Also it happeneth oftentimes, that parents do put their children to other, either because they themselves are not able to find them, or teach them handy crafts, or the art of merchandise, and when this chanceth, then it is the office of children to obey in all things and to honour even as their parents, those to whom they be thus committed & with whom they dwell. For unto such their fathers and mothers have given their power and authority. Therefore saint Paul sayeth. Servants be obedient unto your masters as unto God, and so forth. But when children grow to mans age,1 and then refuse to be ruled by their parents, masters, teachers and curates, and begin to wax wild and wanton & to hurt, ⟨image 72⟩other, than the common officers ought to chastise them. And the Magistrates & superior powers ought to be honoured and feared, even as our fathers and mothers. For by them we be defended from our enemies, of them we receive laws and statutes whereby we may live in peace and quietness, wherefore we ought to be glad and willing to pay to them tribute, taxes, tollages & subsidies, whereby they may be the better able to maintain the tranquillity of the common wealth. Learn therefore good children. that they be not only called our parents, of whom we are begotten and borne, but they also be called to the honour & title of this name, which help them to bring us up in virtue and learning. Such be they whom we call our tutors or guardians, teachers, masters, curates, ⟨p. xlix⟩and officers. Also this word, honour, doth not only contain the outward gesture of making curtsy and putting of the cap, but they do truly honour their parents, which do fear and love them, highly esteem them, give place to them, and render unto them all kind of gentleness & liberality, & yet do not upbraid them, or cast their gifts in their teeth, but do confess ye still they be in their parents debt, and as yet do owe them greater things. And this is a great point of wisdom, yea in worldly policy, to acknowledge that of bounden duty we owe to these persons above rehearsed honour and reverence, and that God is highly pleased with this kind of sacrifice.
Also it happeneth oftentymes, that parētes do put theyr children to other, either because they themselues are not able to fynde them, or teache theym handye craftes, or the arte of marchaūdyse, and when this chaunseth, then it is the offyce of chyldren to obey in all thynges and to honour euen as theyr parentes, those to whō they be thus cōmitted & with whō they dwel. For vnto such theyr fathers and mothers haue geuen theyr power and autoritie. Therfore saynte Paule sayeth. Seruauntes be obedient vnto youre maysters as vnto God, and so forth. But when children grow to mannes age,1 and then refuse to be ruled by their parētes, masters, teachers and curates, and begynne to waxe wyld and wanton & to hurte, ⟨image 72⟩other, thē the cōmē officers ought to chastise them. And the Magistrates & superiour powers ought to be honored and feared, euen as our fathers and mothers. For by theim we be defēded from our enemies, of theim we receaue lawes and statutes wherby we may liue in peace and quietnes, wherefore we ought to be glad and willynge to paye to thē tribute, taxes, tollages & subsidies, whereby they may be the better able to maintaine the tranquillitye of ye commen welth. Learne therfore good childerne. that they be not onely called oure parentes, of whō we are begotten and borne, but they also be called to the honor & tytle of this name, whiche helpe them to bryng vs vp in vertue and learning. Suche be they whom we cal our tutors or gardians, teachers, masters, curates, ⟨p. xlix⟩and officers. Also this worde, honor, doth not onely containe the outwarde gesture of making cursey and puttyng of ye cap, but they do trewly honour their parentes, whiche do feare and loue them, highly esteme them, gyue place to them, and rendre vnto theim all kynde of gentilnes & liberalitie, & yet do not obbrayd them, or cast their gyftes in their teath, but do cōfesse ye stil thei be in their parentes dette, and as yet do owe them greater thinges. And this is a great poynt of wisedome, yea in worldly pollicie, to acknowlege yt of bounden deutie we owe to these persons aboue rehersed honor and reuerence, and that God is highly pleased with this kynde of sacryfice.
- 1Ephe. vi.
