against the possessor of them to bring them into the same Court. And so the King shall haue the benefite of an action of trespasse Forfeiture of a trespasse which the partie attainted might haue had against the other for those goodes wrongfully taken or holden away But if he that was attainted were beaten or mayhemed by another the King shall not haue an action of trespasse of battery 29. As p. 63 30. Ed. 3. 4 appeale of mayheme or other remedy against that partie which did the foresaid iniurie to the person attainted for that the money to be recouered by the action of trespasse is reduced to no certaintie And if money be owing to a man by obligation or simple contract Forfeiture of a debt and after he to whome the money is payable is attainted of treason or felonie Fi. Cor. 343. that obligation and duetie shall be forfeited to the King And if one man or more be bound by obligation to two men or more for the paiment of a summe of money or any other dutie Ioynt debt forfeited and one of the Obligées is outlawed or attainted of treason or felonie the King shall haue the whole Obligation and the money or dutie arising or payable thereby 19. H. 6. 47. 28. H. 8. Dy. 30. and the King or he to whom the King will giue the same debt shall haue an action in his owne name to recouer it which action shall bée maintainable though there be variance betweene the action and the specialtie 50. As p. 5 28. Ed. 3. 92 And in like sort if a man be Receiuer to another of his money An account forfeited and hee to whom he is receiuer be attainted of Treason or Felonie after office found thereof the King may haue a Scire facias against the Receiuer to receiue this money and by that meanes the King shall haue the benefit of the action of account which the partie attainted might haue had Forfeitiâ—g of an interest And in some cases an offendor in treason or felonie shall forfeit an interest in lands whereof he himselfe neuer had or could haue possession but an authoritie to dispose As if hée that hath the reuersion of lands in fée simple whereof another hath the possession for the terme of yeares 14. El. Dy. 309 doth graunt and assure this land to others to the vse of himselfe for terme of his life and after his decease to the vse of the Executors and Assignes of the grauntor for the terme of twentie yeares next after the death of the grauntor the remainder ouer in taile and after the grantor is attainted of treason by Act of Parliament and all his lands tenements goods and cattels which he had to his owne proper vse were forfeited to the King and vested in his actuall possession without office and the grauntor died intestate without assignement of this lease In this case the King shall haue this terme of twentie yeares as forfeit to him for it was an interest in the grauntor and did and might well remaine in him in expectancie notwithstanding his estate for the terme of his life and if the grauntors executors should haue had this lease they must not haue enioyed it to their owne vse but as assets in their hands And though the King shall haue such goods The King shall not pay the attainted persons debts debts money due vpon accounts and interest in lands as were due to the partie attainted of treason Fi. Cor. 317 334. or felonie yet he shall not pay such debts as the said person attainted did owe. 11 As in the cases aforesaid and some others a person attainted may forfeit goods debts and rights whereof he hath no possession but onely an action or title so in some other cases hee may forfeit goods whereof he hath no propertie but onely a possession As if a man deliuer money out of a bagge Forfeiting of goods wherein the offendor hath no propertie or corne out of a sacke to another to kéepe and to restore againe when the owner will require it if the partie to whom the money or corne was deliuered be attainted of Treason or felonie the money or corne shal be forfeited to the King and the partie who deliuered the same hath no remedie to recouer it for the first owner who deliuered it cannot prooue that it was his money when it was out of a bagge or that it was his corne when it was out of a sacke for that one sort of money cannot be knowne from another nor one sort of corne from another Fi. Cor. 317 3â—3 But if the money were deliuered in a bagge or the corne in a sacke then the owner that deliuered it may come vnto the Iustices before whom the offendor is attainted and shewe the deliuerie of it and signifie that it was to be restored vpon his request whereof the Iustices shal enquire by an Enquest of office and if his suggestion be found to bée true hee shall haue his money or corne againe But if the money or other thing deliuered by the owner be conuerted to another commoditie then the law is otherwise as if a man deliuer money to another to buy wooll or some such other commoditie and to worke it lay it vp or to kéepe it in his house Fitz. Cor. 334. and the partie to whom the money is deliuered doth buy wooll or c. and bringeth it to his owne house and then is attainted of Treason or Felonie the King shall haue the wooll or c. as forfeit and the partie who deliuered the mony is without remedie to recouer his money or the wooll or c. for though hée might haue had an action of Account against the partie to whom hee deliuered his money if he had liued and remained vnattainted yet hée shall haue no action or remedie against the King Forf for default of pursuit 12 If a man doe steale goods at diuers times from seuerall men and he is attainted at the suit of one of them for the goods stolne from him 44. E. 3. 44. but is not attainted at the suit of the others by this attainder the felon shall forfeit to the King not onely his owne goods but also the goods stolne from those other at whose suit hée was not attainted though hee had no propertie but only a possession in those goods for a felon hath no propertie in goods stolne A felon hath no property in goods stolne but it doth alwayes remaine in the right owner which propertie in this case for default of pursuing the felon is forfeited to the King Forf of other mens goods his owne 13 In like sort if a man doe steale goods from another Fi. Cor. 318 and before his attainder hée doth kill himselfe hée shall forfeit to the King not onely his owne goods but also the goods which hée did steale from that other though hée had no propertie but
leases for the terme of his owne or another persons life of lands T. for life And because tenant in taile is in diuers respects but tenant for the terme of his owne life T. in tayle of his lands intailed therefore if he commit Petit Treason or Felonie he shall forfeit his said intailed lands but for terme of his owne life And he that hath land in another right shal forfeit for high Treason petit Treason Murder or other felony no longer or greater estate than he hath in the same lands as a man seised in the right of his wife of laÌ„ds T. in the right of his wife or church or in the right of his church Fitz. Forf 13. shal forfeit no further estate in the same lands but during his owne estate therein as it doth appeare not onely by the rules of the common lawes but the same is also confirmed by the Statute of 5. Ed. 6. 11. hereafter rehearsed The forf of lands in tayle 26 By the common law Tenant in tayle beeing attainted of high Treason should haue forfeited the lands whereof hée was so seised of an estate in tayle but onely for the terme of his owne life and the same after his death should haue discended to his heire But now by the Statute made Anno 26. H. 8. and Anno 5. Ed. 6. St. 26. H. 8. 16. St. 5. E. 6. 11 it is ordained That euerie offendor and offendors being hereafter lawfully conuict of any manner of high Treason by presentment confession verdict or Proces of Outlawrie according to the due course and custome of the lawes of this Realme shall loose and forfeit to the King his heires and successors all such lands tenements and hereditaments which any such offendor or offendors shal haue of any estate of inheritance in his own right in vse or possession by any right title or meanes within this realme of England or elsewhere within any the Kings dominions at the time of any such Treasons committed or at any time after 16. El. Dyer 332. As if the King giue land to the husband and wife and the heires males of their two bodies lawfully begotten the remainder thereof to the heires males of the body of the husband lawfully begotten reseruing the reuersion to himselfe and the husband and wife haue issue a sonne and the husband committeth high Treason is attainted thereof and executed and this attainder is confirmed by Act of Parliament and all the offendors lands bée giuen to the King Sauing to all Straungers their right other than to the Donor in Tayle and his heirs In this case after the death of the wife the King shall haue the land for that by reason of the fathers attainder of Treason the estate Taile was forfeyted and extinguished by force of the sayd Statutes of Anno 26. H. 8. and Anno 5. Edw. 6. and the bloud corrupt An estate taile forfeited and extinguished and the heirs disabled for that in his lineall conueyance of his discent to the land hée must deriue himselfe heire as well to his father as to his mother Br. Done 61 Co. li. 1. 103 And in like sort if a man seised of lands in fée simple maketh a feoffement thereof to certaine persons to the vse of his wife for the terme of her life the remainder thereof to the vse of the heires of his owne bodie lawfully begotten after the feoffor hath issue a sonne and is attainted of high Treason and executed In this case his sonne shall not inherit this land as heire to his father whose bloud was corrupt by his attainder but the land shall be forfeited to the King by the foresayd Statute of 26. H. 8. And as tenant in taile by committing of high Treason shall by force of the foresayd Statutes of 26. H. 8. 5. Ed. 6. forfeit those lands wherof he hath the possession reuersion or remainder in tayle so shall hée likewise forfeit to the King by committing of high Treason those lands whereunto hée hath but a right in taile Pl. Com. 547. As if the King giue lands to a man Forf of a right in tayle and to the heires males of his bodie lawfully begotten reseruing the reuersion to himselfe and the tenant in tayle hath issue a sonne and dyeth and the sonne doth enter and make a feoffement in fée to a stranger of the same land and then hath issue a sonne and committeth high Treason and is attainted thereof this land shall bée forfeited to the King for by this feoffement made by tenant in tayle to a straunger there passed none other estate from the same tenant in tayle but only an estate for the terme of his owne life and so the tayle and the right of the tayle remained in the tenant in tayle and by his attainder the estate in tayle is extinguished in the Kings reuersion in fée simple And the King shall bee sayd rather to haue this land reuerted vnto him as if all the issue of tenant in tayle were dead than by forfeiture for the words of the Statute of 26. H. 8. be All persons attainted of Treason shall loose and forfeit to the King his heires and successors all lands and tenements which such offendor shall haue of any estate of inheritance at the time of the Treason committed or at any time after Sauing to all others and their heires other than the offendors in Treason their heires and successors all their rights and possessions c. which they had at the day of the Treason committed or after And by these generall words That they shall loose and forfeit all lands and tenements which they haue of any estate of inheritance and by excluding the heire in the Sauing lands tayled shall bée forfeited and the lands in this case cannot be aptly termed to be forfeited to the King and his heires where hée had the fée simple before but are rather to be sayd reuerted to the King the tenant in tayle dying without any issue which by his attainder of Treason and the corruption of his blood Co. li. 7. 33. could inherit this land And if the King by his letters Patents vnder the great Seale doe create an Earle Forf of name or title of dignitie intailed and giue him the title and honour of an Earledome to him and the heires males of his body begotten and the grantée hath issue two sonnes by seuerall women and then dyeth and his eldest sonne doth enioy the same Earledome and after committeth Treason by leuying of warre in the Realme against the King and is attainted thereof and then dyeth without issue of his bodie begotten by this attainder the same shal be forf to the K. and not discend to the brother of the half blood nor to his heirs for this Earldom and name of dignity may be intailed according to the stat of W. 2. St. 13. E. 1. 1 De donis conditionalibê° for that it concerneth land must
condemned and which be fugitiue wheresoeuer they bée found And if they haue any freehold it shall bée forthwith seised into the Kings hands and the King shall haue the profits thereof by the space of a yeare and a day and the land shall bée wasted and destroyed in the houses woods and gardens and in all things belonging to the same except men of certaine places priuiledged And after the King hath had the yeare day and wast the land shall bée restored to the chiefe Lord of the same fee vnlesse that before he redéeme the same yeare day and wast of the King by the paiment of a fine But there is a custome in the Countie of Glocester that after a yeare and a day the lands and tenements of Felons in that Shire shall reuert and be restored to the next heire to whom they ought to haue discended if the felonie had not béene committed And in Kent in Gauelkind the father to the bough the sonne to the plough there all the heires males shall diuide their inheritance and likewise women but women shall not make partition with men 33 By force of which stat of Praerogatiua Regis The yere day and wast of lands of what title shal be forfeited euer sithence that time the King hath had all the thrée things aforesaid viz. the yeare the day and the wast of the lands of him which was attainted of felonie as one of the prerogatiues annexed to the Crowne in all cases where the felon had such an estate in his land Bracton de Corona cap. 13. that he might forfeit the same after his death and that hee himselfe might lawfully haue made wast in the same without being impeached therefore And therefore if the felon be but tenant for the terme of life or for the terme of yeares of lands the king shall not haue the yeare day and wast of them after the felons death for then he might wast another mans inheritance But if a man that is seised of lands in the right of his wife do commit felonie and is attainted thereof the king shall haue the profits of the land during the husbands life if the wife doe liue so long Fitz. Cor. 327. And some doe affirme that the king shall haue the yeare day and wast of the said wiues lands after the felons death because the felon during his life might haue committed wast therein and for that the felon had such an estate in his wiues lands that by the common law he might in his life haue made alienation of them and driuen his wife to her Cuiin vita to haue recouered them But that séemeth to be helped if any such law were before by the Statute of Anno 32. H. 8. where it is ordained That no fine feoffement or other act made suffered St. 32. H. 8. 28 or done by the husband onely of any lands tenements or other hereditaments being the inheritance or fréehold of his wife during the couerture betwéene them shall in any wise be or make any discontinuance thereof or be preiudiciall or hurtfull to the said wife or her heires or to such as shall haue title interest or right to the same by the death of such wife But the same wife or her heires and such other to whom such right shall appertaine after her decease shall and may then lawfully enter into such lands c. according to their rights and titles therein notwithstanding such fine feoffement or other act fines leuied by the husband and wife whereunto the said wife is partie and priuie only except By which Statute the wife after the death of her husband may enter into her owne land notwithstanding any attainder forfeiture or other act done by her husband No yere day and wast of lands holden by ioynt purchase 34 A man seised of land in fée simple holden of a common person did infeoffe thereof the husband and wife and their heires the husband committed felonie and was attainted thereof the King seised the land into his hands for his yere day and wast and after the Kings said terme expired 4. E. 3. 47. the Lord of the fée of whom the same land was holden did sue in the Chauncerie to haue the same land restored to him to whom by warrant the Escheator did deliuer the same lend vpon whose possession the wife of the felon attainted did enter and the said Lord of the fée reentred vpon her whereupon the sayd woman brought an Assise against the sayd Lord and recouered the land Because the fée simple of the same land being in the wife by reason of the ioynt purchase with her husband the K. ought not to haue had the yeare and day after the felons death nor the Lord of the fée the land after by Escheat 35 If tenant in tayle Tenant in tayle generall or speciall or tenant in franke mariage of land do commit petit Treason or Felonie and is attainted thereof and executed the King after his death shall neither haue the yeare day or wast in the felons land nor the Lord of the fée shall haue the land by Escheat but after the felons death the same land shall discend reuert or remaine secundum formam doni to the next heire in tayle of the felon or to him in the reuersion or remainder thereof for in this case the felon was in effect but tenant for the terme of his owne life and thereby could not forfeit a greater estate in his land than that which he had And in in like sort if he that hath land by fresh disseisin or is tenant in fee farme of land A disseiser Tenant in fée farme A mortgagée vpon condition to pay the vttermost yearely value thereof or hath land in Mortgage to be redeemed by the Mortgager vpon condition of payment of money or other condition doth commit petit treason or felonie and is attainted thereof the King shall not haue the yeare day and wast for that would tend to the preiudice of others not partie to the offence who haue or may haue a better right and title to the same lands than the felon attainted Fi. Cor. 310 36 If a man that is owner of land in antient demesne Tenant in antient demesne which hee may sell without consent of the Lord doe commit petit Treason or Felonie and is attainted thereof the King shall haue the yeare day and wast notwithstanding that he hath vsed to surrender the land into the Lords hands by a rod in the Court vpon euerie alienation thereof But if he be owner of the land in auntient demesne of a base tenure it is otherwise Fitz. Cor. 290. 37 A man that tooke a Church for felonie escaped and the towne pursued The yere day wast without attainder and killed him because he would not yéeld himselfe and this matter was presented before the Iustices in Eyre and they adiudged that his goods and the profits of his lands
