17

Chap.chapter IIIIV.

At what estimate Women were valued in ancient
and former times.

Plato in his Bookes de Legibus,
estimateth of Women, which
doe equall Men in all respects,
onely in bodie they are weaker,
but in wit and disposition
of minde nothing inferiour, if
not superiour. Whereupon he
doth in his so absolute a Common-wealth, admit
them to government of Kingdomes and Common-
weales, if they be either borne thereunto by Nature,
or seated in government by Election.

It is apparent, that in the prime of antiquity, women
were valued at highest estimate, in that all those
most inestimable and incomparable benefites which
might either honour or preserve Mankinde, are all
generally attributed to the invention of women, as
may appeare in these few examples following.

Open note a046-rota The incomparable
inventions
of womans
wit. When meum & tuum, Mine and Thine, when right
and wrong were decided by warres, and their weapons
then were the furniture of Nature, as Fists,
Teeth, Stones, Stakes, or what came next to hand:
A Ladie of an heroicall disposition, called Bellona, did
first invent a more man-like and honourable weapon Dfor D1v 18
for warre, which was the sword, with other Armour
correspondent, for which she was at first (and so ever
since) honoured, as the Goddesse of warre.

When at the first the finest Manchet and best bread
in use was of Acorns, by the singular and practicall
wit of a Lady called Ceres, the sowing of Corne, and
Tillage was invented.

The invention of the seaven liberall Sciences, of
all Arts, of all Learning, hath beene generally with
one consent, ascribed to the invention of Jupiters
daughters, the nine Muses, whose Mother was a royall
Ladie Mneneosum.

Carmentis a Ladie, first invented Letters, and the
use of them by reading and writing.

The royall and most delightfull exercise of Hunting
was first found out and practised by Diana, who
therupon is celebrated for the Goddesse of Hunting.

The three Graces, which adde a decorum, and yeeld
favour to Persons, Actions, and Speaches, are three
Ladies, Aglaia, Thalia, and Emphrosune.

The heroicall exercises of Olimpus, were first found
and put in practise by Palestra a woman.

The whole world being divided into three parts in
more ancient times, every division to this day keepeth
the name in honour of a woman.

The fœminine Sexe is exceedingly honoured by
Poets in their writings: They have Gods as well for
good things, as for bad; but they have no women-
Goddesses, but in things which are especially good.

They have Bacchus for a drunken God, but no drunken
Goddesse. They have Priapus the lustfull God of
Gardens, but no garden-Goddesses, except of late in the D2r 19
the garden-Allies. They will object here unto mee
Venus, she indeed is the Goddesse of Love, but it is
her blinde Sonne which is the God of Lust; poore
Ladie, she hath but her joynture in the Mannor of
Love, Cupid is Lord of all the rest, hee hath the royalty;
she may not strike a Deare, but she must imploy
her Sonne that sawcie Boy.

For Pride, they held it so farre from women, that
they found out Nemesis or Rhamnusia, to punish and
revenge pride, but none to infect with pride.

They have Pluto the God of Hell, but no proper
Goddes of hell; but Proserpina, whom Pluto forcibly
tooke from Mount Ætna, and carried her away, and
made her Queene of Hell; yet she doth not remaine
in Hell but one halfe of the yeare, by a decree from Jupiter.

If I should recite and set downe all the honourable
records and Monuments for and of women, I might
write more Bookes then I have yet written lines. I
will leave and passe over the famous testimonies of
forreine Kingdomes and Common-wealths, in honour
of our Sexe: and I will onely mention some
few examples of our owne Countrey and Kingdome,
which have been incomparably benefited and
honoured by women.

Amongst the olde Britaines, our first Ancestors, the
valiant Boadicea, that defended the liberty of her
Countrey, against the strength of the Romans, when
they were at the greatest, and made them feele that a
woman could conquer them who had conquered
almost all the men of the then known world.

The devout Helen, who besides that, she was the D2mother D2v 2o
Mother of that religious and great Constantine, who
first seated Christian Religion in the Emperiall
throne, & in that respect may be stiled the mother of
Religion, is still more honoured for singular pietie
and charitie towards him and his members, who
dyed for us upon the Crosse, then for her care and
industry in finding out the wood of that Crosse, on
which he dyed.

In the time of the Danes, chaste Æmma, whose innocency
carried her naked feete over the fire-hot
Plow shares unfelt; with the Saxons Queene Elfgive
the holy widdow, and the Kings daughter Edith a
Virgin Saint, both greater Conquerers then Alexander
the great, that men so much boast of, who could
not conquere himselfe.

Since the Normans, the heroicall vertues of Elenor
wife to Edward the first, who when her Husband in
the Holy Land was wounded with a poysoned Arrow,
of which ther was no hope of recovery from the
Chyrurgions, she suckt the poyson into her own bodie
to free him: together, curing that mortall wound,
and making her owne fame immortall: so that I
thinke this one act of hers, may equall all the acts that
her great Husband did in those warres besides.

Philip, wife to Edward the third, no lesse to be honoured
for being the Mother of so many brave children,
then of so many good deeds, which worthily
got her the title of good.

