first Marry that one shall have Fee they enter Marry neither of them shall have Fee for the Uncertainty 1 Inst 218. a. Where one shall have Judgment to be hanged after he is slain IN an Appeal of Death the Defendant waged Battel and was slain in the Field yet Judgment was given that he should be hanged which the Judges said was altogether necessary for otherwise the Lord could not have a Writ of Escheat 1 Inst 390. b. One Attainted after his Death THE Lord Coke observes that in Eire it has been seen that a Man hath been attainted after his Death by Presentment 1 Inst 390. b. Execution before Judgment UPON Issue joyned and Tryal thereupon a Verdict was found for the Plaintiff and the Postea was delivered to the Clerk of the Judgments to enter the Judgment but through the Clerk's neglect Execution was taken out before it was entred Hereupon the Court was moved to supersede the Execution because there was no Judgment to warrant it Roll said it being but a neglect of the Clerk Judgment might well enough be entred tho' the Execution were issued forth and because the Trial between the Parties is right Stiles 229. Where a Grant to a Monk shall be good AN English Man goes into France and there becomes a Monk yet is he capable of any Grant in England because such Profession is not triable and also because all Profession is taken away by Statute and by our Religion holden as void so adjudged in Ley's Case p. tot cur 2 Roll. 43. Nor will such Profession abroad disable him to bring any Action here because it wants Trial so that of foreign Profession the Common Law takes no knowledge 1 Inst 132. b. The Freehold discontinued and not the Reversion HUSBAND and Wife Lease the Lands of the Wife by Deed for Life reserving a Rent the Husband dies This was a discontinuance at Common Law for Life and yet the Reversion was not discontinued but remained in the Wife Otherwise if the Husband had made the Lease alone 1 Inst 333. a. Reversion Revested yet the Discontinuance remains FEME Tenant for Life the Baron makes a Feoffment and the Lessor enters for the Forfeiture here is the Reversion revested and yet the Discontinuance remains at the Common Law for the Wife was put to her cui in vita and could not enter after her Husband's Death 1 Inst 335. a. Where the Defendant may pray and have Judgment against himself IN Assumpsit to pay several Summs at several days if the Action be brought for default of payment at the first day before any other day of payment is incurred and the Defendant plead Non Assumpsit which is found against him but the Plaintiff will not enter Judgment for fear of being barred to have a new Action upon the same promise if default be in the other payments yet may the Defendant enter Judgment according to the Verdict if he will 2 Roll. 97. Shapeland and Curtis Vide Dyer 194. n. 34. and 2 Roll. 97. That if a Verdict be found for the Defendant and he will not pray Judgment yet Judgment shall be given for him at the prayer of the Plaintiffs because then he may have his Attaint against the Jury Where the Plaintiff shall have Judgment tho' the Issue be found against him IN Replevin the Defendant avowed for a Rent of 20 l. supposing that I. S. was seized in Fee of the place where c. and in 28th of Eliz. granted a Rent of 20 l. per annum and for the Rent arrear an 12 Jac. he avows c. it was found specially upon issue Non concessit that T. S. was seized in Fee and let that Land an 23 Eliz. to I. S. for 21 Years and he so possessed granted that Rent and fi c. upon this Verdict tho' the Issue be found Quod concessit and so for the Avowant yet because it appears that the Estate out of which the Rent is granted was determined a long time before the distress taken so that the Defendant had not any title to avow 't was held That Judgment should be for the Plaintiff tho' the Issue was found against him 2 Cro. 442. Harrison and Metcalf See 2 Cro. 221. 435. 640. Cro. Eliz. 157. Agent and Patient IT is a Rule in Law that Idem non potest esse Agens Patiens and therefore a Man cannot present himself to a Benefice make himself an Officer nor Sue himself and therefore when one having right to Land has the Freehold cast upon him by a latter Title he shall be said in of his ancient Title because there is none against whom he may Sue but himself and he cannot Sue himself Littleton 147. b. So no Man can summon himself and therefore if a Sheriff suffer a common recovery it is Error because he cannot summon himself Dyer 188. a. Owen 51. A Man cannot be both Judge and Party in a Suit and therefore if a Judge of the Common Pleas be made Judge of the King's Bench tho' it be but hâc vice it determines his Patent for the Common Pleas for if he should be Judge of both Benches together he should controul his own Judgment for if the Common Pleas err it shall be reformed in the King 's Bench. See Cro. Car. 600. Littleton Chief Justice of the Common Pleas made Lord Keeper yet continued Chief Justice so Sir Orlando Bridgman was both Lord Keeper and Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas at the same time for these places are not inconstent 1 Siderf 338 365. A Bishop cannot hold a Parsonage by