their husbands are all comprized under three severall Degrees and therefore the punishments must likewise be of three severall sorts In the first and highest degree are faults all together inexcusable never committed by any vertuous or modest wife never to be endured by any loving or honest husband such are defiling of his marriage bed or any treacherouse exploits against his life and person Now for theise the Law setts down direct punishments For the former divorce from the bond of marriage for the Second expulsion from the Community of wedlock And in neither case are the husbands ingaged for the payment of their dowrie or any ways bound for the reliefe of their povertie Mistake me not I only intend that the prosecution heerof lieth in the husbands power not the execution for that must be consumate in lawfull manner the fact prooved by lawfull witnesse the verdict given by a lawfull Judge So that the Jealousie of husbands touching their wives incontinencie or suspition otherwise concerning their disloyaltye c. before they are actually prooved are not to be accounted actuall faults of the wife but to be adjudged as the braine sick fancies of their husbands Be the suspicion of the one vehement it beareth indeed the better colour and deserveth the sharper trial But for the jealousie of the other it is a common ill humour and therefore in wisdome nothing at all to be esteemed Jealousie is a Child conceived of self unworthynesse and of anothers worth at whose birth feare made it an abortive in nature and a monster in love for the jealouse man unworthily loving a worthily beloved Object stands in feare of communicating his good unto another more worthy So that neither is his love perfect because mixed with feare which love abhorreth nor his fear medicinable because conjoynd with love which feare impoisoneth But of both ariseth this mungrell kind of Jealousie a loving feare or a fearfull love where in contrary to all other actions of man we bend all our diligence and carefullnes to obtaine the full sight and perfect assurance of our own misery we would needs for soth know our selves to be Such Homed Rationalls as we fear our selves to be for of prevention there is no hope as our English worthie can tell us Sure t' is no jealousie can that prevent VVherein two persons one be full content Seeing then that theise imaginations of husbands are not in law the fault of a wife and when it appeares by evidence that they are guilty of such hainouse crimes the Law determines their proper Punishment whatsoever is added beyond that is Illegal and more then the Law requires In the second degree are faults of another nature far inferiour to the former and it of reall moment too such as may be their backwardness in the religious service of God Carelesnesse in managing their house hold affaires Ill behaviour towards their neighbours and friends misdemeanure of themselves towards their husbands c. Theise I conceive to be as so many rootes of weedes planted in the fair garden plott of a womans minde spreading it selfe into many Crooked branches and bearing much bitter fruit In such cases therefore the Law alloweth husbands to use reprehension either sharper or milder according to the nature and qualitie of the offence and as their own modest discretion findes convenient Yet nevertheless theise faults are not so absolutely evill but that they might admitt some kind of excuse according to the severall circumstances that may happen between loving husbands and their loving wives only serving thereby some what to extenuate theise faults tho not peremptorily to defend them and thereby to vindicate their spottless Innocencie For the first there is no man so irreligious but commends a religious especially a religious wife in whom religion is especially needfull both for instruction of her maides and the education of her children But if in such an imagination of religion fall into some peevish zeale thro ignorance or through some small measure of knowledg amount unto womannish resolution it had been better they had been less studious in those pointes where the best fruites of their labours is a plentifull Sheafe of Errours Wherefore for my own part I could never yet bring my self to approove thoose too too holy women-gospellers who weare their testament at their apronstringes insteade of Scissers and will weekly Catechise their husbands citing places clearing difficulties preaching holy sermons c. when the spirit of their devotion mooves them For sure I am the Scripture and the examples of antiquity who observed that Rule held silence to be a womans Chiefest Eloquence and thought it their part to heare more then to speak and to learne rather then to teach As well then too much curiosity of Religion as too much neglect is a fault in women So that if their frailtie leade them into either extreames the husband hath the power of reprehension to keepe them in the golden mean Again if a wife be over frugall it may be supposed it is for the augmenting of her husbands estate and the benefit of his children If she be very bountifull it may be thought she intends her husbands credit and supportance of his estimation Likewise if others mislike her carriage it may be her modesty seemes proude unto them or her familiarity otherwise breedeth contempt Lastly if thro infirmity she fall into any inconvenience some thing is to be imputed to the weaknes of her sexe some matter of