Page:The Hardships of the English Laws in Relation to Wives. Bodleian copy.pdf/34

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which are then called Paraphernalia, in which the Huſband has no Intereſt, for ſhe may diſpoſe of them without his Conſent, and bring Actions in her own Name for the Recovery of it."

"By the Laws of England the Paraphernalia are deemed to be only the Woman's wearing Apparel, Ornaments, and Jewels, which adorn her during the Marriage"; which ſhe wears not as hers, and for her own Sake, but as her Huſband's, or as it is expreſs'd, ſuitable to his Quality, and to do him honour. The Preſents he makes are beſtowed before for that Reaſon, and they ipſo facto revert to him as ſoon as the Solemnity is over. [1] She retains no Property, not even in that ſacred Pledge; which he had given her as a Token that he would faithfully perform every Article ſtipulated in the Covenant between them, and which Token, according to the reverend and learned Mr. Wheatly, was underſtood, as [2] "Livery

and

  1. For although, where H. dies inteſtate, or by Will does not diſpoſe of the Jewels, his Wife may claim (in Caſe there be no Debts) the jewels ſuitable for her Quality, to be worn as the Ornaments of her Body as her Paraphernalia; yet it is held in Crook's Reports. that if the Husband by Will deviſes any the jewels, ſuch Deviſe ſhall ſtand good againſt the Wife's Claim of Paraphernalia Vernon's Caſes argued and adjudged in the High Court of Chancery. Vol. II. p. 246.
  2. A rational Illuſtration of the Book of Common Prayer. &c p 438.