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
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
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
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
vnques seisi que Dower c. THere are other pleas that goe to the action and verie right of Dower as Ne vnques seisi que Dower c. id est The husband had neuer any seisin or state of Inheritance where of the wife can claime Dower sée 45. E. 3. fol. 13. The tenant in Dower leased her whole estate to the heire rendring rent for terme of her life the heire died and this was adiudged a seisin whereof the heires wife might demand Dower though the first tenant in Dower were still aliue for the lease was a Surrender and if a stranger had entred immediately after the heires death his heire must haue had a Mordancester Ergo said one the wiâ—e dowable Yet marke this case â—bid a man seised c. in fée simple dies his sonne entreth and he dies the sons sonne enters and endowes his Aylâ—sâ—e she dies a stranger abateth In this case it is cleere the sons wiâ—e shall haue no Dower of the portion assigned to the Aylesse though the sonnes sonne may haue a Mordancester per Kirton Finch and Mowbray But betwiâ—t this casâ— and the other they say is great oddes for here the Grandmother endowed was in from her husâ—â—â—â— and she sonnes possession and estate howsoeuer to his â—â—ire in whom the fée rested it were not destroyed but hee might bring a Mordancester yet to his wiâ—e it was cleane adnihilate whereas in the first case the Fée and Francktenâ—ment not a whit impeached by the life of her which surrendred were perfectly conâ—â—â—ned in the Baron to whom the Surrender was made And if a râ—uersion be granted to I. S. of certaine lands per faiâ— in pais in which lands I. T. and his wiâ—e haue â—state for life which doe atturne and afterward surrender there is no doubt but I S. his wife if hee die shall hauâ— Dower though it bee indéed defeasible after death of T. K. if his wiâ—e suruiue and will vndâ—â— the Surrendâ—r whereas in our first case the Surrender is no way auoydable but the heires wife shall pay rent according to her portion per Finch â—bâ—â— 14. Ed. 4. fol. 6. Tenant by the courtesâ—e granted his estate to him in reuersion rendring rent with clause of re-entrie for non payment the Grantée married the rent was arréere tenant per le curteâ—â—e re-entred hee in the reuersion died his wife waâ—â—arred of Dower for the Surrâ—nder might well bee vpon candition 2. H. 4. fol. 22. In action of Dower it was pleaded that the Demandants husband had nothing in the land â—ut by 〈◊〉 done to the tenant Iudgement si action c. The woman shewed how her husbands father hauing two sonnes leased his land to the eldest sonne and to hiâ— wife for 〈◊〉 of theâ—r liues and that shee her selfe married with the youngest sonne the eldest died and his wife married with the tenant the father died the reuersion descended to the second sonne being her husband the tonants wife died and he kept possession the Demandants husband did put him out he re-entred she prayed seifin c. Brooke thinketh she ought to haue trauersed the Disseisin And if the Baron had not entred after the death of the eldest sonnes wife she should not haue béene endowed yet saith he 〈◊〉 if without entrie there had not beene a seising in Law and whether the Francktenement which the tenant had once in right of his wife â—e determined in puncto by her death 11. H. 4. 73. In action of Dower the Tenant saith That N. gaue the land to the Baron and his first wife for terme of their liues the remainder in taile to the tenant remainder in Fée to the right heires of the Baron his first wife diâ—d he married this demandant and then hée died and the tenant entred c. he demands Iudgement if of this estate she shall haue Dower This amounted plaine to ne vnques seisi que Dower la puit but per Hanke Thirn that plea might not serue by reason of the Fée simple in remainder which might ingender doubtâ—ulnesse a layes gentes But where a lease was made to Baron for life the reuersâ—on to the Lessor or remainder to a stranger there in action of Dower ne vnques â—eiâ—â— â—ec iâ— good for no manner of Inheritance was in the husband 11. H. 4. 83. Dower was demanded of twentie pounds rent respondetur the Baron had nothing but â—oyntly with â— N. who is yet aliue â—udgement si Dower c. and he was not compelled to shew whether he pleaded as â—ertenant or as Pernor of the rent the Demandant replyed that I. N. had released all his right in the rent â—â— her husband But becauss she shewed not the Déed of â—â—â—ease shee pleaded by aduisement of the Câ—urt seisie que Dower la puit Quaere of the generall â—ssue against the â—â—eciall matter 11. H. 4. 88. A woman shall haue Dower of rent 〈◊〉 chased by her husband in fée though hee die before dâ—â— of payment And if it be pleaded against her Ne vnques fâ—â—â—â— que Dower c. she shall not shew the speciall matter but say seisi que Dower la puit and shew the matter iâ—â—â—â—dence 22. H. 6. 4â— per Newton In action of Dower the â—â—nant plead Ioynt estate to the Baron and I. N. in plein vy whose estate he hath the demandant shall not say â—â—â—â—â— que dower c. vnlesse shee shew how or trauerse that I. N. tooke nothing by she Feoâ—ment â—9 H. 6. fol. 9. Against Dower the Tenant pleadeâ— that I. S. seised in Fée infeoffed him and hee leased to the Baron to hold at will which estate hee continued all his life time sâ—ns câ—o that he was seised of any such estate que Dower la puit the Iudges orderad that for the long continuance of the possession and dought deslais gâ—â—â— all should be entred 10. H. 6. 17. It is not a good plea against Dower â—o say the Baron had nothing but for terme of his life for this amounts to the generall 〈◊〉 Ne vnques seisi que Dower la puit But to say the Baron had nothing but 〈◊〉 ment with A. in fée and that A. suruiued c. This by â—â—â— Fée simple confessed makes a good plea. 14. H. 6. 5 6. In action of Dower the tenant said â—e was seised till by the Baron disseised vpon whom he re-entred Iudgement c. the Demandant said that before this tenant had any thing in the land W. being seised in Fée infeoffed her husband issâ—â—t seisi c. and she prâ—â—â—â— to be endowed per Martiâ— the replication is not good â—â—â— this might â—e before the Disseisin and before couerture too and if so then the Baron Ne vnques seisi que Dower la puâ—â— That yée may yet perceiue further how 〈◊〉 a point it is to take or relinquish this plea rightly marâ—â— well the case 30. H. 8. Dyer fol. 41. In a Writ of Dower the issue was Ne vnques
seised 20. Hâ—â— â— The Statute oâ— Moâ—â—on cap. 1. ordeineth concernâ—ng widdowes qâ—â— post moâ—tem vâ—â—oâ—â—â— expeâ—luntur de dotibus suis dores sâ—os vel quaâ—â—â—â—enam habere non possâ—nâ—â—iâ—e placito That whosoeuer shall dâ—force them of Dower â—r â—â—arâ—ntino in any tenemâ—nts whereof their husbands dyed seised if they bee conuiâ—ted de iniâ—â—â—o dâ—forciâ—meâ—to they shall râ—nder dammages to the widdowes so much as the Dower should haue bâ—â—ne worth to them from the time of the husbands death till the day where the widdowes recouer seisen of Dower pâ—r â—udicium Curâ—e And the Deâ—orcers shall â—eâ— in â—iseâ—icordia Regâ—s neuer awâ—it the lesse It is plaine now that the Baron dying sâ—ised if the wife be deforced sâ—e shall recouer dammages which are sometime comprised in the iudgement oâ—seisin and sometime awarded 〈◊〉 iudgemâ—nt â—â—â—â—â—uerâ—â—nt or sâ—râ—â—â—se vt sâ—pâ—â— But for all this Statute of Mâ—â—toâ— de iniusâ—â— deforciamento a widdow shall not in all cases recouer dammages by this dying seiâ—â—d for if the Tenant plead touts temps prist c. and it be confessed or found to haue béene so there iâ— now no fault in him â—â—â— Câ—â—yâ— Hill â—â— Hâ—â— 4. fol. 40. 41â— foreuery hâ—â—re hath right to all the parts of hiâ— since storâ— iâ—heritaâ—â—e â—till the widdow will â—â— indowed The case they say obiected viz. that in a Writ of Coâ—sâ—â—â—â—â— touts â—emps prist will not excuse the Tenant of dâ—â—â—ages is no thing â—like for the Oâ—cuâ—iour there hath not iust â—itlâ— c. Doctor and Student tels vs fol. 82. 8â— that though the husband dieth seised if hiâ— widdow â—oth not deâ—â—â—d Dower sâ—â— shall recouer no daâ—â—ages for it is a gâ—â—â— plea in a Writ of Dower â—â—â—â— the Tenants appeare the first day to say touts tempâ— pâ—ist a yeeldâ—â— Dower if it be deâ—â—â—ded and that plea â—â—all â—xcuse him of dâ—mmages but iâ— he had made refusâ—â—â— he shall bée chargeable as well for dammages before the request as after But in Sir Edward Cokes 4. Rep. 30. b. in Shawes Case a woman recouered Dower by plaint in a Court Baron and shee recouered dammages from the death of her husband because he died seised and it doth not appeare that there was any request and refusall I dare not say that it is Idemius whether the heire or his feoffée plead his plea though I cannot findâ— any presâ—â—ent of dammages giuen vpon it being true but often sur plea de touâ—s temps prâ—st the iudgement ended thus niâ—ilde materia quiâ— venit primo edis vide â—â— Ed. 4. fol. 7. I doe referre the Reader for his better instruction touching this matter where hee shall finde variety of store Sir Edward Cokes Comment vpon Litleton fol. â—2 b. The second Chapter of Merton giues power to all widdowes to make wils as well of Corne growing vpon their dowry lands as vpon their inheritance saluis sâ—ruâ—â—s dominorum de â—eodis quae de doâ—ibâ— aliis tenementis suis debentur Britton séemeth to be taken with a Chancâ—â—y spirit vpon â—ight of this Statute cap. 10â— fol. â—â—0 where he saith that in euery iudgement of seisâ—â— awarded of reasonable Dower there ought to be a â—oreprisâ— or exception de bleâ—â— câ—â—ssaunâ—s femes â—auches I will subioyne Bracton as an Adiutor perhaps more orthâ—doâ— Dower saith he lib. 2 cap. 40 shall â—â— assigned by the heire if he â—e of full age or by the Lord in the heires name if he be vnderage And this within forty dayes after the husbands death for otherwise occurâ—iâ— tempus sequantur damna nisi rationâ—bilis causa excuset This assignation must be made of the land as it was by the husband tilled or vntilled with the fruits growing vpon it allowing nothing to the heire or Executor for manuring husbanding or culture of it for of old time it was obserued that in what â—â—sâ— or plight a woman had receiued her Dower whether it â—â—â—â— tilled or vntilled shee must restore in like plight to the heire c. she might not make her Will of any corne groâ—ing or fruit not sâ—parated from the francktenement Sed nouâ— superueniente gratia sicut pâ—â—et de