vexation it is the harbenger vnto with such a Leuiathan of the Land as is a furious woman for as a vertuous woman is a hauen of beauty so a wicked woman is a sea of euils and in her tyde more full then that element of monsters worse far to liue with then a smoaky house for that for the most part offends onely the eyes in the head but this all the sences in the body Nay he that hath such a Familiar hath a worse neighbour of his owne then Horsam should haue had if her fabulous Dragon had beene true Yet though in the curse it be subiect to these euils blesse it in the true vse and it is of all humane comforts the greatest for if the mutuall society betweene friend and friend be so great that in affliction it administreth comfort and in ioy it heapeth the measure to the brime by detracting from the sowre and adding to the sweete by a sensible participation of eithers quality how much more then shall it be enlarged by such a friend which is to vs a second selfe or Treasurer of our owne thoughts and therefore more neerely interressed in either the one or the other Besides this in thy Marriage the very name whereof should portend vnto theee Merry-age thou not onely vnitest vnto thy selfe a friend and comfort for society but also a companion for pleasure and in some sort a seruant for profite too for a wife is all these Besides by the excellency and blessing of this institution thou continuest thy name thy likenesse and thy Generation walkes vpon earth and so liuest in thy similitude in despight of death when thou thy selfe art dead and raked vp in dust and otherwise without remembrance vnlesse by some ruinous stone or ragged Epitaph and so in some sort makest thy body immortall like thy soule and not onely by this dost thou adde to the Sons of the earth but to the Saints of heauen Besides by this so excellent so honourably accounted of amongst all men are thy wilde and vnbrideled affections reduced to humanity and ciuility to mercy and clemency and thou thy selfe called backe to looke into thy selfe and to vnderstand the substance and truth of things and therefore he that hath no wife is said to be a man vnbuilt that wanteth one of his ribbes a sleepe as Adam was till his wife was made for marriage awaketh the vnderstanding as out of a dreame and he that hath no wife is said to be a man in the midst of the sea perishing for want of this ship to waft him to shore Is said to be parched in the heate of the Sunne that hath not this Vine to rest him vnder her shadow If sickenesse come it brings thee a Physition if health continue it is partly a preseruer But to go further to equall it with the best commended Virginity where is the man this day liuing whose Virginity may be compared with Abrahams Mariage in whom all the Nations of the earth were blessed S. Austin opposeth it to the Virginity of S. Iohn But the greatest authority we haue in praise of Marriage is the vnion of Christ with his Church compared vnto it The Bond whereof is the holy Ghost the contract the Gospell the Apostles the Registers all married men except S. Iohn and S. Paul And Iesus Christ sealed it with his Bloud the betrothing whereof is heere below in the Church but the wedding it selfe shall be solemnized in heauen It is likewise the originall of all paires of all couples Primum par fundamentum parium saith one father and childe maister and seruant husband and wife all grow out of this first vnion and coniunction all kindred and affinity in the world take their birth from this roote without which men would liue dispearsed like sauage beasts and irrationall creatures without distinction or separation of Tribe or family which are the first parts of a Common-wealth CHAP. III. Worldly choyce what it is or how for the most part men choose their wiues IT is a fashion much in vse in these times to choose wiues as Chapmen sell their wares with Quantum dabitis what is the most you will giue and if their parents or guardians shall reply there vertues are their portions and others haue they none let them be as dutifull as Sara as vertuous as Anna as obedient as the Virgine Mary these to the wise man euery one a rich portion and more pretious then the gold of Ophire shall be nothing valued or make vp where wealth is wanting these may be adiuncts or good additions but money must be the principall of all that marry and that scope is large there are but few that vndergoe it for the right end and vse whereby it comes to passe that many attaine not to the blessednesse therein Some vndergoe this curse in steed of blessing meerely for lust chusing their wiues most vnfitly as Adulteresses and such are said to marry by the eye looking no further then a carnall beauty is distinguished which consists in the outward shape and lyneaments of the body as in gate gesture countenance behauiour c. And for such a one so she be faire and can kisse she hath portion enough for such a Pirate but when this flower withers as it is of no continuance for diseases blast it age deuoures it discontent doth wither it onely vertue is not foyled by these aduersaries what shall continue loue as then to the end there Winter sure shall be full of want full of discontent that