THE LAVVES RESOLVTIONS OF WOMENS RIGHTS OR THE LAVVES PROVISION for WOEMEN A Methodicall Collection of such Statutes and Customes with the Cases Opinions Arguments and points of Learning in the LAVV as doe properly concerne WOMEN Together with a compendious Table whereby the chiefe matters in this BOOKE contained may be the more readily found LONDON Printed by the assignes of IOHN MORE Esq and are to be sold by IOHN GROVE at his Shop neere the Rowles in Chancery-Lane over against the Sixe-Clerkes Office 1632. A PREFACE TO THE READER VArious are the Conceipts and Judgements of Men Nature teacheth each to preferre his Owne Hence it is that the number of Bookes multiply insomuch that according to the Wise-man Thereof is no end To expect new Matter were to give the old Proverb the Lie Nihil jam dictum c. It 's enough if what was before be now so changed by Method and Application that it shewes as new and becomes more ready for Vse Habit and Apparell alter the Shape sometimes the Conditions of Men. An old Theame in a new dresse ingenuously contrived makes the Composer an Author Why then should this Booke blush to shew it selfe or doubt to bee servant to the Printer whose Master neverthelesse it is To give it as absolute or free from faults were to make it more then the Worke of Man whose incident is Error Such as it hath are rather accidentall then originall and may bee fairly excused Not to insist That the Author's dead That it was long since collected Alteration of some Cases by Moderne Statutes Or this the first Impression Goodnesse is the Parent of Confidence The Act is crowned by the End which was this A publique Advantage and peculiar Service to that Sexe generally beloved and by the Author had in venerable estimation To implore their Patronage and prevaile were to guard this Booke beyond Opposition The strong neither needs nor desires a Champion Meeknes protects it selfe What here you finde reall and perfect therefore accept It will subsist Remit the rest the rather for that nor the Tract nor This is peremptory But onely proposed for your favorable sense and Approbation I. L. TO THE READER BY whom this following DISCOVRSE was Composed I certainly know not neither by what inducement the Authors paines therein was procured But if for no other consideration then to make this scattered part of Learning in the great Volumes of the Common-Law-Bookes and there darkly described to be one entyre body and more ready and clearer to the view of the Reader his love deserves thanks and his endeavours kinde acceptance The VVorke hath beene carefully and with much labour and diligence collected The Theame as the subject is The Lawes Resolutions of Womens Rights which comprehends all our Lawes concerning VVomen either Children in government or nurture of their Parents or Gardians Mayds VVives and VVidowes and their goods inheritances and other estates It is profitable and usefull Learning to be well knowne I am sure it will please all them whose actions are guided virtutis amore and offend none but those ill manners who can have no other antidote made them then formidine poenae for it sets forth Law and Iustice things honest and things convenient I had such a good conceit of the matter and frame of the whole VVorke that having a Copie there of lying by me somtimes within the Compasse of a Lent vacation I pluckt my intentions from my own course of Studies and cast them upon this And those vitia Scriptoris and Authoris which I found I amended and haue added many reasons opinions Cases and resolutions of Cases to the Authors store wherfore those oversights or neglects that thou maist impose upon the Printer or mee which I suppose wil be some if not many thou shalt have thanks to supply or amend which is all I expected and more then the Author as I beleeve had or now being dead can receive and perhaps thou maist have a better reward for the old Adage is true pretium non vile laboris Vale T. E. THE TABLE ACceptance pag. 177 Accidents of Marriage pag. 62. Actions by the Husband Wife how brought 196. 197. Acts done by the Wife when good 141. Age of a Woman at 7. her father shall have ayde at 9. shee 's Dowable at 12. she may consent to Marriage at 14. out of Wardship at 21. shee may make a feoffement 7. Appeale of the husbands death 332. How it shall be sued 338. within what time it shall be brought 141. before whom it shall be sued 343. Pleas in Appeale 353. 355. Attainder of the Husband loseth the Wives Dower 152. Chattells reall of the Wife what interest the Husband hath in them 130. Contribution of Parceners 47. Curtesie of England what 79. there must be Marriage 80. and seisin ibid. and issue 81. 87. shall not be of a reversion ibid. nor of a right 82. nor after the Husbands discontinuance 83. nor of an estate suspended ibid. nor of a bare use 84. A second Husband shall bee tenant 85. when the title thereof begins 88. How the Husband shall lose it 9. It shall be though the child die 89. Clergie in appeale 364. Damages in an appeale 365. Declaration in an appeale 348. Degrees how they shall bee accounted 76. Descent how altred 12. Discontinuance 155. Divorce what 64. 122. Causes thererof as Impotencie 65. Affinity 66. long absence 66. Dower 90. what it is 91. when to be recovered 93. what seisin is requisite 93. the husband must have both Frank-tenement and Inheritance 95. Of what things it is granted 98. of what not 99. Of what inheritance the husband must be â—eised 101. When given of an estate determined and when not 103. How much it shall be and how held 106. 107. It shall be of the Husbands best possession 108. when the wife may elect 109. when of Land and rent issuing out of that Land 109. At the Church-doore 111. Lost by elopement 144. How the Husband may hinder it 148. lost by his attainder 152. who may assigne it 243. 244 c. what things shall be assigned 281. Election of Lands Dowable by the wife 109. of Dower or loynture made during the coverture 184. Elopement a woman thereby loseth Dower 144. Executor of his own wrong 129. Executorship 233. Exposition of the words Lands Tenements Hereditaments 188. of the Stat. of Westminster 1. cap. 4. 17. of the Stat. of 32. H. 8. cap. 28. 166. 170. 173. of the Stat. 27. of H. 8. cap. 10. 183. Evidences detained 261. Felonie 206. Fines 176. Fourcher what 218. Forfeiture of Estates 313. Frank-Marriage what 73. whether it may bee to a man 74. It may be given at before or after Marriage 74. That word maketh inheritance 75. Heyre what and how 8. 9. Hermaphrodite what 5. Hotchpot what 40. 41. when used 42. Husband and Wife are one person 116. 119. where one and where severall persons 4. they cannot enfeoffe one another 120. How Lands
such Lease there shall be reserued yearly to the Lessors their heyres and successors to whom the Lands should haue come after the Lessers death if such Lease had not béene made or to whom the reuersion shall appertaine so much or more annuall ferme or rent as hath béene most accustomably yéelded c. within twenty yeares next before such Leases were made And euery person to whom the reuersion shal appertaine after the death of such Lessors or their heyres shal haue such remedies a aduantages to all intents against the Lessées their executors or assignes as the Lessor might haue had So that if the Lessor were seised in in speciall taile c. the issue or heyre of that speciall estate shall haue the reuersion rent and seruices c. Prouiso that the wife bee made party to euery Lease made by her Husband of any Mannors Lands Tenements or Hereditaments being the wiues Inheritance and that euery such Lease be by Indenture in the name of the Husband and the Wife and she to seale the same And that the ferme be reserued to the Husband and wife and to the heyres of the Wife according to her estate of Inheritance And that the Husband shall not in any wise alien discharge grant or giue any the rent or any part therof longer then during Couerture without it be by fine leuied by the Husband and wife but the rent shall remaine descend reuert or come c in such sort and manner as the land should haue done if no such Lease had béene made prouided that this act extend not to giue liberty of taking more fermes c. then before was lawfull c. nor inable Vicar or Parson to make or grant their Lease of Messuages Lands Tenements Tythes c. or Hereditaments belonging to their Church or Uicarage And it is further enacted that all Leases made within thrée yeares before the twelâ—th of Aprill in the 31 yeare of H. 8. made by Indenture sealed by person or persons of full age of whole memory not vnlawfully coacted nor vnder Couert Baron for terme of yeares of any Mannors Lands tenements or Hereditaments whereof the Lessor or Lessors were seiâ—ed in any estate of Inheritance to their onely vse at the time of their Lease-making and whereof the Lessées their executors or assignes at time of this act Making were in possession by vertue of the Lease no cause of re-entry or forfeiture being had or made shall be good and effectuall in law against the Lessors their heyres and successors according to the couenants and agréements specified in the Indenture c. so that there be reserued to the Lessors their heyres successors c. as much yearely rent as was at any time yéelded within 20. yeares before making of any such lease or else the Leases to be of none other effect then they were of before this act And moreouer it is ordained that no fine feoffement act or acts to be made suffered or done by the husband onely of any Mannors Lands c. being the Inheritance or fréehold of the wife during Couerture betweene them shall in any wise be or make any discontinuance or be preiudiciall to the said wife or her heyres or to such as shall claime right title or interest by her death But that shée or her heyres or they to whom such right or title shall appertaine after her decease shall and may lawfully enter into such Mannors Lands c. any such fine feoffement or other act notwithstanding except fines onely leuied by Baron and Feme wherunto the wife is priuie and a partie Prouided that this clause extend not to giue any liberty to any Wife or her heyres to auoid any Lease hereafter to bee made of any her Inheritance by her husband and her selfe for 21. yeares or vnder or for thrée liues at the most whereupon yearely rent shall be reserued vt supra Prouided also that this act extend not to any Lease heretofore made by Ecclesiasticall or other person by Coâ—eâ—t or Common-seale which Lease is made voyd by act of Parliament nor to make good any Lease of any Ecclesiasticall person made by câ—uent seale or otherwise or of any other person attainted of â—reason c. SECT XXIII The Exposition THis Law in the first part is affirmatiue or I may say leasatiue a leasing Law or Statute Tenant in fée-simple iure mero suo nothing restrained by it No more is Tenant iure vxoris but he may make a Lease for yeares to continue till the last hower of Platoes great yeare or till King Arthur come againe for all this Statute for no greater rent then thrée bundle of bulrushes as well as he might before although her land were neuer leased before since Noaâ—s floud and such a Lease shall bind him during Couerture But if the Husband make a Lease by paroll or by poll déede or by Indenture and the wife not partie or if the Land were not informer times demised or if the ancient rent or more be not reserued then as the earth stayeth in the worlds center vpon nothing but Gods prouidence and permission the Demisée leaneth vpon no Statute but hangeth at the wiues courtesie ponderibus librata suis as at Common Law SECT XXIV Law before the Statute HOw that was yée shall perceiue by the cases following If before the Statute of quia emptores tenant in fée iure vxoris infeoffed a stranger expressing no tenure the feoffés was to hold of the Baron by such seruices as he and the Wife held by of the Lord Paramount If the Baron and Feme had ioyned in a Feoffement to hold of the Baron c. th expressed tenure had béene voyd and the Feoffee must haue held of them both by such seruices as they held ouer c. If the Baron in this case had died and the Wife accepted the rent in her viduity this acceptance here barred her for euer from auoyding the Feoffement by Writt of cui in vita If Tenant iure vxoris and his Wife had made a Feoffement to hold of the Wife the Feoffor should haue held of them both and if the Wife had died the Feoffor was to hold of the Baron till the feoffement were auoyded by sur cui vâ—a Par. 126. Againe if before this Statute of 32. H. 8. Tenant in fée iuro vxoris and his wife had ioyned in exchange for other lands in fée and the exchange being executed the Husband had dyed now the Feme by entring in vpon the Land giuen her vpon the exchange should be barred for euer from defeating the exchange But if it had béene made by the Baron alone she might haue defeated it notwithstanding her entrie for that could giue noseisin by force of the exchange to her that was neither partie nor priuie to it Par. fo 8. And if a man seised in right of his Wife c. make a Lease for life rendring rent with a letter of Atturney to his Wife to make liuery the Wife deliuers
