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…

And hitherto have I declared whence wed lock cometh, who did institute it, what it is, how it ought orderly to be contracted, what be the occasions end and virtue thereof. Item how holy, profitable and good it is. ⟨p. xxxvi⟩Again, how horrible, noisome and shameful whoredom and adultery is. But forasmuch as in the occasions of wedlock it is mentioned how y• wedlock was ordained of God, to the intent that married folks should spend their life in y• mutual participation of all such things as God sendeth, y• they may bring forth children, or they may avoid whoredom, or for the eschew• ing of perilous, soleness, that the one may be a comfort and help to the other according to y• will of GOD: And forasmuch also as in the mean season there lieth great importance, & weight upon it, what manner of companion & mate thou chosest, how thou mayest live with him, and (if God give the children) how thou mayest bring them up. Therefore in this part of •y book following, I will treat how a mete honest and virtuous spouse ought to be chosen. Afterward, how they ought on both the sides to live well and right together, to heap and increase the mutual love and truth of marriage, and finally how they must well & virtuously bring up their children.

ANd hytherto haue I declared whence wed locke cōmethe, who dyd institute it, what it is, how it ought orderly to be contracted, what be the occasions end and vertue therof. Item howe holy, profitable and good it is. ⟨p. xxxvi⟩Agayne, howe horrible, noysome and shamefull whoredome and aduoutry is. But forasmuche as in the occasions of wedlocke it is mencioned how y• wedlocke was ordined of God, to the intent that maryed folkes shulde spend theyr lyfe in y• mutuall participaciō of al such thinges as God sendeth, y• they may bryng forth chyldrē, or they maye auoyd whordome, or for the eschew ynge of perellous, solenes, that the one maye be a conforte and helpe to the other accordyng to y wyll of GOD: And for asmuche also as in the meane season there lyethe great importaunce, & wayght vpon it, what manner of companion & mate thou chosest, how thou mayest lyue wythe hym, and (yf God gyue the chyldren) howe thou mayest bryng them vp. Therfore in thys parte of y boke followyng, I wyl treate how a mete honest and vertuous spouse ought to be chosen. Afterwarde, howe they ought on both the sydes to lyue well and ryght togyther, to hepe and increace the mutuall loue and trouth of mariage, and fynally howe they muste well & vertuously bryng vp theyr chyldren.