Commendam within his own Diocess because he cannot visit himself or be Parson and Ordinary too 1 Siderf 305. If a Fine be levied to a Judge of the Common Pleas he himself cannot take the Connsance for he cannot be his own Judge But if an Action be sued in C. B. against all the Judges there there for necessity they shall be their own Judges 2 Roll. 92 93. But Note in many cases the same Person may be Agent and Patient where the Law cannot do otherwise as a Feme Tenant in socage may endow herself de la pluis beale Lit. Sect. 48. So an Executor may pay himself by Retainer So where one may vouch himself 1 Inst 390. a. So where one limits a Remainder to himself If one of the Chapter being sole seized enfeoffe the Dean and Chapter by that he himself shall take by his own Livery Perk. Fol. 42. See Hob. 138 139. A Mittimus directed to the Bishop of Durham commanding him to send a Record to the Justices of the County Palatine to be tried there is well enough and may be executed by the Bishop tho' he himself be one of the Justices So one may be Judge and Officer diversis respectibus as in a Redisseisin the Sheriff is Judge and Officer Cro. Car. 138. So where a Mayor keeps the Goal Cro. Eliz. 76. Where one Impannelled on a Jury may challenge himself A PEER of
for the Matter as Form upon divers exceptions to the pleading Judgment should be given against the King After this one Thomas Harrison Batchelor of Divinity came to the Court of Common Pleas Hutton and Crawley being then upon the Bench and said I accuse Mr. Justice Hutton of High Treason for which he was committed to the Fleet by Justice Crawley and after by the King's direction indited in B. R. and Convicted and Fined 5000 l. to the King And the Judge preferring his Bill against him there recovered 10000 l. damages Hut Rep. 131. Cro. Car. 503. Trades IN the time of H. IV. when Sir William Gascoine was Lord Chief Justice a certain Vintner was indicted for selling of Wine and also for selling of Victuals to such as would resort to Dine and Sup at his House and being thereof Convicted he was Fined whereupon he consulted with some of his Fraternity and told 'em If they would give five Pounds to Gascoine all would be well and so they collected 5 l. between 'em to present him which Gascoine understanding he caused the Vintner to be Indicted for this also who was after Fined for it Palmer 396. 397. Note A Man could not by the Common Law use as many and what Trades he would before the Stat. 5. Eliz. Memorandum John Walter Knight Lord Chief Baron a profound learned Man and of great Integrity and Courage being Lord Chief Baron by Patent primo Caroli quamdiù se benè gesserit fell into the King's displeasure and being commanded to forbear the exercising of his Judicial place in Court never did exercise it from the beginning of Mich. Term quinto Caroli untill he died viz. the Eighteenth of November 1630. But because he had that Office quam diù se benè gesserit he would not leave his place nor surrender his Patent without a scire facias to shew what Cause there was to determine or forfeit it so that he continued Chief Baron until the Day of his Death Cro. Car. 203. One Indicted for behaving himself immodestly and Irreverently at Church A CERTIORARI was prayed to remove an Indictment at the Sessions at Hartford against I. S. quod non reverentèr modestè se gessit during Divine Service but the Court refused to grant it for altho' it is punishable by Ecclesiastick censures yet they conceived it a proper cause within the cognizance of the Justices of Peace 1 Keb. 491. Slander ACTION upon the Case for Words against a Feme on a question asked her per quendam ignotum Did I. S. the Plaintiff Ravish you She answered Yes Had he the use of your Body She answered Yes Whereupon he brought his Action against Baron and Feme Foster conceived that in regard the Person is found to have done it falsò malitiosè without legal authority 't is a Scandal contrà by Twisden in one Emme's Case one that had a Child at Nurse came to a Surgeon with whom she was reported to be in cure for the Pox who on enquiry told the Father she had the foul Disease which was held no Scandal not being spoken malitiosè with intent to Scandal her 1 Keble 542. Host and Oakeman Thou art a Thief and hast stollen my Maiden Head no Action lies 1 Brownlow 2. Justa occasio Loquendi IN Fox's Book of Martyrs there is a story of one Greenwood who lived in Suffolk that he had perjured himself before the Bishop of Norwich in testifying against a Martyr that was burnt in Queen Mary's time and had therefore afterwards by the just Judgment of God his Bowels rotted in him and so died But it seems this story was utterly false of Greenwood who after the Printing of the Book of Martyrs was living in the same Parish It happened after that one Prick a Parson was presented to the Living of that Parish where this Greenwood dwelt and some time after in one of his Sermons happened to inveigh much against the Sin of Perjury to which his Text led him and the better to deterr the People from it he told them this passage out of Fox That one Greenwood being a Perjured Person and a great Persecutor had great Plagues inflicted upon him and was killed by the Hand of God whereas in truth he never was so Plagued and was himself present at that Sermon and thereupon brought his Action upon the Case for calling him a Perjured Person and the Defendant pleaded Not Guilty And this matter being disclosed upon the Evidence Wray Chief Justice delivered the Law to the Jury That this being delivered but as a Story and not with any Malice or Intention to slander any he was not guilty of the Words maliciously and so was found Not Guilty This Case is cited by Coke 2 Cro. 91. and affirmed to be good Law by Popham when one delivers ought after his occasion as matter of Story and not with intent to Slander any See the Case 1 Roll. 87. 