Selected quad for the lemma: woman_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
woman_n	brother_n	daughter_n	sister_n	5,598	5	10.9500	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A26561	Female pre-eminence, or, The dignity and excellency of that sex above the male an ingenious discourse / written orignally in Latine by Henry Cornelius Agrippa ... ; done into English with additional advantages by H. C.; Declamation de nobilitate et praecellentia foeminei sexus. English	Agrippa von Nettesheim, Heinrich Cornelius, 1486?-1535.; Care, Henry, 1646-1688.	1670 (1670)	Wing A784; ESTC R14394	35,504	110

of the Volsci who had espoused the Tarquins quarrel were advanc'd within five miles of Rome they were beat back by the sole courage of the Women for which gallant service a famous Temple was built dedicated to Female-Fortune and many notable marks of dignity and honour conferr'd on them by Decrees of the Senate as to have the upper hand in walking the Men standing up and giving place when they pass by as likewise leave to wear Purple with Gold-fringe Ear-rings Jewels Gold Chains and other ornaments And by a Law of later Emperou●s Women were enabled to succeed in Inheritances and take Administrations and suffered to have their Funerals publickly celebrated with Encomiastick O●ations as well as the most Illustrious Men. And t was provided That in all Edicts prohibiting the wearing of any Apparel Women should not be included an Indulgence they well deserv●d since they knew so well how to part with their Ornaments on a good occasion For when Camillus had vow'd a Present to Apollo of Delphos and the whole City could not yield Gold enough to make up the summe the Women freely open'd their Cabinets and brought in their Rings Bracelets c. so ready were they to support the honour of their Countrey though with the loss of what their Sex is said most to delight in In the War which Cyrus waged against his Grandfather Astiages the Persian Army being put to flight by the prowess of the Medes was reinforc'd by the seasonable reproof and exprobration of the Women for thereupon shame and indignation infusing fresh courage they fac'd about again routed their pursuers and came off crowned with the Lawrels of victory for which good service Cyrus ordain'd That as oft as the Kings of Persia entred the City they should bestow on each Woman a Medal or piece of Gold which was frequently performed accordingly yea and doubled to such as were with Child Thus were Women by those ancient Princes of Persia and the valiant Romans from the very infancy of their Empire treated with all kind of respect and honour and to this day by how much each Nation is more civiliz'd and refin'd from Barbarism so much greater liberty and honour do Women there enjoy Nor is there a surer Character of a noble birth or any thing that sooner discovers a generous education than a respective carriage and complacent deportment towards Ladies That the renowned Justinian had a particular veneration for this Sex is evident for that he thought fit to consult his Wife in the modelling of his Laws and framing those Institutes whose excellent prudence all succeeding generations have admir'd and no wonder since the Law it self affirms That the Wife shines in an equal sphear of honour with the Husband so as how much soever he is preferr'd in dignity so much she too is advanc'd Thus an Emperours Wife is stiled Empress and a Kings Queen and a Prince's the Princess and Illustrious though they are never so meanly descended So Vlpian The Prince he means the Emperour is absolv'd and free from the Coercive power of the Laws but the Empress his Wife though of her self she be not freed therefrom yet her Husband conferrs on her the same priviledges which he hath himself Hence by the Civil Law 't is permitted to noble Women to judge arbitrate purchase sell and decide controversies between their Tenants or Vassals and sometimes to retain peculiar Servants and give Name to a Family so as the Children shall be called by the Mothers Name not the Fathers with several other priviledges in relation to their Dowers exprest in divers places throughout the whole body of the Law Which also provides That a Woman of honest fame shall not be imprisoned for Debt and that the Judge who shall commit her shall in such case be liable to capital punishment And if she be apprehended on suspition of any crime she shall be put into a Monastery or delivered to the custody of persons of her own Sex Moreover a Woman in the eye of the Law is of a better condition than a Man so that in the very same kind and degree of Crime he is esteemed a greater offender and worthy of severer punishment than she Hence a Man found in Adultery is punisht with death the Woman only shut up in a Monastery Many other priviledges of Women you may read collected by Az● in his ●●mme on the Title Senatusconsultum Velleianum and Speculator of Renunciations and others No wonder then if those ancient Legislators Men grave for their wisdome and prudent for science Lycurgus I 〈◊〉 and Plato understanding by their diligent Researches into the most profound parts of Philosophy that Women were not a whit either for excellency of wit strength of body or