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 NINTH BOOK, inscribed CALLIOPE; (Book 9)

Intreating of Women in generall, with the punish∣ments appertaining to the Vitious, and rewards due to the Vertuous.

WHen I enter into a true consideration of how many severall Affections, Dispositions, Actions, and passions in Women, I have had occasion to speak; of the Good and Bad, Famous, and Infamous, Vertuous and Dishonest, Illustrious, and Obscure; next, of all Ages, from the Cradle to the Grave, the Swathband to the Winding sheet; then, of all Estates, Degrees and Callings, from the Empresse in the Court, to the Shepherdesse in the Village: when I next ponder with my selfe, that all these are gathered to the Earth from whence they came; and that we (who are yet breathing) do but hourly tread upon our Graves, lingring and pro∣longing a few uncertain minutes, and must necessarily fol∣low; and that our lives are but a Circular motion, or a Cir∣cle drawn by a Compass, ending where it first began, being but as the wheels of a Clock wound up, and (as we move in the passage of life) like the Hand of a Dyall, point first

to one hour, then a second, so to a third, still shewing our years in our growth, that any man may read what a Clock it is with us by our Age: but when the Plummets and Weights have forced our Wheels so often about, till there is no more Line left, then we cease both motion, noise, and being: Next, that all know they must die, but none the time when they shal die, and that as Seneca in Hercule Fu∣rente, saith: Prima quae vitam dedit hora carpsit. i. That the first hour of our life, takes an hour from our life. These considerations of human frailty (as that there is but one Life, but many waies to destroy it; but one Death, but a thousand means to hasten it) moves me to perswade all, as well men as women, young as old, noble, as base, of both Sexes, and of what calling or condition soever, to arm themselves with constancy to abide it, and courage to entertein it: For as Ausonius in Perlandri Sententiae, saith, Mortem optare malum, timere peius, i. As it is ill to wish death, so it is worse to fear it: besides, as it is base Cowardise dishonourably to shun ••t, so it is meer Pusillanimity despairingly to hasten it. It is observed, such as live best, dread it least. Let this then perswade you unto Vertue; since to the Vicious only it seems terrible, why should we fear the Grave? since there the modest and chast Virgin lies fearless and secure, though by the side of the libidinous Adulterer; there the true man may rest, and though he have twenty theeves about him, sleep soundly, and never dream of Robbing; there the poor Tenant is not afraid of his oppressing Landlord; nor trem∣bles the innocent to lie next the wicked and corrupt Judg: the Handmaid is not afrighted with the tongue of her proud and curst Mistresse, nor quakes the young scholler at the terrible voice of his Master. There is no Brawling, but all Peace; no Dissention, but all Concord, Unity, and E∣quality: which Propertius in his third book, Eleg. 5. ele∣gantly illustrates.

Haud ullas portabas opes Acherontis ad undas, Nudus ad Infernas stulte vehere rates, &c. No wealth thou canst bear with thee (O thou fool) All naked thou must passe the Stigian Pool: There is no strife in Weapons, or in Wits, But now the vanquisht with the victor sits. The Captive Jugurth hath an equall place With Consul Marius; now in eithers face

Shines Love and Amity. There is no Throne For Lydian Croesus, he is now all one With poor Dulichian Irus: no regard Of persons there; he dies best, dies prepar'd.

Then, since all things acquire and pursue their ends, that no earthly thing hath been made, that shall not be destroi∣ed; why should we not with as much chear and alacrity welcome our newest and last hour, as the Laborer desires to rest, or the weary Traveller to come to his Inne? To this purpose Seneca speaks in his Tragedy of Agamem∣non:

Qui vultus Acherontis atri Qui Stygia tristem non tristis videt, Audet{que} vitae ponere finem Par ille Regi, par superis erit. Fearlesse who dare gaze upon Black and grisly Acheron? He that merrily dare look On the gloomy stygian Brook. Who so bears his spirit so hie That he at any hour dares die, A King he is in his degree, And like the gods (in time) shall be.

Some may wonder why I have took this occasion to speak of death, I will give them this satisfaction; The Muse Calliope, under whom I patronize this last book, being no other then a redundance of sound, or one entire Musick, arising from eight severall instruments, and therefore as she participates from every one, so she exists of all; there∣fore in this succeeding tractate, I purpose by the help of the divine assistance, to take a briefe survey of what hath passed in the eight former books, to shew you the punish∣ments belonging to all such vices as I have discovered in the frailty of the Sex, to deter the Vicious, and expose unto the eies of the Noble, Chast, and Learned, the honour and reward due to their excellent gifts, thereby to encourage the Vertuous. Then since besides the Shame or Honour in this life, the one is punished, and the other glorified in the life to come, what more necessary meditation then (that we may live the better) hourly to think of death, and that is the scope I aim at: but before I can arrive so far, I pur∣pose to deliver to you the dispositions, conditions, and qua∣lities of divers sorts of women by me not yet remembred.

Of Women Ravished, &c.

MArpissa the daughter of Euenus was ravished by Apol∣lo, she was the wife of Idas. So Proserpine the daugh∣ter of Jupiter and Ceres, by Pluto, therefore he is cal∣led by Claudian, Ovid, and Sylus, lib. 14. the infernall Ravi∣sher. Perhibea by Axus the son of Oceanus, as Europa by Jupi∣ter, and Auge by Hercules. Castor and Pollux, who for their valour were called Dioscuri, which imports as much as the issue of Jupiter; they from Messene raped the two daugh∣ters of Leucippus, Phoebe and Ilaira, whom they after married: of Pollux and Phoebe was begot and born Mnesilius; of Castor and Ilaira, Anagon. They with their associats, Idas and Lynceas, the sons of Aphareus, had driven away a great prey of Cattel; when they came to divide the booty, a motion was made that an Ox should be divided into four, according to the number of the brothers, with this condition, that he which could devour his quarter first, should have the one halfe of the Cattell, and he that had next made an end of his part, should possesse the remainder. This was no sooner agreed upon, but Idas suddenly eat up his own portion, and presently devoured that which belonged to his bro∣ther, by which he claimed the whole herd, and being stron∣ger in faction then the Dioscuri, drave the prey back to Meffene. With which injury the two brothers incensed, they levied fresh forces, invaded Meffene, and took from thence a much greater booty then the former: the spoil being safe∣ly disposed of, Castor and Pollux awaited the pursuers, am∣bushed themselves beneath a broad spreading Oak, quick-sighted Linces espying Castor, shewed him to his brother, whom Idas slew with an arrow; whom Pollux pursuing, transpierced Linceus with his javelin, and unadvisedly cha∣sing, Idas was brained by him with a stone; for which Jupiter stroke Idas with a thunderbolt, and translated the two Princely brothers (the Dioscuri) into stars. Of these Pro∣pert. lib. 1. thus saith:

Non sic Leucippi succendit Castora Phoebe Pollucem cultu, non Ilaira soror▪ Fair Phoebo did not so inflame Her Castor with desire,

Nor Ilaira Pollux brest Deckt in her best attire.

Theseus rapt Ariadne daughter of King Ninus, as also Hellen the daughter of Tindarus and Laeda, and sister to Castor and Pollux, long before Paris, but returned her back unvitiated. Achilles forced Diomeda the daughter of Phor∣bas from Lesbos, as Boreas the fair Orithea daughter of Erisicthon from Athens; Hercules ravished the Nymph Py∣rene of Bebritia, from her the Pyrenaean Mountains took name, of whom Syllius:

Nomen Bebricia duxere à virgine colles Hospitis Alcidae crimen, &c. From the Behrician maid these bils took name, Of her guest Hercules, the fault and blame.

Pyrrhus surnamed Neoptolemus the sonne of Achilles and Deiadamia rapt Lanissa the Niece of Hercules, Ajax the son of Telamon did the like to T••••messa, of whom Horace:

Movit Ajacem Telamone satam Forma captivae dominum Te••m••ssae. Captive Te••messas beauty gaz'd upon, Insnar'd her Lord, the son of Telamon.

Ajax Oilaeus ravished Cassandra, Nessus the Centaur, Dei∣neira the wife of Hercules, sister to Meleager, and daughter to Oeneus and Althea King and Queen of Calidon. Tleoptole∣mus stole Axiothia from Ephira a City of Peloponnessus, he was the son of Hercules and Astioche, he wa•• first a suitor to Hellen, and came to the siege of Troy with nine ships, and was after slain by the hand of King Sarpedon. Hypoda∣mia the daughter of Atracius and wife of Perithous, suffered the like violence by the Centaurs, being heated with Wine and Lust, especially by Euritus, of whom Ovid lib. 12. thus speaks:

Euritus, Hyppodamea, alii quam quisque probabat Aut poterat rapiunt— Euritus rapt Hyppodame, and after him, the rest By his example did the like, and snatcht where they lik'd best.

The great enmity betwixt the Grecians and Barbari∣ans, though it might seem to arise by reason of the distance of Countries and difference of manners; yet most proba∣ble it is that their inveterate hate and irreconcilable ma∣lice, took first originall from divers rapes committed on either part: for first the Phoenician Merchants, exposing their commodities to publique sale in the City of Argis,

when Io the Kings daughters amongst other damosels came down to the Key to take a view of what Merchandise she best liked, to furnish her selfe according to her womanish fancy, the Merchants being extreamly surprized with her beauty, seized both her and the rest of her attendants, and stowing them under hatches, hoised sail, and transported them into Aegypt. Not long after, the Cretenses awaiting the like opportunity, stole away Europa, the daughter of the King of the Tyrians, and bore her into Creet, in re∣quitall of the former rape. The Heroes of Greece next, sailed in the great Argoe to Cholcos, pretending their journie for the golden fleece, and raped thence Medea the daughter of Areta; after whom sending Embassadors into Greece to redemand his daughter, they returned him an∣swer, That the barbarous Phoenicians had made no restitu∣tion nor satisfaction at all for the rape of Io, neither would they for Medea. After that, Paris the son of Priam, rather to revenge the injury done to his Aunt Hesione, then for any love or affection to Spartan Hellen, stole her from La∣cedemon, and brought her to Troy in Asia. The Princes of Greece redemanding her, answer was returned, That since they made no restitution of Europa, nor of Medea, nor Hesione, neither would they of Hellena: which was the ori∣ginall of that memorable siege of Troy, and the destructi∣on of that famous City, Herodotus, lib. 1. Thrasimenes being enamored of the fair daughter of Pisistratus, and his affe∣ction daily more and more encreasing, he gathered him∣selfe a society of young men, and watching the Lady when she came with other young damosels to offer sacrifice (ac∣cording to the custome of the Country) by the Sea side, with their swords drawn, they set upon the company that attended her, and having dispersed them, snatched her up, and hurrying her aboord, sailed with her towards Aegina. But Hyppias the eldest son of Pisistratus, being then at Sea to clear those coasts of Pirats, by the swiftnesse of their Oars, imagined them to be of the fellowship of the Sea-robbers, pursued them, boorded them, and took them; who finding his sister there, brought her back with the ravishers. Thrasi∣menes with the rest of his faction being brought before Pisi∣stratus, notwithstanding his known austerity, would neither do him honor, nor use towards him the least submission, but with bold and undaunted constancy attended their sen∣tence, telling him, That when the attempt was first propo∣sed,

they then armed themselves for death and all disasters. Pisistratus admiring their courage and magnanimity, which shewed the greater in regard of their youth, called his daughter before him, and in the presence of his nobility, to recompence his celsitude of mind & spirit freely bestowed her upon Thrasymenes; by which mens he reconciled their opposition, and enterteined them into new faith and obedi∣ence, no more expressing himselfe a Tyrant, but a loving and bountiful father, and withall a popular Citizen, Polin. lib. 5. The daughters of King Adrastus were ravished by Acesteneutrix, as Statius lib. 1. hath left remembred, Buenus the son of Mars and Sterope married Marpiss•• daughter to Oenemaus and Alcippa, whom Apharetas espying, as she dan∣ced amongst other Ladies, grew enamoured of, and ••orci∣bly rapt her from her company, Plutarch in Paral. Hersilia, with the Sabine Virgins, were likewise rap'd by Romulus and his souldiers, at large described by Ovid. lib. de Arte Amandi, 1. Lucrece, the chast Roman Matron, was stuprated by Sextus Tarquinius: of whom Seneca in Octavia thus saith,

Nata Lucreti stuprum saevi passa Tyranni.

Eudoxia being left by Valentinianus, was basely ravished by the Tyrant Maximus, who usurped in the Empire; for which she invited Gensericus out of Africk, to avenge her of the shame and dishonour done unto her. Sigebertus in Chro∣nicu. The same Author tels us of Ogdilo, Duke of Boiaria, who forced the sister of King Pepin: for which injury done to her, the King oppressed him with a cruell and boody war.

Of Handmaids, Nurses, Midwives, and Stepdames.

PEecusa was a Handmaid to Diana, whom Martial. lib. 1. thus remembers:

Et ••••eidit sectis I••la Pl••cusa Crinis.

Lagopice is another. lib. 7. remembred by the same Author. Cibale was the maid-servant to a poor man called Similus, remembred by Virgil in Morete. Phillis Troiana was the Handmaid to Phoceus, as Briseis was to Achilles. Pliny, lib. 36. cap. 27. makes Ocrisia the damosell to the Queen Tanaquil: so Horace makes Cassandra to Agamemnon. Gyge (as Plutarch relates) was such to Parysatis Queen of Persia, and mo∣ther to Cyrus. Thressa was maid-servant to Thales Milesius, who (as Theodoricus Cyrenensis affirms) when she saw her

Master come home dirty and miry, as being newly crept out of a ditch, chid him exceeding for gazing at the Stars to find those hidden things above, and had not the fore∣sight to see what lay below at his feet, but he must stum∣ble. Herodotus in Euterpe cals Rhodope (the famous Aegyp∣tian) the Handmaid of Iadmon Samius, a Philosopher. Elos was a damosell to King Athamas, from whom a great City in Achaia took denomination, and was called Aelos. Larda∣na (as Herodotus affirms) was at first no better then a ser∣vant, from whom the noble Family of the Heraclidae derive their first orginall. Titula (otherwise called Philotis) was a Roman Virgin of the like condition, and is remembred for such by Plutarch in Camillo, as also by Macrob. lib. 1. Satur∣nalium. Proconnesia is remembred by Pliny, who in one day brought forth two children, the one like her Master, and the other like another man with whom she had had com∣pany; and being born, delivered either child to his father. Lathris was the handmaid to Cinthia, so much spoken of by Propert. as Cypassis was to Cersinna the mistresse of Ovid: of whom he thus writes, Eleg. lib. 2.

Commendis in mille modis praefecta capillis Comere sed solas digna Cipasse Deas. She rules her mistresse hair (her skill is such) A thousand severall waies, to her desires: O, worthy none but goddesses to touch, To comb and deck their heads in costly Tires.

Chionia was Hand-maid to the blessed Anastasia, so like∣wise was Galanthis to Al••mena, the mother of Hercules; of whom, the same Author, lib. 9. thus saies:

Vna ministrarium media de plebe Galanthis Flava comas aderat faciendis strenua jussis. Amidst them all Galanthis stood, With bright and yellow hair, A 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that quick and nimble was Things needfull to prepare.

From Hand-maids I proceed to Nur••es: Annius upon Berosus, and Calderinus upon Statius, nominace Caphyrna or Calphur••••a, the daughter of Oceanus, to have been the Nurse of Neptune, as Amalthea and Melissa were to Jupiter, who fed him with the milk of a Goat in his infancy, when he was concealed from his father. Hence it came, that the Poets fabled how Jupiter was nursed by a Goat, for which cour∣tesie he was translated amongst the stars: Others say he

was nursed by Adrastea and Ida, the two daughters of King Melisaeus; for so Erasmus teacheth in the explanation of the Adage, Copiae Cornu. Ino was the nurse of Bacchus, as Ovid witnesseth in Ib. where he likewise cals her the Aunt to Bacchus, in this Verse:

Vt teneri Nutrix eadem Matertera Bacchi.

Of the same opinion with him, is Statius, lib. 2. Silv. But Ammonius Grammaticus makes Fesula the woman that gave him such: Pliny cals her Nysa, & saith she was buried neer to the City Scythopolis Polycha was the Nurse of Oedipus, who fostered him when his father Laius cast him out in his in∣fancy, because the Oracle had foretold he should perish by the hand of his son. Barce was the Nurse of Sychaeus, the most potent and rich King of the Phoenicians, and husband to Dido: Her, Virgil remembers, Aenead. lib. 4. Charme was Nurse to the Virgin Scilla: of whom the same Author in Syri, thus saies:

Illa autem, quid nunc me inquit Nutricula torques?

i. Why, O Nurse, dost thou thus torment me? Beroe Epi∣dauria was Nurse to Cadmeian Semele, the mother of Bac∣chus, as Aceste was to the daughters of Adrastus. Stat. lib. 1. Theb. Eupheme is memorated to be the Nurse to the Mu∣ses: she had a son called Erotus, who inhabited the moun∣tain Pernassus, and was wholly devoted to Hunting, and the Chase. Spaco was Nurse to Cyrus, who because that word in the Median Language signifies a Brache; for so saith Herodotus in Clio. Archimorus (the son Licurgus King of Thrace, whose Nurse was called Hypsiphyle, being left by her in the fields, was fed by a Serpent, Teste Statio Ericlia, or Euriclia, was the Nurse to Vlysses. Homer. in Odyss. and Ovid. in Epist. Cajeta was Nurse to Aeneas, lib. 7. Aenead.

