348 A TOPOGRAPHICAL 



which took place in the time of Cromwell ; when the clergy were, 

 not allowed to solemnize matrimony. That Usurper, probably to 

 degrade the clergy, caused all marriages to take place before a 

 magistrate. The following extracts shew the manner in which 

 they were recorded : 



" Mr. John Mil ward, sonne of the Wor fu1t John Mill ward, of 

 Sjntterton, in the countie of Darbie, esq r< and M rs - Jane Sneyd, 

 daughter of the Wor fa11 M rs - Jane Sneyd, of Broad wajl, within the 

 county of Stafford, widdowe, weare published three severall Lords 

 dayes, in the parish church of Wolstanton, in the countie of Staf- 

 ford ; and likewaise in the parish church of Darley, in the county 

 of Darbie, aforesaid ; viz. the 21 st and 28 lh dayes of December, 

 and the 4 th day of Januarie, 1656 ; according to an act of Parlia- 

 ment in that case made and provided; (and noe exception made by 

 any p'son) as by the certificates, under the hands of the Regesters 

 of Wolstanton and Darley, was made playnly to appear unto me; 

 and the said M r - John Milward and M rs - Jane Sneyd weare mar- 

 ried the 27 th day of Januarie, 1656, before me Edward Brett, 

 esq r - one of the Justices of the Peace for the countie of Stafford; 

 wittness my hand the day and year last above written. 



' Edward Brett.' 9 



Again : 



" Richard Marsh, son of Thomas Marsh, late of Wolstanton, 

 deceased, and Ann Rowley, daughter of William Rowley, of Broad- 

 wall, weare published three severall markett dayes at the Markett 

 Crosse in Newcastle-under-Lyme; viz. the first, the 8 th , and the 

 15 th dayes of December, 1656, (and noe exception made by any 

 p'son.) And the said Richard Marsh and Ann Rowley weare mar- 

 ried the 23 rd day of December, 1656, before Edward Eardley, esq r - 

 one of the Justices of the Peace for the countie of Stafford." 



The following is said to have been the Form of Marrying before 

 a Magistrate, as enjoined by the Parliament during the Common- 

 wealth of England, to take place from September 29, 1653. 



" MAN. 



I, A. B. do here, in the presence of God, the searcher of all hearts, tnke 

 thee C. D. for my wedded wife ; and do also, in the presence of God and before 

 these witnesses, promise to be unto thee a loving and faithful husband. 



" WOMAN. 



T, C. D. do here, in the presence of God, the searcher of all hearts, take ll 

 A. B. for my wedded husband ; and do also, in the presence of God and before 

 these witnesses, promise to be unto thee a loving, faithful, and obedient wife." 



