excellent learning But yet in the meane time I haue knowne not a fewe whiche haue returned home to their Parents not only vnlearned but also most vile varlets wicked vnthriftes and roysting Ruffians nouseled in most wicked and vngodly opinions blasphemous and stayned with most filthie and monstruous manners and beastly behauiour which with much more profite might haue stayed at home with their Parents as dayly examples doe clearely testifie Notwithstanding if it may séeme profitable and necessarie to any to sende their sonnes into Italy or Fraunce to common studies in their Vniuersities and to haue greater vnderstanding and knowledge in the tongues and liberall Artes and Sciences I will not gaine say it or striue much with them so that it be done with great aduisement counsel and consideration that is to say if Parents shal first diligently instruct their children in the true knowledge reuerend fear of God and that the same be surely setled and most firmely fixed in their heartes that it may not be easily remooued and they caried away with euerie vaine blast of blasphemous doctrine and hatefull Heresies which shal soone be blowne aswel into their outward eares as also into their inward mindes wherwith their hearts shalbe so infected that both bodie minde shal soone be out of all good course Wherof all the Patriarkes and Prophets had great regard as we may reade in their Bookes which haue most diligently and carefully taught and instructed their children in the feare of God foretolde them of perilles and daungers and discouraged them from the company and fellowship of wicked men as wée may sée by the example of Beniamin which was alwayes kepte at home of his father Iacob And except Ioseph had béene diligently instructed of his father in the wayes of the Lorde God Howe I pray you had hée auoyded the lasciuious wordes of Putiphers wyfe which with her daily allurementes and with her peruersse pollicies did sollicite and moue him that by some meanes she might drawe him into the horrible sinne of adulterie except I say hée had béene carefully taught of his father and that from his childehood the true knowledge and feare of God vndoubtedly hée had béene intrapped with her faire promises and had vtterly perished with the sugred woordes of this lewde lasciuious woman For Ioseph was young well fauoured and comely And if per aduenture there be any that will not be moued with these godly examples let him reade Plinie de natura Ceti A Sea fishe of verie great bignesse who describeth his bodie to be 600. féete in length and 300. féete in breadth which watcheth and kéepeth his young ones very carefully neither doth suffer them to stray far frō him is moued with such excéeding care towards them y ◠in the time of any storme hée receiueth them into his wombe againe least they shoulde be hurt with the force and violence of the storme and tempest or fall into any perill or daunger and when the storme is once ouer and the Sea calme hée eiecteth and vomiteth them out againe By which example I wish all Parentes to bée admonished that they sende not their children into straunge and far countries except as I saide they be well and vertuously instructed and so as well by reason of their age as also by the experience of many thinges they become wiser and of more perfect iudgement to discerne betwéene good and euill Againe if a man be ignoraunt and knoweth howe and after what maner this first mutable wauering and slipperie age ought to be defended preserued and instructed let him learne this lesson also of the Delphins which doe accompanie their young ones a long time vntill they be well growne and able to shift and pray for them selues neither wil they suffer their young ones to raunge abroade and depart out of their sight except some elder one attend vpon them as a guide and ouerseer By this example also are Parentes to bée admonished that they sende not their sonnes into straunge countries vnaduisedly without their Paedagoges Tutors Gouernors least that they be Italianated as that worthie man maister Aschan hath sufficiently described in the latter end of his first Booke intituled the Schoolemaister Moreouer the Iewes also at this day do obserue this one thing verie carefully that they suffer none of their sonnes to forsake and leaue their fathers house and so to trauell-into any straunge nation or countrie except they haue first liued in wedlocke and haue had the fellowship and societie of a wife by the space of thrée yeares at the least and haue begot children by them And then libertie is graunted vnto them to departe and goe whither they will about their néedfull affaires and necessarie businesse Theophilus The Iewes in this point are farre wiser than many of vs Christians But now seeing that by many arguments good reasōs you haue shewed and declared vnto vs howe and after what maner Parentes ought to instruct and bring vp their children nowe wee earnestly desire to knowe of you after what sorte the Mothers ought to deale with their children in their bringing vp For it is certeine that Mothers by the commaundeof