Here begynneth a lytle boke named the Schole house of women wherin euery man may rede a goodly prayse of the condicyons of women.

THe prouerbe olde , who so denyeth Is my conceyte , doth greatly arre Both wyt & discrecyon yl he applyeth That thynge of trueth , wold debar Howbeit that folkes , presume so far Wherby the truth , is often blamed Yet in no wyse , trueth may be shamed ❧ A foole of late , contryued a booke And all in prayse , of the femynye Who so taketh labour , it to ouer loke Shall proue , all is but flatterye Pehan he calleth it , it may well be The Pecocke is proudest , of his fayre tayle And so be all women of theyr apparayle ☞ Wherfore as nowe , in this treatyse What so be sayde , in rude sentence Uertue to encrease , & to laye vyce In chefe occasyon , of my pretence And where that trueth is none offence Who so therfore , that blameth me I saye he demeth , wrongfully ❧ Parchaunce the women , take displeasure Bycause I rubbe them , on the gall To them that good be peraduenture It shall not be , materyall The other sorte , no forse at all Saye what they wyll , or bende the brewe Them selfe shall proue , my sayeng trewe ☞ Eche other man , in generall And namely those , that maryed be Gyue euydent , testimonyall Aftermynge the same , yf I wolde lye And thus reporte , that femynye Ben euyll to please , and worse to truste Crabbed and comberous , when them selfe luste . ❧ Haue tongue at large , voyce loude & shryl Of wordes wonderous , passynge store Stomake stoute , with frowarde wyll And namely , when ye touche the sore With one bare worde , or lytle more They flusshe and flame , as hote as fyre And swell as a tode , for feruent yre ☞ And where they here , one worde the soundeth . Lytle agaynst , theyr lewde behauour And twyse so moche els , which that redoundeth To theyr hye prayse , ye may be sure So lyght of eare , they be and sowre That of the better , they neuer recorde The worse reherse they , worde by worde ❧ It were moche hurte , for to dyscrye The propertyes all , of the femynyne kynde Howbeit a man may , coniecture nye And saye also , as experience dothe bynde That very fewe , there be to fynde But that they can , how soeuer the mattet stande Bere fyre and water , bothe in one hande ☞ Euacyons they haue , fayut and feble Them to excuse , of duplycyte As though they were inuencyble Spotted , in any wyse to be And with othes / so craftelye They shal be forgyd , on suche a grounde As all thyng were , bothe hole and sounde ❧ And be it in ernyste , or els in iape To them it is , one maner a thynge Surely nought els , they after gape But euermore , in commynge To let a man of his sayenge Reason wyll , they not attende But tell theyr owne tayle , to the ende ¶ And for to say , moost commonlye This vice , is appropryate to them all For let a man , to them replye In reasons , of matters small These women be , so sensuall That by theyr reason , not worth a torde Yet wyll the woman , haue the laste worde ¶ There may no reason , theyrs debarre Nor none example , can them conuerte They stody algate , to be at warre And with euyll sawes , to be ouerthwarte Malyce is so roteth / in theyr harte That seldome a man , may of them here One good worde , in a hole longe yere ☞ Albeit the nombre , of them are great Yet doth theyr folye , farre excede For all is fysshe , that commeth to net In case that they , of theyr ●ynde spyde Broche , rynge , clothe , or threde Shame haue they none , to tere and snatche All is theyr owne , that they may catche ¶ What so it be , they fynger ones Of wedded man , or syngle playne He may as soone , eate the adamunde stones As the selfe same , of them to retayne Moche they craue , and nought gyue agayne As holesome for a man , is a womans corse As a sholder of motton , for a sycke horse ¶ And yet we may not , them longe mysse For many sondry , commodytyes . So tryckey way , they haue no kysse With mouth , and rollynge eyes Tongue to tongue , dysclose thyes One and other , commonlye Haue in suche case , lyke propertye ❧ That herde it were , in myne opynyon . Yf god hym selfe , wolde company kepe But that wolde , brynge hym vpon Wakynge , or other els a slepe Displease them ones , and then they wepe By meane wherof , loue doth the cure Yonge fooles to kepe / in longe vre ☞ And whyles , the woyng tyme doth last . I meane with them , that maydens be Lothe to dysplease , loue sure and fast Are what ye wyll , and spede maye ye Fewe or none , for the moost partye Gently entreatyd , deny you can With her tables , to entre your man ☞ That done they say , that ye dyd make . Promesse to them , by good assuraunce