some boldly excercise of actiuitie or pollicie of warre But nowe sythe I perceaue my felfe by your wrytynge to be thus euyll accepted at so many dyscrete Gentlewomens handes and for so sundry faultes and impedimentes as by them is alleaged I am become vtterly desperate to obteyne in any like sutes hereafter and therfore do determine no more to attempte the same but rather yf I may chaunce to escape the hasarde and daunger of these warres to be professed an Armyre and to lyue alone in wyldernesse but yet for mine owne consolation in the meane tyme consyderyng that the thynge whiche can not be hadde ought wysely to be forborne I thought it good pollicie to perswade my selfe that theyr company is more comberous then comfortable and for that purpose dyd delyght to se and rede suche bookes as spake or treated any thynge to the dispreyse or blame of women wheras I founde wrytten aswell by sundry Phylosophers that knowe by learnynge and natural causes as also by other Sagies that wyste by practise and experience in maner and forme folowynge Fyrst one of them sayth that they are crafty conueyers of all maner shrewdnes and ignorant innocentes in all kynde of goodnes Another saythe Blame not all women though one haue offended Say well by the worst the best may be amended Another sayth Of that they may haue they set lyttle store And what they can not get they longe for euermore Another sayth Lybertie they couet to do what they wyl yet what they take in hand commenly they spyll Another sayth What they be desyred they vtterly refuse And what they ye denayed moste gredely wyll they vse Another sayth Abyde by them and they are sone cought But out of sight and out of thought Another sayth For to know diuers they alwayes loue Iudgynge hym to be best which they neuer dyd proue Another sayth They are discryuers of councels and fayners of fables Not reckynge who rolleth his dyce on theyr tables Another sayth Wery may they be but satisfied neuer Theyr box is inclosed in such a kynd of lether Whiche sayinges soundeth moste blyffull and comfortable to me and as I trust wyll shortly so crepe into my credence and temper my desyre towardes all women that I shall thynke the beste of them to be better lost then founde For surely all olde writers do thorowly agree as a very ground or principle not to be denayed or doubted of that the greatest felicitie and moste pleafaunt parte of matrymonie on the mans be halfe resteth onely in the woynge and intreatie of maryage wherof the Goddes be thanked I haue ryght largely had my part and yet was always refused which maketh me to thynke my selfe more happy then wise that vnder suche sorte inioyinge as it were the grayne and leauynge the chaffe I escaped the harme that so busely I sought for ¶ The seconde parte of the Epistle sente by Bawdyn Bacheler to Waltex Wedlocke The .xiii. Chapter LO Walter nowe may ye perceaue howe desyrous I haue byn and what meanes I haue made to marry For although by some parte of my wrytynge I semed to reproue or scorne suche as I was suter vnto yet for trothe I mente to entreate or flatter them consyderynge that women wyll often tymes accept thynges cleane contrary and therfore I thought besi to proue both ways but al wold not auayle me for I was styll refused which brought me into suche a perplexitis and pensyuenes of mynde that I was well nere faulne into a consumption by playne dispayre and malyncoly accumpting my selfe the moste vnfortunate of all men thus to lose with much traueyle what commonly other folkes get with ease and to lament the lesynge of that other men repent the wynnynge But such is the frowardnes of Fortune that to comber all men disposeth peruerdy all thynges as a wyfe to him that lacketh skyll howe to guyde her and none at all to the doctours of that scyence Yet at length searching for mine owne case howe best to quyet my selfe I dyd consider howe God myndeth to furnyshe heauen aswell of wyrgyns as of martyrs and other saynctes iudgynge that he intendeth to reserue me in this estate onely for that purpose wherby to incrense my felicitie in the worlde to come For I remember where as Paule doth but barely alowe matrimonie he commendeth virginite and therefore for mine owne parte syth this is mine appointed talent I am contented to slande thereto and frome hence forthe wyll seke for no change The moste that greueth me is that wedded men can not now learne at my hand as I entended they shulde do for doubtlesse the mystery of that doctrine can neyther be disclosed nor perceaued by wordes or wryetynge so well as it may by syght of the doinge lyke vnto the common experience of holdynge the ploughe which is not so sone lerned by reporce as by seynge the thynge done But yet sythen that nowe it maye be none otherwyse I wyl therein wryte partly mine opinion trustynge that it shall take some effecte although not so much as I intended yf my sute for maryage had taken place There is a common opinion and in dede experience oftentymes approuethe the same that the thynge whiche is not well come by prospereth not with the owner I meane to this effecte men commonly nowe a dayes come not by theyr wyues as they ought to do whiche causeth them to agree the worse when they be together For wher as they shulde marry for affection to the wo man and in hope of chyldren to be broughe vp in the feare and honour of God surely Walter the more parte of your secte neglectynge all both doth make of marryage as it were a for huntynge which as you knowe is not medled withall but when the case is somwhat worth And then the hunter after knowlege had where the game is besetteth the couert with hewers to course at aduanâ—â—ge yf he maye preuentynge before hando vpon diligente inquyry made what tochet or borowe it vseth to resorte vnto as his chefe refuge and there at thentry taketh it with a pursenet when it thinketh to be most out of daunger and so beinge with muche crafty pollycie and trauell gotten is caryed home with gladnes by common presumption to playne meanyng people for loue of the fleshe but contrarywyse within a very short whyle the case is pulled of and the carcas not estemed And euen so it is of these gredy men that marryeth for the loue of ryches without respect to the woman or her qualities who not only suborneth her familiers for money in stede of hewers to be playne lyers exaltynge the suter about all other men in such quallities or habilitie as they shall perceane the simple woman moste to delyte or otherwyse perswadeth her vnder collour of religion as in safegarde of the dissemblers lyfe that els wolde dye for loue wher as in dede he neuer loued other then her lyuynge but moreouer preuenteth her at such handes as she is most lykely
