J.D.

Earl’s Court, Kensington.

* * * * *

HANDFASTING. 
(Vol. ii., p. 151.)

Your correspondent J.M.G. has brought forward a curious subject, and one well deserving attention and illustration.  A fair is said to have been held at the meeting of the Black and White Esks, at the foot of Eskdalemuir, in Dumfriesshire, when the singular custom of Handfasting was observed.  The old statistical account of the parish says: 

“At that fair it was the custom for unmarried persons of both sexes to choose a companion according to their liking, whom they were to live with till that time next year.  This was called handfasting, or hand-in-fist.  If they were pleased with each other at that time, then they continued together for life; if not, they separated, and were free to make another choice as at the first.”

John Maxwell, Esq., of Broomholm, in a letter (dated April 15th, 1796) to the Rev. Wm. Brown, D.D., of Eskdalemuir, says, in reference to this custom: 

“No account can be given of the period at which the custom of handfasting commenced; but I was told by an old man, John Murray, who died at the farm of Irvine (as you go from Langholm to Canobie), and had formerly been a proprietor in Eskdaldemuir, that he was acquainted with, or at least had seen an old man, I think his name was Beattie, who was grandson to a couple who had been handfasted.  You perhaps know that the children born under the handfasting engagement were reckoned lawful children, and not bastards, though the parents did afterwards resile.  This custom of handfasting does not seem to have been peculiar to your parish.  Mention is made in some histories of Scotland that Robert II. was handfasted to Elizabeth More before he married Euphemia Ross, daughter of Hugh, Earl of that name, by both of whom he had children; his eldest son John, by Elizabeth More, viz., King Robert III., commonly called Jock Ferngyear, succeeded to the throne in preference to the sons of Euphemia, his married wife.  Indeed, after Euphemia’s death, he married his former handfasted wife Elizabeth.”

Sir J. Chardin observes that contracts for temporary wives are frequent in the East, which contracts are made before the Cadi with the formality of a measure of corn, mentioned over and above the stipulated sum of money.

Baron du Tott’s account of “Marriages by Capin,” corroborated by Eastern travellers, corresponds with the custom of Handfasting.  He says: 

“There is another kind of marriage which, stipulating the return to be made, fixes likewise the time when the divorce is to take place.  This contract is called capin:  and, properly speaking, is only an agreement between the parties to live together for such a price, during such a time.”

This contract is a regular form of marriage, and is so regarded generally in the East.