie, where afterwards she was enterred and entombed; and her monument was called, the Sepulcher of Envie, as if there had beene some envious fortune, which had grudged unto Polycrite, the fruition of so great glorie and honour. Thus the Histo∣riographers

of Naxos have delivered this narration: howbeit (Aristotle saith) that Polycrite was never taken prisoner; but Diognetus having had a sight of her by some other meanes, be∣came enamoured upon her so farre, that he was ready to give unto her, and to do for the love of her, whatsoever she would: also that she promised to go with him, in case he would agree and graunt one thing, and (as the said philosopher telleth the tale) thereupon she required of him an obligation of his oth; and after he had faithfully sworne unto her, she demaunded that hee should deliver unto her the castle Delio; for that was the name of the fort or piece whereof hee had the charge, otherwise she said that she would never come in bed with him; whereupon he (aswell for the great desire that he had to enjoy her love, as in regard of his foresaid oath, by which he was bound and obliged) quit the place and rendred it into the hands of Polycrite, who [ 10] presently delivered it up unto her countrey-men and fellow-citizens; by which meanes they be∣ing now able once againe to make their parts good with the Milesians, made an accord and con∣cluded peace, under what conditions they desired themselves.

LAMPSACE.

IN the citie Phocaea, there were sometimes two brethren twinnes, of the house and family of the Codridae; the one named Phobus, the other Blepsus; of which twaine, Phobus was the first that (according as Charon the Chronicler of Lampsacum doth record) cast himselfe from the high rocks and cliffes of Leucas into the sea. This Phobus being of great puissance and royall [ 20] authoritie in his countrey, hapned to have some private affaire and negotiation of his owne in theisle of Paros, and thither he went; where he contracted amitie, alliance and hospitalitie with Mandron king of the Bebrycians, surnamed Pityoessenes: and by vertue of this new league he aided them, and in their behalfe made warre with them, against other barbarous people their neighbours, who did them wrong and wrought them much damage: afterwards (when he was upon his departure and returne home) Mandron among many other courtesies and tokens of kindnesse which he bestowed upon him, now ready to embarke and take the sea, offered him the one moitie of his country and city, if he would come & dwel in the citie Pityoessa, with some part of the Phocaeans, for to people the place: whereupon Phobus after he was come home againe to Phocaea, proposed this matter unto the Phocaeans his citizens; & having perswaded them to ac∣cept [ 30] of the offer; he sent his owne brother, as leader and captaine to conduct this colonie of new inhabitants; who upon their first arrivall and comming thither, found themselves as well entrea∣ted, & as courteously entertained as they could wish or looke for at Mandron his hands: but in tract of time, after that they had gotten many advantages at the Barbarians hands, their neigh∣bours & borderers, wan divers booties from them, and gained much pillage & spoile; they be∣gan to be envied first, and afterwards to be dread and feared of the Bebrycians; who being de∣sirous for to be rid and delivered of such guests, durst not addresse themselves unto Mandron, whom they knew to be an honest and just man, for to perswade him to practise any disloyaltie or treacherie, against men of the Greek nation; but espying a time when he was absent and out of the countrey; they complotted and prepared to surprize the Phocaeans by a wile, and so to di∣spatch [ 40] them al to once out of the way: but Lampsace (the daughter of Mandron, a maiden yet un∣married, having some fore-inkling and intelligence of this forelaied ambush) laboured & dealt, first with her familiar friends to divert them from so wicked an enterprise, shewing and proo∣ving unto them, that it was a damnable act before God, and abominable among men, to pro∣ceed so treacherously against their allies and confederates, who had beene ready at all times to aid and assist them in their need against their enemies, and besides, were now incorporate with them, and their fellow-citizens: but when she saw that there would no good be done, and that she could not disswade them from it: she acquainted the Greeks under-hand with this treason, which was a warping against them, & advised them to look unto themselves, & stand upon their own guard: so the Phocaeans made a solemn sacrifice & a publick feast, invited the Pityoessenes [ 50] to come out of the citie into the suburbes to take part therof; & themselves they divided into two troupes, whereof the one seised the wals of the citie, whiles the inhabitants were at the feast, meane time the other were busie in massacring the guests that were bidden to it; and by this meanes they became masters of the whole citie, and sent for Mandron, whom they desired to participate with them in their counsels and affaires: as for Lampsace his daughter, who fortuned to die of sicknesse, they interred magnificently, and in memoriall of that good which she did unto them, called the citie after her name Lampsacum: howbeit Mandron because he would not

be suspected to have beene a traitour unto his owne people, would not consent to dwell among them, but required to have of them, the wives and children of them who were dead; whom they sent unto him with all speed and diligence, without dooing any harme or displeasure at all unto them; as for Lamsaca unto whom before they had ordeined heroick honors; they decreed for ever to sacrifice unto her as unto a goddesse, and even to this day they doe continue and observe the same divine worship unto her.

ARETAPHILA.

