The Art of Rhetoric, Book 1 · Part · Section 30
¶An Epistle to perswade a young ientleman to Mariage, deuised by Erasmus in the behalfe of his frende.
ALbeit you are wyse enough of your selfe throughe that singulare wisedome of yours (most louyng Cosyn) and litle needes the aduise of other, yet either for that olde fryndshippe whiche hath bene betwixt vsus, and continued with our age euen from our cradles, or for suche your greate good turnes showed at all tymes towardes me, or elles for that faste kynred and alliaunce whiche is betwixt vsus: I thought my selfe thus muche to owe vntounto you if I woulde be suche a one in deede, as you euer hauehave taken me, that is to saie a man bothe frendly and thankeful, to tell you freely (whatsoeuer I iudged to apperteine either to the sauegarde, or worshippe of you, or any of yours) and willyngly to warne you of the same. We are better seen oftentymes in other mens matters, than we are in our owne. I hauehave felte often your aduise in myne owne affaires, and I hauehave founde it to be as fortunate vntounto me, as it was frendly. Nowe if you wil likewyse in your awne matters folowe my counsail, I truste it shal so come to passe that neither I shal repent me for that I hauehave geuen you counsail, nor yet you shal forthynk… your self, that you hauehave obeyed, and folowed myne aduise. There was at supper with me the twelfe daie of Aprill when I laie in the countrie, Antonius Baldus, a man (as you knowe) that most earnestly tendreth your welfare, and one that hath bene alwaies of great acquaintaunce and familiaritie with your sonne in lawe: A heauie feast we had, and ful of muche mournyng. He tolde me greatly to bothe our heauinesse, that your mother that moste godly woman, was departed this lyfe, & your sister beyng ouercome with sorow & heauinesse, had made her selfe a Nunne, so that in you onelyonly remaineth the hope of issue and maintenanuce of your stocke▪ whereupon your frendes with one consent hauehave offerde you in Mariage a ientlewoman of a good house, and muche wealthe, fayre of bodie, very well brought vp, and suche a one as loueth you with all her harte. But you (either for your late sorowes whiche you hauehave in freshe remembraunce or elles for Religion sake) hauehave so purposed to lyue a syngle lyfe, that neither can you for louelove of your stocke, neither for desier of issue, nor yet for any entreatie that your frendes can make, either by prayeng, or by wepyng: be brought to chaunge your mynde.
And yet notwithstandyng all this (if you wil folowe my counsaill) you shalbe of an other mynde, and leauyng to lyue syngle whiche bothe is barren, and smally agreeyng with the state of mannes nature, you shall geue your selfe wholy to moste holy wedlocke. And for this parte I will neither wishe that the louelove of your fryndes, (whiche elles ought to ouercome your nature) nor yet myne aucthoritie that I hauehave ouer you, shoulde doe me any good at all to compasse this my requeste, if I shall not proue vntounto you by moste plaine reasons, that it will be bothe muche more honest, more profitable, and also more pleasaunt for you, to marie, than to lyue otherwyse. Yea, what will you saie, if I proue it also to be necessarie for you at this tyme to Marie. And firste of all, if honestie maie moue you in this matter (the whiche emong all good men ought to bee of muche weighte,) what is more honest then Matrimonie, the whiche CHRISTE hym selfe did make honest, when not onelyonly he, vouchesaufed to bee at a Mariage with his Mother, but also did consecrate the Mariage feaste with the first miracle that euer he did vponupon yearche? What is more holie then Matrimonie whiche the creatour of all thynges did institute, did fasten, and make holie, and nature it selfe did establishe? What is more praise worthiePraise worthie to marie. than that thyng, the whiche whosoeuer shall dispraise, is condempned streight for an Heretique? Matrimonie is euen as honourable, as the name of an Heretique, is thought shamefull. What is more right, or m…ete,Right and … to ma…te. than to geue that vntounto the posteritie, the whiche we hauehave receiued of our auncesters? What is more inconsiderate than vnderunder the desire of holinesse to escew that as vnholie, which God hym selfe the fountaine and father of al holinesse, woulde hauehave to be counted as moste holie? What is more vnmanly than that man shoulde go against the lawes of mankynde? what is more vnthankfull than to deny that vntounto youngelynges, the whiche (if thou haddest not receyued of thine elders) thou couldest not hauehave bene the man liuyng, able to hauehave denied it vntounto theim. That if you woulde knowe who was the first founder of Mariage, you shal vnderstande that it came vp not by Licurgus, nor yet by Moses, nor yet by Solon, but it was first ordeined, & instituted by the chief founder of all thynges, commended by the …ame,Mariage first made by God. made honourable and made holie by thesame. For at the firste when he made man of the yearthe, he did perceyue that his lyfe shoulde be miserable and vnsauerie, excepte he ioyned Eue as ma…e vntounto hym.After mā was made, the woman was ioyned vntounto hym. Wherupon he did not make the wyfe vponupon the same claie wherof he made man, but he made her of Adams ribbes, to the eude we might plainely vnderstande that nothyng ought to be more deare vntounto vsus thē our wyfe, nothyng more nigh vntounto vsus, nothyng surer ioyned, and (as a man woulde saie) faster glewed together. The selfe same GOD after the generall floude,Matrimonie renewed after the floude. beyng reconciled to mankynde is saied to proclaime this lawe firste of all, not that men shoulde lyue single, but that they shoulde encrease, be multiplied, and fill the yearth. But howe I praie you could this thyng be, sauyng by mariage and lawful comyng together? And first least we shoulde allege here either the libertie of Moyses lawe, or els the necessitie of that tyme: What other meanyng els hath that commune and commēdable reporte of Christe in the Gospell,¶Na…re worke allowe… by Goddes worde. for this cause (saieth he) shall man leaue father and mother and cleaue to his wyfe. And what is more holie than the reuerence and louelove due vntounto parentes? and yet the truthe promised in Matrimon…e is preferred before it. and by whose meanes? Mary by GOD hym self. at what time? Forsouth not onelyonly emōg the Iues, but also emong the Christians. Men forsake father and mother and takes themselfes wholie to their wyfes. The sonne beyng past one and twentie yeres, is free and at his libertie. Yea the sonne beyng abdicated, becommeth no sonne. But it is death onelyonly that parteth maried folke, if yet death doe part them. Now if the other Sacramentes (whereunto the Churche of Christe chiefely leaneth) bee reuerently vsed, who doeth not see that this Sacramente shoulde hauehave the most reuerence of al, the whiche was instituted of GOD, and that firste and before all other. As for the other they were instituted vponupon yearthe, this was ordeined in Paradise: the