Although the indisposition of my body did in a manner dissuade me from studying and writing any more; yet the great desire I had to know the opinions of the ancient philosophers, and whether any came near my own, overcame me so much, that even to the prejudice of my own health, I gave myself to the perusing of the works of that learned author Mr. Stanley, wherein he describes the lives and opinions of the ancient philosophers; in which I found so much difference betwixt their conceptions and my own, in natural philosophy, that were it allowable or usual for our sex, I might set up a sect or school for myself, without any prejudice to them: But I, being a woman, do fear they would soon cast me out of their schools; for, though the muses, graces and sciences are all of the female gender, yet they were more esteemed in former ages, than they are now; nay, could it be done handsomely, they would now turn them all from females into males: So great is grown the self-conceit of the masculine, and the disregard of the female sex.