The British army is perhaps one of the last remnants of the feudal system, and a serving soldier should ask his commanding officer for permission to marry.

It is not always done these days - but that soldier has gained himself an unfortunate notoriety by disregarding the usual requirements.

I suspect that the 'droit de seigneur' myth is a misinterpretation of the reward a girl might expect for herself and her family should she catch the eye of someone from the big house - either she being married, eventually, to someone of higher status in the community than she could ever have aspired to, or she returns home bringing money and valuables, garments and possibly horses too.

Some of the old ballads seem to point to this, particularly some which survive only as fragments where the main part of the plot is lost, just the 'and she came back with' part being the more memorable verses.

Anne the Pleater :ootd: