hee plagued destroyed and vtterly consumed with fire and brimstone from heauen Sodome Gomorrha with the cities nigh bordering vpon them that is to say Adamam Seboim Segor Moreouer parents must shew their children that God being stirred and prouoked against the Eegyptians with a hatred detestation of their great wickednes disobedience rebellion afflicted them and laid vpon them ten gréeuous fore plagues that is to say with frogges lice moraine of beasts botch sores hailestones thunder lightening grashoppers darkenesse and the killing of their first borne And for y ◠the more examples you shall be able to expresse the more it terrifieth in this case you shall adde héereunto that wofull and horrible spectacle of the wasting consuming and destruction of the Citie of Ierusalem the discomfiture ouerthrow and vtter subuersion of the miserable people of the Iewes the which continueth euen till this day At the last least these thinges may séeme to small purpose being so long since they shall recite vnto them the lamentable turmoyles troubles and persecutions of the Christians throughout all the corners of the worlde as in Asia Aphrica and Europe And then let vs yet come a little nigher to our selues and that within the cōpasse of our owne remembrance and wée shall easily sée perceiue and vnderstande how those mortall and sworne enimies of Christ and all Christians the Turkes haue on euery side mightily preuailed do dayly more and more inuade our borders and territories how they rob spoyle imprison mannacle and cruelly vexe and torment the poore Christians wherein manifestly appeareth the wrath of God towardes vs for our disobedience rebellion and wickednesse For these rumors of warres these motions of sedition these tumultes and vprores these commotions throughout al kingdomes and prouinces these many strange and gréeuous diseases which dayly increase to our great annoyance the dearth of corne and other victuals in many places this excéeding pride without profite this lacke of true friendship good neighborhood and vnfeigned loue with many other moe mischiefes as ill let them perswade their children that they procéede of none other cause then the heauie wrath of God for our disobedience and rebellion against the Lorde and are as it were his whips scourges wherewith he doth smite correct and chasten vs which otherwise would neuer turn vnto the Lord. To conclude before all other thinges parents shall prouide that this bée surely setled and firmely fixed in the tender mindes of children that not only they may perceiue and iudge these temporal and bodily afflictions are laid vpon vs for our sinnes offences But that they may surely perswade themselues that there are far greater and more gréeuous prepared for vs that is to say moste dreadful damnation and euerlasting torment except we spéedily repent and turne vnto the Lord. Theophilus Without all question these and such like admonitions are not only profitable but also very necessary For there be many fathers of families which are altogether ignorant that the worshipping of Idols is so greate abhomination before God And there are also very fewe that knowe what an heape of mischiefes luste lyinge and drunkennesse bringeth with them Therefore you haue doone maruellous well that you haue put vs in remembrance of these thinges and wee heartely beseeche you that for this godly care you haue towards vs you woulde also teache and instructe vs by what meanes young men may best bee holden backe restrained feared and terrified from corrupt religion and false worshipping of God from disobedience rebellion and from all those other vices Theodidactus Youth may bée moued and terrified by diuers waies meanes from those euils perils and dangers which are often wont to hurt and greatly anoy aswell the body as the minde as if wée do lay before them the examples of those which for their stubbornesse disobedience and contumacie against their Parentes haue suffered most fearefull plagues and gréeuous punishments Theophilus I pray you shewe vs what they are which haue beene punished and plagued for their disobedience and rebellion For you shall finde vs willing to heare you Theodidactus It shall bée very profitable to set before children the terrible examples of the wrath of God which light vpon the children of Heli Hophny and Phinees which were slaine in the warres Of Cain which was accursed Of Dathan and Abiron with their complices which were swalowed vp of the earth Of Absolon who rebelling against his father Dauid in the chase of his enimies was hanged in an Oke so perished miserably Of that seditious Zamri against Helam which perished with fire Of Cham which was accursed for that he saw his father naked and derided him Of Sheba who moued sedition against Dauid and by the wisdome of a woman was beheaded And children shall learne not only by these but by dayly examples to feare the wrath of God which appeareth euery where For God will not leaue any wicked sinne vnpunished as it may bée séene in murtherers théeues robbers rebels seditious persons and pirattes all which wée sée by the determinate wil of God are caught vp in euery place whose fairest ende is either the Gallous or els doe suffer some other Tragicall death and cruell torment to their vtter shame and confusion Theophilus For asmuch now as wee haue learned of you the absolute order and perfect method of the instructing and ordering of our youth so that what soeuer perteineth to the same you haue made it so apparant and manifest vnto vs that except wee were more sluggish and dull than the drowsie Dormouse or more blinde than the mouseling Molewarpe whose pleasure is to bee alwaies wrooting in the earth and cannot indure the light wee may easily see perceiue and vnderstande what eche of vs ought to folow and what to shunne and auoide with which your so excellent documentes and instructions I say when wee haue our children wel seasoned and furnished doe you thinke it meete and conuenient that wee manumit them and set them at libertie to doe what they lyke best and to ride or goe whither their fonde affections shal moue them Theodidactus Nay not so For the nature of all men is so vitiate infected and poysoned with the sinne of our first Parentes Adam and Eue that except wée be continually restrained and holden backe with godly discipline good counsell and admonitions wée degenerat and growe euer worse and worse Theophilus But if the vtilitie and profite of children and youthes so require that they might trauel into farre countries to haue some further sight skil and iudgement in the liberal Artes to haue more knowledge in the tōgues and experience in diuers other things Shal they not rather alwayes abide and staye at home and be seuerely kept vnder the discipline of their Parents Theodidactus I haue knowne some young Gentlemen which haue trauelled into straunge nations and at the last haue returned home adorned and garnished with
moste iust Patriarch had thrée sonnes of the which one did degenerate from the pietie and godlinesse of his Parents that hée merited the cursse not onely on hymselfe but also of all his posteritie Iacob the Patriarch had twelue sonnes and but one only daughter neyther is it to bée doubted but that they were very well instructed of their Parents Notwithstanding 〈◊〉 returned home rauished his sonnes became inanquellers 〈◊〉 théeues and that of their owne brother What shall I say of Heli Samuel and Dauid whose godlinesse are abundantly commended in the holy Scriptures And this calamitie hath chaunced chiefly to noble and worthie personages so often as it were by a certain destenie that from thence hath risen this common Prouerbe Herorum filij noxae Of the noblest Parents the wickedest children haue proce 〈…〉 ed oftentimes And of the wisest the most fooles Therefore what shall Parents doe Shall they desist and leaue of their godly care of good and vertuous education God forbid For if children doe commit any sinnes or offences through the negligence of their Parentes the same offences before God shall not bée imputed only to the children but also to their Parents Therefore it is good for the Parents them selues that they diligently perfourme their dueties and that they bring vp their children as it is saide by 〈◊〉 and information in the Lorde And if their paynes a 〈…〉 uels shall take good effect and haue good successe and that 〈◊〉 children become vertuous and godly they shall account it their owne gaine and yéelde heartie thankes vnto God which hath so prospered their labours But if it shall fall out contrary to their expectation that crosse must bée borne paciently And parents ought to bée thankefull that they haue saued their owne soules For albeit this godly and painfull education and instructing of children hath gayned no profite to the children themselues yet doth it bring great and excéeding profite vnto parentes before the Lord our God Theophilus Seeing now almost all things haue beene handeled and declared which may seeme to appertaine vnto the dueties of godly fathers of families and maisters of housholdes Now it resteth that I intreat you also to shew vs how moderately paciently Christian parents ought to beare the death of their children For you shall finde many parents that take the death of their children very sorowfully and impaciently Theodidactus Examples of all times and ages doe testifie that the death of children is to bée borne and suffered with a good and pacient mind and this doeth manifestly appeare aswell by the Heathen writers as also by the holy Scriptures Wherefore Saint Paule playnely writeth that wee shoulde not mourne saying thus Non contristemini sicut caeteri qui spem non habent Be not sorowful as as others which haue no hope Moderate your mourning and doe not bewayle and lament for the dead after the manner of the Ethnickes or as the Saduces which haue no hope of the resurrection For the godly fathers doe knowe and are assured that their children die in the Lorde that they liue now with Christ in the heauens Wherfore they haue no cause to sorrow mourne and let them alwayes kéepe in