excuse there is in the reveness of such an offence In all or either of these aggrievances the husband hath allways the priviledge of reproove which yet ought to be given at all times and in the circumstances and occasions under present consideration with such a spirit of wisdom meeknes tendernes and discretion as that one soft word may sooner perswade and work upon her minde then a frowning Countenance and a frown of his sooner then a sowre and austere demeanure and then what more Soveraigne Balsome can there be in this world then the tender reprehension of a loving husband this must needs be so farr from wounding that it softens cleanseth heales and strengthens and yet the very wounds of a reall constant and long approved friend we reade are more to be preserved then the kisses of an enemie and if this be true as most undoutedly it is how highly is the Precious Oyle of soft reproof to be prized when dropping so sweetly like that honney from those life breathing lipps of a deare and tender Spouse studying with greatest diligence what may make for the reall prosperity of his wifes outward and inward man with all present and future hppynes that can attend her wish in whose felicity the wellfare of his own Soule and life is so much bound up Certainly there can not be found any woman so devoid of reason and judgment but that she will embrace such inestimable Tokens of truest and noblest Love with greater fondnes and affection that the long
THE GREAT ADVOCAâ— AND ORATOUR for WOMEâ— Or The Arraignment Tryall 〈◊〉 Conviction of all such wicked Hâ—â—bands or Monsters who hold 〈◊〉 lawfull to beate their Wives or to demeane themselves severely and Tyrannically towards them where Their crafty pleas are fully heard aâ—â— their Objections plainly answered anâ— Confuted And the 〈…〉 Condemnation passed 〈…〉 the Law of Nature the Law 〈…〉 Pollicy or Morallity the Civill and Canon Law and the Law of God Coloss 3. 19. Husbands Love your wives and be not bitter 〈◊〉 them Prov 16. 27 An ungodly man diggeth up 〈…〉 and in 〈…〉 there is as burnin◠〈…〉 froward 〈…〉 man soweth 〈◊〉 A. D. 1682. The Contents CH. 1. The Introduction CH. 2. That it is not lawfull for husbands to beat their wives prooved from the law of Nature CH. 3. The same confirmed by the Lawes of Morallity or of civile Pollicy CH. 4. The same argued and cleared up from the Civile Canon Lawâ— CH. 5. The same evinced from the Law of God CH. 5. The Conclusion To all married Women whose â—usbands rule over them with rigour and severity And likewise a word to all such irrationall husbands Ladies and Gentlewomen THE wiseman tells us that a word spoken 〈…〉 like apples of Goâ—â—◠〈◊〉 pictures of Silver 〈…〉 to your selves to judg how oppoâ—â—â—â—â—ely this Treatise comes unto your hands whose tendernicks are galled by your wearysome uneasy yoakes â— hope these few sheets may some what revive your drooping Spirits â—t beeing no small comfort when you have a friend at hand whose tender compassion towards your tender Sex makes him deplore your sad case and Plead your cause with such affection as if it were his own Me thinks I see how strangely your heart-breaking husbands are hurried by the violent Whirlewind of unbridled Passion me thinks I hear their loud murmurings their angry voice together with the ecchoing sound of servile blowes wounding my sorrwfull eares more then the dreadfull noyse of the disquieted seas more dangerouse then their forming rage more amazing theâ— Aetna's wrath whose wide throat â—â—â—gorgeth smoaks flames and â—under at one breath methinks 〈◊〉 see their shadow swiftly drawing on you like the black terrifying Hierricane that makes the tendeâ— Reedes whose nature yeelds to every gentle gale lie prostrate croudâ— together and whisper in trembling feare I am sensible how theiâ— austere demeanure and tyrannicaâ— behaviour have plunged diverse 〈◊〉 you into a deep and dangerous Gulph of sorrow and disparation who not finding peace and content at home are in an exorbitant manner seeking it else where and like persons disarmed of sence and reason by this Paroxisme of feare are Acting directly contrary to your own genuine and inclinations c. Now alltho I dare not justifie such enormities of yours but as a faithfull frind exhort your speedy Repentance and Amendment yet I lay the guilt tho not sufficient to excuse your fact in a more peculier manner to your husbands Charge and as the wicked Instrumentall cause of sins in you I Summon him without a deeper Repentance to prepare to Answer before the Great Tribunall judg both for himselfe and you Others there are more virtuosly inclined who are desponding in solitary corners and whose best remedy is to seek out some melancholy cave or desart place that may entertainâ— their pensive minds whilest their distracted thoughts are feeding oâ— soliscitude and care who instead oâ— teaching their eyes to weepe are endeavouring how to wiipe off their Christall teares as pure and cleare as is their Innocency without the discovery of their grief On whose pale eyâ— lids sits a sad messinger of wo more unwell come then the harbinger of death it selfe For such this book was chiefly designed and to every such desponding wife I now address my self advising you to trie once more what influence the violent cords of your laborious Love may have upon your misguided husband Take him by the hand and fall about his neck with sweet embraces hold him fast and compell