God ought to haue no lesse care and charge belonging vnto them than the Fathers and Maisters touching the good gouernment of their sonnes daughters and seruantes Theodidactus I cannot deny or refuse this my duetie vnto you desiring so good and godly a thing First this duetie belongeth to godly matrones and mothers of families that they them selues be in subiection to their owne husbandes as Saint Paule admonisheth saying Mulieres subditae estote viris vestris sicut oportet in domino Wiues submit your selues and be obedient to your owne husbandes as vnto the Lorde Wherefore a good wife ought not to abuse the moderation humanitie and lenitie of her husbande for then shée resisteth the commaundement of God For it is one thing to obey an other thing to rule and an other thing to commaunde And it nourisheth loue and concorde exceedingly when the wife is readie at the becke and commaundement of her husbande enclineth and prepareth her selfe to accomplish his requests and studieth to pleasure and gratifie him to the vttermost of her power And eschueth all thinges which shée knoweth woulde offende him For thus verely as one saieth a good wife by obeying her husbande doeth also after a sort rule and commaund him And this ought a woman to doe not only for the auoiding of variance discorde breach of loue but rather for that it is the commaundement of God Theophilus What are the chiefest ornaments of Godly Matrones Theodidactus Saint Peter saieth that the most excellent ornament of godly Matrones is to stay and repose their whole trust confidence and hope in the liuing God That they should be sober in their outward apparell be decked inwardly with the vertues of their mindes as with gentlenesse méekenesse quietnesse and chastitie which are most precious thinges in
from their young and tender yéeres and doeth prouide to haue them diligently instructed in all good godly literature And agayn as there is nothing more vnséemely or to bée lamented in a familie or housholde then to sée the youth suffered to growe vp passe foorth their time without shewing vnto their Parentes or Maisters any honour reuerence or obedience so is there nothing more pleasing vnto God more ioyful to Parents and Maisters then diligently to sée their families exercised in the feare and loue of God and to shew due honour vnto their Parents or maisters with al obedience and reuerence in the Lord. Amusus It is God onlie and that by his prouidence wherwith he gouerneth althinges that guided and brought me vnto you to the ende that I of you beeing wel and Godlie instructed might returne vnto my familie and that so heereafter I may bee able to exhort and instruct my children and seruants that they aswell by mine examples as exhortations and counsels may learne to serue God and walke in his waies all the dayes of their liues Theodidactus When I had diligently read ouer Saint Paule 1. Corin. 12. If one member suffer all suffer with him if one member bee had in honor al the members bée glad also I doe not iudge my selfe bounde to you onely as one member to another as the foote to the hand and eare to the eye but I acknowledge my selfe a seruant vnto all men and that I am borne to the ende I shoulde doe good vnto all with counselling teaching and reléeuing their necessities to the vttermost of my power chiefly mée to whom hee hath committed his talent And I being thus admonished with this lesson of Saint Paule when I was about xxv yéeres olde It chaunced that I tooke in hand this paines not without great care and diligence to gather together examples out of diuers Authours wherby I might admonishe and instruct aswell fathers and maisters as children and seruants of their dueties séeing that I iudged this kinde of doctrine very profitable for both and that the chiefe parte of mans happinesse in this life floweth out of this fountaine And to the end that this my paines might bée more profitable vnto all men I began to collect from all partes of the best Authours diuers Sayings Examples Apothegmes Similitudes Comparisons the most apt sentences which séemed to apperteine or tende any thing at all to the instructing either of parents or children in their seuerall dueties And these are gathered chiefly out of the sacred writings of the Prophets and Apostles Moreouer I haue chosen and selected out of the writinges of godly fathers such things as I haue thought méete for this purpose whereunto lastly I haue ioyned also very many things out of the Philosophers which might séeme any thing profitable to godly housholders So that I haue indeuoured in this my studie that my collection might increase to a reasonable volume without doubt very profitable and necessary for fathers mothers and children wherein as in a most cleare glasse they may plainely sée what is their seuerall dueties Amusus Oh right happie and fortunate day in the which it hath chaunced mee to enioy your presence and speech would God I might haue conuenient time to stay with you and to heare those thinges that you with so great paines and diligence haue collected I say if this might be brought