26 December 1748. 



Itacles to hinder the marriage, and there- 

 fore he allows it. The licence is figned by 

 the governor ; but, before he delivers it, the 

 bridegroom muft come to him in company 

 with two creditable and well known men, 

 who anfwer for him, that there really is 

 no lawful obftacle to his marriage. Thefe 

 men muft fubfcribe a certificate, in which 

 they make themfelves anfwerable for, and 

 engage to bear all the damages of, any 

 complaints made by the relations of the 

 perfons who intend to be married, by their 

 guardians, their mailers, or by thofe to 

 whom they may have been promifed before. 

 For all thefe circumftances the governor 

 cannot poflibly know. They further cer- 

 tify that nothing hinders the intended mar- 

 riage, and that nothing is to be feared on 

 that account. For a licence they pay five 

 and twenty (hillings in Penfvlvanian mo- 

 ney, at Philadelphia. The governor keeps 

 twenty millings, or one pound, and the 

 remaining five millings belong to his fecre- 

 tary. The licence is directed only to pro- 

 teftant 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 come up to town for every 

 licence, and to bring the men with them 



who 