prouisionibus apud Merton A woman may now ordeine her Testament of corne or fruit growing on her dowry or seuered growing all is one If the husband alien all his lands and the Tenants need not yéeld dower to the widdow as soone as shée demandeth it if there bee iust cause of calling to warranty one or more successiuely till the heire bee vouched And all that time the Tenants are not charged with dammages or cosâ—s But when the heire entreth into warranty if he doe not presently yeeld Dower but stand out â—bstinately hee shall pay dammages as much as dower mâ—ght haue béene worth to the woman from the time of the husbands death to the day wherein shee hath iudgement and the heire shall be amercered In like manner is it if a widdow without any assignation enter into her Dower that was certainly nominated to her ad ostium Ecclesiae and which shee findeth empty at her husbands death if she be eiected or put to suit and delayes she shall recouer dammages So shall shee if shee be eiected the tenement assigned for quarentine during the forty dayes or before dower assigned after the forty dayes So likewise is it if shée haue no place at all assigned to dwell in vbi recliâ—et caput suum c. Thus Bracton and thus long wee haue béene in the Writ de dote nihil vnde habet which though it bee aptliest brought in the common place for the reason aboue declared yet it may bee sued in the County before the Sheriffe per Iusticies as saith Fitzherbert in his na bre 148. But then it séemes it must bée remoued by recordari facias if the Tenant plead ne vnque accouple c. so the booke of Entries 223 224. for in the base Court that issue cannot be tryed SECT XVIII The Writ de recto de dote THere is another Writ called the Writ of right of Dower not because the former Writ hath any â—orciousnesse in it or claimeth vpon wrong title but because this second Writ hath fewest ambages in pleading and the forme of it is vpon pure right Britton saith there are cases wherein a woman is driuen to a Writ of right of dower pleadable in Court One is where a woman hath lost seism of her dower as if shee were disseised and after long peacable seism of the desseisor shee reentred with force if the desseisor recouer against her by assise she hath no remedy but onely by Writ de recto de doâ—e counting of her owne seism Aâ—other is where a woman demands lands or tenements which were her husbands as part of her dower when shee is seised of a surplus or greater part already And the third is when shee demands something as appertenant â—â— hâ—r dower Fitzherbeâ—â— séemes not to allow Bractonâ— relation of vnde nihil
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
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 husbands Ancestors that they should doe nothing preiudiciall to the heires But in this case there came no Ioynture from the husband but contrariwise the wife had made a Ioynture to her husband and after his decease to bridle the woman to doe what shée listed with her owne inheritance were against all reason and as farre from any affinitie with 11. H. 7. as it should be when a woman seised in Fée simple giues lands to the father of him whom she intends to marrie to the intent that he regrant this land to his sonne and her after marriage with a remainder in taile c. to restraine her when after marriage regranting and death of the husband she should leuie a fine to other vses or suffer a recouerie which case though it be cleane out of the Statute yet it is within the words for the â—oynture was made by the Barons Ancestor though not originally c. And so note those two cases of Plowd one is taken to be within the intent though out of the letter and the other though within the letter yet out of the intent and yet both constructions most reasonable and iust And see Sir George Brownes case Sir Edw. Cokes â— Râ—p that a lease made by a woinaâ— tâ—nant in taâ—le of the gift of her husband c. make a lease for thrée liâ—sâ— that is not warranted by the Statute of 32. H. 8 and although the lease be without clause of Warrantie yet it is within the Statute of 11. H. 7. for those words in the act with warrantie refer to releases and confirmations which makes no discontinuance without warrantie for the inteâ—t of the Act is to proâ—ibit not onely euerie barre but â—ueriâ— manner of discontinuance which puts the heire to his reall action And in that case it was resolued that if the issue in taile had before the womans for feiture granted his remainder onely in that case hee by the exâ—resse letter of the Act shall enter vpon the discontinuance of the woman for his act doth not biâ—de his estate But when the issue in taile leuie a fine with praclamation in the life of the woman tenant in taile c. that shall binde the taile and therefore there the Conusée shall enter for hée which hath the immediate title interest or inheritance at the time of the for feiture shall enter by that Statute And it was said by Anderson Chiefe Iustice of the Common Pleas that where it was inâ—ented for to makâ— euaâ—â—â—ne out of the Statute that if such a woman tenant in taile accepts a fine sur conusans de droit come câ—o c. and by grant and renders the land for a thâ—usand yeares that is an alienâ—tion within the intention of the Act although the words of the Act are discontinuance aliâ—nation c. and of that opinion was Wâ—ay Chiefe Iustice and Dyer and all the Court of Commoâ— Pleas was of the same opinion 18. Eliz. And in Sir Edw. â—okes 3. Rep. Lincolne College case It was resolued that if the heire in taile conuey the lands to others and the woman tenant in taile release or maks conâ—â—râ—nation with waâ—rantie which is not but to perfect and corroborate the estate which the heire in taile hath made such a warrantie is not restrained by the said Act for that which the woman hath done is for the benefit of the heire and not for his preiudice and by his aâ—â—ent And she and the heirâ—â—â—ight haue iâ—yned a fine and so barre the estate taile not with standing the Statute of 11. H. 7. therefore such Acts by the woman shall not be void to grant the hâ—ire or any else any aduantage by the Statute of 11. H. 7. And note the opinion of Sir Edw. Coke in the said case of Lincolne College that the sonne borne after shall by this Statute out the daughter who entred for forfeiture and â—â—ewâ—â— other opinions concurring yâ—â— in Dyer 21. Eliz. 362. the heire in such a case is said to be in by purchass And note Reader that it hath â—â—â—ne adiudged that although the Déed of conueyance and assurance of the womans Ioynture or estate dâ—therpresse her marriage portion as well as her marriage to â—e the cause and consideration of such Ioynâ—urâ— or â—statâ— yet if the estate prâ—â—éds from the husband or his Ancestors she is within the said â—tatute of 11. H. 7. and sâ—e Villers and Beauâ—â—â—ritâ— case 4. Mar. 146. But â—â—â—uâ—râ— if the portion money appeare to be the full price of the land if that differ not the case Sée Sir Edw. Cokes Comment vpon Littleton 365. These â—ases put a man seised in Fee leuie a fine to the vse of himselfe for life and after to the vse of his wife and of the heires males of her body by him begotten and had issue male and after he and his wife leuied a fine and suffered a common recouerie the husband and the wife died and the issue male entred by the Statute of 11. H. 7. and the entrie was â—olden lawfull and yet this caâ—e is out of the letter of the Statute for she neither leuied the fine c. being sale or with any other saue her husband who made the Ioâ—â—ture Sed qui â—aeret iâ— littera â—aeret in cortice and therefore this case being within the 〈◊〉 of the Statute is within the remedy But 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that this case was deâ—yed for Law by the Râ—â—â—rder oâ— London in his argument in the case hereunder 〈◊〉 betweene Copland and Pyat Another case in Sir 〈◊〉 Cokes Commentaries vpon Littleton which agrée with Eiston and Studs case in Plowd is A man seised of land â—ure vâ—oris and they two leuie a fine and the 〈◊〉 grant and render the land to the hâ—sband and wife in speciall taile the remainder to the right heires of the wiâ—â— they haue issue the husband dieth the wife taketh another husband and they two leuie a â—â—ne in Fée the issue entreth this is within the letter of the Statute and yet is out of the meaning because the state of the land 〈◊〉 from the wife so as it was the purchase of the husband in letter and not in meaning But where the woman in â—â—nant for life by the gift or conueyance of any other â—â—â— alienation with Warrantie shall binde the heire at this day The case of Copland and Pyaâ— adiudged Hillar 7. Car. in Banâ—â— Regis in effect was thus I. S. his sonne was to marrie to the daughter â—â— I. N. And the Deed 〈◊〉 that I. N. for thâ— consideration of foure hundred 〈◊〉 paid by I. S. and of a marriage c and for the 〈◊〉 of the bloâ—â— of I. N. coâ—enants to stand seised to the vse of the sonne â—â— I. S. and his daughter whom the 〈◊〉 of I. S. should marrie â—â—taile the remainder to another 〈◊〉 of I. N. thâ— remainder to the hâ—ires of I. N. 〈◊〉 dieth hauing issue and the wife alieneth by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was resolued that it was not within
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
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
