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…

Even so, if thou doest despise her that is set in the next room beside thee, thou doest much derogate and decay the excellency and virtue of thine own authority. Recount all these things in thy mind, and be gentle and quiet. Understand that God hath given thee children with her, and art made a father, & by such reason appease thy self. Doest not thou see the husbandmen what diligence they use to till that ground which once they have taken to farm, though it be never so full of faults? As for an example, though it be dry, though it bringeth forth weeds, though the soil can not bear to much wet, yet he tilleth it, and so winneth fruit thereof: Even in like manner, if thou wouldest use like diligence to instruct and order the mind of thy spouse, if thou wouldest diligently apply thy self to weed out by little and little the noisome weeds of uncomely manners out of her mind, with wholesome precepts, it could not be, but in time thou shouldest feel the pleasant fruit thereof to both your comforts. Therefore that this thing chance not so, perform this thing that I do here counsel thee: Whensoever any displeasant matter riseth at home, if thy wife hath done ought amiss, comfort her, & increase not the heaviness. For though thou shouldest be grieved with never so many things, yet shalt thou find nothing more grievous ⟨p. 492⟩then to want the benevolence of thy wife at home. What offence soever thou canst name, yet shalt thou find none more intolerable, then to be at debate with thy wife. And for this cause most of all oughtest thou to have this love in reverence. And if reason moveth thee to bear any burden at any other mens hands, much more at thy wives. For if she be poor, upbraid her not, if she be simple, taunt her not, but be the more courteous. For she is thy body, and made one flesh with thee. But thou peradventure wilt say that she is a wrathful woman, a drunkard, and beastly, without wit and reason. For this cause bewail her the more. Chafe not in anger, but pray to almighty God. Let her be admonished and holpen with good counsel, & do thou thy best endeavour, that she may be delivered of all these affections. But if thou shouldest beat her, thou shalt increase her evil affections. For frowardness & sharpness, is not amended with frowardness: but with softness and gentleness.

Euen so, if thou doest despise her that is set in the nexte roome besyde thee, thou doest much derogate and decay the excellencie and vertue of thyne owne aucthorite. Recount all these thynges in thy mynde, and be gentle and quiet. Understand that God hath geuen thee chyldren with her, and art made a father, & by such reason appease thy selfe. Doest not thou see the husbandmen what diligence they vse to tyll that grounde whiche once they haue taken to farme, though it be neuer so full of faultes? As for an example, though it be drye, though it bryngeth foorth weedes, though the soyle can not beare to much wette, yet he tylleth it, and so winneth fruite thereof: Euen in lyke maner, if thou wouldest vse lyke diligence to instruct and order the mind of thy spouse, if thou wouldest diligently applye thy selfe to weede out by litle and litle the noysome weedes of vncomly maners out of her mind, with holsome precepts, it could not be, but in tyme thou shouldest feele the pleasaunt fruite thereof to both your comfortes. Therefore that this thyng chaunce not so, perfourme this thyng that I do here counsayle thee: Whensoeuer any displeasaunt matter riseth at home, if thy wife hath done ought amisse, comfort her, & encrease not the heauines. For though thou shouldest be greeued with neuer so manye things, yet shalt thou find nothing more greuous