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The First Blast of the Trumpet against the monstrous regiment

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The First Blast of the Trumpet against the monstrous regiment of Women.

The English Scholar's Library etc.

No. 2.

The First Blast of the Trumpet, &c.

1558.

Edited by EDWARD ARBER, F.S.A., etc.,

LECTURER IN ENGLISH LITERATURE, ETC., UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, LONDON.
SOUTHGATE, LONDON, N.

15 August 1878.

No. 2.

(All rights reserved.)

[Transcribers Note: The image source for this book was a .pdf of the
above edition. The production of the pdf seems to have generated some
errors e.g. royal1 for royall. Such errors have been fixed but otherwise
the text aims to be true to the printed book.]



CONTENTS.

Bibliography

INTRODUCTION

Extracts from Mr. DAVID LAING'S Preface

* * * * *

The First Blast of the Trumpet &c.

THE PREFACE.

The wonderful silence of the godly and zealous preachers, the learned men
and of grave judgment, now in exile, that they do not admonish the
inhabitants of "greate Brittanny" how abominable before GOD is the Empire
or Rule of Wicked Woman, yea, of a traitress and bastard.

This is contrary to the examples of the ancient prophets.

I am assured that GOD hath revealed unto some in this our age, that it is
more than a monster in nature that a Woman shall reign and have empire
above Man.

ANSWERS TO THE OBJECTIONS

Why no such doctrine ought to be published in these our dangerous days.

(a) _It may seem to tend to sedition._

(b) _It shall be dangerous not only to the writer or publisher, but to all
as shall read the writings, or favour this truth spoken._

(c) _It shall not amend the chief offenders, because

1. It shall never come to their ears

2. They will not be admonished_.

If any think that the Empire of Women is not of such importance that for
the surpressing of the same any man is bound to hazard his life: I answer,
that to suppress it, is in the hand of GOD alone; but to utter the impiety
and abomination of the same, I say, it is the duty of every true messenger
of GOD to whom the truth is revealed in that behalf.

The First Blast to awake Women degenerate.

THE DECLAMATION.

_The_ Proposition. To promote a Woman to bear rule, superiority, dominion
or empire above any realm, nation or city is

A. Repugnant to nature.

B. Contumely to GOD.

C. The subversion of good order, of all equity and justice.

A. Men illuminated only by the light of nature have seen and determined
that it is a thing most repugnant to nature, that Women rule and
govern over men.

B.

1. Woman in her greatest perfection was made to serve and obey man, not to
rule and command him.

2. After the fall, she was made subject to man by the irrevocable sentence
of GOD. In which sentence there are two parts.

(a) A dolour, anguish and pain as oft as ever she shall be a mother.

(b) A subjection of her self, her appetites and will to her husband and
his will.

From the former part of this malediction can neither art, nobility, policy
nor law made by man deliver women: but, alas, ignorance of GOD, ambition
and tyranny have studied to abolish and destroy the second part of GOD's
punishment.

3. This subjection, understood by many to be that of the wife to the
husband, is extended by Saint PAUL to women in general To which consent
TERTULLIAN, AUGUSTINE, AMBROSE, CHRYSOSTOM, BASIL

4. The two other Mirrors, in which we may behold the order of Nature.

(a) The natural body of man

(b) The civil body of that Commonwealth [_of the Jews_] in which GOD by
his own word hath appointed an order.

C. The Empire of a Woman is a thing repugnant to justice, and the
destruction of every commonwealth where it is received.

(a) If justice be a constant and perpetual will to give to every person
their own right: then to give or to will to give to any person that which
is not their right, must repugn to justice. But to reign above Man can
never be the right to Woman: because it is a thing denied unto her by GOD,
as is before declared.

(b) Whatsoever repugneth to the will of GOD expressed in His most sacred
word, repugneth to justice. That Women have authority over Men repugneth
to the will of GOD expressed in His word. Therefore all such authority
repugneth to justice.

