The
letter
sent
by
mayster
Thomas
to
the
gentle
woman
,
with
the
translacions
that
she
desyred
.
ACcordyng
to
your
request
,
I
haue
done
my
best
in
translatyng
as
well
Cato
his
oracion
,
alleged
(
by
the
man
ye
wote
of
)
in
disprayse
of
women
,
as
also
the
other
oracion
,
made
by
Lucius
Valerius
:
whiche
I
recited
for
aunswere
to
the
same
.
And
because
the
law
Oppia
,
mencioned
in
both
those
oracions
,
is
not
plainely
set
foorth
in
Liuie
,
at
the
time
of
the
makyng
therof
:
I
therefore
haue
gathered
suche
priuate
contribucions
,
as
the
Romayne
people
charged
theim selfes
withall
about
that
tyme
,
to
the
intent
,
that
besides
the
argument
of
your
matter
,
ye
maie
also
vnderstand
the
great
kyndnesse
,
that
the
people
at
those
daies
vsed
towardes
their
common
wealth
.
Whan
almost
euery
man
had
rather
perysshe
priuately
,
than
through
his
default
the
common
wealth
should
susteine
any
preiudice
.
O
,
if
we
had
no
more
but
suche
women
now
,
as
were
than
,
I
woulde
thinke
our
worlde
happie
.
But
like
as
thei
than
had
golden
hertes
,
what
so
euer
their
apparayle
was
,
so
now
(
if
I
durst
speake
)
I
wolde
saie
,
there
bee
many
in
golden
apparayle
,
that
haue
rusty
hertes
.
And
what
of
that
?
Should
I
therfore
condemne
you
all
?
No
no.
If
I
had
ben
so
muche
your
aduersarie
,
I
woulde
neither
in
suche
a
matt●er
haue
taken
this
peine
,
nor
yet
(
whan
it
was
)
haue
spoken
as
I
did
in
mainteynyng
your
quarell
.
But
because
I
saw
you
matched
with
one
as
rough
as
Cato
,
who
not
contented
with
naturall
reasons
,
burdeined
you
so
farre
with
scripture
,
that
ye
shuld
not
be
allowed
to
weare
any
pleasant
apparaile
:
me
thought
I
coulde
no
lesse
in
conscience
,
but
take
your
part
.
And
though
he
mounted
in
choler
against
you
(
as
these
men
doe
,
that
maie
not
be
contraried
)
yet
I
trust
,
in
a
mattier
of
suche
weight
,
ye
woll
be
well
aduised
ere
ye
folow
his
hastie
perswasion
.
God
forbidde
I
shoulde
pretende
to
mainteine
you
in
pompe
.
For
I
know
there
is
so
little
nede
therof
,
that
I
wolde
be
sorie
ye
shoulde
not
doe
as
ye
list
.
But
be
it
,
or
be
it
not
,
or
be
as
it
maie
be
:
Sens
ye
required
me
so
ernestly
to
dooe
this
for
you
,
now
I
haue
perfourmed
my
promise
,
I
shall
as
hertily
desyre
you
to
take
it
for
a
witnesse
of
my
good
will
and
frendeship
:
and
in
no
wyse
to
lette
it
passe
your
handes
,
lest
men
shoulde
thinke
,
with
flatteryng
you
,
I
shoulde
goe
about
to
mainteyne
a
thyng
most
necessary
to
be
restreigned
.
Thus
with
my
herty
commendacions
.
&c.
Your
owne
to
commaunde
William
Thomas
.
The
notes
of
the
peoples
beneuolence
promised
in
my
letter
.
THE
warres
,
that
about
.
MM.
yeres
agoe
happened
betwene
the
Romains
and
Carthaginenses
,
were
so
notable
,
as
lightly
the
greatter
haue
not
ben
hearde
of
,
as
well
for
the
puissance
or
greatnesse
of
both
those
common
wealthes
,
as
for
the
longe
tyme
of
their
obstinate
contencion
.
The
circumstances
wherof
are
to
be
redde
in
Liuie
,
and
other
good
authours
,
that
haue
written
it
at
length
.
But
to
my
purpose
now
,
ye
must
vnderstand
,
that
Annibal
(
the
notablest
enemie
that
euer
the
Romaines
had
)
not
longe
before
these
matters
,
had
diuers
times
ouerthrowen
the
Romaines
in
plaine
battaile
:
and
had
so
beaten
theim
,
that
after
their
fall
at
Cannas
,
where
a
wonderful
nombre
as
well
of
Senatours
as
others
,
were
slayne
,
it
was
reasosoned
in
Rome
:
whether
it
were
better
for
them
to
abandon
the
citie
,
and
euery
man
to
shyft
for
hym selfe
:
or
els
to
abyde
the
aduenture
that
the
Goddes
woulde
sende
them
.
For
vndoubtedly
if
Annibal
after
his
victorie
had
gone
streight
to
Rome
,
the
romayne
astate
had
than
finysshed
his
glorie
.
But
whether
his
slackenesse
gaue
them
courage
:
or
their
valiantnesse
made
theim
desperate
:
or
that
the
sterres
had
predestinate
a
greatter
felicitie
vnto
theim
:
or
what
so
euer
the
occasion
was
,
the
Romaines
perseuered
,
and
by
littell
and
littell
so
recouered
,
that
at
length
they
chased
Annibal
out
of
Italie
,
and
sendyng
Scipio
into
Affrike
,
didde
vnto
Carthage
that
,
whiche
Annibal
myght
haue
done
to
Rome
,
sacked
it
,
spoyled
it
,
burned
it
,
and
rooted
vp
the
verie
foundacions
.
Neuerthelesse
ete
thei
coulde
bryng
this
to
passe
,
thei
were
many
tymes
in
so
great
extremitees
,
that
if
the
priuate
persons
of
Rome
had
not
with
their
owne
mainteined
the
publike
charges
,
their
thynges
coulde
neuer
haue
prospered
as
they
dyd
.
