The Mothers Counsell OR Liue within Compasse Being the last Will and Testament to her dearest Daughter Modesty In Chastitie Chastity of body is the key to Relig. Wantonesse In Temperance Temperance is the mother o◠〈◊〉 Maâ—neâ—… In Beautie â—…ry is a womans golden Crowne Odioâ—…nessâ—… In Humilitie Humilitie is a womans best Armor Pride Printed at London for Iohn Wright and are to be sold at his Shop in spur street without Newgate at the signe of the Bible 16â—… Good Counsell to the Christian Reader 1 THat you keepe a narrow watch ouer your heart words and deedes continually 2 That with all care the time be redeemed that hath been idly carelesly and vnprofitably spent 3 That once in the day at least priuate prayer and meditation bee made 4 That care be had to doe and receiue good in company 5 That your family be with all diligence and regard instructed watched ouer Christianly gouerned 6 That no more care bee spent in matters of this world then must needs 7 That you stirre vp your selue to liberalitie to Gods Saints 8 That you prepare your selues to beare the Crosse by what meanes soeuer it shall please God to exercise you 9 That you giue not the least bridle to wandring thoughts 10 That you bestow some time in mourning not onely for your owne sinnes but for the time and age wherein you liue 11 That you looke daily for the comming of our Lord Jesus Christ for your full deliuerance out of this world 12 That you acquaint your selues with some godly person with whom you may conferre of your Christian estate and open your doubts to the quickning of Gods graces in you M. R. The Mothers counsell OR Liue within Compasse Being the last Will and Testament to her dearest Daughter which may serue for a worthy Legacie to all the Women in the World which desire good report from men in this world and grace from Christ Jesus in the last day Liue within Compasse In Chastitie FIrst my Daughter vnderstand that Chastity is the beautie of the soule and puritie of life which refuseth the corrupt pâ—…sures of the flesh 〈…〉 onely possessed of those who keâ—… 〈◊〉 bodies cleane and vndefiled and it consisteth either in sincere virginitie or in faithfull Matrimony The chaste soule is a rich chamber onely fit for Christ The most bountifull God is a chaste and pure Spirit and therefore aboue all things thou oughtest to call vpon him with chaste prayers If the body be not kept pure and vnspotted from whoredome the Soule can hardly be feruent in deuout prayer Pure chastity is beauty to the Soule grace to the body and peace to all worthy desires Beautie is like the flowers of the Spring but chastitie like the starres in heauen So must the flesh be nourished that it may serue thee so must it be tamed that it be not proud As nothing is more vile than to be ouercommed of the flesh so nothing is more glorious than to ouercome the flesh Frugalitie is the signe of chastitie Chastity is a vertue of the soule whose companion is fortitude Chastity is the Seale of Grace the staffe of deuotion the marke of the Iust the crowne of virginity the glory of life and a comfort in Martyrdome Idlenesse is the enemy to chastity Chastity without charity is 〈◊〉 without oyle Chastity and modesty are suffâ—… to enrich the poore And 〈…〉 age rather make choyce o◠〈…〉 manners than loosenesse o◠〈◊〉 our with great Lands and rich possessions If chastity bée once lost there is nothing left prayse-worthy in a woman The first step to chastity is to know the fault the next to auoyd it Where necessitie is ioyned vnto chastity thence Authoritie is giuen to vncleannesse for neither is she chaste which by feare is compelled neither is shée honest which with néede is obtained Doe not say thou haste a chaste minde if thine eye be wanton for a lasciuious looke is a signe of an inconstant heart Amongst all the conflicts of a Christian soule none is more hard than the warres of a chaste minde for the sight is continuall and the victorie rare Chastity with the raines of Reason bridleth the rage of lust A chaste eare cannot abide to heare that which is dishonest True felicity though hid from mortall eyes yet is it the obiect of a chaste spirit The first felicitie that a chaste woman shall haue after this life is the rest of her Soule in Christ the second shall be the immortalitie and glory of her body That chaste woman hath got to the height of felicitie whom no feare troubleth no pensiuenesse consumeth no carnall concupiscence tormenteth no desire of worldly wealth afflicteth nor any foolishnesse moueth vnto mirth A chaste woman is to be measured not by her beauties but by her vertues A woman is the wonder of Nature if shée wrong not Nature A chaste woman is an admirable Angell till shée be drawne by angells to become a Deuill Women that are chaste when they are trusted proue often wantons when they are causelesse suspected A virgins heart is like the Cotton trée whose fruit is so hard in the Bud that it soundeth like steele and being ripe puts forth nothing but wooll Chastitie is a veile which Innocents adorne th' vngatherd