Ester hath hang'd Haman OR AN ANSVVERE TO a lewd Pamphlet entituled The Arraignment of Women With the arraignment of lewd idle froward and vnconstant men and HVSBANDS Diuided into two Parts The first proueth the dignity and worthinesse of Women out of diuine Testimonies The second shewing the estimation of the Foeminine Sexe in ancient and Pagan times all which is acknowledged by men themselues in their daily actions VVritten by Ester Sowernam neither Maide Wife nor Widdowe yet really all and therefore experienced to defend all IOHN 8.7 He that is without sinne among you let him first cast a stone at her Neque enim lex iusticior vlla Quam necis Artificem arte perire sua LONDON Printed for Nicholas Bourne and are to be sold at his shop at the entrance of the Royall Exchange 1617. TO ALL RIGHT HONOVrable Noble and worthy Ladies Gentlewomen and others vertuously disposed of the Foeminine Sexe RIght Honourable and all others of our Sexe vpon my repaire to London this last Michaelmas Terme being at supper amongst friends where the number of each sexe were equall As nothing is more vsuall for table-talke there fell out a discourse concerning women some defending others obiecting against our Sex Vpon which occasion there happened a mention of a Pamphlet entituled The Arraignment of Women which I was desirous to see The next day a Gentleman brought me the Booke which when I had superficially runne ouer I found the discourse as far off from performing what the Title promised as I found it scandalous and blasphemous for where the Authour pretended to write against lewd idle and vnconstant women hee doth most impudently rage and rayle generally against all the whole sexe of women Wherevpon I in defence of our Sexe began an answer to that full Pamphlet In which after I had spent some small time word was brought mee that an Apologie for women was already vndertaken and ready for the Presse by a Ministers daughter Vpon this newes I stayed my pen being as glad to be eased of my entended labour as I did expect some fitting performance of what was vndertaken At last the Maidens Booke was brought me which when I had likewise runne ouer I did obserue that whereas the Maide doth many times excuse her tendernesse of yeares I found it to be true in the slendernesse of her answer for she vndertaking to defend women doth rather charge and condemne women as in the ensuing discourse shall appeare So that wheras I expected to be eased of what I began I do now finde my selfe double charged as well to make reply to the one as to adde supply to the other In this my Apologie Right Honourable Right Worshipfull and all others of our Sexe I doe in the first part of it plainely and resolutely deliuer the worthinesse and worth of women both in respect of their Creation as in the worke of Redemption Next I doe shew in examples out of both the Testaments what blessed and happy choyse hath beene made of women as gratious instruments to deriue Gods blessings and benefits to mankinde In my second part I doe deliuer of what estimate women haue been valued in all ancient and moderne times which I prooue by authorities customes and daily experiences Lastly I doe answer all materiall obiections which haue or can be alledged against our Sexe in which also I doe arraigne such kind of men which correspond the humor and disposition of the Author lewd idle furious and beastly disposed persons This being performed I doubt not but such as heretofore haue beene so forward and lauish against women will hereafter pull in their hornes and haue as little desire and lesse cause so scandalously and slanderously to write against vs then formerly they haue The ends for which I vndertooke this enterprise are these First to set out the glory of Almightie God in so blessed a worke of his Creation Secondly to encourage all Noble Honourable and worthy Women to expresse in their course of life and actions that they are the same Creatures which they were designed to be by their Creator and by their Redeemer And to paralell those women whose vertuous examples are collected briefly out of the Olde and New Testament Lastly I write for the shame and confusion of such as degenerate from woman-hoode and disappoint the ends of Creation and Redemption There can be no greater encouragement to true Nobility then to know and stand vpon the honour of Nobility nor any greater confusion and shame then for Nobility to dismount and abase it selfe to ignoble and degenerate courses You are women in Creation noble in Redemption gracious in vse most blessed be not forgetfull of your selues nor vnthankefull to that Author from whom you receiue all TO ALL VVORTHY AND HOPEfull young youths of Great-Brittaine But respectiuely to the best disposed and worthy Apprentifes of LONDON HOpefull and gallant youths of Great-Brittaine and this so famous a Citâ—â— There hath been lately published a Pamphlet entituled The Arraignment of lewd idle froward and inconstant Women This patched and mishapen hotch-potch is so directed that if Socrates did laugh but once to see an Asse â—nce Thistles he would surely laugh twice to see an idle franticke direct his mishapen Labours to giddy headed young men he would say as he did when the Asse did eate Thâ—stles like lips like Lâ—â—nâ—â— so a franticks writer doth aptly chuse giddy fauorites The Author of the Arraignment and my selfe in our labours doe altogether disagree he raileth without cause I defend vpon direct proofe He saith women are the worst of all Creatures I prooue them blessed aboue all Creatures He writeth that men should abhorre them for their had conditions I proue that men should honour them for their best dispositions he saith women are the causeâ— of 〈…〉 I proue if there be any offence in a woman men were the beginners Now in that it is farâ—e more woman like to maintaine a right then it is man like to offer a wrong I conceiued that I could not erre in my choyse if I did direct a labour well intended to worthy young youths which are well disposed When you haue past your minority or serued your Apprenships vnder the gouernment of others when you begin the world for your selues the chiefest thing you looke for is a good Wife The world is a large field and it is full of brambles bryers and weedes If there be any more tormenting more scratting or more poysonable weede then other the Author hath collected them in his lothsome Pamphlet and doth vtter them to his giddy company Now my selfe presuming vpon your worthy and hanest dispositions I haue entred into the Garden of Paradice and there haue gathered the choysest flowers which that Garden may affoord and those I offer to you If you belieue our aduersury no woman is good howsoeuer she be vsed if you consider what I haue written no woman is had except she be abused If you belieue him that
