#■ 
 
 
 ^'M 
 
DUKE 
 
 UNIVERSITY 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 Treasure %Qom 
 
m^r'^ 
 
 
s . 
 
 
 
 ./^ 
 
 /- 
 
 ^i/^'a^ /s'-4^ 
 
 ,V 
 
ENGLISH 
 
 GENTLEWOMAN, 
 
 drawnc out to the full 
 Body : 
 
 EXPRESSING, 
 
 fFhat Habillimcnts Joe beB attire her^ 
 What Ornaments doe^ heH adorne ker, 
 What Complenients dot^ beU aceom^ 
 
 jplijhher. '^ 
 
 — - 
 
 Richard Br a t h vv a i t E/jf, 
 ^SM^odeftia^y nonforma^. 
 
 LONDON, 
 
 Printed by B. Ai s op and T.Fa v? c e r/or iMicJmdi 
 
 Sp4rkf, dwelling in ^reene t^^rhr, 
 
 I 53 I, 
 
TO HER, 
 
 WHOSE TRVE 
 
 LOVE TO VERTVE 
 
 HATH HIGHLY ENNOBLED 
 
 Herself E, Renown ED Her Sexe, 
 
 Honoured her Houfe ; 
 
 The ^ght Honourable, the Lady 
 ArbellaVVentvvorthj 
 
 Th(^ AC comfit jhment cf her 
 Dtvintfi ^ijhes. 
 
 Madam; 
 
 Ome moncths arc 
 paft, fince I made 
 bold to recom- 
 mend to my Right 
 Honorable Lord 
 your Husband , an 
 ENGLISH 
 GENTLEMAN.^ 
 whom hec was 
 picafed, forth of 
 his Noble difpofi- 
 on, to receive into his Protedfcion. Into whofc 
 moft Honourable fervice hee was no fooncrcn- 
 % 3 tertai- 
 
 Tr-."S? 
 
 207144 
 
TheEputlb 
 
 terrained, and upon due obfervance of his inte- 
 gritie approved ; then upon approvement of 
 his more piercivc judgement, he became gene- 
 rally received. Out of thefe refpecfls, my mod 
 Honourable Lady, I became Co encouraged, as 
 I haveprefumcd to prcferre tmto your fervice 
 an ENGLISH GENTLEWO M AN^ 
 one of the fame Countrcy land Family, a defer- 
 ving fifter of fb^wfr^ff/ a brother : Or (if you 
 will ) a pleafing Spoufe to {Qgrdcious a Lover. 
 Whorp, if your Honour fliali be but pleafed to 
 entertainc, (npid your noble Candor is fuch, as 
 fliecan exped nothing lefTc) you (hall finde 
 excellently graced with fundry fingular quali- 
 ties^beautified with many choice endowments, 
 and fo richly adorned with divers cxquifite 
 ornaments, as her attendance fhall be no dero- 
 g^^tion to your Honour , nor no touch tt jsur 
 ufiblemifh'd Selfe^to retaine her in your favour. 
 Sure I am, the fweetnelTc of Iier temper, forts 
 and futes well with the quality or difpofition 
 of your Honour : For {htc Loves without any 
 painted pretences to bee really veituous, with- 
 out popular applaufe to be affably gracious, 
 without any glorious gloffc to bee fincercly 
 zealous. Her Education hath fo enabled her, 
 as fhee can converfe with you of all places, de- 
 liver her judgement ccnceivingly of mod per- 
 fons,and difcourfe moft delightfully oi^W 
 failiions. Shee hath beene fo well Schooled in 
 the Difcipline of this Ag^^, as (hee onely de- 
 
 fires- 
 
D 
 
 E D I C ATORY. 
 
 fires to retaine in memory th^tfor?xe which is 
 leaft affeded but moft comely ; to confort with 
 fiich as may improve her Kjwrvledge^xnd pra^^ifn 
 of goodneiTc by their company j to entertaine 
 thofc for reall and individuate friends , who 
 make a(5iions of pietie cxprcfliveft characters 
 of theyr amity. Diligent you fliall ever finde 
 her in her imploymcnts , ferious in her ad- 
 vice, temporate in her Difcourfc, difcreet in 
 her anfwers. Shee befi:o\ves farrc more time ia 
 eying theglaife of her life to redifie her errors, 
 if there bee any, then the glafTe of her face in 
 wiping of fuch outward ftaines as might ble- 
 mifli her beautie. Neyther in preferving that, 
 is fhee altogether fo remifle, as not to retaine 
 that fecmely grace in her feature, as may put 
 her in remembrance of the unexprefllvc beauty 
 and bounty of her Maker. Neate fhe goes ufu- 
 ally in her attire, which (he puts on with more 
 can then cefi. And to thcfe fhee addes fuch a 
 well-feeming grace, as ihe beftowes more beau- 
 ty on-^them., then fhee receives from them. 
 Phantafticke habits ©rfoirainefafliions are fo 
 farre from taking her , as with a fleight but 
 fweet contempt they are difvalued by h^r. She 
 v/onders how a wife ftate fliould employ fo 
 much time in inventing varietie of difguifes to 
 disfigure theyr Sha^c-J* This makes her defire 
 rather to bee out of requeft with time, then 
 Avitha civill and well-compofed mind 5 wbofe 
 honour it is to bee prized more by herownc 
 inter- 
 
 207144 
 

 TheEpistle 
 
 iRternall worth, then any outward weare. 
 Conftant (hce is in her behdvtour • wherein Hie 
 affect little, but obferves nauch. Withabaih- 
 fuU admiration fliefrailes at thefe ci vilizcd fi n- 
 pring Dames, whofe onely glory it is to afFe(^ 
 a kind of referved (late ; which, as they hold, 
 confifts principally in a minc'd fpcech , fee 
 looke, or ginger pace. Shec loves alw lyes to 
 bee her felte , nor to cntcrtaine ought which 
 may eftrange her from her felfe. So aSjthere is 
 nothing in the whole pofturc of her Bebdvhur, 
 but with a native gracefuU propriety doth infi- 
 nitely become her. Take upon her to inftru^ 
 others, fhec will not, fuch is her Humilitic j al- 
 beit, every moving pofture which comes from 
 her, may be a line of dire<aion unto others to 
 follow her. Cemplemtnt fliec affects not, as the 
 world takes it. The word m his owne native 
 and unborrowed fignification is good, and in 
 that fence fhe admits it 5 but to be reftrained to 
 an inforced formality , fh?e cannot relifh it. 
 Whence it is, that fhe preferresthc incompara- 
 ble Liberty of her mind, before the mutable 
 formality of a Deluded age. Shee defires to be 
 Comphat in the excrcife of goodncffc ; to im- 
 prove her Honour not by titles but a lovely 
 and lively proficience,graccd with a coatinuate 
 praiftife in all vertues. She cannot indure this 
 later introduc'd kind of Complement, which 
 confifis in Cringies,Congies,or fuppb falures. 
 A cheerefuU modcfly is her bcfl C&mfeme»t^ 
 
 which 
 
Ded ic atory, 
 
 which ihce ever weares about her as her ehie- 
 fcft ornament. I>eccncj^ fhee affeds in her 
 Cltathes, aifability in her Difcourfc ; fhec hath 
 made a covenant with her eyes never to wan- 
 der, nor intentively to beflow themfclves on 
 any other obje<5t than the glory of her Maker. 
 A proper perfonagc isnofuch attra(5tive mo- 
 tive to her tyc^ to make her loofc her kl^Q, 
 Wharfeever (hee undertakes bcfcemcs her, be- 
 caufe fliee afTcj^s naught but what naturally be- 
 comes her. Her beauty is her owne • and 
 whatfoever clfe may better accomplifh her. 
 Her pathes are evenly vcrtuous ; her defires 
 truely religious; Piety is her pra^ifcj which 
 fheecxprcficth io fully in every adioHj as the 
 whole courfe of her wcU-dilpofed life is not fo 
 much as juftly confcious of the Icaft afperflon. 
 So highly fliee values her Mfimdfioft^is fhc will 
 not engage it to fufpition. Promifes cannot 
 tempt her, nor hope of advancement taint her. 
 She wonders one (houW prcferre a conceit of 
 ^dng great before a defire of appearing gead, 
 Protefting Lovers flic holds for no better then 
 deceiving Lures. Bee their vowes offirmce 
 never fo iRceffanr, their affaults never fo vio- 
 lent ; her rcfolves have vow'd her conftant. 
 Hope of Profit cannot furprize her, nor 
 thought of PleAfure vainely delude her. Bftd- 
 fffdtm fl je holds her higheft grace j with which 
 untainted fhee purpofeth togoe to her Grave. 
 Shec knowes how to fancie 3 aad in her (hcc 
 ^ f * ____ retaines 
 
 «H 
 
HE 
 
 Epis 
 
 TLB 
 
 rctaines what fhce fancies moft : A ehaftfoule 5 
 this is that (he loves ^ and with which flic cheere- 
 fully li*iies. ^\\t<t was neuer yet acquainted with 
 a paflionate Ah me ^ nor a careleiTe folding of her 
 armes, as if the thought of a prevaiUng Lover 
 had wrought in her thoughts fome violent Di- 
 ftemper. So ferioufly doth fhe taske her felfe 
 to imploymcnt, as flie never referues fo much 
 time as to treatc of fo light a Subjed. Yet flice 
 unfainedly vowes, that if it be ever her fortune 
 to make her choyce^ her conftant affedion muft 
 never admit any Change . To be Generous ine- 
 very a(Sion, hath beene ever the height of her 
 ambition. Howfoever (he might boaft of i5^ 
 cent^ her defire is to raife it by Befert. Shee 
 holds, no family can bee trucly Generom, un- 
 IclTe it be nobly vertuous. Her life muft cx- 
 prefTcthe line from whence fheccarae. Shee 
 fcornes to cntertainc one thought below her 
 fclfe. Or to dctrad from the glory of that 
 houfe from whence fliecamc. As the blood 
 that ftrcames through her vcines was nobly 
 Derived, fo muft it not by any ABion or affe^ion 
 drawnc from the rule of her direi^ion, become 
 corrupted. ForH(>;?tf«r, flic admits it, but fel- 
 dome or never admires it j the Staireshy which 
 {kt meanes to clime to it, muft be faire & firmc, 
 or flic will never mount them. She rather ad- 
 mires the Ages folly • while fliec obfervcs how 
 many hazard their high-priz'd liberty, for a 
 vadingglimpfc of popular glory. Her defires 
 
 are 
 
Dedicatori e. 
 
 are higher fcated, where they are onely to bee 
 fared. A fecure State confifts not in Jlyfes but 
 venues y which are Homurs fureft ftayes. There- 
 fore her higheft flomur reflects on her Creator, 
 wherein (he is fo farre from fearing, as fliee is 
 ever wifhing more Cdrrivals, Th i s isthe 
 GENTLEWOMAN whom I have prefumed 
 heere to prefcnt vnto your Ladifhip feruice 3 
 who/e fwecte conver fc will at retired hourcs 
 afford you choiceft folace. Neyther, fhould 
 yourankeheramongftthe loweftofyour me- 
 ney, will it difple^e hcr/uch is her Humility : 
 for fhe hath learned as yNdltoeheyzsfcmmdnd. 
 Nor will flic fpare for any paiaes, fo her dili- 
 gence may pleafc.Onely (Maddtn) be pleafcd to 
 fhine upon her with the gracious raies of your 
 favour, to flirowd her balhfull endeavours un- 
 der the wings of your Honour • and cntertaine 
 her blufhing approach with your benigne Cen- 
 fure. So fliall you finde a conftant defire of rc- 
 quitall in her ; and eagagc ^/«?,whofe intimate 
 Zeale to your H^nmr recommended her, 
 
 Idur LAdiJhip 
 
 devoted fervatit .• 
 
 Richard Brathwait. 
 
 Such, to your 
 UfiittmY, is her 
 zealous iSeAt- 
 on, IS fliee 
 makes it the 
 fole Apologie 
 of her Pre- 
 ftimption: 
 which Hiee 
 weaves vp in 
 this Dimenfi- 
 on: 
 
 t» fttytfonu 
 Griatonbs 
 tyeim»ftm*t 
 
 VftOiif 
 
 ButH^xs I'm 
 vovpV, that is 
 htb G R 1 A T 
 
TO THE 
 
 GENTLEWOMAN 
 
 READER. 
 
 Gentlewomen: 
 
 Havc^ heere frefented 
 Vfiio your view one of 
 yourowne Se^ce^ Onc^^ 
 ry^fife improved EducA' 
 tion will bee no klcmijlj 
 but A beaut ie to her Na- 
 t!9?i. Perufe her^ and I 
 make little doubt ^ but 
 you wiH fo Approver of 
 her Behaviour^ as you jhAil Acknorvkdgc^ her right 
 worthy the titles of a Sifter. O\4ore fhali you 
 fnde in her^ by freely converfing with her , thAn 
 tn thofe Y ov ^ G but loofc^ ENGLISH 
 GENTLEWOMEN, rvhofc^ long mtr- 
 cimrie Projlitution vpon the Stall, hath brought 
 them out of Eequefi , and made them grow too 
 Stale 5 by being expefed to publike Sale. Olia- 
 ny Countries hath jhee^ coaled , fundry Dangers 
 
To the Gentlewoman Reader. 
 
 accoafied , Courts and Cities hath Jhee frequen. 
 tgd, toreturne home better freighr:.d, and re-cen- 
 vey the benefa of that fraught to this Hand, where 
 fine, pjos frft bred and now arrived. Doe yee iteh 
 after Fafhion < She is for you ; yst ut that^ which 
 the vanity $f this Age admits -y hut what Modejlie 
 onely affeSis. She hath obfervd much inferratne 
 Courts^ which defirv'd rather Contempt than 
 Imitation; this Jhee would not for a world intro- 
 duce into a we!l-govern'd State j fo tender fhez^ 
 is of her Fame , as ;^£> place n9r pcrfonjhaf/ derive 
 from her the leaftjlainz^* Whatfeever jhee hath 
 commended to be fcene J u no kffe fully than faith* 
 fully p)Owne, and with that temf orate fly le drawne, 
 as in every Iwe feme case precept of Verttie feemes 
 tofhinz^'. Neither in this herftrtci or ferious Oh- 
 fervatiofs of Tiroes, doth jhee refemble thoft La- 
 in irr, who vfe to tah their eyes with them when 
 theygoe abroad^ but lye them aftde when they come 
 hirne : '^o-^fo little doth fhee favour her f elf e^ as 
 Jhee preferres others Cenft^res before her owne ^ and 
 in no one particular fo wuch exprcjfeth her O'vne 
 true glory , asw the conflant ^railife ofHumilitie, 
 Hence it is, that jhee is no curious fryer into others 
 a&ions^ nor too cenforious a reproover of others 
 DireQious ; being indeed^ a Tyresias in the 
 epngcr defcrpng of others errors i an Argus in 
 her ownc. What is good and amiable in the eye^ 
 of Virtue jf,K imbraceth with an affeciionate tender '^ 
 making it her highefl honour^ to promote the glory 
 of her C^faker, But leajl by being tooferious^Jhee 
 
 might 
 
To the Gentlewoman Reader. 
 
 might hecome tedious • jl:>e will not [licks to wdk^^ 
 abroad with you into mort fUaCmg groves or p4~ 
 fiures of Delight : rvhers jluc wtO confer fe ptth 
 you of Love y and' intermixe her Difcourfe with 
 fuck time-heguiUng Tdes^ ai varietie ]l)ali no Ujfe 
 fl)arpen your attention , then the modefly of her 
 Method beget admiration. Every Subtenfl)e treats 
 of you JhaH f ride fi equally tempered rv/>/^ profit 
 4/7^ delight; ai the one jhaU no ie^e bemfit y-our 
 minde , than the other fokce jour Eare^, Shee 
 can reprove without gall, blufn rvithcut guilt, love 
 without guile, live without gaine. Her gaine is 
 to pur chafe vcrtuc more followers ^ her guile,* ^ de^ 
 pnve the world of her favourers 3 her guilt, t$ 
 defeat alivitious pioners . her gall, to difrelifl) all 
 Voluptuous praUtfers, She can difcourfe ofLovt^ 
 without itghtneffe ; converfe with Love Without 
 Uofenejfe • and con fort with thofe Jhee loves rvith- 
 out leudne£c^. She knowes how to ret aim afeeme- 
 lyflate without pride ; to exprejje herfelfe praife- 
 werthy without felfe-praifs^ *^ and in aliheralii- 
 ons to make Vertue her highejl prize. Humilitic, 
 which is theprincejfe ofVertues , the conquerejje of 
 Vices y the mirror of Virgins^ and Crowne efChn- 
 fiianSy [beefo much honours, 04 jhee values it above 
 all humane glory : whence it is^ tbatjliee hath e- 
 'Oer reapt more ^irituallproft by dif-efteemc then 
 fclfe-efl:eeme» Day by day jhee recreates herfelfe 
 in her Garden ^'/'goodwill ; and in her recreati- 
 on^ jhee makes this her foule-foUcing Meditation : 
 Who be they that neighbour neare me , and 
 
 whofc 
 
To the Gentlewoman Reader. 
 
 whofevvcakeeftatesihndinDcedof mc ^ Cen- 
 cludtng with thii charitable rejolution : There is 
 none ib poore, but to my power 1 will relieve, 
 fo long as I live, for the honour of his Im^ge 
 whom I love. Sheedsvtdcs her daj intoh9ures^ 
 her hotires into hslj t Hikes . Employment takes a- 
 tvay all occaftons of diflrABion. Should jhefttffer 
 a light or indif^ofedthought to rvorke upon her ima- 
 gination : orgine way to any fuch intruder to di^ 
 llurbe the peace of her inward houfe,)^.' would en. 
 dure her felfe worfe for m^ny yeares ; and infli6i 
 "Upon her extravagant affeBions fuch a cenfure, as 
 might deterrc them thenceforth to wander. She 
 diflaftes none more than the fe bufic houfe-wives, 
 who are ever running into difcourfe ef others famt- 
 lics^ but forget their o(vne. Neither holdes [hee it 
 fiifficient to he onelj an Npufc- keeper ; sr Snayle- 
 like ^t 6 hcfiiUvnderroofe : fhe partakes therefore of 
 the Pifmh'cin providing^ of the Sarrcptan wid- 
 dtjv in difpofing: holding ever an ahfent providence 
 better then an improvident prefence. Shee u no 
 com/non frequenter of puhlique feajls^ hut if neigh - 
 hourhood require it^fl^e will admit of it : wherein 
 /l)e demeanes herfclfefo civilly^ as there is no dif 
 creeteperfonhut ioyes in her fociely. There is no- 
 thing mujl hegst in her 4 dfflemper, having ever 
 a tender eye ore her honour, in the report of others 
 praifesjhe is attentive , but deafe to her o:vne. Bee 
 fhe in places ofpubltque refort or privately retyrd^ 
 /he ever enioyes her felfe -^ neither can eueffe of 
 mirth tr an fport her '^ or any crojfe occurrent much \ 
 ^^ ' per pie xe I 
 
To the Gentlewoman Reader. 
 
 ferpkxeher. There k nought that diens hertnind 
 mere from thofewith xvhomjhee conforts , than an 
 immodefi difcourfe , which fiee tmerrupts with a 
 dtfcreet anger, Whereficverjhefets her rejl^ fies 
 makes Vei'tue herguefi, whom [he emertaincs with 
 fofweet m embrace^ as nothing can divide them : 
 fo frme and inviolable ii the league that is be- 
 twixt them. She conceives nofmall delight in E~ 
 ducating the young and unexperieniced Damfels of 
 yourfexe : wherein fie retaines an excellent facul- 
 ty and facility, Itjhall mt be amijfe therefore for 
 )$U' who have. Daughters , t$ recommend them to 
 her dire^ion • whoje government isfuch^as neither 
 her too much indulgence Jhall (jfcile them-^ nor re- 
 fir aint dull them, Whatfoeverjhe in many ye ares 
 hath learned {fo defrous isjhee to benefit when 
 her Obfervations may ajford profit) [be is wiU 
 ling to impart j to the endjhee may procure her 
 more fervants , whom fiee religioufly hath ever 
 vorvdtoferve. Long bath jhe beene a Learner^ 
 neyther is Jhe ajharnd to be fo ft ill, Onclyfor ver- 
 tues honour^ is flice become a Teacher • that the 
 Younger may be inftruBedbj thofe that are ^\- 
 det'^the vndifciplmdbyfuch as are riper, Ney- 
 ther Jhallpu find her (low in performing^ what Jhe 
 hath Jo perfectly learned. For her very Life is a 
 continued line of Direction^ being Jolelj dedicated 
 toavertuous profefion, St, Cyprian didJJwpe- 
 ly reprove a rich worn an^ for comming into ihe 
 Lords Temple without her Oblation : But this re- 
 proofe jhe w^uld be loath iufilyto incnrre : there- 
 \ ^ fore \ 
 
To the Gentlewoman Reader. 
 
 forepe goes better prepar'J ^ that her prtton of 
 CUf) may befoorter jhard ; havi?Jg ah OhUtion in 
 herhAnd^ Devotion i» her hearty And a Crawneof 
 eonfoUtion in hope, Tou then, who lovg modefiy^ 
 emertaint her 5 forjke will fort mil with your hu- 
 mour. And through her AcquAtntavce imfrove your 
 honour, Forfuchwhofacrifce the Mornetol^eir 
 CUffe^ the Jfternooioe to the Stage^ And Evening to 
 rtvelling \ fhe holds no correfiondence with them, 
 7 hefefhe holds forno employments ; northefrofef ' 
 fors ofthtm worthy her knowledge. They mujl not 4. 
 bufe time, that Are fommended to her trufi, she is 
 mtfo weary 0/ time ^neither dot hjhefo difvAlue it^ 
 AS with fuch impertinences toconfume it,7ho[e Itke- 
 wJfe,who freferrt Fafliion before lytccncy formal 
 Punto'es before reAllForm2^,ityyC^ will fuffer the- 
 felves t$ be deluded by VAnity ; they mufi not be ad- 
 mitttdinto her family* She kAth leArned better 
 things than tofoole her f elf e in ApAimteddifguife^or 
 toMor vfthat Vrnvtrfalldifeafe^whitht he corrup- 
 tion ofafhUandfiourtfking State ufuallyproduceth. 
 She hath leArned with thAt better Sifter, todmre 
 tho better part. Conflam be herpurpofes^co9tent. 
 mem her defires^eonfinant bet delight f. Me it tbeto 
 your\iotiO\xrtobe informed by her, feeing her in^ 
 firuetiom ariOfUAlly mixt with profit and plci- 
 fure. N^ifyou obiect ^thAt fitee hAth beene too 
 fiomin comming/eeing her GE N T L EM A N 
 filtngfinct Arrived'^ heate mine anfwer -^ andfuf. 
 fend your Cenfure , by iptpnting thisfadt to our 
 Englijb Error, When Venus is longer in trim- 
 mings 
 
 mmmmti0im» 
 
To the Gentlewoman Reader. 
 
 rning^ than Mar^ in trdinm^, Man'j frevifions 
 were required by her^ before the World were tobe^ 
 fojfeffed of her. Much likewifc^ ex^e^ed from 
 ker^ before the World had knowledge of her ; this 
 Made her the longer to retire^ that pee might fro- 
 fit th morc^ in her returnee- (Jl4sy you , 
 Gentlewomen, bee the inflame ofit-^ fo Jhall 
 both the AuthoT and hii hhouv reioycz^ in it. 
 To draw then to a Condufion , lejl my Portell 
 rife, too high for my building • as you are not 
 to exfeB fiom her my guga^yres, toyesy or trifles ; 
 love-fented gkves, Amorous fotionSy pr fumed pi- 
 Hures^ or love-fieke peuders j fijhee doubts not, tut 
 to finde in yeu 4n Bare, fr$mft to Attention ^ 4 
 Tongue, f/wre ofinveBion-^A S^nlt^fiet^frem 
 
 detra^ion^ with an Hrart '»/•' *<> hArL»mr ajftHion, 
 
 Now for the VolumCyl hdd furptfdy made it 
 more port ablest that it might become your tnonfo. 
 ciable folUwer ; had not my ehfervati$n aid mec^y 
 that albeit amiableneffe e$nfiii in 4 lovely feature, 
 the goodlincffc of 4 Centlewonaan teBs in her 
 comely Statures, Sefdes, tha correfonded better 
 with the Portraiture of thc^ ENGLISH 
 GE^T LEU A^^ her afiancd Lover. For 
 the Margin, i have not charged it with many Notes, 
 leHyoufliouldnegle^ the Garment, by Ireing taken 
 
 too much with the border. Improve it to 
 
 your beJIproftOy and let God ha'wc 
 
 the glorie of it. 
 
 (V) 
 
 An 
 
An Abftradt or Summarie of all 
 
 fuch Principall points , Branches or 
 
 Particulars, contayncd in this Booke 
 cntituled, 
 
 7he Englijh (jentley^oman. 
 
 Jhe primp Subjcds vrhcrcof it 
 
 treates. 
 
 Bth^vmr. f ^ Fancier. 
 Cswpkmint' CS GentHitic^, 
 Diceffcii^* jL Honour. 
 
 Motto's vpon 
 every Subjeft* 
 
 C&melynot 
 
 gAudy, 
 
 I. \yirgamcnt. r-*-* A p p a r i l l. 
 
 He Necefitit^ of/^ppareli j Of the 
 vfe and dufe of Jfpanll 5 Two 
 medhes by which the vfe may be 
 inverted noabufe-^ That Appear eth 
 moft comely, which confcrres on the Wearer 
 moftnatiue beauty, and moft honour on her 
 Cmfftrey. 
 
 2. Ar^ttment, 
 
The Argument. 
 
 2. {Argument, r^^ Behav.iovr. 
 
 BBhAvionr refleds on three particulars; How j Loving mo- 
 to hhave her felfe in Company •, How in ' d^fiy^ ii ali- 
 Privacy ;That5f^4'://<7«nnoftapproved/»Yhich : 'vin£ beamy. 
 
 is clcancft from affection freed. 
 
 i 
 
 I 
 
 5. y^rgumcnt* rJ^ Complement, i 
 
 Omflement defined 5 how it may bee cor- ' ChiRCom- 
 rupted, how refined ; wherein ic may bee : plementt my 
 admitted as mainely Confequent ; wherein i ^^^ accom- 
 omitted as meerely impertinent j What C^m- p^*!^^^*^^^ 
 plemcffp gives beft acc9mplijhmem, 
 
 4. Ky^fgument, r-«^ Decency, 
 
 DEcencie recommended as requifite in foure Virgiti-^Tie. 
 diftin(5t Subjeds ; Decency the attradiivcft | cency.is Vcr- 
 motive of apEiisni, the fmoothcft path that ' ^«^-^ ^''^^rj* 
 leades x.o perfect ion, I 
 
 5. {Argument* rJ-vEsriMAT-ioN. { 
 
 E^timatioHj a. GentkwomAns higheft prize ;' c^/)' pWz,^, 
 how it may be difcerned to be reall-^ how ^^ '^^^ ^^^^ 
 Superficially how km?iybte impregnably pre- p^^ff^» 
 ferved ; how irreparably loft 3 The abfoktc 1 
 effdj whereto it chiefely afpires, and wherein ic i 
 checrefully rcfls, 
 
 1 
 
 I * s ^' Argument » \ 
 
 ■•i*>>«*i^M<iM*ie«e,>a 
 
My Chshe 
 admits no 
 Change, 
 
 'Dtfert 
 efQwnesDif. 
 
 HontUf is 
 venues 
 Harkoitr. 
 
 The Argument. 
 
 6. i^rgument, rJ^ F^ n c i a. 
 
 F^^cj:, is to be with Deliberation grounded 5 
 with Conftancy reteined . Wanton Fancy 
 is a wandring.Fr^;/^;' ; How it may be cheeked, 
 iftoowildc jhowchceredjiftogcoolcjanat- 
 temperament of both. 
 
 7. {Argument. r^^GENTlLIT^E. 
 
 Emility, is derived from our Anceftors to 
 " but foonc blanched if not revived by 
 
 us 
 
 G 
 
 us ; Vertm the beft CoAt 5 afliamefaft reddc the 
 beft colour to deblazon that Coat ; Gentility, is 
 not knownc by what wee wearc, but what 
 we 4r<L^ . There are native Seedes of goodncfTe 
 fownc in generous blood by lineall Succe0ion 5 
 How thefc may be ripened by inftrudlion. 
 
 8. x^rgument, <-^ H o h o v r. 
 
 H'omur is pamedyVfhcn it is not with vertue 
 ■fQudred • No cloath takes fuch deepe tin- 
 (Siure, as the clonth of Honour 5 Honourable 
 perfonages (hould be Prefidents of goodnciTe ; 
 Fertue or Ktce^ whether foevcr takes hold firft, 
 retaines a deeper imprcflion in Htn9ur,xhm in a- 
 VLy lower fubje<5l; That Vertue may receive the 
 ffrft imprelTion^by meanes of an in-bred Noble 
 difpofltion, (econded by hclpes of Education ; 
 w hich reduc'd to habite, afpires to perfciftioQ. 
 
A Compendious Table ; where- 
 in rhc Principall points contained in 
 this Booke, are with no lefle Brevity 
 than Perf^icuitj , Propriety , 
 thdH Facility cokched. 
 
 Apparell. Obfervat. i. 
 
 F thenecefslty <?/ApparcJI. Pag. I. 
 Prtmiti've purity exempted vsfrom 
 thefenecefsittes 5 O rigimU impuri- 
 ty fubie^edvs to thefi necefsities. 
 
 Apparell keep(s the hod'f rvarme two wayes :frfi 
 by keeping in the natural! he4te : 2. By keeping out 
 accidental! cold, pag . 2 . 
 
 Thefe benefits are inverted by phantafticke Fa- 
 fhions lateintroduc'd : where attires are not made 
 to keepe cold out^ but to bring cold tn, pag. 4. 
 Of the Vfe o^ Apparell, pag. 5. 
 
 To ntake this vfe good^ LModeJly mufibeeonr 
 guide ^ Vertuous thoughts our guard -^ fi JhaH Hea- 
 ven be our goalee. ibid. 
 jt memorable infianst of a Religious woman • ex- 
 prefing what Divine vfe Jhee made in the eying 
 ofber Apparell. ibid. 
 
 The 
 
The Table. 
 
 The hdbite of the minde may be beji difcernedby 
 the carriage of the body j the Di/pofmon df the ho^ 
 dy^bj the habit e, Pag.5. 
 
 The Conjiancy of the Heathen^ in retayning their 
 ancient Countrey fafhion j and immutably ohfer- 
 ving the habit e of their owne Nation. i bid . 
 
 Habite is to be ufed 04 an Ornament ofDecen. 
 cie^ 5 without the leaji border or Edging of Va- 
 nitie^, psg.S. 
 
 Dire^iions^ how to di(}ofe the Scnfes j and that 
 K^a^oTimtifi keepe Centinel/y lefi they become Sen- 
 fuall, , ibid. 
 
 Theprecioufneffe of Time ; whereof a CHoment 
 is our portion-^ nor hath the Commandingfi Empe- 
 rour a larger pro fortion. P-^S-P* 
 
 Hox9 co7nemptible a thing is Man, if he ereSinot 
 
 his thoughts above man\ ibid. 
 
 Ofrheabureofy^/)/)^;'^//. - ibid. 
 
 Ol^rore time (}em how to abufe time^ and cor- 
 rupt licencious youth ; then how to addreffe employ- 
 ment to qualtfie the d;f}ra^io'4S of the one^ or to 
 re6iifie the d/ftempsrs of the other, p jg, i o . 
 
 This illufi rated by injlances in three fever all pla-^ 
 ces. Citty , Court, and Countrey : And accom^ 
 modated^ with Obfervatwns proper to every Sub- 
 ieCi. pag.ii. 
 
 The T'aske of a vertuotts Mirror^ a^fd a true 
 'L^idy of Honour, exprejfed^ and to all Ladies^ 
 as a Vrefident ofgcodneffe^ zealonfly recommenced, 
 
 png. 12. 
 
 The life of a metre Libertine tnfianced anddcf- 
 
 played i 
 
TiiEi Table., 
 
 flayed with a relatifin $fthofc defperate Cendufions 
 to which fhe adheared, ibid. 
 
 How the ufe p/Apparell may be inverted to a- 
 bufe : eythcr by Delicacy , or Superfluity. 
 
 pag. 13. 
 
 Reproofe touching k^^^td\^ origindHy^ccafi^ 
 nedfromfourere(^e^s .- 
 
 •VI, Sump tuoufnefle.- J And that confirmed by 
 ''i; SoftnefTe. C 4 wemoyabk example, 
 
 3. StrangencfTc. c And that rt^oveable 
 
 4. Supcicauoufhcfrc.-^ jj^ tijgf^ i.particHlars. 
 
 Variety. 
 
 Iramcnfity. 
 
 Vanity. 
 
 AE which are intervainedtvithfundry injiances 
 of various delight, Pag. 1 4. & 1 5 . 
 
 A d^jfrvaji0» fiom Delicacy^of Apip^rcll, by re- 
 
 fie^ing on the Bmbleme of humane frailty^ thc^ 
 
 mode/l of our mortality. Which conti^uate Suhte^ 
 
 ufioredwith afele^ variety of divine and hnnuM 
 
 olferv.ations. pag.i6. 17. 18. &c. 
 
 Superfiuity ^/Apparell condemned-^ the Faflii- 
 onmongers anjwered,: dozing that Branch,^ mth 
 a devout Admonition fiom divine B a s 1 l e ex- 
 tr^aQcd^ andufefuHj apflyed, pag,i9.20.2 1 .22. 
 
 That Aip}^3.rd\molI comely, which conferres on 
 the wearer/ w^ nattve beauty, andmoft honour 
 o» ^^r Countrey . pag. 23. 
 
 Habit/j^cuftomej yet it is our cuftome to 
 ^ ^ ^ change 
 
H E 
 
 ABLE. 
 
 change our H'Abit, ibid. 
 
 Each Countrcj ret aims afajhion of her ctvnc^ , 
 fave our orvrte, ibid. 
 
 Ours an e%tra£tion or confeSiiort ofaU^ vfhich 
 makes us leered at by all. ibid. , 
 
 Phantafiiekefajhions are no motives ofaffeSiion 
 to difcreet Levers, pag. 24. 
 
 Difcretiorkmllbe more taken with Modefty, 
 «&4^ Vanitic 5 and Humility, than Vaine-glory. 
 
 The World a our Stage, *<*r Life an A6t. The 
 Tyring-houfc, w'^^'*^ ^^ hefiow*dfuch carz^^ coH 
 andcttrioptyytnujlhejlmtufy when our Night ap- 
 froacheth^ andfirip us ofthefe robes of our morta- 
 lity. Without Vertue^ all humaine glory is a vading 
 beauty, ibid. 
 
 Behavioyr. Obfervat* 2, 
 
 BEhaviour rejlells oh threes particulars, 
 Aftion. o 
 AflFe(5tion.>Pag. tt^ 
 Paflion. y 
 rertue it tke life of A6iionyti^ion thelifyef 
 man, ibid. 
 
 In this Subie^fome are employed ( but remijfely) 
 to thepurpofi. Others are employed to nopurpofe. 
 Others Jleepe out their mind in fecurity^ Others 
 creeps and cringe into an Apjh formality, N^nc^ 
 ofthefe dirtSi the bent of their aHims^ to the ob- 
 
 kct 
 
H« Ta B L E. I I 
 
 Uft ofirue Giorj. pag. ^p. 
 
 A tvemam homur is $f higher sjleeme than to he 
 thus difvalued. Light oc-cdjtmi arc^ many times 
 grounds of deefeajperjions, i^ctiom areto hec^ 
 fcdfoned With difcretten^ feconded by direction^ 
 jlrengthenedx&ithinjlruction^ leafitoo much raO)^ 
 »ej[e hring the undertaker to defiruction, ibid. 
 A britfe CommemorAtionofdtvers noble women^ 
 who as they were honourable by defcent, fo were they 
 wemcrablefor defert, FjiraUlsto thebejl men for 
 converfAtion^ though weske infese^ nature and son- 
 4ition» p3§»30» 
 
 An exhortation to young Gentlewomen , to con- . 
 forme themfelves tofuch imitable patt ernes : con- 
 cluding with that excellent infiruction addreffedby 
 ^r. Hi H R o M to that holy Virgin Demetrias^ 
 commending nothing fo much unto her 44 indufiry^ 
 the better to inurt her in the fraetife of Pieties, 
 
 pa^. 31. 
 Nothing requires more difiretiort thjndffection. 
 
 One can never truely love and not be wife : which 
 directly oppfeth Plato's opinion. ibid. 
 
 Nothing more impatient of delay than Lovz^, 
 Nothing of more different papon : with an exact 
 relation of their dtfiinct operation, pag. 3 2 • 5 3 . 
 
 Love is neither to be teofubtilly coloured, nor too 
 fiwply difcovered, if too hot ^ the violeme of it is 
 beB rebated by abfence • if too coole , it is to bec^ 
 quicknedowith more frequent conference^- and ap- 
 duateprefence, pag. 34. 
 
 *^ 2 Paflion 
 
 I- 
 
Aug. Ifh* de 
 
 honefiate 
 
 mftlieru. 
 
 HE 
 
 AB L E. 
 
 Paffion never workes more fear e full effects ^then 
 when hftreamesfromjeahufie : verified hj 4 tra- 
 gi eke Example ineur orvne lie and time occurring , 
 afidto [Hcceedingtimes frrvtving. P'ig'35'5^. 
 Remedies to appeafe anger, and every pafionatc^ 
 diflemper, pag. 37. 
 
 The difcommodities vfhich arife from Papon -^ 
 the benefits which redound from attempering tt^ 
 
 pag. 58.59. 
 
 An ufefull Exhortation , to this temperate 
 Moderation. ■ ' ' -;< • > • Vag, 40. 
 
 How A Gentlewoman k te behave her fdfe in 
 Company. >^':-' :^^»^'>* p^-4i» 
 
 Modefiie and Mildneffe hold fweetefi correjpon- 
 denceinallfocieties, pag. 42. 
 
 Chdfttyis an'mclo^cdQudcn z^ and by no U- 
 centiousfootetobeentred, ibid. 
 
 Other vices are difeomfted by fight, Lufi onely 
 defeated by flight, p3B'43* 
 
 We may be in fecurity,/* long as wee are Jfeque- 
 fired from fociety . ibid . 
 
 We are to fubieSf aftedion to thefsveraigntic^ 
 of reafon. pag. 44. 
 
 ffowa Gentlewoman ^ to behave her felfe in 
 Privacie. ibid. 
 
 Patternes offingular devotioft recommended to 
 her imitation^ pag. 45 ^45.47. 
 
 Meditation being aKty to open the Morning, 
 alocketeclofethe Evening, fhotild beea Gentle- 
 womans bofome companion, pag. 48. 
 
 Gentlewomen^ without much refervmcie^ are not 
 
 to 
 
The Tab l e. 
 
 to frequent fublike f laces 9 f Society , Pag .50. 
 
 Jnjiancesoffuch^ as being difcreetlj referved^ 
 Accammcdated their ferfons to pablike affaires, 
 and became im^roi'ved by them, pag .51.52. 
 
 A iudiciotis recollect ien offuch tvho intend time ^ 
 affdfuch veho mtf^endtime: dozing with the reUti- 
 on of fundry fearefull Examples , to deterre loof^-^ 
 livers from the like fee meneffe, pag. 53.54. 
 
 That Behaviour mof a^^roved^ which is clcdrcjl 
 frot» afft dation feed. pag. 5 5 . 
 
 Ferttfcs Hdbhand Behaviour is free and not 
 affected -J native and not traduced, p''ig'57« 
 
 An accurate dtfiinctioft er dijudicatior^ betwixt 
 an enforced and unaffected Behaviour, ibid, 
 
 A Gentlewoman tsfo to behave herfelfe^ that 
 too much curiofity tsxe her not offride^mr too much 
 Maiefiy of State. pag. 5 § . 
 
 Complement. Obfervat, j. 
 
 Complement defined, Pag. 5p, 
 
 .With tvhat conflancy the Ancient retained 
 their forme ^/"Complement. Pag. ^o. 
 
 Different garbes ^ro^ertodifiinct f laces ^ Pag. 
 
 61. 
 Adtftinction betwixt reall and formall Com- 
 plement, ibid. 
 A dejerving commendation of fundry Englijb 
 Ladies^ in their unaffected way of Complement. 
 
 pag. 62. 
 ^^ ? How 
 
TmeTable. 
 
 Hovf Complement maj bez^ corrupted. Pag . 
 
 odf defer if t ion cfam^rousfoems^ with 4 iufi re- 
 frficfcef their infsrced Hypcrbolecs. Pag,64. 
 
 65. 
 
 The Complement ufed by fome great ones, 
 were but meere Canting Among Beggars. p3g^d5. 
 
 Bow Complement t»Ay be refined, ibi^. 
 
 Civility is t he bfft dnd moji refined Comple- 
 ment thAt may be. pag. 6g. 
 
 Civility h never tut offajbion : ever deferving 
 admiration. pag 6^, 
 
 It u Society th At gives tu^ ^r takes from us our 
 Security. pag. 57. 
 
 Wherein Complement way be<-j admitted, at 
 
 mainely confequent. pag.70. 
 
 The Court />7)&tf Beacon oft he State • f^tf Seate 
 
 tfrSchoolei>/Complement. P3g»7i. 
 
 \^s Courtiers are Obje(5ts to many Eyes ; fo 
 fbould their Adiions be fl&tformes to many Lives. 
 
 Pag. 72. 
 
 Corrivaljhip in a light Curtez,ans love^ hath de- 
 prived many a hofefuU Gentleman of his dear eft life, 
 
 ibid. 
 
 In Contefts of love , it is hard to dettrminz^ 
 whether the Agent or Vmcnifuffer more. Page, 
 
 73- 
 
 Wherein Complement may be omitted j,as meere- 
 
 I) impertinent. ibid. 
 
 Apip) formal! lis ^ or Complement all aBort d/f- 
 
 efreeme thofe thre<LJ prmcipall faculties of the^ 
 
 Vnder- 
 
Th £ Tab le. 
 
 Vnderftanding. 
 
 Difcourfe. 
 Diftin(5lion. 
 Elcdion. 
 Singular Dire^iom^hQW to AcommodMt them in 
 dl theft . Pag. 75, 
 
 \fhAt Complement ^ivcs bcH accomplifh- 
 ment. pngc. 75. 
 
 Scfffiall Curtc&Affs are their orvne Funcs . pag . 
 
 77.78. 
 
 ^good Chriftian the compleatejf Ceartier : 
 
 Vcnntthe Ormmentywhifb gtves Complement 
 
 thehejJ accomplifhmcnt. page, jp. 
 
 Decency, Obfervat. 4. 
 
 DEccncy retdmmeniid 44 rtquifite^ inf6ur<^ 
 diflm^ Sublets, 
 
 Gat e . 
 
 L O O K E . 
 
 Speech. 
 
 H A B I T. 
 
 It is m hard thing to gather the difpo/kion 
 ofottr heart, by the dimenfion cfenr Gate. 
 
 Pag.S2. 
 
 Though our Feet be^^ heere belorv , onr Faith 
 
 jhould be above, ibid. 
 
 No path ofpleafure jhould dravf us from thofe 
 
 ioyes which laHfer ever, ibid. 
 
 c// wanton Eye is the truefi Evidence of a wan- 
 
 dring 
 
 Gate. 
 
 LO0KE< 
 
SpEECIt 
 
 Habit. 
 
 The Tab l e. 
 
 dring mind : Our Eye becomes the fence p/Tor- 
 uow, beuufe the fenfc (T/'finne. 
 
 ^» Vncleane Eye the Melfenger of an Vn- 
 cleane heart. P^g*^^. 
 
 DtJlmSi ohteEls fropfcdt^ Eyes diverjly Affe- 
 cted, pag. 85.8^ 
 Bi looking ufwAtd , the more we lookc, vfejhall 
 like, the longer we live^ wejhMl love, pag. ^j, 
 Wtthout Speech can no fociety fuhfift. pag.SS. 
 Excellent rules for propriety ofdtfconrfe, ibid, 
 A deliberate afprehenjim begot byferious Atten- 
 tion, is togoe ever before difcourfe, pag. 89. 
 H'hdt Snbicctfuites bejifor a Gentlewomans dif- 
 cotnfe, ibid. 
 A j>leafant an frver of mellifluous Bernard, 
 ifippljed to all farvfiArd Shee-church difcourfers, 
 
 pag. 90. 
 Silence in a WomAn , is a moving Rhetorieks^, 
 
 ibid. 
 Therein nothing tvhich moves us rmre to pride tt 
 in finne, than that which was frf given us to co- 
 ver ourjhame, pag. p i . 
 Sumptuotifneffe of the Habit deferves not fo 
 much reprehenfton, as Phantafickneffe of the Ha- 
 ; bitj in reflect eft he forme orfajhion. p:ig. 9 2 . 
 Decency is a ctvill Gentlewomans choycefi 
 livery^ which fets her forth before aU embroider). 
 
 ibid. 
 
 Tim<^is tw precious to be wade rf Pageant o;- 
 
 yioxilcton, ibid. 
 
 A brief e but mofi ufefull applicntifJ^yf thofe 
 
 foure 
 
The Ta b l e. 
 
 fmre preceding Subie^s, V^g,^^. 
 
 Decency , the aUra^h'efi motive of Jffe^ien. 
 
 ibid. 
 
 Nothing convayes mere affeBion to the heart , 
 than Decency in the Obieci we ajfeci. ibid. 
 
 In this age^ the bejljhot to be dtfchdrg'd is a7a- 
 verne reckonings thebefi Alarum caroufng^ and 
 the moji abfolute March reeling . i bid. 
 
 JV<? Habit/^ decent, as r^hatis native and fro. 
 ferly habituate. pag. pj . 
 
 IVhere Vertue is not dire&rejfe in our choyct^^ 
 0/tr inconjtant minds are ever ^r one to change* pag. 
 
 Nothing jhould give m Content, but what is 
 decent. ibid. 
 
 Decency thefmoethejlfath that leades to per- 
 fe^ion. pag. py. 
 
 The onely rvdy to be Compleat, is to be decent. 
 
 ibid. 
 
 ^^n adumbration of that glory ^ referved for 
 tkofe that affect Decency. pag. 5^8. 
 
 K^ vertuous Exmflarie Itfe crownes the Sottle 
 fpith eternal/ refi, ibid. 
 
 Estimation. Obfervat, 5. 
 
 Estimation, 4 Gentlewomans higheft prize, 
 pag.ioi. 
 The lojfe o/'Eftimation make's thericheft oner- 
 chant an irreparable Bankrupt, ibid. 
 
 t Fame, 
 
The Table • 
 
 Fame, the fwectejl flower th/U ever grew ruarc 
 
 the hrder of Time, pag, 102. 
 
 J corttinHAtion offundry ewment ferfonages ; 
 
 fuifam m armes^ continent in deftres ; and abfi^ 
 
 lute Commanders of their owne of e^ ions • Pag. 
 
 103, 104. 
 
 Greece and Rome were no le^e honoured ftr 
 
 Penelopes and Lucretia's Con- 
 
 \fiansie 3 than for Vl i s s b s wifedome, or C o l- 
 
 ' L A T 1 N E s lojalfj. ibid. 
 
 Portion may woe a Wordling ; Profortion ayomh- 
 
 fuUwanttn -^bntitit vertue that mm the heart of 
 
 dffiretion. p2g.io5. 
 
 i^fele^ imfrovement pf our Albion Ladies, 
 
 pag. 106, 
 HowWivmmo^fnay be difcermd to ^f^reall. 
 
 ibid. 
 
 Jnfiru&ions offingnUrufefor tMaides five's ^ 
 
 andWiddowes -^ illuftrated wither of er inflancesin 
 
 \ each kinde. The way to winne an Husband is not to 
 
 wot him^ but to be woo'd by him, Pag. 1 06, 1 07, 
 
 1085 lop, no, III, 112. &:c. 
 
 ^Mothers the fittingfi Nurfes of their own^^ 
 children • fecondedby examples in all ages, Pag. 
 
 108. 10^. 
 
 A Mifireffe of a family many times taxed for 
 
 htr Handmaides delicacy : infianced and illuflrated 
 
 copoufly. pag. 1 1 J. 
 
 The lives of the dying^confifi in the memory of 
 
 the living, ibid. 
 
 HorvEf^immonmaybeedifcernedto be fuper- 
 
 ficiall. 
 
The Table. 
 
 ficiall. pag. 114. 
 
 Mmy de fire to appear e mofi to the eye, what they 
 are Uajl irt heart . ibid . 
 
 Thefrjl occafion ofkipng the lip : with a fr*ee 
 repTiofe $f our late but too mate intredttc'd cujlome 
 ofk'ifing the eheeke'^ elegantly jhadowed in a Son- 
 net, pag.114. 115. 
 
 Difcretiofi cannot approve of that for good ^ 
 which felfe-opinion or ftnguUritj onelj makes good, 
 
 ibid, 
 
 Thofe who dedicate themfelves to thefervice of 
 rertue , preferre the pith ieforc^the mde^Jitb- 
 fiance before appearance. pag. ibid. 
 
 A Caution to wanton Women, pag. i x 5. 
 
 Sinrtes may be without danger for a time , but 
 never without feare, ibid. 
 
 Sxi^tt^cvailcomflementors ^ an hypocriticaS 
 Courtiers. ibid. 
 
 DireWons how to be gratious Courtiers in the 
 higheB Court, pag. 117. 
 
 How Eftimation ma) be impregnably preferved, 
 
 ibid. 
 
 Ofallarrowes, t ho fe which are darted by the^ 
 ^irit $fx>eale, woundthe enemy mofi^ and procure 
 the Archer befi reB : confirmed by fundry notable 
 examples, pag. 1 18. up. 
 
 None can walkefafelj^ that walkes not religionf 
 ly* ibid. 
 
 A refle6iion upon the conftancyand refolution of 
 Heathens ^reocmmended to the imitation of Chrift^- 
 an women, pag. 120, 
 
 1 2 Fertue 
 
Jliecs hedera 
 xgilis hora 
 
 T HE Table, 
 
 Vertue cannot exercife her owne ftrength , nor 
 expreffe her ewne yv firth withmt an O^pcjite, pag . 
 
 121. 
 
 A» infimce in a nohle LAd) . ibid, 
 
 A direction in the cloze* pag .1 22 . 
 
 Bow Eftimation ma^ he irreparMy kp, ibid. 
 
 The "^ Ivie while it U winding , dec Ayes thi^ 
 plant , with which it is wreathing, ibid. 
 
 An infiance of 4 Citie-Virago, pag . 123. 
 
 A» ufe of this inftance. pag. 1 24. 
 
 The abfolute cnd^wheretinto Eftimation a fires, 
 And where w it cheerefullyr^Hs. Pag. 125. 
 
 Thii confirmed hy fundry examples ; and orn^ 
 moftremarkeahleefottrown^^ P'^g. 125, 
 
 12^.127. 
 
 An application to thefe Lsdies of our owm^, 
 
 pag. 127.128* 
 
 Fa N c Y. Ohfervat*6. 
 
 FAncy^sr to be with deliberation grounded, pag. 
 lip. 
 The Eye iiVmcies harbinger , but the heart k 
 her harbour^ ibid. 
 
 I>ire5iions for fetling anddtfpojing our affeBi- 
 on, pag. 150. 
 
 Loves purit) is to be dtfcujfed, before it be enter- 
 tained. pag. 151. 
 
 Not the rindc but the tninde is Bifcretions Ada- 
 mant. P^.1J2. 
 
 The 
 
Th e Table. 
 
 , Xhe miferj of i^^ilouCic ddUz^cmd and exem- 
 plified, ibid. 
 SinguUr refolvesfor a Co-aittgAllStdte, Pag. 
 
 ^ .Fancy is tfi he w'uh ctnjlmcy retained*^-' < • Psge. 
 
 Tw6 memerable Mottoes rccornrnmendcd, ibid . 
 
 The xvA'jWArdneffe of fome women iufily repre. 
 
 ved^ and how that hunt otir m*j be reiitfied, png. 
 
 J he admirable furitie and efficacie of Love^, 
 
 P^g- 137' 
 liemorable examples of Cmiugall Conftancy 
 
 and Qontmtvicy , ibid. 
 
 {^n exhortation tending to the imitation offuch 
 fawow Prefidents. ibid. 
 
 Wanton Fancy k a wandring Frenzy, pag. 
 
 158. 
 
 Wanton Love^feldome or never fromifeth good 
 fnccejje. ibid. 
 
 The incendiaries or foments of this inordinate 
 paffion^to fixe particulars reduced^ aS which art^ 
 in one difiich included, P^g* i^P 
 
 The odi OH/ and inhumane effcCls in all ages de- 
 rived from the violence of thii Wanton fancie, e?y 
 Wandringfrcnzie. Pag. 14©. 141. 
 
 Soveraigne receipts to cure th^ dc(perate maU- 
 die, ibid. 
 
 What kind of ajfcBiondefervcs a Gentlervomans 
 e legion. pag. 142. 
 
 HowVzncy wayhecheckcd^iftoo wilde^ con- 
 ^ 3 frmed 
 
The Table. v^ 
 
 firmed b J a Philofi^hicAU demonfir^tion sr Fhy/icaU 
 
 experiments ibid. 
 
 ^^fleaft'At and pithy expefiuUtion with fancy. 
 
 ibid. 
 
 A dijfrvafton frcm tio much credulity to thz^ 
 light prttefis of deceiving fancy: cori-Jirvted by d 
 moder He example, Pag. 143. 
 
 A GentlewomAn may with m»re frfetf fi^eii 
 than too rdfhly affe£f, ibid. 
 
 A difcreet refolution upon tearmes ofafft^itn 
 feconded mth tic^promtfe cf 4n ajfured hlepng. 
 
 Thefecret imprepan^andpaponate exprefsi^n of 
 '^anHnfortunate Lady in the relation of her mfery, 
 
 pag. 144.145. 
 
 It is not fo hard to give comfortable counfekto 
 
 the for row full yds tofinde dftfeafon when to give it, 
 
 ibid. 
 
 Confiderationj aneceffarie guide to "IL 
 affe5lion, \-U'a 
 
 Repentance comes leo late at Marri- (^ 
 dge. night. j 
 
 How Fancy may be cheered if too cold, pag. 
 
 14^. 
 
 The incomparable honour of a Virgin-condiri- 
 Oft. ibid. 
 
 The hate oflncefi with brute Beafls, pag. 1 47. 
 
 The Bird of Love, the Embleme of a Lovers 
 heart, pag. 149. 
 
 MoneyesAremitno\xxpvSt\xvt% to true Lovers, 
 
 ibid. 
 
Th e Tab l e. 
 
 The abfolute end of a cmmgaU StAte» pag. 130' 
 
 An attemperament if hot b thfe wdijpcfed Fan- 
 cic s he fore mentioned, ibid. 
 
 The difference betwixt a wife and wiWe Love^ 
 confifts in thii : the one ever deliberates before^ it 
 loi-e J the other loves before it deliberate, Pag. 1 5 r . 
 
 Neceffarie Cautions for /^/(kind-hearted Gentle- 
 women, pag. 153. 
 '.The like for all coy or coolc-afFc(fted Gentle- 
 women, pag. 153. 
 
 {^ fweetattefnperament of both thefe humours : 
 with an apt Emblem explained and properly apply - 
 'ed^tofuch,as are with either of thefe humours di- 
 fiernpered. pag. 1 54. 1 55. 
 
 Gentility. Obfervat, 7. 
 
 G'Entilkyj id derived fiow onr Aneeftors tom^ 
 buffoons blanched^ if not revived by ut* pag, 
 
 157. 
 
 Aperfvaftonto the^ imitation of our Anceftors 
 
 vertues, pag. 158. 
 
 There was nothing wort all about them bat their 
 
 bodies^ attdthofe were toofiaile Cabonets forfuch 
 
 ^-/f/; eminences to lodge tn : whereas , there is no- 
 
 phing but frailties about ours, for loofe and lieenti- 
 
 ous love to lie in, ibid. 
 
 T ho fe Odours deferve highefl honours, that 
 
 beautife m livings andfreferve our memory dying, 
 
 ibid. 
 
 I 
 
 To 
 
Th E Ta B L £• 
 
 To fee A light Lady defcendmg from a m^le Fa. 
 milj, is a Spe^ade of more f^readmg tnfamy, thun 
 any Suhie^i ofinfertour quality . pag. 159. 
 
 Gentility, ts not to h meafured by antiqmy of 
 time^ hut precedertcy in worth, pag. 1 5o, 
 
 The reafon why generous dcfcents become fo 
 much corrupted '^ andvertttous Parents by v it to us 
 children fo frequently di(paraged. ibid .Sci6i 
 LMothers^the naturalleft Nurfes: confirmed by 
 precep^ eujlome^ and ex ample, pag. ibid. "^ Su- 
 pra pag, 108. I op. 
 ^n effe^luali perfwafton to that duty . ibid . & 
 
 pag. 161, 
 Vertue the befl Coat. pag. ibid. 
 
 Heraldry proves venues Coat tobeetfjebefi , 
 becaufe deblazoned with leafl charge, ibid. 
 
 Vertue iino admiring lover of ought that ii be- 
 low her. pag. 152.163. 
 The, mifery of this Age^infumptueufneffc of attire, 
 ^ pag. ibid 
 The honour of Humility . p:}g. 1 74 
 J glorious reproovsHofmodefl Matrons, pag. 
 
 175. 
 Smnes prevention^ u to prevent tht^ Occafion, 
 
 Pag. I7<5. 
 Gentlewomen are to reflect more on their in- 
 ward worth, than on their outward weare. \ Pag. 
 
 176. 
 
 It wiUnot redmnd much to a Gentlewomans 
 
 ! honour^ to have obfervedt he faihions of the time., 
 
 I but with a difcreet Contempt or clvill neglect ofh- 
 
 \ (iiion, . 
 
The Table. 
 
 (liion, lohi'veredcemedhertin/e. psg- 177' 
 
 Living aUions of true G( mility, Lippj Vre- 
 CHrfsrs to the State ofGloxj' ibid. 
 
 There are native feeds ofgoodmffe^ fotvnz^ in 
 generous bloods ^^ lineAllfucceffton: varioufly 
 inftanced. pag. ibid. &; 1 7 8 . 1 75?. 
 
 Thofc rvho Are with the choycejl vertucs endow- 
 ed^ become oft times^ wofi traduced, ibid. & 1 80. 
 
 There is no one vertue rvhich makes a Gcmlc- 
 womm more gracJous t!^ the eye of her beholder^ 
 than Modcfty, the greatejl advancer of many an^ 
 cient family ilyidl 
 
 ^*Tohe high borne and bafely minded, utoin- 
 '^ i^^f^ bijiardjli^pes in a Noble fiocl'e, i bid. 
 
 ffi^h and ficroicke <vertues become great Houfcs: 
 confirmed by the refolution of a noble Lady^ in reie. 
 6iingthe powerful! folicitancj efaSenfuall Suiter » 
 
 ibid, and 18 1. 
 
 Emulation ofgoodncffe in great Perfons is ho- 
 nourable, ibid. 
 
 Horv thcfe nnti ve feeds (?/goodneire may be<L^ 
 ripened by inftrudion, png. 182. 
 
 No Tutrejjes fitter ioperfcB this excellent worke 
 in G ^mhw omen ^tlMntl/ofe who were the fecun. 
 darieinjlruments of their beeing : firengthened by 
 example and reafon. p^^g. 1 8 3-. 
 
 A feleSI choice and recommendation offundry 
 bookes ofmUmCtion^to the perufall of our EngliOi 
 Gentlewoman. ibid. 
 
 i^ bricfe enumeration^ fcrious difcnffion^ and 
 ludicieus tleclion^ offundry ancient F-athers^ with 
 
 1 1 other 
 
 \. 
 
Th e Tab L e, 
 
 ether morAll Authors , pag. 184. 
 
 Bngltjh tranjlations^ the lights of Ladies , hut 
 
 Dampcs ofScholiers, pag. 187. 
 
 Private Nurferies^ houjhold AcAdcmies* ibid. 
 
 T.^f firft inftru(5tion takes the decpeft Im- 
 preflfion ; with an ufefull Application to every con- 
 dition, pag. 188. 
 
 Necejfarie direiiions highly conducing to thc^ 
 good report and repute of Maides and Matrons, 
 
 ibid. 
 
 The moft precious things have ever the moji 
 pernitious Keepers. Nothingmore preciousythan 
 4 Virgins honour '^ itrvereajhsmefor the Mother 
 for any bafe lucre, to prove a. treacherota Keeper, 
 
 ■' pag. i8p. 
 
 The whole progre^e of a Gentlewomaas eonver- 
 fat ion fhouldbeA continued line of direction : to 
 which line he confines hii obfervation. pag. ipo. 
 
 H o N © V R, OkfervMt. 8. 
 
 PSomotion difcovers what men be, but true Ho- 
 nour Jhewes what they fbould be, pag. ipr. 
 Honour ^f painted, when it is not with vertuc 
 poudred. pag. j pa. 
 
 OHorall Phtlojophy^ nor C hrifli an Theory ^could 
 ever hold that for deferving grcatnefTe, which had 
 not neare relation to goodne/fe. ibid. 
 
 Their memory cannot live long, who make Au- 
 thority A Sanctuary to wrong, pag .1^3. 
 
 Vcrtue 
 
The Table. 
 
 Vcnwt defiled, and by H trne'ficvitiWxy with 
 the honovLV (yf an ancient fdmily ex^reffcdy pag. 
 
 Ky^mtccnrate connexion mthAferfonall a^pU^ 
 cation ofthepreceeding SubiectSy to all Gentlewo- 
 men, pag.ibid. &195. 
 
 Be women never fo ewinent, thejare but pain- 
 ted Trunkes, ifvertuebenot refident. pag. i.p5 
 
 Venue fJmld not onely be refident hut pre/ident 
 
 over all their actions, ibid. 
 
 No Cloatb takes fuch deepe tindiure, as the death 
 
 ^/Honour. ibid. 
 
 No Pleafurecan be confant^ unlejfe it afford in- 
 ward content, pag. ipy. 
 
 There is nothing ajferfeth a deeper Jlaine upon 
 the C loath ^/Honour, than too much attention 
 unto Sycophant s» ibid. 
 
 Soveraigne receipts againjl the foyfon of flat- 
 tery ^ with aferious exhortation to the entertaine- 
 ment of humility jpatience^ conflancy^ and every ge- 
 -nerousvertue, pag. ibid. & ip8. lyp, 
 
 *' Violets though they groxv low and neare the 
 " earthjfmellfweet^Jl : and Honour appeares the 
 fulleji ofbeauty^ivhen [he is humblejl pag. i p 8 . 
 
 HonouVjif truly grounded, canlookein thefAce 
 
 ofterrotir^ and never be amated* ibid. 
 
 She that makes vertue her cki^adi ^cannot but make 
 
 every Earthly thing her Subje(5l, ibid. 
 
 Honou rs im-^rezza nnd PaJIure, ibid. 
 
 Honours compleat armour^ dreffe^ andportrai- 
 
 t^re, I>ag.203 
 
 ft 1 HER 
 
•ibid 
 
 Th E Tab LE . 
 
 Her Dejcriftion^ with motives to her tmita- 
 
 t at ion, ibiJ. 
 
 A briefe but ufefull application. pag. 201. 
 
 Honourable Perfimges jhouldbc Preiidents of 
 
 goodneffe. Pag. ibid, 
 
 LANDMARRES areufudHy ere^cd for dire- 
 
 nion of the Marimr^ and CMagiftrates eUBedfor 
 
 injlrtfclion of the infer i our, ibid. 
 
 The rvorld^a Maze of Mifery^ a vale of 
 vanity ^ 
 
 Man, afior) ofcalamit'j^ afiatue ofin- 
 felicitie. ^ 
 
 To be a Lady of Honour, is more than titu- 
 lar. Pag. 202. 
 Three e(peciall ObieSisj upon which Hon4>ur able 
 pMrfonages are to refleU, 
 
 charities, p 
 Cbaflitie^, > Pag. ibid. 
 Humiliti^^. j 
 A mofl accurate and ferious difcourfe on each 
 particular hieB, P^g* 2 ^ 2 . 2 o 5 . 2 04 
 
 The very lafi day to an honourable Chriflian, is 
 every da^es mcmoriall, ibid. 
 
 The aciions of Nibble Perfonagesjikeftveet odors ^ 
 diffufe thewfelves by imitation to their follotvers. 
 
 pag.205. 
 
 Thofe that are followers of their perfons , tpHI 
 
 be followers likervife of their lives. ibid. 
 
 Their private family is a familiar Nurfery. ibid, 
 
 Foule enormities mufl admit of no Prtvi ledges : 
 
 Eminent Perfons are to bez^ their owne Ccnfors. 
 
 ibid. 
 
The Tab le. 
 
 ibid. 
 
 An excellsnt amplication^ by rvay of Exhortation 
 to allfuch honmrable Cenjors, pag . 2 o 5 . 2 o r?. 
 
 Fertt:es are more fermanent Monuments, than 
 Statues ^JlileSy trophees^ or oboliskes . ibid . 
 
 Vcrtue or Vice, whetherfoever takes holdfrjt^ 
 retaincs a deeper tmprejsion in honour, than any 
 lotvsr Suhieci. ibid. 
 
 In thefe^ whom Nobility of bloud hath advan. 
 ced^ be cverfome feeds orfemblances of their Pro- 
 genitors retained. ibid. 
 
 7 his coni}rmed by P hi lo fop hi call reafon and ex- 
 ample '^ Pref dent and Precept. pag. 207 
 
 Great mmdes are many times ficke of great mala- 
 ladies : how this by ttmdy prevention may be feafo- 
 nably cured, -p :i g . 2 o 8 . 
 
 The efficient caafe^why Vcrtue orYicc^ whe- 
 therfoever takes hold frjly rctaines a deeper im- 
 preMon in Honour, than in any lower Subieci • 
 illuflrated by injlance-. ibid. 
 
 Firjl Motions havedeepe mpreffi07is -^fir^ Noti. 
 onsfirme retentions, Pag. 7 op. 
 
 Thegreatejl profit o-f Honourable perfonageSy is 
 to become Vvo^CKViis rn the praclice of venue ; 
 Their higheft delight , to fubdue their delights to 
 the obedience <?/reafon.jO/- the love ^/vcituc.ibid. 
 
 The Corruption oftirre hath introduced that de- 
 formity offajJren^ as it afperfth on our formal! i- 
 mitators much impitPation, ibid. 
 
 where Youth is initiated in affectation cfStatCj 
 
 it partakes in age of too much Pride, ibi d. 
 
 tt 5 . rh 
 
 m 
 
The Ta b l e. 
 
 The humour^ temper, dnd danger of oar Tamc- 
 
 Beafts./r State-Parafites, 
 
 pag.aio. 
 
 J refervancy of State in Pace , face, ^ every 
 Pcfiure, recommended by an mfinuatmg Faune , 
 to a Phantajlicke Gallant, ibid. 
 
 S'jcc^hancy the rume of many a Noble family, 
 
 ibid. 
 
 An ele^ion ofhonefl and difcreet followers Ahid. 
 
 Gentlewomens lives, as they are lives to them, 
 filvesjfijhould they be lights unto others , i bid. 
 For Popular honour. Vice wtllbut varnifh it j 
 it It Vercuc that will richly enammell it. Singu- 
 lar motives to Mortification, ibid. pag. 2 1 1 . 
 ThatYtxintmaj receive the firft imprcffion, by 
 meanes of an in-bred noble difyoCitioviyfecondedby 
 helpesof^ducmon, ibid. 
 
 K^ f leaf ant Epigram alluding to all humerotu 
 Ladies, Marg. pag. 212. 
 
 A choice recollecHon xndexprejfion ^ffnch ver- 
 tues as fort and frit with the condition of^ur noble fl 
 Ladies : wit h Cautions to attemper them in all ex. 
 treames: by an ufefull reflexion upon all the Senfes^ 
 and thofe Commandrng paiHons^ which domineere 
 mojl over the Senfes, pag. 212.213. 
 
 Afmgular Meditation for rccolleSiion of our af- 
 feSiions. pag. 214.215. 
 
 Vice throwes her af^erfions on no fubte^ , fo 
 much as on Honour. p^ig. 215. 
 
 A fruit full application to all young Gentlewo- 
 men 5 for regulating their difpolitions , and 
 how to make them true inheritrices of Honour. 
 
 P2g- 
 
The Tab l e. 
 
 pag.ibid.&2i^. 
 
 \tn\xtr educe dt9 habit, djpira to perfedion. 
 
 pag. ibid, 
 
 T^ere u nothing under the heaven, that can fa- 
 tisfie a Sonle created for heaven . ibid. 
 
 Exqutfite directions for Virgins, Wives^ and 
 Widdowcs. pag. ibid. & 2 17. 
 
 We are to effeeme no lifeftveeter^than when eve- 
 ry day improves us and makes us better, ibid. 
 
 A divine Contemplation ^ reflecting upon our 
 mutabilitie on Earthy our immortality in Heaven, 
 
 pag. 218, 
 
 A Revew of our Ladies Court and Citty folace. 
 
 ibid. 
 
 Recreations run in a Maze^ while they lay their 
 
 Scene (?/Mirth on Earth. ibid. 
 
 ATwofold confderationfull of fiveet and [elect 
 
 confolation. ibid. & 2 1 p. 
 
 How happy many Eminent Perfonages hadheem^ 
 had they never beene taken mth this Shadow of 
 hapfineffe. i bid . <Sc 2 1 i; . 
 
 lio paffage to the Temple of * Honour , hut 
 through the Temple of Wcnuc. ibid. 
 
 J/ Gentlewomen dejire to be great, let tt bc^ 
 their height of ambition to afpire to honour in 
 '/i&t; Court of vertue. ibid. 
 
 what a brave Saliquor State ^4// Gentle- 
 women enioy, vphen vigilancy, becomes Warden 
 ^/"f/'(?/r Cinque Ports. pag. 220. 
 
