THE
COVNTESSE
OF
Lincolnes
Nurserie
.
BEcause
it
hath
pleased
God
to
blesse
me
with
many
children
,
and
so
caused
me
to
obserue
many
things
falling
out
to
mothers
,
and
to
their
children
;
I
thought
good
to
open
my
minde
concerning
a
speciall
matter
belonging
to
all
childe-bearing
women
,
seriously
to
consider
of
:
and
to
manifest
my
minde
the
better
,
even
to
write
of
this
matter
,
so
farre
as
God
shall
please
to
direct
me
;
in
summe
,
the
matter
I
meane
,
Is
the
duty
of
nursing
due
by
mothers
to
their
owne
children
.
In
setting
downe
whereof
,
I
wil
first
shew
,
that
every
woman
ought
to
nurse
her
owne
childe
;
and
secondly
,
I
will
endeavour
to
answere
such
obiections
,
as
are
vsed
to
be
cast
out
against
this
dutie
to
disgrace
the
same
.
The
first
point
is
easily
performed
.
For
it
is
the
expresse
ordinance
of
God
that
mothers
should
nurse
their
owne
children
,
&
being
his
ordinance
they
are
bound
to
it
in
conscience
.
This
should
stop
the
mouthes
of
all
replyers
,
for
God
is
most
wise
,
All
sufficient
,
If
this
(
as
it
ought
)
bee
granted
,
then
how
venterous
are
those
women
that
dare
venter
to
doe
otherwise
,
and
so
to
refuse
,
and
by
refusing
to
dispise
that
order
,
which
the
most
wise
and
allmighty
God
hath
appointed
,
and
in
steed
thereof
to
chuse
their
owne
pleasures
?
Oh
what
peace
can
there
be
to
these
womens
consciences
,
vnlesse
through
the
darknes
of
their
vnderstanding
they
judge
it
no
disobedience
?
And
then
they
will
driue
me
to
proue
that
this
nursing
,
and
nourishing
of
their
own
children
in
their
own
bosomes
is
Gods
ordinance
;
They
are
very
willful
,
or
very
ignorant
,
if
they
make
a
question
of
it
.
For
it
is
proued
sufficiently
to
be
their
dutie
,
both
by
Gods
word
,
and
also
by
his
workes
.
By
his
word
it
is
proued
,
first
by
Examples
,
namely
the
example
of
Eue.
For
who
suckled
her
sonnes
Cain
,
Abel
,
Seth
,
&c.
but
her selfe
?
Which
shee
did
not
only
of
meere
necessitie
,
because
yet
no
other
woman
was
created
;
but
especially
because
shee
was
their
mother
,
and
so
sawe
it
was
her
duty
:
and
because
shee
had
a
true
naturall
affection
,
which
moved
her
to
doe
it
gladly
.
Next
the
example
of
Sarah
the
wife
of
Abraham
;
For
shee
both
gaue
her
sonne
Isaac
suck
,
But
now
to
another
worthy
example
,
namely
that
excellent
woman
Hannah
,
To
proceed
,
take
notice
of
one
example
more
,
that
is
,
of
the
blessed
Virgin
:
as
her
womb
bare
our
blessed
Sauiour
,
so
her
papps
gaue
him
sucke
.
Now
who
shall
deny
the
own
mothers
suckling
of
their
owne
children
:
to
bee
their
duty
,
since
euery
godly
matrone
hath
walked
in
these
steps
before
them
:
Eue
the
mother
of
al
the
liuing
;
Sarah
the
mother
of
al
the
faithfull
;
Hannah
so
gratiously
heard
of
God
;
Mary
blessed
among
women
,
and
called
blessed
of
all
ages
.
And
who
can
say
but
that
the
rest
of
holy
women
mentioned
in
the
holy
Scriptures
did
the
like
;
since
no
doubt
that
speech
of
that
noble
Dame
,
saying
,
who
would
haue
said
to
Abraham
that
Sarah
should
haue
giuen
children
sucke
?
was
taken
from
the
ordinary
custome
of
mothers
in
those
lesse
corrupted
times
.
And
so
much
for
proofe
of
this
office
,
and
duty
to
be
Gods
ordinance
,
by
his
own
Word
according
to
the
argument
of
Examples
:
I
hope
I
shall
likewise
proue
it
by
the
same
word
from
plaine
Precepts
.
