To the extent possible under law, the Text Creation Partnership has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above, according to the terms of the CC0 1.0 Public Domain Dedication (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/). This waiver does not extend to any page images or other supplementary files associated with this work, which may be protected by copyright or other license restrictions. Please go to http://www.textcreationpartnership.org/ for more information.
How marriage is solemnized amongst the Russians, the Gaules, the Assyrians, the Greekes, the Namasanes, the Sco••s, &c. The ho∣nour of marriage, and of twelve impediments that may hinder is.
THe maner of solemni∣zing Marriage amongst the Russians or people of Muscovie is different from other nations: for the man, though he never in his life time beheld the woman, yet is he not permitted to have any or the least view
of her when he would soli∣cite her for marriage, but it is done by his mother or next kinswoman: and when the match is agreed upon, as well by the Parents as the parties, (for without the consent of the Parents no marriage is held amongst them lawfull) the father and chiefe friends meet to∣gether and conclude about the dower. It is to be ob∣served, that the Virgin brings the dower, but the young man maketh her no jointure unlesse she have is∣sue by him, and then shee hath full interest in his e∣state.
And if she were never married before, the Parents and friends enter into bond that she shall prove a Vir∣gin. The contract thus con∣cluded, they send tokens the one to the other, but enter∣change no lookes all this while. The Eeve before the nuptiall day, the Bride is car∣ried either in a Callimago or Coach, or if it be win∣ter, on a sledd (by reason of the snow and ice) to the house of the Bride-groome, with her wedding clothes, and the bed on which they are that night to lie, which for the most part is very rich and costly. That night
she is accompanied with her mother and her other friends, but all this while of him not seene. The next day she is married in a vaile, or rather an hood of knit•• wo••ke or lawne, which co∣vereth her from the Crown of the head to the waste. They and their friends ride all to Church, being well mounted, though never so neere the place, and though they be people of the mea∣nest quality amongst them. The words & contract, with the ceremonies, as the Ring, &c. are almost one with ours: and the nuptiall knot being knit by the Priest, th••
Bride comes to her husband there standing by the Altar, and bowes her selfe as low as to his foot, in signe of fu∣ture obedience: in requitall of which, the Bride-groome casteth his upper garment over her, as a token or pro∣mise that he will from that time forward shield and pro∣tect her.
To these two standing together, come the father and the next alli'd unto the woman, and bowe them∣selves to the Bride-groom, and his father and friends doe the like to her, as a tie and union of love and affini∣ty betwixt the two kinreds
and families: to bind which there is a loafe of bre••d pre∣sented to the Priest, who breaketh it, and distributeth it amongst them, of which they all eat, and protest withall, that they are all a•• one loafe made of so many severall graines, or as so ma∣ny guests invited to one ta∣ble. This ceremonie en∣ded, the husband takes the wise by the hand, and lea∣deth her to the Church porch, (their fathers and friends following them) where they are met by o∣thers, who present them with bowles and cups of severall fashions and siz••••,
fill'd with Meade and Russ∣wine, whereof the Bride-groome first takes a Chark or Chalice in his hand, and drinkes to the Bride; who opening her hood or vaile below (yet so that her face is still unseene) she pledgeth him: this done, they part at the Church doore, he go∣eth to his fathers house, and she to hers, where they en∣tertaine their friends a∣part.
At the entring into which houses, corne is cast upon them from the upper win∣dowes, in token of fertilitie and plentie ever after to at∣tend them. The evening
come, the Bride is con∣ducted to her husbands fa∣thers house, and there lodged that night, her vaile still covering her head. Be∣sides, she is injoin'd from her mother and other Matrons her friends, not to speake one word, because the hus∣band is neither to see her face, nor heare her tongue, till the next morrow after their marriage; neither is she that day to speake at all, saving some few limited words, meerely of forme, nor three dayes after. If she transgresse the least of these ceremonies, it is a great dis-reputation to her all her
whole life after.
