Effæminacy

Neither the one nor the other may be founde ſo happy and permanent, but at the laſt, with the apple in his fulripenes, they fall with their owne weight and poyſe to the ground; the one by diſcord and mutinies of the ſoldiours, for that their citizens are rendred bold by the continual vſe and trayning in military diſcipline; the other by effeminacie, eaſe, reſt, and ſecurity, haſteneth in like maner vnto mutinies and diſcords, as to his laſt ruine; ſo as either by a fatall deſtinie (as it were) imbraceth there owne confuſion: but not after one manner; for the one like vnto a flowre, or the pride of youth, in the height of his glory, vaniſheth, away, and leaveth the image of true glory, as a lively picture, to inveſt a perpetuall memory of a worthy and excellent Inſtitution. But the common-weale which in his firſt Inſtitution aymeth only at peace and permanency, with effæminacy, diſcorde, and mutinies, bredde by long eaſe, reſt, and ſecurity, embraceth with the other his final & laſt deſtruction, but leaveth not the like memory of his Inſtitution.

Ladiſlaus the fourth, giving himſelfe to all effæminacy, luxury, and Harlots, became odious to his Barons, Nobles, People, for which he was excommunicated by Firmanus the Popes Legat, that he might live Chriſtianly and Chaſtly; but he reforming not, was ſoone after (in the yeere 1290.) ſlaine by the Cumans and his Kingdome infeſted with civill warres.

And Paterculus ſeconds him, Rome is not what it was, Watchings are turned to dead ſleeps, courage is drowned in effæminacy, induſtry invaded by idleneſſe.

p. 144. l. 14. r. effæminacies[…]For that trivial, and pedling way of Fancy, and Humour, to which they are addicted, emaſculates their mindes, and makes them ſuperficial, flaſhy, and phantaſtical, by imploying them upon effæmancies, and little apiſh fooleries.

Therefore thoſe that uſe themſelves to a mean in Cloathing have better Appetites, are longer breath’d, ſtronger, and not ſo apt to receive Injuries by every ſmall accident, as thoſe that inure themſelves to very warm Cloathes, hot Houſes, an idle soſt Life, and the like Effæminacies.

For ſome by exceſſive pride of Heart, ſuch as the Hadrian’s, Leo’s, Nicholas, Gregory, & Others; and others by as exceſſive luxury, & effæminacy ſuch as were Ioanna, & the Iohn’s, Lando, Sergius, Chriſtopher, and a whole rolle of ſuch, of whom nothing is recorded, but that they did eat & drinke, & ſleepe & riſe up to play, & ſo dyed: Had exceedingly drawne downe the wrath of God upon the whole Church.

Beſides, Domeſtic Effæminacy relaxes the Tone of the Mind, and the Mothers Indulgence often fixes the Rickets in Little Maſters Head, by which he grows fit for nothing but an Eldeſt Son.