6.
Why hath the common Opinion afforded Women Soules?
It is agreed that wee have not ſo much from them as any part of either our mortall ſoules of ſenſe, or growth, and we deny ſoules to others equal to them in all but in ſpeech for which they are beholding to their bodily inſtruments: For perchance an Oxes heart, or a Goates, or a Foxes, or a Serpents would ſpeake juſt ſo, if it were in the breaſt, and could move that tongue and jawes. Have they ſo many advantages and meanes to hurt us (for, ever their loving deſtroyed us) that we dare not diſpleaſe them, but give them what they will? And ſo when ſome call them Angels, ſome Goddeſſes, and the Palpulian Heretikes made them Biſhops, wee deſcend ſo much with the ſtreame, to allow them ſoules? Or doe we ſomewhat (in this dignifying of them) flatter Princes and great Perſonages that are ſo [48] ]much governed by them? Or do we in that eaſineſſe and prodigality, wherein we daily loſe our owne ſoules to we care not whom, ſo labour to perſwade our ſelves, that ſith a woman hath a ſoule, a ſoule is no great matter? Or doe wee lend them ſoules but for uſe, ſince they for our ſakes, give their ſoules againe, and their bodies to boote? Or perchance becauſe the Deuill (who is all ſoule) doth moſt miſchiefe, and for convenience and proportion, becauſe they would come neerer him, wee allow them ſome ſoules; and ſo as the Romanes naturalized ſome Provinces in revenge, and made them Romans, onely for the burthen of the Common-wealth; ſo we have given women ſoules onely to make them capable of damnation?
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7.
Why are the Faireſt, Falſeſt?
I meane not of falſe Alchimy Beauty, for then the queſtion ſhould be inverted, Why are the Falſeſt, Faireſt? It is not onely becauſe they are much ſolicited and ſought for, ſo is gold, yet it is not ſo common; and this ſuite to them, ſhould teach them their value, and make them more reſerved. Nor is it becauſe the delicateſt blood hath the beſt ſpirits, for what is that to the fleſh? perchance ſuch conſtitutions have the beſt wits, and there is no proportionable ſubject, for Womens wit, but deceipt? doth the minde ſo follow the temperature of the body, that becauſe thoſe complexions are apteſt to change, the mind is therefore ſo? Or as Bells of the pureſt metall retaine their tinkling and ſound largeſt; ſo the memory of the laſt pleaſure laſts longer in theſe, and diſpoſeth them to the next. But ſure it is not in the complexion, for thoſe that doe but thinke themſelves faire, are preſently [50] ]inclined to this multiplicity of loves, which being but faire in conceipt are falſe in deed: and ſo perchance when they are borne to this beauty, or have made it, or have dream’d it, they eaſily believe all addreſſes and applications of every man, out of a ſenſe of their own worthineſſ to be directed to them, which others leſſ worthy in their own thoughts apprehend not, or diſcredit. But I think the true reaſon is, that being like gold in many properties (as that all ſnatch at them, but the worſt poſſeſſ them, that they care not how deep we dig for them, and that by the Law of nature, Occupandi conceditur) they would be like alſo in this, that as Gold to make it ſelf of uſe admits allay, ſo they, that they may be tractable, mutable, and currant, have to allay Falſhood.