a man and his wife be bound by Obligation a Writ against them both vpon that Obligation shall abate car fait del Feme couert est void See 15 Ed. 4 fol. 10. that if an Obligation bee made to Baron and Feme and the husband dieth the wife or husbands Executor which of them shall hap to haue the Obligation shall sue c. as it is said by Bryan And Detinue of Charters shall bee brought by Baron and Feme for Charters concerning her ioynt possession 38. H. 6. fol. 25. If Baron and Feme make a Lease for yeares of the wiues lands they must ioyne in an action of waste or else the Writ shall abate 7. H. 4. 15. yet 3. H. 6. fol. 53. a Writ of waste so brought was doubted of because forsooth a Feme couert cannot make any Lease But at the last the Writ was holden good for the wife might accept the rent or distraine for it and make auowrie after the husbands death at what time and not before shee hath power to agree or disagree but during the Couerture the lease was the Act of them both baron feme tenants for yeares may ioyne in an Action of couenant against the Lessor that outeth them for the wife suruiuing shall haue the terme if the husband doe not aliene 47. of Ed. 3. fol. 12. And where a remainder is to bee executed to a Feme couert by force and conueyance of a fine c. the Baron and Feme may haue a Scire facias to shew why the land should not remaine to I. S. and to N. his wife for the land cannot remaine to one of them but it must remaine to them both But a Formidon in Discender or Reuerter or a Writ of Escheat differeth 11. H. 4. fol. 15. 44. Ed. â— fol. 10. a Writ of Dower was brought by Baron and feme and the tenant pleaded that the former baron had neuer any thing in the land during the espousals which the Demandants did not deny therefore the Tenant prayed they might be barred and their confession recorded but it would not be granted because it should bee preiudiciall to the wife yet at the request of the Tenant they were receiued to acknowledge their right by fine and the woman was examined Quod nota for she shall not be examined vpon confession of an Action SECT XLVI Actions against Baron and Feme AS Actions are rightly puâ—sued by Baron and Feme when right is withholden from her or wrong done to her selfe her interest or possession so when the wife is or is supposed a wrong doer or her husband doth wrong vnder pretext of her interest writs must be sued against them both for as it hath béene shewed already if a Feme couert bee condemned in any ciuill Action without her husband she and her husband may haue a Writ of error Therefore if a woman which is indebted take a husband an Action of Debt shall be against her and her husband in the Debent 9. E. 4. fol. 24. 7. H. 7. fol. 2. agréeth and if any thing were owing to the Feme before marriage the Writ of such a debt shall bee Quasâ—is debet If a man baile goods to a Feme sole which marrieth afterward an Action of Detinue shall be against her and her husband for these goods per curiam 39. Ed. 3. 17. And 1. H. 4. fol. 31. a Writ of trespasse sur le case was brought for not repairing certaine bankes vpon lands which the defendant had in Dale by reason wherof the plaintiffes ground was surrounded and because the Defendants whole interest in Dale was only jure vxoris which wife was not named in the Writ it abated for they ought to haue béen ioyned 3. H. 4. fol. 1. Upon a Lease made to Baron and Feme for yeares rendring rent the Lessor brings a Writ of Debt c. against Baron and Feme and Iudgement was asked of the Writ because it was not brought against the Baron onely Thiâ—â—ing holdeth the Writ good aswell as an Action of waste shall bee against both Baron Feme vpon such a Leafe and so doth one other Iustice but some pleaders argued contra And in Actions against Baron and Feme the woman must be named wife 42. Edw. 3. fol. 23. A writ of trespasse is brought against Iohn and Alice with others Alice saith shee was and is the wife of Iohn iour del briefe purchase iudgement del briefe and this is a good plea in abatement of the writ So if a writ be against Iohn and Alice his wife Alice if shée be single may plead not the wife Iudgement del briefe But Iohn shall not haue that plea per totam curiam for none as Brooke maketh the reason shall plead Misnosmer but the partie 7. H. 6. fol. 9. In Assise against Baron and Feme the Uicount returned that hee had attached the Baron per centum ones matrices but the wife had nothing to be attached of within his Bâ—â—liwicke heâ— eâ—â— in eádem inuenta the best opinion is that the returne is not good for he was commanded to attach the wife which the Law would neuer command if the thing were impossible but it is possible enough for the wife to be attached by her husbands goods and by him shee must bee brought into the Court. Babington saith an Attachment must bee by a meere chattle which shall be forfeited by Default but not by any Chattell reall as a Lease for yeares or a ward or by appartell c. Now note it hath béene said that in an Action of debt or trespasse or other personall Actions if the Baron appeare and the wife make default or if the wife appeare and the baron make default they shall not answer the one without the other 44. Ed. 3. fol. 1. A writ of debt was brought against Baron and Feme the wife outlawed the Baron rendred himselfe at the Exigent at returne whereof hee appeared in ward and the Plaintiffe prayed because the Processe was determined against the wife that the husband might answer sed non alocatur But sée in the next lease a writ of trespasse pursued against Baron and Feme to the Exigent the Uicount returned that hee had taken them at the day the Baron came inward without the wife c. The Plaintiffe declared against him he was compelled to answer and pleaded not culpable le Vicont fuit charge de le corps le Feme amercâ—e and a writ went out to haue the wife at Westminster at a certaine day with a Venire facias betwixt the Plaintiffe and the husband returnable the same day sée 34. H. 6. fol. 29. A writ of trespasse against Baron and Feme and the Baron as seruant to the Chancellor brought a Superâ—edeas for himselfe and his wife Littleton said it was to be allowed for neither of them no more than where trespasse is brought against one of the Chancery and another man c. Nay not so much saith Prisot for in that case the
this Warrantor be vnder age yet the Law fauoureth widdowes so much that the plaint shal not attend his full age Therefore if the Tenant shew forth any Charter Déed or speciall cause whereby the Court may perceiue that the Infant is bound to Warrantie by the Ancestors act he shall answer presently what age soeuer he be of And though the Infant in ward be aliened by his Gardian or Gardians from hand to hand this shall not preiudice the Voucher for alwayes he shall vouch to warrantie the Heire and not the Gardian who is bound to present his ward so vouched in Court without difference whether it be one or many parceners Thus saith Britton and 48. Ed. 3. fol. 5. agreeth that he which voucheth an heire vnder age must vouch him in ward de vntiel If he be a ward it is said there also that hee which voucheth an heire at full age must shew a Déed quaere But when the lands are in the Gardians owne possession to his owne profit and vse the writ of Dower must â—ée brought against the Gardian and not against the Infant 46. Ed. 3. fol. 19. Where Mowbray saith where an Infant is vouched in ward of the King the woman shall recouer Dower maintenant 3. H. 6. fol. 17. It was agréed per curiam that in Action of Dower if the tenant vouch the heire in the Kings ward within the same Countie where the writ is brought the Demandant shall not recouer before the warrantie be determined but the Law is contra if the Voucher had prayed summons in another Countie for then the Demandant should recouer maintenant yet by the Register fol. 7. if in a writ of Dower the tenant vouch in Durham the Demandant shall abide triall of the warrantie and not recouer presently But by Fitzherbert for a rule in titulo Voucher if the tenant vouch in a forraine Countie shee shall recouer maintenant and neuer attend triall of the warrantie but when Voucher is in mesme lâ— countie If the heire vouched to warrantie aftâ—r â—hee hath appeared and countâ—â— pleaded the warrantie or before appearance being lawfully summoned do 〈…〉 ke default the Defendant shall haue execution against him maintenant if hee haue lanâ—s within the Countie Brooke Dower 5. And also Dower the 6â— when the heire is vouched in the same Countie the woman shall recouer against the heire Dyer 3. Eliz. â—â—â— In Dower the tenant vouch the heire in the same Countie who co 〈…〉 as one that hath nothing by descent in â—ée and renders Dower the tenant auers that he hath assâ—â—â— by descent qu 〈…〉 if he should not say in fée for by Weston and Browne if the lands be in taile it doth not 〈…〉 the tenants lanâ—s And the opinion of the Court was that the Demandant shall haue Iudgement presently aga 〈…〉 the heire if he hath lands c. and if not against the tenant and that before the issue of the assâ—â—s tried 1 Ed. â— fol. 24 In a writ of Dower against Tenant for life if he vouch his Lessor which is heire to the husband the woman shall recouer against the Tenant and he ouer against the Vouchee But when the heire iâ— vouched by Charter of his Ancestor the Demandant shall 〈…〉 couer against the Vouchee and the Tenant shall hold 〈…〉 peace Yet in a Writ of Dower against Lessée for 〈…〉 e of the Barons demise if the heire bee vouched to Warrantie though here the reuersion which is the cause of the Warrantie were made by the Baron the Demand 〈…〉 shall recouer against the Tenant and he against the heire If the tenant vouch in a writ of Dower and the Vouch 〈…〉 counter plead the Warrantie the woman shall recouer maintenant though in other actions it bée otherwise 46. Ed. 3. fol. 25. and 49. Ed. 3. fol. 23. In a Writ of Dower the Tenant vouched himselfe to sâ—â—e the 〈…〉 taile 2. H. 4. fol. 18. in Dower the Tenant vouched the heire Processe went on to sequatur sub suo periculo sicut alias the Vouchée came not it was awarded the Demandant should recouer against the Vouchée if hee had lands in the same Countie If not that shee shall recouer against the Tenant and hee ouer in value But first it was examined if the Vouchee were heire to the Baron 21. Ed. 3. fol. 30. In Dower the tenant voucheth the Barons heire in ward of the demandant per cause de nurture shewing the Ancestors Déed he was compelled to plead in barre because now the woman might be endowed De la plus beale for Gardeine pur nurture hath alwayes intendment to Soccage tenure Vide Brooke Dower 42. 5. Ed. 3. The fathers wife was endowed the Grandmother brought a writ of Dower against her â—he vouched the heire in reuerston the Demandant recouered against the tenant and shee against the heire a third part of two parts remaining but not in value Sée Brooke Dower 79. If the Grandmother die the mother may enter into the first dower and the heire into the second SECT IX Plees in a writ of Dower ADmitting there were no Voucher let vs run ouer other matters vsually pleaded 14. H. 4. 33. in Dower was demanded a third part of two mils of other lands yâ— tenant asked Iudgement of the plaintiffe for they were during the whole time of couerture but the â—â—te of two mills viz. toâ—ts 38. Ed. 3. fol. 13. In a writ of dower against one as Gardian of land and heire of K. de R. the defendant answered that the Infants father was â— de R. Iudgement del briefe and if the writ were good hee was ready to render dower You cannot said Knyuet plead to the writ render dower both at one day so the demandant praying Iudgement seisen was awarded her And because she auerred that the defendant was not touts temps prist to render dower an Inquest of dammages was awarded and that execution should cease till the Inquest were past 13. Ed. 4. fol. 7. In action of dower the tenant pleaded touts temps prist de render Dower vncore est The demandant said that I. S. her husband died seised and that such a day and yeere she required the tenant to indow her at Dale which refused c. he replyed that at the same day he offered to goe with her to the lands and to assigne her dower but she refused sans ceo that he refused The Court held the Issue well taken by this speciall pleading But if hee had said generally and barely hee refused not some thought it had not beene sufficient insomuch as it denies not the request Bryan said the demandant here might not haue seuerall Iudgements of one thing for note shee was to recouer dower vpon the first plea but all the other Iustices were of opinion cleere that shee should haue Iudgement of Dower maintenant and 18. Ed. 3. In action of Dower Iudgement was to recouer dower with an inquest for dammages As in a Quare
That the Charters ought to concerne the land whereof Dower is demanded and not other lands descended to the heire 2. He that pleads that plea ought to shew the certainty whereof a certaine issue may be ioyned or that they are in a chest or box sealed which import sufficient certainty whereof certaine issue may be taken and in both cases action of detinue may be brought by the heire 3. No stranger although that he bée Tenant of the land and hath the euidences conueyed vnto him may plead in a Writ of Dower deteiner of Charters but that plea is only in prinity for the heire of the husband Also the heire shall be in the degrée of a stranger in fiue cases First if the heire hath the land by purchase Secondly if the heire hath deliâ—eâ—ed the Charters to the wife Thirdly so the heire be not immediate vouchee namely by the Tenant in the Writ of Dower but by his vouchée Fourthly if the heire comes in as vouchée hauing no lands in the County where the land is demanded Fifthly if he comes in as Tenant by receit And Gardian in Chiualry may not plead deteinement of Charters for hée may not conclude his plea if the Demandant will deliuer to him the Charters c. for the Charters which concerne the heritage of the heire shall not be deliuered to the Gardian as it is adiudged in 10. Edw. 3. 49. SECT XI Deteining of the heire AS the heire only may deteine Dower for deteining of euidence so the Gardian in Chiualry onely may deteâ—â—â— Dower for deteining the heire and that he may plead and conclude qÌ„ il ad en touts temps prist for the ward belongeth to him If a widow eloigne the infant or heire of her husband though some other body haue him by her deliuery yet the Gardian in Chiualry may detaine Dower except shee can redeliuer him to the Gardian in as good plight as hée was at the time of the eloigâ—ment that is vnmarried if he were eloigned vnmarried But a woman nourishing her owne Infant the sonne or heire which her husband left her if a stranger clauning as Gardian fake him from her the right Lord shall not detaine dower for this cause But if a woman take and remoue the heire from the place where hee was nourished at time of the Barons death Now if a stranger wrongfully take him from her the true and right Gardian may detaine dower And this matter is pleadable by Gardian in Chiualrie though hée come into Court by reason that the heire is vouched to be in his ward for by right the custodie of the Infant can appertaine to none but to him vnlesse it be by his grant or agréement Certaintie is required in pleading of this detainer aswell as in the other viz. that she which demandeth dower hath eloigned or detained I. S by name son or daughter W. c. 22. H. 6. fol. 16. 2. H. 7. fol. 6. SECT XII Possession in the Demandant 39. Ed. 3. 17. DOwer was demanded a third part of a carue of land the tenant said the demandant her selfe was seised of a third part of it already Iudgement de briefe per Knyuet it was no good plea without shewing who assigned it or that she recouered it For if shee were in by disseisen shee must haue dower of the other two parts remaining neuerthelesse by which the tenant was chased to answer for the two parts 7. oâ— H. 6. 33. 34. In action of dower against tâ—â— one said he had assigned rent out of the land six shillings and eight pence annuall to the demandant for terme of her life which she accepted c. The other pleaded touâ—s tâ—mps prist c. The assignment was holden a good plea c. the demandant said she neuer agreed Now per Strange she was to recouer a moytie maintenant though the other plea were not yet tried for this was a confession of one and pleader in bar of the other 2. H. 4. fol. 7. A Lady sued in Chancerie to be endowed of diuers Mannors which were her husbands where the heire was in gard of the King as was found by the Diem clausit extremum there returned and because it appeared that King Richard had committed wardship of the lands and body of the heire till full age of the said heire to her by patent without foreprise or mention of dower shée was ousted of dower per agard de toutes les Iustices till full age of the heire simile 11. of H. 4. in case of the Lady Arrundell Fitzherbert saith likewise If a woman take a lease for yeares of land whereof she is dowable she shall not sue for Dower during these yeares Nat. br 149. c. Bracton propoundeth to be considered what shall be done when the widdow brings her Writ of Dower vnde nihil habet and yet it is so that she hath part of her Dower already If saith he it be proued or she cannot deny it cadit breue and she shall not recouer the residue but by Writ de recto de dote Therefore let her accept no part of her Dower before she purchase her Writ and let it containe all the Deforcers be they in one Countie or in many When they are so put together if now she accept any thing of her Dower without Iudgement the acceptation of part shall be no exception against her for she may confesse satisfaction for that part If peraduenture shee haue already taken part of her Dower from some one person before the obtaining or purchase of her Writ let his name and the summons for him be in the Writ notwithstanding and then if it be obiected she hath accepted part shee may acknowledge that hee hath satisfied her for his part and whether before or after suit is not greatly to be stood vpon But if he of whom she receiued part be not named in the Writ she cannot against the obiection of acceptance reply that the land which she accepted is not in the same Towne but in another For vnde nihil habet in the Writ non debet referri ad villas sed ad dotem It is nothing worth therefore to say she hath nothing in tali villa if she hath any thing nomine dotis wheresoeuer it be it is not then materiall And when a woman replyeth nihil habet her defence shall not be per legem that is wager of Law but per patriam Likewise if a woman plead that she hath nothing nomine dotis but by some other title as ratione custodiae huiusmodi Inquisition may be in the Countie where it is supposed shee receiued Dower to finde whether shée haue any thing in Dower of the tenements which were her husbands and if shée had and now hath not to enquire what is become of it this was a Norâ—â— case of Holda the late wife of W. in Trinitie Terme 4. H. 4. as Bracton in his fourth Booke 13. Chapter and fol. 312. relates vnto me SECT XIII Ne
substance of the entrie is no more but conâ—iderâ—tum est vt reâ—upâ—â—â—◠〈◊〉 de 〈◊〉 pâ—rte and then either presently or after ward â—â— the 〈◊〉 of the demandant there is awarded a writ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 de tertia parte to the Sheriffe who must make returne how he hath executed the Kings commandement But I finde by Dyer 11. Eliz. fol. 278. that an Alias habere fac shall not be awarded after the Sheriffe hath executed the Formedon the case was that the Sheriffe vpon the Habere fac ' c. profer seism by meanes of a third part and the Demandant refuse yet by Harpur and Dyer her entrie was afterwards lawfull for the certaintie appeared and they that an Alias habere fac ' by no president shal be granted and as images of this course must be the procéedings in all basâ— Courts which hold of Dower So that it is now more than sufficiently perceiued that the third part of euerie mans inheritance is assignable for Dower by the husbands heire or the heires Gardian or by the Feoffée or Feoffées of the husband or heire or by some other tenant or tenants or by the Chancellor Escheator or Viscount But it ought to appeare yet mâ—re fully how these thrée parts shall be assigned and wherein Sée Dyer 2. Eliz. 187. In Dower against eight two confesse the action and the rest plead in â—arre sir had iudgement for a third part of two in eight diuided and afterward vpon verdict against the sir iudgement was of sir partâ— in eight diuided Parcell of any thing whereof a woman may rightly claime Dower is assignable c. But other lands than those whereof she is by title dowable or not assignable Acceptance of a greater or lesse part than the third in name of Dower of all the franktenement which the Baron had bindeth a woman But assignment of all the land which the Baron had is not good But I referre you to Sir Edw. Cokes Commentarie vpon Littleâ—on fol. 346. how Assignment is to be made and what Assignment is good where it is said eight things are obseruable to a perfect Assignment of Dower The heire is not bound to assigne any widdow Dower in his capitall Messuage or in any part thereof But Assignment of such house in allowance of all other lands or of other lands whereof she is dowable for the house is good when it is accepted And Assignment of a chamber in the husbands dwelling house when other lands are not whereof to make assignation is good being accepted But a woman is not bound to accept this kinde of Dower except she list Arent may be assigned her out of the house and this shall be good sans fait Like wise it is of Common of Estouers of Pasture assigned in allowance of lands or other things whereof a woman is dowable And lands in Wales may be assigned for a whole Dower and thereby â— woman may be excluded from her Dower in England If vpon Iudgement of Dower and before execution the tenant assigne a rent per paroll issuing out of the land whereof the Iudgement was giuen and the woman accepts it in stead of Dower thâ—â— iâ— a good barre in a Scire facias and it is distrainable of common right but if the Assignment had béene by pâ—roll of other lanâ—s than of such as wherein the woman might haue claimed Dower it would not haue barred execution because it was not pursuant to the first Iudgement Dyer 1. Mar. fol. 91. It is said in Sir Edw. Cokâ—â— 4. Rep. fol. 1. in Vâ—rnons case that at the Common Law no collaterall satisfaction or recompence made to a woman in satisfaction of her Dower was any barre of her Dower for no title of Franâ—kteâ—â—ment or inheritance may be barred by any collaterall satisfaction When the Writ of 〈◊〉 comes to the Sheriffe he shalâ— deliâ—â—r 〈◊〉 â—â—â—â—â—â— and bounds but this rule cannot stretch to things not boundable Therefore if Dower be demanded or recouered of thrée shillings rent assignation of one shilling is sufficient And when dower of a 〈◊〉 or will is demanded a third part of the proâ—â—t c shall â—â— assigned and it â—â—â— good Indowment without certaintiâ— Et â—l 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 free serra contribâ—â—â—â—iâ— And so dower of a villeinâ— either the third dayes worke or euerie third wéekâ— or moneth And so of the profit of thâ— thirâ— part of Stallage of the third part of the profits of a Faire and so of the third paâ—t of the proâ—â—t of a Parke and of a Doue house and so of the third part of a Piscarie viz. Pertertium piscâ—m veliactum â—erâ—iuâ—â—eâ—is c. SECT XX. New Indowment IF that which a womâ—â— holdeth iâ— dower 〈◊〉 lawfully against her will and without her fault 〈◊〉 and eâ—icted c. she shall be new indowed of the other lands whereof the â—â—ate which her husband had remaines still â—ndefeated for example The Baron seised of thrâ—â— Acres dies the wiâ—dow is indowed of one Acre which he gained by 〈◊〉 if she be â—â—sted she shall be â—â—dowed of the other two Acres Tenant in taile of thrâ—â— Acreâ— discontinueth in fée the Discontinuée marrieth and dieth his wife recouereth dower against his heire the issue in taile brings a Formedon against the widdow shâ—â— voucheth the heire he enters into Warrantie loseth and the demandant hath execution though the â—state which thâ— heire hath in the other two Acres remaining be defeasâ—ble yet the woman shall be newly indowed of them till they be defeated yea though the Discontinuâ—â— his heire haue aliened the widdow shall bée newly indowed notwithstanding Againe a man seised of two Acres in fée within one Countie takes a wife enfeoffeth a stranger of one Acre with Warrantie and dying hauing issue a sonnâ— which entreth into thâ— other Acre the wife brings a writ of Dower against the Feoffâ—â— which â—oucheth the heire and the heire loâ—â—â—h â—â— default so that the Demandant hath Iudgement conditionall and execution against him to recouer of the land which he hath by discent within the same Countie where the Writ was brougâ—t If now the Vouchâ—â—â—â— restored by a Writ of deceipt to the lanâ— which the woman recouered shée shall haue Sciâ—â— facias against the Feoffâ—â— that was tenant in her first Writ to be newly endowed of the other Acre And if he haue therof inâ—eoffâ—d a stranger yet this stranger shall be bound by the first Iudgement in dower that was conditionall If a woman that is dowable take a second husband and be endowed by his assent per metes bounds if now the Baron discontinue in fée and die the wife may haue a Câ—â— in vitâ— and Perkins leaues it not cleane out of doubt whether she may not be new endowed of such other possessiâ—ns as were her husbands during couerture because the endowment was not by Writ This new endowment is when the euiction is loyall mâ—â—gâ—â—â—â— tâ—st del feme for when it iâ— otherwise she must recouer the land againe
acsi esset tenens Neither is nul tiel recouery a good plea prima facie saue only for the Demandant when the Tenant pleads a recouery by default 2. Edw. 4. fol. 11. Littleton stands to his old opinion that there was a quod ei deforciat at the Common law and hee would haue it maintainable still by one that hath cause to bring a formedone or an assize or writ of entry sur disseism But the Court séemes to wonder at his sayings and also at the first when Billing comes and demands oier del record for the Tenant in a quod ei deforceat the Court askes him quae intendes per ceo so that with questionâ— of adâ—iration they séeme plainly to reiect both opinions that there is any quod ei deforciat at the Common law giuen otherwise than vpon recouery by default and then the Tenant may plead â—ul tiel record for neither the writ nor the dâ—claration makes any mention of the recouery But Liâ—â—leton comes once more 10. Edw. 4. fol. 2. and 〈◊〉 that once he brought a quod ei deforciat for his mother of lands which shee claimed to hold in Dower the Tenant said there was no record to 〈◊〉 that the 〈◊〉 were lost by default And Littleton challenged the plea because it might be the 〈◊〉 was in a 〈◊〉 Baron by default in a Writ of right in which â—â—â—â— quod â—â— deforcâ—at lyeth and therein iâ— no record 〈◊〉 is a record by default â—he Tenant said there waâ— neither record nor recouery where any 〈◊〉 by default appeared and this was holden a good plea per le◠〈…〉 And Littleton relinquished his suit 44. Edw. 3. fol. 42. A quod ei deforciat was brought against the heire of one which recouered in an assize hee prayed the plea might stay for his non age and vouched to warranty W. N. c. the voucher was allowed but not his age because he might not haue had it in his first Action So that it appeares this writ lyes vpon recouery in assize and the Tenant may vouch But by Thorpe if it had béene the party himselfe which recouered he could not haue vouched Et mirum saith Brooke that vpon a recouery in assize which is by iury and not by default this writ should be And if yée looke this booke at large yée shall finde againe that this writ and the procéeding in it is méerly by the Statute vpon a recouery by default therefore a quod ei deforciat lieth and that vpon a recouery by default in a quod ei deforciat As 13. Edw. 1. a woman recouered in a Writ of Dower by default against Tenant for life of rent and afterward the Tenant which lost by default brought a quod ei deforciat against the woman and she lost by default and then sued a quod ei deforciat c. This is the highest Writ which these particular tenants can haue of their owne possession as it were their writ of right and it lieth against him which is Tenant though he be not party to the recouery as against the feofée of him which recouered But it lyeth seldome or neuer for a stranger to the recouery Yet 41. Edw. 3. fol. 30. the Baron and Feme ioyned in a quod ei deforciat of lands lost by the Feme before marriage bene And by Belknap it lyeth vpon a recouery in a sciri facias and it lyeth without shewing the record The Tenant in this Writ whether it be he which recouered or his alienée shall not haue view 41. Ed. 3. 8. If a man lose by default in a writ of right brought in a Court Baron he may remoue the record and haue a quod ei deforciat in the Common place and quaere saith Fitzherbert if he neuer remoue the record if he then may not sue his quod ei deforciat in which Court hée will either the common place or the Court Baron He agréeth if a woman lose by default and then marrie she and her husband may haue this Writ but if Tenant in tailâ— lose by default and dye his heire must sue a Formedon for that is his Writ of right If lands be giuen to Baron and Feme in especiall taile the remainder to the Baron in generall taile and the wife die sans issue now if the Baron lose by default in a Praecipe quod reddat his writ of Quod ei deforceat must be Quod clamat tenere sibi haeredibus de corpore suo for so soone as the wife died the state apres possibility drowned in the remainder 50. Ed. 3. fol. 4. If in a Scire facias brought in Chancerie by an heire of full age to auoyd indowment assigned in Chancerie whilest he was ward he recouer by default the woman may haue a Quod ei deforceat in Commune Banco So likewise if a man recouer land by default in Scire facias out of some record in the Kings Bench the Tenant which lost by default may sue a Quod ei deforceat in the Common Place If two coparceners tenants in taile lose by default they may ioyne in a Quod ei deforceat yet the default of one is not the default of the other 46. Ed. 3. in Fitzherbert Nat. Breu. Brooke hath it also A Quod ei deforceat brought by two men heires in taile of Gauill kinde Quam clamaâ— sibi tenere haeredibus de corporibus exeuntibus was awarded good though they could haue none issue of their two bodies 46. Ed. 3. 21. If tenant for life or in taile appeare in a Praecipe quod reddat and afterward depart in despite of the Court he shall lose the land but yet he may recouer by Quod ei deforceat for the recouerie is by default for that he doth not appeare when he is demanded But if tenant for life or in taile after the mise ioyned in writ of right depart in despite of the Court they shall lose the land and not haue a Quod ei deforceat for the Iudgement is finall If Baron and Feme seised in droit le feme for her life lose by default in a Praecipe quod reddat they may haue a Quod ei deforceat by Fitzherbert which is denied in the old Nat. Breu. 155. If tenant for life lose by a default in a Câ—ssauit he shall haue a Quod ei deforceat by this Statute of West 2. If â—e in reuersion vpon default of tenant for life pray to bée receiued plead and lose by action tried yet the tenant for life may haue a Quod ei deforceat for the Iudgement must be against him by his default If in a Praecipe quod reddat the Tenant vouch and the â—ouchee will not appeare so that the Tenant loseth by default of the Vouchée Fitzherbert makes it a question whether hee may haue a Quod ei deforceat or no because the Iudgement is not giuen vpon the tenants owne default But cléere it is if the Vouchée appeare enter into Warrantie and lose
45. Edw. 3. is contra But severall tenancy or non-tenure is no plea in a Nuper obiit for the priuity of blood But a sister may claime by purchase and disclaime in the blood and this is a good plea. If one coparcener die leauing issue a sonne which sonne infeoffeth a woman in all the land c. then marrieth her now cannot the other percener haue a Nuper obiit against the baron feme But she may haue a mordancestor in her owne name and in the name of the seisure which the father had the day of his death for that amounteth to a dying seised see Novel nat br 197. c. SECT XVII Of the writ of right de rationabili parte THere is also another Writ called a writ de recto de rationabili parte that neuer lieth but betwixt priuies in bléed as betwixt brothers in gavell kinde or betwixt sisters nephewes nieces c. It is also for lands in fée simple as where the ancestor leaseth land for tearme of life and dieth having two daughters and after the death of tenant for life one of the daughters entreth into the whole inheritance and deforceth her sister the deforced may haue this Writ it is maintenable by two or thrée sisters against the fourth or by an aunt or niece against a sister that deforceth and this writ lieth as wel where the ancestor dyed seised as where he died not seised It is in nature a writ of droit patent must be directed to the Lord of whom the land is holden from before whoÌ„ it is remoueable by a Tolt as the Haught writ is where the ancestor dieth seised and one coheire deforceth another whether it be in gauell kinde or amongst partners at the common law the deforced hath election of this writ or of the nuper obiit But when he died not seised and a coparcener afterward deforceth the Nuper obiit lieth not The forme of this writ is Precipimuâ— to the Lord ut sine dilatione plenum rectum teneas A. de decem acris cum pertinentiiâ— quas clamat esse rationabilem parteÌ„ de libero tenemento quod fuit I. patris vel c. tenere per liberum servititum tertiae partis c. for it must be séene what rent and seruice the whole land yéeldeth to the Lord according there to shall the plaintiffe be rated in his or her writ If after the death of their ancestor two coparceners enter and the one doe then deforce the other of something appendant or appertenent to that which is holden in coparcenery she may haue a writ de rationabili parâ—e of this appendant or appertenent which shall say quod clamat tenere ad liberum tenementum If a man dying seised of lands intailed haue two daughters whereof the one entereth and deforceth the other the remedy is by formedon and neither by Nuper obiit or Rationabili parte If a sister aunt niece or cousin claime from her ancestor by feofment in fée one which should haue bin coparcener had the feofment not bin deforceth her she may haue a writ of Droit patent and joine the mise by battaile or graund assise come semble saith Fitzherbert because shée claimeth not as heire But where there is no impediment intaile feoffement or such thing all the partners deforced bring a rationabili parte against all the copartners terre-tenants for so it must bée and the heire of an heire may sue for part of the seisin of the coÌ„mon ancestor there battail or grand assise voucher or view lie not neither is noÌ„tenure any plea for the writ lieth only betwéen privies in blood finally the demand in this writ must bée of a portion certaine as of x. acres if xx discend to two sisters and the demandant if she recouer shall haue iudgement of so many to hold in seueralty SECT XVIII Of Partition NOw of Partition it may be made in diuers maners as first for example by agréement amongst two copartners or more which accord to diuide the inheritance into certaine parts of equall valew to bee holden in severalty and alwaies the part which the elder hath is called Ini ia pars though in this kinde of partition there bee no prerogatiue of primer election giuen to the eldest Another manner of partition is where they cause certaine friends to make the parts or diuision here the eldest shall first chuse then the next eldest and so succéedingly If by their whole agréement the eldest make the diuision it is said saith M. Littleton that she shall last make election which is as much to say say I as she shall haue none election at all Littleton hath another maner of alotment wherein after partition made of the lands euery part being written in a seroule and lapped vp in a bale of wax is put into a bonnet which must be holden by some indifferent body and then as wee use to choose Valintines euery partner pulleth out a part the first borne first the rest after her in degrée of ancientry and euery one shal hold her to her chance Also partition may be made in Chancery as when one copartner of full age and another remaineth in ward to the King c. in such case if she which resteth in ward at full age haue not her full part she may sue a writ of partition or Scire facias vpon the record returnable in Chancery to shew why a new partition shall not be made and partition may be of a reversion or of an aduowson Of a reuersion thus that A. shall haue reuersion of such such lands B. the reuersion of such other laÌ„ds of an aduowson that A. shall haue euery 2. 3. or 4. auoidance c. this is good without deed where partition is made of a mannor without mention of the aduowson it remaineth in common sée that case of aduowson and partition of aduowson 2. Hen. 7. 5. a. Partition by agréement of parceners is good in law aswell by paroll as by writing and if vnto two copartners there doe descend two houses whereof the one is worth xx s. and the other x. s. annually the best house may bee allotted to one copartner and she and her heires to pay to the other and her heires for owelty or equalities sake v. s. rent issuing out of her house and all this is good without writing so that the partner that shall haue this rent and her heires may distraine for the same when it shal be arere of common right in whose hands soeuer the house charged shall come and this shall be a rent charge of Common right had and receiued for equality of partition Fitzherb fol. 252. Plow 134. Partition of lands that one partner and her heires shall haue and hold them from Easter to the gule of August alone and by her selfe and the other and her heyres from August till Easter in the like manner was awarded a good partition in the time of Ed. 2.
the woman they shal remaine ioyn-tenants of the Franke Tenement and the Inheritance is gone Tailâ— 9. But per Dyer fo 147. and 12. assi p. 22. and 19. assi p. 2. If Tenants in Franke Marriage be diuorced the Woman shall haue all the Land for the Land was giuen for the womans sake and for her aduancement and by Iohn Bracton her husband hath no more in it but Custodiam as he is the wiues tutor and Guardian By the same reason therefore that the wife shall haue the land if she be diuorced by the same I should thinke she should haue it if her Sponsus refuse to marry her But where I giue Land to one to marry my Daughter or if hee marry my Daughter there if hee marry another woman I may enter SECT XXXVI The word Franke Marriage maketh Inheritance IF a man giue lands with his Sister to I. S. in Franke Marriage habendum â—is haeredibus suis in perpetuum By Kniueâ— Mowbray and Finchden 45. Ed. 3. fo 19. this maketh neither Frank Marriage nor estate taile with an expectance of fée as in Case where Lands are giuen expresly in taile habendum eis haeredibus but the fee-simple passeth presently by the gift for Frank Marriage must be holden of the Donor which here hath nothing left in him but all is holden of the Lord Parainount and the words doe not make any other estate taile yet 13. Ed. 1. lands were giuen to one with the Cousin of the Donor in Franke Marriage habendum eis haeredibus and it was taken for good Frank Marriage This saith Brooke was in the yeare that estates taile were made in But for all that if yee look the case in Fitzherbert Formedone 63. whither Brooke sendeth you you shall perceiue that at the time of the gift it was Franke Marriage in fée-simple for by those dayes the Donee had potestatem alienandi post prolem suscitatâ—m But in a gift made after the Statute of quia emptoreâ— on such a fashion I take it the Law will be as before in the case 45. Ed. 3. According as it was also holden in the yeares of H. 8. that if a gift bee made in Franke Marriage the remainder to I. S. in fée this is no good Franke Marriage for warrantie and acquitall that are incident c. bee only in regard of the reuersion to the Donor and they cannot be had when the fée-simple is presently conueyed to a stranger SECT XXXVIII The Accompt of the Degrees LIttl accounts the Degrees from the Donor to the Donees the first Degrée from the Donées to their Issue the second from the Donées Issue to his Issue the third c. and the Issue in the fift Degrée shall doe seruice And this saith he because the Issue of the Donor and the Issue of the Donée after the fourth Degrée past may inter-marrie by holy Churches Law Bracton accompts thus donatarius facit primum gradum haeres suus facit secundum haeres haeredis facit tertium haeres secundi haeredis facit quartum qui tenebitur ad seruitium yea hee maketh it an expresse rule that onely the Donée and two heyres succéeding lineally shall enioy the immunitie of being acquitted And hee seemeth to vnderstand no other reason of the acquitall so long but onely an abstenancie from homage lest the taking of it should hinder a reuerting if it betided the Donée or the Issue to die without Issue Fitzherbert titulo droit 55. and 60. citeth 6 H. 3. and 15. H. 3. in warrant of Bractons Computation which I thinke he fetched not any further then out of the Author himselfe in whom fo 21. I find it And fo 22. hee answereth a doubt of his owne asking that is Whether all other seruice shall follow and continue if homage be done ante terâ—ium haeredem wherein he concludeth that the seruice euer followeth homage quamuis ad damnum soluentium And I conclude whether it be the third heyre or the fourth that shall doe seruice he may still vouch haue a Writ of me ne as if the fourth Degrée were not past and if he bring a Formedone the Writt shall be Dedit in liberum Maritagium SECT XXXIX A Woman giues Lands to one to marry her AS Franke Marriage maketh Inheritance without the words Heyres and is alwayes made to a woman and for her sake so there is another Donatio propâ—er nuptias that is conditionall without words of Condition made euer by a woman to a man That is where a woman giues Land to a man in fee-simple or for tearme of his life to the intent that hee marry her who if hee afterwards when hee is thereto within conuenient time required refuse c. there is now an ordinary Writt for remedy granted in this case to reduce the Land which Writt may be sued in the per cui or post after one or more alienations either by the woman sole or by her and her husband married against such a one as should haue married her after the refusall or after her death by her Heyre whether it bee Sonne or Daughter or Daughters with the child of another and there needs no scripture or writing to proue that the feoffement was for intent of Marriage nay if a woman infeoffe a stranger to the intent to infeoffe her and one which she intendeth to marrie if now the espousals take not effect she may haue Writt causa Matrimonij prelocuti against the stranger though the déed of feoffement were simple and sans Condition an 34. Ed. 3. li. assi and 40. Ed. 3. li. assi a woman enfeoffed one which had a wife and entred for non-performance of the Condition heritance of woman and in this part because it resembleth the Donations that are propter nuptias the Doctrine of it being something like that of Dower SECT XLI Marriage THis Courtesie is in the Inheritance of a Wife therefore a consequent of lawfull Marriage and exceptions of Concubinage or such like which are impediments of Dower must needs be good exceptions here SECT XLII Seisin THere must be in the wife a seisin and possession for if she were but heyre in appearance die before her Ancestor this auaileth her husband nothing Similie If the Father being seised of Lands dye and soone after his Daughter and Heyre dyeth before actuall seisin had by entrie either by the husband wife or other person for them so that no possession and a naked possession in law here is all one yea the law is taken that if a man dwell in Essex with his wife and lands descend to her in Yorkeshire if she die the next day after before entrie the husband shall not bee Tenant by the Courtesie for euen in this case is found a default in him that he did not constitute one to make entrie for him maintenant after the Auncestors death yet if rent descend to a woman Couert c. which dieth before day of payment or after the day and no
these reasons grounded vpon the Law of nature and giuen by Iustice Stamford in his booke fo 194. saith he to this effect men will now eschew those Capitall crimes when they shall sée those persons who in nature and affection are néerest and dearest vnto them and most to bee beloued shall be punished with themselues so that if themselues will not refraine such crimes for themselues yet they should the rather refraine for the loue of their wife children vpon whom they bring so perpetuall losse and punishment and staine of so infamous a note as that their stocke blood and Lineage shall be corrupted and attainted their children disinherited and the wiues of their bosomes because the wiues of such impious and foolish Husbands by their defaults depriued of all their meanes and liuelihood And Breton fo 258. makes another reason why a wife of a man attainted c. shall lose her Dower est pur ceo que est a supposer que el scauoit del felony son mary and by him a woman lost no Dower in case the felony were committed before Couerture King Edward the sixt in the first yeare of his Reigne abrogating some Statutes concerning treasons or felonie for their austerity and making some new decrees concerning treason preserued Dower against all perpetrations of an euill husband But 5. 6. eiusdem regis ca. 11. by the last prouiso It was againe enacted that no Wife of any person attainted of treason should bee receiued to demand or haue Dower c. Yet for felonie 1. Ed. 6. is still in force And treasons by Act 5. Eliz. ca. 1. for assurance of her Maiesties royall power or by the Act eodem anno cap. 11. against clipping washing rounding or filing of Coynes or by the Act 18. Eliz. ca. 1. against diminishing or impayring the Quéenes Coyne or other coyne currant here doe none of them make any corruption of blood or forfeiture of Dower Note if after attainder the Baron purchase his pardon this is so farre forth a new birth vnto him that his Wife shall haue Dower of the Lands which come to him after pardon if his Issue by her may per possibilitie inherite Par. 75. And remember this Case 3. 4. Phi. Marie Dyer 140. b. Marie the wife of Sir Iohn Gate attainted of treason brought a Writt of Dower against Wiseman the attainder of Sir Iohn was certainly pleaded in barre she replyed that long time before the attainder and before the treason committed after the Espousals the said Sir Iohn Gate was seised in fee of the Land whererof she demands Dower and thereof enfeoffed A. B. whose estate the tenant hath vpon a demurrer without argument at barre or bench the Councell of the parties being heard in Iustice Brookes Chamber the demandant was barred of Dower by opinion of all the Iustices because the Statute is The Wife of a man attainted of any manner of treason whatsoeuer shall in no wise bee receiued to aske challenge demand or haue dower of any her Husbands Lands during the force of that attainder And by Stamford 195. this extendeth to petty treason But nota saith Dyer the Lands here sold and gone before treason committed were neuer subiect to forfeiture or escheate vt in causa Vauisor M. Littleton in the Chapter of Dower And therefore Antho Browne Serieant was angrie at the heart for this Iudgement See Littleton fo 11. per Vauisor If a man commit felonie aliene his land and then be attainted the Wife shall haue action of Dower against the Feoffée but not against the King or Lord if it be escheated SECT XVIII The Husbands power in his wiues inheritance and of discontinuance A Womans Inheritance is Lands of Inheritance which she hath by descent or purchase and her Marriage such as was giuen her in Franke Marriage by learned M. Littleton But take heere all fée-simple or fée-taile which she hath sole by her selfe or ioyntly with some other to be her Inheritance Then know that at Common Law a man seised in the right of his Wife of greene acre may make a feoffement of it to a stranger and this is such an interruption called a discontinuance of the wiues estate that not onely the Baron is bound whilest he liueth but the Wife also when he is dead is by common Law forbidden entry into her owne land and put to her action of cui in vita but if a man seised in the right of his wife be disseised and release to the disseisor though it bee with warrantie this is no Discontinuance If a man seised in fée in the right of his Wife haue Issue by her a sonne and die and then a second Husband makes a Lease of the Land for terme of his life and the Wife dyeth if now the Lessée surrender to the second Baron it is a question whether the sonne can enter during the life of lease for life But cleere saith Littleton when he is dead the son may enter for the discontinuance which was but forthe life was determined If Tenant in the right of his Wife make a Lease for his owne life the reuersion in fée is in the Baron If hee die in the life time of his Wife and of the Lessee and his heyre grant the reuersion with atturnament now though the grantee enter after the death of the Lessee yet the wife may re-enter for as an estate taile cannot be discontinued but by one which is seised by force of the intaile so the estate of a Wife is not discontinuable but by him which is seised in the wiues right SECT XIX Of a Remitter YOu must vnderstand somewhat also of a Remitter And because women learne faster by example then by precept I will not stay to define a Remitter Baron and Feme seised together in speciall taile haue Issue a daughter the wife dyeth the Baron catcheth another wife hath Issue by her another daughter discontinueth the taile disseiseth the discontinuee and dieth now is the Land descended to the two daughters the eldest daughter is remitted that is remaunded and setled in the ancient estate for a moitie and driuen to a Formedone against her Sister for the other moity for here the Sisters are by seuerall titles tenants in common not parceners If Tenant in taile infeoffe a Feme sole and die and then his sonne being vnder age intermarrieth with the Feme Feoffée this is a remitter to the Sonne and his wife which before had fée-simple hath now nothing at all in the land But if the sonne had beene of full age at the time of espousals hee had not regained the ancient estate but stood seised onely in droit sa feme If a Woman seised c. take a husband which alieneth in fee and then takes backe an estate to him and his wife for life this reprisall though it were by Indenture or by fine is meerely the act of the Husband and the woman sans folly is adiudged in her Remitter the reuersion of the
of the heire non aliter This saith Dyer is holden no good pleading for the quarentiâ—â— but shee should haue shewed the death of her husband certaine and the time of the forty dayes continuing therefore the opinion of the Court made her wâ—iâ—â— her plea and trauers the entry nâ—ta prolege If a woman marry within the forty dayes shee loseth her quarentine Dower Brooke â—y Dower 101. 1. M. But if otherwise she be ouâ—â—ed by the heire within the forty dayes shee shall haue a Writ de quarentena habenda no â—â— br 161. b. SECT IV. Assignement of Dower NOw to assignement of Dower it is true that when it appeares certaine what it is that a woman shall haue in Dower shee may enter presently when her husband is dead and tarry for none Assignement per Littleton yet Perkins saith if a man dye seised of iij. s. rent charge in fee though here the third part bee certaine enough his widdow shall not distraiâ—â—â— for xij d. before Assignement Nay further if she recâ—â—â—â— this Dower by action yet shee shall not distraine for it before execution But if the Lord of a Manor doe marry with a woman tenant by iij. s. rent and dye here shée shall haue xij d. Dower by way of reteiner without any Assignement And in case where rent is recouered in Dower the Viscount may deliuer seisen by grasse by a bough by a clod of land or by the distresse of beasts taken vpon the land though the day of payment be not yet come But the party cannot charge any those beasts 40. Ed. 3. fo 22. SECT V. who may assigne Dower SOmetime Dower is assignable by the husbands heire as if a man seised of two acres of land in one County make a feoffement of one acre with warranty and dye the heire may indow the widdow with parcell of the acre remaining in allowance and full satisfaction of the whole Dower bene for if in a writ of Dower brought by her against the feoffée of her husband hee vouch the heire c. shee shall recouer conditionally against the voucher And if the heire make a Lease for life of part of such lands as are to him descended and indow his mother of the parcell remaining in allowance of all c. it is good yet in this case in a Writ of Dower against the Lessée if hée vouch his Lessor the recouery shall not be against the vouchée because he is not bound to warranty as the heire of his father But if he had béene generally vouched the heire and had generally entred into warranty iudgement perhaps should bee conditionally against him Sometimes the husbands one feofee or vendée shall assigne Dower for the rest And if a woman accept Dower from one of her husbands feofées in parcell of his land in allowance of her Dower of the rest it séemeth this shall binde her against the other 〈…〉 fees yet some haue doubted thereof because the other feoffees say they cannot plead this in an action of Dower against them neither is there meanes to bring into Court him which made assignement being a stranger If diuers Ioyntenants bee of certaine lands assignement of Dower by one of them shall bée good against them all But if one Ioyntenant of land assigne rent in allowance of Dower his followes shal not be distrained for this rent for there could bee none inforcement to assigne Dower after this manner Likewise if the Desseisor assigne a rent charge out of the land this shall not bind the desseisâ—e causa qua supra Assignement of Dower may be by one which is a Disseisor Abator or Intrâ—dor c. if this assignement be without fraud in the woman indowed and sans â—orâ— to any other person it is good though the Assignor be a tortious Possessor but if there bee any such couine or tort the assignement is voidable for the most part by entry 44. Ed. 3. fol. 46. A woman that had title of Dower with intent of defeating the Tenants warranty made a stranger to enter and against him she recouered Dower it was holden in an Assize which shee brought afterwards that hee recouery would not serue her but her estate was gained by desâ—isin because of the couine Assignement of Dower by him which hath Francktenement is good and if the wife hath not right of Dower of that which is so assigned by the Tenant of the Francktenement yet that shall stand vntill it bee defeated And if tenant per elegit statute staple or statute merchant assigne Dower it is not good And Assignement of Dower by gardian in soccage séemes not to be good saith Perkins for a Writ of Dower lyeth not against such a gardian sée 29. Assis p. 68. But Assignement by gardian in Chiualry is good till it be defeated and it shall neuer be defeated if the womans title of Dower be iust SECT VI. Assignement to her selfe or de la pluis beale IF a man seised of forty acres of land 20. by Chiualry and 20. by soccage die c. and his wife being gardian in soccage bring her Writ of Dower in the Kings or some others Court against the Lord which is gardian in Chiualry he may plead this matter and pray to haue it adiudged that the woman indow her selfe of the faâ—â—est in her owne possession and if she cannot deny the case it shall be iudged for the Lord to retaine quietly the lands which hee hath during the nonage of the Infant And after this iudgement the woman may indow her selfe in presence of her neighbours by limits and bounds de la pluis beale part of the soccage lands to haue to hold to her selfe for terme of her life This manner of indowment is neuer before iudgement bee giuen for it either in the Kings or some other Court and it is to saue the state of gardian in Chiualry Perkins giueth this matter which Litlton leaueth thus raw a turne or two more And so doth Keble 14. Hen. 7. 26. If say they the land which the woman hath by her gardianship bee not the whole valew of her iust Dower for the smalnesse of it or because it is charged with some rent she may shew the matter in her replication And if the Lord cannot deny it or doe trauers it and it is found against him then shall the woman haue so much of the lands holden in Chiualry as together with that shee hath in possession already may make vp iust a third part of her husbands inheritance If the inheritance were all of soccage tenure the widdow being gardian cannot indow her selfe de la pluis beale but shee shall be allowed a third part in her accompt for so long time as shee is Gardian for if she bring her Writ of Dower in this case against the heire he cannot plead her gardinship and that she may indow her selfe Sée 45. Edw. â— fol. 6. If such a Feme gardian bring a Writ of Dower against one whom her husband
seisi que Dower la puit It was giuen in eâ—idence to the Inquest on the Demandants â—ehalâ—e that a feosment was made to the â—aron in fee yâ— déed of feofment was shewed to the Court it was answered that long time before the feofment the Earon was seised to him and his first wife in speciall taile and how afterward hee discontinâ—ed that and takes backe an estate in fée simple to himselfe by â—he 〈◊〉 aforesaid of which estate hee died seised so that the heire in speciall taile was remitted and the second wife being now Demandant not dowable Mountague would haue demurred and disâ—â—ssed the â—ury but the Iustices were cleare in opinion that the â—ury ought to 〈◊〉 for the Demandant because their charge was only vpon the issue viz. whether the Baron had euer â—eiâ—in of such â—state that thâ— wife might haue dower And they were not to â—â—gâ—â—d the Remitter but onely to looke to the generall issue giuen them in charge But if the speâ—iâ—ll matter had 〈◊〉 pleaded the Demandant must nâ—â—dâ— haue â—éene â—arred for if he which makes a feoffement with condition to râ—â—nter for the condition broken and then in a Writ of dâ—â—er brought by thâ—feâ—â—â—â—â—s wiâ—â— hee will plead ne vnques â—â—iâ—â—â— quâ— dower it shall be found against him Knighâ—ly therefore would haue the spâ—â—iall matter found by the Iury and a verdict at large but the Iustâ—ces would not consent Yet â—empore Edw. 1. There was a case that the Baron discontinued his wiâ—es 〈◊〉 and died his wife recouered against the discontinue and he died the discontinues wife brought a Writ of Dower against the woman Recouâ—rer and she pleaded the generall issue ne vnques â—eisi que dower la puit All this matter was found â—y â—peâ—iall verâ—â—â—â— and â—udgement giâ—â—n vpon the issue 〈◊〉 foolishly â—â—ynâ—d that the Demandant should recoâ—er Dower which shee should neuer haue done had the 〈◊〉 â—éene good Sâ—â— and marke well this case and 21. Edw. â— fol. 60. and the â—â—se 28 Aâ—s pl. 4. SECT XIV Recouerie against the husband 14. H. 4. 33. IN action of Dower the Tenant pleaded a recouery in Assise against the husband iudgement si action c. the Demandant said her husband was seised c. and married her and infeofed the Tenant and afterward disseised him against whom the Tenant recouered in Assise the Baron died she prayed to bee indowed The Tenant said he was seised till by the Baron disseised against whom hee recouered by Assise sans câ—o that the Baron was seised before the disseisin que dower la puit the Demandant said seised before the disseisen que dower la puit Likewise 47. Edw. 3. 13. the Baron makes a feofment and ousteth the feofée the feofée recouers in assize the baron dieth now in a writ of Dower if the feoffée plead recouery in assize the widdow cannot â—alâ—â—â—â—â— the recouery but she may plead that long time before it c. her husband was seised que dower la puit and the Defendant contra 12. H. 4. 20. 21. The Tenant said he brought a Formedone against the husband which Writ hanging he shewed to the husband a dâ—ed of intailment whereupon presently he rendred the land in pâ—is to the Tenant which entred and now auâ—rreth the entailâ— Iudgement si action Thiâ—â— said the Statute was si vir reddat aduersario suo de plenâ— Iusticiarii adiudicent mulieri dotem but he and the whole Court agréed that rendring in pais doth not defeat meâ—â—â— estates of them which were neither parties nor priuy to the rendring and therefore they awarded the woâ—â—â— should recouer Dower Hanke said fée simple might not be rendered without liuery and seisin and where there is Lord and Tenant the Tenant may not surrender to his Lord Of falsifying of recoueries I haue spoken already Note If land bee recouered in value against the husband because of warranty made by his Ancestors the widdow shall haue Dower of those lands notwithstanding for if the Baron had aliâ—ned the land before voucher it should not haue beene rendred in value Consequently therefore the womans title is more ancient than the vouchers which beginneth but the day of vouching By Fâ—â—zh in his Abridgemâ—nt Dower 129. And his â—atâ— â—re 150. d. SECT XV. Ne vnques accouple c. SOmetime the vnlawfulnesse of marriage is pleaded in barre of Dower As 39. Edw. 3. 15. the Tenant pleaded the Demandant was first married to A and hée liuing she married B. of whoâ—e dowâ—ent she claimeth A. being still aliue this was holdâ—n no good pleading and therefore he added â—ssâ—â—t nient accouple in loyall matrimony The entry was only ne vnques accouple c. and a Writ awarded to the Bishop to certifie but for all such pleas deduced at length by old Writers as stand vpon the inualidity of marriage I will refâ—rre widdowes to that which is gone before of marriage and diuorce The pleas also of vnder 9. yéeres of age of attainder of non tenure ioyntenure or seuerall tenure I will not tarry on them 39. Ed. 1. fol. 4. A woman brought Dower against twâ— by seuerall precipes and one of them prayed â—yd of the other as parceners so that it appeareth that seuerall tenaâ—cie is a good plea in action of Dower Contra in Assise Brooke 99. SECT XVI Plea that tâ—e Baron is yeâ— aliue THe Writ de dote vnde nihil habet affords another eâ—ception against Dower because it saith quondâ—â— viri sui for though the fundamentall cause of dower be matrimony quoad le title yet as to the possession a woman cannot claime it till matrimony be dissolued therefore by Fitzherbert if the Baron take habit of religion the wife shall not be endowed till the husband be dead re vera yet by Britton it is issuable whether the Baron be entred into religion or no and that issue shall be tried by the Ordinary and iudged according to his certificat â—ut when the deforcer will barre Dower by â—lâ—a that the husband is yet aliue if the widdow reply he is dead the proofe regularly belongs to the Plaintiffe But if the Defendant say the husband is in plein vy ceo est prist auerrer he must proue his aâ—erâ—ent and sometime â—oth parties shall be heard to make their prâ—â—e which if it â—e aâ—â—â—e strong on either â—â—â—e the Deâ—andant may haue iâ—dgâ—ment oâ—â—eisiâ— finding surety such as the Court shall â—ward to resâ—ort if hâ—r husband hereafter â—ee brought into Court the â—aâ—d with the issues and proâ—â—â—s therâ—â—â— iâ— tâ—e interim recoâ—â—â—d But if the matter be doubtfull and the womaâ—â—aâ—â—ot â—â—â—â—e such surety the seisen shall râ—â—â—â—â—e where iâ— is and tâ—â— plea in suspence to be renewed pâ—â—summons as occasion shall serue Britton fo 25. SECT XVII Iudgement IVdgement in a Writ of Dower is framed according to the substance of the title and circumstance of the pleading It is touched aboue when or how a woman shall recouer dammages by sâ—râ—ise that the husband dyed
husband till his death then by his death the widdow is made sole Tenant of them so little needing either assignation or other circumstance that without new entry claime or challenge shee may haue action of her owne possession against any other that shall enter If the husband aliened intirely any lease for yéeres of his wiues it is gone irreuocable and if hee make no sale and the wife dyes hee shall haue the leafe except shee bee ioyntly possest with another and the seruing ioyntenant shall haue Commentar vpon Fitzherbert 185. If he aliened part of the estate as for ten yéeres next ensuing where the terme was for twenty the widdow may enter when ten yéeres expired But sée in that Case that if the husband rested a rent and dyes the Executors of the husband shall haue the rent for it was not incident to the reuersion yet the wife shall haue the resioue of the terme Sir Edw. Cokes Commentar vpon Fitzherbert fol. 57. b. if he aliened for the ten last yéeres shee may continue possession till those ten yéeres be commenced If the husband deuise away by his last Testament a terme for yéeres which he hath by right of his wife I suppose the deuise is â—â—id as well as if it were made of some higher estate as it appeares by Perkins chap. Dâ—â—â—ses and Plowd 419 in Bra 〈…〉 gâ—â— case And the Law is all one in all respects where the Baron and Feme are possessed of lease for yeares by intâ—eâ—ties that if the estate be made to them during their couerture or by moyties that is to them ioyntly before marriage or where the Baron is possessed of a lease iure vxoris Sée Dame Haâ—â— case Plowd 260. And if the Baron possest of a lease for yeares in the right of his wife charge the land with a rent and die the rent is gone Plowd 4â—8 in Bracebridges case for shee is remitted And if Feine Gardian in Socrage be and her Baron alienateth it and die the wife may enter And sée Dyer 8. Eliz. 25 the same is of Coppy holds per 〈…〉 der to the vse of a Feme for yeares the wife die the estate rests in the husband without a custome be to the contrary If an husband be possest of a terme for yeares in the right of his wife and Iudgement is had against him and the terme is extended and the husband dieth it shall be good against the wife as appeares by Sir Edw. Cokes 8 Rep. 96. in Maâ—â—ing case And see the 9. case of 50 E. 3. lib. Ass note Sir Edw. Cokes Rep. in â—ulwoods case and Plowd 26â— in Damè Hales casâ— where a lease made to Baron and Feme is extended for the debt of the King after the wiues drath If a man possest of a te me deuiseth it to one for his life the remainder to a woman for her life who takes an husband the husband may release that to the particular tenant although it be but a possibilitie Sir Edw. Cokes 10. Rep. 47. Lampeâ—â—s case And if a woman hath a lease for yeares as Executâ—iâ— and takes an husband hée may sell it per â—oâ— curi 〈…〉 pr 〈…〉 r Fitzherbert Dyer â—8 H. 8. 7. A woman hath a terme 〈…〉 trir the husband s 〈…〉 wits to 〈…〉 vâ—â—n which a moytie is awarded to the pretendor of the title the wife is bound thereby but because the defendant in detinue brought by the wife for the Indenture of lease plead non dâ—tinet and not the speciall matter Iudgement was against him Dyer 2. E 〈…〉 183. 21. H. 7. 6. agrees If the husband discontinue the Franck tenement of his wife the apt instrument whereby to recouer it when she is a widdow is a Cu 〈…〉 vita Which though it be not so necessarie and néedfull perhaps since the Statute of 32. which disableth husbands to discontinue as it was before yet I. perceiue not by what reason the vse of it is forbidden euen in those cases where the entrie is â—ongeable for the vertue of the Writ is not decayed by lawfulnesse of the entrie neither doth free libertie to take possession prohibit the resort to Iustice and action at Law when perhaps a woman cannot or dares not enter By Common Law therefore if the Baron alien in fée the heritage of his wife or her Francktenement by Feoffment or by Demise for terme of life or in taile she may haue remedy after his decease by this Writ Of which the generall forme is Praecipe A. quod â—â—d â—â—â— Bâ—quae fuit vxor Câ—â—â—um messuagium 〈…〉 quod clamat esse ius hereditat suam Et in quod A. noâ— habet ingressum nisi per C. quondam virum c qui illud â—â— de 〈…〉 isit cui in vita contradicere non pot 〈…〉 Th 〈…〉 may be in the per â—ui and post and some varietie it hath according to title of the Demandant as Quâ—â—â— clamat 〈…〉 ius haereditatem or Vt ius maritagium or Vt ius exâ—onâ— I. qui ipsaâ— B. C. virum suum feofavit in quo c. or Quam clamat tenere sibi haeredibusde corpore suo de 〈◊〉 C. quondam viri sui exâ—untibus â—â— d 〈…〉 ne I. or Quam clamat essâ— dotem suam ex dono E. pri 〈…〉 vel secundi c. If Baron and Feme lose the wiues landâ— by de 〈…〉 shée may haue this Writ when shee is a widdow But if the wiues lands be recouered in a Cessauit perâ—de 〈…〉 â—â— Baron and Feme vpon a C 〈…〉 during esp 〈…〉 shall neuer haue a Cuâ—â—â— vita 4. Ed. 2. If Baron and Feme and a third person being Ioyntenants in Fée the Baron alien the intiertie and die his widdow shall haue a Cui in vita of a inoytie during the life of the third person for it séemed the alienation was a seuerance of Ioynture saith Fitzherbert But hée sends vs to 36. Ed. 3. in his Abridgement titulo Cui in vita By which booke the wife in this case cannot haue a Cui in vita for any part so long as the third person suruiueth because they two may ioyne in a Writ of right and if hee die she may haue a Cui in vita of all Vide Librum Of lands which a man and woman purchase ioyntly before couerture the Cui in vita shall be but of a inoytie but of lands purchased ioyntly during coâ—eâ—â—ure the Cui in vita is of the in 〈…〉 e and being brought of a inoytie the Writ is not good 39. H. 6. 45. for in the one case they are seised by inoyties in the other by intireties A woman by excepting lands which she and her late husband tooke in exchange or by excepting rent reserued out of it shall be bâ—â—â—ed in a Cui in vita or any other action Fitzherbert and â—6 Ed. 4. 8. Idem ius if shée accept parcell â—â— her owne land in Dower but 17. Assisarum pl. 3. Brooke 24. Cui in
giue away in fée or for life the tenement which shée holdeth in Dower the heire or he which is in reuersion may maintenant haue his recouerie by Writ of Entrie and this is termed a writ of Entrie in Casu prouiso There is no doubt but Fée in this Statute signifieth both Fée simple and Fée taile And he which hath Fée simple Fée taile or Estate for life in the reuersion may haue this Writ against the Alienée or against him which is tenant of the Francktenement And this during the life of the tenant in Dower which aliened for when she is dead it lieth not perâ—el Nâ—t Breu. The Statute expresseth not the writ but the forme is Praecipe A. quod reddat B. vnum tonemen um quod clamat in quod non habet ingressum nisi per C. quae suit vxo D. qui illud ei demisâ—â— illud tenuit in dotem de dono praedicti D. quondum viri sunt cuius haeres c. quod post eemisionem per istud C. praefat ' A. contra formam Statuti Glocest c. ad praefatum â— reuerti debet performameiusdem Statuti And it may be in the Per Cui or Post If a woman recouer Dower against the heire and then alien in Fée the recouerie must be mentioned by the heire in his writ of Entrie in Casu prouiso In like manner as it must be in a writ of Entrieâ—d Communem Legem vpon an alienation by tenant in Dower and though this alienation be but in taile or for life yet the forme of the writ varieth not If he which hath the reuersion in Fée grant it to another and the Tenant in Dower after Atturnment alieneth in Fee the Grantée of the reuersion shall haue Writ specifying the grant Likewise if the heire grant his reuersion with Atturnment and the Grantée grants it ouer with Atturnment the third Grantée may haue a writ specifying that the woman held of the first second and third ex assignatione c. The Aunt and Néece hauing the reuersion by discent may ioyne in this writ and the processe is summons grand and petit cape SECT XXX The Writ if Enirie in Casa coasimili THis Writ is in nature like the other and it lyeth when Tenant by the courtesie or Tenant for his owne life or another mans alieneth in fée or in taile or for terme of life he in the reuersion which hath it for life or in taile or in fée may haue this Writ of Entrie in Casu consimili during the life of him which aliened and this is formed and granted vpon West 2. cap. 24. which willeth That as often as there is a Writ found in Chancerie for one case and another case falling sub eodemâ—â—â—e and requiring like remedy there is none in the registrie of the Chancerie for that the Clerks of the Chancerie shall concord in framing a writ Vel atterminent quaerâ—ntes in proximo Parliamento scribantur vsus in quibus concordare non possunt c. referant eos ad proximum Parliamentum fiat breue de consensu Iurisperitorâ—m ne contingâ—tdâ— caetero quod curia Domini Regis deficiat conquerentibus in Iustitia perquirenda The Writ is Reuerti debet performam statuti in consimili casu prouisi And it supposeth alwayes altenation in feodo although the Tenant leased or dem sed it but for terme of another mans life or in taile And so the writ of in Casu prouiso And that of Entrie ad Communem Legem This writ may be in the per cui and post And without title made in the writ if if so be that the Demandant himselfe made the particular estate of him which aliened But if the father or other Ancestor make a lease for terme of life and die and then the Tenant for life alieneth in fée now the heire in reuersion shall haue a writ comprising his title in it selfe And if this writ be brought vpon alienation made by Baron and Feme the writ supposeth that the wife aliened with her husband but yet shée may haue a Cui in vita after her husbands death the alienation not letting it If Tenant for life grant his estate to another and the grantee alieneth in fée the Writ shall be in quod non habet ingressum nisi per C. cuâ— D. qui illud tenuit ad vitam ex demissione B. deâ—â—sit ad eusdem teâ—mâ—num c. If a man make a lease for life and dye and his heire grant the reuersion to B. and the Tenant attâ—â—nes If now the lessée grant his estate to another which alieneth in fee to A. B. shall haue a Writ comprehending the assignation and grant of all the estates If lands bee giuen to two men and to the heires of one of them and he which hath the fée simple dies and then the Tenant for life alieneth in fée now the heire of him in remainder may haue this Writ for it lyeth as well for him as for Tenant in reuersion If any Abbot or Prior make a lease for life the lessée alien the Prior dye c the successor may haue this Writ Also tenant in taile may haue it if hee make a lease for life and his lessee alien in fée And it séemes if Tenant in taile make a lease for life of the lessee and dye the issue in taile may choose to bring a Formdon or Writ of Entrie in Consimili casu against the alienée whilst the lessée for life is yet liuing for the alienée which is Tenant in the Action cannot plead in Abatement of the Writ that the Demandant hath title to a Formedone But if Tenant in taile make a lease for terme of his owne life which is no discontinuance if now the lessee alien in fee and the lessor dye his heire cannot haue a Writ de consimili casu but he is driuen to his Formedone for in this case he hath no title to other Actions by colour of any demise But in the former case he had title by reason of the discontinuance made for life to claime by right of the new reuersion discended so that hee had a double title the reuersion reserued sur le seas and the title in taile consequently election of Action Quaere P. 17. Ed. 3. A lease made for life the remainder to another in fée the lesses aliened in fée and a writ de consimili casu brought by him in the remainder and it abated for the Court said that hee in remainder was not possessed in fait till the remainder did fall after the death of the â—essée Saith Fiâ—zherbert the Law is not so taken at this day but that hee in remainder hath the remainder vested in him as well as hath hee in the reuersion for hee may haue an action of waste and enter for alienation of his tenement as well as hee in the reuersion may Ergo hee hath his remainder in faâ—t and mee séemeth this Iudgement was not well giuen saith Fitzherbert And
it is great pâ—â—ulancie in any widdow that slippeth to second wedlocke wâ—ilst she yet nourisheth in her wombe the pledge of vnâ—â—n and loue betwixt her and her late husband I thanke God I cannot say that I haue knowen in my life time any widdow so wantâ—n In old time women vsed now and then to saine themselues left with childe and to bring forth borrowed brats to depriue the Deceaseds right heire of his inheritance sometimes of their owne mischieuous malice and deceitfulnesse and sometime by consent and combining with the Lords of whom the lands were holden Bracton in his second Booke cap. 32. hath a large discourse De partu supposito and there is a Writ to the Sheriffe to call before him and the Kéeper of Pleas of the Crowne the woman that pretendeth to be enseint to haue her examined by tractation and search of good and lawfull women per vbera per ventrem whether she be pregnant or no and if the matter he found doubtfull to commit her to a Castle and warie custodie without accesse of any suspected woman Quâ—usque de partu suo corstare possit But this is a péece of learning so obsolete and worâ—e out that I thinke since I was borne and a long time before there neuer was any such Writ put in â—re I conclude therefore that our widdâ—wes now adayes are honester than they were in Henry the thirds time in the fifth yeare of whose reigne Mariell widdow of William Constable de Mauton in Comitat. N. rff practised this cousenage widdowes of this age are nothing so deceitfull though deceiued sometimes by bad husbands THE WOMANS LAWYER The fifth BOOKE THe widdow married againe to her owne great liking though not with applause of most friends and acquaintance But alas what would they haue her to haue done she was faire young rich gracious in her carriage and so well became her mourning apparrell that when shee went to Church on Sundayes the casements opened of their owne accord on both sides the stréets that bachelours and widdowers might behold her Hic trahebatur â—lle erâ—â— cunctis amor vnus habendi Her man at home kissed her pantables and serued diligently Her late husbands Physitian came and visited her often The Lawyer to whom shee went for councell tooke opportunity to aduise for himselfe If shée went to any feast there was euer one guesâ— sometimes two or thrée the more for her sake If she were at home suitors ouertooke one another and sometimes the first commer would answer the next that she was not within All day she was troubled with answering ê‘etitions And at night when she would go to rest her maid Marion was become a Mistris of requeâ—â—s and humâ—le supplications This kinde of life the widdow liked not I aske againe what she should haue done he to whom she gaue a denâ—all would not take it if shee denied him twise hee said two negations made an affirmation and hée challenged promise therefore to set mens haâ—ts and her owne at rest shee chuse amongst them one not of the long robe not a man macerate and dryed vp with study but a gallant gulburd lad that might well be worthy of her had hee béene as thrifty as kind hearted or halfe so wise as hardy and aduâ—nturous This youth within lesse than a yeere had set the Nuncios which his predecessor kept in prison at liberty round about the Countrey the bags were all empty the plate was all at pawne all to keep the square bones in their amble and to relieue Companions One of which notwithstanding that had cost hâ—m many a pound for none other quarrell but vous meâ—tes challenged him one day into the field which was appointed and there my new married man was slaine Now his wife will bring her Appeale SECT I. Appeale of the husbands death BY Bracton li. 3. cap. 29. A woman can haue an Appeale but only in two cases per quod alicui lex debeat apparens adiudicari As in case where iniury and force is committed against her person by rauishment or when her husband is killed imer Brachia iua This forme of appeale therefore is A. late wife of B. appeales â— that whereas B. her husband was at such a place such an houre such a day and such a yéere C. came with force â—equiter in felonia contra pacem regis and killed him betwixt her armes and that he did this against the Kings peace and fellonioâ—sly shee will proue and maintaine as the Court shall thinke good Againe the same A. appeales E. of this that at the same place the same yéere day and hâ—wer E. â—ame with C. felloniously and against the Kings peace and held B. till C. killed him c. If hée which is appealed de facto were taken vpon the fact with his knife or sword all bloudy and this veryâ—â—ed by Testimony of good and lawfull men non erit vâ—terius â—â—quirenâ—â—â— Thus Bracton Now let vs â—â—â— how shee shall be vnderstood there is no doubt but a woman may haue other Appeales besides thâ—se twâ— of rape or death of her husband 11. Hen. 4. fol. 9â— An Appeale of Robbery was brought by a woman the defendant said the Appealant was his 〈◊〉 iudgement si el â—erra respondue and to the robbery non culpaâ—le So that hee pleaded to the fellonie and the â—â—â—fty admitted a good plea And a woman may haue an appeale of may hem 13. Hen. 7. 14. Hussey saith it was demanded of him for a doubtfull question where parish Clarke â—ell out with another man and threw the Church â—â—re keyâ—s at him with such force that they â—â—ang out at the Chamber window and put out a womans eye whether it were may hâ—â— or no And for the euill intent of the Clarke it was déemed may hâ—â— but consideratiâ—n ought to be had in aâ—â—eâ—â—â—ng â—aâ—â—ages But true it is a woman shall not haue appeale of any mans death saue only of her husbands therefore if a man bee killed that hath neither wiâ—â— nor sonne but his next heire is either daughter sister or female Cosâ—â— albeit he hath many other â—â—â—red Eâ—siâ—s or Vâ—eâ—es the proâ—â—â—ity of a female heâ—â—e â—â—â—es away the Appeale quite and cleane for of â—â—â— Ancestors death if he had no wife the Appeale belongs ouer to the heire who here cannot haue it because it is a female for Mag. Char. doth directly dâ—ny it â—ap 34. Nâ—llus câ—pictuâ— aâ—â— imprisonetâ—â— propter apellum â—eminae de moâ—â—e aâ—â—â—â—â—uâ— quam viri sui And vpon such an Appeale brought by an heire female the Defendants cannot bee arraigned at the Kings suit because the Appeale was neuer good Neither shall the Defendants recouer dammages because as Shard maketh the reasoâ— hee may bee arraigned and condemned otherwise ad Sectam regis for any thing yet done to the Contrary 27 Aâ—â— p. 25. A daughter or sister c. can haue none Appeales of a fathers or brothers death no more can a mother haue Appeale
multiply and replenish the Earth take the joynt soveraigntie over the Fishes of the Sea the Foules of the Ayre and over all Beasts moving upon the Earth Genesis 1. In the second Chapter Moses declareth and expresseth the Creation of Women which word in good sense signifieth not the woe of Man as some affirme but with Man For so in our hasty pronouncing wée turne the preposition with to woe or wée oftentimes and so shée was ordained to bée with man as a helpe a companion because God saw it was not good that Man should bée alone Then when God brought Woman to Man to bée named by him hée found straight way that shée was bone of his bones flesh of his flesh giving her a name testifying shée was taken out of Man and he pronounced that for her sake man should leave Father and Mother and adhere to his Wife which should be with him one Now Man and Woman are one NOw because Adam hath so pronounced that man and wife shall be but one flesh and our Law is that if a feofment bée made joyntly to Iohn at Stile and to Thom. Noke and his wife of thrée acres of land that Tho and his wife get no more but one acre and a halfe quia una persona and a writ of conspiracy doth not lye against one onely and that is the reason Nat. br â—o 116. a writ of conspiracy doth not lie against baron feme for they are but one person by this a married Woman perhaps may either doubt whether shée bée either none or no more then halfe a person But let her bée of good cheare though for the néere conjunction which is betwéene man and wife and to tye them to a perfect love agreement and adherence they bée by intent and wise fiction of Law one person yet in nature in some other cases by the Law of God and man they remaine divers for as Adams punishment was severall from Eves so in criminall and other speciall causes our Law argues them severall persons you shall finde that persona is an Individuum spoken of any thing which hath reason and therefore of nothing but Vel de Angelo vel de homme fol. 154. in Dyer who citeth no worse authority for it then Callepinus owne selfe séeing therefore I list not to doubt with Plato whether Women bée reasonable or unreasonable creatures I may not doubt but every woman is a temporall person though no woman can be a spirituall Vicar Of Hermaphrodites OF Hermaphrodites I have some kind of doubts not whether they bée persons but what persons they bée If a man die seised leaving 3. children which bee all Hermaphrodites whether the eldest shall have all his land or that it bée partable as among coheires Also if the eldest bée a Hermaphrodite and the other 2. faire young Virgins which way jetteth the discent Bracton in his first Booke Cap. 7. saith Hermaphroditus comparatur masculo tantum vel feminae tantum secundum praevalescentiam sexus iâ—calescentis that is it must bée déemed male or female according to the predominance of the sex most inciting And as I remember I have read the like division Vâ— Britt Cont. sol 1678. Bracton in his first book the 30. Chapter fol. 438. where hee sheweth that a man shall not be tenant by the courtisie Si partus declinaverit ad monstruÌ„ cum clamore emitteret deberet emisit rugituÌ„ saith it is not partus monstrosus licet natura membra mâ—nuerit vel ampliaverit ut si quis habeat digitos aut articulos sex vel plures Now then if these creatures bee no Monsters but are in conjunction to take on theÌ„ the kind which is most ruling in theÌ„ this must néeds be understood in matrimony and consequently they may have heires which being granted why may they not be heires according to the prevalescence which Bracton speaketh of if I were to furnish my selfe a house I would place no picture or Image in any parlour dining or bed-chamber but it should be of good séemely and natural proportion Satyres and Centaures should come no nearer then the post at my doore And at the threshold of this my treatise or as it were a little behind the doore I will leave these deformed Children of Mercury or Venus suffering them to enter no further SECT III. The punishment of Adams sinne REturne a little to Genesis in the 3. Chap. whereof is declared our first parents transgression in eating the forbidden fruit for which Adam Eve the serpent first and lastly the earth it selfe is cursed and besides the participation of Adams punishment which was subjection to mortality exiled from the garden of Eden injoyned to labor Eve because shée had helped to seduce her husband hath inflicted on her an especiall bane In sorrow shalt thou bring forth thy children thy desires shall bee subject to thy husband and he shall rule over thee Sée here the reason of that which I touched before that Women have no voyse in Parliament They make no Lawes they consent to none they abrogate none All of them are understood either married or to bée married and their desires or subject to their husband I know no remedy though some women can shift it well enough The common Law here shaketh hand with Divinitie but because I am come too soone to the title of Baron and feme and Adam and Eve were the first and last that were maried so young it is best that I runne backe againe to consider of the things which I might seeme to have lost by the way that are fit to be knowne concerning women before they be fit for marriage SECT IV. The Ages of a Woman THe learning is 35. Hen. 6. fol. 40. that a Woman hath divers speciall ages at the 7. yeare of her age her father shall have aide of his tenants to marry her At 9. yeares age shee is able to deserve and have dowre At 12. yeares to consent to marriage At 14. to bee hors du guard at 16. to be past the Lords tender of a husband At 21. to be able to make a feoffement And per Ingelton there in the end of the case a woman married at 12. cannot disagrée afterward but if she be married younger shee may dissent till shee be 14. The age of 7. yeares when Bracton wrote this aide for making the sonne a Knight or marrying the daughter was due de gratia non de Iure and pro necessitate indigentia domini capitalis measured by the indigence of the Lord and opulence of the tenants But West 1. Cap. 35. in the third yeare of Edward 1. the Law was made certaine the Lord shall have aide of his tenants as soone as his daughter accomplished 7. yeares age-for the marriage of her Viz. xx s. of a whole knights fée and xx s. of xx I. â—and in soccage and so forth according to the rate more or lesse The King shall have this aide according to
mothers side yea and before a sonne of the second uncle on the part of the father and this by the worthinesse of blood I will not examine the crainkes of discent but turne to the case where possession of the brother excludeth a brother and taketh in a sister If a man hath issue a sonne and daughter by one venter and a sonne by another and give land to the eldest sonne in taile now if the father die and the reversion in fée discend to the eldest sonne who likewise dies without issue of his body the second sonne shall have this land For here was no possession but an expectance of fée simple in the eldest Per omnes Iusticiarios de Communi Banco 24 E. 3. fol. 13. For it is possessio fratris non reversio fratris c. Yet Thorpe Iustice of the Kings Bench thought the land should goe to the daughter Brooke con Brooke discent 13. Againe afine was levied to I. and A. his wife in taile the remainder in fée to A. they had issue a sonne and the husband died the wife tooke another husband by whom shee had issue another sonne and died the eldest sonne entered and died without issue the collaterall heire to him entered as into the remainder in fée and the youngest sonne of the halfe blood to execute the fée brought a Scire facias which was holden good for though the eldest might have charged forâ—ited or given the fée simple by atteinder yet it was not actually in him and therefore the demi sanke none impediment but the younger sonne might have it as heire to his mother 24. E. 3. fol. 30. Which cases prove that the possession of a brother to convey the fee to a collaterall heire if it be not apprehendeth actively the generall heire to the common ancestor may enter Therefore where there is a son or daughter by one venter and a puisne sonne by an other venter if the father die seised of an advouson or a rent and the eldest son died before he present or receive the rent the daughter shall not inherit and if the father die seised of an use in fee possessio fratris facit sororem esse haeredem by taking the profits of the ground 5. E. 4. 7. Where it is said that if the father by testameÌ„t bequeath the profits for tearme of yeares this letteth not the possession of the eldest brother otherwise it is if it had beene for tearme of life and the like difference is by this booke if a lease be made for yeares or for life of lands not in use c. SECT VIII Where the manner of gift altereth the discent BRactons first exception to his general rule that a Woman shall not inherit when there is an heire male is Nisi contrarium faciat modus donationis His example is A man giveth land to one in mariage with his daughter to them two and to the heires of their bodies they have issue a daughter and the husband dying the wife taking another husband hath by him a sonne and dieth the daughter shall inherit per modum donationis the case is plaine But Littleton hath a limitation where modus donationis doth cleane exclude Women from inheriting That is where lands are given to a man the heires male of his body now if he die having issue a sonne and a daughter by one wife and a second sonne by a second wife the daughter can never inherit nay if he die having issue a daughter onely which daughter hath a sonne neither daughter nor son shall inherit for whosoeuer shall inherit by force of an intaile made to heires males must per modum donationis be males coÌ„vey his disceÌ„t to it per heirs males which because the sonne cannot doe here the donor may reenter But Littleton saith also lest women should take the matter unkindly at his hand that where land is given to a man to the heires females of his body his issue female shal inherit per formaÌ„ doni not the issue male for the will of the giver must be observed He hath another case which I may not omit When lands are given a man to the heires males of his body which have issue 2. sonnes the eldest dyes having issue a daughter if hée lease the land for tearme of yeares the reversion descendeth to the sonne but if the lease bée for tearme of life of the lessée the reversion and the fée simple descendeth to the daughter the discontinuance is the cause here the daughter is in not in the per but contra modum donationis by violating the will of the giver SECT IX Where a woman comming to lands shall retaine them c. NOw I will shew you where a female having gotten inheritance per modum donationis or otherwise shall retaine it and where not Marke well this case Iohn died seised of fée leaving issue Robert the eldest sonne and Richard the puisne Robert entred tooke a wife and had issue Alice which Alice died hée tooke another and leaving her great with childe hée died the Lord seized the land and ward of Alice and granted the custody to one which indowed the wife of Robert she was delivered of a sonne William The Lord seized William his ward which lived ten yeares and died without issue Henry the sonne of Richard the second sonne of Iohn entereth Alice entereth upon Henry and hée brings an assise now because the possession of the Lord was seisin and possession of William to whom Alice was but of the halfe blood it was awarded that Henry should recover But by the opinion of the Court the land which the wife held in dowre should goe to Alice for therein William had Broke dispent pl. 19. no more but a reversion 8. Assisa pl. 6. Againe Henry seised of tenements deviseable in Winchester where the Custome is that hée which is seised by devise may not with warranty or without warranty make alienation to barre the reversion or remainder deviseth them to his wife Alice for tearme of life the remainder to Th. his sonne for life so that Th. should make no alienation quo minus tenementa devenirent propinquioribus haeredibus de sanguine puerorum post mortem predicti Thom. Henry died having issue Steven an elder sonne and Maud a daughter which had issue Eliz. Steven died without issue Alice the wife entered and died seised Tho. entereth and alieneth in fée with warranty Maâ—d dieth Elizabeth maketh claime by taking the haspe of the doore in her hand Tho. dieth without issue Eliz. entereth upon the alienee he puteth her out shée bringeth an assise It was holden that the heires of Henry had nothing in the fée simple by the limitation which went not to his children but to the next of blood to his children excluding ses infants demesne And by Wilby if B. make a lease to Alice for life the remainder to the néerest of blood if he die having issue 2. sonnes and the
garde at the age of 14. yeares THe principall reason that mooved our law founders so soone to set women out of ward is none other then hath béene already declared she is quickly able domui preesse viro subesse and her husband for her shall doe Knights service or some other for him and in his stead the cases are therefore 26 H. 8. fo 2 If the Kings tenant in chiefe having feoffees to his use marry his daughter vnder age to a man of full age and dye this daughter being heire is out of ward for her body though not for her land for that shal be in ward in this case an the Kings possession must bee voided by suite and livery But had she béene of full age of 14. yeares at her fathers death no such thing had néeded neither should she have bin in ward nor the King have any primer seisin For that was not as yet seene into by the Statutes of H. 7. which had given ward reliefe and herriots upon the death of him which died intestate and seised of onely a bare use againe if the King have a woman ward which he marrieth before she be 14 she shal be be to all intents out of ward at 14. and may immediatly sue her livery 28. H. 8. for as a ward masculine married by his Lord vnder 21. shal be sui luris at 21. so shall a ward feminine being maried before 14. bee out of ward at 14. altogether In the old Natura brevium in the writ de electione custodiae it is said that where the tenant marieth his daughter being under age to a man of ful age dieth the daughter shal be out of ward But if he mary his daughter being of full age to a man under age and die she shall be in ward This Mr. Brooke taketh to be no law even so doe I his reason is that no Lord can have the marriage of her that is already married or compell any heire to be twice married For if a tenant marry his son and die and then the sonnes wife dieth holden the Lord shall not have his body in ward to marry him Which is cleare specially if the sonne were infra annos nubiles at the time of his fathers death But certainely if the Lord couple his ward to a wife which dieth the ward is at full liberty for his body and shall not be married by his Lord. The reason why an heire female of full age married by her father to a man under age should not be out of ward must be because the supposition of law faileth her husband is not able arma portare officiis fungi militaribus vel pro iisdem faciendis cum alio pacisci But this notwithstanding me thinketh a woman married should bee out of ward for all her husbands nonage thought the woman bee but twelve yeares old a boy knight shall be out of ward for his body shall a woman innupta matura viro be in kéeping of any but her husband shall shee at 14. yeares age bee ward because she hath a husband but 19. yeare olds who should not have béene in ward had she had no husband at al non videtur The husbands ability to doe souldiers service is neither the onely nor the principall cause in mine opinion why a woman is by law out of ward at 14. yeares age But law going with the trace or tide of nature that hath made women as Bracton saith fit to carry cey and key cloge betimes suffereth them to mary very early And it should be a mischievous inconvenient unjust and unnatural law that should hold a woman from her husband or from her inheritance which is without offence of law maried fully able to bring forth children because her husband is not fully fit for all mannor of horsemanship Be not therefore good woman absterred from a young husband by old natura brevium SECT XII How a woman that hath beene in ward shall come by her land A Woman past 14. yeares of age at her ancestors death shall not be in ward And where she is in ward till 16. she may have action at 16. against her Lord for her inheritance according to the Statute By Littleton she may enter which standeth with reason for the Statute giving action to her affirmatiuely doth not disaffirme the entrie which she might have had by the auncient catholicke Common law if shee cannot or dare not enter she may have alone if she be alone or with her fellowes if she be a coheire a writ of mortdancester as well against her Lord as against any other abator Marlbridg ca. 16. But if shee be ward to the King against whom a mortdancestor writ of Aile Besaile or Cosinage then it melts into petition and she must sue for livery And where the King hath a woman in ward with some lands holden of other Lords in socage such a ward shall not so soone as shee is 14. yeare old have livery of that socage lands but she must arry unlesse she be married in the meane while till she be 16. because livery must be at once parcell not by percels Yet if 3. copartners be in ward to the King she which first commeth to age shall sue her livery and have partition vpon it SECT XIII Of Parceners FOr it must not be omitted there where a man dieth seised of any manner of inheritance having issue none but daughters to whom such inheritance descendeth when they have entered by Litt. they are parceners one heire to their common ancestor so are the heires of females parceners and they ought to come in by descent for if by purchase they are jointenants they are called partners saith he because they are compellable by a writ de partitione facienda to divide the inheritance amongst them Like or the same law is where a man dying seised having no issue his land goeth to his sisters or aunts that are partners if one of them dye before partition made her part shall descend to her issue and for want of issue to her coheires which shal be déemed and adjudged in by discent and not by survivour SECT XIII Difference betweene partners and jointenants FOr although partners have a conjoyned estate yet law maketh a great diversity betwixt them and jointenants Partners by the cōmon law are onely females or the heirs of females which also must be in by descents for if sisters makeajoint purchase they are jointnants and not partners Betwixt whom observe here the germaine apparent difference If two coparceners be of lands in fee simple wherof one before partition made chargeth her part with a rent dieth without issue her coparcener taking as heire and by discent shall hold the land charged But it is otherwise betwixt jointenants Also partners may devise and give away their part by testament so cannot jointenants SECT XV. Difference betweene partners and tenants in common ANd as in the cases precedent parteners are like tenants in
common so in that which followeth they are like jointenants If two sisters enter into their deceased fathers lands and every of them having issue a sonne dieth before partition so that one moitie descendeth to one sonne and one moitie to another which sons enter and occupy the lands in common if they bee now disfeised they shall have but one assise and not severall assises Because although they come in here by divers discents yet still they are partners and that not onely in regard of the seisin possession which their mothers had but rather in respect of the estate which descended to their mothers from the common ancestors the grandfather to whom they are but one heire so that of a disseisin before partition they shal have but one assise SECT XVI Difference of partners from both jointenants and tenants in Common BY Bryan 10. Ed. 4 fo 3. one copartner may in feoffe another copartner for though their possession bee joint yet their right and interest is severed so that if one sister die the other shall claime a moitie by discent from her and not the intire inheritance from the Common auncestors Partners in this therefore are like tenants in Common whose title and right are separated and therefore they may infeoffe one another But it is otherwise with jointenants whose right is intire and goeth with the possession by survivour Againe partners may release the one unto the other and in this they are like jointenants only for if one tenant in Common release to his fellow his moitie passeth not because that hee to whom the release is made hath in the franck tenemeÌ„t of this moitie no possession But partners whose right is from one roote have a more co 〈…〉 ect possession then tenants in common and may release one unto another To conclude this point partners differ from both jointenants and tenants in common in this that partners are and alwaies were compellable to make partition so was neyther of the other two before the Statute 31. H. 8. cap. 1. which ordaineth that jointenants tenants in common of inheritance which in England or Wales in the right of themselves or their wives shal be compellable by writ de participatione to be devised in Chancery to make partition And that after partition they and their heires shall have mutuall aid one of another for the deraigning of a warranty peramount to recover pro rata as is used betwixt partners at the common law Afterward 32. H. 8. cap. 32 it is ordeined that if any have equal estate with others or in common jointly for tearme of life or for yeares or unequal estate with such as have an adhering inheritance they shall likewise be coÌ„pellable to make partition Provided that this shall not bee prejudiciall to any person other then the parties to it their executors or assignes SECT XVII Of the Nuper obiit BVt ere wee goe any further in partition let us sée what actions may lie betwixt partners for their inheritance before they have divided it And first of the Nuper obiit This is a writ and commandement of the King to the sheriffe to summon a coheir to be before the Kings iustices at a day certaine to shew why she or he for it lieth betwixt parcenersin Gavell kind also deforceth the plaintiffe coheire from her reasonable part belonging to her of the inheritance of I. S. their grandfather father uncle brother grandmother aunt sister or cousin as the case requireth whose heires they be qui Nuper obiit ut dicitur This writ lieth for lands holden in fée simple onely betwixt coheires where one or more of them deforceth or holdeth out his or their fellow coheire or coheire c. It must be brought in the name of all those which be deforced though in verity there be but one that sueth And this 1. may haue a writ of summoneas ad sequenduÌ„ against her negligent copartners who if they appeare not the sole plaintiffe shall be receiued to sue for her portion against the deforcer If after the ancestors death a kinsman enter claiming by descent the Nuper obiit lieth not against him but after entry and ouster an assise of novell disseisin or a writ of right for though coheires may haue Amordancester against a stranger yet can they not haue it against one of their owne parenteale priuy in blood and claiming by the same descent and where a writ of right sometimes is betwéene sisters as where one is infeoffed by déed and another claimeth by discent battaile lieth not nor the grand assise but an inquest in licu thereof Thus far V. N. B. The New Na. Bre. not disagréeing saith further That if one sister deforce another of the land whereof her ancestor died seised in estate of fée taile the remedy must bee by forme done and not by Nuper obiit a Nuper obiit may bée brought of the seisin of the aile besaile or the tresaile and if it be brought of the seisin of the grandfather Darreigne seisin in the father is no good plea without shewing that hée died seised This writ may be brought by the aunt against her sister and niece or by the aunt and niece against another sister niece or by one sister against another that is but of the halfe blood But if the father giue part of his land in francke mariage to one daughter and dye seized c. the donée in francke mariage shall not haue a Nuper obiit against her sister for her part in residue of her fathers fée simple laÌ„d unles she put her land in hotch pot which was given in francke mariage A nuper obiit must be brought by a coheire deforced against all the other coparceners though some of them haue nothing to doe in the demand A villein and his wife shal not haue a Nuper obiit against the coparceners of his wife for hee is not infranchised by marriage with one of those seignioresses to whom hee was bound If a coparcener be deforced by a coparcener and by astranger the deforced may haue a Nuper obiit against her coparcener and iointenancie abateth not the writ no more shall non-tenure of parcell of the thing demanded by rule of the register If two coparceners enter after the ancestors death and deforcing a third parcener doe afterward make partition and then one of them alieneth her portion in fée the deforced partner may by a Nuper obiit against her two coheires notwithstanding the alination recouer a third part of that which is not aliened and a third part of that which is aliened by a mortdancester or writ of Aile as the case lieth and in her owne name and in the name of her two coparceners against the alienâ—â— If one coparcener infeoffe a stranger in fee and take backe an estate in fee or for life it seemeth a Nuper obiit is maintenable still against her so long as she disclaime not in the blood c. But 21. Ed. 3. and
and by similitude of reason saith Fitzherbert it is a good partition where two Mannors descend to two Copartners that the one shall haue one Mannor by name and the other the other for a yeare to change possession the next yeare and so forth from yeare to yeare commutatiuely betwixt them and their heyres for euer No. na br 62. l. m. Et auxi partie que lun auera le terâ— in ta laut le ter in fee simple est bone partic And partners may make partition for terme of life or for terme of yeares and if one Co-partner lease her part to another Co-partner for terme of yeares yet shée may sue a Writ of partition against her partner the Lessée though the terme be vnexpired 33. Hen. 8. Dyer 52. is a quaere If the one of two Co-partners lease for terme of yeares that which to her belongeth and after the other bringeth a Writ of partition against the Lessor to whom in this partition there is alotted a lesse portion then the due some thinke saith he that the Lessée without remedie must hold himselfe contented aswell as the partner which leased But if the partition had beene without writ quaere SECT XIX Of partition by Writt VVHen Copartners cannot all agree to make partition amongst themselues the aptest meane to compell them is a Writ of partition And if there be foure Copartners one may haue this writ against three or two against two or thrée against one The gist of it by the old Na. bre is where the one entereth kéeping out the other and refusing to make partition but lâ—â—t layeth it where they be all in possession and so soundeth the Writt it selfe for it is a commandement to the Sheriffe Si A. fecâ—â—it te securum c. summoneas B. that she come and shew why she refuseth or permitteth not partition of a Mannor or a wood or such like the which with the appurtenances the said A. and B. doe hold together vndiuided of the inheritance of â— their father Mother or c. Fitzherbert in his Writt of partition setteth downe the forme as a Carpenter should set vp a frame of a Cottage being both to shew on what soile it should stand for he sheweth not the generall gist of his Writ and that his President might make plaine which is not doubtfull that when Partners are in possession one or more may haue a partitione faciunda yet he toucheth not the question whether a Partner ousted or not suffered to enter may haue it 40. Hen. 7. fo 9. in a Writ of partition Keble pleadeth for his Clyent that the defendant was sole seised sans ceo that he held pro indiuiso with the Plaintiffe by Vauisour that is no good plea for admit that shee bee sole seised yet partition lieth well enough but by Brian Chiefe Iustice it is hath been adiudged a good plea in our books for one shall not come to diuide that with another wherein he hath no part And saith Keble in a Writ of waste betwéene tenants in Common it is a good trauerse Non tenet insimul pro indiuiso likewise is it here where we haue trauersed the point and supposall of your Writ and the partie by nuper obâ—jt may recouer in seueraltie and partition shall be made and it was said that the seisin of one parcener is the seisin of both and so the reporter thinketh if one enter c. Where she which entereth claimeth in the name of her selfe and of her partner I can well agrée or if she enter not denying the right of her fellow And if after the death of the common Ancestor A. which is one Coheyre enter silent into the whole inheritance B the other Coheyre may now perhaps without other entry in the name of her selfe and her Companion maintaine a possessorie action against a stranger but when a Sister entereth vindicating all to her selfe by purchase or obiecting against her Sister Bastardie or Attainder and keeping her out of possession this I trow is no entry of both but such a deforcing as the Writs de rationabili parte and the nuper obijt were made to redresse If euery seisin of a partner must néeds be the seisin of all those that can claime as coheyres then there is no deforcing or néed at all of the forenamed writs But séeing that law hath appointed them for lands in see-simple and a formedone for land in taile against deforcers of their coparceners I say that seisin of one of them is not seisin to all of them and hauing a chiefe Iustice on my side I dare hold that non tenet pro indiuiso is a good plea in a Writt of partition which if it be brought by her that is deforced and out of possession it commeth preposterously out of kind and season and out of the order that our Law-founders at the first ordained See Brooke Coparceners per totum ou entrie de vn est le entrie del auter vers estrange pur lour advantage mes nemie pur disaduantage 43. Ed. 3. 19. lentrie d'un nest l'entrie de ambideux entre eux mesmes 40. E. 3. 8. By whom and how the Writt of partition must be brought at this day COheyres in Gauell kinde may compell one another to make partition by Writt but then they must mention the custome in their declaration If one Coparcener dye hauing issue c. her husband being tenant by the courtesie is compellable to make partition but he cannot compell c. by the Common Law for the Writt lieth naturally for none but parceners Fitzherbert and the old na bre haue a note out of the Register that in the 12. of King Ed. they tell not which there was sealed a Writ of partition at Barwicke betwéene strange persons and there it was said it might bee granted betweene any Coheyres or fellow tenants without naming de hereditâ—â—e in the Writt where it was likewise affirmed that such a Writt before that time was neuer séene aswell the other bookes of Law as the Statutes of 31. H. 8. make it out of question that this Writt by the Common Law was onely betwixt Coheyres as the two Writts which we haue passed were by custome in some speciall places ioynt-tenants and tenants in Common might haue a Writt of partition as Fitzherbert setteth downe by the Custome of London Writt of partition lyeth against tenant by the curtesie Littleton 264. Dyer 1. M. 98. Brief de partit at this day lye against the Feoffée of one Coparcener but not for a Feoffée mes vide Dyer 3. M. 128. Likewise before the Statutes if a man were both tenant in Common and tenant in Copartnerie as hauing one third part by purchase from one Sister and another in the right of his Wife he and his wife might bring a Writt of partition which see Nat. br fol. 61. It hath béene much doubted whether partition by agréement betwixt tenants in Common or ioynt-tenants were good without déed But
by the better opinion 3. Ed. 4. â— 9. 10. such a partition is good enough if it be vpon the ground but see the bookes of 2. Eliz. Dyer 179. 18. Eliz. Dyer 350. There is also a prety case of a mill parted betwéen two brethren ioynt-tenants by an award of a third that one should repaire the mill on the one side of a certaine poste and the other on the other side imperpetuum c. which was awarded a good partition without any writing 47. Ed. 3. 24. â—9 Assi p. 1. It hath béene also much doubted whether iudgement may be giuen to hold in seuerall when in assise of nouell disseisin brought by one ioynt-tenant or tenant in common against another it is found for the plaintiffe as it is cleare it may be if the action were betwixt partners 7. assi p. 10. Herle would not haue giuen iudgement to hold in seueraltie had the parties beéne ioynt-tenants But 10. Assi p. 17. such a iudgement is giuen and no bones made of it yet 28. assi p. 35. R. Thorp in like case would giue no iudgement but generally to hold a moity per my per tont though he were besought in the Country at the assises at West again and again for Iudgement to hold seuerally 7. H. 6. fo 4. Weston glanceth on such a iudgement and Strange denyeth that it may be for it destroyeth the suruiuor But Chine saith that it may be and hath béen often the reason why the Law was more scrupulous in those points betwéene tenants in Common and ioynt-tenants then betwéen partners was as I guesse because coheyres haue their estate by course of law and the other are in either by the act of some body which made the estate or by their own doing so that though for necessity they may alien that which belongeth to them or charge it yet otherwise the Contract made by consent may not without manifest assent be vndone Bract. saith fo 206. sufficit femel voluisse nec dissoluitur mutua voluntas nisi mutua voluntare contraria It is perceiued how the law was before the Statutes 31. 32. H. 8. a summarie of which is set downe already now that it may the better in part be vnderstood how the law hath béene taken since those Statutes obserue the causes following out of my Lord Dyers Reports The puisne of thrée Coparceners of a reuersion vpon estate for life gauel-kind alieneth by a fine the lessée dieth the eldest parcener entreth into all his Inheritance the middlemost and the Alienée bring a ioynt Writt of partition vpon the Statute the eldest pleadeth the generall issue non tenent insimul pro indiviso the case appearing by the euidence it was holden vpon a demurrer cleere that the action was not maintainable for the one ought to haue her Writt by the Common Law and the other by the statute but ioyne they could not Quaere saith Dier if the entry of the eldest giue seisin to the rest that it should giue it to the stranger were hard 2. 3. Phi. Ma. fol. 12. 8. One of three Coparceners alieneth that which to her belongeth one of the other two bringeth a Writt of partition against her fellow parcener and the alienée vpon the statute because in this case she might haue had a Writ by the Common Law this Writ vpon the statute abated But if the two Coparceners had ioyned against the alienée and the one had beene at non-suite she should haue been summoned and seuered and her part beene diuided as well as the others quaere by the Register when the husband vnto one of thrée partners purchaseth one part c. he and his wife may haue a speciall Writt against the third euen so it séemeth if one of thrée Coparceners purchase a fellowes part the purchaser may haue a speciall writt against the third parcener 7. ct 8. Eliz. 243. in Dyer by Anthony Browne and Dyer ioint-tenants cannot at this day make partition by paroll out of the countie where the land lieth for 31. and 32. c. change not the law in this point But the partition must bee by Writt out of Chancery Humfrey Browne and Weston 2. Eliza. Dier 179. a man deuised socage lands to his two daughters and to the heyres of their two bodies loyally engendred and died the two daughters tooke husbands and at full age c. partition was made by paroll one husband had issue by his Wife and shée dyed By the opinion of the whole Court the other Husband and his wife shall haue the whole Land by suruiuor for partition by word onely betwixt ioint-tenants or tenants in Common of estate of Inheritance is voyd yet of a tearme peraduenture saith Dier such a partition is good enough fo 350. in Dier If ye doubt now of any thing somthing more then you did before yée are the better learned and warned to worke surely The manner of partition by Writ c. THe Iudgment vpon a writ de partit faciend if that diuision be made betwéene the parties and that the Viscount in proper person going to the lands and tenements by the oath of 12. loyall men of his Countie make the partition deliuering one part to the plaintiffe or to one of the plaintiffes and another part to another parcener c. making no mention in the iudgement more of the eldest then the youngest Sister The Sheriffe must giue notice to the Iustices of the partition which he hath made aswell vnder the seale of the 12. men as vnder his owne seale And in this partition there is no primer election giuen to any but the second may haue liuery before the eldest or the younger before either of them euen as it pleaseth the Sheriffe And this difference is betweene partition by Writ here and the other partition which is by agreement In the first the Viscount shall make to euery partner her distinct share but in the other they may agrée that one shall hold in seueraltie and the rest shall occupie that which remaineth in common Thus farre Littleton Bractons partition THere is in Bracton a large discourse of partition which I sée not why for the forme at this day should not be good if not of all other the best And this partition is by commission to men either chosen by the parties or appointed by the King as Iustices or extenders with commandement to the Sheriffe to make them come before those Commissioners or extenders tam milites quam alios legales homines nulla affinitate attingentes per quos negotium melius expedire poterit He hath also a precept to the Coroners where the Sheriffe is negligent Tepidus remissus in executione preceptorum domini Regis with a rule for valuation of an aduowsan viz. that a marke annuall to the parson shall be rated a shilling to the parcener to whom the aduowsan shall be alotted And when the extent and diuision is made euery part being written by
it selfe should be deliuered to a Lay-man altogether vnlettered which should distribute to euery coheyre her part at aduenture wherwith she should stand contented But this might be otherwise by their agréement amongst themselues to elect according to the prerogatiue of their age Bracton discendeth déeper into examination what things may be parted amongst coheyres exempting neither lands tenements homages villinages seruices seruitudes or anything belonging to lands and tenements from diuision vnlesse it be seriantia quae diuidi non debent ne cogatur-Rex seruitium accipere per particulas or a castle or the head of some Earldome or Barrony quod propter ius gladij diuidinon debet sit illud castrum vel aliud edificium hoc ideo saith he ne sic caput perplures particulas diuidatur plura iura comitatus Baroniarum deueniunt ad per nihilum quod deficiat regnum quod ex comitatibus Baronijs dicitur esse constitutum Therfore Caput comitatus vel Baroniae resteth indiuisible and shall go to the eldest copartner though where there are many chiefe and great Mansion-houses euery one may haue one perhaps and if there be but one euery one may haue part thereof where the frank-tenement is holden by seruice militarie for if a frée soke-man die whose heritage it is ab antiquo partibilis the eldest son by Bracton shall haue his house and the rest shall haue allowance Amongst other things Bracton standeth long vpon the bringing to a common heape which we call Hotchpot Lands giuen in marriage to a coheyre shewing that though lands giuen in marriage whether the Inheritance be discendens or perquisita and whether shee to whom the land is giuen be at the time of the gift a maid or a widow must needs fall into partition when part of the other lands is claimed hoc quamuis homagium interuenerit post tertium haeredem yet for all that she to whom there is giuen in marriage already more then an euen portion may well retaine it and is not compellable to any confusion vnlesse she demand a share in that which remaineth so that she to whom all is giuen may likewise retaine all And where a daughter was infeoffed pro homagio seruitio or where a stranger was infeoffed of part of the inheritance which afterwards married a daughter c. they might be made parcell of the other lands without any Hotch-pott of these things ye may read more in Bract. li. 2. c. 33 and 34 with a Writt of habere facias seisinam for he saith possessio non pertinet ad haeredes nisi naturaliter fuerit apprehensa animo et corpore proprio vel alieno sicut procreatorio prius ad ipsos non pertinebit vnde cum in curia Regis facta fuerit partitio statim habeanâ— breue de seisma sua habenda SECT XX. of Hotch pott according to Littleton FOr putting of lands in Hotch-pot there is no where so full and plaine learning as in M. Littl. third booke c. z. If saith he a man seised in fée-simple lands hauing issue two daughters of which the eldest is married giue parcell of those lands to his daughter and her husband in franke-marriage and die seised of other lands excéeding in value those which are giuen c. the husband and wife shall haue no part of this remnant vnlesse they will put the land giuen vnto them in Hotch-pot for example If the father had 30. acres and gaue 10. now after his decease if the donées refuse to make commixtion the other daughter may enter and occupie the whole 20. and hold it to her selfe But putting all in Hotch-pott to finde the intire value for it is but an estimation or valuation finding the acres to bee of like goodnesse the Donées in franke-marriage shall haue an nâ—reasement of 5. acres to hold all 15. in seueraltie so that alwayes the land giuen in frank marriage must remaine to the donées and their heyres for else saith Littleton should follow a thing vnreasonable and inconuenient which alwayes the Law detesteth there is the same Lawes betwixt the heyres of Donées in frank marriage and the other partners if the Donées themselues die before their ancestor or before partition This putting of Land in hotchpot is where the other lands descend from the Donor onely and not from any other auncestor for if they descend from the father or brother of the donour from the mother of the Donée that which is equallie so discended shall be without Commixtion equally diuided Also by Littleton if the land descended be of equall valew with the land giuen in franke Marriage Hotchpot should be then in vaine and to no purpose and sée Littl. Chapter of parceners more concerning such Hotchpot How partition may be auoyded PArtition made betwixt two Sisters tenants in fée simple they both being of full age is not defesable though there want oweltie and equall valew in their parts But if the land were in fée-taile the parties making the partition should bee bound and concluded onely for their time the issue of her which had the meaner value might enter after her mothers death into her Aunts part and occupie with her in common and she againe with her niece in the part alotted to her Sister If two Coparceners in fée both married together with their husbands make partition it shall stand in force during the coverture but after the death of a husband his wife hauing a meaner part may enter and defeat the partition not so if at the time of the alotment the parts were both of equall annuall valew If two Coparceners whereof the one is vnder 21. yeares age make partition so that a meaner valew is allotted to the puisne partner she may enter and defeat the partition either in her minoritie or when she is of full age but let her take héed when shée commeth once to full age that shée take not the whole profit of that which to her selfe was alotted for that is an agréement to the partition and maketh it indefeasable peraduenture a moietie of the profits she may take Thrée acres of land are giuen to one in taile which hath other thrée in fée and after his death his two daughters make partition so that one hath the land intailed and another the land in fée if shée which hath the fée-simple alien her part and die her issue may enter into the land tailed and hold occupation in Common with her Aunt whose folly was to make such a partition for since shee is without remedie against the alienée of her mother and without recompence for the lands intailed whereunto she is an heyre by descent from the first Donée it is reason she may enter specially considering that the state taile is not discontinued yet 20. Hen. 6. it is holden that she is put to her Formedon A man seised of two carues of land one by iust title another by disseisin of an infant dieth seised hauing issue two daughters they diuide
demand made of the rent by her husband hee shall haue Courtesie in the rent notwithstanding So it is if an Advouson in grosse descend to a woman married hauing Issue c. though she die afore auoydance the husband shall present and though the Bishop after the descent present by lapse yet the husband shall haue the second presentment for there cannot in these things possession be taken maintenant and at all times as they be in Lands And take with you here these Cases out of Dier 1. Ma. fo 95. Tenant per Cheualrie in cap. dieth his Daughter and Heyre being vnder age office is found and the King grants the wardship of body and Land to me which marrieth the ward and hath Issue by her and after shee accomplisheth the age of sixetéene yeares and the King is satisfied for the two yeares profit they tender a generall liuerie and before it be past the Wife dieth the Baron shall haue the Courtesie come semble saith the Booke And 6. Eliz. Dier 229. the like descent is to a Daughter and married hauing Issue by her husband and she dieth ten dayes after her Father no Liuery being sued that is found by office the Baron shal be Tenant by the Courtesie and shall sue liuery SECT XLIII No Courtesie of reuersion after estate for life THe seisin must be to the Wife in estate of Inheritance not mangled or cut off from the Frank Tenement and therefore by Parkins where a Woman an Heyre enters after her Fathers death and being seised in fée-simple makes a Lease of her Land to I. S. for terme of his life if she now marry haue Issue and die during the Lease the Husband shall neither be Tenant by the Courtesie of the Land when it reuerts nor of the rents in the meane while Also 8. assi p. 6. If a Daughter and Heyre enter endolâ— den and haue Issue by her and the condition being broken she dyeth if now the Feoffor enter the Feoffée shall not be Tenant per le Curâ—esie of the Seignorie But if a feme sole haue a rent or common in or out of certaine Lands and the Tenant leasseth the Land to a stranger during the life of I. S. and the woman intermarrieth with the Lessée hath Issue and I. S. dyeth now if the wife die the Baron shall haue Courtesie in the rent or Common And if the Tenant leased his ground for 20. yeares and a woman hauing in the ground a rent charge in fée intermarrieth with the Lessée c. dieth during the terme it is a question in Parkins whether the husband shall haue Courtesie in the rent after the terme determine see Parkins cap. By the Courtesie SECT XLVII No Courtesie of a bare vse IF a Woman sole seised c. make a feoffement to the vse of her selfe her heyres and then she marrieth hath Issue and dieth before any estate in the same lands be againe by entry or otherwise executed to her her husband shall not be Tenant by the Courtesie and this aswell after the Statute of 27. H. 8. as before if the Feoffement were since the Statute SECT XLVIII What Husband may be Tenant by the Courtesie and of what estate WHere the Wise is actually seised of Lands in â—éesimple see-taile generall or as Heyre of sée-taile speciall the second Baron may bee Tenant by the Courtesie as well as the first for so is the Maxime And Parkins Fitzherbert and Brooke haue all of them the Case 21. H. 3. viz. A woman Inheritour hath Issue by her Husband and he dieth she takes another Husband hath Issue by him and that Issue dieth the woman dieth her second Husband shall be Tenant by the Courtesie Bracton agréeth also who when hee hath shewed this Ciuilitie of England concludeth Quod dicitur de primo diâ—i poterit de secundo siue de primo viro haeredes apparentes extiterunt siue non plenae aetatis vel minoris But hee addeth Quod iniuriosum est secundum Sâ—ephanum de Segraue qui dicebat quod lex illâ— male â—uit intellecta male vsâ—tata Nam quod dicitur de lege Angliae intelligi debet de primo virâ— communibus haeredibus non de secundo maxime cum haeredes apparentes extiterint de primo My mind giues mee that hee said truth and that Law turning a little out of her Channell here before Iustice Segraues time could neuer since bee brought to her course SECT XLIX Of speciall Taile BEfore West 2. cap. 1. all the Estates which wée now call tailed that is curtailed or cut off were sée-simple Conditionall If Lands had béene giuen to a man and a woman in Franke Marriage or to them and to the Heyres of their two bodies which gifts make now a speciall Taile as soone as they had Issue the Condition was thought to be performed And as a woman suruiuing her first Husband in this case might alien the Land so might she by bearing a Childe to her second Husband c. this makes him Tenant by the Courtesie be inforced to proue that the Childe sent forth some voyce or cry arguing life and naturall humanity for if it bellowed bleated brayed grunted rored or howled there accrued no courtesie by getting such an vnciuill vrchin By him therefore there must be a naturall crie heard inter quatuor parietes for he saith though a Child be borne mutus surdus tamen clamorem emittere debet sive masculus sit siue foemina nam Dicunt E. vel A. quotquot nascuntur ab Eâ—a E. or A. all crye that from Eue come Though they be borne both deafe and dumbe Non sufficit igitur tantum baptizatus scpultura yâ—t 28. H. 8. Dyer fol. 25. sets downe Fitzherberts opinion that a man may be Tenant by the Courtesie though the Childe neuer crie car paraduenture lissue soit nee dumbe And so saith Parkins 9. 4. 7. viz. that if the issue bee borne aliue though it die before it be heard crie or before it be baptized for that is a matter also with Bracton if there were no lachesse contumacie or contempt in the Baron he may be Tenant by the Courtesie But by negligence or by contempt he shall preiudice himselfe ascuns diont SECT LI. A Childe borne beginneth the title of Courtesie NOw this hauing a Childe is such a matter as it séemeth that maine tenant thereupon the title of Courtesie beginneth for example if a bond woman purchase Land and marrie if the Lord enter before Issue be had no Childe borne afterwards shall make the husband tenant by the Courtesie But if the Baron haue Issue by his wife before the Lords entrie he shall be tenant by the Courtesie and the auourie from that time forward shall rest vpon him solement And the possession in Law if the wife die shall not light vpon the Heyre but vpon the Baron which shall be tenant to euery praecipe Câ—o est cleere lei Brooke out of the Doctor and Student vide Brooke
matter but the other conclusion puts it to the Law and Courts consideration Yee sée now of what possession of Law a woman is dowable per Brian 4. H. 7. â—o 17. if the Kings ward die vnder age and the neâ—t heyre being married die before â—â—uâ—nâ—runt sued his wife shall not haue Dower But by Dâ—uers and Hussey if the Kings Tenants Heyre haue a wife and after office found the Heyre doth not enter but dieth the wife shall be endowed of the possession in Law before office for the Statute of prerogatiue cap. 13 is intended onely where the Heyre taketh a wife after office and intrudeth SECT LIX There must be in the Husband an Inheritance not cut from the Franke Tenant A Woman shalll haue no Dower in Lands whereof the Frankement and Inheritance was neuer conioyned in her husband during Couerture therefore where the Husband had but a reuersion after estate for life the wife is not dowable vnder this rule commeth one other dos de dote peti non debet And if a man seised c. take a wife and alien with warrantie and then both the feoffor and feoffée die if the wife of the feoffée bring a Writt of Dower against the heyre of the feoffor which voucheth to warrant the heyre of the feoffor and hanging the voucher the wife of the feoffée demands Dower against the heyre of the feoffée if shée bring her Writt not for a third of two paâ—ts but for a third of all that whereof her husband dyes seised she shall not haâ—e iudgement fill the first plea be determined Littleton If there be father and sonne both married and the Father seised of one acre c. dieth and the sonne entreth and dieth if now the sonnes sonne enter and endow his Grandmother which dieth his mother is not Dowable of that which the Grandmother held in Dower for of that his Father had no more in méere right but a reuersion vpon or after a Franke tenement and the Grandmother endowed was in of her Husbands possession yet if the father had in his life time iâ—feoffed the Sonne c. the sonnes wife might well haue Dower after the Grandmothers death of that very Land which the Grandmother held And if the sonnes sonne voluntarily or compulsarily â—â— Writ of Dower had endowed his mother against whom the Grandmother had then receiued her Dower and died after execution the mother might well haue entred into the land which the ailesse recouered against her Parkins 63. The Franke tenement and Inheritance may be both in a sort in the Husband and yet not sufficiently knit and vnited together to giue Dower for example the Lands bee giuen to two and to the heyres of the body of one of them if hee which hath the inheritance die first his Wife is not dowable no not after the death of the suruiuor for the state taile was not executed in her husband to all intents though the Issue in a Formedone against an abater might alleage seisin and esplees as we call them in his father Likewise if by fine sur graunt render estate be made to a husband for terme of life the remainder to I. S. his sonne in taile the reuersion to the right heyrâ—s of the husband and the fine is executed if now the Baron die liuing I. S. or any of his Issue the wife of the Cognusée is not dowable But if a Lease be made for yeares the remainder to I. S for life the remainder to his right heyres c. the wife of I. S. shall haue Dower of this estate though erecution of Dower cannot be â—asting the terme And if a Lease be to the Husband for life with a remainder to a stranger for â—eares the remainder to the Husband in â—ée the inheritance and Franke Tenement are sufficiently connexed to giue the wife Dower bâ—t execution shall cease during the terme for when an estate for yeares is more ancient or as ancient as the Inheritance which the Husband had during Couerture there the execution of Dower to the Wife must néeds tarrie the termes expiration And so it is if a man grant me a rent in fée by Indenture with Condition that the rent shall cease during the non-age of mine heyres my Wife shall not bee endowed during mine heyres minoritie What if a man that is seised in Fée-simple make a lease for life rendring rent c. and then taking a Wife he dieth the heyre shall haue this rent incident to the reuersion and it shall be aâ—ets to him in a Formedone in Descender but the wife gets here no Dower aâ—d saith Parkins a woman shall not be endowed of a rent reserued by her Husband to himselfe and his Heyres vpon a Lease for yeares 1. Ed. 6. titulo Dower in Brooke accordeth If the Law be so Dower hath lesse fauour in this case then the estate per Courâ—â—siâ— d'Angleterre But Cléere if a man take a wife first lease his Lands for yeares or for life and die now the Wife may recouer Dower of the Land it selfe and by Breton if the woman recouer the third part of Lands leased for yeares de office de iustice il serra a gard que el tertiâ— remnant les deux parties que demorent de terre iesques aâ—â—nt que il eâ—t receiue al value de le tierrâ— partie que il auera perduâ— c. But if she recouer all the Land leased from the termer he shall haue recouerie per plâ—â— de garranti either of such other Lands as the Lessor had or if he had no other of the Lands seised when the widdow is dead by sâ—irâ— facias out of the Court where the Iudgement was inrolled Note That though the Law be as is abouesaid where Lands are giuen to two and to the Heyres of one of them yet if the Husband purchase to himselfe and his wife and to the heyres of the Husband the wife may relinquish the purchase and disagree by bringing her Writ of Dower Like Law séemeth to be where the purchase is to the Baron and feme during the life of the Baron the remainder to his right heyres SECT LX. Of what things Dower is granted LIttletons ground is of Lands or tenements But a woman is Dowable also of all manner of rents which are rents of Inheritance Also of Offices as for example of a Bayly-wicke in fée a woman may haue the third part of the profit in Dower and be contributary to the charge Also at this day where the Baron hath but an vse in fée-simple or fée-taile generall vnlesse it be in case where the Husband may and doth disagrée the wife shall haue Dower and if a bargaine and sale be made of Lands to the Husband which dieth before inrolement the wife notwithstanding shall haue Dower and by the inrolement einsement it shall be indefeisable against the Vendor and the Heyre of the Vendée Also a woman is Dowable of Villaines regardant to a Mannor and if a villanie in gros a
an issue of ne vnques accople in loyall Matrimonie and that must be tried by the Bishop Therefore for the better direction of Brides take the case verbatim as it is propounded with the solution 22. Eliz. Dyer 369. A woman of full age contracts Matrimonie by words of the present instant with a young man of twelue yeares age and this being solemnized in face of the Church with consummation after a sort the young man being put to bed to her died vnder age quaere if the Ordinarie ought to certifie an accomplement in loyall Matrimonie Solutio doctorum quindecem We be all of opinion that she is to be taken for a loyall wife coupled in loyall Matrimony and in question of Dower that the Bishop ought so to certifie for albeit that in other regards these were but Sponsalia de futuro yet in case of Dower and the priuiledge thereof they are extended to Matrimony consummate Et iudicium datum pro dote heere ye say was the Law as cleere as Christall on your side when supper is done dance a while leaue out the long measures till you be in bed get you there quickly and pay the Minstrels tomorrow SECT II. Baron and Feme one person NOw that Matrimony is celebrated and consummate here is so strait a fellowship or rather identitie of person that if a feoffement bee made to a man and his wife iointly with I. S. the Baron Feme take but a moity and in a feoffement to Baron and Feme and I. S. and T. K. they take but a third part and where a feoffement is made to a man and his wife ioyntly they take not seuerall moities as other ioynt Feoffees doe but the Baron and feme take intirely together and in Law they are said to be seised by intierties and there is no halfing betwixt them For if the Baron charge the whole land or part of it with a rent the wife shall hold it discharged after his death and if he sell all or part and die the wife shall recouer all by Writt of cui in vita See 40. assi pla 7. If a Villeine and his Wife purchase land ioyntly the Lord enter and the Villeine die the Feme or her Heyre shall haue the whole Land Eadem lex videtur where the Husband ioynt-purchaser is an Alien borne or attaint in premunire or of fellonie But the booke of Assises goeth not so farre The videtur is Parliament 43. in Brooke where likewise ye shall see it was holden 5. H 7. fo 31. that if T. infeoffe W. and A. his wife afterward it is by Parliament enacted that all estates made by T. to W. shall bée voyde that the feoffement shall be voyd as well towards the wife as towards the Husband because they are but one person in Law and the Feme taketh nothing but by agréement of the husband And vpon the like reason is the case Dyer 3. Eliz. fo 196. Sir Rob. Catline purchase land held in capite to him and his wife and his heyres without licence and the Queene pardons all offences pro quacunque alienatione sibi facta and doth not speake of the wife in the pardon and yet it was allowed in the Exchequer But if the feoffement had beene to W. and I. S. this I. S. should haue held his moity notwithstanding the Parliaments decrée and this seemeth to bee the better opinion though there were in manner equall number to maintaine That if the feoffement were before couerture the Parliament should voyd it for a moity but if it were after couerture it should voyde for no part against the Feme when shee was discouerte leauing to Parliaments their omnipotencie it is cléere the husband cannot seuer the Ioynture betwixt him and his wife as an other Ioynt-tenant may if the Ioynture were made during Couerture because there is then no moity Otherwise it is if the Ioynture were made before the Marriage And if lands be giuen to a man and his wife habendum one moity to the husband and habendum the other moity to the wife now they bee seised of moities as Tenants in Commom But for this I finde no other authority then the opinion of Knightly in Dyer 28. H. 8. 10. b. SECT III. Baron feme cannot infeoffe one another MOreouer this Conglutination of persons in Baron and feme forbiddeth all manner of feoffing or giuing by the one vnto the other for a man cannot giue any thing vnto himselfe therefore 27. H. 8. fo 27. In action of debt vpon an obligation to performe couenants where it passed for the Plaintiffe because the Defendant had not paid annually seauen pound to his wife it is alleaged in arest of Iudgement that the Couenant was impossible in it selfe c. But Chomeley Shelley and Fitzherbert moued the husband to agrée with the Plaintiffe Car le exception sert de riens for although in strict intelligence of Law money and Chattels paid deliuered or giuen to the wife by the husband are still his owne yet a man may giue his wife a paire of hose saith the booke as a man is bound by honesty so he may be bound by red waxe and parchment to finde his wife sustenance and to bee bound to giue her money for her securitie is all one from this Lanthorne I thinke he tooke his light which bound a gentleman of mine acquaintance to giue his Wife the Obligée his Daughter yearely such and so many gâ—wnes Hertles c. And the meaning must bee taken and obserued in the booke of 4. H. 7. fo 4. is another memorable Cause A man was bound to I. S. by obligation to make a sure estate to a woman in certaine tenements within three moneths after his fathers death The Obligor marrieth the woman in his fathers life time and the Matrimony continueth till the three moneths be expired the obligation is forfeited Vauisor said the husband might well haue performed the condition by fine leuied vpon a writt of Couenant brought by a stranger against the Baron and feme Fisher said he might haue performed it by making a Lease vnto a stranger the remainder to the wife quaere of that Vauisors performance had beene good I thinke if there had beene in the beginning a full purpose and intent of intermarriage betwixt the woman and the Obligor But that appeares not and therefore being that hee hath brought himselfe to an impossibility of performance either of words or meaning the Obligée must néeds be allowed the aduantage If the obligation had béene to the woman her selfe the condition by inter-marriage had béene dispensed with for where the Obligee is a cause that the condition cannot be performed the not performing is without penalitie to the Obligor as if in the old dayes I had béene bound to an Abbot that A. should infeoffe him c. before Christmas if A. had presently entred into Religion my bond had presently beene forfeited not so If A. had béene professed vnder the obedience