Them to mary , and to wyues take Els had ye not , had suche dalyaunce And all is for fere , of good vtteraunce In case the bely , do not swell They holde them pleased , and all is well ❧ Yet must ye be , at ferther daunger Yf ye do endende , to vse them ofte Kepe them bothe at racke , and maunger Array them well , and lay them softe Yet shall another man , come alofte Haue you ones tourned , your eye and backe Another she wyll haue , to smycke and smacke ☞ Perchaunce the bely , may ryse with all . Then wyll they swere , and stare apase That thyne it is , when it dothe fall Be it mylary , porne or base Loke they saye , on thyne owne face Beholde well , bothe nose and eye Nature it selfe , the father wyll trye ❧ And eyther there is , a synguler grace Gyuen vnto babe , forth on Or sure it is , a meruaylous face That god hath gyuen , vnto the man For were they . rx. they muste eche one Loke they strayght , eyther els a shore Be lyke the father , leest and moore ☞ And when they are ones , waxen small And able to ryde , or els to go Unto lyke acte , agayne they fall As who wolde say , they felte no wo Yf ye renounce , kyndnes to sho Then must ye sende them , to some straunge place As good a mayde , as she before was ❧ Then yf there come , a louer newe And them apoynt , whether to come They be lyke redy , vnto the mewe And to be close , from wynde and sonne With lytle labour , they are soone wonne Not one I warrant you , amonges twentye But she eftesones , wyll be as redye ☞ Wed them ones , and then a dewe Fare well all truste , and houswyfrye Kepe theyr chambres , and them selfe mewe For staynynge , of theyr fysmye And in theyr bed , all daye do lye Must ones or twyse , euery weke Feane them selfe , for to be sycke ❧ Sende for this , and sende for that Lytle or nothyng , may them please Come in good gossyp , and kepe me chat I trust it shall , do me great ease Complayne of many , a sondry dysease A gossyps cuppe , bytwene , or twayne Tyll she be gotten , vp agayne . ¶ Then must she haue , maydens two or thre That may then gossyps togyther brynge Set them to labour , to blere the eye Them selfe wyll nother , wasshe ne wrynge Bake ne brewe , nor other thyng Syt by the fyre , let the maydens trotte Brewe of the beste , in a halpeny potte ¶ Playe who wyll , the man must labour And brynge to house , all that he maye The wyfe agayne , dothe nought but glauour And holde hym vp , with ye and naye But of her cuppe / he shall not assaye Other she sayeth , it is to thyne Other els ywis , there is nothynge in . ¶ And when these gossyps are ones motte . Of euery tayle , and newe tidynge They bable fast , and nothynge forget They put ( I warrant ) betwene rydyng This lerne the yonger , of the elders guydynge Daye by day , kepynge suche scholes The semple men , they make as fooles ¶ Them selfe alway , do make good chere With one or other , they neuer reste Our Iohan shall paye , that is not here Howe say you gossyp , is it not best I beshrewe his herte / nowe is he bleste He bet me gossyp , I maye tell you That yet I am , bothe blacke and blewe Thus out it shall / what so it be Good or bad , all is one thynge What soeuer commeth , to memorye Shall not be loste , for the tellinge God wote they make , many a lesynge Hit doth theyr stomake / greatly ease To lerne what may / theyr husbandes displease . ¶ The yonge complayneth vnto the olde Somwhat to ease , theyr hertes therbye The elder sayeth / good gossyp beholde To shewe your mynde , hollye to me Fere it not , ye knowe pardye That I haue bene , bothe olde and yonge Bothe close and sure / of tayle and tongue . ❧ Then sayeth the yonger , I may tell you I am so matchet , as no woman is Of all this nyght , tyll the cocke crewe He wolde not ones , tourne me for to kysse Euery nyght , he ryseth to pysse And when he commeth / agayne vnwarme Doth tourne his ars / in to my barme ¶ Lappeth hym selfe , rounde all aboute And thrusteth me / out of my place Leaueth me scantly , one ragge or cloute To couer and cast , ouer my face Full lytell maner / gossyp he hase The moost vnkyndest , man haue I That euer woman , layde her by ¶ And be the daye , neuer so longe He doth nothyng , but chyde and braull Ye ye gossyppe , the more is my wronge Hore and herlot , he doth me call And byddes me gossyp , scrape and scrall And for my liuyng , labour and swete For as of hym , no peny I gette ☞ I was a curste , or els starke madde And when I maryed , with hym vnwyse I maye tell you , I myght haue had Another maner of man , then he is Yf I had folowed , my frendes aduyse I shulde haue had , a mynyan A man of lande , a gentylman ❧ The deuyls gossyp , ought me a shame And payde I am nowe , euery penye Wolde god he had , be blynde and lame That daye and houre , he fyrst woed me Ware not gossyp , these chyldren thre I wolde not tary , ye maye be sure Longer with hym , daye ne houre ☞ Then sayeth the elder , do as I do Be sharpe and quycke , with hym agayne Yf that he chyde , chyde you also And for one worde , gyue you hym twayue Kepe hym shorte , and haue dysdayne He shulde vse you , after suche rate Byd hym be styll , with one euyll date ❧ Cherysshe your selfe , all that ye maye And drawe vnto , good companye Caste not your selfe , gossyp awaye Because he playeth , the churle with the And by your wyll , kepe hym hungree And byd hym go , when he wolde game Unto his customers , god gyue hym shame ☞ Be euer with hym , at yea and naye And by your wyll , begyn the warre Yf he wolde smyte , then maye ye say Go to hardely , yf thou so dare I besh rewe thy herte , yf that thou spare All the world , shall wonder on the Howe thou doest wroke , thy tene of me ☞ Bycause thou hast be , at the dyse And playde awaye , all that thou haste Or from thy gylloutes , thou couldest not ryse Of all this day , ye sat so faste And nowe god , gyue the shame at laste Commest dronken home , with a myschefe And woldest be reuenged , vpon thy wyfe ☞ Better ywys , to holde thy hande And more is , for thyne honestye I had leuer thyne necke , where in a bande Then I wolde take it , longe of the Truste me , I wyll fynde remedye Smyte and thou dare , I make god auowe I wyll acquyte it , I wote well howe ☞ In case there be , no remedy But that ye must , haue strokes sadde Take vp the babe / that then is nye Be it wenche , or be it lad And byd hym stryke , yf he be madde Smyte hardely , and kyll thy sonne And hange therfore , when thou hast done ☞ Thus amonge , they kepe suche scholes The yonge to drawe , after the olde Motyng euer / vpon theyrs stoles Of euery matter , that they haue wolde By meane wherof , the yonge waxe bolde So that within , a moneth they be Quarter mayster , or more then he ❧ Truely some men , there be That lyue alwaye , in great horrour And saye it goeth , by destenye To hange or wed , bothe hath one houre And whyther it be , I am well sure Hangynge is better , of the twayne Sooner done , and shorter payne ¶ On pylgrymage , then must they go To wylesdon , barkyng , or some halowes Perchaunce be forth , a nyght or two On fote for werynge , of horse showes A vyage make , vnto the stewes And neyther knele , to stones , ne stockes But the offerynge take , with a quycke boxe ¶ Somtyme also , lycence they craue To be with some neyghbour , in the mydwyues stede And all to the ende , some other knaue Shall dubbe her husbande , a somer byrde The trueth is so knowen , it can not be hyde Albeit that fewe men , do hym here The kucko , syngeth euery yere ¶ They haue also another caste In case the husbande , be present The chylde I warrant , shal be caste And to her louer , therwith sent The sylly man , none euyll ment Regardeth lytell , or nothynge this Howe by the babe , she sendes her kys ❧ And for she wolde , by rekened trewe The matter to cloke , more craftely Her kynsman call hym , I warrant you And to blere , the husbandes eye God wote the blynde / eateth many a flye So doth the husband , often ywis Father the chylde , that is not his ☞ Trym them selfe , euery daye newe And in theyr glasses / poore and prye Plat and plant , and theyr herys hewe And all to make it , for the eye The fynest ware , that they may bye And all that euer / they may ymagyne Is to enlure , the masculyne ☞ Paynt them rounde , with many a pyn Rynged for routyng , of pure golde Fayre without , and foule within And of theyr tayles / haue slypper holde Bye who wyll / ware wyll be solde Ye nede go farther , the fayre is here Bye when ●e lyst / it lasteth ouer yere ❧ Spare for no cost / but drynke of the best . And also of euery , deyntye eate Hote in operation / and lyght to dygest Nature to prouoke , and set on a heate Oysters , kocles , and els what they may yet Nowe this , nowe that , & fayne them selfe sycke Suche thynges to receyue / as for theyr phisyck ☞ By meane wherof , Tyresyas Arbyter chose , the trueth to dyscus Gyue iudgement playne , in this case That the woman is : farre more lecherous Gallus gallinus , ter quinque sufficit vnus Sed ter quinque viri / non sufficiunt mulieri ❧ In case they wolde / ought of you craue . Anone they wepe , and lowre a pace And say that they / can nothynge haue Them to apparell , as other wyues have Truste not ouermoche , theyr mornynge face Recorde ynough , of Samsons two