but rather scoffyngly to retreate and dishonestly make theyr aduaunte of that they myght haue had The diuersitie and dispositions of which persons it shal be necessary for you to endeuer your selfe with all the sleyghtes and pollicie that possible ye maye deuyse to perceaue and knowe and thereafter to giue them enterteynement and answere For as to any of the fyrst sort a sodayne refuse is death without redemption and therfore vnto such you may not gyue the repulse at fyrste but rather with an answere of double vnderstandyng by lyttle and lyttle quayle theyr hope of spede Or otherwyse by counterfaytinge your selfe to be fro warde or entangled with some other euyll tatche to make them thinke you better lost then founde so that they maye rather seme to gyue ouer then to be refused But as for the seconde meyny whereof God wote there are so many ye can not vse them to euyll For surely vnto suche wretches the very torment and payne of hel so that the poore soule were saued is scarsly sufficient punishement And therfore besides an vtter nay at the fyrst to shewe them as much sullayne strangenesse as ye can deuise whereby the rather to brynge them in dispayre of spede shal be but wel done Respect yet somewhat to be had that ye seme not to take vnthankefully that whiche is offered vnder a frendly pretence and beware that in such case ye gyue no credyte to any creature that speaketh in theyr fauoure or furtheraunce For no doubt it is often sene that such sutes grounded on couertise be so compassed with golde and gyftes that manye tymes one frende selleth another whereby bothe the byer and seller are geytners But woe may be the poore wyfe that payeth for all and yet is neuer the rather maryed for in such case the goodes be maryed and not the woman and as we may se by experience eyther of them cheryshed and set by accordyngly But nowe to the thyrde sort of suters these eluyshe dissemblers that I spake of before when ye haue a lyttle denyed them whiche I wolde wyshe were doone vnder a mylde indifferente sorte onely to eschewe that ye minister them none occasion to boast of any thynge graunted and not to brynge them in vtter dispayre of spede wherby to gyue ouer theyr sute and lese no more but theyr laboure ▪ For that were to lyttle penaunce and therefore ye muste in suche case when ye haue sayde them nay counteruayle your worde with a louynge lyppe or frendly eye as though not perceauynge theyr dissimulation ye ment them muche better then ye spake and therwithall to encrease theyr affection ye must enterteyne them with port and fashyon as ye shall thynke most to theyr contentation which neuerthelesse muste be done with suche demure simplicitie as it seme not to passe the bowndes of womanhed and honest estimatiō and vnder so good awayte that ye seme not in the same presence to shewe the lyke grace and familiaritie to any other assayinge by suche meanes to make of such counterfeytes ryght venerians and then smylynge at theyr smarte scornefully to gyue thē ouer on my fayth I thinke in conscience were none offence at al. I wryte you these thinges as a warning that ye recompence not the fayner with the faythfulles rewarde nor marry away your lyuynge and remayne wydowe your selfe for feare of repentaunce as in dayes paste and not thynkynge thereby the rather to allure you although I be one of the first sort to shewe me any grace or fauour Yet neuerthelesse if any such good chaunce happen me being for truth in my behalfe not loked for and yet much trusted vpon I assure you ye shall gratifie your selfe with suche a good turne as vpon the profe ye wyll be sory to haue so longe tyme forborne and so fare ye well ¶ Here Bawdyn wryteth to a certeyne Gentlewoman that was daungerous to be sene or spoken withall by her suters The seuenth Chapter MYstres B. after my harty commendations whereas ye vse to absente your selfe and wyll not be spoken withall at suche tyme as I and other good felowes come to treate with you vppon maryage I can do no lesse for good mynde that I beare you but to wyshe that ye wolde leaue suche demeanoure For I assure you there are many men that gather euyl opinion therof and thinke the cause to be that doubtynge your selfe to go with chylde ye abashe to be sene in any presence of skilfull iudgement How be it as for my parte on my fayth I suspect no such thinge but recken surely that ye do it onely of entent thereby to auoyde suters whose presence and wordes myght els happen to win you vnto wedding by the which ye shulde leaue your chast wyddowyshe lyfe and lese the merite that in heauen is for the same ordeyned Howe be it and if your meanynge be none other then so then sithe ye are so well assured in refusynge of suche requestes as before this I haue harde you bere in hande better were in my mynd that ye common therof with as many as lyst sue vnto you for the more temptacion ye withstande the greater shal be your mede And yet bicause my lernyng in scripture doth not extende to discusse what blysfull rewarde may be due for such vnnaturall and frutles penaunce the best and surest way for you in my iudgemente were to accepte suche one of your suters to your husbande or familiar frende as ye may thynke loueth you moste hartely and in no wyse to refuse them all least hereafter ye repent as other haue done For what merite God gyueth to the chaste sowles I knowe not but it is very certeine that the Goddesse Venus punisheth ryght sharpely the bodyes that are repugnaunt to her louynge lawes as partely doth apeare by the hystories folowyng which I tel you are not fayned but wrytten by good aucthoritie in the boke of Cupides sayntes and be thus There was sometyme a knyght named Permalides that loued most hartely the Lady Agglarose who for no sute that possible myght be made wolde ascent to his desyre The importunate sorowes whereof shulde shortely haue ended his wofull lyfe dayes hadde not bin the greate mercy of Venus who by playne miracle pyteinge to se her faythfull seruaunt so tormented with the crueltie of a mercilesse Lady made an exchaunge of both theyr desyres so that this Lady loued this knyght aboue al creatures and he to the contrary hated her beyonde al reason whereupon when she had longe time folowed him with many lamentable and piteous complayntes requyrynge his fauoure and myght not obteyne dyed euen of loue Lo thus ye maye se Venus can wounde her disobediēt subiects with their owne wepon There was also before this one Narcissus of suche bewtie and semelines that dyuers women came out of farre countreys onely to beholde hym wherof many peryshed by his defaulte for he wolde in no wyse encline to loue whiche caused Venus to take displeasure and to punyshe hym as
⧠A lyttle treatyse called the Image of Idlenesse conteynynge certeyne matters moued betwene Walter wedlocke and Bawdin Bacheler Trāslated out of the Troyane or Cornyshe tounge into Englyshe by Olyuer Old wanton and dedicated to the Lady Lust The Table of this present boke THe preface of the translatour Capi. i. The fyrst part of a certeyne Epistle sent by Bawdyn Bacheler to Walter Wedlocke wherin doth apeare the grounde that caused the settynge forth of this treatyse ▪ Capitulo .ii. ¶ Bawdyn Bacheler beinge suter to a certeyne Gentylwoman for maryage wryteth to a frende of hers for to haue his helpe and furtheraunce in the matter Capi. iii. ¶ Wheras Bawdin had bin suter to a certeyne Gentylwoman for maryage and was in good hope to obteyne he receaued knowledge to the contrary by letter from a gentleman that hadde byn partely a meanes for hym and therupon wrote backe to the said Gentleman as foloweth Capi. iiii ¶ Here Bawdyn wryteth to the Gentlewoman mencioned in the last letter Ca. v. ¶ Where as a certeyne Gentlewoman bare in hande that she was determyned neuer to mary and was neuerthelesse lykely to be much sued vnto for maryage here Bawdyn informeth her by his letter vnder what sort she were beste to vse and gyue ouer her suters Capitulo .vi. ¶ Here Bawdyn wryteth to a certeyne gentlewoman that was daungerous to be sene or spoken withal by such as came to sue vn to her for maryage Capi. vii ¶ Here Bawdyn wrytethe to a certeyne Gentlewoman at whose handes he had bin disdeynefully refused vppon treatye of maryage Capitulo .viii. ¶ Here Bawdyn wryting to a certeyne gentleman his frende amonge other thynges bewayleth hym selfe of his euyll speede in wooynge and treaty of maryage Capi. ix ¶ Where as Bawdyn serued in Garryson and had compounded with a certeyne gentleman his frende to repayre thyther at all tymes of daunger the same being so streyghted in a tyme of commotion that he was forced for his safegard to take another howlde where as were many Gentlewomen whiche furnyture the other greattly wanted Here Bawdyn maketh hym ryquest to haue some fruition of that commoditie Capitulo .x. ¶ The aunswere made to the sayde letter Capitulo .xi. ¶ Here Bawdyn replyeth to the