The boke of wisdome otherwise called the flower of vertue. Folowing the auctorities of auncient doctours [and] philosophers, deuiding and speaking of vices [and] vertues, wyth many goodly examples wherby a man may be praysed or dyspraysed, wyth the maner to speake well and wyselie to al folkes, of what estate so euer they bee. Translated first out of Italion into French, [and] out of french into English, by Iohn Larke. 1565.

¶Howe Lecherye is contrarye to Chastytie. And in howe many sor∣tes it is deuyded, then is shew∣ed the daungers that come therof, as wel to the bo∣dyes of men, as to theyr Soules. ¶The .xxv. Chapter. (Book 25)

LEchery is a Vice contrarye to the Vertue of Chasti¦tye. And as it is red in the summe of Vices there be foure maners & sortes of the same. The Fyrste is fornicasyon, and that is when the man and the woman beynge not maryed, do medle fleshly togither.

The Seconde is Adulterye, and it is when as wel the one as the o∣ther be Maryed. The Thyrde is when a man dothe meddle flessh∣lye wyth anye of hys kynswomen. The Fourthe maner is suche, that it oughte not to be named, for it is so vyle, so abhomynable and great a synne.

¶Saynte Gregorye saythe,* 1.1 that Lecherye consumeth and destroy∣eth the bodye, and causeth a man to lease hys good name, dampneth hys Soule, offendeth the person, and offendeth God. And nowe a daies the world is greatly inclined to the sinne of Lecherye,

¶Senec saythe,* 1.2 that he woulde that all Lecherous persons should be stoned to deathe, as they were in the olde tyme, to the entent that a man myghte beware and keepe hym selfe the better from it. And

saith y^t ableit y^t the greatest delight & pleasure of this worlde is Leche¦ry. Yet neuerthelesse if thou dowel consydre the ende and the begyn, nynge of the same synne, thou shall fynd nothynge therein but all mys∣chyefe and wretchednesse.

¶Salomon saythe,* 1.3 so lytle tyme and space as a man myghte beare fyre in hys Bosome wythout bren∣nynge of hym selfe. So lytle space myght not a man be amongest wo∣men wythout synne. And saythe that ofte tymes Lecherous Per∣sons do commyt Lecherie by theyr syghte.

¶Orace saythe,* 1.4 that Rychesse doe bryng Warre, & Women doe bryng Lecherye.

¶Arystotyle saithe, beleue stedfast∣lye that Lecherye dystroyeth the body, shortneth the lyfe, corrupteth the Vertues, breaketh Gods sawe,

onsumeth the Rychesse, taketh a∣way the strength, killeth the soule, dystroyeth, the syght, bryngeth the person to olde age. And sometyme doth make hym paralytike.

¶Ouyde saythe,* 1.5 that the Leche∣rous person beinge yonge dothe synne, but the olde Lechoure doth dote,. For an olde Lecherous per∣son when he can not doe the dede, yet dothe he take pleasure in disho¦nest touchynges. And sath that in battaile and warre be men stroken wyth speres and swerdes. And in peace they be stroke wyth euyl wor∣des, and thoughtes.

¶Hermes saithe,* 1.6 that the Vyce of Lechery doth quen she al Vertues. And that there is nothynge more mortall to mankind then Lechery, except it be amongest those persons where it is lawful, as betwene the man and his wyfe, in trust to haue

Chyldren.* 1.7

¶Saynt Gregorye sayth, speking of Lecherye in a certayne hystorye. O Fyre of Lecherye, wherof the mouthe is Glotonye, the flame is Pryde, the sperkles be corrupt wor∣des, the Smoke is euyll name, the Asshes be pouerty, the Ende is the tormente and payne of Hell.

¶Wherof Saynt Peter speaketh sayenge.* 1.8

¶Voluptatem existimantes diei deliciam coinquinationes et macu le delicis affluentes in cōniis suis lux vriantes vobiscom.

Notes

• * 1.1

  S, gre, gory,
• * 1.2

  Senec
• * 1.3

  Sala∣mon,
• * 1.4

  Orace,
• * 1.5

  Ouide,
• * 1.6

  Her∣mes,
• * 1.7

  S, gr∣gory,
• * 1.8

  ii, Pe∣ter, iii,