The praise of all women

sig: [A1]

¶The prayse of all women called Mulierum Pean. Uery fruytfull and delectable vnto all the reders.

¶Loke & rede who that can.

This boke is prayse to eche woman.

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sig: A2

WHat tyme the crabbe his course had past

And Phebus atteyned the Aquarye

The selfe-same time whan it frose fast

Amyddes the moneth of Ianuarye

I in my bedde, and slepe in myne eye

A sodeyne assemble before me dyd appere

And women they semed by abyte and chere.

A_wake they sayde, slepe nat so fast

Consyder our grefe, and howe we be blamed

And all by a boke, that lately is past

Whiche by reporte, by the was fyrst framed

The scole of women, none auctour named

In prynte it is passed, lewdely compyled

All women wherby be sore reuyled.

Consyder therin, thyne owne good name

Consyder also our infamye

Sende forth some other, contrary the same

For thyne and ours, bothe honestye

The Pean thou wrote, and lyeth the bye

Be quycke herein, prolonge nat thus

As thou woldest our fauour, nowe do for vs

¶Amongest all other, one baldely prest

Obey sayd she shalt thou be thou never so strong

Her male & her mantell, she threwe on my brest

For I am she sayd she, thou hast do most wronge

A_wake a_wake, thou slepest ouer_longe

Uenus am I cleped, my name shall nat be hyd

Nowe sharpen thy pen, and wryte as [I] the byd. I] a 1542, 1557

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Of trueth it is, wryte on quod she

The nature of man inclyneth to synne

Rather than vertue, and reason is why

Eche nature dothe ende, as it dothe begyn

Salte wyl be water, [though] none be therin though] thought 1542, 1557

The tre of the rote, dothe take his verdure

The fruyte wherby, is knowen swete or soure.

So at the begynnyng, where man had that vse

Of wyt and reason, to be ruled by

By_cause he offended, he made excuse

The faute allegynge, to the femynye

God to haue dysceyued, yf it wolde haue be

And as he tho, to lye begon

So to this daye, he holdeth on.

¶Of vs pore women customably

Without cause iust, to rayle and iest

No nature naturate, vnder the skye

Fysshe, fowle, worme, ne beest

But with theyr owne kynde, the[y] lyue at rest they] the 1542, 1557

Man of all other, of maners so rude

Can nat saye well by his symylytude.

A great abuse, and shamefully holde

Suche frowardnes, in hande to haue

The selfe-same thynge, whiche most they shulde

Laude and loue, it to depraue

And that of nede, whiche most they craue

So to improper, great foly it is

For in no wyse they may vs longe mys.

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Recorde the goodnes, of god almyghty

At the creacyon, whiche he began

Perceyuynge it coulde nat endure a_ryght

Without any helpe made to the man

Faciamus (sayde he) and made Eue than

The woman the man, to helpe and assyst

It foloweth therfore, we can nat be myst

¶Howe-be-it, ye men fast pore and prye

All that ye may vs women agayne

Nothynge lefte out, ye may come by

Of holy wrytte, nor th[a]t poetes do fayne that] thot 1542, that 1557

All is alledged as thynge certayne

And what that makes nat, for your purpose

Shall be interpretate, with a lewde glose.

Exemples many, faynt and feble

Mo than ye may well iustyfye

And saye it is a thynge impossyble

Any one good woman founde to be

Whiche euyll sayenge to ratyfye

A sence of Salomon ye aledge, which sayth

Mulierem fortem quis inueniet.

But as to that thou shalt nat tary

Lenger than nedes to make reporte

As at this tyme them to contrary

By any exemple, the nexte to retort

Taken an nowe of the lyuynge sorte

Contynue thy processe, tyll thou may espye

A place therfore more necessary.

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Howe shulde this worlde contynued be

Man I meane in his most nede

Were nat women, what were ye

Examples many, hereof may ye rede

And ouer that ye se in-dede

Howe by the vertue of the femynyne face

Myrth encreaseth, and thoughtes gyue place.

Exempled in Saule, whan he shulde fyght

Agaynst the armye phylystyne Pri. Re .xviii.

Had neyther herte, courage [n]e myght

Ne wyst nat what to do therin

With hongry thought hym-selfe to pyne

Had nat the woman hym counseyled and fed

For feare in that fury, Saule had be deed

¶Whan ye lye sycke and lyke to dye

100

Who then attendeth you vnto.

Were nat the woman, there myght ye lye

Donge in your denne, as bestes do

The woman is euer redy to go

For this and that to watche and wake

105

You to recouer many labours to take.

If that your fynger other hede ake

Or elles what ayleth you, hande or fote

There can no medycyne the payne aslake

Without the woman be your bote

110

Lappe you warme in clothes softe

A kercheyffe bonde vnto you hedde

And in her armes bere you to bedde.

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¶Nyght and day than must she wake

And redy be at the fyrst call

115

A culles or some caudel make

As for the sycke dothe best befall

Oneles the woman come withall

No man can get hym vp to sytte

Therof to taste morsell or bytte

120

Thus of the woman great pleasures ye haue

Whiche man to man can nat suffyce

And yet ye do vs all depraue

Sayenge we be neyther sadde ne wyse

And that no profyte by vs doth ryse

125

Where-as in trueth recorde I can

As many aryse as by the man.