Tu quoque ••••toribus nostris Aeneia Nutrix Aeternam moriens famam Cajeta dedisti. And thou Aeneas Nurse, Cajeta, Vnto our Shores hast left A never dying fame, because (There) of thy life bereft.

Alcibiades had a Nurse, whose name was Ami••la, or as some would have it Amida; his schoolmaster was Zopyrus, so saith Plutarch in Lycurg & Alcibiad. Hellanice was the Nurse to Alexander the great, witnesse Qu. Curtius. Acca Laventia was Nurse to Alexander, so saith Pliny lib. 18. cap. 2. so Sta∣tius lib. 1. Sil. in this Disticon.

Jam secura parens Thuscis regnabat in agris, Ilia, portantem lassabat Romulus Accam. Our parent Ilia now secure The Tuscan waters keeps, The whilst in Accaes wearied arms Young Romulus fast sleeps.

Yet Livy. and almost all the Roman Historiographers write, rhat Romulus and Remus were nursed by Lupa, wife to the shepherd Faustulus; she was so called, because she prostituted her selfe for gain: they were cast out by the King Amulius, and was found by the bounds of Tyber. Pli∣ny cals her Acca Laurentia. Philix was Nurse to the Empe∣ror Domitian, who when he was slain, and his corse lay de∣rided and neglected, took up his body, and putting it into a common Bear, caused it by ordinary and mercenary bearers, to be carried to the suburbs wherein she lived, and interred it in the Latin high way, Author Sueton. Macrina was a pious and religious woman, the disciple and scholer of Greg. Neocaesariensis, she was Norse and school mistress (in the first foundation of Christian Religion) to the great Ba∣silius, as he himselfe witnesseth in an Epistle to the Neocae∣sarienses. From Nurses, a word or two of Midwives.

Phaenarite was one, the mother of Athenean Socrates, she is remembred to be the first that disputed of Morality (that which we call Ethick Instructions) and taught the mysti∣call Philosophy of the Stars and Planets, how it might be made familiar and have correspondence with our humane and terrestriall actions. The son imitated the mother, and proved as happy a Midwife of the mind, as she of the body, both helping into the world ripe, timely, and fruitful issues. Volaterran. lib. 19. Laertius in ejus vita, and Valerius Maxim. lib. 3. cap. 4. Pliny, lib. 28. cap. 7. speaks of two Midwives, the one called Sotyra, the other Salpe, whose opinions and rules he observeth in the cures of many diseases; of Salpe he speaks more largely, lib. 32. cap. 6. Lycosthenes speaks of one Philip∣pa Midwife to Iolanta, who indured many distresses and changes of fortune.

Of Stepmothers I will only name some few and so passe them over, because where they be, can be exprest nothing but malice and unnaturall cruelty in women. The histories must of force appear harsh and unpleasant; besides, some of their bloody acts I have touched before under another title. Ino was Stepmother to Phrixus, and Helles the daughter of

Athamus; Hyppodamia, to Chrisippus; Stratonice, to Antiochus Soter; Julia, to Anton. Caracalla; Gedica, to Cominius; Juno, to Hercules; Opaea, to Scylis King of Scythia; Eribaea, to Mercury; Alphriga, to Edward the second of that name before the Conquest, King of England; Martina, to Constantinus He∣raclius whom she slew by poison, &c.

Of Women for their Piety and Devotion remem∣bred in the sacred Scriptures.

I Desire to leave nothing unspecified, or not remembred in this work, that might not make the excellency of good Women oppose in all contradiction, the excesse of the bad; and to draw (if it were possible) the worst to the imitation of the best. Hanapus, cap. 125. commemorates these: Rebecka, who when she saw the servant of Abraham at the Well where she came to draw water, and desiring to drink; answered cheerfully, and without delay, Drink, Sir, and I will also draw water for thy Camels, till they have all drunk their fill, Genes. 24. The Midwives feared God, and did not according to the command of Pharaoh King of Aegypt, but preserved the male-children whom they might have destroied, Exodus 1. The daughter of Pharaoh com∣ming down to the river to wash her selfe (with her hand∣maid) and finding the young child Moses in the Ark a∣mongst the bulrushes, she had compassion on the infant, and said, Surely this is a child of the Hebrews; so caused him to be nursed, brought up in her fathers Court, and af∣ter adopted him to be her son, Exod. 2. Rahab the strumpe••, when she knew the spies of Joshua to be pursued, and in danger of death, concealed them, and returned them safe to the army, Josh. 2. The messengers that were sent to Da∣vid in the wildernesse, to inform him of the proceeding of his son Absolon, were by a woman hid in a Well which she covered, and by that means deluded their pursuers, 1 King. 2. 17. When two common women contended before Solo∣mon, about the living and dead infant, the one had a tender and relenting breast, and could not endure to see the li∣ving child perish, 1 Kin. 3. 3. The widdow woman of Zarep∣hath enterteined Eliah as her guest, and by her he was re∣lieved, 1 King. 17▪ 9. The Shunamitish woman, perswaded

with her husband, that the Prophet Elisaeus might have a convenient lodging in her house, to go and come at his pleasure, 1 King. 4. 2. When wicked Athalia had given strict command to destroy all the Kings seed, Josaba the daugh∣ter of King Ioram took Ioas, one of the Kings children, and by hiding him out of the way, preserved his life, 1 King. 4. & 11. Hester having commiseration of her people (when a severe edict was published to destroy them all, and sweep them from the face of the earth) she exposed her selfe (with the great danger of her own life) to the displeasure of King Ahashuerosh, purchasing thereby the freedome of her Nati∣on, and her own sublimity, Hester 4. 5. Women ministred to the Savior of the world in his way as he went preaching to the Towns and Cities, Luke 8. when he walked from place to place, preaching and teaching, he is said never to have had more free and faithfull welcome, then in the house of Martha and Mary, Luke 10. Iohn 12. When the Scribes and Pharisees blasphemed at the hearing and seeing the Do∣ctrine and Miracles of Christ, a certain woman giving de∣vour attention to his words, as extasi'd with his divine Ser∣mon, burst forth into this acclamation, Blessed be the womb that bare thee, and the brests that gave thee suck. Luke 11. Christ being in Bethania, in the house of Simon the leaper, as he sate at the table, there came a woman with a box of ointment of Spicknard, very costly, and she brake the box, and poured it upon his head; and when some said, disdai∣ning, To what end is this wast, for it might have been sold for more then 300 pence, and given to the poor: Jesus said, Let her alone, she hath wrought a good work on me, &c. and proceeded, Verily I say unto you, wheresoever this Gospell shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done, shall be spoken in remembrance of her. The woman of Canaan was so full of naturall pitty, and maternall pie∣ty, that she counted her daughters misery and affliction her own, when she said to Jesus, Have mercy upon me, O Lord, the son of David, for my daughter is sore vexed with an evill Spirit, Mat. 15. The women stood by to see the Lord suffer, and followed the crosse when he was forsaken of his Apo∣stles, Luke 23. Iohn 19. They were carefull likewise to visit him in his sepulcher, Mat. 28. Luke 24. The wife of Pilat had more compassion of Christ, and more unwilling that he should suffer upon the crosse, then any man of whom the Scripture makes mention, Mat. 27. Mark 16. Iohn 20. For

deeds of charity, and dealing alms to the poor and needy widdowes and Orphans, they intreated Peter (weeping) that he would visit Tabitha being dead; who moved with their tears, kneeled and praied, at whose intercessions she was restored to life, Acts 9. Herod having slain Iames the brother of Iohn with the sword, and seeing that it pleased the people, he proceeded further to take Peter, and put him in prison, delivering him to the charge of four quaternions of souldiers to be kept: but the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in the night, took off his double chains, and led him out of prison, who having past the first and second watch, the iron gate opened to the Angel and him; and finding that which he thought to be a vision, to be a reall truth, he came to the house of Mary the mother of Iohn, whose surname was Mark, where many had separated themselves to praier. Pe∣ter knocking, a maid (whose name was Rhode) came to the door, who hearing and knowing Peters voice, the Scripture saith, the opened not the door for gladnesse, but ran in and told them that Peter stood without at the entry. In which are to be observed two memorable women for their zeal & piety, 〈…〉〈…〉, whose joy was so great at the very 〈…〉〈…〉 from the prison of He∣rod: and Mary 〈…〉〈…〉 was a devout harboresse, and 〈…〉〈…〉 disciples of Christ in∣to 〈…〉〈…〉 persecution) to per∣form their zealous and 〈…〉〈…〉, Acts 12. Lydia 〈…〉〈…〉 purple beleeving 〈…〉〈…〉 which Paul prea∣ched, was baptised with her 〈…〉〈…〉, after which she intreated them in their words 〈…〉〈…〉 think me worthy (saith she) to be a faithful servant 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Lord and God, vouchsafe to enter my house, 〈…〉〈…〉 here and she com∣pelled us, as Luke ••aith. By which is concluded, that women have been the ready, willing, and devo•••• hearers of the word of God, Acts 1••. Many (〈◊〉〈◊〉 question) zealous and religious ••omen have to their power strived to imitate those with their best of industry. Amongst others I might instance one, now of a great age, as having much past that number by which David reckons the years of man, yet from her youth hath lead a life without any noted stain of ble∣mish, devout in her zeal, remarkable in her charity, belo∣ved of all, hated of none, a Physitian to the sick, and Chi∣rurgion to the wounded, who with her own hands hath sent more lame and diseased persons from her gate whole and

sound, then Lazarus had sores about him when he lay at the rich mans gate unrelieved, she feeding with loaves, when that purple glutton would not spare crums, she doing this out of a widowes mite, when he would not do any thing out of a Mammons treasures happy be her resurrection, as her birth was hopefull, whose name at the Font was a future prediction to her blessednesse above; Felicity she is called on Earth, Eternall Felicity may she enjoy in Heaven.

Peter de Loyre a French, in his book of Specters, Sights, and Appa••itions, hath very well observed, that the Syrens and Muses may be in some sort compared together: for as there are three sorts of Nymphs, namely, of Air, Water, and Earth, so there are of the Muses, some that take their being from the continuall moving and stirring of Waters; a se∣cond, made by the agitation of the Air engendring sounds; a third from the Earth, which is called Voice, or distin∣guishable words spoken to the capacity of the hearer. So of the Syrens, Parthenope presented with a womanish, amiable, and inchanting face, importeth the Voice, and proceedeth from the Earth, as of the three the most materiall and weighty. Ligia denoteth Harmony, arrising from the melo∣dious sounds of the Air. And Le••eosia called Alba dea, or the white goddesse, is the Hieroglyphick of the ebbing and flowing in the Sea, which begetteth the white froth or some of which Venus is said to be engendred: so that by these three, the Nymphs, the Muses, and the Syrens are compre∣hended: the art of Musick existing of three things, Har∣mony, Rythme, and Number; Harmony proceeding from the air; Number from the Sea, bounded within his com∣pass, yet as we see in Hexameter and Pentameter, and other verse, ebbing and flowing, according to the growth and wane of the Moon. To these is added the Voice, which the Greeks call Logos, the French Romans Dictier. To Harmo∣ny are appropriated Sounds; to Number or Rythme, Dan∣ces; and to the Voice, all kind of Verse. But to come to my present purpose, all these including one generall musick, and Calliope as she participates from every one, so comprehending all, I think it not impertinent, as in a con∣sort many Instruments make but one melody, so in this book to recollect my selfe, and give you a taste of many or the most heads discoursed of in the former, the better to put you in mind of the penalty due to the Vicious, and the guerdon and reward stored for the Vertuous, and that in

compendious History. The Goddesses, Nymphs, Graces, Muses, Sybils, Vestals, &c. I omit, as sufficiently spoken of, and apply my selfe to things more familiar and necessary to instruction. I begin with the bad, because my desire is to end with the best, and of Incest first.

The sister of Leucippus.

I Insist not of the several sorts of Incest, neither purpose I to stand upon the multiplicity of History, let this one serve to remember you of the former. Leucippus the son of Xan∣thius, who derived his Genealogy from Bellerophon, he was excellent both in strength and valour above all that lived in his daies, not in private contentions only, but in forreign combustions, he demeaned himself with such discretion and courage, that having subdued the Lycians, and awed all the neighbor nations about him, having no enemy to invade, nor opposite people to lift up a rebellious hand against him, he retired himselfe into his Country, and laying aside his victorious arms which won him fame and honour a∣broad, he abandoned himselfe to ease, and the private plea∣sures of his fathers house, and now wanting other imploi∣ment (as idlenesse is the greatest corrupter of vertue) he began to entertein such unusuall flames, and unaccusto∣med cogitations, as before he had no time to feel, or leisure to think on; for now he cast his incestuous eie upon his si∣ster. His passions much troubled him, at the first, and all possible means he used to shake them off, but in vain: he lived in the same house with her, they dieted at one table, had liberty of unsuspected conference, and he having no∣thing else to do, had only leisure to meditate on that which was fearful to apprehend, but horrible to enterprize. To this purpose Ovid with great elegancy in remed. Amor. lib. 1. speaking of Aegistus, who in the absence of Agamemnon a∣dulterated his Queen Clitemnestra, thus writes:

Queritur Aegistus quare sit factus adulter? In promptu causa est, desidios•••• erat, &c. Doth any man demand the reason why Aegistus an adulterer was, Lo I Can tell, Because that he was idle, when Others at Troy were sighting, and their men Led stoutly on 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to which place were accited The Grecian Heroes with a force united.

He no imploiment had: There was no war In Argos where he lived (from Troy so far) No strife in Law, to which being left behind, He carefully might have imploi'd his mind, That which lay plain before him, the man prov'd, And lest he should do nothing, therefore lov'd.

As Ovid of Aegistus, so may I say of Leucippus, whom rest, and want of action in a stirring brain, and body, wrought this distemperature. Ashamed he was to court his sister, first, because he knew her modest; a second impediment was, she was elsewhere disposed and contracted to a Gen∣tleman of a Noble family: besides, she was his sister; to whom he wish•• all good, and then to corrupt her honor, he could devise for her no greater ill: he considered that to perswade her to her own undoing, would shew ill in a stranger, but worse in a brother. In these distractions, what should he do, or what course take? the thing he appre∣hended was preposterous, and the means to compass it was prodigious; for he came to his mother, told her his disease, and besought her of remedy: his words as they were utte∣red with tear, so they were heard with trembling, for they foavered her all over. Being in to the knees, he cared not now to wade up to the chin, and proceeded, That if she would not be the means for him to compasse his sister, not∣withstanding all obstacles whatsoever, he would by speedy and sudden death rid himselfe out of all his miseries, desi∣ring her speedy answer, or with his naked poniard in his hand, he was as ready for execution, as she to deny her assi∣stance. I leave to any mothers consideration but to imagine with what strange ambiguities, his words perplexed her, & what convulsions it bred in her bosome, even to the ve∣ry stretching of her heart strings: but as she knew his cou∣rage to dare, so she feared his resolution to act, therefore more like a tender hearted mother, then a vertuous mind∣ed matron, rather desiring to have wicked children, then none at all, she promised him hope, and assured him help, and after some perswasive words of comfort, left him indif∣ferently satisfied. What language the mother used to the daughter to invite her to the pollution of her body, and destruction of her soul, is not in me to conceive: I only come to the point, by the mothers mediation the brother is brought to the bed of his sister, she is viti••ted, and his ap∣petite glutted, yet not so, but that they continued their

private meetings, insomuch that custome bred impudence, and suspition certain proof of their incestuous consociety: At length it comes to the ear of him that had contracted her, with attestation of the truth thereof: he, though he feared the greatnesse of Leucippus his known valour, and popular favour, yet his spirit could not brook so unspeak∣able an injury; he acquaints this novell to his father, and certain noble friends of his, amongst whom it was conclu∣ded by all jointly, to inform Xanthius of his daughters in∣chastity: but for their own safety (knowing the potency of Leucippus) to conceal the name of the adulterer. They re∣pair to him, and inform him of the businesse, intreating his secrecy, till he be himself eie-witness of his daughters disho∣nor. The father at this newes is inraged, but arms himselfe with patience, much longing to know that libidinous wretch who had dishonored his family. The incestuous meeting was watcht and discovered, and word brought to Xanthius that now was the time to apprehend them; he cals for lights, and attended with her accusers, purposes to in∣vade the chamber: great noise is made, she affrighted rises, and before they came to the door, opens it, slips by, thinking to flie and hide her selfe; the father supposing her to be the adulterer, pursues her, and pierceth her through with his sword. By this Leucippus starts up, and with his sword in his hand, hearing her last dying shreek, prepares himself for her rescue, he is incountred by his father, whom in the distraction of the sudden affright, he unadvisedly assaulted and slew. The mother disturbed with the noise, hasts to the place where she heard the tumult was, and see∣ing her husband and daughter slain, betwixt the horridness of the sight, and apprehension of her own guilt, fell down suddenly and expired. And these are the lamentable effects of Incest, the father to kill his own daughter, the son his father, and the mother (the cause of all ill) to die suddenly without the least thought of repentance. These things so in∣fortunately hapning, Leucippus caused their bodies to be nobly interred, when forsaking his fathers house in Thessa∣ly, he made an expedition into Creet, but being repulst from thence by the inhabitants, he made for Ephesia, where he took perforce a City in the province of Cretinaea, and after inhabited it. It is said that Leucophria the daughter of Mandrolita, grew enamored of him, and betraied the City into his hands, who after married her, and was ruler thereof.