wyues who foloweth theyr myndes / seldom when thryues ☞ Albeit the byrder , with his blered eye Dyssemble sorowe / with his sad face Yet is there no byrde , he maye come by By his engynes / that may haue grace By women it foloweth / in semblable case Wepe they or laugh they : all is one thynge They deale mooste craftly , when they be wepyng ¶ And yet amonge / who so wyll thryue And offyce bere , in towne or citye Must nedes be ruled , by his wyfe Or els in fay , it wyll not bye The wyfe must able hym , to the degree Able or vnable , lytle careth she Bycause her selfe , wolde honoured be ¶ Feare not she sayeth , vnto her spouse A man or a mouse , whyther be ye Shulde ye , your honestly refuse And be as lyke , as other men be In person , and in eche degre Take it vpon you , do not refuse And I myne owne selfe , fynde youre house ¶ So by the meane , of her counsayle The man may not , the offyce forsake Bycause the wyfe , wolde haue a tayle Come rakyng after , & a bonet blacke A veluet heed , and also be take With the best and not the worste The man must be ruled : tyll all be in the dust . ¶ Of all the dyseases , that euer wore . Weddynge is nexte vnto the goute A saulue there is , for euery sore To helpe a man within , or without But of these two , I am in dowte No payne so feruent , hote ne colde As is a man , to be called cockolde ¶ And be neuer , so fearefull to fraye So starke a cowarde , yet wyll he rage And drawe his knyfe , euen strayght waye Be he neuer so farre in eage Call hym ones cockolde , and his corrage Furthwith wyll kyndle , and force hym stryke Worse then ye , named hym heretyke ☞ And syeth there is , no salue therfore ●it putteth many , a man in fere To be infecte , with the selfe same sore Howe well so euer , they them bere Good taken haue they , also els where That whosoeuer weddeth a wyfe Is sure of sorowe / all his lyfe ☞ Of Socrates , the pacyent Example good / of his wyues twayne Whiche on a tyme / fell at dyssent And vnto hym , dyd them complayne He laught therat / and they agayne Fall bothe on hym , with an euyll date A pyspot they brake , vpon his pate ☞ He helde hym pleased , and well content The pysse ran downe / by his chekes twane Wyll wyst I , sayde he , what it ment And true it is , that all men sayne That after thonder , commeth rayne Who hath a wyfe , is sure to fynde At home in his house , many a sowre wynde . ☞ A certayne wyfe , sayde to me ones I wolde thou knewe it , god made vs Nother of earth , stocke ne stones But of a thynge , moche precyous Of a rybbe of a man , scrypture sayeth thus Bycause the woman , in euery nede Shulde be helpe to the man , in worde and dede ☞ Man made of earth , and woman of man As of a thynge , moost pryncypall Whiche argueth well , sayeth she then By iudgement iust , and reason naturall That we be euer substantyall And yet ye men , thus of hus bable That women alwayes are varyable ❧ Whiche thynge , as farre as I se can Shulde be imployed , rather to you Syth of the earth , god create man And fygures therof , maketh euer newe Nature thus naturate , me semeth nowe Must nedes , his fyrste orygynall Ensewe , or be vnnaturall . ☞ As ye saye ( sayde I ) helpe hym well Euyll to thryue , and worse to fare Who was the cause , that Adam fell His wyfe or no● I make you ware One and other , lytell ye care So ye maye haue , that ye desyre Though dun , and the packe , lye in the myre ❧ Made of a bone , ye sayd were ye Truth it is , I can not denaye Croked it was , styffe , and sturdye And that wolde bende , no maner waye Of nature lyke , I dare well saye , Of that condicyon , all women be Euyll to rule , bothe styffe , and sturdye ☞ And ouer that , who lysteth to trye Put me two bones , in a bagge Or mo as it is , of quantyte That done , holde it somwhat sagge Shake it also , that it maye wagge And ye shall here , none other matter Of these bones , but clytter clatter ¶ Lyke so of women , in felde and towne . Assembled where , that many be A man may heare them , by the sowne Farther farre , then the eye maye se Wherfore men saye / moost commenlye Where many geese be , are many tordes And where be women , are many wordes . ¶ And so the husbande , is lyke to haue A synguler treasure , of his wyfe He nedeth neuer , an yll worde to craue All the dayes , of his longe lyfe Hath not that man , a prerogatyue That may alwaye , of his wyfe haue A thyng of nought , and it not craue ¶ And commonly , where cause is none Some thynge ymagyned is kepte in store Whiche that she may , come the good man home With spedefull spiryte , lay hym before Of lytle or nought , they make moche more And be it