Law Wafrages and protection to the passing Merchants of the Sea was one of the principall causes of the payments of those duties Davis ibidem f. 12. And Dyer f. 43. Putteth a difference between a custome and a subsidy and saith that the custome for Merchandizes to be transported out of the Realme is an inheritance of the King and by the common Law and not given by any Statute and that appeareth by the Statute of 14. E. 3. which was the first Statute which maketh mention of any custome and that Statute doth not give or limit any Custome to the King but abridgeth and abateth the custome which was paid for Wool or Leather but a subsidy saith he is a Tax assessed by Parliament and granted to the King by the Commoners during the life of every King only which is made cleer by the case reported by Dyer 1 Mar. f. 92. where King Edward the sixth had granted a Licence to a Merchant stranger to transport all Merchandizes paying pro custumis subsidiis tot tantas denariorum summas quot quantas any english Merchant and Denizen should pay and no more And it was resolved by all the Judges after the death of Edward the sixth the grant was good for the Customes but void tor the Subsidies because the King had an Inheritance in the Custome as a Prorogative annexed to the Crown but in the Subsidies he had an estate only for life by act of Parliament But there is a third kind of duty payable for Merchandizes which are called Imposts or Impositions and these were sometimes rated and assessed by Parliament and then were they of the nature of Subsidies and sometimes were imposed by the Prerogative Royall to support the necessary charges of the Crown and then as the ancient Senator of Rome said Nihil magis justum est quam quod necessarium est There is nothing more just then that which is necessary Davis f. 12. vide ibidem plura The Impost upon Wines was first assessed by Parliament and limited to be paid for certain years which being expired is now continued by Parliament ibidem Opoâ—tet patrem familias vendacem esses non emacem Cato major Davis f. 10. The Master and Father of a Family ought to be a buyer and not a seller By the Grecians Kings were called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pastors of the people and Emperors by the Romans Patres Patriae Fathers of their Country for their vigilant and Paternal care they were to take for the preservation and provision for the people for he is the publique Pater familias and is to bend his thoughts to the utility and commodity of the publique and as he is reputed a provident Father of a Family who hath more commodites to sell then occasions to buy so ought he to be a seller rather then a buyer and to provide that more native commodities be exported for sale and the less forrein Merchandizes imported to the buyer And therefore the little custome of forrein Commodties was then accepted of the King when but a little quantity of such forrein Wares were imported into England For in the time of Edward the first and after that in the times of Edward the third the native Commodities of England exported were of greater quantity and value by two parts of three at the least then the forrein Merchandizes imported by which King Edward the third raised so great a revenue out of the Native Commodities of his Dominions that it was noted for good Husbandry in that King for a Father of a Family ought rather to be a buyer then a seller but now it is altogether contrary for at this time the Out-gate is lesser then the In-gate and the forrein Commodities imported are of greater quantity and value by two parts then our native Commodities exported which is a great shame to our Nation to be so enamoured with Mercery and Grocery Wares imported by strangers and to expend upon those more then the value of all the Staple Commodities of our Country which will be in the end the decay and ruine of the Common-weale Davis ibid. Thesaurus regis est pacis vinculum bellorum nervi Coke l. 3. f. 12. b. The treasure of the King is the bond of peace and the sinewes of war And therefore the Common Law preferreth and advanceth the right of the King insomuch as Sir Henry Finch observeth you shall find it to be Law almost in every case of the King that is not Law in case of the Subjects and that with an intention to inhaunce the Kings Treasure and to replenish his Coffers whereby he may in time of peace advance the glory and honour of the Nation and in time of War be enabled to protect the Common-wealth against forrein incursions and invasions for the Kings Treasure is the bond of peace and sinewes of war And therefore in the case of the King which is not so in the case of a common person the body the lands and the goods of the Accomptant or Debtor of the King at the Common Law were liable to the execution of the King Dyer 234. before the Statute of 33 H. 8. c. 38. Coke ibidem and upon the same reason is this principall grounded Quando jus domini regis Subditi in simul concurrunt jus regis preferri debet Coke l. 9. 3. 129. b. when the right of the King and the Subject concur together the right of the King ought to be preferred As in Dame Hales case Ployd 262. Baron and Feme were Joynt-tenants of a term for years the Baron is selo de se he shall forfeit all and yet till the Office it surviveth but after the Office it hath relation before or at the least at the time of the death vide ibidem plura in Quicks case So Ploâ—d f. 263. b. If a Feme take husband and hath Issue and the land descend to the Feme and the Baron enter so that he is intituled to be Tenant by the Curtesie and then the Feme is found an Ideot and her Estate in the land is also found the King shall have the land and if the Feme dye the Baron shall never have the land by Curtesie for by the first possession of the Feme the Baron was entituled to be Tenant by Curtesie and when the Office is found the Title of the King shall have relation also to the first possession and so both the Titles commence at the same time but the King shall have the preheminence and because the Title of the King is in this case to the Frank-tenement of the land in that that he shall have the custody of it during the life of the Feme it shall utterly take away the Title of the Baron which before the Office found was vested in the Baron and therefore after the death of the Feme he shall not be Tenant by courtesie but the Issue shall have the lands out of the hands of the King if it be not