to passe I should then haue good hope that it should bee verie profitable both to my selfe and also to my family and that if afterwardes I might heare from you the interpretation and apt applying of those things which you haue thus gathered together I should iudge my selfe more happie a great deale nay rather persuade my selfe to be altogether deliuered from all those perils and daungers which to me and mine are imminent Theodidactus Haue good hope and confidence deare friend Amuse I say your godly request shall be accomplished Amusus Syr I most hartily thanke you or rather God that hath giuen you so willing a minde But yet Syr I beseech you before we proceede any further that we may sende for Theophilus our neighbour and verie friende who as you know is a man of an excellent wit and verie good memorie a louer of godly admonitions and learned both in the Greeke and latine tongue I verely am vnlearned of dul wit and no memorie so that he wil demaund many thinges of you which I should not once think of Wherfore if it please you we wil come to you tomorrowe in the meane time I wil certefie him hereof whereby he may heare you with better attention and demaund of you more aptly the thinges that are conuenient I in the meane while wil giue my selfe to silence so that with some profite I may heare your godly communication and commit the same to memorie with all that I may Theodidactus I can not but greatly commend this your wholsome counsell vndoubtedly all things shall haue good successe if Theophilus will vouchsafe to handle this kinde of argument with mée for we haue conferred many thinges heretofore concerning the education of children therefore you haue done well to put mée in remembrance of him But for that the night approcheth let vs prepare our selues to rest and call vpon God with heartie and feruent prayers that hée wil graunt tomorrow that I may so speake and you so heare as that his glorie may be set foorth and the good state of many families increased Amusus Syr according to your appointment yesterday I haue not feared to come vnto you with our verie friend Theophilus and haue also brought with mee Martina my welbeloued wife that shee might in like manner heare and perfectly vnderstand your godly admonitions for this is without all controuersie shee must shewe her selfe aswell a Mother as I a Father vnto our family And for this cause by the commandement of God shee is no lesse bounde to doe her duetie than I mine and this can shee not doe except shee be first taught of some bodie Theodidactus You are all most hartily welcome chiefly you O my good Martina and I can you thanke that you haue followed the wise counsell of your husband for it is most certain that your children and family are as well committed vnto your charge as vnto your husbande Martina Reuerend sir I beleeue nothing to be truer than that you haue said and for that cause am I come hither to heare your godly cōference wherby I might the rather learne how to accomplish and performe my duetie Amusus Syr yesterstay I was so rauished with your wordes and had such great ioy pleasure in them that I was once minded to haue brought all my children with mee Theophilus Good neighbour Amuse tomorrow shal bee more conuenient for that purpose when we shal treate of their dueties that is to say the honour and obedience that children owe vnto their Parents for then shal it be good that you bring them all
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
graunted vnto them Prayer is most necessary in so great perils daungers of life neither is there any thing more séemely pleasant in the house than to sée behold an honest godly societie of the husband wife children wheÌ„ they striue in their seuerall dueties to loue cherish comfort one an other that they talke vpon God and of his benefites that they call vpon him with one voice and haue a care that the knowledge and true worship of God may be set foorth And lastly that the Parents hold not this doctrine only in wordes but also by example of life Theophilus Seing nowe you haue so excellently set forth vnto vs the Godly dueties of Matrimonie it resteth that you declare somewhat concerning the procreation of children Theodidactus You put me well in remembrance for as the procreatioÌ„ of children is the gift of God so is it the proper office of true and lawfull wedlocke which alwayes for the most part doeth waite theron as an inseperable companion which hath the blessing of God as witnesseth she scripture Gene. 1. where as Moses saith God blessed them and said increase and multiply and replenish the earth Herevpon it is that shée was holden accursed which had no séed in Israell and it was a great shame to haue no children Thus did Rachael bewayle the shame and reproch of Lyae So did Hâ—nna when shée was â—aâ—ren pray vnto the Lord and conceiued So in like maner Elizabeth the mother of Iohn Baptist moued God with continuall prayers and was heard Theophilus As the scripture pronounceth them happy whom God hath thus blessed with the increase of children So at this day the common people