thereof another reason is given where a man was bound that hee would not sue upon such a Bond and he dyed and his Executor sued this was held to be no forfeiture of the Bond. So where one was bound to pay ten pound within a moneth after request made to him and hee died before request it sufficed not to make it to the Executor as Manwood said It was likewise held that the warrant of Atturney put in for the Plaintiffe in debt sufficeth not for his Executor to bring a Scirâ— Fac. upon the judgement And if Executors sue execution upon a Statute in the name of a Conusee as if hee were alive this is voyd and they may sue out new extent and this they may doe without any Scire facias as well as the Conusee might if he had beene alive But by Hussey Justice if the Conusor in a Statute staple be returned dead by the Sheriffe upon the extent a Scire fac must be sued out before extent proceed and upon a judgement had if the recoverer dye before execution his Executor cannot as himselfe might sue out execution without a Sci. fac as is there said Yet if after a Capias ad sat awarded the Plaintiffe dye before it be executed the Sheriffe may proceed to the taking of the party and is not subject to any action of false imprisonment nay if he suffer him to escape he is chargeable as temp Elizabeth it was resolved upon the motion of Anderson but withall it was held that reliefe might be by Audita querela Like resolution was in the Kings Bench After some doubt by Wray and the other Judges where the Defendant dyed after a Fieri fac awarded and before it was executed that the Sheriffe might proceed upon the Goods in the hands of the Executors But if the Defendant in an action of debt upon a bond plead a tender at the time and place of payment and tenders the money in Court where it rests and then he dyes now shall not the Plaintiffe have this money because the property thereof is changed and become the Executors as was held in the Common pleas but he is put to a new suite against the Executor Yet where judgement is once given in a Writ of Partition for a termer or in a Writ of Account if the Plaintiffe dye before the second judgement needfull in both cases the Executor is not put to a new suite but may proceed by Sci. Fac. upon the former judgement as the Lord Anderson held upon the motion of Fenner Serjeant Though before we found the Executor not in points penall all one with the Testator yet in points beneficiall the Testator includes him in some cases as where an Abbot granted to his Lessee to take Estovers in another ground it was held that his Executor though not named should enjoy this during the terme as well as himselfe should have done And whereas the Stat. 23. of H. the 8. gives costs to a Defendant against a Plaintiffe suing for a wrong or breach of promise or the like done to the Plaintiffe against whom it passeth by verdict or nonsuit it hath beene resolved that an Executor suing upon such wrong oâ— breach of contract to his Testator made should not pay costs because he is another person then the Testator and so is it usuall in experience But if in such suite the Atturney of the Executor mis-behave himselfe towards him and for this the Executor sueth him here if it passe against him in manneÌ„r as aforesaid he shall pay costs because this was a suite for a wrong done to himselfe If A. recover a debt as Executor of I. S. and makes B. his Executor and dye before execution sued B. is not put to new suite but may have execution upon that Judgement But if A. or B. dyed Intestate now could none as Administrator to either of them nor as Administrator of I. S. have execution of this Judgment for the former hath no interest in any thing partaining to I. S. and the latter commeth to title above the judgement viz. as immediate administrator to I. S. who is now dead intestate and derives no title from the Executor who recovered If a Conusee have a Certificate into theÌ„ Chancery upon a Statute and then dyes before extent taken out his Executor is put to a new Certificate and for obtaining of it must make Affidavit that no extent hath yet been taken out If an Alien joyne with his Wife who is Executor in a suite for debt and it commeth to Issue he shall not have tryall per medietatem alienig or Linguae as should be if he otherwise were party to a triall as was held in the case of Doctor Iulio Yet if a noble man sue as Executor to another not noble he shall for his nonsuite be amerced five pound as if he sued in his owne right as was conceived 21. E. 4. 77. By the same rule and reason doubtlesse a Noble man sued as Executor shall not be arrested nor shall any Capias be awarded against him for not appearing And if any triall shall be of any issue there shall be two Knights of the Jury as in other cases where a peere is party Likewise where the Wife is to have her convenient apparell whereof the Executor must not bereave her If she be a noble woman it shal be answerable to her degree If one Executor or onely sell goods of the Testator he alone may mainetaine an Action of debt for the money So if goods be taken out of the possession of one Executor hee alone may mainetaine an action and that without naming himselfe Executor Some touch hath beene before of Summons and severance whereabout be this added If one Executor will not or cannot joyne in suite with the other so as he is summoned and severed now by his death after the suite is not abated 16. Ed. 2. Fitzh 111. yet if he live till judgement he may sue execution say other Bookes 13. Ed. 3. Fiâ—zh Exec. 9. 11. R. 2. Priviledge 2. yet Que. of that for he cannot acknowledge satisfaction as hath beene since resolved Mich. 14. 15. Eliz. Dy. 319. And the reason thereof being because he is no party to the judgement by the same reason can he not sue exeÌ„cution upon it for how can he have execution for whom there is no judgement given now the recovery is onely in the name of the other Executor yea by the said last Booke it seemes that after judgement had he cannot release the debt because it is now altered in nature and turned in rem judicatam though at any time before judgement he might have released it as both that last booke saith and the two precedent temp Ed. 3. Rich. 2. yea in an action of account after judgement had that the Defendant
by a wrongfull person and in Suttons case it was expresly held that each Executor should answer for so much as he wasted Now for the fift and last point viz. how and in what manner reliefe shall bee had upon this point of wasting for him to whom it pertaines first this is to bee observed that in case where the verdit passeth directly against the plaintife no devastation can come in question for that no judgement being for the plaintife no writ of execution can issue and therefore if upon the issue of fully administred it shall appeare that there hath beene a devastation which causeth assets to faile then must the Iury finde that the defendant hath assets and not finde a devastation as was resolved in the Kings Bench in the late Queenes time betweene Hankeford and Metford for there the jury finding a devastation viz. a surrender of a lease for yeeres left by the Testator it was held voyd and nugatory and was not regarded by the Court which said that must come in by the Sherifes returne viz. upon the Fieri fac Thus assets being found in the Executors hands judgement is given for the plaintife to recover his debt and to have it levied of these assets nor is this finding of them by a jury against truth though they bee wasted and so not to bee had in kind for the Executor hath them in right since hee hath not rightfully parted from them according to the rule Propossessore habetur qui dolo or injuria desiit possidere As in the case first put this wasting cannot come in question for want of a judgement for the plaintife so also where the judgement it selfe extendeth to the Executors owne goods by reason of some false plea whereof wee shall after consider for since that the consequence and effect of a vastation is but to make the Executors owne proper goods liable to the debt of the Creditor this is altogether needlesse where the judgement it selfe hath layed hold on his goods But now in case where the judgement extends onely to the Testators goods in the Executors hands let us finde the way to releive the Creditor in case the Testators goods bee wasted by misadministring or otherwise for hereabout the right way hath often beene missed and againe easily may bee In the latter end of the late Queenes time this course was taken viz. the Sherife returning generally that the Executor had no goods a surmise was entred that the Executor had converted to his owne use the Testators goods whereupon a writ was awarded to the Sheriffe to enquire thereof by jury or enquest which he did and returned that it was found that the executor had wasted the goods and thereupon a Scire facias was awarded against the executor to shew cause why execution should not be of his owne goods and upon two nihils returned execution was so awarded but a writ of error was hereupon brought And although it were said for defence of that course that it was usuall in the Cōmon Pleas and more favourable than the other course where the Sheriffe only returneth the wasting or is sole judge thereof whereas here it was found by an inquest of Jurors and thereupon a Scire facias awarded yet did the Court resolve the contrary and reverse this execution as erroneous For it was said that upon the Sheriffes returne of nulla bona viz. that there were no goods of the testator to be found the plaintiffe should have a speciall writ of Fieri facias willing the Sheriffe to levie the summe recovered either of the goods of the testator or if it could appeare that the executor had wasted the testators then to levie it of his own goods and this way as was said the executor hath good remedy by action against the Sheriffe if without just cause hee levie it of his goods but the other way viz. when inquest is thereupon taken the remedy failes since neither sheriffe doing according to the inquest can be punished nor the jurors finding falsely are subject to any attaint it being no verdict upon issue joyned but an inquest of office which excludeth also all challenge of jurors And whereas that booke mentions the Sheriffes subjection to action onely in case of his mis-feasance or doing wrong I conceive that hee is likewise suable for omission or nonfeasance in this case viz. for not levying the debt upon the executors owne goods where proofe is made of his wasting And where the booke mentions this Fieri facias to bee in this manner upon the Sheriffes returne in a Scire facias doubtlesse the booke therein is misprinted and should be a Fieri facias for in a Sciri facias the Sheriffe can returne nothing but that he hath warned the party or that he hath nothing where by he may be warned This then is the course there prescribed that first a generall Fieri facias go out and that thereupon the Sheriffe returne generally that the defendant hath no goods of the testators and that thereupon the said speciall writ is to issue yet in the beginning of the late Queens time the verdict passing for the plaintiffe upon the issue of fully administred the Sheriffe was not permitted to make such a generall return of no goods to be found of the testators but was inforced by the Court upon good advisement either to leavy the debt or to returne a Devastavit and so was done at last by the Sheriffes of London much against their minds and therupon went out a writ to leavy the debt of the executors owne goods first into London and after into Devonshire upon a Testatum that the executor had goods there And it was there said that if no goods could bee there found then the plaintiffe might have a Capias to take the executors body in execution or an Elegit for the moiety of his lands But certainly I cannot find except with a difference how this course of inforcing the Sheriffe to doe one of these two can be just as neither could Justice Fulthorp in the time of King Henry the sixth approve it For a Jury of one County may finde assets in another County as was resolved in the time of King Henry the eight which yet was understood of goods moveable and not of lands This then thus being if a Jury of Kent find assets which be in London or Essex how can the Sheriffe of Kent where the action was laid leavy the debt recovered by or out of these goods or since he cannot why should he be compelled to make a false returne of a wasting when the goods remain unspent and unwasted in another County Why rather should hee not bee suffered to returne according to truth that there is nothing within his Countie or Bayliwicke whereof the debt may be levied since even his oath tieth him to make a true returne nor is this contrary to the verdict finding assets generally and this so returned upon