'T is cited too by Sir Robert Atkins in his Treatise of the Jurisdiction and Privelege of Parliament c. fol. 11. If a Man says he be in discharge of his Function and lawful Calling and discoursing of a subject proper for it in pursuit thereof tells a Story which he takes up upon Trust not knowing it to be false and it prove at last to be utterly untrue and an innocent Person is highly Slandered by it yet he shall not be subject to an Action of Slander for it the occasion of speaking shall clear him from the Malice without which the Action will not lie One calling himself by a wrong Name is arrested the Arrest is naught IN an Action of False Imprisonment by Coot against Lighworth the Defendant justified because he had a Warrant to Arrest I. D. and he demanded of Coot what his Name was who answered that his Name was I. D. and therefore he arrested him to which the Plaintiff demurred and had Judgment for the Defendant at his peril must take notice of the Party Moor fol. 457. Agreeable hereunto see Doctor and Stud 311. That if a Sheriff upon a Replevin deliver other Beasts than were destrained tho' by information of the Party that destrained yet Trespass lies for he shall be compelled by the Law to execute the King 's Writ at his peril according to the Tenor thereof and to see that the Act which he doth be lawfully done Note Grome's Case in Palmer's Rep. 395. I. S. knowing that Execution would be made upon his Goods procured I. D. by Covin to bring his Cart into his Yard to the intent that the Baily might take it in Execution and so to have Trespass against him the Bailiff did take the Cart but afterwards having knowledge of the matter sent the Cart back and I. D. brought Trespass but Lea Chief Justice held that the Bayliff might plead the fraud in excuse Bond in a Book good A MAN writes an Obligation in a Book and in the same Leaf he puts his Seal to it and then delivers the Book to
assign a Shop or sell braided Wares to B. there in respect of the apparent prejudice which may accrue to B. if A. should continue the Trade such a Bond or Promise is good adjudged so in Froward's Case upon a Writ of Error But note although there be such a consideration yet if the restraint be general throughout England it is void Vide 1 Roll. 16 17. and Moor 115. and 242. Cunning Practice A MAN was Arrested in an Action of Debt and presently made a Warrant to an Attorney to acknowledge a Judgment for him upon which he was discharged but afterwards he revoked the Warrant of Attorney before the Judgment was confessed the Court observing this cunning practice commanded the Attorney to plead Non sum informatus that Judgment might be entred and said they would defend him against the Party if he brought an Action against him Latch 8. Trick in the business THE Court was moved that there might be a Rule of Court for I. S. upon satisfaction made of a Judgment obtained by him to acknowledge Satisfaction but the Court denied it and said there was some Trick in the business for no doubt but the Party upon receipt of what is due to him will acknowledge Satisfaction without a Rule to compell him Stiles 164. The River of Thames a High-Way MR. Attorney General prayed Judgment in an Information against Smith for laying Logs which is a Nuisance on the River Thames The Defendant pleaded the general Pardon but Nuisances on the High-Way being excepted therein and this being as much a High-Way as the Road and the Hundred answerable for Robbery thereon Judgment was given for the King 3 Keeble 759. Intention of the Parties A. CONTRACTS with B. for 18 Barrels of Ale paying a certain summ of Money and A. would have kept the Barrels after the Ale was spent but adjudged he should not for the intent of the Parties never was that the Vendee should have them but only the Ale and the common usage is that the Vendor shall have the Barrels again 27. H. VIII 27. b. cited 1 Bulls 175. So if one covenant with another that if he come to his House he will give him a Cup of Wine and he comes he shall not have the Cup also because it was never the intent of the Party ibid. Countermand of Arrest A. DELIVERS a Writ to the Sheriff to arrest I S. and after forbids him and desires the Writ again the Sheriff refuses and arrests I. S. Quaere if I. S. may have faux Imprisonment against the Sheriff It seems he may not Whether shall A. have an Action upon the Case against the Sheriff it seems he shall for it may be he is prejudiced