it is sufficient if the landes and tenementes be holden in burgage k) Brook tit deuise n. 22 For that not he onelie is said to holde in burgage who is a citizen or burgesse of the place where the lands or tenementes be and holdeth of the kinge or other lorde landes or tenementes lying in the citie or borough yeelding therfore to his said lord a certaine yeerelie rent but he also that is no citizen or burgesse which holdeth of anie lord landes or tenementes in burgage yeelding vnto him a certaine rente by the yeere l) Old tenures verb. burgage which tenor in burgage is but a kind of tenure in soccage m) Litleton tit burgage in princ Howbeit there is this difference betwixt citizens burgesses and freemen and those which be not citizens burgesses or freemen that is to saie citizens burgesses and freemen maie bequeath their burgage landes to Mortmain which others can not doe n) Brook Abridg. tit custome n. 7. 38. 41. tit deuise n. 22. 28. Doct. Stud. lib. 1. c. 10. And in some borough by the custome thereof a man may deuise by his testament lawfullie made his landes and tenementes which hee hath in fee-simple within the same borough at the time of his death and by force thereof the deuisee after the death of the testator maie enter into the tenementes to him deuised to haue and to holde to him after the forme and effect of the deuise without anie libertie of seasin thereof to be made vnto him o) Litleton tit burgage But if there be two iointe tenauntes in fee-simple within one borough where the landes and tenementes within the same be deuisable by testament if one of the said iointe tenauntes deuise that which to him belongeth by testament and die this deuise or legacie is voide p) Principall grounds fol. 20. b. The reason is for that no deuise can take effect till after the death of the testator who did bequeath and deuise the same but by his death all the lande dooth incontinentlie by the lawe of this realme come to the suruiuor who neither claimeth nor hath anie thing by deuise but of his owne right by the suruiuâ—ir according to the course of the lawe of this lande and for this cause such deuise is voide q) Principall grounds fol. 20. b. An other case there was also some-times vsed and practised of deuising lands tenements and hereditamentes by willes to certaine vses intentes and trustes which willes or testamentes of landes tenementes and hereditamentes in feoffees handes were for the time accompted and taken for good r) Stat. H. 8. an 27. c. 10. But this custome was reformed in manie things for diuers good considerations namelie because by the common law of this realme lands tenements hereditaments be not deuisable by testament and also for that such deuises were not onelie hurtfull to the heire of the testator beeing manie times thereby disinherited but also for that diuers other inconueniences did by reason thereof insue as that the lordes lost their wardes mariages reliefes harriots escheates aids Pur faire fitz chiualer pur file marier Furthermore by occasions of suche willes and other conueiaunces to secrete intentes vses and trustes men could not be certainelie assured of anie landes by them purchased nor knew not against whom they should vse their actions executions for their rights and titles Besides this men married lost their tenaÌ„ces by the curtesie women their dowries finally the prince himselfe lost the profits of the landes of persons attainted For reformation whereof a statute was made in the time of King Henrie the eight and enacted as followeth s) d. Stat. H. 8. an 27. c. 10. That is to say that where anie person or persons stand or be seized or at anie time hereafter shal happen to be seized of and in anie honors castels mannors landes tenementes rentes seruices reuersions remainders or other hereditamentes to the vse confidence or trust of anie other person or persons or of anie body politike by reason of anie bargaine saile or feofment fine recouery couenant contract agreement will or otherwise by anie maner meanes whatsoeuer it be that in euerie such case all euerie such persoÌ„ persons bodies politike that haue or hereafter shall haue anie such vse confidence or trust in fee simple fee taile for terme of life or of yeeres or otherwise or anie vse confidence or trust in remainder or reuerter shall from hence-foorth stand and bee seized deemed and adiudged in lawfull seizon estate and possession of and in the same honors castels manors lands tenements rentes seruices reuersions remainders and hereditaments with their appurtenances to all intents constructions and purposes in the lawe of and in such like estates as they had or shall haue in vse trust or confidence of or in the same And that the estate title right and possession that was in such person or persons that were or hereafter shall be seized of anie landes tenements or hereditaments to the vse confidence or trust of anie such person or persons or of anie bodie politike bee from hence-foorth cleerelie deemed and adiudged to be in him or them that haue or hereafter shall haue such vse confidence or trust after such qualitie maner forme and condition as they had before in or to the vse confidence or trust that was in them And bee it further enacted by the authoritie aforesaid that where diuers and many persons be or hereafter shall happen to be iointlie seized of and in anie landes tenements rents reuersions remainders or other hereditaments to the vse confidence or trust of anie of them that bee so iointlie seized that in euerie such case that those person or persons which haue or hereafter shall haue any such vses confidence or trust in anie such landes tenements reuersions remainders or hereditaments shall from hence foorth haue and bee deemed adiudged to haue only to him or them that haue or hereafter shall haue such vse confidence or trust such estate possession and seizon of and in the same lands tenements rents reuersions remainders or other hereditaments in like nature maner forme condition and course as he or they had before in the vse confidence or trust of the same landes tenements or hereditaments sauing and reseruing to all singular persons and bodies politike their heirs and successors other than those person or persons which be seized or hereafter shall be seized of anie landes tenementes or hereditaments to anie vse confidence or trust all such right title entree interest possession rents and action as they or anie of them had or might haue had before the making of this acte And also sauing to all and singuler those persons and to their heires which be or hereafter shall he seized to anie vse all such former right title entree interest possession rents customs seruices and action as they or anie of them might haue had to his or their
full and cleere yeerelie value of the third parte thereof without anie maner diminution dower fraud couin charge or subtraction of the same third parte or of the full profites thereof Sauing alwaie reseruing to our saide soueraigne lord the king all fines for alienation of anie such manors lands tenements or hereditaments holden of the king by knightes seruice in cheefe whereof there shall be anie alteration of freehold or inheritaunce made by will or otherwise as is abouesaid Be it further enacted by the authoritie abouesaid that if anie person or persons hold any manors lands tenementes or hereditaments onelie of any other lord or person than of the king our said souereigne lorde by knightes seruice and other lands and tenementes in socage or of the nature of socage tenure that then euerie such person shall or may giue dispose or assure by his last will or otherwise by anie act or actes lawfullie executed in his life two partes of the said manors lands and tenementes holden by knights seruice or of as much thereof as shall amount to the full yeerelie value of two partes in maner and forme as is aboue declared and also all the landes and tenementes holden by socage or of the nature of socage tenure at his will and pleasure as is aboue written sauinge and reseruing to the lord of the lands and tenements holden by knightes seruice for his custodie and wardship as much of the same lands and tenementes as shall extend or amounte to the full and cleere yeerelie value of the third part of the same landes and tenements holden by knights seruice without anie diminution dower fraud couin charge or subtraction of anie portion of that third part or of the cleere yeerelie value thereof in manner and forme aforesaid And be it further enacted by the authoritie abouesaid that if any person or persons hold anie manors landes tenementes or hereditamentes onelie of the king our soueraigne lord by knightes seruice and not in cheefe or hold anie manors landes tenementes or hereditamentes of our said soueraigne lord by knights seruice and not in cheefe and also holde other manors landes tenementes and other hereditamentes of anie other person or persons by knights seruice and also holde other manors landes tenementes or hereditamentes of anie other person or persons in socage or of the nature of socage tenure that then all and euerie such person and persons shall and maie giue dispose will deuise and assure by his last wil or otherwise by anie acte or acts lawfullie doone and executed in his life two partes of the same manors landes tenements and hereditaments holden of our said soueraigne lord the king by knights seruice and two partes of the manors landes tenements and hereditaments holden of anie other person or persons by knights seruice or as much of either of them as shall amount to the full yeerelie value of two partes in maner and forme as is aboue declared and also of all his lands and tenements so holden in socage or of the nature of socage tenure at his free will and pleasure Sauing and reseruing to the kings highnesse the custodie and wardship of as much of the same manors landes tenementes or other hereditaments as shal extend and amount to the ful and cleere yeerelie value of the third part of the said manors lands tenementes and hereditaments so holden of his highnesse by knightes seruice without anie diminution dower fraud couin charge and subtraction of anie portion of that third part or of the full profites thereof And also sauinge and reseruing to the lords of whom anie of the said manors landes tenementes or other hereditamentes beene holden by knightes seruice for custodie and wardship as much of the same manors lands tenementes or hereditamentes holden of them or anie of them by knights seruice as shall extend and amount to the full and cleere yeerelie value of the third parte of the same without anie diminution charge fraude couin or subtraction of anie portion of that third or of the cleere yeerelie value of the third part therof in maner forme aboue declared Prouided alwaie and it is further enacted by the authority aforesaid that if that third part of the manors landes tenementes or hereditaments of anie of the kings subiectes which in anie of the cases aboue said shal hereafter come to the kings highnesse his heires or successors by vertue of this acte as is abouesaid be not or doo not amount to the cleere yeerelie value of the third part of all the said manors lands tenementes or other hereditaments whereof the kings highnesse is or shall be intituled to haue the custodie or primer seizon as is aboue said that then our said soueraigne lorde and his heires shall and maie at his or their free libertie and pleasure take into his or their handes possessions as of the other two partes of the said manors landes tenementes and other hereditamentes as with that of the same manors lands tenementes or hereditamentes holden and remaining in the kings hands shal make vp the cleere yeerelie value of the full third parte of the said manors and tenementes so to bee had to the kinges highnesse in title of wardship and primer seizon or anie of them as the case shall require and like benefit and aduantage to be giuen to euerie lorde and lordes of whom anie such manors lands tenementes or hereditamentes beene or shall bee holden by knightes seruice as is abouesaid concerninge onelie his third part of or for title of wardship Prouided alwaie and bee it further enacted by the authoritie aforesaid that euerie person and persons shall sue their liueries for possessions reuersions or remainders and also paie releefes and heriots after such maner and forme as they should or ought to haue doone before the making of this acte and as if this acte had neuer beene made And that fines for alienations shall be paid in the kinges chancerie for and vpon writes of entree in the post to be obteined in the same courte of chancerie after the said twentie daie of Iulie for common recoueries to be had or suffered of anie manors landes tenementes or hereditamentes holden of the king in cheefe in like maner and forme as is vsed vpon alienations of such manors landes tenementes or hereditamentes so holden in cheefe by fine or feoffement Prouided also and be it enacted by the authoritie aforesaid that in such cases where fines for alienations shal be paied in the kings chācerie for writes of entree in post as is aforesaide that then none other fine shall bee paied in the same courte for anie such writes anie vsage or custome to the contrarie thereof notwithstanding And be it further enacted by the authoritie afore-saide that where two or more persons now holde or hereafter shall holde anie manors landes tenementes or hereditamentes of the king our soueraigne lorde by knightes seruice iointlie to them and to the heires of one of them and he that hath the inheritance
therof dieth his heire being within age that in euerie such case the king shall haue the warde and mariage of the bodie of such heire so being within age the life of the freeholder or freeholders of the said manors landes tenements or hereditaments so holden by knights seruice notwithstanding Sauing and reseruing to all and euerie woman and women all and euerie such right title interest of dower as they or any of them ought to haue or bee or shall be iustlie intituled to haue claime or demand of anie manors landes tenementes or hereditamentes by the lawes of this realme to be taken or assigned vnto them or anie of them out of the two partes of the said manors landes tenementes or hereditaments seuered and deuided from the third part as is aboue said and not otherwise And sauing also to the king our soueraigne lord his heires and successours the reuersions of all such tenauntes in ioyntenure and dower immediately after the death of such tenauntes if they shall happen to die duringe the minoritie of the kinges wardes An other acte for the Explanation of the former concerning willes and the deuise of landes WHether in the laste parliament begunne and holden at Westminster the 28. day of Aprill in the 31. yeere of the kinges most gratious raigne cap. primo willes 2. And there by diuers prorogations holden and contiued vnto the 24. daie of Iulie in the 32. yeere of his saide raigne It was by the kings most gratious and liberall disposition shewed toward his most hūble and obedient subiects ordeined and enacted howe and in what manner landes tenementes and hereditamentes might by will or testament in writing or otherwise by anie acte or actes lawfullie executed in the life of euerie person giuen diposed willed or deuised for the aduauncement of the wife prefermente of children paiment of debtes of euerie such person or otherwise at his wil or pleasure as in the same acte more plainelie is declared Sithen the making of estatute diuers doubtes questions and ambiguities haue risen beene moued and growen by diuersity of opinions taking in and vpon the exposition of the letter of the same estatute For a plaine declaration and explanacion whereof and to the intent and purpose that the kinges obedient and louing subiectes shall and may take the commoditie and aduantage of the kinges said gratious and liberall disposition the lordes spiritual and temporall and the commons in this present parliament assembled most humbly beseeching the kings maiestie that the meaning of the letter of the same estatute concerning such matters hereafter rehearsed may be by the authority of this presēt parliament enacted taken expounded iudged declared and explaned in manner and fourme following First where it is contained in the same former statute within diuers articles branches of the same that all and singuler person and persons hauing any manors lands tenements or hereditamentes of the estate of inheritance should haue full and free libertie power and authoritie to giue will dispose or assigne as well by last will and testament in writing or otherwise by anie act or actes lawfullie executed in his life his manours landes tenementes or hereditaments or anie of them in such manner and fourme as in the same former act more at large it dooth appeare Which wordes of estate of inheritaunce by the authority of this present parliament is and shall be declared expounded taken and iudged of estates in fee simple onelie And also that all and singuler person and persons hauing a sole estate or interest in fee-simple or seized in fee-simple in copercenarie or in common in fee-simple of in anie manors lands tenements rents or other hereditaments in possession reuersion or remainder or of rents or seruices incident to anie reuersion or remainder and hauing no manors lands tenements or hereditaments holden of the king his heires or successors or of any other person or persons by knights seruice shall haue full and free liberty power and authority to giue dispose will or deuise to anie person or persons except bodies politike and corporate by his last wil and testament in writing or otherwise by any act or actes lawfullie executed in his life by him selfe soly or by himselfe and other iointly seuerally or particularlie or by al those waies or any of them as much as in him of right is or shall be all his said manors lands tenements rentes and hereditaments or any of them or any rents commons or other profits or commodities out of or to be perceiued of the same or out of any parcell thereof at his owne free will and pleasure any clause in the saide former acte notwithstanding And further be it declared enacted by the authority aforesaid that al singuler person persōs hauing a sole estate or interest in fee-simple or seized in fee-simple in copercenery or in cōmon in fee-simple of or in anie manors lāds tenements rentes or other hereditamentes in possession reuersion or remainder or of in any rents or seruices incident to any reuersion or remainder holdē of the king by knights seruice in cheef or of the nature of knights seruice in cheefe hath by the authority of this present parliament shall haue full and free liberty power authoritie to giue dispose will or assigne to any persō or persōs except bodies politike corporate by his last will testament in writing or otherwise by any act or acts lawfully executed in his life by him selfe soly or by himself other iointly seuerally or particularly or by al those waies or any of them as much as in him of right is or shall be two parts aswell of al the said manors lands tenementes rents and hereditaments as of all and singuler his other rents hereditaments or of any of them or anie rents commons or other profits or cōmodities out of or to be perceiued of the same two parts or out of any parcell thereof in three partes to be deuided or as much therof as shal amount to the full and cleere yeerelie value of two parts thereof in three parts to be diuided of what person or persons so euer they be holden at his free will and pleasure And that by the authority aforesaid the said will so declared shal be good and effectuall for two parts of the said manours lands tenements and hereditaments although the will so declared be made of the whole or of more than of two parts of the same The same diuision to be made and set forth by the deuisour or owner of the same manours lands tenements and hereditaments by his last will in writing or otherwise in writing And in default therof by a commission to be graunted out of the kinges courte of the wards and liueries vpon the enquirie of the true value therof by the othes of 12. men and returne or certificate thereof had in the same court of the said manours lands tenementes and hereditaments diuision to be made by the master of the
wards and liueries if the maister of the wards and liueries for the time beeing and the parties therunto can not otherwise agree vpon the same diuision And that the issues and profits of the two partes of the same manours lands tenements and hereditaments vpon euery such diuision to bee restored to them that shall haue right or title to the same frō the death of the owner or deuisour therof And further be it enacted and declared by authoritie aforesaid that all and singuler person and persons hauing a sole estate or interest in fee-simple or seized in fee-simple in copercenary or in common in fee-simple of and in any manours lands tenements rents or other hereditaments in possession reuersion or remainder or of and in any rents or seruices incident to any reuersion or remainder holden of the king his heires or successours by knights seruice and not in cheefe or holden of any other person or persons by knights seruice shall haue full and free libertie power and authority to giue dispose will or deuise to any person or persons except bodies politike and corporate by his last will and testament in writing or otherwise by any act or acts lawfully executed in his life by himselfe solie or by himselfe and other iointly seuerally or particularly or by all those waies or any of them as much as in him of right is or shall bee two parts of all the saide manors lands tenements and hereditaments or any of them so holden by knights seruice or any rents common or other profits or commodities out of or to be perceiued of the same two parts or out of any parcell thereof in three parts to be deuided or as much thereof as shal amount to the full and cleere yeerely value of two parts thereof in three parts to be deuided at his free will pleasure And that the said will so declared by authority aforesaid shal be good and effectuall for two parts of the said manors lands tenements or hereditaments although the will so declared be or shal be made of the whole landes and tenementes so holden by knights seruice or of more than of two partes of the same And also for the whole of all other such manours lands tenements and hereditaments or any of them not holden of the kinge by knights seruice in cheefe or otherwise by knights seruice nor of anie other person by kinghts seruice and of any rents commons or other profits or commodities out of or to bee perceiued of the same or out of any parcell thereof at his free will and pleasure The same diuision to be made and set foorth by the owner of the said manours lands tenementes and hereditaments by his last will and testament in writing or otherwise in writing And in default thereof for as much of the same manors lands tenements and hereditaments as shall concerne the kings interest by commission to be directed out of the kings court of the wards and liueries in maner forme as is aforesaid if the master of the wardes and liueries for the time being and the parties thereunto can not otherwise agree vpon the same diuision And that restitution of the issues and profits of the two parts thereof shal be had and made in maner and fourme abouesaid And for such of the same manors lands tenementes and hereditaments as shall concerne the interest of any other lord or lords by commission to be graunted out of the kings court of the Chauncery to enquire thereof by the othes of 12. men if the same lord or lordes and the parties thereunto can not otherwise agree vpon the same diuisiō And be it further enacted and declared by authority aforesaid that the sauings reseruings and prouisions concerning sauing of the custodie wardship releefe and primer season to the king of such manors lands tenements and hereditaments or as much thereof as shall appertaine vnto him by vertue of the said former act and by the declaratiō and expositiō thereof declared by this present act during the kings interest therein And also of the custody and wardship to other lords of as much of such manours lands tenements and hereditaments holden of them as shall amounte and extende to the cleere yeerelie value of the third parte thereof ouer and aboue all charges without any diminution or abridgement of the thirde part or of the full profits thereof comprised and mencioned in diuers articles in the saide former act contained by the authority aforesaid be and shal be intended expounded and taken as hereafter ensueth that is to say that the king shall haue and take for his full thirde part of all such manours lands tenements and hereditaments where vnto he is or shall be intitled by the said former act and by this present act such manours lands and tenements as shal by any meanes discend or come by discent as well of the estate of inheritaunce in fee taile as in fee-simple or in fee taile onely to the heire of any such person or that shall make any will gifte disposition or deuise by his last will in writing or by any act or acts lawfully executed in his life immediately after the death of the same deuisour or owner thereof And that the will gift and deuise of euery such deuisour or owner of and for the two partes of the saide manours lands tenements and hereditaments residue shall by the authority aforesaid be and stand good and effectuall in the law albeit the same will gift or deuise be had and made of all his fee simple lands tenementes and hereditamentes and in case the same manours landes tenementes and hereditamentes which after the death of anie suche owner or deuisour which shall make any such gift disposition or deuise by his last will in writing or otherwise by any act or acts lawfully executed in his life to his wife children or otherwise as is aforesaid which shall immediatly after his death discend reuert remaine or come to his heire or heires as well of estate of inheritaunce in fee taile as of estate in fee simple or fee taile onely be not or shall not amount or extend to the full cleere yeerelie value of the full thirde part with the full profites thereof of all the said manours lands tenements or other hereditaments of the said deuisour or owner according to the true intent and meaning of the said former act and of this present acte that then the king shall and may haue take into his handes and possession to make vp his full third parte with the full profites thereof according to his interest therein as much of the other manours lands tenements or hereditaments willed giuen disposed or assigned by any such person to his wife children or otherwise as is aforesaid as with such of the same manours lands tenements and hereditaments discended or by any meanes come vnto the heire as heire of anie such deuisour or owner shall make vp the cleere yeerelie value of the said full third parte with