The third day expired, they depart unto their own house, which is by this time sufficiently accommodated. And herein is to be observed, that for the marriage day, and the whole time that the nuptiall feast is solemnized, he hath the honour to be called Molodax Knez, that is, young Duke; and shee Molodax Knezay, the young Dutchesse.
Iulius Caesar in the 6. book of his Commentaries tells us, that amongst the ancient Gaules (which is now the French nation) the husband brought so much goods, and
laid it down, as did amoun•• to the dower which his wife brought with her, and a just account being ta∣ken, the stocke was put to∣gether, the party surviving being made full Executour, and possessing both their meanes to them and their children.
Cornelius Tacitus gives a noble commendation of the Germans. The wife, saith he, never bringeth or assu∣reth any dower to her hus∣band, but he to his wife, the Parents, cousins, and friends being present to approve or dislike of all such passages as are betweene them: nei∣ther
is there any enter∣change of love-tokens, in∣tending to delicacie, or to corrupt the chastity of the woman; but his present is a couple of Oxen yoaked, an horse bridled and com∣pletely furnished, with a Sword, Buckl••r, or Target, and a Javelin: neither doth she enterchangeably present him with any gift, save some weapons, either of of∣fence or defence. And that the wife may not thinke her selfe exempted from the ••ares, travells, and dangers that the husband may ei∣ther by his industry at home, or valour abroad in∣curre,
these yoaked cattle, the Horse, and weapons of warre, are a remembrance unto her.
There are very few knowne adulteries commit∣ted amongst that great and populous Nation, for the punishment thereof is very severe and speedy. For she that shall be found guilty of such an act, her husband causeth her to be sh••ven, and then stript naked, and after brings her out of his owne doores in the presence of all his and her neerest kinred, then beats her with a bat∣toone through the streets: for there is no connivence
to be used, or pardon to be granted to any woman who hath once violated her wed∣locke chastity: neither can her youth, beauty, or riches, though all should meet to∣gether in one, ever purchase her to have the honour of a second husband; so odible and detestable is that sinne held amongst them.
The Assyrians take their daughters with them (when they be marriageable) to the market, and there such as want wives buy them for their money, or money-worth. The like is in cu∣stome with the Babyloni∣ans, and people of Thrace: so
did the ancient Grecians purchase their wives, either for coine, or some other commodity that was ven∣dible. The like the Indians in many places observe.
Iphidanas the son of An∣tenor, according to Homer, gave fifty yo••ke of Oxen to his father-in-law to enjoy his daughter in marriage. In Tapila a great Citie in India, situate betwixt the two Ri∣vers of Indus and Hydaspes, they entertain no wives into their conjugall embraces which they buy not at some price. Strabo in his booke of Geography, lib. 15. in∣formes us, that in some
Countries, as Carthage and others, there was a custome, that if a poore mans daugh∣ter by reason of her pover∣ty could not compasse a hus∣band, she was brought to a publike faire or market, with trumpets and lowd musicke before her, and when a great confluence of people was gathered about her, first h••r backe parts were discovered bare as high as to her shoulders from her heele, and then the like before; and if upon that view she were found to be well featured, and no way defective, at the charge of the City she was to be pro∣vided
of a husband.
Plato in his sixt booke de Legib. writes, lest any man should be deceived in the choice of his Bride, and so after repent himselfe when it is too late, that it was thought convenient, that divers assemblies of young men and maids should be permitted to wrestle, and ••rie masteries together, ha∣ving their bodies naked from the neck to the waste, as farre as modesty would give leave. But St. Ierome against Iovinian condem∣neth this wanton and lasci∣vious custome, and so doth Clemens Alexandrinus, pe∣dag.
lib. 2. cap. 9. and St. Cy∣prian in his booke De Vir∣gin. habit. in these words, The honour and bashfull shame of the body are both preserved in the modest co∣verture of the garment. And Blandus supra leges interpo∣sit. cap. 1. writeth, that the very feare of shame, with∣out the terrour of death or torment, is sufficient of it selfe to put off a contract.