other were geuen for a remedie, this was appoincted for the felowshippe of felicitie: the other were applied to mannes nature after the fall, this onelyonly was geuen when man was in moste perfite state. If we counte those lawes good that mortall men hauehave enacted, shall not the lawe of Matrimonie be moste holie, whiche wee hauehave receyued of him, by whome we hauehave receiued lyfe, the whiche lawe was then together enacted whē man was first created? And lastly to strengthen this lawe with an example and deede doen Christe beyng an young man (as the Storie reporteth) was called to a Mariage,Mariage beautified by a miracle. and came thither willyngly with his mother, and not onelyonly was he there present, but also he did honest the feaste with a wonderfull meruaile begynnyng first in none other place to worke his wounders, and to doe his miracles. Why then I praie you (will one saie) howe happeneth it that Christ forbare Mariage? as though good Seir there are not many thynges in Christe at the whiche we ought rather to meruaile, than seeke to folowe. he was borne and had no father, he came into this worlde without his mothers painefull trauaile, he came out of the graue when it was closed vp, what is not in hym aboue nature? Let these thynges be propre vntounto hym. Let vsus that lyue within the boundes of nature, reuerence those thynges that are aboue nature, and folowe suche thynges as are within our reache suche as we are able to compasse. But yet (you saie) he woulde bee borne of a Uirgine: Of a Uirgine (I graunt) but yet of a maried Uirgine. A Uirgyne beyng a mother did moste become GOD, and beyng maried she did showe what was beste for vsus to doe. Uirginitie did become her, who beyng vndefiled, brought hym forthe by heauenly inspiration that was vndefiled. And yet Ioseph beyng her housbande dothe commende vntounto vsus the lawe of chaiste wedlocke. Yea, howe coulde he better sette out the societie in wedlocke, than that willyng to declare the secrete societie of his diuine nature with the bodie and soule of man, whiche is wonderfull euen to the heauenly Aungelles, and to showe his vnspeakable and euer abidyng louelove towarde his Churche: he doeth call hym selfe the Brydegrome, and her the Bryde. Greate is the Sacrament of Matrimonie (saith Paule) betwixt Christe and his Churche. If there had bene vnderunder heauen any holier yoke, if there had bene any more religiouse couenaunt than is Matrimonie, without doubte the example thereof had bene vsed. But what lyke thyng doe you reade in all Scripture of the syngle lyfe?Mariage honorable. The Apostle S. Paul in the thirteen Chapi. of his Epistle to the Hebrues calleth Matrimonie honourable emong all men, and a bedde vndefiled, and yet the syngle lyfe is not so muche as ones named in the same place. Nay they are not borne withall that lyue syngle, except they make some recompence with doyng some greater thyng. For elles, if a man folowyng the lawe of nature, doe labour to gette children, he is euer to be preferred before hym that lyueth still vnmaried, for none other ende, but because he woulde bee out of trouble, and lyue more free. Wee doe reade that suche as are in very deede chaiste of their body, and lyue a Uirgines lyfe, hauehave bene praised, but the syngle lyfe was neuer praised of it selfe. Nowe againe the lawe of Moses accurseth the barrenesse of maried folke, and wee doe reade that some were excemmunicated for the same purpose, and banished from the aultar. And wherefore I praie you? Marie Sir because that they like vnprofitable persones, and liuyng onelyonly to theim selues, did not encrease the worlde with any issue. In Deuteronomie it was the chiefest token of Goddes blessynges vntounto the Israelites that none shoulde be barren emong them,Deut. vi. neither man, nor yet woman. And Lya is thought to bee out of Goddes fauour,Lia. because she coulde not bryng furth children. Yea, and in the Psalme of Dauid an hundreth twentie and eight, it is counted one of the chiefest partes of blesse to bee a frutefull woman. Thy wyfe (sayeth the Psalme) shalbe plentifull lyke a vine, and thy children lyke the braunches of Olyues, rounde about thy Table. Then if the lawe do condempne, and vtterly dissalowe barren Matrimonie, it hath alwaies muche more condempned the syngle lyfe of Bacchelaures. Yf the fault of nature hath not escaped blame, the will of man can neuer wante rebuke. Yf they are accursed that woulde hauehave children, and can gette none, what deserue they whiche neuer trauaile to escape barreinesse?
The Hebrues had suche a reuerence to maried folke,Hebrues lawe for maried folke. that he whiche had maried a wyfe, the same yeare shoulde not be forced to go on warrefaire. A Citie is lyke to fall in ruine, excepte there be watchemen to defende it with armour. But assured destruction muste here needes folowe excepte men throughe the benefite of Mariage supplie issue, the whiche through mortalitie doe from tyme to tyme decaie.
Ouer & besides this the Romaines did laie a penaltie vponupon their backe that liued a syngle lyfe, yea they would not suffer thē to beare any office in the cōmure weale. But thei that had encreased the world with issue,Plutarchus in the lyfe of Cato. had a reward by cō imune assent, as men that had deserued well of their countrie. The olde foren lawes did appoincte pe…lties for suche as liued syngle, the whiche although they … qualified by Constantius the Emperour in the fauor of Christes religiō, yet these lawes do declare howe litle it is for the commune weales aduauncement, that either a Citie should be lessened for louelove of sole life, or els that the countrie shoulde be filled ful of bastardes. And besides this, the Emperour AugustusAugustus Cesar. being a sore punisher of euil behauiour, examined a souldior because he did not marie his wife accordyng to the lawes, the whiche souldiour had hardely escaped iudgement, if he had not gotte .iij. children by her. And in this point doe the lawes of al Emperours seeme fauourable to maried folke, that they abrogate suche vowes as were proclaimed to be kept and brought in by Miscella,Miscella. and woulde that after the penaltie were remitted, suche couenauntes, beyng made against al right and conscience, shoulde also be taken of none effect, and as voide in the lawe. Ouer and besides this, UlpianusVlpianus. doth declare that the matter of Dowries was euermore and in al places the chiefest aboue al other, the whiche should neuer hauehave bene so, excepte there came to the cōmune weale some especial profite by mariage. Mariage hath euer bene reuerenced, but frutefulnesse of body hath bene muche more. for so sone as one gotte the name of a father, there discended not onelyonly vntounto him enheirtaunce of lande, but al bequestes, and gooddes of suche his frendes as dyed intestate. The whiche thyng appereth plaine by the Satyre Poete.
Through me thou art made,I…enal. an heire to hauehave lande,
Thou hast al bequestes one with another,
All gooddes and cattel are come to thy hande
Yea gooddes intestate, thou shalt hauehave suer.
