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VIrtue is made a whited wall, which euery ideot doth delight to soile. He that knoweth no part of hir but the name, wil not∣withstanding haue hir banished for hir worth. If she flourish neuer so little, some tricke or other must be put in practise to giue hir a remoue: but she, who as the Poet saith.
Can at hir pleasure free hir selfe from checke; and with the splendor of hir ma¦iestie disperse those earthly exhalations which being belched out of the bosome of wretched malice, would obscure his glory. She stands continually firme and vpon hir square: hir constancie is like the sunnes, which neither for our praises, nor our curses will bee moued to hasten or slacken his carere. She imitates the Moone, and howsoeuer sauage wolues doe houle and barke at hir, shee is not moued to forgoe hir Spheare. Antoeus like, the oftner she is cast to ground, the greater strength she still recouereth. Hi•• foiles doe serue hir as a file, to giue him courage point. She is Collossus etiam in pu∣teo; put hir into a dungeon she retaines hir state. He that laboreth by the inter∣position of some scandalous delation to ecclipse hir brightnesse, may perad∣uenture
with the sillie Flie, make the obiect of his enuie an occasion of his tra∣gedie.
What sweete perfections are in wo∣men, which ill disposed men haue not endeuoured to depraue, through false and forged imputations? what faire a∣bilities and graces, which they haue not sought to blacke with their calumnious aspersions? She hath beene a long time the white, at which their hate hath le∣uelled; but as they that shoote against the starres, may peraduenture hurt themselues, but neuer endanger them; their arrowes many times haue reboun∣ded backe, and deliuered a fatall answere to those that sent them: The dissection of their weakenesse hath happened to bee a strict anatomizing of their owne.
The snuffers in the Temple were of pure gold, to signifie vnto vs, that such as take vpon them to remoue from others the superfluitie of the weeke, that their light may burne out the clearer; ought
to be free from all taxation themselues. It were ridiculous for any man to talke of a mote in his neighbours eye, when there is a beame in his owne. Hee may well beare with a wart, who is himselfe disfigured with a wenne. But alas! it is the nature of sicke and crazie appetites, to thinke the meate which is set before them, is vnsauourie, when indeede the fault proceedeth not, but from a meere distemperature in their owne palates. The diseased person complaineth of the hardnesse of his bed, when the cause of his disquiet is a weakenesse in his bones. Looke vpon such as are ouercome with wine, and yee shall see them ready to ac∣cuse euen temperance it selfe of their owne folly: the earth, which standeth still immoueable, cannot escape their censure. They will by no meanes be per∣swaded, but it is that which reeleth, when alas! it is onely their own braines, which are set on wheeling. But I will not here professe my selfe a champion to that sex, least by so doing I might be thought to
question their sufficiencie: the strength of their owne merit, without the helpe of any forraigne supply, is that which must free them from the siege of barba∣rous opposition, and set their honour out of the reach of daring contradiction, which out of doubt will easily be effect∣ed, as by the sequell briefely shall ap∣peare.
Of womens worth in generall.
THere is no greater argument of a generous minde, then to ioy in whatsoeuer it seeth generous in o∣thers. The Owle and the Bat, though they haue eyes to discerne there is a sunne, yet haue so euill eyes, that they cannot delight in the sunne: it is for Eagles onely, and such kingly birds, as haue had no other Aerie for their
breeding, than the lappe of loue, to gase with pleasure & admiration on his glo∣ry. The meaner sort of people, whose spi∣rits are oppressed & aggraued with such grosser humours, as the channels of their bloud are vsually dammed vp with; dare not but with cowardly feare approach the pallaces of Princes: it is honour en∣ough for them, they thinke, if they may be suffered to obserue the frontispice, or at the most to take a view of such inferi∣our offices, as are in them. Their ambiti∣on is of a shorter wing, then to aspire so high as to looke into a roome of state; yet euen these, if in these meaner parts their duller obseruation find any thing, which holdes not correspondency with their conceit, will not sticke at their departure for a little errour to discommend the workmanship of the whole frame. They which out of a cynicall disposition doe wound the reputation of Women with inuectiues, are men of no better garbe. The graces haue found no sweeter habi∣tation vpon earth to rest in, then their
bosomes. Our Sauiour did not scorne when hee came downe from heauen to make the wombe of a Virgin, the recep∣tacle of his glory. Whereupon Saint Ber∣nard transported with a diuiner ecstacie, crieth out, O venter capacior coelis, diffusior terris; latior elementis; qui illum continere valuit, quem totus mundus capere non potu∣it. O blessed wombe, wider then the hea∣uens, broader then the earth, larger then then the elements; which was able to containe him, whom the whole world was too little to receiue. And to say true∣ly, where could vertue in the pourpris of this vniuerse, haue picked out a fairer mansion? It seemes to me that Women were erected of purpose for her to so∣iourne in; and that, by the hand of God himselfe, who built her, built her I say, (for this is the proper word, by which the mouth of wisedome in the originall expresseth hir creation) to shew the ab∣solutenesse of his skill, in the closing vp of his worke. But Calumnie suggesteth here, that she was built indeede, but the
foundation was a crooked rib.
Inde genus curuum, placidae virtutis inane.
And from hence a crookednesse both in manners and behauiour hath euer since descended by way of propagation, from hir to hir posteritie; which I will no otherwise confute, than by condemning such of ignorance, as haue beene authors of this improper speech: Art would haue termed it an Arch, which of all kindes of Architecture is both the fir∣mest, and the fairest. But this is not the period of their traducements: they will seeme to tax the Artisan himselfe of er∣rour and mistaking. He made hir for a helpe, say they, to Man, when she fell out to be nothing lesse; as if that patron of all exemplary goodnesse had beene ill aduised in his ends. They consider not the fault is in themselues, if they proue contrary to his intention. Their owne peruersenes is that, which maketh them such as they report them. Let Phaebus haue the guiding of the day and ye shall see it cleare and lightsome, but if Phaethon
haue the mannaging of those steedes, his presumptuous ouer weening wil go neere to set all things in combustion. I but, say they, she was according to that Spanish adage; Armas del Diablo: cabeza del Pec∣cado: destruycion del Parayso; The sword wherewith the diuell cut the throate of mans felicitie; she was the head of sinne, the ouerthrow of Paradise. But let them consider the good they gained by this hir errour, and transgression; and vn∣lesse their foreheads bee of Adamant, they will recant those blasphemies and cry out with a better reformed zeale, O foelix culpa, quae talem, ac tantum meruit Re∣demptorem! O necessarium Adae peccatum, quod Christi morte deletum est! O happie fault of Eue, which stood in neede of such a worthy, and so mightie a redeemer! O needefull offence of Adam, which was not to be cancelled, but by the death of Christ. Then was it, and not till then, that the dores of those euerlasting taber∣acles, in which the king of glory hath is residence, were opened vnto wretch∣ed
Man. He was driuen out of an earthly Paradise by one Angel, that he might be welcommed by Legions of them into a heauenly one, whereof that other was but a figure and a type. And this it may be, was the cause why God after the time of her fall, and not before, entitled hir Heuah, the mother of the liuing. I will o∣mit many things, and not insist vpon a∣ny long.
Hir brest is as a precious cabinet in which the choisest of all Virtues are preserued. Our Sauiour himselfe could not but wonder at the faith which hee found in the woman of Canaan, and forgot not in the height of his admiration to crown it with applause. Malice notwithstanding would perswade the world, that their outside is a shop for vanitie; their inside a ware-house for impietie; that consci∣ence in them is but peeuishnesse; chasti∣tie, waywardnesse, and gratefulnesse a miracle. In a word, that their bosomes are fuller of mischiefes and disasters, than euer was Pandoras boxe: and that like the
Apothecaries painted pots, they may be faire without, yet full of poyson within. And surely I must needes confesse, that there are some, on whom she may iustly fasten these reproaches. For howsoeuer the matter be the same, there is a diffe∣rence notwithstanding in the forme. The finest cloth hath a list, and the purest gold, is not without some drosse. But let not preiudice, like one of Circes charmes worke such a fearefull metamorphosis vpon the mindes of men, as to make rea∣son brutish; iudgement and vnderstan∣ding, things of little sense. Let them not shew themselues, like bores, as ready to roote vp a bed of roses, as a dunghill: but consider that the earth hurteth not the sunne, with those mistie vapours, and ex∣halations, which shee breatheth forth a∣gainst it; but depriueth her selfe by them of that comfort, which the chearfulnesse of his beames would otherwise afford hir. And so from these generall notions and conceits of Womens worthinesse, I will now slide to some particulars, a∣mongst
which their Beautie is the first that offereth it selfe to be considered.
Of their Beautie.
THis is that blazing light which vir∣tue like another Hero, setteth vp in the face of Women, as in the turret of hir ha∣bitation, to guide thereby the course of those generous and heroicall Leanders, who being enamoured of hir faire de∣sarts, cannot brooke that the threates and menaces of a rebellious fortune should hinder them from repayring to hir lodge, or that any other disastrous ac∣cidents whatsoeuer, should preuent their affection from making a personall presentment of their seruice, to so sweete and heauenly a mistrisse: It is the onely harbinger, which prouideth a resting place both for hir and hirs, whithersoe∣uer they doe goe: it is the loade-stone of
all hearts; and in a word, a loade-starre to all eyes. Beasts onely cannot discerne it, and let them bee in the role of beasts that doe not honour it.
The force thereof is such, as hath en∣forced the greatest conquerours to sub∣mit their glory, and to cast the trophies of their victories, as ensignes of their subiection at hir feete. Sampson, who like another Atlas could carrie cities on his shoulders, and by the vigour of his arme which serued him as an armie, both con∣front and confound the batalions of his vncircumcised enemies; did notwith∣standing this his more then naturall strength, become an homager to hir. Sa∣lomon for all his wisedome was made hir liegeman; and Dauid who in his youth had ouercome the Lion and the Beare, and did afterwards vanquish that prodi∣gious Philistim, the thunder of whose Threats proclaimed nothing but terrour and amasement to the Israelites: vpon the sight of Bershabe, & that at a sufficient di∣stance, was captiuated by hir comelinesse.
Darius may be so great in power, that all regions may feare to touch him. Yet A∣pame his concubine will dare to take the crowne from his head, and set it vpon hir own. If she strike him, he must be patient, & when she any way distasteth him, seek by flatteries and smooth insinuations to worke his reconcilement. 1. Esdr. 4. v. 30.
What should I tell you how Achil∣les doted on his Brisis? or how Alcides was enthralled to his Omphale? The very Gods themselues, if any credit may bee giuen to the fictions of Antiquitie, haue acknowledged by their submission, a greater deity in womens faces, then their owne. Beautie euen in the capitoll of heauen hath hung vp many monuments of hir conquests. And hence it may bee, grew that speech of Leonidas, who, when he beheld an image of Venus armed, said, it was more then needed, considering how, when shee was naked, and altoge∣ther vnprouided of such steely comple∣ment, she had subdued Mars himselfe. It is not then for any mortall eye to with∣stand
the fiercenesse of hir assault. Virtue it selfe can bee no armour of proofe a∣gainst hir shot.
Arcesilaus an auncient statuarie, to re∣present the fulnes of hir power vnto vs, made a Lionesse of marble, and about it many little beauteous Cupids, sporting themselues therewith in sundrie man∣ners. Some made it drink out of a horne, some put shooes vpon the feete of it: some tied it with ropes vnto a stake: all of them according to their seuerall hu∣mours made it the subiect of their de∣lightfull pastime. The beast transported as it were with the fairenesse of those ob∣iects,
seemed to forget hir sauage nature, and to ioy in the course of their procee∣dins. And surely it hath often hapned that beautie hath abated the edge of fu∣ric; & set a milde aspect vpon the face of crueltie. She hath forced tyranny many times to alter his rougher dialect, and to vtter silken words at hir entreatie.
Yet euen this in women (and in them alone of all the creatures in this world in hath hir chiefest perfection) standeth lia∣ble to scandall, Enuie maketh it a pro∣uerbe, that If she be faire, she must be foolish but the spirit of truth confuteth it as a
popular vntruth, with the example of Sarah, who notwithstanding hir excel∣lencie in this kinde was such, as had so set on fire the heart of Abimeleck, that if God himself had not interposed his authoritie, shee must haue beene of necessitie the spoile and prey of his intemperancy; was endued besides with such an extraordi∣narie measure of knowledge and discre∣tion, that the Lord commanded that worthy Patriarch hir husband to shew himselfe in all things obedient to hir di∣rections. Ester by meanes of both pre∣uailed so far with King Assuerus, that she deliuered hir people from the merciles proiects of their oppressors, and made them fall into the snares, which they had laid for others.
What should I speake of Iudith, or of Deborah? the one so famous for the deli∣uerance which shee procured hir coun∣trie: the other for the prudent gouerne∣ment, whereby she did long protect it? both of them notwithstanding most re∣markeable for their eminencie in both.
I could leuie infinite examples out of the writings of prophaner au∣thors to conuince this errour; but I see, that euen common sense doth giue it the fatall blow. For indeede, where should we looke for knowledge, but in hir whose first ambition was the height of knowledge.
It is not vsuall for any to couet, what they doe not conceit. The silly Paisant regardeth a pearle no more than Esops Cocke, because hee knoweth not the vse thereof. The Queene of Shebas repairing to king Salomon, gaue Israel an ample te∣stimony of hir vnderstanding.
But if according to that Tuscanphrase, tutto vain scorza, all be in the barke, and nothing in the bodie; If there bee onely a superficiall tincture, an outward dye, not woaded with any graces or abilities, which might colour it in graine, this San∣ctuarie will afford them no protection. I must liken them my selfe vnto a ragged wall, whose deformities are hidden with some curious peice of hanging: or to
those carriages of state, which are coue∣red ouer with embroidered sumpter∣clothes, when the loading consisteth of nothing peraduenture but lome and rub∣bish; or last of all to a stately building, which putteth the weary trauailer a farre off, in minde of some great inhabitant, but when he draweth neere vnto it, hee findes there is onely some poore decrepit beldame, and hir curre, residing in it. As a iewell of gold in a swines snout, saith the mouth of Wisdome, so is a faire Woman, which is without discretion. Prou. 11. 13,
Olympias derided a lustie Gallant of hir Court, who had matched himselfe, as she well vnderstood, with one of the loulier hew, but looser crew, and said, that if he had beene a creature endued with reason he would neuer haue made his eyes the instruments of his contraction.