¶
For
first
whan
Titus
Sempronius
,
and
Quintus
Fabius
Maximus
,
were
consules
,
the
Scipios
,
that
than
had
the
gouernaunce
of
the
armies
in
Spayne
,
wrote
vnto
Rome
specially
for
garmentes
and
vittailes
:
without
the
whiche
thei
coulde
not
mainteine
the
warres
.
And
because
the
tributes
of
Sicilia
and
Sardinia
were
scarse
able
to
furnishe
the
armies
continuyng
in
those
countreis
,
and
that
there
were
so
many
Romaynes
slayne
at
Tras●menus
and
Cannas
,
that
few
were
left
to
paie
any
tribute
at
home
.
Therfore
Fuluius
the
Pretor
,
perswaded
the
people
,
that
for
as
muche
as
the
customers
and
fermours
of
the
reuenues
of
the
common
wealth
,
were
become
very
ryche
,
as
well
of
possessions
as
of
goodes
,
through
the
vse
of
publike
thynges
:
Therfore
it
was
now
necessary
they
shoulde
bee
constreigned
,
with
their
substance
to
succour
the
common
wealthes
necessitee
,
in
furnishing
the
army
of
Spayne
:
to
be
paied
agayne
of
the
first
money
,
that
shoulde
come
to
the
Treasorie
.
For
the
whiche
the
Pretor
appointed
a
daie
,
that
the
people
shoulde
assemble
to
determine
.
At
whiche
daie
XIX
.
of
those
customers
and
fermours
offered
theim selues
,
to
discharge
the
whole
prouision
.
So
that
the
armie
,
for
that
tyme
,
was
no
lesse
furnished
,
by
priuate
men
,
than
the
common
wealth
woulde
haue
done
,
in
tyme
of
their
most
prosperitee
.
¶
Afterwardes
,
in
the
consulate
of
Quintus
Fabius
Maximus
,
and
Marcus
Marcellus
,
vpon
the
newes
,
that
the
Sicilians
rebelled
,
and
were
in
armes
,
whan
Titus
Octacilius
should
be
sent
with
an
armie
thither
:
there
wanted
a
nombre
of
mariners
and
other
thynges
to
furnyshe
the
nauie
.
Wherfore
a
generall
order
was
taken
,
that
the
Romaines
,
after
certaine
rates
of
their
substaunce
shoulde
prouide
mariners
at
their
owne
charges
,
some
one
,
some
.iii.
some
.v.
and
some
vii
.
paide
for
an
whole
yere
.
Whiche
was
the
first
time
,
that
euer
any
Romayne
army
was
sette
foorth
at
the
charges
of
the
priuate
citesins
.
¶
An
other
tyme
,
whan
the
Treasoury
was
cleane
without
money
,
so
that
the
Censoures
had
not
,
wherwith
to
repaire
the
temples
:
nor
to
geue
the
Curules
their
horses
,
nor
to
doe
suche
other
thynges
as
apperteygued
to
their
offices
.
The
calamitee
therof
moued
a
nombre
of
those
,
that
ought
to
haue
had
money
of
them
,
contrary
wise
to
come
with
money
vnto
them
,
exhortyng
them
to
doe
all
thynges
as
liberally
,
as
if
the
common
wealth
florisshed
,
promisyng
,
not
to
demande
repayment
before
the
warres
were
finished
:
like
as
the
masters
,
of
whom
the
slaues
were
bought
,
refused
to
take
their
money
before
the
ende
of
the
warres
.
Whiche
good
disposicion
beyng
also
founde
in
the
people
,
moued
the
officers
to
take
vp
the
goodes
of
the
widowes
and
orphanes
vpon
credite
,
to
be
aunswered
of
the
common
wealth
:
and
so
farre
this
good
will
increased
,
that
the
fame
therof
engendred
so
great
a
liberalitee
emongest
the
souldiours
in
the
campe
,
that
no
pryuate
horse
manne
,
nor
Centurion
,
woulde
receyue
his
paies
,
callyng
theim
Mercenarij
that
otherwise
did
.
¶
But
the
last
and
most
notable
was
,
after
the
seuere
sentence
geuen
against
the
Capuans
,
perswaded
by
the
oracion
of
Marcus
Attilius
Regulus
,
the
ambassadours
,
as
well
of
Sicilia
,
as
of
Capua
beyng
than
dispatched
,
the
Consules
tended
to
the
appoinctment
of
the
army
,
and
that
perfourmed
,
beganne
to
treate
of
the
furniture
of
their
nauie
.
To
the
whiche
,
because
thei
wanted
as
well
mariners
as
money
,
thei
commaunded
euery
priuate
man
,
after
his
rate
,
to
prouide
mariners
and
galey
men
:
and
to
vittayle
and
paie
them
for
.
XXX
.
daies
,
as
it
had
ben
seene
tofore
.
This
proclamacion
so
muche
sterred
mens
hertes
,
that
thei
wanted
rather
capitaynes
,
than
matter
of
rebellion
,
saiyng
,
that
the
Consules
,
after
the
ruine
of
the
Sicilians
and
Capuans
,
had
determined
also
to
destroie
the
romayne
people
,
whiche
was
alreadie
consumed
by
the
tributes
of
so
many
yeres
:
hauyng
nothyng
left
than
but
the
bare
lande
spoyled
by
the
warres
:
their
slaues
were
all
taken
from
theim
,
some
to
the
feelde
,
and
some
to
the
sea
:
And
betwene
the
findyng
of
mariners
,
and
paiyng
of
tributes
,
that
little
siluer
and
money
that
they
had
,
was
cleane
spent
.
So
that
it
was
impossible
to
constreigne
them
,
to
geue
that
thei
had
not
.
Wherfore
if
they
woulde
sell
their
goodes
,
thei
might
:
and
than
coulde
thei
vse
no
more
crueltee
but
agaynst
their
bodies
,
that
onely
rested
:
whiche
if
they
shoulde
be
compelled
to
redeeme
,
they
coulde
not
,
wantyng
wherwith
.
¶
These
thinges
were
not
spoken
priuately
,
or
secretely
,
but
openly
,
and
to
the
Consules
faces
:
the
people
assemblyng
by
heapes
together
,
whom
thei
pacified
as
well
as
they
coulde
.
