COURT OF WARDS AND LIVERIES

A court of record, established in England in the reign of Henry VIII. For the survey and management of the valuable fruits of tenure, a court of record was created by St. 32 Hen. VIII. c. 46, called the “Court of the King’s Wards.” To this was annexed, by St 33 Hen. VIII. c. 22, the “Court of Liveries;” so that it then became the “Court of Wards and Liveries.” 4 Reeve, Eng. Law, 258. This court was not only for the management of “wards,” properly so called, but also of Idiots and natural fools in the king’s custody, and for licenses to be granted to the king’s widows to marry, and fines to be made for marrying without his license. Id. 259. It was abolished by St 12 Car. II. c. 24. Crabb, Eng. Law, 468.