ARetaphila of Cyrene, was none of them that lived in ancient time, but lately in the daies [ 10] of king Mithridates; but she shewed vertue, & performed an act comparable to the mag∣nanimous counsels and desseignes of the most autike demi-goddesses that ever were: daugh∣ter she was to Aeglator, and wife to Phaedimus, both noble men and great personages; faire & beautifull of visage, of deepe conceit and high reach, and namely in matters of estate, & affaires of government well experienced: the publike calamities of her countrey did illustrate her name, and caused her to be well knowne and voiced in the world: for Nicocrates having usur∣ped the tyrannie of Cyrene, put to death many of the chiefe and principall men of the citie, and among the rest, one Melanippus the high priest of Apollo, whom he slew with his owne hands, for to enjoy his priesthood: he did to death also Phaedimus the husband of Aretaphila, and not content therewith, married her perforce and against her will: this tyrant over & above an infinit [ 20] number of other cruelties which he daily committed, set certaine warders at every gate of the city; who when there was caried foorth any dead corps to buriall out of the citie, abused the same, with digging into the soles of their feet, with the points of their daggers and poinards, or else with searing them with red hot irons; for feare that any of the inhabitants should be conveied alive out of the citie, under colour of being borne to the grave as dead: private and particular crosses, had Aretaphila no doubt, which were greevous unto her, and hardly to be en∣dured, although the tyrant was otherwise kinde enough unto her, and led her a faire life, letting her have her owne will, for the love he bare unto her; insomuch as the tyrant suffied her to enjoy a great part of his puissance and regall power; for love had enthralled and subdued him unto her; and not one there was but she alone who knew how to use and handle him; for to all the [ 30] others he was untractable, inflexible, and savage beyond all measure: but it grieved her most of all, to see her native countrey so miserably abused, and so unwoorthily intreated by this tyrant; for there was not one day went over his head, but he caused to be executed one citizen or other, neither was there to be seene any hope of revenge or deliverance out of these calamities on any side; for that the exiled persons and such as fled, being weake and feeble every way, and altoge∣ther heartlesse and fearefull, were scattered some in this place others in that: Aretaphila there∣fore (building upon her-selfe alone, the onely hope of recovering and raising the State of the common-weale, and proposing the magnanimous and renowmed acts of Theba, the wife of the tyrant Pheres, as examples to imitate; but wanting and destitute altogether of faithfull friends and trustie kinsfolke for to helpe and second her in any enterprise, such as the present times and [ 40] affaires did affoord unto the other) assaied to make away the tyrant by some poison; but as she was about the provision heereof, and assaied to make proofe of the forces of many strong poi∣sons, she could not carrie her desseigne so secretly but it came foorth, and was discovered: now when the thing was averred & evidently proved; by strong presumptions: Calbia the mother of Nicocrates (a bloudy woman, and of nature implacable) thought to have her put to many ex∣quisite torments, and then to bring her soone after to her death: but the affection that Nicocra∣tes bare unto her wrought some delay in revenge, and dulled the edge of his anger, and withall, Aretaphila, (who constantly and resolutely offered her-selfe to answer all imputations that were laid unto her charge;) gave some colourable excuse unto the passionate affection of the tyrant: but in the end seeing that she was convinced by certaine proofes and evidences, which she knew [ 50] not how to answer, neither could she denie that she had some drugs in her closet, & did temper certaine medicines; but confessed that indeed she had prepared certaine drugs, yet such as were neither deadly nor dangerous: But my good lord (quoth she unto her husband the tyrant) I am much perplexed and troubled with many things of great consequence, and namely how to pre∣serve the good opinion which you have of me, the kinde affection also which of your gracious favour you beare unto me, by meanes wherof, I have this honour, as to enjoy a good part of your power and authoritie jointly with you; this maketh me to be envied of wicked women, at

whose hands I (fearing sorceries, charmes, enchantments, and other cunning divellish casts, by which they would goe about to withdraw and distract you from the love that you beare me) re∣solved at the length with my selfe for to seeke meanes how to meet, encounter, and prevent their devices; foolish peradventure they may be (as indeed the very inventions of a woman) but in no wise worthy of death; unlesse haply, sir (in your judgement) it be just and reasonable to put your wife to death, for that she mindeth to give you some love drinks, and amatorious cups; or deviseth some charmes, as desirous to be more loved of you than haply it is your pleasure for to love her. Nicocrates having heard these excuses alledged by Aretaphila, thought good, and resolved to put her to torture; whereat Calbia her mother was present, who never relented nor seemed to be touched with her dolorous torments, but remained inexorable: now when [ 10] she was laid upon the racke, and asked sundrie questions, she yeelded not unto the paines that she sustained, but continued invincible, and confessed no fault in the height of all extemities; untill at lenght Calbia herselfe, even against her will was forced to give over tormenting her any longer: and Nicocrates let her goe, being not fully perswaded, that the excuses alledged by her were true & to be credited, repenting that he had put her to such paine as he did; and it was not long after (so deepely was the passion of love imprinted in his heart) but he returned to her, and affaied to win her grace and good will againe, by all honours, favours, courtesies and kind∣nesse that possibly he could shew unto her; but she, who had the power and strength to resist all torments and yeeld unto no paines, would not be overcome with all his flatteries; but joining now unto her former desire of doing some vertuous deed, the animositie for to be revenged and [ 20] to effect her purpose, assaied other meanes. One daughter she had mariageable, and beautifull she was besides; her she suborned and set as an alluring bait to entrap and catch the tyrants bro∣ther, a yong gentleman, easie to be caught with the pleasures & delight of youth: and many are of opinion, that she used certeine charmes and amatorious potions, aswell as the object of her daughters beautie, whereby she enchanted and bewitched the wits and senses of this yong man, whom they called Lander: when he was once enamoured with the love of this yoong damo∣fell, hee prevailed so much by praiers and entreatie with his brother, that he permitted him to wed her: no sooner was he married, but his fresh spouse (having instructions before-hand from her mother) began to be in hand with him, and to perswade him for to enterprise the recoverie of freedome unto the citie, shewing by good remonstrance, that himselfe enjoied not libertie, [ 30] so long as he lived under tyrannie, neither had he power of himselfe, either to wed a wife, or to keepe her when he had her, if it pleased not the tyrant: on the other side, his friends and other of his familiar acquaintance, for to gratific Aretaphila and to doe her pleasure, repaired unto him continually, forging some new matter of quarrels and suspitions against his brother the tyrant: when he perceived that Aretaphila was also of the same minde, and had her hand therein, he resolved to execute the enterprise; and thereupon he set one Daphnis, a servant of his owne, in hand with the businesse, by whose meanes he killed Nicocrates: but after he was thus murdered, Leander would no more be advised by Aretaphila, nor follow her counsell in the rest; but shew∣ed incontinently by his deportments and carriage in all action, that a brother indeed hee had murdered, but not-killed a tyrant: for in his owne government, he bare himselfe like a foole, and [ 40] ruled insolently and furiously: howbeit, unto Aretaphila he shewed alwaies some honour and reverence, conferring upon her some part of his authoritie in management of State affaires; for that she made no semblant at all of discontentment, nor directly and in open maner seemed to warre against him, but privily practised, and cunningly disposed all: for first and formost, she raised warre upon him out of Lybia, by the meanes of a prince there, named Anabus, be∣tweene whom and her there passed secret intelligence: him shee sollicited and perswaded to in∣vade his countrey, and with a puissant armie to approch the citie Cyrene: then she buzzed into Leanders head, certeine surmizes and suspitions of disloialtie in his peeres, his friends and cap∣taines; giving him to understand, that their stood not to this warre, but that they loved peace and quietnesse rather: Which (quoth she) to say a truth, as things now stand, were better [ 50] for you & for the establishment of your roial state & dominion, in case you would rule in deed, holde under, and keepe in awe, your subjects and citizens: and for mine owne part, I holde it good policie for you to make meanes for a treatie of peace, which I will labour to effect, and for that purpose bring you and Anabus together, to an interview and parle (if you thinke so good) before that you grow to farther tearmes of hostilitie and open warre, which may breed a mis∣chiefe, that afterwards will admit no cure nor remedie. This motion she handled and followed with such dexteritie, that Leander condescended thereto; and shee her selfe in person went to