the obiections which are most materiall which our aduersarie hath vomited out against woman and not onely what he hath obiected but what other authors of more import then Ioseph Swetnam haue charged vpon women alas seely man he obiecteth nothing but what he hath stolne out of English writers as Euphues the Palace of Pleasure with the like which are as easily answered as vaynly obiected He neuer read the vehement and profest enemies against our sexe as for Gracians Euripides Menander Simonides Sophocles with the like amongst Latine writers Invenall Plautus c. But of all that euer I read I did neuer obserue such generall sinceritie in any as in this aduersarie which you shall finde I will make as manifest as the Sunne to shine at mid-day It is the maine end that our aduersarie aimeth at in all his discourse to proue and say that women are bad if he should offer this vpon particulers no one would denie it but to lauish generally against all women who can endure it You might Mr. Swetnam with some shew of honestie haue sayd some women are bad both by custome and company but you cannot avoide the brand both of blasphemie and dishonestie to say of women generally they are all naught both in their creation and by nature and to ground your inferences vpon Scriptures I let passe your obiections in your first page because they are formerly answered onely whereas you say woman was no sooner made but her heart was set vpon mischiefe if you had then said she had no sooner eaten of the fruit but her heart was set vpon mischiefe you had had some colour for your speaches not in respect of the womans disposition but in consideration both of her first Tutor and her second instructor For whereas scripture doth say The Deuill tooke the shape of man Woman was supplanted by a Serpent Ioseph Swetnam doth say she was supplanted by the deuill which appeared to her in the shape of a beautifull yong man Men are much beholding to this author who will seeme to insinuate that the deuill would in so friendly and familier a manner put on the shape of man when he first began to practise mischiefe The deuill might make bold of them whom he knew in time would proue his familier friends Herevpon it may be imagined it commeth to passe that Painters and Picture-makers when they would represent the deuill they set him out in the deformed shape of a man because vnder that shape he began first to act the part of a diuell and I doubt he neuer changed his suite sithence Here it is to be obserued that which is worst is expressed by the shape of a man but what is the most glorious creature is represented in the beautie of a woman 〈…〉 â—erpent gaue the woman bad counsell and her husband bad example as Angels Woman at the first might easily learne mischiefe where or how should she learne goodnes her first Schoole-master was aboundant in mischiefe and her first husband did exceede in bad examples First by his example he taught her how to flye from God next how to excuse her sinne then how to cample and contest with God and to say as Adam did thou art the cause for the woman whom thou gauest me was the cause I did eate What Adam did at the first bad husbands practise with their wiues euer sithence I meane in bad examples It was no good example in Adam who hauing receiued his wife from the gift of God and bound to her in so inseperable a bond of loue that forthwith he being taken tardie would presently accuse his wife put her in all the danger but the woman was more bound to an vpright iudge then to a louing husband it would not serue Adams turne to charge her therby to free himselfe Men doe shew themselues the children of Adam It was an hard and strange course that he who should haue beene her defender is now become her greatest accuser I may heare say with Saint Paul by one mans sinne death c. so by the contagion of originall sinne in Adam all men are infected with his diseases and looke what examples he gaue his wife at the first the like examples and practises doe all men shew to women euer sithence Let mee speake freely for I will speake nothing but truly neither shall my words exceede my proofe In your first and second Page you alledge Dauid and Salomon for exclaiming bitterly against women And that Salomon saith Women like as Wine doe make men drunke with their deuices What of all this Ioseph Swetnam a man which hath reason will neuer obiect that vnto his aduersary which when it commeth to examination will disaduantage himselfe Your meaning is in the disgrace of women to exalt men but is this any commendation to men that they haue been and are ouer-reacht by women Can you glory of their holinesse whom by women proue sinfull or in their wisedome Foolish men tempted with outward sheves whom women make fooles or in their strength whom women ouercome can you excuse that fall which is giuen by the weaker or colour that foyle which is taken from women Is holinesse wisedome and strength so slightly seated in your Masculine gender as to be stained blemished and subdued by women But now I pray you let vs examine how these vertues in men so potent came by women to be so impotent Doe you meane in comparatiue degree that women are more holy more wise more strong then men if you should graunt this you had small cause to write against them But you will not admit this What is or are the causes then why men are so ouertaken by women You set downe the causes in your fourth Page there you say They are dangerous for men to deale withall for their faces are Lures their beauties baytes their lookes are nets and their words are charmes and all to bring men to ruine Incidit in Scyllam qui vult vitare Charibdim whil'st he seeketh to auoide one mischiefe he falleth into another It were more credit for men to yeeld our sexe to be more holy wise and strong then to excuse themselues by the reasons alleaged for by this men are proued to haue as litle wit as they are charged to exceed in wickednesse Are external dumbe shews such potent baites nets lures charmes to bring men to ruine Why wilde Asses dotterels and woodcockes are not so easily entangled and taken are men so idle vaine and weake as you seeme to make them Let mee now see how you can free these men from dishonest mindes who are ouertaken thus with beautie c. How can beautiehurt If men be hurt thanke themselues how can it be a cause of a mans ruine of it selfe what do women forcibly draw why men are more strong are they so eloquent to perswade why men are too wise are they mischieuous to entise men are more holy how then are women causes to bring
