1699 FEMINISM. Excessively Rare & Important Work on Feminism. "The Female Preacher."

A wonderful sammelband apparently including a handful of moderately important sermons by Anglican divines and others of only ephemeral value, 29 in all, ranging from 1678-1706. But then, tucked in as the last two items . . . a pair of gems.

The first:

Sprint, John. The Bride-Womans Counseller. Being a Sermon Preach'd at a Wedding, May the 11th, 1699, at Sherbourn, in Dorsetshire. London. Printed by H. Hills in Black-fryars, near the Water-side. For the Benefit of the Poor. 1699. 16pp.

In the sermon, for some reason, Sprint thought the occasion of the wedding a fitting time to vent his frustrations regarding women's unwillingness to be the good women he wished them to be. So he opines in nauseating page after page about the duties and privileges of women [which, unsurprisingly, largely involve doing what men want]. 

He is patronizing to the last drop. He closes, "But I must forbear enlargement, least, that, by over-lading the memories of the Women, I should cause them to forget their Duty which has been set before them." And promises application of his words will "reform imperious wives" who recognize not their husbands as Lord and Master. 

He seemed to glory in the controversy, as "Eugenia" predicted. He issued this statement, "Be it known unto all men that I have not met with one Woman among all my accusers whose Husband is able to give her the Character of a Dutiful and Obedient Wife."

This sermon, rather unusual on the market in its own right, elicited a rather rare public female response by an anonymous authoress, "A Lady of Quality." 

A Lady of Quality [Pseud. Eugenia]. The Female Preacher. Being an Answer to the late Rude and Scandalous Wedding-Sermon, Preach'd by Mr. John Sprint, Mya the 11th, at Sherburn, in Dorsetshire: wherein the Levite is Expos'd as he Deserves. London. Printed for H. Hills in Black-fryars. Nd. c.1699. 24pp. 

Another edition of the same was issued apparently the same year under the title, The Female Advocate. Or, a Plea for the Just Liberty of the Tender Sex, and Particularly of Married Women. Being Reflections on a Late Rude and Disingenuous Discourse by Mr. John Sprint, etc. 

The work has been described as an important proto-feminist work. It has at times been attributed to Mary Chudleigh, though this seems doubtful, though Chudleigh did write a poem celebrating the writings of the anonymous "Eugenia." She apparently wished to remain anonymous, stating "If you inquire who I am, I shall only tell you in general, that I am one that never yet came within the Clutches of a Husband; and therefore what I write may be the more favourably interpreted as not coming from a Party concern'd."

The work is volcanic. Hell hath no fury . . . and here is proof. The sarcasm is pungently present in almost every paragraph. 

". . . when I had follow'd him [the preacher] to the end of the Chapter, I could not but wonder to find a Sex attack'd from the Pulpit with more confident impudence than ever they were on the Stage, tho' with far less Wit and Ingenuity . . . Hereupon I laid aside the Book as a most self-confuting piece, till I found that Miracles were not ceased, and that some People were so charm'd with it, that they thought it worht their while to seize every poor Woman they met with it. Upon this I began to have some Design to taking Arms, and alarming the whole Power of Females against him. But upon second thoughts I resolved to save them the trouble, and enter into a single Combat with this great Goliah, this Man of mighty Fame."

". . . I began to be afraid that he would think himself honour'd by an Antagonist, and conclude for certain that there must needs be some mighty force in his Arguments if any resistance is made. But at last considering his haughty Temper, and knowing 'twas impossible he should have any greater thoughts of his last piece than he has already, I began to lay aside that fear, and only expected that he would fancy himself the Emperor of the Moon, and whoever writes against him to be one of the little snarling Animals that are anger at its Light and Glory."

"Then he tells us, that good wives are not offended with his Discourse; now by good wives he certainly means such as he describes, and then no wonder they say not much against him, since a word against his Doctrine is their Lords and Maters. But I believe it will be no hard task to make a Catalogue of very good Wives who have censur'd him as an Instrument of Oppression and Tyranny to others, tho' they themselves are not under it."

While she is, well, quite saucy. She also argues clearly against his propositions. For instance: 

"'Tis granted the Woman was created for the Man, but we deny that this is any pretense to use the limited Power which Heaven has given him to the Unhappiness and Ruine of a Creature that was made for him. If the Scripture tells us that tho the Beasts are made for Men, yet a good man is Merciful to a Beast, much more regard is there to be had of a nobler Creature, which thou' inferior in Brutal Strength of Body, yet in Strength and Beauty of Reason equals the Superior Sex. . . . Tho' Women are for the Comfort and Benefit of Men, yet that's no reason why they should be their most obedient Slaves and Vassals. I suppose the Author will grant that Men are to be for the Comfort and Benefit of Women, and yet the Consequence will not be allow'd that therefore Man is to cast this away, and that way, and every way, how to please his Wife."

She also gives a rather deft argument upon the creation narrative which had been used to argue that the power of men over women is now the way of things in the world. She flips that and makes this "effect" of the fall something to be worked against and resisted. Just as the thorns and weeds are a curse, yet we pull them and pluck them to reveal the pristine essence of creation, even so the oppression of men over women is a part of the curse and is to be plucked to reveal the beauty of the original mutual-giving union. Good stuff "Eugenia." 

Mr. Sprint is out of his depth. 

An important and very scarce work. No copies on the market and we trace no copies offered for sale or at auction. For reference, a good copy of Mary Wollstonecraft on the Rights of Women can fetch $10,000 at auction. John Stuart Mills' work on the Subjugation of Women $5,000. The present much less obtainable. 

All housed in a period paneled calf binding in a very good state, at one time part of the Acton Scott Library.