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Matrimonium à Deo est institutum, in Paradiso, ad mutuum Adjutorium, & Propagationem generis humani.
Vir-Iuvenis (coelebs) conjugium initurus, instructus sit aut Opibus; aut Arte & Scientiâ, quae sit, de pane lucrando: ut possit sustentare Familiam.
Deinde eligit sibi Virginem hubilem, (aut Viduam) quam adamat: (habenda ubi tamen major ratio Virtutis & Honestatis, quàm Formae aut Dotis.
Posthaec, non clam despondet sibi cam, sed ambit, ut Procus, apud Patrem 1. & Matrem, 2. vel apud Tutores & Cognatos, per Pronubos. 3.
Eâ sibi desponsâ, fit Sponsus, 4. & ipsa, Sponsa; 5. fiunt{que} Sponsalia, & scribitur Instrumentum dotale. 6.
Tandem fiunt Nuptiae, ubi copulantur à Sacerdote, 7. datis ultrò eitro{que} Manibus 8. & Annulis nuptialibus; 9. tùm epulantur cum invitatis Testibus.
Abhinc dicuntur Maritus & Ʋxor; hâc mortuâ ille fit Vidaus.
Marriage was appointed by God in Paradise, for mutual help, and the Propagation of man kind.
A yong-man (a single-man being to be married, should be furnished, either with wealth, or a Trade and Science, which may serve for getting a living; that he may be able to maintain a Family.
Then he chooseth himself a Maid that is marriageable, (or a Widdow) whom he loveth; where neverthelesse a greater regard is to be had of Vertue and Honesty, than of Beauty or Portion.
Afterwards, he doth not betroth her to himself closely, but intreateth for her as a woer, first to the Father 1. and then the Mother, 2. or the Guardians and Kinsfolks, by such as help to make the match. 3.
Whē she is esp••used to him he becometh yt bridegroom, 4 and she the Bride, 5. and yt contract is made, & an Instrument of the Dow∣ry 6. is written.
At the last the wedding is made, where they are joyned together by the Priest, 7. giving their Hands 8. one to another, and wedding Rings; 9. then they feast with the witnesses that are invited.
After this they are called Husband and Wife; when she is dead he be∣cometh a Widdower.