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 ...

Marriage and Divorce.

Jews.

THE manner of proceeding in Marriage, is set down Methodically in the first Book; what was omitted there is to be related here.

After the Dowry made by the Bridegroom upon the Bride (of which but half the Sum is usually given to Widows, as to Virgins) follows Affian∣cing—in these words, Behold, take her after the Law of Moses. The Man replies, Be thou unto me a Wife according to the Law of Moses and Israel.

Their Dowry-bill according to the usage of the Jews in Barbary, is thus.

Upon the Sixth of the Week, the Fourth of the Month—, in the Year—, of the Creation of the World, according to the Computation which we use here at Arzila, a Town scituate on the Sea-shore of Barbary, the Bridegroom Rabbi—the Son of R.—said unto the Bride-wife—Daug∣ter of R.—Merchant in Alcazar; Be unto me a Wife according to the Law of Moses and Israel; and I, according to the Word of God, will wor∣ship, honour, maintain and govern thee accor∣ding to the manner of Husbands among the Jews, who do faithfully worship, honour, maintain and govern their Wives: I also bestow upon thee the Dowry of thy Virginity, amounting to 50 Shekels, which belong unto thee by the Law, and moreover thy food, raiment, and sufficient ne∣cessaries; as likewise the Knowledge of thee ac∣cording to the Custom of the Earth.

This Bill is given into the Custody of the Bride.

Upon putting the Kedusim or Ring on the Bride's Thumb or Finger, the Rabbi saith,

Thou art mar∣ried or sanctified to this Man with this Ring, ac∣cording to the Law of Israel:

And after that a Prayer, such as,

Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, who hast created Mirth and Gladness, the Bride∣groom and the Bride, Charity and Brotherly Love, Rejoycing and Pleasure, Peace and Socie∣ty; I beseech thee, O Lord, let there suddenly be heard in the Cities of Judah and Streets of Jerusalem, the Voice of Joy and Gladness, the Voice of the Bride and Bridegroom; The Voice of Rejoycing in the Bride-chamber is sweeter than my Feast, and Children sweeter than the sweet∣ness of a Song.

The Bridegroom before going to Bed, useth this mystical Orison—

Blessed art thou Adonai, our God, King of the World, who planted the Walnut-tree in the Gar∣den of Eden, the Brook of the Valleys; Suffer not a Stranger to enter into the Sealed Fountain, that the Servant of our Loves may keep the Seed of Purity and Holiness, and may not be Barren; Blessed be thou Adonai, who hast chosen us in Abraham and in his Seed after him.

During the time of the Bride's Purification they feast, and send Girdles one to another. They keep their Summer-Weddings in Bowers and Arbours; and the Guests at the first entrance of these Bowers, say, Baruch Habba, Blessed is he that comes.—The Bridegroom takes a raw Egg, which he casts at the Bride, thereby wishing her an easie and joyful Childbirth. Dr. Addison.

According to the Barbary-Jews, a Man may take as many Wives, as he can find with Meat, Drink and Cloths, and the right of the Bed. Polygamy being accounted as one of the chiefest Privileges conferr'd by Divine Prescription; yet they are not very fond of its practice.

Divorces are granted amongst them; a Copy of their Bill of Divorce—is thus—

Upon the—day of the Week—of the Month—and Year of the Creation of the World, according to the account which we Hebrews use at Tituan, in the Kingdom of Fez, govern'd by the Puissant Muley—I Joseph-Ben-Rabbi—have desired of mine own accord, without any Compulsion, to cut off, divorce, dismiss and cast thee out; Thee, I say, Thee, my Wife Fatima, the Daughter of Rabbi-Ben—which hast been my Wife heretofore; but now, I cut thee off, divorce, dismiss and cast thee out, and be thou cut off, &c. and be at liberty, free, and Mistress of thine own self, to go and marry whom thou hast a mind to; and let none be refused for my Name, from this day forward for ever, and this shall be to thee a Bill of Divorce, and the Epistle of taking away, according to the law of the twelve Tribes.

The Difference of Wives and Concubines.

