Verily, such men are unhappy, and they do not a little also neglect these Pleasures; when they, forsooth, think that by the putting on of the breeches, must be understood that they are over Lorded, and that the Hen crows louder then the Cock.  O miserable man, if your head be possest with this kind of frenzy, and can’t be removed!  Verily, if you had but seen the Plate of the Women fighting for the Breeches, you would be of another judgement.  For in those daies the man was glad to be rid of them, if he could but get the lining untorn or indamaged; for he saw perfectly that the World was at that time so full of those pretty Beldams, that there was begun a most bloody War between the better sort of Gentlewomen, and the meaner degree of Women, for the gaining of the Breeches, wherein Ketels and Pans, Tongs and Fireshovels, Spinning-wheels, Brooms and Maps were all beaten out of fashion.  And it may very well be thought, that if the Woman had put them on at first, and so have helpt him to have kept them, this wonderfull and destructive War would never have risen to that fury.  Therefore it is no small prudence of the Women in these daies, who are descended from that family, to take care, at the very first, for the good of their husbands, that the Breeches may be well preserved.

But let’s be serious, and pass by all these kind of waggeries; if we consider the husband as Captain, and the Wife as Lieutenant, is it not in the highest degree necessary, that she should have also a part of the masculine knowledge and authority?  Besides, women must be silent in Politick and Church-government, why should not they have somthing to say in those places where they are houswives?  We see certainly, that the men, for the most part, cannot tarry at home, and will be going hither or thither to take the air, or for his pleasure, or to smoke a pipe of Tabacco; as is shew’d you in the Fifth Confession; if then, in the mean while, the Woman, through occasion of some Customers in the Shop, or in the government of the Men and Maid-servants should not in some measure shew that she had in part the Breeches on, and that she could in the absence of her Captain, take care of his Command; how is it possible that the Trading should be kept in order, and the Children and Servants well governed?  I will not so much as mention that there are several men, who are so dull-brain’d, and so excessive careless, that if they had not had the good fortunes to get notable sharp-witted young women to their Wives; they of themselves would have been quickly out of breath, and might now perhaps be found in the Barbado’s or Bermoodo’s planting Tabacco.

O stout Amazonians, who thus couragiously, take the Weapons in hand, to defend and protect your Husbands, Children, Servants and houskeeping; why should not you have as great commendations given you, as those noble Souls of your Sex had in former times? and who would not rather ingage in the imbracing of you, then any waies to affront or bespatter you?