❧
OF
THE
NOBILITIE
AND
EXCELLENCIE
OF
WOMANKYNDE
.
ALMYGHTY
God
the
maker
&
nourisher
of
all
thynges
,
the
Father
and
goodnesse
of
both
male
and
female
,
of
hys
great
bountyfulnes
,
hath
create
mankynde
lyke
vnto
hym selfe
,
he
made
them
man
and
woman
.
¶
Fyrst
to
enter
into
this
matter
the
woman
is
made
so
muche
more
excellent
than
man
,
in
howe
moche
the
name
that
she
hathe
receyued
,
is
more
excellente
than
hys
.
For
Adam
soundeth
Erthe
,
but
Eua
is
interpretate
lyfe
:
and
as
moche
as
the
lyfe
doth
excel
erth
.
so
moche
the
woman
is
to
be
preferred
aboue
the
man
.
Nor
there
is
no
cause
why
this
shulde
be
called
a
feble
argument
,
to
gyue
iugement
of
thynges
by
the
names
.
For
we
knowe
,
that
the
hyghe
artyficer
and
maker
of
thinges
and
names
,
fyrst
dyd
knowe
the
thynges
,
before
he
named
them
,
which
for
as
moch
as
he
could
not
be
deceyued
,
for
thys
purpose
he
made
the
names
,
that
it
myght
expresse
the
nature
,
propertye
,
and
vse
of
the
thynge
.
For
the
trouthe
of
antyque
names
is
suche
,
as
the
veraye
Romayne
lawes
testyfye
,
that
the
selfe
names
are
consonant
to
the
thinges
,
and
manifest
significations
of
them
.
Therfore
an
argument
of
the
names
of
thinges
amonges
dyuynes
and
lawyars
,
is
of
greate
weyghte
.
As
we
rede
written
of
Nabal
,
after
his
name
is
a
fole
,
and
folyshenes
is
with
him
.
Of
this
Paule
in
hys
Epistle
to
the
Hebrewes
,
¶
Also
Cyprian
againste
the
Iewes
argueth
,
Adam
,
receyued
hys
name
of
the
iiii
.
princypal
partes
of
the
world
,
that
is
,
East
,
weast
,
North
,
and
Southe
,
and
in
the
same
boke
he
dothe
expound
the
same
name
,
Adam
,
because
erth
was
made
flesh
,
althoughe
suche
exposition
dothe
dyffer
from
the
tradition
and
teachyng
of
Moses
,
sens
among
the
Hebrewes
it
is
not
wrytten
with
foure
but
with
.iii.
letters
.
Yet
for
all
that
,
this
exposition
in
so
holy
a
man
is
not
to
be
dyspraysed
,
for
as
moche
as
he
was
not
lerned
in
the
Hebrewe
tongue
,
the
whiche
verye
many
saynctes
and
exposytours
of
holye
scrypture
,
to
theyr
small
blame
knewe
not
.
But
if
I
can
not
haue
lyke
leaue
and
libertye
for
the
prayse
of
womanheed
,
after
my
mynde
and
iugement
,
to
vse
lyke
etymologie
and
declaration
of
the
word
and
name
of
Eue
,
at
the
leaste
lette
me
be
suffered
to
speake
this
one
thynge
out
of
the
misticall
decrees
,
and
agreeable
wylles
of
the
Cabalistis
,
the
very
name
of
a
woman
to
haue
more
affinitie
with
the
ineffable
and
inenarrable
name
of
the
diuine
power
almyghtye
,
called
Tetragrammaton
,
than
the
name
of
man
,
the
whiche
with
the
name
of
god
,
neither
in
letters
nor
in
figure
,
nor
in
nombre
doth
agree
.
¶
But
nowe
we
wyll
leaue
these
thynges
,
for
they
be
redde
of
few
,
and
of
fewer
vnderstande
&
they
requyre
a
longer
processe
than
is
mete
to
be
spoken
of
here
.
In
the
meane
season
,
we
wol
serche
oute
the
excellencie
of
womanheed
,
not
of
the
name
onely
,
but
of
the
very
thynges
,
dueties
,
and
merites
.
Therfor
let
vs
(
as
they
say
)
serch
the
scriptures
and
takynge
oure
grounde
at
the
fyrste
creation
,
let
vs
dispute
and
reason
,
what
dignitie
woman
obteyned
aboue
man
,
whanne
she
was
fyrste
made
.
We
knowe
,
that
whatso
euer
god
almyghty
made
,
do
chiefely
differre
in
this
point
,
that
certain
of
them
shuld
abyde
and
remayn
for
euer
more
incorruptible
and
withoute
putrifaction
,
and
certaine
shuld
be
subiecte
vnto
corruption
,
mutabilitie
and
change
.
And
in
creatynge
those
thynges
,
god
proceded
forwarde
,
after
thys
order
he
beganne
at
the
more
noble
and
excellente
of
one
thynge
,
and
ended
at
the
most
noble
of
an
other
.
And
thus
he
created
incorruptible
angels
and
soules
:
for
so
doth
saint
Augustyne
dispute
&
reason
,
¶
By
reason
of
the
place
also
,
in
whiche
the
woman
was
created
,
howe
farre
she
passeth
man
in
noblenesse
,
holy
wrytte
doth
witnesse
vnto
vs
mooste
plentifullye
.
For
where
the
woman
was
made
in
Paradyse
,
a
place
mooste
noble
and
pleasaunt
,
amonge
aungelles
:
the
man
was
made
withoute
Paradyse
,
in
the
wyelde
fyelde
amonge
brute
beastes
.
Afterward
,
to
th
intent
,
that
woman
shuld
be
created
,
he
was
brought
into
Paradyse
.
And
therfore
the
woman
,
endowed
with
the
peculyar
gyfte
of
Nature
,
as
she
were
accustomed
to
be
in
the
hyghest
place
of
her
creation
,
though
she
loke
down
ward
from
neuer
so
high
a
place
,
yet
she
neyther
suffreth
nor
feleth
any
whitling
or
swimming
in
her
heed
,
ne
her
eies
dafyl
not
,
like
as
it
is
wonte
to
chaunce
to
men
.