made executor but never did administer now it must be replyed that he was made executor at such a place without speaking any thing of his administring On the other side if he did administer but were not made executor then only the administring is to be replyed but if it shall be found that the defendant had administration to him commited and so administred by vertue thereof then is the verdict to passe for the defendant for this is no administring as executor and upon a generall deniall thereof this may be given in evidence as the Lo. Dyar reports to have beene resolved But if the plaintife do in his replication maintaine both the points shall this make his plea double Me thinks it should yet I finde it so replyed and no exception taken for the doublenesse Tr. 17. H. 8. Rot. 28. A sole woman being executor maketh a deed of gift of the testators goods in trust but continueth possession of them and marrieth J. S. who also hath possession of the goods and in an action of debt by a creditor fully administred is pleaded now upon evidence the verdict shall passe for the plaintife for this alienation being fraudulent was void as to all creditors and so as to the plaintife the goods continued the testators and so assets in the defendâ—nts hands as was held in the Kings Bench. If fully administred be pleaded where the defendant hath assets for part but not sufficient for all and so it is found yet shall not judgement be given for the whole but for part presently with a further award that when more shall come to the executors hand the plaintife shall then have further judgement for the rest so as that false plea doth him no prejudice but makes him in as good state the charges of triall excepted as if he had confessed himselfe to have part And I think the plaintife upon that confession of part may pray the like judgement without maintaining that the defendant hath sufficient for the rest for if that be not true why should he be put to the charge of a triall by Jury yea Sir Edw Cooke at the Barre Tr. 36. Eliz. said that where fully administred is pleaded the plaintife is not tied to maintaine the contrary but may presently pray and have judgement to recover it when assets shall futurely come to the defendants hands which was denied by some but truly me thinks the law should be as he said as well as in the former case where for the part which the defendant had not assets to pay it so was done upon verdict so finding But there as I conceive it was not a present judgement but an award that he should have judgement futurely so as after wheÌ„ assets come to the defendants hands the plaintife must have a Seire faeias against the defendant to shew cause not why he should not have execution but why he should not have judgement as I take it yea where it is found for the defendant that he hath fully administred yet was is held by all the Justices 33 Hen. 6. 23 24. and by â—risoâ— 34 Hen. 6. 24. that when assets after come to his hands the plaintife shall have a Scire sacias to have satisfaction out of them but there Markham Yelverton and Forteseu were of contrary opinion and so was the whole Court 4 Hen. 6. fo 4 And it stands with great reason that where upon a verdict fully found against the plaintife judgment is given quod nihil capiat per breve there he cannot have any writ to execute the judgement for him but is put to a new action of debt yet where it is found that the defendant hath assets for part of the debt but not sufficient for the whole there it is very congruous that the plaintife have presently judgement for part and after when more commeth then by Scire facias against the defendant obtaine judgement and execution for the rest for here both verdict and judgement were for the plaintife against the defendant whose plea that he had no goods was false and so found by the jury And this difference was strongly avowed by Serjeant Hanham Mich. 33. 34. Eliz. and after approved by Fenner Iust 36. Eliz. none contradicting it yet a book was cited that the plaintife recovering so much as was found in the executors hands should be amersed for the residue which Popham Chiefe Iustice denied to be law Chap. XVI Where judgement shall be against the Executors owne goods though no plea of the defendant nor vastation do so occasion and of the severall manners of judgement in severall cases HOw by wasting called by us commonly a Devastavit an executor may draw down the execution upon his owne goods hath formerly beene handled and discoursed of as also what kinde of pleas doe make the executors owne goods liable to the debt and what not Now let us see where without mis-administring or mis-pleading yet the nature of the action shall lay the whole debt or thing recovered upon the executors owne goods And this we shall finde in some few cases 1. Where an executor is sued for rent behinde after his testators death upon a lease for yeares made to the testator and by him left to his executor Here it shall be adjudged and levied upon his owne goods for that so much of the profits as the rent amounted to shall be accounted as his owne goods and not his testators therefore is he to be sued as well in the debet as the detinâ—t where in other cases he is not but in the detinet only being sued as executor So if any thing delivered to or detained by his testator come to his hands and he still detaines the same after the demand and be thereupon sued in an action of detinue for this is his owne act nor in this case need he to be named as executor for he shall not answer damages for his testators detaining So if he assume to pay a debt of his testators having assets and be sued upon this Assumpt the which debt is to be recovered in damages and that upon or out of the executors owne goods yet is this action and the assumption which is the ground thereof founded in the executorship and his having assets for if either he had not beene executor or if he had not assets at the time of the promise it had beene nudum pactum and would not have bound him nor given good cause of suit Nay to go further in the case of assumption by the testator and suit against the executor thereupon we finde the judgement in M. Plowdens Commentary given against the executor generally as if he had not beene an executor not fixing it upon the testators goods yet there the very debt it selfe is included in the damages But contrarily was it after in the seventh yeare of the late King viz. judgement given that as well the damages as the costs should be levied
opinion hath beene that these which he hath as Executor should not passe yea the Lord Dyer so held in the late Queenes time with this difference viz. Where the Grantor is named Executor in the Grantee there the Goods which he hath as Executor should passe but otherwise if he be not named Executor in the Grantee and that this opinion is probable will further appeare by that which followeth Secondly the Executor cannot by Will give or bequeath the Goods he hath as Executor and if he dye intestate and Administration of all his Goods is committed to I. D. yet hath he nothing to doe with the Goods which the Intestate had as Executor to his Testator Thus all his Goods reacheth not to his Goods as Executor Thirdly whereas a mans Goods stand liable to the payment of his debts both in his life time and after The goods which a man hath as Executor are not to be taken in execution for his owne debts either upon a Recognizance Statute or Judgement had against him And if such a one dye indebted leaving to his Executor much Goods which he had as Executor these are not Assets in his hands lyable to the payment of his debts but onely for the payment of the first Testators debts or Legacies Therefore a Quo min. brought by an Executor shewing that he was not able to pay the Kings debt because the Defendant detained from him an 100. pound which he owed him as Executor to I. S. was overthrowne for that it could not be intended saith the Booke that the Kings debt could be satisfyed with that which the Plaintiffe should recover and receive as Executor Whereas a Woman being possessed of any Chattells personall viz. moveable Goods all be devested out of her into her Husband by her marriage so as if he dye and she overlive they be not hers againe but her Husbands Executors or Administrators and if she dye all be the Husbands without being Executor to his Wife It is not so of the Goods which shee hath as Executor these still remaine in and to her if her Husband dye and if she her selfe dye for that she hath them as it were in another right viz. as she represents the person of her Testator her Husband shall not have them if he be not his Wives Executor and so Executor to her Testator Lastly whereas the Writ of Trespasse seemes to make no difference betweene ones owne Goods and those he hath as Executor that being a possessory Action or suite grounded upon the possession yet come to an Action of debt which more tastes and participates of the right and there are they differenced for where for my owne debt when I sue the Writ saith Debet detinet viz. that the Defendant owes me and detaines from me that summe Yet when I sue as Executor the Writ saith not debet he doth owe me but detinet onely he detaines from me as admitting that he is not the Debtor to me though he should pay me and so where I am sued as Executor the Writ makes me not a Debtor but a detainer Otherwise where in my owne right I owe and am sued for a debt Accordingly where Judgement in an Action of debt is given against one as Executor it is not generally that the Plaintiffe shall recover against him but he shall recover of the Goods of the Testator and therefore upon this judgement no Capias lyeth against him to inforce him to pay by Arrest of his body because he is not properly debtor but if after it be returned that he hath wasted the Testators Goods out of which the said debt shall be satisfyed Then he having made himselfe a Debtor a Capias ad satisfaciendum shal be awarded against him and then he shall be taken in Execution So also in some cases of false plea pleaded for where the Judgement is de bonis propriis the Plaintiffe may have a Capias ad satisfaciendum and that Judgement is in diverse cases for the dammages although not in many for the principall As for the Capias before Judgement in the meane proces against an Executor that is because of his Contumacy in not appearing upon the former proces The reason of this different interest betweene an Executor and another or betweene the same mans having goods as Executor and others in his owne right as also of the different manner of ones being indebted as Executor and otherwise in his owne right is well expressed by the Lord Cooke in Pinchons case viz. First that the goods which one hath as Executor he hath not in his owne right but in auter droit that is in the right of another meaning his Testator Secondly that Executors are but the Ministers and Dispensors or Distributors of their Testators Goods Of alteration of property in the Executors hands so as some goods become his owne which he had as Executor TO this head or Chapter treating of the difference betweene the Interest in Goods as Executor and others had meerely in ones owne right and to his owne use it is not impertinent to consider how that which one hath at the first as Executor may be changed in property and become the Executors owne to his owne use as other his goods which he had not as Executor Here let us first consider of ready money left by the Testator for since pieces of money viz. shillings groates pieces and halfe pieces of gold cannot bee knowne one from the other it must needes follow that these comming to an Executor from the Testator must in some sort be altered in property so as though the Executor shall be said to have so much in money or value yet can it not be discerned which money in his house was his Testators and which his owne Consequently the Sheriffe upon the fieri facias for a Creditor who hath recovered against the Executor to pay debt owing by the Testator cannot hold CHAP. VIII Of some cases and questions betweene the Executor and the Heire THE Executor may in convenient time after the Testators death enter into the house descended to the Heire for the removing and taking away of the Goods so as the doore be open or at least the key be in the doore and this I understand of the doore of each roome for although the doore of entrance into Hall and Parlor be open the Executor cannot by that justifie the breaking open of the doore of any Chamber to take goods there but onely may take those in the roomes which be open and this is proved as to me it seemes by the case of the chest with evidences which saith the Booke the Executor may take and put out the Deedes delivering them to the Heire viz. the chest being unlocked as I understand it Now a Chamber or other roome within a house locked is an enclosure of better respect then a chest But if the goods be not removed within convenient time the