him alltho against his will by all the retorick you have and by all the charming Eloquence of your loyall and constant Love c. â—f this prevaile not with him then conâ—ure him by all that 's dearest unto â—imselfe that he would please to â—ondescend to walk along with you â—nto this Temple of Eroto or the Muse of Love which is erected for your sakes alone Perhaps it may proeve and who knowes but it may O would to God it might such as was the Temple of the Goddesse Viri placa in Rome of whome Livie writes that whatever man and wife came to sacrifice Therein alltho never so much at strife and variance before yet they allways returned home again in Love and unity And that I may help one lift forward I desire now to speak a word or two to your contentious husbands whose words are fire brands arrowes and death or that which is much worse my advise to such shall be no other then thâ—t wise mans councell Prov. 25 8. 9. Go not forth hastily to strive least thou know not what to doe in the end thereof when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame debate thy cause By long forbearing is a Prince perswaded and a soft tongue breaketh bone it self Suppose thy wife to be what thou wouldst have all men think she is willfull froward and perverse consider whither thou hath not made her so doth her affections fit loose to thee examine well the grounds debate the matter with thy selfe Go nots forth hastily to trive with any person no not thy adversary much less with thy friend and least of all with her who lieth in thy bosome and should be dearest to thy heart nay who should be as deare unto thee as thy Life for as much as she is thy very selfe If a King with whom is commanding Majesty and power will be perswaded by a wise deportement how much more then will thy lowing wife whose tender Sex doth naturally dispose her to such sweetnesse softnesse Gentlenesse such melting and relenting teares such heart winning demeanure c. that the mollifying hand of Love may mould her into any stamp that vertue formes and who recoyles at nothing more then raggid usage because it is so directly contrary to her soule whose essence is compacted of ardent Love stronger then death it selfe and which many waters cannot quench From this time forward therefore goe thy wayes and reconcile thy selfe to thy offended selfe then let hand joyn in hand haste both of you to pay your Sacrifices to this Temple of unfeigned Love that when you returne from thence Heart may then joyn in Heart and both of you may be willing to live no longer then you live united in One soule which will redound to both your peace and tranquillity heer on earth and your future happinesse in the world to come and crowne your names to there present honour and my cordiall wishess with that palme of victorious and triumphant Successe which
the world Were such a Conclusion of any force I would thus dispute Catline was a Traytor Verres a Thiefe Nero a murderer Aegistus an adulterer Machivell atheisticall Jovianus hereticall Battus a foole c. Theife all were men Mysogenes was a man therefore Mysogenes is a traitor a thiefe a murderer an adulterer atheisticall hereticall a foole c. would not the meanest swaine conclude I was out of my sences to argue thus and laugh me to scorne for a dunce in Logick The argument now is the same with theirs which if they shall dislike then they themselves cleare women of whatsoever is heer spoken against them if they notwithstanding all that hath been sayd shall approove of the argument they have all this while travailed with the Pellicane and the birth of their own Child will be their own destruction and if not their absolute ruine yet at least their perpetuall disgrace and infamie By this time perchance their heat is allayed and they who before this were apt to think all women absolute evils yet now blushing for shame they may recant their error and refining their phrase may terme them at best but necessary evils This indeed is a too common speech and most men think they have judiciously spoken when they have thus defined the matter That they are necessarie I will readily grant since He that made man saw it was not good that man should be without such meet helps as theise That they are evils in that abstract I utterly deny since he that made the woman saw that all he made was good and besides his generall blessing given unto all his workes he gave Adam a peculiar blessing and distinct from all which was in that fruitfulnes of procreation which could not be without that womans help Is woman Good then in the jugdment of God and in your opinion necessarie then once againe you must alter your stile and henceforth denounce her a Necessary Good For theise very termes Necessary and Evil are inconsistent one with an other and imply a contradiction in terminis both beeing repugnant to each other All things that are necessarie for man are Good foode is necessarie aparrell is necessarie the fire aire earth water c. are all necessarie therefore food rayment fire c. and women allso beeing necessarie tho the reall beeing and well beeing of mans life are allso good Otherwyse we must suppose God hath tyed man to most rigid termes and conditions that some things are made necessary to his very beeing and yet that thing should in it self be evil in this wee highly impaire that wisdomâ— of God and detract from his Holinesse and goodnes But to satisfie some Chief authors of this receivid