1September 1993 2 3 4 'Be in Subjection to Them' 5 The Place and Role of Women in 17th Century European Society 6 7 edited by Marijan Salopek 8 9 ========================= 10 11 But what if a man of lewd and beastly conditions, as a drunkard, 12 a glutton, a profane swaggerer, an impious swearer and 13 blasphemer, be married to a wise, sober, religious matron, must 14 she account him her superior and worthy of an husband's honor? 15 Surely she must. For the evil quality and disposition of 16 his heart and life doth not deprive a man of that civil honour 17 which God hath given unto him. Though an husband in regard of 18 evil qualities may carry the image of the devil, yet in regard of 19 his place and office, he beareth the Image of God: so do 20 Magistrates in the Commonwealth, Ministers in the Church, Parents 21 and Masters in the Family. Not for our present purpose, the 22 exhortation of St Peter to Christian wives which have infidel 23 husbands. 'Be in subjection to them: let your conversation be in 24 fear'. If Infidels carry not the devil's image and are not, so 25 long as they are Infidels, vassals of Satan, who are? Yet wives 26 must be subject to them. 27 28 Source: William Goudge, (London: 1634), 29 p. 274. 30 ==============================