iudgeth them most vnhappie to whom God hath giuen many children such is the peruerse and preposterous iudgement of the vnlearned nay rather wicked men which looke what God calleth good they dare call euil and what God blesseth they dare curse Theodidactus It is the error or rather the malice of the common people from the which as from a common plague the godly ought to shun and let them rather agrée with Solomon which saith The crowne of the aged is childers children and againe The crowne of olde men is their sonnes sonnes and the glory of the sonnes is their fathers and great graund fathers And Dauid saieth Blessed are they that feare the Lord and walke in his waies For thou shalt eate the labour of thine hands O well is thée and happie shalt thou be Thy wife shalbe as the fruitfull vine vpon the walles of thine house Thy children like the Oliue braunches rounde about thy Table Lâ—e thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lorde And Isocrates being an heathen man coÌ„firmeth y e same also in these versâ—s Foelix fouet bene moratum quifilium Matre sobolis prouentu eris fâ—licior Happie is he which fostereth vp A well taught childe saieth hee Yet in thincrease of many good more happie shal hee bee ANd when Cambises compared himselfe with his father Cyrus and that his friends did sooth him that hée farre excéeded his father Cresus ouerhearing the same answereth after this maner That hée was nothing comparable to his father the which had left behinde him a sonne in the world for at that time Cambises had neuer a childe iudging that this was not the least benefite towardes the common wealth if not only a man shewe himselfe a vertuous and worthie man but if hée beget such as hée is himselfe and make them fit members for his countrie and common wealth And let this be sufficient touching the procreation of children Now let vâ— prosecute the second point that is to say of the necessitie and vtilitie of the instructing of children And first we wil approue the same by the commandement of God secondly by the example of the holy scriptures and lastly by the Ethnickes Theophilus Verie wisely and worthily spoken forsâ—eing that the procreation of children is not the common gift of God it is not without cause that wee ought to bestow al our paines diligence that youth may bee brought vp in the feare word of God But in what words hath God commaunded and inioyned vnto vs this diligent education and instruction of children Theodidactus The God of Israell beginneth after this maner Deut. 4. saying Be not forgetfull of the words which thine eyes haue séene that they slip not out of thine heart all the dayes of thy life Thou shalt teach them thy sonnes and thy sonnes sonnes saying When thou stodest before the Lord thy God in Horeb when the Lord saide vnto mée gather mée the people together and I wil make them heare â—â—â— wordes that they may learne to feare mée all the dayes that they shall line vpon the earth that they may teach their children And againe These wordes which I commaund thée this day shall be in thine heart and thou shalt shewe them vnto thy children and shalt talke of them when thou art at home sitting in thine house and as thou walkest by the way and when thou lyest downe and when thou risest vp And thou shalt binde them for a signe vpon thine hand And they shal be warninges betwéene thine eyes and thou shalt write them vpon the postes of thine house and vpon thy gates And in the 11. Chapter he saith Therfore shal ye lay vp these my words in your heart in your soule bind them for a signe vpoÌ„ your hands set them before your eyes teach them your children that they may talke of them when thou sittest in thine house And when thou walkest by the way when thou liest down wheÌ„ thou risest vp yea thou shalt write them vpon thy doore postes of thine house vpon thy gates y t your dayes the dayes of your children may be multiplied Tel your children of it let theÌ„ shew it to their children so they to certefie their posteritie therof Behold y e truth hateth not the light but wil be manifested in all things Therefore the Prophet is not coÌ„tent to teach the people of his time but doeth desire y t they might be taught vnto y e end of the world And he doeth exhort them y t one generation might teach instruct an other And now albeit that very many Parents at this day my Theophilus do lightly regard y e teaching instructing of their children yet how earnestly the instructing of them is charged commaunded here your self may easily iudge So y t when I do bewaile sometime the negligeÌ„ce of many parents I oft burst out into these wordes Alas vnto what end would the education of children haue come if there had béen no commandement nor order prescribed for the same By this we may gather none other thing then excéeding darknesse and confusion of minde that the nature of mankinde should haue vtterly béen defiled which so shamefully contemneth her children of her own self
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
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