This history is remembred by Parthenius de Amatoriis, cap. 5. Of incest betwixt the father and the daughter, Ovid. lib. Metam. speaks of, whose verses, with what modesty I can, I will give you the English of, and so end with this argu∣ment.

Accipit obscoeno genitor sua viscera lecto, Virgeneosque metus levat Hortaturque timentem,* 1.1 &c Into his obscene bed the father takes His trembling daughter, much of her he makes, Who pants beneath him; 'bids her not to fear, But be of bolder courage, and take chear. Full of her fathers sins, loath to betray The horrid act, by night she steals away Fraught, that came thither empty; for her womb Is now of impious incest made the Tomb.

Next to the sin I will place the punishment.* 1.2 Jacob bles∣sing his children, said to Reuben, Thou shalt be poured out like water, thine excellency is gone, because thou hast de∣filed thy fathers bed, Gen. 49. Absolon went in to his fa∣thers concubines, and was soon after slain by the hand of Joab, 1 Kings 2. 16. & 18. Of later times I will instance one Nicolaus Estensis, Marquesse of Ferrara, who having no∣tice that his son Hugo (a toward and hopefull young Gen∣tleman) had borne himself more wantonly then reverence and modesty required, in the presence of his stepmother, Parisia, of the family of Malatestae; and not willing rashly either to reprove or accuse them, he watch them so narrow∣ly by his intelligencers and spies, that he had certain and infallible testimony of their incestuous meetings, for which (setting aside all conjugall affection, or paternall pity) he caused them first to be cast in strict and close prison, and after upon more mature deliberation, to be arraigned, where they were convicted, and lost their heads, with all the rest that had been conscious of the act, Fulgos. lib. 6. cap. 1. I will borrow leave to insert here one remarkable punish∣ment done upon a Jew at Prague in Bohemia, in the year 1530; who being then in adultery with a Christian wo∣man, they compelled him to stand in a ton pitched within, they bored a hole, in which they forced him to put in that part with which he had offended: just by him was placed a knife without edge, blunred for the purpose, and there he stood loose, save fastned by the part aforesaid; fire being gi∣ven, he was forced through the torment of the heat, with

that edgelesse knife to cut away that pars virilis, and ran away bleeding, after whom they set fierce m••stiffs, who worried him to death, and after tore him in pieces, Lycost∣in Theatro Human. vitae.

Of Adultery.

THe wife of Argento-Coxus Calidonius, being taunted by Julia Augusta, because it was the custome of their Country for the noble men and women promiscuously to mix themselves together, and to make their appointments openly without blushing; to her thus answered, I much commend the custome of our Country above yours, we Ca∣lidonians desire consociety with our equals in birth and quality, to satisfie the necessary duties belonging to love and affections, and that publiquely; when your Roman La∣dies professing outward temperance and chastity, prosti∣tute your selves privately to your base grooms and vas∣sals. The same is reported to have been spoken by a B••itish woman, Dion Nicaeus Xiphilin. in vita Severi. Her words were verified (as in many others I could here produce) so in the French Queen Fredigunda, who though she infinitly flatte∣red the King Chilpericus her husband outwardly, yet she inwardly affected one Laudricus, to whom she communica∣ted her person and honor: these in the Kiugs absence were scarce to be found asunder, insomuch, that Chilperick him∣selfe could not more freely command her person by his power, then the other by his loose and intemperete effe∣minacies. It hapned, the King being on hunting, and lea∣ving the Chase before his hour, stole suddenly upon his Queen, and comming behind her as she was taking her Prospect into the Garden, sportingly toucht her upon the head with the switch he had then in his hand, without speaking: she not dreaming of the Kings so sudden return, and thinking it had been her private friend (without look∣ing back) Well sweet-heart Landricus (saith she) you will never leave this fooling; and turning towards him withall, discovered the King, who only biting his lip, departed in silence. She fea••••ng the Kings distaste, and consequently his revenge, sends for Landricus, and as if the King had been the offender, betwixt them two conspired his death, and within few daies effected it (for seldome doth Adultery but go hand in hand with Murther.) From the Sin, I come to the Punishment.

Among the Israelites it was punished with fines,* 1.3 as may be collected from the history of Thamar, who being with child by Judas, he threatned her to the stake, and had ac∣cordingly performed it, had she not shewed by manifest tokens, that he himselfe was the author of her unlawfull is∣sue, Gen. 38. The Aegyptians condemned the Adulterer so deprehended, to a thousand scourges, the Adulteresse to have her Nose cut off, to the greater terror of the like de∣linquents, Diodor. Sicul. lib. 2. cap. 2. Coel. lib. 21. cap. 25. By Solons Lawes, a man was permitted to kill them both in the act, that so found them, Ravis. In Judaea they were stoned to death, Plat. lib. 9. de Legibus, punisheth Adultery with death. The Locrenses (by tradition from Zaluces) put out the Adulterers eies. The Cumaei prostituted the Adulte∣resse to all men, till she died by the same sin she had com∣mitted, Alex. ab. Alex. lib. 4. cap. 1. It was a custome amongst the ancient Germans, for the husband to cut off his wives hair so apprehended, to turn her out of doors naked, and scourge her from Village to Village. One bringing word to Diogenes, That a fellow called Dydimones, was taken in the act. He is worthy then (saith he) to be hanged by his own name; for Didymi in the Greek Tongue, are Testiculi, in English the Testicles, or immodest parts: By them there∣fore (from whence he derived his name, and by which he had offended) he would have had him to suffer, Laert. lib. 6. Hye••tu••. the Argive, slew one Molurus, with his wife, apprehending them in their unlawfull congression, Coeli∣us. Iulius Caesar repudiated his wife for no other reason, but because P. Clodius was found in his house in Womans Apparell. And being urged to proceed against her, he ab∣solutely denied it, alledging, That he had nothing where∣of to accuse her: but being further demanded, Why then he abandoned her society? he answered, That it was be∣hoofefull for the wife of Caesar, not only to be clear from the sin it selfe, but from the least suspition of crime, Fulgos. lib. 6. cap. 1. Augustus banished his own Daughter and Neece (so accused) into the Island called Pandateria (after into Rhegium) commanding at his death, That their bo∣dies (being dead) should not be brought neer unto his Sepulcher. To omit many, Nicolaus, the first Pope of that name, excommunicated King Lotharius (brother to Lewis, the second Emperor) because he divorced his wife Therber∣ga, and in her room instated Gualdrada, and made her

Queen. Besides, he degraded Regnaldus, Archbishop of T••evers, and Gunthramus Archbishop of Collen, from their Episcopall dignitie, for giving their approbation to that adulterate Marriage. And so much for the punishment: I will conclude with the counsel of Horace, lib. 1. Satyr. 2.

Desine Matronas sectarier, unde laboris Plu••haurire mali est, quam ex re decerpere fructum est. Cease Matrons to pursue, for of such pain Thou to thy selfe more mischief reap'st then gain.

Sisters that have murdred their Brothers.

AFter the untimely death of Aydere,* 1.4 his brother Ismael succeeded him in the Persian Empire, who arriving at Ca••bin, was of his sister received with joy, and of the peo∣ple with loud acclamations: and being now possessed of the Imperiall dignity, the better (as he thought) to secure himselfe, having power answerable to his will, after the bar∣barous custome of the Turkish tyranny, he first caused his eight younger brothers to be beheaded, stretching his bloody malice to all or the most part of his own affinity, not suffering any to live that had been neer or deer to his deceased brother; so that the City Casbin seemed to swim in blood, and ecchoed with nothing but lamentations and mournings. His cruelty bred in the people both fear and hate, both which were much more increased when they un∣derstood he had a purpose to alter their form of religion (who with great adoration honour their prophet Aly) into the Turkish superstition; his infinite and almost incredible butcheries, concern not my project in hand, I therefor leave them and return to his sister, whose name was Periaconco∣na, who when this Tyrant was in the middest of his securi∣ties, and the sister (as he imagined) in her sisterly love and affection; upon a night when he was in all dissolute volup∣tuousnesse sporting amidst his concubines, she into whose trust and charge he had especially committed the safety of his person, having confederated with Calilchan, Emirchan, Pyrymahomet, and Churchi Bassa, the most eminent men in the Empire, admitted them into the Seraglio in womans attire, by whom with her assistant hand in the midst of his luxuries he was strangled: an act though happily bene∣ficiall to the common good, yet ill becomming a sister, un∣lesse such an one as strived to parallel him in his unnatu∣rall cruelties, Turkish History.

Equall with this was that of Quendreda, who after the death of Ranulphus King of Mercia, his young son Kenelm, a child of seven years of age raigning in his stead, whose roiall estate and dignity being envied by his sister, she con∣spired with one Heskbertus, by whose treacherous practise the King was enticed into a thick forrest, and there murde∣red, and privately buried; his body long missed and not found, and the conspirators not so much as suspected: But after, as Willielm. de regib. lib. 1. and de Pontificibus, lib. 4. re∣lates, a Dove brought in her bill a scrole written in Eng∣lish golden letters, and laid it upon the Altar of Saint Pe∣ter, which being read by an Englishman contained these words (by which the place where the body lay was disco∣vered) At Clent in Cowbach Kenelme Keneborn lieth under Thorn, heaved by weaved, that is, in plainer English, At Clent in Cowbach under a thorn Kenelm lieth headlesse slain by treason. Some say it was found by a light which streamed up into the air from the place where his body lay covered. His hearse being after borne towards his sepulchre, to be a second time interred, with solemn Dirges sung by the Churchmen. Quendreda sitting then in a window with a Psalter in her hand, to see the funerall solemnly pass by, whether in scorn of the person, de••ision of the Ceremony, or both, is not certain, but she began to sing the Psalm of Te Deum laudamus backward;* 1.5 when instantly both her eies dropped out of her head, with a great flux of blood which stained her book, and it was after kept as a sacred relique in memory of the Divine judgement. What need I trouble you with citing antiquities, how this sin ought to be pu∣nished on earth, when we see how hatefull it is in the eies of heaven; besides, to insult upon the bodies of the dead, is monstrous, and even in things senslesse to be punished: Ausonius remembers us of one Achillas, who finding a dead mans scull in a place where three sundrie waies divided themselves, and casting to hit it with a stone, it rebounded again from the scull, and stroke himself on the forehead; his words be these:

Abjecta in triviis inhumati glabra jacebat Testa hominis, nudum jam cute calvicium, Fleverant alii, fletu non motus Achillas, &c. Where the three waies parted, a mans soul was found, Bald, without hair, unburied above ground:

Some wept to see't, Achillas more obdure, Snatcht up a stone, and thinks to hit it sure; He did so, at the blow the stone rebounds, And in the eies and face Achillas wounds. I wish all such whose impious hands prophane The dead mans bones, so to be stroke again.

Of Mothers that have slain their Children, or Wives their Husbands, &c.

MEdea,* 1.6 the daughter of Oeta King of Colchos, first slew her young brother in those Islands, which in me∣mory of his inhumane murther, still bear his name, and are called Absyrtides; and after, her two sons. Macar•••••• and Pherelus, whom she had by Iason. Progne, the daught••er of Pandion, murthered her young son It is (begot by Ter••us the son of Mars) in revenge of the rape of her sister 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Ino the daughter of Cadmus) Melicertis, by 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the son of Aeolus. Althea the daughter of Theseus, slew her son Me∣leager, by Oeneus the son of Parthaon. Themisto the (daughter of Hypseus) Sphincius, or Plinchius, and Orchomenus, by 〈◊〉〈◊〉, at the instigation of Ino, the daughter of Cadmus. Tyros (the daughter of Salmoneus) two sons, begot by 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the son of Aeolus, incited thereto by the Oracle of Apollo▪ Agave (the daughter of Cadmus) Pentheus, the son of Echi••••, at the importunity of Liber Pater. Harpalice. the daughter of Climenus, slew her own father, because he forcibly despoi∣led her of her honor. Hyginus in Fabulis.

These slew their Husbands. Clitemnestra (the daughter of Theseus) Agamemnon, the son of Atreus. Hellen (the daugh∣ter of Iupiter and Laeda) Deiphobus, the son of Priam and Hecuba; he married her after the death of Paris. Agave, Lycotherses in Illyria, that she might restore the Kingdom to her father Cadmus, Deianeira (the daughter of Oeneus & Al∣thea Hercules the son of Iupiter & Alomena, by the Treason of Nessus the Centaur: Iliona (the daughter of Priam) Polymne∣stor, King of Thrace; Semyramis her husband Ninus, King of Babylon, &c. Some have slain their Fathers, others their Nephewes and Neeces; all which being of one nature, may be drawn to one head: And see how these prodigious sins have been punished.

Martina, the second wife to Heraclius (and his Neece by the brothers side) by the help of Pyrrhus the Patriarch, poi∣soned

Constantinus, who succeeding in the Empire, fearing left her son Heraclius should not attain to the Imperiall Purple, in regard that Constantinus left issue behind him two sons, Constantes and Theodosius, which he had by Gregoria, the daughter of Nycetas the Patritian: notwithstanding, he was no sooner dead, but she usurped the Empire. Two years of her Principality were not fully expired, when the Senate reassumed their power, and called her to the bar; where they censured her to have her tongue cut out, lest by her eloquence she might perswade the people to her assistance: her son Heraclius they maimed off his Nose, so to make him odious to the multitude, and after exiled them both into Cappadocia. Cuspinianus in vita Heraclii. A more terrible judgement was inflicted upon B••unechildis, whose History is thus related: Theodericus, King of the Frenchmen, who by this wicked womans counsel had polluted himselfe with the blood of his own naturall brother, and burthened his con∣science with the innocent deaths of many other noble gen∣tlemen, as well as others of meaner 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and quality; was by her poisoned and deprived of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 when he had made a motion to have taken to wife his Neece, a beautifull young Lady, and the daughter of his late slain brother, Brunechildis with all her power and industry opposed the Match, affirming that Contract to be meerly incestuous, which was made with the brothers daughter; she next per∣swaded him, that his son Theodebertus was not his own, but the adulterate issue of his wife by another: at which words he was so incensed, that drawing his sword, he would have instantly transpierc'd her; but by the assistance of such Courtiers as were then present, she escaped his fury, and presently 〈◊〉〈◊〉 plotted his death, and effected it as afore∣said. Trittenbem••••s de Regib. 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and Rober••us Gagui∣nus, lib. 2. Others write, that he was drowned in a River, after he had reigned 〈◊〉〈◊〉 years. Aventinus affirms, That presently after he had slain his brother (entring into one of his Cities) he was struck with thunder.* 1.7 Annal. Boio∣rum. lib. 3. But this 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Butcheresse, Brunechildis (after she had been the 〈…〉〈…〉 an infinit number of people, and the death of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Kings) at length moving an unfortunate war against Lotharius (to whom she denied to yield the Kingdome) she was taken in battell, and by the Nobility and Captain, of the Army condemned to an unheard of punishment: She was first beaten with four Bastoons (before

she was brought before Lotharius) then all her Murthers, Treasons, and Inhumanities were publiquely proclaimed in the Army; and next, her legs and hands being fastned to the tails of wild horses, pluckt to pieces, and dissevered limb from limb, Anno 1618. Sigebertus Trittemhemius, Gagui∣nus, and Aventinus. And such be the earthly punishments due to Patricides and Regicides. Touching Patricides, So∣lon (when he instituted his wholsome Lawes) made no Law to punish such, as thinking it not possible in nature to pro∣duce such a Monster. Alex. lib. 2 cap. Romulus appointing no punishment for that inhumanity, included Patricides un∣der the name of Homicides, counting Manslaughter and Murther abhorred and impious, but the other impossible, Plutarch. in Romulo. Marcus Malleolus having slain his mo∣ther, was the first that was ever condemned for that fact a∣mongst the Romans; his Sentence was to be sowed in a sack, together with a Cock, an Ape, and a Viper, and so cast into the river Ti••er: a just infliction for such immanity. The Macedonians punished Patricides and Traitors alike, and not only such as personally committed the fact, but all that were any way of the comederacy. Alex. ab Alex. lib 3. cap. 5. and all such were ••••••ned to death. The Aegyptians stabbed them with Needles and Bodkins, wounding them in all the parts of their body, but not mortally; when blee∣ding all over from a thousand small orifices, they burnt them in a pile of thorns, Diodor. Sicul. lib. 2. de rebus antiq. The Lusitanians first exiled them from their own confines, and when they were in the next forreign air, stoned them to death. Nero having slain his mother Agrippina by the hand of Anicetes, had such terror of mind, and unquietnesse of conscience, that in the dead of the night he would leap out of his bed horribly affrighted, and say (when they that at∣tended him, demanded the cause of his disturbance) That he heard the noice of trumpets, and charging of battels, with the grones of slaughtered and dying men, from the place where his mother was interred. Therefore he often shifted his houses, but all in vain, for this horror still pursu∣ed him, even to his miserable and despairing end; for so X••phil••nus testates, the Abbreviator of Dion in Nerone.

