THE Empire of Women, and Courts of Queenes, euen frō Semiramis time, haue gouerned countries and kingdomes, subdued Realmes ruled States, and brought vnder their o­beysance both Kings and kingdomes; Asia buil­ded by a wo­man of that name. as also before Semiramis time it may [...]ee [...]e probable, for that Asia the greatest part of the world was named Asia by a Queene of that name which then dwelt in Asi [...], whose fame continued vntill Semiramis the second Empresse, Semira [...]is the second Empresse of Asia. whose martiall exploytes and gouernment▪ hath been such (if authorities may serue) as neither Alexander the great could exceede in magnani­mitie, nor Cyrus in victories, nor Xerxes in mul­titude of souldiers.

[Page 2] Wee leaue the Court of Sardanapalus King of Assiria, who during his life, exceeded in all effe­minate wantōnesse, hauing his Court full of such Iewels, as he was wont to [...]it amongst them in womans apparell, among such light and shame­lesse women where women were in mens appa­rell, and men in womens apparell, of which I will omit to speake; But I will begin with those wo­men that were speciall Iewels appointed not on­ly to saue his people, but to saue kingdomes and countryes, not only among christi [...]ns, but among Heathens and Pagans.

DEBORA, DEBORA a Iudge in Isarell. a woman which dwelt in Mount Ephraim, and iudged Israel fourty yeares, vanqui­shed the Chananites, and slue Sisera.

HVLDAH, HVLDAH a Prophe­tesse in Ie­rusalem, a Prophetesse which dwelt in Ie­rusalem, to whome king I [...]sia [...] after the law booke was found, sent for Councell to know how and what way God might be pleased with Israell.

Who knoweth not, but Rebecca by God ap­poynted, councelled her sonne Iacob to flee from his brother Esau to M [...]sopotamia, where God ap­poynted such two Iewels for him, as made him the father of the 12 Tribes of Israell, in whome he and his posteritie was blessed by the seede of LEA, a woman?

IOSEPH, IOSEPH [...] to E­gipt by his brethren. a man sent by God to Egipt, (though sold by his brethren) where the like Iewell was appoynted him, to weete Assanetha an Egiptian, the mother of Manasses and Ephraim, two adop­ted [Page 3] Tribes in Israell, by whome (during Iosephs life) the Hebrews were Lords of the land of Goshen, and free from their bondage in Egipt.

Was not THERMVTIS the Kings daugh­ter of Egipt, THERMV­TIS the daughter of Pharo K. of Egipt. a Iewell appointed to saue Moses from drowning in Nilus, to name him Moses, to bring him vpp as her sonne adoptiue to possesse the Crowne in spight of their Priests of Memphis?

ESTHER an Hebrew maide, ESTER rare and zeale for the Iewes. maried to A [...]a­shuerosh the great King of Persia, a Iewell of God not only appointed to saue M [...]rdocheus her vnc­kle, but all the Iewes her country-men within an hundred seauen and twenty Prouinces, with the daunger of her owne life, and the destruction of Seauenty and fiue thousand Persi [...]ns, and the han­ging of H [...]man, and his ten sonnes.

In Bethulia a woman widdow ventured more then any man, The bold and rare at­tempt of Iu­dith a wo­man. either Cyrus, Alexander, Or Caesar in their owne persons, as shee did▪ who brought Holofer [...] head in a bagge through the Assirian campe to [...], whereby the whole Assirian army was ouerthrowne. A famous victorie for a woman to be recorded for the fame of women.

Obserue therefore, how God chiefly by wo­men, in all countries saued and defended his peo­ple: In Mesopotamia, by Labans daughters, Lea & Rachell. In Egipt, by THERMVTIS King Pharoes daughter. In Ethiopia, by Tharbis the King of E­thiops daughter, whom Moses maried and made her a christian, whome Pharaoh and the Priests of [Page 4] Egipt gaue him to th' end to slay him; as Saul sent Dauid to the Philistians for the like purpose. In Persia by ESTHER King Ahashuerosh wife. In Be­thulia by Iudith a widdow, these were peculier women by God appoynted.

What should wee seeke proofes far off, when we haue examples at home. Had we not in Eng­land, England, Scotland, & Fraunce, combined by women. such a Iewell as combined Fraunce vnto Eng­land? And another Iewell that brought Scotland vnto England, being two women?

Had we not such a Iewell of a woman in Eng­land, after tenne terrible battels wherein there were a Hundred Knights and Barons slayne, tenne Princes and Dukes destroyed, and one Hundred thousand Englishmen slayne in the field between the houses of Lancaster and Yorke, a woman being the onely cause of a perpetuall League betweene both houses? And euen at this present wee enioye such a Iewell, that will blesse Brittane, both with Tribes and Kings, as Lea and Ruth did Israell.