A woman playne dyd fyrst inuent

All maner grayne to inne and sowe Oui. meth. li .v.

Ceres named by comune assent

130

And for her wysdome, the people dyd knowe

Honours diuyne they dyd her shewe

And as her merytes dyd than expresse

They named her the good goddesse.

¶And in lyke maner a woman founde

135

The letters fyrst that we nowe wryte Isido. li. i. ant .ix.

The A.B.C. as they do stande

Wherby we vse our myndes to endyte

One to another ful and perfyte

Carmenta called as I remembre

140

Mother vnto the famous Euander.

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Pallas the doughter of Iupyter

Through her entere and pured brayne

The goddesse named of the artyfycer

Of wolle and oyle, fyrst founde the vayne

145

For whiche inuencyon the story is playne

Preferred she was before Neptune

To gyue the name to Athenes towne. August. de ciuita lib .vii. & Oui. in fast. &c.

Soppho the poetresse dyd also fynde

With the harpe to synge the tune to wrest

150

Whiche greatly conforteth mannes mynde

With syghes of sorowe ouer_prest

Saule the kynge coulde neuer haue rest

Tyll Dauyd had harpyd a fytte or two i. Reg .xvi.

The malygne spryte, wolde nat hym fro.

155

¶The Sybbilles .xii. dyd prophecy

The sone of god shulde man become

One of them shewed the mystery

Unto Octauyan in the sonne

Many is the yeres, that syth is ronne

160

And yet the churche dothe occupye

The selfe-same Sybbilles prophecye.

Hystoryes many I coulde forth lay

That maketh wel with the feminye

Of lyke sentence I dare well saye

165

And grounded on good auctoryte

Howe-be-it because that poetry

Is taken nowe in suche despyte

Of other reasons, I wyll thou wryte

sig: B1

But fyrst this questyon, aske quod she

170

Demurely, and after a gentyl rate,

To whom be_holden more are ye

Unto the man that you begate

Or to the woman puerperate

I knowe no reason for your excuse

175

But that it shulde your-selues confuse.

As sone as the woman, dothe conceyue

Full dyuers is her appetyde

Bothe bely and hert dothe ryse and heu[e] heue] heuy 1542, heue 1557

The stomake seldome satysfyde

180

For many sondry meates prouyde

Longe for more than she may gete.

And many a sory morsell ete.

¶In case she may it nat optayne

Harde she escapeth with the lyfe

185

And in her labour suche is the payne

That as god knoweth the vrgent grefe

Without a gracyous prerogatyfe

Ware thynge, no doubte, impossyble

She shulde escape, and after haue hele.

190

And whan she is delyuered

Syke and wepe contynually

And as ye knowe but lytell consydered

With many a man, the more blame he

Who but the woman must keper be

195

Prouyde for euery ragge and cloute

And in her armes bere you aboute.

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In case the man suche labour shulde take

I meane to bere you to and fro

His arme[s] and shulders wolde so ake armes] armer 1542, armes 1557

200

That lame he wolde be of bothe-two

The sely woman hathe neuer do

What in her armes and in her lappe

Nyght and daye she must you wrappe

Lytell or nothynge may she rest

205

But alwayes besy you for to kepe

Aryse and fede you with her brest

And all to styll you whan ye wepe

Where of your-selfe, ye can scant crepe

She must be redy to gyue you pappe

210

From wynde & wether, you warme to lappe.

¶The man may lye and snowre full fast

Whan that the wyfe must watche and wake

Out of the bed her armes cast

The cradell to roke tyll they bothe ake

215

the babe also vnto her take

And whan he is vnclene beneth

Must be content with many yll breth

Shyfte hym ofte, wype and wesshe

Cloutes and clothes newe prepare

220

And be it harde or be it nesshe

[T]he woman must do a_way the ware The] She 1542, The 1557

Thus hathe the mother all the care

All the labour and dyssease

Where-as the father dothe what hym please.

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225

When that ye drawe nere ,xii. monethes olde

Than may the woman nother rest ne sytte

But eu[e]r dadle you in sure holde

Tyll tyme that ye haue founde your fyt

Her brestes ye tere with many a byt

230

And scratche also with your sharpe nayles

And yet the woman you neuer fayles.

¶Where-as the man wolde sure dysdayne

And be therwith impacyent

And peraduenture stryke agayne

235

Nother be eftsons so dylygent

If ons ye dyd hym dyscontent

For as ye se when hym myslyketh

The man dayly his chylderne stryketh

The mother tendreth them alway

240

And scant can suffer them in the wynde

Of them in doute bothe nyght and daye

Lest any male-chaunce shulde them blynde

Ought you nat then to the woman to be kynde

Howe-be-it ye haue no better sporte

245

Than of the woman euyll to reporte

Some saye the woman had no tonge

After that god had her create

Untyll the man toke leues longe

And put them vnder her palate

250

An aspyn-leffe of the dyuel he gatte

And for it moueth with euery wynde

They saye womens tongues be of lyke kynde.