by his example they coulde more easily tollerate and beare the death of their déerest friendes with greate pacience and constancie These examples doe admonishe vs that wée doe beare paciently and with good mynds the death of our children For séeing that the heathen men haue excelled in so greate constancie of mind I pray you what shal not wee suffer which haue professed our selues to be Christians We I say which are ingraffed vnto Christ vnited vnto him through that most sacred holy baptisme know that our children haue not onelie a Father héere vpon the earth but also in the heauens which hath prepared his Angelles that they should kéepe and take charge of our children in the stéede of Nurses Wherby also by many examples he hath declared and made manifest vnto vs that hée careth for them and preserueth them farre better and in more happy state and condition then parentes can eyther hope or wishe when vnto them it may séeme they vtterly perish and are most infortunate Which by the example of the Patriarche Iacob wee may plainely sée For when hée mourned and lamented for his sonne Ioseph being lost and as hée thought was miserably deuoured of the wilde beastes yet God in the meane time did exalt and promote him vnto great honour and dignitie in Aegypt and made him the instrument and meane to comfort his father and brethren and prolonged their dayes whereas other wise they were al in danger to haue perished with famine which fell ouer al the Landes there adioyning The like happened of Saule séeking his Fathers Asse which by the commaundement of GOD by Samuell was annoynted king of Israell Read the nienth and tenth chapters of the first booke of the kinges otherwise called the first booke of Samuell The like was in Christ which at the last was founde in the middle of the Doctors reasoning and disputing amongest them and posing them Therefore those Parentes more sorrowful then néede and bearing the fortune and death of their Children too vnpaciently if they beholde and consider the promises of God and these examples they shall easily sée and learne that these their vnfaithfull sorowes and cares for their Children are not onely wicked but also vayne and foolishe and so shall they confirme their fayth that afterwarde they shall more easily performe their dueties towardes their Children according to their vocation and moderately sustayne and with patience beare the fortune of their Children though it were accompanyed with death it selfe And they ought to beléeue and haue sure confidence that although they were lost or dead that yet neuerthelesse the Lord our GOD hath chiefe regarde and care of them if they liue in his feare And thus shall they more easily moderate and qualifie their immoderate sorrowes and mourninges Theophilus O immortal GOD who can sufficiently maruel and commende the constancie and pacience of these Ethnickes Againe if wee woulde faithfully beleeue that our Children are so carefully kept and preserued of GOD and that all thinges depende vpon his prouidence wee woulde with greater confidence commit all things vnto him which doe appertayne eyther to the bodies or soules of our children And wee woulde not bee so sorrowfull and discouraged when any aduersitie shall chaunce either to our selues or our children but woulde farre exceed those Ethnickes in constancie of minde When I reade so many and so notable thinges among the Philosophers of fortitude and constancie I am ashamed of the inconstancie of those men which seeme to bee adourned and garnished with so rare and singuler erudition and knowledge of God But nowe my good Theodidacte I woulde at the last know this one thing of you whether is it the duetie of godly Parentes to elect and choose for their sonnes beeyng once growen to mans state and stayednesse of life godlie wiues according to the example of Abraham Theodidactus Godlie Parentes before all thinges shall haue speciall regarde and care that they ioyne not their Sonnes in marriage vnto Lawelesse and vnbeléeuing wiues without anye difference but shall followe the example of the Patriarche Abraham which woulde not haue his sonne Isaac to be coupled in matrimonie vnto a wise from among the Chanaanites giuing his seruaunt charge after this manner Put thine hande vnder my Thigh that I may sweare thée by the Lorde GOD of Heauen and earth that thou doest not choose and take a wife for my sonne of the daughters of the Chanaanites amongst whom I now dwell but thou shalt goe vnto mine owne countrie kinred frō thence doe take a wife for my sonne Isaac Without doubt this so godly an example of Abrahā ought to admonish earnestly moue vs which haue either sōnes or daughters ready to marry to haue great care of them For except Abraham had feared some greate perill and daunger and had knowen some great secrete mischief to be hid and lurking therin certainly he woulde neuer haue giuen so earnest charge to his seruaunt That he should not take a wife of the daughters of the Chanaanites For it was not to be doubted but that some of their daughters were of good towardnes nature inclination also tractable which happily