A most faithful sermo[n] preached before the Kings most excel[n]te Majesty, and his most…A moste faithfull sermo[n] preached before the Kynges most excelle[n]te Maiestye, and hys most…

But to return to Eve, and declare that the sons of God are to be understanded those that came of good men, as of Seth and Enos, and the same good part of generation. And the daughters of men are to be understanded of them that came of Cain and of his seed. And therefore our grand mother Eve bad beware of marrying with Cain's seed, for fear of falling from God to wickedness thereby. And here I would say a thing to your majesty, I shall speak ⟨image 9⟩it of good will to your highness, I would I were able to do your grace good service in anything, ye should be sure to have it. But I will say this For God's love beware where you marry, choose your wife in a faith full stock. Beware of this worldly policy, marry in god, marry not for the great respect of alliance, for thereof cometh all these evils of breaking of wedlock, which is among Princes and noble men. And here I would be a Suitor unto your majesty, for I come now rather to be a Suitor and a Petitioner then a Preacher, for I come now to take my leave, & to take my, Ultimum vale, at least wise in this place, for I have not long to live, so that I think I shall never come here into this plate again, and therefore I will ask a petition of your highness: For the love of God, take an order for marriages here in England. For here is marriage for ⟨image 9⟩pleasure & boluptousnes & for goods, and so that they may join land to land, and possessions to possessions, they care for no more hear in England. And that is the cause of so much adultery, and so much breach of wedlock in y• noble men, and gentlemen, and so much divorcing. And it is not now in the noble men only, but it is come now to the inferior sort. Every man if he have but a small cause will cast of his old wife and take a new, and will marry again at his pleasure, and there be many that have so done. I would therefore wish that there were a law provided in this behalf for adulterers, and that adultery should be punished with death, and that might be a remedy for all this matter▪ There would not then be so much ad ultry, whoredom and lechery in England as there is. For the love of God take heed to it, and see a remedy provided for it. I would wish that adultery ⟨image 10⟩should be punished with death. And that the woman being an offender, if her husband would be a suitor for her, she should be pardoned for the first time, but not for the second time.