GEntle Reader, or Hearer, I know it is a hard taske to please all fancies, and I am as certaine there are many snarling criticks in this age, that willout of their malicious wis­domes give a harsh censure on this ensuing Subject; which if they do I care the lesse, be­cause the matter which I write of is honest, and in defence of harmlesse and vertuous Women.

Therefore when I considered the manifold aspersions, bitter taunts, envious revilings, slanderous raylings, and malignant writings of some inveterate ill-bred Spirits (which would be accounted men) against poore harm­lesse, silly, and weake women, who are not a­ble with that little péce of flesh, called their Tongue, (which is their chiefe defence or weapon) to expresse, or otherwise to vindicate themselves, in writing the injuries and scan­dals daily divulged abroad in fantastick Pam­phlets & Verses, as the Bear-baiting of women, the Parliament of Women, the Woman-hater, the Gossips meeting, the Crab-tree Lecture, Vi­negar and Mustard, and I know not what; for all these, and more are spightfully fomented [Page 2]against that noble Sex, of matchlesse & imma­culate creatures, whose deserved worth to il­lustrate and set forth I cannot, either with speech, or in writing.

Those men I say, (whose tongues are like a double-edged sword, their pens made of Goose­quils, their inke of Galls, and their braines adled, who hath neither charity wisdom, or mo­desty) they surely forget that ever they came of a woman, or had a mother, who (under God) first gave them life, nourished them in her body, brought them into the world with paine, and like the Pelican, fed them with her own blood, and bred them with care & industry such men may very fitly be compared to the Viper, that de­stroyeth the wombe that bare them, and we all doe know that ingratitude is a Monster, and she which brought forth such an abortive birth into the world was surely delivered before her time.

A woman was the most beautifull and rare péce of Architecture that ever was erected upon the face of the earth, and framed by the best workman in the world; for when she was first created or borne, she was not a childe or infant but a perfect and compleat woman; nei­ther was she made of base earth or clay as man was, but of the purest of her Husbands flesh and blood, being a rib taken out of his side, and next of all to his heart, and therefore (in my opinion) it is against nature, nay against the Law of God, to abuse or hurt the same, being their own flesh and blood, as too many do, which [Page 3]is much to be lamented; but herein the old pro­verb is truly verified, that the weakest still goes to the walls, and a low hedge is soon stept over.

Therefore you satyricall Antagonists, and others, that so bitterly enveigh against poore women, if you would be pleased but to view the sacred Scriptures, where you may find suffici­ent proofe that they ought to have more due re­spect allotted them, then some of you will ac­knowledge, or professe they should enjoy; and although man be the head, and is (or ought to be) endued with more wisdome and strength then a weak woman, yet he ought not to tri­umph over, or injure so harmlesse a Soul, with­out whom man by no means can subsist; for did not God say of Adam in the creation, It is not good for man to be alone; And further, God saith, I will make him an Helper meet for him; therefore shall a man leave his father, and mo­ther and shall cleave unto his wife, and they shall be one flesh. Thus you may perceive how ne­cessary is the swét society and company of a vertuous woman to her Husband, for she is his helper at all assaies, being carefull of her family, képing him neat and decent both in woollen, linnon, and other necessaries, cleanly in dressing his dyet, and a loving Nurse to him both in sicknesse and health; wherefore a man ought to love his wife above all the world, they being (as the Lord saith) one flesh.

If you will heare what St. Paul saith of a woman, it is thus; A woman is the glory of [Page 4]man. And Solomon (the wisest of men) saith, A vertuous woman is a crowne to her Husband; now if a woman be a glory to her husband, how is that man blest which enjoyeth such a wife, who doth crown his heart with variety of content; she, like the fruitfull Vine bringeth forth swét children (which are the blessings of God) being the fruit of their owne loynes, who preserveth (if the Lord please) their Fa­thers name to the end of the world by their po­sterity: And the wise man further saith, Who so findeth such a wise, obtaineth favour of the Lord. O ten thousand times happy is that man, that with a wife can obtain such heaven­ly favour; but Solomon further addeth, that the price of a vertuous woman is far above Ru­bies, and let her be as the loving Hind, and plea­sant Roe, and be thou ravisht alwaies with her love.

