Gretna Green

Gretna Green BY P. II. SERVICE "Good afternoon." "G'ed afternoon." "This is the first time we have enjoyed the sunshine for almost three weeks." "Aye, yer richt, an' we ken how tae appreciate it when it des come." The old gentleman thus approached sat dejectedly on an old bench just outside the "old blacksmith's shop," his hat in his hand. The rays of the sun seemed to bring back fond memories of the past, as he sat drowsily in the open air, smoking his old clay pipe. We sat together on the bench, our backs to the "shop," and our eyes intent upon the children playing innocently in the dust. My new companion took his pipe out of his mouth, cuddled it in his huge fist, and shook his head, as if carrying on a conversation with himself ; at last he said, in a somewhat pathetic tone, with what I call a sympathetic smile on his care-worn face, "Things now-a-days are not what they used to be ; why," he said, "I haven't married a couple since a fortnight last Friday."

780 IMPROVEMENT ERA "How do you like to be a priest?" I asked, as he was thus drowsily basking in the effervescence of the hot sun rays. "Oh, graun'," he replied; "I'm used to it, noo, but I was gey nervous when I first started ; it did put the shakers on me, but I soon got used wi't." "Do you make enough to support yourself for your services rendered ?" I asked next. "We'l," he said, hesitatingly, "it a' depends, ye ken, jist on what the circumstances o' the folks are ; the last yen ge'd me a half sovereign, just the ither week there." "You will do very well, then, if you have plenty of custom," I remarked. "Thot's it, thot's jist it; I'm ay tae be watching for the intended benedicts," he said, with a smile, "for one never kens when a priest'll be wanted, and as I'm noo the only yen abo't, there's mony a yen would jist like fine to get the job o' mairryin', if they could only get the chance." This conversation took place some time ago, in that romantic old village of Gretna Green, on the borders of England and Scotland. Considering the remarkable history of the place, no wonder the visitors to this beautiful and romantic spot increase in number, year after year. Strangers seeking information regarding the run-away marriages that took place in the early days, and that are still, going on, are made welcome at the little "Curiosity Shop," in the old smithy building, which goes under the name of "Headlesscross." Access to Gretna Green is made very easy from all parts of the United Kingdom by means of three railways, besides the drives that are to be had from the neighboring districts ; they are indeed picturesque and delightful, and shall I say entrancing? just to look over the routes taken by the run-aways to Gretna from days of yore, even up to the present time. I learned from my newly-made friend, the "priest," while sitting on the rustic bench, that the scene before me, opposite the "aul' kirk," is Gretna Green, — i. e., the "Green" of Gretna. In olden days this spot, now occupied by houses, shops and gardens, was an open field or green belonging to the small village of Gretna. The villagers say that the order of things remains, in

GRETNA GREEN 781 some respects, the same as it did some hundreds of years ago. Before the year 1754, when an act was passed relating to English marriages, which was the source of cutting off clandestine marriages within the bounds of the Southern Kingdom, I say, prior to this early date, clandestine marriages went on in London at a great rate. Without going into detail on this point, suffice it to say that with the stringent formula of the law, the chance of the ardent wooers to hoodwink their parents by hasty marriages, if the latter had any exceptions whatever to the match, were very slim indeed, but "where there's a will there's a way," or "love will find a way," would perhaps be better in this case, and that "way" was Scotland. In this country the laws in this regard were indeed very simple. My friend informs me that any two persons of opposite sex, declaring themselves to be man and wife in the presence of witnesses, were, to all intents and purposes, legally married. Of course, it must not be understood that this off-hand way was the general fashion of marrying in Scotland. Not so. "The kirk exercised her moral jurisdiction, and made it imperative that those •»! her flock who would retain her favor and privileges should go through the form of proclamation of banns." And I am also informed that the Scotch lassie is and always has been a stickler for the "real thing," and as fond of making a "peacock show" in the orthodox fashion as any other of her sex ; but when the fates were again?t her and stumbling blocks were placed in her way, it was a very easy matter to snap her fingers at "fate" and slyly make their way to the little village situated on the border line, barely nine miles from Carlisle, what more beautiful place in all of bonnie Scotland could be found for the wayward lovers? Joseph Paisley, first "priest" of the Gretna marriage business, met with his "coonsel" and arranged the marriage certificate as follows : Kingdom of Scotland. County of Dumfries. Parish of Gretna. This is to certify to all whom they may concern, That , in the County of , and , from the Parish of from the County of , being now both here present, and having

782 IMPROVEMENT ERA declared to me that they are Single Persons, have now been Married after the manner of the Laws of Scotland. As witness our hands at Gretna Green this day of f Witnesses -l Paisley, they say, did not make the ceremony one of lengthy duration. "What's yer name?" "Whaur dae ye cume frae?" "Are ye a single man?" "Are ye a single woman?" After being answered in the affirmative, then the questions of great importance : "Dae ye take this woman tae be yer lawfu' wedded wife?" "Dae ye take this man tae be yer lawfu' wedded husband?" Why certainly "then join hands." (A ring was optional.) "Then ye've declared yersel's tae be husband and wife in presence o' these witnesses, and ye're now lawful' spouses according to the laws of Scotland." The matter of fee being according to the situation or apparent circumstances of the parties united, or "whatever yer honor pleases, jist," and I am told that "his honor" usually pleased to hand over golden guineas — ten, twenty, fifty, and even a hundred found their way into the capacious paw of the old "high priest." It is interesting to note a few names heading the list of the "red-hot" marriages of early date. The romantic marriage of John Edger and Jean Scott, in 1771 ; Lord Westmorland and Miss Child ; Thomas, Lord Erskine, of Berkeley Street, London, and Sarah Buck, of York Building, London, and many others of such distinction. Since the railway era, there has been a great change in affairs at this historic place, and not only the well-to-do are able to reach here with ease, but also the poorer class, and also the young people who, just previous to the year 1856, went to Gretna for a "lark," some of them being under the influence of liquor and not knowing how far their "lark" had carried them, until waking up next morning with a severe headache and also with a marriage certificate in his possession, informing him that he was now a

GRETNA GREEN 783 married man! This marriage being just as binding as any marriage that ever had been or is being performed, he, of course, had to recognize authority. But since that date, 1856, one of the intending parties has to live in Scotland for twenty-one days and, of course, that stops all further "just for a lark" marriages. The effect of such an act was disastrous to the business of marriages at Gretna Green, but still the "red-hot" marriages are not such a rarity now-a-days as one might suppose. Every once in a while a pair of lovers arrives in quest of the "priest," and once more the old ceremonial is revived. Needless to say, the air is not the same as it was a few hundred years ago, and in the altered state, who will say it is not for the best? Still, while travling along the old Carlisle Road, looking over the romances of the past, a feeling unmixed with regret arises within us and we are made to repeat the words of the poet : "Mow far, how far to Gretna? 'Tis years and years away; And chaise and four will nevermore Fling dust across the day. But as I ride the Carlisle Road, Where life and love have been, I hear again the beating hoofs Go through to Gretna Green." A CHAISE ANT) FOUR C/ RLISLE, ENGL/ NI>