Montgomery manuscripts

The Montgomery Manuscripts. 379
when other (Remiss or too Indulgent) Parents, have their sons and daughters great crosses and
disgraces to them, for want of this Care. And yet he is not Severe to grieve them, or to let them
want Education and decent Apparell, and fitting Liberty of visiting their kindred.
He keeps a Just and requisite hand over his Servants also, which makes them obedient, watch-
full, and dutiful], and so to like him, that I know not of any that left his Service till death or wed
lock parted them.
In a word I doe not see a more orderly regular household any where ; without cursing swear-
ing, obscenity, Gameing, and debauchery, every one being industrious, and yet without noise.
Good useage and Awe ; makes hors his plow draw.
And he so began with theeves and tresspassers, that ever Since the rush bush keeps his Grass
and Cattle safely.
When the children were very young (and therefore wittless yet) they were not heard or seen to
Ramble or make a stirr, in so much that the Guests thought they were put out of the house, would
aske where they were kept, they were still made ready for appearance before they were called
for.
I have heard him say concerning Children's clandestine marriages to this purpose, that they
were fools to conceale their fixed resolutions from their Parents, who Surely would make the best
bargains for them : And for his own part toward them, as he wold straine and bind them (not by
any Severitys) to accept his choice for them ; So (for the love sake he had to their mother) he would
not altogether deny his consent to y e Matches they made for themselves, if tollerably Reasonable ;
altho' he could not give his approbation nor the full kindness, Portion he intended, had they
asked his Council and concurrence.
He had often observed the Mischiefs of Suffering such breaches of Duty to goe unpunished,
and knew of y° miserys attending such precipitations, in a leape wh ch many times is made but once
in ones life.
He was not to learn that Ladds loves and Lasses Likeings wanted solid foundations, and
Strong Cement to make Congugal affections durable, and that the Honeymonth would soon be
over, when both, or either of y e marryed Partys condition of liveing changed to y e wors, or became
less Splendid than it was formerly : giveing thus occasions enough to Repent at Leizure their Rash
inconsiderate Haste & Follie, for which easy or speedy Pardons and Reconciliations were not tc
be expected nor must be given.
Therefore hee seeing some late examples in nighbouring and Related familys ; Hee did openly
and smartly (on occasion discoursing thereof) display the undutyfulness and imprudence of such
Practises, expressing his high Detestation and Anger ag' them yet without threatenings, condemning
the fault in Thesi, onely, as not haveing grounds (wh ch I hope he never shall have) to feare the like
from any of his own well-educated offspring : for (as he used to say) Manners makes the man.
His Skill in Husbandry is seen to Excell his neighbours (even those whose trade it is and
Livelyhood) and he Cultivates his mind (whereof I have spoken in part) by reading good classical
authors, in Divinity and History ; haveing studied all sorts of mankind formerly, as he yet doth
new acquaintances (whereof he is not fond), which exercises are (for the most part) the Recreations