ANSWERS TO OBJECTIONS.

1. _The examples of DEBORAH [Judges_ iv. 4] _and HULDAH_ [2
_Kings_ xxii 14.]

2. _The law of MOSES for the daughters of ZELOPHEHAD [Numb_. xxvii. 7,
and xxxvi. 11]

3. _The consent of the Estates of such realms as have approved the Empire
and Regiment of Women._

4 [_The long custom which hath received the Regiment of Women. The valiant
acts and prosperity. Together with some Papistical laws which have
confirmed the same_.

*** This objection was not directly replied to; but instead, the two
following ones.]

(a) _Albeit Women may not absolutely reign by themselves; because they may
neither sit in judgment, neither pronounce sentence, neither execute any
public office: yet may they do all such things by their Lieutenants,
Deputies, and Judges substitutes_.

(b) _A woman born to rule over any realm, may choose her a husband; and to
him she may transfer and give her authority and right_.

THE ADMONITION.

And now to put an end to the First Blast. Seeing that by the Order of
Nature; by the malediction and curse pronounced against Woman; by the
mouth of Saint PAUL, the interpreter of GOD's sentence; by the example of
that Commonwealth in which GOD by His word planted order and policy; and
finally, by the judgment of the most godly writers: GOD hath dejected
women from rule, dominion, empire and authority above man. Moreover,
seeing that neither the example of DEBORAH, neither the law made for the
daughters of ZELOPHEHAD, neither yet the foolish consent of an ignorant
multitude: be able to justify that which GOD so plainly hath condemned.
Let all men take heed what quarrel and cause from henceforth they do
defend. If GOD raise up any noble heart to vindicate the liberty of his
country and to suppress the monstrous Empire of Women: let all such as
shall presume to defend them in the same, most certainly know; that in so
doing they lift their hand against GOD, and that one day they shall find
His power to fight against their foolishness.

JOHN KNOX to the Reader

APPENDIX.

1559.

12 July. JOHN KNOX to Sir WILLIAM CECIL

20 July. JOHN KNOX'S Declaration to Queen ELIZABETH

1561.

20 Mar. THOMAS RANDOLPH to Sir WILLIAM CECIL

5 Aug. JOHN KNOX'S Second Defence to Queen ELIZABETH

Extracts from JOHN KNOX'S History of the Church of Scotland



_BIBLIOGRAPHY._

The First Blast of the Trumpet etc.

ISSUES IN THE AUTHOR'S LIFETIME.

A. _As a separate publication_.

1. 1558. [i.e. early in that year at Geneva. 8vo.] See title at _p_. I.

B. _With other Works_.

None known.

ISSUES SINCE HIS DEATH.

A. As a separate publication.

2. [?1687? Edinburgh.] 8vo. The First Blast of the Trumpet against the
monstrous Regimen[t] of Women.

4. 15. Aug. 1878. Southgate London N.

_English Scholar's Library_. The present impression.

B. With other Works.

1846-1848. Edinburgh. 8vo. _Bannatyne Club_. The Works of JOHN KNOX.
Collected and edited by DAVID LAING. In 6 Vols. A special and limited
edition of 112 copies of the First Two Volumes was struck off for this
Printing Club.

1846-1848. Edinburgh. 8vo. _Wodrow Club_. The same Two Volumes issued
to this Society.

1854-1864. Edinburgh. 8vo. The remaining Four Volumes published by Mr. T.
G. STEVENSON. The First Blast &c. is at Vol. iv. 349.

Early Replies to the First Blast etc.

1. 26 Apr. 1559. Strasburgh. 4to. [JOHN AYLMER, afterwards Bishop of
LONDON].

An Harborovve for faithfull and trewe subiectes, agaynst the late blowne
Blaste, concerninge the Gouernmente of VVemen wherin he confuted all
such reasons as a straunger of late made in that behalfe, with a breife
exhortation to Obedience. Anno. M.D. lix.

