Page:William Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England (3rd ed, 1768, vol I).djvu/461

 Ch. 15. the huband the ame, or a larger, authority over his wife; allowing him, for ome midemenors, flagellis et futibus acriter verberare uxorem; for others, only modicam catigationem adhibere. But, with us, in the politer reign of Charles the econd, this power of correction began to be doubted : and a wife may now have ecurity of the peace againt her huband ; or, in return, a huband againt his wife. Yet the lower rank of people, who were always fond of the old common law, till claim and exert their antient privilege: and the courts of law will till permit a huband to retrain a wife of her liberty, in cae of any gros mibehaviour.

are the chief legal effects of marriage during the coverture; upon which we may oberve, that even the diabilities, which the wife lies under, are for the mot part intended for her protection and benefit. So great a favourite is the female ex of the laws of England.