eyther lamented too soone or repented too late Many be the occastions that make mariage to haue an vnhappy successe by which good houses and great kindreds are brought to ruyne and decay as the difference between the marryed couple eyther in yeares or in calling whereof both arise many quarrels about house-keeping and manners of life therefore the way to liue quietly is to marry equally in all respects Touching the difference in yeares in mine oppinion it is an vnseemely thing to ssee a young woman matched with an olde man that caryeth a countenance rather to be hir Father then her Husband and I am verely perswaded that young and dainty Damsels got as willingly to such husbands as to their graues For they are sicke to become widowes in their husbands life time and to spend their dayes in a most miserable case for how modest or honest so euer they be yet some will not sticke to say that they are lewd and wanton onely by reason of their husbands white beards Consider I pray you on the other side what a name olde wrinkled and toothles women get in taking husbands that be young and beardles boyes and tell me whether the rage of these olde women be not greater then the young and of good nature and haue these outward markes that do betoken a good horse I deny not but by the lookes of a woman a man may gather somewhat of her disposition but seeing God hath commaunded vs not to iudge altogether by the face of the woman we must yet vse a more certaine and commodious way as in the next Chapter following you shall read CHAP. II. ¶ How that many times Wise Parentes may haue foolish Children and foolish Parents wise Children how that oftentimes Rich mens Children being left rich become poore and poore mens Children become rich I haue alwaies liked exceeding well of those Marriages which are treated of trâ—ely without hiding of any thing which after comming to light bringeth griefe and repentance to one of the parties but neither men nor women now adayes vse that orderly endeuoring so much as they may to couer the faults as well of the body as the mind But yet the surest way to deale in the choice of a Wife I will now report by the example of Olimpia the mother of Alexander whose saying was that women are to be married with the eares before they are with the eyes which is that out of the mouthes of diuers people a constant report may come of the parentage life and behauiour of them But the greedines of the world is so great at this day that a man will seeke diligently for Oxen and Horse of a good rase but careth not though his wife be ill brought by and worse borne so that she be rich enough But be that is wise will aboue all things haue a speciall regard of the conditions and qualities of his wife and will note what the life and conuersation of her parents are remembring the saying that the Eagle breedeth not the Pidgion but that alwaies the Cat will after kinde Yet I will not deny but that many good and vertuous men haue gotten had and wicked children and contrariwise many wise children haue beene begotten by foolish fathers and we dayly see and know many very honest women haue dishonest Mariots to their daughters therefore to conclude let all men â—ine with discretion But now to passe further in our discourses those men whom Nature causeth their Children to be fooles in my Iudgement hapneth not by the birth but by the bringing vp the which is the cause that many great heads by long practise become readie witted And other who euer in their cradles are sound to haue a quick wit in processe of time either through idlenes or gluttony or some such mis-gouerment become slow and dull headed Now from that consideration I would come to this that the father who through much trauell and trouble both of body and minde hath gotten wealth and honour though be getteth children of great wit yet he is so ouer-gone in latherly affection towards them that knowing he hath prouided for them sufficiently to liue by at their case he cannot abide to see them trauell and labour as he hath done so that vanquished with a certaine tender effectien he suffereth them to be brought vp dillicately and wantonly and is the cause that by this idlenes their naturall force decayeth and by Custome is quite chaunged into an other nature Consider this also besides how that many Children peceiuing and knowing very well them selues to be thus pampred vp by their Parents keepe them-selues so much as they way out of the Dust a Sun neyther care they for applying their thindes to any coÌ„mendable thing nor for to seeke to get any more Riches or substance then that which their Parents haue with great diligence formerly prouided for them but here it may be truely said of them that they are not vn-like the Crowe who liveth onely by such Fonde as other Beastes a Cattle do usually leane surely there is no doubt of it but if that they were meanely lefte by their parents as many poore mens Children often are then would they grow to be exceeding prudent wise and then would they be rich sufficiently able to liue in a Common wealth We may dayly sée by experience that for the most part poore mans children become rich by their owne labour and industry and rich mens children war poore by their necligence and idlenes which is signified vnto vs by this prouerb or whâ—â—le saying Riches breeds pride pride breeds pouertie pouertie breeds humilitie humilitie breeds riches and riches againe brings pride Therefore the good father must be admonished that he trust not too much in the goodnes of his nature that he thinkes