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
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
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
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
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
setting it abroach but the curious learning w. is that of spirituall kindred caused either by holy Baptisme or by the blessed Chrisme and this had power impediendi Matrimonium contrahendum dirimendâ— matrimonium contractum yea this was such a matter that 39. Ed. 3. fo 32. Bastardie is pleaded against the Plaintiffe in assise and the cause was that the father married a woman before which Marriage he had christned â—â—â— which was his Wiues cousin and for this cause after and of them was dead Diuorce was sued and Iudgement thereof giuen in the spirituall Court though indéed by Iustice Thorpe and the greatest opinion in the temporall Court the Issue could not be bastardized vnlesse the Parents had beene called and the Nuptials destroyed by sentence which was now impossible to doe for death had determined them Out of question therefore if the parties had liued a little or no Kindred had marred great good acquaintance But howsoeuer by those dayes secular Marriage was forbidden in spirituall men and secular men were straightly prohibited by spirituall Spirituall Kindred the Statutes afore-going haue now welcommâ—â— Wedlocke cleane out of the Popes stockes And the 18. of Leuiticus alone doth in a manner sufficiently demonstrate with what persons Women are restricted to marry SECT XXX With what persons Women may not marry SUch are her Grand-father her Father her Sonnes Sonne c. her Brother though it be but the one part her Fathers or Mothers Brother her Brothers or Sisters Sonne or her Sonnes Sonne Brothers or Sisters Children saith Ramus in his Commentaries of Christian Religion lib. 2. ca. 9. are forbiden to inter-marry ed more non lege Diuina vel Romanâ— Christians he saith further which haue abrogated the Law 25. of Deuteronomy whereby a Brother might bee challenged to raise vp the house of his deceased brother haue also constituted a prohibition within certaine degrées of affinity and therefore a man may not marry with the widdow of his Grandfather or of his Father or with the widdow of his owne Sonne or of his Sonnes Sonne or with the widdow of his Brother or of his Brothers Son or of his Brothers Sonnes Sonne c. Nor with the Grand-mother Mother Daughter Neece great Aunt Aunt or Sister of his deceased wife SECT XXXII Of Wooing I Am affraid my feminine acquaintance will say I writ as I liue I talke much of Marriage but I came not forward stay a while yet I pray you I know many an honest woman more repenting her hastie Marriage ere she was wâ—oed then all the other sinnes that euer she committed It were good reason we speake a little of wooing but to handle that matter per genus species would take vp as much roome as the Indian figge-tree euery thrid whereof when it falleth to the ground groweth to a body I will slip by it onely obseruing that the giuing of gloues rings bracelets chains or any thing that is ex sponsalioruÌ„ largitate as a man would say of loues liberality or as a pledge of future Marriage betwixt them that are promised haue a condition silent for the most part annexed vnto them that if Matrimony doe not insue the things may be demanded backe and recouered yet there is a distinction of like for I haue authoritie in it Si sponsus dedit aliquid aliquo casu impediuntur nuptiae donatio penitus rescinditur nisi osculum intervenerit marry if he had a kisse for his money then the one halfe of that which was giuen is the womans owne good And she hath yet more fauor in the case for whatsoeuer shee gaue were there kissing or no kissing betwixt them she may aske all and haue all againe Quaere of this in the Consistorie SECT XXXII The Condiments of Loue. THere are with vs as wel as with the Ciuilians many kinds of Donations propter nuptias and some ex sponsaliorum largitate Good meats are the better for good sauce venison craueth wine and Wedlocke hath certaine Condiments which come best in season in the wooing time and serue as Breton saith pour doner fees come melier talent d'aymer Matrimonie A husband per se is a desirable thing but Donements or Feoffements c. better the stomacke though of it selfe it be good and eager And because the first Marriage made in Paradice if you marke it well had a Iointure I cannot but allow the circumspection which is had SECT XXXIII Of Franke Marriage IT was as I suppose more frequent in the old time that men gaue Lands with their Daughters in Marriage then it was at this day But now as then if a man liberally and freely without money or other considerations saue onely loue and naturall affection giue Lands of Tenements to another man with a woman which is Daughter Sister or Cousin to the Donor in Franke Marriage whether it bee tempore Matrimonij vel ante vel post this word Franke Marriage maketh an estate of Inheritance viz. to the Donees and the heyres of their two bodies and they shall hold quite of all manner of seruices except the pure fealtie till the fourth degree bee past But the Issue in the fift degree and his Descendant shall hold of the Donor and his Heyres as they hold ouer SECT XXXIV The Gift must bee Franke. PEr Rich. 16. assi p. 66. if a man giue land in Franke Marriage rendring a rent the reseruation is voyde till the fourth degree be past per Martine Iustice 4. H 6. 22. such a reseruation is méerely voyde for it is contrary to the nature of Franke Marriage By the old tenures such a reseruation is good and the Donée shall hold in Common estate taile by Brooke in his Abridgement it cannot be any estate taile for want of the parol heyres And where such a gift is made to a woman not cousin to the Donor there passeth but estate for life for it is by a maxime or ground that Franke Marriage maketh inheritance and this case is out of the principall By Bracton fo 28. 29. Si terra detur in maritagium viro cum vxore eorum haeredibus pro homagio seruitio viri licet detur in liberum maritagium qua sunt sibi ad inuicem aduersantia c. tunc prefe 〈…〉 um erit ac si donatio fieret taiâ— viro quam vxori he deliuereth the like learning before fo 22. and this rule withall â—x tacita conditione pacta incontinenti opposita insunt contractibus legem dant eis illos infirmant SECT XXXII The gift must be to a Woman c. IT was deliuered for a Law in tempore H. 8. that Lands cannot be giuen to a man in Frank Marriage though he be Cousin to the Donor SECT XXXVI It may be tempore Matrimonij ante vel post WHat if after the gift made the man refuse to marry the Cousin of the Donor marry else-where If two Donées in taile after the Common forme be diuorced vpon a pre-contract made by
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
woman may haue Dower by taking his seruice euery third day and if a mill by taking the third part of the profit and shee shall grinde tole-frée and if a House a woman is Dowable by a Chamber or rent assigned out of the house Note that if such a rent be assigned out of the Land wherein Dower is claimed the woman may haue Assise without Déed contra if it be assigned out of other Land 33. H. 6. fo 2. Also a woman may hold an Aduousan appendent in Dower of the third part of an Aduousan in gros by presenting at euery third auoydance or the third part of the moitie of an Aduousan by presenting at euery sixt auoydance And of a Common in grâ—s which is certaine a woman is Dowable Likewise if any grant to I. S. that hee and his heyres shall take yearely in his Meadow thrée load of Hay c. For Common appendant Parkins saith If a woman accept two acres parcell of a Mannor in allowance of Dower she shall haue no Common appendant aliter if a moitie bee assigned her Eâ— 5. lacobile Countelle of Oxfords case cited in Harpers case Coke 11. Rep. fo 256. Dower shall be of prediall Tythes c. SECT LXI Of what things Dower is not granted OF naked seruices as homage and fealtie there is none endowment nor of a bare annuity granted in fée nor of things vncertaine as of Common without number And if it be granted to I. S. that hee and his heyres shall take so many Estouers in Methold wood as they will burne in c. this will yéeld no Dower no more then a License or grant de coylor bois in auter bois By the old writers if in the first establishment of Dower speciall mention be not made or Aduousons or third presentments the wife cannot haue Dower of any Aduouson pur ceo que aduouson dâ—â—sgly sevest mi departible But when a Mannor with the appurtenances is ordained for Dower if an Aduouson be appendant to the Mannor and the Church become voide after the Husbands death the Wife may present Also by them a woman cannot challenge a Castle chiefe Mease or head of any Baronie or Countie or any thing within the close or Circuit of the chiefe Mease to be assigned her in Dower But for her habitation she may choose aliquod honestum Messuagium de villenagijs that is some bond Tenements within the Mannor-house And where there is none such to choose shee shall haue one clapped vp for her in aliqua platea competenti de commum bosco as long and broad as the third part of her husbands chiefe house A cottage of clay and splints set close in a corner of a cold Common which is but a rewmaticke Lodge to welcome Suitors to But how if the Common and all things bee so inclosed that there is not roome to swing a Cat in women are not put in Rogum with their Husbands any where but in the Indies and I thinke that custome is left there also by this time If there be neither base tenement nor wood nor ground wherewith whereon to build a Widowes habitacle she may bee endowed for necessity of the principall Messuage and without necessity alwayes if the heyre be so contented The reasons which Breton and Bracton doe expresly alleadge for nicenesse of Law making dainty in