¶
Furthermore
,
if
it
chance
a
woman
to
be
in
lyke
peryll
of
drownynge
with
a
man
,
she
without
any
outwarde
helpe
,
swymmeth
a
lofte
longer
than
the
man
,
whiche
soner
synketh
,
and
goth
downe
to
the
bottom
.
¶
And
that
the
dygnytie
of
the
place
maketh
moche
to
the
nobylitie
of
manne
,
the
ciuill
lawe
and
humaine
constitutions
do
playnly
affirme
,
and
the
custome
of
all
nations
doth
chyefly
obserue
this
thynge
,
not
onely
in
men
,
but
also
in
other
beastes
,
yea
and
in
the
estimation
of
thynges
hauyng
no
lyfe
:
For
the
more
worthye
place
,
that
any
thing
is
born
or
brought
vp
in
,
the
more
noble
it
is
iudged
.
Wherfore
Isaac
commanded
his
sonne
Iacob
,
that
he
shoulde
not
take
a
wyfe
of
the
lande
of
Canaan
,
but
of
Mesopotamie
in
Syria
,
beynge
of
better
estymation
.
And
vnto
this
,
is
not
moche
vnlyke
,
whiche
is
spoken
in
the
gospell
of
Iohn
,
Eue
of
Adam
sleping
,
and
that
so
soundly
,
that
he
could
not
fele
his
ribbe
plucked
away
.
And
thus
,
man
is
the
worke
of
nature
,
and
womanne
the
worke
of
god
.
And
therfore
the
woman
is
many
tymes
more
apt
and
mete
then
the
man
,
to
receyue
the
heuenly
light
and
bryghtnes
,
and
is
ofte
replenyshed
thet
with
:
whiche
thyng
is
easy
to
be
sene
,
by
her
clenlynesse
,
&
marueylous
faire
beautye
.
For
seyng
that
beautie
it selfe
is
none
other
thyng
,
but
the
clere
brightnes
of
goddes
visage
naturallye
sette
in
thinges
,
ryght
fayre
shynynge
in
the
beautifull
bodies
of
creatures
:
he
therfore
hath
chosen
women
before
men
,
to
be
far
more
endowed
,
and
moste
abundantly
replenished
therwith
.
The
propre
body
of
a
woman
in
syght
and
felynge
,
is
moste
delicate
and
pleasant
:
her
fleshe
softe
and
tender
:
her
colour
faire
and
clere
:
her
skin
softe
and
slyke
,
her
head
comelye
,
and
decked
with
heare
softe
lyke
sylke
,
long
,
and
shynyng
lyke
the
golde
wyre
:
her
countenaunce
sobre
:
her
loke
and
chere
merye
and
pleasaunt
:
her
face
moste
fayre
of
all
creatures
,
her
necke
white
as
milke
:
her
forhed
large
and
high
:
her
eies
rollyng
and
shyning
like
cristall
,
verye
amyable
gladsome
and
gratious
:
her
browes
aboue
them
,
wel
sette
togyther
in
propre
thyn
circles
,
with
a
comely
playnnesse
,
deuided
equally
with
a
feate
distaunce
,
betwene
the
which
,
out
of
the
middest
,
discendeth
the
nose
strayghte
and
treatise
:
vnder
the
which
is
her
ruddy
mouthe
,
with
soft
and
tender
lyppes
,
ful
proprely
proporcioned
:
within
the
whiche
,
whan
she
smyleth
,
her
teeth
do
shyne
forthe
,
beinge
but
lyttell
ones
,
and
sette
in
egall
order
,
as
white
as
the
yuory
,
and
not
so
many
in
numbre
as
a
man
hath
,
for
she
is
nother
greatte
eater
,
bytar
,
nor
gnawer
:
And
rounde
aboute
them
ryse
vp
her
iawes
,
&
chekes
,
with
tender
softnes
,
as
ruddy
as
rose
,
and
replenyshed
with
shamfastnes
:
her
chynne
rounde
,
with
a
prety
pyt
therin
.
Under
this
she
hath
a
small
necke
,
somwhat
long
and
streighte
vpryght
frome
her
rounde
shulders
,
with
a
delycate
wesande
,
whytely
,
and
meanlye
thicke
and
bigge
:
her
voyce
smal
and
shrylle
:
her
speche
lowe
and
swete
:
her
breaste
brode
and
well
sette
out
,
clothed
with
euen
fleshe
and
hardnes
of
her
pappes
,
whiche
are
round
and
euen
as
her
bely
is
:
her
sydes
are
softe
and
tender
:
her
backe
playn
and
streyght
her
armes
long
and
ful
:
her
handes
white
and
softe
,
with
fingers
longe
and
small
,
stretched
forth
a
length
from
the
ioyntes
,
and
proprely
set
and
knytte
to gither
:
her
hyppes
,
thyes
,
and
legges
,
well
brawned
fleshy
and
full
:
her
fingers
endes
and
toos
are
propre
&
rounde
,
lyke
a
lyttel
circle
,
and
al
the
partes
of
her
body
well
furnished
with
humour
.
More
ouer
,
her
pace
and
going
is
right
comely
:
her
mouynge
honest
:
her
port
and
chere
very
commendable
:
and
in
the
order
of
al
the
body
,
in
shap
figure
proportion
and
disposition
aboue
al
other
she
is
farre
the
fairest
creature
.
In
al
the
hole
heape
of
creatures
,
there
is
noo
thynge
so
wonderfull
to
see
,
ne
noo
miracle
so
maruaylouse
to
beholde
.
