It should also be observed, that any one may in the King’s Court put another in his place, to gain or lose for him, even in a suit that he has in another Court; and it shall be commanded, that the Attorney shall be received in such Court in the place of his Principal, by the following Writ——
CHAP. II.
“The King to the Sheriff, or to any other presiding in his Court, Health. Know that N. hath before me, or my Justices, put R. in his place to gain or lose for him, in the Plea which is between him and R.[416] concerning one ploughland or concerning any other thing, (naming it) and, therefore, I command you, that you receive the aforesaid R. in the place of the said N., in such Plea, to gain or lose. Witness, &c.”
CHAP. III.
When any one, therefore, according to the form, before mentioned, is put in the place of another in any suit, it may be asked, whether Essoins shall hold with reference to the person of the Attorney only, or the person of his Principal only, or with regard to both of them? And, indeed, the Essoins of the Attorney himself only shall in such case be allowed, until his appointment is revoked.[417] When any one, so put in the place of another in Court, answer to the suit, and does that which appertains to him, it may be asked, whether his Principal can at his pleasure remove him, and substitute another Attorney, especially if any great degree of Enmity should subsequently arise between them?
That the Principal himself, indeed, may follow up the Suit, the Attorney being removed, is unquestionable; because every Man is understood to put another in his place, under the tacit condition, that he himself cannot be present. The prevailing practice permits a Principal to remove such Attorney, in any part of the Suit, and also to replace him by substituting another in Court, in the manner before mentioned. A Father may thus substitute his Son, and vice versa: one stranger may also substitute another; and a Wife her husband. When a Husband, put in the place of his Wife in a suit concerning her marriage-hood or Dower, should lose any part of the property of his Wife, or should, by a Judgment or a Concord, remit any right of the Wife, whether, it may be asked, can the Wife herself again agitate the question, or whether is she absolutely bound, after the death of her Husband, to abide by his Act? It does not seem that the woman in such a case ought, by the Act of her Husband, to lose any part of her right; because, whilst in the power of her Husband, she can in no measure oppose or controvert his Will, and, therefore, she could not, contrary to his pleasure, look into her rights.[418] But, on the other hand, it may be contended, that those Acts which are transacted in the King’s Court, ought to be held settled and unalterable.