{26} In case it appears they have proceeded
orderly, the meeting passes their proposal, and so records it in their
meeting book. And in case the woman be a widow, and hath children, due
care is there taken that provision also be made by her for the orphans,
before the meeting pass the proposals of marriage: advising the parties
concerned, to appoint a convenient time and place, and to give fitting
notice to their relations, and such friends and neighbours, as they
desire should be the witnesses of their marriage: where they take one
another by the hand, and by name promise reciprocally, love and fidelity,
after the manner before expressed. Of all which proceedings, a narrative
in way of certificate is made, to which the said parties first set their
hands, thereby confirming it as their act and deed; and then divers
relations, spectators, and auditors, set their names as witnesses of what
they said and signed. And this certificate is afterward registered in
the record belonging to the meeting, where the marriage is solemnized.
Which regular method has been, as it deserves, adjudged in courts of law
a good marriage, where it has been by cross and ill people disputed and
contested, for want of the accustomed formalities of priest and ring,
&c.
Pages:
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47