45. Edw. 3. is contra But severall tenancy or non-tenure is no plea in a Nuper obiit for the priuity of blood But a sister may claime by purchase and disclaime in the blood and this is a good plea. If one coparcener die leauing issue a sonne which sonne infeoffeth a woman in all the land c. then marrieth her now cannot the other percener haue a Nuper obiit against the baron feme But she may haue a mordancestor in her owne name and in the name of the seisure which the father had the day of his death for that amounteth to a dying seised see Novel nat br 197. c. SECT XVII Of the writ of right de rationabili parte THere is also another Writ called a writ de recto de rationabili parte that neuer lieth but betwixt priuies in bléed as betwixt brothers in gavell kinde or betwixt sisters nephewes nieces c. It is also for lands in fée simple as where the ancestor leaseth land for tearme of life and dieth having two daughters and after the death of tenant for life one of the daughters entreth into the whole inheritance and deforceth her sister the deforced may haue this Writ it is maintenable by two or thrée sisters against the fourth or by an aunt or niece against a sister that deforceth and this writ lieth as wel where the ancestor dyed seised as where he died not seised It is in nature a writ of droit patent must be directed to the Lord of whom the land is holden from before whoÌ„ it is remoueable by a Tolt as the Haught writ is where the ancestor dieth seised and one coheire deforceth another whether it be in gauell kinde or amongst partners at the common law the deforced hath election of this writ or of the nuper obiit But when he died not seised and a coparcener afterward deforceth the Nuper obiit lieth not The forme of this writ is Precipimuâ— to the Lord ut sine dilatione plenum rectum teneas A. de decem acris cum pertinentiiâ— quas clamat esse rationabilem parteÌ„ de libero tenemento quod fuit I. patris vel c. tenere per liberum servititum tertiae partis c. for it must be séene what rent and seruice the whole land yéeldeth to the Lord according there to shall the plaintiffe be rated in his or her writ If after the death of their ancestor two coparceners enter and the one doe then deforce the other of something appendant or appertenent to that which is holden in coparcenery she may haue a writ de rationabili parâ—e of this appendant or appertenent which shall say quod clamat tenere ad liberum tenementum If a man dying seised of lands intailed haue two daughters whereof the one entereth and deforceth the other the remedy is by formedon and neither by Nuper obiit or Rationabili parte If a sister aunt niece or cousin claime from her ancestor by feofment in fée one which should haue bin coparcener had the feofment not bin deforceth her she may haue a writ of Droit patent and joine the mise by battaile or graund assise come semble saith Fitzherbert because shée claimeth not as heire But where there is no impediment intaile feoffement or such thing all the partners deforced bring a rationabili parte against all the copartners terre-tenants for so it must bée and the heire of an heire may sue for part of the seisin of the coÌ„mon ancestor there battail or grand assise voucher or view lie not neither is noÌ„tenure any plea for the writ lieth only betwéen privies in blood finally the demand in this writ must bée of a portion certaine as of x. acres if xx discend to two sisters and the demandant if she recouer shall haue iudgement of so many to hold in seueralty SECT XVIII Of Partition NOw of Partition it may be made in diuers maners as first for example by agréement amongst two copartners or more which accord to diuide the inheritance into certaine parts of equall valew to bee holden in severalty and alwaies the part which the elder hath is called Ini ia pars though in this kinde of partition there bee no prerogatiue of primer election giuen to the eldest Another manner of partition is where they cause certaine friends to make the parts or diuision here the eldest shall first chuse then the next eldest and so succéedingly If by their whole agréement the eldest make the diuision it is said saith M. Littleton that she shall last make election which is as much to say say I as she shall haue none election at all Littleton hath another maner of alotment wherein after partition made of the lands euery part being written in a seroule and lapped vp in a bale of wax is put into a bonnet which must be holden by some indifferent body and then as wee use to choose Valintines euery partner pulleth out a part the first borne first the rest after her in degrée of ancientry and euery one shal hold her to her chance Also partition may be made in Chancery as when one copartner of full age and another remaineth in ward to the King c. in such case if she which resteth in ward at full age haue not her full part she may sue a writ of partition or Scire facias vpon the record returnable in Chancery to shew why a new partition shall not be made and partition may be of a reversion or of an aduowson Of a reuersion thus that A. shall haue reuersion of such such lands B. the reuersion of such other laÌ„ds of an aduowson that A. shall haue euery 2. 3. or 4. auoidance c. this is good without deed where partition is made of a mannor without mention of the aduowson it remaineth in common sée that case of aduowson and partition of aduowson 2. Hen. 7. 5. a. Partition by agréement of parceners is good in law aswell by paroll as by writing and if vnto two copartners there doe descend two houses whereof the one is worth xx s. and the other x. s. annually the best house may bee allotted to one copartner and she and her heires to pay to the other and her heires for owelty or equalities sake v. s. rent issuing out of her house and all this is good without writing so that the partner that shall haue this rent and her heires may distraine for the same when it shal be arere of common right in whose hands soeuer the house charged shall come and this shall be a rent charge of Common right had and receiued for equality of partition Fitzherb fol. 252. Plow 134. Partition of lands that one partner and her heires shall haue and hold them from Easter to the gule of August alone and by her selfe and the other and her heyres from August till Easter in the like manner was awarded a good partition in the time of Ed. 2.
so that one hath the carue gotten by disseisin the infant entereth vpon her possession c. she may enter into the other carue and hold in parcenarie with her Sister But if shee had aliened her part in fee before the entrie of the infant this had beene a full dismission of her selfe out of Copartnership which she could not haue recontinued by entrie as she might perhaps had she made onely a lease for yeares generally if after partition one part be euicted from her which hath it by loyall entrie she may enter into the other lands and occupie with the other Coparceners compelling them to a new diuision all this saith Littleton SECT XXI How Partition shall bee auoided when it is by Iudgement MUch of that which Littl. hath taught for the auoyding of partition as I collect must bee vnderstood of partition in pais and by agréement for when it is made by Iudgement in a Writ of rationabile parte nuper obijt or assise to hold in seueralty or by liuery in the Chancery or else by Writt de partitione in which cases there is commission or authority deriued from the Prince to extend and to make partes by the Oath of 12. men c. there is now no reason that a matter of this substance circumstance and solemnity should be all layd on the ground by a bare entrie yet that silly poore women altogether ignorant of the law might not feare that that Partition which is made by the Law that by law there were no meanes to reuerse it but that still it must stand impugnable whatsoeuer iniquitie or inequality it had Old Breton saith in the end of his 17. Chapter Si ascum â—ercener soit que se tient nient paie de cel partison si ferres nous vener le process le record deuant nostre iustices de banke c. illonques soient les errors redresse c. He concludeth somewhat like Bracton Et apres le Assignement des purparties fuit per sort ou per election foit le seisin per iudgement de nostre court But to the matter There is occurring in many of the yeare bookes remedies against partitions as if iudgement be giuen in a nuper obijt of purpartie and seisin granted to hold seuerally yet the partition may be anoyded by error in the first iudgement If partition bee made in Chancerie and a lesse value then is due alotted to a puisne Sister which remaineth still in ward she may haue remedy by scire facias when shee commeth to full age So whether partition be of it selfe altogether vniust or in part inequall through malice ignorance or negligence of the Sheriffe or extenders there is remedie alwayes so the parties be not hurtfull to themselues And although partners of estate in fée being all of full age making purpart by agréement bind conclude themselues and their heyres for euer yet when partition is compulsatorie and the parts are deliuered by the Sheriffe who with his extenders maketh diuision which may be without the presence of the heyres I sée no great reason here why acceptance should be a barre in the issue perpetuall or to the parceners for terme of life yet Littletons bien for garde is good counsell vide Dyer 33. H. 8. 52. SECT XXII Of the coherence betweene Partners after diuision BUt admit now that partition is so made that there remaineth neither cause nor intention to vndoe it yet the partners are in a kinde of confederacie and combination amongst themselues by the very Law and custome of this Realme Et louâ— droit est cy connex nul de eux ne doit respondre sans le autre pur le contribution Etsi ascun se face ceo ne serroit in preiudiâ—â— des auters partners Britton cap. 73. so that if any of them will sue for any inheritance that was their Common Ancestors the suit must be in all their names still and if any of them be sued for any such Land or inheritance she may pray ayde of the other coheires which may come with her to pleade a feoffment fine or release or deraigne warrantie and if in this sort she lose some or all her part she shall recouer that which her partners hold her equall portion But if a parcener put her selfe in defence and will not pray ayde of her fellowes which may strengthen and assist her she shall then recouer nothing against her coheyres though she lose all her purpart and liuelihood They continue therefore still in a sort one heyre tyed together like bundles of rods for their mutuall strength and by Bracton and Britton if one of them die without issue after partition her part shall goe to the rest per ius accrescendi But is crossed by Littleton aboue which telleth you that their title shall be in this case by discent though the dying be before partition therefore if partition be betwixt two Sisters of the halfe bloud and one of them dyeth without issue hauing an vncle of the whole blood to the Father that Vncle by Bractons partition shall haue her Inheritance c. SECT XXIII By what manner of acquisition the ouer-liuer taketh the part of a Co-heire when she dyeth FOr your better instruction in this point marke this Case a man hath issue thrée daughters by one venter and one daughter by another venter and dyeth soised c. they all enter and two of the daughters by the first venter die the third daughter by the same venter shall be heyre alone to their two parts and the fourth daughter of the halfe blood getteth therein nothing 10. Assi p. 27. yet 4. Assi p. 10. if a man die seised hauing issue two daughters by diuers venters both vnder age and a stranger abateth and one of these daughters in their infancie releaseth all her right and dyeth without issue the other may haue a mortdancestor and recouer the whole Inheritance as heire to her Father though she can by no meanes be heyre to her Sister But if she which released had beene of full age when shée released she had giuen away her moitie And if shée had entered at full age or vnder age nothing had accrewed to her Sister But not entring the mortdancestor to which they were both intituled goeth for all to the suruiuor And this I thinke to be a good case making nothing on Bractons side and not plaine any thing on Littletons SECT XXIIII Of Contribution THat which Britton toucheth aboue of Contribution I vnderstand to be in case where one partner prayeth ayde of another the sequell whereof I haue shortly told you There is another Contribution by Statute Marlebridge c. 9. which willeth Sâ— haereditas alâ—qua de qua vnica tantum secta debeatur ad plures parâ—icipes eiusdem haeredit devoluatur ille qui habet eineciam partem vnicam sacier sectam participes pro portione sua contribuant The writ for this Contribution when the young copartners will not performe the