 Ferfcverance^jthe Crornie ofgoodneffe, ibid. 
 
 A confant refolution^ the Diadem of a ChnflUn 
 
 in 
 
 H O N O R 
 
 virtiitis 
 prxmium, 
 
 VlRTVS 
 
 honoris 
 pretiuoi. 
 
TheTable. 
 
 /» her dijjolution, pag. 2 2 1.^ 
 
 Cx^ Character, entituled-^ A Gentlewoman • 
 wherein fuch An On<L^ k described , rvhof^ 
 defert mfweres her defcent 5 fvhfift_^ a6li- 
 ons truely ennshle her [elfe : with a brief e touch 
 or revew of all his Obfervations ; Which are^ 
 fhrnne to be ObieSfs of her love, improvements of 
 herlif^^, 
 
 K^n Appendix, upon a former fuppofed tm- 
 prefsion of this Title ; wherein thcu Authors 
 feares arefuggefledydifcujfed^ and refohed : and 
 his complect ENGLISH GENTLEWO- 
 MAN to as compleat a GENTLEMAN 
 e/poufcd. 
 
 THE 
 
^:fcd!j^dfc^c:lMb^.'^fcocJb, I ^^^^RE^- 
 
 THE 
 
 ENGLISH 
 
 Gentlewoman. 
 
 Argument. 
 T^tfNeceflity*'/' Apparell; OftheVkand Abufc 
 «^ Apparrfl ; T0O meantilfy tvhich the V^e may be in- 
 utrted to Abufe ; That Apparell mofl c0tMly,rt;kich cott-> 
 ferres9nthe WcjLr€rnfofin4twe beiuty, and mofi ho- 
 nonren her Qountreym 
 
 Apparell. 
 
 AD Adam neucr com- 
 mittcdy7«»?, he had ne- 
 uer needed ^gge-leaues 
 tocouerhis^^wtf. Sin 
 n^ade him flyeto the 
 groue for flielter, and 
 fliarae compelled him ; 
 to play the artlefle Tay- 1 
 ler, and through mccrc ; 
 necejfuj to make him a | 
 Couer. Well enough I 
 was he before that time attyred, albeit naked ; andi 
 B fol 
 
 O0/ertt<it»i» 
 Theneccfli- 
 ty of Apparel. 
 
THe ENGLISH 
 
 Apparel, 
 
 fo happily ftated, as we are to imagine, that ir^no- 
 ranee k<;pt him not froii) the knowledge of his na- 
 kednefiV, bat that his Originail purity freed him 
 from thele nece(lities. Buc no looner was the forbid- 
 den fruit tafted, then poore /idf<«w«becam2 tainted, 
 hisnakcdnefTedifcouered; fo as now for honour ©f 
 modefty, he muH: o^neeejfitj betake himftlfe to that 
 fcience^ whereto (b^rngfrec till that time)he was wq- 
 i\tv l^(ymd Afftrenticf, His inhibited taite made him 
 (enfible (and therein more auferablc) of vvhat be- 
 fore he felt not. Mo diftcmperiture of cold or heat 
 could before that time annoy him. Now his failing 
 in performing what beought,brings]iim to a feeling 
 of that hcneuer knew.No w tcndet Enc, whofe tern • 
 perat€ rcpofe -miniftred lier all content in a fweet 
 and cheerefuU Arbonr,with all !:he varieties and de- 
 licacies of nature, feeles a fl^aking ^ (Kiuering in her 
 ioyms : Such a ftrange diftemper hath the tait of an 
 Apple wrought in her. Shec muft fit her icife then 
 to endure that with patience, which (lie procur'd to 
 her felfe and (econd felfe, through dilbbedience jand 
 put on what before (he needed not, a Vaile tocouer 
 her Nakednefrc, and fubicd her felfeto thefe Necef- 
 fities.It is true,thacC^tf«jtw^ keeps the body warmc 
 two wayes : By keeping in the natural I heat of the 
 body ; and by keeping out the .accidental! cold of 
 the Ayre. All Creatures enter the world fhcelded 
 aiadftirouded, fauc ondly poore man,. who enCets 
 lifts naked. Tenderand delicate hec is by nature',- 
 more fubie^a topreiudfce by diftrnper, than any o 
 ther Creature. Now to fence himtelfe againft all 
 occurrents, and thq better to enduirc all intemperate 
 (violence, the DiuincProuidcnce' bajtl)jii££Ommodq- 
 teditfelfetohis 2i7fci#^7, fram tH^Ver-y firfl en- 
 trance of his infancy : -yet were it fit,-w1icn hee re- 
 flcdsvponhimfclfi thus decked and attired,to recai 
 
 to 
 
GsnTLSVFOMA:^. 
 
 to minde the prim«=oceaffion of xhckrNacefuiej, So 
 equally tempered was the Ayre where hcfirft brca^ 
 thcdj fo far re from the diftempcr of heat 6r cold 
 freed ; with fuch variety of all delights ftored j as 
 then in all happincflfe helcem'd cobe ftatcd : but prc- 
 (cntly after his fall, bcgatithefe to faife. Thatfoylc, 
 which before was HaturaHyfruitfiiU, became wilde 
 without manuring : Thofc Riuers, which before 
 were purely rclifhingand dclighitng, became mud- 
 dy, brsckif>i,and diftaftiag : Yca,that Ayre,which 
 before was eucr fwcetly and temperately breathing, 
 became vnfeafbnably fcorching or freezing. Nec^f- 
 fity then hath prouided for A^amind his Co!lap(ed 
 pofterifyaCoat, to (hroud them from the incle- 
 mency oTall feafons. And whence came this ftfce£i' 
 ty ,but from ftnne .' To glory then in.thefe*?rfj^r»rj, 
 is to glory in finne. Which wei'c, as if fpme graae 
 Capitall offender, hailing committed hi^hTrcafon 
 againft his Soueraigne, fliould,notwithflandingjOur 
 of a Princely Clemency be pardoned j yet with this 
 condition,,that hee (hould wearet Cord or Halter a- 
 bouc his necke during his Hf«, toputhim fn remem- 
 brance of bis difloyalcy ind treafon.In which Badge, 
 this frontieflfc Tray tor fhould pride himfelfe more, 
 thsnif itwere (bme ancient Creft ©f honour. Re- 
 fled then Tpon the originall fource of your forrow, 
 £»*, ye daughters of Eue, Ambition promp" her to 
 (in, fin brought hcf to fhame, ftiamc toherfhroud. 
 Meere necejpty compelled her to weare what before 
 (he knew not,and to prouide her (elfe of that which 
 before fhe needed not. How is it then, that thefe 
 ragges of finne, thtfe robes of fliame, fhould make 
 you idolize yonr felucs ? How is ir, that yee cbnuerr 
 chat which was ordained for n^ceffity^ to feedtlie 
 light- flaming fucll of licentious liberty? Was ^p- 
 ;>4r^/7fir(Hntendcd for keeping in natcrrall heat, and I 
 -^ -B a keeping ' 
 
 I — 
 
 J 
 
THE ENGLISH 
 
 Apparel. , keeping out ^<;cidencall cold? How comes it then 
 rbac you weare thefc thinne Cobweb atiires, which 
 dan neither prcrciue heat, nor repcll cold ? OFwhat 
 an incurable cold would tlicle Buueifly-habits pol- 
 feflc the- wearer, were pride fenfible of her felfe? 
 Sure, thcfe attires were not made to kee[3€ cold out, 
 but to bring cold ia. Mo neee^itjt but mccre vanit3 , 
 introduced theic Pye-coloured fopperies amonglt 
 v^. Vnuailemany of" our light Curtezans, whofe 
 brothell praftice hath reft them of the ornament ot 
 a woman, and you will findc a flrange Metamor- 
 phofis,* fentu armMAtuni'Axo Venm ealu/i. We fay 
 there is no good congruity in a- proud heart and a 
 beggefs purfe.Why iliould we then pride our felues 
 in that which difplayes our bcggery ? Before wee 
 had cloathesjwc wanted nothing 5 hauingcloathes, 
 we ftandin need ofall things. Primitiue purity ex- 
 empted vs from thefe necejjisies ; Originall impurity 
 fubie<5led vstotheie neceffitits. Cold wee grew in 
 Charity, cold.ineuery Chriftian duty; garments 
 then ftood wee in need of, to fhroud vs againll the 
 tcmpeftof abenummed. Gonfcience» Thefe habits 
 then ,itappeares, wereordained, at firft, for mte!- 
 fttj tofliield vs : Vanity had not then fet inuentjon 
 on workCjjiortheage fenthei-Phantaftickes abroad 
 to trafifjcke with forrainc fafbions. Winter made^ 
 choyce of his garment to fit the feafon j fodid Sum- 
 mer, without an ,a&ded fingulairity, fit him to a 
 feafonablefafh ion. They ftood not much either vp- 
 on colour or curious border J temperate heat they 
 defired toTctaine , intemperate to repdl; cold to 
 keepeout, natnraU warmth tokeepc la. This was 
 that, ancient times intcodedj this was all that they 
 affcdlcd. Necijfir). enforced them to doe what they 
 did; otherwile,Iam perfwaded,they had notbcene, 
 rothisday»made. Thofc then that eftccmemore of 
 
GSN^LEWOMAU^. 
 
 \ 
 
 •^/>;>4''?//, how gort^eous (beuer, thanofa workcofi App^arbl. 
 Mectjficy^ dctraS from their ownc glofy, to fute 
 them (clues in ftufFvs of vanity. 
 
 '^rHercis-nothing in its ow-ne nature fo abfoliite. 
 
 • The vfc 0^ 
 
 i ly good, but it may be corrupt?d ; what was 
 at firft intended for fome good/^/?, ifperuerted^de- 
 clines into iome apparant Abufe. ^ovf Gsntlerfontsn^ 
 (for to you Idircd ihisdifcoarfe) would you ob- 
 ferue the right vfit and diuert in no particalar from 
 the Ordinance of Apfarelt ; Modcll:y muflbe your 
 guide, vertuous thoughts your guard, fo (hall hea> 
 uenbee your gpalc. ^ henthe Roman Princes, in 
 their Conqucfts, or triumphant honours,were with 
 acclamations and voliics of falutcs receiued,. by the 
 gcnerall applaufe of the people extoMed, and in their I 
 triumphall Ekerot Chayre of efhtc feated ; there 
 ftood alwaycs one behind themjn their Throne, to 
 pull them by the flecuc with this Menioriall ; lie- 
 metftber thou art nf»rtaB, A more vlcfull Memoriall 
 you cannot haue, than tliefc Robes you wcare, of 
 your owne frailty,, nor a merecfftduail motiue to 
 humility. Hadnotfinneworneyououtof Godsfa- 
 uour, and reft yOu of your natiue fplendour, you 
 bad neuer wornc thefehabics, lignals of your dis- 
 honour. I commend her for the good vfe which (ht 
 made of her AppareH^ who neuer dyed ber garment, 
 but (hce watred it withatearei remcmbring what 
 ntcejptiesh^v ambitious thoughts had brought her 
 to : for by afpiring to know more than nieedid, (he 
 became depriucd of chat excellent beauty which (he 
 had. Patternes likewifc of modeft/you may be,and 
 herein fmgularly vlefallby your examples, vntb o- 
 thersofyourfexe. Nortan you poflibly cxpre(re it 
 better,thcn in obferuing that diuine precepr,by lear- 
 ning 
 
 Affm'l, 
 
t-^ 
 
 THe E^CCLlSH 
 
 Ap PA REX. 1 ning bow to ari^ajf jmr [eines tn cantdf ap^arell^ jfifh 
 ^Htf»ifafine^e4ndni»deiij, netyttth hr»tdtd haire, #r 
 goU^orfeatles^ or cofilyappAreU: But^ at btcomiMth 
 rvomen that profcjfe the fear^of god, Foreuen after thU 
 wanner wtimefMJi did the holj women ^rvhich trufied in 
 g od, tire them feluci.H^c isaprefcript forme by way 
 of dircdtioD, for your habiu Choicer ornaments you 
 cannot haucto adorne youj nor any fafliion thac 
 will better fecmt you. Where you walke, you may 
 enioyyourfeluesfreed from light eyes, gazing and 
 admiring vanity i your very /?^^« is your Tefiat4to 
 witneflc for you : loofe thoughts neitlc not in your 
 bofome,nor doc wandringdiftrad^fonsfurprife yout 
 breaft: you haue learned to your highcft folace,eaen' 
 in euery motion, adion, poftore, gefture,r<5 obferue' 
 modeftyyOS an wnament to honour. For j feeing that 
 the very habit of the minde m*y bee bctt difeerncd 
 and difcoucred by the ftatc or carriage of the body, 
 cbc difpofition of the body by the habit; toauoyd 
 (candaiLandrctainctbat Cbriftaanbpiftion whicbe- 
 uery one ought to prefcrue, weeare to makechoyee 
 of that attire, which Gonferresuvoftfeeming graui- 
 ty on vs. This the very Heathen, whofc beft dire- 
 dion was morality^ were carc&Ilof : k)f in the v[g 
 of ty^ppareU, they retained fuch conftant courle, as 
 they held it the greateft blemifli they could afpetfc 
 vpon their Nation* to mrodiKre any new of ex©- 
 ticke fafliion, either to eflFeminate the difpofitions 
 of their people, ortoder^aie from the honour of 
 their memorable predeccfifours; whofe ftiodellwas 
 their dircdl ion in habit, aftd all othef <!)i66riiable Ca* 
 ftomes. What a fimple, hon^fli Rufticity our An- 
 ceftors retained in their Weare, might bee eafily di- 
 fcerned, if wee (boiald make recouffe ro one of their 
 ancient Wardrobes j where antiquity may prefciibe 
 for many ages, and conftancy fecond what antiquity 
 
 had 
 
ceNTLewoMJN. 
 
 \ 
 
 hadmrroduc'd.Yea, foobftmanc were former times j Apparel* 
 of thofc fafhions which preceding ages had rccom- 
 mendedrochem, as they held ic ominous toinno- 
 'uate or bring in any new forme, cuen in matters of 
 nidifFerency, When Daritti had altered thcfafhion 
 of his Sword, which vfedtobe Perlian, into the 
 forme ot the Macedonian (in the yecre immediately 
 before be fought with tAlfXAntier) the Chaldecs or 
 Sooth-layers prophecied, that into what fafhion as 
 Darius had altered his Sword,time would reduce his 
 State ; and that the Perfian glory was drawing to- 
 wards her laft period, by fubieding her felfe to the 
 Soueraignty of Macedon, Which predidion was 
 fbone confirmed by the next yeeres Conqueft. But 
 tell me, yc curious Dames, who hold it a derogation 
 to your honour,, to entercainc aight that is vulgar;, 
 whereto were Cloathes firft ordainedjbut to couer 
 that nakedneffc which finnc brought, and to skreene 
 that {hamc whichthc cflfed: of (imic firft wrought ? 
 Ihtvfe of yipparellis not to digflific the wearer, or 
 adde more beauty to the Creature. Sure lam, that a 
 tudicious eye, who meafures dignity by defert, 
 icornes to preferre the Caje before the Inflrumtnt^ 
 the i?<Wtf before the Tith. Thole who arc worthy 
 to be your Judges, will determine your worth by 
 what there is in you,notby what you wearc on you. 
 ict May-games andMorriccsbeautifie themfclues 
 with AntickedrefifingSjtocaptiuate the vulgar eye ; 
 yourbreeding hath becnc better, your iudgements 
 clearer, your obferuations wifcr, than toftoopeto 
 iuch bafe Lures. Our life confifts in the perfedion 
 or temperate infufion of naturall orradicall humour, 
 or in the conferuatioa of naturall heat : to prefcruc 
 this, to increafe that. Nature hath prouided meancs 
 inwardand outward. To inuertthct;/^, is to per- 
 uert the Ordinance it felfe : So vfe the outward, that 
 
 VOJ 
 
-8 1 
 
 TB€ BN<jLISH 
 
 Apparbu I you darken not the inward ; fo difpofc of thcin- 
 , ■ ( wardj that it may redlific the outward. Reflcd on 
 
 I antiquity, yet no farther than may fuit with the de- 
 cency of the age- wherein youliue. lamnotigao- 
 I rant, how many fa (h ions formerly v fed, would in 
 I this age dsferue ratter derifion than approuement. 
 1 And that the infancy of the world had many (hapes, 
 L as then but ondy in their Smbria or rather Concep- 
 tion, which iucceeding times, accommodated by 
 moreexquifiteartifts, brought afterwards to per- 
 fection, f/f your habit as an ornament of decency; 
 let it nothauethe leaft Edging of vanity. Many 
 Eyes are fixed on you, fundry raotiues of imitation 
 aredcriued from you. Send not out one fruitleflc 
 figh for any phantafticke fafhion which you fee: 
 they cannot be fighes of compaflion, that arc fent 
 meereiy out for faihion. Sigh rather that your 
 Couatry.fliould labour, of fo vaine.a birch, as to 
 prcferre forrainc inuentions before the ornament of 
 a (J'ytaiden Ilc^ conftant modefty . Spend not a fruit- 
 leflc houre inan vnprofitable garnifji of corruption i 
 V(e thefe outward drelfiugs as if you did not vfe 
 them: Let them be rather yoarfcorfif than your priJUi 
 yQUt^antem^tthiti eontent. Be thofe curiOus Ca% 
 of mortality decked or dawbed with neucr fo much 
 adultexate beauty, they cannotconferre vpon thcra- 
 felues one bcamcling of lafting glory. Lookc vpon 
 chofe poorc bafes of frailty, your feet, vjhitiu»k/i»£ " 
 they make, to partake of a lafciuious meeting in pri- 
 uacy : Eye l\\o(k riJwgmoptnts^yOMr difflajed hr-eafis^ 
 with what fhameleffe art they wooe the fliamefafte 
 paflcngsr : View thole rvandring Lamfs, how they 
 roue abroad, as if they would flye outof their 
 Lodges, and fpheere themlHucs in fome amorous 
 Oibe. Call them home, left Dittab-likc theylofe 
 tbcmfclues by ftraying, impeach their honour by 
 
 wandrin2» 
 
GSNTLSVyOMj:?^. 
 
 vvandring, bring Lhemfeiues woe by their lafciuious 
 wooing. Aftcdl no Farhionthac may beget in your 
 generous bofomcs a light thought; Contcmne that 
 Ufliion which detracts from the natiue beauty of 
 the feature, or which brings it to that admiration of 
 the Creature, as it makes it forgetfull of the Crea- 
 tor. O how contemptible a thing is man (the word 
 may rcfiedl equally vpon either iexc) i? he ered not 
 his thoughts abouc man 1 VV hat a poore vfe makes 
 chat milerable creature of his being here, who be- 
 ftowesfo much time intlie Tjringhmfe, as hee for- 
 gets what part he is to play on the Stage ? O confi- 
 dcrthe precioufnefTe of time ! it is all that may bee 
 properly faid ourj. Neither can we termc that: por- 
 tion of rime which we call w/, yeares, or dayes, or 
 houres. A moment is our portion, aad the Com- 
 mandingft Emperour hath no larger proportion. Of 
 which moment, whatfoeuer is paft, is not now : 
 and wbatfoeueris to come, is not yet. Eye then 
 your Houre-glaffe, vyc in teares with graines of 
 fand. Bcftow not this little fcantling, this moment 
 fhorter than nothings in too curioufly attiring of 
 vanity, but in meditating of your owne frailty, and 
 redeeming the time you haue loft in Iccurity. As 
 A /»^flr^// was ordained for necejfitj ',vfe it with Chri- 
 ftianciuility. In obferuing this^ you make the vfe 
 good, which fliall hereafter redound to your grea- 
 ter gaine. 
 
 OBut the milery and huiry of this age is fucb, 
 as that becomes generally leaft aff.dcd, which 
 adornes vs mort: j thac valued moft,which belcemes 
 vs leaft. '1 line was indeed, and may that time once 
 re-fliine vpon vs,when the oncly flower to be loued 
 of women, was a natiue red, which was {hamcfaft- 
 C ncfle. 
 
 Apparel. 
 
 The yihufe of 
 
 
 J 
 
lO 
 
 THE ENGLISH 
 
 t 
 
 Apparel. 
 
 nefle. The face knew not then what painting was, 
 whofe adulterate ^4;>e takes now acquaintance from 
 tlje Sbc^, Then were inch women matter of (can- 
 dall to ChrJftian eyes, which vfed painting their 
 skianc, powdring their bayrc, darting their eye. 
 Our Commerce with forraine Nations was not for 
 falhions, feathers, and follies. 1 here was diftindion 
 in ©ur attires ; differences of ranks and qualities ; a 
 ciuill obferuance of decent habits ; which confer- 
 red noleffe glory on our lie at home, than vi(?lori- 
 ous mannagements by the prowefTe of our Inhabi- 
 tants, did abroad. If we reflc<fl on them, wee muft 
 of necefltty bluHi at our felues; feeing, what wee 
 haue recciued for vfe, we haue conuerted to ahfe, 
 Thatdiftindion which decency found out for ha- 
 bits virile and feminine, what commixture hath it 
 found in latter times ? Whatneare refemblance and 
 rei'ation hath womans tomans : futing their light 
 feminine skirts with manlike doublets ? SemiramU, 
 that vidorious Princefle, commanded all to weare 
 Tjfrwvpoa their heads, and to put vpon them wo- 
 mans apparcll without diflindlion, that fliee might 
 rcigne fecurely without exception: Thus the come- 
 ly habit of modefty became a pretended vaileto an 
 viurped Soueraignty, But theft fucceeding times 
 haue tyrcdour women with tyres ; tranflating them 
 to a {riumeof Feathers. Fafhion is now euer vn- 
 der faile : the Inuention euer teeming ; Phantafticke 
 Wits eu«r breeding. More time fpent how to 4^f*/s 
 j time, and corrupt licentious youth, than how to ad- 
 ■ dreffe employment for the one, or to redifie the di- 
 rtcmpersof the other. Takeafuruey of all degrees, 
 and tell me what vniformity you finde in this par- 
 ticular. Andtomakeinflincein three fcuerall pla- 
 ces (for to thefe all others may haue proper relation) 
 take a more precife and pun(5tuall perufall of O^y, 
 
GENTLEWOMAN. 
 
 a I 
 
 Ctf»r^,aad^<'«»?''^r,andreturnemea briefeofyour i Apparel. 
 Sumcy. In thcfirji, you {hall findc many graue Ma- 
 trons, modeft Maids, deaout Widdowes j but are 
 thefcall? No ; with tlicfc you (hall findeaftrange- 
 ly mixt generation. Some affeding nothing more 
 than what is moft nouell and phantaftickc ; Others 
 enuyiug what they dildainfuUy lee in others, which 
 fafhion rather than they will mifle, they will not 
 fticke to fet their honour at fale : All, or moft, true 
 Biantines, carrying all their wealth about them. For 
 the fec0»df you /hall find, amongft many other plants 
 of promising growth and excellent proficience, fun- 
 dry fwcet-lcntcd fprigs of ^««4w*»,whorerinde is 
 werth all the body. No difcottrfe can rellifh their 
 fdrmall palate, but faQiion ; if Eues Kirtle flaould 
 be now (howne them, how they would geere their 
 Grandam? For the Z^/?, though it be long ere they 
 crecpe into forme, hauing once attained it, they can 
 take vpoii them as vnbefeeming a Stare in a Coun- 
 trey Pew, as if they were Ladies for that yeare,and 
 had beene bred in the Art of mincing fince their 
 childhood. But what are thefe, but fuch, whofeex- 
 pcnce of time is Scarcely valued ? Sacrificing mere 
 houres to their Looking- glaflfe, than they referue 
 minutes to lament their defcds. Such, whofe vertu- 
 ous thoughts neuer harbour the leaft conceit that 
 may becmy their honour,or depraue thole more no- 
 ble pares wherewith they are indowed ; fcorne to 
 drowne their better fart in thcle dregs of fenfuality. 
 Vertue is their attendant. Honour their obied:, all 
 inferiour delights their loweft fubicds. Day by 
 day haue thefe their taske impofed, that thepoyfon 
 of flcath may be better auoyded : No day paflcth 
 without a line, no adion without a limit : obler- 
 uing the courfc of that vertuous Mirror, of Whom it 
 is faid ; 
 
 C a In 
 
Apparel. 
 
 How ihe vfe 
 
 may be inucr- 
 ted to abufe. 
 
 Indt^mShhoHresfbe didaimdcthie eky^ 
 Towaik^y to veorke^, to wedttAte^ and pray. 
 Much different from chis pious rcfolution, was 
 that Liberrines impious conclufion, who held thar 
 none could bee- frcquentiy dcuout in prayer, and 
 falliioaabiy decent m attire, Shee bcftovved too 
 much time on her ^lajfc^ to refcrue any for her 
 Lampe. Pride had exiled her zeale; dehcacy of ha- 
 bit, lancfVity of hearf. Her day might be etfily diui- 
 dcd : Shee beftowed the forenoone on her skinne, 
 theafrerBOoneonaPlayj dozing her Euening Lc- 
 cTiurewitharecrefupper : and this was her Chrifti- 
 anTaske. Miferable fsthe condition of that Crea- 
 turejwho,fo her skin be flcake,cares not if iher fju!e 
 be rough. Sohcr outward habitbc pure and without 
 blemifti, values little her inward garniili. Such an 
 one hath made a firme Coatradl with s'anity, do- 
 zing her conten?ptuous age with a fearefull Cata« 
 ftrophe. Thus farre haue we difccurfed of the ( ffed 
 or ahife it felfe, wee arc now to treat of chofe two 
 fources, from whence thefe ahnfes properly arife ; to 
 wit, Z>^/r<:467 in being more curious in our Choyce 
 of ^ppare/i ihin nece^uj or decency doth require ; fe- 
 condly, Superpntj, iw ftoring. more variety and 
 change of raym.cnrs than cither nature needs, or 
 reafon would admit, were fliee not tranfported with 
 a fenfuill afFcdion, by giuing way to what, vnboun- 
 ded appetite requires. . 
 
 IN the fcarch of any Minerall, we arc firft to diggc 
 fortheveine: and in the curing of any maleuo- 
 lent cfFedjWC are duely and ferioufly tomquire the 
 producing caufe, that by flopping the Spring or 
 fource, wecmayftay the violence of the ftreamc. 
 We are then to infiit of thofc two precedent means, 
 
 . hy 
 
by which the vfe may bee irrtacrted to ahufe ; and 
 tha: which oFic felfeisapproucablejiFobfcrued with 
 decency, becomes iuftly reprShenfiDleby corrupting 
 fonecelTary atid coarequcnc an tz/c', either by de- 
 itc«tsjy\*jh\c\\ weakens and cfF.'minacts the iT^Vif J or 
 by Sn!>erfl:iityj which euer darkens the beameh'ng 
 o{rea(o» with the Cloud oFffft/t. 
 
 Reproofe touching t^/';>4r^// may bee occafioncd 
 from foure rcfpcds : 
 
 Firfti when any one wearefh ^pfaye/UboiiQ their 
 degree, exceeding their eftate in precious attire. 
 Whence it is that Gregory faith ; there be fome who 
 are of opinion, that the weare of precious or fump 
 tuousex^/?^?^^// is no fi nne : Which if it were no 
 fault, thediuine Word would n:ucr haue fo pirndu 
 ally cxfiefled, nor hillorically related, how th.c 
 Rich many who was tormented in hell, was cloathcd 
 with Purple and Silke. W hence we may note, that 
 touching the n^attcr or fubiec^ of attire, humane cu- 
 riofityauaileth highly. Thefin'lftufFcor fubflance 
 of our garments, was very meai^e; to wit, Skinne 
 with Wool I. Whence it is we read, that God made 
 /f^wj and bis wife Coatt of Skinne t^ thati?, of the 
 Skinnes of dead beafts. Afterwards (fee the grada- 
 tion of this vanity deriucd from humane fin^olari* 
 ry) they came xoVun Woolly becanfe it was lighter 
 than Skinnes. After ihiz to rifides of trees, to wit, 
 F/4X, A ftcr that to the dua^ and ordureoffVormes, to 
 wit, Stikf' Laftly, to ^oU and Siluer^ and precious 
 Stones. Which precioufnefFe of a tr ire hiohly difplea- 
 feth God. For inftance whereof ( which the very 
 Pajrans themfelues obferued) we read that the very 
 firft among the Remansy who euer wore Tutfle^ was 
 ftruckewithft Thunder-bolt, andfodyed fuddenly, 
 for a terror and mirror to all fucceeding times, that 
 none flioald attempt to lift himfelfc proudly aqainft 
 I . God 
 
 Apparel. 
 
14 I 
 
 TBe eUGLISH 
 
 APPAREU 
 
 Zephdn.it 
 
 God in precious attire. 
 1 The fecond point reprehcnfible is,Seftneffe or ^- 
 I /teacj of ^ppM'eff : Soft Cloathes introduce fbft 
 mindes. Delicacy in the ha^it, begets an effeminacy in 
 I the yenrt. lobn Baftifi, who was landified in his nao- 
 thers wombc, wore fliarpe and rough garments. 
 Whence wee are taught, that the true ftruant of 
 God is not to weare garments for beauty or de- 
 light, but to couer his nakednefTe ; not for State 
 I or Curiofity, butneceflity andconuenience. Chrift 
 &ith in his Gofpell, They that Are dad in foftraj^ 
 ments, are in Kingt houjes^ Whence appeareth t 
 maine difference betwixt the feruants of Chrift and 
 of this world. The feruants of this world Icekc de- 
 light, honour, and pleafure in their attire : whereas 
 the leruants of Chrift (b highly value the gar- 
 tnenc of innocence, as they loath to Oaine it witk 
 outward vanities. It is their honour to pitt vn 
 Chrift lefus ; other robes you may rob them of, 
 and giue them occafion to ioy in yourpurchafe. 
 
 The third thing rcpioueable is, ferraine Fajhionsi 
 
 When we defirc nothing more than to bring in fome 
 
 OutlandifK habit different from our owne j in 
 
 which refped (fo Apifhly-anticke is man) it bc- 
 
 comcs more atfedled than our owne, Againft fuch 
 
 the Lord threatnethj ^ w»/5f 'i^ijit the Tri^ces and the 
 
 Ktngs chiidten, andaU [uch as are ctoathed mthfiranje 
 
 •y^pforelL Which grange Apparett is after diuers 
 
 faf^ionsand inuentions, wholly vnknowne to our 
 
 Anceilors. Which may appcarc fufliciently to (uch, 
 
 who within this 30, or 40, or 6q y^ares neuer faw 
 
 fuch cutting, caraing, nor indenting as they 
 
 now fee. 
 
 The fourth thing reproueable is^SfiptrflmtjofAp- 
 parell, exprefTed in thelc three particulars : firft, in 
 tbofe who kaue diuers changes and fuitsof CloathSi; 
 
 who 
 
[ 
 
 GSNTLSWOMAD^. 
 
 [ 15 
 
 who had rather haue their garments eaten by 
 moaths, than they (hould couer the poore members 
 ofChrift. The naked cry, the needy cry, and 
 {hreekingly GOmplainc vnto vs, hew theymifera- 
 bly labour and languifli of hanger and cold. What 
 auailes it them that wee haue fuch changes of ray- 
 ments neatly plaited and folded ; rather than w^c 
 will fupply them, they muftbe ftarucd ? How doe 
 fuch rich Moath-wormcs oblerae the Dodtrine of 
 Chrift, whenhe faith in his Gofpell ; Heethat hath 
 tv C9MS let him^HC one to him that hath none ? 
 
 Secondly, wee arc to confider the Snperfittity of 
 fuch who will haue long garments, purpofely to 
 feeme gre&rer : yet, whicn of theft canadde one cu- 
 bit CO his ftature ? T bis puts me in remembrance of 
 a conceited ftory which I haue fometimes heard, of 
 a diminutiue Gentleman, who demanding of his 
 Tayler,what yards of Sattin would make him a 
 Suite, being anfwered farre fliort in ijumber of 
 whathcexpe<fled: wit;h great indignation replied, 
 " Such an one of the Guarti to my knowledge had 
 ** thrice as much for a Suite, and I will fecond him. 
 Which his Tayler with fmall importunacy conde- 
 fcended to, making a Garganttta's Suite for this Ottnce 
 «/iw4»Jj?</^jreferuingtohimfelfcaIarge portion of 
 flireads, purpofely to forme a fitter proportion for 
 his Ganimede (hape^ 
 
 ' The third SMperflmtj ari^h from their vanity, 
 who take delight in wearing great flecues, mifha- 
 pen Elephantine bodies, traines fWccping the earth, 
 with huge poakes to fhroud their phantaflicke 
 heads, as if they had committed fbme egregious 
 fad which deferuf d that cerifure : for in the Ealtcrne 
 Countreyes it hath bccnc vfually obfcrued, that fuch 
 lighr Women as had diilaincd their honour, or laid 
 a publikc imputation on their name, by cgofenting 
 
 to 
 
 Apparel, 
 
i6 
 
 THe B^KOLlSU 
 
 Apparel. J to any libidinous a(fl, were to bane thtir heads 
 (ow'dvpiHapoake, toproclainve their fliame, and 
 piiblidi to the world the quality of their finnc. 
 
 Delicacy o< 
 
 Apparel', 
 
 NO w to infift more pundually on that efFemina- 
 tourboth of youth and age, De/tc^icy ef Jppa- 
 reH; I wouWhaue our Daughters q£ Albion^ refled 
 vpon themfelues, thofe poore flieils of corruption : 
 what a trimming and trtcking they beflow on their 
 brittle hoiifes. I^etrarcbs aduice was, that we {hould 
 not be afraid though our out-hcules,thcfe ftrudures 
 of our bodies, were Aiakcn,fo our foulcSjthe guefts of 
 our bodies, fared well. Whereas contrariwire,thefe, 
 vvhofe oncly care is to delude the outward appea- 
 rance with a feeming fairc^fo they may preferue the 
 varnilhj.difualuethefcundatien. O may this folly 
 beaflran^er to our Nation ! To allay which fury, 
 attemper which frenzy, I hold no receit more (b- 
 ucraignetban to enter into alerious mcd'tationof 
 \ our fratlry. As firfl to confider,whar you were be- 
 fore your birth ; fecondly, what from your birth to 
 your death; laftly, what after death. If yourcfleA 
 vpon the firft , you fball finde that you haue 
 becne, what before you were not, afterwards were 
 what now you arc not, firft made of vile matter (fee 
 the Emb'eme of humane nature)wrappcd in a poore 
 skinne, nourifked man obfcure place, your Coate 
 the fccond skinne, till you came to a fight of the 
 Sunne, which you entertained with a fhreek,imply- 
 ing your original] Cmm* Thus attired, thus adorned 
 came yoti to vs ,* what makes you then fo vnmind- 
 flill of that poore cafe wherein you came among vs ? 
 Hathbeauty^popularapplanfe, youth full hcate, or 
 wealth taken from you the knowledge of your 
 ^elues ? Pcriac your pedigree, and blufh at your 
 
 match- 
 
GSNTLevrOMjO^. I J7 
 
 matchlefTe folly, thac pride fliou'.d (o highly magni- 
 ik ic illFe in duft,or glory moft in that which brings 
 wich ic the moft (hame. Why doc yoa vva ke vvnh 
 (uch haughty necks ? why doe you extoll your CduQs 
 10 highly inthelcTahernacIcsofearrh ? Atrcnd and 
 confider ; yo:i were but vildc corrupted fcedc at the 
 firft; and now fuller of pollution than at the firft. 
 Bntring the world with a fhreeke to exprede your 
 cnfuingOiame, you became afterwards expofed to 
 the miicries of this life and to finiie, in ihe end 
 woriHcs and wormes meat fliall yoa be in the graue. 
 Why then are you proud, yedafly iTirines, yce ear- 
 then vedels *, feeing your conception was impurity, 
 birth mifery, life penalty, death extremity ? VV hy 
 doeyeembelhfli and adorne your flelh v/ith fuch 
 port and grace, which within fomc few dayes 
 wormes will deuoure in the graue? Meane time you 
 negled: the incomparable beauty of your fonlcs. For 
 with what ornaments doe ye adorne them ? Wirh 
 whnt fweetodorsor fpirituall graces doe ye perfume 
 them ? With whatchoyce Flowers of piety andde- 
 uodon doe ye trim them / What Habits doe yc pre- 
 pare for them, when they muft bee prefenred before 
 him who gaae them? How is it that ye fo difellceme 
 the fou'e, preferring the flcfli before her? For the 
 ^iftrcffetoplaythe Handmaid, the Handmaid the 
 SiftreiTe, is a great abufe. There can be no fuccelTc 
 in that family, where thchoun?oldis mannagcdfo 
 d/'forderly, Orellraineyour a2;'v(5lions, limit your 
 defircs, beare an equall hand to the better part ! The 
 Buildingcannot fland vnlelTe you remoue the rub- 
 ^ifn fro r> the foundation. The Souleinthe body is 
 like a Qneenein her Palace. Ifyou would then haue | 
 rbislictleCommon-weahh wtthin you to floiiriili, | 
 yoa mull wich timely prouidencefupprefTe all fadti- 1 
 ous and turbulent moiefters of her peace: yoiirpal^ j 
 D fions, 1 
 
 Apparel. 
 
1- 
 
 i8 
 
 THE ENGLISH 
 
 Apparel. 
 
 (ions, elpccially chofe of vaine-glory, muft bcc re- 
 llraincd ; motiues to humility chcri(hcd ; chad 
 thoughts embraced ; all deuious and wandring Co- 
 gitations excluded j that the Toule may peaceably 
 enioy her felfe,and in her Palace Hue fecured. Where- 
 to if you obiedl, that this is an hard Icflbn ; you 
 cannot defpife the world nor hate the fiefh ; tell mce 
 where are all thofe louers of the world, cheriflicrs of 
 the flffflij which not long fince were among vs? 
 Nothing now remaineth of them but duft and 
 wormes. Gonfider diligeatly (for this confiderati- 
 on will be a Counterpoize to all varne-glory) what 
 they now are, and what they hauc bcenc. Women 
 they were as you are : they haue eat, drunke, laugh- 
 ed, fpcnt their dayes in iollity, and now in a mo- 
 ■ ment gone downe to hell. Here their flefh is appor- 
 tioned to wormes, there their foules appointed to 
 hell fire : till (iich time as being gathered together 
 to that vnhappy fociety, they fhall bcrowledin e- 
 I ternall burnings, as they were before partakers with 
 them in their vices. For one puniflament afflicfleth, 
 whom one loue of finne affedetb. Tell mee, what 
 profiteth them their vaine-glory, (hort ioy, world- 
 ly power, pleafure of the flefh, euill got wealth, a 
 great family, and concupilcence arifing carnally? 
 Where now is their laughter ? Where their ieft^ 
 Where their boafting ? Where their arrogance ? 
 From fo great ioy , how great heauineffe ? After fuch 
 Tmall pleafiire, how great vnhappineflc ? From fo 
 great ioy they are now fallen into great wretched- 
 neHe , grieuous calamity, vn(ufferab/e torments. 
 What hath befallen them, maybeftllyou; being 
 Earth of Earth, flimeofflime : Of Earth you are, of 
 Earth you fiue, and to Earth yon flia/I returnc. Take 
 this with you for an infallible pofition in thefe your 
 Cottages of Corruption ; If you follow the flefh, 
 
 you 
 
GEKTLEWOMAl^. 
 
 ( ^9 
 
 youfliallbepunifhcdintheflcfh : if you be deligh- ! Apparel. 
 ted in the flcfli, you fliall be tormented in the fle{li : 
 for by how much more your flefli is cockered in this 
 world with all delicacy ; by fo much more (Kail your 
 (bules bee tormented in hell eternally. If you fecke 
 curious and delicate rayments, for the beauty and 
 brauery of your rayments fliall the moath bee laid 
 vnderyou, and your Couering fliall bee Wormes. 
 And this {hall fuflfice tehauebeene fpoken touching 
 'DelUacj of j4pparc3 ; wc arc now to defcend briefly 
 to the ftcond branch, Suferfiuitj: whereof we intend 
 to difcourfc with that breuity, as the neceffity of the 
 Subied,whereof wee treat, Ihall require, and the 
 generality of this fpreading malady may enforce. 
 
 DIuineis thatfaying, and well worthy your re- 
 tention: Thecouetous perfon before he gaine 
 lofeth himfclfe, and before bee take ought is taken 
 himfelfe. He is no kiTe wanting to himfelfe in that 
 which hce hath, than in that which hee h^th not. 
 Hee findes that hee loft not, poflefleth that hee 
 owes not, detaines that he ought not, and hates to 
 reftore what hee iniurioufly enioyes. So vnbounded 
 is the affe(ftion, or rather (o depraued is the auariri- 
 ous mans inclination, as hee cannot eoniaine his de- 
 fires within bounds, nor enter parley with realbn, 
 hauing once flaued his better fart to the foueraignty 
 of a fcruile affedion. This may appcare euen in this 
 one particular. Food and rayment are a Chriftians 
 riches : wherein he vfeth that moderation, as hee 1 
 makes that Apoftolicall rule hisChriilian diredion : 
 Hauing food and rayment^ I hone learned in all things to i 
 be contented. But how miferably is this golden rule | 
 inuerted, b^ our lenfuall worldling ? Competency 
 mull neither be their Cater in the one, nor Conue- 
 D 2 niency 
 
 Superfluity of 
 
20 
 
 Tlie BNGLISB 
 
 rappA \ aieiicytluirTaykr in the other. Their Tabfe miili 
 
 '1 -^ — i labour oF variety of (iillics, and thsir Wardrobe of 
 
 cxcban:;c ot raiments. No reafon n^-rc probable 
 than this of their naked infid'js, which ftand in need 
 oF rhcic p/ptf^/^au/wadditamenrs. Wharn-iyriads of 
 :ir;d:rpu:cdhoLirticoalunK' thcle in btaurifying rot- 
 ten tombcs 1 H ow curious they are in fuiting rhcir 
 bodies, howrcmifT-Mn perferring their fcuicsruit to 
 their Maker ! How much they arc dtfquicted in 
 their choycc, how iTiUch perplexed- in their change, 
 how irreio'.ute whatthey {hall weare>hovv forgctfull 
 of what they v;tre ! I hiscdging fuits nor, that pirlc 
 (brts not, this drtlTing likes not : off it mufi: after 
 all be {itted,and with a new Exchange, lelTe Iccnitly, 
 butiT.ore gaudy fuitcd. The fafliicn that was in 
 prime requef^ but ytflerday, how itbegins to ci^- 
 reliiili the wearer, as if it had loft the beauty by vn- 
 leaibnable wcaihcr ; thus is fafhion fallen intoa quo- 
 tidian Feuer : See oar eompleatcfl FuifhioK-mehgeri, 
 how much they tyre themfelues with their atriring, 
 how they trouble themfelues with their trimming ! 
 It feemes vvondcifiili come, that they arc not whol- 
 ly cruCbed, with that onerous burthen with which 
 they are prcflld. What afliopoFgoga nifieshang 
 vponouebacke ? Here the remainder of a greater 
 workc, the reliques of an ancient Mannor conuerted 
 toapearleChaine. There the moityofan ill-huf- 
 banded demaine reduced to a Carknet, Long traincs 
 mull (weepc away long acres : the Epidcnijcall va- 
 nity ofthisagedothcxadit ; andfhecis held leaft 
 worthy affecting, that doth leaft afFe<^ ir. . What j 
 (ayes my delicate Madam ^ " Is \z for one of my 
 , ''ranke or dcfccnt toafFed: what is vulgar ? how 
 *' then fhouldrbecomc popular? Iconftire, we are 
 "allcompoff dofonc Earthy yet h the it ro bee prc- 
 " /uppoled a difference in our bmh. Were it fitting 
 
 that 
 
GSNTLeWOMJN, 
 
 21 
 
 *^' cha: I /ItouM fail orf, either from tfjac fl^f/Tr^rr | Apparel* 
 '* whicU is generally approiied, or that X'-«>'/.''9' which 
 "is b? OMr more generous lormaiifts applauded .> 
 " V/haf amiles a mighty fortune to a miferab.e ciif- 
 "^ pofer ? Or braae aitanvS, ^vhtrc a bate mind is the* 
 "difpfnier? ylpp^re/i muU be with aefirsicj ior^a]^ 
 *« %'«riffyfuited, or chc dignify cFthe perfori, be it 
 *^neuerfo corifpiwuous, will be o'ofcurcd, AdmiCj 
 *^ vinczy bs mcQce /ffpcrfltiity, atworft iris but die 
 " si2,^s zaaity t which is luch an viyiutrfall nia!sdy,ao 
 " it p'eads exemption vvichouc farrhcr npology. 
 Whereto lanfwcr; ic is true, the Age labours of 
 thisdifeatc' ; where ihe eye becomes a d^rermincr 
 of oar worth, by the outward habit which wee 
 wcarc : It refleds not on what is in vs, but what is 
 on vs. She is not tobe accounted a Court viliranr, 
 who rcitraincs her fclfe either in her choyce oide/i^ 
 cacj^otvayttty of habit. What then ? Sliall a viLious 
 or effwininare age deprauG your iudgement r Or a 
 corrupt ti me depriue you of iudgement ? No ; you 
 haue more abPjlurep^rfedions within you, than to 
 bcblemillied with thcfe imperfe(flions which you 
 too frequently cirry about you. The mare you d'lf- 
 play your pye-coloured P.agge of vanity ; die more 
 Lures ycu throw out ofioofeft liberty ; the more fo- 
 ments you rfe of foule- foylin^ di/tcacj ; the deeper 
 Lodgingyoubefpcakeyourfelucs in the Lake ofc- 
 ternall mi kry. Toliich I onely fpeakc, who,fo they 
 may furnifliihcmrciuesof adainty artift, to teac'i 
 them how todye well, make it the leaft of their care 
 how to iijte welL Thele who loue to dye their ^4«V<?, 
 butnener change the dye of their corrup:ed htarf, 
 Thefe will nor Iticke with frontltfTe impudence to 
 bouIAer their depraued liberty. They may be jWitl> 
 ©ut controulejdifpenfers anddifpofers of their owne. 
 This vAriity and deltcacj wherein they exnrcfle 
 
 liierr- 
 
21 
 
 THe encLisB 
 
 \ 
 
 Apparel* ' thcoifclucs by an efptciall markc ofdiftinftionfrom 
 
 • \ others, they deriiie it from the affluence of their 
 
 I owne tbrtunes, and not from others : which being 
 fo iuftly enioyed, and withoat ininry, adnaits no ex- 
 ception in all probability. Whereto I reply, with 
 Btifil, the words of a Diuine Father, " Art not thou, 
 
 " whofoerc thou bee, a Robber, who haft receiued 
 ** goods as a Steward or difpcnfer j and entitleft thy 
 •'fclfe the impropriator or owner? tor what faire 
 "glozes or pretences, foeuer, thou makeft for thy 
 "felfe, CO gild thy fhame, or mince thy finnc, it is 
 ^* the bread of the needy, which thou with-holdeft j 
 *' the Coat of the naked which in thy Cheft thou 
 '*ftoreft; the flioocsof the barefoot, which with 
 ** thee lye rotting ; the coyne of the bcgger, which 
 ^' with thee lyes moulding. Away then with thele 
 Super fiuofu drcflings ; you fee daily obicd:s of your 
 charity, bring out your wardrobe, and cloath the 
 naked. That which you fo prodigally fpent vpon 
 your felues, conuert it to the more glorious Attirinj^ 
 of yoar naked fonles. See that your Kings clanghter 
 be all glorious within, thSitihe King of Kings may 
 take pleafiirc in her. Let not (b precious an Imagfi 
 be defaced, fo fpecious a Virgin defiled, ^o glorious 
 a Creature diftionoured. Inftcad of ll'^^Aff^^, deckc 
 ' your felues Modcftly; iniUidoi Sfiperflfiitj, out of 
 your variety communicate freely to others necefli- 
 ty. We arc now to delcend briefly to the laji branch 
 of this/rj? OhferHAtioH, declaring, how. That ^y^ppa- 
 r^Z^ is ra oft comely, which conferres on the Wearer 
 moikn&tiac hofffj, and moft honour on her^«w- 
 trej. 
 
 That Apparel 
 I moft comely, 
 1 which 
 
 ccn- 
 
 AS that is euer held moft ^enerotu which isleaft 
 afe^ied, moft genuine which is Icaft forced ; fo 
 
 there 
 
GSNTLeWOMAS^. 
 
 \ «? 
 
 fcrrcson tlie 
 H^earer moft 
 natiue&Mv/jr, 
 and moA ho- 
 nour on her 
 Comtrty, 
 
 there is nothing which confers more true glory on \ Afparbi . 
 vs, then in difplaying our owne Countries garbc 
 by that we wearc vpon vs» The Crowe in the fable 
 was {harply taxed for her borrowed feathers : The 
 /"4^/^,though it fpoke oft Cr^w^.thc L^toraH pointed 
 at a f»a». Habit (we fay) is a C^Jiome ; why (hould 
 itbeoiirc«7?«w?to change oiitBabtt} With what 
 conftancyfome other Nations obferue their natiue 
 attyre, Hiftories both ancient and moderne will (uf- 
 ficiently informc vs. Noihing is held more con- 
 temptible with them,than api&ly to imitate foraign 
 fiifliions : Prefcription is their Tayler , antiquity 
 their Tutor. Amongft the] ancient Heathen, euen 
 their very habit dittinguifli'd Widdowes from Ma- 
 trons,Matrons from Virgins. So as not onely Cex^s^ 
 ftatcSjConditions, yeereSjbut cucn Iinage$,races, and 
 families were remarkeably difcouercd. We vfually 
 obferue fuch a fafhion to be Frenchj inch an one Sfa- 
 nipjy another italian^ this Dntch^ that Toland, Meane 
 time where is the En^lifh f fiirely, fome precious E ■ 
 hxir extra(5led out ofall thefe.Sbe will neither relye 
 on her own inuetion,nor compofe her felfe to the fa- 
 Ihion of any one particularNation,but make her (elfe 
 an Epitomized confeftionof all. Thus becomes flic 
 not only a ftranger tootbers,but toberfeIfe.lt were 
 tobewiftied, that as our Countrey is iealous of her 
 owne inuention in contriuing, fb tfiec were no k{^t 
 cautelous in her choice of wearing. Gngtrj the great 
 thought that Angles did ncercly fymphonize with 
 •Angels, not fo much in letter, as in fauour and fea- 
 ture : Were it not pitty that thefefhould darken 
 their beauty with vailes of defbimity ? Truth is, 
 there is nothing which conferres more natiue beau- 
 ty on th« wartTy than to be Icafl affeSiuein whatfo- 
 cuer (he (hall wcare, Shee afpcrfeth a great blemifli 
 on her better pa«) who tyes her fclfe to that forma- 
 
 •••^iw-nOT 
 
24 
 
 TUS ECNiGLlSB 
 
 Apparel. I lity, as flic dare not put off the kafl: trifie thaclliee 
 weares, nor put on ought more than {bee weares, 
 left flic fliould Icfe the opinion of Compleac. There 
 isanatiui^raodeftycucnin attire as well as gefture, 
 which better becomes, and would more fully ac- 
 compli lli her, if /«7/J?o» were not fuch a f^^r/^ in her 
 eye, as ix. kccpcs her from the fight of her owne vs- 
 nity. LconKlTe, light heads will bee eafily taken 
 with fuch toyes : yea, J haue fometimcs obferued a 
 pliaatafticke drelTing ftrike an amorous inconfide- 
 rate Goofeling foontr intoa paHionate ah mcy with 
 a carekfPj louefickc wreathing of his enfolded 
 aimes, than fome other more attradiue obied could 
 eucrdae. But what is the purchafe of oneofthefe 
 CrecKm-ixits worth? what benefit can a yong Gentletvo. 
 «7<««rcapin enioyinghim, wholcarccly cuercnioy'd 
 himfelfc ? Meancs he may haue, but {oxn(:fin^\y arc 
 they fcconded by inward abilitics,as his ftare kemes 
 fi.tcrroma.inagchim, tlian hcc to marlliall it. A 
 long Locke he hasgot,ard thearttofrizleit ;a Ring 
 in 2 llring, and the rrickc to havdie it : for his dil- 
 courfc, CO ^iue him his true Cbaraftcr, his iii'encc ap- 
 proues him better ; for his wit, hee may Uugh ata 
 conceit, and his conceit ne*re rhc wi^er; for hiso- 
 ther pares, difclaiming his fubllance, I appcalc to his 
 pidure, UoWjGcnt/en'fffuatt, tell me, dos you trim 
 your felfe rp for this TcftmAj} Would you haue the 
 focle to weare y ou,afrer fo many/^//i^i hnue out wornc 
 •you? Let moicily fuit you, thata difcrectcr m?te 
 may chufc you. Be it your prime honour to rr ake ci- 
 uility yourdiredor. This will incomparably more 
 grace you, than any phamafticke arttre, which, 
 rhoa;;h it beget admiration, itclozeth a-iwaye^s witli 
 , dcriHon. You cannot poflibly detrad more from the 
 renowne ofy our Country, where you rrceiued birth 
 and education, than by too hot a quefl or purfiiir 
 / after 
 
GSNTLSyyOM/iS^. 
 
 25 
 
 ater OutlaRdiflifafiiions. VhynoithtDotterell^in ] Behavior 
 this too apifli and feruilc Imitation ; jet other Coun- 
 tries admire yourConftancy and Ciuilityavhilc they 
 reflect both on what you wcarc and what you arc. 
 Be it your glory to improue your Countryes fame. 1 
 Many eyes arc fixed on you,and many hearts will be 
 taken with you, if they behold thofc two Orna- 
 ments, C^CoeUiijfy and Humility, euor attending you : 
 Difcretion will be more taken and enamoured with 
 thefe, than toyes and feathers. There is nothing fo 
 rough but may be polifhed; nor ought fb outwardly 
 fairebutmay bediffigured. Whereas the beauty of 
 thefe two cannot by adulterate Art be more graced, 
 by the aged fiirrowes of time become defaced, or by 
 any outward Occurrent impaired. There are many 
 beauteous and (iimptuous Cafts^ whole Infiruments 
 are out of tune. Thefe may pleafcthe eje, but they 
 neither lend nor leaue a fwect accent in the Etire, 
 May-buds of fading beauty ; Fruits which common- 
 ly /4/4f before they be r/;>^,and tender fmall fweetnefle 
 to them \.\\tireafe, Thefe Baths of voluptuous de- 
 lights, challe feet difdaine to approach. Vertue rauft 
 either be fuited with Confbrts like her felfc, or they 
 muft giue her leauc folcly toenioy her felfe. Be you 
 CMmds of henoHT x.^ this maiden PrincefTc. Confe- 
 crate yoiir day to vertuous adions, your night to 
 vfefull rccollecfiions. Thinke how this ff'sr/il is y oar 
 Sta^fj your Life an ^<5?. The Tirm^-hoHfe;whtxc you 
 beflow'd fuch care, cofl: and curiofity, mull be fliut 
 vpjWhen your A/lf^^fapproacheth. Prepare Oyle for 
 your virgin Lamps ; marriage robes for your chafle 
 foules J that aduancing the honour of your Countrey 
 here on Earth, in your tranfiation from hence, you 
 may find a Countccy in heauen. 
 
} ^7 
 
 02 
 
 Jf9&-'S^f_'-? KJt^ "^ 
 
 THE 
 
 ENGLIS H 
 
 Gentlewoman. 
 
 Argument. 
 B^hauiour refieEfj on three particulars ; Msy» to bc- 
 haue her felfe in Company j How in priuacy : That 
 Behauiour mefl ap^reued, ivhich u clearefi from affeda- 
 tion freed. 
 
 Be H AV loVR, 
 
 Ehauiorbeing an apt c6- 
 poftire of the body in ar- 
 guments ofdi/ceur/fTLnd 
 ASion, exprefTech eiiery 
 perfon in fo faire a Cha- 
 radlcr, that \^ his breft 
 were tranfparant, hee 
 could not be diTpIayed 
 fuIler.A!beit,fomeloue 
 to become fo eftranged 
 , r- , tt ^^ retired rather from 
 
 the eye of the world, as they baue made it their 
 
 . — Li highert 
 
 Behavior 
 
 Ohfernat.i, 
 
28 j 
 
 TUS BNCL2SH 
 
 Behavior 
 
 Behiuiour rc- 
 fleftsonthrcc 
 particulars. 
 
 Act I a.N.. 
 
 hicheltarcandabfolutcft ayme, to ihrowde thcm- 
 (elucs tro.n the conceit or difcuITion of man ; by en- 
 tringcouenantorcontradl with DiJj[imuiMton^ to ap- 
 pcare leaft to the ^j<f,what tfeey are moft inheart. Of 
 this ftampe was Tiheriuty who gloried in nothing fo 
 much ( neither indeede had lice many demeriting 
 parts to glory m) as in cunningly cloaking hisfoule 
 ptirpofcs with faire pretences, going innifible, and 
 deluding hij Subieds anxious r^folutions with a fcc- 
 ming good. Sometimes imminency of danger be- 
 getting an apprehenfion of feafc, will produce this 
 effedl : whence it was, that ty^^rippina in Tacitm 
 knowing her life to be attempted hy Nero^ knew 
 well that her onely i remedy was to take no notice 
 of the treafon. Neither is it, rare to findea ftaide 
 looke, and a ftai4 thought in one and the fame Tub* 
 ied. Bur for as much as this' is held the Tcldomert 
 erring Index^ eucr exprefiing innocent thoughts the 
 beftj and difcoacringdifloyall thoughts the foonefl, 
 wc are to proceed to fuch particulars as the Subiccfl 
 principally refle(^s on : which are three ; ABion^Af. 
 fcBtotti Pdjjflon : whercon we purpofc fo to infift, as 
 what defcrues approuemcnt in each of thefc parti- 
 culars, may be by our Nobly difpoled gemlevoomen 
 cheerefuily entertained, carefiiUy rctained,andtothe 
 improuemcnt of their F^w^athechoiccft OdvHr.chh^ 
 feft homptr of true NobiUcy,employcd» 
 
 VE rtuc is the life of a^ion^ aEiion the life of man : 
 without the former, aXlaUhHs arc fruitlefle : 
 without the latter, all our daycsarc vfelelFc. Now in 
 . this one fubied, it is ftrange to obfcrue what diuer- 
 fity o^aHine dirpofitions wee fliall findc. Some are 
 employed to the purpose, but they are (b icmilTe in 
 their employmcntj as they lofc the benefit of it. 
 
 Other.'? 
 
GSNtLSWOMjN. 
 
 I 29 
 
 Others are imploycd CO no •purpofe, makingapaf- f Behavior 
 fing of time a mccre paftimc,coinming asfarre fliort 
 ofouevfeflill aSiion actbeir death, as they were in- 
 capable ofi cat their birth. Ochers flcepe outrhcir 
 time ia carelcffe fecurity : faluting the morning 
 wichafacrificetotheir Glaffe; the Noone with a 
 lufcious repaft j the Afccrnoonc with a Play or a Pal- 
 let repofc ; the Euening with a wanton confort, ac- 
 coutred with a reerc-bankct, to bcluU the. abufcd 
 foulc with the flcepe of an inccflant furfet. Orhcrs 
 haue crept intofiichan Apifli formality ; as they 
 cannot for a world difcourfe of ought without fome 
 mimicke gefturc or other, which, feeme it neuer 
 fo complete tothem, appeares ridiculous to the be- 
 holder. This was Semproma't error, for which ILe 
 was generally taxed, before cuer her honour was 
 publikejy tainted. What atinkliRg you {hail ob- 
 leruc fome to make with their feet, as i? they were 
 forthwith to dance aMorrice ? They arc cuer in mo- 
 tion like 7**^;^^/, butinrfSi*»/ of goodnef(e meere 
 'Bnnies. Their f<i« is a Pauin in the ftreet j their l«oke 
 a Zi^f to a lafciuious attempt ; They expreCfe no- 
 thing by their geflure worthy the image they beare. 
 Befides, whoishe^.whofeiudgemenc will not taxe 
 thefe of lighfnelie, by thefe light and vnciuill ap- 
 pearances ? A womans honour is of higher efteemcj 
 thantobethusdif-valued. Light occafions are ma- 
 ny times grounds of deepcafperfions. Adions are to 
 be feafoned with difcrction,recondcd by dire<flion, 
 {^rengthened with inftrudion, left too much rafti- 
 nelTc bring the vndertaker to def^rudion. In the 
 Maze or Labyrinth of this life^ many be our cares, 
 mighty be our feares, ftrong our affailants, weake 
 our alTiftants, vnlefle we.hauethat^r4.?;f« »»<<// with- 
 in vs tofortific vsagainfl all occurrcnts. O then^ let 
 not the Icafttffifitfw betray you to your enemy, for you 
 
 haue 
 
Behavior J haue many ; within you, for they are dangerous, 
 becaufe domefticall ; without you, for they are 
 ftrangers, and therefore doubtfull 1 Let your ex/- 
 iiions be your app'aufiueft ^l^ors; The Sceneofyour 
 life is {hort,fo liue that your noble aElions may pre- 
 fcrueyourmtmory long. It was i'^wr^*/ counlell 
 to his dcare friend Luciltus ^ihzt whenfocuerhc went 
 about to doe any thing, heefhould imagine ^<«r« or 
 Scifie^ or Ibme other worthy R0ntA» to bee in pre- 
 fence. To fecond his aduice, which may conferrc on 
 your glorious 4fi?w«jeternallpraife, fet alwaycs be- 
 fore your eyes, as an imitable mirror, /bme good 
 woman or other, before whom you may liue as if 
 {hcey'dyOB,fhevicw'd you. You may finde wo- 
 men, though weake in fexeand condition, yet pa- 
 rallels to men, for charity, chalHty, piety, purity, 
 andvertuousconuerfation. Reuifitthofc ancient fa- 
 milies of Ronit^2i\\d you fliall finde thofe famous Ma. 
 tr ons, 0^4KM, 'P^mVi, C<ec$/ia, fsrw/fa, make a Pa- 
 gan State fceme morally Chri ft fan. Nor were Nico- 
 flrata^ mothtt loEuander^Ccrftwa^ Sappho, women 
 Icffe famous for Learning, than the other for blame- 
 lefleliuing. Neither haue our moderne times lefTe 
 flourifhed with feminine woTthies,as might be iliu^ 
 {Irated with fundry eminent inflanccs, if fwould re- 
 flea: vpon this Subie(?l : but this hath beene the 
 Theame of fundry Panegyrick Poems, which makes 
 memorcfparinginic: Onely in your behalfe, and 
 to your honour, let me retort their Cricicke Ccnfure 
 who draw from the very Efjmon of your name an 
 occafion of errof. ■> ^.p.-. 
 
 Women ariewoeh'tntn ; No^thefre the way. 
 To hn*)g them howetvard when thej run aBray, 
 In a word, conforme your felues to fuch patterues 
 as are imitable; imitate them in all fuch amom as 
 are laudable j So liue, that none may haue eceafion 
 
 to 
 
GSNTLeWOMA:^. \ 51 
 
 cofpcakceiiillyof you, if they fpeake truly. The i Behavisr 
 memory of XJ^rr^w huethftill ; Shce was fulhf good 
 wotkes andai'mes which Jhee did. Yea, euen the very 
 Ctatjgind garments which (bee made, while fhe was 
 h"uing,were fliownethe Apoftle as arguments ofher 
 induftry, memorials of her piccy. Hence it was that 
 Saint /tfrew^, that excellent patterne of holy Difci- 
 pline, ferious proftffor of Diuine Doflrine,coanfei- 
 leth the holy Virgin Demftriof to cfchcw idlcneffc : 
 "Exhorting her withall, that hauing done her 
 '* prayers, (hee fhould take in hand wooll and wea- 
 "uing, after the commendable example oF Dorcas, 
 '^ that by fuch change or variety of workcs, the day 
 " might feeme leffe tedious, and the affaults of Satan 
 " leile grieuous : concluding his deuout Exhortation, 
 with this definite pofition. ** I fpeake generally, no 
 "rayment, ornament, or habit whatfoeucr, fliall 
 *' feeme precious in Chrifts fight, but that which 
 ''thou make ft thy felfe, either for thine ownepccu- 
 '* liar vfe^or example of other Virgins.or togiue vn- 
 " to thy Grand-mother, or thy Mother, no, though 
 " thou diftribute all thy goods vnto the poore. See 
 how ftridly this holy Father proceeds with his re- 
 ligious Daughter 1 Yet was ihisDemetrias^'^o whom 
 he addrefled this his exhortation, a Noble Lady • not 
 one, whompouerty did enforce kq anions o^ ^uch ne- 
 ceflity : but one honourably defcended, richly en- 
 dowed, powerfully friended. Let this Lady be your 
 Patterne, her aEiton your <iiredion, her obedience 
 your inftru(5lion, that you may (hare with her in a 
 peaccfull diiToIution. Entcrtainc no time without 
 forae deuout taskc : refle(^ vpon the Noblcneffe of 
 your defcent, ennoble it with excellence of de- 
 fert. 
 
 Forjou mtifi l^»on> true honour is not wonne, 
 Vnttllfcme honour able diedbe done, 
 
 Wafle 
 
?i 
 
 THe BD^GLISU 
 
 Beh AV I OR 1 Wafte not prodigally the precious Lampc of your 
 I life without ibmc vzn\xo\x$a&ion that may purchafe 
 I loue. Your time h IcflTe than a minute in refpedl of e- 
 tcrnity, employ that minute fo, as it may eternize 
 your memory. Let this bee yoarhigheft taske; to 
 promote the honour of your Maker, eftecming all 
 things elfe a (lauirh and feruile labour. 
 
 AFFEcrroy. 'TpHete is nothing which requires more difcreti- 
 Jl on, than how to hehAue or carry our Iclucs while 
 we are enthralled to affeSli$n, The Louer ii euer blin- 
 ded (faith wife Tlato) with ^j^^»p« towards his be- 
 loued. Reafcnis laid afleepe, while Senfe becomes the 
 mafter Wooer. Whence came that vfua/l laying, 
 One canmt loue attd ke mfe. But I wholly oppole my I 
 felfc CO their aflertion, who feeme thus farre tranf- 
 ported with thefenfuall opinion oi^jfelfion. My Te- 
 net is, One cannot true Ij Uue^ and not ke rtife. It is a 
 Beldam freezy and no fancy,which giues way to fii- 
 ry, and admits not reafon to hauefoueraignty. Yet 
 inthisSubied, Gentlewomen^ is your temper befl 
 tryed, your difcretionmofl required, and your Pa- | 
 tience, oft-times, moft exerciftd. Looke therefore I 
 how you plant it, left you bootlefly repeat ic,when 
 itismifplaced. 
 
 i It is moft certaine, there is nothing more impa- 
 tient of delay than loue, nor no wound more incu- 
 rable while we Hue. There is no exemption, all hauc 
 a rafte of this Potion, though it haue feuerall degrees 
 of operation. 
 
 Looke all about ycu ; rphofojonng that hnes not} 
 
 Or whofo old^ a comely featurt moues not ? 
 
 Yet what different pafTions arifc from one and the 
 
 felfe-fame Subied> Heere, Geutiervomen, youfhall 
 
 fee fbme of your Sexe fo furprized with affeilion, as 
 
 it 
 
GeKTLeFFOMJTi. 
 
 it burOis out iato violent extremes ; their difcourle 
 is femi-brcu'd with fighes, their calkc with teares ; 
 they walke dcfperately forlorne, making Launds and 
 defolateG roues their difconfolate Conlorts, Their 
 eyes are eft rang'd from (Icepe, their weakened ap- 
 petite from repaft, their wearied limbs from repofe, 
 MeianchoUyistheirfole melody j They haueraade 
 a Contrad with griete, till griefe bring them to 
 their graue. And thcfe poore wenches arc much to 
 be pittied.becaufe their ownc tender hearts brought 
 them to this exigent : hauing either fet their afftdi- 
 o»f, where they thought \'-erily they might bee re- 
 quited and were not, or elie where they receiued 
 like iecming tender of affe^isn, but afterwards reic- 
 ded, what they wifhedtocfFcA they could not. So 
 as, in time, if continuance of abfence reduce them 
 not to a better temper, they fall into a poore Maiid- 
 /wdiftemper, bygiuing rainestopaflion, till it e- 
 ftrange them from the foueraignty of rcafbn. Where- 
 as others you fhall fee, though not foch kind loules, 
 nor halfe fo paflionate, yet more difcrcet in their 
 Choy^re, and in the paltages of loue more tempe- 
 rate. Thefe will not deigne to call a looie looke vpon 
 their beloucdi but ftand Co pundually vpon their 
 termes, as if they ftood indilFercnt for their choycej 
 albeit conftantly relolued neuer to admit of any 
 change. Thefe Icorne to paint out their 'pafllions in 
 plaints, or vtter their thoughts in fighes, or flied 
 onedifpaflfionate teare for an incompaflionateLouer, 
 Their Experience hath taught them better Notions : 
 they wil fcemingly fly to make them follow, and To 
 take them by whom they are mofl taken. They can 
 play with the flame, and neuer cinge their wings,' 
 looke loue in the face, and prefcrue their eyes ; con- 
 uerfe where they take delight, and colour their '«/^-; 
 fe^ien with a feeraing difdaine, Thefe are they who 
 
 F can 
 
 33 _ 
 
 BnHAVion 
 
 -, v*- 
 
?4 
 
 THE ENGLISH 
 
 Bhhavior 
 
 Passj on. 
 
 can walkc in the Clouds to their intimateft friends : 
 make their eyes ftrangers to their hearts, and con. 
 ciude; nothing more toolidi than loue, ifdilcoue- 
 red; nothing more wife, if artfully (hadowed. But 
 f neither approiie the violence oi the former, novin- 
 dtg'erenceoHh^hittv* The one interlayech affe^ion 
 with too much padion, the other v,^ichtoo much 
 difTimuIation. Thefe were well to beefo allayed or 
 attempered, as neither too much eagerntflTe raxe 
 thcdifcretioHj nor too much remifnefle argue coole- 
 md'e of afeE^ioK, For the former, Imufttell them, 
 they giue great aduaiuage to an infulting Loucr, to 
 enreitaine Loue with fuch vehement ardour ; it fares 
 with thefe, as with hot duelUFiiy who fight them- 
 felues out of breath, and fo fubied their relenting 
 /"wcf to the command of a better tempered enemy. 
 Forthelattef, they hold conftantly that pofition in 
 arguments oiLone^ as well as in other actions of 
 their life ; She knowes not how to litte, nor how to 
 /pz/^jthatknowesnothowtodifTemble. I muft teli 
 thefe, ^iffimftUt ion (oris not well with affeEfion : Lo- 
 uers feldome read Loiies Politicks; Let them ap- 
 pcare what they are,with that di-fcrcet temper, as 
 they may deferue the embraces of a Noble Louer. 
 f n briefe, let fuch as are too hot in the quell of their 
 defirej, atremperate that hear with intermifiions; 
 fuch violence is beft rebated by abfencc. Contrari- 
 wi(e, fuch as are too coole,tct them quicken that ea= 
 flneffe with their more freqijcnt confercnce,and aili 
 duate prefence. 
 