• 1. Wives were by Matrimonial Patent, or Dotal Covenant; Concubines, without such Ceremonies.
• 2. Wives were Governesse of the Family: Concubines as Servants, only claiming a Right to the Bed.
• 3. The Wives Children had a Right to the In∣heritance; the Children of Concubines received Portions. Dr. Addison.

The most ordinary cause of Divorce among the Muscovites, at least pretence, is Devotion, loving God better than their Wives when a humour takes them to go into a Monastery. Barrenness is ano∣ther cause. D. of Holstein's Emb. Trav.

Muscovites.

The way of Marriage among the Muscovites is this, the Parents having agreed,

• 1. The young Man sends to his intended Bride a furr'd Coif, a pair of Buskins, a Cabinet with Jewels, a Bag for Night-Cloaths, a Comb and Looking-Glass.
• 2. Next day the Priest comes with a little Silver Cross, with two Lads, carrying lighted Torches, or Wax-Candles, blesseth the two Lads, and then the Guests.
• 3. The young Couple are set at Table, the two Lads holding a piece of Taffata between them.
• 4. The Suacha dresses the Bride's Head, brings a Looking-Glass, and the young Couple joyn their Cheeks, and smile one upon another; the two Sua∣cha's in the mean time throwing Hops upon them.
• 5. They are led to Church; where,
  • 1. They are blessed, by holding Images over their Heads:
  • 2. Are three times ask'd their Consent (by the Priest, who takes the Man by the Right Hand, and the Woman by the Left at the same time) whether they love one another as they ought to do?
  • 3. All the Company joyn Hands, and the Priest sings Ps. 128. the People answering.
  • 4. A Garland of Rue is put on their Heads, and then is said, whom God hath joyned, &c.

Modern Heathens.

In Angola they marry not at all. Sir Tho Her∣bert.

Amongst Bannians the Children are married at seven and ten Years old; and this is certain, if an Infant die unmarried, his Parents procure a Virgin (with some Dinaes of Gold) to be his Bed-fellow or Wife for one Night; to avoid the Reproach of dying unmarried. Sir Tho. Herbet.—They hate Polygamy, therefore cry out upon the Mahome∣tans, as People of an impure Soul. Their way of Marriage is thus: The Boy rides about the Town,

attended with such little Ones as can ride, robed with Jewels, Scarfs, &c. one day; the next, the Bride, with a like Train of Virgins, no less richly at∣tired; the Bridegroom and Bride, known by their Coronets: the Ceremonies are ended with Kettle-Drums, Trumpets, Pageants, &c. the Bride hath no Money-Portion (which they hold contempti∣ble) only some Jewels and Dinaes of Gold, which they are that day attired with: afterwards a Fire is interposed to signifie their heat of Affections, a Silken String circles both their Bodies; then a Lin∣nen Cloth is put betwixt them, to shew they were unknown to one another before; then the Bramin blesses them, and wishes them as fruitful as a Cow; the Cloth is torn away, the String untied, and then they are one anothers ever after. Sir Th. Herb.

The Bannians affect no second Marriages, Idem.

The Persees distinguish their Marriages into five Orders, thus:

• 1. Shaulan, which is a marrying of two young Children; the vertue being, That if either die, they go to Heaven.
• 2. Chockorson, which is a second Marriage.
• 3. Codesherahasan, when the Woman is her own Chooser.
• 4. Ecksan, when a dead Body (not married be∣fore) is married to one alive.
• 5. Ceterson, when having no Sons, a Man adopts his Daughter's Son, &c. The Ceremony is this.

A Midnight the Daroo (or Priest) enters the House, (for they wed not in Churches;) and finds the Bride and Bridegroom placed upon a Bed to∣gether; opposite to each two Church-men stand with Rice in their Hands, (the Emblem of Fruit∣fulness) when first one lays his Fore-finger on the Bride's Forehead, and asks if she be willing to take that Man to be her Husband; who saying Yea, the like rite or question is by the other Priest made to the Man; who after the like answer promises to infeoffe her in a certain number of Dinaes; to which the Bride replies, she and all she hath are

his; the Priest thereupon throws Rice upon their Heads, praying, that they may multiply as Rice: The Woman's Parents give the Dowry, and eight days are usually spent in Jovial merriment. Sir Th. Herb. Trav. into Persia.

