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A Mouzell for Melastomus (1617)

Rachel Speght

Note on the e-text: this Renascence Editions text is that of the edition of 1617, from a copy in the collection of the Harvard College Library. The transcription was done by Shirley Marc, Center for the Study of Women in Society, University of Oregon. This edition is in the public domain. Content unique to this presentation is copyright © 1998 The University of Oregon. For nonprofit and educational uses only.

T was the simile of that wise and learned Lactantius, that if fire, though but with a small sparke kindled, bee not at the first quenched, it may worke great mischiefe and dammage: So likewise may the scandals and defamations of the malevolent in time proue pernitious, if they bee not nipt in the head at their first appearance. The consideration of this (right Honourable and Worshipfull Ladies) hath incited me. (though yong, and the vnworthiest of thousands) to encounter with a furious enemy to our sexe, least if his vniust imputations should continue without answere, he might insult and account himselfe a victor; and by such a conceit deale, as Historiographers report the vpier to doe, who in the Winter time doth vomit forth her poyson, and in the spring time sucketh the same vp againe, which becommeth twise as deadly as the former: And this our pestiferous enemy, by thinking to prouide a more deadly poyson for women, then already he hath foamed forth, may euaporate, by an addition vnto his former illeterate Pamphlet (intituled The Arraignement of Women) a more contagious obtrectation then he hath already done, and indeed hath threatned to doe. Secondly, if it should haue had free passage without any answere at all (seeing that Tacere is, quasi consentire) the vulgar ignorant might haue beleeued his Diabolicall infamies to be infallible truths, not to bee infringed; whereas now they may plainely perceiue them to bee but the scumme of Heathenish braines, or a building raised without a foundation (at least from sacred Scripture) which the winde of Gods truth must needs cast downe to the ground. A third reason why I haue aduentured to fling this stone at vaunting Goliah is, to comfort the mindes of all Heuahs sex, both rich and poore, learned and vnlearned, with this Antidote, that if the feare of God reside in their hearts, maugre all aduersaries, they are highly esteemed and accounted of in the eies of their gracious Redeemer, so that they need not feare the darts of enuy or obtrectators: For shame and disgrace (saith Aristotle) is the end of them that shoote such poysoned shafts. Worthy therefore of imitation is that example of Senec[a], who when he was told that a certaine man did exclaime and raile against him, made this milde answere; Some dogs barke more vpon custome than curstnesse; and some speake euill of others, not that the defamed deserue it, but because through custome and corruption of their hearts they cannot speake well of any. This I alleage as a paradigmatical patterne for all women, noble & ignoble to follow, that they be not enflamed with choler against this our enraged aduersarie, but patiently consider of him according to the portraiture which he hath drawne of himselfe, his Writings being the very embleme of a monster.
      This my briefe Apologie (Right Honourable and Worshipfull) did I enterprise, not as thinking my selfe more fit then others to vndertake such a taske, but as one, who not perceiuing any of our Sex to enter the Lists of encountring with this our grand enemy among men, I being out of all feare, because armed with the truth, which though often blamed, yet can neuer be shamed, and the Word of Gods Spirit, together with the example of vertues Pupils for a Buckler, did no whit dread to combate with our said maleuolent aduersarie. And if in so doing I shall bee censured by the iudicious to haue the victorie, and shall have giuen content vnto the wronged, I haue both hit the marke whereat I aymed, and obtained that prize which I desired. But if Zoilus shall adiudge me presumptuous in Dedicating this my Chirograph vnto personages of so high ranke; both because of my insufficiency in literature and tendernesse in yeares: I this Apologize for my selfe; that feeling the Bayter of Women hathopened his mouth against noble as well as ignoble; against the rich as well as the poore; therefore meete it is that they should be ioynt spectators of this encounter: And withall in regard of my imperfection both in learning and age, I need so much the more to impetrate patronage from some of power to sheild mee from the biting wrongs of Momus, who ofententimes setteth a rankling tooth into the sides of truth. Wherefore I being of Dictus his mind, who deemed himselfe safe vnder the shield of Cæsar, haue presumed to shelter my selfe vnder the wings of you (Honourable personages) against the persecuting heate of this fierie and furious Dragon; desiring that you would be pleased, not to looke so much ad opus, as ad animum: And so not doubting of the fauourable acceptance and censure of all vertuously affected, I rest

Your Honours and worships
Humbly at commandement,
  Rachel Speght.