 WHat a furious arid inconfideratc thing is 
 Wom.w, when PafTton diftempersher ? how 
 much is her BehAttiom altered, as if locafia were; 
 now to be perA3nated ? True it is, fomc with a bite I 
 
GENTLEWOMAN. 
 
 35 
 
 of their lip, can fuppreflTe an intended rciienge ; and j Behavior 
 like dangerous Politicians, plealingly entercaine j_~ 
 titne with one they mo rtally hate, rill oportunity 
 vfher reuenge, which they can ad with as much 
 hottility, as if that very moment were the Aflor of 
 their iniary. But this PaJJton neuer workes more 
 tragicke or fearefull cffeds, than when it ftreames 
 from lealoufie or Competition in the Subied where 
 they loue. Whereof wee haue variety of inftances 
 cuen in our owne Hand, to omit /^/y, which is a ve- 
 ry Theatre oi Tragicke Conclufions in this kinde. It 
 is not long fince wc had one matchleffe Prefident of 
 this ftampe. '* It fometimes pleafed a young G^n- 
 " tlervomaiij whofe fortunes had fweli'd her high, to 
 "fettle her affedion on a C/^»r/*?w4» of deferuing' 
 "pirts, which he entertained with a generous re. 
 *' quitali : nothing was omitted that might any way 
 " incrcafe this refped, or fecond the height of dieir 
 '' ioyes. Continuall refort and frequent made them 
 *' infeparably one : No day fo pleafing,as when they 
 '' WwTC together jNo houre fo tedious as when they 
 '* were alunder. Bat how flioit is chat moment of 
 *' vading happineffe, which hath in it a rellifli of 
 * ' lightnefle, and is not grounded on eflentiall good. 
 ** neflbl Long had they not thus liued, and fociably 
 *' loucd, but the GentUwomnn conceiucd fome prf- 
 " uace fufpitiou, that her (elfe was not fole foue- 
 *' raigneffc of his heart, but that another was become 
 *• (liarer in his loue. Neither was this Competitrice, 
 " whom {hee fufpcdcd, any other than her owne at- 
 " tendant, whofe Caskets (liee fecretly opened, 
 "where (he found a Ringofefpecfall note, which 
 " fliee had formerly bellowed on him. This confir- 
 *' med her Conceit, changed her reall louc into 
 *' mortall hate 5 which flieefeconded with this tra- 
 '^ gicke ad: Inuiting him one day to a Summer Ar- 
 
 F 2 boar, 
 
I 
 
 3^ i 
 
 THe BNCUSH 
 
 I 
 
 BeH4VI0R 
 
 *'boiir, where informer times they were vfiially 
 '*wonrtorepofe, amiditof an amorous difcourfe, 
 **ihecafually iixthcr eye vpon three Lennetty one 
 *' whereof picking feme priuet leaucs purpofely to 
 «• buiid her neaft, flew away, white the two which 
 *• remained, louingly billed one with another; which 
 ** ^e inrcntiuely obferiiing, vfed the(c words y More 
 '* tenderly and iwiraareh doe thofe poare fooies mate it ? 
 *' iVere it ti&t pitty they fhouid euer he d'mided ? Which 
 *' words fhe had no iooner vtiered, then the Shee- 
 " Linnet flew away, and left the Male alone, till an- 
 " other returned : with whom the Hw-Z^^w^; bil- 
 " led, %vi^ amoroufly wooed as hee had done before. 
 <* Which fhee more lerioufly eying, O, quoth (hee, 
 " Hoyv lijjot thefe mnles are in their ajfeSiion \ Thia may 
 " ^ecme to you an eafie errayjrut were I ludge of Birds ^ it 
 ^* (hoHidvHeiuecifie cenfure* Why Lady (fcplyed hee) 
 * ^ Tht/epoore Birds dee but according to their kinder Tea, 
 *' hut what doeje kjnd men then, yvho ingageyenr hues, 
 * ' inter efiy otirfclnet, empa/vneyour foules to bee conjlant 
 ** yvhereyoti prefeffeloHei and performe nothing ieffetban 
 " whatyou profeffe mofi. Nor would her long intended 
 " reucnge admit more liberty to her tongue ; for 
 " with a pafTionate enterbreath (hee clozed this 
 ** fpeech with afatallftabbe : leauingfo much time 
 '' to her vnfortunatc and diiafterous Louer, as to dif. 
 "couertooneof that forrowfull family the ground 
 " of her hate, the occafion of his fall, which haftned 
 "onthcdoleftll Scene of her Tragedy. Now toal- 
 lay er abate thefe pafTionate furies, there isno better 
 meanes than to enter parley with reafon ; fo chaftife 
 all ftich innouating motions as dlfquict the inward 
 repoie of the mind ; to vfc the heipe of ftich whole- 
 -(bme inflru(flions, as may attemper the heat of thofe 
 indifpofcd and inordinate palftons. Anger, being an 
 fnflammat ion of blood about the heart, n /uch a fu- 
 ry. 
 
ceKtLewoMjN. 
 
 I 37 
 
 ry, as to giuc way to it, is to difclaime reafon: much i Behavior 
 wifcdome is cheu required, mature aduice to bes v- 
 fed, all afiiftaats of Art and Natnye to be employed 
 before this Adier can be charmed. For wee fhal! 
 hardly fee any one more forget themfelues, than 
 when they are farprized with this T^Apatt.Somc you 
 ftiall obftrue fo amazed or entranced ,as they become 
 wholly (ilenced ; They cannot vtter an artipuiate 
 wordtogaineakingdome. Gladly would ihey^&jc^ 
 prclfe their diftalte, asd menace reuenqe, if their 
 tongues would giuechem Ieauc,but wraih hath tycd 
 them to g9od MafiioMr, Others are fo voluble of 
 tongue, as nothing can paffe them vntouch'd, to a- 
 fperfc difgracc on fuch by whom they hold them- 
 felues wrong'd. If any infamy (which to that time 
 lay buried) offer it felfe to their memory, how they 
 ioy in the occafionof venting their malice on their 
 perfons, be their Calumny feconded with words of 
 fowleft afperfion : Which fort of people the euerli- 
 uing Ttndarm termcs perfons of vnbounded and vn- 
 bridelcd tongues. To remedy which cnornnties, 
 take along with you thefe inftfuftions : they will be- 
 nefit you much in the height and heat of your anger, 
 aad allay your f'rf^wwhen-it rageth andrifcth into 
 hugcftdiftemper. Forthwith, fofooncas you (hall 
 percciuc your fclues moued, reftraine your pafifion ; 
 but if you cannot appcafe nor compofe your inward 
 Commotion, at leait reftraine your tongue, and in- 
 ioyneitfilence, that if it fpcake no good, it may 
 fpeakcnocQill, left being loofe andfet atliberty, it 
 vtter what vr^fifr, and not tm/o^ didatcs : More fo- 
 ucraigneandpeaccfullit will bee for you to retire 
 from fociety,makc rccourfe to your Oratory, by re- 
 commending to your bcft Phyfician the cure of this 
 infirmity.Vle likewift thisCordial falue to your cor- 
 roding foare j the reccit isDiuine, if feafonably ap- 
 
 plycd, 
 
38 I 
 
 TBe ENGLISH 
 
 Behavior 
 
 \9^'£' 
 
 plycd, and will minifter you comfort when you arc 
 moft diftempered.Soloone as your difquieted minds 
 begin to expoftulate with the quality of your 
 wrongs, which your Enemy isapttoaggrauate and 
 exafperate, purpofely tohaften your precipitate rc- 
 uengej propole andfet before you all the difgraces 
 which poflibly you can iiifFer, and conferre thena 
 with thole that were afperfed on your Sauiour : this 
 will prepare you to fuffer, teach you to conquer : for 
 Arrowes forefeene menace Icfle danger. 
 
 Like wife, when you confider the iniuries which 
 
 arc done you by others, you may rcfieft vpon the 
 
 I wrongs which are done by you vnto others : for 
 
 I theconfiderationof yourowne infirmity, willcx- 
 
 I adlofyou towards others an impunity. Weigh with 
 
 i yourfelucs how much others fuff^r of you, how 
 
 much God himfelte fuffcrs ofyou, who, if he fkould 
 
 haue infiided reuenge for eucry particular oflfcnce, 
 
 you fhould haue perifhed long (ince. In a word, you 
 
 your fclucs are frequently gricuous, and difpleafing 
 
 to your felucs : Seeing then you are fo diftafteliill vrn- 
 
 toyour felues,as you muft ofnecelTity fuftcr manyin- 
 
 iurics and affronts from your felucs.repine not at the 
 
 fuffrings which are inflifled by others on your felues. 
 
 You are like wife to confider tbefe diicommodi- 
 
 ties which a rile from thlsPa£/o» • which willarme 
 
 you with patience, if of your felues you haue any 
 
 com pafiion. What auailes it to be reuenged,aFtct our 
 
 iniury bereceiuedMsyour woud by anorhers wound 
 
 to be cured ? Or difgrace tcndred, by rendring 
 
 difgrace rellored ? Befides all this, fee what hee 
 
 obtaineth, who af)£fr obey eth .• i . He is depriued of 
 
 the Crowne of glorvjand reward of eternity : 2, He 
 
 becomes a Minifter and Inflrament of the Deuill : 
 
 3 . He deftroy eth his owne foule, that he might hur t 
 
 an others body : For a dirpaflioi«te or angry perfon 
 
GeNTL6WOMA!7i. 
 
 islike vnrohim, who that he may kill his Affe, de- 
 {Iroyeth himfclfe ; or rather like hrm, who for huge 
 debts which he is nor able todilcharge, is throvvne 
 into prifon, and difdaincfully refureth any ones offer 
 to pay his debt for him. For by him, who doth you 
 wrongjis the debt which you owe to God/orgiueu, 
 if with patience yon TufFer the iniury which is done. 
 Whereas the angry perfon, who will bte his owne 
 reuenger, relleth God how and in what (ort he is to 
 dealc with him : that as he ftiffered not fmall difgra- 
 ces from another, fo neither fhoald fmall thingibe 
 (uffered in him by God. As it is written, Wtth-wbat 
 nteafunyoH mete^thefa.mtjhAUbe measured toy oh aa^^ne. 
 Six Other detriments or di/commodities there bee 
 which arifc from the exorbitancy of thispaflion. 
 For by Anger is loft; firft, Wifetiome^ while reafon 
 becomes blinded. Secondly, R'ghteoufnejff : for the 
 wrath «f man vorl^eth nst the rtghteonfne^e of God, 
 Thirdly, Society ^ for the Acquaiatance of one 4ngry 
 man, is picafing vntonone. Bewt^ faith the Wife- 
 mzn, a compafsfonnith the dMgry man. Fourthly, C<7;a 
 cofdi while peace is difturbed. Fifthly, th^ Light of 
 Trttth^ becaufe anger cafteth the darkenefle of con- 
 fufion vpon the mind or vnderftanding, from whom 
 God bideth the cheerefull beame of bis Diuine 
 knowledge. Sixchly,the Splendor of the hely fjtrit ' vp- 
 9n rvhom^ faith the Prophet, /hull my (fir it refl^but vp- 
 on the humhk and ejuiet ? that is, vpon the meeke, 
 mild, and compasfionate. 
 
 Thu5 you fee what benefits may bee procured by 
 attemperfng,whatdifcommodities incurred by fo- 
 ftring thisTaffifff. W hereon I haue the rather in fi- 
 fledj becaufelamnot ignorant, how theflrongeft 
 and conftanrcft tempers haue beene, and may be di- 
 ftempercdanddifparragedby it ; much more you, 
 whofe mainefl flrength confifts in the exprefsion of 
 
 that 
 
 Behavior 
 
 
 J I. 
 
40 
 
 THe BC^GLISH 
 
 Behav I OR I that Tafion^ht all times therefore vfe a moderate re 
 ftraint ; in the prime of your yeares, when youth 
 fends forth bcr firft promifing bloflbmes, hhaue 
 your felues mildly without bitterntflc, humbly 
 without haitghtinefle, modeftly without lightneffe, 
 loberly without ehiidifhnefre. The Caskewill re- 
 tainc her firft tafle ; the Wooll her firft dye. If you 
 fhew too much waywardneflTe in your youth, fmall 
 good is to be expeded in your age. As you tender 
 your prefcrrement, feeme milde while yoa are 
 maids, left youprous fcarC'Crowes toa young mans 
 bed, Conforme your Iclues likewife to a nuptiall 
 State, and preferuc your honour without ftaine.Con- 
 teft not with your i>ead for preeminence : you came 
 from him, not he from you, honour him then as he 
 chcrifheth the loue heconceiucsin you. A domeftick 
 ftiry makes ill harmony in any family. The difcord 
 which was hatched and increafed towards M, An- 
 thofty by Fu/uia,v/sis caer allayed and attempered by 
 the moderation of <?^<i«M. BeyoaaWO^a/tiafj the 
 rougher your crofTc, the richer your Crownc. The 
 more that iniuries preffe you,the more fhail your pa- 
 tience praife you. The Conflift is but iliort and mo- 
 mentanie, the Triumph glorious and impall'd with 
 eternity. And thus much touching thole three par- 
 ticulars, whereon your Behavior principally reflcds ; 
 wee are now to defcend to the next branch, which 
 fhall fhew howa 6'#»//<rw<'«;4»of ranke and quality, 
 (for to fuchoncly is ray difcourfe diredcd) isto^f- 
 haue herfelfc in QomfAnj^ 
 
 Society is the folace of the h'uing, for to liue with- 
 out it, were a kinde of dying. Companions and 
 friendly Affociats arc the Theenes oftime. No houre 
 can be fo tedious, which two louing Confbrts can- 
 not 
 
GENTLEWOMAN. 
 
 ( 4> 
 
 not paffeouerwich delight, and i'pend without dif- 
 tafte. Be the night neucr fo darkc, the place neiier 
 fo meane, the cheerefuli beamcs of conceiuing cm- 
 forts will enlighten the oiiejand their affedions rau- 
 tually planted, enliuen the other. What a Defert then 
 were the world without friends ? and how pofeiefle 
 thofe friends without conceiuing mindes ? and how 
 weake tho(e mindes, vnlefTe vnited in equall bonds? 
 So then, loue is the Cement of our life : life a load 
 without loue. Now, Gentiswcmtn^ you are to put on 
 yourrailes, and goe into ^<?w;»4»;. Which (f am 
 perfwadcd) you cannot enter without a maiden- 
 blufh, a modeft tindure. Herein you are to be moft 
 cautelous, feeing no place can be more mortally dan- 
 gerous. Beware therefore with whom youconfort, 
 asyoutcsder your repute : for report will brute 
 what you arc, by the Company which you beare. 
 /^«j^«^«» being at a combat, difcernedthc inclinad- 
 onsof his two daughters, Inlia and Liuia, by the 
 Company which frequented themzforgraucSenators 
 talked with Liuia^ but riotous perfons with hlia. 
 Would you preferue thole precious odors of your 
 good names ? Confort with fuch whole names were 
 I neuer branded, conuerfe with liich, whole tongues 
 i for immodefty were neuer taxed. As by good words 
 I euill manners are correded, fo by euiil words are 
 j good ones corrupted. Make norefide there, where 
 the lealt occafion of lightncffe is miniftred ,• auert 
 your Eare when you hcare ir, but your heart efpeci- 
 a!ly, left you harbour it. To enter into much d[£. 
 courfeor familiarity with flrangers, argues light- 
 nelTeorindiicrecion : whatisfpoken ofMaids,may 
 be properly applyed by an vfefull confequence to ail 
 women: ThfyJhoHldbe feene^ and mt heard'. A Tra- 
 uellerfets himfelfebeft out by difcourfe, whereas 
 their belt fetting out is filence. You {hall hauc ma- 
 G ny 
 
 Behavior 
 
 How to be^ 
 
 haue her felfe 
 in Company, 
 
42 
 
 THS BD^GLlSB 
 
 Behavior 
 
 ' ■Jin 
 
 ny trifling qncft ions asked, as much topurpofeasit 
 they faid nothing : but a friuolous queftion defemes 
 CO be rcfolu'd by fiience. For your Carriage, it (hould 
 neither be too precife, nor too loofe. Thc(e fempring 
 made faces partake more o? C^i^mbermaid than Gcn- 
 tUypamm. Modefty and mildiicfle hold fvvceteft cor- 
 refpondencc. You may pofifibly be wooed to inter- 
 change fauours •• Rings or Ribonds arc but trifles;, 
 yettrufl:mc, theyareno trifles that are ay m'd at in 
 tho^e exchanges. Let nothing pafle from you, that 
 may any way impeach you, or gine others aduan- 
 tage'oueryou. Your innocent credulity (lamre^ol- 
 ued) is as free from conceit of ill, as theirs, per- 
 haps, from intendment of good : but thefein-er- 
 courfes of Courtefies are not to be admitted, lefl: by 
 this familiarity, an Entry to aflfedion bee opened, 
 which before was clofed. It is dangerous to enter 
 parley with a beleagring enemy : it implyes want 
 or weakens fie '\\\ the befieged. Chaftiity is an indofeA 
 Gar^n^ it fliould not be fo much as affaulted, left the 
 report of her ipotlefle beauty become foy led. Such 
 Forts hold out bcfl:, which hold themfelues leaftfc- 
 cure, when they are fecurefl:* Naftca, when the Ro. 
 »3<j» Common- wealth v/as fuppofed tobeeinmoft 
 fecure eftate, becaufe freed of their enemies, and 
 ftrongly fenced by their friends, aijjrmed that 
 though the Achaims and Carthajrinians were both 
 brought vnder the yoke of bondage, yet they were 
 mofl: in danger, becaufe none were left, whom they 
 might cither feare for danger, or who lliould kecpe 
 them in awe. 
 
 How fubied: poore W&men be to lapfes, and recidi- 
 uatianSjbcing left their owne Guardians, diily ex- 
 perience can fufficiently difcouer. Of which num- 
 ber, thofc aiwayes proued weakeft, who werecon- 
 fidenteft of their owne ftrength. Prefumpcion is a 
 
 darins 
 
GSNTL8W0MJN. 
 
 4? 
 
 daring finne, and euer brings out fome vncimcly BehavioR 
 birch, which viper-like depriues her vnhappy pa- 
 rent of life. I haueknowne diuers fo refolure in their 
 vndertakings, fo prefuming of their vvomanifh 
 ftrength, fo conftantly denoted to a fingle life, as in 
 publike conforts they held it their choycefl merri- 
 ment to giue loue the aflront, to difcourfe of affe- 
 dionwithan imperious contempt, gccre their a- 
 morous fuiters out of Count'nance, and make a very 
 whirligig of loue. But marke the coriclufion of thefe 
 infiilting fpirits : they fport To long with loue, till 
 they fall to loue in earneft. A moment makes them 
 of SoueraignsCaptiues, by flauing them to that de- 
 feraedly, which at firll they entertained (o difdaiu- 
 fully. The way thento preuent this malady, is to 
 weane you from conforting with folly. What an 
 excellent impregnable fortreffe were H^omafij did 
 not her l^indowcs betray her to her enemy ? But 
 principally, when ihee leaues her Chamber to walke 
 on the pablike Theatre ; when fhcc throvi'cs off her 
 vaile, aifd glues attention to a merry fale ; when H^e 
 conforts with youthfull bloud, and either enters par- 
 ley, or admits of an enter-view with loue. It is mofl 
 true what the fententious moral fomtimes obferued: 
 We may be in fecurity, fo long as we are fcqueftrcd 
 i ^xom fociit J, Then, and neuer till then, begins the 
 infeFlion to bc difper fed, when the found and ficke be- 
 gin to be prcmifcuoufly mixed. Tempt not Chaflity; 
 hazard not your Chriftian liberty. You fhall encoun- 
 ter with many forward youths, who will mofl pun- 
 dually tender their vfelefle feruice to your fha- 
 dowesat the very firft fight : doe not admit them, 
 left you proflitute yourfelues to their proftrare fer- 
 uice. yifelles ^ounAh'i\\t'w'\ih''Protogcfjes, in that he 
 could not hold his hands from his Table . Whereas 
 Quiliamfeh may more iuftly findc fault with their 
 I G 2 youth* 
 
44 
 
 THE ENGLISH 
 
 BEKA.VIOR 
 
 How to bi • 
 haueher fclfo 
 ir pri-acj. 
 
 youthiiiW u4mori^.t J for that thcycannoc ho'd their 
 hands from vnder the Table. It is impoiTible to 
 come off faire with thefe light- fingrcdfooles. Your 
 oiiely way is to rampirc your chiftc intensions with 
 Diiimeand Morallinftruc^ions, to iiop the fbarce, 
 diucrt the occafion, fubicd afeUcon to reafon^ fo may 
 you become Emperefles of that which hath fome- 
 times tyrannized cucr Emperours: Bythismeanes 
 iliall cuery place where you pulfhksfyrdhtt, minifter 
 to you fome obiedl of inward comfort : By this 
 meancs Hiall Companj fur niili you with precepts of 
 chalHty, inable you in the ferious practice Oi piety, 
 and Iwcetly coaduftyou to the port of glory. 
 
 PRIVACY is the feat o[ContempLttio:7^ though 
 fooictimes made the reclufeof ^<^»m/w^. From 
 which there is granted no more exemption in the 
 ^^r//, than in the CGurt. Hccre is the Lawne where 
 Melanchoilydrawes her line. Heere the minde be- 
 comes our Mate ; Silence, our fweetefl Conference : 
 where the retired becomes either the bel^ or worll 
 friend to himlelfe. There is none, who euer conucr- 
 fed with himfclfe, ordlfcanted folely with his owne 
 humour, who can bee ignorant of thofe numerous 
 flights or fubtilties, which by ih^t great Tempter 
 (whole long exercife hath made him noleffe fubtill 
 in contriuin^, than cruell in pradifing our ruine)arc 
 (>rf/yd/f/>'lliidovv^dandfKrowded, purpofdy to cir- 
 cumuent pooreman,andleaue him deluded. Dhge- 
 «fj, when b.e found a young roan talking alone, de- 
 manded of him iVhatbewasdoin^f who anfwcred, 
 He WM connerpr.g oc'iih himfelfe : Ti-A^ ^^r^i'Cquorh he} 
 thoH cenaerfsftnot irith thine enern]. To you, Qentlerro-' 
 men, I Alvdd: my difcourfe, whole priuacy may ena- 
 ble you, if well employed, for better things than the 
 
 tores. 
 
GSNTLSWOMAU^. 
 
 I 
 
 45 
 
 coycs, tyres, and trifles ofchis age. How many (che i Behavior 
 mors 02rm[(eTy)bt{iowthtirprMJtte(3i>ftres (which »— — — . 
 mighr bededicarcd to Conteinpla'ion, or vv*^if<-s of 
 piety .:nddeiiorion)vpon light- feather'd inncntions, | 
 amorous expoftjlitioiis, orininting of fonie vnbe- I 
 feemiiig fa(bio.is> How few enter into account with | 
 their owne hearts ; or focoifecrare their boures to 
 Gods honour, as they make Primacy their foules har- 
 bour? The day they fpend iiie'//»'rrfri?»/; bow rare 
 and tedious is one hourc referued for mediratioii ? 
 What a ferio'js intercourfe or fociable diao^ue is 
 bstweene an amorous Midrefle and her Looking* 
 glafls I The poynt or pendent o^ her feather wags 
 out of a due pofture ; hcrCheeke wants her true 
 tinfture ; her captious GlaflPc prefents to her quicke 
 eye one error or other,which driues her into a mon- 
 ftruous diftemper. Pride leaues no time for prayer. 
 This is her CLOSET fur LADIES, vdierc 
 ■ fliee fits and accommodates her felfc to Fafhi&n ^ 
 which IS the period of her content, while purer ob- 
 icdsarehadinconcempt. This is not the way to 
 make T^r'nucj your mindcs melody, Thefe employ- 
 ments fhouldfoonerafflidthanaffedl you, bccaufc 
 they wilifoonerdiftrafl thandtred; you. Your fpi- 
 rits will bee reuiued moft, when thcfc arc valued 
 leaft. Let me therefore recommend to yourchoyce, 
 Patterncsofmoreexquifite worth: fuch whofcde- 
 notion may be your diredlion, whofe diredion your 
 inHruaion. 
 
 Dcuout mention is made of zealous Ama^ who 
 made recourfe to the Temple, ofiring herinccifant 
 prayers, a viall of fweet odoursi chat Hie might con- 
 ceiue a fonne : of whom, to her Hicceeding memory^ 
 the Scripture recordeth, that after her rcares ^o ^q. 
 uoutlyfhcd, her prayers fofincerclyofFred, her re- 
 ligious vowes fo faithfully performed, her counte- 
 nance 
 
46 I 
 
 TUe ENGLISH 
 
 Behavior 1 nance was no more alcred; Piety begot in herdiuinc 
 
 loue, faith in Gods. promife made hcrbeleeue, and 
 
 zeale to Gods houfe caufed her ro pcrfeuerc : thus 
 (ighing (he fought, feeking (he obtained, and obtai- 
 ning fhe retained a gratefuil memory of what the re- 
 cciued. No leffe fcruour (hewed SJier m preferring 
 the fuiie of her diflrefled I/raelites; what perfwa- 
 fiue Oratory, what powerfull Rbstoricke, what in- 
 ducing reafoss flie vied, to haue their vniuft cenfure 
 reuerfed, their infupportable wrongs redreffedjCheir 
 agrieuances relieued, the incenfed King appeafcd, 
 and them to fauour rellored ^ Shec wooed with 
 teares in her eyes, faith in her heart, almcs in her 
 hand ; Gods caufe was the progrefle of her courlc ; 
 fliee defired nothing more then how to tSe6k itf 
 which was leconded with a fucceffiue concIufion,bc- 
 caufe begun, continued, and ended with deuotion. 
 The like zeale exprefled luditb for he;* beiiedged Be- 
 thuiites ; the loue of God had fo inflamed her, as no 
 feareofthc enemy could amate her; faitharmedher 
 with refolution i conftancy ftrengthncd her againft 
 all oppoficion. Her armour was prayer, Betbuiiai 
 cure her care; holy defires her fole attendants; {he 
 enters her enemies pauilion with a zealous confi- 
 dence;impIores theDiuii;e afliftancein her entrance; 
 and difcomfits a daring foe with cautelouslilence.Her 
 fights and teares were as the fiyfi Bud /ecsfidraine; 
 they brought fucccfle to her thirfty foule, and a glo- 
 rious Conqueft to her natiue foy le. No kfle are we 
 to admire che wonderfull deuotion of that tcarc- 
 fwollcn MagdeUn^ who withdeuout loue fought 
 her dearc Spoufe intombed, whofe body with obfe- 
 quious Odours- flie had embalmed before euerhe 
 was interred. Shee, when his Difciples were de- 
 parted, left not the Sepulchre of her fwcetM after; 
 ft ill fhee /ate for rowing and fighing, weeping long 
 
 and 
 
and much, rifing from her feat offoiTow, her graue 
 ofgricfe; wherehe was, he is iiot; and where hee 
 is^ fhec knowes not : with pioastcares, watchfuil 
 eyes, weary wayes, (hcc reui(its againe and againc 
 the defsrc caucs of his relinquiih'd Sepulchre, ho- 
 pi-ng at laft to haue the happmefl'e to behold, whom 
 with To feruent a defire Ihee fouglit. Mow once and 
 againe had flieeentred his defoIat«To(nbe : but h't- 
 rle was all this to her that lou'd fo much ; The power 
 I orcflicacyofeuerygood worke confifts in Ptrfeue- 
 rance. But obierue the comfortable cfFed of her cf- 
 fcduall loue ! For as much as ihee loued more than 
 ihereft, andlouin^ wept more than thsreft, and 
 weeping fought more than the reft, and feeking per- 
 (luer'djallowing her fclfe no reft: therefore deSrued 
 (he rofinde, behold, and fpeake vnto him before the 
 reft. And not onely (o, but to become the very fir ft 
 meflenger of his glorious rerurre(5lion to hisDifci- 
 ples, according as her choyceSpoule had comman 
 ded her, and by cfpeciall Commilfion recommen- 
 ded to her. Cqc, tflimj Bnthreu thatthsygoe into Ga- 
 Ule^therethej (h^U fee me. Hence note the fruit of a 
 deuout heart ; the incomparable prerogariue granted 
 toDiuinelouf ! Naz.innj:.tnm his Epitapli for his 
 (iH^Gorgoniaj writeth, that ftiee was fogiuen to 
 prayer, that her knees feemed to cleaue to the earth, 
 and to grow to the very ground, by reafonof incef. 
 fancy or continuance in prayer. Gregory in his Dia- 
 logues wrireth, that his Aunt Traftlla being dead, 
 was found to haue her clbowes as hard as home; 
 which h^dnefle fhee got by leaning toaDeske, at 
 which fh^e vfed to pray* Such as theft defcrue your 
 imitation ; for their yerfuei^\k% (weet Odours^ haue 
 lent out a p'.t^afant perfume. They prAjed, and o^z/r;- 
 ^ffi/whatxhey priydforjThey Jit* d m6,j>ran is' d what 
 they ibught for; They 4f4and w<<?/W what they fo 
 
 Ions 
 
 47^ 
 
 Behavior 
 
THe eNGLISH 
 
 ]3bhavior 
 
 long rime dgh'dfor. You are tiught lo Ertfer jo»r 
 Chantbersandheflill. Stilly and yet j^«m»^ ftiU. Still 
 from th« clamours and turbulent infults of the 
 H^rU; fii/iftom the mucinous motions and innoua- 
 tions of thsfltjh. But neuer/iY/from warriBg,wrail- 
 ling, bickring and embattailing with the Leader of 
 th©d* treacherous affbciars, tyrannous aflazinats. O 
 fhould you confider what troopes of furious and im- 
 placable Enemies are euer lying in ambufcado for 
 you J how many foule-tempting SjremzvQ warbling j 
 notes of ruine to delude you ; w ha ty^^r^/ within you, | 
 what/i?<r.' without you, what fHties all about you ; 
 you would not fuffer one*graine of fandtodrop 
 through the Cruet, without a dropping eye ; not 
 one minute paffe vndedicated to (bme good em- 
 ployment, to preuent the fury of fuch defperateaf- 
 failants. Make then your Chamber your priuate 
 Theatre, wherein you may aft fome dcuout Scene 
 to Gods honour. Be fiiB from the world, but fiir* 
 rifig cowards God. Meditation,l€t it beyour compa- 
 nion. It is the perfume of the memory j the foules 
 rouzerfrom finnes lethargy i the fweefeft fblacein 
 ftraits of aduerfity. Let it bee your ^7 to open the 
 UliOtniiigt your locke to dole the EMening, What an 
 argumentofindifcretion were ic for one,amidft vari- 
 ety of choyce and delicious viands, todifcourfe of 
 vanity, and (ufFerhimfelfe to famiD? in theprefcnce 
 ot fuch plenty ? This is your cafe, if amidftforaany 
 foule-folacing dainties of fpirituall comforts, you 
 diuert your eye, by fixing ic onthefc Obicfts of 
 earth: andrepofc uot yourlHuesinthofQ fragrant 
 borders of Diuine Contemplation ; which, by how 
 much they are more frequent, by io much they be- 
 come more fweet and redolent. Surely, there is no- 
 thing that relifheth more fwcetiy, lafleth more 
 daintily, with-draweth your mindes from the 
 
 world 
 
GENTLEWOMAN. 
 
 I 49 
 
 world mors Ipeedily, ftrengthenech you again It the ( Behavior 
 cemprations of your enemy, excites or exercifcth 
 you ineuery fpirituall duty, as the foule-rauiibing 
 ComemfUtion of the Supreme Deity. All other Ob- 
 ictflsare vanity. They may play vpon your fanrafie, 
 and fo delude you ; but being weakcly grounded on 
 pitty, they can neuerfuffice you. Taskc your felues 
 then priuately 5 left fr<«4f7 become your enemy. As 
 raanscxtremity is Gods oportunity, io the Deuils 
 oportunity is mans fecurity. Let iiot a minute bee 
 mif-fpeiided, left fecurity become your attendant. 
 Be it in tiie cxercile of your Needle, or any other 
 raanuall employment : attemper that labour with 
 (ome fweet meditation tending to Gods honour. 
 Chule rather with P^«r/<?^« to weaue andvnwcauc, 
 than to giue Idleneffe the leaft leauc : Wanton 
 Wooers are time-wafters. They make you idolize 
 your ^elues, andconfequcntly hazardizatheftate of 
 yourfoules. Let not their ^«/?>/a/»f fb annoy nt you, 
 as it make you forgetfull of him that made you. Be 
 you in your Chambers orpriuate Clofets ; be you 
 retired from the eyes of men ; thinke hdw the eyes 
 of God arc on you. Doc not fay, the walls encom- 
 pafle mee, darkencfle o're-fhadowes mee, the Cur- 
 taine of night fecures me : Thefe be the words of an 
 ^dHhertjfe: Therefore doe nothing pnrfAtslj^whkh 
 you would not doepulf/i^e/j^ There is no retire from 
 the eyes of God. I haue heard of fome, who for want 
 of more amorous or attradliue Obiedls abroad, haue 
 furnifhed their priuate Chambers with waiton 
 pi(f^ures, ty4retinc tables, Sihariticke ftorief, Thcfe j 
 were no obieds for Chriftian eyes : they cotuiay too , 
 inordinate an heat from the eye to the heart. Eye i 
 no obiedl which may eftrange you from thought of ! 
 your Maker. Make euery day your E^emerides. Let ' 
 your morning iaaitate your purpofcs for the day, the 
 H ' day 
 
50 I 
 
 TBe E!?CGLISH 
 
 Behav lOR 1 day fecond what your morning purpofed, the Eue- 
 " " 1 ning examine your mornings purpoft^, your dayes 
 purchafe. And fo I dcfcend to the next branch : how 
 you are to Maue your fclues in pnh/tks yV/hich (hould 
 be by r© much more punduall, for as much as the 
 world is more Sroicall. 
 
 ^ Thi» branch 
 1 might feeaie 
 included in 
 our formtr 
 dilcourfe of 
 company -jhut 
 thai ceflcftcd 
 on perfefiSy 
 ihiso A af, 
 fi'sret. 
 
 WOmen in fundry C^untryes, when they 
 goe into any fnhhke coucourfe or prcflTe of 
 people, vfe to wcarcvayles, to imply that fccretin- 
 fcreencd beauty which beft becomes a vt^omAtt^ Bafh. 
 ftillmodefy. Which habit our owne Nation now in 
 latter yeares hathobferued : which, howfoeuer the 
 intention of the wearer appcare, deferues approue- 
 ment : becauleit expreffeth in it fclfe CModfftfhame- 
 fafineffe^ a Womanschiefeft Ornament. I fecond his 
 opinion, who held it for diuers mainc refpcdts, a 
 cuftome very irregular and vndeccHt, that Women 
 fhould frequent places of pMik^ reforr, as Stagc- 
 playes, Wakes, iblemne Feafts, and the like. It is 
 OccaftoH that depraues vs >' Company that corrupts vs. 
 Hence it was, that fome flourifhing States, hauing 
 eyed the inconuenicnces which arife from the vfiiall 
 refort of iVomm to Enterludes and other publike So- 
 lemnities, publilhcd anexprefle inhibition againft 
 fuch firee and frequent meetings. Had Eippedamia 
 neuer wandredjfheehadprou'dan Uypemnefra, and 
 had'ncuer wantoned. Had Dinah neuer roaued; fhec 
 had prou'd a T)iAm^ and had neuer beene rauiflied. 
 Yet fane be it from me, to be fb regularly ftri(ft, or 
 l,aco}jic(iRy feuere, as to exclude Womn from all p»^- 
 lih focieties. Meetings they may hauc, and \m^ 
 ptcethem, by a CiuHlandMorallvfeofthem, to 
 their benefit. They may chat and conuerfe with a 
 modeft freedome, fo they doe not go(Tip it. For 
 
 theft 
 
GSNTLeWOMJN. 
 
 5^ 
 
 thefe Shee-E/pfnor s jind Femimne E^icnres^ who fiir- 
 fec out their time in an vnwomanly cxceflTe, we ex- 
 clude them the pale of our Co.nmon-weale. Be 
 they of what y?4/tf foeuer, they are dairies to their 
 Sexe for eucr. Efpecially fuch, who caroufe it in 
 deepe healths, reioyce at the colour of the wine, till 
 it fparkle in their veines, inflame their bloods, and 
 lay open a breach to the frailty of their Svxe. For 
 preucntion whereof, we rcade that kinfmenkiffcd 
 their kinfwomcn to know whether they dranke 
 wineorno, and if they had , to bee pu'-ifhed by 
 death, or banilhcd into (bme Hand. 7'/«/^r<r^ faith, 
 that if the Matrons had any neccflity rodrinke wine, 
 either becaufc they were ficke or vvcake ; the Senate 
 wastogiuethcmhccnce, and not then in Rome nei- 
 ther, but out of the City. 
 
 CMacrokm ftith, that there were two Senators in 
 /(cwiT chiding, and the one called the others wife 
 an Adultercfle, and the other his wife a Drun- 
 kard ; and it was iudgcd,that to l^e a drunkard was 
 more infamy. Truth is^ they m»ghc ioyne hands as 
 mates of one fociety, for Ihaue feldome feencany 
 one fubied to Ebriety, prefetue long vntainted the 
 honour of their chaltity. 
 
 Now for pfthlikf Employments, I know all are 
 notbornetobe Z)^^<?r4^/, to beare virile fpirits in 
 feminine bodies. Yet, mchiJiKg the better p.irt, you 
 may fit and accommodate your perfons to putLks 
 affai^ei, well forting and fuiing with your ranke and 
 quality. C/tttMs and "^rifcil/a were nobly defcende.d, 
 yet thty pt blikti] refoited, where they m'gbtbe re- 
 ligioufly ii'ft ruined ; and no iefle ^uhlkelj inftrudttd 
 others inthofe principles wherein they were infor- 
 med. It is laid of the Vefiall Vir^m^ that thty firft 
 learned what to doe; fecondly, they did what t-hey 
 had learned; thirdly, they inftmdled others to doe 
 
 H 2 that 
 
 Beh 
 
 AVIOR 
 
5i 
 
 THE ENGLISH 
 
 Behavior 
 
 that which they had both done and learned. For 
 this, the rich SaUn ^eene left hsr ovvne Region to 
 hcarc the\A/'ifJomeor Yl\w^ Salomon, Surely, how- 
 foeuer fornc, noleflfe propej-ly than pregnantly, hauc 
 cmblcmatiz'd^<?»«Awby a SnA-jle : becaufcilice Hill 
 cames her hoafe about her, as is the property of a 
 good Houfc-keeper ; yet in ray iudgement (where, 
 inl ingenuoufly (iibojic too:herscenfure) amodcft 
 and well Bchaued iyomann\3iy by her Freqiient orr£- 
 forc topubitke pi2ccs,conferre no kfle bei^.eficto fuch 
 asoblerueher^'fWiow*', than occadon of profit to 
 her pna.^re family^ wher£niee is Onetfecr* I hane 
 (ccne fome in thcfe places of pubUkerefi^'ire^ exprcfl'c 
 fach a well-feeming State without Apifh formaiicy, 
 a's euery adion deleriied imitstion of fuch as were in 
 their Company, Their Conceits were fweetly 
 tempered without lightneffe; their ieftsiauory, yet 
 without faltnefle ; their difcourfe free without 
 niceneffi ; their anfwcrs milde without tartncflej, 
 their fmileplealinp;* mfxt with bafhfuhiefTe j their 
 pace gracefull without too much adiuenelTe ; their 
 whole pofturc dclightfull with a feemciy carelef- 
 "nefle.. Thelcare fuch mirrors of modetly, patternes 
 of piety, as they would not for a world tranfgrcfTe 
 tlie bounds of Ciuility.. Thefe are Matrons in their 
 houfes, M odels in fuhlt^f places, H^erds (p fl^n infea- 
 /«i», are like appUs of gold mth pElures of ftluer : So 
 oportunart ly are their words deliuered, io fcafona- 
 biy vttered, with fuch vnafFec^ed eloquence exprcf- 
 fed, wherefoeuer this fwcet and well-tempered dif- 
 crcrion is (cated* Whereas others there be, whofe 
 indifcretion makes difcouery of an Ocean of words, 
 but a drop of reafon. They fpeake much, but ex- 
 ■preflc little ,• their conceits are cuer ballaftd with 
 I harflmcfTe ; their iefls foilled in with too much du!- 
 ncfTej their difcourfe trimmed vp with too much 
 ' neat- 
 
GeNTL6lV0MAU^\ 
 
 \ 5? 
 
 ncatnclTe ; their anfwrers leauened with too much 
 fowrenelT:; their looker prom ifing toooiiich ligbt- 
 nefrejOrvnlociableperaerfenefTe ; their pace either 
 too a iicke or too flow in difpacchot biifineiTe; their 
 whole pollurc an indifpofcd frame of irregular ab^ 
 furdiries* But, to draw inourfayles, touching the 
 profecution of this branch j our rcproofe lliaii re- 
 fledl vpon two forts efpeciaily, whofcdcuiou> coiirfc 
 drawne by an indired line, may fceme to defcrue re- 
 prchenli on worthily. Iht firfl arc Ihch, who p;iuc 
 too catie raines tohberty; making Pleafure their 
 yocaticti'. asif they were created for no other end, 
 than to dedicate the fii ft fruits of the day to their 
 GUjfei thereliduetothe^^^^^or £Arc^.-2;7^#. Thefe, 
 no (ooncr hauc they layd their /Irttfic'tafl Cowp/exh?) 
 on their adulterate faces, than they grow ficke for 
 their Coach. They muft vifit liKrh a Lady, or what, 
 perchance, is wor(e, fucb a Lord. A minuie now 
 in their Chambers feemes a moneth. Shall wee 
 difpiay onegf thefein her colours ? The '■piay.lil/s 
 muft be brought her by her Pentioner: her eye views 
 andreuicwes, and out of her feminine iudgement 
 culls cut one from among them which iliee wil fee, 
 purpofely to be feene. Much fhee obferues not ia it, 
 onely ftic defires to be obferued at ir. Her Bshaiiiour 
 ina^e.v, would make anyoncthinke fheewere a 
 Bee in a box ; fliee makes fuch a buzzing and rufling. 
 This IS her daily taske, till death enter the Stage and 
 play bis part ; whom {hee entertaines with fuch 
 vnpreparedneffe, ashcrtfjf/rtfiw(?rfc7 prefents obic^s 
 of infinite vnhappinefTe ; "As it fometimes fared 
 *' with a C entlewoman of our owne Nation, who fo 
 " daily beftowed the expence of her beft hoiires vp- 
 *' on the Stage, asbeingfurprizedby fickntfTe, euen 
 ** vnto death, flie became fodeafe to fuch as ad raoni- 
 *' fhcdherof herend, as fhee dozed her ^»»^yc^»^ 
 
 wirh 
 
 Bi 
 
 HATItU. 
 
54 I 
 
 TUe BNGLISB 
 
 Behavior 
 
 OeDottoTi- 
 moris. 
 
 "with a vehemenc calling onBiero>:imo. So inap- 
 prehenfiue was fhee of death at her end, becaule flie 
 iieuer meditated ot death before her end. Now for 
 the fecond fort^ they are njcere Am'tfodes to the for- 
 mer J Thefe are oiiely f^r profit , as ihc other were for 
 ficufhre, Thcie become fu wedded to the world, as 
 chcy afflid their fpints, macerate their bodies, e- 
 ftrange thcmfelnes from offices of Neighbourhood, 
 toimproue their rcuene wes, by difcouering their 
 too much prouidence to the world. And rhefe are 
 commonly lULh, as are marcht to ScboUcrs, whole 
 contempt Lion hath taken them fiomchc world, and 
 recomniendfcdthe mannagement of their cftate to 
 their wife. Now to both thefle forts let me addrcfle 
 my initrudioa : As I could iiotpofTibly approue of 
 t)Rt former, becaufethey made fleafure thzii tHjtnejfe : 
 fo I cannot commend thefe, becaule they make not 
 theki>fffineJfgzp/tfafHr£, Let thefe take heed, that 
 they incurre not that milerafale in^enfibility, which 
 Ihaue heard fbmetimes befell to a Worldling of 
 their fexe ; "Who approaching neere her hauen., 
 "andentring now her laft Conflidl with Nature, 
 *^was,byfuch as ftood about her, earncftly moued 
 '* te recommend herfclje t« God^ tender the wftfare of her 
 '^ foulcy and ta mak^ her falHdtinnfure \ thus briefly, but 
 " fcarefuIlyanrwer€d,andfoichwitb departed: Ihaue 
 '^ mAde it offure m Larv rvUlmake it. Or as we read in 
 " a booke enticuled The Gift e/feare^how a Religious 
 " Diuinecornming toactraine vrurtfle, toaduife 
 "her of the ftate ofhertoule, andinifru'^ her in 
 *' the way to faluation, atiuch timeasfheelay lan- 
 ^'guifhinginher bcdof affiidion ; told her, how 
 " there were three thirgs by her to bee neccfTarily 
 "peiformed, if euer lliee hoped tobefaued: Firft, 
 " (he was to be contrite in he Art; fecondly. ftiec was 
 " to cfl»/>/<r her finnes ; thirdly, {hee was to make 
 
 reflttf4~ 
 
GeNTLSFyOMj:Ni. 
 
 55 
 
 "rr/«/*r<i?« according to her meaes. Whereto ftiec 
 " thus replycd ; Tv>0 of thofe fir^ I mil doe miUngly ; 
 '* hut to doe the Ufiy I [hull held it a dtfficit/ty ; ftr fhonld 
 " / mAkereftitHtiott^ n'bat venld remains teraife my chiL 
 •* drcM their portion ? To which the Diuine anfwered ; 
 '* fFtthout thefe thretyoH cannot bs faned. Tea ^»f, quoth 
 "fliee, T^oe onr Learned men and Scriptures faj fo? 
 *' Tes (ureljy faid the Diuine. And I will try ■ ('quoth 
 " fhe) whether thy fay true or mo, for I will reHereno- 
 ''thing, And fo refoIuJag, fearefully dyed, fearing 
 pouerty temporall, more than eternal!, which thee 
 was ofnccellity to fufter, (without Gods infinite in- 
 terceding mercy) for preferring the care «f her po- 
 ftcrity, before the honour of her Maker. 
 
 To be fhorr, t\\Q former [on dcferucs rcproofc, for 
 making ^Uafure their vocation j the latter for barring 
 bufinejfe all recreation. A difcreer temper will mode- 
 rate both thefc ; thtfirfi, by holding ple^nre a pa- 
 ftime, and no int^neffe; the la/fj^yy apply ing a cure to 
 aninceflfantcarc, andlmmixtng iome pleafure with 
 ^«/;wj(^, to attemper it, left itmciine toheauinefTe. 
 Both which, equally concurring, arc eucr conferring 
 to the labouring mind, inward quictnefie. 
 
 I^Behavior 
 
 Complexion inclofed in a bor, giucsno tincture 
 to the Cheeke, nor morall prtcepts vnapp'yed, 
 beauty to the mindc- Thus fanv hauc wp proceeded 
 ndiredionsof5<?«?<i/<««^; inhftingon luch remar- 
 kable obferuances, as might better enable you in 
 each particular. Wee are now ro lay before you, vp- 
 oh ferious difcu(Tionofthepremiz<-$, how rhar Se. 
 oanio^.r is to be moft <a/?/jr<7«r^,which is cleareil from 
 .•|^ff«7»s» freed. 
 
 Apes are catcht in Dcfartsby inaitation. Would 
 lot you be caaghc by indifcrction ? imitate nothing I ^fccd. 
 
 Th^iBehamor 
 inoftappro- 
 ued^whtch is 
 clearcil from 
 
 ajfe^atisa 
 
5^ 1 
 
 lie eUGLisu 
 
 Bi«AVlOR 
 
 femilely, itdetraifls from youx gentility, I haue noted 
 feme o! Our Chambermaids take vpon them fuch an 
 vnbeleemin^ Ibte, when they came to vide their 
 poore friends in the Coantry,a8 they pundually re- 
 tained both gate and garb of their mincing Miftreflcs 
 in the City. To their Parifh-Church they repaire to 
 be feene aad fliowne; where if any of thefc ciuih'zed 
 lugs chance to be falutcd by the way, hauing quite 
 forgot both broome and mop, with a fcorncfull eye 
 they wi'lnot fticke torcturne this maicfticke an- 
 fwer: fVeth^nke you my good people. It is difcretion 
 that appropriates to cucry peculiar degree their pro- 
 per diftinfSion. Many things willbcleemc the Mi- 
 itrcffe, which agree not with the quality of the \ 
 Maid. But in no degree will that Behauiourktmt 
 comely, which <»j^<5?#*r«<»» hath introduced, be it in 
 Copirt^ C*tj3 or Ountrey, Yon (hall fee many, pur- i 
 pofely tocoucr (6me naturall blcmifli or deformity, 
 pradife that which makes them appeare farre more 
 vnfecmely. Here one indents with her lips to fern- ! 
 per, that Ihcemay hide the wantorgrvatneffe of; 
 her teeth. Anothercontradlswith her Tayler, lell 
 Nemcfis fhould bee fecne fitting on her fliouldcr. A 
 third weares her Gowne with a carelcfleloofeneffe, 
 to coner or colour her bodies crookcdaefle. This, 
 with Fahtillay buycs an artfull Periwig to fu{>ply her 
 art- fallen haire. That cnazures her feered veines, 
 cmboHlersherdec»yedbrefts, to purchafe a fweet- '^ 
 hart. What an AffetUdQ.iic this gcnerally-infedled 
 ftateaflltmcs, purpofely to gaine a popular eftteme ? 
 Suruey our ftreets, gaze on our vvindowes ; you 
 (hall fee gazers to cntertafne yeur eyes with variety 
 of phantall:ickc3#i&4«/tf»r/. But thefe are none of 
 r<rrr;/^/ followers. Would you bee pray (c- worthy ? 
 Vertuc to her fclfe is her chiefcft prayfe, her choy- 
 ccft prize. There h nothing comparably precious to 
 
 a 
 
GENTLEWOMAN. 
 
 a Continent foule. JffeclatioH flieewill not admit, 
 for her bi^bit ; both her H/tl>it ^nd Behauhur are pro- 
 per and not enforced ; natiuc-and not apifhly intro- 
 duced. Shee cannot wooe a wanton Louer with a 
 diflembledblufh, nor promife more with an out- 
 ward prefencc, thanilice reloluesto admit v/ith a 
 fpotlcflc Confcience. Outward iemblances, if light, 
 diee holds apparant blemifties to her life. Her life, 
 as it is a ^sne to her fclfc, fo {hee would haue it a li^h 
 to oehers. Lactdes^Vnnczo^ Argos, was accounted 
 lafciiiious onely forhis flceke lookes, and mincing 
 gate. So Tom^ej^ becaufc hcc vfed to fcratch his 
 head with one finger, albeit very Continent and 
 modcft. Belecue it,though your Perjonbz the Booke, 
 your BehamoHr is the Inaex. Which will require a 
 large Co/w/wf»/, if it cxprefle it felfe in-ought proba- 
 bly incontinent. Now, for as mucbas nothing bet- 
 ter feemcs you, more commcndubly adorncs you, or 
 more ablblurely accommodates you, than what is 
 natiue and vnaffed:ed,fo it be by Education feafoncd : 
 be your owne Wonfjen j di(- value ail apifh formalityj 
 refort not to the Temple to take a pa:ternc of lomc 
 new falhion : modcft dilcretion biuOieth at fuch ier- 
 uile imitation. What you fee in another, nr:ay be- 
 come them,which would nor become another. The 
 Aflc in the fable feeing the dogge fawne and leap vp- 
 on bis Mafter, thought it would befeeme lim, bar 
 fbrting not with his nature, it got him a beating for 
 hislal)0ur. 
 
 Now CO diftinguifh bec-wixt an enforced and vn- 
 affecl:ed Bebauioar.it is mofteafie; the very firft bludi 
 will difcouer the one by the other. You (ball ob- 
 fcruethefe whoaretycdro iiffeCiAtion inthiskinde, 
 fet their looke,^ate, and wliaifoeuer clfe may con 
 fcrreaphantaftickegraceon their vfurpcd Beh.-inispir, 
 fopundually, as if they had eiuredafoIsmneCon- 
 I I tradl 
 
 57 
 
 Bek-avior 
 
58 
 
 TBS BD^GLlSU 
 
 Behavior 
 
 trad with eye, face, hand, fbot and ail, to hold con- 
 iUntly their dimeniion, to beget in the beholder a 
 more fctled admiration. Whereas contrariwifcjthefc 
 wbofc free, genuine, and generous demeanours ex* 
 preflb themfeluesItffeftriSly, but farre more come- 
 ly, fcorne to tye their affcdions to thefeferuile re- 
 ftraints. They hold it farr€ more fiitablc with an /- 
 talUn Tantomime^ who profeffeth hope of profit vp- 
 on the Stage, to confine them to thefe regularities, 
 than difcreet Women, whofe honour is their honefl 
 'Behauiour : and whofe praife it is, to bee exemplary 
 to others in goodne{re,and not others Apes in imita- 
 ting their phantafticke fafliions. To conclude then 
 t\{isOhjermuon'^%s you are ^^f-wrtf/^j by birth, dote 
 not OQ that which is moft ridiculous on this Stage of 
 earth. Appiouc your felues chafte Virgins, conti- 
 nent Wines, difcrcet Matrons, honourable W id- 
 do wes, in your vertuous and modeit demeanour. 
 Preferue that eternally ,wbich giues accomplifLmcnt 
 to Gentility. Your Educations (as may be prefuppo- 
 fed) hauefo beautified you 5 asthegarbe youretaine 
 is moft proper vnto you. The Hjane is a dangerous 
 beaft : yet her fubtilty and cruclry take life from af 
 fe^atiott and imitation. Defire you to bee fo 'Behaud^ 
 as others may admire you ? In your choyce of Eeha- 
 uiour, inure your felues to what is ne^tefi^aot what i% 
 nexvejl, Inuention in fubieds of this kinde, doth 
 more harme than good. So hehatte your felues, that 
 too much curiofity may not taxe you of pride, nor 
 too much maiefty of State : Modcfty mixt with hu- 
 mility will temper both thefe, and make that Bcha^ 
 "i^*^' which appeares in you, fo well become you, as 
 if it were borne with you, and not affeSiiaeij deriued 
 from others to you. 
 
I 5P 
 
 THE 
 
 ENGLIS 
 
 Gentlewoman. 
 
 Argument. 
 Complement defirud ; how it mkj he corrupted ; hotv 
 refined ; wherein it m^y ^e admitted as matne/y confer 
 queHt ; "therein omitted as nteerelf impertiitefK ; nvhat 
 Complement giues hB accompli fhraent. 
 
 Complement* 
 
 OM P LE MENT 
 bath beene anciently 
 defined , and fo jfiiccct- 
 fiuely retained j a no 
 leflc ree^U than formalJ 
 <iccotnfhjhment, 6*11.113$ 
 were more nob y siid 
 freely e^-^ucatedjaiid had 
 imprcued their bree 
 ding by forrdtie Chfer- 
 rt( t*'0»i (ib fwettly tem- 
 pered, was the equallvnion and communion of their 
 1 2 affcdions) 
 
 Ohferuat.^, 
 
 Cotfjffement 
 definedt 
 
 -. X 
 
6o 
 
 THE ENGLISH 
 
 ^emplement 
 
 2tFedions) inftmded others in what they had fcent 
 and oblcm'd either at home or abroad, worthy imi- 
 tation or approuement. Nothing was admirted m 
 chofetimespublikely, butwhatwasby the grauer 
 Cenlbrsfirft difcuffed priuately. Tcalous were the 
 Pigans of fbrraine fafhions : for, with fuch conllan- 
 cy they retained their owne, as they feldomj ornc- 
 iier itched after others. The Tyrmn and Sidonian 
 were £b fufpefted of pride, through their effeminacy 
 in attire, and other light fafhions which they vfed, 
 as they were held dangerous to commerce with. So 
 purely did thofe poore bcamclings of Nature refleft 
 I on her people ; that formality was held palpable hy 
 
 pecrijicy faire femblances and coole performances 
 meere golden (hadowcs to delude others, but gull 
 themieiues moft. Princes Courts were Princely Se- 
 minaries. Delicacy was there no Tutrefle, nor effe- 
 minacy Gouernefle. If Mc'tbiades^ albeit in Athens 
 the beautifuirft, for natiue endowments the preg- 
 nant*ft, and for defccnt one of the nobleft, introduce 
 ought irregularly , or cxpreflc any C^mplemint which 
 relifliethnotof Ciuilityj the author muftfufferthe 
 cenfurc of the City. It was very vfuall in former 
 times, when any Embaflic wasaddreflcd from one 
 ftate vnto another, for the Senate or Councell, from 
 whence any fuch Legate was fent,to fchoole them in 
 (undry particulars before they tooke their iourncy or 
 receiued their Commillion ; but in no caution were 
 they more ftridt, than in expreffe command that 
 they fhould vfe no other garbe, Compiementy nor fa- 
 lute vpon their approach in forraine Courts, than 
 what they had feene vfed and obfcrued at home. 
 Thus their owne natiue fafhion, became a note of 
 I diftinftien tocuery Nation. 
 
 Neitheram I ignorant, how euen in one and the 
 I felfe-famc Prouincc, there may bee generally intro- 
 duced 
 
GSNILSWOMAD^. 
 
 \ 61 
 
 duced adifffreritordiflinft garbe : which procec 
 deth either from the Commerce and Confluence of 
 people there reforting, and coatcquenrly improuing 
 their Behaniour^n^ EUcutionby their .nutuaiiconfc- 
 rence;or irom the Princes Courc,whcce all Srate and 
 Maitfty hach refidcnce ; or from the tempcrarure of 
 the Ay re, to which fotnehauc attributed anelptxiali 
 preeminence. Whercas.in defarc and remote places, 
 on which the bearaes of Ciuill fociety ieldomc re- 
 fled, wee fliall finde nothing but barbarifme and vn- 
 fociable wildnefle. Education is the improuer of the 
 one, and producer of the other. Wee ftiail eucr fee 
 CcmplcTnent ftiine moft in places eminenc. There are 
 Olfietis fit for fuch StihieSis : Such as expedfc ir, and 
 beftow their whole dayes pradice in exercife of it .• 
 Thcfe afpire to the nature or definimn of no art more 
 eagerly, than ^ow;7/^w^»^, which they hold the ab* 
 foiute ornament of Gentilitj. Howlbeuer, mainely 
 repugnant be their Tenett touching the fubfiftencc of 
 Complement, 
 
 Somehaue held, it confifted in congies, cringes, 
 andfalutcs; of which crrour, I would this age 
 wherein we liue, did not too much labour : others, 
 meerely in a painted and fiiperficiall difcourfcjwher- 
 in they fo milerably tycd thcrafelues to words, as 
 they tyred the impatient hearers with foolifb^repe- 
 titions, friuolouscxtrauagancies; being,in a word, 
 fo affianced to theyfe<i<i(i>»»,as theyforgot the ffii> fiance. 
 The laft, which were onely rea/I and complete Cour- 
 tiers, held a feemely graccftill prcfencc, beautifide 
 with a natiuc comelincffe, the defcruingft (^emp^e- 
 went that could attend vs. Ccrtaindy , if we flionld 
 exa(ftly weigh the deriuaiion of the word, we could 
 not imagine fo mcanely of it, as to confift meerely 
 of words, or antickc workcs. It was fir ll intcndeci 
 to diftinguifb betwixt perfons of ciuHi and fauage 
 
 car- 
 
 Coffipiement 
 
62 
 
 TUS BNCLISH 
 
 owplement \ carriage: yea,to appropriate a title ot preeminence to 
 ' fuch, who exceeded others in grounds or pecepts of 
 Morality ; whole Hues appeared as Lampe« to enligh- 
 ten others,and confequently perpetuate the memory 
 of themfelues. Many noble and eminent Ladies are 
 recorded both in diuine and humane writ to haue ex- 
 celled in this CewpiemcHtof honaur. Thele knew 
 the difmition of it,and moulded their conuerfation to 
 it : They knew what belonged to a pofture of ftate ; 
 they could court it without apiili curiofity ; embrace 
 louewitha referued modelly; exprcfle themfciues 
 complete without Angularity. Forraigac faftiions they 
 diftafted ; painted Rhetoricke they difrelifticd j re- 
 , aUComflemem was all they affeded. Louc they could 
 without diffembling ; difcourfe without affedling j 
 {liew curt'fie without co»gying ; flill retaining 
 what was beft befeeming. In the Court they retided 
 to better it; not a ftraid looke could promife a loofe 
 Louer leaft hope of a purchafejnor Coyncffe dilhear- 
 ten a faithful! feruant from his affedionate purpofe. 
 They knew not what it was to proteft in icft; to 
 walke in the clouds; todominsere oucr their cap. 
 tiues, or cntertainc many Suitors. They fi-eed Com- 
 plement of diflimulation, made vertue their Load- 
 ftone to affedlion J their anions were dedicated to 
 good ends: by which meanes they made God and 
 ^W wtf» their friends. Nor doe I feare it, but that 
 our flourifliing t/fllfhn hath many fuch noble and 
 complete Ladies; who fo highly eftecme the true and 
 mt'mc dtfiftit ion of (/'implement, as they preferrc the 
 fuh fiance before thepadorv. Honour is their deereft 
 tender, goodneffc their line, by which they daily 
 draw neerer to j?tfr/^(5?«», t\ieir proper Centre. Thus 
 farre for the />f/n/r*«»», wherein we haue the rather 
 inlarged our difcoui (e, that the Su^iell whereof we 
 treat, maybe diicouered in her owne nature ; and 
 
 fuch I 
 
GeNTLeWOMJJi. 
 
 6i 
 
 Tuch as owe attendance to her, becoms better profi- 
 cients In their inlhudtions deriued from her. Nei^ 
 :her can w« obferue what may really deferue your 
 imitation, butby difcerning the excellence of that 
 whereof we treat by a true and proper defimtien, 
 
 rHere is nothing on earth Co pure,but abufe may 
 corrupt it; nothing fogood, but cuftome (nay 
 dcpraue it. This may appeare inr this one SHbie^^ 
 which wee haucnow in dilcourfe. Former times 
 were not ft) uUed to fafhiont^ as to cfteeme nothing 
 formaJl^ but what w as ^kantaHicaH. It was not then 
 held th^li^Qoi Complement 3 to haue the art to fet a 
 face, court aglafle, ojake a cringe or a ducke. Legges 
 were held for vfefull fupporters, but no Complemen- 
 r^^poftures. New-minted words made not their 
 tongues more complete; nor an Outlandifh Salute 
 their Perfbns more admired. Virgin- modefty made 
 refolution her Steletto to gtiard her honour. Plumes 
 and Feathers were held light dreflfings for ftaid 
 mindsi fufpicioas trimmings for ftale Maids. Adors 
 might weare thera in their prefcntmcnts vpon the 
 Stage, but modeil Matrons were neuer allowed to 
 weare them in the ftate. Women were admitted to 
 haue Painters, but not to be their owne painters: 
 (^ampafpi was pi(5lured out in her colours by ^pelles : 
 Crotom fine daughters liuely depidured by Zeuxes j 
 yet thefe, without any helpe of ait, ftill retained 
 rheirownenatiue features. It was tht Complement 
 of that age to deliuer their minde freely without 
 mincine,conucr(c friendly without glozing ; waike 
 the ftreet demurely without gaziqg. Wherein(w!th 
 (ubmiflion euer to graaeic iud^ements)ihis latter 
 age, in mine opinio' i,defcri:f.s iuft reproofc. Edu- 
 cation is a fecond Nsiiare, and this hath g;uen that 
 
 fit c- 
 
 Qom^ement 
 
 How Comple- 
 fftent may be 
 corrupted. 
 
«4j 
 
 Ttie encLisB 
 
 frecdome to women,as they may admit any oportu* 
 uity to entertains time vvi:h their amorous (eruant*;; 
 rcdart wanton tales with light blufhes^paflc a whole 
 afternoone in aBay- window, in Cong:ies,Courtfic$, 
 and other vfelefle Complements. Fiafties ot wit are 
 made beguilers of timejand thefe mixt now and then 
 with fucifi lafciuiouspaffa^eSjis modefty might iuft- 
 ly hold itfclfcabuied tobefoencounrred.Alas IVVho 
 knowes not what fcciet trainesarc laid for credulous 
 women,vnder thefe pretenccd parlies ? Doe you ob- 
 ferue how their tongues are tipt with your pray (cs ; 
 how they honour your (liadowcs ; admire the earth 
 you tread on; adore the Ayre you breath on; and 
 with their ayrieapplaufes To gild you, as in the end 
 they palpably gull you ; leauing you nolefle milera- 
 bly deluded, than themfelues feafed of what their 
 fenfuall quefi: purfucd > Beware of that Complement 
 which giues way to rob you of your choyceft Omom 
 ment, S^tiatMi, in C^tulla^, is brought out, fbewing 
 the whitenefle of his teeth: a poorc fubiedf to raife 
 anBncomiaftickepoem. Thefe areThcamcsforan 
 amorous Mitfe : White teeth, roIlii;ig eyes, a bcau- 
 tifull complex ion (all exteriour and inferiour goods) 
 being that which f/^r;^/^! his Nurfe praiftd, when 
 I file wafhed the feet oiyiy(feSy namely, gtmU fpeech, 
 ' zx\^ tender fiefh. No leflc perfwafiue by the clcgan- 
 ^ cy oFchc one, than inaafiue by delicacy of the other. 
 But all thefe ou' ward imbelh'fliments giue but \ 
 fmall accompli flimenc to the inv.'ard beauty ; 
 " Where ^oo;i*s a better attribute than faire.'^ow be 
 not thefe dainty fubieds for a Comflet: yoMxh todif- 
 cant on? What Crotchets and cxtcmpoiall Con- 
 ceits are hatched out of an addle braine ? The very 
 rhadowof/»/ffl'i haire muftnot want thecomplea- 
 teft honour, that either on can dtuife, or c0fitTC&. 
 Not a Cofplet but amft be poetically Complete; which 
 
 out 
 
GENTLEWOMAN. 
 
 out of aa amorous phrenfic muft withmouating r^/ 
 fcrhUs be thus coatcmiicd. 
 
 Ski^me more pure than Ida's/^r^iv, 
 
 Whiter fane than Moorifh mtlke. 
 
 Sweeter than Ambrofia too^ 
 
 Softer than the Paphian///^^', 
 
 Indian flumes or thiUie-dopcne^ 
 
 Or May-bloflbms nevfly hlowne^ 
 
 Is my U^ftftrefe RoJie'p4/e, 
 
 j4Jding keanty to her vaite. 
 An exccllenc peecc of Comp/emeftta/IiiuB'e to catch 
 a fclfe- conceited one. Many you haue of your lexc, 
 who are too attentiuc auditors in the report of their 
 owncprayfes. Nothing can bee attributed to them, 
 which they hold not propfrly due vnto them. 
 Which conceit, many times, (o rranfports them, as, 
 NarciJfw'Vikc^ they are taken with their owne flia- 
 dowes ; doting on nothing more than thefe Encomi- 
 afticke bladders of their defertlefle prailes. Let mee 
 aduifeyou, whofcdifcretion fliouldbee tarrcfrom 
 giuing light care to fuch ay ri« Tritons, to dif-rellifli 
 the oylie Compler^irm of thefe amorous Sycophants. 
 Much more vfefu'l and beneficiall it will be for ycu 
 to rctainc that modelly which appeared in ty^lphon- 
 fm Prince oityiragonz anfwer to a plauduc Orator ; 
 who hauing repeated a long Panegyricail Oration in 
 his prayfe, replyed ; ff that thon hajllaia^confent mth 
 trtithihhanke God for it '^ tfnoty I praj Cjod grart mee 
 grace that I may doe it. You (hall enccunrer with 
 fome of thefe Ctfrn/j/^-f-fAmorifts, who will make a 
 fctfpeech toyourGIoue, and Iwecten eucry pttiod 
 with the perfume of it. Orhers will hold it an ex- 
 traordinary grace to become Porters of your Mtflbr, 
 or holders ofyourFanne, while you pinneonyour 
 Maske. S entice^ Oh((ru:tnce^ lifvotionhQ the CeneritH 
 heads of their Complement, Other Doftrine they 
 
 K haue 
 
 Complement 
 
Compiemittt 
 
 h 
 
 How Comple- 
 mcnt may Le 
 rchned. 
 
 hauenone, either to inftru6t morally, orinforme 
 politically. Heleeucir, Gentlewomen^xhcy are ili-fpenc 
 houres, that are beftowed in conference vv'tthditre 
 Brain>worn:ei. Thtfir friuolous difcourfe will exid 
 From you feme anfwer : which if you fliaps iuftiy lO 
 I heir dialed, ciierc vviil be more vaine .wind Ipent, 
 than you can redeeme with many teares.Lec no con- 
 ceit tranljport you aboue your felues ', hold ic for no 
 Co»i(p/^»?(?;?r worthy your breeding, totriBe time in 
 loue-toyes. They detrad both from discretion and 
 mode fi J J and oft-times endanger the mine of the /^r- 
 /rrfcarefully. This kindeof Cemflemem with g^eat 
 enes^ wcre but meere Canting among Beggars. Hce 
 or fhee are the CompUtcfi, who in arguments of dt[- 
 cgfirfed.nd(icli6/jarGat/creetej?, Full veflells giue the 
 leaft found. Such as hold (^ompUment the (ole Gb- 
 ied of a glib tongue, adiue cringe, or artfull fmile ; 
 are thole on^\y iJ^amicks > or Bfffbmf o? our age, 
 whofe Behaa^car J ddcrae farre more derifion than 
 applaufe. Thus yon haue heard how CompUment may 
 be corrupted -y wee now purpofe, with as much pro- 
 priety aiid breuity as wee may, to fliew you how it 
 may be refined. To the end, that what is in its owne 
 nature fo commendable, may bee entertained with 
 freedomcof choyce, and retained without purpofe 
 to change. 
 