[This calling John Knox a "stranger" sounds to us like a piece of
impudence, but may bring home to us that Scotland was then to Englishmen a
foreign country.]

2. 1565-6. Antwerp. 8vo. PETRUS FRARINUS, M.A.

Oration against the Vnlawfull Insurrections of the Protestantes of our
time, under the pretence to refourme religion.

Made and pronounced in the Schole of Artes at Louaine, the xiiij of
December. Anno 1565. And now translated into English with the aduise of
the Author. Printed by JOHN FOWLER in 1566.

The references to KNOX and GOODMAN are at E. vj and F. ij. At the end of
this work is a kind of Table of Contents, each reference being
illustrated with a woodcut depicting the irightful cruelties with which
the Author in the text charges the Protestants. One woodcut is a curious
representation of GOODMAN and NOKES.

Doctor FULKE wrote a _Confutation_ of this work.

3. 1579. Paris. 8vo. DAVID CHAMBERS of Ormond.

Histoire abregée de tous les Roys de France, Angleterre et Escosse, etc.
In three Parts, each with a separate Title page.

The Third Part is dated 21 August 1573; is dedicated to CATHERINE DE
MEDICI; and is entitled

Discours de la legitime succession des femmes aux possessions de leurs
parens: et du gouernement des princesses aux Empires et Royaumes.

4. 1584. [Printed abroad]. 8vo. JOHN LESLEY, Bishop of ROSS.

A treatise towching the right, title and interest of the most Excellent
Princesse MARIE, Queen of Scotland, And of the most noble King JAMES, her
Graces sonne, to the succession of the Crowne of England. ... Compiled ahd
published before in Latin, and after in English. The Blast is alluded
to at C. 2.

5. 1590. [Never printed.] Lord HENRY HOWARD [created Earl of NORTHAMPTON
13 March 1604.], a voluminous writer, but few of whose writings ever came
to the press.

A dutifull defence of the lawfull Regiment of women deuided into three
bookes. The first conteyneth reasons and examples grounded on the law of
nature. The second reasons and examples grownded on the Ciuile lawes. The
third reasons and examples grounded on the sacred lawes of god with an
awnswer to all false and friuolous obiections which haue bene most
vniustlie cowntenaunced with deceitfull coulores forced oute of theis
lawes in disgrace of their approued and sufficient authorytie. _Lansd.
MS_. 813 and _Harl. MS_. 6257.




INTRODUCTION.

At the time this tract was written the destinies, immediate and
prospective, of the Protestant faith seemed to lay wholly in the laps of
five women, viz:--

CATHERINE DE MEDICI, Queen of France.

MARIE DE LORRAINE, Queen Regent of Scotland, whose sole heir was her
daughter MARY, afterwards Queen of Scots.

MARY TUDOR, Queen of England, having for her heir apparent the Princess
ELIZABETH.

Of these, the last--also of least account at this moment, being in
confinement--was the only hope of the Reformers. The other four, largely
directing the affairs of three kingdoms, were steadfastly hostile to the
new faith. Truly, the odds were heavy against it. Who could have
anticipated that within three years of the writing of this book both MARY
TUDOR and MARY DE LORRAINE would have passed away; that KNOX himself would
have been in Scotland carrying on the Reformation; and that ELIZABETH
would have commenced her marvellous reign. So vast a change in the
political world was quite beyond all reasonable foresight.

Meanwhile there was only present to the vision and heart of the Reformer
as he gazed seaward, from Dieppe, but the unceasing blaze of, the martyr
fires spreading from Smithfield all over England. Month after month this
horrid work was deliberately carried on and was increasing in intensity.


We se our countrie set furthe for a pray to foreine nations, we
heare the blood of our brethren, the membres of Christ Iesus most
cruellie to be shed, and the monstruous empire of a cruell women
(the secrete counsel of God excepted) we knowe to be the onlie
occasion of all the miseries: and yet with silence we passe the
time as thogh the mater did nothinge appertein to vs. _p_. 3.