foresayde answere and percuing his continual euyll spede doth determyne to gyue ouer all such kynde of sutes Capi. xii ¶ The seconde parte of the Epystle sent by Bawdyn Bacheler to Walter Wedlocke Capitulo .xiii. ¶ Here Bawdyn to proue that women are neuer so much addyet or bent to theyr owne wyll and opynyon but that by wysedome and good pollycy they may easely be broken therof sheweth a lyuely example of late experience Capi. xiiii ¶ The thyrde and last parte of the Epystle sent by Bawdyn Bacheler to Walter Wedlocke Capitulo .xv. ¶ Here endeth the Table ¶ The preface of the translatour Capitulo primo ¶ To the ryght honorable and his especiall good Lady the lady Lust of Pawesforde Olyuer Oldwanton your Ladyships bondeman wyssheth a ioyfull lyfe and contynuall felicitie GAllynge to mynde the oppinion of Aristippus a certeyne Philosopher of thepicuriens secte who by profounde argumentes and sundry authorities vsed to maynteyne that it was lawefull for man and woman at vacante tymes to exercise them selues with kyssinge and imbrasynge together with the suites and cerymonies thereunto belongynge rather then to syt styll and be idle The same my ioly good Lady hath caused me so greatly to detest the wicked vice of Idlenes that in eschewynge therof I haue had sundry deuyses howe I myght most conueniently be occupyed and thereupon fyndynge my selfe more apte then able for thexcercise aforesayde And moreouer aswell ignoraunte in euery crafte and facultie of bodely labour as destitute both of lernynge and knowledge wherby to inuente or set forthe any worthy matter of newe I determined at length bicause I haue vnderstandynge in sundrye tounges to take vpon me the translation of some worke into Englyshe and for that purpose perusing a numbre of bookes I chaunced to fynde a lyttle queare intiteled the Image of Idlenesse wrytten many yeres past in the Troyane or Cornyshe speache beinge the mother tounge of this noble Realme then called Bryttayne which made me the more wyllynge to take the same in hande thynkynge that it myght drawe ageyne to memory the valyaunt people of Troy wherof for my parte be it spoken without aduante I am one of the worthy ofspringe But then came to my remembraunce the wordes of Plato who sayth that man lyueth not chiefely for hym selfe but rather for his contrey meanyng that we shulde not apply our trauel or study to our priuate plesure or commoditie but rather to thaduauncement of our common wealth which this purpose semed not to concerne and therefore myght chaunce by some mens opynion ought not to be traueyled on Yet neuerthelesse lyke as commonly most men be not sone perswaded to gyue ouer the thinge that they are affectionated vnto vppon any surmyse or report that the doinge therof shulde stande ageynst the rule of good order But rather to iustifie theyr cause wyll serche for some colourable argument to proue that the same maye stande within the compase of order Euen so I beinge bent to this translation with the helpe of my wyttes which in this case fauoured my wil haue vnder such sort wrested common reason that in mine opinion being inoughe as I suppose for the discharge of myne owne conscience the doynge thereof may well inough stande with the precept of Plato If not indirectely yet at the leaste way by a meanes which I proue as thus To be a studient of the lawes a councellour or a minister in the common welth is well alowed with Plato and then to encorage or assist such person in his studye or ministration must nedes be of lyke effecte And that in my mynde shal be accomplysshed in this worke For it is apparant vnto vs that secious and sadde studye which perteyneth to the gouernaunce and ministration in a comcom wealth is so contrary to most mens nature that if the mynd be not recreated with some pleasaunt matter the wyttes wyl sone appalle and the lyuely spirites waxe feble or dull And therefore it semeth that as it is necessarie to haue studentes councellers and ministers in a common wealth Euen as necessary it is that some men shulde trauell to set forth such matter as may reuiue theyr spirites beynge mortyfyed by contynuall graue studye which otherwyse as accloyed and werye shulde of force be dryuen by vnaptnes to cease in theyr study or ministration and surely Madame the iniquitie of tyme is nowe suche that the verye graueste and moste wyse sorte of men yea and euen they which haue ministration in the common wealth wyll sometyme soonest laughe and reioyce to here and rede euyll of women yet not as thoughe beinge euyll marched theym selues they shulde seme gladde to perceaue other men in lyke case as yf the euyll were as common
lerned men haue so longe time contended vpon Doubtlesse Walter I do marueyle muche what hath moued you to charge me with so great an iniquitie as that I shulde dispraise the blessed Sacrament of matrimonye being instituted by God hym selfe the very ground and somme of al goodnes yea and that is of suche perfection that if any mortal man had inuented the same he shuld thereby haue worthely deserued immortall prayse and fame the groundes therof are so commendable and necessary Nor surely I neuer hadde other then very good and reuerent opinion of it in all my lyfe and yet in dede Walter I dayly se and haue sayd that wedded men for the more parte haue alway woful and cumbrous lyues vpon groundes and occation ministred by theyr wynes But for very trothe by the defaulte and neglygence of them selues that commonly lacketh eyther grace or discretion to order and vse theyr wyues as they shuld do Which neuer thelesse is not to be marueyled at for surely the ryght feate therof is a secrete that God reueleth not to all men left then they shulde lyue in such continuall pleasauntnesse and felicitie that they wolde neuer wyllyngly departe this lyfe whiche by thopinion of the Vtopyans is a great suspecte of perdicion but as for me in dede I haue the gyft therof And therfore I ensure you haue bin very desyrous to mary Yet not so muche for mine owne commoditie as for that I wold gyue other men example how to vse and gouerne theyr wyues in the ryght sort wherby to expell the inconuenience that I perceaue doth ensue by the contrarye but my chaunce hath not bin to obteyne For the deuyll uyll to ēmpesshe so good a purpose of quietnes in the worlde by one meanes or other hath alwayes hyndred my suite whiche is the very cause that I am so longe tyme vnmaryed and for no such errour or euyll opinion as ye haue vntruly surmysed of me for the more playne declaration whereof I haue herewithall sent you a note or copye of such letters as with careful hart I wrote before this vnto dyuers to entreate for my selfe vppon maryage whiche when ye haue perused then wyll I declare vnto you further of my mynde in this behalfe ¶ Here Bawdyn Bacheler beinge fuset t◠a certeyne Gentlewoman for maryage wryteth to a frende of hers for to haue his helpe and furtheraunce therein The thyrde Chapter AFter my very harty commendation ye shall vnderstande that partly for mine owne comforte and commoditie knowynge by sundry meanes what ioyes and felicitie there maye be in maryage and partely moued of compassion perceauynge a number of men ignorantly abusynge them selues in orderynge of theyr wyues whiche by my good ensample myght be reformed lyue in miserie and great vnquietnesse I am vtterly determined with all spede to be a maried man but yet not myndynge to bestowe my selfe so vnaduisedly for any haste as to choose a wyfe for couetise of goodes or land whereas my harte wyll not serue me to loue and fauour the person nor for dotyng loue or fauour where as there is not some conuenient abilitie in substaunce towarde suche charges as foloweth maryage nother yet for both where as the age shall much dyffer from mine owne Whiche thynges circumspectly consydered