In
so
moche
,
that
there
is
no
man
,
excepte
he
be
starke
blynde
,
but
he
maye
see
,
that
god
hym selfe
coniested
and
heaped
togyther
in
woman
,
what
so
euer
was
beautiful
in
all
the
holle
world
:
which
causeth
euery
creature
to
be
astonyed
and
amased
at
her
:
yea
and
many
wayes
they
louen
and
worshyppe
her
:
in
so
moch
that
we
se
it
chance
ofte
tymes
,
that
the
bodiles
spirites
and
diuels
are
ardently
taken
and
rauyshed
with
the
beautie
of
women
,
out
of
al
measure
:
which
opinion
is
not
false
,
but
the
truth
by
many
experyences
is
notablye
knowen
.
And
to
passe
ouer
those
thynges
,
that
the
poetes
haue
left
to
vs
in
wrytynge
,
of
the
loue
of
the
goddes
,
and
of
theyr
louers
&
coneubines
,
as
of
Apollo
,
Daphnes
,
Neptunus
,
Salmonea
,
Hercules
,
Hebe
,
Iole
,
Omphale
,
and
of
the
other
goddis
louers
,
ye
and
many
of
Iupiters
him self
:
This
gyfte
of
beaute
so
diuine
,
so
beloued
of
god
and
man
,
holye
wrytte
in
many
places
doth
hyghly
commende
and
prayse
,
aboue
al
other
gyftes
and
qualities
.
¶
Those
thynges
(
all
thoughe
some
what
at
lengthe
)
I
haue
rehersed
vnto
you
,
and
that
almost
the
very
selfe
same
wordes
out
of
holy
scripture
,
where
mention
of
beautie
is
so
ofte
made
:
to
the
intent
we
shulde
playnely
perceyue
,
that
the
beautie
of
women
is
not
onely
among
men
,
but
also
of
god
hyghly
estemed
and
honoured
.
¶
In
an
other
place
of
holy
scripture
we
lyke
wyse
rede
,
¶
And
besydes
this
wounderfull
beautie
,
woman
is
endowed
with
a
certaine
dignitie
and
worthines
of
honestie
,
whiche
is
not
gyuen
to
man
:
for
the
heare
of
her
head
hangeth
downe
soo
lowe
,
that
yt
wyll
couer
and
hyde
all
the
pryuy
partes
of
her
body
.
Farther
,
it
is
not
nedefull
for
a
woman
,
to
handle
these
partes
of
her
body
,
in
the
workes
of
Nature
,
whiche
man
customably
vseth
to
doo
.
Finally
Nature
hathe
soo
wounderfullye
wrought
for
the
comelynes
of
woman
,
that
her
priuie
partes
nr
not
so
apparant
as
mans
,
but
set
in
a
place
more
secretely
.
And
nature
hath
gyuen
more
shamfasines
to
woman
than
to
man
.
Wherfore
it
hath
ofte
chanced
,
that
a
woman
,
greuousely
dyseased
in
her
prime
partes
,
hath
chosen
rather
to
dye
,
than
to
abyde
the
syght
and
handlynge
of
the
surgian
,
to
be
cured
and
healed
.
And
this
shamefaste
honestie
they
obserue
and
kepe
,
both
in
dyenge
,
and
after
they
be
dead
:
as
it
appereth
by
them
that
be
drowned
.
For
as
Plinie
and
experience
witnessen
,
a
woman
lyeth
grouelyng
whan
she
is
deade
by
the
fauour
that
nature
bereth
to
her
shamefaste
honestie
:
but
a
man
swymmeth
vpryghte
on
his
backe
.
Farther
,
the
most
worthye
parte
of
man
,
wherby
we
chiefly
differre
from
other
brute
beastes
,
and
doo
represente
the
dyuine
nature
,
is
the
heade
,
and
in
it
chiefly
the
countinaunce
.
Truely
a
mans
heade
is
deformed
with
baldnes
,
and
contrary
,
a
womanne
by
the
great
pryuilege
of
nature
,
is
not
bald
.
Moreouer
,
the
countinaunce
and
face
of
man
is
(
by
the
bearde
to
hym
hateful
)
so
oft
defiled
and
hyd
with
filthy
heares
,
that
scarse
from
brute
beastes
he
may
be
discerned
,
in
woman
contrary
wise
,
the
face
doth
alway
remayn
pure
and
comely
.
Wherfore
it
was
decreed
in
the
law
of
the
.xii.
tables
,
that
women
shuld
not
scrape
nor
shaue
theyr
chekes
,
leaste
at
any
tyme
the
bearde
shuld
growe
out
,
and
shamfastenes
be
hyd
.
Alsoo
of
the
clennes
and
puritie
of
woman
,
this
maye
be
to
all
men
the
moste
euydent
argumente
and
token
:
That
a
woman
ones
washed
clene
ouer
,
as
ofte
as
she
is
wasshed
afterwarde
in
cleane
water
,
that
water
receyueth
no
spotte
of
vnclennesse
:
but
a
man
,
be
he
neuer
so
clene
wasshed
,
as
ofte
as
he
washethe
agayne
,
troubleth
and
fouleth
the
water
.
Furthermore
,
Nature
hath
so
ordeyned
,
that
women
auoid
superfluous
humours
by
secrete
partes
,
that
men
auoide
by
the
face
,
the
moste
worthy
part
of
mannes
body
.
And
where
it
is
graunted
to
man
aboue
all
other
beastes
to
haue
the
face
and
continaunce
lokynge
vppe
to
heuen
:
Nature
and
fortune
haue
prouyded
so
wonderly
for
woman
,
and
shewed
so
great
fauor
,
that
if
she
chaunce
to
fall
,
she
seldome
or
neuer
falleth
on
her
head
or
face
.
¶
Shall
we
ouer
passe
,
the
preferrement
of
nature
to
woman
aboue
man
,
in
the
procreation
of
mankynde
?
Whyche
thynge
is
thus
very
well
perceyued
.
For
only
the
womans
seede
(
as
wytnessen
Galen
and
Auicen
)
is
the
matter
and
nourishment
of
the
chyld
,
As
we
rede
an
example
in
Valerius
Maximus
,
¶
It
is
well
knowne
,
that
for
the
more
parte
,
a
woman
hath
alway
more
pite
and
mercy
than
a
man
.
