buying a ward

[ursula]

In the sixteenth century, one could buy wardships. That is, if a rich man died before his heir was of age, one could purchase the right to be the child's guardian from the dead man's executors. There were presumably benefits to be gained from managing the estate, but apparently the usual plan was to marry the heir to one's daughter, thereby keeping the income in the family. For example, in 1564, when Francis Willoughby decided to marry Elizabeth Littleton instead of his guardian Francis Knollys' daughter, Willoughby's brother's executors had to pay Knollys fifteen hundred pounds for the lost opportunity.

This excellent setup for a romance was brought to you by Mark Dawson, Plenti and Grase: Food and Drink in a Sixteenth-Century Household.