The Mother's Counsel OR, Live within Compass. Being the last Will and Testament to her dearest Daughter. Modesty In Chastity. Chastity of body is the key to Relig. Wantonness. In Temperance. Temperance is the mother o● 〈◊〉 Ma●ne●… In Beauty. ●…ry is a woman's golden Crown. Odio●…ness●… In Humility. Humility is a woman's best Armour. Pride. Printed at London for john Wright, and are to be sold at his Shop in spur street without Newgate, at the sign of the Bible. 16●… Good Counsel to the Christian Reader. 1 THat you keep a narrow watch over your heart, words, and deeds continually. 2 That with all care the time be redeemed that hath been idly, carelessly, and unprofitably spent. 3 That once in the day at least, private prayer, and meditation be made. 4 That care be had to do, and receive good in company. 5 That your family be with all diligence and regard, instructed, watched over, & Christianly governed. 6 That no more care be spent in matters of this world, then must needs. 7 That you stir up your selue to liberality to God's Saints. 8 That you prepare yourselves to bear the Cross, by what means soever it shall please God to exercise you. 9 That you give not the least bridle to wand'ring thoughts. 10 That you bestow some time in mourning, not only for your own sins, but for the time and age wherein you live. 11 That you look daily for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, for your full deliverance out of this world. 12 That you acquaint yourselves with some godly person, with whom you may confer of your Christian estate, and open your doubts, to the quickening of God's graces in you. M. R. The Mother's counsel, OR, Live within Compass. Being the last Will and Testament to her dearest Daughter, which may serve for a worthy Legacy to all the Women in the World, which desire good report from men in this world, and grace from Christ Jesus in the last day. Live within Compass: In Chastity. FIrst my Daughter understand, that Chastity is the beauty of the soul and purity of life, which refuseth the corrupt p●…sures of the flesh: 〈…〉 only possessed of those who ke●… 〈◊〉 bodies clean and undefiled; and it consisteth either in sincere virginity, or in faithful Matrimony. The chaste soul is a rich chamber, only fit for Christ. The most bountiful God is a chaste and pure Spirit, and therefore above all things thou oughtest to call upon him with chaste prayers. If the body be not kept pure and unspotted from whoredom, the Soul can hardly be fervent in devout prayer. Pure chastity is beauty to the Soul, grace to the body, and peace to all worthy desires. Beauty is like the flowers of the Spring, but chastity like the stars in heaven. So must the flesh be nourished, that it may serve thee; so must it be tamed, that it be not proud. As nothing is more vile than to be overcomed of the flesh, so nothing is more glorious, than to overcome the flesh. Frugality is the sign of chastity. Chastity is a virtue of the soul, whose companion is fortitude. Chastity is the Seal of Grace, the staff of devotion, the mark of the Just, the crown of virginity, the glory of life, and a comfort in Martyrdom. Idleness is the enemy to chastity. Chastity without charity, is 〈◊〉 without oil. Chastity and modesty are suff●… to enrich the poor: And 〈…〉 age, rather make choice o● 〈…〉 manners, than looseness o● 〈◊〉 our with great Lands and rich possessions. If chastity been once lost, there is nothing left praiseworthy in a woman. The first step to chastity, is to know the fault, the next, to avoid it. Where necessity is joined unto chastity, thence Authority is given to uncleanness; for neither is she chaste which by fear is compelled, neither is she honest which with need is obtained. Do not say thou haste a chaste mind, if thine eye be wanton: for a lascivious look is a sign of an inconstant heart. Amongst all the conflicts of a Christian soul, none is more hard than the wars of a chaste mind, for the sight is continual, and the victory rare. Chastity with the raines of Reason bridleth the rage of lust. A chaste ear cannot abide to hear that which is dishonest. True felicity though hide from mortal eyes, yet is it the object of a chaste spirit. The first felicity that a chaste woman shall have after this life, is the rest of her Soul in Christ: the second shall be the immortality and glory of her body. That chaste woman hath got to the height of felicity, whom no fear troubleth, no pensiveness consumeth, no carnal concupiscence tormenteth, no desire of worldly wealth afflicteth, nor any foolishness moveth unto mirth. A chaste woman is to be measured not by her beauties, but by her virtues. A woman is the wonder of Nature if she wrong not Nature. A chaste woman is an admirable Angel, till she be drawn by angels to become a Devil. Women