y opportunity of noting some similar allusions to Sir
John Shorne, St. Withold, &c.

WILLIAM J. THOMS.

* * * * *

HANDFASTING.

(Vol. ii., p. 282.)

JARLTZBRG, in noticing this custom, says that the Jews seem to have had a
similar one, which perhaps they borrowed from the neighbouring nations; at
least the connexion formed by the prophet Hosea (chap. iii., v. 2.) bears
strong resemblance to _Handfasting_. The 3rd verse in Hosea, as well as the
2nd, should I think be referred to. They are both as follows:

"So I bought her to me for fifteen pieces of silver, and for an homer
of barley, and an half homer of barley: and I said unto her, Thou shalt
abide for me many days; thou shalt not play the harlot, and thou shalt
not be for another man; so will I also be for thee."

Now by consulting our most learned commentators upon the meaning which they
put upon these two verses in connexion with each other, I cannot think that
the analogy of JARLTZBERG will be found correct. In allusion to verse 2,
"so I bought her," &c., Bishop Horsley says:

"This was not a payment in the shape of a dowry; for the woman was his
property, if he thought fit to claim her, _by virtue of the marriage
already had_; but it was a present supply of her necessary wants, by
which he acknowledged her as his wife, and engaged to furnish her with
alimony, not ample indeed, but suitable to the recluse life which he
prescribed to her."

And in allusion, in verse 3., to the words "Thou shall abide for me many
days," Dr. Pocock thus explains the context:

"That is, thou shalt stay sequestered, and as in a state of widowhood,
till the time come that I shall be fully reconciled to thee, and shall
see fit again to receive thee to the privileges of a wife."

Both commentators are here evidently alluding to what occurs after a
marriage has actually taken place. Handfasting takes place before a
marriage is consummated.

A chapter upon marriage contracts and ceremonies would form an important
and amusing piece of history. I have not Picart's _Religious Ceremonies_ at
hand, but if I mistake not he refers to many. In Marco Polo's _Travels_, I
find the following singular, and to a Christian mind disgusting, custom. It
is related in section l9.:--

"These twenty days journey ended, having passed over the province of
Thibet, we met with cities and many villages, in whic