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I saye the fable rehersed before

The trueth well knowen is but a lye

255

All the clerkes that euer were

Do wryte the same and testefye

That god made all-thynge parfetlye

Howe shulde the woman then tonge haue none

And be of goddes creacyon,

260

Because that Eue our prime parent

The wyll of god dyd ons transgresse

They blame all women in lyke consent

And make them-selfe alwayes fauteles

There be of women as of men doutles

265

All-be-it that dyuers haue offended

Yet ought nat all to be reprehended

¶All maner clothe is nat lyke fyne

Nor yet all men complexyoned lyke

Some more of colour, some more sanguyne

270

Some malancolye, some fleamatyke

Some longe and small, some shorte and thycke

Nat euery man of one compleccyon

Nor euery woman of one condycyon

Why shulde the woman then be blamed

275

More than the man, and he lyke bad

Me-thynkes ye ought to be ashamed

And also in conscyence sore adrade

In case that ye any conscyence had

Wytnes saynt Paule, it doth no man beseme

280

Worse of a nother than of hym-selfe to deme Ro .ii.

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¶Admytte that woman fyrste offended

The man persuadynge to transgres

A woman was she, the faute that amended

By meane of her great humblenes. Genises.

285

Of mannes restore the chefe foundres

Eue was she that made vs thrall

And Mary was she that loused all.

And ouer that in genesye

I fynde it wryten, that god dyd make

290

The woman for man an helpe to be

Nat of vyle erthe out of the lake

But of a rybbe that he dyd take

Out of the mannes ryght syde

And the woman made of thynge well tryde

295

Lyke as ye se by experyence

Golde forged of leade, yren and tynne

And is hym-selfe in his fyrst essens

No better than the matter he was fyrst in

And nowe more valued than man myne

300

Lyke so dyd god the femynyne

Plasmate of the masculyne.

¶Ye se also the ryche Rubies

And other stones of hye vertue

Set in golde at poynt deuyse

305

And in thynge of small value

In symblable wyse hym-selfe Iesu

Wolde of the woman incarnate be

Mayden and wyfe his mother Mary.

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And sythe that god the woman create

310

Of thynge thus pured, and nat the man

To the ende she shulde helpe hym algate

Of congruence it foloweth than

That in no wyse mysse ye can

The man (as who sayeth) is the adiectyue

315

And the woman is playne the substantyue.

For as wytnesseth the accidence

The adiectyue may nothyng do

Oneles it be vnder pretence

Of other substance put therto

320

The man in lyke effecte also

Without the wo[m]ans helpynge hande womans] wonans 1542, womans 1557

By hym-selfe may nat longe stande

¶Yf a man without womans consent

Myght haue redrest the fyrste offence

325

It had nat neded the omnipotent

To haue come hym-selfe to make the admendes

The woman was chosen by diuyne assence

To be through her humylyte

The well of our tranquilyty.

330

And who that lysteth the trueth to trye

Shall fynde in the Bible thorowe & thorowe

That god dyd fauoure the femynyne

Many tymes as well as you

And in the woman dyd of[t] renewe oft] of 1542, 1557

335

Agaynst all naturall dysposycyon

In steryll age parentall fruycyon.

sig: [B4]

As fyrst in the boke of Genesye

Of Ioseph, Isaac, and Samuell

With other mo in places sondry

340

As of Sampson ye may fynde well

Lyke of the Sunamyte befell

The Bible rede and ye shall fynde

That these were borne past course of kynde. Ge .iii. i. Reg .i. Iudici .xiii. iiii. Reg .iiii.

¶And in lyke case Elyzabeth

345

The mother, of holy Iohan_Baptyst Luce .i.

Saynt Anne also as scrypture sayeth

Conceyued Mary mother of Chryst Math .i.

Mary also that man neuer wyst

Conceyued by grace both god and man

350

Mayden & mother bothe nowe and than

Thus haue ye sure certifycate

That god muche fauoureth the femyn kynde

Sythe he hym-selfe after suche rate

Tendreth in them the deuout mynde

355

And furthermore no doute I fynde

That god permytted man to make

Wonders many for the womans sake.

As fyrst we fynde by diuine spyracyon

Done by the prophet Helysye iiii. Reg iiii.

360

A lytell oyle and all by myracle

Made to encrease and multyply Ibedem.

And to his hostyes by prophesye

Gaue a chylde, and to the same wyfe

Restored he sone from deth to lyfe. Ibedem.

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365

Ouer that it may nat be nayde

Whan man had broken the precepte

Seynge hym-selfe so nakedly arayde

For shame amonge the leues he crepte

God hym called, he no fote stepte

370

But blamed the woman for his consent

To fortyfye his euyll entent his] his his 1542

But what sayde god, loke and rede

Maladicta terra in opere tuo Genes.

Cursed be the erthe thou dost on fede

375

And swete for thy lyuynge thou shalt also

Mynde had he none to call for grace tho

So where god made hym of erth or than

Yf he cursed the erth, he cursed man

¶So of the woman it can nat be sayde

380

For she of a rybbe was made before

But for she was so lyghtly betrayde

Penaunce she had, but nat so sore

Curst was she nat, howe-be-it euermore

God sayde in chyldynge whan she dyd lye

385

With sorowe her sede shu[l]de multyply. shulde] shusde 1542

That man was curst oft we rede

Besydes that I rehersed haue

As Chayn and Cham for theyr lewde dede

And those that the prophet dyd mocke & depraue Gene .9 .iiii. re .ii Tren .ii. et Mala .ii.