the Land it will then bee haâ—d that the Executor shall for this winter proffit pay the rent out of his owne purse especiallie if the whole yeeres rent bee payable at that one day as in some cases it is or if the whole yeeres proffits were taken in the summer as in case of a lease of tithes it is so also of medow grounds usually drowned in the winter So if the lease bee then to end not having a summer halfe yeere to succeede and make amends for the winter or if the winter halfe yeere bee the latter halfe the lease beginning at Lady day so that there is but a summer for each winter following and not any for the winter passed Of like consideration with these is the case of a lease of woods for a rent which being fellable but once in eight or nyne yeeres now if the lessee having made the last sale and felling before his death the Law should cast the rent upon the Executors owne estate for the time future it should lay losse upon him which is against reason and contrary to the nature and disposition of the Law even in this particular As appeares by this that shee enables an Executor to pay himselfe before any debt of equall nature so as shee more tenders an Executors indempnity then any other Creditors therefore I thinke that with and upon the differences above shewed even rent growen due after the testators death may in some cases bee the testators debt payable equally with debts by bond But here I conceive that if the executor were in such case of destitution of assets as might justifie his waiving of a lease over-rented hee then may waive these termes residue because for the future the profits will come short of answering the rent though at the first and so in the totall the profits did exceed the rent And if for want of waiving where he might this rent fall upon him the paiment thereof would be no excuse against another creditor nor as to him be a good administration for Ignorantia juris non excusat This is pertinent to our present consideration which debt may with safety be paid leaving another unpaid and the hazard of executors by ignorance of the Law hath been a principall motive to my writing these Discourses in English Hitherto we have only considered as I think of rents as they be recoverable by action of debt Now let us see if there may not be somewhat different considerations touching distraining for rent and so comming to recover it by avowrie Put wee then the case that an executor hath fully administred in payment of debts by bond and after the lessor or revertioner commeth and distraineth for arrerages of rent due in the testators life can the executor in bar of the avowrie plead fully administred as hee might have done if an action of debt had been brought for these arrerages doubtlesse I think no nothing shall hinder the levying of the rent upon the land so long as it is enjoyed under the title of the lease except the land come to the King upon whose possession no distresse can be taken I think therefore that the executor who paid out of his own purse to the value of this lease for to I intend the case and else could he not have fully administred as in the case was put he should I say have abated in the price and valuation of the lease as well the arrerages of rent as the rent futurely payable both being equally leviable upon the land and if he so have done he is no loser by payment of this arrerage but if trusting to the power of an executor and to the plea of fully administred hee did not so but disbursed in respect of the lease to the full value without such abatement he must beare the losse of his owne ignorance He might also another way have helped himselfe viz. by payment of that arrerage leaving other debts by specialty unpaid And what if suits were presently commensed upon the testators death before hee could make payment of the rent behind whether might the executor then plead this debt for rent as hee might a debt by judgement or statute and surely me thinkes it probable that he might because it is a debt from which hee cannot be freed by payment of the other debts sued for by specialtie If the revertioner would also commence suit before judgement had for the creditor by specialty then might the executor helpe himselfe by confessing his action first but this perhaps the revertioner would not conceive safe for him since that way the others might get judgement before him and so he might lose both his suit and his debt wheras holding himselfe to the course of distres the lease continuing he hath land at the stake for his debt What if he distraine and avow may not now 〈◊〉 executor pay him or at least confesse his â—â—tion or avowry so as he first having judgement may first be satisfied Surely after suite commenced I see not how the creditors by bond can so be prevented at least without judgement had for the rent yea though such a judgement be had yet because the judgment in that case is not that hee shall recover the summe due for rent but only that he shal have a returne to the pound of the cattell distrained for the rent it is questionable whether the paiment thereupon of the rent shall prevent the judgements after had in the suits upon bonds But I thinke it shall because although it bee not an expresse recovery of the rent yet is it such a judgement compulsary for the same as makes the payment inevitable and of necessitie And where before we have made the question only between the said rent-debt and the debt by obligation let us now put the case between the rent-debt and the debt by statute or judgement If then the lessor after death of the lessee distraine for the rent behind part of the testators cattell and after there comes a writ of execution upon a judgement or statute of the testators whether shall these beasts in the pound for rent be delivered in executioÌ„ or not admitting that without them there be not goods sufficient for satisfaction of the judgement or statute And surely I thinke they cannot be delivered in execution First for that they are in the custody of the law as in String-fellowes case though there the Kings preroga-time overtopped that point yea so I thinke though they be replevied for that they are to be returned to the pound if judgement passe for the avowant to which purpose securitie is given so as they are but in tâ—e case of a prisoner bailed who still is in some sort in custodie Secondly for that this rent incident to and descendible with the reversion breeds a debt of a reall nature and so of more dignity and worth than debts personall Thirdly for that the land let as in a sort debtor stands chargeable with this distres
of the testators goods if so much in value of them were in the defendants hands and if not then the costs only of the goods of the executor And this surely is the righter and more just way for there is no reason that upon on a promise more then upon a bond the law should cast the whole debt upon the back and state of the executor But perhaps the two judgements may be reconciled thus the later was given upon a verdict non assumpsit being the issue and there the Iury assessed damages in certain viz. two hundred fifty three pounds with the costs So as here the judgement was compleate and full viz. to recover the said summe but in the other case the judgement was had upon a demurrer so as the damages not being knowne it was generally that the plaintife should recover his damages against the defendant Sed quia nescitur quae damna c. because it appeareth not to the Court what the damages were therefore a writ was awarded to inquire of damages upon the return whereof executed the judgement was fully and compleatly to be given of a summe in certain which second judgement it appeares not by the book in what manner it was entred and therefore might perhaps bee then agreeable with the other And that the said first judgement before damages inquired of is not a plenary full judgement but an award of judgement hath beene divers times resolved and that therefore any defect and insufficiency in the declaration may be shewed time enough after the first and before the second judgement Yea if the plaintife dye before the second judgement though after the first the action falleth to the ground So if the defendant dye otherwise of death after full judgement But this notwithstanding and howsoever it there were done upon the second judgment me thinks it were righter and fitter that the first judgement should expresse that the damages should be had and levied out of the testators goods for whom and in whose right the executor is sued Another case there is wherein the judgment must be as it seemes against the executors own goods viz. in an action of covenant for a breach of covenāt since the testators death for so was it held both by all the Judges of Common Pleas except the L. Dyar and by the pregnotaries in the late Queenes time where the case was of an house upon the lease negligently burned in the executors time for which damages only were to be recovered And sometimes where the executor himselfe is so to beare the burthen I finde the judgement entred that the summe recovered shall be levied of the lands and goods of the executor Chap. XVII Of women covert Executors THere being two kinde of persons who have some disability upon them viz. Femme coverts or married women and infants touching whom we find in many places question and disceptation in our bookes We will consider of them by themselves or apart from others yet not joyning them together neither but each by himselfe separately First therefore of Femme coverts touching whom we will consider these three things First whether they may make Wills and executors with or without their husbands assent and how where and in what cases Secondly whether they may be made executors without their husbands assent or how their husbands may hinder it Thirdly what acts in execution of the executorship they may doe without their husbands or their husbands without them A woman married or femme covert wee know is Sub potestate viri cui in vita contradicere non potest as saith the writ given by the Law to the wife for recovery of her land after her husbands death being aliened by him Therefore it is that Judges when a woman is to acknowledge a fine of any land doe examine her apart from her husband to know whether she bee willing or come to doe it by the compulsion of her husband It is therefore hard for her to have freedome of will and consequently freedome to make a will Besides all her moveables or goods personall which shee had at the time of her marriage otherwise than as executrix or administratrix are by the Law totally devested out of her and setled in the husband as fully ipso facto upon the very marriage as any other that were his owne before Of these therefore she can make no disposition no more than of other her husbands goods But in case shee doe by will bequeath them although the will and gift be void yet if the husband as the case was in the time of Edw. the second do after his wives death consent to this her will gift by delivering of the goods bequeathed after her death or assenting that the legatee take them by vertue of such will and gift this amounteth to a new gift by the husband If a woman have a lease an estate by extent a wardship the next avoydance of a Church or other chattell reall these are not devested out of her into her husband by marriage but in case she over-live him they continue to her as before no alienation or alteration having been made by the husband who had power to dispose of them by gift in his life-time though not by his will yet such a woman in her husbands life-time could not of or for these things without her husbands assent make an executor or will but she dying before him they would by the operation of law accrue to him And here then observe a case though not frequent yet full of mischief when it happens Suppose that a woman indebted a thousand pounds and having leases and moveable goods to the value of three thousand or foure thousand pounds marrieth with I. S. and then dyeth before the debt bee recovered against her in this case the husband shall have and goe away with all this value of his wife and is not in law lyable to pay one penny of her debts because hee is neither her executor nor administrator What the Chancery could doe or rather what the Lord Chancellor or Lord Keeper would doe in this case I will not take upō me to say or determine Another sort or kind of goods or rather interests a woman may have viz. debts or things in action which as the former are not devested out of her by marriage into her husband nor yet can shee thereof make an executor without her husbands assent although they be one degree farther from the husband than the said chatels realls for that though th◠husband doe overlive the wife he shall not be intitled to them as to the former But if his wife make him executor as she may or if after her death hee take administration of her goods then as he is thereby intitled to them so is he lyable also to pay her debts out of the same when he shall have received them Lastly Dato that a woman covert
with his sithe come as a Midwife to helpe her delivery if then by the hasty death of the Owner before Action brought this great Trespasse should be dispunishable it were contrary as me thinkes to the purpose of the said Statute and a great defect in the Law Yet here perhaps touching this a fourth difference may be or arise out of the time of the death of the Owner viz. where he dyeth before time of Mowing and where not for Dato that in the former case because if such destruction or consumption had not beene yet the Owner dying before severance this should not have come to the Executor but have gone with the soyle to the Heire that therefore the Executor who is not damnified should recover no dammages Yet in the other case the Owner living till after Hay time clearely passed viz. till the end of August me thinkes now since this fruite of the Meddowes wombe should have beene a Chattell severed had not this Trespasser made unlawfull prevention Therefore the Executor to whom the same should have come towards the performance of the Will should have out of the said Statute an Action and remedy reached unto him to recover recompence in dammages for this wrong done in retardationem Executionis Testamenti A fifth and last difference may perhaps be in the state of the Owner for Posito that where the Land is his Freehold or Copyhold Inheritance no Action should be given to his Executor for Wood or Grasse taken or destroyed in his life time yet where he is but Tenant for yeares Guardian or Tenant by extent so as the very state in the Land was to come and is come to the Executor together with Quicquid plantatur solo me thinkes the Executor should have together with the state in the soyle the Action to punish the Robber of or Trespasser upon the soyle Thus having scanned and sifted to the best of my ability all differences and circumstances of this point how farre I am wide and wherein right Aliorum sit judicium or rather Altioris esto judicii But this is cleare that wheresoever Executors doe recover any dammages for trespasse or other wrong done to their Testator the money recovered at least if Execution be had or money received will be Assets in their hands as well as debts recovered upon Bonds or Bills or Lands by them taken in Extent upon Statutes Recognizances or Judgements Yea without ever having these moneyes Executors may make them assets in their hands viz. by making Releases or Acquittances or acknowledgement of Satisfaction for this amounteth to a Receipt and chargeth the Executors towards the Creditors with the whole penall summe though happly they receive but part as the principall or some like proportion Therefore there is great caution to be used by Executors in this kinde that unlesse they be sure they have Goods sufficient to pay all Debts and Legacyes they make no Release Acquittance or Acknowledgement of Satisfaction for more then they doe receive be it debt or dammages And the like caution to be used by them