Character Writings of the Seventeenth CenturyMORAL AND DIVINE.Reading editionChapter navigation382 reading sectionsGo to chapterChoose a chapter…Front matterSEVENTEENTH CENTURY.STUPIDITY.A RUFFLER.A TRAVELLER.THE TRUE CRITIC.THE CHARACTER OF THE PERSONS.A GOOD WOMAN.A VERY WOMAN.HER NEXT PART.A DISSEMBLERA COURTIER,A GOLDEN ASSA FLATTERERAN IGNORANT GLORY-HUNTERA TIMISTAN AMORISTAN AFFECTED TRAVELLERA WISE MANA NOBLE SPIRITAN OLD MANA COUNTRY GENTLEMANA FINE GENTLEMANAN ELDER BROTHERA BRAGGADOCIO WELSHMANA PEDANT.A SERVING-MANAN HOSTAN OSTLERTHE TRUE CHARACTER OF A DUNCE.A GOOD WIFEA MELANCHOLY MANA SAILORA SOLDIERA TAILORA PURITANA MERE COMMON LAWYERA MERE SCHOLAR.A TINKERAN APPARITORAN ALMANAC-MAKERA HYPOCRITEA CHAMBERMAID.A PRECISIAN.AN INNS OF COURT MAN.A MERE FELLOW OF AN HOUSE.A WORTHY COMMANDER IN THE WARSA VAINGLORIOUS COWARD IN COMMANDA PIRATE,AN ORDINARY FENCERA PUNY CLERK.A FOOTMAN.A NOBLE AND RETIRED HOUSEKEEPERAN INTRUDER INTO FAVOURA FAIR AND HAPPY MILKMAIDAN ARRANT HORSE-COURSERA ROARING BOY.A DRUNKEN DUTCHMAN RESIDENT IN ENGLANDA PHANTASTIQUE: AN IMPROVIDENT YOUNG GALLANT,A BUTTON-MAKER OF AMSTERDAMA DISTASTER OF THE TIMEA MERE FELLOW OF AN HOUSEA MERE PETTIFOGGERAN INGROSSER OF CORN.A DEVILISH USURERA WATERMANA REVEREND JUDGEA VIRTUOUS WIDOWAN ORDINARY WIDOWA QUACK-SALVERA CANTING ROGUE.A FRENCH COOK.A SEXTONA JESUITAN EXCELLENT ACTOR.A FRANKLIN.A RHYMERA COVETOUS MAN.THE PROUD MANA PRISON.A PRISONERA CREDITORA SERGEANTHIS YEOMANA COMMON CRUEL JAILORWHAT A CHARACTER IS.THE CHARACTER OF A HAPPY LIFE.AN ESSAY OF VALOUR.CHARACTERS OF VICES AND VIRTUESA DOMESTIC CHAPLAIN.THE WITLESS GALLANT.IN TWO BOOKS.A PREMONITION or THE TITLE AND USE OF CHARACTERS.THE PROEM.CHARACTER OF THE WISE MAN.OF AN HONEST MAN.OF THE FAITHFUL MAN.OF THE HUMBLE MAN.OF A VALIANT MAN.OF A PATIENT MAN.OF THE TRUE FRIEND.OF THE TRULY NOBLE.OF THE GOOD MAGISTRATE.OF THE PENITENT.HE IS A HAPPY MANTHE PROEM.CHARACTER OF THE HYPOCRITE.OF THE BUSYBODY.OF THE SUPERSTITIOUS.OF THE PROFANE.OF THE MALCONTENT.OF THE INCONSTANT.OF THE FLATTERER.OF THE SLOTHFUL.OF THE COVETOUS.OF THE VAINGLORIOUS.OF THE PRESUMPTUOUS.OF THE DISTRUSTFUL.OF THE AMBITIOUS.OF THE UNTHRIFT.OF THE ENVIOUS.JOHN STEPHENS,JOHN EARLEMICROCOSMOGRAPHY;A CHILDA YOUNG RAW PREACHERA GRAVE DIVINEA MERE DULL PHYSICIAN.AN ALDERMAN.A DISCONTENTED MANAN ANTIQUARY.A YOUNGER BROTHER.A MERE FORMAL MANA CHURCH-PAPISTA SELF-CONCEITED MANA TOO IDLY RESERVED