The same author further reasoneth, that the policie or regiment of the
Lacedemonians (who other wayes amongest the Grecians were moste excellent)
was not worthie to be reputed nor accompted amongest the nombre of common
welthes, that were well gouerned, because the magistrates, and rulers of
the same were to [o] muche geuen to please and obey their wyues. What
wolde this writer (I pray you) haue said to that realme or nation, where a
woman sitteth crowned in parliament amongest the middest of men. Oh
fearefull and terrible are thy iudgementes[4] (o Lord) whiche thus hast
abased man for his iniquitie! I am assuredlie persuaded that if any of
those men, which illuminated onelie by the light of nature, did see and
pronounce causes sufficient, why women oght not to beare rule nor
authoritie, shuld this clay liue and see a woman sitting in iudgement, or
riding frome parliament in the middest of men, hauing the royall crowne
vpon her head, the sworde and sceptre borne before her, in signe that the
administration of iustice was in her power: I am assuredlie persuaded, I
say, that suche a sight shulde so astonishe them, that they shuld iudge
the hole worlde to be transformed into Amazones[5], and that suche a
metamorphosis and change was made of all the men of that countrie, as
poetes do feyn was made of the companyons of Vlisses, or at least, that
albeit the owtwarde form of men remained, yet shuld they iudge that their
hartes were changed frome the wisdome, vnderstanding, and courage of men,
to the foolishe fondnes and cowardise of women. Yea they further shuld
pronounce, that where women reigne or be in authoritie, that there must
nedes vanitie be preferred to vertue, ambition and pride to temperancie
and modestie, and finallie, that auarice the mother of all mischefe must
nedes deuour equitie and iustice. But lest that we shall seme to be of
this opinion alone[6], let vs heare what others haue seen and decreed in
this mater. In the rules of the lawe thus it is written[7]: Women are
remoued from all ciuile and publike office[8], so that they nether may be
iudges, nether may they occupie the place of the magistrate, nether yet