remembraunce the example of Dauid the Prophet which with great wisedome no lesse patience suffered the death of his sonne Whom hee did not only loue for that he was his only sonne but because also he had begot him of Barfabe whom he loued dearly And as long as he knew that the childe was in grieuous sicknesse he besought God for the childe that hée woulde saue it hee fasted mourned and put on sackloth and â—â—ent in and lay downe vppon the earth and woulde not be comforted by any meanes But at the last when the childe was dead and that his scruauntes durst not tell him For they sayde beholde while the childe was yet aliue wée spake vnto him and hee woulde not hearken vnto our voyce Howe will hee then vexe himselfe if wee tell him that the childe is dead But Dauid perceiuing his Seruauntes whyspering and thought that the Childe was dead and sayde vnto them is the Childe dead They sayde yea And Dauid arose from the earth and washed and annoynted himselfe and changed his apparell and came into the house of the Lorde and woorshipped and after warde came to his owne house and bade that they shoulde prepare that he might eate Then sayde his Seruantes vnto him what thing is this that thou hast done Thou diddest fast and wéepe for the childe while it was aliue and assoone as it was dead thou didst rise vp leaue of thy mourning and did eate meate Hée sayde while the childe was yet aliue I fasted and wepte For this I thought who can tell whether GOD will haue mercie on mée that the Childe may liue But nowe seeyng it is dead wherefore shoulde I fast can I bring him agayne anie more I shall goe to him rather then hée shal come againe to me Héereuppon it came that mourning which profiteth the dead nothing at all grewe into a contempt among the godly that then were liuing and with this answere theÌ„ the which there could not bee founde a Wiser hée satisfied them all that were about him And also Saint Hierome sayeth Vir sapiens quum filium suum bonae indolis amittit non doleat quod talem perdiderit sed magis gaudeat quod talem habuerit A wise man wheÌ„ he loseth his sonne being vertuous and of verie good towardnesse doth not lament and mourne for that he hath lost such a one but rather reioyceth that he hath such a present to offer vnto the Lorde Theophilus These are notable worthie examples without doubt and very effectual medicines to temper moderate our vnmeasurable mourning and sorow of heart and mind conceiued by the death of our children Yet I beseech you if you haueÌ„ any other declare them vnto vs. Theodidactus With all myhearte Dion the sonne of Hipparinus one of Platoes disciples on a time whilest he was making an OratioÌ„ in a publike assembly his sonne fel down froÌ„ one of the loâ—ts on the pauements so finished his life preseÌ„tly Dion being therwithal nothing moued neither altred he his voyce nor changed his countenaunce but constantly coÌ„tinued procéeded in y e thing which he had takeÌ„ in hand The like we read of Anaxagoras who tooke the death of his children very constantly For when Clazomenâ—o had shewed him beeing in great earnest consultation with other that his two sonnes were dead hauing no moe he therwithal being nothing affrighted nor once mooued aunsweared the Messenger after this manner Sciui eos mortales natâ—â— esse I knowe they were borne to die But what shall wée saye of Pericles his constancie which when hee had lost all his children by a common infection and odious plague tooke their death very paciently And was the Author vnto the Athenians that
point yet for the goodwil I beare to Amusus and his children I will declare open vnto you whatsoeuer may séeme to apperteine to this purpose if so bée now I can call to my remembrance those things which héeretofore I haue read in good authours concerning this matter Although Parents bee neuer so poore base simple féeble c. They ought not for any of these causes to bée destitute and spoyled of the honor giuen them of God for they ought not to behold their person to wit what maner men they hée but héere the will of God only is to bée obserued and regarded which hath willed and commaunded it so which also to this his commaundement hath added a promise farre more excellent then all the riches in this worlde For who so doe truely and vnfeignedly honour their parents there are promised vnto them of God in this world long life peace health and happy and prosperous successe in all thinges But contrariwise who so resist the diuine worde of God an vnhappie life and that very short is ready to fall vpon them by and by because they haue disobeyed the Lord of life For these stubborne rebellious wretches are vtterly forsaken of God and so become théeues robbers and murtherers to their owne shame confusion For with great disdaine and hatred they contemne the good and godly instructions of Parents and wil not suffer any correction or chastisement and so it often chaunceth that these varlots come very seldome vnto mature and rype age but are cut of before their time Neyther be they so happy as that they fall into the handes of the hangman whereby they may haue time to repent them of their former liues but being ouercome with drunkennesse and ryot behaue themselues in such ruffianlie maner that in their desperate frayes they dye of the sworde or by some other misfortune are slaine or els by fier or water doe miserably perish As in the children of Heli and in Absolon with many others hath béene séene S Gregory hath left vnto our memory a horrible example of a certaine disobedient childe which of a wicked spirit was caught out of his fathers lappe and in his sight torne in péeces and destroyed Héereof let children learn to feare and loue the Lorde God and to honor their parents not contemn them although they be neuer so poore wayward or deformed Let them also kéepe in memory the horrible example of Dathan and Abiron which for resisting the Magistrates were swallowed vp quicke throwne into Hell The waywardnesse wrabbednesse of parents doth not discharge the fift coÌ„mandement as witnesseth S. Peter saying Non solum bonis sed ettam discolis obedite Obey not only your good and wise parents but also your wayward foolish parents As also the Prophet Baruch saith 2. Vult Iudaeos malis impâ—is obedire God would haue the Iewes to obey their wicked vngodly parents as hath bin said before Moses doth not say honor yée your good wise rich parents but speaketh simply without any distinction or difference Honora parentes Honor thy parents But when God at any time sendeth wrabbed wayward and hard hearted parents this chaunceth for our sinns wickednes For it maketh no matter to vs whether they bée worthie or vnworthie noble or base rich or poore for what maner parents soeuer they bée yet not without the great prouidence of God they are our parents But who so thinketh that decript doting parents are not to be honored and reuerenced Let them heare now a notable example and worthie to bee remembred of a certaine housholder which had an olde father decript and bowed together with age and therewithall doting and very childish againe so that when the meates things were set vpon the table he would by and by ouerthrow the dishes and pottes powre out the pottage vpon the table to the great annoyance of the guests many times but wheÌ„ this had chanced thus very often y e housekéeper his sonne begaÌ„ to disdain therat to take y e matter gréeuously studied which way he might find a remedy for this trouble at the last he deuised a trough or hollow thing to be made of wood whereout he might eate his meat And whiles the thing was in making preparing the young sonne of this housholder began to reason with his father demaunded of him to what vse that shoulde serue for hée knewe very well his father had no Swine to féede therein his father answered that hée had made it for his graundfather that hencefoorth he may dine and suppe out of the same Then the litle child asked his father againe saying after this maner My good father when you shalbe as old as my grandfather shall I be compelled to make such a hogges trough for you also which wordes so soone as his father heard he was excéedingly astonished and began to sigh meruellously and straight way with great sorrow of mind hee threw from him the trough very disdainfully and began to bethinke with himselfe what that childishe question should meane rightly wayed and considered with himself vnto how many great miseries and calamities mans life was subiect insomuch as after that he euer gaue great honor reuereÌ„ce vnto his old father and neuer was offended after that with the mad doting pranckes of his father so long as hée liued Theophilus Alas there be not only amongst vs disobedient rebellious children but also selfe willed proude and very stubborne what shall become of such or howe are such wont to die for the moste part I woulde bee gladde to hearâ— Theodidactus Children whith doe not willingly obey their Parents fall into the most gréeuous iudgement and wrath of Almightie God for y â— most stubbornly they do disobey resist their parents commandemeÌ„ts at the last they are coÌ„pelled to obey the hangmaÌ„ will they nill they or els by some other kinde of Tragicall death they ende their dayes miserably as is aforesaid As a number of examples do witnesse as this in the 4. booke of the kings 2. the scripture sayth Helisaeus went vp into Bethel and as hée passed on his way the litle children came out of the Citie and derided that good olde man saying Ascende calue ascende calue Get thee vp thou bald paâ—e get thee vp who looking backe séeth them and curseth them in the name of the Lorde And immediatly came out of the woodes two fierce and cruell Beares and they tare in péeces and destroyed 42. of those children very lamentably By this children ought to learne to feare and honour the Lorde God to reuerence their Parents and elders not to deale dispitefully with them nor for any cause to contemne and deride them least in like maner the Lord God bée angry and displeased and so destroy them in his wrath But rather let them followe the example of the Stork which when their parents are