This onely shall suffice, Kingdomes & Realmes, combined in a League by women. that kingdomes and Realmes are combined and ioyned together in perpetuall League of amity by women general­ly. And sithence in the seed of a woman all the people of God are blessed, I neede not to name the virgin Mary, whose wombe was blessed that bare him, and her paps that gaue him sucke; Nor make mencion of such women long before Ma­ry, of whome lineally Christ descended. as Lea, [Page 5] and Racheli the wiues of Iacob, the mother of the Tribes of Israell, of whome the Lyon of ludah, and the starre of Iacob descended, Ruth the Moabite. Ruth the Mo­abite the wife of Booz, the mother of Obed, the fa­ther of [...]sai, the father of Dauid, of whome came the Kng of Kings.

How much more then were godly and vertu­ous women blessed by Angells, by Prophets magnified, and by Kings and Princes reuerēced? Iae [...] the wife of Aber the Kenite shalbe blessed sayd the Angell, Ia [...]l that slue Sisera. for shee slue Sisera King Iabins Generall; And the victory of Israell was obtai­ned by a woman, as DEBORA sayd to the fame of women: Did not Osias the Gouernor of Bethu­lia and of the army of Israell, The prayse of Iudith. blesse Iudith? And so Achior blessed her, saying blessed art thou of thy God in all the Tabernacles of Iacob.

Asmuch and more might be spoken of Queene Est [...]er.

But to speake in particular of women, it were infinite. I shoud but weary the Reader to runne throughout the old and new Testament, with the due prayse and commendacions of such Iew­els as are fit to attend in Courts of Princes: As of the woman of Bahurim by hiding Dauids ser­uants, The woman of Bahu­rim cōmen­ded. shee saued their liues from Absalon, who made search to destroy the King his father; shee onely thereby saued her selfe, the Citie, and all the Citizens.

[Page 6] So RAHAB in Iericho hid the Messengers of Ioshua, RAHAB the like wo­man in Ieri­cho. whereby she saued not onely them, but al­so her selfe, her family, and all the friends that s [...] called to her house, at the destruction of Iericho.

The Sunamites wife for her pitie & compassi [...] of the Prophet Elizeus, to make him a cham [...] in the house, to feed him being the man of Go [...]

The Widdow of Sarepta entertained [...] with all the wealth she had, The widdow of Sarepta. which was a handfull of flowre, a little cruise full of Oyle. See a wo­man was appointed to feed Elias; & a woman to make a chamber to welcome Elizeus in.

Such Iewels are to be entertained in Courts of Kings who are alwaies readie for good and god­ly suits; and not with Moloch his reaching hand, Moloch. and his Caemorims Priests; nor with Iudas with o­pen hands to take what they will.

Againe to speake of wise and discreet wo­men, The praise of wise wo­men. who could be wiser than ABIGAIL Na­bals wife, who by her wisedome so intreated Da­uid, that she saued her husbands life, and after be­came Queene in Israell, euen king Dauids wife?

The woman of Abella, who with her wise­dome councelled with the chiefe Magistrates of Abella, Sebaes head the Traytor. and brought Sebaes head the Traitor, and threw it ouer the wall to Ioab; when neither Ioab offered peace, nor the Magistrates of Abella sought peace, yet she saued the Towne, and the Armie of Israel from much slaughter.

I will therefore conclude with an Epilogue of [Page 7] the new Testament, of women that farre excel­led men in faith, in constancie, and in seruice of the Lord. Women more zea­lous than men. I will omit to speake of Marie Magda­len, Ioanna the wife of Chusa, Herods Steward, of Susanna, with many other such women, which ministred to the Lord, as he trauailed to preach. I need not make mention of Anna, who prophe­sied of Christ to the people, receiuing Christ in her armes at Ierusalem, confessed (as Simeon did) the redemption of Israel; but euen of Pilates wife, whē all men cried, Pilates wife Crucifige, to crucifie Christ, yet this only womā endeuored to perswade her hus­band Pilate, to wash his hands frō such a wicked fact, affirming he was a just and a godly man.

I sieldome read of such faith in a man, as of the woman, who desired but to touch the hem of Christs garment, and to be healed thereby, as she confessed, to whom Christ said, her faith had made her whole.

Now hauing heard, that as women ministred vnto Christ in his preaching, so women follow­ed him to his death, and also attended him to his graue; More wo­men followed Christ, than men. and more women were at Christs death, than men; and as it seemed wept more bitterly, than those fewe men that were there.

No doubt Iohn the Euangelist wept, Ioseph of Arymathia, and Nichodemus wept and a few o­thers wept, of whose weeping Christ took no no­tice; but to the women who were many & wept much, the Lord spake, saying, why weepe ye for me, [Page 8] yee daughters of Syon? with much compassion he pittied the women, who much lamented his death; Christ first appeared to women after his resur­rect on. and after his death, Christ first appeared to women, when the Apostles fled, forsooke, and denyed him.

