"7. But if a man desire to lead her out of the land, into another thane's land, then it will be advisable for her that her friends have an agreement that no wrong shall be done to her; and if she commit a fault, that they may be nearest in the 'bot,' if she have not whereof she can make 'bot.'"[881] [878] The meaning of "foster-laen" is uncertain. SCHMID wrongly identifies it with the _gyft_ of INE, 31, and thinks it is the purchase price of the bride, that is, the _weotuma_: _Gesetze_, 34, 35, note. THORPE regards it also as the purchase price paid to the family of the bride: _Anc. Laws_, I, 254, note. SCHROEDER, _Güterrecht_, I, 51 n. 13, believes it to be a provision for maintenance of the children. But SOHM renders it _Weinkauf_, "drink-money," and this is probably right. It is a form or application of the _arrha_, which is not now paid down, but, the contract being formal, is promised to the guardian. The _arrha_ had customarily been spent in treating the guests: _Eheschliessung_, 30, 31, 317, note. [879] "The language of this law seems to indicate that the _legal_ endowment of the woman was one-third of the chattels, as in INE, c. 57. By contract, however, before marriage, the husband might increase this to one-half."--THORPE, I, 255, note. [880] The _bohr_ was the surety for fulfilment of the pledges. [881] THORPE, _Anc. Laws_, I, 255, 257, who classes this formulary with the laws of Eadmund. SCHMID leaves the date undetermined, but thinks it may with as much probability be ascribed to Eadmund or Æthelstan as any other king: _Gesetze_, lxv, find _Anhang_, VI, 391, 393. _Cf._ POLLOCK AND MAITLAND, _Hist. Eng. Law_, II, 367; and DIECKHOFF, _Kirchliche Trauung_, 68 ff., who gives the text of this ritual. The form of betrothal here described is that of the _wed_. The _foster-laen_, or wine-money, a substitute for the _arrha_, is not paid down, but it is merely promised to the guardian; while the morning-gift--"in case she choose his will"--and the _weotuma_--"if she live longer than he"--are the important elements, and these belong to the bride.[882] [882] SOHM, _Eheschliessung_, 155, 100 n. 60, 317. SCHROEDER, _Güterrecht_, I, 53, 54, 96, reverses the meaning of these passages; and holds that the phrase "in case she choose his will" refers to the _weotuma_; and the phrase "if she live longer than he," to the morning-gift. But see POLLOCK AND MAITLAND, II, 363, who render the last clause by "dower," and the first by "morning-gift."