_An example Monitorie concerning a stayed and well gouer- ned life._
The execrable force of mischieuous euill, is such, and the maleuolente disposition of the heauens to some people so greate, as that hauing once throughlie planted the fatall sting thereof in the mindes of manie, it seemeth they bee created to none other ende, but onelie by daring to perpetrate whatsoeuer matter of villainie cometh in their mindes, to purchase to themselues with the determination of a shamelesse life, the limited rewarde of a shamelesse and ignominious death: This inchaunted course, perceiuing in these dangerous times howe much it hath bewitched the estate of the whole worlde, and considering with my selfe, that by reason of your fathers late decease, you beeing a greene youth, voide of experience, bente to the triall of all companies, richlie possessed, and wealthilie endued, are nowe lefte into your owne handes, and thereby deliuered from the plausible and quiet moderation of a faithfull and louing guide, vnto the endlesse reach of a youthfull, carelesse and vncontrouled libertie, hath mooued mee in respecte of the care that euer I erst had of you, beeing yet but a childe, and in assured testimonie of the memorie I haue otherwise protested to the ghost of your deceased louing parentes, to admonish you of some few thinges, for the order and conuersation of your liuing, beeing a course so important, as that in the admittance and exercise thereof, cannot but consist the scope and after fruition of all your happinesse, and benefit whatsoeuer.
And first of all, will I call vnto your remembraunce, that beeing the sonne of so vertuous a father as you are, howe greatlie it importeth vnto your estate to bee well gouerned, that as well the precedent vertues, as auncient possessions of your antecessour, may in your person bee resiant, that of your deceased parent (as well as in corporall shape and fauour) you beare (in minde) the verie true image and portraiture, that you stand not more in your actions vppon the glorious name or title of a Gentleman, then of the verie true and woorthie conditions and behauiours, that rightlie doe produce and make a Gentleman. And albeit I finde no greate apparante cause (your youthfull heade and vnstayed state of headestrong libertie onelie excepted) that may induce anie argument or supposall to the contrarie, but that you are of such and so worthie regarde, as that in your life and conuersation, you deeplie ynough do conceiue of all or anie part of these instructions or admonishmentes, which I nowe goe about to offer and preferre vnto you; yet knowing howe manie, and howe sundrie are the euils wherewith our mortall state is endangered, howe diuers are the motions to wickednes, and how manie waies we are readie to fall into the crooked paths of the same. I coulde not but warne you that comming euen nowe into the middest of the worlde as you do you shall finde sundrie baites and allurementes drawing you into the worst and most vilest parts thereof, that vnles you were directlie gouerned with the righte rule and square of an honest and sober life, twentie to one you would not onelie fall verie deeplie into the inconueniences thereof, but (without great and vnexpected matter leading you to the contrarie) be drowned and ouerwhelmed in the gulf therof for euer.