Eliz. doth repeale as well the before mentioned statute of 1. H. 5. and all other statutes before that time made and prouided for forging of false deeds Lib. in t fol. 359. and hath ordained a new action of forger of false deeds to be founded vpon that Statute and other new remedies yet seeing both those statutes were made and prouided to one end viz. to auoid and punish the enormities of forgerie of false deeds to the disherison or hurt of others though vpon seuerall penalties Notwithstanding in some cases the like reason and so the same law is to be retained in the said statute of 5. Elizab. which was before in the first mentioned statute of 1. H. 5. As in action of Forger of false deeds 9. H. 6. 26. 20. H. 6. 11. 19. H. 6. 29. 21. H. 7. 15. 37. H. 6. 37. brought vpon the said statute of 1. H. 5. Pleas in bar of forgerie it is a good plea in barre for the defendant to plead not guiltie or that he did not forge that deed or to plead that he gaue to the plaintife a gallon of wine in satisfaction of the said offence which he did accept And so it is a good plea in barre in an action of forger of false deeds brought vpon the statute of 5. Elizab. and the same plea being confessed by the plaintife or found by verdict shall not onely barre the plaintife of the recouerie of his double costs and dammages but shall also discharge the defendant of all corporall punishments to be inflicted and of the forfeiture of the issues and profits of his land to the king For this is not a release or discharge after verdict but a discharge before verdict whereby the whole Action and sute is discharged and so not within the compasse of the said statute of 5. Eliz. 14. touching the plaintifes release or discharge after verdict Where one shall haue an Action of forgery though he hath but a right to the land 18 There be some cases where a man shall haue an Action of forger of false déeds though he hath neither possession reuersion or remainder but onely a title to the land As if a man die seised of certaine land and a stranger doth abate and enter vpon the same land before the entrie of the heire and holdeth out the heire and after the same abator doth forge some charter deed or other writing sealed of the same land to the intent to disturbe trouble or defeate the estate of the heire in the same in this case the heire may haue an Action of forger of false deeds against the same stranger though he hath then no possession reuersion or remainder in the same land And so it is 4. H. 6. 25. 22. H. 6. 15. 15. Ed. 4. 24. if one man doe disseise another man of land and after doth forge false deedes c. of the same land to the intent aforesaid the dissesee may maintaine an Action of forger of false deeds against the disseisor vpon the Statute of 5. Elizab. as he might haue done before vpon the Statute of 1. H. 5. for that his right and title to the same land is molested troubled defeated recouered or charged by the same forged deed And the same law is if a man doe bring a reall Action against an other of certaine land 9. Ed. 4. 37. and before iudgement one claiming a lease for the terme of yeares of the same land praieth to be receiued to saue his terme according to the Statute of Gloucester and doth shew his said lease which lease is forged Stat. 6. Ed. 1 11. In this case the Demandant in the saide Action may haue a writ of forger of false deedes against him that claimeth the said terme though he hath as yet nothing in possession reuersion or remainder in the same land but onelie a right for this lease is forged to â—he intent to defeate him of his right viz. of his present possession 19 If a man hath neither possession reuersion remainder or title of in or to land Where no Title no Action of forgerie and yet will bring against another an Action of forger of false deedes of the same land it is a good plea in barre for the defendant to pleade 21. H. 6. 51. 8. H. 6. 34. that hée himselfe is seised of the same land without that the plaintife hath any thing therein for if the plaintife hath nothing in the freehold or inheritance of the land nor any estate for yeares copihold or annuity in the same then he cannot be the party grieued in that Action neither his right title or interest of in or to the same can be molested troubled or defeated recouered or charged And the same law is if a man hath in land no mediate or immediate estate expectant vpon any lease or leases for life liues or yeares nor profit right of entry but onely a possibilitie 33. H. 6. 22. As if A. doe giue land to B. and the heires of his body lawfully begotten the remainder thereof to C. and his heires for euer If E. doe forge a deede containing that A. gaue same land to the said B. and the heires of his body lawfully begotten the remainder thereof to him the said E. and his heires for euer In this case C. cannot pursue an Action of forger of false deedes against E. during the liues of B. or of any of the heires of his body lawfully begotten for the said forgery séeing that during the said time his right title or interest into that land is not molested troubled defeated recouered No Action in respect of a possibilitie or charged for that he hath therein during that time but onely a possibilitie which possibilitie it may be shall neuer come into Esse And further C. cannot for the said forgery recouer double costs and dammages according to the said Statute of 5. Eli. for that he is not as yet a partie grieued nor damnified nor hath sustained any dammages neither peraduenture euer shall if B. and his heires doe continue from one generation to another and not die without issue of their bodies c. And of a bare possibilitie no value can be made neither single or double dammages assessed 18. H. 6. 5. 9. H. 6. 26. Kel fol. 114 20 If there be two Ioyntenants or tenants in common of land and a stranger doth forge a déede concerning the same land Forging of a déed touching ioyntenants land if one of those Ioyntenants or tenants in common doe bring an Action of forger of false déedes against the offender and the Defendant doe pleade that another hath an estate in Ioyntenancie or in common with the plaintife who is in full life this writ shall abate for séeing this Action is but in the nature of an Action of Trespas wherein the plaintifes are onely to recouer dammages Ioyntenants and tenants in common must ioyne in the same Action for though their right in
the land or thing in variance so it is Maintenance to take part in any quarrell depending in suit in the Kings court or to worke any fraud whereby iustice may be hindered Westm 1. 3. E. 1. 28. as it appeareth by the statute of West 1. whereby it is ordained That if any Clerke of the kings or of any Iustice The penalty for maintaining of suits do receiue the presentment of any Church for the which any plea or debate is in the K. Court without the kings speciall licence he shal loose the Church and his seruice And if any Iustices or Shirifes Clerke take part in any quarrell depending in the Kings Court or doe worke any fraud whereby common right may be delayed or disturbed he shall loose his seruice and be further punished if the Trespas doe require St. 32. H. 8. 9 And after by a statute made Anno 32. H. 8. there was a greater penalty imposed vpon those who shall be maintainors of suits By which statute it was ordained That no person or persons whatsoeuer shall vnlawfully maintaine or cause or procure any vnlawfull maintenance in any action suit demaund or complaint in any of the Kings Courts of the Chauncerie Starre-chamber White hall or elsewhere within any of the K. dominions of England or Wales or the marches of the same where any person or persons haue authoritie by vertue of the K. Commission Patent or Writ to hold plea of lands or to heare examine or determine any title of lands or any matter of witnesse concerning the title right or interest of any lands tenements or hereditaments Or shall vnlawfully retaine for maintenance of any suit or plea Retaining for maintenance or imbracing or suborning of Iurors any person or persons or embrace any fréeholders or Iurors or suborne any witnesse by letters rewards promise or by any other sinister labour or meanes for to maintaine any matter or cause or to the disturbance or hinderance of iustice or to the procurement or occasion of any manner of Periurie by false verdict or otherwise in any of the Courts aforesaid vpon paine of forfeiture for euery such offence x. pounds to the king and Inf. to be recouered by him that will sue for the same in any of the kings Courts of Record by Action of Debt Bill Plaint or Information wherein no W.E.P. c. if the suit be commenced in any of the kings Courts within one yeare next after any such offence committed or els not 10 As it is Maintenance to haue by agréement part of the land in variance or part of the gaines of the suit in question so is it Maintenance to buy a pretenced right or title of another of or to lands or tenements whereof the seller hath no possession for this oft times the cause of Subornation of witnesses procurement of Periurie and of the subuersion of iustice For the redresse whereof by the last specified Statute of Anno 32. H. 8. St. 32. H. 8. 9 it was first enacted That all Statutes heretofore made concerning Maintenance Champertie and Embracerie or any of them then standing in force should be put in due execution according to the effects of the same And also by the same statute it was ouer that ordayned Maintenance by buying of pretēced titles That no person or persons of what estate degrée or condition soeuer he or they be shall bargaine buy or sell or by any meanes obtaine get or haue any pretenced rights or titles or take promise graunt or couenant to haue any right or title of any person or persons in or to any Manors Lands Tenements or other Hereditaments but if such person or persons which shall so bargaine giue graunt couenant or promise the same their auncestors or they by whom he or they claime the same haue béene in possession of the same or of the reuersion or remainder thereof or taken the rents or profites thereof by the space of one whole yeare next before the said bargaine couenant graunt or promise made vpon paine that he that shall make any such bargaine sale promise couenant or graunt shall forfeit the whole value of the Lands Tenements or Hereditaments so bargained sold promised couenanted or graunted contrary to the forme of this Act. And the buyer or taker thereof knowing the same shall also forfeit the said value of the said Landes Tenements or Hereditaments so by him bought or taken as is aforesaid the one halfe of the said forfeitures to be to the king and the other halfe to the party that will sue for the same in any of the kings Courts of Record by Action of Debt Bill P. or I. c. wherein no W. E. P. or I. c. if the suit be commenced by A. B. P. or I. in any of the kings Courts within one yeare next after any such offence committed or els not Prouided alwayes The possessor purchaseth a pretenced title That it shall be lawfull to any person or persons being in lawfull possession by taking of the yearely ferme rents or profites of any Manors Lands Tenements or Hereditaments to buy obtaine get or haue by any reasonable meanes the pretended right or title of any other person or persons to be made to of or in any such lands tenements or hereditaments whereof he shal be so in lawfull possession Any thing in this Act c. notwithstanding 22 23. El. Dyer 374. 6. Ed. 6. Dy. 74. Plow Com̄ 87. 11 If a man take a lease or promise a lease for the terme of certain yéeres to another of land contrary to the foresaid statute of Ann̄ 32. H. 8. What is selling of a pretenced title viz. of those lands whereof neither he himselfe nor any of his auncestors nor any by whō he doth clayme the same land haue béene in possession of the same nor of the reuersion nor remainder thereof nor taken the rents or profits thereof by the space of one whole yeare before the said bargaine graunt and demise made he is within the danger of the foresaid statute of Anno 32. H. 8. as well as if hée had made an estate for the terme of life in taile or in fée simple of the same lād for that the scope and effect of the statute is vtterly to root out of Maintenance and bargaines and promises of Titles for the which the words of the statute be That no person shall sell or buy any pretenced rights or titles And a lease is no more lawfull for one yeare then for an hundred yeares and some man will be as ready to maintaine to haue a lease for yeares as to haue a greater estate Wherefore he that doth make a lease for yeares or make promise of a lease for yeares of lands whereof he hath but a pretenced right or title shall forfeit to the King and him that will sue the whole value of the inheritance of the land as well as if he had bargained and sold the fée simple thereof But