women are so bad Creatures what a dangerous and miserable life is marriage If you examine my proofes to know directly what women are you shall then finde there is no delight more exceeding then to be ioyned in marriage with a Paraditian Creature Who as shee commeth out of the Garden so shall you finde her a flower of delight answerable to the Countrey from whence she commeth There can be no loue betwixt man and wife but where there is a respectiue estimate the one towards the other How could you loue nay how would you loath such a monster to whom Ioseph Swetnam poynteth Whereas in view of what I haue described how can you but regardfully loue with the vttermost straine of affection so incomparable a Iewell Some will perhaps say I am a woman and therefore write more for women then they doe deserue To whom I answere if they misdoubt of what I speake let them impeach my credit in any one particular In that which I write Eue was a good woman before she met with the Serpent her daughters are good Virgins if they meet with good Tutors You my worthy youths are the hope of Man-hoode the principall poynt of Man-hoode is to defend and what more man-like defence then to defend the iust reputation of a woman I know that you the Apprentises of this Citie are as forward to maintaine the good as you are vehement to put downe the bad That which is worst I leaue to our aduersary but what is excellently best that I commend to you doe you finde the gold I doe here deliuer you the Iewell a rich stocke to begin the world withall if you be good husbands to vse it for your best aduantage Let not the title of this Booke in some poynt distaste you in that men are arraigned for you are quit by Non-age None are here arraigned but such olde fornicators as came with full mouth and open cry to Iesus and brought a woman to him taken in adultery who when our Sauiour stoopt downe and wrote on the ground they all fled away Ioseph Swetnam saith A man may finde Pearles in dust Pag. 47. But if they who sled had seene any Pearles they would rather haue stayed to haue had share then to flye and to leane the woman alone they found some fowle reckoning against themselues in our Sauiours writing as they shall doe who are heare arraigned And if they dare doe like as our Sauiour had the womans accusers He that is without sinne throw the first stone at her so let them raile against women who neuer tempted any woman to be bad Yet this is an hard case If a man raile against a woman and know no lewdnesse by any he shall proue himselfe a compound foole If he rayle at woman who in his owne experienced tryall had made many bad he shall shew himselfe a decompounded K. I doe not meane Knight The best way is he that knoweth none bad let him speake well of all he who hath made more bad then he euer intended to make good let him hold his peace least hee shame himselfe Farewell Ester Sowrenam AN ANSVVERE TO THE FIRST CHAPTER OF THE Arraignment of Women CHAP. I. IF the Author of this Arraignment had performed his discourse either answerable to the Title or the Arguments of the Chapters hee had beene so farre off from being answered by me that I should haue commended so good a labour which is imployed to giue vice iust reproofe and vertue honourable report But at the very first entrance of his discourse in the very first page he discouereth himselfe neither to haue truth in his promise nor religious performance If in this answere I doe vse more vehement speeches then may seeme to correspond the naturall disposition of a Woman yet all iudicious Readers shall confesse that I vse more mildnesse then the cause I haue in hand prouoketh me vnto I am not onely prouoked by this Authour to defend women but I am more violently vrged to defend diuine Maiestie in the worke of his Creation In which respect I say with Saint Ierome Epist ad Ciprianum Meam iniuriam patienter sustinui impietatem contra deum ferre non potui For as Saint Chrisostome saith Sup. Math. iniurias Dei dissimulare impium est If either Iulian the Apostata or Lucian the Atheist should vndertake the like worke could the owne deuise to write more blasphemously or the other to scoffe and flout at the diuine Creation of Woman more prophanely then this irreligious Author doth Homer doth report in his Illiads that there was at the siege of Troy a Graecian called Thersites whose wit was so blockish he was not worthy to speake yet his disposition was so precipitate hee could not hold his tongue Ioseph Swetnam in all record of Histories cannot be so likely paraleld as with this Thersites What his composition of body is I know not but for his disposition otherwise in this Pamphlet I know he is as monstrous as the worke is mishapen which shall plainely appeare in the examination of the first page onely The Argument of the first Chapter is to shew to what vse Women were made it also sheweth That most of them degenerate from the vse they were framed vnto c. Now to shew to what vse woman was made hee beginneth thus At the first beginning a Woman was made to bee an helper to Man And so they are indeed for they helpe to consume and spend c. This is all the vse and all the end which the Authour setteth downe in all his discourse for the creation of woman Marke a ridiculous ieast in this Spending and consuming of that which Man painfully getteth is by this Authour the vse for which Women were made And yet saith hee in the Argument most of them degenerate from the vse they were framed vnto Woman was made to spend and consume at the first But women doe degenerate from this vse Ergo Midasse doth contradict himselfe Beside this egregious folly he runneth into horrible blasphemy VVas the end of Gods creation in VVoman to spend and consume Is helper to be taken in that sence to helpe to spend c. Is spending and consuming helping He runneth on and saith They were made of a Rib and that their froward and crooked nature doth declare for a Rib is a crooked thing c. VVoman was made of a crooked rib so she is crooked of conditions Ioseph Swetnam was made as from Adam of clay and dust so he is of a durty and muddy disposition The inferences are both alike in either woman is no more crooked in respect of the one but he is blasphemous in respect of the other Did Woman receiue her soule and disposition from the rib Or as it is said in Genesis God did breath in them the spirit of life Admit that this Authors doctrine bee true that woman receiueth her froward and crooked disposition from the rib Woman may then conclude vpon
gaue to her Husband In accepting the Serpents offer there was no sinne for there was no sinne till the fruit was eaten Now albeit I haue vndertaken the defence of women and may in that respect be fanoured in taking all aduantages I may to defend my sexe There are many pregnant places in the Scripture which might be alleaged to extenuate the sin of the Woman in respect of the sinne of Adam it is said Ecclesiast 25. Sinne had his beginning in woman Ergo his fulnesse in man Saint Paul saith Chap. 5. Rom. 5. By one mans sinne death came into the world without mention of the womanâ— The same Saint Paul writeth to the Corinthians Chap. 9. to whom he affirmeth that all die in Adam in which the fulnesse and effects of sinne are charged vpon Adam alone not but that woman had her part in the Tragedy but not in so high a degree as the man When Adam had eaten Adam his offences vpon his fall and sinne was now in fulnesse hee beginneth to multiply sinne vpon sinne first he flieth from the sight of God next being called to account he excuseth his sinne and doth expostulate as it were with Almightie God and telleth him That woman which thou gauest mee gaue me and I did eate As who should say if thou hadst not giuen the cause I had not beene guilty of the effect making heerein God the Authour of his fall Now what is become of that loue Adams loue like his childrens in these dayes which Adam was bound to