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.

Vices for bidden by the seuenth commaundement, what they be.

Adultery, the first vice o•• sinne; forbiden by the seuenth commaundement, what it is.

ADultery, is a wicke•• and misch•••••••••••• 〈◊〉〈◊〉, [ 1] committed, against the seventh 〈…〉〈…〉ment, that springeth of carnal securitie, & lacke of the loue and sears of God, and from con∣tempt of his iudgements, wherby a married person brea∣keth the couenaunt of marriage, and defileth his or her body by following of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 flesh; * 1.1 they that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it this sinne are adulteters or 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

VVhore dorne, the second vice agaynst this commaundement, what it is.

V••Horedome or 〈…〉〈…〉, [ 2] committed against the seu•• comin••nde∣ment, that springeth fr•• carnal carelesnesse, from the lacke of the loue and feare of God, and from contempt of his iudgementes and punishmentes, wherby persons not ioyned togeather in Matr••mo••••, haue carnall knowledge one of an others body, and so defile and pollute the same, ••••••trary to Gods comma••ndement, will, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and therfore de∣scrue the wrath of God, and eternall damnation. And they that commit this sinne, or perpetrate this vice, are commonly amongst the common sorts, called ••••res and strumpets, if they be women, and with 〈…〉〈…〉 be the truth vttered, * 1.2 knaues, varlets, and barleter: if they bee men. And therfore if wee desire to auoyde these foule and reprochfull names: wee must shun the shamefull vice it selfe that bringeth and procureth such shamefull and odi∣••us names.

Intest, the thirde vice or sinne forbidden by the seuenth commaundement.

INcest, [ 3] is an b••uous offence: 〈◊〉〈◊〉 this commaundement, that springeth as before is declared, whereby one hath carnall know∣ledge with that person that is so neere kin vnto him or her, that by Gods law they can not be ioyned together in Matrimonie. The offenders herein are called Incest••••ns Le••hers.

Dronkennesse, the fourth vice or sinne for∣bidden by this commaundement.

DRonkennesse, [ 4] is a ••••me or offence agaynst the seuenth commaundement, wherby a man or a woman, doth as it were ouerwhelme Nature with too muche drinke, and by their distempe∣rance, do let or hinder the minde, so that it is neither apt to pray, nor for any other labour or godly exercise: and do empaire and hurt the health of the body. And they that vse this vine, are Dron••ar••es.

Gluttony, the fifth sinne or vice, forbidden by this commaundement, what it is.

GLuttony, [ 5] or Gormandice, is a Vice, sinne and offence agaynst the seuenth commaundement, whereby one fiueth vntemperately, without the vertue of Temperance, Sobrietie, Absti∣nence or moderation of appetite in seedyng, & ouerwhel∣meth nature (that is content with few thinges) with too much meate, and doth as it were, afflict, gréeue, and trou∣ble health with abundance and superstuitie of meate. They that vse this vice, are Gluttous.

Intemperance, the sixth vice, against the seuenth commaundement.

INtemperance, [ 6] or wante of Temperance, is an immoderate vse, & appetits of the pleasures of the body, when they are present and may be had: Or too mutch sorow and sadnesse, when

they are absent, and wée cannot haue the vse of them. And they that vse this vice are Intemperate persons riottous and vnstayed.

VVantonnesse or Malepertnesse, the seuenth vice or sinne, agaynst the, vij. commaundement.

WAntonnesse, or Malepertnesse, is an offence a∣gaynst the seuenth commaundement, spronge [ 7] vp of Carnall securitie, the want of the feare God, & from the contempt of his iudgementes, wherby a man or a woman coth as it were loose the bri∣••le, and flacke the Kaynes to Flethly lustes: seeketh va∣rietie and change of the pleasures of the body, of dishonest sportes and playes, and absteyneth not from Carnal lust by Gods law prohibited and forbidden. And they that vse this vice are commonly called Wantons and Male∣perte dames, if they be of the Female kinde: And Ruf∣fianly Slaues * 1.3 if they be men. Nay, if they be of y^e Male kinde, for such are vmdorthy the name of a man, whose principall propertie is, * 1.4 to disdayne to bee bo••de slaue to beastly pleasure. He will by Gods grace, keepe it within the compasse of religion, regenerate reason, and honesty: * 1.5 And so will she that is a Woman in deede.

Impudencie or vnshamefastnesse, the eight vice agaynst the seuenth commaundement.

IMpudencie, vnshamefastnes, or shamelesnes, is a vice, sinne, or offence, against the seuenth commaundement, sprong vp of stubborne [ 8] con∣tempt of God, whereby a man or a woman, ey∣ther in speeche, gesture or action, behaueth him or her self dishonestly, shamefully, wickedly, and against his or her owne conscience: Neither feare the iudgements of God, nor of such as are vertuous and honest, and indued with a right intelligence, and vnderstandinge of thinges. They that vse this vice, are impudente and shamelesse persons.

Vnlawfull loue, the nynth vice, by this commaundement forbidden.

VNlawfull loue, [ 9] is a vice, sinne, and offence against the feuenth cōmaundement, wher∣by a man or a woman desireth that person, which in Matrimony, accordinge to Gods Law, hee or shee can not haue, or desireth an other mans Wife, or an other mans Husbande, or follo∣weth straung flesh, or yeeldeth vnto carnall lustes prohi∣bited of God. Or dseth any of the vices of pollution of, the body, before rehearsed. And they that vse this vice, are vnlawfull Louers, to speake after the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and, manner of the worlde: But, in deede, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉, they are vnlawful haters, for they carry themselues and their, ropes mates to the Diuell, which they would not doo, it they loued (in deede) either them selu••••, or their mates and partners in filthinesse and corruption.

Filthy speeche or bawdy, or ribawdous talke, the tenth vice, forbidden by the seuenth commaundement.

OBscoenitie, [ 10] that is filthy spéeche or 〈…〉〈…〉, and ribawdous talke, is a vice or sinne, against the seuenth precept, that springeth of the contempt of God, and mallepertnes of witte, wherby a man or woman, eyther in spéeche, or in gesture, behaue them selues foulely, shamefully, and dishonestly, doo vt∣ter and declare their vnchaste, and lecherous, minde and wantonnesse: and either by filthy speech, or mauton ges∣tures, or motion of the body offend the eyes, and cares, of honest men & women. And therfore chast virgins, must stop the eares of their minde, when sometimes the eares of the body, are compelled (such is the wickednes of these perrilous and latter times) to heare such vnchast talke. Many tinies euen the godly will make a kinde of shew or semblance of this vice for triall sake, who many times

vse 〈…〉〈…〉 good 〈◊〉〈◊〉 into 〈◊〉〈◊〉. As the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 doo many 〈◊〉〈◊〉 pr••ise and vse (〈…〉〈…〉) good to an ••uill 〈…〉〈…〉: * 1.6 But they tha•• p•••• in bre this vice 〈◊〉〈◊〉 any others as Flattery, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, double Dili∣gence, and such like, as an Angtinghooke or bayte, to * 1.7 to 〈…〉〈…〉 that 〈…〉〈…〉 in indgement, nor hand any 〈…〉〈…〉, that yet know not what is to keep•• or forgoe, possess••••y 〈◊〉〈◊〉, an incomparable Jewell, the Virginitie (〈◊〉〈◊〉) of filly soules, that yet know not vice from vertue. Such stye suttel flanes may iustly be 〈…〉〈…〉 brothe••s.

Hipocrifie, the eleuenth vice, forbidden by this commaundement, what it is.

HIpocrisie, [ 11] or Dis••imulation, is wh••n a man or woman pratendeth to bee honest and chast, and yet will play the Wh••re, or Knaue, priuily and secreatly: when a Woman is chaste and hon•••• in opinion, and outwarde apparaun••e beefore men but (in very deede) and beefore God is a foule filthie strumpet. This vice is contrary to euery vertue, and is most odious and ab••ominable before God. For it i•• 〈…〉〈…〉: yea the breach and transgression of two commaunde 〈…〉〈…〉, yea of both Tables: for it offendeth against this commaundemente of the seconde Table, in very deede and action. And against the thirds commaun∣dement of the first Table, * 1.8 〈◊〉〈◊〉 taking the name of God in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that is by taking the name of vertue which is pro∣per onely to God, the Well heade, Authour and giuer thereof, and puttinge it vpon their priuie vice or sinne, callinge them selucs Virgins and chaste persons, wher∣as, in very deede, they are stronge whores, and bawdy kna••es. And ••eeings displeased with their equalles or interiors, would not sticke so 〈◊〉〈◊〉 call them if they could prooue so much by them, as they know by them selues.

But such should remember that the estimation, valuati∣on, accompt, and iudgemente of God alone, who seeth, marketh, and iudgeth, euen the very se••••ent thoughtes of the harte (so far of is it that hee is ignorant of wicked∣nesse doone in corners out of sight and view of men) is infinitely of more value, of more exedite, and more to be feared, then all the sightes, viewes, opinio••••, and iudge∣mentes of all men, and therfore should rather studis to thun, decline & auoyde the shameful actions them selues, that procure and bringe such odious titles, then the re∣prochful names by all y^e godly & vertuous giuen vnto the same, and that by the iudgement and 〈…〉〈…〉 of all good and ciuill honest persons condingly, aptly, and worthely. Such Hipocrites as more feare the smeake and winde of the mutable multitude, and dregges of the people, then the sound iudgement of the thundring God, and more dread a mortall creature, that can annoy but onely the body for a time, then the immortall Creator that can cast both body and soule into Hell fler 〈◊〉〈◊〉 euer: And finally, more feare to be counted vitious & infamous then to bee so in deede, are so far from remembring, kée∣ping, and followinge Gods worde, that they forget euen the groundes & principles of nature, wherof this is one: Be in deede as thou doost preten••. And 〈◊〉〈◊〉 as it were lay the Diuel in Gods Robe, or 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and hide a stinking carion in a beautifull Tombe, whose portion is in the Lake that burneth with fler and Brimstone, which is the second death vnles they speedily repent. They that vse this vice, * 1.9 and yet will pretend to bee Christians, are hypocrites, dissemblers, and stinking swine or rammish Goates in sheepes skinnes before God, what so euer the world accompt of them, or they of them selues.

Notes

• * 1.1

  ••
• * 1.2

  Shamefull and reproch∣full vices, are more to bee shunned and auoyded then shameful & reprochfull names, and easelyer: for alwaies one or an other will call a Spitle a spitle either openly or secreatly.
• * 1.3

  Vice shuld be set out in its owne blacke and vgly colours before the eyes of youth that they may hate and detest the same.
• * 1.4

  a The cheefe note or pro∣pertie of a man, what it is.
• * 1.5

  b Womālynes vvherin it cheefly con∣sisteth, to wit, in repressing of fleshly lust.
• * 1.6

  Forewarthed, halfe harmed.
• * 1.7

  A poysonous kinde of peo∣ple, more to be hated, shū∣ned and de∣tested of god ly youth, then Todes or scor pions.
• * 1.8

  In feruorum fecem inu••c∣tio. Against the drosse and dregges of decemblinge scruants, a short inue••∣ture.
• * 1.9

  〈…〉〈…〉.