villenage 35. And if a woman Heyre haue issue by her husband commit felonie and be attainted it hath béen mostly holden that the husband shall be Tenant by the Courtesie notwithstanding and that after Issue had the Lord may auow for homage vpon the husband without the wife 21. Ed. 3. 49. By Parkins 91. 475. Likewise if the Wiues Inheritance be recouered against Baron and feme by false oath or erronious Processe and execution is had and sued of this recouerie if they haue Issue afterwards and then the wife dieth the Baron now reducing the Land by attaint or error shall hold per le Courtesie SECT LII What if the Childe die IF a man haue Issue by his wife that is here in possession the death of the Issue is no losse of Courtesie and by Parkins if a Daughter and Heyre apparant take a Husband haue Issue by him and the Issue dieth if now the Father die and the Baron and feme enter he may be Tenant by the Courtesie without hauing other Issue Brooke makes it questionable Also by Brooke if a man die his wife being priuement enseient a Daughter entreth as heyre taketh a Husband and hath Issue if a Sonne post-humus enter vpon the Baron and feme and the Issue of the Daughter dieth and the posthumus dieth without Issue the Baron cléerely shall not be Tenant by the Courtesie vnlesse hee re-enter in his wiues time and he doubteth though the Baron enter sans other Issue bility his wife may beare him may by possibilitie be heyre of that estate Si le possession le Baron ne soit loyalment anient As addeth Parkins the Wife shall be endowed SECT LVI The Husband must be seised DOwer is of the possession of a Husband the ground of it therefore is Marriage a Concubine then shall haue no Dower no more shall shee which is but onely contracted and it was holden by some 10. H. 3. that she which was married in a Parlor or Chamber should haue no Dower but it is now taken otherwise Also where Marriage is cleerely voyde and vnlawfull there groweth no title of Dower But if a woman first contracted to E. I. intermarry afterwards with T. K. this Marriage is voydable but not cléerely voyde and if it be not frustrated otherwise then by death of T. K. the Wife shall haue Dower of his Land Here yee may perceiue that which destroyeth an absolute true Marriage destroyeth Dower also for though by Bracton there may be by speciall Constitution a Dower appointed that shall stand good against the tempest of diuers assaults yet by ground of the Common Law Matrimonium est fulcimentum doâ—is And Bracton saith in his second booke and 39. Chapter Vbi nullum omnino Matrimonium ibi nulla dost igitur vbi Matrimonium ibi dos quod verum est si Matrimonium in facie ecclesiae contrahatur SECT LVII Matrimony may be and yet no Dower THough Matrimony doe alwayes precede Dower yet doth not Dower alwayes follow Matrimony for first where the husband had no Land the Wife can haue no Dower by the Common Law Bracton and Breton which giue a woman Dower in a certaine somme of money or in other Chattels speake rather as Ciuill Lawyers then méere English Also Dower is not granted vnlesse the Husband is aboue 7. yeers old and the wife aboue nine 13. Ed. 1. Fitzherbert Feme perdera Dower si son Baron morust deuant 9. ans d'age Dyer 14. Eliz. fo 313. Also if a man marry his bond-woman in grosse and die she shall not recouer Dower against the Heyre for shee is his bond-woman but against the Feoffée of her husband she shall recouer Dower vnlesse she be regardant to the Mannor whereof the Feoffement was made SECT LVIII What Seisin is requisite in a Husband WHere the Huband hath neither possession in fact nor possession in Law during the Couerture nor any thing saue onely a right or title the wife shall not haue Dower as also if the Baron suffer a Disseisin an abatement a Condition broken an alienation in Mortmaine or cesser of his rent or seruices by two yeares space c. and then he take a wife dieth before reduction of his Land or if iudgement be giuen for him in a plea of Lands and hee marryeth afterward and die before entry or suing of execution the wife shall not haue Dower of these Lands So is it if I. S. exchange Lands with T. K. and I. S. entreth but T. K. taketh a wife and dieth before entrie his wife shall not haue Dower in any of the Lands exchanged but where a husband is once actually seised the wife shall bee endowed notwithstanding any disseisin afterward done to him or feoffement made by him either absolute or conditionall And if before or after Marriage celebrated and not dissolued a possession in Law be cast vpon a Husband by descent escheate or fall of some remainder the wife shall be endowed though the Baron die before entrie as if the Kings Tenant die seised and his Heyre being married dieth before office or entrie the wife of the heyre is dowable so if rent desâ—end to a husband which dyeth before day of payment c. for there is not requisite in the husband such a seisâ—n as whereof an assise lyeth but if a precipe quod reddat might lie against him it sufficeth 4. He. 7. fo 1. Brooke 66. in Dower A husband may haue possession in law by descent of a villaine in gros or possession in law of a rent charge by excepting the déede of grant and hereof the wife shall be endowed although the Baron doe afterwards refuse receit and seisin of the rent But iudgement in a Writ of annuity for the Baron taketh away Dower of a rent charge from the wife and a woman may haue Dower of an estate that was suspended as if the Lord married with his Tenant now is the Seignorie suspended but if he die the wife shall haue Dower a third part of the rent per retâ—igneâ— for the Seigniorie though it slept yet there was still a possession in Law of it in the husband Here it must not be forgotten that it â—éemeth doubtfull whether an abatement of a stranger which is a possession in fact destroyeâ—h a Possession in Law it appeares by Park â—o 72. sect 371. 372 4. H. 7. 1. per meux that it doth not But 21. Ed. 4. â—o 60. which is accorded for good Law 4. H. 7. fo 1. where in a Writt of Dower the Tenant pleadeth ne vnques seisie in dower c. the demandament sheweth that Lands descended to her husband she being then his wife and that he dyed before entry made either by him or by other person issuit est donable per le lâ—y and shee was inforced by the Court to plead that none entred for if a stranger had entred she had not béene dowable And if she had pleaded 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 que Dowâ—e la Poet this had wayned the speciall
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
the acres to be of equall value it must needs bee against law also for one acre of three equally vallued or of euery acre one third part is a iust Dower But if the acre vnsold were inferior in value there is both conscience and law for the woman to claime Dower of the two acres or of the rent for a woman must be endowed of the best possession and not according to the number of acres but according to the value of the Inheritance whilst it was the Husbands Therefore if I make a feoffement of my lands and dye and the feoffée builds a house vpon it or otherwise improoues it my wife shall be endowed no otherwise then according to the value of my possession yet if a disseisor or a feoffée sur condition doe edifie the disseisie or feoffor re-entring shall haue the building If being married I make a feoffement and the feoffee ruinateth a house which was vpon the Lands before the feoffement and that was worth foure or fiue pound annually my wife shall be endowed according to the value that the land was of at time of my death because a woman hath no right to possession of Dower before the death of her husband But Parkins dares not let this Case goe without a quaere SECT LXIX Of Dower at the Church doore THe old kind of endowment at the Church Doore commeth now a dayes seldome in vse But for all that I would haue women better learned then to be ignorant of it it is when a man seised in fee-simple being of full age comming to the Church doore to be married doth there affirme affiance and endowe his spouse of all his lands or of part as of halfe or a lesse quantity openly and with certainty the woman thus endowed may enter into her Dower after the husbands death without assignement and this Dower may be at the Church doore in one County of Lands in another County and without déed Parkins sect 217. Vide Plowd in Sharington ca. fo 304. b. it is good without liuery of seisin Et per Shelly 28. H. 8 Dyer fo it may be done within view and the puisne sonne of Land in borow English may not make such a Dower Also a sonne and heyre apparant when he is espoused by consent of his father may endow his wife at the Church doore in part of such lands and tenements as are the Fathers in fee-simple and the sonnes wife after his death the father liuing may enter presently without further assignement into the parcels thus certainly appointed But if shee enter after her husbands death and agrée to any of these endowments ad ostium ecclesiae she is concluded from claiming any other Dower Thus farre Littleton By Bracton none can endowe his wife in this manner vnlesse hee bee Liber homo for in his time if I bee not much deceiued the greatest number of bond-men held in manurance Lands of their Lords which they occupied to the Lords vse and profit in pure villeinage These hauing none other lands could not endow c. Also by Bracton Quis posset dotem constituere sciendum quod tam minor quam maior masculus Cui vxori tam Church doore to be married deliuer the Deed to her shewing her the lands saying his will is she haue them according to the déede if the Baron neuer claime otherwise then in right of his wife that is a good feoftement But he may endow her of his owne lands ad ostium Ecclesiae without déede though the Land be in a forraigne Countie marry when the Dower is of the fathers Land ex assensu there must bee a deed for assent lieth not in auerment 40. Ed. 3. 