beare towards his wife He chargeth her with all the burden so he may discharge himselfe he careth little how hee clog her God hauing examined the offendors and haueing heard the vttermost they could alledge for themselues he pronounceth sentence of death vpon them Adam punished with iustice as a punishment in iustice due and deserued Iustice he administred to Adam Albeit the woman doth taste of iustice yet mercy is reserued for her and of all the workes of mercy which mankinde may hope for the greatest the most blessed Woman punished by Iustice relieued by Mercy and the most ioyfull is promised to woman Woman supplanted by tasting of fruit she is punished in bringing forth her owne fruit Yet what by fruit she lost by fruit she shall recouer What more gratious a gift could the Almightie promise to woman The incomparable inuentions of womens wits then to bring forth the fruit in which all nations shall be blessed so that as woman was a meanes to loose Paradice she is by this made a meanes to recouer Heauen Adam could not vpbraid her for so great a losse but he was to honour her more for a greater recouery all the punishments inflicted vpon women are encountred with most gratious blessings benefits she hath not so great cause of dolour in one respect as shee hath infinite cause of ioy in another She is commanded to obey her husband the cause is the more to encrease her glorie Obedience is better then Sacrifice 1 Sam. 1 for nothing is more acceptable before God then to obey women are much bound to God to haue so acceptable a vertue enioynâ—â— them for their pennance Amongst the curses and punishments heaped vpon the Serpent what greater ioy could she heare or what greater honour could be done vnto her then to heare from the voyce of God these words I will put cumitie betwixt the woman and thee betwixt thy seede and her seede and that her seed should breake the Serpents head This must perforce be an exceeding ioy for the woman to heare and to be assured that her fruit should reuenge her wrong After the fall and after they were all arraigned and censured and that now Adam saw his wiues dowrie and what blessings God hath bestowed vpon her Womans name answerable to her nature hee being now a bondslaue to death and hell stroke dead in regard of himselfe yet hee comforts himselfe he taketh heart from grace he engageth his hope vpon that promise which was made to the woman Out of this most comfortable and blessed hope hee now calleth his wife by a name in whose effects not onely he but all mankinde should most blessedly share hee calleth her Eue which is the mother of the liuing which is sutable as well in respect of the promise made to her and her seede as in respect of those imployments for which in her creation she and all women are designed to be helpers comforters Ioyes and delights and in true vse and gouerment they euer haue beene and euer will be as hereafter shall be shewed maugre the shamefull blasphemous and prophane speach of Ioseph Swetnam page 31. begining line 15. as followeth If God had not made them onely to be a plague to a man hee would neuer haue called them necessary euils Out of what Scripture out of what record can hee proue these impious and impudent speeches They are onely faigned and framed out of his owne idle giddie furious and franticke imaginations If he had cited Euripides for his Author hee had had some colour for 〈◊〉 prophane Poet in Medea vseth these speeches Quod si Deorum aliquis mulierem formauit opificem se malorum sciat maximum hominibus inimicum If any of the Gods framed woman let him know he was the worker of that which is naught and what is most hurtfull to men Thus a Pagan writeth prophanely but for a Christian to say that God calleth women necessary euils is most intolerable and shamefull to be written and published CHAP. III. What choise God hath made of women to be instruments to deriue his benefits to Mankinde ABraham being in danger Genes 20. was blessed and preserued in respect of Sara Rebecca by Gods prouidence was the means to bring the blessing of Isaac to fall vpon Iacob Genes 27. Exod. 1. The Aegyptian Mid-wiues were a meanes to preserue the male children of the Israelites from the murther entended by Pharao Moses was preserued by the daughter of Pharao Exod. 2. The Messengers sent by Duke Iosuab to view the Land of Promise Iosuâ— 2.6 were harboured and freed from danger by a woman When the Children of Israell had beene twentie yeres oppressed by Iabin King of Canaan Iudges 4. Debbora and Iahell two women the one wâ—â—â—e the battell the other slew the Generall When Abimilech had murthered seauenty of his Brethren Iudges 9. he was punished and slaine by a woman at the siege of Thebes Micholl aduentured the hazard of her Fathers displeasure to preserue her Husband Dauid 1 Kings 19. Abigail by incomparable wisedome with held Dauid from shedding of innocent bloud 1 Kings 25. The Citie of Abdela being in danger 2 Kings 20. was preserued by a wise woman of that Citie In the great famine of Samaria 3 Kings 17. the widow of Sarepta was chosen to preserue Elias and Elias to preserue her The like prouision did
is duplex aut verum aut apparens that goodnesse or the thing which is good is either truely good or but apparantly good so they may say women are but apparantly good But the heathen Orator and the deuine philosopher to affirme if we follow the true direction of nature we shall neuer be deceiued Nature in her vehement motions is not deceiued with apparant shewes It is naturall they will say for the Male to follow the Female so it is as naturall for the Female to be better then the Male as appeareth to be true in obseruation of Hawkes the Spar-hawke is of more esteeme then the Musket the Goshawke more excellent then the Tersell so in Falcons the females doe excell The like men are bound to acknowledge women the rather in respect of their owne credit and honour To what obsequious duty and seruice doe men binde themselues to obtaine a fauour from their deuoted Mistresse which if he may obtaine he thinketh himselfe to be much honoured puts in place of most noted view that the world may take note He weareth in his hat or on his brest or vpon his arme the Gloue Womens sauours est imated as relicks the Scarfe or Ring of his Mistrisse If these were not relickes from Saintly creatures men would not sacrifice so much deuotion vnto them Amongst diuers causes which proceede from nature and custome why men are so earnest Sutors to women I haue obserued one which by practise is daily confessed Plato sayth that Honestie is of that worthinesse that men are greatly enflamed with the loue of it and as they doe admire it so they studie how to obtaine it it is apparant yong men which are vnmarried and called batchelers they may haue a disposition or may serue an apprentiship to honesty Honestie comes by marriage the vvomans dovvrie but they are neuer free-men nor euer called honest men till they be married for that is the portion which they get by their wiues When they are once married they are forthwith placed in the ranke of honest men If question