e bu. in ye vault, Oct. 22, 1687."

[706] Douce's "Illustrations of Shakespeare," 1859, pp. 299,
300; Nares's "Glossary," vol. i. p. 160; see Brand's "Pop.
Antiq.," 1849, vol. ii. pp. 84, 85.

In Graunt's "Bills of Mortality," cited in Johnson's Dictionary, we
read: "When the convulsions were but were but few, the number of
chrisoms and infants was greater." The "bearing-cloth" was the mantle
which generally covered the child when it was carried to the font. It is
noticed in the "Winter's Tale" (iii. 3), by the Shepherd, who, on the
discovery of Perdita, says to the Clown: "Here's a sight for thee: look
thee, a bearing-cloth for a squire's child! Look thee here; take up,
take up, boy: open't." In Stow's "Chronicle" (1631, p. 1039), we are
told that about this time it was not customary "for godfathers and
godmothers generally to give plate at the baptisme of children, but only
to give 'christening shirts,' with little bands and cuffs, wrought
either with silk or blue thread. The best of them, for chief persons,
were edged with a small lace of black silk and gold, the highest price
of which, for great men's children, was seldom above a noble, and the
common sort, two, three, or four, and six shillings a piece."

CHAPTER XIII.

MARRIAGE.

The style of courtship which prevailed in Shakespeare's time, and the
numerous customs associated with the marriage ceremony, may be
accurately drawn from the many allusions interspersed through his plays.
From these, it would seem that the mode of love-making was much the same
among all classes, often lacking that polish and refined expression
which are distinguishing characteristics nowadays. As Mr. Drake
remarks,[707] the amatory dialogues of Hamlet, Hotspur, and Henry V. are
not more refined than those which occur between Master Fenton and Anne
Page, in the "Merry Wives of Windsor," between Lorenzo and Jessica, in
the "Merchant of Venice," and between Orlando and Rosalind, in "As You
Like It." These last, which may be considered as instances taken from
the middle class of life, together with a few drawn from the lower rank
of rural manners, such as the courtship of Touchstone and Audrey, and of
Silvius and Phoebe, in "As You Like It," are good illustrations of this
subject, although it must be added that, in point of fancy, sentiment,
and simplicity, the most pleasing love-scenes in Shakespeare are those
of Romeo and Juliet and of Florizel and Perdita.