Wise. You may he sure, that it was but the beginning of badness, for other evils came on apace; as for instance: it was but a little while after he was married, [75b] but he hangs his Religion upon the hedge, or rather dealt with it as men deal with their old Cloaths, who cast them off, or leave them to others to wear, for his part he would be Religious no longer.
Now therefore he had pulled off his Vizzard, and began to shew himself in his old shape, a base, wicked, debauched fellow, (and now the poor woman saw that she was betrayed indeed;) now also his old Companions begin to flock about him, and to haunt his house and Shop as formerly: And who with them but Mr. Badman? and who with him again but they?
Now those good people that used to company with his Wife, began to be ama[t]ed and discouraged; [75c] also he would frown and gloat upon them, as it he abhorred the appearance of them: so that in little time he drove all good company from her, and made her sit solitary by herself. He also began now to go out a nights to those Drabs [75d] who were his Familiars before, with whom he would stay somtimes till midnight, and sometimes till almost morning, and then would come home as drunk as a Swine; and this was the course of Mr. Badman.
Now, when he came home in this case, if his wife did but speak a word to him, about where he had been, and why he had so abused himself, though her words were spoken in never so much meekness and love, then she was Whore, [76a] and Bitch, and Jade; and ’twas well if she miss’d his fingers and heels. Sometimes also he would bring his Puncks home to his house, and wo be to his wife when they were gone, if she did not entertain them with all varieties possible, and also carry it lovingly to them.
Thus this good woman was made by Badman her Husband, to possess nothing but disappointments as to all that he had promised her, or that she hoped to have at his hands.
But that that added pressing weight to all her sorrow, was, that, as he had cast away all Religion himself, so he attempted, if possible, to make her do so too. [76b] He would not suffer her to go out to the Preaching of the Word of Christ, nor to the rest of his Appointments, for the health and salvation of her Soul: he would now taunt at, and reflectingly speak of her Preachers; [76c] and would receive, yea raise scandals of them, to her very great grief and affliction.
Now she scarce durst go to an honest Neighbours house, or have a good Book in her hand; specially when he had his companions in his house, or had got a little drink in his head. He would also, when he perceived that she was dejected, speak tauntingly, [76d] and mockingly to her in the presence of his Companions, calling of her his Religious Wife, his demure Dame, and the like; also he would make a sport of her among his wanton ones abroad.
If she did ask him (as sometimes she would) to let her go out to a Sermon, he would in a currish manner reply, Keep at home, keep at home, and look to your business, we cannot live by hearing of Sermons. [76e] If she still urged that he would let her goe, then he would say to her, Goe if you dare. He would also charge her with giving of what he had to her Ministers, when, vile wretch, he had spent it on his vain Companions before.
This was the life that Mr. Badmans good wife lived, within few months after he had married her.
Atten. This was a disappointment indeed.