it is specially to bée respected in that case that he hath but a pretenced right or title at the time of his Lease made for if he hath a good title in the same land at the time of the said Lease then is he not within the danger of the said Statute though neither hée himselfe nor any of his auncestors nor any by whom he doth clayme the same land haue béene in possession thereof nor of the reuersion or remainder thereof nor haue taken the rents or profites thereof by the space of one whole yeare before the said Lease made For if a man doe enter into lands that be holden of him for an alienation in Mortmaine Or if hée doe recouer lands by a reall action hée may sell the same land or make a Lease of the same land within a yeare after the Entry or Recouerie though neyther hée nor his auncestors nor they by whom hee claymeth the same land haue béene in possession thereof nor taken the Rents or Profites thereof by the space of one whole yeare before Br. Maint 38 6. E. 6. And so it is if a man doe morgage his Land for diuers yeares vpon condition of repayment of money at a certaine day or vpon any other condition If after hée doe redéeme his Land hée may sell it or Lease it within one yeare after though he hath not béene in possession thereof nor taken the Rents or Profites thereof by the space of many yeares before For the meaning of the Statute is not to restraine the bargaining buying or selling of good and cleare Rights but of pretended Righs and Titles And this pretenced Right or Title is What is a pretenced title when one man is in possession of Lands or Tenements and another man who is out of possession of them doth clayme them or doth sue for them for hée is not aptly sayd to haue title to land who is in possession of the same And therefore if he that is out of possession of land doth bargaine sell or make any Agréement Couenant or Promise to depart from the same land or to make any assurance thereof after hée shall recouer the said Land hee is within the danger of the said Statute whether he hath a good title to the same land or not And so it is if one who hath a pretenced Right or Title to copyhold Lands doth bargaine and sell it to another Co. lib. 4. 26 he is within the compasse and danger of the foresaid statute of Anno 32. H. 8. For the words of the statute be If any doe bargaine buy or sell c. any right or title in or to any lands or ténements So that those words any right or title doe extend to all manner of rights or titles and consequently to copyhold lands And séeing a great part of the land of the Realme is graunted by copie Therefore the meaning of the makers of the said Statute of Anno 32. H. 8. was to include them for the auoiding of Suits Maintenance and Champertie and not to leaue all copyhold estates to the mischiefes mentioned in the preamble of the sayd Act. Maintenance by giving of Liueries and retaining 12 Giuing of Liueries Badges Signes and Tokens and retayning of vnnecessarie seruants is an euill budde springing out of the foresayd Branch of Maintenance being put in practise by men of great countenance authoritie and estate and it hath béene from age to age accounted a meane to stirre vp quarrels to boulster Suites to procure Periurie and to subuert iustice And therefore the chiefe Gouernours of this Realme haue endeuoured by many Acts of Parliament to represse or snibbe it as by the Statute of Anno 1. R. 2. 7. Hen. 4. it was ordained St. 1. R. 2. 7. 7. H. 4. 14. That if any person shall giue any Chaperons Hats or such like Liueries to any man for maintenance of quarrels or other confederacies he shall forfeit an hundred shillings for euery such Liuerie and he which receiueth such Liuerie shall forfeit fortie shillings And by the statute of 8. H. 6. it was enacted Sta. 8. H. 6. 4 That if any person of his owne authoritie and proper costs doe buy or weare for his clothing any Clothes or Hats called Liueries of the sort or suit of any Lord Ladie Knight Esquire or other person to haue supportation succour or maintenance in any quarrell or in any other matter and being therof lawfully conuict he shall forfeit fortie shillings and be one yeare imprisoned And by the statute of Anno 1. H. 4. it was prouided St. 1. H. 4. 7. That if any which is a Knight or Esquire meniall of the Kings or who is of his retinue to whom his Maiestie shall giue his honourable Liuerie doe weare his said Liuery in the countrey or Countie where he is resiant or dwelling or in any other place of the Realme out of the Kings presence sauing in going or comming from the Kings house and is thereof duly attainted he shall loose his Liuerie and forfeit his fées for euer And by the statute of Anno 8. Ed. 4. it was established Sta. 8. E. 4. 2. Sta. 1. H. 4. 7. That no person by himselfe or any other for him shall giue any Liuerie or Badge or retaine any person other then his meniall Seruant Officer or learned man in the one Law or in the other by any writing oath or promise And if any doe the contrary hee shall forfeit for euery such Liuerie or Badge giuen an hundred shillings And he which doth retaine or take of any other such oath writing or promise or is retained by Indenture shall forfeit an hundred shillings for euery moneth that any person is so retayned with him by Oath Writing Indenture or Promise And euery person which is retained by Writing Indenture Oath or Promise for euery moneth that he is so retained shall forfeit an hundred shillings But this act shal not extend or be preiudiciall to any Gift Graunt or Confirmation made of any Fée Annuity Pention Rent Lands or Tenements by the King or any others to any person or persons for their counsell giuen or to be giuen or for their lawfull seruice done or to be done and for no other vnlawfull cause or vnlawfull intent although the person to whom such gift graunt or confirmation is made be not learned in the one law or the other Neither doth it extend to any libertie giuen at the Kings or Quéenes coronation or at the instalment of any Archbishop or Bishop or erection creation or mariage of any Lord or Lady of estate or at the creation of any Knights of the Bathe or at the commencement of any clerke in an Vniuersitie or at the creation of Serieants of the law or giuen by any Fraternitie Guild or Mysterie corporat or by the Maior Sherife or other chiefe Officer of any Citie Borough Towne or Port of this Realm of England for the time being during that time for the executing
same in a writ of Maintenance brought against him but he cannot retaine or intreat a man learned in the law to be of counsell with the principall partie nor meddle further in that cause than to sée the mainprise performed and himselfe discharged Maintenance in respect of his interest in the land 24 Euerie person that hath any interest in land may meddle and maintain him who is impleaded for the same land and not bee punished therefore in a writ of Maintenance As if tenant for terme of life or in taile of land bée impleaded for the same land or any part thereof Bro. Maint 53. he in the reuersion or remainder thereof may at his owne charges maintaine him in that suit for the safegard of his owne estate for it is in a sort his owne case and the defence of it is to his owne benefit and the euiction to his owne disheritance But this maintenance must be after tenant for terme of life hath atturned vnto him in the reuersion for i◠he maintaine the suit before it is punishable in him 9. H. 6. 64. And so it is if a man being seised of land hath issue a daughter who is maried to another if the father in law be impleaded of that land in a reall action the sonne in law may maintaine him at his owne charges for that by possibilitie that land may after the decease of his father in law descend to his wife and so come to him in her right But if the daughter dye without issue of her bodie begotten by the said husband before the said suit commenced 14. H. 7. 2. 6. E. 4. 5. 19. E. 4. 3. then the sonne in law cannot maintaine the father in law in that suit Neither can hee maintaine him during the life of his wife if an action of Debt couenant account or any other personall action be brought against him for he is neither to take benefit or losse by any of those suits 6. E. 4. 2. 39. H. 6. 20. And if a man seised of land make a lease for certaine yeares of the same and after a suit is commenced betwéene the said lessée for yeares and a stranger touching the same land or any part thereof the lessor may giue euidence for the lessée vpon the triall of the cause in question or otherwise may maintaine him in that suit at his owne charges for it tendeth to his owne priuat benefit or losse And in some case a man may maintaine a suit lawfully though he be neither heire to the land nor in possession reuersion Maintenance in respect of his possibilitie or remainder thereof As if a man being seised of land 9. H. 6. 64. doe make a lease thereof to another for the terme of the life of the lessee and after doth grant to a straunger that if the said tenant for terme of life doe dye during the same lessors life that then the same stranger shall haue and enioy the same land for the terme of xx yeares after the death of the same tenant for life if in this case the tenant for life be impleaded for this land the same stranger may maintaine him for the sauing of his owne estate for yeares and yet he hath no certaintie but a possibilitie of a terme for yeares which peraduenture will neuer chance And likewise in some other case a man may maintaine a suit lawfully though he be neither in possession reuersion remainder or possibilitie of the thing in question Maintenance in respect of his warranty As if a man be seised of a rent going out of another persons land 11. H. 6. 49. to him and to his heires and by his déed doth graunt the same to another and to his heirs with clause of warrantie and the tenant of the land out of the which this rent is issuing doth atturne to the grauntée of this rent if after the grauntée be impleaded of this rent vpon tryall of the issue the grantor may come into the Court and shew to the Iurors such euidence as he hath to prooue the title of this rent and it is lawfull maintenance and not punishable in him though he was neither called into the Court by voucher to warrantie or by Warrantia Chartae And so might he haue done if he had beene called to warrantie by any of the meanes aforesaid vpon a warrantie made of land or rent for it is to preserue himselfe out of daunger and from recompencing in value of that whereof before he had made warrantie 25 As it is in lands and leases so is it in rents goods and debts Maintenance in respect of his rent for euerie person that hath interest in them may meddle and maintaine and defend him who is impleaded or prosecuted by suit or doth implead or prosecute by suit any other for any matter or cause concerning him or whereupon hee doth depend so that the same suit doth tend to impeach preiudice or trouble his estate therein or may redound to his benefit or profit or may be a meane thereof 9. H. 6. 64. As if a man haue a rent charge in fée out of certaine lands and another man hath in custodie a boxe of writings concerning the same rent and after hée that hath the rent doth graunt it to a stranger and his heires to the which graunt the tenant of the land charged doth atturne and moreouer the grantor of that rent charge doth graunt to the assignee of the same that if he can recouer the same boxe of writings that then the same assignee shall haue them If after this graunt the grauntor doth pursue a writ of Detinue against him that hath the custodie of this boxe of writings he to whom the same rēt charge was graunted may lawfully maintaine him in that suit for that by promise he is to haue the same boxe of writings if it be recouered for the preseruation of his estate in the said rent charge 11. H. 6. 47. And a Lord may maintaine his tenant if he be impleaded for his freehold A Lord may maintaine his tenant in respect of his rent and seruices that he is to receiue and haue of him And so it was before the Statute of Vses made anno 27. H. 8. if a man had made a feoffement of land to others to his owne vse the feoffor might maintaine the freehold tenant which held of his feoffees in respect of the vse which he hath in the rent and seruice of that tenant 15. H. 7. 2. 26 And the same law is touching debt As if A. do owe vnto B. xx l. and C. doe owe to A. xx l. due by Obligation Maintenance in respect of debt and A. will deliuer vnto B. the same Obligation in satisfaction of the xx l. which he doth owe him In this case B. may sue an Action of Debt vpon this Obligation against C. in the name of A. and retaine an Attourney and learned counsell and pursue and
lessor of the remedy which the said statute of Anno 4. H. 7. did giue him viz. to make his entry or to pursue his action within fiue yeares which he could not do being ignorant of the lease for life which his tenant had made of this land to a stranger and also conceiuing that the lessée hauing land of his owne fée simple in the same towne he leuied a fine of that land which hee might lawfully doe And the deceit and fraud in this case is the more odious because it was practised by the lessée against his lessor and by the copyholder against his Lord who is by the law bound to do fealty to the lessor and Lord which is a bond of confidence and a linke of trust And if a man seised of land in fée Fit Fines 120. do make a lease to another thereof for terme of life and the lessée for life doth leuie a fine therof to a stranger he in the reuersion may enter into the same land for a forfeiture and put forth the conusée in the fine and auoid the fine for it was leuied by deceit to defraud him of his reuersion If a fine be leuied of lands to secret vses to deceiue the purchasor of the same land it may be auerred to be leuied by fraud and so by the statute of 27. El. 4. auoided St. 27. Eli. 4. And so if a fine be leuied vpon an vsurious contract and that be auerred the same fine shal be void by the stat of 13. Eliz. 8. St. 13. Eli. 8 A fine leuied of ancient demesne lands to defraud the Lord. 5 The law is as prouident to protect mens seigniories rents and seruices from euiction by deceit as she is their lands and tenements knowing that a fine in some cases leuied by couin of the one may be as preiudiciall to his inheritance as of the other hath therefore ordained seuerall remedies to redresse seuerall wrongs as if a man seised of lands in ancient demesne do leuy a fine thereof at the common law to another this is a deceit to the lord of that manor of whom the said lands be holden 21. Ed. 3. 20 Fit Nat. Br. 98. therefore he may haue a writ of Deceit against the cognisor and the tenant of the lord thereby auoid the said fine and then he that leuied the said fine shall be restored to the possession and the title which he had before in the same land and also the same land shall returne and become auncient demesne as it was before for that the said fine shal be vtterly void 21. Ed. 3. 56. And he that is lord of a manor of auncient demesne but for the terme of his life only may maintaine this writ of Deceit And so may he in reuersion if tenant for the terme of life doe not bring it during his life and either of them by his said writ may auoid the same fine for by the leuying of a fine at the common law of lands in ancient demesne 8. E. 4. 6. or by recouerie of them at the common law the same lands do become Franke fée and pleadable at the common law and so the lord should be deceiued of his right and loose his seigniorie in them And the writ of Deceit will auoid the said fine or recouerie because the fine was leuied and the recouerie was suffered coram non iudice in deceit of the Lord viz. not before that Iudge nor in that Court where they ought to haue béene 17. Ed. 3. 31. 7. H. 4. 44. 8. H. 4. 23. Fitz. Na. Br. 98. But if a man seised of lands whereof parcell be auncient demesne and parcell Franke fée doe leuie a fine at the common law of both parcels in this case though the Lord of the auncient demesne doe by his writ of Deceit auoid the fine for so much as is ancient demesne yet the residue of those lands which be Franke fée shall continue in force for a fine leuied of them was no wrong or deceit to any 6 And the same law is where land is recouered by deceit A writ of Deceit to auoid a recouery as if one man do bring a Praecipe quod reddat against another and demaund certaine land by force whereof the tenant ought to be summoned to be before the Iustices at a certaine day and the shirife doth returne the tenant of the land against whom the said Praecipe is brought Fit Nat. Br. 97. summoned whereas in truth he was not summoned by which false returne and deceit of the shirife the demaundant doth vpon the Graund Cape recouer seisin of the land by default of the tenant in this case the tenant to whom this deceit is done 3. E. 3. 28. Fitz. Deceit 49. may after iudgemēt giuen for the demaundant haue a writ of Deceit against him that did recouer and against the shirife for his false return And by this writ of Deceit the tenant shal be restored to his land againe 18. E. 4. 11. so that it be brought during the life of the summoners viewers and pernors or any of them for if it bee not brought vntill all the summoners viewers and pernors be dead it will not lye for after the death of them the tenant shall not haue a writ of Deceit for proces shal be awarded against the summoners viewers and pernors to appeare in Court and by the examination of them it is to be tried whether the tenant was summoned or not 50. Ed. 3. 16. 8. H. 6. 1. Fitz. Deceit 48. Fitz. Deceit 32. 33. 34. 46 for the summons must be made by two summoners at the least and two viewers And if any of them did not their duty then the writ was not executed as it ought to haue béene and therefore the plaintife in the writ of Deceit ought to be restored But the K. shall haue the issues of the land in the meane time And if the demaundant who did recouer by the shirifes false returne do make a feoffement of the land then the writ of Deceit must be brought against the demaundant the feoffée and the shirife and if the demaundant that doth recouer 8. E. 3. 6. 10. Ed. 3. 43. the shirife also be both dead yet the writ of Deceit may be brought against the heire of the demaundant and the tenant of the land if the summoners viewers and pernors be liuing And if a man do lose his land by default in a Praecipe quod reddat Fit Nat. Br. 98. Fitz. Deceit 43. 80. whereby he was not summoned and then dieth his heire may haue a writ of Deceit as well as his auncestor and shall haue restitution and the vouchée The vouchée may haue a writ of Deceit where he doth loose by default if he were not summoned 7 And so it is if a man sue a Scire facias against another Deceit to auoid a recouerie vpon a Scire facias
