This anthology contains long extracts from fifty early modern texts, including witchcraft pamphlets, letters and other manuscript material, prophetic texts, practical books and petitions, as well as the more widely recognized genres of prose fiction and autobiography. The women writers themselves represent a range of different social, religious and political positions. Texts by male writers are also included to promote "a gendered poetics that rereads men's texts in the weave of women's". The result is a comprehensive introduction to women's writing in the Renaissance that encourages the exploration of the differences between women.
Introduction
Textual editing
Texts: Richard Hyrde, trans., J. L. Vives, The Instruction of a Christen Woman (1529)
Lady Ann Cooke-Bacon, trans., Fouretene sermons of Barnadine Ochyne (1550)
John Knox, The First Blast of the Trumpet against the Monstrous Regiment of Women (1558)
Margaret Tyler, trans., D. Ortunez de Calaharra, The Mirrour of Princely Deedes and Knighthood (1578)
Thomas Salter, The Mirrhor of Modestie (1579)
Anne Wheathill, A handfull of holesome (though homelie) hearbs (1584)
Philip Stubbes, A Christal Glasse, for Christian Women (1591)
Lady Mary Sidney, Countess of Pembroke, trans., Phillipe de Mornay, A Discourse of Life and Death (1592)
Lady Margaret Hoby, Diary (1570-1617)
Maria Thynne, Letters (1604-1607)
Joseph Swetnam, The Arraignment of Lewd, Idle, Froward and Unconstant Women (1615)
Rachel Speght, A Mouzell for Melastomus (1617)
Ester Sowernam, Ester Hath Hang"d Haman (1617)
Lady Mary Wroth, The Countesse of Montgomeries Urania (1621)
Dorothy Leigh, The Mothers Blessing (1621)
William Gouge, Of Domesticall Duties (1622)
Lady Elizabeth Clinton, The Countesse of Lincolnes Nursurie (1622)
C.F., trans., Richard Smith, The Life of ...L.A. Magdalen Viscountesse Montague (1627)
Susan du Verger, trans., John Peter Camus, Bp. of Belley, Admirable Events (1639)
Anon., The Mid-wives just petition (1642)
Lady Brilliana Harley, Letters (1642-3)
Lady Elenor Davies, Lady Elenor Davies Her Appeal (1646)
Thomas Edwards, The First and Scond Part of Gangraena (1646)
Henry Jessey, The exceeding Riches of grace Advanced by the Spirit of Grace, in an Empty Nothing Creature, viz. Mris. Sarah Wight (1647)
James Dalton, A Strange and True Relation Of a Young Woman possesst with the Devill (1647)
Elizabeth Poole, A Vision: wherein is manifested the disease and cure of the kingdome (1648)
Frances Cook, Mris. Cookes Meditations (1649)
Anna Weamys, A Continuation of Sir Philip Sidney's Arcadia (1651)
John Rogers, Ohel or Beth-Shemesh. A Tabernacle for the Sun (1653)
Lady Dorothy Osborne, Letters (c.1653)
Anna Trapnel, Strange and Wonderfull Newes from White-Hall (1654)
Elinor Channel, A Message from God, By a Dumb Woman (1653/4)
Priscilla Cotton and Mary Cole, To the priests and people of England (1655)
Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle, Natures Pictures (1656)
Anna Maria Van Schurman, The Learned Maid (1659)
Henry Wilkinson, "The Life and death of Mrs. Margaret Corbet" from Samuel Clarke, Lives of Ten Eminent Divines (1662)
Margaret Fell, Women's Speaking Justified (1666)
Lady Elizabeth DeLaval, Meditations (1662-71)
Jane Sharp, The Midwives Book (1671)
Susanna Bell, The Legacy of a Dying Mother (1673)
Bathsua Pell Makin, An Essay to Revive the Antient Education of Gentlewomen (1673)
Mary More, The Women's Right (1674-80)
Robert Whitehall, The Woman's Right Proved False in which the True Right is easily discerned (1674-80)
Anon., Murther will out, Or, A True and Faithful Relation of an Horrible Murther commited Thirty Three Years ago, by an unnatural Mother (1675)
Hannah Woolley, The Gentlewoman's Companion (1675)
Lady Anne Halket, Memoirs (fl.1677)
Ann Bathurst, Meditations and Visions (1679)
Mary Rowlandson, A True History of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson (1682)
Elizabeth Gaunt, Mrs Elizabeth Gaunt's Last Speech (1685)
Aphra Behn, trans., Agnes de Castro: Or, the Force of Generous Love (1688)
Select Bibliography.
postgraduates of English literature and women's studies.