43. yet this is contrary to Bracton and in old Bookes the consent hath beene tried by proofes Dowment may be good ex consensu matris but as they say now not ex consensu fratris sororis vel consanguinei The assent ought to be at the Church or Church doore yet 2. H. 3. the sonne married against the will of his parents and eight weekes after indowed his wife of his fathers lands ex assensu patris per curiam it was holden good Fitzherbert 199. Of the head of a Baronie or the Capitall Messuage of a Knights fée Dowmente ad ostium c. is not good but it may be of a moity of all such Lands as the Baron shall hereafter purchace in fee or of all such Lands as the Barons mother holdeth in Dower But if the Father lease his Lands for life and the Sonne and Heyre apparant endow his wife ex assensu c. of the reuersion now if the Lessée die the Lessor enter and the sonne die the wife shall not haue Dower because she was not Dowable of the reuersion at the Common Law though it had beene in her husband during couerture so is it if the Father were seised for life or iointly with another in fee But if the father had beene Tenant in taile the endowment by consent had beene good during his life though no conclusion after his death to his Issue or his wife claiming Dower euen as by Election if tenant in taile being himselfe in actuall seisin endow his wife ad ostium Ecclesiae die if his wife enter the Issue may out her and so may hee in the reuersion if issue faile If the Father at time of endowment ex assensu bee seised none otherwise then in his wiues right Yet Parkins argueth hee shall bee bound during his life quaere I haue held young Maides now indeed somewhat long in the old endowments and I would proceed to instruct them in the dower of the new learning iointures I meane for my desire is that they should be able to haue when they are Widdowes a coach or at the least an ambler and some money in their purses But they are of the minde for themselues I perceiue that Themistocles was in for his daughter He desired a man rather without money then money without a man here is a wise adoe yee say I tell you of Dower of the Widdowes estate and God knowes whether ye shall euer haue the grace to be widdowes or no yee would know what belongeth to wiues on then in a good way I haue brought you to the Church doore if ye be not shortly well married I pray God I may FINIS with her Husbands protection and supereminency Now the Law that giueth Dower to her that is able to deserue it and enableth at so greene yeares knoweth well enough that women are at their Husbands commandement If Titus being dead haue left his wife her maidenhead immunis a culpa a poena immunis erit This I might dilate as in probabilitie or likelinesse of reason at Common Law but it seemeth the matter resteth otherwise determinable For in action of Dower the Tenant shall not plead nunquam carnaliter cognouit nor the demandant be driuen to auerre a knowledge c. But the case may perchance bee drawne to
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
in fee-simple or fee-taile Sée the Booke 22. H. 6. fo 18. 19. But may the Lord enter vpon the Land during Couerture quaere If a villeine be possessed of certaine goods and the Lord make seisure of them by poll this is sufficient without seisen in fait But if the villeine die before any seisin and ordaine Executors these Executors shall haue his goods 3. H 4. 15. 16. And a Villeine shall retaine goods which hee hath as Executor against his Lord yea hee may bring Action of debt against him as an Executor all to the vâ—â— of the Testator Also if a Feme gardian in soccage marrie with a villeine I take it the Lord shall haue nothing to doe in this gardianship If a Seignioresse of a Mannor marry her bond-man he is made free and where before hee was her footstoole he is now her head and her Seignior here is part of the particularitie SECT VII The Baron may beate his Wife THe rest followeth Iustice Brooke 12. H. 8. fo 4. affirmeth plainly that if a man beat an out-law a traitor a Pagan his villein or his wife it is dispunishable because by the Law Common these persons can haue no action God send Gentle-women better sport or better companie But it seemeth to be very true that there is some kind of castigation which Law permits a Husband to vse for if a woman be threatned by her husband to bee beaten mischieued or slaine Fitzherbert sets downe a Writ which she may sue out of Chancery to compell him to finde surety of honest behauiour toward her and that he shall neither doe nor procure to be done to her marke I pray you any bodily damage otherwise then appertaines to the office of a Husband for lawfull and reasonable correcâ—ion See for this the new Nat. bre fo 80. f. fo 238. f. How farre that extendeth I cannot tell but herein the sere feminine is at no very great disaduantage for first for the lawfulnesse If it be in none other regard lawfull to beat a mans wife then because the poore wench can sue no other action for it I pray why may not the Wife beat the Husband againe what action can he haue if she doe where two tenants in Common be on a horse and one of them will trauell and vse this horse hee may keepe it from his Companion a yeare two or three and so be euen with him so the actionlesse woman beaten by her Husband hath retaliation left to beate him againe if she dare If he come to the Chancery or Iustices in the Country of the peace against her because her recognizance alone will hardly bee taken he were best be bound for her and then if he be beaten the second time let him know the price of it on Gods name SECT VIII That which the Husband hath is his owne BUt the prerogatiue of the Husband is best discerned in his dominion ouer all externe things in which the wife by combination deuesteth her selfe of proprietie in some sort and casteth it vpon her gouernour for here practice euery where agrees with the Theoricke of Law and forcing necessity submits women to the affection thereof whatsoeuer the Husband had before Couerture either in goods or lands it is absolutely his owne the wife hath therein no seisin at all If any thing when hee is married bee giuen him hee taketh it by himselfe distinctly to himselfe If a man haue right and title to enter into Lands and the Tenant enfeoffe the Baron and Feme the wife taketh nothing Dyer fol. 10. The very goods which a man giueth to his wife are still his owne her Chaine her Bracelets her Apparell are all the Good-mans goods If a Woman taketh more Apparell when her husband dyeth then is necessarily for her degree it makes her Executrix de son tort demesne 33. H. 6. A wife how gallant soeuer she be glistereth but in the riches of her husband Executors if such chattels bee giuen to the wife and to a stranger the husband alone is tenant in Common of them with the stranger Secondly the Court did hold cleerely that in Brackbridges Case and such like the immediate inheritance in the Baron did not drowne the interest of the Feme for the one he had in his owne right and the other in his wiues But by an expresse act as by feoffement or grant of a new lease he might haue giuen away the interest of his wife But leauing all to Law the Law shall saue that interest distinct and preserue it And it was holden in this Case that Baron feme might not ioyne in an eiectione firmae with Anticle but he alone might bring his action and the Baron chased to more higher and more reall Writt Also it was holden the Baron might distraine or haue action of debt for a moity of the rent and as I comprehend the end of Brackbridges case a feoffement by Thomas Brackbridge made of the Mannor whereof the Land seised was parcell and might well drowne all interest Executory which his wife had but not a Lease executed except liuery had beene made in the very Lands seised for a Lease in possession of thrée acres maketh them to bee no parcell of a Mannor during the Lease but a rent charge or a lease executory which is but an interest leaueth the possession entire and no reuersion in the Baron there is further in the Commentaries the Case of Dame Hales viz. Sir Iames Hales Lessée for yeares in his owne right taking a new Lease for twelue yeares ouer in remainder to himselfe and his Wife died felo de se the wholâ— interest was iudged forfeitâ— for the felonye had relation from the act done id est from entrance into the water c. At which time the Baron had power to grant and consequently to forfeit it If the Wife haue a ward by reason of her Seigniory this likewise is a Chattell reall and the Husbands interest in it shall be as in a terme or lease for yeers But if the wife be gardian in socage no lease of the infants land though it be made by Baron and feme per Indenture shall binde the wife but she may enter after the husbands death and if she die the husband shall not haue the Gardianship For in this Case the wife hath nothing to her owne vse but she is an officer appointed vpon confidence in her naturall loue and this office is not grantable nor forfeitable vide nat bre 145. I haue hitherto but shewed what is wrought as it were ipso facto vpon marriages consummation while it is gréene not past a day or a wéeke old and I thought it methodicall to insert the learning of battery because in my poore opinion it were better to combat for houshold mastry in the beginning then to bring a Writt of right for it when it hath gone too long by title of rusty prescription SECT XI Of the Wiues interest of affaires before Marriage
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
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