that are chaste when they are trusted, prove often wantoness when they are causeless suspected. A virgin's heart is like the Cotton tree, whose fruit is so hard in the Bud, that it soundeth like steel, and being ripe puts forth nothing but wool. Chastity is a veil which Innocents' adorn, th' ungatherd rose defended with the thorn. O Chastity the gift of blessed soul●…, comfort in death, a crown unto the life, which all the passions of the mind controls, adorn the mind, and beautifies the wife; that grace, the which nor death, nor time attaints, Of earthly Creatures, making heavenly Saints. Penelope in spending chaste her days, as worthy as Ulysses was of praise. Beleeeed, a woman cannot take upon her with Beauty, Riches, nor with high nobility, to claim the true deserved praise of honour, if chastity do fail by her fragility; for that's the virtue which defends her honour. Chastity is strong, when all that woo it doth resist, and turns them virtuous too. Unchaste words uttered to a virtuous dame, turn and defile the speaker with red shame. A Wife is like a garment used and torn, A Maid like one made up, but never worn. Gold is not known by sight, but by the test: Thought makes not chaste, but trial proves them best. Misfortune still such projects doth pursue, He makes a false Wife that suspects a true. Their carriage, not their Chastity alone, Must keep their name chaste from suspicion. Out of Compass in Chastity, Is Wantonness. Wantonness when it turns to lust, in a woman's bosom, is a desire against reason, a furious and unbridled appetite, which killeth all good motions in her mind, and leaveth no place for virtue. Shame and infamy waits at the heels of unbridled wantoness. Wantonness is an enemy to the purse, a foe to the person, a canker to the mind, a corrosive to the conscience, a weakner of the wit, a befotter of the senses, and lastly, a mortal bane to all the body; so that thou shalt find pleasure is the pathway to perdition, and wantonness the loadstone to ruth and ruin. Wantonness maketh a woman covet beyond her power, to act beyond her nature, and to die before her time. Sensual and wanton vice hath ever these three companions. First, blindness of understanding; secondly, hardness of heart; and lastly, want of Grace and perfection. Wantonness is inseparably accompanied with the troubling of order, with impudence, sloth, and dissoluteness. Adultery desireth not procreation, but only pleasure. Wantonness is a strong tower of mischief, and hath in it many keepers and many defenders, as neediness, Anger, Paleness, Discord, Love, and Longing. Every good woman makes not for every man a good wife, no more than one dish of meat can please all stomaches; but every evil woman makes an absolute ill wife, as a drop of Coloquintida mars the whole pot of pottage. Wanton dwarf women, or foolish ones, are the worst to make wives of; for the first brings forth but a race of P●…ies, and for the latter, there is nothing so fulsome as a she-foole. Wantonness is attended on by riot, and they two impair health, consume wealth, and transform a woman to a beast. Wantonness is a sin of no single rank: No ordinary station, that never walks unattended with a train of misdemeanours at the heels. Corrupt company is more infections than corrupt air; therefore let women be advised in their choice; for that text of thyself that could never be expounded, thy companion shall as thy commentary, lay open to the world: for it is seen by experience, that if those which are neither good nor evil accompany with those that are good, they are transformed into their virtue. If those that are neither good nor evil consort with those that are evil, they are incorporated to their vice. If the good company with the good, both are made the better; if the evil with the evil, both the worse; for such as the company is, such is the condition. There be four vices a wanton woman is ever most troubled with, slothfulness, carelessness, vain curiosity, and niceness. Hate and Disdain shines in a wantoness eyes; Deceit and Treason in their bosom lies. Th' are mad that think by any means to stay ●… a wantoness mind that is disposed to stray. Such is the cruelty of women kind, when they have shaken off the shamefac'st band, with which wise nature did them strongly bind. t'obey the hests of man's well ruling hand, that then all rule & reason they withstand, to purchase a licentious liberty. But virtuous women wisely understand that they were borne to Humility, unless the Heavens them lift to lawful Sovereignty. 'Tis certain that the wanton woman never Love's Beauty in her sex, but Envy ever. There cannot be a greater clog to man, than to be troubled with a wanton woman. 