A68840:184
Most fruitful [and] learned co[m]mentaries of Doctor Peter Martyr Vermil Florentine, professor of divinity,…Most fruitfull [and] learned co[m]mentaries of Doctor Peter Martir Vermil Florentine, professor of deuinitie,…
Most fruitful [and] learned co[m]mentaries of Doctor Peter Martyr Vermil Florentine, professor of divinity, in the University of Tygure with a very profitable tract of the matter and places. Herein is also added [and] contained two most ample tables, aswell of the matter, as of the words: with an index of the places in the holy scripture. Set forth & allowed, according to the order appointed in the Queens majesties injunctions.Most fruitfull [and] learned co[m]mentaries of Doctor Peter Martir Vermil Florentine, professor of deuinitie, in the Vniuersitye of Tygure with a very profitable tract of the matter and places. Herein is also added [and] contained two most ample tables, aswel of the matter, as of the wordes: wyth an index of the places in the holy scripture. Set forth & allowed, accordyng to thorder appointed in the Quenes maiesties iniunctions.
London: printed by John Day, 1564London: printed by Iohn Day, 1564
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.
But now seeing we are come thus far,1 it were good to define what a dowry is, that thereby we may the easier know, how much of godly men is to be attributed unto it in contracting of matrimonies. A dowry is a right to use things, which are given to the husband by his wife, or by others in her name, to sustain the burdens of matrimony. And although a dowry be properly said a right of using, yet notwithstanding those things which are given unto the man, are oftentimes called by this word dowry. But the end is chiefly to be marked in this definition, namely to sustain the burdens of matrimony. It seemeth also that seeing the husband bestoweth very much in nourishing his ⟨image 33⟩wife, and honestly maintaining her, justice and equity require that somewhat be recompensed unto him again.2 Wherefore for as much as a dowry hath this foundation of justice, there is no doubt but that it is a thing lawful. But in it is an error not to be suffered, because some are not ashamed to say, that by a dowry concord between man and wife is the easier obtained.3 This both reason and experience teacheth to be most false. Who is ignorant, that that kind of amity which hath a respect only to profit, and which is founded only upon pleasure, is very frail and transitory? Moreover experience teacheth, that marriages so contracted that no other thing be considered but only beauty of the wife, & the dowry, have very ill success. Wherefore those are reprehended by the common proverbe,4 Qui uxores oculis & digitis ducunt, such as marry wives with their eyes and fingers: that is which are moved only with beauty and money. Wherefore just laws ought not to take away dowries, but severely to forbid, that they be not to much increased, or that they be not contrary to virtue and honesty. Therefore the Roman laws commanded those dowries to be cut of, which were greater than the ability of the giver could bear, as it is written in the Digests of the law of dowries. And contrariwise we must take heed, that the parents or tutors being overcome with covetousness give not less than honesty requireth, as it is written in the title de dote inofficiosa. And because dowries are given to sustain the burdens of matrimony, those can not be excused, which when they have received them of their wives, are not afeard afterward to use their wives unworthily.