The church elaborated on these principles with a doctrine for women-covert, i.e. women under the protection or coverture of a husband, and not living separately such as when a man went to sea or to war. She had a right to the necessities of life. Her jewelry, but not her apparel, could go to his creditors if his assets didn't cover his debts. The husband also had the right to the rents and profits from his wife's real estate, but not the real estate itself, unless by the birth of a child he became tenant for life by courtesy. Only the father, but not the mother had authority over their children. A father had a right to his child's services, and could sue a third party for abducting, enticing away, or injuring the child, just as he could for his servants. A husband was answerable for a wife's torts and trespasses, except for battery. For this reason, he was allowed to chastise her, restrain her liberty for gross misbehavior, and punish her by beating for some misdemeanors. If she was a merchant when she married, she could still sell her goods in the open market. There could be no divorce, but only separation. If separated, she had a right to alimony from him to maintain herself. There were many conveyances of land to husband and wife and their heirs. This created a tenancy by the entirety. This land could not be alienated by only one spouse without the other. On the death of one spouse, the surviving spouse became the sole tenant of the whole. Wardships of children and widows were sought because they were very profitable. A guardian could get one tenth of the income of the property during the wardship and a substantial marriage amount when the ward married. Parents often made contracts to marry for their young children. This avoided a forced marriage by a ward should the parents die. Most earldoms and many baronages came into the royal house by escheat or marriage. The royal house employed many people. The barons developed a class consciousness of aristocracy and became leaders of society. Many men, no matter of whom they held land, sought knighthood. The king granted knighthood by placing his sword on the head of able-bodied and moral candidates who swore an oath of loyalty to the king and to defend "all ladies, gentlewomen, widows and orphans" and to "shun no adventure of your person in any war wherein you should happen to be". A code of knightly chivalry became recognized, such as telling the truth and setting wrongs right. About half of the knights were literate. In 1278, the king issued a writ ordering all freeholders who held land of the value of at least 400s. to receive knighthood at the King's hands.