A preparative to marriage The sum whereof was spoken at a contract, and enlarged…A preparatiue to mariage The summe whereof was spoken at a contract, and inlarged…

God saith nay, thou mayest not hate thy wife, for no man hateth his own flesh, showing, that he should not come near blows, but think his wrath too much: for Paul saith, Be not bitter to your ¹Wives: noting that anger in a husband is a vice. Every man is ashamed to lay hands on a woman, because she cannot match him, therefore he is a shameless man which ⟨p. 73⟩layeth hands on his wife. If a man be seen raging with himself, he is carried to Bedlam; so these mad men which beat themselves should be sent to Bedlam till their madness be gone. Solomon saith, Delight continually ²in her love: that is, begin, proceed and end in love. This counsel is broken so often as they discord. In revenge whereof, he showeth that their delight is gone, because he calleth Love their delight. Therefore as Paul saith of Bishops, A Bishop must be no striker; ³so a Husband must be no striker, for he which striketh his own flesh, breaketh that law which saith, Thou shalt not make a scar in thy flesh: and is like the Baalites which wounded their own bodies. Thus we have sent a letter unto Husbands to read before they fight. Now let us go home ⟨p. 74⟩to Love again. Wouldest thou learn how to make thy match delightful? Solomon said, Rejoice in her love continually. As though thou ⁴couldst not delight without love, and with love thou mightest delight continually. Therefore Love is called the thankful virtue, because it rendereth peace, and ease, and comfort to him that makes of her. So much to Husbands.

God sayth nay, thou mayest not hate thy wife, for no man hateth his owne flesh, shewing, that he should not come neere blowes, but thinke his wrath too much: for Paule saith, Be not bitter to your ¹Wiues: noting that anger in a husband is a vice. Euery man is ashamed to lay hands on a woman, because she cannot match him, therfore he is a shamelesse man which