Romanes had an opinion, that al women
which vpon the same day repayred to the Temple in whorish
apparell, should haue the graces and giftes that Flora had.
These were the fond opinions and maners of the auncient, which
after their owne makinge and deuises framed Gods and Goddesses,
and bycause she proued vnshamefast and rich, a Temple must bee
erected, and Sacrifices ordayned for hir Whorish triumphes. But
that noble men and Kings haue bene rapt and transported with the
lurements of sutch notorious strumpets, is and hath bene common
in all ages. And commonly sutch infamous women be indewed with
greatest gifts and graces, the rather to noosell and dandle
their fauorers in the laps of their fadinge pleasures. But euery
of them a most speciall grace, aboue the rest. As of a Kyng not
lot long agoe we reade, that kept three, one the holiest,
another the craftiest, and the third the meriest. Two of which
properties meete for honest Women: although the third so
incident to that kinde as heat to a liuinge body. Cease wee then
of this kynde, and let vs step forth to be acquaynted with a
lady and a Queene the Godlyest and stoutest, that is remembred
in any auncient Monument or Hystory.

THE FOURTEENTH NOUELL.

_The lyfe and giftes of the most Famous Queene Zenobia with the
letters of the Emperour Avrelianvs to the sayde Queene, and her
stoute aunswere thereunto._

Zenobia Queene of Palmyres, was a right famous Gentlewoman, as
diuerse Hystoriographers largely do report and write. Who
although shee was no Christian Lady, yet so worthy of Imitation,
as she was for hir vertues and heroycall facts of Immortall
prayse. By hir wysedome and stoutnesse she subdued all the
empire of the Orient, and resisted the inuincible Romans. And
for that it is meete and requisite to alleage and aduouch
reasons by weight, and words by measure, I wil orderly begin to
recite the History of that most famous Queene. Wherefore I say,
that about the .284. Olimpiade, no long tyme after the death of
the vnhappy Emperour Decius, Valerian was chosen Emperour by the
Senate, and (as Trebellius Pollio his Hystorian doth describe)
he was a well learned prince, indued with manyfold vertues, that
for his speciall prayse, these wordes be recorded of him. _If
all the World had bene assembled to chose a good Prince, they
would not haue chosen any other but good Valerian._ It is also
written of hym, that in liberality he was noble, in words true,
in