Iane Anger her Protection for vvomen To defend them against the scandalous reportes of a late surfeiting louer, and all otherlike Venerians that complaine so to bee ouercloyed with womens kindnesse. Written by Ia: A. Gent.

A Protection for Women . &c.

THE desire that euery man hath to shewe his fiue vaine in writing is vnspeakable , and their mindes are so caried away with the manner , as no care at all is had of the matter : they run so into Rethorick , as often times they ouerrun the boundes of their own wits , and goe they knowe not whether . If they haue stretched their inuention so hard on a last , as it is at a stand , there remaines but one help , which is , to write of vs women : If they may once encroch so far into our presence , as they may but see the lyning of our outermost garment , they straight think that Apollo honours them , in yeelding so good a supply to refresh their sore ouerburdened heads , through studying for matters to indite off . And therfore that the God may see how thankfully they receiue his liberality , ( their wits whetted , and their braines almost broken with botching his bountie ) they fall straight to dispraising and slaundering our silly sex . But iudge what the cause should be , of this their so great malice towards simple women . Doubtles the weaknesse of our wits , and our honest bashfulnesse , by reason wherof they suppose that there is not one amongst vs who can , or dare reprooue their slanders and false reproches : their slaunderous tongues are so short , and the time wherin they haue lauished out their wordes freely , hath bene so long , that they know we cannot catch hold of them to pull them out , and they think we wil not write to reprooue their lying lips : which conceites haue already made them cockes and wolde ( should they not be crauened ) make themselues among themselues bee thought to be of the game . They haue bene so daintely fed with our good natures , that like iades ( their stomackes are grown so quesse ) they surfeit of our kindnes . If we wil not suffer them to smell on our smockes , they will snatch at our peticotes : but if our honest natures cannot away with that vnciuil kinde of iesting then we are coy : yet if we beare with their rudenes , and be som what modestly familiar with them , they will straight make matter of nothing , blazing abroad that they haue surfeited with loue , and then their wits must be showen in celling the maner how .

Among the innumerable number of bookes to that purpose , of late ( vnlooked for ) the newe surfeit of an olde Louer ( sent abroad to warne those which are of his own kind , from catching the like disease ) came by chance to my handes : which , because aswell women as men are desirous of nouelties , I willinglie read ouer : neither did the ending therof lesse please me then the beginning , for I was so carried away with the conceit of the Gent . as that I was quite out of the booke before I thought I had bene in the middest thereof : So pithie were his sentences , so pure his wordes , and so pleasing his stile . The chiefe matters therein contained were of two sortes : the one in the dispraise of mans follie , and the other , inuectiue against our sex , their folly proceeding of their own flatterie ioined with fancie , & our faultes are through our follie , with which is some faith .

The bounteous wordes written ouer the lasciuious kinge Ninus his head , set down in this olde Louer his Surfeit to be these ( Demaund and haue : ) do plainly shew the flatterie of mens false heartes : for knowing that we women , are weake vessels soone ouerwhelmed , and that Bountie bendeth euerie thing to his becke , they take him for their instrument ( too too strong ) to assay the pulling downe of vs so weake . If we stand fast , they striue : if we totter ( though but a little ) they will neuer leaue til they haue ouerturned vs. Semeramis demaunded : and who would not if courtesie should be so fréely offered : Ninus gaue all to his kingdome , and that at the last : the more foole he : and of him this shal be my censure ( agreeing with the verdict of the surfaiting louer , saue onely that he hath misplaced and mistaken certaine wordes ) in this maner .

Fooles force such flatterie , and men of dull conceite : Such phrensie oft doth hant the wife ( Nurse Wisedom once reiected ) Though loue be sure and firme : yet Lust fraught with deceit . And mens fair wordes do worke great wo , vnlesse they be suspected . Then foolish NINVS had but due , if I his iudge might be , Vilde are mens lustes , false are their lips , besmer'd with flatterie : Himselfe and Crowne he brought to thrall which passed all the rest His foot-stoole match he made his head , and therefore was a beast . Then all such beastes such beastly endes , I wish the Gods to send , And worser too if woorse may be : like his my censure end .

