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…

Of these things it is manifest, of how great estimation holy wedlock hath ever been since the first beginning of the world among all degrees of parsons. Who will not now commend ¹honourable wedlock, as a thing of great excellency. Who will not think it a state of living worthy high praise and commendation? Who will not judge that it ought to be embraced with meting arms, as they say, seeing that by it so many noble treasures chance unto us, virtue is maintained, vice is eschewed, houses are replenished, cities are inhabited, the ground is tilled, sciences are practised, kingdoms flourish, amity is preserved the public weal is defended, natural succession remaineth, good arts are taught, honest order is kept, Christen dome is enlarged, God's word promoted, and the glory of GOD highly advanced and set forth?

Of these thynges it is manifest, of how great estimacion holy wedlocke hath euer bene syns ye fyrst begynnynge of the worlde amonge all degrees of parsonnes. Who wyll not nowe commende ¹honorable wedlocke, as a thynge of great excellency. Who wyll not thyncke it a state of li uyng worthy hygh prayse and commēdacion? Who wyll not iudge that it ought to be embraced with metyng armes, as they say, seynge that by it so many noble treasures chaunse vnto vs, vertue is mayntayned, vice is exchewed, houses are replenished, cities are inhabited, the grounde is tylled, scienses are practised, kyngdoms florysh, amite is preserued the publique weale is defended, naturall succession remaynethe, good artes are taught, honest order is kepte, Christē dome is enlarged, Goddes word promoted, and the glory of GOD hyghely auaunced and sette forthe?

1. 1The excellency of weddelocke.The excellen cy of weddelocke.

But alas, and woe is me for it, the glory of ¹