their time to endow Widdowes in Aduousons and great Messuages is onely the indiuiduity or impartablenes of the things Of an Aduouson because it is but ius quoddam and not corporall and great houses c. for the dignity and strength which the Realme was thought to haue by their conseruation But considering that the end of Dower is chiefly the maintenance of a Wife Si vir premoriatur it may further bee colourably said that Law at first did neuer meane to trouble Widdowes with presenting of Clarkes for that either is not or ought not to bee a matter lucratiue or of gaine though indeede Bracton prize a Benefice of an hundred Markes at one hundred Shillings valew SECT LXII Of what estate of Inheritance the Husband must bee seised THe Learning here is not discrepant from that which went before in title of Courtesie Of fée or fée-taile generall a Woman shall haue Dower so shall she of fée-farme or of a base fée-simple but not of Coppy-hold vnlesse the Custome serue for it And if Tenant for life make a feoffement in fée the wife can haue no Dower 3. H. 4. fo 6. The which Littl. inserteth in this Chapter of Dower viz. where the Husband is seised as heyre of speciall taile c. is no interdiction of Dower in all cases to her which is married to the Donée of speciall taile Littletons own example is That if Lands be giuen to a man and the heyres which he shall ingender of his wife Alice if he dies Alice shall be endowed of this estate for no Issue of a second wife could be heyre of speciall taile and that makes the difference The case 41. E. 3 fo 30. is this A man seised in generall taile by fine made a feoffement and tooke backe an estate in speciall Taile to himselfe and his first Wife and died the King seise by Tenure in capite and endowed the second wife the Issue of the first Wife came shewing the speciall taile and by scire facias against the Wife recouered for default she tooke a second Husband who with his wife brought a quod ei deforceat against the Heyre and hee pleaded the speciall taile the woman by remitting the heyre to the ancient taile would haue concluded him to say that her husband was seised of any other estate Et non allocatur Parkins makes this case somewhat more austere against Dower for as he putteth it fo 60. the Issue is sonne to the Woman which claimeth Dower yet the mother by him not Dowable because the sonne though hee be Heyre is in of another estate then that which was in the Baron during Couerture so likewise 44. Ed. 3. fo 26. in a Writ of Dower against the Heyre Tenant hee sheweth that the band was giuen by fine to his father and mother in speciall taile and that afterwards his father mother discontinued the taile by fine to a stranger and taking backe an estate in generall taile they had Issue this heyre then his mother dyed and the father taking the demandant to wife he died so the sonne was now in per lun taile per lauter and being adiudged in his eigne right by remitter the wife was barred of dower this Case in my conceit fringeth the generality of Littletons rule for the Issue which by possibility the second wife might haue had might by possibility haue inherited though not indefeisably in such estate as was in the Husband during Couerture To conclude where Lands are giuen to the Baron and feme in speciall taile the remainder to the Heyres of the body of the Baron and the Wife dies without Issue there 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
of the Obligée And if I bee bound to C. that A. shall marry B. before Easter If I marry B. and our Espousals continue till Easter my bond is forfeited Similiter If C. marry B. or if A. and B. cannot marrie because one of them dieth or wareth mad before the day I finde none other cause in our Yéere-bookes alleaged why things may not passe by gift betwéene Baron and feme saue only vnitie of person But vndoubtedly the restraint springeth from a politique consideration rather to bréed cherish and maintaine the vnity then in iudging of an impossibility because of the vnitie But the Ciuill Law vir non potest dare vxori ne foeminae amorem coniugalcm in quaestu habeant prohibenter inter coniuges donationes quia silicerct coniugibus inuicem donare matrimonia fierint venalia saepe distraherentur c. And because it would amount to arguing inter coniuges there is a restraint by that law Ne priuignus dare queat nouercae vel nouerca priuigno What if the Matrimonie be inualidum legibus non consistens yet non valet inter coniuges putatiuos facta donatio ne melioris sint conditionis quam illi qui recte faciont But a gift to a plaine Concubine is good enough vnlesse the giuer be a Soldier By old Iohn Bracton lib. 2. ca 5. Non valent donationes inter virum vxorem non enim poterit vir dare vxori nec e conuerso constante Matrimonio quia huiusmodi donationes prohibitae sunt inter tales personas nec infraudem facere possint constitutioni veluti si Maritus donet extraneae personae ea mente vt redonet in vita viri vel post mortem hee maketh his reason in the 14. Chapter Si tales donationes fieri possint ob amorem inter virum foeminam posset alter eorum egestare inopia premi But at this day though lands cannot passe betwixt Baron and Feme right out by plaine liuery or bargaine yet in the obliquitie of fines recoueries and vses there is an Expedite transporting of Inheritance betwixt them to the vndoing perhaps of the partie whose Lands are transferred and auferred with not so much as coniugall loue alwayes in recompence SECT IIII. In what sort things may passe betwixt Baron and Feme LAnds cannot passe from the Baron by feoffement to put the state from him immediately to the wife though he were infeoffed to that intent and vpon such a condition But one man may infeoffe another vpon condition to infeoffe the wife of the Feoffor whatsoeuer Bracton say and the condition good Also a feoffement fine or recouery may be made knowledged or suffered to the vse of her and her heyres which is wife to the Feoffor Conusor or sufferer c. And as I may make another man the instrument to conuey lands to my wife so may I be the meanes to conuey Lands to my wife from another man for by Letters of Atturney-ship I may deliuer seisen of Lands to my Wife for another and the feoffement shall be good by Parkins 41. And a man may deuise in his last Will and Testament either by the custome or by the Statute 32. H. 8. Lands to his Wife in fée fée-taile for life or for yeares because this taketh none effect till the Couerture be dissolued It is said in Scolasticus case If I deuise that he shall haue greene acre after the death of my wife my wife shall haue estate for life by the intent c. And although a wife by the generall rule hath no will but her Husbands and all Testaments of a feme-couert to deuise any Mannors Lands Tenements and Hereditaments are ineffectuall by expresse declaration of 34. Henrici 8. capite 5. soeuer be the courtesie among Dames of honor a womans name of dignitie changeth with the degree of her husband and of such women as haue not their honor by birth but acquire that by Marriage the rule of Law taketh order Si mulier nobilis nupserit ignoblem desinet esse nobilis when she taketh a second husband But what though the scrupulositie of the Common pleas were obserued throughout the Realme that Esquires Ladies should be no Ladies in Court and Country wherevnto I will neuer giue voyce what inequality were in this depressing shall not likewise a Knights widdow marrying with a Baron or Earle as be much exalted verament yet you see the dignitie hangeth meerely on the male side carrying the scepter of Wedlocke SECT VI. Touching seruitude NOw touching the state of fréedome or bondage Littleton saith that if a free-man marry a bond-woman the Lord cannot seise her but there is remedie by action for taking her sans gree or licence Fitzherbert in his liberâ—are probanda agreeth 78. G. that she should be fréed perpetually But the Law seemeth to be otherwise And so you may find the opinion of Doct. Stud. fo 139 b. And that indeed it is no more but a Temporarie priuiledge and exemption from seisure of her Lord during time of couerture for if the Seigniour of a Mannor marrie his Niefe regardant the best authority that I can finde is that this Niefe is no more but shrined in the honour of her Lord if he die she shall haue no Dower but remaine still in her niefitie regardant to the Mannor And to say truth I perceiue not how a womans being married can in any sort be an infranchisement no not for a time it is no more but a sconsing or hiding of the seruitude Bracton saith elegantly manumission is a detection or laying open of the freedome which is a natura A womans liberty is free licence to doe what she list vnlesse shee be letted by force or by Law it is not restored to Niefe when she marrieth Marriage rather pulleth it from her which before was free When a Seignieur therefore marrieth with his bond-woman she must not turne her bumme to him and say heretofore my Lord I lay in your bed and now I lye in mine owne as the French Concubine said being married newly to her French Lord but let her bee burome and mindfull of her subiection for if this louing Seignior of hers die she may right well be an apparant Niefe againe to her owne sonne for ought that I know why not as well as causes may happen that the father to sonne or one sonne to another may be a villeine the case did happen 3. Ed. 3. that the villaine married his Lords mother and so the father in Law and the brother de demisank were villeines If a free woman marry a villeine her naturall freedome is not otherwise infringed then by subiection to her husband If the villeine purchase Lands and die before seisure made by the Lord the wife shall haue Dower But if a frée-woman seised in fee or fee-tails take a husband which is a villeine and die the Lord may enter vpon the husbands possession per le Courtesie or vpon the Issue being Tenants
