The sermons of Master Henry Smith gathered into one volume. Printed according to his…The sermons of Maister Henrie Smith gathered into one volume. Printed according to his…

As it becometh her to keep home, so it becometh her to keep silence, and alway speak the best of her head. Other seek their honour in triumph, but she must seek her honour in reverence, for it becometh not any woman to set light by her husband, nor to publish his infirmities. For they say that is an evil:¹ bird that defileth her own nest, and if a wife use her husband so, how may the husband use the wife? Because this is the quality of that sex, to overthwart, and upbraid, and sue the preeminence of their husbands, therefore the Philosophers could not tell how to define a wife,² but called her, The contrary to a husband, as though nothing were so cross and contrary to a man, as a wife. This is not scripture, but no slander to many.

As it becommeth her to keepe home, so it becommeth her to keepe silence, and alway speake the best of her head. Other seeke their honour in triumph, but she must seek her honour in reuerence, for it becommeth not anie woman to set light by her husband, nor to publish his infirmities. For they say that is an euill:¹ bird that defileth her owne nest, and if a wife vse her husband so, how may the husband vse the wife? Because this is the qualitie of that sexe, to ouerthwart, and vpbraide, and sue the preheminence of their husbandes, therfore the Philosophers could not tell how to define a wife,² but called her, The contrarie to a husband, as though nothing were so crosse and contrarie to a man, as a wife. This is not scripture, but no slaunder to many.

1. 1A wife may not utter her husbands faults.A wife may not vtter her husbands faultes.
2. 2A wife the contrary to a husband.A wife the contrarie to a husband.