be asked what is such a man it is presently resolued he is an honest man And the reason presently added for hee hath a wife shee is the sure signe and seale of honestie It is vsuall amongst old and graue fathers if they haue a sonne giuen to spending and companie-keeping who is of a wild and riotous disposition such a father shall presently be counselled helpe your sonne to a good wife marry him marry him that is the onely way to bring him to good order to tame him to bring him to be an honest man The auncient fathers doe herein acknowledge a greater worthinesse in women then in men the hope which they haue of an vntowardly sonne to reclaime him is all engaged vpon the woman In no one thing men doe acknowledge a more excellent perfection in women then in the estimate of the offences which a woman doth commit the worthinesse of the person doth make the sinne more markeable Womens faults more markable because they are the better What an hatefull thing is it to see a woman ouercome with drinke when as in men it is noted for a signe of goodfellowship and whosoeuer doth obserue it for one woman which doth make a custome of drunkennesse you shall finde an hundred men it is abhorred in women and therefore they auoyd it it is laughed at and made but as a iest amongst men and therefore so many doe practise it Likewise if a man abuse a Maide get her with child no matter is made of it but as a trick of youth but it is made so hainous an offence in the maide that she is disparaged and vterly vndone by it So in all offences those which men commit are made light and as nothing slighted ouer but those which women doe commit those are made grieuous and shamefull and not without iust cause for where God hath put hatred betwixt the woman and the serpent it is a foule shame in a woman to carry fauour with the deuill to stayne her womanhoode with any of his damnable qualities that she will shake hands where God hath planted hate Ioseph Swetnam in his Pamphlet aggrauateth the offences of women in the highest degree not onely exceeding but drawing men into all mischeife If I do grant that woman degenerating from the true end of womanhood prooue the greatest offenders yet in graunting that I doe thereby proue that women in their creation are the most excellent creatures for corruption boni pessima the best thing corrupted proueth the worst as for example the most glorious creature in heauen is by his fall the most damned deuill in hell all the Elements in their puritie are most pretious in their infection and abuse most dangerous so the like in women in their most exellent puritie of nature what creature more gratious but in their fall from God and all goodnesse what creature more mischieuous which the deuill knowing he doth more assault woman then man because his gaine is greater by the fall of one woman then of twentie men Let there be a faire maide wife or woman in Countrie towne or Citie The deuill doth more violently tempt women then men He is sure of them when he will she shall want no resort of Serpents nor any varietie of tempter let there be in like sort a beautifull or personable man he may sit long enough before a woman will solicite him For where the deuill hath good acquaintance he is sure of entertainement there without resistance The Serpent at first tempted woman he dare assault her no more in that shape now he imployeth men to supply his part and so they doe for as the Serpent began with Eue to delight her taste so doe his instruments draw to wine and banqueting the next the Serpent enticed her by pride and tolde her shee should be like to God so doe his instruments first they will extoll her beauty what a paragon she is in their eyes Dissembling in men next they will promise her such maintenance as the best woman in the Parish or Country shall not haue better What care they if they make a thousand oathes and commit tenne thousand periuries so they may deceiue a woman When they haue done all and gotten their purpose then they discouer all the womans shame and imploy such an Author as this to whose Arraignment I doe make haste to raile vpon her and the whole Sexe THE ARRAIGNMENT OF Joseph Swetnam who was the Author of the Arraignment of Women And vnder his person the arraignment of all idle franticke froward and lewd men CHAPTER V. IOseph Swetnam hauing written his rash idle furious and shamefull discourse against Women it was at last deliuered into my hands presently I did acquaint some of our Sexe with the accident with whom I did aduise what course wee should take with him It was concluded that his vnworthinesse being much like to that of Thersites
men to ruine direct causes they cannot be in any respect if they be causes they are but accident all causes A cause as Philosophers say Causa sine qua non a remote cause which cause is seldome alleaged for cause but where want of wit would say somewhat and a guilty conscience would excuse it selfe by something Philosophers say Nemo leditur nisi a seipso no man is hurt but the cause is in himselfe The prodigall person amongst the Gracians is called Asotes as a destroyer an vndoer of himselfe When an heart fraughted with sinne doth prodigally lauish out a lasciuious looke out of a wanton eye when it doth surfeit vpon the fight who is Asotos who is guiltie of his lasciuious disease but himselfe Volenti non fit iniuria hee who is wounded with his owne consent hath small cause to complaine of anothers wrong Might not a man as easily and more honestly when hee seeth a faire woman which doth make the best vse that she can to set out her beautie rather glorifie God in so beautifull a worke then infect his soule with so lasciuious a thought And for the woman who hauing a Iewell giuen her from so deare a friend is she not to be commended rather that in the estimate which she sheweth shee will as carefully and as curiously as she may set out what she hath receiued from Almighty God then to be censured that she doth it to allure wanton and lasciuious lookes The difference is in the minds things which are called Adiaphora things indifferent whose qualities haue their name from the vses are commonly so censured and so vsed as the minde is inclined which doth passe his verdict A man and a woman talke in the fields together an honest minde will imagine of their talke answerable to his owne disposition whereas an euill disposed minde will censure according to his lewd inclination Womans beauty is good but the heart which doth surieit is naught When men complaine of beautie and say That womens dressings and attire are prouocations to wantonnesse and baites to allure men It is a direct meanes to know of what disposition they are it is a shame for men in censuring of women to condemne themselues but a common Inne cannot be without a common signe it is a common signe to know a leacher by complaining vpon the cause and occasion of his surfeit who had knowne his disease but by his owne complaint It is extreme folly to complaine of another when the roote of all resteth within himselfe purge an infected heart and turne away a lacinious eye and