The Epiſtle, &c.
make their eares glow that heare me, and my tongue would bliſter to report it: but it is a great diſcredit for a man to be accounted for a ſcold, for ſcolding is the manner of ſhrewes: therefore I had rather anſwere them with ſilence which finde fault, then ſtriue to winne the Cucking-ſtoole from them. Now me thinkes I heare ſome curtous Dames giue their raſh iudgements, & ſay, that I hauing no wit, deſcant vpon women which haue more wit then men. To anſwere you againe, If I belye you, iudge me vnkind, but if I ſpeake the truth, I ſhall be the better beleued another time: and if I had wrote neuer ſo well, it is impoſsible to pleaſe all, and if neuer ſo ill, yet I ſhall pleaſe ſome. Let it be well or ill, I looke for no praiſe for my labour; I am weaned from my mothers teate, and therefore neuer more to be fed with her pap: wherefore ſay what you will, for I will follow my owns veine in vnfolding euery pleat, and ſhewing euery wrinckle of a womans diſpoſition, and yet I will not wade ſo farre ouer the ſhooes, but that I may return dry, nor ſo farre in, but that I may eaſily eſcape out: and yet for all that, I muſt confeſſe my ſelfe to be in fault, and that I haue offended you beyond ſatisfaction, for it is hard to giue a ſufficient recompence for a ſlander; and yet hereafter, if by meanes I cannot obtaine your fauour to be owe of your Pulpit-men, yet you cannot deny me but to be one of your Pariſh: and therefore if you pleaſe but to place me in the Body of the Church hereafter, you ſhall finde my deuotion ſo great towards you, as he that kneeleth at the Chancell doore; for I wrote this Booke with my hand, but not with my heart.
Indeed, when I firſt began to write this Booke, my wits were gone a wooll gathering, inſomuch, that in a manner I forgot my ſelfe, and ſo in the rough of my fury, I vowed for euer to be an open enemy vnto women: but when my furie was a little