that not onely sufficient to keepe his children good But beholding them with an eye rather aduised then pittifull and fatherly he must seeke to better their good nature in stirring them vp to vertuous deeds for it is not enough to be well borne but also to be well brought vp CHAP. III. ¶ What great Care a man ovght to haue in the choice of his Wife what circumspection ought to be had therein likewise shewing that many mischavnces often happen to the Children through the manyfolde imperfections of the Parents HEARE will wée now returns againe to our former matter in the choice of a good Wife Wée must therefore first of al be wel and throughly informed of the modest behauiour and of the honest caryage of the Mother all her life-time before in hepe that if the Mother hath alwayes gouern her life wel the daughter will follow hir honest steps and good Nature and Conditions Yet it is not inough for to know the qualities of the mother but we must like wise be partly in-sigted into the Conditions of the Father for it oftentimes falleth out for that the Children do most continually draw some imperfections from one of
THE COVRT OF good Counsell VVHEREIN IS SET downe the true rules how a man should choose a good Wife from a bad and woman a good Husband from a bad WHEREIN IS ALSO EXPRESsed the great care that Parents should haue for the bestowing of their Children in Mariages And likewise how Children ought to behaue them selues towardes their Parents And how Maisters ought to gouerne their Seruants and how Seruants ought to be obedient towards their Maisters Set forth as a patterne for all people to learne â— it by published by one that hath dearely bought it by experience ¶ At London printed by Raph Blower and are to be solde by William Barley at his shop in Gratious Streete 1607. â‚ TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPfull Sir Iohn Ioles Knight and one of the Worshipfull Aldermen of the Honorable Cittie of London HAVING Right Worshipfull the industrious labours of a willing practioner in the discourses of Morall Philosophy the same comming by chaunce into my hands to be imprinted which said matters beare the Title of The Court of good Counsell wherein the duty of all sorts of people is most Lyuely set foorth Which for th'excelencie of the discourse deserues a Patron of a Iudiciall censure And now your Worship beeing one whom my secret thoughts deepely affect I haue boldly dedicated the same vnto you wishing the same as worthy of your VVorships acceptance as my desire most humbly requireth Thus leauing your VVorship to the Tuition of the Almighty whom I pray to blesse in this world with much prosperity And in the life to come with blessed Eternitie Your Worships in all dutie W. B. Heere beginneth the table of this booke CHAP. I. CErtaine reasons intreating of the great and comfortable ioyes of Mariage if the same be duely and rightly regarded as they ought to be CHAP. II. How that oftentimes wise Parents may haue foolish Children and foolish Parents wise Children and how that oftentimes rich mens Children beeing left rich become poore and poore mens Children become rich CHAP. III. What great care a man ought to haue in the choyce of his Wife and what circumspection ought to be had therein likewise shewing that many mischaunces often happen to the Children through the manyfolde imperfections of the Parents CHAP. IIII. How an vntoward young woman or a wanton Wife may be easily gouerned by her Husband if she haue any good nature or modesty in her at all especially if the man himselfe be of any reasonable gouerment CHAP. V. When a man or woman hath bin once Maried and afterwards becommeth a Widdower or a Widdow againe what great inconuenience hapneth often to the Children by Stepmothers especially if that both the parents doe not agree well together CHAP. VI. Heere followeth the manner of life that ought to be obserued and kept betwixt Man and wife and how a man were better to choose a young Wife then one that is aged CHAP. VII How some sort of men by giuing of their wiues ouermuch liberty doe perswade themselues that that is the next way to make them honest CHAP. VIII Of the great care that euery Husband ought to haue for the keeping and maintayning of his Wife whereby that through want she be not driuen to alter her manners and conditions CHAP. IX Herein is shewed the lone and obedience of the Wife towards her husband and how that a woman that regardeth her owne credit ought to refuse the company of a woman that hath an ill name or deserueth any cause of suspition CHAP. X. An admonition to the wise and discreet woman how to gouerne her selfe Shewing that chastitie ioyned with vanity deserueth no commendations at all And how many women giue occasion to beil thought of for these fower causes following Viz Deedes Lookes Wordes and Apparell CHAP. XI How a woman ought not as neere as she can giue any occasion to her Husband to prouoke him to anger neyther ought she to be Iealous of him without great cause of desert shewing also that it is better to couer his faults then to disclose them CHAP. XII Hereafter followeth certaine admonishions how the wife may continue her loue and goodwill towardes her Husband CHAP. XIII Of the conuersation of Parents towards their Children and of the disagreements that oftentimes happen betwixt the Father and the Sonne CHAP. XIIII Of the great discomfort that Children many times bring to their Parents through their mis-deameanor towardes them And of the euill successe that oftentimes hapneth thereby CHAP. XV. Wherein