ou have, &c.

222. The Woman shall answer,

_I will_.

223. Then shall the Minister say, Who giveth, &c.

224. Then shall they give their troth to each other in this manner.

225. The Minister, receiving the Woman at her father's or friend's
hands, shall cause the Man with his right hand to take the Woman
by her right hand, and to say after him as followeth. I, _N_. take,
&c.

Care should be taken by the Minister not to permit the father or
friend who gives the woman to be married, to give the woman's hand
to the man, but to receive it himself, and himself give it to the
man.

226. Then shall they loose their hands; and the Woman, with her
right hand taking the Man by his right hand, shall likewise say
after the Minister, I, _N_. take, &c.

227. Then shall they again loose their hands; and the Man shall
give unto the Woman a Ring, laying the same upon the book with the
accustomed duty to the Priest and Clerk.

The order to lay the accustomed duty to the Priest and Clerk on
the Book, was introduced in 1552, and this seems to be the legal
opportunity for the payment of marriage-fees. It must be observed
that if this rubric be complied with, the accustomed duty must be
removed from the book before the Priest can conveniently proceed
with the Service, though any direction for removing it is omitted
in the rubric.

228. And the Priest, taking the Ring, shall deliver it unto the
Man, to put it upon the fourth finger of the Woman's left hand.
And the Man holding the Ring there, and taught by the Priest,
shall say, With this ring, &c.

229. Then the Man leaving the Ring upon the fourth finger of the
Woman's left hand, they shall both kneel down; and the Minister
shall say.

Let us pray. O Eternal God, &c.

230. Then shall the Priest join their right hands together, and
say, Those whom, &c.

This is a peculiarity of the English rite, and a very solemn and
important part of it. It should, therefore, be done very carefully
and accurately, and should not be obscured by any additional
ceremonial, that all men may recognise the far-reaching simplicity
of our Lord's prohibition of dissolution of marriage, extending
to all human action, except that of the Church, whatever civil
authority such other action may possess.

231. Then shall the Minister speak unto the people. Forasmuch as,
&c.

232. And the Minister shall add this Blessing. God the Father, &c.

233. Then the Minister or Clerks, going to the Lord's T