Margaret the wise, wife to Henrie the sixt, who if
her Husbands fortune, valour, and foresight, had
beene answerable to hers, had left the Crowne of
England to their owne Sonne, and not to a stranger.

The D3r 21

The other Margaret of Richmond, mother to Henrie
the seventh, from whose brests he may seeme to have
derived as well his vertues as his life, in respect of her
heroicall prudence and pietie; whereof, besides other
Monuments, both the Universities are still witnesses.

Besides this, it was by the blessed means of Elizabeth,
wife to Henrie the seventh, that the bloudy wars
betwixt the houses of Yorke and Lancaster were ended,
and the red Rose and the white united, &c.

It was by the meanes of the most renowmed
Queene (the happy Mother of our dread Soveraigne)
that the two Kingdomes once mortall foes,
are now so blessedly conjoyned.

And that I may name no more (since in one onely
were comprized all the qualities and endowments
that could make a person eminent) Elizabeth our late
Soveraigne, not onely the glory of our Sexe, but a
patterne for the best men to imitate, of whom I will
say no more, but that while she lived, she was the
mirrour of the world, so then knowne to be, and so
still remembred, and ever will be.

Daily experience, and the common course of Nature,
doth tell us that women were by men in those
times highly valued, and in worth by men themselves
preferred, and held better then themselves.

I will not say that women are better then men, but
I will say, men are not so wise as I would with them
to be, to wooe us in such fashion as they do, except
they should hold and account of us as their betters.

Open note a047-rota Men sue to
Women. What travaile? what charge? what studie? doe
not men undertake to gaine our good-will, love, and D3liking? D3v 22
liking? what vehement suits doe they make unto us?
with what solemne vowes and protestations do they
solicite us? they write, they speake, they send, to make
knowne what entire affection they beare unto us, that
they are so deepely engaged in love, except we doe
compassion them with our love and favour, they are
men utterly cast away. One he will starve himselfe,
another will hang, another drowne, another stab,
another will exile himselfe from kinred and country,
except they may obtaine our loves: What? will they
say that we are baser then themselves? then they
wrong themselves exceedingly, to prefer such vehement
suits to creatures inferiour to themselves. Sutors
doe ever in their suites confesse a more worthinesse
Open note a048-rota Suite is alwaies
preferred to
the better. in the persons to whom they sue. These kind of
suits are from Nature, which cannot deceive them:
Nature doth tell them what women are, and custom
doth approve what nature doth direct. Aristotle saith,
“Omnia appetunt bonum”, every thing by nature doth
seeke after that which is good. Nature then doth cary
men with violence, to seeke and sue after women:
They will answere, and seeke to elude this Maxime
with a distinction, that bonum is duplex, aut verum,
aut apparens, that goodnesse or the thing which is
good, is either truely good, or but apparantly good;
so they may say, women are but apparantly good.
But the heathen Orator and the devine philosopher
to, affirme, if we follow the true direction of nature
we shall never be deceived. Nature in her vehement
motions is not deceived with apparant shewes. It is
naturall, they will say, for the Male to follow the Female;
so it is as naturall, for the Female to be better then D4r 23
then the Male, as appeareth to be true in observation
of Hawkes: the Spar-hawke is of more esteeme then
the Musket; the Goshawke more excellent then the
Tersell; so in Falcons, the females doe excell. The like
men are bound to acknowledge women; the rather in
respect of their owne credit and honour. To what
obsequious duty and service doe men binde themselves,
to obtaine a favour from their devoted Mistresse,
which if he may obtaine he thinketh himselfe
to be much honoured, & puts in place of most noted
view, that the world may take note: He weareth in
his hat, or on his brest, or upon his arme, the Glove,
Open note a049-rota Womens favours
estimated
as relickes. the Scarfe, or Ring of his Mistresse: If these were not
relickes from Saintly creatures, men would not sacrifice
so much devotion unto them.

Amongst divers causes which proceede from nature
and custome, why men are so earnest Sutors to
women, I have observed one, which by practise is
daily confessed. Plato sayth, that Honestie is of that
worthinesse, that men are greatly enflamed with the
love of it; and as they doe admire it, so they studie
how to obtaine it; it is apparant, yong men which
are unmarried, and called batchelers, they may have a
Open note a050-rota Honestie
comes by marriage;
the womans
dowrie. disposition, or may serve an apprentiship to honesty,
but they are never free-men, nor ever called honest
men, till they be married: for that is the portion
which they get by their wives. When they are once
married, they are forthwith placed in the ranke of
honest men, If question be asked, what is such a man?
it is presently resolved, he is an honest man: And the
reason presently added, for hee hath a wife; shee is
the sure signe and seale of honestie. It is usuall amongst D4v 24
amongst old and grave fathers, if they hav a sonne
given to spending and companie-keeping, who is of
a wild and riotous disposition, such a father shall presently
be counselled, helpe your sonne to a good
wife, marry him, marry him, that is the onely way
to bring him to good order, to tame him, to bring
him to be an honest man: The auncient Fathers doe
herein acknowledge a greater worthinesse in women
then in men; the hope which they have of an untowardly
sonne, to reclaime him, is all engaged upon
the woman.

