A17171:174
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…
The gold[n] book of christen matrimony most necessary [and] profitable for all the[m], that intend to live quietly and godly in the Christen state of holy wedlock newly set forth in English by Theodore Basil.The golde[n] boke of christen matrimonye moost necessary [and] profitable for all the[m], that entend to liue quietly and godlye in the Christen state of holy wedlock newly set forthe in English by Theodore Basille.
London: printed for Joha, 1543London: printed for Ioha, 1543
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
To have the goods of temporal substance 1is to be borne of noble parents, or to come of a worshipful stock, to have riches, great offices gains, or occupienges, and such like. The hiest nobility and most worthy commendation, is to be noble in virtues, in good works, manners and conditions. Who so doth come also of noble parents, is the more to be reputed. But to 2be a gentle borne, and to use himself urgently is even as much as to shame himself and his. There have ben found many, which came of a low birth, but they garnished their kindred so with virtues and noble acts, that they and their stock attained to great prosperity. There are many this day that come of famous houses & noble parents, but they lean to much to their birth, yea they are wilful minded, and think, that (because of their nobility) they may do what they list, and that their doings become methe them well, and yet are they so noble (that, is, they so excel) in all vice and abomination that they bring them selves to dishonour, and to contempt and hatred of all men.
To haue the goodes of temporall substaunce 1is to be borne of noble parentes, or to come of a worshypful stocke, to haue rytches, great offices gaynes, or occupienges, and such lyke. The hiest nobilite and moost worthy commēdacion, is to be noble in vertues, in good workes, manners and condicions. Who so dothe come also of noble parentes, is the more to be reputed. But to 2be a gentle borne, and to vse hymselfe v•gently is euen as muche as to shame hymselfe and his. There haue ben found many, whiche came of a lowe byrth, but they garnysshed theyr kynredde so wyth vertues and noble actes, that they and theyr stocke attayned to great prosperite. Ther are many this daye that come of famous houses & noble parentes, but they leane to muche to theyr byrthe, yea they are wylfull mynded, and thynke, that (because of theyr nobilite) they may do what they lyst, and that theyr doinges becom methe them well, and yet are they so noble (that, is, they so excell) in all vyce and abhominacion that they brynge them selues to dishonour, and to cōtempt and hatred of all men.