The entries in the pocket-books are quainter than those in the registries, as they are the first impressions, and the others are polished up. We find from them that it was not infrequent to antedate the Registers, and Lilley did so on one occasion, "there being a vacancy in the Book suitable to the time." And, again, "These wicked people came this day, Peter Oliver, of St. Olave's, carpenter, and Elizabeth Overton, would have a certificate dated in 1729, or would not be married if it was not to be dated to this time--went to Lilley's and was married."
Perhaps the most extraordinary entries in these books are those of two women going through the ceremony of marriage with each other--
"20 May, 1737. J^{ no} Smith, Gent. of S^t James West^r Batch^r & Eliz. Huthall of S^t Giles's Sp^r at Wilsons. By y^e opinion after Matrimony, my Clark judg'd they were both women, if y^e person by name John Smith be a man, he's a little short fair thin man, not above 5 foot. After marriage I almost c'd prove y^m both women, the one was dress'd as a man, thin pale face, & wrinkled chin."
"1734 Dec. 15. John Mountford of S^t Ann's Sohoe, Taylor. B., Mary Cooper. Ditto. Sp. Suspected 2 Women, no Certif."
"1 Oct. 1747. John Ferren, Gent, Ser. of S^t Andrew's Holborn B^r and Deborah Nolan. D^o Sp^n. The supposed John Ferren was discovered after y^e Ceremonies were over, to be in person a woman."
There is one entry, "The Woman ran across Ludgate Hill in her shift." In the _Daily Journal_ of November 8, 1725, a woman went to be married in that sole garment, at Ulcomb, in Kent; and in the Parish Register of Chiltern All Saints in October 17, 1714, it says: "The aforesaid Anne Sellwood was married in her Smock, without any clothes or head gier on." This was a vulgar error, but the idea in so acting was that the husband was not liable for any of his wife's pre-nuptial debts.
The candidates for matrimony were occasionally not over-honest, as--"Had a noise for foure hours about the Money." "N.B. Stole a Silver Spoon." "Stole my Cloathes Brush." "N.B. Married at a Barber's Shop next Wilsons viz., one Kerrils for half a Guinea, after which it was extorted out of my pocket, and for fear of my life delivered." "They behaved very vilely, and attempted to run away with M^{ rs} Crooks Gold Ring."