NOw let vs looke backe a little and see what shall become of the dealings which Mistris Titus had whilest shee was Sempronia an agent in the world widdow or maide sola and vncouert SECT XII Of Infancie TO debate matters of infancie would aske a whole volume perse But breefly know that all deeds gifts grants c. made by an Infant which take not effect by deliuery of the infant be absolutely void By matters in fait or writing which take effect by hand and deliuery are onely voydable by the infant or by them which haue the infants estate Out of his rule are excepted acts apparently of necessity or profit to the infant or which can be no disprofit to him for manger boire necessarie apparell and schooling the obligation or couenant of an Infant is good Also an Infants presentation to a Church is good enough for danger of lapse and because it is no matter of emolument and things done by vertue of office as giuing of goods or payment of debts by an infant Executrix are good so are acts which concerne the infants proper purchace As if estate be made to an Infant of two acres to haue and to hold the one for life the other in fee a feoffement of one acre made by the Infant is a good election And it is said fo 104. in Dyer that an Infant is bound by all Statute Lawes if there be not an expresse exemption Now whatsoeuer a Feme sole might auoyd by infancie she and her husband may auoid it by entry or action after Marriage if they take the time else not For example An infant feme sole hath title to enter for Mortmaine within a yeare after alienation or title to enter into the purchase of her villeine before his alienation if by lachesse she let slip her aduantage as she may doe notwithstanding her infancie no wise husband that she taketh afterward can mend it for here was but a title to that which neither she nor her auncestor euer had But if an infant Feme sole haue a right as vpon disseisin done to her or her auncestor she may alwayes enter whilst she is sole notwithstanding any descent during infancie And so may her husband which marrieth her after the descent Littl. teacheth vs fo 95. Chap. Descents that lachesse of a husband which suffers descent shall not toll the entry of a Feme couert or her heyres after Marriage dissolued But there is an addition to Littleton that it is otherwise where a title is already giuen to a Feme sole which taketh a husband and suffers descent c. for it shall now be accounted the Womans folly that shee would take such a husband Howsoeuer it be Law or howsoeuer it be vnderstood the Case before must néeds be good Law for an infant Feme hath as much fauor as an infant Male And taking of an husband cannot toll an entry which was saued to a Feme sole by infancie neither doe I perceiue how the husbands lachesse at the time of descent can toll the Wiues Infancie to make any imputation of folly where infancie might excuse it By Parkins If a man lease two acres to me for life the remainder of one of these acres to a Feme sole which afterwards takes a husband and then the Lessée dying the Baron entreth into one acre and thereof enfeoffes a stranger by mets and bonds the wife shall not after his death enter and if Baron and Feme make a gift in taile or lease for life of the wiues Land rendring rent so soone as the Baron dies the reuersion is onely in the wife who by accepting the rent shall bind her selfe and her heyres But if shée will refuse the rent because she was vnder age at time of the feoffement it séemes she may be receiued to a dum fuit Infra etatem wherby she affirmes the feoffement to be her owne If this be infallible Law I doubt not then if a Feme infant disseised doe marry and during her infancie the husband suffereth a descent but her entry is saued and she may enter after Couerture dissolued if not before But Fitzherbert concludeth with a quaere and so must I. SECT XIII Acts c. of a Feme sole being full Age. VNderstand now by a Feme sole a Woman of sull age If a Feme sole become indebted and marry the Baron and Feme may be sued for this debt during life of the Feme If the Creditor sue the recouer the Baron shall be charged with it after the wiues death aliter non A Feme sole Lessée for life rendring rent takes a husband the rent is arrere the wife dieth though here be no recouery in the wiues life time yet because the Baron tooke the profit he is still chargeable in a Writt of debt for the rent for quisentit commodum sentire debet onus If a Feme endowed of rent take a husband and die the husband shall haue action of debt for the rent arere for it was a duty accrued during couerture But if a man be bound to a Feme sole and she takes a husband and the day of payment comes during Couerture now if she die her husband cannot haue an action of debt vpon the obligation for this was a thing in action before marriage Nat. bre fol. 120. 121. And agréeing to that is 39. H. 6. 27. Br. Testaments 10. but by that booke the Wife may make the Baron her Executor and so saith the Booke of 12. Hen. 7. 22. If a Feme sole being made Executrix take a husband she remaine still a disposer of the Testators goods to his vse and after payment of his debts she may deliuer Legacies and after all that giue the rest for Gods sake maugre le test sa Baron But vpon such a giuing of goods or deliuering of Legacies before payment of debts the husband may haue an action of trespasse for gift before payment is not a right administration but a deuastation of the Testators goods Par. fo 2. and 18. H. 6. A feme sole seised of a carue of land grants out of it a rent Charge by déed and deliuers this deed to a stranger with Condition to deliuer it to the grantée as her déed if he goe to Rome and returne before Easter the Woman takes a husband the grantée performes the Condition the déed is deliuered to him he hath a good rent Charge yet the Baron was seised of the land before the grant tooke effect what though if the Feme had infeoffed a stranger of the land he should haue held it charged for to some intent the grant hath relation from deliuery of the deed as an escrow though for the rent the grantée cannot haue that but for the dayes incurring after the darraine deliuery and if the Feme at the deliuery of the escrow had béene marryed all had béene voyd Par. fo 2. 3. and fo 29. some hath maintained he saith where a Feme sole deliuers an
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
Lessor running to smoke rightly to smoke which is something more then nothing for if after all this the Lessor bring an action of waste against the Baron and Feme the Baron cannot barre her by shewing her reprisall and remitter but hee is stopped from speaking against his owne Feoffement and receipt So that here may bee an estoppell or conclusion by a matter not witnessed with specialty or any manner Scripture But if in the action of waste the Baron will make default at the grand distresse the wife vpon her prayer receiued to shew her matter shall barre the Lessor of his action right well For in euery case where a woman is receiued to plead in her husbands absence she shall haue aduantage as if shee were a Feme sole And the reason why rendring backe the land by the Alien to Baron and Feme worketh a remitter though it were by â—ne is because a Feme Couert that taketh any thing by fine is neuer examined by the Iustices But where somewhat is to bee conueyed from a Feme Couert by a fine as if Baron and Feme make cognizance to another c. or a grant or render or a release by fine in all or such like cases because the right of a Wife is passing and she shall be eternally concluded she must bee examined before the fine can be receiued and if shee confesse that her husband menaced her if shee would not leuie the fine c. it shall not be receiued 15. E 4 â—0 1. But where nothing is moued in fines saue onely a wiues purchase and gaining there is vsed none examination of her and therefore such fines doe not conclude her If Tenant in taile discontinueth it and dieth and the discontinuee makes a Lease to the Daughter and heyre of the Tenant in taile being of full age and to her husband for their two liues the daughter is remitted If Baron and Feme Tenants in speciall taile be and the Baron alieneth in fée and takes backe an estate to him and his wife for their liueâ— because they are but one person and the estate is likewise one and intire without moities and the Feme cannot be remitted here without the Husband be also remitted they are adiudged both in their remitter But the Baron himselfe is stopped from claiming so much contrary to his owne alienation If Lands he giuen to a Woman in taile remainder to another in taile remainder to a third in taile with remainder ouer in Fee if the woman take a husband that discontinueth in fee all the remainders are discontinued and if the Wife dyeth without Issue there is no remedie but a Formedon by turne if the first second or third Donée die without Issue But if after the discontinuance an estate be made to the Baron and Feme for their owne life or another mans life or any other estate the Wife is remitted and so are all they in remainder If the Feme die the next in remainder may enter and so is it for them in the reuersion after the caile is ended A Lease of a house is made to a Feme sole for terme of her life and in a â—aint or false action a stranger recouereth this house against her by default so that she may haue a quod ei deforcear by West 2. ca. 4. now is the reuersion of the Lessor discontinued and hee cannot haue an action of waste But if the woman marries and the recouerer lease this house to the Baron and Feme for life the wife is remitted to her first estate by the Lease the first Lessor to his reuersion and he may haue action of waste if there because Yet here if the other which recouered in the false action bring an action of waste the Baron hath no other remedie but to make default at the grand distresse and then the wife receiued may bar him by shewing the fainâ—nes or falshood of his action whereby he recouered If after discontinuance c. the Baron take backe estate to himselfe and his Wife and to a third person this is a remitter for a moity and for the other moity the Feme must sue her cui in vita after the death of her Husband If after discontinuance of the Wiues estate the Baron goe beyond the Seas and the discontinued lease the Land to the Wife for life and deliuer seisin if the Baron agree thereunto at his returne this is a remitter for the Feme shall be adiudged as an Infant and not as a Feme sole in this Case Quaere saith Littleton if the Baron at his returne disagree c. whether this oust the Feme of her remitter If the Baron discontinue the discontinuée be diseised and the disseisor lease the tenements to the Baron and feme for life this is a remitter to the Wife though the Baron were consenting to the disseisin But if the Baron and Feme were both of Conen and Consent to the disseisin the wife shall be a disseiseresse and not remitted If the discontinuée make backe estate to Baron and Feme by indenture vpon condition viz. rendring rent and for fault of payment re-entry and because the rent is arâ—eare the discontinuée doth re-enter vpon this entry the woman may haue an assise of nouell disseisin after the husbands decease for the condition by the remitter was cleane extinct in truth though during couerture the Baron was estopped c. so that he and his Wife could not haue an assise together If the Baron discontinue take backe estate to himselfe for life the remainder after his decease to his wife for her life here is no remitter till the husband be dead but the Wife suruiuing Franke Tenement is cast vpon her maine Tenant will she nill she by act of Law and shee is remittted for though shee enter not yet shee can haue none action against any body for this land but any man that hath cause may haue action of it against her because a recipe quod reddat is maintainable against tenant in ley and that is the widdow here But Tenant of Franke Tenement in fair is one which hath an actuall seisin and vpon disseisin thereof may maintaine an assise The Statute of Glocester perceiued how by common Law a man may play fast and loose with his Wiues Inheritance by feoffement to discontinue her estate and to continue it againe by resumption and so to make it Inheritance or not to his wiues at his pleasure But a feoffement doth onely barre the Wiues entry what if to his feoffement the Baron aimes warrantie what if to his warrantie assets what if he leuie a fine Glocester ca. 3. anno 6. Ed. 1. is If Tenant by the Courtesie alion c. his sonne shall not be barred in a Writt of Mortdancester by the deed of his Father from whom none heritage is descended to demand and recouer the mothers land although his Fathers Charter be with warrantie for him and his heyres But if land descend to him de part son