another mans Seignory may Lease away their estate for a proud fine and a little rent Nay yée may be sure that if they might set the example they should be gotten to make Leases for esperuiers annuall and small yearely income in hope that my young Master at his full age should be content with the old rent and a kennell of 〈…〉 ds King Henries and the Parliaments meaning was not therefore that their Leases should be any patternes for reseruation of rent by Tenant in Taile or as I suppose in the right of his Wife If Baron and Feme make a Lease by Indenture for twenty yeares to commence at Michaelmas it might séeme doubtfull by the booke 7. 8. Eliz. Dyer 246. whether it be a good Lease by this Statute If Baron and Feme by their Indenture make a Lease to commence after the Wiues death I thinke this no good Lease according to the Statute for twenty one years ought to be from the making of the Lease c. If the Baron and Feme die the Heyre is not bound to accept the rent or allow the Lease And though he doe accept it if the Land were tailed he may enter notwithstanding vide 10. Eliz. Dyer 279. If Baron and Feme make a Lease by Indenture c. for 31. yeares quaere the Baron dying whether this be a good Lease for 21. yeares or no I thinke it is not but standeth méerely at Common Law For the first Prouiso of this act is that it shall not haue respect or extend to Leases made for aboue 21. yeares When King Henry the eight in 31. of his Reigne by Parliament had made voyd all Leases to bee made of Lands which should afterward come to him if any Leases former were in esse or being with prouiso viz if he which had an old vnexpired lease tooke a new that he should hold for 21. yeares from making of the new Lease so that it excéeded not twenty one yeares it was admitted in Falmestones Case that such a Lease made for fifty yeares was good for 21. Plo. 110. And when Thomas Vmpton after 32. Henry the 8. ca. 1. which gaue power to Tenant per Chiualrie to deuise two parts of his land had deuised a whole mannor in fée before 34. Ed. 3. 5. Hen. 8. of explanation which will by the said Statute of explanation was referred to the Law the deuice was adiudged good for two parts contra Kelwais opinion as you may sée 4. 5. Phil. Mar. Dyer 150. But these cases differ farre from the former as yee may finde by the comparing the Statutes If after a Demise by Baron and Feme for twenty shillings of vsuall rent the husband release all his right except twelue pence c. or grant that the Lessée shall hold dispunishable for waste the Wife accepting twelue-pence post mortem viri may distraine for the rest notwithstanding and haue an action of waste Dyer 304. Note before this Statute was made the Count Bridge water being tenant in taile the remainder to Basset in taile he bound himselfe in recognizance to the said Basset to make no alienation grant sale conueyance or exchange otherwise then for his owne life it was a question after the statute whereunto Basset and all men were parties whether the Earle might now make a lease for xxi yeares without forfeiture of his Recognizance resolved by Bromely Portman and Harris serjeants that he could not but if hee did make such a lease they thought that neither hee in remainder or the donour should euer auoid it by any dying sans issue 33 H. 8. f. 49. in Dyer who concludeth and so shall the statute be expounded for so was the intent a meaning of the makers yet the text hath no word of donours or of them in remainder I heare that law is taken now to bee cleane contrary in the last point viz that remainders and reuersions are freed from this act and I beleeue it the rather because 34. H 8. ca. 20. that frustrateth fained recoueries against tenant in tayle where the King is in reuersion or remainder in the prouision for strength of leases made according to the Statute is only against the Heyre or heyres of tenant in taile c. The last part of the Statute SECT XXVI THe Last part of the Statute is negatiue against 〈◊〉 continuance which how farre it preuailed before or after the act the former instructions with the act it selfe doe put in some cleerenesse But a case or two will make it more plaine Amy Townsend seised of a Mannor in tayle take a husband the husband made a feoffement 29. of H. 8. to diuers persons in fée to the vse of himselfe and his wife for life of them two with remainders of vse ouer After this Statute made Amy and her husband made a Lease for 21. yeares of part of this Manuor according to this act of 32. H 8 Amy died first then her husband died the question is whether Amy were remitted to her former estate taile by vertue of 27. H. 8. ca. 10. and so the Lease good 〈◊〉 was argued on the one part that reduction of the possession by the statute 27. c. was of effect alone with their feoffement and because this possession was regained without either tort or folly in the wife whose agréement whether she would or no was included in her husbands agreement during Couerture she must néeds when Couerture was dissolued till disclaimer or some act done to the contrarie be â—diudged in possession there was then no tenant against whom to bring her cui in vita if she should not bring her cui in vita to purge the first wrong she must needs be remitted if she were remitted this cause must néeds be good And although the Statute of 27. settle possessions according to qualitie and quantitie of the vse yet it séemeth not that so it shall continue but they may change by a former ancient right for the Act being affirmatiue takes not the Common Lawes operation in remitters besides that it hath an expresse sauing of eygne right further if that the wife should not be remitted this inconuenience followeth the Baron might charge the Wiues inheritance with a rent to the whole yearly value or be bound in a Statute merchant c. and then making a feoffement to his wiues vse shee should hold the land charged after his death To this it was answered on the other part that the feoffement at the time therof made a discontinuance which puts Amy to her cui in vita which because she hath not vsed but is come to possession onely by force of 27. c. she must take it onely by the manner order and limitation of the same Statute Couerture or infancie being no whit materiall because the Statute hath none exception The words are in manner forme qualitie and condition of the vse c. and because this was a new Constitution of that which was not at the Common Law it
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
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
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
this Warrantor be vnder age yet the Law fauoureth widdowes so much that the plaint shal not attend his full age Therefore if the Tenant shew forth any Charter Déed or speciall cause whereby the Court may perceiue that the Infant is bound to Warrantie by the Ancestors act he shall answer presently what age soeuer he be of And though the Infant in ward be aliened by his Gardian or Gardians from hand to hand this shall not preiudice the Voucher for alwayes he shall vouch to warrantie the Heire and not the Gardian who is bound to present his ward so vouched in Court without difference whether it be one or many parceners Thus saith Britton and 48. Ed. 3. fol. 5. agreeth that he which voucheth an heire vnder age must vouch him in ward de vntiel If he be a ward it is said there also that hee which voucheth an heire at full age must shew a Déed quaere But when the lands are in the Gardians owne possession to his owne profit and vse the writ of Dower must â—ée brought against the Gardian and not against the Infant 46. Ed. 3. fol. 19. Where Mowbray saith where an Infant is vouched in ward of the King the woman shall recouer Dower maintenant 3. H. 6. fol. 17. It was agréed per curiam that in Action of Dower if the tenant vouch the heire in the Kings ward within the same Countie where the writ is brought the Demandant shall not recouer before the warrantie be determined but the Law is contra if the Voucher had prayed summons in another Countie for then the Demandant should recouer maintenant yet by the Register fol. 7. if in a writ of Dower the tenant vouch in Durham the Demandant shall abide triall of the warrantie and not recouer presently But by Fitzherbert for a rule in titulo Voucher if the tenant vouch in a forraine Countie shee shall recouer maintenant and neuer attend triall of the warrantie but when Voucher is in mesme lâ— countie If the heire vouched to warrantie aftâ—r â—hee hath appeared and countâ—â— pleaded the warrantie or before appearance being lawfully summoned do 〈…〉 ke default the Defendant shall haue execution against him maintenant if hee haue lanâ—s within the Countie Brooke Dower 5. And also Dower the 6â— when the heire is vouched in the same Countie the woman shall recouer against the heire Dyer 3. Eliz. â—â—â— In Dower the tenant vouch the heire in the same Countie who co 〈…〉 as one that hath nothing by descent in â—ée and renders Dower the tenant auers that he hath assâ—â—â— by descent qu 〈…〉 if he should not say in fée for by Weston and Browne if the lands be in taile it doth not 〈…〉 the tenants lanâ—s And the opinion of the Court was that the Demandant shall haue Iudgement presently aga 〈…〉 the heire if he hath lands c. and if not against the tenant and that before the issue of the assâ—â—s tried 1 Ed. â— fol. 24 In a writ of Dower against Tenant for life if he vouch his Lessor which is heire to the husband the woman shall recouer against the Tenant and he ouer against the Vouchee But when the heire iâ— vouched by Charter of his Ancestor the Demandant shall 〈…〉 couer against the Vouchee and the Tenant shall hold 〈…〉 peace Yet in a Writ of Dower against Lessée for 〈…〉 e of the Barons demise if the heire bee vouched to Warrantie though here the reuersion which is the cause of the Warrantie were made by the Baron the Demand 〈…〉 shall recouer against the Tenant and he against the heire If the tenant vouch in a writ of Dower and the Vouch 〈…〉 counter plead the Warrantie the woman shall recouer maintenant though in other actions it bée otherwise 46. Ed. 3. fol. 25. and 49. Ed. 3. fol. 23. In a Writ of Dower the Tenant vouched himselfe to sâ—â—e the 〈…〉 taile 2. H. 4. fol. 18. in Dower the Tenant vouched the heire Processe went on to sequatur sub suo periculo sicut alias the Vouchée came not it was awarded the Demandant should recouer against the Vouchée if hee had lands in the same Countie If not that shee shall recouer against the Tenant and hee ouer in value But first it was examined if the Vouchee were heire to the Baron 21. Ed. 3. fol. 30. In Dower the tenant voucheth the Barons heire in ward of the demandant per cause de nurture shewing the Ancestors Déed he was compelled to plead in barre because now the woman might be endowed De la plus beale for Gardeine pur nurture hath alwayes intendment to Soccage tenure Vide Brooke Dower 42. 5. Ed. 3. The fathers wife was endowed the Grandmother brought a writ of Dower against her â—he vouched the heire in reuerston the Demandant recouered against the tenant and shee against the heire a third part of two parts remaining but not in value Sée Brooke Dower 79. If the Grandmother die the mother may enter into the first dower and the heire into the second SECT IX Plees in a writ of Dower ADmitting there were no Voucher let vs run ouer other matters vsually pleaded 14. H. 4. 33. in Dower was demanded a third part of two mils of other lands yâ— tenant asked Iudgement of the plaintiffe for they were during the whole time of couerture but the â—â—te of two mills viz. toâ—ts 38. Ed. 3. fol. 13. In a writ of dower against one as Gardian of land and heire of K. de R. the defendant answered that the Infants father was â— de R. Iudgement del briefe and if the writ were good hee was ready to render dower You cannot said Knyuet plead to the writ render dower both at one day so the demandant praying Iudgement seisen was awarded her And because she auerred that the defendant was not touts temps prist to render dower an Inquest of dammages was awarded and that execution should cease till the Inquest were past 13. Ed. 4. fol. 7. In action of dower the tenant pleaded touts temps prist de render Dower vncore est The demandant said that I. S. her husband died seised and that such a day and yeere she required the tenant to indow her at Dale which refused c. he replyed that at the same day he offered to goe with her to the lands and to assigne her dower but she refused sans ceo that he refused The Court held the Issue well taken by this speciall pleading But if hee had said generally and barely hee refused not some thought it had not beene sufficient insomuch as it denies not the request Bryan said the demandant here might not haue seuerall Iudgements of one thing for note shee was to recouer dower vpon the first plea but all the other Iustices were of opinion cleere that shee should haue Iudgement of Dower maintenant and 18. Ed. 3. In action of Dower Iudgement was to recouer dower with an inquest for dammages As in a Quare