Whiche
thynge
Aristotle
doth
attribute
to
womankynd
,
Whyche
thyng
was
well
knowen
to
Dauid
,
that
in
his
olde
aege
chose
the
mayden
Abisag
,
a
Sunamite
,
with
her
collynges
&
clippinges
to
hete
&
kepe
him
warme
.
Also
woman
is
rather
redye
and
more
prompt
to
the
holy
offyce
of
generation
,
than
man
,
as
it
is
wel
knowen
.
¶
Further
it
is
a
wonderful
myracle
of
Nature
,
that
a
womanne
bredynge
chylde
,
sore
longyng
for
it
,
hathe
eaten
rawe
fleshe
,
rawe
fyshe
,
coles
,
erth
,
stones
,
mettals
,
poysons
,
&
many
suche
other
lyke
thynges
,
which
without
hurt
she
doth
digeste
,
conuerte
,
and
turne
into
the
holsome
nutrimente
and
substance
of
the
body
.
Now
great
myracles
and
maruailes
,
that
nature
hathe
endowed
woman
with
,
shal
he
fynd
,
that
redeth
throughly
the
volumes
and
bokes
of
philosophers
and
phisitions
:
whiche
for
brefenes
we
here
ouerpasse
.
¶
Nowe
let
vs
speake
of
speche
and
langage
,
whiche
is
the
gyfte
of
god
,
and
by
whiche
one
thing
we
passe
and
are
better
than
all
other
brute
beastes
:
Trismegistus
Mercurius
iudgeth
it
to
be
of
as
great
pryce
,
as
moch
worth
,
and
as
good
a
thynge
,
as
immortalitie
.
And
Hesiodus
nameth
it
the
chiefest
treasure
of
Mankynde
.
And
is
not
a
woman
better
spoken
,
more
eloquent
,
more
copious
and
plentyfull
of
wordes
than
a
man
?
Do
not
all
we
,
that
be
men
,
lerne
first
to
speke
of
our
mothers
,
or
of
our
nources
?
Truely
nature
her selfe
,
the
former
of
thinges
,
sagely
prouidyng
for
mankynde
,
gaue
this
gyfte
to
womankynde
,
that
scarse
in
any
place
ye
shall
fynde
a
dumme
womanne
.
Is
it
not
right
faire
and
commendable
,
that
women
shulde
excelle
men
in
that
thing
,
in
whiche
men
chiefly
passe
all
other
beastes
?
But
from
prophane
mattiers
,
lette
vs
retourne
home
agein
to
holy
scripture
,
and
begynne
at
the
verye
fountaynes
of
our
relygion
.
¶
We
know
surely
,
that
god
blessed
man
for
womans
sake
whiche
blessynge
the
vnworthye
man
deserued
not
to
haue
,
tyll
the
woman
was
created
and
made
,
wherwith
Salomon
in
his
prouerbes
agreeth
:
Ecclesiastici
.
26.
Happy
is
the
man
,
that
hathe
a
vertuous
wyfe
:
¶
Thus
blessyng
was
gyuen
for
the
woman
,
and
law
for
the
man
:
The
lawe
I
say
,
¶
This
is
that
great
myracle
,
¶
Also
Christe
risynge
vp
ageyn
from
deth
to
lyfe
,
¶
Who
was
more
hotte
and
feruent
in
the
faythe
of
Christe
,
Lette
the
Canonistes
crake
what
they
wylle
,
¶
But
nowe
some
men
wyll
say
,
that
those
thynges
redounde
rather
to
the
dysprayse
than
prayse
of
women
.
Vnto
whome
women
shall
make
this
aunswere
:
If
it
were
so
,
that
one
of
vs
two
,
must
nedes
lose
eyther
goodes
or
lyfe
,
I
had
leauer
to
lose
the
,
than
to
be
loste
my selfe
:
And
that
by
the
example
of
Innocentius
the
thyrd
,
whyche
in
a
certayne
pistle
decretall
,
writen
vnto
a
cardynall
ambassatour
,
sent
frome
the
See
of
Rome
,
sayth
:
If
one
of
vs
twain
muste
nedes
be
confounded
,
I
wold
rather
chose
to
haue
the
confounded
.
¶
Moreouer
,
it
was
prouyded
by
the
Cyuile
lawes
,
that
women
might
lawfully
loke
to
their
own
profit
,
to
other
mens
hinderance
.
And
in
holy
writ
,
is
not
the
iniquitie
of
a
woman
praysed
more
then
a
mans
wel
doing
?
is
not
Rachel
preised
,
¶
Rede
the
story
of
Iudith
,
and
marke
her
wordes
vnto
Holofernes
.
She
said
:
Syr
take
and
vnderstande
the
wordes
of
thy
hand
mayde
.
For
if
thou
wylte
folowe
&
do
after
these
wordes
,
the
lorde
shall
make
the
perfite
,
and
shall
brynge
thy
mattier
to
prosperous
effecte
.
I
shall
come
and
shewe
al
thynges
vnto
the
,
so
that
I
shall
leade
the
throughe
the
myddes
of
Hierusalem
,
and
thou
shalt
haue
all
the
people
of
Israell
,
lyke
as
shepe
without
a
shepeherde
,
and
not
soo
moche
as
one
dogge
shall
barke
ageynst
the.
For
those
thinges
ar
shewed
me
by
the
wisdom
and
prouidence
of
god
.
And
thus
by
her
flattering
she
stroke
of
Holofernes
head
,
as
he
lay
and
slept
.
I
pray
you
,
what
wyckedder
counsell
,
what
crueller
deceytes
,
¶
Of
the
excellency
of
so
happy
a
kynde
of
women
,
this
also
may
be
to
euery
man
an
argument
most
euident
,
that
the
most
excellent
of
all
creatures
,
than
whyche
neuer
was
,
nor
neuer
shal
be
a
more
worthy
,
I
meane
the
most
blessed
virgyn
Mayre
,
was
conceyued
with
out
originall
synne
:
and
she
was
not
inferiour
to
Christe
,
touching
his
humanitie
.