is shewed the occasions of the great difference that oftentimes hapneth between the parents the children CHAP. XVI Of the great wisedome of men in getting of riches and of the excellency of many good and learned Maisters now in this age CHAP. XVII Of the euill successe of many Children through the imperfections of their Parents CHAP. XVIII Of the lewdnes of many Children through the want of their good bringing vp whilest they are young And of the ouer-fight of the Parents in suffring of them to grow too old or stuborne before they breake them of their obstinacie CHAP. XIX If a Childe bee of neuer so good a wit yet for want of good bringing vp groweth to be ouer head-strong and base in conditions and this oftentimes falleth out by the cockering of the Parents CHAP. XX. Of the great commendations of such Parents as keepe their Children in awe whilest they are young CHAP XXI Heere followeth the duty of the Childe towards the Parents CHAP. XXII Of the diuersitie of the care that Parents ought to take of their Daughters in the bringing vp of them more then they take for the bringing vp of their Sonnes CHAP. XXIII Of the great disagreements and discontentments that oftentimes doth happen betweene the Maister and the seruant CHAP XXIIII Of the impatience of some Maisters towards their Seruants ouer other some CHAP. XXV Of the great abuses of some Seruants towardes their Maisters which is rather for want of wit then for any other cause CHAP. XXVI How a Seruant may liue quietly with his Maister if he be of any reasonable gouerment CHAP. XXVII How the Maister with good perswasions may gouerne his Seruant and in the obstinacie of his Seruant what will insue vnto him CHAP. I. The Court of good Councell or Certaine Reasons intreating of the great and Comfortable Ioyes of Marriage if the same be duely rightly regarded as it ought to be THE greatest ioy and sweeteâ—t comfort that a man may haue in this worlde is a louing kinde and honest wife Contrariwise there is no greater plaque nor torment to his minde then to be matched with an vntoward wicked and dishonest Woman Therefore let him that intendeth to marry and fye himselfe to that honorable state of life being the first bargaine of thrist and the first step to good husbandry take all the best Counsell he can in the world in the choyce of a Wife yet scarce sufficient enough for being once done it can neuer be recall'd but
peruert the nature of their children then chaunge the forme of their hard and round papps Whereof it commeth often to passe that the children fashioning themselues to the humours of their nurses swarue from the loue and dutie they owe to their mothers and haue not in them the bloud which moueth then to obey which is manifest by the example of a bastard in Italy who returning from the warres laden with the spoyles of the enemy had his mother and his nurse comming before him be gaue to his mother a siluer ring and to his nurse a chayne of golde which his mother misliking with he talde her she was to blame to doe so saying You hore me but nine monethes in your wombe but my nurse kept me with her seats the space of two yeares that which I hold of you is my body which you gaue me scarre donestly but that which I haue of her proceeded of a pure affection And moreouer as soone as I was borne you depriued me of your company and vanished me your presence but she most gratiously receiued me banished as I was betwéene her armes and vsed me so wel that she hath brought me to this you see these reasons with others stopped his mothers mouth being ashamed and made his nurss further in loue with him but resurne we againe to our matter Seeing that diuers women will not be the whole mother of their children they ought at least to be carefull to choose good nurses and of a good complexion For as the first abuse began in setting out their children to nurse so consequently followed the second not to respect the nature of the nurse CHAP. XV. ¶ Herein is shewed the occasions of the great difference that oftentimes hapneth betweene the Parents and their Children BVT now let vs goe forward to shew the occasions of the difference betweene the fathers and their children holding for certaine that the difference proceedeth from the trade of life the childe is set too and therefore I say that it is not enough for the father to know wherevnto his child is not naturally giuen if afterward he indeauour not to assist him and carefully to prouide to place him in that Art or Science that he most desires Another cause of this difference betwéene the father and the childe is when the father loueth himselfe better then his child keeping him with him to play withall without taking any care to set him to masters which may instruct him in Learning or to the Court or to those professions wherevnto his mind is most inclined In this many wealthy fathers greatly offend who beare themselues bolde vpon their goods and neuer take care for the bringing vp of their children in learning and vertue but suffer their wits to be dulled with idlenes and gluttony that as the prouerbe is they know not chaffe from corne but grow to haue as good iudgement as the Asse which iudged the Cuckoes singing to be more sweets then the Nightingales but now some will say that the more the father kéepeth his children about him the more he maketh their manners like to his But such men are deceiued for the life of the olde father is no patterne for the young sonne to shape his doings by and besides in time he will accuse his father for that hauing oppertunitie to