'Tis evermore observed 'mongst men, that be she Base or High: A wanton eye doth guide her wit, and not her wit her Eye. Lose women do repine their sins to hear, and folly flings, if counsel touch them near. The foolish and the wanton women use T'obey them most, who doth them most abuse. A witless fool & wanton we may guess, that leaves the more, & takes her to the less. When wantoness finely soothe their own desires, their best conceits do prove the greatest liars. Live within Compass: in Temperance. ABuse not thy body in thy youth by Surfeit, Riot, or any other distemper through an overweening ability of strength; for youth and Nature pass over many Infirmities that are growing till their age. Live temperately and virtuously, that thou mayst dye patiently; for who life's most honestly, will dye most willingly: and for thy long days and better health on earth, afflict not thy body with too much unnecessary Physic, but furnish thy mind in time of plenty to lay up for itself and others in the time of want; for surely her end shall be easy and happy that death find with a weak body, but a strong Soul. Grieve not to groan under the hand of sickness; for as sometimes it purgeth the body from intemperate humours, so doth it oftentimes the Soul from more dangerous security, and the rather, since there is no perfect health in this world, but a neutrality between sickness and health. The eyes are the instruments of lust, therefore make a covenant with them, that they betray not thy heart to vanity. Suffer with those that suffer, be crucified with those that are crucified: so shalt thou be glorified with those that are glorified. True grace and Temperance do not lift up, but humble a good woman; therefore she is not yet partaker of true grace which doth not walk in humility of heart. The streams of God's grace do flow downwards, not upwards. God creates of nothing, and he repairs of nothing; that therefore thou mayst been partaker of the Regeneration and Reparation, be nothing in thine own eyes, that is, attribute nothing to thyself, arrogate nothing to thyself. Women are weak and frail; but judge none frailer than thyself: to be inferior to all, hurts none, to be above any, offends many. Temperance is an enemy to lust, and last is an ever-waiting servant to the pleasures of high bloods. Temperance calleth a womun back from all gross affects and carnal appetites, and lets her neither exceed in foolish rejoicing, nor in sorrowing. She is firmly to be accounted temperate, which from the ground of reason can govern and bridle the vice of sensuality, and all other gross affections of the mind, and passions. Temperance is the true Peacemaker in all the tumults between reason and passion. When the untamed passions of a woman have their full career, and are neither overruled with Temperance nor discretion; then is the soul lost and forsaken, or at least, deformed and miserable; and the more delicately the body is handled, the more stubbornly it wrestleth against the mind; for the heavy burden of the body is only the oppresson of the soul. She cannot commend Temperance that imagineth the best felicity to consist in pleasure. O it is Temperance, with his golden squire Between our passions, measures out a mean, Neither to melt in pleasures hot desire, Nor fry in heartless grief & doleful teen: Thrice happy she that stays them both between. O in what safety Temperance doth rest, When it finds harbour in a modest breast. Of all God's works which do this world adorn, There's none more fair, more sweet or excellent Then woman's body, both for power and form, Whilst it is kept in temperate government. 'Tis harder for to learn fair continence In joyous pleasure than in grievous pain, For sweetness doth allure the weaker sense So strongly, that unneath it can refrain From that which feeble nature covers fain; But grief and wrath that be her enemies And foes of life, she better can restrain, Yet virtue vaunts in both their victories. Let Wolves and Beasts be cruel in their kinds, But women meek, and of fair temperate minds. Though men minds can cover with bold stern looks, Pale women's faces are their own faults books. Those virtues that in women praise do win, Are sober shows without, chaste thoughts within; True faith & due obedience to their make, And of their children honest care to take. They melt with words as wax against the Sun, So weak in many woman's modesty, For what sometimes they most would seem to shield, Another time unasked, poor souls they yield. Out of Compass in Temperance. Madness. A Mad woman is like a rough stirring Horse, and as he must have a sharp bit, so must she have a sharp restraint. As a block though it be decked with gold, pearls, gems, and precious ornaments, is not to be regarded except it represent the shape of some thing: even so a woman be she never so rich and glorious, yet