The slouthful king Sardanapalus with his beastlike and licentious deedes are so plainly disciphered , and his had end well deserued , so truly set down in that Surfeit , as both our iudgments agree in one .

But that Menalaus was serued with such sauce it is a wonder : yet truely their Sex are so like to Buls , that it is no maruell though the Gods do metamorphoze some of them , to giue warning to the rest , if they coulde thinke so of it , for some of them wil follow the smocke as Tom Bull will runne after a towne Cowe . But , least they should running slip and breake their pates , the Gods prouident of their welfare , set a paire of tooters on their foreheades , to keepe it from the ground , for doubtles so stood the case with Menalus , hee running abroade as a Smel-smocke , got the habit of a Coockold , of whom thus shall go my verdicte .

The Gods most iust doe iustly punish sinne with those same plagues which men do most forlorn , If filthy lust in men to spring begin , That monstrous sin he plagueth with the horne . their wisdome great wherby they men forewarne , to shun vild lust , lest they wil weare the horne . Deceitfull men with guile must be repaid , And blowes for blowes who renders not againe . The man that is of Coockolds lot affraid , From Lechery he ought for to refraine . Els shall he haue the plague he doth forlorne : and ought ( perforce constrain'd to wear the horne . The Greeke , Acteons badge did weare , they say , And worthy too , he loued the smocke so wel , That euerie man may be a Bull I pray , Which loues to follow lust ( his game ) so well . For by that meanes poore women shall haue peace and want these iarres . Thus doth my censure cease .

The greatest fault that doth remaine in vs women is , that we are too credulous , for could we flatter as they can dissemble , and vse our wittes well , as they can their tongues ill , then neuer would any of them complaine of surfeiting . But if we women be so so perillous cattell as they terme vs , I maruell that the Gods made not Fidelitie as well a man , as they created her a woman , and all the morall vertues of their masculine sex , as of the feminine kinde , except their Deities knewe that there was some souerainty in vs women , which could not be in them men . But least some snatching fellow should catch me before I fall to the grounde , ( and say they will adorne my head with a feather , affirming that I rome beyond reason , seeing it is most manifest that the man is the head of the woman , and that therfore we ought to be guided by them , ) I preuent them with this answere . The Gods knowing that the mindes of mankind would be aspiring , and hauing throughly viewed the wonderfull vertues wherewith women are inriched , least they should prouoke vs to pride , and so confound vs with Lucifer , they bestowed the supremacy ouer vs to man , that of that Cockscombe he might onely boast , and therfore for Gods sake let them keepe it . But wee returne to the Surfeit .