MANA TAVERNA SHARKA CARRIERA YOUNG MAN.AN OLD COLLEGE BUTLERAN UPSTART COUNTRY KNIGHTAN IDLE GALLANTA CONSTABLEA DOWN-RIGHT SCHOLARA PLAIN COUNTRY FELLOWA PLAYER.A DETRACTORA YOUNG GENTLEMAN OF THE UNIVERSITYA WEAK MANA TOBACCO-SELLERA POT-POETA PLAUSIBLE MANA BOWL-ALLEYTHE WORLD'S WISE MANA SURGEONA CONTEMPLATIVE MANA SHE PRECISE HYPOCRITEA SCEPTIC IN RELIGIONAN ATTORNEY.A PARTIAL MANA TRUMPETERA VULGAR-SPIRITED MANA PLODDING STUDENTPAUL'S WALK[64]A COOK.A BOLD FORWARD MANA BAKER.A PRETENDER TO LEARNINGA HERALDTHE COMMON SINGING-MEN IN CATHEDRAL CHURCHESA SHOPKEEPER.A BLUNT MANA HANDSOME HOSTESSA CRITICA SERGEANT, OR CATCH-POLEA UNIVERSITY DUNA STAID MANA MODEST MANA MERE EMPTY WITA DRUNKARDA PRISONA SERVING MANAN INSOLENT MANACQUAINTANCEA MERE COMPLIMENTAL MANA POOR FIDDLERA MEDDLING MANA GOOD OLD MANA FLATTERERA HIGH-SPIRITED MANA MERE GULL CITIZENA LASCIVIOUS MANA RASH MANAN AFFECTED MANA PROFANE MANA COWARDA SORDID RICH MANA MERE GREAT MANA POOR MANAN ORDINARY HONEST MANA SUSPICIOUS OR JEALOUS MANNICHOLAS BRETONTO THE READER.MORAL AND DIVINE.WISDOM.LEARNING.KNOWLEDGE.PRACTICE.PATIENCE.LOVE.PEACE.WAR.VALOUR.RESOLUTION.HONOUR.TRUTH.TIME.DEATH.FAITH.FEAR.OF STUDIES.THE GOOD AND THE BAD;UNWORTHIES OF THIS AGE.A WORTHY KING.AN UNWORTHY KING.A WORTHY QUEEN.A WORTHY PRINCE.AN UNWORTHY PRINCE.A WORTHY PRIVY COUNCILLOR.AN UNWORTHY COUNCILLOR.A NOBLEMAN.AN UNNOBLE MAN.A WORTHY BISHOP.AN UNWORTHY BISHOP.A WORTHY JUDGE.AN UNWORTHY JUDGE.A WORTHY KNIGHT.AN UNWORTHY KNIGHT.A WORTHY GENTLEMAN.AN UNWORTHY GENTLEMAN.A WORTHY LAWYER.AN UNWORTHY LAWYER.A WORTHY SOLDIER.AN UNTRAINED SOLDIER.A WORTHY PHYSICIAN.AN UNWORTHY PHYSICIAN.A WORTHY MERCHANT.AN UNWORTHY MERCHANT.A GOOD MAN.AN ATHEIST OR MOST BAD MAN.A WISE MAN.A FOOL.AN HONEST MAN.A KNAVE.AN USURER.A BEGGAR.A VIRGIN.A WANTON WOMAN.A QUIET WOMAN.AN UNQUIET WOMAN.A GOOD WIFE.AN EFFEMINATE FOOL.A PARASITE.A DRUNKARD.A COWARD.AN HONEST POOR MAN.A JUST MAN.A REPENTANT SINNER.A REPROBATE.AN OLD MAN.A YOUNG MAN.A HOLY MAN.GEOFFREY MINSHULL.FROM THE DEDICATION OF "ESSAYS AND CHARACTERS OF A PRISON AND PRISONERS."A CHARACTER OF A PRISONER.HENRY PARROT [?].A SCOLDA GOOD WIFEPLAYERA CORRANTO-COINERJOHN MILTON,ON THE UNIVERSITY CARRIER,ANOTHER ON THE SAME.WYE SALTONSTALL,THE TERMTHE HORSEPAMPHLETSJOHN CLEVELAND,THE CHARACTER OF A COUNTRY COMMITTEE-MAN, WITH THE EAR-MARK OF A SEQUESTRATOR.THE CHARACTER OF A DIURNAL-MAKER.THE CHARACTER OF A LONDON DIURNAL.THE