if she want obedience, she is of no account or estimation. Such wives as would rather have foolish Husbands whom they might rule, than to be ruled by sober wise men, are like them that would rather lead a blind man in an unknown path, than follow one that can both see and knoweth the way directly. She that forsakes her husband because she dislikes his manners, is like her that forsakes the Honey lest the Bee might sting her. They which sacrificed to juno the goddess of married women, took ever the galls from the beasts which they sacrificed; signifying thereby, that all anger, madness, and displeasure should ever be fare from married couples. In three points women and fools hold small difference; they are full of vain affections, they are curious and peevish to please, and ever wilful to disobey. There is no creature that more desireth honour, and worse keepeth it than a mad woman. The intemperate woman with her lightness, and children with their small knowledge, occupy their minds in things present: but virtuous wise women do think on that is past, they ordain for that which is present, and with great study and care provide for the time to come. There are in outrageous women's eyes too several sorts of tears, the one of grief, the other of deceit. Beauty in women's faces, and outrage in their hearts, are two worms which fret life, and waste goods. Mad women for a little goodness look for a great recompense, but for much evil no chastisement. A fierce beast and a dangerous for is an outrageous woman to a Commonwealth: for she hath much power to do much harm, and is not apt to follow any goodness. A mad woman once defamed believes after in no woman virtue, but defameth all to make her own vice worthy of a companion. The tongue of a mad woman is a slippery instrument, nimble to do mischief; for commonly by it friendship is decayed, worldly riches diminished, the life most miserably wasted, and infamy and immortal pain purchased. Such a mischievous evil is the sin of detraction in the heart of a proud and unruly woman, that there is neither long familiarilie, accustomed fellowship, nor causes of approved friendship, neither yet any estate or degree that can once bridle them, or stay them from doing infinite mischief. She that is given to the vice of detraction, is worthily subject to the common hatred of men, and to be eschewed of all as a most pestilent infection; and at her entrance into any place among good women, every mouth to be either stopped against her, or otherwise opened to hisse her out of doors, as a thing altogether void of delight, and filled up but with danger only. Amongst temperate women, mad women are made bright; but amongst mad women, temperate women are made glorious. It is a great madness in any woman to amuse upon those things which are fare beyond her understanding. A fair woman without discretion, is like a fair house and an ●…uill host harboured therein. Many times of wise maids becometh foolish wantoness, and of foolish wantoness, wise maids. Let every woman behold herself in a Looking-glass, and if she appear beautiful, let her do such things as become her beauty; but if she seem foul, then let her make good with good manners the beauty which her face lacketh. As the body being always oppressed with labour loseth his strength, and so perisheth; so doth the mind of a woman oppressed with passions and pleasures of this world, lose the force, lust, and desire which she had to the rest of eternal life to come. Excess of passions may ever hurt, they can never profit. When sensuality reigneth, (especially amongst women) there reason taketh no place. A mad Woman knoweth things done, but a discreet woman considereth things long before they come to pass. Praise and indiscretion can never be coupled together. From idle wit there springs a brainsick will, Which wise men lust, which foolish make a god; This in the shape of virtue reigneth still, But 'tis the only vice, one worst and odd. Will puts in practice what the wit deviseth; Will ever acts, and wit contemplates still, And as from wit the power of wisdom riseth, All other virtue's daughters are of will. The heedless will true judgement doth ensnare, Who's ruled by it doth never want her care. Where women's actions measure no regard, There lawless will is made his own regard. Such is the cruelty of women kind, When they have maken off the shamefaced band, With which wise nature did them strongly bind T'obey the hests of man's well-ruling hand, That then all rule & reason they withstand, To purchase a licentious liberty: But virtuous women wisely understand, That they were borne to base humility, Unless the Heavens them lift to lawful sovereignty. What iron band, or what sharp mouthed bit, What chain of Diamond; if such might be, ●an bridle