And becaus that fornicatioun, huredome, and adulterye, ar synnes most commoun in this Realme, We requyre of your Honouris, in the name of the Eternall God, that severe punishement, according as God hath commanded, be executed against suche wicked offendaris;[554] for we doubt not but suche enorme crymes[555] oppenlie committed, provoketh the wrayth of God, as the Apostle speaketh, not onlie upoun the offendaris, but also upoun suche places as whair, without punishement, thei ar committed. [554] In edit. 1621, "wicked contemners." [555] In edit. 1621, "such enormities and crymes." [Sidenote: AGGREIS TO THE HEAD OF MARIAGE.] But to returne to oure formar purpose: Mariage owght not to be contracted amongis personis that have no electioun for lack of understanding; and thairfoir we affirm, that bairns and infantis can nocht lauchfullie be mareid in thair minor aige, to wit, the man within fourtene yeiris of aige, and the woman within twelf yearis, at the least. Whiche yf it chance any to have bene, and have keapt thair bodyis always separat, we can not judge thame bound to adhear as man and wyiff, by reassone of that promeis, which in Goddis presence was no promeise at all. But yf in the yearis of judgment thai have embrased the one the other, then be reassone of thair last consent, thai have ratifeid that which otheris did promeise for thame in thair youth-head.[556] [556] In edit. 1722, after "in their youth-head," is added, "and are to be held as married persons." In a Reformed Churche, Mariage ought nott to be secreatlie used, but in open face and publict audience of the Churche: And for avoyding of dangearis, expedient it is that the bannes be publictlie proclamed thre Sundayis, (onles the persones be [so] knawin, that no suspitioun of dangear may arise, and then may the bannes[557] be schortned at the discretioun of the Ministerie.) But in no wyse can we admitt Mariage to be used secreatlie, how honorable that ever the personis be. The Sunday befoir sermon we think most convenient[558] for mariage, and it to be used no day ellis without the consent of the hoill Ministerie. [557] In edit. 1621, "may the time." [558] In edit. 1621, "The Sunday before noon, we think most expedient."