Neuerthelesse
the
next
daie
,
the
Senate
beyng
assembled
,
it
was
after
longe
disputacion
concluded
,
that
whether
it
were
right
or
wronge
,
this
burdeine
must
needes
be
susteined
by
priuate
persones
,
the
Treasourie
beyng
vtterly
without
money
.
And
euery
man
restyng
as
it
were
amased
at
the
mattier
,
the
Consule
Leuinus
spake
on
this
wise
.
LIke
as
our
office
is
aboue
the
Senate
,
and
the
Senatours
superiours
to
the
people
in
honour
:
so
ought
we
to
be
the
chiefe
and
firste
of
all
other
,
to
enterprise
any
great
or
weighty
matter
.
For
he
that
woll
charge
his
inferiours
with
any
greuous
imposicion
,
and
first
practise
it
in
hym selfe
,
shall
finde
theim
the
better
disposed
to
obey
,
esteemyng
theyr
charge
the
lesse
,
whan
they
see
their
betters
freely
take
the
greatter
part
of
the
burdein
vpon
them
.
Wherfore
to
the
ende
that
the
Romayne
people
be
not
disapointed
of
this
nauie
,
that
we
intende
to
make
,
and
that
priuate
men
refuse
not
to
fynde
the
mariners
:
let
vs
commaunde
as
well
our selues
as
all
you
that
be
Senatours
,
that
to
morow
next
we
put
all
our
golde
and
syluer
,
and
out
coyned
brasse
in
common
,
i●
suche
wise
as
no
man
reteyne
more
to
him selfe
than
his
owne
●ynges
,
his
wiues
,
and
childernes
:
and
to
his
sonne
his
table
t
is
:
and
he
that
hath
wyfe
or
doughters
,
one
vnce
of
golde
.
And
they
that
haue
fitten
,
as
magistrates
,
in
the
feate
Curule
,
maie
reserue
their
horses
fornimentes
,
and
two
poundes
of
siluer
,
to
vse
in
a
salt
and
goblette
for
the
diuine
seruice
.
The
rest
of
the
Senatours
to
haue
but
one
pounde
of
syluer
,
and
all
other
householders
to
reserue
onely
in
masse
money
,
5000.
asses
a
pece
.
All
our
other
golde
and
siluer
,
and
brasse
money
,
let
vs
immediately
bryng
vnto
the
.iii.
magistrates
of
the
banke
,
without
other
determinacion
of
the
Senate
,
to
the
ende
that
our
voluntarie
contribucion
and
vehement
desyre
to
the
maintenance
of
our
common
wealth
,
maie
fyrst
allure
the
myndes
of
the
chiualrie
,
and
consequentely
of
the
people
,
to
dooe
the
like
.
This
onely
waie
we
the
Consules
haue
founde
after
muche
disputacion
,
which
with
goddes
helpe
let
vs
take
in
hande
.
For
as
longe
as
we
preserue
the
astate
of
our
common
wealth
:
so
longe
we
dooe
mainteyne
the
suretie
of
our
owne
priuate
thynges
.
Where
as
habandonyng
the
publike
,
we
can
kepe
nothyng
our
owne
.
Wherevnto
vniuersally
all
their
voyces
were
so
agreable
,
that
the
Consules
beyng
highly
thanked
,
and
the
Senate
dissolued
,
euery
man
applied
him selfe
with
so
muche
hast
,
to
bryng
in
their
golde
,
siluer
,
and
money
,
that
well
was
he
,
whiche
in
the
regesters
myght
bee
wrytten
emongest
the
first
,
in
suche
wise
,
that
neither
the
officers
sufficed
to
receiue
,
nor
the
clerkes
to
write
:
which
conformitie
of
the
Senate
,
was
generally
folowed
by
the
knightes
,
and
consequently
by
the
people
.
So
that
without
other
commaundement
or
perswasion
of
the
magistrates
,
the
common
Treasourie
was
furnisshed
with
money
to
make
the
paies
,
and
the
nauie
sufficiently
equipped
to
the
sea
.
And
so
all
thynges
necessary
for
the
warres
beyng
prouided
,
the
Consules
departed
towardes
theyr
prouinces
.
T.
L.
Decad.
4.
lib.
4.
EMonge
the
cares
of
the
greatte
warres
,
eyther
yet
scarsely
finished
,
or
like
to
continue
,
there
happened
a
small
thyng
to
be
spoken
of
,
though
neuerthelesse
it
increased
by
parttakynges
to
great
contencion
.
Marcus
Fundanius
,
and
Lucius
Valerius
tribunes
,
proponed
vnto
the
people
the
abrogacion
of
the
law
called
Oppia
.
This
law
was
set
foorth
by
Caius
Oppius
,
one
of
the
tribunes
,
whan
Quintus
Fabius
,
and
Titus
Sempronius
were
Consules
,
as
the
greattest
heate
of
the
punike
war●…
that
no
woman
shoulde
haue
aboue
halfe
an
ounce
of
golde
in
his
apparayle
,
nor
weare
garmentes
wrought
of
diuers
colours
,
nor
shoulde
ryde
in
chariottes
in
Rouse
or
other
towne
,
or
within
a
myle
of
any
of
them
,
onlesse
it
were
to
the
open
sacrifices
.
Marcus
and
Publius
Iunij
Brutij
lyke
wyse
beeyng
tribunes
of
the
people
,
defended
the
law
Oppia
,
saiyng
:
They
woulde
not
suffre
it
to
be
annulled
.
And
many
noble
men
drew
together
some
to
perswade
,
and
some
to
disswade
the
mattier
.
In
so
muche
that
the
Capitoll
was
replenyshed
with
a
multitude
of
men
,
aduaunsyng
and
repugnyng
this
law
.
The
matrones
,
neither
for
feare
of
authoritee
,
nor
for
shame
,
nor
yet
for
the
commandement
of
theyr
housbandes
coulde
bee
kept
in
:
but
fitted
all
the
stretes
of
the
citee
,
and
kept
the
waies
enteryng
in
to
the
high
strete
,
entreatyng
all
men
as
thei
passed
:
that
seeyng
theyr
common
wealth
florisshed
,
and
euery
mans
priuate
good
fortune
daiely
increased
,
they
wolde
be
contented
,
that
the
matrones
might
also
be
restored
vnto
their
auncient
ornamentes
.