women's wrath, or conquer it, ●nd keep them in their bounds, and true degree? Craft makes a woman oft appear in show, Merry and sad, when she is never so. The lovely looks, the sighs that storm so sore, The due of deep dissembling doubtfulness, These may attempt, but are of power no more, When beauty leans to wit & soothfastnes. Live within Compass: in Beauty. THere is nothing harder for a woman than to know herself; for blinded with beauty and self-love, they flatter themselves in all things. There is in every woman two powers, which draw and conduct her; a desire of pleasure bred in the beauty of the body, and a good opinion coveting only good things▪ between these two there is continual strife in women, and when the opinion hath the mastery, it maketh a woman sober, chaste, discreet, & quiet: but when desire getteth the upper hand, it makes her lustful, riotous, covetous, & unquiet. Three things a woman ought to hold remarkable, her soul, her body, the substance of this world: The soul first, because it is a thing beautiful, & immortal, made after the shape of God himself: The body next because it is fair, and is the case and sepulchre of the soul, and the nearest servant to the secret spirit: lastly the substance of this world being necessary, and the principal instruments and tools of the body. Let then the eyes of every woman's inward mind first respect the beauty of her soul, than the comeliness of her body, and lastly, the necessity of riches. She that loveth beauty more than virtue, shall either lack that she coveteth, or else lose what she hath got with great pain. She that is in love with her own beauty is like one that traveleth on the Seas; if she escape the dangers (which are scandals) she is fortunate, but if she perish, she is wilfully deceived. Trust not beauty, for it never payeth what it promiseth. Beauty in this world is the delight of ●n hour, and the sorrow of many days; ●ut in the world to come, eternal rest and ●ong joy. Beauty is of two sorts, as of the body, which is a seemly composition of all the members, wherein all the parts with a certain grace agree together; and the other of the wind, which is a conveniency meet for the excellency of man or woman, and that wherein their nature doth differ from other living creatures; & as the outward beauty moveth & rejoiceth the eyes, so this shining in their lives by order & moderation, both in deeds & words, draweth unto them the hearts of them amongst whom they live. Beauty is such a fading good, that it can be scarce possessed, before it be vanished. The greatest gift that ever heaven bestowed on a woman, is beauty; for it both delighteth the eye, contenteth the mind, & winneth good favour of all men. The beauty of the body withereth with age, and is impaired by sickness, but the beauty of the soul, which is innocency and humility, can never be consumed. A beautiful countenance is a silent commendations. The fairest creature that ever Go● created was the world. Beauty, honour, and wealth, are thre● deep persuasions to make love frollick● and men miserable. In all things divisible there is something more, something less, something equal more or less: what can be more equal than beauty or wit? The Scorpion if he touch never s● lightly, invenometh the whole body; th● lest spark of wildfire sets the whol● house on a flame, the Cockatrice kills me● with his sight, the sting of love and beauty woundeth deadly, the flame of fancy set● all the thoughts on fire, and the eyes of ● lover wounded with beauty, are accounted incurable. She that is an enemy to beauty is a fo●… to nature, and she that dotes on beauty is a high traitor to nature. Beauties that should be concealed, too grossly discovered, are fair signs hung out to entice to an unhospitable Inn. Beauty without honesty is poison preserved in a box of gold. Let not a woman's beauty, but her virtue be her dower, for her good deeds will remain when age hath taken her beauty from her. Let no woman strive to excel in beauty, but hold the golden means, which is the true mediocrity and best part of any action, and must be used in all things: it containeth the full effects of prudence touching government, and tranquillity concerning the soul. Curiosity and extremity banished woman from the first modesty of her nature. To live on the mountains, and have too much heat, is to be Sunne-burnt; to live in the valley and have too little, is barren; to hold the mean is ever most fruitful. 'Tis sacred Beauty is the fruit of sight, The courtesy that speaks before the tongue, The feast of souls, the glory of the lights, Envy of age, and everlasting young, Pities commander, Cupid's richest throne, Music entranced, never dully sung: The sum and court of all proportion. And that I may dull speeches lest afford, All Rhetorickes flowers in less than a word. 