obligation or other déed of grant as an escrow with condition c. vt supra that it should haue no relation at all saue onely to the last deliuery for if hée to whom an obligation is so made release all action to the Feme sole before performance of the condition and before deliuery of the déed by the baylée he may notwithstanding sue vpon the obligation when it is deliuered which proues that it takes none effect till the last deliuery and then it must néeds bee void if the Woman be married at time of this deliuery if all were not countermanded presently by taking a husband But Parkins will not yéeld to these reasons for the Feme sole was a person able to oblige her selfe in any manner of Contract and her couenants and agréements made vpon consideration she could not countermaund though she would If a Feme sole seised of Land infeoffe a stranger by déede indented reseruing rent to her and her heyres to be paid annually at Easter with a conditionall clause of entry for non-payment and then they two inter-marry c. héere can be no failing in performance of payment during couerture for all this while the rent and condition are suspended If the condition had béen to pay ten or an hundred pound it had béene drunke vp by the inter-marriage for if a feme sole make a feoffement to a stranger vpon condition to pay her ten pound and then she marrieth with I. S. I. S. before the day of payment may release all manner of conditions duties and demands and the condition shall be determined But such a release comming after the day wherein the condition should haue beene performed at what time the wife hath a title of entrie will not binde her or her heyres after the husbands death Par. fo 148. There followeth a question if a Feme sole infeoffeth a man of blacke acre by indenture with Condition that hee shall infeoffe her of green acre before Easter and they two marry and continue married till after Easter whether the husband be maine-tenant seised of blacke acre in-the right of his wife There followeth in Par. fo 149. a case ayding towards solution of this doubt If I be bound by obligation to a Feme sole to marry her by munday next if shee marry a stranger and the espousals continue till tewsday I néed not tender my selfe to her A Feme sole makes cognizance of her right to leuie a fine before Commissioners per dedimus potestatem hauing the Writt of Couenant vt oportet and at the day giuen in banke when the Concord should be recorded the woman is married but notwithstanding the fine was recorded and ingrossed as leuied by a Feme sole the question was whether it should binde the Husband or not it was said death of a partie c. which as the act of God dissolues the whole busines by abatement of the Writ but marrying after the teste of the Writ of Couenant and dedimus potestatem and Cognizance made doth not so The woman therefore and her heyres are bound for euer and the Husbands release of all his right to the Conusée makes all cléere 7. 8. Eliz Dyer 246. the Lord Keeper of the great seale of England his case SECT XIII Of Acts done by a Feme Couert EUery Feme Couertis quodammodo an infant for sée her power euen in that which is most her owne A wife may be seised in her owne right with her husband in estate of Inheritance but if she make liuery and seisin to another in any parcell of this Inheritance by her selfe alone without grée of her Husband it is voyd yea her Husband and shee together may maintaine an assise vpon the entry but where onely the Baron is seised and the Feme maketh liuery the assise must bee onely by the Baron in his owne name Par. 38. Likewise fo 2. he telleth vs where a man is seised in the right of his wife and the wife grants a rent charge out of her owne Land the Husband not knowing it or the Husband knowing but not consenting but the déed is onely in the name of the wife this grant is voyd Admit the Husband be vagrant out of the Countrey and the Wife ignorant of his life or death grants a rent Charge by deede reciting that shee is sole yet if the Grantée enter and distraine for the rent the husband may maintaine an Action of Trespasse for this entrie Admit that this vna caro Baron and Feme through false loue or iealousie bee set at nine miles asunder variance and certaine Lands are assigned to the Wife by the Baron for her maintenance if the Wife grant a rent Charge out of this Land it is meerely void If a Feme Couert grant a rent Charge out of her land by fine as though she were sole this bindeth not the Husband but if he die before hee and his Feme haue reuersed their fine by error the Feme shall be bound And if to a Feme Couert there be a feoffement made a feoffement and liuery is of great celebritie yet a naked disagréement of the Baron auoydeth it 1. H. 7. fo 16. If a Feme Couert her Husband being beyond the Seas bee enfeoffed of an acre of Land and the Husband comming home refuseth and causeth the Wife likewise to relinquish all manner of seisin or taking any profits of the Land this in a Writt of entry sur disseisin in le per brought against the Baron and Feme will discharge the Husband of damages from the time of the refusall but not for the occupation before refusall tamen quaere Par. fo 10. yet saith he they remaine Tenants for all the refusals of the Franke Tenement to vse any action so long as none other person entereth but if a Tenant when his Seignior is beyond the Seas doe infeoffe his Lords wife ioyntly with a stranger of the Tenancie and the Lord comming home distraines the cattle of the stranger for his rent this distresse is a compleat disagréement and puts the Wife out of seisin so that now the possession remaines intirely to the stranger the ioynt feoffée otherwise the husband should be at a shrewd mischiefe viz. without remedie for his rent for all the time incurred before the distresse Par. 10. Note that in these Cases it is no plea for the grauntor to say that the Baron did not agrée but hee must shew the disagréement A Feme Couert may be a disseiseresse without assent of the Baron and hee shall be charged with damages in assise against him and his wife But if the Baron doe a disseisin to the vse of his wife and she agrées to it the Franke Tenant for all this setleth not in her for the entry of a husband gaineth nothing to his wife but where she hath either right of entry as vpon disseisin or title of entry as vpon a Condition c. A Feme Couert makes a Testament of the goods of her husband she dieth
according to the will and died Now the question is whâ— the Issue in taile or Deuisée of the remainder should haue this Land Et per iudicium curiae Partly because his mother had waued the estate taile and although shee had not done so yet because he could not conuey his title and discent but aswell as heyre to his father as to his mother the fine with proclamations leuied onely by his father barres him So farre goeth the Booke And you may obserue that it barres the wife if she will See also 5. Eliz. 224 in Dyer the husband leuied a fine with proclamations of his owne land and after fiue yeares died his widdow continuing sole of full age whole memory out of prison within compasse of the foure Seas and doth not make any demand or claime of dower within 5. yeers after her husbands death quaere if he which pleadeth in barre of Dower ought expresly to auerre this The question was if she were barred of Dower Dyer telleth vs termino Hillarij 4. H. 8. rotulo 344. such a barre pleaded was admitted good for the ground of Dower was the Husbands seisin and the action giuen by his death So that it is within the second sauing of 4. H 7. which preserueth to all which are not parties pursuit of right growne after the fine by or vpon cause before the fine so that they take it within fiue yeares In Plowden fo 373. Iustice Dyer arguing Stowell and the Lord Zouches case affirmes the learning which I haue recited out of his owne booke But Plowden inserts his note that he takes the Law to be otherwise and that a woman is bound to no time of her Dower after such a fine for saith he the ayme of 4. H. 7. as against future droicts is wholly against such rights as either suffered wrong before the fine or by the fine and in this case of Dower the title is all after the fine and standeth well in accord with it not touched by the Statute the woman therefore may demand when she listeth So if there be a cessor begun a yeare before a fine with proclamations continued a yeare after the Lord is not restreyned at the end of 5. or 15. yeares to bring a cessauir so he saith likewise if a morgage be disseised a fine lenied by the Disseisor with Proclamations passed yet the morgager paying his mony to the Morgagee may at any time within 5. years or more after the payment re-enter When Giants fight Pigmées may not part them but howsoeuer some incertainty arise in euery corner of the Law this is here certaine that a fine leuied by the husband onely of his owne land tolleth not the wiues action of Dower if she come in time And a fine so leuied by him of the wiues Land taketh not away her seasonable entry but the gulfe that swalled vp entrie action right and all possibility of reducement by Law is a fine lawfully leuied by baron and feme where forsooth because a woman is examined by a Iustice or one that hath a Dedimus potestatem c. and acknowledgeth her frée consent and agréement what cannot men get wiues to doe if they list she shall be barred and for euer excluded of a great many acres of ground for a few kisses and a gay gowne That is a fine finem litibus imponens for till it be done and dispatcht the poore woman can haue no quiet her husband keepes such a iawling SECT XXIX Of common recoueries AS for trickes of Common recoueries I perceiue not how that can be greatly preiudiciall to women for first if a man will suffer a faigned recouery of his owne Land to defeate his wiues Dower she may falsiâ—â—e it c. sée the Eiectione firmae per Eare against Snow Plowd fo 515. the baron there being tenant in taile his wife hauing nothing in the Land he and his wife suffered a common recouery with voucher to his owne vse c. the opinion of all the Iustices was that though the woman suruiued yet the estate taile shal be barred for it was found precisely by verdict that the wife had no interest in the Inheritance The baron therefore which alone lost estato taile by the recouery might recouer alone estate taile in value But as for the wife no man can say what estate shee had nor whether she should haue a quod ei deforceat or a Writt of right if she had lost the land by default So likewise hauing lost by the recouery nothing or no man can tell what her recompence in value must be She was named said the Iustices vpon intent to barre her of Dower and such is the meaning of husbaÌ„ds which wil haue their wiues named in such recoueries but cleere the estate taile is barred if in this case the wife might sue execution in value against the vouchée by estoppell yet the issue in taile should not be concluded by the act of his Father but he might oust her of that which she had so recouered in value c. see Sir E. Cokes 10. Rep. 43. a. in Mary Portingtons ca. that the vsage hath béen alwayes vpon common recoueries against Baron and Feme to examine the wife and to grant a dedimus potestatem to take vpon her examination her Conusance as in case of a Fine But let the case be Tenant iure vxoris is agréed with Iohn a Stile to suffer a recouery of his wiues Lands to certaine vses comprised in Indentures betwixt them two a Writ of entry in the post is brought against the Baron and Feme which appeare in person or by Atturney calling to warranty the common vouchée a man well worth a couple of new rosted egges which re-enters into warrantie Then after declaration and imparlance at the day of the appearance shall the demandant recouer against Baron and Feme and they in right of the Wife shall recouer against the Vouchee of such lands as he hath or is like to haue when time hath a hairy crowne shall this recouery or possibility of vnlikely recouery in value binde the wife when the Baron is dead whether she will or no by Brooks nouell cases 23. H. 8. pl. 37. it séemes that such a recouery did then bind the wife to but without examination mee thinks it should not bind the wife The Statute of 32. is that none Act of the Barons shall make discontinuance c. except onely a Fine by Baron and Feme Ergo such a recouery notwithstanding though it be executed the wife may enter See 23. Eliz. cap. 3. and there is a sauing to euery Feme couert or her heyres her Writt of error to be sued within 7. yeares after she become sole for reuersing of Fines and recoueries past if they must be reuersed by error it séemes without error they were very dangerous For a rule to conclude withall take this That wheresoeuer the Baron doth any thing out of Court which thing he and his Wife were compellable to doe it
shall be deemed and construed to be the act of both of them as if the Baron seised in right of his Wife or ioyntly with his wife assigne Dower to another woman it bindeth and so granting of a rent for equality of partition and atturnement by the Baron alone bindes the Wife SECT XXX of Iointures I Will enter no further into the streame of Fines and recouerie they require a cunning swimmer And a short Discourse cannot possibly make any plaine discouery of them otherwise this place would haue borne the Doctrine fitly about making of ioyntures for all husbands are not so vnkinde or vntrusty as to endamage their Wiues by alienation of their Lands but contrariwise the greatest part of honest wise and sober men are of themselues carefull to purchase somewhat for their Wiues if they be not yet they stand sometimes bound by the womans parents to make their Wiues some Ioynture If husband Father Mother and all would be vnmindfull of prouision in this point yet very many of our English women haue with their singular vertue so much wisedome of their owne as to foresee for themselues and discerne the difference betwéene that which wee call Dower and Ioynture Ioyntures saith Dyer 4. M. fo 148 are made for the most part to Baron and Feme ioyntly or to the Feme onely this also is comprehended vnder the terme Ioynture before Marriage or after for sustentation of the charge and necessities of Espousalls and they are made causa matrimonâ—â— gratis without the consideration of money bargaine or any thing sauing for loue and affection of the Baron or his ancessors and these Iointures are a present possession But Dower must be tarried for till the Husband be dead It must be demanded sometime sued for sometime neither with suit or demand obtained Againe Dower was subiect to forfeiture in times past by felony done and proued in the Baron by the Barons treason by the Wiues elopement and euery question in the validitie of Marriage maketh a scruple of Dower all which inconueniences being wisely foreséene women did learne to become ioynt purchasors with their husbands of such estates as would auoid all weathers and a good while they did enioy Ioyntures and Dowers after their Husbands were dead against which the Statute of 27. H. 8. of vses ordeineth as followeth SECT XXXI A part of 27. H. 8. ca. 10. IT is prouided c. that where any persons haue purchased or haue estate of lands c. made to them and their Wiues and to the heyres of the Husband or to the Husband and wife and the heyres of their two bodies or to the heyres of one of their bodies or to the husband and wife for terme of their liues or for the life of the wife or where any such estate hath béene or shall be made to any husband and his wife or to other persons their heyres and assignes to the vse and behoofe of the said husband and wife or to the vse of the wife for the ioynture of the wife that in euery such case the woman hauing such a Ioynture c. shall not claime any Dower of the residue of any Hereditaments that were her Husbands by whom she had such a Ioynture or make any demand thereof against the Tenants of the said lands c. prouided that if any woman be lawfully expulsed or euicted from her said Ioynture or from any part thereof without fraud or Couen by lawfull entry action or discontinuance of her Husband that euery such woman shall be endowed of as much of the residue of her Husbands hereditaments as the Lands or Teneâ—ents so euicted shall amount or extend vnto Prouided that nothing in this act extend to hurt or preiudice any woman heretofore married concerning her right title vse interest or possession which she may claime or pretend to haue for her Ioynture or Dower in any Lands c. of her late Husband being now disseised Prouided also that if any Wife haue or hereafter shall haue any Lands Tenements or Hereditaments vnto her giuen or assured after Marriage for terme of her life or otherwise in Ioynture except the assurance be made to her by act of Parliament and the Wife after that fortune to out-liue her husband in whose time the Ioynture was made that the Wife so ouer-liuing shall and may at her pleasure refuse the Lands appointed or assured in Ioynture and thereupon haue demand and take her Dower by Writt or otherwise according to the Common Law SECT XXXII The Exposition THe first obseruance is that no estate gained by matter of conclusion shall be déemed a purchasement within this Statute or bee auerred to bee made pro iunctura But the Statute must be intended of true and substantiall estates Therefore if an owner or tenant of certaine land make answer to Baron and Feme in an action of waste or if he pray ayde of them as if they were seised of the reuersion or if he bring a quod ei deforceat against them as if he had none other then a particular estate though these things were purposed for Ioynture yet they seclude not a Woman from right or demand of Dower Releases such as inure to make estates as where a ioynt-tenant releaseth to his Companion or such as goe to inlarge an estate as where he in reuersion releaseth to his particular Tenant may well make and accomplish a Ioynture but such Releases as worke no more but vn mitter le droit as where he that is disseised by Baron and Feme releaseth to the woman the disseiseresse c. are no purchase intended within this Statute for it is meant onely of such purchases as the wife hath by gift either of her husband or of some other body and not of such estates as shee hath gained by her owne wrong likewise is it of releases that goe by way of extinguishment as where a Disseisor infeoffeth Baron and Feme and the Disseisée releaseth to one of them this is alike auaileable to both but this release can make no Ioynture for there is no estate conueyed by it Per iusticiarios 6. Ed. 6. Brooke titles Dower a deuise of Land by the Husband to his Wife in his last will and testament is no barre of Dower for it is but a beneuolence and no Ioynture Yet in M. Brograues reading it was holden contrary 5. Eliz. Dyer 220. the case is that a man seised of Lands in taile and of some other in fée-simple holden in socage deuiseth the third part of all his Lands to his wife for her life in full recompence of all such Ioynture and Dower as she shall haue or may claime c. the Wife without any assignement or vser of Action of Dower entreth after his death into that which was holden in Fée-simple to a value of a third part of all and the opinion was she had determined her election and barred her selfe of Dower But this Case maketh nothing to the variance or question because the
Legacie was with an expresse exclusion of Dower c. But see Sir Ed. Cokes 4. Rep. fo 4. a. in Vernons case resolued that vnlesse it be expressed in the will to bee for her Ioynture it shall be no satisfaction for her Dower See 38. H. 8. Dyer 61. William Whorewhod seised of Land to the value of 360. pound of which 60. pound was by ioynt purchase to him and his Wife during Couerture deuised that his wife should haue the third part of all his land during her life with those Lands which she had in Ioynture the assignement to be made by his executors if it were not contrary to Law this Widdow refused her Iointure of 60. pound and demand a third part of the whole inheritance viz. 120. pound as her Legacie with a third part of that which remained for her Dâ—wer viz. 80. pound at last by agréement it was ordered and decréed in the Court of Wards that she should haue the Legacie vt supra and forty pound ouer for Dower This Case decideth the question for it is against the latter opinion expresse ideo quaere Brooke noteth also Dower 69. that per Iusticiarios if a man make his Wife ioynt-purchaser with him after Couerture of any estate of Franke Tenement vnlesse it be to him and his Wife and their Heyres in fée-simple it is a barre of Dower if she agrée to the Ioynture post mortem viri otherwise it is of fée-simple for thereof the Statute saith nothing But M. Brograue in his reading did maintaine for all the foresaid opinion that where fee-simple is conueyed to a Feme for Ioynture expresly it is a good Iointure within compasse of this Statute for if estate in taile or for life be a good Iointure and exclude Dower by acceptance c. a fortiore fée-simple shall barre And sée in Vernons case reported by Sir Ed. Coke 4. Rep. fo 3. b. that the case in Brooke is mis-reported and the Lord Dyer is against it and confuteth Brooks reasons of this opinion Hee relied also vpon dame Dennis case 8. Eliz Dyer 248. An Indenture was made 36. Hâ—n 8. Betwixt Sir Maurice Dennis and Elizabeth Statham that in consideration of expected Marriage and other things reasonable the said Sir Maurice and his heyres should from thenceforth stand seised of certaine Lands c. to the vse of himselfe and his heyres vntill Marriage were had and solemnized and then to the vse and behoofe of the said Maurice and Elizabeth and their heyres after Marriage Sir Maurice dyed entred into the Lands and demanded Dower of his other Lands it was a question whether this conueyance and matter vt supra with auerrement that it was for a Ioynture should barre her of Dower Catline Saunders and Dyer were against the Dower by equitie of the Statute which in the third prouiso is of Ioyntures for terme of life or otherwise Against them were Iustice Browne and Whiddon and they resembled this Statute to another of the 11. H. 7. ca. 20. which cannot be extended to fée-simple but is meant and expressed onely of estate for Life or in taile seuerally or ioyntly with the Baron But Iustice Dyer as it séemeth by M. Brograue vpon diligent conference with sage men of Law did strongly adhere to his former opinion that this conueyance with auerment made a good Ioynture Yee shall finde againe 14. 15. Elâ—z he affirmeth for Law that where Fée-simple is limited ouer to a Wife or estate made to Baron and Feme in fée it is auerrable pro iunctura if the conueyance he not expresly contrary Sée a question for auerment Dyer 226. One that had an vse in Fée of certaine Lands to the value annuall of 100. pound tooke a wife 22. H. 8. and after espousals at request of his wiues friends and Parents caused the Feoffees to execute estate to him and his wife and to the heyres of himselfe of parcell of this Land to twenty pound value c. He then purchased other Lands and after 27. dyed seised of all The wife by taking rents and profits of the twenty pound land agreed to her estate therein and afterward brought a Writ of Dower detertia parâ—e residui omnium terrarum c. because the Statute is expressed of Iointure and the déed whereby estate was made to the baron and feme hath no mention of Ioynture or Dower quaere whether this matter generally alledged without auerment that it was pro junctura vel pro doâ—e shall barre or no See the Institutions of Sir Ed. Coke â—o 36. much matter concerning Ioynture In all conueyance or purchase for Ioynture vnlesse it be by fine or common recouerie he which makes the estate must be a person able to conuey c. at the time of Ioynture making or else it is not good He must not therefore be non compos mentis attaint of treason an alien borne or vnder age but the non-age of the Wife is not materiall whether the Ioynture be made before Couerture or after if she accept it agréed at M. Fiâ—ches reading SECT XXXII The Words Land Tenement or Hereditament LAnd is intended as well of pasture meadow woods heath c. as of arable and lands couered with water or surrounded is within the Statute So is a Towne an Isle c. but vestura terrae or an vpper Chamber cannot make a Ioynture as Land Tenements assured in Ioynture may bee Aduousans Rectories Windmils an vpper Chamber a Seigniory in Chiualrie and a reuersion sur estate pur viâ— all comming within the meaâ—ing of the Statute As for a reuersion vpon or after estate for yeares it is rather in account of law land then a tenement for the Franke Tenement which is the principall is as the present substance of the Land it selfe And the reuersion of either of these particular estates if rent be reserued may well be assigned for a Ioynture Yea and whether rent be reserued or no vpon a Lease for yeares it might be somewhat doubted whether the reuersion be assignable for a Ioynture c. because the Frank Tenement passeth presently and a woman may haue an assise thereof But cleere a nude reuersion sur estate pur vie sans rent because it is no present commoditie cannot make a Ioynture yet if such a reuersion be assigned and it turne to a possession in the Husbands life time it may be a good Ioynture by matter of subsequent Hereditament within the Statute may be a rent charge granted to a woman for life though it were neuer in esse before or a rent reserued vpon a Lease for life But the Hereditament assigned must bee a profit and commodity or else it is not assignable c for homage or fealtie shall not make any Ioynture Rent payable euery fiue yeare may be assigned for Ioynture for is a profit though it be not annuall And an ancient kéepership of a Parke with a fée belonging to it may be appointed or assigned in Dower But so is not a
kéepership newly granted and sans fée which is a charge without gaine or vtility SECT XXXIII Estates Taile ALl estates tayle are within the equitie or compasse of this branch of 27. and the formes or species within the â—etter are but as patternes or examples of Ioyntures And therefore where an estate is limited to Baron and feme and to the Heyres Males of their bodies or to them and the heyres Males or Females of the body of one of them although this be an abridgement or amputation of one sexe from the examples within the very Statute yet it is a good Ioynture There is a Case in proofe thereof Dyer 97. 1 Marie the Duchesse of Somerset was ioynt-purchaser with her husband of estate to them two and to the heyres Males of her Husbands body betweene them begotten which is none of the fiue estates expressed in the Statute but the Iustices held cleare vnlesse it were refused it excluded Dower So is it if estate be made to Baron and Feme to them and the heyres Males which the Baron shall haue of the body of his wife vel e conuerso Or if the gift be to Baron and Feme and thrée heyres of their two Bodies which is an estate determinable vpon death of the third Issue or if it be to them and to the heyres de corpore the sonne of both of them or of one of them all these estates limited for Ioynture are good enough SECT XXXV Estate for Life c. THese words Or for life of the Wife are intendable as well for an estate made to the Wife onely during her life as of an estate made ioyntly to Baron and Feme during the life of the Wife Therefore an estate made onely to the Wife for her life or to the Baron for his life with a remainder to the Wife for her life is a good Ioynture within meaning of the Statute yet it seemeth not to agrée with the nature of a Ioynture by the etimology of the word and the Statute speaketh not of any remainder Dyer 14. 15. Eliz. fol. 387. agréeth and saith that Ioyntures may bee conditionall which if the Wife accept after the husbands death she shall be barred of Dower as where the condition is that shee shall kéepe her selfe vnmarried and saith he a Conueyance to a wife during her life in remainder after the immediate death of her Husband vpon condition reasonable may well bee intended pro iunctura yet he himselfe afterwards fo 340. thinketh that such a remainder to the wife for her life after the death of her Husband cannot bee termed a Ioynture because the Etimologie serueth not and 11. H. 7. ca. 20. 27. H. 8. demonstrateth no such Ioynture for women in possession or in vse of any estate in remainder after the Husbands death c. quaere If an estate bee conueyed to a mans Wife and to a stranger for their two liues for the Wiues Ioynture it is good enough yet the Statute mentioneth onely estates betwixt Baron and Feme And although the estate be not conueyed to the Feme by precise termes for her life yet words that amount to as much shall be of as great effect As if Lands be giuen to a wife vntill I. S. hath leuied an hundred pound or till he be promoted to a Benefice This maketh an estate for life within the branch of 27. c. SECT XXXVI Estate to the vse of Baron and Feme IF estate be conueyed to Baron and Feme to the vse of a Stranger this is no Ioynture but if it be to Baron and Feme or to one of them or to a Stranger to the vse of the Feme it is a good Ioynture and in euery limitation of vse to the Baron and Feme it is requisite that he or they that shall take the possession may be seised to an vse for if Lands be giuen to the King or a Corporation or to an alien borne to the vse of Baron and Feme this is no good Ioynture for these persons cannot stand seised to another bodies vse no more can a Rector or Parson of a Church or a Bishop vnlesse it be in respect of their naturall capacitie but a man attainted may take for another bodies vse and therefore a Feoffement to him to the vse of Baron and Feme may be a Ioynture SECT XXXVII How a Woman may haue a Ioynture and Dower and how neither Ioynture nor Dower A Woman may haue Dower notwithstanding her Iointure by the kind ouersight of her Husband or of his heyre As if a Ioynture assigned the Baron himselfe will endow his Wife ad ostium Ecclesiae or ex assensu patris Or if after the husbands death his heyre or Feoffée will assigne other Lands in Dower to her which hath a Ioynture already Or if the heyre plead to her in a Writt of Dower ne vnque seisique Dower c. or nient accouple in loyall matrimonie or any other plea saue Ioynture c. in barre of Dower for in such Case if it be found against him the woman shall recouer Dower and retaine her Iointure neuerthelesse quia volenti non fuit iniuria On the other side a Woman shall haue neither Ioynture nor Dower if by her owne folly or wrong done she haue forfeited her Ioynture As by breach of a condition annexed to her estate or doing of wast or making a Feoffement And if her Ioynture by lawfull title and without any folly in her be euicted from her yet where the heyre is remitted to another estate then that which her husband was seised of during Couerture she getteth no Dower So is it if the estate whereof Dower is demanded were conueyed to the Baron and his heyres during the life of I. S. But if it were to the Baron and his heyres for so long time as I. S. had heyres of his body lawfully begotten this estate may yéeld Dower SECT XXXVII The first Prouiso for Dower vpon euiction of Ioynture THis Prouiso is to be construed fauorably for women as the premises be in fauour of the Heire And therefore as well tayled Lands as Fée-simple are bound to render value and recompence if therefore the Ioynture euicted were to the value of twenty pound per annum and the heyre haue twenty pound per annum of Land tayled to his Father the woman shall recouer euery whit of it in recompence of her lost Ioynture for this latter and new Statute controlleth the ancient Statute de donis conditionalibus SECT XXXVIII In what case a Woman may refuse her Ioynture to demand Dower THe Statute is plaine that a woman may refuse a Ioynture made during Couerture and take her Dower or waiue Dower and rest on her Ioynture vnlesse the Ioynture were by act of Parliament c. And M. Brograues opinion was that if the Ioynture were made by other assurance and afterward confirmed by Parliament that such ratification tooke away a womans election as well as if the originall assurance had béen
by Parliament But if the Ioynture were made before Marriage the woman must néeds hold her to her Ioynture sans election And this is by implication vpon the third prouiso as appeareth by the report of Anderson c Sée Commentaries Plowden 390. The Case 6. Eliz. Dyer 228. is That Richard Ashton Esquire in accomplishment of certaine Indentures dentures betwixt him and Sir William Barenport concerning Marriage to be had betwixt Richard Ashton the sonne and Elizabeth the daughter of Sir William which gaue seuen hundred Markes with her in marriage infeoffed certaine persons before Marriage of Land to the annuall rent of twenty pound to the vse of the said Elizabeth for terme of her life The Marriage being consummate first Richard the Father and then Richard the Sonne died then it was found by office that Richard the sonne died seised in Fée if these Lands whereof the Feoffement was made and of other Lands holden by Chiualry as of the Dutchie of Laâ—caster his heyre being vnder age the first question was whether shee might retaine the twenty pound Lands â—â—d haue Dower of the rest because she was not Richard Aâ—â—â—ons wife at the time of the Feoffement first made neither was it made of the barons lands or by the baron resolued by Councell of the Court that shée was barred of Dower And it was so likewise resolued in Vernons Case Sir Ed. Cokes 4. Report wherein is much learning touching Ioynture The second question in Eliz. Astons ca. was whether she were Dowable from the Quéene because the feoffement was not found by the Office The third question whether it might be aâ—â—râ—ed for the Quéene in stay of petition of Dower that the Feoffement was made pro iunctura no such matter being expressed neither in the déed of Feoffement or Indenture of Coâ—â—â—ants The fourth question whether the Widdow Elizabeth might be receiued to auerre and proue by Commissi 〈…〉 the Court of Wards that the Feoffement was not meant for a Ioynture Here is enough to make Women be wâ—â—e how they take Ioyntures before Marriage Take 〈…〉 ther to admonish you beware of fines after Marriâ—â—â— Ioynture was made to a Feme Couert by her Baron shée and her baron aliened the land by fine sur connusance de droit by the opinion of Iustices Wray Bell Manhood and Dyer she shall not demand Dower of the residue of her husbands Land after his death for she aliened her Ioynture before time of election was giuen her by the Statute quaere But if the fine had bene sur connusance de droit come ceo que le connuseead de done le Baron tantum this had béene a better forme for the wife and lesse dangerous 19. Eliz. Dyer 358. SECT XXXIX What is a sufficient refusall or agreement of or to a Iointure made after Couerture See Sir Edw. Cokes 3. Rep. in Butlers and Bakers Case THe refusing or agreement c. because they are peremptory must not bee clouded darke doubtfull or implicatiue but plaine and expresse a bare word or saying by a woman that she will refuse her Ioynture or accept it is not materiall as diuers Iustices doe hold it But if shee come vpon the Land whereof she is Dowable and there refusing her Ioynture pray the heyre to assigne her Dower this is such a refusall that the heyre by this shall be charged in damages from this time forth in a writt of Dower and this refusall must be to the heyre himselfe and not to a Stranger If a Widow waiue the possession of a house or tenement assigned in Ioynture by her husband and get her to another place this is no refusall But if she haue any medling with the land assigned in Ioynture or doe any other act amounting to assent or dissenting as for example If she bring a writt of Dower and declare vpon it this is peremptory although she bee vnder age Couert or not Couert of a second Husband for the Law saith that they which haue discretion to acquire and get things haue sufficient discretion to giue and preserue those things gotten Therefore if an Infant cdme to any thing by purchase hee shall not in that haue any aduantage or bee in better plight then a parson of full age As where estate is made to an Infant of two acres to haue and hold the one for life the other in fée c. a Feoffement made of one whilest he is yet vnder age is a sufficient election And if a rent charge bee granted to an Infant whereupon he bringeth a Writt of annuity he shall neuer auow for it as a vent when he commeth to full age So if an Infant recouer debt and sue execution by elegit c. he shall neuer haue a scire facias And an Infant is subiect to an action of waste or entry for condition broken as well as any other person These collections gathered as I thinke by some well learned and industrious Student out of M. Brograues reading though they want of the fulnesse and perfection which the owne pen of so great a Lawyer might haue giuen them yet are they pertinent and important And I not a little beholding to him from whose hands I obtaine them SECT XL. Of Actions brought by Baron and Feme or by one of them NOw because the common sayings are found by common experience true Qui capit vxorâ—m capit lites and qui habet terras habet guerras A Wife brings iarres and wealth brings warres quarrels suits and controuersies at Law sans câ—o that it hath any other intendment it will not be amisse a little to declare how and in what manner actions at law must be commenced and pursued by baâ—on and Feme or against them or by or against one of them according to prescription of Law and their seuerall and ioynt Interests c. SECT XLI Where the Baron shall sue onely in his owne name A Man shall sue for his Wiues Marriage money onely in his owne name but how or where that is a matter of some obscurity by Bracton lib. 5. ca. 10. 407. money that is promised causa Matrimonij is as a sequell of Marriage and so being annexed to a thing spirituall requires a spirituall suite yet he confesseth that it is otherwise for Land promised or couenanted c. Fitzherbert in his Writ of Debt citeth 31. Ed. 3. that if a man promise one twenty pound to marry his Daughter which marrieth her accordingly he may haue a Writ of debt vpon his promise but he forgets not the â—éere difference in the Booke of assizes for in the Writt of prohibition he tels vs if a man promise one twenty pounds if he marry his Daughter after marriage if the promiser will not pay the money the husband may not sue in Court Christian if hee doe a prohibition lyeth marry if I promise one twenty pounds with my Daughter in Marriage c. now vpon non-payment he may sue in Court Christian for this concerneth Matrimony The same