rose defeÌ„ded with the thorne O Chastitie the gift of blessed soulâ—… comfort in death a crowne vnto the life which all the passions of the minde controls adorne the minde and beautifies the wife that grace the which nor death nor time attaints Of earthly Creatures making heauenly Saints Penelope in spending chaste her dayes as worthy as Vlysses was of prayse Beleee't a woman cannot take vpon her with Beauty Riches nor with hie nobility to claime the true deserued praise of honor if chastitie doe faile by her fragilitie for that 's the vertue which defends her honor Chastitie is strong when all that wooe it doth resist and turnes them vertuous too Vnchaste words vtter'd to a vertuous dame turne and defile the speaker with red shame A Wife is like a garment vs'd and torne A Maid like one made vp but neuer worne Gold is not knowne by sight but by the test Thought makes not chaste but tryall proues them best Misfortune still such proiects doth pursue He makes a false Wife that suspects a true Their carriage not their Chastitie alone Must keepe their name chaste from suspition Out of Compasse in Chastitie Is Wantonnesse WAntonnesse when it turnes to lust in a womans bosome is a desire against reason a furious and vnbridled appetite which killeth all good motions in her minde and leaueth no place for vertue Shame and infamie waits at the héeles of vnbridled wantons Wantonnesse is an enemy to the purse a foe to the person a canker to the minde a corrosiue to the conscience a weakner of the wit a befotter of the senses and lastly a mortall bane to all the bodie so that thou shalt finde pleasure is the path-way to perdition
womens faces are their owne faults bookes Those vertues that in women praise doe win Are sober shewes without chaste thoughts within True faith due obedience to their make And of their children honest care to take They melt with words as wax against the Sunne So weake in many women's modestie For what sometimes they most would seeme to shield Another time vnaskt poore soules they yeeld Out of Compasse in Temperance Madnesse A Mad woman is like a rough stirring Horse and as he must haue a sharp bit so must shee haue a sharp restraint As a blocke though it be decked with gold pearles gems and precious ornaments is not to be regarded except it represent the shape of some thing euen so a woman be she neuer so rich and glorious yet if shée want obedience she is of no account or estimation Such wiues as would rather haue foolish Husbands whom they might rule than to be ruled by sober wise men are like them that would rather lead a blind man in an vnknowne path than follow one that can both see and knoweth the way directly She that forsakes her husband because she dislikes his manners is like her that forsakes the Honey least the Bee might sting her They which sacrificed to Iuno the goddesse of married women tooke euer the galls from the beasts which they sacrificed signifying thereby that all anger madnes and displeasure should euer be farre from married couples In three points women and fooles hold small difference they are full of vaine affections they are curious and peeuish to please and euer wilfull to disobay There is no creature that more desireth honour and worse keepeth it than a mad woman The intemperate woman with her lightnesse and children with their small knowledge occupy their minds in things present but vertuous wise women do thinke on that is past they ordaine for that which is present and with great study and care prouide for the time to come There are in outragious womens eyes two seuerall sorts of teares the one of griefe the other of deceit Beautie in womens faces and outrage in their hearts are two wormes which fret life and waste goods Mad women for a little goodnes looke for a great recompence but for much euill no chastisement A fierce beast and a dangerous for is an outragious woman to a Common-wealth for shée hath much power to doe much harme and is not apt to follow any goodnesse A mad woman once defamed beleeues after in no woman vertue but defameth all to make her owne vice worthie of a companion The tongue of a mad woman is a slipperie instrument nimble to doe mischiefe for commonly by it friendship is decayed worldly riches diminished the life most miserably wasted and infamy and immortall paine purchased Such a mischieuous euill is the sinne of detraction in the heart of a proud and vnruly woman that there is neither long familiarilie accustomed fellowship nor causes of approued friendship neither yet any estate or degree that can once bridle them or stay them from doing infinite mischiefe She that is giuen to the vice of detraction is worthily subiect to the common hatred of men and to be eschewed of all as a most pestilent infection and at her enterance into any place among good women euery mouth to be either stopped against her or otherwise opened to hisse her out of doores as a thing altogether voyde of delight and filled vp but with danger onely Amongst temperate women madde women are made bright but