© 2025 Transcribed into contemporary English with commentary by Colin Melbourne
The image of the modern woman is a skilful re-creation from the death-masks and portraits of Mary Queen of Scots courtesy Becca Segovia
John Knox continues his First Blast Against the Monstrous Regiment of Women
The Innate Imperfection of Women
Would to God the examples were not so manifest, to the further declaration of the imperfections of women [19], of their natural weakness, and inordinate appetites.
I might adduce histories, proving some women to have died for sudden joy, some for eagerness to have murdered themselves, some to have burned with such inordinate lust, that for the quenching of the same, they have betrayed [20] to strangers their country and city: and some to have been so desirous of dominion, that for the obtaining of the same, they have murdered the children of their own sons. Indeed, some have killed with cruelty their own husbands [21] and children.
But to me it is sufficient (because this part of nature is not my most sure foundation) to have proved [22], that men illuminated only by the light of nature, have seen and have determined, that it is a thing most repugnant to nature, that women rule and govern over men. For those that will not permit a woman to have power over her own sons, will not permit her (I am assured) to have rule over a realm [23]: and those that will not suffer her to speak in defence of those that be accused, nether that will admit her accusation intended against man, will not approve her, that she shall sit in judgment crowned with the royal crown, usurping authority in the midst of men.
[Knox states that history, experience and natural commonsense are sufficient proof of the unfitness of women to rule men.]
But now to the second part of nature: In the which I include the revealed will and perfect ordinance of God, and against this part of nature, I say, that it is manifestly repugnant that any woman shall reign or bear dominion over man.
For God first by the order of His creation, and after, by the curse pronounced against the woman [Eve and her progeny. Ed.] by the, reason of her rebellion, has pronounced the contrary.
First, I say, that woman in her greatest perfection, was made to serve and obey man [24], not to rule and command him: [25]
[Knox cites our Pre-Fall original state and plan of God as proof that Post-Fall woman is to serve and obey man, not instruct and command him. This point is the gravest error Knox makes in this whole tract, but I will withold criticism until I review the tract. Ed.]
As Saint Paul reasons in these words. Man is not of the woman, but the woman of the man. And man was not created for the support woman, but the woman for the support of man, and therefore ought the woman to have a power upon her head (that is a cover in sign of subjection).
Of which words it is plain that the Apostle means, that woman in her greatest perfection should have known, that man was Lord above her: and therefore that she should never have pretended any kind of superiority above him, no more then do the angels above God the Creator [26], or above Christ Jesus their Head.
[Knox cites 1 Corinthians 11:8-10 of the Geneva bible, but here it is in the KJV; For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.]
So, I say, that in her greatest perfection woman was created to be subject to man: But after her fall and rebellion committed against God, there was put upon her a new necessity, and she was made subject to man by the irrevocable sentence of God, pronounced in these words [27]: I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception. With sorrow shalt thou bear thy children, and thy will shall be subject to thy man: and he shall bear dominion over thee.
Hereby may such as altogether be not blinded plainly see, that God, by His sentence, has rejected all woman from empire and dominion above man. For two punishments are laid upon her, to wit, dolour, anguish and pain, as often as ever she shall be mother; and a subjection of herself, her appetites and will, to her husband, and to his will.
From the former part of this curse can nether art, nobility, policy, nor law made by man, deliver womankind, but whosoever attains that honour to be mother, proves by experience the effect and strength of God’s word.
But (alas) ignorance of God, ambition, and tyranny have studied to abolish and destroy the second part of God’s punishment. For women are lifted up to be heads over realms, and to rule above men at their pleasure and appetites.
But horrible is the vengeance, which is prepared for the one, and for the other, for the promoters, and for the persons promoted, except they speedily repent.
For they shall be rejected from the glory of the sons of God [28], to the slavery of the Devil, and to the torment that is prepared for all such, as do exalt them selves above God.
[Knox blames Eve for the Fall of mankind, and warrants the pain of childbearing, and subjection to man’s rule as divine punishments and reminders for her sin. He further claims that those who ignore this signification of God’s displeasure are barred from Glory and Hell bound.]
Against God can nothing be more manifest, than that a woman shall be exalted to reign above man. For the contrary sentence has He pronounced in these words [29]: Thy will shall be subject to thy husband, and he shall bear dominion over thee. As God should say: forasmuch as thou hast abused thy former condition, and because thy free will hath brought thy self and mankind into: the bondage of Satan, I therefore will bring thee in bondage to man. For where before, thy obedience should have been voluntary, now it shall be by constraint, and by necessity: and that because thou hast deceived thy man, thou shalt therefore be no longer mistress over thine own appetites, over thine own will, nor desires. For in them there is neither reason nor discretion, which be able to moderate thy affections, and therefore they shall, be subject to the desire of thy man. He shall be Lord and governor, not only over thy body, but even over thy appetites and will.
This sentence, I say, did God pronounce against Heua [Eve], and her daughters, as the rest of the Scriptures doth evidently witness. So that no woman can ever presume to reign above man, but the same she must needs do in despite, of God, and in contempt of. his punishment, and malediction [30].
[Knox claims womankind is now subject to men, including being lord over her desires and will, as just deserts for having brought mankind into bondage to Satan.]
[19]: Great imperfections of women.
[20]: Ronsilda the wife of Gisulphus betrayed to Cacanus the dukedome of Friaul in Italy.
