Effœminacy

But as we allow not altogether that ſevere education of the old Spartanes in their children, hazarding many times the healths of young and tender bodies, by ſome tedious ague; yea, alſo their liues, by the miſchance of a leape or ſtumbling of their horſe: ſo as much doe I deteſt that effœminacy of the moſt, that burne out day and night in their beds, and by the fire ſide; in trifles, gaming, or courting their yellow Miſtreſſes all the Winter in a City; appearing but as Cuckoes in the Spring, one time in the yeere to the Countrey and their tenants, leaving the care of keeping good houſes at Chriſtmas, to the honeſt Yeomen of the Countrey.

But in the third yeare of his reigne, divers grudges and diſcontents began to ariſe betwixt the King and his Nobles, inſomuch, that for quietneſſe ſake, and in hope of his amendment, he was againe repealed, but more and more increaſed in his inſufferable inſolence, inſomuch, that having charge of all the Kings Jewels and Treaſure, he went to Weſtminſter, and out of the Kings Jewell-houſe tooke a Table and a paire of treſtles all of pure gold, and conveyed them (with other precious gems) out of the Land, to the great exhauſting and impoveriſhing of the ſame: by whoſe wanton effœminacies, and looſe conditions, he drew the King to many vitious courſes, as adulteries, and the like: which miſchiefes the Lords ſeeing daily to increaſe, they tooke counſell againe at Lincolne, and notwithſtanding the Kings main oppoſer, he was a ſecond time confined into Flanders, but in his fifth year was again ſent for over, when not able to contain himſelfe from his immoderate luxury, as he demeaned himſelfe far more arrogantly than before, inſomuch that he diſdained and had in contempt all the Peeres of the Land, giving them much opprobrious and deſpightfull language, wherefore ſeeing there was no hope of his amendment, with an unanimous conſent they vowed to rid the Land of ſuch a Caterpiller, and ſoon after beſieged him in the Caſtle of Scarborrow, and taking the Fort they ſurpriſed him, and brought him to Gaverſed beſides Warwicke, and the nine and twentieth day of Iune ſmote off his head.

If a man have offended in his palate, he may chooſe to faſt onely; if he have ſinned in ſoftneſſe and in his touch, he may chooſe to lye hard, or work hard, and uſe ſharp inflictions: but although this Diſcipline be proper and particular, yet becauſe the ſorrow is of the whole man, no ſenſe muſt rejoyce, or be with any ſtudy or purpoſe feaſted and entertained ſoftly. This rule is intended to relate to the ſolemn dayes appointed for repentance publickly or privately: beſides which in the whole courſe of our life, even in the midſt of our moſt feſtival and freer joyes we may ſprinkle ſome ſingle inſtances, and acts of ſelf condemning, or puniſhing: as to refuſe a pleaſant morſel, or a delicious draught with a tcit remembrance of the ſin that now returns to diſpleaſe my ſpirit: and though theſe actions be ſingle, there is no undecency in them, becauſe a man may abate of his ordinary liberty & bold freedom wᵗʰ great prudence, ſo he does t without ſingularity in himſelf, or trouble to others: but he may not abate of his ſolemn ſorrow: that may be caution; but this would be ſoftneſſe effœminacy and undecency.

If a man Dreams he hath Breſts as big as a woman, that denotes effœminacy and cowardize, or elſe trouble and grief occaſion’d by the ſickneſs of Children.

Pleaſures bring effœminacy; and effœminacy fore-runs ruine: ſuch conqueſts, without blood or ſweat, ſufficiently do revenge themſelvs upon their intemperate Conquerours.

The Parthians were not the Off-ſpring of Euphrates, nor ever charg’d with Effœminacy before; the Romans found ’em a Company of rough hardy Fellows, and not to be Conquer’d by their whole Power.

As for their Sleeping, they ſtrive not only to imitate, but alſo to out-do the antient Inhabitants of Capua; for thoſe would not allow their Children any Beds; till they were Married, alledging, that Beds were invented for the Eaſe of Antient and decripid People, not to encourage young Men in their Effœminacy.

As to their Cowardiſe and Effœminacy, it is chiefly owing to the Seaſons, that the Aſiaticks are leſs warlike, and milder in their behaviour than the Europæans: for the changes are not great with reſpect to heat and cold, but nearly the ſame.