I know most men doubted of Christ his resur­rection, yea the Apostles, whome the Lord re­prehended for their incredulity, because they would not beleeue Mary Magdalen to whome the Lord first appeared; The Apo­stles [...]re­dulous of the resurrection of Christ. neither would the Apo­stles beleeue the other women, whome the An­gell sent to tell them that the Lord was risen, and went before them into Gal [...]lie.

Marke how the Lord spake to women his last words at his death, Christ ap­peared twise to women after his death, before he appeared to his Apo­stles. and likewise appeared twice to women after his death, before he appeared to his Apostles.

If you reade prophane histories, you shall find Asia first christened by a woman so named. And Europe by the name of a woman called Europe Agenors daughter King of Phaenicia. Scithia of a woman that sprang out of the earth, and named her sonne Scytha. The Ro­mans brag of Rhea. The Romans might better brag of Rhea a woman, a vestall virgin well know­en, (the Mother of Romulus) than of Rom [...] whose Father was not knowen; or of a farr [...] more ancient woman named Roma.

The Greeks might better bragge of Helena [...] woman, The Greeks named of Helena a woman, ra­rather than of Hellas a man▪ and not as they would haue it of Hellas [...] man; Helena made Greeks then vnknowen, to be [Page 9] knowne; she was the woman that was the whet­stone of Greece, by this woman the Greekes be­came first famous. But we leaue Asia, Europe, Phry­gia, Greece, Scythia, and Rome; if we omit the fame of women in these, what should I recite Prouin­ces and Isles, Cities and Townes named after the name of women? as Rhodes, Corcyra, Salamina, Ae­gina, Many Isles named after the name women. & of many more which Diodorus writes of, to whome I referre you.

And as the most part of the earth is Christened and named by women, so also the most part of the starres are constellated with women, not onely with the names of women, but with the forme, shape, and figure of women, of which I wish you conferre with that Astronomer Astratus, who filled the starres of women: The most part of the starres are figured by the names of women. considering there be but a thousand and twenty starres names knowne, I thinke the most part are figured and named after the names of women.

I would haue a good Scholler to answere me, that neuer loued a woman, That is not true, sith the forme and jmage of Iustice is formed like a woman with a sword in her hand; Prudence with a glasse in her hand; Temperance with a dyall in her hand; Fortitude with a great huge Colossus on her shoulder, that Hercules could not stirre her. And all these are wrought in gold, in siluer, in Ar­ras, and in all kinde of Tapestrie.

The Queens of the Amazones courts were onely of women, without men, where men by [Page 10] Law and decrees made, might not gouerne or beare rule, but were exercised in seruile works, The queens of Ama­zons, and their ex­ployts. hauing their legges and armes made so weake by their Nurces, that they could not beare armor, as Diodorus writes, Quoinutiles fierent bello. This was a pollicy of the Amazones, to be carefull to keepe the anncient Lawe of Scithia, that men should not gouerne them; who vsed to cut off the right pappe of euery female kinde, because it should not hinder them in their shot and mili­tary seruice.

An example of two or three; Myrina one of their Queens with thirty thousand foot women, Myrinaes marshall acts & vic­ [...]ries. and two thousand horse, being armed with skins of great Serpents, after that shee had subdued many Regions and confines, euen vnto Libia, marched vnto Egipt, at what time Orus, Isis sonne reigned King there (so auncient a History it is) with whom shee cōsented to a [...]eague of peace.

Thence she marched into [...], whome she much was [...]ed and spoyled; from thence to Syria, whome shee conquered with much slaughter. Thence shee marched to Mount [...] and o­uer came the nations there about, so that Queen Myr [...]a was as famous in S [...]ythia, as was Semira­nus in Asia; and both were as famous as Alex­ander or Cyrus.

In like sort may it be spoken of Queene Medu­sa, Queene Medusaes warlike acts and of her Court, as we did of Queene Myri­na, that shee likewise gouerned a Nation of war­like [Page 11] women named Gorgons, who feared not to encounter with great King Perseus, the most fa­mous and warlike King of his time amongst the Graecians, and kept him long and hard in twoo great battles.

The fame of these Queens grew so great, Hercules was ama­zed at the fame of those Queenes. that Hercules hearing the fame of them, and of their courts, & of their womē, was much abashed, that so many Nations should be subdued by womē.

Hercules, after Perseus, in great furie began his warre against these Queenes, (after Myrina and Medusaes time, with whome Perseus fought) and slue so many (I meane of the Gorgans and A­mazones) that Queene Myrina buried so many of her Ladies, that to this day their graue is called Tumuli Amazonum: which is in Greece, and not in Scythia.

Among other Nations and Kingdomes the Court of the Queenes of Saca, ought iustly for their misitary discipline, their victories and go­uernment to bee remembred. The queene of Saca. Among many Queenes that ruled there, I will onely speake of one Queene, named Tarina, who after shee had subdued the Nations about her, Queene Ta­rinaes victory. and brought in subiection many countries vnder the Saceans, af­ter peace and quietnesse, had made such Lawes to her Subiects that the Queenes which succee­ded her, altered nothing therof, but one Queene after another confirmed Tarinas Lawes in Saca.

