[Footnote 478: _Mass. Col. Rec._, I, 198.] [Footnote 479: _Ibid._, 311.] [Footnote 480: _MSS. Records of the County Court of Middlesex_, I, 18. Apparently Edward's attempts were a failure; for on Oct. 4, 1653, he was "granted liberty to use what more effectual means he may or can to send for his wife from England": _ibid._, I, 32.] [Footnote 481: _Mass. Col. Rec._, III, 349, 350. But on petition, in order to present further testimony, the general court granted a respite.] [Footnote 482: _MSS. Early Court Files of Suffolk County_, No. 531. This case is also partially reported in _Mass. Col. Rec._, IV, Part II, 84; and quoted in SHIRLEY, "Early Jurisprudence of New Hampshire," _Procds. New. Hamp. Hist. Soc._ (1876-84), 310.] [Footnote 483: _MSS. Records of the County Court of Suffolk_, 9.] [Footnote 484: _MSS. Early Court Files of Suffolk_, No. 867.] [Footnote 485: _MSS. Records of the County Court of Suffolk_, 279.] [Footnote 486: _MSS. Records of the County Court of Middlesex_, III, 63.] [Footnote 487: _MSS. Early Court Files of Suffolk_, No. 527. For similar legislation see _New Haven Col. Rec._, II, 600; TRUMBULL, _Blue Laws_, 243.] In like spirit single women and wives in the absence of their husbands were forbidden to "lodge any inmate or sojourner," except with the approval of the selectmen or other magistrates.[488] Of course, these were pioneer days. The peace of the settlements was probably disturbed by loose and riotous adventurers, outcasts from the society of the Old World. Doubtless these measures, aside from religious motives, were in some degree useful police ordinances; as were also those prohibiting the husband from beating his wife, and the wife from striking her spouse.[489] [Footnote 488: _Mass. Col. Rec._, V, 4; SHIRLEY, _Early Jurisprudence of New Hamp._, 310, 311. The harboring of "strangers"--and "stranger" might be a father, daughter, or son from a neighboring town--gave the good people of the colonies a great deal of trouble. See the illustrations in WEEDEN, _Ecc. and Soc. Hist. of N. E._, I, 272; and HOWARD, _Local Const. Hist._, I, 87, 88, where the town records are cited.] [Footnote 489: WHITMORE, _Col. Laws of Mass._ (1660-72), 51, 171; _ibid._ (1672-86), 101. _Cf. Mass. Col. Rec._, III, 212 (1650). In 1638 John Emerson, of Scituate, was tried before the general court for abusing his wife: _ibid._, I, 232; the same year for beating his wife, Henry Seawall was sent for examination before the court at Ipswich: _ibid._, 233; and in 1663 Ensigne John Williams, of Barnstable, was fined by the Plymouth court for slandering his wife: GOODWIN, _Pilgrim Republic_, 596.