conferre with the Lybian prince, whom she requested, that so soone as ever they were met toge∣ther to treat of this pretended accord, he should arrest the tyrant as his prisoner; and to doe this feat, she promised him great gifts and presents, besides a good reward in money: the Lybian soone accorded hereto: now Leander made some doubt at first, to go into this parle, and staied a while, but afterwards (for the good respect that he had unto Aretaphila, who promised in his behalfe, that he should come to conference) he set forward, naked, without armes and without his guards: when he approched the place appointed for this interview, and had a sight once of Anabus, his heart misgave him againe; and being much troubled and perplexed, he would not go on, but said, he would stay for his guard: howbeit, Aretaphila who was there present, partly encouraged him, and in part rebuked and checked hin, saying: That he would be taken and re∣puted [ 10] for a base minded coward, and a disloiall person, who made no account of his word, if he should now flinch and start backe: at the last, when they were at point to meet; she laied holde upon him, plucked him forward by the hand, and with great boldnesse and resolution haled him, untill she had delivered him into the hands of the barbarous prince: then immediatly was hee apprehended, and his bodie attached by the Lybians, who kept him bound as a prisoner, and set a straight guard about him, untill such time as the friends of Aretaphila with other citizens of Cirene, were come to the campe, and brought the money and gifts unto her which she had pro∣mised unto Anabus. For so soone as it was knowen in the city that Leander was taken prisoner & in sure hold, a number also of the multitude ran forth, to the place appointed of conference; and so soone as they had set an eie on Aretaphila, they went within a little of forgetting all their [ 20] anger and malice which they bare unto the tyrant, thinking that the revenge and exemplarie punishment of him was but accessarie and by-matter; as being now wholly amused upon ano∣ther thing, and supposing the principall fruition of their libertie consisted in saluting and gree∣ting her most kindly, and with so great joy, that the teares ran downe their cheeks, insomuch as they were ready to kneele, yea, and cast themselves downe prostrate at her feet, no lesse than before the sacred image and statue of a goddesse: thus they flocked unto her, by troups out of the citie one after another, all day long, insomuch as it was wel in the evening before they could advise with themselves to seize upon the person of Leander, and hardly before darke night did they bring him with them into the citie. Now after they were well satisfied with giving all ma∣ner of praises, and doing what honour they could devise unto Aretaphila, in the end they turned [ 30] to consultation what was best to be done with the tyrants? so they proceeded to burne Calbia quicke; and as for Leander, they put him in a leather poke and sowed it up close, and then cast it into the sea. Then ordeined and decreed it was, that Aretaphila should have the charge and administration of the weale publicke, with some other of the principall personages of the citie joined in commission with her: but she (as one who had plaied many and sundry parts alreadie upon the stage so well, that shee had gotten the garland and crowne of victorie) when shee saw that her countrey and citie was now fully free and at libertie, immediatly betooke her selfe to her owne private house, as it were cloistered up with women onely, and would no more intermeddle in the affaires of State abroad; but the rest of her life she passed in peace and repose with her kinsfolke and friends, without setting her selfe to any businesse, save onely to her wheele, her [ 40] web, and such womens works.

CAMMA.

THere were in times past, two most puissant Lords and Tetrarches of Galatia, who also were in blood of kinne one to the other, Sinatus and Synorix. Sinatus had espoused a yoong virgin named Camma, and made her his wife; a ladie highly esteemed of as many as knew her, as well for the beautie of her person, as the floure of her age; but admired much more in regard of her vertue and honestie; for she had not onely a tender respect of her owne good name and honour, carried an affectionate love and true heart unto her; but also, was wise, magnani∣mous, [ 50] and passing well beloved of all her subjects and tenants, in regard of her gentle nature, and her debonair and bounteous disposition; and that which made her better reputed and more re∣nowmed, was this; that she was both a religious priestresse of Diana (a goddesse whom the Ga∣latians most devoutly honour and worship) and also in every solemne procession and publicke sacrifice, she would alwaies be seene abroad most sumptuously set out, and stately adorned. It fortuned so, that Synorix was enamoured of this brave dame, but being not able to bring about his purpose and to enjoy her, neither by faire meanes nor foule, perswade he, or menance what

