The first sermon of Master Hugh Latimer, which he preached before the Kings Majesty…The fyrste sermon of Mayster Hughe Latimer, whiche he preached before the Kinges Maiestie…

for upon such politic matters death doth ensue and follow. All their divorcements and other like conditions to the great displeasure of almighty God, which evils I fear me, is much used at these days in the marriage of noble mens children, for joining lands to lands, possessions to possessions, neither the virtuous education, nor living being regarded, but in the infancy such marriages be made, to the displeasure of god & breach of espousals. Let the king therefore chose unto him a godly wife, whereby he shall the better live chaste, and in so living all godliness shall increase, ⟨image 23⟩and righteousness be maintained. Notwithstanding I know, here after some will come and move your grace towards wantonness and to the inclination of the flesh & vain affections.¹ But I would your Grace should bear in memory an history of a good king called Lewis, that travailed towards the holy land (which was a great matter in those days) and by the way sickened, being long absent from his wife. And upon this matter the Physicians did agree, that it was for lack of a woman,² And did consult with the bishops there in, who did conclude that because of the distance of his wife (being in an other country) he should take a wench. This ⟨image 23⟩good king hearing their conclusion would not consent there unto, but said: he had rather be sick then unto death, then he would break his espousals. Woe worth such counsellors, bishops, nay rather Buzzards. Nevertheless if the king should have consented to their conclusion, and accomplished the same, if he had not chanced well, they would have executed the matter as I have heard of two that have consulted together, and according to the advise of his friend the one of them wrought, where the succession was not good.

for vpon such politike matters death doth ensue and folowe. All their deuorcementes and other lyke condiciones to the greate displeasure of almyghtye God, whyche euylles I feare me, is much vsed at these dayes in the mariage of noble mens chyldrē, for ioyning landes to landes, possessions to possessiōs, neither the vertuous educacion, nor liuynge being regarded, but in the infancy suche mariages be made, to the displeasure of god & breach of espousals. Let the king therfore chose vnto hym a godly wife, wherby he shal the better lyue chast, and in so liuyng al godlines shal enencrease,