This
frequensie
of
women
daiely
increased
.
For
the
women
of
the
townes
and
villages
nere
there
about
resorted
to
the
citee
,
and
toke
on
theim
so
muche
courage
,
that
they
went
to
the
Consules
,
the
Pretors
,
and
the
other
magistrates
,
besechyng
theim
to
fauour
their
cause
.
But
Marcus
Porcius
Cato
was
so
extreme
an
aduersarie
agaynst
theyr
desyres
,
that
for
the
maintenance
of
the
law
,
whiche
they
sought
to
abrogate
,
he
made
this
oracion
.
The
oracion
of
Cato
agaynst
womens
libertee
.
IF
euery
one
of
you
,
O
Romaynes
,
had
determined
to
haue
preserued
the
ryght
and
maiestie
of
a
husbande
ouer
his
owne
wife
,
we
shoulde
now
haue
had
lesse
businesse
with
all
these
women
together
.
But
as
our
libertee
,
by
our
owne
weakenesse
is
ouercome
of
the
women
in
our
owne
houses
:
euen
so
here
in
the
open
stretes
it
is
ouerthrowen
and
troden
vnderfote
.
And
because
we
wolde
not
euery
man
particularly
resyst
his
owne
:
therfore
now
we
are
abasshed
to
resyst
them
all
together
.
In
dede
I
thought
it
had
ben
but
a
fable
feigned
,
that
in
a
certayne
Ilande
all
the
mankinde
,
by
conspiracie
of
the
women
,
was
vtterly
destroied
:
but
now
I
see
,
there
is
no
kynde
so
small
,
in
whom
consisteth
not
extreme
perill
,
it
thei
be
suffred
to
assemble
,
to
deuise
,
and
to
haue
secrete
consultacions
.
And
I
can
scarsely
in
my
mynde
dyscerne
,
whether
be
the
worse
,
the
thyng
it selfe
,
or
the
example
,
by
whiche
it
is
attempted
.
The
one
wherof
apperteyneth
vnto
vs
Consules
and
magistrates
:
and
the
other
vnto
you
Romaynes
.
For
whether
the
thyng
proponed
bee
conuenient
,
or
not
for
the
common
wealth
,
it
toucheth
you
,
by
whose
voyces
it
must
be
determined
.
This
sturre
of
the
women
,
whether
it
be
growen
of
it selfe
,
or
raysed
by
you
Marcus
Fundanius
and
Lucius
Valerius
,
sens
vndoubtedly
the
blame
thereof
apperteyneth
vnto
the
magistrates
,
I
wotte
not
,
vnto
whom
it
is
more
reprocheable
,
vnto
you
the
Tribunes
,
or
vnto
vs
the
Consules
.
To
you
,
if
ye
haue
allured
the
women
to
moue
Tribuniciall
sedicions
:
And
to
vs
,
if
we
shal
be
now
constreigned
to
accept
lawes
by
the
compulcion
of
women
,
as
we
haue
done
here
to fore
by
the
common
people
.
Treuly
I
came
euen
now
through
the
middest
of
the
women
,
not
without
blushyng
.
And
if
the
respect
of
the
maiestee
and
shame
fastnes
of
euery
of
them
apart
,
had
not
reteined
me
more
than
the
regarde
of
theim
al
together
(
that
they
shulde
not
seeme
rebuked
of
the
Consule
)
I
wolde
haue
saied
:
what
new
trycke
is
this
?
to
renne
abrode
to
stoppe
the
waies
,
and
to
intreate
strange
men
?
Coulde
not
euery
one
of
you
haue
desyred
this
of
hit
owne
at
home
?
what
,
are
you
more
pleasant
abrode
,
than
within
the
doores
?
and
more
of
other
mens
,
than
of
your
husbandes
.
For
in
deede
if
men
can
not
of
their
owne
ryght
kepe
their
wiues
within
their
due
termes
,
it
shal
little
auayle
what
lawes
bee
made
or
vnmade
here
.
Our
auncestours
woulde
not
consent
,
that
women
shoulde
dyspose
any
thyng
though
well
it
were
their
owne
,
without
the
authoritee
of
their
superiours
:
And
therfore
they
were
alwaies
directed
by
their
fathers
,
their
bretherne
,
and
their
husbandes
.
And
we
neuerthelesse
(
by
goddes
leaue
)
woll
suffre
theim
to
meddle
with
the
rule
of
the
common
wealth
,
to
myngell
theim selfes
with
vs
in
the
open
strete
,
in
the
parliament
,
and
in
the
Squittines
.
For
what
els
doe
thei
now
in
the
stretes
,
and
at
the
corners
,
but
comfort
,
some
to
forder
the
Tribunes
purpose
,
and
some
other
,
that
the
law
maie
be
abrogate
.
Bridle
(
I
saie
)
this
arrogant
sexe
,
and
these
vntameable
beastes
.
For
if
ye
doe
not
bridle
theim
now
,
neuer
loke
to
bridle
theim
.
This
is
the
least
thyng
,
that
offendeth
the
women
of
all
the
thynges
,
that
by
the
customes
or
lawes
they
are
burdened
,
but
they
desyre
a
libertee
of
all
thynges
,
or
rather
to
saie
the
trouth
,
a
lasciuiousnesse
.
For
if
thei
preuaile
in
this
,
what
woll
they
not
attempt
?
Consider
all
the
lawes
that
concerne
women
,
by
the
whiche
our
auncestours
restreigned
their
libertee
,
makyng
theim
obedient
to
their
housebandes
:
and
whan
you
haue
all
gathered
,
it
is
euident
,
ye
can
yet
scarsely
rule
them
.
Wherfore
if
ye
now
suffre
your
wyues
to
reproue
lawes
,
and
thus
by
one
and
one
to
wrest
them
out
of
your
handes
,
and
at
length
to
make
theim selfes
equall
vnto
their
husbandes
:
thynke
you
than
,
ye
shal
be
hable
to
support
them
?
