Defences of Women: Jane Anger, Rachel Speght, Ester Sowernam and Constantia Munda,

Printed Writings 1500-1640: Series 1, Part One, Volume 4

Susan Gushee O'Malley

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2016
• ISBN:
  9781351945820
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Letteratura
• Subtopic: Critica letteraria di letteratura comparata

Jane Anger her Protection for Women A Mouzell for Melastomus Ester hath hang'd Haman The Worming of a mad Dogge Of the many tracts in defence of women published in early modern England only these four bear women's names. All four were written in response to misogynist attacks. Of these writers, only Speght (1597-c.1630) is historically identifiable. Two or possibly three of the others use pseudonyms and indeed their gender has not yet been definitely established.

Esler hath hang’d Haman

OR
AN ANSWRE TO
a lewd Pamphlet, entituled,
The Araignment of Women.

With the arraignment of lewd, idle;
froward, and unconstant men, and
HUSBANDS.

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Divided into two Parts.

The first proueth the dignity and worthinesse
of Women, out of diuine Testimmes.

The second shewing the estimation of the Fæminine
Sexe, in ancient and Pagan times; all which
is acknowledged by men themselues in their
daily actions.

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Written by Ester Sowernam, neither Maide,
Wife, nor Widdowe, yet really all, and therefore
experienced to defend all.

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JOHN 8.7.

He that is without sinne among you, let him first cast a stone as her.

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Neque enins lex insticior vlla

——— Quams necis Artificem arte perire sus.

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LONDON

Printed for Nicholas Bourne, and are to be sold at his shop
at the entrance of the Royall Exchange. 1617.

TO
ALL RIGHT HONOVrable,
Noble, and worthy Ladies,
Gentlemomen, and others, venuously disposed,
of the Fæmimne Sexe.

RIght Honourable, and all others of our Sexe, upon my repaire to London this last Michaelmas Terme; being at supper amongst friends, where the number of each fexc wette c-quaill; As nothing is more usuall for table-talke; there fell out a discourse concerning women, some defending, others obiecting against our Sex: Vpon which occasion, there happened a mention of a Pamphlet entituled The Arraignment of Women, which I was desirous to see. The next day a Gentleman brought me the Booke, which when I had superficially runne ouer, I found the discourse as far off from performing what the Title promised, as I found it scandalous and blasphemous: for where the Authour pretended to write against lewd, idle, and vnconstant women, hee doth most impudently rage and rayle generally against all the whole sexe of women. Whereupon, I in defence of our Sexe, began an answer to that full Pamphlet. In which, after I had spent some small time, word was brought mec that an Apologie for women was already undertaken, and ready for the Presse, by a Ministers daughter: upon this newes I stayed my pen, being as glad to be eased of my entended labour; as I did expect some fitting performance ofwhat was undertaken: At last the Maidens Booke was brought me, which when I had likewise runne ouer, I did obserue, that whereas the Maide doth many times excuse her tendernesse of yeares, I found it to be true in the slendernesse of her answer, for she undertaking to defend women, doth rather charge and condemne women, as in the ensuing discourse shall appeare: So that wheras I expected to be eased of what I began, I do now finde my selfe double charged, as well to make reply to the one, as to adde supply to the other.

In this my Apologie, Right Honourable, Right Worshipfull, and all others of our Sexe, I doe in the first part of it plaincly and resolutely deliuer the worthinesse and worth of women; both in respect of their Creation, as in the worke of Redemption. Next I doe shew in examples out of both the Testaments: what blessed and happy choyse hath beene made of women, as gratious instruments to deriue Gods blessings and benefits to mankinde.

In my second part I doe deliuer of what estimate women haue been vaiued in all ancient and moderne times, which I prooue by authorities, customes, and daily experiences. Lastiy, I doe answer all materiall obiections which hane or can be alledged against our Sexe: in which also I doe arraigne such kind of men, which corrspond the humor and disposition of the Author; lewd idle, furious and beastly disposed persons.

This being performed, I doubt not but such as heretofore haue beene so forward and lauish against women, will her eafter pull in their hornes, and haue as little desire, and lesse cause so scandaloully and slanderously to write against us then formerly they haue.

The ends for which I undertooke this enterprise, are these. First, to set out the glory of Almightie God, in so bleffed a worke of his Creation. Secondly, to encourage all Noble, Honourable, and worthy Women, to expresse in their course of life and actions, that they are the fame Creatures which they were designed to be by their Creator, and by their Redeemer: And to paralell those women, whose vertuous examples are collected briefly out of the Olde and New Testament. Lastly, I write for the shame and confusion of such as degenerate from woman-hoode, and disappoint the ends of Creation, and Redemption.