which may feare them from vices They shalbe saith S. Ambrose Vitae nostrae testes simul magistri witnesses and also maisters of our liues From them wée shall receiue the way to liue the order to speake the behauiour to bée conuersant with others and the discipline of all vertues For this may séeme true vnto euery man who so haue learned many thinges by vse long experience doe remember more then others wherefore they are wiser then others and more apt for councell and gouernment in any thing whatsoeuer Amusus For that we haue heard of you so godly and so wholsome Precepts of obedience honor which is due to parents we are very glad for these so great benefites we giue you humble thankes In the beginning of our talke my good and reuerend father I shewed my minde and wil I cannot tel whether you remember it concerning the instructing and bringing vp of my children Theodidactus I remember it but yet it may bée that I haue not vnderstoode all things fully that you would haue expressed Therefore if you would vse any further coÌ„ference with mée touching those things I pray you speake and bée not afraide Amusus In the beginning of our talke I told you I was of this mind that I wold very faine haue almy children vertuously brought vp godly instructed in the true knowledge faith religion and feare of Almightie God And you most louingly haue been willing in all things to satisfie my minde in such sort that I neuer had any hope to heare from any man so many and so excelleÌ„t things as I haue heard from your mouth But now I am of this mind that I would be right glad to haue those my sonnes whose wits I shal perceiue neither to be too dull nor blockish nor altogether alienated and estraunged from the Muses trained vp in Christe his Churche and I would be glad to haue them ministers and preachers of his worde not to the ende that they should gather and heape vp to themselues great riches and so to liue at their ease and pleasure as many do now a daies the more to be lamented but rather that they should endeuour to the vttermost of their power to deliuer out of Satans chawes many soules now vexed tormented and so gaine them vnto Christe And because also it is an excellent thing to excell in vertue to doe good to our Countrie to teach others to know themselues and to search out the secrets of nature Theodidactus Almightie God graunt that you neuer alter nor chaunge your minde héerein For the haruest is great but the labourers are few if wée respect true faith vnfeigned diligence and pure doctrine all which things are to bée required in the true ministers preachers of the worde and many other things also whereof Saint Paule speaketh vnto Timothe and Titus Amusus Recite heere the wordes of Saint Paul I pray you except it be to your trouble that I and my sonnes may vnderstand what it is to bee a minister of the worde of God in his Church Theodidactus This is a faithfull saying saith Saint Paul If a man desire the office of a Bishop hée desireth a good worke A. B. Therefore must be blameles the husband of one wife watching sober comely apparrelled a louer of hospitalitie apt to teach not giueÌ„ to ouer much wine no striker not gréedie of fil thie lucre but gentle abhorring fighting abhorring couetousnesse one that ruleth well his owne house hauing children in subiection with al grauitie For if a man know not how to rule his owne house howe shall hee care for the Church of God Amusus Without doubt it is a great hard charge chiefly to him which hath purposed and determined in his heart to care for the Church of God according to the methode and prescript rule of S. Paul the greatnesse thereof terrifieth both me and my sonnes Theodidactus My good Amusus there is no cause why you should feare the difficultie and hardnes of this godly function for all things are possible with God For Christ hath called fishers and made them rulers of his Church The spirite of God worketh effectually in the heartes of those that beleeue and call vpon his name wherefore see that you powre out your ardent prayers before the Lord God for your children and that with great care and diligence doubt you nothing at all of Gods promises Amusus So I doe to the vttermost of my power and according to my slender capacitie For he knoweth which is the onely searcher of the heartes and reines how earnestly I doe desire to haue my sonnes the instrumentes of the holy Ghoste by meanes whereof the doctrine of the Gospel might bee inlarged in the Church of God But is our prayers and the inuocating of God sufficieÌ„t to the going about this matter of so great a charge as it was in the time of the Apostles Or be there any other meanes annexed for the better perfourming of this charge and duetie Theodidactus Yea verily for in the time of the Prophetes and Apostles God for the most part wrought miraculously in setting out his worde immediately by the working of the holy Ghost only but nowe in this our age hée manifesteth him selfe more often through the gift of tongues that is to say not only in the knowledge of the Latine tongue but also of the Gréeke and Hebrew not that the holy ghost is now made a stranger from the Doctors of our Church but thus hath it pleased his maiestie and séemed good to his diuine wisdome that he doth not alwaies rule and teach his Church or make himselfe manifest after one maner Amusus If then I couet and desire to haue my sonnes true diuines and teachers in the Church as farre as I can gather by your reasons and argumentes they must excel in learning in the knowledge of the tongues they must also be well and perfectly instructed Theodidactus Amusus according to your natural inclinatioÌ„ so do you rightly gather of my wordes For all mankinde was created to this end that hée shoulde perfectly knowe cal vpon confesse and glorifie God the father of our Lorde Iesus Christ not according to our owne imaginations but according to the doctrine which God himselfe hath set foorth vnto men which with his owne finger hée hath written in the bookes of the Prophets and Apostles in which hée teacheth vs how and after what maner hée will bee worshipped which bookes hée hath commanded al men to reade heare learne 1. Tim. 4 by S. Paul saying in this wise Atâ—eÌ„de lectioni exhortationi doctrinae Giue attendance to reading to exhortation to doctriue And 2. Petri. 1. it is written Hibemus firmiorem sermonem propheticum eui dum attenditis ceu lucernae adparenti in obscuro loco rectè facitis c. We haue a right sure worde of prophesie whereunto if ye take heede as vnto a light that shineth in a darke place yee doe wel
must alwayes be respected and obeyed and the honour health estimation and credit of the persons must be rightly weighed and considered Saint Ambrose in the historie that hée writeth of Rebecca saieth that it is néedfull requisite and verie necessarie to haue the consent of the Parents in matters of marriage he saith further that it is an honest godly and a thing best agreeing to nature The lawes of Princes also doe seuerely prohibit that no contract be made of matrimony without the consent of Parents Looke in the first booke of Iustiniane in the title of marriage the 10. where hée treateth of this thing at large Filij filiaeue consensum parentum habeant quorum sunt in potestate Let the sonnes or daughters haue the coÌ„sent of parents vnder whose power gouernment they are For this thing ought to be and both the ciuill lawe and the lawe of nature doeth counsel and persuade that the commaundement consent of the father ought to procéed go before the marriage Franciscus Barbarus is of the same minde saying after this maner We doe forewarne tell you that there can be ascribed no excellencie or worthinesse vnto y â— mariage to the which the good will consent of the father hath not béene had before The example of Cyrus may also teach all youth what aunswere to make in that behalf who when hée was moued and persuaded by certaine friendes to take to wife a great and noble woman that with a verie great dowrie and large summe of mony answered Se non antè velle quà m a parentibus collaudari certior esset That he would not marrie her before he had heard from the mouth of his Parentes that she was a meete match for him a woman worthie praise and commendation By the example of this noble King all young men may be admonished that they linke not them selues in matrimonie except first they conferre desire the good will and coÌ„sent of their Parentes maisters and gouernours For if Parentes at all times in all places be to be honoured reuerenced regarded and that in the smallest thinges much more in so great and waightie a cause the wise prudeÌ„t counsell of parents is to be heard followed and embraced except a man will make no account nor reckoning of the commaundement of Almightie God Euaristus a Bishop of Greece iudged priuie contractes in Matrimony very vnlawfully instituted ordeined that the bridegrome and bride should be ioyned together of the Priest or Minister in the face of the congregation It is the parte and duetie of Parentes to place and bestow their children and not of the children to bestowe them selues at their pleasure albeit it is great reason that their willes and consents agrée thereunto and the ordinance of God requireth the same Deut. 22. Abraham prepared a marriage for his sonne Isaac And so did Isaac for his sonne Iacob in like maner And olde Toby for his sonne which diuers others of the godly fathers And as the children haue this libertie to be willing and giue their consents vnto their contractes in marriage and that their Parents ought not to force them against their willes So is it not lawfull for the children to contract and ioyne them selues in matrimony at their owne willes and pleasures without the authoritie consent of their Parentes For it is the ordinaunce of God that children honour and obey their Parentes and follow their mindes counsell in contracting them selues vnto mariage Most grâ—enously therfore doe those children offend which contemning the authoritie of their Parents enterprise mariage without their consent