true , or false they tell All is sothed , as the gospell ¶ And yet the rybbe , as I suppose That god dyd take , out of the man A dogge vp caught , and away gose Eate it clene , so that as than The werke to fynysshe , that god began Coude not be , as we haue sayde Bycause the dogge , the rybbe conuayde ¶ A remedy , god founde as yet Out of the dogge , he toke a rybbe The woman forthwith he made of it As to the man , neyther kynne nor sybbe Nature she foloweth , and playeth the gyb And at her husbande , doth barke and ball As doth the curre , for nought at all ¶ Another reason , yf ye marke well Dothe cause the woman , of wordes be ryue A certayne man , as fortune fell A woman tongles , wedded to wyue Whose fronyng countenaunce , perceyuing belyue Tyll he myght knowe , what men thought long And wysshed full ofte , she had a tongue ¶ The deuyll was redy , & appered anone An aspen leafe , he bad the man take And in her mouth , shulde put but one A tongue sayde the deuyll , it shall her make Tyll he had done , his heed dyd ake Leaues he gathered , and toke plentye And in her mouthe / put two or thre ¶ Within a whyle , this medicyne wrought The man coulde tary , no longer tyme But wakened her , to the ende he mought The vertue proue , of the medicyne The fyrst worde , she spake to hym She sayde thou horson , knaue , and thefe Howe durst thou waken me , with a mischefe ¶ From that day forwarde , she neuer ceassed Her boyster babell , greuyd hym sore The deuyll he met , and hym intreated To make her tongles , as she was before Not so sayde the deuyll , I wyll medle no more I deuyll , a woman to speake maye constrayne But all that in hell be , can not let it agayne ¶ And by profe , dayly we se What inclynacyon nature maketh The aspyn leaf , hangynge where it be With lytle wynde , or none it shaketh A womans tongue , in lyke wyse taketh Lytle ease , and lytle rest For yf it shulde , the herte wolde brest ❧ Loke when the see , doth water want Nor no wynde bloweth , to mylne the walke When Ethna hyll , of fyre is scant The crowne whyte , and blacke is chalke Then women cease , wyll of theyr talke It is lyke appropryed , all women to bable As dogges to barke , and geese to gagle ☞ And that more is , all men do saye That woman to man , is moost comforte Howbeit they meane it , another waye And saye she is , mannes vtter extorte And ouer that , by iust reporte The smaller pease , the mo to the pot The fayrer woman , the more gyllot ❧ The fayrer of face , the brouder of harte The lother to woo , the sooner won The lesse of speche , the more ouerthwart Not one so daungerous , as is dame dun The fouler she is , the sooner it is done So shorte of he le / they be ouer all That and yf ye blowe / they must nedes fall ☞ By meane wherof , all men reporte And saye that women , can not be stable For be one gone , and other resorte And profereth them , thyng seruysable Our fyly is fetlyd , vnto the sadle Ryde who wyll , shod is our mare And thus they eschaunge , ware for ware ❧ In case thou woldest , not haue it so But rather to fynde / euery thynge well I counseyle the before thou go Forth of towne , to crowche and knele And offre a candell , to the deuyll Parcase thy wyfe wolde , be so lewed He wolde for let it , all beshrewed ❧ Example therof , and that was this . A certayne man , from home shulde ryde Whiche fearyng his wyfe , wolde do amys To an ymage of Sathan , vpon a wall syde Offered a candell , and that was espyde And sayde syr Sathan , nowe I charge the My wyfe in myne absence , thou do ouer se ☞ His iourney ended , came home agayne And the selfe ymage , went streyght vnto The deuyll hym shewed , euery thyng playne Howe he had let , that shulde haue be do And from her bacwarde , drawen one or two The daungerest cure , that euer he had Was to kepe good , that wolde haue ben bad ☞ Another thyng as pryncypals Be not with her , in Ialosye What mysaduenture , so euer befall Forbyd her no mannes company Nor yet rebuke her / syngulerly In case thou do , though thou haddest sworne A blaste shalt thou blowe , in Nynerus horne ☞ For as we se , by experyence Euery day before our eye And by reporte of men of credence For the moost parte / the femynye By theyr innatyue , destynye Fyrst and formest , when they be chyd Wyll that thynge do , they be forbyd ☞ And ouer that , thy wyfe present I counseyle the , be wyse and ware Thou prayse , no other mans instrument Better then thyne owne , berynge ware For yf thou do , she wyll not spare Were he neuer , so naturall a foole Tyll she haue assayed , the selfe same tole ❧ So frayle they be , of disposycyon So croked , so