Venus was seldome pictured without the graces by hir. Antiquitie held them for hir true and faithfull assistants, with∣out whom she would not willingly doe any thing. Hereupon it is reported, that
when Paris was to reward hir with the due price of hir perfections, shee did not onely summon them, but Hymenaeus, Cupid, and all hir little louekins, to come and deliuer their opinion & their coun∣saile in that businesse. And out of questi∣on where these are wanting Beautie is but imposture. It is the diuels masking∣suite, wherewith impietie and impuritie doe many times disguise themselues. Yea whensoeuer the spirit of darknesse would seeme an angell of light, he findeth not in all his ward robe a fitter habit. There are many though, which make this the onely ground of their affections; and which, like little babies, so the couer of booke be gay, respect not the contents. But alas! they suffer themselues to bee guided by an Ignis fatuus, which with∣out much warinesse will leade them to their owne distruction. The loue of beau∣tie argueth a lacke of reason, and com∣meth as Saint Hierom saith within an inch of madnesse. Wisdome will neuer be de∣luded
with these appearances; so the li∣ning be good, let the outside be what it will. She knoweth that the foule to ade may haue a faire stone in his head, that the fine gold is found many times in the filthie earth; and that the sweete kernell lieth often in a hard shel. Yet I must needs say with the Poet.
That virtue liketh hir much better, when she findes it in a comely lodging, then when she is bound to seeke it in an ill fauoured creature, like a pearle in a dunghill. Such as would bee protected here therefore, must produce their war∣rant. If they be black without, they must make it appeare by their manners and behauiour that they be beautifull with∣in; and so on the contrary, if they bee spotlesse in body, that they be spitelesse in minde; if they be faire as the moone, that they be likewise pure as the sunne, or it will aduantage them but little, to make this the refuge of their safetie. She that hath a faire body, but a foule minde, is like vnto him that hath a good Ship, but
an ill Pilot. The period of that Panegy∣ricke, which was penned by the Psalmist in praise of the kings daughter, was this, That she was all glorious within. And surely in such as are not so, neither beauty, nor embroiderie can iustly challenge the name of ornaments.
It is not purple, needle-worke, or pre∣cious stones that must adorne and beau∣tifie a woman.
These be arguments of hir wealth, not of hir worth, and get hir nothing but a popular applause.
Pulchrū ornatū turpes mores peius coeno collinunt, Lepidi mores turpem ornatū facile factis cōprobāt.
Ill gestures defile good garments, but virtuous conditions are a rich lyning to a meane outside. If she would therefore be the subiect of discreeter admiration, shee must esteeme these accessory ad∣iuncts, no better, then did Lysander those iewels and costlier tyres, with which the tyrant of Sicilie did court the loue and af∣fection of his daughters. She must eye them with no greater respect, then shee
would the trappings of a horse, which adde not to the goodnesse of the beast, that beareth them; and weare them not so much for fame as for fashion. Virtue must be hir chiefest garnish. Beautie may procure delight, but it will hardly pur∣chase loue, vnlesse temperancie and mo∣destie, like two iudiciall Schoole-mistres∣ses, haue the fashioning of hir carriage and conuersation.
And so from hence will I now turne the course of my discourse, and come to speake a little of their Chastitie, a thing excellent in many, yet traduced by the most. For behold, Hylax in limine latrat, I heare it closely pursued with hue and crie, euen in the very entrance.
〈1 page missing〉〈1 page missing〉Which harsher censures, whether they proceeded from the discontented hu∣mours of these particular persons onely whose feete well felt where the shoe did wring them; or from a generall depra∣uation rather of thosetimes, I know not.
With these the Satyrist giueth vp his verdict, & finding chastity for the rarenes of it in those ruder times, as prodigious as either a milke-white Rauen, or a cole∣blacke swanne, examineth such as goe a∣bout to wiue, what hellish furies they be which driue them to it; and wondereth that any, considering the world affor∣deth such infinite store of neck-ties, so many loftie turrets, and deeper wels, should endure to yoke themselues to the vicious imperfections of a creature so las∣ciuious and imperious.
But out of doubt, these are not the le∣gitimate children of a staied conceit. Ie∣lousie that adulterate & spurious brat of loue and feare, was their onely sire: and indeede this is a monster, which neuer looketh vpon virtue, but with a froward and suspicious eye. It resembleth in effect the Iuie, which doth alwaies hurt that most, which it most embraceth. Such as haue it in their braine, wil not be perswa∣ded, but that which affordeth pleasure to themselues, doth giue the like content∣ment to others. Bassa Ionuses, who with hissword, as with a pen of steele drew the conueighances, which did enstate his Soueraigne Selymus the first in the terri∣tories and dominions of the Mamalukes, became so desperately enamoured of the beauteous Lady Manto, by birth a Graeci∣an, but by the chance of warre his priso∣ner, that he did not onely admit hir to his board, but of his captiue made hir in a
while the lawfull partner of his bed. And for a time they so delighted in each o∣thers loue, that as the Poet said of Cepha∣lus and Procris.
But desart we know is the fewell of de∣sire; and good, whether it bee sensible, or such as reason leadeth vs to seeke; is loues sollicitor. It is the generall obiect of each mans appetite, of each mans will, and therefore they which possesse it; are no lesse totmented with feare, then they which yet pursue it. It is a treasure, which the more they ioy in, the lesse secure they grow of their enioying. They are prone to beleeue, that what their owne
palate doth like, cannot but like anothers Witnesse this worthy Souldier, who by doting on his Mantos face, began to doubt of hir faith.
Yet in the end he suffered himself to be so farre transported with this frensie, that like a glutton, who fearing that any shold wrong his mawe by intercepting the dish it most delighted in, catcheth at it so rashly, and so roughly, that through his inciuility he beguileth himselfe, and plea∣sureth onely the earth with the purchase of his greedinesse; hee altered quite the scene of his proceedings. His words were now not accented with love, as before∣time they had beene. He vnaceustomed himselfe to Cupids dialect, and neuer vt∣tered
his minde vnto hir but in a tragicall and churlish key. To bee briefe, his rage could finde no rest, till such time as hau∣ing chosen his weapon for the Physitian of his Furie, hir purer bloud was made a purging Potion for his Iealousie. Many to the great impeachment of Womens worth haue bin sicke of the like distem∣perature. Their Vnderstanding hath had no Tutor, but their owne idle Fancie, which hath setled in them such erroneous opinions, that what through preiudice and passionate Affections, they will by no meanes bee perswaded that Honestie and Beautie can euer harbour vnder one roofe; but that there is so great an Anti∣pathie betwixt them, that like Castor and Pollux, they shew not their motions to∣gether in one Spheare. And here they instance their assertions vpon that fire∣brand of Greece, which being brought to Troy, did set it on a flame; and for better confirmation of their heresie produce that saying of the Poet,
But those alas must be very narrow eyde, who if a Gnat but spread his wing betwixt them and the Sunne, doe thinke it is eclipsed.
One drop of poyson cannot infect the Ocean, though a little leauen may per∣aduenture sower a great lumpe. It were ridiculous for any man to contemne the Rose because there is a prickle in the bush or neglect the Corne, because there is some cockle in the Barne.
As there is often a Mars his heart in a
Cupids body; so may we many times dis∣couer a Diana apparelled in the garments of Venus. Witnesse Sarah, Rebekah, Ra∣chell & Susanna, with diuers others which stand vpon record in the Court-roles of Heauen for their vnmatchable perfecti∣on in either kinde. I could bring both Lu∣crece and Penelope vpon this Stage, and make their well knowne worthinesse the pampering foode of my discourse, but I will omit to speake of them: as likewise of hir, whose husband, it may be, comming somewhat neere the lips of his mistrisse, and finding himselfe denide the comple∣ment of his desire, because his breath was noisome and vnsauourie, came home and blamed his wife, for hauing neuer in∣formed him of that defect: when shee, good soule, out of hir chast simplicity re∣plide, She knew not but that al mens mouths had smelt like his. The daughter of Ericus, Gouernour of Calcis, the chiefe towne in the Island of Eubaea, being taken by the Turkes, was for hir extraordinary beauty, as the choisest part of all the spoile, pre∣sented
vnto Mahomet the second, whom when hee could neither by threats, nor flatteries conforme to his desires, he most inhumanely commanded to be slaine.
But non est admirationi vna arbor, saith the Philosopher, vbi in eandem altitudinem tota sylua succrescit. What should wee make particulars the subiect of our admi∣ration, when Histories giue vs notice of whole countries peopled with Women of no lesse desart.
The Lacedaemonians were generally so Chast, that when Geradas was asked why Lycurgus had made no lawes for the pu∣nishing of Adultery: his answer was that amongst them there was not one addi∣cted to such incontinencie; But if there were, said the stranger: why then said he, he should pay for the forfeiture of his mis∣deede, a Bull of that growth and bignes, that standing vpon the top of the Moun∣taine Taygetus, he might drinke out of the riuer Eurotas. It is impossible, said his Guest a creature of that greatnes should be found. Geradas assured him with a smi∣ling
countenance, it was no lesse impos∣sible, that Sparta should afford within hir confines any such offender.
One of the meanest amongst them both for birth and breeding, when a Chapman as she stood in the Market to be sold, demanded of hir, whether shee would proue honest if he should buy hir; replide vpon the instant. I wil proue honest though you should not buy me.
The Cianians were so free from any tax∣ation this way, that for the space of sea∣uen hundreth yeares it was neuer known that any Matrone amongst them had vn∣loosed to a stranger the girdle of hir ho∣nestie; or any Virgin bestowed vpon a lustfull friend the floure of hir Virginity.
The Easterne Indians did neuer prosti∣tute their Bodies, but to him, who did present them with an Elephant; and that the law permitted them to doe, with no little approbation of their worth, that could be valued at so high a rate.
Those religious and holy Vestals, who had the charge of that immortall and sa∣cred
fire, which was by Numa consecra∣ted to the gods, were so respected for their spotlesse puritie, that if by chance they met at anytime some wretched ma∣lefactor, who by the appointment of iu∣stice was conducted to his Death, they had a priuiledge to reprieue him: so that the Votresse vpon hir deposition would affirme that the encounter was onely ca∣suall.
Poets enforme vs that Venus had hir chariot drawne by swannes, to signifie vnto vs, that Women as they labour to bee neate and cleanely in their Clothes, should striue to be sweete and comely in their Conuersation. Many may peraduen∣ture make it their delight, to stand & gase vpon the Estrich for the rarenesse of hir Plumes; but not any will make it the dish which their Appetite shall feede vpon, because of the ranknesse of hir flesh. They must harbour therefore alwaies a speciall care within themselues, that as they haue Vultum Veneris, the badge of Beautie in their Face; they haue likewise cestum Ve∣neris,
the markes of Virtue in their Fore∣head; least want of grace in their out∣ward gesture, might make their in∣ward goodnesse liable to misconstru∣ction.
Chastitie must haue setled Grauitie for hir Vsher; and for hir waiting-woman, bashfull Modestie; or she shall neuer pro∣cure respectiue reuerence and obser∣uance from those that doe behold hir. If Ladies of noble rancke & quality, should now and then, though but to sport their Fancie, lay aside the ornaments of their state, and without their vsual attendance shew themselues abroade, disguised in some wanton manner, I doubt not, but they would quickly finde, that many not acquainted with their intent, would not sticke to ranke them in the role of Cour∣tisans, nor yet to rayle vpon them in a phrase, which onely fitteth creatures of that condition. Immodesty is like a Vint∣ners bush, which giueth euery man di∣rection, where he may call for wine. Wo∣men alone are said by scandalous and tra∣ducing
Spirits to giue it countenance, a little therefore now of this; as likewise of the contrary.
Of their outward modestie.
IT is an iniurie to Virtue, to be commit∣ted alwaies close-prisoner to the Heart. she desireth to looke out at the eyes, and to goe forth now and then in the words. If shee see hir selfe restrained of this liber∣tie, she will goe neere with griefe to fall into a hectike Feuer, and so to die of a lan∣guishing Consumption.
Euill words are, as the Apostle saith, the very gangrenes of good manners; if they eate them not out, they will at least de∣face them. If Women haue immodest lookes, it will auaile them little for auoi∣ding the worlds censure, to haue honest hearts. A booke is censured many times, by what the title promiseth; and Siluer,
into what fashion soeuer wee melt it, though it cease not to be siluer, yet the outward stampe is that which maketh it currant.
Crassus had a liking to a goodly Man∣nor belonging to a certaine Vestal, which that he might the better purchase, hee tooke occasion to meete with hir in sun∣drie places, & at sundrie times, omitting nothing in his carriage & conuersation, which might any way endere him to hir; but by this courteous entercourse hir In∣nocency grew to be suspected, and in the end, (as Malice is euer ready to picke a hole in Virtues coat) shee was publikely accused, to haue incestuously conuersed with him. Postumia was a little too much in clinde to laughter, and now and than delighted freely to discourse with Men, but this hir freedome brought hir to bee arraignd as an Adulteresse, wherof when shee had throughly acquited hir selfe. Spur. Minutius, the high Priest absolued hir, but withall aduised hir, ne verbis vitae castimoniam non aquantibus vteretur, so to
order hir life thence forward, that the outward fashion might not preiudice the inward forme.
Forbearance of the Action is no suffi∣ent demonstration of a chast Deuotion. T'is from the setled disposition of the Will, that this purer Virtue doth receiue hir forme. A certaine Spanish Lasse hau∣ing passed through the hands of Souldi∣ers; God be thanked, said shee, that once in my daies I haue had my fill without sinning. But herein silly wretch, she deceiued hir selfe: for howsoeuer Violence were Pro∣logue to the fact, the delight shee tooke in the performance conuinced hir of a fault.
Some could be content to haue it, but they would not bee thought to desire it. They wish another would foile them, when of themselues they haue a will to fall. Such as are truely modest, and such assuredly are the most, will not sticke to make their liues the ransome of their Fame: for feare, though they consented not to the doing, they might be thought
to bee well enough contented with the deede.
Theoxena to free hir Sisters children and hir owne from the lasciuious embra∣ces of King Phillip, put weapons into their weaker hands, and perswaded them Vt imminens ludibrium morte effugerent; to rescue themselues by Death from immi∣nent disgrace, where in she had no sooner preuailed, but with a heroine resolution she shewed them by hir owne example, that what shee had taught them, was ea∣sie to be done.
Hippo a Grecian, when the Shippe in which shee trauailed was taken by the E∣nemy, cast hirselfe immediately into the soft embraces of the sea, to free hir Ho∣nour from the luxurious courtship of hir Foe. A Gentlewoman of Capua did the like. But these examples are a little too vehement, that which followeth is some∣what more considerate.
