The right rule of Christian chastitie profitable to bee read of all godly and vertuous youthes of both sexe, bee they gentlemen or gentlewomen, or of inferiour state, whatsoeuer. Collected and written by one studious to gratifie his freendes, and profit his kindred: first (priuately) for the instruction, forewarning and forearming of certayne younge gentlewomen his neare and deare cosins: and after published by the same, in hope to profit the Church & common wealth, according to his talent. The methode wherof is to bee seene immediatly after the preface to the reader.

Certaine sentences declaryng the propertie of Ʋertue in aduersitie, bothe in Latine and English.

NAtura virtutis in aduersis, in quibus (vt metalla in fornaci) probantur animi:

Surgit sub pondere virtus.

The nature of vertue in aduersitie that tryeth mindes as fier doth mettals.

The godly and the vertuous minds in tryall great doth grow: So that no wanes of worldly Sea can once it ouerflow.

Quaerela in duritiem temporis, ex poeta quodam graui:

Virtus laudatur, et alget.

Expounded as followeth in prese and Méeter.

A breefe complainte of somes ingrati∣tude towards such as haue well deserued of them twentie yeares together, taken out of a graue Poet.

VErtue (in deede) is of many praysed and well ly∣ked of, and yet for lacke of warmeth and chearishing, frozen as harde as Ise, so that

it is vnable to shew foorth his force and liuely naturall action.

The thing that is most worthy prayse wee blush for to defie: And yet benommed, colde and frosen, wee still do let it lye.

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Author in Authorimastigem, The Author to his enuious detractor.

If multiplyed thy Talentes bee and manifolde thy giftes: From profiting the church of Christe, vniust are all thy shiftes.

But destitute if thou remayne of meete and fit habilitie: At him that vseth that hee hath shoote not thy Dartes of enuie.