crabbed , with that so yll . So lewed , so shrewed , lyght of condicyon That sure , it were vnpossyble To let them , of theyr owne selfe wyll And but it ●ome , of theyr owne mynde A man were as good , throwe stones at the wynde ☞ Saye what ye wyll , they wyll do as then lust The profe therof , in a certayne fable I husbande man , hauyng good truste His wyfe to hym , had be agreable Thought to attempt / yf she had be reformable Bad take the potte , that sod ouer the fyre And set it aboue , vpon the astyre ❧ She aswered hym , I holde the mad And I more foole , by saynt Martyne The dyner is redy , as thou me bad And tyme it were that thou shuldest dyne And thou wylte not , I wyll go to myne I byd the sayde ●e , bere vp the potte A ha she sayde , I trowe thou dote ☞ Up she goeth , for feare at laste No questyon moued , where it shulde stande Upon his heade , the potage she cast And helde the potte , styll in her hande And towardes hym , she curst and bande Sayd and sware , he myght her truste She wolde with the potage , do what her luste ❧ No remedy , to dyscontent . To tratle to them , of reason or lawe For be a womans , purpose bent Nothyng preualeth , to withdrawe Nor yet to kepe / them vnder awe Gyue them counsayle , the best ye can They wyll folowe theyr owne wyll , now & than ❧ Loke of discrecyon , fewe womanly And to the were few , profytable Not thre I dare saye , amonge thyrtye That be dyscrete , and reasonable And yet alwayes , they byble bable Of euery matter , and make it nyse And in conclusyon , be wonderous peuysshe ☞ As holy as sayntes , in churche they be And in strete as aungels they were At home , for all theyr ypocrysye A deuylysshe lyfe , they led all the yere When lenton cometh , then to the frere The frere lymlyfter , for a payre of pense Wyll for all causes , with them dyspense ❧ And that more is , I dare auowe That yf thy wyfe , dyspleasure take Be it ryght or wronge , yet thou Must nedes of forse , for thy wyues sake Fyght and fraye , and hye wordes crake Swere and state , as who wolde saye Thou woldest not let , to kyll and slaye ☞ In case thou take the matter lyght As man of peas , loue and concorde Then wyll the wepe , anone forth ryght And gyue the many , an euyll worde And byd the gyrde , to the thy sworde And saye , yf I had maryed a man This thynge shulde not , be longe vndone ¶ Recorde , the wycked Iesabell . Whiche wolde haue stayne / good Helyas Recorde also of the gospell The wyfe of Phylyp / Herodyas Whiche through her doughter , brought to pas That Herode her graunted , or that they wyste To gyue her the heed / of Iohan Baptyst ☞ Thus were them selfe , may lytle do As in regarde of corporall myght Of cruelnes they rest not so But stere theyr husbandes , for to fyght The prouerbe olde , accordeth ryght Women and dogges , causeth moche stryfe And moost occasyons , to be myschefe ¶ In case that thou , so foolysshe be For thy wyues wordes , to make a brall Yf it so fortune , that she do it see Regardeth lytle , what may befall The fyrst thyng , that she doth of all On the she runneth , and holdeth the styll Whyles that an other , may the kyll ☞ And yf it chaunce , any vnkynde worde Escape thy mouthe , wherby that ye Bytwene your selfe / fall at dyscorde Truste me well / in case that she By any meane / may mayster the For the moost parte , all women be In suche case , all without pytye ¶ Weake and feble , albeit they be Of body / moche impotent Example dayly , yet maye ye se Comberous they be , and malyuolente Harmeles creatures , none euyll mente The vpper hande , yf they ones get Can no more harme , then amerseset ❧ Who was so busye , as was the mayde . With croked language , Peter to appose Ones , twyse , or thryse , to hym she sayde And thou felow , arte one of those The trueth sayde she / thy language showse Peter abasshed , swore and denayde And all by reason , of the lewde mayde ☞ Some men theyr be also , that saye Be she syngule , or be she wedde To moche she coueyteth , of chambre playe As dyd Byblis , the thynge forbed Presume to be , in her mother stede Myrrha also , inordynatelye With her owne father , founde meanes to lye ❧ The doughters twayne , of Loth the sage . Hauynge lyke tykle , in theyr tayle Coulde not refrayne , theyr wylfull rage To satisfye , with euyll hayle Theyr father fested , with costly vytayle Made hym dronke , and so at laste Medled with hym , he slepynge faste ☞ Examples hereof , dyuers there be To approue my sayenge , strayght as a lyne As fyrst of the , abhomynable Pasyphe And then the insacyat , myssalyne Pyrra , Fabulla , and fayre Helyne With other thousandes , many