sire her. But it is so much abhorred
for Women of the high Cast or Descent to admit Men of the low Cast
to have any thing to do with them, that I think they never do it.

[Marriages.] But enough of this Ribaldry, let us turn away to more
honest Practices. To speak of their Marriages, which make the Bed
lawful. There are not many Ceremonies used in or about the same. [No
wooing.] Here is no wooing for a Wife. The Parents commonly make the
Match, and in their choice regard more the Quality and Descent than
the Beauty. If they are agreed, all is done. The Match being thus made,
the Man carrieth or sends to the Woman her Wedding Cloths; which is a
Cloth containing six or seven yards in length, and a Linnen Wast-coat
wrought with Blew and Red. If the Man be so poor that he cannot buy a
Cloth, it is the Custom to borrow one. In case the Man with his Friends
goes and carries it himself, that Night they both sleep together to
beget acquaintance one with the other. And then they appoint a day
when he is to come and fetch her home; which is the Marriage-Day.

[The Bridegroom goes to the Brides House.] The day being come, he
attended with his Friends goes to her house, which is always in the
Evening, and brings Provisions and Sweet-meats with him according
to his Ability, towards the Charges of the Wedding. Which is never
more than two Meals. Whereof Supper is the first. Then the Bride and
Bridegroom both eat together in one Dish, which is to intimate that
they are both of one rank and quality, and sometimes they tye their
Thumbs together, but not always: and that Night go to sleep together.

[How the Bridegroom carrieth home his Bride.] The next day having
dined he taketh his Bride and departeth home with her, putting her
before him, and he following her, with some of her Friends to Conduct
her. For it is the constant Custom and Fashion in this Land for the
Husband to follow his Wife. The reason whereof is a Tradition among
them, that a Man once going foremost, it happened that his Wife was
stoln away, and he not aware of it. Being come home the Bridegroom
makes a Feast as he is able.

[A Ceremony of Marriage.] Some few days after, her Friends usually come
to see her bringing a present of Provision with them. And sometimes
they use this Ceremony, the Man is to stand with one end of the Woman's
Cloth about his Loins, and she with the other, and then they pour
water on both their Heads, wetting all their Bodies: which being done