Hauing made a long discourse of the Gods censure concerning loue , he leaues thē ( & I thē with him ) and comes to the principall obiect and generall foundation of loue , which he affirmeth to be grounded on women : & now beginning to search his scroule , wherein are tauntes against vs , he beginneth and saieth that we allure their hearts to vs : wherin he saieth more truly then he is aware off : for we woo them with our vertues , & they wed vs with vanities , and men being of wit sufficient to consider of the vertues which are in vs women , are rauished with the delight of those dainties , which allure & draw the sences of them to serue vs , wherby they become rauenous haukes , who doe not onely seize vpon vs , but deuour vs. Our good toward them is the destruction of our selues , we being wel formed , are by them fouly deformed : of our true meaning they make mockes , rewarding our louing follies with disdainful floutes : we are the griefe of man , in that wee take all the griefe from man : we languish when they laugh , we lie sighing when they sit singing , and sit sobbing when they lie slugging and sleeping . Mulier est hominis confusio , because her kinde heart cannot so sharply reprooue their franticke fits , as those madde frensies deserue . Aut amat , aut odit , non est in tertio : she loueth good thinges , and hateth that which is euill : shee loueth iustice and hateth iniquitie : she loueth trueth and true dealing , and hateth lies and falshood : she loueth man for his vertues , & hateth him for his vices : to be short , there is no Medium between good and bad , and therefore she can be , In nullo tertio . Plato his answere to a Viccar of fooles which asked the question , being , that he knew not whether to place women among those creatures which were reasonable or vnreasonable , did as much beautifie his deuine knowledge , as all the bookes he did write : for knowing that women are the greatest help that men haue , without whose aide & assistance it is as possible for them to liue , as if they wanted meat , drinke , clothing , or any other necessary : and knowing also that euen then in his age , much more in those ages which shold after follow , men were grown to be so vnreasonable , as he could not discide whether men or bruite beastes were more reasonable : their eies are so curious , as be not all women equall with Venus for beautie , they cannot abide the sight of them : their stomackes so queasie , as doe they tast but twise of one dish they straight surfeit , and needes must a new diet be prouided for them . Wee are contrary to men , because they are contrarie to that which is good : because they are spurblind , they cannot see into our natures , and we too well ( though we had but halfe an eie ) into their conditions , because they are so bad : our behauiours alter daily , because mens vertues decay hourely . If Hesiodus had with equity as well looked into the life of man , as he did presisely search out the qualities of vs women , he would haue said , that if a woman trust vnto a man , it shal fare as well with her , as if she had a waight of a thousand pounds tied about her neck , and then cast into the bottomles seas : for by men are we confounded though they by vs are sometimes crossed . Our tongues are light , because earnest in reproouing mens filthy vices , and our good counsel is termed nipping iniurie , in that it accordes not with their foolish fancies . Our boldnesse rash , for giuing Noddies nipping answeres , our dispositions naughtie , for not agreeing with their vilde mindes , and our furie dangerous , because it will not beare with their knauish behauiours . If our frownes be so terrible , and our anger so deadly , men are too foolish in offering occasions of hatred , which shunned , a terrible death is preuented . There is a continuall deadly hatred betweene the wilde boare and tame hounds , I would there were the like betwixt women and men vnles they amend their maners , for so strength should predominate , where now flattery and dissimulation hath the vpper hand . The Lion rageth when he is hungrie , but man raileth when he is glutted . The Tyger is robbed of her young ones , when she is ranging abroad , but men rob women of their honour vndeseruedlye vnder their noses . The Viper stormeth when his taile is trodden on , & may not we fret when al our bodie is a footstoole to their vild lust : their vnreasonable mindes which knowe not what reason is , make them nothing better then bruit beastes . But let vs graunt that Cletemnestra , Ariadna , Dalila , and Iesabell were spotted with crimes : shal not Nero with others innumerable , & therefore vnnameable ioine handes with them and lead the daunce ? yet it greeues me that faithful Deianira should be falsely accused of her husband Hercules death , séeing she was vtterly guiltlesse ( euen of thought ) concerning any such crime , for had not the Centaures falshood exceeded the simplicitie of her too too credulous heart , Hercules had not died so cruelly tormented , nor the monsters treason bene so vnhappely exeented . But we must beare with these faulces , and with grrater then these , especiallye seeing that hee which set it downe for a Maxime was driuen into a mad mood through a surfeit , which made him run quite besides his booke , and mistake his case : for wher he accused Deianira falsely , he woulde haue had condemned Hercules deseruedly .

Marius daughter indued with so many excellent vertues , was too good either for Metellus , or any man liuing : for thogh peraduenture she had some smal fault , yet doubtles he had detestable crimes . On the same place where Doun is on the hens head , the Combe grows on the Cocks pate . If women breede woe to men , they bring care , pouertie , griefe , and continual feare to women , which if they be not woes they are worser .

