Gif hio cwic bearn gebyreþ, healfne scæt age gif ceorl ær swylteþ.
78. If she bears a living child, let her have half the property if the husband die first.
Gif mid bearnum bugan wille healfne scæt age.
79. If she wills to go away with her children, let her have half the property.
Gif ceorl agan wile swa an bearn.
80. If the husband wills to have [them], [let her have] as one child.
Gif hio bearn ne gebyreþ fæderingmagas fioh agan ⁊ morgengyfe.
81. If she bear no child, let [her] paternal kindred have the property and morgengift.
It is obvious from these clauses that under Kentish custom the position of the wife was very much the same as under Cymric and continental German custom. The marriage was a fair contract between the two kindreds.
The next clause enjoins a payment of fifty shillings to the ‘owner’ of a maiden if she be carried off by force.