Chapter XVI. Notices of Ancient Authorities

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CHAPTER THE SIXTEENTH

NOTICES OF ANCIENT AUTHORITIES

THE following extraordinary work--which is so rare and so valuable (see below) in its original edition, that we have reason to believe the Authors of the 'Rosicrucians' can congratulate themselves in being the possessors, in all probability, of the only copy in existence--was suppressed, wherever found, on its appearance. The author, in reality, was never known. It is considered probable that this book had a paramount effect in bringing about, and in compassing the success of, the Reformation.

Disputatio Nova contra Mulieres; qua Probatur eas Homines non esse. Anno MDXCV. Theses de Mulieribus quod Homines non sint. Cum in Samaria, ut in campo omnis licentiæ, liberum sit credere et do cere, Jesum Christum, Filium Dei Salvatorem et Redeptorem animarum nostrarum, una cum Spiritu Sancto non esse Deum, licebit opinor etiam mihi credere, quod multo minus est, mulieres scilicet non esse Homines--et quod rode sequitur--Christum ergo pro its non esse passum, nec eas salvari. Si enim non solum in hoc regno tolerantur, sed etiam a magnatibus præmiis afficiuntur, qui blasphemant Creatorem, cur ego exilium aut supplicium timere debeo, qui simpliciter convicior creaturam? præsertim cum eo modo ex Sacris literis probare possim, mulierem non esse hominem, quo illi probant Christum non esse Deum.

Admonitio Theologicæ Facultatis in Academia Witebergensi, ad scholasticam juventutem, de libello famoso

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et blasphemo recens sparso, cujus titulus est: Disputatio Nova contra Mulieres, qua ostenditur, cas hommes non esse. Witenbergæ. Excudebat Vidua Matthæi Welaci, Anno MDXCV (1595).

Defensio Sexus Muliebris, Opposita futilissimæ Disputationi recens editæ, qua suppresso Authores et Typographi nomine blaspheme contendïtur. Mulieres Hommes non Esse. Simon Gediccus S.S. Theol. Doct., etc. Lipsiæ, Apud Henricum Samuelem Scipionem, Anno MDCCVIII (1708).

Auctor hujus Dissert. rarissima credit: valeat Acidalius. Vide, inter alios, Freytagii Analecta--de libris rarioribus, p. 5. (Very ancient handwriting in the copy itself) 'Acidalius died, aged 28 years only, 1595.' Hallam's Lit. Hist. p. 14. This is only surmise. The authorship of the book is unknown. It was rigorously suppressed.