folks resorted for these spoons to the Parliament Close, in Edinburgh, where all the goldsmiths were located.

Sometimes a bridal party in Scotland takes a pleasure sail upon the water, but when they do they always go up the river. It is considered very unlucky to go down the water; and if the party should do so, either the bride, bridegroom, or one of the bridesmaids will be drowned.

On the eve of the day of St. Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland, maidens, in pursuance of an old and wide-spread custom, sought to learn what kind of husbands they were to have by praying in these words: "Oh, St. Andrew! cause that I obtain a good pious husband. To-night show me the figure of the man who will take me to wife." There was an ancient superstition that, in order to ensure good fortune to a bride, it was necessary that she should enter her house under two drawn swords placed in the form of St. Andrew's cross.

In certain districts of the Orkneys the people marry only when the moon is growing, believing that the waning moon is fruitless; a superstition which recalls the words of Theseus in the "Midsummer Night's Dream :"

Chanting faint hymns to the cold fruitless moon."

Some couples even wish for a flowing tide at their nuptials. Thursday is also esteemed the luckiest day in the week for marriage by the Orcadians. Possibly this respect for Thor's day is a remnant of Scandinavian paganism. (Vide p. 138.)

Near the Loch of Stennis, in the Orkneys, are certain standing stones, which are relics of two large circles, called respectively the Circle of the Moon, and the Circle of the Sun. As recently as one hundred years since these two enclosures were made to fulfil a matrimonial duty. A maiden who wished to be married performed alone a circuit

round the stones dedicated to the moon, and her intended husband used to do the same in solitude round those devoted to the sun. This ceremony completed, the pair met at the stone of Odin, through the centre of which was a hole of capacious size. They took their stand on either side, joined their hands through the hole, pledged their troth, and thus became husband and wife. At any time afterwards, when the match became mutually irksome, the couple met in the evening in the church of Stennis, each departed through a different door, and thus a divorce was completely effected. In other parts of the Orkneys the contracting parties joined their hands through a perforation or ring in a stone pillar at the ceremony of marriage.

In the Scilly Isles marriages were performed without banns or licence. The nuptials were celebrated with dancing and music, and they concluded with the bride's dance at night.

In the Isle of Man a superstition prevails that it is very lucky to carry salt in the pocket, therefore the natives always do so when they marry. Train, in his history of this island, says, “On the bridegroom leaving his house it was customary to throw an old shoe after him, and, in like manner, an old shoe after the bride on leaving her home to proceed to church, in order to ensure good luck to each respectively; and if by stratagem either of the bride's shoes could be taken off by any spectator on her way from church, it had to be ransomed by the bridegroom."

Waldron, writing of a Manx wedding, says: "They have bridemen and bridesmaids who lead the young couple, as in England, only with this difference, that the former have osier wands in their hands, as an emblem of superiority." The same author tells us that at the marriages of the inhabitants of the Isle of Man they were preceded to church by musicians," who play all the while before them the tune,

The Black and the Grey, and no other is ever used at weddings." He adds that, "when they arrive at the churchyard they walk three times round the church before they enter it." And, in reference to a wedding feast, he says: "Notice is given to all the friends and relations on both sides, though they live ever so far distant. Not one of these, unless detained by sickness, fails coming, and bringing something towards the feast; the nearest of kin, if they are able, commonly contribute the most, so that they have vast quantities of fowls of all sorts; I have seen a dozen of capons in one platter, and six or eight fat geese in another; sheep and hogs roasted whole, and oxen divided but into quarters."

Welsh Marriages.-Biddings.-Bidding Letters.-Purse and Girdle.- Wedding Gifts.-Bride Wains.-Bride Ales.-Bride Bushes.-Bride Stakes.Racing at Welsh Weddings.-Helen's Hunt.-Riding for the Ribbon.Westmoreland Weddings.-Bell Inscriptions.-Quintain Sports at Weddings.-Bundling.-Chaining.-Sanding.-Marriage Tithes.-Money given at Marriages in Wales.-Wife-beating.

THE weddings in Wales in olden times were characterized by several curious customs; for example, Biddings, Bundlings, Chainings, Sandings, Huntings, and Tithings.

The Biddings were probably of British origin, and were conducted as follows: When a young couple had arranged to be married they sent a paid bidder or inviter about a week or a fortnight before the wedding day to invite the guests. He usually carried a long stick, with ribbons flying, and standing in the middle of the guest's room he repeated the words of bidding, generally in rhyme, by which he invited all in the house to the wedding, and to bring their gifts, promising them good entertainment. The richer people sent circular letters to the guests by the bidder, in which letters it was stated that any donations would be thankfully received. So early as 1594, bidding letters were used in Cardiganshire weddings. In later years the custom of sending them was so common throughout Wales, that the printers kept bidding forms in type, and made the necessary additions to them as occasion required. The following is an example of a bidding letter:

"Carmarthen, Aug. 19, 1828. "We beg leave respectfully to acquaint you that it is our intention to enter the matrimonial state on Tuesday, the 23rd day of September next; and from the encouragement we have received, by the kind promises of our friends, we purpose making a bidding on the occasion, which will be held the same day, at the Old White Lion, in Queen Street, where we hope to have the pleasure of your company and influence; and whatever favors you may then think proper to confer on us will be gratefully acknowledged, and repaid with thanks whenever required on a similar occasion, by your humble servants,

"DENNIS WOODS, Currier.

"EUGENIA VAUGHAN,

Servant at the Ivy Bush Hotel.

"The young man's father and mother (John and Anne Woods), his brother (John) and sisters (Jane and Anne), with James Powell, desire that all gifts of the above kind, due to them, be returned to the young man on that day, and will be thankful for all favors granted. Likewise the young woman's mother (Elizabeth Vaughan), her sister (Rebecca), and George Adams, of the Ivy Bush Coach Office, with Anne, his wife, request that all gifts of a like description due to them, may be repaid to the young woman on the above day, and will also feel thankful for any additional favors that may be conferred on her."

A bidding letter sent in 1850, gave information of the place and hour to the invited guest, and concluded with the words: "and whatever donation you may be pleased to confer on us then, will be thankfully received, warmly acknowledged, and cheerfully repaid whenever called for on a similar occasion." In recent times the custom is confined to servants and mechanics in towns, but in the coun