Note 935 — Chapter VI · OLD ENGLISH WIFE-PURCHASE YIELDS TO FREE MARRIAGE

Tacitus, Germania, 18: "intersunt parentes ac propinque." It was customary in the Middle Ages for the assembled friends to form a circle—Ring—about the betrothed couple during the ceremony. Publicity was made a legal requirement by Pippin: Walter, Corpus juris, II, 42. Friedberg, op. cit., 24 n. 4, gives also references to mediæval poems. He regards the practice of inviting a large number of friends as originating in the desire to secure publicity. Particular cities passed laws requiring the presence of witnesses; for example, Prague.