Now he that had .iij. children, was more fauoured, for he was exempted from al outward ambassages. Againe he that had fyue childen was discharged and free from all personal office, as to hauehave the gouernaunce, or patronage of younge ientlemē, the whiche in those daies was a great charge & ful of paines without any profit at al. He that had .xiij. children was free by the Emperour Iulianus law, not onelyonly frō beyng a mā at Armes, or Captaine ouer horsemen: but also frō al other offices in the cōmune weale. And the wise founders of all lawes geue good reason why suche fauor was shewed to maried folke. For what is more blesseful thā to liue euer? Now where as nature hath denied this, Matrimony doth geue it by a certaine sleyght, so muche as maye be. Who dothe not desire to be bruted, and liue through fame emōg men hereafter? Now there is no buildinge of pillers, no exectinge of Arches, no blasinge of Armes, tha… dothe more sette forthe a mannes name, then doth the encrease of childrē. Albinus obteined his purpose of the Emperour Adriā, for none other desert of his, but yt he had begote an housefull of children. And therefore the Emperoure (to the hinderaūce of his treasure) suffred the children to enter wholye vponupon their fathers possession, forasmuche as he knewe well that his realme was more strengthened with encrease of children, then with store of money. Againe, all other lawes are neither agreynge for all Countryes, nor yet vsed at all times. LicurgusLicurgus law against vnma…ed folke. made a lawe, that they whiche maried not, shoulde be kepte in Somer from the sighte of stage playes, and other wonderfull shewes, and in winter they shoulde go naked aboute the market place, and accursinge theim selues, they shoulde confesse openly that they hadde iustlye deserued suche punishment, because they did not liue accordinge to the lawes. And without any more a doe, will ye knowe how much our olde Auncesters heretofore estemed Matrimonie? Waye well, and consider the punishment for breaking of wedlocke.Punishmētes appoynted for breaking of wedlocke. The Grekes heretofore thought it mete to punishe the breache of Matrimonie with battaile that continued ten y…es.The Grecians reuengement for adu…trye. Yea, moreouer not onelyonly by the Romaine lawe, but also by the Hebrues and straūgers, aduouterous persons wer punished with death. If a thiefe payde .iiij. times the value of that which he toke awaye, he was deliuered, but an aduouterers offence, was punished with the sworde. Emonge the Hebrues,The Hebrues stoned Aduouterers. the people stoned the aduouterers to death, with their owne handes, because they had broken that, without which the worlde could not continue. And yet they thought not this sore law sufficient inoughe, but graunted further to runne him thorowe withoute lawe, that was taken in aduoutrye,Lawful for the maried man among the Hebrues to kyll the aduoutere… as who should saye, they graunted that to the griefe of maried folke, the whiche they woulde hardlye graunte to hym that stode in his owne defence for saufegarde of his life, as though he offended more haynously that …oke a mans wife, then he did that toke away a mannes lyfe. Assuredly wedlocke muste neades seme to be a mooste holye thinge, consideringe that bringe once broken, it muste neades be purged with mannes bloude, the reuenger wherof is not forced to abide either lawe or iudge, the whiche libertie is not graū ted anye to vse vponupon him that hathe killed either his father or his mother. But what do we with these Lawes written? This is the lawe of Nature, not written in the Tables of Brasse, but firmelye prynted in oure myndes, the whiche Lawe, whosoeuer dothe not obeye, he is not worthye to be called a manne, muche lesse shall he be counted a Citezen. For if to liue well (as the Stoikes wittelye do dispute) is to folowe the course of Nature, what thinge is so agreynge with Nature as Matrimonye?Matrimonie natural For there is nothinge so naturall not onelye vntounto mankinde, but also vntounto all other liuinge creatures, as it is for euerye one of theim to kepe their owne kinde from decaye, and throughe encrease of issue, to make the whole kinde immortall.
The whiche thinge (all menne knowe) can neuer be dooen, withoute wedlocke and carnall copulation. It were a fowle thinge, that brute beastes shoulde obeye the lawe of Nature, and menne like Gyauntes shoulde fighte againste Nature. Whose worcke if we woulde narowly loke vponupon, we shall perceyue that in all thinges here vponupon earthe, she woulde there shoulde be a certaine spice of mariage. I wil not speake nowe of Trees, wherin (as Plinie mooste certainelye writeth) there is founde MariageMariage emonge trees. with some manifeste difference of bothe kyndes, that excepte the housbande Tree do leane with his boughes euen as thoughe he shoulde desire copulation vponupon the womenne Trees growynge rounde aboute him: they woulde elles altogether ware barraine. The same Plinie also dothe report that certaine aucthoures do thincke there is bothe male and female in all thinges that the Earthe yeldeth.Mariage emong precious stones. I will not speake of precious stones, wherein the same aucthoure affirmeth, and yet not he onelye neither, that there is bothe male and female emonge theim. And I praye you hath not GOD so knitte all thinges together with certaine lynckes, that one euer semeth to hauehave neade of another? What saye you of the skye or firmamente, that is euer stirrynge with contiuuall mouinge?Mariage betwene the fir…ament and the earth. Dothe it not playe the parte of a husbande, while it puffeth vp the Earthe, the mother of all thinges, and maketh it fruitefull with castinge seede (as a manne woulde saye) vponupon it. But I thincke … ouer tedious to runne ouer all thinges. And to what …de are these thinges spoken? Marye sir, because we might vnderstande that throughe Mariage, all thing…s are, and do styll continue, and withoute the same all thinges do decaye, and come to noughte. The olde auncient and moste wise Po…tes do feyne (who hadde euer a desire vnderunder the coloure of fablesThe fable of Giauntes that fought against Nature. to set forthe preceptes of Philosophie) that the Giauntes whiche had snakes fete, and were borne of thearth, builded greate hilles that mounted vp to heauen, minding thereby to be at vtter defiaunce with God and all his aungelles. And what meaneth this fable? Marye it sheweth vntounto vsus, that certaine fierce and sauage menne, suche as were vnknowen, coulde not abide wedlocke for anye worldes good, and ther…fore they were stricken downe headelonge with lighteninge, that is to saye: they were vtterlye destroyed, when they soughte to …schue that, whereby the weale and saulfegarde of all mankinde onelye dothe …onsiste. Nowe againe, the same Poetes do declare that OrpheusOrpheu…. the musician and minstrell, did styrre and make softe with his pleasaunte melodye the mooste harde rockes and stones. And what is their meaninge herein? Assuredlye nothinge elles, but that a wise and well spoken manne, did call backe ha…de harted menne, suche as liued abroade like Beastes, from op…n whoredome, and brought them to lyue after the mooste holye lawes of Matrimonye. Thus we se plainelye, that suche a one as hathe no minde of Mariage, semeth to be no manne, but rather a Stone, an enemye to Nature, a rebel to God him selfe, seking through his owne …olye, his last ende and destruction.
Well, let vsus go on still (seynge we are fallen into fables that are not fables altogether) when the same Orpheus in the middes of Hell, forced Pluto him selfe and all the deuilles there, to graunte him leaue to carye awaye his wife Euridice, what other thinge do we thinke that the Poets meant, but only to set forthe vntounto vsus the louelove in wedlocke the whiche euen amonge the Deuilles was compted good and Godlye.The most wicked can not chose but alow mariage.
And this also makes wel for the purpose, that in olde time they made Iupiter Gamelius, the God of mariage, & Iuno Lucina ladye midwife, to helpe suche women as laboured in child bedde, beynge fondlye deceiued, and supersticiouslie erring in naming of the Gods, and yet not missinge the trueth, in declaring that Matrimonie is an holy thinge, and mete for the worthines therof, that the Goddes in heauen shoulde hauehave care ouer it. Emonge diuers countries, and diuers menne, there hauehave bene diuers lawes and customes vsed. Yet was there neuer anye countrey so sauage, none so farre from all humanitie, where the name of wedlocke was not counted holye, and hadde in great reuerence.All nacions euer estemed mariage. This the Thraciā, this the Sarmate, this the Indian, this the Grecian, this the Latine, yea, this the Britain that dwelleth in the furtheste parte of all the worlde, or if there be anye that dwell beyonde them hauehave euer counted to be moste holye. And why so? Marye because that thinge must neades be commune to all, whiche the commune mother vntounto all, hath graffed in vsus all, and hath so thorowlye graffed the same in vsus, that not onelyonly stockedoues and Pigions, but also the most wilde beastes hauehave a natural felinge of this thinge. For the Lyons are gentle against the Lionesse. The Tygers fight for safegard of their yong whelpes. The Asse runnes through the hote fyre (which is made to kepe her awaie) for safegarde of her issue. And this they call the lawe of Nature, the whiche as it is of most strengthe and force, so it spreadeth abroade most largely. Therfore as he is counted no good gardener, that being content with thinges present, doth diligently proyne his old trees, and hath no regard either to ympe or graffe yong settes: because the selfe same Orcharde (thoughe it be neuer so well trimmed) muste nedes decaye in time, and all the trees dye within fewe yeres: So he is not to be counted halfe a diligent citizen, that beinge contente with the present multitude, hathe no regarde to encrease the number. Therefore there is no one man that euer hath bene counted a worthy Citezen, who hath not laboured to get childrē, and sought to bring them vp in Godlines.
Emonge the HebruesThe Hebrues and Persians had a number of wiues and the Persians he was most commended, that had most wiues, as thoughe the countrey were most beholding to him, that encreased the same with the greatest number of children. Do you seke to be compted more holie then AbrahamAbraham. him selfe? Well, he should neuer hauehave bene compted the father of manye Nacions, and that through Gods furtheraunce, if he had forborne the companye of his wife. Do you loke to be reckened more deuoute then Iacob?Iacob. He doubteth nothinge to raunsome Rach…l from her greate bondage. Will you be taken for wiser then Salomon?Salomon. And yet I praye you what a number of wiues kept he in one house? Will you be compted more chast… thē Socrates,Socrates who is reported to beare at home with zanti…e that verye shrewe, and yet not so muche therefore (as he is wonte to ieste accordinge to his olde maner) because he might learne pacience at home, but also because he mighte not seme to come behinde with his dutye in doyng the wil of nature. For he beynge a manne, suche a one (a… Appollo iudged him by his Oracle to be wise) did well …erceyu… that he was gote for this cause, borne for this cause, and therfore bounde to yelde so muche vntounto nature. For if the olde auncient Philosophers hauehave saide wel, if our diuin…s hauehave proued the thinge not without reason, if it be vsed euerye where for a commune prouerbe, and almost in euerye mans mouthe, that neither God nor yet Nature, did euer make any thinge in vayne: Why did he geue vsus such membres, how happeneth we hauehave suche luste, and suche power to get issue, if the single lyfe and none other be altogether prayse worthye? If one shoulde bestowe vponupon you a verye good thinge, as a bowe, a coate, or a sworde, al men would thincke you were not worthye to hauehave the thinge, if either you coulde not, or you woulde not vse it, and occupie it.
And where as all other thinges are ordeyned vponupon suche greate considerations, it is not like that Nature slepte or forgate her selfe when she made this one thinge. And nowe here will some saye, that this fowle and filthye desire, and styrringe vntounto luste, came neuer in by Nature, but through Sinne: for whose wordes I passe not a strawe, seinge their saiynges are as false, as God is true. For I pray you was not Matrimonye instituted (whose worke can not be done withoute thes… membres) before there was anye Synne. And againe, whence hauehave all other brute beastes their prouocations? of Nature, or of Sinne? A man woulde thinke they hadde theim of Nature. But shall I tell you at a worde, wee make that fil…hye by oure owne Imagination, whiche of the owne nature is good and Godlye. Or elles if we will examine matters, (not accordinge to the opinion of menne, but weye them as they are of their owne Nature) howe chau…ceth it that we thincke it lesse filthye, to eate, to chewe, to digest, to emptye the bodye, and to slepe, then it is to vse carnall copulation, such as is lawfull, and permitted. Naye sir (you will saye,) we muste folowe vertue, rather then Nature. A gentle dishe. As thoughe anye thinge can be called vertue that is contrary vntounto Nature. Assuredly there is nothinge that can be perfectlye gote, either throughe laboure, or throughe learning, if man grounde not his doynges altogether vponupon Nature.
But you will liue an Apostles life, suche as some of them did that liued single, and exhorted other to the same kinde of life. Tushe, let them folowe the Apostles that are A…ostles in deede, whose office seynge it is bothe to teache and bringe vp the people in Goddes doctrine, they are not able to discharge their dutyes bothe to their flocke, and to their wife and familye. Althoughe it is well knowen that some of the A…ostles had wiues. But beit that Bishoppes liue single, or graunt we them to hauehave no wiues. What do you folowe the profession of the Apostles, beynge one that is farthest in life from their Uocation, beinge bothe a temporall manne, and one that liueth of youre owne. They hadde this Pardon graunted them to be cleane voyde from Mariage, to the ende they mighte be at leasure to get vntounto Christe a more plentifull number of his children. Let this be the order of Priestes and Monkes, who belike hauehave entred into the Religion and rule of the Essens, (suche as amonge the Iewes lothed Mariage) but youre callinge is an other waye. Naye, but (you will saye) Christe him selfe hath compted theim blessed, whiche hauehave gelded theim sel…es for the Kingdome of GOD. Sir, I am contente to admitte the aucthoritie, but thus I expounde the meaning. Firste, I thincke that this doctrine of Christe did chieflye belonge vntounto that time, when it behoued theim chieflye to be voyde of all cares and busines of this Worlde. They were fayne to trauayle into all places, for the persecutoures were euer readye to laye handes on theim. But nowe the worlde is so, that a manne can finde in no place the vprightnes of behauioure lesse stayned, then emonge maried folke. Let the swarmes of Monkes and Nun…es sette forthe their order neuer so muche, let theim boaste and bragge their bealies full, of their Ceremonies and church seruice, wherin they chieflye passe all other: yet is wedlocke (beynge well and trulye kepte) a mooste holye kinde of life.
Againe, would to God they were gelded in very dede, what soeuer they be, that coloure their noughtye liuinge wyth such a iolye name of geldinge, liuing in muche more filthye luste vnderunder the cloke and pretence of chastitie. Neither can I reporte for verye shame, into howe filthye offences they do often fall, that will not vse that remedye whiche Nature hath graunted vntounto manne. And last of all, where do you reade that euer Christe commaunded anye manne to liue …ingle, and yet he dothe openlye forbidde diuorcement. Then he dothe not worste of all (in my Iudgemente) for the commune weale of Mankinde, that …raunteth libertye vntounto Priestes:Priestes mariage. yea, and Monkes also (if neade be) to mary, and to take them to their wiues, namely seing there is suche an vnreasonable number euerye where, emonge whom I praye you how many be there that liue chaste. How muche better were it to turne their concubines into wyues, that where as they hauehave them now to their greate shame wyth an vnquiet conscience, they mighte hauehave the other openlye with good report, and get children, and also bringe them vp godlye, of whom they them selues not onelye mighte not be ashamed, but also might be counted honest men for them.
And I thinke the bishoppes officers woulde hauehave procured this matter longe agoe, if they had not founde greater gaiues by priestes lemmans, thē they were like to hauehave by priestes wiues. But virginitieVirginitie. forsothe is an heauenlye thing, it is an Aungels life. I aunswer, wedlocke is a manly thinge, suche as is mete for man. And I talke now as man vntounto man. I graunte you, that virginitie is a thinge prayse worthy, but so farre I am cōtent to speake in praise of it, if it be not so praised, as though the iust shuld altogether folow it, for if men cōmenly should begin to like it, what thing could be inuented more perilous to a commune weale then virginitie. Nowe be it that other deserue greate prayse for their maydenheade, you notwithstandinge can not wante greate rebuke▪ seynge it lieth in your handes to kepe that house frō decaye wherof you lineallye descended, and to continue still the name of your auncesters, who deserue moste worthely to be knowen for euer. And laste of all, he deserueth as muche prayse, as they whiche kepe their maydenhode: that kepes him selfe true to his wife, and marieth rather for encrease of children, then to satisfy his luste For if a brother be commaunded to stirre vp sede to his brother that dieth without issue, will you suffer the hope of all youre stocke to decaye, namely seinge there is none other of your name and stocke, but your selfe alone, to continue the posteritie. I know wel inoughe, that the auncient fathers hauehave set forthe in greate volumes, the prayse of virginitie, emonge whom, HieromeHierom… praise vponupon Virginitie. dothe so …ake on, and prayseth it so much aboue the starres, that he fell in maner to depraue Matrimonie, and therfore was required of Godly Bishoppes to cal backe his wordes that he had spoken. But let vsus beare with suche heate for that tyme sake, I would wishe nowe, that thei, whiche exhort yong folke eueryevery where, and without respect (suche as yet knowe not thēselfes) to liue a single life, and to professe virginitie: that thei would bestowe thesame labour, in settyng furth the descripcion of chast and pure wedlocke. And yet those bodies that are in suche great louelove with virginitie, are well contented that menne should fight against the Turkes, whiche in nomber are infinitely greater then wee are. And now if these menne thinke right in this behalfe, it must nedes be thought right good and godly, to labour earnestly for children gettyng, and to substitute youthe from tyme to tyme, for the maintenaunce of warre. Except parauenture thei thinke that Gunnes, Billes, Pikes, and nauies, should be prouided for battaill, and that men stand in no stede at all with them. Thei also allowe it well, that we should kill miscreaunt and Heathen parentes, that the rather their children not knowyng of it, might bee Baptized and made Christians. Nowe if this bee righte and lawfull, how muche more ientlenesse were it to hauehave children Baptized, beyng borne in lawfull mariage. There is no nacion so sauage, nor yet so hard harted, within the whole worlde, but thesame abhorreth murderyng of infauntes, and newe borne babes. Kynges also and hedde rulers, dooe likewise punishe moste streightly, all suche as seke meanes to be deliuered before their tyme, or vse Phisicke to waxe barren, and neuer to beare childrē. What is the reason? Marie thei compt small difference betwixt hym, that killeth the child, so sone as it beginneth to quicken: and thother, that seketh all meanes possible, neuer to hauehave any child at all. The self same thyng that either withereth and drieth awaie in thy body, or els putrifieth within thee, and so hurteth greatly thy healthe, yea, that self same, whiche falleth from thee in thy slepe, would hauehave been a manne, if thou thy self haddest been a man. The HebruesHebrues. abhorre that man, and wishe him Goddes cursse, that (beyng commaunded to marie with the wife of his dedde brother) did cast his seede vponupon the groūd least any issue should bee had, and he was euer thought vnworthy to liue here vponupon yerth, that would not suffer that that child to liue, whiche was quicke in the mothers wōbe. But I praie you how litle do thei swarue from this offence whiche by…d themselfes to liue barrern, all the daies of their life? Doo thei no… seme to kill as many men, as were like to hauehave been borne, if thei had bestowed their e…deuors to hauehave got children? Now I praie you, if a man had lande that wer very fatte and fertile, and suffered thesame for lacke of maneryng, for euer to waxe barren, should he not, or wer he not worthy to be punished by the lawes, consideryng it is for the cōmon weales behoue, that eueryevery man should wel and truly husbande his awne. If that mā be punished, who litle hedeth the maintenaunce of his Tillage, the whiche although it be neuer so wel manered, yet it yeldeth nothyng els but wheat barley, bea…es, and peason: what punishement is he worthy to suffer, that refuseth to Plough that lande, whiche beyng tilled, yeldeth childrē. And for ploughyng land, it is nothyng els, but painfull toylyng from tyme to tyme, but in gettyng children, there is pleasure, whiche beyng ordeined, as a redy reward for pai…es takyng, asketh a short trauaill for all the tillage. Therfore if the workyng of nature, if honestie, if vertue, if inwarde zeale, if Godlinesse, if duetie maie moue you, why can you not abide that, whiche God hath ordeined, nature hath established, reason doeth counsaill, Gods worde and mannes worde do commende, all lawes do commaunde, the consent of all nacions doeth allowe, whereunto also the example of all good men, doth exhort you. That if eueryevery honest man should desire many thynges, that axe… moste painful for none other cause, but onelyonly for that thei are honeste, no doubt but matrimonie ought aboue all other, moste of all to be desired, as the whiche wee maie doubte, whether it hauehave more honestie in it, or bryng more delite and pleasure with it. for what can bee more pleasaunt, then to liue with her, with whom not onelyonly you shalbe ioyned, in felowship of faithfulnes, and moste▪ hartie good will, but also you shalbe coupled together moste assuredly, with the cōpany of bothe your bodies? If we compt that great pleasure, whiche we receiue of the good will of our frendes and acquaintaunce, how pleasau… a thyng is it aboue all other, to hauehave one, with whom you maie breake the botome of your harte, with whō ye maie talke as frely, as with your self, into whose t…uste, you maie saufly cōmit your self, suche …o…e as thinketh al your goodes to be her charge. Now what an heauenly b…isse (…row you) is the companie of man and wife together, seyng that in all the worlde, there can nothyng be found, either of greater weight and worthi…esse, or els of more st…engthe and assuraunce. For with frendes, we ioyne onelyonly with them in good will, & faith fulnesse of mynde, but with a wife, we are matched together, bothe in harte and mynde, in body and soule, sealed together with the bonde and league of an holy Sacrament, & partyng all the goodes we hauehave, indifferently betwixt vsus. Again whē other are matched together in fre…dship, do we not see what dissemblyng thei vse, what falshode thei practise, and what deceiptfull partes thei plaie? Yea, euen those whō we thinke to be our most assured frendes, as swallowes flie awaie whē sommer is past, so thei hide their heddes, whē fortune gynnes to faile. And oft tymes when we get a newe frend, we streight forsake our old. We heare tell of very fewe, that hauehave cont… nued frendes, euen till their last ende. Whereas the faithfulnesse of a wife, is not stained with deceipte, nor dusked with any dissēbly…g, nor yet parted with any chaūge of the world but disseuered at last by death onelyonly, no not by death neither. She forsakes and settes lighte by father and mother, sister & brother for your sake, and for your louelove onelyonly. She only passeth vponupon you, she puttes her trust in you, and leaneth wholy vponupon you, yea, she desires to die with you. HaueHave you any worldly substaūce? You hauehave one that will maintain it, you hauehave one that will encrease it. HaueHave you none? You hauehave a wife that will get it. If you liue in prosperitee, your ioye is doubled: if the worlde go not wt you, you hauehave a wife to put you in good comfort, to be at your commaundemēt, & redy to serue your desire, & to wishe that suche euill as hath happened vntounto you, might chaūce vntounto her self. And do you thinke that any pleasure in al the world, is able to be cōpared with suche a goodly felowship & familier liuyng together? If you kepe home, your wife is at hand to kepe your cōpany, the rather that you might fele no werines of liuing al alone, if you ride furth, you hauehave a wife to bid you fare well with a kisse longyng muche for you, beyng from home, and glad to bidde you well come at your next returne. A swete mate in your youthe, a thankfull comforte in your age. EueryEvery societie or companiyng together, is delitefull and wisshed for by nature of all menne, forasmuche as nature hath ordeined vsus to be, sociable, frendly, and louyng together. Nowe howe can this felowship of manne and wife, be otherwise then moste pleasant, where all thynges are common together betwixt them bothe. Now I thinke he is moste worthy, to bee despised aboue all other, that is borne, as a man would saie for hymself, that liueth to hymself, that seketh for himself, that spareth for himself, maketh cost onelyonly vponupon himself, that loueth no man, and no man loueth hym. Would not a manne thinke that suche a monster, were mete to be caste out of all mennes companie (with Tymon that careth for no manne) into the middest of the sea.Timon a deadly hater of all companie. Neither do I here vtter vntounto you those pleasures of the body, the which, wheras nature hath made to be moste pleasaunt vntounto man, yet these greate witted men, rather hide them, and dissemble them (I cannot tel how) then vtterly contempne them. And yet what is he that is so sower of witte, and so drowpyng of braine (I will not saie) blockhedded, or insensate, that is not moued with suche pleasure, namely if he maie hauehave his desire, without offence either of God or man, and without hynderaunce of his estimacion. Truely I would take suche a one, not to be a man, but rather to bee a very stone. Although this pleasure of the body, is the least parte of all those good thynges, that are in wedlocke. But bee it that you passe not vponupon this pleasure, and thinke it vnworthy for man to vse it, although in deede we deserue not the name of manne without it, but compte i… emong the least and vttermoste profites, that wedlocke hath: Now I praie you, what can be more hartely desired, then chast louelove, what can bee more holy, what can bee more honest? And emong all these pleasures, you get vntounto you a ioly sort of kinsfolke, in whom you maie take muche delite. You hauehave other parentes, other brethren, sisterne, and nephewes. Nature in deede can geue you but one father, & one mother: By mariage you get vntounto you another father, and another mother, who cannot chuse, but louelove you with all their hartes, as the whiche hauehave put into your handes, their aw…e fleshe and bloud. Now again, what a ioye shal this be vntounto you, when your moste faire wife, shall make you a father, in bringyng furthe a faire childe vntounto you, where you shall hauehave a pretie litle boye, runnyng vp and doune youre house, suche a one as shall expresse your looke, and your wiues looke, suche a one as shall call you dad, with his swete lispyng wordes. Now last of all, when you are thus lynked in louelove, thesame shalbee so fastened and bounde together, as though it wer with the Adamant stone, that death it self cā neuer be able to vndo it. Thrise happie are thei (ꝙ Horace) yea, more then thrise happie are thei, whom these sure bandes dooe holde, neither though thei are by euill reporters, full ofte sette a so…der, shall louelove be vnlosed betwixt theim two, till death them bothe depart. You hauehave them that shal comforte you, in your latter daies, that shall close vp your iyes, when God shall call you, that shall bury you, and fulfill all thynges belongyng to your Funerall, by whom you shall seme, to bee newe borne. For so long as thei shall liue, you shall nede neuer bee thought ded your self. The goodes and landes that you hauehave gotte, go not to other heires, then to your awne. So that vntounto suche as hauehave fulfilled all thynges, that belong vntounto mannes life, death it self cannot seme bitter. Old age cometh vponupon vsus all, will we, or nill we, and this waie nature prouided for vsus, that we should waxe yong again in our children, and nephewes. For, what man can be greued, that he is old, when he seeth his awne countenaūce whiche he had beyng a childe, to appere liuely in his sonne? Death is ordeined for all mankynd, and yet by this meanes onelyonly, nature by her prouidence, myndeth vntounto vsus a certain immortalitie, while the encreaseth one thyng vponupon another …uen as a yong graffe buddeth out, when the old tree is cut doune. Neither can he seme to dye, that, when God calleth hym, leaueth a yong child behinde hym. But I knowe well enough, what you saie to your self, at this while of my lōg talke. Mariage is an happie thyng, if all thynges hap well, what and if one hauehave a curste wife? What if she be lighte? What if his children bee vngracious? Thus I see