the full profits thereof of all the said manours lands tenements hereditaments of euerie such owner or deuisour so to bee had to the king in the title of wardship or primer season as the case shall require And the deuision thereof to be had and made and with the restitution of the profits of the two partes of the said manours lands tenementes and hereditamentes in such maner and fourme as is aboue rehearsed And like benefit and aduantage to be giuen had and taken by the said authority to euerie Lord and Lordes of whom anie such manours lands tenements or hereditaments beene or shall be holden by knightes seruice in maner and fourme as is aboue said concerning onelie his or their third partes thereof according to their said interest therein And be it further enacted by the authoritie aforesaid that if it happen the same third parte or anie part thereof left willed or assigned to the king or other lord at anie time during their interestes therein to be lawfullie euicted or determined that than the king and the other lord shall haue as much of the two partes residue as shall accomplish and make vppe a full thirde part in cleere yeerelie value after the rate and portion of such manours landes tenementes and hereditamentes as shall then happen to remaine of the same third part not deuicted nor determined and of the other two parts of such manours landes tenementes and hereditamentes as the kinge or other lorde shoulde or ought to haue had by vertue of the said former act and this present act and the same to be deuided in maner and fourme aboue rehearsed anie clause in the said former acte notwithstanding And be it further enacted and declared by the authoritie aforesaid that the sauing and reseruing for fines for alienation by anie such last will and testament of such manours landes tenements or hereditaments holden of the king by knightes seruice in cheefe or of the nature of knightes seruice in cheefe or by socage in cheefe or of the nature of socage tenure in cheefe or for fines for alienation of such manours landes tenementes or hereditamentes whereof there shall be anie alteration of freeholde or of inheritance made by anie such last will comprised in diuers and sundrie articles mencioned in the said former acte be and shall be intended expounded taken deemed and iudged by the authoritie aforesaid that all such person or persons to whom the said manours landes tenementes or hereditamentes or anie of them be or shall be giuen disposed willed or deuised by anie such last will shall be exonerated acquited and discharged for euer against the king his heires and successours for all such fines for alienations by anie such last will or testament without licence by suing forth of the kinges pardon for alienation out of the kinges courte of Chauncerie paying to the king his heires or successours for the fine of euerie such alienation the third parte of the yeerelie value of the same manors landes tenementes or other hereditamentes to him or them willed or deuised and this acte from time to time shall be a sufficient warrant to the lord chauncellor of England or keeper of the great seale for the time being for the graunting out of the saide pardon or pardons vnder the kings great seale as heretofore hath beene vsed for pardons for alinations without anie further suite to bee made to the king for the same And it is further declared enacted by the authoritie aforesaid that willes or testamentes made of any manours lands tenements or other hereditaments by any woman couerte or person within the age of 21. yeeres idiote or by any person de non sane memorie shall not bee taken to be good or effectuall in the lawe And further be it enacted by the authoritie aforesaide that if anie person or persons hauing estate of inheritaunce of or in manours landes tenementes or hereditamentes holden of the king by knightes seruice in cheefe or otherwise of the kinge by knightes seruice or of anie other person or persons by knights seruice hath giuen at anie time sithen the 20. daie of the said month of Iulij 32. H. 8. An. do 1540. or hereafter shall giue wil deuise or assigne by will or other acte executed in his life his manours landes tenementes or hereditamentes or anie of them by fraude or couin to anie other person or persons for terme of yeeres life or liues with one remainder ouer in fee or with diuers remainders ouer for terme of yeeres life or in taile with a remainder ouer in fee simple to anie person or persons or to his or their right heires or at anie time sithen the said 20. daie of Iulie hath conueied or made or hereafter shall conueie or make by fraude or couin contrarie to the true intent of this act anie estates conditions menalties tenures or conueiaunces to the intent to defraud or disceiue the king of his praerogatiue primer seasō liuerie releef wardship mariages or rights or any other lord of their wardships releefs heriots or other profites which should or ought to accrue grow or come vnto thē or any of them by or after the death of his or their tenant by force and according to the former estatute and of this present acte and declaration and the same estates and other conueiaunces beeinge found by office to be so made or contriued by couin fraude or disceipt as is abouesaid contrarie to the true intent and meaning of the said former acte and of this act That then the king shall haue as well the wardshippe of the bodie and custodie of the landes tenementes and hereditamentes as liuerie primer season releefe and other profites which shoulde or ought to appertaine to the kinge according to the true intent and meaning of the said former acte and of this present acte as though no such estates or conueiaunces by couin had neuer beene had or made vntill the said office bee lawfullie vndon by trauers or otherwise And that the other lord and lordes of whom anie such manours landes tenementes or hereditamentes shal be holden by knightes seruice as is aforesaid shall haue their remedie in such cases for his or their wardships of bodies and landes by write of right of warde and shall distreine and make auowrie or cognisaunce by themselues or their balifes for their releefes heriots and other profits which should haue beene to them due by or after the death of their tenaunt as if no such estate or conueiaunce had bene had or made Sauing and reseruing alwaies by the authoritie aforesaid the right and title of the donees feoffees leassees and deuisees thereof against the said deuisour and his heires after the interest and title of the king or other lord therin ended and determined Prouided alwaies that this acte explanation and declaration or anie of them or anie thing in this said acte explanation or declaration contained shall not extend to the wil or deuise of sir Iohn Gaynsforde late of
By this thē it appeareth that the authority of an executor is greater then of an administrator for an executor maie appointe an executor to the first testator so can not an administrator Howe be it an executor can not giue awaie the goodes of the testator in his will by legacies no more then an administrator l) Plowd d. cas inter Bransby Grantham for those goodes are not the proper goodes of the executor but are to bee imploied for the behoofe of the testator m) c. stat de testa lib. 3. prouincial constit Cant. and in that respecte also is the executor accomptable to the ordinary as wel as th'administrator n) Eod. c. statutum I meane of a bare mere executor of whose diligence the testator made special choise to whō nothing is bequeathed in the said testament Thirdlie by the opinion of diuers iustices of this realme and doctors of the cannon and ciuill lawe the goodes of this realme that is to saie of the auncient crowne and iewelles cannot be disposed by will o) Fitzherb Abridg. tit exec n. 108. as is aforesaid p) Supr part 2. §. vlt. Fourthlie those thinges which belong to anie colledge or hospitall can not bee deuised by the testament or laste will of the maister of the sayde Colledge or Hospitall q) Perkins tit deuise◠fol. 96. Doct. Stud. lib. 2. c. 39. The same maie bee saide of a Maior of anie citie or borough for hee can not by his testament bequeath anie thing belonging to the citie borough or comminaltie r) Perkins tit deuise fol. 96. §. non solùm Instit de lega vers sed si no more then a master of a colledge or hospitall such thinges as he hath in right of the colledge or hospitall s) Perkins vbi supra Fiftlie the goodes of the church can not be deuised by testament t) c. 1. de testam extr But the corne growing vpon the glebe v) Stat. H. 8. an 28. c. 11 and certaine other goods may be bequeathed as hath beene before declared x) Supr part 2. §. penul Sixtlie those thinges which after the death of the testator descende to the heire of the deceased and not to his executor can not bee deuised by testament y) Perkins tit deuises à quo sequentes casus mutuatus sum except in such cases where it is lawfull to deuise landes tenementes or hereditaments And therefore if a man seased of landes in fee or fee taile bequeath his trees growing vpon the said lande at the time of his death this deuise is not good except as before but if hee deuise the corne growing vpon the same lande at the time of his death from the heire to some other person this deuise is good albeit the land whereupon it groweth bee not deuiseable the reason of the difference is because the trees are parcell of the free-hold and descend together with the lande to the heire and not to the executor but it is not so of corne for the same shall goe to the executor as parcell of the testators goodes And therefore if a man be seased of landes in the right of his wife and sowe the lande and deuise the corne growing vpon the same lande and die before the corne be reaped in this case the legatarie shall haue the corne and not the wife but it is otherwise of grasse and hearbes not separated from the ground at the time of the death of the testator If a man seased in fee in right of his wife doe let the same lande for yeeres to a straunger and the lessee soweth the grounde and afterwardes the wife dieth the corne not being ripe In this case the lessee may deuise the same corne notwithstanding his estate bee determined So is it if he that is tenaunt by curtesie of England of landes tenementes or hereditamentes for his life let the same lande to an other for yeeres and the leassor die within the tearme of those yeeres In this case the lessee maie deuise the corne which shall bee growing vpon the same lande not ripe at the time of the death of the testator Likewise if the tenante in dower sowe those landes which he hath in dower and make his executors and after dieth the corne not separated there the executors shall haue the corne notwithstanding the same be not seeded and so the tenant in dower may deuise the corne growing vpō that land which she holdeth in dower at the time of her death But it is not alwaies lawfull for a man or a woman to deuise the corne by them sowen for if a man seased of lande in fee doe infeoffee a straunger in morgage vpon paimente and not paiment made on the partie of the feoffer at a certaine daie and the feofee sowe the land and the feoffer paie the monie at the daie appointed and enter in this case it is thought that the feoffee cannot deuise the corne growing vpon the said lande Likewise if he that is tenaunte in taile of certaine land doe let the same lande for terme of life and the lessee doe sowe the same lande and the tenaunte in taile die and the issue do recouer the same in form don in the discent before the corn be separated it is thought in this case that the issue in taile maie bequeath the same by his testament Moreouer if a man seased in fee haue issue a daughter and die his wife being great with childe and the daughter enter and sowe the ground and afterwarde before the corne be seuered the wife is deliuered of a son and thereupon his next freind do enter for him yet the daughter maie deuise the corne growing vpon the same land but if after the sowing of the corne and before the birth of the son the mother hath recouered her dower against her daughter and the same land that is sowen is alotted or assigned vnto her by the Sherife for her dower in allowance of other lands there the mother may deuise the corne growing vpon the saide lande and not her daughter Finallie whereas by the ciuill law it was lawfull for the testator to bequeath not onelie his owne thinges but an other mans also a) §. Nō solum Instit de lega L. cùm alienum C. de lega in so much that the executor was compellable to redeeme the same thing and deliuer it to the legatarie or if the owner would not sell it then to paie the iuste value thereof to the same legatarie b) Eod. §. non solùm L. non dubium ff de lega 3. vnlesse the testator were ignorant that the same thing did belong to an other and did suppose it to be his owne In which case the legacie is void so that the executor is neither boūd to buie the thing nor to paie the value therof c) d. §. non solùm L. si vnum §. si rem ff de lega 2. because
what part of the testament he be appointed whether in the beginninge or in the middest or ending k) §. ante Instit de lega Grass Thesaur com op §. Institutio q. 1. The †effect of a pure and simple assignation of an executor is this that the executor maie immediatelie after the death of the testator vndertake the executorshippe and enter vpon the testators goodes and cattelles l) Wesemb in tit de acquir haered ff in tit de haered Instit Et hoc verum est etiam ante probationem testameÌ„ti Plowd lib. 1. in cas inter Greisbrook Fox Cagnol in L. si precibê° C. de impub. alijs sub n. 276. 277. 278. whereas on the contrarie the effect of a conditionall assignation dooth suspend his admission and execution of the testament as afterward more fullie dooth appeare m) Infr. ead part §. 6. 7. And †there note that if the testator say I make A. B. my executor according to the coÌ„ditions afterwards expressed if the testator afterwardes expresse no conditions it is in effecte as if the testator had made him his executor simplie n) L. pen. C. de Instit sub And so hee maie enter vpon the testators goodes presentlie after his death for the testator in not expressing anie conditions is presumed to haue altered and reuoked his purpose concerninge the adding of conditions o) DD. in d. L. Peâ— and consequentlie that he would haue the appointment of the executor to be pure and simple howbeit if the testator making his executor vpon conditions to be then expressed afterwardes in the meane time whiles he is in making his will be sodainlie preuented by death or insanitie of minde that he can not expresse those conditions according to his purpose and determination In this case the assignation is voide and he which is so appointed executor is not to be admitted to the executorship p) L. si quis destinauerat alià s si is qui. ff de testam Paul de Castr in L. iubemus C. de testa latiùs infr part 7. §. 12. Likewise if the testator doo make his executor after this maner I make A.B. my executor if I shall expresse anie conditions in this case no conditions beeing expressed he that is so appointed ought not to be admitted q) Dec. alij in d. L. Pen. C. de Instit sub It is †also to be noted that that assignation of an executor is in effect pure simple where the condition is impossible or vnhonest for such conditions are reputed as not written but omitted r) §. Impossibilis Instit de haered instituend L. obtinuit de cond demon L. conditiones de condic Instit ff and so the executor without accomplishment of anie such condition is forth with to be admitted to the executorship excepte in some cases as hereafter is declared s) Infr. ead part §. 6. 7. Furthermore †when it is certaine that the condition will necessarilie followe or bee extant the appointmente of the executor made vnder such condition is reputed pure and simple as if the testator make A.B. his executor if the sunne shall rise the next daie t) L si pupillus §. sub conditione ff de nouac Alex. consil 59. n. 14. vol. 4. vnlesse the time when the condition will be extant be vncertaine as I make A.B. my executor if my sonne shall die for though it be most certaine that he will die yet nothing is more vncertaine then the time when and therefore the assignation is in effect conditionall v) Sichard in Rub. de condic Instit C. fusiùs infr ead part §. 17. part 7. §. 23. And the like maie be said †when the condition is referred to that which is paste or present as if the testator saie I make A.B. my executor if he be bachelar of the ciuill lawe or if hee haue beene student in the vniuersitie of Oxforde for this kinde of condition is not properlie a condition x) L. si ita stipulatus ff de verb. ob Bar. in L 1. de cond demon ff but rather a finall cause wherefore the testator made his executor y) Ias in L. stichum de leg 1. ff And although the testator be vncertaine whether the executor be bachelar of lawe or haue beene student yet it is certaine in respect of the facte it selfe and is either true or false at that instant when it is made and so the condition worketh no delaie or suspension but is either a good or void assignatioÌ„ at that moment z) DD. in d. L. si ita stipulatus Finallie †that assignation of an executor is pure and simple when that condition is expressed which is necessarilie vnderstoode a) L. haec verba de leg 1. ff L. conditiones de cond demon ff as if the testator saide I make A.B. my executor if the lawe will b) Mantic. de coniect. vlt. vol. or if he will vndertake the executorship c) Grass Thesaur com op §. legatum q. 47. That †which hath beene spoken of the making of an executor accordinge to my former aduertisementes maie easilie bee applied to a legacie mutatis mutandis wherefore as that nomination or assignation of an executor is pure and simple which is made without condition so that legacie is pure and sure which is giuen without condition Secondlie by the like application it maie appeare that it is not materiall in what forme of wordes a legacie be bequeathed so that the testators meaning doo appeare which meaning is to be preferred before the proprietie of wordes d) §. nostra Instit de lega and that not onelie concerninge goodes and cattelles but also concerning lands and tenementes for further declaration whereof I haue added these examples following which I haue borrowed out of a little booke called the tearmes of lawe e) Verb. deuise First †therfore if a man doo by his will deuise to A.B. all his landes and tenementes In this case not onelie all his landes and tenementes which the testator hath in possession doo passe but those also which hee hath in reuersion by vertue of this word tenements Item if landes be deuised to a man to haue to him for euermore or to haue to him and his assignes in these two cases the deuise shall haue a fee-simple wheras if it be giuen by feoffemeÌ„t in such tearmes the feoffee hath but an estate for his life for a deuise made without expresse wordes of heires is good euen in fee-simple Item if a man deuise his lande to an other to giue or sell or doo therewith at his pleasure will this in fee-simple Item a deuise made to one and to his heires males dooth make an estate in taile but if suche wordes be put in deede of feoffement it shall be taken in fee-simple because it dooth not appeare of what bodie the heires males shall bee begotten Item