As the law doth both condemne reiect fines and recoueries Warranties deuised by fraud which bée practised or put in execution by fraud or deceit so doth she renounce and make frustrate all sorts of warranties that be deuised or contriued vpon collusion or couin to defeat or defraud others of their iust lawfull titles for though warranties be much fauored in the law for that they be meanes to establish the title of those who be tenants of land in possession but yet if any of thē be vndertaken performed or mixed with fraud then it doth not only loose his fauor but also his force in law Co. lib. 5. 79 50. Ed. 3. 12. 43. E. 3. 7. As if land be giuen to the father for the terme of his life the remainder to his sonne heire apparant in taile and the father by couin agréement betwéene him and another to barre his sonne by a collaterall warranty of his remainder will make a lease of the same land to that other person who will make a feoffement in fée to a third person of the same land to whom the father will release with warranty and thē the father dieth the warranty doth discend vpon his sonne being of full age yet this warranty wil not barre the sonne of this land for the feoffement of the lessée for yéeres was a disseisin and the father was partaker of the offence an actor agréeing thereunto and though the release with warranty was made after the disseisin yet séeing the disseisin was made to that end the law doth adiudge the whole fact frō the beginning to be fraudulent the warranty to begin by disseisin so all that assurance to be void against the heire in taile And in like sort other warranties that do commence by disseisin be contriued to deceiue defeat the right heirs of their iust and lawfull titles 20. H. 6. 10. Regist f. 113 44. Ed. 3. 4. 12 If one do bring a Praecipe quod reddat against two other men Deceit by getting of a Protection and they do purchase a protectiō for one of thē suggesting that he is to go beyond the sea in the kings seruice whereas he doth not so but remaineth still in England and so hath done euer sithence his protection purchased by which meanes the demaundant is delayed of his suit in this case the same demaundant may haue a writ of Deceit against the said tenants for this deceit and delay and shall recouer his dammages Deceit by purchasing a writ to charge another 13 Whereas according to the course of the Chauncery Fit Nat. Br. 96. the king is to haue of euery person who doth bring against another an action of Debt of the summe of fortie pounds or more vj. s̄ viij d. for a fine and for an hundred markes vj. s̄ viij d. and so for euery hundred markes vj. s̄ viij d. and for euery Praecipe quod reddat brought of land to the yearely value of fiue markes vj. s. viij d. and so according to that rate vnlesse it be a writ of right patent If any other person doe purchase a writ in the Chauncerie in my name without my priuitie whereby I shall be charged to pay to the king for a fine any of the summes aforesaid I may haue an action of Deceit against him and recouer my dammages for this writ was obtained to put me to charges and thereby to deceiue me of so much Deceit for purchasing a writ in anothers name 14 If A. being patron of a Benefice Fitz. Na. Br. 96. Regist f. 112. 7. H. 6. 45. when the Church is void do present his Clerke to the Ordinary and B. doth disturbe him whereupon C. doth purchase a Quare impedit against B. in the name of A. returnable in the common pleas A. not knowing thereof and after doth cause the writ to be abated or A. to be nonsuit in that writ in this case A. may haue a writ of Deceit against the same C. and recouer his dammages Deceit for procuring of a suit And if B. doe procure C. to sue an action against A. whereby A. is vexed Fitz. Na. Br. 98. A. may haue a writ of Deceit against B. Deceit by acknowledging of a statute 15 If A. and B. doe come before the Mayor of the Staple Fitz. Na. Br. 105 100. Regist f. 115 or before any other Mayor of any Citie Borough or Towne hauing authority to take acknowledgement of debts and there A. doth acknowledge a statute to B. of an hundred pounds or c. in the name of C. and doth report himselfe to be C. where he is not so whereupon C. is troubled and this statute extended against him then the same C. may haue a writ of Deceit against the said A. and B. and shall recouer his dammages And so it is if another man will leuie a fine of my land in my name Deceit by doing of a iudiciall act in anothers name or confesse an action brought against me in my name or will enter into a voucher in my name 19. H. 6. 44. Regist f. 113 and confesse the demaundants action or will acknowledge a Recognizance or statute Marchant or other matter of Record in my name I haue no other remedie but by an action of Deceit But it is otherwise if he seale and deliuer an obligation in my name for I may plead that it is not my déed which I cannot doe against a Record Deceit by forging of a resignation 16 If a Notarie Fitz. Na. Br. 99. Regist f. 114 and other persons doe by agréement counterfeit the seale of any Parson or Vicar and forge letters of resignation of his Parsonage or Vicarage in the name of the same Parson or Vicar by which meanes he is remoued from the possession of the same Parsonage or Vicarage he may haue a writ of Deceit against the same forgers 20. H. 6. 36. 21. H. 7. 41. 16. Ed. 4. 9. 17 If a man doe bargaine with another to enfeoffe him of certaine lands within twenty daies Deceit by assuring of land to one man which was bargained to another or c. and after he doth enfeoffe a stranger of the same land the he with whom the bargaine was made and was deceiued therein may haue a writ of Deceit against him that so bargained and defeated him thereof And so it is if a man doe compound with another to purchase a mannor or certaine land for him and hée doth buy it for himselfe the partie may haue an action of Deceit against the same purchasor And in all cases where a man doth promise to doe a thing and he doth it falsely a writ of Deceit is maintainable against him Deceit by charging of land after sale as if a man doe promise to assure land to another and after he doth graunt a Rent charge or a common out of it or doth make a Lease for life
or yeares of it and then doth assure it to the bargainée this is deceit and a writ of Deceit is maintenable against him for it for though he hath assured the land he hath not assured it clére and discharged according to his bargaine but hath deceiued the purchasor therein 11. E. 4. 6. 18 If a man doe sell a piece of cloth to another Deceit vpon a warranty and warrant it to be fortie elles long and it is not so long the buyer may haue a writ of Deceit against the seller of the same cloth by force of his warranty although the warranty be by word onely 6. Ed. 6. Dyer 76. without writing so that it be at the time of the bargaine made But if the warranty be at another time after the bargaine made then the buyer must haue some writing to testifie this warranty or otherwise hée shall not haue a writ of Deceit against the seller 9. Ed. 4. 13. Fit Nat. Br. 98. 19 If an action of Debt bee brought against two as executors Deceit by confession of an action brought against executors whereas one of them was neuer executor nor administrator and if he which is executor do make default he who was not executor doe appeare confesse the action he that was named executor may haue against the other an action of Deceit for he hath vndertaken to plead a plea to the action of debt which he could not doe and that also to the deceit and hurt of another 26. H. 8. 7. 20 If a man doe marry a wife possessed of goods Couin by aliening of his wiues goods those be the husbands to giue and dispose at his pleasure during the mariage betwéene them But if after they be diuorced the wife shall haue her goods againe vnlesse the husband hath giuen or sold them before the Diuorce for in that case the wife is without remedie And yet if the husband doe alien those goods by couin to the intent to defraud and defeat his wife of them and after they be diuorced then shee may auerre the couin and recouer the goods from the alienée 35. H. 6. 5. Co. lib. 3. 78 83. li. 5. 83. 21 Though buying of goods in an open marketh doth worke an alteration of the property of the same goods Sale of goods in opē market by couin and doth bind the Title as well of all strangers as of the owner if the goods be sold in such a shop or place as is commonly vsed for the selling of goods of the same kind or nature yet if one man do steale purloine or iniuriously take away another mans goods and then by couin betwéene him and a third person doth sell the same goods in an open vsual place of sale 7. H. 7. 12 in an open market or faire to the third person who at the time of buying of the same goods did know that the seller came not lawfully by them or that they were not his goods this is a void sale And in respect of this Couin the first and right owner of these goods may lawfully take and carrie them away notwithstanding the said sale in open market Fraudulent assurances to defeat the discontinuée in tayle 22 If the father being tenant in tayle of certaine lands M. 34. E. 1. Fitz. Garrantie 88 will make a feoffement thereof to another with warrantie and so discontinue the estate taile hauing assets of other lands in fée simple to leaue to discend to his son and heire and then within few dayes before his death will alien the same fée simple land to his sonne and heire and to his heires vpon couin and to the intent that the same fee simple land should not be pleaded to come by discent from the sayd father to his sonne nor adiudged as Assets by discent in his hands yet this couin being found by verdict in a writ of Formedon brought against him by the heire of the land entailed shall giue the discontinuée aduantage to plead that the same heire had assets by discent in fee simple left him by his said father for that the law doth adiudge this alienation made by the father to the sonne a little before his death by couin to defraud the discontinuée of his lawfull plea to be as no alienatiō but that the father dyed seised of the same fée simple land and that it came to his sonne and heire by discent 23 Because Lords of Mannors lands and tenements haue as great right to enioy the wardship of the bodies and lands of their wards Fraudulent conueyance to defeat a Lord of his wardship as they haue to their other inheritances lands and goods and it is as great an iniury to deceiue them thereof by couin and collusion as to defeat and defraud them of their other lawfull titles therefore by a statute made at Marlebridge anno 52. H. 3. it was enacted That if any man do enfeoffe his eldest sonne or heire St. 52. H. 3. 6 being within age of his inheritance that therby the Lord might loose his wardship yet notwithstanding such feoffement the chiefe Lord shall haue his wardship And by the said statute it was further ordained That if any persons meaning to demise their lands for terme of certaine yeares that they might thereby defeat the Lords of the fee of their wardships will faine false feoffements containing that they are satisfied of the whole seruice due vnto them vntill a certaine terme and that such feoffées are bound to pay at the said term a great summe to the value of the same lands or much aboue so that after the said terme the land shall reuert to them or their heires for that no man wil desire to hold the same of so great a price yet by such fraud no chiefe Lord shall loose his wardship And if the chiefe Lords do by iudgement of the Court recouer their wardships yet the feoffees shall haue their action reserued to recouer their terme or fée when the heires shall come to their lawfull age And for the further preuention of couin in auoiding of wardships by one other stat made anno 34. H. 8. it was ordained St. 34. H. 8. 5 That if any person or persons hauing estate of inheritance of or in any Mannors lands tenements or hereditaments holdē of the king by Knights seruice in chief or otherwise of the king by Knights seruice or of any other person or persons by Knights seruice haue giuen at any time since the 20. day of Iuly anno 32. H. 8. anno Dom. 1540 or hereafter shall giue will deuise or assigne by will or other act executed in his life his mannors lands tenements or hereditaments or any of them by fraud or couin to any other person or persons for terme of yeares life or liues with one remainder ouer in fee or with diuers remainders ouer for terme of yeares life or liues with one Remainder ouer in fée simple to
orphans within the City of London or any other City Borough or Towne where Orphans Orphans are commonly vsed to be prouided for either by grant or by custome But the Lord Maior of the city of London and the Aldermen of the same and euery other head Officer of any other Citie c. where such Orphans be prouided for shall and may haue take like rule order kéeping and charge of such Orphans and of all their lands tenements goods cattels as heretofore they vsed or lawfully might haue had vsed if this act had not bin made There was grandmother a widdow mother a widdow ij daughters Co li. 3. 37. the grandmother being seised of certain land in sée holden in socage did by her last wil in writing bequeath the same to the said ij daughters to the heirs of their ij bodies begotten by euen portions equally to be diuided the remainder to the mother being her sole daughter and heire apparant her heires and after the mother maried a second husband and then the grandmother dyed after whose death both the said daughters entred into the said lands so deuised vnto them and then the yonger daughter being betwéene the age of xiiij and xvj yeares and liuing in house with her father in law and mother of her owne will and forwardnesse and with the consent and agréement of her father in law departed foorth of his house in a morning and the same day in another place maried a husband In this case it was adiudged that the said yonger daughter had forfeited her moitie or halfe part of the said lands so deuised vnto her The daughters forfeiture for mariage without her mothers consent by her contracting of Matrimonie and that her said mother should take the benefit of the said forfeiture for the mother had the custodie and gouernement of the said daughter at the time of the said contract by the special words and prouision of the said statute which gouernment was annexed to the person of the mother Iure naturae and was not transferred to her second husband by her mariage as her lands and goods were and so her husbands consent was not materiall nor that consent which the meaning of the makers of that statute did respect and prouide for And though the daughter was forth of her mothers house at the time of the contract of mariage yet in the iudgement of law the mother had then the custodie of her which was inseperable from her person And seeing the foresaid stat of 4. St. 4. 5. P. M. 8. 5. P. M. doth giue the forf to the next of the kin to whom the inheritance should discend or come after her decease during the life of such person that so shall contract matrimonie therfore the partie must be of the blood next of the blood to whom the inheritance vpō such forf shal discend or come which is the mother not the eldest sister for administration may be grāted of the goods of the son or of the daughter dying intestat to the father or mother as to the next of the blood of the party deceased according to the stat of an 21. H. 8. 5. And further though the elder sister be of kin to the yonger yet in this case if the yonger haue any issue her land should discend to her issue and if she haue no issue it should remaine to her mother for that the elder and yonger sisters were tenants in common in taile though they neuer made partitiō indeed the remainder therof to their mother in sée by force of the said deuise of their grandmother who by her will meant and ordained that the land should bee diuided and that one of them should not enioy the whole as suruiuor to the other 41 Hauing written of deceits and frauds practised or performed by some particular persons to others as by the tenant to his Lord Seuerall deceits prohibited by seuerall Statutes the debtor to the creditor the seller to the purchaser the lessor to the lessée c. I am now to expresse and discouer some other guiles frauds and falshoods which the offendors therin do endeuor to put in vse or practise not onely against any one two or more speciall persons as in the cases aforesaid but against euery person that shall put them in trust or otherwise shall haue occasion to vse them or theirs which our stat lawes haue accused and condemned to be offences and haue inflicted vpon the transgressors thereof seuerall punishments As by the stat of Anno 9. St. 9. H. 5. 8. H. 5. falsifiers and counterfeiters of deceitfull and vntrue weights Counterfeiting of weights deceitfull being attainted thereof shal be taken by Iust of peace Sherifes Eschetors other cōmissioners kept in prison without mainprise vntil they haue made fine and ransome according to the Iust discretion St. 23. H. 8. 4 By the stat of An. 23. H. 8. If any diminish a barrell a kilderkin or firkin to the deceit or hurt of another Deceit by diminishing of a vessell by taking out the head or any staffe he shal forf iij. iiij d. and be punished by the discretion of the chiefe officer Deceitfull things vpon fustian before whom the offence shall be presented and the vessell shall be burned By the stat of An. 11. H. 7. Sat. 11. H. 7. 27. If any denizen or forreiner shall vse yrons or other deceitfull thing vpon fustians vnshorne to breake off the nap and cotton of the same but onely the broad shéeres he shall forfeit for euerie offence twentie shillings to the king and him that will sue By the statute of Anno 18. Deceit in goldsmithes work◠El. If any Goldsmith doe make any Goldsmithes worke Sta. 18. El. 14 or plate which shall be touched marked or allowed for good by the Wardens or Masters of that Mysterie and that in the same there shall be found any falshood or deceit then the sayd Wardens and Corporation shall forfeit the value of the thing exchanged or sold to the king and the partie grieued By the Statute of Anno 1. Deceitfull vsing of linnen cloth Eliz. If any do cast or cause to be cast St. 1. El. 12. any péece of linnen cloth ouer a péece of timber and doth by any deuice racke draw and stretch the same of length and bredth and then doth beat it and cast deceitfull liquors mingled with chalke or other things vpon it or doth vse any other deceitfull thing wherby it shal be the worse for the vse thereof then he shal forf the same to the K. and him that will sue for it be one moneth imprisoned at the least and pay such fine as shall be assessed by the Iustices before whom he is condemned By the Statute of Anno 19. Deceits in weights or beames for pewter or brasse H. 7. St. 19. H. 7. 6 4. H. 8. 7. If any