 

I f Reason had but curb'd thy witlesse will,
O r feare of God restrain'd thy rauing quill,
S uch venome fowle thou would'st base blight to spue:
E xcept that Grace haue bidden thee adue:
P rowesse disdaines to wrastle with the weake,
H eatheish affected, care not what they speake.

S educer of the vulgar sort of men,
W as Sathan crept into thy filthie Pen,
E nflaming thee with such infernall smoake,
T hat (if thou had'st thy will) should women choake?
N efarious fiends thy sence hauing deluded,
A nd from thee all humanitie excluded
M onster of men , worthie no other name
        For that thou did'st assay our Sex to shame.

RA. SP.

Rom standing water, which soon putrifies, can no good fish be expected, for it produceth no other creatures but those that are venemous or noisome, as snakes, adders, and such like. Semblably, no better streame can we looke, should issue from your idle corrupt braine, then that whereto the ruffe of your fury (to vse your owne words) hath moued you to open the slaite. In which excremene of your roaring cogitations you haue vsed such irregularities touching concordance, and obserued so disoredered a methode, as I doubt not to rely on, that a very Accidence Schollar would haue quite put you downe in both. You appeare herein not vnlike that Painter, who seriously indeuouring to pourtray Cupids Bowe forgot the String: for you, beeing greedie to botch vp your mingle mangle inuectiue against Women; haue not therein obserued, in many places, so much [as] Gramm[a]r sense. But the emptiest Barrell makes the lowdest sound; and so we will account of you.
      Many propositions haue you framed, which (as you thinke) make much against Women, but if one would make a Logicall assumption, the conclusion would be flat against your owne Sex. Your dealing wants so much discretion, that I doubt whether to bestow so good a name as the Dunce vpon you: but Minoricy bids me keepe within my bounds; and therefore I onlie say vnto you, that your corrupt Heart and railing To[n]gue, hath made you a fit scribe for the Diuell.
      In that you haue termed your virulent foame, the Beare-bayting of Women, you haue plainely displayed you[r] owne disposition to be Cynicall, in that there appeares no other Dogge or Bull, to bayte them, but your selfe. Good had it beene for you to haue put on that Muzzell, which Saint Lance would haue all Christians to

Iames 4.11.

weare; Speake not euill one of another: and then had you not seemed so like the Serpent Porphirus, as now you doo, which, though full of deadly poyson, yet being toothlesse, hurteth none so much as himselfe. For you hauing gone beyond the limits not of Humanitie alone, but of Christianitie, haue done greater harme vnto your owne soule, then vnto women, as may plainely appeare. First, in dishonoring of God by palpable blasphemy, wresting and peruerting euerie place of Scripture, that you haue alleadged; which by the testimony of Saint Peter,

Pet. 3.16.

is to the destruction of them that so doe. Secondly, it appeares by your disparaging of, and opprobrious speeches against that excellent worke of Gods hands, which in his great loue he perfected for the comfort of man. Thirdly, and lastly, by this your hodge-podge of heathenish Sentences, Similies, and Examples, you haue set forth your selfe in your right colours, vnto the view of the world: and I doubt not but the Iudicious will account of you according to your demerit: As for the Vulgar sort, which haue no more learning then you haue shewed in your Booke, it is likely they will applaud you for your paines.
      As for your Bugge-beare or aduice vnto Women, that whatsoeuer they doe thinke of your Worke, they should conceale it, lest in finding fault, they bewray their galled backes to the world, in which you allude to that Prouerbe, Rubbe a galled horse, and he will kicke: Vnto it I answere by way of Apologie, that though everie galled horse, being touched, doth kicke; yet euery one that kickes, is not galled: so that you might as well haue said, that because burnt folks dread the fire, therfore none feare fire but those that are burnt, as made that illiterate conclusion which you haue absurdly inferred.
      In your Title Leafe, you arraigne none but lewd, idle, froward and vnconstant women, but in the Sequele (through defect of memorie as it seemeth) forgetting that you had made a distinction of good from badde, condemning all in generall, you aduise men to beware of, and not to match with any of these sixe sorts of women, viz. Good and Badde, Faire and Foule, Rich and Poore: But this doctrine of Diuells Saint Paul foreseeing would be broached in the latter