There can be no greater encouragement to true Nobility, then to know and stand vpon the honour of Nobility, nor any greater confusion and shame, then for Nobiliry to dismount and abase it selfe to ignoble and degenerate courses.

You are women; in Creation, noble; in Redemption, gracions; in use most blessed; be not forgetfull of your selues, nor unthan kefull to that Author from whom you receiue all.

TO
ALL WORTHY AND HOPE
full young youths of Great-Brittaine;
But respectiuely to the best disposed and
worth Apprehtises of LONDON.

HOpefull and gallant youths of Great-Brittaine, and this so famous a Cities. There hath been lately published a Pamphlet, entituled The Arraignment of lewd idle froward and inconstant Women. This patched and mishapen hotch-potch, is so direonce to see an Asse eate Thistles, he would surely laugh twice to see an idle fraint icke direct his mishapen Labours to giddy-headed young men: he would say, as he did when the Asse did eate Thirst her like lips, like Letrice, so a franticks writer doth aptly chuse giddy favorites.

The Author of the Arraignment, and my selfe, in our labours doe altogether disagree; he raileth without cause, I defend vpon direct proofe: He saith, women are the worst of all Creatures, I proove them blessed above all Creatures: He writeth, that men should abhorre them for their had conditions: I prove, that men should honours them or their best dispositions, he saith, women are the causes of men [illegible text]court throw, I prove, if there be any offence in a woman, men were the beginners. Now, in that it is farre more woman lies to maintaine a right, then it is man like to offer a wrong, I conceived that I could not erre in my choyse, if I did direct a labour well intended, to worthy young youths, which are well disposed.

When you have past your minority, or served your Apprens[illegible text]ps under the government of others, when you begin the world fer your seines, the selues, the chiefest thine you looke for is a good Wife.

The world is a large firld, and it is full of brambles, brynes, and weedes: If there be any more tormentins, more serat [illegible text], or more poysonable weede then otehr, the Author hath collected them in his lothsome Pamphlet, and doth utter them to his giddy company.

now my selfr presuming upon your wort by and hanest dispositions, I haue entred into the Garden of Paradice, and there haue gathered the choyseft flowers which that Garden may affoord, and those I offer to you.

If you belieue him that women are so bad Creatures, what a dangerous and miferable life is marriage?

If you examine my proofes to know directly what women are, you shall then finde there is no delight mare exceeding then to be, ioyned in marriage with a Paraditian Creature. Who as shet commeth out of the Garden, so shall you finde her a flower of delight, answer able to the Countrey from whence she commeth.

There can be no loue betwext man and wife, but where there is a respecture estimate the ane towards the other. How could you loue? nay, how would you loath such a monster, to whem joseph Swetnam poynteth?

Whereas in view of what I haue described, how can you but regard fully loue with the uttermost straine of affection so incconparable a Iewell.

Some will perhaps say, I am a woman and therefore write more for women then they doe deserue: To whom I answere, if they misdonbt of whet I speake, let themimpeach my credit in any one particular: In that which I write, Eue was a good woman before she met with the Serpent, her danghters are good Virgins, oif they meet with good Tutors.

You my worthy uouths are the hope of Man-hoode, the principall poynt of Man-huode is to defend, and what more man-like defence, thn to defend the inst reputation of a woman. I know that you the Apprentises of this Cuis are as forward to maintaine saine the good as you are vehement to put dewne the bad.

That which is worst I leaue to our aduersary, but what is excellently best, that I commend to you: doe you finde the gold, I doe here delocer you the Iewell, a rich flocke to begin the world withall, if you be good husbands to use it for your best aduant age.

Let not the title of this Booke in some poynt distaste you, in that men are arraigned, for you are quit by Non-age. None are here arraigned, but such olde fornicators as came with full mouth and open cry to Iesus, and brought a woman to him taken in adultery, who when aour Aauiour stoopt downe and wrote on the ground, they all fled away. Ioseph Swetnam saith, A man may finde Pearles in dust, Pag. 47 But if they who sled had seene any pearles, they would rather haue stayed to haue had share, then to fiye and to leane the woman alone, they sound some fewle reckoning against themselues in our sauions writing, as they shall doe who are heare arraigned. And if they dare doe like, as our Asniour bad the womans accusers, He that is without sinne throw the first stone at her; so let them raile against women, who neuer tempted any woman to be bad: Yet this is an hard case. If a man raile against a woman, and know no lewdnesse by any, be shall proue himselfe a compound foole. If he rayle at women, who in his owne experienced try all had made wany bad, he shall shew himselfe a detomp...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Table of Contents
• Original Copyright Page
• Preface by the General Editors
• Introductory Note
• Jane Anger her Protection for Women
• A Mouzell for Melastomus
• Esler hath hang’d Haman
• The Worming of a mad Dogge