2
The name of a huswife what is it to say?
the wife of the house, to the husband a stay.
If huswife doth that, as belongeth to hur:
if husband be godlie,[1] there needeth no stur.
3
The huswife is she that to labour doth fall,
the labour of hir I doo huswiferie call.
If thrift by that labour be honestlie[2] got:
then is it good huswiferie, else is it not.
4
The woman the name of a huswife doth win,
by keeping hir house, and of dooings therein.
And she that with husband will quietly dwell,
must thinke on this lesson, and follow it well.
[1] wittie. 1577. Cf. post, [ch. 100, st. 6].
[2] be sued or got. 1577.
[Finis (1577).]
[73.]
Instructions to Huswiferie.[E429]
Serue God is the furst,
True loue is not wurst.