he could, so long as her husband lived: the divell put in his head, to commit a most heinous and detestable fact; for he said waite for Sinatus, and treacherously murthered him: he staied not long after, but he fell to wooing of Camma, and courting herby way of marriage; she made her abode within the temple at that time, and tooke the infamous act committed by Synorix, not piteously, and as one cast downe and dejected therewith, but with a slout heart and a sto∣macke mooved to anger, and yet consideratly, waiting the time and opportunitie of revenge: on the other side, Synorix followed his sute verie earnestly, soliciting and intreating 〈◊〉〈◊〉 nately; neither seemed he to alledge vaine and frivolous reasons, but such as carried some co∣lourable pretense of honestie; namely, that he had alwaies shewed himselfe a man of more valor & worth than Sinatus; and whereas he took away his life, induced he was thereto for the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 [ 10] love that hee bare to Camma, and not mooved thereto by any malice otherwise. This yoong dame at the first seemed to denie him, but yet her denials were not verie churlish, and such, as he might take for his finall answer; for daily by little and little, she made semblant that she relented and inclined unto him, for that divers kinsfolk and friends also of hers, joined with him to second his sute, who (for to gratifie and doe pleasure unto Synorix, a man of the greatest credit and authoritie in his countrey) perswaded, yea & forced her to yeeld unto this match. To be short, in the end she gave her consent, & Synorix was sent for to come unto her, where she kept her resiance, that in the presence of the said goddesse, the contract of marriage might passe, & the espousals be solemnized: when he was come, she received and welcomed him with an amiable and gracious countenance, lead him unto the very altar of Diana, where rehgiously & [ 20] with great ceremonie she powred forth before the goddesse, a little of a potion which shee had prepared, out of a boule; the one part thereof she drunke herselfe, & the other she gave unto Sy∣norix for to drinke: now this potion was mead mingled with ranke poison: when she saw that he had taken his draught, she fetching a loud and evident groane, doing reverence also unto the goddesse: I protest and call thee to witnesse (quoth she) most powerfull and honourable god∣desse, that I have not survived Sinatus, for any other cause in the world, but onely to see this day, neither have I had any joie of my life all this while that I have lived since, but onely in regard of hope that one day I might be revenged of his death, which seeing that now I have effected, I go most gladly and joifully unto that sweet husband of mine; and as for thee (most accursed & wic∣ked wretch in the world) give order to thy kinsfolke and friends, in stead of a nuptiall bed, to [ 30] provide a grave for thy burial: the Galatian (hearing these words, and beginning withal to feele the operation of the poison, and how it wrought & troubled him within his bowels, and all parts of his body;) mounted presently his chariot, hoping that by the jogging and agitation thereof, he might vomit and cast up the poison; but immediately he alighted againe, and put himselfe into an easie litter; but did he what he could, dead he was that very evening: as for Camma, she continued all the night languishing, and when she heard for certaintie that he was deceased, she also with joy and mirth departed out of this world.

STRATONICE.

THe selfesame province of Galatia affoorded two other dames woorthy of eternall memo∣rie, [ 40] to wit, Stratonice the wife of king Deiotarus, and Chiomara the wife of Ortiagon: as for Stratonice, she (knowing that the king her husband was desirous to have children lawfully begot∣ten, for to leave to be his successors & inheritors of the crowne, and yet could have none by her) praied and intreated him to trie another woman, and beget a childe of her body, yea and permit∣ted that it should be put unto her, and she would take it upon her as her owne: Deiotarus woon∣dered much at this resolution of hers, and was content to doe all things according to her mind: wherupon she chose (among other captives taken prisoner in the warres) a proper faire maiden named Electra, whom she brought into Deiotarus bed chamber, & shut them in both together: and all the children which this concubine bare unto him, his wife reared and brought up with as [ 50] kinde an affection and as princelike, as if she had borne them herselfe.

CHIOMARA.

AT what time as the Romans, under the conduct of Cn. Scipio, defaited the Galatians that inhabit in Asia; it befell that Chiomara the wife of Ortiagon, was taken prisoner with other Galatian women: the captaine whose captive she was, made use of his fortune, did like a sol∣dier,

and abused her bodie, who as he was a man given unto his fleshly pleasure, so he looked al∣so as much or rather more unto his profit and filthie lucre; but so it fell out, that overtaken he was and entrapped by his owne avarice: for (being promised by the woman a good round quan∣titie of gold, for to deliver her out of thraldome and set her at libertie;) he brought her to the place which she had appointed for to render her and set her free; which was at a certeine banke by the river side, where the Galatians should passe over, tender him the said monie, and receive Chiomara: but she winked with her eie, & thereby gave a signall to one of her own companie for to kill the said Romane captaine, at what time as he should take his leave of her with a kisse and friendly farewell; which the partie did with his sword, & at one stroke fetched off his head: the head she herselfe tooke up, and wrapped it in the lap of her gowne before, and so gat her away a∣pace [ 10] homeward: when she was come to her husbands house, downe she cast his head at his feet, whereat he being astonied: Ah my sweet wife (quoth he) it is a good thing to keepe faithfull promise: True (quoth she) but it is better, that but one man alive should have my companie. Polybius writeth of the same woman, that himselfe talked with her afterwards in the citie of Sar∣dis, and that he found her then to be a woman of an high minde and of woonderfull deepe wit. But since I am fallen to the mention of the Galatians, I will rehearse yet one story more of them.

A WOMAN OF PERGAMUS.