their owne vse and in the said Lands and Tenements did commit wast and destruction to the disheritance of them in the reuersion For the restraint and punishment of which said offence being both an oppression and also a fraud and deceit St. 11. H. 6. 5 Fit N.B. 59 by a Statute made Anno 11. H. 6. it was ordayned That they in the reuersion in such case may haue and maintaine a writ of Wast against the said Tenants for terme of life anothers life A termor alieneth his estate occupieth the land coÌ„mitteth wast or for yeares and so recouer against them the place wasted and their treble dammages for the wast so by them done as they ought to haue done for the wast done by them before the said Graunt and Lease of their estate Prouided That this Ordinance shall not hold place but where the first Tenants before the Graunt and Lease of their estates in the manner and forme abouesaid were punishable of wast and also where after the said Graunt and Lease the said first Tenants of the said Landes and Tenements do take the profits at the time of the wast done to their owne proper vse And though the wordes of the said Statute doe giue an action of Wast in the case aforesaid but onely to him in the reuersion Co. li. 5. 77. yet he in the remainder also being in the like mischiefe shall or may take the benefit thereof and maintaine an action of Wast in this case against his particular Tenant for life or yeares if eyther of them doe commit wast to his disheritance And whatsoeuer the intent of the Grauntor is in the case aforesaid yet if the Grauntée doe assigne his Lease take the profits thereof and commit Wast he is punishable according to the sayd Statute for his intent shall not be issuable nam exitus acta probat viz. the taking of the profites doe sufficiently expresse his intent and euery assignée of the first Tenant mediat or immediat is within the compasse of this Statute for the Statute was made to suppresse Fraud Wast and Oppression And so was the Statute of Westminster the second béeing made and prouided to restraine Wast and Oppression committed by one Tenant in common to the preiudice and disheritance of another by which it was ordayned St. 13. E. 1. 22 That whereas two or more doe hold Wood Wast coÌ„mitted by a tenant in common Turbarie Fishing or such like things in common wherein none knoweth his owne seuerall and one of them doth commit Wast against the will of the other an action of Wast may lye and when it is come vnto iudgement the defendant shall chuse eyther to take his part in a place certaine by the assignement of the Shirife and by the view and oath of his neighbours sworne and tryed for the same intent or els he shall grant to take nothing from thenceforth in the same Wood 3. E. 1. Wast 25. 50. Ed. 3. 3. Turbarie and such other but as his parteners will take And if he doe chuse to take his part in a place certaine the place wasted shall be assigned for his part according as it was before he committed the Wast And because the before rehearsed statute of Marlebridge doth expresse in generall termes in what thinges Wast may be committed as in Houses Woods and Men and the words of the writ of Wast in the Register be Quare fecit vastum venditionem seu destructionem de terris domibus Boscis Gardinis and the foresaid Statutes of Anno 6. Edw. 1. 13. Edw. 1. and 11. H. 6. doe declare who are forbidden to doe that Wast and séeing Wast in Lands Houses Woods or c. is a great wrong and oppression to him or them in reuersion or remainder of the same therefore I will somewhat particularly explaine which the Law doth construe and expound to be Wasts prohibited and punishable by the foresaid Statutes or either of them to the intent that both he that hath the inheritance and also the particular Tenant may know what is due to either of them in respect of their seuerall estates and what to take and what to leaue And to begin with the words of the Writ touching Wast in Land Wast in land If one person doe demise or conuey to another for the terme of yeares life or c. Land 22. H. 6. 18 2. H. 7. 14 17. E. 3. 7. 9. Ed. 4. 35. Co. li. 5. 11. Fit Nat. Br. 149. Lib. in t 6â—6 where there is included in the bowels of the earth Tynne Yron Lead Coale Stone Grauell Morter Sand Chalke or Marle if the Myne or Pit thereof be not open when the Lessées estate or terme doth begin the said Tenant may not open the ground make a new Myne and take the same Coale Stone Grauell or c. for if he doe it is Wast of the land and he in the reuersion or remainder may punish him therefore by an action of Wast For whereas there was assured to the Tenant but Vesturam terrae and the annuall profit of the Land hée hath digged and carried away the Land it selfe and impaired the inheritance thereof for euer But if there bée a Myne or Pit open in any part of the ground so demised or assured at the time of the Lease or assurance thereof or at the time when the estate of the Tenant did begin then the Tenant may digge there and take and carry away so much of the Coale Stone Grauell as shall be necessarily vsed or imployed for or towards the repaire or maintenance of the House Land or other commodities therewith demised and it is no Wast But if he do giue sell 41. E. 3. Wast 82. or otherwise dispose the same to any other person place or vse sauing as is aforesaid then for so much as he shall so mis-imploy it is Wast If one person doe lease or assure his Land to another and all the Mynes or Pits therein for yeares life Co. li. 5. 11. or c. the Lessée may open and digge the ground for Coale Morter Stone c. and take and carry away the same though there was not any Myne open at the time of the Lease or estate made For by the assurance it doth appeare that the Lessor was contented that wast should be made in any part of the ground leased by myning or digging and in this case the Lessée may sell or otherwise dispose the same Coale Stone Marle or c. at his pleasure 17. Ed. 3. 7 for it is as much as if the Lease or assurance had béene made to the Tenant without impeachment of any manner of Wast to be committed by Mynes Pits or diggings If the Tenant for yeares life or c. doe eyre plough vp and conuert into Tillage or Wood ground an auncient and vsuall mâ—wen Meddow it is Wast and so it is 15. H. 3. Wast 131. 46. Ed. 3. Wast 91. if he doe drowne or
nothing for that they be discharged of their charge and seruices which they did hold by which was as much as they receiued of the tenant perauaile And if they held of the King by lesse rent than their tenant perauaile held of them they shall haue the surplusage of that which was holden of them of the king by the way of petition Fitz. Assise 124. Fitz. Petition 19. And if the king doe not kéepe the land so escheated vnto him in his hands but will assure it to another hée must reuiue the tenure in the Mesne Lord to hold of them of whom it was holden before the attainder It appeareth by the statute of Praerogatiua Regis cap. 12. That the Kings and whole Court of Parliaments meaning was at that time when it was published and established by Parliament which were the Prerogatiues royall annexed to the Crowne of England by the common law That of such lands as did escheat to the King the seruice of the Lord of the fée should be reserued for the words of the Statute bee these viz. St. 17. Ed. 2. 12. The King shall haue escheat of the lands of Normans to whose sée soeuer they belong Sauing the seruice appertayning to the chiefe Lordes of the same Fée And King Henrie the third gaue the Escheates of Normans landes to bee holden of the chiefe Lordes of the Fee by Seruices and Customs due and accustomed thereunto Some of which Normans dwelling in Normandie at that time had lands in England and were subiects to the King of England and did forsake their obedience to the King of England and became subiects to the K. of Fraunce the King of Englands enemie and therby did forfeit those lands which they had in England by the common law and they did escheat to the king 48 In Petit Treason Who shal haue the forf in petit treason and felony and Felony the king shal not haue the escheat of the offendors land vnlesse it be holden immediatly of him but the king shal haue the profits of the said offendors land by the space of a yeare and a day and the land shall be wasted and destroyed in the houses woods and gardeins and in all things belonging to the same and then it shall bee deliuered to the chiefe Lord of the fée of whom the same land is immediatly holden And yet in some cases the King shall haue the forfeiture of the land of him which doth commit Petit Treason or Felonie though the land be holden of others and not of him St. 17. E. 2. 14. as it appeareth by the Statute of Praerogatiua Regis which hath ordained That the king shall haue the escheates of lands of Archbishops and Bishops fréeholders when such tenants be attainted of Felony committed in time of vacation whilest their temporalties were in the Kings hands to bestow in what sort it shall please him Sauing to such Prelats the seruice that to them is due and accustomed And therefore sauing in the cases aforesaid the mesne Lords of whom the lands be immediatly holden shall haue their escheats of their fréeholders lands that haue committed Petit Treason or Felonie which land after the King hath hath had the yere day and wast thereof they must haue deliuered vnto them out of the kings hands by suing out of a writ S. Br. 39. 49 If any stranger The Lords remedy for lands escheated vnto him or other sauing the King doth intrude into that land whereof the felon attainted was seised at the time of the felony committed the immediat Lord of the fée of whom the same land is holden may enter vpon him and put him out or else he may haue his writ of Escheat against him In the which writ he must rehearse the iudgement giuen against the person attainted viz. if he were attainted by outlawrie to alledge Eo quod praedictus A. feloniam fecit pro qua vtlagatus fuit and if he were attainted by abiuration to say Pro qua regnum nostrum abiurauit and if he were attainted by confession or verdict to say Pro qua suspensus fuit and if hee doe alledge one of those iudgements Fitz. Escheat 14. Fitz. Escheat 8. Fitz. Escheat 6. in the stead of another his writ shall abate And yet he néed not rehearse the manner of the felonie in his writ nor in his count but generally that he committed felonie And though there be error in the iudgement yet the Lord shall haue a writ of Escheat and the tenant shall not falsifie the iudgement by the errour 46. E. 3. 4. 50 Island escheat to the auncestor The heirs remedie for land escheated to his auncestor because his tenant was attainted of felonie and the auncestor dyeth before he doth bring his writ of Escheat or doth enter In this case the heire may haue a writ of Escheat and suppose that the partie attainted did hold of his auncestor Fitz. Escheat 17. 51 If a lease of land be made for the terme of life reseruing to the lessor a rent and the lessor payeth his seruices to the chiefe Lord and then the lessor is attainted of felonie Where the Lord shall haue his writ of Escheat and where he may enter and after the tenant for terme of life dyeth In this case the Lord paramount may haue a writ of escheat of the land for the rent which was reserued vpon the lease doth come in stead of the land and so in the consturction of law he died seised of the land But if no rent had béen reserued the Lord might haue entred into the land as escheated vnto him 6. H. 7. 9. but could not haue recouered it by a writ of Escheat no more than if his tenant being disseised had bin attainted of felony in which case his only remedy is to enter The forme of a 〈◊〉 of Escheat 52 This is the forme of the writ of Escheat Rex vicecomiti B. salutem Praecipe A. quod iuste sine dilatione reddat B. decem acras terrae cum pertinentijs in N. quas C de eò tenuit quae ad ipsum B. reuerti debent tanquam Escaeta sua eò quod praedict ' C. feloniam fecit pro qua suspensus fuit vt dicitur Vel pro qua vtlagatus fuit vt dicitur vel pro qua regnum abiurauit vt dicitur Et nisi c. And though the indictment was executed in other maner than is rehearsed in the writ yet the writ shall not abate Register fo 165. as if he were Decapitatus non suspensus for the execution of the iudgement is not material so that he had such a iudgement for the action is true though the writ be not true The K. remedie for land escheated to him 53 In all cases of felony if the king ought to haue the escheat he must haue an office found for him before he can enter for vntill the office found the king hath but a