dignity of nature inferiour to Men but equally able in all respects whatever did thereupon ordain That Women should exercise together with Men in Wrestling and other publick games and pastimes and as well as Men make an inspection into all things appertaining to Martial discipline as shooting slinging casting Stones darting handling of Arms both on foot and horseback pitching of Tents Leading up Marshalling and setting Armies in Array c. Let us peruse the Volumes of credible Historians and they will assure us That by the custome in Getulia ●●●tria and Galletia the Men devoted wholly to ea●e● made much of themselves at home whilst the Women tilled the Ground built negotiated rid up and down went to the Wars and transacted all those affairs which amongst us are manag'd by Men. That amongst the Cantabrians the Men brought the Women Portions the Brothers were dispos'd of in marriage by the Sisters and the Daughters were the Heirs That amongst the Scythians Thracians and other Nations all Offices were undertaken by Women as well as Men. And in their Treaties Women were concern'd as appears by the League made between Hannibal and the Celtae in these words If any of the Celtae complain that he is injured by any of the Carthaginians let the Magistrates or Commanders of the Carthaginians who shall be in Spain judge thereof If any Carthaginian shall receive damage from any of the Celtae let the Women be Judges of the same Nor did the ancient Brittains and Picts regard any difference of Sex for the soveraign Command but usually went to War under the conduct of Women as both Tacitus and Beda witness From what hath been said appears conspicuously as if written with Sun-beams on a Wall of Chrystal That this Sex are not incapable of nor were in the primitive and more innocent Ages of the World debarr'd from managing the most arduous or difficult affairs till the tyranny of Men usurpt the dispose of all business and unjust Laws foolish Customes and an ill mode of education retrencht their liberties For now a Woman as if she were only the pass-time of Mens idle hours or a thing made meerly for trifling Courtiers to throw away their non-sensical Complements on is from her Cradle kept at home and

Example is a most pleasing Invitation where the eye is guided unto present action not the ear fed with fained speculation A lascivious Husband will make a wanton Wife a spend-thrift Husband an extravagant Wife and a modest honest carefull Husband a modest honest carefull Wife We should therefore take St. Austin's counsel and such as we would have our Wives appear unto us the same should we first approve our selves to them 'T is an impudent and impious fellow saith Seneca that requires of his Wife an undefiled Bed yet he himself defiles it For this reason as Diogenes struck the Father when the Boy swore because he had taught him no better so in some places the Husbands are punisht only for the faults of their Wives as in Catalonia whoever is Cuckolded payeth a summe of money and in Paris he rides in disgrace through the City the Cryer proclaiming these words before him So do so have from which our English Custome of Ridings is not much different Nor do these deplorable Consequences alwayes arise from any extream ill habit or disposition of either of the parties but from their indiscreet Conjuncture their Tempers disagreeing cause their Discord and their Humours being contrary are unfit for so close an union such jarring Notes can produce no harmony but rather dismal effects as a fiery Vapour inveloped in the arms of a cold Cloud breaks forth with amazing Flashes and terrible Thunderclaps A mature deliberation is requisite before such an eternal Bond be entred into The mutual Affection of each party the consent of Parents the approbation of Friends the tryal of Acquaintance the special observation of Disposition Genius Kindred Education and Behaviour ought seriously to be weigh'd before one conclude for better for worse and tye that Gordian knot which cannot be loosed till death cuts it Now then if a Man make his Choice with these due respects his Marriage cannot but prove a merry Age and be crown'd with joy and felicity because he is guided by Prudence which never faileth her followers But if not he may well be stiled a Fool since he is hurried on with passion and a giddy fancy which easily impoison the best designs He therefore that is truely wise cannot but choose a vertuous Wife and by consequence live happily with her and if any take one that proves vitious it argues his own folly and so by good reason he ought patiently and without repining to endure her as the effect of his own Inconsiderateness and not to aggrandize his misfortune by quarrelling with his own Choice Besides as the Lion in the Fable reply'd to the Fellow upbraiding him with a Picture wherein was drawn a Man killing a Lion Were we Lions Painters you should see one Lion tearing a thousand Men. So had Women but the power of making Laws and writing Histories what Tragedies might they not justly have published of Mens unparalleld villany Amongst whom are daily found so many Murderers Theev●s Ravishers Forgers Fi●rers of Cities and Traytors who in the time of Joshua and King David robb'd