390

With other (no fewe) where-as god gaue

Many tymes vnto the woman

His blessynge as well as to the man.

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Thus all-thynge pondred in balance playne

God fauoureth alwayes the femynitye

395

We then to haue them in dysdayne

Standeth nat well with equytye

And who-so sayde the good rare be

I durst auenture my heed to lose

To proue he lyeth that maketh that glose.

400

¶Thousandes or two I dare well say

Of them that yet here lyuyng be

In ful recorde forth bryng I may

And seke nat farre out of the countre

I coulde also manyfestly

405

Dyuers rehers and theyr names tell

The place assygnynge where they do dwell.

Howe-be-it as nowe it shal suffyce

[O]f them that gone be many yeres past Of] Nf 1542

Example to take and this treatyse

410

By theyr goodnes to make sure and fast

That none hereafter presume to cast

Fables forged of wylfull mynde.

Agaynst the deuout femynyne kynde.

¶Abraham maryed one Sarai Geneses xiiii.

415

A perfyte woman as other be mo

In worde and dede alwayes redy

To be obedyent hym vnto

God bad Abraham that he shu[l]de go shulde] shusde 1542

Out of the lande Cananye

420

In-to Egypt from his kyn nye

sig: [C1v]

Howe-be-it before he thyder came

In his conceyte thus waded he

Called his wyfe, and sayde good dame

One thynge I wyll thou do for me

425

By meane dere wyfe of thy beautye

I doubte yf thou be knowen my wyfe

That I perchaunce shall lose my lyfe.

Say therfore my suster thou arte

That I may fare the better for the

430

I shall (she sayd) with all my harte

And elles-what do, that ye byd me

To helpe you in necessyte

There shall no persone haue knowlege other

But that ye be my naturall brother

435

¶So into Egypte whan that they came

Sarra was sent for to kynge Pharao

And for her sake was Abraham

The better take with frende and fo

Her brother she called hym. he bad her so

440

Howe-be-it god punysshed the people sore

Tyll Pharao of her had made restore.

And in lyke maner afterwarde Ge .xx.

When that he came to Geratye

Abraham the better farde

445

By reason of his wyfe Saray

God lykewyse punyished greuously

So that the kynge Abymalech

Gaue hym his wyfe with a sore cheke.

sig: C2

Lyke case befell with Isaac

450

And Rebecca his trusty wyfe

Whiche in lykewyse dyd her forsake

And all for to enlength his lyfe

The woman was his prerogatyfe

Howe saye ye nowe by your lewde fable

455

Were nat these women profytable.

¶God preserued Sarra twyse

And ons Rebacca gracyously

In case that they had done amys

It had be longe of the man suerly

460

God wolde there shulde be no suche foly

In the woman yf ye marke well

Recorde Saara the doughter of Raguel.

To seuen dyuers maryed was she

And alwayes mayden arose them fro Thobi .vi. & .iii.

465

Because the man wolde by and by

Hys carnall lust with her haue do

No reuerence gyuen the sacrament vnto

At nyght the deuyll was there alwaye

And strangled them before the daye.

470

Preserued was the femynyne

Bycause she was so vertuous

Strangled were the masculyne

Because they were so vycyous

Sodome and Gomore, the lecherous

475

In brymstone we rede dothe boyle & bran Ge .xx.

For the myslyuynge of the man

sig: [C2v]

The doughter of Jacob amyable Dyne

For the foule rape vpon her done

Her bretherne two brought to ruyne

480

The cyte and slewe the masculyne echon[e] Letters defective here and in the next lineGeneses xxxiii. Geneses xxxiii.

Emmor the father and Sychem the son[e]

God wolde they shulde suche reuel make

And on the men suche vengeaunce take

Of Dauyd the doughter fayre Thamar

485

Whom her owne brother Amon by name ii. Reg .xiii.

Faynynge hym sicke and she nat ware

Agaynst her wyll, she nat to blame

Unlawfully vsed to his owne shame

Longe-tyme bewayled her euyll chaunce

490

In token playne she toke repentaunce

¶Because Raab dyd them defende

From Iosue sent to Ierico Iosue .ii

Holy wryte dothe her commende

And iustyfye her lyfe also

495

Mary_magdalyne another of tho Luce .vii.

For her great fayth and contrycyon

Of all her crymes she had remyssyon

Wherby apereth playne and euydent

What grace is gyuen the femynyne

500

For small offence so sore to repent

Recorded in Thamer and in Dyne

Where stubberne and styffe is the masculyne

Adam to wytnes whiche had no grace

Mercy to aske for his trespace.

sig: C3

505

And furthermore admyt the case

That many women haue sore offended

And thousandes mo done well ofte hase

Shulde all the name be dyscommended

Bycause the best nombre be reprehended

510

If that shulde be reporte me then

What myght be spoken of the men

¶Large be the volumes in euery nacyon

For euer in cronycle to remayne

Yf ye perceyue, and note the fasshyon

515

Euydens ynoughe ye shall haue playne

Agaynst one woman, men twayne

Ye twenty I dare auowe doubtles

Whiche be improued for theyr lewdenes

In token that man shulde be content

520

His wyfe to loue especyally

Abraham had strayte commaundement Genesis xxi

To folowe the mynde of Sarai

And so expulsed by and by

Agar his harlot out of hys house

525

Agaynst her maystres presumptuous.

