Good Sisters mine, when I shal further from you dwell: Peruse these lines, observe the rules which in the same I tell. So shal you wealth posses, and quietnesse of mynde: And al your friends to se the same, a treble joy shall fynde. 1. In mornings when you ryse, forget not to commende: Your selves to God, beseching him from dangers to defende. Your soules and boddies both, your Parents and your friends: Your teachers and your governers so pray you that your ends, May be in such a sort, as God may pleased bee: To live to dye, to dye to live, with him eternally, 2. Then justly do such deedes, as are to you assynde: All wanton toyes, good sisters now exile out of your minde, I hope you geve no cause, wherby I should suspect: But this I know too many live, that would you soone infect. Yf God do not prevent, or with his grace expell: I cannot speake, or wryte to much, because I love you well. 3. Your busines soone dispatch, and listen to no lyes: Nor credit every fayned tale, that many wyll devise. For words they are but winde, yet words may hurt you so: As you shall never brook the same, yf that you have a foe. God shyld you from all such, as would by word or Byll. Procure your shame, or never cease tyll they have wrought you yll. 4. See that you secrets seale, tread trifles under ground: Yf to rehersall oft you come, it wyl your quiet wound. Of laughter be not much, nor over solemne seeme: For then be sure th'eyle coumpt you light or proud will you esteeme. Be modest in a meane, be gentyll unto all: Though cause they geve of contrary yet be to wrath no thrall. Refer you all to hym that sits above the skyes: Vengeance is his, he wil reveng, you need it not devise. 5. And sith that vertue guides, where both of you do dwell: Give thanks to God, and painful bee to please your rulers well, For fleetyng is a foe, experience hath me taught: The rolling stone doth get no mosse your selves have hard full oft. Your businesse being done, and this my scroule perusd, The day wyll end, and that the night by you be not abusde. I some thing nedes must write, take paynes to read the same: Hencefoorth my lyfe as wel as Pen shall your examples frame. 6. Your Masters gon to Bed, your Mistresses at rest. Their Daughters all which hast about to get themselves undrest. See that their Plate be safe, and that no Spoone do lacke, See Dores and Windowes bolted fast for feare of any wrack. Then help yf neede ther bee, to doo some housholde thing: If not to bed, referring you, unto the heavenly King. Forgettyng not to pray as I before you taught, And geveing thanks for al that he, hath ever for you wrought. Good Sisters when you pray, let me remembred be: So wyll I you, and thus I cease, tyll I your selves do see. |