It is the common custome now adaies a­mong most men to hearken after wives with a great portion, & rich friends, never regarding how she is qualified, or whether she be addict­ed to vertue or vice, but wealth is the chiefe mark at which they ayme, & sometimes they hit the white they shoot at, yet come hom by wéping crosse; but a poore woman, be she never so ver­tuous, is not regarded with them; but you have heard her price, and how high a rate the wise man doth velue her at; yet for all this (though a good woman be as loving as the Hind, and pleasant as the Roe to her Husband, séking by all means possible she can to please him, ei­ther [Page 5]with kinde and loving spéches, or plea­sant and modest behaviour) there are some froward men (like churlish Naball) that are never contented with whatsoever she doth or sayes, when a kind and loving husband would think himselfe blest to enioy such a treasure, & be ravisht with the love of such a wife.

If you will be pleased to heare what St. Pe­ter doth say for wives, it is thus; Husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, gi­ving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessell, being heires together of the grace of life, that your prayers be not hindered.

These words are to shew Husbands, that there should be a kinde of loving duty by them allowed to their wives, and that they should live and dwell together in civill and discreet know­ledge, and not with wrangling, discord, and en­vie; for a wise man will give honour to his wife above all women for many respects; first, because she is his wife (and it may be hath horne him children) then as she is a woman, and a Christian; likewise he is to beare with her imbicilities (if she have any) because she indeed is the weaker Vessell; for God hath ioyned them together as one body, that they should both be heires to inherit the grace of e­ternall life; for where man and wife doth live in unity and peace, their prayers no doubt shall be heard.

St. Paul writing to the Ephesians saith thus; Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also lo­ved the Church, and gave himselfe for it. And in [Page 6]another place he uttereth these words; Hus­bands, love your wives, & be not bitter against them. I could heartily desire that some unkind husbands would take notice, and hearken to those words of the blessed Apostle, with what a tye he doth perswade and exhort them to love their wives, which would almost move a stone to heare; and I could with them to mark with reverence, and to take it to their heart of whom he speaketh, and his comparison, which is the Church; for he coniureth them by no lesse then Christ, the blessed Son of God, our Sa­viour and Redeemer, who gave his life for us, to redeeme our sinfull Soules from Hell and damnation; this is a deep, yet a sweet per­swasion to love. The Apostle also exhorteth Husbands not to be bitter to their wives but there are too many now adayes that will not hearken to his counsell, but I will use the words of Solomon, who sayeth thus; A conten­tious man is apt to kindle strife, and hatred stir­reth up contentions, but love covereth all tres­passes.

This saying of the wise man methinkes should quell those foolish mens follies which utter and write such invectives, and fantastico revilings, taunts, and iests against women, for these are those wicked spirits the Devills Agents, which soweth discord, and breedeth contentions, kindling the coles of strife, ha­tred, and disdaine in divers families betwixt man and wife never perswading to peace, love or unity, which should hide and cover all do­mestick [Page]iarrs or trespasses; and they make as though a woman were but as a meere cipher, and stood for nothing, but let them know thus much, that a woman is worthy of a far better respect, for she is the vessell of eternity, and is (or ought to be) the closet or cabinet of a mans heart, his summum bonum, or his All in all, his chiefest Secretary, or his second selfe; for (as it is said) they are one flesh, yet some snarling criticks there are who wil not blush to say, that unto a woman we should reveale no secret, or that they hardly ever hoard or read of a dis­crét, vertuous, or wise woman. To answer them in brief amongst many, let them but looke into the first of Samuel, where they may finde it written thus:

