medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
> Gratian ...
> cites authorities to prove that sex is necessary for a
> marriage: "There is, I say, no doubt that a woman has not
> entered marriage, if there has been no sexual intercourse"...
> "It must be understood that
> marriage is begun by betrothal and consummated by
> intercourse. Hence between the betrothed there is
> marriage, but only as to its beginning; between
> the joined, there is a ratified marriage"
The overly clever folks at the top of the pyramid sometimes
tried to get around this requirement. I just ran across this
bizarre anecdote of ca. 1488 in Hall's Chronicle (1550 ed.,
Henry VII chapter, fol. 20v; Ellis ed., 1809, ~p. 448-49):
For Maximilian kyng of Romaynes beyng without a wyfe [Mary of
Burgundy had died in 1477], before thys tyme, made suite to
Fraunces duke of Briteyne, to haue in mariage the lady Anne hys
daughter, to the which request the duke gentely condiscended.
And one, which by proxie wooed for hym: too the entent that the
lady shoulde perfourme that she promised on her faith and
honour, he vsed a new inuencion and tricke, after this maner:
When the lady did take her chambre, the night after the
affiaunce, she was layed naked in the bride bed, in the presence
of dyuerse noble matrones and Prynces, called the ther as
witnesses. The procuratour or Deputie for the husbande whiche
represented his persone, was layde in the place of her husbande,
and put one of his legges into the bed vp to the harde knee, in
the syght and compaygny of many noble personages, as who said
that the virgin had bene carnally knowen, and so the matrymony
perfyght and consummate, and they two as man and wyfe. But this
fonde newe founde ceremony was litle regarded and lesse estemed,
of hym that onely studyed and watched, howe to surrept and
steale this turtle oute of her mewe and lodgynge. For Charles
the Frenche kynge (as no man can blame hym) was desyrous and
gredy too be coupled in mariage, wyth so great an inheritoure,
and reputyng the mariage made with Maximilian, to be of no
validite and effect, the more busely and incessantly he made
sharpe warre, and skurged the Britonnes, to thentent he might
bothe haue the lady and her dominions also at his wyll and
pleasure...
--
And, indeed, Charles VIII married Anne of Brittany, for real, in
1491, and thereby added her duchy to the royal realme.
Cheers,
Al Magary
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