I iudge them all accordynge to my hartes desyre with a number of good conditions to be ioyned together in mystres B. your kynswoman to whome of late I haue bin suter in that behalfe and do perceaue by sundry meanes that she wyl folowe your aduyce Wherfore syr I shal very hartely desyre you to haue your helpe and furtheraunce therin Whiche to recompence yf my sute take place I dare be bolde to promyse you a thousande thankes of her part for the spedynge of her to so good a husbande as by my demeanoure towardes her I entende to shewe my selfe And yet for all that I haue such dispayre and mistructe in the matter that do the best ye can I wyl wage with you forty pounde that I get her not and on my fidelitie pay you truly yf I lese I learned this wager of a crafty priest that by such meanes with losynge of a lyttle money wan a good bynefice Lyke as for my parte I trust in this case to lese and yet be a geyner as knowethe the maker of matrimonie whom I wolde gladly had somwhat enterlased the pleasaunce therof with some coller or bytternesse for feare lest the continuall case and quietnesse that I shall fynde therin shulde happen to cause me desist and forget to wyshe and worke for heauen c. ⧠Wheras Bawdyn had byn suter to a certeyne Gentlewoman for maryage and was in good hope to obteyne he receaued knowledge to the contrary by letter from a Gentleman that hadde partly bin a meane for hym therupon wrote backe as foloweth The fourth Chapter AFter my ryght harty commendations ye shall vnderstande that I haue receaued your letter conteynynge a determinate nay in my sute to the Gentlewoman ye wote of whiche with a forced pacience I am contented to accepte accordyngely And in perswadyng my selfe the easelyer to bere the same do consider that and if my desyre had byn graunted the one of vs shulde of necessitie beinge borne so farre a sunder haue bin constrayned to abandon and forsake our countrey and kynrede whereby myght ensue to vs both more vnquietnesse then any commoditie therof growynge wolde be able to counteruayle With this and lyke coniectures I am nowe faine to feade my phantasie of entent to make lyght what lyeth at my hart moste heauye The deuyll I thynke for despyte caused me nowe contrarye to my common wont to tender such sute so earnestly other els God hath appoynted it as my penaunce for that I haue oftentymes treated much of lyke matter whereas in harte I mente nothyng lesse which requireth by consequence of equitie to mynd much and be lyttle regarded ▪ as nowe it foloweth And yet to accumpt indifferently me thinketh I can not well ascrybe it to neyther of them both but all wholy to my selfe that entendynge by pollycie to expel as it were a smarte haue conceaued a continuall ache As thus lamentynge the losse of my verye frende hee late husbande whiche to my harte was 〈◊〉 lesse sorowful then yf mine owne lyfe shuld immediatly haue folowed I thought that yet yf I myght get some commoditie by his death that dyrynge his lyfe tyme coulde not be obteyned the comforte of the one wolde so quallifie the griefe of the other that it shulde the more easely and sooner be disgested And thereupon dyd consyder that the moste soueraygne iewell in this worlde which many men mysseth is to haue a wife of commendable qualities and conuersation Wherof she as I had knowen by the report of hym whose iudgement beinge grounded on experience was not to be doubted dyd appeare to be one And therfore to recoue◠her as my recompence was the original and onely cause of my sute at the
fyrst vnto her Whiche sythens by circumstaunces dyd encrease to such presuÌ„pcion of spede in mine opinion that I accompted her as obteined And therewithall pacyfyenge my former torment as counterpoysed with the same dyd reuyue my mortyfyed spirites with the blossomes wherof fewe men fyndeth the fruite accepted her in harte none other but as a member or parcell of my selfe Which nowe beinge concluded contrary can to me be no lesse peynefull then the losse of mine hands or any other lymme of mine owne body the langour wherof is incredible to be wrytten Thus doth it nowe apeare what it is to contende ageynst the deuine purueyaunce as in murmurynge ageynste the hande of Godde whiche we lyttle knowe for what well or wo it is mente to go aboute the alteration therof by worldely pollicie whiche for the more parte turneth to our owne harme As ensample by my selfe that entended to anoyde the smarte that I haue doubled Wherefore from henceforth my councell and practise shal be in felicitie not to presume nor in aduersitie to dispayze neyther yet to employ our wyttes for to seke the alteration of neyther but with humble spirite suffer the gouernour to proceade trustynge all to be for the best as in dede for my parte nowe in this extremitie and peruersenesse of fortune I fynd the same by experience for by the myssynge of my mynde mine affection is altered into meditacion whereby I do consider both his power and mine owne wekenesse more then before tyme I dyd And therewithall as the best thynge that I may perceaue to haue obteyned by this my sute and enterpryse I satyffie my selfe not thinkynge my trauell and good wyll to be spent all in vayne c. Of Idlenesse ¶ Here Bawdyn wryteth to the Gentlewoman mencioned of in the last letter The fyfth Chapter Bycause I am loth to bestowe more kindnes on you then of your parte shall thankefully be accepted I haue me commended euen as hartely and as often as best can content your mynde and none other wyse Lo nowe may ye perceaue what a profitable and louyng husbande ye myght haue of me if ye had bin happy for hereby doth apeare that I loue not to bestowe any thing in wast and yet the same notwithstanding to satisfye your phantasie can be contented to giue you libertie ouer the threasure of my harte to spende therof at your owne wyll and pleasure Further you shall vnderstande that I haue receaued your refuse concernynge my late sute vnto you whiche on the one paâ—te bicause it doth so much contraty my desyze ought not in reason to be a lyttle mine vnquietnes of mynd But yet on the other syde considerynge that suche is your wyll and pleasure whiche I haue alwayes determined to preferre and folowe a boue mine owne I can but accept it in good parte and be contented therewith and for the tyme wyl no more trouble you with any further request in that behalfe as in deede there is good cause why for as I vnderstande ye are alredy els where promysed wherof God sende you ioy And as for my parte if reason in me do not the rather subdue affection I entende to practise the common prouerbe which sayth that newe loue dryueth away olde sorowes But surely it shal be done all by protestation that ye fall not wydowe ageyne for and if ye do I wil ones more attempt you what so euer promyse shall happen to passe me in the meane tyme trustynge to spede neuer the worse at your handes though nowe for certeyne considerations I seme to take the missinge of your good mynde lyghter then inwardely I feele it Further concernynge my deare frende your notable late husbande lyke as it is not possible to recouer ageyne his body so were it iniury to suffer his deserued good fame peryshe For the preseruation wherof I haue here Sithall sent certeyne verses in maner of an Epytaph which I pray you cause to be grauen and fixed on his sepulture and thus hartely fare ye well ¶ The Epytaph Lewes lyeth here so fell his fatall houre Blethin surnamed of south wales the floure In knowledge of the lawe worthy eternal fame In wysedome and temperaunce coequall to the same With all good qualities shortly to conelude And honeste trade of lyfe moste plenteously endude Whom cruel death alas in his .xxxv. yeare Wastynge of this worlde hath layde alonge on beare Wayle his want Welchmen to rathe ebbed was his tyde God sende you