amongst madde women temperate women are made glorious It is a great madnesse in any woman to amuse vpon those things which are farre beyond her vnderstanding A faire woman without discretion is like a faire house and an â—…uill host harbored therein Many times of wise maides becommeth foolish wantons and of foolish wantons wise maides Let euery woman behold her selfe in a Looking-glasse and if shee appeare beautifull let her doe such things as become her beautie but if shée séeme foule then let her make good with good manners the beautie which her face lacketh As the body being alwayes opprest with labour loseth his strength and so perisheth so doth the minde of a woman oppressed with passions and pleasures of this world lose the force lust and desire which shee had to the rest of eternall life to come Excesse of passions may euer hurt they can neuer profit When sensualitie reigneth especially amongst women there reason taketh no place A madde Woman knoweth things done but a discreet woman considereth things long before they come to passe Praise and indiscretion can neuer be coupled together From idle wit there springs a brain-sick will Which wise men lust which foolish make a god This in the shape of vertue reigneth still But 't is the onely vice one worst and odde Will puts in practice what the wit deuiseth Will euer acts and wit contemplates still And as from wit the power of wisedome riseth All other vertues daughters are of will The heedlesse will true iudgement doth ensnare Who 's rul'd by it doth neuer want her care Where womens actions measure no regard There lawlesse will is made his owne regard Such is the crueltie of women kinde When they haue maken off the shame-fac't band With which wise nature did them strongly binde T' obey the hests of mans well-ruling hand That then all rule reason they withstand To purchase a licentious libertie But vertuous women wisely vnderstand That they were borne to base humilitie Vnlesse the Heauens them lift to lawfull souereigntie What iron band or what sharp mouthed bit What chain of Diamond if such might be â—an bridle womens wrath or conquer it â—nd keepe them in their bounds and true degree Craft makes a woman oft appeare in show Merry and sad when shee is neuer so The louely lookes the sighs that storme so sore The due of deep dissembling doubtfulnesse These may attempt but are of power no more When beauty leanes to wit soothfastnes Liue within Compasse in Beautie THere is nothing harder for a woman than to know her selfe for blinded with beautie and selfe-loue they flatter themselues in all things There is in euery woman two powers which draw and conduct her a desire of pleasure bred in the beautie of the body and a good opinion coueting onely good things betweene these two there is continuall strife in women and when the opinion hath the maistry it maketh a woman sober chaste discreet quiet but when desire getteth the vpper hand it makes her lustfull riotous couetous vnquiet Three things a woman ought to hold remarkable her soule her body the substance of this world The soule first because it is a thing beautifull immortall made after the shape of God himselfe The body next because it is faire and is the case and sepulcher of the soule and the nearest seruant to the secret spirit lastly the substance of this world being necessary and the principall instruments and
tools of the body Let then the eyes of euery womans inward minde first respect the beautie of her soule then the comelinesse of her body and lastly the necessitie of riches She that loueth beautie more than vertue shall either lack that she coueteth or els lose what she hath got with great paine Shée that is in loue with her owne beautie is like one that trauelleth on the Seas if she escape the dangers which are scandals shee is fortunate but if shée perish shee is wilfully deceiued Trust not beautie for it neuer payeth what it promiseth Beautie in this world is the delight of â—n houre and the sorrow of many dayes â—ut in the world to come eternall rest and â—ong ioy Beautie is of two sorts as of the body which is a séemly compositioÌ„ of all the members wherein all the parts with a certain grace agree together and the other of the winde which is a conueniency meet for the excellency of man or woman and that wherin their nature doth differ from other liuing creatures as the outward beauty moueth reioiceth the eies so this shining in their liues by order moderation both in deeds words draweth vnto them the hearts of them amongst whom they liue Beauty is such a fading good that it can be scarce possessed before it be vanished The greatest gift that euer heauen bestowed on a woman is beautie for it both delighteth the eye contenteth the minde winneth good fauour of all men The beauty of the body withereth with age and is impaired by sicknesse but the beautie of the soule which is innocency and humilitie can neuer be consumed A beautifull countenance is a silent commendations The fairest creature that euer Goâ— created was the world Beautie honor