And
thus
I
come
to
a
second
Precept
.
I
pray
you
,
who
that
iudges
aright
;
doth
not
hold
the
suckling
of
her
owne
childe
the
part
of
a
true
mother
,
of
an
honest
mother
,
of
a
iust
mother
,
of
a
syncere
mother
,
of
a
mother
worthy
of
loue
,
of
a
mother
deseruing
good
report
,
of
a
vertuous
mother
,
of
a
mother
winning
praise
for
it
?
All
this
is
assented
to
by
any
of
good
vnderstanding
.
Therefore
this
is
also
a
Precept
,
as
for
other
duties
,
so
for
This
of
mothers
to
their
children
;
which
saith
,
whatsoeuer
things
are
true
,
So
farre
for
my
promise
,
to
proue
by
the
word
of
God
,
that
it
is
his
ordinance
that
women
should
nurse
their
owne
children
:
now
I
will
endeauour
to
proue
it
by
his
workes
:
First
by
his
workes
of
iudgement
;
if
it
were
not
his
ordinance
for
mothers
to
giue
their
children
sucke
,
it
were
no
iudgement
to
bereaue
them
of
their
milke
,
but
it
is
specified
to
be
a
great
iudgement
to
bereaue
them
hereof
,
&
to
giue
them
dry
breasts
,
therefore
it
is
to
be
gathered
,
euen
from
hence
,
that
it
is
his
ordinance
,
since
to
depriue
them
of
meanes
to
doe
it
,
is
a
punishment
of
them
.
I
adde
to
this
the
worke
that
God
worketh
in
the
very
nature
of
mothers
,
which
proueth
also
that
he
hath
ordained
that
they
should
nurse
their
owne
children
:
for
by
his
secret
operation
,
the
mothers
affection
it
so
knit
by
natures
law
to
her
tender
babe
,
as
she
findes
no
power
to
deny
to
suckle
it
,
no
not
when
shee
is
in
hazard
to
lose
her
owne
life
,
by
attending
on
it
;
for
in
such
a
case
it
is
not
said
,
let
the
mother
fly
,
and
leaue
her
infant
to
the
perill
,
as
if
she
were
dispensed
with
:
but
onely
it
is
said
woe
to
her
,
as
if
she
were
to
be
pittied
,
that
for
nature
to
her
child
,
she
must
be
vnnaturall
to
her selfe
:
now
if
any
then
being
euen
at
liberty
,
and
in
peace
,
with
all
plenty
,
shall
deny
to
giue
sucke
to
their
owne
children
,
they
goe
against
nature
:
and
shew
that
God
hath
not
done
so
much
for
them
as
to
worke
any
good
,
Now
another
worke
of
God
,
prouing
this
point
is
the
worke
of
his
prouision
,
for
euery
kinde
to
be
apt
,
and
able
to
nourish
their
own
fruit
:
there
is
no
beast
that
feeds
their
young
with
milke
,
but
the
Lord
,
euen
from
the
first
ground
of
the
order
of
nature
;
Growe
,
and
multiplie
;
hath
prouided
it
of
milke
to
suckle
their
owne
young
,
which
euery
beast
takes
so
naturally
vnto
,
as
if
another
beast
come
toward
their
young
to
offer
the
office
of
a
Damme
vnto
it
,
they
shew
according
to
their
fashion
,
a
plaine
dislike
of
it
:
as
if
nature
did
speake
in
them
,
and
say
it
is
contrary
to
Gods
order
in
nature
,
commanding
each
kinde
to
increase
,
and
multiplie
in
their
owne
bodies
,
and
by
their
owne
breasts
,
not
to
bring
forth
by
one
Damme
,
and
to
bring
vp
by
another
:
but
it
is
his
ordinance
that
euery
kinde
should
both
bring
forth
,
and
also
nurse
its
owne
fruit
.
Much
more
should
this
work
of
God
prevaile
to
perswade
women
,
made
as
man
in
the
image
of
God
,
and
therefore
should
be
ashamed
to
bee
put
to
schoole
to
learne
good
nature
of
the
vnreasonable
creature
.