The Bannians in Calicut exchange their Wives: Here not only Husbands, but Wives are allowed Polygamy.

Persians.

The young Man and Maid see not one another before Marriage (which is also observed in Muscovy,) The Bridegroom (not the Bride) gives a Dowry, which is sent to the Mistress before Marriage, or promised to be paid in case of Divorce; the Kasi (Ecclesiastical Judge) or Molla contracts them by Proxies, and marries them in the Name of God, of Mahomet, and of Aly, giving them a Certificate of the Marriage; and this in private, perhaps in some Field, for fear of Sorcery. Presents are sent to the Bride, of Pendants, Bracelets, &c. she's conducted on Horse-back,—With Musick, &c. to the Bridegroom's House, where a Feast, Poets, Books, Discourses of Morality are provided for their Entertainment; if the Bridegroom find his Bride broken up to his Hands, he may lawfully cut off her Nose and Ears, and turn her away. If any one of the Company is not there next day precisely by the hour of Dinner, he is laid upon a Ladder set against a Wall, with his Head downwards, and whipt on the Soales of his Feet with a roll'd Handkercheif. D. of Holstein's Emb. Trav.

At Aleppo the Kadi makes and dissolves all con∣tracts of Marriage. M. Tavernier, l. 2. c. 2. p. 59.

In Fermosa the Bridegroom, after he hath sent the Dowry by a Relation to the Bride's House, goes the next night, and without Company or Light, or sight of any one, creeps by stealth into the House, and

so into the Bride's Bed, where the Marriage is se∣cretly consummated; and for some time continues to do so, never seeing one another in the day time unless in some remote place, for they live not with their Wives, till 40 Years of age. Mandelslo.

In Bengala their Marriages are made in some Water, wherein the Priest and the married Couple hold a Cow and Calf by the tail, and pour water up∣on it; then the Priest ties the married Persons Cloaths together, and surround the Cow and Calf, and so the Ceremony is ended; the Priest hath for his Fee the Cow and Calf, the Poor some Alms, and the Idol some Money. Rosse.

In Malabar the King will not converse with his new-married VVife, till one of the chief Bra∣mines hath had the first Night's Lodging with her. Idem.

In Narsinga the chief Priest dispenseth with Mar∣riages at his pleasure; and when he gives License to the VVoman to marry again, he seals it with a hot Iron on her Shoulder. Idem.

Mahometans.

In Fez they marry in the Church. Rosse.

The Tartars buy their VVives; and in regard there are abundance of poor young Men, that have not wherewithal to buy, they never marr at all. M. Tavernier, l. 3. c. 13.

Gaurs.

The Gaurs are permitted to have five Wives, if they can maintain them, nor is it laudable to repudiate any, but in case of evident Adultery, or that she turn Mahometan; besides the Husband must stay a whole year, to see if she will repent or no; and up∣on confession of her fault, after three Years Pen∣nance, they are remarried.

As to the Ceremony of Marriage, the Priest asks before Witnesses, if they both consent; then taking a little Water, he says a few Prayers over it; and

then washing both their Fore-heads, he pronoun∣ces certain words, and rhere's all. They Marry not within the third degree. M. Tavern. l. 4. c. 8.

With one of their Wives only they are to Lye, at least two Nights a Week, Friday and Saturday, and she always goes before the rest. When the Women have the custom of Nature upon them, they lye in the Fields, and have Meat and Drink brought them every day; and when they are free, they send a Kid, Hen, or Pidgeon for an Offer∣ing; after which, they go to the Bath, and then invite some few of their Kindred to some small Collation. Idem.

Armenians.

Amongst the Armenians the Mothers often agree upon Marriages for their Children, at two or three years old, sometimes before they are Born, before either Party have seen each other, or the Fathers and Brothers know any thing of it: Upon the Fathers Approbation, the Mother of the boy, with 2 Old Women goes to the House where the Mother of the Daughter Lives, and Present her with a Ring from the Boy; the Boy appears afterwards, and the Priest reads something out of the Gospel, as a blessing upon both Parties; after which they give him a sum of Money, according to the qua∣lity of the Father of the Girl; this done, they present the Company with Drink: And this is called a Betrothing. After this giving of the Ring, tho it be 20 years after, before they are Married, the Boy is bound yearly upon Easter-day to send his Mistress a New Suit of Clothes with suitable Trim∣ming. Three days before Marriage, the Boy's Parents prepare a Feast, and a New Suit of Cloths for the Girl; at length the Boy on one Horse, and the Girl on another, sumptuously Harnessed, with Bridles and Saddles of Gold and Silver, if the Pa∣rents

be Rich, set out from the Virgin's Habitation, the Bride-groom going before with a Veil of Car∣nation Tiffany on his Head, or else with Gold and Silver Net-work, the Meshes whereof are very close, that reach below the Stomach; he holds in his hand one end of a Girdle 3 or 4 Ells long, and the Bride that Rides behind, holds the other: She is also covered with a large White Veil, from head to Foot, that spreads also a good way over the Horse; under which, as under a large White Sheet, the Bride is so hid, that nothing can be seen but her Eyes. Two Men walk on either side the Horses; and if they are Children of 3 or 4 years old, there are 3 or 4 Men to hold them in the Saddle; for so young they Marry: A great Train of People follow, with Tapers in their Hands, as if going in Procession; Drums, Trum∣pets, Haut-boys, &c. Attending to the Church-door: When alighted, the Bride-groom and Bride still holding the Girdle in their Hands, advance to the Foot of the Altar, where they lean Forehead to Forehead; the Priest laying his Bible on their Heads, instead of a Desk, a weight sufficiently heavy, as being a thick ponderous Folio: Then the Minister, commonly a Bishop or Arch-bishop, reads the Service, very much like ours, demanding, Wilt thou have such a one to thy Wife? To thy Husband? To which they Answer with a Nod of the Head. After the Matrimonial Benediction they hear Mass, and so return to the Daughter's Habitation, where the Nuptials last three days, the Women Drinking more than the Men. The Man goes to bed first, the Woman pulling off his Breeches, tho she doth not lay aside her Veil till the Candle is out. Let it be what time of the year it will, the Woman rises before day. So that there be some Armenians, that in 10 years after, they are Married, never saw their Wives Faces, nor never heard them speak. For tho her Husband may speak to her, and all the rest of her Kindred, yet she never answers but with a nod. The Women never

eat with their Husbands; but if the Men Feast their Friends, the Women Feast theirs the next day. Tavernier l. 4. c. 12.

Mexico.

In Mexico the Bridegroom and the Bride stood before the Priest, who took them by the hands, asking if they would Marry: Understanding their will, he took a corner of the Veil, wherewith the Woman had her Head covered, and a corner of the Man's Gown, which he tied together on a Knot, and so led them thus tied to the Bridegroom's House, where after the Wife had gone seven times about a Fire kindled on a Hearth, they sate down together, and the Marriage was contracted. Pur∣chas.

Sclavonia.

In Sclavonia they rarely permit their Women to Marry, till they are 24 years of age, nor the men till they are 30. S. Clark.

Mahometans.

Marriage is to be sought, say the Turks, for Procreation, not Lust; the fit time is about 25 years of Age, 'tis to be Celebrated with Prayers and Praises and modest shamefulness; and they ought to learn each other to read, if either party be ignorant; but now 'tis degenerate from the an∣tient Simplicity; for if a Man likes a young Wo∣man, he buys her of her Father, and then Inrolls her in the Cadi's Book, the Marriage following with all Bacchanal Solemnities. The Father gives only some small pieces of Houshold-goods with her: When he dislikes any of his Wives, he sells

them, or gives them to his Men-slaves. They sit not at Table with their Husbands, but wait and serve them; and then they Dine by themselves; not admitting any man into their Company above 12 years old; and they never go abroad without leave, except to the Bath, and on Thursday to Weep at the Graves of the Dead: They rise to their Husbands, and stand while they are in pre∣sence. Nor is any part of their Body to be seen by any man; only the Brother may see the Sister, but not the Husband's Brother: And for this cause they are kept closely mewed up, and not suffered to buy and sell. Purchas.