no such diuelish deuises when womens eyes will bewitch mens hearts and the breath of Tongues will poison a mans wits And for your rauishing delights it is a word that I well vnderstand not or at least as I haue heard this rauishing is a word that signifieth robbing of wenches of the inner lining of their linnen against their wills and if it be so it is a perilous delight that brings a man to the Gallowes if not to the Diuell for a little fit of pleasure but if there be any better sence in it I would be glad to vnderstand it though at this time I care not to be troubled with it Now for Princes Pallaces they are too high buildings for our Brickes plaine people are content with Cottages and had rather pay tributes to their maintenance then haue them too much in our view for blinding of our eies with their golden brightnes Now for life and death hee that liues at quiet and will not be contented may change for the worse and repent it when he cannot helpe it Oh Cousin I haue heard my father say that it is better to sit fast then to rise and fall and a great wise man that know the world to a hayre would say that the meane was sure better be in the middle roome then either in the Garret or the Sellor and an other of an excellent worlds wit that ranne the ring with him in the walke of the world would say that honour was but ancient riches and in high places where frownes are deadly and fauours are vncertaine there was more feare of the one then hope of the other and a laborious weekes wages well payde was better then a yeares hope in paper and therefore hee that would leaue possessions for promises and assurances for hope were more full of wit then vnderstanding and of conceipt then iudgement for though there is no seruice to the King nor no fishing to the Sea yet there are so many suitors for rewards and so many beaters of the water that delayes may be cold comforts of long hopes to the one and the other angle all day and catch a Gudgion at night and therefore though the world be like a Well with two Buckets that when one falleth another riseth yet the fall is much swifter then the rysing and good reason because the one goes downe empty and the other comes vp laden But to be plaine I haue so long beene vsed to a quiet life that I would not leaue it for a world Now for your notes of worth that you haue set downe in your Court commendations I allow that all may bee true and they that thriue in it may thinke well of it and hold it a kind of heauen vpon earth but for my selfe I remember certaine notes that I read in a Booke of my Fathers owne writing that shall goe with me to my graue there were not many but in my mind to good purpose as first for greatnes My minde to me a Kingdome is so that the quiet of the minde is a greater matter then perhaps many great men possesse Then for wealth Godlines is great riches to him that is contēt with that hee hath which many great men somtime perhaps haue lesse then meaner people Then for a good rule of life Feare God and obay the King which perhaps some doe not so well in the Court as the Country Then for the course of the Law Loue God aboue all and thy neighbour as thy selfe which if you doe in the Court as wee doe in the Country Enuy would worke no hatred nor malice mischiefe but loue in all persons would make a pallace a Paradise which in the best is more euident then in the meanest apprehended but God whose loue is the life of all bréed such loue in the liues of all that peace may euer liue among all Now for learning what your néede is thereof I know not but with vs this is all we goe to schoole for to read common Prayers at Church and set downe common prises at Markets write a Letter and make a Bond set downe the day of our Births our Marriage day and make our Wills when we are sicke for the disposing of our goods when we are dead these are the chiefe matters that we meddle with and we find enough to trouble our heads withall for if the fathers knowe their owne children wiues their owne husbands from other men maydens keepe their by your leaues from subtle batchelors Farmers know their cattle by the heads and Sheepheards know their sheepe by the brand What more learning haue we need of but that experienee will teach vs without booke We can learne to plough and harrow sow and reape plant and prune thrash and fanne winnow and grinde brue and bake and all without booke and these are our chiefe businesse in the Country except we be Iury-men to hang a théefe or speake truth in a mans right which conscience experience wil teach vs with a little learning then what should we study for except it were to talke with the man in the Moone about the course of the Starres No Astronomy is too high a reach for our reason we will rather sit vnder a shady tree in the Sunne to take the benefit of the cold ayre then lye and stare vpon the Starres to mark their walke in the Heauens while wee loose our wits in the Cloudes and yet we reuerence learning as well in the Parson of our parish as our Schoolemaster but chiefely in our Iustices of peace for vnder God and the King they beare great sway in the Country But for great learning in great matters and in great places wee leaue it to great men If wee liue within the compasse of the Law serue God and obey our King and as good Subiects ought to doe in our duties and our prayers dayly remember him What néede we more learning Now for wisdome I heard our Parson in our Church read it in the holy Booke of God That the wisdome of the world is but foolishnes before God And why then should a man séeke to befoole himselfe before God with more wit then is necessary for the knowledge of the world the wise man must dye as well as the foole and when all are the Sonnes of Adam wee haue a faire warning to bee too busie with tasting of the Tree of too much knowledge I haue read in the Booke of the best wisdome that the feare of God is the beginning of wisdome and surely he that begins his lesson there may continue his learneng the better and come to bee a good Scholler at last Salomon the wisest man that euer was said that all was vanity and vexation of the Spirit and why then should a man vex his spirit with séeking to be as wise as a Woodcocke in beating his braines to get the possession of vanity And yet I must confesse that least vanity turne to villanie it is good that the authority of wisdome haue power