In
vs
also
,
as
we
knowe
by
experience
,
God
prouideth
milke
in
our
breasts
against
the
time
of
our
childrens
birth
,
and
this
hee
hath
done
euer
since
it
was
said
to
vs
also
,
Increase
,
and
multiply
,
so
that
this
worke
of
his
prouision
sheweth
that
hee
tieth
vs
likewise
to
nourish
the
children
of
our
owne
wombe
,
with
our
own
breasts
,
euen
by
the
order
of
nature
:
yea
it
sheweth
that
he
so
careth
for
,
and
regardeth
little
children
euen
from
the
wombe
,
that
he
would
haue
them
nursed
by
those
that
in
all
reason
will
looke
to
them
with
the
kindest
affection
,
namely
their
mothers
;
&
in
giuing
them
milke
for
it
,
hee
doth
plainely
tell
them
that
herequires
it
.
Oh
consider
,
how
comes
our
milke
?
is
it
not
by
the
direct
prouidence
of
God
?
Why
prouides
he
it
,
but
for
the
child
?
The
mothers
then
that
refuse
to
nurse
their
owne
children
,
doe
they
not
despise
Gods
prouidence
?
Doe
they
not
deny
Gods
will
?
Doe
they
not
as
it
were
say
,
I
see
,
O
God
,
by
the
meanes
thou
hast
put
into
me
,
that
thou
wouldst
haue
me
nurse
the
child
thou
hast
giuen
me
,
but
I
will
not
doe
so
much
for
thee
.
Oh
impious
,
and
impudent
vnthankfulnesse
;
yea
monstrous
vnnaturalnesse
,
both
to
their
own
natural
fruit
borne
so
neare
their
breasts
,
and
fed
in
their
owne
wombes
,
and
yet
may
not
be
suffered
to
sucke
their
owne
milke
.
And
this
vnthankfulnesse
,
and
vnnaturalnesse
is
oftner
the
sinne
of
the
Higher
,
and
the
richer
sort
,
then
of
the
meaner
,
and
poorer
,
except
some
nice
and
prowd
idle
dames
,
who
will
imitate
their
betters
,
till
they
make
their
poore
husbands
beggars
.
And
this
is
one
hurt
which
the
better
ranke
doe
by
their
ill
example
;
egge
,
and
imbolden
the
lower
ones
to
follow
them
to
their
losse
:
were
it
not
better
for
Vs
greater
persons
to
keepe
Gods
ordinance
,
&
to
shew
the
meaner
their
dutie
in
our
good
example
?
I
am
sure
wee
haue
more
helpes
to
performe
it
,
and
haue
fewer
probable
reasons
to
alleage
against
it
,
then
women
that
liue
by
hard
labour
,
&
painfull
toile
.
If
such
mothers
as
refuse
this
office
of
loue
,
&
of
nature
to
their
children
,
should
hereafter
be
refused
,
despised
,
and
neglected
of
those
their
children
,
were
they
not
iustly
required
according
to
their
owne
vnkind
dealing
?
I
might
say
more
in
handling
this
first
point
of
my
promise
;
but
I
leaue
the
larger
,
and
learneder
discourse
hereof
vnto
men
of
art
,
and
learning
:
only
I
speake
of
so
much
as
I
reade
,
and
know
in
my
owne
experience
,
which
if
any
of
my
sexe
,
and
condition
do
receaue
good
by
,
I
am
glad
:
if
they
scorne
it
,
they
shall
haue
the
reward
of
scorners
.
I
write
in
modestie
,
and
can
reape
no
disgrace
by
their
immodest
folly
.
And
so
I
come
to
the
last
part
of
my
promise
;
which
is
to
answer
obiections
made
by
diuers
against
this
duty
of
mothers
to
their
children
.
First
it
is
obiected
that
Rebeckah
had
a
nurse
,
and
that
therefore
her
mother
did
not
giue
her
suck
of
her
owne
breasts
,
and
so
good
women
,
in
the
first
ages
,
did
not
hold
them
to
this
office
of
nursing
their
owne
children
.
To
this
I
answer
;
that
if
her
mother
had
milk
,
and
health
,
and
yet
did
put
this
duty
from
her
to
another
,
it
was
her
fault
,
&
so
proueth
nothing
against
me
.