you will remember all suche men, as by mariage hauehave been vndoen. Well, go to it, tell as many as you can, & spare not: you shal finde all these were faultes of the persones, and not the faultes of Mariage. For beleue me, none hauehave euill wifes,Euill wifes happen to euil men onelyonly. but suche as are euill mē. And as for you sir, you may chuse a good wife, if ye list. But what if she be croked, and marde altogether, for lacke of good orderyng. A good honest wife, maie be made an euill woman, by a naughtie husbande, and an euill wife, hath been made a good woman, by an honest man. We crie out of wifes vntruly, and accuse them without cause. There is no man (if you wil beleue me) that euer had an euil wife, but through his awne default. Now again an honest father, bryngeth furthe honest children, like vntounto hymself. Although euen these children, how so euer thei are borne, commonly become suche men, as their education and bringyng vp is.Ielousie vnknowen to wise men. And as for ielousy you shal not nede to feare that fault at all. For none be troubled with suche a disease, but those onelyonly that are foolishe louers. Chaste, godly, and lawfull louelove, neuer knew what ielousie ment. What meane you to call to your mynde, and remember suche sore tragedies and doulefull dealynges, as hauehave been betwixt manne and wife. Suche a woman beyng naughte of her body, hath caused her husbande to lose his hedde, another hath poysoned her goodmā, the third with her churlishe dealyng (whiche her husbande could not beare) hath been his outer vndoyng, & brought hym to his ende. But I praie you sir, why doo you not rather thinke vponupon Cornelia,Cornelia. wife vntounto Tiberius Graechus? Why do ye not mynde that moste worthy wife, of that most vnworthy man Alcestes?Alcestes wife. Why remembre ye not IuliaIulia. Pompeyes wife, or PorciaPor…ia. Brutus wife?Lucretia. And why not Artemisia,Artemisia. a woman moste worthie, euer to bee remembred? Why not Hipsicratea,Hipsicratea. wife vntounto Mithridates kyng of Pontus? Why do ye not call to remembraunce the ientle nature of Tertia Aemilia?…ertia Aemilia. Why doo ye not consider the faithfulnesse of Turia?Turia. Why cometh not Lucretia and LentulaLentula. to your remēbraūce? and why not Arria?A…ria. why not thousandes other, whose chastite of life, and faithfulnes towardes their husbandes could not bee chaunged, no not by death. A good woman (you will saie) is a rare birde, & hard to be founde in all the worlde. Well then six, imagine your self worthy to hauehave a rare wife, suche as fewe men hauehave. A good woman (saith the wiseman) is a good porcion.Prouer. x. Be you bold to hope for such a one, as is worthy your maners. The chifest poyncte standeth in this, what maner of woman you chuse, how you vse her, and how you order your self towardes her. But libertee (you will saie) is muche more pleasaunt: for, who soeuer is maried, wereth fetters vponupon his legges, or rather carieth a clogge, the whiche he can neuer shake of, till death part their yoke. To this I answere, I cā not see what pleasure a man shall hauehave to liue alone. For if libertie be delitefull, I would thinke you should get a mate vntounto you, with whō you should parte stakes, and make her priuey of all your ioyes. Neither can I see any thyng more free, then is the seruitude of these twoo, where the one is so muche beholdyng and bounde to thother, that neither of thē bothe wold be louse, though thei might. You are boūd vntounto him, whō you receiue into your frendship: But in mariage neither partie findeth fault, that their libertie is takē awaie from them. Yet ones again your are sore afraied, least when your childrē are taken awaie by death, you fal to mourning for wāt of issue▪ well sir, if you feare lacke of issue, you must marie a wife for the self same purpose, the which onelyonly shal be a meane, that you shall not want issue. But what do you serche so diligently, naie so carefully, al the incōmodities of matrimonie, as though single life had neuer any incōmoditie ioyned wt it at al. As though there wer any kinde of life in al the world, that is not subiect to al euils that may happē. He must nedes go out of this world, y• lokes to liue wtout felyng of any grief. And in cōparison of y• life which ye sainctes of god shal hauehave in heauē, this life of mā is to be cōpted a deth, & not a life. But if you cōsider thinges within the cō passe of mankynde, there is nothyng either more saufe, more quiet, more pleasaunt, more to be desired, or more happy, then is the maried mānes life. How many do you se, that hauyng ones felt the swetnesse of wedlocke, doeth not desire eftsones to enter into thesame? My frende Mauricius, whō you knowe to be a very wise man, did not he, the nexte monethe after his wife died (whom he loued derely) get hym streight a newe wife? Not that he was impacient of his luste, and could not forbeare any longer, but he said plainly, it was no life for hym, to bee without a wife, whiche should bee with hym as his yoke felowe, and companion in all thynges. And is not this the fourthe wife, that our frende Iouius hath maried? And yet he so loued the other, whē thei wer on liue that none was able to comforte hym in his heauinesse: and now he hastened so muche (when one was ded) to fill vp and supply the voyde roume of his chamber, as though he had loued the other very litle. But what do we talke so muche of the honestie and pleasure herein, seyng that not onelyonly profite doeth aduise vsus, but also nede doeth earnestly force vsus, to seke mariage.Necessitee enforceth mariage. Let it bee forbidden, that man and woman shall not come together, & within fewe yeres, all mankynde must nedes decaye for euer. When zerxeszerxes. kyng of the Persians, behelde from an high place, that greate armie of his, suche as almoste was incredible, some said he could not forbeare wepyng, consideryng of so many thousandes, there was not one like to bee a liue, within seuentie yeres after. Now why should not we consider thesame of all mankynd, whiche he meant onelyonly of his armie. Take awaie mariage, and howe many shall remain after a hundreth yeres, of so many realmes, countrees, kyngdomes, citees, and all other assemblies that be of men, throughout the whole world? on now, praise we a gods name the single life aboue the nocke, the whiche is like for euer to vndooe all mankynde. What plague, what infeccion can either heauen or hell, sende more harmefull vntounto mankynd? What greater euill is to be feared by any floud? What could be loked for, more sorowfull, although the flame of Phaeton should set the world on fire again? And yet by suche sore tempestes, many thynges hauehave been saued harmelesse, but by the single life of man, there cā be nothyng left at all. We se what a sorte of diseases, what diuersitee of missehappes doo night and daie lye in waite to lessen the smal number of mankynde. Howe many doeth the plague destroie, how many do the Se…s swallowe, how many doeth battaile snatche vp? For I will not speake of the daily dyeng that is in al places. Deathe taketh her flight eueryevery where rounde about, she runneth ouer theim, she catcheth theim vp, she hasteneth asmuche as she can possible to destroie al mankynde▪ & now do we so highly cōmend syngle lyfe and eschewe Mariage? Except happely we like the profession of the Essens (of whome