Whether the Sheriff shall have an Action against A. for his Fee Latch Rep. 19. Slander by an Infant and against an Infant AN Action upon the case for Words lies against an Infant of Seventeen Years of Age for Malitia supplet aetatem Noy 129. An Infant brought an Action against one Child for these words I charge thee with Felony and had a Verdict and Judgment tho' moved in arrest c. because not averred the Plaintiff was of an Age to commit Felony for the Defendant must plead that and shall not be averred by the plaintiff to avoid his own Action Noy 124. Baily against Child Grant of the next avoidance by Letter I. S. BROUGHT a Quare impedit declaring upon a grant of the next Avoidance the Defendant demanded Oyer of the Deed and the Plaintiff shewed a Letter which was written to his Father by the Patron wherein he tells the Father that he had given to his Son the Plaintiff the next avoidance Whereupon the Defendant demurred and adjudged for him for the Letter was a meer banter and the grant not good without Deed. Owen 47. and Cro. Eliz. 163 164. A. granted the next Avoidance to B. and C. and was bound to B. in an obligation that he should enjoy the said Presentment without any disturbance or claim of the said A. C. released to A. his interest in the said Advowson the Church became void A. offered to joyn with B. in the presentation It was holden the obligation was forfeited notwithstanding that A. had a puisne Title after the Bond entred into 4 Leon. 18. Bluet's Case Legacy of Books A TESTATOR saith I give my Physick Books to my Son if hereafter he shall study Physick but if he make the Law his Profession then let him have my Law Books the Son after studies Law and Physick both he shall have the Testator's Books of both Professions Orphan's Legacy 472 89. If the Testator saith I bequeath or commit my Estate as well as my Soul to God whoever hath his Soul his parish Church shall have his Estate Orphan's Legacy 471 81. Bequest of Horses IF a Man bequeath all his Horses his Mares shall go too but not è contra nor by a bequest of Geldings ibid. 467 53 56. and fol. 441 12. Devise A. DEVISES that B. shall be his Heir and C. devises Lands to A. and his Heirs B. shall have those Lands as Heir to A. for a Devise shall not be construed void when it possibly by any probable construction can be made good So note a Man may be Heir ex vi Testamenti before he is Heir ex vi Doni 2 Siderf 27. Heir by descent of an Estate that by possibility could not be in his Ancestor LAND is given to A. and B. so long as they jointly together live the Remainder to the right Heirs of him that dies first A. dies the Remainder vested not during the Life of A. his Death must precede the Remainder and yet his Heir shall have the Land by descent 1 Inst 378. b. Note whensoever the Ancestor takes a Freehold and after a limitation is made to his right Heirs they shall not be Purchasers tho' in Words it be limited by way of Remainder But if a Lease for Years be made to A. Remainder to B. in tail Remainder to the right Heirs of A. there the Remainder vests not in A. but the right Heirs shall take by Purchase if A. die during the Estate tail 1 Inst 22. b. 376. b. 319. b. 2 Roll. 417. Where a Prisoner shall not be judged in Execution tho' he yield himself unto it A PRISONER having been in execution was suffered by the Gaoler to go out and then came into the Gaol again and remained there till the time of another Sheriff and then escaped the new Sheriff is not answerable for it by Hobart For when he was let to go abroad voluntarily by the Gaoler the Execution was utterly discharged so as he could not be taken again legally nor so judged in Execution tho' he would yield himself unto it or the Creditor so allow him Neither can two Sheriffs be chargable Simul Semel for two escapes out of one and the same Execution at the same time Hob. 202. Sheriff of Essex his Case Note it was agreed by
b. Feme Lessee for Years takes Husband he purchases the Fee the term there is extinct by the Act of the Husband which destroys it viz. the purchase but where he had the Reversion before her Term shall continue for the Act of the Law shall not prejudice 4 Leon. 212. An Executor hath a Term and purchases the Fee the Term is determined by Dyer 4 Leon. 212. Counseller and Client IF a Counseller say to his Client that such a Contract is Simony and the Client makes answer That Simony or not Simony he will do it and thereupon the Counsellor maketh this Simonaical Contract it is no offence in him by Reeve Justice March 83. pl. 136. Carrier robbed allowed a Witness to prove the Robbery IT was said by Chief Justice Glyn that a Carrier who is robbed may be examined as a Witness at a Tryal thereupon to prove the Robbery and what he was robbed of otherwise the truth can't be known But this is the only Case he said where one may be admitted to give his testimony as a Witness in a matter which concerns himself Stiles Pr. Reg. 571. Warren and the Hundred of Broadwater Examination of a Witness IN examining a Witness Counsel cannot question all the Life of the Witness as whether he be a Whoremaster c. but if he hath done any notorious fact which gives