diversi desiderantur actus ad aliquem statum perficiendum plus respicit lex actum originalem when to the perfection of an estate or interest diverse Acts or things are required the Law hath more regard to the originall Act vide ibidem Lamperts Case When a man seised of Lands in Fee-simple or Fee-taile generall taketh a Wife to the perfection of her Dower two things are requisite lawfull matrimony and the death of her husband and if baron and feme levy a fine the feme is barred of her Dower because that the intermarriage and seisin are the fundamentall causes of Dower and the death of the baron onely the execution of it for the beginning is the principal part upon which all others are founded and therfore in such case if baron and feme grant a rent by fine out of the Land or make a lease for years rendring rent to the baron and his heires and then the feme recovereth Dower shee shall hold that charge with the rent and with the terme and the opinion of Ployden in Stowells case 373. is not holden for Law as appeareth by Dyer f 72. and in Damports case Dyer 224. it was adjudged to the contrary 2. H. 4. and now common experience without contradiction is against it and so Littleton in his Chapters of conditions f. 83. holdeth that if the Feoffee upon condition taketh a wife the Feoffee may enter for the condition broken and the reason is for that the Law hath a principall regard to the originall and fundamentall cause and yet it may be said that the title of dower is not consummate untill the death of the husband and peradventure the feme might die before the Baron vide ibidem plura So things are construed according to that which was the beginning thereof as one maketh me sweare to bring him mony to such a place or else he will kill me and I bring it him accordingly this is fellony in him 44. E. 3. 14. b. So if he make me sweare to surrender my estate unto him and I doe so afterwards this is a disseisin to mee 14. Ass Pl. 20. One imprisoned till he bee content to make an obligation at onother place and afterward he doth so being at large yet he shall avoid it by duresse of imprisonment 21. E. 4. 68. b. Outlawry in trespasse is no forfeiture of Land as outlawry of felony is for though the not appearing is the cause of the outlawry in both yet the force of the outlawry shall be esteemed according to the hainousnesse of the offence which is the principall cause and foundation of the processe 3. E. 3. 84. A man and feme sole have a villaine and afterwards enter-marry and the villaine purchaseth Land they shall not have lands by intierties but by moieties joyntly or in common as they had the villaine in the beginning Coke l. 5. f. 47. a. In Littletons case upon the generall pardon of 35. Eliz. Whether upon a bill exhibited in the Star-chamber before the Parliament and processe awarded returnable after the Parliament the suit shall be said to be hanging by bill before the returne or serving of the processe and it was resolved that it was because the bill is origo caput sectae the bill is the beginning and head of the suit Cujusque rei potissima pars principium est origo rei inspici debet Coke com f. 298. b. whereof he saith you shall make great use in the reading of our bookes A disseisor hath issue and entreth into religion by force of which the tenements descend to the issue in this case the disseisee may enter upon the issue because the discent of the issue was by the Act of the father and not by the act of God and the Law respecteth the originall Act which is his entry into religion whereas a descent doth not take away entry unlesse it commeth by death Littleton ibidem An escrowe is delivered by a feme sole if she marry or die yet by relation to the beginning it shall be good 14. 4. H. 2. Lessee for yeares is bound to I. S. to make him the best estate he can and afterwards the reversion falleth to him the Lessee shall be discharged of the Bond if he grantteh the estate he had at the bond making 12. H 8. 5. A stranger abateth after the death of the father the son dieth his wife shall not have dower for this abatement shall relate to the death of the father 21. E. 4. 60. An attainder by Act of Parliament hath relation to the first day of the Sessions 35. H. 8. b. Presentment tempore belli is not good to gaine possession from the right patron though the induction was tempore pacis Coke l. 2. Binghams case and l. 11. f. 99. b. And such an usurpation shall be construed to be in time of War A blow given by one at the time of non sanae memoriae though the party die when he is fanae memoriae it is not capitall Ployd D. Hales case So if a man of non sanae memoriae giveth himselfe a mortall wound and becommeth sanae memoriae and dieth he shall not be felo de se Coke l. 1. Shellies case f. 99. b. A man buyeth certaine beasts in Market which were stolen and selleth them out of the market and the Vendee giveth him a Crowne in earnest and afterwards they are brought into the Market and agreeth to his bargaine and payeth all his mony and also payeth toll for the beasts the property is not changed for the bargaine shall have relation to the first communication Dier f. 99. b. Tenant for life upon condition that if the Lessor die without issue the Lessee shall have see the Lessee entereth into religion and the Lessor dieth without issue the Lessee is dereyned he shall never have fee because at the time of the performance of the condition the fee could not vest in him Ployd f 489. a. In case of attainder by verdict for felony it shall have relation to the time of the fact done 30. H. 6. 5. Lands given in franke-marriage reserving a rent the reservation is void untill the fift degree is passed 26. Ass Pl. 66. One hath a Rent charge going out of his wifes Land the grantee leaseth to the husband and his heires the husband shall not have it but it shall inure to him by way of extinguishment onely as seised in right of his wife 14. H. 8. 6. The wife endowed by the heire is said to be immediately in by the husband and if the husband were a disseisor and the heire in by dissent yet the disseisee may enter upon the wife Littleton The executor refuseth the Administrator may have an action of trespasse for the goods taken out of the possession of the Executor supposing they were taken out of his possession 38. H. 6. 7. A Recovery without an originall is void and judgement given in Chancery without originall is void and an outlawry
husbands because it is possible for the husband to have got it and whose soever the Cow is his is the Calfe also Swinwood f. 18. And if the issue be borne within a month or day after marriage between parties of a full lawfull age the child is legitimate Coke Com. f. 244. a. And in the legall understanding of the common Law he is said to be haeres who is ex justis nuptijs procreatus borne of lawful matrimony haeres legitimus est quem nuptiae demonstrant and he is a lawfull heire whom marriage demonstrated so to be Coke ibidem f. 7. b. Coke l. 7. f. 44. a. One who is engendred in avowtry during the coverture is a mulier by the temporall and common Law though a bastard by the spirituall Law Jus sanguinis quod in legitimis successionibus spectatur ipso nativitatis tempore quaesitum est Reg. I. C. The right of blood which is regarded in lawfull successions or inheritances is found in the very time of the nativity and therefore jus primogeniturae the tight of the elder Brother-ship in the cause of inheritance is principally to be respected because it is in the eldest Son and his issue per modum substantiae and that which is in any person per modum substantiae is inseperable from him and cannot be extended to any other besides it is against the Laws of proximity of degrees that those which are in a remote degree should be preferred before those of the next degree and therefore in all common weales for the most part proximity of blood hath been preferred of which we have a notable example confirmed by