The form of Solemnization
of Matrimonie.

FIRST, the banes [banns] must be asked three severall Sundayes or Holy-dayes, in the time of Service, the people being present after the accustomed manner.
    And if the persons that should bee married dwell in divers Parishes, the Banes must bee asked in both Parishes : and the Presbyter or Curate of the one Parish shall not solemnize Matrimonie betwixt them, without a certificate of the Banes being thrice asked from the Presbyter or Curate of the other Parish.
    At the day appointed for Solemnization of Matrimonie, the persons to be married shall come into the body of the Church, with their friends and neighbours, and there the Presbyter shall say thus.

DEarly beloved friends, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of his Church, to joyn together this man and this woman in holy Matrimonie, which is an honourable estate, instituted of God in Paradise, in the time of mans innocency, signifying unto us the mysticall union, that is betwixt Christ and his Church : which holy estate Christ adorned and beautified with his presence, and first miracle that he wrought in Cana of Galilee, and is commended of Saint Paul to be honourable among all men, and therefore is not to be enterprised nor taken in hand unadvisedly, lightly, or wantonly, to satisfie mens carnall lusts and appetites, like brute beasts that have no understanding, but reverently, discreetly, advisedly, soberly, and in the feare of God, duely considering the causes for which Matrimony was ordained. One was the procreation of children, to be brought up in the feare and nurture of the Lord, and praise of God. Secondly, it was ordained for a remedy against sinne, and to avoid fornication, that such persons as have not the gift of continency might marrie, and keep themselves undefiled members of Christs body. Thirdly, for the mutuall society, help, and comfort, that the one ought to have of the other, both in prosperity and adversity : into the which holy estate these two persons present come now to be joyned. Therefore, if any man can shew any just cause why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him now speak, or else here after for ever hold his peace.

¶ And also speaking to the persons that shall be married, he shall say.

I Require and charge you (as you will answer at the dreadfull day of judgement, when the secrets of all hearts shall bee disclosed) that if either of you doe know any impediment why you may not be lawfully joyned together in Matrimonie, that yee confesse it. For be yee well assured, that so many as be coupled together otherwise than Gods word doth allow, are not joyned together by God, neither is their Matrimonie lawfull.

¶ At which day of marriage, if any man do alledge and declare any impediment why they may not be coupled together in Matrimony, by Gods Law or the Laws of this Realme, and will be bound, and sufficient sureties with him, to the parties, or else put in a caution to the full value of such charges as the persons to be married doe sustain, to prove his allegation, then the solemnization must bee deferred unto such time as the truth be tried. If no impediment be alledged, then shall the Presbyter or Curate say unto the man.
 

N. WIlt thou have this woman to thy wedded wife, to live together after Gods ordinance, in the holy estate of Matrimonie? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honour and keep her, in sicknesse and in health? and forsaking all other, keep thee only to her, so long as you both shall live?

¶ The man shall answer.

I will.

¶ Then shall the Presbyter say to the woman.

N. WIlt thou have this man to thy wedded husband, to live together after Gods ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimonie? Wilt thou obey him and serve him, love, honour, and keep him, in sicknesse, and in health? and forsaking all other, keep thee only unto him, so long as you both shall live?

¶ The woman shall answer.

I will.

¶ Then shall the Presbyter or Minister say.

Who giveth this woman to be married to this man?

¶ And the Presbyter or Minister receiving the woman at her fathers or friends hands, shall cause the man to take the woman by the right hand, and so either to give their troth to other, the man first saying.

    I N. take thee N. to my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sicknesse, and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us depart, according to Gods holy ordinance : and thereto I plight thee my troth.

¶ Then shall they loose their hands, and the woman taking again the man by the right hand shall say.

    I N. take thee N. to my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sicknesse, and in health, to love, cherish, and to obey, till death do us depart, according to Gods holy ordinance : and thereto I give thee my troth.

¶ Then shall they again loose their hands, and the man shall give unto the woman a Ring, laying the same upon the book with the accustomed duety [offerings] to the Presbyter and Clerke. And the Presbyter taking the Ring, shall deliver it unto the man, to put it upon the fourth finger of the womans left hand. And the man taught by the Presbyter shall say.

With this ring I thee wed: with my body I thee worship, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow : In the name of the Father, and of the Sonne, and of the holy Ghost. Amen.

¶ Then the man leaving the Ring upon the fourth finger of the womans left hand, the Presbyter or Minister shall say.

¶ Let us pray.

O Eternall GOD, creator and preserver of all mankinde, giver of all spirituall grace, the authour of everlasting life, send thy blessing upon these thy servants, this man and this woman, whom we blesse in thy Name, that as Isahac and Rebecca lived faithfully together, so these persons may surely perform and keep the vow and covenant betwixt them made (whereof this Ring given and received is a token and pledge) and may ever remaine in perfect love and peace together, and live according unto thy laws; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

¶ Then shall the Presbyter joyne their right hands together, and say.