KIng Mithridates sent upon a time for threescore of the principall lords of Galatia, to re∣paire [ 20] unto him upon trust and safe-conduct as friends, into the citie Pergamus: whom be∣ing come at his request, he enterteined with proud & imperious speeches, whereat they al took great scorn and indignation, insomuch as one of them named Toredorix (a strong & tal man of his hands, & besides woonderfull couragious, Tetrarch of the Tossepians country) undertooke this one day enterprise, to set upon Mithridates, at what time as he sat in judgement, & gave au∣dience from the tribunal seat in the publike place of exercise, and both him and seat together to tumble downe headlong into the pit underneath: but it fortuned that the king that day came not abroad as his maner was, up into that place of open exercise, but commanded al those Gala∣tian lords, to come and speake with him at his house: Toredorix exhorted them to be bold and [ 30] confident, and when they were altogether in his presence, to runne upon him from everie side, to teare him in pieces and make an end of him: this plot was not projected so closely, but it came to Mithridates eares, who caused them al to be apprehended, and sent to chop off al their heads one after another: but immediately after, he called to remembrance that there was one yoong gentleman among the rest, for the flower of his yeeres, for beautie also, and feature of bodie, the goodliest person that he had set eie on in his daies; whom he tooke pitie of, and re∣pented that he had condemned him to die with his fellowes, shewing evidently in his counte∣nance, that he was mightily greeved and disquieted in his minde, as thinking verily that he was executed already with the first; howbeit, at a very venture he sent in all haste a countermaund, that if he were yet alive, he should be spared and let goe: this yoong mans name was Bepolitanus; [ 40] and verily his fortune was most strange and woonderfull: for had away hee was to the place of execution in that habit wherein he was attached, and the same was a very faire and rich sute of apparell, which because the butcherly executioner desired to reserve cleane and unsprent with bloud, he was somewhat long about the stripping of him out of it; & whiles he was so doing he might perceive the kings men come running apace toward him, and with a loud voice naming Bepolitanus. See how covetousnesse, which hath beene the death of many a thousand, was the meanes beyond all expectation, to save the life of this yoong gentleman: as for Toredorix, af∣ter he was cruelly mangled with many a chop and hacke, his bodie was cast foorth unburied to the dogs; neither durst any of his friends come neere for to enterre it: one woman onely of Per∣gamus, whom this Galatian in his life time had knowen, in regard of her fresh youth and beau∣tie, [ 50] was so hardie as to hazard the taking of his dead corps away, and to burie it; which when the warders and watchmen perceived they attached her, and brought her to the king: and it is repor∣ted that Mithridates at the very first sight of her, had compassion, for that she seemed to be a yoong thing, & a simple harmelesse wench every way; but when he understood withal that love was the very cause thereof, his heart melted so much the rather; whereupon he gave her leave to take up the bodie, and commit it to the earth, allowing her for that purpose funerall clothes, and furnishing her at his owne charges, wish all other things meet for comly and decent buriall.

TIMOCLIA.

〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Theban, carried the like minde and purpose for the defence of his countrey and the common-wealth, as sometimes Epaminondas, Pelopidas, and the bravest men in the world had done; but his fortune was to fall in that common ruine of Greece, when as the Greeks lost that unfortunate battell before Chaeronea; and yet for his owne part he was a victour, and followed them in chase, whom he had disarraied and put to flight; for he it was who when one of them that fled cried out unto him: How farre wilt thou pursue and follow us; answered: Even as farre as into Macedonia: but when he was dead, a sister of his who survived him, gave good te∣stimony, [ 10] that in regard as well of his auncestors vertue, as his owne naturall disposition, he had beene a worthy personage, and worthy to be reckoned and renowmed amongst the most valiant knights in his daies; for some fruit received, and reaped vertue, which helped her to beare and endure patiently as much of the common miseries of her country as touched her; for after that Alexander the Great had woon the citie of Thebes by assault, & the soldiers ran to and fro into al parts of the towne, pilling and ransacking whatsoever they could come by: it chanced that one seised upon the house of Timoclia, a man who knew not what belonged to honour, honestie, or common curtesie and civilitie, but was altogether violent, furious and out of reason; a cap∣taine he was of a coronet of Thraciā light horsemen; and caried the name of king Alexander his lord and master, but nothing like he was unto him in conditions: for having filled himselfe [ 20] with wine after supper, and good cheere, without any respect unto the race and linage of this noble dame, without regard of her estate and calling; he was in hand with her to be his bedsel∣low all that night, neither was this all; for he would needs search and know of her, where she had laid up and hourded any gold or silver, one while threatning to kill her, unlesse she would bring him to it, another while bearing her in hand that he would make her his wife, if she would yeeld unto him: she taking vantage of this occasion which himselfe offred and presented unto her: It might have pleased the gods (quoth she) that I had died before this night, rather than remaine alive; for though I had lost all besides, yet my bodie had beene undefiled & saved from all violence and villanie; but since it is my fortune, that heere after I must repute you for my lord, my master, and my husband, and seeing it is gods will to give you this puissance and [ 30] soveraigntie over me, I will not deprive and disapoint you of that which is yours, and as for my selfe, I see well, that my condition from hencefoorth must be such as you will; I was woont indeed to have about me, costly jewels and ornaments for my bodie; I had silver in plate, yea and some gold in good coine and other ready money; but when I saw that the citie was lost, I willed my women and maid-servants about me to get altogether, and so I cast it away, or rather indeed to say a truth, I bestowed it, and reserved it in safetie within a dry pit, wherein no water is, an odde blinde corner I may say to you, that few or none doe know; for that there is a great stone lieth over the mouth of it, and a many of trees grow round about to shade and cover the same; as for you, this treasure will make you a man, yea, and a rich man for ever, when you have it once in your possession; and for my part, it may serve for a good testimony and sufficient [ 40] proofe, to shew how noble and wealthy our house was before-time. When the Macedonian heard these words, his teeth so watred after this treasure, that he could not stay untill the mor∣row, and attend the day light; but would needs out of hand be conducted by Timoclia, and her maidens to the place; but he commanded her in any wise to shut fast and locke the fore-yard gate after them, that no man might see and know; and so he went downe in his shirt into the foresaid pit: but cursed and hideous Clotho, was his mistresse and guide, who would punish and be revenged of his notorious wickednesse by the hands of Timoclia, who standing above; for when she perceiued by his voice that he was now at the very bottom, she herselfe threw downe a num∣ber of stones upon him, & her women also tumbled downe many others, & those very big ones and heavy, after him, untill they had brained him, overwhelmed him, and in manner filled the pit [ 50] up: which when the Macedonians heard of, they made meanes to draw up his dead bodie, and for that there was a proclamation published before by sound of trumpet throughout the city, that they should not massacre one Theban more, they apprehended Timoclia, & brought her be∣fore king Alexander, whom they had already acquainted from point to point in particular, with that audacious act which she had committed: the king judging (by her setled & confident coun∣tenance, by her staied gate also and portly pace) that she could not chuse but be of some great and noble house; demanded of her, first, what she was? and she with rare boldnesse and resolu∣tion

