The generall history of vvomen containing the lives of the most holy and prophane, the most famous and infamous in all ages, exactly described not only from poeticall fictions, but from the most ancient, modern, and admired historians, to our times / by T.H., Gent.

THE SIXTH BOOK inscribed ERATO. (Book 6)

Treating of Chast Women, and of Women Wan∣tons.

ERATO signifies Love; of which, there are but two kinds, that is, the love of Vertue, or of Vice: then under what Muse could I more properly patronize the Chast and the wanton? But methinks I hear some of our C••iticks murmure and say, Whither doth this man purpose to wonder, that hath lost his way and gone too far already? He might do wel to break off here, and leave it to some other heads, either more ingeniously witty, or more gravely serious. To such, I make the same answer that Bishop Bonner did once to Henry the eight. The King of England, and Francis, the first of that name, King of France, being at ods, Henry was much incensed, and ap∣pointed Bishop Bonner (his Embassadour) to debate with him sharply about the designs then in hand: who having accommodated all things fitting for the journy, came to take his leave of the King, his Master, who uttered many bitter and disdainfull words against Francis, all tending to his opprobry and dishonour; and in these terms (saith he) deliver unto him thy Embassie. To whom Bonner replied; If it please your majesty, if I should give him such harsh and

despightfull language, and in his own Court too, he can do no lesse then take off my head. Thy head (answered the King) If he do, it is no matter: but tell him further, if he dares to cut off thy head, ten thousand of his subjects heads shall be sent after it. To whom Bonner (after some small deli∣beration) again replied: But I am doubtfull (my Liege) whether any of these ten thousand heads will fit my shoulders; in that short answer as well taxing the Kings rash fury, as provident for his own safety. With which the King some∣what satisfied, and better considering with himselfe, delive∣red unto him a more calm and milder Embassie. So, though those heads may savour both of more Judgement and Rea∣ding, I am doubtfull whether they could more naturally sute with my own method and stile, though never so mean or barbarous: Therefore, Deo adjuvante & Erato assistente, I proceed.* 1.1 The Spar••ans had a custome in their solemn Feasts, to have a long of three parts, sung by three severall Chorus's, The first was of weak old men, The second of young able men, The third of boies and pretty grown chil∣dren. The old men began with this verse:

Olim juventutem nos strenuam egimus. We have been Strong, that now Decrepit are.

To whom the young men in a second quire answered:

Fortes sumus nos, fac si vis periculum. We are both Young, and Strong, prove us who dare.

To them a third tone the children ecchoed:

Nos ••rimus his praestantiore plurimo. With these in Youth and Strength we shall compare.

To this three fold age, I compare the triplicity of the Muses. The first three books are by this, already spent in your judgements: The second three, of which this is the last, are the pith and strength of my present work in hand; to which the three succeeding (though yet in their infancy) I shall strive to parallel, if not exeed the rest. And first of Chastity. It is reported of a woman of L••cena, that a great man sending her rich gifts to corrupt her chastity, she re∣turned him this answer, Whilst I was a Virgin, I was taught to obey my father, which I accordingly did; and being a wise, to submit my selfe to my husbands will; if then you desire any 〈◊〉〈◊〉 at my hands, get first his consent, and you shall after understand my further pleasure. Plutarch. in Lacon. 〈…〉〈…〉 those Lucenaean Vir∣gins were taken captives and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 open market; one of

them being cheapned, was demanded what she knew? she answered, To be faithfull. Another being asked if he should buy her, whether she would prove chast? answered, Whe∣ther he bought her no, she would be chast howsoever: her master after seeking to corrupt her, she slew her self, utter∣ing these her last words, See what a treasure thou hast lost, that knewest not my worth whilst thou wast possessed of me. There have been many men that have left unto women strict rules of Chastity by their examples. Saint Augustine being asked why he would not suffer his own sister to dwel in the h••use with him? answered, Because such as may con∣verse with her are not my sisters; intimating, that all such as would avoid the sin, ought to shun the temptation: for he was wont to say, It is not good to look upon a woman, it is worse to converse with her, but worst of all to touch her. Therefore these sences of ours that are most subject to dan∣ger, ought most to be supprest and bridled, Marul. lib. 4. Capit. 7. and Sabin. lib 5. Hierome repoots of the Abbot Hy∣larian, That when he found any unchast cogitations arise in his breast, he would bear himselfe upon the bosome, as if with blowes and buffets he would expell them thence (and thus said) I wil tame thee, O Ass, that thou shalt no more kick and spurn against me with thy heels, I will not henceforth feed thee with Barley but chaff, I will abate thy wantonness with hanger and thirst, I will load thy back with grievous burdens, I will inure thee to the Summers heat and the Winters cold. After which time he used the spare diet of roots, and the juice of herbs; and these only when necessity compelled him to eat: He enjoined himselfe (the time of pra••er excepted) to strict and continuall labour, to encrease his appetite, but not augment his diet. Therefore Hierom a∣gainst Lust, prescribes these three soveraign remedies; Fast, Praier, and hard Labour: The examples are innumerable, as well amongst Ethnick men, as Christians. Alexander supping with Antipadres, there was brought to the table and see just against the King, a wondrous beautifull woman, as excellent in voice as in face,* 1.2 both tempting so far, that Alex∣ander began suddenly to be surprised with her love, and demanded of Antipadres, If she were a woman whom he any way affected. To whom he answered, That she was endea∣red to him above all other creatures living. Then thou fool (repli'd the King) cause her instantly to rise and be conveied hence from the banquet. How farre then was this

temperate Prince from adulterating another mans wife, that was affraid to do his host the least injury in his strum∣pet? Therefore Julianus the Emperor having took the City Nalaca, wherein were many women of rare and extraordi∣nary feature, was so far from corrupting their vertues, that he commanded, not any of them should be suffered to come in his presence.* 1.3 Caelius lib. 7 cap 27. tels us, that so great was the chastity of the Paduan women in times past, that not any of them walked out of their doors but with their faces covered. Therefore Caius Sulpitius Galla sued a divorce against his wife, because she was met bare-browed in the streets, against whom he thus pleaded, Thou art only to be governed and guided by the lawes of mine eies, thy beauty is to be approved by them, and to please them alone, thou oughtest to adorn thy self: but to desire to seem fair in the eies of strangers, incurs the imputation both of susp••tion and trespass.* 1.4 What should we think then of that fantastick attire and gawdy ornaments so much in use now adaies,* 1.5 which as well in youth as age, rather seem openly to pro••esse lust, then inwardly to protect chastity. O•• these curiosities in vain and unnecessary attire, Plautus in Pe••ulo thus speaks,

Negotii sibi qui volet vim parare, navem & mulierem Hec duo sibi comparato, &c. He that is idle and would businesse have, Let him of these two things himselfe provide, A Woman and a Ship: no two things crave More care or cost, to suit the one for pride, Th' other for tackles: they are both like fire. For still the more they have they more desire. And this I speak by proof, from morn to noon, Their labours and their travels have no end, To wash, to rub, to wipe, and when that's done, To strive (where nothing is amisse) to mend: To polish, and expolish, paint, and stain, Vnguents to daub, and then wipe out again, &c.

Now what generall censures these fantastick garbs and meer importunities incur, if any demand, I answer, What lesse then weaknesse of the brain, or loosnesse of life: This jest following though it be old, yet me thinks it is pity it should die unremembred. A Gentleman meeting in the streets with a brave gallant wench and richly accommoda∣ted, seeing her walk with her breasts bare almost down to the middle: laying his hand upon them, demanded of her in

her ear, whether that slesh were to be sold, who scornfully answered, No, to whom he modestly replied, Then let me advise you to shut up your shop windowes, I will end this monitory counsell with an Epigram out of Ausonius, which bears title of two sisters of unlike conditions:

Delia nos miramur, & est mirabile quod tam Dissimiles estis▪ &c. We wonder Delia, and it strange appears, Thou and thy sister have such censure past; Though known a where, the habit's chast she wears Thou (save thy habit) nothing whorish hast: Though thou chast life she hath chast habit sought, Her manners her, thy Habit makes thee nought.

In memory of virgi•• cha••tity, I will cite you one history out of Marullus, lib. 4. cap. 8.* 1.6 The monument of Aegypta (the daughter of Edgar King of England, a professed Vir∣gin in her life time) being opened after she had many years lain in the grave, all her body was turned into dust, saving her womb and bowels; and they were as fresh and faire without any corruption, as at the first day of her interment. Those that stood by wondring at the object, one Clerk amongst the rest broke forth into these terms: Wonder not to see the rest of the body tast of putrifaction, and the womb still sound and perfect, which never was contaminated with the least stain or blemish of lust. Of her, Bishop Dunstan thus speaks: Worthy is her remembrance to be honoured upon Earth, whose chast life is celebrated amongst the Saints in Heaven. O great reward, due to Virgin chastity, by which such felicity is attained, that their souls are not only glorified in Heaven, but their bodies are not subject to corruption on earth. But because the Theam I am next to speak of, is of Virgins, give me leave to begin with the best that ever was since the beginning, for Beauty, Chastity and Sanctity; nor shall it be amisse to speak a word or two concerning her Genealogy.

Mary the mother of Christ, was the daughter of Joachim, of the Tribe of Juda; her mothers name was Anna, the daughter of Isachar, of the Tribe of Levi. Here (as Saint Hierome observes) is to be noted, That Anna and Emeria were two sisters: of Emeria came Elizabeth, the mother of John Baptist:* 1.7 also Anna was first married to Ioachim, and had by him Mary the mother of Christ, and was after espoused to Clcophas, by whom she had Mary Cleophe, who was mar∣ried

to Alphaeus. From them two cames James the lesse (sur∣named Alphaeus) Simon Cananaeus, Judas Thaddaeus, and Joseph, otherwise called Barsabas. Eus••bius in his Ecclesia∣sticall history, lib 2. cap. 2. saith, That James the lesse was cal∣led the brother of our Lord, because he was the brother of Joseph, the husband of Mary: but his opinion is not altoge∣ther authenticall. Also Anna was espoused to Salome, and had by him Mary Salome, after married to Zebedeus, and had by him James the greater, and John the Evangelist. Jos••ph the husband of Mary, was the brother of Cleophas. It is also observed,* 1.8 That in the one and fortieth yeare of the reigne of Augustus Caesar, in the seventh month (which is September) in the eleventh day of the Moon (which is the four and twentieth day of the month) on a Thursday, Iohn Baptist was conceived; and two hundred threescore and fif∣teen daies after, on a Friday was born: So that he was the fore-runner of Christ, both in his Conception, his Birth, his Baptism, his Preaching, and his Death. A woman goeth with child two hundred threescore and sixteen daies (for so long by computation, was Christ in the womb of the bles∣sed Virgin) though all women goe not so long with child, S. Augustine observes, lib. 4. de Civitate Dei, cap. 5. So that Christ was longer in the womb by a day, and more, then St Iohn Baptist. Iohn also was born when the daies began to shorten and wane; and Christ when they began to wax long. Concerning these Antiquities, I conclude with a sentence of St Augustins: Against Reason (saith he) no sober man will dispute; against the Scripture, no Christian man con∣test; and against the Church, no religious man oppose. And so I proceed to the History.

Of Mary the blessed Virgin.

LEt it not be held unnecessary, or appear out of course,* 1.9 amongst these Virgins to insert a history memorable for the rarenesse thereof to all posterity. Iohannes Wyerius in his book intituled de Praestigi••s demonum▪ hath collected it out of Suidas.* 1.10 In the mean time that Iustinian was Emperor, there was a Prince amongst the Jewes, whose name was Theodosius; He having great aequaintance and familiarity with one Philippus a Christian, a bancker, or one that dealt in the exchange of monie (for he was called Philippus Ar∣gentarius) this Philip did often sollicite and exhort him to

leave his Judaisme, and be a convert, and turn to the Christian religion: to whom he answered, Indeed he must ingeniously confesse, he made no question but that Jesus whom the Christians adored, was the same Messias of whom the holy Prophets foretold, yet he could not be perswaded to relinquish the honours and profits that he had amongst his own Nation, and give himselfe up to a name which they knew not, or at least would not acknowledge: yet that he beleeved so of Christ, he was not only perswaded by the Oracles of the holy Prophets, but he found it approved by a certain mystery, namely, a writing most charily stil kept amongst the Jewes, in a place most safe and secret, where their choice records with the especiallest care and trust are reserved; which was of this nature: It was a custome amongst the Jewish Nation, at what time the holy Temple was yet standing in Jerusalem, to have continually the number of 22 chief and selected Priests (just so many as there be letters in the Hebrew language, or books of the old Testa∣ment) and so often as any of these was taken away by death, immediately another was elected to succeed in his place; and being chosen (in a book kept in the treasury for that only purpose) expressly to write down his own name, and the names of both his parents, with the daies punctually set down of the decease of the one and the succession of the o∣ther. Now in the time that Christ was conversant in Judaea, and yet had not shewed himselfe to the world, nor preached the Word openly to the people, it hapned that one of the Priests of the foresaid number died, neither after many voi∣ces and sundry nominations was any agreed upon, or thought fit to be ascribed into his place. At length was pro∣pounded JESUS, the son of the Carpenter Ioseph (for so they termed him) a man though young, yet for the sanctity of his life, his behaviour and doctrine, above all the rest commended. This suffrage standing, as having generall approbation from all, it was convenient to send for his mo∣ther (for his father Ioseph was late dead) into the Consistory, only to know their names, and to register them in the afore∣said book. She therefore being called, and diligently que∣stioned of her son and his father, thus answered,

That in∣deed she was the mother of JESUS, and brought him in∣to the world; of which, those women are testates, that were present at his birth; but that he had no father from earth: in which if they desired to be further instructed, she

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could make it plainly appear: For being a Virgin, and then in Galilee, the Angel of God (saith she) entred the house where I was, and appearing unto me (not sleeping, but thus as I am, awake) he told me, That by the Holy Ghost I should conceive, and bring forth a son, and com∣manded me that I should cal his name JESUS: There∣fore being then a Virgin, by that Vision I conceived, I brought forth JESUS, and I still remain a Virgin unto this day.

When the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 he••••d, this, they appointed faithfull and trusty Midwive••, with all diligence and care to make proof whether Mary were a Virgin or no: they finding the truth most app••••ant and not to be contradi∣cted, delivered up to the Priests, That she 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Virgin, pure and immaculate. Then they sent for those women that were known to be at her delivery, and were witn••sses of the Infants comming into the world; all which did attest and justity▪ That she was the mother of the same JESUS▪ With these things the Priests amazed and astonished, they pre∣sently entreated Mary, that she would freely professe unto unto them what his Parents were, that their names (accor∣ding to custome) might be registred amongst the others. To whom the blessed Virgin thus answered:

Certain I am, that I brought him into the world, but know no father that he hath from the Earth; but by the Angel it was told me, That he was the son of GOD; He therefore is the son of GOD, and me.

This the Priests understanding, called for the book; which being laid open before them, they caused these words to be inscribed:

Upon such a day deceased such a Priest, born of such and such Parents; in whose place, by the common and unite suffrage of us all, is elected Priest, JESUS, the Son of the living GOD, and the Virgin MARY.

And this book Theodosius affirmed (by the especiall diligence of the most noble amongst the Jewes, and the chiefe Princes) was reserved from the great sack and destru∣ction of the City and Temple, and was transferred into the City of Tiberias, and there kept a long time after. Sui∣das testifies, that he hath heard this discourse from honest men, who delivered it to him word by word, as they them∣selves have heard it from the mouth of Philippus Argentarius. This most blessed and pure Virgin Mary, the mother of our Lord and Saviour, was born of the holy Matron St Anne, in the year of the world, 3948, and in the year before

Christ, fifteen Of him, Claudian thus elegantly writes in one of his Epigrams:

Proles vera Dei, cunctis{que} antiquior Annis Nunegenitus, qui semper eras— True Son of God, older then time, that hast Thy birth but now, yet from beginning wast, Author of Light, and Light before all other, O thou that art the parent of thy mother, And by th••ne equall-aged father sent From Heaven unto this terrene continent: Whose word was made Flesh, and constrain'd to dwell In the streight▪ prison of a Virgins cell, And in a narrow angle to remain, Whose power, no limit can, no place contein; Who being born, did'st now begin to see All these great works created first by thee: The work and workman of thy selfe not scorning T' obey those weary hours of Ev'n and Morning, Of which th' art Lord, and tell each minute o'r, Made by thy Wisdome for mans use before. And took'st on thee our shape, only to show To us, that God we did (till then) not know, &c.

Petronilla.