the act of Lycurgus the judicious Law-giver as when Eunonus King of the Lacedaenonians had two Sons Polydectes the elder and Lycurgus the younger and Polydectes deceased leaving no Son living at the time of his death the Scepter of the Kingdome was seated in the hands of Lycurgus afterwards when Polydectes Widdow had brought forth a Son Lycurgus did willingly and peaceably yeeld to him the Scepter which act of Lycurgus agreeth fully with our Laws whereby it is ruled that if a man have a Son and Daughter and the Son purchaseth Land and dyeth the Daughter entreth and after the Father begetteth another Son of the same Wife this Son shall have the Land 19. H. 6. b and is also ratified by diverse examples in the successions of our Kings I will instance onely in one and the most illustrious one King Edward the third being deceased Richard the second the Son of his eldest Son obtained the Kingdome and was preferred before John Edmund and Thomas the sons of the same King wheras any of them was more worthy and fit for the Scepter yet is it granted that in succession of regall dignity jus primogeniturae is not constantly observed because in that case the good of the common-weale and commodity of the people is politically to be respected and as the Civilians the good estate of the Kingdome and Subjects is more to be heeded quam sangninis series then the pedigree of blood and so Solomon the younger Brother was advanced before the elder by the hand of David his Father and Roboam preferred Abias his younger Son yet this must be done cautiously and with a good conscience and intention and probably for the utility of the State otherwise it will neither please God nor man yet in the disposing of private estates the Law of Primogeniture is more strictly to be observed because by it confusion and dissention is avoyded which from the contrary doth proceed as is intimated by Coke l. 3. f. 40. b. Wherein our Law excelleth which preferreth the elder Brother and his issue before the younger Brother and his issue in case of descent and that jure sanguinis by his birth right as he is most worthy of blood and therefore as Coke in his com f. 14. a. The male and all descendant from him shall inherit before the female and among the males the eldest Brother and his posterity shall inherit Lands in Fee-simple as heire before any younger Brother or any descending from him whereas by the Civill Law the inheritance is divided among the males Lutleton l. 1. c. 1. There be three Brothers and the middle Brother purchaseth Lands in Fee simple and dyeth without issue the elder Brother shall have the Land by descent so also it is if the youngest purchaseth Lands in Fee and dyeth without issue the eldest shall have it jure sanguinis because he is the worthiest of blood Little So if a man enfeoffe another upon condition and the condition is broken and then the Feoffor dyeth without issue his wife privement ensaint and the Brother of the Feoffor enter for the condition broken and after a Son is borne he shall avoid the possession of the Uncle and may lawfully claime the inheritance 9. H. 7. 25. And 9. H. 8. 23. It is said that after two or more descents the heire afterwards born claiming by descent may enter into Land but he shall not have a Writ of account for the meane profits And though Littleton in defence of the custome of Gavelkind by which the issues may equally inherit alledgeth the reason that every Son is as great a Gentleman as the eldest Son is yet as Sr. Edward Coke com a. f. 14. saith Gentry and arms doth not descend to all the brethren alike for the eldest jure primogeniturae shall beare as a badg of his birth-right his Fathers armes without any difference because he is more worthy of blood but all the younger brethren shall give severall differences additio probat minoritatem and the addition demonstrateth and proveth the minority of the issue but by the Statute of 31. H. 8. A great part of Rent is made descendible to the eldest Son according to the course of the common Law for that by the meanes of that custome diverse antient and great families after a few descents came to very little or nothing according to the simile of the Poet In plures quoties rivos deducitur amnis Fit minor ac unda deficiente perit A Flood deduced into little streames Coke ibid. Soone groweth lesse and falleth by that meanes But in cases of purchase it is otherwise a. 15. E. 4. If a man devise land to a man and his heire and the devisee dieth having issue a daughter his wife privement enseint with a son who is afterwards borne the daughter shall enjoy the Land in perpetuum And 9. H. 6. 23. It is said that if the remainder cannot vest at any time when it falleth it shall not vest in him is borne afterwards where another hath entred before 2. Eliz. 190. Pl. 18. If a lease for life be made the remainder to the right heires of I. S. and I. S. is then alive the inheritance passeth presently out of the Lessor but cannot vest in the heire of I. S. for then living his father he is not in rerum natura for non
the writings are so is the chests and the box they are in because the Charters and Writings are the more worthy Noy Max. f. 7. 11. H. 4. 30. If one be instituted and inducted the tryall shall be by the Jury by reason of the induction because the realty as the more worthy is to be preferred 22. H. 8. 27. 43. E. 3 13. A Lease is of a Chamber and a Bed rendring rent in debt for the rent the Defendant shall not wage Law for the rent because the Chamber is magis dignum 21. E. 4. 3. An adulterer taketh away a mans wife and putteth her into new clothes the husband may take the wife with her clothes 11. H. 4. 31. A base mine where there is royal ore shall be the Kings for the worthinesse of the ore Ployd 318. A villaine shall make free Land to be villaine Land but villaine Land shall not make a Freeman to be a villain for the body of a man is more worthy then Land and therefore the Land shall follow the nature of the person 3. Eli. 238. So the Kings Land which he hath in his naturall capacity shall be demeaned according to the priviledge and prerogative of his body royall If a man be condemned in trespasse or re-disseisin and is in execution for the fine of the King or if he be outlawed of Felony his body shall not be in prison at the suite of the party for that the King hath an interest in his body who is magis dignus A majori digniori fieri debet denominatio Coke Com. f. 355. b. As Husband and wife are joynt Executors the Writ shall be executoribus non executricibus 22. H. 6. 