[707] "Shakespeare and His Times," 1817, vol. i. p. 220.

The ancient ceremony of betrothing seems still to have been in full use
in Shakespeare's day. Indeed, he gives us several interesting passages
upon the subject of troth-plight. Thus, in "Measure for Measure" (iii.
1), we learn that the unhappiness of the poor, dejected Mariana was
caused by a violation of the troth-plight:

"_Duke._ She should this Angelo have married; was affianced to
her by oath, and the nuptial appointed: between which time of
the contract, and limit of the solemnity, her brother
Frederick was wrecked at sea, having in that perished vessel
the dowry of his sister. But mark how heavily this befell to
the poor gentlewoman: there she lost a noble and renowned
brother, in his love toward her ever most kind and natural;
with him, the portion and sinew of her fortune, her
marriage-dowry; with both, her combinate husband, this
well-seeming Angelo.

_Isabella._ Can this be so? Did Angelo so leave her?

_Duke._ Left her in her tears, and dried not one of them with
his comfort; swallowed his vows whole, pretending in her
discoveries of dishonour; in few, bestowed her on her own
lamentation, which she yet wears for his sake; and he, a
marble to her tears, is washed with them, but relents not."

It is evident that Angelo and Mariana were bound by oath; the nuptial
was appointed; there was a prescribed time between the contract and the
performance of the solemnity of the Church. The lady, however, having
lost her dowry, the contract was violated by her "combinate" or
affianced husband--the oath, no doubt, having been tendered by a minister
of the Church, in the presence of witnesses. In "Twelfth Night" (iv. 3)
we have a minute description of such a ceremonial; for, when Olivia is
hastily espoused to Sebastian, she says:

"Now go with me and with this holy man
Into the chantry by: there, before him,
And underneath that consecrated roof,
Plight me the full assurance of your faith;
That my most jealous and too doubtful soul
May live at peace. He shall conceal it,
Whiles you are willing it shall come to note:
What time we will our celebration keep
According to my birth."

This, then, was a private ceremony before a single witness, who would
conceal it till the proper period of the public ceremonial. Olivia,
fancying that she has thus espoused the page