in such vast multitudes that they march'd in a posture of War and made them Captains of their padding Bands a trick they have scarce forgot at this very day whence so many Prisons become crowded and so many Gibbets loaded with their Carkasses Whereas on the contrary to Women we owe the invention of all things usefull or beneficial to Mankind which may either adorn and enlighten our dark minds or relieve and accommodate the necessities of our frail bodies Hence both the Muses and the Graces are said to be Shee s and the Names of all Arts Sciences and Vertues are Feminine and drawn by Painters in the habit of Women Nor was there amongst all kinds of Idolaters ●●y so much celebrated for Learning and Prudence as those who paid their Adorations at the Altars of Female-Deities such being the veneration and esteem of this Sex of old that those three principal parts which Antiquity conceited to be all the World were Christned after the Names of Women one taking its Denomination from Asia the Nymph the other from Europa the Daughter of Agenor and the third from Lybia the Daughter of Epaphus which is also called Africa If we particularly take an impartial Survey of all kinds of Virtues and Excellencies we shall find that Women may in each without usurpation challenge the principal place If we look on Chastity 't was a Woman first vow'd Virginity to God If the gift of Prophesie be required Lactantius Eusebius and St. Austin can tell us with what a divine spirit the Sybils were inspired and holy Writ records Miriam the Sister of Moses and Jeremiah's Unkles Wife and no less than four Sisters Daughters of Philip all eminent Prophetesses If constancy and perseverance in virtue be regarded you will find Judith Ruth and Hester so gloriously celebrated by the holy Spirit Indirer of those sacred Volumes that the Books themselves retain their Names If a lively vigorous and stable faith be expected we shall see Men generally come short of Women The poor Widdow of Sarepta believed the Prophet Elias though the things he told her could not but to carnal reason appear in the shape of impossibilities Zacharias was reprehended for his Infidelity by the Angel and struck dumb but his Wife Elizabeth prophesies both with her womb and her voice and loudly celebrates the praises of the blessed Virgin-Mother saying Blessed ar● thou who hast believed the things which are said unto thee by the Lord. To omit the Samaritan Woman with whom Christ entertain'd Discourse at the Well and being satisfied with the more acceptable dainties of her stedfast faith refused the Apostles provision And that irresistable belief of the Woman of Cananaa and her who had the Issue of Blood who seem'd to storm Heaven and offer a welcome violence to their Saviour not to be put off with any denial Was not the faith and confession of Martha equal to that of Peter What a noble constancy of faith and resolution do we find in Mary Magdalen verifying that saying She to whom much was forgiven loved much For when the Priests and Jewes blinded with rage and ignorance Crucified that Messias whom they had so long passionately expected she stands weeping by the Cross a floud of tears flowing from her fair eyes to see those streams of blood and water trickle from his precious side Afterwards she brings spices and precious oyntments to embalm his body but missing it in the Tomb enquires of the supposed Gardiner and soon acknowledgeth him to be God goes with as much speed as 〈◊〉 to the Apostles and tells them her Lord is risen They all doubt the miracle or rather deride her narration as if 't were only some dream of her melancholly fancy but still her confidence continues and her faith remains unshaken even when all those Pillars of the Church seem'd weak and tottering What shall we say of holy Priscilla who instructed Apollo a person learned

we shall use our utmost endeavours in the second Edition to deserve that favour by some further Additions and Embellishments H. C. To His Ingenious Friend Mr. H. Care On his Pains in Translating and Refining this quaint Discourse of Female Pre-eminence ' TI● bravely done dear Friend thus to Engage For the Fair Sex in this detracting Age When vip'rous Tongues so virulently throwe Venome at those to whom their Lives they owe And each base Fopp poor Womens Judge doth sit Who thinks Railing at them proves him a Wit And therefore Dams 'um They 'r all Whores hee 'l cry Though 's Mother and his Sister both stand by Nor want there Squires o' th' Quill to wound their Name And with foul Ink Bespatter their bright Fame But as when Royal Phaebus shews his Face Those Sporads vanish which usurpt his place So all these black-mouth'd screeching Birds of Night Are by your Book put to eternal Flight Your Book For what you modestly do call Translation if with the Original It be compar'd 't will easily be known That the far better part on 't is your own You adde correct and so the Whole Refine That 't is no more Agrippa's now but thine He laid the Plot but you the Language bring And giv 't a Dress as glorious as the Spring Choice Words compos'd in Periods that surprize The Ear with most harmonious Cadencies Such charming stile which France it self admir'd Was thought t' have