A little book of John Calvins concerning offences whereby at this day divers are…A little booke of Iohn Caluines concernynge offences whereby at this daye diuers are…

Somewhat also remaineth to be spokeokē of Marriage. Our adversaries surmise, that we for women's sakes have moved as it were the war of Troy. To the intent I omit others at this present, they must needs grant, that I at least wise am free from this slander. By means whereof I have the more liberty to refel their unsavoury chattering. Whereas under the Tyranny of the Pope I was always free to take a wife, since the time the Lord took me out of it, I have many years lived a single life. After the death ⟨image 107⟩of my wife, a woman of singular example, it is now a year and a half, since I have lived a single life again. These things which shall perchance seem to make little to the purpose, I have for this consideration spoken by the way, partly that thereby the malicious vanity of our adversaries may be reproved: and partly that all men may bear witness I do not plead a private case. But what goodness then do these maintainers of chastity bring? Marry they say, that Luther and others being stirred thereto by the tickling of the flesh, have both given themselves liberty to marry, and also drawn the common sort of Priests, Monks, & Nuns into the like allurements. The things which might be truly declared of the chastity of several persons, whom they falsely and maliciously defame, I pass over of set purpose. For what were more foolish, than for such to fly out of the Papistry as cannot live chaste? Ye may well think there were no liberty for sacrificing Priests, Monks, and Nuns, to fulfil their lusts, onlesse they sought them a new sanctuary a great ⟨p. 96⟩way of, with their great trouble. As though all the Cloisters, Cells, & Fraytries, of the Monks and Nuns, did not stink of all kind of fornication and uncleanness. Their prodigious lusts I do not here touch. But to what purpose is it to dissemble a thing known, as how that from those lurking holes, chastity & shamefastness, for the most part, were so banished, that the greatest number of them had there some liberty at leastwise, to play the harlots. What shall I say of the sacrificing Priests, who are so little ashamed of their lecheries, that it is now a glorious matter for them to set up remembrances of them every where. Surely, that I may speak most favourably, there is no need at all that muttonmongers should remove out of the Papistry.

Somewhat also remaineth to be spokeokē of Mariage. Our aduersaries surmise, that we for womens sakes haue moued as it were the warre of Troye. To the entent I omit others at this present, thei must néedes graunt, that I at least wise am frée from this slaunder. By meanes whereof I haue the more libertie to refell their vnsauorie chatteringe. Whereas vnder the Tirannie of the Pope I was alwaies frée to take a wife, since the time the Lorde tooke me out of it, I haue many yéeres liued a single life. After the death