commend musique when it is in a right key Againe we haue young Rabbets that in a sunny morning sit washing of their faces while as I haue heard beyond the seas there are certaine old Conies that in their beds sit painting of their faces wee haue besides Tumblers for our Conies and Greyhounds for our courses Hounds for our chases Haukes of all kinde for the field and the riuer and the wood so that what can reason conceiue that nature can desire but for the delight of both the Country doth afford vs. Furthermore at our meetings on the holydayes betwéene our Lads and the Wenches such true mirth at honest meetings such dauncing on the greene in the market house or about the May-poole where the young folkes smiling kisse at euery turning and the old folkes checking with laughing at their Children when dauncing for the Garland playing at stooleball for a Tansie and a banquet of Cords and Creame with a cup of old napyy Ale matter of small charge with a little reward of the Piper after casting of sheepes eyes and faith and troth for a bargaine clapping of hands are seales to the truth of hearts when a payre of Gloues a handkerchiffe are as good as the best obligation with a cappe and a courtsey hie ye home maides to milking and so merrily goes the day away Againe we haue hay in the barne horses in the stable oxen in the stall sheepe in the pen hogges in the stie corne in the garner cheese in the loft milke in the dairy creame in the pot butter in the dish ale in the tub and Aqua vitae in the bottle béefe in the brine brawne in the sowce and bacon in the roofe hearbs in the garden and water at our doores whole cloths to our backes and some money in our cophers and hauing all this if we serue God withall what in Gods name can we desire to haue more Now for some of you a man may take you many times in the nature of blind-men that you can scarcely see a penny in your purse and your lands growne so light that you beare them all on your backes and your houses so empty that in the cold of winter all the smoake goeth out at one chimney when if Brag were not a good dogge I know not how hee would hold vp his taile Oh the fine excuses of wit or rather folly late businesse ouer night makes you kéepe your beds in the morning when indeed it is for lacke of meate to dinner and perhaps no great banquet at Supper when a Crust and an Orenge a Sallad and a cup of Sack makes a feast for a Brauo then after all a strech and aâ—yaune and a pipe of Tobacco weare bootes for want of shooes or else that the garters and the roses are at pawne Now these are no Courtiers but hangers on vpon those that sometimes in great places haue an humor to fatten fleas Now for vs in the Country wee runne no such courses but are content with that we haue and keepe somwhat for a rainy day loue neither to borrow nor lend but kéepe the stake still vpright spend as we may spare and looke to the maine at the yeares end our meetings are for mirth and not mischiefe and for quarrells we haue none except the oyle of the malt worke vp into the head and so distemper the braine that the tongue runne out of order when a fit of fisticuffes will soone make an end of all matters so that wee haue pleasure with profit mirth without madnesse and loue without dissembling when the peace of Conscience is an inward Paradise Now if you can shew any better Cards for the maintayning of your oppinion I pray you heartily let me heare it COVRT Oh Cousin I am sorry to see your simplicity what a deale of adoe you haue made about nothing but I sée the prouerbe holds true in you He that liues alwayes at home sees nothing but the same and your education being but according to your disposition somewhat of the meanest manner of good fashion your witte rather being all in Coppy-hold then in Capite and your learning but to spell and put together it were hard for you that neuer studied Astronomy to speake of the nature of the Starres and therefore I can the better beare with your humour because it is more naturall then artificiall yet could I wish you would not so clownifie your wit as to bury your vnderstanding all vnder a clod of earth What is man but as a beast bred like a fore-horse to goe alwayes right on and rather draw in a cart then trot in a better compasse fie vpon basenesse it is the badge of a Begger No let me tell you if you were or could be acquainted with the life of a Courtier you would finde such bewitching obiects to the eyes and rauishing delights of the heart that you would hold the world as a wildernes to the Palace of a Prince and life but as a death that hath no tast of Court comforts Oh Cousin wee haue learning in such reuerence wisdome in such admiration vertue in such honour valour in such estéeme truth in such loue and loue in so rare account that there doth almost nothing passe in perfection y t is not followed with great obseruation wher the fauour of a Prince maks a Begger a petty King the countenance of a Lord makes a clowne a Gentleman and the looke of a Lady makes a groome a gay fellow Oh Cousin aduancement and contentment are the fruites of Court seruice and the steps of hope to the state of honour furthermore for knowledge we haue the due confideration of occurrents the disciphering of Characters enditing of letters hearing of orations deliuering of messages congratulating of Princes and the forme of ambassages all which are such delights of the Spirit as makes a shadow of that man that hath not a mind from the multitude to looke into the nature of the Spirits honour Furthermore we haue in Court Officers of care Orders of discretion eyes of brightnesse eares of clearenesse hearts of purenesse brainesof wisdome tongues of truth mindes of noblenesse and Spirits of goodnesse which though they bee not in all yet are they examples for all and in the worthiest of all Oh Cousin to heare a King or Prince speake like a Prophet a Queene like an Angell a Councellor like an Oracle a Lord like a Councellor a Lady like a Quéene a Preacher like an Apostle and a Courtier like a Preacher and then to note the maiesty of the greatest the reuerence of the wisest the honour of the worthiest and the loue of the best to receiue grace from the one instruction from the other fauour from one countenance from another honour from one and bouuty from an other kindnes from one and comfort from another where for the good all loue goeth through all where exercises of wix are but tryals of vnderstanding and the properties of spéech are the proofes of iudgment
