First Blast of the Trumpet against the monstrous regiment of Women | Page 6

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....
That these works, and every person supposed to entertain similar
sentiments, should be regarded with marked aversion by Queen
ELIZABETH, need excite no surprise.
In the beginning of the year 1559, CALVIN having revised and
republished his Commentaries on ISAIAH, originally dedicated to
EDWARD VI. in 1551; he addressed the work in a printed Epistle to
Her Majesty: but his messenger brought him back word that his
homage was not kindly received by Her Majesty, because she had been
offended with him by reason of some writings published with his
approbation at Geneva.
CALVIN felt so greatly annoyed at this imputation, that he addressed a
letter[1] to Sir WILLIAM CECIL, in which he expresses himself with
no small degree of asperity on the subject of KNOX'S First Blast. He
says--
Two years ago [i.e. in 1557] JOHN KNOX asked of me, in a private
conversation, what I thought about the Government of Women. I
candidly replied, that as it was a deviation from the original and proper
order of nature, it was to be ranked, no less than slavery, among the
punishments consequent upon the fall of man: but that there were
occasionally women so endowed, that the singular good qualities which
shone forth in them made it evident that they were raised up by Divine
authority;