30. A convenient proportion of Gold and Silver ore shall give the name to be a Mine royall Ployd f. 323. The grant of the Office of the Kings Tennis-Court the Play of the House is included in the grant because that onely giveth the name Coke l. 8. f. 45. in Woods case Dyer 314. Where speech is of a will it shall be intended of the last will for the will and the last will are taken for all one Quod in minori valet valebit in majori what is of force in the lesser shall be of force in the greater Coke com f. 260 a. As if a man in prison shall not be bound by a Recovery by default for want of answer in Court of Record in a reall action which is matter of Record a multo fortiori a descent in the Country which is matter of deed shall not for want of claime binde him that is in prison specially seeing he could not goe out of prison to make his continuall claime and the argument a minori ad majus doth ever hold affirmatively and the argument a majori ad minus doth ever hold negatively for it is also a rule quod in majori non valet non valebit in minori what is not of force in the greater shall not be of force in the lesser Magis minus non diversificant speciem Arist 2. Top. the greater and lesser doth not make the species and essence of things to differ the reason why great woods of the age of twenty one years are exempted from the payment of tithes is not because they are part of the free-hold or inheritance and that men use not to pay their tithes out of their free-hold but out of those things which spring out of their free-hold as out of corne grasse fruite and the like for the greatest Tree is no more part of the freehold then the lowest bramble and are both equall part of the ground wherin they grow do take a like sustenance and nourishment from the same neither do they differ as they are Trees one from the other secunduÌ„ magis minus but that the one Tree is a great Tree and the other a small shrub for the greater and the lesser doe not diversify the species But the cause of the provision in England by the Stat. of 45 E. 3. Ployd f. 470. b. why great Trees of the age of twenty one years doe not pay tithes is for that the one yeeldeth more profit to the common wealth and are Timber and serve for any use for building and therefore the cutting downe of them is made more penall then the other as in the like case by the Civill Law whosoever privily cutteth downe or barketh a Vine an Olive or a Figtree and doth any other unlawfull act whereby any fruitfull tree or any Timber tree doth perish and decay it is theft and is punished in the double value of the hurt which is done and if he be tenant of the ground who hath done it he loseth his hold because the Law respecteth the necessary use of them Ridleys view of the Law f. 207. Actus repugnans non potest in esse produci Reg. I. C. A repugnant act cannot be brought into being Ployd f. 355. a. Any man who is a legall owner of Land may give it unto any person in what manner and at what time he pleaseth so that his guift be not contrary to Law or repugnant As if an entaile be made upon condition that if the Donee alien that then it shall remaine unto another that is repugnant and therefore void for when he hath aliened it to a stranger then it is contrary to the alienation of a remainder over by it Coke l. 1. f. 84. a. Corbets case upon an estate the proviso was that if tenant in taile c. be resolved c to procure or attempt any act by which the estate taile may be barred and determined that then the uses and estates to him limited in respect of such person so attempting shall cease as if he were naturally dead the said proviso was adjudged repugnant and contrary to Law for the death of the tenant in taile is not the ceasing of the estate taile but the death of the tenant in taile that hath no issue of his body vide ibidem plura A Feoffment in fee of two acres unto two men Habendum one acre to one and the other to the other this Habendum is void for the contrariety for the Premisses give him an interest in both acres and the Habendum eâ—cludeth him from one 2. P.M. 153. In a trespasse de domo fracta muris ejusdem domus fractis the Defendant cannot pleade guilty to the breaking of the house and justify the breaking of the Walls for the house and the walls are all one and cannot of the same thing both justify and pleade not guilty for the one is contrary to the other and according to the rule cantraria allegâ—ns non est audiendus 21. H. 7. 21. He is not to be heard who alledgeth contrarieties an obligation is made solvendum nunquam this Solvendum is void for the contrariety and the thing presently due 21. E. 4. 36. A. is bound to B. Solvendum eidem A. the Solvendum is void for the contrariety and
to tender him the money and the other shifteth away to prevent him it seemeth in this case he shall be excused because he hath done his endeavour 8. E. 4. 1. by Catesby One was indited quod burglariter fregit intravit ecclesiam nocte ad depraedandum bona parochianorum in eadem existentia and good though he took nothing away for his will was to have taken Dier f. 99 and 58. A man giveth a juror money to embrace him though the verdict pass against him he shall be punished for this 28. H. 6. 12. A man carrieth his sick father into a croft whereby he dyeth it is felony An Harlot hid her child with leaves in a thicket and a Kite striketh it and killeth it it is felony A Bull Beare or Dog accustomed to doe hurt of which the master and owner well knowing doth not tie him up but suffereth him to goe at large and being so at large he killeth a man this is held by Fitzherbert to be felony in the owner of the Beast for thereby the owner seemeth to have a will to kill vide Wilson office of Coroner f. 11. And by the civill law if a man be bitten of another mans dog the owner of the dog is chargeable unto him that is hurt because he did not tie up his dog and musle him Fulb. Pand. f. 76. For it is a rule in the civill law voluntatem pro facto reputari A wife after the death of her husband being a copy-holder came into the Court and challenged her right of Frank-bank and prayed to be admitted but the steward refused to admit her yet was it adjudged an admittance in law So if a tenant alien and the feoffee tendreth his services and giveth a fine and the Lord refuseth the Lord shall be compelled to avow upon him and so continuall claime amounteth to an entry Huttons rep f. 18. And therefore the deniall to doe any thing is a breach of covenant as if a man be bound to doe an act when I request him and I doe request him and he will not doe it he hath forfeited his band 15. E. 4. 21. 34. H. 8. 23. Exitus plerumque in maleficiis spectatur non voluntas the act and not the will in evill facts is respected and considered though in ancient times the will was so materiall in felonious attempts that it was taken for the fact it selfe and so adjudged as one intending the death of another man woundeth him so grievously that he leaveth him for dead and afterward flyeth and the man wounded revived it was then adjudged to be felony in so much as his will appeared to have killed him 1. E. 3. with which Bractons saying accordeth in maleficiis spectatur voluntas non exitus but this law is not now in force for he must be dead indeed before it be adjudged felony and though the will be wanting the evill deed is alway censured for felony As if I hurt another onely with an intention to beat him and he dieth it is felony So upon the malicious words of a woman two men fought and the one killed the other the woman in this case was arraigned for the death of the slaine man Three men goe together to diffame one and one of them killeth a man the other two are principalls though they had no such will and intention Non efficit conatus nisi sequatur effectus non efficit affectus nisi sequatur effectus Coke l. 11. f. 98. b. A conation and an affection hurteth not unless the Act and effect ensue As those who have Offices of trust and confidences shall not forfeit them by conations and intentions to doe Acts although they declare them by express words unless the Act it selfe ensue As if one who hath the custody of a Park shall say that hee will kill the game in his custody or that hee will cut downe the trees in the Park yet doth hee neither kill the game or cut downe the trees that is no forfeiture sic de similibus for in all such cases there ought to be such a fact or a negligence which amounteth to as much to wit as to the destruction of the game If a Bishop Arch-Deacon or Parson c abateth all the trees it is a good cause of deprivation 9. E. 4. 