1.Tim.4.3

times, giues warning of.
      There also you promise a Commendation of wise, vertuous, and honest women, when as in the subsequent, the worst words, and filthiest Epithites that you can deuise, you bestow on them in generall, excepting no sort of Women. Heerein may you be likened vnto a man, which vpon the doore of a scuruie house sets this Superscription, Heere is a very faire house to be let: whereas the doore being opened, it is no better then a dogge-hole and darke dungeon.
      Further, if your owne words be true, that you wrote with your hand, but not with your heart, then you are an hypocrite in Print: but it is rather to be thought that your Pen was the bewrayer of the abundance of your minde, and that this was but a little morter to dawbe vp agayne the wall, which you intended to breake downe.
      The reuenge of your rayling Worke wee leaue to Him, who hath appropriated vengeance vnto himselfe, whose Pen-man hath included Raylers in the Catalogue of them that shall not inherite Gods Kingdome, and your selfe vnto the mercie of that iust Iudge, who is able to saue and to destroy.

Your vndeserued friend,  
R A C H E L    S P E G H T.

I

 
F littleDauid that for Israels sake,
      esteemed neyther life nor limbe too deare,
In that he did aduenture without dread,
      to cast at him, whom all the hoste did feare,
A stone, which brought Goliah to the ground,
Obtain'd applause with Songs and Timbrels sound.

Then let another young encombatant
      receiue applause, and thanks, as well as hee:
For with an enemie to Women kinde,
      she hath encountred, as each wight may see:
And with the fruit of her industrious toyle,
To this Goliah she hath giuen the foyle.

Admire her much I may, both for her age,
      and this her Mouzell for a blacke-mouth'd wight,
But praise her, and her worke, to that desert,
      which vnto them belongs of equall right
I cannot; onely this I say, and end,
Shee is vnto her Sex a faithfull friend.

P H I L A L E T H E S.

________________________________________

I

 
F he that for his Countrie doth expose
      himselfe vnto the furie of his foe,
Doth merite praise and due respect of those,
      for whom he did that perill vndergoe:
Then let the Author of this Mouzell true
Receiue the like, of right it is her due.

For she to shield her Sex from Slaunders Dart,
      and from inuectiue obtrectation,
Hath ventured by force of Learnings Art,
      (in which she hath had eductation)
To combate with him, which doth shame his Sex,
By offring feeble women to perplex.

P H I L O M A T H E S.

________________________________________

P

 
Raise is a debt, which doth of due belong
To those, that take the path ov Vertues trace,
Meating their wayes and workes by Reasons rule,
Hauing their hearts so lightned with Gods grace,
      That wi[ll]ingly they would not him offend,
      But holily their Lives beginne and end.

Of such a Pupil vnto Pietie
As is describ'd, I doe intend to speake,
A Virgin young, and of such tender age,
As for encounter may be deemd too weake.
      Shee hauing not as yet seene twenty yeares,
      Though in her carriage older she appeares.

Her wit and learning in this present Worke,
More praise doth merit, then my quill can write:
Her magnanimitie deserues applaud,
In vetring with a fierie foe to fight:
      And now in fine, what shall I further say?
      But that she beares the triumph quite away.

F A V O V R   B.

 
 

F lawfull it bee to compare the Potter with his Clay, or the Architect with the Edifice, then may I, in some sort, resemble that loue of God towards man, in creating woman, vnto the affectionate care of Abraham for his sonne Isaac, who that hee might not take to wife one of the daughters of the Canaanites, did prouide him one of his owne kindred.

Gen.24.4 Ephe.2.4 Col.5.50. Gen.2.10.

      Almighty God, who is rich in mercie, hauing made all things of nothing, and created man in his owne image: that is, (as the Apostle expounds it) In wisedome, righteousnesse and true holinesse, making him Lord ouer all: to auoide that solitarie condition that hee was then in, hauing none to commerce or conuerse withall but dumbe creatures, it seemed good vnto the Lord, that as of euery creature hee had made male and female, and man onely being alone without mate, so likewise to forme an helpe meete for him. Adam for this cause being cast into a heauy sleepe, God extracting a rib from his side, thereof made, or built, Woman; shewing thereby, that man was as an vnperfect building afore woman was made, and bringing her vnto Adam, vnited and married them together.
      Thus the resplendent loue of God toward man appeared, in taking care to prouide him an helper before hee saw his owne want, and in prouiding him such an helper as should bee meete for him. Soueraignety had hee ouer all creatures, and they were all seruiceable vnto

