The Anatomy of Melancholy

In the third book of his Life and Deeds of Francis Ximenius, formerly archbishop of Toledo, Gomesius has an extraordinary story about the incredible jealousy of Joan, queen of Spain, wife of King Philip and mother of the emperors Ferdinand and Charles V. When her husband Philip went to the Low Countries, either because he was tired of his wife’s jealousy or because he had important business, she became so distressed and melancholy at his departure that she would scarcely eat or speak to anyone.

Although she was pregnant, the season very unfavourable and the wind against her, she insisted on putting to sea after him at once. Neither her mother Queen Isabella, the archbishop nor any other friend could persuade her otherwise: she would follow him. Once she had reached the Low Countries and been kindly received by her husband, she could not restrain herself, “but in a rage rushed at a blonde girl whom she suspected of an affair with him, cut off her hair, beat her black and blue, and dragged her about.”

It is common for women in such cases to scratch the faces and slit the noses of those they suspect, as Henry II’s relentless Juno did to Rosamond at Woodstock. For Rosamond complains in a modern poet that the queen had scarcely spoken,

But flies at my face with fierce fury, Offering me the most unwomanly outrage. See how a tigress—and so on. So she fell upon me in as outrageous a manner As disdain and jealousy could devise.

Or if they dare not or cannot carry out such tyrannical injustice, they will call names, rail and revile, and bear those women deadly hatred and malice. As Tacitus observes, “A jealous woman’s hatred never leaves those she suspects.”

No force of flame or swelling wind, Nor the dreaded force of a hurled weapon, is so great As when a wife deprived of marriage’s joys Burns and hates.

Winds, weapons, flames make no such uproar As raging women turning everything upside down.

So Agrippina treated Lollia and Calpurnia in the days of Claudius. But women are sufficiently restrained in such cases; men’s rage is more conspicuous and more often put into practice. Just see how harshly those jealous husbands tyrannize over their poor wives.

In Greece, Spain, Italy, Turkey, Africa, Asia and generally throughout all those hot countries, “Your women are your land: plough as you please.” Muhammad in his Quran gives men this power: your wives are like your land; till them, use them, treat them well or badly, just as you please.

“By Castor, women live under a harsh law.” They keep them locked in their houses, which are so many prisons to them, allow no one to approach them and will not let their wives be seen outside,

Nor may they roam the open fields.