opinion I will acknowledge that some women are less Good then others and thence they incurr the name of evil and nature requiring a necessity of them thence they receive that title of necessary and from both they are branded with the infamie of Necessarie Evils An attribute yet not appropriated unto them alone but usually allso applyed unto men Alexander Severus the Roman Emperour called his Councellours who surely were or ought to be men of the greatest abilities Necessarie Evils The Officers in his court Necessary Evils Hybicus likewise called Euthidamus his friend his Necessarie Evil Varro his testie brother his necessarie evil Martiall his angry brother his necessarie evil with whom sayth he I can neither live well nor yet live without him But to breake off this idle cavile whith hath too long detaind me from my purpose Let Mysagenes steepe his quill in the of Invection let him speake with as open mouth as ever Satyr did yet all that can be alleadged as offences of wives against their husbands are only such as are either expressly mentioned or else directly may be reduced unto my three former heads Secondly then that the corrections lawfully used by a husband unto his wyfe ought to be no other then I have prescribed remaines yet to be more amply prooved For the first that Divorcement in cases prefixt are the sole and only lawfull punishment the Law it self affords such faire testimonies and the practise of all lawyers hithertoo have given such full confirmation that now it is too late either to be denyed or gainsayed For the twoo other M. Aurelius a Consull Sometimes and councellour shall speake for me A wife sayth he is often to be admonished to be reprehended but seldome but never to be dealt ' withall with violent hands Where you see not only a flat denyall of any rigorous sort of correcting wives but withall a plaine assertion of my prescribed punishments admonition and reprehension Admonition is that which with a soft and tender hand bindeth up the bruises of a friend and therefore most needfull in marriage the nearest of any friendships Hence the Law injoyns us to deale with our wives in milde termes in sweet words affectionate and patheticall perswasions powerfull and attractive arguments and exhibit to them such winning examples of our kind demeanure c. That whereas by nature women are milde loving gentle and faire there might not be the least inclination in them to refuse a firme complyall unto That meek spirit which is so like their own good Genius especially when so powerfully invited thereunto and constrained if that word can be proper in this place by the golden twist of heart uniting Love Mercurie saith Plutarch was seated the next God unto Vénus because in marriage there is allways need of settled reason and a faire language Mars was then ushering of Jupiter in a place remote because warrs are only fitt for kings and States Reprehension we have added in the second place that whereas Admonition with its smooth carriage prevaileth not the rereprehension with sharper intreatie might take effect Hence the Law councelleth that overmuch lenity is to be mixt with some few graines of Severity not rigour c. and of them both to be made a third temperature or golden compound called Mediocritie By which in all our reprooves we shall be so guided as neither using too much exasperation or indulgence we may soone reforme whatsoever Offence we seek to redress God commanded that in the Arke of the Tabernacle directly over his two Statute Tables Manna should be preserved but together with Moses rod Papyrius set up before the Senâ—te house in Rome the image of Mercy but allso placed the image of Justice by In both which kindes of Correction the success will be far more effectual if we leade the way before by our example which by our words we perswade our wives to follow for the abbreviarie of a husbands words and actions is as if it were the Chamber-glasse by which the wife should take direction to Dress her self from top to toe At his tongue she should learne to speake by his cariage she should compose her behaviour And a 1000 times safer way it is as in a Case
perfection Then was not his reason over cast with any clouds of Sensuality his judgment not tainted with errour his Affections not disturbed or diverted by sinfull temptations and there by allured to sin on other Objects of delight and pleasure his Conscience not stained with Sinn the eye of his understanding Clear like the Sunn in its strentgh and beauty the propension of his will free and then we may assure our selves his was most exquisite and his words the true Oracles of Wisdom In this so absolute and Angelical an estate which now the nature of man can no ways pretend unto see how the Proper state and first venture or marriage ratifyeth and Confirmeth the amiable Bond and indiâ—soluble knot the firme conjunction and perfect Union of Man and Wife Man shal leave his father and mother and cleave unto his wife Parents there is no man doubts are to be regarded with all filiall and reverentiall dutie they should be the Second in our honour as they are the Second causes of our beeing Yet as though there were a Nescio quid in marriage some higher mysterie and a relation more essentiall we are authorized to relinquish them and therefore much more all other friends and acquaintance or whatsoever love the love of God only excepted and to live with our companion who is our