Such was the loue & commendations of this [Page 12] Queene, of her Subiects in her Court, for her pollicy, wisedome, counsell, and benefits done to her countrey, that such a Sepulcher was made for her after her death, that the Pyramides of E­gipt, and the Labyrinth of Creete might well giue place vnto it. Neither might Mauseolum it selfe, which Queene Artimesia made for King Mauso­lus her husbands Tombe, be preferred, though that Tombe was numbred one of the seauen wonders of the world.

The Queenes of Scythia The Queens of Scythia. their Court, a known History; whose antiquitie is such that Diodorus, Cetesi [...]s and others [...] of. But the Queenes of Scythia, howsoeuer they were first named, en­larged their kingdomes so greatly, that some were called [...], and some A­rimaspi; all warlike Queenes, which subdued much of Asia, and of Europe, so that many of the Queenes of the Amazones The Queens of Ama­zones [...] with the most fa­mous con­querors of the world. are most renowned for the watres which they had with the greatest Conquerors of the world.

As Queen [...] with Hercules, Queen Tari­na with Pers [...], Queene [...] with Achilles, Queen [...] with Cyrus, whom she slue in bat­tell, with 200000. Persians with him. And after Cyrus was slayne in Scythia, King Darius thought to reueng that shame, that the great King of Per­sea with his army should be slayne by a woman, but Darius was glad to leaue Scythia vnto womē, and to returne vnto Persia.

[Page 13] And also of Camilla, who came armed against Aeneas and his Troian army; Camilla. with so many Kings as well of Asia, as of Europe, who felt the courage of the Queenes of Scythia, that Kings payde Tri­bute to Queenes in Asia.

The women Laxamathae were Marshall wo­men on horse backe, the men of that country on [...]oote; The women Laxama­thae mar­shallwomen. In the field the woman fought on horse­backe with halters and short strong ropes, and the men with speares and [...]argats.

The women of Sparta, are preferred before men. The women of Sparta pr [...]ferred for councell and courage be­fore men. All care and busines of Sparta are layde vpon the women. For they sit in Councell, they Iudge in causes, and make such Lawes and de­crees as to them seemed good; which being ob­iected against by a certaine Gentleman, that on­ly the women of Sparta ruled ouer men; And well worthy, answered Leonidas wife, wee wo­men only of Sparta beare men only. True it is, as women bring their infants vp in their youth, so are they found in their age.

The women in Persia, were so much honored, The women of Persia. that they might not be seene, but couered secret in Coaches▪ So Themis [...]ocles being sought for by the [...] and Lu [...]d [...]monians, escaped by fa­uoure, and was caried among the Persian Ladies secretly. For none but the Persian Ladies might haue accesse to their Coaches, or presume to speake to them. So much in Persia were women esteemed, that in all secret Councells of States [Page 14] they were sent for.

Moreouer the Persians would haue their wiues present in place to see them fight in bat­tells, The women would be pres [...]t in e­ue [...]y battell where their husbands fought as whe [...]stones. that they might at the sight of their wiues▪ be made more couragious to fight.

What can be sayd of men, but as much may bet sayd of women, or rather more? Might Hercul [...]s any way haue subdued Cerberus or led him in tri­umph, but by the helpe and councell of Proserp [...] ­na a woman? Neither Iason could possibly winne the golden fleece, and carry it away from [...] vnto Greece, without the helpe of Medea a wo­man.

Who taught Theseus the way to the Laby [...] at Creete to kill the monster Mino-taurus, but [...] a woman? Who taught the way to wer [...] ouer so many daungerous gulfes, fiery [...] frosty riuers, vnto hell it selfe? but [...] woman.

Therefore the Lawe was, that they that [...] to Carras into the Temple of Luna, The Lawe in Courts of women. and offered sacrifice to the Moone, such women should haue the rule & gouernment of their husbands with good reason, and their husbands should be ruled by them. And they which made supplycation & offered sacrifice to god Lunus, such men had the dominion and gouernm [...]t ouer their wiues.

The people called Sauromatae in Sarmatia, a Women ru­led all Sar­matia. very large country in Scythia, reaching from the riuer Vistul [...] vnto the end of Germanie, euen vnto [Page 15] the confines of Hyrcania in Scythia, and yet as large as Sarmatia was, women ruled their coun­ [...]rey; for when all women rule their husbands, they must needs rule the countreys.

These be the scoffes of Cato against the Roman women, Scoffes of Cato in Rome a­gainst wo­men. that the valiant Romanes, that conquered all Nations abroad, were conquered at home by women.

It is most strange, that women should so loue men for children sake, and yet the Male-kinde should neither beare rule nor gouerne amongst them.