¶
This
is
a
stronge
argumente
of
Aristotle
:
Of
what
kynde
the
beste
is
nobler
thanne
the
beste
of
an
other
kynde
,
that
kynde
muste
needes
be
nobler
thanne
the
other
.
In
the
Femynyne
kynde
,
the
best
is
the
vyrgyn
Marye
,
in
the
Masculyne
,
there
arose
none
greatter
thanne
Iohn
Baptiste
:
but
howe
farre
doothe
the
holye
vyrgyn
excelle
hym
,
whiche
(
as
euerye
Catholyke
man
knoweth
)
was
exalted
aboue
all
the
orders
of
aungelles
.
Lykewyse
a
man
maye
reasounc
.
Of
what
kynde
the
worst
is
warse
than
the
worst
of
an nother
kynde
,
that
kynde
is
lower
than
the
other
.
Nowe
we
knowe
,
that
the
most
vyciouse
and
worste
of
all
creatures
,
is
a
man
,
whether
it
be
Iudas
,
that
betrayd
Christ
,
of
whom
Christe
sayth
:
It
had
bene
good
for
that
man
,
yf
he
had
not
bene
borne
:
or
whether
any
Antechrist
shal
come
herafter
,
warse
than
he
,
whyche
shall
be
endowed
with
all
the
power
of
Sathan
.
More
ouer
,
holy
writ
sheweth
many
men
to
be
condemned
to
euerlastynge
turment
:
but
we
rede
in
no
place
,
of
any
womanne
so
condemned
.
Farther
,
as
a
witnesse
to
our
purpose
,
there
is
a
certayne
pretogatiue
gyuen
to
the
brutalle
nature
.
For
the
queene
of
all
birdes
,
and
the
most
noble
,
is
the
Egle
,
whiche
is
alway
found
of
the
female
kynde
,
and
not
of
the
masculyne
.
Also
this
is
clere
,
that
the
byrd
of
Egypte
,
calid
Foenix
,
wherof
there
is
neuer
but
one
at
oones
,
is
a
female
.
But
contrary
wyse
,
the
serpent
Regulus
,
called
also
Basiliscus
the
most
pestilent
of
al
venimous
beastes
,
is
only
masculine
,
of
whiche
kynde
it
is
not
possible
to
find
&
female
.
Farther
the
excellencye
of
this
kynd
,
the
vertue
&
innocency
,
is
by
these
argumentes
and
resons
abundantly
inough
declared
.
For
the
begynnynge
of
all
yuelle
commeth
by
men
,
and
not
by
women
.
Certaynely
the
fyrst
man
Adam
,
Certayne
menne
,
¶
There
be
innumerable
excellent
women
,
¶
If
the
examples
also
of
pitie
and
louing
kyndnes
be
required
,
amonge
al
other
Claudia
Vestalis
towarde
her
father
,
and
that
poore
yonge
woman
(
of
the
whiche
we
spake
afore
)
towardes
her
mother
,
are
wonderfull
.
¶
But
here
some
enuious
felow
wyl
obiect
ageinst
those
thynges
,
the
deadely
mariages
of
Sampson
,
of
Iason
,
of
Deiphebus
,
of
Agamemnon
,
and
such
other
tragedies
,
on
whyche
(
as
saythe
the
prouerbe
)
if
a
man
loke
throughly
,
with
clere
eies
,
he
shall
fynde
,
that
theyr
wyues
are
falsely
blamed
,
of
the
whyche
neuer
chaunced
vnto
a
good
man
one
yll
.
For
yll
wyues
neuer
chaunce
,
but
to
ylle
husbandes
:
vnto
whome
all
though
the
good
somtyme
chance
,
yet
their
husbandes
vyces
make
them
naught
.
¶
If
it
had
bene
laufull
for
women
to
make
lawes
,
too
wryte
histories
,
how
gret
tragedies
(
trowye
)
wolde
they
haue
writen
of
the
inestimable
malice
of
men
,
among
whom
many
ben
murtherers
,
theues
,
rauishers
of
vyrgins
,
periurers
,
robbers
,
burners
of
houses
,
traytours
:
¶
So
Mary
,
the
syster
of
Moses
prophecied
:
And
whan
Ieremye
was
taken
prysoner
,
his
vncles
daughter
Olda
,
And
all
though
Abraham
,
¶
Moreouer
,
they
that
haue
shewed
the
stedfastnes
of
theyr
faith
by
sufferyng
of
Martyrdom
,
and
by
the
dispisynge
of
deathe
,
be
no
fewer
in
number
than
men
.
¶
Dyd
not
also
Theodelina
,
the
doughter
of
the
kynge
of
Bauarians
,
conuerte
the
Lumbardes
to
the
fayth
?
And
Greisilla
,
the
sysrer
of
Henry
the
fyrste
Emperour
,
conuerte
the
Hungarians
?
&
Clotildis
,
the
daughter
of
the
kyng
of
Burgundia
,
conuert
the
Frenche
men
?
And
a
certayn
woman
called
Apostola
,
of
a
lowe
degree
,
conuerted
the
Hiberians
.
Eche
of
them
turned
innumerable
people
vnto
Christis
faythe
.
And
fynally
,
this
is
the
onely
and
speciall
relygious
kynd
,
in
whom
vnto
this
day
the
catholike
faith
,
and
the
continual
workes
of
vertue
and
goodnesse
doo
flourysshe
and
shyne
.
¶
But
to
the
ende
that
noo
man
shuld
doubt
women
to
be
as
able
to
doo
all
those
thynges
that
men
can
,
let
vs
handle
the
matter
with
examples
:
and
we
shal
fynd
,
that
there
was
neuer
noble
nor
worthy
acte
,
in
any
kynde
of
vertue
,
doone
by
men
,
but
that
as
noble
hath
ben
done
by
women
.