VVHen Peter the Apostle, had by his faith cured all infirmities and diseases, and in all places, yet he suffered his daughter Petronilla to be grievously af∣flicted with a Feaver; and being demanded, why he that had cured others, did not help her; he answered, Because he knew her sicknesse to be most behoofful for her souls health; for the weaker she was in body, she was so much the stron∣ger in faith, setling her cogitations on the joies of heaven, and not the pleasures of the world, desiring of God that she might rather die a chast Virgin, then to be the wife of the Counsull Flaccus, by whom she was at that time most ear∣nestly solicited: whose praier was heard, for she died of that sicknesse, and the Consull was prevented of his pur∣pose, who had long insidiated her chastity, Marul. lib 4 cap. 8. The like we read of Hillarius P••ctaviensis Episcopus, who having long trained up his daughter App••a in chastity and sanctity of life,* 1.11 fearing lest time might alter her vowes, and tempt her with the vain pleasures of the world, he besought

the giver of all graces, that he might rather with joy follow her to her grave, then with sorrow to her marriage bed; which was accordingly granted, as the same Author testi∣fies. * 1.12 Eustochium the daughter of Paula a Noble matron of Rome, is celebrated by Saint Hierom for the only president of Virginall chastity.* 1.13 Tora the virgin was of that chast and austere life, that having took a vow and once entred her profession, she never put on her back any new garment, or so much as changed her shooes.* 1.14 Maria Aegyptiaca, lived the life of an Hermit in the solitude of an unfrequented de∣sart: some write of her, that as aften as she was seen to pray, she seemed to be lifted up from the Earth into the Aire, the height of a cubit.* 1.15 Columba a Virgin of Perusina, is repor∣ted to be of that chastity and abstinence, that she never ta∣sted any other food then the bare fruits of the earth, from the years of her discretion till the hour of her death.* 1.16 Ama∣ta was a professed Virgin, who in forty ye••rs space never set foot over the threshold of that Cloister, wherein she had confined her self, in which time she never tasted food, save bread and roots.* 1.17 Sara lived in the time of Theodosius the elder, she made a Vow, never to lodge beneath any roof; but inhabiting the bank of a certain river, removed not from that place in threescore years. The like is read of Syl∣via, * 1.18 a Virgin, the daughter of Russinus, a Prefect or Ruler in Alexandria, who betook her selfe to solitude for the space of threescore years, in which time she never washt any part of her body save her hands, nor reposed her selfe upon any bed save the ground. It is reported by Edward Hall, John Leisland,* 1.19 John Sleyden, and others, of S. Ebbe, Abbesle of Col∣lingham, That to preserve her own and her sisters chasti∣ties, and keep their vowes inviolate (because they would seem odible to the Danes, who had done many outrages both against Law and Religion, and then tyrannized in the Land) she cut off her own nose and upper lip, and per∣swaded all the other Nuns to do the 〈◊〉〈◊〉: for wh••••h act, the Danes burnt the Abby, with all the 〈…〉〈…〉 Fulgos. lib. 4. cap. 3. speaks of Ildegunda,* 1.20 a Germane Vi••gin, born in Nas∣sau; who after many temptations, to which she feared her beauty might subject her, in the year 1128 she changed her habit, & got to be entertein'd in a Priory neer unto worms, called Scu••na beu Hiem: in which she lived long by the name of Joseph, in singular continence and modesty▪ stil con∣versing amongst the learnedst and best approved schollers,

even till the time of her death▪ neither was she then known to be a woman, till comming to wash her body, her Sex was discovered. In the same Monastry, and amongst that Covent, lived Euphrosyna,* 1.21 a Virgin of Alexandria, by the name of Smaragdus: as also one Marina,* 1.22 who called her selfe Mari∣nus, both dissembling their Sex Gunzonis,* 1.23 daughter to the Duke of Arboa, was possessed by an evil spirit; but after, by the praiers of holy men being recovered, she vowed per∣petuall Virginity. And after being demanded in marriage by Sigebertus, King of the French men, she was delivered unto him by her father: who debating with her concerning his present purpose, she humbly desired to be excused by his majesty, in regard she had already past a pre contract: The King demanding, To whom? she answered, She was a betrothed Spouse to her Redeemer: At which the King be∣ing startled, forbore to compell her any further, but suffe∣red her to take upon her a religious life; she preferring her Virgin Chastity before the state and title of a Queen. And these shall suffice for Religious Virgins; I now pro∣ceed to others, that grounded their vertue on meer mora∣lity.

Baldraca was a Virgin,* 1.24 but of mean parentage, and of a dejected fortune: yet to her never-dying honour, and pre∣sident to all ages to come (notwithstanding she was not a∣ble to supply her selfe with things needfull and necessary, either for sustenance or ornament) neither by threats or menaces, promises of worldly honours or promotion, she could not be tempted to prostitute her selfe to the Emperor Otho.* 1.25 Saxo Grammaticus writes of Serytha, the daughter of Synaldus King of the Danes, to be of that modesty, that when the fame of her beauty had attracted a confluence of many suitors to the Court of her father, yet she could never be won either to converse with, or so much as to look upon any of them.* 1.26 Tara was a French Lady, of a noble and illu∣strious family▪ she lived in the time of Herac••ius▪ who when her father Hagerticus, and her mother Leodegunda would have compell'd her to marry she fell into that exces••e of weeping, that with the extraordinary flax of ••eares she grew blind soon after.* 1.27 Dula was •• Virgin famous for her chastity, who chose rather to be slain by the hand of a Souldier, then to be despoiled of her Virginity.* 1.28 Statyra and Roxana were the sisters of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 King of Pontus,* 1.29 who for the space of forty yeers had kept their vow of Virginity invio∣late;

these hearing the sad fate of their brother: and fear∣ing to be ravished by the enemy (at least, to fall into their captivity) by taking of poison, finished both their daies and sorrowes. Plutarch writes of one Roxana, drowned in a Well by Statyra.* 1.30 It is reported of an Het••urian Damosell (taken by a Souldier) who to preserve her Virginity, leapt off from the bridge Ancisa into the Arnus: of whom, Benedictus Varchius hath left this memory in one of his Epigrams:

Perderet intactum ne Virgo Etrusca pudorem In rapidas sese praecipitavit aquos, &c. The Hetrurian Girl, her honour still to keep, Precipitates her selfe into the deep; And from the bottom three times being cast Vp into th' air, as loth that one so chast Should there be swallow'd, she as oft sinks down Her modest face, her martyrdome to crown, And shame the lustfull world. What shall we say Of the chast Lucrece, famous to this day? She for one death, is call'd the Romans pride; To save her Fame, this Tuscan three times di'd.

Bernardus Scandeonus, lib. 3. Classe 34. Histor. Patavinae, writes, that when Maximilian the Emperor made spoil of the Paduan territories, divers of the Country people leaving the villages empty, fled into the City; amongst whom was one Isabella,* 1.31 a Damosell of Ravenna, who being seized on by some of the Venetian souldiers that then had the charge of the City, and surprized with her beauty, drew her aside, with purpose to have dishonoured her▪ but finding no o∣ther means to shun the violence of their lust, she from the bridge cast her selfe headlong into the river Medoacus, where she was drowned: and afterwards, her body being drawn out of the river, was buried under a bank, without any other ceremony belonging to a Funerall.* 1.32 Martia, the daughter of Varro, was of that admirable continence and chastity, that being most excellent in the Art of Painting, she not only alienated and restrained her Pencill from lim∣ning any thing that might appear obscene, or shew the least immodesty, but she was never known to delineate or draw the face of a man, Ravis. in Officin. The like is reported of 〈…〉〈…〉,* 1.33 alike excellent in Painting, and as remark∣able for her Virgin Chasti••y. Britonia, a beautifull maid of Creet (giving her selfe wholly to H••nting,* 1.34 and the Chase) to shun the importunities of King Minos (who laid trains to

vitiate her) threw her selfe into a river, and was drowned. Daphne,* 1.35 the daughter of Amicla, retired her selfe both from walled Cities, and all publick society, and was at length enterteined into the fellowship of Diana, frequenting the Laconian fields, and Peloponnesian mountains. Of her, Leu∣cippus the son of Oenemaus was enamoured; who having at∣tempted divers waies to compasse his will, but not prevai∣ling in any, he bethought himselfe what course Jupiter took to stuprate Calisto, the daughter of Lycaon; and attiring himselfe in the habit of a female Huntresse, was entertai∣ned by Diana, and admitted into their number: where he grew familiar with all, and especially endeared to Daphne; insomuch, that she thought no hour well spent without him. Of which acquaintance Apollo being jealous (in regard they had such convenience of time, place, and opportunity) he put his own dearly beloved Daphne in mind, to entice Leucippus to a river, where Diana with all their nymphs in∣tended to both themselves: Whither when they came, the Virgins disrobed themselves, even to nakednesse; and being all stript to their skins, but finding Leucippus only to move delaies, they pluckt off his garment by force, and so disco∣vered him to be one of the contrary Sex: at which Diana en∣raged, commanded all her Virgins to take up their Bowes and Quivers, and so they shot him to death with their ar∣rowes. This is recorded by Parthen. de Amator. Theodor. Flaietes in Eleg. and Philarchus, lib. 15.

Of Chast Wives.

AN excellent president of Chastity was that in Rhodogune,* 1.36 the daughter of Da∣rius; who caused her Nurse to be slain, because her husband being dead, she perswaded her to a second marriage. A more admirable remark of Nuptiall Chastity it was of the wives of the Theutonicks, remembred Hieron. in his Epistle to Gerontia; whose husbands being slain, and they taken captive by Ma∣rius, humbly besought him on their knees, that they might be sent to the Vestals in Rome, as a present; protesting they would be equally with them, still from the society of men,

and professe perpetuall chastity, but their request being de∣nied by the Consul Marius, the next night following all of them with an unite consent strangled themselves.* 1.37 Theoxena was famous for her Chastity, who being environed at Sea by the Navy of Philip King of Macedon, seeing her hus∣band thrown over-boo••'d, leapt after him to follow him in death; not only to express her love to her husband, but her scorn to stand to the mercy of the conqueror. Baptista Pius, lib. 2. Elegiar.* 1.38 speaks of Tyro, a woman of Thessalia, who (her husband being dead) could by no counsell of friends, or perswasion of kindred, be won to survive him Plutarch in Pompeio speaking of Hypsicrataea,* 1.39 saith, she was so endearedly affected to her husband King Mithridates, that for his love she made a voluntary change of her most becoming wo∣manish shape and habit, into a mans: for cutting her hair, she accustomed her selfe to the practise of Horse and Arms, that she might with the more facilitie endure the labours and dangers of the wars. Her husband being subdued by C••. Pompeius, and his Army quite dissipate and overcome, she followed him (flying) through many barbarous Nati∣ons, where her life and safety were in hourly hazard; and these she enterprized with a mind undaunted, and a body unwearied, her faith and loialty in all his extremities be∣ing to him no small solace and comfort: for though an Ex∣ile (being still in the society of his Queen and bed fellow) he imagined hims••lfe (in what place soever he reposed) to have been in his own palace, and amongst his houshold gods.

Of Penelope.

THE beauty of Penelope attracted a number of suitors, who from divers Countries came to adulterate the bed of▪ Vlysses. From D••lichim came two and fifty, from Samos four and twenty, from Xacynthus twenty, from Ithaca two and twenty; of which, these are nominated by Homer: Anti∣nous, Eurinous, Eurimachus, Leocritus, Neso, Pysander, Hesip∣pus, Agatus, Leocles, Ampinomus, Demotholomaeus, Medon, a common Crier, Euphemus a Minstrel, and Irus a Beggar; all which, Vlysses (at his return from his years travels) slew in his own house. Some of these, Ovids Penelope reckons up in these verse:

Dulichii, Samii{que}, & quos tulit alta Xacinthus, &c.

Dulichium, Samos, and Xacinthus Hill, Throng me with troops of wanton suitors still: What should I speak to thee of Medon fell? Of Polibus, or of Pysander tell? What of Antinous giddy head deplore, Covetous Eurimachus, and others more? These in thine absence cannot be withstood, But still thou feed'st them with thy wealth and blood: The Begger Irus and Melanthius too, The Herdsman, &c.

And since we are in the history of Penelope,* 1.40 It shall not be amisse to dilate it a little further out of Homer: who in his first book intituled Odyssaea, of Phaemius the Harper, speaks to this purpose:

Phaemius the Harper to the boord invited, Where the bold suitors bid themselves to feast, A dolefull song to a sad tune recited: Of th' Argive fleet in their return distrest, And cast in sundrie exiles: on what coast Such men miscarry, where such Princes perish, Vpon what rocks and shelves such ships were tost: Him, whil'st Penelope, bold suitors cherish, The discontented Queen, with Prayers, and Tears, Wils him desist: the Harper soon forbears.

But to leap from the first, to the seventeenth book, and to omit all Vlysses travels and adventures, till his meeting with his son Telemachus, who brought him into his own Court in the disguise of a begger, to see what revels were kept there in his absence; Known only to his son and his friend Eumaeus, and not yet to Penelope.

Jam Caelum roseis rutilat Tritonia bigis.* 1.41 Telemachus unto the Queen relates The processe of his long peregrination: Eumaeus brings Ulysses 'mongst those states That sought his bed; where they in courtly fashion Were sate at a rich banquet with his wife, There he begs meat, Antinous 'mongst the rest, Threats with injurious words to seise his life, But the mild Queen invites him as her guest. Ulysses for that time forbears their sight, But sends the Queen word he will come at night.

Irus adest populi per mendicabula notus.* 1.42 In his own Palace whilst Ulysses craves Their Charity, Irus (that was indeed One of that rank, and begg'd 'mongst ragged slaves) Boldly thrusts in, amongst the rest to feed: From words these grow to blowes; the suitors they Encourage both parts to maintain the Fray. Proposing him that shall ••••••ome for prize The intrails of a Goat. Ulysses he Proves victor in his beggers base disguise, And (halfe dead) I••us of the place doth free; For which he's guerdon'd, at the Queens request, With a rich Gift from every unbid guest. At parte 〈◊〉〈◊〉 domus secretus Vlysses.* 1.43 Ulysses with Telemachus conspires The death of all those suitors, both devising How to release the Queen to her desires, And free the Palace from their ty••annizing: And that they neither may offend, nor stand, Compl•••• by night, their weapons how to steale, Now by Humaeus to the Quee••s fair hand Her Lo••d is brought (who will not yet reveal Himselfe to her) but saith he is of Creet, To whom her husband 〈◊〉〈◊〉 had been a guest. They part; The Queen commands to wash his 〈◊〉〈◊〉, (And for that night betakes her to her rest.) That 〈…〉〈…〉 takes (his Nurse before) She 〈…〉〈…〉 upon his flesh espies, O•• mount Parnassus given 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by a Bore, It was no sooner seen, but out she cries, Ulysses, Are you come? Be••ng thus desc••i'd, He praies, and brikes, that she his name will hide. —Iam{que} procos genua amplexus orabat Ulysses. The guest, at banquet,* 1.44 Eresippus casts To 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Ulysses, but he mist his aim, (〈…〉〈…〉 both time and banquet wasts) 〈…〉〈…〉 to the place Theoclemenus came, Expe••t in Divination, who sore-spake At table to them all, their eminent ruine: But at his words they strange derisions make, Abus••ng all that speak of things ensuing; They 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the high ••owers, and contemn the fates, And thrust at length the Prophet forth the gates.

Vnto Eumaeus and Philetius too,* 1.45 In whom he trusts, the Prince himselfe makes known, And what that night he had intent to doe: And how to make safe seizure of his own, (which croft must doe) be cals for that strong bow, In which, what time he woo'd his beauteous Bride, All that were Rivals, must their vigors show, Yet he atchiev'd what many suitors tri'd: This was propos'd a second marriage prize. And now the selfe-same Bow before them brought, All prove their strengths (save he in his disguise) But (much unable) they prevailed nought. The Bow the son unto his father gave: Which they (deriding) no way would admit, That such a needy and penurious slave (It being a Kings) should once lay hand on it; The rather, they being in their prime of years, And he so aged: yet he needs must try. And now his ancient potency appears; They shame to see it done, and they stand by. Squalentes H••meris habitus rejecit Vlysses.* 1.46 Ulysses drawes the string up to his ear, The keen shaft flies, and stern Antinous pierces: At this, the boldest stand amaz'd, and fear, Whilst he enrag'd, strewes all the room with Hearses. The Palace gates are shut, no man can flie; Eumaeus and Telemachus proceed, With bold Philetius, and aloud they crie, Kill all, spare none, for now the bold'st must bleed. The harmlesse Phemius, that but came in sport, (Skilful in th' Harp) their ruthlesse furies spare; And Medon that did ne'r offend the Court, Or 'gainst Penelope the least thing dare: But stern Melanthius. one of her own Train, That did the suitors in their riots cherish, He by their swords, amongst the rest, is slain; Twelve strumpets likewise in their furies perish. Chalcidicum gressu nutrix superabat anili.* 1.47 From sleep Euriclia soon awak'd the Queen, Relating all that had that night been done, What valour in her husband she had seen, And what in her just servants, and her son. In her distraction to beleeve, or no.