For then they doe not honour them but rather procure their shame and reproch which so great wickednesse God wil not suffer vnpunished Daily examples doe continually sufficiently teach vs that God is excéedingly offended and angrie with these contemners of Parentes whom Satan hath rather ioyned together then God because hée is not the worker of iniquitie and to sinne against the fift commaundement is great iniquitie Theophilus Those priuie spousages and secret contractes therfore enterprised and taken in hand without the consent of Parentes are not to be liked approued nor allowed as farre as I can gather of your wordes Theodidactus You gather of my wordes verie wisely for these stollen priuie contractes affiances and betrothinges are not only forbidden and prohibited by the lawes of Princes but also by examples and testimonies out of the holie scriptures as wée haue before sufficiently proued Therefore let Parentes beare this alwayes in minde that the right and authoritie to place and bestowe their children is giuen and attributed vnto them of God And let children knowe that they as it hath béene often said owe this reuerence and obedience vnto their Parentes that they séeke for their counsell and earnestly craue and desire their good wils in these cases That young man which is of age wisedome discretion and méet to take a wife may not be afraide nor ashamed to reueale his secretes and open his minde vnto his Parentes that hée woulde be glad if it were his fathers pleasure to match him selfe with some honest and godlie mayde and therfore humbly desireth his Parents good will counsell and furtheraunce in that behalfe that of many of his familiers and acquaintaunce hée might choose such a one as should bée to their liking And albeit this may séeme to be some signe of lust and vnshamefastnesse yet let them know and vnderstand that the diuine clemencie doeth couer this in marriage and addeth a remedie vnto this disease and malladie Therefore let children humble them selues before their Parentes and most lowly and gentely say my good father and mother let mée haue I pray you suche a honest and godly young man or mayde whom I loue in the feare of the Lorde and in the way of wedlocke and lawfull matrimony if hée or shée shall be thought worthie and meete for your affinitie kindred stocke and Parentage honest and wise Parentes will not deny the thing that is in such wise so honestly in such humble maner required although the dowrie goods or summes of mony be not altogether answerable to their desire and wish And such marriages cannot be but happie prosperous fortunate because God with his vnmeasurable and excéeding goodnesse doeth blesse fauour and as it were with this vaile and couer of wedlocke doeth hide kéepe secrete defende and alay this excéeding heat and seruencie of lust and also the holie scriptures doeth approue and for example bringeth foorth the loue and voice of the Bride after this maner doth God not only pardon our filthinesse and miserable lust wherein wée were conceiued and borne but also adorne and make vs more honourable by and through lawfull matrimony Theophilus What is your counsell I pray you If after the affiances and spousalles once done they proceede to their nuptiall day act of generation against the will and consent
because it shal bee verie profitable for them Theodidactus But before we procéede any further I thinke it méete to diuide the argument vnto you that be here present to the ende that an order being obserued all thinges may the more easily be vnderstood Wherfore we wil diuide this argument into sixe partes and first we will speake of Matrimonie and the procreation of children Secondly of the profite and necessitie of instruction Thirdly wée shewe certaine dueties perteining to the Mothers Fourthly wée will set before you howe horrible and pernitious a thing it is when Parentes neglect their dueties Fiftly wee will declare that children are often punished for the offences of Parentes Sixtly and lastly wée will let you vnderstande of certaine vices from the which your children are to be feared Of these points seuerally by the assistance of almightie God without whō we can doe nothing with the greatest diligence and wisedome that wée may wée will speake in order and those thinges which wée cannot finish in one day wée will end them in two or thrée And there is no labour so painefull neither charges so great which for your sakes I haue not willingly purposed to bestow For amongst friends all things are common Theophilus And I also for this your good wil doe thinke my selfe greatly bound vnto you for I perceiue this your purpose shal be profitable and necessarie for mee I would there were more of our friendes present to take the benefite of your counsels together with vs. When Amusus came to me yesternight and shewed mee in what you had communicated vnto him touching this matter I was more glad so God helpe mee than if a man had powred into my lappe many millians of gold Theodidactus I would it might please God to grant vs many of your mind and towardnesse but ah las I feare me that the most men do more estéeme millians nay rather one millian of golde than the counsell and admonitions of their faithfull friends though neuer so learned and godly The world is now set on such folly vndoubtedly most like vnto the Asse that had rather to féede on the dry Barly straw then of good wheate were it neuer so swéete and pleasaunt But I will omit these thinges and returne to my purpose And for because mariage is the original and fountaine of all priuate and publike gouernment I will touch some thinges of the beginning excellencie and end thereof Mariage is properly a lawfull and godly ioyning together of one man and one woman ordeined to the seruice of God for the procreation and vertuous educatiō of children to the preseruation of his Church and common wealth Or as some other say it is the lawfull coupling together of a man his wife instituted for the cause of procreatiō of children and the auoyding of fornication Theophilus What is more true or manifest than these definitions But of whom was Matrimony instituted of God or of men Theodidactus Godly Matrimony was ordeined of God him selfe and that in the terrestriall Paradise a place full of all ioy and pleasure in the time of mans innocencie and was adorned bewtified with great miracles in Cana of Galalie where Christ him selfe vouchedsafe to be present at the mariage with his mother Marie the virgine and his Disciples and with his diuine power turned the water into excellent good and most pure Wine which was highly commended of the Maister of the feast by whose presence and miracle is plainly testified that lawful mariage pleaseth him greatly and it is certaine that God doeth blesse the mariage of those that feare him and call vpon him faithfully And Saint Paul highly commend that holie and lawfull coupling of man and wife together saying thus Mariage is honourable among all men and the bed vndefiled Wherefore I may boldly and fréely affirme that mariage is the most excellent state and condition of life instituted of God preserued and garnished with his blessing which all the godly both by preaching and example haue commended vnto vs and placed the same in the toppe of all good workes Theophilus Vnto what end hath God instituted this holie and lawful Matrimonie Theodidactus The end of lawfull Matrimonie is in thrée sortes God hath not ordeined mariage for carnall pleasure and delight this is not the finall cause But the first and chiefest end of mariage is for the auoyding of fornication and all vncleannesse that such as haue not the gift of continencie might marry and kéepe them selues vndefiled members of Christes bodie The second for the procreation of children to be brought vp in the feare nurture of the Lorde and prayse of God that they may be méete for his Church and the common wealth for Parentes ought to teach their children true religion whereof we will speake more at large hereafter Thirdly for the mutuall societie helpe and comfort that the one ought to haue of the other both in prosperitie and aduersitie Theophilus What duetie ought the godly couples to vse in mariage Theodidactus Saint Peter sayeth Yée husbandes dwell with your wyues according to knowledge in giuing honour to the woman as to the weaker vessell and that your prayers be not hindred This commaundement properly belongeth vnto the man because hée is the head and Authour of the nourishing and confirming this concorde which shal by this meanes come to passe if hée vse a milde and moderate kind of gouernmēt not a tyrannous sometime pardoning the womā because she is y ◠weaker creature not indued with like fortitude greatnesse of courage but yet it is not the wiues parte to abuse the moderation curtesie and lenitie of her husband For the wiues faire and gentle spéech and modest silence shal quiet and pacifie much chiding and brawling It is also the wiues dueties to know and consider their owne weakenesse infirmitie of nature And that I might comprehend much matter in fewe wordes the most excellent duetie of godly maried persons is to solicite and call vpon God with heartie prayers verie often that hée would vouchsafe to be present with them and that they might continually nourish concord and mutuall good wil betwéene them and with great diligence that they accustome them selues to lenitie and gentlenesse bearing one with an other and studie to take in good parte whatsoeuer shall chaunce and so shall their conuersation bée most pleasaunt and ioyfull together Forthermore if afflictions contentions or any other euils which the Deuil is wont to thrust vpon the maried persons do assaile them and séeme to be imminent straight way that both of them with their eyes lift vp into heauen doe desire Gods aide protection cease not from prayer till they finde some comfort for the Lord is readie at hand to those that call vpō him in faith without douting For Christ himself saith Where two vpon the earth do agrée together whatsoeuer they shal aske of my heauenly Father it shall be