touching submission of debts or dammages to arbitrement whereby discharges of the same may grow for the submission to the Arbitrement being their voluntary act although the Arbitrators by their judgement doe discharge the debt or dammage in part or in whole yet shall the Creditors have like remedy thereupon against the Executors as if they had released or which is more received the same Other Actions there be of discharge which as the Testator himselfe in his life time might have had so may his Executor after his death viz. Writs of Error Attaint Disceyt Avdita Querela Identitate nominis But this last is given by Statute Whatsoever is regained by any of these wayes as unduely lost by the Testator shall also be Assets Speciall cases pertinent to the Premisses 1. Chattells come to Executors from the Testators yet not Assets 2. Assets which be no Chattells 3. Things in Action and in the personalâ—y turned into Chattells Reall e contra AS to the first I exemplifie thus A. makes B his Executor and dyes B. makes C. his Executor and dyes The Goods left by A. to B. as Executor farre exceedes his Debts and Legacyes or let us suppose no debts nor Legacyes of A. and that B. dyeth much in debt above the Goods hee leaveth and did make no alteration of the property of the goods of A. but meerely left them to C. his Executor Now shall not the Goods which came to B. as Executor of A. and so from B. to C. be lyable in Law to pay the debts of B yet in Conscience me thinkes they should and that C. should not receive them to his owne use as in Law he may where A. left no debts But if A. making B. Executor did also by his Will give him all his Goods and he in his life time made election to have them as Legatee or by his Will did so dispose of them or appoint them to goe as the goods hee had as Executor could not be given or disposed Now by this election they were altered in property from being his as Executor and so as his owne goods should be liable to his debts But things in action could not be so given or disposed viz. Debts c. yet if D. were indebted to A. one hundred pound and B. his Executor tooke new bond of him or another for it giving up the old Bond now was it become his owne duty and so shall stand in his Executor Another instance of this thus If A. patron of the Church of D. grant to B. the next avoydance the Church becommes voyde B. dies before he presents his Executor presents and hath the benefit of preferring his sonne or friend yet shall this make no Assets in his hands for payment of debts for that hee could not lawfully take money to present But if B. had dyed before the Church had become voyd Then because the Executor might lawfully have sold it the value should be Assets in his hands as I conceive except perhaps the incumbent had died so hastily after B. that the Executor had not time convenient to finde out a chapman and to sell it If in the other Case a stranger had presented and got his Clarke admitted and the Executors of B. had in a Qua. Imp. recovered dammages the money so recovered should have beene Assets Thus much of the first viz. that some things of the nature of Chattells may come to Executors and yet not be Assets Touching the second viz. that some things may be Assets in the hands of Executors which yet are no chattells I shall give but two Instances First where a man leaveth a Villen for yeares to his Executors and the Villen purchaseth Land in Fee-simple and the Executor entreth into the Land now hath hee Fee simple therein and this Land is Assets for payment of the Testators debts
A. posessed of a Lease for sixtie yeares of one hundred pound Land mortgageth it for five hundred pound or be it that the mortgage or pledge be of a Jewell or peece of Plate for halfe the value and that before the day limitted for payment and redemption A. having made B. his Executor dieth and B. at the time and place maketh payment as was conditioned Now the question is whether this Lease Plate or Jewell being worth much more than the summe for which it was mortgaged shall be in him wholly in his owne right and to his own use or partly if not wholly as Executor to A. so as to be subject to the payment of debts and Legacies Here it must be cleerely admitted that B. was inabled to this redemption onely and meerely by the Condition annexed to the mortgage or pledging It must also be admitted that this Condition and the power or interest to take benefit thereof to him came and was derived onely as Executor of A. This being premised it must needs follow as to me it seemes that the Condition working and having his operation in the redemption to destroy the Grant mortgage or pledging it must needs make these againe the Testators goods in statu quod prius and so to be in B. as Executor since in that right onely he was intituled to take benefit of the Condition For what is it which hindred before this from being the Testators goods nothing certainely but onely the force and strength of the mortgage or pledge Now by the redemption that is become voyd hath it losts its force therfore the property of these things must needs now be as if no such mortgage or pledge had beene or as if it had at the first beene voyde and of no force Thus must the Condition worke for him who made it viz. A. the Testator and those of the contrary opinion in the time of King Hen. 7. doe yet say That by this redemption the Testator is so much in debted to the Executor as he disbursed for the redemption which could stand with no reason unlesse by it the property and interest should be reduced to the Testators behoofe That thus it is is also proved as to me it seemes by the Case of mortgage of Inheritance upon which the heire making payment according to the condition is not now in as a new purchasor but as heire so as he shall have his age and be in Ward even for this Land Yea it shall be Assets in his hands for satisfaction of his Fathers or other Ancestors debts which in some respect is a harder Case than that of the Executor for he hath meanes to satisfie himselfe of the money disbursed either out of the thing redeemed or other goods of his Testator but the heire hath no such meanes Yet it will be asked how the Executor can be free from mischiefe for if this thing redeemed be intire as the Cup or the Lease the whole will be taken in execution for the Testators debt To admit this yet here is one cleare way of remedy viz. the Executor may before such Execution sell the thing and so pay himselfe and retaine the surplusage to the Testators use and the like of this is frequent in use viz. for Executors to pay of the Testators debt with their owne money and to make themselves satisfaction out of the Testators goods Besides it not impossible that this redeemed thing should be thus in interest parted that answerably and proportionably to the summe disbursed for redemption with reference to the value of the thing redeemed a moyetie or third part or three parts therof should be to the Executor in his owne right as his owne proper goods and the rest in him as Executor As posito that A. and B. were Tenants in Common of such an entire Chattell A. maketh B. his Executor and dieth Now hath B. one moyety as Executor and another as his owne proper and upon a Judgement against him as Executor that moyety onely which hee hath as Executor must be taken in execution and here may be remembred how in execution of a Judgement or levying of an Amerciament out of an intire Chattell of more value than the summe to be levyed the whole is to be sold and the surplusage above the debt or Amerciament is to be delivered backe to the owner For in all this debate we must presume the thing redeemed by the Executor to be of better value than the summe payd else wee may easily admit the whole to the Executor Againe the Lease for yeares is not so intire a thing I meane the Land let but that thereof partition may be made yea inforced by Action betweene joynt tenants and Tenants in Common But here will be objected the Case of redemption by the daughter and heire who though she have a brother borne after so as now she is no longer heire yet she shall as the Booke saith retaine the Land redeemed from the heire as a Perquisite or Purchase As for this which I will not oppose the Law so frameth to the favour of the daughter because of great mischiefe to her if being stripped of the rest of the Inheritance by the birth of a brother she should also lose that which her money had redeemed without having any remedy to have her money againe or any recompence for it but in the other Case there is no such mischiefe for that the Executor may pay himselfe as hath beene shewed Now on the other side if the Case shall be understood that the redemption was by payment after the day then will I easily admit that the property or interest is in the Executor to his owne use or that the Condition now having no power to reduce it backe or to operate any thing It is rather a re-emption than a redemption since it was at the Will of the Mortgagee to dispose it at his pleasure and any stranger as well as the Executor might thus have redeemed viz. repurchased it therefore onely Equity and not Law in that Case can make any part of the value Assets in his hands And so also I thinke if wee should admit in the other Case of payment at the day that the property of the chattell is to the Executor as his owne and not his Testators goods no part of surplusage of value can in Law be Assets howsoever in Equitie Lastly if the Executor redeeme by payment at the day with the Testators owne money or goods none will doubt but that the thing redeemed is in him as Executor and the money by him payd for redemption is well Administred the goods redeemed being of better value But this way it makes no difference whether the whole value of the goods redeemed shall be held Assets and the money payd for redemption stand drowned therein or that that summe be still adjudged in the hands of the Executor as Assets and onely the surplusage of the thing redeemed over and above the summe payd for redemption
heire may distraine them as dammage fesante Where the Testator recovered Land and dammages or a Deed and dammages he dying before execution the Heire shall have execution for the Land or Deede and the Executor for the dammages but temp Edward the 4. it is said that untill the Heire sue a Scir sac the Executor cannot sue execution for the dammages If a Creditor be made Executor by his Debtor and pay himselfe part out of the Goods he cannot sue the Heire for the rest because the debt cannot be apportioned but otherwise he may saith the Book yet Quae. if he doe take upon him the Executorship and have goods sufficient to pay all If a debt be recovered against one who dyeth before execution sued leaving goods sufficient to satisfie now shall not the Land descended to the Heire be charged therewith nor by like reason any land conveyed after Judgement See a good difference where land is conveyed upon condition of payment to the Vend or his Heires or assignes and he dyeth before the time and where it is to be paid to the Vendee his Heires or Assignes and he dyeth in the first case payment shall be to the Executors but not in the other What things pertaine to the Heire and what to the Executor is before shewed As for Frowickes opinion that where goods be mortgaged upon condition that if the Heire or Executor pay c. here if the Heire make payment he should have the Goods I see not how that can be A Directory for the following Chapter A. All as but one represent the Testators person and must joyne and be joyned in suite e contra B. Where one alone must answer suite and how C. When they differ in Plea the best shall be taken but one may confesse alone D. One aswell as all hath may give assent or release the whole E. One cannot give nor release to another nor divide F. The possession of one is the possession of all to what purpose G. If the surviver dye Intestate the Testator is intestate though some other Exec. left an Executor H. Included in the person of the Testator and represents it Is his Assignee all one e contra I. What change by death of the Testator touching proceeding in suite K. Proceed to or in Execution where without Scire fac M. Whether the Executor stand in his owne quality or his Testators N. Where one alone may sue O. In suite for them such as will not joyne shall be severed and th' other may sue and prosecute alone consequents inde P. Death of one Executor Plaintiffe or Defendant where abates Writ CHAP. IX How Executors stand betweene themselves and in representation of or relation to the Testator As his Assignee or Deputy or as the same person with him and where and to what purpose as other persons FIrst all of them doe represent the person of the Testator and therefore must they all joyne in suite against others and in suite by others they must be all made defendants or at least so many of them as do Administer for though the Executors themselves must take notice by the Will how many Executors be and must frame their suite accordingly Creditors and strangers neede not take notice of any more then doe Administer and Execute the Office of Executors For this reason as I take it in the time of King Edward the 3. where two Executors were of a terme and the reversion was granted by Fine mentioning but one termor and thereupon a Quid juris clamat accordingly brought against that one Executor this was held good enough though the other Executor was not named in the Suite belike because that one who indeed was the Testators Wife did onely occupy the Land and take the profits thereof for else since all the Executors doe represent the Testators person all must have beene named Therefore did the Judges resolve in the time of Henry the 4. that where a Lessee for yeares made two Executors and one of them was distrayned by the Lord for Rent who avowed upon the Lessor that Executor should have aide of his fellow Executor to the end that both might