many suche and lenger to abyde ¶ Where as a certeyne Gentlewoman bare in hande that she was determined neuer to mary and was neuerthelesse lykely to be muche sued vnto for maryage here Bawdyn informeth her by his letter vnder what sort she were beste to vse and gyue ouer her suters The syxt Chapter GOod mystres N. I commende me vnto you beinge ryght sory that I can not season my commendations with some hartinesse howe be it I assure you it is not lefte vndone for any lacke of good mynde but onely for that I am not as nowe master of mine owne harte and can therfore in nothynge vtter any perfecte hartinesse yet neuerthelesse yf it may do you any pleasure to haue my harty commendations ye maye be therin as it were your owne caruer For doubtlesse my harte is with you so that ye maye vse the office thereof euen as ye lyste your selfe And then hauinge the hart after suche sort it maye not be forborne but that the body must nedes be at your commaundement And if ye doubt the contrary on my behalfe I praye you commaunde me to do what lately ye denyed me of and then the trueth wyll apeare Further where as ye refuse to accept me in mariage yet not for any mislykinge as ye say but onely for that ye are vtterly determyned neuer to mary Surely I accompte my selfe more bounden vnto you for that gentle answere with your frendely enterteynemente besydes then I shulde be to some other for the grauntynge my whole request therfore if in any thyng I may do you seruice or pleasure ye shal be well assured therof And as a proofe or ernest peny of the same I wyll at this tyme be so bolde as somewhat to councell you concernynge such matter as I suppose ye haue presently moste nede to be well aduysed of which is syth as ye saye ye are determined neuer to mary somewhat to shewe you vnder what maner is shal be best for you to vse and giue ouer such as may happen to sue vnto you for mariage Which kynde of suters ye shall vnderstande are deuided in three sundry sortes The one sueth for loue of the person another for loue of her lyuynge and the thyrde are they that make of wooynge theyr pastyme or recreation practysynge by sutes at large done in sport howe to fashion them selues and place theyr wordes ageynst such tyme as they shall happen to be earnest suters in dede and not meanynge to marry although theyr request were graunted
to resort vnto for councell whiche crafty counceller although he minde to further the purpose yet wyll he not speke therein for doubte to be suspected of corruption but when she commeth to sike his aduyce he is then lyke a pursenet and knytteh vp the matter which sone after is repented For the good man regardynge none other but onely the thynge that he chefely sought which was the good and lande estemeth not the wyfe and then she fyndynge her selfe disceaued of the loue and good mynde that she loked for castethe to shorten his days by anger and displesure trustyng to spede better next And so maryages disorderly begon haue commonly combrous continuance and an euyll ende I make this lyttle dygression Walter to put you in remembraunce ageynst your next maryage if you come therto for surely by that ye surmyse that I haue an euyll opinion of maryage I suspecte that eyther you feele the same discommodities your selfe that you wolde gladly haue me to be in like case or els you are lyke to the greedy ryche man that is lothe to haue any poore neyghbours yet not for any charitie that is in hym but rather for feare least they wolde be borrowers What I meane hereby I doubt not ye knowe well inough And nowe to theffect of my promes which was to instruct you howe men myght lyue moste quyetely with theyr wyues You must fyrst vnderstande Walter that notwithstandynge â–ª all the euyll properties and shrew de tatches that euer were written of women yea or that is in them in very dede whiche for trewth is muche more then conueniently may be expressed yet are they not therefore to be blamed or founde faulte withall by reason the same is gyuen them euen of very nature whose gyftes beinge in maner forced of necessitie be they good or euyll deserue neyther prayse nor blame For sythe the tyme that the serpente tempted Adam and Eue in the similitude lykenes of a woman doubtlesse the fraude and mallyce of that spirite hathe alwayes bin most incident to the same sects maketh them naturally inclyned to dissimulation in constancy and frowardnes with a number of other vyces But what of that shuld we exclude them from our company as vnworthy or shulde we disdeynefully accept them accordynge to the common terme as euyll necessaries or shulde we beinge worst of al as mystrustyng that the Gods were not able to worke therein sufficientely them selues take on vs to alter them by arte As before this Virgyl whose presumption was preuented by death For he after such tyme as he hadde atchened many strange and defuse conclusions enterprysed to make glasse abyde the hammer determyuynge sone after to make all women constant in lone and conformable to the wyll and pleasues of theyr husbandes and al by arte magyke and sorcery nay nay gods forbyd And what then mary let vs consider that lyke as there is nothynge in earth so thorowly good but that to some purpose and after some sorte vsed it may be euyll That euen so there is nothynge of his owne nature so euyll but that to some purpose and after some sorte vsed it may be good and yet this hope we haue of women aboue all other thinges The great god hym selfe vpon the creation of Adam as apeareth in Genesis sayde let vs make man an helper and then made Eue of whom al other women are descended which proueth that being skylfully vsed they must nedes be helpynge and comfortable to man for God neuer lyeth and then me thynketh consyderynge that the matter toucheth the quyet of mans person so hyghly as it dothe it is moste necessarye that men shulde applye theyr wyrtes to serche out the ryght vse of them so as they maye iustely serue the purpose that God promised as in dede Walter for my parte I haue done euen so and that with a contemplatiue spirite myndynge to lyue with them in maryage accordingly and do perceaue the hole state and mystery therof beinge disclosed vnto me by reuelation in my slepe which in effect is thus Neâ—mâ—nedes the God of matrymony for the consolation of maryed men vpon lamentable complaynt of theyr miserable estate by reason of theyr wyues crabbednesse graunted by a certeyne braunche of heauenâ—y influence to dystyll into the harte of the bryde at euery weddynge a certeyne kynde of â—umour called by the Bretians Spurfalxe beinge as muche to saye as the iuyce or vapour of the rynge and in Englyshe named a wyues to the a terme of longe tyme knowen and yet but lately and to fewe men perceaued The nature whereof is vehemently to inforce her spâ—ites to couer preheminence in certeine poyntes which being obteyned and alowed her it dissolueth the malyce of all her former euyll qualities much after the common opinion that one poyson expelleth another Hetherto Walter I suppose ye fynde lyttle comfort in my wordes for that it semeth they are not by this miracle any thynge amended but rather altered from one euyil into another which may chaunce is worse Neuerthelesse yf you note me well ye haue ryght good cause to reioyce for hereby theis eâ—abbedues that by longe continuance in many discentes was growen to be in manes naturall and therefore vnâ—â—rable maye be taken away and in stede therof other things placed that ye maye casely expell if ye lyste your selfe I dare say you maruell what I meane by this circumstaunce and do longe to knowe the effect therof Well I am content that you shall so Surely the preheminence that the wyues doth couette at theyr husbands handes by vertue of that humour is none other but onele to haue lybertie in three kynde