studie of the bringing vp of our children that we may perfectly know what maner séede we ought to sowe in the mindes of children Theophilus I pray you what maner seede shall it bee Theodidactus There is no séed more excellent nor that of it self bringeth forth more plentifull or more profitable fruites than to cast into them into the inward and déepe sence iudgement of their mindes both the name knowledge of the almightie God that they may begin to loue and reuerence him from whō they daily heare all thinges are giuen bestowed vpon them Wherfore as often as children do desire y ◠the things might be giuen thē which they ask as tablets iewels costly garments or any such thing so often should parents signifie vnto thē that it is the reward gift of God that in the very beginning they may learne to loue him whō it is meet also to fear not with a seruile feare for that is nothing acceptable vnto God neither doth it profit any thing at all vnto innocency true vertue But with y ◠feare which with loue is so conioyned that it cānot be diuided or pulde away of which it is written in the holy scriptures by the holy Ghost The feare of the Lord is the beginning of al wisdom And truely into whose minde soeuer this feare and loue hath setled when we say that the one with the other is mixed coupled of such a one it is neuer to be feared whatsoeuer hée be y ◠he should vtterly giue ouer him selfe into the wicked wayes trades of life which thing chiefly must be attempted laboured in a childe that this good roote fructifiyng to blessed life may verie timely firmely be planted fastened in his minde whilest there is auoid place not yet possessed with any straunge séedes graffes or plantes by reason of the newnesse of nature Theophilus Why and for what causes ought children to bee instructed after this maner Theodidactus Erasmus Roter A man of verie good iudgement setteth downe foure speciall causes First saieth hée it is verie néedfull requisite that these young tender mindes receiue the séedes of godlines Secondly that they both loue and learne liberall sciences Thirdly that they be instructed to the dueties of honest vertuous life And fourthly in good maners without the which man is litle regarded Theophilus For that it is certayne our children are rude ignoraunt and naturally without any ciuilitie I iudge that they are to bee taught aswel those thinges that apperteine to their bodies as to their mindes Wherfore to the end they may be of good gentle behauiour in the meetings assemblies and common societie of men I pray you howe shal they bee taught and instructed Theodidactus The father which desireth y ◠his sōne should not only be adorned in the vertues of the mind but also would haue him wel instructed in an honest and ciuill maner of life ought to observe diligently that hée be carefully instructed and exercised in certeine precepts of good manners Theophilus What maner preceptes be those I pray you tell vs. Theodidactus Hée shall teach his childe after this maner My sonne as often as any man speaketh vnto thée to whom thou owest any reuerēce settle thy bodie in a comely order put off thy hatte or cappe let not thy countenance be sadde heauie sower lowring shamelesse vnstable nor terrible but tempered with a chearfull modestie thine eyes demure alwayes beholding him to whom thou speakest thy féete ioyned together not wagging or standing of one legge lyke a Goose not trifling with thy handes nor biting in thy lippes scratching thy head or picking thine eares In like maner let thy countenaunce apparel and iesture be so setled and framed in good order that the whole habit of thy bodie may shewe foorth an honest modestie and a towardnesse inclined vnto vertue Answere not foolishly nor rashly neither let thy minde be wandring in the meane season but marke what hée saieth with whom thou hast to talke Theophilus You shal finde many fathers now a dayes which knowe and confesse that their children should be taught and instructed But how they should doe it they are altogether ignorant Wherefore I pray you prescribe vnto vs an order if it please you Theodidactus Wée must deale with children that they be taught by litle and litle like as when wée would fill a narrow mouthed vessell For if wée powre in a great deale of licour at once it runneth ouer on euerie side but if wée will powre it in faire and softly as it were through a fonnell it will be filled vnto the brimme Plantae quum modicis alantur aquis crescunt multis ver◠suffocantur eodem mod◠animus quum mediocri vegetatur labore sub nimio demersus opprimitur Plantes when they are moderately watered grow and increase the better but with ouermuch they are choked So the minde is refreshed cōforted with moderate labour but being drowned with ouermuch is vtterly ouerthrowne Therefore from continuall paynes a certeine pawsing must be giuen vnto children for we must remember that all our whole life is diuided into recreation and studie or labour So that wée haue not only the day to wake but also the night for sléepe not alwayes warre but sometime peace not winter but sommer not only working dayes but holy dayes also and to speak at a worde Otium laboris est condimentum Rest is the sawce of labour and trauel And this doeth not appeare only in liuing creatures but also in thinges that haue no life as a Bowe Harpe Lute or other instrument Theophilus These thinges are no lesse wisely than eligantly spoken But yet if you haue any other Methode of teaching I pray you shewe it vnto vs. Theodidactus Children in good Artes and vnto good and godly studies are to be drawne some with praise and through hope of preferment others with small giftes and inticements others are to be compelled with threatnings and stripes Pueri bonis artibus ad bona rectaque studia sunt inducendi alij laude per spem honoris alij munusculis blandicijsque alliciendi minis alij flagrisque cogendi erunt But yet all these thinges must be so duely considered and by reason guided and moderated that in ordering of wittes Parents and Teachers doe vse great Art and skil and beware that they be neither too gentle nor too seuere For as too much libertie and cockering marreth a towarde wit so too sharpe and ouermuch chastisement dulleth the same and quickly extinguisheth the litle sparkes of nature in children which while they feare all thinges dare attempt nothing And so commeth it to passe that they alwayes erre whilest that they feare they shall faile in euerie thing Theophilus I vnderstand you haue gathered together many places arguments by the which Parēts may learn their duties towards their children the which if you wil cōmunicat to Amu. his wife the
purposes Howe muche more a reasonable creature which is created to the Image of God Surely I wishe you shoulde weigh and consider this with your selfe if other mens children perceiue and vnderstande verie many thinges Why shoulde not yours vnderstande some thinges in the wayes of vertue and godlinesse Vndoubtedly if you will not teach them but still pamper them with too much cockering and delicate nicenesse you shall answere and beare the sinnes and offences of your children And howe sharpely and seuerely the Lorde God executeth punishment for the contemptuous bringing vp of children onely Heli the high Priest with his sonnes may be for an example as i◠saide before which miserably finished their liues Hée for that hée spoiled his children with too much libertie they for because they would not hearken to nor obey the counsels and admonitions of their father though verie gentle light and easie Theophilus Did Heli then the high Priest in Israel offende the Maiestie of God being so woorthie a man with too much cockering of his children And yet I remember hee did reproue them verie often Theodidactus The voyce of God testifieth otherwise which soundeth after this manner I haue tolde him that I will iudge his house for euer because his children did curse God and followed Beliall and hée would not chasten and correct them Therefore haue I sworne vnto the house of Heli that the wickednesse of Helies house shall not be purged with sacrifice and burnt offringes for euer Theophilus Verely this voice of God ought greatly to bee feared of all Parentes For if the iniquitie of Heli so woorthie a man and of so hygh calling could not be purged for euer which notwithstanding sometymes corrected his sonnes and seemed willing to cleanse and purge their sinnes and offences with certaine sacrifices and oblations What shal bee done with them which scarcely at any time haue chastened their children neyther in worde nor deede neither doe they once beleeue that God wil execute punishment of so great wickednesse it is so farre from them that they are willing to bewayle and lament this so great a faulte with true sorow and vnfayned teares Theodidactus Wée deny not that Heli the Priest reprooued his sonnes dooing wickedly but yet hée reprooued them not earnestly and sharply but lightly and tenderly as many Parentes vse to doe now adayes the more to be lamented And therefore that good and godly father suffred payne for the iniquitie of his sonnes by which example suche negligent Parentes ought with good cause to bée moued or if this doe not moue them yet mée thinkes this saying of Paule shoulde rowse them vp and shake of all their drowsinesse which saieth Si quis suorum maximè domesticorum non agit curam fidem denegauit est deterior infideli If a man haue no care of his owne and specially those of his own houshold and familie hee hath denied the faith and is worse than an Infidel Theophilus If you haue any more such like examples by the which you might sti◠vp and moue those negligent Parents from their fluggishnesse bring them foorth I pray you Theodidactus I haue many other examples of whiche you shall heare this one because it is worthie the noting Marcus Tul. Cicero in the Oration which hée made against Verres in his first booke among many other thinges whiche hee obiected vnto him by way of reproch this is one and the chiefest that hée had so trayned vp his sonne that hée had neuer séene chast shamefast or sober