The vigour of the persecution had struck all heart out of the Protestants.
Was this to go on for ever? Heart-wrung at the ruthless slaughter--as we,
in our day, have been by the horrors of the Indian mutiny or of the
Bulgarian atrocities---the Reformer sought to know the occasion of all
these calamities. At that moment, he found it in the Empire of Woman.
Afterwards he referred much of this book to the time in which it was
written [_pp_. 58 and 61]. Shall we say that his heart compelled his head
to this argument, that his indignation entangled his understanding on this
subject? Just as MILTON was led to the discussion of the conditions of
divorce, through his desertion by his wife MARY POWELL; so the fiery
martyrdoms of England led KNOX to denounce the female sex in the person of
her whom we still call "Bloody MARY" that was the occasion of them all.

If in the happiest moment of his happiest dream, JOHN KNOX could have
foreseen our good and revered Queen VICTORIA reigning in the hearts of the
millions of her subjects, and ruling an Empire wider by far than those of
Spain and Portugal in his day; if he could have seen England and Scotland
ONE COUNTRY, bearing the name which, as almost of prophecy, he has
foreshadowed for them in this tract, "the Ile of greate Britanny;" if he
could have beheld that one country as it now abides in its strength and
its wealth, the most powerful of European states; if he could have
realized free Italy with Rome, the Popes without temporal power, and
modern civilisation more than a match for Papal intrigues; if he could
have known that the gospel for which he lived had regenerated the social
life of Great Britain, that it was tha confessed basis of our political
action and the perennial spring of our Christian activities, so that not
merely in physical strength, but in moral, force and mental enlightenment
we are in the van of the nations of the world: if the great Scotch
Reformer had but had a glimpse of this present reality, this tract would
never have been written, and he would willingly have sung the paean of
aged SIMEON and passed out of this life.

But this work was the offspring of the hour of darkness, if not of
despair. Something must be done. A warrior of the pen, he would forge a
general argument against all female rule that would inclusively destroy
the legal right of MARY to continue these atrocities.


II.

The first note of this trumpet blast, "The Kingdom apperteineth to our
GOD," shows us the vast difference between the way in which men regarded
the Almighty Being then and now. Shall we say that the awe of the Deity
has departed! Now so much stress is laid on the Fatherhood of GOD: in
KNOX'S time it was His might to defend His own or to take vengeance on all
their murderers. Both views are true. Nevertheless this age does seem
wanting in a general and thorough reverence for His great name and
character.

KNOX seems like some great Hebrew seer when he thus pronounces the doom of
MARY and her adherents.