that all men may kill him without punishment and specially if he defend himselfe or flie away in such sort that he may be hardly apprehended But if he doe not flie or defend himselfe then he that killeth a man so taken shal answere for him as for any other man for that life and death be in the kings hands vnlesse there be a custome to the contrary as in the Counties of Hereford and Glocester And he shal forfeit the benefit of Law for he which being outlawed will be so bold as to returne without the kings licence shall die without law or further examination in iudgement And he cannot appeale others for he hath lost the benefit of law and carieth with him his iudgement vpon his head he can haue no defence so long as the Outlary standeth in force It is vpright iustice that he shal perish without law and iudgement who refuseth to liue according to the law And he shall forfeit his right and possession of all things that he hath gotten or may get And all bonds obligations homages fealties oathes and other contracts made with him be dissolued which can neuer be reuiued but vpon a new contract though he be restored And he shal forfeit all his tenements and hereditaments from him and his heires and euery action that was due to him before his Outlary though he be after restored by the kings pardon And Outlary of felony and euery other iudgement of felony doth dissolue all the gifts sales of land that he made sithence the time of the felony committed The outlawes goods shal be the kings for he cannot be outlawed in any other place but in the kings Court as in the Country Court or in the Hustings of London ⧠Corruption of Blood 1 BY attainder of Treason or Felony commeth corruption of Blood that is to say that the offendors children cannot be heires to him that is attainted nor to any other auncestor Corruption of blood salued by Parliament only And if the offendor were a Nobleman or a Gentleman before by this attainder he is become ignoble and not onely he himselfe but also all his children hauing respect to the Nobilitie which they had by their birth And this corruption of Blood is so grieuous that it cannot bee salued otherwise then by authoritie of Parliament But if the King will pardon the offendor it will cleanse the corruption of blood of those children which be borne after the pardon and they which be borne after the pardon may inherite the land which their auncestor purchased at the time of the pardon or after but so cannot they which were borne before the pardon And also he that is attainted of Treason or Felony shall not bee heire to his father but his disabilitie shall hinder others to be heire so that during his life the land shall rather escheat to the lord of the fée 27. Ed. 3. 77. Fi. Petit. 20 then discend to another But if he that is attainted doe die without issue of his body during the life of his auncestor then his younger brother sister or cousin shall inherite for if the eldest sonne be hanged Fi. Discēt 6. 26. As p. 2. or doth abiure the Realme for Felony during the fathers life it is no impediment but that the youngest sonne may inherite 29. As p. 11 13. H. 4. 8. Fit Discent 17. And if he which is attainted of Treason or Felony in the life time of his auncestor doe purchase the Kings pardon before the death of his auncestor yet he shall not be heire to his said auncestor but the land shall rather escheat to the lord of the fée But if the eldest sonne be a Clerke conuict in the life of his father and after his father dieth in this case he shall inherite his fathers land because he was not attainted of Felony for by the common Law hée should haue inherited after hée had made his purgation And now by the Statute of Anno 18. Eliz. hée shall bee forthwith enlarged after burning in the hand Fi. Cor. 382 St. 18. Eli. 6. and deliuered out of prison and not committed to the Ordinary to make his purgation and so he is in case as if he had made his purgation Where corruption of blood shall preiudice tenant by the courtesie 2 If a man that hath land in the right of his wife haue issue 13. H. 7. 17 and doth commit Felony for the which he is attainted and the king doth pardon him in this case if his wife doe die before him he shall not be tenant by the courtesie for the corruption of blood of that issue But it is otherwise if he hath issue after the pardon for then he shall be tenant by the courtesie although the issue which he had before the pardon be not inheritable The eldest sonne attainted of felony during his fathers life 3 If a man seised of lands hath issue two sonnes 32. H. 8. Dyer 48. and the eldest is attainted of Felony in the life of his father and is executed for the felony or otherwise dieth during the life of his father and after the father dieth seised of the land the land shal discend to the youngest sonne as heire to his father if the eldest sonne hath no issue then liuing But if the eldest sonne that was attainted hath any issue in life which should haue inherited but for the attainder the land shall escheat to the lord and not discend to the younger brother for that the blood of the eldest brother is corrupted Where an attainder but n◠corruption of blood 4 S. Forfeiture 27 That the attainder of Treason or Felony in certaine cases shal not extend to make any corruption of blood the disinheritance of any heire forfeiture of any dower nor to preiudice the right or title of any person other then of the offendor or offendors during his or their naturall liues only ⧠Restitution of stolne goods 1 HAuing written of Robberies and other Felonies and declared how Felons are to be prosecuted by Arrest Appeale Indictment Arraignment Tryall and Iudgement and what they shall forfeit I meane now to shew how true men whose goods were robbed stoln or feloniously taken from them by such Felons shall be restored to their goods againe As it is necessary for the Commonwealth that Felons should be punished least the impunity of some should incourage them and also allure others to commit the like offences so is it fit that they chiefely whose goods were taken from them and therby haue tasted the smart and receiued the losse by the Felons and are more likely to know who they be and where they be then others are should doe their vttermost endeauor to procure those Felons to be apprehended brought to their answers and to haue them punished according to their demerits that is to say he that was robbed What is fresh suit or whose goods were stolne from him ought presently after the
other vnlawfull act prohibited by that statute and being required by a Iustice of peace or shirife of the said County or by the Maior or chiefe officer of the city or towne corporat to returne to their inhabitations do not but attempt to put in vre any of the said things Then euery of the same persons shall be imprisoned one yeare without baile or mainprise for the offendors in both the cases aforesaid putting in practise their outrages with a multitude of persons bee great disturbers of the peace and Transgressours of the law 21. H. 6. 5. 39 In an action of False imprisonment Imprisoning him that holdeth land with force the defendant pleaded that the plaintif held the manor of D. by force and B.C. a Iustice of peace of the same County did take him recorded the force and sent him to the defendant being Gaoler of the same County to be imprisoned and this was allowed a good iustification though he was committed to prison but by one Iustice of peace And in like sort if the action of false imprisonment had bin brought against the Iustice of peace who committed the offendor to warde the same had béen a good plea in barre for him St. 8. H. 6. 9. for that the statute of AnÌ„ 8. H. 6. doth warrant him so to do giueth that authority to one Iustice alone or to more then one 29. Ed. 3. 9. 5. H. 7. 4. 40 If a Huy and Cry be leuied and pursued that a horse of such a colour or marke so many beasts of such a sort or age Imprisoning of one pursued by Huy crie or so many shéepe of such a brand be stolen one is taken leading or driuing of the said horses beastes or shéepe it is lawfull for any man to apprehend and stay him and to commit him to the Constables of the Towne where he is apprehended and by them to be put into the stockes or safe kept vntill he be deliuered by due course of law though he be not of euill fame or name but a man of good credite for séeing the law by the Huy and Cry hath accused him by a course of law he must be againe acquited and discharged And in this case he that is so taken though he be after acquit of the felony shall not haue an action of Trespas false imprisonment or other remedy against him that did apprehend him Fitz. barre 202. 3. H. 4. 9. 41 In an action of Trespas of assault battery and imprisonment Imprisoning him that doth breake the peace the defendant pleaded that the plaintife menaced to kill him and therefore he requested the Constables to arrest the plaintife to find suerties of his good abearing and the Constables and the defendant with them did come and arrest him and put him into the stockes vntill he did finde suerties and this was allowed to be a good iustification 5. H. 7. 6. And in like sort if one do make an assault vpon a Constable the same Constable may arrest and imprison him vntill he hath found suerties to kéepe the peace though the Constable be the same person vpon whom the said assault was made for in this case he doth nothing but preserue the peace and obserue the Law which is to be done aswell in his own case 13. H. 7. 10. as any others And moreouer if a Constable be informed that a lewd man is in a suspected house with a woman of euill name for incontinencie he may take so many of his neyghbors with him as he will Arresting suspected persons and arrest the said man and woman to find suerties of their good behauiour And they nor eyther of them shall haue any action of False imprisonment or other action therefore against the said Constable or any other of his assistants for the Constable was ordeyned to kéepe the peace 10. Ed. 4. 17. and to represse felons And he may take suertie by Obligation if he find any commiting of a fray but vpon no penaltie And if the partie will not find suerties the Constable may impryson him vntill he hath found suerties 9. Ed. 4. 26. 42 In an action of Trespas of assault battery and imprisonment Imprisoning him that doth attempt to rob the defendant pleaded that the plaintife lay in waite in a high way leading from the towne of A. to the towne of B. to rob such persons as trauailed in that way and assaulted to rob one L. and drew his sword and commaunded the same L. to deliuer his purse whereupon L. fled and leuied Huy and Cry and this defendant being trauailing that way pursued the plaintife and tooke him and committed him to the Constable to be put in the stockes who did it accordingly and this was adiudged a good iustification for euery man may arrest and imprison him that doth commit a felony or him who maketh it apparant that he doth intend and goe about to commit a felony for that he doth manifest him selfe to be a principall breaker of the law and peace of the realme Assisting to arrest by warrant 43 In an action of false imprisonment against two 19. H. 6. 43. 56. one of them pleaded that he had a precept to arrest the plaintife which he did accordingly And the other defendant pleaded that he came in company with the other to ayde and assist him to arrest the plaintife And this was allowed a good Iustification in them both for any straunger may assist a Sherife his Baylifes or any other that hath authority to execute the Kings writs or proces and he that wil not assist him being required shall paie a fine to the King And the Sherife may take as many persons as he will to aide him to execute the Kings writs 3. H. 7. 1. 17. E. 4. 5. for it is in furtheraunce of Iustice and no breach of the peace Breaking a house to arrest 44 If a man be indicted of Trespas 27. Ass pla 35. 18. E. 4. 4. and a Capias pro fine awarded to the Sherife to take the body of the same person The Sherife may breake open his house or close to arrest and imprison him it is a lawfull imprisonment But the Sherife may not breake any house or chest to make execution by vertue of a fieri facias to him directed S. Force 32. The Sherife arreâ—eth and doth not retorne his writ 45 If the Sherife haue a Capias to arrest a man and he doth arrest him and after doth not retorne his writ the partie arrested may haue an action of false imprisonment against the Sherife and recouer damages for his wrongfull arrest or Imprisonment for the Capias is ita quod habeas corpus cius c. and so if he haue not the parties body in the Kings Court at the day of the retorne of the writ it shall be intended that he did not arrest him by force of that writ nor according to the
fine ImprisonmeÌ„t for offences done to the iustice of the Realme 57 As in the cases aforesaid imprisonment of offendors is both tollerable requisit when it is inflicted for misdemeanors done to the peace of the Realme so in many other cases it is as necessary when it is imposed for offences done to the law justice of the Realme being the foundation principall piller of the same peace and without the due execution whereof there can not be a general and perfect peace And amongst many other transgressors who doe offend contrarie to the justice of the Realme and yet in a sort doe preserue the peace the law doth principally note foure kinde of persons worthy for their offences to be imprisoned Whereof the first be they who doe commit some acts that be wrongfull iniurious and prohibited by the common lawes or Statutes of the Realme The second be they who doe attempt and prosecute vniust and wrongfull actions or suits to molest trouble or charge others The third be they who being impleaded vpon iust and good causes doe plead false or dilatorie pleas in retardation of justice and hinderaunce of the due and ordinarie course of the law The fourth be they who vpon stubbornesse contumacie or wilfulnesse refuse to doe that whâ—â—â— they know the law doth require at their hands and may enforce them vnto of euery of which amongst many I will insert some fewe cases ImprisonmeÌ„t for coÌ„mitting vnlawful acts As to the first by the Statute of Anno 5. Sta. 5. El. 14. Eliz. he shall be imprisoned and set vpon the pillorie who doth falslie forge or willingly assent or cause to be forged or made any false déede charter or writing sealed Forging of deéds Court Roll or the will of any person in writing S. Forgery â— to the intent that the estate of fréehold or inheritance of any person in any lands should be recouered or charged c. for forging of déeds is an iniurious and wrongfull act and alwaies hath bin hated detested and persecuted in this Realme Sta. 13. E. 1. 11. By the Statute of Westm 2. If the master do assigne auditors to any Bailifes Seruants Chamberlaines or other receiuors which are bound to yéeld accompt Accomptants found in arrerrages and it chaunce them to be found in arrerages all things being to them allowed they shall be arrested and by the testimonie of those auditors committed to the next Gaole which the King hath in those parts and shall be receiued by the Sherife or his Gaoler and prisoned fettered in irons liuing of their owne goods vntill they haue fully satisfied their master of all the arrerages for detayning of the arrerages of an accompt is a plaine and manifest wrong to the master 27. H. 6. 8. And this imprisonment must be presently after the accompt taken Disseison contrarie to his owne lease and not any distance of tyme after And he that doth a disseisin or maketh an entrie contrarie to his owne déede 14. Ass pla 12. Or is conuicted for the imbeziling of an Exigent or for some other notorious deceits committeth open and manifest iniurie and therefore shall be imprisoned 8. Ass â— 20. 28. Ass pla 28. If one man do make a lease of a Tenement by writing to an other for terme of life of the lessée whereupon the lessée doth enter and enioyeth it and after the lessor doth enter and disseise the lessée for life and then the lessée do bring an Assise against the lessor and recouer against him the Tenement leased in this case the same lessor shall be imprisoned for that he made an entrie contrarie to his owne deede and so willingly committed an open and manifest wrong 18. Ass p. 3. The same law is if a man do make a disseisin of land of his whole title wherein he hath before made a release or confirmation to the tenant of the same land in this case he shall be imprysoned And if a Gardian do take a feoffement of his wardes land being within age Fitz. Assise 395. he shall be imprisoned therefore for this and all the former be iniurious acts and knowen to the offendors to be prohibited by the law As touching the second point they be also worthy to be imprisoned who do attempt or prosecute vnlawfull suits to the trouble vexation of others As if one do bring an Appeal against an other 50. Ed. 3. 1. Imp. for prosecuting vnlawfull suits and that appeal do abate by the plaintifes nonsuit or by any other default of his he shall be imprisoned A woman brought an Appeal of the death of her husband against one 9. H. 4. 2. who was attainted and hanged at her suit and after shee brought an appeal against an other man of her said husbands death who pleaded the attainder of the first man in barre whereupon the appeal was abated and the woman committed to pryson for her wrongfull vexation and suit A woman brought an appeal against a man of the death of her husband 8. H. 4. 18. and her said husband was brought into the court and shée was examined if that were her husband who said yea but shée supposed that he had béen dead and therefore shée was imprisoned for her false appeal If one do bring an appeal against an other for a Murder Burglarie Robberie or other felony committed in W. in the County of N. and there is no such W. in that County the appeal shall abate and the plaintife shall be imprisoned for it is manifest that this suit was commenced vpon malice and to put the defendant to vexation and trouble and not vpon any iust cause Thirdly they are worthy to be imprysoned who do plead false Imp. for false or dilatory pleas or dilatorie pleas in hinderance of suits and retardation of justice As if a man in his plea do denie his owne deed 33. H. 6. 54. 45. Ed. 3. 11 6. Ass p. 4. 24. E. 3. 74. Sta. 34. Ed. 1 or do plead a false déed made to himselfe which is found against him by verdict or do plead a déed that is rased enterlined or otherwise suspicious that is adiudged against him he shall be imprisoned By the statute intituled De coniunctim feoffatis if the tenant in Assise do plead iointenancie of the land in demaund with his wife ImprisonmeÌ„t for false pleading of iointenancie or a stranger and sheweth a déed to testifie the same to the intent to abate the plaintifes writ and if it be found by the Assise that the exception was maliciously alleaged to delay the plaintifes right the said tenant shall be one yeare imprysoned though the assise passe for him against the plaintife And if that tenant in the assise be an Enfant who doth plead iointenancie yet if that plea be found against him 37. Ass pl. 1. he shall be imprysoned for that the said statute is generall 3. H. 6. 51. St. 13.