In
doinge
sacrifyce
,
as
the
paynyms
in
olde
tyme
vsed
,
Melyssa
Cibeles
was
the
Mynyster
,
after
whose
name
,
the
other
Goddesses
,
that
vsed
the
priestes
offyce
,
were
callyd
Melyssae
.
Also
Hypeccaustria
was
Mineruas
mynyster
,
Mera
of
Venus
,
Iphiginia
of
Diana
.
And
the
mynysters
of
Bacchus
,
were
very
notable
,
as
Thyades
,
Menades
,
Bacche
,
Eliades
,
Mimallonides
,
Eonides
,
Eubiades
,
Bassarides
,
Triaterides
.
Also
amonge
the
Iewes
,
Mary
Moses
syster
,
entred
with
Aaron
into
the
Sanctuarie
,
Furthermore
,
in
the
inuyncible
arte
magyke
,
whether
it
came
of
good
spirytes
or
bad
.
Circes
and
Medea
wroughte
farre
greatter
wonders
than
Zoroastes
hym self
whiche
as
many
suppose
,
was
the
fyrste
fynder
of
the
sayde
scyence
.
More
ouer
in
phylosophye
,
many
haue
ben
very
excellent
,
as
Theano
the
wyfe
of
Pythagoras
,
and
Dama
his
daughter
was
ryghte
famous
,
in
openynge
and
declaringe
her
fathers
obscure
&
darke
sentences
.
Also
Aspasia
and
Diotima
,
Socrates
scholers
,
&
Mantinea
and
Philesia
Axiochia
,
both
scholers
to
Plato
.
Finally
Plotinus
highly
prayseth
Gemina
and
Amphiclea
,
Lactantius
Themisten
.
Christis
churche
reioyceth
in
saynt
Caterine
,
which
being
but
a
lyttell
mayde
,
dyd
farre
passe
in
lernynge
,
the
wyse
menne
of
that
tyme
.
¶
Let
vs
not
forget
in
this
place
the
queene
Zenobia
,
scholer
to
the
phylosopher
Longinus
,
whiche
for
her
great
vertue
and
cunning
was
called
Ephenissa
,
whose
holy
workis
Nichomachus
translated
into
Greke
.
¶
Let
vs
speake
of
the
oratours
arte
,
and
of
poetrie
,
Behold
here
commeth
Armesia
,
surnamed
Androgenea
,
Hortentia
,
Lacera
,
Valeria
,
Copiola
,
Sapho
,
Corinna
,
Cornificia
the
Romayne
,
Erymna
,
Telia
,
or
Thesbia
,
whyche
was
named
an
Epigrammatist
,
in
Saluste
Sempronia
,
in
the
law
ciuyl
Calphurnia
:
And
were
it
not
,
that
women
in
our
tyme
ar
forbydden
,
to
gyue
theym
to
good
lernynges
,
we
shulde
euen
nowe
,
haue
women
more
excellent
in
wyt
and
lernynge
than
menne
.
What
shulde
we
hereof
say
,
that
women
onely
by
nature
are
sene
to
excelle
the
very
artificers
in
all
sciences
?
Doo
not
the
Grammarians
take
vppon
theym
,
to
be
the
maysters
of
eloquence
?
And
that
do
we
far
better
lerne
of
oure
nources
and
mothers
,
than
of
the
Grammarians
.
Dyd
not
Cornelia
fourme
and
fasshyon
the
tongues
of
her
moste
eloquent
sonnes
Gracchi
?
Dyd
not
Istrineus
mother
,
teach
Syles
the
sonne
of
Aripithus
,
kynge
of
Scythia
,
the
Greeke
tongue
?
Dydde
not
the
chyldren
borne
of
theym
that
were
sente
to
inhabyte
in
straunge
countreyes
,
alway
obserue
and
kepe
theyr
mothers
tongue
,
amonge
strangers
?
Surely
for
none
other
cause
Plato
and
Quintilian
so
diligentlye
ordeyned
a
mete
and
conueniente
nource
for
chylderne
to
be
chosen
,
but
that
the
chyldernes
tongue
&
speche
myght
be
ryghtlye
and
discretely
fourmed
.
¶
But
nowe
,
be
not
the
poetes
in
theyr
trifles
&
fables
,
&
the
logitians
in
their
contentious
talking
ouercome
of
women
?
Ther
was
neuer
oratour
so
good
or
so
happy
,
that
in
perswasyon
coulde
get
the
vpper
hande
of
an
harlot
?
What
arithmetrician
by
false
recknyng
,
coulde
deceyue
a
woman
in
payement
of
her
det
?
or
what
musitian
can
compare
with
a
woman
in
singynge
and
swetenesse
of
breaste
?
Be
not
these
Phylosophers
,
these
astrologians
,
in
theyr
diuynatiōs
&
forknowleges
many
tymes
inferiours
to
the
countrey
wiues
?
yea
&
very
ofttymes
a
sely
olde
woman
excelleth
the
phisitian
:
Socrates
hym selfe
(
aboue
all
other
reckned
the
most
wyse
man
)
being
very
aged
,
dyd
not
disdain
to
be
taught
of
the
woman
Aspasia
.
Lyke
as
Apollo
,
a
man
so
wel
lerned
in
Christis
doctrine
,
was
not
ashamed
to
be
taught
of
the
woman
Priscilla
.
¶
Nowe
for
prudency
,
you
maye
take
for
examples
those
women
.
Opis
for
her
wysedome
counted
a
goddesse
:
Plotina
wyfe
of
Troianus
th
emperour
:
Amalasuntha
,
the
queene
of
Ostrogottes
:
Emilia
the
wyfe
of
Scipio
:
with
whom
recken
Delbora
,
the
wyfe
of
Labidoth
,
And
whan
Barach
refused
to
go
ageynste
their
ennemies
,
excepte
she
wolde
go
with
hym
,
Delbora
was
chosen
capitayne
of
the
host
of
Israell
:
and
sleynge
and
dyscomfytynge
theyr
foes
,
she
returned
home
with
vyctorie
.
