The gold[n] book of christen matrimony most necessary [and] profitable for all the[m], that…The golde[n] boke of christen matrimonye moost necessary [and] profitable for all the[m], that…

Whereout it is easy to understand, that marriage ought to come of a free heart, and neither to be constrained and compelled of the parents, nor of other men. For in as much as wedlock requireth both the parties good consent which no man can give, but only God, the parents ¹may not compel the child, but have respect to gods ordinance, & to the right ordinate consent of the parties, and consider whether it be or no. Bathuel and Laban had respect to the ordinance of God, and when they saw the same power before their eyes, yet sent they for their daughter Rebecca, to know her will also. And when she of her own free mind had said yea, than was she first sent away unto Isaac her spouse. Thus have we before our eyes many ensamples, whereby we may learn what misery & wretchedness followeth out of an unwilling and compelled marriage. And therefore it were a great deal better for rulers, to look first that no man should compel his child, then ⟨image 36⟩that they them selves afterward (when the mat ter is almost past remedy, & hurt followeth up on hurt, should have enough to do with little pro fit, and yet with much disquietness.

Whereoute it is easye to vnderstonde, that mariage ought to come of a free herte, and neyther to be constrayned and compelled of the parentes, nor of other menne. For in as much as wedlocke requireth both the parties good cōsent which no man can gyue, but only God, the parentes ¹maye not compell the chylde, but haue re specte to gods ordinance, & to the ryght ordinate consente of the parties, and considre whether it be or no. Bathuel and Labin had respecte to the ordinaunce of God, and whan they saw ye same power before theyr eyes, yet sent they for theyr doughter Rebecca, to knowe her wyll also. And whan she of her owne free mynde hadde sayde yea, than was she fyrst sente awaye vnto Isaac her spouse. Thus haue we before our eyes many ensamples, wherby we may learne what mi sery & wretchednes foloweth oute of an vnwyllynge and compelled mariage. And therfore it were a great deale better for rulers, to loke fyrst that no manne shoulde compell his chylde, then ⟨image 36⟩that they them selues afterward (when the mat ter is almoost past remedy, & hurte foloweth vp on hurt, shuld haue ynough to do wyth lytle pro fyt, and yet wyth much disquietnes.