 ^■'r'He Vnicorfics horne being dipt in water, cleares 
 i and purifies it. It is the honour of the Phy/ician 
 to re [lore nature, after it tree decayed, ft is the fole 
 worke of that iiipreme Archyrcd: to bring light 
 out of darkentfic» that what was darke might bee 
 enlighrcnc'dj lifeoutof death, that what was dead 
 ^ might bee enliueaed j way out oferror, that t1ic e r- 
 
 ring might bee dire-fied; knowledg' 
 
 ■ui ci 
 
 rance. 
 
G6NrLSW0MJN. 
 
 -'f 
 
 ^1 
 
 ranee, that the ignorant might be inllmded 5 a f«lue 
 out ot finne, that finnts fore nniight bee cured ; com- 
 fort out of affli(flion,that the afflided might be com- 
 forted ; hope out of delpaire, that the defperate 
 might bee fuccoured ; a raifing from falling, that 
 their fall might be recouercd ; ftrength oat of wcak- 
 neffe, that his great worke might be glorified.GoId 
 thrice tryed, becomes the purer and more refined-. 
 And CetnfUment the moft, when it is beil: accommo- 
 dated. True it is, that 5ffrmr is either a PUgneoi a 
 'Perffime, Itinfe<5ls, where Conforrsare ill-afteded ; 
 but workes excellent effeds, where vertuous Con- 
 forts are aflcmbled. 
 
 It is the fweetefi note that one can fing^ 
 f^hett Grace »/» Vertucs ^ey^tnrnes tJntuKsfiringt 
 Where two meeke men meet together, theircon- 
 ference (faith mellifiuous Bernard) is fweet and dele- 
 gable.' where one man is meeke, it is profitable: 
 where neither, it proues pernicious and v ncomfor- 
 table. It is Society that glues vs,or takes from vs our 
 Sec»*-itj, Lot me apply this vntoj'ou, Gemlerfemen^ 
 whofc vertuous difpofitions, ( fo fweetly hath na- 
 ture grac'd you) promife nothing ieflc than feruo- 
 rousdefires of being good. Would you haue that 
 refined in you, which Others r(7rr?c/>^, by inucrcing the 
 meanes ? Oi? exprefle that in her natiue Colours, 
 which will beaurifie you more than any artificial! or 
 adulterate colours, whofc painted Varnifh is no foo- 
 ner made than meitfd ? Make choyce of fuch for 
 your Co«/(?r//, whole choyce may admit no change. 
 LetnoCo^fprfw^beafFedcdby you, which may ha- 
 zard infeding of you. Thcff^orldis growne a very 
 Pefi-honfe: timely preucntion muft bc vfed, before 
 the infedion haue entrcd. You haue no fuch /oue- 
 raignereteitstorepell, asyouhaueto prcnenr. The 
 infedion of vice leaues a deeper fpot or fpeckle on 
 
 K 2 the 
 
 ^ ornpiement 
 
68 
 
 THE ENGLISH 
 
 (^smpUment 
 
 the mind, than any diTcafc doth on the bod . The 
 BUci^mo rj may fooncr change his ikui, the Leopard 
 his fpors, than a foule deept dyed in the graine ofiii- 
 fcition, can pat off her habituate corruption. Be it 
 then your principall care to mike cho/ce of fuch 
 baQifull Maids, modeft Matrons, orreuerend Wid- 
 dowes,as hold it their bell C^mpcement to retaine the 
 opinion of being C^ntinmt, Infamy hath wings as 
 fwifcas-famc. Shunnetheoccafion, left youvnder- 
 goe the brand. Tcfihum^^ becaufe giuen to laughter, 
 and fomcthing forward to talke with men, was fu- 
 fpe<fted of her honefty ; where being openly accu- 
 (Id, fne was acquitted by Spurim Mtnmtt^^vjiih this 
 caueat,ro vfe words futable to her life.Ciuility,truft 
 mfj is the bcit and moll refined Cempiement that may 
 be. Courting in publike-places, and vponfirft light, 
 it aftecfts not j lor it partakes more of impudent than 
 Complete. Ee it of the Crr^ that argument of dilcourfe 
 beminiftred, itcantalkcfreelyof it without min- 
 cing ; or of the Court, it can addrclTe it fclfc to that 
 garbein apt words without minting ; or of the 
 Comtrn^ in an home-fpun phrafe it can expreflfc 
 whatlbeaer in the Countrey deferues moll praylc. 
 And all this in fuch a proper and familiar manner, as 
 fuch who are tied to Ccmplemer.t ^mv^ afpire to it,but 
 ncuer attaine it. Hee that hath once tailed of the 
 fountaine C/«/i?ri«!/, will neuer afterward drinkeany 
 wine.Surclyjhovvlocuer this ciuil and familiar forme 
 ofdialeftmay feemc bat as pure running water in 
 comparifon of Complement^ which, \\k^ NeU^^ 
 (Ireamesout in Conduits ofdelighc to the humorous 
 hearer : yet car dilcrect Complementer prcferres the 
 pure foantainc before the troubled riuer. It \s true, 
 that many ftilliions, which euen thefe later times 
 haueintroduc'djdelcrue free admittance; yea, there 
 isfomtthingyetin ourO^r^^ that may hzrrfimd. 
 
 Ve*: 
 
CSNTieWOM.A'S' 
 
 \ <5P 
 
 Yet VA the acceptance of thefe, you ire not to enter- - Complement 
 
 rainc Wi^acioeaer thefe finer times haue brought ' ' — 
 
 forth. Where variety is affcdcd, and the age to m- 
 conftaticyftibiefted, loas nothing but what is rare 
 and new becomes efteemed : Either mull our inaen • 
 tions be prefcnt and pregnant, our furueyes offor- 
 raine places fcrious and iollicitant,or we fliall fall ins 
 todecay of fafliion, or make old ones new, and To- 
 by antiquity gui I our Nation. Truth is J though our 
 tongues, hands, bodies, and legges be the fame, our 
 Elocution, action, gefture, andpoftureare not the 
 fame. Should the foule of Troiltu^ according to that 
 erroneous tranfmigration di FythagovM^ pafle into 
 the body of one of our Englifh Courtiers ; or Hor* 
 tenftm, (who was an Orator a(ftiue enough) into one 
 ofourEnglifh Lawyers ; or •y^nti^one (who was 
 ComflcmentaU enough) into one ofour Englilli Cur- 
 cczans ; they would fiiide flrangc Cottages to dwell 
 in. What IS novj hddiCcmplete ; a few yeares will 
 bury in difgrace. Nothing then fo refned, if on earth- 
 feared, which time will not raze, or more curious 
 conceits difefteeme, or that vniuerfall reduflion to 
 nothing diflblue. That Complement may feeme plea- 
 fing J fuch a fiifhion generally affeding ; fuch a dref- 
 fingmoflC«>«?/i/<r^; yet are all thefe within Hiorc 
 fpace couered with contempt. What yon obfcrue 
 then to be moll ciuill in others, affedl it ; fuch an ha- 
 hit needs not to be refined, which cannot be bettered. 
 Fafhion isakindeof fre-zy ; it admires tha: now, 
 which it will lau^h at hereafter, when brought to 
 better temper. Ciuility is neucrout of fallijon ; it 
 euer retaines fuch a fcemely garbe, as it conferres a 
 grace on the wcarcr,and enlorccth admiration in the 
 beholder. Age cannot deface it ; Contempt dirc;r3ce 
 it ; nor grauity of iudgemenc(which is euer held a fe- 
 rious Ccnfor) diiapprouc it. 
 
 Be 
 
TUe ENGLISH 
 
 Comfiemimt 
 
 VVhcreinCsw- 
 ptcmcnt rr.ay 
 be admirted, 
 as waincly 
 conlequent. 
 
 Tlutarch. 
 
 Be thus minded, and this Comp/emcMt in you will 
 be purely refiKeoi^ You haue fingular patterncs to 
 imitate, reprefeHt them in your Hues, imitate them 
 inyourloucs. The Orr^prisn of the age, let itfeize 
 on ignoble Tpirits ; who% education, as it neuer e- 
 quaird yours,lo let them ftrike fhort oftho^ nobler 
 indowmcntsof yoars: labourdaily to become im- 
 proued, honour ^<?y that will make you honoured; 
 let vertptt be your crowne,who holds vanity a crime: 
 So may you (hew holinefTe in your life, enioy happi- 
 nefle at your death,and leauc examples of goodneflb 
 vnto others both in life and death. 
 
 Courts & eminent places arc held fitteftSchooIes 
 for Com^temtnt. 7 htitxSxt Cinnamon tree comes 
 to bed grouth ; there her barks g'UGS fweeteft fcent. 
 Choice and felc<5l faftiions are there in onely re- 
 queft ; which oft-times like thofe Efhemera^ expire, 
 after one dayes continuance : whatfoeuer is vulgar, 
 is thence exploded ; whatfoeuer nouell , generally 
 applauded. Here be wcekely Ledureso^ new C<?w- 
 p/(fwf«f/;whichreceiuc(uch acceptation, and leaue 
 behindethcm that imprcflion, as what garbefoc- 
 uer they fee vied in Court publikely, is put in pre- 
 fent prac^ife priuatcly ; left difcontinuance ftiould 
 blemifh fodeferuing a quality. The Courts gloflfe 
 may be compared to glafle,bright,but brittle ; where 
 Co*?? r«r/ (faith one) are \\\^t Counters ^ which fomc- 
 timc in account goG for a thoufand pound, and prc- 
 fently before the Count be caft, but for a fingle pen- 
 ny. This too eager afFedion after Complement, be- 
 comes the confumption of many large hereditaments, 
 Whereio it may be probably ob;ed:ed,thateuendif- 
 cretion inioynes euery one toaccomm.odate himfelfe 
 to the fafhion or condition of that place wherein he 
 
 lines. 
 
GSNTLeV^OMJU^. 
 
 71 
 
 [\\its. To which Obicd'oii I eafily condefcend j for 
 'hoald aruft'cke or boorilli "BehauifHr accompany 
 one who bciak.es himfelfe to the Court^he might be 
 fiirc CO finde a Ccntrosilcr in cnqry corner td reproue 
 hiiji 5 orIojie(r«f*^Ze/tffl'>e4'4Mf or oiler, pittf fully to 
 .^eere and deride him. Battodoce foon fafhioii, as 
 roadmire nothing more then a phantaftieke dref- 
 fmg, or roms aniicke Qsmdemtrt^ which the cor- 
 ruption of an effeminate Stare hach brought in, de- 
 rogates more from discretion, then the ftrivft obfcr- 
 uanc^ofany fafhionaddesto her repute. This place 
 fhould be the Biacm of the State ,• Xvhofe monnring 
 Prt'iji^ iiirueyesthefe inferiour coafts which pay 
 homage and Fealty vnto her. The leaft obhq liry 
 chere, is exemplary elfewherc. Picrcingft fudge- 
 ments, as well as prcgnantil wits fliould be there re- 
 fidcnr. Notawandring or indifpoied hiire, but 
 £»iues occilioii of obferinnceto fuc'h as are neere.How 
 requifice then is it for you, who^c Nobler dcfcents 
 promife, yca,exadmoreofyou, then infer ioiirs, to 
 exprc(7e your (clues beft in thefe beil di(cerning and 
 defcTfiM'ng ^Inces ? You are women 1 modcif y makes 
 you complet^ft ; you are Noble women^ defercaccom- 
 panyingyourdefcent wiMm^ko. yon noBl-Ji, Yon 
 may, and conueniency requires it, rctainc a Court- 
 ly garbe , referue a well (eeming State , and ilievv 
 your(tluesliuely Emblemesofthat place, wherein 
 you liue ; You may cntertaine difcourie, to allay the 
 irkefomenede of a tedious houre ; beltow your (elucs 
 in other pleafi ig recreations, which may no leffe rc- 
 frefh the minde, than thcyconferre vigour and vi- 
 uacity to the body. Ycu may be eminent ftarrcf, 
 and exprtlTe your glory in the refplendentbc^unes of 
 yojr vertues ; fo you fuffer noblacke cloud of ii\fa- 
 my to divken your precious name?. She was a 
 Princely Chr'tsiian Courtier^ who ncuer approached 
 
 the 
 
 Qomflemem 
 
7* I 
 
 Tile etiCLisH 
 
 (Complement 
 
 the CoHrt^ but fhce medicated of the C^urt o^heauen; 
 neuer coniortcd with her Courtier t^ but (he contem- 
 plated thole CitizrKs of heatiftt ; nor cuer entred the 
 Prefence'Chambtr^ but fiiee thought ohhe/'/'^y^w^ of 
 her Af^ker J the King of 6(f<««'^»,Such Meditations are 
 receits to cure all inordinate modons. Your Lines 
 fliould be the Unes to mealiire others adions. Vcrtue 
 is gracious in euery fubic(fl,but moll in that, which 
 the Prince or Pru-jccfle ha:h made gracious. Anci- 
 ently,tbe H^ar/d was diuided into three parts,wherc- 
 oiEnropa was heW the /ohU •, properly, cuery Po/i- \ 
 itke State may be diuided into three Canrons,whcre- j 
 of the ^Wr is the Sttmf, You arc O^'V^i to many 1 
 Ejes ; be yo[ir M^iofts plat formes to many /tues,Iczn \ 
 by nomeants approue that wooing and winning i 
 Ci>wple?»eKt (thouoh moft ^<>hns too generally af- ; 
 fed it) which makes her fole Obied, purchafe of j 
 Seruants or Suitors. Thisgarbetaftes morcofC»r- ■ 
 t£<,a» than Courtier : it begets Corrimli, whofe fatall j 
 Duello's end vfually in blood. Our owne State hath 
 Ibmttimcs felt the mifery of thefe tragfcl-.e eucnts j 
 by fuffering thclofTe of many generau and free-bred 
 Sparkes ; who, had not their Torches becne extin- 
 guiihcd in their blood, might to this day hauc fur- 
 uiued, to their Countries ioy and their owne fame. 
 So great is the danger that lyes hid in affable Com- 
 />/<r;»i'»f/, promifinga^peds, affedionate glances, as 
 they leatie thofe who prefumed of their owne 
 fliengih, holding themfelues invulnerable, many 
 rimes labouring of wounds incurable. Be you no 
 {wc'Ci BAfJiski'y ncuer promifca calmcin your face, 
 where you threaten a ilorme in your heart. Appeare 
 what you are, left Cenfure taxe you of incpnftancy, ' 
 by faying, you are not what you were. An open 
 counienanccand reftramed bofomc fort not well to- 
 gether. Sute your difcourfe to your adion; both to 
 
 3 
 
GSNTieWOMjN. 
 
 7? 
 
 a modeft diipofe of your afFedion. Throw abroad 
 no loofe Lures, wandring t)Gs, ftrayed lookesj 
 thefe delude the Sp€Gatorsm\}ch,h\:i^ the ASlors moft, 
 A iuil reuengc ! by ftriuing to take in others, they 
 aretakenby others. How dangerous doe wee hold 
 it to be, in a time of infe<5lion,to take vp any thing, 
 be it neucr To precious, which wee finde loft in the 
 ftrect? One of your loofe lookcs, be it darted with 
 neuer foC«»p/fiwwM/7aftate, isfarre moreinfefti- 
 ous, and mortally dangerous. There is nothing that 
 founds more cheerefully to the eare, or Icaues a fwce- 
 ter accent ; nothing that conueyes it felfe more fpee- 
 dily to the heart, or affords fuller content for the 
 time, than conceit of loue. It will immaze a per- 
 plexed wretch in a thoufand extremes ; whofe ama- 
 zed thoughts ftand fo deepely ingagcd to the ObieSi 
 of his affedion ; as hee will fuftainc any labour, in 
 hope of a trifling fauour. Such Ibueraignty beauty 
 retaines, which, rfdifcretion temper nor, begets 
 fijch an height ofconce't in the party bcloued; as it 
 were hard to fay, whether the ^^ent or Tatient fuf- 
 fermorc. To youlet meereturne, whoftand fixed 
 in fo high an Orbe ; as a graceful! Maiefty well be- 
 comes you. lb let modefty grace that Maiefty ; that 
 demeaning your fclucs like Csntplete and gracious 
 C^ttrtiers on cznh, you may become triumphant and 
 glorious ^oftrtins in heauen. 
 
 THisgarbe, as it fuites not with all Pcrfom^ (o 
 forts It not to all Placet, For a Mechank^e to 
 zfft& Cowpifmentf would as ill feeme him, as for a 
 rough-hewen S^itjtre to play the Orator. It is an excel-; 
 lent point ofdifcrction., to fit ones felfe to the quali- 
 ty or condition of that /^Ajc'!' where he refides. Thar 
 Vrbanity which becomes a Citi<,cn^ would rellifn 
 
 L of 
 
 C'oMpiement 
 
 Wherein Cew. 
 plemettt may 
 beoniitted, 
 asmeercly 
 iropeiiinsnt- 
 
74 1 
 
 THE ENGLISH 
 
 ^sravletncnt 
 
 oftoo much curiofity in a CoHKtrj-man» That Com- 
 plement whi:h giues proper grace to zCmrtier,}^ou\d 
 beg€tderifion or contempt, being ptrfonartd by a 
 ' J^■[iychJlt^t or his FaSltr. In affaires of Start', is re- 
 quired a <;race.rull or Cow/j/frr pofturc ; wh.ch many 
 ctmes pro-ures more reuerence in the perfon mter- 
 efled, than if that ftate were oHiitted, VVhcreas,in 
 ordinary sfFaircs of traificke, it were indifcretion to 
 reprefen: any ftich ^ate, or to vfe any expreffion,ei- 
 thcr by way o^difceuyjc or <«f?«t'»,that were not fami- 
 liar. Thatperfon, who preferresOw;»/f «».'»/ before 
 frofit; and will rather fpeake nottobc vndcrftood, 
 than lofe one polite- ftollenphrafe, which hee hath 
 purchafedbyeare ondy, and vnderftands not, may 
 account himfeife one among his bank-rupt brethren, 
 before hebreake. It is pittifull tohcare what a rem- 
 nant of fuftian, for want of better ComfUment , a 
 Complete-Country-Goflip (for fo fhee holds her 
 (elfe) wiilvtter in one hourcamongft her Pew-fel- 
 lovves. How fhee will play the School e-Miiireffe 
 in precepts of Difcipline and tnorall Behatiiofir I No- 
 thing fograccfull in another, which fliec will not 
 freely reproue; nothing fohatefijll in her fclfe, which 
 fliee will not confidently approiie* Teach lliee will, 
 before fhee be taught j andcorrcd Forme it felfe, to 
 bring Forme out of loue with it felfe. To which ma- 
 lady, none is more naturally fubie(!l:, than fome La- 
 dies calliiered Getitlev^oman , or one who hath plaid 
 Schoole-Miftrede in the City, and for want of com- 
 petent pay, remoucs her Campe into the Countrey ; 
 where fljee brings enough of vanity into caery fa- 
 mily throughout the Parifli. Shec will not fticke to 
 inliruci: her young Pupils in ftrange points of forma- 
 lity yenioyning them not to aske their ParentsblcC 
 fing without a (Complement, Thefe, as they were ne- 
 uer MiftrefTes offamilies, (b they are generally igno- 
 rant 
 
GENTLEWOMAN. 
 
 rant in employments of thac kinde. Thofc' three 
 principall workesorfacahics of the Vn^erflandir,^^ \ 
 which nnighc enable them to Dtfcourfe, Dtjltrjgtujhj I 
 and to ^/?/.y>, are(b eftrangcd from them, as their 
 Difccurfe con(\{is folcly in arguments of vanity/heir 
 DtJIinclfon in mcere fliadowes of formality, their 
 C^ojfce in fiibict^s and Conforts of effeminacy . Eight 
 things, faith Hippocratesy make ones flciJi moyftand 
 fat ; the firft, to be merry and Hue at hearts eale ; the 
 rccond,to deep rouchithe third,toIie in afofr bcdiche 
 fcurth>fO fare weH;thefifth,to be wel apparelled and 
 appointedjthe fixth,to ride al wayes on horfc-backe • 
 the fciiench,to haue our wil;and the eighth,ro be em - 
 ployed in Plaics &paftimes,& in fuch rimc^beguiling 
 recreations,as yeeldcontentsnentand pleafiire.Thele 
 are the oneiy receits in requeft with thofei'^^f-C^«- 
 /erj we now difcourfe of ; and of whom it may bee 
 faid, as was fometimes (poken of one U^targites^ that 
 he ncuer plowed, nor digged, nor did any thing all 
 his life long that might tend vnto goodncfle ; and 
 by neceflTary confequcnce wholly vnprofirable co the 
 world. Who, howfoeuer they are IcfTc than Wo- 
 men at their i^orke^yct at their mdit (fo vnconfincd is 
 their appetite) they are more than men, and in their I 
 hA^it (io phantafticke is their conceit) neither wo- 
 men nor men. So as, were 1)i&^e»ei to encounter 
 one ofthefc, bee might well expoflulatc the caiife 
 with her, as he did vponlike occalion vvirh a yonch 
 too cur ioufly and effeminately dre ft : If thot4 goejl to 
 men^dllthisishut invMne^ if VK{orvome», iti^vpukjA, 
 But thcfe wee hold altogether vnworthy of ycHr\ 
 moTtge»iroHi rociety;vvhofe excellent breeding harh 
 fufficiencly accommodated yOu for City, Courr, and 
 Countrey ; andfo fully inform'd you hovv to dc- 
 meanc yourfeluesia ail affaires ,♦ 2iS I make iictle 
 doubt, but you know, wherein it m.ay bee adrrmed^ 
 
 L 2 as 
 
 57 
 
 Complement 
 
76 
 
 THff ENGLISH 
 
 Com^ierrwit I as maintly conjequcnt ; and wherein owittfii^s meerc- 
 ■ ly impertinent. I meane therefore to descend briefl y to 
 the laft branch of this Ohjertimen, declaring, what 
 Ornament glues O/wp/fwifwr beft; beauty or Accom- 
 pUfTwent, 
 
 
 Eccl(f.i%.6. 
 
 What Comple- 
 ment ^mes 
 hefi accetfi' 
 plijhment. 
 
 IT is true, what the fonne o^SirAch fotnetimes faid; 
 fVhen a m^fi huth dene bid kejl^ be tnttfl hej^ime Againe^ 
 and when he thiaketh to cemf to nn end, he mpifi goe agedne 
 t$ hii lahonr. There is nothing (b exadl, which may 
 not admit of fomething to make it more perfed.We 
 are to goe by ftayres and fteps to the height of any 
 ilory^FertHes are the Staites^FerfeMion the Spire.^xit I 
 fiiurt: tell you, G'<f»r/<?iro»3^»,the way for you to afcend, 
 is firft to d^fcend : Complete you cannot bee, vnleffc 
 you know how replete yon are of mifery. Humility is 
 theftaire that conduits you to this Ipire of glory. 
 Your hed'/Ay may proclaimc you faire ; your difconrfe 
 exprefle a pregnancy of conceit; your hhattiour con- 
 firme you outwardly cvmflett. Yet there is fome- 
 thing more than all this required, to make you abfo. 
 lutely accompltjhed. All thefe outward becommiugs, 
 bee they neuerfogracefull, are but reflexions in a 
 glafTe; quite vaniflied, fofooneas theglaffeis re-' 
 moued, Critoiam ballance was of precious temper, 
 and well-deferuingeftimation with Heircs of Ho- 
 nour j whopoifed the goods of hdy and fortune-'m 
 one skale,and goods of the mind in the other : where 
 the goods of the minde fo farre weighed downe the 
 other, as the heauen doth the earth and Seas. To 
 lead a dance gracefully; to marry y our voyce to your 
 inllrument mufically ,• to exprefTe your felues in 
 profe and verle morally ; are ci^mmendable qualities, 
 and enforcing motiuesoifafFedion. Yet I mufltell 
 you,forthe firft,though itappeare by your feet to be 
 
 but 
 
77 
 
 QomfUment 
 
 but a meere dimtnjion, in the opinion of the Learned 
 it is the Dtuels procejfion : Where the Daaee is tho. 
 C^rcls^ \v\ioitctntre\%x}^'Dtuil, Which maybere- 
 /trained by a more eafic or moderate gkfle to fiich 
 wanton and immodeft Rentif^ as haue ancienrly h^tn 
 vfed in the Celebration of their prophase feails by 
 Pagans, and arc to tbisday by Pagan-chriftians; 
 vpho, to gainc applaafe from the Spectator, care not 
 what Oiameicfle parts they play in the prefence of 
 their Maker, But what are thefe worth, htmg com- 
 pared with thefe inward Ornaments or beauties of 
 your TMn^ \ which onely diftinguifli you from other 
 creatures, and make you foucraignefles ouer the reft 
 of Gods creatures ? You haue that within you , 
 which will beft^cpw/'///^ you. Let not that be cor- 
 rupted, by which y our crooked way es may be beft 
 corrected. Hold it no fuch neceflary poynt of Com- 
 plementy to flicw a kinde of maiefty in a Dance ; and 
 topreferrei: bt^ovt the Comfle^ent of a Religious 
 taske. Tfaofefenfuall Curtes^aHs^ who are fb deligh- 
 ted in fongSj pipes, and earthly melody, fliall in htll 
 rcre terribly and howlemiferably: crying, as it is 
 in the Apocalips j W?/, n^oe^ Woe» Woe ffiall euery 
 one cry feuerally, for the reward they haue receiued ^/i'*^-^- 
 in hell eternally, faying and»fighing, fyoe is mee thf.t 
 euer Twos home : for farre better had it beenc for her, 
 that fliee had neuer beene borne. And againe j Cur- 
 fed he the rvomhe tfmt hare me afimer. After tb is, ffiall 
 fhe cry out in her fecond i^<'^againft her ftlfc and all 
 the members of her owne body. Woe be vnto you 
 my accurfed/<?*^, what euill baue you brought vpon 
 me miferable wretch, who by your pcruerfe paths 
 and wicked waies haue fhut heauens gate of me? Wo 
 vnto you my ^Wj, why haue you depriusd me by 
 your finfuil touch,and (enfiial embracc,of the Crown ' 
 of glory ; by your meanes am I brought to hell fire, i 
 
 where ) 
 
78 1 
 
 (Complement 
 
 TBe ENGLISH 
 
 wbere I finall be tormented eternally ? Woe vnto 
 thee, thou curled ton^tte^ what mifchiefe haft thou 
 brought vpon me, by vttering words fb Icurrilous 
 and filthy, and finging vnciuill longs fo frequently ? 
 O ye curled Ejes^ who by your vnlawfull obiccfls of 
 concupifccnce, hauedeprmed me of Gods prefence, 
 and neuer (lied one teare for your fihnes in token of' 
 repentarce I Now begins your intollerablc wee- j 
 ping(yt teare- fwolne eyes neuer drycd)bcfort all the ! 
 diucls and the damned. Woe vnto thee my hcArt^ \ 
 what haft thou puc vpon me, who by thy luftfull ■ 
 thoughtsand vnlawfull ioyes, haft depriuedmeof , 
 etcrnall ioyes ? The third Wee^ that fhe ihall cry 1 
 out, IS this, faying : Woe vnto ihthitt.rnejfe of my \ 
 torwcyits, for they are comfortkfle : woe vnto the i 
 wu/iitkae of them,ror they are numberleflc : woe vn- , 
 tothe^/frw«j'ofthem, for they are endlcffe. Would i 
 our wanton Curre^ans5 who (port it in their beds of 
 Iuory,rurreicic in their delicacy, wanton it in the 
 boforae of fcairity, anddedcate their whole time 
 tolenfuality, refledtvponfncha foueraigne falueor , 
 fpiriiuall balme as thisj they wouid ^raw backe j 
 their /e-^/ from the w ayes of wanronneife, and ex- 
 ercife them wholly in the pathes of righteoafnefle. 
 They would remoue their ^«»»<s^/ from viichatlc em- 
 braces, and inure them to the fearchof Scriprurcs. 
 They would ftop their msmhes from vttring ought 
 vnciuilly, and teach their /o«^w« to be Orators of^ 
 modtfty. They would turne their eyes from vani- 
 ty, and fixe them on the pureft obiec^s of eternity, 
 1 hat fOj inftead of hittemc^e of torments, xh<^y might 
 tafte the (vceetneffe of diuine comforts ; inftead oitunl- 
 tttude of tormemt^ they might partake the nuniber- 
 1 lefTe nuti:bir of Gods merctcs'. and inftead of the eter- 
 I w/jofthofc torments^ immortnUty with Gods Stiints 
 and Seruants, 
 
 Preuen- 
 
CSNTLejVOMA^. 
 
 I 79 
 
 V reucntion is the life ofpolicy ; the way to mo'd 
 cho le, and enio/ thsfe, is to Hue in yoar Court here 
 on earth I wh«?reyou are fpheeredjts m the prefence 
 ofGoda.idhis heausnly Angels, where yo.ir hope 
 is feated. Though yoavf^ef be here,your/rfr>i' (liould 
 be there ; here yoar C^;»;>tf, there your Court. Mcane 
 time, while you foiournc here, you are to hold a^ood 
 Chnftian the compUtffi Courtier ; and that vertue is 
 the otnamei^t, which giues Compknte/it the bell ac' 
 comfli(hm:nt. Silken honour is like painted meate; 
 it may feeds! the eye, but affords no nouriHimcnt. 
 That Courtiers Coate giues a vading glofle, whofe 
 heart is n-jc inwardly lin'd with grace. Let good- 
 neffe guide you in the way, and happincflc will 
 crowne you in the end. Let your C^ntflete armour be 
 righteoH^mi^e ^ your Camflement lowlinciTe ; complete 
 i^ nothingfonauchas holinefle; that in your con- 
 uoy from Earth, you may be endcnized in heauen, 
 naturall Citi2ens,angelicall Courtiers, 
 
 WMW ^WTi ^^ ¥Tm^Mms\ 
 
 ComfUr/iSHt 
 
^ 
 
8i 
 
 THE 
 
 ENGLIS 
 
 Gentlewoman. 
 
 Argument. 
 Decency rtccmmendcd m recjuifte in joure diHin^ 
 Siihiech ; Decency the attraniuefi motiue c/aflediion : 
 thefmootkejipat h that leads to pcrfedlioii. 
 
 Decency. ' 
 
 D E c B N c Y. 
 
 her felfe to the pLce 
 wherein fhe liues, the 
 ferfons with whom flic \ 
 conforrs, the mnke or 
 quality fLcc partakes. 
 Shee is too difcree: to 
 
 afFed ought that may 
 
 notfeemsher: tooconftantto change h^vhabh^Qv 
 
 ECENCYtakcsU//: 
 rr^no«cuer along with 
 her to choofe her fa (hi- 
 Shesccom.mcdates 
 
 on 
 
 M 
 
 rhe 
 
82 I 
 
 THe ED^GLISU 
 
 Dbcekcy. 1 the inuention oi any phaatafticke wearer. What 
 ' '*" ■ propriety fliee cxpreflcth in her whole poftureor 
 carriage, you fhall eafiiy perceiue, if you will buc 
 with a piercing eye,a ferious furucyjtefied vpon her 
 demeanour, in her G4te^ Looke, Speech, Habit, Of 
 v\'hich, diftinftly, we purpofe to increat, in our En- 
 cry to thisoyferttation j that by thefe you may pro- 
 bably colled eke excellency of her condition. 
 
 Deancy tc- 
 coramendcd 
 as requifiie in 
 
 . (oure diftinft 
 
 M Tubicfls. 
 
 Gate. 
 
 THat, wherein we fliOald cxprdTe our fclues the 
 humbleft, many times tranfports ts moft, and 
 proclaimesvsproudelt. Ic is no hard thing to ga- 
 ther the dtSfofittofjoi our heayfjby the dimetifivn ofour 
 gate. What a circular geftuns wecfiball obferuefbmc 
 vfe in their pace, as if they were troubled with the 
 vertigo ! Others make a tinkling with their feet,and 
 make difcouery of their light thoughts, by their 
 wanton gate. Others with a jetting and (Irutting 
 pace, publifh t^cir hauty and felfe-conceited minde. 
 Thus doe our fVafitons (as if they had tranfparant bo- 
 dies) difplay their folly, and (ubied themfelues to 
 thecenfureof leuicy. This cannot 'Dtfr/arj endure. 
 W hen (lie fees iVomtn, v.'hofc medefij {hould be the 
 Ornament of their beauty, demesne themfelucs more 
 like v45iort than ciniU Profeffants, fiiee compaflio- 
 natcly (uffcrs with them, and with choyce precepts 
 of morall inftrudion(whcrein (he hath euer rh^wne 
 her felfe a fingular proficient)fhe labours to reclaime 
 them. With amorou5,but vcrtuous Rhetorickc,flic 
 wooes them, hooping by that meanes to winne 
 them. Shee bids them looke backe to preceding 
 times, yea thofe , on which thst glorious light 
 which iTiines in thefe Chriftian daycs, neuer refle- 
 %d. And there they (hall finde ^yomcn highly cen- 
 fured, for that their outward carriage onely made 
 
 them 
 
CeNTLSWOMJN. 
 
 8? 
 
 I them fufpedcd. A vailecouered their face^ modcfty ( Decency. 
 [ meafiircd out their pir* ; their SpeUators were as lb 
 I many Cenfrrs : Circumfpec^ therefore were they of 
 i their carriage, kft they fhould become a fcandall or 
 j blemifti to their fexc. Their repaire to their Tem- 
 ples was decent^ without any loole or light gefture ; 
 Entring their Temples,coRftant and tetled was their 
 bchauiour. Quickc was their face in difpatch of 
 houfhold affaires ; but flow in their Epicureall v'u 
 ficsorfenQiaiigoflipings. They had not the art ofi- 
 mitating fuch huifing and mounting gates ^ as our 
 hght-fpiritcd Dames now vie. They were not as 
 then learn'd to pace : fo far ellrang'd were they from 
 the very kait conceit of vanity inchis kinde. How 
 much more ^ouldrhefe purer times, where verity 
 is taught and embraced, vanity lo much tax'd and 
 reproued, afFed that moil, which adornes and beau- 
 tifies moft ? Is it not palpable folly , to walke fo 
 haut'ily in thefc ftreets of our captiuity ? Eye your 
 feet, thofe ^<»/ij of frailty, how they, who lo proud- 
 ly ftrut on earth, are but earth, and approach daily 
 nearer their earth. The Swatt^ when fti prides her 
 Iclfe in her w^»f^«^j(f^,r€fledls on her ('/ackffefir^which 
 brings downe her plumes, and allayes her fe:ft- con- 
 ceit with more humbleneffe.VVhat anticke Pageai^ts 
 {hall wee behold in this furuey of Earth ? With 
 what y^ptfh gcftures they walke, which taxech them 
 of lig-htneffe ? How like Colojjoi others walke, 
 which difcouers their haughtineffe ? how pmcluariy 
 rhele,tts if they were Puppets drawn by an enforced 
 motion? Wovjfhifnt/ijltcaajthofe^ asif their walke 
 wereatbeatralladion? Thefe vnftaid Mmenfens ar- 
 gue vnletlcd Mfpojitions, All is not well with them. 
 For if one of the Spartan fiphori was tolole his p'ace, 
 becaufcheobleruM no Decency in his pace^ how may 
 wc be opLn'ion'd of fuch Wcmen^ whofe jeerei exacl 
 
 M 2 of 
 
THE ENGLISH 
 
 I 
 
 iCESCY. 
 
 of them ftayednefle, whofe places rctainc in ihem 
 more peculiar reuercnce, and whoicdefcc^tts inioyne 
 chemto a ftace-reremance ; when they ,to gaineob- 
 feraaiicjc, admit of any neiv^ but vndecent pofturc ? 
 Deftrue thefe approucment ? Noj difcretton cannot 
 prize them, nor /Wj^^»».'»/ pray (c them » ynlgar opi- 
 nion, whole applaufe neuer recciues life from dcferr, 
 may admire what is next^^ but difcretion that onely 
 which is «r<ar. It is one thing to vvalkc honeftly as 
 on the day, another thing to walke vnciuilly as on 
 the night. Decency becomes the one ; Defotmitj the 
 other. Neither onely are zwfldVy? women tobecaute- 
 Icus^cwthey vvaike, but where they walke. Some 
 places there be, whecero if tliey rcpaire, walke they 
 mwQv (oCitiiilj, they cannot walke ho»efilj, Thofe 
 who value reputation, will not be feene there ; for 
 /:/<?«(7«ristoodeareapLirchafe to be fet atfale. Such 
 as frequent thcle places, haue cxpofed themfelues to 
 (namejand made an irreuocable Contra-fl with finne. 
 They make choyce of the Twy - Ught,!eft the ir paths 
 iTiouldbe difcouered; and fhrowd their diftaincd 
 a<^ions with the iable Curtaine of night, ieflthey 
 fhou!d bee difplaycd. Thefe, howfoeuer ihtix feet 
 walke foftly, their hearts^o^t on fwiftly^to feize on 
 the voluptuous prey of foil)'. 
 
 Farre be thcle wayes from your walke s, vertuous 
 Ladies, whofe modefty makes you honored of your 
 Sexe. Theugh your (cet be here below, let your 
 f^ith be aboue. Let no path of pleafure draw you 
 from thofe icy es which la ft foreucr. Though the 
 'ivorldhQ.yo\xvv»alke vi\ii\Q you foiourne here; hea-' 
 «c'» riiould be your Ayme, that you may repofe eter- 
 nally there. Liue deuoutly, walke dcmurclyjprottfle 
 conftantly ; that deuotion may inftrud you, your 
 wayes dired you, your profeflion conducfl you to 
 your heaucniy Countrey. Iris a probable argument, 
 
 that 
 
GSNTLSWOMAD^. 
 
 that fuch an one hates her Counrrcy,where onely flie 
 i is to become Citizen, who thinkcs it to bee well 
 [with her here, where flieeis a Pilgrim. Waike in 
 i this maze of yoar Pilgrimage, that after death you 
 I may enioy a lafting heritage.So {Kali yoj praifc God 
 ] m the^^i'*?, and after yoiir Chrilhan race finillied,re- 
 
 Decekcy 
 
 ceiue a Crowne. 
 
 Wo 
 
 IT h moll: true, that a wanton Eye is the truefr c- 
 uidence ofa wandring and diitradcd minde. The 
 ^ArAhians proucrbe is elegant j Shut the windowes, 
 that the hoiife fn<(y giae light. It is death that enters 
 in by the wW^^rrr/.The Hoftfitmy be fcci2red,if thefc 
 beciofed. Whence it was, that princely Prophet | 
 praidfoearneftly: Lordttrrneav>aj mine eyes [rem v^t. I 
 nit J. And hence appcares mans mifery. That thofe ' 
 Ejes^ which fliould be the Ceflernes of fcrrow, I'm- 
 beckes of contrition, fliould become the lodges of 
 luft, and portals of our perdition. That thofe which 
 were giucn vs for afliftantsandafTociatcs, Oiould be- 
 come our aflacinats. Our Eye is made thcfenfe of 
 /^rrcwjbecaufe ih.z fenfe oi'Jinne ; yet more apt is fhe 
 to giuc way to (lane, then to finde one teire to rfnfe 
 herfinne. An vncleaxe eje is the fwjfevger of an v». 
 c/eam heart : confine the One, and it will be a means 
 toredificthe orher. Many dangerous obiedls will 
 a wandring eye finde, whereon to vent the difpofition 
 of her corrupt heart. Noplace is exempted, r.ofub- 
 I ie<9: freed. The amhttiom fj? makes honour her ohiei}, 
 i wherewith fheaff^idls her felfe, both in afpirinir to 
 what llie cannot £nioy,as like wife in feeing another 
 enioy that, whereto her felfc did afpire. The Coi^e^ 
 /o?« makes wealth her oliteSt'^ which fhcc obraines 
 with tofle, enioyes with fearc,forgocs with gricfe : 
 for being got they load her, lou'd they foile her, loft 
 
 thev 
 
 I- C K £• 
 
8^ I 
 
 TUe ENGLISH 
 
 De 
 
 CENGY. Itfceygall her. The £«««>«/ makes her JS/etgHeurs 
 — — • jflourifliingfieId,or ftuitfull haraeft, here^teS; (he 
 I cannot but iooke on it, looking pine and repine at it, 
 and repining iuftly confume her ^irit with enujing 
 it. The Lafcmdus makes he^utj her eiie^,^nd with a 
 /etrifig /sd-i^p, while {he throweth out her inre to catch 
 others, flic becomes catch t her ftlfc^ This *^#/£F, be- 
 caufc it reficds moft on your fixe, let it be thusdif- 
 poled, that the inward eje of your foules may be on 
 a (iiperiour beauty fixed. Doe ye admire the comc- 
 lintiTe of any creature ? remouc your eye from that 
 o0ie£}, and bellow it on the contemplation of your 
 Creator. Wormcs and flyes,that haue layen dead all 
 winter,by rcficxe of the Sunne beames,are rtuiued : 
 (othQCefli/h'fijfes^ who haue beenc long time buried 
 in thefe feniuail OUcElf of earth, no fooner rcfie A on 
 the Snnnt of n^htcoft/ftfle^ than they become enliue- 
 ned and enlightened. Thofe filmes which darkened 
 the ^/^ of their miades, are remoued, thofe thicke 
 Cataradsof earthly vanities are dilperfed'and dif- 
 pelled, and a new light into a new heart infufcd. 
 
 I knov/ well, GtntUrvomen , that your refbrt to 
 places of eminent refort, cannot but miniftcr to you 
 variety of Obiefts. Yea, euen where nothing but 
 chafte thoughts, (laid lookcs, and zealous defires 
 {KouM harbour, are now and then loofe thoughts, 
 light lookes, and licentious defires in efpcciall ho- 
 nour. The meancsTo preuent this malady, which 
 like a Tpreadmg vlcer difperfcth it fclfe in euery foci* 
 ety, is neither willingly to rake nor be raken. Dinah 
 may be a proper Embleme for the 7? ; flicc feldome 
 ftrayes abroad, but ftiee is in danger of rauifliing. = 
 Now topreleruepurityoF heart, you muftoblcrue 
 a vigilant difciplineouereueryfcnfe. Where, ifthe 
 fyr, which is the light of the body, be not well dif- 
 pofed, the reft of the fenfes cannot choofe but be 
 
 much 
 
G£NTLeyrOMJJ^. 
 
 i7 
 
 much darkned. We fay, that the want of one pecu- | Decency. 
 liar fenfcfupplies that deft <3; with an higher degree 
 of perfc(flion in the reft. Sure I nm, there is no one 
 (enfe that mere diftempcrs the harmony of the mind, 
 nor profpeft of the Soule, then this window of the bo- 
 dy, Itopenseucrtoche Ratten^ but feldometo the 
 D«Me, Rauing affeclions it ealily conueycs to the 
 heart; but Doue-likc innocence it rarely retaincs 
 ' in the breft. As it is a member of the flefli, fo be- 
 comes it a feruant of the fleiL ; apprehending with 
 gicedineffe, whacfoeuer may minilter fuel! to carnall 
 concupifcence. This you fliall eafily corre<5l-, hy fix- 
 ing her on that pure and abfolute ohieH^ for which 
 flic was made. It is obferueii by profefl: Octiltils(^SLn 
 obfcruation right wot thy a Chriilians ferious conCi- 
 deration) that whereas all creatures haue but foure 
 Mnfclesto turn their eyes round about,man hath ^flft 
 to pull his efei vp to hv aucn. Doe not then depreffe 
 your ^j'w, as if they were fixed on earth, nor turne 
 them roand, by gazing on the fruitlefle vanities of 
 earth; but on ^f4«^«, your A4««f» after earth. In the 
 Philofophers fcale, the foule of a ^Z*? is of more ex- 
 cellence then the tunne • in a Chriftian fcale, the 
 foule of man is infiniteiymore precious then all 
 creatures vnder the Sunne. Prcferuc then the honour 
 Q? z.beMuf»ll foule, which furfers infinitely when it 
 is biemifhed with any foile. So order and difpofc 
 your lookfs^zs ccnfure may not raxe you of lightnefle, 
 iior aa amorous glance impeach you of wantonn-sffe. 
 Send no: forth a tempting ejeto take another; nor 
 entertaine a tempting lool^ darting from another. 
 Meithcr take nor be taken. To become a prey to 
 others, will flaue you; to make a prey of others, 
 will tranfport you. Looke then vpward, whert^ the 
 more you /oo/^tf you fhall/iJ^^, the longer you /w* you 
 fliall lone. 
 
 With- 
 
88 I 
 
 THe eUGLISB 
 
 Decency. 
 
 Speech, 
 
 -4 
 
 Without Speech can no foclety fubfift. By it 
 vvecxprdTe wixatwe are, as veflcls difco- 
 uer them fellies bell by their found.DifcrGtion makes 
 opportunity her anuilc, whereon is wrought a fea- 
 fonablc difcourfe. Otherwife, howfoeuer we (peake 
 muchyVJt ^iJcoHr[e\m\t, Thatfage Stagirian deba* 
 ting of the conutnience and propriety of difcourfe 
 before ^/^lexander^ maintained, that none were to 
 be admitted toi}eaks(by way of pcfitiue direiflion) 
 but ciihcrthofe that mannaged his warres, or his 
 Philorophers which gouerned his houfe. This Opi- 
 nion tailed of too much ftridncfle (will our n>(ime» 
 fay) who affumc to themfelues a priuiledge in argu- 
 ments of difcOurfe, be the argument neuer fo courfc 
 whereon they treat. Truth is^ their tongues are ; 
 held their defenfiue armour ; but in no particular de- 
 traifl they more from their honour, than by giuing ; 
 too free Icope to that glibbery member. For to fuch 
 as profefTe rhcir ability at this weapon,may that fay- , 
 ing of PdKdciphttt be properly applied : T&ey fpci\e 
 wkchtHy hi-t they [peak; kittle ire//; they fpcake mucijy 
 hut dae little, Againe, They doe ItttUyrell^ but ihejdce 
 much ill ; thejfay rpctlj>nt doe ilU They promife much, ! 
 but doc little. What reflraint is required in refped 
 of the tongue, may appeare by thatiuory guard or 
 garriion with which it is impaled. See, how it is 
 double warded, that it may with more releruancy 
 and better fecurity be reftrained ! To glue liberty to 
 thi.'iopguctovtterwhat itlill, isthe argument of 
 an indi '.'erect perfon. In much Speech there can He% 
 utr w ant finne, it either ieaues fome tinfture of vain- 
 glory j which difcouersthe proud hcart/rom whence 
 ir proceeded; orfometafleof fcurrility, which dif- 
 pisjcstbc wanton heart, from whence it llrcamed j 
 or^c?ir;r. violciit and difpaflionatc heat, which pro- 
 
 claimes 
 
CeNtLeWOMJN. 
 
 I 89 
 
 claimes a rancorous heart, from whence it iflued. 1 Decency. 
 Whereas, a well-difpolcd mind will not (peake be- 
 fore it conceiuc ; nor delluer ought by way oFex- 
 pfeffion, till it be prepared by a well-fcafoned delibc- 
 racion.ThatPhiloibphtrs fpeech defcrues rerention; 
 who feeing a filent gucft at a publike fcaft,vfed thefc 
 words : If thou heefi m/i^thou art 4 foo/<r; ifafoole^thon 
 srt wife in hfiding thy fence. As difcourfe v/efuHy edi- 
 fying conferres a benefit to the hearer j fbdifcourfes 
 fruitlefTe and wandring, astfeey tyre the eare, fothey 
 taxetbedifcrction of thefpeaker. Tt was an excel- 
 lent precept oi Scclefiafiicw : Thou that art jo«»r^, I £"Icf i2.3,;, 
 jpeaket if need ^<r, 4nd yet fear cely when thou art tvice 04- 
 ked. Comprehend much infetv "words ; in many bee as one 
 that iiiynor ant : be as one that 'vnderftandeth^ and yet 
 hold thy tongue. The direftion is g€nerali,but to none 
 more conlequently vfefuU than to y»i^ng iromen; 
 whofebafliftilinicnccis an ornament to their Scxe. 
 Volubility of tongue in thefe, argues either rude- 
 ncffc oi breeding, or boldnefle of exprelTion. The 
 fermer jnay be reclaimed by a di Tercet Tutor, but the 
 /after, bcinggroundedonarrogaacyof conceit, fcl- 
 dome or ncuer. It will belteme you, Gentlevfomen, 
 whofe generous education hath eflranged you 
 from the firfi^ and whofe modeft difpofition hath 
 wean'd you from ihelaft ; in publ/ke confortsto oh. 
 feruer2therthAn difcourfe, Itfuitesnot with her ho- 
 nour, for iyeuK£ woman to be prolocutor. But efpcci- 
 ally, when either men are in prefence^or ancient Ma- 
 tron s, to whom fhee owes a ciuillrcuerencc, it will 
 become her to tip her tongue with filence.Touching 
 thefubicd of your difcourfe, when oportunity Ihall 
 exaftitof you, and without touch of immodefly 
 exptd it from you ; make choyce of fuch arguments 
 asmay bcft improuc your knowUdge in houidioJd af- 
 faires, and other priuate employments. To dilcourfe 
 
 N of 
 
\ 
 
 90 
 
 THE ENGLISH 
 
 m 
 
 I 
 
 Decency. 
 
 Ambref. in 
 libjeo^c. 
 Greg.'m mt* 
 
 of Stare-maccers, will not become your auditory : 
 nor to difpute of high poynts of Diuinity, will it 
 fort well vjixhi»omen ot your quality. Thefc Shet* 
 CUrkes many times broach ftrangc opinions, which, 
 as they vnderftand them noc themfclues, io they, la- 
 bour to intangle others of equall vnderftanding to 
 themfelues. That Diuine ientcnce, being made an 
 indiuiduate confbrt to their memory , would re- 
 claime them from this errour ^ and free them from 
 this opinionate cenfurc : godforl>idytl>iitrvep}0HUmt 
 be readier to ledrnetb^n to teaeh* fVofnen, as they are to 
 be no Speakers in the Church, fb neither arc they to 
 be difputers of controLierfies of the Church. Holy 
 3*y»4r<^plearantly glanced at thcfe, when on a time 
 entring a Church, wherein the image of our Lady 
 was eredled, hee was ialuted by the Image in this 
 manner, <jW«worr«M' Bernard ; which deuice hauing 
 quickly difcoucred, perceiuing fome perfbn to bee 
 purpofelyincloftdinit, he forth with reply ed: Tttr 
 Ladifhip bath forgot your felfc'^lVomenPfOHU he no Spea- 
 kers in the £hurch. In one word, as modefty giues the 
 beft grace to your behauiour^fo moderation oi Speech 
 toyour di/courfe. Silence in a ir««»4» is a mouing 
 Rhetoricke, winning moft, when in wordsit woo- 
 eth leall. Now to giue Speech and Silence their di- 
 ftiiift attributes or pcrfonali CharaAers : wee may 
 gather their fcuerall tempers by the feuerall cffeds 
 deriucdfrom them. More ihallwc fee fall into finne 
 by Speech than Silence \ Yea, whofoeuer intendeth 
 himielfeto75'^«^w«r'^,-ftldomeobferues the courfc 
 of doing what is itfll. 
 
 In the whole current ofyourdiicourfe,Iet no light 
 fubied haue any place with you .* this, as it proceeds 
 from a corrupt and indilpofed heart, fo it corrupts 
 the hearer. Like wile, beware of (cKe-pray (e ; it ar- 
 gues you faauejJffw neighhenrs^ or few deferts. Let not 
 calumny 
 
GENTLEWOMAN. 
 
 
 91 
 
 calumny runnc dcfcant on your tongue : it difcouets 1 Decency 
 
 your palTion too much ; in the mcane time, venting 
 
 of your fpleene affords no cure to your gricfe,noraIue 
 
 ro your Tore If oportunity giue your fexe argument 
 
 of difcourfc ; let it neither tafte of affe^attoft, for that 
 
 were ferailc ; nor touch vpon any wantsa relation, for 
 
 that were vnciuiil ; nor zny State'po/iticaSaSfienj for 
 
 the height of fuch a iubk&j compar'd with your 
 
 weakene{re,were vnequall- IfyouafFeft Rhetorickea 
 
 letitbe withthatfimiharicy txprefTedjasyour piain- 
 
 nefTemay witnefTc for you, that you doc notaffed 
 
 it. This will make your Speech feeme gracious to the 
 
 //^4r^r,conferre a natiuc modefty on the Speal^tr,ii^ 
 
 free you of all preiudicate cenfure. 
 
 THcre is nothing which moucs vs more to pride 
 it in/«a*, than that which was firft giuen vs to 
 coucr oar Jbame, The fiuit of a Tree made man a (in- 
 ner ; and the leaucsof a Tree gaue him a couer. In 
 your Ha^it is your modefty befl exprcflcd ; your di- 
 fpofitions beft difcouered. The F^afit of the mind is 
 difccrned by the flatc or pofture of the body ; the 
 condition or quality of the body by the Hal'if^whkh 
 either addcs or detrads from her beauty. As we can- 
 not probably imagine fiich to haue modeft raindes, 
 who hauc immodcll eyes ; Co can wee not properly 
 fay fuch wometi to be modeft ma^rons or profefTors of 
 piety, who in their <ir/i><r iliew arguments of their 
 immodefly.Pt skils not much/or the quality of your 
 halfitSy whether they be filken or wollen, fo they bee 
 ciuill and not wanton. For albeit, fome hMC ^f^v- 
 med that all j^rjfww <«/irtf is the attire o? Jinne, the 
 quality ohhzperfo»mzy fccmcto extenuate the qua-, 
 lity ofthatfinne. For noble and eminent perfona- 
 I gcs were in all times adnaitted to weare them ; and 
 N 2 to 
 
 Habit. 
 
Decbncy. 
 
 THe ENGLISH 
 
 1 c'ic.ln itb.de 
 
 ro be d ill; ingiii (lied by thtm : Neither iqdud,is the 
 (umptuotifrts of the /j<«i'if,forcprchf nfiue,as the phan •■ 
 taflickr.es of the habit refperf of the form or faftiion. 
 It is this which derogates highly fiom the repute of 
 a ChrirTian,co fee her affecfl variety & incondancy of 
 *j//i,»r, more t ran eucr did Pagan. There is nothing 
 which introduceth more effeminacy into any flonri- 
 (hing Stare,than vanity in hahit. Where we rnay ob- 
 izmcf^/hioft^mzny times,roIongafFeded,ril 2i\[fa(hio» 
 become exiled. Surely, whatfoeuer our lighter difpo- 
 fed Curtezans thinke.it is Ciuility which adds moft 
 grace, Decency which exprefleth beft ftare,and com- 
 iines in attire which procures moft loue.Orher hahits^ 
 as they dilplay the raind of the wearer, fb are they 
 fubiedVsoflaughter or contempt to any difcrcet bc- 
 holder.Time is too precious to be made a I'Ageam or 
 Morrice on. Thefc mifconceiucd ornaments are mecr 
 deformities to good minds. Verruous and difcrect 
 Matrons would be loirh to wcare ought that might 
 giu^ leafl: (candall or offence to their ftxe-Forraine fa- 
 (iiions are no baits to catch them,nor phantaflick: ra- 
 ther phanaticke drefTIngs ro delude them. They can- 
 not eye that^<i^« which Jeferucsapprouing,nor that 
 4m>f which merits louing, where Ciuility is not pat- 
 tern. Decency h their choyccl^ liberty ,which fcts the 
 forth aboue a I Embroydery. There was an ancient 
 Ed*<ft amongfl the R^m.^ns, purpofely ro rid the State 
 of alIvfelefl^,Ioytercrs, that no^ow/iw fhould gcc 
 through the ftreets or the City, vnltlTe hee carried 
 with him the badge o? fignall of that Trade where- 
 by he liued : infomuch, that U'^^arc, Auniiuty fpea- 
 king of the diligence ofthe Rtmins^oxunh them this 
 deferuinq ttftimony, that all of them followed their 
 labour. Now I marnell,whetber vpon due fiiruey of 
 all thofc artizans.either Periwig, Gregorian-maker, 
 or Tyre-woman, had any fet place or proper vocati-^ 
 
 on, 
 
GeNTLeyyoMjj^. 
 
 an, or wbat badges chey might beaie to fig ni fie their 
 proFedioa. Woaid no: chefe new-found Artifts h.iiie 
 ocsne rather derided chaii appro:ied,geered chan ap- 
 plauded ? Sure, R«fne was more ciuill than to gmc 
 way to fo contagious an euiil. f^^fia had her maidens, 
 Cohzd^''iripU'a her Matrons; but neither of their 
 followers could adnait of any new-minted fafhions. 
 That Lady City had neuetr fouerauiz'd oucr To many 
 rich States, fwelling Empires, vidorious Princes, 
 had flieeexpofed herfclfe to fuch vanity, which had 
 beenethc grcaceft Eclypfe to her fpreadin^ glory. 
 
 To you let me bend my dilcourfe, whofe move^c- 
 Hcraiu parts conferrc mote true beauty on ihem- 
 fclucs, than thefe outward fopperies can cucr doe ; 
 doe aoz betray your names to fiifpition. The Chap- 
 let of fame is no: relerued for wantons, nor fuch as 
 fute themfeJuesta the^4^if of lightnefle ; for thcfe 
 idde one det^rce more to their fexes weakcnclTe; but 
 for ptch rvoimn m array tkemfelues in cem 'j apfarell^with i Tim. 
 (hawefjtjine^eandmQdfftyy not with braided hair r^ or 
 goldy or pcaries ,or coftiy avpare/I* But, tu hecamwcth ws^ 
 men that profejfe the feare of God, For exen after this I Pct.j.f, 
 manner m time paj} dtd the ho/j Jf0mf»y which truffed in 
 Gtfd^ tjrethemUlufs. Here 3-ou haue a dircd: p!at- 
 forme,how to <ir/j/'ry oar feints outwardly ; fiiring 
 I your ciuill habit with variety of fwcet {graces x^i- 
 ' wardly.Let not then thtfe Spider-cauls delude you, 
 difcretion willlaughattbem, mode fty loach them, 
 /)f««f7Contemncthem. Loo'e bodies fort beit with 
 thcfe adulterate beauties. ThofejWhofe conuerfation 
 isinheauen, thouj^h they (biourne here on earth; 
 Thofe, whofe ereflcd thoughts rpheere them in an 
 higher Qrbc than this Circle of frailty ; Thofe, 
 whofe fpotieffe affedions hauedeuored theirbell fer- 
 uice to goodnefTe, and made Modefiy the exad mold 
 of all their aftious, cannot endure to lloope to fiich | 
 
 braine- ) 
 
 9} 
 
 Decency. 
 
 .9,10, 
 
94 I 
 
 THe eUGLISH 
 
 Decency. 
 
 brainy- ficke Lures. And fuch are you, whofe^^w^- 
 rom defcent, as it claymes precedence of other?, fo 
 fliould your \rertuous demeanour in theiefoure di- 
 ftin<n: fubiefts, Gate, Lookb, Speech, Habit, 
 improuc your cftecme abouc others. la ^^/e, by 
 walking humbly : in Locl^^\yy difpofing it demure- 
 ly J in Sfeech^y deliuering it moderacely ; in Bahity 
 by.attiring your felues modeftly : all which, like 
 fourechoyce borders, perfumed withlweeteft o- 
 dours, will bcautific thofe loacly lodges of your 
 foules with all Dtffif^r/. Meanc while, imprint thefe 
 Diuine motions in your memory. And firft for the 
 frSiy hold this tenet 5 To wa!ke,walkiBg to meditate, 
 meditating to make the /ubied: of it your Maker, is 
 the beft portion of the Creature ; for the fecondy to 
 fix your eye with that indifftrency on the Creature, 
 asitneucrauertyourcontemplatiuc eye from your 
 Creator; forthe<;^«r</, to diic^yfMx Speech to the 
 1 benefit of the hearer, and to auoyd impertinences for 
 coniciencc-fake farrc more than cenfurc ; for the 
 fiurtb And laft, to make choycc of that Hahe, whole 
 Ciuility may doc you honour, and publifti you ex- 
 amples of Deeencj to any difcreet or temperate be- 
 holder. 
 
 Beeency the 
 actradtjueft 
 motiue of af 
 ftSiion, 
 
 WHat is it that conueyes more affedlionto the 
 heart, than Decency in the obied we affcd? 
 The Sfoufe in the Canticle s was bUcke.hwt cemelj ; and 
 this gauc praife to her beauty. A ftrayd lookc may 
 moue affcf^tion in a light heart, but in a vertuous 
 minde it begets hate. Truth i^, in this diibrdcred 
 age, where the bctt (hot to bcdircharg'd is the Ta- 
 uernebiliitbe beft Alarum is the founding of healths, 
 and the moft abfblute March is reeling ; difcretion 
 hath recciu'd fucha maime, as afiedion is (eldome 
 
 meafu- 
 
G£NTLefVOMA:f(_. 
 
 I 9S 
 
 mcafurcd by what we are> but what we weare. Va- 
 nity hach fet vp her Pi^tgge ; and more freHi-water 
 (baldicrs defire to fight vnder her Baancr, than the 
 Enjigne of honour. But all this workes litclc vpon a 
 conftant and rightly- tempered difpofition. Such an 
 one plants there his loue, where with comfort hec 
 may liuc. Doe you thinke that a jetting Gate, a lee- 
 rii\g Looi^^ fl glibbery Tongue^ or gaudy Attire can 
 mouc affcdtion in any one worthy your loue f Sure 
 no ; he deferues a Itght one for his choyce,who makes 
 his choyce by one of the^e. To be an admirer of one 
 of tbefe, were to prefcrre in his choyce a CMaj- 
 mArrinn before a iAfodefi Ollntron, Now there arc 
 fome fashions which become one incomparably 
 more than another : the reafon whereof may be im- 
 puted either to the natiuc propriety of the p4rtj vfing 
 that forme, habir,or complement ; or elft to the ^«4- 
 ^it) of the perfofi, which makes the falhion vied, infi- 
 nitely more gracious^ Vonhefirjfy you fball neuer 
 fee any thing imitated^ but it feemes the imitator 
 worft at the firft.Habit will bring it into zfecond na- 
 ture ; but till fuch time as cuftomc hath matur'd it, 
 many imperfedions will vfually attend it. Whereas, 
 whatfbeuer is naturally inbred in vs , will beft be- 
 fceme and adorne vs ; it needs no other face than 
 what nature gaue it, and would generally become 
 worfe, were it neuer fo little enforced. For the fe~ 
 cctui^is in any Thearrall prefencraent, what becomes 
 a Peere or Potentace, would not fort with the condi- 
 tion of any inferiour fubftitute ; euery one muft bee 
 fuited to the pcrfonhe pref^nts :So in the Theatre of 
 ftate, diftind faibionsboth in HM and Complement 
 are to be retained, according to the place wherein 
 he is ranked. Lncrece, no doubt, ftampcd a deeper 
 imprclfion of affedion in the heart of her beholder, 
 by addrefling her felfc to houfwiuery and purple- 
 rpinning, 
 
 Decencv, 
 
9^ I 
 
 rue ENGLISH 
 
 De CBN c Y. 1 Ipinningjthan others could cuer doc with their rcerc 
 bankets and riotous fpending. All are not of e/£^^- 
 j^wminde, who was taken with a Complement of 
 lightneffe. This argued, that a youthtuU heat had ra- 
 ther furpriz'd his amorous heart, than any difcrcet 
 affedion preferr*d him to his choyce. But how va- 
 ding is that loue, which is fo lightly grounded ? 
 To what dangerous oucrtures is it expofedi* Where 
 Vertue is notdircdrice in our choyce, our inconftant 
 mindes are euer prone to change. Wee finde not 
 what we expedcd ; nor digeft well what wc for- 
 ujcrly afFe<Sed ; All is out offquarc, bccaufc aiifcreti- 
 on contnVd not the building. Torepairc this breach, 
 and make the Obie<fl wee once entertained, cuer 
 beloucd: Lee nothing giuevs Content ^hut what is 
 decern. This is the Baht^ Gentfewomea^ which will 
 bcft become you to be woo'd in, and content a di(. 
 crcet Suitor moft to haue you wonne in. All others 
 are neither worth viewing, wooing, weighing, nor 
 wearing. Rich lewels, the more wclookc on them, 
 the more are wee taken with them. Such lewcls arc 
 modcit women, whofe countenance promifcth 
 goodntflc, an enforced fmilenatiuebafhfulneffe, e- 
 ucry pofturc fiich tokens o( Decency and comclintfTc, 
 as (^aiusTar^umm in his Caia could conceiuc no 
 fuller happineflfe. Shee, I fay, who made wooll and 
 purple her dayestaske, and this her conftant im- 
 prcze : ivherctheu art Catus, t fim Caia. Conforme 
 then you geveroui Difpofitions toa D^frw/rjof faftii- 
 on, that you may Attmbi to your fclues and hegtt in o- 
 thers, m^ttues ofafe^Un, 
 
GeNTieWOMJN. 
 
 91 
 
 Decfng^ 
 
 FOuntaincs ranne by many winding and mazie 
 Currents into one mainc Riuer j Riuers by fun- 
 dry Ghanntls into one mainc Ocean. Seuerall vvayes 
 diref); paffcngers into one City j but one one/y wsy 
 guides man to the heauenly City. This way is 
 Verttte^ which likefonse choyce confcdion fwee- 
 tcns the difficulty or cuery Occurrcnr that encoun- 
 ters her inherquefi after ^trUUicn, Of allthofe 
 CardimH fermet , it is Temperance onely whirh 
 icafons and giues theai a verruous rellifh. Which 
 Vertue dilates it (elfe to feuerail branches ; afl 
 which bud forth into one fauoury fruit or other. 
 It is true, that hee who n euery way Complete, may 
 bee properly ftyledan/i^/tf/«rff man. But what is it 
 which makes him ^pw^/ff* ? It is nor a fcrude 
 face, an artfuU Cringe, ©r an ItaltontAe ducke that 
 deferuesfoexquifite a title. Another age will dif- 
 countenance thefe , and coucr thefc ComfUtefor. 
 mtdifs with duft. No, Ladus j it is fomething 
 that partakes of a more Diuine Nature , thsn a 
 mecre Compiementallgefture. If you would afpire 
 to ferfeB'tnn^ obfcrue the meane^ that you way at- 
 i\m<ii\\c end, TempttMHce you cannot embrace, if 
 Decency be eftringed from your choyce. li tempe- 
 raftt you cannot chufe but be decent : (o: it mciudes 
 an abfolute moderation of our dcfires in ail lub- 
 
 Come thcr],Ge»t/ei¥o?ffe?9, lone, to be decent ^^nd, t^iat 
 will teach you the beft Cemp^^ment.Y jU 1 auc that in 
 you,which diuincly employ 'djWil truly ennoble you. 
 Your defccnt may giue you an hii^ber afcenc by way 
 of precedency before others, but this you cannot ap- 
 propriate 5o your owne dclertSjbutthat Nobility of 
 
 O blood 
 
 Decency the 
 fmoothcll 
 pachihisc 
 leads tvper- 
 fiSiion, 
 
DECENCY* 
 
 Aug Soliloq. 
 Caf^XXKA 
 
 Sen Je vita 
 beau. 
 
 blood which is deriued to you by others. L*boui 
 haue fomething ot your owne, which ,?oa mi/ 
 challenge to be yours properly, without an^ heipe 
 of an ancient pedigree. How well doth ic fetme 
 you, tocxpreflea ciuill decent ftate in all your a- 
 dlions ? You are in the eyes of many, wno preeife- 
 ly djierue you, and defife to imitate whatfoeacr 
 they noreobferuableinyoj. You may then become 
 excellent patternes vnto others, by retaining decen- 
 cy, and entertaining her f#r your fol/ower. Shee 
 will make you appeare gracious in their fight , 
 whole iudgements are pure and vncomipted ; how- 
 (beucr our Corkie cenfurers traduce you, your fame 
 cannot be blemiflied, nor the odour of thofe vcr- 
 tues which fo (weetly chafe and perfume you, decay- 
 ed. 'Dtfcffwj' attended you in your life, and the n>c- 
 mory of your vertues fhall crowne you after death. 
 Euen there, " Where youth neuer ageth, lifeneucr 
 '*endetb, beauty neuer fadeth, louenener faileth, 
 " health neuer vadeth, ioy ocuer decreafeth,griefe is 
 ** neuer felt, groanes are neuer heard, noobie<5l of 
 *^ forrow to be feene, gladneffe euer to be found, no 
 '' euill to be fear'd . Yea, the Ktng fliall take plea- 
 sure in your beauty, and at your end inueft you with 
 endlefle glery. Prize not then the cenfure of ienfuall 
 man, for hee is wholly fet On vanity ; but fixe your 
 eyes on him, who will cloath you with eternity.Let 
 this be your Crowne of comfort, that many are im* 
 proued by your Example, many weaned frooi /JWw, 
 many wonne to Sion. By Towing the feed of good- 
 uefl'e, that is, by giuing good examples, expref^ 
 fed beil by the effedruall workesof faith, yoa £hall 
 reape a glorious harueft. Aflions of goodncffe fliall 
 liue in you, and caufc all good men to loue you. 
 Whereas, thofe are to be efleemed worft, who not 
 oaely vfc things euilly in themfelucs, but likewife 
 
 to- 
 
GENTLEWOMAN. 
 
