h, through the
blindness of idolatry, a wicked custom is used; for no man there
marrieth a wife that is a virgin; whereupon, when travellers and
strangers, coming from other places, pass through this country and
pitch their pavilions, the women of that place having marriageable
daughters, bring them unto strangers, desiring them to take them and
enjoy their company as long as they remain there. Thus the handsomest
are chosen, and the rest return home sorrowful, and when they depart,
they are not suffered to carry any away with them, but faithfully
restore them to their parents. The maiden also requireth some toy or
small present of him who hath deflowered her, which she may show as an
argument and proof of her condition; and she that hath been loved and
abused of most men, and shall have many such favours and toys to show
to her wooers, is accounted more noble, and may on that account be
advantageously married; and when she would appear most honourably
dressed, she hangs all her lovers' favours about her neck, and the more
acceptable she was to many, so much the more honour she receives from
her countrymen. But when they are once married, they are no more
suffered to converse with strange men, and men of this country are very
cautious never to offend one another in this matter."

J.M.G.

Worcester, Oct. 1850.

The curious subject brought forward by J.M.G. under this title, and
enlarged upon by JARLTZBERG (Vol. ii., p. 282.), leads me to trouble you
with this in addition. Elizabeth Mure, according to the _History and
Descent of the House of Rowallane_ by Sir William Mure, was made choyce of,
for her excellent beautie and rare virtues, by King Robert II., to be Queen
of Scotland; and if their union may be considered to illustrate in any way
the singular custom of _Handfasting_, it will be seen {343} from the
following extract that they were also married by a priest:--

"Mr. Johne Lermonth, chapline to Alexander Archbishop of St. Andrews,
hath left upon record in a deduction of the descent of the House of
Rowallane collected by him at the command of the said Archbishop (whose
interest in the familie is to be spoken of heirafter), that Robert,
Great Stewart of Scotland, having taken away the said Elizabeth Mure,
drew to Sir Adam her father ane instrument that he should take her to
his lawful wife, (which myself hath se