Marriage Bond 1798

[kiwipom]

Could someone tell me why a Groom would have to pay a Bond to the Parish Clerk for a marriage?
I have a marriage in Bath Somerset 1798 and the Groom paid a bond of 200 pounds. Quite a substantial sum in 1798.
Could it be because he was not of the Parish or because of his age (17)?

Any enlightenment welcome

[stanmapstone]

The marriage bonds and allegations were the forms completed by marriage licence applicants. The allegation was the application - an affidavit, or  statement made on oath,  that there was no legal impediment to the marriage, and that Canon Law was not being broken. The marriage bond was a financial agreement to pay a certain sum of money if the allegation proved to be false.  The groom, or occasionally the bride, was required to stand surety - in other words was "bonded" for a fairly large sum of money, jointly with the relative or colleague.  In other words, the marriage bond (penalty £200) supported the bonafides of the formal statements in the application for a licence. 

Stan

[kiwipom]

Thanks for the explanation Stan. I imagine no money changed hands unless the terms were broken?

[newburychap]

The only cost was a few shillings for the bond.