ry, and gouernment. These people
occupied and enioyed a great part of Asia. Som writers deuide
them into two Prouinces, one in Scythia in the North part of
Asia: other by the hill Imaus, which at this day is called the
Tartarian Scythia, different from that which is in Europa: the
other sort of the Amazones were in Libia a prouince of Africa.
But because the common sort of Authors doe vnderstand the
Amazones to be those of Asia, I meane to leaue of the
difference. The Scythians were a warlike people, and at the
beginninge of their kingdome had two kinges, by whom they were
gouerned. Notwithstandinge the nature of dominion beinge of it
selfe ambicious, cannot abide any companion or equall: which
caused these two kinges to be at variaunce, and afterwards the
matter grew to ciuill warres, wherein the one beinge Victor, two
of the principal and chiefe of the contrary faction, called
Plinius and Scolopithos, were banished with a great number of
their adherentes, al which did withdraw themselues to the limits
of Cappadocia in the lesser Asia, and in despite of the Countrey
Pesantes, dwelled alonges the riuer of Thermodon, which entreth
into the Sea Euxinum, otherwise called Pontus. And they beinge
made Lordes of the countrey, and of the places adioyninge,
raygned for certayne yeares, vntill the Peasantes and their
confederates made a conspiracy agaynst them: and assemblinge by
Pollicy, ouercame and sleewe theym all. The newes of theyr death
knowen to their Wyues dwellinge in theyr countrey, caused them
to conceiue great heauinesse, and dolor extreme: and although
they were women, yet did they put on manly courage, and
determined to reuenge the death of their husbandes, by puttinge
theyr hands to weapons wherewithal they did exercise themselues
very ofte: and that they might all be equall, and their sorrow
common, they murdred certaine of their husbandes which remayned
there, after the other were banished. Afterward beinge
altogether, they made a great army, and forsooke their dwellinge
places, refusinge the mariage of many suters: and arriuinge in
the lande of their enemies (that made small accoumpt thereof,
although foretolde of their approche) they sodaynly came vpon
them vnprouided, and put them all to the sword. This beinge
done, the women tooke the gouernment of the Countrey,
inhabitinge at the beginninge alonge the Riuer of Thermodon,
where their husbandes were slayne. And although many Authors do
differ in the situa