Notes and Queries, Number 40, August 3, 1850 by Various
page 31 of 69 (44%)
page 31 of 69 (44%)
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to be frightened.
M. _Taking a Wife on Trial_.--The following note was made upon reading _The Historical and Genealogical Account of the Clan of Maclean_, by a Seneachie, published by Smith, Elder, and Co., London, 1838. It may be thought worthy of a corner amongst the Notes on Folk Lore, which form so curious and entertaining a portion of the "NOTES AND QUERIES." In the beginning of the year 1608 a commission, consisting of the Archbishop of Glasgow, the Bishop of the Isles (Andrew Knox), Andrew Stewart, Lord Ochiltree, and Sir James Hay of Kingask, proceeded to the Isles with power to summon the chiefs to a conference, for the purpose of intimating to them the measures in contemplation by the government. A meeting for this purpose was held at Aross Castle, one of the seats of Maclean, in Mull, at which the principal barons and heads of houses attended. The regulations contemplated had for their object the introduction of an additional number of pious divines, who were to be provided for out of the lands of the great island proprietors; the abolishing a certain remarkable custom which till then prevailed, namely, that of taking a wife on approbation, or, in plain intelligible terms, _on trial_! The following are two examples recorded of this singular custom. John Mac-Vic Ewen, fourth laird of Ardgour, had _handfasted_ (as it was called) with a daughter of Mac Ian of Ardnamurchan, whom he had taken on |
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