have aide of the Lessor which one alone could not And upon this reason viz. that the Executors represent the person of their Testator as one person for so speakes the Parliament It was enacted in time of Edward the 3. that the Executors though never so many shall have but one essoyne neither before appearance nor after because their Testator whose person they represent could have had no more It is further also enacted by the said Statute that where two or three Executors or more be they being sued in an action of debt though all doe not appeare yet such one of them or more as doe or doth appeare at the Graunde distresse shall answer alone without his companions And this Statute hath beene taken by equity in three respects First touching the persons that it shall extend not to Executors onely but also to Executors of Executors yea to Administrators also though the Statute speake onely of Executors Secondly touching the actions whereas the Statute speakes onely of the Action of debt it is taken by equity to extend to other actions as the Writ de rationabili parâ—e bonorum and detinue yet perhaps this latter action will be said not to be maintaineable against Executors for their Testators act but for their owne onely But we yet are not come so farre as to determine what is maintaineable but whether before all the Executors doe appeare he or they which have appeared shall be put to answer and so to bring it to decision whether the action be maintaineable or not I thinke also that in the action of covenant and all other actions against Executors as Executors he which appeareth must answer without his companions though the greater opinion in the Quadragesimes were contrary touching the action of Covenant But as for the sub paena against Executors which is to make them to answer to a suite in equity that hath beene temp E. 4. taken to be out of the reach and intent of the Statute So also of the Latitat in the Kings bench as was held in the same Kings time except all the Executors making up the whole representative body of the Testator be in the custody of the Marshall one or more of them who are there shall not be inforced to answer and so was it also lately held in the Kings Bench where Master Justice Houghton gave an excellent reason this case is out of the said Statute viz. for that this Writ doth not mention any debt nor name the Defendants Executors Thirdly and lastly that Statute is extended by equity to other Writs or Proces for where the Statute speakes onely of the
upon a statute And if they had no warning in the Scire facias but upon nihil returned the judgement passed there also the executor may bee releeved by audita querela because there was no default in him that hee did not plead or set forth the judgement upon the suit in the Scire facias Nor will it bee any plea for the creditor by statute to say that his statute was acknowledged before the judgement and so is more ancient for a latter or more puisne judgement is to bee preferred before a statute in time precedent But if this judgement be satisfied and it only kept on foot to wrong other creditors or if there be any defeasance of the judgement yet in force then the judgement wil not availe to keep off other creditors from their debts And thus much touching debts by judgement viz. how they stand in priority before other debts by statute or recognizance Now to see how they stand among themselves let this be observed viz. that between one judgement and another had against the testator precedencie or priority of time is not materiall but he which first sueth execution must be preferred and before any execution sued it is at the election of the executor to pay whom he will first yea if each bring a Scire facias upon his judgement the executor may yet confesse the action of which he will first notwithstanding the Scire facias was brought by the one before the other In this Scire facias the defendant may plead generally that he hath fully administred before the Scire facias brought without shewing that he did administer in payment of debts of as high nature yet that must be proved upon the evidence else the triall will fall out against the executor Thus have I delivered the most materiall things in my apprehension touching debts by judgement yet thereabout I will adde for the better information of the Reader not studied in the Law these few things First that what hath been said is only to be understood of judgements against the testator and not of any against the executor himselfe for of those being but debts by specialty at the time of the testators death we shall speak after Secondly what is said of the testator in case of an executor immediate is likewise to be understood of the testators testator in case of the executor of an executor for where A. makes B. executor and B. makes C. executor there the goods which came from or were left by A. be not in the hands of C. lyable to judgements had against B. Nor on the otherside are the goods of B. in the hands of C. subject to the judgements had against A. And the like is to be understood of statutes recognizances and bonds as elâ—ewhere is somewhat touched Thirdly Recoveries or judgements by meere confession without defence are yet of the same nature and to have the same respect as other recoveries upon triall or otherwise for although they may seeme to be but of the nature of recognizances which be debita recognita yet doe they differ from them in that here a debt is demanded by a declaration which is intended true that therefore the defendant cannot deny it but in case of a recognizance it is not so for there usually no action is entred nor debt demanded Fourthly the foreshewed respect to debts by judgement is not to be inclosed within Westminster Hall-and be restrained to the foure Courts there but may and must extend it selfe to judgements in other Courts of Record viz. in Cities and Townes Corporate having power by Charter or prescriptioÌ„ to hold plea of debt above forty shillings as in London Oxford c. For although there execution cannot bee had of any other goods than such as be within the jurisdiction of that Court yet if the Record be removed into the Chancery by Certiorari and thence by Mittimus into one of the Benches so execution may be had upon any goods in any County of England Fifthly in case where the testator was bound in a recognizance and a Sci. fac brought against him and thereupon judgement given Although this judgement be not quod recuperet as in case of actions of debt but quod habent exetiâ—nem yet since execution is the life fruit and effect of all judgements this may now well stand for a debt by judgement as I take it Of Recognizances and Statutes NExt unto debts by judgement are those by statute or recognizance to bee regarded by the executor And because I find no difference of priority or precedencie betweene these two I therefore ranke them together yet one reason of preferment given to judgments before statutes in Harisons case viz. that the one remains a record upon the roll in the Kings court whereas the other being carried in the pocket of the counisee is more private This I say should give priority also to recognizances before statutes as also another reason for that statutes are not properly records but obligations recorded yet do I not find that this makes a difference for priority of payment And indeed the statute is the more expedite remedie since thereupon execution may be taken out without any Scire facias or other suit which cannot be in the case of a recognisance for there if a yeare be past after the acknowledgement no execution can be sued out against the partie himselfe acknowledging it without a Scire facias first sued out against him And if he be dead then though the yeare be not past yet must a Scire facias be sued and thereupon the executor defendant may plead some plea to hold off the execution for a time But this notwithstanding the executor may satisfie the recognizance before the statute at least if he doe it before execution sued thereupon for they standing in equall degree it is at his election to give precedencie and preferment to whether he will Neither is it materiall which of them were first or more ancient nor between one statute another doth the time or antiquity give any advantage as touching the goods though as touching the lands of the conusor it doth but as for his goods in the hands of his executor whosoever first getteth hold of them by his execution shall have the preferment And before suing of execution the executor may give precedence or preferment to whom he will But now some may object that there is no course nor writ of execution for any such counisee against the executor and if so then statutes merchant and of the staple are in vaine spoken of and it is true that Master Brook after Chiefe Justice of the Common Pleas in his new Cases professeth that he knew not any remedy for the creditor out of the goods of the conusor after his death But if this should be so the Law were very defective since the substance of many especially of marchants for and among whom
from the very time of making the lease as either by a contract real of quid pro quo or rather by an operation of law or legall constitution or ancient custome of the Realme without any contract of persons Lastly for that the lessor doth not distraine the cattell therefore or in that respect for that they are or were the goods of the testator but for that hee found them levant and couchant upon the land which must afford his rent or a distrâ—sse for it if behinde so as if they had beene any under tenants or strangers Cattell they might have beene distrained Some may perhaps object this reason why these impounded cattell should be delivered in execution viz. for that where otherwise the creditor by statute or judgement should lose all or part of his debt yet by this releefe done to him shall not the lessor lose his rent for that he may at any time after distraine any goods or cattell found upon the ground at any time during the continuance of the lease But here besides the point of delay and stay for this rent which to many is the sole meanes of maintaining their households and families this further is considerable that perhaps the lease may be neere expiring perhaps so highly racked and rented even to or above the value as that the executor having his testators stock taken from it and him by execution will not stock it any more and so the land lying fresh if the lessor shall lose the benefit of his former distres he shall be perhaps without remedy for his arrerages of rent And if the case were of a distres for rent behind after the testators death I conceive though not so strongly for most of the reasons abovesaid that the law would be all one as in the other case for though in this case respect shall not be had to the executors losse upon whose goods the law casts this debt though not the other yet here the point of losse must fall either upon the lessor losing his distresse or upon the other creditor by specialiy or record losing wholly or in part his debt And in respect of this locall tye upon this land for paiment of the rent whereto even the fealty of the lessee and tenure of the land bindeth him and it I think no act that the lessee can do by entring into bonds or statutes or having judgements against him can hinder the lessor or reversioner from taking his remedy upon this leased land for the rent therefore due but rather any other creditor shall be a loser in his debt Doubtlesse iâ— in barre to the avowrie for this rent due either before or since the testators death the executor will plead that the testator was indebted a thousand pounds by statute recognizance or judgement which is more then all his goods amounted unto it will be no good plea but may be demurred upon What if hee plead so much debt of record to the Crowne surely I doubt whether this plea will be allowed in any other Court then the Exchequer yet if these arrerages of rent shall be levied upon the land so as either the executor must pay it or lose the cattell distrained by a returne irreplevisable and then shall not have sufficient to satisfie the debt to the Crown I see not how he shall well escape when pursued in the Exchequer to make up this Crowne debt out of his owne purse which is hard For this we may pitch upon as a Maxime and principle that an executor where no default is in him shall not be bound to pay more for his testator then his goods amount unto Againe it is a rule that where nothing is to be had viz. justly to be had the King loseth his right and our bookes tell us that the Kings Prerogative must not do wrong Potestas ejus juris est non injuriae nam potestas injuriae non est Dei sed diaboli On the other side it may be said that if land leased come to the King by grant outlawry or otherwise the rent reserved cannot be distrained for and therefore is it not very unreasonable nor incongruent that the Kings interest for his debt should make the distres of a subject to stand by and give place This therefore among other of the premises do I leave as a quaere nor is it altogether unprofitable either for an executor or creditor to know what wayes and passages what cases and contingents be doubtfull and hazardous And if in these unbeaten paths where our bookes and relations have held me forth no light expresse or particular I have erred in mis-resolving or missing to resolve I hope I shall without difficulty obtaine pardon Now let us consider of assumptions or promises made by the testator upon good consideration the performance whereof or making recompence and satisfaction for not performing doth lye upon an executor as before is shewed These therefore are to come behinde and give place unto all the former so as an executor this way or for these sued may pleade debts by specialty rent c. amounting to the whole goods And yet these debts by contract or assumption expresse are to be satisfied before legacies be to be had First because by the common law of the land those are recoverable and so are not legacies next because as our bookes speake it concernes the soule of the testator to have aes alienum all duties and debts to other men satisfied before the debtors voluntary gifts or bequests Also these debts by assumption or simple contract are to be satisfied before the reasonable part of the wife or children to which by custome in some Counties they are intitled see 21. Ed. 4. 21. 2 Ed. 4. 13. 2. Hen. 6. 16. And note that in such an action upon the case it is not of necessity to lay or set forth in the declaration that the defendant hath assets to pay all debts by specialty and this also but if there want the defendant must alledge that in his excuse for else it shall be presumed that he hath assets So also in an action upon the case grounded upon the executors owne assumption to pay his testators debt and yet as the L. Cooke conceives and upon good reason as to me it seemes if the executors so promising had not assets sufficient in his hands to pay this debt promised he pleading non assumpsit may give that in evidence for then the consideration faileth as also if there were no such debt due since the plaintife could not have recovered if he had sued and so his forbearance to sue was no valuable consideration Chap. XIII Of Devastation or Wasting THat which S. Paul of dispensers spirituall who are as it were the executors of the last will and testament of our Saviour Christ doth say or enjoyne viz. that they must be found faithfull The same is required of these lesse or inferiour dispensers the executors of mens Wils and
