A04928:65
The First Blast of the Trumpet against the Monstrous Regiment of Women
The first blast of the trumpet against the monstrous regiment of womenThe first blast of the trumpet against the monstruous regiment of women
Geneva: printed by J. Poullain and A. Rebul, 1558
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Only this I have recited to give the world to understand, that the reign, empire, and authority of women, hath no ground within God's scriptures. Yea that realms or provinces possessed1 by their marriage, is nothing but unjust conquest. For so little doth the law made for the daughters of Zalphead help the cause of your queens, that utterly it fighteth against them, both dā ning their authority and fact. But now to the third objection.
Onelie this I haue recited to geue the worlde to vnderstand, that the reigne, empire, and authoritie of women, hath no grounde within Goddes scriptures. Yea that realmes or prouinces possessed1 by their mariage, is nothing but vniust conquest. For so litle doth the lawe made for the doughters of Zalphead helpe the cause of your quenes, that vtterlie it fighteth against them, both dā ning their authoritie and fact. But now to the thirde objection.
- 1Realms gotten by marriage, is unjust conquest.Realmes gotten by marriage, is vniust conquest.
The consent, say they, of realms and1 laws pronounced and admitted in this behalf, long consuetude and custom, together with the felicity of some women ⟨image 51⟩in their empires have established their authority. To whom, I answer, that nether may the tyranny of princes, nether the foolishness of people, nether wicked laws made against God, nether yet the felicity that in this earth may hereof ensue, make that thing lawful, which he by his word hat manifestly condemned. For if the approbation of princes and people, laws made by men, or the consent of realms, may establish any thing against God and his word, then should idolatry be preferred to the true religion. For more realms and nations, more laws and decrees published by Emperors with common consent of their counsels, have established the one, then have approved the other. And yet I think that no man of sound judgement, will therefore justify and defend idolatry. No more ought any man to maintain this odious empire of women, although that it were approved of all men by their laws. For the same God that in plain words forbiddeth idolatry, doth also forbid the authority of women over man. As the words of