For
whan
thei
are
become
your
felowes
:
foorthwith
thei
woll
bee
your
betters
.
By
god
,
thei
not
onely
refuse
to
bee
burdened
with
any
new
mattier
,
but
also
requiryng
not
the
right
thei
offer
a
wronge
:
that
a
law
,
which
by
due
order
hath
ben
decreed
,
and
with
the
vse
and
experience
of
so
many
yeres
allowed
,
shoulde
now
be
annulled
:
Meanyng
,
with
the
abrogatyng
of
one
law
to
weaken
the
rest
.
There
is
no
law
,
that
serueth
to
euery
mans
profite
:
but
this
ought
to
be
regarged
,
whether
it
bee
commodiouse
for
the
greatter
part
and
generally
.
For
if
euery
man
myght
repeale
or
condempne
that
part
of
the
law
,
that
priuately
annoyeth
hym selfe
:
what
shulde
it
auayle
the
nombre
to
make
lawes
?
whan
incontinently
they
,
agaynst
whom
it
were
made
,
myght
annull
theim
.
I
wolde
fayne
heare
neuerthelesse
,
for
what
cause
the
matrones
shoulde
royle
foorth
so
amased
,
that
scarsely
they
can
forbeare
the
hygh
strete
,
or
the
counsayle
house
.
Is
it
for
the
redempcion
of
their
fathers
,
their
housbandes
,
their
children
,
or
their
bretherne
out
of
the
handes
of
Annibal
?
There
is
no
suche
cause
why
.
And
god
defend
our
common
wealth
shuld
be
in
any
suche
necessitee
.
And
yet
whan
it
was
so
in
deede
,
their
pitious
praiers
were
reiected
.
Perchaunce
they
wyll
saie
:
neither
pitee
nor
care
for
theyr
owne
,
but
religion
onely
hath
drawen
theim
together
to
receiue
the
mother
Idea
of
Pesinunte
,
commyng
out
of
Phrygia
.
O
,
what
pretence
or
surmyse
maie
be
deuised
to
cloke
the
sediciouse
assemble
of
these
women
?
They
maie
saie
,
it
is
because
we
wolde
glister
in
golde
and
purple
,
that
we
maie
ryde
in
chariottes
through
the
citee
both
worke-daies
and
holydaies
,
triumphyng
ouer
the
law
now
ouercome
and
abrogate
:
and
ouer
your
suffrages
taken
and
wrested
out
of
your
handes
:
to
the
ende
our
sumptuousenesse
and
excesse
be
not
restreigned
.
You
haue
hearde
me
often
complayne
of
womens
superfluouse
expences
,
and
many
tymes
of
mens
,
not
onely
of
the
priuate
,
but
also
of
magistrates
:
and
that
this
citee
is
pestred
with
two
sondry
vices
,
Auarice
and
Prodigalitee
:
whiche
two
pestilences
haue
ben
the
subuersion
of
all
great
empyres
.
For
now
the
more
that
the
good
fortune
of
our
common
wealth
dayly
increaseth
,
and
that
our
Empyre
is
enlarged
,
we
beeyng
entred
into
Greece
and
Asia
,
countreis
replenished
with
al
deliciouse
thyngꝭ
:
and
that
also
we
beginne
to
draw
vnto
vs
the
treasures
of
kynges
:
the
more
doe
I
feare
,
least
those
thynges
haue
rather
taken
vs
,
than
we
theim
.
These
pictures
and
images
brought
hither
from
Siracusa
,
are
daungerous
vnto
this
towne
.
Yea
I
here
dyuers
men
ouermuche
preyse
the
ornamentes
of
Corinth
,
and
of
Athens
,
makyng
theim
as
wonders
,
and
laughyng
these
earthen
goddes
of
the
Romaines
to
scorne
.
But
I
had
rather
we
shoulde
stycke
to
these
our
fauourable
goddes
,
as
I
trust
they
will
be
,
if
we
conserue
them
in
their
places
.
In
our
fathers
time
kynge
Pirrhus
,
by
his
ambassadour
tempted
not
only
the
mindes
of
men
,
but
also
of
women
,
with
presentes
,
e●
euer
the
law
Oppia
was
made
to
prohibite
their
excesse
:
and
yet
was
there
none
that
wolde
receiue
theim
.
And
for
what
cause
trow
you
?
Euen
for
the
same
cause
that
our
ancestours
had
,
not
to
thinke
that
euer
any
suche
law
shoulde
nede
to
be
made
.
For
there
was
than
none
excesse
that
requyred
it
.
Yea
like
as
it
is
necessarie
,
diseases
be
fyrst
knowen
er
euer
the
remedies
bee
had
:
So
euill
desyres
are
syredde
er
euer
lawes
be
made
to
refourme
theim
.
What
was
the
cause
that
the
law
Licinia
for
fiue
hundred
acres
of
lande
was
made
?
After
this
,
whan
the
Tribunes
of
the
people
,
that
had
professed
also
to
interrupt
this
matter
,
had
spoken
somwhat
to
the
same
purpose
,
At
the
last
Lucius
Valerius
,
for
the
opteynyng
of
the
contrarie
(
by
hym
sette
foorth
before
)
spake
on
this
wise
.
The
oracion
of
Lucius
Valerius
agaynst
Catos
.
IF
priuate
men
onely
had
taken
in
hand
to
perswade
or
disswade
that
that
we
desire
,
I
for
my
part
,
thinking
there
had
ben
enough
saied
on
both
sides
,
wold
with
silence
haue
abidden
your
iudgementes
.
But
now
that
so
graue
a
man
,
as
the
Consule
Marcus
Portius
,
not
onely
with
his
authoritee
(
which
though
he
had
not
spoken
,
had
yet
ben
of
great
importaunce
)
but
also
with
a
longe
exact
and
well
handled
oracion
hath
impugned
our
request
.
I
am
constreigned
,
with
a
few
woordes
to
answere
hym
,
though
he
hath
consumed
mo
wordes
in
womens
correction
,
than
in
disswadyng
our
purpose
,
and
all
to
the
ende
,
that
he
wolde
bryng
in
doubt
,
whether
the
thyng
by
him
reproued
,
proceded
of
the
women
voluntarily
,
or
by
our
procurement
.