The same God, who did execute this greuous punishment, euen by the
handes of those, whom he suffred twise to be ouercomen in batel,
doth this day retein his power and iustice. Cursed Iesabel of
England, with the pestilent and detestable generation of papistes,
make no litle bragge and boast, that they haue triumphed not only
against Wyet, but also against all such as haue entreprised any
thing against them or their procedinges. But let her and them
consider, that yet they haue not preuailed against god, his throne
is more high, then that the length of their hornes be able to
reache. And let them further consider, that in the beginning of
their bloodie reigne, the haruest of their iniquitie was not comen
to full maturitie and ripenes. No, it was so grene, so secret I
meane, so couered, and so hid with hypocrisie, that some men (euen
the seruantes of God) thoght it not impossible, but that wolues
might be changed in to lambes, and also that the vipere might
remoue her natural venom. But God, who doth reuele in his time
apointed the secretes of hartes, and that will haue his
iudgementes iustified euen by the verie wicked, hath now geuen
open testimonie of her and their beastlie crueltie. For man and
woman, learned and vnlearned, nobles and men of baser sorte, aged
fathers and tendre damiselles, and finailie the bones of the dead,
as well women as men haue tasted of their tyrannie, so that now
not onlie the blood of father Latimer, of the milde man of God
the bishop of Cantorburie, of learned and discrete Ridley, of
innocent ladie Iane dudley, and many godly and worthie preachers,
that can not be forgotten, such as fier hath consumed, and the
sworde of tyrannie moste vniustlie hath shed, doth call for
vengeance in the eares of the Lord God of hostes: but also the
sobbes and teares of the poore oppressed, the groninges of the
angeles, the watch men of the Lord, yea and euerie earthlie
creature abused by their tyrannie do continuallie crie and call
for the hastie execution of the same. I feare not to say, that the
day of vengeance, whiche shall apprehend that horrible monstre
Iesabal of England, and suche as maintein her monstruous crueltie,
is alredie apointed in the counsel of the Eternall; and I verelie,
beleue that it is so nigh, that she shall not reigne so long in
tyrannie, as hitherto she hath done, when God shall declare him
selfe to be her ennemie, when he shall poure furth contempt vpon
her, according to her crueltie, and shal kindle the hartes of
such, as sometimes did fauor her with deadly hatred against her,
that they may execute his iudgementes. And therfore let such as
assist her, take hede what they do.


Within a year of the writing of this MARY TUDOR was dead, and the system
of which she was the centre was dead too.


III.

There are some notable incidental matters in this tract.

First in matters of State. As

The spaniardes are Iewes and they bragge that Marie of England is
the roote of Iesse. _p_. 46.

That most important testimony that the Reformation under EDWARD VI was
mainly the work of the King and his court; as it had been in the days of
his father HENRY VIII.

For albeit thou diddest not cease to heape benefit vpon benefit,
during the reigne of an innocent and tendre king, yet no man did
acknowledge thy potent hand and meruelouse working. The stoute
courage of capitaines, the witte and policie of counselers, the
learning of 'bishoppes[1], did robbe the of thy glorie and honor.
For what then was heard, as concerning religion, but the kinges
procedinges, the kinges procedinges must be obeyed? It is enacted
by parliament: therefore it is treason to speake in the contrarie.
_p. 30._

The political shrewdness of the Writer on the entanglement of England in
the Spanish War against France, whereby we lost Calais on the 6th
January 1558.

They see their owne destruction, and yet they haue no grace to
auoide it. Yea they are becomen so blinde, that knowing the pit,
they headlong cast them selues into the same, as the nobilitie[2]
of England, do this day, fighting in the defense of their mortall
ennemie the Spaniard. Finallie they are so destitute of
vnderstanding and iudgement, that althogh they knowe that there is
a libertie and fredome, the whiche their predecessors haue
inioyed; yet are they compelled to bowe their neckes vnder the
yoke of Satan, and of his proude ministres, pestilent papistes and
proude spaniardes. And yet can they not consider that where a
woman reigneth and papistes beare authoritie, that there must
nedes Satan be president of the counsel, _p. 31._

The absence of any specific allusion to Calais shows that this book
was wholly written before its capture.

Next, in the imagery with which he expresses his insight into the
nature of things. As

It is a thing verie difficile to a man, (be he neuer so constant)
promoted to honors, not to be tickled some what with pride (for
the winde of vaine glorie doth easelie carie vp the, drie dust of
the earth). _p. 19._

The wise, politic, and quiet spirites of this world, _p. 8._

The veritie of God[3] is of that nature, that at one time or at
other, it will pourchace to it selfe audience. It is an odour and
smell, that can not be suppressed, yea it is a trumpet that will
sound in despite of the adversarie.

Lastly, the marvellous lashing of women, throughout: climaxing in

Woman ... the porte and gate of the deuil.




IV.

