admit any Change To be Generous in every action hath beene ever the height of her ambition Howsoever she might boast of Descent her desire is to raise it by Desert Shee holds no family can bee truely Generous unlesse it be nobly vertuous Her life must expresse the line from whence shee came Shee scornes to entertaine one thought below her selfe Or to detract from the glory of that house from whence she came As the blood that streames through her veines was nobly Derived so must it not by any action or affection drawne from the rule of her direction become corrupted For Honour she admits it but seldome or never admires it the Staires by which she meanes to clime to it must be faire firme or she will never mount them She rather admires the Ages folly while shee observes how many hazard their high-priz'd liberty for a vading glimpse of popular glory Her desires are higher seated where they are onely to bee sated A secure State consists not in styles but vertues which are Honours surest stayes Therefore her highest Honour reflects on her Creator wherein she is so farre from fearing as shee is ever wishing more Corrivals THIS is the GENTLEWOMAN whom I have presumed heere to present vnto your Ladiships seruice Such to your Honour is her zealous affection as shee makes it the sole Apologie of her Presumption which shee weaves vp in this Dimension whose sweete converse will at retired houres afford you choicest solace Neyther should you ranke her amongst the lowest of your meney will it displease her such is her Humility for she hath learned as well to obey as command Nor will she spare for any paines so her diligence may please Onely Madam be pleased to shine upon her with the gracious raies of your favour To serve some GREAT ONES l 've bene oftimes wood to shrowd her bashfull endeavours under the wings of your Honour and entertaine her blushing approach with your benigne Censure But HERS I 'm vow'd that is both GREAT and GOOD So shall you finde a constant desire of requitall in her and engage Him whose intimate Zeale to your Honour recommended her Your Ladiships devoted servant Richard Brathwait TO THE GENTLEVVOMAN READER GENTLEVVOMEN I Have heere presented vnto your view one of your owne Sexe One whose improved Education will bee no blemish but a beautie to her Nation Peruse her and I make little doubt but you will so approve of her Behaviour as you shall acknowledge her right worthy the title of a Sister More shall you finde in her by freely conversing with her than in those YOVNG but loose ENGLISH GENTLEWOMEN whose long mercinarie Prostitution vpon the Stall hath brought them out of Request and made them grow too Stale by being exposed to publike Sale Many Countries hath shee coasted sundry Dangers accoasted Courts and Cities hath shee frequented to returne home better freighted and re-convey the benefit of that fraught to this Iland where shee was first bred and now arrived Doe yee itch after Fashion She is for you yet not that which the vanity of this Age admits but what Modestie onely affects She hath observ'd much in forraine Courts which deserv'd rather Contempt than Imitation this shee would not for a world introduce into a well-govern'd State so tender shee is of her Fame as no place nor person shall derive from her the least staine Whatsoever shee hath commended to be seene is no lesse fully than faithfully showne and with that temporate style drawne as in every line some one precept of Vertue seemes to shine Neither in this her strict or serious Observation of Times doth shee resemble those Lamiae who vse to take their eyes with them when they goe abroad but lye them aside when they come home No so little doth shee favour her selfe as shee preferres others Censures before her owne and in no one particular so much expresseth her owne true glory as in the constant practise of Humilitie Hence it is that shee is no curious pryer into others actions nor too censâ—rious a reproover of others Directioâ—s being indeed a TYRESIAS in the eying or descrying of others errors an ARGUS in her owne What is good and amiable in the eye of Vertue she imbraceth with an affectionate tender making it her highest honour to promote the glory of her Maker But least by being too serious shee might become tedious she will not sticke to walke abroad with you into more pleasing groves or pastures of Delight where shee will converse with you of Love and intermixe her Discourse with such time-beguiling Tales as varietie shall no lesse sharpen your attention then the modesty of her Method beget admiration Every Subiect she treats of you shall finde so equally tempered with profit and delight as the one shall no lesse benefit your minde than the other solace your Eare. Shee can reprove without gall blush without guilt love without guile live without gaine Her gaine is to purchase vertue more followers her guile to deprive the world of her favourers her guilt to defeat all vitious pioners her gall to disrelish all Voluptuous practisers She can discourse of Love without lightnesse converse with Love without loosenesse and consort with those shee loves without leudnesse She knowes how to retaine a seemely state without pride to expresse her selfe praise-worthy without selfe-praise and in all her actions to make Vertue her highest prize Humilitie which is the princesse of Vertues the conqueresse of Vices the mirror of Virgins and Crowne of Christians shee so much honours as shee values it above all humane glory whence it is that shee hath ever reapt more spirituall profit by dis-esteeme then selfe-esteeme Day by day shee recreates herselfe in her Garden of goodwill and in her recreation shee makes this her soule-solacing Meditation Who be they that neighbour neare me and whose weake estates stand in need of me Concluding with this charitable resolution There is none so poore but to my power I will relieve so long as I live for the honour of his Image whom I love Shee devides her day into houres her houres into holy taskes Employment takes away all occasions of distraction Should she suffer a light or indisposed thought to worke upon her imagination or giue way to any such intruder to diâ—sturbe the peace of her inward house she would endure her selfe worse for many yeares and inflict vpon her extravagant affections such a censure as might deterre them thenceforth to wander She distastes none more than these busie house-wives who are ever running into discourse of others families but forget their owne Neither holdes shee it sufficient to be onely an House-keeper or Snayle-like to be still vnder roofe she partakes therefore of the Pismire in providing of the Sarreptan widdow in disposing holding ever an absent providence better then an improvident presence She is no common frequenter of publique feasts but if neighbourhood require it she will admit of it wherein she
Diuine Doctrine counselleth the holy Virgin Demetrias to eschew idlenesse Exhorting her withall that hauing done her prayers shee should take in hand wooll and weauing after the commendable example of Dorcas that by such change or variety of workes the day might seeme lesse tedious and the assaults of Satan lesse grieuous concluding his deuout Exhortation with this definite position I speake generally no rayment ornament or habit whatsoeuer shall seeme precious in Christs sight but that which thou makest thy selfe either for thine owne peculiar vse or example of other Virgins or to giue vnto thy Grand-mother or thy Mother no though thou distribute all thy goods vnto the poore See how strictly this holy Father proceeds with his religious Daughter Yet was this Demetrias to whom he addreâ—â—ed this his exhortation a Noble Lady not one whom pouerty did enforce to actions of such necessity but one honourably descended richly endowed powerfully friended Let this Lady be your Patterne her action your direction her obedience your instruction that you may share with her in a peacefull dissolution Entertaine no time without some deuout taske reflect vpon the Noblenesse of your descent ennoble it with excellence of desert For you must know true honour is not wonne Vntill some honourable deed be done Waste not prodigally the precious Lampe of your life without some vertuous action that may purchase loue Your time is lesse than a minute in respect of eternity employ that minute so as it may eternize your memory Let this bee your highest taske to promote the honour of your Maker esteeming all things else a slauish and seruile labour THere is nothing which requires more discretion AFFECTION than how to behaue or carry our selues while we are enthralled to affection The Louer is euer blinded saith wise Platâ— with affection towards his beloued Reason is laid asleepe while Sense becomes the master Wooer Whence came that vsuall saying One cannot loue and be wise But I wholly oppose my selfe to their assertion who seeme thus farre transported with the sensuall opinion of affection My Tenet is One cannot truely loue and not be wise It is a Beldam frenzy and no fancy which giues way to fury and admits not reason to haue soueraignty Yet in this Subiect Gentlewomen is your temper best tryed your discretion most required and your Patience oft-times most exercised Looke therefore how you plant it lest you bootlesly repent it when it is misplaced It is most certaine there is nothing more impatient of delay than loue nor no wound more incurable while we liue There is no exemption all haue a taste of this Potion though it haue seuerall degrees of operation Looke all about you who so young that loues not Or who so old a comely feature moues not Yet what different passions arise from one and the selfe-same Subiect Heere Gentlewomen you shall see some of your Sexe so surprized with affection as it bursts out into violent extremes BEHAVIOR their discourse is semi-breu'd with sighes their talke with teares they walke desperately forlorne making Launds and desolate Groues their disconsoâ—ate Consorts Their eyes are estrang'd from sleepe their weakened appetite from repast their wearied limbs from repose Melancholly is their sole melody They haue made a Contract with griefe till griefe bring them to their graue And these poore wenches are much to be pittied because their owne tender hearts brought them to this exigent hauing either set their affections where they thought verily they might bee requited and were not or else where they receiued like seeming tender of affection but afterwards reiected what they wished to effect they could not So as in time if continuance of absence reduce them not to a better temper they fall into a poore Maudlins distemper by giuing raines to passion till it estrange them from the soueraignty of reason Whereas others you shall see though not such kind soules nor halfe so passionate yet more discreet in their Choyce and in the passages of loue more temperate These will not deigne to cast a loose looke vpon their beloued but stand so punctually vpon their termes as if they stood indifferent for their choyce albeit constantly resolued neuer to admit of any change These scorne to paint out their passions in plaints or vtter their thoughts in sighes or shed one dispassionate teare for an incompassionate Louer Their Experience hath taught them better Notions they wil seemingly fly to make them follow and so take them by whom they are most taken They can play with the flame and neuer cinge their wings looke loue in the face and preserue their eyes conuerse where they take delight and colour their affection with a seeming disdaine These are they who can walke in the Clouds to their intimatest friends make their eyes strangers to their hearts and conclude nothing more foolish than Loue if discouered nothing more wise if artfully shadowed But I neither approue the violence of the former nor indifference of the latter The one interlayeth affection with too much passion the other with too much dissimulation These were well to bee so allayed or attempered as neither too much eagernesse taxe the discretion nor too much remisnesse argue coolenesse of affection For the former I must tell them they giue great aduantage to an insulting Louer to ' entertaine Loue with such vehement ardour it fares with these as with hot duellists who fight themselues out of breath and so subiect their relenting force to the command of a better tempered enemy For the latter they hold constantly that position in arguments of Loue as well as in other actions of their life She knowes not how to liue nor how to loue that knowes not how to dissemble I must tell these Dissimulation sorts not well with affection Louers seldome read Loues Polliticks Let them appeare what they are with that discreet temper as they may deserue the embraces of a Noble Louer In briefe let such as are too hot in the quest of their desires attemperate that heat with intermissions such violence is best rebated by absence Contrariwise such as are too coole let them quicken that easinesse with their more frequent conference and assiduate presence VVHat a furious and inconsiderate thing is Woman PASSION when Passion distempers her how much is her Behauiour altered as if Iocasta were now to be perâ—onated True it is some with a bite of their lip can snppresse an intended reuenge and like dangerous Politicians pleasingly entertaine time with one they mortally hate till oportunity vsher reuenge which they can act with as much hostility as if that very moment were the Actor of their iniury But this Passion neuer workes more tragicke of fearefull effects than when it streames from Iealousie or Competition in the Subiect where they loue Whereof wee haue variety of instances euen in our owne Iland to omit Italy which is a very Theatre of Tragicke Conclusions in this kinde It is not long since we had
