. Manners and customs of the English nation, from the invation of Julius Cæsar to the present time . d there-with, were curious. The day before the weddingday, all the relations and friends of the bridegroom, been invited, arrived at his house, and spentthe time in merriment, and in preparing for theimportant ceremony. Next morning, the bride-grooms company mounted on horseback complete-ly armed, and then proceeded in great order toconduct the bride safely to the house of her futurehusband. After the nuptial benediction was given,the bride and bridegroom were crowned by thepriest with c
. Manners and customs of the English nation, from the invation of Julius Cæsar to the present time . d there-with, were curious. The day before the weddingday, all the relations and friends of the bridegroom, been invited, arrived at his house, and spentthe time in merriment, and in preparing for theimportant ceremony. Next morning, the bride-grooms company mounted on horseback complete-ly armed, and then proceeded in great order toconduct the bride safely to the house of her futurehusband. After the nuptial benediction was given,the bride and bridegroom were crowned by thepriest with crowns made of flowers. The weddingdresses of the bride and three of her maidens—ofthe bridegroom and three of his attendants—wereof a peculiar colour and shape, and could not beused on any other occasion. When night came,the newly-married couple were conducted to andplaced on the hymenean couch, where they drankof the marriage cup with all who were the following morning, before the two arose,the company assembled in the bedroom to hearthe husband declare the morning gift; in other. Hawking. THE ENGLISH NATION. 51 words, what settlement and indulgences he wouldallow his wife. When the gift was declared, asufficient number of his relations undertook tosee that he would perform what he and rejoicing continued for several days;indeed, they seldom ended till all their provisionswere consumed. The lawrs of matrimony were observed withgreat strictness. Examples of adultery were veryrare ; and wTho can wonder ? The husband of theadulteress cut off her hair in presence of her rela-tives—stripped her almost naked—turned her outof his house, and whipped her from one end of thevillage to the other! Any woman thus exposednever recovered her character; and neither youth,beauty, nor riches, could procure her anotherhusband.* Women of all ranks generally nursed their ownchildren. It was not always so, however, else thefollowing severe remark, quoted by Ada
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