370 MEXICAN MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE. 



LIB. v. some show of reason. The Mexicaines were married by the 

 handea of their priesfces in this sort. The Bridegroome and 

 the Bride stood together before the priest, who tooke them 

 by the hands asking them if they would marrie, then having 

 vnderstood their willes, hee tooke a corner of the vaile where 

 with the woman had her head covered, and a corner of the 

 mans gowne, the which he tied together on a knot, and so 

 led them thus tied to the Bridegroomes house, where there 

 was a harth kindled, and then he caused the wife to go 

 seven times about the harth, and so the married couple sate 

 downe together, and thus was the marriage contracted. The 

 Mexicaines were very iealous of the integritie of their 

 wives ; so as if they found they were not as they ought to 

 be (the which they kuew eyther by signes or dishonest 

 wordes), they presently gave notice thereof to their fathers 

 and kinsfolkes of their wives, to their great shame and dis 

 honor, for that they had not kept good guarde over them. 

 But they did much honour and respect such as lived chastely, 

 making them great banquttes, and giving great presentes 

 both to her and to her kinsfolkes. For this occasion they 

 made great offerings to their gods, and a solemne banket in 

 the house of the wife, and another in the husbands. When 

 they went to house they made an inventory of all the man 

 and wife brought together, of provisions for the house, of 

 land, of iewells and ornaments, which inventories every 

 father kept, for if it chanced they made any devorce (as it 

 was common amongest them when they agree not), they 

 divided their goods according to the portion that every one 

 brought, every one having libertie in such a case to marry 

 whome they pleased ; and they gave the daughters to the 

 wife, and the sonnes to the husband. t was defended vpon 

 paine of death, not to marry againe together, the which 

 they observed very strictly. And although it seeme that 

 many of their ceremonies agree with ours, yet differ they 

 much for the great abomination they mingle therewithal!. 