[21]: Jane Queen of Naples hanged her husband.
[22]: Athalia, 4. Reg. II. Hurene, Anton. Sabell.
[23]: If the lesser things be denied to women, the greater cannot be granted.
[24]: woman in her greatest perfection was made to serve man.
[25]: I. Cor. II.
[26]: A good comparison.
[27]: A new necessity of women’s subjection. woman by the sentence of God, subject to man. Gene. 3.
[28]: The punishment of women unjustly promoted and of their promoters.
[29]: Gene. 3.
[30]: Let all women take heed.
I am not ignorant, that the most part of men do understand this curse of the subjection of the wife to her husband, and of the dominion, which; he bears above her [31]: but the Holy Ghost gives us another interpretation of this place, taking from all women every superiority, authority and power over man, speaking as follows, by the mouth of Saint Paul [32]. I suffer not a woman to teach, nether yet to usurp authority above man. Here he names women in general, excepting none, affirming that she may usurp authority above no man.
And that he speaks more plainly, in another place in these words [33]: Let women keep silence in the congregation, for it is not permitted to them to speak, but to be subject as the law says.
These two testimonies of the Holy Ghost, be sufficient to prove whatsoever we have affirmed before, and to repress the inordinate pride of women, as also to correct the foolishness of those that have studied to exalt women in authority above man, against God, and against his sentence pronounced. But that the same two places of the apostle may the better be understood: it is to be noted, that in the latter, which is written in the first epistle to the Corinthians the 14th. chapter, before the apostle had permitted that all persons should prophecy one after an other: adding this reason: that all may learn and all may receive consolation.
[Knox cites 1 Timothy 2:12 and 1 Corinthians 14:34 KJV;
But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.]
And lest that any might have judged, that amongst a rude multitude, and the plurality of speakers, many things might have been affirmed, or else that some confusion might have risen: he adds, the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets: As he should say, God shall always raise up some, to whom the verity shall be revealed, and unto such ye shall give place, albeit they sit in the lowest seats. And thus the apostle would have prophesying an exercise to be free to the whole church, that every one should communicate with the congregation, what God had revealed to them, providing that it were done orderly. But from this general privilege he excludes all woman, saying: let women keep silence in the congregation.
[Knox excludes all women from prophesying (preaching) because they are to keep silence in the assembly.]
And why I ask you? was it because that the apostle thought no woman to have any knowledge? No, he gives another reason, saying; let her be subject as the law saith [34].
In which words is first to be noted, that the apostle calls this former sentence pronounced against woman a law, that is, the immutable decree of God, who by His own voice has subjected her to one member of the congregation [35], that is to her husband, whereupon the Holy Ghost concludes, that she may never rule nor bear empire above man. For she that is made subject to one, may never be preferred to many, and that the Holy Ghost does manifestly express, saying: I suffer not that women usurp authority above man: he says not, I will [desire] not, that woman usurp authority above her husband, but he names man in general, taking from her all power and authority, to speak, to reason, to interpret, or to teach, but principally to rule or to judge in the assembly of men.
So that woman by the law of God, and by the interpretation of the Holy Ghost, is utterly forbidden to occupy the place of God in the offices afore said, which He has assigned to man, whom He has appointed and ordained His lieutenant in Earth: excluding from that honour and dignity all woman, as this short argument shall evidently declare.
[31]: Answer to an objection.
[32]: 1 Tim. 2.
[33]: I. Cor. 14.
[34]: From a general privilege is woman secluded.
[35]: She that is, subject to one may not rule many.
The apostle takes power from all woman to speak in the assembly [36]. Ergo he permits no woman to rule above man. The former is evident, so the conclusion of necessity follows. For he that taketh from woman the least part of authority [37], dominion or rule, will not permit unto her that which is greatest: But greater it is to reign above realms and nations, to publish and to make laws, and to command men of all estates, and finally to appoint judges and ministers, then to speak in the congregation. For her judgment, sentence, or opinion proposed in the congregation, may be judged by all, may be corrected by the learned, and reformed by the godly. But woman being promoted in sovereign authority, her laws must be obeyed, her opinion followed, and her tyranny maintained: supposing that it be expressly against God, and the profit of the commonwealth, as too manifest experience does this day witness.
And therefore yet again I repeat that, which before I have affirmed: to wit, that a woman promoted to sit in the seat of God, that is, to teach, to judge or to reign above man, is a monster in nature, contumely [insolent Ed.] to God, and a thing most repugnant to His will and ordinance. For He has deprived them as before is proved, of speaking in the congregation, and has expressly forbidden them to usurp any kind of authority above man.
How then will He permit them to reign and have empire above realms and nations?
He will never, I say, approve it, because it is a thing most repugnant to His perfect ordinance, as after shall be declared, and as the former scriptures have plainly given testimony.
To the which, to add anything were superfluous, were it not that the world is almost now come to that blindness, that whatsoever pleases not the princes and the multitude, the same is rejected as doctrine newly forged, and is condemned, “for heresy”.
[Knox reiterates the point he made that since women are barred from speaking in the assembly, and instructing men, how much more certain it is that they will also be barred by God from ruling nations.]
Continue reading John Knox : First Blast part 4
© 2025 Transcribed into contemporary English with commentary by Colin Melbourne
The image of the modern woman is a skilful re-creation from the death-masks and portraits of Mary Queen of Scots courtesy Becca Segovia