send him abroad to get wealth and estimation he kept him at home and thereby hindreth his preferment Therefore those fathers that loue their children will not by keeping them vnder their wings hinder their preferment for in my iudgement the father shewes his child the greater figne of good will in letting them goe from him then in keeping him at home for thereby he prefers his childs profit before his owne and if he loue him as he ought by nature he must also loue his preferment and séeke to better his estate liking better that be should dye like a horse in a battell then liue like a bogge in the mire I haue yet made no mention of fathers which are indued with learning sufficient to make his childe partaker of his knowledge for indéed they be very rare and if there be any such yet they will not or they cannot take such paines nor tye themselues to such a charge hauing other busines Marry if they would vndertake it there is no doubt but great good would come of it for that the father would instruct the child more carefully and the child would receiue it more haedefully of his father then of his maister For Cato of Rome himselfe taught his sonne and brought him to great perfection without the helpe of any gouernour or maister Likewise Octauian Augustus being Emperour tooke no scorne to teach his two adoptine sonnes but the iniquitie of this our time is sach that men would count it a monsterous thing to see a father being a gentleman to teach his sonne but the shame of those fathers is greater who being neither sufficient nor willing to teach their children themselues take no care to put them out to be instructed by others such men in my iudgement are very simple and know not the difference betweene the learned and the ignorant Yet for all that the abuse of this age is such that the men of our time will not haue their sonnes breake their heads with study and in a manner mislike that they should reade forgetting quite that the ignorant in comparison of the learned are worse then dead and that rich men without learning are budies without minds and tearmed by Diogines sheepe with golden fleects and therefore they ought to be more carefull to instruct their children in learning for as the poore are driuen to study by necessity so the rich are hindred from it by superfluitie and they consider not vntill it be too late that learning is more necessary for rich men then for poore for the rich haue more dealings in the world and haue â—â—ore néede of wit then the poorer sort for riches are brettle and frayle and can hardly last without they be kept with great wit and wisdome And it is certaine that a man siueth better with a little gotten by labour then a great deale giuen him by fortune and those which waxproud through aboundance of riches shew themselues not to know what happened to the snaile that made his braggs how he had gotten to the top of the pine tree a little before a tempest blew it downe CHAP. XVI ¶ Of the great wisedome of men in getting of riches and of the excellencie of many good and learned Maisters now in this age LET vs now goe a little furder and consider that those which are wise the richer they are the better they will consider with themselues how riches are gotten with trauell kept with feare and lost with griefe and that he which putteth his trust in them shall be deceiued for the true riches are those which cannot be lost being once gotten and therefore wise fathers will be carefull to bring vp their
the Parents in suffring of them to grow too old or stuborne before they breake them of their obstinacie I Must néeder in this place mention vnto you a youth of fifterne or sixteene yeares of age of a ready wit but otherwise vicious and lewd of life which hapned through the fault of the father and mother who were so far from correcting him that they durst not so much as threaten him nor say any word to him that might displease him and I remember when he was fiue or fire yeares olde if any tolde them that they must rebuke him for some faulte he had done they would excuse him by and by saying he was not yet of age to know his fault And beeing seauen or eight yeares olde they would nouer beate him nor threaten him least through some great feare his bloud should be chase or inflamed whereby he might be cast into an ague No at ten yeares olde they thought not good to trouble nor molest him alledging that stripes and threats would too much pull downe his courage and take from him his stout and proud stomacke and though now for his haughty conditions he be hated of all the whole Cittie yet they leaue not to excuse him still saying he must first grow and then after be wise and that within few dayes they wil send him to schoole where he shall learne wit But now many a one lookes when hee shall be of age to he hanged oâ—â— the gallowes to heare him before the people to lay the fault vpon his father and mother and iustly curse their foolish lone and shamefull cockering attempting as one did once to teare their nose and their eares of with his teeth CHAP. XIX ¶ Yf a childe be of neuer so good a wit yet for want of good bringing vp groweth to be ouer-bad and base in conditions and this oftentimes falleth out by the cockering of their Parents BY this example in the former Chapter reciâ—â—d it is verified that a child though of nouer so good a witt yet beeing ill brought vp proueth too bad but this great tockering and compassion is proper to the mother who commonly bringeth vp her children with more tender affection and discretion and according to the