MARRIAGE CEREMONY IN THE FOURTEENTH CENTURY.
Will some one of your correspondents (learned in such matters) refer me to a work treating of the marriage ceremony as performed in this country during the fourteenth century, in order to the explanation of the following passages, which refer to an event in English history—the marriage of Edward I.'s daughter with the Count of Holland? The king's writ to the Bishop of London speaks of the marriage as about to be celebrated on the day after the Epiphany, upon which day (as shown by the Wardrobe Account) the ring was put on; but it was on the next day (the 8th) that the princess "despons fuit," as shown by the same account.
In Rymer's Fœdera, vol. i. p. 850., will be found a writ directed to the Bishop of London (and others) as follows:
"Quia inter Comitem Holandiæ et Elizabetham, filiam nostram carissimam, matrimonium hac proxima die Lunæ, in crastino Epiphaniæ, apud Gyppesivicum solempnizari proponimus, Domino concedente," &c.
In the Household Book of King Edward I. for the same year (Add. MS. 7965.) will be found the following entries, p. 6.:
"Oblat p'ticipat.—Tercō die Januar in oblat p¯ticipatis ad Missam celebrātam ad magnū altare ecclīa priorat' bi Pet in Gippewico die Nupciar Alienore de Burgo.... vij.
"Pro Comitessa Holland.—Eodem die (vij Januar) in denar tam positis sup¯ librū qin jactatis īter homines circumstantes ad hostium in introitu ecclīe Magne Prioratus predci ubi comes Hollandie sub.... vit Dnam Elizabetham filiam Regis cū anulo auri.... lxs.
"Fratribus predicatoribus de Gippewico p¯ ... sua unius diei videltz viij diei Januar quo die Dna Elizabeth filia R. despons fuit, p¯ M. de Cauford, xiijs. iiijd."
R. C.