thus grashopper-like respected their Summer There are others that marry to ioyne wealth to wealth and those are said to marry by the fingers ends Some others there are that take their wiues from the report or good liking of others and those are said to take their wiues vpon trust and such I hope are not seldome deceiued in their venture There are some that marry for continuance of posterity and those come neerest to the true intent for the end of marriage is proles issue It was the primall blessing Increase and multiply God hath giuen and bequeathed many Precepts and Commandements to mankind yet of all that euer he deliuered neuer was there any better obserued for the letter then this Nay the most part are so ready to accomplish his Will herein that for hast many times they ouerslip the true circumstances thereof doing it Propter intentionem praeter viam for God requires Liberi not Spurij children not bastards and those that thus increase it do it more for the manner then the end more for lust then for loue CHAP. IIII. How to choose a good wife from a bad THis vndertaking is a matter of some difficulty for good wiues are many times so like vnto bad that they are hardly discerned betwixt they could not otherwise deceiue so many as they do for the deuill can transforme himselfe into an Angell of Light the better to draw others into the chaines of darkenesse so these his creatures
themselues into the shape of honesty the better to intangle others in the bonds of repentance If therefore the yoke of marriage be of such perpetuity and lasting euen Vsque ad naecem and the ioyes or grieuance thereon depending of equall continuance therwith either to make a short heauen or hell in this world is not therefore to bee vndergone but vpon the duest regard most aduised consideration that may be and because it is such a sea wherein so many shipwracke for want of better knowledge and aduise vpon a Rock that tooke not better counsell in the hauen I haue therefore in some sort to preuent this danger erected as it were certaine Land-markes and directions in the way to giue aime to such passengers as shall héereafter expose themselues to the mercy of this fury and the rather because our age is so aduenturous whether boldnes or blindnes be their guid the meere childreÌ„ dare vndertake with vessels scarce capable to hoyse vp sayle adueÌ„ture those passages the former tunes in their nonage nere president vs in the like would haue thought scarce nauigable but many times this calme that leads them forth in a sun-shine with pleasure brings them home in a tempest with sorrow and therefore as I said hee that would not repent him afterwards let him be aduised before for wise fore-sight for the most part is crowned with happy successe therefore say not hereafter for it is a weake remedy Vtinam saperem would God I had bene better aduised but be so The first aime that I would giue to him that would aduenture this voyage for marriage is an aduenture for whosoeuer marries aduentures hee aduentures his peace his freedome his liberty his body yea and sometimes his soule too is that in his election after hee hath made choice of his wife which euer I would haue grounded vpon some of these promising likely-hoods vid. that she be of a sober and milde aspect courteous behauiour decent carriage of a fixed eye constant looke and vnaffected gate the contrary being oftentimes signes of ill portent and consequence for as the common saying is an honest woman dwels at the signe of an honest countenance and wilde lookes for the most part accompany wilde conditions a rowling eye is not fixed but would fixe vpon obiects it likes it lookes for and affected nicety is euer a signe of lasciuious petulancy Next regard according as thine estate and condition shall best instruct thee the education and quality of her thou hast so elected her personage not being vnrespected for loue lookes sometimes as well with the eye of the body as with the minde and beauty in some begets affection and affection augmenteth loue whereas the contrary would decrease and diminish it and so bring thee to a â—eathâ—d bed which must be vtterly taken heed of for the dangerous consequences that follow therefore let thy wisedome so gouerne thine affection that as it ceize not vp deformity to thine owne proper vse for some sinister respect to be shortly after repented of so likewise for the meane is euer best that it leuell not at so high and absolute indowment and perfection that euery carnall eye shall bethinke thee iniury that euery Gotish disposition shall leuell to throw open thy inclosures that thy wife shall bee harder to be kept then the Garden of the Hesperides for as the Italian prouerbe is Whose horse is white and wife is faire His head is neuer voide of care Next after thou hast thus elected thy choyse and considered her in her selfe with the aforesaid circumstances this one more not being of his minde that merrily said speaking of his wife since he was to make choice out of things that were euill he thought it most wisedome to choose the least to regard that shee be not of too dwarfish a size and kindred to store thee with a generation of Pigmies dwarfes halfe men