But marke the conclusion of these insulting spirits they sport so long with loue till they fall to loue in earnest A moment makes them of Soueraigns Captiues by slauing them to that deseruedly which at first they entertained so disdainfully The way then to preuent this malady is to weane you from consorting with folly What an excellent impregnable fortresse were Woman did not her Windowes betray her to her enemy But principally when shee leaues her Chamber to walke on the publike Theatre when shee throwes off her vaile and giues attention to a merry tale when she consorts with youthfull bloud and either enters parley or admits of an enter-view with loue It is most true what the sententious moral somtimes obserued We may be in security so long as we are sequestred from society Then and neuer till then begins the infection to be dispersed when the sound and sicke begin to be promiscuously mixed Tempt not Chastity hazard not your Christian liberty You shall encounter with many forward youths who will most punctually tender their vselesse seruice to your shadowes at the very first sight doe not admit them lest you prostitute your selues to their prostrate seruice Apelles found fault with Protogenes in that he could not hold his hands from his Table Whereas our Damsels may more iustly finde fault with their youthfull Amorists for that they cannot hold their hands from vnder the Table It is impossible to come off faire with these light-fingred fooles Your onely way is to rampire your chaste intentions with Diuine and Morall instructions to stop the source diuert the occasion subiect affection to reason so may you become Emperesses of that which hath sometimes tyrannized ouer Emperours By this meanes shall euery place where you publikâ—ly resort minister to you some obiect of inward comfort By this meanes shall Company furnish you with precepts of chastity inable you in the serious practice of piety and sweetly conduct you to the port of glory PRIVACY is the seat of Contemplation though sometimes made the recluse of Tentation From which there is granted no more exemption in the Cell than in the Court Heere is the Lawne where Melancholly drawes her line Heere the minde becomes our Mate Silence our sweetest Conference where the retired becomes either the best or worst friend to himselfe There is none who euer conuersed with himselfe or discanted solely with his owne humour who can bee ignorant of those numerous slights or subtilties which by that great Tempter whose long exercise hath made him no lesse subtill in contriuing than cruell in practising our ruine are priuateâ—y shadowed and shrowded purposely to circumuent poore man and leaue him deluded Diogenes when he found a young man talking alone demanded of him What he was doing who answered He was conuersing with himselfe Take heed quoth he thou câ—nuersest not with thine enemy To you Gentlewomen I direct my discourse How to behaue her selfe in Priâ—aâ—y whose priuacy may enable you if well employed for better things than the toyes tyres and trifles of this age How many the more our misery bestow their priuate houres which might be dedicated to Contemplation or workes of piety and deuotion vpon light-feather'd inuentions amorous expostâ—lations or minâ—ing of some vnbeseeming fashions How few enter into account with their owne hearts or so coâ—secrate their houres to Gods honour as they make Priuacy their soules harbour The day they spend in visitations how rare and tedious is one houre reserued for meditation What a serious intercourse or sociable dialogue is betweene an amorous Mistresse and her Looking-glasse The poynt or pendent of her feather wags out of a due posture her Cheeke wants her true tincture her captious Glasse presents to her quicke eye one error or other which driues her into a monstruous distemper Pride leaues no time for prayer This is her CLOSET for LADIES where shee fits and accommodates her selfe to Fashion which is the period of her content while purer obiects are had in contempt This is not the way to make Priuacy your mindes melody These employments should sooner afflict than affect you because they will sooner distract than direct you Your spirits will bee reuiued most when these are valued least Let me therefore recommend to your choyce Patternes of more exquisite worth such whose deuotion may be your direction whose direction your instruction Deuout mention is made of zealous Anna who made recourse to the Temple offring her incessant prayers a viall of sweet odours that she might conceiue a sonne of whom to her succeeding memory the Scripture recordeth that after her teares so deuoutly shed her prayers so sincerely offred her religious vowes so faithfully performed her countenance was no more altred Piety begot in her diuine loue faith in Gods promise made her beleeue and zeale to Gods house caused her to perseuere thus sighing she sought seeking she obtained and obtaining she retained a gratefull memory of what she receiued No lesse feruour shewed Ester in preferring the suite of her distressed Israelites what perswasiue Oratory what powerfull Rhetoricke what inducing reasoâ—s she vsed to haue their vniust censure reuersed their insupportable wrongs redressed their agrieuances relieued the incensed King appeased and them to fauour restored Shee wooed with teares in her eyes faith in her heart almes in her hand Gods cause was the progresse of her course shee desired nothing more then how to effect it which was seconded with a successiue conclusion because begun continued and ended with deuotion The like zeale expressed Iudith for her besiedged Bâ—thulites the loue of God had so inflamed her as no feare of the enemy could amate her faith armed her with resolution constancy strengthned her against all opposition Her armour was prayer Bethulia's cure her care holy desires her sole attendants she enters her enemies pauilion with a zealous confidence implores the Diuine assistance in her entrance and discomfits a daring foe with cautelous silence Her sighes and teares were as the first and second raine they brought successe to her thirsty soule and a glorious Conquest to her natiue soyle No lesse are we to admire the wonderfull deuotion of that teare-swollen Magdelen who with deuout loue sought her deare Spouse intombed whose body with obsequious Odours she had embalmed before euer he was interred Shee when his Disciples were departed left not the Sepulchre of her sweet Master still shee sate sorrowing and â—ighing weeping long and much rising from her seat of sorrow her graâ—e of griefe where he was he is not and where hee is shee knowes not with pioâ—s teares watchfull eyes weary wayes shee reâ—isits againe and againe the desert caues of his relinquish'd Sepulchre â—â—ping at last to haue the happinesse to behold whom with so feruent a desire â—hee sought Now once and againe had shee entred his desolate Tombe but little was all this to her that lou'd so much The power or efficacy of euery good worke consists in Perseuerance But obserue the
Loue conceiu'd at first sight seldome lasts long Deliberatim must lead it or else it is mis-guided Looke before you like is a good rule but to like at first Looke makes an house of mis-rule Is he of hansome personage whom you loue His proportion is a mouing Obiect to your eye but his pertion it may be will not agree with your state Againe admit he haue both these proportion to purchase your esteeme and portion to maintaine your estate his brest is not transparent his disposition may be crookod and that will cast downe all that was before affected Themâ—stocles being demanded by a Nobleman of Grâ—ece whether he had rather marry his daughter to one rich and euill or one poore and good made this answer I had rather â—aue a man without money than mony without a man Whence it was that Portia the younger daughter of Portius Cato being asked when shee would betake her selfe to an husband replyed When I finde one that seekes me not mine Witty was that young Gentlewomans answer to an inconsiderate Suiter who with much instancy sollicited the father for the affection of his daughter whereto hauing at last consented and the Couenants of marriage concluded this indiscreet wooer vnsâ—asonably imparts his minde to the daughter who made strange with it saying She neuer heard of any such matter Yea but replied he I haue made your father hâ—rewith acquainted and he hath already consented and you may marry him too answered shee for you must hold me excused There is no time that exacts more modesty of any woman than in her time of suiting a shamefast red then best commends her and the mouingst Oraâ—or that speakes for her So as Virgil the very Prince of our Latine Poets when he should bring in King Latiâ—us priuately conferring with his wife Amaâ—a and Tâ—râ—us to whom in nuptiall bands he was to espouse his daughter he brings in the young maid weeping blushing and silent Whence is implyed that it becomes not a Maid to speake of marriage in her parents presence for that were small argument of modesty or shamefastnesse There is a pretty pleasing kinde of wooing drawne from a conceiued but concealed Fancy which in my opinion suits well with these amorous younglins they could wish with all their hearts to be euer in the presence of those they loue so they might not be seene by those they loue Might they chuse they would conuerse with them freely conâ—ort with them friendly and impart their truest thoughts fully yet would they not haue their bashfull loues finde discouery They would be seene yet seeme obscured loue but not disclose it see whom they loue but not bee eyed This the Poet in the person of a Shepherdesse neatly displayeth Phillis to willowes like a cunning flyer Flyeâ— yet she feares her Shepheard should not spy her Now in this Subiect of Fancy as there is nothing more dangerous than entertaining it without due and deliberate aduice so there is nothing growes more generally fatall to the indiscreet Louer than by grounding affection on outward respects without relation to that inward faire which onely makes the Obiect of Fancy full of beauty and presents euery day as a Marriage-day to the party Neither affluence of estate potency of friends nor highnesse of descent can attemper the griefe of a loathed bed These may play vpon the Fantasie but neuer giue satisfaction to the Fancy Wherefore Gentlewomen to the end you may shew your selues discreetest in that which requires your discretion most discusse with your selues the purity of loue the quality of your louer euer reflecting on those best deseruing endowments of his which either make him worthy or vnwoâ—thy your loue Affection though it enter in by the narrow cranny of the Eye it shoots at the heart which vnlesse it be seasoned by iudgement it can not deserue so faire a title A discreet eye will not be taken with a smooth skinne it is not the rinde but the minde that is her Adamant Iustinâ— a Roman Maid no lesse nobly descended than noâ—ably accomplished being married to one more rich than wise exclaimed against her fate that folly should hale her to so loathed a bed And good reason had she to repine when his groundlesse iealosie made her a tragick spectacle of misery before her time For seeing her white necke that obiect begot in him presently an argument of suspect which hee seconded with reuenge to vent the fury of his nature and publish to the world the weaknesse of his temper Let deliberation then be the Scale wherin you may weigh Loue in an equall poize There bee many high and consequent Circumstances which a discreet woman will not onely discourse but discusse before shee entertain so mysterious and honorable estate Disparity in descent fortunes friends with other like respects many times beget distraction of mindes Whence it was that Pittacus of Muylene being intreated by a young man to afford him his best aduice in the Choyce of two wiues tendred him whether hee should marry the one whereof was equaâ—l to himselfe both in birth and wealth the other surpassing him in both Wish'd him to goe along the streets of the City where children vse to play and there obserue what they did aduise him Truth is inequality in these procures distaste but where there is a difference in the seazure or disposure of the heart which should be the firmest and strongest Cement to vnite affection there ariseth the greatest hazard Thence is it Suspition workes vpon â—uery light and friuolous subiect while the other party hunts after opportunity to surfet on forbidden fruit and giue her suspitioâ—s Mate iust ground of iealousie Feed hee may his indigested humour in a iealous pasture and vow reuenge when hee shall finde an apt subiect meane time hee becomes inuisibly gull'd while he deludes himselfe with painted shadowes No Iealousie can euer that preuent Whereas two parties once be full content Seuerall Hieron cont Ruffia I know are the effects of loue as are the dispositions of those that loue Liuia made quicke dispatch of her husband because shee lou'd him too little Lucilia of hers because shee loued him too much Phoedra fancied Theseus lesse than shee should but young Hippolytus more than hee would Which effects are vsually produced when either disparity of yeares breed dislike or obscurity of descent begets contempt or inequality of fortunes discontent Deliberate then before you marry and thus expostulate with your selues touching his Condition whom you are to marry Is he young I will beare with his youth till better experience bring him to the knowledge of man My vâ—age shall bee more easie than to weane him from what hee affects by extremity Youth will haue his swinge his owne discretion will bring him home at least time will reclaime him hee shall not finde mee put on a clowdy brow or entertaine his freer course with a scowle I must conforme my selfe to him confirme my loue in him and so demeane