shall be attending vpon the Iustices to go and assist the same Iustices to arrest such offendors vpon paine of imprisonment and to make fine to the King 3 And forasmuch as the said Statute of 15. R. 2. doth not extend to Entries into tenements in peaceable manner and after holden with force nor if the persons which enter with force into any lands or tenements be wholy remoued and departed before the comming of the said Iustices or Iustice Neither is there any paine ordained if the Shirife do not obey the precepts of the Iustices in this behalfe St. 8. H. 6. 9. Therefore by an other Statute made An̄ 8. H. 6. it was ordained that the said former Statutes should be continued and executed And further that where any do make such forcible entrie into lands tenements or other possessions or hold them forcible Holding possession by force after complaint thereof made within the said Countie where such entrie is made to the Iustices of peace or to one of them by the partie grieued that the Iustices or Iustice so warned within a conuenient time cause the said Statute to be executed and that at the costes of the partie so grieued And whether such persons making such Entries be present or gone before the comming of the said Iustices or Iustice presently the same Iustices or Iustice in some good Towne next vnto the tenements so entred or in some other conuenient place according to their discretion shall haue authoritie to inquire by the people of the same Countie aswell of them that made such forcible entries into lands or tenements Feoffement of lands for maintenance as of them which hold the same with force And if it be found before any of them that any doth contrarie to this Statute then the said Iustices or Iustice shall cause the lands or tenements so entred or holden as aforesaid to be reseised and shal put the partie so put out in full possession of the same lands or tenements so entred or holden as before they were entred or holden And if any person after such entrie into lands or tenements holden with force make a feoffement or other discontinuance 〈◊〉 any Lord or other person to haue maintenaunce or to take away and defraud the possessor of his recouerie in any wise if after in an Assise or other action thereof to be taken or pursued before Iustices of Assise or other the Kings Iustices whatsoeuer they be by due inquirie thereof to be taken the same feoffements and discontinuances may be duely proued to be made for maintenance as is aforesaid then such feoffements or other discontinuances so as before made shall be void And if any person be put out or disseised of any lands or tenements in forcible manner or put out peaceablie after holden out with strong hand and armes against the Iustice of peace or after such entry any feoffement or discontinuance in any wise thereof be made An Assise or action of trespas againste disseisour by force to defraude take away the right of the possessor the party greiued in this behalfe shall haue an Assise of Nouel disseisin or a writ of Trespas against such disseisor And if the party grieued recouer by Assise or by action of Trespas and it be found by verdict or in any other manner by due forme of the Law that the partie defendant entred with force into the lands tenements or them after his entrie did hold with force then the plaintife shall recouer treble dammages against the defendant and moreouer the defendant shall make fine and ransome to the King The authority of officers of Cities and Townes enfranchised And the Maiors Iustices and Iustice of peace Shirifes and Bailifes of Cities and Boroughes hauing fraunchise shall haue in the said Cities Townes Boroughes like authoritie to auoid such Entries and in other articles aforesaid rising within the same as Iustices of peace and Shirifes in Counties and Shires haue 4 As by the foresaid Statute of 8. H. 6. if any person after entrie into lands or tenements holden with force shal make any feoffement or other discontinuance thereof to any Lord or other person to haue maintenance or to defraud the possessor of his recouery then the same feoffements discontinuances shall be void So by an other Statute made before that Anno 4. H. 4. St. 4. H. 4. 8. it was inacted A speciall Assise against a disseisor with force That if any man in his owne right to his vse or in an other mans right to his vse doth make any forcible entrie into an other mans lands by way of maintenaunce or doth take or carry away any goods of the possessors of the fréehold after any such forcible entrie then if the partie grieued or other lawfull man will affirme that the entry was made in such forcible manner the Chancellor of England may graunt to the partie greiued a speciall Assise And if the disseisor be attainted of such forcible disseisin he shall be one yeare imprisoned and pay to the partie grieued his double dammages and also dammages for his goods And one of the Iustices of the one Bench or of the other or the chiefe Baron of the Exchequer if he be learned in the law shall be named in euery such speciall Assise And no Supersedeas shal be granted to the contrarie of such Assise 5 Wherefore if a man be disseised by force of any lands or tenements by way of maintenance or that his goods be taken or carried away after such entrie made Or that he be put out or disseised of his lands in forcible manner Or that he be put out peaceablie and after holden out with force against a Iustice of peace Or after such entrie any feoffement or discontinuance be made to defraud and take away the right of the possessor then the partie grieued as his case requireth may haue a speciall Assise against the disseisor and recouer his double dammages Seuerall remedies for seuerall offences by force and dammages for his goods and the disseisor shall be one yeare imprisoned according to the foresaid Statute of 4. H. 4. St. 4. H. 4. 8. Or else he may haue an Assise of Nouel disseisin or an action of Trespas against the disseisor and recouer treble dammages and moreouer the disseisor shall make fine and ransom to the King according to the before rehearsed Statute of 8. H. 6. St. 8. H. 6. 9. Or if the plaintife will omit the benefit of recouerie of his dammages he may only craue and vse the assistance of a Iustice of peace to sée and remoue the force to record it to inquire of it and to make him restitution according as the truth of his case shall appeare to the said Iustice vpon his owne sight or be found by inquisition according to the former prouision of the said Statute of 8. H. 6. Or lastly he that is put out or holden out of his lands with force
lands hath béen made or after the same lands be holden with force he is either himselfe to reseise the same lands and put the partie in possession againe who was so forciblie expelled or kept out of possession or else he is to make his Precept to the Shirife of the same Countie to make restitution to the same partie The forme of which warrant or precept is this viz. Georgius Throckmorton Miles Buck. A warrant to the Shirife to make restitution vnus Iusticiariorum dnÌ„i Regis ad pacem in dicto Comitatu conseruandam assignatorum VicecomÌ„ eiusdem Comitatur salutem Cum per quandam Inquisitionem patriae coram me captum apud East-Claydon in Comitatu pÌ„dicto 2. die Dec. Anno regni dnÌ„i nostri Iacobi quarto suê‘ sacrÌ„m A. B. C. D. E. F. c. ac per formam statuti in hmÌ„odi casu ê“uisi compertuÌ„ fuerit qd ' L. M. de Horwood magna in ComÌ„pÌ„dict ' husb alij malefactores pacis dicti dnÌ„i Regis perturbatores 26. die No. anÌ„ dicti dnÌ„i Regis nunc quarto in quoddam messuagiuÌ„ c. N. T. in East-Claydon pÌ„dicta vi armis ingressi fuerunt ac ipsum N. T. inde expulerunt pÌ„dictuÌ„ mesuagiuÌ„ c. a pÌ„dicto 26. die c. vsque ad dictuÌ„ secunduÌ„ diem Decemb. manu forti cum potentia tenuerunt ê“ut per InquisitioneÌ„pÌ„dictam plenius liquet de recordo Ideo ex parte dicti dnÌ„i Regis tibi mando precipio quod ad hoc debitur requisitus vna cum posse Comitatur tui si necesse fuerit accedas ad mesuagiuÌ„ caetera praemissa ac eadeÌ„ cum ê‘tinentijs reseisiri facias pÌ„fatuÌ„ N. T. ad in plenam possessioneÌ„ suam inde ê“ut ipse ante ingressuÌ„pÌ„dictuÌ„ fuerat restituas mitti facias iuxta formaÌ„ dicti statuti de Ingressibus manu forti factis aediti ê“uisi Et hoc nullatenus omittas sub ê‘iculo incumbentur Teste me pÌ„fato G. Throckmorton Datum apud Fulbrooke c. tertio die Decembris c. 7. Ed. 4. 18. 4. H. 7. 18. 15. H. 7. 5. 10 If a man be indited before the Iustices of peace in the County Restitution awarded out of the K. bench for that he did with force expell and put another out of his possession of certaine lands within the same County and after this indictment is remoued into the kings bench by a Certiorari the Iustices of the same court may award a writ of Restitution to the shirife of the same County to restore possession to the party so expelled though the words of the statute of 8. H. 6. doe giue that authority only to the Iustices of peace of the County where the forcible entry is made and if he be indited before Iustices to heare determine and after the record is remoued into the K. Bench the Iustices of the same court may award restitution for that they who haue supreme authority and do represent the K. person now haue before them the record whereby the party was indited 11 By the words of the foresaid statute of 8. H. 6. it doth appeare No restitutioÌ„ but where the force is found by inguisition that one Iustice of peace alone may remoue the force 21. H. 6. 5. and also enquire thereof so may diuers Iustices But by the aforesaid statute no restitution can be made to the party put out of possession if the said expelling or putting out of possession be not found by inquisition nor but in case where the words of the Indictment vpon the statute of 8. 14. H. 6. 16. H. 6. be adhuc extratenet 12 In the foresaid statute of 8. H. 6. there is a prouiso That they which kéepe their possessions by force in any lands and tenements whereof they or their auncestors or they whose estate they haue in such lands or tenements haue continued their possession by the space of three yeares or more be not endammaged by the force of the said statute And by one other statute made Anno 31. St. 31. El. 11. Eliz. for the explanation and declaration of the meaning and intent of the said prouiso and of the law therein it was ordained declared and enacted That no restitution vpon any indictment of Forcible entry Where no restitutioÌ„ against thrée yeares possession or holding with force shal be made to any person or persons if the person or persons so indited hath had the occupation or hath béene in quiet possession by the space of thrée whole yeares together next before the day of such indictment so found his her or their estate or estates therein not ended nor determined which the party indited shall and may alledge for stay of restitution and restitution to stay vntill that be tried if the other will deny or trauerse the same And if the same allegation be tried against the same person or persons so indited then the same person or persons so indited to pay such costs damages to the other party as shal be assessed by the Iudges or Iustices before whom the same shal be tried the same costs and dammages to be recouered and leuied as is vsuall for costs and dammages contained in iudgements vpon other actions If a man hath béene in quiet and peaceable possession of lands thrée yéeres or more by a good title 4. 5. P. M Dy. 141. and then is expelled and disseised of them and the party offending is therefore indited vpon the statute of 8. H. 6. and the disseisée who was expelled is restored to his possession by a writ of Restitution and is in possession accordingly in this case he cannot iustifie the detainer of the possession of those lands by force of the foresaid prouiso contained in the statute of 8. H. 6. because his possession was interrupted discontinued for that possession must be thrée whole yéeres together without interruption before the said party may by the said prouiso kéepe his possession by force And likewise if he that is a iust and lawfull possessor of lands by the space of twenty yéeres together 3. 4. P. M. Dy. 141. be once clearely wholly remoued from the possession of the same land he cannot come againe with force and a multitude of people to put himselfe in possession therof and detaine the same with force by vertue of the prouiso in the said statute of 8. H. 6. because his possession was interrupted Neither in this case if he be indited of a Forcible entry according to the statute of 8. H. 6. shall he be relieued touching his restitution by the foresaid statute of 31. El. for that he had not the occupation nor had béene in quiet possession by the space of thrée whole yeares together of the same lands next before the day of such indictmeÌ„t found But if a man be seised of a lawfull possession by the space of thrée yéeres of any
put out by force cannot maintaine an action of trespas of forcible entry against him who hath title to enter for that his entry was no disseisin to the other who was not lawfully seised thereof but he may invite him for this forcible entry this indictment being found he shal be restored to his possession againe by a Iust of peace by vertue of the said statute of 8. H. 6. And after that 22. H. 6. 18. he that did first enter forcibly by lawful title may again enter peaceably or bring an assise of Nouel disseisin at his pleasure Fit Na. B. 249. 22. H. 6. 37. 20 If a man do enter into lands or tenements disseise one with force He that hath possessiō sueth a writ of forcible entry and after the disseisée doth réenter againe yet the same disseisee may pursue an actiō of Trespas of forcible entry against the disseisor recouer his treble damages though he be seised of the land at the time of the writ brought And therefore it is not a sufficient plea in a writ of forcible entry for the def to plead that the plaintife was seised of the same land the day of the said writ brought 20. H. 6. 12. 22. H. 6. 23. 21 A man may haue a writ of Forcible entry of a rent as well as of land Forcible entry of a rent or common for one may distraine with force for rent and that doth counteruaile an entry with force And one may haue a writ of Entry of a rent which doth suppose that the def did enter into the rent And in an Assise of rent the disseisin may be found to be done by force 39. Ass p. 4. If there be thrée iointenants of land out of the which there is a rent going vpon a distresse taken one of thē maketh rescous by force he only shal be imprisoned yet the others be disseisors And the like law is of a commō of pasture for a commoner may be force be expelled or kept out of his common And a man may kéepe his beasts in another mans ground by force 27. Ass p. 30 claiming common where he hath no common and that is disseisin by force And in either of the cases aforesaid a Iust of peace vpō complaint to him made may remoue the force but not award restitution because they are to be taken vsed in another mans land 2. H. 7. 16. 17. Ass p. 14 22 If diuers do enter with force to the vse of another Forcible entry to the vse of another who himself doth not enter but after doth agrée to this entry to his vse this agréement doth make him a disseisor or a trespassor but he shall not thereby be punished for the force for there can be no forcible entry without an actuall entry Forcible detaining by words only And yet there may be a forcible detaining of possession by words only without act as if he that hath wrongfully but peaceably entred into another mans house expelled and put out the owner thereof shall say to the same owner if he do come thither againe to enter he will kill him this is a forcible detaining of possession 23 If there be two iointenants or tenants in common of certaine lands one of them doth expell put forth the other out of possession of the said lands by force Iointenants or tenants in common expelling each other by force he that is so expelled 8. Ed. 4. 9. 19. 10. H. 7. 27. Fit Na. Br. 249. 21. E. 4. 10. 18. H. 6. 