that want the Maiesty and power of heigth and strength and the comlinesse a good stature is for the most part wedded vnto After this a little looke backe to the stocke from whence she sprung for as Ezekiell saith Like mother like daughter and experience and nature approues it that the fruite will relish of the Tree from whence it sprung as the Rose is not gathered from the Hauthorne and as his Maiesty well obserued if men be so carefull to haue their horses and dogs of a good bréed and race which are onely for externall and superficiall vses and pleasures how much more should they then wiues of their owne bosomes from whom they expect to raise and continue their owne generations and posterities vpon earth to represent and preserue aliue their owne image and virtues behind them from generation to generation vsque ad longuinqum c. CHAP. V. What yeares are most conuenient for mariage THe forward Virgins of our age are of opi on that this commodity can neuer be taken vp too soone and therefore howsoeuer they neglect in other things they are sure to catch time by the fore-locke in this if you aske them this question they will resolue you fouretéene is the best time of their age if thirteene bee not better then that and they haue for the most the example of their mothers before them to confirme and approue their ability and this withall they holde for a certaine ground that be they neuer so little they are sure thereby to become no lesse the effects that for the most part insue thereafter are dangerous births diminution of stature breuity of life and such like yet all these paines will they aduenture for this pleasure Now as these will not stay till their youth but marry in their childe-hood before either bloud or affection rypen them thereto by their earely forwardnesse so are their others that as much offend in the contrary by passing ouer their youth for certaine cautionary worldly respects to salute this society with their age like to him that hath suffered his house to burne downe to the bottome before hee would séeke to extinguish the flame when the other as néedlesly forward as he foolishly slow throwes on water ere any fire come néere it the extremity in both is vtterly distastfull and as I haue already shewed briefly the indiscretion in either so I might thus continue it further along in the first that such should take vpon them to gouerne others that which as may well appeare in this know not yet how to gouerne themselues the latter that they vtterly abandon the right vse of marriage for if the chiefe end thereof be propagation and encrease both for the Kingdome of earth and heauen why then do they deferre so long till their bloud be frosty and their bones be empty their lamps bée wasted and their spirits consumed hiding in the earth their talents from vse which might haue béene otherwise multiplyed by a lawfull vsury to a happy encrease and excellent end and therefore worthy such of their iust reward which
common obseruance Friends Souldiers Women in their prime Are like to Dogges in Hunting time Occasion Warres and Beauty gone Friends Souldiers VVomen there are none More dangerous when it roues without lymites then the Lyon without the verge of his grate for he but onely would depriue the body of life but this both of life and soule and fame subiect to more opposite immediate passions and contradictions in it selfe then any sence or humour in the nature of man as now well entreated fairely spoken lodged where it best likes anon hated without enduring curst on t of charity thrust out of dores and yet not onely though all this more immediately opposite then preposterously fondly headlong that for a minutes ioy will incurre a months sorrow that for one drop of water will mud the whole fountaine that gaue it for one sweete fruite will blast the whole Tree that bare it whereas the effect and force of loue is contrary opressing folly suppressing fury aiming to preserue not to destroy and to that end regards the end by subduing passions and motiues that would seeme to oppose the tranquility thereof and in conclusion reioyceth in the true fruition without discontent without satiety hauing captiuated and subdued though with some difficulty those passions that sence for a time would haue beene best pleased with to tryumph at last in more full fruition to that purpose that one thus writeth Loue comforteth like sunne-shine after raine But lusts effect is tempest after sunne Loues golden spring doth euer fresh remaine Lusts winter comes ere summer halfe be done In Loue there is no enuy no iealousy no discontent no wearinesse for it digesteth and maketh sweete the hardest labour and of all things doth the neerest resemble the Diuine Nature for God is Loue it hath in it vnity without diuision for true loue hath not many obiects it is a fire much water cannot quench Now Lust contradicteth all these for whereas Loue is bounded with easy lymites Lust is more spacious hath no meane no bound but not to be at all more deepe more dangerous then the Sea lesse restrayned for the Sea hath bounds but it hath none not woman but all woman-kind is the range thereof and all that whole sect not able to quench it