that power which is according to the excellencie of dignitie: but that
which is accordinge to prouidence, and according to helpe, and vertue. For
then is the bodie in best proportion[60], when it hath the best gouernor.
O that both man and woman shulde consider the profound counsel and
admonition of this father! He wolde not that man for appetit of any vaine
glorie shuld desire preeminence aboue woman. For God hath not made man to
be heade for any suche cause: but hauing respecte to that weaknes and
imperfection which alwayes letteth woman to gouerne. He hath ordeined man
to be superior, and that meaneth Chrysostome, saying: then is the bodie in
best proportion, when it hath the best gouernor. But woman can neuer be
the best gouernor, by reason that she-being spoiled of the spirit of
regiment, can neuer attein to that degree, to be called or iudged a good
gouernor. Because in the nature of all woman, lurketh suche vices, as in
good gouernors are not tolerable. Which the same writes expresseth. in
these wordes[61]: womankind (saith he) is rashe and foolhardie, and their
couetousnes is like the goulf of hell, that is, insaciable. And therfore
in an other place[62], he will that woman shall haue no thing to do in
iudgement, in common affaires, or in the regiment of the common welth,
because she is impacient of troubles, but that she shall liue in
tranquillitie; and quietnes. And if she haue occasion to go frome the
house, that yet she shal haue no matter of trouble, nether to, folowe her,
nether to be offered vnto her, as commonlie there must be to such as beare
authoritie: And with Chrysostome fullie agreeth Basilius Magnus in a
sermon[63] which he maketh vpon some places of scripture, wherin he
reproueth diuers vices and amongest the rest, he affirmeth woman to be a
tendre creature, flexible, soft and pitifull: whiche nature, God hath
geuen vnto her, that she may be apt to norishe children. The which
facilitie of the woman, did Satan abuse, and therby broght her frome the
obedience of God. And therfore in diuers other places doth he conclude,
that she is not apt to beare rule, and that she is forbidden to teache.