 99 
 
 towards others. For,of fo many deaths is euery one ( Dbcenc y 
 
 worthy, as hcchath left examples of naughtineffe 
 
 vntopofterity. Let vertues then bee the flay res to 
 
 raife you j thefc willadde vnto your honour, 
 
 feat you abouc the reach of Cenfiire, 
 
 and ioyne you indiuidnaUy 
 
 to your hsi Lmct, 
 
 ^Hg'Med C.4. 
 
 ^m>ttim sri^a^ i' r mw ntk T\ 
 
. THE 
 
 ENGLISH 
 
 Gentlewoman. 
 
 Argumenc. 
 Eftimation, 4 Gcntlewomans h'^ghefiprtKe ; haw it 
 maj be dtfcirnedta ht rcallj ^ore fupcrficiail; hiv/ it m*j 
 be impre^nnBlj preferued ; Low intfttrsb^ UJi yTheabfo- 
 lute cndywbereta it chiefiy ^fpires^ dnd yf herein it cheer e- 
 fuByrefij. 
 
 ESTIMATI ON. 
 
 STIMATION 15 
 a good opinion drawne 
 from fome probable 
 grounds. An vnualua- 
 blc gemmc, which eue- 
 ry vi^e [Aferchaiftj who 
 tenders his honor, pre- 
 ferres before life. The 
 ie0e of this maizes him 
 an irreparable Bank- 
 rupt r All perfons ' 
 ought to rate it higb,bccaufc it is the value of them^ j 
 
 fclucsj) 
 
 Efl'matm, a 
 Gsntlemmanh 
 highcfl prize. 
 
102 
 
 1 
 
 tB6 encLisH 
 
 EJiimation* 
 
 ~ I 
 
 tj 
 
 i' 
 
 feluey, though none more dearcly than thofe, in 
 whom modcfty and a m&fe imprcffiuc fearc of dis- 
 grace vliially lodge, The'e, focaucclous arc they of 
 fufpition, as they will noc ingage their ^oodna?ws lo 
 purchafeafFeAion. Publikc rcforts, bccaufe they may 
 corrupt, they auoyd ; Priuacy they confort vvith, 
 and in it conucrfc with their owne thoughts, whe- 
 ther they haue in them ought that may becray them. 
 They obfeme what in others deferiies approuc- 
 roenr, and this they imitate ; with an vncorrupt eye 
 they note others dcfefts, which they make vfe oFas 
 a oaueat. Pure is their mold^hni firre purer the tem- 
 per of their minde. Fame they hold the fweeteft 
 flower that euer grew ncare the border of Time, 
 Which, If ft cither it (lipu/d wither for want of moi- 
 fture, or wanting warmth fliould lofe its vigour, 
 they bedew it with gtacioas «fFcds, and renue it 
 with zealous refofues. Dcfcentjas they draw it from 
 others, fo would they improucit In themfclues. An- 
 cienchoufes, now and then, ftand in need of props 
 and pillarsjthcfe wouU they haue fupplycd with the 
 Cardinall vertues. 
 
 Thefc arc Emblemes of your fcfues {Noble La^ 
 dies) who fo highly tender your honour, as EJUptatk 
 on gaints yon more than what your blotids gaue you. 
 It is a Princely command of your afKr(5lions, which 
 mounts y on to this height of goodncflc : dilHngui fti- 
 ing betwixt bltHal-.m, and dtfaeet aff: cltfj»» Picafure; ' 
 cannot maleyoii lb forgetfullofy out honour, as toi 
 depriu-^^ vooof that in a moment, which you fliall 
 neucrr cauer. Vu'Ui hath taken tliat feazuie of 
 you, as ' f li^jHt tbau^br canfeizc on von, ordil^ 
 pofleflfe hci' f^f ih.it ciaimeiiiee hach in you Trea- 
 cherous 7 w/)f jirt's may be taken with gifts }but your 
 honour '«' of too nigl an trtimatcto fuffer the kaft 
 blemifh for reward, fou obftruc what ftaines haue 
 
 laid 
 
GSNTieWOMAD^. 
 
 I loj 
 
 lau3,&<io yet lie vpon many anciet faaiiilcs by means 
 of attainders in their Progenitor j. Their bloods((ay 
 we) were corraf>ced, whereby their ciUtes became 
 confi(cated, their houfes frocn their lineal 1 fucce(- 
 fours eftranged, and they to lading infamy expofcd. 
 Ccrtaincly, thongh not in (b high degree ("for thefe 
 wert CapUall) many families haue receiued deepe 
 ftiins from light a6tions,which neither cime,though 
 neuerfoaged, could weare out, nor the liuing ex- 
 ploits of their noble fiicceflbrs wipe off. Vice hath 
 cucr beene of a deeper dye than vertue ; and the me- 
 mory of the one commonly furaiues the fame of the 
 other. Wounds, when they are healed, leaue their 
 fcarres bebinde them i Paths retaine their prints. 
 Your memory fliall neither receiue life from that 
 noble blood which fprinkles in you, nor from any 
 monamentall ferine which may hereafter coucr 
 you, but from thofc precious odours of your euer- 
 iiuing vercues, which fliall eternize you. Thefe are 
 of power to make fuch as long fince dyed,and whole 
 vnequall'd beauty is for many ages fince to allies 
 turned,retainea flourifhing fame in the grateful! me« 
 mory of the liuing. 
 
 V^ntXo^forfpendingehafieherdayes, 
 tyii vtarthj 04 Vlyffes yfo* ofpraife, 
 A daily fieg€ Ihee fuffered, and in her Conqueft e- 
 quall was Ihee to tbofe vidorious IJeeres of greece, 
 who made Troy their tyittmph, Efiimation was her 
 btghefiprUe. Suiters Ihccgot, yet amidft thefe,was 
 not her P^^jjffs forgot. Long abfencc had not eftran- 
 ged her alFeftion ; youthfuU conforts could not moue 
 in her thoughts the leaft diftra<Jiion ; neither could 
 opportunity induce her to giue way to any light a- 
 dion. 
 
 Well might Greece then efleeme her Pi»e/ope of 
 more lifting fame than any T^w«i«i that euer ftiec 
 
 ereded. 
 
 Efituaation, 
 
( 
 
 104 i 
 
 rue HNCLisH 
 
 EJIifiUftii. 
 
 - 
 
 *Cap, 
 cuf.Xl. 
 
 crcftcd* HeSiVnblcmiflied cftccme was of farrc pu 
 rcr ftufFe than any iuory ftacue that could bc£ reared* 
 Nor was R^me leffc beholden to her Lucrtce^ who fee 
 her honour at {o high aprice^ as (hee held death too 
 light to redceme fuch a prize. 
 
 'tkoughferce^fiightSyfoes^dKdfuries gatldvpon her^ 
 
 Theje wert no wounds hut ifonders to her bfifttur. 
 The prcfenccof a Pfinccno kflc amorous than 
 vidorious, could not winne her ; though with him 
 frice^ frajer y^nd power did ioyntly wooc her. Well 
 dcferu'd fuch two modell Matrons the choice Em- 
 braces of two fuch heroicke ChampioQS,as might e- 
 qua! their coftantLoucs with the tender of their de^ 
 reft Hues. And two our Hiftorics afford, whom fuc- 
 ceediag fatne hath recorded eminentj becaufe double 
 Conqocrours, both of ^j(«<;* and of r^^«/r/«^j : pui- 
 faat and contincnt.Tiiis noble teftimonie wc recciuc 
 o£ Scipio^ that being a young man of twenty foure 
 ycarcs of age, in the taking of a City in SpAincy hec 
 reprcfTed the darning heat of his youthful! dthtcSy 
 when abeautifiill maid was brought him^ reftoring 
 her to a young man called ABHtim, to whom fhee 
 was efpouled, with a great reward. Right worthy 
 was hee to conquer another, who could with fuch 
 temper fubduc himfelfe : fuch goodfuccefllhath 
 cuer attended on iht(cC\fo^a&vertuefi though pro- 
 fcfled by Pagans. The other H-r'de was rightly * j^t^ 
 gaftm both in name and nature ; and wherefot'rc you 
 looke, a^idorious C>E S A R. Cleopatra kneeled at 
 hisfcct,laydbairsfor his eyes; but in vainc j her 
 beauties were beneath that Pr nces challity, 
 
 Abfolute Con?.manders v/ere tbefe Hcroicke 
 Princes of their affections, yet afirre morefingular 
 argument of his comporcd dilpofirion, and of Mo- 
 rall,if not Diuinc,Morrificati6n,{bewcd that young 
 man SFVTIMI A in Falmtu A/aximm, whofc 
 
 beauty 
 
CeNTLSWOMjN. 
 
 >o5 
 
 beauty did fo incomparably become him, as it occa- \ EjUmaticn^ 
 
 lionedmany women to luft after him: which this 
 
 noble youth nofoonerprrceiiicd, than hee purpoftly 
 
 wounded his face, that by the fcarre he fuilamcdi his 
 
 beauty might become more blemiilied, and confe- 
 
 quentlyall occafion of lufting after ir, clearely re- 
 
 mouedt 
 
 Now {(jentiewtmen) if you make Ejiimatitn your 
 hi^he(i fnz.e • i^ you preferre honojr before pleafure, 
 or what elfe is dcare or tender ; your fame will find 
 wings CO flyc with. This willgaine you deferuing 
 Suiters. Portion may vvooe a worldling ; Proporti^ 
 on a youthful Wanton; but it is Vertue that winnes 
 the heart of difcretion. 
 
 Surely, Ihaueftldomeknowne any make this e- 
 fteemtof honour, and dye a contemptible begger. 
 Such ashaue beene prodigall ofit, haue fck the mife- 
 ry of it ; whereas, a chafte minde hath euer had 
 fomethingtofuccourand fupport it. Thus you fee 
 what K\i\si»^ard beauty is, which if you cnioy, you 
 fit far re abouethe reach of Calumny ; age cannot 
 taint it, nor youth tempt it. It is the Sfiimctiot with- 
 in you, that fo confines you, as you hate that place 
 which giucs opportunity, that perfbn which makes 
 importunity his agent to lay fiege to your Cha- 
 ftity. 
 
 Now wee are to defcendtothe fecond branch, 
 wherein wee arc to fhew you how this £7?«iw<s/w», 
 which is your kt^fneffprize^ may be difccrned to be 
 reall ; which is not gathered by the firft appearance, 
 but a ferious and cor.ftanc triall. 
 
 IN l^kilofofbj^z man begins with experience, and 
 then with belecfe; but in DiuirAty^ wee mull firft 
 beginne in fai:h, and then proceed to knowledge. 
 P True 
 
io5 
 
 THE ENGLISH 
 
 EfitfnMisif, 
 
 How E(1ima- 
 tlon may be 
 dircernedco 
 be rcalL 
 
 True It is, that the Sunne, Moone, and Starres be- 
 come fubied to vanity ; yet charity bids me beleeue, 
 chat there are many beauteous and refplendcnt Stars 
 in this our Firmament, many freOi fragrant Rofes in 
 chis our inclofed Gardenoi AlhioM^vjho haue pre(cru*d 
 their beauty without touch, their honour without 
 taint. Where, if vanity did touch them, yet did tit 
 not fo feizeon them, as ta disfigure or transfbrme 
 chem. You (noble Gentlewemen) are thofe Starves^ 
 whofe glory can neuer be eclipfed, fo long as your 
 Efiimathn h"ues vnftained ; you are tho^^ fragrant Ro. 
 fes, whole beauty cannot be tainted, fo long as your 
 ftalke of honour ^rowes vnrouchcd. Now to the 
 end that your luflre may not bee like to that of the 
 Glovporme^ nor rotten wo*^/, which is mcerely tmagina- 
 y/jconapared with that is re^H. \ you are not to make 
 faire and glorious pretences, purpofely to gull the 
 world, and cafi a mifl before the eyes of bicercd 
 Judgements. No, you are to be renUy^ what you ap- 
 pearc omwarMy* Thefe that walkc in the Clouds, 
 though they deceiue others much, yet they decciue 
 themfelues moft. Obferue then this rule of diredi- 
 onj it will accompli fh you more than any outward 
 OrnaoQent that Art canbtflowon you ; "Be indeed 
 whatjiohdejfre tehthfiught. Arc you Virgins? de- 
 dicate thofe inward Temples of yours to chaftity; 
 abftaine from all corrupt fodety ; inure your hands 
 to workcs of piety, your tongues to words of mo- 
 dcfty. Let not a ftraid looke taxe you of iightnefle, 
 nor a defire of gadding impe.xh you of wanton- 
 ncffe. The way to winnc an husband is not to wooe 
 him, but to be woo'd by him. Let him come to you, 
 not you to him. ProfFerd ware is not worth the buy- 
 ing. Your flates are loo pure, to bee fet at fale ; too 
 happy, to be weary of them. So long as youliue 
 as you are, fo your mindes bsc pure , you can- 
 not 
 
GENTLEWOMAN. 
 
 107 
 
 not polTibly be poorc.Youhauc that within y Oil ,wili j Efiimat'ton, 
 enrich you, fo you conforme your mindes to your 
 mcancs. In the difcourfe of vertucs^and true eft imare 
 of thend, none was eucr held more excellent than 1^' 
 that which is found in chafte youth. You are Con- 
 queroursin that, wherein the greatcft Conquerours 
 hauefail'd. Your chafte paths are not trac'd vvith 
 wandring defircs ; your priuate Chambers arras'd 
 with amorous pa(Tions j you (pinne not out the te- 
 dious night in ^ ruee'j. Your repaft findes no hinde- 
 ranreindigeition; your barmelcfle repoic no ioue- 
 ficke diftradion. Others you may command ; by 
 none commanded. Others will vow their (eraice 
 vntoyouj while you are from all feruitude freed. 
 Liue then worthy the freedome offo noble a Condi- 
 tion ; for your Virgin ftate wants nothing that may 
 enlarge her freedome. Againe, areyou wiues? you 
 haue attained an honourable fiate », and by it made 
 partakers of that indiuiduatc vnion, where one foule 
 ruleth two hearts, and one heart dwellech in two bo- 
 dies. You cannot fufFwT in that, wherein you haue 
 notonefiiare. Griefe by your ^<?»/2ir/ is allayed; ioy 
 by partaking with him is augmented. You haue 
 now taken vpon you to become Secretaries to others 
 as well as your felues ; but being one and the fame 
 with your felues, doe not betray their truft, to 
 whofe trull you haue recommended your felues. 
 Imagine now (to recall to memory an ancient Cu- 
 ftomc) that you haue broken the axletree of your 
 Coach at your doore j you muft be no more ftraglers. 
 Thefe walking Burfes and moucable Exchanges,forr 
 nor with the conftancic of your Condition. You 
 mnfl now intend th? growth and proficience of thofc 
 Olwehrauches about ycur table. Like a curious and ! 
 continuate builder,you muft eueraddrcffe your felues 
 to one workc or other. From their infancy to their 
 P 3 youth, 
 
J^ 
 
 -■"•■-■'*—- ■ " • *■' '*' 
 
 io8 
 
 Ejitmation, 
 
 rBe ENGLISH 
 
 youth, from their youth to their maturer growth 
 For the fir ft, I know vvelhhacdillich to bee moft 
 true. 
 
 y4 mother- td h Nttrfe^thAt's great and faire, 
 li nm held bap! : True Mothers they be rare, 
 
 Biit farre was it from thofe ancient heroickc La- 
 d'cj, rothinkethistobee either adifgraceto their 
 place, or a blennifh to their beauty. Their names are 
 by aged Annals memorized, and fl»all by thefc oF 
 OLirsbe reuiued. Such were Cornelia^ tlie mother of 
 Gr<iccht4i^ 2nci T'^trurU of Coriolanm ,• who became 
 examples ofgoodnefTe and chaftity. Educating iheir 
 children which they had brought vp from their own 
 brefts^with the milke of morality. 
 
 Thelikedid 7'tf>'/Mrhe \v\^tQ^'Brutm ; ClcehuU 
 the daughter oi CUohalm ^ one of the fcuen Sages of 
 Greece ; SalfitU the wife of Calema^ who no: onely 
 inftruc4ed her children which fhc liad tenderly nur- 
 fed, with excellent precepts while Oiee liued,butleft 
 fundry memorable inftrudlions, as Le^nciet orcJ^/tf- 
 thers llcjfi»gt to them , when (lie dyed. Hortenfia^ the 
 excellent daughter of a moft eloquent Orator, deft r- 
 ued no Icffe fame, for her motherly care in nurfing 
 and breeding, her ability in copious and feriousdil- 
 courfing, her grauity in compofiiig and digeding 
 fuch golden fenrences, as fhee afrcrwards recom- 
 mended to the perufall of herfuruiuing Children. 
 Bdefiah<iX\\z^t. Alexandria, farrc excelled others in 
 profundirie of learning, and piety of lining ; fhee 
 was admired by fiich as lined in her time : perfor- 
 ming the office of a Nurfe in her childrens infancy,of 
 a Gua-rdian in their minority, of a Sage Counfellour 
 in their raaruriry. 
 
 Paulina the w^Teof Seneca^ as fliee was excellently 
 feafbncd with the precepts of her husband, fo fhce 
 furceas'd not from comraeRding them to the pra- 
 
GeNTLSyFOMJ^i. 
 
 Sice of tliofe children {hee had by her husband. 
 Whence it was, chat Semca bemoaned the ignorance 
 of his mother, for that fliee had not (o exaflly ob- 
 ferued the precepts of his Father. What Hiall I (peak 
 of Thiann^ the daughter of C^fftapontfu ? Phem^ne'^ 
 whowasfirft thateuer compofcd heroicke verfe.^ 
 Corin»athia, who exceeded the Poet Pind:iriis in her 
 curious and artfull meafiires; and contending fiue 
 feuerall times with h'm for the Garland? ^fgeuufia 
 foUta, the wi^fe o^Lucan : whom fliee is reported to 
 haueafTiftcdinthofehis high and heroicke compo- 
 (iires? Z'i'wtf^/tftheQoeeneof Palmiya, who learned 
 both the Greeke and Latinc tongue, and compiled an 
 excellent Hiftory ; approuing her felfe no Icffe a con- 
 ftant wife to her husband, then a nurfing Mother to 
 her children ? Thecdofatht yonger daughter of the 
 vertuousand viilorious Theodoftm] no lefle renow- 
 ned for her learning and other exquifite endow- 
 ments of minde, than by being inaugurated with an 
 imperial! title, to which Qiewas afterwards aduan- 
 ced. The Centons of H^merfhe comparcd,and into 
 one volume reduced, which to her furuiuing g'ory 
 were after publifhed.D/W<?rw Loj^icm hisfiue daugh- 
 ters, all which excelled in learning and chaftity, and 
 left memorials of their motherly care to tbeirpo- 
 fterity. 
 
 Thefe were tender Nurfes,carefuli Mothers, rcue 
 rend Matrons. Or to giue them that tirle which an- 
 tiquity hath beltowed ofl them j they were m fo 
 darke and cloudy a time, patternes of piety, prefi 
 dents of purity, champions of chaftity,mirrours of 
 modefly, icwels of integrity. Women (to vfe P/^i^- 
 f^;-f^r words) (odcuoted to contemplating, a.s they 
 conceiued nodclight in dancing ; yet could r;Ot con- 
 templation cflrange them from performing fuch *' 
 proper offices as didconcerne them. They knew | 
 
 w'nac I 
 
 I Op 
 
 Ej^iwation* 
 
no 
 
 I 
 
 THe 
 
 6NCLISH 
 
 EJlifHiUion, 
 
 Stn'm OSlaif, 
 
 what it was to obey j that it wai not fit for an infrri- 
 our memher to command the head, nor for them to fo- 
 ueraignizc oucr their husbands.W hat had fometimes 
 bccne taught them by their Mothers, they now care- 
 fully recommend to the ferious rcuicw of their 
 Daughters, 
 fViues mth obedience htuhaniis (hofildfuhdue^ 
 Ferhjthk meane: theflebejttyAticitojeu^ 
 Thus learned they the duty of a wife, before they 
 afpired to that title ; conforme your fclucsto their 
 examples: the cloud which kept them from a fall 
 view oF their condition, isinreipedofyou, difper- 
 (ed; your eyes are cleared, not with any Pagan cr- 
 rour filmed. Be then in this your Ghriftianconiug^l 
 Pilgrimage fo conformed, that as with increafe of 
 dayes, (b with approncment of dcfcrts you may be 
 firmed. 
 
 Againe, are you widowcs ? youdelerue muchi&*- 
 «.'»^ifyoubefo indeed. This name both from the 
 Greeke and Latinehath receiued one confonant Eti- 
 mology ; Jepriued or destitute. Great difference then 
 is there, ketwixt thofe widowes wholiue alone, and 
 retire themfclues from pubhke concoiarfe, andtbpfe 
 which frequent the company of men. For a widow 
 toloucfociety, albeit her intentions relifh nothing 
 bucfobriety, giues Ipeedy wings to fpreading infa- 
 my. Saint Hierom writing to Sufiachia^gwsti her this 
 counlell ; " if thou fhalt finde any queftion in Scrip- 
 '*rurc_» hardtrthen thou canft well refolue ; demand 
 ^* fatisfadion from fuch an one,who is of a moft ap- 
 ** proued lifCv ripe age ; that by the integrity of bis 
 *' pcrfoa, thou maiftbe fccured from the leaft afper- 
 fion : for in popular concourfe and Court-reforts 
 there 'a no p'.ace for widowes : for in fuch meetings 
 fiieexpofcth her honour to danger, wh/ch aboue all 
 others {he ought incomparably to tender. Yea, but 
 
 will 
 
GSNTLSWOMAU^. 
 
 will youobied : admir, our inheritance, family, for- 
 tunes, and all lye a bleeding ? may we not make re- 
 courfe to publike Courts, for redrede of our publike 
 wrongs ? What of all this ? Doc not complaine that 
 you are defolate or alone. Modefty affedleth /ilence 
 and fecrecyja chaftc woman folitarineffe and pr iuacy. 
 If youhaue bufineffe with the Judge of any Court, 
 and you much fcare the power of your aduerfary,im- 
 ploy all your care to this end, that your faith may be 
 grounded in thofe promifesof Chrift : " Your Lord 
 *■* maketh interceflion for you, rendring right iudge- 
 " ment to the Orphane, and righteoufnefle vnto che 
 " widow. 
 
 This ineftimabic inheritance of Chaftity is incom- 
 parably more to be efteemed, and with greater care 
 pre(erued by fVidoms then fyines : albeit, by thefe 
 neither to be negleded, but highly valued. Out of 
 that ancient experience which time hath taught 
 them, their owne obferuations inform'd them, and 
 the reuerence of their condition put vpon them ; 
 they are to in ftrud others in the pradice of piety ; 
 reclaime others from the pathcs of folly, and with a 
 vertuous conuoy guide them to glory. It would Icfie 
 become them to tricke andtrimme thcmfelues gau- 
 dily or gorgeajfly, then yong girles, whofe beauty 
 and outward ornament is the hope and anchor-hold 
 of their preferment : for by thefe doe the husbands 
 (eeke , and hope in time to get what they fccke. 
 Whereas, it were much more commendable for wi- 
 dowes neither to feeke them, nor being ofFred, to ac- 
 cept them : left enforced by neceflity, or wonne by 
 importunacy, or giuing way to their frailty, they 
 make exchange of their happy eftatc for a continuate 
 fceneofmifcry. A widow ought to pray feruentiy, 
 to exercife workes of dcuotion frequently, that the 
 benefit of her prayer may redound to her eflfedlually 
 
 and 
 
 E^itfiation, 
 
112 
 
 J-.Ue BNGLISH 
 
 Efitmatm, \ and fruitfully ; and not rcturnc backe from the throne 
 of God drily or emptily. For I would (according to 
 C^[maHderi opinion) hauc t widow not onely to de- 
 meane herfelfe cbaflcly and honcftly, buc likewife to 
 gii.e examples of her blamelefic lileto luch as heare 
 herinllrudionsattentiuely. For fhe ought to be as a 
 Glafleto young Maids, wherein they may difcernc 
 their crimes. 
 
 Now I hold herachaflc Widow, who though 
 (he baue opportunity to doe if, and be fuited by im- 
 portunity vnto it, yet will not fufftr hcrbrcflto 
 harbour an vnchafte thought, or confent vnto it. In 
 that Countrey where I was borne (faith Lttd, fiufs) 
 we vfually tcrme fuch widowesche gieateft afToci- 
 ates and aiTiftants of vices, whoCz too muchdeh'ca 
 cy in bringing vp their children, makes them oft- 
 rimesniiepraued, and to all inordinate liberty add i- 
 (5led. Wherefore,! approue well of their courfe,who 
 recommend the care of their children to fomedil- 
 crcctandwell-difpofedperfon. For(uch is the too 
 tender afFeSion of mothers towards their children, 
 and fo much are they blinded with thcloue of them, 
 astheythinkc they treat them too roughly, albeit 
 they embrace them neuer fo tenderly . 
 
 Saint H*>r*i»^ writing vnto Saiuina, faith ; The 
 chaftity of a woman is frailcand fading,like a flower 
 quickly per ifhing and vading, with the leafl guft 
 oi blalt of aduerfe Fortune failing, if not falling: 
 erpeciail}', where her age is apt for vice, and the au- 
 thority of her husband wants to afford her aduice ; 
 from whofeafH fiance, her honour deriucs her bell 
 fuccour and fupportance. Who, if fheehaue a great 
 family, many things? are required of her, and to bee 
 found m her, to minifter fupply to the neceflity of 
 time^ and vf^ ofaffaircs, wherein (he flands interef^ 
 fed, Requifite therefore it were, that fhec made 
 choycej 
 
( ^ 
 
 GSNTLeWOMj^U. 
 
 M| 
 
 r 
 
 choyce of fomc one dilcrcetly ripe both in ycarcs 
 and inward gifts, by whofehoneft integrity her fa- 
 mily might bee betrermannaged, with more dili- 
 gence attended, and to the woman kfle occafion of 
 di (grace obiedcd. 
 
 For I haue knownc very many women, whoa/beit 
 they fpent their daies continually within their owne 
 doores, yet haue fallen into reproach either by (omc 
 pcrfons obferuing them, or of their owne families 
 difpofed by thtm ; for fuffering their ftruants goc a- 
 broad to neatly, arguing th trtby a neglecl: of their 
 family: lo as the handmaids pride brought herMi- 
 i^refle into (ufpition of contemning her honour. 
 
 Sure it is, that an honeft woman, whofe fame is 
 her higheft prize, requires nothing elfe, defires no- 
 thing elfe , than :o /atisfie her husbands bequeft, 
 though dead : honouring him with a due Comme- 
 moration and admiration of his vertues: for the liues 
 of thofe that dye, confifl in the memory oFihofe that 
 line. Sodid -•^wr^s'/rM the daughter oi Marc. Antho- 
 niCy and wife to Drnftu : leading ail the remainder of 
 her life with her llepmothcr, and retaining alwayes 
 the remembrance of her dead husband. The Ike did 
 LtMtay who left both her houfe and land, th.^it fhee 
 might dwell vnder one roofe with Noemia : fearing, 
 perhaps, leftthe Maidsof her family grovviag too 
 lafciuioufly wanton and inordinate, might by their 
 lightnefle preiudicc her honor, which ilie incompa- 
 rably valued aboue any treafure. See you not here by 
 Gurdifcourfe (GeKtleveomen) what excellent Lights 
 darted out from thofe darke times ! Sjiimationvi^^ 
 their beft portion ; nothing of equall prize vnto it 
 Vertues were their choyceii Ornaments, which tiuy 
 preferu'd wich fuch conftancy,asfeare of death could 
 not dcpriue them of them, though after death they 
 had fcarce the leafl glimpfe of immortality. 
 
 Q_ Thus 
 
 Efimmof$, 
 
114 
 
 EJiimaUoft, 
 
 on may be dif- 
 ccraedtobe 
 
 tt j t . - 
 
 Zlie BS^GLISH 
 
 Thus haue we traced cucr ihefe three Conditions, 
 which wee haue ft ored with precepts,ftrcngthcned 
 with examples, fweetnedwith choycc ft fence nccs; 
 that this yc4//£y?««w«5», whereof we treat, might be 
 difcerned ; and thztSuferfieiaUE fie erne ^whtx^on we 
 are now to infift, difcouered. 
 
 MAny defire to appeare moft to the eye^ what 
 they are icaft in heart* They haue learned art- 
 fully to gull the world with apparances; and deceiue 
 the time, wherein they are Maskers, with vizards 
 and fcmblances. Thefe can enforce a fmile, to p^r- 
 fwade you of their affubility; counterfeit a blurti, 
 to paint out their modtfty ; walkc alone, to exprefle 
 their loue to prtuacy ; keepe their houfes, to pubiiQi 
 themprouidentpurueyors for thtir family; rcceiue 
 ftrangers, todcmonflrate their loue to hol'pitality. 
 Their fpeech is minced, their pace mcafurcd, tlieir 
 whole pofture fo cunningly compofed, as one would 
 imagine them terreftriall Saints at leaft, whereas 
 they are nothing lefTe than what they moft appeare. 
 Some youfhall obferue fo demure, as in their Sa- 
 lutes they forbeare to cxprcfTe that freedome of 
 Curtlie, which ciuillcuftomeexads of them. Thofc 
 frue Troian Dames, to pacifie their incenfcd huf- 
 bands, could finde a lippe to procure them loue, and 
 iijpple their contra^fledlookc. Whereas, thefcciui- 
 ifzcd Dames, eitheroutof areferuancy of ftate, or 
 dcfireto be obicru'd, fcorneto be Co familiarly de- 
 meaned ; as if they renounced antiquity,, and fought 
 by all meanes, that fuch Cuftomes as plead pre- 
 fcriprion, mightbe reuerfed. Their Liffe mnft be 
 their C^<f/^^,' which as it rctaynes a better tindure, 
 fo many times a Tweeter fauour. 
 
 At 
 
GSNTLeiVOMjJ^. 
 
 ^^5 
 
 Ac thefe, the Poet no lefiTe pleafingly than de- | EjUmMioti. 
 lerucdly glanced in this Sonnet : 
 
 TeH me T»hat is Beautj I Shiu j 
 Ture to tb' ejt^ butfoore mthin^ 
 
 WbAt*sA^{feofth4tfMrefaire ? 
 But L9Hes Lure^ or Adons/ff«rr. 
 
 NtciAT-balmt Jid Adon Jtppo 
 NotfromW^n^s cheekf but iippe, 
 
 fVhy fhottld then Loues heautjfeeke^ 
 To change Hppe vnto her cheeks ? 
 
 All which he elegantly clozeth in oppofition to 
 himfelfe, with thefe continuate Stanza's ^ 
 
 Cheeke JhaB I checks j becMM(e I may not tafie it ? 
 Ko \ Nature rather ; nvho toth" ejefopUe'dit, 
 As none can vtexv it, bm he mufi dratv neare it ; 
 O make the ^hart familiar, §r elfe teare it I 
 
 To purchafe improuement of efteeme by thefe 
 meanes, werctofwimme againftthcftreame. Dil- 
 cretion cannot approue of that for good, which felfe- 
 opinion orfingularity onely makes good. Thele are 
 but ^ferfieiaU (howes, which procure more con- 
 tempt than repute, more derifion than ground ofc- 
 fleeme. It is not aciuiil habit, a demure looke, a 
 flaid gate that d^ferues this report, vnlcfTe all thefe 
 beftconded with a rcfolued foule, and arehgicus 
 heart. Thofe who dedicate themfelues to thefcruice 
 of vertac, preferre the pich before the rinde, Tub- 
 ftiiice befortt appearance. What can bee fafe, will 
 thefe fay with Lucretiw, to any woman, if fhee pro- 
 Q 2 flitue 
 
£/ 
 
 fmaitdn. 
 
 i ■ " ■■ ''n 
 
 ftitute her honour, or make it common ? Good wo- 
 men, as they labour, to auoy d all occafion of fcandal!, 
 (o much more any aft that may giue breath to 
 fcandall, Ciuill they are in. heart and hditi Coo- 
 ftant in the profelTion of vertue.; 
 
 Vor others, they imitate the lyhoorifh jyoman^ 
 who wipes her mouth, and iakh,f^ho feeth meet 
 So they carry thccofclues.c^rfw/;, they. care not 
 how lit:le chaff e//. There is none lookes through 
 the Chinkc to fee them, none in prefencc toheare 
 them , freely therefore may. they commit, 
 what (hall afterwards (Bame them. Let mee then 
 dired my Speech to thcfe whitfd wafft, who 
 make pretences their beli attendants, immaske 
 their Impudence with the Vaylc of darke- 
 nefle. 
 
 ' Tell meci yec deluded daughters, is there any 
 
 darkencflefothicke and palpable, that the piercing 
 
 eye of heauen cannot fpyc you thorow it ? O, ii 
 
 ycc hope by (inning fecretiy tofinne fecurely, you 
 
 ih all bee forced to fzy vnto your God, as t^/?4^ 
 
 (aUvnto £iijah : Hah thou foandmee^O mine Enf- 
 
 r»y? Nay, OGodteriible and dreadfull, thou haft 
 
 found mee. And then let mee aske you in the 
 
 fame termes that the young Gallant mErafmm asked 
 
 his wanton Miftrefle: Art you not appamedto iothntin 
 
 thejigbt 9fgod and before his holy Angels^ which you are 
 
 dfhained to doe in the fi^htofmett} Sinnes ma^ bee 
 
 without danger for a time , but neucr without 
 
 feare. Stand then as in the prefence of God : re- 
 
 deeme the time you hauc loft ; loue that which you 
 
 haue hitherto loath'd ; loath that which you haue 
 
 hitherto lou'd. Know that thele Superficia/i Com- 
 
 plcmeators, are hypocriticall ;Courticrs ; thefe 
 
 formall Damaz^ent, profcft Curtezans* You rauft 
 
 not hold Religion to htcm^\it^ Corup.emetft, 1 will 
 
 not < 
 
GB NTLsyyo^ JPQ 
 
 117 
 
 not fay, butthcbleered eye of humane realoiimay j EJIimation^ 
 
 Gee taken with tbefe ; and coneeiue them rfall^ \ 
 
 which are onely UttperficUll. But the Aii.[eeittg 
 eyt canrioc be deceiued ; bee fees not as man fceth. 
 Neither diftance of plac«, nar refemblance of that 
 bieft, whereon his- eye isfixt, can caule him to 
 fniftake. 
 
 Would you then be Courtiers grac'd in the high- 
 eft Court ? Throw away whatlocuer is S^perfici- 
 aS ; and entcrtaine what will make you Diuinely 
 reaff. It is no: Jeemtng goodfteffe that will bring 
 you to thz four.tatne of all gaodnc^s. The Figgr-tree 
 brought forth leaues, yet becaufc it yccldcd no 
 fruit, it was curled. Doe yee bloflbme ? So doth 
 euery Hypocrite. Doe yee bring forth fruits ? So 
 doth a Chriftiatf. What is it to purchafe Sfiima- 
 tioH on earth, and lofe it in heauen ? This will 
 fleepe in dull:, but that neuer, " Yourhighefttaske 
 **(hould bee how to promote Gods honour, and 
 "to eftceme all things elfc a flauilli and leruile la- 
 **bour. Thus by feeming what you arc, and really 
 <xpre(Iing what you fecme, you (hall purchafe that 
 f/?«rf/wtf with God and good men, which is rirrf//, by 
 niunningofteHtacion,which would fct fuch a vading 
 gloffe on ail your a^ions,as they willfcemc mcerely 
 Superficiall, 
 
 A Difcieet Commander will takenolelTeciarein 
 I\ manning and mannaging the Fort hce hath 
 worine,than in winning it. Ic isaconftant max'mej 
 there is no icfle diOiculty in keeping than gerting. 
 Some are morf able 10 get a viclery, than skilfuH ro 
 vfeic;OtPcrsbaucmorearttovfcir, than cairage 
 to '^'•chieut ;h\ or no'-^e fo acco(rtplifh'd,as propiti 
 ouily to winn^ n, 4ud prudently to weare ita 
 
 Wee 
 
 iloviEjlima^ 
 fi/>a maybe 
 imprcgnably 
 piefciueii. 
 
u8 I 
 
 Tiie ENGLISH 
 
 EJltmatton, 
 
 
 la6lant.lib 1 
 Id, 
 
 Ehfeh. /.J. dc 
 frxf. Euang, 
 
 We arc now to fiippofe, that yOLi(vcrruou 5 LadicsJ 
 towhom weaddrcfi'ethis Lahur, are vidonoiifly 
 kated in the fore of honour , where beauty cannot 
 be planted, but it muft be attempted. But focon- 
 ftantly gracious are your refolues, that though it be 
 aflaulted, it can ncuer be foiled; attempted but ne- 
 ucr attainted. This you dcfire, and to this you hope 
 to afpire. In the Port or entrance of cucry Caftlc,, 
 City, or Cittadell, there vfeth fotnf^ Percal/as toho in 
 readincflejto frullrate tht Enemies affault, and kccpe 
 him from entry. The like muft you prepare, if you 
 defire to haue your honour fecured,your daring cnc- 
 OJie repelled, and a glorious conqueft purcbafed. 
 And what muft this Spirituall Engine bc,but a refip- 
 <?«* Coaf/^iw/, to refift temptation; and all the bet- 
 ter to fubdue it, to ftiunnethc occafion? I doe not 
 admit of any Parlies ouer your wals, they giuc new 
 breath to the beleaguer, and oftimes makes a prey 
 of the bcleagured. If the affault be hot, deuotion 
 beft fortifies the hold. One Chriftian afpiration 
 breathes comfort to the be(iedged,and promjfeth rc- 
 lick when (he is moft ftreightned. Of all arrowes 
 thefe which are darted by the fpirit ofzeale, wound 
 the enemy moft,and procure the archer beft reft. And 
 tfcat in all affaults wnatf0caer,plotted or praflifed by 
 Co malicious a Temptcx. 
 
 LaUantm flicwcth, that in his dayes, afhong ma- 
 ny other examples of the weakenefle ot rdolatry, in 
 the preience of Chriftiafiirie , a filly Seruingman 
 that wa-; a Chriftian, following his Mafter into a 
 jertpine Temple of Idols; the gods cried our, That 
 ttothingcnfiU i'evpell done^ diUni at that (^hrtHtanrras 
 inpYifr-e. The like recordeth EuJeBim odjhclefiafi^ 
 the E leperour, who going to Apollo for an Oracele ; 
 recemed anfwer ; Tha the tujl mtn Vfr* the caufe that 
 he could [aj nothing. Which iuji mtn JfoUfi's Pricft in- 
 
 terpre- 
 
GeNTLeyroMj:^^ 
 
 119 
 
 Lufkn.]n4i:x 
 
 cerpreted to be meant ironically ofCbriftians: a'nd \EpiMati»n* 
 chtreupon Dtcclefmn began his moft cruell and fierce ' 
 perfecution in EuwUm dayes. ■So^.omsngs alio wri- | 
 ccch,that lulUnx\\ Apoftacaendtuouring with ma* 
 ay facrifices and coaiuratioas to draw an alifwer 
 from Aps^oDajthnaMyinzhmoui^hctCiWt^D^tph^ 
 ^^, in the Suburbs ot Avtioch : vjiderftood at laft by 
 chc Orac.'e, that the bones of S, Bahyitu the M artyr, 
 ihatlay netre to the place, were the impediment 
 why that god could not fpeake. And chcreupoHj /«- 
 /m» prefently cauled the fan,e body cobeeremoued. 
 And finally, hereof it proceeded, thacinallfacrifi- 
 ces,coniurations,and other myfteriesof theC^wx/^/, 
 there was brought in that phrafe recorded byfcof- 
 fing Lacian ; Sxfant Chriftta/fi ; Let CbrtllUns depart : 
 lOr that, while they were prelent, nothing could be 
 wellaccomplifTied. 
 
 Hencecoiled: the force of aChrifliansprefence; 
 it extinguifheth the fiame of a Pagan facrifice. Zea- 
 lous thoughts. feruentdefireSjdeuoutafifeclions will 
 (uffernodiabolicallaiTault tofurprizeyou. Chriflian 
 conftancy wiilib armcyou ; pious motions {0 in- 
 flame you t thoughts of heaucnfo tranfport you, 
 contempt of the world (b wcane yon ; asnoobiecl 
 of delight can draw yon from contemplating him 
 :har made you. It will not bee amiffe, if now and 
 then you rcfled: on the conftancy and refolucion of 
 ancient Heathens, whofo highly prized their ho- 
 nour,as it was their bigheil (corne to giue way to an 
 iniiirious vfurper. 
 
 Camnia wife to Synatttu furuiues tothisday, as a 
 Mirror of feminine conftancy ; whom one SjnorLf^ a 
 ir.anof greater authority than hee, loued; and ma- 
 king no fmall meanes to obtains her loue, yet all in 
 vaine, he fuppofed the readied way for the tffjciing 
 hisdefires, tobecthe murdering of her husband: 
 
 which 
 
1; 
 
 THe BNGLTSH 
 
 EpmatitH, 
 
 L.FlorJib,z, 
 
 cap,! I, 
 
 which hee performed. This ad of horror was no 
 fooncr executed, and by the robe of his authority 
 (hroudcd,than herenuedhisfuit, to whicbihefee- 
 mingly afl'ented : butbeing folemnly come into the 
 Temple of Dia»a, for celebrating thole Nuptial) 
 rites, fhee had afweet Potion ready, which' fliec 
 6r^nkcto Sjttffrii : wherewith they were both poy- 
 (oned, to reuenge her husbands death. Chinuara^ 
 wife of Orgiagon, a petty king of that Prouince,vp- 
 ondifcomfiturc of the Ga//o-Grttcia»Sybcwg rauilhed 
 by a R<f?»in Caprainc, gaue a memorable example of 
 Coniugall vtrrue; for {hee cut oflfthefcllowes bead 
 from his fhoulders, and efcaping from her guard, 
 brought it to her lord and husband. More than fe- 
 minine was rhe rcfolution ofEpicharia^ a Libertine of 
 Rowe^who made priuy toaconfpiracy againft Nero^ 
 to free her naciuc mother of fuch a Monfler, would 
 not dlCcloCe the plotters thereof, though termentcd 
 with exquilitefl: tortures. Ncere rcfemblance had 
 Z><r<?«*'/ name with her Leonine nature, who being 
 Confpiratoragainf^the Tyrant H^ppeat^^and nothing 
 agaft at the death of her friends ifthough tornc with 
 extreroeme torments) would notreueale her part- 
 ners, but bit in funder her ownc tongue, and fpit it in 
 the Tyrants face. Or to inlfance you in ft]bie(5ls leflc 
 Tragically but forconfbancy cuery way cquall, 
 
 Armenuf^ a noble Lady, being bidden to King Cj- 
 y-w wedding, went thither with her husband. At 
 nighr, when they were returned home, her husband 
 asked her, how (hee Uked the Bridcgroomc ; whe- 
 ther fht« thoughc him to bee afaire and bcautifull 
 Prince or no? 7>»f A, (ayes (hee, I l^forpnot.'fcrallthe 
 while I TV AS forth ^ Icdfimine ejesvpoM»ent other^ httt thy 
 felfe. An excellent Com maudreife was this Lady of 
 heraffedions ; and no IcflTe imitable was (hee, whom 
 wc arc to inftance next ; for her modeft and bafhfull 
 
 coue- 
 
GSNTLSWCmjN. 
 
 couering of her husbands infiraiicies. OncTSt/^/rro's 
 tnemies reproaching hini wich a ftinking ijrcath ; 
 W€nthomeandqueftionedh>i wife, why ll.^c cold 
 him noc thereof: who anCMtixdyShethcughtaUr^eft 
 had the fame fau'^uy, 
 
 Wirhoiic qucilion, there h nothing that addcs 
 more true glory to a woman, or better pnferuft her 
 e/ieeme, than corctaineaconluncy inthc qua ity or 
 difpofirion of her eftate. Bt i"he young or oid,iet her 
 fameliuccucrfrefli; and like greenc Bajer^ moft 
 flourifhing. when the winter of duerdry is moft 
 nipping. Vcrtuecamotexcrcife hcrowuc ftrength, 
 norcxprclTe herowne worih without an Oppolite, 
 Sp.'ces fend forth thefweeteftfcnell, when they arc 
 naolt bruifed ; and Palmes fpread the broadcft, when 
 they are foareft preded. Rtlb'ution without atiaflai- 
 lant, would, intime,bccometft^minare. Yet, Imuft 
 tell you, it is dangerous to tempt eithier yoiirh or 
 age with motiucs of fancy, or to gijc !eaft way to a 
 promifingoppor«jnity. You flia'i finde fecretaflaci- 
 nates enough to vndermine you, you need little to 
 become your owne betrayers. 
 
 1 1 auc heard of a noble Lady inmytimc, whofe 
 defcentand defert equally proclaime her worth, fo 
 tender of the cdcemc of her honour, as dice bed it 
 fcarce (afe to receiue any Letter from a great Perfo- 
 nage, whofc reputation was touched by rumour. 
 This was the way to preftrje her honour tmpycgna. 
 bljy and to reare it aboue the reach of Calumny, 
 Neither are you to becautelous onely of your Efii^ 
 mation in fubiecfls of loue and affe-flron ; bur cuen in 
 your domefticke affaires, which trench vpon your 
 prouidence or exper ce. "Y our difcrerions in thcfe are 
 brought ro the *^fage. Let not profnrentde draw 
 you to fpend, where honcfl- prouidence bids you 
 (pare ; nor niggardlintfll caufc ycu to fpare, where 
 
 a rcpti- 
 
122 
 
 1 
 
 EJltmAttoH. 
 
 U9n may be 
 K rep ar ably 
 loft. 
 
 1 
 
 THEffNGLISH 
 
 rejWHrtWPWas you (pend. she delcrues not to be 
 ^ouerncfle of an houfe, who wants difcretion to 
 moderate hcrexpcnce. Let her refled vpon her pro 
 gcny. intend her charge, and prouide for her family. 
 .\ooodwipis compared to a n'ife Ui^lerchant^ wno 
 brings \\\s trafn kc from a farrc. Now, a wile Mer- 
 chant will no: baut hisOare in euerymans Boate, 
 cur will ferioufly a-idrtfle bis care to his owne, Bu- 
 ilc women would make ill Snayhs^ and worfe houfe- 
 wiues; ftiaglers will neuer become good houfe- 
 kecpers. . 
 
 'Xodozzthhhramh: locompofe your affeclions 
 at ho.Tic and abroad , as prouidence may expreffe 
 your care and charge ia the one; a graue and refer- 
 ued rcuerence preferuc your tftceme m the other. As 
 yojrliues are Hues of dircdion to your fclues, fo 
 iliould they be arguments of inftru Jtion vnto o'.hers. 
 Be you planted m what ftate focutr, let your good 
 I re fort be yoMTgreAttJffittke, for euert'fo may you rcape 
 what your vcrtues haue deferued^ and keepe your 
 Efitmmon imfregnablj freferned* 
 
 N One can preleruc what heloues, by mixing it 
 with the fociety of that he loathes. The luyc 
 while it windes and wreathes it felfeabout the Plant, 
 withanenuiousconfump'iondecayes the fappe. If 
 vou be companions to O^ridjrts^ you fliall fauour of 
 'he wilderncfle. Socrates C2\\t6 Euuyan impoftumc 
 of the foulc : fo may euery corrupt afFc 5lion be pro- 
 perly tearmed- Vices loue neighbourhood, which 
 i ike infediousmaladieSidoeuer moll hurtjwhcn they 
 draw neareft the heart. . 
 
 There is noi\\\r\g(Qent!eii9emtn) that brings your 
 Honour to a more de(peratc hazard, then giuing 
 reines to your owne deiires, Thcfe muft you fubdue 
 
 to 
 
GENTLEWOMAN, 
 
 to the (bucraignty of reason, if you exped reft ia 
 your inward raanfion. What better fruits then ig- 
 nominy may carnall liberty produce? When you 
 make the Theatre your chicfeft place of rcpofe : 
 phantafticke gallants, who neuer yerconuerft wich 
 vertue, your choifeil conforts ; delicious viands, (cr- 
 uants CO your liquorifh appetites ; what conclufion 
 may wee expe<ft from fucb dangerous prem ifes? 
 when modefty puts off her vaile, and vanity begins 
 to ruffic it in liane ; when chaltc defires are chac'd 
 out a breath ; and lightneflc pleads prelcripcjon ; 
 when vermiilion h'as laid fo deepe a colour on an im- 
 pudent skinne, as it cannot blufh withfenleof her 
 owne iTiame ; when E^imation becomes a word of 
 Complement ^orcztck^y worne like fome ouer-caft 
 raiment, valued as painted Pageants doe guiidcd 
 Puppets, oncly forftiew What prodegy fuller of 
 wonder, then to fee a woman thus transform'd from 
 nature ? Wet face is not her owne,note her com^Uxi- 
 her<y<?isnot her owne, note her firaid motton-, 
 
 EfiimatioH, 
 
 on 
 
 her h^ha is not her owne, eye her ftrar.ge fafhion, 
 ^hilz^lo^ferpearssim^Xy Ughtworkes i*2i\\^ thin cob- 
 webbecoucrs promife free admittance to all fcnfuall 
 iouers. Yea, which is more, (he holds it no fliame 
 to glory in (inne, nor tocourt vice in her owne liue- 
 ry ; all which H^emaintaines to be complements of 
 gvTitiiicy. Thus vice is cuer m fafliion, and keepes 
 her gradation till fhe afpire to the height of her 
 building. She begins with conceit-, feconds it with 
 confent^ ftrcngthens it vjithdelightj and incorporates 
 it with cHsicme. 
 
 One of this ranke haue I oft-times obferucd tra- 
 cing the ftreets of this flourifhing City ; who, as one 
 weary of her fexe,forbore not to vnwoman her ftlfe, j 
 by affuming'not onely a t/w/tf habit, but ^ivirAgos)^ 
 heart. Quarrels (he would not fticke to b inde vpon ' 
 
 R 2 any , 
 
?^GL1SH 
 
 BJltt?fa:tun. 
 
 any frcllj-wartr Souldier,whorelare iiidudlion ro tht 
 (ledg: of Gallanrs, had not fufficienrly inform 'd him 
 111 rhac pofture. Nothing dciir'd flie more then lo 
 i^iuc sfifronts in puhlike places, which fhe did with 
 .harcontcmpr,asthedilgrace fl^e a^persMon others, 
 was her lolc content. Places of trequent were her 
 ivendeuoa; where her imperious tongue runnedcf- 
 caxit,on cucry fubiefl minillrcd ; her klfc (he via- 
 ally ingaged for a Seccn.i^ vpori kift occa(ioii ofFred. 
 Now could thcffc- courles any way cboofc but caule 
 that to be irreparah/y Ififi, which by any modeit wo- 
 man fhouldbe incomparably lou'd? Tcli me, were 
 not his ipirit armour of proofe, w'o durft tncoun- 
 er with fo couragious an vArM^on ? or enter nup- 
 ciall lilis with fuch a km\ninc O^fj^mu^on ? Surely, 
 thefc, as they labour to purchafethem opinion of e- 
 fleeme, by their vnwomanly exprcffions of valour, 
 fotheyeclypfe their owne fame, and by thefc irre- 
 gular affronts, dctrad highly from their effentialft 
 honour. Such may gaiac chem vhferi^^me^ but ncuer 
 
 Take heede then , kfl publ'que rumour brand 
 you, Scandall is more apt to difperle what is ill ; 
 then Opinion is to rctaine what is good. When 
 the world is once poflcft of your fihamc ; many dc- 
 feruing actions of p^iety can hardly wipe off that 
 ftainc. Ef<ifis birth-right was tcmporall, yet once 
 • oft, many teares could not regaine it; your foules 
 honour is a birth- right Ipirituall, which once loft, 
 many tedious taskes iLall not rcdeeme ir. Letyour 
 'fiimation be by you fo tenderly loud, as you will 
 r«fher choofe to loarh life, thtn irrefarahfj loofe 
 iH' y wh'.ch is the fwecteft Conforc of humane 
 life.. 
 
 There 
 
GeNTL6Fy&MJ:J^. 
 
 THcre is nothing whicb works not for fomc fW, 
 wherein it may reft and rcpofe.Long before chat- 
 glorious Light wee now eiiioy, did the very Hea- 
 thens, who had no knowledge o"^ a iuture being, re- 
 Joyce highly in the pra6ice ot Moiall vermes, and 
 perforn:^ing lijch commendable oiH.es as might pur- 
 chalecbcmdcfcrued honour, Iming j and eccrnaiiy 
 incmotizethtm dying. 
 
 This might bte illuftrated by (^ucrall inftances in 
 Maidij IViuei^ and U^idowes^ For the hrtt ; tho'.e Lo- 
 crM« Virgins dcfcrue our memory ; whofecuftomc 
 It was,yearciy tobefcHttoTVe;: which vk conti- 
 nued for the fpace of achouiandyearesjyet was it ne- 
 uer heard, thacany of chofe Vir«ins were eiier de- 
 Mowred. Who can likewifc palTe oucr in fiience 
 chofe fcucn C^itlef^n V . rgins ; who, at fuch time as 
 :he Cauls rau^-d and raged euery where,fubiccl:ing ail 
 ro fire and faggor, depiiutd themrciues of hfe, left 
 hofiile force ihou'.d depriue theraof their honour? 
 vVi;h whatpraifes allomxy wee worthily aduancc 
 thole daughters ofi'c'^s^^/p^ of Ltttllra^ a Townc fitu- 
 3tc in the Region of BoectU; who hauing in their fa- 
 chersabfence, hofpitably receiued two young men, 
 by whom, madedrunke with wme, they were that 
 night defloured ; conceiuing a mutuall forrovv for 
 their lofl Virginity, became refolureadlors in their 
 owne Tragedy. An^omena of Mt^^ana ; when in 
 thofe publ ke feafls called Hjf^cinthia, hec had fur- 
 prized fifieene Virgins with the fouldicrs which ar- 
 rcmpted their diOionour, ftraigbtly commanding 
 hem to forbeare from vfing any fuch violence : 
 vho'e Command when they rtfufed to obey , he cau- 
 f'.d chem to be flainei redeeming thofe Virgins with 
 » huge fumme of gold. Afterwards, thcf? Virgins 
 hearing that this AnfierKents was accufed about the 
 
 death. 
 
 I 125 
 
 The abfoJutc 
 ^'dywh. leto 
 
 alpjrcs, and 
 'vhcrem ic 
 thccrctu Jr 
 rea$. 
 
~[ a^ 6i 
 
 NGLISH 
 
 AnEnglifli 
 
 
 dvatn or one of crioic tncn, w^oai hec had comtaati- 
 dcd to be ll:iiiie J (h'jy vvouid not returne into their 
 ovvneiiaciuc Counrrcy, ruiliichttme, asproftrating 
 themfdues beiore the itti of the ludge, with their 
 pra trsand rearcs,thcy had dcliuered from bonds the 
 d'-ftiidero^cb€»t honour. 
 
 Yea, to draw nearer home, and inftancc this Mai- 
 den-cur Juncy in one oi our owne ; *' I haue heard of 
 "anorablc fpiritedGirle, within the walls ofthis 
 '' Cicy ; who, aibeit ftie frequented places of publiks 
 "Coneour^c boldly, difcouifed freely ,exprefled her 
 " felfe in all aiiiyes forvvardly; yec fo tender was ilie 
 "o^prcferui'igher honour, that being on a time fiii- 
 '' ted by a y- ung Caueliero, who wa*- fo taken with 
 ' the height of her fpirit, wherewith fhee was en- 
 dowed, as be preferred it before the beauty of an 
 "amor« us tacc , where w.rh fhe was but meanely en- 
 " riched. She prefently apprehending the loofenelTe 
 '' of his defires, ieemingly condefcended j fo iJiee 
 ** might be furnifhed and appointed, and the bufi- 
 "ncfTewich t^tlecrecy carried, asnooccafion of 
 **fufpitiO!i might bee probably grounded. Thisan- 
 " fwer cheer'd our yong Gall ant ; winged with hope 
 ''toenioy, what hi s wild defires did fo much afFed. 
 *' A Coach IS prou'.dc'd ; all things prepared ; the ve- 
 *' f y place appointed where they fhall meet,to haften 
 "their light i ourney : which,for inorepriuacy,muft 
 ** be the Countr. • Time and place they obferu'd ; but 
 '* before fhe would mount her Coach, calling him a- 
 " fide, (hte tels him, how fliee had vow'd nc uer to 
 " conftnt to any man in that kind, till (ht e had fir^ 
 ** tri'd his mcttali m the field. Draw he muft, or fhc 
 *' will difgracc him ; in which combat, inftead ot a 
 **moreamoronsConflid, fliee difarm'dhim» and 
 *' with a kicke,\viiVd hfm euer after tobe more wa- 
 ''ry howheattf.ii)pted a Maidens honour. 
 
 For 
 
GSNTLSWOMAJ^:. 
 
 Forthe/^fflW, excellent was theanfvveror tnoie 
 Lacedemonian vviues ; who being immodcllly fuited, 
 made this reply : '* Surdj, we jhoula gine Kay to your 
 *' recjuejl^ hut tht4yoMjue for is nst in ow power te grant : 
 t^'for vfhen we ypere L^fatds^ r»ee were to be atlpafed of hy 
 '" Oftr parents ; and now f'etnff 'oimeSy If onr husbands. At 
 (iich time aj» the lal.abicants diTyre carr.e to Lacede^ 
 mon ; lutpe.iing them to be Spyes, they threw thtm 
 iriropriioi ; whole wiucs, hauing got Jeaue to vific 
 and comfort them in their captiuity, changed gar* 
 mcnts with them, and according co their Countries 
 guife, vailed their faces, by wliich meanes the men 
 efcapcd,kauing their vviues rdiraintd: which deep, 
 ly pcrp exed all the Lacedemoni<*ns* NoleiJcconiugaJI 
 louc ftie wed ^/t <[/?<« tohere^dW/ji^ ; Laodimiato 
 her ProthefiUm ; Panthia to htxSuJi(it ; Aftemifia co 
 her ^JMah'.oIm j Zenohia to her Oedonattu, 
 
 Thefe wtregood vviues, which Zenophou cals the 
 highcft grounds ot^ humane feiicry. Nothing^being 
 more amiabk than an honeft woman, faith Theognu j 
 nothing conferring more ioy to man, faith lententi- 
 ous Xt^u^ . 
 
 For the r^iW, what (ingnlar mirrors orv*fliW//con- 
 tincncy, and n-arron like modefty wercp>r«?/M,A>- 
 f^ftrta, Ltftta, and that molt Chnlban widdow Sa/ui- 
 na^ to whom S. Hierem direftcd maiy fwcttand 
 comfortable Epiftlcs. Tht<e you might haue found 
 attired m graue funerail garment*;, (asmemona^s of 
 thc'irdeceadd husbands) of modtftbthauiour. reue- 
 rendprc(ence,pubhrhmi» to :hc vvor da contempt of 
 the world,m their otu ward apparance. 
 
 N)W, what may y«'i M'ppoicd d iho^c Pagan La- 
 dies hold 'o be the ^•^Wv/r f>»<», « ^trc^ot^i« tender 
 care of their Sptmation thii ff .■ ^/{f-rr.i^^n^ u : f-rf in it 
 cheerefuHy rfy?*<^ > It was roc riches, no< r.y luch 
 temperall refped; for »btk ;hey conrera'iedj^o '•heir 
 
 honour 
 
 Tlui^rch. 
 
Efitmatt^, 
 
 honour rnighc beprc(triitd.No;rhere was implan- 
 ted ill them an innate dtfirc of Morali {^oodneffe ; 
 mixed with an honeftambirioHj loco aduanceiheir 
 ejieeme during ilk, that thtry might become exam- 
 ples vnto others of a good Morali life, andptrpetu-( 
 ate their memories after death. 
 
 Your ambition (£/rf<!^/(rj) muft mount higher, bc- 
 caufe your Conuerfatioh is htaaenlier.lt is immorta> 
 lity you afpirc to j a lo.^'er Oibc cannot hold you i 
 norhingelfe may confine you. Be it then your high 
 eft Efiimatiou to honor him, who is the h^rnc of) our 
 I'Aiyation, Let not a moment of deluding vanity, dt- 
 priiieyouof tbehope of eternity. Your voyage is 
 fhort ; your hazzard ^reat. Many d iliJUities en- 
 counter you in the way 5 addrcflfc your Iciuts there- 
 fore in the way, tofbme good workc. Let Pati- 
 ence teach you how to lufFcr,Dv uorion fwec- 
 len your encounter, BfHrft^tton 
 crowne you wirh fucccc- 
 dms: honour. 
 
 ss 
 
 fa 4A Wimt.\ ^a VWW^Wms\ 
 
129 
 
 
 FaK C Y, 
 
 TH E 
 
 ENGLISH 
 
 Gendewoman. 
 
 Argument. 
 Fancy ut»h vritbliebberenen grounded imtb Con- 
 fidMcy retained ; Wanton Fancy is a wandria^ frenzy ; 
 How it mt^y he checked ^ ifteo wilde j How cheered, if too 
 coolc \ Art attemferament of both. 
 
 Fancy. 
 
 ANCY is an affeai- 
 
 on priuily receiued in 
 
 by the eje^ and fpecdily 
 
 conucyed lo thei&^drf. 
 
 The Eje is the ifr4r^^«- 
 
 ger, bnt the heart is the 
 
 hmboHter, Loue con. 
 
 ceiu'd at firll light, fel- 
 
 dome lafts long. Velt- 
 
 deration muft lead ir, or 
 
 elfc it is mif- guided. 
 
 i^w^<f before you /ft^^, is a good rule ; but to ^t^e^t 
 
 S firft 
 
 OhJertitt^S. 
 
 Fancy is to be 
 with delibera- 
 tion groun- 
 ded. 
 
I^O 
 
 THE ENGLISH 
 
 F A N c y. 
 
 firll Lool^e mikes an hoLifeof miCrule. Is he oFhan- 
 !ome perfonage whom you loue? His proportton is a 
 mouingObiccfltoyoureye, but his prtion (tc may 
 be) will nor agree with your fta:c. Againe, admit he 
 hauc both thele ; proportion ro purchale your efteeme, 
 2^n^ portion to maintaine your eltare : /us breft is not 
 rraiifparent j hisciirpofitionmay becrookod ; and 
 that will caftdowne all that was before afFeded. 
 Themtflocles being demanded by a Nobleman of 
 gnece^ whether he had rather marry his daughter to 
 one rich and eu' U, or one poore and good ; made this 
 anfwer : *' I had rather loaus a manvpithout money, than 
 " monj mthout a, ;w^«.Whence it was,that l^srtia, the 
 younger daughter of Torttm Catot being asked 
 when Oice would betake her felfe to an husband, 
 reply cd; whtnl findfonethtut Icekesme.mtmine, 
 
 Witty was that young Gf^fieivomansaniwcTtoan 
 inconfiderale Suiter : who with much ihftancy fol- 
 Hciccd the father for theaffcdion of his daughter j 
 whereto bauing at lafl; confcnrcd; and the Couenants 
 of marriage conclndtd : this indifcreet wooer vn- 
 fcafo lably imparts his mindeto the daughter; who 
 made (Grange with it, faying, She uener heard of any 
 ■uch matter \T fa ^«/,replitd he,/ haue made jour father 
 '-'r^rfiih acijr4aintedy and he hatfj already confented ; and 
 you may marfy htm (oo^^nCwtiQd ihce/orpn mufi held 
 >ne exchfed. 
 
 There is no time that exaifls more modf.fly of any 
 .voman, than in her time of fuiring; a fhamtfaft 
 red chcn bcft commends her, and the mouingfl Ora- 
 Lor that fpeakes for her. So as ?ii^^i/,the very Prince 
 of our Latine Poets, when he tJiould bring in King 
 L^t'fifu priuacely conferring with his wife ^Amata^ 
 and Turmu^ to whom in nuptiall bands he was to e- 
 fpoufe his daughter : he brings in the young maid 
 weeping, blufhing, and filcnc. W hf nee is implyed, 
 
 'hat 
 
GENTLEWOMAN. 
 
 Iji 
 
 that it becomes not a Maid to fpcake of marriage in 
 her parents prefence/or chat were Imall argumenc of 
 modelty or ihamefaftnelfc. There is a pretty pleafing 
 kinde of wooing drawne troni a eonceiued but con- 
 cealed Fancy ; wbich5in ray opinion,(uits vvetl with 
 thefe ameroas younglins : they could wifti with all 
 their hearts to be euer in the prefence of thofe they 
 loue, fo they might not be feene by thofe they loue. 
 Might they chufe, they would conuerfc with them 
 freely, confort with them friendly, and impart their 
 truelt thoughts ful/y, yet would they norhaue their 
 baflifiiU loues finde difcouery. They would be feene, 
 yetfeemc oblcured; loue, hcj^not di^clofc it j (ee 
 whom they loue, but notbeeeyed,. This the Poet 
 ii^. the perfon of a Shepherdefle neatly dilp.'ayeth : 
 P hill is to •mll9wes^ li^e a ctinningfljer^ 
 Tljei^jet ^efeares^ber ShepheardjJfOiiUnot fpy her. 
 Now in this Subied of Faticy^ as there is nothing 
 more dangerous than entertaining it without due 
 and deliberate aduice : (o there is nothing growes 
 more generally fatall to the indifcreet Loaer, than by 
 grounding afFedion on outward refpcds, without 
 relation to xhMtn^ard faire^ which onely makes the 
 Obiedl of Fancy {\x[\o^ beauty, and prefents euery 
 day as a Marriage-day to the party .Neither affluence 
 of cftite,potcncy of friends, nor highnefle of descent 
 can attemper the griefe of a loathed bed. Thefe may 
 play vpon the Fantafe, but neuer gUic (atisfaL^ion to 
 the Fancy. Wherefore {getttlcwomen) to the end yon 
 may fliew your feluesdilcreeteft in that, whicb re- 
 quires your difcretion raoft , difcuflfe with your 
 felues the purity of loue, the quality of your loner ; 
 euer refieding on thofe bcft defcruing endowments 
 of his, which cither make bim worthy or unwor- 
 thy your loue. Affcdiou, though it enter in by the 
 narrow cranny of the Sye^ it ilioots at thz hearty 
 I S 3 which 
 
 !Fa 
 
 N c Y. 
 
132 I 
 
 TBS E9CGLISB 
 
 Fancy. \ which, vnlcfl'e it be (ealonedby iudgcment, it can 
 not delcrue fo fiiire a title. ^ A difcrcet eye will not be 
 taken with a imooth skinnc ;|it is not the riraie but 
 themnde that is her AdgmMt, 
 lufltm a Roman Maid,no lefifc nobly defccnded,than 
 notably accomplifhcd, being married to one more 
 rich ihan wile, exclaimed againft her fate, that folly 
 {hculd hale her to (b loathed a bed. And good reafon 
 had fliC to repincjwhen his groundlefle iealofic made 
 her a tragickfpe^adc of mifery before her timc.For 
 feeing her white necke,rhat obicd begot in him pr«- 
 fently an argument of ill fpcdl, which hce feconded 
 with rcucngCjto ventfdic fury of his nature^and pub> 
 lilh to the world the weakneflc of his temper. Let 
 de liberation lYitn bs rheScale,wherin you may weigh 
 Loue in an equall poize. There bee many high and 
 coniequent Circumihnces,which a difereet woman 
 will not onelydifcourfebntdifcufle, before Aiee en- 
 tertain fomylkcrious and honorable eftatc.Dirparity 
 in defccnt, fortiines,friends,with other like lefpeAs, 
 many times beget dif^radion of mindes. Whence it 
 was, that TittacHt ofCMitjlene^ being intreatcd by 
 a young man, to afford him his befl aduicc, in the 
 Choycc of twowiues tcndrcdhim, whether hec 
 (hould marry; the one whereof was equall to him- 
 fclfe both inbirth and wealth ; the other furpafling 
 himinboth; VVifti*d himtogoc along the ftreets 
 of the City, where children vie to play, and there 
 obferue what they did adiiiie him. Truth is, inequa- 
 lity in thefe,procwre8 diftafte ; but where there is a 
 difference inthefeazurcor difpofurc of the heart, 
 (which fliGuldbe the firmeft and ftrongeft Cement 
 to vnitc affedion) there arifeth the greateft hazard* 
 Thence is ir, Sufpition workes vpon euery light and 
 friuolous iiibicd ; while the other party hunts after 
 opportuaity,to fiirfct on forbidden fruit,and giue her I 
 • fufpitious 
 
GeUTLSWOMJS^. 
 
 33 
 
 fufpitious Mate iufl ground of ieaIou{ie* Feed bee 
 mty his indigedcd humour in a iealous pafture, and 
 vow reuenge when hce (hallHnde an aptlubied^ 
 meane time hee becomes inoifibly gull'd , while 
 he deludes himfelfc with painted fhado wes. 
 
 I No ledleufie can ettertbdtfreuent 
 WhtrcM tvf 9 forties ence be fni content, 
 
 Seuerall, I know, are the t^kBa of loue, as arc 
 the difpofitioQS of thofe that loae. Liuia made 
 quicke difpatch of her husband, becaufe (hee lou'd 
 him too little : Ludtinoi hers, becaufe fheeloucd 
 him coo much. Phoedro fancied thefetu leflc than 
 (hee (hould, but young Htffetjtw more than hee 
 would. Which effe(fts arc vfually produced, when 
 either dilparity of yeares breed diilike^; or ob(cu- 
 rity of delcent begets contempt ; or inequality of 
 fortunes, difcontent. Deliberate then before you 
 marry, and thus expoftulate with your felues tou- 
 ching his Condition, whom you are to marry, 
 •* Is he young ? I will beare with his youth, till bet- 
 ter experience bring him to the knowledge of man. 
 My vlage (ball bee moreeaiie, than toweane him 
 firom what bee affefts, by extremity. Youth will 
 hauc his fwinge ; his ownc dilcrction will bring 
 him home ; at lead, time will redaime him ; bee 
 fliall not findemee put onaclowdy brow, oren- 
 tertaine his freer courfe with a (cowle. I mufl con- 
 forme my felfe to him , confirme my loue in 
 him, and fo demcane mee towards him, that 
 Coniugall duty mixt with all afiability may winne 
 him. 
 
