Or haply, this is no more but a word in game and sport, given unto children: and besides (to say a trueth) it may be a meanes to withholde and restraine them from swearing so readily and rashly, as _Phavorinus_ saith: for this device causeth a certeine premeditate preparation, and giveth them (whiles they goe out of the house) leasure and time to consider better of the matter. And a man may conjecture also with _Phavorinus_, and say with him: That this fashion was not common to other gods, but proper to _Hercules_: for that we finde it written, that he was so religious, so respective and precise in his oath, that in all his life time he never sware but once, and that was onely to _Phileus_ the sonne of _Augias_. And therefore, the prophetisse at _Delphos_, named _Pythia_, answered thus upon a time to the Lacedæmonians: _When all these oaths you once forfend, Your state (be sure) shall dayly mend._ 29. _What should be the reason, that they would not permit the new wedded bride to passe of herselfe over the doore-sill or threshold, when she is brought home to her husband's house, but they that accompanie her, must lift her up betweene them from the ground, and so convey her in._ IS it in remembrance of those first wives whom they ravished perforce from the Sabines, who entred not into their houses of themselves with their good will, but were carried in by them, in this maner? Or is it perhaps, because they would be thought to goe against their willes into that place where they were to lose their maidenhead? Or haply it may be, that a wedded wife ought not to goe foorth of her doores, and abandon her house, but perforce, like as she went first into it by force. For in our countrey of _Bæotia_, the maner is, to burne before the doore where a new married wife is to dwell, the axel tree of that chariot or coatch in which she rode when she was brought to her husbands house. By which ceremonie, thus much she is given to understand, that will she nill she, there she must now tarrie, considering that it which brought her thither, is now gone quite and consumed. 30. _Wherefore do they at_ Rome, _when they bring a new espoused bride home to the house of her husband_, _force her to say these words unto her spouse_: Where you are _Cajus_, I will be _Caja_? IS it to testifie by these words, that she entreth immediately to communicate with him in all goods, and to be a governesse and commaunder in the house as well as he? for it implieth as much, as if she should say; where you are lord and master, I will be lady and mistres. Now these names they used as being common, and such as came first to hand, and for no other reason else: like as the Civill lawiers use ordinarily these names, _Cajus_, _Seius_, _Lucius_, and _Titius_: the Philosophers in their schooles, _Dion_ and _Theon_.