Howe-be-it because of repentaunce

For none example of lyke foly

God dyd accept her meke pe[n]aunce

And quyte for_gaue her by and by

530

The aungell was sent and bad her hye

Home agayne and knowe her dame

And god wolde multyply her fame.

sig: [C3v]

Agayne she came, her maysters content Ibidem.

And bare Abraham one Ismaell

535

Which passynge all other was more feruent

And passynge reason more cruell

Than euer yet ye harde of tell

His lyfe durynge to warre he was mouyd

He loued no man, nor none hym loued.

540

So can be nat rede of any woman

Namely in wryttyng autentycall

To be so cruell as was this man

At warre to be with one and all

O that ye men can fyght and braule

545

And kyll eche other comenly

Whiche is nat sene in the femynyne.

¶Howe-be-it there is founde in holy wryt

That some women haue done lyke case

Nat to them-selfe but marked to it

550

Of god onely, by specyall grace

Suche dedes marcyall to brynge to passe

That man myght nat Iudyth to wytnes Iudith .xiii.

Whiche slewe alone myghty Holofernes.

And in lyke case of Delbora

555

Whom god electe his prophete to be

The deth to declare of Sisara

Where and whan to sygnyfye Iudic .iiii.

And gaue her also more specyally

Knowlege in many other cause

560

And made her iudge ouer the lawse,

sig: [C4]

At mount_Thabor as sh[e] dyd tell Iudic .v.

This captayne dyscomfet fled out of the thronge

The wyfe of Abner named Iahel

Sisara slewe lyenge a_longe

565

God strengthed the woman & the laude strong

Unto the femynyne lesse and more

And to the man no prayse therfore.

¶Abymalech that ferefull kynge ii. re .xi

At syege lyenge before Thebes

570

A stone that on the wall dyd hynge

A woman threwe into the prease

And on the heed hyt hym doubtles

Slewe him starke, and so therby

The syege gaue ouer, this is no lye

575

Who was the cause that Abela

Was nat by Ioab beaten downe ii. re .xi.

Who kept the deed but good Raspha

The woman onely dyd saue the towne

And for her dede, ought haue renowne

580

I me reporte, nowe howe saye ye

Be nat the women prayse-worthye.

Sythe god them marked gracyously

Unto these deades before specyfyde ii. Reg .xxi.

It can nat be layde to them playnly

585

Neyther of malyce ne yet of pryde

For synguler wysdome in the[m] tryde them] then 1542, 1557

God preferred the woman than

Suche thynges to do before the man

sig: [C4v]

¶Of synguler wysdome note quene Hester Hester .vii.

590

The kynge her husbande whiche dyd pacyfye

Where Aman the wretche dyd moue Assuer

Uengeaunce to haue taken on Mardochye

And the Iewes to haue slayne generally

With pety & wysdome she dealed so than

595

That she sauyd the Iewes and hanged Aman.

Of thousand thousandes there was nat one

Unto Ioab the woman sent

That coulde procure for Absolon

A f[y]nall peace with his parent fynall] fenall 1542, 1557

600

Dauyd the kynge dyd sone consent

At the womans request the Bible to recorde ii. Reg .xix.

To call his sone home and be his good lorde.

The prophet also called Nathan

Of counseyle preuy with his souerayne

605

Perceyued well theyr myght no man

Of his full mynde Dauyd refrayne

But Adonyas shulde be kynge and raygne iii. Re .i.

Sent Barsabe to hym forth-on

And she obtayned for Salomon.

610

¶And further where-as the Egypcyan kynge

Agaynst the Hebrewes sore moued was Exo .i.

Bycause he se theyr encrease and sprynge

Aduaunsed moche in euery place

Commaundement gaue for any case

615

The mydwyues of the Hebrean lyne

To kyll and slee all masculy[n]e.

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And this we rede in places two

But god wolde nat the excercyse Ibedem.

So that the woman wolde it nat do

620

But made excuse, after this wyse

Abhorringe the shamfull enterpryse

And sayde the Hebreans, in theyr nedes

Can helpe them-selfe and do suche dedes.

Aboute whiche tyme holy Moyses

625

Into this worlde was brought & borne Exo .ii.

Thre monethes kept in secretnes

Magre Pharao, thoughe he had sworne

In a ve[ss]ele of russhes, to haue be lorne vessele] veele 1542, 1557

Cast in the water, to synke or to swyme

630

Redy was the woman, & she saued him.

¶The doughter of Pharao fered nat

Compassyon her moued inwardely

Herynge hym crye, and se hym flote

Commaunded her maydens that wasshed her by

635

A norse to get, and moderly

She hym adopte to be her sonne

God wolde haue thus, by the woman done.

The prophete also good Hely

Unto the woman from god was sent iii. Reg .xvii.

640

Because Galaad and Samary

No moysture had from the fyrmament

And [w]axeth stone-drye, for punysshement waxeth] caxeth 1542, careth 1557

The wydowe of Sarapt, the prophete fedde

Or elles parchaunce he had ben deed.