Wherfore
I
shall
defende
the
matter
,
but
not
our selfes
:
whom
the
Consule
hath
burdeyned
more
in
woordes
than
in
deede
.
He
calleth
this
companie
of
women
,
sometyme
a
sedicion
,
and
sometyme
a
rebellion
:
that
the
wiues
,
in
the
time
of
a
peaceable
florisshyng
and
fortunate
common
wealth
,
shoulde
openly
desyre
the
abrogacion
of
a
law
,
made
against
theim
in
the
terrible
sharpe
tyme
of
warres
.
I
know
,
that
to
aggrauate
the
matter
,
both
these
and
other
such
woordes
are
gathered
.
And
we
all
know
Marcus
Cato
to
be
,
not
onely
a
graue
oratour
,
but
also
sometyme
very
bitter
:
not
withstandyng
that
he
is
gentill
of
nature
.
But
for
all
that
,
what
noueltee
haue
these
wyues
attempted
in
commyng
by
companies
abrode
to
pursue
their
owne
cause
?
Came
they
neuer
abrode
before
?
I
will
turne
ouer
thyne
owne
bokes
of
Originalles
against
the
,
and
see
there
,
how
often
tymes
thei
haue
done
this
,
and
all
to
the
profyte
of
the
common
wealth
.
And
to
beginne
,
First
whan
Romulus
reigned
,
the
Capitoll
beyng
already
taken
by
the
Sabines
,
and
thei
feightyng
with
baners
displaied
in
the
middest
of
the
high
strete
:
was
not
the
battaile
staied
by
the
womens
rennyng
betweene
both
armies
?
And
after
the
expulsion
of
kynges
,
whan
the
army
of
the
Volsci
were
incamped
within
fiue
myles
of
this
towne
,
vnder
the
leadyng
of
Marcus
Coriolanus
,
did
not
the
women
turne
backe
that
army
,
that
els
had
destroied
this
citee
?
And
whan
this
towne
was
taken
by
the
frenche
men
,
dyd
not
the
matroues
of
theyr
owne
free
will
,
openly
geue
the
golde
,
wherwith
the
citee
was
redeemed
?
Yea
and
(
to
passe
ouer
these
antiquities
)
euen
in
the
last
warres
,
whan
most
neede
of
money
was
,
dyd
not
the
widowes
releeue
the
Treasoury
with
their
owne
money
?
And
whan
the
new
goddes
were
fet
home
to
helpe
vs
in
our
great
neede
,
went
not
the
matrones
to
the
sea
syde
,
to
receiue
the
mother
of
the
goddes
?
He
will
perchaunce
saie
,
the
causes
are
not
lyke
.
In
dede
I
meane
not
to
compare
the
causes
together
.
For
it
suffiseth
me
to
proue
this
no
new
thyng
.
And
where
in
thynges
indifferently
belongyng
as
well
to
men
as
to
women
,
no
man
hath
wondered
at
theyr
comyng
abrode
:
why
doe
we
now
meruayle
,
they
shoulde
so
dooe
in
a
matter
of
their
owne
?
And
what
(
I
praie
you
)
haue
they
done
?
Helas
we
are
verie
hearde
of
hearyng
:
if
whan
maisters
disdeigne
not
to
heare
the
requestes
of
theyr
slaues
,
we
shall
refuse
to
here
our
honest
wiues
.
But
now
to
come
to
the
matter
,
wherin
the
Consules
oracion
tendeth
vnto
two
pointes
.
First
,
it
shal
be
against
his
wil
,
that
any
law
shuld
be
abrogate
:
and
specially
,
that
a
law
,
whiche
concerneth
the
restreinct
of
womens
excesse
,
shulde
be
annulled
.
So
that
the
fyrst
part
of
the
Consules
oracion
seemeth
a
common
defence
of
all
lawes
:
and
the
other
agaynst
superfluitee
,
seemeth
agreable
to
his
seuere
customes
.
Wherfore
it
I
allege
not
the
vanitee
that
is
in
both
these
poyntes
,
it
were
to
be
feared
,
lest
some
of
you
myght
be
perswaded
to
an
errour
.
For
like
as
I
confesse
,
that
none
of
those
lawes
,
whiche
were
made
,
not
of
the
necessitee
of
a
certayne
tyme
,
but
for
the
perpetuall
profite
to
endure
for
euer
,
ought
in
no
wise
to
be
annihilate
:
onlesse
it
be
suche
,
as
eyther
experience
condemneth
,
or
some
state
of
the
common
wealth
declareth
to
be
vnprofitable
.
Euen
so
doe
I
see
those
lawes
that
speciall
tyme
hath
ben
the
occasion
of
,
to
bee
mortall
(
if
I
maie
so
call
them
)
and
mutable
as
tymes
are
.
For
those
that
are
made
in
peace
,
the
warre
many
tymes
doth
breake
:
and
the
peace
likewise
them
that
are
made
in
warre
.
As
in
guidyng
of
a
shippe
,
the
caulme
requyreth
one
thyng
,
and
the
storme
an
other
.
So
that
these
thynges
beyng
of
diuerse
natures
,
I
wolde
know
,
of
whether
kinde
thinke
you
this
law
to
be
,
that
we
doe
abrogate
?
Is
it
one
of
those
auncient
kyngely
lawes
,
made
at
the
foundacion
of
this
towne
?
Or
(
in
the
second
degree
)
is
it
any
of
them
,
written
in
the
.
XII
.
tables
by
the
.
X.
men
,
created
to
prescribe
lawes
?
without
the
whiche
(
beecause
our
auncetours
thought
the
honour
of
women
not
possible
to
bee
conserued
)
we
also
shoulde
feare
,
that
with
the
breakyng
hereof
the
shamefastnesse
and
holynesse
of
our
wyues
shoulde
perisshe
?
Who
knoweth
not
this
to
bee
a
new
law
,
made
.
