Raccoon. 33! 



foec. 1 8th. ALL perfons who intend to 

 t>e married, muft either have their banns pub- 

 liflied three times from the pulpit, or get a 

 licence from the governor. The banns of the 

 poorer fort of people only are published, and all 

 thofe who arc a little above them get a licence 

 from the governor. In that licence he declares 

 that he has examined the affair, and found no 

 obftacles to hinder the marriage, and therefore he 

 allows it. The licence is figned by the gover- 

 hor ; but, before he delivers it, the bridegroom 

 muft come to him in company with two credit- 

 able and well-known men, who anfwer for him, 

 that there really is no lawful obftacle to his mar- 

 riage. Thele men muil fubfcribe a certificate, 

 in which they make themfelves anfwerable for, 

 and engage to bear all the damages of, any com- 

 plaints made by the relations of the perfons who 

 intend to be married, by their guardians, their 

 matters, or by thofe to whom they may have 

 been promifed before. For all thefe circum- 

 ftances the governor cannot poffibly know. They 

 further certify that nothing hinders the intended 

 marriage, and that nothing is to be feared on 

 that account. For a licence they pay five and 

 twenty fhillings in Penfyhanian money, at Phi* 

 ladelpkia. The governor keeps twenty Shillings, 

 or one pound, and the remaining five fhillings 

 belong to his fecretary. The licence is directed 

 only to proteftant clergymen. The quakers have 

 a peculiar licence to their marriages. But as it 

 would be very troublefome, efpecially for thofe 

 who live far from the governor's refidence, to 

 2 come 



