Playes written by the thrice noble, illustrious and excellent princess, the Lady Marchioness of Newcastle.

Scene 8.

Enter the Academy of Ladies, and the Grave Matronnesse: The Lady that is to speak takes a Chair.

MAtron.

Lady, let the Theam of your discourse be at this time on the behaviour of our Sex.

Lady Speaker.

It is a greater difficulty for a woman to behave her self dis∣creetly in private Visitations, than for a man to speak wisely in privy Coun∣cels: and it is a greater difficulty for a woman to behave her self wel in a pub∣lick Assembly, than for a man to speak eloquently in a publick Auditory: and it is a greater difficulty for a woman to behave her self well to several Persons, and in several Assemblies, than for a man to behave himself gallant∣ly in several Battels, and as much dishonour comes in the misbehaviour of the one, as the cowardlinesse of the other: VVherefore there requires as much skill, care, and conduct in a womans behaviour, in visiting, entertain∣ing, placing, applying, and discoursing, as to a Commander in Mustering, Training, Intrenching, Besieging, Inbattelling, Fighting, and Retreating; for it is not enough for a woman to behave her self according to her De∣gree, Quality, Dignity, Birth, and Breeding, Age, Beauty, Wit, and For∣tune; But according to Time, Place, and Occasion, Businesse, and Affairs, as also to the Humours, Capacities, Professions, Dignities, Qualities, Births, Breedings, Fortunes, Ages, and Sexes of those persons she is in Company and Conversation withall: Also in mixt Companies she must have a mixt behaviour, and mixt discourses, as sometimes to one, then to another, ac∣cording as she can handsomely and civilly apply or addresse her self; and to those that apply and addresse themselves to her: for a woman must not be∣have her self, or discourse unto a great Lord or Prince, as to a Peasant, or to a Peasant as to a great Lord or Prince, nor to a Souldier as to a Divine, nor to a Divine as to a Souldier, nor to a States-man as to a Tradesman, nor to a Tradesman as to a States-man, nor to a Flattering Gallant, as to a Grave Senior, nor to a Grave Senior as to a Flattering Gallant, nor to a young man as to an antient man, nor to a Boy as to a man, nor to a woman as to a man, nor to a Poet as to a woman, or as to those men that understand not Poetry, nor to learned men, as to ignorant men. Also an antient Grave Ma∣tron must not behave her self like a wanton young Girl, nor a Wife like a Maid, nor a Widow like a VVife, nor a Mother like her Daughter, nor a Mistriss like her Servant, nor a Servant like a Mi∣striss, nor a great Lady like a Country wise, nor a Country wife like a great Lady, for that would be ridiculous; Indeed it is easier for a middle Rank or Degree, at least it is oftner seen, to behave themselves better than those of high Titles and great Estates, or those of a very mean Condition, and of low Birth, for the one is apt to err with excessive pride, the other with an ex∣cessive rudenesse, both being bold and ignorantly bred, knowing not how to be civil, nor what belongs to civil Persons; for the pride of the one scorns to be instructed, and the poverty of the other hath not means to keep and pay Instructers; for the excesse of Plenty nussles the one in Ignorance, and excesse of Poverty blindfolds the other from knowledge: but to conclude of the behaviour of women, first as to the generality, they must behave them∣selves

civily and circumspectly, to particulars, modestly and friendly; for the chief Principals of behaviour are twelve, six good, and six bad; the six good are, Ceremony, Civility, Modesty, Humility, Friendship, and Obedience: The first is Majestical and Magnificent, the second Noble, the third Virtuous, the fourth Humane, the fift Generous, the sixt Pious; The first is Gracefull, the second Sociable, the third Delightfull, the fourth Natural, the fift Helpfull, the sixt Necessary; The first belongs to Dignity, the second to Breeding, the third to Youth, the fourth to Age, the fift to Wealth, the sixt to Peace.

As for the six bad Principals, is, to be Proud, Bold, Rude, Wanton, Dis∣obedient, and Cruel; The first is, Insolent, the second Impudent, the third Ignorant, the fourth Brutish, the fift Unnatural, the sixt Wicked: The first lives with mean Births, joined with good Fortune, the second lives with ignorant & doltish Spirits, the third with base Breeding, the fourth with Beasts, the fift with uncivil Nations, the sixt with Atheists: The first is to be Slighted, the second to be Pityed, the third to be Shunned, the fourth to be Hated, the fift to be Governed, the sixt to be Punished.

Exeunt.