But
it
is
manifest
that
she
that
Rebeckah
calleth
her
nurse
,
was
called
so
,
either
for
that
she
most
tended
her
while
her
mother
suckled
her
:
or
for
that
she
weaned
her
:
or
for
that
during
her
nonage
,
and
childhood
,
shee
did
minister
to
her
continually
such
good
things
as
delighted
,
and
nourished
her
vp
.
For
to
any
one
of
these
the
name
of
a
nourse
is
fitly
giuen
:
whence
a
good
wife
is
called
her
husbands
nourse
:
and
that
Rebeckahs
nourse
was
only
such
a
one
,
blessed
one
from
an
extraordinary
,
&
blessed
power
.
Secondly
it
is
obiected
,
that
it
is
troublesome
;
that
it
is
noysome
to
ones
clothes
;
that
it
makes
one
looke
old
,
&c.
All
such
reasons
are
vncomely
,
and
vnchristian
to
be
obiected
:
and
therefore
vnworthy
to
be
answered
,
they
argue
vnmotherly
affection
,
idlenesse
,
desire
to
haue
liberty
to
gadd
from
home
,
pride
,
foolish
finenesse
,
lust
,
wantonnesse
,
&
the
like
euills
.
Aske
Sarah
,
Hannah
,
the
blessed
virgin
,
and
any
modest
louing
mother
,
what
trouble
they
accounted
it
to
giue
their
little
ones
sucke
:
behold
most
nursing
mothers
and
they
be
as
cleane
and
sweet
in
their
cloathes
,
and
carry
their
age
,
and
hold
their
beautie
,
as
well
as
those
that
suckle
not
:
and
most
likely
are
they
so
to
doe
;
because
keeping
Gods
Ordinance
,
they
are
sure
of
Gods
Blessing
:
and
it
hath
beene
obserued
in
some
women
that
they
grew
more
beautifull
,
and
better
fauoured
,
by
very
nursing
their
owne
children
.
But
there
are
some
women
that
obiect
feare
:
saying
that
they
are
so
weake
,
&
so
tender
,
that
they
are
afraid
to
venter
to
giue
their
children
suck
,
least
they
indanger
their
health
thereby
.
Of
these
,
I
demand
,
why
then
they
did
venter
to
marry
,
and
so
to
beare
children
;
and
if
they
say
they
could
not
chuse
,
and
that
they
thought
not
that
marriage
would
impaire
their
health
:
I
answere
,
that
for
the
same
reasons
they
should
set
themselues
to
nurse
their
owne
children
,
because
they
should
not
chuse
but
doe
what
God
would
haue
them
to
doe
:
and
they
should
beleeue
that
this
worke
will
be
for
their
health
also
,
seeing
it
is
ordinary
with
the
Lord
to
giue
good
stomach
,
health
,
and
strength
to
almost
all
mothers
that
take
this
paines
with
their
children
.
One
answere
more
to
all
the
obiections
that
vse
to
bee
made
against
giuing
children
sucke
,
is
this
,
that
now
the
hardnes
,
to
effect
this
matter
,
is
much
remooued
by
a
late
example
of
a
tender
young
Lady
,
and
you
may
all
be
encouraged
to
follow
after
,
in
that
wherein
she
hath
gone
before
you
,
&
so
made
the
way
more
easie
,
and
more
hopefull
by
that
which
shee
findeth
possible
and
comfortable
by
Gods
blessing
,
and
no
offence
to
her
Lord
nor
her
selfe
:
shee
might
haue
had
as
many
doubts
,
and
lets
,
as
any
of
you
,
but
she
was
willing
to
try
how
God
would
enable
her
,
&
he
hath
giuen
her
good
successe
,
as
I
hope
he
will
doe
to
others
that
are
willing
to
trust
in
God
for
his
helpe
.
Now
if
any
reading
these
few
lines
returne
against
me
,
that
it
may
bee
I
my selfe
haue
giuen
my
own
children
suck
:
&
therefore
am
bolder
,
and
more
busie
to
meddle
in
vrging
this
point
,
to
the
end
to
insult
ouer
,
&
to
make
them
to
bee
blamed
that
haue
not
done
it
.
I
answer
,
that
whether
I
haue
,
or
haue
not
performed
this
my
bounden
duty
,
I
will
not
deny
to
tell
my
own
practise
.