might haue béen drawne vnto Abrahams religion but hée would not haue his sonne to aduenture and make triall of so great a danger and in so weightie a matter Now forasmuch as Abraham did séeke to eschue this perill with what face boldnes or example dare we presume to attempt the same But hereof if God will wée will treate more at large in some other place of our next booke The second Booke of the dueties of Children towardes their Parents FOrasmuch as I haue alreadie spoken and that you haue so willingly heard from mée and my good friend Theophilus many things concerning those dueties which are required of Parentes towardes their Children nowe is it méete and conuenient that wée procéed to the other part of this our worke and purpose For I promised that to the vttermost of my simple skill and slender capacitie I would shew and declare vnto you those things which did apperteine to the dueties of Godly obedient children that is to wit what honour reuerence and obedience euery childe oweth to their Parents But my good Amusus before wée treat of this thing at large I woulde all your children were here present and that you woulde counsell them as I saide in the beginning of our talke that they may be silent and verie attentiue and bring with them pennes incke and paper to the ende they might note the most principall matters and worthie examples and so the better commit them to memorie Amusus Beholde here they are readie Elizabeth Anne Leuinus Charles Frauncis Paule Marie Katherine and Barbara and according to your commaundement I haue admonished them that they might hearken with all reuerence and marke euerie thing diligently Theodidactus What other thing should I wish to these your swéet childrē than that y e God
tender tongue be seasoned with swéete songes and Psalmes 3 Weigh not down her necke with gold and precious stones 〈◊〉 beset her head with pearles neither curle nor bushe out her heare nor die it into any vnnaturall colour 4 Let her not eate openly that is to say in the feastes banquetes of her Parentes lest shée sée such meats as shée might desire and lust after Let her not learn to drinke wine wherein is all excesse and riotte 5 Let her not delight and take pleasure in the hearing of musicall instruments Shalmes Sytheâ—â—s Lutes Harps nor know wherefore they were inuented 6 Let her appoint her self some taske euerie day to read some speciall part of the holy scriptures chosen for the same purpose 7 Let her learne to carde spinne to make woollen cloth and to handle the whéele and distaffe to make her linnen cloth 8 Let her not set her minde on silkes as Taffata Damaske Satten and Vellet 9 Let her prouide and get such clothes wherewith colde may be defended not wherwith her bodie shalbe nakedly apparelled 10 Let her so eate as that shée may be alwayes an hungred that immediately after her meate shée may either reade or sing Psalmes 11 If it chaunce thée at any time to walke or ryde out of the Towne or Citie leaue not thy daughter at home without a godly gouernour for without thée shée knoweth not neither is shée able to liue and when shée shall chaunce to be left alone let her bée afraide 12 Let her not haue her secret méetings and fellowship with foolish and light maidens 13 In the stead of silkes pearles and precious iewels let her loue godly bookes not gaudely garnished and set out with gold but inwardly perfected and learnedly distinguished for the better increase of her faith 14 Let her first learne the Psalter or Psalmes of Dauid in méeter which may withdrawe her minde from light and vaine songues and baudie ballades And in the Prouerbes of Solomon which may instruct her to good and godly life And in Ecclesiasticus Let her exercise her self to seeke out things that apperteine to the world In Iob Let her folow the example of vertue and patience Prudens filia viro est vice haereditatis A wise daughter is to her husband in the stead of an inheritance Also a shamefast maid wil reuereÌ„ce her husband A daughter is another possessioÌ„ vnto her father If he get a good sonne in law than hath he found his daughter but if he chaunce of a wicked sonne in law thaÌ„ hath he vtterly lost cast away his daughter Besides this it apperteineth to the duetie of a godly maid which would séeke for true and euerlasting saluation that also before all things shée haue the knowledge of the doctrine religion which hath béene set forth and deliuered vnto vs from the Patriarkes Prophets Apostles and which is conteined in the bookes of the holy scriptures It is necessary that shée know the lawe which may teach her not only what workes please ordisplease almightie God but also therby shée may learne to know her owne sinnes and be put in minde to seeke for the remission of the same And therefore it is also néedfull that shée know the Gospell of the sonne of God the cleanser washer away of our sinnes and the pacifier of Gods wrath that shée shewe her selfe faithfull herein and giue credite hereunto Theophilus These be good lessons for daughters in deed But if a young man haue vngodly parents infidels and altogether