This custom was equivalent to the law which is still retained in Scotland. By this Act, the restricted powers of bequest in Wales were abolished, and widows, children, and other relations of testators were wholly barred from any claim on his personal estate otherwise than was provided for by his will.
A.D. 1697.—By 1 Wiliam and Mary, c. 27 (1688) which abolished the Court of the Marches, it was directed that Judgments and Decrees passed before June 1, 1689, were not to be repealed. As that clause had become ineffectual, because no provision had been made authorising the Courts at Westminster and the Courts of the Great Sessions of Wales to execute or carry into effect any such judgments, an Act of 1697 (9-10 William 3, c. 16) gave powers to the King's Chancery, the Court of Exchequer, and his Majesty's Court of Great Sessions, to issue execution upon every judgment so made, and to review, affirm, reverse, or rehear the same.
A.D. 1698.—In 1698, by 11-12 William 3, c. 9, the provisions of two general Acts for the prevention of frivolous suits (namely, 22-23 Charles 2, c. 9, s. 9, and 43 Elizabeth, c. 6) were extended to the Courts of Great Sessions for the Principality of Wales, so that in actions of trespass, theft, battery or other personal actions, where the damages were found to be under 40s., the plaintiff was not to recover more costs than the damages so found. Sheriffs in Wales were not to hold prisoners to special bail in small actions because it was oppressive and vexatious.
A.D. 1713.—In this year the Act for taking away mortuaries within the Welsh dioceses was passed (13 Anne c. 6). Its provisions have already been noticed.[1]
A.D. 1715.—In the first year of George the First it was made lawful for his Majesty to grant the Crown regalities and lands in North and South Wales and Cheshire to the Prince of Wales, in such manner and form as the
- ↑ P. li.