In no one thing, men doe acknowledge a more
excellent perfection in women then in the estimate
of the offences which a woman doth commit: the
worthinesse of the person doth make the sinne more
Open note a051-rota Womens faults
more markable
because they
are the better. markeable. What an hatefull thing is it to see a woman
overcome with drinke, when as in men it is
noted for a signe of goodfellowship? and whosoever
doth observe it, for one woman which doth make a
custome of drunkennesse, you shall finde an hundred
men: it is abhorred in women, and therefore
they avoyd it: it is laughed at and made but as a jest
amongst men, and therefore so many do practise it:
Likewise if a man abuse a Maide & get her with child,
no matter is made of it, but as a trick of youth, but
it is made so hainous an offence in the maide, that
she is disparaged and uterly undone by it. So in all
offences those which men commit, are made light
and as nothing, slighted over; but those which women
doe commit, those are made grievous and
shamefull, and not without just cause: for where God
hath put hatred betwixt the woman and the serpent, it E1r 25
it is a foule shame in a woman to carry favour with
the devill, to stayne her womanhoode with any of
his damnable qualities, that she will shake hands
where God hath planted hate.

Joseph Swetnam in his Pamphlet aggravateth the
offences of women in the highest degree, not onely
exceeding, but drawing men into all mischeife. If I
do grant, that woman degenerating from the true
end of womanhood, proove the greatest offenders,
yet in graunting that, I doe thereby prove that women
in their creation are the most excellent creatures:
for corruption, boni pessima, the best thing corrupted
proveth the worst, as for example, the most glorious
creature in heaven is by his fall the most damned
devill in hell: all the Elements in their puritie are
most pretious, in their infection and abuse most dangerous:
so the like in women, in their most excellent
puritie of nature, what creature more gratious? but
in their fall from God, and all goodnesse, what creature
more mischievous? which the devill knowing
he doth more assault woman then man, because his
gaine is greater, by the fall of one woman, then
Open note a052-rota The devill
doth more violently
tempt
women then
men. He is
sure of them
when he will. of twentie men. Let there be a faire maide, wife, or
woman, in Countrie, towne or Citie, she shall want
no resort of Serpents, nor any varietie of tempter: let
there be in like sort, a beautifull or personable man,
he may sit long enough before a woman will solicite
him. For where the devill hath good acquaintance,
he is sure of entertainement there, without resistance:
The Serpent at first tempted woman, he dare assault
her no more in that shape, now he imployeth men to
supply his part; and so they doe: for as the Serpent Ebegan E1v 26
began with Eve to delight her taste; so doe his instruments
draw to wine and banqueting; the next, the
Serpent enticed her by pride, and tolde her shee
should be like to God, so doe his instruments; first,
they will extoll her beauty, what a paragon she is in
Open note a053-rota Dissembling in
men. their eyes; next, they will promise her such maintenance,
as the best woman in the Parish or Country
shall not have better: What care they, if they make a
thousand oathes, and commit tenne thousand perjuries,
so they may deceive a woman? When they have
done all and gotten their purpose, then they discover
all the womans shame, and imploy such an Author
as this (to whose Arraignment I doe make haste) to
raile upon her and the whole Sexe.

The E2r 27

The
Arraignment of
Joseph Swetnam, who was the
Author of the Arraignment of Women;
And under his person, the arraignment
of all idle franticke, froward, and
lewd men.

Chapter VVI.

Joseph Swetnam having written
his rash, idle, furious and
shamefull discourse against
Women, it was at last delivered
into my hands, presently
I did acquaint some of our
Sexe with the accident, with
whom I did advise what course wee should take
with him. It was concluded (that his unworthinesse
being much like to that of Thersites, whom I have
formerly mentioned) wee would not answere him
either with Achilles fist, or Stafford-law; neither
plucke him in pieces as the Thracian women did Orpheus,
for his intemperate rayling against women:
But as he had arraigned women at the barre of fame
and report, wee resolved at the same barre where
he did us the wrong to arraigne him, that thereby E2 wee E2v 28
we might defend our assured right: And withall respecting
our selves) we resolved to favour him so far
in his triall that the world might take notice there
was no partiall or indirect dealing, but that he had as
much favour as he could desire, and farre more then
he did or could deserve.

Open note a054-rota The Judgesses. So that wee brought him before two Judgesses,
Reason, and Experience, who being both in place, no
man can suspect them with any indirect proceedings:
For albeit, Reason of it selfe may be blinded by passion,
yet when she is joyned with Experience, she is
knowne to be absolute, and without compare. As
for Experience, she is knowne of her selfe to be admirable
excellent in her courses, she knoweth how to
use every man in her practise; she will whip the foole
to learne him more wit; she will punish the knave to
practise more honesty; she will curbe in the prodigall,
and teach him to be warie; she will trip up the
heeles of such as are rash and giddy, and bid them
hereafter looke before they leape. To be short, there
is not in all the world, for all estates, degrees, qualities
and conditions of men, so singular a Mistresse, or
so fit to be a Judgesse as she, onely one property she
hath above all the rest, no man commeth before her
but she maketh him ashamed, and shee will call and
prove almost every man a foole, especially such who
are wise in their owne conceits.