'Tis beauty that is a woman's golden crown, Man's conqueress, and feminine renown, Not joined with love, who dear yet ever sold it? For Beauty's cheap, except love's eye behold it. Beauty is still an Adamant to all, And Nature's bush that passengers doth call. Beauty itself doth of itself persuade The eyes of men without an Orator: What needeth then Apologies be made, To set forth that which is so singular? O how can Beauty master the most strong, And simple Truth subdue avenging wrong? O what is he whose youth can say he love's not, Or who so old that women's beauty moves not? Never were cheeks of roses, locks of amber Ordained to live imprisoned in a chamber. Heaven made Beauty like itself to view, Not to be locked up in a smoky mew: A rosy virtuous cheek is heaven's gold, Which all men joy to touch, all to behold. The ripest corn dies if it be not reaped, Beauty alone is lost too char'ly kept. Out of Compass in Beauty, Odiousness. TO exceed Nature or thy condition, is a riotous excess in lust, apparel, or other ornament, it is also a part of pride, and contrary to decency and comeliness. Excess of bravery brings a woman of wealth quickly to poverty, and excess of beauty to hate and odiousness. They that rather delight to deck their bodies than their souls, seem women rather created for their bodies than their souls. As the weed cannot be esteemed precious for the fair flower which it beareth, so ought no woman to be accounted virtuous for the gay garment she weareth, or the beauty she borroweth. Beauty may be overthrown with age, and apparel consumed with moths: what folly is it then for women to delight in that which an hour can waste, or a very little worm destroy? Raine can never cause the Corn to bring forth any fruit which is sown upon hard stones, nor speech cannot persuade a proud woman to become an enemy to brave apparel. Gorgeous garments are marks of pride, and nests of riotousness. As a man would judge one to be ill at ease which weareth a plaster upon his face, or one that hath been scourged to be punished by the Law; so doth painting betoken in a woman, a diseased soul marked with adultery. As it is no wisdom in admiring the scabbard to despise the blade, so is it mere folly to praise a woman for her bravery, & discommend her for her modesty. Odious is that beauty which sleepeth not with the face. If by the civil Law the child may have an action of the case against him which shall deface the portraiture of his father, we may well imagine what action God will have against those women which by artificial painting, seek to correct his workmanship. Painting hastens wrinkles before old age come. All kind of painting, artificial garnishing, and colouring of hair, was forbidden among the Spartans', despised of wise men, and loathed of good men. There are three things which cost dearly, and consume quickly; a fair woman that is unchaste, a rich garment that hath many cuts, and a wealthy stock in the hands of an ill husband. The tongue of a bitter woman pierceth deeper than her eyes. A painted woman's sorrows, howsoever extreme, ought not to be redressed: for being trimmed up with dissimulation, she should not be believed. A painted woman's eyes have two sorts of tears, the one of sorrow, the other of dissimulation. False beauty in the faces of women, & folly in their heads, are two worms that fretteth life, and wasteth goods. Ill women for little goodness look for great praise, but for much evil no chastisement. A fierce beast and a dangerous enemy to the commonwealth is a wicked woman, for she is of much power to do much harm. An ill woman's heart is full of holes, apt to receive, but not to retain. He that can endure a cursed wife, needs not fear the Devil for his companion. The closet of a bad woman's thought is ever open, and the depth of her heart hath a string that stretcheth to her tongue's end. A painted woman's face is a liver smeared with carrion, her beauty baits of dead worms, her looks nets, and her words enticing charms. An unconstant fair woman may been likened to Prasiteles Picture which he made of Flora, before which if one stood directly, it seemed to weep; if on the left side, it seemed to laugh; if on the right side, to sleep. A spark of beauty burns a world of creatures, When it is of sophisticated features. O beauty, still thine Empire swims in blood And in thy peace war stores himself of food. Beauty a beggar, fie it is too bad, When in itself sufficiency is had: It was not made to please the wand'ring eye, But an attire t'adorn sweet modesty. If modesty and women once do sever, Farewell all fame, farewell all name for ever. O beauty that betrays thyself to every amorous eye, To trap thy proud professors, what is it but wantoness