of thynges whiche is to saye what they wyll to haue what they wyll and to do what they wyl wherin you know the husbande maye easely bere with them and surely doyng so they are the most quyet and comfortablest creatures that euer were ordeyned for man But restraynynge them therof they are so crabbed and so comberous as that there is nothynge so displeasaunt as theyr company which the discrete husbande muste by his wysedome consyder and for his more ease vse them thereafter For seinge that by the lawe they are al both but one body and muste remayne at one bed and bourde it is not in mauer possible that he may longe lyue in quyet when she is thorowly offended Wherefore it shal be necessary for him to vse her lyke as he vseth other bryttle thynges as for example If ye haue a very fayre drynkynge glasse it is both necessary in vse and pleasaunte to the syght and wyll so continue longe ynough yf it be ordred accordyngly but and if by rashenes or lacke of consideration you force it more then the tender nature therof may suffer you sodenly destroy your owne commoditie for then wyll it breake and be worth nothynge at all And surely euen so is it of a fayre plesaunt and louynge wyfe which is the greatest treasure and comfort that man may haue in
she were a stepe to get in by her And so deuysynge in his mynde what a busye nyght he shulde haue thought it good somewhat to refreshe hym selfe before hande and so fell a stepe durynge whiche tyme there came into the same Inne one of syr Ogter Penkeyls seruauntes who when he was alyghted perceauynge the doore abrode came sireyght into the same chamber and leauynge his capease there locked the chamber dore and toke the key with hym which when the Chamberlayne perceaued he made request to haue it ageyne sayingâ— that he coulde not lye there for that the come was otherwyse appoynted whereunto the tother aunswered that the same had alwayes wont to be his chamber and there wolde he lye who so euer sayde nay vnlesse he were fet out by the eares In so muche that the Chamberleyne knowynge hym to be a common geste of the house and a frowarde felowe was loth much to stryue with hym and therefore shewed the matter to the Gentlewoman somewhat blamyng her seruaunte for leauynge the dore open and desyred her to take another chamber wherin she was sone intreated and dyd so And when tyme came gate her to her bedde as in lyke wyse the seruynge man to his all this whyle the Gentleman lyinge vnder the bedde fast a slepe and knewe nothynge of this alteration About midnyght he awaked and harkenynge whether he coulde here any folke sterrynge about the house hard no thynge saue one softely drawynge breathe within the bedde which he supposed verely to be the Gentlewoman wherwithal his hart tyckled for ioye which streyght wayes was turned to hygh displeasure For as he came forth from vnder the bedde thinkyng to vnray him selfe he stumbled on the chamber potte and made suche a noyse that the â—erurynge man sodenly awaked and vnder a â—ough sorte asked who was there when the Gentleman contrary to his expectacioÌ„ hard a mans voyce he was wonderfully abashed but yet coniecturinge that it was the Gentlewomans seruaunt abedde with his mysteres he boldely answered and sayde it is I the good felowe that haue rydden so longe in your company Mystres I speke to you although it be your seruaunte that asketh me the question nowe to shewe you the cause of my commynge hyther the troth is I suspected that ye were not so clere in your lyuynge as you wolde seme to be accompted by your wordes for the profe whereof I haue purposely watched you and nowe do perceaue what ye are When the seruingeman harde this straunge aunswere not knowing what the matter ment he thought it was some naughty felowe that came to pycke his purse when he were a slepe and that nowe perceauynge hym to be awaked wolde counterfepte hym selfe to be a foole the rather to haue his misdemeanour borne withall and thereupon leapynge out of his bedde to his weapon cryed out theues theues and made such a noyse that within a whyle the goodman of the house and all thother gestes brake open the chamber dore and with torche lyght and clubbes came into theym and asked what was the matter wherof beinge aduertised by the declaration of the seruyngeman who mystakynge the purpose that was ment made the act very heynous Gogges body master Bacheler sayde the good man lyttle nede had you to vse your selfe so in this house for by the holy mast I wolde rather haue layde al the plate in my house at gage for you then that ye shulde lacke money if I had knowne it Gramarcy myne Hoste sayd the Gentleman but to make you perceaue that I had no suche nede the rather thereby to iudge that I ment no such thynge ye shal be pryuie with my purse and therewithall openynge the same shewed forth in money and iewels to the value of .xx. or xxx pounde and then sayde syth the matter is come to this poynt I wyll nowe out of hande shew you the thynge that I thought not to speke of tyll that lent were come that I shulde meete with my goostly father and therupon geuynge money to the residue of the company to depart and drynke a gallon of wyne for theyr paynes he toke the good man of the house and the seruyngeman asyde and shewed them the whole circumstaunce of his purpose and intent wherat when they had a whyle well laughed exhortynge hym to vse more circumspection in the matter at his next lodgynge they departed euery man promysynge to kepe councell Howebeit accordynge to the common prouerbe whiche sayth that two maye chaunce to kepe counsell but three neuer Euen so this matter was so longe talked of in councell from one to another that before fyue of the clocke in the mornyng it came to the Gentlewomans eares who although she were nothynge in defaulte was neuerthelesse wonderful sory to haue it reported that suche thynge was ment towardes her accomptynge that there might enter into the hearers therof some suspect of her euyll which by any honeste woman shulde be eschewed in maner as muche as the very euyl it selfe And therefore perceauynge that she coulde not remedye what was past she thought yet to preuente what was to come so that in the morninge when this Gentleman sente to knowe when she wold ryde she fayned her selfe sicke and so forsoke his company wherwith he was not a lyttle offended and therupon imagininge the cause of her stay determyned to remaine all nyght at the nexte bayte whiche was Shaftesbery thinkynge that when she had once perceaued hym past and gone it shulde not be longe or she wold come after and euen as he thought so it chaunced for in deede the same nyght she came to Shaftesbery wherof although the Gentleman were wonderfull gladde yet wolde he not be acknowen to her vntyll the mornynge that she were a horsebacke for feare lesse she shulde fayne lyke excuse to eschewe his companye as she had done before tyme. But in the morninge as sone as she was gone he came dasshynge after and bad her good morowe wherwith the Gentlewoman being abashed made aunswere and sayde yea are you there had I knowne ye were no further paste I wolde not haue byn thus farre forthe that wolde God I had neuer sene you Why so mystres sayde the Gentleman haue I shewed you any such vnkyndenesse that ye shulde haue cause thus to lothe my company Nay said she ye haue shewed me none but rather the contrary what so euer ye ment towardes me But as thintent of euery acte deserueth the thanke or blame so the pretence of your gentlenesse tendrynge to my slaunder as nowe I knowe it dyd deserueth no thankes at all As to shewe you what I meane by these wordes it shall not nede for I am sure ye knowe it well inough your selfe and in like wyse doth all the countrey What rumoure for shame haue ye caused to be made of me the other night in the towne behynde theÌ„ce is no other talke amonge the people but of you and me wherin although for my parte I dyd nor ment