34. If a Prior make dilapidation it is a good cause to deprive him 29. E. 3. 16. 20. H. 6. 36. But if it be but a conation or enterprise without any Act done in none of these cases it is cause of deprivation for in these cases voluntas non reputabitur pro facto the will shall not be reputed for the deed So a conation or an enterprise cannot be the cause of the disfranchisement of a Citizen or Burgesse for he may repent before the execution of it and then no prejudice will ensue but the matter which shall be the cause of a disfranchisement must be an Act or a deed against the trust and duty of his freedome or to the prejudice of the publike good of the City or Burrough vide ibidem plura in James Baggs case Affectus punitur licet non sequatur effectus Coke l. 9. f. 56. 57. in the Poulters case The affection or will to doe a thing is punished though the effect followeth not Though a Writ of conspiracy doth not lie unless that the party be indited legitimo modo acquietatus for so are the words of the writ yet false confederacy among diverse persons shall be punished though that nothing was put in ure as 27. Ass Pl. 44. Two were indited of confederacy either of them to maintaine the other though the matter was true or false and though nothing was supposed to be put in ure yet the parties were put to answer to it for that such a thing is forbidden by the law And in the next Article of the same book enquiry shall be made of conspirators and confederators which confederate among themselves c. falsely to endite and acquit and of the manner of their alliance and betweene whom which proveth that confederation to endite and acquit is punishable by the law though that nothing was executed And it is holden 19. R. 2. title briefe 726. A man shall have a writ of confederacy though as they do nothing but confederate together and shall recover damages and may be indited for it also Also the usuall commission of Oyer and Terminer giveth power to the Commissioners to enquire de omnibus coadunationibuâ— confederationibus falsis alligantiis coadunatio is an uniting them together confederation is a combination between them and falsa alligantia is a false alliance one with another by obligation or promise to execute any unlawfull Act which the law punisheth before any fact is executed to the end to prevent the unlawfull act quia quando aliquid prohibetur prohibetur illud per quod pervenitur ad illud for when any thing is forbidden that also is forbidden by which
by discontinuance disseisin abatement c. and of this right is the saying to be understood that the right descendeth and not the Land which may be released to him in possession and this right is also called jus proprietatis as if a man be disseised of an Acre of Land the disseisee hath jus proprietatis and the Disseisor hath jus possessionis and if the Disseisee release to the Disseisor he hath jus proprietatis possessionis Coke com 266. a. but the reservation of a Rent upon such a release is voyd as if the disseisee release to the disseisor of Land reserving a rent the reservation is voyd Coke com 144. b. Neither can a bare right a right of entry or a thing in action be granted or transferred to a stranger by the ancient maxime of the Common Law Coke com f. 166. for that thereby is avoyded great oppression injury and injustice but if a bare right happen to be forfeited to the King he may grant the same by his Prerogative Frustra est potentia quae nunquam venit in actum Vaine is the possibility which never commeth into act Coke l. 2. f. 501. There is jus proprietatis possessionis possibilitatis and the right of possibility which dependeth upon the death of a man hath a necessary and common intendment to wit necessary in regard that all the issues of Adam must dye for statutum est omnibus hominibus semel mori and common because the death may happen at such a time that the contingency may take effect and this necessary and common possibility is called potentia propinqua which may come into act and is not therefore vaine or voyd in Law as in 15 H. 7. 10. If Lands be given to a marryed man and a marryed woman and to the heires of their two bodies ingendred this is a good estate in tail for it is of necessity that death shall ensue and in common possibility that one shall dye before the other so as the marryage may ensue but in the same case there shall not be possibility upon possibility and therefore if land be given to one man and two women there the Law shall not intend that first he shall marry one and then that shee that he shall marry shall dye and that he shall espouse the other and therefore in this case they have severall inheritances at the beginning as if Land be given to two barons and their femes and the heires of their bodies engendred in this case the Law shall not expect second marriages and therefore in this case they shall have joynt estates for life and one baron and feme one moyety in tail in common with the other baron and feme of the other moyety and so severall inheritances and with it accordeth 24. E. 3. 29. for otherwise there should be possibility upon possibility and if a man give Land to baron and feme there is an apparent possibility that they shall have issue but if after they be divorced causa praecontractus so as the possibility is dissolved the Law shall never expect the second marriage for by the divorce they have but an estate of Frank-tenement 4. H. 7. 16. 17. And a woman may enfeoff a married man causa matrimonij prae locuti for it is of necessity that death shall ensue and in common possibility that the Feme of the Feoffee shall dye before the Feoffee So in the common case of a lease for life the remainder to the right heires of I. S. the remainder is good for the necessary and common intendement vide ibidem plura in Lampets case Coke l. 10. f. 50. b. For the Law respecteth the right of possibility and will have nothing to be void that by possibility may be good As a mesnalty is given in tail reserving a rent this is good for the tenancy may escheate to the donee and then the doner shall distraine for all the arrearages 1. H. 4. 2. A man hath issue a daughter and leaveth his wife privement enseint the wife may detaine the Charters of her husbands Lands from the Daughter for the possibility it may be a Son shee goeth withall 41. E. 3. 