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645

And in lykewyse the Sunamyte

Moued her husbande besylye

And in conclusyon optayned it

A place to make for Helysye iiii. Re .iiii.

The prophete of god, necessarye

650

Thus holped they him, in an habitacle

After the latyn called a cenacle.

Who was the cause that duke Naaman

Was helyd of his foule lypperye iiii. re .v

No doute the fayre yonge woman

655

Taken with the robbers of Syrye

Because she spake and praysed Helysye

The kynge sent Naaman into Israell

Where in shorte space he had his heel.

¶Who was the fyrst I praye you who

660

That praysed god for vyctorye

After that drent was Pharao Exodi.

Loke in the boke of Exodye

And ye shall fynde it was Mary

Mary the syster of Aaron

665

With sounde of tympane she played vpon.

What tyme Dauyd, the gloriouse kynge

Aged sore a[n]d febled fast

A vyrgyn toke a tendre thynge iii. Re .i.

For no synne, but for he dyd wast

670

Preserued therby, tyll at the last

By very course of naturall kynde

The soule to god he vp resynde.

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Where yonge Abya meke and feble

Had layne longe seke contynually Ibidem .xiiii.

675

To knowe yf it were possyble

He shulde recouer or elles dye

The woman was sent this [is] no lye is] 1542, 1557 omit

The wyfe I meane of Ieroboas

Into Sylo was sent to Ahyas.

680

¶I praye you who dyd fyrst dyscrye

The euyll entent of Achytophel?

The mayden escryed the conspyracye

Wherby the kynge escaped paryll ii. Reg .xvii.

Ionathan and Achymaas she dyd it tell

685

For had it nat be shortly knowen

Kynge Dauid had ben all to_hewen.

To whom I praye you dyd Selysye

Declare the derth that shulde ensewe

To the man or the woman howe saye ye

690

If that ye can, disclose it nowe?

The woman it was that fyrst it knowe iiii Reg viii.

She tolde her husbande as a kynde wyfe

Wherby at lenght she saued his lyfe.

Who but the woman of Bahurye

695

Saued the lyfe of Ionathas? ii Reg .xvii

If Absalon myght haue come hym by

He neuer had sene Dauid in the face

Neyther his compere Achymaas

A cursed bo[y]e dyd them discrye boye] bowe 1542, 1557

700

A blessed woman kept them secrye.

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Had nat ben Abygall

The gentle wyfe of the churle Nabal i. Reg .xxv.

Dauyd had folowed his othe and wyll

And lefte hym nat one great ne small

705

Upon the morowe to haue pyst on the wall

She sent him vytayle, and went also

And made hym his frende, that erst was his fo.

And as I remembre good Iosabeth

Doughter vnto the kynge Ioram iiii. Re .xi.

710

Yonge Ioas saued from the deth

Sonne and heyre of Ochezyam

Where Athalta than wylfully came

Entendynge to haue slayne without pytye

All the kynges progenye.

715

¶What tyme the myghty Galadit Iudi .xi.

Iepte clepyd by name as I fynde

Agaynst the Amonytes shulde fyght

On god he called with mouth and mynde

And sayde good god my-selfe I bynde

720

Yf I preuayle to offre to the

The fyrste that I mete after vyctorye.

Saue one doughter no chylde he had

Whiche whan he came the batyil from

In token that she was of hym glad

725

Her father mette, and welcomed home

An instrument she playde vpon

His vowe remembred than syghed he

Sayenge doughter wo is me for the.

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Answere she made meke and demure

730

Be nothynge heuy father for me

That you haue promysed kepe it sure

And it to fulfyll I am redye

So had nat than the woman be

The man had chaunged parchaunce his entent

735

And falsed his promys, syth he dyd repent.

¶The deuoute mother of one Mychye

Of promyse iust a myrrour fyt Iudic .xvii.

Dothe shewe that women constant be

And from theyr behestes loth to flye

740

The money that she to god behyt

Sent by her sonne to the golde-smyth

Therof to make Sculptile quid.

Many and dyuers other there be

Of whom the man example may take

745

As of god Ruth and Neomy Ruth .i.

Of her that nother wolde god forsake

Nother ye[t] consent ydolatrye to make yet] ye 1542, 1557

But strenghtned her sonnes in nombre seuen

To dye for the lawes of god of heuen. ii. Machab .vii

750

Great is the prayse of the aunceent

Unto this daye had in memorye

For theyr hye vertues excellent iii Reg .xxii.

As fayth, wysdome, and mere pytye Luce .ii. iii. re .x.

With fortitude in aduersytye

755

To wytnes the profytes Solda and Anne

With Saba the quene, to Solomon that came.

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The testament newe allso telleth me

After that Chryst these wordes had sayde Marce .xvi.

Hely Hely lamazabacani

760

That fayth in man was clere deceyde Luc .ii.

In Mary his mother, bothe wyfe and mayde

It neuer fayled, for the femynyne Ioh .xx.

In Thomas it fayled for the masculyne.

Before also ye shall well fynde

765

The woman was euer prompt and redye

With hole herte and deuoute mynde

Of Chri[s]tes byrth to belyue the mysterye Christes] Chrites 1542Luce .i. Luce .i.

Where-as the [man], olde Zacharye man] woman 1542, 1557

Blamed of the Angell, lost his syght

770

Elysabeth him knowleged, euyn furth-ryght.

