Gardiner optimistically supposes you to definitely “‘this may struck all of them that they could be more economically, no matter if quicker expeditiously, partnered from inside the London area, compared to Scotland’” (312)
Ahead of the enactment for the 1753 regarding An act towards Greatest Preventing out-of Clandestine Relationships, commonly known as “Lord Hardwicke’s Work,” people you are going to marry of societal scrutiny whenever they might discover a keen ordained clergyman to do the service. While the of a lot clergymen have been prepared to carry out individual marriages to have a payment, clandestine ous, incestuous, or related to minors) was basically problems (Outhwaite 51-54; Stone, Unclear 25-34). A female exactly who entered to your such as for example an excellent sham relationship you are going to stop trying their looks and you can assets to their own visible spouse after which be kept solitary and compromised, sometimes even expecting with good bastard child. Marriages related to minors was in fact legitimate, considering the newest parties had achieved an average legislation chronilogical age of concur to have marriage, that was merely fourteen to possess boys and you will several to possess girls (Priestly v Hughes 909). The problem which have such as for example marriages are that they taken place over the fresh new often really-based arguments of relatives. Legislators sought to avoid most of the for example problematic marriages by imposing guidelines up against private ceremonies.
Lord Hardwicke’s Work provided marriages must take put in a good chapel following publication from banns (a notice read out into the about three straight Weekends regarding parish church, proclaiming a desired wedding and you can giving the chance of arguments) otherwise following the functions got gotten a different sort of license. The Act and provided events beneath the age of twenty-one (the age of majority) who have been married from the special permit required adult consent under control on marriage becoming valid.
Lord Hardwicke’s Work is why arranged elopement with Georgiana Darcy. Georgiana ended up being fifteen years dated, a but through the common law age of consent, so a legitimate relationship would have been possible, and a simple matter when the Georgiana’s guardians, Colonel Fitzwilliam and you may Fitzwilliam Darcy, got given its agree to the new fits. From the lack of eg consent, there had been one or two you can way of continuing. The initial could well be on couple when planning on taking upwards residence inside the a different parish, where interfering relationships cannot see them, and also have the banns read on three straight Sundays from the absence of objecting guardians. The needs of Lord Hardwicke’s Act carry out following getting satisfied, and the wedding have occurred.
Heiresses, including Georgiana, you can expect to be seduced away from their families and hitched by fortune-seekers
The second means is to get off brand new jurisdiction away from The united kingdomt and you may wed inside a location in which Lord Hardwicke’s Act was not relevant. The Act’s standards have been experienced formalities and therefore relevant simply into the The united kingdomt. Due to the fact lovers you are going to evade brand new authoritative laws and regulations by the marrying beyond England, of many went along to Gretna Green inside Scotland, just along the English border for this reason. Even when Wickham’s plan are thwarted whenever Georgiana confessed the fresh elopement arrangements so you’re able to her aunt, the danger to help you Georgiana shows the fresh inadequacy of Lord Hardwicke’s Operate to guard facing clandestine relationship.
Austen and additionally suggests the proceeded odds of clandestine matrimony permitted unscrupulous guys so you can seduce young women, even when the dudes didn’t come with intent to carry through with the guaranteed relationship. Whenever Wickham later on operates out of which have Lydia Bennet, that is merely 16, the first thought that the couple keeps eloped so you’re able to Scotland in the future gives cure for the new knowledge ta en titt pГҐ den hГ¤r lГ¤nken of Lydia’s precarious standing. Jane Bennet writes so you’re able to her cousin Age: “‘Foolish due to the fact a good and you will all of our worst Lydia would-be, the audience is now nervous is in hopes it offers occurred, for there was but a lot of need in order to concern they are maybe not attended Scotland’” (302). Mr. That it idea try a mention of the chances of the fresh new couple’s taking on residency in the London and achieving the fresh banns continue reading about three consecutive Weekends inside their brand new parish chapel. It certainly try much slower than simply likely to Gretna Green, but, since the Mr. Gardiner suggests, maybe a cheaper type marrying a minor without adult agree. To the relief of Lydia’s family members, the happy couple really does fundamentally marry within the London. Only Mr. Darcy’s intervention conserves Lydia from getting seduced towards promise out of marriage then given up.