Note 1 — Chapter II · THE ARRESTED BRIDE.

In the old chronicle of the Kings of France from Pharamond to Henri Quatre, written by the Sieur de Mezerai, occurs this paragraph, which is curious as the origin of the statute affecting the marriage of minors in France. The date is 1557 of our Lord, and 10 of the reign of Henry II.

“One cannot too often, or in too large characters, make mention of a couple of Edicts which were made this year: The one, to retrench the abuses of Clandestine Marriage, vacated all Marriages made by the Children of any Family without the consent of their Father and Mother, unless the Sons when they contracted were above Thirty years of Age and the Daughters above Five and Twenty. And to put the stronger curb on the amorous fancies of young, giddy People, they added the penalty of Disinheritance. The particular Interest of the Constable (De Montmorenci) procured this Edict. His eldest son had engaged himself with the Damoiselle De Pienne, a very beautiful Woman and of a good House, by verbal Contract: the Father desired to disengage him from her, to match him with the King’s natural daughter, the Widow of Horace Farnese.”