An argument wherin the apparaile of women is both reproued and defended

The letter sent by may∣ster Thomas to the gentle woman, with the transla∣cions that she desyred.

ACcordyng to your re∣quest, I haue done my best in translatyng as well Ca∣to his oracion, alleged (by the man ye wote of) in disprayse of women, as also the other oracion, made by Lucius Valerius: whiche I recited for aunswere to the same. And because the law Oppia, mencioned in both those oracions, is not plainely set foorth in Liuie, at the time of the makyng therof: I therefore haue ga∣thered suche priuate contribucions, as the Romayne people charged theim selfes withall about that tyme, to the intent, that besides the argument of your matter, ye maie also vnderstand the great kyndnesse, that the people

at those daies vsed towardes their common wealth. Whan almost euery man had rather perysshe priuately, than through his default the common wealth should susteine any preiudice. O, if we had no more but suche wo∣men now, as were than, I woulde thinke our worlde happie. But like as thei than had golden hertes, what so euer their apparayle was, so now (if I durst speake) I wolde saie, there bee many in golden apparayle, that haue rusty hertes. And what of that? Should I therfore condemne you all? No no. If I had ben so muche your aduersarie, I woulde neither in suche a matt••er haue taken this peine, nor yet (whan it was) haue spoken as I did in mainteynyng your quarell.

But because I saw you matched with one as rough as Cato, who not con∣tented with naturall reasons, bur∣deined you so farre with scripture,

that ye shuld not be allowed to weare any pleasant apparaile: me thought I coulde no lesse in conscience, but take your part. And though he moun∣ted in choler against you (as these men doe, that maie not be contraried) yet I trust, in a mattier of suche weight, ye woll be well aduised ere ye folow his hastie perswasion. God forbidde I shoulde pretende to main∣teine you in pompe. For I know there is so little nede therof, that I wolde be sorie ye shoulde not doe as ye list. But be it, or be it not, or be as it maie be: Sens ye required me so ernestly to dooe this for you, now I haue per∣fourmed my promise, I shall as her∣tily desyre you to take it for a wit∣nesse of my good will and frendeship: and in no wyse to lette it passe your handes, lest men shoulde thinke, with flatteryng you, I shoulde goe about

to mainteyne a thyng most necessary to be restreigned. Thus with my her∣ty commendacions. &c.

Your owne to commaunde William Thomas.