try? Where through it seldom haps, the fair from mean deceits to fly. Truce, war, and woe, do wait at beauty's gate, Time lost, laments, reports, & privy grudge, And last fierce love is but a partial judge, Who yields for service shame, for friendship hate. The Bees of Hybla have beside sweet honey, smarting stings; And Beauty doth not want a bait that to repentance brings. The fairest cheek hath oftentimes a soul Leprous as sin itself, than hell more foul. Live within Compass: in Humility. She that gathereth virtues without Humility, casteth dust against the wind, and loseth her labour. Happy is that woman whose calling is great, and her spirit humble. Humility is a twin to Chastity and Nobility, and as necessary in a woman as her virginity. Nothing can repair a decayed Chastity but true Humility. Since the Country which a woman desires to dwell in, is high and heavenly, and the way thither Lowliness and Humility, why then desiring this Country, should they refuse the way? There are three degrees of Humility: the first, of Repentance; the second, a desire of Righteousness; and the third, the works of mercy. She that cannot have what she would, must be humbly content with what she can get. Sufferance maketh women Angels, but pride maketh them Devils. Let not thankes wax old, when gifts are in thy possession. She that refuseth to buy good counsel cheap, shall buy repentance dear. Mock not at any in misery, but by it avoid the like misfortune. Give no vain and unnecessary gifts, as is Armour to thy maids, Books to thy plow-swaine, or Nets to a Student. Let thy best apparel be justice, and thy uppermost garment Chastity; so shalt thou be happy, and thy days prosper. Let Virtue be thy life, Humility thy love, Honour thy fame, and Heaven thy felicity. Let not thy bounty exceed thy means, nor thy free mind thy modesty, keep thine eye in equal pace with thine ear, and thy tongue short of thy feet. Rather live walled up with an Anchorite, than housed with an evil woman. Be not secure, lest want of care procure thy calamity; nor too careful, lest pensive thoughts oppress thee with misery. Behold thyself in a Looking-glass, and if thou appear beautiful, do such things as becomes thy beauty; but if thou seem foul, then perform with good manners the duty which thy face wanteth. If thy Parents wax poor, supply their want with thy wealth; if froward with age, bear patiently with their imperfections. Live and hope as if thou wert not to live a moment. Never wish impossible wishes, for it expresseth but a wanton passion, or a most greedy covetousness, both grounded on folly. To frivolous questions silence is ever the best answer. Beware what thou grantest in any sort, for inconveniences follow one in the neck of the other. If thou doubt in any thing, ask counsel of the wise, and be not angry at their reproof, lest (as Martial the Poet said) it be truth that thou lovest, not truth. She that talketh much to little purpose, is like him that sails with a side-wind, and is borne to a wrong shore. As a woman without humility is unpleasant, so humility without severity draweth near to prostitution. She only may properly be called a woman that in her behaviour governeth herself like a woman, that is to say, conformable to such things as reason willeth, and not as the motions of sensuality requireth. Where any demand is a jest, the fittest answer is a scoff. Rather labour to be delivered from contempt, than practise to be revenged. The eye can never offend if the mind would rule the eye, but where there is division, there is ever confusion. Solitariness is the only sly enemy that separateth both woman and man from doing well. Liking is not always the child of beauty, but jealousy is ever the busy harbinger to disdain. She that will needs stir affections in others, must first show the same passion in herself. She that blameth another, must first be blameless herself, especially in the matter she blameth another for. Forbearance of speech is most dangerous when necessity requireth to speak. Humility is aged, hoary, grey, With look full lowly cast, and gate full slow: Who on a staff his steps doth stay, To whom who comes must ever stoop most low; For straight and narrow is the way that he doth show. Humility to heaven is step and stair, Both for devotion, sacrifice, and prayer. The bending knee in safety still doth go, when others stumble, as too stiff to bow. Ah, God shield maid, that any one should learn to look aloft: This reed is rife, that oftentimes great climbers fall unsoft. In humble dales is footing fast, the trod is not so tickle: And though one fall through heedless haste, yet is his miss not much. As on th'unsauory stock the lily's borne, And as the Rose grows on the pricking thorn: So modest life, with sobs of glorious