(By this) Ulysses to the Queens fair bed Approacheth, whom at first she did not know; Till by some tokens he's acknowledged, Receiv'd and lodg'd; be makes a full Narration Of his Wars, Travels, Acts, and Navigation.

And so much, the better to illustrate the History of Pene∣lope.

Capanaeus being dead, at the celebration of his funerals, his wife Evadne cast her selfe into the flames,* 1.48 of whom Martial:

A••serit Evadne flammis injecta mariti.

Of no lesse fame was Laodamia,* 1.49 her husband Protesilaus (under whose jurisdiction were Antron, Philaca, and La∣rissa, Cities of Thessalie) was the first Greek that was slain in the siege of Troy, and (some write) by the hand of He∣ctor: which sad newes when his wife understood, to comfort her sorrow, she only desired of the gods to see his ghost or shadow; which she supposing to be granted her, in the ima∣gination thereof she expired. Of no lesse memory is Pan∣thaea the wife of Abratidas a noble Persian,* 1.50 who no sooner heard that her husband was slain in battell, but with a po∣niard stabbed her selfe to the heart, and so died.* 1.51 Sophronia Romana, by some called Christiana, by others Lucretia; when she could no longer put off the importunities of the Prince Decius, having before besought the consent of her husband, slew her selfe. As great an honour to her family was Anto∣nia, * 1.52 who in the prime and flourishing time of her beauty, having buried her husband, to prevent the temptation of suitors, married her selfe to the strictnesse of one chamber, to which her younger sister being a vowed Virgin, had con∣fined her selfe; thus in one bed the heat of youth in the one was extinct, and the solitude of widdowhood wasted in the other. Q. Curtius lib. 1. remembers us of one Timoclea a La∣dy of Thebes,* 1.53 who being forcibly adulterated by a Prince amongst the Thracians, dissembled for a time both her hate and purpose; not long after she insinuated with him, and told him she would conduct him to a place in which was hid much treasure; of which he being covetous, she brought him to the brink of a deep Well being in a remote place of the house, to which he presenting himselfe and bending his body downwards, to satisfie his expectation concerning the treasure, she apprehending that advantage, thrust him headlong into the Well, and casting huge stones after him,

revenged her selfe upon the ravisher.* 1.54 Brasilla Dyrrachina a prime Lady, as Ludovic. Viues lib. 1. de Instit. Tem. Christian, relates, being taken prisoner, and seeing an immediat ship∣wrack of her chastity threatned by her cruell victor: she covenanted with him, that if he would but reprieve her ho∣nour for the present, she would give him an herb, with whose juice if he would annoint any part of his body, it should preserve it wound-free. The souldier accepts of the condition; she from a neighbour garden plucking up the weed that came next to hand, with the sap or moisture thereof, annoints her own neck and throat, bidding him to draw out his sword and make triall of her selfe, whether she kept not with him faithfull covenant. The souldier gi∣ving cr••dit to her words, in regard of her constancy and courage, with one strong blow dispatched her or life. O re∣solute and Noble Lady saith Nicephorus, lib. 7. cap. 15 to prefer death before the losse of her honour. Francis Sforza, Prince of Mediol••num, being Generall of the Florentine Army,* 1.55 having taken the City Casanova, certain souldiers brought befo••e him a beautifull captive, who with great vociferation called out, Bring me to your Prince, Bring me to your chiefe Generall. The souldiers moved with her ear∣nest clamour, brought her before him, who demanded of the woman, Why she was 〈◊〉〈◊〉 importunate to be conducted into his presence? to whom she answered, For no other rea∣son, but to submit her selfe wholly to his pleasure; condi∣tionally he would secure her from the injurie of the soul∣diers; to which he willingly assented, and seeing her of such exquisite feature and so tempting a presence, he purposed to make use of her libe••all and free proffer that night, therefore he commanded a bed to be made ready, in which she was lodged, thether he presently repairs, and being un∣clothed, casts himselfe by her naked side; but reaching his arm to embrace her, her eies being full of tears and her heart of sorrow, she humbly besought him before he touch∣ed her body, but to grant her the hearing of a few words; at which the Prince making a sudden pause: she pointing with her finger to the picture of the blessed Virgin (for Sforza was never without that or the like in his bed cham∣ber) she intreated him, even for the remembrance he bore to the person whom that Table presented, for the honour due to her Son and his Saviour, and for the dignity of his goodnesse, and for the sacred memory of his noble ance∣cestors,

not to infringe her matrimoniall Vow, nor violate her conjugall Chastity, but deliver her back an unspotted wife to her unfortunate husband, who was then a prisoner amongst many other wretched captives. Her words took such impression in the noble General, that notwithstanding her tempting beauty (the motives to inchastity) his present opportunity, and absolute power over her as she was his vassal and prisoner, yet to shew his miraculous tempe∣rance, he preferred a name of a chast and continent Prince, before the imputation of a Tyrant or an Adulterer, and in∣stantly leapt out of the bed, and left her to her modest and more quiet test. In the morning he sent for her husband, to whom (after a great character of her Chastity given) he delivered her, not only freeing them both without ransome, but from his own coffers bountifully rewarding her vertue; in the subduing of his own affections gaining more honor then in the conquest of so great a City. In this act not only imitating but exceeding Scipto:* 1.56 For that incomparable Lady that was presented unto him, was of high linage and princely parentage, besides he lived in a free City, and to have dishonoured her, he had not only incurred censure, but being then in a forrein nation purchased to himselfe the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of tyrant, and hazarded a new revolt of the peo∣ple: but that was nothing to oppose Prince Sforza in the sa∣tis••ying of his lust, save his own goodnesse; for what con∣queror hath not power over his captive.* 1.57 Fulgos. lib 4 cap. 3. Anastatia Conflantinopolitana, when Theodora Augusta was jealous, that she was not beloved of her husband Justinianus Augustus, and having to that purpose received some taun∣ting words from the Emperesse, to approve her innocencie, she fled both to Court and City, and retired her selfe into Alexandria, where she lived obscured in the society of cer∣tain chast Virgins: But after, hearing of the death of Theo∣dora▪ her fears were not diminished but augmented, for the Emperors love appeared to her a greater burden then the hate of the Empresse; therefore to avoid that which many would have sought with greedinesse, she changed her ha∣bit, and taking the shape of a young man upon her, fled in∣to the furthest part of Aegypt, called by the name of Ana∣stasius; where she lived privately, austerely, and ended her chast life in great sanctity. Hieronym. writes, that Paula Ro∣mana, * 1.58 after the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of her husband, was so far from being perswaded to a second, that she was never known from that

time to eat or drink in mans company. Of a contrary dispo∣sition was Barbara the wife of Sigismund Emperor,* 1.59 Aenaeus Silus relates of her, that her husband being dead, when di∣vers perswaded her to continue still in her widdowhood, proposing unto her, that wamen ought to imitate the Tur∣tles, who if one be taken away by death, the other will ne∣ver chuse other mate, but devote her selfe to perpetuall cha∣stity? thus answered, If you have none else to bid me imi∣tate but birds that have no reason, why do you not as well propose me for example the Doves or the Sparrowes? As contrary again to her was the daughter of Demotian Prince of the Areopagitae, who no sooner heard that her husband Leosthenes was stain in the Lamick warre, but instantly slew her selfe, lest she should survive a second marriage. Others there be that have kept a viduall chastity even in wedlock. The Virgin Edeltrudis,* 1.60 as Sigilbertus and Beda both witness, was the daughter of Annas a Christian King of the East-Angles, she was first delivered by her father in marriage to Candibertus a great Prince, who were no sooner married, but by mutuall consent they vowed lasting virginity; at length he dying, she was by her father compelled to a second nup∣tials with King C••phordus, with whom she lived twelve years, yet never (as they could adjudge it) unloosed her Virgin girdle. After which time, by her husbands consent she took upon her a religious life, and entred a Monastery, where (as Marullus l. 4. cap. 8. saith) she lived a more secure, but not a more chast life. Infinite to this purpose are re∣membred by Fulgosius, Marullus, Albertus Cranzius, &c. as of Maria Desegnies, Margarita Aegypta, Cecilia Virgo, K••n••gunda Augusta wife to Henry of that name the first Emperor. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 espoused to Julianus Anti••chenus, Stamberga the Niece of clo••ovius, married to Arnulphus a noble Frenchman. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and others without number (which is somewhat dif∣ficult 〈…〉〈…〉 wedded, bended, boarded, lien and lived together, yet went as pure Virgins to their graves as they came first to their ••••adles. Of these I may say as Ovid 〈…〉〈…〉.

〈…〉〈…〉 〈…〉〈…〉 〈…〉〈…〉 〈…〉〈…〉 〈…〉〈…〉 〈…〉〈…〉

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Sh' abhorr'd the nuptiall bed▪ and held it sin, With modest blushes did the tender skin Of her fair cheek; then to her father growes, And her white arms about his neck she throwes, And saith, Deer Sir, this one thing grant your child, That I may live from lustfull man exil'd, A voteresse. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Diana this desired, And from her father had what she required.

I will produce one history or two at the most from our modern Histories, and so cease further to speak of our mar∣ried Virgins.* 1.61 It is reported in the Legend, That after Edi∣tha the daughter of Earl Godwin, was married to King Ed∣ward (otherwise called St Edward) they mutually vowed betwixt themselves perpetual chastity, and therein perseve∣red to the end of their lives. There continued in them (saith the Legend) a Conjugall love, without any conjugall act; and favourable embraces, without any deflowring of Vir∣ginity; for Edward was beloved, but not corrupted; and Edi∣tha had favour, but was not touched; she delighted him with love, but did not tempt him with lust; she pleased him with discourse and sweet society, yet provoked him to no libidi∣nous desire. It is moreover in that Treatise recorded, That they used to call marriage a shipwreck of Maidenhead, comparing it to the fiery furnace of the Chaldaeans; to the Mantle that Joseph left in the h••nd of a strumpet, the wife of Potiphar; to the lascivious outrage of the two wicked El∣ders, * 1.62 who would have oppressed and vitiated Susanna the wife of Ioachim;* 1.63 and lastly, to the enticements of drunken Holo••ernes towards faire Judith, one of the deliverers of her people. And so much for the Legend. But Richardus Davi∣siensis saith▪ That being awed by Earle Godwin▪ ••nd for the feare of hazarding his life and Kingdome, Edward was compelled by threats and menaces to the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Edi∣tha. Moreover, Polidore 〈◊〉〈◊〉, That for the ha••e he bore her father (who had not long before most tr••iterously slain his brother Alphred) he caused himselfe to be divorced from her, seizing her goods and dower to his own use and plea∣sure. Ranulphus, and one that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 himselfe Anonymos (as willing to conceal his name) say, That she was disrobed of all her Queen-like honours, and confined into the Abbey of Warnwel, with only one maid to attend her, and so com∣mitted to the strict custody of the Abb••sse. William of Mal••sbury, and Marianus Scotus have left remembred, That

he neither dismissed her his bed, nor carnally knew her; but whether it was done in hatred to her Kindred, or pur∣pose of chastity, they are not able to determine. Robert Fa∣bian confesseth as much in his Chronicle, Part. 6. cap. 210. Howsoever, the effects of that abstemious life were not only prejudiciall, but brought lamentable effects upon this distracted Kingdome, namely, Innovation and Conquest: for Edward dying without issue, England was invaded and opprest by the Normans, and the people brought to that miserie, that happy was that subject that could say, I am no Englishman. And in this, agree Matthew Paris, Capgrave, Fa∣bian, and Polydore. As I hold it not necessary for married folk to tie themselves to this strict kind of abstinence, so I hold it not convenient for any such as have to themselves, and in their souls, taken upon them the strict life of Vir∣ginity▪ to be compelled to an enforced marriage; as may appea•• ••y this discourse following, recorded by Gulielm. ••••••sburien Simeon Danelmens. Matthew Paris, Roger Hove∣d••••, Capgrave, &c. Henry the first of that name, King of Eng∣land, and crowned in the year of Grace, 1101, was by the instigation of Anselm (once a Monk of Normandy, but after by William Ru••us constituted Archbishop of Canterbury) married unto Maud,* 1.64 daughter to Malcolm the Scottish King, she having taken a Vow, and being a profest Nun in the Abbey of Winchester. Much ado had the King her father, the Queen her mother, her Confessor, Abbesse, or the Bi∣shop, to alienate her from her setled resolution, or perswade her to marriage: but being as it were violently compelled thereunto, she cursed the fruit that should succeed from her body; which after (as Polydore affirms) turned to the great misfortune and misery of her children: for afterwards, two of her sons, William and Richard, were drowned by Sea. Be∣sides, her daughter Maud (who was afterwards Empresse) proved an untortunate Mother; and amongst many other things, in bringing forth Henry the second, who caused Tho∣mas Becket to the slain; it thus hapned: All forreign wars be∣ing past, and civill combustions being pacified, in the year of our Lord 1120▪ Henry the first with great joy and triumph left Normandy, and came into England. But within few daies following, this great mirth and jollity turned into a most heavy and fearfull sorrow; for William and Richard (his two sons) with Mary his daughter, Otwell their 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and Guardian, Richard Earl of Chester, with the Countesse his

wife, the Kings Neece, many Chaplains, Chamberlains, But∣lers and Servitors (for so they are tearmed in the story) the Archdeacon of Hereford; the Princes play-fellowes, Sir Geffrey Rydell, Sir Robert Maldvyle, Sir William Bygot, with other Lords, Knights, Gentlemen, great Heirs, Ladies, and Gentlewomen (to the number of an hundred and forty) be∣sides Yeomen and Mariners (which were about fifty; all these saving one man, which some say was a Butcher) were all drowned together, and not one of their bodies ever after found. Many attribute this great Judgement to the heavy curse of Queen Maud, others censure of it diversly: How∣soever, in this King (as Polydore saith) ended the Descent and Line of the Normans. Of this Anselm (before spoken of) there are divers Epistles (yet extant) to many women, in those daies reputed of great Temperance and Chastity: as, To Sister Frodelina, Sister Ermengarda, Sister Athelytes, Si∣ster Eulalia, Sister Mabily, and Sister Basyle; To Maud Ab∣besse of Cane in Normandy; and Maud, the Abbesse of Wal∣ton here in England. He writ a Treatise about the same time, called Planctus amissae Virginitatis, i. e. A bewailing of lost Virginity. So far John Bale▪ And so much shall serve for Chast wives in this kind, being loth to tire the patience of the Reader.

Of Women Wantons.

DIon the Historiographer in Tiberio, saith, that Livia the wife of Augustus Caesar beholding men naked, said to the rest about her; That to continent and chast matrons, such objects differed nothing from statues or images; for the modest heart with immodest sights, ought not to be corrupted. The unchast eie more drawes the poi∣son of sin from beauty, which is Gods excellent workman∣ship, from which the chast and contrite heart derives the Creators praise and glory. But my hope is, that in exposing unto your view, the histories of these faire Wantons, you will look upon them (should I strip them never so naked) with the eies of Lyvia, that is, to hold them but as beautifull statues, or like Apelles his woman, no better then a picture of white Marble. I have heard of a man that living to the ago of threescore and ten, had led so austere a life, that in all

that in all that time he never touched the body of a woman, and had proposed to himselfe to carry that virginall vow with him to his grave; but at length being visited with sick∣nesse, and having a fair estate purchased with his small charge and great husbandry, and therefore willing to draw out the thread of his life to what length he could, he sent to demand the counsell of the Physitians; who having well considered the estate of his body, all agreed in this, that since the Physick of the soul belonged not to them, but on∣ly the physick of the body, they would freely discharge their duties; and indeed told him, that his p••esent estate was dangerous, and they found but only one way in art for his cure and recovery, which was in plain terms, To use the company of a woman, and so took their leaves and left him to consider of it. Loath was the old man to lose his Virgi∣nity which he had kept so long, but more loath to part with his life, which he desired to keep yet longer; and having meditated with himselfe from whom he was to depart, and what to leave behind him; namely, his possessions, his monie, his neighbours, friends, and kindred, and whether he was to remove, to the cold and comfortlesse grave; he resolved with himselfe to prolong the comfort of the first, and delay (as long as he could) the fear of the last: Therefore he re∣solved rather then to be accessory to the hastning his own death, to take the counsell of the doctors. It was therefore so ordered by some that were about him, that the next night a lusty young wench was brought to his bed, one that fea∣red not the robustious violence of youth, much lesse to en∣counter the imbecillity of sick and weak age. I know no•• with what squeasie stomack the patient relished his phy∣sick, but early in the morning he gave content to his she-Apothecary, who was conveied out of the house undiscove∣red. The next day divers of his friends comming to com∣fort him, they found him sadly weeping, and by no means could they wean him from that extasie: at length the one of them who was privy to the former nights passage, began to compassionate with him, and told him he was sorry for his extream heavinesse, and (as knowing the cause) said▪ No doubt but God was merciful, and wished him not to despair but be of good comfort, and with ghostly councell perswa∣ded him to take nothing to his heart, because he hoped all would be well. The old man told him he understood not his meaning, but desired him to be more plain, that he

might know to what purpose his language did intend. His neighbour answered him again, Sir, I have been acquain∣ted with you long, have known your continence and strict∣nesse of life, and withall, your abstinence from women; and I am sorry that your last nights businesse should be the occasion of this melancholy and these tears. To whom the sick (but pretty well recovered) man thus replied, Neigh∣bour you much mistake the cause of my sorrow▪ I neither grieve nor weep for the good and wholsome physick I had the last night, but I now vex and torment my selfe that I have so idly spent mine age, there being such a pleasure upon earth (above all that I have hitherto enjoied) that I never had the grace to know it sooner, and try what it was before this time. If then Lust can strike this stroke, and have this efficacy in age, O how much should we pitty youth rea∣dy daily and hourly to run into this dangerous inconve∣nience.

Of these wantons there be two sorts, Meretrices and Scor∣ta, that is, Whores and common Women, such as either for Lust or Gain, prostitute themselves to many, or all. The se∣cond are Concubina or Pellices, Concubines to Kings and Princes, or such as we call the private mistresses to great men. The last are as our Accidence teacheth, like Edvardus and Gulielmus, proper names to this man or that. The first like Homo common to all men: both degrees sinners, but not in the like kind. I have read a third sort, but know not what consonant or agreeing name to confer upon them. I have heard of some that have been called honest whores, It may be those that I shall speake of were such, and because they are the strangest, I will begin with them first. Dosithae∣us, lib. 3. Lydiacorum, tels us, that the Sardians having com∣menced war with the Smyrnae••ns, invested themselves be∣fore the City of Smyrna, and having begirt them with a streight and difficult siege, those of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 (it seems being hot fellowes) sent their Embassadors into the City to this purpose, That unlesse they would send them their wives to adulterate at their pleasures, they would not only raze their City, and levell it with the earth, but kill man, woman and child, and so extirp their memory. This message brin∣ging with it not only terror but horror, much perplexed the besi••ged: and betwixt the distractions of perpetuall in∣famy and most certein death, not able what to determine (and having sate long in councell, but nothing amongst

them concluded) a young lusty Virago (one that was hand∣maid or bond-woman to Philarchus) desired to be admitted into the Senate. And being called in amongst them to know what she had to say, she told them, That understan∣ding to what miserable exigent they were driven, she had d••••ised (so pleased them to be swaied by her direction) a ••eans n••t only to deliver themselves from scorn, their wives from dishonour, and their children from the reproach of bastardy, and their lives and goods from spoil, but to subject the barbarous enemie into their hands, with a no∣ble and memorable victory. No marvell if to such a pro∣ject they gave attention, when greedily demanding, By what means the least of these proposed blessings might be accomplished? she thus counselled them, Send (saith she) to the ••e lustfull Sardinians, and tel them you wil in all points satisfie their desires: At the time appointed, let me with the rest of your slaves and vassals, be attired in the habits of our L••dies and Mistresses; for (no question) being deckt in their ornaments and jewels, we shall appeare not only free women, but sufficiently beautifull. Now in the night, when we are fast lodged in their embraces, and they drea∣ming of no further dangers then their delights, and that you think we have sufficiently cooled their hot courages; arm your selves against the Sardinians, whom (if they of∣fer to ••ise and arm themselves at the Alarm given) we will keep still ••ast lock in our arms, till what we have left of them being naked, you your selfe dispatch being armed. This counsell was followed, and accordingly took effect. In memory of this, the Feast called Elutheria, i. of Free-women is yearly celebrated in Smyrna; in which the maid-servants attired in their mistresses habits, sit at the table, and are 〈◊〉〈◊〉 on by them, whom they attend all the year after. 〈…〉〈…〉 lib 1. Italicorum, parallels this history thus: 〈◊〉〈◊〉 King of the Ga••ls, infesting the Romans with war, and having compelled them to the like exigent, de∣manded the like horrible conditions of peace, namely, to adulterate their wives: but being in the same manner advi∣sed by their handmaids, and having intelligence given them by one Retana the chief of that counsell,* 1.65 when the Gauls were 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in sleep and lust, they set upon them in the night, and gave them a brave defeat: from whence the Feast of the Hand maids took beginning, which is cele∣brated amongst the Romans even to this day.

A tale something like unto these, I have been told of a Mistresse, that in some sort did as much to save her maids honesty; but whether to the same commendable purpose, of that I am somewhat doubtfull. In some great City it was (I cannot say London) that a Citizen of good reckoning ha∣ving a fair wife, kept divers prentices and maid-servants in his house: one of those busie young fellowes had cast a wanton eie upon her that ruled the rost in the Kitchin, and longing as much to be in her books, as out of his time; and waiting many nights for opportunity to find her in some remote place, or dark entry, it hapned that one night he dogg'd her at the heels: she hearing him to tread softly af∣ter her, to escape him stept up a pair of stairs just as her Mi∣stresse came down. The prentice groping in the dark, catcht hold upon his Mistresse, and without any word speaking, began to proportion his work according to the shortnesse of his time. The Gentlewoman all this while let him alone to see what he would do, and having made proof of him to the full, she might very well perceive what his unchast in∣tent was, when clinging him close to her lest he should escape undiscovered, She asked what bold sawcy knave he was that durst offer her that injury? the young fellow knowing her voice, and finding his mistake, down on his knees and besought her to pardon him and not to tell his Master, for he took her for one of the maids: The maids saith she, which of the maids? he answered, The Kitchin-maid: and is it so (saith she) well ••irrha, I will henceforth prevent the getting of Bastards in my house, without knowing who shall father them, and for that night said no more: but the n••xt morning to prevent all future danger, pickt a quarrell with the Kitchin-wench, paid her her wa∣ges and turn'd her away. It seems after, the young man did well, for she made him (before his time was fully out) both her journeyman and foreman. It followes next in course, that I should define unto you, what these prostitutes and common women are; but what need I trouble my selfe so far, when in these corrupt daies, almost every boy of fifteen or sixteen years old, knowes what a strumpet is, better by his own practise, then I can illustrate to him by all my reading. And for Concubines, we need not travell so far as the Turks Seraglio, since but few Kings Palaces are without them. And for such as we call Sweet-hearts, Friends, or good wenches, should we but search noble mens Diaries,

Gentlemens Summer-lodges, or Citizens Garden••houses, and travel no further, we should no question find plenty sufficient. It would also become this place well, to perswade those loose and incontinent women with some elaborate exhortation, to retire themselves from that abominable and wicked course of life. But I am altogether discouraged, when I remember the positions of one most notorious in that trade; word being brought her, as of a strange and unexpected noveltie, that one who had been a famous strumpet, had retired her selfe from all her lewd courses, and was lately turned honest woman. ••••ush saith she, tell me that as often as you will, I will never beleeve it, For once a whore and ever a whore, I know it by my selfe▪ Of these Plau∣tus thus speaks in Truculento:

Mer••tricem ego item esse reor Mare ut est— Strumpets are l••ke the sea which doth devour Rivers and brooks▪ and what so else you poure, Into his vastnesse: neither hath it been Fuller by them, nor their great bounty seen. So whatsoe'r thou spend'st upon a whore, It doth not make her rich, but thee still poor. Terentius in Helyra saith: Nec pol istae metuunt Deos nec hos respicere Deos opinor. Th••y feare not God, and he regards not them.

I could produce innumerable adages and sayings of wise men, both Poets and Historiographers to the like purpose, but I desire to be prolix in nothing. Petronius Arbiter in his Satyricon hath left remembred,* 1.66 that when Panachis, a girl of seven years old, was brought to the faire youth Gyton to be strumpeted, one wondring that so young a thing was ca∣pable of prostitution;* 1.67 to him Quartilla the bawd thus an∣swered, Minor est illa quam ego fui ••um primum virum possa sum, i Is she lesse then I was when I lost my Virginity? and thus proceeded, M••y Juno ever be displeased with me, if I can remember since I was first a maid; for being an infant I commixt my selfe and had congresse with little ones like my selfe, and as I grew in years, so I pickt out children of equall age, even till I came unto this burden that you now see, and hereupon (saith she) I think came the Proverb, Such may easily be brought to carry an Ox, that pract••sed at first to carry a Calfe. I think the name of Quartilla was given

her because she began to practise at four years and held on to fourscore. From common Strumpets I should proceed to private mistresses: I will begin and end with them in this Sonnet.

A Sonnet.

Though my Mistresse seem in show, Whiter then the Pyrene Snow: Though I fitly might compare her To the Lillies, or things rarer, Christall, or to ice congeald, Be others given and kept from me, What care I how fair she be.

Though her visage did comprise The glorious wonder of all eies: Captive led she hearts in chains, Kill'd or cur'd with her disdains: Chus'd Beauty (that commandeth fate) Her forehead where to keep her state: Should another step in place, I care not, I'd not love that face.

Imagine next her brain divine, Or mansion for the Muses nine: Did her bosome yield choice places For the Charites and Graces: Had she stately Junos stile, Pallas front, or Venus smile: If he enjoy her, and not I, For these vertues what care I.

Tra••••d she Loves queen in her treasure, And could teach the act of pleasure, Make Lais in her trade a fool, Ph••ine or Thais set to school, To Helen read; or could she doe Worth Io and Europa too: If these sweets from me she spare, I'll count them toies, nor will I care.

But if my Mistresse constant be, And love none alive save me,

Be chast, although but something fair; Her least perfection I'll think rare, Her I'll adore, admire, prefer, Idolatrize to none but her. When such an one I find and trie, For her I'll care, I'll live, I'll die

Lais.

THis Lais (as Aristophanes Bizantius relates) was a strum∣pet of Corinth: she was called Axine, for her feroci∣ty and rudenesse of manners. Her, all the prime and noblest Heroes of Greece frequented, and extasi'd with her beau∣ty, came daily in troups to visit her. Athenaeus in his Dipso∣noph: speaks of her Country, behaviour and sepulchre, re∣porting her to be so beautifull, that the most exquisite Pain∣ters of Greece came frequently to her, and besought her to bare her neck, breasts, and other parts of her body before them: For when they were to limn any extraordinary Piece, (wherein was to be expressed Juno, Venus, Pallas, or any wel shaped goddesse or woman) her fair feature or linea∣ments might be their example. She had a great emulation with Phrine the Courtizan, for they lived both in one age. Aristippus the Philosopher (sirnamed Cyrenaicus) about the season that the Feasts were celebrated to Neptune, did yeer∣ly for the space of two months together, associate himselfe with this Lais. Diogenes meeting him upon a time: O Ari∣stippus (saith he) thou keepest company with a common Strumpet, be rather a Cynick of my Sect, then a Philoso∣pher of such loose and dissolute behaviour. To whom Ari∣stippus answered, Appears it to thee, O Diogenes, a thing absurd to dwell in an house which others have before inha∣bited? who answered, No: Or to saile in the same ship (saith Aristippus) in which divers passengers have before time put to sea? Again he answered, Neither: Nor do I think it (replies he) O Diogenes, worthy thy just taxation, to accompany with a woman with whom many others have had commerce. Again, being by others calumniated for his often repair and publike recourse to her (in regard of her common prostitution, and therefore the greater blemish to his more austere profession) he thus satisfied them: This is the difference betwixt me and the rest of her Clients; I on∣ly enjoy Lais, all others are enjoi'd by her. When Dem••sthenes

(the famous O••ator of Athens) desired to have had compa∣ny with her, and she for one nights lodging demanded of him a thousand Drachmes; affrighted with the name of so great a sum, he thus replied: I purpose not to buy repen∣tance so dear. A young man, much taken with her beauty, came to Diogenes the Cinick, and asked him this question, What if a man should marry with Lais? Who presently an∣swered, For a young man it is much too soon, and for an old man it were far too late Concerning her, I have read an elegant Epigram, of an old man desirous of company with her at any rate, and her witty answer to him:

Canus rogabat Laidis noctem Myron, Tulit repulsam protinus, Causam{que} sensit, & caput fuligine Fucavit atra Candidum, &c. White headed Myron did of Lais crave To have one night and be her price would pay: Which she deni'd. But why he could not have His purpose, he perceiv'd, his head was gray: He knew his age betrai'd him, therefore ••e Dies his hair black, and did his suit renew. She seeing head and face to disagree, And them comparing with considera••e view, Thus saies, Why do'st thou urge me thus? the rather, Since but ev'n now I did deny thy father.

Nymphodorus Syracusa in his book De admira••il. writes, That Lais came into Sicily from Hycaris, the most defenced City of that Country: but Stratt•• in Macedon. or Pausan. affirms her to be of Corinth▪ in these words:

Dic unde sunt ductae puellae Ve••ere nuper ex M••gaera Corinthiae Decus I ais Ingens.

Aelian de Var••a Histor. lib. 10. saith, That Lais casting her eies upon a young man of Cyrenaea, called Eubatas, never left soliciting him by all womanish enticements, till she had made him promise her marriage, but the solemnization not to be performed till he had returned Victor from the O∣lympick Games: in which having had good successe, but fearing to h••zard the embraces of a strumpet, he took her Picture only, and carried it to his City of Cyrena, boasting by the way, that he had married and borne thence Lais; Which she hearing, and enraged at the scorn thereof, writ to him this or the like Letter:

O false and perjured man, Whose lust hath no satiety, Since nothing please thee can, Save changes and variety: O thou alone, Constant to none, In nothing setled save impiety.

Our Sex why dost thou blame? Term women sole offenders; 'Tis you that past all shame, Are still your own commenders; That care nor fear To whom you swear, Cease judging, and be now suspenders.

Phillis was chast and fair, Demophoon false and cruell, Sapho thought Phaon rare, And he term'd her his jewell: But Traitors they Their Loves betray, Poor we, can oft fore-see, but not eschew ill.

Falser then either, thou As foulely hast betrai'd me, But I'll beware thee now As Heaven I hope shall aid me, All thy procurements, And slie allurements, Henceforth shall never more perswade me.

Thy Oaths I hold as Lies, As scorn, thy crafty smiling, Thy shape a meer disguise, Thy practice but beguiling; All thy protests, As scoffs and jeasts, And thy fair words no better then reviling

Poisons I'll think thy kisses, And from mine keep thee fasting;

Thy torments, count my blisses; Thy breathings fear as blastings. And thank my fate, I now can hate Thee, whom I now abandon everlasting.

It is moreover reported of her, That being of purpose conveied into the bed of Xenocrates, by the means of his schollers, whom he had instructed in all austerity and strictnesse of life: but she by no whorish blandishments able to corrupt his temperance, his schollers asking her the next morning, How she sped? she told them, They had lodged with her a Statue or an Image, but no man. Tymaeus in his thirteenth book of histories saith, That she was beaten to death with woodden foot-stools, by certain women of Thessaly, in jealousie and madnesse, because she was belo∣ved of a beautifull young man called Pausanias, on whom some of them doted: This was done at a sacrifice in one of the Chappels of Venus: for which cause the place was ever after called, The Grove of wicked or unjust Venus. Her Sepulcher was neer unto the river Paeneus in T••essaly, which runs betwixt the two great mountains of Ossa and Olympus; and upon her Tomb-stone this inscription was graven:

Roboris invicti, ac animi sit Graeciae quamvis Victa tamen, formae paruit illa suae, Laidis, ipse parens Amor est, aliuit{que} corinthus At nunc ipsa tenet, inclita Thessalia▪ Though Greece of unmatch'd strength and courage be, It obei'd Lais to thy shape and thee: Love was thy father, thee Corinthus bred, Who now in stately Thessaly liest dead.

(This notwithstanding) some will not allow her to have been educated in in the Cranaeum, which is a place of exer∣cise in the City of Corinth.

Phrine.

SHE for her beauty was emulated by Lais, and was a prostitute in Thespis, a City of Booetia: who being for some Capitall crime convented before the Senate, and (not∣withstanding she had a famous Advocate to plead in her behalfe) fearing some harsh and severe censure, she tru∣sting

to her beauty, bethought her of this project; before the sentence was pronounced, she cast off her loose and upper garments, and without any word speaking, as far as woma∣nish modesty would suffer her, exposed her body naked to the Judges. (O Beauty, thou canst more prevail then a thousand Orators.) With her rare form and extraordinary feature, the old gray-beards were so taken, that where be∣fore their purpose was to inflict upon her some severe pu∣nishment, they changed their austerity into love and pity, and dismissed her without mulct or fine. Therefore the fa∣mous Orator and Grammarian, Quintilian, thus speaks: The admirable beauty of so compleat a Fabrick, more pre∣v••iled with the Senate, then all the Rhetoricall eloquence of her Advocate Hypparis. Upon this occasion an Edict was published, That from thence forward no Client whatsoever should be in presence whilst their Cause was in pleading, lest either pity or affection to the person should sway the ballance of justice and equity. It is further remembred of her, That Praxitiles the most excellent Painter of his time (for some courtesies she had done, or some favours grac'd him with) promised to give her the best and most curious Table in his work-house: but she by no perswasion or cun∣ning, able to wrest from him which (amongst so many) had the priority, she bethought her of this sleight; watching a time when the Painter was abroad in the City, she hired a messenger to run to him in all hast, and counterfeiting a sudden passion, to tell him his house was on fi••e, and many or most of his elaborate pieces burnt to ashes: At which Praxitiles amazed, and strangely moved, broke forth into this language, But is the Picture of Cupid safe and reserved from combustion? by which, she found that to be his Master∣piece, and therefore due to her by promise. This Phrine ne∣ver used the hot Baths, as other of her profession accu∣stomed to doe: only at the Feasts of Ceres and Neptune, she would in the sight of all the Grecians (in her loose gar∣ment, and hair dishevelled about her shoulders) walk down to the Sea side, and there wash her selfe. And from her, as Athenaeus in his Dypnos. lib. 13. cap. 22. affirms, Apelles drew that admirable and unmatched piece, called Venus Emerge∣us, i. Venus swimming or rising ou•• of the waters: Of which, Ausonius composed an Epigram, with this inscription, In ve∣nerem Andiomenen.

Emersam Pelagi nuper genitalibus undis C••pria Apellaei, Cerne laboris opus. Behold fair Cipria from her native Brine, Plunging (Apelles a brave work of thine) Who shaking off her golden curls, late drown'd, Rains the salt sea-drops from her shoulders round: Her hairs, yet dank 'bout her white wrists she winds, Which wreath'd, she in her silken hair lace binds. Pallas and Juno said (this having seen) Wee yield the Palm to thee, fair beauties Queen.

Praxitiles, the Statuary before spoken of, drew from her the Picture of Venus Cnidia, and under the Table of Love (which was given to adorn the Theatre) he caused these verses to be inscribed:

Praxitiles pinxit, prius est quem passus amorem, Deprompsit proprio pectore qui A chetipum. Love which himselfe hath suffered, and best knew, From his own breast (this piece) the Painter drew.

This Picture of Love, some say was placed in Thespia, a free Town in Boetis, nere Helicon, and dedicated to the Muses, which others take to be a City in Magnesia, neer Thessaly: but her golden Picture, made by Praxitiles, was hung in Delphos above the Marble Statue of Mercury, and betwixt that of Archidamus King of the Lacedemoni∣ans, and Philip of Amintas, having this inscription, Phrine Epicleis Thespia. This, when Crates Cinicus beheld, he said, This Table is dedicated to expresse the intemperance of the Grecians, as Alcaetus witnesseth, lib. 20. depositorum in Delphis. Apollodorus in Lib. Amicarum, speaks of two Phrines, the one was called Sap••rduis, the other Clausig••los, of Kleo, i. Lugeo, to mourn; and Gelos, i. Risus, Laughter. Herodicus saith, lib. 6. Objurgatorum. That she was called by the Ora∣tors, Sestus, because she rifled and despoiled her Clients; and the other Thespica. This Phrine grew exceeding rich, and made offer to begirt Tnebes with a new wall, so that upon the chief gate they would make this inscription: This Alex∣ander the Great demolished, which Phrine the Courtesan at her own charge erected; for so writes Callistratus in his book Amicarum. Timocles Comicus writ of her infinite riches in his Neaera, as likewise Amphis in Novacula. Aristogiton in an Oration against Phrine affirms, That her proper name was M••nesarete Of her, Posidippus Comicus writ more at large in Ephesia.

There was one Timandra,* 1.68 daughter to Tyndarus and Lae∣dia, the sister to Clitemnestra. but Pliny speaks of a notorious strumpet of that name, beloved of Alcibiades the Athenian, for whom (being dead) she erected a famous Sepulchre: she was, with her friend A••cis, opprest in battell by Lysan∣der.* 1.69 Equall to her in beauty was Campaspe, by some called Pancasta, a wanton of an extraordinary feature, and much affected by the excellent Painter Apelles; she was prisoner to Alexander the great, and at his earnest intercession, be∣stowed on him by the Macedonian Conquerour.

Glicerin or Glicera, and others.

THis Glicera was sirnamed Thespiensis of the City where she was born.* 1.70 Praxitiles the Painter much doted on her beauty, and gave her a Table in which Cupid was most curiously pourtraied: which, after her death she bequea∣thed as a legacy to the City. Satyrus reports, That Stilpo being at a banquet with her, and reproving her as a great corrupter of the yong men of Thespis, she answer'd, we are, O Stilpo, of one and the same error guilty alike: For it is said of thee, That all such as converse with thee, and par∣ticipate of thy precepts, thou corruptest with thy amatori∣ous and unprofitable Sophisms: smal difference then there is to be traduced by thee a Philosopher, or by me a profes∣sed Prostitute. She was a great favourite of the Poet Me∣nander. Hipperides in an oration against Manlithaeus, as also Theopompus affirms, That Harpalus after the death of Pytho∣nice sent for Glicera to Athens, who comming to Tarsus was received into the Kings Palace, whither much conflu∣ence was assembled, bowing their knees to her, and saluting her by the name of Queen; neither would they suffer Har∣palus to assume the Diadem till she were likewise crowned; and in Rhossus where his statue was erected in brasse, she caused hers to be placed, for so Clearchus writes in his histo∣ry of Alexander, as likewise Catanaeus: Clearchus observes of her, that when any fair young Lad appeared before her, she used to say, Then doe boies appear most beautifull, when they most resemble the looks and gestures of women.* 1.71 She was affected by Pansia Sicionius a famous Painter.

Harpalus the Macedonian having robbed Alexander the Great of much treasure, flying to Athens sollicited there

Pythonica,* 1.72 and by many great gifts won her to his embra∣ces; she dying, he profusely lavished many talents upon her obsequies, and as Possidonius in his Histories affirms, not only with the artificiall skill of many of the best artists and workmen, but with Organs, Voices, and all kinds of musi∣call harmony,* 1.73 decorated her funerall. Dicaearchus writes, That whosoever shall travell towards Athens, by the sacred way called Elusinis, there he shall behold a goodly Tem∣ple built, in state, height, and compass, exceeding all others, which who so shall considerately peruse, he shall guesse it either to be the cost of Miltiades, Pericles, Cimon, or of some other Athenian equally with them illustrious, and especi∣ally of such a one that for merit towards the Common∣weal, might command a voluntary contribution from the publike treasury. Theopompus in an Epistle to Alexander, thus carps at the intemperance of Harpalus, Consider (quoth he) and enquire of the men of Babylon, with what super∣fluous charge he had interred his strumpet Pythonica, who was but handmaid to Bachis the she-musitian, and Bachis the servant of Synope Threissa, who from the City of Aegina, transported her Bawdries into Athens, she being not only of the third rank and degree of servants, but of Bawds; for with more then two hundred Talents charge, he hath dedi∣cated unto her two sumptuous monuments, to the admira∣tion of all men; when it hath not been known the like ho∣nour or cost to have been bestowed (by him or any other) in memory of any brave souldier, or of such as perished in Cilicia for the Empire and liberty of whole Greece; shee only having perdurable monuments raised to her as well in Babylon, as in Athens, Temples and Altars with sacri∣fices offered her by the name of Venus Pythonica. With other such upbraidings he complained on him to Alexander, of whom Al••xis in Licisca likewise speaks, as also that after her death he took to his bed the before named Glicera. Next her followes Irene.* 1.74

That Ptolomaeus that placed garrisons in Ephesus,* 1.75 and was the son of King Philadelphus,* 1.76 had a beautifull mistresse called Irene; she, when Ptolomaeus was assaulted by the Thra∣cians in the City of Ephesus, and to shun their violence fled into a Chappell consecrated to the goddesse Diana, would not in that distresse forsake him, but entred the place together, and when the souldiers broke open the gates up∣on them to kil the King, she removed not her hand from the

ring of the door, but with her own blood sprinkled the Al∣tar, till the souldiers likewise falling upon her, she expired in the arms of the slaughtered King. As noble was that of Danae.

Philarchus remembers one Sophron of Ephesus to have had in his delights Danae,* 1.77 daughter to Leontius, of the Sect of the Epicures, a man well seen in the speculations of Phi∣losophy. To her trust were all the domestick affairs of the house committed, even by the consent of his wife Laodice; who at length perceiving his love to encline to Danae, she purposed at her next best opportunity to make away with her husband. This being found out by Danae, and in great secrecy revealed to Sophron, he gave at the first no credit to the report; yet at her importunacy, he promised within two daies to consider of the matter, and in that time to de∣liberate what was best to be done in the prevention of such a mischiefe, and in that interim conceals himselfe in the City: by which, Laodice finding her purpose to be discovered, she accused Danae for his murther, and instantly (without further process) by the help of her friends and servants, hurried her to the top of a high Promontory, from thence to throw her headlong; who seeing imminent death before her eies, fetching a deep sigh, she thus said: I marvell not now that the gods have so small honour done to them, in regard of their injustice, since I am thus punisht for saving the life of my friend, and th••s Laodice is thus honoured, that would have took away the life of her husband.

Agathoclaea.

VVArs having been long continued betwixt Pto∣lomey of Aegypt and Antiochus of Syria,* 1.78 inso∣much, that Ptolomaeus was by his Embassadors, rather by fear then necessity, as it were inforced to sollicite a peace; notwithstanding, Antiochus invading Aegypt, took from him many Towns and Cities of consequence: which proffer drawing Ptolomey to the field, be gave him a brave affront and foile; and had he taken the advantage of a present for∣tune, had paid him home with an irrecoverable overthrow: but Ptolomey wholly devoted to effeminacy and luxury, only contented with what he had recovered of his own, and pursuing no further advantages, made choice of a disho∣nourable peace, before a just war, and so concluded all dis∣sention

with an unalterable league. And being free from all forrein invasions, he began domestick troubles at home: For being given over to his own appetite, and besotted to his insatiate pleasures, he first began with Laodice (both his sister and wife) causing her to be slain, that he might the more freely enjoy the society and fellowship of his most rare and beautifull mistress, Agathoclea: so that the great∣ness of his name, and the splendor of his majesty both set apart, he abandoned himselfe solely to whoredomes by night, and to banquets, and all profuseness of riot by day. And now liberty being grown to law, the boldness of the strumpet (for no better my Author stiles her) cannot be con∣tained within the wals of the Kings house, which the over∣dotage of the King, the extraordinary grace: and honours conferred for her sake on her brother Agathocles, together with her own ambitions (growing every day more and more to greater insolence) made still more manifest. N••x••, there was her old mother, called Evanthe, a cunning H••g••l may term her, who by reason of her double issue, Agathocles and Agathoclea, had a great hand with the King, or rather a great power over him. Therefore not contented with the King alone, they possess the Kingdome also: They ride a∣broad in all state to be seen; are proud to be by all saluted, and with such great trains to be attended. Agathocles (as if ••owed to the Kings elbow) was not seen without him, but with a nod or word swaied and governed the City. The gifts of all military honours, as the Tribunes▪ Prefects, and Cap∣tains, all these were appointed by the women, neither was there any in the Kingdome that had lesse power then the King himselfe: who long sleeping in this dream of ma∣jesty (having given away all that was essentiall in a King) he fell sick and died, leaving behind him a child of five years old by his afore murthered wife and sister,* 1.79 Laodice. But his death was by these favourites long concealed, whilst they had by all covetous Rapine, snatched what they might out of the Kings treasurie, by this to strengthen a faction of the most base and dissolute subjects; that by monie thus ill got, and debauch'd souldiers thus levied, they might set safe footing in the Empire: but it fel out far otherwise, for the Kings death and their design was no sooner discovered, but in the rude Concourse of the multitude, the Minion Agathocles was first slain, and the two women, the mother and the daughter, were in revenge of murthered Laodice,

hanged upon gybets, being now made a scorn to every man, that was before a terror to all: the pupillage of the infant and the s••fe••y of the Realm to his use, the Romans most nobly (after) took to their protection.

Cleophis.

ALexander the Great after many conquests entring into India,* 1.80 that he might contermine his Empire with the Ocean, and the utmost parts of the East, and, to which glory that the ornaments of his army might suit, the trap∣pings of his horses, and the armor of his souldiers were all studded with silver; and his main army of their Targets of silver (as Curtius writes) he caused to be called Argyraspi∣des. In processe, by gentle and pleasurable marches they came to the City Nisa, the Citizens making no opposition at all, trusting to the reverence due to Liber Pater, by whom they say the City was first erected, and for that cause Alexander caused it to be spared: passing those fruitfull Hils) where grapes grow in abundance, naturally and without the help of ai••, or hand of man) he thence passed the Dedalian mountains, even to the Provinces and King∣dome of the Queen Cleophis, who hearing of his victories, and fearing of his potency, thought rather to affront him by fair means then by force, by policy then power; for know∣ing her self to be a woman of extraordinary state and beau∣ty, the by her Embassadors sollicited an enterview; which Alexander granting, she appeared before him of such a Queen-like majesty, and her accomplishments of nature so helpt with the ornaments of art (for she was adorned with the richest and best shining stones of India) that her glory so captivated the heart of the conqueror, that they came to treat of composition. she proposing to him, That it were no honour for so magnificent a victor, so famous through the world for his conquests over men, to insult upon the weak spoils of a woman, inured to no other arms then the arms of a sweet and loving bedfellow; yet if for the ransome of her Empire he would accept of her love and service, in that kind she was there in person at his command, his subject and servant. Her beauty, with this submission wrought such impression in the King, that it was concluded betwixt them, and by both parties agreed, That at her honour should be the ranson of her Empire. In conclusion, they lovingly lay

together, and so ended these threatned hostilities in an amorous peace; her body he left tainted, but her Kingdome untouched. She was that night with child by him of a son, whom after his fathers name she called Alexander; he inhe∣rited the Kingdome after her: but by the Indians from that time forward, in regard of her prostitution, she was called the Kings whore.

Callipyge.

SO much were the Grecians given to all voluptuous∣nesse and pleasure,* 1.81 that (amongst others) divers Chap∣pels and Temples were dedicated to Venus Callipyga, the word importing, Quasi pulchras habens nates, i. She that hath faire buttocks; the originall of that superstition (as Aegenae∣us relates) was this, A Countrey Farmer being the father of two beautifull young Virgins, these two concluded be∣twixt themselves which should have the priority in beauty: But modesty forbidding them to dispute it with open faces, they concluded between themselves to come to a place ad∣joining to the high-way, and there to expose their back∣parts naked to all such as passed by, and so by the most voi∣ces to be censured. Amongst many others, a noble young young Gentleman of the next City, by accident passing that way, and somewhat astonished at so unwonted an ob∣ject, enquired the reason thereof, and by one of the specta∣tors being presently resolved, ••e as suddenly gave the Palm to the elder; and intimating by that he saw, what the rest might prove, grew greatly enamored, and returning to his fathers house, surprized with melancholly, was of his brother demanded the cause; he after some few bashful de∣nials, stil urged with the others importunacies, discovered to him the whole circumstance of the businesse. The bro∣ther desirous to be further instructed, was by the lover con∣ducted to the place and object which made him first grow enamoured; whither he was no sooner brought, but he grew presently inflamed with the love of the younger, and gave his censure on her part. These two had an old Sena∣tor to their father, who much observed his children: of him they demanded these virgins in marriage; but he propo∣sing to themselves matches more honourable, they would no way assent. But won at length with their importunacies, he sent in their behalfe to the Farmer, to demand his daug∣ters

in marriage. An enterview was granted, the parties agreed, a marriage concluded, and after comsummate, with satisfaction on all sides. From which time, ever after, the two young married wives were called Callipyga. Of these, Cer∣cidas Megapolitanus in his lambicks to this purpose speaks, These two lived in Syracusa, who by their marriage having attained to wealth sufficient, erected a famous Chappell to Venus, whom they stiled Dea Callipyga. These, divers other Cities of Greece (after them) imitated. This History Arche∣laus likewise in his Lambicks records.

Alogunes, Cosmartidenes, Andia.

