save his
life) were powerful enough to prevail with him to take two or three
spoonfuls of broth. Excepting this, which may rather be called a
custom than an article of faith, I see very little in their religion
different from ours. 'Tis true, they seem to incline very much to Mr
Whiston's doctrine; neither do I think the Greek church very distant
from it, since 'tis certain, the holy Spirit's proceeding _only_ from
the Father, is making a plain subordination in the Son.--But the
Armenians have no notion of transubstantiation, whatever account Sir
Paul Rycaut gives of them, (which account, I am apt to believe, was
designed to compliment our Court in 1679;) and they have a great
horror for those amongst them, that change to the Roman religion.
What is most extraordinary in their customs, is their matrimony; a
ceremony, I believe, unparallell'd (sic) all over the world. They
are always promised very young; but the espoused never see one
another, till three days after their marriage. The bride is carried
to church, with a cap on her head, in the fashion of a large
trencher, and over it a red silken veil, which covers her all over to
her feet. The priest asks the bridegroom, Whether he is contented to
marry that woman, _be she deaf, be she blind?_ These are the literal
words: to which having answered, _yes_, she is led home to his house,
accompanied with all the friends and relations on both sides, singing
and dancing, and is placed on a cushion in the corner of the sofa;
but her veil is never lifted up, not even by her husband. There is
something so odd and monstrous in these ways, that I could not
believe them, till I had inquired of several Armenians myself, who
all assured me of the truth of them, particularly one young fellow,
who wept when he spoke of it, being promised by his mother to a girl
that he must marry in this manner, though he protested to me, he had
rather die than submit to this slavery, having already figured his
bride to himself with all the deformities of nature.--I fancy I see
you bless yourself at this terrible relation. I cannot conclude my
letter with a more surprising story; yet 'tis as seriously true, as
that I am, Dear sister, yours, &c. &c.

LET. XLIII

TO THE ABBOT OF ----.

_Constantinople, May_ 19. O. S. 1718.

I AM extremely pleased with hearing from you, and my vanity (the
darling frailty of mankind) not a little flattered by the uncommon
questio