having a lease for twenty yeeres did demise the same to I. S. for the whole terme if hee so long should live if hee were alive in time of the former verdit but now is dead the terme continuing this is now assets which before was not whilst it was but a possibility of a terme Other instances might bee given but these may suffice If the Executor pleaded that the Testator stood bound in such a Statute or that there was such a judgment against him of debt to the King beyond the satisfaction whereof the goods would not reach This is in effect a fully administred though speciall and not generall and the Law is alike as I take it in all these cases as to the not making of the Executors goods lyable But in all these causes though the debt shall not bee adjudged upon the Executors owne goods yet the damages shall in default of the Executors goods to satisfie them And in these cases it is not materiall whether the judgement passed upon trial or demurrer Nay if the defendant Executor plead no plea but confesse the action generally or bee condemned by Non sum informatus the judgement is the same viz. to record the debt onely out of the Testators goods and the damages of the Executors goods in default of the Testators what if the Executor defendant confesse that hee have assets to the value of part of the debt not of the whole there for so much as is confessed the plaintife may pray and have judgement presently without dammages and may maintaine for the residue of the debt that the defendant also hath assets for the rest and so goe to triall as appeares both by the printed Booke of entries and another manuscript which I have But what if this triall passe against the plaintife shall hee then have an additionall judgement for dammages in respect of the former I thinke hee shall have costs which commonly runne with or in the name of dammages but without a writ to enquire of dammages none being found by Verdicts the Court doth not usually adiudge dammages yet in the Booke of entries I finde 6 s. 8 d. dammages assessed by the Court upon a confession in a writ of Rationab parte bonorum against Executors and this hath much affinity with the action of debt Yea in the very action of debt where the Iurors for miscariage after their departure from the Barre were fined I find that the plaintife renouncing the assesment of dammages by them made and praying the Court to assesse the same it was done accordingly but this was a speciall case Whereas wee before shewed that an Executor denying his executorship shall if it bee found against him pay the debt of his owne goods for his false plea This thereabout occurreth to bee added viz. that that is onely where the immediate executorship of the defendant is denied For if B. bee made Executor by A. and B. dying makes C. his Executor now if C. bee sued for the debt of A. as Executor of B. Executor of A and hee denyeth that B. was Executor of A. which by consequence is a deniall of his being now Executor of A. yet if this fall out in triall against him hee shall not in his owne goods stand liable to this debt because it is possible that hee might not know to whom his Testator was Executor So if A. made B. C. and D. his executors and E. is sued as executor of D. the surviving executor of A. if E. deny that D. his Testator survived B. and C. by consequence whereof hee denieth the truth viz. that the executorship of A. is devolved to him yet shall not this found against him charge his owne goods for hee might bee ignorant of this point in fact viz. whether B. C. or D. lived longest And heere hee denied not his owne immediate executorship but a mediate or more remote executorship and so I thinke is the Law where C. being sued as executor of B. executor of A. hee pleades that A. by a latter Testament made himselfe executor which is found against him so as heere hee falsely pleaded and pretended himselfe to bee the immediate executor of A. and so denied the mediate executorship viz. of B. to A. and of him to B. yet Quere of this for why should not as well his false making himselfe an executor immediate to the indebted Testator charge his owne goods as well as his false denying of that executorship since both plees tend to the overthrow of the plaintifes action and each equally rested in the defendants knowledge But this difference is betweene them apparant viz. that the deniall of executorship if true is an utter and perpetuall Barre to the plaintife as against him so pleading but the affirming of an immediate executorship where hee was sued as executor mediate doth not so it true but directs the plaintife to a better writ or action viz. against him as immediate executor to the indebted Testator Where we have before touched upon the comming of Assets futurely to executors I think it not amisse to consider a little the forme and frame usuall in pleas of fully administred which thus runne viz. Quod die impetr plene administravit omnia bona catalla quae fuerunt praed S. temp mortis suae nihil hab de bonis c. quae â—uer praed S. temp mortis c. Thus tying his deniall upon the things which were the testators at the time of his death What if then the executor have at the time of this plea pleaded goods with were not the testatorâ— at his death but since accrued as before is shewed or perhaps a lease for yeares sold by the testator upon condition to be void if five hundred pounds not paid at such a day which hapning after the testators death and default made the terme returneth Or if the executor by a writ of error reverse a judgement given against his testator for two hundred pounds and so is restored thereunto May the plaintife now reply generally that he hath assets which were the testators at the time of his death How can the Jury so finde when the truth is not so Surely this case is not common nor can I shew a president of a speciall plea therein But in reason me thinks it should be specially and not generally pleaded and set forth in the replication And in case where one sued as executor denieth that he was ever executor or administred as executor I finde sometimes the replication generall that he did administer without shewing wherein or how and sometimes speciall shewing what thing was administred and where Here note that the executor defendant denying as he must two things viz. 1. That he never was executor 2. That he never administred as executor the plaintife in his replication is tyed to maintaine but the one of them as the truth of the case is that is if in truth the defendant were
that it is done to the use or profit of the infant Executor then no sale of lease or goods or assent to legacy by such administrator will bind or prejudice the infant Executor But otherwise perhaps if the administration during the minority bee committed generally And if the Testator himselfe making an infant Executor doe also appoint another to bee his Executor during his nonage expressing it to bee onely for the benefit and behoofe of the infant executor I doubt whether this temporary executor stand any whit restrayned froÌ„ what pertaines to the power of an absolute executor for there may be perhaps difference between him to whom the owner of the goods commits the government of them though but for a time and in speciall manner and an administrator so specially made by the ordinary another being presently by the will of the owner or Testator to have the administration in whom for a time legall defect is found But now let us passe over this age of 17. and consider of the infant betweene that time of his being admitted to take upon him the executorship and his accomplishment of his full age of 21. First then suppose that hee doth release a debt due to his Testator whether shall this bee good to bind him and to discharge the debtor aswell as if the executor had bin of full age hee now having proved the will and being by the Law spirituall approved an able executor And this point comming in question in Russells Case in the late Queenes time consideration was had both of divers good reasons for enabling of this release as that an executor represents the person of his Testator and in his right and power doth these acts and not in his owne and therefore his infancy which is a state or condition of his owne naturall person shall no more disable him then it doth the King a Mayor or other head of a Corporation Also divers Bookes were found to runne that way as well in the case of an infant as of a Femme Covert But upon great deliberation in the Kings Bench and upon conference had with the Lord Anderson Manwood and other justices it was resolved and adjudged that the release of an infant executor without payment of the debt or duty would not bind or barre him first for that if it should it would be a wasting or devasting of the goods of his Testator and so would charge his owne goods Secondly It would bee a wrong which an infant could not doe by his release Thirdly It was no pursuit nor performance of the office or duty of an executor but the contrary And upon this judgement a writ of error was brought in the Exchequer Chamber where it was agreed by all that the release was not effectuall nor binding so as this point now had the resolution of all the Judges of England But it was agreed that if payment or satisfaction had beene made then the infant executor might have made a good acquittance and discharge indeed payment it self if proved brings discharge enough except in the case of a single Bill Note that the principall case adjudged was not of a release of any debt or duty by specialty but of trespasse in conversion of goods found or taken in the Testators life time But Poâ—ito that this infant had assented to a legacy whether will this binde him or not for in the said Case of Russell it is said that all things which an infant doth according to the office and duty of an Executor will stand firme now it is part of his office to pay and execute Legacies Yet since this act amounts to a vastation or wasting of the Testators goods aswell as the other in case there remaine not goods sufficient for payment of the debts and consequently here aswell as in the other case the infants owne goods would become lyable to his Testator debts I doubt and incline that it is not nor can stand effectuall for except in the other wee admit a want or possibility of want of assets or goods the release could neither hurt the infant himselfe nor doe wrong to any other and that admitted this case is of like prejudice yet if this asset should bee voyd so also would bee his payment of Legacies and how then were hee an able Executor at the age of 17. yes to sue and to bee sued for debts and Legacies and if upon suit it cannot bee shewed that debts will take up all or disable the payment then happily hee may bee forced to pay Quaere notwithstanding whether these acts though voluntary stand not good upon Bene esse or conditionally viz. if there bee besides goods sufficient c. or that else the nonaged Executor may have an action of accompt for the money by him payed to the Legatee and also avoyd his assent where that only needfull But doubtlesse neither the assent of such Executor before his age of 17. nor any payment of a debt to him could bee good although such acts to or by another Executor before the proving of the will would stand firme and good for this infant wants not onely proving but also ability to prove his Testators will yea the will stands suspended and the Testator as it were intestate whilst the administration stands in force so as during that time nothing can bee done by any as executor and therefore there is great difference betweene the cases What if payment of a Legacy bee made to an infant can hee make a sufficient acquittance This I confesse is besides the point in hand yet because it concerns infants and Executors though not infant Executors it is not amisse here to cast some thoughts and words upon the point for that it many times perplexeth both Executors and Legatees First therefore in case the Executor bee of the yeares of discretion viz. 14. I hold it cleare that any payment to him made will stand good for that the Law at that age holds him able to governe and manage his owne Lands held in socage and consequently to receave the rents thereof wherefore whether hee who makes such payment have any acquittance or not if hee have proofe of the payment hee is well enough acquitted from any second payment and if without payment hee get an acquittance it will not suffice the infancy of him who makes the acquittance considered Besides if the acquittance bee as most usually they are but signed onely with the name of the maker and not sealed it is onely an evidence or proofe of payment and no pledable acquittance because no deed so as it nothing differs from proofe by witnesses save that it is not mortall as they But now if the infant bee under the yeeres of discretion what shall wee say to a payment to him specially if hee bee but three or foure yeares old or thereabout heere I thinke caution is to bee used by the executor generally and the surest way is if hee feare to