of a more refined nature so firmâ— as none of a more holding temper so hot as none of a more lasting feruour yet becomes her splendour darkened her vigor weakened her feruor cooled when she is in a cold brest entertained Resemble rather the Iuniper-tree whose coale is the hottest and whose shadow is the coolest be hot in your affection but coole in your passion If you finde any thing which cooleth loue in you remoue it if any thing which vrgeth passion quench it contrariwise feed in you loues heat but represse in you all passionate hate Take into your more serious thoghts a view of his deserts whom you affect increase the conceit of them by supposing more than hee expresseth The imagination of Loue is strong and works admirable effects in a willing subiect Yet in all this let not one straid thought wrong your Mayden-modesty so much as to suggest to you a straine of lightnesse Other Closet-treaties you may entertaine safely and freely without touch of modesty As to thinke of the honour of that State to which you are approaching the mutuall Comfort from that mysterious vnion arising how griefes will be attempered by one anothers suffering how ioyes will bee augmented by one anothers sharing These thoughts cannot but well become you nor otherwise chuse than with a pure affection inflame you nor receiue lesse than free acceptance from you Thus may that Loue which seem'd before to haue beene as chilled by these modest motiues bee cheered That day no blacke Cloud should by right sit on your faire brow no cold dampe seaze on your heart You haue got one whom a sacred gage hath made yours with a cheerefull requitall render your selfe his This cannot choose but highly please the pure eye of heauen to see that Mysterie so sweetly solemniz'd which was honoured by Christ with his first Miracle on Earth IN this last branch of our Obseruation An attemperament of both wee are to propose an attemperament of both those indisposed Fancies before mentioned and deseruedly taxed First the wildenesse of the one secondly the coolenesse of the other by seasoning them both with an indifferent temper In a Vine wild and luxurious branches are to bee pruned that such as are free and kindly may bee better cherished In the spirituall field of your heart is neuer to be expected any fruitfull increase of vertues till there be weeded out of it all the thornes of vices The difference betwixt a Wise and wilde Loue is this the one euer deliberates before it loue the other loues before it deliberate The first question that she askes who wisely loues Is he who is here recommended to my choyce of good repute Is he rich in the endowments of his minde Next question shee askes are of a lower siege May his personage giue content Are his fortunes such as may not beget in loue a contempt Thus beginnes shee that loues wisely with goods inward and ends with outward whereas shee that loues wildly beginnes with outward and ends or else neuer remembers the inward Is hee you tender to mee of promising personage Is hee neat in his cloathes Complete in his dresse Can he Court mee in good words and perfume them with sweet protests Can hee vsher me gracefully in the street and in his very pace expresse a reserued state Next question shee askes must be neare the same verge Is he rich in Manors Hath not fortune made him a younger brother Can he to buy himselfe honour pawne the Long-acre May his swelling meanes furnish me of Coach Caroach and daily fit mee for some Exchange trifles I haue a moneths mind to see the man Hee cannot but deserue my loue Wherein shee sayes well for in very deed hee could deserue little else Now as the former seldome bestowes her selfe but where shee findes content so the latter seldome or neuer but either she with her Choyce or her Choyce with her falls into contempt The reason is this wilde Girle neuer cares for more than to be married If she may but see that day it accomplisheth her content though shee haue but one Comicall day all her life Yea it is as well as can be expected from her hands if she attaine that style without some apparant soile Such as these I could wish to preâ—ent the worst they were married betime lest they marre themselues before time Albeit moderate restraint seasonable aduice presupposing some seeds of grace to worke on haue wrought singular effects in many of these wilde-ones who afterwards became graue and modest Matrons To you then kind-hearts am I to recommend some necessary cautions which carefully obserued may make you wiser than you thought of and cause you haue a tender care of that which before you had neuer mind of Your brests are vnlock'd your tongues vnty'd you cannot loue but you must shew it nor conceiue a kinde thought but you must tell it The Index of your hearts you carry both in your tongues and eyes for shame learne silence in the one and secrecy in the other Will you giue power to an insulting Louer to triumph ouer your weakenesse or which is worse to worke on the opportunity of your Lightnesse Doe not rather ramme vp those portells which betray you to your enemy and preuent his entry by your vigilancy Keepe home and stray not lest by gadding abroad you incurre Dinahs fate You haue Consorts of your owne sexe to passe time withall their society wil teach you to forget what is better forgot than kept Let not a straid thought betray your innocency Checke your madding Fancy and if it vse resistance curbe it with restraint It will doe excellently well if you forbeare to resort to places of publike meeting till you haue drawne vp and seal'd a Coâ—enant with your eyes to see naught that they may not lawfully couet These when they wander they breed in the heart a dangerous distemper Lastly addresse your imployment euer to something that is good so shall your fantacy finde nought to worke vpon that is ill This shall afford you more liberty than the whole worlds freedome can afford you Now to you Coy ones whom either coldnesse of nature hath benummed or coynesse hath made subtill to dissemble it You can looke and like and turne another way where you like most No obiect of loue can take you till it ouertake you Be not wise too much True affection cannot endure such dissimulation Diuide not him whom you loue into such extremes you may be modest and spare a great deale of this Coynesse It is the rule of Charity to doe as you would be done to Now would it content you to be entertained with disdaine where your deserts merit acceptance Rectifie this then on your selues which you would not haue done by another to your selues It is an ill requitall to recompence fancy with contempt or constant loue with disdaine This were to incurre ingratitude a vice so odious as no age could finde euer ought more vnciuilly impious
portrature she made for her selfe directed her eye to the picture of vertue and pointing thereat with her finger vsed this Imprezza That picture is my posture Truth is shee that makes vertue her obiect cannot but make euery earthly thing her subiect Yea there is nothing shee weares which she makes not a morall vse of to better her selfe Her very attire puts her in minde of what she was before she needed it and how breach of obedience necessitated her to weare it Shee will not therefore pride her selfe in her shame nor glorifie her selfe in the couer of sinne Shee cannot eye her selfe with any self-selfe-loue seeing she lost her selfe by affecting that which she ought not to loue Her head-tyre puts her in minde of the helmet of sâ—luation her stomacher of the brest-plate of righteousnesse her partlâ—t of the shield of faith her very shooes of the sandals of peace In this Tabernacle of earth shee is euery day nearer her port of rest for her discourse is euer seasoned with discretion winged with deuotion and graced by her owne conuersation She is none of these who are Saints in their tongues but Deuils in their liues Shee propounds nought fit to be done which shee confirmes not with her owne action Againe for her actions shee is free from publike scandall as her whole life is a golden rule of direction a continued precept of instruction In a word she considers from whence she came her descent was noble and this she graceth with noble vertues Her house must receiue no dishonor froÌ„ her but an ample testimony of a deseruing successour Let this Idaea Gentlewomen be your Patterne Pure is the Cloath you weare let no staine of yours blemish it no Moath of deserued detraction eat into it Many of your Sexe though highly borne haue so blemished the honour of that house from whence they came and corrupted that noble blood from which they sprung as their memory rots yet their infamy liues Againe others there haue beene who though obscurely borne yet by those eminent vertues which did adorne them those Diuine parts which did truly ennoble them they became enlightners of their obscurity filling Annals with their glorious memory Imitate these relinquish those Honour is not worth receiuing vnlesse it be entertained by one that is deseruing yea how many haue incurred disgrace by dis-esteeming vertue when they were aduanced to highnesse of place Nay how many while they liued obscure liued secure and preserued their good names who afterwards by becomming great lost that priuate esteeme which before they possest So hard it is to encounter with honour and euery way returne a sauer Seeing then no Cloath takes such deepe tincture as the Cloath of Honour Let no vicious aspersion spot it no corrupt affection staine it lest by being once blemished it bring that honour into contempt which before you retained LAndmarkes are vsually erected for direction of the Mariner Honourable Personages should be Presidents of goodnesse Epictet and Magistrates elected for instruction of the inferiour The keele of mans life being euer more laden with vanity than verity and more chilled with the bitter gusts of affliction then cheered with the soule-solacing drops of true consolation is euer tossed with contraâ—y windes neither without the helpe of some expert Pilot can poore deluded man arriue safely at the Port where he would be Pride transports him auarice infects him riot corrupts him sensuality secures him anger distempers him enuy consumes him idlenesse duls him Thus becomes he piece-meale diuided from himselfe because he reflects not with a pure and impartiall eye vpon himselfe What great need stands he in then of direction in this Maze of misery vale of vanity He portraid him well who in the description of him stil'd him a story of calamity a statue of infelicity He is fraile in resisting prone to falling slow in rising Examples then were vsefull to conduct him in his â—ournall And who more fit to be these Presidents than such whom an honourable descent hath ennobled or Princes fauour aduanced It is not for these to entertaine any seruile or degenerate affection nor to â—arbour one mutinous thought against the soueraignty of reason To be a Lady of honour is more then titular She is onely eminent who makes euery action of her life a vertuous president Goodnesse must be infused in her blood that descent may partake of desert Now there be three especiall obiects vpon which they are to reflect Charity Chastity Humility An honourable minde is best showne in her Liberall and compassionate exhibition to such whose necessities require reliefe Yea she loues those best to whom these arguments of bounty are in highest measure exprest She auerts not her eare from the needy beggar she will shew him all fauour for his image or feature She holds it an vnbeseeming state to entertaine a sowre looke where noble pitty should beget in her a compassionate loue She is so daily and duely inured to workes of mercy as shee ioyes in no obiect more than occasion of bounty Shee considers and this she Diuinely applies vnto her selfe how nought but vanity is to be attributed to them retaine they neuer so much earthly glory on them who dwell in houses of clay whose foundation is in the dust which are crushed before the Moath Iob 4. 19. Silken vanity cannot delude her nor any opinionate conceit of her owne estate transport her Her minde is not subiect to wauering nor her walke to wandring Be her life long her goodnesse becomes improued be it short her desires are crowned Neither reserues shee the gleanings for him that is Master of the Haruest Pouerty appeare it neuer so despicable to her eye it conueyes compassion to her heart Shee giues Almes of the best for his sake whom shee loues best A miserable minde she hates for she conceiues how nothing can be better worth enioying than a liberall desire of disposing which she expresseth with that cheerefull alacrity as it inhanceth the value of her bounty Thus shee liues in a free and absolute command of what she enioyes with an hand no lesse open than her heart that action might second her pious intention Neither is the true Nobility of her minde lesse discerned by her loue to Chastity Pure bee her thoughts and vnstained The Sanctuary of her heart is solely dedicated to her Maker it can find no roome for an inordinate affection to lodge in Shee knowes not how to throw out her loue-attracting Lures nor to expose the glorious beauty of her soule to shame A moments staine must not blemish her state Shee will not therefore giue her eye leaue to wander lest it should betray her honour to a treacherous intruder How weak proue those assaults which her home-bred enemies prepare against her Her looke must bee set on a purer Obiect than vanity Shee will not eye it lest shee should be taken by it Her Discourse must be of a better subiect than vanity She will not treat
can walke safely that walkes not religiously ibid. A reflection upon the constancy and resolution of Heathens reâ—â—mmended to the imitation of Christian women pag. 120. Vertue cannot exercise her owne strength nor expresse her owne worth without an Opposite pag. 121. An instance in a noble Lady ibid. A direction in the cloze pag. 122. How Estimation may be irreparably lost ibid. The * Iliâ—es hederae agiles horae conâ—â—ciunt Ivie while it is winding decayes the plant with which it is wreathing ibid. An instance of a Citie-Virago pag. 123. An use of this instance pag. 124. The absolute end whereunto Estimation aspires and wherein it cheerefully rests Pag. 125. This confirmed by sundry examples and one most remarkeable of our owne Pag. 125 126. 127. An application to these Ladies of our owne pag. 127. 128. FANCY Observat. 6. FAncy is to be with deliberation grounded pag. 129. The Eye is Fancies harbinger but the heart is her harbour ibid. Directions for setling and disposing our affection pag. 130. Loves purity is to be discussed before it be entertained pag. 131. Not the rinde but the minde is Discretions Adamant Pag. 132. The misery of jealousie deblazoned and exemplified ibid. Singular resolves for a Coniugall State Pag. 133 134. Fancy is to be with constancy retained Page 135. Two memorable Mottoes recommmended ibid. The waywardnesse of some women iustly reproved and how that humour may be rectified pag. 136. The admirable puritie and efficacie of Love pag. 137. Memorable examples of Coniugall Constancy and Continency ibid. An exhortation tending to the imitation of such famous Presidents ibid. Wanton Fancy is a wandring Frenzy pag. 138. Wanton Love seldome or never promiseth good successe ibid. The incendiaries or foments of this inordinate passion to â—â—xe particulars reduced all which are in one distich included pag. 139 The Odious and inhumane effects in all ages derived from the violence of this Wanton fancie or Wandring frenzie Pag. 140. 141. Soveraigne receipts to cure this desperate maladie ibid. What kind of affection deserves a Gentlewomans election pag. 142. How Fancy may be checked if too wilde confirmed by a Philosophicall demonstration or Physicall experiments ibid. A pleasant and pithy expostulation with fancy ibid. A disswasion from too much credulity to the light protests of deceiving fancy confirmed by a moderne example Pag. 143. A Gentlewoman may with more safety suspect than too rashly affect ibid. A discreet resolution upon tearmes of affection seconded with the promise of an assured blessing pag. 144. The secret impression and passionate expression of an unfortunate Lady in the relation of her misery pag. 144. 