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The Bear-baiting, or the vanitie of Widdowes:
chooſe you whether.
Woe bee vnto that vnfortunate man that matcheth himſelfe vnto a Widdow; for a Widdow will bee the cauſe of a thouſand woes: yet there are many that doe wiſh themſelues no worſe matched then to a rich widdow; but thou doeſt not know what griefes thou ioyneſt with the gaines; for if ſhe be rich, ſhe will looke to gouerne; and if ſhe be poore, then art thou plagued both with beggery and bondage: againe, thy paines will be double, in regard of him which marryeth with a Maide; for thou muſt vnlearne thy widdow, and make her forget her former corrupt and diſordered behauiour, the which if thou take vpon thee to doe, thou hadſt euen as good vndertake to waſh a Blackamore white; for commonly widdowes are ſo froward, ſo waſpiſh, and ſo ſtubborne, that thou canſt not wreſt them from the wils, and if thou thinke to make her good by ſtripes, thou muſt beate her to death. One hauing marryed with a froward widdow, ſhee called him theefe, and many other vnhappy names; ſo he tooke her, and cut the tongue out of her head; but ſhee euer afterwards would make the ſigne of the Gallowes with her fingers to him.
It is ſeldome or neuer ſeene, that a man marryeth with a widdow for her beauty, nor for her perſonage, but onely for her wealth and riches; and if ſhe be rich and beautifull withal, then thou matcheſt thy ſelfe to a ſhe Diuell: for ſhe will goe like a Peacocke, and thou like a Woodcocke; for ſhee will hide her money to maintaine her pride: and if thou at any time art deſirous to bee merry in her com-
