In order to have power to sell their estate: A fine was one method of breaking an entail. It was a mere form, but was in theory a suit brought to an end by a compromise in court. It was a judicial evasion of the Statute of Edward I, De donis, and was abolished by an Act of William IV. Probably, in the present case, the fine was resorted to in order to enable Mrs. Raymond to alienate an estate, the rents of which would be receivable by her husband, although he could not sell, while Mrs. Raymond was disabled from doing so as a married woman. A compromise in court, similar to that usual in the case of entails, gave a good title to the purchaser.