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…

In the second book of Moses, the. xxii. Chap ¹ter doth God command thus. If a man beguile a maid that is not detrouthed, and lye with her he shall endow her, and take her to his wife. If her father refuse to give her unto him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins. Here doth GOD give the father authority to take his daughter from the man, to whom she is promised else by the law. Therefore may the parents draw the children again to their jurisdiction. For this is a singular great thing, that the father hath authority, to take his forced daughter from the man, and to withdraw her from him, to whom she was promised by the law. In the fourth book of Moses the thirty ⟨p. xii⟩Chapter it is written thus: If a damsel vow ²a vow unto the Lord, & bind her self being in her fathers house and unmarried: if her father hear her vow and bond which she hath made upon her soul, and hold his peace thereto, then all her vow and bond which she hath made upon her soul, shall stand in effect. But and if her father forbid her the same day that he heareth it, than none of her vows nor bonds which she hath made upon her soul shall be of •alue. &c. Although now in these said words of God, there is no marriage but vows expressed and named, yet is it an evident testimony, that no child which is not y•t come to his years, and is yet under the tuition of his parents, hath authority to vow, bind, or alter it self without their consent, yea if any such vow or alte ration do chance, that then the parents have authority by the law of GOD, to let and hinder the same. For in as much as. God permitteth to unbind it, and will not that it shall be of any effect, which without consent of the parents is promised to him self, no doubt, he will not that it shall stand immutable which in disobedience is wilfully done without the pa tents consent.

In the seconde boke of Moses, the. xxii. Chap ¹ter doth God commaund thus. If a man begyle a mayd that is not detrouthed, and lye with her he shall endote her, and take her to hys wyfe. If her father refuse to gyue her vnto hym, he shall paye mony accordynge to the dowry of virgins. Here dothe GOD gyue the father authorite to take hys doughter from the man, to whome she is promysed els by the lawe. Therfore maye the parentes drawe the chyldren agayne to theyr iu risdiccion. For this is a singuler great thynge, that the father hathe authorite, to take his forced doughter from the man, and to wythdrawe her from hym, to whome she was promysed by the lawe. In the fourth boke of Moses the thyrty