pere he shall be fore-closed for the value of so much as is descended If after the Fathers death any heritage descend from the Father the Tenant shall recouer against him of the mothers seisin by a writt of indgement out of the rolles c. which the Iustices before whom the plea was pleaded shall grant to re-sommon the warrantie as hath béene accustomed in other cases where the voucher pleads â—iens a luy descenâ—râ— from him vpon whose deed he is vouched c. And in like sort the Issue of the sonne shall recouer by Writ of Cousinage aile or besaile In like manner the Wiues heyre shall not be barred after the death of his father and mother to demand by Writt of entry his mothers heritage which his father in her life time aliened dont nul fine est le uie in court le roy SECT XVII Mr. Littletons glosse vpon the Statute of Glocester BEfore the Statute saith M. Littleton if Tenant by the Courtesie did alien c. in fee with warrantie onely this after his discease should barre the Heyre for this was a collaterall warrantie before the Statute Since the Statute it is cleere that whether tenant by the Courtesie or tenant in the right of his wife doe alien the wiues heritace or marriage by his deede in pais which warrantie leauing none assets it is no barre to the heyre But what if the Baron alien by fine leuied in the Kings court with warrantie shall this barre the heyre without any thing descended in value Newton Chiefe Iustice of the Common place thought it should by implication of words for hee tooke dont nul fine c. to be a generall exception and therefore this alienation by fine with warrant to remaine a collater all warrantie as it was at Common Law But Littleton giueth his voyce with them of contrary opinion which thought it an obscure exposition to permit irreuocable alienation by Tenant in droit sa feme onely by his warranting concord without assetts when the Statute hath in the beginning taken it expresly from tenant by the Courtesie alienating by Feoffement Nul fine therefore is as much to say nul loyall fine rightfully leuied viz. a fine leuied by Baron and Feme for it is true that before this Statute was made and somewhat after it too there was no estate taile come into England A fine might then well and rightfully haue beene leuied by Baron Feme the Barons heire be bound with warrantie and the wiues heire barred for euer But now since the Statute if Baron and Feme had made a feoffement in fée by deede in the Countrey the womans heyre after decease of them both may haue a Writ of entry sur cui in vita for all the husbands warranty And this Statute of Glocester had left a fine no more force then a feoffement here if the finall exception had not beene for when it comes with insemente in mesme le manner giuing a writt of entry to auoyd the alienation made by the father in the mothers life time this might be extended perhaps to a fine leuied by them both for where the Baron and feme doth alien by fine its true that the Baron doth alien Lest therefore a fine leuied by Baron and Feme should be thought to be inféeblished this exception of a fine was necessary and it is to be intended of a fine loyall For when the Iustices know once that tenant in right of his wife commeth to leuie a fine onely in his owne name they will not receiue it SECT XXI Dyers Exposition LIttleton in this discourse seemeth to speake as if hee tooke a warrant without assets made by tenant per Courtesie or iure vxoris to bee no collaterall warrantie now a dayes whereat I maruell A man may haue a veyne cut vnder his eare that shall disable him from performing a great part of manhood but he shall be a man notwithstanding and a horse may be so foundred that he shall neither well goe or stand and yet a horse still So this kinde of warrantie gelt or foundered by Statute remaines collaterall nomine specie Dyer is so fo 148. at Common Law saith he garrantie by tenant per le courtesie was collaterall vncore est come ieo intend But it it is no barre in Mortdancester aiel or cousinage without assets in fée simple descended ie facto whereas before the Statute it was brought to bee intended and supposed and this Statute is taken strictly for the law at this day is come ieo intend if the heyre doe not enter vpon the aliene of his father in vita patris that he shall be bound and barred of his entry by the warrantie If the Father be disseised and release with warrantie the heyre shall be barred without assets both of entry and action also for this is none alienation by tenant by the Courtesie In the last point of the Statute of Glocester for alienation by the husband in vita vxoris c. if he alien the purchase of his wife with warranty this is out of the Statute for heritage or marriage is not intended purchase by her So much my Lord Dyer note that both he and Littleton stand vpon the word Marriage which indeed is not in the letter of the Statute SECT XXII The Statute of 32. H. 8. ca. 28. WEe haue passed the pillers not of Hercules but of Littleton in the Husbands power ouer his wiues Inheritance now let vs looke plus vltra with Columbus King Henry the eight and the Parliament ordained in the yeare aboue specified That all Leases of Mannors Lands Tenements or Hereditaments hereafter to bee made by Indenture sealed for yeares or for life by any person or persons being of the age of one and twenty yeares and seised in fee-simple or féetaile in the right of themselues their Churches or wiues or iointly with their wiues of any estate of Inheritance made before Couerture or after shall be good c. against the Lessors their wiues heyres and Successors c. according to the estate comprised in such Indenture of lease in like manner and forme as if the Lessors and euery of them at time of the Lease making had beene seised in pure fée-simple to her owne onely vses prouiso that this act extend not to Leases made of Mannors Lands Tenaments or Hereditaments being in the hands of any fermor or fermors by vertue of any old Lease vnlesse the old Lease be expired surrendred or ended within one yeare next after making of the new Lease nor shall extend to any grantée of reuersion c nor to any Lease of any Mannors Lands Tenements c. which hath not beene commonly let to ferme or occupied by fermors by space of 20. yeares next before such Lease nor to any Lease made without impeachment of waste nor to any Lease to be made for aboue 21. yeares or thrée liues at the most from the day of the making thereof And vpon euery
seisin the Baron dieth she accepts the rent the may haue a cui in vita by the common Law for the acceptance here maketh not the Lease good because the liuery which the wife made was as seruant to her Master and onely the act of the Baron Par. 41. we haue concerning acceptances some plentifull Learning 21. H. 6. fo 24. Ascu saith there That if Lessée for yeares bee in arrerage of rent and die his Executors shall pay the arrerages if they occupie the Ferme contra if they waiue possession and so if a Lease for life be made to Baron and Feme the Baron commits waste and dies the wife shall be subiect to an action for waste done by the husband if she occupie the land contra if she waiue the possession and by Paston in the end of the case if Baron seised â—ure vxoris make a lease for life of the land and die the wife can haue no action of waste for she was not partie to the lease ex hoc sequitur that a woman vpon acceptance of rent of lease for yeares made by her husband without being her selfe a partie is not bound but shee may enter And albeit the lease were for life yet acceptance barreth not a cui in vita if she were not partie c. 26. H. 8. â—â— 2. per curiam if Baron and Feme sell the Wiues land make feoffement and the Vendée by the Indenture of sale couenants to pay ten pounds annually to the Baron and Feme during their liues if the Baron die and the feme accept the ten pounds this is no bar in cui in vita no more then acceptance of rent after Marriage dissolued where the Baron a per luy made a feoffement or lease But acceptance of rent c. where they both made a feoffement or lease for life is a barre of all actions I will hunt for no farre fetcht learning of acceptances but this I finde if a man lease his land to â— 8. to hold at will by certaine rent none acceptance of the rent here after the Leassors death can barre the Heyre of entrie or make any â—ffirmance of the lease for acceptance can neither make good a lease determined by entry or a lease already void without entry by the lessors death And he that leaseth to hold at will endeth that will when he endeth his life but a lease for yeares by an Abbot or Tenant in taile is not by their death presently void but voydable and the successour or Issue by acceptance of the rent affirmes the Lease So doth the Feme affirme the Lease made for yeares by her husband of her Land by acceptance when she is become sole and sée Dyer 5. Mar. 159. by the opinion of thrée Iustices Dyer Stamford and Browne if Baron and Feme had made a Lease by Indenture rendring rent and the Baron before rent day die and the Feme before the day take another husband who accepts the rent and dies this acceptance shall bind the Wife but note and take with you this peculiar rule where acceptance binds her that she be a partie to the Lease and that by writing for if a man makes a Lease for yeares without déed of land which he holdeth in right of his wife this was méerly void towards the wife so soone as the Husband is dead and acceptance of the rent is to no purpose Plo. 431. per Bromley Againe 9. H. 6. If tenant in Fée iure vxoris make a Lease for yeares and the wife dieth the Lessée shall pay the rent vntill the Wiues heyre enter for so long there is a continuance of a Fermour by force of the Lease but none â—â—owry lyeth for the Husband because he hath no reuersion And an action of trespasse vi armis may be against him but he cannot haue action of debt for the rent But to come home to the very brinke of the Statute nota saith Dyer That the common opinion amongst all Iustices at this day is If Baron and Feme make a Lease for terme of yeares before the Statute of 32. Hen. 8. by Paroll reseruing rent to them both if the wife when shee is become sole accept the rent at the Fermors hands this binds her not from anoyding the Lease if it were not by Indenture for her assent was requisite at the beginning and that ought to haue appeared by déed Dyer 1. Mar. fo 91. The same Learning is 4. Mar. fol. 146. When a Feme Couert departs from her Land the intent consideration and cause ought to be expressed in scripture to proue her consent to the whole Mannor for it is agréed for Law That if before the Statute Baron and Feme had made a Lease by paroll of the Wiues Land for terme of yeares rendring rent though after the Barons death she had accepted the rent yet she might out the Termer because her priuitie to the Lease appeares not per escript likewise if a feme couert suffer a recouery or fine of her Land it shall be intended by Law to be to her owne vse if there appeare none other intent expresly by Writing And none auerment shall be taken of intent or consideration in such Case other then the Indenture specifieth SECT XXV Obseruations vpon the very Statute I Haue shewed what strength a Demise or Lease for yeares made of the Wiues Land by Baron and Feme or by the Baron onely was of before the Statute and is of being made since the Statute without the appointed circumstance and solemnitie Now a little to the very Statute As I said before the ordinance is that Leases shall bee good c. But not directly that any terme shal be boyd though voyd of strength by this Statute they may be many wayes as appeares by the prouiso Note that the forerunning Lease Demise or occupation by Fermors must bee deriued from one that had Inheritance for if at the end of a primitiue Lease made by the Lord of whom the Tenancie is holden or by the Kings grantée or committée of wardship or by tenant in Dower or by Tenant per le Courtesie some of which may by good possibilitie haue had power to make Leases by space of twice twenty yeares a tenant in tayle makes a Lease this succéeding demise hath no vertue or ingredience of the Statute though it séeme to haue good correspondence with it And it is doubted whether a Ferme continued twenty yeares by the Donors demise be sufficient or no to make roome for a new Lease This for ought I perceiue is by a prudent interpretation of the Constitution rather vpon equitie and intent then vpon the Text tenants in fée simple or tailed which transmit their possession to their déere off-spring will not make Leases to any great disaduantage of any of their owne babes or blood and therefore their Leases may well bee â—mitated But like enough it is that Tenant per le courtesie or in Dower or in right of his owne or in