impedit the Plaintiffe may haue one writ to the Bishop and another to the Sheriffe to enquire of dammages Likewise 14. H. 8. fol. 25. in a plea of dower vpon confession the demandant recouered Iudgement and after Iudgement auerring that her husband died seised shee prayed a writ to enquire of dammages habuit for if the demandant in dower will recouer dammages shee must euer surmize that her husband died seised though the Tenant confesse the Action or plead but onely to the Writ and in the end of her Demise shee may maintaine the Writ for sur plee briefe the dying seised appeares not without surmise c. 22. H. 6. fol. 44. SECT X. Deteiner of Euidence BY Perkins none may deteine Dower for deteining of euidence but only the heire to whom the euidence belongeth and the heire when he pleads must shew what the euidence is c. And they must concerne the lands discended vnto him whereof Dower is demanded for hée may not deteine Dower of land which the Charters concerne not or for Charters concerning his purchased lands or those whereof he hath no seisin Aliter if they concerne some reuersion descended But if the heire come in vouched to warranty by the Barons feofée hée cannot plead this Deteiner of Euidence because in verity the land is another mans to whom most rightly the Charters belong But one copercener may haue this plea after partition against her mother or other Demandant in Dower though the euidence concerne the other parceners and her all alike see 41. Titulo Dower in Brooke If a widdow that is with child deteine euidence against her husbands daughter and heire or other heire collaterall it shall bée no sufficient plea to delay Dower 1. Perkins 70. 71. 18. Hen. 8. fol. 1. The heire said the Demandant deteined a bagge ensealed with the euidence concerning the land which if hée would deliuer hee was ready to render Dower bone plee per Curiam 33. Hen. 6. fol. 51. The Tenant pleaded for part of the land whereof Dower was demanded non tenure for another part detinue of Charters for another part Ioyntenancie which his father for a fourth part demanded view but it might not be granted because he tooke notice to himselfe of that part by pleading to the rest And the Plaintiffe to his plea of suruiuor pleaded his release made to the father her husband in his life time Issiâ—â— seisi que Dowre c. The plea of Euidence detained as Littleton said went to the whole action quod fuit negatum vâ—de Brooke â—y Dower 4 but he was forced to shew what euidence he deteineth viz. a speciall Charter 4â— Ed. 3. The Tenant pleaded a withholding of Euidence certaine conceâ—ning his inheritance and shewes what Et qâ—e il aâ— estre toures temps prist si c. the woman made title to two deeds by gift to her husband and her selfe and for the other Euidence shee said whereas the Defendant claimed as brother and heire to her husband shee kept it to the vse of her child si ouâ—sqÌ„ soit inseint qÌ„ serra â—eure si dien luy done nostre and issue was taken whether she were insâ—int die obitus mariti not whether shee were inseint per son baron die obitâ—s And that booke of 41. Edw. â— is cited for law in Sir Edw. Cokes 7. Rep. fol. 9 that a woman may deteine Charters for the heire in ventre â—a mere And 22. Hen. 6. fol. 16. It was agréed that deteiner of Euidence is no plea in an Action of Dower vnlesse it concerne Inheritance discended Et siâ— videtur ibidem saith Brooke that if it concerne inheritance though it be not the very land whereof Dower is demanded the plea is good 9. Edw. 4. to plea of Charters deteined the Demandant answered veies cyâ—le fait prâ—â— dower the Court reading and perceiuing it to bee the déed c. gaue iudgement for Dower 14. Hen. 6. fol. 4 The Tenant pleaded detinue of a chest with two fines and other Charters ê‘ Martin Iustice if the Chest were open he ought to declare euery déed specially by it selfe and so it is likewise in action of detinue for a Chest open with euidence quod curia concessit 2. Hen. 7. fol. 6. Is set downe the reason why the certainty of euidence deteined must bee showne viz. That the Iury may be more able to make their verdict and the Court to iugde to whom they appertaine for if they belong to the Defendants purchase he is put to a Writ of detinue And 6. Eliz. Dyer 230. sée a man seised of foure acres soccage land and of one déed or Charter concerning those lands by his last will in writing deuised thrée of his acres to his youngest sonne in fée the fourth acre to his wife for life the remainder to a stranger in fee hâ— died his wife got the déed entred into her acre and the sonne into the three acres deuised to him the woman brings a Writ of Dower for a third of these thrée acres The sonne pleads detinue of the Charter which if she would deâ—â—uer he is and alwayes had beene ready to render Dower shee shewed the whole cause by way of replication vpon that the other side demurred It seemeth saith Dyer that this plea serueth for none saue only the Barons heire and for no land but that which is descended And not for the heire himselfe if he come in by voucher or â—s Tenant by receipt in default of Tenant for life Where hee is no more but tenant per admittance for such a one cannot say that he hath béene toutes temps prist a render Dower si c. Neither can gardian in chiualry haue this plea for he cannot haue a writ of detinue of the heires euidence And this plea is a bar for no lands but those which the Charters deteined do concerne 22. H. 6. Where Newton saith the reason of this barre is because the euidence being séene and looked into may yéeld matter to barre the Demandant of her Dower for such lands therefore as the Charters doe not touch Dower shall be granted of them this plea notwithstanding Also certainty must euer bee alleaged in this case if the euidence bee not in some bag boâ— or chest sealed or locked vp And note the Defendant supra was not named heire by the demandant neither had he inabled himselfe to this plea as heire therefore the Court might take it indifferently As in a quare impedit if the incumbent bee named Clericus the Court takes him for a Disturber if hee inable not himselfe as incumbent or person impersonée Another fault was found in this Tenants conclusion of his plea because hee said vncoâ—e prist a render Dower but in very déed hee relied not againe on the condition if the Demandant would deliuer the Charter according to the ancient booke of entries And at the last iudgement was giuen pro dote Sée Sir Edw. Cokes 9. Rep. in Anna Beddingfelds case 1.
seisi que Dower la puit It was giuen in eâ—idence to the Inquest on the Demandants â—ehalâ—e that a feosment was made to the â—aron in fee yâ— déed of feofment was shewed to the Court it was answered that long time before the feofment the Earon was seised to him and his first wife in speciall taile and how afterward hee discontinâ—ed that and takes backe an estate in fée simple to himselfe by â—he 〈◊〉 aforesaid of which estate hee died seised so that the heire in speciall taile was remitted and the second wife being now Demandant not dowable Mountague would haue demurred and disâ—â—ssed the â—ury but the Iustices were cleare in opinion that the â—ury ought to 〈◊〉 for the Demandant because their charge was only vpon the issue viz. whether the Baron had euer â—eiâ—in of such â—state that thâ— wife might haue dower And they were not to â—â—gâ—â—d the Remitter but onely to looke to the generall issue giuen them in charge But if the speâ—iâ—ll matter had 〈◊〉 pleaded the Demandant must nâ—â—dâ— haue â—éene â—arred for if he which makes a feoffement with condition to râ—â—nter for the condition broken and then in a Writ of dâ—â—er brought by thâ—feâ—â—â—â—â—s wiâ—â— hee will plead ne vnques â—â—iâ—â—â— quâ— dower it shall be found against him Knighâ—ly therefore would haue the spâ—â—iall matter found by the Iury and a verdict at large but the Iustâ—ces would not consent Yet â—empore Edw. 1. There was a case that the Baron discontinued his wiâ—es 〈◊〉 and died his wife recouered against the discontinue and he died the discontinues wife brought a Writ of Dower against the woman Recouâ—rer and she pleaded the generall issue ne vnques â—eisi que dower la puit All this matter was found â—y â—peâ—iall verâ—â—â—â— and â—udgement giâ—â—n vpon the issue 〈◊〉 foolishly â—â—ynâ—d that the Demandant should recoâ—er Dower which shee should neuer haue done had the 〈◊〉 â—éene good Sâ—â— and marke well this case and 21. Edw. â— fol. 60. and the â—â—se 28 Aâ—s pl. 4. SECT XIV Recouerie against the husband 14. H. 4. 33. IN action of Dower the Tenant pleaded a recouery in Assise against the husband iudgement si action c. the Demandant said her husband was seised c. and married her and infeofed the Tenant and afterward disseised him against whom the Tenant recouered in Assise the Baron died she prayed to bee indowed The Tenant said he was seised till by the Baron disseised against whom hee recouered by Assise sans câ—o that the Baron was seised before the disseisin que dower la puit the Demandant said seised before the disseisen que dower la puit Likewise 47. Edw. 3. 