Joseph Swetnam
Despite this attempt at anonymity, Swetnam was quickly known as the true author (The full title of the original pamphlet was: The araignment of leuud, idle, froward, and vnconstant women : or the vanitie of them, choose you whether : with a commendation of wise, vertuous and honest women : pleasant for married men, profitable for young men, and hurtfull to none.).
Obviously intended for a male audience, much of the pamphlet takes the comical form of what we might today call sexist jokes.
An important part of any author's attack or defence of women (as well as other subjects of debate) was interpretation and counter-interpretation of the Bible to support his or her perspective.
[4] Swetnam draws somewhat from the much-debated scene of the Garden of Eden, saying that woman "was no sooner made but straightway...procured man's fall", but he spends more time naming various victims of seduction, including David, Solomon, and Samson, blaming their falls from Godly grace on the wiles of the women with whom they sinned.
[3] He even makes use of a number of legendary figures in classical antiquity, including Hercules, Agamemnon, and Ulysses, citing the travails they suffered at the hands of women.
[1] Some scholars propose that this popularity was due to its heavy drawing from previous works, including and especially John Lyly's Euphues, and its consequent sense of inclusiveness.
A Mouzell for Melastomus focuses on biblical material, interpreting scripture to counter Swetnam's attacks, while criticising its grammar and style.
She writes, "Whoso makes the fruit of his cogitations extant to the view of all men should have his work to be as a well-tuned instrument, in all places according and agreeing, the which I am sure yours doth not" (p. 36).
The demonstration of wide education and the inventive used has cast doubt of Constantia being a woman, but within the text she indicates that she is a daughter.
The play reflects the popularity of Swetnam's tract with the "common people": it was performed at London's Red Bull Theatre, which had a populist reputation.