Second self An absolute Law we see for Adam and for all his posterity of men therefore shall a man c. not enjoyning this condition to Eve or to the after posterity of women kind that they should leave their father and mother and cleave unto their husbands no but for this cause shall a man leave c. It may be that his propheticall soule saw the future obdurity of man would proove to be so stony as it might stand in need of Lawes to mollifie it but womans nature to be so gentle so affable so Obsequious so compact of Love that her choise affections would easilie prevent any law for the increase or continuance of her Sympathizing Love stronger then death it self and which many waters could not quench And in this nearest of all near affinities if Concord be our protector though we live not in the glory of the world though we be as poore as imagination can conceive though prosperitie shines not in at our windowes and pleasures honours riches and vanities attend not at our gates Notwithstanding all we have an Asylum at home or Refuge whereunto when we retire our selves we are sure to finde sincerity of Love standing on the treshold of our dore ready to welcome us and true Contentment within to entertaine us The councell-house may proove distastefull to us the citty may perchance deride us the court peradventure not smile upon us the fields thro Solitarines may possibly feed and nourish our melancholie the streets-trough popularitie may displease us all things abroad may not relish with us nay gold and silver if we had abundance of it might distract our mindes yet after all our comfort lies in this that at our sweet home we have Soveraigne Physick a choise Cordiall a most admirable Antidote viz the Quintesence and highest Elixir of pure and spottles Love to recover our diseased mindes and to revive our drooping Spirits a present Restorative for every malady we mun withal in this Cretd dust and infectious aire where in we liveâ— But where discontent and Discord swayes though our posessions knew no other limitts then the Artick and Antartick Poles of Earth our attendants as numberles as Xerxes Army our fate as costly and luxurious as Heliogabalus our house and furniture as glorious as Salomons Temple c. yet all this is but poor and beggarly riches or a rich beggarie Wher as our minde which is the seat of true peace and content is all this while inhabited by the outragious Spirit of strife and contention and is a fitt habitation for no other Objects then such who devour and prey upon each other with the ravenous appetite of hatred envie malice murders and revenge Suppose flattering Prosperity were thy conseâ—nt Minion and gave thee the whole world at thy command let the rich Indies overlay thy floores and every thing thou hast with purest gold The Choisest Gemms and Orientall pearls of richest worth prostrate themselves before thy feet and Cohabite in thy armes and the sweet Arabia perfume thee with its costly odours let the Sea the air the land bring their rarest offerings to the honour of thy exalted name and let Ivory beds nay massie beds of gold or silver inshrine thee from the dismall night yet when thou returnest home unto thy own bosome thou shalt then find a hell of Torments and that bitter root of the Colliquintida of strife and emulation which impoysons all the rest Farr from the example of the first institution was any such enormitie It was here decreed They two shall bee-one flesh Here was an Union proclaymed their bodies are one flesh their Soules one Spirit themselves no more destinctly two but perfectly united into One. And if wee may be so bold to draw the comparison from God himself I would affirme with reverence that man and wife are reall shadowes or Pictures of the most Sacred Trinity where there is a distinction of Persons but an Unity of Essence even so man and wife all tho two Severall persons yet ought they to abide as one Individuum or one entire Soul Spirit and Affection One and the self same great end each others mutuall good and furtherance of their outward and inward happynes and one and the self same Méanes in order to that sole end viz. in beeing and continuing a mutuall de light and Satisfaction unto each others minde centring both in Unity of Love On this bargaine our first parents agreed and the termes and conditions they truly performed in their first state of Innocency when as the Soule of man was enameled only with the flowers of vertue no thistles were then grouwing no thornes or bryars were then planted Passions of Anger fear guilt and shame were not yet borne nor Vice her daughter then begotten This was once the Age whereof we have read The first and best of times were pure a golden age Next to the Gods and farthest from tempestuous rage Of vice No other Empress of the world was known As yet but Sacred Vertue she rul'd then alone Then was eternall Spring the earth with richest flowers Was allways richly clad which when the Christall showers Performed their morning Sacrifices gave such breath As tho the Gods had daily new perfumed the Earth The Sister aire a virgin for thâ— piercing gunn The mother earth not yet was wounded by her sonne The iron instrument The rugged Oceans back Not Sadled with tbe pine to beare the Merchants pack Yet then the Earth the Sea the aire untouched did yeeld More fruits then laboured now doth aire or sea or fielde c. Bellona had not yet in sanguine field displaide Her sable