A BRIEFE TREATISE OF TESTAMENTS AND LAST WILLES Very profitable to be vnderstoode of all the Subiects of this Realme of England desirous to know Whether Whereof and How they may make their Testaments and by what meanes the same may be effected or hindered and no lesse delightfull aswell for the rarenes of the worke as for the easines of the stile and method Compiled of such lawes Ecclesiasticall and Ciuill as be not repugnant to the lawes customes or statutes of this Realme nor derogatorie to the Prerogatiue Royall In which Treatise also are inserted diuers Statutes of this land together with mention of sundrie customes aswell General as Particular not impertinent thereunto Besides diuers Marginall notes and Quotations not to be neglected especially of Iustinianists or young Students of the Ciuil Law VVith two Tables the one Analyticall describing the generall order of the whole Treatise The other Alphabeticall disclosing the particular contents therof That in the beginning this in the end of the booke By the Industrie of Henrie Swinburn Bachelar of the Ciuill Lawe 2. Kings c. 20. Put thine house in order for thou shalt die and not liue LONDON Printed by Iohn Windet 1590. TO THE MOST REVEREND FATHER IN GOD IOHN BY GODS PROVIDENCE Archbishop of Yorke Primate of England and Metropolitane H. S. wisheth true felicitie now and euer WHen I had finished this briefe TestameÌ„tarie treatise bethinking vvith my selfe most reuerende Father vnto vvhose patronage I might dedicate the same In the end I did resolue to make an offer thereof vnto your Grace Being moued thereunto vvith the consideration partlie of mine ovvne duetie partlie of your Graces interest For being a member of your Graces Courts Ecclesiastical and hauing novve receiued sundrie good fauours at your honours handes This I thought might fitly serue for a probable argument of my thankfulnesse in that behalfe And on the other side forasmuch as before all others vvithin this prouincâ— of Yorke it apperteineth principally vnto your grace to prouide that testameÌ„ts lavvfully made be dulie executed being novve by Gods merciful prouideÌ„ce Metropolitane ordinarie of that sea I could not see a more vvorthie Patrone for a testameÌ„tary vvork Partly therefore by these former considerations but especially I vvas encouraged therunto vvith the coÌ„templation of those diuine graces of piety learning zeale grauitie bountie benignitie affabilitie and al maner not onely sufficiencie but excellencie of vertuous giftes vvherevvith the giuer of all goodnesse hath vvonderfullie enriched your honourable minde Wherefore as hitherto your vvisdome hath bene accustomed to entertaine vvith comfortable countenance such as be studious to benefite either the Church or the common vvealth though othervvise they bee of small reputation so novve most reuerend I am vvith all duetie to craue the continuance of the same in mine ovvn behalfe together vvith the fauourable protection of these my labors so farre as they bee agreeable to truth right and equitie vvhich thing I doo so much the more humblie desire by hovv much I may seem ouermuch aduenturous in making choise of so honourable a patrone for such a trifling treatise The Lorde of might and mercie multiplie his spirite vppon your grace to the aduauncement of his ovvne glorie and the good of his Church vvith encrease of manie yeares in health and happinesse Your Graces most readie at commaundement H. Swinburne A Table of the first part wherein is shewed what a Testament or last will is and how manie kindes of Testaments there bee A Testament beeing vnderstood in a generall Sence doth not differ from a last will◠§ 1. Wherein if An Executor be named it is more properly called a Testament § § 1. 2. 10. which is eyther 1. Solemne § 9. or vnsolemne § 10. 2. written § 11. or Nuncupatiue § 12. 3. priuiledged § 13. or vnpriuiledged § 17 Whereof some be 1. Military testaments § 14. 2. amongst the testators children § 15. 3. to charitable or godly vses § 16. No Executor be named theÌ„ it stil reteineth the name of a last will § 4. And dooth coÌ„prehend a 1. Codicill § 5. 2. Legacie or deuise § 6. 3. gifte in regard or because of death § 7. A Table of the second parte wherein is declared who may make a Testament and who may not Euerie person may make a Testament or last wil certein persons excepted § 1. Of whom some are prohibited by reason 1. They want discretion as Children § 2. Madfolkes § 3. Idiotes § 4. Oldmen childish § 5. He that is drunke § 6. 2. They waÌ„t freedome as Bondslaues and villeynes § 7. Captiues and prisoners § 8. Women couerte § 9. 3. They waÌ„t some of their principal senses as Dumbe and deafe § 10. Blinde § 11. 4. They haue coÌ„mitted some haynouse crime as Traytors § 12. Felons § 13. Heretickes § 14. Apostataes § 15. Manifest vsurers § 16. Incestuous persons § 17. Sodomites § 18. Libellers § 19. Wilful killers of themselfes § 20. Outlawed persons § 21. Excommunicate persons § 22. 5. Certein legall impediments as Prodigall persons § 23. He that sweareth not to make a Testament § 24. He that is at the very point of death § 25. Ecclesiasticall persons § 26. 〈◊〉 kinde of 〈◊〉 the greaâ—â— part are not vtterly intestable but in some cases onely 〈◊〉 second part 〈◊〉 Question also is briefly touched viz. Whether a King may bequeath his kingdome to whom he will § 27. A Table of the third part describing what things and how much may be disposed by will If we would know What thinges may be disposed by will If we regard 1. Lands tenements and hereditamentes they are not deuiseable but in certeine cases § 2. Whereof some are approued by 1. Custome viz. when the laÌ„ds are holden in 1. Gauelkinde § 2. 2. Burgage tenure § 2. 2. Statutes viz. when the laÌ„ds are holden in 1. Socage tenure § 3. 2. Knights seruice § 3. 2. Gâ—ods catâ—â—â—ey are 〈◊〉 â—le exâ—â—â— certein cases § 5. As when those things bequeathed ar such as 1. The testator hath iointly with an other § 6. 2. The testator hath as administrator § 6. 3. The goodes of the realme viz. of the auncient Crowne and Iewels § 6. 4. Which belong to anie Colledge § 6. Hospitall § 6. Citie § 6. Church § 6. 5. Descend to the heire and not to the executor § 6. 6. Belong not to the testator but to an other § 6. 3 CoÌ„mitting of the â—â—â—â—on of childreÌ„ especially within the prouince of Yorke Concerning which thing diuerse questions are examined viz. 1. Who may appoint a tutor § 9. 2. To whom a tutor may be appointed § 10. 3. Who may be appointed tutor § 11. 4. In what manner a tutor may bee appointed § 11. 5. What is the office of a tutor § 13. authoritie of a tutor § 13. 6. By what meanes the tutorship is ended § 14. How much may be disposed by will If we respect 1. Lands tenements hereditaments holdeÌ„ in 1. Socage tenure all is
testameÌ„t is made being coÌ„tented with fewer solemnities then are requisit in other places g) Andr. Gail lib. 2. practic obseruac 123. Soarez lib. recep senten verb. testmÌ„ n. 72. Baptist Villabol lib. com op verb. testmÌ„ n. 57. Gabr. Rom. lib. 4. tit de testa conc 4. Vasq de success crea §. 21. n. 47. 48. Paris coÌ„sil 12. n. 45. vol. 3. quorum opinio est proculdubio communis licet aliter sentiat gloss in d. §. ex imperfecto Which †effect our vnsolemne testaments haue wherin an able willing executor is named For neither he is reputed to die intestat which appointeth such an executor h) Hoc nemo neseiâ— qui vel mediocriter in alterâ—tâ—o â—oro versatur but is plainely euen in laws of strict interpretatioÌ„ I meane the statuts of this realme tearmed a testator i) Stat. Ed. 3. an 4. c. 7. an 25. c. 5. stat H. 8. an 21. c. 5. alijs penè infinitis locis Nether is the administratioÌ„ of his goods coÌ„mitted to the widdow or next of kin by the auctoritie of the ordinarie according to the statute as in case of one dying intestat k) Id quod non semel dictum est sed saepius est dicendum But the executor deriuing his auctority froÌ„ the testator onely doth succeed in the place of the dead man by force of the testament according to the testators meaning and disposition l) Plowden in casu inter Greisbrook Fox fol. 280. his verbis Lez executores nosmes sount executores magnetent deuant probate del testament Car le probate nest que confirmation allowance de ceo que le testator fist c. lit ils poyent executeur deuant probate c. Wherefore an vnsolemne testament is euen properly a testament Which conclusion being true the definition is not more proper to the one then to the other Now for the answering of the argumentes obiected First †where it is obiected that al vnsolemne testamentes are voide although one onely solemnitie were omitted That is true onely by the Ciuill lawe But it doeth not therfore follow that an vnsolemne testament is no testament in respect of his definition m) Vasq de success crea §. 11. n. 48. how so euer it haue not the same effect to all intentes in lawe But if it bee therefore a testament because it taketh effect in lawe then are all our testamentes though vnsolemne good and sufficient testamentes because they haue as much force without those solemnities as if they had them al and C. more n) Soarez lib. recep sen verb. testmÌ„ n. 72. Grass d. §. testmÌ„ q. 11. Clar. §. testmÌ„ q. 13. And. Gail lib. 2. pract obser c. 123. Vasq de success crea §. 21. n. 47. Sichard in L. Hac consulâ—ss § ex imperfecto C. de testa Secondly where it is obiected that the definition dooth agree to their testamentes and that their testaments and ours doe not agree betwixt them selues I answere that the †definition is not of any speciall testament that is to say it is not of a solemne testament alone nor of an vnsolemne testament alone nor of a written testament alone nor of an nuncupatiue testament alone nor is conuertible with any speciall kinde of testament mencioned in any part of the Ciuill lawe from the which our testamentes made in England doo differ For indeede if the definition were made of any speciall testament alone mencioned in the lawe from the which our testamentes doe differ Then could not our testamentes differing from the testament defined agree with the definition o) Quod enim differt à definito differt à definitione vt quod non est homo non est animal rationale Euerard Olden loc à definicione lo. Casus Oxon. tract de dialect fo 225. But the definition is of a testament which is also common to all those or any other kinde of testamentes aswell solemne as vnsolemne as appeareth before and therefore the testament so defined although it bee speciall in respect of the definition yet is it generall in respecte of the seuerall kinde of testamentes aboue recited p) Testm superius definitum genus est subalternum Id quod potest esâ—e species genus diuerso tamen respectu nimirum species respectu superioris id est sententiae Genus respectu inferioris id est paganici militaris scripti nuncupatiui solennis insoleÌ„nis testamenti Huiusmodi autem testamenta differuÌ„t non numero sed specie sic testamenta cuius supra est definitio posita genus est quia praedicatur de pluribus differentibus specie and is verified of euery of them solemne or vnsolemne and so consequentlie is common aswel to our testaments as to theirs distributing both name and nature to euery speciall testament q) Id quod est generi proprium OldeÌ„ Topic Legal Loco a genere howe so euer they differ amongest them selues r) Species namque performaÌ„ discrepat à specie Conueniunt autem omnes species in suo genere Olden Eâ—erard vbi supra To †conclude therefore we neede not to seeke any newe definition but rather they themselues by reason of their newe solemnities deuised since the making of the olde definition s) Alciat in L. j. C. de sacrosanc eccle n. 12. Indeed we haue not these solemne testaments of the Ciuill law but that in respect we are the more happy and our law the more godly Of a written testament 1 What is a written testament 2 A testament nuncupatiue is not made a written testament by after writing except in certain cases 3 Some thinges common both to a written and to a nuncupatiue testament 4 Some thinges peculier to a written testament 5 Deuise of landes tenementes or hereditamentes is not good without writing 6 In a written testement it is not necessarye that the witnesses be priuy to the contentes 7 Causes wherefore testators many times would haue their willes secret 8 In what manner the testament is to be made when the witnesses know not the contentes 9 The witnesses must be learned and must write their names on the testament when they doe not know the contentes thereof §. xj A Written a) TestamentuÌ„ in scriptis ansit alia species à testo solenni examinaui supr §. 8. in margine testament is †that testament which at the time of the makinge thereof is committed to writing b) Minsing in §. sed cuÌ„ paulatim Instit de testa ordin By which wordes at the time of the making thereof are excluded †such testaments as are afterwardes put in writing For beeing made first by worde of mouth they doe still remaine nuncupatiue notwithstanding the reducing thereof to writing Minsing in §. fin Instit de testa ord Vnlesse the testament being first made by word and afterward in the life
childe in his vnderstanding cannot make a Testament 3 He that hath lost his memorie cannot make a Testament §. v. ALbeit †olde age alone doeth not depriue a man of authoritie and power of making a testament a) L. senium C. qui testa fac poss for a man may freely make his Testament how olde soeuer he be for it is not the integritie of the bodie but of the minde that is requisite in testaments b) d. L. senium yet †if a man in his olde age do become a very childe againe in his vnderstanding c) Simo de Praetis de inter vlt. vol. lib. 2. dub 1. solue 4. n. 22. which thing doeth happen to diuers persons being as it were worne away with extreame age and depriued not onely of the vse of reason but of sence also almost such a person can no more make a testament then a childe d) Ibidem So it is †if a man either by reason of age or some other infirmitie become so forgetful that he hath forgotteÌ„ his own name e) L. fin C. de haered Inst which thing also hath happened to diuers wise and learned men because for any acte which is to bee performed with discretion he is no more fit then a foole or an idiote f) Bald. in d. L. fin Mantic. de coniect. vlt. vol. lib. 2. tit 15. n. 16 of whom we haue spoken already Of him that is drunke 1 Whether he that is drunke may make a testament §. vj. HEe †that is ouercome with drinke during the time of his drunkennesse is compared to a madde man and therefore if hee make his testament at that time it is voide in lawe a) Vasq de success crea lib. ◠§. 13. requis 7. n. 8 Simo de Praetis de inter vlt. vol. lib. 2. dub 1. soluc 4. n. 22. which is to bee vnderstood when hee is so excessiuely drunke that he is vtterly depriued of the vse of reason and vnderstanding Otherwise if hee bee not cleane spent albeit his vnderstanding be obscured and his memorie troubled yet may he make his testament being in that case b) ijdem Vasq Simo de Praetis vbi supra Of slaues and villeines 1 Of all men the slaue is in greatest subiection 2 What is a slaue 3 A slaue hath neither landes nor goods for both are his lordes 4 Whether the children of bonde parentes be subiect to seruitude 5 By the ciuill lawe the childe is free if the mother be free notwithstanding the bondage of the father 6 By the lawes of this realme the childe is freeborne whose father is free though the mother be a bonde woman 7 No bastard is borne a slaue though the father bee a bond-man 8 A bond-man cannot make a testament 9 Of the difference betwixt a bond-slaue and a villeine 10 A villeine like vnto him which is called in the ciuill lawe Ascriptitius Glebae 11 Whether a villeine may make a testament 12 The Lord may take from his villeine whatsoeuer he hath life excepted 13 The testament of the villeine is not voide but voidable 14 Sometimes the Lord can not make voide the testament of his villeine 15 The Prince may at any time make voide the alienation or gifte of his villeine and consequentlie his testament 16 What manner villeines be here ment 17 A villeine executor may make a testament 18 A villeine executor may maintain action against his Lord. 19 The reason of the former conclusion §. vij OF all †men which be destitute of libertie or freedome the slaue is in greatest subiectioÌ„ for a †slaue is that person which is in seruitude or bondage to an other euen against nature a) §. Seruitus Instit de iure personaruÌ„ Et dicitur latinè seruus non à seruiendo sed a seruaÌ„do propterea quòd seruandi non orieÌ„di sunt à dominis Nam cùm antiquitùs multi sçuijssent in captiuos eósque necassent prohibitum id fuit constitutúmque vt potiùs venderentur quà m occiderentur Et inde à seruando nomé mutu arunt serui §. serui autem Instit de iure personarum Neither †hath he any thing of his owne but whatsoeuer he possesseth all is his Lordes (b) §. in potestate Instit de his qui sui vel alie iur Not onely landes goodes and cattelles and generallie whatsoeuer he getteth either by his owne industrie or by the gifte of other or by any other meanes (c) §. iterum Instit per quas personas But †euen his children also are infected with the Leprosie of his fathers bondage d) Bracton de legib consu Ang. lib. 1. c. 6. principall grounds fol. 44. And although by †the ciuill lawe the wife being a free woman the children are likewise free Quia partus sequitur ventrem e) §. sed etsi Instit de ingenuis in so much that if the mother be free either at the conception or at the birth of the child or in the meane time by the same ciuill lawe that child shall be free notwithstandinge the bondage of the father f) Eod. â— sed etsi Yet it †is otherwise by the lawes of the realme for the childe dooth follow the state condition of the father and therefore in England the father being a bondman the child shal be in bondage without distinction whether the mother be bond or free g) Bracton de legib cons Ang. lib. 1. c. 6. So that the childe be begotten or borne in lawfull matrimonye But †a bastarde shall not be bound though the father were a bond-slaue h) Btacton vbi supr principall grounds fol. 44. because the lawe dooth not acknowledge any father in this case for by the lawe a bastard is sometimes called filius nullius the sonne of no man sometimes filius vulgi the sonne of euery man i) Cui pater est populê° pater est sibi nullus omnis Cui pater est populus non habet ipse patrem gloss in §. pen. Inst de nuptijs But howsoeuer the ciuill lawe and the laws of this realme differ in this whether the bondage of the father or of the mother doo make the childe bonde Yet in †this they doo agree that a bond-man can not make a testament k) L. liber de petic haered L. seruus CommÌ„ de success C. Vasq de sucsess progress lib. 1. §. j. vbi multis ampl hanc propositionem ornat A villeine †howsoeuer he may seeme like vnto a slaue yet his bondage is not so great for whatsoeuer a bond-slaue getteth by and by it is his Lords albeit ignoraunt and vnwillinge l) §. Item nobis Instit per quas personas not onely in respect of property but also in respect of possession for whatsoeuer a bond-slaue dooth possesse he doth also possesse it for his Lord m) Eod. §. Item ibi
testa In so much that †if afterwardes hee doo escape yet the testament made whiles he was with the enemie is voyd b) Ead. L. eius But if †his testament were made before his captiuitie then after his escape the testament is of like force as if he had not beene captiue c) L. ratio ff de captiuis Grass Thesaur coÌ„ op §. testmÌ„ q. 25. vbi haÌ„c opinionem communiter approbatam oftendit Likewise if the testament were made before he were apprehended and the testator die in captiuitie yet is the testament allowed and the executor by force therof is to haue all his goodes here within this realme of England as if he had died the day before his captiuitie d) L. lege Cornelia ff de testa Likewise †if any person be taken as captiue by any Piratte Turke Infidell or Christian where warre is not proclamed hee that is so taken remaineth still a free man and therefore if hee make his testament whiles he is so deteined the testament is good and lawfull e) L. qui à latronibus ff de resta If a †lay man be condemned to perpetuall prison for some offence it seemeth that he can not make a testament f) Panor in Rub. de testmÌ„ extr Grass Thesaur com op §. testmÌ„ q. 28. cui tameÌ„ opinioni quantumuis communi non acquiescit Clar. §. testmÌ„ q. 23. but if †any person be imprisoned for dette such imprisonment being ordained for safety not for punishment he is not thereby disabled to make his testament g) Bald. in L. 1. C. si quis aliq testari prohib n. 5. sauing that the testameÌ„t is not good when it is made in his fauour at whose suite the testator is imprisoned of intent to extorte the same h) L. qui carcerem ff quod me caus Mantic. de coniect. vlt. vol. lib. 2. tit 7. n. 2. Of a vvoman couert 1 A maried woman cannot make her testament of lands 2 Especially not to her husband and wherefore 3 What if she be not constrained but doeth deuise the same freely of her owne accord 4 What if the testament be made before mariage 5 What if the testament being made during mariage she ouer liue her husband 6 Certain cases wherin the deuise of lands is good not withstanding the couerture of the testatrix 7 A wife cannot make her â—â—â—â—nent of goods without her husbands licence 〈◊〉 â—â—â—sent 8 The reason wherefore the wife cannot make her testament of goods without the husbands licence or consent 9 Whether it be necessarie that this licence or consent should goe before the making of the will or concur or may follow 10 Whether and when the husband may reuoke the licence giuen to his wife 11 Certaine cases wherein the wife may make her testament without her husbandes consent 12 Whether an Emperesse or a Queene may make a testament without the consent of the King or Emperour 13 Of that which is due to the wife whereof the husband was neuer possessed she may make her testament without his consent 14 A woman contracted in matrimony if the mariage be not solemnized may make her testament 15 A wife being executrix may make an executor to the former testator without her husbands consent 16 The reason of the former position 17 Whether a wife being executrix may make her husband executor in her place 18 A wife executrix may not giue away the testators goods by her will 19 A wife both executrix and legatarie cannot make a testament of that which she did accept not as executrix but as legatarie 20 The reason wherefore an executor can not dispose the testators goods by legacies 21 The reason wherefore a wife executrix and legatarie may not make her testament of that which she did accept as legatarie 22 Whether shall the wife which is bothe executrix and legatarie bee deemed to haue accepted of the testators goods as executrix or legatarie 23 Whether the wife being licenced to make her testament may make any moe willes but one §. ix A Maried †woman by the lawes and statutes of this realme can not make her testament of any maÌ„nors lands tenementes or hereditaments a) Stat. H. 8. an 34. c. 5. This conclusion is diuersly enlarged And first shee †cannot deuise the same to her husband b) Brooke Abridg. tit deuise n. 32. 34. the equitie of which prohibition If I may be so bolde with the good fauour of our temporall lawyers to insert the reason consideration of the ciuill lawe is not obscure For if this gappe were lefte open fewe children should succeede in the mothers inheritaunce c) L. 1. 2. 3. ff de donac inter vir vx But by howe much the husband were more cruel the wife more timerous he crafty she credulous by so much the more were the lawfull heire in daÌ„ger to be disherited and the cruel deceitfull husband in hope to be vnworthilye enriched and aduaunced Wherefore if the wife should deuise any her mannors lands tenements or hereditaments or any part therof to her husband this deuise were voide because the same is presumed to haue beene made by constrainte of the husband or other sinister meanes d) Brooke vbi supra SecoÌ„dly albeit †it did appeare by due proofe that the husband did not constraine his wife therevnto but that she of her owne accorde or free motion did make any such deuise either to her husband or to any other person by his consent yet is not the deuise good e) Ita saepius accepi à nonnullis huius regni iurisperitis non vulgaribus quos ipse velim consulas as well because the words of the statute are generall and where the lawe dooth not distinguish there may not we distinguish f) L. p. ecio ff de public in rem action as for diuers other reasons grounded in the common laws of this realme Thirdly albeit †the testament be made before the mariage yet she being intestable at the time of her death by reason her husband is theÌ„ liuing the testameÌ„t is voyd g) Arg. §. alio Institu quib mod testa infir for it is necessarie to the validity of a testament that the testator haue ability to make a testament not onelie at the time of the making thereof when the testament receiueth his essence or being but also at the time of the testators death when the testament receiueth his strength and confirmation h) d. §. alio §. non tamen Instit quib mod testa infir L. 1. §. exigit ff de bon poss secunduÌ„ tab Porcê° in §. in extra neis Instit de haered qual drÌ„ia Fourthly albeit †the wife doo ouerliue the husband yet the testament made duringe the mariage is not good i) c. Non firmatur de reg iur 6. L. 1. § j. de leg 3. the reason is yeelded before because she
