GOD saue you with all my hearte most reuerend maister doctor : and God ( which is the true light ) send you good successe this day and euer .

And I ( my good louing father ) doe wish asmuch vnto you with all my heart . But heare I pray you , from whence come you so early ? It is scarcely day as yet , hath any thing chaunced contrary to your minde ? Is your wife and children well , and in good health ?

My wife , with my whole familie are in very good health ( thankes bee vnto God ) if you weigh and consider only their bodies . But if you inwardly beholde their soules ( which is the most excellent part of man ) then shall you finde nothing to bee more lamented , nothing more miserable , nothing ( to bee short ) more out of order , the Lorde God amend it when his will is .

Alas , why so ? Let mée know it I pray you , kéepe it not secrete , bée not afraide , beléeue mée I say , I will helpe you either with my counsel , or otherwise with any thing that I may , to the vttermost of my power .

When I doe beholde the families in these our borders and partes Amusus ●e●●●leth the state of disordered families . euery where , I am exceedingly mooued with sorrowe : for I see the youth growe vp in euery place without any instruction of godlinesse , vertue or good manners , as if they were the children of the most barbarous nations , nay rather of the very Turkes and Infidels , so little regarde is there of true godlinesse and vertue for the most part . And againe when I am compelled to come to mine owne familie and to consider the same so farre out of order ( I had welnigh said vtterly corrupted and past al hope ) I am altogether wearie of my life : For by the disposition of mine owne children I easily gather , that the youth in this our age is not onely void of al good discipline , but also growne to such libertie and boldnesse , that almost they wil receiue no admonition , be it neuer so godlie . This plague when I note in mine owne : I am moued vnto anger , I chide , I threaten , yea and sometime I strike them , but with al these thinges it auaileth little or nothing . Wherfore very earnestly and not without teares I haue often desired of Almighty God , that in this my greate heauinesse and sorrowe hee woulde vouchsafe to send me some wholsome and godlie Counsel , so that after many praiers , & supplications made , I haue found nothing to be more profitable for me , then to commit the same to some godly and learned man , which after I had deepely weighed & considered in my mind , you are the first with whom I met , therfore al shame laide aparte , I come vnto you , as it were mine only aide and sanctuarie , & this hath bin often in my mind heretofore , but I haue byn afraide to trouble you , yet now at the last , necessitie that cruel weapon , hath euen compelled mee to shake of al shame and feare .

I am angry with this your continual & vnprofitable shamefastnesse : haue not I euer borne you goodwill , euen as to my brother ? And therefore , why shoulde you not bée bolde to come vnto mée after a familier manner ? I haue often promised vnto you my studie and trauell without any exception , & am still mynded to performe the same : what is the cause therfore that you haue not come to my house ? so that if you had come , think not that you should haue troubled me , but rather that nothing could haue chaunced more acceptable , and ioyfull vnto me then your presence .

Reuerend Sir , I most humbly thanke you for this your greate curtesie and goodwil towards me , and I heartily pray you , that according to your accustomed wisedome and godlinesse you would teach me , and as it were with your finger , point me out the methode & order of godly & vertuous education & instructing of children , for albeit I am vnlearned , & a poore house keeper , yet ( God is my witnesse ) how earnestly I doe desire & wish with al my heart , to see my poore and wretched children godly and vertuously trained vp and instructed in the true knowledge , faith , religion , & feare of almighty God . And further , that they might be taught in al ciuilitie and good manners , and so learne to walke in the waies of our Lorde God , that at the last after this wretched miserable and short life , they may be made heires of that most excellent and euerlasting ioy with the electe and Saintes of God in heauen : for what other thing is this life , then dust , a shadow , and the very image of death ? The prophet Dauid saith , thou hast Psal. 39. made my daies as it were a spanne long , and mine age is euen as nothing in respect of thee : And verily euery man liuing is altogether vanitie . For man walketh in a vaine shadow , and disquieteh himselfe in vaine : Hee heapeth vp riches , and cannot tell who shall gather them .

Verely , neither by chaunce , nor fortune ▪ haue you come hither , but by the determinate wil and appointment of God . Forasmuch as I haue earnestly desired to haue some conference about this matter with a man thus hungring and thirsting after righteousnesse , the woorde of God , and chiefly in this kinde of studie , or exercise , wherein is handled the dutie of housholders , Parentes and Children , then the which in this our time I iudge nothing more acceptable to God , nothing more profitable or necessarie to mankinde : For as there is nothing more to bée lamented , then that father of housholde which neglecteth his familie in their good reformation : so is there none more honest or godly , then hée which beginneth to informe his youth euen 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 .

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 .

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 The workes commended . 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 .

Haue good hope and confidence deare friend Amuse , I say your godly request shall be accomplished .

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 .

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 .

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 .

You are all most hartily welcome , & chiefly you ( O my good The family is committed to the wife , aswell as the husband . 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 .

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 conference , wherby I might the rather learne , how to accomplish and performe my duetie .

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 .

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 .

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 , The argument diuided into si● partes . 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 whom 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 .

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 .

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 The definition of mariage . ioyning together of one man , and one woman , ordeined to the seruice of God , for the procreation and vertuous education 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 procreation of children , and the auoyding of fornication .

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 Ioan. 2. 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 Mariage doth please God . 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 .

Vnto what end hath God instituted , this holie and lawful Matrimonie ?

The end of lawfull Matrimonie is in thrée sortes , God hath The end of mariage is in 3 sortes . 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 .

What duetie ought the godly couples to vse in mariage ?

