The Countesse of Lincolnes nurserie

The Countesse of Lincolnes nurserie

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Title page

TO THE RIGHT HONOVrable, and approved vertuous LA: BRIGET COVNTESSE OF LINCOLNE.

TO THE COVRTEOVS, chiefly most Christian, Reader.

THE COVNTESSE OF Lincolnes Nurserie.

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THE COVNTESSE OF Lincolnes Nurserie.

BEcause it hath pleased God to blesse me with many children, and so caused me to obserue many things falling out to mothers, and to their children; I thought good to open my minde concerning a speciall matter belonging to all childe-bearing women, seriously to consider of: and to manifest my minde the better, even to write of this matter, so farre as God shall please to direct me; in summe, the matter I meane, Is the duty of nursing due by mothers to their owne children.

In setting downe whereof, I wil first shew, that every woman ought to nurse her owne childe; and secondly, I will endeavour to answere such obiections, as are vsed to be cast out against this dutie to disgrace the same.

[Page] The first point is easily performed. For it is the expresse ordinance of God that mothers should nurse their owne children, & being his ordinance they are bound to it in conscience. This should stop the mouthes of all replyers, for God is most wise, Isa.31.2. and therefore must needs know what is fittest and best for vs to doe: & to prevent all foolish feares, or shifts, we are giuen to vnderstand that he is also All sufficient, Gen.17.1. & therefore infinitely able to blesse his owne ordinance, and to afford vs meanes in our selues (as continuall experience confirmeth) toward the obseruance thereof.

If this (as it ought) bee granted, then how venterous are those women that dare venter to doe otherwise, and so to refuse, and by refusing to dispise that order, which the most wise and allmighty God hath appointed, and in steed thereof to chuse their owne pleasures? Oh what peace can there be to these womens consciences, vnlesse through the darknes of their vnderstanding they judge it no disobedience?

And then they will driue me to proue that this nursing, and nourishing of their own children [Page] in their own bosomes is Gods ordinance; They are very willful, or very ignorant, if they make a question of it. For it is proued sufficiently to be their dutie, both by Gods word, and also by his workes.

By his word it is proued, first by Examples, namely the example of Eue. For who suckled her sonnes Cain, Abel, Seth, &c. but her selfe? Which shee did not only of meere necessitie, because yet no other woman was created; but especially because shee was their mother, and so sawe it was her duty: and because shee had a true naturall affection, which moved her to doe it gladly. Next the example of Sarah the wife of Abraham; For shee both gaue her sonne Isaac suck,Gen.21.7. as doing the dutie commanded of God: And also tooke great comfort, and delight therein, as in a duty well pleasing to her selfe; whence shee spake of it, as of an action worthy to be named in her holy reioycing. Now if Sarah, so great a Princesse, did nurse her own childe, why should any of vs neglect to doe the like, except (which God forbid) we thinke scorne to follow her, whose daughters it is our glory to be, and which we [Page] be only vpon this condition, that we imitate her well-doing.1.Pet.3.6. Let vs looke therefore to our worthy Pattern, noting withall, that shee put her selfe to this worke when shee was very old, and so might the better haue excused her selfe, then we yonger women can: being also more able to hire, and keepe a nurse, then any of vs. But why is shee not followed by most in the practise of this duty? Euen because they want her vertue, and piety. This want is the common hinderance to this point of the womans obedience; for this want makes them want loue to Gods precepts, want loue to his doctrine, and like step-mothers, want due loue to their own children.

But now to another worthy example, namely that excellent woman Hannah, 1.Sam.1.23. who hauing after much affliction of minde obtained a sonne of God, whom shee vowed vnto God; shee did not put him to another to nurse, but nursed him her owne selfe vntill shee had weaned him, & carried him to be consecrate vnto the Lord: As well knowing that this duty of giuing her childe sucke, was so acceptable to God, as for the cause thereof shee did [Page] not sinne in staying with it at home from the yearely sacrifice: but now women, especially of any place, and of little grace, doe not hold this duty acceptable to God, because it is vnacceptable to themselues: as if they would haue the Lord to like, and dislike, according to their vaine lusts.

To proceed, take notice of one example more, that is, of the blessed Virgin: as her womb bare our blessed Sauiour, so her papps gaue him sucke. Now who shall deny the own mothers suckling of their owne children: to bee their duty, since euery godly matrone hath walked in these steps before them: Eue the mother of al the liuing; Sarah the mother of al the faithfull; Hannah so gratiously heard of God; Mary blessed among women, and called blessed of all ages. And who can say but that the rest of holy women mentioned in the holy Scriptures did the like; since no doubt that speech of that noble Dame, saying, who would haue said to Abraham that Sarah should haue giuen children sucke? was taken from the ordinary custome of mothers in those lesse corrupted times.Gen.21.7.

[Page] And so much for proofe of this office, and duty to be Gods ordinance, by his own VVord according to the argument of Examples: I hope I shall likewise proue it by the same word from plaine Precepts. 1.Tim.5.14. First from that Precept, which willeth the younger women to marry, and to Beare children, that is, not only to Beare them in the wombe, and to bring thē forth; but also to Beare them on their knee, in their armes,Ver.10. and at their breasts: for this Bearing a little before is called nourishing, and bringing vp: and to inforce it the better vpon womens consciences, it is numbred as the first of the good workes, for which godly women should be well reported of. And well it may be the first, because if holy Ministers, or other Christians doe heare of a good woman to be brought to bed, and her child to bee living; their first question vsually is, whether she her selfe giue it sucke, yea, or no? if the answere be she doth, then they commend her: if the answer be she doth not, then they are sorry for her.

And thus I come to a second Precept. I pray you, who that iudges aright; doth not hold [Page] the suckling of her owne childe the part of a true mother, of an honest mother, of a iust mother, of a syncere mother, of a mother worthy of loue, of a mother deseruing good report, of a vertuous mother, of a mother winning praise for it? All this is assented to by any of good vnderstanding. Therefore this is also a Precept, as for other duties, so for This of mothers to their children; which saith, whatsoeuer things are true,Philip.4.8. whatsoeuer things are honest, whatsoeuer things are iust, whatsoeuer things are pure, whatsoeuer things be worthy of loue, whatsoeuer things be of good report, if there be any vertue, if there bee any praise, thinke on these things, these things doe and the God of peace shall be with you.

So farre for my promise, to proue by the word of God, that it is his ordinance that women should nurse their owne children: now I will endeauour to proue it by his workes: First by his workes of iudgement; if it were not his ordinance for mothers to giue their children sucke, it were no iudgement to bereaue thē of their milke, but it is specified to be a great iudgement to bereaue them hereof, & to giue [Page] them dry breasts, therefore it is to be gathered, euen from hence, that it is his ordinance, since to depriue them of meanes to doe it, is a punishment of them.

I adde to this the worke that God worketh in the very nature of mothers, which proueth also that he hath ordained that they should nurse their owne children: for by his secret operation, the mothers affection it so knit by natures law to her tender babe, as she findes no power to deny to suckle it, no not when shee is in hazard to lose her owne life, by attending on it; for in such a case it is not said, let the mother fly, and leaue her infant to the perill, as if she were dispensed with: but onely it is said woe to her, as if she were to be pittied, that for nature to her child, she must be vnnaturall to her selfe: now if any then being euen at liberty, and in peace, with all plenty, shall deny to giue sucke to their owne children, they goe against nature: and shew that God hath not done so much for thē as to worke any good,Lam.7.3. no not in their nature, but left them more sauage then the Dragons, and as cruell to their little ones as the Ostriches.

[Page] Now another worke of God, prouing this point is the worke of his prouision, for euery kinde to be apt, and able to nourish their own fruit: there is no beast that feeds their young with milke, but the Lord, euen from the first ground of the order of nature; Growe, and multiplie; hath prouided it of milke to suckle their owne young, which euery beast takes so naturally vnto, as if another beast come toward their young to offer the office of a Damme vnto it, they shew according to their fashion, a plaine dislike of it: as if nature did speake in them, and say it is contrary to Gods order in nature, commanding each kinde to increase, and multiplie in their owne bodies, and by their owne breasts, not to bring forth by one Damme, and to bring vp by another: but it is his ordinance that euery kinde should both bring forth, and also nurse its owne fruit.

Much more should this work of God prevaile to perswade women, made as man in the image of God, and therefore should be ashamed to bee put to schoole to learne good nature of the vnreasonable creature. In vs also, as we knowe by experience, God prouideth [Page] milke in our breasts against the time of our childrens birth, and this hee hath done euer since it was said to vs also, Increase, and multiply, so that this worke of his prouision sheweth that hee tieth vs likewise to nourish the children of our owne wombe, with our own breasts, euen by the order of nature: yea it sheweth that he so careth for, and regardeth little children euen from the wombe, that he would haue them nursed by those that in all reason will looke to them with the kindest affection, namely their mothers; & in giuing them milke for it, hee doth plainely tell them that herequires it.

Oh consider, how comes our milke? is it not by the direct prouidence of God? Why prouides he it, but for the child? The mothers then that refuse to nurse their owne children, doe they not despise Gods prouidence? Doe they not deny Gods will? Doe they not as it were say, I see, O God, by the meanes thou hast put into me, that thou wouldst haue me nurse the child thou hast giuen me, but I will not doe so much for thee. Oh impious, and impudent vnthankfulnesse; yea monstrous vnnaturalnesse, both to their [Page] own natural fruit borne so neare their breasts, and fed in their owne wombes, and yet may not be suffered to sucke their owne milke.

And this vnthankfulnesse, and vnnaturalnesse is oftner the sinne of the Higher, and the richer sort, then of the meaner, and poorer, except some nice and prowd idle dames, who will imitate their betters, till they make their poore husbands beggars. And this is one hurt which the better ranke doe by their ill example; egge, and imbolden the lower ones to follow them to their losse: were it not better for Vs greater persons to keepe Gods ordinance, & to shew the meaner their dutie in our good example? I am sure wee haue more helpes to performe it, and haue fewer probable reasons to alleage against it, then women that liue by hard labour, & painfull toile. If such mothers as refuse this office of loue, & of nature to their children, should hereafter be refused, despised, and neglected of those their children, were they not iustly required according to their owne vnkind dealing? I might say more in handling this first point of my promise; but I leaue the larger, and learneder discourse hereof [Page] vnto men of art, and learning: only I speake of so much as I reade, and know in my owne experience, which if any of my sexe, and condition do receaue good by, I am glad: if they scorne it, they shall haue the reward of scorners. I write in modestie, and can reape no disgrace by their immodest folly.

And so I come to the last part of my promise; which is to answer obiections made by diuers against this duty of mothers to their children.

First it is obiected that Rebeckah had a nurse, and that therefore her mother did not giue her suck of her owne breasts, and so good women, in the first ages, did not hold thē to this office of nursing their owne children. To this I answer; that if her mother had milk, and health, and yet did put this duty from her to another, it was her fault, & so proueth nothing against me. But it is manifest that she that Rebeckah calleth her nurse, was called so, either for that she most tended her while her mother suckled her: or for that she weaned her: or for that during her nonage, and childhood, shee did minister to her continually such good [Page] things as delighted, and nourished her vp. For to any one of these the name of a nourse is fitly giuen: whence a good wife is called her husbands nourse: and that Rebeckahs nourse was only such a one,Gen.24.61. appeareth, because afterward she is not named a nourse, but a maide, saying: Then Rebeckah rose, and her maides; now maids giue not suck out of their breasts, never any virgin, or honest maide gaue suck, but that blessed one from an extraordinary, & blessed power.

Secondly it is obiected, that it is troublesome; that it is noysome to ones clothes; that it makes one looke old, &c. All such reasons are vncomely, and vnchristian to be obiected: and therefore vnworthy to be answered, they argue vnmotherly affection, idlenesse, desire to haue liberty to gadd from home, pride, foolish finenesse, lust, wantonnesse, & the like euills. Aske Sarah, Hannah, the blessed virgin, and any modest louing mother, what trouble they accounted it to giue their little ones sucke: behold most nursing mothers and they be as cleane and sweet in their cloathes, and carry their age, and hold their beautie, as well as those that suckle not: [Page] and most likely are they so to doe; because keeping Gods Ordinance, they are sure of Gods Blessing: and it hath beene obserued in some women that they grew more beautifull, and better fauoured, by very nursing their owne children.

But there are some women that obiect feare: saying that they are so weake, & so tender, that they are afraid to venter to giue their children suck, least they indanger their health thereby. Of these, I demand, why then they did venter to marry, and so to beare children; and if they say they could not chuse, and that they thought not that marriage would impaire their health: I answere, that for the same reasons they should set themselues to nurse their owne children, because they should not chuse but doe what God would haue them to doe: and they should beleeue that this worke will be for their health also, seeing it is ordinary with the Lord to giue good stomach, health, and strength to almost all mothers that take this paines with their children.

One answere more to all the obiections that vse to bee made against giuing children [Page] sucke, is this, that now the hardnes, to effect this matter, is much remooued by a late example of a tender young Lady, and you may all be encouraged to follow after, in that wherein she hath gone before you, & so made the way more easie, and more hopefull by that which shee findeth possible and comfortable by Gods blessing, and no offence to her Lord nor her selfe: shee might haue had as many doubts, and lets, as any of you, but she was willing to try how God would enable her, & he hath giuen her good successe, as I hope he will doe to others that are willing to trust in God for his helpe.

Now if any reading these few lines returne against me, that it may bee I my selfe haue giuen my own children suck: & therefore am bolder, and more busie to meddle in vrging this point, to the end to insult ouer, & to make them to bee blamed that haue not done it. I answer, that whether I haue, or haue not performed this my bounden duty, I will not deny to tell my own practise. I knowe & acknowledge that I should haue done it, and hauing not done it; it was not for want of will [Page] in my selfe, but partly I was ouerruled by anothers authority, and partly deceiued by somes ill counsell, & partly I had not so well considered of my duty in this motherly office, as since I did, whē it was too late for me to put it in execution. Wherefore being pricked in hart for my vndutifullnesse, this way I studie to redeeme my peace, first by repentance towards God, humbly and often craving his pardon for this my offence: secondly by studying how to shew double loue to my children, to make them amends for neglect of this part of loue to them, when they should haue hung on my breasts, & haue beene nourished in mine owne bosome: thirdly by doing my indeauour to prevent many christian mothers from sining in the same kinde, against our most louing, and gratious God.

And for this cause I add vnto my performed promise, this short exhortation: namely I beseech all godly women to remember, how we elder ones are commaunded to instruct the yonger, to loue their children, now therefore loue them so as to do this office to them when they are borne, more gladly for loue sake, then a strunger, who bore them not, shall do for lucre [Page] sake. Also I pray you to set no more so light by Gods blessing in your owne breasts, which the holy Spirit ranketh with other excellent blessings; if it be vnlawfull to trample vnder feete a cluster of grapes, in which a little wine is found; then how vnlawfull is it to destroye and drie vp those breasts, in which your owne child (and perhaps one of Gods very elect, to whom to be a noursing father, is a Kings honour; and to whom to be a noursing mother, is a Queens honour) might finde food of syncere milke, euen from Gods immediate prouidence, vntill it were fitter for stronger meat? I doe knowe that the Lord may deny some women, either to haue any milke in their breasts at all, or to haue any passage for their milke, or to haue any health, or to haue a right minde: and so they may be letted from this duty, by want, by sicknesse, by lunacy, &c. But I speake not to these: I speake to you, Whose consciences witnesse against you, that you cannot iustly alleage any of those impediments.

Doe you submit your selues, to the paine and trouble of this ordinance of God? trust [Page] not other women, whom wages hyres to doe it, better then your selues, whom God, and nature ties to doe it. I haue found by grieuous experience, such dissembling in nurses, pretending sufficiency of milke, when indeed they had too much scarcitie; pretending willingnesse, towardnesse, wakefulnesse, when indeed they haue beene most wilfull, most froward, and most slothfull, as I feare the death of one or two of my little Babes came by the defalt of their nurses. Of all those which I had for eighteene children, I had but two which were throughly willing, and carefull: diuers haue had their children miscarry in the nurses hands, and are such mothers (if it were by the nurses carelesnesse) guiltlesse? I knowe not how they should, since they will shut them out of the armes of nature, and leaue them to the will of a stranger; yea to one that will seeme to estrange her selfe from her owne child, to giue sucke to the nurse-child: This she may faine to doe vpon a couetous composition, but she frets at it in her minde, if she haue any naturall affection.