Open note a055-rota The Jurie. For his Jurie, albeit we knew them to be of his dearest,
and nearest inward familiar friends, in whose
company he was ever, and did spend upon them all
that he cou’d get, or devise to get; yet wee did challenge
no one of them, but were well pleased that his fiue E3r 29
five Senses, and the seaven deadly sinnes should
stand for his Jury.

Open note a056-rota The Evidence. The partie which did give evidence against him,
we knew to bee a sure Card, and one which would
not faile in proofe of any thing, and such proofe
which should be without all exception, Conscience is
a sure witnesse.

So all things being accordingly provided, the prisoner
was brought to the barre, where he was called
and bid hold up his hand, which hee did, but a false
hand God he knowes, his enditement was red, which
was this which followeth.

Chap.chapter VIVII.

Joseph Swetnam his Enditement.

Joseph Swetnam, thou art endited
by the name of Joseph Swetnam of
Bedlemmore, in the Countie of Onopolie:
Open note a057-rota Pamphlet-
maker. For that thou the twentieth
day of December, in the yeare
&Open note a058-rota An Enditement.
c. Diddest most wickedly, blasphemously,
falsly, and scandalously
publish a lewd Pamphlet, entituled the Arraignment
of Women; In which, albeit thou diddest honestly
pretend to arraigne lewd, idle, froward, and unconstant
women, yet contrary to thy pretended promise
thou diddest rashly, and malitiously raile and
rage against all women, generally writing and publishingE3lishing E3v 30
most blasphemously that women by their
Creator were made for Helpers, for Helpers (thou
sayest) “to spend and consume that which Man painfully
getteth”; furthermore, thou dost write, “That being made
of a rib, which was crooked, they are therefore crooked and
froward in conditions, and that Woman was no sooner
made, but her heart was set upon mischiefe;” which thou
doest derive to all the Sexe generally, in these words,
“And therefore ever since they have beene a woe unto man,
and follow the line of their first leader”. Further then all
this, thou doest affirme an impudent lye upon Almighty
God, in saying, that God calleth them “necessary
evils, and that therefore they were created to bee a
plague unto man.” Thou writest also, “That women are
prowde, lascivous, froward, curst, unconstant, idle, impudent,
shamelesse, and that they decke and dresse themselves
to tempt and allure men to lewdnesse”, with much and
many more foule, intemperate, and scandalous speaches,
&c.

When Joseph Swetnam was asked what he said to
his enditement, Guilty, or not guiltie, hee pleaded the
generall issue, not guiltie, being asked how hee would
be tryed, he stood mute, for Conscience did so confront
him, that he knew upon tryall there was no way but
one; whereupon hee thought it much better to put
himselfe upon our mercy, then to hazard the tryall
of his owne Jurie.

Whereupon we did consider if we should have urged
him to be pressed, the disadvantage had beene
ours: for then his favourites, would have said as some
Open note a059-rota standeth mute. did say, that Joseph Swetnam did not stand mute, as
misdoubting the proofe of what he had written: But seeing E4r 31
seeing the Judgesses, the Jurie, the Accuser, and all
others, most of them of the fœminine gender, he suspelled
the question by us, being made Generall, that
they would rather condemne him to please a general,
although in particular respect of himselfe he knewe
they would favour him. And besides that hee held
it a strange course, that the selfe and same persons
should be Judges and Accusers, whereupon we
resolved to graunt him longer time to advice with
himselfe whether he would put himselfe to triall, or
upon better deliberation to recall his errours.

But that the world might be satisfied in respect of
the wrongs done unto us, and to maintaine our honourable
reputation, it was concluded, that my selfe
should deliver before the Judges, to all the assembly,
speaches to these effects following.

Chap.chapter VIIVIII.

The answere to all objections which are materiall,
made against Women.

Right Honourable and Worshipfull,
and you of all degrees; it hath ever
beene a common custome amongst
Idle, and humerous Poets, Pamphleters,
and Rimers, out of passionate
discontents, or having little otherwise
to imploy themselves about, to write some bitter
Satire-Pamphlet, or Rime, against women: in which
argument he who could devise any thing more bitterly,terly, E4v 32
or spitefully, against our sexe, hath never wanted
the liking, allowance, and applause of giddy
headed people. Amongst the rable of sevrill writers,
this prisoner now present hath acted his part, whom
albeit women could more willingly let passe, then
bring him to triall, and as ever heretofore, rather contemn
such authors thēen deigne them any answere, yet
seeing his booke so commonly bought up, which argueth
a generall applause; we are therfore enforced to
make answere in defence of our selves, who are by
such an author so extreamely wronged in publike
view.

