Page:The Hardships of the English Laws in Relation to Wives. Bodleian copy.pdf/28

 as the Commands of an Huband, eem to uperede all other Authority whatoever: At leat that appears to be the Sene of the executive. Powers, who are uppoed to act according to Law; for when the King delegates his executive Authority to his Judges, and a Man and his Wife are brought before them, and indicted for Murder, an horrid Sin againt God, and the greatet Sin againt the State (except Treaon) the Wife as acting under the Command of the Huband hall be acquitted, and the Man hanged. What an Intimation does that give, that our Laws will at leat, connive at an Outrage againt God, and tearing aunder the very Bands of Society, provided the Woman acts in Obedience to her Huband? That is to be her firt Principle, and he is to be judged according to it.

But perhaps it may be aid, that in proceeding thus, the Law Regards the Power, not the Authority of the Huband. and that a Wife hall not be acquitted for Murder, unles it appears to have been done in the Preence of the Huband, when the Law uppoes ome Coercion, which is the Effect of Power, not Authority, his bare Command is nothing.

Whence is that Power uppoed to arie? Not from peronal Strength, for that would be