Page:The Arraignment of Lewd, Idle, Froward, and Unconstant Women (1622).djvu/6

 ''paſt, I began to conſider the blaſpheny of this infamour Booke againſt your Sexe; I then tooke my Penne, and cut him in twentie pieces, and had it not beene for hurting my ſelfe, I would haue cut mine owne fingers which held the Penne. And furthermore, for a pennance I doe craue, that my ſelfe may be a Iudge againſt my ſelfe: but yet aſſure your ſelues, of all euils I will chuſe the leaſt; wherefore I chuſe rather to beare a Faggot, then burne by the Faggot. You may perceiue the Winde is turned into another doore, and that I begin to be Sea-ſicke, and yet not paſt halfe a mile on the ſalt Water, and that my mouth hath vttered that in my fury which my heart neuer thought, and therefore I confeſſe, that my tongue hath gone beyond my wits: for I doe ſurmiſe, that the ſauce which I haue made, is too ſharpe for your dyet; and the flowers which I haue gathered, are too ſtrong for your noſes: but if I had brought little Dogges from Iceland, or fine Glaſſes from Venice, then I am ſure that you would either haue wooed me to haue them, or wiſhed to ſee them. But I will here conclude this firſt Epiſtle, praying you with patience to heare the reſt; for if I offend you at the firſt, I will make you amends at the laſt: and ſo I leaue you to him whoſe Seat is in Heauen, and whoſe Foot-ſtoole is the Earth.''

Yours in the way of honeſty,

Ioſeph Swetnam.