To his wife after they had beene married foure yeere

TWo Prētiships with thee I now haue been,
Mad times, sad times, glad times, our life hath seen,
Souls we haue wroght 4. payre since our first meeting
Of which, 2. soules, sweet soules, were to be fleeting,
My workemanship so well doth please thee still,
Thou wouldst not graunt me freedome by thy will:
And Ile confesse such vsage I haue found,
Mine heart yet ne're desir'd to be vnbound.
But though my selfe am thus thy Prentice vow'd,
My dearest Mall, yet thereof be not proud,
Nor claime no Rule thereby; ther's no such cause:
For Plowden, who was father of the Lawes
Which yet are read and rul'd by his Enditings,
Doth name himselfe a Prentice in his writings,
And I, if you should challenge vndue place,
Could learne of him to alter so the case:
I plaine would proue, I still kept due priority,
And that good wiues are still in their minority:
But far from thee, my deare, be such Audacitie:
I doubt more thou dost blame my dul Capacitie,
That though I trauaile true in my vocation,
I growe yet worse and worse at th'occupation.