THALESTRES Queene of Scythia, Thalestres Queene of Scythia went to see Alexander the Great. hearing of the fame and report of Alexander to be such for his martiall prowesse and great conquest, she came with three hundred Scythian Ladies, not onely for the sight of Alexander, but also to get children by him and his Macedonian Lords, that should be like their Parents.

And though Alexander had not so many queens as Salomon, yet had he (after the Persian manner) as many Queenes as there be dayes in the yeare; Notwithstanding his sonnes should beare no rule in Scythia, though they were gotten of the queen Thalestres, and of Alexander the great.

So it is historied of Ne [...]aule queene of Ethiopia, Queene Sa­ba went to heare Salo­mon. that she came to Ierusalem to heare Salomons wis­dome, and to propose vnto him hard questions, and darke problemes, being as willing to haue as many wise Salomons in Ethiopia, as Thalestres was [Page 16] to haue valiant Alexanders in Scythia.

The Romane women, hearing such repor [...] and fame of the women of Sparta, The Ro­man cou­rage to fight with wilde beasts on Theaters. of the Sace­ans, Sarmatians, Scythians, and of sundry other Countreys, (hauing no men to fight with for tha [...] the Romans had conquered al Nations) came ar­med vpon the Theators to fight with diuers and sundrie wilde beasts, as Lions, Elephants, Beares and such like: and when they were not permitted to fight vpon the Theators with beasts; yet would they ouercome (as Cato sayd) the Conquerour [...] and Champions at home, which ouercame Ty­gers and Lions vpon the Theators.

The Ladies of ROOME perceiuing tha [...] all the gold and siluer which was in the treasurie of Rome, Due com­mendacions of the Ro­man Ladies. to be consumed and spent in the warres against the Gaules, in the time of that noble cap­taine Camillus▪ the women brought all their gold, siluer, chaines, earings, and all their Iewels vnto the Senators, whereby the Gaules were satisfied, and Rome againe deliuered▪ At which time the Matrons of Rome were so advanced and honou­red by carrying in Coaches to their temples, and to their Theators. So that now it was also de­creed in the Senate house, that women being dead, their commendations and prayses should bee recited in the pulpits at their Funerals, in as large manner as men.

So was Popilia by her sonne Crassus. So Iulius [Page 17] Caesar did commend his wife Pomp [...]ia, and Ner [...] his friend Poppea.

Againe in the second Affrican warres, when Rome was so afflicted by Hanniball, that both men and money were S [...]ant, but chiefly all the money in the treasurie was spent, the chiefe Roman Ma­trons (as before) brought all their rich treasures, (which of long time they had kept) vnto the Se­nate house, being ready to be armed, whereby the Romanes were so animated against Hanniball again, that he was inforced after his great Victo­ries in Italy, to forsake Italy, and flye to Affrica.

True it is, that Rome by women was twise re­couered, and deliuered from the enemies, that the Gaules fledde from Rome, and Haniball from Italy.

What praise had Veturia and Volumnia, Veturia & Volumnia two women much com­mended. two Roman Ladies worthy their commendations in the pulpit; the one intreating her husband, the other her sonne, at that time that Rome was in Corolianus hand, either to spill, or to spare?

How should I passe in [...] Cloaelia, that scaped King [...], and swimmed ouer the Ri­uer Tiber, and opened the secrets of Porsenna to the Roman Senators?

What great benefites had the Hebrewes by the midwiues of Egipt, being by Pharoh the King commaunded to [...] the Male-children, The Mid­wiues of E­gipt [...] many thou­sands of the Hebrewes children from Nilus. and to drowne them in [...] yet did they rather ha­zard their liues in breaking the Kings commaun­dement, [Page 18] than to offend God in so foule a fact; whereby they are had in perpetuall remēbrance in the booke of God, to saue so many thousand mens liues, with the hazard of their owne, as it is recorded in Exodus.

These examples should mooue our English­women to do good to their country, & not seeke the ouerthrow thereof.

The Sabine virgins, The Sa­b [...]ne vir­gins saued both the Roman and Sabine ar­my. after they were rauished by the Romans at the feast Cons [...]alia, and married vnto the Romans, so that warres grew thereby, they came in their smocks betweene the two ar­mies, the one part their husbands, the other their fathers; So by the meanes of the Sabin virgins, peace grew between the Romans & the Sabees.

When the Cartha [...]n [...] in their warres against the Romans wanted for their matches, The women of Rome & of Rhod. the Ma­trons of Cartha [...]e cause themselves & all the wo­men to shaue the hayres of their heads.

So did the women of Rhodes.

Many graue and wise women, haue stood much in stead aswell in publike councell, as al [...]o in priuate pollicies, to their countryes, who [...]e deuises and sentences being set downe, were i­mitated and found [...]it to be followed and there­fore in diuerse great kingdomes and countryes, women beare such rule, that they had the whole gouernment of the common weale.

It neuer repented August [...]us, Liuia. to follow the councell of Liuia.

[Page 19] It much profited Ferdinandus, to heare what Isabella Isabella. sayd, and to effect only what shee sayd.