145. It is not so hard to give comfortable counsell to the sorrowfull as to finde a fit season when to give it ibid. Consideration a necessarie guide to affection ibid. Repentance comes too late at Marriageâ—night How Fancy may be cheered if too cold pag. 146. The incomparable honour of a Virgin-condition ibid. The hate of Incest with brute Beasts pag. 147. The Bird of Love the Embleme of a Lovers heart pag. 149. Moneyes are inferiour pictures to true Lovers ibid. The absolute end of a coâ—iâ—gall State pag. 150 An attemperament of both thâ—se indisposed Fancies before mentioned ibid. The difference betwixt a wise and wilde Love consists in this the one ever deliberates before it love the other loves before it deliberate Pag. 151. Necessarie Cautions for all kind-hearted Gentlewomen pag. 152. The like for all coy or coole-affected Gentlewomen pag. 153. A sweet attemperament of both these humours with an apt Emblem explained and properly applyed to such as are with either of these humours distempered pag. 154. 155. GENTILITY Observat. 7. GEntility is derived from our Ancestors to us but soone blanched if not revived by us pag. 157. A perswasion to the imitation of our Ancestors vertues pag. 158. There was nothing mortall about them but their bodies and those were too fraile Cabonets for such rich eminences to lodge in whereas there is nothing but frailties about ours for loose and licentious love to lie in ibid. Those Odours deserve highest honours that beautifie us living and preserve our memory dying ibid. To see a light Lady descending from a noble Family is a Spectacle of more spreading infamy than any Subiect of inferiour quality pag. 159. Gentility is not to be measured by antiquity of time but precedency in worth pag. 160. The reason why generous descents become so much corrupted and vertuous Parents by vitious Children so frequently disparaged ibid. 161 Mothers the naturallest Nurses confirmed by precept custome and example pag. ibid. * Supra pag. 108. 109. An effectuall perswasion to that duty ibid. pag. 162. Vertue the best Coat pag. ibid. Heraldry proves vertues Coat to bee the best because deblazoned with least charge ibid. Vertue is no admiring lover of ought that is below her pag. 162. 163. The misery of this age in sumptuousnesse of attire pag. ibid The honour of Humility pag. 174. A glorious reproovall of modest Matrons pag. 175. Sinnes prevention is to prevent the Occasion Pag. 176. Gentlewomen are to reflect more on their inward worth than on their outward weare Pag. 176. It will not redound much to a Gentlewomans honour to have observed the fashions of the time but with a discreet Contempt or civill neglect of fashion to have redeemed her time pag. 177. Living actions of true Gentility happy Precursors to the State of Glory ibid. There are native seeds of goodnesse sowne in generous bloods by lineall succession variously instanced pag. ibid. 178. 179. Those who are with the choycest vertues endowed become oft times most traduced ibid. 180. There is no one vertue which makes a Gentlewoman more gracious in the eye of her beholder than Modesty the greatest advancer of many ancient family ibid. To be high borne and basely minded is to ingraft bastard slippes in a Noble stocke ibid. High and Heroicke vertues become great Houses confirmed by the resolution of a noble Lady in reiecting the powerfull solicitancy of a Sensuall Suiter ibid. and 181. Emulation of goodnesse in great Persons is honourable ibid. How these native seeds of goodnesse may bee ripened by instruction pag. 182. No Tutresses fitter to perfect this excellent worke in Gentlewomen than those who were the secundarie instruments of their beeing strengthened by example and reason pag. 183. A select Choice and recommendation of sundry bookes of instruction to the perusall of our English Gentlewoman ibid. A briefe enumeration serious discussion and iudicious election of sundry ancient Fathers with other morall Authors pag. 184. English translations the lights of Ladies but Dampes of Schollers pag. 187. Private Nurseries houshold Academies ibid. The first instruction takes the deepest Impression with an usefull application to every condition pag. 188. Necessarie directions highly conducing to the good report and repute of Maides and Matrons ibid. The most precious things have ever the most pernitious Keepers Nothing more precious than a Virgins
comfortable effect of her effectuall loue For as much as shee loued more than the rest and louing wept more than the rest and weeping sought more than the rest and seeking perseuer'd allowing her selfe no rest therefore deserued she to finde behold and speake vnto him before the rest And not onely so but to become the very first messenger of his glorious resurrection to his Disciples according as her choyce Spouse had commanded her and by especiall Commission recommended to her Goe tell my Brethren that they goe into Galile there they shall see me Hence note the fruit of a deuout heart the incomparable prerogatiue granted to Diuine loue Naziaâ—zâ—n in hiâ— Epitaph for his sister Gorgonia writeth that shee was so giuen to prayer that her knees seemed to cleaue to the earth and to grow to the very ground by reason of incessancy or continuance in prayer Gregory in his Dialogues writeth that his Aunt Trasilla being dead was found to haue her elbowes as hard as horne which hardnesse shee got by leaning to a Deske at which shee vsed to pray Such as these deserue your imitation for their Vertueâ— like sweet Odours haue sent out a pleasant perfume They prayed and obtained what they prayd for They liu'd and practis'd what they sought for They dy'd and enioy'd what they so long time sigh'd for You are taught to Enter your Chambers and be still Still and yet stirring still Still from the clamours and turbulent insults of the World still from the mutinous motions and innouations of the flesh But neuer still from warring wrastling bickring and embattailing with the Leader of those treacherous associats tyrannous assazinats O should you consider what troopes of furious and implacable Enemies are euer lying in ambuscado for you how many soule-tempting Syrens are warbling notes of ruine to delude you what feares within you what foes without you what furies all about you you would not suffer one graine of sand to drop through the Cruet without a dropping eye not one minute passe vndedicated to some good employment to preuent the fury of such desperate assailants Make then your Chamber your priuate Theatre wherein you may act some deuout Scene to Gods honour Be still from the world but stirring towards God Meditation let it be your companion It is the perfume of the memory the soules rouzer from sinnes lethargy the sweetest solace in straits of aduersity Let it bee your key to open the Morning your 〈◊〉 to close the Euening What an argument of indiscâ—â—tion were it for one amidst variety of choyce and delicious viands to discourse of vanity and suffer himselfe to famish in the presence of such plenty This is your case if amidst so many soule-solacing dainties of spirituall comforts you diuert your eye by fixing it on these Obiects of earth and repose not your selues in those fragrant borders of Diuine Contemplation which by how much they are more frequent by so much they become more sweet and redolent Surely there is nothing that relisheth more sweetly tasteth more daintily with-draweth your mindes from the world more speedily strengtheneth you against the temptations of your enemy excites or exerciseth you in euery spirituall duty as the soule-rauishing Contemplation of the Supreme Deity All other Obiects are vanity They may play vpon your fantasie and so delude you but being weakely grounded on pitty they can neuer suffice you Taske your selues then priuately lest priuacy become your enemy As mans extremity is Gods oportunity so the Deuils oportunity is mans security Let not a minute bee mis-spended lest security become your attendant Be it in the exercise of your Needle or any other manuall employment attemper that labour with some sweet meditation tending to Gods honour Chuse rather with Penelope to weaue and vnweaue than to giue Idlenesse the least leaue Wanton Wooers are time-wasters They make you idolize your selues and consequently hazardize the state of your soules Let not their Lip-salue so annoynt you as it make you forgetfull of him that made you Be you in your Chambers or priuate Closets be you retired from the eyes of men thinke how the eyes of God are on you Doe not say the walls encompasse mee darkenesse o're-shadowes mee the Curtaine of night secures me These be the words of an Adulteresse Therefore doe nothing priuately which you would not doe publikely There is no retire from the eyes of God I haue heard of some who for want of more amorous or attractiue Obiects abroad haue furnished their priuate Chambers with wanton pictures Aretine tables Sibariticke stories These were no obiects for Christian eyes they conuay too inordinate an heat from the eye to the heart Eye no obiect which may estrange you from thought of your Maker Make euery day your Ephemerides Let your morning imitate your purposes for the day the day second what your morning purposed the Euening examine your mornings purpose your dayes purchase And so I descend to the next branch how you are to behaue your selues in publike which should be by so much more punctuall for as much as the world is more Stoicall VVOmen in sundry Countryes This branch might seeme included in our former discourse of Company but that reflected on persons this on affaires when they goe into any publike concourse or presse of people vse to weare vayles to imply that secret inscreened beauty which best becomes a Woman Bashfull modesty Which habit our owne Nation now in latter yeares hath obserued which howsoeuer the intention of the wearer appeare deserues approuement because it expresseth in it selfe Modest shamefastnesse a Womans chiefest Ornament I second his opinion who held it for diuers maine respects a custome very irregular and vndecent that Women should frequent places of publike resort as Stage-playes Wakes solemne Feasts and the like It is Occasion that depraues vs Company that corrupts vs. Hence it was that some flourishing States hauing eyed the inconueniences which arise from the vsuall resort of Women to Enterludes and other publike Solemnities published an expresse inhibition against such free and frequent meetings Had Hippodamia neuer wandred shee had prou'd an Hypemnestra and had neuer wantoned Had Dinah neuer roaued shee had prou'd a Diana and had neuer beene rauished Yet farre be it from me to be so regularly strict or Laconically seuere as to exclude Womâ—n from all publike societies Meetings they may haue and improue them by a Ciuill and Morall vse of them to their benefit They may chat and conuerse with a modest freedome so they doe not gossip it For these Shee-Elpenors and Feminine Epicures who surfet out their time in an vnwomanly excesse we exclude them the pale of our Common-weale Be they of what state soeuer they are staines to their Sexe for euer Especially such who carouse it in deepe healths reioyce at the colour of the wine till it sparkle in their veines inflame their bloods and lay open a breach to the frailty of their Sexe For preuention whereof we
vnto it yet will not suffer her brest to harbour an vnchaste thought or consent vnto it In that Countrey where I was borne saith Lud. Viues we vsually terme such widowes the greatest associates and assistants of vices whose too much delicacy in bringing vp their children makes them ofttimes-depraued and to all inordinate liberty addicted Wherefore I approue well of their course who recommend the care of their children to some discreet and well-disposed person For such is the too tender affection of mothers towards their children and so much are they blinded with the loue of them as they thinke they treat them too roughly albeit they embrace them neuer so tenderly Saint Hierome writing vnto Saluina saith The chastity of a woman is fraile and fading like a flower quickly perishing and vading with the least gust or blast of aduerse Fortune failing if not falling especially where her age is apt for vice and the authority of her husband wants to afford her aduice from whose assistance her honour deriues her best succour and supportance Who if shee haue a great family many things are required of her and to bee found in her to minister supply to the necessity of time and vse of affaires wherein she stands interessed Requisite therefore it were that shee made choyce of some one discreetly ripe both in yeares and inward gifts by whose honest integrity her family might bee better mannaged with more diligence attended and to the woman lesse occasion of disgrace obiected For I haue knowne very many women who albeit they spent their daies continually within their owne doores yet haue fallen into reproach either by some persons obseruing them or of their owne families disposed by them for suffering their seruants goe abroad to neatly arguing thereby a neglect of their family so as the handmaids pride brought her Mistresse into suspition of contemning her honour Sure it is that an honest woman whose fame is her highest prize requires nothing else desires nothing else than to satisfie her husbands bequest though dead honouring him with a due Commemoration and admiration of his vertues for the liues of those that dye consist in the memory of those that liue So did Anthonia the daughter of Marc. Authonie and wife to Drusus leading all the remainder of her life with her stepmother and retaining alwayes the remembrance of her dead husband The like did Liuia who left both her house and land that shee might dwell vnder one roofe with Noemia fearing perhaps lest the Maids of hâ—r family growing â—oo lasciuiously wanton and inordinate might by their lightnesse preiudice her honor which she incomparably valued aboue any treasure See you not hereby our discourse Gentlewomen what excellent Lights darted out from those darke times Estimation was their best portion nothing of equall prize vnto it vertues were their choycest Ornaments which they preseru'd with such constancy as feare of death could not depriue them of them though after death they had scarce the least glimpse of immortality Thus haue we traced ouer these three Conditions which wee haue stored with precepts strengthened with examples sweetned with choycest sentences that this reall Estimation whereof we treat might be discerned and that Superficiall Esteeme