testmÌ„ q 31. Ego verò adhaereo Alex. Ias Decio Sichardo alijs in ead L. hac consultissima Tiraquel qui putarunt hanc solennitatem non esse necessariam in huiusmodi testamento sed sufficere probationem iuris gentium hanc opinionem recepit generalis regni nostri consuetudo But †he cannot make his testament in writing vnlesse the same be reade before the witnesses in their presence and acknowledged by the testator for his last will And therefore if a writing were deliuered to the testator and he acknowledged the same for his will this were not sufficieÌ„t for it may be that if he shold heare the same reade hee would not acknowledge the same for his will (b) DD. in d. L. hac consultissima C. qui testa fac poss Of Traitours 1 Traitours loose both their liues landes and goods and consequentlie are intestable 2 Traitours are intestable not onely from the time of their conuiction but from the time of the crime committed 3 A traitour pardoned and restored may make his testament §. xij OF those who are prohibited to make their testaments as malefactors who now are to make their appearance and to shew theÌ„selues in the course of this treatise traitours because they are most pernicious to the common wealth are most worthie the first place in punishments Vnderstand †therefore that whosoeuer is lawfully conuicted of high treason by verditte confessioÌ„ outlawrie or presentment besides the losse of his life shall forfeite to the prince all his goods and cattelles and all such landes tenements and hereditaments as he shal haue in his owne right vse or possession of any estate or inheritance at the time of such treason committed or at any time after a) Stat. Ed. 6. an 5. c. 11. and so consequentlie is intestable b) L. quisquis §. j. C. ad L. Iul. maiest L. si quis de iniust test L. nemo ff de leg 1. Vasq de succoss progress lib. 1. §. j. n. 165. qui multis ampli hanc concl ornat in so much †that traitours are not onely depriued of making any testament or other kinde of last will from the time of their conuiction but also the testament before made dooth by reason of the same conuiction become voide both in respect of goodes and also in respect of lands tenements and hereditaments c) Stat. Ed. 6. an 5. c. 11. DD. in d. L. nemo de leg 1. ff Vasq vbi sup Neuerthelesse if †any person being attainted of treason obtaine the princes pardon and be thereby restored to his former estate then may he make his testameÌ„t as if he had not been conuicted d) L. si quis § quatenus ff de iniust rupt irrit testa or if he made any before his conuiction and condemnation the same by reason of such pardon recouereth his former force and effect as hereafter is more fully declared e) Infr. 7. part §. xvij Of Felons 1 Felons loose life and goods and so be intestable 2 Who shal haue felons landes 3 Whether hee that is onely indited of felonie maie make his testament 4 Whether he that standeth mute may make his testament of his landes 5 Whether a man after he is apprehended for felonie may make his testament 6 Felons goods not to be seased before attainder 7 The testament of a Felon conuicted is void though he be neuer executed §. xiij IF any person †be condemned of felonie he ought to suffer death and †the Prince shall haue all his goods where so euer they bee found a) Stat. Eliz. an 5. c. 14. Termes of law verb. robberie and if he †haue any free holde it shall forthwith be seased into the Princes hands and the Prince shall haue the profite thereof by the space of a yeere and a day and also waste b) Praerog Reg. c. 16. Eliz. an 5. c. 14. and after the Prince haue had it the yeere and the day and waste the land shall be restored to the cheefe lord of the fee except in certaine places as in the countie of Glocester where after a yeere and a day the lands and tenements of felons shal reuert to the next heire to whom it ought to haue descended if the felonie had not beene committed c) Praerog reg c. 16. Or in Kent in Gauelkind whereas it dooth descend to al the heires males equally to be deuided or to the daughters where there be no sons to be deuided amongst theÌ„ for there it is said the father to the boughe and the son to the ploughe d) Eod. c. 16. Felons therfore lawfully conuicted can not make any testaments or other dispositions of anie goods or landes whereof as wee see the lawe hath disposed already e) Duplici ratione daÌ„natus ad mortem fit intestabilis nimirum bonorum publicatione damnatione ad mortem Damnatus autem ad mortem naturalem efficitur seruus poenae quod communi opinione nititur aduersus eos qui existimarunt ingenuum hodie non effici seruum poenae huiusmodi damnatione sed procedit prior opinio siuè quis damnatus sit secundum ius commune siuè etiam secundum statutum alicuius loci Iul. Clar. §. testmÌ„ q. 21. Couar in Rub. de testa extr 3. part n. 27. Michael Grass Thesaur com op §. testmÌ„ q. 26. But †if any man be indited onely of felony and die before he be conuicted or attainted he may make his testament of his goods and also of his lands f) Quia non condemnatus non reperitur prohibitus vide stat R. 3. an 1. c. 3. or if †he be indited at the Princes suite and so beeing arraigned vpon that inditement will not answer but standeth mute or dumbe whereupon he is to receiue paine as it is tearmed Forte Dure and bee pressed to death g) Do. Stu. lib. 2. c. 41. In this case his goods onely be confiscate but not his lands h) ibidem and therefore in this case I suppose he may make his testament of his landes i) Quia viz. non ê“hibetur qÌ„ non condeÌ„natur If a felon †bee indited and afterwards attainted by verdit or confession the time of the fact committed comprised in the inditement is to be regarded in respect of his lands but in respecte of his goodes in the time of his iudgement k) Perk. tit grants fol. 6 And therefore if before iudgement he doe sell giue or otherwise alienate his goodes such saile gift or alienation is good l) Perkins vbi supr coÌ„cordatius ciuile L. post contractum ff de donac cum distinctione tamen vt per Bar. in d. L. Grass §. testmÌ„ q. 26. Neither †may the Sherife or other person take or sease the goods of any person arrested and imprisoned before the same person be conuicted or attainted of felonie according to the law or that the goods bee otherwise lawfullie forfeited
the same be giuen or gotten after they be entred into the ministerie and also after they haue obteined such spirituall promotion p) Cyn alij in Authē licentiam C. de Episcopis Cler. Grass d. §. testm̄ q. 34. n. 2. If any thing doe appertaine vnto them in right of their church then wee are to consider whether the same be moueable or not For of †immoueable thinges as of houses or of demeanes or of glebe and such like ecclesiasticall persons can not dispose by their testaments q) L. iubemus C. de sacrosan eccle c. cùm in officijs c. relatum cl ◠de testam extr Perkins tit deuises in princ nor of the trees or fruites growing vpon the same demeanes or glebe r) Perkins vbi supr Epistola cuiusdam libri qui inscribitur An answere to an Abstracti c. Sauing †whether the incumbent before his death hath caused anie of his gleebe landes to be manured and sowen at his proper costes and charges with anie corne or graine for in this case such incūbent maie make and declare his testament of all the profits of the corne growing vpon the same glebe landes so manured and sowen s) Stat. H. 8. an 28. c. 11. And although †heretofore as well by generall custome of this realme t) Lindw in c. nullus rector de consuetud lib. 1. prouincial constituc Cant. as by speciall constitution v) c. cùm inter rectores tit de consuetud lib. 1. prouincial constituc Ebor. it was lawfull for parsons and vicars after the feast of the annūciatiō of the blessed virgin x) d. c. nullus in some places after the feast of S. Marke y) d. c. cùm inter rectores lib. 1. prouincial constit Eborac to make their testaments of the fruites of their liuings albeit not as yet receiued but paiable that yeere or haruest following Neuerthelesse by the statuts of this realme such custome and constitution is taken awaie by which statut z) d. Stat. H. 8. an 28. c. 11. †al fruits tithes oblations and other emolumentes whatsoeuer belonging to anie Archdeaconrie denary prebend parsonage vicarige hospitall wardenship prouost-ship or other spirituall promotion benefice dignitie or office chaunteries onelie excepted growing rising or cōming during the time of the vacation of the same spirituall promotion belonge to the next incumbent and to his executors towards the paiment of the first fruites Of goods †moueable which an ecclesiasticall person possesseth albeit the same were gotten in right of the church or by meanes of his ecclesiasticall liuing he may make his testament like as of anie other his temporal goods a) Lindw in d c. nullus verb. legata Doct. Stud. lib. 2. c. 39 40. quod verum quidem est iure seu consuetudine huius regni Angliae sed attento iure cano non procedit indistinctè Abb. in d. c. relatum cl 2. de testa extra whether such ecclesiastical person be bishop deane archdeacon prebendarie parson or vicar or otherwise tearmed or intituled certaine cases onelie excepted b) Iul. Clar. §. testm̄ q. 27. Grass §. testm̄ q. 34. viz. †of goodes which a bishop hath common with a deane or chapiter c) c. relatum cl 2. de testa extr Perkins tit deuises in princ Doct. Stud. lib. 2. c 39. or which a deane or chapiter haue common to themselues d) Fitzherb Abridg. tit testm̄ n. 1. or which a maister or brethren of an hospitall or colledge haue also amongest themselues in the right of their house e) Perkins Doct. Stu. vbi supra or of goods which are dedicated to the seruice of God as ornamentes of the church f) Aetiologia est quia huiusmodi rerum nullum est commercium §. nullius Instit de rerum diuis or of the ecclesiasticall rightes not receiued or not due nor paiable in the time of the incumbencie of the testator but reserued to the next incumbent g) d. Stat. H. 8. an 28. c. 11. In which cases it is not lawfull for ecclesiasticall persons to make their testaments of such goods which cases excepted it is lawfull for an ecclesiasticall person to declare his will h) Exceptio enim firmat regulam in non exceptis Dec. in L. 1. de reg iur ff either of the goods themselues if the remaine and are extant or of the mony taken for the same being solde or alienated i) Istud verum iure quo nos vtimur artic cler c. 1. Doct. Stud. lib. 2. c. 39. secùs iure can Panor in d. c. relatum cl 2. n. 3. Grass d. §. testm̄ q. 34. Iul. Clar. §. testm̄ q. 27. Of Kinges 1 Examples borrowed out of the olde testament whereby it maie seeme lawfull for kinges to giue awaie their kingdomes 2 Certaine humane reasons tending to the same purpose 3 Other examples taken out of prophane histories of Kinges which haue disposed of their kingdomes by their testamentes 4 By the ciuil and cannon lawes a King can not giue awaie his kingdome 5 Whether by the lawes of this realme a King maie giue awaie his kingdome 6 An vncertaine conclusion §. xxviii IT may seeme lawful for a king by his testament to make his heire whomsoeuer he shall thinke good or to leaue his kingdome to whome hee will both by gods lawe and mans lawe By gods law because †Moses a man to whom God did speake as it were face to face lefte the principallitie or gouernement of the Isralites to Iosua a) Deutero c. vlt. vers 9. 10. being of the tribe of Ephraim b) Gloss in c. Moses 8. q. 1. and not to anie of his owne tribe which was the tribe of Leui c) Phil. Franc. in Rub. de testa lib. 6. post gloss in d. c. Moses King Dauid likewise a man after gods owne heart did bestowe the kingdome on Salomon d) Lib. 1. reg c. 1. versic 28 29 30. cum sequent hauing the same time an elder son namelie Adoniah e) eod c. versic 41. cum sequen the same Salomon the wisest man that euer was or shal be f) ◠reg c. 3. vers 12. whiles he raigned as king did giue vnto Hyram king of Tyrus twentie citties of the kingdome of Israell situate in the lande of Galile g) 1. reg c. 9. vers 11. The holy Patriarke Iacob also euen he that wrastled with an angell h) Genes c. 32. vers 24. c. depriued his eldest sonne Ruben of his birth right and gaue the same to the sonnes of Ioseph i) Genes c. 49. Paralip c. 5. in princ By mans lawe because †the voice and will of a Prince hath the force of a lawe k) §. sed quod Instit de iur na gen ciuil because also a king is said to be a mortal God l) Bald in §. praeterea de prohib alienac feud
per feder n. 14. psal 82. vers 6. and therfore what he commaundeth ought to be obeyed without resistaunce m) Bald. in auth hoc ampliê° C. de fidei com n. 10. quem velim videas if it doe not repugne the lawe of God immortall n) Act. Apost c. 4. vers 19. c. 5. vers 29. To be shorte if a king might not dispose of his owne kingdome at his owne pleasure then his state were not so good as the state of his subiect o) Oldrad consil 94 in fin for the meanest subiect may freelie dispose of his own p) Supr ead part in prin Besides which vrgent reasons whereby appeareth the roote and life of this humaine lawe there bee sundrie pregnant examples which as branches springing from that liuelie roote haue in sundrie ages and countries brought foorth faire and goodlie fruite whereby the force and efficacie of that lawe hath beene made manifest to all the world let these fewe suffice for a taste It is recorded that Attalus a king in Asia the lesse did in his testament institute the Romane people his heire who by vertue of that testament did enioie the kingdome q) Florus lib. 2. Hottoman illustr quaest c. 1. likewise that Alexander king of Aegypt did bequeath vnto the same Romaine people the kingdomes of Alexandria and Aegypt r) Cicero Ora. 1. pro lege agrar alià s lib. 2. c. 15. Ptolemaeus the king of Aegypt gaue away the kingdome of the Cyrens s) Hottoman d. c. 1. Vnguinus was king of the Gothes by the appointment of Haldanus t) Eodem loci To come neerer I meane in respect of place not of time we maie reade how Prasutagus one of the kinges of this realme of England a little after the death of Christ did make the Emperour Nero his heire v) Cornel. Tacitus lib. 14. Camden fol. 290. alià s fol. 355. And diuers other kinges haue doone the like x) Quorum meminit Gentilis disp 2 fol. 45. So that it is neither newe or straunge that kinges haue by their testamentes giuen away their kingdomes from those who otherwise should haue enioyed the same Notwithstanding †aswell by the ciuill law y) Bar. Angel in L. prohibere §. planè ff quod vi aut clam Ias in L. debitoâ—um C. de pactis Bald. in proem de feudis n. 32. Vasq de succes crea §. 26. lim 3. as by the cannon lawe z) Innocen Cardinal Imol. Panor Io. de Anan alij in c. intelecto de iureiur extr Felin in c. dilecti de maior ob extr with the which lawes the lawes of this our realme of England doe in this point seeme to ioyne hands a) Fitzherb Abridg. tit deuise n. 5. tit execut n. 108. hisce verbis L opinion de plus Iustices Doctors del cannon ciuil ley assembles in le Eschequer chambre quant Roy Henry quart morust fuit que il puit saier testmÌ„ legacy des biens que il auer mez dez biens de Royalme cest assauoyer ancient Corone Iuells il ne puit Eodem tendunt quae à Guiliel Lamberto viro doctissimo traÌ„scripta sunt sub hac verboruÌ„ serie Debet verò de iure rex onmes terras honores omnes dignitates iura libertates Coronae regni liuius in integrum cum omni integritate sine diminutione seruare defeÌ„dere c. lib. de priscis Angl. legib tit de reg offic fol. 130. It is vnlawfull for a king to giue awaie his kingdome from his lawfull heires for the confirmation whereof diuers writers vse diuers reasons b) De hac q. consulas FraÌ„c Hotto iurisconsultoruÌ„ omniuÌ„ quos ista peperit aetas celeberrimuÌ„ lib. 1. illustr quaest c. 1. But †amongest all their reasons I see no reason to induce me to aduenture anie further into the examination of this deepe and dangerous question much lesse to proceede to the conclusion not onelie because the same beeing so high an obiect dooth farre exceede the slender capacitie of a meane subiecte but also for that this princelie controuersie as it hath seldome receiued ordinarie triall heretofore so hereafter if the case were to be argued in verie deede verie likelie it is to bee vrged with more violent arguments and sharpe syllogismes then by the vnbloodie blowes of bare words or the weake weapons of instrumentes made of paper and parchment And on the other side to bee answered with flatte denials of greater force and distinctions of greater efficacie then can proceede from anie legall or logicall engine and in the end to be decided and ruled by the dead stroke of vnciuill and martial cannons rather then by anie rule of the ciuill or cannon lawe Videant quorum interest THE THIRD PART OF THIS TESTAMENTARIE TREATISE WHEREIN IS EXAMINED what thinges may be deuised by will The Paragraphes or Chapters of the third parte WHat thinges are examined in this third part § 1. Landes tenementes and hereditamentes can not passe by will but in certaine cases § 2. Certaine cases approoued by custome wherein it is lawfull to bequeath or deuise landes tenementes and hereditamentes § 3. Certain cases auctorized by the statuts of this realme whereby it is lawfull to deuise landes tenementes and hereditamentes § 4. Of the deuise of goods and cattelles § 5. Diuers kindes of goods and cattelles not deuisable by will § 6. Of the assigning of tutors and disposing of childrens portions § 7. Of committing the tuition of children and custodie of their portions within the prouince of Yorke § 8. Who may appoint a tutor § 9. Who may be appointed tutor § 10. To whom a tutor may be appointed § 11. Of the manner of appointing tutors § 12. Of the office and auctoritie of a tutor § 13. By what meanes the tutor-ship is ended § 14. What quantitie of landes may be deuised § 15. What quantitie of goods or cattelles may be deuised § 16. If the testator doe in fact bequeath more then he may by lawe which legacie is to be preferred or what other course is to be followed § 17. VVHAT THINGES ARE EXAMINED IN THE THIRD PART The third part 1 The thirde principall parte deuided into two members 2 The first member three-foulde §. j. IN the third parte of this Testamentarie treatise there is to bee shewed firste what thinges then how much the testator maie dispose or deuise by his testament Concerning the former of these it shall not be a misse to speake first of the bequeathing or deuising of landes tenementes and hereditaments a) Infr. ead part § §. 2 3 4. Secondlie of the bequeathing or deuising of goods and cattelles b) Infr. ead par §§ 5 6. and thirdlie of the committing of the tuition of children and custodie of their portions and rights during their minorities c) Infr. ead part §§ 7 8 c. Of the deuise of landes 1 The
rule of the deuise of landes is negatiue 2 The exceptions of this rule are of two sortes §. ij TRue it is that this matter of the deuise of landes tenementes and hereditamentes which in this realme of Englande with all questions incident thereunto is to be determined according to the lawes temporall of this realme and is not subiecte to the rules and decisions of the lawes ciuill or ecclesiasticall lest therefore whilest I would seeme a meere professor of the ciuill lawe I might seeme altogether to neglecte both lawe and ciuilitie by thrusting my sickle into an others haruest and setting my foote in an others possessions without licence first obtained for the auoiding of this offence before I go any further I am to craue this fauour learned professors and serious students of the laws temporal of this realm that for as much as this your fielde wherein groweth all these questions concerning the deuise of landes dooth lie so iust betwixt me and those other groundes wherein the marke whereat I aime is placed and wherein the fruite which I would gladlie vtter is planted so that I can not as nowe my iourney lieth haue readie accesse vnto the one but through the other It would therefore please you giue mee a little leaue to walke through a corner of your large dominions vnto those foresaid places more proper to them of mine own professiō Your territories I confesse are verie fertile and ful of hidden treasure the fruite also of that soile I meane the golden cases much like the golden fleece of Colchos the growing very pleasant profitable Howbeit you neede not be afraid of any preiudice for neither wil I disturbe your quiet possession with any long abode neither cā I if I wold cōueigh away the riches you should reape by disclosing of the mysteries of your gaineful arte to me vnknown vnles I would seeme to be more bold then blinde baiarde more arrogant then the ignoraunt Cobler who for his saucinesse receiued this admonition Ne sutor vltra crepidam And further that as a poore passenger I maie bee allowed to take a taste of those thinges which you haue set abroache to all the world and which by your sundrie bookes you haue made common to all trauellers the rather for that I am prepared in some sorte to requite the same This onelie I desire and this I hope you will not denie to the purpose therefore Touching the bequest or deuise of landes tenementes and hereditamentes this appeareth to be a true position and ground agreeable to the ciuill lawe a) c. imperialis de prohib feud alien lib. 2. Feud Bald. in c. 1. de success feud and also the laws of this realme b) Stat. H 8. an 27. c. 10. in princ Doct. Stud. lib. 1. c. 8. Perkins tit deuise 102. that landes tenementes or hereditamentes can not be disposed or deuised by will but in certaine cases of which some are approued by force of certaine customes c) Infr. §. prox within this realme and some by force of certaine statutes d) Infr. ead par §. 4. Certaine cases approoued by custome wherein it is lawfull to deuise landes tenementes or hereditaments 1 Gauelkinde landes may be deuised by will 2 The cause wherefore the custome of Gauelkinde did continue 3 Burgage lande deuiseable by will 4 To whom and after what manner Burgage landes be deuiseable 5 Whether anie other person maie deuise Burgage landes but a citizen 6 Burgage tenure a kinde of tenure in Soccage 7 Whether liuerie or seasin bee needefull where burgage land is deuised 8 Whether the Iointenaunt may bequeath his part of Burgage land otherwise deuiseable 9 Of landes deuised to certaine vses 10 The custome of deuising landes to feoffes reformed 11 The causes of this reformation 12 The statute or acte of reformation §. iii. THe first case wherein by custome of this realme of England it is lawfull for a man by his laste will or testament to deuise or bequeath landes tenements or hereditamēts is this namely whē lands tenements or hereditaments are holden in Gauel-kind for such †landes tenements or hereditaments by ancient custome maie be giuen or deuised by wil a) Dyer fol. 153 verb. deuise Termes of law verb. Grauelkind ita saepissimè accepi à nonnullis huius regni iurisperitis the same otherwise being duelie made For †after that William duke of Normandie had inuaded and conquered all England Kent onelie excepted at last also the kentish-men yeelded but vpon condition that they might enioy their auncient customes of Gauelkind which was graunted vnto them since hath continued b) Lambert perambulation of Kent fol. 23. amongest which customes being verie large and benificiall this is one that they which holde landes in Gauelkinde may giue and sell the same without licence asked of their lordes sauing vnto the lordes the rentes and seruices due out of the same tenementes c) Termes of law vbi supr Lambert vbi supr fol. 416. The †second cause is when the lands or tenementes be holden in Burgage tenure d) Fitzherb Nat. Bre. ex graui querela in prin Doct. Stud. lib. 1. c. 7. 10. For it is the custome of diuers Cities and Borroughes of this land as in London Yorke Oxford c. that such persons as are seased of landes tenementes or hereditamentes lyinge and being in such cities or boroughes and hold the same in burgage tenure maie by their testamentes or last willes giue or bequeath the same to whom they will e) Brook Abridg. tit deuise n. 22. 51. Fitzber in d. Br. ex graui querela Doct. Stud. d. c. 7. 10. Lindw in c. statut de testam lib. 3. prouincial constituc Cant. verb. de consuctudine verb. laicalis feodi eod c. to holde in fee simple or in fee taile or for life or yeeres or otherwise and such bequest or deuise is good f) Fitzherb in d. Breui ex graui querela the will being lawfullie made and prooued before the ordinarie as touching the goodes and cattelles bequeathed in the same and enrowled before the maior of the said citie or borough g) Fitzher in d. Bre. ex graui querela Howbeit it is not alwaies necessarie that the testament be proued before the ordinary or inrolled wherein landes onelie and no goodes and cattelles are bequeathed h) Brook Abridg. tit deuise n. 43. For in some places by the custome there vsed the deuisee maie enter to the landes deuised of his owne auctoritie without any probation or inrolment praecedent and in other places hee is to bee put in seasin or possession by the Balife i) Brook d. tit deuise n. 43. principall grounds tit burgage fol. 43. And it seemeth not to be needeful to the validitie of the deuise in this case that the testator should be a citizen or burgesse of that citie or boroughe where the landes or tenementes deuised doo lie but