Gen. 2.20 John 11 36.

him, but yet afore woman was formed, there was not a meete helpe found for Adam. Mans worthinesse not meriting this great fauour at Gods hands, but his mercie onely mouing him therevnto: I may vse those words which the Iewes vttered whn they saw Christ weepe for Lazarus, Behold how hee loued him: Behold, and that with good regard, Gods loue; yea his great loue, which from the beginning hee hath borne vnto man: which, as it appeares in all things; so next, his loue in Christ Iesus apparantly in this; that for mans sake, that hee might not be an vnite, when all other creatures were for procreation duall, hee created woman to bee a

1.Cor.11.9.

solace vnto him, to participate of his sorrowes, partake of his pleasures, and as a good yokefellow beare part of his burthen. Of the excellencie of this Structure, I meane of Women, whose foundation and original of creation, was Gods loue, do I intend to dilate.

G

 
Reat was the vnthankefulnesse of Pharaohs Butler vnto Ioseph: for though hee had done him a great pleasure, of which the

Gen.40.23.

Butler promised requitall, yet was hee quite forgotten of him: But fare greater is the ingratitude of those men toward God, that dare presume to speake and exclaime against Woman, whom God did create for mans comfort. What greater discredit can redound to a workeman, then to haue the man, for whom hee hath made it, say, it is naught? or what greater discurtesie can be offered to one, that bestoweth a gift, then to haue the receiuer giue out, that hee cares not for it; For he needes it not? And what greater ingratitude can be shewed vnto G O D then the opprobrious speeches and disgracefull inuectiues, which some diabolicall natures doe frame against women?
      Ingratitude is, and alwayes hath beene accounted so odious a vice, that Cicero saith, If one doubt what name to giue a wicked man, let him call him an vngratefull person, and then hee hath said enough. It was so detested among the Persians, as that by a Law they prouided, that such should suffer death as felons, which prooued vnthankefull for any gift receiued. And Loue (saith the Apostle) is the fulfulling of the Lawe:

Rom.13.10.

But where Ingratitude is harbored, there Loue is banished. Let men therefore beware of all vnthankefulnesse, but especially of the superlatiue ingratitude, that which is towards God, which is no way more palpably declared, then by the contemning of, and rayling against women, which sinne, of some men (if to be termed men) no doubt but God will one day auenge,when they shall plainely perceiue, that it had been better for them to haue been borne dumbe and lame, then to haue vsed their tongs and hands, the one is repugning, the other in writing against Gods handie worke, their owne flesh, women I meane, whom God hath made equall with themselues in dignity, both temporally and eternally, if they continue in the faith: which God for his mercie sake graunt they alwayes may, to the glory of their Creator, and comfort of their owne soules, through Christ Amen.

Lthough (curteous Reader) I am young in yeares, and more defectiue in knowledge, that little smattering in Learning, which I haue obtained, being only the fruit of such vacant houres, as I could spare from affaires befitting my Sex, yet I am not altogether ignorant of that Analogie which ought to be vsed in a literate Responsarie: But the Beare bayting of Women, vnto which I haue framed my Apologeticall answere, beeing altogether without methode, irregular, without Grammaticall Concordance, and a promiscuous mingle mangle, it would admit no such order to bee observed in the answering thereof, as a regular Respo[n]sarie requireth.
    Wherefore (gentle Reader) fauorably cõsider, that as that Painter is not to be held vnskilfull, which hauing a deformed Obiect, makes the like portraiture; no more am I iustly to be blamed for my immethodicall Apologie, sith any iudicious Reader may plainely see, that the Bayter of Women his pestiferous obtrectation is like a Taylers Cushion, that is botcht together of shreddes, so that, were it not to preuent future infection with that venome, which he hath, and daily doth sweate out, I would haue beene loath to haue spent time so idley, as to answere it all: but a crooked pot-lid well enough fits a wrie-neckt pot, an vnfashioned shooe a mis-shapen foote, and an illiterate answere an vnlearned irreligious prouocation. His absurdities therein contayned, are so many, that to answere them seuerally, were as friuolous a worke, as to make a Trappe for a Flea, and as tedious as the pursuite of an Arrow to an impotent man. Yet to preuent his hauing occasion to say, that I speake of many, but can instance none, I haue thought it meete to present a few of them to his view, as followeth, that if Follie haue taken roote in him, he may seeke to extirpate it, and to blush at the sight of that fruit, which he hath already brought foorth; a fruite I call it (not vnfitly I hope) because a Crabbe may be so termed, as well as a good Apple. Thus, not doubting of the fauour of well affected, and of their kinde acceptance of my indeuours, of which I desire not applaud, but approbation: I rest,

Your friend,

R A C H E L   S P E G H T.