smart, And cries devout, comes from an humble heart. More honour's in humility, than safety is in walls: Ill livers prove not monuments, save only in their falls. Meekness this noble virtue and divine, Doth make a woman still so rare and odd, As in that one she most resembleth God. Ever as rage kindleth the fire of wrath, Meekness to quench it store of water hath. Out of Compass in Humility, Pride. PRide perceiving Humility to be honourable, desires oftentimes to been covered with her garment, for fear least appearing always in her own likeness, she should be little regarded. Immoderate wealth causeth pride, pride bringeth hatred, hatred worketh rebellion, rebellion maketh an alteration and changeth Kingdoms, even in women's dissensions. That kind of fantastic contemplation which tends to solitariness, is but a glorious title to proud idleness. The proud conceit of young women, is, that they can speak wisely, when they cannot understand themselves. When Dogs fall on snarling, Serpents on hissing, and Women on weeping, the first means to bite, the second to sting, and the last to deceive. As rewards are necessary for well-doers, so chastisements are meet for proud offenders. Pride is always accompanied with Folly, Audacity, Rashness, Impudence, and Solitariness: as if one would say that the proud woman is abandoned of all the world, ever attributing that to herself which is not, having much more boast than matter of worth. Pride did first spring in men from too much abundance of wealth, in women from too much trust in beauty, and the flattery of men. Pride is the mother of Envy; strangle her, and her daughter dieth. She that knows herself best, will ever esteem herself least. It is hard for a fair woman not to be proud. A proud woman is like Theocritus his fisherman; she only feeds the vanity of her fancy with dreams of gold. If a man's folly make a woman once his equal, her pride will soon make herself his superior. Women be of so tender condition, that they will complain for a small cause, and for a less will rise up into infinite pride. There is no creature that more desires honour, worse kéeps it, and sooner loseth it, than a proud woman. Proud women in mischief are ever wiser than men. It is natural to a proud woman, to despise that which is offered her; and death to her to be denied any thing she demandeth. Sophocles being asked, why, when he brought in the persons of women, he made them always good, whereas Euripides made them all bad: Because (quoth he) I present women as they should be, and Euripides presented them such as they are. A proud woman's will is like a Sheffild knife, sometimes so sharp it will cut a hair, and otherwhiles so blunt it must needs go to the grindstone. If women be beautiful, they are to be won with praises; if coy, with prayers; if proud, with gifts; if wanton, with promises; but if good, with providence and virtue. Those women which esteem themselves most wise, are evermore the soon tickled with self-love. A proud woman's mind is ever uncertain: it hath as many new devices as a tree hath leaves, for she is always desirous of change, and seldom loveth him hearty with whom she hath been long conversant. Trust not a proud woman when she weepeth, for it is her nature to shed tears when she wants her will. A proud woman in her wit is pregnable, in her smile deceivable, in her frown revengeable, and lastly in her death acceptable. Of grisly Pluto, Pride the daughter was, And sad Proserpina the Queen of hell, Yet doth she think her pearls worthy to pass, That parentage with pride so doth she swell; And thundering jove that high in heaven doth dwell, And wield the world, she claimed for her fire; Or if that any else doth jove excel, For to the highest she doth still aspire; Or if ought higher were, then that doth she desire. O pride the shelf close shrouded in the port Of this life's Ocean, drowning all resort. Pride makes her rounds, for she hath never end, And Soners, for she never leaves her noise: She makes her dumps, if any thing offend, And to her idol self, with warbling voice, Sings Hymns & Anthems of especial choice: And yet prides quire's put to silence clean, Wanting a Base, a Tenor, and a Mean, Pride is the scourge of sin, the Devil's fee, The head of hell, the bough, the branch, the tree. From which do spring and sprout such fleshly seeds, As nothing else but moan and mischief breeds. Such is the nature still of haughty pride, Can nothing less than others praise abide. A proud maid may her own musician be, Her heads device makes pavens to her heart This hart with lips & pleasures danceth free, All but the measures framing every part; Like Organs worthy of so sweet an Art, Her thoughts plays marches on her vaulting mind, And Memory her Recorder stands behind. FINIS.