Xerxes the great King, among all his wise coū ­cellors in Persia, would not sit in councell with­out Artimesias aduice. Artimesia [...] queene of Caria. Ninus King of the Assi­rians, would effect nothing without Semiramis councell; And after his death you may reade how shee gouerned the Assirians for fortie two yeares together, as stout as Alexander ruled the Macedonians.

Therefore the Lacedemonians admitted their wise-women, The women of Lacede­monia ad­mitted to [...]it in councell. not only to come to heare coun­cell, but also to be hearde and to set downe their opinions, touching aswell Ciuill as Marshall cau­ses.

Among the old Germans, vpon any great affairs, touching the state of their country, the women which were wise and discreete, did sit in coun­cell and giue their sentence and aduice, & among the Germans were cheifly accepted, and at this time more trust and confidence is giuen to wo­men in Germany, than to men. For women bee there sober when men are drunken

The selfe same authoritie and credit had the women aswell in that part of Spaine called Celti­beria, Women in Celtiberia. as also in Fraunce; in which countries wo­men were not only accepted in counsell, but in any strife or controuersy it was determyned and adiuged by verdit and Arbitrement of women.

In the time of Hanibal, in certaine debates be­tweene [Page 20] [...]

[...]

[...]

[...], and other Countreys, where Queenes go­uerned and ruled as kings, were admitted as Iud­ges, and fat as Councellors, to determine of right and wronge, as you have heard betweene the Gaules, and the Carthag [...]mans.

Yea among the inuincible Romans, by de­grees [Page 21] were wise women admitted to haue ac­cesse to the Senate, and their counsell heard by [...]he Senators. Wise women in Rome had accesse to the Se­nate.

So was M [...]tia, Agrippina, Cornelia, and others, that it came to passe in Rome, that the women a­monge the Romans were as much authorized as the women of Sparta.

So Candaces Queene of Et [...]iopia, was so singu­ [...]er [...] wi [...]e, The praise of Queene Candaces. that she ruled and gouerned her sub­ [...]ects in such sort, that she was so much honoured and beloued amonge the Ethiopians (as Asarces among the Parthians) that all the Queenes that succeeded her in Ethiopia, were called Candac [...]s after her name.

Amonge the Li [...]ian people that dwelt in Asia the lesse, the women children were named after their Mothers names, and not after their Fa­thers, and they by the lawe and custome of that countrey, are heires to their Mothers, and not to their Fathers.

As amonge the Hebrew women, who gaue such names to their children as pleased the mo­thers, The He­brew women gaue names to their children without the consent of husbands. without the consent of their Fathers.

Sitones, people not far from the Sucu [...]ns, had a Law that none might gouerne ouer them, but a woman. The name of a King was to them odi­ous, as it was of long time odious both to the Romans and the Graecians.

Among the old Danes, if any soldier should not follow his Captaine, and fight valiantly for his [Page 22] Country, The Law a­mong the old [...]. the law was their wiues should master [...] and gouerne them as their seruants, and their husbands should lye with their heads downward toward their wiues feete, as a marke fo infamy, to be knowen cowards.

The woman in Sparta, did meete their hus­bands & sonnes, [...] using scoffing & flouting words saying; whether creepe yee, yee cowards into your Mothers and wiues bellies againe?

That made the [...] ▪ [...] that theiy would haue their wiues and concubines to see them how [...] manfully they [...]ought, to auoyd the name of co­wards. For in Persia to be called a coward, an [...] Acion might be had against him in Law.

If you read Phylo [...]ophy, you shall find Aristipp [...] daughter [...], in the schoole of Athens, a reade [...] and a Teacher of Phylosophy in her fathers place.

Corynna was set forth and garnished with [...] seuerall garlands of Laurell, which shee wanne o [...] Pyndarus (the only Poet of his time) for that she [...] excelled him in verses and poems.

Eustochium and Blessilla, for Hebrew, Greeke and Latine, A catalogue of rare wo­men. were equall to a great number of the best learned in those times, in zeale of true Religion, and in following of Saint Hyerom, for th [...] further i [...]structions of their faith. Of these [...] Hyerom made mention in his Prologues of Ioshu­a, of Esay, and of Daniell.

Aspasia, a Greeke woman, red Rhetorick in Miletum, Aspasia. is to be praysed.

[Page 23] Sappho red Poetry in Lesbos; both taught schol­lers with much commendations. Sappho.

Leontinum a Graecian woman, wrote a whole volume against Theophrastus, the great Philoso­pher, and as Cicero saith, Leontinū Aiticosermone.

Hortensia in Rome, nothing inferior to her fa­ther, was as eloquent as her father; For as many came to see Hortensias comely gesture and sweet pronunciacion, as came to heare her eloquence. Hortensia.

Amesia pleaded her owne causes before Q. Amesia. Titu [...] the Roman Pretor, with such manly cou­rage, that shee was called Androgune. [...]