feast or banquet for the space of thrée yeares togethers but was euer conuersaunt and in company with wanton Harlottes and vnchast women and with riotous Kuffians and intemperate men so that if hée had any desire to be good yet could hée not escape from them either wiser or better By meanes whereof saith hée thou hast not only wrought greate iniurie to thy sonne but also to the common wealth Susceperas enim liberos non solum tibi sed etiam patriae For thou hast begot children not only for thy selfe but also for thy countrie Which should not only bée to thy selfe a ioy and pleasure but also profitable and commodious afterwarde vnto the common wealth And thou oughtest to instruct and traine them vp in the knowledge and vnderstanding of graue and waightie matters as the quiet gouernment of people in publike assemblies of Ciuile gouernment in Cities Townes and other affaires of the common wealth that loue and neighbored might bée mainteined and not after their owne lewde lustes and wantonnesse and licentious libertie Thus muche of Cicero to Verres touching his sonne A very Christian saying of an Heathen man and meete for all men to bée set on the outwarde postes of their doores in their bed Chambers and closets or rather after the maner of the Hebrewes that all fathers and mothers should haue them on their philacteries skirtes of their vestures and to bée written in golden letters Theophilus I doe not so much maruel that such corrupters of youth were found amongst the Heathen which liued without the light of the Gospel and true knowledge of God but that this chaunceth very often amongest those men which boast themselues to bee good and perfect Christians this is much rather to bee maruelled at and by no meanes to bee suffered At this day as it is manifest to all men our children are brought vp with such libertie and boldnes that a man cannot sufficiently bewaile the same with abundance of teares heere is no shame heere is no reuerence no regard of duetie parents vtterly spoyle their children with cockering and wantonnesse and seekes to refraine them with no feare or correction Mothers take no regarde no care of their daughters but winke at their faultes suffer them to rome abrode seeke their amendment by no milde nor moderate correction neither doe they perswade them vnto sobrietie mildnesse nor modestie with their wholesome admonitions and motherly counsels Wee haue greater care and will take more paines a great deale about any thing els then about the godly education of our children I am perswaded that God is greatly offended with vs euen for this one fault that wee deale so negligently with our children and cast the raines of al libertie and loosenesse into their owne necks after this maner For as wee woulde haue them proue when they shal bee men and women so muste wee deale with them and instruct them in their greene and tender yeeres So that whereas many things fall out amongest vs christians so vntowardly and peruersly touching the disobediēce of our youth nowe adayes I iudge one chiefe cause to come growe and proceede from this that there are so few which take such paines and diligent care as they ought to doe for their godly and vertuous training vp And albeit better is to bee hoped for yet certainely this is still to bee expected and looked for from Children that they wyll growe worse
bée denoured the which falsly accused Daniel the man of God together with all their wiues and young children Roboam the sonne of Solomon destroyed the greatest part of his kingdome and that for the Idolatrie of his father because hée had forsaken the waies of the Lorde King Achab committed a horrible sinne before the Lord but beléeued the words of Elias the Prophet obeied them did repent him and humbled himselfe before God and because he hath obeyed and humbled himselfe for my sake Non inducam malum in diebus eius sed in diebus â—ilii sui infera 〈…〉 malum domui eius aâ—t Dominus I will not bring a plague in his dayes but in the dayes of his sonne will I bryng a plague vpon his house saith the Lorde God Héere we sée manifestly that children do suffer gréeuous plagues for the offences of their Parents as also Moses witnesseth in another place saying But if thou wilt not heare the voice of the Lord that thou mayest kéepe and doe all his commaundements c. Maledictus fructus ventris tui fructus terrae tuae Cursed bee the fruite of thy body and the fruite of thy earth And that these thinges bée most true dayly examples doe approue and confirme the same for wée sée at this day in many places worthie families and noble stockes and kindreds miserably decayed nay rather vtterly defaced and consumed and almost worne out of all remembrance And that for none other cause then for that parents through their gréeuous sinne and wickednesse haue stirred and prouoked the Lorde God vnto wrath Wherefore these and suche like fearefull examples ought not onely earnestly to excite and stirre vs vp vnto the feare of God but also with good cause ought to vrge and compel vs vnto lamentable teares and continuall prayers that euery one of vs might duely gouerne our families and faithfully walke in our vocation and calling least wée doe throwe our children than whom nothing ought to bée more belooued and deare vnto vs into suche miserable and horrible calamities For if parents shall bée vertuous and godly hauyng this feare alalwayes before their eyes and shall learne to settle stay and repose their whole truste and confidence in the only Almightie GOD Father of our Lorde Iesus Christe they shall not only obteine and get his blessing vnto themselues but also for the moste parte to their whole posterities Beholde nowe how good and howe high and great a treasure it is to bée borne of good and Godly Parents and on the contrary part how great and miserable a plague it is to be borne and brought vp of wicked and vngodly parents Therefore those Parentes which diligently and with their whole hearte doe bende themselues vnto this onething that they serue GOD and walke in his Commaundements shall not only prouide wel for theÌ„â—elues but also for their whole posteritie as witnesseth Moses Exodus 20. And this maner of prouiding is much more auaileable than if they could gather together and leaue them the riches and wealth of Craessus Magna est enim eorum insania qui liberis malè institutis portentosas opes coaceruant quibus ad libidinem propriam perniciem vtuntur For it is exceeding madnesse in those Parents which for their children rudely brought vp doe heape together great wealth with strouting bagges of money which they lashe out spende and consume verye quickly in riotous and â—asciuious maner to their owne shame ouerthrowe and vtter destruction Theophilus Togather and scrape together and to leaue great riches and abundance of wealth vnto children which haue no good vertuous bringing vp doe you say it is a kinde of madnesse without all question if this be to bee madde then very many not of the common people only but of the worshipfull and noble men which seeme in their owne iugdement both learned and wise are in deed very madde But my good Theodidactus doe you not thinke it meete and conuenient to leaue vnto our children though not exceeding great wealth yet at the least some measurable stocke and portion Theodidactus I doe not so much detest neither doe I iudge it a thing méete to bée reproued or misliked to leaue a measurable portion either of money landes or goods that is to say so much as may well suffice and serue for the vertuous godly trayning vp and instucting of their children But if any man desire to followe the best and most absolute order of prouiding for their children let him receiue and take it from him which is the fountaine of all goodnesse paternitie and fatherlinesse that is to say our heauenly father whose care is infinite towards the fatherlesse and widowe Theophilus Our heauenly Father as he is the wisest so without all doubt he ha 〈…〉 the very best methode and order of prouiding for his children by which hee alwayes sheweth him selfe most willing to prouide for his all things necessary which who so wil not followe must needes shew himselfe most foolishe and I iudge it very profitable and necessary that you shewe the same and make it plaine vnto all fathers of families and maisters of householdes wherefore I pray you let it not greeue you to declare vnto vs this order and care of our heauenly father Theodidactus I will shewe you but it is altogether contrary to the order and manner of this worlde For that moste wyse Kyng Solomon prayed after this maner saying O Lorde giue mée neither pouertie nor riches onely graunt mée a necessary liuing least if I bée too full I deny thée and say who is the Lordeâ— And least I being constrained through pouerty fal vnto stealing so forswere the name of my God Heere wée sée hée only desired a necessary liuing and despised the abundance of riches being a mightie Prince But what doe they which now adayes hoorde vp and heape together great stoare of wealth for their children without ceassing Doe they loue them well thinke you And doeth not the Almightie God loue his And cannot hée giue them abundance of riches at his pleasure And wherefore doeth hée it not Because hée loueth them and knoweth that riches would bée their destruction So hée giueth to some and holdeth from other some as séemeth good to his wisdome Therefore let vs followe that order of prouiding for our children which our heauenly father vseth towards his as the very best and most absolute order Theophilus If wee followe this order of our heauenly Father as it is very meet wee shoulde then wee shall gather together either no riches at al or els surely very meane poore and simple Theodidactus Among the auncient Fathers I finde such as haue greatly detested and abhorred the madnesse of those which haue studied to leaue great abundance of riches and wealth vnto their children and posterities And some among the Heathen Philosophers that haue derided and contemned such fathers which I purpose to proue here first by the
