the one side to preserue the honour of his Wife, and on the other side not to bring to his house her, whome he suspected to be an Adulteresse; nor giuing her a secret bill of diuorce, which was lawfull in the olde Lawe: nor with some good occasion absenting himselfe from her. And likewise he demonstrated Prudence in not doing this rashly, or on a sodaine, without first medita∣ting, and considering it well, as may be collected from these wordes,
Haec autem eo cogitante, But as he was thus thinking, for he had a greate scruple to inhabite with her, that seemed an Adulteresse, and he had likewise as greate a scruple to aban∣don her, that seemed a Sainct. With this Con∣sideration, I am to confound myselfe for my small Patience in Affronts; for my much Indignation against those, that doe me Injurye; and for the Facillitye wherewith I murmure at, and defame my neighbours, and discouer their secret faultes: and for that Furye with the which sodainely, & without deliberation, I cast myselfe into all this. And in this manner confounded, I will beseeche our Lord thorough the merits of this Sainct, to ayde me to imitate his notable example.
But the blessed VIRGIN,
[ 2] as she was more holy, discouered more excellent Vertues, exer∣cizing foure very excellent ones, proper to those that are most perfect in such cases; to witte: rare Humillitye, and Silence: greate Confidence in Gods prouidence, & continuall Praier. Thorough Humillitye shee was silent, not desiring to mani∣fest the secret mysteries of God, though her greate honour might ensue thereof, nor consen∣ting that S. Elizabeth, or Zacharias should discouer them. And allbeeit it is very ordinary among good maried folke, to communicate their secrets