The perfidiousnesse, of Husbands to their Wives hath been thus punished. By the Law of Julia, all such were con∣demned as rioted and wasted the dowries of their Wives. The Romans did not only hold such, impious and sacrile∣gious,

that prophaned their Temples, and despised the Al∣tars of the gods, but those also that were rudely robusti∣ous, and laid violent hands upon their wives and children; in such a reverent estimation they held fatherly issue and conjugal piety, Alex. lib. 4. cap. 8. Almaricus having married the sister of the French King, and using her most contu∣meliously and basely (for no other reason, but that she was a faithful follower of the true Religion, and quite renoun∣ced Arianisme) was by her brother Chilbertus,* 1.8 vexed and tormented with a bloody and intestine war. Michael Ritius, lib. 1. de Regib. Francorum. M. Valerius Maximus, and Cai. Junius Brutus, being Censors, removed L. Antonius from the Senate for no other reason, but that without the advice and counsell of his friends, he had repudiated a virgin, to whom he had been before contracted. Val. Maxim. lib. 2. cap. 4. So Tiberius Caesar discharged an eminent Roman from his Quaestorship, for divorcing his wife the tenth day after he had been married; accounting him meerly void of faith or constancy, that in a businesse so weighty, and of so great moment, in so small a time exprest himselfe variable and inconstant Alex. lib. 4. cap. 8. Rodulphus Veromandorum Comes forsook his wife, to marry the sister of the Queen Petronil∣la, for which he was excommunicated by the Church of Rome; and the Bishop Laudunensis, Bartholomaeus Novioco∣mensis, and Simon Peter Sylvanectensis, that were assistants to the Earl Rodulphus in that unjust divorce, were all su∣spended by the Pope. Robertus in Chronicis. The revenge of these libidinous insolencies was most apparant in the Em∣peror Andronicus, who after the death of Emanuel (who preceded him) caused his son (the immediate heir to the Empire) to be sowed in a sack, and cast into the sea. And being now securely installed in the Constantinopolican Principality, besides a thousand butcheries, slaughters and other insufferable cruelties, he addicted himselfe to all luxurious intemperance, as vitiating virgins, corrupting Matrons, contaminating himselfe with shamefull Whore∣domes and Adulteries, not sparing the religious Nunne∣ries, but forcing the Cloisters, ravishing thence whom he pleased to glut his greedy and insatiate lust, and when 〈◊〉〈◊〉 own desires were qualified, would deliver them up to be stuprated by his grooms and vassals. With whose unbri∣dled appetites, and insufferable madnesse, the people being vexed and tired, they invited Isacius to the 〈…〉〈…〉

besieging the Tyrant, took him and presented him before the Emperor elected; who, because he had so malitiously trespassed against every man, devised for him a punishment that might give satisfaction to all: he therefore caused him to put off his Imperiall Robes, and to appear no other then a private man, such as he had maliciously offended; next, caused one of his eies to be pluckt out (the punish∣ment devised by Lycu••gus for Adulterers;) he mounted him upon an Asse, with his face towards the tail, which being forced to hold in his hand, and putting a Garland of De∣••ision about his temples commanded him to be led through all the stre••ts of the City, allowing all men and women to speak against him what opprob••y they pleased, without li∣mitation, and do him all outrages that stretched not to destroy his life. Thus was the Tyrant conducted along through an implacable multitude, enterteined by the way with Clamors, Shouts, Railings, Curses, and all manner of Contempts and de••isions, some spitting, others casting soile and durt, the women emptying uncleanly vessels upon his head; insomuch, that no disgrace or abject usage could be devised, of which he was not then in some kind sensible. This done,* 1.9 he was carried to the common place of executi∣on, and there like a Felon hanged upon the gallowes, Gui∣elo Bituricensis. And this which was done to him, undoubted∣ly belongs to all such shamelesse, barbarous, and bruitish women, who with brazen impudence having abandoned all grace and goodnesse, expose themselves to the profession of all impurity and abominable d••shonesty, making their cor∣rupt bodies no better then Sinks of Sins, and Spittles of dis∣eases; not only pleased in their own ruins, without the de∣struction of others, till their souls be as leprous as their infacted Bodies: nay more, since the Maladies and Aches of the one is but momentary, and for them the Grave is a Bed of Rest, and Death the Surgeon; but the other are per∣manent and endlesse, namely, those of the Soul; of which Hell is the Prison, and the Devil the Tormentor. From these greater, I now proceed to lesse; and though not in that measure, yet in some kind punishable.

O Loquacity and Excesse, and how they have been punished.

BEcause I desire Women to entertein nothing, either to the prejudice of themselves or others, I could ingeni∣ously

wish, by taking away the cause to remove the effect, and by suppressing the temptation, to cut off all occasion that might allure men to offend. Two things there are, that be great corrupters of Modesty, and provokers to Sinne, namely, Wanton and unbridled Discourse, and vain and fantastick prodigality in Attire: I will speak a little of the due rep••ehension belonging unto these, ere I begin with others. If then the tongue be the Orator of the heart, and by our words our minds are especially signified, how much care ought women to have what they speak, and with what modesty to govern the O••gan of their thoughts, since cor∣rupt words arise from corrupt apprehensions, and nothing but what is pure and irreprovable should proceed from a heart that is without stain and blemish. Besides, too much Loquacity I could wish you to forbear, with which many of your Sex hath been unsparingly branded. Many also have accused you to be so open breasted, that you cannot con∣ceal any secret committed unto your trust. I advise you to to be counselled by Horace, lib 1. Epistol. ad Saevam.

Sed tacitus pasci si posset Corvus, haberet Plus dap••s & rixae multo minus invidiaeque. Would the Crow eat in silence, and not prate. Much better she might feed, with much lesse hate.

It is reported of Theocritus Chius,* 1.10 being taken in battell, that in the way as the souldiers conducted him, with pur∣pose to present him before the King Antigonus, they per∣swaded him when he appeared before the eies of the Con∣queror, to bear himselfe with all submiss humility, and no doubt but he should find the Prince roiall. He rather wil∣ling to hazard his life then lose his jeast (notwithwanding his bonds and captivity) thus answered: If I cannot be as∣sured of safety till I be brought before the eies of your King An∣tigonus, he having but one eie (for he had 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the other in battell) what then shall become of me? At which words Anti∣gonus being 〈…〉〈…〉 to be slain; who had he kept his tongue, might have been sent home safe and ransomlesse, Fubgos. lib. 8. cap. 1. Plautus in Asinaria thus reproves your verbosity.

Nam multum loquaces merito habemur omnes Nec mutam profecto repertam ullam esse Hodie dicunt mulierem, illo in seculo. Great 〈…〉〈…〉 they say, And 〈…〉〈…〉 found

Any that can keep silence, but betray Our selves we must (and seek the whole world round.)

If then Loquacity be so reprovable in your Sex, how ill then would Lies (which women term Excuses) appear in your mouths?* 1.11 For who will believe the chastity of your Lives, that finds no truth in your Lips? It is reported of two Beggars, who watching Epiphanius (a z••alous and cha∣ritable man) as he came forth of his gates, to gain of him the greater alms, the one of them fell prostrate upon the earth, and counterfeited himselfe dead, whilst the other see∣med piteously to lament the death of his companion, desi∣ring of Epiphanius something towards his buriall: The good man wished rest to the body deceased, and drawing out his Purse, gave bountifully towards his funerall, with these words; Take charge of his Corse, and cease mourning my son, for this body shall not presently rise again; and so de∣parted: who was no sooner gone, but the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 commen∣ding his fellow for so cunningly dissembling, jogs him on the elbow, and bids him rise that they might be gone; but he was justly punisht for his dissimulation, for he was struck dead by the hand of Heaven: which his fellow see∣ing ran after Epiphamus with all the speed he could make, desiring him humbly to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his companion again to life: to whom he answered, The judgements of God once past, are unchangeable; therefore what hath hapned, bear with what pa∣tience thou canst. Zozamenus, lib. 7. cap. 6. Therefore Plautus in Me••catore, thus saith:

Mihi scelus videtur me parenti proloqui mendacium.

•• It appears to me 〈◊〉〈◊〉 heinous thing to lie to my father. If Lying be so detestable, what may we think of Perjury? The Indians used to swear by the water Sandaracines (a flood so called) and who violated that Oath,* 1.12 was punished with death, or else they were curtailed of their Toes and Fin∣gers. In Sardinia was a Water, in which if the Perjurer washt his eies, he was instantly struck blind, but the inno∣cent departed thence purer in his fame, and more perfect in his sight, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, lib. 5. cap. 10. Miraculous are those ponds in Sicilia,* 1.13 called Palici, neer to the river Simethus, where Truths and Falshoods are strangely distinguished: The Oaths of men and women being written in Tables, and cast in them, the Truths swam above water, and the Lies sunk down to the bottom. All such as forswore themselves, wash∣ing in these waters, died not long after, but others returned

thence with more validity and strength. The sin of Perju∣ry was hatefull amongst the Aegyptians, and the punish∣ment fearfull. All Perjure••s had their heads cut off, as those that had two waies offended, in their piety towards the gods, and in their faith to men, Diodor. Sicul. lib. 2. cap. 2. de rebus antiquis.

From instructing your Tongues, I come next to your Attires: but having touched it elsewhere, I will only speak of the just Taxation, luxurious habit, or prodigality in Ap∣parell hath been branded with all ages and reproved in all persons, especially in such whose garments exceed their estates, which argues apparant pride; or such as pretend to be meer Fashion mongers, pursuing every fantastick and outlandish garb, and such may be justly reproved of folly: but since they are both so common in our Nation, to disco∣ver both too plainly, I should but contend against custome, and seeking to please a few, offend many. There was a law amongst the Grecians, that all such as vainly spent their patrimony, either in riotous excesse, or prodigality in at∣tire, as well women as men, were not suffered to be buried in the sepulchers of their fathers, Alex. lib. 6. cap. 14. So hate∣full was spruceness in habit, and effeminacy amongst the Macedonians, that Philip (the father of Alexander) depri∣ved a Nobleman of Terentum of all his Honours and Of∣fices, because he but delighted in warm Baths, thus repro∣ving him: It seems thou art neither acquainted with the cu∣stomes nor manners of the Macedonians, amongst whom thou hast not once heard of a woman (though great with child) that ever washt but in cold water. I see not how that which is so reprovable in men, can be any way commendable in wo∣men. What shall we think then of those affected pleasures now adaies so much in use, as Riots, Revels, Banquet, Pride, Su••fets, Vinocity, Voracity: which as in men (I mean being used in excesse) they appear o••ious, so in young Virgins, in whom should be nothing but affected modesty; in married Wives, that ought to be presidents of Chastity; and tempe∣rate and grave Matrons, that should be the patterns and imitable objects of sincere Vertue, they cannot but shew abominable. The inconvenience of these Excesse, Silius Italicus well observed, lib. 15 de bello Punici, when he thus said:

—Inde aspice late Florentes quondam luxus quas vertitit urbes

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Quippe nec Ira Deum tantum,* 1.14 nec tela, &c. —Thence look abroad and see How many flourishing Cities ruin'd bee, Famous of old, since neither the Gods Rage, The hostile Weapon, nor the enemies strage, Hath ruin'd Man in that abundant measure, As Riot hath, mixt with unlawfull pleasure.

These are the sins that punish themselves, who as it is said of Lust, carry their own whips at their girdles. I was bold in some part of this Work (presuming on the good∣nesse of your Sex) as to say, There was no excellent gift in man, which was not in some sort paralleld by one woman or other. Therefore if any of you have been or are still ad∣dicted to these enormities. I entreat them but to remember what is writ of Themistocles, who in his youth was so wholly given over to all dissolutenesse, namely, these two excesses, Wine and Women, that his father banished him his house, and his own mother through griefe strangled her selfe, Valer. Max lib. 6. cap. 11. But after Miltiades was made Ge∣nerall, and fought that memorable battel at Marathon, in which (against infinite ods) he defeated the Barbarians, there was never any thing seen or known in him, which was not modest and comely. And being demanded how he came so suddenly changed, Militia inquit, &c. The thought of War (saith he) will admit neither sloth in me, nor wan∣tonnesse, Plutareh in Grecor. Apophtheg. Would you but en∣tertein into your thoughts as setled an enmity against all Vices (your publique enemies) as he did against the Per∣sians (the forreign invaders) you would undoubtedly (after the battel of the mind, constantly fought against all bar∣barous temptations) be ranked equall with him in all his triumphs. It is likewise recorded of Isaeus, an Assyrian So∣phist, who in his youth being given to all voluptuousnesse and effeminate delicacies, but comming to riper under∣derstanding, assumed to himselfe a wondrous continency of life, and austerity in all his actions: insomuch, that a famili∣ar friend of his seeing a beautifull woman passe by, and asking him if she were not a fair one? To him he answered, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, i. De sii laborare de oculis, i. I am no more sick of sore eies. To another that demanded, What Fish or Fowl was mow pleasant to the taste? he replied, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, i. I have forgot to look after them; and pro∣ceeded, I perceive that I then gathered all my Fruits out

of the Garden of Tantalus; insinuating unto us, that all those vain Pleasures and Delights, of which youth is so much enamored, are nothing else but shadows and dreams, such as Tantalus is said to be fed with.

Of severall degrees of Inchastities, and of their Punishments.

PHilip of Macedon making war against the Thebans, Aeropus and Damasippus, two of his chiefe Captains, had hired a mercenary strumpet, and kept her in one of their tents; which the King hearing, he not only cashiered them from their commands, but banished them his Kingdome: Polynaeus, lib. 4. In Germany, Chastity and Modesty is held in that reverent respect, that no mean Artificer, though of the basest trade that is, will entertein a Bastard into his ser∣vice or teach him his science: neither in the Academies will they permit any such to take degree in schools; though it bee a strange severity against innocent children, who gave no consent to the sins of their parents, yet it is a mean to curb the libe••••ies of men and women, deterring them from the like offences. Aeneus Silvius, lib. 1. of the sayings and d••eds of King Alphonsus, tels us of one Manes Florentinus, who being in forbidden congression with a strumpet, was adjudged 〈◊〉〈◊〉 pennance, which was not altogether as our custome in England is, to stand in a white sheet, but naked all save a linnen garment from his wast to the knees, after the fashion of Basex; the Priests comming to strip him in the Vestrie, would have put upon him that robe to cover his shame, which he no way would admit, but was constantly resolved to stand (as our phrase is) stark naked: but when the Church Officers demanded of him, If he were not a∣shamed to shew his virile parts in such a publique assem∣bly (especially where there were so many Virgins, marri∣ried Wives, and widow Women?) he answered, Minime gen∣tium, nam pudenda haec quae peccaverunt, ea potissimum dare poe∣nas decet, i. By no means▪ quoth he, most fit it is that those shamefull things that have offended and brought me to this shame, should likewise do open penance Pontius Offidi∣anus, a Knight of Rome, after he had sound by infallible signs his daughters virginity to be de•• poiled and vitiated by Fannius Saturnius her School-master, was not to content to extend his just rage upon his servant, and punish him death, but he also slew his daughter, who rather desired to

celebrate her untimely exequies, then follow her to her contaminated Nuptials, Val. lib. 6. cap. 1. Pub. Attilius Phi∣liscus, notwithstanding in his youth he was compelled by his master to prostitute his own body to unnaturall lusts, for bruitish and unthriving gain, yet after proved a severe father; for finding his daughter to have corrupted her vir∣ginall chastity; he slew her with his own hand How sacred (then) may we imagine and conceive purity and tempe∣rance was held in Rome, when such as had professed base prostitution in their youth, became judges and punishers thereof even upon their own children, in their age? Val. Max. lib. 6. cap. 1. Appius Claudius Regillanus, the most emi∣nent amongst the Decemviri, so doted on Virginia the daugh∣ter of Virginius a Centurion, who was then in the camp at Algidus, that he suborned a servant of his to seize her and claim her as his bondwoman, and bring the cause to be decided before him: needs must the businesse passe on his side, beeing both the accuser and the judge. The father be∣ing certified of these proceedings by Icilius a hopefull young Gentleman before contracted unto her, leaving his charge abroad, repairs to the City and appearing before the judgement seat, sees his own lawfull daughter taken both from himselfe and betrothed husband, and conferred upon another as his slave and bondwoman. The judgement being past, he desires leave to speak with his daughter a∣part, it was granted him by the Court, who slew her with his own hand▪ then taking up her body, and lifting it upon his shoulders, posted with that lamentable burden to the camp, and incited the soulders to revenge, Livy, Volater. lib. 14. c. 2. Antropol. Quintus Fabius Servilianus having his daugh∣ters chastity in suspition, first delivered her to death, and af∣ter punished himselfe with voluntary banishment. The pu∣nishment of these inchastities is by the Poets to the life illu∣strated in the fable of Titius the son of Terra, who intending to stuprate La••ona, was by Apollo slain with an arrow, and being thrust down into hell, and chained to a rock, his Li∣ver and Heart is perpetually tyred on by a ravenous Vul∣ture, who still renewes his inceaseable torments, Virgil lib. Aeneid. 6. under the person of Titius, would pourtray un∣to us the unquiet conscience, which though sometimes it may be at a seeming peace, yet the torment by being still renewed, daily increaseth and gnawes the heartstrings of all such persons as to themselves are guilty.

Of Witches and the Punishment due to to them.