Cn. Manlius hauing giuen the Galathi∣ans a mighty ouerthrow at the mount of Olympus, there was amongst the captiues
that were taken. Chiomara, the wife of Orgiagontes, a Ruler in that Prouince of some note, who being compelled by the Centurion that had hir in custody, to sa∣tisfie the beastly appetite of his debauch∣ed affections, imparted afterwards the wrong she had receiued, to some of hir friends, who were come thither to re∣deeme hir, and willed them to kill him as hee should kisse hir at the farewell. This done, she caused his head to be cut off, and bringing it home in hir own lap, cast it for a present at hir husbands feete who vented the passions, which the sight thereof had stirred vp in his bosome, with words which sauoured somewhat of re∣proofe: O Woman, faith is an excellent thing: But she confronted his pitie with hir own puritie, and told him, It was more excel∣lent by farre, there was but one man liuing, that euer knew hir.
A Vestall Virgin to preuent the vio∣lence of an vnlawfull pursuite in a Prince, who much affected hir for the beauty of hir eyes, plucked them out hir selfe, and
hauing cast them on the ground before him, bad him glut himselfe with those traiterous obiects, which had conspired with his lustfull Thoughts, to make hir a prey to Infamie. A Gentlewoman of Por∣tugall, to cut off the importunacie of di∣uers, who in the time of hir widowhood, did continually sollicite hir for some nightly kindnesse, fearing least the flesh might in the end betray hir, seared vp those naturall parts with a burning fire∣brand, saying: God forbid that for thee I should euer fall into so foule a sinne.
Fatua, the wife of Faunus from the day of hir marriage was neuer knowne to be the obiect of any masculine eye, but hir Husbands. She did not fashion hirselfe according to the Moone, who then loo∣keth merriest, when the Sunne is furthest off: but to the Marrigolde, which neuer openeth it selfe but whilst he doth eye it. Zenobia so much renowmed in the East, for many singular virtues and abilities that were in hir, neuer imparted hirselfe, no not to the partner of hir Bed, any lon∣ger,
then she knew hirselfe not to be with Childe.
Pulcheria, sister to the Emperour Theo∣dosius the second, and rightly so named for hir more then ordinary beauty, both in body and minde, matched hirselfe to Marcianus with no other intent, then to adde thereby some strength to his autho∣ritie, as well appeareth by the conditi∣ons, to which shee first of all had tyed him. viz. That either of them should for e∣uer preserue their Chastitie vntouched; a thing which was willingly accepted of by him, and thoroughly performed by both.
The Milesian Virgins, whether through the distemperature of the aire, or vpon a∣ny occasion of discontent, I know not, were on the sudden possessed with such a furie, that neither the prayers of their friends, nor the teares of their Parents, could diuert them from an obstinate and selfe-wild resolution, which they had to hang themselues, and many notwithstan∣ding the warinesse of their Keepers, to
the terrour and amasement of the whole Citie, did continually by subtile slights and deuises, giue these their tragicall pur∣poses their determinate effect; till at the lēgth one of the wisest Senators caused a Law to bee proclaimed, That whosoeuer in that manner did abridge hir daies, should after hir death be carried naked through the market-place: the consideration of which dishonor, such was their setled Modesty, did not onely restraine them, but free them from this frenzie. Shamefac'tnesse, is nothing else, saith the Philosopher, but a feare of Ignominie and iust Reproach. These Virgins were so sensible thereof, that to remoue it euen from their Ashes, they were content to forbeare that which they most desired.
I could muster vp an armie royall of those heroicall examples, to destroy those Monsters, which make the Virgin fame of Women their tributarie foode. But who seeth not, that euen the most of those few, which are Actors of vnciuill parts, can produce Men for their Authors. Such
a one who preferred hir Honor before hir Life, hath notwithstanding for hir safetie of hir Husband suffered it like litter to be trampled on by the Lust of a deadly Enemie, and done that for him, which she would by no meanes haue commit∣ted for hir selfe. There are of those, who for their Husbands profit and aduantage doe lend their bodies out, and that by their expresse appointment and entre∣mise. Phaulius the Argien offered his wife vnto King Philippe through ambiti∣on; as Galba did out of curtesie and ciui∣litie; when hauing feasted Mecaenas at a Supper, and finding that his wife and he beganne with signes and glances to plot a further matter, that he might the bet∣ter shoulder vp their loue, hee feigned a heauie sleepe, which he auouched with no little grace. For vpon the instant a fellow being emboldned thereby to cast a theeuish hand vpon his Cup-borde of Plate, he cried out vnto him freely. Stay, stay, thou knaue, seest thou not, that I sleepe for none, but for Maecoenas?
Phaedo a Philosopher, after the desola∣tion of his Countrie, made the prostitu∣tion of his wife, the substance of his Reue∣nue. And how many be there amongst vs, who cull out the choisest Beauties of of the Land, and hauing married them, stall them afterwards, as they doe their Wares, with no better intent then to pro∣cure themselues that good which Pha∣raoh did to Abraham for Sarahs sake? In a word, if wee examine euery thing but with indifferencie, we shall find, let Wo∣men be what they will, they cannot possi∣bly be so bad as Men.
Againe, that euen in those things,
wherein we report them faulty, they can vnburthen themselues on Men, as on the sole Sollicitors, and Counsellers of their irregular proceedings. Ahashuerosh will not suffer a Virgin to come neere him, till after sixe monthes purification with oyle of Mirrh, and other sixe monthes with pleasant odours, and sweete per∣fumes.
Some Husbands haue such curious eyes, that if their wiues want colour of their owne: they must seeke for a supply. They had rather behold them artificially painted, then naturally pale. This is that which tieth their Affections to the perch, which otherwise peraduēture being prōe to bate at any thing, would get on wing & follow game. But alas! they consider not that as Pythias, Aristotles Daughter was wont to say, The fairest colour in the face of a Woman is that, which ariseth from hir bashfull Modesty; and that onely Blushes are the Scarlet Robes in which the Graces delight to shew themselues abroade. She that is cloathed with these virmilion Ha∣bits,
and hath this glorious tincture in hir Countenance, neede not feare the rude assaults of an Elephant, nor start at the fierce incursions of a Bull. It is a Shield of surer temper, then that of Pallas to de∣fend hir Honour from inuasion. Pudor arx pulchritudinis, saith Demades: It is Beauties fortresse: and according to Saint Bernard, Venustatem ingerit gratiam auget; it addes comelinesse, and giues an en∣crease of grace. The brightnes of it dase∣leth the eyes of Sinne, putteth Lust out of his part; and maketh Temptation to forget his Qu. Those other borrowed decencies, are nothing but meere sophi∣stication and imposture. An able iudge∣ment will neuer suffer it selfe to be delu∣ded by them. The King of Ethiopia view∣ed the sumptuous Garments that were sent him for a present by Cambyses Empe∣ror of Persia, with no little admiration, but when hee vnderstood by those that brought them, that the purple die they were of, was an inuention of Men: Surely said he, both the garments and the men are
full of deceipt. The application would be fit, if charitie did not suppresse it.
Of their supposed Pride.
PRide had hir originall in Heauen, but hauing forgotten, as it were, the way, by which she fell from thence, could neuer since returne. Like an exile did she pace the Earth, and found no habitati∣on, till some say Women tooke hir in, and made their hearts the setled place of hir abode. Conformable to this is that vnhallowed fiction of another, who re∣porteth to the world, how Sathan, that sworne enemie to Man, hauing match∣ed himselfe in mariage with Iniquitie, had by hir nine children, which he pla∣ced with seuerall persons, fitting in dispo∣sition to their seuerall humours and incli∣nations in manner following. viz. Simonie with Priests, Hypocrisie with professors,
Oppression with Nobles, Vsurie with Ci∣tizens, Deceit with Merchants, Falsehood with Seruants, Sacriledge with Souldi∣ers, Pride with Women, Luxurie with all.
Plutarke condemneth those of his time as ouermuch addicted to the seruice of this hell-borne Fiend. The Egyptian wiues, saith he, by the decrees, and or∣dinances of their Ancestors, were forbid∣den the vse of Shooes, to put them in minde, that it was their dutie to keepe still at home, a point which many now ob∣serue, but alas! out of another respect. They will not stirre abroade, saith he, be∣cause they haue not their embrodered Pantophles, their chaines of Pearle, their costly Carquanets, their Eare-rings, and their Vnions. And behold, me thinkes, I heare some whisper, that by the beating of the Pulse, those of our Age should la∣bour of the like distemperature. For let them be well rigged, and set out, they will be gadding presently with Dinah, though the losse both of life, and honour
were the propounded guerdon of their folly. They consider not, say they, that the snaile is safe while it harboureth in the Shell; but so soone as shee commeth forth to make shew of hir Hornes, shee meeteth with many lets, which occasion their drawing in againe to hir griefe and shame.
A Woman, saith Simonides, should be like the Bee, chast and frugall, busied still about hir huswiuerie; no wanderer at any time abroad, but alwaies carefull of hir progenie at home.
How to gouerne well hir Familie should be hir chiefest studie. She should not hunt ambitiously after popular ap∣plause, but rest contented with the Con∣science of hir owne deseruings, and think it praise enough to bee thought praise∣worthy
by such as liue within the boūds of hir owne threshold. She should re∣member with Thucydides,
That those of Women still are counted best, Of whom in praise or dispraise mē speak least.
The Lacedemonians could not endure to heare their wiues commended by a Stranger. They thought it not fit their Virtues should be knowne to any but to their Husband; and hence it was, their Virgins went alwaies open-faced, till such time as Hymen had linked them to some louing Mate, and then their beauty was canopied from the generall view of all, and made the solitarie obiect of their particular choise alone. The Turkish Wo∣men are forbidden by the Alcoran to shew themselues vnuailed to any but their Fathers and their Husbands. And the Venetians obserue in a manner the like custome, euen at this day say our ad∣uersaries, but by their fauour it is notout of any good respect: for in them it is onely a depraued and corrupt opinion, which the knowledge of their owne wickednes
maketh them carrie off anothers wor∣thinesse. Nor doe I speake this vnadui∣sedly; for it is a Maxime of infallible truth, That open suspecting others commeth of secret condemning our selues. These Wo∣men-quellers would seeme to counte∣nance their proceedings, thinking to breake the backe of Innocencie, by ouer∣charging it with scandalous imputations, which they can no way proue by any su∣rer demonstration then their owne adul∣terate opinions. To what end, say they, is that prodigious varietie of apparell which they vse, but to ensnare the hearts of ignorant and vndiscreeter per∣sons?
Brauerie in ancient English was cal∣led Baudrie; and curious Cals in those humbler times, were accounted but the stales of a carelesse Callot. They be the Weres and Nets of Lust. Virtue delights not in them at all: they be things which
cannot any way aduantage hir. For as all men know,
In a word, they be the noted ensignes of disorderly Pride, in which the very folds and motions of the Heart are cha∣ractred vnto the life. Let vs but cast a se∣rious eye say they, vpon the vanitie of Women in this kinde, & we shal quickly finde them to be the least part of what they seeme; Inter tot •• honestamenta vix inuenies mulierem. They be fensed in on euery with such innumerable borrels, and fantasticall attoures, as Chaucer cal∣leth them, that without some difficultie you cannot discouer what creature it is that beareth them. And from this consi∣deration peraduenture grew that saying of the Comicke; Negotij sibi qui volet vim comparare, nauim, & mulierem, haec duo com∣parato.
Nam nullae res magis duaeplus negotij habent; Hethat would busie himselfe in∣deede, must get him a Woman and a Ship. For there are not any two things in the world that require more trim∣ming. Dum comuntur dum pectuntur, an∣nus est; saith another. They be a yeere in keaming and in curling of themselues.
I might well feare to be swallowed vp of these waues, did not my Genius prompt me, that the Starre, by which I steare my course, bids me not feare the rage of Scylla, nor the threatnings of Carybdis, but on with courage, till I haue worthily atchieued, what I willing∣ly attempted: and I know, let Womens aduersaries make what head they can to ouerthrow the strength and glory of their reputation, there are exemplarie Virtues enough in hir alone, to protect it from the furie of malignant Tongues; and therefore I will boldly dare to defend them euen from this.
Ignorance it selfe must needes confesse that Pride consisteth more in the Heart,
then in the outward Habit, and that it peereth as often through a ragged coate, as through a veluet cloake. For if appa∣rell, iewels, odours, and such like acces∣serie complements did giue it forme, it were no way possible, that Women should be freed from this crime. But al∣as! these are no other then outward or∣naments, which howsoeuer peraduen∣ture they may giue it lustre, can adde no life.
Beautie, Birth, and Breeding, if any thing (for these be their chiefest peices) would cause both tumour and inflam∣mation in them, were their mindes so light and wauering, as some would haue them; but we see notwithstanding all these, how humble and how debonnaire Rebekah was, who did not onely out of meckenesse satisfie the request of Abra∣hams seruant, then a stranger to hir, in giuing him water to drinke, as he desi∣red, but went hir selfe with all alacritie to the Well, and drew some likewise for those of his retinue, and their Camels.
Nor did the massie Rings, and Bracelets, where with he afterwards rewarded this hir kindenesse, alter any way the compo∣sition of this setled forme.
It is true that Vashti was degraded from hir dignitie, for the rebellious pride and disobedience which she shewed to∣ward hir Lord and Soueraigne; but Esther was elected in hir place, who with hir Buxome and lowly carriage found fauour in the eyes of hir Assuerus, and forgot not in this transcendent of hir ho∣nour the miseries and afflictions of hir distressed Countrimen, nor was she euer wanting in the performance of that due respect, which she did owe vnto hir poore friend Mardoche. It is true likewise, it may be, that the daughter of Nicepho∣rus the Emperour, was so neate and so nice, that shee neuer washed hir but in dew, nor spent hir time in any thing, but in painting, poudring, and perfuming of hir selfe, which brought vpon hir in the end so odious and so loathsome a disease, that for the stench of hir Body, there
was not any could endure to come nigh hir: all are not yet to be condemned of the like. This age as corrupted as Men would make it, affordeth many of extra∣ordinary birth and qualitie, who hauing shooke hands with Vanitie, and tooke an euerlasting Farewell of all worldly Plea∣sures, doe altogether spend their houres in the solitarie contemplation of celesti∣all things, making with all humilitie and singlenesse of Heart, the goodnesse of their God, the continuall subiect of their Meditation. I could here set diuers Pre∣cedents on foote, to backe and second my discourse, but as our owne English Poet, saith:
Hauing freed them therefore from this, I will now turne my plee to the de∣fence of their Tongue, which standeth at the barre of weaker Iudgment, accused of prodigious Intemperancie, and hath many forged Writs and Processes serued vpon it for the same.