YOU shall read in the History taken out of Ex Ctesiae Persicis, That Artaxerxes being dead, Xerxes his sonne succeeded, the legitimate heir by his wife Damaspia (who died the same day with her husband, therefore to be regi∣stred, amongst the women most illustrious:) after their deaths the Eunuch Bagorazus caused both their bodies to be born into Persia, and there to be entombed amongst their ancestors. It is remembred of this Emperor Artaxerxes, that he had by severall concubins, seventeen bastards, amongst these was Secundianus born of Alogunes, he by treason suc∣ceeded Xerxes (having before slain his brother:) this Alo∣gunes was born in Babylon. By another concubine in the same City called Cosmartidenes, he had two sons, Ochus and Arsi••es: this Ochus by supplanting his brother Secundianus reigning some few months) succeeded him in the Empire. Xerxes had issue likewise by one Andia, a Lady of the same Nation, Bagapaeus and Parisatis, who was the mother of one Cyrus, and another Artaxerxes. Xerxes the Persian Empe∣rour (yet living) gave to his second son Ochus, the Prefect∣ship over the Hircanians: Likewise Parisatis to wife, daugh∣ter to Xerxes, and naturall sister to Ochus. This Ochus was ••••ter called Dariaeus, who in all his counsels and projects, ••••er did any thing without the advice of his sister Queen; ••••fore his aspiring to the Empire, he had issue by his wife ••••risatis, two children, a daughter called Amistris, and a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Arsaca, who after changed his name to his grandfa∣••••••rs, and was called Artaxerxes: after his instalment she ••••ght him a son called Cyrus, after him Artostes, and so the ••••••ber of thirteen, of all which, only the fourth son called ••••••dras survived, the rest perished in minority. These 〈◊〉〈◊〉 concubins of Persia.

Julia.

IT is remembred of Augustus Caesar, whose daughter this Julia was, that he established a Law which was called 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Julia, concerning adulteters, after what processe persons so offending should be punished, being convicted and ••ound guilty. It hapned that a young Gentleman of Rome being accused of the same fact with the Emperors daughter Julia before named, Augustus grew into such a fu••y, that not able to come in himselfe, he fell upon the Gentleman, and gave him many violent and sound buffe••s, till the supposed of∣fender cried out, O Emperor where is your Justice? you have made a law concerning these matters, why am I not then judged by that? At which words it so repented him of his rashnesse, that all that day and night he forbore to tast any food. At a certain sword-playing of such like pastime so∣lemnized in the great Roman Theater, Livia the mother, and Julia the daughter, had turned the eies of the multi∣tude upon them twain, and that by reason of the difference of their habits and their attendants; Lyvia being matron∣like attired, was accompanied with aged Senators, and La∣dies of approved modesty and gravity; Julia on the con∣trary, loos••ly and wantonly habited, had in her train none but butterflie-pages, wild fashion-mongers, and fantastick gallants: which observed by Augustus, he the next day ad∣monished her by letters, To observe what difference and ods there was in the appearance of two such high and no∣ble persons: which having read, she returned him only this short answer, Well, and these people about me shall be old like∣wise when I am. This Julia, to a noble Senator of sta••ed gra∣vity, giving her counsell to frame her selfe after her fa∣thers grave and sober behaviour, she presently replied. Though my father doth not remember that he is an Emperour, yet I cannot forget that I am an Emperours daughter▪ It is fur∣ther remembred of her, that beginning to have gray hairs with the soonest and before she was old, as her maids and gentle women were kembing her head the Emperour came in suddenly upon her, and espi'd them picking and pluck∣ing the white hairs up by the roots, which still stuck upon their garments; the Emperor for that present said ••••••ning, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••ut long after amongst many other discourse•• taking occ••si••n to speak of old age, he demanded of his daughter,

Whether she had rather in the processe of a few years, have a reverent white head, or to be directly without any hair at all? she answered, She had rather to have a white head: Why then (said he) do thy damosels all they can to make thee clean bald before thy time? Augustus much grieved with her licentiousnesse, and seeing it subject to no refor∣mation, he banished her the Court, and with her, her daughter Julia his grandchild, who took something too much after the mother; and after that Agrippa whom he had once adopted his heir, but after for his intemperance and br••tish and luxurious riots cast out of his favour. Whenso∣ever mention was made of any of these three, he would re∣cite a verse out of Homer, which imports thus much:

What's now my sorrow, would have been my pride, If I (as some) might issuelesse have di'd.

He used not to call any of those three by any other names then Ulcers or rotten Imposthumes, Cankers, and such like: for he used much more patiently to take the deaths of his friends then their dishonours. He further provided by his last will, That whensoever either Iulia his daughter, or Iu∣lia his grandchild, expired, their bodies should not rest be∣neath his monument. One thing of her I had almost for∣got; Upon a time comming to visite and do her dutie to her father, she perceived his eies to be much offended with the gawdinesse of her attire, as savering of immodest••; the next day taking occasion to revisi him, she changed her habit into a comely, civill, and matronly garb, and in that sort came to embrace her father: Caesar who had the day before suppressed his griefe, was not now able to contein his joy, but brok out into these terms, O how much more decent and seemly are these ornaments for the daughter of Au∣gustus? to whom she instantly replied, Indeed this day I apparelled my selfe to please the eies of a father, but my yesterdaies habit was to content the eies of a husband. She, when some that knew of her frequent inchastities, deman∣ded how it was possible she should bring forth children so like her husband, considering her so often prostitution with strangers? answered, Because I never take in passenger till my ship have her full fraught and lading, Macrob. l 2. cap. 5 Satur. And so much for Iulia.

Phileterus speaking of those wantons that lived afore his time,* 1.82 and were now dead, scoffs them thus, Nonne C••••cope jam egit annorum tria millia? &c. i. Hath not Cercope al∣ready

lived three thousand years? (and proceeding) and rough haired Diopeth••••, and a second Telesis ten thousand: for Theolite none knowes or can remember when she was born; Was not Thais dead when she should have prostituted her selfe and come under? Io••nas and Neaera are now dead and rotten, so is Phila••e. Or Siphas, G••linas, and Coronas, I speak not. Of Nais I hold my peace, because her teeth are now no grinders.

Sinope and Phanostrate with others are remembred by De∣mosthenes in his Oration against Androtiones. Herdicus Cra∣teticus speaks of this Sinope in his Commentaries, and saith, That when she grew into years she was called Ab••dus; she was no question of a famous strumpe•• in her youth, for An∣t••phanes speaks of her in many of his Comedies, in Arcade, in Horlicomo, in Medicatrice, in Piscante, in Neottide, in Ne∣ottide: So likewise Alex••s in Cleobulina, and Calicrates in Moscione. Of Phanostrate, Apollodorus writes, That she was a prostitute in Athens (and that of her rank were many o∣thers) and was called Phttherophile of Phther, Pediculus, and Paele Porta, Propter quod pediculos cum staret in limine Portae querit••bat. Menander in A••••ulatore he numbers these wantons, Christs, Coronis, Ant••cy•••• Ischades, and Nanniculum, whom he cals Form••su•••• va••de, Exceeding fai••.

Quintius Curt••us in his tenth book of the life of Alexan∣der the Great, writes, That after many honourable Con∣quests, having already subjected sundry Nations to his ju∣risdiction (being now in India, where all his attempts were prosperous, and his designs successfull) proud of his victo∣ries, and thinking himselfe to be Fortunes minion, insomuch that despising the off-spring from whence he came, he cau∣sed himselfe to be called the Son of Iupiter. Being puf••ed up with these thoughts, and swelling up in all ambitions, he betook himselfe to all voluptuous delic••cies, and of them, to the most tempting riots of wine and women; insomuch, that lulled in all effeminacy, he so far forgot both his high majesty, and that commendable temperance, for which he was before all his predecessors renowned, that he sent as far as Athens for a notorious strumpet (branded in her life, though famous for her beauty) called Potonice, on whom the King was so much besotted, that he not only gave her most Princely and magnificent gifts in her life time, but af∣ter her death caused a Tomb to be erected over her body, on which structure the King bestowed thirty talents. It were

strange if our English Chronicles should not affoord some or other to have correspondence with these.

Harlotta, or Arlotta.

THis History is recorded by an Historiographer of an∣cient times, who writes himselfe Anonymus, or without name, by Gulielm. Malmsbury, Vincentius, Ranulphus, Fabian, Polydore, and others. As Robert Duke of Normandy, and father to William the Conqueror, rid through the Town of Falois, he beheld a beautifull Virgin (a Skinners daugh∣ter) playing and dancing amongst other Virgins: with whose feature being on the sudden surprized, he so far pre∣vailed by his secret messages and gifts, that she was privat∣ly conveied into the Dukes Chamber, and there lodged and put in a bed to await his comming: who glad of such a purchase, without much circumstance made himselfe ready for the businesse intended. The chamber cleared, and the place voided, and he ready to accomplish his desires, she rent her smook from the chin to the foot, to make the freer way for the Prince: and he demanding the reason of her so doing, she made him this pretty and ready answer; It were neither fit nor comely, that the neither part of my smock should be turned up, and kisse the lips of my Lord: at which the Duke was much delighted. And 〈◊〉〈◊〉 night was begot William the Bastard, whom our Chronicles honour with the name of Conquerour: whether at (first in memory of this least, or since in disgrace of the Wanton, it is not de∣cided. But from that Harlotta or Arlotta, our prostitutes and common wenches are to this day in our Vulgar Tongue called Harlots.

In the yeer of our Lord 1036,* 1.83 Henry the second Empe¦rour of that name,* 1.84 was married to Guinilde▪ the daughter of Canutus a Dane,* 1.85 and King of England. This Emperor had a sister,* 1.86 a professed Nun, whom he loved so entirely, that oft times he would have her lie in his own Pallace,* 1.87 and neer to his own privy chamber. It hapned in a cold Winters night, a Chaplain belonging to the Court (it seems to keep her the warmer, and one that had been before much suspected) lay with her: and in the morning, lest both their f••oting•• should be seen in the Snow (newly fallen that night) she took him up, and carried him out of the Court towards his chamber. The Emperour chancing (as his custome was) to

rise just at the same hour, was spectator of this close con∣ve••ance, and beheld how all the businesse hapned. Not long after fell a Bisopwrick, which the Priest expected, and a Nunnery which the Nun much desired: Whereupon the Emperour calling them before him the one after the other, Take that Benefice (saith he to the Priest) but faddle no more the Nun; And you the Abbesse (saith he to his sister) saddle no more the Priest, or look thou never more bear Clerk riding upon thy back. It is said, that this served after for a modest chiding betwixt them, and that they were par∣ted upon these friendly terms.

Of divers Wantons belonging to sundry famous men, and others.

ARistophanes,* 1.88 Apollodorus, Ammonius, Antiphanes, and Georgia Atheniensis, of your Athenian strumpets writ at large: as also of the like argument, Theomander, Cyrenaeus, El••us, Amasides, Theophrastus in l••bro Amatorio, Polemon de Tabellis, lib. 3. Ovid, and infinite others, out of whom may be collected many famous wantons in their times O••ymus is the name of a strumpet, much beloved of a skilfull So∣phist in Corinth; Thalatra of D••ocles; Corianno of Ph••recrates; Antea, of Philillius, otherwise called Eunicus, Thais and Phan∣nium, of Menander; Opora, of Alexis; Clepsydra of Eubulus: for so A••clepiades, the son of Arius, reports in his Commen∣tary upon Demetrius Phalareus; where he affirms her proper name to be rather Methica,* 1.89 which Antiphanes writes to be the name of a wanton. The Poet Timocles speaks of Cin••, Nan∣nium, Plangon, Lyca, Pithionica, Myrhina, Christis, Covallis, Iero∣clea, Lopadium: Of these, likewise Amphis makes mention. Anaxandries in his description of the madnesse of old men,* 1.90 amongst others he reckons up Lagisca and Theolyte Polemon the H••storiographer speaks of one Cottina, whose S••atue is erected in the City of Lacedemon, not far from the Tem∣ple of Dionysius; she is mounted upon a brazen Bull. Alci∣biades was beloved by a woman of Aegida,* 1.91 of whom he was likewise amorous: after (relinquishing Athens and Lace∣na) of one Medontide of Abidos, and with her sailed through the Hellespont with Axiochus a friend of his, and much de∣voted to his fellowship; for so the Orator Lysias witnesseth of him in an Oration made against him. He had two other mistresses with whom he was conversant, Damasandya the mother of La••s Junior, and Theodota, by whom he was pre∣served,

when remaining in Melissa, a City of Phrygia, Phar∣nabazus laid trains to entrap his life. Abrotonax was the mother of Them••stocles, a strumpet, as Amphicrates relates. Neanthes Cyzicenus (a Greek Historiographer) cals him the son of Euterpe.* 1.92 The second Philadelphus, King of Aegypt, had many famous Concubines, as Ptolomaeus Everges in his Commentaries witnesseth;* 1.93 Didima and Bilisti••he: besides these, Agathoclea and Stratonica, whose monument was ere∣cted in the sea; Elusina, Myrtium, with many others. Polybius in his fourteenth book of Histories, remembers one Clino, that was his Cup-bearer, in whose honour many Statues were erected in Alexandria: Mnesides (a she musician of the City Mnesis) and one Pothinae: his most delicate houses, in which he took much delight, he was wont to call after the name of two of his Para••ors, either Myrtiae or Pothinae. Ti∣mothaeus, the great Captain of the Athenians, was known to be the son of a common woman of Threissa: which being objected to him as an aspersion, he answered; I am glad to have been born of such a mother, that had the wisedome to chuse Co••on to be my father. Caristius in his historicall Com∣mentaries, avers. Phileterus (who soveraignized in Perga∣mus, and the new Region called Boca) to be the son of a wanton she Minstrel, born in Paphlagonia. Aristophon the Orator, who in the reign of King Euclides published a Law, That all such as were not born of civill and free women, approved for their modesty and temperance, should be held as bastards; yet he himselfe is mocked by the Comick Poet Calliades, for being the son to the prostitute Chorides, as many appear in the third book of his Commentaries. Of Lamia the strumpet, the King Dmetrius had a daughter cal∣led Phila: Polemon affirms Lamia to have been the daughter of Cleonor the Athenian.* 1.94 Machon the Comick Poet numbers Leaena amongst this Kings Mistresses, with many others. Ptolomaeus, the son of Agesarchus, in his history of Philopa∣ter speaking of the Mistresses of Kings, bestowes Philinna, a Dancer, upon Philip of Macedon, by whom he had Aridaeus, who succeeded after Alexander.* 1.95 Damo was the delight of Antigonus,* 1.96 by whom he had Alcyonaeus. Mysta and Nysa were the beloved of Seleucus Iunior: and Mania, most famous for her wit and ingenious discourse, of Demetrius Poliorcetes. Of her, Machon the Poet writes much, as also of Gnathaena, who with Dep••thaea were said to be two Lasses much beloved of the Poet Diphilus. The City of Athens was so full of famous

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strumpets, that Aristophanes Byzantius reckon'd up at one time 135. but Apollodorus more, so likewise Gorgias; as these, Parenum, Lampride, Euphrosine (the daughter of a Fuller of Cloth) Megista, Agallis, Thaumarium, Theoclea (otherwise cal∣led Corone) Lenetocistus, Astra, Gnathena, with two necces by her daughter, Gnathenum, and Siga; Synoris, sirnamed Lich∣nus; Euclea, Grammea, Thriallis, Chimaera, Lampas, Glicera, Nico (sinamed Capra) Hippe,* 1.97 Metanira, of whom many things worthy observation are remembred. One Sapho is likewise numbred amongst these loose ones; not Sapho the Lyrick Poetresse, but another born of a strumpet. Many Roman wantons may here likewise not unfitly be inserted (as some related) others beloved and celebrated by them in their Poems; as Ipsithilla, of Catullus, Quintilia, of Calvus Licinius; Lyde, of Ca••••machus; Bathis, of Phileta, Lycinea and Glicera, of Horace, Leucadia, of Terentius Varro Arecinus: Delia, Sulpitia, Sulpitia, N••mesis, Neaere, all these affected by Tibullus; Hostia, otherwise called Cinthia,* 1.98 by Propertius; Melenus, of Domitius Marsius Martialis; Cesennia, by Caius Getulicus the Epigram∣ma••st, Bissula, by Ausonius Gallus; Metella, of Tycida Epigram∣ma••••••ta; C••theris (who was also called Licoris) of Cornelius Gallus; Pamphilia, of Valerius Aedituus; Chrisis, of Q. Trabaea the Comick Poet; Martia, of Hortensius; Terentia of Marcus Tulluss Cicero; Calphurnia, of Pliny; Prudentilla, of Apuleius; Neaera, of Licinius Imbrex, a writer of Comedies; Aeme, of Septimius; Aufil••na, of Quintius; Lesbia, whose true name was Claudia, of Catullus, Argentaria, of Lucanus; D••lia, of Tibullus; Beatriae, of the Italian Poet Dante; Aureta, of Petrarche; Pan∣demus, a famous C••rtisan, cited by Coelius, and therefore may claim a place in this Catalogue. Aegyptia was doted on by Th••o••; M••nulia, a prostitute, spoke on by Gellius; Barine, the name of a famous Roman wanton, deciphered by Ho∣race; Spatale, by Martial called Mammosa; Chione, the name of a common woman, expressed by the same Author. Licisca, not only remembred by him, but by Iuvenal, in these words: Nomen mentila Licis••a. Coelia is taxed in Martial for one that would for gain prosticute her selfe to all men. Hermia was a loose woman, so do••ed on by Aristotle, that he was said to sacrifice unto her, and dedicate sundry Hymns to her praise:* 1.99 for which, being upbraided by Eurimidon and Demo∣philus, he forsook Athens (where he had taught the space of thirty years) and removed himselfe to Chalcides. Martial in one of his Satyrs, reproves Philenis, who was much belo∣ved

of the Greek Philocrates. So far have these wantons pre∣vailed even with Princes, that some (to gratulate them, and continue their loves) have not spared to rob the Al∣tars of the gods, Bromia a shee-minstrel, so much delighted Phiallus,* 1.100 that he rewarded her with a rich bowl taken out of the Temple, which was a gift presented by the Phoce∣ans. To one Pharsalia, a Thessalian she-dancer, Philometus gave the golden Crown of Daphnes, the Offering of the Lampsacens. This Statue of Daphnes was in Merapontus, erected in the peregrination of Aristaeus Proconnensis. In this place Pharsalia appearing, and strutting in her new honours, the Priests surprised with a sudden fury, and in the presence of all the people, tore her to pieces, dismem∣bring her limb from limb: and being demanded the reason, it was answered, It was the just anger of the Nymph, for being so despoiled of her Crown. Lyda is remembred to have been the mistresse of Antimachus. There was likewise another of that name,* 1.101 beloved of Laminthius Milesius. Cle∣archas affirms either of these Poets to have been be sotted on that name, the one expressing himselfe in Elegies, the other in a Lyrick Poem. Manno the Minstrel was doted on by M••••llermus as Leontium by Hermosinax Colophonius, both Greek Poets. Na••crates produceth one Do••ica (amongst ma∣ny other fair and beautifull wantons) whom Sapho writes to be the sweet heart of her brother Charaxus, when as a Merchant he touched Naucrates; where she complains That by her, her brother was despoiled of all or the greatest part of his goods and fortunes. Herodotus (though ignorantly) cals her Rhodope; not knowing that this is diverse from her, who erected those famous Obelisks in Delphos, of whom Cratinus makes ample mention. Of this Dorica, Posidippus speaks o••ten in his Aethiopia, and of her composed this Epi∣gram:

Dorica te capitis ornarunt Mollia vincla, Et late unguentum pallia quae redolent, Quae quondam periu••undum complexa Charaxum, &c. Thy hair ti'd in soft knots, become thee well; Thy robes, that distant, of sweet odouis smell, (Fair Dorica) do thee no common grace; In which thou erst Charaxus didst imbrace.