ignorant of Gods lawes is it not the sonnes duetie to teach instruct his father and mother Theodidactus Yea alwayes albeit it be not an vsuall or common thing For if a young man being a Christian haue vngodly Parentes in whoÌ„ hée would wish and desire to haue sowne the séedes of vertue true knowledge of God hée ought to endeuour him by all meanes possible gently and reuerently to admonish them that hée might draw them vnto pietie and the true knowledge of Christ that at the last being instructed in the will of God of wicked and vngodly ones he might make them godly and vertuous Theophilus What young men at this day are to be deemed and iudged most happie Theodidactus Certes none are more happie than those which truely performe their duties to whoÌ„ it is giueÌ„ froÌ„ their childhood to repose al hope in one y â— true god with sure coÌ„fideÌ„ce to depeÌ„d of his only goodnes prouidence which thing appeareth to haue chaunced vnto Dauid Psal 71. Where most faithfully hée speaketh vnto God saying thus Quoniam tu es expectatio mea domine Domine spes mea à iuuentute mea For thou O Lord God art the thing that I long for thou art my hope euen from my youth As though hée should say not now only but hitherto alwayes through my whole life thou art the thing I long for and my hope that is to say Séeing that I haue had none other God from my youth vp but thée alone howe shall I now not call vpon thée in this trouble And howe shalt thou forsake mee Parentes are hereby admonished that they instruct their children from their youth in such godlines knowledge fayth and hope of God that they become not wicked vnhappie but continue blessed with God and all his holy Angels and Saintes in heauen for euer But this instruction as I said ought to be proponed and set foorth vnto children euen from their young and tender yeares Nam quod noua testa capit inueterata sapit For looke what licour at the first the newe vessell taketh The tast thereof when it is olde it hardly then forsaketh And out of question nothing sticketh more surely in the minds of young men than that that is taught them in their gréene and tender yeares And if wée will giue credite to Quintilian Natura tenacissimi eorum quae rudibus annis percepimus We are the surest keepers of those thinges by nature which we haue learned in our rude ignoraunt yeares If thou puttest strong wine into newe vessels the tast thereof will continue verie long And who can reduce dyed woolles into their pristinate colour Theophilus How happeneth it that so few inheritours left very wealthily by their Parentes And also so few men seruantes and maydes haue so litle happinesse and prosperitie in this life Theodidactus Because so fewe at this day regard to obserue and fulfill the fift commaundement the breach whereof hath a curse thereunto annexed hereof it commeth to passe that the great treasures and possessions left vnto the heires helpeth them nothing It auayleth seruauntes and maydes nothing at all to labour and toile and to proll filtch and steale all their life long For God doeth not blesse them for their contempt disobedience towards their Parentes Magistrates Maisters Mistresses and Dames Hither may bée referred the examples of this present time not to be numbred of those
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
of their Parentes Theodidactus This we ought to knowe and vnderstand that after such commixion and coupling of them selues together they may not be seuered nor disioyned neither may such marriages be broken by the authoritie of their Parents for because there is now no question of any marriage to come and the authoritie of Parentes is alreadie violated and corrupted so that great iniurie shoulde be offered vnto the woman if shee should be cast off againe and forsaken And to conclude I will adde this one thing that it doeth appertaine as wel to the duetie of Parents as of Iudges for they ought to weigh and consider where and in what cases the fathers may haue a probable cause to breake the marriage and where not which causes I will leaue to be discided of the Diuines and such as haue to deale in those nuptiall affaires Beséeching Almightie God to graunt your children good successe and to bestow his blessings on them as well in this single life as also in that married estate whensoeuer it shall hereafter please him to all your comfortes and his euerlasting glorie to whom be praise for euer Amen ⧠Imprinted at London at the three Cranes in the Vintâ—â—â— by Thomas Dawfon and Gregorie Seton 1581. Amusus â—eâ—â—â—leth the state of disordered families Psal 39. The workes commended The family is committed to the wife aswell as the husband The argument diuided into siâ— partes The definition of mariage Mariage was firste instituted of God Gene. 2. Ioan. 2. Mariage doth please God The end of mariage is in â— sortes Good lessonâ— for husbandes and wiues The dueties of godly couples Mat. 18. Of the Procreation of children Gene. 3. 1. Reg. 2. Iudi. 13. Luc. 1. The peruers iudgement of the people Pro. 10. Pro. 17. Psal 128. The wise answer of Cresus Deut. 6. Eodem 11. â—â—â—l 1. Eccle. 