Of their Talke atiuenesse.
PHidias, say their aduersaries, that wor∣thy Workman, so renowmed through the confines of Peloponnesus for the rarenesse of his skill, made an image of Venus, treading vpon a Torteise, to shew thereby vnto vs, that Women should be wedded to their Houses, as are the Statues of Saints and Martyrs to the Temples, neuer desiring to gossippe it a∣broad; but making Silence alwaies the God of their Deuotion.
They should neuer speake, but either
to their Husbands, or by their Hus∣bands; nor take it ill, if like a Trumpe∣ter, or one that playeth vpon the Cornet or the Flute, by suffering them to be the Organes of their speech, they send forth sounds more graue, and more delightful then their owne. But alas say they, these principles are but lightly practised: for looke wheresoeuer they come,
And some what sutable to this, is that Epitaph of theirs, by which the exces∣siue talk atiuenesse of a Spanish Lady is
commended to the knowledge of Poste∣ritie. The substance thereof is this.
And for a more pregnant proofe of these malignant Pasquils, Xantippe must be placed vpon the Market-crosse, whose Passions like a deafe body, because they could not heare the voice of reason
themselues, that reason might not be al∣together vncapable of theirs, would be sure to expresse their meaning in the lou∣dest straine. So that Socrates when he was demanded, how he could endure hir clamours, had no other answer where∣with to shadow this hir imperfection, then, That for the children which she bare him he could as well abide hir prating, as he did the cackling of his Hennes for the Egges they laid him. A certaine Portugall, how truely, though I know not, is made an Abbettor to them in the like. His fellow Senators hauing conuinced a Criminell, of some more then ordinarie fault, and consulting among themselues, what death was best to equall his offence; some would haue him hanged in chaines a∣liue; some torne in peeces with wilde∣horses; others pined to death; and some againe cast quicke into his graue; Tush said he at length, these iudgements are but iestings, if you minde to torture him indeede, vse no delayes, but marrie him. And surely, say our opposites, this man
according to that Castilian Adage, Hablò de la feria, segun lefue en ella: spake of the Mart according as he found it. They alleadge another, who at a monthly Sessions in the Towne, whereof him∣selfe was a Burgesse, vpon good delibe∣ration and aduise preferred a petition to the Iudges of the Bench, desiring them they would be pleased to grant him li∣bertie to die. For he was not able any longer to endure the disdainefull braues, and haughtie menaces, which his Wife like a triple-mouthed Cerberus did continually thunder out against him; which fauour if they would vouchsafe him, he made no doubt, but to finde a speedie passage vnto Heauen, hauing suffered so long a Purgatorie here on earth. Another inscription of a Tombe is produced by them, composed in man∣ner of a Dialogue, the Argument wher∣of doth shew, say they, that howsoeuer Death be nothing but a suffocation, and extinction of all heate in euery naturall Bodie, he cannot yet with that icie cold∣nes
qualifie the cholerike and fiery tem∣per of their Tongues.
Heus viator! Miraculum. Vir & vxor non litigant. Qui simus, non dico. At ipsa dicam. Hic Bebrius ebrius me Bebriam e∣briam nominat. Heus vxor! etiam mortua litigas?
Iudge here, say they, whether this wretched Man, that caused this to bee writ vpon his graue, liued not continu∣ally vpon the racke, or no. In a word they set it downe for a sure Position, that
—Dos est vxoria, lites.
The onely Dowrie that a Woman brings,
Are strifes, contentions, end lesse quarrel
And are not ashamed to affirme with the Satyrist, that
But I see it is high time to cast a bit into the mouthes of these vnbridled Steeds, least with their hedstrong course they tread this nobler Sex vnder their hoofes, and make their innocencie dung and litter for themselues to wallow on. And since they do oppugne vs with the Achieuements of the dead, that I may foile them at their owne weapon, I will produce the Monument of Rubius Celer, which doth witnesse, that he liued with Caia Ennia, his wife, fortie three yeares, eight months, hauing neuer receiued from hir all this while, any iust occasi∣on of offence. That of Albutieus Tertius like wise doth auouch, that he liued 52.
yeares with his wife sine querelâ, without any manner of vexation, quarrell or disturbance. The like equalitie of affe∣ctions was without any let, or mixture of molestation in Acme and Septimius, as appeareth by that which is vttered by Catullus to the perpetuall honor of them both.
But this is not all, say they, Plenae sunt
rimarum, huc atque illuc effluunt. Looke what secrets be committed to their cu∣stodie, shall be kept as safe, as water in a Siue. And hereupon one of the three things, that Cato still repented him of, was, if he had imparted any thing to a Woman, which he would not all the world should know. They alleadge the weakenesse of Sempronia, Fuluia, and di∣uers others in this kinde to instance these erronious propositions. But the sight of that worthy Romane Epicharis shall make them vanish like Meteores before the Sunne, who being priuie to a great conspiracie intended against Nero, was so constant in concealing it, that not∣withstanding she were torturned day by day in the most grieuous manner that could possibly bee imagined, could no way be forced or enduced to be wray hir complices, and that to the perpetuall shame of sundrie noble Senators, who in the same triall fainting like Crauens vn∣der the scourge of Tyrannie, obiected in hope of some release their very Brothers
vnto death, and cast their dearest friends into the iawes of danger. The Atheni∣ans caused a Lionesse of Marble to bee made without a Tongue, and erected it in the market place to the neuer dying honour of Leona, who vpon the like oc∣casion, and in the like extremitie shew∣ed no lesse taciturnitie than the other. I will not, because I thinke this point alrea∣dy cleare enough, alleadge any more ex∣amples. It is an imperfection no way proper to the Vniuersall, but such a one as by meere accident fasteneth it selfe vpon some indiuiduall, whose carriage by reason of the meanenesse of hir bree∣ding and education, was neuer fortified with the retentiue rules and principles of Moralitie, without which the minde is alwaies very dangerously sicke of a con∣tinuall Dysenterie. And thus I thinke that want of Secrecie is as incident to Men and found as often in their bo∣somes, as in any of this Sex. Wherefore I come now to the next thing, which is questioned, and that is the sincerenesse
and constancie of their affections.
Of their affections.
THey be like looking-glasses, say their aduersaries, which represent no ob∣iect longer then it stands before them, and not then, but with some flatterie or deceit. Their words are like the Syrens, neuer vttered but to worke some wracke, their teares like the Crocodiles, neuer shed, but to purchase some occasion to be cruell They haue as the French-man saith, Visage d'Ange, the shape and sem∣blance of an Angell; but alas teste de Di∣able, & oeil de Basilie. The braines of a Di∣uell, and the eye of a Basiliske. The Tus∣can giueth vs in a little Volume their liue∣ly Caracter, Di di si, èfà di nò. Their thoughts are neuer seconded by their Words, nor followed by their Deedes. They come many times foorth hand in
hand, as if they did intend to tread one measure, but as in Galliard, they fall off on a suddaine and forsake each other. They neuer eie one another but a squint, and are then most distant from each o∣thers view, when they seeme to face each other most. In all their actions like the Crab, they looke one way, but goe another. And therefore say they, Ci dice donna, dice danno. He that nameth a Lasse, in effect nameth a Losse; and in our natiue language Woman carrieth no other sound with it, then Mans Woe. The Latines to shew the softnesse, but withall the swiftnesse of their affections, say she was called mulier quasi mollis aer; and for confirmation of this fantasticall Etymologie, that of Petrarch is allea∣ged.
But let them shew me an affection more syncere then that of Iulia, the daughter of C. Caesar towards hir hus∣band Pompey the great, who when his garment was brought hir from the field all stained with blood, out of the feare she had of his well doing, fell straight into abortion, and by and by expired, the fruit of hir wombe seruing but as a Prologue to hir owne ensuing Tragedy. Let them shew me I say, one more graue and setled, then that of Portia towards Brutus, who scorning to suruiue his ho∣nour, and seeing Iron was denied hir, made burning coales the conuoye of hir Spirit to hir deceased loue. In a word, let them shew me one, more firme and con∣stant, then that of Hipsicratea towards Mithridates, who desiring no better for∣tune, then should follow him, was con∣tent to vaile hir beautie vnder a manly habit, and withall to exercise hir daintier limbes on horsebacke, and in deedes of armes, that she might the better partici∣pate
with him in the dangers and crosse occurrences of his warres. The conside∣ration of which hir loyaltie, was such a comfortable cordiall to him in that wretched and miserable estate, wherein he was, when he fled from the victori∣ous sword of Cn. Pompeius, that cum do∣mo, & penatibus vagari se eredidit, vxore simul exulante. He thought himselfe, not∣withstanding he were no better then a fugitiue, sole Lord of heauen and earth by the fruition of hir company. Agatho∣cles, King of Sictlie finding himselfe well nigh disseazed both of life and State by his rebellious Nephue, prouided all things that were necessary, for the trans∣portation of his Wife Theoxena into E∣gypt, from whence he had hir. But she most affectionately besought him not to furnish Slander, with so faire a parallell for his kinsmans parricide, as hir depar∣ture. Nubendo se non prosperae tantum, sed omnis fortunae inisse societatem. That by Marriage shee had not made hir selfe a companion for him onely in prosperity,
but in all aduerse chances whatsoeuer. Neither was she vnwilling to buye the embracing of his latest breath, with the hazard of hir owne. This puisne age of ours affordeth the like example in Isabel∣la, sister to Charles the Emperour, and wife to Christierne King of Denmarke, whose discontented subiects, when they had degraded him from that royall dig∣nitie; would willingly haue conferred the types thereof vpon hir: but she most valiantly refused them; thinking it a grea∣ter honour, and more beseeming the dutie of a Wife, to leade a languishing life in exile with hir husband, then to liue a Princesse in the highest transcendent of all Soueraignetie without him. What should I speake of Artemisia, or Alceste, when Prouinces peopled with Women of no lesse integritie towards their Hus∣bands, expose themselues vnto our view? Those of Mynia in Thessalie, when their husbands according to the laws of Spar∣ta, were by night to suffer death for their ambitions, and vngratefull vsurpa∣tion
ouer that Citie, vnder pretence of speaking with those cōdemned wretches before their execution, entred the prison, and hauing changed garments with them, vailing their faces vnder a shew of griefe, made meanes for their escape, themselues remaining in their place to a∣bide with constancie, whatsoeuer the deluded Magistrate should inflict vpon them, for this their bold attempt. Con∣rade. III. After he had compelled Guel∣phus, D. of Bauaria to open to him, and to his forces the gates of Winsbergh, and to yeelde vp the towne to his mercie, granted vpon some easie entreatie, that the Duchesse, and such other Matrons as were there, should depart vntoucht, and carrie with them whatsoeuer they could conueniently vpon their shoulders: whereupon forgetting their precious or∣naments, and such things as Women v∣sually most delight in, and charging themselues immediately with no other burthen, then with their Husbands, they forsooke the place; which pious act of
theirs so mollified the heart of the Em∣perour, that hee caused them to bee brought backe, & cancelling the wrongs & iniuries which had incited him to that sieg, receiued the Duke into his fauor, re∣stored him to his dignity, and seated him againe without any charge or innouati∣on at all in his auncient gouernment. But I will now retire a little from these softer Virtues, which can no more be separated from this Sex, then whitenesse from the Swanne; and curtaine vp a while the Table, in which I haue hitherto labour∣ed, as with the pencile of Apelles to giue each foule-mouthd Mantuanist the liue∣ly representation of Womens perfecti∣ons in a louely Venus, whilst I endeuor hereafter withall the art I can, to limme them foorth in an armed Pallas, sprung out of the very head of Ioue, and endued with such learning, wisdome, courage, and other the like abilities, which Men, o∣uerwhelmed with self-conceit presump∣tuously entitle Masculine, as being es∣sentiall to themselues alone, that they
may iustly challenge the garland euen from the greatest worthies, as in briefe shall plainly appeare.
Of their Learning.
LEarning in the brest of a Woman, is likened by their Stoicall aduersaries to a sword in the hands of a Mad-man, which hee knoweth not how to rule as reason shall informe him, but as the mo∣tions and violent fits of his distempera∣ture shall enforce him. It doth not bal∣last their Iudgements, but onely addeth more saile to their ambition; and like the weapon of Goliah, serueth but as an instrument to giue the fatall period to their Honours ouerthrow. And sure∣ly this fond imagination hath purcha∣sed a free inheritance to it selfe in the Bosomes of some vndiscreeter Parents, who hereupon will by no meanes endure
that their daughters should be acquain∣ted with any kinde of literature at all. The Pen must be forbidden them as the Tree of good and euill, and vpon their blessing they must not handle it. It is a Pandar to a Virgine Chastitie, and be∣tray eth it, by venting foorth those ama∣rous Passions, that are incident to hotter bloods, which otherwise, like fire raked vp in embers, would peraduenture in a little space be vtterly consumed. But if this be their feare, let them likewise barre them the vse of their needle: with this did Philomela fairely character those foule indignities, which had bin offered hir by Tereus the incestuous husband of hir sister Progne; and why then may not others expresse their loues, and their af∣fections in the like forme? Cupid hath wings, and like another Daedalus, if his passage be stopped by land and water, he will cut through the aire, but he will be Maister of his desires. You cannot hinder his Pinnions from Soaring hie, by depri∣uing him of a quill or twaine. Affection
is ingenious, and can impe them, as it pleaseth hir. Leander will not for a Helles∣pont be kept from Heros kisses, nor Dae∣nae by a brasen Tower from Iupiters em∣braces. Be Iuno neuer so iealous, Loue hath a Mercurie, that can at all times de∣lude hir Spies.
Et quid non fiet, quod voluere duo?
To conuerse with the dead, and this is to conuerse with Bookes, hath bin still accounted the readiest way to moralise our harsher natures, and to weane them from all inbred Barbarisme to more hu∣mane and ciuill conuersation. And hence it was, that Iulius Agricola, when he had obtained the gouernment of this our Isle that he might abasethe fierce and fiery temper of the inhabitants, whose know∣ledge could demonstrate nothing but by armes, tooke from the nobler Britons their sonnes, and trayned them vp in all the liberall Sciences, whereby hee made them willingly submit themselues to the Romane Empire, and not prone
to rise so often vp in armes as formerly by reason of their rough-hewen dispositions they had accustomed to doe. Now I see no hinderance why they should not pro∣duce the same effect in them, which they doe in vs, their bodies consisting of the same matter, and their mindes comming out of the same molde.