without shewing any signe that she was daunted and astonied; I had (quoth she) a brother named Theagines, who being captaine generall of the Thebans, against you, in the battell of Chaeronea, lost his life fighting manfully, in the defence of the libertie of Greece, to the end that we might not fall into that wofull misery, into which we are at this present fallen; but seeing it is so, that we have suffred those outrages & indignities which be unworthy the place from whence we are descended, for my selfe I refuse not to die, and peradventure it were not expedient for me to live any longer, and trie such another night as the last was, unlesse your selfe impeach and debarre such demeanors: at these words, the noblest and most honorable persons who were present, could not forbeare but weepe; as for Alexander, he thought that the hautie mind and courage of this dame, was greater than to moove pitty and compassion; and therefore highly [ 10] praising her vertue and commending her speech which he marked, and pondered well enough, gave straight charge and commaundement unto his captaines, to have a good eie, and carefull regard, yea, and to take order presently, that there should no more such abuses be offred in any house of honor and nobilitie: and as touching Timoclia, he ordeined immediately, that she should be set at full libertie, both herselfe, and also all those who were knowne and found any way to be of her bloud and kinred.

ERYXO.

BAttus who was surnamed Daemon, that is to say, Happie, had a sonne whose name was Ar∣cesilaus, [ 20] in nothing at all resembling the maners and conditions of his father; for even du∣ring his fathers life (for raising of battlements and pinnacles round about the walles of his owne house,) hee was condemned by his father himselfe in a fine of one whole talent; and after his death, being of a crooked, rough and troublesome spirit, (according as his very name, Calepos, implied), and for that he was governed altogether by the counsell of a minion and favourite of his owne, named Laarchus, a man of no worth nor respect, he proved a tyrant in stead of a king. And this Laarchus aspiring likewise to be tyrant, either chased and banished out of the citie, or els caused to be put to death, the best and principall citizens of all Cyrene; but when he had so done, he derived from himselfe all the blame and imputation upon Arcesilaus; and in the end gave him to drinke a cup of poison, to wit, a sea-hare, whereupon he fell into a lingering and [ 30] languishing disease, whereby he pined away, and died at the last; by which meanes himselfe u∣surped the seignorie and rule of the citie, under a colour of keeping it as Tutour and Lord Pro∣tectour, for the behoofe and use of Battus the sonne of Arcesilaus; for a very childe he was, and lame withall; so that in regard aswell of his nonage and minoritie, as the defect and imperfecti∣on of his body, he was despised of the people; but many there were, who drew and ranged them∣selves unto his mother, and were willing to obey and honour her, for that she was a wise ladie, and of a milde and courteous nature: besides, most of the mightiest men in those parts were knit to her either in bloud and kindred, or els by bond of friendship: by meanes whereof, Laar∣chus made court to her, yea, and sued unto her for her good will by way of marriage, offering unto her (if she would be affianced and wedded unto him) to adopt Battus for his owne sonne, [ 40] and make him partaker of his seigniorie and dominion: but Eryxo (for that was the name of this noble ladie) being advised and counselled thereto before-hand by her brethren, willed Laarchus to impart the matter unto them, for that upon conference with them (if they thought well of this marriage) she would be content and condescend thereto: Laarchus failed not so to do, but went and brake the thing unto her brethren accordingly; and they (as it was complotted before) drew the matter out in length, and drave him off from day to day; but Eryxo sent unto him se∣cretly one of her waiting maidens, to give him notice from her, that her brethren in deed for the present did contradict her minde and crossed her will; but were the knot once knit and con∣summate in bed together, they would contest and haste no longer, but be willing enough to like and approove thereof as a convenient match: and therefore she advised him (if he thought so [ 50] good) to repaire by night unto her: for if the thing were once wel begun, the rest no doubt wuld speed accordingly; this message pleased Laarchus, and fitted his humour passing well: being therefore transported wholly besides himselfe with these lovely and sugred words of this dame, he promised to attend her at what houre soever she would appoint. Now was this device com∣plotted and laid by the counsell of her eldest brother Polyarchus; and after that she had set downe the just time when they should meet and company together, against that very instant, she tooke order that the said brother should secretly be conueied into her chamber, who brought with