own proper vse in or to any manors lands tenements rents or hereditaments wherof they be or hereafter shal be seized to anie other vse as if this present act had neuer beene had or made any thing conteined in this acte to the contrarie not withstanding And where also diuers persons stand and be seized of and in any lands tenements or hereditaments in fee simple or otherwise to the vse or intente that some other person or persons shall haue and perceiue yeerely to them and to his or their heires one annuall rent of tenne pounds or more or lesse out of the same lands and tenements and some other person one other annuall rent to him and his assignes for terme of life or yeeres or for some other speciall time according to such intent and vse as hath bin heretofore declared limited made thereof Be it therefore enacted by the authoritie aforesaid that in euery such case the same persons their heirs and assignes that haue such vse and interest to haue and perceiue any such annuall rents out of any lands tenements or hereditaments that they and euery of them their heires and assignes be adiudged and deemed to be in possession and seizon of the same rent of and in such like estate as they had in the title interest or vse of the said rent or profit and as if a sufficient grant or other lawful conueiance had bin made executed to them by such as were or shal be seized to the vse or entēt of any such rent to be had made or paied according to the very trust intent therof And that al euery such person or persons as haue or heereafter shall haue any title vse and interest in or to any such rent or profit shall lawfully distreine for non paiment of the said rent and in their owne names make aduouries or by their balifs or seruants make cognizances and iustifications and haue all other sutes entries and remedies for such rents as if the same rents had bin actually and really graunted to them with sufficient clauses of distresse reentree or otherwise according to such conditions paines or other things limited and appointed vpon the trust and intent for paiment of suretie of such rent And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid that where as diuerse persons haue purchased or haue estate made and conueied of and in diuers lands tenements and hereditaments vnto them and to their wiues and to the heires of the husband or to the husband and to the wife and to the heires of their two bodies begotten or to the heirs of one of their bodies begotten or to the husband and to the wife for terme of their liues or for terme of life of the said wife or where any such estate or purchase of any lands tenements or hereditaments hath bin or hereafter shall bee made to any husband and to his wife in manner and forme aboue expressed or to any other person or persons and to their heires and assignes to the vse and behoofe of the said husband and wife or to the vse of the wife as is before rehearsed for the iointer of the wife that then in euery such case euery woman married hauing such iointer made or hereafter to be made shall not claime nor haue title to haue any dower of the residue of the lands tenemētes or hereditaments that at any time were her said husbands by whom she hath any such iointer nor shall demand nor claime her dower of and against them that haue the lands and inheritaunces of her said husband But if she haue no such iointer then she shall be admitted and inabled to pursue haue and demand her dower by write of dower after the due course and order of the common lawes of this realme this act or any law or prouision made to the contrarie thereof notwithstanding Prouided alway that if any such woman be lawfully expulsed or euicted from her said iointer or from any part therof without any fraud or couin by lawfull entree action or by discōtinuance of her husband then euery such woman shal be indowed of as much of the residue of her husbands tenements or hereditaments whereof she was before dowable as the same lands and tenements so euicted and expulsed shall amount or extend vnto Prouided also that this act nor any thinge therein conteined or expressed extend or be in any wise hurtfull or preiudiciall to any woman or women heretofore being married of for or concerning such right title vse interest or possession as they or any of them haue claime or pretēd to haue for her or their iointer or dower of in or to any manors lands tenementes or other hereditamentes of any of their late husbands being now dead or deceased any thing conteined in this act to the contrary notwithstanding Prouided also that if any wife haue or hereafter shall haue any manors lands tenements or hereditaments vnto her giuen or assured after mariage for terme of her life or otherwise in iointer except the same assurance be to her made by act of parliament and the said wife after that fortune to ouer-liue the same her husband in whose time the said iointer was made or assured vnto her that then the same wife so ouer liuing shall and may at their liberty after the death of her said husband refuse to haue take the lands and tenements so to her giuen appointed or assured during the couerture for terme of her life or otherwise in iointer except the same assurance be to her made by acte of parliament as is aforesaid and thereupon to haue aske demaund and take her dower by write of dower or otherwise according to the common law of and in all such landes tenements and hereditaments as her husband was and stood seized of any state of inheritance at any time during the couerture any thing conteined in this act to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding Prouided also that this present act nor anie thing therein conteined extend or be at anie time hereafter interpretated expounded or taken to extinct release discharge or suspend anie statute recognizance or other bond by the execution of any estate of or in any lands tenements or hereditaments by the authority of this act to any person or persons or bodies politike any thinge conteined in this acte to the contrary thereof notwithstanding And for as much as great ambiguities and doubts may arise of the validity and inualidity of wils heretofore made of any landes tenements hereditaments to the great trouble of the kings subiects the kings most roial maiesty minding the tranquillitie and rest of his louing subiects of his most excellent and accustomed goodnesse is pleased and contented that it be enacted by the authority of this present parliament that all maner true and iust willes and testaments heretofore made by any personne or persons deceased or that shall decease before the first day of May that shall be in the yeere of our
Lord God 1536 of any lands tenements or other hereditaments shall be taken and accepted good and effectual in the law after such fashion maner and forme as they were commonly taken and vsed at any time within forty yeeres next afore the making of this acte anie thing conteined in this act or in the preamble thereof or any opinion of the common law to the contrarie thereof notwithstanding Prouided alwaies that the kinges highnesse shall not haue demand or take any aduantage or profit for or by occasion of the executing of any estate onely by authority of this act to any person or persons or bodies politike which now haue or on this side the said first day of Maie which shall be in the yeere of our Lorde God 1536 shall haue any vse or vses trustes or confidences in any manors lands tenements or hereditaments holden of the kinges highnesse by reason of primer seizon liuerie Ouster le maine fine for alienation releefe or hariotte but that fines for alienations releefes and hariots shal be paied to the kings highnesse And also liueries and Ouster le maines shall bee sued for vses trusts and confidences to be made and executed in possession by authority of this act after and from the said first day of May of lands and tenements and other hereditamentes holden of the king in such like maner and forme to all intents constructions and purposes as hath heretofore beene vsed or accustomed by the order of the laws of this realme Prouided also that no other person or persons or bodies politike of whom any lands tenements or hereditaments be or hereafter shal be holden mediat or immediat shal in any wise demand or take any fine releefe or harriot for or by occasion of the executing of any estate by the authority of this acte to any person or persons or bodies politike before the said first day of May which shall be in the yeere of our Lord God 1536. And bee it enacted by the authority aforesaid that all and singuler person and persons and bodies politike which at any time on this side the said first day of Maie which shall be in the yeere of our Lord God 1536 shall haue anie estate vnto them executed of and in anie lands tenements or hereditaments by the authority of this act shall and may haue and take the same or like aduantage benefit voucher aid praier remedy commoditie and profit by action entree condition or otherwise to all intents constructions purposes as the person or persons seized to their vse of or in any such lands tenements or hereditaments so executed had should might or ought to haue had at the time of the execution of the estate thereof by the authority of this act against any other person or persons of or for any wast disseizon trespasse condition broken or any other offence cause or thing concerning or touching the said lands or tenements so executed by the authority of this act Prouided also and be it enacted by the authority aforesaid that actions now depending against any person or persons seased of or in any lands tenements or hereditaments to any vse trust or confidence shal not abate ne be discharged for or by reason of executing of any estate therof by authority of this act before the said first day of May which shall be in the yeere of our lord God 1536. any thing conteined in this act to the contrarie notwithstanding Prouided also that this acte nor any thing therein conteined shall not bee preiudiciall to the kings highnes for wardships of heires now being within age nor for liueries or for Ouster le mains to be sued by any person or persons now being within age or of ful age of any landes or tenementes vnto the same heire or heires now all ready descended any thing in this act contained to the contrarie notwithstanding Prouided also and be it enacted by the authority aforesaid that all and singuler recognisances heretofore knowledged taken or made to the kinges vse for or concerning any recoueries of any landes tenementes or hereditaments heretofore vsed or had by write or writs of entree vpon disseizon in Le post shall from henceforth be vtterly voide and of none effect to all intents constructions purposes Prouided also that this act nor any thing therein conteined be in any wise preiudicial or hurtfull to anie person or persons borne in Wales or the marches of the same which shall haue any estate to them executed by authority of this act in any lands tenements or other hereditaments within this realme whereof any other person or persons now stand or be seized to the vse of any such person or persons borne in Wales or the marches of the same but that the same persō or persons borne in Wales or the marches of the same shall or may lawfullie haue reteine and keepe the same lands tenements or other hereditaments whereof estate shall be so vnto them executed by the authority of this act according to the tenor of the same any thing in this act conteined or any other acte or prouision heretofore had or made to the contrary notwithstanding Certaine cases wherein by the statutes of this realme it is lawfull to deuise landes tenementes or hereditaments §. iiij NOwe follow certaine other cases authorised by the statuts of this realme of England wherein it is lawfull to bequeath or deuise lands tenements and hereditamentes by will sometimes wholy and sometimes in part onely or rateably according to the nature of the tenure of such lands tenements and hereditamentes as in the same statuts which I haue here set downe at large doth appeare An Acte declaring how by the Kinges grant landes tenementes and hereditamentes may be by will testament or otherwise disposed and concerning wards and primer seasin c. Anno 32 II. 8. c. 1. WHere the kinges most roiall maiestie in all the time of his moste gratious and noble reigne hath euer beene mercifull louing and beneuolent and most gratious souereigne lord vnto all and singuler his louing and obedient subiectes and at many times past hath not onelie shewed and imparted to them generally by his manie and often great beneficial pardons heretofore by authority of his parlemēts granted but also by diuers other waies and meanes many great and ample grants and benignities in such wise as al his said subiects bin most bounden to the vttermost of all their powers and graces by them receiued of God to render and giue vnto his maiesty their most humble reuerence obedient thanks and seruices with their daily and continuall praier to almighty God for the continual preseruation of his most roiall estate in most kingly honour and prosperity yet alwaies his maiesty being repleat and endowed by God with grace goodnes and liberality most tenderly considering that his said obedient and louing subiects can not vse or exercise thēselues according to their estats degrees faculties and qualities or to beare themselues in such wise
as that they may conuenientlie keep and maintaine their hospitalities and families nor the good educations and bringing vp of their lawfull generations which in this realme laude be to God is in all parts very great and abundant but that in maner of necessity as by daily experience is manifested and knowen they shal not be able of their proper goods cattelles and other moueable substāce to discharge their debtes and after their degrees set foorth and aduance their children posterities Wherefore our said soueraigne Lord most vertuously considering the mortality that is to euery person at Gods will and pleasure most common vncertaine of his most blessed disposition and liberality being willing to releeue help his said subiects in their said necessities and debility is contented and pleased that it be ordained and enacted by authority of this present parliament in manner and forme as hereafter followeth that is to say that all and euery person and persons hauing or which hereafter shall haue any manours landes tenements or hereditaments holden in socage or of the nature of socage tenure and not hauing any manours lands tenements or hereditaments holden of the king our soueraigne Lord by knights seruice by socage tenure in chefe or of the nature of socage tenure in cheef nor of any other person or persons by knights seruice from the 20. day of Iulie in the yeere of our Lord God 1500. forty shall haue ful and free liberty power and authority to giue dispose will and deuise as well by his last will and testament in writinge or otherwise by any acte or actes lawfully executed in his life all his said manours landes tenementes or hereditaments or any of them at his free will and pleasure any lawe statute or other thing heretofore had made or vsed to the contrary notwithstanding And that all and euery persone and persons hauing manours landes tenementes or hereditamentes holden of the king our soueraigne Lorde his heires or successours in socage or of the nature of socage tenure in cheefe and hauing any other manours lands tenementes or hereditamentes holden of any other person or persons in socage or of the nature of socage tenure and not hauing anie manours landes tenementes or hereditamentes holden of the king our soueraigne Lorde by knightes seruice nor of anie other Lorde or person by like seruice from the 20. daie of Iulie in the said yeere of our Lord God 1500 and fortie shal haue full and free liberty power and authority to giue will dispose and deuise as wel by his last wil or testament in writing or otherwise by any acte or actes lawfullie executed in his life all his said manors landes tenements and hereditaments or any of them at his free will and pleasure any law statute custome or other thing heretofore had made or vsed to the contrarie notwithstanding Sauing alway and reseruing to the king our soueraigne lord his heires and successors all his right title and interest of primer seizon releefes and also all other rights and duties for tenures in socage or of the nature of socage tenure in cheefe as heretofore hath beene vsed and accustomed the same manors lands tenements or hereditaments to be taken had and sued out of and from the hands of his highnesse his heires and successors by the person or persons to whome any such manors lands tenements or hereditaments shall be disposed willed or deuised in such and like manner and forme as hath beene vsed by any heire or heires before the makinge of this estatute And sauing and reseruing also fines for alienations of such manors landes tenements or hereditaments holden of the king our soueraigne lord in socage or of the nature of socage tenure in cheefe wherof there shal be any alteration of freehold or inheritance made by will or otherwise as is aforesaid And it is further enacted by the authority aforesaid that al and singuler person persons hauing any manors lands tenemēts or hereditaments of estate of inheritance holden of the kings highnesse in cheefe by knights seruice or of the nature of knights seruice in cheefe from the said twentie day of Iulie shall haue full power and authoritie by his last wil by writing or otherwise by anie act or acts lawfullie executed in his life to giue dispose will or assigne two partes of the same manors landes tenements or hereditaments in three partes to bee diuided or else as much of the saide manors lands tenements or hereditaments as shall extend or amounte to the yeerelie value of two parts of the same in three partes to be deuided in certentie and by speciall deuisions as it may be knowen in seueralty to and for the aduancement of his wife preferment of his children and paiment of his debtes or otherwise at his will and pleasure anie law statute custome or other thing to the contrarie thereof notwithstanding Sauing and reseruing to the king our souereigne lord the custodie wardship primer seizon or any of them as the case shall require of as much of the same manors lands tenements or hereditaments as shal amount and extende to the full and cleere yeerelie value of the third parte thereof without any diminution dower fraud couin charge or abridgment of anie of the same third part or of the full profits thereof Sauing also and reseruing to the king our said soueraigne lord all fines for alienations of all such manors lands tenementes and hereditamentes holden of the kinge by knights seruice in cheefe whereof there shal be any alteration of free-holde or inheritaunce made by will or otherwise as is abouesaide And be it enacted by authority aforesaide that all and singuler person and persons hauing manors lands tenementes or hereditaments of estate of inheritance holden of the king in cheefe by knights seruice and hauinge other manors lands tenements or hereditaments holden of the king or of any other person or persons by knights seruice or otherwise euerie such person and persons from the said twentie daie of Iulie shall haue full power and authoritie to giue dispose will or assigne by his last will in writing or otherwise by anie acte or acts lawfullie executed in his life two parts of same manors lands tenementes or hereditamentes in three partes to be deuided or else as much of the same manors lands tenemēts and hereditaments as shal extend or amount to the yeerelie value of two parts of the same in three partes to be deuided in certeintie and by speciall diuisions as it may be knowen in seueraltie to and for the aduancement of his wife preferment of his children and paiment of his debts or otherwise at his will and pleasure any lawe statute custome or other thing to the contrarie thereof notwithstanding Sauing alwaie and reseruing to the king our souereigne lorde the custodie wardship and primer seizon or any of them as the case shal require of as much of the same manors lands tenements or other hereditaments as shall amounte and extend to the
Crowherst in the coūty of Surrie knight deceased Nor to the will or deuise of sir Peter Filpot knight deceased Nor the wil or deuise of Richard Creswel late of Mattingley in the countie of South gentleman deceased nor to the will or deuise of Thomas Vnton late of the countie of Berk. gentleman deceased sonne of sir Thomas Vnton knight also deceased or shal be in anie wise preiudiciall or hurtfull to anie person or persons for or concerning anie manours landes tenements or hereditaments conteyned or specified in the said willes or deuises or in any of them but that the said last willes and deuises and euery of them shall stande abide remaine and be in the same case force and effect in the law to all intents purposes and constructions as the said last willes and deuises and euerie of them were before the making of this act declaration and explanation and of none other effect or force this act declaration explanatiō or anie of them or anie thing therein contained to the contrarie thereof in anie wise notwithstanding Prouided alwaie and bee it enacted by the authoritie aforesaid that all and euerie person and persons from whom the king or other lord or lordes shall take anie manours landes tenementes or hereditamentes for his or their full thirde part or to make vp his or their third part shall and maie by authoritie of this present act in anie of the cases aforesaide vpon his or their bill exhibited in the kinges courte of Chauncerie against al and euerie such person and persons which shall be entitled by or vnder anie such will gifte disposition or deuise to the other two partes haue such contribution or recompence for the same as by the chancellour of England or by the keeper of the great seale of England for the time being shall be thought good and conuenient Of the deuise of goods and Chattelles 1 All manner of goods and chattelles may be deuised by will certaine cases excepted 2 The rule of the deuise of landes contrary to the rule of disposing of goodes §. v. COncerning the secōd kind of thinges deuiseable by testament namelie goods chattelles this may be deliuered for a rule That all manner of goods and chattelles maie be bequeathed or deuised by will or testament a. L. caetera ff de leg 1. §. tam corporales Inst de legat ibid. DD. Lindw in c. statutum de testa lib. 3. prouincial constituc Cant. Perkins tit deuise c. 8. fol. 99. certaine cases onelie excepted b) De quibus §. pro◠Which rule is cleane contrarie to the former of the deuise of lands tenementes and hereditamentes for they can not be deuised sauing where some custome or statute hath gained libertie of bequeathing or deuising of the same c) Vt supr ead part §§ 2 3 4. But here in steede of the Negatiue rule is set downe the Affirmatiue the exceptions of which rule are prosecuted in the next Paragraphe Diuers kindes of goodes not deuiseable by will 1 Goods which a man hath iointlie with an other can not be deuised by will 2 What if the other ioint-tenannt be made Executor whether is the bequest good 3 Goods which a man hath as administratour cannot be giuen by will 4 Euerie administrator accomptable to the ordinarie 5 Difference betwixt the executor and the executor of an administrator 6 Goods of the realme that is to saie of the auncient crowne and iewelles can not bee giuen by will 7 Goodes belonging to a church or hospitall can not be deuised 8 Goodes belonging to a citie boroughe or communaltie can not be deuised 9 Church goodes can not be deuised 10 Things which descend to the heire and not to the executor are not deuiseable by will 11 Whether the corne growinge vpon the grounde whereof a man is seased in right of his wife be deuiseable 12 Whether corne on the ground be deuiseable by the lessee the lessor being seased in right of his wife 13 Corne growing deuiseable by the tenaunt by the curtesie of England 14 Corne growing deuiseable by the tenaunt in dower 15 Whether corne growing on lande morgaged bee deuiseable 16 Whether corne growing maie be deuised by the testators daughter where a sonne and heire is afterwardes borne or wherein the mother dooth recouer her dower 17 The testator cannot bequeath that which is an other mans §. vj. FIrst a man can not giue or bequeath by wil any of those goods or catelles which he hath iointlie with an other for if he should bequeath his portion thereof to a third person this bequest is voide by the laws of this realme a) Perkins tit deuise fol. 101. Doct. Stud. lib. 1. c. 6. licet ius ciuile contrarium dictet L. cùm alienum C. de legatis and the suruiuor which had those goodes or cattelles iointlie with an other shal haue that portion so bequeathed notwithstanding the said will b) Hoc verum iure regni nostri Angliae Doct. Stud. lib. 2. c. 25. secùs iure ciuili vt latè per Olden de action class 4. action pro socio In so much that if the testator make the other iointenaunt his executor against the which executor an action is commenced in the ecclesiasticall courte in a cause of legacie neuerthelesse the executor is not to be adiudged to possesse the said goodes as executor or by right of the will but by the title and right of the suruiuor c) Doct. Stud. lib. 2. c. 25. and so the executor is to be dismissed and the will in that respect to be iudged voide d) Vide supr ead part §. 3. n. 8. Secondlie an administrator can not make a testament of those goods which he hath as administrator to anie person dying intestate e) Brook tit administrator n. 7. Fitzherb eod tit n. 3. because he hath not anie such goodes to his own proper vse f) Plowd in cas inter Bransby Grantham fol. 525. 526. but ought there withall to paie the debtes and legacies of the dead person and to distribute the rest if anie thing doe remaine in Godlie and charitable vses g) c ita quorundam de testam lib. 3. prouinci const Cant. stat Ed. 3. an 31. c. 11. and for that cause euerie administrator is accomptable to the ordinarie for such distribution of the goods of the deceased committed to his administration h) d. Stat. Ed. 3. an 31. c. 11. And albeit an executor of an executor maie administer the goodes of the former testator i) Stat. Ed. 3. an 31. c. 25. yet the executor of an administrator can not administer the goodes of the former deceased but a new administration is to be cōmitted by the ordinarie of all the goods vnadministred by the late administrator as if he had also died intestate any testamēt or assignatiō of an executor by him notwithstāding k) Brook Abridg. tit administ n. 7. Principall grounds fol. 61.