 "Agafne, ishcofd? His age (hall beget in mee 
 more rcuerence ; his words lliall be as fo many aged 
 and cime-improued precepts to informe me; his ani- 
 ons as fb many diredions to guide me; his rebukes t 
 
 as I 
 
 Fan 
 
 C Y, 
 
 Ruftt, 
 
THe eNGLISH 
 
 as fo many friendly admonitions to reclaimc mee j 
 his bed I will honour, noYnchaltc thought fl>all de- 
 file it ; his Counfell I will kcepe, no forraiue brcft 
 (hall partake it. I will bee a lUffe to him in his age, 
 to (upport him • an eye todiredhim ; an hand to 
 help him; his Subftance I will not fcatteron a youth- 
 fiiU Loucr : but ferue him ftill, whom I haue vow'd 
 to honour. 
 
 " Againe, is he rich ? Much good may it doe himj 
 thi^ (hall not make me proud ; my defire (hall be, he , 
 may iraploy it for his beftaduantage ; I will moae 
 him to communicate vntothe needy, that his riches 
 may make him truly happy. Ic is a miferable Hate 
 that ftarucs the owner. I will perfwade him to en- 
 ioy his owne, and fo auoyd bafcne(re ; to referuc 
 a prouident care for his owne , and (huane pro- 
 ftifencffc* 
 
 ■ ,*;* Againe, ishcepoorc? Hi$ pouerty (hall make 
 me rich; there is no want, where there wants no 
 content. This I (hall enioy in him, and with him; 
 which the world could not afford mee, liu'd I with- 
 out him . It hath bcene an old Maxime ; that as po^ 
 iierty goes in at one dopre, loue goes out at the other; 
 but this rule fhall neuer dirtd: my thoughts ,- (Kould 
 poverty enthrall me, it (liall neuer appall me ; my af- 
 1 fedipn (hall counterpoize all afflidion : Noadiier(i- 
 tycandjulde mee from him, to whom my vowed 
 faith hath indiuidually ti*dme. ''In av/ord, is heel 
 wife ? He (hall be my 7"M^i. " is he foolilli ? J, wiil 
 by all meanes ^ouer his weakenefle : as I am now 
 made one v^ith bim^ fo will I haue mine cijuall (Kare 
 in any afperfion that (hall be throwne on him. , 
 
 Thus if y^ouexppftwlate,^your Chriftianconftant; 
 reTolues (hi?ll make you-truly fortunate. Your Fttufy 
 hOn^eUymtien grounded; which promiieth (itch 
 fLicce{re,a5.Yi0p.r Marruas-daycs fl^all neuer feare the 
 
 bitter 
 
GSNTLeWOMA^^C. 
 
 \ IJ5 
 
 birtcr encounter of vntimely repentance, nor thei Fan c y. 
 curelcffeanguilliofanafflivfled Conlcience. \ — JL 
 
 rHe fe'fe-fame rule -which AugHllu4 was faid to 
 oblcTue in his choice and conllanc retention of 
 friends, are y ou, Gentlewnmen^ to apply to your (elues 
 in the choice of your fecond-fclues. He was ilovv in 
 enurtatmng^ but moft coiiftant in retaining, Fauorites 
 are not to be wori;c like fauours ; now in your har, 
 Or about your vvnil, and pr^fently out of rcquell. 
 \.Vhichtopreuenr, entertaine none to lodge neere 
 your heart, cha: may harbor in his breil ought wor- 
 thy your hate. Thofc two Motto's I would h.aue you 
 inceflantly to remember ,• for the vietuil application 
 of them may highly conduce to your honour. The 
 one is that of Caia Tra»^utHa, which fhe eucr wk^ to 
 herroyall Spoufe Cdita Tarcjmnius Prifcm; PVhere 
 thcHcvt CaiHSy I am Cai^i. The other,that ofRhth vn- 
 to Naomt ; If'htther thon goe^^l willgoe : and where thoa 
 dwell J}, I -willd^eU, 
 
 There xi no greater argument of lightnefle, then 
 toaffwd the acq»jaintance of flrangers, and to enter- 
 taine variety of Suiters. Thefe,as they diffrad the 
 (fr^jfo they infect the ^(frf'T. Conftantyou cannot be 
 where you profcfTe, fo long as ycu affcdl change. 
 Vowtsdchberacelyaduifed,and reh'gioufly groun- 
 ded, arc not to be difpcnc'd with. But fay, you ncuer 
 vowed : haue you made outward profefTions ofloue, 
 and entertained a good opinion of that obied in your 
 heart ? Againe, are you refolued, that his afFerftion 
 IS reall towards you ? That his prorefts, though de- 
 liuered by his mouth, are engrauen in his heart ? Let 
 not fo much good loue be loft; infult notoutr him, 
 whom vnfained affedion hath vow'd your fcr- 
 ua n. 
 
 Let 
 
 ^Mcy is to be 
 withconftan- 
 cy retained. 
 
3(J I 
 
 TUe ENGLISH 
 
 
 Fancy. 1 Let fVoiuet and beafit be cruett in tbHr kinde$^ 
 But fVomen meekf, andhatte reknting mindes. 
 It were too much incredulity in you to diftruft, 
 where yoa neuer found iuft caufc oFdiftaftc. Yea, 
 but you will againe obied ; wc are already by your 
 owne Ohftruatiom efficiently inftruftcd, that FAncj 
 U to he with eieliherntion pounded , that loue lightly 
 laid on, lafts not long. Should wc then afFe«fl before 
 we findc ground ofrcfpedl? Should wee entertainc 
 a Rbetotacall Louer,whofe protells arc formal Com- 
 plem€nts,and whofc promifesare gilded pill$,which 
 couer much bitterncfle ? No, I would nothaucyou 
 fo credulous, left your NuptiaH day become omi- 
 nous. Make true triail and experiment of bis Con- 
 ftaocy, who tenders his fcruice toyou. Sift him, ii 
 you can findc any brannc in him. Taske him,bcfore 
 you take him. Yet let thefe be fwcetly tempred with 
 lenity; Let themooi be Taskes of infuperable dif- 
 ficulty. This were to tyrannize, where youlhould 
 louc. This was OtnfbMet fault, to make her faithf ull 
 feruant,aferuileflaue. Alas! fliallhec fare the worfc 
 becaufe hcc loucs you? This would induce others, 
 who take notice of your cruelty, to loath you. And 
 make your discarded louer, furprized with an amo- 
 rous diftempcr,to reply, as Ahjtilotn to H»p>aijt this 
 thy ^ndnejfe to thjjriend ? My counfell is, that, as it 
 willbeviefullfor yoaxo delUerate^ before you take 
 fo much as the Icaft Notions of an afFedionate Ser- 
 uant ; yea, and to (econd that de/iherationwith fbme 
 probable proofe or triail, that hec is truly conftant : 
 fo it will be a gratefull office in you, toretainc him 
 in your fauourwith a gracious refped ; to counte- 
 nance the improuement of his conftancy with a 
 chcerefiill and amiable afpedl: : to banifli all ciowds of 
 feemingdifcontent, and to giue him fome modeft 
 expreffionsofth^increale of your good Conceit to> I 
 
 wards I 
 
GENTLEWOMAN. 
 
 wards him. .Lee this be done, cill HjwfHlmike yoj ; 
 iadiuidually one. Then, and ncuer till then, may 1 
 Loue enioy her full freedome. S^c flands priuiledg'd i 
 by a facrcd rite to laftethat fruit, which before was [ 
 forbidden. Mutuallrerpefts,hkeibmany diametrall I 
 lines, pointing all to one Centre, are then direded j 
 to one exquifite obied ; the purttj oUofse ; which ! 
 produceth this admirable efFed : -it makes one (bale 
 rule two hearts, and one heart dwell in two bodies. 
 Now, I would hauc you, when your tiefires are 
 drawne to this period ; to become fo taken with the 
 loue of yourchoyce, as to interpret whatfoeuer hee 
 lliall doe, euer to the btft lenlc.It were little enough 
 that you retained a good opinion of h]in,who ftands 
 in fo many feuerall ingagements obliged for you. 
 Should ypur riot bring him into debt ; his reftraint 
 roufl: make you free. Df^rance muft be his fuif, while 
 better ftuffc makes you a Coace. Yea, wbatConfci- 
 ence is there in it, but hee iliould receiue an affable 
 and amiable refpcd from you ; feeing, li your^<7«. 
 fci.T»cf be no Conferma/tfi, he mufl: pay for you ? 
 
 Thefe refpeds fliould perpetually eye you, to ho- 
 nour him,who becomes io U^al,'}' ty'd for you. Re- 
 quite thefc then with conftancy, and retains this en- 
 (iiing Example euer in your memory. Ti^eo^cfia^w iic 
 to ^gathociesj fliew'd admirable conftancy m her 
 husbands greateil mi(ery,fhewing her felfe moll his 
 owne, when he was relinquifht and forfaken of his 
 owne; dozing her refolution with this noble Con- 
 clufion : *' Shee had net endj betaken her felfe to be hit 
 '' Companion in frejperitj^ hut in alifcrtmes that jhould ' 
 'HefaUhim, 
 
 Conforme your felues to this Ol^firror , and 
 it will reforme in you . many a dangerous er- 
 rors. Thus if you Hue, thus if you loue : honour 
 cannot chufe but accompany you lining, mucbcom- 
 
 T fort 
 
 13.7 
 
 A K Y. 
 
n8 
 
 TBe ED^GLlSU 
 
 F AN c ¥♦ I fore acteiwi you louing,aiK^a vercuous memory ^m 
 balme you dying. 
 
 Wanton F«»- 
 
 iy is a wao- 
 iiring fren^e. 
 
 W Anton Loue feldomc or neuer promifi:th 
 good fucceffe ; the efcS canno: bee good, 
 when the tfte7isill. Seafe muftbccthe hlindt Un- 
 thorne to guide her, while fl-^ee rambles in the ilrcet : 
 for Reafon, (he leaues her fleeping with the Confta- 
 ble. Whacdcuices iliee hath to purchafc her a mo- 
 ment of penitentiall pleafurc ? Her *;<? lookes,and by 
 ic the fenfe of her minde is auertcd ; her e^i beares, 
 and by it the intention oFhcr heart is peruerted; her 
 /w*^ breathes, and by it her thoughts arc hindered ; 
 her ma^th fpeakes, and by it others are deceiucd j hy 
 toHcb^ her heat of defire vpon tucr y fmall occafion is 
 ftirred. Neuer raged t^/cydes on MonnzOeta, nor 
 Orlando ioT his AngtiicA, more than thele Vtopian lo- 
 uers, for their imaginary (hadowes. There is a k:tid 
 of Spider bred in Pulia^ called Taranduia^ which be- 
 ing of a diuerfe nature, caufeth diuerle tfl^d:s ; fome 
 £0 dance, fome to {ing, others to wccpe, or watch, 
 oulwcac. The foueraigneft cure it admits of, is Mu- 
 fick; while the Patient by dancmg.or (bme other ve- 
 hement exercife of that rorr,expuIfeth chepoyfbn,& 
 giuespafl'age tohisporesof relpiration. Many like 
 Creatures there be of a malignant nature, but none 
 , comparable to a diftempered Loucr. 
 
 Now,that we may vfc the method oPArt ; to cure 
 the ejfe^, is to take away the canfe : my purpo(e 
 (litll bee firft todifcouer thole incendiaries or fo- 
 ments of this inordinate paffion, or intoxicating 
 poyfon ; fecondly, the cfFcds arifing from them; 
 iaftly, the cure or remedy of them. 
 
 For the firft, wee miy very properly reduce the 
 prime grounds of this w^ton fancjy or rvandring 
 
CeNTLeWOMJN. 
 
 1J9 
 
 {renrj to a Catalogue included h\ thek two ver fes : Fancy, 
 
 7 he Lures ofiufiy audfioines ofhnoHr are» 
 
 On cuery of which particular to infill, would en 
 large this hanch too much ; we will onely poy liC ac 
 them and fo Icaue them. For thcfirll, Sententious 
 Seneca faith, he had rather endure the vtinofl ot for- 
 tunes extremitic, than (ubied: hirofdfe to Shth or 
 SfnfuM/ttj. For it is this only, which makethot mci)^ 
 womtn; of women, bcafts j ofbeafts, monftcrs. 
 Thisthenistobelhunned, if the reward of vertue 
 be to be (hartd. Secondly, ri-Mj corrupt the dilpo- 
 fition J they fct an edg. or g'offc ondepraued Liber- 
 ty : making that member offend moft, when it 
 (houldbe implojedm profiting molK fherotgue is 
 more tflF. duali than any Letter ; let it be then fo im- 
 ploycd, as it may improue the hearer. Xhirdht'Bo^ki 
 tnating of light fubieds, art Nurferies of wanroa- 
 Fif fle : they inftrud the loofe Reader to become 
 naught, whereas before, touching naughrintfle he 
 knew naught. A llory of the rape of Cfamn.ede', or 
 of lighc i^'iw in 8»rypfdes,9irc their daily Lcdure'^. 
 f>/^/AD»uinePhilofophy,or Diceanhw pious ''re- 
 ceptsot Morality ,muft viik lO ^/c^fff, or ^racre- 
 o*ts wanton l^oe lie. Venta and 4dottu are vufitring 
 Confoi ts for a Ladies bofcme* Remou^ them time- 
 ly from you, if they euer had entertainment by ' ou, 
 lefl, tike the Snuke in the fable, they annoy you. 
 Fourthly, Eyes are thole ^W<>7rtf; by which dca 'j 
 enters ; your inward houfe cannot (hine, vnl' fl' 
 chcfe be Hiut ; Obiefts they haue of more beauty to 
 take them, than thefe fights of vanity, which mife^ 
 rablytainc them. Eue looked on the fruir before 
 fhee counted, coueting Ihf e tafted, tailing flie peri- 
 fhcd. Tbusafpiring to the knowledge of good and 
 1 T 2 -'•'' 
 
 euii 
 
x4o 
 
 F A N C 
 
 THE ENGLISH 
 
 Ari^ dereg. 
 Tr'm. 
 
 euill, became to h?r and her pofterity euill. The Eye 
 is a Lintngg/ajpy but if wee make it a faffegUffe^ it 
 will neither reprefent vs truly, nor difcouer our ble- 
 mishes freely ; but make that feemefaire which is o- 
 dious and vgly. By this meancs, many good ob- 
 leifls become Eye-foaress/rLtovs^ which, ifcieaiely 
 viewed, would likeafoucraigne Eje-bri^ht^ rellore 
 fight vnto vs. Fifthly, Conforts are theeues of time, 
 they will rob you of opportunity, the befi: treafure 
 time can afford you, if you fuffcr them toincroach 
 on you and abufe you. Chu(e fuch then for your 
 Confarts, of whom you may haac aflured hope, that 
 they will either better you, or bee bettered by you. 
 Chufe fuch, whom you may admire both when you 
 fee them and heare them : when you lee their liuing 
 Doflrine, and heare their who'.efome inftruclion. 
 Laftly, Ltifi'totu jare is the fuell of euery inordinate 
 concupifcence. Nothing fo much feeds it, norinfcn- 
 fates the vnderftanding by delighting in it. By re- 
 ftraint or this, you lliall learne to moderate your de- 
 fires. Whence you may reioycc, yetinhim,who is 
 yourioy, ifyou can line fparingly, andembraccthe 
 meaacs that may cfiallife in youallfeniuality : for by 
 your fpare life is luft cxtinaui(lied,7ertue nouriflied, 
 themindeftrengthened, the vnderftanding to hea- 
 uenly things rayied. Yea, abftinence auaileth much 
 for preferuino health of body and length of life. 
 Whence it is fa id : Ue that dieteth himjelfey pro huge th 
 iife. Which the profound St<t^inan confirmcs in 
 thele words: To akftaine fremnot aad fuper^uitj^ is 
 the/Guerai^fi'lJ prefer ip'ton er pbyficke for the hodj. 
 
 Now to defccnd to the fecond (branch of ourdiui- 
 fion in this Ohferuation •, wee might here enumerate 
 thofe many odious and inhumane cffcdSjWhich haue 
 and doe daily arife from the violence of this Wnntan 
 fmc) or fVandringfieaz^j j and what tragicke eusnts 
 
 it 
 
GSNTLeWOM.A!?i. 
 
 I 141 
 
 ic hath in all times produc'd : but they would feeme ' Fancy, 
 relations too full ot'horror to your modefl: and time- 
 rous Natures. Onclylet mce tell you, if you dcfirc 
 to be fatisfied infubieds ofthatkindc, our ltaiUn 
 Stories will afford you variety : Where indifcreet 
 Loueclozeth her doleful! Scene with fo miferablcan 
 Exit, as no Pencillcan expreffe any pidureto more 
 life, than an hiftoricall line hath drawne out the web 
 of their miferies. So as, that ancient Adage might 
 feeme verified : That from flaues and mifcrablc peo- 
 ple God hath taken away the one halfe of their vn- 
 
 ^erfi-indif}^. 
 
 Now to cure this defperate maIady(chough to you 
 the cure, I hope, be needletfe,being free from all fuch 
 violent diftempers;) thebeftand foucraignlt reccic 
 is to fortifie the wcaknes of your fexe with ftrength 
 of refolution ,• that, with inccflant deuotion. Be not 
 too liberall in the beftowing of your fauors j nor too 
 familiar in publike coHuerfe. Prelume not too much 
 on the ftrength of a vveakc Fort. Make a Contrad 
 with your eyes not to wander abroad, left they bee 
 catch'd in comming home. Treat not of loue too 
 freely ; play not wagges with the blinde boy ; hec 
 has a dangerous ay me, though he hath no ey cs.Sport 
 not with him, that may hurt you ; play not with 
 him,that would play on you.Your Sports will turne 
 to an ill ieftjwhen you are wounded in earneft : the 
 F{j may be then your Embleme : 
 
 So long the foolt(h Fly plajes mtb thep.ame^ 
 
 T'tUber light fnings Are cingtdin the fame. 
 Fly roan higher Sphere : you are yet vntouch'd j 1 
 thistvaadriftg 'jyeftz,y hith neucr yetfurpriz'd you;, 
 preuent the meanes, and it fliall neuer inuade you. 
 Be noffuch foes to your felues, as to purchafe your 
 ownedifquict. Examples you haue of all forts, boih 
 to'allure and deterreyou.Pure loue admits no flaine. 
 
 Such 
 
t^z 
 
 rue ENGLISH 
 
 Fancy. 
 
 Mow Tamj 
 maybe chec- 
 ked, if too 
 
 Such Ajf^hcj IS mucr inci<^cnt to tfenjjAi cucr then 
 J cu t rtcrtaife any lone, let it be fuch as brings witK 
 it a veitucus (olacc ; for all others, howfoeuer the> 
 may fteire to prcmifefomc perfundlory delight, 
 they euercaftvp their laft account withrepcntarce. 
 
 V^ti.'O.*- 
 
 WHen a man bleeds at the nofe, and through 
 abundance of blood is bioi ghtjn danger ot 
 his life,il ePh) f oa lets him b ocd jn hi.^ aim toturn 
 the ccurle of the bleed another vay. If 'oueifine out 
 in too violent a ftrtpmc ,it is to be cooled by a t( mpe» 
 rate txpoilulatic with/ «e«;f;:rr clft by fiMrg cur eic 
 vponlcme nioieattjad>it:< ctit^, diuert thtcourft 
 ot ihat naddirgpi^lTon. txpdlLilafe Uith fancy^ 
 thus you may,fafely 6i fitely *'Hc u is ii with ir.t ? 
 " Met ihinkts, it lares oihtrwile than it hath done 
 " formerly. A flrJrtediflfmper I find in my mind; 
 **ard it might kc me lonKmble Irue, if J J new 
 *^* tf c narurc of it. Loue 1 Can virgin- mode fly re- 
 *' turne that tecmt^ arc nc t bli fl^ ? Yes ; u 1 y ror ? 
 " If the Cbitd I aficd be worthy touing.And i' rot, 
 *' what then ? Is not rhe Icucr tuci blinded with at- 
 ** ftfiion towards his btlcued ? He, w t o may ictmv 
 " aT^f»//fJtoanother, ma) tea P<*r/jin m'necyc: 
 ^ Were he poore as7y»',/^«Kf7nattihm dearer 
 " toiae, than the weatl ot C>a/$u. Yea, but a lit- 
 "tlt aduicc wculd doe well. /*rt thou pcrl'waded 
 "thatthis Non-fa^aLeli ^i\cvi thus afftdVcfl-, hath de- 
 "dicatedhis leruice one'> to thte ? Yes; his pro- 
 " teftshaueconfiim'd him mine. Ftfidcs,hisconti- 
 "ruall prdence feconds whathce proufts : That 
 " hourc is tedious, whtrtin bee kts me not ^ thofc 
 '*pleafuresodious,wh chmy pref^nce accompanies 
 ** nor. His eye is cuei fixtd on me ,• his fole difcourfe 
 '*is tome* What laftcd hee cmbraccth with de- 
 light; 
 
'^ light ; what I dif-rcllifli, hce cnccrtaincs with I F a n c y. 
 
 "d'lUfte. ■- 
 
 Thefe, Imuftconfefle, {"IfntlewonMn) ircpromi- 
 iing arguraeius oFrnfained loue i yet may aU thefe 
 I erre, and confcqucntly leaue you in a miferable Er- 
 ror. Your True-toM may proue a /<«/«« or a Thefent^ 
 andleaue you mthe bryersforall your confidence. 
 You fay, his Protefts haue confirm'd him yours; he 
 hath atcefted heawn to bearc record of his louc. A!as 
 of Credulity 1 Take heed he play not the pare of that 
 ridiculous A^or in Smjrna^\fjhiO pronouncing, hea, 
 uen \ pointed with his finger to the ground. Or like 
 chat namekflc Louer, who foUiciting aGcntlewo- 
 mans affcdioii with aboundance oFamorous Rheto 
 r!cke,concludcd wuh tliis Emphatictll protefti th^t 
 ^ee vas the oneij UVUfheQ'e ef hts thoughts : which con- 
 clufioa being oucrheai d by one to whom not long 
 oeforc vpon Uke prorcfts bee had ingag'd his faith ; 
 ibe replied. Doe nothUeue him, Gentlewoman ; the 
 'fife- /ante Arbour xvhereyouttoivare, might ivitneffe that 
 he hath made the v.rjlik^ fr^tefii vnt9 me, many timet 
 hefort, 
 
 Trialls in affaires of this nature haue euera truer 
 touch than protefts. It \s eafie for beauty to exrort a 
 yoWjOr a temporary proteft; which many times is as 
 Ibone forgot as made. Let not thefethenwoike on 
 your Credulity. 
 
 Th rebe, I know (and fo all be that are truly gene- 
 ow) who, rather than they would infringe chcir 
 Taith, would in^age theifUfe. But all arc not o^ that 
 noble temper . O hers there bee, whocaotip their 
 g!ozingron<];uts with Rhetoricall protefts^purpofe- 
 ly to guil a credu'ais Creature, for the pure' aie of an 
 vnlawfu Ipleafurc, which obtained, they leaue them j 
 to bcmoane their loft honour. \Vlrh more fafety ' 
 therefore may youfufped, than toorafhly affed. It J 
 
 will I 
 
Fancy. 
 
 1 
 
 THS INGUSH 
 
 ( willnocbeamiflTeror you to readehim, before you 
 
 ' chftfehim. As thus ; "Hath his faire carriage got 
 
 I *' him eftimation where he Hues? Hath hce neuer 
 
 I " inur'd his tongue to play Hypocrite with his 
 
 \ " heart; nor made Ceremoniall proteils to purchafe 
 
 " a light Miitreflfe ? Hath he kept a faire quarter,and 
 
 "becneeucr tender ofhisvntainted honour? Hath 
 
 ** he neuer boafted of young Gentlewomans fauors, 
 
 1 " nor runne defcant on their kindncflc ? Hath hce 
 
 *^' kept himfelfc on eucn boord with all the world, 
 
 ^* and preferu'd his patrimony from ingagement? 
 
 " Hath hee euer fince hee vow'd himfelfc your (er- 
 
 "uant, folely dcuored himfelfe yours, and not im- 1 
 
 •*mix*d his aftedioii with forraine beauties ? Chufe I 
 
 " him, hee well deferues your choyce ; in which j 
 
 "cboyce, let this be yoiirimprefej U^jfchcjeead-l 
 
 '* mts no chdM^e, 
 
 To be (Hort 5 the blelTing whi^h Boa^ pronoun- ! 
 ced vpon /?«/&, (hall like a honey-dew deftill daily : 
 from the lippes of your husband. Bie^edbe thm eftbc | 
 Lordy mj Spp/ife ; thfia bafi ^ewedmore goodne^e in the , 
 latter tnd^ than at thy beginningy in as much as thou fol- \ 
 toTcvefl notjoHKg men^ Vfcre they poore or rich, Contraii- 
 wife, where you find no fuch demeriting refpedls in 
 him, who makes louevnto you; Cheese your wi/de 
 fancy by time, lellaremedilefle C^^r^/ attend youtj 
 Choyce* - \ 
 
 Couertly knew that vnfortunate Lady how to' 
 paint out her griefe, the «ix cent whereof her tongue- 
 tide paffion could not relate ; When like a finiifH/l 
 vincy fhee had brought forth many faire and promi- 
 fing branches toa debaucht h^sband,by whofe pro- 
 ftifer courfe, her hopes which fhee had Itored in 
 her numerous progeny, perifhed , and her felfc 
 through griefe irrecoucrably wafted ,• £hce wrote 
 thefe penfiue lines with a ^Diamond in her Cham- 
 ber 
 
GeNTLeV/OMjN. 
 
 145 
 
 ber Window, to giue a liuing rhaidow to her la Aing 
 forrow. 
 
 Vp to the W indors> fprnrg theffreAdin^ lltie^ 
 
 'The diWgling Aprkeckf-y andEglardine j 
 
 Since tvhenjhat vtJie and branches too reert found 
 
 Shred fiem their root^ Itidfpram/ifjg on the ground. 
 
 It is noc fo hard to giue comfortable counfel to the 
 
 forrowfull, as to finde a fitfeafbn when to giue ir. I 
 
 would hauc you, whofe more nob'e parts promife 
 
 much comfort to your families, giue fach attention 
 
 to (eafonabic coanfeIl,as you may preuent ad enfaing 
 
 occafions offorrow. It is the condition of an incon- 
 
 fiderate perfon, who ncucr forefces his fall, to cloze 
 
 the ifluc of his misforcunes with this improuideiit 
 
 concUifion; **I would neuer haue thought that this 
 
 "fliouldhauethus come topafie; I ncuer dream'd 
 
 " of this Eucnt. It will be more vfefull and benefi- 
 
 ciall to you, to cheese year wilde Fancy, if any fuch 
 
 (caze vpon you, than to giue way vnto it, and con- 
 
 fequently vndoe you. Repentance comes too late at 
 
 Marriage-night, Affaires of fuch weight and con- 
 
 fequence are not to be entertained without due ad- 
 
 uice,nor fcconded with rafhne(Te. In one wordjhaue 
 
 you plaid a little too long with the flame ? Haue you 
 
 giuen too free acctffe to your defcrtlefle louer ? 
 
 Haue you fuffered your heart not onely to thinke of 
 
 him, but with more intimate refped: ro harbour 
 
 him ? Lodge him no longer in diat roome ; it de- 
 
 feruesafarrebetrergueft. I will rotheare you, if 
 
 you reply, and fay ; This IsaTsske of impoflibili- 
 
 ty. Continuance of time, with difcontiruancc of his 
 
 prefence, willcafilyetfecl it, N!cane time, fixe your 
 
 eye vpon fome more deferuing obiefV. Rcuengeyour 
 
 felfc of that Conceit, that fliall affrefh prefent him 
 
 t6 you. So rhall the -pfiidm^e or your Farcy be chei kfd ; 
 
 yourbalfc-Iof> liberty regained ; and your afF-:5Vion 
 
 V after- 
 
 Fancy. 
 
 an. 
 
1^6 
 
 THE ENGLISH 
 
 Fancy. 
 
 How Funcy 
 may be chee- 
 red if too 
 coU. 
 
 afterwards planted, where it may be better acqui- 
 red ; there leated, where ic may be more fwectly le*- 
 foiicd. c 
 
 THere be Hagg^rdi of that wildc Nature, as they 
 will by no meanes be reclaimed J Neither Loue 
 nor fcare will caufc them (loops to any Lure. Em- 
 blemes thefe are to fuch wayward Girles, whofe in- 
 flexible natures will neither be woo'd nor wonne at 
 any rate. Theic had rather dye for loue, than bee 
 dee m'd to lone. Their hearts arc fmeer'd ouer with 
 SuLiinanderseyle^ and will admit noheat. They may 
 cntertaine Suiters, but it is with that coldnefle of af- 
 fedion, as the longer they reCorr, the kflcr/s their 
 hope. They may boaft more of the multiplicity of 
 their SuitorSjthan their Suito):s can of any probabili- 
 ty to be fpeedcrs. As it chanced fometimc in a Con- 
 tefl: betwixt two Maids, who comparing one with 
 the other their dcfccnts , friends, and Suitors : 
 " C^[4kenocompari[on with »«^, rcplyed the one to the 
 " other /or / mufi tell thee j t haHemare Suitsrt thMnthon 
 *' hafi fiends^ MoreflfOmelejfejOH (ahfwercd the O- 
 *' thcr) vnleffejoH menne tofet vp anhoufe ofgoadjeU 
 " /tfWj^i/.Thefe vnfociableNatures,who many times 
 deferre making their choycc, till age bring them to 
 contcm^r, and excludes them from all choycc , Or 
 Da»ae-\i\:e,\iuQ immured in their Chamber,til their 
 Fort be vndermined by fome^<?/.!^(f«Pioner; detract 
 much from the relenting difpofition of their Sexe. 
 ft is their honor to be woo'd & won. To be difcreet 
 in their chcyce^^nd toentertaine thcitchojite without 
 Chanjre. Of fuch I fpeake, who baue not dedicated 
 their dayes to Virginity i which is fuch a Conditi- 
 on, asitafpirescoan Angelicall perfedion. Good, 
 (faith venerable Tede) is coniugall chaftity, better 
 
 isl 
 
GENTLEWOMAN. 
 
 M7 
 
 is viduailcontinency, but beft is the perfedlion of | F an c y. 
 Virginity. Yea, Virginity exceeds the condition of 
 humanie nature, being that ,by which manrefembles 
 an Angelicail Creature. Wee reade Iikcwife,that the 
 Vtiieoruey when he can be taken by no force nor Tub- 
 till Engine, will reft and repofe in the La^ of a Vir- 
 gin. 
 
 To thofe oncly I dircd my difcourfe, who haue 
 a mind to take ihemfelues vnto the worldj and to en- 
 tcrtaine their Louer : but it is with fucb cooIenefTe, 
 as it driues their difpaflionatc Srveet-hHrt into ftrange 
 extremes. And this proceeds commonly from an 
 ouer-weening Conceit, which thcle dainty Dam- 
 fels hauc of their owne worth : with the apprchsn- 
 Gon whereof they become fo infinitely taken, as 
 they can finde none worthy their choyce. Of this 
 diidainefull opinion was that vnhappy Gentlewo- 
 man, who after many faire f oi tunes tendred, Sui- 
 tors of delcruing quajity reieded, made her inceftu- 
 ousbrothcr her liccntioas louer. 
 
 A crime deteftablc euen to Barbarians and bruit 
 beafts. Infom'jch as, it is reported of the Camelt^ 
 that they vfually hood-winkc him, when at any 
 I time they bring his mother vnto him; which afl he 
 j no fooner knowes, than hee tramples her vndcr his 
 I feet, and kickes her to death with his hce'eszfo hate- 
 full is Inccft euen to bruit bealls, whofe natfue in- 
 ftindl abhorres fuch obfcene commixtures. You, 
 whole difcrcetatft:d:ions haue catl anchor, by ma- 
 king choyce of fome defeming Louer ; afflid: him 
 not with needlefle delayes ; if he merir your choyce, 
 one day is too long to defcrrc him ; if vndeferuing, 
 taxe your owne indifcretion fo raflily to eniertainc 
 him. 
 
 Is itbafhful! modefty that with-holds you i* I com- 
 mend it ; it well becomes you. Chaftity cannot ex- 
 i V 2 pre He 
 
148 
 
 THe ECK.GLISE 
 
 Fancy. \ prefle it felfe in a fairer Charafler, thaa in bluQiing 
 ii'Ksoflouingfhametaftnefle. Is irconfenc of friends 
 chatdetiinesyo-i? I approuc that too ; Thefe rites 
 arebcftaccompliflied, when they are with confent 
 and conCorc of Friends folemnizcd. But if the ground 
 of your delay trench either vpon fome future ex- 
 pedance ot better foitunes ; or indiffercncy of 
 affc'-lion in refped of your Choyce; the ifliie can- 
 not polTibly proje well, being built vpon fiich 
 weake grounds. For, toinliftcurforily vpon either 
 of thefe two ; Shall a deceiuing hopcofpreferre- 
 mcnt dirpofTefTc him of your heart, whom perfonall 
 deferts make worthy of your loue? Looke to it; 
 Such fortunes cannot purchaie you content, which 
 are got with an aged husbands contempt. It (licwcs 
 a ^eruile nature, tocaQiierea faithfull Louerjbecaufe 
 he is poorer ; and to preferre another icffc defertfull, 
 becaufc hce is richer. This inconftancy cannot fuc- 
 cccd well,bccaufe the foundation is grounded ill. 
 
 Againe, are you indifferent or Lukc-warme in af^ 
 fedion ; in refped of your choyce ? for fliames fake, 
 what doe you make of loue ? Doe you vfeit like a 
 toy or tyre to pat off or on as you like ? Muft it re- 
 femble the flfhion ? This day in rcqueft, and next 
 day out of date? This, indeed, is fucha coolcand 
 ca(ie-temperedLoae,asit will neuer mad you j yet, 
 trufl me,it may well delude you. fancy will not fo be 
 playd with. You will oh ie^, I imagine, yourflo- 
 macks are too queafk to digefl; Loue. Why then did 
 youeuer feemefo greedily to feed on thar, which 
 your ftomackes now cannot well digeft ? Haueyou 
 furfetted on ihtfuhfiance > Lay thatafidc fora whi-lc, 
 andbeffowyour eyeon the Piclure. Such imprclTi- 
 ons haue fiiarpened the dull af?edions of many Lo- 
 ucrs. 
 
 t/ihxander being much u\ loue with AptHes, as 
 
 one 
 
GSNTLSyy'OMJO^. 
 
 149 
 
 one highly rapt with the exquifitenefle of bis art, | Fa n c y. 
 
 propoied him chat Modeilforacajke, which hecof 
 
 ail others, afJeiled molt ; commanding him on a 
 
 time topamc Campafpe^ a bcauciftill woman, naked ; 
 
 vvhich ^/?^//?jhauingdone,fuchimprelTion wrought 
 
 cht Pt^urein his afFjdicii,as Apefies fell in loue with 
 
 her, which Alexander pcrceiuing, gaue him her. It 
 
 IS incredible, what rare effects were fometimes 
 
 drawne from a CMgria*t.Pt6iure, being ontly hung 
 
 vp in a Ladies Chamber. If fuch imprefliue motiucs 
 
 of afFcdion draw life from a PtQurcy what may bee 
 
 conceiued by the Sftkflance} Oris AfoUo writeth,that 
 
 che Egyptians, when they would defcribc the heart, 
 
 & fie her With a properEmbieme,paiat^he bird Ibk-. 
 
 becaule they thinke that no Creature, for proportion 
 
 of the body , hath fo great an heart as the Ibis hath. 
 
 It \% the "Bird of loue muft be the Embleme ofyoiir 
 heart. It is neither pidurc nor pofture can content 
 her. Much lefle thefc infenourpUures^ which wc call 
 tnouejei'. which are fo far re from fatisfying theaife- 
 (flion^ as they are onely for the Mold or Worldling ; 
 whofe grofler thoughts neuer yet afpired to the 
 knowledge of loues definition. As then, the precious 
 llone Diaclttes, though it haue many rare and excel- 
 lent foueraignties in if, yet it lofeth them all, if it be 
 put in a dead mans mouth : fo Lotte^ though it bee a 
 fubiedfo pure, as none ofa more refined nature; fo 
 firmo, as none of a more holding temper ; fo hot, s^s 
 none of a more lading feruour : yet becomes her 
 fplendour darkened, her vigor weakened, her feraor 
 cooled, when fheis in a cold brefl entertained. Re- 
 femble, rather, the lunijier-tree, whofccoalcis the 
 harreff, and whole fhadow is the coolefl : be hot in 
 your affe^lion, butcoole in your paj/lon. If you findc 
 any thing which cooleth loue in you, rcmoueitj if 
 any thing which vrgeth palfion, quench it : contra- / 
 
 riwife ) 
 
j5o 
 Fancy. 
 
 THe SNGLISB 
 
 riwiff s feed m you loucs htac 5 but reprcfle in you all 
 pafli Jfiatc '..~:e.^ake into your more fciious 1 hoghrs, 
 a view o^ r ti» deiei rs whom you afFed : increalc the 
 conccii O' them b> fuppoiint more than hec expreC- 
 Teth. f he imagination of i«i^«* is ftrong, and works 
 admirable cffcfts in a wiii inp; fubied. Yet in all this, 
 let nor one ftra'id thougbr wrong your Mayden-mo- 
 dei>y fo much, as to iu^-^i^ik ro you a ftraine of light- 
 nefl'e. Other Cloiet-rreatics you may entertainc 
 fafdy and freely, without touch of modefly. As to 
 thinke of the henouy of that State, to which you are 
 approaching ; the mutual/ Comfort from thacmy- 
 fterious vnion arifing ; hov-v griefes will be attempe- 
 red by one anothers fuffcring ; how ioyes will bee 
 augmented by one anothers (hating. Thefc thoughts 
 i cannot but well become you ; nor otherwife chufe 
 than with a pure affedion inflame you i nor receiue 
 lefle than free acceptance from you. 
 
 Thus may that Loue, which lecm'd before to 
 hauebceneascWW, by thele modefl motiues bee 
 cheered. That day no blacke Cloud fliould by right 
 (it on your faire brow ; no cold dairpe leaze on your 
 heart. You hauc got one whomafacrcd gage hath 
 made yours ; with a cheerefull requitall render your 
 felfehis. This cannot cboofe but highly pleafc the 
 pureeyeofheauen, to fee that (Ji'iyfieriefo fwectly 
 folemniz'djwhich was honoured by Chrifl,with his 
 firft Miracle on Earth. 
 
 An artempc- 
 ramem ot 
 both. 
 
 IN this laft branch of (mtOi^feri^mof/, wee are co 
 propole an attemferament of both thofe indifpo- 
 fed fancies before n:ientioned,a3iddeferued!y taxed. 
 Firftjthe rvildeneffe oitht one ; fecoiidly,the cooleneffr 
 of the other ; by feafoning them both with an indif- 
 ferent /^/»f^r. 
 
GSNri.eWOMAD^, 
 
 \ 15' 
 
 InsLp'tHf^ wild and luxurious branches arc to bee 
 pruned, chat iach a$ are free and kirjdiy may bee bet- 
 ter cheriQivd. In chcfpiriruali field ofyour heart, is 
 neuer to be expcclcd any fruitfull increase of vcrtues, 
 till there be weeded out o'^itall ths chornes of vices. 
 The difK-rence betwixt a 'rf^ifemd rvtldeLoac^is this : 
 the one euer deliberates before ft loue ; the other 
 loucs before it deliberate. The firilqueflion that {he 
 askes, who wifr/y loucs ; *' Is he, who is here recom- 
 " mended to my choyce, of good repute ? Is he rich 
 " in the endowmeits oi his minde ? Next queftion 
 fliee askes, are of a lower fiege : " May his perfo^ 
 " nagfr giue content ? Arc his fortunes fuch, as may 
 '* not beget in loue a contempt ? Thus beginnes ihee 
 that loues »*fclji with ^;oods inward, and ends with 
 outward; whereas, fliee chat loues w/^^/y, beginnes 
 with outward,andends,or elfe neuer remembers the 
 inward: ''Ishee, you tender to mee, of promifing 
 "pcrfonagc? Is hee neat in his cloathes? Complete 
 ** in his drefle ? Can he Court raee in good words ? 
 ** and perfume them with fweet protefts ? Can hec 
 '* vflier me gracefully in the (Ircet ? and m his very 
 ** pace exprefle a referued ftate ? Next q;ieftion fhec 
 askes, muft be neare the fame verge : ** Is he rich ia 
 *• Manors? Hath not fortune made him ? ,omger 
 "brother? Can he, tobuy him e fehonojt, pawic 
 ** the Long-acre ? May hislwclllug meanc - ^urniili 
 *' nae of Coa:h,Caroach, and dally firmee for fome 
 '' Sxcbatigetti^es? Ihaue^ moneihs mi^'dtofeethe 
 ^'manl Hcc cannot bu'd-^'crae my loue. Wherein 
 (heefayes well, for in vcr; dc.d her could deferue 
 little elfe. Now as the forwr^ feidomc beftowes her 
 felfe, but where fhee findc < co itent ; fo the iatter^ 
 ftldone or neuer,but cith^ • ihc with her Choyce, or 
 her Choyce with her falU into contempt, fhe rea- 
 foais,tbis>p#/<^ff Girle neuer cares foi m'^rethanto 
 
 be 
 
 F A N c r 
 
i5i 
 
 Thie ENGLISH 
 
 AN C Y. 
 
 be married. If (he may bat fee that day,ic accompli- 
 fKci h bcr content : though (hce haue but one Comi- 
 calldayail her life. Yea, it is as well as can be expe- 
 cted from her hands, if (he attaine thzi fiyie without 
 fomeapparant/«/<?.Such as thefe I could wi(h,to pie- 
 ucnt the worft, they were married berime,left they 
 marre themfclues before time. Albeit, moderate rc- 
 ftraint, fealbnable adaicc (prefuppofing fome feeds 
 of grace to worke on) haue wrought fingular efFefts 
 in many ofthcfe TK-tiae-oKes, who afterwards became 
 grauc and modeft Matrons* 
 
 To you th^n^kiad-hearts ^ am I to recommend fome 
 necefTary cautions, which carefully obferued, may 
 make you wifer than y ou thought of; and caufe you 
 I haue a tendercareof that, which before you had ne- 
 uer mind of. Your brefts arc vnlock*d,your tongues 
 vnry*d ; you cannot ioue, but you muft (liew it ; nor 
 conceiue a kindc thought, but you mu(l tell it. The 
 index of y OUT hearts you carry both in your tongues 
 and eyet ; for (hame, learnc ftience in the one, andy?- 
 craj in the other. Will you giue power to an inful- 
 tingLouer, to triumph ouer your weakenefle; or 
 which is worfe, to worke on the opportunity of 
 yourLightnefle> Doenot; rather ramme vpthofe 
 portells which betray you to your enemy, and preuent 
 his entry by your vigilancy. Keepc home and ftray 
 nor, left by gadding abroad.you incurre Dimhs fate. 
 You haue Confortsofyourownefexe topafife time 
 wirhallijheir fociety wi! teach you to forget, what is 
 betterforgot than kept. Let notaftraid thought be- 
 tray your innocency. Check/ your madding Fancy ^ 
 andif it vfe refinance, curbc it with reftrainr. It will 
 doe excellently well, if you forbeare torefort to pla- 
 ces of publike meeting ; till you haue drawne vp and 
 feal'd a Coaenant with your eyes, to fee naught that 
 they may not lawfully couet.The(c,when they wan- 
 der 
 
 3 
 
GSNTLSWOMJN. 
 
 '5? 
 
 der, they breed in the hearr, a dangerous diftemper. 
 Laftly,addretfeyourimpIoymentcuerlofomething 
 that is good ; fo (hall your ftmtacj finde nought to 
 workc vpontbat is ill. This (hall aflrord you more li- 
 berty, than the whole worlds freedomc can afford 
 you. 
 
 Now to you, Cej ff«.?/,whom either toldne^e of na- 
 ture hath benummed, otecyntjff bath made lubtiU to 
 diffembic it. You can leoke and like, and turnc ano- 
 ther way, where you likemoft. No obied: of loue 
 can rake you, till it ouertake you. Be not wife too 
 much. True affedion cannot endure fuch dilTimulati- 
 on. Diuide not him, whom you loue, into uich ex. 
 tremes: youmaybcmodeft, andfpareagreat dea'e 
 of this Cejfiefe ; It is the rule of Charity to doc as 
 you would be done to . Now, would it content yon 
 to be entertained with difdaine, where your deferrs 
 merit acceptance f Redifie this then in your felues, 
 which you would not haue dont by another to your 
 felues. It is an ill requitall^to recompence fancy with 
 contempr,or conftantlouc with difdaine. This were 
 to incurre ingratitude, a vice fo odious, as no age 
 could finde euer ought more vnciuilly impious. I do 
 not mouc you to be too open-hearted, or if fo^not too 
 liberally to exprcffe it j this were no difcouery of 
 fancj, but fo^jr. So concealc your loue, as your louer 
 may not defpaireofall hope to obtaine your loue.In- 
 diflFercnt Curifies you may fhew without light nefle, 
 and receiue them too in lieu of thankfulnefle. I kaue 
 it to your difcretion to diftingui{h times and places ; 
 for thefe may either improue or impaire the oppor- 
 tunity of fuch like Curtfies. 
 
 Doe not immure your bcauticSjas if a iealoufie of 
 yoarowne weakneffe had ncceditatcd this reftraint. 
 There can be no Ce«<7«<?y?, where there is no CoKtefl, 
 Conusrfc with loue j conceit with your felues whom 
 
 X yon 
 
 Fancy, 
 
«54 
 
 THE ENGLISH 
 
 Fancy. 
 
 VmpMela, 
 
 A.n Explana- 
 tion of the 
 Embkme. 
 
 you could like. This yowt cooler temper may admit, 
 and Itill recaine that liberty which is fit. 
 
 Falconers vfe many meanes to make their Hawks 
 (liarpe ; they begin with fliort flights,till weathring 
 bring them to endure Ionger.7i/w-«/>o«i image recei- 
 ued no: life in all parts at once •, firll,it took warmth, 
 after that, vitall motion. Is loue colle in you ? lee a 
 kindly warmth heat that coldnefle. Is Loue dull in 
 you ? let a liuely agility quicken that dulneffe. Is loue 
 c«7iayou ? Let a iouelyt affability fupple that coy- 
 neffe : So, in fliort time, you may haueafull rellifli 
 of loues fweetneffe. 
 
 Now wee come to the atumptramem oCthcCc ; 
 wherein we are to extrad out of grofler ntettals fome 
 pure Oare, which wee muft refine, before it can giuc 
 any true beauty to this fpccious palace of loue. Draw 
 ncare then, and attend to what of neceffity you muft 
 obferue ; if eueryoumcanetodeferue Her loue, 
 whom you are in Ciuility bound to ferue. 
 
 In Sici/ia there is a fountaine called F0»sSolu, out 
 of which at Mid-day, when the Sun is neareft, flow- 
 eth cold water ; at Midnight, when the Sunne i$ far- 
 theft off, flowcth hot water. This (hould be the liue- 
 ly Embleme of your ftate (Gentlewomen :) who,now 
 after thofe cooler vapours of your frozen affedion 
 dilperred,thofelumpil"hand indifpofed humors di- 
 fpellcd,and thofe queafierifings of your fceming coj- 
 neff, difpofTeftcd ; haue felt that chafte amorous fire 
 burne in you, which will make you of fhamefaftc 
 Maid8,modeft Matrons. When the heat ofpaftion is 
 at Mid-day, I mesne his full height, with thofe, to 
 whom faith hath cngag'd you, and loue, before the 
 hoftage of that faith, confirm'd you j then are you to 
 fefemble the quality of that fountaine, by flowing 
 I with cel4 water of difcKtion and fwect temper, to 
 I allay that heat ; left it weaken thofe you loue, by gi« 
 ' uing 
 
GENTLEWOMAn. 
 
 155 
 
 uing way to paflion,which patience cannot chufc but 1 
 loath. Againe, when heat is fartheft off", and proui- 
 dence begins to labeur of a lethargy ; when feruants 
 remit their care,ncgle(fl their charge, and the whole 
 family grow out of order, through the coldncflTe of a 
 remiffe Mailer j referable then that foanraine, by 
 flowing with b^t wafer ; win and weane thefe whom 
 loue and loyalty haue made yours, with warme con- 
 iugall teares,to compaflicaate their ncgkded eflate, 
 and by timely preuention to auert the face of impro- 
 uidcnt husbands. 
 
 Or thus, if you pleafe, may you mtke your felues 
 gracious Emblemes of thatfountaine : Doth the Sun 
 fbine at Mid-day ,and in bis fulleft height on y ou?Do 
 the beams of piofperityreflcd brightly on y ouPFlow 
 with eeldwater ; allay this your heat and height of 
 pfofpecity, with (ome cooling thoughts of aJduerfi- 
 ty, left prosperity makeycu forget both the Author 
 ofif, andinthe endhowtobeftow it. Againe, doth 
 the Sunne fhine farcheft off you ? Doth not one fmall 
 beameling of profperous fuccefTe cheere you ? Flow 
 ^{ih hot water 'j vanquifti aduerfity with refolution 
 of temper. Defift not from labour, becaufe fortune 
 feconds not your endeuour.To conclude,as your wild 
 fancy (if you were euer furpriz'd of any) is now re- 
 ftifi*d ; your ro«/(p«^/tf heatned ; your c<!7«?^«f bani- 
 llied; foconforme your felues to them, whom one 
 heart hath made one with youjas no Clovvd cfaduer- 
 fity may looke fo blacke, no beame of profperity 
 fliine fo clearc, wherein you may not with an e- 
 quail embrace of both efcates, beare your fbare. 
 
 Fancy. 
 
 Another pro- 
 per applicati- 
 on of this 
 Einblenie. 
 
'57 T 
 
 :SgS?l'?SSg§g8g8?5Ssg^g8g 
 
 '*(P'¥'°¥''¥-'=!P^' 
 
 THE 
 
 ENGLISH 
 
 Gentlewoman. 
 
 Argument. 
 Gentility ar deriutd fiom oar t^ncefiors to vr, km 
 fooKc blanched ;if not reuiuedhj vt; Vcrtuc thhefi Coat; 
 /i ^dnwfsfie nd^ the beft colour to dtkaz^on that Coat ; 
 Gentility tafiot^ttoivHebywhatwevvcire, huttphatwe 
 are ; There 4rf nat iuc feed s of goffdaejfe fovpne in gene- 
 rous bloods bj ImeaUfuccc^ion ; Uovf thefe may be ri^e- 
 nedbj infiruUion* 
 
 G BNTILITY. 
 
 ENTILITY confiftsnot fo 
 much in a lineall deblazon oF 
 Armcs, as perfonall expreflidn of 
 vcrtucs. Yea, there is no Orna- 
 mcat-like vercue, to giuc true 
 beauty to defcent. What \% it to 
 be defended great? to retaine the 
 priuilegc of our blood ? to be ranktd higheft in an 
 
 Heralds 
 
 ObJeruMt, 7. 
 
 Gentility is 
 dcriucd from 
 ourAnceftors 
 tovs, but 
 looncblan- 
 chcdjifnot 
 reuiucd by vs. 
 
 -= I MI « 
 
158 1 
 
 TH^ snglish 
 
 Gentility. 
 
 Heralds booke ? when our Hues cannot adde one line 
 to the memorable records ©four Anceftors? There 
 {houldbenO'''»7withouta Aw, ii wedeiireto pre- 
 ferue in vs the /?»«5»r ofour Line, Thofc Qdonrt then 
 deferue higheft hononrs^ that beautifie vi lining, and 
 prefcrue our memory dying. Should we call to mind 
 all thole our Ancefitrs^ who for fo many preceding 
 ages haue gone before vs ; and whole memory now 
 fleeps in the duft ; we fhould, perchance, findc iiv c- 
 uery one of them fome eminent quality or other, if 
 a true furucy of their deleruing adiona ccwld bee 
 made knowne vnto vs : yea, we fhould vndcrftand, j 
 that many of them held it their higbeft grace, to i- ] 
 mitare their Predeceffors in fome excellent vertue; i 
 the practice whereof they efteemed more prayle- ; 
 worthy, than the bare title of Centilitj* Now,what 
 iuft reproofe might we deferue, if neither thofe/>4/- 1 
 ternes, which our Ancefers had,nor the vcrtuous ex- 
 amples of our Ancefiors themfelues, can perfwade vs i 
 to be their followers ? Tfjeir blood ftreames through | 
 ourveynes; why fhould not their vertucs ftine in j 
 our Hues ? Their mortah'ty we carry about with vs; ' 
 but that which made them immortally happy, wee 
 retaine not in vs. Their (7^«ri//7weeclayme ; the 
 priuilegestheyhadby ir, we retaine. Meane time, 
 where is that in vs, that may truly Genfi/ize vs, and 
 defigne vs theirs ? What a poore thing is it to boaft 
 of, that our blood is nobler, our defcent higher.' Teil [ 
 me, can any one prefcribe before iAdam ? And what 
 ftiall he finde in that fir 11 Anceflor of his, but red 
 clay ? The matter whereof he was made, it was 
 no better ; nor can we luppofe our morter to bee pu- 
 rer. Hec moftemphaticallydefcribedour Genealo- 
 gy, who cryed,£<«r^^,£<^>-/^,£<«>-f'&. Sartkby Crea- 
 tion, Condition, DilToIution. No lelTe fully vnder- 
 ftocd he the quality of his Compofition, with the 
 
 root 
 
GSNTLeW0M.A9(l 
 
 \ 159 
 
 roo^ irom whence he tooke his beginning, who cal- 
 led EArth his LM3(her • w^ermes his Brethren Sind si- 
 fteru tAh Kinsfolkcs hce could nor much boaft of/ 
 tbey were liich inFeriour Creatures j no ftrutters in 
 the ftreec, but defpicable Creepers. 
 
 Let me now rcfted vpon you, Gefft/ewomeH,vjho[c 
 generous birth fliould bcc adorhsd with vermoiu 
 worth, and fo make you mouing Obieds of imita*. 
 tio, nboth in life and death. 
 
 Are you nobly defcended ? Ennoble that defcent 
 with true defert. Doc not thinke than the priuilege 
 ofgreatneffe, can bee any fubterfugeto guilcinefle. 
 Your more aibending honour requires more than a 
 Common lulkcln places of publike refort you chal- 
 lenge precedency, and it is granted you. Shall the 
 •higheft place haue the leaft inward grace ? No ; let 
 not a word fall from you, that may vnbefeeme you. 
 Others are (ilent when you difcourfe; lietit be worth 
 their attention ; left a prcfiimption of your ovvne 
 worth draw you into fome friuolous cxcurfion. 
 There is not an accent whichyou vtter,afentcnce 
 you deliucr> any motion in your carriage or gefture, 
 whichotherseyenot, and eying aflumenot. Your 
 Retinue is great; your family gracious,- your ani- 
 ons fhould be the life of the one, and line of dire<ai- 
 on to the other. To fee a light Lady dcfcending from 
 a noble Family, is a Spev!T:acIe of more fpreading in- 
 famy, than any fubied of inferiour quality, I cannot 
 approuc of this Apifh kindc oi formality, which 
 many ofour better fort vfe; it dctrads from their 
 ^/cefit yto mAkc afe flatten their Tutrefe. They were 
 free-borne; nothing then that is fcruile can become 
 them. It is nothing to retaine the faueuror feature 
 of your Ancefi»rs, and to eftrangc you from tl»ac 
 which truly dignifi'd your AnceJiors» 
 Vertues haue more liuing Colours, and are fecon- 
 
 ded 
 
 Gentilitj. 
 
i6o 
 
 gentility. 
 
 rue ENGLISH 
 
 ded with more lalrng honours than any oatward 
 beauties. Youdeceiue your fellies, if you thinke that 
 honour reccmcd btr fii ft life fiocn dcfcent ; no, It 
 wa i demerit that made «/r/<r«f capable of honour. A 
 Pedigree argues year gemility : but had not forae de- 
 icruingaiflionbecne, you had ncuer attained to any 
 taoble Pedigree. For gtntUttyisnot to be meaiiiicd 
 by antiquity of time, but precedency in worth. If 
 brackifh/ortrcubled waterfcldome come from a pure 
 Spring; wildandvnfauory fruit from a good trcej 
 whence h it, that noble Predec^ flbrs, whofe pure 
 blood was neuer corrupted with any odious ftaine 
 Hiould bring forth fuch degenerating fcicnes ? Sure* 
 ly, this generally proceeds from the too much liber- 
 ty that is granted to our ycuih ; whofe inclinations 
 though otherwife good and equally difpoled, are v- 
 fually by Cufiome^ Which becomes a Second nature 
 miferablydepraucd. Society they affeft, and this in- 
 fers them; repaireto publike places they admit, 
 and this corrupts them. Thofe eminent examples 
 which their Noble Progenitors left them, become 
 buried with them. They comply with the time • 
 Vertue (they fay} can hardly fubfift, where Vice \s in 
 higheft requeft. What though P/^/o aduifethem to 
 make choycc of the bert way of liuing, which may 
 beeafity cffcdedbyafTiduate vfe atiddaily cuftome.* 
 they haue learned to inuert his rule, by affedling that 
 cuftome moft, which tends to the pracHiicc of vertue 
 kaft. Befides, there is another rcafon which may be 
 probably alleaged, vjhy ^enerotu defeenti become fb 
 much corrupted ; and vertuous Parents by vitiojs 
 Childrdifo frequently fecondcd. Our Nobler wo- 
 m.en, though in other refpc(5ts truly imitable, and 
 for their vertuous Conuerfatlon admirable ; come 
 fliortin one peculiar duty,which cuen Nature exa(5ts 
 of them, and which being duely performed, would, 
 
 doubt- 
 
GSNTLeWOMJN. 
 
 i6i 
 
 doubtlefly, no leflc enable and ennobic them who 
 are defcended from them, than any particular, were 
 it ncu€r fo powerful!, that could informe them. Thefe 
 which are mo: hers by generation, are feldome their 
 Nurcinj^-Riothers by educatiouo No maruell then, 
 ifthey degenerate, when they partake of the natures 
 ofother women.Though their owne mothers blood 
 ftreame through their veincs,a Itrangers milke muft 
 kcA them, which makes them participate of their 
 nature, as they are fed with their juhfianee. Where- 
 foeucr the Narfes milke is receiued, the Nurfcs man- 
 ners are likewife retained. Whence it was, chat 
 Chry/ippw Qy:prti\y commanded that the very beft 
 and wiiefbNurfesfliould be made choice of;chat what 
 gaodhlogd had infufed, might not by iS tmlke be infe- 
 ded. It was the ioyjit aduicc both of Tlutarch and 
 phattorine^ that a mother rfiouldbee her childrens 
 Nurlc : bccaufe, comnionly,withthemil'kcof the 
 Nurfe, rhey fucke the quality or condition of her 
 life. Yea, sccording to ancient Decrce,woraen were 
 bound to nurfe their owne children, attd not to haae 
 any other womenCvnlefle necefficy enforced them jto 
 nurfe them. 
 
 Let this then bee redifi'd ; yee, whofe Noble de- 
 fcents haue made yoa eminent in the eye of the 
 world ; and whom Gods bie(Ting hath made fruitfull 
 Mothers, tobring forth a fairc and hopeful! incrcafe 
 vnto the world : nurfe them with your owne milke ; 
 this will expreffe in you a motherly care; to themi; 
 & beget in them a greater meafiire of child-: ike lone 
 to you. Your care,the more iz is parentall-,wili exafl 
 ofrhema loue more faithfull and fiiiall. Nurfe them, 
 Kay, with theraiike of your owftebreftsto feed 
 them ; with the milke of your owne liues to informe 
 them. So fnall their aftionsproue them to bee your 
 SiiccelJoursj when they fliail not onelyaVr^W their 
 
 Y blood 
 
 ' Centiluj, 
 
i(Sl ] 
 
 THE ENGLISH 
 
 Gentility, 
 
 Venue the 
 
 blood from you,but on this Theatre of humane frail- 
 ty, (hall publilL themfelues ro be true reprefenters of 
 you. For in vaineis your blood to them deritted^ if 
 your memory by their vertues be not retdihed, Giue 
 them then that which may make them yours.Good* 
 nefle may bee blamed, but her fucceeding memory 
 canneuer be blanched. Thus fhall you not onely 
 (hew your felucs worthy of that houje , from 
 whence you came, but after your period on earth, 
 bee recciu'd into a more glorious houfe in time to 
 come. 
 
 IT i$ not the Nobility o£ aefcent^nt of vertues^th^it 
 makes any one a gracefulland acceptable Scruicour 
 in the Court of hcaucn. Houfes arediflinguifhed by 
 Ceatsdindi C^eJIs-^ but thefe are dignifi'd by fomething 
 elfe. 
 
 In Heraldry, thofe are euerheld tobethebeft ^<?<!^', 
 that are deblazoned with leafl charge, Confequent- 
 ly, then m\^9i virtue needs be the ^^y?^<?^^ Shee re- 
 quires the Icaft charge i in her attire, fhec is not 
 fumptuous ; in her fare, delicious j nor in her re* 
 tinue (the more is the pitty) numerous. She confines 
 her defires vpon earth within a flraic Circumfe- 
 rence ; a very fmall portion of that mettall will con- 
 tent her. She (qcs none fo great in the Court ,as may 
 defcrueherenuyj none fo rich in the City, as may 
 beget in her an earthly defirc ; none fo rcpos'd in 
 the Countrey^ as to induce her to change her flate. 
 Shee is infinitely happy, in that fhee ay mes at no o- 
 ther happinefTe, than where it is to bee found. Am- 
 bition may difplay her Pie-colour'd fiagge \ but fhee 
 will neuer get vertae to be her follower : Her defires 
 arcpitcht vpon a fane more tranfcendent honour, 
 than thefe StatC'Coniftais on earth can ere afford her ; 
 
 or 
 
GENTLEWOMAN. 
 
 I6j 
 
 or by their competition take from her. Plcafuremay ' gcHtility. 
 caft oat her Lure, but vert ue is fo high a flyer, as fhee 
 fcornes to floupc to ought vnworthy of her : it plea- 
 feth her to eofltemplate that on earth, which (he is 
 toenioy inheaucn. Profit may (eekc to vnderminc 
 her; but all her poll/cic cannot worke on vertues con- 
 ftancy. Content is her Crownc; Contempt of the 
 world, her care j what worldlings feeke, fnc fhtins J 
 whewce it isjthat her beaut:y,in the darkeft Night of 
 aduerfiry, fhines. In a word, flice is an abiblute 
 CommandrefTe of herfelfe ; andeafie is it to haue 
 that Command, where no turbulent paffions labour 
 to contend. 
 
 Farreotherwifeisitwiththofe, who be they ne- 
 uer fo generonjlj defcended, popularly graced, nor 
 power&Uy guarded,yct being not adorned with this 
 Crefi^ diilinguiihed by this Coa:^ they can neither 
 enioy freedome within, nor fafety without. 
 
 Levis theclcuenth had a conceit, which,no doubt, 
 proceeded from his melancholickc and indifpofed 
 humour, that euery thing did ftinke about him ; all 
 the odoriferous perfumes, or fragrant fauours they 
 could get, would not eafe him, butftillhefmelleda 
 filthy itinke. Sofarcsit with them, whofe corrupt 
 hearts-, like mufty vefTells, not throughly feafoned 
 with vertue^ fend forth no Other fmell than what is 
 m oft difta fie full toap^ireand wcll-difpofed minde. 
 Now, there bee many, who make an outward fem- 
 blance of confciencc ; and promise to the world ap- 
 parant arguments of their vprightnefiTc j whofe in- 
 ward CeUs, like corrupt Charnell-houfeSj afford no ' 
 I thing but filthineffe. Yea, thefe, to make the v;orld 
 I more confident of their fandity, will notfticke to 
 i condcmne themfelues, dif- value their owne worth, 
 land rank them amongft the vnworthief]: tbat breach 
 ! on earth. Yet, though they difprayfs tnssifduesbe- 
 1 Y 2 fore 
 
1^4 
 
 THe B!XGlISH 
 
 G(»tilitj. 
 
 fore others, they caiinotcndurc ro bee d if pray ltd by 
 others. VVhereofwe rend one excellent example to 
 this purpofe : T/icre was a cerraine woman, who 
 had taken her fclfe to a Cioyiter-hie, and (cemed ve- 
 ry deiiouc; fo as Ilaee viually laid to her Confeffor, 
 who came often vnto her, to heare her ConfciTion, 
 and partake of her Deuorion : ''* Good father y^ray vnto 
 " the Lordjor wee j for I am a woman fe eniB, yea^ entn 
 ^^ [ovuetlj nought^ as I much feare left the Lord funijh 
 ^^ etherjformy Jimes, Vpon this, thePikftout of a 
 "difcreet zealc, defircd retry whether there were 
 ''in her the foundation of true humility orno. Next 
 " time therefore, tha: iLee vttered the like words 
 '* vnto him, faying ; That (hee rptu the very worfi of all 
 " women ; the Pried forthwith anfwered ; / hane of, 
 ** ten times at many hands beard thtts much of thee before 
 " this. Whereat (he being prcfently incenfcd,replycd: 
 " Tofi lye in J our throat ; Audwho^eeuer hath told pa ^cr 
 " repo) tethfkch things of?r,ee^ are cMlyers, T© attemper 
 '* which immoderate palTion, the Prieft humbly re. 
 " turned her this anlwer: Now I fere eiue thy f ride and 
 '' bypocrifte ; for as much m thoufpeak?J} that ofthyfelfe 
 '♦ which thoH dtfdaiKcfi any other fhouU fpeakeof theel 
 " And this is nofigne of true humility ^ hut of inward pr tie 
 ^' aifdgre^ehfpocrijie, 
 
 Thefe difiembled, be they ncucr fo affiduate Sem- 
 blances, are no colours for r<?f/«f/ £•;-/?/. Theymufi: 
 be dyed in graine, or they will not hold. jj,gf„ ^^^^ 
 j cxprelTc modcfty in their outward carriage are 
 good cxan)ples to thofe that confort wirh thenv yet 
 iftheir pr/i*ace Parkr be a witnefTe ofrhcir difhcnor 
 I they deface the figure of goodneHe in themfe/ue/ 
 < rmue congas no: in fecming,nor piety in appearing 
 but praa.fiui.. What is it to bee outwardly rervrtd 
 ^rom the world,and inwardly affianced to the wirJd? 
 How are thofe women in Tnrlqe aff^(?led, that mo/j 
 ■ . part 
 
part ofrf>e ye^re coaie not abroad? rhole ha/tan and 
 SpAKtj/jiXxmeSj char are mewed vp iike Ha\vks,and 
 lockc vp by their icalous husbands ? f his is (uch a.) 
 enforced reftraintjasit many cimes begees ioofcde- 
 fires in the reftraincd. i'c is the prcucariono^ occaii- 
 oa chat crownes vs More prayfe- worthy were chofe 
 women of^''«'jCOuldchcy confine their actions with-' 
 in the bounds oFmodcfty, than theie rtflrained Li- 
 bertines. For thofe Hand Women, as they arc the 
 beauiifoirf}: Dames of all the Greekes^ Co haue they 
 more liberty granted by their auariclous husbands, 
 than all the Dames in Greece. For their wiucs pro- 
 ftitotionis their promotion. So as, when they fee 
 any ftranger or promifing factor arriue, they will 
 prelently demand if he would baue a Miftris: which, 
 for want of better fupply, they mercenarily ten- 
 der him in the perfon of their owne wiues : fo wil- 
 ling are they to weare the lafting Badge of inhmy, 
 tor bafc lucre or commodity. 
 It is not then an enforced moderation of our affecli. 
 ons,that deferaes the iHlc of goodnelTe. Wee are to 
 tnioy freedorae in our defireSjand ouer thofe a noble 
 Conqucft, if we merit the name of vcrtucm. 
 
 Come then, Gentlevpcme-a, you fee what Com will 
 honour your Hopfe moft. Other C<>^// may be blan- 
 ched by corruption of blood ; or blcmifhed by fome 
 other occurrent: bur this is fo pure as it will admit of 
 no flaine.Fantafticall &■ falfe prophecies may be omi- 
 noufly aduanced,publi{l-ied,& difperfed,vpon Arms, 
 Field.?, Btafls, or Badges, againfl which our Lawcs 
 baue ord lined neceffary prouifios.But no Augur ^Sccr^ 
 :ixSoothfaycrc^n by any fuch groundles Diu!nari6,dc- 
 tradfrom the coflant beauty orfplcndorofhis CoAt. 
 Soueraignizing SnUdine^ after he had made him- 
 rdfcaterrour to many potent Princes, by making 
 'cmhisSiibieds, whoneuer till^then knew what 
 
 fub- 
 
 1(55 
 
 Gentility, 
 
THS snglish 
 
 Gsntility. 
 
 fubieflioii meant ; after he had atchieued fo many 
 profperous victories, taken in fo many flourifliing 
 prouinces, and attained the higheft degree of an im- 
 periall greattieflc ; being furprized by lo mortall.and 
 fatall a malady, as he delpaired of recouery : called 
 his Chiefetaine or Generall before himjand bad him 
 hafteaway to the great City Damufcm, and there in 
 the midft of that populous City, to fixe his ihroiid- 
 ing-fheete vpon a Sphcare, and difplay it like a ban- 
 ner, with thefc words; Thifisfill that Sonidan SMa' 
 dmehaihlefttfAlihuEnfignef, How happy had that 
 Emperourbeenc, if after (b many memorable ex- 
 ploits done by him liuing, fo many imperiall tro- 
 phies of his difperfed vidories erecfled by him brea- 
 thing, he bad refer ued this Cwf tohaue mcmoriz'd 
 him dying ? 
 
 DorcM C^Ats were brought forth and {liown,after \ 
 (lie departed* Soliue, that your 6eft C^AtSy which | 
 are youv vsrtties^ may giue reftimony of you, when j 
 Earth fhali receiue you.Let nor yoMtGemhty become 
 blafted with infamy ; nor your Noble families la- 
 bour of that fcarcity, as not to giue verme all hof- 
 pitality, Diuinely fung our Moderne Poet ; 
 
 To he *f gen'rous hlood and Parents hrfte^ 
 Artdhaue no gen'rous vcrtues, is afcorne* 
 
 Let it be your higheft fcorne, to ftoupe to any bafe 
 thought. It is not priority nor precedency of place, 
 but propriety and proficiency in grace tha: makes an 
 honourable Soulc. That Cloath is of moft worth 
 thatwearesbefl; and that fafhion of moft eftecme 
 that holds longeft in requcft, fertae is right ScMpi- 
 terMfimhrweirc; and of that complete fafhion, as 
 with Cfiriflian women it growes ncuer o:it of date. 
 Make ciioice of this Ihiffe then to ftiite you, of this 
 Coat to gentilize you. All others are but counterfeits 
 
 in 
 
GSNTieWOMA^. 
 
 I I«7 
 
 incompariionofhcr; whofe property it is to ho-! 
 nour thofe that fcruc her i harbour thofe that flyc for j 
 refuge to her; and to reward thole, who conftantly I 
 ftand in defence of her honour. There is nothing can i 
 wound youjbeing thus armed ; nothing ill-befeeme 
 youjbcing thus adorned i nothing difparage you,be- 
 ing thus honoured. Heraldry findes a Coat for your 
 houfe, but ffrtt/e findes honour to grace your perfon , 
 Retaine thofe diuine impreflionsof goodneffe in you, 
 that may truly ennoble you: difplay yoav lentility 
 by fuch a Coat, as may beft diftinguifli your family j 
 fofhallyouliucand dye with honour, and furuiuc 
 their fame, whofe onely glory it was to cnioy for- 
 tunes fauour. 
 
 n 
 
 PAinters are curious in the choice of their colors, 
 left their Arc become blemiflied, through thofe 
 decaied coIours,whercwith their Pidurcs arc por- 
 trayed. Some are of opinion, that the receit of Pain- 
 ting or Colouring the fubftanceofglafle through, is 
 vtterly loft ; neither that thefe late fuccecding times 
 can regaine,as yet, that myfteriouspcrfe(5lion. Farrc 
 more is it to be doubtc^, left v<rtfte^ which we hane 
 i proued by infallible arguments to be the belt Coat^ 
 want her true colour, and confequently become dc- 
 priued of her chiefc luftre. Some Pi(5lures, I know, 
 will doe wellin whitej yet it is colour that giues 
 them life, Beauty neuer darts more loue to the eye, 
 nor with quicker conuoy direds it to the heart, then 
 when it difplayes her guiltlcfle (hame in a crimfon 
 blufti. There isone flever to be loued of women, 
 which is the chicfeft flower in all their garden; and 
 this is a i^od red, which is fi^amefaftnefic. Thefe 
 ftanding colours are flow wooers to difcreer Louers . 
 Vertnes C»At then is beft debUzoned when a p.imefafl 
 W breathes v^pon it. Proto- 
 
 'entiUty. 
 
 A fhanacfafte 
 red the beft 
 Colour to de- 
 blazon ver* 
 tuei Cent. 
 
i68 
 
 Q entilitj. 
 
 me BNGLJsn 
 
 \ 
 
 Protogems tables, wherein 'Bacchns w as painted, 
 and all his furious ^Acchatmls tolifedifplayed, mo. 
 ued King Demctriw to fuch admiration, during his 
 (iege of the City Rhodes^ that where hee might haue 
 confumed the City with fire, and buried the glory 
 thereof in afhcs, would not for the precioufneflc of 
 that table : (bas, proirading time by ftaying to bide 
 them batrell, wonne not the City at all« If a liueleffe 
 Piflure could enforce iiich affedion in a knowing 
 Commander, what efFc6ls may we thinke will ali- 
 uiiig fubiuance produce? Truth is,there is fuch fwcet 
 and amiable corrcfpondence betwixt 'vertmw beau- 
 ty, ^ndjl^^mefafie modefty, as the one cannot fubfifl 
 without the others fociety. Not a h'ght parage can 
 want the attendance of a blufh, whilell modefty is in 
 prcfence* Yea, though fheebe not confcious of any 
 conceit, that might beget in her face a fhamefafte 
 blnfh ; oat of a modeft Compailion fhee will not 
 fVieke to blufli, when ft)e obferues ought in another, 
 defjruing blame. Her cares glow at any light re- 
 port ; which, left they fhonld grow too credulous, 
 flice fortifies with real6n,to oppofe the too eafie en- 
 trance of fufpition* Shee partakes of no refemblance 
 kfle than that of the Cbdmclson^ whofe natnrall pro- 
 perty it is to reprefent all Colours fauc white. She is 
 a milde and moderate interpretor of others atflions; 
 butaleriousCcnforofherowne, Light difcourfcs, 
 which tend rather to the dcprauing of the hearer, 
 than miniftring any vfefull fubied to an atrentiue 
 Obrerucr,flie excludes J vnciuill Complement Hice 
 abhorres j what oncly is modeft fhe approues ; and 
 feconds her approueraent with a graccfull fmile. She 
 holds an infc(5!:cd minde to be more dangerous than 
 an infec^led houfe : ftich Company iliee- fhunnes, on 
 whom the raye.*? of vertne fcldome or neuer ^ine. 
 There is not that Condition^ bee it neuer To meane. 
 
 which 
 
GeNTLSWOMJN. 
 
 J 6^ 
 
 which flieccaittiot with chccrefulnefiTe entcrtaine : iCentihry, 
 
 foas, ftiee holds outward poucrty the beflenricher i 
 
 oFan inward family. Her defirtsarc Toccjujlly poy- 
 zed, as fliec neither feekes more than flieeenioyes, 
 nor wants frecdomc to difpofe of whacfheenioyes. 
 Honour fliee affefis, yet with no fuch eagerneiTe, as 
 to hazzard the lofle of a dearer honour, for fo vnccr- 
 taine a purchafe. Friends and fauouritesflie admits, 
 and with that conflancyj asicneirherrepencsher of 
 accepting, nor them of tcndring fuch vertuous fruics 
 of amity. 
 
 Here you hauc her , Gentlex»omin ^ Who will 
 tell you, and in her felfe cxemplific what fiice tells 
 you; that wf<»'?y77 is the choyccll ornament that can 
 adorneyou. Now if you purpofe retrace her path, 
 or conforme your fclues to her line; you mu(t worke 
 on yosr afFe<5tions, to embrace what fhec loues, and 
 rciefl whatfocuer {he loathes. Are you conuerfanc at 
 any time with fuch pretefling feruants^ as make deepe 
 j Oarhs meere Complements ; and whofe tongues arc 
 witty Orators in running decant on a wanton Talc ? 
 Thefe arc fuch Conibrts as cJ^Wi-/?/ would be loath 
 no conuerfe with. She can neuer endure any of thefe 
 difcourfcs without an angry blufli. Should ycu de- 
 light in thefe, youfhould quickly heare her out of a 
 vcrtuoHS pafTion, cry out with the Poet : 
 O ^ge \ woft tfour voomtn k»otv net tiow^ 
 f^hat 'tu to bipifjf till painting tell them hotv, 
 
 Againe, fl70uld you cnterrainc in your naked bo- 
 forr.es, what fome wantons haue too much afFedlcd, 
 light amorous Poems ; perufing them with no lefTe 
 Content, than if they had beene purpofely penned to 
 worke on your Conceit ; this cannot- fiand with 
 your Twdefji ; Thefc may corrupt you, but ncuer 
 rccHiifiewhat iswandringin you. Suffer not a wan- 
 ton paffagc to play on your fantafie. Sinne would 
 2 neuer 
 
1 lyo 
 
 THE ENGLISH 
 
 Gentility, 
 
 ncuer enter in vpon you, \i (he found but a prepara- 
 tion of refiihnce in yoj. Tell me, what a fvveet grace 
 confcrres it on you, to mixe your Ta'utes with mo- 
 deft bluflies, and enterta ine your Suitors with a 
 fhamefafte bafhfu'.nelTe I Sure I am, where loue is 
 di(crectly grounded, this cannot chufe but be an elpc- 
 ciall moriue to afFedion. There may bee, I grant, 
 fucfa mldelouerty who preferre the loofe loue of an 
 inconftant Ph^dra, before the chafte embraces of a 
 continent Antiopei but their indifcreet choyce is c- 
 ucr (econded with a fearefull cloze. Thofc, who e- 
 fteeme more of a painted cheeke,than a natiue blufh, 
 tliall finde all their imaginary happineffc refolued to 
 a painted blifle. It is Uitosltfiy and not Beantj which 
 makes the husband happy. Would you then dcfeme 
 the title of Chaile VirginSjConftaat Wiues, modeft 
 Matrons ? While you are ranked amongft the firfl^ 
 conuerfe not priuately with a wanton thought ; fead 
 not forth a wandring eye to fetch in a S wcct-hcart, 
 Dif-valuc not your owne worth fo much,as to wooe 
 others to become your Suitors. This would bee a 
 meanes rather todeprellc loue, than increale it ; im- 
 payre loue, than improue iz. If you be worthy win- 
 ning,you cannot chufe but be worthy wooing.Meane 
 time, let not a ftraid looke betray your too forward 
 'oue-nor a light conceit tax you of deferuedreproofe. 
 Dye your checks with a Rofie blufh,when you heare 
 ought that maydetra(fl from the mode ft j of your 
 Sexe. Be as filent as the night ; your beft Rhetorickc 
 confifts in maiden bluHieSjand baChfull fmilesj which 
 will worke more powerfully on a Louers hearr,than 
 a Rhetoricall tongue, bee it neuer focurioufly tipt 
 with Art. 
 
 For the ffcond ranke ; you know how ftri(!^ a duty 
 is impofed on you; now are you not tocoiuieffe with 
 ftrangc loue : or iliffcr any other pcrlon hane the 
 
 leaft, 
 
GENTLEWOMAN. 
 
 S71 
 
 leaftfliarcinyoaraffedion. To Court loue, or vfe [ 
 any Complement, purpofdy to winae a priuate fa- \ 
 uourite, would detraft as much from your honour, 
 asforaSouldiertoflyefromhisCaptaine, and ad- 
 here toa ftranger. He hath inucftcdyou in himfelfe, 
 and ingagcd himfelfe yours by a facred vow, which 
 death onely may reuerle : the difpcrfcd loucs which 
 you entertained before, muft now be reduc'd to one, 
 and that but one, by whofe mutuall cboyce two arc 
 indiuidually made one. A heart diuided cannot liue ; 
 no more can the heat of diuided loue. You are now 
 fo farre from entertaining any ftranger j as you hauc 
 vow'd with your heart, not to enter fo much as any 
 treaty with an vniufl intmder. It is dangerous to 
 conuerfc with a profeft foe, whole drift it istovn- 
 dermineyou; and (uch an one is eucry loofc loaer, 
 who laboi\rs with the licentious art of adulterous 
 Oratory, todepriue you of that ineftimable gem me, 
 which of all others,moft adornes you. 
 
 For you that are LMatrens\ ripeneflc of yeares 
 ■ hath enioyned you to bid a lafting ade w to the vani- 
 ties of youth. Now are you fet as examples of gra- 
 uicy, for others to imitate. 
 
 It were dotage in you now to begin to loue,when 
 your decay in Nature tels you, it is not long you are 
 to liue. You haue hitherto performed your p-^rts 
 with a generom approuement of your adions, fatle 
 not in the conclufion. This (mail remainder of 
 your declining pilgrimage, fhouid be wholly dedi- 
 cated to the pradicc of goodoeffe ; that your pious 
 end may (ecoad your vercuous beginning.The Sunne 
 fhines euer brighter at his fetting than rifing ; fo 
 fliould your life appeare better at your departing 
 than entring. 
 
 It were incomparably beneficiall for you, now in 
 this your Exit^ to haue your afFedions fcarcd in. hea- 
 
 Z 1 nz\-\^ 
 
 <jentiUtj» 
 
i-jz 
 
 THe E^KOLlSH 
 
 Gentilitj. \ ueiijbeforc you depart from earth: leauing fome me- 
 morable examples of your wel-^pcnt Ufc,which may 
 eternize you atler ihis life. 
 
 This will make your names flourifh ; and caufe o- 
 thers ill a vcrcuous emulation of youradions, torc- 
 tainc your memory in their liucs. To beebriefe, be 
 you of what Condition foeucr, either in refpcd of 
 your age or (late; there is nothing can better become 
 you than amodeft fhameFallncffe : which confilU 
 either in aucrting your e&re from your ownc prayfc ; 
 or with-drawingyour prefence from difhoncft or 
 vnciuill difcourfe j or reiedting an importunate Sui- 
 tor, whofetoo inconfideratc entertainment might 
 queftion your honour. I haue noted in fomc women 
 a kind of zealous and deuout paflion, when they 
 chanc'd but to heare any light or wanton communi- 
 cation ; they could not hold but reproue them for 
 their impudence,and amidft their reproote, to adorn 
 thsRofie Circlets of their cheekes with a blulhing 
 fliamefaftneffc. Surely, thisexprelTcdafingularwi?- 
 defiy in them; which I would hauc you{(jentiemmen) 
 in a ferious imitation of them, to reprefent in your 
 fclues. It will happen, many times, that you cannot 
 chufe but encounter with (omc frontleffe Buffounty 
 vvhofehigheft ftraineof oblcene wit, is to iuftifie 
 (ome fal)ulous ftory,or repeat an vnciuill Tale; which 
 you are to enterraine with fuch difguft, as thefe odi- 
 ous relarers may gather by your Ceuntenance, how 
 much yojdifta lie fuch vnciusll difcourfe. For it is a 
 fweec kindeof cuincing finne, to difcountenance it 
 witha modeft fliamf. 
 
 Thus fhall you make yair very frowne an ingenu- 
 ous Index of your vncorrupt heart : and to adde one 
 line more vnto your Honour, di(p'ay theChara^lcr 
 of yourguiltlefle fhameina Maydenbiufli,a Virgin. 
 ; olour. 
 
 Seue- 
 
GSNTLSFFOMJ^T^. 
 
 7? 
 
 Qf«^rwthe Emperour would haue maiclly pre- 
 Oieniid by a ver'uousdifpofing of the dcfirc,not: by 
 A carious effirminacy \n atcirc. For, as wc cannot ^c- 
 couni: Inm for leflc then a foole, who priztth his 
 horfe by the faddle, and trappings that hang abonc 
 him, rpore then by the worth that h in him : fo \s he 
 mottfbolifh, who values the man by the woith of 
 his Cloai bes, rather then thofc inward parts chat doc 
 accomphili him. 
 
 How many formall Gallants fliall we oblerne, 
 whofc oncly value confifts in patting on th<rir 
 cloathes neatly ; with whomj if you fliould conuerfe, 
 you might eafily finde t/£fops painted fculs, fairely 
 promifing, but weakly performing ? The greatell 
 Obliquity thciccan finde in our age, is the too carc- 
 leffe obferuance ot fafliions j which out ncate forma- 
 lins haue no great caufe totaxe for an crrouri, feeing 
 affedation in the choice of fafliion is this ages hu- 
 mour. Ih^ golden ap^le was giuen to the fairefi, not 
 t\iQ fitiefl 'y iht gci^eu Trifode^ neither to the fairefi 
 nor fittfjff but mfefi. For might the faireft haue ob- 
 tain'd it, t/^lcthadeSj being the daintiefl and beft fa- 
 uoured Boy in all t/fthens^ might by right haue chal- 
 lenged it. Againe, might the /«<?/ haue enioy'd it, 
 the Ljdian Crcefui^ being richer in attire than any of 
 his time, might haue pleaded for it. Of whom ic is 
 id\di^x.\{i.l Sohnoi SaUmiie came to vifite him: not 
 toadmirehim, as fimple people did, whofe iudge- 
 ments raoft commonly were plac'd in their ^yts : 
 but to rcprouc him for his vanity, an apt fnbiecfl for 
 Philofophy } and weanc him from tbar,wh!ch thrtar- 
 ncdruinetohis State. This delicate Prince had that 
 learned Sage no (bunder found decked and adorned 
 ivith the choifeft Ornaments, andfcatcdon an high 
 Throne, than he encountrcd that graue Philofopher ' 
 with this vainc queftion : demanding of him, i'f'be. | 
 
 ther i 
 
 \ Genulitj, 
 
 Gentility IS not 
 knowiieby 
 what wee 
 v!^earej but 
 
 O age / no 
 coucf nowfic 
 for ou; mold, 
 butPJufh, 
 shag. Vclucr, 
 Tifliic, Cloth 
 ofGo.'d. 
 

 I 
 
 TBe eNGLISH 
 
 Mg* 
 
 ther be had euerfee»ea tngregfori^M fight ? To whom 
 Sshn right grauely anfwered ; 7«, quoth he, / h^He 
 feene Honfe-C9ckjy Phsfa»ts, and Peacock^ : ^nd thefe 
 vs/ere grated tfiith a udtttra^ beautj ; ivbereai J9urs is but 
 a hrrojved glory ywhich wufi vatUtotmejandpfuks hands 
 ere it be hng^ with mortality. 
 
 Truth is,(liould we iadgc of mens worths by their 
 outward wcare, or diftinguifh Gentility by a fa(hio- 
 nable attire, we fliould errc more in iudgemenc, then j 
 a biindc man in his firll difcoucry of colours. What 
 eminent Ladies are recorded in the continuace hifto- 
 f is of fame ; whofc efteeme tooke firll breath,not 
 from what they wy#,but what they vsre ? it was not 
 their ay me to ftrikc a ftupid Beholder into admirati- 
 on with a phantafticke habit^nor allure an humorous 
 Loaer with a conceited complement. 
 
 OnrfimpU Elder t kfiert> not yf hat it woi, 
 Tofet their faeCi vr C9urt a Leoking-glaffe, 
 It was their higheft taske to corred thofe err ours 
 that were in them ; by which meanes they became 
 (b inwardly louely, as none truely knew them, that 
 could doeleffc thaa entirely loue them. Surely ,tbere 
 is no ftate that fuites fo fitiy with GfntiUtj, as the 
 loWjbut loyall attendance of humility. This is (hcc, 
 who (as flie is rightly defined) is the Pnttceffit ofver~ 
 tueSj the eo»tjMf-e(fe of vices, the mirror of virginity , 
 thcchoifcft W^wror repofe for the blejfed trinity. 
 Shecoafiders.'howhe, by whom our corrupt blood 
 was rellored, our vnualuable lofles repaired, and our 
 primitiue nakcdncffe compafftonatelycouercd, was 
 not with a Diadem crowned, nor in a ftately bed 
 couched ; yea, (carcely rather with one poore coat 
 couercd : which he wore not as an ornament to his 
 body, to beftow on it trimneffe, but for ncccfiity to 
 couer his nakedneffe. What a pouerty is it then for 
 you, whofe ancient defecnt promifeth fomcthing ex- 
 
 traor- 
 
GSNTieWOMA^: 
 
 I 175 
 
 traordinary in you» to haut riO;:hing toboaft of, faue 
 onelya^ilded outfidc? It was Neceflity that in- 
 uented Cloathes for you ; now wf re it fit to pride 
 you in tbar, which deprm'd yon ofy our prime beau- 
 ty ? You rhall obferue in many ot our graue Matrons, 
 with what iRdifFcrency they attire thcmfelues.Their 
 inward ornaments are their cbiefeft care,- their re- 
 newing and repairing of them, their higheft cure. 
 They haue found fuch choice flowers, as they afford 
 more fpirituail delight to the foulcj than any vjfib!e 
 flowers or odours doe to the fmell. And what are 
 thefe, but diuine and morall precepts, (bueraignc in- 
 ftrudtions; which haue taught them how to con- 
 temne earth, conquer death, and afpire vnto e?:erni- 
 ty ? 1 hefe by a continued cuftome or frequent con- 
 uerfe with heauenly things, cannot now conceiue 
 any obieft to be worthy their beholding on earth., 
 Fafliions may be worne about them, but little obfer- 
 uedbythem. TheWEDDING GARMENT 
 is their defired raiment. This they make ready for 
 thcNuptiallday ; the meditation whereof fo tranf- 
 portsthem, as nothing below hcauen can pofleflTe 
 them. It is not beauty Which they prize ; for they 
 daily and duely confider the Prophets words, ^4U fa- 
 ces ^all gather i/ac^ne^e. AgainCjthey remember the 
 threats which God dcnounceth vpon beautiful], but 
 Cin^ll Nimuehy ImU Mfccuer thj skfrts vpen thj face. 
 This makes them ferioufly to confider the dange- 
 rous quality of fianc, and to apply Niniuehs falue to 
 their (bare ; that rvineof tAngels^ the UAres ef refen- 
 tame» Which, howfoeuer it is, as one wittily ob- 
 ferues, Euery mans medicine; an vniuerfall Anti- 
 dote, that makes many a Mitbridatet venture on poi- 
 fon : yet works it not this bancfull iffed with thefe; 
 for their affedions are fo fweetly tempered, cheir 
 hearts fo truly tcndred^w they make notRepentancc 
 
 fecuri- 
 
 Gentility. 
 
 lotlz, 
 
 NahunH'jt 
 
genti/itjf. 
 
 Tue BNGLlSn 
 
 Bern. 
 
 feciiriry to delinquents: They well remember that 
 Aphorifme oi fpiriruall Phylicke : As he that finnes 
 inhopeof remidioti, feeds difteraperature tofccke 
 aPhyfician; fo hee that repents with apurpofeof 
 finning, fhall finde an eternall place to repent in. 
 Tbefe, who thus belull themfelucs in the downe- 
 beds of fccurity, labour ofan irreparable Lethargy. 
 They make bold to fmns, as if they were furc to^^- 
 pent. But the medicine was made for the wound,noc 
 the wound for the medicine. Wc muft not luftcr our 
 felues voluntarily to be wounded,, in hope wee haue 
 to be cured : butpreuencthemeanes, xhat weemay 
 attaine a more glorious end. 
 
 Preuent the meancsor occafion offinnc ; which 
 ifat any time wc commit, toinfuffe the balme of re- 
 pentance into it ; which leafonably applyed,may mi- 
 nifter a foueraigne falue to our foare, fb wee intend 
 our care to fo confeqiicnt a cure. 
 
 Come then, Gentlewomen^ beginnc nowatlaftto 
 feflcdlonyour owne worth. Vnderflandjthat^tfir- 
 f;/*// is not knowne by what you veare^ but what 
 you «i^<?.Confider, in what member focueryour Cre- 
 ator is moft offended, in that fhall cueryfinner bee 
 moft tormented. Remember, how the time fhall 
 come (and then (haU your time be no time) when 
 the iJl'toAtb fhall be your vnderlining, and thtU^orme 
 your couering. Trimme your felues then with an in- 
 ward beauty; thatagloriojs ErUegroome ifiay re- 
 cciucyou. Falhion your felues tohisimsge, whom 
 you reprelent. That fafhim onely, will extend the 
 date of time, and crowne you with immortality af- 
 ter time. Thefe, who haue their iudgementi in their 
 (?;.*f, may admire you for your Cloatbs j but thofe, 
 who haue their ejes in their heads , will oncIy 
 prize you by your inward worth. Were it not a 
 poore Enfignc oH Gentility^ to hang vpa pbantafticke 
 
 fafhion 
 
GSNTLSiVOMJN, 
 
 m 
 
 ftftiion to memoriae your vanity after death ? So | CsniUitj^* 
 liue, that you may eucr Ime in the cuLniory of the 
 good. It will not redound much to your honour, to 
 haue obferued thcfafhiom of che time, bu: to haue re- 
 deemed y ottr tiine ; to haue dedicated your fciues to 
 theprafticeofvcrtue all your lime-, to haue beene 
 Mirrors of modefty to your fuccecdiug (exe ; to haue 
 dif- valued the fruitkfle flouriOi of fading vsnity,for 
 thcpromifing hopes of a bkiTtd eternity. Supply 
 then that in you, which blcered fudgemencs expect 
 without you. You challenge precedency in placc;,e-x. 
 prcflc your felucs worthy of that place. Venue will 
 make you farrc more honoured, than any garilli ha- 
 bit can make you admired. The one is a Speftacle of 
 derifiouj the other oftrueandjfc«*?rtf/« spprobatio; . 
 ThisyouHialldoe, if youfcafonyotirdefires with 
 difcretion ; ifyou temper your excuriiue thoughts, 
 and bring them home with aferious meditation of 
 your approaching diflb'urion It is faid of the Palw^ 
 tree, that when it growesdry and fruitkfic,thcy vfe 
 to apply afhes to the root orit, and it forthwith re- 
 couers: tbar the peacefull7*^/wf/of yourvertuous 
 mindes may fiouriilT euer j that their branches may 
 eucr bIoflb:ne and ncuer wither : apply vnto their 
 roots the afhes of morcification ; renue them with 
 fome Tweet and folic raigne med'.ration. That whtn 
 youfhailreturne covcur mother Ear.h, tho(e thai- 
 fucceedyou maycollcdr hoiv you liued while you 
 were on Earth: by makin^j; thefe liuing aiTtions of 
 your Gfntititjy happy Prccun'ors to your ftateof 
 glory. 
 
 TJOuntainesarebefldiftinguifhcdby their water-?, 
 XT Trees by their fruits, and Gemrom hlocds by thtir 
 adions. There are inhred (eeds of goodneffc (faith 
 
 A a- the 
 
 There are«> 
 
 tiuefeechof 
 
 goodiicfiei 
 
 lowne inije- 
 
 nvcHibuodi 
 
 bvlincallfuc- 
 
 cc-dior. 
 
178 
 
 THE ENGLISH 
 
 Gefitility. 
 
 the Philofopher) ineuery good man ; and thefc will 
 fin.de titfie toexprefle themfelues. 
 
 Ic was Dautd' tefUmony of himfelfe : From mj 
 yemhvphaue I ionedt^y Law, An ( xcdient preroga- 
 ritiegiuen bim,3ndwith no It fie diligence improutd 
 b) htrn. Now thefe N at me feeds ^ as they arc diffc- 
 renr, (o -are the fruits which come of them, vari- 
 odfly dilpofed. Some haue a relhlL of true and^^w^- 
 roHf bounty ; wherein they (hew chat noble freedome 
 CO their owne, in their liberality cowards others :as 
 cheir very adlions declare vnto the wortdjllf^ir com- 
 mand and foueraignty oner the things of this world. 
 Others difcouer their noble difpofition,by theirno- 
 table pi:tj and comp^jfion ; Thefe will eftrai^e them- 
 felues from no mans mifery. If they cannot (uccour 
 him, chey wilHufferwith him. Their bofbmcs are 
 euer open with pittifull Zcttocratest to rcceiue a di- 
 ftreifedone. Oueravanquifh'd foe they (corne to 
 infult J or vpona deicded one to triumph. They 
 haue teares to partake with the affli<n:ed ; and reall 
 exprefiions of icy to (hare with the relieued-Others 
 ihewapparanc arguments of their Cmgnhr woderA- 
 tm ; abftcmious are thefe in their difhes ; temperate 
 in their Companies; moderate in their defires.Thefe 
 wonder at the rioters of this time ,* how they con- 
 fume their daies in (enfuality and vncleanncffe.Their 
 account is f ar re more flraight ; their cxpenccmorc 
 llrait ; but their liberty of mind of an higher llraine. 
 Cloathes they weare, but with that decency, as cu» 
 riofiry cannot taxethtm ; meats they partake, but 
 with that temperance, as delicacy cannot tempt 
 them. Others from their Cradle, become braue 
 fparkes of vulonr', their very Childhood promifeth 
 undoubted tokens of fuccceding honour. Thcfc can- 
 not endure braues nor affronts. Generetts refolution 
 hath ftampt fuchdeepe impreflfions in their heroxke 
 
 mindes, 
 
GENTLEWOMAN. 
 
 mindes, as fame is their ayme ; which they hilnc af- 
 ter, with fuch conftancy oFfpiric, as danger cm nei- 
 ther amate them, nor diiliciilty aucrc rbemfrons 
 their refolues.Others are endued withanaiural preg- 
 nancy of >ir; to whom no occafion is fooner offe- 
 red, than fome dainty exprelTion mull fecond it. O- 
 thers with more fblidity or <«4cr;»tf«r,though of lefTe 
 prefeat conceit. And thefeare fuch^ as generally im- 
 ploy themfelaes in State-affaires ; wherein Experi- 
 ence, purchafcd by an vfefuU expence eftime, doth 
 fo ripen them, as the Pubuke State takes notice of 
 them-, and rccompenceth their care wf th honours 
 conferred on them. 
 
 Thefeand many other excellent endowments fhill 
 weobfemetobec /f^^^JiSf/deriued fromAnceftors to 
 their fucccffors; which, as they retaineancare re- 
 femblance of their perfons, fo they reprefent their 
 AiSions : fo powcrHiU is nature in beftowing her di- 
 ftind Oificei on euery creature, wherein they gene- 
 rally partake of cheir dtfftjltion as wel as outward/f^- 
 tftrei whence the Poet, 
 
 Stout men And good are f^rptngfrom flout anhgoed, 
 Horfes and ^eeres retaine tbetr parents vljod^ 
 
 Yet fee the iniquity of time 1 It fareth ofc-timss 
 with thofe who are endowed with ihefe vertues, to 
 be moft traduced, where their more noble and emi- 
 nent parts are to be highlieft honoured. Which, as 
 it wasamaineerror in former ages, (b descends it to 
 theft prefcnt times. When Reme was in her glory, 
 this eclipfed her light, by detrading from their de- 
 merits mofl:, whole free-bred vtrrues deferucd of 
 their Goiintreybcfl. Sundry Families (hee had, fa- 
 mous for their vertues, which by a deprau^d and 
 mil- interpreting Cenfure,becamc branded with vn- 
 deferued afperlipus. If the T'tf^s were frugall, they 
 I . A a 2 were 
 
 \ (jentiliiy. 
 
TB$ B!K^HSB 
 
 ^tm^iiijji', I xK€S<e 
 
 s^^mi fij pijirfe titiiQt*^ I i-S^ ?^ ^^ ^J^y. tfeff}' were «>• 
 
 |i^p!ap!^l^j>ybc*i5gccnii.t:ceQai?^. i^twiib good an<$ 
 I' md vvcU-diipofcd (?«iifons, z'.^'^'P««' is ncucr out of fa- 
 uour, though LEbscneucrfoaiuch impeached fay a 
 cradacinj* ccnfure. . 
 
 Thiij; you haae heard, Gentlewemefiy whit vertuei. 
 haue hncaliy and by (flood defcendcd from Parents to 
 their Children ; what erpcciall inward graces vfual- 
 ly attend feme cfpcciall families> which no leffe me- 
 morize them, thanthofe natiue honours which are 
 conferred on them. Now, tofeledlfuch aslortbeft 
 with your fexe and condition ; in my opinion there 
 is none that ennobles you higher, or makes you 
 more gracious in the eye of thcbeholder than C^^e- 
 ^^/j', which was the greateft aduancerof many Ro- 
 maft families. This is that vcrtue^ which exprtfleth 
 you to be women } this is thar,which makes you ho- 
 noured amongft women* Cbaines and Garkenets, 
 fewels and Habiliments may bee valued ; but this 
 Ornament is of that high eft imatc, as it is not to be 
 prized. Now, there is nothing that will caufe this 
 toappearcmorepretiousvntoyou, next to thctc- 
 ftiniony of a good Confciencew'thin you, with an 
 ardent defire of promoting his g/ory who made you, 
 chana reficxi'on to your Family which bred you; 
 who{e honour to prefcrue, as it '\s your cfpeciall du- 
 ty, fbnoobie(5l of profit or plcafiire, no attrafliue 
 Lure of dcceiaing honour fibould remoue this opini- 
 on from you: ''To bee high borne and bafcly min- 
 '• ded, is to ingraffe baftard flippcsin a noble ftocke. 
 High and heroickc venues become great houfcs . 
 for, as they were fir R made great by facing f(?tff, fo 
 fliould they by furceafing from being/w^,"lofe their 
 
 title 
 
Ge MtLBVFOM J5^. 
 
 fSi 
 
 youd^crastft feii j-oui- Ancdkn'S fame, }rou lye a ' 
 blemiOi^on bis iikcine.; wbkli,,tliQag<3 it.t(aich^ 
 him, yet itcaiiiEicsj^^i£ w^Qce^i^bic: Iiiosx.. 
 
 This, Qodioabt, wascbacMo&Ie^ Ea<Jy lighrcauid^ 
 fill I of, when on a time being follicited byapower- 
 fuil Suitor, who wooed her firft in perfon, and afrcr 
 in a wanton Rhctoricall Letter, flic,as one tender of 
 her honour, and perceiuing that the (cope ofhis fait 
 tended ro her di/honour, anfwered his fruitleflfc fol- 
 licitancy in this fort,with great modefty ; *' Should 
 ''I condefcend to your Suit, I ftiould not only dcre- 
 **gatc from the honour of my prefent ftate^dif- value 
 *' that which I hold moftdeare, make my relfcafub- 
 " lefl of contempt to euery eare, but afperfe that in- 
 " famy on my family, which would beare record of 
 '' my inconftancy. Ovvhat would the next age re- 
 " port of me, that I (hould fo farre degenerate from 
 " thofe that bred mc ? No ; pouerty may enter in at 
 '* my gate, but difhonour fliall ncuer lodge in" mine 
 '* heart. Referue thefe promises of honour for fucb, 
 ''as prize them aboue their honour : IhdiZ generom 
 " blood which diftreames through my veyncs, (hall 
 " foonerbe dried, than it (hallbc for any hope ofad- 
 '' uancement inglorioufly ibined. 
 
 Such fingular refolues many of our Al^ian Ladies, 
 qiieftipnlcfle, cuen at this day retainc ; who^ rathtr 
 than they would incurre the leaft diftionour, or oc- 
 cafion fufpition by their too free entertaine of ligfit 
 Suitors, would confine themfeluesto their Cham- 
 bers, and dcbarre thenafelucs of publike recourfe. 
 Seeing then, that there are natine Seeds vfgoodne^e 
 (own: in gjenerom hioodshj UwaU fticcejjion ; which euen 
 in their firfl: infancy giue fairc promifes of iheiriu' 
 ward beauty : exprefle your fclues Daughters wor- 
 thy fuch vcrtuous Mothers. Emulation of goodnefle 
 
 \\\ 
 
lS2 1 
 
 TBS eNGLISH 
 
 Gsmilitj, ' '^ S"^^^ perfoiis is tionourabfe. Their PiiSlarcs you 
 ' ( hangvp, that their memories may liue with you. 
 
 En icy their vercucs too, aiid their memories fhall 
 ! Hue freflier in you. All memorials, being materials, 
 1 be they neuer lb dnrable, are fubicdl to frailty ; only 
 theft precious monuments of your vertues furuiuc 
 time, and breath eternity. Youfpring from a noble 
 Seminary ; let thofe feeds of loedncjfe which arc 
 fbwhe in your youth, come to that ripencffe in your 
 age, that as in piety you imitated others, fo you may 
 become Prcfidentsvmo others » as you were here 
 feafoned with grace, a good report may follow you 
 to your graue. All which by injiru^ion onely may 
 be effc(fled,as in our next branch ihall be more preg- 
 nantly proued* 
 
 Howihefcw- 
 tiue feeds oi 
 goodne§i may 
 be ripened by 
 
 HE cannot chufebut Hue well, whoconformes 
 himfclfe to that bee hcares. Good inftrudors 
 arc fuchAithfoil Monitors, as they will aduile what 
 ismoftfeing, not what is beft pkafing. Andthefe 
 arc to be entertained with fuch endeered refpe(fl, as 
 their fpeccbes, bee they neuer fo tart, (hould not in- 
 ccnCcvs, nor their reproofes, be they neuer fo free, 
 diftaftc vs. 
 
 Though C^hfff open rebukes coil him his Iirc,his 
 free and friendly reproofe expreft his loue j (b as ^- 
 lexander could neucr fiifficiently bemone his lofle. 
 Thofe Natine feeds oi j^ocdnefey whereof- wee for- 
 merly treated, be they in our infancy neuer fo plen- 
 rifuliy diffufed, yet in time they would grow ranke 
 and wilde, vnlcfle they were by feafonablc inflruBU 
 on ripened. Now, GentleTvomen^ there be no Tutreffes 
 fitter to psrfed this excellent worke in yoa, than 
 thofe who were the (econdary inflruments of being 
 vnto you ; N cither can thofe,who arc deriued from 
 . you. 
 
GSNTLeWOMA^, 
 
 \ 183 
 
 y ou,become better inJiruUed than by y ou.Your loue, 
 [ confefle, will be mor<: indulgent, yet your care fo 
 much the more incefiant. Their difpofitions arebeft 
 knowne vnto you , if motherly affedion then will 
 giue way todilcrecion, who more fie to mold them 
 than youPPreceding times may afford you variety of 
 examples in this kinde. 
 
 Cornelia'm^t\i&.c^ hers in all piety ; yom'd hersin 
 exemplary grounds of chaftity ; SulpitiahQts in pre- 
 cepts of coniugallvnityj EJejtahcrs in learning and 
 morality ; fattlwa hers in memorials of fliamefaftc 
 modefty. Thefe, though HeathenSj were excellent 
 informers of youth > fo as, their Children were 
 more bound to them for their heeJmjr than hariv^j 
 tiurturiKg than nurfmg, Bclides, there is an inbred fi- 
 lial! feare in Children to their Parents, which will 
 beget in them more attention in hearing, and reten- 
 tion in holding whatthey hcare. Now, there is no 
 in/Ir(i^io» more mouing, than the example of your 
 liuing. By that Line of yours, are they to conforme 
 their owiie. Take heed then, left by the dampe of 
 your life, you darken both their glory and your 
 owne. I might propofe vnto you bookes oiiMfiruni- 
 on^ which might miniller arguments plenteoullyin 
 :this kinde : but fo (horc is the memory in retaining 
 whatitieads, yea fo diftraded is the minde in ob- 
 feruing what it reads,that, as it fares with oavmtun 
 raS/aceinig^aJff, from which the glaffe is no foo- 
 ner remoued,than the refemblance of it is abolished; 
 casn fo, the booke is no fooner left out of the hand, 
 than theContents are leapt out of the heart. Yet, to 
 the end you may not be vnproaided offuch Tnds as 
 may enable you ior iw/lfiK^Mw ; and prepare you to 
 encounter with tentation ; 1 will recount fuch vnto 
 you, as may beft accommodate you for the one, and 
 fortifie you againft the other. 
 
 Lcar- 
 
 Gentility. 
 
 Euang, 
 
iS4 I 
 
 THS ENGLISH 
 
 qentilitj, 
 
 A brkfe enu- 
 meration/c- 
 riousdicufli- 
 on, and judi- 
 cious clefti- 
 on of fundry 
 ancienc fa- 
 thers, with o- 
 th€r morall 
 Au:bois. 
 
 ' Learned Vina in his infiruEiim of a Chrifiian voman^ 
 recommends vntoihem thefeglcricus Lights of rhc 
 Church, S. Hteretff, Cjprinn^ Augufiinty Ambrofey Bi- 
 /arj, Gregory ; annexing vnto them thofe morall 
 Philofophers : "Tlato^ Cicero, Seneca^^c* Of which, 
 feuerally to deHuer my opinion, it is this : 
 
 Than S Hierom none more grauely copious, as 
 may appeare by thofe pithy and cfFcduall EpilHes of 
 his^diredcd to thofe Noble Lidks,Marcc//a^Dewc~ 
 trid. Lata, Furia^ Sec. wherein he vferh fingular ex- 
 hortations, inuincible arguments, perfwafiue rea- 
 fons, fvveet fimilitudes, and forciue examples. Mo- 
 deftyisthefubiedhee commends vnto them ; de- 
 cency inapparell he approues in them ; to a mode- 
 rate reftraint of liberty he enioynes them j to an ex- 
 emplary holinefle hee exhorts them j and with fwect 
 and com fort able promifes of an incorruptible reward 
 he leaues them* 
 
 Than S. Cyprian, none more dcuoutly fcruerous ; 
 inhisreproofeshefihewesmilduefle ; in his treaties 
 a pafllonate fweetnefle ; he winnes the (inner by in- 
 ducing; rcafons ; hee ftrcngthens the foule mightily 
 againft temptations ; he propofeth an excellent way 
 of moderating the affcftions j he apply es ibueraignc 
 rcceits to foueraignizing padions j and concludes 
 with that fober and difcreer temper, as with a Di- 
 uineinfinuationhe wooes, winnes, and weanesthc 
 finncr, and in. a fpintualltyevniteshim to his Re- 
 deemer. 
 
 Than S. j4f4guflini jnont more profoundly iudfci- 
 ous, more iudicioufly zealous-, pithy are his dirc(5li- 
 ons, powerful! his; inf^rudionSj in his C^lei^iratioKS 
 heismouingj inhia So/s/ajuia inwardly piercing; 
 in his Ulfam/iS comfortably dozing Amongft all 
 thofe Conflicfls in oue Chriftian waifare, hee holds 
 none (harper than our Combat with Chaftity. Hee 
 
 applies! 
 
CeNTLSWOMJN. 
 
 85 
 
 applies mcancs how wee may relirr, refifting van- 
 qui(h ; and by our Chriftian vi<5lory, rtcciue 
 Crownes ofeternall glory. That Conqueft he holds, 
 deferuesfinall honour, which is atchku'd without 
 Encounter. Ina Diuine rapfodie dravvne.as it were, 
 from himlelfe, heelliewes whatfhouldbedontby 
 vs. Earth is no obiedt ft: to entertains our eye j nor 
 her deluding melody oareare : He exhorts vs there- 
 fore to Icaue Earth now while wee line, that lea 
 uing Earth for altogether, wee may enioy our i>eft 
 
 ThanS. iAhhsff ^none more Diuinely plenteous ; 
 fweetly ferious are his inftru(5tions j enforcing are' 
 hisrealonsj he fpeakes home to the {inner : whom 
 he no fooner findes wounded for Hnne, than hee ap- 
 plies a Spiritual! Salue to cure his finne. Manygraue 
 Untencesare in his Offices methodically couched; 
 fingulardiredlions to guide euery Cbriflian in his 
 Spirituall Path- way, are there deliuered. Like an ex- 
 pert Phyficiau, he firit gathers the natur;; or quality 
 ofyourdiltemper, and thenminiftersfoale-jaluiiig 
 receipts to reftore you to your right tempt r. Hce 
 fhewesyou how in your very motioHj gcOure, and 
 paceyouaretoobferue modtlly : concluding that 
 nothing can afford true comfort to a foiornifig foulci 
 but prad^ife of piety. 
 
 Than S. HUary^nonc more fully fentcmious ; hee 
 
 difcouerstleoccafionof ourcorruption familiarly; 
 
 aduifethvs with many paflionate and tcafe-fwolliie 
 
 j lints ro prouide for our inward family ; he propo- 
 
 j feth vs a reward, if we contemne Earth ; be thfea- 
 
 I tens vs with the Law if wee contemne life. Sundry 
 
 ) mouins and cffeftuail Lcflbin he recommends to the 
 
 I perufall of women of all ranVes, ages^ and condiii- 
 
 i ons. Tenderly hee compafrionatcs the cafe of a fn- 
 
 ncr;.naflionately treats he of thofe torments which 
 
 Bb fhall 
 
 Gentilitj, 
 
fe 
 
 THE ENGLISH 
 
 Cfntility, 
 
 Qiall laft for eucr ; with prayers and tcares hce folli- 
 cles them that haue gone aftray,to returnejthofe that 
 are already return'd, to goe no more aftray . He con- 
 cludes witb an vfefiill Exhortation to forrow for 
 finne, promifingthcm, forth of that Store-houfe of 
 Comforts, contained in the Gofpell, for this their 
 momcntaine forrow, an inccffant ioy in Sion, 
 
 Than S, Gregory ^ none more highly myftcrious, 
 nor contemplatiuely glorious; Diuineiy moraJl are 
 hisMoyah ; full of heauenly comforts are his inftru- 
 dions ; hee walkes in an higher way than others 
 crace, yet with that humility, as there is not a cloze 
 from him, but it difclofeth in him a louc of meekc- 
 neffc, lowlincffc, and piety. With proper and ele- 
 gant fimilitudesarc his works adorned; with choice 
 fentenccs,as with fo many feled flowers,ncatIy gar- 
 nifhedi in a word, hee is fweetly lubftantiall, and 
 fubftantially fweet. He reprehends the times grauc- 
 ly ; commends the pradicc of vertuc gracefully. 
 With an holy zeale he reprouesthcremifncfle of the 
 Miniilry. Diredions he giues vnto women, to haue 
 ancfpeciallcareof modefty : concluding, that the 
 loLieof this life fhould not (b pofTeffcvs, as to de- 
 priucvsof that inheritance which might eternally 
 blelTe vs. In good mindes he holds pouerty the por- 
 trefleof humility: accounting thofe Euils or Ad- 
 ucrfities, which doe here prcfTc vs, to be the Cords 
 whichdraw vsvntoGod who made vs. 
 
 Touching tbofe three Philofbphers, this is my 
 conceit of them ; wherein none canothervvife chufe 
 than concuvre with me, that fliallferioufly read, and 
 fincerely fcanne them : Than T^Ufo, none more Di- 
 uineiy Philolophicall ; Than^icero, morephilofo- 
 ' phically Rhetoricall ; Than Seneca^ more Sagely 
 I Morall. 
 
 But for as much as it is notgiuen tomoft of you to 
 I be 
 
GENTLEWOMAN. 
 
 187 
 
 be Linguifts, albeit many of their workes be tranfla- 
 ted in your mother-tongue, youmiyconuerfe with 
 (iindry Englifli Authors, whofe excellent irttrudi- 
 ons will fufficiently ftoj-e you in all points;and if v fe- 
 folly applied, conferrc no firall benefit to your vn« 
 derftanding. I fliali not need particularly to name 
 them to youjbccaufe I doubt not,but you haue made 
 choyceof fuchfaithfull Retainers andvertuousBo- 
 fome-friendsjconftantiy to accompany you. Neither, 
 indeed, are ^osk*s onely necdTary j conference will 
 fingularty impreue your knowledge ; but that is not 
 altogether lo conuenient nor decent for your fcxe in 
 publike places. So as, I much condemne their opini- 
 on, who hold no meanes fo fitting to bring their 
 jtlaughtcrs to audacity, as a frequent confort with 
 Company. This, in time, begets in them rather iw- 
 ■udefice than botdrteffe. 
 
 It was held a touch to a Maid to bee fcene talking 
 
 vv Ith any one in a publike place. But in priuatc Nur- 
 
 ferics, which may be properly termed your houfho/d 
 
 Academts j\z will fuit well with your honors to treat 
 
 and enter into Conferenceont withanothcr;or in fuch 
 
 olaces, where yourownefexc is onely conuerfanr, 
 
 jor fuch indifcreet Mothers, who vfually trim and 
 
 U' ck their daughters,to fend them forth to Showes, 
 
 I ^iettings,orEnterludes, they annoynt bauin with 
 
 ' oyle, that it may burne the better. But much more 
 
 ; biame- worthy bee thofe, who take them along to 
 
 Tauerncs and goffippings ; which Educarona little 
 
 time will bring into cuftome, and make modefty a 
 
 ftrangcr to her fdfe* For abouc all things (faith the 
 
 Philofopher)ought young Girles to be kept from E- 
 
 briety : which heconfirmes with this rtafon : "^ It 1 
 
 " is gooJjfaith hee, for young men and maids to bee I 
 
 *^* kept from wine, left fuch become afterwards pro- 
 
 "fcll drunkards,profii(c riorers,and prodfgali expo- 
 
 B b 2 ftrs I 
 
 gentility. 
 
i28 
 
 THe ENGLISH 
 
 
 '' lets of chcir honour : the maine occafion whereof, 
 "are their parertis, by raeanes of their ill*w/r«£?w», 
 '' and vvorfe example. 
 
 Ic is the v{:v)' firJlinflrHclion that takes ihtdeefeflim' 
 prrjpoyii hovv neceHiry then IS it fof you, Centtexfo. 
 mtn^ vvhofe ftxe is the Embieme of wcakeneflc,and 
 whole beft rcfolucs arc ofc-tinfies weakned by y outh- 
 fuli proaiifes, to furnini yo.ir bIoomin<T yoath with 
 vvbolclbme inftmcflions : and [o to improiiethem, 
 that they may increafc in vigour, as you doe in fta- 
 ture? Thisyour fexecxafi^sofyou; this your pre- 
 fcnc eftatc requires of yoa: and this fiiall eafily be cf- 
 fcclcd by you, if hauing (as is to be prcfuppofed) dif- 
 creet and rtligioas Mothers, you fubmit your lelues 
 in all humble obedience to their dire(flion. For as it 
 is very hird for any one to know how to command, 
 vnkffe (he know firll hcv/ to obey ; fo will it be vn- 
 fo yon to performe the oiBce of a Mother, if you ne- 
 ucr knew the duty of a daughter. Strid and ituere 
 may thofe Commands feeme to your youth, which 
 riper age will cafily digeft. Againe, you that 
 are Mothers, become parrefnes of mcdcfty vnto 
 your daughters. Your huinga(5lions arc the lines of 
 their diredion. While they are vnder your com- 
 mandjthc error \% yours,not theirs,!^ they goe aftray . 
 Their honour ilnoufd be one o.fthe priViCipalJ'fl things 
 you are to.cender; neither can it be blemiflied,with- 
 out Tome touch to your Credit. I hauc knowne fome 
 inconfiderarc mother.5, and thofe none of the lowcft . 
 ranke or quality, whoeitherout ofa confidence they 
 had of their daughters good carriagc,or drawn with 
 the hopes of iome rich Suitors to aduance their mar- 
 riage, hauc vfually giusn too free way to opporruni- 
 t^^ which brought vpon their daughters names a 
 fpreading infamy. 
 
 Your tnjlniQiom will doc well with them, till fo- 
 
 cicty 
 
GeNTLeyj^OMJJ^ 
 
 ciccy d,'praue th^m* diaerr then che occafioa,roilulI 
 yonrdiiigh:ers, be thsyn^ueclbp3ore> \\mz goxi 
 porcioasofrepj:acioi SjfF;r no: rhsn thofe who 
 pircaksefyour image, to lofc their betl beauty. Sigh 
 then ifthsy bee fo/lcd, for their fliamc milt bsco.i» 
 youafperfcd. 
 
 Grace isa parebalme,a id confeqacntly requires a 
 pure and foaadvcflfell. Invaineis i: infu.ed, if the 
 veflTjIl be no: whole aid fojiid to preferae it. Laoke 
 then to yOLir own aflions; thele mart informe them; 
 Loaketoyoarowaeexitnples, thcfemaftcoTfirni^ 
 tliem. Without you they canno: perifh ; with yo.i 
 they may. What will yoa doe with the relt that U 
 (eft, when yoa fee a part ofy ojr felfe lolj ? 
 The H-tr^ie hath the face of a man, but a B ird fo CJ'u- 
 ell by nature, as when Hie is an hungry, flic wil a (Taut c 
 any rtiinand kill him. After which bloudy repaft^fhs 
 becomes thirfty, foas,.2;oing to the Riuer to qiiench 
 it,flie fees her owne hzt^^nA recalling to mind how 
 it refcmbles him whom flie flew, flie coiiceiues fiich 
 grieff , as flie dyes therewith. If your Education or 
 tyijirn^i9fi depraue thofe who deriuc their beginning 
 from you, the refemblance of this ftory may haue 
 proper reLation vnto you.But if your pious examples 
 rnabicthem, their proficiency in vertuefliillcnno- 
 3ie you ; your comforts fliall be multiply ed in them; 
 your hopes feconded by them ; and to your euer-li- 
 uing famesjthe memory of your venues prefcrued by 
 them. 
 
 Let not that adage proue true,- in relpeft ofyour 
 Charge: ''^ The fn9fi precious thin^t ba-te euer thanofi 
 '^ perniciotu Keepers, Nothing more precious than a 
 Virgins honour ; it werefliame for the mother to 
 proue a T'<«>"/>«4M or treacherous keeper. ThatCour 
 ceit was elegintly cxprcfTcd by the Emperour Ch^.rli 
 cbc fifth, inhisinftmdions to the King hisfonne; 
 
 rh^t 
 
 1^9"^^ 
 
 Gentihtj^ 
 
GentiHty. 
 
 \ 
 
 1 
 
 ths eUGLisn 
 
 *' ThM Fortune had fomervhat of the nature ofn vroman ; 
 " that ifpteyeteormtehweod^ Pfeia the farther of , But 
 I hope I ftiall not finde that aiicrfenefle in you. I hauc 
 wooed you in words jexprefle your felucs Yvonne by 
 theteftimony of yourworkcs. I would not follow 
 theindifcrction of Empericks, which miniftcr fame 
 medicines to all Patients; I know well, thatfuch 
 Phy ficke as agrees with age , would not agree with 
 the hot conftltation of youth : To either fort there- 
 fore haue lapplycd my feuerall receits: and tobotb, 
 doe I addreffe my conclufion. 
 
 ** Let the whole progreflTe of your Conuerfation 
 '* be a continued Line of iuffru^ioK ; Let the mother 
 '^difchargcher orRct in cemmarulttj^, and that with- 
 *' out too much rigour or indulgence; Let the daugh- 
 " ter performe her duty in eheyingi with all faithful! 
 *^ and filiall obfcruance : So (hall honour grace you 
 *• here, and gierj crowne you there with an hcaucniy 
 " inheritance. 
 
 
CCf 
 
 THE 
 
 ENGLISH 
 
 Gende woman. 
 
 Argument. 
 Honour » painted, vhen it it ntt with verttte pow- 
 dred; No clo^h takes fucb deepe tin(5lure,^ the eloath of 
 honour; HottoHral>/eptrfoMa^ejJhoft/difeprcCidems of 
 ^oodfiejff • Vertue or vice, Vfhetherfoeuer takes hold^r^^ 
 retaines a deeper imprejjion in honouri^^<<» any lower fnk- 
 ie^iThat^vcvtue maj receiue the fir fi imprejfion by means 
 of an in- BrednoUe dilfo/ition, ftconded hj helpes »/ Edu- 
 cation J Which reduc'dto habit, a/pires to perfe^ion. 
 
 HONCVR. 
 
 icke Spirits 
 
 HONOVR, 
 
 Romotion difcouers what men 
 be, but true Honour {hcwes what 
 theyfliouldbe. That is fed with 
 a defire of being ^nat ; this is in- 
 flam'd with a noble emulation of 
 being good. It is a miferable thing 
 to obfcrue what braue and hero- 
 whofc rcfolutions neither danger 
 
 could 
 
 OhJerMt, 8, 
 
92 I 
 
 rue ENGLISH 
 
 HO'NOVR- 
 
 /fi, when it is 
 « notwth ver- 
 tae poHe(red. 
 
 could amate, nor any difaftcr pcrplexe, haue bccnt 
 madded with an ambi[ious queik after HoKouri what 
 d jficulticstheyincountred; what oppoficions they 
 fuffcred ; whar intricate paflages and prouinces they 
 entertained ! Corriuals thsy could not want in their 
 rifingi nor Enuyers o( tnt\rgr{ at ne(fe in their fetling; 
 nor Spedatorsio reioyce at their fttting. Rough 
 and menacing was the Sea,- on which they fayled ; 
 dangerous and iKcluy the wayey,by which they p>af- 
 fcd; yea, fufl of difquiets was the Pcrr^ at which 
 thcyarriued. Nay ,which is worfe ; in what finiller 
 and indifcieet paths would they walkc ; vpon what 
 ftrange plots and proiedments u^ould rhey v/orke 5 
 how difcontentedly and difconfolatcly, whhThemi- 
 ftocUs^ would they walke,ti|l they attained their end: 
 which, many times, broughfthcm toanvntimely 
 end ? So quickly h poore man deluded with this 
 Cin%<\y ^i^uxt 0^ ircAtneffe ^ as hee will notflicketo 
 engage for it hisTiopes of quietntfle. 
 
 But thefc bee not ihofe Emine:it Veyfcnxges^ of 
 whom lam now to treat : for fuch mens homur is 
 meerely painted ^zzzmS.^ it is not with vcrtueponired, 
 MorallPhilofophy, much more our Chriftian theo- 
 ry 5 could ncuer hold that for defer uing greatmffe^ 
 which had not neare relarfon to aosd^ffff. Thole o«- 
 ly they cfUcmed worthy ^*«PAy, who did nor fecke 
 it, much leflebuy it, but were fought by it. Such as 
 knew not what it was to admire the purpU, nor 
 fawncona nCm^ fttuonte ; but interueined their a- 
 clions with the precious Oarc of Diuincil vertucs. 
 Nuchas had attained to a fingubr Command or fo- 
 ucraignty of their afFcclions : ib as, they had lear- 
 ned to lay as C^iU anfwered his brother,^^? l^Ketp hew 
 tofufferiniuries ; Co doe not thefc fiery and furious 
 fpiritJ. It is a poo<-e exprclHon of ^rcatncfe, to cxcr- 
 cife it in reuenge; or in triumphing oucr inferiours ; 
 
 or 
 
CBNTLeWOMJN. 
 
 9? 
 
 or countenancing vniuft adions. Thefe detrad from / H o n o v r» 
 hoaoHr ; neither can th«ir memory liue long, who 
 makes authority aSanduary to wrong. Khovv then, 
 (noble Ge»tlew9meff) that your Hoteur, beitneuer 
 lo eminent ; yoaiDeJcetit^c it ncuer fo ancient ; lofc 
 both their beauty and anticjuity, ii vertas haue not 
 in you a peculiar foueraignty. Be yonr wanton fan- 
 cy painted and trimmed in neuer fo demure or hypo- 
 criticall difguife \ Be your ambition or Courtly a(pi- 
 ring ncuer fofhrouded with gilded fliadowes of hu- 
 mility ; Be y®ur vnbounded dcfire of rcuenge neuer 
 fofinoothly coloured with thefecming remiflion of 
 aoimprefliuciniury. In a word, fhould you neuer 
 walke focouertly in a Clowd ;norncuer focunninfj- 
 ly with a dainty kind ofdiflembling gull the world j 
 all this will not auay le you. W hen your bodies /hall 
 come to be flirouded, then flrall all youradlions be 
 vncafcd. Rumour then will take more liberty tod if. 
 couervntothe wor!d, what you did m it. Shew me 
 thatdeepeftdiflembler, who retired himfelfemofl 
 from the knowledge of man, and came nor to difco- 
 uery, for all his fccrecy , to the eyes ofman. 
 
 Many you haue knovvnc and heard o'f, that W( re 
 great, but failing in being^c^^, were their pretences 
 neuer fo fpecious,did not their memor>' ret ? hzdcl 
 was more eminent in tiilesthan a-^^/^.^/Zj tut: It fle 
 glorious in htr fame. Suchapoore piece oi vaiKted 
 /?«^ IS that?»{^ulrerate honour^ which from vtrtue rc- 
 ceiuesnother full Inftre. When the (iibtill Spider 
 fliall weauc her curious web ouer your Monuments; 
 when thofe beauteous llru^flurcs ofyouisjfhaU bee 
 diffolwed; when all vour titular g'ory flull l;e2ob- 
 fcured ; when thofe fading haw.vrf, on which you re- 
 lycd, and with which you ftood furprizjd ; Oiall be 
 cftranged •• and you from this good'y low Theatre of 
 earth tranflated; it fliall be then demanded of you, 
 
 C c ROt 
 
194 
 
 THE ENGLISH 
 
 H ONOVR. 
 
 nocknovvhoweminenc you were m grr^t fief e^ but 
 how feruent in adions of g^oednejje. While your 
 skinnes then are wirh choyc^ft Odours perfumed, let 
 your (bales be with pureft venues poudred. Now 
 for verthet would you know how to define her, that 
 you may more eagerly defire to become her retainer? 
 Or would you hauc her defcribtd, that you may 
 thence colled how well flie deferues to be oblerued ? 
 Hears the Poet; 
 
 Vertue ingreatefi danger U mojl Jhoxfine^ 
 ^nA thept^ °fp^^fii ^ ncHiY OHerthrnwnet 
 
 Such a noble reiolucd temper eucr accompanies 
 venue , as no profperous fliccelTe can euer tranfoort 
 her, nor any aduerfe occurrent deied her. She feeds 
 not on the ayrie breath of vulgar applaufc : her fole 
 ambition is toafpire to an inward grentnefe ;to be 
 truly honourable in the title oCj^oodttejfe* Great atten- 
 dance, punduallobleruance, [lately retinues are not 
 the obieds flie eyes ' flaee loues to be knowne what 
 (heis, by thatconftahtteftimony which is in her, 
 rather than by any outward ornsment, much iefle 
 formall Complemenr, that may apiflily luit her. 
 
 Would you enter th:n(Gentiewomen)intoa more 
 ferious furuey of your felues? Would you rightly 
 vnderftand wherein your perfonsdeferue honour^ or 
 how you may be eternally honoured by your Ma- 
 ker? Tender your feruice to vrrtae; auoyd what is 
 hurtfull ; admit what is helpfull. Sacrifice not a vaine 
 houre ro the Altar of vanity. Employ your time in 
 exercifcs of piety. Dedicate your dayes tothead- 
 uancemcntof Gods glory. See not that poore foulc 
 in want, which yournoble compaflion will not re- 
 lieue. Hzue you friends? hold them deare vn:o you, i 
 if deare in the eye ofverttue ; otherwiie, difcard 
 them, for you (hal bee more ftained by them, than 
 
 ftrengthened 
 
cenflbwoman. 
 
 sp5 
 
 ftrengthencd in them. Haac youfoes f iivicims^thty | H o n ovr ♦ 
 deftruc euer to be held fo; but if tht7 affc^bgoodnejf?^ 
 prize them abouc the value of your higheCt fauning* 
 friends: who, as they are meerc obfemers of the 
 time, prcferrcyour/er/wwi with which you arein- 
 riched, or hoHoars to which you are aduanced, or 
 fomeothcrby-refpeftfecretly aymed, before thofe 
 eJfentiaB parts which are in you, and truly ennoble 
 you. : 
 
 Areyouof efteemeinthe^Mr^? Become power- 
 full Petitioners for the poore mans fake, Prefcrre his 
 fuite, entertaine a companionate refpedl of his 
 wrongs. Labour his reliefe j and doe this, not for the 
 eyes of men, but of God ; who, as hec feeth fecretly , 
 will reward you openly. 
 
 Againe ; haue you liich as maligne your ^isw^^^- ? i 
 Their afpeilions cannot touch you i Hee that made! 
 you, hath made you ftrong enough to defpife thdin, 
 and^wich a patient rmilejOrcarekife neglect to flight 
 them. Th°fvvcetfmellof your vertnej ha.:h already 
 difperfedchemfdues; your memory is without the 
 reach of infamy : line then fccurc, while yoar vet. 
 tnes {liineio pnre. Reraine a true znd vneuforc'd hu- 
 mility in you; fofhall^»»'?«''appeare more graceful- 
 ly in you. Imitate not thofe fuddtn-rifing^o/ir^/ of 
 ffreatneffe^ vvho haue no fooner attained the titles of 
 La^ies^ than this report makes them puc on a new 
 port ; old acquaintance muft be forgot ; fjorne mulV 
 lit on their browes; and a contemptuous difdaine on 
 their lips. Though thtir mold bebutthefame,they 
 wouldfaine change themfelues into anotlier mold. 
 Thefe arc fjch as deferue not your knowledge 5 
 though they be by their titles honoured, their titles 
 by their ignoble a5:ions bccoirie blemiHicd. Let 
 them therefore lludy making of a face ; canipoHn^ 
 of their gate ; preferuing oftheirvainepoaipeiwith 
 
 Cc 2 an 
 
195 
 
 rHfc" e:mglish 
 
 Nocloaih 
 takes fuch 
 detpc tin- 
 ^«r^,as the 
 C\qnho£bo. 
 ftour. 
 
 Hon o/r. 
 
 an vnbefeeming port : wbilc your Contemplation 
 fliailfiKCit Tdfeonno otner.obiecfV, than, that true 
 cxprtfiiue end oi h^Kour ; which is, ro rccainc a 
 Chriftian humility in your ftate ; a noble CorrpaiTt- 
 0.1 in your eye ; an affiiblc fwcecneffe in yoar dif- 
 caurfc ; an cxqaifite pradice o't goodneff'e m your 
 whole life. To diGefteeme vtrtuc^ and hugge that 
 painted Idoll ot titular koKmt\ is tocontcmncthc 
 In^rHmtnty and fooliflily 10 prize the Cafe or Coner. 
 Be ye neuerfo eminent, yc are but f»<«i»rr4 7V»»4^ i^ 
 vtYtue be not refidcnt. Let her then not oncly be re- 
 fidem hat prefident ouer all youraflions J fo fhail you 
 not onely hue but dye with hmo»r ; by leaning chat 
 facceeding memory of your vertft^s behind you^thac 
 time may here eternize you, when time to eternity 
 (hall change youFor as fait ro euery fubied:, whereto 
 it is applicd,giues a iauour; fo giucs v^t^e the Cwecr 
 teft reiliHi vnto Heftour,^ 
 
 C Loath dyed in graine retaines cucr the deepeft 
 colour; but none of deeper dye, than the^leath 
 of Honour, If it be but with the leaft blemifli ««fif,it 
 can neucr wipe off that r^sr;. Spots in white are foo- 
 neftUirccrned,& errors in great perfona^es^whofea- 
 '^ions flioiild be vhites for infcriours to fhoot at, are 
 quicklieft difcouered^ True Coral] needs no colour ; 
 no more needs true HoKour any exterior luftre.When 
 Tarafius, thatexquifite Painter was to take a Coun- 
 terfeit of HeJ/en^ hee drew her with her head^attire 
 loofe ; and being demanded^ the reaion, anfvvered, 
 Sh^ rv^s loefe. 
 
 Be your adions. neuer fo darkcly (lirouded, nor 
 your amorous encOLjirers cunningly carried ; there 
 wtllbecuer fomc priuatc Pencill to portray them, 
 fome quicke-fightcd eye to difplay them. Loues en- 
 
 teruiew 
 
GeNTLSFVOMJTQ 
 
 '5>7 
 
 mifedtoic felfeasmuch fecure freedome as fading 
 fancy could tender;yet the laft Scene dozed all thofc 
 Comickc paflfages with a Tragicke conclufion. 
 
 No pleafurc can bceconftant, vnlefTe it afford in- 
 wardcontent; nor can it miniller content, vnlefTe it 
 be on t'^r/aff grounded. Honour then muflchufe for 
 her (clfe fiich a Confort^ as ftiee may not bee aOiam ed 
 tohattccbofen. A vigilant Circum^pedion (hoiild 
 attend herj refembling in thisparticular.the warch- 
 full Crrfwf.whofe wary eye euer feares,and by a time- 
 ly fearepreuentslurprizall. Now, there is nothing 
 that afperfeth a deeper ftaine vpon the Chath o^H9. 
 «5«r,chan too much attention vnto Sy cophants.Thefe 
 arc they, which transport Himnr aboue her felfe, by 
 bringing her to a vainc and odious idolizing of her 
 felfc. Thefe will nor fnfFer their Trencher-patronefle 
 to refled on her fclfe,nor to enter into a priiiate trea- 
 ;y with mortality. Thofe bee too fowre and feuerc 
 tradlates for^r^4rwj(7>. Death is to bee thought on^ 
 with thefe, when nothing elfc is to bee thought on. 
 O what pernicious Confbrts be thefe for noble Per- 
 fonages? Antifihenet fiid truly of them ; Trafiat 
 injii^^^quam tiSifiha^i incidire : for Rauens fccde 
 onely oadead Carkaflcs, but flatterers vponliuing 
 men. 
 
 O banifh thefe your Fortclls I Their glozing^will 
 labour your Confufion. They will make you forget- 
 full of your being, and confequently dcpriue you of 
 your wdl-being.Euery foole (faith Menantitr) wiJl 
 be taken with arrogance & applaufe;whereas the m- 
 dicioafly wife account it their higheflhappineffcto 
 tnedirate of the meancs how topreucm their high- 
 Lq vnbappinefTe. It is a miferable^thing in a man, to 
 jmakehimfclfea beatt, by forgetting himfelfetobc 
 a man. Which vfuiUy comes to pafle, when wee 
 
 HONO V*^' 
 
ip8 I 
 
 Ttie SNGLISH 
 
 H o NOV R . propofe before our bleercd and deluded eyes the glo- 
 rioiisSpcflaclesoftbis Theatre of vanity, butncucr 
 
 ! ferioufly medicate of our o wne fraiky , nor of the ex* 
 cellency of that Supreme beauty, which makes the 
 
 I enioyerabfolurcly happy. 
 
 That Mot of the /Athenians to Pontpey the Great, 
 
 I T^oH art jo mn6h a God^M then acknorvledgefl thj[elfet9 
 
 \ be 4 w<i»,was no ill fay ingrfor at the leaft to be an ex» 
 
 ccllent man,i$ to corifeffe himfelfe to be a raaa. Vio- 
 
 letSjihough they grow low and neare the earthjfmel j 
 
 fwectcft * and honour appearcs the fulleft of beauty, 
 
 when flic is humblefl. Alas I what are titles worth, | 
 
 when defcrcs are wanting ? The bed fignall of d«m j 
 
 fciTKtjis diftinguillied by J^fert. ^ntiochut w^s it one , 
 
 time faluted both cmfAhf (^ hrm'nicfs>m^ a glorious 
 
 Prince, and a fiirions Tyrant. So flitting is the ap- , 
 
 plaufe ot the vulgar, as it neucr conferres on the fub- ' 
 
 ic(5l it approucs or applauds, any pci-manenc homur, 
 
 Horace, Itismiferable (faith the Poet) to rely on anothers 
 
 fame; but worfe, to begge fame from them that are 
 
 infamous. It is prayfc-worthy to bee by feme dif^ 
 
 pray fed j yea, vertuousadions, fliould they bee 6y 
 
 vicious pcrfons commended, would rather lofc of 
 
 their luftre, than become any way improued. To be 
 
 chcerefull in aducrfity, humble in prosperity, and in 
 
 both to (hew a temperate equality, is worthy praife, 
 
 and deferucs Honour for a prize. Yet, fhoufd tbefc be 
 
 but onely pretences to gull the world, or delude the \ 
 
 firnple admirer, they would in time vnmaske them- 
 
 felues, and difplay their counterfeit infides with 
 
 (hame to the worid.Falfe and adulterate colours will 
 
 not hold, nor vertuousfcmblances longretaine the 
 
 efteemethcy haue.Wehaueeuerheld them formoft 
 
 ridiculous, who follow the fafliion, and were ncuer 
 
 yetinfafliion. And fuch arc all thofc Counterfeit 
 
 followers of 'g'tfr/af, who pretend fairely, but fall 
 
 off 
 
GSNTLSWOMA:>i. 
 
 I 199 
 
 ofFfowly. Thefe may be properly, in my opinion, 
 compared to our new counterfeit ftuflFes;which,a3 at 
 firft chcy arc made beft/o do they wcarebeft at firft. 
 Your Cloath, Genticvomen, muft be of another nap : 
 it muft not be the bcft a farre off. Flowers, Edgings, 
 Laces , and Borders doe bcautifie the outward attire, 
 but adde no grace to the inward man. Now,t/iat 
 C^eatb is the beft, which fhrinks the leaft. 
 
 Doe any extremities'encounter you ? Let the inno- 
 cency of your vntaintcd mindes cbecrcyoa ? Doth 
 difgrace or infamy prcfle you ? You hauea Cloud of 
 witttefes within you,that can bearctefti mony of you, 
 and for you.lhat perfon needs not feare any foe, that 
 hath within him fuch an incomparable friead.There 
 wasneuer any yet fo happy, as to bee wholly freed . 
 from aduerfity, and neuer feele any gufts of affltdi- 
 on. Trials of patience arefweet encounters j by a 
 minde rightly-rcfolucd, they are with more dehght 
 than diftafte entertained. Which, as they come not 
 vnexpeded, (b are they no letfe chcerefully receiued. 
 It is the argument of ^ge»€ro$u fpirit, to cxpreflfc 
 his highncfle mofl, when the world accounts of him 
 Icaft. Honour, if truly grounded, can looke in the 
 face of rerrour,ai3d neuer be amatcd. Her deuice dc- 
 feru'd approueraent, who in the portrature ihe made 
 for her feifc, dire<5led her eye to the piAure of ver- 
 /«f, and pointing thereat with her finger, vied this 
 Impre^z,4i Tbatpioiurt u mjpofiurt. Truth is, ftiee 
 that malces ven^e her obie^ , cannot but make euery 
 earthly thing her /«^/tf(^. Yea, there is nothing ftiee 
 weares, which (he makes noi a tnorall vfe of to bet- 
 ter her (elfe. Her very attire puts her in minde of 
 what fhe was before ihc needed it ; and how breach 
 of obedience necefli:a:ed her to weare it. Shee will 
 not therefore pride her felfc in her fhamc, nor glori- 
 fieheifdfe in tht ccner of fiane. Shte cannot eye 
 
 her 
 
 Ho N«VR, 
 
200 
 
 Thie ENGLISH 
 
 H0N0VR< 
 
 h^r Cdit with any felft-Ioue, feeing fhc loft htr ftlfc 
 by affc^ing that which (he ought not to lone. Her 
 head-tyre puts her in mindc of the he/met o//a/uanc» ; 
 her Jiemacher, oi rhe irefi-ftate ef righiecftfne^e ; 
 her partlet, of the P?te7d of faith ; her very fhooej^ of 
 the fAvddi offence. In this Tabernacle of earth, flicc 
 is eucry day nearer her port of reft ; for her Aii^- 
 courfe is euer feafbncd with difcretion, winged with 
 deuotion, and graced by her ownc conuerfation. 
 She is none ot thefc,whoare Saints in their tongues, 
 but Deuils in their Hues : Shee propounds nought 
 fit to be done, which fhee confirmes not with her 
 owne adion. Agai»c, for her a(5lions, fliee is fre« 
 from publike (candall, as her whole life is a golden 
 rule of diredion, a continued precept of inftrudion. 
 Tn a word5Uie confiders from whence (he camc,her 
 defcent was noble, and this (he graceth with noble 
 vcrtues. Her houfe mufl recciue no diHi oner fro her, 
 but an ample teftimony of a dcferuing fucceflbar. 
 Let this Idia, Gemltwomen^e your Pacterne. Pure 
 is the Cleath yoavje^xe ; let no ftaine of yours bic- 
 mifh it ; noMoatbof deferned detradlion eat into 
 it. Many of your Sexe, though highly borne,haue fo 
 blemiftied the hcmur of that houfelrom whctice they 
 came, and corrupted that ndbie^leodfiota which 
 they fprung, as their memory rots, yet their infa- 
 my Hues. Againc, others there hauebeene, who 
 though oblcurely borne, yet by thofe eminent vcr- 
 tues which did adornc them, thofe Diuine parts 
 which did truly ennoble them, they became enlight- 
 ners of their obrcnrity,filIing Annals with their glo- 
 rious memory. Imitate thef^e ; relinquifh thofe. Ho- 
 nour is not worth receiuing, vnltfTe it be entertained 
 by one that is deferuing : yea, how many hauc in- 
 curred difgracc by dif-cftceming vertue^ when they 
 wercaduanccd to highnelTc of place ? Nay, how 
 ^ many 
 
GSNTLSWOMJN. 
 
 201 
 
 many while they liued obfcure^ liued feciire, and 
 preferucd their good names, who afterwards, by 
 becomming great, loft that priuate cfteeme which 
 before they pofleft ? So hard it is to encounter with 
 honour yZvAtMtiy way rcturne a faucr. 
 
 Seeing then no] Chath takes (iich deepetm^ure as 
 the CloAth of Honour \ Let no vicious afperfion fpoc 
 it, no corrupt affection ftaine itj left, by being once 
 blcmifhedjit bring that hononr intocontempt,which 
 before you retained. 
 
 LAndmarkes are vfually creded for direftion of 
 the Mariner, and Magiftrates eleded for inftru- 
 dlion of the inferiour. The keele of mans life, being 
 euer more laden with vamj than verity ; and more 
 chilled with the bitter gufts of afflidlion, then chee- 
 red with the foule-folacing drops of true confolarion, 
 is euer tofled with contrary windes ; neither, with- 
 out the helpe of fome expert Pilot, can poorc delu- 
 ded man arriue fafely at the Port where he would be. 
 Pride tranfports him, auar ice infers him, riot cor- 
 rupts him, fenfuality fecures hitn, anger diftempers 
 him, enuy conlumeshimjidlenelTe duls him. Thus 
 becomes he piece- mealc diuided from himfelfc, be- 
 caufeherefledsnot witha pure and impartiall eye 
 vponhimfelfe. What great need ftands lie in then 
 of diredion in this Maze of mifery, vale of vanity ? 
 Heportraidhim wclljwhoiatbcdcfcription of him, 
 ftird himzfioryoi calamity, zftatfic of infflicity* He 
 isfrailein refifling, prone to falling, flow in rifin^. 
 Examples then were vfcfull, to conduct him in his 
 lournall. And who more fit to be rhefe ^reridentSy 
 than fuch whom an bono jrablc defcent hath enno- 
 bled, or Princes fauour aduanced ? It i s nor for thefe 
 toentertaineanyferuileor degenerate afFe(5tion, nor 
 
 D ro 
 
 H®NOVR 
 
 . I 
 
 Honourable 
 Pcrronagcs 
 
 ftiould be Prc- 
 fidenti of 
 goodncflTc. 
 
 E^^'iClet. 
 
 a 
 
2t>Z 
 
 THE ENGLISH 
 
 BO-NOVR. 
 
 Iob4.T9» 
 
 to harbour one mucinous thought againft the foue- 
 raJgnty of reafon. To be a Lady oj benour is more 
 then titnUr, She is onely eminent, who makes eue- 
 ry a'ilion of her life a vcrtuous preftdent, Coodneffe 
 mud be infuftd in her hlood^ that defcent may partake 
 of dffcrt. Now, there be three efpeciall obieds, 
 vpon which they are to refiecl : Charity^ Charity ^ 
 Humilitj. 
 
 An honoHvdle mindefs beft {howne in her LiheraU 
 and compttJfionateLTihibmoxx toOjch, whofe ncccfiities^ 
 require reliefe. Yea, (he Icues thofe beft, to whom 
 thefe arguments of bounty are in higheft meafure ex- 
 preft. Sheauertsnoc her eare from the needy beg- 
 gar, fhewill fhew him allfauourfor his image or 
 feature. She holds it an vnbeieemiHg ftate, to enter- 
 taine a fowre looke, where noble pitty fhould beget 
 in her a companionate loae. She is fo daily and duely 
 inured towcrl^eso^wircy^ aslhce ioyesin noobied 
 morethanoccafioaof bounty. Shee conliders (and 
 this flic Diuinely applies vnto her fcife)how nought 
 but vanity is to be attributed to them, retaine they 
 neuer io much earthly glory on them, who dwell in 
 houfes of clay, vi\\o(tfetw(i,mc» is in the <^«y?,which 
 i^ecrufhedbQ^oreiheLMoath, Silken vanity cannot 
 delude her, nor any opinionatc conceit of her owne 
 eftate tranfporc her. Her mi'nde is not fubied: to wa- 
 uering, nor her walke to wandring. Be her life leng; 
 hergoodnefle becomes improued : be it Ihor: ; her 
 defires arc crowned. Neither referuesfhee theglea* 
 nings for him, that is Matter of the Harueft. Pouer- 
 ty,appeareitneucrfo defpicable to her ^r^, ir con- 
 ueyes companion to her heart, Shee giues Almes of 
 the beft, fbrhisfake whom fliceloues beft. A mi- 
 ) ferableminde flie hates ; for ftic conceiues how no- 
 thing can be better worth enioying, than a libcrall 
 defire of difpofing ; which (he exprelTeth with that 
 
 cheere- I 
 
GENTLEWOMAN. 
 
 203 
 
 cheerefuU alacrity, as it inhanceth the \mliie of her I H o n ovr , 
 
 bounty. Thus (heeliues in a free and ablolute com- 1 -~- 
 
 mand of what fhe enioyesj witli an hand no lefTe o- 
 ptn than her Awrf; that aUien might, (econd her pi- 
 ous intention. 
 
 Neither is the true Nobility of her mindeleflfe 
 dirccrncd by her loue to CkaftUy. Pure bee her 
 thoughts, and vnftained. The Sandnary of her heart 
 is folely dedicated to her Maker; it can find no roome 
 for an inordinate afFe<n:ion to lodge in. Shee knowes 
 not how to throw out her loue-attrafting Lures j 
 nor to expofe the glorious beauty of her foale to 
 (hime. A moments flaine muft not hlemifh her 
 (tate. Shee will not therefore giue her eye leaue to 
 wander, left it fihould betray htvhonoar to a treache- 
 rous intruder.How vveakpreue thofe affaults^which 
 her home-bred enemies prepare againft her ? Her 
 looke muft bee fet on a purer Obiecfl than vanity : 
 Shee will not eye it, left {lieeHiould betaken by ic. 
 Her Difcoarfe muft be of abetterfubiecl than vani- 
 ty iShe will not treat of itjleil: (he (hould be engaged 
 to it. Her thoughts are iK)t admitted to enterraine 
 vanity: They muft norconceit it, left they flioutd 
 bedecciued by it. Occafions wifely fhee lorefees, 
 timely preuents,and confequently enioyes true free- 
 dome of minde. You ftiall not fee herconfiimethe 
 precious oyle of her Lampe, the light of her life, in 
 vnfeai'onable reere-bankets ; vnpronrable vifits ; or 
 wanton treaties. Thofe will ftiec not admit of for 
 companionSjwho areprodii^ail of their ^i?^o-.w.T!iefc 
 fhe reproues with a mild fpirir,labouring to reclaiine 
 them with an ingenuous tender of her '^crriious 
 compartion towards them. Non&fhce more dift ifts 
 than thefe Brokers or Breakers of licentious bar- 
 gaines: Shee excludes them the Lift oP all ci.!'!! fo- 
 iciety. Howcautelous flieeis, left fufpition f.iculd 
 
 Dd 2 tax 
 
204 
 
 THe B^KOLIS H 
 
 HoNOvft; \ tax her ? Outwardly, therefore, fhee expreffeth, 
 what flv- inwardly profefleih. That heneurahie blond 
 which ilie from her Prcdecefibrs receiued, till death 
 furprizeher, wi'l flicelcaue vntaintcd^ Neither is 
 there ought fhee hates more than;?^-*^^, nor fcornes 
 more than di[<>law, Shee rightly confidcrs how her 
 Aa^tsdiitmettlurahle^trng but a fpan Iong,which im- 
 plies her breuity; and »«/^r<r^/^, being a/t»gether va- 
 »itjf. Shee difclaymcs that Ihtc which confifts in 
 fcornefuli lookes ; Afweetand affable Countenance 
 fhee cuer bearcs : The^tf«o«^rniccnioyes makes her 
 humbler; and the pray fes which are giuen hcr,work 
 in her thoughts no dillemper. So farrc is fhee from 
 affefling the pompe of this world, as it growes con- 
 temptible to her higher. mounting thoughts, A 
 I faire and well-feeming retinue (hee euer kecpes a- 
 bdut her: but noneof thefe muft be Sycophants, with 
 their oylie tongues to delude her ; neither muft any, 
 whocloaths his Countenance with fcornc, attend 
 her. Shee obferues on what fteepe and dangerous 
 grounds ambition walketh. Her fleepcs are fwceterj 
 her content higher ; her thoughts heauenlier. It is 
 one of her greateft wonders, that any one fhould be 
 forcftof vnderftanding, as to forget whatinfirme 
 ground he ftands on. The pureft Creature, be flie nc- 
 uer fo abfolute in her feature, is of no richer temper 
 than Earth, our Common-mother. She is wifcr than 
 toprefcrrea poore handful! of r^<i ^4rr^ before her 
 choycefttreafure. Though her deferts merit ^<?w«r, 
 fhee di^efleemes her ownedeferuings : being high- 
 ly valued by all but her felfe. Thus fliee prepares her 
 ielfe daily for what fKee niufl: goe to. Her laft day 
 is her euery dayes memorial!. Lower may her body 
 be, when interred jbuc lower cinotiher mind be,than 
 at this inllant. So well bath fhee attained the Kmw'. 
 led^e ef her felfe, ^s (heacknowledgeth all tobe fraile, 
 but none frailer than her ^elfe. Hercj 
 
GsNTLsyyoMj:;^ \ 205 
 
 Here, gentlewomen^ haue yee heard ia wha: cTpe- ( Ho n o y r 
 ciall Obieds you are to be Honettrahle'Trefidetiti^Yow 
 fliine brighter in your Orbe than leffcr Starrest The 
 beames of your refleding vertues muft admit of no 
 Edipfe. A thoufand eyes will gaze on you, fhould 
 they obfcrue this in you. Choyce and Icleft are the 
 focicties you frequent, where you fee variety of fa- 
 HiioHS : imitate not the neveefi^h^x. neatefl. 
 
 Let not an adion proceed from you, which is not 
 exemplary good. Thefevhac are followers of your 
 ferfons^WiWhQ followers likewife of yoMt lities. You 
 may weane them from vice, winne them to vcrtue, 
 and make them your conftant followers in the fcri- 
 ous pradifc of piety. Let your vertnes cloath them 
 within, as their veilej doe without. They dcftrue 
 not their roage^ who defift from imitating you ia a- 
 dions of wmh. Your priuate family is a familiar 
 Nurfery ; Plants of all forts arc there beftowed. 
 Cheere and cherifli thofe that be tender j but curbe 
 and corred thofe that be of wilder temper. Free and 
 fruitful! Siens cannot be improued,till the luxurious 
 branches be pruned. But aboue all things ; take efpe- 
 ciall care that thofe vices fprcad not in you, which 
 arecenfuredby you. YouareSoueraigneflesin your 
 families; neither extend your hand too much to ri- 
 gour; neither contrad it by (hewing too much re - 
 mifneflfe orfauour. Let neither vertue paffe vnrcwar- 
 dcd, nor vice, if it grow domineering, paffe vnre- 
 proued. Foule enormities muft admit of no Priui- 
 leges. No ; fliould you, by a due examination of 
 your felueSjfinde any hfome-Jime fecretly lurking, 
 any fubtill/^wiAVirpriuately incroaching,any diftem- 
 pred<*jf<r^»<>«dangeroufly mutining ; Be yourowne 
 Ce»frrs» Be not too indulgent jn the fauouring of 
 your felues. Proficients you cannot be in the School^ 
 of vertue, vnlefTe you timely preuent the ouer-fprea - 
 
 ding 
 
ZOC \ 
 
 me eNGLisH 
 
 HoNOVR. ' ding growth ofvice. Let HOC your iJ^w^^jthe light of 
 ( your foule be darkned, Let not your i'^r/»^,the fount 
 I of your vermes be troubled j Let not your Famej the 
 ' perfume of your Hottourbe impaired. As you are ^r- 
 rterotu by defcettt^ be grAciotu by defert, Prejidents arc 
 j more powerfiiU than Precepts. Be examples of good" 
 I nele, that you may be hcires o^hapfinep. The fljU 
 I youenioy, the7?4/ffyouretaine, they?4/«(fjwhich af- 
 ter you may remaine, are but glorious trophies of fa- 
 ding frailty. Vertues are more permanent Monu- 
 ments than all theft ; thefe are thofc fvveet flowers 
 that (hall adorne you liuing, impali you dying, and 
 Crownc you with comfort at yourdeparting.Laitlyj 
 as you were honoMrahU Perfonages on Earth, where 
 yo\x VJCreTreJtdefitJ oi' ggodf$ifff, fofhall you be glo- 
 rious Citizens in heauen, where you are to be Parti- 
 cipants of ail bj^ppineife. 
 
 f^ertue or vice 
 whether foe - 
 uer takes 
 h9ld fitft/e- 
 taines a dee- 
 per impiefTx- 
 onin honour, 
 chan any low- 
 er fvibicft. 
 
 WHtreVertHe is fowneina noble Seed-plot, 
 manured and frudlified by good difcipline, 
 ftrengthened by Example, and adorned with chofe 
 more gracefuU parts, which accomplifli the fubiedt 
 wherein verttie is featcd : what bickrings of fortune 
 will it fuftaine / What Conflids in the neccflitics of 
 nature will it cheerefolly encounter ? Her /pirit is 
 raifed aboue any inferiour pitch. Yea, the habit of 
 goodnefle hath wrought (uch diuine imprejfions inhcr ' 
 Ibule who is thus difpoied j as fociety may improue 
 her, but cannor corrupt her,becaafc a zealous affcdi- 
 on to vertue^oth poffefle h^r. 
 
 Youfhallcuer oblerue thefe, whom Nobility of 
 blood hath aduanced, to retaine (bme feeds or fem- 
 blanccs of their progenitors, which are foimprcf- 
 iiueinthem,asnooccurrent,beit neuer fb violent, 
 canellrange thefe from them. Here you Ihall fee a 
 
 natiue 
 
- -~— «-^— -^ - 
 
 GSNTLSWOMAD^. 
 
 \ io7 
 
 ma.. 
 
 natiue afFabilicy, or lingular arc of winning affedion, \ Ho n ovr. 
 to one naturally deriued. There in another fuch a 
 j-oagh and vnfeafonable auftericy, as her very count '- 
 nance is the refemblancc of a MaltmU, Some from 
 their infancy haue retained fiich a fwect and pleating 
 Candor, as they could couer anger with a cheerefull 
 fmile, and attemper palTioa with a gracemll bluifi. 
 Befides, they had the gift to expoftulate with their 
 difconccnts, and by applying feafonable receits to 
 their wounds, free thcmfelues from falling into any 
 defperate extreames. Others w»u!d rather dye,then 
 fuffer xhtexpreftons of their Taffiom lo dye. For af- 
 fronts, as their fpirits could not beare them, fo did 
 their anions difcouer them, and make them obieds 
 of dcrifiontofucha? obferu'd them. And whence 
 proceeds all this? Surely, from the very firft relifh 
 of our humours ; when that vnwrought Table o^jouth 
 becomes furniflied with choice chara(flers ; and 
 theSukeS} begins to afFed what is engrauen in them; 
 by continuance of time they become fo habituate, as 
 no art can make them adulterate. ScfuproHu was 
 too light in her 7(?»/^, to beftaid in her age. VhIuU 
 gaue too much way to her paflion in htvjouth^ to at- 
 temper It in her age.ZrfW^/'/'tfwas too flirewd a maid, 
 to become a quiet wife. What A'<«f«/f bath not effe- 
 fted in vs,may by induftry be facilitated in vs, fo we 
 begin to worke, while the waxe is foft. O Gentle, 
 wemsn^ how many,whofe excellent-endowments de- 
 ferue admiration, either by (el fe- opinion haue be- 
 come tranfportedj or by giuing loofc reinesto paffi- 
 on, haue miferably vvaadred, or by inueying againft 
 others more deferuing parts, haue wittingly tranC 
 grefled ? By which meanes, they become fpedacles 
 ofcontemptjVf ho ocherwife by their conceiuing dif- 
 courfe might haue giuen occafion of content. It it 
 tootrue, that the liberty of greatnejfe is fuch, as it is 
 
 more 
 
208 
 
 THe ENGLISH 
 
 H o N ov R . I more apt to findc fewsll to feede the humour of vice, 
 
 ■'■ — ' 1 then to miniftcr any vfcfull ingrediencc for thcrc- 
 
 I couery of vertne. Great mindes are many times fickc 
 of gieat maladies, which by foothing parafitcs be- 
 come infcnfibic,and confcquently incurable, vice in 
 apoorchabit neuer retaines that maiefty, which it 
 difplayes in a richer roabc. Is it fo ? Rcficd ihen vp- 
 on your fclues ; if vice fceme fo fpccious, what will 
 vertfte do.(Though all your vertuesht but indeed fpe - 
 cious vices.) Belccue it, i^ you cherifli vertt^e in your 
 minority, (he will pcrforme the office of a faithftill 
 guardian. The widdowcs tearcs (hall be very few, 
 for flic will finde wi?»Vtf to redreile her : the Orphans 
 cryes ftiall not be lo leud, flie will finde comp(i(ston 
 tocheerehcr. The State (hall not exdaimc of (ur- 
 feits, for temferanceikzW fliicld her : nor the Church 
 ofcoldnefle, for ^ceale fhall inflame her : What a 
 fwee: confort is an vnifon of vermes to the care of a di- 
 uinefoulc ? ' All other Muficke is difrcllifliing, be- 
 caMfe it workes not on the affedion. 
 
 Now would you know whence it comcs,that vet- 
 r«tf or ':'<«■*, whet herfoeucr rakes holdfirft, ret«iues2. 
 ([eeper imprejsion [n Hononr^ than in any iower fubieSl ? 
 The reafon is euident : As in their ftate or condition 
 they are more eminent, fo Is their reprefcnratiue ex- 
 ample in others more inherent. Doe thele honourable 
 perfonages then loue vertne ? they are vertuom molds 
 vnto their followers : theyfhall finde in their ^a- 
 dowesyihzx. they exprefle in thewfelues. la/ta could 
 not be Uofe^ when Lucrecia was fo chaFie : fhe faw 
 that in her MiftrefTe, which deferu'd loue , and 
 to that ftiee conform'd the line of her life. To 
 confort at vnfeafonable houres with loofe louers^or 
 to cntertaine light difcourfe ro beguile rime, was no 
 authenticke doflrinc in her Miflrefle family : no day 
 was without her taske, no night without her pecu- 
 liar 
 
GENTLBWOMAN, 
 
 IQc^ 
 
 iiar employment. There is no qucftion,bac the prime 
 yccre« of this noble Lady were fealoned witli fuch 
 exquifite inftrudions, as whather p^r^hadrecei- 
 ucdj were not in her riper 7f4r<r/ to beeaboliflicd. 
 Firft motions haue deefe im^rejfiom : cfpecially , when 
 they become fcconded by examples of authorityj 
 whofe very perfons impo(e on their Pupils a refift- 
 leflc neccffity. The eftiraate of //o»«»/*r, with thole 
 who ^itxxKsX^ honour able^ is at too high a rate to in- 
 gage it fclfc to the hazard ofdifgrace, for any tempo* 
 rary ^cfit or delights Their onely fro^it is to become 
 proficunts in the pradicc oi Veriue j Their higheft 
 delighty to fubdue their delights to the obedience of 
 reafon, for the loue of vertne. Such as thefe,are to 
 be accounted onely Noble-, for their defrcs are fo, 
 which they euer ennoble with dt^feruing acflions For 
 tell me, can any one whofe iudgement is nor blinded^ 
 or inward light not wholly blemiflied,eileemc that 
 Terftn for honBmrdhle^ whofe Ontftde onely magni- 
 fies it lelfe in a po^ikt head, a ^oUnd flceue, and a 
 Trotean body ? No ; thefe are but outward badges of 
 their inward vanity. Thefe haue too much coareat 
 their heart, to be of found health. If they haue no 
 I other expreffions to debiaze their hemfsr^xhty are ra- 
 j ther obicAs of Contempt than State, be they neuer 16 
 i glorious to the eye of our vulgar. 
 j Ic hath beene (and I could with it were not to this 
 day continued) an vfuall forme of breedinj^, with 
 I (bme more eminent Perfons, to haue their Children 
 praflifea kindeof ftate from their infancy ; which, 
 indeed, being truly defined, was a phantafticke ui- 
 perciiious garbe, which di'coacred more pride than 
 deferued pra-j^e» Neither cou'dthcf; foeafily relin- 
 quiih in their <?jf^, what was commended to them j 
 in their j'o»f^. For fuch as commonly attended their 
 perfons, extolled whatfoeuer they faw by them, 
 
 E e or! 
 
 H ONOVR' 
 
no 
 
 THe ENGLISH 
 
 Ho N o VR. 1 or in them exprclled , (iich is the roifcry o^ greatmffe, 
 cnacificbe notanexa<5l Cetifbrand reprouerof her 
 owne vaaicy \ They (hall linde approuers of it by 
 thofe odious profefTors offycophancyjwhofc glozing 
 condition hath beene the mine oi many a noble fa- 
 mily. For what maybecthe vfuall di|le<^of thefc 
 Tamc3eajh to their bounteous Benefadors, thofe 
 prodigall disbiirfers of their fathers prouidence, but 
 i-his paraficicail parley? *' It would well become you, 
 *' CO be rarely fcene, rcferucdly affable ; to rctaine 
 " ftate in your pcace,awe in your face, fcornc in your 
 *' eye, a llorme in your brow, with a gracefull con- 
 '* tempt m all your carriage. An excellent direAion 
 to purchafe bate . Thcfe foHoyoers are not for your ho. 
 ftoftr. The way to diucrt their ftraine, is to affed 
 what they diftafte. You cannot wantvitious Liber- 
 tines to fccond you in a fenfuall courfe, if your ownc 
 difpofition ftand foaffeded. fafphurma could not be 
 good, when C^fefA/iaa was fo nought. Your hufj^ 
 as they arc Ums to your felues/o Hiouldthcy be /ighs 
 vnto others. Are you modeft ? it will beget a louc 
 oFmodeliy through all your family. Not one who 
 owes their obferuance to you, buc will admire this 
 vertfie in you, and pra(5li(c it in thcmfelucj, becaufc 
 they fee it (b highly valued by you* Againc; Ligbt- 
 ncffe or any irregularity in you whatlccucr, will not 
 icdound onely to your owne, but y our v/hole fami- 
 lies difhonour. Which opinion once pofleft, your 
 f^<?«<»«rreceiucs fuch a mortall wound* •»$ no con- 
 tinuation of time (fo lafting is the record of infamy) 
 may perfedly cure it ; which leemes confirmed by 
 oar moderne Poet : 
 
 Sfanh ali thy hookes, and thou fhi^t find therein'^ 
 That Honour ii more hard to koldthan w/V, 
 
 How cautelous then ought you to bee of that, 
 
 which 
 
GSNTLSIVOMJN. 
 
 2TI 
 
 iwliich prefcraes your well being ? Many nobly de- \ Hon 
 fcencied, are fufliciently inftmdled, how to retaine 
 their ftate, what place to take, by remembring 
 whence they came ; raeane time, they forger 
 whence they came firft, O confider ho'v this 
 Sptciojtor pft^au, this more fpccious or fecmingly 
 precious duft of yours is but dutt. net win but 
 v^ntJJ? it ; it is vert/te that will richly emmmeliX. 
 Your Ifirth rather rcftraines than imprctics your 
 liberty ; your fexc fhould dctraA from it feife , 
 were it eflrang'd from mode fty; your beauty, ho- 
 nour, and all, areferuants to time, or worle, it 
 bcftow'd on vanity. Let vertM retaine Cuch tieepe 
 I imfrejfion in you, as no vicious affbdlion may feizc 
 ion you. Occafions are dangerous ptrfwafions : pre- 
 I uen: therefore the meanc, chat } ou may a,tttaine a 
 more glorious end. That onely dekrucs your loue 
 which (hall make you for euer liue. Ferttfe^iiyoii louc 
 her and liue with her, by becomming your furmttcrj 
 will crowneyour happy memory with fuccceding 
 hoMur, 
 
 OVR- 
 
 IT is vfiially obferud, that Han^k^j of ore 4jrh 
 arc not of one wdrwr^- ; Some are more me'rtail'd, 
 others more lazy. Asin 'BtrJs, foinallorhei C><'.*- 
 tfires, Litda and /«//<<, t^ug:>^u^ his daughters , 
 were fillers, but of different natures. Some there: 
 are, who euen from their infancy haue fuch excel- 
 lent feeds of natiue goodnefTe fovvne in them, as 
 thtir ^tifofitiens cannot reliifh ought that isarcg-a- 
 lar. In arguments of difcourfc, they are moderate ; 
 in Company temperate ; in their refoluesconflanr; 
 in their defires continent ; in their whole courfe or 
 carriage abfolute. Others naturally ib peruerfe, that 
 Ee 2 liVe 
 
 Tharvsttuc 
 ■ray rectii'.e 
 th'' fii A im- 
 piefilon by 
 mear.es of an 
 in-bred noble 
 cifp^licion, 
 f;:coiidcdby 
 helps ef Edu- 
 caiion. 
 
2lZ 
 
 THE ENGLISH 
 
 H ONOV«.. 
 
 >k Thelc aie 
 
 dcicribed to 
 
 life in the 
 
 pcrfon of an 
 
 humorous 
 
 fancafticke in 
 
 this plcafaar 
 
 Epigiam. 
 
 S'ic'thntmiifi 
 
 eathcrireak.- 
 
 fa fin her bed, 
 jndUtiUioon 
 in trimmmi of 
 
 hsrhca^fi 
 Md ft Silt tit- 
 
 hi li'ieAmii- 
 dcn-Br;dt\ 
 
 Jnd tallies all 
 
 djyef nothing 
 
 but of pride: 
 
 ^^ God way doe 
 
 ^'mucbinffisr' 
 
 'Uyfortofaue 
 
 « her. 
 
 '< tut what i 
 
 << cdfe khc'tn 
 
 ''■ihAiJihaU 
 
 ^'■b.utcha) 
 
 * This was 
 formerly in- 
 flanccdin 
 that memora- 
 b'ee'x ample 
 oE'^.putimiaj 
 
 like our * hHnoorertJ Ladies^ they can afFccl nought 
 chat others laie, nor rellifh ought ihac others like. 
 The by as oF their fancy runnes ftiilou the fafhion ; 
 their tongue a voluble Engine of feminine paflion; 
 their rcfolues full of vnccrtainty and alteration. The 
 whole Enterlude of their life a continued Adl of fe- 
 mall-follies. It were hard to winne thefexo the loue 
 ofv^rr^i"-, or fi^*/' to delight in -zz/f*?. This might ea- 
 filybe iilultrated bydiuers memorable inftances, 
 perlbnated in fiich ; who from their very Cradie,be- 
 came ferioufly denoted to a religious priuacy, fup- 
 plying their want of bookes, wherein they were 
 meercly ignorant, with a deuout and conftant medi- 
 tation of Gods works,whcrcin they employed their 
 whole ftudy. 
 
 Incu'lriouswcre their hands in labouring, and 
 bounteous v/eretheyinbeftowing. A natiue com- 
 palTien lodged in their hearts, which they cxpreflcd 
 [n their charitable workes. Hofpitality to the flran- 
 ger and needy beggar, was their h\ght^honour, Suf^ 
 Ferthcy would the height of all extremes, ere they 
 would fufFcT the defolare to want rcliefe. So flrongly 
 were their affedlionsfortifi'dagainf I the afTaults of 
 an imperious Louer ; as death was to them achecre- 
 full obie(5l toprcferue their high-priz'd honeur* Such 
 lingular cffedls as the(e,haue beenc viiialiy produced 
 byzninmteK»l>leDiff)9fttio»i fo as, fome of thefe 
 whom wee haue here curfbrily fhadowed, were en- 
 dowed with fuch virile fpirits, as they ftickt not to 
 ^pit in the face of tyranny ; others vvere not abafli'd 
 CO* disfigure their owne beauty, left if (hould be-' 
 come an adulterers booty. In thefe had '^^r/«^ taken 
 (iich dsepeimprejjionyzs nothing could deepely touch 
 themjbut what trenched on their reputatioja. Though 
 by nature they were timorous, and inconflanr, refo- 
 lution had (o prepar'd them,as they becailne difcrcet- 
 
GSNTLeWOMAS^. 
 
 \ ilJ 
 
 ly valiant ; looking deach in the face witbouc fcare, 
 and embracing her ftroake as a fauour. Doe you ad- 
 mire this in them ? Imirate them, and you fliall be 
 no lefle by fucceeding times honoured, than thele in 
 ours admired. Conceiue your life to bean intricate 
 Labyrinth of afflicflion; the very anuill, whereon the 
 heauy hammer of mifery inceflantly beatcth, Refle<fl 
 on your Urth ; and you fhali perceiue how you giue 
 the world a good morrow with gricfe j Looke ac 
 your de4tbi how you bid the world good night with 
 a groane. loy then cannot be long lafting, when you 
 are daily taking leaue of the place where you Uuej 
 which noWjthough liuing, you are leauing. Befides, 
 no continued hope of comfort can bee expeded, 
 where /Mrtf prefents her ftlfe an infcpatable atten- 
 dant. 
 
 Feare has command 9^ re [tihie^l andoWe K*ft£, 
 Feare has m9 P here ^ff are's an imferioHs thing. 
 To allay which/><jr«f, addrefle your (elues to that 
 moft, which may giue you occafion of fearing lead. 
 And what may that receipt be ? A minde purely re- 
 fin'd from the corruption of this infeflious time. 
 Medicate therefore of that neucr fading beauty that 
 ii within you. Labour to preferue it from theiniury 
 of all incroaching AiTailants. If your fifh with any 
 painted flourifh of light Rhetoricke wooc her,time- 
 ly preuent her before ftiee winne her. If the sver/d 
 with her Lure of ^o«o»y, command, or the like,feeke 
 to draw her ; reclaime her, left vanity liirprize her. 
 If her p/^feji Erte»fy hboav to vndcrrciinehQr, make 
 knownc his long-profeft enmity vntoher, that a 
 vigilant circumfpedion may arine her. Admit ,your 
 difpofcienrhccomc (bmetimes auerfe from the pra- 
 diceof that which you fliould mofta6fs:d ; diuert 
 the Current of them. You louc lihcrtj ; confine it 
 to moderate rcflraint. You affccihonefir, curbe it 
 
 with 
 
 HoNOVR» 
 
214 
 
 TUe ENGLISH 
 
 H OH ov R. I with a Icrious meHiration of your ovvne frailty. You 
 \deC\reiO gather ; toweyour bread v^on the vMter: 
 Charity vviH bring you eju^cklyio abetter temper. 
 ^ ow •A^miit gorg&om atti'^t' ; remember the cccafion 
 how you fiiit became doatrcd : had hoc (inne beene. 
 thefepoorehabilimtncs had neuer needed. Doth de- 
 /ictte fare delight you f Coufiderhow itisthegrea- 
 ttftmifery to pamper that delicately, or chenfli it 
 with delicacy that is your mortail and prufeft ene- 
 my. Deetfatitett Cff»/«i^r> workconyour fancy? Cure 
 betime, this dangerous pbrcnzy. Auci*: your <?7^,Iell 
 it 'mit&: your f^cart; Consierie with rf»*/#»,and auoid 
 nothing more zhanweajfim. Doe you tinde youraf- 
 ff [lions troubled, or to p«Jfioft ftirred ? Retire a little 
 from your (c'uc? ; attemper that boyling heat which 
 workes 16 violently on you : and in the end, re- 
 foluc thus ; *' It will redound more to our hanenr to 
 " bridle nn^tft than to engage our difcretions by gi- 
 *' uing reyne* ro our diftcmpcr Can yoo not fee your 
 Neighbours field flourifh v/ithout an Enmoas Sjt ? 
 Of all others, expulie this foonelt j becau c of allo- 
 therSjitpsrtaVes of tbcDtuill thentareft. Ai you 
 are commanded fo lout him as your (elues, fo wifl?^ 
 not that cuill vnto him, which you would not haue 
 to fall vpon your felues. Laftly, doe you finde a re- 
 wif»e(ff in you to any employment that is good? 
 Shake off this natural! duinefle, and inflame your af- 
 fections with a Diuine fernentncfTe. You haue hi- 
 therto beenc flow in doing good, llitwrbatin do- 
 ing ill. Meane time, with the wings of holy and 
 heauenly dtfires mount from earth to beauen ; plant 
 your affedions aboue, though your pilgrim dimen- 
 fions be here below. Which the betrtr to facilitate, 
 retaine eucr in your memory this dcuout Mcmoriall 
 orMeditation: ** Think whence came ycu,and bea- 
 '' fhamcd j where yon are,and be aggrieucd ; where 
 
 you 
 
 T©b.4.i^ 
 
 Beta, 
 
 I 
 
 --. 
 
GeNTLeyyOMj:^ 
 
 ijj 
 
 '' you goe to. and bee affrighted. 
 
 Euery way wherein you walkc, as it ii full of 
 fnarei^ fofliojidit be full of <?;.•/• Thofe two roors 
 oF inordrndtfj-atcy SLixdinordmateioiief haue brought 
 many to the brinke of misery, by pluni^ing their 
 mindcs in the pudd^is ofvaniLy. Lookc about you ; 
 fnares you. (hall finde tvithin y ou, fhares without you. 
 Snorts on your ri^hr hAnd^ and thole deceitful! j Pro- 
 (perity in affaires remporall. In which, fuch pcrfons 
 ire vfuall) taken and furprized, by whom the bene- 
 fits of Ood are abufed. A$thc Richy when hee be-* 
 rtoweshis wealrh in attiring himfclfcfumptuoufly ; 
 the Mt^hty^ in oppreiTing the needy j the ty^morem 
 or Lonely ^ m gluing others occafion to betaken with 
 their beauty : Whencc.the Lord by the mouth of his 
 Prophet s Thou hafi mdde thy kesnty ahhoi??i»a(f/et 
 Snares like wife on your Left hand^znd thoic feaicfull ^ 
 aducrfity in affaires temporall. In. which the poore^ 
 infinne, and afliiclcd arc inta !g-ed andmifcrably in- 
 thrallcd : who by lijffering aitlidion impatiently, 
 curfe Cod,their Ncighbors,and theniftiues in their 
 aducrfity : Whence that D:uine and deuout Father 
 laith; '*Inafflidioi thcwickcd def^ft God, and 
 '' blafphcmc him ; but the godly pray vnto hioijand 
 ** prayfc him; 
 
 Now, vcrtnous Gefttle^vevtfH^whofc titles doe not 
 Co much tranrporr you, as your ioue to goodneffe 
 doth inflame yo i ; you may hence obferue, how »o- 
 htezn&generousdtfpjjitions, which 'ndeed, are proper- 
 ly defined equal) or temperare d.fpofers of the affe- 
 ctions, haue and do^ euer receme th\;fi*-fi mfrcjfions 
 o^vertue; which are with conftancy retained, as 
 they were checrefully receiucd* Exprrde then this 
 iV<?^iA>/of v/oiir well-difpofcd natures In .iile<^fng 
 what is good, f^tce thro-"i;ii htr afpCi lions on no J 
 fubied fo much as on HotJur, Rflinquifli then ra- 1 
 
 ther ) 
 
 HONOV^* 
 
 
2l5 1 
 
 Ttie ENGLISH 
 
 HONCVR. 
 
 yertui rt' 
 ducM to hi" 
 feif jalpires to 
 perfections , 
 
 ther all fi'ttft tbaa itftiould retaine the leaft fiahe. 
 Much is protnifcd by your dtfpofition ; and no iefife by 
 your DtjcipHtte or Education, Your well-fcalbned 
 youth was neu€r knowne to that rudcncflc, which 
 more rurall or ftniilc ftatcs were bred in. Second ■ 
 thcfc rifing hopes of inward happincflc. You arc 
 fruitlcfly great, if you be not fruitfully good. Euery 
 moment wafts you nearer your haucn j let euery a- 
 ftion draw you nearer heauen. If you feare at any 
 time to wander, RcUgiom f«are will be year ^ondpt" 
 Sler, If you doubt the iffue of your Encoantcr, Jled- 
 ,fafip4itiencewiU.bte yom EncoHrAger^ if youdiftmft 
 yourowne ftrengch, you are fecurer; bHwUitjviVX 
 crownc you with homnrf and dired you to an kapfj 
 harhmr. As inkred noble difftfimns hauc then enriched 
 you, which by he/peso£Ed«e4tionarefec9nded in you, 
 profefle your fclues louers of vertue by your affedi- 
 ons, aduancers oivertue by yoar actions ; that as ^#- 
 tteur attends your perfons, fame may crowne your 
 name«;felicity your foules. 
 
 T T V 7 Hat rcmaincs then, to perfit this abfolutc 
 V V Mafter-pieceof ^woiwr ; but that yec re- 
 duce to habit ^^n^ confequenrly to their bcft iroproue-r 
 mcntjthefe initiate feeds ofgoodnefle fowne in your 
 I natiue dtfpofition^ growne by fficcejjion^ and ripened 
 I thtou^ Education f Now arc yeeintheway, and 
 daily nearer the end of your worke. Your vnconfi- 
 ned foules muft eaer bee ttfpiring^ till they come to 
 ihtk perf'slfien. There is nothing vndcr heauen, that 
 can fatisfie a foule created for heauen. Are you Vir- 
 gins? tctyour Pirgiti'L^mpsht fed .vith theC>;/^of 
 CW/>7. Be ready before the Brtt^i-groome call you; 
 yea, call on htm before hcecall you. Let not yoar 
 Virgin^vafUs be 'ut^yUs for vices, Fnccrfiaine not a 
 ^ 
 
GSNTLeVI^OMJD^. 
 
 I''g':t thovght^ left by degrees it fpread to a fmne. In 
 iuffering /y»»<ii?/ to play withyoa, though Ijer fport 
 ieeme in 'cft ; yoar mine will prone in earneft. Eye 
 not that Ohif^^ which may enthrall you ; hearc not 
 chat i'«^«^, which may corrupt you; reliifh not that 
 De/ight,whkh may depraue you ; adcnit not of that 
 conceit, which may delude you. 
 
 Retort a light difcourfc with a MaidenMufh j it 
 
 argues a fpotlcflTe foule. He well defcribed a Virgins 
 
 prime beauty, who difplay 'd it in Ihamefafte mode- 
 
 fty. Let your good name be fuch a preciotu ojntment 
 
 ■ as you would not fpill it for a world. 
 
 Are you mUtrom ? Enlarge your felues by inflru- 
 dion vnto ihe younger j this 1% the oifice of a Reue- 
 rend Mother. Dcriue fome portion of that know- 
 ledge vnto others, which you fruitfully receiucd 
 from others. Your //»« mull 6ee their Unei. Euery 
 4^;o» of yours is ^ATfw/j^r; rake heed then, it, lead 
 not into error » As you are r/p* injeAres, fo appeare 
 rich in hoHr£S, Remember not a (}me without a figh • 
 nora/<ywithouta/tf»irf. There is no finnemoreo* 
 dious, bccaule none more infolcntly glorious, than 
 to remember linnes committed with icy, and ap. 
 prehend them with delight. ^ovLtjamilks llioiild be 
 vettues N'urferies, wherein your felues are to be Go- 
 Herr.fffS^nd^ Prefidents o^ goodne^e. Here you arc to 
 teach y/sur children in the trade of their rrayes^ that when 
 they are old^ they m^y not difartfi-om them* 
 
 Bricf?y,are you young or o/^ ? Efteeme no life fwee- 
 ter, than when cucry day improues you and makes 
 you better. Delights^as they may moder.^tely cbeere 
 you, fo let them not play too much on your fancy, 
 lefl they take you : Be not com manded by them,but 
 command them. Ihe onely meanes to weaneyou 
 Orom them, or make you more indfFerent for them, 1 
 is to fixe your affcdions on thofe which do- infinite- ' 
 
 Ff ly 
 
 217 
 
 H ONOVR 
 
 Candida virgi' 
 neii mfciiit yra 
 roSs. 
 
 •AugMEfijl. 
 
1 He e:KGLisH 
 
 ] 
 
 OV R 
 
 ly lurpaffc them. There isnocomparifonbetwixta 
 TaH^ce and a Prt/on. N cither bei wi x t fimtc & infinite 
 is chere any Pro-^jenioft, " O how happy were you, if 
 ** wich fpirituall eyes you might once bchoid, how 
 <' the Princes gon b-fore^ iojraig with the StngerSy andm 
 •« the mifijoKni Dumfelsdanctng ! 
 
 The vvay to comem^lMethdc, m^confort w'lih 
 there, is to meditate of /?<r^«f», which enioycth all 
 thefts Here wo fleajurt^ be it neiier fb promifing ; no 
 ddi^ct^ beitneuerlbreliOiing; worscrtAtton^htz ic 
 neueriorefrelhing-, but though it chcereyoain the 
 beginning, itcloyes youintbecnd. Laft day, you 
 were at C9wrt ; where rcuels, reere-bankets,fliowcs, • 
 and rolcmnities,wercobie(fls to your £_;r/,£4rw,aud 
 Ta^tet : but all thefc are vaniflied. This day, you 
 Coach to th' Exchange ; where you fee all kiude of | 
 vanities let at/^/(r, that may any way /w/p a deluded | 
 /(?«/r: but the night clozeth theday, which makes, 
 themfhut vpfhop, and then all thoft vanities are , 
 fl^irouded. Next day, you goe to a Phj ; wherein 
 you expe<5l Tome new Scene of mirth, or fome State- 
 afiten liuely prefented : bur the lafl Sxit, youp im - ; 
 preze of frailty ,difmifll'th yoj,and then all thofc art- 1 
 follprcfentments, which gaucfo much content, are 
 remoued. Thusyourunneina maze, while you lay 
 the Scefte of your Mirth oa E^rth, Recoiled thtn I 
 you' d nidsd thoughtsjfeat there the delight of yo ir | 
 wi»^tf,wherc you may fii^d a continued Mirth. Earth 
 is too low a i'/'^ij^f for an ^^ of that Maiefty ; ani 
 too ftraght to giue your ^<?j?^*^y? content wirhm her 
 Mad-wals of mifery.Let not one houre piffe by you, 
 which is not well pai-t.- 
 
 Confider, how the <^yQs of heaucn are vpon you ; 
 
 how that gemrom ftcmme, from whence you were 
 
 leriued,expefls much from you. tht/2»r»»^rinioynes 
 
 you vpou hope of a future reward, to be more caute- 
 
 lous I 
 
csntlswomas^. 
 
 \ 21p 
 
 lous ; 'Xht Utter i as you tender the ^<?»tf»r of your 
 hoiife^ to bf vertuous. Befides, know (Noble Ladtes) 
 that all the port or ftate-magnificcnce which this in- 
 ferior Globe can afford you, clozeth cuer with more 
 difconrfort than content, bee your perfons neuer fo 
 j feemingly happy, nor happily fecure, that docenioy 
 them. Yea, how happy had many Eminent perfona- 
 ges beene, had they neuer beene taken with this 
 .Ji&^i/flM'ofhappiBeffe? Conclude then, for this con- 
 clufion will bcfecmc you, and in yourhigheft afcent 
 oi honour incomparably fecure you : 
 
 Honour » vcrtues harbour ; onetjthefe 
 ,?/;/*</ great,4rrvertues f -tends, Mndv'vz&i foes* 
 That glorious Lightof the Church, an induftri- 
 ous Searcher and iudicious Cenfbr ot Antiquities, S. 
 v^«^«/?/»?,faith,Thac anciently the Romans worlliip- 
 ped Vertue^nd //o»?«r for gods. Whence it W4s,that 
 they built two Temples, which were £o feared, as 
 nonecouW enter the Temple of Houonr^ vn'efle hcc 
 had firft pafled through the Temple o^Vertfn-. to fig- 
 nifictbatnone wastobe ^o^tf/^r<f<*, vnlefle by fome 
 Vertue he had firft delerued it.The dforall admits no 
 other exposition than its owne expreflion. For Ho. 
 Mur, none (hould be fo daring bold as to wooe her, 
 till by paflingthorow yertftes Temple, he get admit, 
 tance vntoher. 
 
 If you defire to be great ^ let it bee your benight of 
 ambition to ajpire t9 honour in the Coi^rt of Fertue 
 Where the loweft cannot be Icfle than a LaJy of Bo- 
 mny^ becaufethe loweft of heratflions correfpond 
 with Honour, Such iferuice were no feruii fide but a 
 fo/ace. Admit, that fometimcs you affcfted forrainc 
 fufhiensy now let forraine N^ti&nsidanirc your t/*r- 
 tues, Perchance,thedelicacy of your nature, or mi- 
 (cry of a long prefcribed cuftome will not fo eafily at 
 the frrft be wholly weaned, from Mhat it hath for fo 
 
 F f 2 many 
 
 H O NO V R 
 
220 
 
 TUB BNCLISH 
 
 HtONovR- many} cares atl-cded.Vle then an eafiereitraint at the 
 firll ; withdiaw your aftcdions from •z'rfw/^ by de- 
 grees ; refcrue iomc fcled: houres for priuace De- 
 uotion,check your fanciesjwhen they dote on ought 
 ih-tmaydirtradyou. Thefirft Encounter will bee 
 hardefl ; Time will bring you to that abfolutc fbue- 
 raignty oucr your f aflfions, as you lliall finde a Angu- 
 lar calmen^ffein your afJldioiis. What abraue 5'<*- 
 If^ue Stare fliall you then enioy within your owne 
 C ommon-wealth? yi^ditmy becomes Warden ofyour 
 (^wt^ue ^ort^not an inuafiue forramer dare approach, 
 while (he wich watchful! qes waits at the Port. All 
 yodrfo/Un^erSfavivsriiKsfafiorites, Piety guides you 
 in your wayej • (^'harity in your workes. Your Progeni- 
 rors Atkni^di due prayfe, but you (iirpafle them all. 
 Thusfliall youreuiue the afliesof yourfamiJiss.and 
 conferre on them furuinin:^ memorjes. But, ic is the 
 euening Crownesthe day ; fuilicient it is not to dii- 
 fiile fome few refledling beamelins ofyour vertues^zt 
 your firfl riffi^^ and darken them with a Cloud of t'*- 
 ces at your/^mV;^. As your d.iies are more in number, 
 fo muft they be euery day better. Whatauailcs it the 
 Alarmr to haue taken his CompafTe wifely, to haue 
 fhunned rockes and places of danger warily, and at 
 iaft to runnc on fome fhclfcjwhen he flioubd now ar- 
 riue at the Bay where he would be ? Rockes are euer 
 nearefl tht/hore.znd moft tcntations ncareft your en J. 
 Ify&a refolue then to come offfairely, prepare your 
 /elues for fome encounter daily ; obferue your excr- 
 cifc ofdeuotion duely; refill: aflaultsconftantly ; that 
 you may gain a glorious vidory.This is all the Cow- 
 ^4r that is of you defired ; wherein many ofyour 
 J 5r.v{? haue nobly dtfcrucd. Stoutly haue they f «7wi^^- 
 /r^j and fwectly haue thty ^c»f«rrtfi^. Em'jiace their 
 t'^r/w^/, imitate their //« 'J, and enioy their loaa. So 
 may y ou with that Patterne of patience djeinjom onne 
 
 Nells, 
 
GSNTLeWOMAN. 
 
 221 
 
 Nefis, andmulwl) yoHr auyes as the Sdndx So may your 
 z;.'rr»tfx, which fhone fo brightly in thefe Courts of 
 Earth, appcare moft glorious in thoie Courts of hca- 
 uen. So may thefe Scattered Howers of your fading 
 beauty, be fuppliedwith frtfti flowers ofaamcor- 
 raptible beauty: yea.the King himfelfc Qiall tM^eplea- 
 fttre mymr beamy 'M\o wil come like ^glortoHi Prme 
 out of hisTMceo^rojAllhonortr, tograce yoa ; hke a 
 Spectcm SfOHfe ml o^ hxsNHptiaU Chamber, to em- 
 brace you. Meane time, feare not deMh^ but fmile on 
 him in his entry ; for he is a gnide to the^W,to con- 
 dud them to g'ory .Conclude your refolues with that 
 blefled Saint ; in ^^/»ff noleffe confident, than in heart 
 femtent : " ^e hme not Hnedfo in the vorU^that we are 
 ** AJhawedtoliHe longer to pieafe God : andjet agatne,wee 
 «* are not afraid to dyejbecau^e we hane a good Lori. Sh or t 
 is your race, neare is your refl: : Onely, let the log'e of 
 earth be yonxgatne, the hue of God your goale j and 
 ^nQelicallperiemon,XQ^\\\ch your conftant pradlice 
 of piety and all Chriftian duties haue folongafpired, 
 your Crovune. 
 
 HONOVRv 
 
 The feare of the Lord is a fleafant Garden of hlefing, 
 there is nothing fo hautifuU as it is, Ecclcf.40- ^7* 
 
 Trm-Vni Deo omm gloria • 
 
 Ambvoj, 
 
\ 
 
^ her owne Tyrewomatt ; 
 one that wcarcs her 
 owa^facf; and whofe 
 compleximis her owne. 
 ficr lournals lie not for 
 th' Exchange^ needle flfe 
 vifics, nor Reere-ban- 
 kets. Showcsand pre- 
 sentments fliee viewes 
 with aciuili admirati- 
 orijwhercin her harcn- 
 leffedefire is, rather to fee than be fecne. Sheehares 
 nothing fo rnuch asencring parly with an immodcft 
 Suicor. Retire from occafions drawes Iier to her Ar. 
 hour: where the foleobied other thoughts h her 
 Maker. Her eyes (he holds her profeft foes, if they 
 fend forth one loofe looke ; teares mult fiic out theiu 
 pardon, or no hope of reconciliation. Her refort to 
 the ^<?«rr, is for occufion, not fa^ion : where her de- 
 meanour euer giues augmentation to her honor.Her 
 winning modefty becomes fo powerfull a Peritioner, 
 asfhceucrreturncsapreuailing Suiter. During her 
 abode in the City^ (he neither weares the Strect,iior 
 wearies her felfe with her Coach ; her Chamber is 
 
 her 
 
 ChA>.*'rtr^ 
 
A GENTLEWOMAN. 
 
 Characierr 
 
 her Tynng-roome, where (he bethinks her how Aie 
 may play her part on the worlds Thtatre ; that fhee 
 may gainc applaufe of her heauenly Spedators. Her 
 conft'antrelide is in the Country ; where hofpitah'ty 
 proclaimes her in-bred affedion to workcs ©f piety. 
 AlUvhichfhc exercifcth with that priuacy, as they 
 will witnefle for her, {he feares nothing more than 
 vaine-glory. In her houfefliec perfor roes the office 
 of a Miftris, no imperious gouerntflV. Shce knowes 
 when to put on a fmooth brow, and to cherifli indu- 
 ftry with moderate bounty. Her difcreet prouidenee 
 makes her family look with a cheerefu! countenance: 
 Her pofterity cannot chilfc but profperjbeing RurS'd 
 by fo natural! a mother.Tbc open field llie makes her 
 Gallery ; her Labourers,her liuing Pidlures ; which, 
 though flie finds meere T^iUureSj hanging on, rather 
 than labouring, Paflton tranfports her not aboue her 
 (elfc,nor forcethhcrtothc leaft expreflion vnwor- 
 thy of her felfc : ftic paflcth by them with a modeft 
 rcproofe, which workes in them a deeper iQipreflfi- 
 on, than any fiery or furious paffion : Her Neighbors 
 fhe daily wooes and winnes: which Hie effeds with 
 fuch innocent affability, as none can iulHy tax her ©f 
 flattery. An 0«^r-/rfr for the /jotr^ flie appoints her 
 felfe,whercin flic exceeds dli thofc that are chofen by 
 the PAri(hSht takes a Suruey daily and duly of t her/) 
 and without any charge tothcH<?w/p/,relieuesthem. 
 She defires not to haue the eftecme ofany She-c/ttr^c, 
 rhee had rather be approu'd by her ^^/V^, than /earl 
 »««f : And hath euer prefcrr'd a found profcflant be- 
 fore a profound difputant. Aprefidentof piety ihee 
 exprt flfeth her felfc in htr family, which fhecfoin- 
 ftrudsbyherownelife, asvertue becomes the ob- 
 ied of their loue. Her taske Ihec fets hi r felfe daily, 
 which fhe pcrformes ducly , Her owne remifn^ '^e, 
 (ifany fuch be) fhee reproues by fo much more c. 
 
 othcrsj 
 
A GSnTLSWOMAD^. \ 
 
 others, as flie knowcs her owne /ifc robce more ex 
 emplary than others. Some Bookes flice reads, and 
 thofe powerful! ro flirre vp deuotion and feruour to 
 prayer ; others Ihe reads, and thofe vfcfull fordire- 
 dion of her houftiold affaires. Herbalsflie perulcth, 
 which file feconds with conference : and by degrees 
 fo improaes her knowIedg8,asher cautelous care per- 
 fits many a dangerous cure. In all which, fiicturnes 
 herearefrom her owne praife ; humbling her felfe 
 lowcft in heart, though i^r/^ewj ranke herhigheft \w 
 place. She affcds nothing more than mildneffc; dif- 
 taftcs nothing more than harflineffe.Profper icy could 
 neuer workc I'o vpon her thoughts, as to tranlport 
 her; noraduerficy (b weaken her well- refoUied tem- 
 per, as to amate her. Though {he tender her family; 
 extend her care to her polterity ; her higheft aycQ^ 
 istheprafticeofpiety. Her dilcrecion hath enabled 
 her to diilinguilh of tiaies^: whereby Ihcinformes 
 her felfe when (hee fhould be prouident and frugall, 
 when bounteous andliberall. Her^-«r.'' is not more o- 
 pen than '\% her htAtt \ where fliee holds the pooreft 
 her richeft guefts She thinkes that day wholly loft, 
 wherein fhc doth not one good woike at kaft. Shee 
 is no ifufg-^^iijf J nor waseuer, vnlefle it were about 
 her family",needre,or Sampler.She holds that day the 
 ivccteft, which in anions of goodncffe is the fruit- 
 rft. Liice a good Merchant, fhee brings her mer- 
 
 dize afarre, and yet (hee trauels not farre for it ; 
 
 ts at the Sterne jikccKS the Rudder of her ftate, 
 
 s it frooa hazard when driuen to a ftrait Her 
 
 J^j»^^<^flaeacknowiedgeth her head ; whom to op- 
 
 ^^i^ to mutineagainfl: her Leader, and confe- 
 IpnevMf her felfe an VKru/j memher. If he be in. 
 
 t7 ^,fhe wooes and winnes him with Icne ; and, 
 .*^Weanes and rcclaimes him from his irregulji'' 
 
 ^bcJBprtnable is Qiee to his opinion, both in 
 G g points 
 
 •<?;- 
 
 CharaSler,. 
 
A GeNtLSWOMJN. 
 
 CbaraElcr, 
 
 poinrsof Religion,and arguments of prouidence ; as 
 die Emhecjftsr mufc bee no Spongetohtz husbands 
 pur^ through her conlcicacc.Her dou^eld (lie makes 
 her Cemwcn weale \ wherein not any from ihc high- 
 eft to the ioweft of her ftniinini gofarmrfiem, but 
 knovvts thtir pccaliar office and empioyment : to 
 which chcyaddreiTc thcmfelccs (fo highly they ho- 
 nour her they rtriic") with more io:ie than feare. Shce 
 becomes Prentoter^l meaae efno office to wrong her 
 Countrey , but the render care ot" a mother in behalfc 
 of her vvell-educatcd progeny ; to which the world 
 no (oouer glues enterrainmenrj than fliee begins to 
 enable them for their aduancenficnr. Markers fliee 
 fcidome vifits, nor any place of freer Concourfe : for 
 fhc ^ndiCS vfhen her<7«are abroad,hcr thoughts are 
 eftrang'd from home. Would yoi take a fuller view 
 of her/ 1 )raw ncarer;0^/^r«tf her^cuen in thefe which 
 ibme of her fexc cfteetnc leaft, with h.oyN gevtr out a 
 beauty fhe adornes her felfc moft. 
 
 Aptarell (he wcarcs; and fighes when flic 
 remembers her Sexe. She wonders how thv.fig-leafe 
 Habit (hould be fo ftrangely altered. How this En,^ 
 //^«(? of originall finne iliould bee fo quaintly flaflit, 
 and indented. What />.««?j(inne takes to difplay her 
 ilia me I Her garment is ofanother cut. Though (he 
 cannot redifie this broad- fpieading malady, the cor- 
 ruption of this age muft nor draw her to that vanK 
 ty. Shee knowesthcvfeof Ap p are 1 1, wli^h 
 ilhe would bee loath to inuert. Ordain'd it was, to 
 keepe in naturall heat,and tokecpe out cold : this flic 
 obferues with a gracefiili prefencc, making this her 
 Impreze : Comely ^not Guudj, 
 
 B E H A V I o V R flie fets out with a ciuill cxprcf- 
 fion, without much art or affectation. There is no- 
 thing which doth not infinitely become her. In pla- 
 ces ofrefortjQie is fo highly admir'd, as thGfe''which 
 
 obferue 
 
 '^siaim'rwtm 
 
A GeNTieryOMj:^^. 
 
 obferue her, could be well content to /erue her. Shee ! /f/5 
 is^etttr9m in all j Not a Look but giucs Life f o Loue ^ ' 
 and that forcrtuoufly difpos'd^as not a light thour^hr 
 candiflraftit. Her very morion is a moaino' dire- 
 dioniShe ncucr learned to tin^/c with hcrfcft^to mia- 
 der with htveyei, lojfainc her fpoclefle honour with 
 ipaifttcdb/Hjfh, All Aice doch is her owne ; All her 
 owne doth incomparably pleafe ; which flie clo?eth 
 with this impreze : Loning^ CModefij u a Lining 
 "Beauty, 
 
 Complement file admits, but not that which 
 this Age afFcAsjlhe preferresi'«^/?4«ftf before meere 
 formaUtj^ 7*r^ before thzRinde, Performance before 
 Crrtfw*«7,Shediftafts nothing fo much as thatCourts 
 fuftian J which, ia her efteemc, is quite out of faflii- 
 on,yoMrSeTHavts Sernaut. She cannot proted in iefl:, 
 nor profeflc what fliee meaoes nor in earneft. Shcc 
 cares not for this Rhetoricall varnifli, it makes a 
 good caufe fufpitious ; her dcfire istoexprclTe her 
 (eife in a^ioii more than Mfafurfi.Thit Comp lement 
 which confifts in congies, cringles, and lalutes, d:f- 
 relli/heth her pallate moft : ir falbs too much ofthe 
 Caske ; for the rell ihc is fecure, fo her anions bee 
 really pure; her Iclfe completely honeft. Thus lliee 
 fummesvpher dayes, m^kcsvertttehtv prayle, this 
 iier Impreze : Q^iil Ccfnpiemcnt, mj beU Accomflifh- 
 
 De CENCY is her natiue Liuery ; though (liee 
 make no Ihadow of ic,her owne fliadow is nor more 
 indiuiduate. In her attire {he is not fo fumptuoiis as 
 feemely,not fo coftly as comely ; in her difcourfc fhe 
 deliuers her mind not fo amply as fally,not fo quick- | 
 ly as freely ; in her whole courfcrheeexpreifeth her 
 inward beauty. Her GlalTe is no: balfefovfcfall tcf 
 herfelfe.asthe glaffeof her life is to others. VVhat- 
 foeucr is wornc by her,recciues a lingular grace from 
 
 G g 2 her 
 
 ^s.tra^lcr. 
 
 .4, 
 
! 
 
 A GS^TLSWOMAv^. 
 
 Cliara£ier, 
 
 f her. Her fa{liion is neuer our of requeft ; though 
 ( more conftant in it, than tljc- Age would admit. She 
 hues to bring /i;»f into feme better /«»^: thisisher 
 taske in euery place j this is that which crownes her j 
 with peace ; while (hcc dtuifeth this for hcrim- 
 prczc : Virq^in-Dccencj u Venues Liuerj, 
 
 Estimation js that precicus odour which 
 giuesfwectnefletoherWoar. Dye had fliecratlicr 
 with it, than enioy an Empire and liue without ic.Ic 
 is the Goale of ail her adions. The Crownc of all hcr^ 
 Labours, Pouerty fhe holds aa incomparable blefling, 
 fo her name be inrichcd by Estimation: No 
 dead FIj can corrupt that C*;«/^^»/.Happy needs muft i 
 bf her State^ that preferues this withoat Staifte.This \ 
 fhe feeds not with the iayce of vain-gloryj nor feeks 1 
 to augment it with a fabulous ftory. Many haue pur- i 
 chas'd praife in Oyiie lines, that neuer merited ap- 
 plaufc all their hues. Her defireisto^^, rather than ; 
 Jeem^, Icii fee f?fiȣ to ^e whit (he Kffot, fliecguU the, 
 world, but her fclfe moft,by playing the counterfeit, j 
 Refolutc is (he in this her Impreze ; (Jl'ljipnz.e U her 
 0wnefrajfe» \ 
 
 Fancy fliee entertaines wirh acheerefull but j 
 chaftcbofome. Though Lone be blind, her louc has 1 
 eyes. No leiTe faithfulU is fhee in retaining, than i 
 dottbtfull in entertaining. Protcfts are dangerous I 
 Lures to credulous Louers, but her P a n c y is too ' 
 ftaid to ftoope vnto them. She can loae well, but left 
 (he {hould repent foone, andthattoo late, (Tieewill 
 <7 before (hc!r»/}, haue fome reafon to Ai^ before 
 {hc/o/^e. She holds that Fancy* Frenz^y, which 
 is onely led by Scnfe» She vmktsreAfon.hcr x**^de,t\\^t 
 Consnt may be her G^A/e, Long nmt (liee debates 
 with L 'iv^jbefore euer flie glue Lone her ^<f4*-/,« which 
 d )ne, fliee confirmes the bargaine with her hand. 
 Her Cjnf^ancy fliee difplaycs in this Impreze: Mj 
 
 Choyce \ 
 
A GBNTLEWOMJN. 
 
 Chejfce admits no Change, 
 
 G B N T L I T Y is not her boafl, but that which 
 dignifies that tiLle moft. Vertue is herlbueraigneflc,- 
 m whofe (eruice to Hue and die flie holds the abfolu- 
 teft happincffc. Gentry dice thinkes beft graced by 
 aflFibility : To be furly, derogates asmuch from her 
 worth, as bafeneflfe from Nobility of birth. Her Li. 
 nAge is beft diftinguifli'd by her Crefi, her toorth by 
 her Jielte. Her defert giues life to her defeem. Not an 
 adion comes from her, but excellently becomes her, 
 Shee eaer refieds on the Hoafe from whence fhcc 
 came, wbofe antiquity (lie ennobles with numerous 
 cxpreflions of piety ,from the rifing height of which 
 increafe, fhe drawes this Chriftian Impreze : Beftrt 
 Croxvnei Defcent, 
 
 H N o V R fne defer uei more than defires ; This (he 
 may admit, but not admire^ Wcake ftiec holds that 
 foundation of H o n o v r, where vertne is not a fup- 
 porter* The more H o n o v r that isconferr'd on 
 her, makes her the humbler j {he cloathes not her 
 Looke with a difdainfull fcorne,nor clouds her brow 
 with an imperious frov/nc. Farrc more efteetaes fhe 
 the title of ^W«f//> than ^yr4/»<?/7>. Shee holds no- 
 thing more worthy of her approuing, than a daily 
 drawing nearer to FerfeEiioa^by her vertuous liuing. 
 Her whole Pilgrimage is nothing elfe than tofliew 
 vnto the world what is moft requifitc for a great 
 Perfonagc. In a word, (hall wee take a re- view of 
 her Noble carriage in each di Q]xt Okferuances} For 
 the firfi^ (hcisfafliionably neat; ^or the fecend, for- 
 mally difcrcetj for the f^/V^,ciuilly complete; for the 
 /»«r^^,amiably decent ; for the ^(/^, precious in re- 
 pute ; for xhzfixth^ affedionatcly conflant j for the 
 feuertt^, geKeroujij accommodated ; for the ti^th, ho. 
 ffoftrdffij iccomp[:^sd^ Whence it is, that (he im- 
 palls her diurnal! race ''irh this imperial! Impreze : 
 
 Ho, 
 
 ChAtader, 
 
.. — 
 
 ChdvaQer, 
 
 I A GENTLEWOMAN. 
 
 Honour u Vertues Harboftr, 
 
 Goc on, then, fhe may with Honour, feeing the 
 King in her tfeAuty takes fucb fiea[ure. A Diuine pre- 
 sage of promifing goodnefle was her infancy j A 
 continuare pradice ofpicty was her youth and ma- 
 cnrity; The cloze of her Pilgrimage acalroepafliigc 
 from frailty to felicity. Long would the earth keepe 
 her, but fb Hiould flie be kept from that which 
 flicc values farrc better. Her Husband 
 cannot ftay long behind, &cing 
 his htterpMrtis gone 
 before* 
 
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