neither Full of enuy it is for it enuies all without his reach and enuies it owne nature that it cannot be satisfied walking for the most part in similitude of an old Goate in the shape of an incontinent man In Loue there is no lacke in Lust there is the greatest penury for though it be cloyed with too much it pines for want Ambitious it is for where it treades it puffes vp and leaues a swelling after it turnes low flattes into little Mountaines downe which precipitate folly tumbles headlong to confusion a hasty breeder of disinheritable sinners it is such as haue more pleasure in the begetting then comfort in the bringing forth best contented when it looseth most labour To conclude though Loue and Lust in a halfe brother-hood dwell both vnder one roofe yet so opposite they are that the one most commonly burnes downe the house that the other would build vp CHAP. XI The best way to continue a woman chaste IS not the Magitians Ring nor the Italians Locke nor a continuall Iealousy euer watching ouer her nor to humour her will in idle fancies adorne her with new fangels as the well appayed folly of the world in this kinde can witnesse but for him that would not be basely madde with the multitude would not bespeake folly to Crowne him would not set that to sale that hee would not haue sold for who sets out his ware to be cheapned and not bought that would not for his Shop haue his Wife for a relatiue signe is to adorne her decently not dotingly thriftily not laciuiously to loue her seriously not ceremoniously to walke before her in good example for otherwise how canst thou require that of thy wife that thou art not wilt not be thy selfe Vis tu vxorem tuam victricem esse tu victus iaces Wouldst thou expect thy wife a conquerour when thou thy selfe liest foyled at the same weapon to acquaint her with and place about her good and chaste society to busy and apply her mind and body in some domesticke conuenient and profitable exercises according to her education and calling for example to the frailty of that whole sexe hath a powerfull hand as it shall induce either to good or euill There are of opinion that there is in Marriage an ineuitable desteny not to be auoyded which is either to be Acteon'd or not to bee if it bee not as is the opinion of some damned in the errour of Predestination then let him take a house in Fleete-streete diuide it like an Inne into as many seuerall lodgings as roomes make his wife Chamberlaine to them all attire her like a sacrifice paint her out like a Mayors posts or May-poole let her haue fresh youth and high féeding lustfull company to incite her her husband absent all these opportunities present yet notwithstanding this desteny shall preserue him to weare his brow as sleeke as hée that neare fetched againe the lost ribbe to his side as vnbunched as the front of a Batchelour But if the contrary bee shee the most pure in seeming a very sister of that Sect the opinion of the Bâ—ownists shall so neere cleaue to her skinne that shée shall besate thy forehead in thy sleepe kill thee dead in that image of thy graue Bee shee Papist absolution shall so resolue her that shee shall sinne vpon presumption nay though thou hadst Argus eyes thou shalt not escape it for No pollicy they say can that preuent Whereto two parties giue their full consent Bee shee what shee will in this case it shall bee all one for thee to restraine or to giue liberty where thou dwellest or what thou doest for thy desteny is so allotted and it shall be accomplished The rash opinion and carelesse security of either is worthy the reward which for the most part it doth deseruedly receiue It was an errour in Religion that one Ludouicus had who had giuen himselfe ouer to this damnable opinion and security of the deuill that if he were ordained to bee saued saued hee should bee without any enquiry or dilligence of his if otherwise though hee toyled to death in his best endeuour it would not helpe nor reserue him In this conceite setling himselfe in the most Epicurian and disolute course of liuing that might bee hee continued till vpon a time hee fell into a most grieuous extremity of sickenesse when sending for a Physitian who before hand acquainted with his damnable errour came not but sent him word that hee needed not his helpe for if his houre were come he could not preserue him if otherwise hee should recouer though neuer any thing were administred vnto him by which easy application hee vnderstood himselfe and that he must vse