q) Infr. §. prox and what are the different effectes of euerie seuerall sorte or manner of appointing an executor r) Infr. ead part §. 4. After hovv manie sortes an Executor maie be made 1 An executor maie be appointed simplie or conditionallie from or vntill a time directlie or indirectlie vniuersallie or particularlie in the first degree second third c. and one alone maie be appointed executor or manie 2 After how manie sorts an executor maie bee made after so manie maie a legacie or deuise be giuen §. iij. AN †executor maie be appointed after diuers manners especiallie after these following First either simplie a) Infr. ead part §. 4. or conditionallie b) Infr. ead part §. 5. Secondlie either from a certaine time or to a certaine time c) Infr. ead part §. 17. Thirdlie either vniuersallie or particularlie d) Infr. ead part §. 18. Fourthlie either in the first degree or in the seconde degree or in the third degree or in the fourth c e) Infr. ead part §. 19. last of al either one maie be appointed sole executor or diuers maie be appointed executors together f) Infr. ead part §. 20. of which I meane to intreate seuerallie But by the waie I would haue the reader to obserue that †as an executor maie be made diuerslie so a legacie maie bee giuen or a deuise made accordinglie that is to saie simplie or coÌ„ditionallie from a time or for a time vniuersallie or particularlie in the first second or thirde degree c. and to one or manie which order of semblaunce or imitation if the diligent reader shall note which thing is verie easie to be performed for that which is said of the one maie also be said of the other in euerie respect almost sauinge where I haue noted the difference hee shall reape two benefites in one reading and case me of double labour Of a pure or simple assignation of an Executor 1 The cheefe pointes considerable about the simple assignation of an executor 2 What is a pure or simple assignation of an executor 3 Diuers examples of a simple appointment of an executor 4 Whether is hee vnderstood to be made executor to whoÌ„ the testator dooth giue all or the residue of his goodes 5 It is not alwaies needefull to expresse this word executor in making of an executor namelie when the testators meaning is knowen 6 Other examples of the former conclusion 7 The generall legatarie is not alwaies vnderstood to be executor 8 What if the words be indifferent either to make a testament or a codicill 9 An executor maie bee made either by the proper motion of the testator or at the interrogation of an other 10 The testator must haue a firme purpose of makinge his testament otherwise wordes are of no force 11 It skilleth not of wordes so that the meaninge appeare neither in what part of the testament the executor be appointed 12 Of the effect of a pure or simple nomination of an executor 13 Certaine cases wherein the mention of a condition dooth not make disposition conditionall 14 Whether impossible or vnhonest conditions doo make the disposition conditionall 15 Whether necessarie conditions make the disposition conditionall 16 Conditions referred to that which is paste or present are not properlie conditions 17 Conditions necessarilie vnderstoode doo not make the disposition condicionall 18 The application of that which hath beene spoken of the assignation of an executor to a legacie or deuise 19 Certaine cases of the deuise of landes wherein the meaning of the deuisour is preferred before the proprietie of wordes 20 The different effectes of a simple assignation of an executor and a simple legacie 21 A legatarie maie not of his owne authoritie take his legacie and what is the reason 22 What remedie a legatarie hath for the obtaining of his legacie 23 Certaine cases wherein the legtarie may of his own authoritie apprehend his legacie §. iiij COncerning †the pure and simple making of an executor I thought good to remember these points viz what it is in what forme of words it maie be made what is the effecte thereof finallie how a simple nomination of an executor and a simple legacie or deuise doo agree or differ A †simple nomination or appointinge of an executor is wheÌ„ the testator maketh his executor without anie condition a) §. haeres Instit de haered Instit Minsing ibidem Grass Thesaur com op §. legatum q. 43. n. 2. as if the †testator saie I make A.B. my executor or thus I institute A.B. my executor or thus I will that A.B. be my executor or thus I desire A.B. to bee my executor or thus A.B. shall be my executor or thus let A.B. be my executor b) L. quoniam indignum C. de testa DD. ibidem For the lawe regardeth not so much the wordes as the meaning of the testator c) d. L. quoniam Mantic de coniect. vlt. vol. lib. 4. tit 3. Grass Thesaur com op §. Institutio q. 14. And therefore if the testator saie I commit all my goodes to the disposition of A.B. it is in effect as if he say I make him my executor d) Cùm tibi de testa extr summa Rosella verb. testmÌ„ §. j. vers quibus verb. So it is if the testator saie I commit my soule and all my goodes to the handes or disposition of A.B. e) Io. de An. And. Barba in d. c. cùm tibi Brook Abridd tit executor n. 98. or I make A.B. Lord f) L. his verbis ff de haer Instit of all my goodes or I make my wife ladie of all my goods g) Bald. in d. L. his verb. or I leaue all my goodes to A.B. h) Gloss Bar. Bald. in d. L. his verbis Grass Thesaur com op Institutio q. 14. quem velim videas or I make A. B. legatarie of all my goodes i) Mantic. de coniect. vlt. vol. lib. 4. tit 3. n. 8. Bald. in L. id quod pauperibus C. de episcopis cler n. 1. verb. contrarium Or I leaue †the residue of all my goodes to A.B. k) Panor in c. Ranutius de testa ext n. 3. for in those cases he to whom all or the residue is bequeathed is thereby vnderstood to be made executor l) Rationem assignat Panor in d. c. Ranutius Quia inquit iuris imperiti nesciunt aptiùs loqui And this I suppose to bee true when it dooth sufficientlie appeare by other meanes also to be the meaning of the testator not to die intestate but that he to whoÌ„ all or the residue is bequeathed shold immediatelie by vertue of the will enter to all the testators goods and paying his debts and legacies retaine the residue to himselfe m) Quo câ—â—â— nihil reor interesse nâ—â—é testamétum solenne vel non solemne Nam quod quidam volunt verbum
not conuenient for then also the condition is reiected s) Mantic. Peckius vbi supra The seuenth limitation is when †by the condition the executor or legatarie is not to marrie without the counsell or aduise of another person t) Castrens Alex. in L. Turpia §. si Titiae de leg 1. ff Bar. in L. 1. §. si plures de exercit action ff Mantic. de coniect vlt. vol. lib. 11. tit 18. ◠10. as for example the testator dooth make thee his executor or giue thee an hundred pound if thou doo marrie with the counsell or aduise of his brother for if thou do marie without his counsell or aduise thou art excluded v) Mātic vbi supr Ay◠Grauet cōsil 1. Couar de sponsal 2. part c. 3. §. 8. n 3. Neuerthelesse in this case thou art not bound to follow his counsell or aduise but to request the same x) Paul de Castr consil 300. vol. 1. Felin in c. ex part de constit extr col 2. Grass Thesaur com op §. legatū q. 50. n. 11. licèt impressio in illo loco sit corrupta The eight limitation is this where †it is said before that the condition of marying with the consent good will and arbitrament of an other is voide so that the executor or legatarie to whom the condition is imposed is neither bound to obteine nor yet to craue the cōsent good will or arbitrament of that other yet the person on whom the condition is imposed cannot be executor nor get the legacie vnlesse he doo marrie y) Alex. Paul Castrens in d. L. turpia §. 1. ff de leg 1. for though he need not so much as to craue the consent or good will of any third person in this case seeing that part of the condition is vnlawfull yet must he marie ere he can pretende anie title to the executorship or legacie seeing that part of the condition is not vnlawfull z) Mantic. de coniect. vlt. vol. lib. 11. tit 18. n. 8. post Alex. Castrens in d §. 1. The ninth limitation is when †the prohibition of mariage is not made conditionallie by this worde If as I make thee my executor if thou doost not marrie but by other wordes or aduerbes of time as when the testator willeth that his daughter or wife shall bee executrix or haue the vse of his goods so long as she shall remaine vnmaried a) L. legatum ita est de an leg ff Peckius de testa coniug lib. 1. c. 24. The tenth limitation is when †the person on whom the condition is imposed is simplie charged to restore the thing bequeathed b) L. non dubium ff de leg 3. As for example the testator doth bequeath to thee an hundred pound if thou doo not marry and hee dooth will thee to restore the same to his sonne when he shall come to lawfull yeares In which case thou art by lawe to restore the same accordingly c) d. L. non dubium Mantic. de coniect. vlt. vol. lib. 11. tit 19. n. 4. Grass Thesaur com op §. legatum q. 50. neither is this limitation contrarie to the former ampliation of the rule for here thou art charged with restitution simplie there conditionally d) Mantic. d. tit 19. n. 4. Whether the condition forbidding alienation of goodes bequeathed be lawfull or vnlawfull 1 Prohibition of alienation is sometimes to be obserued as lawfull sometimes not 2 Prohibition apparelled with a cause is lawfull 3 Naked prohibition dooth not binde the executor or legatarie 4 Whether the feoffee may be prohibited to alienate 5 Whether the dower of landes in taile may prohibite alienation 6 As it is lawfull to prohibite alienation in fauoure of some persones so in disfauoure of others 7 Of those causes wherewith the prohibition is saide to be apparelled 8 In what cases the executor or legatarie may alienate the thing deuised notwithstanding the apparelled prohibition 9 Bond ought to be put in where there is a condition prohibiting alienation §. xiij THe †prohibition of the testator forbidding the executor or legatarie to alienate the goods bequeathed is somtimes to bee obserued as lawfull sometimes not The prohibition is then †lawfull and to be obserued when it is made in fauour of some other person who is to enioy the thing disposed after the executor or legatarie or when there is some speciall a) L. filiussamilias §. diui de leg 1. ff cause whereuppon this restraint is grounded The †condition is not of any force when it is without cause or not made in fauor of any other person saue onely of the executor or legatarie b) d. §. diui In which case they may renounce this fauour and alienate the thinge deuised notwithstāding such single prohibition which is rather said to be a counsell then a commaundement c) Ias in d. §. diui n. 1. For the lawe dooth deeme it an absurde matter that a man should bee lorde and owner of a thing and yet shoulde not at pleasure alienate the same d) Ias in d. §. diui n. 9. Doct. Stud. lib. 1. c. 24 In which point also I suppose that †the temporall lawes of this realme haue the same effect in landes which the lawes ecclesiasticall ciuill haue in goods And therefore if a feofment be made of lands in fee simple vpon the condition that the feoffee shall not alienate or put away the same this condition is voide because the feoffee is without any cause wholye restrained of that power which the lawe yeeldeth vnto him in such a case e) Brook Abridg. tit cōdition n. 135. Fitzherb tit condition n 4. Principall grounds fol. 28. Doct. Stud. lib. 1. c. 24. Litleton tit estates vpō conditions But when the prohibition hath a cause annexed or the same is made in fauour of some other person who is afterwardes to enioy the landes then this condition of not alienating the same is good and effectuall in the lawe as may appeare by the gifts of lande in taile For if †landes be giuen to a man and to the heires of his bodie lawfully begotten vppon condition that neither he nor his heires shall alienate the landes to any other person this condition is good and effectuall In which case if hee or his heires to whome the land is giuen alienate the same then the giuer or his heires may lawfully enter and retain the lands for euer f) Fitzherb Abridg. tit condition n. 4. Litletō tit estates vpon conditions fol. 77. And †as it is not lawfull to alienate from particular persons in whose fauour the prohibition is made no more is it lawfull to alienate to those particular persons in whose disfauour the prohibition is made g) Alex. in d. L. filiussamilias §. diui ff de leg 1. n. 1. In which case also concerning landes the lawes of this realme doo not differ from the ciuill and
descent fol. 108. But if shee were not apparantly with childe so that by possibilitie of nature it might be the child either of the former or the second husbaÌ„d for that perhapps she is deliuered within eight or nine monethes after the death of her former husbande yet not before the seuenth moneth next after her second mariage then the question is much more doubtful y) De qua Bar. Bald. Alex. Ias alij in L. Gallus ff de lib. posth Alciat de praesump reg 3. praesump 37. in fin wherein how manie heads so many wittes howe many men so many mindes and no man which hath not somewhat to say as wel for the defence of his owne opinion as for the confutation of the contrarie But I will not trouble you with their tedious disputations z) Si quis horum altercationes pugnas videre cupiat legat Ias in d. L. Gallus Iacob de Beluis in quadam disputatione quam habet in L. 1. de bon poss secundum Tabul I will briefly repeate their opinions touching this question Some therefore doo holde that the former husbande ought to bee iudged the father a) Multos in hac sententia stetisse refert Coras in annotac ad Arrestum quoddam Tholoss fol. 33. some that the seconde husbande b) Anto. Vacca in L. 7 ff de stat hom post Imol in d. L. Gallus Others that both c) Angel in L. duo de haered instituend ff and others againe that neither d) Iac. de Beluis in d. disputac is to bee deemed the father of the issue Some say that the mother is to bee credited e) Alciat d. praesump 37. n. 15. per L. etiam ff de probac. which of them is the father and some say that it is in the childe to elect and choose f) Alex. in d. L. Gallus n. 14. vers hoc tameÌ„ dictum cum eo consentit Berry Iusticiarius Angliae de quo Brook tit bastardie n. 18. in fin whether of them hee will for his father Others are of this minde that he shall bee deemed the father by whom the child may receiue the greater benefite g) Dec. in c. per tuas de probac. extra n. 2. vers 4. And others that he shal be the father vnto whom the childe is more like in fauour complexion and proportion of bodie h) Coras lib. 2. Miscel c. 22. Manie do leaue it to the discretion of the circumspect Iudge who is not tied to anie one opinion alone but according to the varietie and probabilitie of circumstances together with the aduise of Phisitians Midwiues especially such as bee skilfull in astrologie i) Apostil ad Alex. in d. L. Gallus vbi Astrologi longè praeponuÌ„tur medicis is to decide the controuersie (k) Bar. in d. L. Gallus cuius opinio verior crebrior tutior esse dicitur attento iure ciuili Ias in d. L. Gallus n. 72. Alex. in fin Finally by the lawes of this realme at least in cases of succession of lande it seemeth that the second husband shal be the father of this child l) Tract de repub Ang. lib. 3. c. 6. Termes of law verb. bastardy Kitchin tit discent fol. 108 because it being certaine that the childe is borne during the marying and cohabitation betwixt the second husband and the mother and vncertaine whether hee were begotten before it were verie harde and daungerous to adiudge him to bee another mans child rather then the second husbands who by possibilitie of nature may be his father m) Apostil ad Bar. in d. L. Gallus and to whom it is to be imputed that hee aduentured so soone vpon an other mans widow n) Anto. Vac in L. 7. de stat hom ff When the issue is both naturall and lawfull but †dieth before the father In this case the father is saide to die without issue o) L. ex facto §. si quis autem ff ad Trebel Bar. in L. haered eod tit Zas in L. in substitutione de vulg pupil sub Mantic. de coniect. vlt. vol. lib. 11. tit 6. n. 3. And therefore he that is made executor or to whom anie thing is bequeathed vppon condition if the testator die without issue may in this case bee admitted to the executorship or obtaine the legacy p) d. §. si quis autem for albeit the testator may be said to haue had issue yet can it not be denied but that he died without issu because at the time of his death he had no issue q) Bar. in d. L. haeredibê° Zas in d. L. in substitutione Mantic. in d. tit 6 Grass Thesau com op §. fideicommiss q 35. Indeede †if the testator make thee his executor or bequeath vnto thee a hundred pound vpon condition if he shall haue no issue then if the testator after the making of the will had issue although the same were not extant nor liuing at the time of the testators death it is sufficient to exclude thee from the executorship and legacie r) Iac. de Arc. Alberic de Rosa in d. L. ex facto §. pen. Mantic. de coniect. vlt. vol. lib. 11. tit 6. n. 5. vnlesse it do appeare that the testator did meane of hauing children at the time of the death s) Mantic. vbi supr Zas in d. L. in substitutione n. 15. which meaning is said to appeare sometimes by this word then t) L. si his §. si ita de cond demon ff Zas in d. L. in substitutione n 15. fol. 3. 0. as when the testator saith If I haue no issue then I will that A.B. bee my executor for this worde then is saide to signifie extremitie of time so that it is not sufficient that the testator had issue in the meane time v) d. §. si ita vnlesse euen then hee had issue when his testament shoulde tak effect which it can not doo so long as the testator liueth x) Mantic. post Bar. Alex. d. lib. 11. de coÌ„iec vlt. vol tit 6. n. 5. When †the childe is in the mothers wombe at such time as the father dieth If we would in this case knowe whether that man is to bee iudged to haue died without issue wee muste consider whether it bee for the benefite of the childe that the father shoulde bee accounted to haue died without issue or not For howsoeuer the rule be that he is not saide to die without issue whose wife is with childe at his death y) L. si quis praegnanteÌ„ de reg iur ff L. iubemê° Â§. si quis autem C. ad Trebel yet that rule ought to take place when it tendeth to the benefite of the childe z) L. qui in vtero ff de stat hom not when it tendeth to the preiudice of the childe or onely benefite of another a) d. L. qui in vtero Mantic. de coniect.