vanisht when Love-Day expir'd Our English Prose seem'd sunk ever since then But now there 's hopes you 'l Buoy it up agen For such fair Blossomes in your Youth presage No common Fruit from your maturer Age. But what dost aim at for I must profess In this Attempt 't will puzzle one to guess Weary of Retail-Love by this Design Dost thou intend to Court all Womankind T' Ingross their Favour and ambitiously Affect Loves universal Monarchy Or do thy Flames which to some one ●spire Transport thee the whole Sex thus to admire What e're it be unto thy pains and wit All Ladies must confess themselves in Debt And to thee whence such Ornament they find They 'r most ungratefull if they prove not kind Their Snow-white Hands thy welcome Book shall hold And sometimes wrap●t up in some silken Fold In their sweet Bosomes suffer it to Rest Ah! who 'l not envy it when 't is so Blest At other times it fairly shall be spread I' th Sun shine of their Eyes and whilst 't is read Their Amber-Breath and Rosie-Lips will lend Perfumes unto its Le●ves shall never spend Henceforth no Lawyer they 'l retain but thee Who plead'st their Cause so well without a Fee Philogynes To His Worthy Friend Mr. Henry Care On his Ingenious Treatise Entituled Female Pre-eminence c. OH for some Female-Wit only a She Can write to the full Height your Eulogy What though Sappho and brave Phillips be gone Th' Muses themselves are bound to see it done Methinks I see our English Ladies throng To view your Name that vindicate from wrong Their Male-transcending Virtues which of late Have suffer'd by a sharp censorious Fate Of foul aspersions whilst some Parricide To his own Mothers Name in a full tide Of misplac't Epethites has rudely sought To wound cause One an injury on him brought Th' whole Sexes Honour whose innocence may think The Milk from 's Mother suckt too like his Ink Had too much in it of the bitter Gall Or for One Womans Cri●●e he 'd ne're curse all But let that Person with impartial eye Peruse your Book he 'l Alphabetic'ly Write's Recantation and a Convert die When I peruse your Book I know not justly who Deserves Pre-eminence the Female Sex or You For whilst I weigh their worth I 'm forc't t' admire Your weighty Wit As by a well tun'd Lyre My Ear being ravish't dubiously I stand Whether to praise the Lute or Artist's Hand So whilst you their Pre-eminence defend Your Wit i' th' proof makes me my faith suspend Whether to give it to the Feminine When you that writ it are o th' Masculine Not knowing which deserves the greatest praise Or You that Give or They that Wear the Bayes Both seem to me to claim priority Their Virtues and Your Ingenuity Then this I 'le do I will resolve henceforth T' Admire Their Virtues and Extoll Your Worth T. Martinne To the LADIES On this Ingenious Discourse of Female Pre-eminence LAdies at length your vindicated Fames Appear like bright but long concealed Flames Which under some rubbish were plac't to show That Fire by Fuel hid does stronger grow 'T was fit your brightness should some stains endure For Virtue 's greatest when 't is most obscure Princes though cloth'd with rags are Princes still Nor yet decreases good beset with ill The stately Palm does by depression thrive Your Virtues dy'd more nobly to revive What said I they dy'd No they ne're could dye But only fell prest down by Calumny From whence they do with double force arise Just like recoyling Rams in Batteri●● Something to this Brave Authors Care is due But he the greater Laurel yields to you Conqu'ring Souldiers as worthy Men we own Yet the Prince that commanded wears the Crown Thanks come from all as debts to th' Author's Wil What 's their desert then that thus inspired it Ladies Defending you success he never fears That Ship no sinking dreads that C●sar bears T. P. To the Ladies and Gentlewomen of England On that Ingenious Treatise Translated and Augmented in Defence of their Sex By Mr. Henry Care Entituled Female Pre-eminence c. LAy by your Needles Ladies take the Bayes Express your Gratitude i' th Authors praise Come shew the World your Wit hath found a Flaw In Great Apolloes Male-made Salique Law If you peruse the Book you 'l quickly find The Authors Care as well as willing mind Hath been imploy'd to serve your Sex and now With your own Hands you ought to Crown his Brow I 'le call him Author or a Name he 'l want To be known by Translator is too scant Though He Translator-like new Souls does give To th' Virtues of your Sex whereby they live Yet he 's no Cobler does not Cap but Crown Those Virtues which by dirt were trodden Th' Invention of 't I know his Modesty Does give to Learn'd Cornelius ●ut when I down Peruse Agrippa he I find does move Excited by his Wit not by his Love Whilst the Translator from his gen'rous Soul Making your Virtues his Antartick Pole Revives Agrippa's dormant Work and thence By 's Love and Care proves your Pre-eminence Wherein by 's Wit and fluent Style His Worth Extols its self in setting yours forth That then the Thanks you owe him may be seen Come crown his Head not with a Willow green But with such lasting Bayes the world may see You ne're are backward in Gratuity Or if your Modesty will not permit To praise them that prize you Lend me your Wit I