Abigall was a woman of good understanding, but her husband Naball was churlish, and evill in his doings. Now, if she had not bin a woman of wisdome & understanding, David had slaine her husband and every one of his servants, (for his Family was great) which Abigall, for her wisdome, David did marry after her husbands death. Also in the second of Samuel you may read, how a wise woman saved the City from destruction when it was besieged by Joab. Likewise, did not Holefurnes and his servants marvell at the wisdome of Judeth, and she af­terwards saved the City (when he had besied­ged it, by cutting off his head. Also, Boaz said to Ruth, All the city of my people doth know that thou art a vertuous woman. And was not Susanna a vertuous woman, that would rather suffer death then yeeld to the vitious and wic­ked [Page]Elders, Many more proofes may be obiect­ed against those envious back-biters, and stan­derers of that worthy Sex; for a woman was the vessell of the Holy Ghost, which nourished in her wombe, and brought forth into the world (the Redéemer of Mankinde) our blessed Sa­viour Christ Iesus; Also, did not divers wo­men follow Christ, and ministred unto him, be­ing present at his death? to whom he appeared at his Resurrection: And did not Pilates wife fore-warne her husband to have nothing to doe with Christs death?

Having thus briefly written of some vertu­ous, good, and discréet wives & women, I think it not amisse to say a little in defence of vertu­ous Virgins and Maids; In the 22. of Deut. it is said, That they are to be punished that bring an evil name upon a Virgin; and in 1 Cor. 7. it is thus, If a Virgin marry she hath not sinned; and was not Jepthas daughter of Israell a vertu­ous Virgin, who willingly submitted her selfe for a sacrifice to fulfill her Fathers vow? And did not Christ compare the five wise Virgins to the kingdome of heaven? But amongst o­ther Virgins, me thinks I should not bury in oblivion the memory of our famous Country­woman, Elizabeth, late Quéene of England. who for her time was accounted the Phenix of Christendom, and admired for vertue and wis­dome throughout the world; She kept her land in peace, and her forreigne enemies in awe; she was truly religious, for which the Lord e­ver blessed her to her end; and thus much ile [...]y of her (inspight of envious detractors) she [Page]dyed a good woman, and a Virgin Queen.

Thus have I in brief related some passages and collections out of the sacred Scriptures in defence of good, vertuous, and barmlesse wo­men, but if there be any that will not beleeve the same, let them heare what St. Paul saith unto them; Vnbeleevers shall not enter into e­verlasting rest. And now in my opinion it is unchristian, uncharitable, and immodest, for any man so bitterly to enveigh and write a­gainst a woman, which naturally he should love, cherish, and honour (for many respects, as is before said) above all the creatures in this world. I must confesse that the conditions and humours of some fantastick men are fickle va­rious, & unconstant; they are double tongued, and false hearted, they will protest, and say one thing, and meane another, as too too many good women have found by wofull experience; for when they sue for love, oh, what dissembling teares, feigned sighes, déep protestations, so­lemn vowes, large promises, and flattering speeches will procéed from their dissembling lips? now many a gentle and tender-hearted Woman and Maid hath compassionated and pittyed their Crocadilian teares, and beléeved their periurd vowes, which oftentimes hath procured their sorrow; for when such false men have obtained their desires they grow care­lesse, and slight a woman, ae not worthy of their soriety; and for their love, they are requi­ted with reproaches, harsh language, scorne, and disdaine. But I speake not this in gene­rall, for I know there are many provident, ho­nest, [Page]and loving men, that giveth all due re­spect to their wives, and are carefull of their re­putation and charge; and I heartily wish that the number of such men were greater, for then so many good and honest women should not féele so much griefe, sorrow, and misery, as both they and their families doe now sustaine.

I could have written more amply both Di­vine, and Morall, in defence of vertuous wo­men, but I suppose these few examples will give some satisfaction to the courteous and af­fable Reader, hoping none will dislike, or take exceptions thereat, unlesse it be those car­ping criticks before spoken of, which hath written so bitterly and scoffingly against the worthy Sex of women; but I could wish them to petition for peace, and to make their recantations, and to confesse their follies, for thus I salute them: