The plea of the poor. Or A treatise of beneficence and alms-deeds teaching how…The plea of the poore. Or A treatise of benificence and almes-deeds teaching how…

But what if notwithstanding all this, her husband being a right Nabal, that is, both a churl and fool, will neither himself do any works of mercy, nor give consent that she shall do them? what if he neglect almsdeeds, either through covetousness and excessive love of his goods, or wicked maliciousness and hatred of good deeds? may not the virtuous wife in this ¹case do those good works which he neglecteth or abhorreth? some say no, but (saving their better judgements) I hold she may, so that she carefully observe these cautious. First that she give with wisdom and discretion, observing the things of which we have formerly spoken; but especially her care must be that her gifts exceed not their own ability, and so impair and impoverish their estate; the which if it be unknown unto her, she must give but sparingly, and things of small value; neither must she under show of giving alms undo her husband, seeing it is said of the virtuous woman, that she will do him good ²and not evil all the days of her life. Now where this wisdom and discretion is wanting, there the wife may not take upon her this duty, which is better not done, then done foolishly and without discretion.

But what if notwithstanding all this, her husband being a right Nabal, that is, both a churle and foole, will neither himselfe doe any workes of mercie, nor giue consent that shee shall doe them? what if hee neglect almesdeedes, either through couetousnesse and excessiue loue of his goods, or wicked maliciousnesse and hatred of good deedes? may not the vertuous wife in this