VALIANT MAN.SAMUEL BUTLER,CHARACTERS.A DEGENERATE NOBLE; OR, ONE THAT IS PROUD OF HIS BIRTH,A HUFFING COURTIERA COURT BEGGARA BUMPKIN OR COUNTRY SQUIREAN ANTIQUARYA PROUD MANA SMALL POETA PHILOSOPHERA MELANCHOLY MANA TRAVELLERA CURIOUS MANA HERALDA VIRTUOSOAN INTELLIGENCERA QUIBBLERA TIME-SERVERA PRATERA DISPUTANTA PROJECTORA COMPLEMENTERA CHEATA TEDIOUS MANA PRETENDERA NEWSMONGERA MODERN CRITICA BUSY MANA PEDANTA HUNTERAN AFFECTED MANA MEDICINE-TAKERTHE MISERA SWEARERTHE LUXURIOUSAN UNGRATEFUL MANA SQUIRE OF DAMESAN HYPOCRITEAN OPINIONATERA CHOLERIC MANA SUPERSTITIOUS MANA DROLLTHE OBSTINATE MANA ZEALOTTHE OVERDOERTHE RASH MANTHE AFFECTED OR FORMALA FLATTERERA PRODIGALTHE INCONSTANTA GLUTTONA RIBALDA MODERN POLITICIANA MODERN STATESMANA DUKE OF BUCKSA FANTASTICAN HARANGUERA RANTERAN AMORISTAN ASTROLOGERA LAWYERAN EPIGRAMMATISTA FANATIC.A PROSELYTE.A CLOWNA WOOERAN IMPUDENT MANAN IMITATORA SOTA JUGGLERA ROMANCE-WRITERA LIBELLERA FACTIOUS MEMBERA PLAY-WRITERA MOUNTEBANKA WITTOLA LITIGIOUS MANA HUMOURISTA LEADER OF A FACTIONA DEBAUCHED MANTHE SEDITIOUS MANTHE RUDE MANA RABBLEA KNIGHT OF THE POSTAN UNDESERVING FAVOURITEA MALICIOUS MANA KNAVEWILLIAM WORDSWORTHCHARACTER OF THE HAPPY WARRIOR.Previous chapter ←TO THE READER.Next chapter →WISDOM.All chapters and sections (382)Opening pagesFront matterOther sectionsSEVENTEENTH CENTURY.STUPIDITY.A RUFFLER.A TRAVELLER.THE TRUE CRITIC.THE CHARACTER OF THE PERSONS.A GOOD WOMAN.A VERY WOMAN.HER NEXT PART.A DISSEMBLERA COURTIER,A GOLDEN ASSA FLATTERERAN IGNORANT GLORY-HUNTERA TIMISTAN AMORISTAN AFFECTED TRAVELLERA WISE MANA NOBLE SPIRITAN OLD MANA COUNTRY GENTLEMANA FINE GENTLEMANAN ELDER BROTHERA BRAGGADOCIO WELSHMANA PEDANT.A SERVING-MANAN HOSTAN OSTLERTHE TRUE CHARACTER OF A DUNCE.A GOOD WIFEA MELANCHOLY MANA SAILORA SOLDIERA TAILORA PURITANA MERE COMMON LAWYERA MERE SCHOLAR.A TINKERAN APPARITORAN ALMANAC-MAKERA HYPOCRITEA CHAMBERMAID.A PRECISIAN.AN INNS OF COURT MAN.A MERE FELLOW OF AN HOUSE.A WORTHY COMMANDER IN THE WARSA VAINGLORIOUS COWARD IN COMMANDA PIRATE,AN ORDINARY FENCERA PUNY CLERK.A FOOTMAN.A NOBLE AND RETIRED HOUSEKEEPERAN INTRUDER INTO FAVOURA FAIR AND HAPPY MILKMAIDAN ARRANT HORSE-COURSERA ROARING BOY.A DRUNKEN DUTCHMAN RESIDENT IN ENGLANDA PHANTASTIQUE: AN IMPROVIDENT YOUNG GALLANT,A BUTTON-MAKER OF AMSTERDAMA DISTASTER OF THE TIMEA MERE FELLOW OF AN HOUSEA MERE PETTIFOGGERAN INGROSSER OF CORN.A DEVILISH USURERA WATERMANA REVEREND JUDGEA VIRTUOUS WIDOWAN ORDINARY WIDOWA QUACK-SALVERA CANTING ROGUE.A FRENCH COOK.A SEXTONA JESUITAN EXCELLENT ACTOR.A FRANKLIN.A RHYMERA COVETOUS MAN.THE PROUD MANA PRISON.A PRISONERA CREDITORA SERGEANTHIS YEOMANA COMMON CRUEL JAILORWHAT A CHARACTER IS.THE CHARACTER OF A HAPPY LIFE.AN ESSAY OF VALOUR.CHARACTERS OF VICES AND VIRTUESA DOMESTIC CHAPLAIN.THE WITLESS GALLANT.IN TWO BOOKS.A PREMONITION or THE TITLE AND USE OF CHARACTERS.THE PROEM.CHARACTER OF THE WISE MAN.OF AN HONEST MAN.OF THE FAITHFUL MAN.OF THE HUMBLE MAN.OF A VALIANT MAN.OF A PATIENT MAN.OF THE TRUE FRIEND.OF THE TRULY NOBLE.OF THE GOOD MAGISTRATE.OF THE PENITENT.HE IS A HAPPY MANTHE PROEM.CHARACTER OF THE HYPOCRITE.OF THE BUSYBODY.OF THE SUPERSTITIOUS.OF THE PROFANE.OF THE MALCONTENT.OF THE INCONSTANT.OF THE FLATTERER.OF THE SLOTHFUL.OF THE COVETOUS.OF THE VAINGLORIOUS.OF THE PRESUMPTUOUS.OF THE DISTRUSTFUL.OF THE AMBITIOUS.OF THE UNTHRIFT.OF THE ENVIOUS.JOHN STEPHENS,JOHN EARLEMICROCOSMOGRAPHY;A CHILDA YOUNG RAW PREACHERA GRAVE DIVINEA MERE DULL PHYSICIAN.AN ALDERMAN.A DISCONTENTED MANAN ANTIQUARY.A YOUNGER BROTHER.A MERE FORMAL MANA CHURCH-PAPISTA SELF-CONCEITED MANA TOO IDLY RESERVED MANA TAVERNA SHARKA CARRIERA YOUNG MAN.AN OLD COLLEGE BUTLERAN UPSTART COUNTRY KNIGHTAN IDLE GALLANTA CONSTABLEA DOWN-RIGHT SCHOLARA PLAIN COUNTRY FELLOWA PLAYER.A DETRACTORA YOUNG GENTLEMAN OF THE UNIVERSITYA WEAK MANA TOBACCO-SELLERA POT-POETA PLAUSIBLE MANA BOWL-ALLEYTHE WORLD'S WISE MANA SURGEONA CONTEMPLATIVE MANA SHE PRECISE HYPOCRITEA SCEPTIC IN RELIGIONAN ATTORNEY.A PARTIAL MANA TRUMPETERA VULGAR-SPIRITED MANA PLODDING STUDENTPAUL'S WALK[64]A COOK.A BOLD FORWARD MANA BAKER.A PRETENDER TO LEARNINGA HERALDTHE COMMON SINGING-MEN IN CATHEDRAL CHURCHESA SHOPKEEPER.A BLUNT MANA HANDSOME HOSTESSA CRITICA SERGEANT, OR CATCH-POLEA UNIVERSITY DUNA STAID MANA MODEST MANA MERE EMPTY WITA DRUNKARDA PRISONA SERVING MANAN INSOLENT MANACQUAINTANCEA MERE COMPLIMENTAL MANA POOR FIDDLERA MEDDLING MANA GOOD OLD MANA FLATTERERA HIGH-SPIRITED MANA MERE GULL CITIZENA LASCIVIOUS MANA RASH MANAN AFFECTED MANA PROFANE MANA COWARDA SORDID RICH MANA MERE GREAT MANA POOR MANAN ORDINARY HONEST MANA SUSPICIOUS OR JEALOUS MANNICHOLAS BRETONTO THE READER.MORAL AND DIVINE.WISDOM.LEARNING.KNOWLEDGE.PRACTICE.PATIENCE.LOVE.PEACE.WAR.VALOUR.RESOLUTION.HONOUR.TRUTH.TIME.DEATH.FAITH.FEAR.OF STUDIES.THE GOOD AND THE BAD;UNWORTHIES OF THIS AGE.A WORTHY KING.AN UNWORTHY KING.A WORTHY QUEEN.A WORTHY PRINCE.AN UNWORTHY PRINCE.A WORTHY PRIVY COUNCILLOR.AN UNWORTHY COUNCILLOR.A NOBLEMAN.AN UNNOBLE MAN.A WORTHY BISHOP.AN UNWORTHY BISHOP.A WORTHY JUDGE.AN UNWORTHY JUDGE.A WORTHY KNIGHT.AN UNWORTHY KNIGHT.A WORTHY GENTLEMAN.AN UNWORTHY GENTLEMAN.A WORTHY LAWYER.AN UNWORTHY LAWYER.A WORTHY SOLDIER.AN UNTRAINED SOLDIER.A WORTHY PHYSICIAN.AN UNWORTHY PHYSICIAN.A WORTHY MERCHANT.AN UNWORTHY MERCHANT.A GOOD MAN.AN ATHEIST OR MOST BAD MAN.A WISE MAN.A FOOL.AN HONEST MAN.A KNAVE.AN USURER.A BEGGAR.A VIRGIN.A WANTON WOMAN.A QUIET WOMAN.AN UNQUIET WOMAN.A GOOD WIFE.AN EFFEMINATE FOOL.A PARASITE.A DRUNKARD.A COWARD.AN HONEST POOR MAN.A JUST MAN.A REPENTANT SINNER.A REPROBATE.AN OLD MAN.A YOUNG MAN.A HOLY MAN.GEOFFREY MINSHULL.FROM THE DEDICATION OF "ESSAYS AND CHARACTERS OF A PRISON AND PRISONERS."A CHARACTER OF A PRISONER.HENRY PARROT [?].A SCOLDA GOOD WIFEPLAYERA CORRANTO-COINERJOHN MILTON,ON THE UNIVERSITY CARRIER,ANOTHER ON THE SAME.WYE SALTONSTALL,THE TERMTHE HORSEPAMPHLETSJOHN CLEVELAND,THE CHARACTER OF A COUNTRY COMMITTEE-MAN, WITH THE EAR-MARK OF A SEQUESTRATOR.THE CHARACTER OF A DIURNAL-MAKER.THE CHARACTER OF A LONDON DIURNAL.THE VALIANT MAN.SAMUEL BUTLER,CHARACTERS.A DEGENERATE NOBLE; OR, ONE THAT IS PROUD OF HIS BIRTH,A HUFFING COURTIERA COURT BEGGARA BUMPKIN OR COUNTRY SQUIREAN ANTIQUARYA PROUD MANA SMALL POETA PHILOSOPHERA MELANCHOLY MANA TRAVELLERA CURIOUS MANA HERALDA VIRTUOSOAN INTELLIGENCERA QUIBBLERA TIME-SERVERA PRATERA DISPUTANTA PROJECTORA COMPLEMENTERA CHEATA TEDIOUS MANA PRETENDERA NEWSMONGERA MODERN CRITICA BUSY MANA PEDANTA HUNTERAN AFFECTED MANA MEDICINE-TAKERTHE MISERA SWEARERTHE LUXURIOUSAN UNGRATEFUL MANA SQUIRE OF DAMESAN HYPOCRITEAN OPINIONATERA CHOLERIC MANA SUPERSTITIOUS MANA DROLLTHE OBSTINATE MANA ZEALOTTHE OVERDOERTHE RASH MANTHE AFFECTED OR FORMALA FLATTERERA PRODIGALTHE INCONSTANTA GLUTTONA RIBALDA MODERN POLITICIANA MODERN STATESMANA DUKE OF BUCKSA FANTASTICAN HARANGUERA RANTERAN AMORISTAN ASTROLOGERA LAWYERAN EPIGRAMMATISTA FANATIC.A PROSELYTE.A CLOWNA WOOERAN IMPUDENT MANAN IMITATORA SOTA JUGGLERA ROMANCE-WRITERA LIBELLERA FACTIOUS MEMBERA PLAY-WRITERA MOUNTEBANKA WITTOLA LITIGIOUS MANA HUMOURISTA LEADER OF A FACTIONA DEBAUCHED MANTHE SEDITIOUS MANTHE RUDE MANA RABBLEA KNIGHT OF THE POSTAN UNDESERVING FAVOURITEA MALICIOUS MANA KNAVEWILLIAM WORDSWORTHCHARACTER OF THE HAPPY WARRIOR.By NICHOLAS BRETON.← TO THE READER.WISDOM. →