You all see hee will not put himselfe upon triall:
if we should let it so passe, our silence might implead
us for guiltie, so would his Pamphlet be received
with a greater currant and credite then formerly
it hath beene: So that as well in respect of our sexe,
as for a generall satisfaction to the world, I will take
this course with our prisoner, I will at this present
examine all the objections which are most materiall,
which our adversarie hath vomited out against woman,
and not onely what he hath objected, but what
other authors of more import than Joseph Swetnam
have charged upon women: alas, seely man he objecteth
nothing but what he hath stolne out of English
writers, as Euphues, the Palace of Pleasure, with
the like, which are as easily answered as vaynly objected.
He never read the vehement and profest enemies
against our sexe, as for Gracians, Euripides, Menander,
Simonides, Sophocles, with the like, amongst Latine
writers Juvenall, Plautus,&c.

But of all that ever I read, I did never observe such generall F1r 33
generall sinceritie in any, as in this adversarie, which
you shall finde I will make as manifest as the Sunne
to shine at mid-day.

It is the maine end that our adversarie aimeth at
in all his discourse, to prove and say that women are
bad, if he should offer this upon particulers, no one
would denie it: but to lavish generally against all
women, who can endure it? You might M. Swetnam,
with some shew of honestie have sayd, some women
are bad, both by custome and company, but you
cannot avoide the brand, both of blasphemie and
dishonestie, to say of women generally they are all
naught, both in their creation and by nature, and to
ground your inferences upon Scriptures.

I let passe your objections in your first page; because
they are formerly answered, onely whereas you
say, “woman was no sooner made, but her heart was set upon
mischiefe”: if you had then said, she had no sooner
eaten of the fruit, but her heart was set upon mischiefe,
you had had some colour for your speaches;
not in respect of the womans disposition, but in consideration
both of her first Tutor and her second instructor:
Open note a060-rota The Devill
tooke the
shape of man. For whereas scripture doth say, “Woman was
supplanted by a Serpent”, Joseph Swetnam doth say, “she
was supplanted by the devill, which appeared to her in the
shape of a beautifull yong man”. Men are much beholding
to this author, who will seeme to insinuate, that the
devill would in so friendly and familier a manner,
put on the shape of man, when he first began to
practise mischiefe: The devill might make bold of
them, whom he knew in time would prove his familierFlier F1v 34
friends. Hereupon it may be imagined it commeth
to passe that Painters, and Picture-makers,
when they would represent the devill, they set him
out in the deformed shape of a man; because under
that shape he began first to act the part of a divell:
and I doubt he never changed his suite sithence.
Here it is to be observed, that which is worst is expressed
by the shape of a man; but what is the most
glorious creature is represented in the beautie of a
Open note a061-rota The Serpent
gave the woman
bad counsell
and her
husband bad
example. woman, as Angels. Woman at the first might easily
learne mischeife, where or how should she learne
goodnes? her first Schoole-master was aboundant in
mischiefe, and her first husband did exceede in bad
examples. First, by his example he taught her how
to flye from God: next how to excuse her sinne: then
how to cample and contest with God, and to say as
Adam did, thou art the cause, for, the woman whom
thou gavest me, was the cause I did eate. What Adam
did at the first, bad husbands practise with their
wives ever sithence, I meane in bad examples. It
was no good example in Adam, who having received
his wife from the gift of God, and bound to her
in so inseparable a bond of love, that forthwith he
being taken tardie would presently accuse his wife &
put her in all the danger; but the woman was more
bound to an upright judge, then to a loving husband:
it would not serve Adams turne, to charge her, therby
Open note a062-rota Men doe shew
themselves
the children
of Adam. to free himselfe: It was an hard and strange course,
that he who should have beene her defender, is now
become her greatest accuser. I may heare say with
Saint Paul, “by one mans sinne, death, &c.” so by the contagiontagion F2r 35
of originall sinne in Adam, all men are infected
with his diseases; and looke what examples he gave
his wife at the first, the like examples and practises
doe all men shew to women ever sithence. Let mee
speake freely, for I will speake nothing but truly
neither shall my words exceede my proofe.

In your first and second Page, you alledge David
and Salomon, for exclaiming bitterly against women:
And that Salomon saith, “Women (like as Wine) doe make
men drunke with their devices.”. What of all this?