7. God commandeth children to be nurtured Eccle. 30. Ephe. 6. Parentes are stirred vp to instruct their children with sweete promises Prou. 29. Eccle. 30. We must not deale with youth by threatnings stripes Tobi. 4. Dan. â—3 1. Mach. 2. 2. Mach. 7. â— Tim. 1. Luke 2. Eccle. 7. Of Athanasâ—â—â— Bish of Alexandria Of Origen 〈…〉 Eusebius Iohannes Aegyptius The example of Cato Children are to be instructed by the examples of the Elders The necessarie instruction of poutly The best schol Master is to bee chosen Dayly Experience proueth this true Isocrates Plate The end of instruction is this Children must be taught from their tender yeeres A good similitude Paulus Ver. Ioan Mur. â—â—enorunâ— Prouerb A similibus A causa A causa What thinges children are to be taught By 3. thinges may we know that there is a God c. Children ought to beleeue these thinges chiefly The examples of husbandmen What seede ought to bee sowne in the midst of children The causes why children ought to be instructed Preceptes of good maners Recreation must be vsed Optimaratio iustituendi De nobili officio parentum Psal 36. 37. A good fourme â—â— teaching The discription of a true father Senum Officium Diffinitio patris familias What it is to bee occupied with children Fathers should vse 3 offices at once Tobias 4. Prou. 29. Eccl. 30. An Antidote against Arrogancie A good praier Ephe 6 A good caâ—eat vnto the pareÌ„ts of our time A common fâ—ing very true Mat. 18. Mark 9. Of degenerate children A good lesson for parentes 1. Timo. 5. Hortandi sunt liberi ad eleemosynam Proue 11. Mat. 14. Prou. 11. Children must bee committed to godly schoolmaisters 4. Timo. 2207. A man must not bestowe his whole studie in one arte only Ludouicus â—â—ues Plinius An example of Phi. of Macedon kinges of the Persians The efficacie of education Pro. 22. Plato in libro 4. de republic Erasmus Isocrates Deogines Aristippus Lycurgus giueth an example of two whelpes What vse can doe in education is here shewed We must not leaue of instructing for the stupiditie of wit Matth. 9. Marci 7. Num. 22. In education three things are necessarie After what maner forward wittes should be vsed Children are to be corrected Prou. 23. Eccle. 30. Pro. 13. Pro. 10. Eccle. 4. Augustinus Bernardus Innocontiâ—â— Correction is necessary Seneca A good note Cicero Isocrates Valeri Max. de Luci. Bru. â— Reg. 12. 1. Cor. 9. Body and soula compared together Mat. 4. Luke 4. Fathers abuse their authorities Prou. 19. Ephe. 6. Ambrose Seneca The tirannie of L. M. Axio the noble Romaine passed the boundes of his duetie in correcting his sonne A meane in correcting is best Augustine giueth a reason with what intente children should bee corrected What the father shoulde think vpon whilist he is in correcting Prouer. 13. Children shuld bee corrected with the rodde That parte of the bodie which is to be beaten The end whâ—e children should bee corrected After what maner children ought to be chastened A good note Inglossa cap quinta vallis Obquae exhaeredari posset filius Deut. 22. A stubborne disobedient childe to be stoâ—â—ed to death Deut. 21. Degenerate children are to be cast of forsaken Against negligent parents Children 〈…〉 the pledges of God ArgumentuÌ„ a simile 1. Regum 2. 4. Cockering is the originall cause of negligent instruction â—ere the absurd excuse of Parents is reâ—â—â—yed 1. Regum 3. Heli suffereth the punishment of his negligent instruction Paul Cicero Verrâ— Negligent parents are iniurious to their countrie and common welth Fathers ' and mothers spoiâ— their owns children Children are the blessinge of God How the inheritance of y â— he â—uenly life being lost is recouered by the parentes Negligent parentes are sharply accused A vehement exclamation of S. â—ug against negligent parentes What and ho 〈…〉 great mischiefs doe arise by negligent instructinge What shall befall vpon vs without preachinge and teachinge Negligente parentes doe exceede in cruelty Pharao Herod or any other Tyraunte Erasmus Women of Thessalia were transformers of men â—utâ— beast Tomo â— Those that doe not teach their children be the destroyers of Christes Church Tomo 3. 14. What a Sea of euils this negligent care of children doth bring Tom. 2. 292. Erasm The exclamation of Crates S. B. doth bewayle the negligence of Parentes The admiration of Lucius Apuleus The Sabboth day abused The exclamation of Quintilianâ— Whether negligent Parents are to be compelled by any lawe If the feare and loue of God will not cause Parentes to be careful for their children much lesse will any lawe that can be deuised by men What is the chiefe of mans felicitie Solons law was verie sharpe against negligent Parents The Ethnickes are to be compelled one way but the Christians an other way Ezechiel 1â— How the children beare the sinnes of the Parents Children may not deride their Parents Gene. 9. Gene. 1â— Num. 16. Parentes and infantes together are greeuously punished Iosue 6. Iosue 7. Hester 9. Daniel 6. Regum 11. Regum 12. Deut 2â— A hight and excellent treasure to bee borne of good parents A