vertuous forgetting that it is better to leave unto their children good doctrine whereby they may live than evill riches whereby they may perish whose offence as a wise Philosopher saith is impardonable that for heaping up of riches forget to bring up their children in honest manners If this be not true that I speake let experience speake for me who of her owne knowledge can produce many lamentable examples of Gentlemens sonnes and great heires abroad in the world who have had more wealth left them than wit to use it through want of this one principle of learning put into them to season and relish those other parts and ornaments of nature they have beene endowed withall Wherefore it standeth parents in hand that have any true inward love toward the good of their children to see them as well vertuously educated in learning as to provide for them great portions Salomon saith How much better is it to get wisedome then gold and to get understanding rather to be chosen then silver Let fathers and mothers then take it into their considerations to use all the best meanes they can to put wisedome and understanding into their childrens heads as well as money into their purses by training them up to learning when they are young A wise childe saith Salomon maketh a glad father but a foolish childe is a heavinesse to his heart It is not possible to keepe meate well savoured unlesse it be first salted It is impossible that fish should live without water it is not unlikely but the Rose which is overgrowne with the Thorne should wither so it is impossible that fathers should have any comfort in their children unlesse they bring them up to learning and vertuous education in their youth Nothing maketh a more deepe impression in the mind of man than those rules he learned when he was a child for whatsoever good instructions children learne in their youth the same they retaine in their age which made Cato himselfe be a Schoole-master to his owne sonnes because he would not have their youth infected Goe on then Noble Sir in the race you have begun who have hitherto had God be praised vertuous education and godly bringing up having not onely a Wise and a religious Father to advise you a vertuous and godly Mother to counsell you but also a prudent and discreet Master to instruct you let it then be your care having such worthy Patternes of imitation laid before you for a square and a rule to direct you in your youth as few have the like to adde thereunto wisdome and learning your selfe as farre as in you lie by diligence in your study which will be the most absolute and perfect way to make you a complete Gentleman that as you patriseat your father every way in person so you may strive to imitate him as neere as you can in vertue whose instructions goe not alone onely as daily Moniters to disswade and dehort you from that which is ill but his examples are as so many lectures read unto you to exhort and encourage you to that which is good As you would not then have others goe before you in riches which of Philosophers and Poets are called the gods of Fortune so let not others goe before you in learning which is the Mother of Vertue and Perfection and without which a man though never so rich is but as a sheepe as Demosthenes termes him with a golden fleece or an â—mage curiously trimmed and richly painâ—ed over with fine gold and beautifull colours Study and labour then to get knowledge learning wisedome and understanding now whilest you are young being lesse painfull as one saith to learne in youth than to be ignorant in age A mans whole life time indeed ought to be a continuall study for no man can be too old to learne yet a mans infancy and childhood is the chiefest time when the foundation and groundworke of this building is to be laid Hee that goes about to build a house begins it not in the Winter but in the Spring that he may have the Summer before him to finish his worke yet better to begin it in the Winter then not at all so hee that would be a good scholler must not beginne to fall to his booke and study when he is a man or in his declining age but in his childhood and youth yet better to learne in his old age then not at all as one to that effect writeth thus It is fitter for young men to learne then to teach and for old men to teach then to learne and yet fitter for old men to learne then to be ignorant but there is no man that can learne so much that he shall need to learne no more and I hope I shall not live so long that â— shall be too old to learne How excellenâ— a thing then is learning that is so requisitâ— in all both old and young but especially in young that as Iob speakes of Wisdome so may I say of learning it is so excellent that man knoweth not the value thereof it cannot be gotten for gold neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof it cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir with the pretious Onix or the Saphire the gold and the crystall cannot equall it and the exchange of it shall not be for jewells of fine gold No mention shall be made of Corall or of Pearles for the price of learning is above Rubies which made grave Plato in contemplation thereof cry out and say Oh Science how would men love and esteeme thee if they knew thee right and well might he doe it for it is the lightest burthen and richest merchandise that a man can possibly traffique in or carry about him a fountaine whereunto â—l may goe and yet can never be drawne â—ry from whence flowes such delicious â—eet springs that the more a man drinks â—ereof the more hee desireth it In a â—ord it is