olde saying it is an hard matter for a mother to be fond of her children and wise both together but yet the right loue is to beate and correct them when they shall deserue it for certainely the rod doth not tessen the mothers loue but rather increase it for if the excesse of loue be to be blamed in the mother much more is it to be reproued in the father whese part it is ito examine and correct his childrens faults assuring himselfe the onely way to spoyle them is to be too much fond and tender ouer them But now I must tell you which be these fathers that I call more then fathers in my oppinion they be those which are too cruell to their children and beate them continually like slaues for the least fault in the world Truely those fathers are to be misliked of all men for that without any discretion they measure their children by themselues and require at their hands a matter impossible whch is to haue them be olde in their youth not suffering them to inioy that liberty which is alowed to their age and in my minde they descrue no other name then of Schoole-maisters for that they cannot manner their children well vnlesse they haue a rod in their hand for if they were right fathers they would be content that their children shoulde learne of them nothing else but to refrayne from doing ill and to vse to doe that which is good and honest which a childe is brought too rather by loue then by force but the authoritie which some vn-wise fathers take vpon them is so great that without respecting age time or place they will heepe their children vnder by force and make them doe enery thing contrary to nature yea euen to wear their apparell after the fashion of the good men of the time past In this they doe amisse and hereby they make their children not to loue them harsely and to obey them rather for feare then affection And besides they consider not that the beating without measure and the keeping them in continuall feare is the cause that a man cannot iudge to what manner of life they are by nature inclined Moreouer it dulleth their wits and represseth their naturall strength in such sort that their is no liuely spirit left in them and comming in any company they know neyther which way to looke nor what to doe but stand like simple Idiots There I giue this counsell vnto all parents to leaue their butchery beating and consider rather that for larke of yeares their children cannot haue perfect vnderstanding and experience in thinges whereby they are to be borne withall when they doe amisse CHAP. XX. ¶ Of the great commendations of such parents as keepe their children in awe whilest they are young I Like those fathers well that can keepe their children in awe onely with shakeing their head at them or vsing some such like signe and can onely with a word correct them and make them ashamed of their fault yet I am perswaded that there are few fathers that know how to keepe the meane but they will orther be too rough or too gentle to their children whereof as the one driues them to desperatenes so the other bringeth them to wantonnes We must thinke that a childe hath giuen vnto him a father and a mother to the end that of the wisedome of the one and the loue of the other that meane I speak of might be made and that the seueritie of the father may be somwhat mittigated by the leuity of the mother Now this calls to mind an other disagréement betwéen the father and the childe which is the partiall loue of the father towardes his children for in my minde it is a great fault that he should loue one more then an other and that all being of his flesh and bloud he should cast a merry countenance vpon some of them and an angry looke vpon other some Yet this is the nature of man that a father loneth not all his children alike and yet he whom he loueth least cannot iustly complaine of him for the in-equality of loue is permitted to the fathers affection A father that is a husbandman hauing one sonne a scholler an other a Marchant and an other a husbandman of those three it is a great chaunce but hee will loue the husbandman best for he seeth him like himselfe in life and manners wherein his other sonnes in duty must be content for by nature we are led to like those things which resemble vs most Oh how hard a thing it is for the father after partiall loue is once entered into his hart to giue iustice indifferently The greater is the wisedome of the father who preferring the deserts of his children before his owne
well rather of their owue accord then by inforcement yet how forward so euer they be hee must not cease to incourage and pricke them forwarde knowing that there is no Horse but needeth the spurre that he suffer them not to be idle but set in tune to labour the better to indure it afterward That he enter not into rage and impatience with his Children tor a good Father vseth Wisedome in stead of Anger and awardeth a small punishment for a great fauit and yet is not so foolish pittifull altogether to pardon it knowing that as by sparing the Rodde he may spill his Child so by wearing it too much he make him either dull or desperat That he prouide them of good Maisters to teach them for young Children must be propped vp like young Trees least the tempest of Uices either breake them or bow them crooked That he suffer them not in any wise to haunt the company of such people as will corrupt with wanton speaches and naughtie conditions That he be carefull to marke in their childhoode to what kind of life they are naturally inclyned that he may disigently set them vnto it for