But if those prohibitions proceed from a prouidence in them to preuent a curi∣ous desire of searching further into the Cabinets of Minerua, then is fitting, an errour incident to capriocious, and work∣ing Wits, such as they would haue Wo∣mens for the most part to be, let them shew me what Men are free from the like weakenesse.
Knowledge is infinite, and admitteth no bounds. It is Iacobs ladder, and rea∣cheth from the lowest part of the Earth, to the highest place in Heauen. Mans Thoughts are like those Angels, which were seene by the Patriarch in his Visi∣on, neuer at a stand, but still going either vp or downe. And therefore Salomon a∣nouncheth,
that Qui addit scientiam, ad∣dit & dolorem; an acquist of learning bringeth with it an encrease of labour. For the more a man attaineth vnto, the more hee seeth to bee attained, and so not content with any former purchase, wearieth out himselfe in pursuite of that, which is behinde. Nil actum credens, cum quid sibi cernit agendum. Those that are altogether vnfurnished of this diuiner complement, are as the Italian termeth them humanate beftie, things that resem∣ble reasonable creatures only in the bark and rinde, and could not possibly be di∣stinguished from Statues made of clay and marble, but by their outward sense and motion. These are they, which like Aesop's Cock, spurne at the Iewell, which they cannot prize, and such were Nero, Domitian, Clisthesnes, who as Tacitus re∣porteth, Virtutem ipsam excindere concu∣pientes; studying as much as in them lay, how to bring Vertue herselfe vnto the Blocke, made Philosophie a capitall offence, and put to death, those Profes∣sours
of Wisdome and good Arts, which betimes did not retire themselues from the reach of their infernall rage. And such as these, no doubt are those, or at lest not many degrees short of them, who out of an idle supposition of their owne addle braines thinke learning a thing su∣perfluous in any. For as it is a plaine te∣stimony of Ignorance it selfe to know no∣thing: so is it an ample signe of Dulnesse to rest satisfied with the knowledge of a∣ny something. Adams fingers, notwith∣standing Gods menaces, will bee still it∣ching at the forbidden Tree: The Chil∣dren of Israel for all the threatning Pro∣clamations which Moses doth divulge a∣mongst them from the Lord, will hardly be restrained from aduancing forward at the mount of Sinai. The Bethshemites will be peering into the Ark, though the liues of more than 50000. of them bee made the forfeiture of their presumption. Di∣uine S. Augt stine will bee diuing into the mystery of the Trinity, till he see a childe become the censurer of his folly: & holy,
Daniel will trouble himselfe in searching after the condition of future times, till an Angell from Heauen will him to stand vpright in his place. In a word, it so be∣witcheth vs, that wee grow desperate in the chase. Plinie will haue no other Vrne, then the mountaine Vesuuius for his ashes, when hee cannot finde out the reason of his flames: nor Aristotle any o∣ther Sepulcher than Euripus, when ang∣ling for the hidden causes of his ebbes & flowes, he seeth nothing will hang vpon his hooke. And vpon this intemperancy of Men, was grounded peraduenture that Morall precept of Antiquities, Noli altum sapere, Aime not at things beyond your reach, as likewise that admonition of S. Pauls. Be wise vnto sobrietic. From al which premises I gather this conclusion, That meats might as well bee forbidden women for feare of surfetting, as the vse of learning for feare of ouerweening, unlesse we our selues will bee content to bee registred with them, as liable to the like miscarrying, in the same role. But I
heare our Aduersaries crie out, what a prodigious thing it was counted among the Romanes for a woman to speake in publike, and when it happened, what speepy recourse they had vnto their Au∣gures to know what disastrous fortune so strange an accident might portend to their Common-weale. Against which particular Custom of a people, which for Wit and Valour might boast themselues the legitimate children as well of Mercu∣rie, as of Mars, I will say nothing, though I could easily shew with what good suc∣cesse the Daughter of Hortensius pleaded the Matrons cause, to the freeing of them from the greatest part of that greeuous taxation, which the Trium-viri had most iniuriously imposed vpon them. As like∣wise how Amaesia Sentia, being arraigned before L. Titius then Praetor, pleaded so stoutly and exactly to euery point of her Inditements, that she acquitted herselfe, maugre the power of her enemies, with the generall applause of all.
To that, wherewith they vrge vs out
of holy Writ, touching the restraint of their teaching, and speaking publikely in the Temples, I answer that the blessed Apostle in that to the Corinthians. 1. Ep. 14. vers. 34. alludeth onely to some igno∣rant and prating Gossips, who when at∣tention should bee given to the dispen∣sers of Gods mysteries, are continually asking to their own hurt, and others hin∣derance, such friuolous questions, as on the instant are begotten in their idle Braines. And in that to Timothie, 1. Ep. 2. vers. 12. where hee permitteth them not to teach, because, as they would haue it, Semel docuit, & omnia subuertit; Shee taught but once, and that once brought all things out of order, he doth but vtter his owne opinion, and howsoeuer hee al∣low not of it, yet he doth not condemne it: So that his meaning, as I take it, there, is onely this; They should not when men of sufficiencie are in place, and such as can discharge the duties that ap∣pertaine to so high a calling, vsurpe ouer their authority. For otherwise the Scrip∣ture
informeth vs, that Deborah was a Prophetesse, and that Anna the Daugh∣ter of Phanuel. Luke 2. vers. 37. neuer stir∣red out of the Temple, but spent therein both day and night, in prayer & fasting, and speaking feruently of Iesus Christ the Sauiour of the world, to all that waited for their deliuerance in Ierusalem. And indeede the light of the Moone is neede∣lesle; when the Sunne is in his Transcen∣dent, but if hee bee gone, her Beames, though not so pregnant, will affoord much comfort. Apollos may be eloquent and mighty in the Scriptures, Priscilla yet may take him vnto her, and expound vnto him the waies of God more plain∣ly.
But Scientia inslat; Knowledge puffeth vp, and there is nothing, say our oppo∣sites, more swelling and imperious, than a Woman, that seeth shee hath the su∣periority and start of her Husband in any thing:
—Faciunt grauior a coactae Iuu. Sat. 6. Imperio Sexus; minimum{que} libidine peccant.
As if they should conforme themselues to mens weakenesses, and patterne out their owne Abilities by their Defects. He that is depriued of his bodily sight, is content to bee led, though by a childe: and shall hee, that is blinde in his vnder∣standing disdaine to be directed by her, who by the ordinance of God, and the rules of sacred Wedlocke, is alotted him a fellow-helper in all his businesses? The Husband and the Wife are the eyes of a Familie; if the right one bee so bleared, that it cannot well discerne; the guiding of the Houshold must of necessity be left vnto the left, or on the sudden all will go to wracke. And surely I see no reason but the Henne may bee permitted to crowe, where the Cocke can doe nothing but cackle. So that learning, we see, is an or∣nament, and a decencie, most expedient for Women, were it for no other respect, then to supply, as occasion may require, the defects that are in Men. And truely some of them, by seconding a naturall propension in themselues to letters, with
an industrious pursuit, haue attained to so high a perfection in them, that men considering how imperiously they chal∣lenge a preheminence ouer them herein, haue had iust cause to blush at their own ignorance. There are some, which An∣tiquity obiecteth to our view, whose ma∣ny rare and profitable inuentions made them deserue the names of Goddesses heere on earth, as Pallas, Ceres, and the Sybills, whose mouth it pleased God ma∣ny times to vse as a sacred Oracle, where∣by to publish vnto the world, what hee purposed in his will. Others again, which haue had the tutoring of diuerse very fa∣mous and worthy persons, as Aspasia, Ma∣crina and Diotime, who by her prayers and deuouter sacrifices, prorogued a cer∣taine pestilence, which was then to light vpon the Athenians, till ten yeeres after. I could heere alleadge Nicostrata, the mo∣ther of Euander, who was the first that taught the Latines what letters were, as likewise Corinna, Sappho, Sulpitia, and the Schoole-mistresse of Pindare the Ly∣rike,
all of them worthy admiration for their excellencie in Poesie; but I desire not to trauell farre, for what I may pro∣cure neere home. A country-woman of our owne, hauing disguised herselfe into the habit of a Student tooke her iourney to Rome, where in a while she grew so fa∣mous for wit and knowledge, that from one degree of Dignity to another, shee stepped at length into Saint Peters Chaire and had the custodie of the Keyes. And this if their aduersaries like deafe Adders stoppe not their eares when Reason char∣meth, may very well suffice to maintaine them learned. Their Wisedome is the next, which men with their traducements would enuiously impeach, but you shall quickly see it vncanopied of those mistie clouds, which would obscure it, and shi∣ning out as cleere as brightest day.
Of their Wisdome.
WOmen are wise enough say their aduersaries, if they can but keepe themselues out of the raine. Indeede it would much aduantage men, if their vn∣derstandings were limited with such nar∣row bounds. Their imperfections would not furnish them with matter of laugh∣ter so readily as now they doe, nor their ablest virtues be so often ouermatched by them, as now they are.
It hath bin our pollicie from the begin∣ning to busie them in domestical affaires, thereby to diuert them from more seri∣ous imployments, in which if they had not surmounted vs, they would at least haue showne themselues our equals, and our parallels. Spinning, knitting, sowing, preseruing, & the like, as we would make them beleeue, are their chiefest peices:
But all ages haue affoorded some, whose Spirits being of a stronger temper, and harder edge, then to turne at such per∣swasions, haue trauailed beyond those Herculean Pillers, and made manifest to the world, that the Braines of a Serpent haue beene lodged in the Head of a Doue. For proofe hereof let vs search no farther into the bosome of Antiquitie, then those times, in which the pride and glory of Italie, sat chained, as a Trophie, on the victorious armes of the barba∣rous Gothes, and we shall finde, that there liued then amongst them Queene Ama∣lasunta, who with such wonderfull dis∣cretion and moderation so managed their harsher mindes, that she found not in them, all the while she raigned, the least rub or stoppe, which might inter∣rupt the smoother course of hir procee∣dings. After hir, we shall heare of Theo∣delinda, Queene of Lumbardie, a Wo∣man famous and much renowmed for hir singular virtue in the gouernment of State affaires; and after hir of Theodora,
the Grecian Emperesse, one not inferiour in Wisdome, or sufficiencie to the for∣mer. But that we may draw somewhat neerer home; what King or Prince al∣most of the latter daies, and make inqui∣rie through the largest part of Christen∣dome, did euer deserue to be compared to Isabella, Queene of Spaine. At hir first comming to the crowne, she found the greatest part of hir Estate in the hands of the greatest, which notwith∣standing shee recouered in so iust and peaceable manner, that they, whom she dispossessed, continued most affectionate vnto hir, and were willing to forgoe, what formerly they had willingly vsur∣ped. After this she did not onely defend hir owne Kingdomes from the powerfull inuasions of forraine enemies, but with∣all enlarged them to hir perpetuall ho∣nour, by the glorious acquist of the king∣dome of Granado: besides all which there was in hir, as is credibly recorded by such as knew hir, such a diuiner kinde of Maiesty, as drew from hir Subiects all
dutifull respect, and put the most rebelli∣ous, without any stirre, or tumult, in minde of their obedience: withall such a discerning iudgement in the choise and election of Ministers fit for those places, in which she meant to employ them, which as the Poet saith, is the chie∣fest Art that belongeth vnto Soue∣raignetie.
And afterwards so liberall a minde to reward the worthinesse of their desarts, that since, there haue bin few in Spaine of any note or credit, which were not of hir creation. Gonsaluo, the great Cap∣taine, did more highly value himselfe for the happinesse he had to be preferred by hir, then for all the famous victories, and worthie Acts, which made him honour∣ed of all Men both in Peace and Warre. So that in a word, the glory and the repu∣tation, which Ferdinand hir husband got by hir, was no lesse a Dower, then the Kingdome of Castile. What should I speake of Queene Anne of France, a La∣dy
of no lesse worth, then wealth, wife to two Kings, Charles and Lewis, but to neither of them any way inferiour, either in iustice, clemency, liberality, or holi∣nesse of life? What of Lady Margaret, Daughter to Miximilian the Emperour, who with no lesse wisedome, moderation and equity gouerned hir State a long time? Hungarie, Naples, Arragon, and Si∣cilie afford vs diuers examples of the like kinde; but since the winde is faire, I will disanchor from these forraine Coastes, and hauing hoisest vp my Sailes, make hast vnto our owne. And behold I am met vpon the shore by that wonder of hir Sex, Queene Elizabeth of happy me∣mory, of whom Tasso maks this honour∣able mention; That howsoeuer their owne ill fortune had decreed, she should be separated from the Church, neuerthe∣lesse saith hee, l'Heroiche virtu dell animo suo, & l'altezza dell ingegno mirabile le rendeua affectionatissimo ogni animo gen∣tile, & valoroso. The Heroicall virtues of hir Minde and the wonderfull profound∣nesse
of hir Wit, endeared euery noble and valorous disposition most affectio∣nately vnto hir. And indeede the world cānot produce a fairer example out of all Antiquities Court-roles, in which good∣nes was euermore equally matched with greatnesse; honestie with Policie; milde∣nesse with seueritie: liberality with fru∣galitie, or affability with maiesty: and in which we may see such prudence in go∣uerning; such moderation in comman∣ding; such readinesse in rewarding, such discretion in promising, such religion in performing. So that all hir abilities rightly considered we may say of hir, as was said of Greece, Sola factorum gloriā ad verborū copiā tetendit. She alone hath e∣qualled with hir deeds all that euer could be said of hir in words, and deserued that which Alexander wished, that Homers quil to be the Trumpet of hir Praises. But not to keepe hir Princely Ashes too long out of their Sacred Urne; I will onely vtter to the astonishment of Fame, that which the Muse of diuine du Bartas sung of hir
with admiration, stiling hir, & that with∣out flatterie.
