‘Of the signification of diverse woordes importing Matrymonye, and whye yt is <rather> named matrimonie than Patrymony’

There be divers Latin woordes which albeit at the [nothing els but plane] first view thei all seame to signifie but one thinge [that is … & meanes], Matrimonye I meane as Matrimonium, Nuptiae, Conjugium, and such Like (a), yet if wee shall look a little more diligently into their severall Etymologies and originall foundacions wee shall find each of them to be qualified with some secret vertue and excellent peculiar property over and besides the generall significacion (b), the explicacion or unfolding whereof (because yt cannot but bring profitable Light to our obscure understanding so as therby we may the better perceyve the most Principall vertues considerable in the thing signified) do the in this discourse as in every other treatise <ryghtlie> Challenge the formost place (c) [and] <being> in dede no lesse necessary for begynners than is a Lanterne in a dark entrie to [for the] direct strangers into the chiefest roomes of the house. First of all therefore to disclose the [parent] <Ofspring and> Naturall [and originall] foundation of this woord Matrimonium yt is compounded of two woordes. Viz. Matris Muniam (e) that is to saye the office or duety of a mother wherein is secretlie delivered the cause [the cheife and principall end of mariage] <wherefore marrage was ordeyned> (f) So that it is not a name found by fortune or Coyned by Chance but after serious premeditation <devised> and <vpon> grauve <considerations> [advisement devised and] delyvered as a most significant tearme importing <[one of the cheifest endes]> [the very end and scope] <finall cause> of mariage namelie that the wife may bring forth and become a mother by procreation of children (e) For therefore especially was matrimonie first institutid [and ordeyned] of god in paradize that Children may be borne <and brought up in the feare of god> to replenishe his Church and to fulfill the number of the elect (H) <[which were] being> predestined before the begynning of the world by the fre mercy of god in Christe [Jesus] to be saved and to Lyve in euerlasting blisse amongst the blessed Angells in heaven.