an vntoward beginning hath euer an vnluckie ending That without iust occasion he vse no partiallitie amongst his Children vnlesse he be willing to set them together by the eares That in all his doinges hee shew himselfe graue and modest and by doing well him selfe giue his Children an example to doe the like that in his olde age when his Sonnes are growen men thorough couetousnesse hee witholde not from them reasonable stipendes to liue by otherwise in stead in honouring him they will wish him buried Finally that he be so carefull ouer his Children that at his death hee feele not his conscience charged in hauing to make account for his necligence in their behalfe perswading himselfe that amongst all the abuses of the world there is none worse then a necligent Father therefore he is mooued by Nature pricked in Conscience and bound in Houestie to haue a great care of his Children CHAP. XXI ¶ Heere followeth the duetie of the Childe toward the Parentes BUT now to fall from the care of the Father I will briefly speake of the duetie of the Child For all Children ought to know that by Nature they are bound to honour their Father and Mother in doing so God giueth his blessing and pramiseth the reward of long life for next vnto God there is none more to be honored then the Parents If the Father be churlish and curst vnto them let the manifould benefites receiued of him counteruaile that crueltie and continue them in their duetie Let Children take heed of molesting their Parentes any way but to ouercome them with patience for they shall neuer stude a surer friend then their Father and they must alwayes carry in their mindes that hee which stubbernly striueth with his Fahter prouoketh the wrath of God against him so that he shall neither passe away his life quietly nor yet make his end honestly Then let them so behaue themselues that their Father haue no cause to curse them and wish ill of them for God still heareth the prayers of the Father against his Children Let them not thinke any seruice sufficient to requite their Fathers goodnesse towards them for when they haue done their duetie to the vttermost they can yet shall they not haue done all which they should Lastly let the sticke to their Parents in all troubles and aduersitie assuring themselues that they which forsake their Parents shall be forsaken of God and that is the greatest offence that may be committed Let all men be assured of this that he shall haue the same measure made him by his Children as hee shall mete to his Father like as there was a Father who was driuen out of his owne hause by his Soune and was faine to take vp his lodging in the Spitie-house and seeuig his vnkind Sonne vpon a day going by the doore prayed him for charitie sake to send him a paire of Sheetes to lie in The Sonne mooued with his Fathers request was no sooner come home but he commanded one of his sonnes to carry a paire of Sheetes to the Hospitall to his Graundfather but the Child deliuered but one of them which his father blaming him for at his returne hee answered I will keepe the other for you Father when in your old age you shall goe to the Spitle-house as my Graund-father now doth Hereby wee may learne that our Children will deale with vs as wee deale with our Parentes And this shall serue to close vp our Discourse touching this matter CHAP. XXII Of the diuersitie of the care that Parentes ought to take of their Daughters in the bringing vp of them more then they take for the bringing vp of their Sonnes NOw will I make some particular mention of Daughters for that the Father is to vse himselfe otherwise towards them then toward his Sonnes yet diuers be the maners of bringing vp of Daughters in England at this day for same fathers will not suffer their Daughters to set their foote foorth of doores not past once or twise in a yeare Some will allowe them not onely to keepe company with their friendes and kinsfolke at home in the house but also to visit their friendes abrode and to be present at Banquets meeting of friendes Some will haue them taught to write and reade and to haue skill in Musicke others will haue them learne nothing but to sow and spinne and gouerne the House All these diuersities I will a little touch in this manner First not to suffer a Mayde to go abroad but once or twise in a yeare is the way to make her become foolish fearefull and out of countenance in compante Now the other which goeth abrode euery day with her Mother and haunteth Feastes and Banquets melteth away like Ware in the fire and driuing by little and little the maydenly modesty out of her lookes and gestures there appeareth in her a licencious and wanton behauiour so that she is rather taken for a Mother then a Mayde and if there come no worse of it the Mother may assure her selfe that in bringing her Daughter so often abroad in publicke places maketh her thereby lesse prized and worse bestowed then otherwise shee might bee I say nothing of these that are taught in their Chambers to write to read and sing and neuer come downe into the Kitchin but I will leaue that charge to the poore Hushands whose Hause goeth to decay and all for hauing so learned a wife Then if you cast your eyes vpon one of those which can do nothing but sow spinne you shall see in attyre in talke and in behauiour the very figure of a countrie Milkemayde who will haue as good a grace amongst other women as a Kitchenstuff-wench amongst courtly Ladyes It behooueth then all discreete Fathers who are to bestow their Daughters in Mariage to consider of what calling