the very lampe of life chiefe â—uide to Arts and all perfection Thus â—ave you heard what an excellent thing earning is you have heard I say for as salomon speaketh A wise man will heare and â—ill increase in learning Let me then intreat â—ou nay rather advise you although your â—ervant whatsoever you get digge or â—elve for as I may say whilest you live â—ere in this earthly tabernacle made with â—ands to be sure to get that inestimable em of learning which will sticke by you â—hen all other treasures will vanish and â—and you in no stead and to be so farre in â—ve therewith as with the Philosopher o thinke that day lost wherein you have â—ot learned somewhat Oh Sir I would to â—od I speake it from my heart for the â—ve I beare unto you I were as well able â— willing to advise you and my best inâ—evours without any ceremony or comâ—lement should lie prostrate at your worships feet to doe you service I confesse Multis simulationum involuris tegitur quaâ—
a scolding Wife WHen wife speaks most do thou least speech afford For silence cuts a shrew worse than a sword A froward wife for very spight will cry When thy neglect doth scorne her tyranny With love and not with fury let her know Her errors for by that amendments grow A gentle hand a Colt doth sooner tame Than chains or fetters which do make him lame QVI MIHI Turned into English meter for the benefit of young Schollers WHen dolts have lucke on honors step to stay Let Schollers burn their books and go to play You Children young that goe to schoole to you I send my verse In English so you shall not need to construe or to pearce The child procures his parents ruth that is not chastiz'd in his youth The Epistle dedicatory REader to whom shall I direct my pen But unto striplings young the sonnes of men To you I send my verses in this booke For you to meditate thereon and looke Where you therein matter of worth shall finde To please your will and satisfie your mind To you alone and none but you I write Others may read but yours it is of right Acc pt you then my labours and endeavour And I shall be oblig'd to you for ever For these my lines are of too meane a strain To elevate my thoughts or entertaine Higher preferment then with it agrees My booke 's too barren for tall Cedar trees Children may busie here themselves at fits It s not for deeper and more solid wits Step then into this Arbour and there walke Where you may meditate discourse and talke At idle times when leasure you shall find To ease the lymbes and recreate the mind Learning no burthen is to any one The sweetest study is when we alone Keepe close unto our books with silent voice Reading such things as doe our hearts rejoyce Then study you that live in grammar schooles And knowledge get and be no longer fooles It is not wealth will make you wise or rich A dunce is poore though he bave nere so mich This is the counsell J to you will give And ever shall so long as I doe live Were I as able as I could desire With moveing arguments for to inspire The inward zeale to learning youth should beare I would therein spend all my pains and care To spur you forward but alas my skill Is nothing comparable to my will Yet in a word thus much observe from me He that this wants cannot true noble be Learning doth helpe to purchase all mens fame So truely learnd doe more renowne their Name Some men there be learning doe not desire But like the swine delights more in the mire The blockish idiots learning cannot prise But hate even those that are by nature wise And sottish fooles at learning will repine So long as puddle shall delight the swine Oh then sweet children marke with heedfull care What 's for your good and doe no labour spare To get this precious jem of so great worth That makes you noble though but meane by birth I le say no more bnt onely this farewell He is most wise in learning doth excell Your faithfull and wel-wishing friend WALTER GOSNOLD Qui Mihi in English Verse The Schoolemaster precepts doth oft rehearse that thou mayst well learne Which to his schollers Lilly writ in verse thy manners they concerne THou child that to be taught desires and scholler art to me Come hither and marke well in mind these things I say to thee Betimes in morning leave thy bed and pleasant sleepe off shake Goe to the Church and unto God thy humble prayer make But first let hands and face be washt combe thou thy head also And see thy cloathes be neate and cleane before to Church thou goe Avoyding sloth when schoole shall call be present out of hand Let no excuse of long delay procure the lingring stand Then me thy master when thou seest with speech salute anon And all thy schoolefellowes likewise in their degree each one And where I doe thy seat appoint there see thou take thy place And from thy seate till I thee bid depart thou in no case And as each childe doth study most and learning best doth get He shall in place above the rest more worthily be set Pen-knife Quills Paper Inke and Bookes as tooles most fit for thee Let them for use and studies thine provided alwaies bee If any thing I shall indite take heed thou write it right That in thy writing blot or fault may not be found in sight No latines unto papers loose nor verses doe commit Which faire to write within your bookes for schollers is more fit Oft-times repeat things thou had read and weigh them well in minde If thou doubt one or other aske till that the truth thou finde He that doth doubt and often aske doth learning soone conceive Who doth not doubt no good he gets nor knowledge e'r will have Good childe I pray you study hard no paines to learne