Matrimonial disputes (spousals litigation) in the English church
courts reveal more than any other source the difficulties in the formation of secure
marriages. One crucial factor was the extent of forcible opposition to, or coercion
into, relationships when they were still formed through a non-official marriage
ceremony. Many wereforced into relationships they subsequently broke, or separated
by sanctions of different kinds. Both forms of power and the fragility of marriage are
thus exposed in these cases that arise from the failure of relationships—topics which
have been much neglected in the current history of the family .
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