Therefore be no longer at the trouble, and [Page] at the care to hire others to doe your owne worke: bee not so vnnaturall to thrust away your owne children: be not so hardy as to venter a tender Babe to a lesse tender heart: bee not accessary to that disorder of causing a poorer woman to banish her owne infant, for the entertaining of a richer womans child, as it were, bidding her vnloue her owne to loue yours. Wee haue followed Eue in transgression, let vs follow her in obedience. VVhen God laid the sorrowes of conception, of breeding of bringing forth, and of bringing vp her children vpon her, & so vpon vs in her loynes, did shee reply any word against? Not a word; so I pray you all mine owne Daughters, and others that are still child-bearing reply not against the duty of suckling them, when God hath sent you them.

Indeed I see some, if the wether be wet, or cold; if the way be fowle; if the Church be far off, I see they are so coy, so nice, so lukewarme, they will not take paines for their own soules. alas, no maruell if these will not bee at trouble, and paine to nourish their childrens bodies, but feare God, bee diligent to serue him; [Page] approue all his ordinances; seeke to please him; account it no trouble, or paine to doe any thing that hath the promise of his blessing: and then you will, no doubt, doe this good, laudable, naturall, louing duty to your children. If yet you be not satisfied, inquire not of such as refuse to doe this: consult not with your owne conceit aduise not with flatterers: but aske counsell of syncere, and faithfull Preachers. If you be satisfied; then take this with you, to make you doe it cheerefully. Thinke alwaies, that hauing the child at your breast, and hauing it in your armes, you haue Gods blessing there. For children are Gods blessings. Thinke againe how your Babe crying for your breast, sucking hartily the milke out of it, and growing by it, is the Lords owne instruction, euery houre, and euery day, that you are suckling it, instructing you to shew that you are his new borne Babes, by your earnest desire after his word; & the syncere doctrine thereof, and by your daily growing in grace and goodnesse thereby, so shall you reape pleasure, and profit. Againe, you may consider, that when your child is at your breast, it [Page] is a fit occasion to moue your heart to pray for a blessing vpon that worke; and to giue thanks for your child, and for ability & freedome vnto that, which many a mother would haue done and could not; who haue tried & ventured their health, & taken much paines, and yet haue not obtained their desire. But they that are fitted euery way for this commendable act, haue certainely great cause to be thankfull: and I much desire that God may haue glory and praise for euery good worke, and you much comfort, that doe seeke to honour God in all things.

Amen.

FINIS.

§

§

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THE COVNTESSE OF LINCOLNES NVRSERIE.

AT OXFORD, Printed by IOHN LICHFIELD, and IAMES SHORT Printers to the famous Vniversitie. 1622.

TO THE RIGHT HONOVrable, and approved vertuous LA: BRIGET COVNTESSE OF LINCOLNE.

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FOR the better expressing & keeping in memorie my Loue, and your Worthines; I doe offer vnto your LA: the first worke of mine that ever came in Print; because your rare example, hath given an excellent approbation to the matter contained in this Booke; for you haue passed by all excuses, and haue ventured vpon, & doe goe on with that loving act of a loving mother; in giving the sweete milke of your owne breasts, to your owne childe; wherein you haue gone before the greatest number of honourable Ladies of your place, in these latter times. But I wish many may follow you, in this good worke, which I desire, to further by my kinde [Page] perswasion. And such women as will vouchsafe to read this little short treatise; may be put in minde of a duty, which all mothers are bound to performe; and I shall be glad if any will consider, and put in practice, that which is both naturall and comfortable. I hope they will at the least commend with me such as do this good deede, and no more speake scornefully of that which is worthy of great praise; and for my part I thinke it an honour vnto you, to doe that which hath proued you to be full of care to please God, and of naturall affection, and to bee well stored with humility, and patience, all which are highly to be praised; to giue praise to any person or thing deseruing praise, I dare doe it, & for this louely action of yours I can with much thankefulnesse praise God, for all his gracious guifts of grace and Nature, wherby he hath inabled you, to doe the same: desiring also with my heart, that you may euer, and euery way honour God, who hath honoured you many wayes, aboue many women; and I reioyce, that I can beare witnesse, that God hath adorned you with fayre tokens of his loue and mercy to your soule: As the practise of true [Page] Christian religion; dedicating your selfe to Gods seruice; answerablenesse to all holy commands of the holy God, which are Testimonies of Gods loue, and doth challenge a very great esteeme from me, amongst the rest, that can truly iudge and rightly discerne what is best; I am full of thoughts in this kinde, or of this matter: yet I say no more but this, Goe on and prosper, Hold fast all that is good, Trust in God for strength to grow and continue in faithfull obedience to his glorious Majesty; And I wil not cease to intreat the Lord of Heauen, to powre aboundantly all Blessings of heauen and earth vpon you, and your Children, as they increase in number.