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
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
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
If the wife dye before the goodman the Church must haue likewise the second best beast of all the â—â—ocke heard or droue but hee saith this is of gâ—aâ—e and permission of the husband and though a man bee not bound to giue any thing to the Church nomine sepâ—lturae yet if he doe it is a laudable gift and Dominus papa will not be against it A woman that is at her owne commandement may make a Will and dispose the fruits and corne growing on her Dower lands whether they be seuered from the soile or not seuered quod 〈◊〉 non poâ—uâ—t sed nâ—â—c de gratia potest She that is sub poâ—estate viri can make no Will without her husbands ratification though by custome sometimes women â—oâ— make Wills of that which might haue fallen to their reasonable part c. or of things giuen them â—â— orâ—atum â—â—cut de robis â—ocalibus A man may make a Will of all his things moueable excepting so much as he oweth for debts are before legacies and the King before all Creditors It is lawfull for the Viscount or Kings Bayliâ—â—â— shewing his letters Patents out of the Exchequor to attach all the goods and chattels of him which is dead found within his lay fée to the value of the debt c. and to iâ—breâ—iat them by view of lawfull men so that nothing bee amoued till the debt bée payd and the remainder of all such chatteâ—s shall bee to the Executors debitum vero defuncti quod debetur Iâ—dâ—is non vsurabit quâ—mdiu haereâ—â—â—â—ra aetatem extiterit neither shall the King when a Iewes dâ—â—â— commeth to him take any more than the principall neither shall a womans Dower â—e charâ—â—able with her husbands debt Dâ—â— debeâ— esse libera and when a man dieth 〈◊〉 state the execution of his goods belongeth to the Church and his friends deduâ—â—ng first oâ—â— of them his cléere deâ—â—s amongst which must bee reckoned his serâ—â—â—ts wages certaine and incertaine if incertaine they shall be taxed by the 〈◊〉 friends the charges of his buriall funerall expenâ—es taken out of the stocke that which remaineth must be diuided into thrée parts whereof one shall goe to the wife the second to the children and the Testator hath absolute power to dispose of the third If there be no children vna medietas defuncto alia vxori reseruatur If there be no wife vna medietas defuncto alia liberis tribuitur And where there is neither wife nor children tuncid totum remanebit defuncto The heire is bound to pay his Predecessors debts so farre forth as the inheritance fallen to him will extend and further as his owne grace and good liking leads him Ea quae dicta sunt locum habent tenent all this is Law saith Iohn Bracton except custome sway otherwise as in Cities Boroughes and Townes London he saith hath a custome that when certaine Dowry is appointed to a woman either in money or other chattels or houses shee shall demand no ouerplus of her husbands goods except it be the increment which he giueth by his voluntary bequest And the reason why shee shall haue not plus quam dotem constitutam is because ipsa prededucet dotem suam ante omnes debitores His conclusion is that Citizens wiues and children shall haue no more than is bequeathed to them but be exempted from the generall custome vix enim inueniretur aliquis Ciuis qui in vita magnum questum facerit si in morte sua cogeretur inuitus bona sua relinquere pueris indoctis luxuriosis vxoribus malemeritis c. I am sorry that Bracton séemeth to conceiue no better hope of Citizens wifes but it may be he was deceiued not onely in his opinion of Borrough women but of Law also for he makes his diuision of a mans goods into thirds or seconds shutting it cleane out of Cities and Townes Corporate to bee generall which Mowbray ere while told you the Lords would not confesse to be Law 40. Edw. 3. And many arguments may bee made to the contrary for indeed it might most properly fit and be conuenient for Citizens whose estate consisteth very often rather in moueable goods than in lands and séeing the custome serueth not for heires that haue their fathers inheritance widowes may most reasonably be barred from it that haue ioyntures or reasonable part of Inheritance which are noâ— the widowes of Citizens for the most part But let â—s end this matter with Sir Thomas Smith De republica Aâ—glor lib. â— cap. 6. Though our Law may séeme somewhat rigorous towards wiues yet for the most part they can handle their husbands so well and doucely specially when they bee sicke that where the Law giues them nothing their husbands at their death of their good will giue them all and few there be that be not either made sole or chiefe Executors of the husbands last Will and Testament hauing for the most part the gouernment of the children and their portions except it bee in London where a peculiar order is taken by the City much after the fashion of the Law ciuill SECT III. Of Quarentine ALL this while the widow remaines still in the hoâ—â—â— where her husband dwelt for as Britton saith â—n bone Christien though perhaps not in excellent French ne aâ—â—iert mye que â—eeâ—es solent botes hors ouesque le con de lour barons Therefore Mâ—gna Châ—â—â—â— cap. 7. giueâ—â—â— widow quâ—â—â—ntine or forty dayes aâ—oâ—e in the capitall messuage of her husband after his decease except the house be a Castle If shee must leaue it because it is a Castle there must presently a competent habitation bee proâ—ided for her in which she may honestly dwell till Dower be assigned her and in the meane season shee shall bee allowed reasonable eâ—â—ouers in the common c. The Writ that goeth out to the Sheriffe or Kings Baâ—liâ—â—â— vpon â—â—â—â—â—ment is a commission commanding spéedy Iustice and therefore proces is to be awarded vpon it against the party offending to appeare within a day or two not tarrying for the County day and the proceeding is as in a commission Oyâ—â— and Tâ—â—â—iâ—er Sée 6. Edw. 〈◊〉 76. in Dyer A Writ of Dower was brought and the Tenant pleaded in abatement of the Writ that since the darren continuance the Demandant had entred into part c. Shewing incertaine which and this was holden a good Plea and the demand being of francktenement the demandanâ—s entry hath abated the whole Writ yâ—t 45. Edw. 3. in a â—â—iâ—e facias to haue execution of Dower such an entry pleaded was not good The Demandant to maintaine her Writ said that her husband dyed seised in fée and that hee and shee the same Demandant cohabitabunt super eodem manerio vt vir vxor vsque ad diem obitus sui with protestation that it descended to the Defendant which entred and that shée continued possession cohabiting with him and shee held the same at the pleasure and will
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
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
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
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
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
to be recouered after the first day of December next comming in the forme aforesaid should appertaine to enter into all and euery of the Premisses and peaceably to possesse and enioy the same in such manner and forme as he or they should haue done if no such discontinuance warranty or recouery had beene had or made And if any of the said husbands and women or any other seised or that shall be seised to the vse oâ— them of the estate afore specified after the said first of December doe make or cause to be made or suffer any such discontinuance alienations warranties or recoueries in forme aforesaid that then it shall be lawfull to the person or persons to whom the said manors lands and tenements should or ought to belong after the decease of the woman to enter into the same and to possesse and enioy them according to such title and interest as they should haue had in the same if the woman had béene dead no discontinuance warranty nor recoueries had as against the said husband during his life if the discontinuance alienation warranties and recoueries he hereafter had by or against the same husband and woman during Couerture and espousals betwixt them â—â—â—uided that the said women after the decease of their said husbands may reenter and enioy c. according to their first estate And ouer this it is enacted that if the woman at the tune of such discontinuance alienation recouery warranty c. besole that then shee shall bee barred and excluded of her title and interest in the same from thenceforth and the person or persons to whom the title interest and possession of the same should belong after the womans decease shall immediately after the discontinuance alienation warranty and recouery enter possesse and enioy the same Manors Lands c. according to his or their title Prouided that this Act extend not to auoid any recouery discontinuance or warranty after the forme aforesaid heretofore had made or suffered but only where the husband and wife or either of them now being aliue or any other to their vse now haue title and Interest to the said Manors c. or take the issues and profits to their vseâ— Prouided also that this Act extend not to any recouery or discontinuance where the heire next inheritable to the woman or â—e or they that next after â—er deatâ— should haue estate of inheritance c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or agréeing to the reâ—â—uerieâ— where â—he same assâ—ent and agréement is of record or inrowled Prouided also that it shall bee lawfull to euery woman being â—olâ— or married after the death of her first husband to giue sâ—ll discontinue c. for terme of her life only after the course of the common Law SECT XXXIV The Expâ—sition BEfore this Statute if Tenant in Dower had aliened in fée with warranty and dyed the warranty discending vpon him in reuersion had barred him for against collaterall warranty of Tenant in Dower or for life the Statute of Gloucester cap. 3. determined nothing Lâ—â—â—â—eton fol. 164. He addeth that if the heire were vnder age both at time of alienation and also when the warranty discended hée should hee at no preiudice by this collaterall warranty But if he wore vnder age at time of the alienation and came afterward to full age during the womans life and neuer entered then perchance hee should be barred This was Law when Littleton wrote and had continued so aboue two hundred yéeres and during the raigne of nine Kings after the making of Glocester cap. 3. which Statute Dyer comparing with the later he reputes the last cruell against women for by this Aâ—t of 11. Hen. 