Ienny Defendant entred in Banco Regis Hillar 2. Iacobi Rot 571 where the Plaintiffe declared that the Defendant in consideration that the Plaintiffe had formerly married his Daughter at his speciall request the Defendant promised the Plaintiffe to pay him euery yéere during the life of the Defendant ten pound c. and as my report saith the Plaintiffe vpon non assumpsit pleaded had verdict and iudgement in the Kings Bench but vpon a writ of error in Exchequer Chamber the Iudgement was reuersed for that the Marriage was executed before the promise made and yet the declaration supposed that the Defendant requested the Plaintiffe to Marriage c. But let me not run so farre from my Tert as neuer to finde the way backe againe A man may sue for Marriage money in his owne name onely and so is it generally where that which is in demand or to be recouered commeth méerely and onely to the Baron Example 43. Ed. 3. fo 8. The Earle of Arundell brought a Writt of Trespasse against one for chasing in a free Chace that he held in right of his Wife and the Writt awarded good though the Wife were not named in it because nothing was to be recouered by damages Likewise is it if the Baron bring a Writt of Trespasse for strayes taken in Lands holden in right of his Wife And eod anno fo 26. for breaking of a house and carrying away of timber the Husband alone shall haue the action because hee may when hee list pull downe a house or sell timber standing vpon his Wiues Inheritance or make a release to any body vpon such manner of trespasse and the Wiues action is gone for euer There is also the same yeare fo 16. another Case wherein because a decies tantum was brought by Baron and Feme the Writt abated for though the first action concerned the Wiues Interest yet nothing is to be recoueredin a decies tantum but damages c. Sée the Booke of 20. H. 6. fo 1. a Writt of maintenance wherein nothing is recouerable but damages was brought by Baron and Feme vpon maintenance in a bill of fresh force against them by the better opinion they might ioyne c. And the Defendant passeth Ouster but not by award 41. Ed. 3. f. 9. a Writ of Champertie brought by the Baron onely vpon an assise which had passed against him and his wife was allowed good notwithstanding exceptions taken of the wiues Interest c. vpon the reasons before expressed And by Finch if a man haue a Ward in right of his Wife Dower shall be demanded against him onely because the gard is a Chattell vested But if a Writt of Wardship be to be brought it shall be against the Baron and feme c. because of voucher And in trespasse if the Plaintiffe recouer against Baron and Feme by false verdict they both must wyne in the attaint for that must be according to the record 46. Ed. 3. fo 20. a man brought a Writt of rauishment de gard declaring vpon a possession iure vxoris and the Writ held good yet in this case there is more then damages to be recouered for the Plaintiffe shall haue the Infant restored by the very words of his Writt But there againe it was agréed that an action to recouer a Ward must be against them both because of voucher though in a writt of Dower it be vt supra because therein there is no voucher c. If Baron and Feme sell the Wiues Inheritance by fine for twenty pound an action of debt for the money shall bee brought by the Baron onely for the grant was onely the Barons grant and if he die the Executors shall haue the action and not the Feme 48. Ed. 3. fo 18. And a repleâ—â—n must bee brought by the Baron onely because a Feme Couert cannot haue a propertie in any goods or Chattels But for such goods as the Wife hath as Executrix it séemeth the Baron and Feme may ioyne in ar pleuen so shall they for goods of the Wife taken dum sola fuit Fitz. in the title reception In trespasse at Common Law or vpon the Statute Anno 5. Rich. 2. the Baron alone shall haue action of trespasse and so likewise for taking away Charters concerning the Wiues inheritance So is it if he alone deliuer such Charters he alone may haue action against the Bayliffe c. But a Writt of Detinue of Charters of the Wiues inheritance must be sued by both c. because the Charters themselues are to be recouered And therefore vpon recouery of them the Baron and Feme must ioyne for recouery A quare impedit was brought 50. of Ed. 3. fo 13. and the Baron declared of an agréement betwixt thrée Sisters to present by turne to a Church whereof they had the Aduousan and this was the turne of his Wife c. The Defendant demands Iudgement of the Writt because the Wife being still aliue was not named but this Writt also was awarded good because nothing was to be recouered here but onely the Presentment and not the Aduousan And if a Writt should be awarded to the Bishop against the Baron the Wife thereby should not be out of possession because she is not partie to the Iudgement besides that she is ayded by West 2. cap. 3. And for a generall rule where the Husbands release is good the action may be brought in his name onely as vpon cutting of trées grasse Corne c. And such actions may be brought in the name both of the Husband and the Wife An assise of â—arraigne presentment is a mixt action and the Aduousan it selfe shall be recouered in it therefore of necessity it must be brought both by Baron and Feme 15. Ed. 4. fo 9. The Baron Seignior in right of his wife ioyned in a writt of rescous and it was argued that he alone ought to haue brought the writt But it was awarded well brought by them both Though per Littleton it were good enough in nosme le Baron tantum And per Pigot when an obligation is made to Baron and Feme the Baron alone may haue the action or they may ioyne â—adem lex in trespasse c. maintenance c. for alwayes where the action may suruiue to the wife the wife may ioyne in the writt They which shall read these two last Cases argued 50. Ed. 3. and 15. Ed. 4 in the yeares at large shall not néed to repent it SECT XLII When a Wife may sue or be sued alone IT is seldome almost neuer that a marryed woman can haue any action to vse her writt onely in her owne name her husband is her sterne her primus motor without whom the cannot doe much at home and lesse abroad But if her Huusband commit felonie take the Church and abiure the Realme she is now in case as a Widdow inabled to make alienation of her owne land as a Feme sole or to bring a cui in vita for
Iudge ought to command execution presently for this benefit shall bee claimed but once If the Iudge inquire further of it it must be but to set a fine on the Marshall or Sheriffe for looking no better to her Stanford lib. 3. ca. vlâ—imo And by the bookes which he citeth the obiection must be not priuiment ensoint but enâ—â—int de viue enfant SECT XLIV Of Treasons ANd this obiection of enseintment is aswell to delay execution for treason as for felony A woman for committing either grand or petty treason shall be burned The latter part of the Statute 25. of Ed. 3. ca. 2 is That if any seruant kill his Master any woman kill her husband or any man secular or religious person kill his Prelate to whom he owes obedience this is treason and euery Lord shall haue the Escheates for such treasons of his owne proper fée the Statute is but declaration of the common law titulo Coronae in Fitzh A woman compasseth with her Adulterer the death of her husband they assailed him riding on the high way beating wounding leauing him for dead and then they fled The husband got vp leuied hue and cry came before the Iustices they sent after the offendors which were gotten arraigned and the matter found by verdict the adulterer was hanged the woman burned to death the husband liuing voluntas reputabitur per facto 15. E. 2. A woman seruant conspired to rob her Mistris and brought a stranger to the bed-side where the Mistris lay asleepe the stranger killed her the seruant silent nothing doing but holding the Candle the two chiefe Iustices and Hâ—re thought the seruant a Traytresse and a principall 2. 3. Eliz. Dyer 128. yet Mistris is not verbatim in the Statute Stanford was one of them against the chiefe Iustices opinion in this case yet in his owne booke he teacheth that abettors procurers are within the meaning and intent of the Law The seruant and the wife conspire the husbands death he is killed by the seruant in absence of the wife this is petty treason in them both by opinion of diuers Iustices otherwise it is if the murtherer be no seruant Dyer 16. Eliz 332. for Saunders wife which procured Browne to kill her husband but barely hanged as accessarie because the principall was but a murtherer 8. Eliz. Dyer 254. SECT XLV Actions by Baron and Feme together THe baron and feme may ioyne in a writ of trespasse quare vi armis clausuÌ„ fregit c. for trespasse done in the wiues land either before couerture or during couerture Sée 21. H. 6. fol. 30. such a Writ brought of trespasse in the Close of Baron and Feme and féeding vp blada sua Iudgement is asked of the Writ because a Feme couert hath no propertie in goods and chattels during the couerture The Declaration saith Markham is blada sua dum sola fuit depastus fuit That saith Newton is not possible but it ought to be blada ipsius Katherinae c. Yeluerton saith that both the Writ and Declaration ought to haue béene Dum sola fuit which Newton denies and saith that the Count ought only to be so and affirmeth that as the matter is brought forth there is an intendment of depasturing before couerture and of breaking the Close after couerture of which the Baron and Feme may haue a Writ Clausum suum fregit c. So the Action seemeth to be by two seuerall titles But in the end the record was viewed which was Quod clausum ipsius Katherinae fregit blada eiusdem Katherinae depastus fuit and the Declaration Dum sola fuit which made the Writ to be awarded good And there it is said that by the Register the Writ is not Dum sola fuit but generall and the Declaration speciall Yet 7. H. 7. fol. 2. vpon the like Writ of Quare clausum fregit bonâ— catella sua cepit which Declaration of trespasse to the Feme Dum sola fuit iudgement being giuen was afterwards found erroneous for fault in the Writ which should haue béene not bona sua but bona ipsius le Feme and therefore a Repleader awarded The baron feme may haue a Writ of trespasse of assault made to the Feme and imprisonment of her vntill the Baron compounded and paid a fine and the briefe and count shall be ad damna ipsorum quod nota 46. Ed. â— 3. Nota per Cuâ—iam saith Brooke Baron and Feme may ioyne in appeale De â—â—pe le feme for the husband alone cannot haue it without his wife 8. H. 4. fol. 21 The case there is A woman prisoner in the Marshalsey makes a suggestion to the Court that the Marshals man had rauished her in prison Gâ—scoigne commanded the Marshall to take his man to his custody and his staffe from him and the Court told the woman that she alone could not bring appeale sans son Baron but if her husband would come and they two together would proue the rape the rauisher should be hanged By this case it is plaine that the wife alone cannot haue the appeale but the Baron and Feme may haue it But neither by this case or any other statute can I finde that the baron may not haue it alone Whether ne vnque a couple in loyall matrimony be a sufficient plea in this appeale and whether he which is but Baron in possession only that is that husband which is at the time of the rape may haue it quaere and see 11. H. 4. 13. Baron and Feme may ioyne in a Writ of Debt and 16. Edw 4. fol. 8. such a Writ brought for arrerages of account with Declaration that the defendant was the wiues receiuer Dum sola fuit puraccount render and that the Baron and Feme after espousals assigned Auditors which found the defendant in arrerages c. Insomuch as the ground of the Action begun by the wise and the assignment of the Auditors was pursuing And likewise by the wife they might ioyne So if an Obligation be made to Baron Feme they may ioyne in a Writ of Debt and if the Baron die his wife and not the Executors shall haue the Action 3. H. 6. fol. 37. Per curiam Baron and Feme may ioyne in a Writ of Debt vpon an Obligation made to them during couerture And Babington affirmes that the Baron may haue the Action alone if he will 43. Ed. 3. fol. 10. such a Writ was brought and exception taken that it ought to haue been by the husband alone sed non allocatur Though for chattels vested as goods that are giuen to a man and his wife the Baron alone must pursue his Action for taking them out of his possession Otherwise it is of matters consisting onely in Action c. for they suruiue to the Feme like to a Lease granted to Baron and Feme for yeares So is it of rauishment or eiectment of Guard for these are Chattles reall But if
a diâ—â—ringas shall goe against him Againe 11. H. 4. a 〈…〉 â—apiâ—s went against Baron and Feme the Baron appeared and the wife made default the Plaintiffe could not obtaine exigent against them both but he had it against the Feme and an idem dies giuen to the Baron For though in a praecipe quod reddâ—â— in 〈…〉 of the grand 〈…〉 and such like and for losse of 〈…〉 returned vpon Baron and Feme the wiues default be the husbands default yet the wiues default onely shall â—ot â—ée so 〈…〉 to him as to driue him to a corporall punishment as to the capias or exigent Likewise 39. Ed â— 3. fol. 18. 〈…〉 against Baron and Feme at the exigent the Baron appeared the wife made default and because shée was misnamed in the writ a new exigent went out and aâ— idem dies to the husband yet he was compelled here to answer maintenants 8. H. 4. fol. 6. in appeale of Mayhem against Baron and Feme after exigent awarded the Baron alone came and found suerty and had a supersedeas though the wife neuer appeared 12 H. 4. fo 1. in a writ of debt against Baron and Feme processe continued till capias was awarded then the Baron appeared of his owâ—â— accord and the wife made default an idem dies was giuen to the husband and a capias sicut alias went against the wife which came and finding suerties had a supersedeas to the Sheriffe then at the day of appearing the wife câ—me and the Baron made default therein was awarded that the wife should haue another day of maineprise and processe went out against the husband But this he said should be no example in temps a vener SECT XLVII Of Fourching THis interchange or shifting of appearance and default by Baron and Feme is called sourching or fourcher The terme being of no greater linage than from a hay forke or pitchforke which in french is fourth The Logicians call their dilemma a forke And our Ancients haue giuen a like name to a subtill kinde of delay which parceners ioyntenants and married couples had at the common Law when suits were commenced against them called forcher for euen as a cunning fighting bull when he is bayted offering to the dog first one horne and then another might be said to forth so these conioyned aduersaries were wont to play with both tynes when first one should appeare and his fellow be â—ssoyned and at the next day of appearance he should make default which formerly appeared and be essoyned by him which first made default Against this West 1. ca. 42. complaining that demandants were greatly delayed by 〈…〉 which might not answer but together and by ioyntenants which knew not their owne seuerall that vsed to fourâ—h by â—ssoine till euery one were once essoined Ordeineth that such tenants henceforth shall bée allowed no essoine more than at one day and as one person The Statute of Gloucester made 6. eiusâ—em Regis 〈…〉 the first reciteth the former Statute thus Whereas it is established that parceners and tenants in common shall not fourth by essoine after they haue once appeared in Court It is ordeined that the same Law shall bée obserued when a man and his wife are impleaded c. In the booke 12. H 4. fo 1. Culpeppeâ— affirmeth that fourcher which was at the common Law in a writ of debt is not to be re 〈…〉 died by this Statute of 〈…〉 And Thi 〈…〉 confesseth that the Statute i 〈…〉 lâ—â—d 〈…〉 yet saith he at the common Law 〈…〉 and 〈…〉 might neuer fourth by distresses infinet in a writ of debt for that they are in a manner one person in law Thus much of sourching SECT XLVIII The Baron and Feme appeare BVt admitting that there is no delay vsed how shall Baron and Feme plead I suppose it is hardly comprehended within rules Brooke setteth downe that in a quid â—uris clamat against Baron and Feme they may deny the deed by which the Feme should bee bound and a quid iuris clamat was brought against a Feme couert 18. H. 6. fo 1. Titulo Baron Feme 83. And where the Baron is estopped from pleading non tenure the wife is so tâ—â— Titulo louâ—nes accompts Br. 17. â—6 assisar p. 44. An Assise was brought against Baron and Feme the Baron canus in proper person and pleaded the Plaintiff 〈…〉 the wines Atturney was asked if hée would assâ—â—t to the plea who answered he would be aduised therefore thes dâ—â—â— was deliuered baâ—â— againe to the husband to the intent that it should not bée allowed vnlesse the wines Atturney consented who alterward agreed Thus doth Fitzh titulo Assise abridge the case 243. very néere the originall for Brooke mistâ—ke it or I mistake him in the title of Baron and Feme 72. In an action of debt against Baron and Feme executrix It in a good pleading to say that the wife hath fully administred and a good replication to say that the wise hath asserts sins paâ—ler del Baron â—â— Hen. 6. fo 4. And there it is said that a wife 〈…〉 may administer and distribute gods without the assent of her husband And if that she sell the Testator goods and redeme them yet still they remaine assets If a Fame tenant for life take a husband and they sine being 〈…〉 of a stranger if the Baron die he in 〈…〉 cannot enter for that is the act of the husband If a Feme tenant for life take a husband which alieneth in Fee and hee in reuerston entereth if now the Baron dye the wife shall haue the land againe 29. assisar p. 43. Brooke 86. Titulo Baron and Feme The case is of an estate made to baron and Feme in the booke of assises in a writ of entry in nature of assise against Baron and Feme the Baron pleaded non tenure for his wife and for himselfe Ioyntenantie with a stranger This was Bolden a good plea per Curianâ— and not double for he must answer for both 16. H. 6. fo 22. 12. Rich. 2. Baron and Feme were acquit in appeale it was found by verdict that they had béene imprisoned to damnages C. l. By Thinne Hâ—ll Iustices the dammages ought to be seuered the Baron to haue one iudgement for himselfe and he and his wife another iudgement for his wife for if the husband should dye before execution the wife ought to haue execution of her daâ—uâ—ages and not the husbands executors which could not bee if the recouery were in common Fitzh Titulo Iudgement 108. SECT XLIX Outlarie of Baron and Feme or of one of them 44. Ed. â— fo 3. The Baron and Feme being outlawed in an action of debt got each of them a seuerall Charter of pardon sued scire facias against the Plaintiffe and found maineprise ioyntly the Viscount returned that the scire facias came tardy at which returne the Baron appeared without his wife and praying to haue scire facias sicut alias
companion diuorced for lands wherein shee claimeth inheritance or estate for life so if he haue aliened in sée â—ée tayle â—r for life the lands which he had in fée simple â—ée â—a le or for terme of life to a stranger she may as soone as she iâ— diuorced bring a Writ called a â—â—i ante diuorâ—â—â—m against the Alâ—enee And this Writ may be in the per cuâ— post If shee dye before action commenced or before recouery her heire may haue a Writ called a surâ—uranâ—e diuortium and the Aunt and Néece may joyne in iâ— But for her estate tayle her heire shal be put to a formidone But note Reader that it séemeth both the woman and her heire may enter after the Statute of 32. Hen. 8. and neuer bring Cui in vita nor sur cuim viâ—a c. for the opinion in Grenlies Case Sir Edw. Cokes 8. Rep. fol. 73. is that if the baron alien and after the wife is diuorced causa praecontract which dissolue the marriage à vinculoma rimonii the wife during the life of the husband or after his death may enter for the words of the Aâ—tare nâ— fine feâ—ffeinent c. during the Couerture betwéene them and although the Statutâ— saith But that the same wife c. that is to be intended of her which was his wife at the time of the alienation c. Note that whereas West 2. cap. â— giueth a cui in vita vpon recouery by default against the husband c. shée shall haue a cuâ—â—hâ—e diuortium vpon the like â—eâ—ouery by equity extension of the Statute and the processe is summons grand cape peâ—iâ— cape I wil here set the bounds and limits of my third booke not because this sequell and consequence â—iuorte I meane whereby the issue had is basâ—â—â—â—â—zed and the wâ—â—an restored to her goods and lands conforteth with the marriage so perfectly begun as I meant it for this is not the vntying of true wedlocke but rather a dissipation of marriage tainted at the beginning and in Christian Court adiudged to a â—â—llity as if it had neuer béene the Baron and Fâ—me that I hâ—â—â— spoken of all this while if they were not married in their infant loue and very first flowing age yet were they not â—rostbitten or so blasted either of them when they were young but they might well haue frâ—â—tified neither was either of them a common Law breaker intangled with promise or praecontract and as for consanguinity or affinity there was no more betwixt them than is betweene Iack Flecher and his bolt You may imagine some matter by onely imagination perhaps more visible than it could haue béene being true whereupon a publike sentence of seperation being published a Thoro mensa but then there was a monition of chast liuing and prohibition to both the parties that neither of them should flâ—â— to other marriage so long as both of them were liuing And the Author of seperation that is the party suing diuorce did put in sufficient caution to doe nothing contrary to this prohibition So that the holy liues of matrimony were not cleane broken and pulled asunder but within a yéere or two they were reconciled voluntarily of their â—wne accord And soone after so I will make it hauing the Distaffe Spindle and Shéeres all in mine owne hand the husbands life was suddenly cut off or else the wiâ—e had béene sole executrix THE WOMANS LAWYER The fourth BOOKE PAle death equo pulsans pede pauperum tabernas regnumque â—urres Death I say to whom the Poet did attribute so much power in this his verse Omnia sub leges mors vocat aâ—â—a suas hath called the husband hence left the house full of mourning and specially the wife cannot chuse but sorrow and lament If my â—oure legged beast should fall into halues the one halfe starke dead without motion or spirit and the other halfe standing still vpright senting séeing féeling gazing must it not thinke you be wonderfully astonished If an Elephant in whom as some dâ—e write is vnderstanding of his countries spéech a wonderfull memorie and recenting of things past a great delight in loue and glorie besides prudence equitie and religion should haue his head cut off his body remaining still for all that vegetable and sensitiue would he not trow yée be excéeding sorrowfull for the forgoing such an ornament I dare be bold to giue a woman as much as Pliny gaue the Elephant She hath vnderstanding and spéech firme memorie loue naturall and kindnesse desire of glorie and reputation with the accomplishment of many meritorions vertues But alas when she hath lost her husband her head is cut off her intellectuall part 〈…〉 gone the verie faculties of her soule are I will not s 〈…〉 cleane taken away but they are all be 〈…〉 ned di 〈…〉 ed and dazled so that she cannot thinke or remember when to take rest or refâ—ction for her weake body And though her spirits and naturall moysture being inwardly exhausted with sorrow and extreme griefe she be called and inforced to seeke restauration by such aliments as life is prolonged by yet is she nothing desirous of life hauing lost a moytie of herselfe yea the principall maytie now best prised and estéemed but neuer best loued Time must play the Physitian and I will helpe him a little Why mourne you so you that be widowes Consider how long you haue beene in subiection vnder the predeminance of parents of your husbands now you be frée in libertie frée propriiâ—uris at yoâ—r owne Law you may see num cap. â—0 That maidens and wiues vowes made vpon their soules to the Lord himselfe of heauen and earth were all disauowable and infringible by their parents or husbands vnlesse they ratified and allowed them either expresse or by silence at the day when such vowes came first to their notice and knowledge But the vow of a widow or of a woman diuorced no man had power to disallow of for her estate was free from controlment Must a woman néeds wéepe thus for the losse of her Buckler Shield and defence in the person of him with whom she held daily commutation of all offices proceeding from loue and superlatiue kindnesse Let her learne to cast her whole loue and deuotion on him that is better able to loue and defend her than all the men in the world Him I meane that hath forbiddâ—n to afflict widdowes or orphans with promise to heare their cries and vindicate their wrongs by killing them by the sword and making the wiues widdowes and their children fatherlesse of them which breake this Commandement Exod. cap. 22. Then because a sober carefulnesse and moderate sedulitie in businesse of profit or disprofit doth mitigate greatly the sorrowing for such actions as opinion or fancie makes thus grieuous let her looke to her affaires as cause and need requireth SECT I. Of Executorship and Administration SHe is not made an Executor because the office is troublesome let her take
infeofed with warranty hee shall not pray that she 〈…〉 ow her selfe for he may vouch the heire which Gardin 〈…〉 Chiualry cannot doe It is no good plea for Gardine in Chiualry to say the Demandant was gardian in soccage c. but hee must shew that she is gardian in soccage â—our del brief purchase and this is good till shée haue shewed by replication the land deuested from her possession If a widdow gardian in facto of some lands that were her husbands and holden in Chiualry purchase her Writ of Dower against another Gardian in Chiualry hée shall not plead the speciall matter and plead vt supra for the wardship is here to the widdowes owne vse and profit SECT VII Assignement of Dower by the King Statutum prerogatiue ca 4 fact 17. Ed. 2. THe Statute is that after the deathes of husbands which held of the King in Cap 〈…〉 the King shall assigne Dower yea although the heire be of full age Vidue si voluâ—runt And such widdowes before assignation of Dower whether the heire bee of full age or vnder shall sweare not to marry without the Kings licence If they doe marry â—aâ—â— licence the King shall take into his hands as a 〈…〉 esse all the Lâ—â—â—s and Tenements holden of him in Dower so that the woman shall take no profit of it till shee or her husband haue satisfied the Kings will by fine which was wont to be tempore regis Henrici patris regis Ed. â— â—aith the Statute at full yéerely value of the whole Dower nisi vberiorem gâ—â—â—iam habuâ—â—â—nt â—ulieres And women which bee themselues Tenants in Capite of inheritance what age soeuer they be of shall sweare likewise not to marry without the Kings licence Si fecerint terrae capâ—â—â—tur eodem modo in manus Regis c. This Statute is proued to bee but confirmation of the common Law â—4 H. 3. Prâ—rogatiue 27. iâ— Fitzheâ—â—â—rt and by â—â— Char c. 7. ul a vidua distringatur ad se â—â—â—â—tandum dummodo voluerit viuere â—â—â—e marito Ita tamen quod secuâ—itatem faciat quod se non maritabit â—ine assensu nostro si de nobis tenuerit vel sine assensu domini sui si de alio â—â—nnerit Fitzb. in natu br 263. shewes the manner of indowment by the King The widdow must come into Chancery and make oath not to marry sans licence whereupon the King may make the Assignement in the Chancery and direct his Writ to the Escheator certifying him that hee hath assigned a third part of such lands with a third part of the liberty of Court view of franckpledge c. commanding him to make liuery of the same to haue in Dower or the woman may after she hath sworne haue a writ reciting her oath and commanding the Escheator to make assignement But the most vsuall course is vt antea And the King though hee hath committed custody of lands to another person may assigne Dower to the widdow in Chancery notwithstanding and shee shall haue a Writ to the Escheator yâ—â— and the King may grant a Writ to the Escheator commanding him to take surety of the widdow not to marry sans licence and then to assigne her Dower as praecipiâ—us tibi â—â— capâ—o sacramento c. assignari libâ—â—i â—â—ciaâ— c. If the Tenant which is dead held by Chiâ—â—â—ry of some Bishopricke or such like which is in the Kings hands by vacancie the widdow must demand her Dower in Chancery and she shall haue a Writ for her Assignement to the Escheator but in this case shee sweares not to marry sans licence So is it also when Dower is demanded of laâ—â—â— holden of a common person in Chiâ—â—â—ry where the heire is in the Kings ward pâ—r â—â—nage And the King may assigne Dower in Chancery rendring rent to him because the lands assigned doe excéed a iust third part of the Tenements whereof Dower is assignable If the widdow be so weake â—â— impotent that shée cannot trauell to the Chancery to take her oath and demand Dower she may sue a speciall Writ to some person both to take her oath and to receiue Attâ—rney whom she will constitute to sue in her stead If liuery bee made to the heire being of full age with a reseruation of Dower to be assigned to the King and then the widdow commeth into the Chancery for Dower as shee must doe there shall goe a speciall Writ to the Escheator to warne the heire that he be in Chancery at a certaine day and the widdow shall bée appointed the same day to receiue her Assignement But if the Writ of Liuery directed to the Escheator bée generall without clause of salua doâ—a per nos assigâ—anda the widdow must now â—â—â— for her Dower by Writ of Dower against the heire If the King when he makes liuery reserues Assignement of Dower to himselfe in his Writ to the Escheator now whether the widdow come and demand dower in Chancery or demand no dower yet the reuersion is in the heire after assignement for after the death of Tenant in Dower the heire shall not 〈◊〉 any neâ— liuery Because the first writ commandâ— all the landâ— to be deliuered and so the Escheator doth deliuer all nothing being reserued to the King but onely Assignement of Dower If after this Assignement iâ—â—e â—â—râ—isâ—â— by the heire or other body that the land which the woman hath is of far greater value than it was made by the extent c. if the excesse â—e 〈◊〉 and returned â— sâ—iâ—e facias shall goe forth â—â— cause the woman to come and shew cause why she should not take a nâ—w Indowment If she appeare and cannot gaineâ—ay the matter or if she were warned and make default it séemeth in both cases she shall be endowed a new So that parcell of the lands which she hath shall be taken from her â—â— the King may if hee will make assignment altogether new by a new Writ to the Viscount If the widow after she is sworne and indowed doe marrie sans licence the King sends to the Escheator to seise those lands which she holdeth in Dower by a Writ reciting the oath the indowment and marriage with this in it Nos contemptum huâ—â—â—modi nolentes transiâ—â— impunituÌ„ necnon indeâ—â—â—â—tati nostrae volentes prospleere tibi praecipimus si ita est â—nc omnia terrâ—â— â—â—â—â—ment quae tenâ—t in Dote c. capias in man nosâ—â— Ita quod de 〈◊〉 prouenientibus nobis respondâ—â—â— ad scaccarâ—â—◠〈◊〉 quousque nobis dâ— Forisfacâ—uâ—â— ad nos inde pertinenâ— satisfactur â—uâ—rit Thus far 〈◊〉 Stamford argueth whether Fitzherbert deliuer the Law rightly or no in this that he saith the King may assigne Dower in Chancerie though hee haue committed oâ—â—â— the wardship of land to some other body for many writs are in the yeare bookes brought against the Committée in such a case And in some bookes the woman recouers Dower the King neuer being made priuie As titulo â—â—â—
the Statute as also what lands are subiect to the Statute as also what lands are subiect to seisure aswell of the husbands lands as of the wiues If that were reason saith Fitzherbert a womans inheritance might be seised too Et semble a moy the King cannot grant marriage of his widdowes as he may of his wards for a widdow may remaine sole without penalite or paying for it by Mag. Chart. cap. 7. But Stamford includeth that a widdow endowed oâ— lands holden in capite by the Kings Committee or husbands heire though vnsworne is not freed from marriage sans licence for she is presently as soone as she is endowed tenant to the King and not to the heire which is in reuersion yet only the heire is he which shall haue action of waste against her but if trespasse bee done vpon the ground she may haue a writ out of Chancerie supposing entrie vpon the Kings possession And Auowrie to bee made by the King resteth onely vpon her as holdeth Wood 1. H. 7. fol. 17. and 4. H. 7. 1. Now note that Endowment in Chancerie is of such strength that be it by wrong or by right it cannot be auoyded by plea without suit in Chancerie And if it bee too little the woman must stand in her owne harmes that hath once attempted it in Chancerie bee shee within aâ—e or of full age as appeares 18. Ed. 3. fol. 29. If any office bee trauersed because the land is holden not of the King but of some other Lord who therefore hath an Ouster le maine vna cum exitibus yet Dower which is already assigned remaineth vndefeated till another suit be made in Chancerie to auoid it Yet in this case because Admeasurement is no preiudice to the King of whom the land is not holden the Lord that tendreth trauerse may haue a Writ of Admeasurement at yâ— Common Law And the heire may haue Admeasurement of Dower assigned by his Ancestor But an Abator cannot haue Admeasurement neither can Gardian in fait haue Admeasurement vpon assignment by Gardian in droit nor if the heire were at full age at his Ancestors death and died his heire being within age can the Gardian haue Admeasurement but where a woman is endowed in Chancerie and afterward the heire or some other for the King surmiseth eâ—cesse of value it may bée admeasured beginning with Scire facias as Fitzherbert hath taught supra and fol. 249. â— If the husband had l 〈…〉 in diuers Counties by reason whereof diuers writs of diem clausit extremum were awarded after his death into euerie of those Counties the widdow cannot be endowed till such time as all the writs be returned into Chancery If after she is once endowed in Chancerie her Dower be recouered from her by any title she hath no remedie but to remoue the record of this recouerie into Chancerie and then vpon the first record which sheweth that she was endowed and vpon this other of recouerie she shall haue Scire facias reciting both the records against him which is tenant of the two parts to reseise them into the Kings hands and so to bee newly endowed but not to recouer any dammages though dammages were recouered against her Lib. 43. Assisar Pl. 32. for by the latter part of the Statute Prerogatiue cap. 4. It séemeth the King hath lost his prerogatiue and that he is bound by West 1. cap. 22. Note that woman Ioynt purchaser with her husband is not within this Law to fine for her marriage when she becomes a widdow say I therefore well fare a Ioynture SECT VIII Suit for Dower at the Common Law THus we haue séene how and when a widdow muâ—â— fâ—â— for Dower in the Châ—â—â—erâ—â— viz. when either her husband died the 〈…〉 tenant in capâ—te or by â—nights seruice his heire vnder age or otherwise tenant to some other â—hole lands are in the Kings hands by vacancie or nonage of the heire But if the husband which held in Socage or by â—nights seruice not of the King did giue or alien any manâ—â—r of way his lands or were disseised of them or died sâ—isâ—â— of them The widdow if by simple demand she cannot obtaine her Dower to bee assigned her may haue a wâ—â—t of Dower Vnde nihil habet at the Common Law against him which is tenant of the Franktenement by the old Nat. breuium this writ is maintainable against him which hath possession of the land by what manner soeuer or against the Gardian in Chiualrie in this or like forme Rex Vâ—cecomiti c. command A. to render to B. which was the wise of C. â—er reasonable Dower quae ad cam contingit de libero â—enemento quoâ— fuit praedict C. sometime her late husband in D. vnde niâ—iâ—â—abet vnde queritur quod A. ei defortiat c. nisi fecerit B. fecerit tâ— securum de clamore prosequendo c. summoneas A. vt sit apud WestmÌ„ ostensurus If the Dower were ad ostium Ecclesiae or ex assensu patris or otherwise there is mention made of it in the writ In London there may be a writ from the King to the Maior and Sheriffes in these words Quod Iusticietis A. quod iuste â—â—ne delatione secundum consuetudinem ciuitatis nostrae London redd ' B. quae fuit vxor C. rationabilem dotem c. Et Iusticietis D. quod iuste c. whereby appeares that a widdow in London may haue a writ of Dower against seuerall tenents by seuerall Iusticies as well as at the Common Law seuerall Precipes against seuerall tenants all in one writ the Processe in the Common Place is summons Grand cape pettie cape in the Common Place this writ of Dower vnde nihil habet must be returned into the Kings Court Et per grand reason saith Britton cap. 10. 4. For if two or more women should striue euerie of them affirming her selfe to be the lawfull wife of him which is dead not minding to be buried with him as is the corse in India but to get a third of his lands This must be tried by Certificate from the Bishop vnto whom if any but the King should write for the deciding of debate it might fall out to be all in vaine because none hath power but the King to compell the Bishop to make Certificate In the next Chapter Britton sheweth that if the Tenant vouch to warranty one which appeareth according to summons the Plea shall proceed betwixt the Plaintiffe the Warrantor or Vouchée the Tenant keeping seisen till the Warrantie be determined Then if the Garrantie cannot be denied nor the womans right disproued if that which she demandeth were certainly assigned to her for Dower from her husband shee shall recouer against the Tenant Et le renant le value But if the demand bee of no other than reasonable Dower the woman shall recouer in value against the Warrantor and the Tenant shall hold his land in peace If so be