And Sara, Raguels daughter, To [...]ies wife, for her zeale and earnest prayers was deliuered from the spirit Asmod [...]us. Sara.

And Mary Magdalen for her inward loue and faith to the Lord was deliuered from seauen As­mod [...]u [...] seauen diuells. Mary Magdalen. And many such women, which to speake of in perticuler it were infinite, as before is said.

The Romans made lawes demaritandis ordini­bus First by Q. Metellus, after by Iulius Caesar, and after him by Augustus, with giftes and re­wards to intice young men and maides to mari­age, and to make choyse of such as should alwaies continue.

So much was mariage esteemed for multipli­cation, Licurgus lawes in Sparta. Solon laws in Athens▪ that Licurgus made lawes in Sparta, and Solon in Athens, that men might chaunge their wiues that were barren for others, to make triall [Page 24] in whome the cause of sterility was, whether in the maner wom [...]n. And this was so common a cou [...]e among the Romans and the graecians▪ that Ca [...]o himselfe [...] Marcia in Rome [...] his [...].

It was the opinion [...] [...] Philosophers, yea [...] the [...] that men might marry for childrens [...] ▪ as many wiues as they would. Other for reli­gion [...]rried where they lift, for [...]o was the law of [...], Chrysippus lawes. whose writing was full of Oracles.

Among the Hebrewes the wiues would bring their [...] vnto their husbands.

Among the Graecians, The custom in Greece at mariages. the custome was the mothers of the married persons should haue [...] torches ready to light, and their friends [...] Hymnes and longs called [...] foure presidents of marriages, [...] Diana, and Suad [...]la, that these Goddesses and Queenes would vouchsafe to blesse these [...], that [...] would make them pa­rents of children; that Venus would encrease their loue; Diana their courage and chastity; and that Suadela would make them delectable and louing to her husbands.

And the next day after their marriage, The cere­monies in Greece vp­pon the next day after the mariage. the fa­ther of the bride should bring her [...] mu­nus, a faire cloured boy in a white coloured gowne, carying a burning torch in his hand, after him a fellow that brings the new Bride her at­tires and then they which bringe a summe of [Page 25] gold and siluer, and after them they which bring houshold vessels & houshold stuffe, against whose comming the gates & dores of the house where­in these new married couples are come to dwell, are opened.

In Sparta, they were appointed by Licurgus law, Licurgus Law of the orders and ma [...]ners in any mariage in Sparta. that the young mayds which should be maried, should shaue off their haire, & be clothed in mans apparell, and bee brought at night into a darke chamber without light, and the Bridegrome then should loose the Brides girdle, which betokened that both were but one. Yet in the Isle of Coos, the men must bee clothed in womens garments contrarie to thē of Sparta, & yet signified but one.

The Lacedemonian maydes that should be mar­ried, The manner of the Lace­demonians in their ma­riages. do trusse their haires vp with a kind of speare called Celibaris, to signifie that they should bring forth such martiall children, as would vse both speares and swords.

The Athenians also vsed to dresse the head of the Bridegrome with palmes and Oliues, Of the order of the Athenians in marriage. to sig­nifie victorie and conquest.

These Ceremonies were onely to all [...]re and to entice young people to mariage, for multiplication▪ and therefore the old Germans had his custome that the young men should send to their Loues that should be their wiues, [...], a sword, [...] a shield and armour, in & pledges of loue, with a garland [...] Ver­uine called Verb [...]na.

[Page 26] In Booetia, Of Boaetia. they vsed to put a garland of Sparage vpon the head of the new married mayd. In o­ther parts of Greece made of Balsamet, called Sy­simbrium.

The Locrians made crownes of diuers flowers gathered by the Matrons, Of the Lo­crians. and brought the day of marriage to the married mayd.

The Macedonians vsed to cut a loafe of bread with a sword, and both parties to eat of the same, Of the Ma­cedonians. was a full consent and decree of marriage.

The Latines in their mariage ware white gar­ments, Of the order of the latins. and their ceremonie was, that the newe married couple should stand together vnder a yoake of Oxen, in token they should liue and loue one with another, without offending the lawe of marriage.

So the other Goddesse of mariage is called Iu­no iugalis, signifying concord and agreement, and be yoaked together during life.

The Lusitanians, Of the mar­riage in Lu­sitania. which are Portugales; the wo­men must be drawne and forced out of dores be­fore they came to be married, to shew how vn­willing they were to forsake their Parents, their friends, and their Countreys, and now must fol­low a stranger, hauing before her a Musitian, and one that [...]inges a songe of Hymaeneus, carrying with her a Distaffe, a spindle, and flaxe.

The people about mount Taurus had this cu­stome, The people about mount Taurus. that the women should gird them before they were maried, with a woollen girdle full of [Page 27] Hercules knots vppon it, which should bee loo­sed by the Bridegroome the first night, in token hee should be the Father of so many children as Hercules had, Herotinu [...] had 600. sonnes. who left behind him when he died 70. sonnes; and yet not so many as Herotinus king of Arabia, who had 600 sonnes.