7. all alienations recoueries releases and warranties of Tenant in Dower or â—oynture of the husbands lands are of no strength And where Glocester alloweth Tenant by the curtesie to alien with warranty and assets this from women is cleane taken away this he saith is vn case fort dure That if a woman â—oyntresse in taile whose warranty is lincall to her heires doe aliâ—n and leaue assets yet the heire may enter Therefore hee is of the minde that this Statute being rigoroâ—s of it selfe ought to receiue a streâ—t and litterall interpretation fol. 148. But Stamford Browne Brook eâ—poâ—â—ded these words giuen by the Ancestors to bée intendible of all manner of assurances for money or otherwise There are two Cases in Plowden that inâ—ued great Argraments vpon this Statute The first is betwixt Winibishe and Falboâ—es a man enfâ—offed diuers persons to the vse of himselfe and his wise in speciall taile before the Statute of 27. Heâ— 8. of vses and after the Statute the husband died a stranger recouered in a formedone per ment deduc the first day by couin and vpon false tiâ—le he to whom the title appertained after the womans death entred and the entry waâ— adiudged lawfull though hee could not haue Iudgement for a default in the pleading and that was want of certainty in his replication and not shewing how he was heire or the party to whom the entry was giuen by the Statute The greatest matter vpon the Statute obiected to inforce a proofe that the widdow which suffered the recouery was not bound by this Act was that she held not ioyntly with her husband any lands or tenements but only shée was seised of an vse in taile for they tooke it cleare on all paâ—ts that the case came into consideration as if the Act of 27. had not béene made and that seemes to bee directly within the letter of the Lawes But Montague chiefe Iustice shewing how greatly the marriage of women and their aduancement by it is respected in Law as appeareth by the Writ of â—aâ—â—a matrâ—moâ—iâ— proloâ—â—â—i and the â—â—i ante diuâ—rtium taken by equity of West 2. cap. â— and also by that that where donées in frankemarriage are diuorced the woman shall haue all the lands aâ—â—irmeth it to bee reason against such women thus fauored and who abuse such fauors as the Law bestowes vpon them and will be of Couin and Faâ—â—ity to impaire their deceased husbands inheritance and disinhe it their heires to construe this Law for their coâ—â—â—â—tion for the Law-makers of the statute were bent extremely against them though it be penall in some sort oâ—it selâ—e And so it was agreed that if the widdow were not within the words yet she was within the intent and meaning of this Statute The other case was this betwixt Eiston and Stud. Baron and Feme leâ—ied a fine of lâ—nds of the wiues inheritance taking backe an estate in taâ—le the remainder to the right heires of the wife the question was whether the woman after her husbands death might alien without danger of this Statute adiudged that she might because shée was cleare without the intent and meaning of the Act For whatsoeuer the words import the matter that this Statute aimed was and is to restraine women which haue Ioyntures procéeding originally from their husbands or
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
greatest and most difficult part of Law peculiarly belonging to a widdow and come now to consider whether she shall marrie againe or no. If Iohn Boccace de Câ—rtaldo in his Booke De duris mulieribus may be beleeued When the sister of couetous King Pigma â—â—â— and widdow of Sycheus Hercules his Priest had built the Wals Temple Market Towne house and priuate dwellings of Carthage giuing lawes and rules of life to the inhabitants amongst the rest that were filled with loue of her great vertues and singular beautie the King of Malaca was one he grew so vehement in his desires that he threatned the Citizens of Carthage with warres and vtter subuersion of their new Citie vnlesse he might haue the Foundresse of it to be his wife They knowing how highly their Quéen would remaine displeased by any direâ—â— sollicitation to a second marriage not knowing how otherwise to saue themselues determined to win her assent without asking The chiefe of them went therefore to Dido and told her how the King of Malaca required Masters and Instructers of humaâ—â—tis to be sent him out of Carthage from whom he and his people might learne to doe off their naturall â—â—â—â—atousnesse and inciuilitie and further how hée had menaced fire sword and extreme dissolution vnlesse his request were accomplished But they knew not they said whom to send or who would be willing to goe and leaue his owne habitation to dwell with a King of such sauage nature and wilde behauiour as was this King of Malaca Dido when she heard them answered that she was ashamed there should be found in any Carthaginian such 〈◊〉 and cowardly feare affirming plainly that men were not borne onely for themselues and whosoeuer he were that would not aduenture losse perill yea and death though it were certaine for safegard of his Countrey hée was she said vnworthy to dwell in Carthage or that either he or his posteritie should euer be receiued to any honour or reputation amongst them The Carthaginians thought they had obtained their desire and vncouered their counsell to the Quéene telling her plainly the Kings demand Dido not knowing how to reply against her owne râ—darâ—utions replenished with sorrow and aâ—xietiâ— was enforced to yeeld her assent to wedlocke and craued a day before which she said she would goe vnto her husband but before thâ— terme was expired she caused a great fire to be made in the most eminent place of the Citie and there in view and concourse of all other people after many ceremonies and offering of sacrifice as it were to appease the ghost of â—câ—â—us she suddenly with a knife strake her selfe tâ— the heart and told her subiects that now she went to her husband her Sicheus her deare Sichâ—us on whose name still inuocating she sunke to the ground haning chosen rather to shed her dearest lifes bloud as she said than to violate the vowes of chaste widdowhood Boccace mine Author here may haue some colour of reason to extoll the resolution of Dido but not to condemne so bitterly as he doth all women that marrie a second husband Some of them are destitute of friends their parents brethren and kindred dwell farre off sutors câ—me euerie day who can obsist them Another widdow hath lands rents store of goods some suits at Law and no body that she can trust in help to gouerne that which shee hath or to inherit it when she is gone Another is tolled to marrie by mightie perswasions of her dearest friends and kindred Another hath 〈◊〉 youth on her side 〈◊〉 Indians leape into the dead mans fire if they will she hath learned that it is better to marrie than to burne SECT XXXVI A 〈◊〉 to marriâ— so 〈◊〉 it be not vncertaine who shall 〈◊〉 her to theâ—â—â—◠〈◊〉 I For my part that am like neuâ—r to be feared vnlesse some widdow be moued with compassion towards mée will not speake villanie of Bigamie or Octogamie let euerie woman marrie when she seeth her time but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a slow speed perhaps will be best and let her examine well whether the pannier be emptie or no. If saith Sir Thomâ—s Smith in his Treatise De Repub. Angliae â—ol 104. I marrie the widdow of one lately dead which at the time of her husbands death was with childe and the childe is bâ—â—ne after marriage solomnized with me this childe shall be mine 〈◊〉 and lawfull sonne so precisely doe we take the letter Peterest quem 〈◊〉 demonstranâ— Littleton â—aith 18. E. 4. fol. 30. If a man marrie a woman which is groâ—â—ment ensâ—â—nt by another and within foure dayes after marriage she is deliuered this childe shall be his that hath newly married the woman and inherit his land for it is no bastard It 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 would haue it vnderstood of a woman enseint by â—â—p â—â—zard and in such cases it is reason that hee which takes the Dame should haue the Fole So â—s it also when â—â—â—man elopes with a stranger in 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 her husband Iohn at Noke being betwéene 〈◊〉 foure 〈◊〉 must father the â—hilde and it shall be his heire it he die for the Law will not â—â—ing into triall directly wh◠〈◊〉 the childe 44 Edw. 3. fol. 10. and â— Hâ—â— 4. 〈◊〉 â—â—â— though issue may 〈◊〉 â—â— taken whether a woman 〈◊〉 ensâ—mâ— by her 〈◊〉 â—â—â—hâ— time of his deathâ— deaâ—ing out the question by whom as appeareth by the forâ—â—â— Bookes and 1. H. 6. fol. 3. Then if it may be found by Enguâ—st that a woman was with childe at her husbands death the Law which permits not to enquire by whom affirmes it to be the husbands and that husbands which might lawfully begâ—t it I thinke â—urely â—ir Thomas Smith mistooke the Law for by Thorpe and Willowby 24. E. 2. fol. â—9 If a man dye seised of land in Fee simple and the wife which is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with a soâ—ne marrie againe and after is deliuered â—â—is sonne shall bée adiâ—dged sonne and herro to the first Barâ—n and not to the second Though Iustice Beâ— there were of opinion that the Infant might â—huâ—e his father It were better reason perhaps that the second husband might 〈◊〉 whether hée should be his soâ—ne or no and by allowance make him hiâ— heire Sir Ed. Coke in his Comment vpon Littleton fol. 8. a. saith Iâ— a man hath a wife and dieth within a â—erie short time after the wife marrieth againe and within nine monethâ— hath a childe so as it may be the childe of the one or the other some haue said in this case the childe may chuse his father Quia in hoâ— casâ— filiatio non potest probari and so is the Booke to be intended For auoyding of which question and other inconcemences this was the Law before the Conquest Sit omnis vidua â—ine marito 12. mensibus si marita verit perdat dorem But if women had all béene of such sobrietie as many are many of these questions had neuer risen and I must confesse
