Medieval Bedroom Trials. Were they really a thing?

[medievalrosalie]

You may have heard of the infamous Medieval Bedroom Trial Court Case.

In unusual circumstances, a woman might divorce her husband for not performing in the bedroom as it was detrimental to her health.

Medieval divorce is a rare and uncommon thing, but it might happen in exceptional circumstances.

Medically speaking, a medieval woman's continuing good health relied on her husband's ability to keep her cold and moist humours in check and properly balanced with his rather heated contribution.

A husband who couldn't perform his duty and discharge his martial debt to his wife ran the risk of facing divorce. Of course, this in itself faced problems. Perhaps a wife wasn't too fond of her husband and was looking for a quick way out. Surely, there must be some kind of test for this sort of thing.

Luckily, (or not very luckily for one certain John that we know of), these issues might be sorted out in court with the help of a court-approved and properly sanctioned procedure.

On Sunday I gave a talk on Facebook LIVE on my Rosalie's Medieval Woman Page about this very subject, and I invite you to join me as I discuss what the bedroom trial comprised of, read from witness statements from an actual 15th century court case and share my thoughts as we go.

On the whole, poor John, our long-suffering husband, would probably have preferred the courts not write any of this down for posterity. He really didn't stand a chance.

The link for the LIVE video is here.

Do stop by and be educated, appalled and get your giggle on. Please note: ADULT THEMES!

Comments

[cmcmck]

Medieval law is a deeply strange thing at times although one does wonder how much was anti legal/anti clerical propaganda.

I know that in cases of bestiality, the poor animal was also sometimes strung up as having partaken in the sin.

[medievalrosalie]

That is very true! There's a lot of weird things going on with medieval law.