    Those whom God hath joyned together, let no man put asunder.

¶ Then shall the Presbyter or Minister speak unto the people.

FOrasmuch as N. and N. have consented together in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and this company, and thereto have given and pledged their troth either to other, and have declared the same by giving and receiving of a Ring, and by joyning of hands, I pronounce that they be man and wife together : In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Ghost. Amen.

¶ And the Presbyter or Minister shall adde this blessing.

GOD the Father, God the Sonne, God the holy Ghost, blesse, preserve, and keep you; the Lord mercifully with his favour look upon you, and so fill you with all spirituall benediction and grace, that you may so live together in this life, that in the world to come, you may have life everlasting. Amen.

¶ Then the Presbyter, Minister or Clerks going to the Lords Table, shall say or sing this Psalme following.
 

BLessed is every one that feareth the Lord : that walketh in his wayes.
    For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands : happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.
    Thy wife shall be as a fruitfull vine by the sides of thine house : thy children like olive plants, round about thy table.
    Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD.
    The LORD shall bless thee out of Zion : and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the dayes of thy life.
    Yea, thou shalt see thy childrens children, and peace upon Israel.
    Glory be to the Father, and to the Sonne : and to the holy Ghost.
    As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen..

¶ Or else this Psalm.
 

GOD bee mercifull unto us, and blesse us : and cause his face to shine upon us. Selah.
    That thy way may bee known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations.
    Let the people praise thee, O God : let all the people praise thee.
    O let the nations be glad and sing for joy : for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah.
    Let the people praise thee, O GOD, let all the people praise thee.
    Then shall the earth yeeld her increase; and God, even our own God, shall blesse us.
    God shall blesse us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him.
    Glory be to the Father, and to the Sonne, and to the holy Ghost.
    As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be : world without end. Amen..

¶ The Psalm ended, and the man and the woman kneeling afore the Lords Table, the Presbyter standing at the Table, and turning his face toward them, shall say.

Deus misereatur. Psal. 67.

O GOD of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob, blesse these thy servants, and sow the seed of eternall life in their minds, that whatsoever in thy holy Word they shall profitably learn, they may in deed fulfill the same. Look, O Lord, mercifully upon them from heaven and bless them. And as thou didst send thy blessing upon Abraham and Sara, to their great comfort : so vouchsafe to send thy blessing upon these thy servants, that they obeying thy will, and allway being in safety under thy protection, may abide in thy love unto their lives end; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

¶ This prayer next following, shall be omitted, where the woman is past childe-birth.

O Merciful LORD and heavenly Father, by whose gracious gift mankind is increased : wee beseech thee assist with thy blessing these two persons, that they may both be fruitfull in procreation of children, and also live together so long in godly love and honesty, that they may see their children's children, unto the third and fourth generation, unto thy praise and honour, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O GOD which by thy mightie power hast made all things of nought, which also (after other things set in order) didst appoint that out of man (created after thine own image and similitude) woman should take her beginning : and knitting them together didst teach that it should never be lawfull to put asunder those whom thou by Matrimonie hast made one : O God, which hast consecrated the state of Matrimonie to such an excellent mysterie, that in it is signified and represented the spirituall marriage and unity betwixt Christ and his Church : Look mercifully upon these thy servants, that both this man may love his wife, according to thy word, as Christ did love thy spouse the Church, who gave himself for it, loving and cherishing it even as his own flesh : and also that this woman may be loving and amiable to her husband as Rachel, wise as Rebecca, faithfull and obedient as Sara, and in all quietnesse, sobrietie, and peace be a follower of holy and godly matrons. O Lord, blesse them both, and grant them to inherit thy everlasting kingdome, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

¶ Then shall the Presbyter say.

ALmighty GOD, which at the beginning did create our first parents Adam and Eve, and did sanctifie and joyne them together in marriage : poure upon you the riches of his grace, sanctifie and blesse you, that yee may please him both in bodie and soule, and live together in holy love, unto your lives end. Amen.

¶ Then shall begin the Communion. And after the Gospel shall be said a Sermon, wherein ordinarily (so oft as there is any marriage) the office of a husband and wife shall be declared, according to holy Scripture. Or if there be no Sermon, the Presbyter or Minister shall read this that followeth.

ALl ye which be married, or which intend to take the holy estate of Matrimony upon you, heare what holy Scripture doth say, as touching the dutie of husbands toward their wives, and wives toward their husbands.
 

Ephes. 5. 25.

1 Pet. 3. 7.

Col. 3. 18

    Saint Peter also doth instruct you very godly, thus saying, Ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands, that if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation [=behavior] of the wives : while they behold your chast conversation coupled with fear [=awe, respect]. Whose adorning, let it not bee that outward adorning, plainting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparell : but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptable, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which in the sight of God of great price. For after this manner in the old time, the holy women also who trusted in God adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands. Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him Lord; whose daughters ye are as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.

¶ The new married persons, the same day of their marriage, must receive the holy Communion.