VIncentius cites this following History from Guillerimus in Specul. Histor. lib. 26. cap. 26.* 1.15 which also Johannes Wyerius, Ranulphus, and others, commemorates; an English woman that dwelt at a Town called Barkley in England, being a Wircht, yet not being much suspected, lived in in∣different good opinion amongst her neighbors, and being feasting upon a time abroad, and wondrous pleasant in company, she had a tame crow which she had brought up, that would be familiar with her, and sit upon her shoul∣der, and prate to her in the best language it could: she at this feast (the table being ready to be drawn) sported with her, which spake to her more plainly then it used some words, which she better then the rest of the company un∣derstood, at which suddenly her knife dropped out of her hand, her colour changed, the blood forsook her cheeks, and she looked pale, ready to sink down, and fetching some in∣ward suspites and grones, she at length broke forth into this language, Woe is me, my plow is now entred into the last furrow, for this day I shall hear of some great losse, which I must forcibly suffer. The rest wondring at her sud∣den change from mirth to passion; next at her alteration of look, and lastly at her mystical language, when her words were scarce ended, but a messenger rushed hastily into the room, and told her that her eldest son with all the whole fa∣mily at home, were sound suddenly dead: which she no sooner heard, but overcome with sorrow, she fainted, and being recovered and conducted to her own house, she took her bed, and presently caused the only two children she had living, to be sent for, the one a Monk, the other a Nun, who presently came to visit her and know her plea∣sure, to whom with a pensive and distracted heart, the tears running from her eies, she thus spake: Alas, my children be hold me your mother, and commiserate my wretch•••• 〈…〉〈…〉 distressed estate, whose fate hath been so 〈…〉〈…〉 disastrous, that I have hitherto been a wicked 〈◊〉〈◊〉 diabolicall Witchcraft, having been a mistresse of that 〈…〉〈…〉 and a great perswader to those abominations; now 〈◊〉〈◊〉 refuge I have to flie to, is your religions zeal, and 〈…〉〈…〉 this despair, for now is the time that the Devils will exact their due. Those that perswaded me to this mischiefe, are

ready to demand their Covenant. Therefore by a mother•• love I charge you, and by your filiall duty I conjure you, since the Sentence of my Souls perdition is irrevocable, that you will use your best endeavour and industry for the preservation of my Body. This therefore I enjoin you, in∣stead of a winding sheet, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 my body in the skin of a Hart, or Bucks Leather, then put me in a Coffin of Stone, which cover with Lead, and after bind it with Hoops 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Bars of Iron, to which fasten three strong Chains: If my Body thus coffin'd, lye three daies quiet, bury me the fourth day, though I fear the Earth for my manifold Blasphemies will scarce give enterteinment to my Body. For the first two nights together, let there be fifty Psalms sung for me, and as many Masses for so many daies; which said, she gave up her last breath. She dead, the brother and sister were care∣ful to perform the mothers last Will, and did all things ac∣cordingly. The first two nights, when the Quires of Church-men sung Psalms about the Body, the Devils with much ease broke open the Church doors, which were b••l∣ted, barr'd, lockt, and propt, and broke two of the Chains by which the Coffin was fastned, but the third remained sted∣fast. The third night, ••bout the time when the Cock be∣gins to crow, the foundation of the Temple seemed to shake with the noise of the Devils who ••lamored at the door: one of the rest, taller in stature, and more terrible in counte∣nance then his fellowes, knocked with more violence then those which attended him, till he had broken the doors to shivers; when stalking to the Coffin, he called the woman by her name aloud, and bad her arise and follow him: to whom the dead body answered, I cannot for these Chains. To whom he answered, Those shall be loosed to thy mis∣chiefe; when tearing them asunder as they had been links made of rushes, he sn••tched up the Coffin, and carried it to the Church door, where stood ready a black Sumpter-horse, loudly neighing, whose hoofs were divided like Eagles tallons, upon which he laid the body, burried it away with seeming joy, whilst all the Qui••••sters looked on, and so va∣nished. Her shri••ks and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 were heard four miles off. Let this one suffice for many: I come now to temporall punishments.

The Judges called the Areopagitae, when they deprehen∣ded a Witch, and were to deliver her to death, if she were with child, staied the execution till she were delivered of

her Infant, because they would not punish the innocent with the delinquent, Aelian: de var. Histor. lib. 5. The Law to punish Witches amongst the Persians, was to bring them to a place where their heads were beaten to pieces betwixt two Rocks: So suffered Gyge, the hand-maid to Parisatides, the mother of Cyrus, Plutarch. in Artaxerxes. Charls the se∣venth, King of France (or the Frenchmen) caused Prince Egidius de Roxa, Marshall of France, to be first hanged, then burnt, because he confessed himselfe to be a Witch, and professor of Magick; and withall, to have been the death of an hundred and twenty children, and women great with child. A Witch of Avern was burnt alive, for kil∣ling young infants, and salting their flesh and putting them into pies, and baking them for publique sale, Fulgos. lib. 9. cap. 2. Johannes Bodinus, lib. Mag. Demonomaniae 4. cap. 5. tels us that there is a Law sacred in France, that if any Ma∣gician, or Witch, or Soothsaier, or Mathematician (that shall go beyond the true rules of Astrology) or expoun∣der of Dreams, shall frequent the Court, be he never so great in favor, or potent in office, he shall be immediately degraded from all his honours, and put to the rack and torture. And this Law is fitting (saith he) to be writ in gol∣den Characters upon every Court gate, because there is no greater Pest extant to Prince or people, then this viperous brood: therefore (above our Christian Princes) he com∣mends the Ethnick Kings. In the time of Marius, an In∣chantress (whose name was Martha) who pretended to fore∣tell to the Roman Senat, the successe of the Cimbrian war, was banished, Plutarch in Mario. Claudius Caesar con∣demned a Knight of Rome to death, and forfeited all his goods to the people,* 1.16 because he wore about him a Cocks egge, as a Charm to dispence of Religion, and that all the causes which he had in controversie, should (in despight of the Judges) paste of his side. Even fellowes that were scarce of any name or opinion in the world, that were but suspe∣cted of Negromancy, were condemned to death under Ti∣berius Caesar. The Emperor Caracalla adjudged all such as but used inchanted herbs to the curing of Agues and Fea∣vers, Spartian in Caracalla. The Scripture saith, Thou shalt not suffer a Witch to live. Bodinus (contrary to Wyerius, who will scarce beleeve there be any such, accounting all those Judges 〈◊〉〈◊〉 condemn them to the Stake or Gallowes, no bet∣ter then Executioners and Hangmen) he shewes divers

probable Reasons why they ought not to live.

The first is, Because all Witches renounce God and their Religion;* 1.17 now the Law of God saith, Whosoever shall forsake the God of Heaven, and adhere to any other, shall be stoned to death; which punishment the Hebrews held to be the greatest could be inflicted, R. Maymon, lib. 3.

The second thing is, That having renounced God and their Religion, they curse, blaspheme, and provoke the Al∣mighty to anger. The law saith, Whosoever shall bla∣spheme, * 1.18 their sin shall remain with them; and whosoever shall take his name in vain or in contempt, shall be pu∣nished with death.

The third thing is, That they plight faith, and make co∣venant with the Devil, adore him, & sacrifice unto him as Ap••l••ius testifies of Pamphila Larissana, a Witch of Thessa∣ly as li••ewise a Witch of the Laodunensian suburbs, in the month or May, 1578. who blushed not to do the like before many witnesses:* 1.19 now the Law saith, Who that shall but incline or bow down to Images (which the Greeks call 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) shall be punished with death.* 1.20 The Hebrew word 〈◊〉〈◊〉,* 1.21 and the Chaldaean Fisgud, (which all our Latine Interpreters translate Adorare) imports as much as to in∣cline, or worship: now these Witches do not only incline unto him, but invoke and call upon him.

A fourth thing is (which many have confessed) That they have vowed their children to the Devil;* 1.22 now the Law saith, God is inflamed with revenge against all such as shall of∣fer their children unto Moloch;* 1.23 which Josephus interprets Priapus, and Philo, Satanus: but all agree, that by Moloch in signified the Devill and malignant spirits.

A fifth thing is (gathered out of their own confessions) That they have sacrificed Infants not yet baptized, to the Devill, and have kill'd them by thrusting great pins into their heads. Sprangerus testifies, that he condemned one to the fire, who confessed, that she by such means had been the death of one and forty children.

A sixth thing is, That they do not only offer children in the manner off sacrifice (against which the Holy Ghost speaks, That for that sin alone God will extirp and root out the people) but they vow them in the womb.* 1.24

A seventh is, That they are not themselves blasphemers and Idolaters only, but they are tied by covenant with the Devil, to allure and perswade others to the like abomina∣tions;

when the Law teacheth,* 1.25 That whosoever shall per∣swade another to renounce his Creator, shall be stoned to death.

An eighth is, That they not only call upon the Devil, but swear by his name,* 1.26 which is directly against the Law of God, which forbids us to swear by any thing save his own Name.

A ninth is, That adulterate incests are frequent amongst them, for which in all ages they have been infamous, and of such detectable crimes convicted; so that it hath almost grown to a Proverb, No Magician or Witest, but was ei∣ther begot and born of the father and daughter, or the mo∣ther and son: which Ca••ullas, in this Distick expresseth;

Nam Magus ex Matre, & gnato gignatur oportet Si vera est Pr••sarum impia Religio.

Infimating, that if the impious Religion of the Persians were true, Witches of necessity should be the incestuous issue of the mother and son, or else è contra.

A tenth, That they are Homicides, and the murtherere of Infants; which Sprangerus observes from their own con∣fessions, and Baptista Porta the Neapolitan, in his book de Magia: Next, That they kill children before their baptism, by which circumstances their offence is made more capi∣tall and heinou••.

The eleventh, That Witches eat the flesh of Infants, and commonly drink their bloods, in which they take much de∣light. To which Horace seems to allude, when he saith:

N••u pransae Lamiae vinum pucrum extrahat Alvo. No•• from the stomack of a Witch new din'd, Plucks he a yet live infant—

If children be wanting, they dig humane bodies from their sepulchers, or feed upon them that have been executed. To which purpose Luca•• writes:

—Liqueam nodosque nocentes Ore 〈…〉〈…〉 corpora carpsit, Abrasit 〈◊〉〈◊〉, &c. The Felons strongling 〈◊〉〈◊〉 she nothing fears, But with her teeth the fatall Knot she tears: The hanging bodies from the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 she takes, And shaves the Gallowes, of which dust she makes, &c.

Apuletus reports. That comming to Larissa in Thessaly, he was hired for eight pieces of Gold to watch a dead body but one night, for fear the Witches (of which in that place

there is abundance) should gnaw and devour the flesh of the party deceased, even to the very bones; which is often found amongst them.* 1.27 Also, Murther by the Laws of God and man, is punishable with death: besides, they that eat mans flesh, or deliver it to be eaten, are not worthy to live, Cornel. lib de Sicari••s.

A twelfth is, That they kill as oft by Poisons, as by Pow∣ders and Magick Spels: now the Law saith. It is worse to kill by Witchcraft then with the Sword, Lib. 1. de Ma∣••••sic.

A thirteenth is, That they are the death of Cattell; for which, Augustanus the Magician suffred death, 1569.

A fourteenth, That they blast the Corn and Grain, and being barrennesse and scarcity, when there is a hoped plen∣ty and abundance.

A fifteenth, That they have carnall corsociety with the Devill, as it hath been approved by a thousand severall confessions.

Now all that have made any compect or covenant with the Devill, if not of all these, yet undoubtedly are guilty of many, or at least some, and there one co••sequently not worthy to live. And so much for the Punishment 〈…〉〈…〉, and other known malefactors: I come now to the Re∣wards due to the Vertuous, and first of 〈…〉〈…〉 Ladies, for divers excellencies worthy to be remembred.

Of Tirgatao Moeotis, Comiola Tu••ing••, and others.

TIrgatao, a beautifull and vertuous Lady, was joined in marriage to Hecataeus, King of those Indians that in∣habit ••eer unto the Bosphor, which is an arm of the Sea, that runneth betwixt two coasts. This Hecataeus being cast out of his Kingdome, Satyrus the most potent of these Kings, reinstated him in his Principality; but conditionally, That he would marry his only daughter, and make her Queen, by putting Tirgatao to death. But he (though forced by the necessity of the time, and present occasion) yet loving his first wife still, would not put her to death, according to the Covenant, but caused her to be shut in his most defenced Castle, there to consume the remainde•• of her life in per∣petuall widowhood. The Lady comforted with better hopes, and born to fairer fortunes, deceived the eies of her strict keep••••s, and by night escaped out of prison. This being

made known to the two Kings, the sonne in law and the fa∣ther, they were wonderfully perplexed with the newes of her flight, as fearing if she arrived in her own Country, she might accite the people to her revenge. They therefore pursued her with all diligence and speed, but in vain: for hiding her selfe all the day time, and travelling by night through pathlesse and unfrequented places, at length she arrived amongst the ••xomatae, which was the Countrey of her own friends and kindred. But finding her father dead, she married with him that succeeded in the Kingdome: by which means now commanding the Ixomatae, she insinua∣ted into the breasts of the most warlike people inhabiting about Moeotis, and so levied a brave army, which she her selfe conducted. She first invaded the Kingdome of Hecatae∣us, and infested his Country with many bloody incursions; she next wasted and made spoil of the Kingdome of Satyrus, insomuch, that they both were forced with all sub∣misse entreaties, by embassadors to sue unto her for peace; to which she assented, having before as hostage of their truce, received Metrodorus the son of Satyrus. But the two Kings falsified to her their faith and honour: for Satyrus dealt with two of his subjects (whom he best trusted) with whom he pretended heinous displeasure; for which, flying and retiring themselves to her for refuge, they there at∣tend a convenient opportunity, to insiderate her life. They submitting to her, her Court becomes their sanctuary. Sa∣tyrus sends to demand the offenders: she by her letters en∣treats and mediates their peace and pardon. These attend their next occasion: the one pretends private conference with her, and bowing submissly to her, as she enclines her body to attend him, the other invades her with his sword; her fortunate Belt kept the steel from entring: Clamor is made, her servants enter, the Traitors are apprehended, and confesse all that before had passed betwixt Satyrus and them: Therefore she commands his son Metrodorus (the Hostage, to be slain and the two conspirators with him; ga∣thers another army, and invades the Bos••••••ean Tyrant: She punisheth his perfidiousnesse with Rapes, Murthers, Combustions, and all the Calamities of war, till Satyrus himselfe (oppressed with miseries, and surcharged with griefe) expired, whom Gorgippus his son succeeded in the Principality, but not with any security, till he had acknow∣ledged his Crown as given to him by her, and with many

costly and rich gifts compounded for his peace, Polyb. lib▪ 8. This Lady hath a merited name for an invincible courage, and a masculine spirit.

No lesse worthy to be remembred, is Comiola Turinga; her history is thus reported: In that great Navy which Peter King of Sicily sent against Robert King of Naples, in the aid of the Lyparitans, with other P••inces 〈◊〉〈◊〉 N••••lemen, there was in that fleet one Roland, b••stard brother to King Peter. The Sicilians being defeated by 〈…〉〈…〉, Roland (amongst many other Gentlemen) was surp••••••ed and cast into prison. Now when the friends and kinsmen of all such Captives had been carefull of their release, and al∣most all of them were ransomed thence, King Peter 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the sloth and cowardise of his subjects the Sicilians, neglected his brother, and would entertein no discourse that tended to his redemption. Whereupon he was put in∣to a more close prison, no better then a Dungeon, where he was debarred the benefit of light, and shortned of his diet, where he spent his time in discontent and misery. This extremity of his (with the Dukes slackne•••• in his release) comming to the ear of a beautiful young widow of Messa∣na, who had a large Dower from her parents, and was left infinitely rich by her husband: she pitying his distressed estate, and withall being somewhat enamored of his per∣son, sent to him privately by such as he best trusted, to know of him, if he would accept of her as his wife, if she did in∣stantly pay down his ransome. The motion being made, he seemed overjoied, thanked the heavens for their assistance, and with great willingnesse accepted of the motion. They are contracted by Proxie, and she paies down two thousand ounces of gold for his freedome. This done, and Roland comming back to Messana, he was so far from acknowledg∣ing the Contract, that he would not so much as see her, or confesse himselfe obliged unto her in the smallest courte∣sie, who (had it not been for her charitable love and pie∣ty) might have languished in an uncomfortable durance all the daies of his life. Comiola Turninga at this ingrati∣tude much grieved; for she had not only paid down so great a sum, but that which most afflicted her, was, that the fame of her marriage being ••ll over-spread, the Contract being denied, and by Roland abjured, must at least redound to her perpetuall scorn, if not to the disparagement of her fame and vertue. To salve both, with what convenience she

could she was advised to accite him into the Ecclesiasticall Court by Processe, and to plead the forenamed Contract, and (which she could easily doe) prove it by witnesse. Which the friends and kindred of Roland, hearing, perswa∣ded him (to shun the common fame which went of his in∣gratitude) to reconcile the tongues of evill speakers, and to prevent all controversies and troubles in Law, to ac∣cept of her as one that best deserved him. With much ado he accepts of the motion. A publique confluence of friends & kind••ed at an appointed day are assembled, where when the ••••stard expected to hear her & her friends sollicit him conce••ning the marriage, she there first ript up her cour∣tesies, and with what a charitable and chast purpose she had 〈◊〉〈◊〉 them▪ next she laid open his barbarous ingrati∣tude, not to acknowledge them; and lastly, his corrupt and dishonest heart, in lying to God and her, by denying a contract past in the presence of so many witnesses: there∣fore she told him, she now renounced both contract, claim, or interest in him, accounting it a dishonor unto her, to cast her selfe away upon one persidious and a coward. As for marriage, she had now contracted her selfe to single chastity; and all the wealth she had, she vowed to the ser∣vice of God and his Church: and so left him with a kind of noble disdain; being by all that saw and heard her constant resolution, as much commended for her courage, as he con∣demned for his mutability and cowardise,* 1.28 Fulgos. lib. 5. cap. 3. If Lucius Aemulius Regillus in a Navall fight having defeated Annibal (then Generall for the King Antiochus) was brought into the Temple of Apollo by the Senate; where first having all his brave service rehearsed by the Herald or Crier, with how puissant a Navy he had fought, how ma∣ny of the enemies ships he had foundred in the Sea, and how many taken and brought to Rome; for which, by the consent of the Fathers, he was granted a Triumph, Liv. lib. 8. de Bello Macedon. and Volater. lib. 13. cap. 3. Anthrop. If Aurelius Alex. Emperor, for fighting against the Persians, and vanquishing the King Artaxerxes (whom Herodian in his History cals Artaxaces) for this act alone (after a large and learned Encomiastick Oration, made of the excellency of his valor) had likewise a publique Triumph allowed him by the Senate, Volater. lib. 3. If Leocritus the Atheni∣an, and son of Protarchus (being but a private souldier un∣der the generall Olympiodorus) at the assault of Pyraeum (then guarded and defenced by Demetrius, the son of Anti∣gonus