¶
More
ouer
,
¶
More
ouer
,
in
the
Inuention
of
thynges
,
Isis
,
Minerua
,
Nicostrata
,
be
examples
.
In
rulyng
of
realmes
,
and
buyldynge
of
cities
women
excelle
:
Semiramis
was
the
souerayne
gouernour
of
the
vniuersall
worlde
:
Dido
was
the
buylder
and
queene
of
Carthage
:
the
Amazones
were
moste
worthy
in
warre
and
polytyke
in
peace
.
In
the
bolde
byckerynges
of
battayle
,
what
a
woman
was
Thomiris
the
queene
of
Massagetaries
?
She
ouercame
Cyrus
the
gret
conquerour
and
puissant
kynge
of
Persians
.
Also
Camilla
,
of
the
Volscians
,
and
Valisca
of
Boheme
,
were
two
most
mighty
queenes
.
We
rede
of
many
other
moste
noble
women
,
whyche
by
theyr
wonderfulle
power
and
polycie
,
in
most
extremytie
,
and
whan
there
was
no
hope
of
helpe
loked
for
,
recouered
theyre
countrey
,
and
restored
it
to
wealthe
ageyne
.
Amonge
whome
is
Iudith
,
whyche
saynt
Ierome
hyghlye
prayseth
with
these
wordes
:
Take
Iudith
the
wydowe
,
the
example
of
chastite
,
declare
her
with
triumphant
prayse
and
perpetual
commendation
.
For
god
gaue
her
to
be
an
example
,
not
only
for
women
,
but
also
for
men
to
folowe
,
whiche
for
a
rewarde
of
her
chastitie
,
armed
her
with
suche
vertue
,
that
she
vanquished
him
that
was
inuyncible
to
all
menne
,
and
subdued
hym
,
that
no
man
coulde
ouercome
.
¶
Further
,
¶
So
Hester
,
¶
Whanne
Coriolanus
with
the
Volscians
,
had
besieged
Rome
,
&
soo
sharpely
assayled
it
,
that
the
Romaynes
were
not
able
to
defende
them selues
agaynste
hym
:
an
auncient
woman
Veturia
his
mother
,
soo
handled
the
mattier
,
that
she
ouercame
his
rage
and
furye
,
and
reconcyled
hym
ageyn
to
the
Romaynes
.
Arthemisia
,
whan
the
Rhodians
came
fiersly
vpon
her
,
both
disapoynted
them
of
theyr
nauye
of
shyppes
,
and
conquered
that
Ilande
,
and
sette
vp
her
Image
within
the
citie
of
Rhodes
,
as
a
perpetuall
note
of
infamye
vnto
them
.
¶
Howe
moche
doo
the
Frenche
men
prayse
a
yonge
damsell
,
¶
And
in
the
warre
that
Cyrus
made
agaynst
Astiages
,
the
Persians
armye
was
by
the
castygation
of
women
reprehended
,
and
being
newely
restored
againe
,
opteyned
a
right
worthy
vyctorye
.
For
the
whiche
dede
Cyrus
made
a
lawe
,
that
kynges
of
the
Persians
entrynge
into
the
cytie
.
shuld
paye
to
euerye
woman
a
piece
of
golde
.
The
whiche
thynge
also
kynge
Alexander
,
entrynge
twyse
into
that
citie
payd
twyse
.
Ye
and
more
ouer
,
he
commaunded
the
gyft
to
be
doubled
to
women
with
chylde
.
So
from
the
moste
auncient
kynges
of
the
Persyans
and
Romaynes
,
yea
from
the
very
begynnyng
of
the
citie
of
Rome
and
empire
,
women
were
hadde
in
all
hygh
honour
and
reuerence
:
and
the
very
emperours
theym selues
estemed
theym
moste
highly
.
For
Iustynian
the
emperour
,
in
makynge
of
lames
,
thoughte
it
conueniente
,
to
haue
the
counsaylle
and
aduyse
of
his
wyfe
.
And
in
an
other
place
,
the
law
sayth
,
that
the
wyfe
shyneth
in
the
honour
of
her
husbande
,
and
the
brightnes
of
his
dignitie
beautifieth
her
,
for
the
higher
the
husband
is
aduanced
in
honour
,
the
higher
is
his
wyfe
.
Soo
the
Emperours
wyfe
is
callid
empresse
,
the
kingis
wife
quene
,
the
princis
wyfe
,
the
princesse
:
and
is
therby
enobled
,
howe
lowe
so
euer
she
be
of
byrthe
.
And
Vlpian
the
lawyer
sayth
.
A
prince
that
is
to
saye
,
the
Emperoure
or
kynge
,
is
aboue
the
lawes
,
and
although
the
empresse
is
bonde
by
the
lawes
,
yet
the
emperour
frely
granteth
her
as
great
priuileges
as
he
hath
hym selfe
.
Wherfore
it
is
permitted
vnto
noble
women
,
to
iudge
,
to
arbytrate
and
decyde
matters
,
to
doo
and
take
homage
and
fealtie
,
to
keepe
courtes
,
and
mynyster
Iustyce
amonge
theyr
tenauntes
.
And
for
this
pourpose
,
the
woman
may
haue
couenant
seruauntes
of
her
owne
,
as
well
as
the
man
may
:
and
a
womanne
may
be
iudge
,
yea
amonge
straungers
.
She
maye
also
gyue
name
to
her
familie
and
kynred
:
so
that
the
chyldren
shal
be
named
after
their
mother
,
and
not
after
their
father
.
And
in
dyuerse
places
of
the
lawe
cyuyle
,
womenne
haue
,
touchynge
theyr
doweries
,
many
great
priuileges
graunted
them
.