whereon we are now to insist discouered MAny desire to appeare most to the eye How Estimation may be discerned to be superficiall what they are least in heâ—rt They haue learned artfully to gull the world with apparances and deceiue the time wherein they are Maskers with vizards and semblances These can enforce a smile to perswade you of their affability counterfeit a blush to paint out their modesty walke alone to expresâ—e their loue to priuacy keepe their houses to publish them prouident purueyors for their family receiue strangers to demonstrate their loue to hospitality Their speech is minced their pace measured their whole posture so cunningly composed as one would imagine them terrâ—striall Saints at least whereas they are nothing lesse than what they most appeare Some you shall obserue so demure as in their Salutes they forbeare to expresse that freedome of Curtsie which ciuill custome exacts of them Those true Troian Dames to pacifie their incensed husbands could finde a lippe to procuâ—e them loue and supple their contracted looke Whereas these ciuilized Dames either out of a reseruancy of state or desire to be obseru'd scorne to be so familiarly demeaned as if they renounced antiquity and sought by all meanes that such Customes as plead prescription might be reuersed Their Lippâ— must be their Cheeke which as it retaynes a better tincture so many times a sweeter sauour At these the Poet no lesse pleasingly than deseruedly glanced in this Sonnet Tell me what is Beauty Skin Pure to th' eye but poore within What 's a kisse of that pure faire But Loues Lure or Adons sâ—aire Nectar-balme did Adon sippe Not from Venus cheeke but lippe Why should then Loues beauty seeke To change lippe vnto be cheeke All which he elegantly clozeth in opposition to himselfe with these continuate Stanza ' s Cheeke shall I cheâ—ke because I may not taste it No Nature rather who to th' eye so plac'd it As none can view it but he must draw neare it O make the Chart familiar or else teare it To purchase improuement of esteeme by these meanes were to swimme against the streame Discretion cannot approue of that for good which selfe-opinion or singularity onely makes good These are but Superficiall showes which procure more contempt than repute more derision than ground of esteeme It is not a ciuill habit a demure looke a staid gate that deserues this report vnlesse all these be sâ—conded with a resolued soule and a religious heart Those who dedicate themselues to the â—â—ruice of vertue preferre the pith before the rinde substance before appearance What can bee safe will these say with Lucretius to any woman if shee prostitute her honour or make it common Good women as they labour to auoyd all occasion of scandall so much more any act that may giue breath to â—candall Ciuill they are in heart and habit Constant in the profession of vertue For others they imitate the Whoorish Woman who wipes her mouth and saith Who seeth mee So they carry themselues charily they care not how little chastely There is none lookes through the Chinke to see them none in presence to heare them freely therefore may they commit what shall afterwards shame them Let mee then direct my Speech to these whited walls who make pretences their best attendants immaske their Impudence with the Vayle of darkenesse Tell mee yee deluded daughters is there any darkenesse so thicke and palpable that the piercing eye of heauen cannot spye you thorow it O if yee hope by sinning secretly to sinne securely you shall bee forced to say vnto your God as Ahab said vnto â—â—ijah Hast thou found mee O mine Enemy Nay O God terrible and dreadfull thou hast found mee And then let mee aske you in the
you Your Sports will turne to an ill iest when you are wounded in earnest the Fly may be then your Embleme So long the foolish Fly playes with the flame Till her light wings are cinged in the same Fly to an higher Sphere you are yet vntouch'd this wandring frenzy hath neuer yet surpriz'd you preuent the meanes and it shall neuer inuade you Be not such foes to your selues as to purchase your owne disquiet Examples you haue of all sorts both to allure and deterre you Pure loue admits no staine Such a fancy is neuer 〈◊〉 to a fâ—eâ—zy If euer then you entertaine any â—oue let it 〈…〉 it a vertuous solace for all others howsoeuer they may seene to premise sâ—me perfâ—â—ctory delight they euer cast vp their last account with repentance WHen a man bleeds at the nose and throâ—gâ— aburdance of blood is broâ—ght danger of his life How Fancy may be checked if too wâ—â—de the 〈…〉 the course of the bâ—ood aâ— otâ—er way If 〈…〉 in too vioâ—ent a 〈◊〉 it is to be â—ooled by a tâ—mperate expostulaâ—â—oÌ„ with Fancy or eâ—se by fixing 〈…〉 vpon some more attractiâ—e obiect diuert the course of that 〈◊〉 passion Expostulate with Fancy thus you may safely freely How is it with me Mee thinkes it fares otherwise than it hath done formerly A strange distemper I find in my mind and it might seeme to resemble â—oue if I knew the nature of it Loue Can virgin-modesty returne that accent and not blâ—sh Yes why not If the Obiect I affect be worthy louing And if not what then Is not the lâ—uer euer blindâ—â— with aâ—â—fection towards his beloued He who may seeme a 〈◊〉 to another may be a Parâ—s in 〈…〉 Were he poore as 〈◊〉 Fancy makes 〈◊〉 dearer to me than the weaâ—â— of Crâ—â—uâ— Yea but a little aduice would doe well Art thou perseaded that this Non-paâ—aâ—eâ— thou thus affectest hath dedicated his seruice onely to thee Yes his protests haue confirm'd him mine Besides his continuaâ—l presence seconds what hee protests That houre is tedious wherein hee sees me not those pleasures odious which my presence accompanies not His eye is euer fixed on me his sole discourse is to me What I affect hee embraceth with delight what I dis-rellish hee entertaines with distaste These I must confesse Gentlewoman are promising arguments of vnfained loue yet may all these â—rre and consequently leaue you in a miserable Error Your True-loue may proue a Iason or a Theseus and leaue you in the bryers for all your confidence You say his Protests haue confirm'd him yours he hath attested heauen to beare record of his loue Alas of Credulity Take heed he play not the part of that ridiculous Actor in Smyrâ—a who pronouncing O heauen pointed with his finger to the ground Or like that namelesse Louer who solliciting a Gentlewomans affection with aboundance of amorous Rhetoricke concluded with this Emphaticall protest that shee was the onely Mistresse of his thoughts which conclusion being ouerheard by one to whom not long before vpon like protests hee had ingag'd his faith she replied Doe not beleeue him Gentlewoman the selfe-same Arbour where you now are might witnesse that he hath made the very like protests vnto me many times before Trialls in affaires of this nature haue euer a truer touch than protests It is easie for beauty to extort a vow or a temporary protest which many times is as soone forgot as made Let not these then worke on your Credulity There be I know and so all be that are truly generous who rather than they would infringe their â—aith would ingage their life But all are not of that noble temper Oâ—hers there bee who can tip their glozing tongues with Rhetoricall protests purposely to gull a credulous Creature for the purcâ—ase of an vnlawfull pleasure which obtain'd they leaue them to bemoane their lost honour With more safety therefore may you suspect than too rashly affect It will not be amisse for you to reade him before you chuse him As thus Hath his faire carriage got him estimation where he liues Hath hee neuer inur'd his tongue to play Hypocrite with his heart nor made Ceremoniall protests to purchase a light Mistresse Hath he kept a faire quarter and beene euer tender of his vntainted honour Hath he neuer boasted of young Gentlewomans fauors nor runne descant on their kindnesse Hath hee kept himselfe on euen boord with all the world and preseru'd his patrimony from ingagement Hath hee euer since hee vow'd himselfe your seruant solely deuoted himselfe yours and not immix'd his affection with forraine beauties Chuse him hee well deserues your choyce in which choyce let this be your impreze My choyce admits no change To be short the blessing which Boaz pronounced vpon Ruth shall like a honey-dew destill daily from the lippes of your husband Blessed be thou of the Lord my Spouse thou hast shewed more goodnesse in the latter end than at thy beginning in as much as thou followest not young men were they poore or rich Contrariwise where you find no such demeriting respects in him who makes loue vnto you Checke your wilde Fancy by time lest a remedilesse Checke attend your Choyce Couertly knew that vnfortunate Lady how to paint out her griefe the extent whereof her tongue-tide passion could not relate When like a fruitfull vine shee had brought forth many faire and promising branches to a debaucht husband by whose profuser course her hopes which shee had stored in her numerous progeny perished and her selfe through griefe irrecouerably wasted shee wrote these pensiue lines with a Diamond in her Chamber Window to giue a liuing shadow to her lasting sorrow Vp to the Window sprung the spreading Vine The dangling Apricocke and Eglantine Since when that vine and branches too were found Shred from their root laid sprawling on the ground It is not so hard to giue comfortable counsel to the sorrowfull as to finde a fit season when to giue it I would haue you whose more noble parts promise much comfort to your families giue such attention to seasonable counsell as you may preuent all ensuing occasions of sorrow It is the condition of an inconsiderate person who neuer foresees his fall to cloze the issue of his misfortunes with this improuident conclusion Sen. de Tranq an I would neuer haue thought that this should haue thus come to passe I neuer dream'd of this Euent It will be more vsefull and beneficiall to you to checke your wilde Fancy if any such seaze vpon you than to giue way vnto it and consequently vndoe you Repentance comes too late at Marriage-night Affaires of such weight and consequence are not to be entertained without due aduice nor seconded with rashnesse In one word haue you plaid a little too long with the flame Haue you giuen too free accesse to your desertlesse louer Haue you suffered your heart not onely to thinke of him but with more intimate respect to harbour him Lodge him
I do not moue you to be too open-hearted or if so not too liberally to expresse it this were no discouery of fancy but folly So conceale your loue as your louer may not despaire of all hope to obtaine your loue Indifferent Curtsies you may shew without lightnesse and receiue them too in lieu of thankfulnesse I leaue it to your discretion to distinguish times and places for these may either improue or impaire the opportunity of such like Curtsies Doe not immure your beauties as if a iealousie of your owne weaknesse had necessitated this restraint There can be no Conquest where there is no Contest Conuerse with loue conceit with your selues whom you could like This your cooler temper may admit and stâ—â—l retaine that liberty which is fit â—alconers vse many meanes to make their Hawks sharpe they begin with short flights till weathring bring them to endure longer Pigmalions image receiued noâ— life in all parts at once first it took warmth after that vitall motion Is loue coole in you let a kindly warmth heat that coldnesse Is Loue dull in you let a liuely agility quicken that dulnesse Is loue coy in you Let a louely affability supple that coynesse So in short time you may haue a full rellish of loues sweetnesse Now wee come to the attemperament of these wherein we are to extract out of grosser mettals some pure Oare which wee must refine before it can giue any true beauty to this specious palace of loue Draw neare then and attend to what of necessity you must obserue if euer you meane to deserue HER loue whom you are in Ciuility bound to serue In Sicilia there is a fountaine called Fons Solis Poâ—p Mela. out of which at Mid-day when the Sun is nearest floweth cold water at Midnight when the Sunne is farthest off sloweth hot water This should be the liuely Embleme of your state Gentlewomen who now after those cooler vapours of your frozen affection dispersed those lumpish and indisposed humors dispelled and those queasie risings of your seeming coynesse dispossessed haue felt that chaste amorous fire burne in you which will make you of shamefaste Maids modest Matrons When the heat of passion is at Mid-day I meane his full height with those to whom faith hath engag'd you and loue before the hostage of that faith confirm'd you then are you to resemble the quality of that fountaine by flowing with colâ— water of discretion and sweet temper An Explanation of the Embleme to allay that heat lest it weaken those you loue by giuing way to passion which patience cannot chuse but loath Againe when heat is farthest off and prouidence begins to labour of a lethargy when seruants remit their care neglect their charge and the whole family grow out of order through the coldnesse of a remisse Master resemble then that fountaine by flowing with hot water win and weane these whom loue and loyalty haue made yours with warme coniugall teares to compassionate their neglected estate and by timely preuention to auert the fate of improuident husbands Or thus Another proper application of this Embleme if you please may you make your selues gracious Emblemes of that fountaine Doth the Sun shine at Mid-day and in his fullest height on you Do the beams of prosperity reflect brightly on you Flow with cold water allay this your heat and height of prosperity with some cooling thoughts of aduersity lest prosperity make you forget both the Author of it and in the end how to bestow it Againe doth the Sunne shine farthest off you Doth not one small beameling of prosperous successe cheere you Flow with hot water vanquish aduersity with resolution of temper Desist not from labour because fortune seconds not your endeuour To conclude as your wild fancy if you were euer surpriz'd of any is now rectifi'd your coolenesse heatned your coynesse banished so conforme your selues to them whom one heart hath made one with you as no Clowd of aduersity may looke so blacke no beame of prosperity shine so cleare wherein you may not with an equall embrace of both estates beare your share THE ENGLISH Gentlevvoman Argument Gentility is deriued from our Ancestors to vs but soone blanched if not reuiued by vâ— Vertue the best Coat A shamefasteâ—ed the best