Sponsalitiae Donationes

Sponsalitiae Donationes (espousal gifts) were given as earnests or pledges of future marriage. They were also called arroe et pignora, earnests and pledges of future marriage, because the giving and receiving of them was a confirmation of the contract, and an obligation on the parties to take each other for man and wife unless some reason gave them liberty to do otherwise. See Bingham, Christ. Antiq. bk. 22, ch. 3, § 3. SEE BETROTHAL.