Joseph Swetnam, a man which hath reason, will never
object that unto his adversary, which when it
commeth to examination will disadvantage himselfe.
Your meaning is, in the disgrace of women to exalt
men: but is this any commendation to men, that
they have been and are over-reacht by women? Can
you glory of their holinesse, whom by women prove
Open note a063-rota Foolish men
tempted with
outward
showes. sinfull? or in their wisedome, whom women make
fooles? or in their strength, whom women overcome?
can you excuse that fall which is given by the weaker?
or colour that soyle which is taken from women?
Is holinesse, wisedome, and strength, so slightly
seated in your Masculine gender, as to be stained,
blemished, and subdued by women? But now I pray
you let us examine how these vertues in men so potent,
came by women to be so impotent. Doe you
meane in comparative degree, that women are more
holy, more wise, more strong, then men? if you
should graunt this, you had small cause to write against
them. But you will not admit this: What is,
or are the causes then why men are so overtaken by F2women? F2v 36
women? You set downe the causes in your fourth
Page; there you say, “They are dangerous for men to
deale withall, for their faces are Lures, their beauties
baytes, their lookes are nets, and their words are charmes,”
and all to bring men to ruine: “Incidit in Scyllam qui
vult vitare Charibdim”, whil’st he seeketh to avoide one
mischiefe, he falleth into another. It were more credit
for men to yeeld our sexe to be more holy, wise, and
strong, then to excuse themselves by the reasons, alleaged:
for by this men are proved to have as litle wit
as they are charged to exceed in wickednesse. Are external
& dumbe shews such potent baites, nets, lures,
charmes, to bring men to ruine? Why? wilde Asses,
dotterels, and woodcockes, are not so easily entangled
and taken? are men so idle, vaine, and weake,
as you seeme to make them? Let mee now see how
you can free these men from dishonest mindes, who
are overtaken thus with beautie, &c. How can beautie
Open note a064-rota If men be hurt
thanke themselves.
hurt? how can it be a cause of a mans ruine, of it
selfe? what, do women forcibly draw? why, men are
more strong? are they so eloquent to perswade? why,
men are too wise; are they mischievous to entise? men
are more holy; how then are women causes to bring
men to ruine? direct causes they cannot be in any
respect; if they be causes, they are but accidentall
causes: A cause as Philosophers say, “Causa sine qua
non”: a remote cause, which cause is seldome alleaged
for cause, but where want of wit would say somewhat,
and a guilty conscience wou’d excuse it selfe
by something. Philosophers say, “Nemo leditur nisi a
seipso”, no man is hurt but the cause is in himselfe. The prodi- F3r 37
prodigall person amongst the Gracians is called Asotos,
as a destroyer, an undoer of himselfe: When an
heart fraughted with sinne doth prodigally lavish
out a lascivious looke out of a wanton eye; when it
doth surfeit upon the sight, who is Asotos? who is guiltie
of his lascivious disease but himselfe? “Volenti non
fit iniuria”, hee who is wounded with his owne consent,
hath small cause to complaine of anothers
wrong: Might not a man as easily, and more honestly,
when hee seeth a faire woman, which doth
make the best use that she can to set out her beautie,
rather glorifie God in so beautiful a worke, then infecte
his soule with so lascivious a thought? And for
the woman, who having a Jewell given her from so
deare a friend, is she not to be commended rather
that in the estimate which she sheweth, shee will as
carefully and as curiously as she may set out what
she hath received from Almighty God, then to be
censured that she doth it to allure wanton and lascivious
lookes? The difference is in the minds, things
which are called Adiaphora, things indifferent, whose
qualities have their name from the uses, are commonly
so censured, and so used, as the minde is inclined
which doth passe his verdict. A man and a woman
talke in the fields together, an honest minde will imagine
of their talke answerable to his owne disposition,
whereas an evill disposed minde will censure according
Open note a065-rota Womans beauty
is good, but
the heart
which doth
lure it is
naught. to his lewd inclination. When men complaine
of beautie, and say, “That womens dressings and
attire are provocations to wantonnesse, and baites to allure
men”, It is a direct meanes to know of what dispositionF3 on F3v 38
they are, it is a shame for men in censuring of women
to condemne themselves; but a common Inne
cannot be without a common signe; it is a common
signe to know a leacher, by complaining upon the
cause and occasion of his surfeit; who had knowne
his disease but by his owne complaint? It is extreme
folly to complaine of another, when the roote of all
resteth within himselfe; purge an infected heart, and
turne away a lacivious eye, and then neither their
dressings, nor their beautie can any waies hurt you.
Doe not men exceede in apparell, and therein set
themselves out to the view? Shall women betray
themselves and make it knowne that they are either
so bad in their disposition, or so wanton in their
thoughts, or so weak in their government as to complaine
that they are tempted and allured by men?
Should women make themselves more vaine then
yongest children, to fall in love with babyes. Women
are so farre off from being in any sort provoked
Open note a066-rota Women doe
not fall in love
with men for
their apparell. to love upon the view of mens apparell, and setting
forth themselves, that no one thing can more draw
them from love, then their vanitie in apparell. Women
make difference betwixt colours and conditions,
betwixt a faire shew, and a foule substance: It shewes
a levitie in man to furnish himselfe more with trim
colours, then manlike qualities: besides that, how can
we love at whom we laugh? We see him gallant it
at the Court one day, & brave it in the Country the
next day; we see him weare that on his backe one
week, which we heare is in the brokers shop the next:
furthermore we see divers weare apparell and colours made F4r 39
made of a Lordship, lined with Farmes and Granges,
embrodered with all the plate, gold, and wealth,
their Friends and Fathers left them: Are these motives
to love or to laughter? Will or dare a woman
trust to their love for one Moneth, who will turne
her of the next? This is the surfeit which women take
by brave apparell. They rather suspect his worth,
then wish his love, who doth most exceede in braverie.
So Mr. Swetnam, doe you and all yours forbeare
to censure of the dressings and attires of women for
any such lewd intent, as you imagine: Bad minds are
discovered by bad thoughts and hearts. Doe not say
and rayle at women to be the cause of mens overthrow,
when the originall roote and cause is in your
selves. If you bee so affected that you cannot looke
but you must forthwith be infected, I doe marvaile
(Joseph Swetnam) you set downe no remedies for that
torment of Love, as you call it: You bid men shunne
and avoyde it, but those be common and ordinary
rules and instructions: yet not so ordinary, as able to
restraine the extraordinary humors of your giddy
company. I will do you and your friends a kindnesse
if you be so scorched with the flames of love. Diogines
did long since discover the soveraigne salve for
such a wound: The receipt is no great charge, your
selfe may be the Apothecarie, it is comprehended in
Open note a067-rota A medicine for
Love. Tears.
Hunger.
A Halter. three words: First, trie with χρονοσ, next with λιμος, if
both these faile, the third is sure, βροχοσ. This was Diogenes
Antidote against that venemous infection.
There are more milder remedies which you may put
in practise: If your hearts be so fleshly, or your eies so F4v 40
so tender that you dare trust neither of them, then
trust to your reason to turne your eyes away, or trust
to your heeles as Joseph did, to carrie all away.