Archedica; a very beautifull Girle, was likewise of this City: for as Herhdotus affirms, this place much gloried in he•• faire ones. Sapho of Eressus (who was enamoured of

lovely Phaon) was here famous, as she her selfe expresseth to her Nymphs, in her peregrination through Asia. No igno∣ble wench was Nicarete the Megarensian, both for the anti∣quity of her blood, and for her practice in the best disci∣plines, as well to be beloved, as admired, being a profest hearer of the Philosopher Stilpo. To her we may compare Bilistiche the Argive, who derived her birth from the anci∣ent Familie of the Atrides; for so they relate of her, that composed the Grecian Histories.* 1.102 Bittiles was the mistresse of the Poet Euripilus.* 1.103 Samia was the beloved of Demetrius Phalareus: he was used jeastingly and in sport to call her Lampito, as Diyllus reports: She was also called Charitoble∣pharus, which signifies Gratia Cilium, From the beauty of her eie-browes. Nicareta was enjoied by Stephanus the Orator, and Metanira by Lysias the Sophist. Of their familiarity were Antea, Aratola, Aristoclea, Phila, Istmias, and Neaera (who was mistresse to Stratoclides) Zenoclides the Poet, Hyp∣parchus the Plaier, and Phrisoninus Paeaneius, the son of Da∣mon, and by his sister the nephew to Democharis. It is said, That by arbitration Stephanus the Orator, and one Phry∣nion, enjoied Neaera by turns, and severall daies. These cal∣led her youngest daughter Sirobyla by the name of Phano, acknowledging her to be their own. But lest with this mul∣tiplicity of H••stories I shovld grow tedious, here (though abruptly) I will pawse for the present.

Of Famous Wantons.

OF some of these, something more at large. It is a Ma∣xim, Amor ubi{que} in natura; Love is every where in Na∣ture. The Poets (as Euripides and others) called him,

The Great and most mighty of the gods: and grave Aeschi∣lus in Danais introduc'd his mother Venus, thus saying:

Ferire purus Aether, arva concupit Amor{que} terrae, consequi vult Nuptias, &c. The pure air ever loves to stroke the fields, And to the nuptials of the air, th' earth yields; The shours drop from the clear heavens, and rain down To kisse the Earth, and give her a fresh Gown, Whose garments were late thred-bare: even these prove In senslesse things, congresse, and marriage love;

Whose birth we look for: where the Countrie Swain The Mid-wife pla••es; and Apples, Fruits, and Grain Returns us in their time. Then Ceres takes These infants to her charge, nor them forsakes; But (whilst she can) from all corruption saves, Till being ripe for death, we find them graves. If you would know who first prescrib'd these lawes Of this free birth, I (Venus) am the cause.

The like Euripides speaks in Hyppolitus. If then this uni∣versality of Love be in senslesse creatures, no marvel if it be so frequent in such as pretend to understand. Herodotus lib. 1 saith,* 1.104 it was a Law amongst the Babylonians, That all women free-born, and Denizens of the City, were enjoined once in their life times to make repair to the Temple of Melitta (for by that name the Assyrians called Venus) and sitting in the Porch, to subject themselves to the embraces of any stranger. But some of the noblest and richest not wil∣ling to publish themselves to open prostitution, were drawn thither in Chariots covered, leaving their train and atten∣dants behind them: many sitting in the Temple in Pues, or places allotted them, with garlands upon their heads; of which, whilst some are called apart, others still return (for their passages to and fro are distinguished by small cords or strings, which direct strangers unto such woman to whom they are most addicted.) But of these not any return to their houses (after they have once took up their seats) till some client hath cast some coin or other into her lap (be it never so small or great) and have had carnall com∣pany with her in a sequestred place of the Temple: which done, he is to say So much I did owe thee, O goddesse Melitta. Nor was any woman to refuse the monie that was offered her (whatsoever it were) because it was to be emploied in their supposed pious uses. Neither was it lawful for a wo∣man to refuse any man, but she was compelled to follow him that cast the first coin into her apron. This being done, it was lawfull for her to mingle her selfe in prostitution with whom she pleased. The fairest and most beautifull, were for the most part soonest dispatcht, but others that have been ugly and deformed, have been forced to sit in the Temple, some one, some two, some three years, and up∣wards, before they could meet with any by whose help they might give satisfaction to the Law, return to their own hou∣ses, and make use of their free liberty. The like custome

(though not in every particular) was in Cyprus.

Amongst the Ca••nians (a people in Coria) there was a yearly convention of young men and women to the like purpose, as the same Author in the same book affirms. Aelia∣nus de var. Histor. lib. 4. saith, That the Lydian women before their marriage presented themselves for gain, till they had purchased to themselves a competent dowrie; but having once selected a husband, they from that time lived in all continence and chastity. From this generality I come to particulars, and first of Thau. She was a strumpe•• of Co∣rinth, whose beauty bewitched all the Attick youth. Her the Greek Poet Menander in his works most celebrated, of whom she was called Menandraea. Clitarchus specifies unto us, That she was much beloved of Alexander the Great: at whose request (after the conquest of Cyrus) all the Imperial Pallaces of Persepolis (with the greatest part of the City) were ••et on fire, and burned down to the earth. This strum∣pet (after the death of Alexander) was married to the first Ptolomey of Aegypt, by whom she had two sons, Leontiscus and Legus, with one daughter called Irene, whom Solon King of Cyprus, after took to wife. Lamia was a Courtizan of Athens, and entired to Demetrius, a Lord of many Nations, insomuch, that in his Armour and Crown, with his Imperial Diadem, he was often seen publikely to enter her roof, to converse with her, and eat at her Table. It had been lesse dishonour for so great a person, to have given her meeting more privately. In this one thing Diodorus the minstrel was preferred before Demetrius: who being divers times sent for to this Courtizans house, refused to come. This Lamia was wont (as Aelianus lib. 1. reports) to compare the Greeks to Lions, and the Ephesians to Wolves. Gnathaena was of the same Countrie, and born in Athens, of whom it is thus re∣membered: A noble fellow drawn as far as the Hellesport by the attractive fame of her beauty, she gave him both meeting and entertainment: of which he growing proud, and somewhat insolent, using much loquacity and superflu∣ous language (being in the heat of wine and lust) she as∣ked him. Whether (as he pretended) became from the Hel∣lespont? To whom he answered; He did: She replied, And do you know the name of the chiefe City there? He told her, Yes. She then desired him to give it name? He told her, it was called Sygaeum. By which she ingeniously re∣proved his verbositie; since Sygae (of which Greek word the

City takes denomination) signifieth silence and taciturni∣ty. Of her prompt and witty answers the Poet Machon sets down many: for she was held to be wondrous facetious and sco••••ing, and exceedingly beloved of the Poet Diphilus. Lyn∣ceus likewise remembers many things concerning her. Pau∣sonius Lacus being dancing in her presence, in doing a lof∣ty trick above ground, and not able to recover himselfe, he fell headlong into a vessel that stood by: See (saith she) La∣cus in cadum incidit, i. The Pool hath powered himselfe into the Vessel: Lacus not only signifies a Pool, but a Vessel which receiveth the wine when it is pressed. Another, of∣fering her a small quantity of wine in a great and large bowle and told her withall, That it was at least seventeen years old, Truly (answered she) it is wondrous little of the age. Two young men in the heat of wine quarrelling about her, and going to buffers, to him that had the worst she thus said, Despair nor youth, Non enim Coronarium est certamen sed Argenteum, i. This was a prize for monie only, not for a Garland. When one had given her fair daughter (who was of the same profession) a piece of gold valued at a pound, and had received no more then labour for his travell, and bare looks for his monie, to him she said, Thou for this pound art made free of my daughter, as those that are ad∣mitted into the school of Hyppomachus the Master-wrestler; who oft times see him play, but seldome prove his strength; admire his skill, but never trie his cunning. Many such (with great elegancy) came frequently from her; for (as Lynceus saith of her) she was Concinna admodum & urbana. Aristodemus in his second book Ridiculorum memorab. relates, That when two men had bargained for her at once, a soul∣dier and a mean fellow, the souldier in great contumely called her Lacus, or Lake: Why do you thus nick-name me? saith she, because you two floods fall into me, Lycus and Liber: Lycus is a river not far from Laodicea, which sometimes runneth under the earth, and in many places bursteth up again. She writ a book which she called Lex Convinalis, imitating the Philosophers of those times, who had compiled works of the like subject: The project of her book was, how her guests ought to behave themselves at Table towards her and her daughter. The like Law Calli∣m••chus composed in three hundred and three and twenty Verses.

Rhodope was a Courtisan of Aegypt, one that by her pro∣stitution

came to such a masse of wealth, that she of her own private charge, caused to be erected a magnificent Pyramis, equalling those that there raised by the greatest Princes. Sapho cals her Dorica, and makes her the mistresse of her brother Charapus, upon whom he spent and consu∣med all his fortunes, even to the utmost of penury: of whom Ovid thus writes, Arsit inops frater, &c. Aelianus and others report her for a woman most beautiful, who bathing her self in a pleasant and cleer fountain in her garden, her handmaids attending her with all things necessary, upon a sudden an Eagle sowsing down, snatched up one of her shooes, and flying with it as far as the great City Memphis, let it fall from above into the lap of the King Psamneticus, then sitting in publike judgement: who much amazed at the strangenesse of the accident, but most at the riches, proportion, and curiositie of the shooe, instantly comman∣ded that all Aegypt should be through-sought, till they could find the owner thereof, by matching it with the fel∣low: which hapned soon after. Being brought before the King, he was so infinitely surprized with her feature, that the same hour he contracted her in marriage, and conse∣quently made her his Queen. Some say she was first a Thracian Damosel, and servant to Iadmone of Samos; she was after carried into Aegypt by the Philosopher Zanthus Samius. She was a friend and patronesse of Aesopus, so fa∣mous for his Fables still frequent amongst us.

Metra was the daughter of Erisic••thon a Thessalian, who having spent all his fortunes, and wasted even his necessary means (as brought to the lowest exigent of penury) was for∣ced to make merchandise of his daughters Chastitie; but she would not yield her selfe to the imbraces of any man, with∣out the gift and tender of a horse, an oxe, a cow, a sheep or a goat, or some such like commodity, to the supply of her fathers necessity: (for it seems that coin and jewels were not then in use) For the exchange aforesaid the Thessalians fabled, That she could transhape her selfe into all crea∣tures presented unto her by her lovers. And hence came that old ••dage, More changeable then Erisicthons Metir••, Much of the like continence was Cy••ene, a notious strumpet, who as Erasmus reports, explaining of that old proverb, Duode∣cim artium nemo, i. A man of twelve Arts or Trades, could use her professed Venery twelve severall waies. Archianasse was sirnamed ••••••phonia, as born in the City of Colophon,

and was beloved of Plato the Divine Philosopher, of whom he himself thus protested.

Archianassam ego teneo Colophonis amicam, Cujus in rugis, mollia ludit amor. Archianasse I still hold Mistresse, and I say There is no wrinckle in her face, In which love doth not play.

Thus we see the deepest Philosophers and the wisest men, have made themselves the captives of beauty and vas∣sals lust. Dem••sthenes the Orator was guilty of the like as∣persions, and subject to much intemperance. It is said, that having children by a noted strumpet, when both the mo∣ther and the children were cited before the judgement seat (to avoid calumny) he presented the children without the mother, though it were against the custome of the City: for as Idomeneus saith, notwithstanding he were outwardly of a modest disposition and carriage, yet inwardly he was profuse and incontinent. It is reported of him that he was wandrous prodigall and expensice in banquets and wo∣men, insomuch, that the publike scribe speaking of him in an Oration, thus said, What shall we then think of the Ora∣tor Demosthenes, when what he hath by his great travel and industry purchased in a whole year, he will dissolutely spend in one night upon a woman? The like Nicolaus Da∣mascenus writes of Demetrius, the last of that succession, who so much doted on Myrina Samia, That she commanded from him all things save his Diadem; so that not only Philoso∣phers, but even Kings have made themselves subject to all kind of voluptuousnesse and luxuries; and what hath been the lamentable successe, but shame and dishonour, the wa∣sting of private estates, and the miserable subversion of Kingdomes. Therefore Claudian in his third book in Stili∣conis Laudes, thus saith:

—Nam caetera regna Lu••eur•••• viti•• edusque superbia vertit, &c. Of other Kingdomes the imper••••l state Last doth subvert with vices; P••••e with hate So by the Spartons A••thens was subdu'd; And so 〈◊〉〈◊〉 fell: The Medes did first intrude Into the Assyrian Monarchy: their lust Burted their towring honours in the dust.

From the luxurious Medes, the Persians reft Their proud dominion: they grown lustful, left Their Empire to the Macedonian sway, Who kept it till they wanton grew: then they Their honours to the temperate Romans sold, For so the ancient Sibils had fore-told.

The effects of this will more plainly appear in the Hi∣story ensuing. Aspasia, otherwise called Socratica, is numbred amongst the fairest women of her time, insomuch, that she had several suitors from all the Provinces of Greece, as Ari∣stophanes delivers in his discourse of the Peloponnesian war: insomuch, that Peri••les (for the love of this Aspasia, and for some servants of hers, taken from her by force) begun and established that terrible decree against the M••garenses, remembred by Stesombrotus Thasius. She about her private and necessary occasions sending her bawd Symaetha to the City of Megara, the young men of the City detained her: upon which restraint she sent two others, who not being suffered to return, from these strumpets did arise a war, al∣most to the depopulation of the greatest part of Greece. It is likewise spoken of that Cyrus (who warred against his bro∣ther) to have had a Mistresse of great wisdome and won∣derfull beauty, bred in the City of Phocis, who as Zenopha∣nes saith, was first called Milto, and after, Aspasia. Of these in generall, Juvenal with great elegancy speaks in his Sa∣tyrs:

Nil non permittit mulier, sibi turpe putat nil Cum vir••des gemmas collo circumedit, & cum Auribus extentis magnos committit elenchos. There's nothing that a woman will respect, Nothing so vile or odious that she fears, So she with glistring Jewels may be dect, And have great pendant Pearls weight down her ears.