another point which made an end of the case all agreed Yet the better opinion was as I finde in my report that a lease would passe by such words in a will though not in a deed or grant by word otherwise made for that legacies are demandable in the Spirituall Court where bona catalla are taken for all one See also the state of Marlbr giving an action to the successor ad repetenda bona predecess Yet an eject custod hath been maintained thereupon so also upon the stat for executors de bonis asportatis in vita testator hath it beene resolved and where administration is granted it is only omnium bonorum without speaking of chattels yet hath the administrator interest in leases as well as moveables On the other side the stat de prerog reg mentioning only forfeiture de catallis is cleerely extended to moveables so also in the writ of assize de catallis quae in eo capta fuerint and in the writ of execution upon a stat there is only the word catalla and not bona and in the case reported by Kelway temp Henry the 7 th it seems bona catalla were taken for synonyma or all one It doth not appeare that these stat and writs were alleadged or considered of temp Ed. 6. but in Portmans case the most of them were If one will that his wife or any other shall have or hold or enjoy the moiety of his lease with his executor This implyeth not that the executor have the other moity as a legacy also but otherwise as the law casts it upon him no more then where the moiety of fee-simple land is devised to the younger sonne this shall not make the elder sonne to have the other moiety otherwise then by discent as betweene Low and Charter was conceived But there being a Proviso in the wives bequest that if she married from the house then c. Popham cap. Justice held that if she married at all this was a marrying from the house for she was no longer widdow of that house though she married with one of that kindred and who had no other house but would dwell in the bequeathed CAP. XX. Of the Executor of an Executor I Should bee taxed of omission if I should not shew whether the things fore-spoken of Executors immediate extend also to the mediate or more remote Executors Assuredly were I not by the books otherwise informed I should thinke it somewhat strange that the mediate Executor in the fourth fift or further degree should not by the rules of the common Law stand in like plight Executor to the first Testator as the first and immediate Executor aswellas the heire and assignee in the third or thirteenth degree is capable of all advantages in like sort as the first and immediate heire and assignee And indeed wee finde both in the time of Edward the 2. and Edward the 3. Execution sued out upon a judgement and Statute by an Executor of an Executor and why hee might not aswell maintaine an action of debt c. I see not But I must confesse I finde both books to the contrary before any Statute made in the point and after an act of parliament to enable them to bring actions and to make them subject to actions yet the Statute speakes nothing of conferring upon them the Testators goods Now if they had title to them before that Statute and without the helpe of that Statute it is strange if they should not bee suable for debts But since that Statute and at this day where by a will a speciall trust is recommended to an Executor as to sâ—ll land c. This not performed in his life time shall not be performable by his Executor contrariwise of an interest as to take the profits of lands for certaine yeeres towards payment of debts and legacies and where the stat temp H. 8. gives remedy to Executors for recovery of rents of inheritance behind in the Testators life I doubt not but executors of executors are within the equity as well as within the Stat. 9. Ed. 3. cap. 3. that the executor who appeares at the grand distres shall answer alone Yet the statute Westm 2. cap. 23. for executors was taken not to extend to executors of executors Quod non est lex So as now in all cases except of speciall trust or authority without the office of executorship The executor of an executor how farre soever in degree remote stands as to the points both of being having and doing in the same state and plight as the first and immediate executor CAP. XXI Touching Administrators OF these also as standing in much affinity with executors it may bee by some expected that I should have treated But first my excuse is that these of executors onely having growne to so great a bulke above expectation I was unwilling to inlarge it further Secondly that which in the points of having and doing is before set forth and shewed touching executors may bee applied to and understood of administrator sthough not what is spoken of being and unbeing or revocation of executorships and other circumstantiall points Lastly I may perhaps if these finde good acceptance ad ere long that which appertaineth to Administrators distinguished from Executors or wherein they stand in different state CAP. XXII Considerations in conscience touching payment of Debts Legacies and the preferring or respect of persons TO the advertisement what course executors are to hold in their payments I thought good to adde this in foro conscientiae That when as it shall stand in the executors will and election to pay whom he will and as he will in respect of equality in the dignity and degree of the debts all being for the purpose by specialty and none of record and yet he hath not wherewith to pay or satisfie all Here he may have three wayes or courses in his eye First where there is equality in the honesty and conscience of the debts there except in the ability of the paties to beare losse the disproportion may otherwise occasion me thinks it should be most honest and just to pay every one proportionably and to let the losse of every one to be equall and the justnesse of this is taught by the law which gives the audita querela for equall contribution in bearing of losse by them who stand in equall degree so of legacies The poverty and inability of some and the plenty of others may in foro conscientiae justifie the paying more to one and suffering him to lose lesse if any thing then another For as the widowes mite was a greater gift so a greater losse then more out of abundance Where charity findes or may finde place or neernesse to place of giving it may find greater motives of preserving from losse So of legacies The nature of the debts and so sometime of legacies may be so different as
Bâ—â—deridge Wâ—ndsor Noke Anders case 41. Ass p. 15. 40. E. 3. Fitzh Ex. 74. Co. lib. 9. f. 87. ◠〈…〉 Cap. 10. Fitzh Ex. 77. I conceive no difference betweene this and the other cases supâ—a 2. H 4 13. He may by 〈◊〉 Co lib. 11. f. 88. 3. H. 6. 35. Coâ— for arreâ—ages of an account before auditors 11. H 4. 64. 91. 92. 9. H. 6 11. 13. Ed. 1 Câ— lib. 9. f. 87. a. 21. Hen. 8. cap. 5. 1â— Ed. 3. cap. 4. Do. Sâ—u. li. â— cap. 10. M. 33. 34. Eliz the Lady Walsinghâ—ms case in com ba. Tr. 39. Eliz. Lib. 1. 21. E. 4 21 22. So must it bee pleaded M. 33. 34. Eliz. And must plead the record in certain as was held in the case of the Lady Walsingham M. 33. 34. Eliz. but it sufficeth to say by a record of the Exchequer as was held Tr. 39. Eliz. in b. reg Co. lib. 5. f. 28. So Wray and Gaudy inter Bond Bales 28. Eliz. vel circiter Yea though a writ of Error by the executor to reverse the judgement yet suffering a statute to bee executed must pâ—y of his own Read Bear-blocks câ—se P. 43. Eliz. Ba. â—e So held in Reades case supâ—a vide 12. H. 7. Kâ—lw 24 25. to like purpose Co. lib. 4. f. 59. So Peâ—iam in com ba. inter Charnock and Worsley 34. Elâ—z vel circiter Co. lib. 5. f. 28. Co. li. 8. f. 132. So held in 15. 16. Eliz. So in the Scire fac by bond against Bales it was held 9. El. 4. 14. 15. Quae. of arrerages of account before auditors without suit for the executors are charged by judgement of the Auditors by 〈◊〉 W. â— judg of record 10. H. 6. 24. 25. Brdeâ—â— 183. Quae. of judgement in a writ of Annuity for arrerages after Before Sâ—i fac not after voluntarily but if levied by writ of Extend sa good Bâ—â— N â— â—â— Stat. Mar. 43 Co. l. 5. f 28. b. H. 40. Eliz. â—ot 119. P. 32. Eliz. â—ot 235. in cont ba. See Co. lib. 5. 91. execution against an Exec upon a statute Semaines case Co. lib. 5. f. 28. So if satisfied though not discharged 28. H. 8. Dy. 32. Doct. St. ca. 10. p. 78. Do. St. p. 78. Quae. If then hee may not pleade this judgement post ult contin against A. as he may pleade it against other suits after coÌ„menced Co. li. intr 148. 269. 149. a. 4â— E. 3. Fitzh Ex. 68. 6. 7. El. dy 232. vide 21. H. 7. Kelw. 74. 5. Hen. 7. 27. So Walmsley inst P. 39. Eliz. in Error al. Sâ—riants Inne Co. lib. Intr. 269. such a recovery by confession is pleaded against another and admitted good fo 148. 149. Do. S. p. 78. b. So also was it â—ayd Tr. 29. Eliz. See â—3 R. 2. Bro. Pledges 31. Attainder of the party distraind shall not take away the distres Vide Dyeâ— Vid. Bro. Pledg 31. So Bracton Not resolving Co. lib. 9. fo 88 b. Doct. Stu. lib. 2. cap. 10. 11. Co. l. 9. fo 90. b. Pinchons case fo 94. Banes case 13. E. 3. Fitz. 91 Yeâ—â—on the other side if an execut by payment of an 110 pounds get in a fâ—rfeited bond of 200 pounds it shal be an administrat but of 110. pounds 27. H 8. 6. p. Fitz. iâ—st Lib. Intra sol 327. Kâ—lw rep â—ol 23. So. 11. H. 6. â—8 a. 4. El. Dy. 210 a. the writ so issued against the waster only P. 4. H. 8. rot 303. Tr. 34. Eliz. Pas 36. Eliz. Mich. 31. â— 32. Eliz. Tr. 34. Eliz. Tr. 34. Eliz. Mich. 32. 33. Eliz. If upon fully administred pleaded to one vel aliter hee have the advantage of this vastation taking up the whole â—umme wasted quae how the Executor shall relieve himselfe against another 41. E. 3. 31 b. Pas 36. Eliz. in 6. reg 45. Eliz. Pettifers case Co. lib. 5. fo 32 So 9. H. 6. f. 9. See Paston 1â— H. 6. 16. 36. upon surmise that A hath wasted A. Fieri facias may issue against his goods onely If so c. So lib. Intra f. 11. Co. lib. 5. 32. 2. El. Dy. 185. Woodw and Chichesters case 11. H. 6. f. 38. 28 H. 8. Dy. 3. Yea Co. lib. 6. f. 47. 46. Assets in Ireland or else-where beyond the sea may bee found by the Jury where the action is laid For the pl. may if he will suggest the being of assets in a forren County and this is usually done See lib. Intr. 11. a. Action upon the case for a false returne of Devast contra sacram sui debitum 28. H. 8. 2. Ma. Bro. Attaint 104. and 10. Eliz. Dyer 271. Because locall and fixed otherwise held 3. Jac. in com b. Co. lib. 6. f. 46. 47. 22. E. 4. 9. and 2. Ma. Bro. Att. 104. 18. H. 7. Kelw. rep 51. a. So held P. 31. El. in scaccar So if the proces for execution goe into another County than where the verdict found as the diff was held in Scaccar 31. El. 28. H â— Dy. 30. b. Pas 4. H. 8 rot 303 4. El. Dy. 210. But 2. H. 6. 12. without any Sci. fac upon the devast returned A capias was awarded by the court see 9. H. 57. Bro. Ex. 57. lib. Intr. 323. A Fieri fac absolutely without condition So. 9. H. 649. 50. A manu-script report 36. H. 6. f. 3. Mordant 12. H. 7. Kelw. rep 24. but vavasor just and all thother serjeaÌ„ts â— contra 2. El. D. 185. Co. lib. 5. f. 32. Mich. 41. El. rot 2441. Co. lib. Intr. 269. b. A recovery of debt precedent was pleaded Pl. replied nul tiell record def would not maintaine his plea. Ideo condemp If neither hee must so returne and doe nothing 1. And 2. P. M. sod Dy. 105. b. 1. Eli. Dy. 166. 167. So also Balâ—â— 50. Ed. 8. 9. 13. 14. Eliz. Dy. 305. 306. 1. Eliz. Dy. 166 167. see lib. Intra f. 322. b. 21. H. 6. 28. 10. H. 7. 28. Yet lib. Intra 322. b. where he confessed about funerall he traversed aliter Lib. Intra 312. where by letter ad collig Hee traversed Absq hoc quod Exec. 21. H. 6. 28. Lib. Intr. 322. 8 and 9. Eliz. Dier 255 256. He sold blended corne but there hee pleaded not the speciall matter 1 And 2. P. Ma. Dyer 105. 21 H. 6. 28. 33 H. 6. 31. 1 Eliz. Dy. 166 Tr. 37. Eliz. by Fâ—nner Just If one doe any such act as puls the property out of the executor he is become an executor by wrong If the goods be aliened by fraud he who takes them after the executors death is an executor by wrong Tr. 37. Eliz. L. 5. E. 472 a. Tr. 2. Jac. in com b. Co. lib. 5. 33 34. 1 El. D. 166. b. H. 20. 7. 5. 50. Ed. 3. fo 9. Tr. 3. Eliz. 2. Point L. 5. E. 4. 72. Co. lib. 5. 30. 31. 33. b. 21
