cause whatsoever,
there be no lawful impediment on this behalf; and that there be not at
this time any action, suit, plaint, quarrel, or demand, moved or depending
before any judge ecclesiastical or temporal, for or concerning any
marriage contracted by or with either of you; and that the said marriage
be openly solemnized in the church above-mentioned, between the hours of
eight and twelve in the forenoon; and without prejudice to the minister of
the place where the said woman is a parishioner: We do hereby, for good
causes, [it cost me--let me see, Jack--what did it cost me?] give and
grant our License, as well to you as to the parties contracting, as to the
Rector, Vicar, or Curate of the said church, where the said marriage is
intended to be solemnized, to solemnize the same, in manner and form above
specified, according to the rites and ceremonies prescribed in the Book of
Common Prayer in that behalf published by authority of Parliament.
Provided always, that if hereafter any fraud shall appear to have been
committed, at the time of granting this License, either by false
suggestions, or concealment of the truth, [now this, Belford, is a little
hard upon us; for I cannot say that every one of our suggestions is
literally true:--so, in good conscience, I ought not to marry under this
License;] the License shall be void to all intents and purposes, as if the
same had not been granted. And in that case we do inhibit all ministers
whatsoever, if any thing of the premises shall come to their knowledge,
from proceeding to the celebration of the said Marriage; without first
consulting Us, or our Vicar-general. Given,' &c.

Then follow the register's name, and a large pendent seal, with these
words round it--SEAL OF THE VICAR-GENERAL AND OFFICIAL PRINCIPAL OF THE
DIOCESE OF LONDON.

A good whimsical instrument, take it altogether! But what, thinkest
thou, are the arms to this matrimonial harbinger?--Why, in the first
place, two crossed swords; to show that marriage is a state of offence
as well as defence; three lions; to denote that those who enter into the
state ought to have a triple proportion of courage. And [couldst thou
have imagined that these priestly fellows, in so solemn a case, would cut
their jokes upon poor souls who came to have their honest desires put in
a way to be gratified;] there are three crooked horns, smartly
top-knotted with ribands; which being the ladies' wear, seem to indicate
that they may