then neither their dreffings nor their beautie can any waies hurt you Doe not men exceede in apparell and therein set themselues out to the view Shall women betray themselues and make it knowne that they are either so bad in their disposition or so wanton in their thoughts or so weak in their gouernment as to complaine that they are tempted and allured by men Should women make themselues more vaine then yongest children to fall in loue with babyes Women are so farre off from being in any sort prouoked to loue vpon the view of mens apparell Women doe not fall in lone with men for their apparell and setting forth themselues that no one thing can more draw them from loue then their vanitie in apparell Women make difference betwixt colours and conditions betwixt a faire shew and a foule substance It shewes a leuitie in man to furnish himselfe more with trim colours then manlike qualities besides that how can we lone at whom we laugh We see him gallant it at the Court one day braue it in the Country the next day we see him weare that on his backe one week which we heare is in the brokers shop the next furthermore we see diuers weare apparell and colours made of a Lordship lined with Farmes and Granges embrodered with all the plate gold and wealth their Friends and Fathers left them Are these motiues to loue or to laughter Will or dare a woman trust to their loue for one Moneth who will turne her of the next This is the surfeit which women take by braue apparell They rather suspect his worth then wish his loue who doth most exceede in brauerie So Mr. Swetnam doe you and all yours forbeare to censure of the dressings and attires of women for any such lewd intent as you imagine Bad minds are discouered by bad thoughts and hearts Doe not say and rayle at women to be the cause of mens ouerthrow when the originall roote and cause is in your selues If you bee so affected that you cannot looke but you must forthwith be infected I doe maruaile Ioseph Swetnam you set downe no remedies for that torment of Loue as you call it You bid men shunne and auoyde it but those be common and ordinary rules and instructions yet not so ordinary as able to restraine the extraordinary humors of your giddy company I will do you and your friends a kindnesse if you be so scorched with the flames of loue Diogines did long since discouer the soueraigne salue for such a wound The receipt is no great charge your selfe may be the Apothecarie A medicine for Loue. Tane Hunger A Halter it is comprehended in three words First trie with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 next with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 if both these faile the third is sure 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This was Diogenes Antidote against that venemous infection There are more milder remedies which you may put in practise If your hearts be so fleshly or your eies so tender that you dare trust neither of them then trust to your reason to turne your eyes away or trust to your heeles as Ioseph did to carrie all away After you haue railed against women you bring in a fable of a contempt betwixt the Winde and the Same and you apply the morrall to women when as it hath a farre other relation for it euer hath been applyed to men to instruct them in the gouernment of woman for I pray you who is to gouerne or who are to be gouerned You should seeme to come from the Sauromatians whose wiues were their Masters but I will set you downe both the Fable and the Morrall as it was written in English verse long sithence THe Sunne and Winde at variance did fall Whose force was greatest in the open field A trauailer they chuse to deale withall Who makes him first vnto their force to yeeld To cast off Cloake they that agreement make The honour of the victory must take The Winde began and did encrease each blast With raging beate vpon the silly man The more it blew the more he grasped fast And kept his Cloake let Winde doe what it can When all in vaine the Winde his worst had done It ceast and left a tryall to the Sunne The Sunne beginnes his beames for to display And by degrees in heate for to encrease The Trauailer then warme doth make a
stay And by degrees his Cloake he doth release At length is forc'd both Coate and Cloake to yeeld So giues the Sunne the honour of the field Who by extreames doth seeke to worke his will By raging humors thinking so to gaine May like the Winde augment his tempest still But at the length he findes his furie vaine For all he gets by playing franticke parts He hard neth more the milde and gentle hearts Like as all Plants when at the first they spring Are tender and soft bark'd on euery fide But as they grow continuall stormes doe bring Those are more hard which Northerne blasts abide What 's toward the Southerne tenderer we finde And that more hard which feeles the Northern winde Nautre his course most carefully doth bend From violence to seeke it selfe to arme Where raging blasts the trees would breake and rend There Nature striues to keepe her Plants from harme Where violence is vnto Nature strange Continuall custome there doth Nature change So 't is with women who by Nature milde If they on froward crabbed Husbands light Continuall rage by custome makes them wilde For crooked natures alter gentle quite Men euermore shall this in triall finde Like to her vsage so is womans minde As of themselues let men of others iudge What man will yeeld to be compel'd by rage At crabbednesse and crustnesse hearts doe grudge And to resist themselues they more engage Forbeare the Winde shine with the Sunne a while Though she be angry she will forthwith smile This is the true application of the Morrall As for that crookednesse and frowardnesse with which you charge women looke from whence they haue it for of themselues and their owne disposition it doth not proceede which is prooued directly by your owne testimonie Woman of her ovvne disposition gentle and milde for in your 46. Page Line 15. You say A young woman of tender yeares is flexible obedient and subiect to doe any thing according to the will and pleasure of her Husband How commeth it then that this gentle and milde disposition is afterwards altered your selfe doth giue the true reason for you giue a great charge not to marrie a widdow But why because say you in the same Page A widdow is framed to the conditions of another man Why then if a woman haue froward conditions they be none of her owne she was framed to them Is not our aduersarie ashamed of himselfe to raile against women for those faults which doe all come from men Doth not hee most grieuously charge men to learne their wiues bad and corrupt behauiour Men infect for hee saith plainely Thou must vnlearne a widdow and make her forget and forgoe her former corrupt disordered behaniour Thou must vnlearne her Ergo what fault shee hath shee learned her corruptnes commeth not from her own disposition but from her Husbands destruction Is it not a wonder that your Pamphlets are so dispersed Are they not wise men to cast away time and money vpon a Booke which cutteth their