21. b. But if A. be indebted to B. in two hundred pounds and delivereth goods to him to sell to pay his debt in the best manner he can and he is proferred two hundred pounds for them and refuseth and after selleth them for an hundred pounds A. shall answer the residue of the debt notwithstanding this possibility 18. E. 4. 5. But the possibility must be propinque and a common possibility as death or dying without issue or coverture or the like but if it be a remote possibility the Law doth judge it vaine because it shall not be intended by common intendement to happen as a remainder to a corporation which is not at the time of the limitation and remainder is void though such a corporation was after erected during the particular estate for that was potentia remota 9. H. 6. 24. For as Ployd f. 345. a. b. It is a principle in Law that all gifts be it by devise or otherwise they ought to have a donee in esse and not in posse who hath capacity to take them given when it ought to vest as devise of Lands in fee and so of goods if the devise dye before the devisor neither his Heire or Executor shall gaine any thing by this Will vide ibidem plura in Brets case So if a lease be made for life the remainder to the right heires of I. S. if at the limitation of the remainder there be not any such I. S. but during the life of tenant for life I. S. is borne and dyeth his heire shall never take as it is agreed in 2. H. 7. 13. And so in 11. E. 3. 46. the case was that upon a fine levied to R. he granted and rendred the tenements to one I. and F. his wife for their lives the remainder to G. the Son of I. in tail the remainder to the right heires of I. and at the time levied I. had not any son named G. but after he had issue named G. and in praecipe against F. it was adjudged that G. should not take the remainder in tail because he was not borne at the time of the fine levied but long after by which another who was right heire of I. S. was received for when I. had not any son named G. at the time of the fine levied the law doth not expect that he shal have a Son named G. after for that is potentia remota a remote possibility But if the remainder had been limited by a generall name as to the right heirs of I. or primogenito filio such a remainder might have been good for the common possibility But if a remainder be contrary to Law the Law shall never adjudge a grant good by reason of a possibility or expectation of a thing which is contrary to Law for that is potentia
of the Law when one thing is provided for in the words that every other thing in the like kind shall be provided for in the same words And so when the words of a Statute enact one thing they enact all other things which are in the semblable degree As whereas the Statute of 9 E. 3. c 31. ordaineth that in an Action of Debt against Executors he that commeth in by distresse shall answer the said Act shall be extended by equity to Administrators for whosoever of them commeth in first by distress shall answer by the equity of the said Act because they are in the like degree So the Statute of 4 H. 4. c. 8. giveth an especiall Assise to him who is disseised and ousted of his land by force against the Disseisor and it is enacted that he shall recover against him double damages And so it is in an Assise of Nusance to turn the course of the water from the Mills of the Plaintiff with force it was adjudged that he should recover double damages and yet he was not put out of his land neither was there a disseisin but the Nusance was to the damage of his Frank-tenement and so by the equity of the said act the Plaintiff recovered double damages because the Nusance was in the like kind So the Statute of Gleucester giveth an Action of Wast c. against him who holdeth for life or for yeares and by the equity of it a man shall have an action of Wast against him who holdeth for a yeare or for twenty weeks and yet it is out of the words of the act because it is in the like degree and the cases which are of such degree in our Law are infinite Ployd f. 165. a. And there is another sort of equity which abridgeth and taketh from the letter and is a correction of the generall words Ethie 30. l. 10. and is defined by Aristotle to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a correction of a Law wherein it is any way wanting because of the generality of it which also in our Law is of much use As when an act of Parliament is made that whosoever shall do such an act shall be a Felon and be put to death and yet a man non sarae memoriae or an Infant of tender age who hath no discretion doth it they shall not be Felons c. or if a Statute be made that all persons who shall receive or give meat or drink or other aid to one who shall do a felonious act shall be accessory to the Offence and be put to death yet if one doth such an act and commeth to his wife who knowing it receiveth him and giveth meat and drink unto him she shall not be accessory nor Felon for in the generality of the said words of the Law he of non sanae memoriae nor Infant nor a Wife shall not be included and so equity correcteth the generality of the Law in those cases and the words generall are by equity abridged so the Statute of Champerty W. 2. l. 49. Arti. super Chart. contra probatos men generally do receive Lands and Tenements while the thing is in plea yet M. 16. R. 2. accord it was said by the whole Court in a Writ of Champerty that if I bargaine any lands before any Writ brought and after the Writ purchased I deliver Seisin That the Writ of Champerty doth not lye because it shall not be intended that the Bargain was made for such cause and that by equity for when he bargained and promised the land upon just consideration before any action brought against him it was his act to perform it notwithstanding the action And Costle promoter of the King brought an action of Extortion H. 21. H. 7. 16. against an under-Sheriff grounded upon the Statute of 23 H. 6. c. 10. which ordaineth that neither the Sheriff Goaler or Ministers nor any of them by colour of their Office shall take any thing profit c. of any person for fine fee or ease of prison but for the Sheriff 20 d. the Bayliff 4 d. and the Goaler 4 d. supposing that he had taken 20 d. above the same limited upon the Statute and upon demurrer it appeared upon evidence to the Court that all under Sherifs of the same county have used from the time whereof memory doth not run to have of every prisoner in their ward for suspition of Felony when they are acquitted twenty pence called the Bar fee and the twenty pence supposed to be taken were taken from the person named in the count being acquitted for a Bar-fee and the opinion of the whole Court was that it was out of the raise of the Statute though it was within the words of the Statute for that the sum of a Bar-fee was assigned to the Sheriff at the beginning by the order and discretion of the Court in respect of his labour and charge he had with the prisoners and for his attendance and for his ministry when the prisoners are brought to their delivery and so that payment was with reason and good conscience which the intent of the makers of the act was not to take away and so equity did put an exception to the generality of that text of the Statute Law So the Statute of W. 2. c. 4. ordaineth