colour to deblazon that Coat Gentility is not knowne by what we weare but what we are There are natiue seeds of goodnesse sowne in generous bloods by lineall succession How these may be ripened by instruction GENTILITY Gentility GENTILITY consists not so much in a lineall deblazon of Armes Obseruat 7. as personall expression of vertues Gentility is dâ—riued from our Ancestors to vs but soone blanched if not reuiued by vs. Yea there is no Ornament-like vertue to giue true beauty to descent What is it to be descended great to retaine the priuilege of our blood to be ranked highest in an Heralds booke when our liues cannot adde one line to the memorable records of our Ancestors There should be no day without a line if we desire to preserue in vs the honour of our Line Those Odours then deserue highest honours that beautifie vs liuing and preserue our memory dying Should we call to mind all those our Ancestors who for so many preceding ages haue gone before vs and whose memory now sleeps in the dust we should perchance finde in euery one of them some eminent quality or other if a true suruey of their deseruing actions could bee made knowne vnto vs yea we should vnderstand that many of them held it their highest grace to imitate their Predecessors in some excellent vertue the practice whereof they esteemed more prayse-worthy than the bare title of Gentility Now what iust reproofe might we deserue if neither those patternes which our Ancestors had nor the vertuous examples of our Ancestors themselues can perswade vs to be their followers Their blood streames through our veynes why should not their vertues shine in our liues Their mortality we carry about with vs but that which made them immortally happy wee retaine not in vs. Their Gentility wee clayme the priuileges they had by it we retaine Meane time where is that in vs that may truly Gentilize vs and designe vs theirs What a poore thing is it to boast of that our blood is nobler our descent higher Tell me can any one prescribe before Adam And what shall he finde in that first Ancestor of his but red clay The matter whereof he was made it was no better nor can we suppose our morter to bee purer Hee most emphatically described our Genealogy who cryed Earth Earth Earth Earth by Creation Condition Dissolution No lesse fully vnderstood he the quality of his Composition with the root from whence he tooke his beginning who called Earth his Mother Wormes his Brethren and Sisters His Kinsfolkes hee could not much boast of they were such inferiour Creatures no strutters in the street but despicable Creepers Let me now reflect vpon you
Gentlewomen whose generous birth should bee adorned with vâ—rtuous worth and so make you mouing Obiects of imitation both in life and death Are you nobly descended Ennoble that descent with true desert Doe not thinke that the priuilege of greatnesse can bee any subterfuge to guiltinesse Your more ascending honour requires more than a Common lustre In places of publike resort you challenge precedency and it is granted you Shall the highest place haue the least inward grace No let not a word fall from you that may vnbeseeme you Others are silent when you discourse let it be worth their attention lest a presumption of your owne worth draw you into some friuolous excursion There is not an accent which you vtter a sentence you deliuer any motion in your carriage or gesture which others eye not and eying assume not Your Retinue is great your family gracious your actions should be the life of the one and line of direction to the other To see a light Lady descending from a noble Family is a Spectacle of more spreading infamy than any subiect of inferiour quality I cannot approue of this Apish kinde of formality which many of our better sort vse it detracts from their descent to make affectation their Tutresse They were free-borne nothing then that is seruile can become them It is nothing to retaine the fauour or feature of your Ancestors and to estrange you from that which truly dignifi'd your Ancestors Vertues haue more liuing Colours and are seconded with more lasting honours than any outward beauties You deceiue your selues if you thinke that honour receiued her first life from descent no It was demerit that made descent capable of honour A Pedigree argues your Gentility but had not some deseruing action beene you had neuer attained to any noble Pedigree For Gentility is not to be measured by antiquity of time but precedency in worth If brackish or troubled water seldome come from a pure Spring wild and vnsauory fruit from a good tree whence is it that noble Predecessors whose pure blood was neuer corrupted with any odious staine should bring forth such degenerating scienes Surely this generally proceeds from the too much liberty that is granted to our youth whose inclinations though otherwise good and equally disposed are vsually by Custome which becomes a Second nature miserably depraued Society they affect and this infects them repaire to publike places they admit and this corrupts them Those eminent examples which their Noble Progenitors left them become buried with them They comply with the time Vertue they say can hardly subsist where Vice is in highest request What though Plato aduise them to make choyce of the best way of liuing which may be easily effected by assiduate vse and daily custome they haue learned to inuert his rule by affecting that custome most which tends to the practice of vertue least Besides there is another reason which may be probably alleaged why generous descents become so much corrupted and vertuous Parents by vitious Children so frequently seconded Our Nobler women though in other respects truly imitable and for their vertuous Conuersation admirable come short in one peculiar duty which euen Nature exacts of them and which being duely perform'd would doubtlesly no lesse enable and ennoble them who are descended from them than any particular were it neuer so powerfull that could informe them These which are mothers by generation are seldome their Nurcing-mothers by education No maruell then if they degenerate when they partake of the natures of other women Though their owne mothers blood streame through their veines a strangers milke must feed them which makes them participate of their nature as they are fed with their substance Wheresoeuer the Nurses milke is receiued the Nurses manners are likewise retained Whence it was that Chrysippus expresly commanded that the very best and wisest Nurses should be made choice of that what good blood had infused might not by ill milke be infected It was the ioynt aduice both of Plutarch and Phaâ—orine that a mother should bee her childrens Nurse because commonly with the milke of the Nurse they sucke the quality or condition of her life Yea according to ancient Decree women were bound to nurse their owne children and not to haâ—e any other women vnlesse necessity enforc'd them to nurse them Let this then bee rectifi'd yee whose Noble descents haue made you eminent in the eye of the world and whom Gods blessing hath made fruitfull Mothers to bring forth a faire and hopefull increase vnto the world nurse them with your owne milke this will expresse in you a motherly careâ— to them beget in them a greater measure of child-like loue to you Your care the more it is parentall will exact of them a loue more faithfull and filiall Nurse them I say with the milke of your owne brests to feed them with the milke of your owne liues to informe them So shall their actions proue them to bee your Successours when they shall not onely deriue their blood from you but on this Theatre of humane frailty shall publish themselues to be true representers of you For in vaine is your blood to them deriued if your memory by their vertues be not reuiued Giue them then that which may make them yours Goodnesse may bee blamed but her succeeding memory can neuer be blanchâ—d Thus shall you not onely shew your selues worthy of that house from whence you came but after your period on earth bee receiu'd into a more glorious house in time to come IT is not the Nobility of descent but of vertues that makes any one a gracefull and acceptable Seruitour in the Court of heauen Houses are distinguished by Coats and Câ—â—sts but these are dignifi'd by something â—â—se In Heraldry those are euer held to be the best Coats that are deblazonâ—â— with least charge Vertue the best Coat Consequently then must vertue needs be the best Coat Shee requires the least charge in her attire shee is not sumptuous in her fare delicious nor in her retinue the more is the pitty numerous She confines her desires vpon earth within a strait Circumference a very small portion of that mettall will content her She sees none so great in the Court as may deserue her enuy none so rich in the City as may beget in her an earthly desire none so repos'd in the Countrey as to induce her to change her state Shee is infinitely happy in that shee aymes at no other happinesse than where it is to bee found Ambition may display her Pie-colour'd flagge but shee will neuer get vertue to be her follower Her desires are pitcht vpon a farre more transcendent honour than these State-corriuals on earth can ere afford her or by their competition take from her Pleasure may cast out her Lure but vertue is so high a flyer as shee scornes to stoupe to ought vnworthy of her it pleaseth her to contemplate that on earth which she is to enioy in heauen
to reward those who constantly stand in defence of her honour There is nothing can wound you being thus armed nothing ill-beseeme you being thus adorned nothing disparage you being thus honoured Heraldry findes a Coat for your house but Vertue findes honour to grace your person Retaine those diuine impressions of goodnesse in you that may truly ennoble you display your gentility by such a Coat as may best distinguish your family so shall you liue and dye with honour and suruiue their fame whose onely glory it was to enioy fortunes fauour PAinters are curious in the choice of their colors lest their Art become blemished through those decaied colours wherewith their Pictures are portrayed Some are of opinion that the receit of Painting or Colouring the substance of glasse through is vtterly lost neither that these late succeeding times can regaine as yet that mysterious perfection Farre more is it to be doubted lest vertue which we haue proued by infallible arguments to be the best Coat want her true colour and consequently become depriued of her chiefe lustre Some Pictures I know will doe well in white yet it is colour that giues them life Beauty neuer darts more loue to the eye nor with quicker conuoy directs it to the heart then when it displayes her guiltlesse shame in a crimson blush There is one flower to be loued of women which is the chiefest flower in all their garden Nazian and this is a good red which is shamefastnesse A shamefastered the best Colour to deblazon vertues Coat These standing colours are slow wooers to discreet Louers Vertues Coat then is best deblazoned when a shamefastred breathes vpon it Protogenes tables wherein Bacchus was painted and all his furious Bacchanals to life displayed moued King Demetrius to such admiration during his siege of the City Rhodes that where hee might haue consumed the City with fire and buried the glory thereof in ashes would not for the preciousnesse of that table so as protracting time by staying to bide them battell wonne not the City at all If a liuelesse Picture could enforce such affection in a knowing Commander what effects may we thinke will a liuing substance produce Truth is there is such sweet and amiable correspondence betwixt vertuous beauty and shamefaste modesty as the one cannot subsist without the others society Not a light passage can want the attendance of a blush whilest modesty is in presence Yea though shee be not conscious of any conceit that might beget in her face a shamefaste blush out of a modest Compassion shee will not sticke to blush when she obserues ought in another deseruing blame Her eares glow at any light report which lest they should grow too credulous shee fortifies with reason to oppose the too easie entrance of suspition Shee partakes of no resemblance lesse than that of the Chameleon whose naturall property it is to represent all Colours saue white She is a milde and moderate interpretor of others actions but a serious Censor of her owne Light discourses which tend rather to the deprauing of the hearer than ministring any vsefull subiect to an attentiue Obseruer she excludes vnciuill Complement shee abhorres what onely is modest she approues and seconds her approuement with a gracefull smile She holds an infected minde to be more dangerous than an infected house such Company shee shunnes on whom the rayes of vertue seldome or neuer shine There is not that Condition bee it neuer so meane which shee cannot with cheerefulnesse entertaine so as shee holds outward pouerty the best enricher of an inward family Her desires are so equally poyzed as shee neither seekes more than shee enioyes nor wants freedome to dispose of what she enioyes Honour shee affects yet with no such eagernesse as to hazzard the losse of a dearer honour for so vncertaine a purchase Friends and fauourites she admits and with that constancy as it neither repents her of accepting nor them of tendring such vertuous fruits of amity Here you haue her Gentlewomen who will tell you and in her selfe exemplifie what shee tells you that modesty is the choycest ornament that can adorne you Now if you purpose to trace her path or conforme your selues to her line you must worke on your affections to embrace what shee loues and reiect whatsoeuer she loathes Are you conuersant at any time with such protesting seruants as make deepe Oaths meere Complements and whose tongues are witty Orators in running descant on a wanton Tale These are such Consorts as Modesty would be loath to conuerse with She can neuer endure any of these discourses without an angry blush Should you delight in these you should quickly heare her out of a vertuous passion cry out with the Poet O Age most of our women know not now What ' tiâ— to blush till painting tell them how Againe should you entertaine in your naked bosomes what some wantons haue too much affected light amorous Poems perusing them with no lesse Content than if they had beene purposely penned to worke on your Conceit this cannot stand with your modesty These may corrupt you but neuer rectifie what is wandring in you Suffer not a wanton passage to play on your fantasie Sinne would neuer enter in vpon you if she found but a preparation of resistance in you Tell me what a sweet grace conferres it on you to mixe your salutes with modest blushes and entertaine your Suitors with a shamefaste bashfulnesse Sure I am where loue is discreetly grounded this cannot chuse but be an especiall motiue to affection There may bee I grant such wilde louers who preferre the loose loue of an inconstant Phaedra before the chaste embraces of a continent Antiope but their indiscreet choyce is euer seconded with a fearefull cloze Those who esteeme more of a painted cheeke than a natiue blush shall finde all their imaginary happinesse resolued to a painted blisse It is Modesty and not Beauty which makes the husband happy Would you then deserue the title of Chaste Virgins constant Wiues modest Matrons While you are ranked amongst the first conuerse not priuately with a wanton thought send not forth a wandring eye to fetch in a Sweet-heart Dis-value not your owne worth so much as to wooe others to become your Suitors This would bee a meanes rather to depresse loue than increase it impayre loue than improue it If you be worthy winning you cannot chuse but be worthy wooing Meane time let not a straid looke betray your too forward loue nor a light conceit tax you of deserued reproofe Dye your cheeks with a Rosie blush when you heare ought that may detract from the modesty of your Sexe Be as silent as the night your best Rhetoricke consists in maiden blushes and bashfull smiles which will worke more powerfully on a Louers heart than a Rhetoricall tongue bee it neuer so curiously tipt with Art For the second ranke you know how strict a duty is imposed on you now are you not to conuerse with
