In one case the expense of marrying a Barkway woman to a man at Clavering cost L6 0s. 11d., and of this amount L3 4s. 11d., was spent in eating and drinking; L1 18s. 2d. at ye Bull, at Barkway, before the party started, and the remainder at the Fox and Hounds at Clavering. The carriers made a good thing out of these little transactions, for there is one case from the parish of Barkway where the carrier charged a bill of L1 3s. 6d. for conveying the bride and bridegroom and Dogberry to the altar! But in this case the bill was for taking Sam Smith and his future wife to London, and they did the thing in style! First, the constables of Barkway and Therfield and their "aids" had to apprehend the bridegroom; in the next place the marriage had for some reason to come off in London, and before the ceremony was completed the bill paid by the parish ran up to L6 11s. 8d. Some interesting details of this wedding are given below:-- The parish of Barkway to John Beale (constable). For the Expenses for haveing Saml. Smith and L s. d. is wife to London . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 12 6 Paide at home before whe whent out with him, for the gold Ring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 6 0 Paid at the Angel for Drink . . . . . . . . . . . 0 1 0 Paide for two Letters from W. Bullen . . . . . . . 0 1 0 Paide for a heade [Probably "aid"] coming from Buntingford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 1 0 Paide Thos. Climmons three Days Jorney for going to London . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 4 6 and three Days Jorney for my Self . . . . . . . . 0 7 6 Eatin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 5 0 Drink . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 9 0 The degree of fervour with which the constable and his "aid" drank the healths of the bride and bridegroom may be inferred from the large proportion for drink. Something must of course be allowed for a festive occasion such as this, when Dogberry could afford to waive a little dignity and be sociable! But he did not always need this incentive, and could even discharge the responsible office of having a prisoner "in hold," and at the same time carry off a respectable quantity of malt liquor. Take the following illustration-- The parish of Barkway, dr. to James Brown while R. R. was in hold. 1793. Jan. 17 To Dinner for Consbl. and 2 Aids and L s. d. prisoner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 2 8 Do. Supper for do. . . . . . . . . . 0 2 0 " 18 Do. breakfast for do. . . . . . . . . 0 2 0 Do. for Dinner for do. . . . . . . . . 0 2 8 To Beer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 14 10 ------- 1 4 2