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