Hester. 14.
Lete vs than kepe (if it please the) but one howsholde. Syth it haue pleased the to humble thy selfe so moche, as to ioyne thy hart with myne, in makynge thy selfe a leuely mā, I do ryght hartely thāke the. And as to do it as I ought, it lyeth not in my small power. Take my meanynge than, and excuse my ignoraunce, seynge I am of so great a kyndred as to be thy syster. O my God, I haue good cause, to loue, to prayse, & to serue the vnfaynedly and not to feare, nor to desyre any thynge saue the only. Kepe me wele than, for I aske nō other brother nor frynde. If anye father haue had anye pytie vpon hys chylde. If anye mother haue take anye care for her sonne. If anye brother haue hyd the synne of hys syster, it is thu. I neuer sawe (or els it was kepte wōders secrete) that euer husbande wolde througly forgyue hys wyfe, after she had hym ones offended, and ded returne vnto hym.
Hiere. [unreadable].
Deut. 24.
There haue bene ynough of thē whych for to auēge their wronges, haue caused the iudges to put them to deathe. Other beholdynge their synnes, ded not spare their owne hādes, sodenly to kylle them. Other also seynge their faultes to apere, ded sende thē home agayne to their owne fryndes. Some perceyuynge their euyll dysposycyons, haue shut them vp faste in a pryson. Now breuely to conclude vpon their dyuerse complexyons. The ende of their pretence is ponnyshment, and the least harme that euer I coulde perceyue in pōnyshynge thē, is thys, that they wolde neuer se thē agayne. Thu shuldest rather make the skye to turne thā, so to forsake thy wyfe for her mysdoynge. Wherfor my God, I can fynde nomā to be cōpared vnto the. For of loue thu arte the perfect example. Now my God, more than euer I ded, I confesse that I haue broken my othe and promyse.
Ioan. 15.
Luce. 6.
Psal. 50.
Alas thu haddyst chosen me for thy wyfe, and dedyst set me vp in great state & honoure. For what greatter honoure maye one haue, than to be in the place of thy wyfe, whych swetely taketh her rest so nere the. Of all thy goodes quene, mastres, and lady, and also in suretie both of body and sowle. Of great fauoure is it, that I so vyle a creature, am so ennoblyshed by the. Now to speake it breuely, I haue more, & better than any man mortall can desyre. Wherfor my harte hath cause to sygh alwayes, and with habundaunce of teares, myne eyes to come out of my heade. My mouthe can not make to many exclamacyons. For there is neyther newe nor auncyent writynges, that can shewe so pytiefull a case, as the same is whych I wyll tell now. Shall, or dare I tell it? Maye I pronounce it without shame? Alas yea. For my confusyon is it not to shewe the great loue of my husbāde. Therfor I care not, if for hys worshyp I do declare my faulte.
Esa. 5.