Four treatises tending to dissuade all Christians from four no less heinous then common…Foure treatises tending to disswade all Christians from foure no lesse hainous then common…

Secondly, whereas by marriage there is also a communion of their goods and persons, by virtue whereof they have just ⟨p. 184⟩interest and propriety both in their states and bodies, the adulterers do rob their yoke-fellow of their right; for first the adulterous husband spendeth his substance in maintaining his harlot, and in nourishing and bringing up his adulterous brood; whereby he impoverisheth his wife, and bringeth her unto want and misery, either because of the insufficiency of his estate to maintain both his harlot, and his own charge; or through the hardness of his heart, and want of love to his own spouse; for it is the usual fruit of whoredom and adultery, to make a man prodigal abroad, and niggardly at home, bountiful to his harlot, and all that belong unto her; and miserably near, and sordidous, to his wife, and his lawful begotten children. So also the adulterous wife robbeth her husband, not only by catching and purloining all she may from him, to bestow upon her lovers; but also in bringing into his family an adulterous issue, who devour the fruit of his labours, and confusedly divide his substance and patrimony amongst his own children. In which respect the adultery of the wife is more pernicious then of the husband, because it is accompanied with more abominable deceit, no man being able, who hath an harlot to his wife, to know his own children, from the children of a stranger, whereby he is compelled to nourish his enemies, for fear of destroying his chiefest friends; and to give inheritance to the children of fornication, lest otherwise through his ignorance he may perchance disinherit the lawful fruit of his own body.

Secondly, whereas by mariage there is also a communion of their goods and persons, by vertue whereof they haue iust ⟨p. 184⟩interest and proprietie both in their states and bodies, the adulterers do robbe their yoke-fellow of their right; for first the adulterous husband spendeth his substance in maintaining his harlot, and in nourishing and bringing vp his adulterous broode; whereby hee impouerisheth his wife, and bringeth her vnto want and miserie, either because of the insufficiencie of his estate to maintaine both his harlot, and his owne charge; or through the hardnes of his heart, and want of loue to his own spouse; for it is the vsuall fruite of whoredome and adulterie, to make a man prodigall abroad, and niggardly at home, bountifull to his harlot, and all that belong vnto her; and miserably neere, and sordidous, to his wife, and his lawfull begotten children. So also the adulterous wife robbeth her husband, not onely by catching and purloining all she may from him, to bestow vpon her louers; but also in bringing into his familie an adulterous issue, who deuoure the fruite of his labours, and confusedly diuide his substance and patrimonie amongst his owne children. In which respect the adulterie of the wife is more pernicious then of the husband, because it is accompanied with more abominable deceit, no man being able, who hath an harlot to his wife, to know his owne children, from the children of a stranger, whereby hee is compelled to nourish his enemies, for feare of destroying his chiefest friends; and to giue inheritance to the children of fornication, lest otherwise through his ignorance he may perchance disinherit the lawfull fruite of his owne bodie.