L. singulos de testa ff Minsing in d. §. sed cum paulatim Fourthly it is requisite that the testator doo with his owne hande write his name whom he will shall succeede and haue all his goodes and if he cannot write that then he name him before those witnesses e) L. iubemus L. cum antiquitas C. de testa Non tamen ita necessaria est nominatio haeredis vt proprio testatoris ore fiat quin sufficit si testator alio interrogante an velit talem fore haeredem Respondeat ita DD. in d. L. iubemus Grass Thesaur com op §. Institutio q. 17. Fiftly it is requisite that the witnesses bee such as are not forbidden to beare testimonie in that behalfe f) §. testes Instir de testa ordin Sixtly it is necessarie that the witnesses do see and behold the testator and not heare him onely g) Menoch de arbitr Iud. q. lib. 2. cent 5. cas 475. n. 23. Minsing in d. 5. sed cum paulatim It is also necessarie that the witnesses doo seale the testament either with their owne seales or with the seale of another h) d §. sed cum paulatim Finally it is necessarie that the testament be made at one time without any intermission except naturall such as cannot be auoided i) Eod. §. ibi Minsing A will thus †made is called a solemne testament which forme if men would obserue but no man is necessarily tied therevnto heere in England k) Supr part 1. §. 9. it were a more safe way aswell against the forging of false willes as suppressing of true willes Of the forme of an vnsolemne testament 1 What is requisite in the making of an vnsolemne testament §. xxiiij IN the †making of an vnsolemne testament it is not precisely necessarie to vse any of the foresaide ceremonies This onely is needfull heer with vs in England that the testator do appoint his executor and declare his will before two or three witnesses whose testimonie partly by the lawes ecclesiasticall a) C. cum esses c. relatum el. 1. de testa ext and especially by the generall custom of this realm b) Lindw in c. statutuÌ„ verb. probatis lib. 3. ê“uincial constit Cant. Tract de repub Angl. lib. 3. c. 7. Peckius in c. priuileg de reg iur 6. is sufficient for the probation and approbation of the same will concerning the appointing of an executor or the disposing of goods and cattels c) Atque huc tendit quod scriptum reliquit Minsing in Rub. de mil. test n. 6. videlicet apud eas gentes quae iuris ciuilis obseruatione non tenentur quarum Anglia est praecipua ius militarâ—s tesâ—â—menti obtinere si nulla ê“pria lex extet Of the forme of a vvritten testament 1 Diuers things considerable in a written testament 2 In what matter or stuffe the testamente is to bee written 3 In what language the testament is to be written 4 In what hand may the testament be written 5 VVith what notes or characters is a testament to be written 6 Limitations of the former conclusion 7 Of the words and sentences of a written will 8 Whether it be necessarie that there be witnesses in a written will 9 How the witnesses are to depose in proouing the will to be written by the testator 10 What if the testament bee founde in the testators Chist §. xxv WE haue heard elsewhere in what cases it is needefull that the testament bee written a) Supr 1. part §. 11. namely where the testator doth deuise any lands tenements or hereditaments b) Stat. H. 8. an 32. c. 1. and also when the same ought to be written that is to say in the life time of the testator c) Eodem stat with diuerse other questions there absolued Now †let vs heare of some other things which may seeme to appertaine to the forme of a written testament namely in what matter or stuffe the testament is to bee written in what language with what hand letters notes or characters with what wordes or sentences and whether it bee alwayes necessarie that there be witnesses of a written testament For the †matter wherein the testament is written the law regardeth not whether it bee paper or parchment or other like stuffe apt for writing d) §. nihil Instir de testa ordi Spec. de Instr edit §. 8. n. 21. Sed quid si quis scripserit voluntatem suam in puluere numquid valebit testamentum vt scriptum Et videtur quod sic per L. milites C. de testa Hoc vno subaudito nimirum nostratiuÌ„ testamenta omni immunitate atque adeo iure militari gaudere vt scriptum reliquit D. Smitheus Tract de repub Angl lib. 3. c. 7. Contrarium tamen scilicet non valere huiusmodi testmÌ„ tanquam in scriptis conditum existimo Saltem ad effectum illum de quo sit mentio in d. stat H. 8. an 32. c. 1. id quod ex mente illius statuti sacile colligere licet Et huc ê‘tinet quod scriptum reliquit Molin in L. 1. §. eod ff de verb. ob n. 9. Neither is it material in what †language e) Minsing in d. §. nihil the same be written either Latine French or anie other tongue For the †hande or letters wherewith the testament is written the lawe is indifferent whether it be Secretarie hand Roman hand Court hand or any other hand either faire or otherwise so that the same may bee read and vnderstoode f) DD. in L. quoniam C. de testa For the †notes or characters it skilleth not whether the same be vsuall or vnaccustomed g) Hoc intelligant Iustinianistae ê‘cedere iure gentium quo nos vtimur Nam iure ciuili testmÌ„ in scriptis fieri non potest per notas aut zypheras inusitatas vt teneÌ„t Bar. Bald. Angâ—l alij in L. quoties §. 1. ff de haered instituend praeterquam in casibus exceptis veluti in testamento militis ad pias causas c. de quibus Vasq de success creat lib. 2. §. 15. requisit 16. Tiraquel de priuileg piae causae c. 13. Grass Thesaur com op §. testmÌ„ q. 10. Vsuall or accustomed notes bee these xx s. for twentie shillings Cl. li. for an hundred and fiftie pounds 1590. for a thousande fiue hundred fourescore and ten with such like whereof I might bring infinite examples vnaccustomed notes and characters bee as when the testator dooth vse the figure 1 in stead of the letter A the figure 2 in steade of the letter B the figure 3 in stead of C c. or perhaps some other more straunge characters then these in place of letters Howbeit †if the characters bee such as the same cannot be read or vnderstood the testament is as if it were not written h) L. 1. ff si Tabul testa
executorship three questions maie bee demaunded First whether hee that is named executor in the testament may be compelled to vndertake the executorship or that it is in his power to refuse the same a) De hac Q. consulas Henr. Boic in c. tua nos de testa extr Panor in c. Iohannes eo tit Bar. in L. 1. de leg 2. ff Secondlie what is to be considered of him that is named executor whereby he maie be resolued whether it were better to accept or refuse the executorship b) Infr. §. prox Thirdly how long time he that is named executor hath to deliberate and determine of accepting or refusing the executorshippe c) Infr. ead part §. 4. To the first it maie bee answered that hee †that is named executor maie bee cited to appeare before the Ordinarie or other hauing authoritie to proue the will and there either to accept the executorship or at least to refuse the same d) Boic Panor Bar. vbi supra Plowd in casu inter Greisb Fox And in case †either he will not appeare or appearing †refuse to proue the testament the Ordinarie or other Iudge maie commit the administration of the goods of the deceased as if hee had died intestate e) Brook Abridg. tit adm̄str n. 32. tit exec n. 49. 102. stat H. 8. an 31. c. 5. and the administrators haue action and may administer the goods of the deceased as if he had died intestate and their authoritie or act done is good and effectuall in the lawe f) Brook vbi supra Plowd vbi supra in the meane time vntill the executors vndertake the executorship g) Bald. in L. de beri C. de fidei commiss liberta Plowd in d. cas inter Greisb Fox for then the Ordinarie maie reuoke the administration before by him committed h) Brook Abridg. tit adm̄str n. 33. quod facilitis procedit cum administratio commissa fuerit vt sēper solet saluo iure cuiuscunque c. But he †that is named executor cannot be precisely compelled to stand to the will and vndertake i) Panor in c. Io. de testa extr n. 3. Olden de exec vlt. volunt tit 7. in fin the executorship vnlesse †hee haue alreadie medled with goodes of the testator as executor for then he is not only to be cōpelled to performe the office of an executor k) Panor Olden vbi supr Boic in c. tua de te sta extr Plowd in cas inter Greisb Fox but also if he should refuse and the Ordinarie commit the administration vnto him this refusall is void and he shall be charged as executor l) Fitzh Abridg. tit execut n. 35. Moreouer albeit †the executor named who hath not medled with the administration of the goodes of the deceased cannot be precisely or absolutely compelled yet if anie legacie bee left vnto him in the testament he maie be compelled to stand to the executorshippe or else to loose the legacie so that he shall not reape the benefite if being duely admonished he refuse the burthen m) Quae positio locum vendicat etiamsi executor sit coniuncta persona vt habet communis opinio Gribald Thesaur com op verb. tutor Rom. consil 235. Adde Io. de Canib d. Tract de executore vbi plures enumerat huius regulae limitationes nempè quod non est compellendus quarum firmitatem quia suspectam habeo eas silētio praetereo What is to be considered of the executor desirous to be resolued whether it were better to accept or to refuse the executorship 1 Diuerse things to be considered of him which would be resolued whether it were better to accept or to refuse the executorship 2 The first thing to bee inquired in this case concerning the testator 3 Of the aucthoritie and charge of the executor 4 The executor may not medle with the landes tenements or hereditamēts of the testator but the heire 5 The heire hath not to deale with the goods and cattels of the testator but the executor 6 The testator may giue power to his executor to sel his landes for paiment of his debts or other purpose 7 What if some of the executors named do refuse whether may the rest sell the lands according to the testament 8 Whether the executor of him that had lands in see simple fee taile or for tearme of life maie recouer the rents fee fermes or other arrerages against the tenant which ought to haue paied the same in the life of the testator 9 The second thing to be required concerning the testator 10 Of the authoritie and charge of the executor of an executor 11 Whether diuerse being assigned executors whereof some be dead the executor of the executor deceased may bee ioined in action with the executor suruiuing 12 Of the aucthoritie and charge of the executor of an Administrator 13 What is to be considered about the last will of the testator 14 Whether the executor maie conuert the residue to his owne vse 15 Whether he that is named executor shall lease his legacie if he do refuse the executorship 16 What is to be considered in the person of the executor 17 What is to be considered in a wise executrix 18 What is to be considered in the person of the coexecutor 19 Whether one executor maie preiudice another 20 Whether one executor maie sue another 21 VVhether one of the executors maie alone sell the goodes of the testator 22 VVhether the coexecutor after refusall maie meddle as executor 23 VVhat is to bee considered in other persons with whom the executor is to deale §. iij. HE †that is desirous to be resolued whether it were better for him to vndertake the executorship or to refuse the same muste consider diuers things whereof some concerne the testator some concerne the executor him selfe and some concerne the persons of others a) Haec alia quae ab executore deliberante consideranda sunt tradunturà Io de Canib in Tract de executor vlt. vol. 2 part q. 1. cum seq Cui si place at adiungas Sichar in Rub. de iure de lib. C. Of those things which concerne the testator the first and principall thing to be regarded in this consultation is his substance or wealth First of all therefore †it behoueth him that is named executor to enquire diligently and to learne certainly if he can what goodes and cattelles did belong to the testator at the time of his death b) Sichard in d. Rub. de iure de lib. C. and what debtes were then due vnto him And on the contrarie what debts he the said testator did owe vnto other men c) Cuius rei vtilitas statim subijcitur For †as the executor may enter to all the goodes and cattels which did belong vnto the testator d) L cùm haeredes de acquir post L. haereditas de reg iur ff
Plowd in cas inter Greisb Fox and were in his possession at the time of his death e) Cagnol in L. in precibus C. de impub. alijs sub n. 278. and hath action against euerie debtor of his testator f) â—nstit de perpet temp action Terms of law verb. executor So shall euerie one to whom the testator was indebted haue action against the executor especially hauing an obligation or other specialtie so farre as the goods of the testator will extend g) L. fin sin de iure de lib. C. and so long as the executor hath assets in his hands h) Terms of Law verb. executor howbeit where anie debt is due to the testator this shall not charge the executor as assettes because it is a thing in action not in possession i) Brook Abridg. tit executor n. 112. which conclusion is very reasonable when as the executor hath vsed such diligence for the recouerie thereof that he cannot be iustly charged or woorthily blamed for not hauing the same in his owne hands k) c. sine câ—lpa de regiur 6. quod si per cum stâ—tit quo minus haâ—eat in eo casu est de iure ciuili et â—an ac si in manibus retineret L. iure ciuili ff de cond demon Peckius in c. cùm non stat de reg lib. 3. c. 6. 7. As †for landes tenements and hereditaments of the testator they shall descende to his heire and shall not come to the executor For by the lawes of this realme as †the heire hath not to deale with the goods and chattels of the deceased l) Doct. Stud. lib. 1. c. 7. c. 24 Idem lib. 2. c. 10. c. 12. termes of law verb. executor no more hath the executor to doo with his lands tenements and hereditaments m) Doct. Stud. vbi supra Tract de repub Angl. lib. 3. c. 6. 7. Albeit where lands be deuisable by wil wherof we haue spoken before n) Supr part 3. §. 1. cum sequentibus the †testator maie giue power and authoritie to his executor to sell the same landes either for the paiment of his debts or for some other purpose o) Perkins tit deuise fol 104. 105. and the sale made thereof by the said executor is good and lawfull p) Perkins eod loco insomuch that diuers persons being named executors by the testator though †part of the executors named in any such testameÌ„t of any such person making or declaring any such will of any landes tenemens or other hereditaments to be solde by his executors after the death of any such testator doo refuse to take vpon him or them the administration charge of the same testament and last wil wherein they be so named to be executors and the residue of the same executors doo accept and take vppon them the care and charge of the same testament and last will it is enacted by the statutes of this realme q) Stat. H. 8. an 21. c. 4. that then all bargaines and sales of such landes tenements and hereditaments so willed to bee solde by the executors of anie such testator as well before the making of that statute as after made or to be made by him or them onely of the same executors that so doth accept or hath accepted or takeÌ„ vpoÌ„ him or theÌ„ any such cure or administration of any such will and testament shall be as good and effectuall in lawe as if all the residue of the same executors named in the saide testament so refusing the administration of the same testament had ioined with him or them in making of the bargaine and sale of such landes tenements or other hereditaments so willed to be solde by the executors of any such testator which before that time had made or declared or that after should make or declare any will of any such landes tenements or other hereditaments after his decease to be solde by his executors as may appeare by the statute in that behalfe made Howbeit it is prouided that the said statute shal not extend to giue power and aucthoritie to anie executor or executors at anie time after to bargaine or to put to sale anie landes tenements and hereditaments by vertue and aucthoritie of anie will or testament made before the saide statute otherwise then they might doo by the course of the common lawe afore the making of the same Besides that supposing the case were such as the landes being deuisable the executors had power by testament to sell the same lande and to distribute the profits in pios vsus yet after the death of the testator the inheritaunce shall descende vnto the heire and shall remaine in him vntill the executor haue solde the same r) Perkins tit deuises fol. 104. 105. And if the executors themselues doo enter into the landes after which entrie some man offereth a summe of money or price of the same land and the executors refuse to take the money offered because the money offered is vnder the value of the lande and the executors intende to sell the same dearer and so keepe the lande in their owne handes by the space of one two or three yeares conuerting in the meane time the profites arising forth of the same land to their own proper vse In this case the heire of the testator deceased may enter to the landes and put out the executor s) Perkins vbi supra Brook Abridg. tit deuise n. 19. As †for rents due to the testator by the order of the common law of this realme t) Vide stat H. 8. an 32 c. 37. the executors or administrators of tenants in fee simple tenantes in fee taile and tenants for tearme of life of rent seruices rent charges rent secks and fee fermes haue no remedy to recouer such arrerages of the said rentes or fee fermes as were due vnto those testators in their liues nor yet the heires of any such testator nor any person hauing the reuersion of his estate after his decease may distraine or haue any lawfull action to leaue any such arrerages of rentes or fee fermes due vnto him in his life by reason wherof the tenantes of the demaine of such landes tenements or hereditaments out of the which such rents were due and paiable who of right ought to pay their rents fermes at such daies terms as they were due did many times keep holde and retaine such arrerages in their owne handes so that the executors and administrators of the persons to whom any such rents or fee ferms were due could not haue or come by the arrerages of the same towards the paiment of the debts and performance of the will of the said testator For remedie wherof it is enacted by the statutes of this realme as followeth viz. that the executors and administrators of euery such person or persons vnto whome anie such rents or fee fermes
haeredem defunctum pertinuit familiae herciscundâ—e actione L. si familiae hercis eod tit but the executor of the first testator suruiuing he alone shall haue action against the debtors of the first testator and he alone shall be conuented by them to whom the first testator was indebted and not both iointly together a) Brook Abridg. tit exec n. 99. for the executor of an executor hath not to deale with the goodes of the first testator in this case that is to say where there is an other executor of the first testator suruiuing in so much that where there bee two executors whereof one maketh an executor and dieth his coexecutor suruiuing which coexecutor afterwardes dieth intestate yet in this case the executor of the executor may not medle with the goodes of the first testator b) Brook Abrid tit execut n. 149. for so soone as the executor which made his testament died the other suruiuing his power was determined or finished by his death and all the power did remaine in the coexecutor suruiuing who afterwardes dying intestate it is in the power of the Ordinarie to commit the administration of the goodes of the first testator not administred to the next of kinne to the first testator and not to the executor of that executor which died first c) Brook d. n. 149. in tit admÌ„str n. 45. Much lesse may the executor of the executor meddle with the goods of the first testator wheÌ„ the coexecutor is yet liuing And if he doo the executor suruiuing maie haue action against him for such goodes as he hath of the first testator d) Brook tit exec n. 99. And besides that the creditors of the first testator may haue action against the executor of the executor in this case as executor of his owne wrong e) Brook eod n. 99. Moreouer it is to be noted that the executor of an executor cannot sell the lande of the first testator who by his testament gaue power to his executor to sell the same f) Brook tit exec n. 3. for after the death of that executor the power ceaseth vnlesse diuers being appointed executors some of them die or refuse to prooue the will for then the others suruiuing or accepting maie sell the same as is aforesaide If †the partie deceased to whome thou art executor were not executor to another but administrator onely thou art not to succeede in his place in the adminâ—stration of the goodes g) Fitzh Abridg. tit admÌ„str n 3. but a newe administration is to be graunted of the goodes not administred by the administrator to the next of kinne not of the administrator but of him that died first h) Fitzh vbi supr principall grounds fol. 61. pag. 2. There is yet †a further consideration to be had of some thinges which seeme to concerne the testator not to be neglected by the executor desirous to bee resolued whether it were better to accept or refuse the executorshippe namely the consideration of the last wil and testament of the deceased of the legacies and deuises therein giuen Wherein the executor is not onely to consider whether the testator hath giuen more then the deathes part doth extend vnto in which case what course is to bee followed is alreadie elsewhere prescribed i) Supr part 3. §. 17. but also in case †any thing do remaine the funeral debts legacies discharged the executor may not thinke to conuert the same to his owne proper vse k) Magna charta c. 18. c. statutum §. statuimus de testa lib. 3. prouincial constit Cant. Dominic à S. Gem. in c. religiosus de testam 6. n. 9. Doct. Stud. lib. 2. c. 10. circa medium nor any more of the testators goods then is giuen to him by the testator in his life time or by his will or which the ordinarie shall allowe him for his labour or in lieu of some debts due vnto him by the testator or due by the testator to some other person and discharged by the executor l) Text. in d §. statuimê° Dyer fol. 2. fol. 310. And †if after due admonition to him giuen he refuse the executorship or to performe the will he shall lose his legacie bequeathed vnto him by the same testator although hee were of kinne or allied vnto the same testator m) Rom. cons 207 235. cuius opinio communis est vt per eand cons 235. ê‘ Gribald Thesaur com op verb. tutor the reason is because he is deemed vnworthie the benefite that refuseth the burthen n) c. qui sentit de reg iur 6. Moreouer lâ—â—re the executor dooth what in him lieth to make the partie deceased to die intestate o) Gribald Thesaur com op verb. tutor But if the executor be not admonished to vndertake the office then being the testators kinsman or such a person to whom the testator woulde haue giuen the legacie though he did not performe the will he dooth not loose that legacie in not vndertaking the executorship p) Ias Alex. Sichard in L. si legatarius C. de leg neither shall the wife loose her thirds nor the children their filiall portions in refusing the executorshippe q) Auth hoc amplius C. de fidei commis Nouel de haered falcid §. si quis autem much lesse shall the creditour loose his debt due by the testator After the consideration of the estate of the testator he †that is named executor must also consider his own person in whom many things ought to concurre but chiefly it is requisite that he be prudent diligent and faithful r) Io. de Canib Tract de execut vlt. volunt â— particula q. 1. wherein if there bee anie defecte I meane if either he be ignorant negligent or vnfaithful he is verie like to finde the office verie troublesome peruaduenture also discommodious s) Io. de Cani vbi supr vnlesse there be certaine hope that being ignorant hee will vse the aduise of those that be skilfull and that of a negligent person he will become diligent easinge himselfe also of such businesse as might hinder the expedition of this office and that howsoeuer hee had behaued himselfe in other affaires vnfaithfully yet in this office hee will haue an honest care well and truely to discharge that trust committed vnto him alwaies hauing before his eies not onely the forfeiture of his bonde by his vnfaithfull dealing together with the ignominie by deceiuing the dead mans expectation but also the daunger of his soule by the breach of his othe for he must bee sworne to execute the will and to administer the goods well faithfully t) Hoc viridi obseruantia passim fit notorium maxime infra prouinciam Ebor. If †a wife during the couerture be named executrix there is this further to be coÌ„sidered in her person that she alone cannot sue for any debt due to