mo Whiche all to recyte , wolde neuer be do ❧ I pray you , why was Adam shent . Bycause he onely , dyd transgresse Eue hym meuyd , fyrst to consent To eate of the apple , she dyd hym dresse So all came , of her wylfulnesse And syth that woman , that offyce began She is more to blame then is than man ☞ The wyfe of loth , wyllynge also The wyll of god , to preuarycate Out of the citye , when she shulde go Loked behynde her , in her gate To se by profe , the pronostycate Displeased god , and she anone Transfourmed was , in to a salte stone ❧ I pray you , what dyd quene atthalye Loke in Paralypomenon Mother of yonge kynge Othozye Of all , and of all , the wylfullest one Moued the kynge foresayde , her son To do moche euyll , especyallye The temple of god , for to dystroye ☞ Myghty Samson , two wyues had The fyrst a Philistian , by generacyon Neyther of them good , but passynge bad And false to hym , farre out of fasshyon The fyrst hym caused , by lacrymacyon His probleme to her , so that he sayde When she it knewe , she hym betrayde ❧ The seconde delte moche worse then so Deceyuynge hym , as ye shall heare For she his strength / dyd take hym fro In her lappe slepyng , she clypte his heere Betrayed her lorde , and her bewpere Thus Dalyda , for mede hym serued And caused his eyes out to be carued ☞ The wyfe of Iob , the man electe Saluted hym with scornes and mockes And full vnsemely , ofte hym cheete Sayeng thou foule , full of the pockes Full lyke a foole , thy brest thou knockes Wenest thou , for thy fayre speche God wyll come , the for to seche ☞ Thy pratynge leue , fowle the befall Trust me , he wyll the neuer hele Thy beestes / thy goodes , and thy chyldren all Be deed and breute , nowe euery dele And thou lyest here , with many a byle Pratynge , and prayenge , to the diuyne And worse then thou stynkest , then a deed swyne ❧ Lykewyse the wyfe , of olde Thoby Whose name , as I remembre was Anne Whiche hym entratyd , bosteously With sad rebukes , nowe and than Called hym dryuyll , and wytles fanne Because he gaue / with herte so lyberall Parte of his goodes , to the porall ☞ The wanton wyfe , of kynge Pharao Ioseph adhortyd / with her to lye In place secrete , betwene them two God forbyd madame sayde he Bycause she sawe , it wolde not be A shamefull lye she dyd inuent In pryson to caste / that innocent ☞ In women all , this propertys Is knowen sure , and manyfeste That yf a man , maye come so nye To shewe them game , that they loue best And wyll not do it , then well they Ieste But trust me sure , that with the harte They wyll neuer loue hym afterwarte ☞ The wyse man sayeth , in his prouerbes A strumpettes lyppes are dulce as honye But in her dealynge , she is sowre as herbes Wormewode , or rewe , or worse sayeth he For when them lyketh , to mocke with the With tongue & eye , suche semblaunce the show . That harde it were them to mystrowe ¶ As though they spake , with mouth & herte With face they make , so good semblaunce That harde it were , a man to starte From theyr fayre glosynge , countenaunce Thus with theyr sugered , vtteraunce The symple men / that meane but iust Disceyued are , where they moost trust ¶ In case they do you , but one benefyte An hundreth tymes by you recompensed They wyll you euer , with that one entwyte With lytle cause , or none offensed All your demerytes , shal be vnrecensed So be it lesse , or be it more All is loste , ye gaue them before ☞ Yf ye renounce , your copy holde And wolde be tenaunt , by Indenture There is no ware , then to be solde Ye must go seke , at your aduenture For as of you , they haue no deynture Thynke ye that I , wyll be so redy Nay by Iesse , I holde you a peny ❧ And then yf ye , no labour make Ye maye be sure that then wyll she The lure out throwe , the hawke to take Be lyke , of her affinyte Good god howe straunge , nowe adayes be ye I wolde haue thought , ye had ben none suche But by the lytell , is knowen the moche ☞ So at length , by howche or by crowche , Lesse or more , euer they craue Untyll the hande , be in the pouche No wordes prouaylen , the to saue A thousande thousande wayes they haue To make a man , a threde bare cote And leue hym , neyther peny ne grote ❧ Nowe this nowe that , they craue alway One thynge or other , they neuer rest Saye what ye wyll , they wyll no naye Nor none excuse , but theyr owne request So they may be trymmed , and fed of the best They haue no remorse , who bereth the name Nor whome they put to open shame ☞ The trueth is knowen as in this case By holy wryte , autenticate Betwene Thamer , and the iudge Iudas The booke called Genesis , examynate