13. the Baron makes a feofment and ousteth the feofée the feofée recouers in assize the baron dieth now in a writ of Dower if the feoffée plead recouery in assize the widdow cannot â—alâ—â—â—â—â— the recouery but she may plead that long time before it c. her husband was seised que dower la puit and the Defendant contra 12. H. 4. 20. 21. The Tenant said he brought a Formedone against the husband which Writ hanging he shewed to the husband a dâ—ed of intailment whereupon presently he rendred the land in pâ—is to the Tenant which entred and now auâ—rreth the entailâ— Iudgement si action Thiâ—â— said the Statute was si vir reddat aduersario suo de plenâ— Iusticiarii adiudicent mulieri dotem but he and the whole Court agréed that rendring in pais doth not defeat meâ—â—â— estates of them which were neither parties nor priuy to the rendring and therefore they awarded the woâ—â—â— should recouer Dower Hanke said fée simple might not be rendered without liuery and seisin and where there is Lord and Tenant the Tenant may not surrender to his Lord Of falsifying of recoueries I haue spoken already Note If land bee recouered in value against the husband because of warranty made by his Ancestors the widdow shall haue Dower of those lands notwithstanding for if the Baron had aliâ—ned the land before voucher it should not haue beene rendred in value Consequently therefore the womans title is more ancient than the vouchers which beginneth but the day of vouching By Fâ—â—zh in his Abridgemâ—nt Dower 129. And his â—atâ— â—re 150. d. SECT XV. Ne vnques accouple c. SOmetime the vnlawfulnesse of marriage is pleaded in barre of Dower As 39. Edw. 3. 15. the Tenant pleaded the Demandant was first married to A and hée liuing she married B. of whoâ—e dowâ—ent she claimeth A. being still aliue this was holdâ—n no good pleading and therefore he added â—ssâ—â—t nient accouple in loyall matrimony The entry was only ne vnques accouple c. and a Writ awarded to the Bishop to certifie but for all such pleas deduced at length by old Writers as stand vpon the inualidity of marriage I will refâ—rre widdowes to that which is gone before of marriage and diuorce The pleas also of vnder 9. yéeres of age of attainder of non tenure ioyntenure or seuerall tenure I will not tarry on them 39. Ed. 1. fol. 4. A woman brought Dower against twâ— by seuerall precipes and one of them prayed â—yd of the other as parceners so that it appeareth that seuerall tenaâ—cie is a good plea in action of Dower Contra in Assise Brooke 99. SECT XVI Plea that tâ—e Baron is yeâ— aliue THe Writ de dote vnde nihil habet affords another eâ—ception against Dower because it saith quondâ—â— viri sui for though the fundamentall cause of dower be matrimony quoad le title yet as to the possession a woman cannot claime it till matrimony be dissolued therefore by Fitzherbert if the Baron take habit of religion the wife shall not be endowed till the husband be dead re vera yet by Britton it is issuable whether the Baron be entred into religion or no and that issue shall be tried by the Ordinary and iudged according to his certificat â—ut when the deforcer will barre Dower by â—lâ—a that the husband is yet aliue if the widdow reply he is dead the proofe regularly belongs to the Plaintiffe But if the Defendant say the husband is in plein vy ceo est prist auerrer he must proue his aâ—erâ—ent and sometime â—oth parties shall be heard to make their prâ—â—e which if it â—e aâ—â—â—e strong on either â—â—â—e the Deâ—andant may haue iâ—dgâ—ment oâ—â—eisiâ— finding surety such as the Court shall â—ward to resâ—ort if hâ—r husband hereafter â—ee brought into Court the â—aâ—d with the issues and proâ—â—â—s therâ—â—â— iâ— tâ—e interim recoâ—â—â—d But if the matter be doubtfull and the womaâ—â—aâ—â—ot â—â—â—â—e such surety the seisen shall râ—â—â—â—â—e where iâ— is and tâ—â— plea in suspence to be renewed pâ—â—summons as occasion shall serue Britton fo 25. SECT XVII Iudgement IVdgement in a Writ of Dower is framed according to the substance of the title and circumstance of the pleading It is touched aboue when or how a woman shall recouer dammages by sâ—râ—ise that the husband dyed
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
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
the Statute as also what lands are subiect to the Statute as also what lands are subiect to seisure aswell of the husbands lands as of the wiues If that were reason saith Fitzherbert a womans inheritance might be seised too Et semble a moy the King cannot grant marriage of his widdowes as he may of his wards for a widdow may remaine sole without penalite or paying for it by Mag. Chart. cap. 7. But Stamford includeth that a widdow endowed oâ— lands holden in capite by the Kings Committee or husbands heire though vnsworne is not freed from marriage sans licence for she is presently as soone as she is endowed tenant to the King and not to the heire which is in reuersion yet only the heire is he which shall haue action of waste against her but if trespasse bee done vpon the ground she may haue a writ out of Chancerie supposing entrie vpon the Kings possession And Auowrie to bee made by the King resteth onely vpon her as holdeth Wood 1. H. 7. fol. 17. and 4. H. 7. 1. Now note that Endowment in Chancerie is of such strength that be it by wrong or by right it cannot be auoyded by plea without suit in Chancerie And if it bee too little the woman must stand in her owne harmes that hath once attempted it in Chancerie bee shee within aâ—e or of full age as appeares 18. Ed. 3. fol. 29. If any office bee trauersed because the land is holden not of the King but of some other Lord who therefore hath an Ouster le maine vna cum exitibus yet Dower which is already assigned remaineth vndefeated till another suit be made in Chancerie to auoid it Yet in this case because Admeasurement is no preiudice to the King of whom the land is not holden the Lord that tendreth trauerse may haue a Writ of Admeasurement at yâ— Common Law And the heire may haue Admeasurement of Dower assigned by his Ancestor But an Abator cannot haue Admeasurement neither can Gardian in fait haue Admeasurement vpon assignment by Gardian in droit nor if the heire were at full age at his Ancestors death and died his heire being within age can the Gardian haue Admeasurement but where a woman is endowed in Chancerie and afterward the heire or some other for the King surmiseth eâ—cesse of value it may bée admeasured beginning with Scire facias as Fitzherbert hath taught supra and fol. 249. â— If the husband had l 〈…〉 in diuers Counties by reason whereof diuers writs of diem clausit extremum were awarded after his death into euerie of those Counties the widdow cannot be endowed till such time as all the writs be returned into Chancery If after she is once endowed in Chancerie her Dower be recouered from her by any title she hath no remedie but to remoue the record of this recouerie into Chancerie and then vpon the first record which sheweth that she was endowed and vpon this other of recouerie she shall haue Scire facias reciting both the records against him which is tenant of the two parts to reseise them into the Kings hands and so to bee newly endowed but not to recouer any dammages though dammages were recouered against her Lib. 43. Assisar Pl. 32. for by the latter part of the Statute Prerogatiue cap. 4. It séemeth the King hath lost his prerogatiue and that he is bound by West 1. cap. 22. Note that woman Ioynt purchaser with her husband is not within this Law to fine for her marriage when she becomes a widdow say I therefore well fare a Ioynture SECT VIII Suit for Dower at the Common Law THus we haue séene how and when a widdow muâ—â— fâ—â— for Dower in the Châ—â—â—erâ—â— viz. when either her husband died the 〈…〉 tenant in capâ—te or by â—nights seruice his heire vnder age or otherwise tenant to some other â—hole lands are in the Kings hands by vacancie or nonage of the heire But if the husband which held in Socage or by â—nights seruice not of the King did giue or alien any manâ—â—r of way his lands or were disseised of them or died sâ—isâ—â— of them The widdow if by simple demand she cannot obtaine her Dower to bee assigned her may haue a wâ—â—t of Dower Vnde nihil habet at the Common Law against him which is tenant of the Franktenement by the old Nat. breuium this writ is maintainable against him which hath possession of the land by what manner soeuer or against the Gardian in Chiualrie in this or like forme Rex Vâ—cecomiti c. command A. to render to B. which was the wise of C. â—er reasonable Dower quae ad cam contingit de libero â—enemento quoâ— fuit praedict C. sometime her late husband in D. vnde niâ—iâ—â—abet vnde queritur quod A. ei defortiat c. nisi fecerit B. fecerit tâ— securum de clamore prosequendo c. summoneas A. vt sit apud WestmÌ„ ostensurus If the Dower were ad ostium Ecclesiae or ex assensu patris or otherwise there is mention made of it in the writ In London there may be a writ from the King to the Maior and Sheriffes in these words Quod Iusticietis A. quod iuste â—â—ne delatione secundum consuetudinem ciuitatis nostrae London redd ' B. quae fuit vxor C. rationabilem dotem c. Et Iusticietis D. quod iuste c. whereby appeares that a widdow in London may haue a writ of Dower against seuerall tenents by seuerall Iusticies as well as at the Common Law seuerall Precipes against seuerall tenants all in one writ the Processe in the Common Place is summons Grand cape pettie cape in the Common Place this writ of Dower vnde nihil habet must be returned into the Kings Court Et per grand reason saith Britton cap. 10. 4. For if two or more women should striue euerie of them affirming her selfe to be the lawfull wife of him which is dead not minding to be buried with him as is the corse in India but to get a third of his lands This must be tried by Certificate from the Bishop vnto whom if any but the King should write for the deciding of debate it might fall out to be all in vaine because none hath power but the King to compell the Bishop to make Certificate In the next Chapter Britton sheweth that if the Tenant vouch to warranty one which appeareth according to summons the Plea shall proceed betwixt the Plaintiffe the Warrantor or Vouchée the Tenant keeping seisen till the Warrantie be determined Then if the Garrantie cannot be denied nor the womans right disproued if that which she demandeth were certainly assigned to her for Dower from her husband shee shall recouer against the Tenant Et le renant le value But if the demand bee of no other than reasonable Dower the woman shall recouer in value against the Warrantor and the Tenant shall hold his land in peace If so be