¶Great was the loue of the femynyne

Durynge the daungeour of his passyon Ioh .xx.

Recorde therin good Magdalyne

Whiche neuer backed, but folowed on

775

Where his disciples were fled and gone

Oft the sepulcre she dyd vysyt

And longe there wepynge wolde she syt.

She with his compers Maries two Marce .xvi.

Salomye and Iacobye with oyles pure

780

For synguler loue they bare him to

Sought hym layde in sepulture

Supposynge theyr oyntementes shulde him recure

For well the rekenynge by his sayenge playne

He wolde reuyue, shortely agayne.

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785

God hym-selfe prayse to her gaue

At table syttynge for the oyle she spende

And openly the men dyd depraue Luc .xxi

Sayde pore haue ye daylye, but I must wende

Her also except he, in mytes that dyd sende

790

In Gazaphilacum, before the ryche man

And Martha lykewyse, that called him goddes sonne.

Was nat she playnly full of grace Acte .ix.

Thabita the wydowe the pore that fed

Whom Peter by prayer reuyued hase

795

To lyue agayne were she was ded

And she also that nature ledde iii re .iii.

Rather her chylde quycke to for_go

Than Salomon shulde part hym in two

The wyfe of Pylate dyd pytye more

800

The turnement of our Sauyoure

Than all the men that than there were

The scrybes and the pharisys to there powre Luc .xxi

The workes of Chryst blasphemyd eche houre

The woman present sayde I make you ware

805

Blessed be the bely that the bare.

¶Whan he arose, this is clere Math .xxvii. xxviii.

[To] whom apered he, I praye you fyrst To] Tho 1542, 1557

Sure for ought that I can here

To women two, or any man wyst

810

To her that hym with her brest nurst

To Mary_Magdalyne, and bad her go Ioh .xx.

And his apostles tell it to.

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Seldome I fynde that Chryste dyd blame Luc .viii

Any one woman properly

815

Or that any woman so fare past shame

So lytle to set our sauyour by

As Peter did Chryst to denye Luc .vii.

Chryst blamed Peter, nowe and than

For lacke of fayth, and called hym Sathan.

820

And where Scribes malycyouslye

Brought vnto him adulteram

The woman he saued, gratiouslye

Wrote in the dust, to the mennes shame

Do no more women, sayde he the same Iohan .viii.

825

Nowe tell me playne yf ye so can

Dyd he euer lyke myracle for any man.

¶The woman also of Cananye

Whose doughter possest was of a deuyll

Seased nat on Chryst to crye

830

Her doughter to hele of that sore yuyll Math .xv.

Chryst herde her well, and helde him styll

To the ende all men, myght notyfye

What fayth was in the femynye.

The man he blamed of Ipocrysye Iohan .xiii.

835

And also vpon the Saboth day

Helyd the woman gracyouslye

Eyghtene yeres longe that sore syke laye

And mekely dyd the Samaritane praye

Water to drawe hym out of the stone Iohan .iiii.

840

Where-of the man he asked none.

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And also at the womans request

Bycause they lacked necessarye Iohan .ii.

Turned water to wyne at the feast

Kept in Cana_Galylye

845

At the instaunce of Martha or Mary

He raysed Lazar hole and sounde

Foure dayes buryed vnder-grounde.

¶Where-as he wepte full tenderly Ioh .xi.

To the woman that hym ofte fed

850

Martha the one the other Mary

Wepe and bywayle theyr brother deed

As far forth yet as euer I rede

I can nat fynde that he dyd make

Any lyke sorowe for the mannes sake.

855

And ouer that the treuth dothe proue

The sayenge of Luke who-so well wayth Luce .viii.

It was a very sclender loue

And a lesse token of any fayth

In the man the Euangelyst sayth

860

In Iudas by name his mayster that solde

With a false kysse and thyrty pens golde.

¶Thus may ye see by holy wryt

That women be no cast-awayes

Neyther they that lyue as yet

865

Nor those that were in the auncyent dayes

Proued I haue who-so denayes

For more wytnes I shal reporte

Of later tyme and so be shorte.

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The churche mylytant dothe ones yerely

870

A_leuen thousande vyrgins halowe in one

So many of men I can nat espye

Sythe tyme the worlde fyrst begon

All-be-it they were nat women echone

Yet for the woman was pryncypall

875

Lyke name is gyuen vnto them all.

I rede of seuen slepynge men

And also of .iiii. coronate

Nowe two and thre, of thousandes ten

Of one alone with his associate

880

Of forte knyghtes martyryzate

But of a .xi. thousande neuer

Coulde I fynde as yet togyther.

¶All-be-it there be of the infant state

Of innocentes I meane many one

885

Yet haue these vyrgyns immaculate

If any comparyson may be therto

More mede of god, I suppose so

These vyrgi[n]s for god dyed wyllyngly

The infantes by force and knewe nat why

890

Moche other thynges aledged myght be

Auctorysed by holy wryt

Besydes muche more in poyetrye

In sondry metyrs craftely knyt

Which onely I pur[po]se to omyt purpose] purse 1542, purpose 1557

895

Oneles it be of two or of thre

To wrytte them all it wyll nat be

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¶As fyrst of Lucres the noble wyfe Ouid. in fast. li. primi. August. de ci. li.

