The history of all religions in the world, from the creation down to this present time in two parts : the first containing their theory, and the other relating to their practices ... : to which is added, a table of heresies : as also a geographical map, shewing in what countrey each religion is practised ... / by William Turner ...

10. Marriage and Divorce.

Jewish.

1. MArriage, Concerning the Marriage of the Ancient Jews, I refer my Reader to Sacred Scripture.

The Barbary-Jews admit not any unmarried Sect among them. Concerning their Marriages ob∣serve,

• 1. Whom they marry. One of their own Tribe.
• 2. When. Their Daughters often are betrothed at ten Years of Age, and if Rich, married when young.
• 3. How. 1. The first visit is short, to prevent disparagement, if it succeed not.

2. In case of liking, Presents are sent.

3. Articles are drawn up particularly even 'till it come to the Night-dress.

4. A Dowry is made by the Man.

5. The Woman is affianced, i. e. given to the Man, by some near Relation.

6. For eight Days, the Woman useth Bath∣ing.

7. On the Marriage-Eve, she is put, by two Matrons, into Tabila, a Cistern of cold Water, (not a Hair above Water;) when she comes out, her Hair is neatly dressed up.

8. On the Marriage-Day, they put on their Wedding-Robes, retire to their private Devotions, and then to the Synagogue-Service.

9. Then returns he to his Bride, sitting in a Chair, having a Virgin on each hand, puts the Kedusim, or Wedding-Ring, on her Thumb, or any Finger of her right Hand, calling Witnesses.

10. The Rabbi saith a Prayer.

11. After Prayer, having blessed, and tasted a Glass of Wine, he gives it to the Bridegroom, who breaks it in remembrance of the destruction of the Temple.

12. The Bridegroom takes off the Bride's Veil, gives her the right hand, sits down by her, discourses a while, retire into the Lodging-Room, wherein are two Beds on the Floor, to one of which the Bridegroom betakes himself, after the Tokens received, Deut. 22. and a certain short Mystical Prayer used.

13. For eight days they Feast, Neighbours come and pray with the Man, the Woman being allowed these eight Days for Purification; the Man sees her not, but at meal-times.

14. At a woman's first meeting her husband, she walks thrice about him; and the man once a∣bout the woman.

2. Divorce; concerning which, and more con∣cerning Marriage, see in the Second Book.

Ancient Christian.

None could lawfully Marry, till they had first advised with the Bishop and Clergy, and obtained their leave (probably to secure them from Marry∣ing with Gentiles) v. Tertull. de Monog, c. 11. &c ad Ʋx. l. 2. c. 2.9.

Pope Calixtus first Prohibited Matrimony be∣tween those that were near a-kin (consanguineos, of the same Blood) such as the Laws of God, of the Emperors, Greek and Roman, admitted to the Inheri∣rance, Carrauz. in Decr. Calixti Pa.

Christians were forbid to Marry with Infidels, Idem. Sum. Elibert. Conc. c. 15.16, 17.

S. Jerome speaks of sponsalitius annulus, upon Job c. 8. and on Isa. 3. and Beda calls it, sincera fidei signaculum, on Luk. c. 5. Hom. 40.

Pope Euristus, in his first Epistle to the African Bishops, shews in what manner Christian Matrimo∣ny ought to be Celebrated, Viz.

1. Let a Wife be sought, and betrothed by the Parents that are next to her, (a Parentibns Propin∣quioribus:) [i. e. I suppose, Father, Grand-father, &c.]

2. Let her be blessed in a Priestly manner (as the custom is) with Prayers and Orations by the Priest.

3. Let her be kept and attended by the Bride∣man and Bride-maid; and for two or three days let them be at leisure for Prayers, and preserve their Chastity, that good Children may be generated, and they may please the Lord in their Actions; otherwise (saith he) account them rather Adulte∣ries, Lewdness, or Fornication, than Wedlock, Car∣rauz. in Decr. Eucaristi Pa.

Mahometan.

The Turks may have three sorts of Wives; law∣ful Wives, Wives of Kebin, and Slaves.

1. The first are thus Married;

• 1. The Man agrees with the Maid's Parents for her Dowry.
• 2. The Cady, with two Witnesses, writs down the agreement.
• 3. Before the Celebration the Imam blesses the Marriage.
• 4. On the day, the Bride muffled up, is led to the Bride-groom's House to Feasting and Musick, &c.

They may have four Wives.

For Wives of Kebin, less ceremony serves.

Divorces are thus;

The Husband goes before a Cady, and saith, I part with her, for three times; allowing her a

Dowry, if he Divorce her wrongfully, nor may she Marry again till after four Months.

Ancient Heathen.

A Soothsayer and Witnesses were present at Marri∣ages; the one to give token of good luck (e. g. a Crow, because one dying, the other lives without a Mate,) the others (Signatores) to Seal the form of the Contract.

They gave the Bride Golden Coin in a Charger, which some think was stampt, with the Resemblance of the Bride-groom, or Bride, or both, Dr. Holy∣day on Juv. p 114.

They betrothed with a Ring,

Et digito pignus fortasse dedisti, Juv.

Pliny saith, the Ring was of Iron. Tertullian and Marcell. Donatus, of Gold.

They gave the Guests VVine, cakes at their Departure, Dr. Holyday.

The new Bride and Bride-groom, sacrificed a white Hog, perhaps, to signify the fruitfulness of Marriage,

Divorces allowed among the Romans, to one person 8 times: beyond that number was ac∣counted Adultery, v. Mart. l. 6.

Aut minus, aut certe non plus, tricesima lux est, Et nubit decimo jam Telesina viro. Quae nubit toties, non nubit, Adultera lege est.

Modern Heathen.

In the East-Indies they Marry their Children very young; and in the Province of Baglana, Celebrate the Marriage, and bed the Children much sooner, than in many places of the Indies, viz. at 8 or 10 years old.

A Gentile Marries at any age, and cannot have several VVives at a time, provided he Marries a Maid, and one of his own Caste.

Many Ceremonies are to be seen at their VVed∣dings: At certain times in great Towns 500 or 600 are Celebrated in a day; and nothing to be seen in the Streets, but enclosures at the front of the Husband's House, made with Poles or Canes, covered with Tapestry, &c.

Before the Wedding, they make a Cavalcade through the Town, with Musick and much Pomp; then a Bramen having said some Prayers over both, puts a Cloth betwixt the Husband and the VVife, and orders the Husband with his naked Foot to touch the naked Foot of his Wife, and that com∣pleats the Marriage, M. de Thev.

In Negapatan (in the East-Indies) the Priest, with a Cow and Man and VVoman together, go to the River-side, where the Bramen mutters over a short Prayer, links their Hands about the Cows Tail, forces the Beast into the River (hav∣ing first poured upon them his Holy Oyl) where they go as far as they can with the Beast, and then returning to shore, their hands are united, and they Married.

Diabolical.

In Amboyna, they (who worship the Devil) at Marriage, use no Ceremonies; for the parties be∣ing agreed, the Bridegroom's Father carries a Pre∣sent

of some Toys to the Bride, and the Bride's Father makes a Feast, at which they have Musick, of Tabors and Lologo, or Dances in the Honour of Nito; and so consummate the Marriage, which they break with the same facility they contracted it; for the VVives leve their Husbands upon the least discontent, and the next day they Marry ano∣ther, Mandelsto.