Transcript of the Ceremony

Foreword

DEERELY beloved frendes:

we are gathered together here
   in the syght of God,

and in the face of his congregacion,

to joyne together this man and this woman
   in holy matrimonie,

which is an honorable estate
   instituted of God in paradise,

in the time of mannes innocencie,

signifying unto us the misticall union that is
   betwixte Christe and his Churche:

whiche holy estate, Christe adorned and beutified
with his presence, and first miracle
that he wrought in Cana of Galile,

and is commended of Sainct Paule to be honourable
   emong all men;

and therefore is not to bee enterprised, nor taken
   in hande unadvisedlye, lightelye, or wantonly,
   to satisfie mens carnal lustes and appetites,
   like brute beastes that have no understanding:

but reverentely, discretely, advisedly, soberly,
and in the feare of God.

Duely consideryng the causes for the whiche
matrimonie was ordeined.

One cause was the procreacion of children,
   to be brought up in the feare and nurture of
   the Lord, and prayse of God.

Secondly it was ordeined for a remedie agaynst
   sinne, and to avoide fornicacion, that suche
   persones as bee maried, might live chastlie in
   matrimonie, and kepe themselves undefiled
   membres of Christes bodye.

Thirdelye for the mutuall societie, helpe, and
   coumfort, that the one oughte to have of thother,
   both inprosperitie and adversitie.

Into the whiche holy estate these two persones
   present: come nowe to be joyned.

Therefore if any man can shewe any juste cause
   why they maie not lawfully be joyned so together:
   Leat him now speake, or els hereafter for ever
   hold his peace.

[Priest pauses to wait for any challenge]

The Questions

[Priest then to the groom]

Thomas:

WILT thou have this woman to thy wedded wife, to
   live together After Gods ordeinaunce in the holy
   estate of matrimonie?

Wilt thou love Her, coumforte her, honor, and
   kepe her in sickenesse and in health?

And forsaking all other kepe thee only to her,
   so long as you both shall live?

[The groom answers]

I will.

[Priest then to the bride]

Donna:

Wilt thou have this man to thy wedded houseband,
   to live together after Goddes ordeinaunce, in
   the holy estate of matrimonie?
Wilt thou obey and serve him, love, honor, and
   kepe him in sickenes and in health?
And forsaking al other kepe thee only to him,
   so long as you both shall live?

[The bride answers]

I will

[The priest then continues]

Who geveth this woman to be maried to this man?

[The bride's father replies]

I do.

The Pledges

[The priest then places the bride's right hand into the groom's]

[The priest then leads the groom in saying...]

I Thomas, take thee Donna to my wedded wife,
   to have and to holde from This dayforwarde,
   for better, for wurse,
   for richer, for poorer,
   in Sickness, and in health,
   to love and to cherishe,
   til death us departe:

According to Goddes holy ordeinaunce:
And therto I plight thee my trouth.

[The priest then leads the bride in saying...]

I Donna take thee Thomas, to my wedded husbande,
   to have and to holde From this day forwarde,
   for better, for woorse,
   for richer, for poorer,
   in sickenes and in health,
   to love, cherishe, and to obey,
   till death us Departe:

Accordyng to Goddes holy ordeinaunce:
And thereto I geve thee my Trouth.

The Exchange of Rings

The ring bearer brings the pillow with the rings forward

The priest takes the bride's ring from the pillow,
   hands the ring to the groom,
   groom places ring on bride's finger,
   priest then leads the groom in saying:

With thys ring I thee wed:
Thys gold ring I thee geve:
with my body I thee wurship:
and withal my worldly Goodes I thee endowe.
In the name of the father, and of the sonne,
and of the holy goste.
Amen.

[Groom then reads vows written to the bride]

The priest takes the groom's ring from the pillow,
   hands the ring to the bride,
   bride places ring on groom's finger,
   priest then leads the bride in saying:

With thys ring I thee wed:
Thys silver ring I thee geve:
with my body I thee wurship:
and withal my worldly Goodes I thee endowe.
In the name of the father, and of the sonne,
and of the holy goste.
Amen.

[Bride crosses herself]

[Bride then reads vows written to the groom]

Hand Fasting

After the exchange of the rings,
the priest produces a red ribbon/cord.
The priest has the couple raise their joined right hands,
then ties the hands fast with the red cord.
The couple then says, in unison:

Ye are Blood of my blood,
   and bone of my bone,
I give ye my Body,
   that we Two might be One,
I give ye my Spirit,
   'til our life shall be done.

Union Prayer

[The Priest then unties the cord and continues]

Let us pray.

O ETERNAL God,
creator and preserver of al mankinde,
gever of al spiritual grace,
the author of everlasting life:
Sende thy blessing upon these thy servauntes,
thys manne, and this woman,
whome we blesse in thy name,
that as Isaac and Rebecca lived faithfully together;

So these persons may surely perfourme and kepe the vowe and covenaunt betwixt them made,
wherof this ring geven, and received, is a token and pledge.
And may ever remayne in perfite love and peace together;

And lyve accordyng to thy lawes;
through Jesus Christe our lorde.
Amen.

[The priest then joins the couples right hands together, and says]

Those whome god hath joyned together:
   let no man put a sundre.

[Then the priest then speaks to the congregation]

FORASMUCHE as Thomas and Donna have consented
   together in holye Wedlocke, and have witnessed
   the same here before god and this cumpany;
And therto have geven and pledged theyr trouth
   eyther to other, and have Declared the same by
   gevyng and receyvyng gold rings, and by
   joyning Of handes:
I pronounce that they bee man and wyfe together.
In the name of the father of the sonne, and of
   the holy gost.

Amen.

YOU MAY KISS THE BRIDE!!

[Bride and groom kiss]

Final Blessing

God the father blesse you.

God the sonne kepe you:

god the holye gost lighten your understanding:

The lorde mercifully with his favour loke upon
   you, and so fil you with al spiritual
   benediction, and grace, that you may have
   remission of your sinnes in this life, and in
   the worlde to come lyfe everlastyng.

Amen.

[The priest pauses, then announces for the First Time]

I present: Lord and Lady Thomas Jones II