Your LA: in the best and fastest loue,

ELIZABETH LINCOLNE.

TO THE COVRTEOVS, chiefly most Christian, Reader.

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THE Generall Consent of too many mothers in an vnnaturall practise, (most Christian Reader) hath caused one of the Noblest and Fairest hands in this land to set pen to paper. As ashamed to see her sex farther degenerate; desirous for the glory thereof, to haue all both rightly knowe, and answere their kind, hath made Honour it selfe stoop to these paines; which now shee sends thee to pervse. Three things easily Inuite to Read what to view is offred. Eminency, or Interest in the Author. Rarity in the handled Matter; Breuity in the quicke dispatch. These three meet in this won. The Author so Eminent in Honour; thou canst hardly be anciently Honourable; and not be interested in her Honours acquaintance; scarcely not Alliance. Next for the Rarenesse, a peculiar tract of this subiect, I belieue, is not in thine hands. Lastly its so briefe, as I am perswaded, it smoothly gliding thee along in the reading, Thy sorrow will be, it lands thee so soone. What may giue satisfaction to a Reader, let me acquaint thee next, is here to be found. These are two things; Vsefulnesse of the subiect; Fulnes for the prosecution. If method and soundnesse can make [Page] Full, this is Full. What, not alone Confirmation vshering in the Assertion, but Refutation for vshering out Obiections can doe to making Sound and Through, this is Such. The Accommodation to these particulars (Gentle Reader) I leaue to thy selfe, least I become tedious whilst am honoring Breuity. The pay, assure thy selfe, will bee larger then the promise. The Wine much better then the Bush. This one word, and Ile stand out of the gate, thou mayest goe in. If Noble who readest, (likenesse is Mother & Nurse of liking) this comes from Nobility; Approue the rather, and practise. If meaner; blush to deny, what Honour becomes speaker to perswade to, president to lead the way to. And so I either humbly take my leaue; or bid farewell.

Blest is the land where Sons of Nobles raigne.

Blest is the land where Nobles teach their traine.

To Church for blisse Kings, Queenes, should Nurses be.

To state its blisse great Dames Babes nurse to see.

Go then Great booke of Nursing plead the Cause.

Teach High'st, low'st, all, it's Gods and Natures lawes.

THOMAS LODGE.

Information about this book

Title statement

The Countesse of Lincolnes nurserie

Lincoln, Elizabeth Clinton, Countess of.

Edition statement

1622

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Text Creation Partnership,

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2003-01 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A19016

ID [STC]

STC 5432

ID [STC]

ESTC S116629

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

99851845

ID [PROQUEST]

99851845

ID [VID]

17137

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(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A19016)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 17137)

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Source

— The Countesse of Lincolnes nurserie, Lincoln, Elizabeth Clinton, Countess of., Lodge, Thomas, 1558?-1625..

Extent

[8], 21, [1] p.

Printed by Iohn Lichfield, and Iames Short printers to the famous Vniversitie,. At Oxford :: 1622.. (Dedication signed: Elizabeth Lincolne; editor's preface signed: Thomas Lodge.) (A treatise recommending that mothers nurse their own children.--STC.) (Reproduction of the original in the British Library.)

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EEBO-TCP aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the Text Encoding Initiative (http://www.tei-c.org).

The EEBO-TCP project was divided into two phases. The 25,363 texts created during Phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 January 2015. Anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source.

Users should be aware of the process of creating the TCP texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data.

Text selection was based on the New Cambridge Bibliography of English Literature (NCBEL). If an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in NCBEL, then their works are eligible for inclusion. Selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. In general, first editions of a works in English were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably Latin and Welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so.

Image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. Quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in Oxford and Michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet QA standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. After proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. Any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. Understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of TCP data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. Users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a TCP editor.

The texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the TEI in Libraries guidelines.

Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements).

Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site.