follies and mother of all other mischiefes And in stéede of this outwarde beautie and garishe gaudinesse garnishe them with the inwarde vertues and beautie of the minde as wisedome shame fastnesse modestie sobernesse silence and chastitie which things shall sooner preferre them vnto a wise man in the way of marriage then any other dowrie And instructing them after this maner you shall not only preserue them but also their husbandes when tyme shall permit from many inconueniences which otherwise on them might befall Theophilus My good Theodidactus here would I be glad to heare of you some examples of godly matrones by the which mothers might be more diligently admonished that they slacke not their duetie at any time but that they may the more diligently care for their children and families by their good examples Theodidactus There bée many examples of Godly matrones by the which mothers may not only bée exhorted but also excited and stirred vp to the better perfourmance of their dueties For what mother wil bée so hard hearted vnnaturall and vncourteous that will not bée moued with this one and that so godly an example of Monica the mother of Augustine which with what painefull labours what excéeding cares what great diligence and watchfulnesse what ardent prayers and almost coutinuall teares did shée draw forward Augustine her sonne vnto the true religion faith in Iesus Christe who shall not easily perceiue and sée ex liberis confessionum For hée writeth of himselfe in his 3. booke after this maner Et misisti manum tuam ex alto de profunda caligne eruisti animam meam quum ploraret ad te mater mea fidelis tua amplius quà m flent matres corporea funera c. And thou O Lord diddest send downe thine hand from heauen and diddest deliuer my soule from vtter darknesse when my mother thy faithfull seruant wept and lamented vnto thee more then mothers commonly vse to weepe lament and mourne for the corporal funerals of their dearely beloued children The examples also of the Heathen doe sometime mooue our mindes vnto vertue wherefore it shall not bée amisse for good Matrones and mothers of families to followe the example of Euridices who though shée were an Illyrian of the Barbarians and a woman wel stricken in yéeres yet to nurture and instruct her children in vertue and in the exercises maners qualities and behauiours best liked in what countrie she bestowed great studie care and diligence Moreouer when a certaine woman at Ephesus named Ionica made great vaunt and boast of a péece of cloth of Arras that shée had made and had wrought the same with Images very curiously and set it out point deuice with diuers costly colours as a thing moste precious in token of her greate huswifery One Lacena by and by brought soorth her foure Sonnes which shée had with her owne breastes nourished and after with great paines care and diligence instructed in vertue and all other honest qualities and séemely behauiour moste decent and agréeable for such toward youthes In these and suche like exercises saith she ought an honest vertuous matrone mother of family to reioyce and vaunt her selfe and not in the fine curious clothes and costly robes of the Ephesians Cornelia the mother of Gracchus when Campana that gallant dame soiourned at her house and shewed vnto Cornelia her riche array Iewels and costly garments than the which there coulde bée no costlier worn at that time reproueth her after this maner When her children returned from the Schoole and behaued themselues in most humble and duetifull maner Then shée answered Campana glorying as shée did before that there coulde bée nothing more commendable precious or excellent in this worlde then children well nurtured and vertuously trayned vp and instructed froÌ„ their infancie and flouring yéeres about the which shée her selfe had bestowed greater paines industrie and diligence then about her owne outwarde garnishyng With these and suche like examples mothers beeing admonished ought to perswade themselues that they shall gaine more glory and greater renowm in the vertuous education good ordering and perfect instructing of their sonnes and daughters then in their gay garments curious counterpointes and costly hangings where with they are wont to garnish and set foorth themselues and their houses in moste gorgeous and stately maner Theophilus There reâ—â—eth as yet one scruple or doubt which greatly troubleth my minde and not mine onely but also many others I doe see and know many parents both learned and godly which after they haue caused their children to bee both vertuously and godly taught and instructed in all kinde of discipline and good literature and that at their great cost and charges haue notwithstanding at the last so degenerated and brast out into such wicked maners detestable disobedience lewde lasciuiousnesse and horrible crimes that it hath procured great sorrowe and griefe vntoo their Parents and hastened their horeheades vnto the greedy graue Which when I see and consider in my minde I know not what to say thereunto nay scarcesly what to thinke I am so vexed and troubled Theodidactus There is no cause my Theophile why you shoulde bée so molested and troubled for these and suche like are to be committed vnto Gods diuine prouidence for that they excéede the reache and capacitie of our minds and are knowne to God onely Wherefore let wée these thinges passe neither let vs excéede the méetes limits and boundes appointed vnto vs of God in his moste sacred worde Theophilus You doe satisfie mee heerein very well but in the meane season such is mans fragilitie and weakenesse that it cannot containe it selfe â—â—â—â—t that it must needes wonder and maruell at these workes of God â—â—t what thinke you meete to bee done vnto those miserable Parents which wither and pine away in sorrowe and griefe of hearte ought they not to bee comforted Theodidactus Yes alwayes Theophilus How or by what meanes shal that bee done I pray you tel me Theodidactus They shall bée comforted nothing more effectualy nor more effectually than by the examples of the holy Patriarkes Prophets and other godly men For such is the ordinary course of the things in this worlde that not only with sluggish◠〈◊〉 and negligeÌ„t but chiefly with vigilant carefull and godly parents children are wont to degenerate grow out of all good order and become inoste vngracious wicked and abhominable And by how much their Parents are more noble of greater byrth and parentage then others by so much rather the fortune and euent of this calamitie and miserie is wont to chaunce vnto them Adam our first parent being formed and made by God himselfe and adourned with great maiestie had two sonnes Cain and Abell the which no doubt hee trained vp and instructed in all kinde of Pietie and Doctrine as their Sacrifices doe sufficiently witnesse Neuerthelesse the one proued so wicked and vngodly that hée slewe his brother Noe the
so old that they cannot flie abrode to get theyr pray to not onely feede and nourishe them but also carry them vpon their shoulders from place to place such affection ought wee to shewe to our Parents For if such and so wonderfull a naturall affection be in the bruite beastes and foules which want both iudgement and reason what naturall affection ought to bée in vs towards those creatures which be partakers both of iudgement and reason besides this created vnto the image of the liuing God Theophilus Nowe woulde I gladly heare of you what maner dueties of children are required towards their Parents which if children had alwaies printed before their eyes Parents should haue them a great deale more obedient heereafter for the ignorance of duetie hath been the distruction of many young men Theodidactus The chiefest care of children toward their parents is this that before all things they studie to loue them intirely for as witnesseth Plinie Amor optimus discendi magister Loue is the best maister to learne any thing For euery doctrine and teaching is much more easie translated and conneighed into the minde of the childe if hée loue his father wherefore I iudge and thinke it conuenient that children are to bée admonished that they loue their parents no lesse then their godly disciplines doctrines and chidings For suche godlinesse and pietie of children auaileth greatly to this purpose they will heare more willingly and giue credite to their wordes and will couet and desire to bée like them they will not take it in ill part to be corrected but they will reioyce to bée praysed they wyll acknowledge that it is their fathers dutie to teach and theirs to shew themselues willing to be taught Moreouer it shall bée the part and duetie of children to folowe the Godly precepts and counsels of their parents and let them thinke that nothing ought to be attempted without the expresse wil assent of their pareÌ„ts what soeuer they know shall please their parents y â— shal they do without delay And if they knowe what will displease them that shall they not goe about to attempt nor touch by any meanes if they séeme to bée too heard or vngentle vnto them yet shall they beare it with a lowly and willing mind Again if they can deferue to haue their friendship by any meanes they shal doe their best to the vttermost of their power If they shall fall into any gréeuous sicknes pouertie or extreeme olde age it shalbe the childrens duetie willingly to relieue and comfort them by all possible meanes To bee briefe if all things chaunce wâ—ll and luâ—â—ily vnto them the children shall reioyce with all their heartes Againe if they shall sée them vnfortunate then shall the children forrow no lesse then if it were their owne case and they ought to bée mooued with as great pitty and compassion as though this sicknesse griefe paine or punishment did apperteine only to them Cyprian saith Sicut in senibus sobrietas morum perfectio requiritur itam adolescentibus obsequium subiectio obedientia debetur As sobernesse and the perfection of maners is required in olde men So in young men ought there to be seruisablenes subiectioÌ„ obedience And Saint Ambrose sayth Honor adolescentum est timorem