to bridle the folly of selfe will But for the great wisdome of Councellors of State Iudges of Lawes Gouernours of Citties Generals of Armies or such great People in such great places they go so farre beyond our wits that wee had rather be obedient to their wills then enter into the depth of their discretions and content our selues with that wisdome which is most necessary for vs to loue God aboue all our neighbours as our selues to rise with the day raies and goe to bed with a candle to eate when we are hungry drinke when wee are thirsty trauell when we are lusty and rest when we are weary feare God be true to the Crowne keepe the lawes pay scot and lot bréed no quarrels doe no wrongs and labour all we may to haue peace both with God and man speake truth and shame the Diuell pitch and pay say and hold trye and trust belieue no lies tell no newes deceiue not an enemy nor abuse a friend make much of a little and more as it may increase These are the points of wisdome that we runne the course of our Card by Now for valour it is seene best in the best quarrells and Saint Paul said that hee had fought the good fight to fight for the preseruation of a state the person of a King or Prince to keepe my house from thieues my children from dogs and my family from famine and my faith from fainting in the word of God this hold we the good fight and the true valour not to stand vpon puntos not to endure a lye without death challenge for a frowne and kill for a fowle word aduenture all for nothing or perhaps worse then nothing loose lands goods life and soule and all in a murther or a bloody bargaine to please a Punke and to be counted a Captain of the Diuels army or a Gallant of the damned crew except some few howers before his end while the worme of Conscience bites him at the heart a sparke of grace enter into his soule and make him at the Gallowes make a repentant rehearsall of a lewd life and leaue a fayre example at his death to all behoulders perhaps with these good words at his departing All yee that heere bee take example to be hang'd by me Oh braue valour that makes many a weeping eye when my mother for my sonne and my sister for my brother or my wife for my husband or my father for my daughter or mine vncle for mine aunt sit and howle like dogs to see the workes of the Diuel in the wicked of the world Such kinde of valour I haue heard my father say that he hath mark't in some places where he hath trauel'd I know not where a great way hence when he was young where he found among a hellish company of accursed spirits they were called valliant fellowes that durst say any thing doe any thing or be any thing till they were worse then nothing durst quarrell with any man abuse any man strike any man kill any man and care for no man durst prate lye sweare and forsweare scoffe and swagger drinke and dice drab and stab durst be hang'd and damn'd for a horrible fit of a franticke humour and this was their valour I pray God there be none such among yee where you keepe I am sure there keepe none such among vs. Now for truth I hope there are more true hearts in the Country then there are tongues in the City in many places yea and in greater places then I will speake of but where they be God blesse them and where they are not God send them and that is all that I say to them But for ought I sée there is so much falshood in the world that I feare there is littletruth on the earth and in great places where protestations are without performances and excuses are better then lies Where is either truth of loue or loue of truth but a little I thinke I would there were more But with vs truth is so beloued that a Lyer is held little better then a theefe and it is a lesson we learne our little Children speake truth tell truth take heed you lie not the Diuell is the father of lies and little better be his Children deale truly with all men let your tongues and your hearts goe together Christ is truth in his holy name be true euer tell truth and shame the Diuell be true to God in your beliefe and obedience to his word bee true to your King in the loyalty of your hearts bee true to your wiues in the honesty of your bodies and bee true to your friends in performing your promises this is the loue we haue to truth if you haue it so it is a good blessing of God and makes a happy people And for loue if it bee in the world I thinke it is in the Country for where enuy pride and malice and Iealousie makes buzzes in mens braines what loue can bee in their hearts howsoeuer it slip from their tongues No no our Turtles euer flie together our Swannes euer swimme together and our louers liue and die together Now if such loue be among you it is worthy to be much made of but if you like to day and loath to morrow if you fawne to day and frowne to morrow if all your loue bee to laugh and lye downe or to hope of gaine or reward that is none of our loue wee loue all goodnes and onely for goodnes first God then our selues then our wiues and children then our family and then our friends and so hath loue his course in our liues and therefore if there be any obseruation in affection I pray you let it bee rather in the Country then in any place where faith is not so fast but fancy can alter loue vpon a little humour of dislike Now for your fauour when one Begger growes rich by it how many rich grow beggers through the hope of fortune and therefore in my minde better be Lord ouer a little of a mans owne then to follow a Lord for the bare name of a Gentleman and better with a little to bee counted a good man then with gaping after Gudgions to be thought I know not what Truly Cousin I thinke euery thing is best in his owne nature as one is bred so let him bée for as a Courtier cannot hold the plough but he wil be soone séene to be no work-man so a Country-man cannot court it but hee will shewe in somewhat from whence he comes And for a Ladies looke I thinke wee haue wenches in the Country that haue as faire eyes as finer creatures who when they list to looke kindly will make many glad though few gay fellowes And for apparell plaine russet is our wearing while pied coats among vs we account players or fooles except they be better men then the best of our parish except our Landlord Now for preferment and aduancement they be encouragements to some Spirits that are