habet in the other Writ for hee â—aith where a woman that hath recouered part of her dower of one Tenant already demands the reâ—nant against the same Tenant in the same Towne because the words vnde nihil habet will not seâ—ue this Writ de recto de doâ—â— is vsed of necessity and is directed to the heires Gardian if he be in ward or to the heire himselfe or to a deforcour And some say that a woman losing her dower by default in a praecipe quod reddat she shall recouer by this Writ de recto de dote by the opinion of some But it séemes shée may haue a quod ei deforceat by equity the Statute W. 2. cap. 4. Whereas before shee had no â—â—â—edy but by this Writ or by action of deceipt if shée were not summoned Fitzherbert holdeth also if a woman lose her dower by assise or other action tryed sheâ— may haue an attainte but not this Writ de recto for the land was assigned her once to hold in dower and by that title she had possession so that that title est execute and so she ought to sue an action of her owne possession if shee bee deforced and not demand dower againe quaere The forme is Praecipimus tibi vt plenum rectum â—â—neas B. quae fuit vxor C. de tertia parte decem acrâ—rum cum pertinentiis in D. quam claâ—at tenere de te in dote ê‘ liberum seruitium tertiae partis vnius denarii per annum c. And this Writ may bee of the moity of land according to the custome c. or of the profitâ— of an office Fitzherbert sets downe one for example Rex Andreae salutem we command you that you yéeld vnto B. which was wife of â— her full right and third part of the profits issuing of the Custody of Westm Abbay goale with a third part of thrée Acres aâ—rable of one rood of meadow of bread meat and bottles of ale weekly c. which shee claimeth as belonging to the francktenement which shee holds of you in dower c. by frée seruice and bearing a third part of cost and charge towards the kéeping the goale and gate of the Abbey aforesaid c. whereof you your selfe deforce her hereby appeareth plaine that a woman deforced from any thing appendant or appertenant to dower assigned her may haue remedy by Writ de recto de dote The old na bre notes that of a Bailiwicke or any such office in fée which a woman may execute her selfe or make substistute or deputy of it she shall haue dower but not of Stewardship or Marshalship of England And of a common of beasts without number a woman is not dowable 9. H. 7. 4. Park Sect. 341. And of an vse before the Statute of 27. Hen. 8. of vses shee was not dowable as it is said in Vernons ca. Sir Edward Cokes 4. Rep. fol. 1. And of an annuity shall bee no dower but of prediall tithes dower shal be as appeares by the Countesse of Oxfords Case cited in Harpurs Case in Sir Edw. Cokes 11. Rep. fo 256. The paroll or plea is sometimes remoued in this Action As if the Writ be to the husbands heire which heire being himselfe Tenant of the Land will not doâ— right the Demandant may haue out a pone to remoue the matter straightway from the heires Court into the Common place but a tolt to remoue it first into the County for the originall is nisi feceâ—â—s vicecomes faciet and from thence it may bée remoued by the Plaintiffe to the Common place by a pone without any cause mentioned in the Writ But the Tenant in a droit patent cannot remoue the Plea out of the County without shewing case in the pone yet as well in a Writ de recto de dote as in a Writ of droit patent the tenant may remoue the plea shewing cause and that immediatly out of the Lords Court into the Common place by recordare and so cut of the heires Court quaere If a man seâ—l all his land and dye so that the â—eire hath nothing by discent now this Writ must be directed to the feoâ—ee of whom the widdow when shee is indowed musâ— hold as of her Lord by â—ealty But if before the Statute of quia Emptores terrarum â— if the husband â—â—â— infeofed a stranger of part of his Lands to hold of the husband c. a Writ of right of Dower must haue béene â—o the heire in whose Court the matter was to bée purâ—ueâ— by reason of the remaining Seignory So â—â— it if at thiâ— day the Baron giuâ— part of his Manor to hold in tayle But if a man giue away all his â—and to bee holden of him in tayle and dye now the Writ de recto de dotâ— must bee against the donée directed to the Sheriffe retournable in the Common place for the heire hauing only a Sâ—gniory in grosse can kéepe no Court. Anâ— in the Writ shall bee inserted quia B. capitalis dominus feodi remisit nobis curiam suam If the Baron hauing leased all his landâ— for terme of life dâ—â— c. And though there be not in Chancerie or any where elsâ— any matter wherby to proue the Lords remission of the Court yet if the Lord haue not any demesâ—â—â— whereupon to hold a Court he can haue none action against the Demandant for the â—alse suppâ—sall or â—urmise nor let nor hinder the procéedings in Common place But if he had a Court to hold plâ—a in and did not remit his Court to the King he may haâ—â— prohibition to the Iustices commanding theâ— not to proâ—éed any further But saith Nat. Breu. quaere of that matter And sâ—e Plowd fol. 74. â— where the Lord hath a Court and he will remit his Court his Certificate must bée to the King in his Chanceriâ— and thereupon a Writ of right shall be returnable in the Court of Common Pâ—eaâ— In the Common Place when the plea is remoued thither your processe is Grand câ—pe and Petit cape In the Lords or heires Court is vsed firâ—â— a precept in nature of sâ—mmâ—â—â— and of a Grand cape and Petit cape And note that in this writ if â—â—◠〈◊〉 appeare they neuer procéed to grand 〈◊〉 or trâ—â—ll by battaile from which the 〈◊〉 is exâ—â—pâ—ed and so â—â—â—â—â—quently here is neuer per Brâ—cton any Eâ—soine de malâ— lecti But the tenant may â—â—â—â—h his 〈◊〉 if â—â— haue any And after the woman hath maâ—â— hâ—◠〈◊〉 or demâ—â—â— pursuing hâ—r writ the tenant may in 〈…〉 say that â—â—ee rendred she land to hiâ— of hâ—r owne accord Or if she said he disseised her of her Dower he may pleaâ—â—â—â— Relege saith Bracton Et poâ—â—riâ—â—â—ritas per patriam dâ—clarari SECT XIX What thingâ— shall be assigned in Doâ—â—â— c. WHen Iudgement is giuen in curia regis against the tenant either vpon his default at the Grand cape returned or vpon confession or issue tried the chiefe
by such meanes as she may from him which recouered it 50. Ed. 3. fol. 7. loane late wife of L. W. brought her Writ of dower against T. H. demanding the third part of a Mannor It was pleaded Qâ—â—â—l ne poâ—â—nâ—â—s demander for â—â—no 12. huius â—â—gis a sine was leuied of the said Mannor betwixt I. and E. and the tenant sued Scâ—â—â— facias out of the fine against the now demandant which came and pleaded to parcell that shee held it in Dower of indowment from her husband bâ— assignment of W. C. â—â—â—â—â—â—dâ— dâ— lâ—â— c. for another part she claimed for terme of â—er life by lease from W. C of whom likewise shee prayed aid and had it granted C came in by procâ—sse and ioyning in aid pleaded a Feoffment made to himselfe in fée by L. the baron sonne and heire to I. W. whereunto the tenant pleaded Râ—â—ns passâ— per lâ— fait and the processe câ—ntinued against the Iury till a day certaine at which day C. made default and this demandant maintained the issâ—â— which was found against the now demandant viz. that Rieâ—s passa per le fait and execution awarded for the plaintiffe in the Scire fac Iudgemeâ—t si â—â—countâ—r ceâ—â— recoueâ—â—e a quel el fuit party el poâ—t nens demander and the demandant demurred Her pretence was that by the recoâ—erie she was remitted to her action paramont because the recouerie affirmes her husbands possession But the better opinion was that whâ—n her Dower once lawfully assâ—gned was recouered against her she had here no remedy but by exrour or attaint for a writ of right shee might not haue But if in the Scirâ— faciâ—s shée had alleaged to that part which she claimed in Dower that she hâ—ld it in Dower of the Assignment of W. C. Prist daâ—tenderâ— a qâ—e le coâ—rt voâ—â—â—â— gâ—rder she had saued her estate by protestation and the reuersion might hâ—ue héene iudged to him which had right whereas pleading as she did some thought shâ—â— had forfeited hâ—â— Dower but that was denyed by Tresiliâ—n Belkâ—ap who said that when one is â—â— per tort as iâ— the Disseâ—sée or his heirs â—nter vpon him which is in by discenâ— or if a widdow enter vpon a discontinâ—â—â— of her husband and then vpon issue taken sur seisin or disseisiâ— it is found for the plaintiffe the tenant is remitted to his Action paramoâ—â— Briefe â— â—â—triâ— in the one case and in the other a Cuâ— in vâ—â—a But if a recouerie bée against a Tenant that hath rightfull possession the remâ—die must be by errours attaint or writ of right And therefore in the last cases if the tenants had pleadedâ— release or other matter which might eâ—tinct the right if it had passed againâ—â— them their reâ—edy must haue béene by writ of right pâ—â— Clopâ—on quâ—â—â—e Wich said if a recouerie be had against the Baron vpon a delatory plea as noâ—tâ—nure misâ—osmâ—â— of the town or such like a woman may falsifie such a recouerie in a writ of Dower It seemes to be otherwise saith Brooke if a recouerie be had in that mannâ—r agaâ—â—â—â— the woman her selfe who is endowed SECT XXI Admeasurement of Dower ADmeasurement is in a kinde a recouerie against a woman not of her whole Dower but of part of it for if the heire whilest hée is vnder age or the Gardian whilest the heire is in ward doe indow a widdow of more land than â—he ought to hold in Dower the heire when hee commeth to full age may haue a writ Dâ—â—â—mâ—nsurâ—tione doâ—is against her and the Surpluâ— or excesse shall be restored to the heire but there is in this case onely an amputation without any nouell assignment If the heire being vnder age assigne Dower too largely before his Lord and Gardian enter into the land or seise his Ward the Gardian may haue a writ of Admeasurement by West 2. cap. 7. And if the Gardian pursue the writ faintly against the wâ—man indowed the heire may haue a writ of Admeasurement bâ— the same Statute Custodi de caeâ—â—â—o concedâ—tâ—â— breue de admensuratione dotis nec per sectâ—â— custodis si fictae per collusionem sequâ—tur vâ—â—sus mulâ—â—â—em tenentem in dotâ—m prâ—â—ludatâ—â— haeâ—â—â— cum ad aeâ—â—â—â—m pâ—â—uâ—neriâ—â—d 〈◊〉 admensuâ—â—â—dom c. If the plea be in the Coâ—â—tie the Plaintiffe may remoue it without cause and the Defendant may remoue it with â—â—â—â—e â—hewed in the writ as in a Repleuin And when the writ is râ—â—â—â—ed by Poâ—â— into the Common place the proâ—â—â—â—e iâ— summons attachment and distrâ—sse c. according to the Statute Then the Sheriffe cannot make admeasurement but he shall extend the land particularly and returning the Extent â—â—â—o the Common place the Iustices shall admeasure Dower Note if the Gardian assigne Dower excessiue and then grant ouer his estate his assigne shall neuer haue a writ of admeasurement Likewise if the heire vnder age assigne Dower which his Gardian may admeasure when he hath entred c. but the Action is not grantable for the Gardian assigned or grantee shall not admeasure But an heire may haue the admeasuring of Dower assigned in his Ancestors tune And if a woman be indowed in Chancery per le Roy c. the heire may haue a Writ of Admeasurement if a woman after shee is indâ—wed make any improuement of the â—and so that it becomes of farre gâ—eater value than it was of at the time of the Assignement there lieth no admeasuring vpon this improuement And Bracton saith Noâ— erit estimâ—nda melioraâ—â—o muâ—â—â—ris quaÌ„ fecit in dore suapost assignationem tempus eâ—im assignationis dotis erit spectandum But if this improuement bee by casualty iâ— some myne of câ—ale or lead which had béene formerly found and occupied in the husbands time the matter is somewhat doubtfull But sée Sir Edward Cokes 5. Rep. fol. 12. a. in Saunders cap. qÌ„ sc That if the myne appeared at the time of the ad assâ—gnemâ—nt admeasurement lieth As for new mynes a widdow may not make or dig any that is waste thus farre Fitzherbert Briton cap. 113. and Bracton lib. 4. cap. 17. shew with what circumstance admeasurement shal be made by the vicount surserement de probes homes praesentes per boâ—e legale extent They say that the amputation is not onely of excesse and superâ—â—uity by this Writ of admeasurement but also of that which â—ught not to bee assigned admensuratio debet esse â—am de indebito quam de superflâ—o And therefore if a Castell or head of a Barrony were assigned in Dower by the Gardâ—an without any necessity the heire may haue this Writ for enter hee cannot say they They shew also what plea a woman may haue against admeasurement viz. that the Plaintiffe himselfe made the assignation or confirmed or allowed it being of â—ull age c. SECT XXII The charge of Dower ADmitting the Dower assigned to be both for quality and quantity iust there is yet to
be declared with what immunity a woman shall hold her Dower First Bracton saith Si peculia maâ—iti sufficiant ad solutionem tenentur sed vxori dos sua deonerabitur Et heres defendere dotem warrantizare eam mulieri debet pro ea sequi comitatus hundreda curia dominorum vt viduatae domui suae intendat nutritioni suorum si qui fuerint puerorum If the husbands goods bee not sufficient for payment of his debts the heire must discharge Dower of the burden c. for he is the widdâ—wes warrant of her Dower and ought to follow for her County Court Court léet and hundred c. That shée may sée to her house and nurture of her children Fitzherbert in his Writ of Admeasurement first affirmes that a woman shall not be distreined in her Dower in her Inheritance or in the ioynt purchased lands to her or her husband for her husbands debts The Writ which he sets downe for remedy saith almost as much Râ—x Vicicounti c. cum secundum legem consuetudinem regni angliae mulieres in terris tenementis quae tenâ—nt in dotem de dono virorum vel quae sunt de ipsarum haereditate vel quae sibi quesiuerint pro debitis virorum distringi non debent c. And in some Writs is this Clause Dum tamen haeredes vel Executores testamenti ipsius c. ad debiâ—a illa reddenda nobis sufficiant But it séemes reasonable saith Fitzherbert that a woman shall not hee distreined in her Inheritance for the Kings debts neither in her Dower or Ioynt purchased lands which her husband if her title commenced before her husband became debtor and there is a Writ in the register importing no lesse yea hee affoordâ— it to be good reason that lands purchased by Baron and Feme after the Baron is entred in debt to the King should be discharged in the widdowes hands But let widdowes agrée with the King as well as they can the heire is lyable to the debts of his Ancestor before the widdow The heire likewise dischargeth her of suit and seruice and is so farre forth her warrant that by Britton if shee be impleaded and vouch any other to warranty she forfeiteth her Dower pur sa malice and though her husbands feofee be not called her warrant yet if she be indowed by him shee must hold of him And regularly Tenant in Dower must be Attendant to her husbands heire or to the heires Gardian or to the Gardenis Executor or to him in the reuercion according to the rate of rent whereby they hold ouer if Tenent by fealty and xij d. rent bée disseised and dye his wife being indowed by the disseisor shall be an attendant to the same dissessor of iiij d. annuall And now if the heire will bring a Writ of entry in to quibus against the woman thus indowed shee may shew her speciall matter and that shée is ready to attend to whom the Court will award which shall award that she retaine her Dower still and bee attendant to the heire quaere saith Parkins if the heire haue any other remedy for hee cannot enter vpon the Tenant in Dower D.st 82. a. saith That a Feme tenant in Dower leaueth the reuersion in him against whom shee demands her Dower although he be a disseisor and doth not reduce the reuersion by her recouery to him which hath right as other Tenants for life doe And as it is said in Sir Edward Cokes 8. Rep. 35. in Paynes ca. if she recouer against Tenant for life shee leaueth the reuersion in him But by nat br fol. 265. a. if the King assigne Dower in Chancery as Gardian the reuersion reposeth in the heire for which he shall sue liuery If after iudgement the heire grant his reuersion and the woman atturne she shall be Attendant to the grantée If Lord Meane Tenant be the Tenant holding by iij. d. rent and the Meane by 20. d. If the Tenant marry and the Meane release to him all his right in the tenancy the Tenant dieth the wife must bee endowed according to her husbands best possessions and therefore shall bee Attendant to the heire by a penny and not the third part of twenty pence If hee which holdeth by fealty and xij d. hauing a wife sell the tenancie to his Lord and the estate is executed the Tenants wife shall be indowed sans attendancie for the Seignory extinct is not reuiuable If Lord Measne and Tenant be the Tenant holdeth by xij d. which dieth his wife is endowed shee shall bee attendant to the heire by iiij d. now if the Lord release all his right in the tenancy to the heire the meanalty is extinct and the attendance gone for it was but in respect of the charge which the heire was at to his next Lord. But where there is Lord and Tenant by fealty and xij d. rent if the Tenant make a gift in tayle of the land to hold of him and his heires by xx s. rent c. if the donée dye without issue his wife endowed shall be attendant to the donor by v. s. and viij d. although the Lord release to the donor for his attendance is not in respect of the charge ouer but by a speciall reseruation If there be Seignor Meane and Tenant by fealty and iij. s. rent the Meanes wife after he be foreiudged in a Writ of meane and dead shall be endowed without attendance If Tenant by fealty and xij d. make a gift in taile of the land reâ—â—â—â—ing â—ij d. rent c. and the doâ—ce hauing a wife and issue by her â—iscontinueth in fee and dieth now though the wife recouer Dower and haue execution of it against the discontinues yet she shall not be attendant to him for hâ—s is not chargeable as the Baron was because the Dowers â—uowry resteth of â—ereâ—â—â—â—â— vpon the issue to whom for all that the widdow shall not bee attendâ—â—t till hee haue recontinued the 〈◊〉 resayle quaere tamen saith Perkins If the Tenant whilst hee Itâ—â—â— held of his Lord by fealty and a 〈◊〉 of forty shillings price the Tenants widdow when shée is endowed shall bee attendant by xiiâ— â— iiij â—c 〈◊〉 she tenure were by fealty and a nag without expresse value shée shall bée Attendant by a nag euery third yéere Perkins fo 84. â—â— SECT XXIII Of the cui in vita I Have béene long in Dower and I feare mee some women had rather neuer be endowed that is they had rather die with their husbands or soone after them than bée bound to learne this Catechisme yet I must come to it once againe But first let vssée how lands whereunto a woman may haue right by ancient indowment or by discent or gift in franckmarriage or by some other acquisition before or during Couerture in fee fée tayle for life or for yéeres may bee reduced if the husband haue aliened them for it the possession continued alwayes in the
vita If the assignment of this Dower be sans fait it is no barre or conÌ„clusiou but a Remitter otherwise if it be by Deed or Record If a man giue lands to a woman to marrie with him and after espousals he alieneth the same land and dieth she may haue a Cui in vita And note that the gift or demise alleaged in a Cui in vita is trauersable Thus much Fitzherbert 48. Ed. 3. 8. In a Cui in vita claiming to hold sibi 〈…〉 de corpore without shewing of whose donation the 〈◊〉 pleaded to the Writ and it was abated But in a Quod â—â— de 〈…〉 the Demandant needs not shew by whoâ—e gift she claimeth 49. Ed. 3. fol. â—9 The Writ was Qua 〈…〉 sib 〈…〉 W. N. The tenant said she neuer had any â—â—ing of the gift of W. N. per Belknap the answer was not good for were the gift from one or other if the husband aliened she might haue the action and the Writ may be Quâ—m elamaâ— vt ius haereâ—â—aâ—em though she purchased the lands adiorâ—atâ—r The latter point is affirmed 7. H. 4. fol 5 per Littleton accorded but for the first vide 50. Ed. â— fol. 6. in a Cui in viâ—a quam clâ—mat â—enerâ—â—x dimissione per termino viâ—ae â— N. it was admitted vpon argument a good answer per â— uâ—iam for where one maketh title it â—ught to be true And there finde sur release made to Baron and Fâ—me and to the herres of the baron by I. N. was holden no demise for it must be supposed the baron and feme were in possession tempore finis And Persy said it had béene adiudged if a woman claimed in her Writ ad termiâ—um vitae if it were found she had estate taile the Writ should abate So likewise if a woman claime by lease for terme of life per A. and it was sound that A. made no lease shée had now no estate and consequently hath none action Likewise said Kirton if in Assâ—ze of nouell disseism the plaintiffe make his title by fâ—offâ—â—nt of A. and is found that A. infâ—offed him not but B. did hée shall bee barred in the Assize for where a man maketh his title vpon a point which is boâ—nd against him it cannot be intenâ—â—â— that he hath a better title and there he shall not haue aduantage of any other 39. H. 6. fol. 38. In a Cui in vita quod clamat esse ius suâ—â—â— ex dâ—no I. which infeoffed tâ—â— Demandant and her fate husband with declaration that they were seised as of Franktenement and lâ—e les explees as teâ—ants for life c. Priâ—oâ— said That in cases speciall this Writ ought to make mention of whose gift lease or demise the Demandant claimeth as Ad â—erminum vitae ex dono I. S. or Sibi haeredibus ex dono I. S. But in demand of Fée â—â—â—nple it is enough to say Qâ—â—m â—lâ—mâ—t vt â—us haeâ—â—ditatem without shewing by whose gift or feâ—ffment 7. H. 7. fol. 2. If this Writ â—e againsâ—â—aron and feme for lands holden in the wiues right it must bee in quod vxor ingressa est per I. N. non quod vir vâ—or ingressi sunt per I. N. Sâ—CT XXIV west 2. Case 3. 2. Eâ— 4. foâ— 13. IF a man be seisod in right of his wife and recouerie is had against them by default the woman after his death may haue a Cui in vita but not a Quod ei deforceat per Moyle Iustice It séemes that at Common Law this writ of Cui in vita was onely granted vpon actuall discontinuance by the baron for West 2. casâ—â—â— iâ— Qâ—ando vir amiserit per defalcum tenementum quod â—uit in vxoris suae duruâ—â— fuit quod vxor post mortem viri non habuâ—rit aliud recupâ—rare quam per breue de recto propter quod Dâ—minus Rex â—â—atuit vt mulier post morâ—â—in â—iri haâ—eat râ—â—â—pâ—raâ—â— pâ—n breâ—ede ingressu cui â—â—â—a in vita c. But in this case if the tenâ—â—â— can proue that hee had right on his side when hee recouered Muâ—er â—iâ—il capit per â—reueâ— Nâ—tâ— also by the way that this heat wâ—â—s Si vir se absentaveriâ— â—â—luerit â—â—â— vxoris 〈◊〉 defendâ—re vâ—d si in vlta vxoris reddâ—â—◠〈◊〉 â—â— vâ—â—â— anâ—◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 paraâ—a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 deâ—â—â—dete 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to further for recoueries If Iudgement of â—or eiudger be giuen against Baron and Fâ—uie this is not void as soone as the Baâ—on is dead but vâ—ydable by error for the woman cannot haue a Cui in vita 〈◊〉 fol. 2â—â— A 〈◊〉 â—y 〈◊〉 â—◠〈◊〉 alienation â— and therefore vpon suâ—â— a â—â—coverie as soone â—â— the husband is dead the woman may haue a Câ—â—â—â—â—â—â— by the Common Law 4 Ed. 2. â—rook◠〈◊〉 vitâ— 18. If a râ—coâ—eriâ— be â—â—â— by 〈◊〉 Wâ—â—â— of waâ—â—e thâ— wâ—â—e cannot â—â—uâ—â—◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 either because the recouerie is not méerely by default or else because the 〈◊〉 of waste hath no demand of land quaere if shée shall haue a Quod eâ— deâ—oâ—ceat 9. Ed. 4. 16. If Baron and Feme be impleaded by one which hath good title and the Baron confesse the action the woman hath no remedie Yet the Statute is that vpon rendring by the Baron the wife may be receiued â—â— But if Baron and Feme be receiued vpon default of tenant for life where the reuersiâ—n is in the wife the Baron cannot confesse the action for hée must be 〈◊〉 Ad ius 〈◊〉 defâ—â—â—endum 7. Ed. 4. 17. SECT XXV The Sur â—ui in vita IF she which hath cause to bring a Cui in vita of Fée simple lands die before she hath sued c. her heire shall haue â— Sur â—â—â— in vita But if the wiues lands which the husband aliened were in state of Fee taile and the wife neâ—â—◠〈◊〉 her heire must sue a 〈◊〉 in disâ—onder and not a 〈◊〉 â—â—â—â—â—â— for though both these 〈◊〉 hée the children of the ancient Common Law and were before West 2. Yea and this latter Writ was maintainable for lands giuen to the mother in francke marriage or to the heires of her body which at the first was Féâ—â—â—â—pte yet when 〈◊〉 made 〈◊〉 â— taile it did also expressely set downe â— Writ whereby the heire should recouer such estates The Sur câ—â—â—n vita for it is no â—ore but Praecipe quod 〈◊〉 c. quod 〈◊〉 esse iâ—â— haeâ—â— ditateÌ„ suâ—â— in quod non habuit ingressum nisi per Eâ— and so in the Cui oâ— in the 〈◊〉 And the Aâ—â—t and Néeâ—◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in it vpon alienatioâ— made by the husband of their common Ancestor or vpon recouerie had against â—â—â— and her If a second husband alienhis wiues Fée siâ—ple landâ— and she dieth the issue by her first husband 〈◊〉 â—uâ—â— Sur cui in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 these â—â—nd husband still liuing if hée were neuer intituled to be Tâ—nant by the Curtâ—sie But
if he were intituled by the Curtesie the Aâ—tion is stayed so leng as he liueth And this Writ lyeth of a Vâ— Mi. 21. Edw. 3. 44. Edw. 3. 4 5. A man â—eised in right of his wife discontinued and after diuers alienations hee repurchased the lands to himselfe his wife died the heire brought a â—ur cui in vita against him praecipe W. â— quod reddar c. cui contradicere non potuit exception against the writ because it was not by another naâ—e but it was disalowed and the writ awarded good If the Baron alien his wiues see simple with warranty and leaâ—ing asseâ—â—â— to discend in fée he and his wife dye and the hâ—ire alieneth the asseâ—â—s and dieth his heire shall be barred in a sur cui in viâ—a But if an heire intailâ— alien the asseâ—â—s and dye his issue shall not be barred SECT XXIV The 〈◊〉 dâ—fâ—rciat THe quod ej deforciat though it be not méerly a womans Writ yet perhaps it comes not more â—ptly into consideration any where than in this place after the cui in vita If Tenant in â—aile or Teâ—â—â—â— in Dower or Tâ—nant per Courcesie or Tenant for tâ—â—me of life â—â—â—e their laâ—â— by default in any 〈◊〉 quod reddaâ— brought against them they haue no remedy if they were summoned according to Law but by this Writ which is giuen in expresse for me by West 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 vpon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Writ lyeth against the 〈◊〉 and his heires in which case 〈◊〉 particular Tenant was without remedy at the Common law for a writ of right hee could not haue The Statute having â—irst appointed 〈◊〉 woman shall recouer Dower where the husband 〈◊〉 his 〈◊〉 by deâ—ault viz. by writ of Dower in which the Tâ—nant must not plead the iudgement alone but he mâ—st also prâ—â—e her right sheweth also how actions run together When a woman already indowed or Tenant by the curtesie or in franck marriage or by other in taile or for life demand the estate which they theâ—â—â—â—ues lost by default in which cases when it is come to that that the Tenant mâ—st proâ—e hâ—s right the Demandants which cannot anâ—wer withoâ—t them in the reuersion may vouch them â—â—â—iâ— flent â—eneâ—tes in priori brâ—â—â— And so the Tenant â—â—it loco actoris and if the Action were â— Writ of right they may procéed to the grand aâ—â—ise or battaile And furtâ—er Câ—m mulier ius non habens impeteâ—â—â— breâ—e de dote super custodem custos per faâ—orem mulieris dotem reddiderit vel defaltam fecerit vel placitum i 〈…〉 ct peâ— collâ—sionem defenderit vt dos fuerit mulieri adiudicata prouisum est quod cum ad aetatem veâ—eâ—t haeres habeat actionem petendi seisâ—â—am â—ntecessoris sui c. it a tamen vt salua sit mulieâ—i exceptio quod ius hâ—beâ—t in dote quod si ostenderit recedat quiâ—â—a sit haeres in misericordia grauiter amerciâ—tur secunduÌ„ discretionem Iustieâ— Then to the quod â—i deforciat Si haeres vel alius de dore sua implacitaverit muliâ—râ—m si dotem suam per defaultam amisserit fiâ—â— ei tale breue praecipe A. quod iuste reddaâ— B. qui fuit vxor C. vnum messuagium cum pertinentâ—s in N. quod clamat â—ssâ— rationabilem dotem vel de rationabilâ— dote sua quod idem A. inâ—uste ei defoâ—ciaâ— So is â—â—â—zherberâ— but by the old â—â— bâ—â— it must not be called an iâ—â—uâ—â— forâ—ing Ps. car le poll iniâ—ste non habetur in Statâ—to which is true ad istud breue habeat tenens exceptionem ad osten deâ— duâ— quod mulieâ— iâ—â— non habeat in doâ—â— quod si â—â—â—nd at reced aâ— quietus c. Last of all because vntill this time the Law 〈◊〉 no remedy vpon loâ—â—e by default â—â—â— only a writ of right which serued not for them that â—â—â—ld not speake de mero iure viz. Tenants for life in 〈◊〉 marriage or in taile â—he 〈◊〉 to aâ—oid that proiudiâ—e gâ—â—es them likewiâ—e their 〈◊〉 writâ— of quoâ—â—â— defoâ—â—â—â—◠〈◊〉 according to their title either quam clamat ad termium vitae vel vt ius maritagium vel sibi haeredibus de corpore Tenant by the curtesie likewise though it be not expressed by the Statute may haue a quod eâ— deforciat quam clamat tenere per lâ—gem Angliae which is by equity saith Fitzherbert If any Tenant of those particular estates lost by default by reason of non summons he may haue a quod ei deforceat or a writ of deceipt at his pleasure If a man lose by default in a writ of waste sued against him hee shall not haue a quod ei deforciat because the waste must be found by verdict nouell na bre Yet 2. Hen. 4. fol. 2. Hanc said if a writ to enquire of waste were awarded the Defendant which lost the land might haue a quod eâ— deforciat videtur lex esse contra saith Brooke for it was there agreed by all the Court that attaint lyeth in an Action of waste and the party may challenge the Iury yea the booke at large is that the Viscount may quash the pannell though it be of his owne making so that this kinde of recouery is by verdict and not by default Note that 21. Hen. 6. Challenge is denied but by Newton and Vaston Iustices Markham and Portington Serieants attaint lieth But sée Sir Edw. Cokes Comment vpon Fitzherbert fol. 355. that is resolued that if the Tenant in a Writ of waste in the tenet lose by default a quod ei deforceaâ— lieth as well as in assise and it is no reason to say that attaint lyeth against the Iury for so it doth in assise yet it is there said that attaint doth not lye after a Writ of inquirie of waste for it is but an inquest of office But there it is said that if the iudgement be a nihil dicit there a quod ci deforceat lyeth not for that is after appearance and is not a iudgement per defaultam And note there that if Tenant for life make default after default and he in the reuersion is receiued and plead to issue and it is found by verdict for the Demandant the default and the verdict are causes of the indgement and yet the Tenant shall haue a quod â—i deforâ—eâ—t vide Dod. fol. 556. more est quod ei deforceat 33. Hen. 6. 46. Littleton saith that Tenant for life or in taile may haue a quod ei deforciat as well vpon disseisen done to them as vpon recouery against them by default for before West 2. there was a quod ei deforceat at Common And all is one whether it be brought vpon a disseisen or a recouery for neither Writ nor Declaration make any mention of any recouery and the Tenant may choose whether hee will plead the recouery or other matter in barre which if he doe the Demandant cannot vouch
Hill 18 E. 2. it was held by Herle Iustice that the Writ lieth well enough for him in remainder And Tri. 31. E 1. the heire in taile maintained a writ of entry in Consimili casu vpon alienation made by tenant le curtesie SECT XXXI The Writ of Entrie ad communem legem THe Writ of Entry at Common law is giuen in Case where Tenant in Dower or per curtesie or for life doth alien in fée or in taile or for life c. now if the Tenant which aliened doe dye hec in the reuersion must take this Writ of Entry ad communem legem which is very like the former Writs and may be in the per cui post If a woman recouer Dower alien and dye the Writ of Entry ad communem legem must make mention of the recouery And if Tenant by the curtesie aliâ—â— in fée and dye he in the reuersion if he be heire in fée simple may sue this Writ or his Assise of Moâ—â— dancester giuen by the Statute of Glocester ca. 3. If Tenant for life alien in fée and dye the Writs for him in reuersion are in diuers formes for if hee haue the reuersion by discent the Writ is in quod idem A. non habet ingressum nisi per C. câ—i D. pator vel antecessor of the Demandant cuius haeres c. demised c. But when the Demandant himselfe made the lease to him which aliened then the Writ is or may be Pâ—aecipe quod recidat c. omitting these words quod clomat vt ius haereditatem and note if Tenant for life alien in fee and dye hee in reuersion may chuse whether he will haue this writ or an ad terminum qui praeteriit If Tenant for life grant his estate and hee in reuersion grant his reuersion with Atturnement if now the Tenant which atturned alien in fée the grantée of the reuersion shall haue a Writ mentioning the grant and assignation c. SECT XXXII More of forfeitures and how a particular Tenant may forfeit his estate without alienation NOte If Tenant for life lease the land to I. S. for terme of life of I. S. which dyeth the first leasâ—e still liuing hee shall not haue the land againe because hee leased more than was in him and therefore hee in the reuersion shall haue it But if two be seised for life the inheritance in fée to one of them and ioyne in a lease for life and the leasee dyeth they shall bee ioynt tenants againe ê‘ Littleton 13. E. 4. fol. 4. Because hée which had the fée was priuy to the lease and so the other gained no new reuersion It is yet further to be vnderstood both that he in reuersion may enter vpon alienations made by particular Tenants vt supia to his disinheritance without suing the aboue mentioned Writs And also that there are sundry other forfeitures to the Reuersioner besides expresse alienations which I would haue widdowes to take héed of 6. Edw. 3. fol. 17. In Action of waste by an Infant against Tenant by his fathers demise he pleades that the father confirmed his estate to haue and to hold to him and his heires in fee by his déed shewed to the Court Iudgement si c. It was said for verity that if the claime were found false the heire might enter Page 64. in Fitzh And if a reuersion bee granted by fine and the conuse brings a quid iuris clamat against the Tenant for life which pleadeth that shee hath estate in taile by deuise in Testament from the Commissors if it bee found by verdict that shee hath but estate for life that estate is forfeited Quod vide Plowd fol. 212. in Saunders in Fremans Case where the entry for the conusée is consideratum est pro seisina reddâ—t praed cum partium versus c. occasionae clam ' placit praedict ' forisfact ' habend ' si voluerit persequatur ac etiam quod finis praed si voluerit ingrossetur Plesingtons Case 6. R. 2. was this A man made a lease for yéeres and granted further by Indenture if he aliened the reuersion or dyed within the teâ—me that the leassée should haue francketenement and liuery was made the fée simple was granted by fine c. and in a quid iuris clamat the leassee claimed francketâ—nement iudgement was giuen that the cognisée might enter for a forfeiture and that the fine should be engrossed si voluerit Sée 3. 4. Eliz. Dier 209. in a like case the iudgement was not quod quaerens recuperet seisinam but quod prosequatur pro seisina si voluerit finis ingrossetur c. SECT XXXIII The Statute of 11. H. 7. cap 20. THe Common Law restrictiue of it selfe and helped something by the Statute of Glocester was sufficient a great while to bridle women from making alienations for any land that they held in Dower or Ioynture as arguments of their owne good deserts and testimonies of their husbands loue But time which made the art of fencing more fine than it was at the first when Combattants fought all at head and shoulders and it was greater shame to strike vnder the girdle than it is now made law also more subtile than in the beginning it was when lands went altogether or for the most part by liuery of seisin And women witty of themselues instructed by crafty men grew cunning at the last that they could alien lands holden for life or in taile to whom they listed in fée And hee which suffereth disinheritance should not easily helpe himselfe by Writ of Entry either ad communem legem or in casu prouiso for remedy whereof was made this seuere statute in effect as followeth 11. H. 7. If any woman which hath had or hereafter shall haue any estate in Dower or for life or in taile ioyntly with her husband or only to her selfe or to her vse in any Manors Lands Tenements or other Hereditaments of the inheritance or purchase of her husband or giuen to the husband and wife in taile or for terme of life by any Ancestors of the husband or by any other person seised to the vse of the husband or of his Ancestors and haue or shall hereafter being sole or with any other after taken to husband discontinued or discontinue aliened released or confirmed alien release or confirme with warranty or by couin suffered or suffer any recouery of the same against them or any of them or any other seised to their vse or to the vse of either of them after the forme aforesaid that all such recoueries discontinuances alienations releases confirmations and warranties so had and made and from henceforth to be had and made be vtterly void c. And that it shall be lawfull to euery person and persons to whom the interest title or inheritance after the decease of the said woman of the said manors lands or tenements or other hereditaments being discontinued aliened or suffored
