LAWS TOUCHING MARRIAGE 263 



ing marriage. They allow no polygamy. They have 

 ordained that none do intermarry, or contract, until 

 a month be past from their first interview. Marriage 

 without consent of parents they do not make void, but 

 they mulct it in the inheritors ; for the children of such 

 marriages are not admitted to inherit above a third 

 part of their parents' inheritance. 



And as we were thus in conference, there came one 

 that seemed to be a messenger, in a rich huke, that 

 spake with the Jew ; whereupon he turned to me, and 

 said, ' You will pardon me, for I am commanded away 

 in haste.' The next morning he came to me again, 

 joyful as it seemed, and said, ' There is word come to 

 the Governor of the city, that one of the fathers of Salo- 

 mon's House will be here this day seven-night ; we 

 have seen none of them this dozen years. His coming 

 is in state ; but the cause of his coming is secret. I will 

 provide you and your fellows of a good standing to see 

 his entry.' I thanked him, and told him I was most 

 glad of the news. 



The day being come he made his entry. He was 

 a man of middle stature and age, comely of person, and 

 had an aspect as if he pitied men. He was clothed in 

 a robe of fine black cloth, with wide sleeves, and a cape : 

 his under garment was of excellent white linen down to 

 the foot, girt with a girdle of the same ; and a sindon or 

 tippet of the same about his neck. He had gloves that 

 were curious, and set with stone ; and shoes of peach- 

 coloured velvet. His neck was bare to the shoulders. 

 His hat was like a helmet, or Spanish montero ; and 

 his locks curled below it decently : they were of colour 

 brown. His beard was cut round and of the same 

 colour with his hair, somewhat lighter. He was carried 

 in a rich chariot, without wheels, litter-wise, with two 

 horses at either end, richly trapped in blue velvet em- 

 broidered ; and two footmen on each side in the like 

 attire. The chariot was all of cedar, gilt, and adorned 

 with crystal ; save that the fore-end had panels of 

 sapphires, set in borders of gold, and the hinder-end 

 the like of emeralds of the Peru colour. There was also 



