The second tome of homilies of such matters as were promised, and entitled in…The second tome of homilees of such matters as were promised, and intituled in…

Forsooth, because they will not consider the crafty trains of the devil, and therefore giveth not them selves to pray to God, that he would vouchsafe to repress his power. Moreover they do not consider how they promote the purpose of the devil, in that they follow the wrath of their hearts, while they threat one another, while they in their folly turn all upside down, while they will never give over their right as they esteem it, yea, while many times they will not give over the wrong part in deed. Learn thou therefore, if thou desirest to be void of all these miseries, if thou desirest to live peaceably and comfortably in wedlock, how to make thy earnest prayer to God, that he would govern both your hearts by his holy spirit, to restrain the devils power, whereby your concord may remain perpetually. But to this prayer, must be joined a singular diligence, whereof saint Peter giveth this precept, saying: You husbands deal with your wives ¹according to knowledge, giving honour to the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, & as unto them ⟨p. 480⟩that are heirs also of the grace of life, that your prayers be not hindered. This precept doth particularly pertain to the husband. For he ought to be the leader & author of love, in cherishing and increasing concord, which then shall take place, if he will use measurableness and not tyranny, & if he yield some things to the woman. For the woman is a weak creature, not endued with like strength and constancy of mind, therefore they be the sooner disquieted, and they be the more prone to all weak affections & dispositions of mind, more then men be, and lighter they be, and more vain in their fantasies and opinions. These things must be considered of the man, that he be not to stiff, so that he ought to wink at some things, and must gently expound all things, and to forbear. Howbeit the common sort of men doth judge, that such moderation should not become a man. For they say that it is a token of womanish cowardnesse, and therefore they think that it is a mans part to fume in anger, to fight with fist and staff. Howbeit, howsoever they imagine, undoubtedly Saint Peter doth better judge what should be seeming to a man, and what he should most reasonably perform. For he saith, reasoning should be used, and not fighting.

Forsoth, because they will not consyder the craftie traynes of the deuill, and therefore geueth not them selues to praye to God, that he woulde vouchsafe to represse his power. Moreouer they do not consyder how they promote the purpose of the deuill, in that they followe the wrath of their heartes, whyle they threate one another, whyle they in their follye turne all vpsyde downe, whyle they will neuer geue ouer their ryght as they esteeme it, yea, whyle manye tymes they will not geue ouer the wrong parte in deede. Learne thou therefore, if thou desyrest to be voyde of all these miseries, if thou desyrest to lyue peaceably and comfortablye in wedlocke, howe to make thy earnest prayer to God, that he would gouerne both your heartes by his holy spirite, to restrayne the deuils power, whereby your concorde may remayne perpetuallye. But to this prayer, muste be ioyned a singuler diligence, whereof saint Peter geueth this precept, saying: You husbandes deale with your wyues