XX.
yere
agoe
,
in
the
time
of
Quintus
Fabius
and
Titus
Sempronius
Consules
,
without
the
which
the
matrones
,
hauyng
liued
so
many
yeres
with
excellent
customes
:
why
should
it
be
feared
,
vpon
the
takyng
awaie
of
this
law
,
that
thei
shoulde
fall
to
so
disordinate
expenses
?
In
deede
,
if
this
law
had
ben
made
to
bridell
the
excesse
of
women
,
it
might
bee
suspected
,
that
the
breche
of
it
might
reuoke
their
lasciuiousenesse
.
But
why
it
was
made
,
the
tyme
it selfe
doth
well
declare
.
Annibal
in
Italy
had
wonne
the
battaile
at
Cannas
,
and
hauyng
gotten
Tarentum
,
Arpos
,
and
Capua
,
it
seemed
he
was
commyng
with
his
armie
to
Rome
,
Our
subiectes
rebelled
.
There
were
no
souldiours
to
furnishe
the
armie
.
None
to
defende
the
nauie
.
No
money
in
the
Treasoury
.
The
slaues
were
bought
to
arme
the
galeis
,
on
condicion
their
maisters
shoulde
bee
paied
for
them
after
the
warre
.
At
the
selfe
same
tyme
,
corne
,
and
all
other
thynges
,
that
the
warre
required
,
beyng
lackyng
,
the
publicanes
vndertoke
the
prouysion
.
We
paied
out
gallie
slaues
of
our
owne
purses
,
euery
man
after
the
rate
of
his
taxyn●
we
gaue
al
our
gold
and
syluer
to
the
publike
,
the
Senatours
being
the
first
that
beganne
so
to
do
.
The
widowes
and
orphanes
brought
theyr
money
to
the
Treasoury
,
and
a
certaine
proporcion
was
prescribed
:
aboue
the
rate
wherof
,
no
persone
might
kepe
in
his
house
,
golde
or
syluer
,
or
any
coyned
money
of
syluer
or
brasse
.
It
is
much
like
,
that
the
matrones
shuld
be
than
so
decked
with
ornamentes
and
excesse
,
that
the
law
Oppia
was
necessary
to
bridell
them
.
Whan
(
the
sacrifice
of
Ceres
beyng
deferred
,
and
the
matrones
all
occupied
in
mournyng
)
the
Senatours
commaunded
theim
to
cease
their
doule
,
within
XXX
.
daies
.
Who
knoweth
not
,
that
because
it
was
requisite
,
all
the
priuate
money
shoulde
bee
conuerted
to
the
publike
vse
,
that
the
very
pouertee
and
miserie
of
the
citee
hath
written
this
law
to
continue
so
longe
as
the
cause
,
wherfore
it
was
made
,
shuld
endure
?
For
it
those
thynges
shoulde
be
obserued
for
euer
,
that
by
the
Senate
was
decreed
,
are
by
the
people
commaunded
through
the
necessitee
of
that
tyme
:
why
doe
we
repaie
money
to
priuate
men
?
why
doe
we
pledge
our
publike
reuenues
for
present
money
?
why
dooe
we
not
bie
slaues
to
sende
into
the
warres
?
why
dooe
not
we
that
be
priuate
,
fynde
galey
men
,
as
we
dyd
than
?
All
other
degrees
,
and
all
men
doe
feele
the
amendement
of
our
astate
:
our
wyues
onely
shall
not
atteygne
the
fruite
of
our
publike
peace
and
prosperitee
?
we
men
weare
purple
embrodered
,
beyng
magistrates
and
priestes
:
and
our
sonnes
like
wise
weare
gownes
of
purple
garded
:
the
like
wherof
is
permitted
vnto
the
magistrates
of
our
Colonies
,
and
to
our
burgeses
enfraunchesed
:
as
here
in
Rome
the
basest
sort
of
magistrates
,
euen
the
strete
maisters
,
haue
theyr
gownes
garded
.
and
not
the
quycke
onely
haue
this
preheminence
,
but
the
dead
also
may
be
burnt
in
purple
:
and
shall
we
kepe
the
vse
thereof
onely
from
our
wiues
?
And
beyng
laufull
for
the
that
art
a
man
,
to
haue
purple
in
the
coueryng
of
thy
bed
:
wilt
thou
not
suffre
the
mother
of
thy
house
to
weare
a
garment
therof
?
Shall
thy
horse
bee
better
apparayled
than
thy
wyfe
?
Mary
in
purple
,
which
weareth
and
will
consume
,
(
though
not
rightfull
)
yet
I
see
some
cause
of
sparyng
:
but
in
golde
,
wherin
beside
the
workemanshyp
,
can
be
no
losse
,
what
euill
can
there
be
?
But
rather
a
store
beneficiall
,
as
well
to
the
publike
as
to
the
priuate
behofe
,
proued
by
experience
?
He
saieth
,
that
whan
the
women
haue
it
not
,
there
can
bee
no
priuate
enuie
betwene
theim
.
But
truely
they
are
all
in
sorow
and
displeasure
,
to
see
those
ornamentes
permitted
vnto
the
wiues
of
our
subiectes
the
latines
,
which
are
prohibited
vnto
our
owne
:
and
seeyng
those
decked
with
golde
and
purple
,
ride
about
the
towne
,
and
them selfes
folow
a
foote
,
as
though
the
empyre
were
in
their
citees
,
and
not
in
ours
.
Such
thynges
are
enough
to
sterre
mens
hertes
:
and
what
trow
you
than
it
will
doe
vnto
simple
women
,
whiche
will
be
moued
with
a
little
?
Thei
haue
no
part
,
neither
in
magistrates
,
nor
in
priesthod
,
nor
in
triumphes
,
nor
in
armes
,
nor
in
guyftes
,
nor
in
the
spoyles
of
warre
.
The
onely
glory
of
women
is
their
clenlines
,
their
ornamentes
and
apparayle
:
wherein
thei
reioyce
and
triumph
.
Which
thynges
our
auncetours
called
the
womens
worlde
.
And
what
other
thyng
can
they
leaue
of
whan
they
mourne
,
but
purple
and
gold
?
Or
whan
thei
leaue
mournyng
▪
what
els
can
thei
take
againe
?