him two lustie tall yoong men well appointed with good swords, and who desired nothing more than to revenge their fathers bloud, whom lately Laarchus had caused to be put to death: when all things were now in readinesse, she sent for Laarchus, willing him to come alone without any of his guard about him: no sooner was he entred into the chamber, but these two yoong men charged upon him with their swords, wounded him in many parts of his bodie, that he died in the place: his dead corps they cast over the walles of the house; which done, they brought the yong prince Battus abroad into the publicke place, declared and proclamed him king after the maner and custome of the citie. Thus Polyarchus rendered unto the Cyrenians their ancient government which they had from the beginning. Now there happened to be at the same time in Cyrene many souldiers of Amasis the king of Aegypt, in whom Laarchus reposed his confi∣dence, [ 10] and found them fast & trustie unto him; by whose meanes he became dread and terrible to the Cyrenians: these sent in post with all speed unto king Amasis, messengers of purpose, to charge & accuse Eryxo & Polyarchus for this murder; whereat the king was wroth, and in great indignation intended out of hand to make sharpe war upon the Cyrenians; but as he prepared to set forward this expedition, it fortuned that his mother departed this life: whiles therfore he was busie about her funerals, newes came to Cyrene, how this king was highly displeased and re∣solved to levie warre against them: whereupon Polyarchus thought good to addresse himselfe in person to the said king, and to render a reason unto him of this late fact committed upon the bodie of Laarchus: neither would his sister Eryxo tary behinde, but follow him, and expose her owne person to the same perill that he entred into: yea, and the mother of them both, named [ 20] Critola (very aged though she was) was right willing to goe, and accompanied her sonne and daughter in this journey: now was she a great ladie, and most highly esteemed in this regard e∣specially, that shee was the sister in the whole bloud to Battus the first of that name, surnamed the Happie. When they were arrived in Aegypt, all other lords and noble men of the court ap∣proved well of that which they had done in this case; and Amasis himselfe infinitely commen∣ded the pudicitie and magnanimitie of dame Eryxo; and after he had honoured them with rich presents, and roially enterteined them, he sent them all backe (Polyarchus I meane, and the two ladies) with his good grace and favour, to Cyrene.

XENOCRITE. [ 30]

XEnocrite a ladie of the citie Cumes, deserveth no lesse to be praised and admired, for that which she practised against Aristodemus the tyrant, whom some thinke to have bene sur∣named Malacos, that is to say, Soft and effeminate, in regard of his loose and dissolute carriage: but they are deceived and ignorant in the true originall and occasion of his name; for the Bar∣barians gave him this addition Malacos, which in their language signifieth a Yonker: because being a very youth, with other companions of equall age, as yet wearing their haire long, whom in olde time they tearmed Coronistae, (of their blacke locks as it should seeme) he above the rest, in the warres against the Barbarians, bare himselfe so bravely: (for he was not only hardy & cou∣ragious in spirit, stout also and tall of his hands, but withall full of wit, discretion and forecast, [ 40] and so farre excelled all others in singularitie) that hee became right famous and renowmed; whereupon he grew into such credit and admiration among his countreymen and fellow-citi∣zens, that incontinently promoted he was and advanced by them to the greatest offices of State and highest dignities in common-weale; insomuch as when the Tuskans made warre upon the Romans in the right and quarrell of Tarquinius Superbus, and namely, to restore him againe to his crowne and kingdome, from which he was deposed; the Cumans made him captaine gene∣rall of those forces which they sent to aide the Romans: in which expedition and warfare that continued long, he carried himselfe so remisly among his citizens, (which were in the campe under his charge, and gave them so much the head to do what they would, winning their hearts by courtesies and flatterie, rather than commanding them as their generall) that he put into [ 50] their heads, and perswaded them (upon their returne home) to run upon the Senate, and to joine with him in expelling and banishing the mightiest persons and best men of the citie. By which practice he set up himselfe as an absolute tyrant: and as he seemed wicked and violent otherwise in all kinde of oppression and extortion; so most of all he was outragious and went beyond him∣selfe in villanie toward wives and maidens, to yoong boies also of good houses and free borne: for among other enormities, this is recorded of him: That he forced yoong lads to weare their haire long, like lasses, to have also upon their heads, borders, cawles, and attires with spangles of

golde; contrariwise, hee compelled yoong maidens to be rounded, polled, and notted, and to weare short jackets, coats & mandilians without sleeves, after the fashion of springalds: howbe∣it, being exceedingly enamored upon Xenocrita the daughter of one of those principall citizens who by him were exiled, her he kept, not having espoused her lawfully, nor woon her good will by faire perswasions, supposing that the maiden might thinke her selfe well appaied, and her for∣tune verie happie, to be enterteined (in any sort whatsoever) by him, being by that meanes so highly reputed of and esteemed fortunate among all the citizens: but as for her, all these favors did not ravish and transport her sound judgement and understanding; for besides that she was mightily discontented to converse and keepe companie with him, not espoused, nor affianced and given in marriage by her friends, she had no lesse desire to recover the liberty of her coun∣trey, [ 10] than those who were openly hated of the tyrant. Now it fortuned about the same time, that Aristodemus caused a trench to be cast, & a bank to be raised round about his territory, a piece of worke neither necessarie, nor profitable, which he did onely upon a policie, because he would thereby vexe, out-toile consume & waste his poore subjects; for he tasked every man, to cast up & cary forth by the day a certaine number of measures full of earth. Xenocrita when she saw him at any time comming toward her, would turne aside, and cover her face with the lappet of her gown: but when Aristodemus was passed by & gone, yong men her play-feres, by way of mirth and pastime, would aske her why she muffled and masked her-selfe, as ashamed to see him one∣ly, and was not abashed to see and be seene of other men as well; unto whom she would answer demurely, & that in right good earnest say: Iwis I do it of purpose because there is not one man [ 20] among all the Cumans but Aristodemus: this word touched them all very neere; but such as were of any noble spirit and courage, it galled and pricked for very shame, yea, and gave them an edge to set in hand and enterprise some manly act for to recover their freedome: which when Xenocrita heard, she said by report, that she would rather herselfe carie earth in a basket upon her owne shoulders as other did, for her father if he were there present, than participate in all delights and pleasures, yea, and enjoy great power and authoritie with Aristodemus. These and such like speeches cast out by her, confirmed those who were conspired and ready to rise against the tyrant, of whom the chiefetaine and principall leader, was one Themotecles: unto these con∣spiratours Xenocrita gave free accesse and ready entrie unto Aristodemus; who finding him a∣lone, unarmed and unguarded, fell many at once upon him, and so quickly dispatched him out [ 30] of the way. Lo how the citie of Cumes was delivered from tyrannie by two vertues of one wo∣man; by the one she first gave the citizens an affection, minde and heart, to begin and enter∣prise; and by the other she ministred unto them, meanes to execute and performe the same: for which good service of Xenocrita, those of the citie offred unto her many honors, preroga∣tives, and presents; but she refused them all, onely she requested this favour at their hands, that she might enterre the corps of Aristodemus, which they graunted, and more than so, they chose her for to be a religious priestresse unto Ceres, supposing that this dignitie would be no lesse ac∣ceptable and pleasing unto the goddesse, than beseeming and fitting the person of this lady.