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because he was the first that mounted and broke in∣to the Rampier, then called Musaeum, in entring which, he was slain; yet for this only brave act of Resolution, had all Military Honours done to his Body, his Shield with his name engraven thereon, with his valiant Enterprize inscri∣bed, as a thing sacred to perpetuall memory, and dedica∣ted to Jupiter the Deliverer, Pausan. lib. 1. What praise, what admiration and condign honours, may this magnanimous, Queen Tyrgatao Meotu claim, who not in one, but many battels, opposed two potent and puissant Kings; whose mar∣tiall valor righted her own injuries in person, met them, braved them, and beat them in field, after many victorious defeats vassalled their insolent pride, and subjected them to her own Heroicall mercy? If amongst the Romans, he that in battell had saved but the life of one Citizen, and bestrid him in battel, and in the same conflict had slain an enemy, was honored with a Civick Crown and Garland; to which, the Golden Honours, the Murall, and those Wreaths of Dignity that either belonged to the Camp or the Pulpit, gave place: which as he was tied perpetually to wear, so all the people were enjoined to give him way, and do him honor; insomuch, that if he came late to be a spe∣ctator of the Sports in the Theater, at his first appearance in the* 1.29 Orchestra, all the Princes and Senators arose, from the highest to the lowest, and offered him place: How shall we celebrate the ever to be admired magnanimity of the Amazons, Marpesia, Lampedo, Orythea, Antiope, Penthesilea, and others of that masculine Vertue and courage? The Archduke Agamemnon, because Ajax had but fought with Hector (though not vanquisht him) caused an Oxe to be sacrificed unto him, rewarding him with the hinder Loins and the Horns, Homer. lib. 7. Iliad & 10. What Immolations then deserved Menalippe, for combatting Hercules; or Hip∣polite, who hand in hand encountred Theseus? The same Generall presented Achilles for his valor, because he flew Hector (though, as some write, with the ods of base advan∣tage) with seven threefooted Pots of Brasse, twenty Caul∣drons, ten Talents of Gold, twelve Steeds, and seven beau∣tifull Lesbian Damosels: Idem. How would he have guer∣doned the magnanimity of Teuca, the wife of Argon, and Queen of Illyria, who not only led valiant men in person to the field, but opposed the Roman Legions in all their might and flourishing time of their Empire, obtaining

from them many glorious Victories? The ordinary souldi∣ers in Rome (even for private and common services) were guerdoned some with Obsidionall, Navall, and Civick Garlands; others, with L••nces headed with Gold, some with Ivory Chairs: others with Statues of Ivory; figured Gowns, called Vestes Palmatae, which were wrought or embroidered all over with Palm trees (such Conquerors used in War, and Consuls in the time of Peace:) blew Ensigns for Sea-conquest; golden Chains, double Corn, double stipendary Wag••s, or Pay; and sometimes, with the dignity of civil M••gistracy and Office. Others were presented with Rings, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Flags or Pendants, Coats of Mail, and golden V••ssels: some were allowed Ovations, others Triumphs, L••udations, Acclamations, Gratulations, &c. If these thing▪ were allowed to men, only born for action, What Celebrations, Dignities, Praises and Encomiums, what rich Chains of Pearls, and Carkanets of Diamonds, nay, Crowns embelished with Carbuncles, what Pictures, Sta∣tues, Sepulchers, and Monuments to eternize their memo∣ry (if it were possible) beyond all posterity) merits Hypsi∣cratea, the wife of Mithridates; Artemisia, of Mausolus; Tomy∣ris Queen of the Scythians; Zenobia, of the Palmirians; Amalasuntha, of the Goths, who have changed their soft effeminacies into noble Virility, and their feminine weaknesse into masculine Valor; in which by following, they have got the start, and by imitating, excelled. I now proceed to the honor due to Modesty and Temperance, lately expressed in Comiola Turinga.

Otho the fourth,* 1.30 Emperor, being in Florence, and a∣mongst many other beautiful young Damosels (then in th•• flower of their age) casting his eie upon one Galdrata 〈◊〉〈◊〉, daughter to a Florentine Citizen, whose name was 〈◊〉〈◊〉, he spake liberally of her beauty in the presence of her father; insomuch, that his words savoured of great love and affection towards the Virgin which apprehended by B••llincionus he told the Emperor, That if his fancy were that way addicted (and in the presence of the Damosel) that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 freely kisse and embrace her at his will and 〈…〉〈…〉: so whom she instantly replied upon his words (〈…〉〈…〉 the Emperors pardon) That she had made a Vow 〈◊〉〈◊〉 she would never kisse any man, save him whom she 〈◊〉〈◊〉 knew should futurely be her husband. Which answer the 〈…〉〈…〉 in such good part, as that he

purposed her vertue should not passe without reward: who asking, If she were yet cont••••cted to any? and she an∣swering, No; Then (saith the Emperor) give me leave to provide thee of a husband: when calling to him one Guido Germanus, a noble young, Gentleman, and one in his espe∣ciall favour, to him he presently contracted her (a man, as he was approved in Arms and Vertue, so he was eminent in his Stock and Family, being nobly descended) and gave her for her Dower all that large Valley which lies beneath the Hill Ca••entinus, in the fields that are called Aretini Ag••••, and made it an Earldo ne, which Title he bestowed on him. And from them two proceeded the famous family of the Earls Guidons, whose eminence endured many here∣di••ary successions, Fulgos. lib. 6. cap. 1. I could amplifie the Reward due to Temperance, and illustrate it with as many modest and chast women, before remembred, as I have Magnanimity in the Heroick Queens and Warlike La∣dies: But to avoid pro••••••xity (which I labor to shun) let this one suffice for many.

The reward due to Fertility, or many Children, with such as have restored their deca••ed Families.

THere was a law amongst the Spartans, that whoso∣ever had three sons, that family should be quit from watching and warding, and such common service; but he that stored the Common-weal with five, he claimed immu∣nity in all publike offices, Aelian, lib. 6. de Var. Histor. Amongst the Persians those that had the most numerous off-spring, were capable of the most honors, to whom the King yearly sent rich presents, Herodot. lib. 1. What merited honors then deserved Regina the daughter of Mascinus Sca∣liger, and Thaedaea Carroriensis▪ who being married to Prince Barnobonus, Viscount of Mediolanum, had by him four sons and twelve daughters: The first and eldest was married to Peter King of Cyprus; the second to Lewis Dolphin, and first born son to the French King; the third, to the Duke of Bavaria; the fourth to the Duke of Austria; the fifth to Vicount Gallentius; the sixth to Leopoldus of Austria, grand∣father to Frederick the third Emperor; the seventh to ano∣ther Duke of Bavaria; the eighth to Frederick King of Si∣cilia; the ninth to Frederick Gonzage; the tenth to Duke Er∣nestus Monachus; the eleventh to Frederick his younger bro∣ther;

the twelfth and last to the Earl of Kent▪ eldest son to the King of great Brittain, from whose generous off-spring most of the roialest houses of Christendome (such as still flourish in their pristine honors) claim their descent, so that this fruitfull Queen may be called▪ Cybele, or mother of the gods, Bernardus Scardeonus, lib. 3. H••stor. Pat. Pliny confers great felicity upon a Lacedemonian Lady called Lampedo, because she was the daughter of a King, the wife of a King, and mother to a King; when a certain rich Lady of Ionia came to Lacena, and with great bo••sting and pride shewed her, her pretious jewels and rich garments, she pointed to her four fair children whom she had liberally and vertu∣ously educated, and s••id, These are treasures only in which modest and discreet women ought to glory. Plutarch in Apophtheg. Laconic. Eumele the wife to B••silius Helenoponta∣nus of Pontabus (as Nazianzenus testifies) had by him some five sons, of which, three at one time were learned Bi∣shops & stout champions for the Gospel, namely Gregorius Nissenus, Basilius Magnus Caesariensis, and Petrus Sebasta, then I blame not Epaminondas, who in all his nobl•• exploits, and prosperous successes in war, was often heard to say, That nothing was so pleasing and delightful to him, as that both his parents were yet alive to participate with him in his honors: he in the great battel called L••uctricum, had a glorious victory over the Lacedemonians. Plutarch in Graec. Apophtheg. So Basilius Magnus Bishop of Cesarea, gloried of nothing so much (with daily thanks to God) as that he was born of Christian parents, namely, Helenopontanus, his father and school-master, and En••••ele Capadoce his mother, and that he was nursed by Macrine, who had been a zealous and frequent auditor of Gregory Naeocae Soriensis, his grand∣father in that bloody persecution, under the Emperor Maximinus, with his kinsmen and family retired him∣selfe into a Cave in a moat, where with bread only, he miraculously fed himselfe and the rest for the space of se∣ven years, and after for the Faith of the Gospel suffered a blessed and glorious Martyrdome, Licosck. in Theat. Human. Vitae. Saint Hierom commends Paula the religious Roman matron for her nobility of birth, as being begot by Rogatas a Grecian, who derived himselfe from Agamemnon, King of Mecene, and roiall Generall of those famous expeditions against Troy, and born of Blesilla Romana of the ancient family of the Scipios and the Gracchi, and was married unto

Toxilius, illustrious in his blood, as claiming his descent from Aeneas and the Julian pedigree: but nobility of birth not being our own but our ancestors, it is not my purpose to insist of it any further. It followes that I should speak something of such as have been the restorers of ancient and decaied Families, even when they were at the last gasp and ready to perish, and be as it were swept from the face of the Earth.

Vitalis Michael Duke of Venice, returning with his wea∣ther beaten Navy out of Greece, where almost for the space of 2 years together without cessation he had opposed Prince Emanuel Constantinopolitanus, being so exhausted, that scarce Commanders, Marriners, or navall protection sufficiently accommodated was left to bring back his fleet; whether by a pestilentiall mortality, or that Prince Manuel had poiso∣ned the Springs and Fountains, where the Venerian soul∣diers had furnished themselves with fresh water▪ is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 cer∣tain, but most sure it is, besides many other disasters and discommodities, that which he held to be the greatest, was, that there was not any of male issue of the Justinian Fa∣mily, left alive, but all of them in that infortunate expedi∣tion perished to one man, not any of that noble stock sur∣viving, by whom the memory thereof might be restored to posterity: This the Duke Michael often pondering with himself in great sadness and sorrow, at length he bethought him of one Nicholaus, a young man, who had devoted him∣selfe to a sequestred and religious life, and was of the or∣der of the Benedictian Friers; he had besides, one only daughter, whose name was Anna, her he had a great desire to confer upon Nicholaus, so he could any way admit a dispensation from Alexander then Pope: therefore to that purpose he earnestly petitioned him, and made great friends to sollicit him in that behalfe, who willing to re∣pair the ruins of so noble a family now altogether spent and wasted, gave approbation touching the marriage, which was accordingly publiquely and with great pomp solemnized. These two, now the only hopes of that future posterity, had fair and fortuna••e issue, males and females, who were no sooner grown to any perfection; and disposed of to liberall and vertuous education, but (which is remark∣able in two so young) they conferred together to this pur∣pose, that since Heaven had blessed them with that for ••••ich marriage was ordained, and the purpose for which the dis∣pensation

was granted (namely issue, and to revive a dy∣ing family) that they would with an unanimous consent, again enter into religious vowes and orders, This motion was betwixt them resolved, and having nobly disposed of their children, he took upon him holy orders, and retired himselfe to the Monastery of St Nicholas; his wife Anna erected a Nunnery not far from Torcellus, which she made sacred to Saint Adrian, how great and almost miraculous was their abstinence and piety, th••t abandoning all world∣ly pleasures and delights, when they flowed about them in all abundance, even then vowed themselves to solitude and heavenly meditations, in which profession they both in a fair and ful age deceased, Egnat. lib. 4 cap. 3. and Marullus in Vita Vitalis. Not much different from this is that which we read of Pharon Meli••nsis a noble Prelate, who with his wife after some years of affectionate consociety passed be∣twixt them, made by a united 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a strict vow of future chastity; she be took herself to a Nunn••••y, he to a Monastry: but after seven sollitary winters passed, he was still trou∣bled in his thoughts, for often calling to remembrance the beauty of his wife, he repented himselfe of his former vow, and often solicited her for a private meeting, which she still denying, and he more and more importuning, at length the yielded to give him visitation; but the prudent and chast Lady had her face covered, her eies dejected, and presented her s••lfe in a base and sordid garment, where with her entreaties mixt with tears, she so far prevailed with him, that without breach of their promise made to hea∣ven, they took their lasting leave, he still remaining in his Covent, and she repairing to her Cloister, Marul. lib. 4. cap. 7. Volaterran. writes of Petrus Vrseolus Duke of Venice, who after he had one son by his wife, by their unanimous consent, they vowed perpetuall abstinence from all vene∣reall actions. So likewise Aloysius de Caballis, a noble Vene∣tian with his wife (a Lady derived from the blood of the Pa∣tritians) these two agreed together never to have carnall congression but only for issue sake, neither would they suf∣fer any motion, temptation, or any word, look, or gesture that might tend to the least provocation, insomuch that (if we may beleeve report) the very linnen which they wore next them, was so interwoven and disposed about them, that when they lay together, with great difficulty one might touch the others naked body, Egnat, lib. 4. cap. 3. Now what

meed these deserve I am not able to judge, I leave it to his wisedome who is the rewarder of all goodnesse, and is the searcher of the hearts and reins, and knowes who are hy∣pocrites, who true professors, who pretend devotion, meerly for devotion sake, and who professe it for sincere zeal and religious piety.

Of Beauty, and the reward thereof.

TO the great and solemn marriage betwixt Peleus (the father of Achilles) and Thetis, all the gods and god∣desses were invited, saying Eris. i. Discord, who taking it ill, that she alone of the immortall deities, should be either forgotten or neglected in that high and solemn conventi∣on, and was not admitted to the banquet: she casts in a∣mongst them a golden Ball or Apple with this inscription, Detur pulcherrimae, i Let this be given to the fairest. This was no sooner done, but up start the then most potent god∣desses, every one assuming to themselves the excellency of Beauty, insomuch, that snatching at the Ball, it had almost come to blowes, till Jupiter was by them entreated to end the controversie. But knowing how it would offend his wife to bestow it upon either of his daughters; and again, if on the one, he must of force distaste the other; he therefore rather then to sentence partially, willing to be no judge at all, commanded Mercury to conduct them to the mount Ida, and there this dissention to be ended by Paris the son of Priam, who then was a Neatherd, and kept cattell in the mountains. These suddenly appearing before him, and the young man abashed, Mercury cheered him up, cold his mes∣sage from Jupiter, and withall delivered to him the golden prize to be disposed of at his pleasure; to whom the bashful Neatherd thus answered, How can I (O Mercury) that am but a mortall man, and brought up in all ••osticie, be a just and equall censurer of such divine Beauties, such causes ought to be decided by those that have been trained up in the urbanity of walled Towns, or the delicacies of Courts, to both which even from my infancy I have been an alien and meer stranger, I (alas) have only judgement to di∣stinguish this shee-goat from that, and which heifer or the other is the fairer; but for these coelestiall beauties, in my eies they are all infinitely absolute and alike equall, inso∣much, that I look not upon one but my sight dwels upon

her; and if I transfer mine eies upon a second, though I be refresht, yet I am not benefited; and if upon a third, I am cloied with variety, not disparaging any, but still ap∣plauding the present: if I cast my eie upon her, she is fai∣rest; if upon the other, she appears no lesse; if on the last, she equals both the other; and stil that which is neerest, seems the best, as if succession bred excellency. And now I could wish my selfe like Argus, to be eies all over, that the pleasure I receive from two, might by taking these mira∣culous objects from an hundred, at once be multiplied un∣to me according to the number, to make my now saciety a surfeit. Besides, the one is Juno the wife and sister of Jupiter, the other are Minerva and Venus his two daughters, so that of necessity in gaining one uncertain friend, I shall pur∣chase two most unconstant enemies; therefore (saith he) I entreat you (O Mercury) so far to mediate for me to these goddesses, that since but one can conquer, the two van∣quished will not be offended with me, but rather to impute my error (if any be) to the weaknesse of my humane sight, then to any premeditated and pretended spleen or malice. To which every one (trusting to their own perfections) willingly assented, when Paris thus proceeded. Only one thing I desire to know, whether it be sufficient for me be∣ing a judge to censure of these features as they are paral∣leld, or more accurately to prie into every lineament of their bodies, it be behoofeful for me to see them naked. To whom Mercury replied▪ You being Judge, and they now standing at the bar of your censure, have power to com∣mand them at your pleasure: then (saith Paris) for my bet∣ter satisfaction I desire to see them naked. Mercury then said, Strip your selves to your skins, O you goddesses, for it behooves him to see, that judges: for mine own part I am neither one that sits up••n the bench to censure, nor stand at the bar for witness, therefore whilst you shew all, I will see nothing, but 〈◊〉〈◊〉 my face and look another way. At this Juno first began. 'Tis right (O Paris) and see as most presuming) I first un••ace my selfe, and behold these are small and slender fingers, blew vained wrists, white arms, and fair and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 shoulders, look upon my round Ivory brests, proportioned wast, smooth and soft skin; nor do I only boast the splendor of my amiable face, and cleer and pleasant eies, for the lower thou lookest, thou wilt the more commend my feature, for I know I am the Queen and