Euthydomus made sixe kinde of women , and I will approoue that there are so many of men : which be , poore and rich , bad and good , foule and faire . The great Patrimonies that wealthy men leaue their children after their death , make them rich : but dice and other marthriftes happening into their companies , neuer leaue them til they bee at the beggers bush , wher I can assure you they become poore . Great eaters beeing kept at a slender diet neuer distemper their bodies but remaine in good case : but afterwards once turned foorth to Liberties pasture , they graze so greedilie , as they become surfeiting iades , and alwaies after are good for nothing . There are men which are snout-faire , whose faces looke like a creamepot , and yet those not the faire men I speake of , but I meane those whose conditions are free from knauerie , and I tearme those foule , that haue neither ciuilitie nor honestie : of these sorts there are none good , none rich or faire long . But if wee doe desire to haue them good , we must alwaies tie them to the manger and diet their greedy panches , otherwise they wil surfeit . What , shal I say ? wealth makes them lauish , wit knauish , beautie effeminate , pouertie deceitfull , and deformitie vglie . Therefore of me take this counsell Esteeme of men as of a broken Reed , Mistrust them still , and then you wel shall speede .

I pray you then ( if this be true , as it truely cannot bee denied ) haue not they reason who affirme that a goose standing before a rauenous Fox , is in as good case , as the woman that trusteth to a mans fidelitie : for as the one is sure to loose his head , so the other is most certaine to be bereaued of her good name , if there be any small cause of suspition . The fellow that tooke his wife for his crosse , was an Asse , and so we wil leaue him : for he loued well to sweare on an ale pot , and because his wife , keeping him from his dronken vain , put his nose out of his socket , he thereby was brought into a mad moode , in which he did he could not tell what .

When prouender prickes , the iade will winch , but keepe him at a slender ordinarie , and he will be milde ynough . The Dictators sonne was cranke as long as his cocke was crowing , but proouing a crauin , hee made his maister hang downe his head .

Thales was so maried to shamefull lust as hee cared not a straw for lawfull loue , wherby he shewed himselfe to be indued with much vice and no vertue : for a man doth that often times standing , of which he repenteth sitting . The Romain coulde not ( as now men cannot ) abide to heare women praised , and themselues dispraised , and therfore it is best for men to follow Alphonso his rule : let them be deafe and mary wiues , that are blind , so shal they not grieue to heare their wiues commended nor their monstrous misdoing shall offend their wiues eiesight .

Tibullus setting down a rule for women to follow , might haue proportioned this platform for men to rest in . And might haue said . Euery honest man ought to shun that which detracteth both health and safety from his owne person , and striue to bridle his slanderous tongue . Then must he be modest , & shew his modestie by his vertuous and ciuil behauiours : and not display his beastlines through his wicked and filthy wordes . For lying lips and deceitful tongues are abhominable before God . It is an easie matter to intreate a Cat to catch a Mouse , and more easie to perswade a desperate man to kil him selfe . What Nature hath made , Art cannot marre , ( and as this surfeiting louer saith ) that which is bred in the bone , will not be brought out of the flesh . If we cloath our selues in sackcloth , and trusse vp our haire in dishclouts , Venerians wil neuertheles pursue their pastime . If we hide our breastes , it must be with leather , for no cloath can kéep their long nailes out of our bosomes .

We haue rowling eies , and they railing tongues : our eies cause thē to look lasciuiously , & why ? because they are geuen to lecherie . It is an easie matter to finde a staffe to beate a Dog , and a burnt finger giueth sound counsel . If men would as well imbrace counsel as they can giue it , Socrates rule wold be better follewed . But let Socrates , heauen and earth say what they wil , Mans face is worth a glasse of dissembling water : and therfore to conclude with a prouerbe , Write euer , and yet neuer write ynough of mans falshoode , I meane those that vse it . I would that ancient writers would as well haue busied their heades about disciphering the deceites of their owne Sex , as they haue about setting downe our follies : and I wold some would call in question that nowe , which hath euer bene questionlesse : but sithence all their wittes haue bene bent to write of the contrarie , I leaue them to a contrary vaine , and the surfaiting Louer , who returnes to his discourse of loue .

Nowe while this greedye grazer is about his intreatie of loue , which nothing belongeth to our matter : let vs secretlye our selues with our selues , consider howe and in what , they that are our worst enemies , are both inferiour vnto vs , & most beholden vnto our kindenes .

