Medieval lives : birth, marriage, death. 2/3, A good marriage.

Series in which Helen Castor explores the fundamental aspects of medieval lives through birth, marriage and death. In the second episode, 'A good marriage' looks at how the church sought to control sexuality through marriage. She talks about the marriage arrangements of Margaret Mautby and John Paston, which were based on securing a good position in society, with love as secondary. However, whilst parents could bring couples together they couldn't force them to marry. In royal marriages, the future of the kingdom was at stake so marriages were arranged by diplomats. An example is given of Richard II who, even when he came to the throne aged 10, was considered highly eligible for a political marriage. Judith Bennett, an expert in medieval village life, considers the lives of ordinary people. With reference to Brigstock in Northamptonshire, she talks about family influence, and courtship. Marriage could be very informal and couples could marry themselves using a set of ritual vows. By the 14th century, this ritual was sanctioned by the Church and ensured that marriage was correctly undertaken. This was considered important in regard to procreation which involved sex which the Church saw as sinful. How the view of illegitimacy changed over the 11th and 12th centuries is illustrated by the position of William the Conqueror and then, 70 years later, the situation when there was no legitimate male heir to inherit the throne. Powerful church reform in the 12th century examined the doctrines and morals of Christian society where behaviour in this life would be judged in the next. Marriage, as a rite of passage, was seen as something that could influence this judgement. David D’Avray, an expert in the marriage laws of medieval England, discusses how the Church tightened its rules, and how marriage became caught up as a sacrament at a time when the seven sacraments were being defined. The Church disliked the idea of free consent as it left uncertainties as to the validity of a marriage, so in the 13th century it issued statutes on the correct way to establish consent, and began developing rituals that could be solemnised by a priest to form a 'proper' marriage. Helen Castor talks about medieval church weddings with John Harper, Research Professor of Music and Liturgy at Bangor University, including the blessing of the marital bed. Sex and procreation in a godly marriage were encouraged. The public ritual of the 'putting to bed' ceremony of Catherine of Aragon and her first husband, Arthur, is mentioned. For ordinary people the Church had explicit teachings and punishments for those engaging in sex outside marriage. The story of Margery Paston (daughter of Margaret mentoned at the beginning of the programme) and her secret marriage is told. The programme also looks at what happened when married people changed their minds. Helen Castor goes to the Borthwick Institute at York University, to discuss the legal records there with Bronach Kane. Many of their records are to do with marriage litigation, and sex and procreation were the prominent issues that were contested. From the records, the story of Agnes Huntington and her various marriages is looked at. Later, the marriage of William, the medic and surgeon to King Edward IV, and Alice Hobbs is considered, whereby Alice sued him for divorce on the grounds of adultery. The court sided with Alice giving them permission to live apart but in effect they remained married until death. The story of King Henry VIII and his split from the Catholic Church over the annulment of his marriage to Catherine of Aragon is mentioned at the end of the programme.