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 gouernment , & not a tyrannous : sometime pardoning Good lesson● for husbandes and wiues . the woman , because she is the 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 The dueties of godly couples . 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 vpon him in faith , without douting . For Christ himself saith , Where two vpon the earth do agrée together , whatsoeuer they shal aske of Mat. 18. 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 , when 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 .

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 .

You put me well in remembrance , for as the procreation of children Of the Procreation 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 , Gene. 3. 1. Reg. 2. Iudi. 13. Luc. 1. and it was a great shame to haue no children . Thus did Rachael bewayle the shame and reproch of Lyae . So did Hanna when shée was barren ▪ pray vnto the Lord , and conceiued . So in like maner , Elizabeth the mother of Iohn Baptist , moued God with continuall prayers , and was heard .

As the scripture pronounceth them happy , whom God hath thus blessed The peruers iudgement of the people . 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 .

It is the error , or rather the malice of the common people , from Pro. 10. Pro. 17. 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 Psal. 128. of thine hands : O well is thée , and happie shalt thou be . Thy wife shal be as the fruitfull vine : vpon the walles of thine house : Thy children like the Oliue braunches rounde about thy Table . L●e thus shall the man be blessed , that feareth the Lorde , And Isocrates , being an heathen man , confirmeth the same also in these vers●s :

ANd when Cambises compared himselfe with his father Cyrus , and that his friends did sooth him , that hée farre excéeded his The wise answer of Cresus 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 v● 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 .

Verie wisely and worthily spoken , fors●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 ?

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 ●●● 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 Deut. 6. 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 Eodem . 11. my words in your heart & in your soule , & bind them for a signe vpon 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 , & when thou risest vp : yea , & thou shalt write them vpon thy doore postes of thine house , & vpon thy gates , that your dayes & the dayes of your children may be multiplied . Tel your children of it , & let them shew it to their ●●●l. 1. children , & so they to certefie their posteritie therof . Behold , the truth hateth not the light , but wil be manifested in all things . Therefore the Prophet is not content to teach the people of his time , but doeth desire that they might be taught vnto the end of the world : And he doeth exhort them , that one generation might teach & instruct an other . And now , albeit that very many Parents at this day ( my Theophilus ) do lightly regard the teaching & instructing of their children : yet how earnestly , the instructing of them is charged & commaunded here , your self may easily iudge . So that when I do bewaile sometime the negligence 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 begotten & borne , whom God & nature neuerthelesse would haue beloued & carefully regarded : As these places also following , doe manifestly shewe & witnesse . Thou that hast children , Eccle. 7. God commandeth children to be nurtured . Eccle. 30. saith Iesus Sirach , Nurture them & hold them vnder from their childehood , he saith not , Make them rich & cocker them , but nurture and chastise them . And againe he saieth , Teach thy some , & be diligent therin , least it be to thy shame : The whole Chapiter is worth the reading . We finde a like commandement in Solomon , which saith , Chasten thy sonne , whiles there is some hope of his amendement . And Saint Paule is not vnmindfull of this godly precept , saying : Ephe. 6. Bring vp your children in instruction and information of the Lorde . Paule woulde haue young men and children brought vp , first , by instruction , and then by correction in the Lorde , which reasons and orders if they were of euery Parent diligently obserued , it coulde not bée why at this day so many families ( vtterly spoyled and ouerthrowne ) should bée lamented . Such is the infinite goodnesse , care , and great loue of God towardes vs , who doeth not only send vs children : but also most diligently setteth before vs , the forme and order how we shall nurture and correct them .

Moreouer , to these his holy precepts , hée addeth most sweete promises , by the which hée exciteth and stirreth vp the mindes of Parentes are stirred vp to instruct their children with sweete promises . Prou. 29. Eccle. 30. Parents vnto a more seruent care , and these places , which I wyll nowe recite in order , doe truely testifie the same . Nurture thy sonne ( saith Solomon ) with correction , & thou shalt be at rest , yea , he shal doe thée good at thine heart . And againe , he that teacheth his sonne , is praised in him . Hée that teacheth his sonne , gréeueth the enimie : and before his fréends he shall haue ioy of him . But these are made more plaine by the Antithesis .

How is that I pray you ? declare it vnto vs .

That is , if wée put those places negatiuely , after this maner . Who so nurtureth not his sonne , hath litle ioy of him , is seldome praysed , and giueth great occasion for his enimies to reioyce .

It is verie true , and that doth dayly experience proue the same . Neither doe I maruel , that negligent Parents suffer many griefes and sorowes by meanes of their children : for they bring great heauinesse and sorrowe voto vs also , which vse the greatest care and diligence that we can in this , that they may be godly and vertuously brought vp .

You say truely , for Cain , Ismael , Cham ▪ and the children of Samuel , Heli , Dauid , & of many others be examples vnto vs , but that I may returne to my purpose : Yesterday with sorrowefull minde and great heauinesse you complained vnto mée , that you coulde very hardly gouern your children , although you did assay al meanes possible and that the matter shoulde come to chiding threatning , and cruelt woordes , but neither with threatnings nor with stripes onlie ought wée to deale with children ▪ but in a contrary maner must we deale with them . For first , children are to bee instructed with Godly admonitions , and trained from their tender yéeres vnto the feare of God , which ( a● Solomon ▪ witnesseth ) is the fountaine of We must not deale with youth by threatnings & stripes . all good thinges according to the examples of the Patriarkes , prophets , and other godly 〈…〉 which haue brought vp their children 〈…〉 and in the feare of God . And as I socrates saith , Non mult●●t exact● leges , se● bona inst●●ta & honesta disciplina , mores iuuentutis emendant . Not manie and strict lawes or rules , but good instruction , and honest discipline doe correct the faultes of youth .