Howe thamar the wydowe , in the waye sate D●sgysed her selfe , in straunge araye Iudas to dysceyue , after that waye . ❧ Her fresshe atyre , & countenaunce therto Prouoked this man , a questyon to make She lyghtly consentynge , as some other do Sayde what wylt thou gyue , thy pleasure to take Some pledge she sayde , for promyse is slake Of hym she requyred , staffe mantell and rynge His mynde to folowe , and do the thynge ☞ Shorte tayle to make , the lawe was then A woman that founde was , in auoutrye Dewe proffe alledge , by credyble men Shulde suffre death , saunce remedy The matter apperyd , by her bely She openly sayde , in sclaunder of Iudas Who oweth these thre , this dede done has ¶ Thus be they all , past shame and drede . And careth not , who doth byd them bayle With goostly sentence , them to fede Lytell or nothynge , dothe them preuayle Be the backe tourned , anone they rayle And say , for all your counseyle good Ye had leuer a bare ars , then a furred hood . ¶ To say that they can , counseyle kepe . It were to me , a meruaylous thynge Onlesse it be , when they do slepe Or no body , to gyue the hearynge Desyrous euer , of newe tydynge And were it matter , of lymme and lyfe Out it shall , be tolde byleue ¶ Tully the Roman , vpon a daye Though to approue , his wyfe secrye In counseyle tolde her , he had put awaye The Emperour sonne , to the ende that we Maye reygne and rule , bothe lande and see Glad was she , and yet she went And hym dysclosed , incontynent ¶ Tully escaped , harde with the lyfe . And all by meane / of his owne folye Had not the trueth , be knowen belyue To haue be hanged / it was ieoperdye Be it therfore true tale , or lye Be wyse and ware , wake ye or wynke And tell not your wyfe , all that ye thynke ¶ Kynge Salomon , bothe wyttye & wyse A woman doth , assymylate Unto a droppynge , euesynge guyse Dystyllynge downe , after rayne late Who droppes vnclene , doth maculate The fynest vesture , that any man werys With colde and wete , the body derys ☞ Euyn so a woman / litygyous Disquieteth , a hole householde And who so he be , that in his house Entendeth to kepe , a woman skolde The wynde that bloweth , bothe moyst & colde Were better farre , for to herpour And lesse shulde fynde , of dyspleasure ☞ Enuyous they be , it is dayly sene And proude also , of comparyson Recorde of Saba , the gorgyous quene Before , nor syns , was neuer suche one Bycause she enuyed , kynge Salomon To proue his wysdome , and take with a tryppe Passed the sees , in a meruaylous shyppe ☞ Bycause that Naboth , wolde not sell Unto the kynge , of Samarye The vyneyarde he had , at Israell Achab the kynge , became angrye As soone as Iesubell , the quene knewe why She straytly commaunded , by wrytynge to fayne Some cryme vpon Naboth , & so was he slayne ☞ Loke and rede , the boke Bockas And ye shall fynde , many a reason The pryde of women , to deface For theyr m●slyuynge , in theyr season Good women he wrote , were very geson As ye shall fynde of , ri●he wrote But of the. xx . neyther letter nor iote ☞ Salamon sayeth , thre thynges there be Seldome , or neuer saturate ●ell the fyrst , is of the thre The seconde , a womans water gate The grounde of water / insacyate Of euery lewde fassyon , recken who can And euer I warrant , the woman is one . ¶ Harde to be knowen , lyke membre ther be The fourth to knowe , who is he con The fyrst whiche waye , a byrde wyll flee Or of a serpent , sprent from a stone What hauen a shyppe , shal be dryue vpon The crafte of a hore , perceyue who con And euer I warrant the woman is one ¶ The grounde also / doth vary by thre The fourth may not , be stablysshed sure A bonde man set , in maiestye A foole fed fatte , whyles he wyll in powre An odyous woman , in weddynge vre An heyre made of , a bonde woman So euer I warrant , the woman is one . ¶ Which thynges remembred , well nere eche man Reporte of them , accordyngly And saye playnly , that in the woman Is lytle thynge , of prayse worthye Lettred or vnlerned , whether they be They say of all creatures , women are the best Cuius contrarium , verum est ¶ And were not , two small venyalles The femynyne myght , be gloryfyde Set in thrones perpetualles And as the goddes , be deyfyde Two venyall synnes , they haue and hyde None of the seuen , theyr names who can tell They can neyther do , nor saye well ¶ So to conclude , of this treatyse A fynall ende , rude though it be The processe through , who wyll superuyse Shall well perceyue , I make no lye An ende therfore , to make shorflye In my conceyte / he lyueth in rest That medleth with them , of all people leest . FINIS .