OFten haue I heard, that it is the property of ſome women, not only to emulate the virtues and perfections of the reſt, but alſo by all their powers of ill ſpeaking, to ecclipſe the brightnes of their deſerued fame: now contrary to this cuſtome, which men I hope vniuſtly lay to their charge, I haue written this ſmall volume, or little booke, for the generall vſe of all virtuous Ladies and Gentlewomen of this kingdome; and in commendation of ſome particular perſons of our owne ſexe, ſuch as for the moſt part, are ſo well knowne to my ſelfe, and others, that I dare vndertake Fame dares not to call any better. And this haue I done, to make knowne to the world, that all women deſerue not to be blamed though ſome forgetting they are women themſelues, and in danger to be condemned by the words of their owne mouthes, fall into ſo great an errour, as to ſpeake vnaduiſedly againſt the reſt of their ſexe; which if it be true, I am perſwaded they can ſhew their owne imperfection in nothing more: and therefore could wiſh (for their owne eaſe, modeſties, and credit) they would referre ſuch points of folly, to be practiſed by euill diſpoſed men, who forgetting they were borne of women, nouriſhed of women, and that if it were not by the means of women, they would be quite extinguiſhed out of the world, and a finall ende of them all, doe like Vipers deface the wombes wherein they were bred, onely to giue way and vtterance to their want of diſcretion and goodneſſe. Such as theſe, were they that diſhonoured Chriſt his Apoſtles and Prophets, putting them to ſhamefull deaths. Therefore we are not to regard any imputations, that they vndeſeruedly lay vpon vs, no otherwiſe than to make vſe of them to our owne benefits, as ſpurres to vertue, making vs flie all occaſions that may colour their vniuſt ſpeeches to paſſe currant. Eſpecially conſidering that they haue tempted euen the patience of God himſelfe, who gaue power to wiſe and virtuous women, to bring downe their pride and arrogancie. As was cruell Ceſarus by the diſcreet counſell of noble Deborah, Iudge and Propheteſſe of Iſrael: and reſolution of Iael wife of Heber the Kenite: wicked Haman, by the dinine prayers and prudent proceedings of beautifull Heſter: blaſphemous Holofernes, by the inuincible courage, rare wiſdome, and confident carriage of Iudeth: & the vniuſt Indges, by the innocency of chaſt Suſanna: with infinite others, which for breuitie ſake I will omit. As alſo in reſpect it pleaſed our Lord and Sauiour Ieſus Chriſt, without the aſſiſtance of man, beeing free from originall and all other ſinnes, from the time of his conception, till the houre of his death, to be begotten of a woman, borne of a woman, nouriſhed of a woman, obedient to a woman; and that he healed woman, pardoned women, comforted women: yea, euen when he was in his greateſt agonie and bloodie ſweat, going to be crucified, and alſo in the laſt houre of his death, tooke care to diſpoſe of a woman: after his reſurrection, appeared firſt to a woman, ſent a woman to declare his moſt glorious reſurrection to the reſt of his Diſciples. Many other examples I could alleadge of diuers faithfull and virtuous women, who haue in all ages, not onely beene Confeſſors, but alſo indured moſt cruel martyrdome for their faith in Ieſus Chriſt. All which is ſufficient to inforce all good Chriſtians and honourable minded men to ſpeake reuerently of our ſexe, and eſpecially of all virtuous and good women. To the modeſt ſenſures of both which, I refer theſe my imperfect indeauours, knowing that according to their owne excellent diſpoſitions, they will rather, cheriſh, nouriſh, and increaſe the leaſt ſparke of virtue where they find it, by their fauourable and beſt interpretations, than quench it by wrong conſtructions. To whom I wiſh all increaſe of virtue, and deſire their beſt opinions.