A care-cloth

So like wise should the husband bethink himself in his most serious thoughts: What if my wife should prove careless, and unhuswifely, wanting forecast and skill to make the best of things, and so become an hindrance, rather then an helper to mine estate? What if she be dainty and lavish, and will not content her self with mine attire and my fare? What if she be sluttish and uncleanly, and work loathing in me, by the ill ordering of those things that should give me most comfort? What if she be froward and snappish, and return my words unto me with advantage? What if she prove a blab, and withal inquisitive, so that she will be ignorant of nothing, and yet can keep no counsel? What if she be sullen, and sour, and will give me no good countenance, unless she have her unreasonable will performed in all things? What if she waste my goods in vain, costliness of attire, and in idle meetings amongst her Gossips? What if she be loose and wanton, and discredit my family with an evil name? What if ⟨p. 48⟩she be a very harlot, and defile my bed, and fill mine house with bastards, so that I be fain to breed up y• seed of an adulterer, in stead of mine own off-spring? What if she be mischievously jealous, and think that I am naught with all I speak to, laying whoredom to my charge, when I never meant it, and almost enforce me to be wicked, by putting that into mine head, which I never dreamt of? How should I brook this life? How should I sustain this burden, and undergo this trouble to the flesh? And this for the vices of the mind, whereby many times a bad husband, or a bad wife, do vex and torment their yoke-fellow.

So like wise should the husband bethink himselfe in his most serious thoughts: What if my wife should proue carelesse, and vnhuswifely, wanting forecast and skill to make the best of things, and so become an hindrance, rather then an helper to mine estate? What if she bee daintie and lauish, and will not content her selfe with mine attire and my fare? What if shee bee sluttish and vncleanely, and worke loathing in mee, by the ill ordering of those things that should giue me most comfort? What if she bee froward and snappish, and returne my words vnto mee with aduantage? What if shee proue a blab, and withall inquisitiue, so that she will bee ignorant of nothing, and yet can keepe no counsell? What if she be sullen, and sowre, and will giue me no good counenance, vnlesse she haue her vnreasonable will performed in all things? What if she waste my goods in vaine, costlinesse of attire, and in idle meetings amongst her Goffips? What if she be loose and wanton, and discredit my family with an euill name? What if