A myrrour to all other of goostly fame

Whiche wylfully with a small knyfe

900

Slewe her-selfe in auoydynge shame

And therby saued her olde good name

What tyme Tarquyne newe made kynge

Had her forlayne, she nat wyllynge.

Where Rome besyeged was about

905

By Coriolane then exulate Valar. li. primo

So that no man durst ons pere out

For fere of lesynge of his pate

Ueturia badde open the gate

Her armes cast crosse, her heer to_rent

910

Most wofully forth thus she went.

Large were the teres that from her eyes ran

Her brestes before hym when she dysplayde

Beholde she sayde thou vnkynde man

Thy natural mother thus wretche[d]ly arayde wretchedly] wretchely 1542, 1557

915

Nature shulde moue the, though wyll denayde

To warre with other than thy natyfe countre

Peace sayde he mother so shall it be.

¶Whose acte to be had in memorye

A lawe forthwith the Romyanes let make

920

From that daye forwarde to the femynyne

Eche man shulde bowe for Ueturys sake

Graunted also that the woman myght take

To her attyre broche, owche, or rynge

Ueluet purple or any other thynge.

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925

Where-as before through quene Uasthye Hester .i

All honour was take the woman fro

By reason of her obstynacye

In dysobeyinge kynge Assuero

Nowe was restored with moche more to

930

Many men saued that myght haue ben slay[n]e

And the cytie set franke fre agayne.

Whan Portia harde that Brute was deed Mart. li. i. epigre

Lenger to lyue no houre thought she

Ete brennynge coles as fast as breed

935

Bycause she coulde no knyfe come by

In moche lyke case Penelope Ouid. eplar. li. primo.

To put of weddynge tyll Ulyxes came home

Untwyned at nyght that in the daye she spone.

¶And as it cometh vnto my mynde

940

Of one hystorye catholycall

Whiche almost clene was lefte behynde

As nothynge worthy memoryall Daniel .xiii.

That one remembred conclude I shall

The hystory I meane of good Susan

945

Falsly accused by the man.

Attempt she was of rybaldes two

With them to haue dealed, she nolde consent

They her accused, and sayde she had ado

With a yonge man, and shulde be brent

950

God knowe the woman innocent

And caused the infant Danyell

To speke to the people and the treuth tell.

sig: E3

A babe to speke was a straunge maruell

The people assembled on euery syde

955

The tales bothe varyed that they dyd tell

Wherby it was knowen the rybaldes lyde

The woman saued and the treuth tryde

Her false accusars by comen assent

To dye forthwith had iust iudgement.

960

¶Whiche thynges remembred with other mo

That myght parchaunce enlarge this boke

Estates comenly where I go

Trust theyr wyues to ouer_loke

Baker, brewer, butler, and coke

965

With other all, man medleth no whytte

Bycause the woman hathe quycker wytte.

My lady must receyue and paye

And euery man in his offyce controll

And to eche cause gyue ye and nay

970

Bargayne and bye and set all sole

By indenture other by court roll

My lady must ordre thus all-thynge

Or small shal be the mannes wynnynge

A further profe herein as yet

975

By comune reporte we here eche day

The chylde is praysed for his mother wytte

For the fathers condycions depraued alway

And ouer that your-selfe wyll saye

Surgeons aduauntage, by women small

980

Bycause they be no fyghters at all.

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¶An ende therfore herof to make

Me-thynkes these men do nothynge well

So wylfully to bragge and crake

And agaynst all women so to geuell

985

And yet who-so that lengest dothe reuell

And this boke redeth I knowe playnly

Shall saye: or be shamed, tonge I lye.

Explicit.

The authour.

GO forthe lytell boke god be thy spede

O[r]dre thy-selfe accordyngly Ordre] Oodre 1542, Ordre 1557

Set nought by hym that dothe the rede

In case he warble the to denye

Nat one so good but he hath an enemye

Hyde nat thy face for a proude crake

Let hym be knowen that dyd the make

¶Go forthe queckely with pase demure

Of one prerogatyue sure thou arte

Set for to be in hye honour

In myddes of the hole femynyne herte

Nexte god they wyll all take thy parte

Hyll the with sylke and lymme the with golde

Nowe passe on thy way thou mayst be bolde.

Glory be thy garment so worthy thou arte

Of syluer thy claspes, and of fyne golde

So true is thy processe in euery parte

sig: [E4]

In the hye Ierarchye thou may be enrolde

None other lyke the that euer was solde

Hyghest of all other in trueth is thy dytye

Lygth where thou shalte nowe farewell from me.

Yf question be moued who is thyne authour

Be nat addrad to vtter his name

Say Edwarde_Gosynhyll toke the labour

For womanhede the for to frame

Call hym thyne authour, do nat asshame

Thankes lokes he none for, yet wold he be glad

A staffe to stande by that all women had.

Thus endeth this frutfull treatese of the prease of women called Mulierum Pean. Imprynted at London in Fletestrete at the sygne of the George by me Wyllyam_Myddylton.

¶CVM PRIVILEGIO AD IM[PR]IMENDV[M]IMPRIMENDVM] IMRPIMENDVN 1542 SOLVM.

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