The Great advocate and oratour for women, or, The Arraignment, tryall and conviction of all such wicked husbands (or monsters) who held it lawfull to beate their wives or to demeane themselves severely and tyrannically towards them where their crafty pleas are fully heard and their objections plainly answered and confuted ...

CHAP. I. An Introduction to the following discourse. (Book 1)

ALltho we all know that unto women the world oweth half of its life and man is indebted the greatest part of [his love next unto God] yet now a days it is grown a custome so common to undervalue the worth of that sexe (because of the lewd and allmost unparrald lives and examples of some) that every rymer hath a severall libell to impeach their name; and every person a poeme to accuse them of unfaithfullnes &c: The Courtier, tho he weavs his Mistresse favour, yet upon slight occasions (nay sometimes none at all) Sticks not to sing her shame; And the cobler (tho in himself deserving greater disgrace, yet) wants not a ballade to reproach their name; And as this

course is usuall with most men, so the cause heer of is manifect unto all: The† 1.1 fairest Mark (you know) is most often aimed at, and the goodliest starr is mostly gazed upon, so VVoman the beauty fullest creature of all the visible creation is most of all Observed, and b 1.2 Observation as it is some∣times the guide unto honour, so often allso is it the mother of disgrace. Particular rea∣sons heereof, may be collected out of the severall humours of such who stand out in disloyaltie with them; for some men will dispraise that woman whom before they adored, because her modesty hath repelled their un chaste desires. Some will turne their amorous termes of wooing into a barbarous stile of rayling, because for want of desert they obtaine not how to love them, and the greater part of men, beeing evil themselves, love but few things that are good, and

so perchance hate women also. Some likewise pretend a reall dislike of women (unto whom themselves are all the while reall stranger (to make Ostentation of their witt, before the publique stage of the world, few up∣on good shew of reason. and fewer yet upon just grounds, and these sort of persons have filled the world with Pamphlets, things most idle in them∣selves, and most disgracefull unto women: But O unmanlike men and slaves of your sex! Is this a point of your man hood, or any ornament of your valour, to buisy your selves for the disgrace of women, whom nature hath dis∣armed of corporall strenth, and education disenabled of mentall courage for revenge? Is this the thankfull tribute you repaye unto the author of your beeings? Is this the best embraces you bestow on the papps that gave you suck? Is this the gratefull allowance you

afforde them for their sorrow, pains at your birth, for their care and diligence in your youth? And for that labour of love which they have bestowed up∣on you, throughout the severall periods of your life? All such a 1.3 courtesies (methinks) should not be forgotten in such an ungratefull manner, much less injuriously remembred. But why talk I with these men of gratitude (the greatest of virtues) who never were acquainted with any vertue at all? And therefore, had it been the highest of womens mis∣fortune to have been traduced by this in famous crew. they might easily have smiled it out, counting it no dishonour to be evil spoken of by such, who never learned to speak well of any: But now this bad cause hath gotten better Patrones, especially when in the universities, their names are mentioned in theirb 1.4 Acts and publique disputations,

their capacities thought unfitt for learning or ever attaining to the specu∣lative knowledg of the liberall Arts and sciences. Nay if this were all, their blind ignorance might be passed over in judicious silence, but when they shall adjudg them worthy of blowes, what more strange and pro∣digious Paradox then this? What opi∣nion more unnaturall and uncivill then that of theirs, that it is lawfull for a husband to beate his wife?

Most impure heart, which didst firstc 1.5 conceive, and move the most barbarous tongue which did afterwards bring forth such ac 1.6 Monster of opinion! Had I but one word to Speake, unto man∣kind before I yeelded up my breath, and but one only li∣ne to write, I would both Speak and write in Defiance thereof.

Notes

• † 1.1

  Seneca. 5. 13. ep. 89.
• b 1.2

  Tacit. hist. 3. lib. ad prin∣cip.
• a 1.3

  Ausoni 9. de great. action: ad Augst.
• b 1.4

  D. G. in his Act at Oxf. 1608.
• c 1.5

  Chrys: homil. 57. on Gen. 29.
• c 1.6

  Cyclopes furiunt isti ut quidem Doctiss. virj conj••∣ciunt ex. Homer. l. 9. Odi••si: