Hērō-paideia, or The institution of a young noble man by James Cleland.

Chap 1. Of the begetting of a Noble Sonne.

ALthough this first duty of parents in endevou∣ring themselues to haue vertuous children me∣rits chieflie to be considered, as that which gi∣veth the substance, the constitution, the nature, & to cal it so, the verie temper to a man; (and so is natural vnto him,) whereas Nursing and Institution are on∣lie artificiall: yet I see few, who consider well how to performe it, as they shoulde. They that faile in this first point, will as hardlie correct their fault by the o∣ther two, as a mans second & thirde operation of the stomacke can digest that meate, which the first con∣coction could not: so that the omission therof, is one of the most enormous, and remarkeable faultes, that can be in a common wealth, albeit no man complai∣neth to haue it amended. But alas! I heare many cry out against me, that I should bee so bold, as once to thinke, I am able to note that, which so manie wise men cannot, or rather wil not obserue: that I should complaine of that, which no man feeleth, & take vp∣on me, to counsaile others, wherin I am no waies ex∣perimented my selfe. My intention will excuse my vnexperience; which is only to propone the opiniō of the most skilfull Philosophers, and Physitions; with this assurance, that God worketh all things by second causes, and that they who will haue it otherwise, doe

nothing els (as Iob said to his friends) but speake wic∣kedly for Gods defence; & gladly I embrace the Poets allegorie, that the highest lincke of Natures chaine, is tied to the foot of great Iuppiters chaire.

To begin then, I wish you to know, that as the J∣mages of Mercurie were not made of euery kinde of woode, the Persians Royall ointment of all sortes of spices, not the Mythreda••e of all Jngredients; no more are vertuous children begotten by euery man. But as the heathen Gods were all made of the wood of Thya: so Noble sons are engendred of some rare, and singular substaunce, which Nature brings not forth, in euerie person, nor euery day. Wherefore, I will heere vse the policie of a skilfull Gardiner, who purposing to haue in his Garden a rare, and precious hearb, which should be to him, & others, both pleasāt, & profitable, wil first search where he may finde the most mellow, & fertile earth to plāt the seed in. J counsel then al Noble men, to be as carefull in choosing of their wiues (which must be the soyle) as the Romās in electing the Vestal Virgins to see that they be vertuous, wel nurtured, wise, chast, of gra∣cious countenance, of personable bodie, of pleasing deliuerie of speech. For albeit manie Philosophers be of contrarie opinion to Hippocrates, & his interpre∣tour Gallen, concerning the mothers part; yet the childe receaueth increment, and nourishment from her, sufficient to alter his constitutiō. It were no lesse ridiculous then tedious, to insist in particular proba∣tion of these perfections premitted: wherfore before they sing Hymen Hymenaee, I reiterat onlie, that they

haue a due regard, of her personable body; because a goodly presēce, is much worth in a Noble personage. Genus arguitur vultu, as appeareth by the descriptiō and praises of Aeneas, and Marcellus in Virgil. Yea J wish them, to sacrifice rather vnto the three Graces then to Moneta & Plutus, preferring ever the beau∣tie of Venus, before the riches of Iuno: & that they re∣member in their pursuit of marriage,

Ludet, quislerili semina ponit humo.

After such heedfull choise I wish them to sollicite with ardent praier, not Pertunda, Prema, or Perfica, as manie yet Gentilize, but the Almightie Presi∣dēt of marriage; crauing him, to sāctifie their Couch of Matrimonie, with godlie and wise children; as our first Parents obtained of God by praier, (after the birth of wicked Cayne) a righteous Abell, & then Seth that Holie man; So Abraham after a cursed I smaell, had giuen to him a blessed I saac; and Iacob re¦ceiued a faithful Ioseph; Elkana & Hānae prostrat be∣fore God, had a Sāmuel, who did minister before the Lord; Dauid and Bethsheba lamenting their sinnes, enioied Salomon of excellent wisdome; Sacharie, and Elizabeth feareing the Lord, were blessed with Iohn Baptist, the forerunner of the Lord.

With that supernatural helpe of praier, natural meanes wil succeed the better, which I think consists cheiflie in the temperature of the elemental quali∣ties, (as the most learned physitions saie, and some of the most iudicious Poets; Naturae sequitur semina quis{que} suae,) Even at their forming, not expecting the influence of the stares, and coniunction of Planets,

at their howet of Natiuitie; nor yet the guydance al their life time, by a poetical Fate. Therfore J aduise al Noble Parents, to be verie careful in keeping of a good Diet; which particularly here I wil not prescrib nor yet shew, how children should shake of the bāds of nature, wherin they are detained the space of nine monthes; fearing J should be paid with Protagoras praises, by Apelles, and the Centurions commenda∣tion, non amo nimiùm diligentes, as the Africā said.

Non etenim cuivis, se praebet Apollo videndum.

I wil onlie thus deuoutly implore Lucinas helpe, to grant the mother an happie deliuerie.

Lucina if thou be, as Poets write, Goddesse of Births, and Aide in womens woes: Propitious be, when they implore thy Might In their life-giuing, & Death threatning Throws. Ah spare the Mother, spare the infant tender; Must shee for giving life, her life forgoe? Must th'infant, life scarce fully giuē, straight ren∣der? In greatest Neede, thy greater skill bestowe. VVho knows how great this litle babe may proue? Perchance some Monarchizing Alexander: Or some sage Nestor, who by Art, and Loue, May merit to be Countries Great Commander. Lucina therfore helpe, & so much fauor daigne That fruitful wombes may scape the graue, though not the paine.

Notes

• Iob. 13. 7.
• Homer.
• 2. fast Aen. 4. 6.
• Propert.
• Gen. 2. & 4. 21. 30.
• 1. Sam. 2. Sam. 22.
• Hyp••er, Galen. Propert 3.