Where
amonge
other
thynges
it
is
ordeyned
,
that
a
woman
of
good
name
and
fame
,
shall
not
be
imprysoned
for
dette
,
and
the
Iudge
,
that
commytteth
her
to
pryson
,
shall
lose
his
heed
.
If
she
be
suspected
of
any
faute
,
she
shal
be
putte
into
a
monasterye
or
secrete
place
,
or
elles
be
delyuerid
to
women
,
to
be
imprysonde
by
them
.
For
the
lawe
saythe
,
A
woman
is
of
better
state
and
condition
than
a
man
:
and
also
in
one selfe
kynd
of
offence
,
the
manne
trespasseth
more
than
the
woman
.
Wherfore
the
man
taken
in
auoutrie
,
loseth
his
head
:
but
the
woman
aduouterer
is
put
into
a
monasterye
.
Azo
the
Lawyer
gethereth
mo
priuiledges
for
the
womenne
in
his
Summe
and
briefe
Annotation
vpon
the
title
named
,
Ad
Senatus
consultum
uelleianum
,
&
Speculator
vpon
the
title
De
renuntiationibus
.
¶
Also
the
auncyente
lawe
makers
and
stablyshers
of
common
wealthes
,
the
moste
graue
,
wyse
,
and
prudent
menne
,
Licurgus
I
say
,
and
Plato
,
knowynge
verye
welle
by
the
secretes
of
Phylosophy
,
that
women
were
not
inferiours
to
men
,
neyther
in
excellencye
of
mynde
,
nor
in
strengthe
of
bodye
,
nor
in
dygnitie
of
Nature
,
but
lyke
able
vnto
all
thynges
,
decreed
and
made
lawes
,
that
women
shoulde
exercise
suche
maystries
as
men
vsed
,
yea
all
feates
perteynynge
to
the
warre
,
in
the
bowe
,
in
the
slynge
,
in
hurlynge
of
stones
,
in
shotynge
,
in
fyghtynge
in
armour
,
as
well
on
hors
backe
as
on
foote
,
in
pytchyng
of
tentes
,
in
settynge
men
in
arraye
,
and
couductynge
of
an
hoste
:
and
to
be
briefe
,
they
ordeyned
,
that
women
shuld
as
commonly
as
men
vse
all
maner
exercyses
.
Lette
vs
rede
writers
of
antiquitie
,
worthy
to
be
beleued
,
and
we
shall
fynde
,
that
in
Getulia
,
Bactris
,
and
Galletia
,
the
maner
was
,
that
menne
gaue
them selfes
to
ease
and
delicacy
,
and
the
women
to
plow
and
tylle
the
fieldes
,
to
buylde
,
to
bye
and
sel
,
to
ryde
,
to
go
on
warfare
,
and
to
do
all
other
thynges
,
whiche
nowe
amonge
vs
the
men
do
.
Amonge
the
Cantabrians
,
men
gaue
dowerye
to
the
women
,
bretherne
were
gyuen
to
mariage
by
theyr
systers
,
doughters
were
appoynted
to
be
heires
.
Amonge
the
Scythians
,
the
Thracians
,
and
Frenche
menne
,
all
worthy
dedes
were
as
commonly
done
by
women
as
by
men
,
and
in
matters
concernynge
warre
and
peace
,
women
were
called
to
councelle
,
to
gyue
theyr
aduyse
and
sentence
.
Which
thynge
the
Truce
that
the
Celtes
made
with
Hanniball
,
dothe
well
declare
to
be
trewe
,
by
these
wordes
:
If
any
of
the
Celtes
complayne
,
to
haue
had
wronge
of
any
of
the
Carthaginences
:
of
that
thing
let
the
rulers
&
officers
of
the
Carthaginences
,
or
els
the
capytaynes
which
shal
be
in
Spayne
,
be
iudges
:
If
any
of
the
Carthaginences
hath
hadde
any
wronge
done
hym
,
by
anye
of
the
Celtes
,
lette
the
women
of
the
Celtes
be
iuges
,
and
determyne
that
thyng
.
But
by
the
great
tyranny
of
men
,
preuaylynge
ageinst
the
lawes
of
god
and
nature
,
such
libertie
was
gyuen
to
women
.
¶
Thou
wylte
saye
,
that
is
nowe
forbydden
by
lawes
,
abolished
by
custome
,
extincted
by
education
.
For
anon
as
a
woman
is
borne
euen
from
her
infancy
,
she
is
kept
at
home
in
ydelnes
,
&
as
thoughe
she
were
vnmete
for
any
hygher
busynesse
,
she
is
pmitted
to
know
no
farther
,
than
her
nedle
and
her
threede
.
And
than
whan
she
commeth
to
age
,
able
to
be
maried
,
she
is
delyuered
to
the
rule
and
gouernance
of
aielous
husband
,
orels
she
is
perpetually
shutte
vp
in
a
close
nounrye
.
And
all
offyces
belongynge
to
the
common
weale
,
be
forbydden
theym
by
the
lawes
.
Nor
it
is
not
permitted
to
a
woman
,
though
she
be
very
wise
and
prudent
,
to
pleade
a
cause
before
a
Iuge
.
Furthermore
,
they
be
repelled
in
iurisdiction
,
in
arbiterment
,
in
adoption
,
in
intercession
,
in
procuration
,
or
to
be
gardeyns
or
tutours
,
in
causes
testamentary
and
criminall
.
Also
they
be
repelled
frome
preachynge
of
goddes
worde
,
agaynst
expresse
and
playn
scripture
,
in
whyche
the
holy
gost
promised
vnto
them
by
Iohel
the
prophet
,
¶
Furthermore
,
there
be
somme
men
,
whyche
by
relygion
,
clayme
authoritie
ouer
women
,
and
they
proue
theyr
tyranny
by
holy
scripture
:
the
whiche
haue
this
cursed
sayenge
,
spoken
to
Eue
,
contynually
in
theyr
mouth
:
¶
Nowe
at
laste
,
FINIS
.