that where a man rat or dog escapeth alive out of a Ship neither the Ship nor any thing that is within it shall be adjudged wrack but all the things shall be saved and kept by the view of the Sheriff c. in the hands of those of the Towne where the things were found so that if any one can prove that they are his within a yeare and a day they shall be restored to him and whosoever doth otherwise shall be awarded to prison and remaine at the will of the King and render damages yet if the goods within the Ship be such things as will not endure for a yeare and a day the Sheriff may sell them and deliver the mony taken for them to the Towne to answer for it and that by equity though it be against the words of the said Act. So the Act of 2. E. 6. c. 14. Which giveth to the King all Lands and Tenements by any assurance conveyance given assigned or limited to find any preacher to have continuance for ever c. if the words of that act should be taken generally they give to the King al the houses and glebe Lands of all Parsons and Vicars but equity putteth in that text the exception of Parsonages and Vicarages because it was not the intention of the makers of that Act Ployd f. 466. vide ibidem plura There is another excellent use of equity which consisteth in guiding the grounds and maxims of of things which seem to crosse and thwart one another for as Sir John Doderidge English Lawyer f. 209. it is scarcely possible to make any second rule of Law but that it shall faile in some particular
7. Quicquid non excutitur justitia non putatur Reg. I.C. Coke l. 6. f. 52. a. Quicunque aliquid statueret parte inaudita altera aequum licet statuerit haud aequum fecerit whatsoever is not discussed and tried is not to be reputed Justice and if any one shall decree any thing one of the parties being not heard though he doth decree that is right yet hath he not done that is just and equall in Bosewels case where it was resolved that no Incumbent shall be removed by a Quare Impedit or an Assise of Darrein presentment purchased within the six moneths unlesse the Incumbent be named in the Writ although the Incumbent be in a defeasible Title for then he shall be removed and adjudged not being heard Quicunque aliquid c. So Coke l. 11. f. 99. a. in James Baggs case though the Mayor and Counsel-chamber of Plymmouth have lawfull authority either by their Charter or Prescriprion to remove any one from his freedome and that they have just cause to remove him yet if it appear by the return that they have proceeded against him without hearing him to answer to what is objected or that he was not reasonably warned such a removement is void and shall not bind the party In ancient times where any were found guilty by the good people by Inquest for any mortall Offence the King gave order to execute them without any answer Mirror of Justice which custome may seem to be derived from the Dictators power among the Romans who had authority to cast any into prison and to punish him with death indicta causa And which also was a custome among the Gauls De Laud. l. Aug. 4. 82. whom now we call French which as Fortescue saith in his time remained among them to wit That the King usually calling his Nobles into his Counsel-chamber without any form of judgment were adjudged criminous by the Conscience of the Prince and thereupon were they presently by the Marshals servants put into Sacks and in the night by them precipitated into deep rivers and so drowned And which custome also was used in Almaine But King Alfred in compassion of the frailty of man who cannot keep himself from sinning without the assistance of the grace of God abrogated that custome and decreed that no Appelle or Inditee should be condemned or executed without answer Mirror of Justice l. 2 f. 3. which still continueth and therefore saith Coke l. 2. Epist ad lectorem are our Lawes commended above other which punisheth not the greatest Offenders though it be for Treason but by just and equall proceedings in Law according to the ancient Lawes of England declared by the generall Charter Nulli vendemus nulli negabimus justitiam rectum And therefore saith Fortescue De Laud. l. A. f. 122. It is part of the charge of the Judges Oath not for any command of the Prince either by Letters or by word of mouth to deviate from Justice or to deny right to any but to minister justice and right indifferently to all as well enemies as friends and accordingly saith he Queen Elizabeths charge to the Justices was That for no commandment of hers common right should be disturbed or delayed Whereas in other Countries the Judges had rather misconster the Law and do injustice then to displease the Kings humour according to the old Sarchasme Ad libitum regis sonuit sententia legis For which unlawfull and wilfull perversness some of our later Kings have been blamed and for which as Frossard saith l. 2. c. 3. Edward the second was condemned quod in audita causa aliquos proceres de medio tollebat that he did punish with death some of his Nobles without hearing their case neither was the stupendious proceeding of Henry the eigth against his new created darling the Lord Cromwell commendable Hen 8. f. 71 or allowable though acted by Parliament who being accused of high Treason and Heresie as Godwin saith inauditus damnatur is condemned without hearing his answer Neither is David's unjust judgment in condemning Mephibosheth being absent 2 Kings 16. and unheard upon the false accusation of Siba approved for whosoever shall decree any thing the other being not heard though the decree be right yet it is not just and equall Quicunque jussu judicis aliquid fecerit non videtur dolo malo fecisse quia parere necesse est Coke l. 10. f. 70. b. He that doth any thing by commandment of the judge seemeth not to have done any thing with a fraudulent intent because he needs must obey And therefore the Officers and Ministers of a Court are not to be punished for executing the precept and warrant of the Court whereas if they had refused to do it the Court would have punished them for their disobedience As in 16 E 3. 70. it is taken for a Maxime that the thing which the Officer doth by Precept or warrant of the Court cannot be said to be against the peace Dr. Stud. f. 150. The Officers of the King are bound to execute the Writs of the King at their perill But this diversity is to be taken that when a Court hath jurisdiction of a Cause and proceedeth erroniously there the party who sueth or the Officers and Ministers of the Court that execute the precept and proces of the Court are not liable to an action but when the Court hath no jurisdiction of the Cause and all the proceeding is coram non Judice actions do lye against them without any regard to the precept or proces for when he hath no jurisdiction he is no judge and it is not of necessito obey him who is no judge no more then a meer stranger for it is a rule Extra terratorium jus dicente non paretur impune He that obeyeth in prescribing Lawes beyond his jurisdiction shall not go without punishment Co. ibid. f. 57. A B. And therefore 22 E. 4.33 Pigot said that if the Court hath not power and authority their proceeding is coram non Judice As if the Court of the Common Bench hold plea in an appeal of death robbery c. and the Defendant is attaint it is coram non Judice but if the same Court in an a plea of debt award a Capias against a Duke c. which by the Law lyeth not against him and it appeareth in the Writ it self yet if the Sheriff arrest him by force of that Capias because the Court hath jurisdiction of the Cause the Sheriff is excused though the writ is against the Law And so if a Capias commeth unto him without an Originall and he serveth it it is excusable in false imprisonment Dyer f 60. pl. 26. So if a Iustice of Peace make a Warrant to arrest one for felony which is not indicted though the Iustice of Peace erre in the Warrant of it yet he that maketh the Arrest by force of that Warrant shall not be punished by a Writ
