What is "costage"

Usage examples of "costage".

Thou comest home as drunken as a mouse, And preachest on thy bench, with evil prefe:* *proof Thou say'st to me, it is a great mischief To wed a poore woman, for costage:* *expense And if that she be rich, of high parage.

For every man and woman did his might This day in mirth and revel to dispend, Till on the welkin* shone the starres bright: *firmament For more solemn in every mannes sight This feaste was, and greater of costage,* *expense Than was the revel of her marriage.

Thou seist to me, it is a greet meschief To wedde a povre womman, for costage, And if she be riche and of heigh parage, Thanne seistow it is a tormentrie To soffren hir pride and hir malencolie.

For moore solempne in every mannes syght This feste was, and gretter of costage, Than was the revel of hire mariage.

Free was Dan John, and namely* of dispence,** *especially **spending As in that house, and full of diligence To do pleasance, and also *great costage.