I
knowe
&
acknowledge
that
I
should
haue
done
it
,
and
hauing
not
done
it
;
it
was
not
for
want
of
will
in
my selfe
,
but
partly
I
was
ouerruled
by
anothers
authority
,
and
partly
deceiued
by
somes
ill
counsell
,
&
partly
I
had
not
so
well
considered
of
my
duty
in
this
motherly
office
,
as
since
I
did
,
when
it
was
too
late
for
me
to
put
it
in
execution
.
Wherefore
being
pricked
in
hart
for
my
vndutifullnesse
,
this
way
I
studie
to
redeeme
my
peace
,
first
by
repentance
towards
God
,
humbly
and
often
craving
his
pardon
for
this
my
offence
:
secondly
by
studying
how
to
shew
double
loue
to
my
children
,
to
make
them
amends
for
neglect
of
this
part
of
loue
to
them
,
when
they
should
haue
hung
on
my
breasts
,
&
haue
beene
nourished
in
mine
owne
bosome
:
thirdly
by
doing
my
indeauour
to
prevent
many
christian
mothers
from
sining
in
the
same
kinde
,
against
our
most
louing
,
and
gratious
God
.
And
for
this
cause
I
add
vnto
my
performed
promise
,
this
short
exhortation
:
namely
I
beseech
all
godly
women
to
remember
,
how
we
elder
ones
are
commaunded
to
instruct
the
yonger
,
to
loue
their
children
,
now
therefore
loue
them
so
as
to
do
this
office
to
them
when
they
are
borne
,
more
gladly
for
loue
sake
,
then
a
strunger
,
who
bore
them
not
,
shall
do
for
lucre
sake
.
Also
I
pray
you
to
set
no
more
so
light
by
Gods
blessing
in
your
owne
breasts
,
which
the
holy
Spirit
ranketh
with
other
excellent
blessings
;
if
it
be
vnlawfull
to
trample
vnder
feete
a
cluster
of
grapes
,
in
which
a
little
wine
is
found
;
then
how
vnlawfull
is
it
to
destroye
and
drie
vp
those
breasts
,
in
which
your
owne
child
(
and
perhaps
one
of
Gods
very
elect
,
to
whom
to
be
a
noursing
father
,
is
a
Kings
honour
;
and
to
whom
to
be
a
noursing
mother
,
is
a
Queens
honour
)
might
finde
food
of
syncere
milke
,
euen
from
Gods
immediate
prouidence
,
vntill
it
were
fitter
for
stronger
meat
?
I
doe
knowe
that
the
Lord
may
deny
some
women
,
either
to
haue
any
milke
in
their
breasts
at
all
,
or
to
haue
any
passage
for
their
milke
,
or
to
haue
any
health
,
or
to
haue
a
right
minde
:
and
so
they
may
be
letted
from
this
duty
,
by
want
,
by
sicknesse
,
by
lunacy
,
&c.
But
I
speake
not
to
these
:
I
speake
to
you
,
Whose
consciences
witnesse
against
you
,
that
you
cannot
iustly
alleage
any
of
those
impediments
.
Doe
you
submit
your selues
,
to
the
paine
and
trouble
of
this
ordinance
of
God
?
trust
not
other
women
,
whom
wages
hyres
to
doe
it
,
better
then
your selues
,
whom
God
,
and
nature
ties
to
doe
it
.
I
haue
found
by
grieuous
experience
,
such
dissembling
in
nurses
,
pretending
sufficiency
of
milke
,
when
indeed
they
had
too
much
scarcitie
;
pretending
willingnesse
,
towardnesse
,
wakefulnesse
,
when
indeed
they
haue
beene
most
wilfull
,
most
froward
,
and
most
slothfull
,
as
I
feare
the
death
of
one
or
two
of
my
little
Babes
came
by
the
defalt
of
their
nurses
.
Of
all
those
which
I
had
for
eighteene
children
,
I
had
but
two
which
were
throughly
willing
,
and
carefull
:
diuers
haue
had
their
children
miscarry
in
the
nurses
hands
,
and
are
such
mothers
(
if
it
were
by
the
nurses
carelesnesse
)
guiltlesse
?