becomes furnished with choice characters and the Subiect begins to affect what is engrauen in them by continuance of time they become so habituate as no art can make them adulterate Semprâ—nia was too light in her youth to be staid in her age Fuluia gaue too much way to her passion in her youth to attemper it in her age Zantippe was too shrewd a maid to become a quiet wife What Nature hath not effected in vs may by industry be facilitated in vs so we begin to worke while the waxe is soft O Gentlewomen how many whose excellent endowments deserue admiration either by selfe-opinion haue become transported or by giuing loose reines to passion haue miserably wandred or by inueying against others more deseruing parts haue wittingly transgressed By which meanes they become spectacles of contempt who otherwise by their conceiuing discourse might haue giuen occasion of content It is too true that the liberty of greatnesse is such as it is more apt to finde fewell to feede the humour of vice then to minister any vsefull ingredience for the recouery of vertue Great mindes are many times sicke of great maladies which by soothing parasites become insensible and consequently incurable Vice in a poore habit neuer retaines that maiesty which it displayes in a richer roâ—be Is it so Reflect then vpon your selues if vice seeme so specious what will vertue do Though all your vertues be but indeed specious vices Beleeue it if you cherish vertue in your minority she will performe the office of a faithfull guardian The widdowes teares shall be very few for she will finde iustice to redresse her the Orphans cryes shall not be so loud she will finde compassion to cheere her The State shall not exclaime of surfeits for temperance shall shield her nor the Church of coldnesse for zeale shall inflame her What a sweet consort is an vnison of vertues to the eare of a diuine soule All other Musicke is disrellishing because it workes not on the affection Now would you know whence it comes that vertue or vice whethersoeuer takes hold first retaines a deeper impression in Honour than in any lower subiect The reason is euident As in their state or condition they are more eminent so is their representatiue example in others more inherent Doe these honourable personages then loue vertue they are vertuous molds vnto their followers they shall finde in their shadowes what they expresse in themselues Iulia could not be loose when Lucrecia was so chaste she saw that in her Mistresse which deseru'd loue and to that shee conform'd the line of her life To consort at vnseasonable houres with loose louers or to entertaine light discourse to beguile time was no authenticke doctrine in her Mistresse family no day was without her taske no night without her peculiar employment There is no question but the prime yeeres of this noble Lady were seasoned with such exquisite instructions as what her youth had receiued were not in her riper yeares to bee abolished First motions haue deepe impressions especially when they become seconded by examples of authority whose very persons impose on their Pupils a resistlesse necessity The estimate of Honour with those who are truly honourable is at too high a rate to ingage it selfe to the hazard of disgrace for any temporary profit or delight Their onely profit is to become proficients in the practice of Vertue Their highest delight to subdue their delights to the obedience of reason for the loue of vertue Such as these are to be accounted onely Noble for their desires are so which they euer ennoble with deseruing actions For tell me can any one whole iudgement is not blinded or inward light not wholly blemished esteeme that Person for honourable whose Outside onely magnifies it selfe in a poakt head a poland sleeue and a â—rotean body No these are but outward badges of their inward vanity These haue too much coare at their heart to be of sound health If they haue no other expressions to deblaze their honour they are rather obiects of Contempt than State be they neuer so glorious to the eye of our vulgar It hath beene and I could wish it were not to this day continued an vsuall forme of breeding with some more eminent Persons to haue their Children practise a kinde of state from their infancy which indeed being truly defined was a phantasticke supercilious garbe which discouered more pride than deserued prayse Neither could these so easily relinquish in their age what was commended to them in their youth â—or such as commonly attended their persons extolled whatsoeuer they saw by them or 〈◊〉 them expressed such is the misery of greatnesse that if it be not an exact Censor and reprouer of her owne vanity They shall finde approuers of it by those odious professors of lycophancy whose glozing condâ—tion hath beene the ruine of many a noble family For what may bee the vsuall dialect of these Tamâ— Beasts to their bounteous Benefactors those prodigall disbursers of their fathers prouidence but this parasitâ—call parley It would well become you to be rarely seene reseruedly affable to retaine state in your peace awe in your face scorne in your eye a storme in your brow with a gracefull contempt in all your carriage An excellent direction to purchase hate These followers are not for your honour The way to diuert their straine is to affect what they distaste You cannot want vitious Libertines to second you in a sensuall course if your owne disposition stand so affected Calphurnia could not be good when Messalina was so nought Your liues as they are liues to your selues so should they be lightâ— vnto others Are you modest it will beget a loue of modesty through all your family Not one who owes their obseruance to you but will admire this vertue in you and practiâ—e it in themselues because they see it so highly valued by you Againe Lightnesse or any irregularity in you whatsoeuer will not redound onely to your owne but your whole families dishonour Which opinion once possest your Honour receiues such a mortall wound as no continuation of time so lasting is the record of infamy may perfectly cure it which seemes confirmed by our moderne Poet Search all thy bookes and thou shalt find therein That Honour is more hard to hold than win How cautelous then ought you to bee of that which preserues your well being Many nobly descended are sufficiently instructed how to retaine their state what place to take by remembring whence they came meane time they forget whence they came first O consider how this Speciosior pâ—luis this more specious or seemingly precious dust of yours is but dust Vice will but varnish it it is vertue that will richly enammell it Your birth rather restraines than improues your liberty your sexe should detract from it selfe were it estrang'd from modesty your beauty honour and all are seruants to time or worse if bestow'd on vanity Let vertue retaine such deepe impression in
you as no vicious affection may seize on you Occasions are dangerous perswasions preuent therefore the meane that you may attaine a more glorious end That onely deserues your loue which shall make you for euer liue Vertue if you loue her and liue with her by becomming your suruiuor will crowne your happy memory with succeeding honour IT is vsually obseru'd that Hawkes of one Ayrie That vertue may receiue the first impression by meanes of an in-bred noble â—â—sposition secoâ—ded by helps of Education are not of one nature Some are more mettall'd others more lazy As in Birds so in all other Creatures Liuia and Iulia Augustus his daughters were sisters but of different natures Some there are who euen from their infancy haue such excellent seeds of natiue goodnesse sowne in them as their dispositions cannot rellish ought that is irregular In arguments of discourse they are moderate in Company temperate in their resolues constant in their desires continent in their whole course or carriage absolute Others naturally so peruerse that like our * These are described to life in the person of an huâ—orous fantarticke in this pleasant Epigâ—am humorous Laieâ—s they can affect â—ought that others loue nor rellish ought that others like The byas of their fancy runnes still on the fashion their tongue a voluble Engine of feminine passion their resolues full of vncertainty and alteration The whole Enterlude of their life a continued Act of femall-follies It were hard to winne these to the loue of vertue or those to delight in vice This might eaâ—â—ly be illustrated by diuers memorable instances * Sic 〈◊〉 must eat her break fastis her bed And is til noon in trimming of her head and sâ—â—s at table like a maiden-Bride And takes all day of nothing but of pride God may dae muâ—â— in mercy to saue her But what a câ—se is he in thaâ— shall haue her personated in such who from their very Cradle became seriously deuoted to a religious priuacy supplying their want of bookes wherein they were meerely ignorant with a deuout and constant meditation of Gods works wherein they employed their whole study Industrious were their hands in labouring and bounteous were they in bestowing A natiue compassion lodged in their hearts which they expressed in their charitable workes Hospitality to the stranger and needy beggar was their highest honour Suffer they would the height of all extremes ere they would suffer the desolaâ—e to want reliefe So strongly were their affections fortifi'd against the assaults of an imperious Louer as death was to them a cheereâ—ull obiect to preserue their high-priz'd honour Such singular effects as these haue beene vsually produced by an innate noble Disposition so as some of these whom wee haue here cursorily shadowed were endowed with such virile spirits as they stickt not to spit in the face of tyranny others were not abash'd to * This was formenly instanced in that memorable example of Sputâ—nia pay 104. disfigure their own beauty lest it should become an adulterers booty In these had vertue taken such deepe impression as nothing could deepely touch them but what trenched on their reputation Though by nature they were timorous and inconstant resolution had so prepar'd them as they became discreetly valiant looking death in the face without feare and embracing her stroake as a fauour Doe you admire this in them Imitate them and you shall be no lesse by succeeding times honoured than these in ours admired Conceiue your life to be an intricate Labyrinth of affliction the very anuill whereon the heauy hammer of misery incessantly beateth Reflect on your birth and you shall perceiue how you giue the world a good morrow with griefe Looke at your death how you bid the world good night with a groane Ioy then cannot be long lasting when you are daily taking leaue of the place where you liue which now though liuing you are leauing Besides no continued hope of comfort can bee expected where feare presents her selfe an inseparable attendant Feare has command o're subiect and o're King Feare has no Phere feare 's an imperious thing To allay which feare addresse your selues to that most which may giue you occasion of fearing least And what may that receipt be A minde purely refin'd from the corruption of this infectious time Meditate therefore of that neuer fading beauty that is within you Labour to preserue it from the iniury of all incroaching Assailants If you flâ—s with any painted flourish of light Rhetoricke wooe her timely preuent her before shee winne her If the world with her Lure of honour command or the like seeke to draw her reclaime her lest vanity surprize her If her profest Enemy labour to vndermine her make knowne his long-profest enmity vnto her that a vigilant circumspection may arme her Admit your dispositions become sometimes auerse from the practice of that which you should most affect diuert the Current of them You loue liberty confine it to moderate restraint You affect honour curbe it with a serious meditation of your owne frailty You desire to gather sowe your bread vpon the water Charity will bring you quickly to a better temper You admire gorgeous attire remember the occasion how you first became cloathed had not sinne beene these poore habiliments had neuer needed Doth delicate fare delight you Consider how it is the greatest misery to pamper that delicately or cherish it with delicacy that is your mortall and profest enemy Doe wanton Consort worke on your fancy Cure betime this dangerous phrenzy Auert your eye lest it infect your heart Conâ—erse with reason and auoid nothing more than occasion Doe you finde your affections troubled or to passion stirred Retire a little from your selues attemper that boyling heat which workes so violently on you and in the end resolue thus It will redound more to our honour to bridle anger than to engage our discretions by giuing reynes to our distemper Can you not see your Neighbours fiâ—d flourish without an Enuious Eye Of all others expulse this soonest because of all others it partakes of the Deuill the nearest As you are commanded to loue him as your selues so wish not that euill vnto him which you would not haue to fall vpon your selues Lastly doe you finde a remisnesse in you to any employment that is good Tob. 4. 15. Shake off this naturall duâ—nesse and inflame your affections with a Diuine feruentnesse You haue hitherto beene slow in doing good shew that in doing ill Meane time with the wings of holy and heauenlâ— desires mount from earth to heauen plant your affections aboue though your pilgrim dimensions be here below Which the better to facilitate certain euer in your memory this deuout Memoriall or Meditation Think whence you came and be ashamed Bern. where you are and be aggrieued where you goe to and bee affrighted Euery way wherein you wake as it is full of snares so shouâ—d it be full of eyes Those two