goddess of marriage, totally, equally, and uniformly fair all over. This said, Paris bad Venus expose her selfe to his free view, to which Minerva replied, Not, O Paris, before she have unloosed and cast aside that golden and embossed girdled; for she is a Witch, and it is not fit that thou being a judge shouldst be effascinated by her, neither ought she to have come to this place so neatly accommodated, nor so painted and plastered with colors, temptations rather be∣seeming a strumpet then a goddess, when in the deciding of so weighty a contention, it is fitting that all our linea∣ments should be exposed without addition, simply and of themselves. To whom Venus replied, If I be compelled to put off my virginall girdle, that which all young married men use to unloose from the wasts of their fresh and flou∣rishing brides, before they can enter into the new Elysium, and of virgins make them women; why dost not thou then Mine••••a lay by thy helmet, by which (it may be) thou hopest to seem terrible to the judge, and so awe him to thy will: thou oughtest to shew thy head and forehead bare as mine is; but perhaps thou thinkest with thy broad and threat∣ning burgonet, to shadow thy faint and blew eies, which to thy pretended beauty will appear no smal or ordinary ble∣mish. Then saith Minerva, There lies my helmet; and Ve∣nus, And there my girdle; and so they presented themselves before him all three, naked: at which sight Paris being ex∣tasi'd, broke forth into this acclamation, Oh Jupiter, thou monster-maker, and tamer, what spectacle is this? what pleasure? what delight? what pulchritude? what beauty is this in her? what regall state and majesty? In the second, what affright? what terror? yet withall what amiablenesse in honor, and what sweetness in victory? In the third, what tempting and looks and al••••ting smiles? what enticing ef∣feminacies and bewitching blandishments, able to melt I∣ron, and soften Marble? O who shall then be vanquished, when every one is worthy to overcome? I have enough of felicity, for I swim in a vast and boundless ocean of rap∣ture, and surfeit in a riot of superabundant delicacies. When no longer able to contein himselfe from saciating his heightned appetite with one of them at least (or had it been possible with all) he desired that they would singly appear unto him, as not knowing how justly to determine, when his two eies were distracted three waies at once. It was then ordered by Mercury, that Minerva and Venus

〈…〉〈…〉 depart for the present, and Juno have the first 〈…〉〈…〉 thus began. Thou hast beheld me (O Paris) from 〈…〉〈…〉 the heel, neither in all my body canst thou 〈…〉〈…〉 least 〈◊〉〈◊〉, then judge me the fairest; Scepters, 〈…〉〈…〉 and Kingdomes, Potentates, Empires and domini∣•••••• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in my gift: I will first make thee Emperor of all 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of which thy father hath but a nook or corner; and if 〈◊〉〈◊〉 satisfie not thy ambition, Lord and Ruler of the world. Who told her he would consider of what she had said, but 〈◊〉〈◊〉 he had heard all, he could not determine of any thing, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 so dismissed her (assured of the prize, for selfe love is ever confident.) Minerva next appeared, and thus accosted him: O thou fair Phrygian Swain, do me this honor, in all 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Conflicts, and Combustions, thou shalt ever 〈◊〉〈◊〉 victorious, and never vanquished, thy brother Hector 〈◊〉〈◊〉 shalt excel in fame, and thy father Priam in honor, in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 combats thou shalt overcome, and in all battels tri∣umph; of a Shepherd I will make thee a Souldier, and to Command more armies then thou keepest herds. Farther she was proceeding, when he interrupted her thus; I have no need (Minerva) of martiall Discipline, or military prow∣ess▪ Asia is in Peace, Phrygia and Lydia without distur∣••••••••, my fathers Empire fearless of hostility, nor do I 〈◊〉〈◊〉 your great and godlike offers, nor would I have you 〈…〉〈…〉, but you may now put on your helmet, for I have sufficiently beheld you all over. She departed, and smiling Venus lastly presented her selfe with an amorous look, and moving ••••••ability, thus saying, Behold me, Paris, look on me considerately, and view me in all and every part exact∣ly, let 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thine eies wander loosely, but stedfastly dwell and insist upon every lineament with judgement. This Face, these Eies, this Neck, these Arms (and spread them wide, in which he could not chuse but wish himselfe lockt) these Paps, this Womb, this, &c. and what thy eies see not, let thy thoughts feelingly apprehend. Hast thou not per∣used me enough? yet consider me further; what are King∣domes but cares? or thrones but troubles? what are battels but bloodsheds? or victories but triumph over slaughter? To love and be beloved is content, and conteins a Kingdom in it selfe; to war and here to vanquish, combat and thus to come off is honor without harm, and conquest without cru∣elty: nor is this feature on which thy eies dwell with such admiration, the guerdon proposed thee for my victory:

but a Face fairer, Eies brighter, Hands whiter, Flesh sof∣ter, Skin purer, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 more imitating gold, and Lips more lively resembling 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Think on such kisses, Paris, Hel∣lens, Hellens of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, she is the daugher of Leda, whom Jupiter in the shape 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a Swan defloured; white therfore she must needs be, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉, as hatched by so beautiful a bird. This is that Hellen whom Theseus thought worthy of a rape, and roiall Menelaus of the Pelopidan family, his Hy∣menean contract: if thou fearest and doubtest to attain to this superabundance of happinesse, loe, I have two chi∣ldren, Amability and Love, these I will deliver unto thee who shall be captains of thy Vo••••ge, under thee their generall, Cupid my eldest shall inflame her, and Amability shall make thee gratious and amiable in her eies; I will moreover in∣treat the Graces to be companions with thee in thy jour∣nie. These words were so sweetly delivered by her, and so inflamedly apprehended by him that by giving the golden apple to her, she had the glory to be esteemed the fairest and worthiest.* 1.31 Now what greater reward for Beauty, then to be preferred before Wisedome and Potency: Therefore Johannes Sambucus Tyrnabiensis, in his argument to Lucians twentieth Dialogue inscribed Deorum Judicium thus writes:

Matris Acidaliae javenis deceptus amore Non curat reliquas, (Caecus) habere Deas Pallade quid melius Junone potentius ipsa, Preferimus Cipridos muner•• prava tamen. The Phrigian youth with Venus love surpriz'd, Took of the other goddesses no care: Pallas and potent Juno he despis'd, Leaving the good, and great, to chuse the fair.

The Beauty of a woman is especially seen in the face, by which we may conjecture the excellency of the other hid∣den lineaments of the body; and therein is many times the pulchritude of the mind illustrated, as in the bashful eie, modest look, and shamefaced countenance; therefore doth the face deservedly challenge the first seat of Beauty, the Head being the noblest part of the body, the Will, the Mind, the Memory, the Understanding have their place and residence, where they exercise their divers effects and qualities, therefore though they be in the other parts of the body excellently featured, though they be Wise, Learned, irreprovable in Life and conversation, unblemished in their

reputation, and every way laudable, yet the face is the first thing contemplated, as noble above the rest, and from which all other excellencies are approved; for when all the rest are masked and hidden, that only is continually visible, and laid open: and that may be the reason why most women that are not born fair, attempt with artificiall beau∣ty to seem fair: Beauty therefore being a Dower of it selfe, is a reward in it selfe.

Of Bounty, Charity, Piety, and other Vertues in Women, with their Rewards.

ONe Berta a Country maid, of the Village of Montagu∣um, in* 1.32 Patavia, who having spun an excellent fine thread, which was so curiously twisted, that it was not to be matched by the hands of any: and offering it in the Ci∣ty to publique sale, when none would reach to the price at which she valued her pain and skil, she thinking it a gift worthy an Empresse, presented it to Ber••ba the wife of Hen∣ry the fourth, Emperor, who at that time sojourned in Pata∣via. She both admiring the excellency of the work, and willing with her roiall bounty to encourage the plain Wench that wrought it, commanded her steward to take the Yearn, and go with the maid to Montaguum, and out of the best soil there, to measure so many acres of ground as that thread (stretched out in length) would compasse: by which her roiall bounty, poor Berta grew suddenly rich, and from a Dowerlesse Virgin became a Match enquired after by the best men of the Countrie: insomuch, that from her flowed the illustrious Patritian Family in Padua, which derive themselves from Montaguum. This the Women of neighbor Villages seeing, they all began to strive to equal (if not exceed) Berta, at their Wheels and Spindles, and hoping of the like reward, troubled and oppressed the Em∣presse with multiplicity of presents; who causing them all to appear before her at once, she thus spake to them: If not in Art, yet Berta was befor you in time; I thank you love, and commend your skill, but she hath prevented you of the bles∣sing. Which saying of hers is still remembred as a Proverb in all that Country: for when any thing is done unseaso∣nably, or not in due time, they say, Non è pui quel tempo, che Berta filava, i. You come not in the time when Berta spun: or as our English Proverb is, You come a day after the Fair,

Bernard. Scardeonus. lib. 3. Histor. Paiav. In which the Empress expressed great wisedome; who as she shewed a rare boun∣ty (in which men and women come neerest the gods, who are the free givers of all good things) so she knew how to dispose it; namely to her that came to tender her love: not such as a varitiously presented their Offerings meerly for lucre and benefit,* 1.33 for such come but like fair weather after Harvest. And how could the Empresses Vertue be better rewarded, then to have her Bounty outlast her Death, and her Wisedome survive her Dust?

Touching Charity, Bruson. lib. 2. cap. 21. relates, That a poor begger desiring an alms of Lacon, he thus answered him: If I give thee any thing, I make thee a greater begger, and thou maiest curse him that first gave thee, for it was he that made thee one. Amongst the Lacedemonians, nothing was more shamefull then to beg, being an industrious Nation, hating sloth, and contenting themselves with little. Not∣withstanding Charity is commendable in all, and reckoned amongst the best Theologicall Vertues: neither is it any fault in such, if their goodnesse and bounty be not a means to encourage idlenesse and sloth in bad people, who make a pretence of want and penury: therefore commendable it is in any man that is apt to give, to know upon whom he doth bestow. King Archelaus being at a banquet, where such as he vouchsafed to set at his Table, were wondrous pleasant about him; amongst others, one that had great fa∣miliarity with him, demanded as a gift, a great standing bowl which the King had then in his hand: which he had no sooner spoken, but the King called to one that waited at his elbow, to whom he said, Hold, take this bowl, and bear it to the Poet Euripides, and tell him, I bestow it on him as my free gift. The other demanding the reason thereof, Ar∣chelaus answered, Thou indeed art only worthy to ask, but not receive, but Euripides is worthy to receive without asking. In which he nothing abated of his Kingly bounty, only he apprehended how most worthily to dispose it: Plutarch. in Regum Apophtheg.* 1.34 But how this charity in Women is re∣warded, I will only instance Tabitha, spoken of in the Acts; who being dead, was thought worthy for her former Chari∣ty (in relieving Widowes and Orphans) to have Peters knees and praiers, to restore her again to life.

Now of the reward of religious Piety, in which many Matrons and godly martyred Virgins (amongst such as

have suffered strange deaths) may be included, as some by the Sword, some by by Fire, others suffocated by Smoak, stilled in Jakes, shot with Arrowes, tortured upon Wheels, scourged with Whips, scared with Irons, boiled in Cal∣drons, &c. their Crowns are glory, their Rewards neither to be expressed by pen, tongue, or apprehension of man.

Loosnesse of Life first converted, and the conversion rewarded, in a home bred History.

A Civill Gentleman (within memory) in the heat of Summer having been walking alone in the fields,* 1.35 contemplating with himselfe, and returning back not the same way he went out, but through another part of the Su∣burbs, to which he was a meer stranger, and finding him∣selfe athirst, he stepped into the first house that fairliest offered it selfe to him, and called for a cup of Beer, seating himself in the first room next to the street. He had not well wiped the sweat from his face with his handkerchiefe, but two or three young wenches came skittishly in and out the room; who seeing him to be a man of fashion, and there∣fore likely to be of means, they thought to make of him some booty, being (it seems) set on by the Grandam of the house, for as it proved, it was a common Brothel house. The youngest and handsomest amongst the rest was put upon him: who entreated him, not to be seen below, where every Porter, Carman, and common fellow came to drink, but to take a more convenient and retired room. The Gentleman suspecting the place (as it was indeed) to be no better then it should be, and being willing to see some fashions, took her gentle proffer, and went with her up the stairs: where they two being alone (and a bed in the room) beer being brought up, she began to offer him more then common courtesie, being so far from modesty, that she almost prosti∣tuted her selfe unto him. Which he apprehending, asked her in plain terms, If these were not meer provocations to incite him to lust? which she as plainly confessed. To whom he replied, That since it was so, he was most willing to ac∣cept of her kind proffer; only for modesty sake, he desired her to shew him into a darker room. To which she assented, and leads him from one place to another; but he still told her, that none of all these was dark enough: insomuch, that she began at length somewhat to distaste him, because in all

that time he had not made unto her any friendly proffer. At length she brought him into a close narrow room, with nothing but a Loop-hole for light, and told him, Sir, un∣lesse you purpose to go into the Cole-house, this is the dar∣kest place in the house How doth this please you? To whom he answered, Unlesse (thou strumpet) thou canst bring me to a place so palpably ••enebrious, into which the eies of heaven cannot pierce and see me, thou canst not perswade me to an act so detestable before God and good men: For cannot he that sees into the hearts and reins of all, behold us here in our wickednesse? And further proceeding, told he, the heinousnesse of her sin towards God, that her pro∣stitution was in sight of him and his Angels, and the ever∣lasting punishment thereto belonging. Or if (irreligious as she was) she held these but dreams and fables, he bad her consider her estate in this world, and what her best could be a Who••e: the name odious, the profession abominable, despised of the indifferent, but quite abandoned of those confirmed in Vertue: That she was in her selfe but a meer leprosy, to destroy her self, and insect others, a Sink of Sin & diseases. Or if her extraordinary good fortune were such, to escape the Spittle and the Surgeon, yet she was a conti∣nual vassal to every Constable and Beadle, never certain of her Lodging, if not in the Stocks, in the Cage, but the chiefest of her hopes in Bridewell, &c. To conclude, he read unto her so strict and austere a Lecture, concerning her base and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 life, that from an impudent Strum∣pet, he wrought her to be a repentant Convertite. Her bra∣zen forehead melted at his fiery zeal, and all those scales of immodesty (like a mask plucked off) fel from her face, and she appeared to him in her former simple and innocenti∣ous life. When further asking her of her birth and Countrie, she freely confessed unto him, That she was born in the North Countrie, her father a Gentleman, once of fair revenue; but being impoverished by peevish suits in Law, her mother first, and he (whether by age or grief, she knew not) soon after died. She being an Orphan, and left distressed, loth to beg of those whom her parents had be∣fore relieved, finding charity there cold, and willing ra∣ther to appear base any where, then where she was known, sold such small things as she had, to come up to London with the Carriers: where she was no sooner alighted at her 〈◊〉〈◊〉, but she was hited by this Bawd (altogether unac∣quainted

with her base course of life) who by degrees trai∣ned her to such base prostitution: but withall protested with tears, that course of life was hatefull unto her; and had she any friend or kinsman, that could propose her any means to relinquish that Trade, which in her soul she de∣tested, she would become a new woman, desiring that one month of her lewdnesse might be forgot, for from that hour she protested Chastity all her life time after. Her apparant tears and seeming penitence much perswading with the Gentleman, he protested, If it lay in him, he would otherwise dispose of her according to her wishes; and with∣all charging her, That if he sent unto her within two or three daies with monie, to acquit her of the house, that she would attire her selfe as modestly as she could possibly, not bringing with her any one rag that belonged to that abominable house, or any borrowed garment in which she had offended but instantly to repair unto him, at his fi••st sending: and this being agreed betwixt them, for that time they parted. The Gentleman wondrous careful of his un∣dertaking (because she was now his new creature) c••me to a Matron-like Gentlewoman, a kinswoman of his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 off (with whom and her husband he had familiar acquain∣tance, and by that means daily accesse to the house, who had pretty fine children, and were of fair revenue) and told her there was a civil maid (a kinswoman of his, lately come out of the Countrie) who wanted a service, whom if she pleased to enteriem, it might prove a great good to her, and no less courtesie to him. Briefly, the motion was accepted, she sent for, according to appointment, and (after he had tutored her in all things which sh•• should answer) accepted and enterteined. Her modest behavior and fair carriage, with her tender love and diligence about the children, won her in short time a good opinion of her master, a greater affe∣ction from her mistresse, and a generall love of the whole household; insomuch, that within lesse then a year, she was raised from a Chambermaid, to be a Waiting Gentlewo∣man, and the only bosome friend of her mistresse: who falling sick, even to death, ready to expire her last, so much doted on her new servant, that she sent for her husband, and besought him (if it stood with his good liking so to di∣spose of himselfe) after her decease, to make that woman his wife, and mother to his children; for one more loving and carefull he should not find, and search England thorow