the Statute of 〈◊〉 7. notwithstanding the foure hundred pounds paid by â—â—â— husbands father for the â—â—nd â—rst moued from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 father and the presermenâ— of the bloâ—â—â—â— I. N. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 intent that the husbands heires should not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but the wiues And the Bishop of Exâ—â—tors case 〈◊〉 that case cited which was that in consideraâ—ion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the woman and seruice done by the man 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 gaue the land to them 〈◊〉 â—â—◠〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 of the Bishop it was â—â—â—â— to be 〈◊〉 that the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 after her husbandâ—â—â—â—th had no 〈◊〉 within 〈◊〉 said Statute of â—â— H. 7. but that she might self it 〈◊〉 â—â—nger of the Statutâ— SECT XXXV What Actions concerning chattells doe suruiâ—e a widdow I Hâ—ld it good wisdome for a widdow and for all persons to haue greatest care of matters of greatest moment and not to contemne the lesser Now that â—â—â— haue doâ—e with matters of Francktenement we will see a little in what Actions concerning Chattels reaâ—â— or personall duties a widdow may be Plaintiffe or Defendant to make an end of reckonings begin before or whilst she was a wife Iâ— Feme couert deliuer Déed to I. S. she may haue Action of Detinue for the Déed after her husbands decease for though the deliuerie were voyd betwixt I. S. and the Baron yet it is good betwixt I. S. and the wife if the Baron dye 3. H. 6. 50. If a lease be made to Baron and Feme for yeares and the Baron die the wife shall haue the terme and if the Lessor out her she may haue Action of câ—uenant 47. Ed. 3. 12. If a man be bound to Baron and Feme in Statute Merchant the Baron alone may make de 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 e and by some opinion the Auâ—â—â—â— quert la must bée against â—â—â— alone but if he doe not release c. the Statute suruâ—â—â—th to thâ— wife and she may sue execution executor â—â— my And per Finch the Law is all one of an Obligation and a Statute Likewise in a plea of land if Baron and Feme recouer the land with dammages and the Baron â—â—â— his wife shall sâ—e for dammages and not his Executors So likewise by Bâ—lknap If an Obligation be made to Alice the wife of Robert this is a good Obligation and Alice and Robert may ioyne in an action vpon it and if Robert die before he haue released for â—e may 〈◊〉 release it Alice alone shall haue the Action 48. Ed. â— 12. simile 7. H. 6. fo 2. Sée the Commentaries of Sir Coke vpon Littleton fol. 350. It is said that Chattels reals of a mixt nature namely part y in possession and partly in action happening during couerture if the wife haue her husband she shall haue them by the Common Law as if the husband be seised of a rent charge rent seruice or Secke iure vxoris the rent incurreth during couerture if the husband dye the wife shall haue the arrerages and â—â— of an Aduowson of the Church during couerture sic de 〈◊〉 And in those cases the husbands shall gainâ— them by suruiuership but for arrerages or auoydance of the Church before marriage the husband could haue â—â— help by suruiuership and so of releases But now by the Statâ—te of 32. H. 8. cap. 37. By suruiuership the husband shall haue the arrerages as well incurred before the marriage as after If an Estray happen within the Mannor of the wife if the husband dye before seisure the wife shall haue it fâ—r that the propertie was not in the wife before seisure But as to personall goods there is a diuersitie 〈◊〉 a propertie and a bare possession for if personall goods be deliuered to a woman or if she finde goods or if goods come to her hands as Executrix to a Baylâ—ffe and taketh aâ— husband this bare possession is not giuen to the husband but the Action of Dâ—tâ—â—ue must be brought against the husband and the wife If Baron and Feme make a lease for yeares and the Baron die the wife may bring an Action of waste 22. H. 6. 24. If an Obligation be made to Baron and Feme and the Baron die the widdow may haue the Obligation 4. H. 6. 5. Quaere for the booke is not so cleare as Brooke makes it the woman was Obligée with her husband 〈◊〉 sued as Executrix Generally where title or cause of Action is giuen 〈◊〉 woman before marriage or during marriage and the husband releaseth not c. the Action suruiueth when â—â—â— dye But there may be a release in land as well as in fact iâ—plied as well as expressed And therefore the case is 8 Ed. â— Br. Dâ—â—â— 156. and cite Plowâ— 184. in Woodward and Darcy his Case If a man be bound to a woman and to another and the Obligor marry the woman all the obligation is extinct although the wife ouer liue her husband or although shee dyes â—wing the other obligee for either of the obligées hath power to release and that inter marriage is a release And gifts in Law of the chattels of the wife as well reall as personall are outlawry or attainder of the husband If a man marry with a woman executrix and then release to Creditors all manner of Actions generaly this extendeth to his proper accords and to those which his wife hath either in her owne right or as executrix Baron and feâ—e â—0 in Brooke Sée Brooke coueâ—onâ— 6. Action of couenant was brought against Baron and Feme lessées of a Manor for terme of life rendring 20. â—i per annum and they were bound to the Plaintiffe that hée should haue such surety for his rent as his Councell deuised the Counsellers deuised the Assurance and the Defendants refused to make it it was ruled for Law that if the Baron died nothing should bind his widdow saue onely the lease and reseruation if shee agréed to the lease post mortem viri And shée shall bee charged with payment of the rent or double it or pay fine â—◠〈◊〉 paenae or hold it subieâ—t to reentry according as the lease was made But a collaterall couenant as that the lessor shall distraine in other lands for his rent or a couenant to charge the lessées persons in twenty pound for non payment c such like agréements binde not the widdow when the Baron is dead and the Writ abilted Note that widdow is a good Addition to bee put to the Defendants name many originall Writ of Action personall appeale or inditement wherein exigent â—eth c. According to the Statute â— Hen. 5. cap. 5. And 14. Edw. 4. fol. â— Bâ—arkey demanded of the Iustices in the 〈◊〉 chamber if an Action were brought against a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was neither maid wife nor widdow what addition should be giuen her some say she should be called single woman and there it is doubted whether seruant â—ee a good addition or not for it was no addition by the Common Law as some said Wée are past the
second branch of the Statute shall bee expounded father or mother after the death of the father And it was resolued in that Case that there bee two manners of custodies or wardships the one by the Common Law the other by the Statute And that also at the Common Law there are foure manners of Gardians namely Gardian in Chiualry Gardian in Soâ—age Gardian in nature and Gardina for nurture and now the Statute makes a new Gardian namely by assignation but the mother in that case cannot be Gardian for nurture because her daughter was past 14. yéeres of age But she had the custody of her within the prouisâ—on of the Act â—ure naturae and the assent of Raph Ratcliffe the mothers husband was not materiall for the custody of a child is an inseparable incident to the parent and marriage may not transferre that to a husband And that was resolued that although the issue was whether Elizabeth had the custody of Martha at the time of the contract and that did appeare that shee departed from her mothers house six houres before the contract yet in iudgement of Law her mother had the custody of her at the time of the contract And that was resolued that in that Case Edward Ratcliffe and Martha his wife had good title to the land against Andrewes and his wife for the one daughter as that Case is shall not take benefit of forfeiture of the other for the statute giues the forfeiture to the next of kin to whom the inheritance should descend or come after her decease during the life of such person that so shall contract matrimony so that first hee ought to be of the bloud and secondly to whom the inheritance should descend or come c. and although the wife of Andrewes bee of the bloud yet in that Case by the death of Martha the land if shee hath issue shall deseend to her issue and if shee hath not issue that shall reuert to her mother c. but iudgement was against the Plaintiffe for that the issue was found against him These are the Lawes whereby rapes and rauishments of women are repressed which if they bee well looked vnto will proue that there is now no cause why lying Lâ—onicus Chalcondilus should be beleeued who writing of Englishmen affirmeth that we haue no care what becomes of our wiues and children That in our peregrinations and trauels wee interchange and vse one the others wiues mutually That we count it no reproch by whom soeuer our wiues or daughters bee got with â—hild That with vs if a man come to his friends house hee must lye with his wife the first thing that he doth vt deinde benigue hospitio accipâ—arur And though some of the last recited Lawes were vnmade when Chalcondilus did write aboue one hundred yéeres since yet there were then Lawes enough to proue him a déepe lyer and had hée â—éene in England to haue trussed him vp too perhaps for lechery had his learning steaded him no better than his honesty this is no lesse cause why I should be thus bitter against Chalcondilus a dead man for that it may séeme he wrote by hearesay nullo odio gentis and in other matters hee reporteth honourably of vs. But it is strange that a man writing not a great while since but euen the other day not at Athens neither at Rome or Reams where they vse to belie vs head and foot but here at London should be bold to wrâ—te and put in print matter to this effect That beggers and the poorest sort of our women we doe vse to punish and to whip them when they are taken for leachers and dishonest liuers But Gentlewomen and Ladies of honour and worship they are neuer pâ—nished for incontinency but rather for their amorous wantonnesse and lubricity the more estéemed and magnified This follow deserueth plainly better to bee hanged than to bee beléeued For neither is it true that any womâ—n with vs can better her reputation by dissolute life and manners Neither can any woman learne a more deuillish lesson than so to be perswaded And seeing the Lawrs themselues declare what detestation they haue of bruitish concupiscence by punishing consent with lâ—sse of inherâ—tance I would I could perswad all women to eschew not only these gulfes but also the ecclesiasticall Censures which I meddle not with together with the â—â—â—â—my which they purchase sometime with outward laâ—â—â—â—iousnesse from the report of them which iudge a careâ—â—ssâ— liberty in behauiour an infallible argument of sensuality whereby some men haue béene imboldened to offer â—orâ—â— because they thought it was expected SECT XXIX Appealâ— of rape NOw let vs consider a little how these Lawes 〈◊〉 to bee put in practice if any virgin widdow or â—â—gle woman be rauished shee her selfe may sue an Appeale of rape prosecute the feâ—on to death and the Kingâ—â—â—â—don as it séemeth cannot helpe him If a Feme coâ—â—â—â— be rauished shee cannot haue an Appeale without her husband as appeares 8 Hen. 4. fol. 21. But if a Feme â—ouert be rauished and confent to the rauisher the husband alone may haue an Appeale and this by the Statute 6. Rich. 2. cap. 6. The husband that this Statute speaketh of which may sue the Appeale must be a lawfull husband in right and possession for ne vnques accouple in loyall matrimony is a good plea against â—im 11. Hen. 4. fol. 13. So doth Iustice Stanford affirme the booke to proue without question and that the Law is so too where Appeale is brought by Baron and Feme Brooke abridging the case 11. Hen. 4. séemeth to incline to the contrary opinion The case at length is thus Thomas Hausegle sâ—â—th Appeale de rauishment sa feme against Thomas V. and others according to the Statute 6. Rich. 2. reheaâ—â—â—â—â— in his Declaration the order of the Statute and that they had rauished her against the forme of the said 〈◊〉 The Appellâ—â—â— said the Plaintiffe had another Writ hanging returnable the same tearme of the same rape and because the Writ was not serued he had obtained a sicut alias Ergo this Writ of the same nature should abate Haâ—â—said he might pursue which Writ â—e would And by their writ a Praecipe quod reddat or an Assise for the like cause shall abate for of one land a man cannot haue two recoueries But in this case it may bee there were two rapes at seuerall times c. and also the first Writ was not entred in the roll nor the â—â—cut alias in the Record then the Declaration was challenged as insufficient because it was â—elonice rapuit and not carnaliter cognouit but to that it was answered that felonious rape implied carnall knowledge for rape without such knowledge is buttrespasse Another exception to the Declaration was that two had rauished as principall c. which Rolfe said could not be therefore the Plaintiffe ought to haue declared against one as principall and against the other as accessary or
father of Elizabeth William Venor dyed without issue and Elizabeth being sole seized was afterward rauished by Iohn Worth which after that hâ—â— had married her was indited of rape and tooke â—anctuarie at Westminster Elizabeth his wife being there with him was aduised to disassent and to part from him to saue her inheritance which she refused to doe and was afterward brought before the Councell in the Star-Chamber being there demanded if she assented or not and shée answered that Iohn Worth was her husband and she would not forsake him whereupon the issue of Robert Babbington Robert being dead entred vpon her land by the Statute of 6. R. 2. which willeth saith â—rookâ— if any woman assent to the rauisher that he to whom the land should descend reuert remaine or escheat may enter And though it were contessed that there was another person more neere in bloud to Elizabeth than was this issue of Robert Babbington yet because he was next in remainder his entrie was lawfull But Elizâ—beth did â—ust him and hâ—â— brought an Assise Then to proue the assent it was giâ—en in â—uidence that she had married him assenting to him as well in Sanctuarie as before the Councell And for Elizabeth it was alleaged that the espoâ—saâ— and all the assentings were by dures and force and for feare of the rauisher which might not be called assenting for none consenteth but frankly voluntarily and sans féare Quod videtur Lexibidem But in the end because shée might haue disagréed before the Councell and did not her assent was holden voluntarie and the Assise passed for the Plaintiffe And it was agreed for Law that if title of entrie into lands be giuen to a daughter by force of this Statute and she entreth that she shall retaine and enioy them notwithstanding the birth of any sonne Posthumus comming afterward though he be more néere or worthy of bloud And so it is generally where the entrie is giuen by Statute but if by Common Law adiscent bée cast vpon a daughter which entreth shee must giue place to a sonne borne afterward It was remembred in this case that in former time a woman being rauished after she had continued seuen yéeres with the rauisher and had borne him a childe escaped from him and sued in Parliament in the time of H. 6. against him till he was attainted And being demanded how she could now say that she neuer assented hauing conceiued c. shee answered that her flesh consented to him but her soule and conscience did euer abhorre him 5. E. 4. fol. 58. SECT XXXVIII The Statute 18. Eliz. cap. 7. I Am at the end of my voyage but before I take shore I will â—hew you how our late most excellent Law-giuer renowned Quéene Elizabeth whose vigilant care hath alwayes béene that all her people might liue vnder her in peace and without oppression hath giuen strength and perfection to the former functions of other Princes to make them a firme bulwarke against all manner of iniurers that possibly might oppresse women and I can but maruell that when so daâ—â—ablâ— a crime â—â— rape had giuen so often to the whole Realme such cause of bitter complaint and men in sundry ages had beaten their braines so carefully in finding out remedy against it how it was possible so long space together to leaâ—e such a priuilege to him that could read the blessed Psalmâ— of Miâ—erere c. that though hée had rauished the fairest Lady in the Land hée might almost goe away without touch of breast for it Therfore the eightéenth of Quéene Elizabeth for repressing of felonâ—ous rapes and rauishments of women and of felonious Burglaries it was enacted that they which were found guiltie by verdict or by confession or outlawed of or for such felonious Rapes or Burglarie they should suffer death and forfeit as in cases of Felony had béene vsed by the Lawes of the Realme without allowance of priuilege or beneâ—â—t of Clergie Further that they which were in other cases to haue benefit of Clergie should immediately after burning in the hand according to the Statute in that case prouided be forthwith enlarged by the Iustices and not be deliuered to the Ordinarie But yet that the Iustices before whom the Clergie shall be allowed may detaine such persons in prison for correction as long as they shall think conuenient so it be not aboue a yéere Then because in the fourtéenth yéere of her Maiesties reigne as you may perceiue in Dieâ— fol. 304. in the case of a Scot which had rauished a girlâ— being not past seuen yeeres old the Iustices were in doubt whether rape could be of a childe of such tender yéeres not yet nine yeeres old and therefore they went not to iudgement of the Scot though by euidence of diuers Matrons he seemed guiltie this Statute ordaineth that if any person vnlawfully and carnally know and abuse any woman childe vnder age of ten yeeres euerie such vnlawfull and carnall knowledge shall be felonie and the offender being duly conuicted shall suffer as a Felon without allowance of Clergie And as M. Lambard and M. Crompton doe both of them note it is not materiall whether she consent or no for the Law adâ—udgeth her vnable to consent at so tender age The last prouiso of this Statute is that they which are admitted to their Clergie shall answer to all other manner of felonies whereof they haue not formerly béene acquited conuicted attainted or pardoned as they should haue done if as Clerkes conuicted they had béene deliuered to the Ordinarie and made their purgation SECT XXXIX The Statute 39. Eliz. cap. 9. LAstly because this exemption of Clergie was leuelled onely against Burglaries and felomous rapes by violence and of the antique Faulkoners fashion leauing vnto couetous rautshers by abduction and I might say by insinuation the benefit of their Booke by reason whereof diuers maids widdowes and wiues had of veriâ— laâ—â— dayes béene first carried away and then defiled married c. It was enacted at the first Parliament begun Ann. 39. of the late Quéene Elizabeth That whosâ—euet shall be conuicted or attainted of or for any offence made felony by the Act aboue specified 3. H. 7. or which being indited or arraigned of or for any such offence shall stand mute or make no direct answer or shall challenge peremptorily aboue the number of twelue shall in euerâ—â— such case suffer death without benefit of Clergie prouided that nothing in this Act contained shall extend to take Clergie from any person or persons which â—â—â— not either principals or procurors or accessaries before the offence committed SECT XL. The Conclusion THus haue I sailed betwixt the capes of Magna Charta and Quadragesima of Queene Elizabeth collected the statutes principally belonging to women conioyning customes cases opinions sayings argumeuts iudgements and points of learning of like sort and subiect dispersed in our Law books now comming to take hauen God grant I may fall in at port Grace and good acceptance of all that shall read what I haue gathered they which are lesse learned than my selfe in this studie which I accompt to be those that haue but newly taken acquaintance of Littleton may spend some tâ—me here not without some fruit and profit They that are better learned than I into which company some may crowd that perhaps might bee challenged of intrusion will giue mee no thankes for my paines Rather I must thanke them if they vouchsafe to read them without open scorne and bitter censuring but they to whom my trauels are chiefly addressed are women so many as beare the title of honest women how good and vertuous soeuer they be I sâ—e not how they can scape the taint of ingratitude if they giue not a reasonable fauour and applause to my good intention and labour whereby things behoouefull for thâ—m to know are laid plaine together and in some orderly connexion which heretofore were smoothered or scattered in corners of an vncouth language cleane abstruded from their sex Which concealement because it seemed to me neither iust nor conscionable I haue framed this worke admonishing them not to take it for so strong and substantiall a péeâ—e as London bridge is whereon you may boldly set vp great builâ—ings but I willsay to you as Littleton said in his Tenures to his sonne There â—ée some things in these Bookes which are not Law yet euen those may enable you the better to vnderstand the reasons and arguments of Law and to conferre and enquire what the Law is amongst the sage Masters thereof FINIS
her Lands aliened by her husband quod vide cui in vita Fitz. 3. Likewise 1. H. 4. fo 1. The Kings writt of Ward against Sybill Belknap is awarded good though it were brought by the King but iudgement was asked of it because Sybill was a Feme Couert iour del briefe purchase and the husband not named whereunto was answered that for offence against the King and his Péeres Belknap was banished to Gascoigne there to remaine till he obtained the Kings Grace c. Iustice Gascoigne by the assent of his fellowes commands the Defendants to answer and she pleads in barre Againe 2. H. 4. fo 7. all the Iustices testifie that the wife of Sir Robert Belknap who was banished sued a writt alone without naming her husband and by their common award it was holden good for that as some said the said Sibyl was the Kings Ferâ—er But howsoeuer it were Markham exclaimes Ecce modo mirum quod foemina fert breue regis Non nominando virum coniunctum robore legis Some say it should be conuictum c. It is like a miracle that a wife should commence any suit without her husband 18. Ed. 4. fo 4. If a feme Couert be impleaded without her husband and outlawed the baron and feme may ioyne in a writt of error to reuerse the outlary for the wife cannot sue without the Husband If a fine be leuied to a feme Couert yet she and her husband must ioyne in the quid juris clamat as the book of 11. H. 4. 7. testifieth If Baron and Feme be beaten c. they must Ioyne in action for battery of the Feme but for his owne stripes the Baron shall bring his owne action by himselfe or else his writt abates for that part 9. Ed. 4. fo 52. Because a feme Couert hath nothing to doe to participate in the suites of her husband nor in the priuiledges of her husband Therefore a suite against the Wife of an atturney shall not be in the Court where hee serueth by bill but by originall writt and none essoine de seruitio Regis or other essoine cast for the Husband shall serue for the wife for if in a praecipe quod reddat against baron feme at the grand Cape the Baron be essoyned de seruitio regis and the wife make default shee shall lose her Land So likewise if the Baron be a seruant of the Chancellor c. no writt of priuiledge shall serue for him and his wife but actions against them both must be sued at the Common Law But a protection cast by the Baron dismisseth the plea sans iour for both because the Feme cannot answer without her husband 35. H. 6. f. 3 4. a feme couert shal not be receiued to disauow the atturney of her husband but he shal make an atturney for them both 33. H. 6. f. 31. And cod â—n fo 43. If the wife will come into the Court offer to plead any other plea then that which her husband hath pleaded or to confesse the action she shal not be receiued to it but the husband may not forcher per essoin And if baron feme wage the law c. If the wife appeare not at the day giuen the baron shall be condemned But a wife shal neuer be receiued to disauow the suite of her husband and her selfe quod vide 39. Assisarum pla 1. a good Case SECT XLIII Of Felonies IN matters criminall and capitall causes a Feme couert shall answere without her husband 15. Ed. 4. fo 1. And note if a Feme Couert steale any thing by cohersion of her Husband this is not felonie in her 27. lib. Assisarum 40. It was found that a woman had stollen bread to the worth of two shillings by compulsion of her husband and awarded that she should goe quite It seemeth to be all one if a woman steale by commandement of her husband quaere If a man and his wife commit felonie ioyntly it séemeth the wife is no felon but it shall be wholly iudged the Husbands fact saith Stamford Seuen men and a woman were arraigned of felonie found guilty and because thâ— woman cryed out she was wife to one of the seuen the Iudges sent to the Bishop to be certified of the Marriage But a woman by her selfe without the priuitie of her husband may commit felonie to become either principall or accessary As if shee steale goods or receiue théeues to her house c. and if the husband so soone as hee perceiue it waiue and forsake their company and his owne house in this case the Womans offence makes not felonie in the baron But if the baron commit felonie his wife not ignorant of it may kéepe his company still notwithstanding and not be deemed accessary for a woman cannot bee accessary to her husband insomuch as shee is forbidden by the Law of God to bewray him note also that a woman cannot be thiefe of her husbands goods if shee take and giue them away the receiuer is no felon Stanford lib. 1. cap. 19. Briton allowes that the wife shall keep her husbands counsell but yet so that if she acquit her selfe per pais del fait consent for felons wiues hee saith haue often held men whiles the husband killed them and in that case it is reason and Law that they hang together fo 47. By Bracton non debet virum accusare vxor nec deâ—egere â—urâ—um suum neque feloniam conâ—enâ—ire tamen non debet nec coâ—diutrix esse sed feloniam nequiâ—iam viri quantum potest impedire And by him if goods stollen be found sub claâ—ibus vxoris she shal be culpable with her husband of his felonie Item si vxor cum viro coniuncta fuerit vel confessa fuerit quod viro consilium vel auxilium praestiterit â—â—nâ—bunâ—â—â— ambo nam licet obedire debeat vxor viro in aâ—â—ocioribuâ— tamen laâ—â—oâ—inijs nec est ei obediendum Poterit vir ligare tenere atque vxor sponte non coacta occidere ita â—eneâ—ur de maleficio vterque libro 3. ca. 32. In the end he sheweth how execution of iudgement shall bee deferred when the woman condemned is with child siue ante delictum conceperiâ— siue post Hee coteth ciuill Law for it But Stanford hath it perfecter If a woman bee arraigned of felonie it is no plea to say she is with child but she must plead to the felonie and if she bee found guilty shee may then claime the benefit of her wombe wherevpon the Marshall or Vicount shall bee commanded to put her in a chamber and cause some women to examine and try her whether she be ensoint de vn infant which if she be not she shall be hanged maintenant And though she be quicke with child yet Iudgement shall not be delayed but onely execution deferred If after such respite when she is once deliuered she become great againe and obiect to prolong her life the
by default that now the Tenant shall not haue a Quod ei deforceat but Iudgement to recouer in value against the Vouchée If Baron and Feme tâ—nants for life in the wiues right lose by default and the Baron dye a Quod ei deforceat lieth not but a Cui in vita as vpon a Demise made by the baron In a Quod ei deforceat the Demandant must count that he was seised c. in his Demesne as of Francktenement or in his Demesne as of Fée tailâ— laying the Esplees in himselfe but he néeds not shew of whose gift lease or demise though he claime for life or she claimes in Dower or sibi haeredibus de corpore And the Defendant must deny the Demandants right c. and shew how he recouered in a Formedon or in some other Action concluding that he is ready to maintaine his right aâ—d title aforesaid c. vnde petit iudiciâ—m Then the Demandant must either trauerse it or shew matter in barre but he shall not make defence and then plead inbarre as he shall doe in a Formedon Fiâ—zh 10. Ed. 4. fol. 2. Dictum fâ—â—t and the tenant may plead a release of all the Demandants right in a Quod ei deforceat But the old Nat. Breu. obserueth that if the Demandant vouchâ—one that entreth into Warrantie hee which recouered shall not plead the Vouchées release made after recouerie In a Quod ei deforceat the Tenant may vouch and so may the Demandant 50. Ed. 3. 25. But if the Demandant vouch his Vouchée cannot vouch ouer 10. H. 7. 39. The old Nâ—t Bâ—eu acknowledgeth that in a Scire fâ—cias there lies no oucher yet if a man recouer by default in a â—câ—re facias out of a sine against Tenant in taile which bringeth a Qâ—od ei deâ—orceat if the Recouerer maintaine the title of his first Writ the Tenant in taile may vouch The Law séemes to be otherwise sée Plow 11â— 206. 14. H. 7. 18. The questions arose vpon the Demandants vouching 10. H. 7. fol. 10. The first whether he must shew cause of the Warrantie or no. The second whether hée may vouch one that hath nothing in the reuersion The third whether he shall recouer in value Frowicke answered The Voucher is by Statute and hee néeds not shew any cause for the Statute of W. 2. cap. 3. saith Concedatur ei quod vocet ad warrant ac si esset tenens in priori breue in which case he should shew no Déed Second hée shall not vouch any stranger for the Statute is Ideo concedatur eis quod vocenâ—ur ad warrantum quia non possunt sine his ad quos spectat reuersio respondere Third the Statute giuing voucher meanes that he shall haue the effect of his vouching id est to recouer in value And if a Statute giue action for a thing whereof the action did not lye at Common Law the partie shall haue iudgement processe and execution incident or belonging to that action and a reuersion is a cause of voucher and of recouerie in value Frowicke said fuâ—ther That though he which leased cannot disclaime yet his Grantee may and award his charge and if voucher here should be no more but an aid prayer the Grantée might not disclaime for if Tenant for life pray in aid of him in reuersion hée shall not disclaime And Tenant by the courtesie cannot vouch for he shall neuer recouer in value SECT XXVII Admonition for women to take heed of him in the reuersion THe rest of this fourth booke shall consist most in warnings to widdowes and women tenants in â—articular estates that they doe nothing preiudiciall to their warrant It is true for the most part Ex quibus rebus maxima vtilitas ex iiâ—dem summa pernicies Water washeth and drowneth fire reasteth and it burneth the Sunne ripeneth and it scortcheth and seareth They that can help can hurt The reuersioner of a widdowes estate of whom she shall haue aid to defend her shall take her estate from her in many cases if she offend him in his reuersion SECT XXVIII Of Waste EVen by the antique Law of England if Bracton say truth fol. 316. The Gardian in Chiualrie committing waste did lose the wardship was auerred Et damna restaurabat But if Tenant in Dower committed waste there was no forfeiture of her land or parcell of it but he in reuersion might stop and let her from doing waste and such hinderance was no Disseisen Also he might haue if néed required a Non permittas to the Sheriffe commanding him not to suffer waste vendiction or exile in lands tenements houses woods garden c. and he might haue attachment against the widdowes or a Pone per vadios saluos plegios to make her come c. shew why shée committed waste If the waste in a wood were found by Inquisition the paine was no more but that from thenceforth shée should take no manner of Estouers either to build burne or inclose but it must be per visum forestariorâ—m haeredis And Bracton sets forth the Wâ—â—â— for placing and appointing of the Fâ—râ—eâ—cor or by the heire ad praedict ' 〈…〉 custodiendum But now by the Stat. of Gloc. cap. 5. A writ of waste lyeth against Tenant in the courtesie or for life or for yeares or in Dower and the partie attainted in waste shall lose the thing wasted and make grée to trebble value of so much as the value shall be taxed at This Statute made 6. Ed. 1. ordaineth also that the Gardian which loseth his wardship for committing waste shall render dammages if losse of wardship be not equiualent to the harme Peraduenture Bracton wrote after the Statute for in one part of his Booke Ed. 1. is named â— 3. But it is said Sir Edw. Câ—kes 3. Rep. fol. 40. a. that Glanuile wrote temps H. a. Bracton temps H. 3. Britton temps Ed. 1. and in Sir Edw. Cokes 8. Rep. in Iohn Webs case fol. 46. b. he saith that Bracton wrote in fine del Roy H. 3. and Fleta wrote in temps E. 1. But note a woman shall not answer for waste done before her time yea if land bée leased to Baron and Feme for terme of their liues and they commit waste if the Baron die now the widdow is not punishable for this waste For that which the Baron did during couerture was only his act and offence dead and determined with his person Concessum per curiam 2. H. 4. and Br. 59. in his Writ of waste Yet if the lease had beene made to a Feme sole who takes a husband which commits waste otherwise it is by 9. H. 6. 52. women need no further warning to take héed of waste they are of themselues so hauing SECT XXIX The Writ of Entrie in casu prouiso BVtlet eâ—â—â—rie good woman take héed how she maketh any gift or alienation of such lands as she holdeth in Dower For Glocest cap. 3. is if a woman sell or