Of Mista, and others,

PHilarchus observes this Mysta to be much favoured by the King Seleucus: who being expelled by the Galathi∣ans, and hardly escaping with life, when his Pallace was sei∣zed and surprized, she casting aside all her Princely orna∣ments, put on a servile habit, and mingled her selfe in the society of her handmaids and servants, having so disguised her selfe, that she remained unknown, and by that means

was sold amongst the rest at a smal rate, and bought by the Rhodian Merchants, to whom after she disclosed her selfe. They to insinuate into the favour of Seleucus (who had re∣covered his former fortunes) sent her to him nobly attended in great state and magnificence, of whom she was accor∣dingly received, and they most bounteously rewarded. An∣tecyra as (Caelius, lib. 13. cap. 6. reports) was a famous (or rather infamous) strumpet, so called, because she yielded up her body to lunaticks and mad men; or else because the Physi••ian Nicostratus, at his death, left her such a quantity of Hellebore. Colvia Crisalpina is called by Tacitus, lib. 17. the stale mistresse of Nero's lust, an apt pupil for such a tuto∣resse. Apollodorus and Caelius write of two sisters, called Stragonium and Anthis, both of the veneral profession: These were by a nickname called by some Aphiae, because of the smalnesse of their statures, and the greatnesse of their eies. Cynna, Saluacha, and Casauria, were three famous strumpets or Athens, many times remembred by Aristophanes in his Comedies. Hemippus lib. 1. de Aristot. speaks of Herpillides the Paramour of Aristotle, he had by her a son called Nico∣mochus. Melissa the daughter of Proclaeis (as Pythenetus in his third book de Aegina relates) was beloved of Periander ex Ep••dauro King of Corinth, and numbred amongst the se∣ven wise men of Greece: He seeing her attired after the manner of the Peloponnesians (that was, almost naked, save a garment next to her skin) and in that manner mi∣nistring wine to his servants and workmen; he was suddenly so surprized with her beauty, that he first enterteined her as his friend and familiar mistresse, and shortly after in great state and publick solemnity received and acknow∣ledged her his Queen and wife. Xenophon reports of Socra∣tes to have had familiar conference with Theodata, whose speech was to this purpose, Be••••••e thee O Socrates (saith she) I claim a just precedence, and held my selfe the wor∣thier person of the two: he demanding the reason, she thus proceeded. Because thou with all thy gravity and austerity of discipline canst not alie••••te from me and my society any one of my suitors and clients, but I when I please can draw from thee the best of thy schollers and pupils, both such as I like and at what time I best please. To whom Socrates re∣pli'd, It is no wonder, O Theodota, since the way to thy house is meerly to naughtinesse, and lies down the hill; but the path to my school is solely tending to nobleness and vertue;

and is the way up hill, therefore the passage sublime and difficult. It is said that Apelles espying Lais (when she was a young Virgin) drawing water from the Pyrenaean foun∣tain, admiring her beauty, which was not yet grown unto perfection, he conducted her by the arm home to his shop, and presented her to his fellow Painters; but they deriding his folly that he would entertain a virgin, one not capable of prostitution: he said, doubt you not, for within this three years I will deliver her up to the game the most beautiful∣lest of any Virgin living. The like Xeaophon i•• Mirabil. testates, That Socrates presaged of this Theodata in her childhood, Quod pulcherrima esset dicebat, pectus{que} quovis ra∣tione haberet formosius, i. He said, That she would not only prove outwardly fair, but her brest within, every way more beautifull. Demades the Orator had a son called Demeas, by a she-minstrel, one that plaied upon the Flate, or the Shaum; this young man puffing and blowing, and being as our English phrase saith) in a pelting chafe, Hyperides then standing by, Peace (saith he) young man, and be pati∣ent, for thy cheeks began to swel bigger then thy mothers. Nicaeus in Successionis Philosoph▪ saith, That the Philosopher Doristhenites, was the son of a strumpet called Olympia Lace∣na. Sophocles the Tragedian had in his delights one Theori∣des, in his age and decaying strength: therefore in his prai∣er to Venus he thus saith,

O nutrix juvenum exaudi, mihi da mulierem Abnuere hanc, &c. Heare me thou nurse of youth, I thee intreat, And grant that she to whom my love's so great, May shun the beds of young men, and despise Their hot affection: only cast her eies On aged men, whose heads are snow'd by time, Who though decaid in strength, have minds sublime.

Stasimus saith, that this Theorides was the first friend of Theoris. Sophocles after forsaking her, made election of ano∣ther, called Archippe, whom as Hegesander writes, he made his heire. Isocrates the modestest of all Orators, was taxed with two wantons, namely, Metanira, and Calles, for so Lysias affirms in his Epistles. Demosthenes in an Oration against Neaera, confers Metanira upon Lysias, who had another mi∣stresse called Lagis, whose Encomium was writ by the Ora∣tor Cephalus, as Alcidamus L••ites (the scholler of Georgius) most eloquently penned the praises of his beloved Nais.

This Nais Lysias gave description of in an Oration against Philonides, her proper name was Archias: of her Aristopha∣nes makes mention in Geritade and in Pluto, where he saith,

Amat ne Lais, num tua Philonidem causa?

Which should be writ Nais, not Lais, as Athenaeus is of opinion. Hermippus speaking of Isocrates, saith, That he en∣terteined into his house the Strumpet Lagisca, by whom he had a daughter. Lysias in an oration reckons up divers o∣ther prostitutes, Philyra, Scione, Hyppaphesis, Theoclea, Psama∣the, Lagisca, Anthaea, Aristoclea, and Dagnista. Alce was the name of a famous Curtizan, as may be gathered out of the words of Laberius, Petrus Crinitus, and others. Pythagoras the Samian Philosopher, in speaking of his transformati∣ons, reporteth himselfe first to have been Euphorbus, then Pyrander, then Calidena, and after a strumpet of admired feature called Alce: with this Pythagorean Metamorphosis, Laberius the Mimick Poet thus sported,

—Vt n••s olim mutant Philosophi Et nunc de mulo hominem, de muliebere colubrum, Faciant—

i. As the Philosophers of old change us, making of a Mule a Man, and of a woman a Snake. Petrus Crinitus cals her Famoso nominus Alce. In the threescore and fourth Olym∣piad, in the time that Hippias and Hipparchus tyrannised in the City of Athens (as Eusebius relates in his Annals) Har∣modius and Aristogiton with others (but those of the most note) made a conjuration against the two Princes, and in this conspiracy was Hypparchus slain. Leaena a famous strum∣pet, being known to be affected to some of that faction (as being endeered to them for some former curtesies) was cal∣led into question, and being commanded to discover the Regicides, and obstinately refusing it, she was adjudged to the rack, where with wondrous patience enduring many almost insufferable torments, and still being urged to dis∣cover what she knew concerning that confederacy; she with a noble and memorable resolution, bit out her tongue, and cast it into the face of the tyrant Hyppias: which act, Pliny and others record as a president of admirable patience in a woman. Let Leaena (saith he) the strumpet be memorized for her inconstancy, who by no tortures could be inforced to discover Harmodius and Aristogiton, by whose hands the tyrant Hypparchus fell. For the like resolution is Anaxarchi∣des

renowned amongst men by Zeno and others. Erasmus in Chiliad. speaks of Sinope before named, a famous strumpet of Corinth, to be so extreamly given over to lust, that from her came the Latine word Sinopissare, which signifieth, to be in the highest degree libidinous or voluptuous. Sui∣das saith, That Nannium the whore was called Capra, because she devoured a Vintner (or made him break) called Thal∣lus, which word sometimes signifies Germen, i. A bough or sprig on which Goats love to feed. Acca Laurentia, the wife of Faustulus the Kings shepherd, who being a beautifull wo∣man, prostituted her body for gain: she was sirnamed Lupa, and from her even to this day all brothel-houses are called Lupanaria. She nursed and brought up Romulus, and Remus, Liv. lib. 1. Decad. 1. Plutarch in Vita Romuli. Flora the strum∣pet, who was likewise called Laurentia, constituted the peo∣ple of Rome her hei••; from her came the yearly feasts celebrated, called Floralia: of her, Gellius lib. 6. cap. 7. and Vollat. lib. 16. speaks more at large. Manilia was a Roman Cur••esan, whom Hostilius M••ncinus called into question, because a stone was cast upon him from one of her galle∣ries: Gellius. Phebe was a freed woman to Julia the daugh∣ter of Augustus Caesar, and a companion with her in all her lusts and brothelries; who when she beard that her mistress was confined by her father, earing some severe censure from the Emperer, slew her sel•• to prevent further torture: Dion in Augusto. The immoderate lust of Caelia, Martial, lib. 7. thus reproves:

Das Cattis, das Germanis, das Caelia Dacis, Nec Cilicum spernis Cappadocumque toros, &c. To th' Catti, Germans, and the Dacians thou Caelia giv'st welcome, and thou dost allow The Cappadians and Cilicians bed: Besides, from Pharo thou art furnished With Memphian whorers, from the red sea sails The swarthy Indian, and he brings thee vails, And thou tak'st all, neither wilt thou refuse The offer of the circumcised Jewes, &c.

Catullus of his Lesbia thus speaks: Nulla potest mulier tantum se dicere amatum, Vere, quantum à me Lesbia amata mea est. No woman truly can report to be, So well belov'd, as Lesbia thou of me.

So Quintus Frabaeus Comediographus of his 〈…〉〈…〉 De improviso Chrysis ubi me aspexerit, Alacris obviam mihi veneit, &c. Wheu Chrysis on the sudden me espi'd, She look'd upon me with a chearful face, Wishing withall, that me she might embrace, To whom she owes her selfe: this I have tri'd. It is fortune I have seldome known, And such as I prefer before mine own.

Dion, Nicaeus▪ and X••philinus, in the life of the Emperour Commodus, besides the strumpet Martia whom he took to wife, remembers one Damostrata, whom he after bestowed upon Cleander, him whom from a bondman he raised to be of his privy chamber. Time, Paper, and Leisure would faile me before example, and I desire not to be tedious. I have hitherto shewed you what whores are, I now desire to ex∣presse unto you what they should be. Mary Magdalen the daughter of Syrus and Eucharia, and sister to Lazarus and Martha, for some years gave her selfe up to all voluptuous∣nesse and pleasure, insomuch that she had incurred the name of a common strumpet; but after, when she cast her selfe prostrate and washed the feet of our Saviour with her tears, and dried them with the hairs of her head, and an∣nointing him with costly ointment in the house of Simon the Leper, her sins were forgiven her. We read likewise of Aphra who was born in Creet, her mothers name was Hylaria a notorious bawd: This Aphra with her three ser∣vants, Dimna, Eugenia, and Eutropia, for mony prostituted themselves to all men; but she her selfe being after conver∣ted to the Faith, by Narcissus Bishop of Jerusalem, abjured all incontinence, and adhering to the Christian Religion, proved so constant in the same, that for the true Faith she suffered martydome. Nicaeta and Aquilina, were two beau∣tifull strumpets, and made gaine of their bodies; these were imploied by King Dagnes to tempt and traduce the blessed Saint Christopher, and to upbraid him of false Religion, but it fell out the contrary to the purpose of the tyrant; for those two being by him converted to the true faith, and not to be removed by meanaces or torments, were after by the same King both caused to be slain. Faucula Clavia is remem∣bred by the Historiographer Livy, who though she was of that wanton and loose behaviour, yet highly commended for her piety; she to her great charge ministred food and

sustenance to many of the distressed Roman souldiers, all the time that Hannibal was possessed at Capua. Marullus lib. 2. cap. 12. and Sabin. lib. 5. cap. 5. speak of Thais an Egyptian strumpet, who by the often admonitions of the Abbot Pan∣nutius, repented her of her wicked and lewd life; and to give the best satisfaction to the world that she was able, she caused a great fire to be made, and all that wealth which she had gathered by her prostitution she cast therein, and cau∣sed it to be burned before her face; and from a common Brothel-house, retired her selfe to a private Monastery, where after three years penitentiall solitude, she expired. Pelagia Antiochena, so called because she was born in Anti∣och▪ exceeding in wealth, and excelling in beauty, was wholly given over to immoderate luxuries, insomuch, that no woman appeared in publike more gawdily apparelled, or more voluptuously minded then her selfe; but being drawn by some religiously disposed friend of hers, to hear the Sermons of Nonius Bishop of Heliopolis, she ac∣knowledged her error, cast off her gay and gawdy attire, bewailed her sins, and lamented her lewd course of life, di∣stribiting her wealth amongst the poor and as a farewel to all loosenesse and intemperance, builded a poor Cottage in the mount of Olives. And lest any violence in such a soli∣tude might be done unto her, in the way of prevention she changed her habit, and called her selfe Pelagius, proceeding in that sanctity of life that where before of Pelagia she was called Pelagus Vitiorum, i. A sea of Vices, she was after sti∣led Pelagus Vertutum, amarissimus Marath aquas in dulces convertens, i. An Ocean of Vertues, turning the most bitter Waters of Marath into sweet. And thus I conclude with these Wantons, wishing all such whose lives have been us ill, and infamous, that their ends might prove as good and glorious.

Explicit lib. Sextus, Inscriptus Erato.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Plutarch in Lacoa. Apo.
• * 1.2

  Plut. Apo. Reg.
• * 1.3

  Fulgos. l 4. cap. 3.
• * 1.4

  Erasmus l.
• * 1.5

  6. Apotheg.
• * 1.6

  Aegipta.
• * 1.7

  Ranulphus.
• * 1.8

  Marian. l. 2.
• * 1.9

  Iohan. Wye∣rius de La∣miis, lib. 3.
• * 1.10

  Suidas.
• * 1.11

  App••a.
• * 1.12

  Eustochium
• * 1.13

  Tora.
• * 1.14

  Maria. Aegypt.
• * 1.15

  Columba.
• * 1.16

  Amata.
• * 1.17

  Sara.
• * 1.18

  Sylvia.
• * 1.19

  S. Ebbe.
• * 1.20

  Ildegunda.
• * 1.21

  Euphrosyna.
• * 1.22

  Marina.
• * 1.23

  Gunzonis.
• * 1.24

  Baldraca.
• * 1.25

  Scrytha.
• * 1.26

  Tara.
• * 1.27

  Dula.
• * 1.28

  Statyra.
• * 1.29

  Roxana.
• * 1.30

  E••rusca V••rgo.
• * 1.31

  Isabella.
• * 1.32

  Martia.
• * 1.33

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.34

  〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.35

  Daphne.
• * 1.36

  Rhodogune.
• * 1.37

  Theoxena.
• * 1.38

  Tyro.
• * 1.39

  Hypsicrataea
• * 1.40

  Homer l. 1. Odyss.
• * 1.41

  Odyss. lib 17 Perioch.
• * 1.42

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.43

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.44

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.45

  Perioch. 21.
• * 1.46

  Perioch. 22.
• * 1.47

  Perioch. 23.
• * 1.48

  Evadne.
• * 1.49

  Loadamia.
• * 1.50

  Panthaea.
• * 1.51

  Sophronia.
• * 1.52

  Antonia.
• * 1.53

  Timoclea.
• * 1.54

  Brasilla. Dyrrachina.
• * 1.55

  A woman of Casanova.
• * 1.56

  She was the contracted bride to the Prince Indi∣••ilis.
• * 1.57

  Anastasias
• * 1.58

  Paula Ro¦mana.
• * 1.59

  Barbara.
• * 1.60

  Edeltrudis.
• * 1.61

  Edithae.
• * 1.62

  Susanna.
• * 1.63

  Judith.
• * 1.64

  Maud.
• * 1.65

  Retana.
• * 1.66

  Panachis.
• * 1.67

  Quartilla.
• * 1.68

  Timandra.
• * 1.69

  Campaspe.
• * 1.70

  Satyrus in vitu.
• * 1.71

  Plin lib. 21. cap. 2.
• * 1.72

  Pythonica.
• * 1.73

  Dicaearch. de discensu, ad Trophonium
• * 1.74

  Irene.
• * 1.75

  Athenae.
• * 1.76

  Dipr. lib. 13.
• * 1.77

  Lib. 12. Danae and Laodice.
• * 1.78

  Just. l. 30.
• * 1.79

  Laodice.
• * 1.80

  Justin. Hist. lib. 12.
• * 1.81

  A••••enaeus.
• * 1.82

  In Conegide.
• * 1.83

  Joan Bal.
• * 1.84

  Act Eng.
• * 1.85

  Votar.
• * 1.86

  Guliel.
• * 1.87

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. l••b. 2. de reg. &c▪
• * 1.88

  Athen. in Dypnos.
• * 1.89

  In Agrestis.
• * 1.90

  In Novacu∣lis.
• * 1.91

  Athen in Dypnes.
• * 1.92

  Hist. li••. 3.
• * 1.93

  Lib. 3.
• * 1.94

  Polemon de Var. Porticu
• * 1.95

  Hera••l.
• * 1.96

  Lambus Histor. l. 33
• * 1.97

  Lynce••s Co∣micus.
• * 1.98

  Prop. lib. 1.
• * 1.99

  Origines.
• * 1.100

  Athenae. Gi∣mos. lib. 13. cap. 18.
• * 1.101

  Clearch. in reb. Amator.
• * 1.102

  Nicol.
• * 1.103

  Damascen.
• * 1.104

  The maner of the Ba∣bylonians.