In
the
time
of
reioysyng
,
or
of
supplicacions
,
what
can
they
adde
but
their
better
apparaile
?
what
though
the
law
Oppia
were
abrogate
,
should
it
no
more
be
in
your
powers
,
to
forbidde
your
doughters
,
your
wiues
,
your
sisters
,
and
as
many
as
be
vnder
your
rule
,
the
thynges
that
the
law
now
forbiddeth
?
The
women
will
neuer
thinke
them selfes
ridde
out
of
seruitude
,
as
longe
as
ye
kepe
their
derest
thynges
from
them
.
And
thei
abhorre
that
libertee
,
that
is
like
vnto
widowhead
,
or
the
death
of
their
parentes
or
children
.
Thei
had
rather
the
rule
of
their
apparayle
were
in
your
power
,
than
in
the
lawes
.
And
you
ought
to
haue
them
in
your
protection
and
defence
,
and
not
in
seruitude
▪
that
ye
might
rather
be
called
fathers
or
housbandes
,
than
masters
.
The
Consule
euen
now
vsed
greuouse
termes
,
callyng
this
the
womens
sedicion
and
rebellion
:
as
though
it
were
to
be
feared
,
they
should
take
the
holy
hill
or
the
Auentine
vpon
them
,
as
the
obstinate
people
somtime
did
.
Neuerthelesse
,
what
so
euer
ye
shal
determine
:
thei
simple
soules
must
abide
it
.
Wherfore
the
greatter
your
power
is
,
so
muche
the
more
temperately
ought
ye
to
vse
it
.
¶
These
thynges
beyng
spoken
both
with
and
agaynst
the
law
:
the
next
daie
the
nombres
of
women
encreased
abrode
,
and
all
in
a
flocke
besette
the
dores
of
the
Brutij
,
whiche
were
the
Tribunes
,
that
resisted
the
purpose
of
their
Colleagues
:
and
wolde
not
depart
thense
,
till
these
Tribunes
relented
vnto
theim
.
Whervpon
there
rested
no
more
doubt
,
but
that
all
the
Tribes
wolde
abrogate
the
law
.
So
that
.
XX.
yeres
after
it
was
made
,
it
was
annulled
.
A
table
of
suche
wordes
as
the
reder
smally
skilled
,
shall
not
well
perceiue
.
ASses
,
cometh
of
as
,
assis
,
a
small
coyne
amonge
the
Romaynes
.x.
of
them
dyd
countrevayle
our
sterlyng
grote
.
fiue
thousande
amounteth
to
viii
.
li.
vi
.
s.
viii
.
d.
sterlyng
.
Auentinus
,
an
hill
at
Rome
.
Banke
,
is
the
place
of
exchange
,
or
takyng
of
money
vpon
interest
.
Capitoll
,
was
the
fortresse
and
chiefe
place
of
Rome
,
where
the
Senate
assembled
in
councell
.
Consules
,
were
two
chiefe
officers
of
the
citee
of
Rome
,
whiche
were
chosen
euery
yere
,
and
bare
hyghest
authoritee
in
the
common
wealth
.
Censor
,
a
iudge
of
mens
maners
.
Also
such
one
as
was
appoynted
to
value
mens
goodes
.
Colonies
were
certaine
nombres
of
people
sent
out
of
Rome
to
inhabite
the
countreis
conquered
by
theim
.
Curules
,
were
little
cartes
or
dreies
,
hauyng
in
theim
chaiers
of
yuory
,
wherin
there
satte
certayne
officers
,
whiche
had
the
charge
and
ouersyght
of
the
buildyndynges
in
Rome
:
sometyme
it
is
vsed
for
the
same
officers
.
Holy
hill
,
whan
the
people
rebelled
against
their
rulers
,
they
toke
those
places
for
their
strength
:
and
kept
them
till
they
had
their
willes
.
Idea
,
the
mother
of
the
goddes
.
Mercenarii
,
hyred
souldiours
.
Matrones
,
were
the
citesyns
wyues
of
Rome
.
Martius
Coriolanus
,
a
noble
Romayne
,
who
beyng
vnkyndely
exiled
out
of
his
countrey
,
prouoked
a
people
cald
Volsci
to
warre
against
them
:
and
woulde
by
no
meane
be
pacified
:
but
by
the
onely
intreatie
of
his
mother
,
that
made
him
retire
from
his
enterprise
.
Pretor
,
in
the
olde
tyme
was
euery
officer
,
that
had
the
rule
of
any
army
.
Afterward
he
that
had
iudicial
authoritee
,
as
it
were
the
chiefe
iudge
,
and
had
other
iudges
sittyng
vnder
him
.
Phrygia
,
a
realme
in
Asia
the
lesse
.
Pyrrhus
,
a
king
of
Epyre
,
that
made
warre
to
the
Romaynes
.
Publicanes
,
were
certayne
fermours
that
toke
the
customes
and
other
publike
reuenues
in
fee
ferme
.
Publike
,
is
as
much
to
say
,
as
the
common
.
Punike
warres
,
were
the
warres
betwene
the
Carthaginenses
and
the
Romaynes
.
Siracusa
,
a
notable
citee
in
Sicilia
,
called
at
this
daie
Sarragose
.
Sabines
were
a
people
dwellyng
neere
Rom●
〈…〉
●ynes
(
hauys●
〈…〉
)
rauished
,
for
enci●
〈…〉
●cion
.
Suffrages
,
the
〈…〉
●●sembled
,
in
geuyng
their
●sent
.
Tribunes
,
were
certayne
officers
ordeyned
as
proctours
for
the
common
people
to
mainteyne
the
peoples
libertee
.
Tribuniciall
sedicion
,
sedicion
sturred
vp
by
the
Tribunes
in
the
behalfe
of
the
people
.
Tribe
,
a
warde
,
a
part
of
the
people
,
sometyme
diuided
in
three
partes
.
Volsci
,
were
a
people
of
Italie
,
enemies
to
the
Romaines
.
FINIS
TABVLAE
.
JMPRINTED
AT
London
in
Fletestrete
,
in
the
house
of
Thomas
Birthelet
.
Cum
priuilegio
ad
imprimendum
solum
.