Dei habere parentibus deferre honorem habere senioribus c. The honor of young men is to haâ—e the feare of God to giue reâ—erence to their parents and to honor their elders to defend and keepe their chastitie to be humble gentle and shamefast which vertues are the very true ornaments to young age And the same S. Ambrose saith In sembus grauitas in iuuenibus alacritas in adolescentibus verecundia commendatur In old men grauitie in childhood cheerefulnesse in adolescencie shamefastnesse is to be commended Very excellently also doth Lodouicus Viues describe set foorth the dueties of young men saying Pius quisque iâ—uents nunquaÌ„ de se magnificè setiet sed moderatè demisse Euery godly young man will neuer iudge esteeme highly of himself but meanely and humbly For this cause let him indeuour y â— he garnish and adourne his minde with the deuice and imagination of honest things with knowledge and exercise of vertue for saith he Alioqui homo non est homo sedpecus Otherwise man is no man but a beast Let him be present at the diuine seruice and worde preached with great attention and reuerence and whatsoeuer hée heareth or séeth there hée shal estéeme it great wonderfull diuine and that which farre passeth and surmounteth his capacitie Hée shall commende himselfe very often to Christe in his prayers hée shall repose all his hope and confidence in him Hée shall shewe him selfe obedient to his Parentes hée shall serue them séeke to profite aide and succour them to the vttermost of his power Hee shall reuerence and loue the Magistrate euen as his Parent not of his bodie but that which is of greater value of his minde Hée shall reuerence the Priestes of the Lorde and the true Ministers and Preachers of Gods word and shall shewe him selfe a diligent hearer of their doctrine which represent and resemble vnto vs the person of the Apostles as also of God him selfe Hée shall giue place toolde men after a curteous maner giue diligent eare vnto them and that for their wisedome which they haue gotten by long experience and daily vse and practise Lastly hée shal looke out godly and honest men of the best wittes and greatest learning haue them in admiration reuerence them wish well vntoo them and desire friendship and familiaritie of them whereout they may gaine great profite Theophilus Although hether to there hath almost nothing beene spoken of you which may not be referred to the feminine sexe yet shal it not seeme vnprofitable if you adde hereunto some matter or doctrine which may seeme to appertaine to maydens only to the ende also they might bee the more stirred vp and put in remembraunce of their dueties especially when they are admonished expresly Theodidactus I will verie willingly take that paynes for these curteous and honest Damosels sakes and so much the rather for that I will drawe nothing here out of mine owne quiuer or store house but out of the Epistle of Saint Ierome vnto Leta will I faythfully recite the thinges which specially doe apperteine to this purpose wherefore prouide you in the meane time that Amusus daughters be here and shewe them selues attentiue lest wée shall séeme to declare such godly matter in vaine the which now followeth 1 After this manner is the soule to bée taught and instructed which shall be the Temple of God Let her learne to heare none other thing neither to speake any thing saieth Saint Ierome but that which may appertaine to the feare of God 2 Let her not heare nor vnderstand any filthie wordes nor mery ballades iestes nor rimes but let her young
But first attend and marke diligently what and how great a treasure a godly wife is the worthie praises wherof Solomon very excellently deseribeth after this maner saying Muler diligens corona est viro suo A louing wife is a crowne vnto her husband And againe Sapiens mulier oedificat domuÌ„ suam A wise womaÌ„ vp holdeth her house but a foolish woman plucketh it downe And in the 18. Chap. Qui inuenit mulierem bonam inuenit bonum Who so findeth a good wife findeth a high treasure And Iesus Syrach saith Noli discedere à muliere sensata bona quam sortitus es in timore domini Depart not thou from a good wise woman whom thou hast chosen in the feare of the Lorde And in the same Chapter hée saith Beatus qui habit at cum muliere sensata Happie is hee that dwelleth with a wise woman And againe Happy is the man that hath a vertuous wife for the number of his yéeres shalbe doubled An honest woman maketh her husband a ioyfull man shée shall fill the yéeres of his life in peace A vertuous woman is a noble gift which shalbe giuen for a good portioÌ„ vnto such as feare god for whether a man be rich nor poore hée may haue euer a merry heart and a chéerefull countenance A louing wife reioyseth her husband and féedeth his bones with her wisdome A woman of few wordes is a great gift of God and to all well nurtured mindes may nothing bée compared An honest and manerly wife is a gift aboue other giftes and there is nothing to bée compared vnto a minde that can rule it selfe Theophilus These bee notable prayses but where shall a man seeke for sucheâ— one Where shall shee bee found Of whom shall a man desire a wife adourned with suche excellent vertues For it is a birde seldome seene Theodidactus So soone now as a young man shall attaine to that age that hée begin to bethinke how to contract himselfe in matrimonie then let him not be ashamed to fall downe vpon his knées dayly and with feruent prayers and heartie supplications desire of Almighty God to send him a godly and vertuous wife for asmuch as shée is only the gift of God according to this saying Domus diuitiae dantur aparentibus adomino proprié vxor prudens House and riches may a man haue by the heritage of his parents but a wise and discret woman is the gift of the Lord. Theophilus What thinges are chiefly to be respected in marryinge a wife Theodidactus The Philosophers and auncient fathers whose authoritie aswell for their excellent doctrine as also for their great experience in things is not to bée reiected haue thought good that in choosing of a wife her age maners kindred fauour and riches ought to bée wayed and regarded which thinges if wée shall vtterly neglect and despise then shall wée purchase shame and reproch to our kindred and sorrow and repentance to our selues But if wée shal diligently obserue these former things then shall wée gaine prayse to our kindred our owne glory with perpetuall ioy and comfort But aboue all things the vertues of a woman are to bée respected whose force and dignitie is such that albeit the other things doe faile or doe not fully answere to her person yet shall the marriage bée acceptable and ioyfull therefore a sober and discrete wise is to bée chosen married and beloued whose frugalitie moderation and sobernesse is ioyned with honor profite and pleasure and that I might speake in a worde it is not the great dowry or many hundreds of pownds that maketh the happy wedlocke but vertue and true godlines towards God and men Theophilus What choyse ought chiefly to bee obserued in bestowing the daughters Theodidactus In placing and bestowing the daughters this choise ought to bée had that not onely the honestie of life externall goods garnishing and comelinesse is to bée considered but also the internall vertues and faith in God are to bee sought for For in the time of Saint Ambrose Parentes had great respect and regarde vnto this that they woulde not bestowe nor giue their daughters in marriage vnto infidels But the Bridegrome ready to bée married before the solemnizing of the marriage shoulde giue his name to Christ and set foorth and shewe a true confession of the Christian faith Woulde GOD this order were nowe obserued of all Parents in this our time for then shoulde they bestowe their Daughters muche better then they doe for the most as wee see the thing was obserued diligently among the Israelites Deuteronomi 7. Filiâ—s vestras ne detis Caneuaeis neque filias ipsorum accipietis filus vestris Giue not your daughters in marriage vnto the Cananites neither receiue you their daughters for your sonnes Theophilus At what age shall a man giue himselfe to a wife and when shall the maide marry Theodidactus Aristotle thinketh good that a maide bée married at xviii yéeres of age but hee affirmeth that a man may tarry till xxx very well But shée that will prooue a good wife is for the most parte indued with these thrée vertues shée will honor esteeme and obey both father and mother with great reuerence and lowlinesse of mind she wil loue cherish and make much of infants shée can sing wel and swéetely Philelphus saith When a man goeth about to woe his wife Let him first very warily and diligently séeke to vnderstande of the life fame and good report of her mother and of such fréendes as haue had the education and trayning vp of her with whom hée purposeth to marry And if all things fall out and bée answerable to his desire then in Gods name let him not feare to take to wife the daughter of an honest and godly mother Nor let him marry her only for necessitie sake but for the cause of a more commodious ioyfull life to come with whoÌ„ an acceptable societie of life must now begin not for the fulfilling of lust but for the propagation and increase of children And Aristotle saith Let him marry a maid to the end hée may teach her good maners and such other dueties as are most beséeming and decent for a wife for shée wil also be more tractable then a widdow whe rather will looke to bee obeied aswel for that shée hath béen before acquainted with loue matters as also bicause for the most part they bring greater wealth vnto their husbands then the maides doe And if you woulde now demaunde of mée what maner of wife is to bée married I say it is very méete and conuenient that you matche not your sonnes with such wiues as bée more Noble and of greater birth or richer than they But rather followe that olde and wise Prouerbe Equalem tibi mulierem inquire Search out a woman that is thine equall And as the Poet saith Si vis nubere nube pari If thou wilt needes marry then marry thy matche For who