Ith edged tooles (saith the old Prouerbe) it is ill sporting, but farre more dangerous: yea damnable is it to dally with Scripture, the two-edged Sword of the Eternall: for so to doe is a breach of the third Commandement; and he that failes in one point, is guiltie of all. If the magnitude of this sinne had beene considered by the Bayter of Women, the lamentable, yet iust reward thereof, as of all other sinnes without repentance, would, if he had but a seruile feare, haue restrained

Hebr.4.12. Iames 2.10.

him from transgressing herein. But as one deuoide of all true feare of Gods indignation against wilfull sinners (for as ignorance doth somewhat extenuate a fault, so doth knowledge much aggrauate it) he hath made the exordium of his brainesicke exhalation against women, to be a peruerting of a part of holy writ; ex vnguibus leonem, iudge of this Lion by his pawe. For if the fore foot be monstrous, doubtlesse the whole bodie is correspondent thereto. The Porch indeede is foule, but hee that viewes the sequel, as I haue done, shall find a laystall of heathenish Assertions, Similies, and Examples, illiterate composition, irreligious inuectiues, and (which is worst) impious blasphemies therein included, filthy rubbish, more fitte to be heaped vp by a Pagan, then one that beareth the name of a Christian.
      But lest it should not onely be thought; but also said, that I finde fault where none is; or that I do ill to mislike the Worke, and not make the Author therewith acquainted, that if he please, hee may answer for himselfe: I thinke it not amisse to propose some few Quæres vnto the Bayter of Women, which I haue abstracted out of his infamous Booke, as himselfe confesseth it to be in his Epistle to Women.

F it bee true, asse you affirme, Pag .2. line 26. That women will not giue thankes for a good turne.
      I demand whether Deborah and Hannah were not women, who both of them sang hymnes of thankesgiuing vnto the Lord; the one for his mercy in granting her victory ouer Israels enemies, the other for his fauourable giuing vnto her a son, which she full oft and earnestly had desired?
      And where-asse you say, Page 4. line 22. that

Iudg.5. 1 Sam.1.11. &2.1 1 Sam.25.3. Gen.14.16.18.   Math 12.25.

a woman that hath a faire face, it is euer matched with a cruel heart, and her heauenly lookes with hellish thoughts: You therein shew your selfe a contradictor of Scriptures presidents: For Abigail was a beautifull woman, and tenderhearted; Rebekah was both faire of face and pittiful. Many examples seruing to confute your vniuersall rule might bee produced, but these are sufficient to dispell this your cloud of vntruth. As for your audacitie in iudging of womens thoughts, you thereby shew your selfe an vsurper against the King of heauen, the true knowledge of cogitatons being appropriate vnto him alone.
      If your assertion, That A woman is better lost then found, better forsaken then taken (Page 5. line 4.) be to be credited, me thinkes, great pitty it is, that afore you were borne, there was none so wise as to counsell your father not to meddle with a woman, that hee might haue escaped those troubles, which you affirme, that all married men are cumbred with, Page 2. line 20. As also that hee might not haue begotten such a monster in nature Asse your selfe, who (like the Priest which forgot he was Parish Clearke) defame and exclaime against women, as though your selfe had neuer had a mother, or you neuer beene a child.
      You affirme (Page 10. line 18.) that for the Loue of women, Dauid purchased the displeasure of his God: It had beene good that you had cited the place of story where you finde it, For I neuer yet in Scripture read, that the Almighty was displeased with Dauid for his loue to women, but for his lust to Bathsheba, which afterward brought forth his adulterous act, and his causing Vriah to be murthered.
     

1.Sam.11.