was lately well obserued by one who to that effect thus further noted their vanity Things were first made then cal'd woman the same With or without false Title or proud name And if this bee not yet enough take with thee besides for a conclusion and barre to all the rest this Motto or Sentence to leade thee home that Since all earths pleasures are so short and small The way to enioy most is to abiure them all CHAP. XV. Discontents in all Ages Sexes States Conditions VNmedled ioyes here to no man befall Who least hath some who most hath neuer all I haue examin'd from the King on 's Throne To him that at his chayned Oare doth groane Euery estate condition and degree Scytuate betweene this large extremitie Yet wheresoeuer that I cast mine eye I neuer was so fortunate to spye That man that had so great a blessing lent him That had not some what in 't to discontent him The rich man with his cares and feares opprest In all hee hath can finde but little rest Ill Creditors vnthrifty Heyres and losses Or else the Gout or something worse all crosses The poore in want forsaken of his friends Thinkes that were wealth is there all sorrow ends But yet as here immediately I show The rich that hath it doth not finde it so One Tradesman he dislikes his owne Vocation And on a worse he sets his admiration The single man commends the married life That hath the sweete fruition of a wife That opens all her beauties and her treasure In Hils and Dales that he ore-walkes at pleasure That may vnstarted and vnfear'd pertake Whole nights together that which he doth quake To snatch in corners when he must away Sometimes disturb'd when he would longer stay Bannish't like Tantalus in his forc'd hast To touch the sweetenesse that he may not taste The married man whom all these danties cloy Thinkes that the sauce the sweetnesse doth destroy And that to purchase is so wondrous deere That he had rather fast then finde the cheere Then children come and they augment his charges And iealousie some times all these inlarges That what th' other thinkes doth heauen excell He that inioyes it findes it but a hell And wisheth now but that it is too late That with the Batchelour he might change his state Therefore me thinkes his application fit That to a publicke feast compared it Where those that long haue sate and cloy'd with meate Would faine rise vp as others faine would eate Th' ambitious youth least folly ouersway him Hath Tutors rod and parents eye to stay him Noting the liberty of riper yeares With more impatience his restrainings beares When elder times againe the more 't is strange Would faine creepe backe againe and with him change The busy Lawyer beating of his braine To make rough points by praesidences plaine Who from a iudgement wrongfully gone out Doth sometimes bring anothers right in doubt By iudging by it let the first but stray And all go wrong that are adiudg'd that way Noting the Marchant how from forraine shores The winds and waues land wealth vnto his dores That where he sleepe or wake or rest or play So Aires be prosperous he growes rich that way Dislikes his choyce the Marchant he in danger T'whom Rockes and Shelues and Pyrates are no stranger That try the wonders of the vnknowne deepes Whom but a three inch't board from danger keepes Traffiques with vnknowne Aires and vnknowne friends Leauing his wife at home to doubtfull ends VVho in his watry Pilgrimage is sed To be with neither liuing nor the dead Commends the Lawyer that hath power and skill Either to make or marre to saue or spill A mans whole reuenue and therefore need Either for speech or silence to be feede The Empericke vncredited that tugges VVith forcelesse hearbes and with effectlesse drugges Commends the Church-man for his happy share Securely free'd from Temporary care VVhen he againe with discontents full many Thinkes the Physitians happiest life of any For by how much the bodies better deem'd Then is the soule so much more he 's esteem'd VVhich is by much for let the body grieue it There 's nothing vnattempted may relieue it But for the soule although it die and languish VVee nere regard the dolor nor the anguish But to the greatest danger do reply It will recouer or it cannot die Therefore to him that doth the Physicke bring To this regardlesse disesteemed thing Hath a poore meed more recompenc't his merite That cures the body then applies to th'spirit And what in health men graple and retaine If sickenesse come it flies to ease their paine He that by auarice and damn'd extortion Hath heap't vp many a pound to his heyres portion So far from thought of doing any good That what it was hee neuer vnderstood Sets vp his rest for euer here to dwell And therefore thinkes no other heauen or hell Yet when this Seriant death comes to assayle him To thee he opens hoping thou canst bayle him And though thou canst not do but seeme to assent And he 'le reward thee to thine owne content Therefore this Art and Trade who ere neglect it Let him exchange with me that do affect it He that a weary languisht youth hath lead To thinke what pleasures are in Marriage bed That hath entreated houres and yeares to hast them To cancell bonds that he may come and taste them VVhen there arriu'd not finding to content him VVhat expectation did before present him Let him appease his thoughts vpon this ground That in this world that purchase is not found There 's discontent in euery sect and age As well in Child-hood as in Parentage There 's discontent in euery mans Vocation Therefore pursues it newnesse innouation There 's discontent from Scepter to the Swaine And from the Peasant to the King againe Then whatsoeuer in thy will afflict thee Or in thy pleasure seeme to contradict thee Giue it a welcome as a wholesome friend That would instruct thee to a better end Since no Condition Sect nor State is free Thinke not to find in this what nere can bee FINJS