refuse Lest that thy guilty conscience thy slothfulnesse accuse And see that you attentive be for what will it availe To teach thee ought if that the same to print in minde you faile Nothing so hard can be to learne but labour will it win Then take you paines apply thy booke and studie well therein For as from earth there doe not grow good corne flowers nor seeds Nor ought that 's good without tilling but fruitlesse noysome weeds So if a childe in studies good doe not practise his wit His time shall utterly mis-pend and lose the hope of it A law and order in thy speech ought for to be attended â—est by thy over-babling wee be too too much offended Be low in voyce so long as thou thy studies dost apply But all the while thou sayst to me pronounce thy words on high And whatsoever thou dost learne when thou sayst it to me Perfect by heart without thy booke pronounced let them be No word let any prompter tell to him that is to say Which thing doth cause unto a boy no meane or small decay If any thing I doe command see that thou doe endeavour Both praise and credit for to have for thy quick witty answer No commendation shalt thou have for speech too fast or slow To use the vertuous golden meane a comely grace doth show When thou speakst use thy Latine tongue this still remember well Shun rude and barbarous words and then in eloquence excell Besides see thou thy fellowes teach when they thee doe require And all such as unperfect be bring on to my desire Who so doth teach th'unlearned sort though most unlearned he Yet in short time then all the rest more leaned may hee be But foolish Grammer smatterers doe follow in no case Which are to the famous latine tongue exceeding great disgrace Whereof in speach there is not one so rude or foolish now But him the barbarous multitude For author will allow If thou desire thy Grammer lawes most rightly for to know And who in speech to understand best eloquence to show See thou the famous writings learne of old and ancient men The which best authours be and thou shalt know them rightly then Terence Tully and Virgil too now one now other reade And mind and marke well what they teach and thereto give good heed Which Authors he that hath not learn'd in utter darknesse lives And nothing fees but foolish dreames that simple knowledge gives Some boyes there be whom it delights all vertue set apart Lewd toyes and vices very vaine to practise as an Art There be some boyes that pleasure take with hands and feet t' assay How that they may their fellowes hurt or trouble any way And some there are that boast themselves to be most nobly borne And others birth do dis-allow with speeches full of scorne I would thou of such patrons bad should take most wary heed Lest in the end thou doe receive rewards worthy thy deed Doe nothing give nor nothing sell nor nothing buy nor change To gaine by others losse accompt these things to thee most strange And most of all no mony use inticements unto sinne That to others leave vertue seeke and nothing else to winne Let noyses brablings scoffings lies and every foolish jarre Stealing fighting gaping laughing be alwaies from you farre Nothing unhonest speake at all to cause or stirre up strife For in the tongue wee see is both the gate of death and life Accompt it most great wickednesse ill speeches for to give Or by Gods mighty name to sweare by whom we onely live And last of all keepe well thy things and bookes and be not rude And beare them with thee still and thus my Precepts I conclude Exhorting thee take heed if thou desire to live at ease That thou doe all offences shun and no man doe displease FINIS A Postscript to the READER FRiendly READER I had here thought to have unloaded my memory presented thee at this time with some Anagrams Epigrams Emblemes Epitaphs and carolls as also with many Characters and Essaies of my owne but not knowing how well this worke would passe and considering with my selfe I have beene but a metamorphoser of other mens labours and therefore can no waies challenge any higher title at the best then the name of a translator although indeed my paines therein have beene no whit lesse then if it had been wholly mine as old shoos aske more paines many times to mend then new ones doe to make I have thought fit to forbeare my intended purpose untill some fitter opportunity doth invite mee thereto in the meane while if thou findest any fault with what is already done and say it is but cobled over the reason is ready at hand for a translator though in a more fine phrase is but a cobler therefore whatsoever a cobler doth be it never so well is but cobled But howsoever when I am my craftsmaster I will promise thee to mend all imperfections so it be not ultra crepidam till then thou canst not expect any rare workmanship from mee Farewell FINIS