owne throates 'T is pittie but that men should reward you for your writing if it bee but as the Romane Sertorius did the idle Poet hee gaue him a reward but not for his writing but because he should neuer write more as for women they laugh that men haue no more able a champion This author commeth to baite women or as hee foolishly sayth the Beare bayting of Women and he bringeth but a mungrell Curre who doth his kinde to braule and barke but cannot bite The milde and flexible disposition of a woman is in philosophy proued in the composition of her body for it is a Maxime The disposition of the minde doth answere the composition of the body Mores animi sequntur temperaturam corporis The disposition of the minde is answerable to the temper of the body A woman in the temperature of her body is tender soft and beautifull so doth her disposition in minde corresponde accordingly she is milde yeelding and vertuous what disposition accidentally happeneth vnto her is by the contagion of a froward husband as Ioseph Swetnam affirmeth And experience proueth It is a shame for a man to complaine of a froward woman in many respects all concerning himselfe It is a shame he hath no more gouernment ouer the weaker vessell It is a shame he hath hardned her tender sides and gentle heart with his boistrous Northren blasts May men complaine of vvomen vvithout cause It is a shame for a man to publish and proclaime houshold secrets which is a common practise amongst men especially Drunkards Leachers and prodigall spend-thrifts These when they come home drunke or are called in question for their riotous misdemeanours they presently shew themselues the right children of Adam They will excuse themselues by their wiues and say that their vnquitenesse and frowardnesse at home is the cause that they runne abroad An excuse more fitter for a beast then a man If thou wert a man thou wouldest take away the cause which vrgeth a woman to griefe and discontent and not by thy frowardnesse encrease her distemperature forbeare thy drinking thy luxurious riot thy gaming and spending and thou shalt haue thy wife giue thee as little cause at home as thou giuest her great cause of disquiet abroad Men which are men if they chance to be matched with froward wiues either of their own making or others marring they would make a benefit of the discommodity either try his skill to make her milde or exercise his patience to endure her curstnesse for all crosses are inflicted either for punishment of finnes or for exercise of vertues but humorous men will sooner marre a thousand women then out of an hundred make one good And this shall appeare in the imputation which our aduersarie chargeth vpon our sexe Men are the Serpents to be laciuious wanton and lustfull He sayth Women tempt alure and prouoke men How rare a thing is it for women to prostitute and offer themselues how common a practise is it for men to seeke and solicite women to lewdnesse what charge doe they spare what trauell doe they bestow what vowes oathes and protestations doe they spend to make them dishonest They hyer Pandors they write letters they seale them with damnations and execrations to assure them of loue when the end proues but lust They know the flexible disposition of Women and the sooner to ouerreach them some will pretend they are so plunged in loue that except they obtaine their desire they will seeme to drown'd hang stab poyson or banish themselues from friends and countrie What motiues are these to tender dispositions Some will pretend marriage another offer continuall maintenance but when they haue obtained their purpose what shall a woman finde iust that which is her euerlasting shame and griefe shee hath made her selfe the vnhappie subject to a lustfull bodie and the shamefull stall of a lasciuious tongue Men may with foule shame charge women with
this sinne which they had neuer committed if shee had not trusted nor had euer trusted if shee had not beene deceiued with vowes oathes and protestations To bring a woman to offend in one sinne how many damnable sinnes doe they commit I appeale to their owne consciences The lewd disposition of sundry men doth appeare in this If a woman or maide will yeeld vnto lewdnesse what shall they want But if they would liue in honestie what helpe shall they haue How much will they make of the lewd how base account of the honest how many pounds will they spend in bawdie houses but when will they bestowe a penny vpon an honest maide or woman except it be to corrupt them Our aduersary bringeth many examples of men which haue beene ouerthrowne by women Shew a womans offence but that man was the first beginner It is answered before the fault is their owne But I would haue him or any one liuing to shew any woman that offended in this sinne of lust but that she was first sollicited by a man Helen was the cause of Troyes burning first Paris did sollicite her next how many knaues and fooles of the male kinde had Troy which to maintaine whoredome would bring their Citie to confusion When you bring in examples of lewd women and of men which haue beene stained by women you shew your selfe both franticke and a prophane irreligious foole to mention Indith for cutting off Holoferues head in that rancke You challenge women for vntamed and vnbrideled tongues there was neuer woman was euer noted for so shamelesse so brutish so beastly a scold as you proue your selfe in this base and odious Pamphlet You blaspheme God you raile at his Creation you abuse and slander his Creatures and what immodest or impudent scurilitie is it which you doe not expresse in this lewd and lying Pamphlet Hitherto I haue so answered all your obiections against Women that as I haue not defended the wickednesse of any so I haue set downe the true state of the question As Eue did not offend without the temptation of a Serpent so women doe seldome offend but it is by prouocation of men Let not your impudencie nor your conforts dishonestie charge our sexe hereafter with those sinnes of which you your selues were the first procurers I haue in my discourse touched you and all yours to the quick I haue taxed you with bitter speaches you will perhaps say I am a rayling scold In this obiection Ioseph Swetnam A difference betwixt accusing and slandering I will teach you both wit and honestie The difference betwixt a railing scold and and an honest accuses is this the first rageth vpon passionate furie without bringing cause or proofe the other bringeth direct proofe for what she alleageth you charge women with clamorous words and bring no proofe I charge you with blasphemie with impudencie scurilitie foolery and the like I shew iust and direct proofe for what I say it is not my desire to speake so much it is your desert to prouoke me vpon iust cause so farre it is no railing to call a Crow blacke or a Wolfe a rauenour or a drunkard a beast the report of the truth is neuer to be blamed the deseruer of such a report deserueth the shame Now for this time to draw to an end let me aske according to the question of Cassian Cui bono what haue you gotten by