After you have railed against women, you bring
in a fable of a contempt betwixt the Winde and the
Sunne; and you apply the morrall to women, when
as it hath a farre other relation: for it ever hath been
applyd to men, to instruct them in the government
of women, for I pray you who is to governe, or who
are to be governed? You should seeme to come from
the Sauromatians, whose wives were their Masters:
but I will set you downe both the Fable and the
Morrall, as it was written in English verse long sithence.

This is the true application of the Morrall. As for
that crookednesse and frowardnesse with which you
charge women, looke from whence they have it; for
of themselves and their owne disposition it doth not
proceede, which is prooved directly by your owne
Open note a068-rota Woman of her
owne disposition
gentle, and
milde. testimonie: for in your 45. Page, Line 15. You say, “A
young woman of tender yeares is flexible, obedient, and
subject to doe any thing, according to the will and pleasure
of her Husband.” How commeth it then that this gentle
and milde disposition is afterwards altered? your
selfe doth give the true reason, for you give a great
charge not to marrie a widdow. But why? because
say you in the same Page, “A widdow is framed to the
conditions of another man.” Why then, if a woman
have froward conditions, they be none of her owne,
she was framed to them. Is not our adversarie ashamed
of himselfe, to raile against women for those
faults which doe all come from men? Doth not hee
Open note a069-rota Men infect most grievously charge men to learne their wives
bad and corrupt behaviour? For hee saith plainely, “Thou must unlearne a widdow, and make her forget and forgoe G2r 43
forgoe her former corrupt & disordered behaviour.” Thou
must unlearne her, Ergo, what fault shee hath, shee
learned, her corruptnes commeth not from her own
disposition, but from her Husbands destruction. Is it
not a wonder, that your Pamphlets are so dispersed?
Are they not wise men to cast away time and
money upon a Booke which cutteth their owne
throates? ’Tis pittie but that men should reward
you for your writing; if it bee but as the Romane
Sertorius did the idle Poet, hee gave him a reward,
but not for his writing, but because he should never
write more; as for women, they laugh that men have
no more able a champion. This author commeth to
baite women, or as hee foolishly sayth, the “Beare
bayting, of Women”, and he bringeth but a mungrell
Curre, who doth his kinde, to braule and barke, but
Open note a070-rota The disposition
of the
minde doth
answere the
composition
of the body. cannot bite. The milde and flexible disposition of
a woman is in philosophy proved in the composition
of her body, for it is a Maxime, “Mores animi sequntur
temperaturam corporis”, The disposition of the minde
is answerable to the temper of the body. A woman
in the temperature of her body is tender, soft, and
beautifull, so doth her disposition in minde correspond
accordingly; she is milde, yeelding, and vertuous;
what disposition accidentally happeneth unto
her, is by the contagion of a froward husband, as
Joseph Swetnam affirmeth.

And experience proveth. It is a shame for a man
to complaine of a froward woman, in many respects
all concerning himselfe. It is a shame he hath no more
government over the weaker vessell. It is a shame he G2 hath G2v 44
hath hardned her tender sides, and gentle heart
Open note a071-rota Many men complain
of women
without
cause. with his boistrous & Northren blasts. It is a shame for
a man to publish and proclaime houshold secrets,
which is a common practise amongst men, especially
Drunkards, Leachers, and prodigall spend-thrifts:
These when they come home drunke, or are called in
question for their riotous misdemeanours, they presently
shew themselves, the right children of Adam.
They will excuse themselves, by their wives, and say
that their unquietnesse and frowardnesse at home,
is the cause that they runne abroad. An excuse more
fitter for a beast then a man. If thou wert a man thou
wouldest take away the cause which urgeth a woman
to griefe and discontent, and not by thy frowardnesse
encrease her distemperature: forbeare thy drinking,
thy luxurious riot, thy gaming, and spending, and
thou shalt have thy wife give thee as little cause at
home, as thou givest her great cause of disquiet abroad.
Men which are men, if they chance to be matched
with froward wives, either of their own making,
or others marring, they would make a benefit of the
discommodity, either try his skill to make her milde,
or exercise his patience to endure her curstnesse:
for all crosses are inflicted either for punishment of
sinnes, or for exercise of vertues; but humorous men
will sooner marre a thousand women, then out of an
hundred make one good.