I
knowe
not
how
they
should
,
since
they
will
shut
them
out
of
the
armes
of
nature
,
and
leaue
them
to
the
will
of
a
stranger
;
yea
to
one
that
will
seeme
to
estrange
her selfe
from
her
owne
child
,
to
giue
sucke
to
the
nurse-child
:
This
she
may
faine
to
doe
vpon
a
couetous
composition
,
but
she
frets
at
it
in
her
minde
,
if
she
haue
any
naturall
affection
.
Therefore
be
no
longer
at
the
trouble
,
and
at
the
care
to
hire
others
to
doe
your
owne
worke
:
bee
not
so
vnnaturall
to
thrust
away
your
owne
children
:
be
not
so
hardy
as
to
venter
a
tender
Babe
to
a
lesse
tender
heart
:
bee
not
accessary
to
that
disorder
of
causing
a
poorer
woman
to
banish
her
owne
infant
,
for
the
entertaining
of
a
richer
womans
child
,
as
it
were
,
bidding
her
vnloue
her
owne
to
loue
yours
.
Wee
haue
followed
Eue
in
transgression
,
let
vs
follow
her
in
obedience
.
When
God
laid
the
sorrowes
of
conception
,
of
breeding
of
bringing
forth
,
and
of
bringing
vp
her
children
vpon
her
,
&
so
vpon
vs
in
her
loynes
,
did
shee
reply
any
word
against
?
Not
a
word
;
so
I
pray
you
all
mine
owne
Daughters
,
and
others
that
are
still
child-bearing
reply
not
against
the
duty
of
suckling
them
,
when
God
hath
sent
you
them
.
Indeed
I
see
some
,
if
the
wether
be
wet
,
or
cold
;
if
the
way
be
fowle
;
if
the
Church
be
far
off
,
I
see
they
are
so
coy
,
so
nice
,
so
luke-warme
,
they
will
not
take
paines
for
their
own
soules
.
alas
,
no
maruell
if
these
will
not
bee
at
trouble
,
and
paine
to
nourish
their
childrens
bodies
,
but
feare
God
,
bee
diligent
to
serue
him
;
approue
all
his
ordinances
;
seeke
to
please
him
;
account
it
no
trouble
,
or
paine
to
doe
any
thing
that
hath
the
promise
of
his
blessing
:
and
then
you
will
,
no
doubt
,
doe
this
good
,
laudable
,
naturall
,
louing
duty
to
your
children
.
If
yet
you
be
not
satisfied
,
inquire
not
of
such
as
refuse
to
doe
this
:
consult
not
with
your
owne
conceit
aduise
not
with
flatterers
:
but
aske
counsell
of
syncere
,
and
faithfull
Preachers
.
If
you
be
satisfied
;
then
take
this
with
you
,
to
make
you
doe
it
cheerefully
.
Thinke
alwaies
,
that
hauing
the
child
at
your
breast
,
and
hauing
it
in
your
armes
,
you
haue
Gods
blessing
there
.
For
children
are
Gods
blessings
.
Thinke
againe
how
your
Babe
crying
for
your
breast
,
sucking
hartily
the
milke
out
of
it
,
and
growing
by
it
,
is
the
Lords
owne
instruction
,
euery
houre
,
and
euery
day
,
that
you
are
suckling
it
,
instructing
you
to
shew
that
you
are
his
new
borne
Babes
,
by
your
earnest
desire
after
his
word
;
&
the
syncere
doctrine
thereof
,
and
by
your
daily
growing
in
grace
and
goodnesse
thereby
,
so
shall
you
reape
pleasure
,
and
profit
.
Againe
,
you
may
consider
,
that
when
your
child
is
at
your
breast
,
it
is
a
fit
occasion
to
moue
your
heart
to
pray
for
a
blessing
vpon
that
worke
;
and
to
giue
thanks
for
your
child
,
and
for
ability
&
freedome
vnto
that
,
which
many
a
mother
would
haue
done
and
could
not
;
who
haue
tried
&
ventured
their
health
,
&
taken
much
paines
,
and
yet
haue
not
obtained
their
desire
.
But
they
that
are
fitted
euery
way
for
this
commendable
act
,
haue
certainely
great
cause
to
be
thankfull
:
and
I
much
desire
that
God
may
haue
glory
and
praise
for
euery
good
worke
,
and
you
much
comfort
,
that
doe
seeke
to
honour
God
in
all
things
.
Amen
.
FINIS
.