And so I leaue this glorious Sun lodged in hir West, till she rise againe at the ap∣proach of the Sunne of glorie, to behold Queene Anne our gracious Soueraigne, whose virtue like that Starre in the East, drawes Princes, from a farre to doe ho∣mage and seruice to hir worthinesse. Let vs but consider with what wisdome and discretion she hath hitherto gouerned hir owne domesticall affaires, and from thence we shall presently conclude in hir
behalfe, as Artaxerxes, surnamed Mne∣mon, did in the behalfe of that poore man, who presented him with an apple of extraordinary bignesse, which when he had receiued with a chearefull coun∣tenance: and withall informed himselfe, that it was of his own planting. Persolem inquit, videtur hic mihi commissam sibi vr∣bem de parua magnam redacturus. Now by the Sunne, said he, were a Citie commit∣ted to this mans custodie, of a littel one he would surely make it great, of a meane one, mighty. I could here to stoppe the mouthes of our aduersaries produce the names of diuers honourable personages, which like blazing lights doe continual∣ly waite vpon this glorious Cynthia, and are eminent in the eyes of the world for sundrie notable graces and perfections; but I will now againe looke backe a little vpon those elder Times, and come to He∣lena the wife of Iohn, king of Cyprus, who perceiuing that hir husbands weakenesse was a blot whereon the greatest part of his nobility continually plaied, and that
the Kingdome was the stake at which they aimed, & which vnles hir better skil preuented, they by their false play were like to winne; shee tooke the gouerne∣ment into hir owne hands, to the release of the Land, and the reliefe of all hir sub∣iects. And surely where the sword doth rust for want of vse, or is so full of gaps and flawes, that it cannot well be vsed, I see no reason but the Distaffe should be suffered to supply the place. God, when the children of Israel, after the death of Ehud the Beniamite did euill in his sight, sold them into the hands of Iabin King of Canaan, who for twentie yeares most grieuously oppressed them, and when there wanted a Iudge for their deliue∣rance, he sent them vpon the crie of their lamentation, Deborah a Prophetesse, the wife of Lapidoth. Iud. 4. 4. by whose coun∣sailes and directions Barak, the sonne of Abinoam freed them from the cruell hand of Iabin, and the bloody sword of Sisera. And all the people, saith the Text, came vp as occasion compelled them to hir
dwelling vnder the Palme-tree, betweene Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim, and receiued iudgement from hir. I cannot therefore but condemne the Salique law, and taxe it of iniustice, by which the worthinesse of Women is excluded, as a thing altogether eccentricall from the crown of France. But leauing this, do we not see that the greatest Captaines, and the grauest commanders haue thought it no disparagement to their worth, to take a peece of the Fox from them, where∣with to peece out the Lion in themselues, for the safer effecting of their high des∣signes? Coriolanus whom neither the ma∣iestie of the Common-weale in the per∣sons of Embassadors, nor the reuerence of Religion in the countenance of the Priests could moue, was by their teares, like a hard Diamond with the blood of Goates, so mollified, that on the instant he did abate the edge of his furie, and tur∣ned the point of his weapon from the bo∣some of his vngratefull Countrey.
The Captaine of that Garrison, which
Hannibal had planted in Tarentum, was desperately en amoured of a certaine gen∣tlewoman, who had a Brother that ser∣ued at the same time in the Romane ar∣mie, vnder Fabius the Consul, which when he vnderstood, he commanded him as a fugitiue to hasten thither; where making vse of his sisters cunning flatteries he droue the Gouernour in a short time to betray the towne, which was com∣mitted to his custodie. To bee briefe, what had become of the two sonnes of Alexander, King of the Iewes, when immediately vpon their Fathers death, the incensed multitude, in reuenge of that hard and cruell slauery, wherein he had alwaies held them during his life, hastened to the Pallace with their weapons in a readinesse to destroy them; and had giuen those their tra∣gicall dessignes a bloody Catastrophe, but that a Womans wisedome on the sudden altered the Scene of their procee∣dings, and hatching a Doue out of a Ser∣pents egge, according to Sampsons riddle;
out of the fierce brought sweetnesse, and out of the deuourer meate, by casting the corps of hir deceased Lord into the middest of the market place, and telling them, that as in his life time she would willingly haue diuerted him from those tyrannicall and cruell courses, which had most iustly stirred them vp to anger a∣gainst him: so now, being dead, she was ready there with them to torture his wretched carkasle, and to fling it to the dogs; onely she intreated them to com∣miserate those little infants, which were so farre from being guiltie of any fault, that they could not possibly haue beene priuie to any fact. Which words of hirs wrought such an impression in their mindes, that they did not onely choose those children with one consent for their Soueraigne Lords, but afforded likewise honourable burial to the exposed corps. Nay what had become of the whole na∣tion of the Iewes, if the wisedome of Iu∣dith had not cunningly practised the harsh affections of Holofernes, and with
her speeches, actions and behauiour so enchanted his warlike Spirits, that hee minded no armes at all, but hers, which if at any time they happened to com∣passe him, hee thought himselfe no lesse than a glorious Planet in a golden Spheare?
Queene Cleofis, after she had yeelded her selfe to Alexander, redeemed by ly∣ing with him her lost kingdome; Illece∣bris saith Q. Curtius, consecuta quod virtu∣te non poterat, hauing obtained that of him by flatterie, which she could not keepe from him by force; And vndoubtedly there is no∣thing, if once they be pleased to employ their wits, in which they cannot very ea∣sily ouer-reach and gull the wisest and the ablest men. Dauid cannot so stifly re∣solue to reuenge him selfe on Nabal and his houshold, but Abigail will make him through her wise behauiour quickely re∣lent. Out of which consideration it may peraduenture be, and no worse, S. Aug. calleth them Muscipulas animae; latrones vitae: Mouse traps for our soules; Picke∣purses
of our affections. But I will here hang vp Fabius his Sheilde, to handle a while Marcellus his sword; and hauing spoken of their Wisedome, come now to treate of their Valour.
Of their Courage and Valour.
REuenge and cruelty are the Symp∣tomes of a sickly resolution, and cannot fasten vpon the Temperature of a minde, that is truly valorous. But these in Women, say their Aduersaries, haue, like vlcerous Cankers eaten into their ve∣ry marrow, and wrought such a generall corruption in all the powers and facul∣ties of their Soules, that there can not a∣ny Crisis possibly bee made of their reco∣uerie. The world doth not harbour in it a Creature more vindicatiue, saith the Poet.
For instance whereof they alledge Pa∣risatis, who hauing apprehended the Ca∣rien, that had cut the hamstring of Cyrus her younger Sonne, caused him for the space of tenne daies to bee continually tortured; after that, his eyes to be bored out: and finally molten mettle to bee poured into his eares, till he breathed his last in this miserable torment. Shee con∣demned Mithridates, who had wounded him in the temples, to that hellish tor∣ture of the Troughes, in which after hee had pittifully languished 17. daies toge∣ther, with much a doe hee died. As for Mefabates, who depriued him of head & hands, hauing wonne him at dice of her
sonne Artexerxes, she deliuered him to the Executioners, & commanded them to flay him aliue, and afterwards to teare his body in peeces, and to hang both his skinne and it on seuerall gibbets. The mother of Mahomet II. was so incensed a∣gainst Moses Bassa, who by the command of his Soueraigne had massacred her younger sonne, a childe but 18. yeares old, that nothing could appease her fu∣rie, till she had him, with hands and feete fast bound, deliuered vp vnto her; which being obtained, shee strooke him first into the brest with a knife, then made a hole in his right side, and by peece-meale cut out his Liuer, and cast it before his eyes to the Dogges to eate. These things considered, the Satyrist had reason, say our Opposites, to crie out:
Nor is it a thing to be much wondered at, say they, to see those so voide of mer∣cie, that are so full of feare. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; is a position out of check. The heart, that fainteth at the alarmes of an enemy, cannot possibly be recouered, vnlesse it drinke the Spirit of his blood. To mini∣ster any other aurum potabile, than this vnto it, is meere vanitie, and will pro∣duce but a weak effect. This alone is that extracted Quintessence, which beyond all Chymicall inuentions, must free it from those Paralyticall resolutions, and Epileptike convulsions, whereinto, vp∣on the very noise of his approach, it is al∣waies apt to fall. The Emperour Maurice in a dreame saw a Souldier, called Phocas, killing his Wife, his children, and after∣wards himselfe, with which Vision being sorely daunted, he enquired of his sonne
in law Philippicus if there were not such a fellow in the Armie, who tould him, yes; and withal that he was a roaring youth, but yet a very Crauen; Whereupon the Emperour concluded with a troubled countenance, that if he were a Coward, he would sure bee cruell. And indeede this argument may hold in men, in whom want of courage is occasioned ei∣ther by some diminution, ablation, or deprauation of the animall, and vitall spi∣rits; by reason whereof they neuer think themselues secure, till their enemies death signe the Quietus est, which must set them free from the dangerous pursuit of hazard and molestation: but in Wo∣men it must faile, from the quicknesse of whose apprehension, ariseth many times a suddaine fright, which vpon a more se∣rious consideration of the obiect doth as suddainly vanish. And thus let mee see if the Soule of the wisest & the worthiest man be able to resist the first conceits and fantasies that assaile him, and starteth not as out of a natural subiection, with much
palenesse and contraction at the noise of thunder, the vnexpected discharge of a Cannon, or the suddaine cracke of some great ruine. Sure it sufficeth here, as in other Passions, that his opinion remaine safe & sound, that the setlednes of his dis∣course vndergo no alteration or attaint, and that he giue not his consent to his affright and sufferance. I must confesse yet, there be many Vultures, Harpies, and hellish Furies amongst them, in whom as in Media, and the like, Passions are so predominant, that they make not a superficiall impression, but penetrate so farre into the seate of Reason as to in∣fect it, and corrupt it. But if things may be censured with indifferencie, our Ad∣uersaries will finde, that Crueltie euen in these, is not an imperfection of Nature, but a defect of breeding. Cyrus his Nurse, while he was young would now & then suckle him with the blood of Beasts and foules, that were newly kild, which bred such a habit in him, that being manlier growne, hee neuer returned from the
slaughter of his enemies, but hee licked his sword: Which barbarous and beast∣ly thirst of his, was an occasion that Ta∣miris hauing cut off his head, caused it to be cast into a tub of mans blood, with this exprobration of his crueltie. Satia te sanguine quem sitisti, cuiusque infatiabilis semper fuisti: Now glut thy selfe, inhumane Tyrant, with that, whereof heretofore, thou couldest neuer haue thy fill. The Plants of Eden, in the state of innocencie, were apt, it seem'd, to riot in their growth; the walkes and allies thereof were likewise subiect to be quickly defaced, and ouer∣shadowed with weedes, and therefore the Lord himselfe tooke care that Man should be put therein to keepe it, and to dresse it. And indeed it is the propertie of some vigorous and actiue Spirits, when they finde a vacation of good im∣ployments, to make themselues a Term∣time of bad. The brightest sword will quickly rust, if it be not vsed; The fatter the soile, the sooner will the fielde be o∣uergrowne with nettles and briers, if it
lye long fallow. Neglect is vrenda filix in∣nascitur agris. Nature, if she be not con∣tinually lopt and prun'd, will suddainly grow debauched. It is said of Scylla, that he was cupidus voluptatum, Much addicted to voluptuousnesse; sed gloriae cupidior; yet neuer, but when businesse of more im∣portance failed him. The like is likewise recorded of Demetrius, the sonne of An∣tigonus and diuers others. But I am led a little from my leuell. It appeareth out of all these premises, that to say Women because they be fearefull must of necessi∣tie be cruell, is a deceitfull conclusion; and that Crueltie, because it is found in the vntutoured bosomes of some fewe amongst them, must needs, like a beloued Guest, be inwardly harboured of them all, is a consequence, as voide of Charity as the other was full of Sophistrie. For as for the first.
And for the other, there can be no cer∣taine demonstration grounded vpon particular obseruation. But not to fol∣low Womens valour any longer afarre of, as Hippolytus did the Goddesse Venus, I will begin to court it at a neerer di∣stance, and make knowne in breife vnto the world, that amongst them are very many, which deserue a wreath of Bayes, as well as a garland of Roses; and to haue their Temples shrouded vnder the Oliue, as well as shadowed with the Lillie. Pli∣nie the younger had a neighbour, neere vnto a certaine house of his in Italy, won∣derfully tormented with certaine Vlcers, which had befallen him in those parts that were the occasion of our first Pa∣rents shame. His Wife in the end, con∣sidering how long hee languished, be∣sought him earnestly that shee might view his greife, and that she would more freely than any bodie else tell him in briefe, what he had to trust vnto; which when she had obteyned, she found it was impossible, he should euer be recouered,
and therefore counsailed him, as the sa∣fest and surest remedie, to kill himselfe. And finding him too soft for so rough an enterprise: Nay doe not thinke, said she, sweete friend, that the paines I see you suffer, concerne not me, as well as you, and that to free my selfe from them, I will not take the same medicine, I prescribe to thee. I will ac∣companie you in the Cure, as I haue done hi∣therto in the Care. Cast of this feare, and beleeue assuredly, that we shall meete but with pleasure in this passage, which must rescue vs from such torments. Come, my Loue, we will goe ioyfully together. This said, finding that shee had already warmed hir Hus∣bands courage, shee rosolueth from a window in their lodging to fling them∣selues headlong out into the Sea; and to maintaine euen to the end, this loyal and vehement affection, where with shee had euer formerly imbraced him, she would haue him dye within hir armes; and that hir strict enlacements, might not slacken either through the fall, or feare, shee cau∣sed him to be fast bound vnto hir mid∣dle,
and in this manner for the easing of his life, abandoned hir owne. But this was a Woman of meane ranke, and a∣mongst such, it is not so strange a thing to see now and than some traces of extra∣ordinarie goodnesse.
I will bring you others from the Palla∣ces of Princes, where (some say) Virtue seldome quartereth. Arria, wife to Ce∣cinna Poetus, when she saw, that hir Hus∣band afterthe ouerthrow of Scribonianus whose faction hee had followed against the Emperour Claudius, was led away by the souldiers as a prisoner, and that shee might not be suffered to accompany him in the same ship; hired vpon the instant a fisher-boate, and followed him in that manner from Sclauonia to Rome, where one day, Iunia the wife of Scribonianus accosting her in presence of the Empe∣rour somewhat familiarly by reason of
the Society of their fortunes, shee thrust her backe veryeagerly with these words. Heauens forbid that I should either speak or listen vnto thee, in whose lap Scriboni∣anus was slaine, and thou yet aliue. These and other the like words gaue her friends occasion to suspect, that shee was not minded to continue long, the slauish cap∣tiue of an insulting fortune. And heere∣upon did Thrasea her sonne in Law be∣seech her, not to lay violent hands vpon herselfe, asking her whether shee would be content that his wife her Daughter, if hee at any time should chance to runne the like hazard, which Cecinna did, should doe the like? whereunto shee answered, Would I? yes, yes, assure thy selfe I would had shee liued so long, and so peaceably with thee, as I haue done with him. These despe∣rate replies made them more narrowly obserue her gesture and demeanour: which when once shee had discouered. You doe wisely, said she, well may you make mee die more vneasily; but keepe mee from dying at all, you cannot; and therewith ri∣sing
furiously out of her chaire, she ranne her head against a post, and a while after being somewhat recouered of the blow; Did I not tell you, said she, that if you denied me an easie death, I would make choice of some other, how painefull soeuer it did prooue. The end of such an admirable vertue was this. Her husband Paetus was somewhat too faint-hearted, to preuent what the Tyrant had cruelly design'd against him, by doing it himselfe. One day therefore amongst other, hauing employed all the inducements, perswasions end exhort a∣tions that were fit for such a businesse, shee tooke the poynard which he wore, and holding it naked in her hand, for the conclusion of her discourse. Paetus, said shee, doe thus; and hauing vpon the very instant giuen herselfe a mortall stroake about the stomacke, and then snarching it out of the wound, presented it vnto him, as the Legacie of her affecti∣onate loue, with this noble, generous, and immortall encouragement, Paete non do∣let. Hold, take it Paetus, it hath not hurt me
at all. The Summe of which worthy sto∣ry is punctually comprized in this ensu∣ing Epigram. Mart. lib. 2. Ep. 14.
And vpon the instant he strucke himselfe with the same weapon; ashamed, in my opinion, that euer hee had needed so deere and precious an instruction. But shall I shew you a Rosie Bud, that will bloome no longer, than it may lie in the bed of winter: a Fire that burneth not but when cold water is cast vpon it: a Marigold, that openeth not, but at a set∣ting Sunne? looke then vpon that young and honourable Romane Lady, Pompeia Paulina, who hauing in the spring of her youth, matched herselfe with Seneca in
the full fall of his age, would not, after Nero had decreed his death, vpon any rearmes bee disswaded by him from dy∣ing with him. It was, she said, a necessa∣rie Iourney, and could neuer bee better vndertaken, then in his company. Seneca was much delighted with this glorious determination of hers, and told her, that he would not enuie her that honour: and withall, that howsoeuer there might be an equality of constancie and resolution in both of them towards their common end: the beauty yet, and glorie of the a∣ction would bee greater on her side then on his by farre. And so hand in hand af∣ter many sweete farewels taken, and soft embraces, they set themselues in a readi∣nesse to welcome death, and had their veines wide opened presently to let out life, to let in him.
Harmonia the Daughter of Hieron the Syracusan, would needes bee buried in those flames in which her Country bur∣ned. Mithridates knew not how to die, till his sisters had markt him out the way.
Asdrubal, though very valiant, was fain to take a precedent from his wife to free himselfe from his foe.
But I heare these magnanimous and high designes of theirs, traduced by our aduersaries, as if a dull and stupid igno∣rance of the danger which they vndergo, or some obstinate and selfe-willd humor to effect, what they vndertake, were the principall causes of their being. When indeede their true originall is an absolute and determinate will, to preserre honour and duety before all the dangers of the world, as the sequell in a more warrelike and martiall manner shall discouer vnto them.
Marulla a Maide of Coccinum in Lem∣nos, when Solyman Bassa thought vnexpe∣ctedly to haue surprized the Towne, took vp the weapons of her Father, whom she saw slaine before her in the gate, and did not onely reuenge his death vpon those that approached her, but kept out the Turke and all his forces, till the Citizens mooued with the alarme, made haste to
succour her. At the siege of Alba Rega∣lis, amongst other women was a tall Hungarian, who thrusting in amongst the souldiers, with a sithe in her hand, at one blow strucke off the heads of two Turkes, as they were climbing vppe the Rampier. At the battell of Coy, which was fought betweene Selymus the first, and Ismael, and for the terriblenesse ther∣of entitled by the Saracens themselues, The onely Day of Doome, were found in the fields of Calderan, amongst the heaps of men that were at that time slaine, the bodies of diuers Persian Women, who had armed themselues out of no other in∣tent, than to share with their Husbands in those bloody purchases. At the siege of Agria, the women shewed themselues no lesse valiant, then the men, in beating Mahomet from the wals, and massacring his Souldiers on euery side. One amongst the rest, taking from her dead Husband his Sword and Target, did sacrifice ther∣with immediately the liues of three of her enemies to his Ghost, and her owne
reuenge. But I will now muster vp whole armies from sundry Nations, of generous and warlike Lasses, such as shall con∣found our Aduersaries with their pre∣sence, and serue as a Test to discouer much weakenesse in the stourest Men. The Persians flying from the Medes, are met without their City gates by their Mothers and their Wiues, who taking vp their garments, demanded those fear∣full hares, Num in vteros matrum vel vxo∣rum vellent refugere, whether they thoght to shroud themselues from the pursuite of their enemies, within the compasse of those formes againe, or no? with which spectacle and speech of theirs, they grew so much ashamed of their owne saint∣heartednesse, that presently they turned head, and recouered the victorie which before they had most basely lost, out of the hands of their enemies. Philip the sonne of Demetrius, hauing besieged the Towne of Chio, caused Proclamation to be made, That as many slaues, as would flie from thence to him, should enioy
liberty, and with all their Masters wiues, which ignominious affront so incensed the women, that without delay they ran armed to the wals, and assaulted him so fiercely, that in short space they enforced him, which the men could neuer doe, to raise his Armie, and remooue his Forces, with no little losse of Ho∣nour, Labour and Expence. The very same persons, when their Hus∣bands were assaulted by the Erithraeans and their confederates, & finding them∣selues vnable to contend with them, were content vpon composition to de∣part out of Leuconia only with one shirt and one vpper garment: reproued them very sharpely, that they could endure, hauing forgone their weapons, to march naked through the squadrons of their e∣nemies, and wished them for the kee∣ping of their Oath, in stead of their clothes to take their sword & their shield, and to tell them that those were the pro∣per garments which belonged to men of valour. They obeyed them herein, and
with this their boldnesse so terrified the Erithraeans, that they were glad of their departure. The Inhabitants of Curzo∣la perceiuing the Turkish forces to ap∣proach, out of cowardly feare for sooke their towne, leauing behind them, not aboue twentie men, and fourscore Wo∣men, who with great courage defended the place, and in the end, seconded, as it were, by heauen with a tempest from the North, rescued it wholly from the violent assaults of those barbarous Ma∣hometanes.
Nicholas Serpietre, cheife Leader of the Ratians against Frier George Bb. of Va∣radine, in aide of Isabella, Qu: of Hunga∣rie, hauing most dishonourably lost, by reason of his feare and carelesse neglect, the greatest part of his Regiment, was for his basenesse so much distasted by his he∣roicke Wife, that shee did not onely re∣proue him, and that sharpely, for the same, but withall absented herselfe from him a long time, as loathing the society of one so degenerating from the straines
of true Nobilitie, as to preferre the safety of his life, before the safegard of his Ho∣nour. What shall I neede to shew, how the Saguntines in defence of their Coun∣trie, armed their dantier limbes against the troupes of Hanibal? or how when the Dutchmen were ouerthrowne by Marius, their Women being denied the fauour of liuing free in the seruice of the Vestall Virgins, slewe both themselues and their children; to shew how much they hated and detested a seruile subiection? The Celtes a people in France betweene the ri∣uers Garunna, and Sequana, before such time as hauing passed the Alpes they ob∣tained that part of Italie, which after∣wardes they inhabited, fell at ods a∣mongst themselues, with such implaca∣ble hatred, that it seemed nothing but the vtter ruine and extirpation of each other could alaie the tumult. But the women thrusting themselues into the middest of those factious leuies, tooke notice of their differences, and reconciled them with such equitie and dexteritie, that
they departed together from the fielde without the least signe of any former partialities amongst them; in honour of which their prowesse and wisedom, they admitted them euer after to al their con∣sultations both of peace and warre. And in the league which they made with Hannibal, it was articulated and agreed vpon, That if the Celtes should haue oc∣casion at any time to accuse the Cartha∣ginians of wrong offered, the Carthaginian Captaines and Commanders in Spaine should haue the hearing of the busines; But if the Carthaginians should complain of the Celtes, the knowledge of the cause should bee by reference committed to their Women. What should I speake of Tamyris amongst the Scythians: of The∣oxena amongst the Greekes; of Octauia, Portia, Caia, Cecilia, Cornelia or of Cloelia amongst the Romanes: all of an extraor∣dinary temper, and sprightly carriage, but the last, euen by Posena, the profes∣sed enemie of her Countrey, for her stoute and valiant attempts against him∣selfe,
so much admired, that hee presen∣ted her with a Horse, the onely honou∣able reward of a true martiall Virtue? The French talke of Iane la pucelle? who when the Kingdome of France in the time of Charles the VII. lay panting for want of breath vnder the burthen of our English armes, couragiously releiued it, and hauing chased the forces of the Duke of Bedford from Orleans caused the King her Soueraigne to be crowned at Rhemis, and set him afterwards in peaceable pos∣session of all his Territories. Haue wee not in our owne Confines, that princely Voadicia, for in this point I will not men∣tion any later times, who with her war∣like Amazonians maintaind the reputa∣tion of her State, and kept it long on foot against the feirce inuasion of the Ro∣manes? And therefore as our English Poet saith. Spencer F. Q. lib. 3. Can. 2.
But I haue drawne this wire out too farre, I wil now therfore breake it off, and in a little modell expresse the large re∣mainder of this worke.
THucydides was of opinion that an ho∣nest and vertuous Woman should as charily cloister vp hir Fame from the Eares of Men, as she would hir Face from their Eyes. But Gorgias was of an∣other minde. For though he would not haue their Beauties seene; hee was con∣tent their virtues might be knowne. And Plutarke much approueth those Romane Lawes, which permitted Women as well, as Men, according to their desart, and dignitie, to be publikely praised, at the
solemnizing of their Funerals. For how∣soeuer Aristotle affirme, that nature in∣tendeth alwaies to produce that, which is most perfect, and therefore willingly would still bring foorth the Male, coun∣ting Females, it should seeme, like those, that are borne blinde and lame, or any o∣ther way defectiue, the prodigious er∣rours and mistakings of hir operations: Howsoeuer likewise their aduersaries would depriue them of that glorious ca∣racter of Gods diuinitie imprinted in the heart of Man at his creation; because it is said in the 1. Cor. 11. v. 7. That man is the Image, and glory of God; but Woman is the glory of the Man; And hereupon would conclude, that their whole Sex is but an ample demonstration of natures Crazi∣nesse, and their owne vnworthinesse: Plato yet maintaines, that if there be a∣ny distinction betwixt their sufficiencie: and ours, it is not essentiall, but acciden∣tall, & such a one as is grounded meere∣ly vpon vse. And therefore, saith hee, as both the Hands are by nature alike fit
for all manner of actions, till applicati∣on and imployment bring in a difference of Right and Left. So Women and Men haue in them the same aptitude and abi∣litie for the well managing of ciuill and militarie places, and it is exercise alone, which begets dexteritie in the one and the other. Which example he drew peraduenture from the doctrine of the Pythagorians, who diuided all things in∣to good and euill; and in the ranke of those that were good, placed the Right∣hand, the Male, and that which was li∣mited and finite: in the ranke of those that were euill; the Left-hand, the Fe∣male, and that which was infinite. But o∣mitting this, his conclusion is, That as those bodies are most perfect, and fitting for euery action, which can, if occasion require, as well apply their left-hand to the businesse, as their right: so is that Common-wealth the most absolute which for good gouernment can make vse of Women, as well as of Men.
It is an Axiome in Schooles, whereof
no quaere can be made, That Substantiae non recipiunt aut maius, aut minus. Sub∣stances admit not either more or lesse: wherefore as one stone cannot be said to be more a stone, then another, so farre as concerneth that essentiall forme, which giueth a being to them both: no more can one man be said to be more perfectly Man then another. And so by conse∣quence the Male shall not be thought more worthy then the Female, in regard of his essence, because they be compre∣hended both vnder one kinde: but if in any thing he haue the start, and aduan∣tage, it is merely by accident, and no way else. As concerning that foreallea∣ged position of Aristotles, I confesse it is true, that nature in the production of things doth continually minde the per∣fectest; & therefore intendeth the bring∣ing foorth of Man in his kinde, but not Male more then Female. For if she should alwaies produce the Male, shee should commit an extraordinary incongruitie; because as from the bodie, and the soule, ariseth a compound more noble, then his
parts, which is Man: so from the compa∣ny of Male & Female doth redound like∣wise a compound, which is the onely pre∣seruer of humane generation, without which the parts would soone decay. Male and Female therefore, are by na∣ture alwaies together, neither can the one exist without the other. One Sex al∣one is an argument of imperfection; and therefore the Heathens did attribute both of them to God. Orpheus said of Iu∣piter, that he was Male and Female. So that the graces and abilities which are in them, howsoeuer they may varie in some outward traces and lineaments, are in forme and substance the same with ours. Let vs consider if the magnificencie of of Semiramis and that of Sesostris; the subtiltie of Tanaquil, and that of Seruius; the courage of Porcia, and that of Brutus; of Timoclea, and that of Pelopidas; doe not resemble one the other very neerely. Vir∣tue may alter now and then hir habit, but she will neuer change hir hew; the na∣ture and condition, the temperature and
constitution, the diet and course of life of those in whom she abideth, doe but fur∣nish hir a wardrobe of so many seuerall suites and shapes wherewith at hir plea∣sure she disguiseth hirselfe in outward appearance. Achilles was valiant in one kinde, Aiax in another: Nestors wise∣dome, and that of Vlysses were not alike. Agesilaus and Cato were both iust, but not in the same manner. Eirene loued hir Husband otherwise then Alcestis. Corne∣lias magnanimitie was of a differing straine from that of Olympias: yet not∣withstanding al this there is but one For∣titude, one Prudence, one Iustice. The diuersitie of the operation ariseth onely from the varietie of the Organe. But self-conceitednesse hath like a canker eaten into the hearts of Men, and possessed them with such an admiration of their owne sufficiencie, that they looke but with a scornefull eye vpon the sufficien∣cie of others. In choise of Wiues they re∣spect not any virtuous qualities. They account them but impertinences, and
things of little vse. Hath she wealth, she cannot possibly be without worth.
They take vpon them to bee their Heads, and therefore if they proue not as they ought, the blame must light vp∣on themselues. If Vashti bee disobedient, let Assuerus be blamed, for commanding hir that, which being contrary to the Lawes of Persia, did not beseeme hir mo∣destie to doe. The eye is in fault if the foote doe stumble. The Chariot of the Sunne, as I said before was glorious, and did afford much comfort, but when Pha∣eton
had the guiding of it, his vnaduised rashnesse set all things in combustion. It is here as it is at Irish, if we haue a bad cast, we must seeke to better it by good play. If a woman be sharpe and sower in hir conuersation, it becommeth Man with the mildenesse of his behauiour, mingling as it were Oyle with Vineger, to qualifie the tartnesse, and like a skilfull Chirurgion, neuer to apply a Cataplasme where hee sees an oyntment will serue the turne. If she be obstinate and selfe-wild, he must remember the Apologue, that the blustring Winde the stiffer hee sought to blow the Trauailers Cloake from him, the straighter he made him binde it to him: whereas the Sunne by shining gently vpon him so preuailed, vt praeaestu simul cum pallio tunicam exueret, that through ouermuch heate, with his Cloake he did likewise put of his Coate.