passion Her Neighbors she daily wooes and winnes which she effects with such innocent affability as none can iustly tax her of flattery An Ouer-seer for the poore she appoints her selfe wherein she exceeds all those that are chosen by the Parish She takes a Suruey daily and duly of them and without any charge to the Hamlet relieues them She desires not to haue the esteeme of any She-clarke shee had rather be approu'd by her liuing than learâ—ing And hath euer preferr'd a sound professant before a profound disputant A president of piety shee expresseth her selfe in her family which shee so instructs by her owne life as vertue becomes the obiect of their loue Her taske shee sets her selfe daily which she performes duely Her owne remisnesse if any such be shee reproues by so much more than obserue her could be well content to serue her Shee is generous in all Not a Look but giues Life to Loue and that so vertuously dispos'd as not a light thought can distract it Her very motion is a mouing direction She neuer learned to tinkle with her feet to wander with her eyes to staiâ—e her spotlesse honour with a painted blush All shee doth is her owne All her owne doth incomparably please which she clozeth with this impreze Louing Modesty is a Liuing Beauty COMPLEMENT she admits but not that which this Age affects she preferres Substance before meere formality Pith before the Rinde Performance before Ceremony She distasts nothing so much as that Courts sustian which in her esteeme is quite out of fashion your Seruants Seruant She cannot protest in iest nor professe what shee meanes not in earnest Shee cares not for this Rhetoricall varnish it makes a good cause suspitious her desire is to expresse her selfe in action more than discourse That COMPLEMENT which consists in congies cringies and salutes disâ—ellâ—sheth her pallate most it tastes too much of the Caske for the rest she is secure so her actions bee really pure her selfe completely honest Thus shee summes vp her dayes makes vertue her prayse this her Impreze Ciuill Complement my best Accomplishment DECENCY is her natiue Liuery though shee make no shadow of it her owne shadow is not more indiuiduate In her attire she is not so sumptuous as seemely not so costly as comely in her discourse she deliuers her mind not so amply as fully not so quickly as freely in her whole course shee expresseth her inward beauty Her Glasse is not halfe so vsefull to her selfe as the glasse of her life is to others Whatsoeuer is worne by her receiues a singular grace from her Her fashion is neuer out of request though more constant in it than the Age would admit She liues to bring time into some better tune this is her taske in euery place this is that which crownes her with peace while shee deuiseth this for her impreze Virgin-Decency is Vertues Liuery ESTIMATION is that precious odour whiâ—h giues sweetnesse to her honour Dye had shee rather with it than enioy an Empire and liue without it It is the Goale of all her actions The Crowne of all her Labours Pouerty she holds an incomparable blessing so her name be inriched by ESTIMATION No dead Fly can corrupt that Ointment Happy needs must be her State that preserues this without Staine This she feeds not with the iâ—yce of vain-glory nor seeks to augment it with a fabulous story Many haue purchas'd praise in Oylie lines that neuer merited applause all their liues Her desire is to be rather than seeme lest seeming to be what she is not shee gull the world but her selfe most by playing the counterfeit Resolute is she in this her Impreze My prize is her owne prayse FANCY shee entertaines with a cheerefull but chaste bosome Though Loue be blind her loue has eyes No lesse faithfulll is shee in retaining than doubtfull in entertaining Protests are dangerous Lures to credulous Louers but her FANCY is too staid to stoope vnto them She can loue well but lest she should repent soone and that too late shee will try before she trust haue some reason to like before she loue She holds that FANCY â— Frenâ—y which â—s onely led by Sense She makes reason her guide that Coâ—tent may be her Goale Long time shee debates with Loue before euer she giue Loue her heart which done shee confirmes the bargaine with her hand Her Constancy shee displayes in this Impreze My Choyce admits no Change GENTLITY is not her boast but that which dignifies that title most Vertue is her soueraignesse in whose seruice to liue and die she holds the absolutest happinesse Gentry shee thinkes best graced by affâ—bility To be surly derogates as much from her worth as basenesse from Nobility of birth Her Linage is best distinguish'd by her Crest her â—orth by her selfe Her desert giues life to her descent Not an action comes from her but excellently becomes her Shee euer reflects on the House from whence shee came whose antiquity she ennobles with numerous expressions of piety from the rising height of which increase she drawes this Christian Impreze Desert Crowneâ— Descent HONOVR she deserues more than desires This she may admit but not admire Weake shee holds that foundation of HONOVR where vertue is not a supporter The more HONOVR that is conferr'd on her makes her the humbler she cloathes not her Looke with a disdainfull scorne nor clouds her brow with an imperious frowneâ— Farre more esteemes she the title of goodnesse than greatnesse Shee holds nothing more worthy of her approuing than a daily drawing nearer to Perfection by her vertuous liuing Her whole Pilgrimage is nothing else than to shew vnto the world what is most requisite for a greâ—t Personage In a word shall wee take a re-view of her Noble carriage in each of our Obseruances For the first she is fashionably neat for the second formally discreet for the third ciuilly complete for the fourth amiably decent for the fifth precious in repute for the sixth affectionately constant for the seuenth generously accommodated for the eighth honourably accomplished Whence it is that she impalls her diurnall race with this imperiall Impreze Honour is Vertues Harbour Goe on then she may with Honour seeing the King in her beauty takes such pleasure A Diuine presage of promising goodnesse was her infancy A continuate practice of piety was her youth and maturity The cloze of her Pilgrimage a calme passage from frailty to felicity Long would the earth keepe her but so should she be kept from that which shee values farre better Her Husband cannot stay long behind seeing his better part is gone before FINIS EMBLEME SOme hold these Obseruations to be long Some more iudicious hold them to be short Thus are they censur'd be they right or wrong What should we then make Censure but a sport Since good or bad we 're ne're the better for 't Which to attemper I should thinke it best Vertue were Censor in each Authors brest
telleth God how and in what sort he is to deale with him that as he suffered not small disgraces from another so neither should small things be suffered in him by God As it is written With what measure you mete the same shall be measured to you againe Six other detriments or discommodities there bee which arise from the exorbitancy of this passion Ibid. lib. 5. For by Anger is lost Moral cap. 31. first Wisedome while reason becomes blinded Secondly Righteousnesse for the wrath of man worketh not the righteousnesse of God Thirdly Society for the Acquaintance of one angry man is pleasing vnto none Be not saith the Wiseman a companion with the angry man Fourthly Concord while peace is disturbed Fifthly the Light of Truth because anger casteth the darkenesse of confusion vpon the mind or vnderstanding from whom God hideth the cheerefull beame of his Diuine knowledge Sixthly the Splendor of the holy spirit vpon whom saith the Prophet shall my spirit rest but vpon the humble and quiet that is vpon the meeke mild and compassionate Thus you see what benefits may bee procured by attempering what discommodities incurred by fostring this Passion Whereon I haue the rather insisted because I am not ignorant how the strongest and constantest tempers haue beene and may be distempered and disparraged by it much more you whaâ—e mainest strength consists in the expression of that Passion At all times therefore vse a moderate restraint in the prime of your yeares when youth sends forth her first promising blossomes behaue your selues mildly without bitternesse humbly without haughtinesse modestly without lightnesse soberly without childishnesse The Caske will retaine her first taste the Wooll her first dye If you shew too much way wardnesse in your youth small good is to be expected in your age As you tender your preferrement seeme milde while you are maids lest you proue scareâ—crowes to a young mans bed Conforme your selues likewise to a nuptiall State and preserue your honour without staine Contest not with your head for preeminence you came from him not he from you honour him then as he cherisheth the loue he conceiues in you A domestick fury makes ill harmony in any family The discord which was hatched and increased towards M. Anthony by Fuluâ—a was euer allayed and attempered by the moderation of Octauia Be you all Octauia's the rougher your crosse the richer your Crowne The more that iniuries presse you the more shall your patience praise you The Conflict is but short and momentanie the Triumph glorious and impaâ—l'd with eternity And thus much touching those three particulars whereon your Behauior principally reflects wee are now to descend to the next branch which shall shew how a Gentlewoman of ranke and quality for to such onely is my discourse directed is to behaue her selfe in Company SOciety is the solace of the liuing for to liue without it were a kinde of dying Companions and friendly Associats are the Theeues of time No houre can be so tedious which two louing Consorts cannot passe ouer with delight and spend without distaste Be the night neuer so darke the place neuer so meane the cheerefull beames of conceiuing consorts will enlighten the one and their affections mutually planted enliuen the other What a Desert then were the world without friends and how poselesse those friends without conceiuing mindes and how weake those mindes vnlesse vnited in equall bonds So then loue is the Cement of our life life a load without loue Now Gentlewomen you are to put on your vailes and goe into Company Which I am perswaded you cannot enter without a maiden-blush a modest tincture Herein you are to be most cautelous seeing no place can be more mortally dangerous Beware therefore with whom you consort How to behaue her selfe in Company as you tender your repute for report will brute what you are by the Company which you beare Augustus being at a combat discerned the inclinations of his two daughters Iulia and Liuia by the Company which frequented them for graue Senators talked with Liuia but riotous persons with Iulia. Would you preserue those precious odors of your good names Consort with such whose names were neuer branded conuerse with such whose tongues for immodesty were neuer taxed As by good words euill manners are corrected so by euill words are good ones corrupted Make no reside there where the least occasion of lightnesse is ministred auert your Eare when you heare it but your heart especially lest you harbour it To enter into much discourse or familiarity with strangers argues lightnesse or indiscretion what is spoken of Maids may be properly applyed by an vsefull consequence to all women They should be seene and not heard A Traueller sets himselfe best out by discourse whereas their best setting out is silence You shall haue many trifling questions asked as much to purpose as if they said nothing but a friuolous question deserues to be resolu'd by silence For your Carriage it should neither â—e too precise nor too loose These sempring made facâ—s partake more of Châ—mbermaid than Gentlewoman Modesty and mildnesse hold sweetest correspondence You may possibly be wooed to interchange fauours Rings or Ribonds are but trifles yet trust me they are no trifles that are aym'd at in those exchanges Let nothing passe from you that may any way impeach you or giue others aduantage ouer you Your innocent credulity I am resolued is as free from conceit of ill as theirs perhaps from intendment of good but these intercourses of Courtesies are not to be admitted lest by this familiarity an Entry to affection bee opened which before was closed It is dangerous to enter parley with a beleagring enemy it implyes want or weakenesse in the besieged Chastity is an inclosed Garden it should not be so much as assaulted lest the report of her spotlesse beauty become soyled Such Forts hold out best which hold themselues least secure when they are securest Nasica when the Roman Common-wealth was supposed to bee in most secure estate because freed of their enemies and strongly fenced by their friends affirmed that though the Achaians and Carthaginians were both brought vnder the yoke of bondage yet they were most in danger because none were left whom they might either feare for danger or who should keepe them in awe How subiect poore Women be to lapses and recidiâ—aâ—ions being left their owne Guardians daily experience can sufficiently discouer Of which number those alwayes proued weakest who were confidentest of their owne strength Presumption is a daring sinne and euer brings out some vntimely birth which viper-like depriues her vnhappy parent of life I haue knowne diuers so resolute in their vndertakings so presuming of their womanish strength so constantly deuoted to a single life as in publike consorts they held it their choycest merriment to giue loue the affront to discourse of affection with an imperious contempt geere their amorous suiters out of Count'nance and make a very Whirligig of loue