Solon made a law, that the man might not come vnto his newe married wiues companie before hee had eaten Ex malo Cydonio, which was a notable Towne in Candie.

And so the custome among the Babilonians was, The Babi­lonians rule and or­der in mar­riage. that the young married folkes might not lye toge­ther, before both had tasted of a secret gum cal­led Storiae. Such customes of these Countreys were carefully obserued and kept.

In Greece they had these Ceremonies (as Pausa­nius affirmeth) that the Bride should bee carried from her Parents and Friends in a Coach, and the Axeltree of this Coach should bee burned at the dore of the house, before the Bride would enter into the house, Certaine ce­remonies in Greece. signifying that there shee should stay and tarrie, and thence neuer to depart.

But if they were not carried in a coach, but went on foot, her husband should euer be called Chamoepus, being a word of great reproach, The first miracle of Christ in a marriage. for that he made mariage honorable of no account, considering that the first miracle that Christ did, was at a mariage in Chanaan, and so honored ma­riage with his owne presence.

It was lawfull in Persia for the young married [Page 28] man to lye with his newe married wife before he had eaten [...], The lawes of the Per­sians for mariage. the marrow of a Ca­mell: neither any thing else, but an Apple, and the marrow of a Camell.

The [...]ewes at their marriages, the glasse that they drink in that day they are maried, the Bride and Bridegrome both ioyntly at night, breake that glasse, to sign [...]fie the frailtie of life.

A young woman not married, might neither amonge the Lacedemonions, The l [...]w of the Lacede­monians, & of the Ro­manes. or amonge the Ro­manes come amonge married women, or to the sacrifice and feasts of C [...]rus & Venus, but the [...]rier should openly charge and command all vncleane women▪ [...]uch as had the Leprosie, or any brea­king out of their bodies, or [...]ens [...]rium, should a­voide the [...]acred and secret s [...]ruice, and after all this hee commaunded, & sayd to the woman vn­married▪ [...], that the maides vnmarried should goe out of the [...]emple, as an enemie to mankinde.

And therefore the [...]awe of Moses, was, that if a man should strike a woman with child, the child being quicke and thereby borne abortiue, the man should die for it. The law was that he should yeeld, The lawe of Moses. Animam pro anima. And if the childe had life, the man should bee punished, Pecunia mulctetur, as much as the womans husband would.

This condemneth the absurd opinion of the [Page 29] Pithagorians, of their transanimation which they call Metempsuchosis, that the soule should passe from one body to another, and withall so grosse, The absurd opinions of the Pytha­gorians. [...]. that it should bee transported from a man to a beast.

Hence grew the forbidding of eating of flesh among many, of whome Tertullian spake merri­ [...] ▪ Ne quisp [...]am bubulam de aliquo proauo obsonet; l [...]ast some should eate of their old parents flesh.

Mose [...] law was, that the young men should be married to maides, and such as was of honest pa­rentage, Moses law of marriage. vertuous and godly education. Moses thought it not fit that young women of ripe yeares, should be vnmarried.

That was the cause why Lycurgus made such sharpe laws in Sparta, that the yong men which were not, Licurgus lawe. not would not be married in Sparta, they should goe naked in the winter time round­about the market place, vpon the market day▪ neither might these vnmarried ba [...]che [...]lors come to see the games and playes among the [...].

The like lawe made Plato, Plafoes [...] that if any young man in Greece should be vnmarried at 35, yeares, he should be so little esteemed, that he should not be preferred before any man▪ but be last man either going into any company, or cōming from them, without any countenance or credit giuen him.

This was the cause that the Lacedemonians had [Page 30] such Laws and customes, that the parents which had three children, should be freed from watch and warde; But those parents which had foure, ab omni onere immunis foret, he should be dischar­ged from all taskes and Subsidies.

And this was the cause why the Persians pre­ferred the parents of children before others, and that the King of Persia by the Persian law, was bound to giue a peece of Gold to euery woman with childe in any town the King came through, and this was the only cause why those Hebrew womē which were barren, brought their maids vnto their own husbands chambers for childrēs [...]ake. As you heard of Abrahams wife, and of Ia­cobs wiues.

Such was the affection and loue in Martiall countries, to haue young men married to young women.

The warlike Romans would hardly suffer any Patrician that was not father of many children, Patricians that were not parents of children, not estee­med in Rome. to be any Magistrate in Rome, either Questor, Praetor, or Consull. And if any should faine to be parents of children, & not so found, he should be depriued from his office and place per Senatus consultum.

And therefore Furius Camillus, and after him Posthumius, Furius, Ca­millus lawe of bachelors vnmaried. at what time they were made Cen­sors in Rome, made such decrees, that old bache­lers which were found vnmarried in Rome, should pay such fine to the Treasury as were im­posed [Page 31] vpon them by their Censors.