Iosephus speaketh thatEssens ha…ed Mariage. they wil neither hauehave wyfe, nor seruauntes) or the Dulopolitans, called otherwyse the Rascalles and Slaues of Cities,Iosephus xv… cap. li…. ii. the whiche companie of theim is alwaie encreased and continued by a sorte of vagabounde peasauntes that continue, and be from time to time stil together. Do we loke that some Iuppiter shoulde geue vsus that same gifte, the whiche he is reported to hauehave geuen vntounto Bees that wee shoulde hauehave issue without procreacion, and gather with our mouthes out of flowers, the seede of our posteritie? Or elles do we desier, that lyke as the Poetes feyne Minerua to be borne out of Iuppiters head: in lyke sorte there should children leape out of our heades? Or last of al doe we looke accordyng as the olde fables hauehave been, that men shoulde be borne out of the yerth, out of rockes, out of stockes, stones, & olde trees. Many thynges breede out of the yearth without mans labour at all. Young shrubbes growe and shoute vp vnderunder the shadowe of their graundsyre trees. But nature woulde hauehave man to vse this one waie of encreasyng issue▪ that through labour of bothe the housband and wyfe, mankynd might stil be kept from destruction. But I promise you if all men tooke after you, and still forbare to marie: I can not see but that these thynges whiche you wonder at, and esteme so muche, could not hauehave been at al. Do you yet esteme this syngle lyfe so greatly? Doe you praise so muche virginitie aboue al other? Why man, there will be neither syngle men, nor virgines a lyue, if men leaue to marie, and mynde not procreation. why do you thē preferre virginitie so muche why set it you so hye, if it be the vndoyng of all the whole worlde? It hath been muche commended, but it was for that tyme, and in a fewe. God woulde hauehave men to see as though it were a paterne, or rather a picture of that heauenly habitacion, where neither any shalbe maried, nor yet any shall geue theirs to Mariage. But when thynges be geuen for an example, a fewe may suffise, a nomber were to no purpose. For euen as al groundes though they be very frutefull, are not therefore turned into tillage for mans vse and commoditie, but parte lyeth fallowe, and is neuer mannered, parte is kepte and cherised to lyke the …ye and for mans pleasure: and yet in al this plentie of thynges, where so great store of lande is, nature suffereth very litle to waxe barren: But nowe if none should be tilled, and plowe m…n went to plaie, who seeth not but that wee shoulde al sterue, and bee faine shortely to eate acornes: Euen so, it is praise worthie if a fewe liue syngle, but if al should seke to lyue syngle, so many as be in this worlde, it were to great an inconuenience. Now again be it that other deserue worthie praise that seke to liue a virgines life, yet it must nedes be a great faulte in you. Other shalbe thought to seke a purenesse of lyfe, you shalbe coumpted a parricide, or a murtherer of your stocke: that whereas you may by honest mariage encrease your posteritie: you suffex it to decaie for euer, through your wilful single lyfe. A man may hauyng a house ful of children, commende one to God to lyue a virgine al his lyfe. The plowe man offereth to God the tenthes of his owne, and not his whole croppe al together: But you Sir, muste remember that there is none lefte aliue of al your stocke, but your self alone. And nowe it mattereth nothyng whether you kill, or refuse to saue that creature, which you onelyonly might saue and that with ease. But you wil folow the example of your sister, and lyue syngle as she doth. And yet me thynketh you shoulde chefely euen for this selfe same cause, be afraied to lyue single. For whereas there was hope of issue heretofore in you bothe, nowe ye see there is no hope left but in you onelyonly. Be it that your sister may be borne withal, because she is a woman, and because of her yeares, for sue beyng but a girle and ouercome with sorow for losse of her mother toke the wrong way, she cast her selfe donne headlong, and became a Nunne at the earnest sute either of folishe women, or elles of doultishe Munkes: but you beyng muche cl…er, must euermore remember that you are a man. She woulde nedes dye together with her auncesters, you muste labour that your auncesters shal not dye at all. Your sister woulde not doe her dutie, but shranke away: thynke you nowe with your selfe that you hauehave. ij. offices to discharge. The daughters of LotheDaughters of Loth. neuer stuck at the matter to hauehave a doe with their dronken father, thinkyng it better with wicked whore dome and inceste to prouide for their posteritie, than to suffer their stocke to die for euer and wil not you with honest, Godly, and ch…ist Mariage (whiche shalbe without trouble and turne to your greate pleasure) hauehave a regarde to your posteritie most like elles for euer to decaie? Therfore, let them on Goddes name folow the purpose of chaist Hippolitus, let them lyue a syngle life, that either can bee maried men, and yet can gette no children, or els suche, whose stocke may be continued by meanes of other their kynsfolke or at the least whose kyndred is suche that it were better for the commune weale, they were all deade, than that any of that name shoulde be a lyue, or elles suche men, as the euerliuyng God of his moste especiall goodnes hath chosen out of the whole worlde to execute some heauenly office, wherof there is a marueilouse smal nomber. But whereas you accordyng to the reporte of a Phisicion that neither is vnlearned,The conclusion. nor yet is any lyar, are lyke to hauehave many children hereafter, seeyng also you are a man of greate landes, and reuenues by your auncesters, the house whereof you came, beyng bothe right honourable and right auncient, so that you coulde not suffer it to perishe without youre great offence, and greate harme to the commune weale: againe seeyng you are of lustie yeares, and very comely for your personage, and may hauehave a maide to your wyfe suche a one as none of your countrie hath knowen any to bee more absolute for all thynges, commyng of as noble a house as any of theim, a chaiste one, a sobre one, a Godlie one, an excellent fayre one, hauyng with her a wonderfull Dowrie: seeyng also youre frendes desyre you, your kynsfolke we…e to wynne you, your Cosyns and aliaunce are earnest in hande with you, your countrie calles and cries vponupon you: the asshes of your auncesters from their graues make harty sute vntounto you, do you yet holde backe, do you stil mynde to lyue a syngle lyfe? Yf a thyng were asked you that were not halfe honest, or the whiche you could not wel compasse, yet at the instaunce of your frendes, or for the louelove of your kynsfolke, you woulde be ouercome, and yelde to their requestes: Then howe muche more reasonable were it that the wepyng teares of your frendes, the hartie good wil of your countrie, the deare louelove of your elders might wynne that thyng at your handes, vntounto the whiche bothe the lawe of God and man doth exhorte you, nature pricketh you forwarde, reason leadeth you, honestie allureth you, so many commodities cal you, and last of all, necessitie it selfe doeth constraine you. But here an ende of al reasonyng. For I trust you hauehave now and a good while ago chaunged your mynde thorowe myne aduise, and taken your selfe to better counsell.