The term Dower is used in two senses. Dower,[158] in the sense in which it is commonly used, means that which any free man at the time of his being affianced,[159] gives to his Bride at the Church Door.[160] For every Man is bound as well by the Ecclesiastical Law, as by the secular, to endow his Bride, at the time of his being affianced to her. When a man endows his Bride, he either names the Dower, or not. In the latter case, the third part of all the Husband’s freehold Land is understood to be the Wife’s Dower; and the third part of all such freehold Lands as her Husband held, at the time of affiancing,[161] and of which he was seised in his Demesne, is termed a Woman’s reasonable Dower. If, however, the Man name the Dower, and mention more than a third part, such designation shall not avail, as far as it applies to the quantity. It shall be reduced by admeasurement to the third part;[162] because a Man may endow a Woman of less, but cannot of more, than a third part of his Land.[163] [Footnote 158: _Dos_, dower. “_Dos_ is derived,” says Sir Edward Coke, “_ex donatione, et est quasi donarium_.” (Co. Litt. 30. b.) Cowell and Spelman, however, both deduce it from the French _douaire_. (Cowell and Spelman’s Gloss. ad voc.) The real objects of Dower are sustenance for the wife, and nurture and education for the children. (Fleta L. 5. Cap. 23.) The _Romans_ were not in the habit of endowing their wives. When, therefore, _Tacitus_ met with this peculiarity among the _Germans_, he was struck with it. _Dotem non Uxor marito sed uxori maritus affert._ (Tacit. de mor. German. 18.) Though Dower was unknown to the Romans, it seems to have been in use amongst the ancient _Hebrews_, (Gen. 34. 12. Exodus 22. 16. et al.) Nor was it unknown to the _Grecians_, if we may judge from that part of the Odyssey where Vulcan reclaims the Dower he had given to his frail wife. It seems to have been known to the ancient _Gauls_, (Cæsar, de bello Gallico L. 6. c. 18.) And to the _Cantabri_, (Strabo L. 3.) _Craig_, however, doubts whether there was any such thing as dower amongst the ancient Northern Nations. (Jus Feud. L. 2. Dieg. 14.) The _Goths_ did not allow Dower to exceed a _tenth_. (Wisegoth. L. 3. t. 1. l. 4.) The _Assises of Jerusalem_ gave a _half_, (c. 187.)—the same portion as the Laws of the Ancient Duchy of _Burgundy_—(Chass. consuet. ducat. Burg. rub. 4. s. 6. col. 580.) The _Saxons_ (LL. tit. 8.) _præter dotem quam in nuptiis adepta est_, allowed the _half_ of what the Husband and Wife subsequently acquired. A Law of Edmund gave the _half_. (LL. Edm.) The _Longobardi_ allowed Dower to extend to the _fourth_ part. (L. 2. tit. 4.) The _English_, the _Scotch_, and the _Normans_, following in this respect the _Sicilians_ and _Neapolitans_, have allowed Dower to extend to a _third_. (Vide LL. Hen. 1. 70. Ed. Wilkins.—Le Grand Custum. de Norm. c. 102.—the Regiam Majm. L. 2. c. 16.)]