The Namasanes, a peo∣ple of Lybia (as Herodo••u•• informes us) had a strange custome, to cause the Bride the first night of her nupti∣alls to prostitute her selfe to all her guests, and then she
was injoined to preserve her chastity for ever after. The Anthropophagi, the Medes, and some part of the Aethio∣pians, after they be once married, are admitted free congresse with their mo∣thers and sisters. The Arabs make their wives common to all the kinred. The Moores, Numidians, Persi∣ans, Parthians, Garamantes, the Turkes, and some Jewes, take as many wives as they can well maintaine: and the ancient Athenians made their wives and daughters common.
It was once a custome i•• Scotland, that the Lord of
the soile might lay just clai••e and title to every Virgins maidenhead, who was to bee married within his Lordship. For by that custome the Tenant held his land; which was after quite abolished by King Malco∣line, who ordained that the new married couple should redeeme her virginitie, in which her Landlord preten∣ded interest, with a small piece of gold, which in many places of the King∣dome is observed even untill this day.
A young man of Lacede∣mon, being seated in the Theater, when a valiant
and ancient Captaine (a single man and Batchelour) but for his valour and fa∣mous atchievements much honoured by his Nation, came to take his place, to be a spectator of the sports and games there presented; hee denyed to give him place: at which Callidus, for so was the Captaine called, much offended at the arrogance of his youth, gave him course and bitter languag••: to whom he returned this short answer, Thou hast (O great Captaine Callidus) as yet fa∣thered no child, neither ac∣casioned the birth of any, who comming unto my
age, may when I am come unto thine, in this place a∣rise to do me a like honour.
Plato also in his booke of Lawes, appointed single men no place of dignity in the common-weale, nor suf∣fered any to bee conferred upon them; but caused them to bee more charged with fines and amerciaments than any of the other married Citizens. Socrates professeth of himselfe, to have learnt more morall philosophy from women, than naturall, of which he made excellent use.
In marriage there is a do∣mesticke Common-weale,
in which the Father of the family may expresse wise∣dome, temperance, justice, pietie, and all other vertues: by loving his wife, in∣structing his children, go∣verning his familie, ordering his affaires, disposing his goods.
The Romans in the yeere that Quintus Me••ellus was Consull, established many famous and worthy Lawes and priviledges, to incou∣rage people to marry, and especially, unto those who had numerous issue, and great increase of children: for without wedlock all al∣liance would be extinct, all
Common-weales in short time decay, and all sweet so∣cietie be quite abandoned.
There bee twelve impe∣diments to hinder lawfull marriage, or to dis-annull it after it be once consumma∣ted, which Cardinall Caj••∣tanus comprehends in these foure verses:
Error, conditio, votum, cog∣natio, crimen, Cul••us disparitas, vis, ord••, ligamen, honesta••: Si sis affinis, si forte c••ire nequibis, Haec socianda vetant conu∣bia, facta ••etracta••••.
Thus paraphrased.
Errour, condition, paren∣tage, and vow, Adultery (the law will not allow Disparitie in divine wor∣ship) and Violence or force, or where we understand; In priesthood; there's pro∣fanenesse, or else where, False faiths profest, wee likewise must forbeare, When there is precontract, for honesty, Affinitie, and disability: These twelve from present marriage us disswade, Or can retract from wed∣lock when 'tis made.I end with this of So∣crates: Let men obey the Lawes, and women their Husbands, whose duty is to bee wise in speaking, and mild in conversation; cir∣cumspect in promise, and carefull in performance; faultlesse in taking, and faith∣full in giving good counsell; patient in adversity, and not puft up in•• prosperitie; some∣what indulgent over his wife, but most industrious in the education of his chil∣dren.
And a good wife, accor∣ding to Theophrastus, must bee grave abroad, gentle at home, constant to love,
patient to suffer, obs••quio•••• to her neighbours, obedi••nt to her husband. For silence and patience are the two i•• dissoluble ties of conjugall love and piety.