and thorow. The Gentlewoman soon after dies, he is left a widower, and the charge of the whole house committed to our new Convertite, with the bringing up of his children. Which she executed with such fidelity, that he casting a more curious eie upon her youth and beauty, and withall remembring his wives last words, not knowing for the pre∣sent how better to dispose of himselfe (Time, Place, and Opportunity, all things furthering her preferment) he contracted himselfe unto her, and they were soon after married. But before any of these late passages hapned, I must remember you, that instantly upon the preferment of this young woman, the Gentleman that brought her this fortune, adventured all his means upon a voiage, which miscarried (for the ship wherein he sailed, was taken by the Spaniard, and he almost a twelve month kept prisoner in Lisbon.) But at length (by what means I know not) being ransomed, he came for his Country, but so poorly and de∣jected, that he was ashamed to shew himselfe to any of his friends: for having tried some, and finding their charity cold, he was loath to make proof of the rest; insomuch, that he walked by Owl light, w••thout a Cloke, and scarce had honest rags to cover his nakedness, or hide him from shame. It hapned, that just upon his return the old Gentleman died too, and left her possessed of eight hundred a yeer during the minory of the children, but the thirds howso∣ever: and withall (to great and good opinion he had of her, that he made her full Executor. Now just as she fol∣lowed the He••se to the Church (having divers suitors be∣fore her husbands body was scarce cold) this Gentleman by chance comming by, like the Picture of the Prodigall (as I before related him to you) she casting her eie aside, had espied him, and presently apprehended him to be the man he was, and whispering a servant in the ear (willing to be truly satisfied) ••ad him to fall into discourse with him, to enqui•••• his name, his Lodging, with oth••r questions, as she directed him, and so proceeded to the Funerall; but to speak nothing as from her. The servant fel from the train, and did as he was commanded, and without suspicion of him that was questioned, brought her true word how all things stood. The next morning (by her appointment) came a Gen∣tleman very early to his lodging (she having taught him his Lesson before hand) who desired to speak with him, and first asked him his name, which (though loth) he told him: the other proceeded, that if he were the same man he pre∣tended,

he had heard of his worth and noble qu••lities, and withall, of his casualties at sea; and not willing that any Gentleman should grone beneath so great a burden, told him there was a hundred pounds, bad him furnish himself with apparell and other necessaries, and so was ready to take his leave. The other extasi'd with so great a courtesie from a stranger, whom he had not seen before, enforced him back, to know what reason he had to be so charitable, en∣treating him to consider what hope he had to be so charita∣ble, entreating him to consider what hope he had of future satisfaction, or at least to resolve him what security he de∣manded. The other answered, That for the first, his cour∣tesie was grounded upon his worth; his satisfaction was in his acknowledgement; and his security, in that he knew him honest, and told him, some three daies after he would call upon him, when he was habited like himselfe, to entreat his further acquaintance, and so presently left him. But trou∣bled in his mind above wonder, to receive such bounty from a man unknown, when all his kindred and familiar friends, were ashamed of his acquaintance; yet took the benefit of the present occasion, and suited himselfe according to his former, not his present fortunes. When the Gentlem••n came according to promise, he seemed glad 〈…〉〈…〉 alteration, and withall entreated him to walk 〈…〉〈…〉 with him to dinner: he (who could not deny him any 〈◊〉〈◊〉) seemed willingly to assent, not once demanding whither. In the mean time the late widow had provided a great Feast, whither she had envited all her suit as (who were not few) this Gentleman whom she had emploied (and knew no further of her mind) being one of the chiefest. ••••eat was upon the Table, the guests ready to sit down; now the last that came in, were the two new friends late remembred. In comes the widow, to bid them all welcome. This new made up Gentleman ignorant of whatsoever had before hapned, demanded of his friend, If it were not such a woman? who briefly told him all: How she came a stranger to the house, and what a fortune by her good demeanor she had in a short time purchased; That she was now a widow, had such and such means left, and all or most of those Gentlemen (and himselfe amongst the rest) were suitors, and that their hope was, this day she would make choise of a husband. Whatsoever he thought, he said nothing for the present. The widowes turn was to place every man according to his de∣gree,

or at least to our own fancy: this new Gentleman was neglected, and the stools being furnish••, left standing at a bay window. She took place at the tables end only, lea∣ving her husbands chair empty, when suddenly starting up, Methinks saith she, some one in this room might be well spared, for we have more guests then stools. The Gentle∣man at these words bit his lip, and was intreated to sit down by his friends, but whilst they were straining courtesie she proceeded, Is this a suitor too? no question some that ei∣ther hath borrowed his cloths, or ingaged all his credit for this one new suit, in hope to gai•• the widow; but women are now adaies grown more wise. By whose acquainta••ce came he hither? Mine, answered his friend: then saith she, perhaps he wants a dinner, and hath not mony to pay for his ordinary. Well, he may sit down amongst the test; some of you there make him some elbow 〈◊〉〈◊〉. These words made him wish himselfe again prisoner in Lisbon; 〈◊〉〈◊〉 any where, save where he was. This was 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to the rest, but torture to him, who much blaming her 〈…〉〈…〉, yet ar∣ming him with 〈…〉〈…〉 his 〈…〉〈…〉 who brought him 〈…〉〈…〉 eating as little a 〈…〉〈…〉 the Table, some 〈…〉〈…〉 to please her. A health went 〈…〉〈…〉: All pledged it gladly, 〈…〉〈…〉. At length rising from her stool Methinks (saith she) we are all 〈…〉〈…〉 only 〈◊〉〈◊〉 at Gentl••man at the lower end of the Table is melancholy: but I k••ow the reason, it is perhaps because he is placed so low, but 〈…〉〈…〉 his disease, I have for it a present re∣medy when 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to him where he sate, the pluckt him by the sleeve, desi••ing him to remove, for she had ••••••ther place for him. Who desiring her to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 him to further, refused to rise: but she would needs enforce him, the rest likewise perswading, as wondring what further sp•••••• she would make with him. Well (saith ••e) I am this day yours, but will be mine own ever hereafter: And so being drawn by her to the upper end of the chamber like a Bear to the ••••ake, where her late husbands ch••ir stood empty: Now Sir (saith she, with a more serious countenance 〈◊〉〈◊〉 be∣fore) my new husband, sit here in my old husbands chair, and bid these your guests welcome. Stil he fr••••••d, and they laught, as before: when she craving pardon 〈◊〉〈◊〉 so abu∣si••g his patience, openly protested, That this meeting was

meerly for his sake, and to make them witnesses of their present contract: for if he refused her to wife, she vowed never to have other husband; acknowledging that all her fortunes (next to the Divine Providence) came by his good∣nesse (omitting the former circumstances) and that shee knew no way better to expresse her gratitude, then to con∣fer them on him, by whom they first came. Thus the close proved better then the beginning, and the banquet of Sweet-meats made amends for the harsh Feast, for they found this last (of all the other passages) to be only seri∣ous. They were there contracted (the suitors witnesses) and soon after married. And thus his vertue and her con∣version, had one joint reward.

Cura.

ONe woman I had almost forgotten, but better re∣member her at last, then not at all; and strange it is I should do so, since she is still present with the King in his Thron••, with the Generall in the Camp, the Tradesman in his Shop, and the Plowman in his Cottage, she is with the Scholler in his Study, and the Statesman in his Closet, she is still at the elbow of every Father or Mother, and no family can exist without her. In this my work she hath risen early with me in the Morning, and again sate up with me till past Midnight, she will leave no man Waking, nor forsake him till he his fast Sleeping. This womans name is Care, the grandmother of Fears and Doubts, who passing a river, and finding a vein of bituminous and clammy clay (being full of thoughts) she began to fashion a part there∣of to the true semblance and shape of a man, and delibe∣rating with her selfe what she had done, and being enamo∣red with her late workmanship, and casting how best to dispose it, Joves Herald (Mercury) comming that way by ac∣cident, saluted her, whom she intreated to be an intercessor to Jupiter in her behalfe, to give that picture life. He at Mercuries entreaties, did so. There was then question made how to name it, Cura would have it called after her own name, Care; but Jupiter would not agree to that, but give it his; next, up start Tellus, i. The Earth, and pleaded the name belonged to her, because from her it first proceeded. The deciding of this controversie was put to Saturn, who thus ended it: You Jupiter shall take charge of it, and

after death receive the Spirit back that first gave it; Care, because she first fashioned it, Care shall all the life time possesse it. But because the difference is about the name, Homo vocetur quia ex humo factus esse videtur, i. Let it be cal∣led man because made of the Earth: And therefore with great elegance, Tibull. 3. lib. 3. Eleg. 3. thus writes:

Nam grave quid prodest pondus mihi diviti•• auri? Arvaquae si findant pinguia mille ••oves, &c. What profit golden heaps weigh'd by the pound? Or if a thousand Oxen plow my ground? What profits me my house? although it stand On Phrygian columns, wrought by curious hand, Digg'd first, and fetcht from the Tenarian Mine, Or else Caristus whether brought from thine? Or woods, beneath my roof planted for state, Which seem the sacred groves to imitate? My golden beams and ••loors with marble pav'd, Or my Pearl-shining vessels so much crav'd From th' Erichthraean shores? what all my pride In wooll, that's in Sydonian purple di'd? Or what besides, the vulgar sets on fire, Who still most envy, where they most admire. These but the temporeall gifts of fortune are, And 'tis no pomp can f••ee my thoughts from Care.

Reward due to Philosophers, Orators and Poets.

IN what honor all Philosophers have been of old with Princes and Emperors, lies next in me to speak of, as Aga∣the Pythagoricus with Arcesilaus King of Macedon, Plato with Dionysius, Aristotle with Philip and Alexander, Xeno Cit∣••eius the son of Mnasenus with the Athenians, Theophrastus honored by Demetrius, Psaleraeus with golden statutes, Posi∣donius entired to Cneius Pompeius Magnus, Ariston to Julius Caesar, Zenarchas to Augustus, Apollonius Tyanaeus to Bardosanes King of Babylon, Dion Prusienis to the Emperor Trajanus, Arrius to Alexander, Heliodorus to Adrianus, Sopa∣ter to Constantinus Magnus, with infinte others, of which it is not necessary now to insist. Plutarch remembers us in the life of Alexander, That he having taken ten of these Gym∣nosophists, * 1.36 that were the cause of the falling off of the Sab∣bea a people of Arabia, who had done many outrages to the Macedonians, because they were esteemed Philoso∣phers,

and famous for their ready and acute answers, he therefore to those ten propounded ten severall questions, with this condition, that he who answered the worst of them should be first slain, and so in order the rest; and of this he made the eldest judges. Of the first he demanded, Whe∣ther in his judgement he thought there to be more men li∣ving or dead? who answered, Living, because the dead are not. The second, Whether the Earth or the Sea harbored the greatest Monsters? Resp. The Earth, because the Sea is but part thereof. The third, What beast of all creatures was the most craftie? That which to man is best known. The fourth, Why did the Sabbae revolt from Macedon? Resp. That they might either Live well, or Die ill. The fifth, Whether the day was before the night, or the night before the day? Resp. The day, for one day was before another. The sixth, What was the best way to make a man generally beloved of all? Resp. To be the best man, and no tyrant. The seventh, How might a man be made a god? Resp. By doing that which a man is not able to doe. The eighth, Whether is Life or Death the stron∣ger? Resp. Life, because it beareth so many disasters. The ninth he demanded, How long he thought a man to live? Who answered, ••ust so long as he desired not to see Death. When the King turning to the judge, bad him give just sentence; he said that one had answered more impertinently then ano∣ther: then saith the King, thou art the first that oughtest to die for so judging. But he replied, Not so, O King, be∣cause it was your own condition, that he should suffer first that made the worst answer. This said, the King dismissed them bounteously and roially rewarded. If then for ambi∣guous answers to such slight and yet doubtfull questions, Alexander thought them worthy of such gifts and presents; with what Memories, what Praises, what Crowns, Columns, and Statues ought we to dignifie and celebrate the names of Queen of Zenobia, Amalasuntha, Aspatia, Fulvia, Morata, and others? This Solomon the wisest (not only of Kings) but of men, well knew, when having made proof of the wisedom of Nicaulis Queen of Aethiopia, he sent her back into her Country so liberally furnished and so roially rewarded. What I have spoke of these may be pertinently apply to our women studious in Divinity, Oratory, and Sophistry, and laboriously practised in all other liberall Arts and Sciences; Nor can I more fitly in my mind conclude this work, then as I begun with goddesses, so to end with good

women: Only of the honor due to Poetesses, because it be∣longs something to mine own profession, I will borrow my conclusion from Ovid in his last Elegy of the first book Amorum, the title is Ad invidos quod fama poetarum sit pe∣rennis:

Quod mihi livor edax ignavos objicis annos? Ingeniique vocas carmen inerte meum? Why (eating envy) dost thou as a crime, Object unto me sloth, and mispent time? Terming the Muse and sacred Numbers vain, The fruitlesse issue of an idle brain. I am not won to spend my youth in war, By which our predecessors famous are: It tempts not me to search the brabling lawes, Orat the bar to quarrell in a cause: These 〈◊〉〈◊〉 mortall 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and transitory, When 〈◊〉〈◊〉 purchase 〈◊〉〈◊〉 eternall glory. Whilst Ida stands, or Ten••dos hath name, O•• Symois streams shall run, so long thy same (Meonides) shall live, whilst grain shall grow, Which men with syth or sicle, reap or mow: Whilst vineyards grapes, and these grapes yields us wine, Famous Ascraeus, even so long shall thine. Battiades, the whole world shall impart, For what he wants in wit, he hath in art. No lesse can chance to thy Cothurnate strain, Oh Saph••cles: nor Aratus thy vain. The honours by the Muses you have won, Shall last, if not outlast both Moon and Sun. Whilst there's a crafty Servant, or hard Sire, Fat 〈…〉〈…〉, men shall admire 〈…〉〈…〉 Ennius although obscure, 〈…〉〈…〉 you shall both endure. All shall 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Varro that but hear of Greece; 〈…〉〈…〉 〈…〉〈…〉 〈…〉〈…〉 〈…〉〈…〉 〈…〉〈…〉 〈…〉〈…〉 〈…〉〈…〉 〈…〉〈…〉 〈…〉〈…〉

Shall both be famous. Whilst there's Tree or Stone, Or Plant or Herb, or Ground to tread upon, When 〈◊〉〈◊〉 consume, and when the Plow shall wast And be forgot, yet Numbers still must last. Vnto the Muses, even Monarches must yield, And glorious triumphs purchast in the field: To her yield Tagus with thy golden shine, You Terrhene are, and only she divine. Let then the vulgar, what is vile admire, That nothing else save earthly drosse desire. Gold hair'd Apollo with full hand shall bring My flowing cup fill'd from the Muses spring. And crown'd with myrtle, I shall now be sung, And be made frequent in each lovers tongue. Envy the living soul detracts, but Fate Concluding life, she likewise ends her hate. And then her rancor is no longer fed, When living Honor shall maintain us, dead: And when my Funerall Rites their last fires give, Then shall the great'st part of my selfe still live.

And this perpetuity of Fame which Ovid in giving to o∣thers likewise attributes to himselfe, is that which all the truly Noble, Chast, Wife, Vertuous, Learned and Reli∣gious Virgins, Wives and Matrons, have proposed as their just Reward; who lift their thoughts upward, and despi∣sing the Frailties, Uncertainties, and Vanities of the Earth, aim their Meditations Contemplations, and Pious Actions at the sublimities of Heaven.

FINIS.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Cynarus & Mirha.
• * 1.2

  The puni∣shment of Incest.
• * 1.3

  The pu∣nishment of Adul∣tery.
• * 1.4

  Fratricides
• * 1.5

  The puni∣shment of Fratricides
• * 1.6

  ••arricides &c.
• * 1.7

  Punish∣ment due to Regi∣cides.
• * 1.8

  Punish∣ments of unjust Di∣vorce.
• * 1.9

  Whore∣dome pu∣nished.
• * 1.10

  Punish∣ment of Loquacity.
• * 1.11

  Punish∣ment of Lying.
• * 1.12

  Punish∣ment of Perjury.
• * 1.13

  Aristotle cals this Fountain, Acedinus.
• * 1.14

  Punish∣ment of Prodigali∣ty and Ex∣cesse.
• * 1.15

  Punish∣ment of Witch∣craft.
• * 1.16

  Some say a Serpents egge.
• * 1.17

  Deut. 13.
• * 1.18

  Levit. 24.
• * 1.19

  Exod. ••0. 22▪
• * 1.20

  D••ut. 13▪ 27
• * 1.21

  Numb. ••5.
• * 1.22

  Levit. 21.
• * 1.23

  Deut. 18.
• * 1.24

  Deut. 18.
• * 1.25

  Deut. 13.
• * 1.26

  Ier. 5▪ 12, 9.
• * 1.27

  Deut. 19.
• * 1.28

  Honor and Reward to Fortitude.
• * 1.29

  Orchestra, a place in the Thea∣ter only for the nobility
• * 1.30

  Honor due to Tempe∣rance.
• * 1.31

  Reward of Beauty.
• * 1.32

  The Pro∣vince be∣longing to Padua.
• * 1.33

  Bounty re∣warded.
• * 1.34

  Charity rewarded.
• * 1.35

  A Conver∣tire rewar∣ded.
• * 1.36

  So called of Sabbea, chiefe City of Arabia.