You shall swear by the custom of our confession
That you never made any nuptial transgression,
Since you were married man and wife,
By houshold brawls or contentious strife;
Or otherwise, in bed or at board,
Offended each other in deed or in word;
Or since the parish clerk said amen
Wished your selves unmarried again;
Or in a twelvemonth and a day
Repented not in thought any way;
But continued true and in desire,
As when you joined hands in holy quire.
If to these conditions, without all fear,
Of your own accord you will freely swear;
A gammon of bacon you shall receive,
And bear it hence with love and good leave;
For this is our custom at Dunmow well known.
Though the sport be ours, the bacon’s your own.