and wealth are threâ— deepe perswasions to make loue frollickâ— and men miserable In all things diuisible there is something more something lesse somethinâ— equall more or lesse what can be more equall than beautie or wit The Scorpion if hee touch neuer sâ— lightly inuenometh the whole body thâ— least sparke of wild-fire sets the wholâ— house on a flame the Cockatrice kils meâ— with his sight the sting of loue and beautiâ— woundeth deadly the flame of fancy setâ— all the thoughts on fire and the eyes of â— louer wounded with beautie are accounted incurable Shée that is an enemy to beautie is a foâ—… to nature and shée that doats on beautiâ— is a high traytor to nature Beauties that should be concealed too grosly discouered are faire signes hung out to entice to an vnhospitable Inne Beautie without honesty is poyson preserued in a box of gold Let not a womans beauty but her vertue be her dower for her good deeds will remaine when age hath taken her beautie from her Let no woman striue to excell in beautie but hold the golden meane which is the true mediocritie and best part of any action and must be vsed in all things it containeth the full effects of prudence touching gouernment and tranquilitie concerning the soule Curiositie and extremity banished woman from the first modesty of her nature To liue on the mountaines and haue too much heat is to be Sunne-burnt to liue in the valley and haue too little is barren to hold the meane is euer most fruitfull 'T is sacred Beautie is the fruit of sight The curtesie that speaks before the tongue The feast of soules the glory of the lights Enuy of age and euerlasting young Pitties commander Cupids richest throne Musicke entranced neuer dully sung The summe and court of all proportion And that I may dull speeches least afford All Rhetorickes flowers in lesse than a word 'T is beauty that is a womans golden crown Mans conqueresse and feminine renowne Not ioynd with loue who deare yet euer sold it For Beauty's cheape except loues eye behold it Beautie is still an Adamant to all And Natures bush that passengers doth call Beautie it selfe doth of it selfe perswade The eyes of men without an Orator What needeth then Apologies be made To set forth that which is so singular O how can Beauty master the most strong And simple Truth subdue aueÌ„ging wrong O what is he whose youth can say he loues not Or who so old that womens beauty moues not Neuer were cheeks of roses locks of amber Ordaind to liue imprison'd in a chamber Heauen made Beauty like it selfe to view Not to be lockt vp in a smokie mew A rosie vertuous cheeke is heauens gold Which all men ioy to touch all to behold The ripest corne dyes if it be not reapt Beauty alone is lost too char'ly kept Out of Compasse in Beautie Odiousnesse TO exceed Nature or thy condition is a ryotous excesse in lust apparell or other ornament it is also a part of pride and contrary to decency and comlinesse Excesse of brauery brings a woman of wealth quickly to pouertie and excesse of beautie to hate and odiousnesse They that rather delight to decke their bodies than their soules seeme women rather created for their bodies than their soules As the wéed cannot be esteemed precious for the faire flower which it beareth so ought no woman to be accounted vertuous for the gay garment shée weareth or the beauty shée borroweth Beautie may be ouerthrowne with age and apparell consumed with moaths what folly is it then for women to delight in that which an houre can waste or a very little worme destroy Raine can neuer cause the Corne to bring forth any fruit which is sowne vpon hard stones nor speech cannot perswade a proud woman to become an enemy to braue apparell Gorgeous garments are markes of pride and nests of riotousnesse As a man would iudge one to be ill at ease which weareth a plaster vpon his face or one that hath beene scourged to be punished by the Law so doth painting betoken in a woman a diseased soule marked with adultery As it is no wisedome in admiring the scabard to despise the blade so is it meere folly to praise a woman for her brauery discommend her for her modesty Odious is that beautie which sleepeth not with the face If by the ciuill Law the child may haue an action of the case against him which shall deface the portraiture of his father we may well imagine what action God will haue against those women which by artificiall painting seeke to correct his workmanship Painting hastens wrinkles before old age come All kinde of painting artificiall garnishing and colouring of haire was forbidden among the Spartans despised of wise men and loathed of good men There are three things which cost dearly and consume quickly a faire woman that is vnchaste a rich garment that hath many cuts and a wealthy stocke in the hands of an ill husband The tongue of a bitter woman pierceth deeper than her eyes A painted womans sorrowes howsoeuer extreme ought not to be redressed for being trimmed vp with dissimulation she should not be beleeued A painted womans eyes haue two sorts of teares