This work is therefore to us rather "the groaning of this angel,"
this "watchman of the LORD" at the national subjection, the fiery
martyrdoms, "the sobs and tears of the poor oppressed;" than the
expression of any fundamental principle on which GOD has
constituted human society. Intellectually, there is partiality,
forgetfulness and disproportion in the argument. It applies as
much to a Man as to a Woman, and more to a wicked than a good
Woman. He started on the assumption that almost all women in
authority were wicked. Time however alters many things; and he
lived to love and reverence Queen ELIZABETH.

So these trumpet notes are the outpouring of a very great nature,
if not of a great thinker; of one whose absolute and dauntless
devotion to GOD, to truth, to right, whose burning indignation
against wrong-doing and faith in the Divine vengeance to overtake
it, fitted him to do a giant's work in the Reformation, and will
enshrine his memory in the affection of all good men till time
shall end.

[Sidenote 1: what robbed God of his honor in England in the time
of the Gospell.]

[Sidenote 2: The nobilitie and the hole realme of England, caste
themselves willing in to the pit.]

[Sidenote 3: The propertie of Goddes truth.]



EXTRACTS FROM MR. DAVID LAING'S PREFACE.

With some other hints, gratefully acknowledged.

Of the various writings of the Reformer, no one was the occasion of
exciting greater odium than his _First Blast against the monstrous
Regiment or Government of Women_. Unlike all his other publications, it
appeared anonymously, although he had no intention of ultimately
concealing his name. His purpose was, as he tells us, "Thrice to Blow the
Trumpet in the same matter, if GOD so permit," and, on the last occasion,
to announce himself as the writer, to prevent any blame being imputed to
others. This intention, it is well known, was never carried into effect.
That KNOX'S views were in harmony with those of his colleagues, GOODMAN,
WHITTINGHAM, and GILBY, need hardly be stated: but the reception of the
little work fully confirmed the Author's opinion, that it would not escape
"the reprehension of many." This may in a great measure be attributed to
the course of public events within a few months of its publication.

The subject of Female Government had engaged his attention at an earlier
period. One of his Questions submitted to BULLINGER in 1554 was "Whether a
Female can preside over, and rule a kingdom by divine right?" And in
answer to some doubts regarding the Apparel of Women, he himself says that
"if women take upon them the office which GOD hath assigned to men, they
shall not escape the Divine malediction." In his _Additions_ to the
_Apology for The Protestants in prison at Paris_, he expresses his
conviction that the government of Princes had come to that state of
iniquity that "no godly person can enjoy office or authority under them."
This assertion indeed was not specially applicable to Female government,
but his feelings in reference to the persecutions in England under MARY,
and in Scotland under the Queen Regent, impelled him to treat of a subject
which all others at the time seemed most sedulously to avoid.

His First _Blast_ was probably written at Dieppe towards the end of 1557;
and it was printed early in the following year at Geneva, as is apparent
upon comparison with other books from the press of JOHN CRESPIN in
that city.

A copy of the work having been sent to JOHN FOX, then residing at Basle,
he wrote "a loving and friendly letter" to the author, in which he
expostulates with him on the impropriety of the publication. In KNOX'S
reply, dated the 18th of May 1558, he says, he will not excuse "his rude
vehemencie and inconsidered affirmations, which may appear rather to
proceed from choler than of zeal or reason." "To me," he adds, "it _is_
enough to say, that black is not white, an'd man's tyranny and foolishness
is not GOD's perfect ordinance."

The similar work of GOODMAN on _Obedience to Superior_ Powers which
appeared at Geneva about the same time, was also suggested by the
persecuting spirit which then prevailed. But both works were published
somewhat unseasonably, as such questions on _Government_ and _Obedience_,
it is justly observed, might have been more fitly argued when a King
happened to fill the throne. The terms used by GOODMAN in reference to
MARY, Queen of England, are not less violent than unseemly. She died on
the 17th of November 1558, and her successor regarded the authors of those
works with the utmost dislike; although neither of them, in their
writings, had any special reference or the least intention of giving
offence to Queen ELIZABETH....

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