The creation of man and woman at the first , hee being formed In principio of drosse and filthy clay , did so remaine vntil God saw that in him his workmanship was good , and therfore by the transformation of the dust which was loathsome vnto flesh , it became putrified . Then lacking a help for him , GOD making woman of mans fleshe , that she might bee purer then he , doth euidently showe , how far we women are more excellent then men . Our bodies are fruitefull , wherby the world encreaseth , and our care wondeful , by which man is preserued . From woman sprang mans saluation . A woman was the first that beleeued , & a woman likewise the first that repented of sin . In women is onely true Fidelity : ( except in her ) there 〈◇〉 ●●nstancie , and without her no Huswifery . In the time of their sicknes we cannot be wanted , & when they are in health we for thē are most necessary . They are comforted by our means : they nourished by the meats we dresse : their bodies fréed from diseases by our cleanlines , which otherwise would surfeit vnreasonably through their own noisomnes . Without our care they lie in their beds as dogs in litter , & goe like lowsie Mackarell swimming in the heat of sommer . They loue to go hansomly in their apparel , and reioice in the pride thereof , yet who is the cause of it , but our carefulnes , to sée that euery thing about thē be curious . Our virginitie makes vs vertuous , our comditions curteous , & our chastitie maketh our truenesse of loue manifest . They confesse we are necessarie , but they would haue vs likewise euil . That they cannot want vs I grant : yet euill I denie : except onely in the respect of man , who ( hating all good things , is onely desirous of that which is ill , through whose desire , in estimation of conceit we are made ill . But least some shuld snarle on me , barking out this reason : that none is good but God , and therfore women are ill . I must yeeld that in that respect we are il , & affirm that men are no better , seeing we are so necessarie vnto them . It is most certain , that if we be il , they are worse : for Malum malo additum efficit malum peius : & they that vse il worse then it shold be , are worse then the il . And therefore if they wil correct Magnificat , they must first learn the signification therof . That we are liberal , they wil not deny sithence that many of them haue ( ex confessio ) receiued more kindnes in one day at our hands , thē they can repay in a whole yeare : & some haue so glutted themselues with our liberality as they cry No more . But if they shal auow that women are fooles , we may safely giue thē the lie : for my selfe haue heard some of them confesse that we haue more wisdome then need is , & therfore no fooles : & they lesse thē they shold haue , & therfore fooles . It hath bene affirmed by some of their sex , that to shun a shower of rain , & to know the way to our husbands bed is wisedome sufficient for vs women : but in this yeare of 88. men are grown so fantastical , that vnles we can make them fooles , we are accounted vnwise . And now ( seeing I speake to none but to you which are of mine owne Sex , ) giue me leaue like a scoller to prooue our wisdome more excellent then theirs , though I neuer knew what sophistry ment . Ther is no wisdome but it comes by grace , this is a principle , & Contra principium non est disputandum : but grace was first giuen to a woman , because to our lady : which premises conclude that women are wise . Now Primum est optimum , & therefore women are wiser then men . That we are more witty which comes by nature , it cannot better be prooued , then that by our answers , men are often drouen to Non plus , & if their talk be of worldly affaires , with our resolutions they must either rest satisfied , or prooue themselues fooles in the end .