then spend till things be scant 〈◊〉 losse to worke and toyle a fresh is still to live in want Consulendum tibi imprimis Thou must consult or looke to thy selfe before all other â—0 Dapsilis interdum notis charis amicis Cum fueris foelix semper tibi proximus esto 〈◊〉 wealth abound be liberall each friendship to reward â—et so as alwaies of thy selfe thou have a due regard FINIS The second Booke of Morall Precepts The Preface TElluris si forte velis cognoscere cultum Virgilium legitâ— quod sâ— mage nosse labor as Herbarum vires Macer tibi carmine dicet Si Romana cupis vel Punica noscere bella Lucaâ—um quaeras qui Martis praelia dicet Si quid amare libet 〈◊〉 discere amare legendo Nasonem petito sin antem vera tibi hee est Vt sapiens vivas andi quo discere possis Per quae semotum vitiâ— traducitur avum Ergo ades quae su sspientia disâ—e legendo OF Tillage if perhaps thou wouldst the skill exactly know Read learned Virgil whose discourse each thing at large doth shew But-if of herbs and plants the force thou rather wish to finde Lo Macer writes a booke in verse to satisfie thy minde If Romane warres and bloody broyles of Carthage plâ—â—â—â— thee more â—earch Lucan who of Mars his stirs and stratagems hath store â—r if by reading thou desire the lawes of Love to learne 〈◊〉 Nasoes wanton legend lo this art thou maist discerne â—ut if thy chiefest care intend a wise mans state to see â—hen listen how to leade a life from filthy vices free Approach I say and to my lore attend whil'st I relate What wisdome is and how by her thou may'st be fortunate The second Booke of CATO his PRECEPTS De omnibus bene merendum We must deserve well of all men 1. SIpotes ignotis etiam prodesse memento Vtilius regno meritis acquirere amicos Even unto strangers if thou may'st doe good in time of need For friends by love and bounty wonne a kingdomes worth exceed Areana non scrutanda Secret things are not to be searched 2. Mitte arcana Dei coelumque inquirere quid fit Cum sis mortalis quae sunt mortalia cura What heaven and Gods high secrets are waste not thy wits to learne Since thou art mortall minde the things that mortall men concerne Mortis timor gaudia pellit The feare of death doth drive away joyes 3. Linque metum lethi nam stultuÌ„ est tempore in omâ— Dum mortem metuis amitâ—is gaudia vitae Fond feare of death abandon quite as follies foule effect Which who so dreads all joy of life doth utterly reject Iracundia cavenda Angrinesse is to be eschewed 4. Iratus de re incerta contendere noli Impedit ira animum ne possit cerâ—ere verum In disputation suffer not incensed wrath to rise Which wit and judgement so beguiles that truth obscured lies Expendum ubi opus est We must bestow quickly where or when need is 5. Fac sumptum propere cumres desiderat ipsa Dandum etenim est aliquid cum tempus postalaâ—aâ—tuâ— Spare for no cost when time shall serve and cause require the same A penny better spent than spar'd adds to an honest name Fortuna modica tutior A moderate fortune or meane estate is most safe Quod nimium est fugito parvo gaudere memento Tuta mage est puppis modico quae flumine fertur â—andon superfluities with little rest content â—fe is the barke on calmer streame to wished haven bent Occulta vita vitia reticenda Secret faults are to be kept in or concealed 7. Quod pudeat socios prudens celare memento Ne plures culpent id quod tibi displicet uni Remember well as wise men would to hide thy proper shame And that which doth thee most displease lest many doe thee blame Occulta tandem revetantur Hidden things are revealed at length â— Nolo putes pravos homines pecâ—ata lucrari Temporibus peccata latent tempore parent Thinke not that man offending oft and hath his faults concealed â—â—t that his secret sinnes in time shall come to be revealed Imbecilitas virtute compensatur Weakenesse or feeblensse of strength is recompensed by vertue 9. Corporis exigui vires câ—ntâ—mnere noli Consilio pollet cui vim natura negavit A man of limbe and stature small disdaine not in thy pride For natures wants by wisdomes wealth is commonly supply'd Cedendum potentiori ad tempus Wee must give place for a time to a moâ— mighty man 10. Quem scieris non esse parem tibi tempore cedâ— Victorem à victo superari saepe videmus Contending with superiour powers take heed in time to yeeld For oft the party vanquished hath after wonne the field Rixandum cum familiaribus non esse We must not brawle or fall out with oâ— friends 11. Adversus natum noli contendere verbis Lis minimis verbis interdum maxima crescit Against thy friend with force of words strive not in any wise Sometimes of words which are but wind great controversies rise Fortuna non quaerenda sorte Fortune is not to be sought by lot or wâ— are not to seeke by lot what our fortuâ— must be 12. Quid Deus intendit noli perquirere sorte Quid statuat de te siâ—e te deliberat ipse â—hat God intends endeavour not by lot to know or shunne â—hat he determines touching thee without thee shall be done Luxus odium generat Riot superfluity or excesse doth beget hatred â—3 Invidiam nimio cultu vitare memento Quae si non laedit tamen hanc sufferre molestuâ— est â—schew by over nice attire foule envies hatefull sting Which though it hurt not to endure is yet an irksome thing Animus non deponendus ob iniquum Our minde or heart is not to be cast downe for unjust judgement or because wee are wrongfully condemned 14. Esto animo forti cum sis damnatus iniquè Nemo diu gaudet qui judice vincit iniquo By wrongfull judgement overthrowne thy selfe discourage not By doome unjust who overcomes not long enjoyes his lot Reconciliaris lis non refricanda Strife is not to be renued to a friend reconciled or injuries past are not to be remembred 15. Litis praeteritae noli maledicta referre Post inimicitias iram meminisse malorum est Once rconciled rippe not up the wrong of former daies Old gauls to rub and wrath revive a wicked minde bewrayes Teipsum neque laudat neque culpa Neither praise thou thy selfe nor dispraiâ— thy selfe 16. Nec te collaudas nec te culpaveris ipse Hac faciunt stulti gloria vexat inanis To praise or discommend thy selfe are things alike unfit For so doth fooles whom glory vaine bereaves of common wit Parsimonica Sparing or thriftinesse 17. Vtere quaesitis modice dum sumptus abundat Labitur exiguo quod partem est tempore longo In midst of plenty keepe a meane spend not thy wealth