another to save his life thrust him from it whereby he is drowned this is neither se defendendo nor by misadventure but is justifiable Bac. Max. f. 25. So if diverse Felons be in a Goale and the Goale by casualty is set on fire whereby the prisoners get forth this is no escape nor breach of prison 15. H. 7. 2. by Keble So if a man have right to Land and doth not make his claime for feare of force the Law alloweth him continuall claime which shall be as beneficiall to him as any entry 12. H. 4. 20. Lit. So where Baron and Feme commit a Felony the Feme can neither be principall nor accessary because the Law intendeth her to have no will in regard of the obedience and subjection shee oweth to her husband Stanf. 26 2. E. 3. 1â—0 Cor. Fitz. So one reason why Embassadors are used to be excused of practises against the State where they reside unlesse it be in point of conspiracy which is against the Law of Nations and Society is because it doth not appeare whether they have it in Mandatis and then they are excused by necessity of obedience Bacon Max f. 26. So if I be tenant for yeares of an house and it by the Act of God or a stranger be over-throwne by great tempest or by sudden floods or invasion of Enemies in all these cases I am excused in wast 42. E. 3. 6. 19. E. 3. by Fitz. wast Ployd f. 9. b. Any man in his defence or a Champion upon tryall may kill others and that is for the necessity of the salvation of his life in his defence and by the common Custome of the Realme the Hostelers shall be charged with the Goods of the Guests lossed and taken out of their houses yet if their houses be broken by the Kings enemies and the goods of the guests lessened or embezelled they shall not be charged with them because they could not resist them ibidem So for necessity the funerall expences shall be first paid by the Executors Broh executor 162. So a man may milk a Cow that he hath by return irrepleaible and that is for necessity Finch Nom. I. S. 35. Davis 122. 1. Nihil magis est justum quam quod necessarium est Nothing is more just then what is necessary So the King by his Prerogative for the necessary charges of the Crown may decree Imposts and Impositions payable upon Merchandizes contrary to the petition of right and property Though a man may not be punished for an act he doth by necessity of obedience yet if the act be unlawfull he is not the less to be blamed or if it be not necessitas culpabilis As those which releived Sir John Oldcastle with provision were not punished because they did it pro timore mortis for feare of death Steel in the C. of M. H. Coke com l. 5. f. 40. b. Necessitas saepenumero vincit communem legem Necessity for the most part overcommeth the common Law As if two Joynt-tenants be of land to them and the heires of one of them they shall not joyn in a Writ of Right But two Joynt tenants and the heires of one of them in a Writ of Advowson shall joyn in a Writ of right of Advowson And the reason of the diversity is because that in the first case they have severall means and remedies as it is agreed in 46 E. 3. 21. But in the other case if Tenant for life shall not joyn with him that hath the fee neither the one nor the other shall have any remedy and therfore in this case necessity overcometh the Law ibidem Coke l. 10 f. 61. a. Illud quod alias licitum non est necessitas facit licitum necessitas inducit privilegium quod jure privatur Bract. f. 247. that which is not otherwise lawfull necessity maketh lawfull and necessity introduceth a priviledge which is deprived by Law As if a Bishop granteth an Annuity-out of his Bishoprick that is restrained by the Statute of 1 Eliz because it is a diminution of its revenues and depauperation of its successors But if a Bishop grant an Office to one only that is not restrained by the statute of 1 Eliz. because such Grants are for necessity for if the Bishop should not have power to grant such Offices of service and necessity for the life of the Grantees no sufficient persous would serve them in such Offices or at the least would not discharge it with such alacrity if they had no estate for their lives but that their estates did depend upon uncertains as the death or translation of the Bishop Bacon Max. f 17. Privilegium non valet contra rempublicam The necessity of priviledge prevaileth not against the Common wealth for publick necessity is greater then private and therefore in all cases if the act be against the Common-wealth necessity excuseth it And accordingly the Law imposeth on every Subject that he prefer the urgent service of his Prince and Country before the safety of his life As in a tempest if those in a Ship throw over their Goods they are not answerable But if upon command they have Ordinance and amunition to releive any of the Kings Townes they cannot justifie the throwing of them over ibidem So in the case of Husband and Wife if they joyn in committing Treason the necessity of obedience doth not excuse the wife as in felony because it is against the Common-wealth 13 H 8.16 by Shelly So if a fire be taken in a street I may justifie the pulling down of the Wall or House of another mans to save the row from the spreading of the fire 12 H. 10 by Brook 22 Assise pl. 66 But if I be assailed in my House City or Town and distressed and to save my life set fire on my house which taketh hold upon other houses adjoyning I am subject to their action of the case because I cannot rescue my own life by any thing which is against the Common wealth but if it had been but a private trespass as the going over anothers ground or the breaking of his inclosure when I am pursued for the safety of my life it is justifiable 6 E. 4. 7. But necessitas culpabilis excuseth not as to kill one se defendendo is not matter of justification because quarrels are presumed not to grow without some wrong and the Law supposeth the party not to be without some malice and therefore it putteth him to sue out his pardon of course and punisheth him with the loss of his Goods Bacon Max. f 28. Compulsion also is a good excuse in our Law against the words of the Law And therefore whatsoever I do by duresse is not my act but may be avoided according to the rule Actus me invito factus non est meus actus An act done against my will is not my act as when I am compelled for fear of imprisonment to make a Bond or a Deed such a fear sufficeth to avoid