It was my chance to hear a prety story of two wise men who ( being cosen germane to the town of Gotam ) prooued themselues as very asses , as they wer fooles : & it was this . The stelth of a ring out of a wise mans chamber , afflicted the loosers mind , with so grieuous passions , as he could take no rest , til he went to aske a friends counsel , how he might recouer his losse . Into whose presence being once entered , his clothes vnbuttened , made passage for his friends eiesight vnto his bosome : who séeing him in such a taking , iudging by his looks that some qualme had risen on his stomack , the extremity wherof might make his head to ake , offered him a kertcher . This distressed man halfe besides himselfe , howled bitterly that he did mistake his case , & falling into a rauing vain , began to curse the day of his birth , & the Destinies for suffering him to liue . His fellow wise-man , mistaking this fit , fearing that some deuil had possessed him , began to betake him to his héeles : but being stopped from running by his companion , did likewise ban the cause of this suddain change , & the motion that mooued the other to enter his presence : yet seing how daungerously he was disturbed , & knowing that by no meanes he could shun his company , calling his wittes together ( which made him forget his passion ) he demanded the cause of the others griefe : who taking a stoole & a cushion sate downe and declared that he was vndon● through the losse of a ring which was stolen out of his window : further saying . Sir , is it not best for mee to goe to a Wise-woman to knowe of her what is become of my ring ? The other answering affirmatiuely , asked this : if he knewe anye ? betweene whom , many wise women reckoned , they both went together for company , wher we wil leaue them .

Now I pray you tell me your fancie , were not these men very wise , but especially did they not cunningly display their wisedome by this practise ? Sithence that they hope to finde that through the wisedome of a woman , which was lost by the folly of a man . Wel , seeing according to the old prouerb : The wit of a woman is a great matter : let men learne to be wiser or account them selues fooles : for they know by pactize that we are none .

Now sithence that this ouercloied and surfeiting louer leaueth his loue , and comes with a fresh assault against vs women let vs arm our selues with patience & sée the end of his tongue which explaineth his surfeit . But it was so lately printed , as that I shold do the Printer iniurie should I recite but one of them , and therfore referring you to Boke his surfeit in loue , I come to my matter . If to inioy a woman be to catch the Deuill by the foote , to obtaine the fauour of a man is to holde fast his damme by the middle : whereby the one may easily breake away , and the other cannot go without he carries the man with him .

The properties of the Snake and of the Eele are , the one to sting , and the other not to be held : but mens tongues sting against nature , and therefore they are vnnaturall . Let vs bear with them as much as may be , and yeeld to their willes more then is conuenient : yet if we cast our reckoning at the end of the yeare , wee shall finde that our losses excéede their gaines . which are innumerable . The propertie of the Camelion is to change himselfe : But man alwaies remaineth at one stay , and is neuer out of the predicamentes of Dishonestie and vnconstancie . The stinging of the Scorpion is cured by the Scorpion , wherby it seemes that there is some good nature in them . But men neuer leaue stinging till they see the death of honestie . The danger of prickes is shunned , by gathering roses gloue fifted : and the stinging of Bees preuented through a close hood . But naked Dishonestie and bare inconstancie are alwaies plagued through their owne follie .

If mens solly be so vnreasonable as it will striue against Nature , it is no matter though she rewardes them with crosses contrary to their expecations . For if Tom foole will presume to ride on Alexanders horse , he is not to be pittied thogh he get a soule knocke for his labour . But it seemes the Gentleman hath had great experience of Italian Curtizans , wherby his wisedome is shewed . For Experientia praestantior arte : and hee that hath Experience to prooue his case , is in better case then they that haue al vnexperienced book cases to defend their titles .

The smooth speeches of men are nothing vnlike the vanishing cloudes of the Aire , which glide by degrees from place to place , till they haue filled themselues with raine , when breaking , they spit foorth terrible showers : so men gloze , till they haue their answeres , which are the end of their trauell , & then they bid Modestie adue , and entertaining Rage , fal a railing on vs which neuer hurt them . The rancknesse of grasse causeth suspition of the serpents lurking , but his lying in the plaine path at the time when Woodcockes shoote , maketh the pacient passionate through his sting , because no such ill was suspected . When men protest secrecie most solemnly , beleeue them lest , for then surely there is a tricke of knauery to be discarded , for in a Friers habite an olde Fornicator is alwaies clothed .