any euyll at all yet am I assured by your meanes not to escape slaunder and therwithal gan piteously to wepe When the Gentleman perceaued the matter taken in so euyll parte he was ryght so ty but yet somewhat recomforted ageyne bycause she wepte for commonly the spyte and displeasure of a woman wereth awaye with her teares so that when th one is spent thother is past and she then much more tractable to any frendely purpose then afore whertupon after a lyttle counterfeyte eâ—ghynge to be aduysed how to excuse him selfe he thought beste sythe his doynges in the matter were so apparaunt that it coulde not be denayed that yet he wolde denaye any euyll of his parte mente thereby or of hers receaned And then sayde I wysse mystres whereas ye saye that I haue caused you to to be slaundered yf ye vnderstode aryght there coulde neuer thinge chaunce better for the declaration of your honesty then for me to come into your chamber vnder such sorte as I dyd for wheras it myght be suspected that there was some misdemeanour vsed betwene vs rydynge together as we haue done nowe that it is perceaued home I durst not profer to come vnto your bed but by stelth and vnknowen vnto you the same suffiseth for your declaration in that behalfe for all men may iudge that and yf ye had byn pryuie or assentynge therunto I wolde haue come in more boldely so that in my mynde there coulde neuer thynge haue happened better for your purpose then for me to do as I dyd and as to thynke that I entended you any euyll by my commynge by the blessed Godde I mente you no more harme then to mine owne body wherefore good mystres I pray you quyete your selfe and be not thus offended without cause no more harme then to your owne bodye sayde she no I thynke wel that howebeit what so euer ye wolde to your owne body I am sure ye ment thereby none honesty towardes me As I be saued sayde he I ment you no dishonesty at all and nowe to shewe you my mynde further sythe the matter is come to this passe on my fayth mistres I neuer in al my life knew what loue ment tyl time I met with you why and do ye knowe now what it meaneth sayde she yes mystres yes much more to my payne then I haue as yet byn acknowne of sayde the Gentleman For doubtlesse your comely person and discrete demeanour hath so drawen myne affection towardes you that without your presence and fauour it is not possible for my lyfe any whyle to endure and surely to shewe you therof in secretâ— and somewhat to be satysfyed therin was the onely cause that made me attempt the commynge to your bed and for no dishonesty at all as Godde shal be my iudge A well sayde she nowe I perceaue it shal be an easy thynge to proue you eyther a dissembler or a lyer or els bothe For and yf ye say ye loue me and do not then are ye a dissembler and on thother syde yf ye do loue me and wolde come to my bedde as ye say your selfe to be saryffyed in loue the same doth imply as much as to dishouest me and therfore to say ye ment me no dishonesty though the terme be rude ye are therin but a lyer Alas mystres were it then your dyshonesty that I shulde imbrase and kysse you abedde sayde the Gentleman yea but ment you none other thynge saue onely so sayde she Why no by the blessed sacralente sayde he and yf I dyd or do intende otherwyse towardes you God let me neuer light from this horse in my ryght wyttes So that in conclusion with swerynge and staryng that he mente her but all well and partely in recompence of the Gentlenesse and liberalitie shewed in that iorney towardes her she was contented the nexte nyght folowynge to leaue her chamber dore open and to gyue hym libertie with kyssynge and enbrasynge to do his hart an ease This thynge so concluded then brake they into other talke that all theyr folkes myght here to dryne away suspicioÌ„ so with pleasant thoughtes passynge the daye came the nexte nyght to Charde where as she was lodged at th one ende of a longe Gallery and he at the other and in an other chamber whiche stode betwene bothe there lay another gest whiche was bownde towardes London and came in a lyttle before them one master Iewegur a Gentleman of Deuonshyre who beinge of the other Gentlemans acquayntaunce supped with hym in the Gentlewomans chamber and after supper walked for recreation altogether into the garden wheras after a lyttle talke this master Iewegur beinge a suspicious and wyly fellowe perceaued by countenances that his companyans coueted to haue some secrete talke wherein to gyue them scope vnder coloure to loke in a lyttle boke that was in his bosome he slaked his pace but neuerthelesse had his cares attentyfe to theyr talke and harde the Gentleman with a softe voyce saye loke ye kepe your promes for els ye sle me and she to him yes yes but for Goddes sake loke ye come secretely Yea thought the other then I knowe what ye meane Well though I be not byddeÌ„ to the banket yet may I chaunce to haue some parte of the chere and thereupon repayrynge to them ageyne fell into sundry deuyses tyll at length a damosell of the house came to the Gentlewoman saying her chamber was redy and that yf it pleased her to go to it she wolde brynge her to bedde whereupon the Gentlewoman departed but the Gentlemen remayned there as longe as the day lyght wolde serue them to walke and when nyght came drewe eyther of them to his chamber seuerally watching of a conuenient tyme for one purpose howe beit the smell feast had aduauntage of the bydden gest for by that names wyl I from henceforth call them bycause he stode so in the way that as longe as any steryng was in his chamber the other had no safe passage At length when the smel feast perceaued the householde abedde and al thinges in quyete sauynge in the bydden gestes chamber for whom he was determined how to prouyde he vnrayed hym selfe to his bare shyrte and then takynge occasion to loke on his swerde founde faulte that the same was cankered and then deuysynge a meete place for such a purpose in the Gallery not farre from the bydden gestes chamber dore he sette his seruaunt aworke with scourynge thereof and in the meane tyme went hym selfe to the Gentlewomans chamber whereas he founde the dore open and was frendely interteyned but yet whether he were satysfyed with kyssinge and enbrasynge as was promysed or not I somewhat doubt bicause it was not he that made the promesse And surely the selfe loue of our vnhappy tyme is such God amende it that we shall seldome se any body forbeare his owne commoditie for the obseruynge of another mans promes and ageyne yf she thynkyng hym to be the same that made