Saith the Comicke.
Passions in women are like wilde beasts sooner tamed by following, then ouer∣throwne by withstanding. Tumours and inflamations are but exasperated by Corrosiues, the readiest way to recouer them is by lenitiues.
He must not thinke to vse them, as E∣sops Labourer did his God, from whom he then wrung most, when he did most wrong him. It is otherwise here.
This is that field of Bio's, which if you praise it, will yeelde more fruite, then when you plough it.
If she be light and wanton, and that the freenesse of hir carriage make him suspect the fairenesse of hir conscience, let him conceale it closely, and remember how Ioseph, whan hee doubted the B. Virgins faith, would not make hir a pub∣like example, but determined with him∣selfe to put hir away priuily: and this was noted in him as an effect of iustice, and vprightnesse by the H. G. it selfe. Priuate admotions, like precious balmes, are sel∣dome applied but with good successe: churlish restraints are of another na∣ture.
Like whetstones they set an edge vpon the dullest appetite, and are oftentimes the occasioners of misdeedes in such as neuer thought to step awry.
Prohibitions in this kinde are but pro∣uokings. Besides they are to little pur∣pose. For as our English Poet saith.
Let him consider likewise if his owne Lordlynesse bee not a maine efficient of her lewdnesse. For indeede,
Mildnesse and Affabilitie are the true Parents of legitimate Affections; all o∣ther Complements and seruiceable De∣monstrations are but impostures; and to speake truely, the bastard issue of Sinister and Side Respects. Witnesse our witty Epigrammatist. Mart. lib. 2. Epig. 55.
All Cynicall rigour therefore and au∣sterity must bee quite diuorced from the nuptiall yoke. A Stoicall brow, a chur∣lish accent, or a countenance any way Tyrannicall, and which shall seeme to exact obseruance, is the bane and poison of amorous embracements. The anci∣ent
Pagans did alwaies place the Statues of Perswasion, and the Graces neere to that of Venus, to shew, That married peo∣ple should by faire demeanour and soft entreaty, without brawling or conten∣tion obtaine their desires at each others hand. Isaac that blessed Patriarch, was seene by Abimelech as hee looked out at a window, to sport himselfe with his Re∣baccah; An example confounding the ar∣rogant behauiour of such, as will not re∣member, that the woman was taken out of the side of man, to bee rankt in equall estimation with him; and not out of his foot, to become litier for his proud and insolent ambition to wallow on. They are not al of them Saints, I must confesse, but such as haue their imperfections & defects, as well as we; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, saith Plato, There is no sweete, but hath some sower: The wine is not without his Lees; and the Bee, as it hath Hony, so it hath a Sting.
But whosoeuer shall neglect them for these, resembleth those, who for one ill∣rellishing grape forbeare the whole clu∣ster; or because they haue been scratched with the Bush will forgoe the Berry. But were they neuer so crooked in their car∣riage, neuer so deformed in their conuer∣sation, that well-tempred Wisdome, by reason wherof men challenge such a pre∣heminence ouer them, should easily, me thinkes, worke some amendment. For though not euery Beast in the Forrest, nor euery Tree in the wood, can be tho∣roughly stripped of their wilder nature; the Hunts-man notwithstanding out of those, and the Gardiner out of these, will finde a meanes to reape some profit. The water of the sea is vicious, and vnfit for drinke; Fishes yet make it their nourish∣ment, and Mariners, as well, as Mer∣chants vse it as chariot to carry them into
farre countries. In a word, no sublunary thing is more needefull vnto man, than fire: It affoordeth him both Light and Heat, yet if the Satyre bee too busie with it, he may peraduenture burn his beard. The Physician can extract a cordiall out of the deadliest poyson; and out of the basest minerall a noble Quintessence. But men are so farre from this, that wo∣men to countenance their basest actions can bring Precedents from home. Ahabs weaknesse was a cause of Iezabels vnwor∣thinesse. Such a one is proud and haugh∣ty, but if you marke her well, you shall finde, her husband is the Glasse by which she trimmeth herselfe.
—in vulgus manant exempla regentum; Vtque ducū lituos, sic mores castra sequuntur.
The deedes of men in authority, are al∣waies Patrons for those of lower ranke. A subiect vsually eies nothing but the ex∣ample of his Superiour. Doth Aristotle stammer? those that are vnder him will affect it as a soueraigne grace: Is Plato any thing crooke shouldred? hee shall haue
many that will imitate him. Hath Alex∣ander the great a peculiar writhing of his necke? no doubt but Hephestion out of his loue would willingly seeme to haue the like. It is the nature of true affection not onely to palliate and disguise the ble∣mishes of a friend, but with all to ioy in them somerimes.
—Balbini polypus Agnam
Delectat—and to make them often the subiects of setled imitation. Is there any tumour therefore or inflammation in the Leg, or other inferiour parts of the bo∣die? let vs see if the defluction which causeth it, proceede not from the Head, Where there is a neere coniunction, no maruaile if there happen a sudden in∣fection.
One scabbed sheepe may marr a faire flocke, one measled hogge endanger a whole heard. The clearest eye many times by viewing onely that which is
bleared, becomes abnoxious to the like perill. Let vs not complaine then like that foolish fellow, of a paine in the Hand, whē there is an impostume in the Head. If we would haue women without spots, let vs keep our selues without staines. But here our aduersaries crie out,
Little auaileth the wisedome of the In∣chanter, if the Adder be not disposed to listen. What effect can either Precept, or Precedent produce in those, who haue armed themselues with a willful Re∣solution, to put by all good counsell and perswasion? Oleum perdit & impensas, qui bouem mittit ad ceroma; saith the Prouerb, An Oxe will neuer prooue a Wrestler, vse what care and cost you can. Let your plees bee neuer so well tempered with wise∣dome and discretion, your speeches sa- 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉
Let him spie one wrinckle on her brow, And he shall streight his Mistris disauow: Let her skin writhell; let her eye-sight faile, Her teeth wex yellow; or her cheeks look pale; Packe huswife, hence, this honest man shal say; Out of my doores; dispatch, vse no delay; Your dropping nose occasions my disdaine, I must haue one, that hath a dryer braine.
For there are, which make Virtue the marke whereat they leuell; Let vs but listen a while, and wee shall heare many tragically sighing out, what Demenetus vttered in the Comedie, Argentum accepi, dote imperium vendidi; I haue gotten monie but I haue purchased miserie, and for a large Portion forgone my libertie. M. Aurelius will not dare though, to cast himselfe in∣to the loose embraces of a Strumpet, so she bring an Empire to him for her dow∣rie. Many of lower ranke, out of a co∣uerous desire to soder vp a crackt estate, let not to doe the like; but in the ende they may crie out with Esau, The pottage hath refresht me, but my birthright's gone. Plaut. in Aulul.
Let all things be rightly considered, and we shall finde that rich wiues are but bils of charge. She that hath no such addi∣tion to make her weigh will be continu∣ally readie to conforme herselfe in all things to her Husbands will; but shee that hath the start in that, will haue it in all things else, or the whole house shall perish in her Furie.
Intoler abilius nihil est quàm foemina diues.
There can be no greater torture to a man, then to bee matched to a woman whose fortunes are of a higher built roofe than his owne. Iuv: lib. 2. Sat. 6.
Beautie therefore is vaine, and riches are deceitfull, saith (Pro. 31.) the H. G. but a woman that feareth the Lord, shee shall be praised. She openeth her mouth with wisedome, and in her tongue is the Law of kindnesse. Hir Husband shall be knowne in the Gates, when he sitteth a∣mong the elders of the Land. The frailty of the first is fully characterd in this ensu∣ing Poem, occasioned, it should seem, by some great and suddaine alteration dis∣couered in the Subiect, which for the co∣respondencie it holds with this discourse I will heere wholly insert.
As for the vanitie of the last, I will take Martiall for my Patron, who being con∣demned by a friend, for hauing refused to marrie with a wealthie Widow, retur∣ned him his reasons in this pithie Epi∣gramme.
But the Couvre-feu Bell hath alreadie rung, and it is now time the Draw-bridge of this our Sanctuarie were puld vp, and the gates thereof shut in. Such as had Oyle in their Lamps are already entred; If any seeke admission hereafter, whatso∣ere their allegations be, they must attend a Iubile for a second opening; till when to stoppe the mouthes of their aduersa∣ries, most whereof, like Euripides, though they raile vpon them at the bord, are well contented with them in the Bed, I publish here in a little volume, this poeti∣call Character of their worthinesse.
Nor takes, nor leaues hir dignity, and crowne For any vulgar fawne, or baser frowne,
I lik'd thy body as I did thy minde Whilst in thy bosome I no craft did finde; But those vile cankers, which haue gnawn thy soule Haue marr'd thy fauor) made thy beau∣ty foule.
Within the temple prostrate on thy face, Offer the gods thy prayers in any case; To Iuno then, vvith loud, but hallowed cries, A horne-guilt Heifer see thou sacrifice, If thou a wife hast got, that's free from blame, Chast in hir life, and spotlesse in hir name; So few there be, whose purer worth appeares Such as may claime the garlands Ceres weares.
T' was not the state, nor soueraigntie of Ioue Could court hir chast affectiōs from hir loue; Nor was there any Venus in the skies, Could frō hir looks withdraw his greedy eies: Both like true Turtles wheresoere they came, Consum'd, and wasted in one equall flame.
Hir age, and beautie wild him to beleeue, That hir falsedealing gaue him cause to grieue But when hir virtuous carriage he did eye, His hart relēting gaue those thoughts the lie.
Loosenes was stil companion to the faire.
Sp. T Q Cant. 9.
If any wench delightfull be to one, She's trim enough, and decking needeth none.
Such a tempestuous storme of words doe fall, Youl'd thinke so many Basons iangling were, Or Orkeney's Bels were sounding in your Eare; Now none need spēd their breath on Haubois more, Nor with loud Clarions make their inwards sore. One Womans tongue, without the helpe of these, Makes noyse enough the fainting Moone to ease.
Here lies entombed vnderneath this Stone A Dame, whose Tongue had cause enough to mone. It mou'd as fast, as doth the swiftest Spheare, And found nominutes rest throughout the yeare, Forth rusht hir words in such abundant store That now (how ener) she shall nere speake more. Hir silence yet will neuer equall be To what she spake by many a large degree.
Brawles chidings, iarres, attend the marriage bed: And where a Wife lies, seldome sleepes the Head.
Poore Septime rather had his Acme haue, Then Syrias wealth, or Britains Isles so braue; Chast Acme no strange dalliances doth try, Hir thoughts nere stir, but when hir Septime's by With pure obseruace each to other moue, With naturall minds they be belou'd & loue: Who euer did a happier couple see, Or who two Turtles louinglier agree?
Light wauering things by nature Women are: Hence in their Hearts, my knowledge is full sure, An amorous state can but a while endure.
Elizabeth the learned, Pallas the wise, Who makes the Britaines scornfully disdaine, For the male yoake to change a females raign, Who whilst Erynnis, weary now of hell, With fire & sword doth all hir neigbors quell, And that the black fright of a murmuring storme. The world with shipwracke threatneth to deforme, In happie peace hir prouinces doth sway, Where Law & Faith doe neuer fall away. Who is not onely very richly stor'd With the sweet wealth hir lāguage doth afford But can so well and volubly addresse Hir tongue vpon the sudden, to expresse Hir hie conceits in Latine, and can speake Such Spanish, Dutch, such Tuscan and such Greeke, That Rome, Greece, France, and Spaine and Arne, and Rhine Each of them pleade, and say, By birth she is mine.
Scylla, Charybdis, and those rockes that teare The Seas proud billawes, need not halfe that feare, There's not a Beast throughout the world so wide, Which, than a Woman, is not farre more milde. Such bloudie Passions, in her bosome raigne, When outward crosses cause her inward paine.
We need the greatest Monsters lesse admire, Then this same Sex of theirs, when rage doth fire Their liuers; & to mischeif bears them all, Headlong, like rockes, which from their cliffes doe fall.
Some softer dewes frō their faire eies may fall. But nothing can their nobler mindes appall.
When iust Astraea stept from earth to skies, From poore folks harts she took hir latest rise.
When to her Paetus Arria did present The sword, wherwith her bowels she had rent; This woūd, qd she, tormēts me not, belieue me But what thou mak'st, sweete Paetus, that will greeue me.
Best was Cesennia by hir husband thought; But why? she to him many hundreths brought: Hir grace, and vertue he doth wholly rate, After the faire proportion of hir State. He grows not leane through Paphiādarts or torch: Hir dowrie's that, which doth his bosome scorch.
Nile softly flowes, but yet more profit yeelds Then all streames else, in making rich the Fields, Whilst gently gliding on his moister way, He with no murmure doth his force bewray.
Calme powre with much facilitie doth doe, What stormie force can nere attaine vnto. Still peace doth beare a more imperious sway And farre more strongly vrge them to obey.
If beauteous Danae had not bin detain'd In wals of brasse, great Ioue had neuer rayn'd Into hir chaster lap that golden shower, Which broke the stalke of hir faire virgin floure.
Whilst to his wife, Caecilian, gaue accesse, None did themselues vnto his house addresse: He had no sooner though appointed Spies, But straight a swarme of Lechers thither hies.
Loue hath a smiling face, and cannot brooke To see it selfe checkt with a surly looke.
I would, good Sextus, faine haue loued thee; But thou desirest worshipped to bee: Thy hest shal bee obeyed but thou wilt proue That they, which worship. Sextus, wil not loue.
There's nothing so delightfull to our Taste, But leaues some bitter sauour at the last; And ereit come to settle in our mawes, Offensiue prooues euen to our very iawes.
Deafe Eares in Musicke take but small delight, Faire Pictures please not, where there wāteth sight.
No Act so lawlesse; no attempt so vile, But she beleeues becomes her well, the while About her neck faire sparkling gems she weres, And with large Pendants loades her stretched eares.
Demand you why, with one that's rich to marrie I denide? The reason was, vnto my wife I would not be the bride. The Matrons must inferiour be, good Priscus, to the Man; Or neuer will they equall be, doe Priscus what you can.