accept or refuse the executorship Of the office of an executor testamentarie vndertaking the executorship 1 Wherein the office of an executor doth principallie consist §. v. 1IT †appertaineth to the office of an executor testamentarie heere in England accepting the executorship amoÌ„gst other things a) De quibus consulas velim Io. de Canib Tract de executor vlt. vol. part 2. q. 1. n. 26. vbi decem enumerat executoris officio incumbentia to cause an inuentarie to be made b) Vt infr ead part §§ 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. to procure the will to be proued and approued c) Vt infr ead part §§ 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. to pay the testators debts and legacies d) Infra §. 16. and finally to make an account e) De quo infr ead pat §§ 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. Of diuers questions about the making of an inuentarie and first whether it be of necessitie that an Inuentarie be made 1 By the lawes ecclesiasticall of this realme and statutes of the same an inuentarie is necessarie 2 The executor which presumeth to administer the goodes and refuseth to make an inuentarie may be punished 3 The reason of this necessitie §. vi COncerning the making of an inuentarie it is expedient to vnderstand whether it bee simplie necessarie that an inuentarie be made what things are to be put into the inuentarie within what time the inuentarie is to bee made in what maner and what be the effects of an inuentarie That †an inuentarie is necessarie to be made by an executor testamentarie is euident as well by the lawes ecclesiasticall of this realme a) Legatin libertatem tit de executor testam c. statutum §. inhibemus lib. 3. prouincial constit Cant. coÌ„firmed by continual vse as also by the statutes b) Stat. H. 8. an 21. c. 5. of the same neither †ought the executor to meddle with the goods of the deceased before hee make an inuentarie c) d. §. inhibemus And if any executor refuse to make an inuentarie neuerthelesse presume to administer the goodes of the deceased he may be punished at the discretion of the Bishop or Ordinarie d) Legatin libertatem de executor testa The †reason is least the executor being disposed to deale vnfaithfully shoulde defraude the creditors or legataries by concealing the goods of the deceased e) Francis Porcellin Tract de inuentario q. 1. per §. sancimus de haered fal in Auth. What things are to be put into the inuentarie 1 All goodes cattels wares merchandizes moueable and immoueable are to be put into the inuentarie 2 Leases are to be put into the inuentarie 3 Corne on the grounde is to bee put into the inuentarie 4 Grasse or trees growing are not to bee put into the inuentarie 5 Whether such things as are affixed to the freeholde ought to be inuentaried 6 Whether debts are to be put into the inuentarie 7 Whether money due for land is to bee put into the inuentarie §. vij THe †things that are to be put into the inuentarie are all the goods cattels and rights which were the testators or did beloÌ„g or were due vnto him at the time of his death whether they bee moueable or immoueable corporal or vncorporall a) Francis Porcellin Tract de inuentar q 3. Pract. Petr. de Ferrar. de forma libelli quo agitu◠〈…〉 tationem Tutel Sichard i◠§. sin autem L. fin C. de iure de lib. n. 9. wherunto also agreeth the statutes of this realme wherby it is enacted that a true and perfect inuentarie be made of the goods cattels wares merchandizes as well moueable as not moueable whatsoeuer that were of the person deceased b) Stat. H. 8. an 21. c. 5. and therefore †leases ought not to be omitted foorth of the inuentarie c) Cattalla etâ—nim sunâ— realia Termes of law verb. chattels how many soeuer they be Likewise †emblemetes or corne growing vpon the ground ought to be put into the inuentarie seeing they belong to the executor d) Perkins tit deuise fol. 99. hanc opinionem longaeuus comprobanit vsus quicquid dicat Sichard post Angel in d. §. sin autem but †not the grasse or trees so growing which beloÌ„g to the heire e) Parkins vbi supra nor †things that are affixed to the tenement and are made parcell of the free holde such I meane as belong likewise to the heire and not to the executor f) L. accessorium de reg iur 6. huc facit L. caetera de leg 1. ff in princ The †debts due to the testator are to bee put into the inuentarie g) Gloss in L. chi ographus ff de admÌ„str tut Quod verum quidem est si existant instrumenta alià s non requiritur vt inscribantur donec recuperentur in manibus tractentur vt quae inteâ—im non rectè dicantur reperta Lindw in d. c. statutum §. inhibemus verb. bonis Pract. Ferrar. forma libelli ad reddendaÌ„ rationem tut §. in suo n. 13. Aequum tamen est vt aliqua fiat commemoratio huiusmodi creditorum vtut incertorum ne sublata penitus corum memoria decepti maneant defuncti creditores liberi legatarij vel alij interesse habentes in ea parte But the debts due by the testator they need not to be put into the inuentarie h) Lind. in d. c. statutuÌ„ Ferrar. vbi supra and if any such debts be put into the inuentarie the Ordinarie shall do well to make diligent examination whether the testator did owe any such for many times debtes are thrust into the inuentarie which are not due by the testator and so the legataries and children of the deceased are often defrauded at least of some part of their due by the vnfaithfulnesse of the executor and negligence of the Ordinarie or his officer Landes †tenements and hereditamentes with their appurtenances such I meane as doe not belong to the executor but descend to the heire are not to be put into the inuentarie Insomuch that if the testator will by his testament or last will that the same lands be solde In this case by the statutes of this realme neither shall the money thereof comming nor the profites of the saide landes for any time be accounted as any of the goodes or cattelles of the person deceased i) Stat. H. 8. an 21. c. 5. and consequently are not to be put into the inuentarie Within vvhat time the inuentarie is to be made 1 The time for making and exhibiting the inuentarie is left to the moderation of the ordinarie 2 The inuentarie ought to bee made before the executor meddle with the testators goodes except in some cases §. viij THe †time appointed for the making and exhibiting of the inuentarie by the lawes ecclesiasticall of this realm is left to the discretion and moderation of the Ordinarie
case namely when some speciall or certaine thing is bequeathed it is materiall whether the legacie be of lands tenements or hereditaments and so the question determinable in the temporall court according to the lawes temporall of this land are of goods and so the controuersie to be decided in the ecclesiasticall court according to the lawes ecclesiasticall of this realme If of lands tenements hereditamēts as when the testator for example doth in the former part of his wil deuise his lāds in such a place to one in fee and afterwards in the later part of the same will to another person in fee it seemeth by the lawes of this realm that the later part doth ouerthrow the former s) Plowd in cas inter Paramor Yardley fol. 541. And that as the later testament dooth destroy the former testament t) Eadē enim est ratio partis ad partem atque totius ad totum Euerard loc top à toto ad partem so the later part of a testament doth infringe the former part of the same testament when it is contrarie thereunto neuerthelesse I wil not presume to affirme that this conclusion is vndoubtedly certaine but with due submission surrender the same to be discussed by the learned in the lawes temporall vnto whom it rightly appertaineth If the deuise be of goods as when the testator dooth bequeath his signet his bookes or his horse c. First to one person and afterwards to another person then in case the second legacie be simple I meane without mention of the former the former legacie is not taken away but the two legataries concurring ought to diuide the legacie betwixt them v) Paul de Castro Ias Zas in L. si pluribus ff de leg 1. Ripa in L. re coniūcti n. 21. de leg 3. The reason and foundation whereupon this conclusion is builded is the testators constancie wherin the ciuill law dooth repose such confidence that whē he hath once bequeathed a thing he is not presumed to take the same away x) d. L. si pluribus verb. si quidem euidentissimè without euident presumption y) Raph. Cum. in d. L. si pluribus ibi Ias n. 12. 13. zas n. 14. qui omnes tenent sufficere coniecturalem probationem non obstante quod Textus exigat euidentissimam Quin imo probatio vel ex coniecturis emergens dicitur euidentissima in translatione legatorum Ias vbi supra post Bar. in L. si constante ff sol ma. n. 12. of the alteration of his former resolution Insomuch that if one and the same thing be left to one person in the testament and to another in the codicill yet is not the testator presumed so variable as vtterly to take away the former legacie but rather that both the legataries are to concurre and so to diuide the legacie betwixt them z) Bald. in L. cohaeredi §. cohaeres in fin de vulg pup sub ff Alex consil 169. vol. 5. Mantic. de coniect. vlt. vol. lib. 12. tit 2. n. 3. Where it is said that as the later testament doth destroy the former testament so likewise the later part of the testament dooth ouerthrow the former part thereof That is true when it is euident that the testator did meane it should be so a) d. L. si pluribus ibi DD. Mantic. de coniec vlt. vol. lib. 12. tit 2. n. 3. in fin But if it be doubtfull then without all doubt we ought to labour diligently to saue the testament from cōtradiction b) Mantic. de coniect. vlt. vol. lib. 3. tit 5. in fin Socin Iun. consil 125. vol. 1. n. 5. and not suffer one part to fight and brawle with another much lesse to permit one part to kill and destroy another in case there be any place for peace or hope of reconciliation to be had betwixt them Againe the argument is not of equall force à parte ad partem with the argumēt à toto ad totum in case there be inequalitie or diuersitie of reason betwixt the one and the other c) Euerard d. loco à toto ad partem n. 7. post Cyn. alios legû interpretes in L. cum notissimi §. in his C. de praescrip 30. ann as in this case For say that such is the force of posterioritie in testaments that the later dooth still destroy the former d) §. posteriore Instit quib mod testam infirm without any other reuocation e) Viglius Minsing in d. §. posteriore Say and thinke that the life of the later testament is euermore the death of the former testament euen because it is the later f) Grass Thesaur com op §. testm̄ q. 860. in prin supra eadem part §. 14. yet how can it be thereby iustified that the later part of a testament dooth destroy the former part whereas neither part doth receiue any life before the other g) Bar. in L. si quis ff de testa L. ex ea scriptura eod tit for vntill the whole testament be completed the partes thereof are as the sencelesse partes of an vnperfect creature or confused embrio h) d L ex ea scriptura Imo inquit Textus testamentum imperfectum est sine dubio nullum §. pen. Instit quib mod testa infir and doo receiue their life altogether at one instant namely when the testator hauing finished his testament dooth approue the same for his last wil and not before i) Iul. Clat. §. testm̄ q. 7. in fin Like as they do receiue their strength all at one moment namely at the death of the testator and not before at which time the foresaid Embrio being now growen to a perfect childe is then brought into the world when the testator doth depart out of the world k) Chrof Porcus in §. in extraneis Instit de haer qual different c. Marth de celebr miss extra If the second bequest be qualified with mentiō of the former for example the testator saith my signet which I bequeathed to A.B. I bequeath to C. D. whether in this case the former legacie be quite taken away or in part is a question wherin the writers do greatly vary l) Id quod patet per Mantic. de coniect. vlt. vol. lib. 12. tit 4 per Couar in Rub. de testa extra part 2. per Grass Thesaur com op §. legatum q. 8. per Vasq de success progress lib 3. §. 23. n. 96. c. per Doctores in L. plane L. si pluribus ff de leg 1. but the greater nūber incline to this opinion that the former legacie is not wholy taken away but that they are both ioint legataries m) Bar. in L. re coniuncti ff de leg 3. cuius opinionem frequentiori calculo receptam monstrat nobis Mantic. de coniect. vlt. vol. lib. 12. tit 4. n. 1. et refert Grass Thesaur com op §.
no lesse profitable for this common wealth then it is vsuall to die Neuerthelesse because it more tendeth to the aduauncement of thy commendation to bee intreated then perswaded and more fitte for mine owne safetie to craue with humilitie then proudly to chalenge that which may be denied reiecting therfore these foresaid reasons I do wholy submit my selfe vnto thy courtesie beseeching thee to vse me friendly and either to pardon freely or to admonish charitablie so shall I haue iust cause to commend thy vertue and gladlie amend any fault committed H. S. Whereas there be sundrie escapes in the print I haue for thy ease caused those of greater consequence to be amended with a penne the rest I shal desire thy selfe to amend or to sustaine without griefe AN ALPHABETICALL TABLE of the particular contents of this treatise wherin is relation to the leafe A ACcount wherefore exacted of the executor fol. 232 Account whether it may be released by the testator 233 Account to bee made to the ordinarie 233 Account whether it is to bee made to the creditors or legataries 234 Account whether it is to bee made to the coexecutors 234 Account when it is to be made 234 Account generall and particular 234 In the Account what proofe is requisite 234 By accusing the testament of falsitie the legatarie doth loose his legacie 288 Ademption of legacies what it is 277 Ademption of legacies two fold 277 Ademption of legacies not presumed 278 Administrators to bee accountable to the ordinarie 92 Administration of the testators goodes to whom it is to be committed the condition of the executorship depending vnaccomplished 169 Administration of the testators goods may be committed to the ordinarie vntill the executorship take place after it is ended 171 Affirmatiue conditions about mariage are not reiected but in some cases 152 Affirmatiue conditions of marrying somtimes harder then the negatiue part 152 Age of testators wherein they may deuise their lands 35 Age of testators wherein they may deuise their goods 35 After the Age of fourteene yeeres a boy and after twelue a woman may make their testamentes of their goods 35 Age how old soeuer dooth not depriue a man of libertie to make his testament 42 Alienation of pupils goodes by the tutor whether it be good or not 102 Alienation of the things bequeathed whether it may be prohibited or no. 154 Alienation of the thinges bequeathed sometimes lawfull notwithstanding the testators prohibition 155 By Alienation of the thing bequeathed whether the legacie be extinguished 285 Alteration of the testators state whether it make voide the testament 272 Alter his will the testator may at any time 277 Ambiguitie what it is and how it may be auoyded 192 Analogie betwixt a testament and a iudiciall sentence 9 Animus testandi howe it is prooued 8 An Apostata cannot make a testament 55 Apostata worse then an heretike 55 Apostata what he is 55 Euery Apostata is not intestable 56 An Apostata cannot bee executor 197 Armed souldiers 26 Of Armed souldiers whether euerie one be equally priuiledged 27 Arguments of madnesse 38 Arbitrarie conditions accounted for accomplished when the let is not in the partie 132 Arbitrary conditions not accounted for accomplished wheÌ„ it doth stande by the partie 132 Arbitrarie conditions wheÌ„ the same must be performed no time being expressed by the testator 157 Arbitrarie conditions in what compasse of time it ought to bee performed after the testators death 158 Ascripâ—itius glebae 44 The authoritie and charge of an executor 209 The Authoritie charge of the executor of an executor 213 The Authoritie and charge of the executor of an administrator 214 Authoritie of the executor testameÌ„tarie in distributing to the poore 251 The Authoritie of a tutor 101 The Auncient forme of making inuentaries 220 B Of Bastards there bee three sortes 198 Bastards begotten in incest or adulterie whether they be capable of any testamentarie benefite 198 Bastards by whom they are to bee nourished by the lawes of this realme 200 Bastards how farre they be capable of any benefite by the lawes of this realme 200 Of Bastards begotten betwixt single persons 201 Benefite by the ministers of Gods worde 27 Benefite by the studie and practise of law 27 A Blind man may make a nuncupatiue testament 52 A Blind man whether he may make a written testament 52 Boasting words do not bind or dispose 8 The Bonde called Mutiana cautio whence it had the name 138 Bonde ought to bee put in where there is prohibition of alienation 155 A Bondslaue cannot make a testament 43 Bondmen as well as free may be executors 196 Burgage landes deuisable by will 71 Burgage lands to whom and after what maner are they deuisable 71 Burgage lands whether they be deuisable by any other but a citizen 71 Burgage tenure is a kinde of tenure in soccage 71 Burgage lands being deuised whether liuerie or seisin bee needfull 72 C Cancelling of a testament ad pias causas is presumed to be done vnaduisedly 31 By Cancellation the force of the testament is ouerthrowne 270 By Cancellation whether a nuncupatiue testameÌ„t lose his force 270 Cancelling of a testament somtimes is not hurtfull to the testameÌ„t 271 Cancelling of the testament to whom it is to be imputed when it is vnknowne who did it 271 By Cancelling the testament the legatarie doth loose his legacie 288 A Captiue during his captiuitie can not make a testament 45 If the Captiue escape whether the testament made during captiuitie be good or not 45 Captiuitie doth not make voide the testament made before 45 Captious conditions wherfore they be so tearmed 146 That Captious dispositions are void this position is diuersly extended 146 Captious conditions do not alwaies make void the disposition 147 Casuall conditions not accounted for accomplished before the euent 133 Casuall conditions sometime reputed for accomplished albeit the same be not indeed performed 133 Casuall and mixt conditions whether the same may be performed before the making of the will 157 A Casuall condition may be accomplished at any time 157 No Cautell can take away the libertie of making a testament 61 Children whose father or mother is in bondage whether they be free or bond 43 The childe begotten before mariage shal be the husbands though another got it 162 The Child begotten during mariage is deemed to be the husbandes though another man had to doo with the wife 162 The Child sometime like to the husband being begotten by the adulterer what is the reason 163 The Childe begotten during mariage in some cases is not adiudged the husbands 164 The Child whether shall it bee deemed the former or later husbaÌ„ds when it is vncertaine whether of them did beget the same 165 If the Child be heard to crie the father shall be tenant by the courtesie 167 The Child if it were not heard to crie whether shall the father bee tenant by the curtesie 167 The Childe in the mothers wombe being made
make a testament 53 Infants as well as others of full age may be made executors 196 Infanitie of minde see Madnes Intestable actiuely by occasion of any crime is intestable also passiuely 203 Inuentary to be made by the tutor 101 An Inuentarie being made the executor need not to pay any legatarie his whole legacie where there is not sufficient to pay the rest 107 No Inuentary being made how far the executor is bounde to pay legacies 108 Inuentary necessary 217 Inuentarie wherefore necessarie 217 In the Inuentary what things are to be put 218 Inuentarie to bee made before the executor meddle with the testators goods 219 Inuentary indented 219 Ioyntenāt whether he may bequeath his part of Burgage land 71 Whos 's Issue is naturall not lawfull whether he is said to die without issue 161 Whos 's Issue is lawfull not naturall whether he be said to die without issue 261 The Issue whether it is the former or second husbands when it is doubted which of them did beget the same 165 Issue whether shall he be deemed to haue who had children but not at his death 166 Issue whether shall he be deemed to haue whose childe is vnborne when he dieth 167 The Issue if it die so soone as it is borne whether shall the father be deemed to haue died without issue 167 If the Issue be borne dead or die as it is borne whether shall the father be sayde to haue had Issue folio 168 This word Iust hath diuers significations 5 Iust opposed to that which is wicked 5 Iust taken for full and perfect 6 Iust what it signifieth in the definition of a codicill 12 K Hee that Killeth himselfe is intestable 58 Kin if the testator make his Kin executor which of his kin is to bee admitted 252 Many kindes of testaments 16 Two Kinds of iudiciall sentences 9 Diuers Kindes of legacies now confounded 15 Three Kindes of giftes in regarde of death 16 Diuers Kindes of priuiledged testaments 25 Three Kinds of Apostasie 55 Two Kindes of Ecclesiasticall persons regular and secular 64 Diuers Kinds of conditions 121 Diuers Kinds of Bastards 198 Diuers kinds of executors 205 Diuers Kindes of executors testamentarie 207 A King whether by his testament he may bestowe his kingdome at his pleasure 66 Knowne or vnknowne persons may be made executors 196 L Landes not deuisable without writing 23 Lands at what age they may be deuised 35 Lands are not deuisable but in certaine cases 70 Lands holden in gauel kind deuisable 70 Landes holden in burgage tenure deuisable 17 Lands deuisable to certaine vses 72 Lands in what cases they may be deuised by the lawes of this realm 77 Lands deuised alienated and redeemed whether the same may bee recouered 280 Last will is a generall worde 3 Last will how it is defined 11 Later testament doth infringe the former 263 By the lawes Ciuill and Canon a King can not giue away his kingdome 67 Whether by the lawes of this realm a King may giue away his kingdome 67 Leases are to be put into the inuentarie 218 Legacies bequeathed by him which dieth intestate by whom they are to be paied 13 Legacie what it is 14 Legacies proceede of liberalitie 14 Legacies payable as well by an administrator as by an executor 15 Legacies are to be payed out of the cleare goods 104 Which legacie is firste to bee paied whē there is not sufficient goods to pay euery legacie wholie 107 A Legacie may be giuen to or from a certain time or to or from an vncertaine time 172 The Legacie is not transmissible which is giuen from an vncertaine time 172 The Legacie whether it bee transmissible the vncertaintie being about the question whether not this question when 172 The Legacie is not transmissible if the question bee onely when not whether 173 The Legacie whether it be transmissible which is giuen after a certaine age 173 The Legacie sometimes transmissible albeit the age be ioined to the substance of the legacie 173 A Legacie being left to a bastarde whether the same bee presumed to bee left for his alimentation 202 A Legacie of wine or corne no quātitie being expressed whether the same be void 255 Legacie due though the executor cannot or will not vndertake the executorship 276 The legacie if it be referred to a certaine day whether it begin to be due at the death of the testator 291 The Legacie is extinguished if the thing bequeathed doo perish 292 The Legacie is not extinguished if the thing bequeathed do perish by the negligence of the executor 292 The Legacie which is generall or doth consist in quantitie cannot perish 293 The Legacie whether it be extinguished if the thing bequeathed be not destroied but the forme onely altered 293 The Legatarie may not take his Legacie of his owne authoritie 15. A Legatarie may not of his owne authoritie take his legacie and what is the reason 119 Legataries what remedie they haue for the obteining of their legacies 119 The Legatarie may sometimes take his legacie of his owne authoritie 119 A Legatarie whether hee may bee a witnesse 187 Legatarie ought to bee capable of the legacie at the testators death 276 Legataries by what meanes they may be made incapable of their legacies 286 A Legatarie whether he loose his legacie by reason of enimitie betwixt him and the testator 286 The Legatarie looseth his legacie by accusing the testament of falsitie 288 The Legatarie looseth his legacie by cancelling the testament 288 The Legatarie whether he loose his legacie by entring to the possession without authoritie 288 The Legatarie if he die at the same instant when the testator dieth whether the legacie be lost 289 A Libeller cannot make a testament 58 A libeller cannot bee executor 203 Licence of the husbande maketh good the wiues testament 47 Licence of the husband whether it must go before or may concurre or follow the wiues testament 48 Licence granted by the husband to the wife whether when it may be reuoked 48 M Mad folks cannot make their testaments 36 Madnes being past whether the testament be good 36 A mad man may make his testamēt betwixt his sits 37 Madnes to be proued by him which obiecteth the same 37 Madnes before the making of the testament whether it be presumed to continue 37 Madnes hard to be proued 38 Madnes how it may be proued 38 Madnes whether it may be proued by singular witnesse 38 Madnes whether it may be proued when the witnesses yeelde a generall reason of their knowledge 38 A Manifest vsurer cannot make a testament 56 A Manifest vsurer not to be buried in any Church or Churchyarde 57 Many being appointed executors whether one may be admitted without the rest 181 Manifest vsurers incapable of testamentarie benefite 203 Many things to bee considered of him that would be resolued whether it were better to accept or refuse the executorshippe folio 209 Mariage though it be vnsolemne yet it is a true mariage 20 Mariages