for erothe is not for any â—uyll that is in the thyng but commeth onely of a certeine squeymyshenes and imper section of the stomake And surely Walter euen so is it in the other matter yea and in all bothe cases to thynke that it be so is as great displeasure and vnquietnesse of mind as if it were so in dede which declareth the inhicilitie of mans nature in that behalfe and prouethe playnelye that it is rather a vayne quarrel of the mynde grounded on no necessitie then any sufficiente or effectuall cause of displeasure But yet Walter for all that yf ye be one of these that can not paciently beare it yf it so chaunced then myne aduyce shal be that ye neuer mystruste it nor yet make meanes to knowe it for then I dare warrance ye shal neuer be greued therwith Or cast the worst as that ye chaunce to espye it your selfe vnloked for yet then beware that in no wyse ye make any noyse or wordes therof but kepe it as secrete from all other mens knowledge as ye can For well wyst the wytty Duyde what discommodities growethe by the contrarye when he wrote the parable howe Vulcanus fynding his wyfe in bedde with Marse transformed the shetes that they laye betwene by a certeyne magytycall meanes into a cage or net of wyer and brought al the Gods to wonder at theÌ„ who neuerthelesse dyd but laugh hym to scorne for hys folly shewed therein and estemed his discretion the lesse euer after Doubtlesse a worthy example for vs to eschewe the lyke mysdemeanoure yf wee chaunce to come within the daunger therof for it appereth that by so doyng we get nothynge els but rebuke and shame No Walter not so much as to let your wife her selfe perceaue that ye do knowe it for then eyther wyll she be abhominable bolde seynge you contented to beare therewith Or els must ye thinkyng to breke her from it make such a styre and busines as all the worlde shall wonder at you bothe and surely much better it is to dissemble at the matter for a tyme and abyde the commynge of age who is the common amender of all suche faultes to whiche effecte I wyl shewe you a notable experience that chaunced of late and was thus In the towne of Penborgh a certeine Smyth on a tyme came to the Prouest of the colledge there and told him that syr Henry Polmarghe a priest of the same colledge resortynge muche to his house vnder pretence of cosynage vsed his wyfe ouer boldely Whereunto the Proueste aunswered peace Iohn Iohn for I dare say it is not so or and yf it be I promesse thee I wyll cause hym to leaue it Nay master sayd the Smyth I neyther doubte of the one nor hope of the other but my desyre shal be that your master shyppe for my poore honesty wyll cause him to vse hym selfe more circumspectly therein then he hath done for yesterdaye as he and I sat together at brekefast master Saghers man called me forthe to shooe a horse and when I came to the clinshing of the nayles I myst my pyncers beinge in my hall wyndowe which when I came to fetch I found my wife and him interlased vpon my bench vnder suche an homely sorte that on my sayth I was ashamed to loke on them and thereupon wente backe ageyne before they espyed me and borowed a payre of pyncers of my neyghbour And syr aswell myght there a straunger haue come in and shamed me for euer as by my trothe yf I had byn certeyne where the pyncers hadde lyen I wolde haue sent master Saghers man in for them And syr bycause the matter toucheth me so nets as it doth I thynke it not beste for me to speke vnto them therein my selfe aswell for doubt I shall not kepe due temperaunce in my wordes or for sundrye other considerations nor in dede I wolde not they shulde perceaue that I knowe so much therein as I do and therefore good master Prouest make no notherwyse vnto hym but that ye suspect it of your selfe vpon reporte at large for that shall suffyce to make hym more ware and circumspecte whiche is as much as I loke for as yet Nor syr I tel it not you but as it were vnder confession trustynge that ye wyll kept it secrete If this rude man this Smyth that neuer redde Ouyde nor no other good aucthor coulde after suche discrete sorte temper his cause muche rather shulde they do so that art of more knowledge and better learned And to you ye Venerian wyues though ye chaunce to be narowly taken and charged therwith yet be well ware ye neuer confesse it to the death but speke and prate in your excuse to the vttermoste as thoughe ye were innocent in the matter For what so euer the presumption or lykelynes thereof be yet of this ye maye be certeyne the very effecte resteth on so defuse and secrete a poynte that in manner it is not possyble to be playnely knowen without ye wyll be so madde as to condempne your selues and then farewell your good dayes all your lyfe after Whereas by a lyttle stoute standynge at your defence with a sober or circumspecte lyfe folowynge ye shall sone growe out of suspicion for this ye muste vnderstande men are easely perswaded to beleue the thynge such as in theyr hart they couet it shulde be And for your partes ye Cupydyan knyghtes ye must ieme to delyght in such pastyme and recreation as ye shall perceaue the good man to do whether it be huntynge hawkyng gamynge or otherwyse for so may ye beste growe into familiaritie with hym and colour your repayre to the house to be onely for his company But then beware that your open lyght demeanour disclose not your secrete intent as the wenche that pretended heroften goynge to the Churche to be all for deuotion but when it came to thâ— purpose her affection so muche ouerpaste hâ—â— reason that she set asyde the Paxe and kyst the paryshe Clarke wherby her mynde that before tyme was pryuate to her selfe was made common to the whole paryshe therfore take hede that ye do not in lykewyse when ye lift to reward your mystres with some iewel or garment loke ye make no gyft therof but lese it vnto her vpon some wager made in the husbandes presence And what so euer the vchemency or ouerboldnes of her affection shal happeÌ„ to be yet be you wel ware that ye neyther disapoynte or interrupte hym at any such tyme as he shal mynde to haue her attendaunt him selfe for that is odible and wyll sone engender suspicion and besydes that in dede it is ageynst all good curtesye wherein the people of this Realme haue bin accompted to excede all other And surely a chiefe part therof is to suffer the good man be he neuer so simple to haue preheminence and chiefe attendaunce of his owne wyfe notwithstandynge her frendely familiaritie mente towardes any other beinge of better abilitie or more estimation Yet for my part not meanynge hereby to excyte or intyce you to any dissolute maners or incontinent trade of lyfe but onely your selues beinge bente thereunto that then it may be so conneyed as least rumour and inconuenience may ther of followe in preseruynge the â—uyernesse that I wyshe to haue contynewed betwene man and wyfe which I chiefely do for the reuerence I bere to the pleasaunt sacrament of matrymony bicause my poore father was sometyme accompted to be one of that band No syrs nor by saynte Mary I wyll not knoweÌ„ that suche enterpryses of yours is lawful for what so euer hath bin permitted vppon considerations in the former ages or wrytten by the Phylosophers or Poâ—tes of that time yet I remember wel we haue this famylier prouerbe of aucthoritie Newe Lordes newe lawes and therefore maye chaunce that by the commynge of Chryste such olde rytes and customes are abrogated and then is there peryll in the vse thereof And also it semeth that the gyft claymed by these wyues from Neomenius maketh not so much for theyr purpose as they thynke it doth for in dede it is none other but onely to make them couâ—t lybertie for to say do and haue what they wyll not expressynge that the same shal be lawfull for them nor yet doth not dispence with thiniquitie therof yf it be otherwyse And surely Paule to the contrarye saythe that the husbande is the wyues hedde and that she shulde holde her selfe to hym onely and be confirmable to his wyll and therfore aduise them at theyr owne peryll for if they chose the wronge way I wyll not bere the wyte thereof by abettynge them thereunto And nowe Walter to conclude with you wheras ye haue vniustly accused me that I shulde dispyse maryage I trust I haue bothe sufficiently declared my selfe therein and also gyuen you ensample of a Chrystian charitie aswell in exhortynge you notwithstanding your raylynge rage shewed towardes me howe paciently to suffer the harme that can not be eschewed as also in counsaylynge how the same may best be kept froÌ„ the knowledge and wondrynge of the worlde which for troth in such case is more payne and rebuke then the very euyll it selfe requyrynge no more at your handes for all my traueyle and good wyll herein but from hence forth to haue your good worde and ye shal be sure of myne FINIS Imprinted at London by Wyllyam Seres dwellynge in Powles Churche yard at the signe of the Hedgehogge