just exception against him this may be taken and he may be excepted against March 83. pl. 136. What Sergeants Rings ought to weigh SEVENTEEN Sergeants being made the Fourth of November 21 Car. II. Serjeant Powis coming a day or two after to the King's Bench Bar Chief Justice Keeling told him he had somewhat to say to him viz. that the Rings which he and the rest of his Brethren had given weighed but 18 s. apiece whereas Fortescue says in his Book de laudibus Legum Angliae that the Rings given to the Chief Justices and Chief Baron ought to weigh 20 s. a piece and that he spake this not expecting a Cecompence but that it might not be drawn into a President and that the young Gentlemen there might take notice of it See the Mod. Rep. 9. Legatee allowed as a Witness to prove the Will ONE that has but a small Legacy given him by a Will may be allowed as a Witness to prove that Will for the Law will not intend that any one will forswear himself for a small matter Stiles Pr. Reg. 568. but see Stiles Rep. 370. initio A Man brings Debt against his own Executors VIDE 1 Inst 133. b. that in some Case a Man might have had an Action of Debt against his own Executors as if A. had been bound to the Abbot of Dale in an Obligation and afterward A. had been professed a Monk in the same Abby and after were made Abbot thereof he should now have had an Action of Debt upon his own Bond against his own Executors Note when a Man entred into Religion he might make his Will and his Executors and they should have had an Action for a Debt due to him before his entry into Religion or any other Action that Executors may have as if he had been dead indeed pari ratione they might be also sued and in the Case supra the Bond being made to an Abbot by one who after became dead in Law by entring into Religion whereby his Executors became chargeable c. when he himself was afterwards restored to legal Life by being made Abbot the Debt being unsatisfied himself was then the only Person capable of suing for it Where a Feme Covert shall have both an Executor and Administrator THE Wife of I. S. having Debts due to herself and being also Executrix to I. D. makes without her Husband's assent I. N. her Executor and dies Here as touching the Goods and Credits or Things in Action pertaining to her as Executrix of I. D. this Will stands good and I. N. may prove it contrary to her Husband's Will But as to the Credits to her self in her own right pertaining the Will is void and thereof her Husband may take Administration So Note she shall die both Testate and Intestate with a Will and without a Will shall have both an Executor and Administrator Office of an Executor 281. Pleasant Custome BY a Custome which they have in the Town of Southampton if a Bastard Child be found within the Town and the Father of it cannot be discovered he that comes next into the Town after the Child was found must keep the Child Mich. 24. Car. B. R. Stiles Practical Register 105. It may be says Stiles they of the Town did time out of mind agree amongst themselves that it should be so and therefore it shant be adjudged an unreasonable Custome tho' it seems a strange one Custome to hang for Stealing a Capon not for Stealing an Ox. THERE are several Customes which are good ratione loci that are not allowed throughout England as there is a Custome in the Isle of Man that a Man shall be hanged for stealing a Capon yet he shall not be hanged for stealing an Ox. 12 H. VIII 5. 1 Siderf 267. Custome in Cheshire THERE is a Custome in Cheshire that if a Debtor come before the Chamberlain of Chester and there takes his Oath that he is not able to pay the Debt but that he will pay it as soon as he can that he shall have a Protection See 1 Roll. 566 567. Note Whereas by the Custome of London an Action upon the Case lies for calling a Woman Whore and so likewise in the Court of the Borough of Southwark where they alledge a Custome specially for Whipping and Carting of Whores it lieth likewise for a Lodger for she comes within the Customs which reach to all the Inhabitants One loses at Play more then 100 l. to several Persons DEBT upon Bond the Defendant pleads the Stat. 16 Car. II. cap. 7. against Gaming that he lost at Most at Three Throws 90 l. to the Plaintiff and at the same time 30 l. to A. at Cards and 60 l. more to B. at Bett The Plaintiff demurred because it does not appear that these were Parties together or in trust one for the other and in Danver's Case the Act was held to extend only to the security for more than 100 l. much less shall it extend to different Gamesters But the Court agreed it was not material to whom the Party became indebted for the Statute is That you shall not lose more than 100 l. at one time or meeting upon Ticket and Judgment was given for the Defendant the Statute being to be extended against Play 3 Keb. 671. Hudson and Malim Danvers his Case was thus 1 Siderf 394. Bond was given for 100 l. lost at Play there being lost at the same time a Ring of 20 l. value which was paid and adjudged the Bond was not void within the Statute the design whereof was to avoid Securities but did not regard ready Money as not presuming that