A STRANGE WONDER OR A WONDER IN A Woman, Wherein is plainly expressed the true nature of most Women.  
Especially of some eminent Women in this City.  
Likewise a plain description of many mad tricks and slights lately performed by a Zealous Sister which was overcome with the Spirit.  
Written by I. H. Gentleman.  
London, Printed for I. T. 1642.   

A Strange Wonder, OR A Wonder in a WOMAN.  
Wherein is plainly expressed the true nature of most Women.  
Women are admirable Angels, if they would not be drawn with Angels to be come Devils, but to the purpose gentle eader, I intent to give you a true description of a Woman in particular, of all Weoman in General, desiring all judicious men Silent, Virtuous Modest, and discreet Woman to censure of me according to my desert, As for the rest though they let lose their Tippets, Yea and their Tongues too, I value it not, For I know that every Galled Horse will kick and winch. As I am Tom-tell-troth, I mean to set the Saddle upon the right Mare, And as for the first, to wit, Maids when they are courted by their Sweet Hearts.  
As thus, a Handsome Young Man comes to them, and after a Salutation, begin to make known his Amorous Suit as followeth.  
Sweet Mistress (or fair Virgin) think it not strange that your all Commanding Beauty, has made me become a willing Bondslave, to your Sweet self, The Sparkling lustre of your Stare like Eyes, has kindled in me such an ardent love. That I am a fire to— kiss you.  
Then forsooth, my Squeamish, Maid, puts one a counterfeit coyness and in stead of a Kiss flapps him in the Mouth with— pish fie away Sir, indeed I scorn to Kiss, On my Virginity, I cannot endure this fooling and so forth, when inwardly she longs for't, And were she in a Corner in the Dark she would Kiss; and Kiss, and Clip, and melt into all the forms of Venery that art can devise, And there's her Honesty.  
Then for the Wives, there's scarce one good of twenty, if I should say Forty, I think I should not lie, for one Scolds, another Powts, one is Lazy, another Sluttish, a third Proud, a fourth a down right drunkard, a fift a Title-tatle Goshopp, and so from one to a Hundred, from a Hundred, to a Thousand, from a Thousand to many Thousands: You shall scarce find one that is not Guilty of one abominable Crime or other.  
And yet let them get to the Tavern Half a Dozen of them, They in the height of their Cups, shall like so many Proud she Pharisees, Every one justify themselves as thus, I thank GOD I never called my husband Knave, nor Drunkard, I never strove to wear the Breeches, and many such things, When to my Knowledge she hath called him Rogue and Rascal, And made him wear the Horn, Then says a Second truly Goshopp I commend you for my own part, I must confess I am a little to hasty, And oftentimes use my Tongue more than I have thank for my Labours especially of my Husband. Likewise a third gives her Verdict, Truly Goshopp quoth she the Tongue is an unruly Member, Besides you know that Woman are the weaker Vessels, & men ought to bear with our infermities (as we bear them) And you know neighbour that the uprightest man falls Seven times a DAY, Then we Woman may very well fall Fourteen times a Night, being the weaksr Vessels, as I told you before.  
This is their Discourse some two Hours or perhaps three, In which time they Arrive at a Reckoning of some Fourteen or Fifteen Shillings, which being paid, down stairs they go, And being come into the Street, They express their weakness, being scarce able to stand on their Legs: At length staggering each, to her House, If any of their Husbands happen to be at Home and demand where they have been, They look presently on their Apron Strings which inspires them with a Lie, With which they flapp their too credulous Husbands in the Mouth. Thirdly Truly Sweet Heart I have been to see such an Aunt, Or I have been at a Gentle woman's Labour, and I am so weary and the like, Which the good Man believes. Thus they make their Husbands Honest Credulitye, The Subject of their ill Housewifery.  
Then you shall have Another; Nay many that seem to love their Husbands well, But yet Love another Woman's Husband better, And that is the Trick of a disembling WHORE, But yet of all WHORES there is no WHORE to a Holy WHORE, which when she turns up the White of her Eye, And the Black of her Tail when she falls flat of her Back, According as the Spirit moves her, The Fire of her Zeal, Kindles such a Flame, that the Devil cannot withstand her, Besides she can fit a man with such a Cloak for her Knavery she can cover her Lust with Religion, O! these Lasses that can rise and get them ready by Six a Cloak in the Morning to go to Christ Church, And then in the Afternoon to go to Saint Autholing O! how they listen for that Tinkle tanckle bell that rouses them in a morning to a stirring excecise, but I am afraid that a great many of them love the bell for the Clapper sak●, they love the smock though they hate the surplis, so much for that.  
But lest I should incur the displeasure of all women for laying  the erorrs of some, I will now begin to turn the Cat in the Pan as the old saying i●, and leaving these, Goss●p to amend. I will now say alitle concerning good women, if there be any such as sure there are, though scarce, and I veryly believe if every one would, amend one, we should have a great many more than we have, but I am afraid they will be so fare from takeing my council that they will sooner reward me with a scratched Crown, then with any oth●● reward, for my friendly admonition. As for the good women 〈◊〉 need spend no time to praise them their works will saintlike declare their worths and their virtues sha●●●●ine on earth much, more in Heaven divine.  
Good Women are like stars in darkest night,  
Their virtuous actions shining as a light.  
To guide their Ignoraent sex which oft times fall,  
And falling oft turns Diabolical.  
Their good examples oft times does persuade,  
A zealous Sister from her falling trade.  
Good women sure are Angels on the earth,  
Of these good Angels we have had a dearth.  
And therefore all you men that have good wives  
Respect their virtues equal with your lives.  
FINIS