Wardship

The poem’s narrative focuses on an institution that is likely unfamiliar to contemporary readers: the Court of Wards. The lover, because he is an “heir” to a title or fortune, is subject to the governance of this court (30).

The Court of Wards (more properly the Court of Wards and Liveries) was established in 1540 by an Act of Parliament, during the reign of King Henry VIII. One of the ancient feudal rights of English kings was wardship of the children of landholders until they came of age. That meant that, if someone who owned significant property died while their heir was under the age of 21, the king would gain control over most of the land they inherited (other than about 1/3 of the estate, which was retained by the landholder’s widow). The king would return the land to the ward when they turned 21, or 14 for female...