Shakespeare

That was in Romeo and Judas Iscariot . . .

As You Like It
Act 3, Scene 4

ROSALIND.
His very hair is of the dissembling colour.

CELIA.
Something browner than Judas's: marry, his kisses are Judas's own
children.

ROSALIND.
I' faith, his hair is of a good colour.

CELIA.
An excellent colour: your chestnut was ever the only colour.

Considering that Queen Elizabeth was a redhead as was her father, that was pretty dicey commentary from someone like Shakespeare who knew how important it was to walk the politically straight and narrow.

Menelaus is described in the Iliad as the "redheaded captain."