They may be well ordered,1 they are God's allowance, but to eat and drink as they did in Noes time, and as they did in Lot's time, This eating and drinking, and marrying is spoken against. ⟨image 106⟩To eat and drink in the forgetfulness of God's commandment, voluptuously, in excess and gluttony, this kind of eating and drinking is nought, when it is not done moderately soberly,2 and with all circumspection. And likewise to marry for fleshly lust, and for there own fantasy. There was never such marrying in England, as is now. I here tell of stealing of wards to marry their children to.3 This is a strange kind of stealing but it is not the wards, it is the lands that they steal. And some there be that knit up marriages together not for any love or Godliness in the parties, but to get friendship,4 and make them strong in the realm, to ⟨image 106⟩increase their possessions and to join land to land. And other there be that inveigle mens daughters,5 in the contempt of their fathers, and go about to marry them without their consent. This marrying is ungodly.6 And many parents constrain their sons and daughters to marry where they love not, and some are beaten and compulsed. And they that marry thus marry in a forgetfulness and obliviousness of God's commandments.7 But as in the time of Noah, suddenly a clap fell in their bosoms, so shall it be with us at the latter day when Christ shall come.8 We have as little conscience as may be, and when he shall come, he shall lack ⟨image 107⟩Lady Faith, well is them that shall be of that little flock, that shall be set on the right hand. &c.
They maye be well ordered,1 they are Goddes allowaunce, but to eate and dryncke as they dyd in Noes tyme, and as they dyd in Lothes tyme, Thys eatynge and drynkynge, and maryinge is spoken agaynste. ⟨image 106⟩To eate and dryncke in the forgetfulnes of goddes commaundemēt, voluptuously, in excesse and glotonnie, thys kinde of eatyng and drinking is noughte, when it is not done moderatlye soberly,2 and with al circumspection. And lykewyse to marrye for fleshelye luste, and for ther owne fantasye. There was neuer suche marriynge in Engglande, as is nowe. I here tell of stealynge of wardes to marye theyr chyldren to.3 Thys is a straunge kynde of stealynge but it is not the wardes, it is the landes that they steale. And some ther be that knyt vp mariages to gether not for any loue or Godlines in the partyes, but to gette frendshyppe,4 and make them stronge in the realme, to ⟨image 106⟩encrease their possessiōs and to ioyne lande to lande. And other there be that enuegle mennes daughters,5 in the contempte of theyr fathers, and go aboute to marrye them wythoute theyr consente. Thys marriynge is vngodlye.6 And manye parentes constrayne theyr sonnes and daughters to marrye where they loue not, and some are beaten and conpulsed. And they that marrye thus marrye in a forgetfulnes and obliuiousnes of goddes commaundementes.7 But as in the tyme of Noe, sodenlye a clappe fel in theyr bosomes, so shall it be wyth vs at the latter daye when Christe shall come.8 We haue as lytle conscyence as maye be, and when he shal come, he shal lacke ⟨image 107⟩Lady Fayeth, welis them that shalbe of that lytle flocke, that shalbe set on the ryghte hande. &c.
- 1what eating & drinking is allowed and what is discō mended.what eatyng & drinking is allowed and what is discō mended.
- 2What kind of marrying is reproved worthily.What kynde of marying is reproued worthely.
- 3Stealing of wards. nay rather of lands.Stealynge of wardes. naye rather of landes.
- 4Another kind of marriage & all••egth.Another kind of mariage & all••egth.
- 5The inueglers of mens daughters are notyd.The inueglers of mens doughters are notyd.
- 6The parents which force their children to marry whom they love not are worthily reprehended▪The parentes whyche forse their chyldren to marry whō they loue not are worthelye reprehendyd▪
- 7A day will come shall pay for all.A daye wyll come shall paye for all.
- 8I fear it be so little with some men, that a man can neither feel it not yet see it.I feare it be so litle wyth some mē, that a man can neither fele it not yet se it.