It is a wonder to see how men can flatter themselues with their own conceites : For let vs looke , they wil straight affirm that we loue , and if then Lust pricketh them , they will sweare that Loue stingeth vs : which imagination onely is sufficient to make them assay the scaling of halfe a dozen of vs in one night , when they will not stick to sweare that if they should be denied of their requestes , death must needes follow . Is it any marueil though they surfeit , when they are so greedy , but is it not pittie that any of them should perish , which will be so soon killed with vnkindnes ? Yes truly . Well , the onset giuen , if we retire for a vantage , they will straight affirme that they haue got the victorie . Nay , some of them are so carried away with conceite , that shameles they wil blaze abroad among their companions , that they haue obteined the loue of a woman , vnto whom they neuer spake aboue once , if that : Are not these froward fellowes , you must beare with them , because they dwell far from lying neighboures . They will say Mentiri non est nostrum , and yet you shall sée true tales come from them , as wilde géese flie vnder London bridge . Their fawning is but flattery : their faith falshoode : their faire wordes allurements to destruction : and their large promises tokens of death , or of euils worse then death . Their singing is a bayte to catch vs , and their playinges , plagues to torment vs : & therfore take héede of them , and take this as an Axiom in Logick and a Maxime in the Law , Nulla fides hominibus . Ther are three accidents to men , which of al are most vnseperable . Lust Deceit , and malice . Their glozing tongues , the preface to the execution of their vilde mindes , and their pennes the bloody executioners of their barbarous maners . A little gaule maketh a great deale of sweet , sower : and a slaunderous tongue poysoneth all th● good partes in man .

Was not the follie of Vulcan worthy of Venus floutes , when she tooke him with the maner , wooing Briceris ? And was it not the flatterye of Paris which intysed Hellen to falshood ? Yes trulie : and the late Surfeiter his remembrance in calling his pen from raging against reason : sheweth that he is not quite without flatterie , for hee putteth the fault in his pen , when it was his passion that deserued reproofe . The loue of Hipsicrates and Panthea , the zeale of Artemisia and Portia , the affection of Sulpitia and Aria , the true fancie of Hipparchia and Pisca , the louing passions of Macrina & of the wife of Paudocrus ( al manifested in his Surfeit ) shal condemne the vndiscréetnes of mens minds : whose hearts delight in nought , saue that only which is contrary to good . Is it not a foolish thing to bee sorry for things vnrecouerable ? Why then shold Sigismundus answer be so descanned vpon , seeing her husband was dead , & she therby frée for any man . Of the aboundance of the hart , the mouth speaketh , which is verified by the railing kind of mans writing . Of al kind of voluptuousnes , they affirm Lechery to be the chéefest , & yet some of thē are not ashamed to confesse publiquely , that they haue surfeited therwith . It defileth the body , & makes it stink , & men vse it : I maruel how we women can abide them but that they delude vs , as ( they say ) we deceiue thē with perfumes .

Voluptuousnes is a strong beast , and hath many instruments to draw to Lust : but men are so forward of themselues thereto , as they neede none to haile them . His court is already so full with them , that he hath more néede to make stronger gates to keepe them out , then to set them open that they may come in , except he wil be pulled out by the eares out of his kingdome . I woulde the abstinence of King Cyrus , Zenocrates , Caius Gracchus , Pompeius and of Francis Sforce Duke of Millaine , ( recited in Boke his Surfeit in loue ) might be presidents for men to followe , and I warrant you then we should haue no surfeiting . I pray God that they may mend : but in the meane time , let them be sure that rashnes bréedes repentance , and treacherous hearts , tragical endes : False Flattery is the messenger of foule Folly , and a slaunderous tongue , the instrument of a dissembling heart .

I haue set down vnto you ( which are of mine owne Sex ) the subtil dealings of vntrue meaning men : not that you should contemne al men , but to the end that you may take héed of the false hearts of al , & stil reprooue the flattery which remaines in all : for as it is reason that the Hennes should be serued first , which both lay the egs , & hatch the chickins : so it were vnreasonable that the cockes which tread them , should be kept clean without meat . As men are valiant , so are they vertuous : and those that are borne honorably , cannot beare horrible dissembling heartes . But as there are some which cannot loue hartely , so there are many who lust vncessantly , & as many of them wil deserue wel , so most care not how if they speed so they may get our company . Wherin they resemble Entrie , who will be contented to loose one of his eies that another might haue both his pulled out . And therefore thinke well of as many as you may , loue them that you haue cause , heare euery thing that they say , ( & affoord them noddes which make themselues noddies ) but beleeue very little therof or nothing at all , and hate all those , who shall speake any thing in the dispraise or to the dishonor of our sex .

