. . . . 0 1 6
To Beer for the Hol Time . . . . . . . . . . 0 13 4
2 Cunstablers' time, 2 days . . . . . . . . . 0 8 9
2 nits (nights) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 6 0
Pad at Sam Green's Cheppine . . . . . . . . . 0 2 8
-------
2 0 9
In another hand is added . . . . . . . . . 0 19 3
-------
L3 0 0

Here is a picture of a very interesting state of things! The little
party that persuaded John Hollensworth to marry the fair one, who was
expected otherwise to be a trouble to the parish, evidently went off to
Buntingford on August 8th to get there in time for the great event on
the morning of August 9th, and, after spending the day in the manner
indicated by this hotel bill, remained till the 10th and left after
brakfarst. But even the responsible pair of "Cunstablers" failed to
get by Sam Green's, at Chipping, without spending that 2s. 8d., and
arrived home late at night on the 3rd day, in what condition the record
says not, but so much to the satisfaction of the parish that their
diplomacy was apparently rewarded by a substantial bonus of 19s. 3d.
being added to their bill!

There are many other journeys to Buntingford on a similar errand
recorded in the parish accounts of Therfield. In one case in 1774 the
bounty of L3 3s. 3d. was given to the man for taking the woman, and the
total of the "Cunstabler's" expenses in this little expedition was L8
19s. 2d. The details of this account contain a remarkable run of {51}
items for Quarts of Beer, "beer for parish ofesers," &c., and of the
whole account of 40 items 19 of them are beer!

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 t