publishing your Pamphlet good I know you can get none You haue perhaps pleased the humors of some giddy idle conceited persons But you haue died your selfe in the colours of shame lying slandering blasphemie ignorance and the like The shortnesse of time and the weight of businesse call me away and vrge me to leaue off thus abruptly but assure your selfe where I leaue now I will by Gods grace supply the next Terme to your small content You haue exceeded in your furie against Widdowes whose defence you shal heare of at the time aforesaide in the meane space recollect your wits write out of deliberation not out of furie write out of aduice not out of idlenesse forbeare to charge women with faults which come from the contagion of Masculine serpents A DEFENCE OF Women against the Author of the Arraignment of Women CHAP. VIII AN idle companion was raging of late Who in furie ' gainst Women expresseth his hate Hee writeth a Booke an Arraignment he calleth In which against women he currishly bawleth He deserueth no answere but in Ballat or Ryme Vpon idle fantastickes who would cast away time Any answere may serue an impudent lyar Any mangie scab'd horse doth fit a scal'd Squire In the ruffe of his furie for so himselfe faith The blasphemous companion he shamefully playeth The woman for an Helpler God did make he doth say But to Helpe to consume and spend all away Thus at Gods creation to flout and to iest Who but an Atheist would so play the beast The Scriptures doe proue that when Adam did fall And to death and damnation was thereby a thrall Then woman was an Helper for by her blessed seed From Hell and damnation all mankinde was freed He saith women are froward which the rib doth declare For like as the Rib so they crooked are The Rib was her Subiect for body we finde But from God came her Soule and dispose of her minde Let no man thinke much if women compare That in their creation they much better are More blessings therein to women doe fall Then vnto mankinde haue beene giuen at all Women were the last worke and therefore the best For what was the end excelleth the rest For womans more honour it was so assign'd She was made of the rib of mettall refin'd The Countrey doth also the woman more grace For Paradice is farre the more excellent place Yet women are mischienous this Author doth say But Scriptures to that directly say nay God said 'twixt the Woman and Serpent for euer Strong hatred he would put to be qualified neuer The woman being hatefull to the Serpents condition How excellent is she in her disposition The Serpent with men in their workes may agree But the Serpent with women that neuer may be If you aske how it happens some women proue naught By men turn'd to Serpents they are ouer-wrought What the Serpent began men follow that still They tempt what they may to make women doe ill They will tempt and prouoke and follow vs long They deceiue vs with aithes and a flattering tongue To make a poore Maiden or woman a whore They care not how much they spend of their store But where is there a man that will any thing giue That woman or maide may with honestie liue If they yeeld to lewd counsell they nothing shall want But for to be honest then all things are scant It proues a bad nature in men doth remaine To make women lewd their purses they straine For a woman that 's honest they care not a whit They le say
she is honest because she lackes wit They le call women whores but their stakes they might saue There can be no Whore but there must be a Knaue They say that our dressings and that our attire Are causes to moue them to lustfull fire Of all things which are we euermore finde Such thoughts doe arise as are like to the minde Mens thoughts being wicked they wracke on vs thus That scandall is taken not giuen by vs. If their sight be so weake and their frailtie be such Why doe they then gaze at our beauty so much Plucke away those ill roots whence sinne doth arise Amend wicked thoughts or plucke out the eyes The humors of men see how froward they bee We know not to please them in any degree For if we goe plaine we are sluts they doe say They doubt of our honesty if we goe gay If we be honest and merrie for giglots they take vs If modest and sober then proud they doe make vs Be we housewifly quicke then a shrew he doth keepe If patient and milde then he scorneth a sheepe What can we deuise to doe or to say But men doe wrest all things the contrary way 'T is not so vncertaine to follow the winde As to seeke to please men of so humerous minde Their humors are giddy and neuer long lasting We know not to please them neither full nor yet fasting Either we doe too little or they doe too much They straine our poore wits their humors are such They say women are proud wherein made they triall They moou'd some lewd suit and had the deniall To be crost in such suites men cannot abide And therevpon we are entitled with pride They say we are curst and froward by kinde Our mildnesse is changed where raging we finde A good Iacke saye the prouerbe doth make a good Gill A curst froward Husband doth change womans will They vse vs they say as necessary euils We haue it from them for they are our deuils When they are in their rages and humerous fits They put vs poore women halfe out of our wits Of all naughty women name one if you can If she proued bad it came by a man Faire Helen forsooke her Husband of Greece A man called Paris betrayed that peece Medea did rage and did shamefully murther A lason was cause which her mischiefe did further A Cresside was false and changed her loue Diomedes her heart by constraint did remoue In all like examples the world may see Where women proue bad there men are not free But in those offences they haue the most share Women would be good if Serpents would spare Let Women and Maides whatsoeuer they be Come follow my counsell be warned by me Trust not mens suites their loue proueth lust Both hearts tongues and pens doe all proue vniust How faire they will speake and write in their loue But put them to tryall how false doe they proue They loue hot at first when the loue is a stranger But they will not be tied to racke and to manger What loue call you that when men are a wooing And seeke nothing else but shame and vndoing As women in their faults I doe not commend So wish I all men their lewd suites they would end Let women alone and seeke not their shame You shall haue no cause then women to blame 'T is like that this Author against such doth bawle Who by his temptations haue gotten a fall For he who of women so wickedly deemeth Hath made them dishonest it probably seemeth He hath beene a Traueller it may be well so By his tales and reports as much we doe know He promiseth more poyson against women to thrust He doth it for phisicke or else he would brust Thus I bid him farewell till next we doe meete And then as cause moueth so shall we greete IOANE SHARP FINIS Faultes escaped PAge 33. Line 1. for cary reade cutry p. 36. l. 30 for sincerity r. scurility p. 38. l. 28. for something r any thing Ibid. for countrey r. counter p. 40. l. 5. for contempt r. contention