[Footnote 416: Sack-posset was compounded of milk, spirits, and other ingredients; and it was eaten with a spoon: SEWALL'S _Diary_, in 5 _Mass. Hist. Coll._, VI, 403, note. On the wonderful mixed drinks of the New England Puritans see MRS. EARLE'S delightful chapter on "Old Colonial Drinks and Drinkers," _Customs and Fashions_, 163-83; and also BLISS, _Side Glimpses from the Colonial Meeting-House_, 12-28.] [Footnote 417: LODGE, _Short History_, 462, 463; _cf._ SANFORD, _Hist. of Conn._, 125. BAILEY, _Hist. Sketches of Andover_, 74-78, gives interesting details as to weddings and marriage settlements; and BROOKS, _Olden Time Series: Days of the Spinning-Wheel_, 32, 33, reprints specimens of marriage notices taken from newspapers of the eighteenth century. On these festivities, advertisements, and settlements see also EARLE, _Customs and Fashions_, 60-77.] Of the New England marriage celebration at the beginning of the eighteenth century we have some vivid, though imperfect, sketches from the inimitable pen of Judge Sewall. Next to funerals, weddings seem to have been his chief recreation. The brief and naïve entries in his _Diary_ reveal to us the mingled praying, psalm-singing, and posset which enlivened those festive occasions. Thus on October 22, 1713, he writes: "I go to Salem.... See Mr. Noyes marry Mr. Aaron Porter and Mrs. Susan Sewall, at my Brother's. Was a pretty deal of Company present.... Mr. Noyes made a Speech, said Love was the Sugar to sweeten every condition in the married Relation. Pray'd once. Did all very well. After the Sack-Posset, etc., Sung the 45th Psalm from the 8th verse to the end, five staves. I set it to Windsor Tune. I had a very good Turkey-Leather Psalm-Book which I look'd in while Mr. Noyes Read: and then I gave it to the Bridegroom saying, 'I give you this Psalm-Book in order to your perpetuating this song: and I would have you pray that it may be an Introduction to our Singing with the Choir above.'"[418] [Footnote 418: SEWALL'S _Diary_, in 5 _Mass. Hist. Coll._, VI, 403.] Again in 1720 we find him solemnizing the marriage of his daughter, Mrs. Judith Sewall, with Mr. William Cooper. "I said to Mr. Simeon Stoddard and his wife, Sir, Madam, The Great Honor you have conferr'd on the Bridegroom and the Bride, by being present at this Solemnity does very conveniently supercede any further enquiry after your Consent. And the part I am desired to take in this Wedding, renders the way of my giving my Consent very Compendious: There's no maner of room left for that previous Question, Who giveth this Woman to be married to this Man? Dear child, you give me your Hand for one moment, and the Bridegroom forever. Spouse, You Accept and receive this Woman now given you, etc. Mr. Sewall pray'd before the Wedding, and Mr. Coleman after. Sung the 115. Psalm from the 9. verse to the end, in the New Hall, St. David's which I set. Then we had our Cake and Sack-posset."[419]