The viijth Chapitre.
ISIDIS, WHICHE HAD to name afore Io, not onely to Egyptiens, but also to the posteryte of diuers regyones was honourable and venerable. But aboute what tyme, or of what parenttes she descendyd of, emonge the famouse wryters it is in doubte. Ther be yet that saye that she was the doughter of Inachys, the fyrst Kynge of the Argyuys, and the suster to Phoroncus, whiche is euydent that it was in the tyme of Jacob, the sonne of Israeli. And sum, contrary to thys, affyrme that she was gotten of Promotheus, then reignynge emonge the Grecyans, whiche was many days after. And contrary to this, ther be that holde opynyone that she was in the tyme of Cycropis, Kynge of the Atheniences; and thiese opinyons dyuerse lackes not to be amonge right famouse wryters. But aboute what tyme that euer she was, it is euydent that for hyr tyme she was muche worthy to be remembrede. But leuynge a parte the wryters discordance, my mynde is to folow the more parte, that say hyr to be the doughter of Ynacus, the kynge, which, all though the poeies fayne, for hyr exellent beautye of Jupiter was belayde and by hym rauysshed, and for to hyde it to haue transformyd hir into a kowe and geuyn hyr to the myghty Juno, which put hyr to Argus that had many eyen, to keepe hyr, tyll that Mercury the god kyllede hym and conueyde hyr into Egypte, where she recoueryde hyr fowrme agayne, and of hyr name, which was before called Io, was named Isydys. All thys is discrepante from the truethe of the hystory. But the trueth is that where as she was of a meruelouse beautye and at last by Jupiter oppressyde, fleynge for feare of hyr father, she toke a shyppe, the signe wherof was a kowe, and in that same shypp fledd into Egypte and ther, fyndynge a place mete for hyr to dwell in, hauynge a noble hert desyrouse to reygne, but how, it is not well knowne, but she fyndynge there the people rude and barbarouse and vnnethe vsynge any humanite emonge theym, more lyker to brute beastes then men, not witAoute greate laboure and speciall industry she taught theym to purge the feeldys, to eare theym and to sowe theym, and gathred and kepte in tyme, to make it mans meate — besydes this, the wylde Egipcians to brynge theym together and to lyue after a lawe, and shewede theym how to make carectes and letters to wryte, wherby they came to doctryne to leme the lawe, and other thynges moo, whiche I pass ouer. In so muche that the barbaryens Egipjcians thought rather she came oute of heuen then frome the Grekys, and for that in hyr days they gaue to hyr dyuyne honowrs, which godhede by the craft of the deuyll came after hyr deathe in so greate veneratione that Rome, the heade of the wowrlde, ordeyned for hyr a temple of magnyfycence, ther oones a yere honowrynge hyr after the Egiptiens cerymonyes. And noo doubte therof but that to the Occident the people and other barbarouse nationes thys errour sprange. And for Conthucio Apis was thys exellent womans husbonde, whome the auncyent men beleuyde to be cowmen of Phoronemus, that was descendyd of Jupiter and Neobis, whiche grauntywg hys kyngdome to Archilaus hys brother when he had reigned thyrty and three yeres, where he went into Egypte with his wyse wyfe, after hys deathe he was taken ther for a god and namede Separasim. Albe it ther be that say that oone Theologines was hyr husbonde and had of hyr a sonne called Epaphim, that after reigned in Egypte and was taken the sonne of Jupiter, goten by hyr.