‘The perillous and most unhappy voyages of John Struys, through Italy, Greece, Lifeland, Moscovia, Tartary, Media, Persia, East-India, Japan, and other places in Europe, Africa and Asia. Containing, I. Most accurate remarks and observations of the distinct qualities, religion, politie, customs, laws and properties of the inhabitants: II. A due description of the several cities, towns, forts and places of trust, as to their site and strength, fortifications by nature, or art, &c. with other things worthy of note: and III. An exact memorial of the most disastrous calamities which befell the author in those parts (viz) by ship-wrack, robberies, slavery, hunger, tortures, with other incommodities and hardships’ [‎145] (194/470)

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G hap . V. The Voyages of lohn Struys. 145
^ done the Bridegroom takes his Bride by the hand and fo leading her
to her chamber they go to bed, upon which all are to go out of the ,66s '"
51 Chamber, andthe Mufic which fits before the Window expecting
wfi Notice of it imediately fall a playing, and upon that a noife of T rura-
petters begin to found , and fometimes the Kettel-Drums to beat.
After they have been about an hour in Bed the come and
^ conduct them to the Bath, where they are both bathed and waftied
% with Wine , Water and Metheglin, dulcified with odorous flowers
njt andfpices, and, as the cuftome'is at Mofcou , the Bride prefents her
''I* Bridegroom with a Bathing fhirt. After they have bathed they come
and accompany their Guefts, who all the time were merry at Table,
in which Humors they continue fometimes a Week, or 10 days,before
they depart to their refpective Lodgings.
The foregoing Ceremonies are fuch as thofe of the beft rank ufe,
by which you may perceive more vanity than Reafon in this'Folk:
However I think we have no great caufe to hifs at them for their folly,
fincewehaveas many infignificant Rites amongft ourfelves,which
are with them equally fencelefs and as plain puerility , as theirs may
be etteemed by us.
But as lor the Plebeians and Pefantry theirs is after a different
manner. The day before the Marriage is to be lolemnized, the Bride
groom fends a Kinfmanof his own to the Brides Houfe with new ap
parel , a Cap, a pair of boots , a Comb and a Box of painting and
other materials for Rigging. The day following comes the Prieit and
gives the benediction : which done, he brings them a Looking-glafs
requiring them to look into it both at once. In the mean while the
STvachas ftrow the Guefts with Hops wi filing that the Bride may be as
fruitfull and increafe her flock , as that Weed. After that
comes another who prefents the Bride with a Sable or Beaver-
skin, withall wifiiing her fo many Children as there are Hairs upon the
Hide, Thefe Ceremonies ended at home they go to Church, and are
married, in manner as before.
After the Wedding is paft, the Women keep at home for fome time
together,not daring to ftirr out.
CHAR
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