the Action may bee pleaded that the woman which bringeth the Appeale c. hath taken another husband or that shee was neuer accoupled in loyall matrimony to him of whose death shee brings the Appeale And if it bee brought by the heire it is a good plea in Barre to say the wife of him which is dead is yet aliue and the Action giuen to her In the booke of Entries fol. 50. Praedicta Alicia dicit quod â—â—mpore mortis praedicti Thomae â—adem Alicia fuit vâ—oâ— praedicti Thomae in quo casu â—idem Aliciae non praedicto Nicholao de â—ure pertinet hâ—bere prosequi appellum c. Et vâ—terius â—adem defendens dicit quod praedictus Nicholaâ—s appellum praedictum versus â—andem Aliciam inter Alios per couinam ea intentione ad eam de prosecutione appellinus de morte praedicti Thomae excludendam impetrauit que oia singula c. petit inde allocationem c. quoad felonia non culpabilis Et inde de bono malo ponit se super patriam 30. H. 6. Also it is a good plea in Barre to say that the Plaintiffe hath succeased her time in that shee hath not brought her Appeale within the yeere and day after his death which is supposed slaine or to say that he of whose death the Appeale is brought is yet aliue at such a place and to bring him in the Court that hee may bee viewed and knowne sée thereof 43. Assis pa. 26. in Appeale de morte viri the Defendant pleaded le Baron in viâ— c. and the Plaintiffe contraâ— day was giuen to bring in their proofes which when they came were found one both sides defectiue The Defendant therefore for his safest way pleaded â—on culpabilis videâ—ur ergo that the first issue if it had béene found against him should haue béene peremptacy and that hee may waiue it before triall in fauorem vitae And note that if a man plead not guilty and pute himselfe vpon the Iury in an Inditement of felony and hée may confesse the fact before verdict and pray a coroner otherwise in an Appeale as it was holden 11. Hen. 7. 5. 8. Hen. 4. fol. 18. In Appeale de morte viri and at the day the Baron was brought into Court examined 〈◊〉 knowne and the woman for her false Appeale was committed to prison till she payd a fine The generall barres against all Appeales of which some may bee obiected against the Plaintiffe here are those That the Plaintiffe is attainted of felony or treason or a Monke or a Priest a mayhemed body by some other than by the Plaintiffe or of non sane memorie or deafe and dumb or a layâ—r or a naturall foole Attainder by outlawry if it be erronious is a barre no longer than vntill it bee reuersed It is a good plea in barre also that heretofore the Plaintiffe brought an Appeale of the same felony in which shée was at non suit after Declaration or withdrew her selfe from her Action Or that heretofore shée sued Appeale of the same fellony against another person which was acquited or condemned at her suit Or the Plaintiffes release may bee pleaded in barre if it were made to the Defendant himselfe for release made to another will not serue though it were made to one ioyned with the Defendant in the Appeale Corone in Fitzherbert 9. and 2. Rich. 3. 9. agrées And so if the Plaintiffe withdraw her selfe as against one of the Defendants her Appeale shall stand good against the other And note where the Defendant pleads in barre any of these pleas yet in fauour of 〈◊〉 the Law permits him to plead ouer to the fellony and his pleading shall not therefore be counted double exceptin the case of release in which indéed he may not plead to the felony for not guilty in contrary to accepting of relâ—â—â—â— which â—â—tâ—liâ—th guilt So also of a woman bring Appeale of robery and the Defendant pleads villenage in the Plaintiffe hee shall not conclude ouer to the felony 〈◊〉 culpable for that were an iâ—franchisment But perchance when the villenage is found against the Defendant hee may then take his plea of rien culpable as well as hee shall haue when hée plead any other pleas for if he plead them without concluding to the fellony hée may after his barre is found against him plead rien culpable notwithstanding quod vide 28. E. â— fol. 91. 22. E. 3. fol. 38. 18. E. 3. fol. 32. except only in pleas of release as is said which implieth alwayes a confession of felony 9. Hen. 4. fol. 2. in Appeale de morte viri the Defendants pleaded the wiues release made since the darraine continuance of all accords reall and â—â—rsonall and shée demurred the best opinion was tâ—at reall actions are of things reall and durable as lands rents c. and personall actions are of dammages and such like yet p Hulls personall is as well the punishment of the person as dammages and the punishment here is death which is released le barre is good But Littleton teacheth vs contrary in his booke for hée saith that Appeales of robery rape or death or any Appeale wherein the â—â—dgement is of death are more high than personall Actions and therefore they are not barred by release vnlesse it be of all manner of Actions or of all Appeales See Sir Edward Coke in his Commentaries vpon Littleton fol. 287. b. in any Appeale wherein iudgement is of death a release of all Actions reall and personall is no barre for that release extendeth but to common or ciuill actions and not to criminall but if a release of actions personals is good in an Appeale of mayhem for euery Action wherein dammages are onely recouered is in Law taken for personall fol. 288. a. And in Sir Edw. Cokes 4. Rep. in Hudsons Case it is said although the Appeale of mayhem runneth feloniously â—uy mayma yet he shall recouer but dammages and therefore recouery in trespasse is a good barre therein SECT XII Auterfoits acquit ALthough it be now no plea in Appeale of death for the Defendant to lay that he was here to fore acquite of the same felonie yet because Stanfords handling of it containeth good learning and it may still serue in appealâ— of rape And likewise in Indâ—ctments of death for hée that was acquite in appeale may haue it I will not omit it By Common Law therefore in all Appeales or Inditements of felony for the Defendant to say that hée was Aâ—terâ—oirs aâ—raigne de mesme le felonie before â—uth Iustices and acquited vouching the record is a good plea and he néeds not to haue the record in Court because this plea is not delatorie but in barre Coron in Fitzherbert 2 â— This plea the Common Law disalloweth not because it alloweth that a man should not put his life in ieopardy twice for one and the same offence The acquitall then must be of the verie same offence or
hath not the force of a negatiue implying in nul auter manner then is therein described Amy is therefore a ioynt purchaser with her husband in estate for life and not in or by descent of estate taâ—â—e Now to say that her right and estate should change by silent operation of the Law after shee was repossessed that cannot be for the whole entry is tolled and if she be not remitted by her first possession and reprisall she is neuer remitted If a Disseisour make feoffement to the vse of the Disfeisée and after the Disseisor enter he shall be remitted but before his entry he shall not be remitted for he shall be adiudged in possession by vertue of the Statute but so soone as hee entreth he is remitted for his entry was neuer tolled But Amy Townesends entry was cleane taken away by the discontinuance c. further if she should be remitted by the Statute of 27. the remainders should be all destroyed contrary to the text of the same Statute And to the inconueâ—iencie alleadged if she shall not be remitted shee shall hold incombred with the charges of her Husband that is none at all for Amy after her husbands death might haue disagréed and relinquished the vse with possession annexed to it by bringing a cui in vita against him next in remainder for in him by such disagréement or vser of action had the remainder vested as though the woman had beene a Monke or dead person in Law or neuer named in the limitation If the vse had béene to Amy Townsend in fée she might haue brought her cui in vita against the Feoffor or his heyre by which they shall be Tenants to her action and so might the inâ—umbrance haue béene auoyded for when a feoffement is to the vse of one which refuseth the vse it shall be in effect as if the vse had beene limited to Paules stéeple or to Charing-Crosse all falling or reflecting because the Feoffor hath no recompence or consideration to his vse and hee shall be Tenant to euery Precipe It was further agreed that as the Cause fell out Amy Townesend could not be remitted though her possession had returned by refeoffemeÌ„t at the Common Law because Sir Roger Townesend her Husband outliued her for 21. Ed. 3. the Case is Baron made a Feoffement the Feoffée â—einfeoffe the Baron and Feme and heyres of the wife she woman dyed the Heyre entred the Baron brought an Assise which was iudged maintainable for whilest the Baron liued he was tenant to the heyres action And the thâ— Iudgement was that Amy Townsend was neuer remitted the reason was indéed because there is nothing in the Statute of 27. to make a remitter for the clause of sauing of Drâ—its Titles and Actions is of such right c. as was before the Statute and not of any right title or action risen since or after it Now note that as a Lease made for twenty yeares by Baron and feme Tenants for life binds not any remainder by the Statute which speaketh onely that Leases made by Tenants of Inheritance shall binde heyres and Successors so I would inferre that if the Leassors inheritance be determined whether it were iure vxoris in taile or otherwise in taile the remainder must be frée from the Statute But note that the point which made me choose this case for illustration of the Statute is this Amy Townesend was iudged not remitted because she had no title of entry but onely by the 27 c. of vses and therefore she must néeds claime her possession according to the vse But put Case the Feoffement had béene since the Statute of 32 the Law would then haue iudged a remitter for by Littleton where any persons entry is congeable which taketh estate for life or in fée it is a remitter if the reprisall be not by Indenture or record or some matter of estoppell for alwayes where there is a double right or title the Law must iudge for the best as well in the entry as in the possession and an Indenture made by Baron and Feme is none estoppell to the Wife by the Common Law Concerning the Case 21. Ed. 3. Wilby which gaue iudgement thought the Barons aduantage a hinderance to the Remitter yet if he died the wife should be remitted But if you looke Brooke remitter 21. and 41. ye shall finde that the Feme was maintenant remitted though to saue the husbands aduantage of warranty they would not so iudge it quod mirum saith Brooke and quaere quia contrarium a ceo iour SECT XXVII Whether acceptance or taciturnity may not take away an entry at this day NO fine feoffement or other act done by the husband onely shall make any discontinuance or be preiudiciall to the wife but that she may enter c. what if Baron and Feme make a feoffement or Lease for life by solemne Indentures with Liuery and seisin cleere this takes not away at this day the wiues entry after Couerture ended But admit when shee is a widdow shee refuseth to enter and accept payment of rent or performance of couenants is not now both her entry and her action gone also euen as in case of an Infant which makes such a feoffement or Lease and accepts the rent when he is of full age The question must be answered out of the Statute and in mine opinion there is nothing in it to ayde a woman after such ratification by acceptance volenti non fit iniuria nec inuitis confirmantur beneficia A Lease by Baron Feme per Indenture is not voyd presently by the Barons death But whereas before she was driuen to suit and action shee may now enter by the Statute yet it compels her not to enter neither caâ—teth any frée-hold vpon her In like manner if the Baron alone alien his Wiues Land by fine with proclamation the Wife may enter by force of this Statute but per opinionem totius curiae Ed. 6. Dyer fo 72. If she suffer fiue yeares to passe and expire without entry or vser of action she and her heyres shall be barred for euer for this Statute of 32. though it limit no time for the womans entry yet it speaketh nothing of fines with proclamation and therefore it takes not the generall Law made 4. Hen. 7. cap. 24. of fines with proclamation And sée Sir Ed. Cokes 8. Rep. fo 72. in Grenlies case SECT XXVIII Of Fines SEe further the case 18. Eliz. Dyer 351. Land holden in socage was giuen to a man and his wife in taile the remainder in sée to the Barons right heyres the Baron alone leuied a fine with proclamation to his owne vse and afterward by his last will and Testament in writing deuised the Land to his wife for life the remainder ouer to a Stranger vpon condition to pay certaine rent annually out of the land with Clause of distresse c. the Baron died the wife entering and claiming estate onely for life paid rent