THE WIFE OF PYTHES. [ 40]

IT is reported moreover, that the wife of rich Pythes, in the daies of Xerxes when he warred upon Greece, was a vertuous and wise dame; for this Pythes having (as it should seeme) found certeine mines of gold, and setting his minde thereon, not in measure, but excessively, and un∣satiably, for the great sweetnesse and infinit gaines that arose thereby; both himselfe in person bestowed his whole time therein, and also he emploied all his subjects and citizens indifferently without respect of any person, to digge and delve, to carrie, to purge, and clense the said golde oare; not suffering them to follow any other trade, or exercise any occupation else in the world: upon which unmeasurable and incessant toile, many died, and all were wery, and grum∣bled thereat, insomuch as at last, their wives came with olive branches, like humble suppliants [ 50] to the gate of this lady his wife, for to moove pittie, and beseech her for redresse and succour in this case: she having heard their supplication, sent them away home to their houses with verie good & gracious words, willing them not to distrust and be discomforted: meane while she sent secretly for gold siners, goldsmithes, and other worke-men in gold, such as she reposed most confidence in, & shut them up close within a certeine place, willing them to make loaves, pies, tarts, cakes, pastrie-works, and junkets of all sorts, sweet meats, fruits, all manner of meats and viands, such as she knew her husband Pythes loved best, all of cleane gold; afterwards, when all

were made, and he returned home to his house (for as then he was abroad in a forren country:) so soone as he called for supper, his wife set before him a table furnished with all kinds of counter∣feit viands made of gold, without any thing at all, either good to be eaten or drunken, but all gold, and nothing but gold: great pleasure at the first tooke Pythes for to see so rich a sight, and so glorious a banquet, wherein arte had so lively expressed nature; but after he had fed his eies sufficiently with beholding these goodly golden works, he called unto her in good earnest for somewhat to eate; but she still whatsoever his minde stood to, brought it him in gold; so that in the end he waxed angrie, and cried out, that he was ready to famish: Why sir (quoth she) are not your selfe the cause of all this? for you have given us foison and store of this mettall, but caused extreame want and scarcitie of meat and all things else, for all other trades, occu∣pations, [ 10] arts, and mysteries are decaied, and their use cleane gone; neither is there anie man that followeth husbandry and tilleth the ground; but laying aside, and casting behind us all thing that should be sowen and planted upon the earth for the food and sustentation of man, we doe nothing else but digge and search for such things as will not serve to feed and nourish us, spending and wearing out both our selves and our citizens. These words mooved Pythes verie much; howbeit, for all this, he gave not over quite the mines and mettall works, but enjoining the fifth part of his subjects to travell therein by turnes, one after another; he gave the rest leave to husband their lands, and plie their other crafts and misteries. But when Xerxes came downe with that puissant armie for to make warre upon the Greeks, this Pythes shewed his magnificence in the enterteinment of him, with sumptuous furni∣ture, [ 20] costlie gifts and presents, which he gave unto the king and all his traine: for which he craved this onely grace and favour at his hands againe: that of many children which he had, he would dispence with him for one of them, that he might not goe to the warres, to the end that the said sonne might remaine with him at home in his house, for to tend and looke unto him carefullie in his old age: whereat Xerxes was so wroth, that he com∣maunded that one sonne (whom he requested) to be killed presently, and his dead body to be cloven through in the mids, and divided into two parts; and so dislodged and caused his ar∣mie to march betweene them both; the rest of his sonneshe led with him to the warres, who died all in the field; whereupon Pythes being discomforted, and his heart cleane cast downe, did that which those ordinarilie doe, who want courage and wit; for he feared death, and [ 30] hated life; willing he was not to live, and yet hee had not the power to make an end of his life; what did he then? There was within the citie a great banke or mount of earth, under which there ranne a river, which they called Pythopolites; within this mount he cau∣sed his tombe to be made, & turned aside the course of the said river, in such sort, that as it passed, the streame might glide upon this monument of his; which being prepared and done accordingly, hee went downe quicke and alive into the same sepulchre, having resigned over unto his wives hands the citie, and the whole seignorie thereof; injoyning her thus much; that she should not approch herselfe unto this tombe or monument but onely eve∣ry daie once send unto him, his supper in a little punt or boat downe the riveret, and to con∣tinue this so long untill she saw, that the said punt went beyond the monument, having [ 40] in it all his victuals whole and untouched; for then she should not need to send him any more, but take this for an assured signe, that he was dead. Thus lived Pythes the rest of his daies; but his wife governed and managed the State prudently, and wrought a great change and alterati∣on in the toilsome life of her people. [ 50]