Let the luxurious life of Heliogabalus , the intemperate desires of Commodus and Proculùs , the damnable lust of Chilpericus and Xerxces , Boleslaus violent rauishings , and the vnnaturall carnall appetite of Sigismundus Malotesta , be examples sufficiently probable to perswade you , that the hearts of men are most desirous to excell in vice . There were many good lawes established by the Romanes & other good kinges yet they coulde not restraine men from lecherie : and there are terrible lawes alotted in England to the offenders therein , all which will not serue to restrain man .

The Surfeiters phisike is good could he and his companions follow it : but when the Fox preacheth , let the geese take heede , it is before an execution . Fallere fallentem non est fraus , and to kill that beast , whose propertie is onely to slay , is no sin : if you wil please men , you must follow their rule , which is to flatter : for Fidelitie and they are vtter enemies . Things far fetched are excellent , and that experience is best which cost most : Crownes are costly , and that which cost many crownes is wel worth God thank you , or els I know who hath spent his labour and cost , foolishly . Then if any man geueth such deare counsell gratfuly , are not they fooles which will refuse his liberalitie . I know you long to heare what that counsel should be , which was bought at ●o hie a price : Whererfore if you listen , the Surfeitert his pen with my hande shall foorthwith shew you .

At the end of mens faire promises there is a Laberinth , & therefore euer hereafter stoppe your eares when they protest friendship , lest they come to an end before you are aware wherby you fal without redemption . The path which leadeth thervnto , is Mans wit , and the miles ends are marked with these trees , Follie , Vice , Mischiefe , Lust , Deceite , & Pride . These to deceiue you shall bee clothed in the raimentes of Fancie , Vertue , Modestie , Loue , Truemeaning , and Handsomnes . Folly wil bid you welcome on your way , & tel you his fancie , concerning the profite which may come to you by this iorney , and direct you to Vice who is more craftie . He with a company of protestations will praise the vertues of women , shewing how many waies men are beholden vnto vs : but our backes once turned , he fals a railing . Then Mischiefe he pries into euery corner of vs , seeing if he can espy a cranny , that getting in his finger into it , he may make it wide enough for his tong to wag in . Now being come to Lust : he will fall a railing on lasciuious lookes , & wil ban Lecherie , & with the Collier will say , the deuill take him though he neuer means it . Deceit will geue you faire words , & pick your pockets : nay he will pluck out your hearts , if you be not wary . But when you heare one cry out against lawnes , drawn-works , Periwigs , against the attire of Curtizans . & generally of the pride of al women : then know him for a Wolfe clothed in sheepes raiment , and be sure you are fast by the lake of destruction . Therfore take héed of it , which you shall doe , if you shun mens flattery , the forerunner of our vndoing . If a iade be galled , wil he not winch ? and can you finde fault with a horse that springeth when he is spurred ? The one will stand quietly when his backe is healed , and the other go wel when his smart ceaseth . You must beare with the olde Louer his surfeit , because hee was diseased when he did write it , and peraduenture hereafter , when he shal be well amended , he wil repent himselfe of his slanderous speaches against our sex , and curse the dead man whith was the cause of it , and make a publique recantation : For the faltering in his speach at the latter end of his book affirmeth , that already he half repenteth of his bargaine , & why ? because his melodie is past : but beleeue him not , thogh he shold out swear you , for althogh a iade may be still in a stable when his gall backe is healed , yet hee will showe himselfe in his kind when he is traueiling : and mans flattery bites secretly , from which I pray God keepe you and me too .

Amen . FINIS .