hey 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

{52} This little transaction covered 24 hours, from dinner time one day
to dinner time the next, inclusive, and while the four meals only cost
the moderate sum of 9s. 4