Open note a072-rota Men are the
Serpents. And this shall appeare in the imputation which
our adversarie chargeth upon our sexe, to be lacivious,
wanton and lustfull: He sayth, “Women tempt,
alure, and provoke men.” How rare a thing is it for women G3r 45
women to prostitute and offer themselves? how common
a practise is it for men to seeke and solicite women
to lewdnesse? what charge doe they spare? what
travell doe they bestow? what vowes, oathes, and
protestations doe they spend, to make them dishonest?
They hyer Pandors, they write letters, they seale
them with damnations, and execrations, to assure
them of love, when the end proves but lust: They
know the flexible disposition of Women and the
sooner to overreach them, some will pretend they are
so plunged in love that except they obtaine their
desire they will seeme to drown’d, hang, stab, poyson,
or banish themselves from friends and countrie:
What motives are these to tender dispositions? Some
will pretend marriage, another offer continuall
maintenance, but when they have obtained their
purpose, what shall a woman finde, just that which
is her everlasting shame and griefe, shee hath made
her selfe the unhappie subject to a lustfull bodie, and
the shamefull stall of a lascivious tongue. Men may
with foule shame charge women with this sinne
which they had never committed if shee had not
trusted, nor had ever trusted if shee had not beene
deceived with vowes, oathes, and protestations. To
bring a woman to offend in one sinne, how many
damnable sinnes doe they commit? I appeale to their
owne consciences. The lewd disposition of sundry
men doth appeare in this: If a woman or maide will
yeelde unto lewdnesse, what shall they want? But if
they would live in honestie, what helpe shall they
have? How much will they make of the lewd? how G3 base G3v 46
base account of the honest? how many pounds will
they spend in bawdie houses? but when will they
bestowe a penny upon an honest maide or woman,
except it be to corrupt them?

Open note a073-rota Shew a womans
offence,
but that man
was the first
beginner. Our adversary bringeth many examples of men
which have beene overthrowne by women. It is answered,
before the fault is their owne. But I would
have him, or any one living, to shew any woman
that offended in this sinne of lust, but that she was
first sollicited by a man.

Helen was the cause of Troyes burning; first, Paris
did sollicite her; next, how many knaves and fooles of
the male kinde had Troy, which to maintaine whoredome
would bring their Citie to confusion.

When you bring in examples of lewd women,
and of men which have been stained by women, you
shew your selfe both franticke, and a prophane irreligious
foole to mention Judith for cutting off Holofernes
head, in that rancke.

You challenge women for untamed and unbrideled
tongues; there was never woman was ever noted
for so shamelesse, so brutish, so beastly a scold as you
prove your selfe in this base and odious Pamphlet:
You blaspheme God, you raile at his Creation, you
abuse and slander his Creatures; and what immodest
or impudent scurilitie is it, which you doe not
expresse in this lewd and lying Pamphlet?

Hitherto I have so answered all your objections
against Women, that as I have not defended the wickednesse
of any; so I have set downe the true state of
the question. As Eve did not offend without the temptation G4r 47
temptation of a Serpent; so women doe seldome
offend, but it is by provocation of men. Let not
your impudencie, nor your consorts dishonestie,
charge our sexe hereafter, with those sinnes of which
you your selves were the first procurers. I have in
my discourse, touched you, and all yours, to the
quick. I have taxed you with bitter speaches; you
will (perhaps) say I am a rayling scold. In this objection,
Open note a074-rota A difference
betwixt accusing
and slanddering.
Joseph Swetnam, I will teach you both wit and
honestie: The difference betwixt a railing scold, and
and an honest accuser, is this, the first rageth upon
passionate furie, without bringing cause or proofe,
the other bringeth direct proofe for what she alleageth:
you charge women with clamorous words, and
bring no proofe; I charge you with blasphemie, with
impudence, scurilitie, foolery, and the like. I shew
just and direct proofe for what I say; it is not my
desire to speake so much, it is your desert to provoke
me upon just cause so farre; it is no railing to call
a Crowe blacke, or a Wolfe a ravenour, or a drunkard
a beast; the report of the truth is never to be
blamed, the deserver of such a report, deserveth the
shame.

Now, for this time, to draw to an end; let me aske
according to the question of Cassian, “Cui bono?” what
have you gotten by publishing your Pamphlet; good
I know you can get none. You have (perhaps) pleased
the humors of some giddy, idle conceited persons:
But you have died your selfe in the colours
of shame, lying, slandering, blasphemie, ignorance,
and the like.

The G4v 48

The shortnesse of time and the weight of businesse
call me away, and urge me to leave off thus
abruptly, but assure your selfe where I leave now, I
will by Gods grace supply the next Terme, to your
small content. You have exceeded in your furie
against Widdowes, whose defence you shal heare of
at the time aforesaid, in the meane space recollect
your wits, write out of deliberation, not out of furie;
write out of advice, not out of idlenesse; forbeare to
charge women with faults, which come from the
contagion of Masculine serpents.