H. 6. 8. Co. lib. Intra 144. but 145. a. iâ— the verdict hee is called Exec. De njuria sua propria 39 H. 6. 45. 46. 21. H. 6. 8. 19. 9. E 4. 14 15. 1 2. P. M. Dy. 165. 33. H. 6. 38. 35. H. 6. 31. â— R. 3. 20. 21. H. 6. 8. If the administration were committed before the suit began the writ shall abate else not as was of old conceived 3 Point How far liable to creditors Yet hee must looke to his plea else by it he may draw al sued for upon himselfe as if he deny his being executor or administrator Co. lib. Intr. 144. 145. Pluâ— de â—oc 1. El. Dy. 167. cap. 12. 4 Point What acts of his of force M. 40. 41. Eliz. Co. lib. 5. f. 30. 5 Point Plea denying the Executorship 21. H. 6. 19. 20. Bro. 62. 2 E. 4. f. 4. 1. 9. H. 7. 15. Lib. Intr. 322. 333. 33. H. 6. 33. 34. He was suable as soone as the Testator was dead But if hee did it as Adm. it is otherwise yet see that specially pleaded Co. Lib. Intr. 148. a. See Co. Lib. Intrac Judgm so entred fol. 145. b. Read Carters case Co. Lib. Intr. 29. a. not first de bonis testatoris si c. See Bro. Ex. 22 these reasons for this diff 33 H. 6. 23 24. So of other perform Co. Lib. Intr. 133. a. 6 E. 4. 1. 7 E. 4. 8 So Bro. Ex. c. 22 that the Book contrarily reported 34. H. 6. 22 23. is erroneous as was descryd by Fitz. al. 23. H. 8. the Record being not so as the Booke saith the judgement was Lib. Intr. 148. 149. This good though the judg were by non sum inform no averment that it was without covin Co. Lib. Intra 152. 11 H. 4. 5. There a cap. ad sat was awarded for the Dammages But hee may I think forbeare so to doe and to the judgement for part ad that when more assets come hee shall have more Lib. Intracion Fol. 223. Fol. 542. M. 28. H. 6. Ro. a. 321. Lib. Intra 329. a. See Lib. Intr. 322. Lib. Intr. 151. 7. H. 4. 39. Bro. 50. This plea is not good per cur because some may haâ—â— since accrued Lib. Intrac 322. a. b. but a place must be shewed So 21 H 6. 19 20. Bro. 62. So done Co. lib. Int. 144. b. Mich. 13. 14. Bliz. Dy. 305. Lib. in t 322. b. Tr. 37. Eliz. Yet Finch 46. E. 3. f. 9 10 held the contrary viz. that judgment should be of the whole but execution onely for so much a Sci. fac for the rest when more assets See Co. lib. 8. f. 134. So 19 H 6. f. 37 〈◊〉 4. f. 24 See judgement so entred Co. lib. Intr. 151. b. â—o 7 E. 4. f. 9. It is 11 H. 6. 40 41. 5 Mariae fol. 182. Reade Norwoods case Co. l. b. Intr. fo 1. 2. Tr. 30. Eliz. Pase 33. Eliz. in com banc So for rent behinde since the testators death Co. lib. 5. fo 31. the suit is in the debet as for his own debt M. 14. 15. Eliz Lib. Intr. 329. a. b. De terris catallis c. Sect. 1. Sola secreta examinata Debts except which are not properly good 5. Ed. 2. Fitz. devise 24. During her life hee is but not after But the husband may receive them or release them 12. H. 7. f. 22. The husband was sued in Spirit Court as executor to his wife So she is often to former husband and to father c. 39. H. 6. f. 27. 34. H. 8. S. Bro. TestameÌ„ts 21. 18. E. 4. f. 11. Vavasor Inst 4. H. 6. f. 31. 12. H. 7. 24. b. Tit. Dâ—vis f. 27. 〈◊〉 29. Eliz. in 〈…〉 Cooke lib. 4 51. b. Note 13. Ed. 1. Fitz. Exec. 119. â— Hen. 7. 15. b. 2 H. 7. 15. 33 H. 6. 31. 43. 39 Ed. 3. 1. 27 H. 8. 24. 18 H. 6. 4. The plea is that the femme did or did not administer without speaking of the husband 33 H. 6. 31. The husband may administer and prove the will for his wife 1. El. Dy. 166. b. there is cited 3 H. rot 112. Nota per Bill 7 H. 4. 13. See 18 H. 6. 4. In det the plea shall bee that she hath fully administred replic that she hath assets never meÌ„tioning the husband 33 H. 6. 31. M. 31. El. in com b. If the husband be to avow it must be in the right of his wife executor or administrator Manfilds case Doctor Juliâ— his case 10. H. 7. 20. Bro. Just Cui in vita 15. Shee may sell to any other but not to him Fenner Just in ba. reg Pasâ— 37. Eliz. 34. E. 3. Bro. Cui in vita 15. No prejudice to them that it be good 35. H. 6. 41. b. 18. Eliz. cap. 7. 3. H. 7. f. 1. 6. Oblitum Another of 60 to exempt froÌ„ being compelled to serve by the stat of labourers 23. E. 3. cap. 1. W. 2. cap. 38. 13 Ed. 1. no. na br 165. â— Devises f. 97. No good reason for one may make an ill account specially having a childes direction for his doings 9. H. 6. f. 6. 2. H. 4. 22. 40 Ed. 3. 44. 37. H. 6. 5. 11. H. 6. f. 40. 6. Co. lib. 5. f. 29. P. M. 41. 42. Eliz. Co. lib. 5. fo 29. But payment is to bee made to the Exec. not to the adm M. 15. 16. El. in com ba. rep 67. Co lib. 5. fo 29. Co. lib. 6. fo 671. H. 26. Eliz. 16. H. 6. ret 45. 21. Ed. 4. 13. 24. Co. lib. 5. fo 27. Notes of 〈◊〉 called acquittances Quaeâ—â— If the executor give it to another the legetee hath no remedy at the Common Law per Prisot 37 H. 6. 30. Welâ—den and Elkington Paramour and Yardley Poâ—tman and Simmes case Trin. 37. Eliz. All but Gawdy so agreed 21 Eliz. D. 367 Co. lib. 3. fo 29 6 H. 7. 5. If the bequest be to one of the executors he may take it without assent of his compan yet if a det his compan may release it 48 E. 3. 14 15. So held where but one of the executors during nonage assented in the case of Rhetorick and Chappel H. 9. Jacobi Ror 895. in ba. reg C. See Co. lib. Intr 150. the executor being devisee for life said the other should have it after her death and he entred and tooke admin she dying intestate yet held Assets in him This M. 19 H. 7. Rot. 318. See lib. Intr. 321. One gave the third part of his goods to A with whoÌ„ the exec accounted for the amount and Asued for that summe in det but no judgement upon demurrer Tr. 37 Eliz. in ba. reg Wherebe quests to exec himselfe Tr. 37 Eliz. If he by will bequeath it to I. S. this is an election to have it as legatee So if the exec take a new leas his assent after is void Tr. 37. Eliz. in Carters case 19 Eliz. D. 359 14. H. 8. 23. Dy. 359. After choice once made no variation Plow Com. 520. 542. Both Alexander and Ralfe were executors but that makes no difference Windsmore Holford vel Holbord in 28 29. Elizab. argued and Tr. 29. Eliz. adjudgâ—â—â— 28 H. 8. Dy. fo 7. Ploud 545. 6. Co. lib. 10. f. 47 Plowd Com. 521. In Bret Rigdens case So of common or other profit 99 Eliz. Fulses case Lampets case Co. l. 10. fo 48. 9 Point Plowd 520. Welâ—den and Elkington 10. El. D. 277 19 Eliz D. 359. Cont. â— El. D. 253. 33 H. 8. Bro. chatelx 23. Weleden Elk. ubi supra But there the point was never queâ—tioned though such death was there 10. Point Of forfâ—iâ—ure revocation and other losse of legaâ—ie Swinb de testam 352 353. Except as tutor or guardian he accuse it Sum. Silv. 284. De testam 25â— De testam 255 Vide Bro. Devise 27. 45. thâ—re were divers dayes of payment and the devisee dyed before the last his executor shall have it 14. vel 24. H. 8. 36. H. 8. 3 El. Dy. 59. See this difference Sum. Silv. 283. According hereto vide Dy. ubi supra per majorem opinionem Justiciat Acts of the testator Sum. Silic 285. Ord. 27. Iun. a. 2. Caroli regis To helpe this was the Stat. made 27. Eliz. capâ— 6. H. 8. cap. 9. Tr. 41. Eliz. Co. lib. 5. fo 1â— B. San ders Case Vide Plow com of an action of tresp against a stranger for taking before assent 280. b. P. 25. Eliz. 48. E. 3. 15. 14. Eliz. Dy. 307. conte in a grant 31. Eliz. Sum. Silv. 286. Ibid. ut suprâ— Ibid. ut supra Yet 48. E. 3. 14 15. It is admit that such a divisee of all goods after debt paid shall have a duty resting in account Quae. 36 Hen. 8. Dy. 59. Dy. ib. supra Sum. Silv. 286. Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. b. Ibid. Ibid. Sum. Silv. 286. Ibid. 287. Ibid. 286. Ibid. 284. a. 15 Eliz. Dy. 331. Plow Com. 545. b. Co. lib. 8. 96. a. By deed or word in life 4 E. 6. Bro. Done c. 43. Tr. 37. Eliz. in ba. reg Portm ver Simmes or Willis divers times argued Cap. 28. 4 E. 3. cap. 7. So the stat 5 R. 2. ca. of forf of goods by those who go beyond the Sea cap. 16. In all these goods are comprehended 13 H. 7. Kelw. rep 35. a. Low and Carters case Tr. 37. Eliz. in ba. reg See Plow 184. a Debt against the Executor of an Executor 19 Ed. 1. 14. Ed. 3. Fitzh Executor 87. 103. 11. Ed. 3. 13. Ed. 3. Fitzh Ex. 78. 92. 25. Ed. 3 cap. 5. 19. H. 8. 9. 10. 4. El. Dy. 210. 32. H. 8. cap. 37. So 32. H. 8. 28. leases And 32. H. 8. cap. 34. Conditions 13. El. cap. 5. 27. Eliz. cap. 4. Of fraudulent conveyances 21. H. 8. cap. 15. for falsifying recoveries 39. H. 6. 45. 7. E. 3. 62. 2 Cor. 8. v. 14.
debts should thus be preferred before any subjects viz. for that the treasure Royall is not only for sustentation maintaining of the Kings household but also for publick services as the warres c as appeares by the statute 10. Rich. 2. cap. 1. And therefore it is as I conceive that Bracton saith of the treasures or revenues Royall Roborant coronam they doe strengthen or uphold the Crowne And for the like reason as I think did God inact touching the possessions of the Crown that if they were given to any other then the Kings owne Children they should revert and come back to the Crowne the next Jubilee which was once in fifty yeares sed de hoc satis But this priority of paiment of the Kings debt before the debt of any subject is to be understood onely of debts by or upon record due to the King and not of other debts If any ask how the King should have any debts which shall not be of record since by the statute 33. of King Hen. 8. cap. 39. it is inacted that all Obligations and specialties taken to the use of the King shall be of the same nature as a statute staple To this I answer that there may be summes of money due to the King upon wood sales or sales of Tinne or other his minerals for which no specialty is given so also of amersements in his Courts Baron or Courts of his Honours which be not Courts of record The like of fines for coppyhold states there So of the money for which straies within the Kings Mannors or liberties are sold Also as the law hath lately beene taken and ruled in the Exchequer even debts by contract due to any subject are by his outlawry or attainder forfeitable to the Crowne Yet neither these nor those due to such person outlawed or attainted by bond bill or for arrerage of rent upon lease is or can be any debt of record untill office thereupon found for although the outlawry or attainder be upon record yet doth it not appeare by any record before office found that any such debt was due to the person outlawed or attainted Thus are not these debts to the Crowne to have priority of payment before the subjects debts though the Kings debts of record are so to have so that if a subject to whom the testator was indebted by specialty sue for this debt the executor must pleade that the testator dyed indebted thus much to the King by record more then which he left not goods to satisfie if the truth of the case so be for if there be sufficient to satisfie both then the subject creditor is not to stay for his debt till the Kings debt be levied And if the subject creditor sue execution upon a statute so that the executor hath no day in Court to pleade this debt to the King then is the executor put to an audita querela wherein he must set forth that matter and so provide for his owne indempnity But what shall we say of arrerages of rent due to the King surely where it is a feefarme rent or other rent of inheritance I see not how it can come under the title of debt since for it no action of debt is maintainable so long as the state continueth in him to whom it grew due and I find that the Lo. Dyar M. 14. Eliz. said that the King could but onely distraine for his rents and not otherwise levie them of lands or goods and that the King by his Prerogative may distraine in any other lands of his tenant our bookes tell us but no more Yet I know it hath beene otherwise done of late in the Exchequer which if it have beene the ancient and frequent use of the Exchequer it will stand as law though unknowne to the Lo. Dyar Now rent upon a lease for yeares differeth from the other since for the arrerages thereof an action of debt lyeth but how can either of these be debts of record when the not payment may be either in the Court of Exchequer or to the receiver generall or particular how then can there be any certain record of the not payment so as to make any certain debt upon record Wee know statutes have beene made to make the lands of receivers subject to sale for satisfaction to the Crown and besides that some ancient Patents direct the payment of Fee-farmes into the hands of Sheriffes the statute of Westm 1. cap. 19. provides remedy for the King against Sheriffes not answering the debts of the Crown by them received so as the Kings Farmer or debtor may have paid his rent or other debt and the Crowne have not yet received it Of Fines and amercements in the Kings Courts of Record there is no doubt but they are debts of record Come we now to the debts of subjects and first those of record touching which I shall not be able to hold so good a method and so well to handle things by parts as I would for that the parts so stand in competition one with another for precedencie as that they must of necessity thereabout conflict and interplead one with the other and contest one against the other yet for the Readers better ease and ability to finde out that which may concerne him in his particular case I will in the best sort I can single out these things into severall parts and place them in severall roomes or stations First considering how it shall stand between one judgement and another had either against the executor or testator Secondly how betweene judgements and statutes or recognizances Thirdly how betweene recognizances and statutes Fourthly how betweene one recognizance and another Fifthly how betweene one statute and another adding to each some observations incident Now next to the debts of the Crown are judgements or debts recovered against the testator to have priority or precedencie in payment as being of an higher nature or more dignity than any other for that statutes and recognizances though they make debts upon record yet are they begotten but by voluntary consent of parties whereas in every judgement there hath beene a course and work of Justice against the will of the defendant as is presumed and this in a court of justice and the records of such judgements are entred in publike rolls not kept or carried in pockets or boxes as statutes and untill inrolment recognizances are Therefore executors must take heed that judgements against their testators before debts any other way if they have not sufficient for both be first satisfied lest they draw the burthen of this debt upon their owne backs Now their way to help themselves being sued or pursued for other debts is the same before delivered touching debts upon record to the Crowne viz. by plea where they may plead as in Sâ—ire facias upon a recognizance or suit upon band and by Aâ—dita querela where they cannot plead as when execution is sued