In saying (Page 10. line. 25.) that Iobs wife counselled her husband to curse God, you misconster the Text; for the true construction thereof will shew it to bee a Scarcasmus or Ironicall speech, and not an instigation to blasphemie.
      Page 11. line 8. you count it wonderfull to see the mad feates of women, for shee will now bee merry, then sad: but me thinkes it is farre more wonder-foole to haue one, that aduentures to make his Writing as publique as an In-keepers Signe, which hangs to the view of all passengers, to want Grammaticall Concordance in his said Writing, and ioyne together Women plurall, and shee singular, Asse you not onely in this place, but also in others haue done.
      Albeit the Scripture verifieth, that God made woman and brought her to man; and that a prudent wife commeth of the Lord: yet haue

Gen 2.22. Prou.19.14.

you not feared blasphemously to say, that women sprung from the diuell, Page 15. line 26. But being, as it seemes, defectiue in that whereof you haue much need (for mendacem oportet esse memorem) you suddainely after say, That women were created by God and formed by nature, and therefore by policie and wisedome to be auoyded, Page 16. line 12. An impious conclusion to inferre, that because God created, therefore to be auoyded: Oh intollerable absurdity!
      Men I say may liue without women, but women cannot liue without men, Page 14. line 18. If any Religious Author had thus affirmed, Ishould haue wondred, that vnto Satans suggestions he had so much subiected himselfe, as to crosse the Almighties prouidence and care for mans good, who positiuely said, It is not good for man

Gen.2.15.

to bee alone; But being that the sole testimony heereof is your owne dico, I maruell no whit at the errour, but heartily wish, that vnto all the vntruths you haue vttered in your infamous booke, you had subscribed your Dico, that none of them might bee adiudged truths: For mendacis præmium est verbis eius non adhiberi fidem.
      Page 17. line 5. you affirme, that Hosea was brought vnto Idolatrie by marrying with a lewd woman, which is as true as the sea burnes: and for proofe thereof you cite Hosea I. in which chapter is no such matter to be found, it onely containing a declaration of the Lords anger against the adulterous Iewes, who had gone a whoring after other Gods, set forth in a parable of an husband and an adulterous wife.
      Page 19. Theodora a monstrous strumpet, Lauia, Floria, and Lais, were three notable Curtizans.
      Was not that noble Citie of Troy, sacked and spoyled for the faire Helena? Page 21. Therefore stay not alone in the company of a woman, trusting to thy owne chastity, except thou bee more strong then Sampson, more wise then Salomon, or more holy then David, for these, and many more haue beene ouercome by the sweete intisements of women, Page 22.
      I may as well say Barrabas was a murtherer, Ioab killed Ab[n]er and Amasa, and Pharaoh Necho slew Iosiah, therefore stay not alone in the

Luke 23.19. 2.Sam.3.27 2 Sam.20 10. 2 King 23.29.

companie of a man, trusting to thy owne strength, except thou bee stronger then Iosiah, and more valiant then Abner and Amasa, for these and many more haue beene murthered by men. The forme of argumentation is your owne, the which if you dislike, blame your selfe for proposing such a patterne, and blush at your owne folly, Quod te posse non facile credo: for it is an old saying, how true I know not, that blushing is a signe of grace.
      Page 31. line 15. If God had not made women onely to bee a plague to man, hee would neuer haue called them necessarie. euils. Albeit I haue not read Seaton or Ramus, nor so much as seene (though heard of) Aristotles Arganox, yet by that I haue seene and reade in compasse of my apprehension, I will aduenture to frame an argument or two, to shew what danger, for this your blasphemy [you] are in.
      To fasten a lie vpon God is blasphemy: But the Bayter of women fastens a lie vpon God: ergo, the Bayter is a blasphemer.
      The Proposition, I trowe, none will gaine say, the assumption I thus proue,
      Whosoeuer affirmes God to haue called women necessary euils, fastens a lie vpon God: For from the beginning of Genesis to the end of the Reuelation is no such instance to be found: But the Bayter affirmes God to haue called women, Ergo, the Bayter fastens a lie vpon God.

      Whosoeuer blasphemeth God, ought by his Law, to die; The Bayter of Women hath blasphemed God, Ergo, he ought to die the death.
      The proposition is vpon record, Leuit. 24.14.16. The Assumption is formerly proued.

      If thou marryest a still and a quiet woman, that will seeme to thee that thou ridest but an ambling horse to hell, but if with one that is froward and vnquiet, then thou wert as good ride a trotting horse to the diuell.Page 35. Line 13.
      If this your affirmation be true, then seemes it, that hell is the period of all married mens trauailes, and the center of their circumference. A man can but haue either a good wife or a bad; and if he haue the former, you say he doth but seeme to amble to hell; if the latter, he were as good trot to the diuell: But if married men ride, how trauaile Batchelours? surely, by your rule they must go on foote, because they want wiues; which (inclusiuely) you say are like horses to carry their husbands to hell. Wherefore in my minde, it was not without mature consideration that you married in time, because it would be too irksome for you to trauaile so tedious a journey on foote.
      Now the fire is kindled, let vs burne this other faggot. Page 38. line 4.
      Beware of making too great a fire, lest the surplussage of that fires effect which you intended for others, singe your selfe.
      Shee will make thee weare an Oxe feather in thy Cappe. Page 44. line 4.
      If Oxen haue feathers, their haires more fitly may be so termed then their hornes.
      Page 50. line 28. There is no ioy nor pleasure in this world which may be compared to Marriage,for if the husband be poore and in aduersitie, then hee beares but the one halfe of the griefe: and furthermore, his wife will comfort him, with all the comfortable meanes she can deuise.
      Page 51. line 16. Many are the ioyes and sweete pleasures in Marriage, as in our children, &c.
      Page 34. line 5. There are many troubles comes galloping at the heeles of a woman. If thou wert a Seruant, or in bondage afore, yet when thou marriest, thy toyle is neuer the nearer ended, but euen then, and not before, thou changest thy golden life, which thou didst leade before (in respect of the married) for a droppe of hony, which quickely turnes to be as bitter as wormewood.
      Page 53. line 19. The husband ought (in signe of loue) to impart his secrets and counsell vnto his wife, for many haue found much comfort and profite by taking their wiues counsell; and if thou impart any ill happe to thy wife, shee lighteneth thy griefe, either by comforting thee louingly, or else, in bearing a part thereof patiently.
      Page 41. line 12. If thou vnfouldest any thing of secret to a woman, the more thou chargest her to keepe it close, the more shee will seeme, as it were, with childe, till shee haue reuealed it.
      It was the saying of a iudicious Writer, that whoso makes the fruit of his cogitations extant to the view of all men, should haue his worke to be as a well tuned Instrument, in all places according and agreeing, the which I am sure yours doth not: For how reconcile you those dissonant places aboue cited? or how make you a consonant diapason of those discords wanting harmony?
      Page 34. line 19. You counsell all men, to shunne idlenesse, and yet the first words of your Epistle to Women are these, musing with my selfe being idle: Heerein you appeare, not vnlike vnto a Fencer, which teacheth another how to defend himselfe from enemies blowes, and suffers himselfe to be stricken without resistance: for you warne others, to eschew that dangerous vice, wherewith (by your owne confession) your selfe is stained.
      Page 57. line 5. If thou like not my reasons to expell loue, then thou mayest trie Ouids Art, for he counsells those that feele this horrible heate to coole their flames with hearbes which are colde of nature as Rew, &c.
      Albeit you doubt not but by some to be reputed for a good Archer, yet heere you shot wide from the truth, in saying without contradiction of Ouids errour, that Rew is of a cold nature: For most Physitions (if not all) both ancient and moderne, holde it to be hote and drie in the third degree: and experience will tell the vser thereof, that the temperature is hote, not colde. And though the sense of tasting, without further triall, doth repell this errour, I doubt not but in citing this prescription, you haue verified the opinion of that philosopher, which said, That there are some, who thinke they speake wisest, and write most iudiciously, when they vnderstand not themselues.
      But, vt opus ad finem per ducam, sith I haue trode my vtmost intended steppe, though left one path vngone, I meane the Beare bayting of Widdowes vnviewd, in that I am ignorant of their dispositions, accounting it a follie of me to talke of Robin-hood, as many doe, that neuer shot in his Bowe, I leaue the speculation (with approbation of their Beare bayting) to those that regard neyther affabilitie nor humanitie, and wishing vnto euery such Misogunes, a Tiburne Tiffenie for curation of his swolne necke, which onely through a Cynicall inclination will not indure the yoke of lawfull Matrimony, I bid farewell.

 

F   ret, fume or frump at me who will, I care not,
I   will thrust forth thy sting to hurt, and spare not:
N   ow that the taske I vndertooke is ended,
I   dread not any harme to me intended,
S   ith iustly none herein haue I offended.

 
Pag. 7 line 7. for Herods reade Heuahs.

 
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