5. may haue an action of Trespas of forcible entry against his companion that did so expell him vpon the said statute of 8. H. 6. for the words of the writ may be verified Expulit Disseisiuit and therupon he shall haue a writ of Restitution to restore him to his former estate But if one iointenant or tenant in common of lands doe expell the other by force out of the same lands he that is so expelled cannot maintaine a writ of Entry vpon the statute of 5. R. 2. against his companion that so put him foorth and suppose that he did enter into the same lands vbi ingressus non datur per legē for that his entry and possession in that land is lawful through the whole land in respect of his owne moitie or estate and further séeing by that action the plaintife is to recouer but only dammages as in an action of Trespas and not to be restored to his possession which action of Trespasse one iointenant or tenant in common cannot maintaine against another for any Trespas done in the land so holden by them Who may bring a writ of Entry vpon the statute of 5. R. 2. 24 None can maintaine a writ of Entry vpon the said statute of 5. R. 2. 8. E. 4. 9. 19. vbi ingressus non datur per legem but onely tenant in fée simple tenant in fée taile or tenant for terme of life at the least for tenant for terme of yeares a copyholder or a tenant at will cannot pursue and maintaine it seeing they haue but the manurance and occupation of the land 4. H. 7. 1. Neither can the King bring the said Action nor an Assise Eiectione firmae nor action vpon the statute of 8. H. 6. Nor any other action which doth proue him out of possession of the land Turning a watercourse by force 25 If a man do enter into another mans ground Plow Com̄ 467. and turne away by force an ancient watercourse which he hath running to his myll the party grieued may haue a speciall Assise of Nusance vpon the statute of 4. H. 4. against the offendor recouer his double damages yet he was not put out nor disseised of his freehold but a Nusance was done to the dammage thereof The plea of not guilty in forcible entry 26 In a writ of Forcible entry the defendant may plead not guilty Lib. int̄ fol. 330. Fit N. B. 249. 14 H. 6. 16. 22. H. 6. 57. 22. H. 6. 17. 9. H. 6. 19. 21. H. 6. 39. that shal be a good plea. But if the defendant doe plead some matter in barre yet he must in the end of the barre trauerse and deny the entry with force which is alledged against him as to say without that he did enter with force c. And the plaintife must answer to that speciall matter alledged in the barre without answering to the Trauerse of the force and vpon that speciall matter the issue must be ioyned and not vpon the force And if that speciall matter alledged in the barre be found by verdict with the defendant he shal be excused and the force shall not be inquired of But if it be found with the plaintife and against the defendant then the defendant shal be attainted of force and render treble dammages and treble costes without inquirie of the force
the same peace 32 As in the causes aforesaid force may be lawfully vsed to the persons of men so in some other cases forces may be vsed forcible entries may be lawfully made into the lands and tenements of others Where the house of a man may be broken by force and where not As for Treason or Felony or suspition of Felony one may by force breake open a house if the dores be shut to apprehend the Felon 13. E. 4. 9. For as a Felon is an enemy to the Common-wealth so is it for the benefit of the Commonwealth to apprehend him And the King as head of the Cōmonwealth hath interest in felony to punish it and so a house doth not defend an entry to pursue and arrest one that hath committed felony or is suspected therof As if one hath wounded a man 7. E. 3. 16. whereby he is in perill of death and the offendor doth flie into a house the Constable or those that do pursue him may breake open the house to apprehend him if the dores be shut And in like sort if a fray be made or a quarrell be moued in a house whereof the dores be shut whereby the peace is broken or like to be broken the Shirife a Iustice of peace or a Constable may by force breake open the dore of the house to appease that quarrell or to take surety of the offendors to kéepe the peace And if a man be outlawed of Treason or Felony or in a personall action whereby a Capias vtlagatum is directed to the Shirife to apprehend and take him the Shirife may breake open the dores of the house if they be shut apprehend the same Outlaw and commit him to prison And if it be found by an inquisition before a Iustice of peace that one hath entred into another mans house by force or doth detaine it by force after peaceable entry made he may breake open the house by force to reseise the same land and to put the party so put out in possession againe and so may the Shirife doe hauing the Iustices warrant If a man be indited of Trespas and a Capias pro fine is awarded to the Shirife to take him 27. Ass p. 35 the Shirife may breake open the house to take him if the dores be shut And in all cases where the king is party the Shirife may breake the house of the party offēding Co. li. 5. 91. 13. Ed. 4. 9. or the house where he is to apprehend him or otherwise to execute the Kings proces if the dores be not open or that he cannot otherwise enter for where the King hath interest the writ or action is in the nature of a writ of Non omittas propter aliquam libertatem But this is to be obserued that alwaies before the Shirife or other Officer doth breake open the house or dores of any man Fitz. Execution 252. he must signifie the cause of his comming and desire that the dore may be opened vnto him for if there be no default in the owner the law doth condemne the breaking of a house which was prouided for the dwelling and safetie of men And therefore in any of the cases aforesaid if the Shirife doe breake open the house where some of the dores of the same be open whereby he may enter or that he may open the dore by the key or without breaking he is a Trespassor and is chargeable therefore to the owner of the house in an action of Trespas Sta. 3. E. 1. 17 13. Ed. 1. 38. If one man doe distraine another mans cattell and after doe put them into a Castle Fortresse or other strong hold house or place and then the owner of the cattell doth sue a Repleuin directed to the Shirife to make deliuery to him of the same cattell then if the same Castle Fortresse House or Hold be not opened to the Shirife vpon his solemne request when he commeth to make deliuerance of the cattell according to the purport of his writ he may take the force and power of his County and breake downe the same castle fortresse or house c. and make deliuerance of the same cattell for it would tend to the dishonor of the King his Crowne that the Shirife hauing the kings writ should be resisted with force by any of his owne subiects to execute the same and to make deliuerance of the cattell When any house is recouered by one man against another in any reall action Co. lib. 5. 91 or by an Erectione firmae the Shirife hauing the K. writ of Habere facias seisinam or possessionē may breake open the same house if the dores be shut to deliuer seisin or possession to the demaundant or plaintife for after iudgement the house in right by the censure of the law is none of the tenants or defendants But it is not lawfull for the Shirife at the suit of any common person to breake the house of the defendant in the same suit to execute proces though he doe make request and be denied it for thereupon might ensue great inconuenience 18. E. 4. 4. that vpon colour of any fained suit a man should haue his house being his castle of defence broken by day or by night by any Vndershirife or Baylife being many times of small abilitie And therfore if in that case the Shirife breake any mans house to make execution of any proces at the suit of a common person he is a trespassor to the owner of the same house who may haue an action of Trespas against him therefore as against any other person and shall recouer his dammages But notwithstanding the execution which the said Shirife shall then and there make is good And yet the house of a man is a castle and place of priuiledge but for himselfe his wife Co. li. 5. 93 seruants and ordinarie resiants and for his owne goods for it will not protect any other man which will flie into his house or the goods of any other person which shal be brought into his house to preuent lawfull execution and to escape the ordinary proces of the law And therefore in any of those cases if the Shirife hauing proces to doe execution vpon the body or goods of a man do make request to haue the dore opened or to haue the body of the party flying thither or the goods of another brought thither to be deliuered vnto him and it be denied him or that it be not done the Shirife may breake the house and execute the proces 33 As force is to be vsed lawfully where it is for the benefit of the king or to auaile the Commonwealth so euery man being of himselfe a little world his family a small Commonwealth he the head thereof may in diuers cases defend the same Commonwealth by force Cok. lib. 5. 91. 26. Ass p. 23 32. Fitz. Cor. 303. 305. 22. Assise p. 55. St. 24. H. 8. 5
21. H. 7. 39. As In what cases any pâ—rson may deâ—end himselfe and his by force if theeues or robbers do come to a mans house to rob or murther him he may defend his house by force and if he or his seruants do kill any of them they shall receiue no hurt thereby And if a man being in his house doe heare that another will come to his house to beat him he may lawfully assemble his neighbors and friends to assist and aid him in the defence of his person for his house is his castle and place of protection defence where he must dwell But if a man be threatened â—hat if he come to such a Market or Fayre or to such a place that then he shall be beaten in this case he may not assemble his neighbours and friends to go thither in safegard of his person for there is no necessitie that he should go thither seeing it would rather be a meane to seeke a quarrell then to eschew it but in that case he may take his remedy by surety of peace 16. Ed. 4. 17. 9. E. 4. 28. 19. H. 6. 31. 6. H. 7. 1. And if there be an atteÌ„pt made to maihem wound or beat a man his wife father mother or any of his children within age or to disseise him of his land or to dispossesse him of his goods or to disturbe him of his high way or to turne an ancient watercourse from his mill he may lawfully vse force to resist it 34 As the law hath prouided by the before rehearsed statute of 15. R. 2. St. 15. R. 2. 2. that wheÌ„ any forcible entry shal be made into any benefices or offices of the church a Iustice of peace shall take the power of the county and commit the offendors to the gaole So hath it further deuised that if there be debate betwéene two persons for one church and one of them doth enter into the church with a great power of lay men and holdeth out the other by force and armes then he which is holden out The writ of Vi laica remouenda to remoue force shall haue a writ of Vi laica remouenda directed to the Shirife commaunding him that he shal remoue the power which is within the church and the shirife shal be further commaunded that if he doe find any that doe resist he shall take with him the power of the county and attach the bodies of all the resisters and commit them to prison so that he may haue their bodies before the King at a certaine day to answer for their contempt Fitz. Na. B. 55. But by this writ the Shirife ought not to remoue the Incumbent who is in possession of the church be he in possession by right or wrong but only to remoue the force and to suffer the Incumbent to inioy his possession for if he do remoue the Incumbent the same Incumbent shall haue a writ to the Shirife to restore him to it againe Where force shal be remoued for the K. incumbent where not 35 If the King do bring a Quare impedit against the disturber and the Incumbent and the Kings title is found for him Br. force 20 whereupon his clarke is instituted by writ and after the first Incumbent doth enter by force great number of people and doth take the profits the Kings Incumbent shall not haue the Kings writ to the Shirife to remoue the force for that when the iudgemeÌ„t giuen by the court is executed the court hath no more power to deale in that cause But if the defendant had disturbed the Bishop to admit the Kings Incumbent then he should haue had such a writ ⧠Forgerie 1 HAuing vndertaken to write of the great and generall maladies of the Realme and the chiefe impediments of the iustice and peace of the kingdome I shall not farre digresse from my theame by treating of Forgerie Periury Maintenance Deceit Extortion and Oppression wherein though a man be not assaulted by the rapier and dagger pike-staffe or bilbow-blade as he is in a fray forcible entrie or riot yet a forged déed that conueyeth his land from him a false othe which depriueth him of his lease or vnlawfull mantenance that wresteth his credit or goods from him do longer disturbe the peace of his mind stick in his stomacke and infixeth a déeper and more durable impression of sorrow into his heart than a boxe on the eare a dust in the necke or a blow with a cudgell giuen on the sodaine will doe For the griefe of these later stripes is short and doe weare out of mans mind by little and little as his choller ceaseth and his hot bloud cooleth but the discontent and the wants which he receiueth of the former blowes doe continue with him and yéeld him most dislike when he is most patient and best aduised And therefore the wisedome of this Realme hath from age to age taken great care by lawes and statutes to represse them and to inflict vpon the offendors in euerie of them penalties correspondent to their deserts Our lawes doe chastise those that breake the peace by frayes assaults batteries riots or routs with imprisonment of their bodies vntill their hot blouds be cooled and their distemperat humors be qualified but they doe impose sharper and more durable punishments vpon such as doe forge déeds commit or procure periurie Forgerie periurie maintenance do ten 5 to the breach of the peace or bee maintainers of other mens suits or quarels accounting these last offences to tend more and for a longer time to the breach or blemish of the peace or hinderance of the iustice of the Realme than the former doe As hee that committeth forgerie in some cases shall bée set vpon the pillorie loose his eares haue his nostrels slit and pay to the partie grieued his double costs and dammages And in some other cases shall be hanged as a felon He that committeth periurie shall in some cases be one yeare imprisoned be set vpon the pillorie and neuer after be allowed as a witnesse And hee that maintaineth other mens suites shall in some cases be thrée yeres imprisoned and further punished at the kings pleasure And in some other cases sustaine other disgraces And therefore the preamble of the statute of anno 1. St. 1. H. 5. 3. H. 5. doth truely informe vs that forged déeds do trouble and change the lands of good people intending to be in peace And the statute of anno 32. St. 32. H. 8. 9 H. 8. doth teach vs that the suborning of witnesse for to maintain any matter or cause is to the disturbaÌ„ce or hinderance of iustice The enormity of Forgerie 2 The forging of false sealed Déeds Euidences or Writings or of Court Rols or of the will of any person or of any Obligation Bill obligatorie Release or other discharge or the pronouncing publishing or giuing in euidence of the same wherby any person shal be molested troubled charged
the land be seuerall yet their possession touching the profit thereof is ioynt And this Action is founded vpon the possession And whereas both the Statute of 1. H. 5. and 5. Eliz. doe ordaine that the partie and parties grieued shall and may at his and their pleasure haue and sue this Action of forger of false déedes in this case both the Ioyntenants and tenants in common be the parties grieued for that their land is molested troubled recouered or charged by this forged déed Fitzh Forger 5. But if there be two Ioyntenants or tenants in common of certaine land and one of them doth forge a false Release or other Déede whereby the whole land is intended to be conueied to himselfe in this case the other Ioyntenant or c. may haue an Action of forger of false déeds against his said ioyntenant or c. for that forged and false déede was made to the intent that the right or title of the forgers companion in estate should be molested troubled defeated or recouered And in this case he is the partie grieued to whose onely disherison the said forgery doth trench 21. H. 6. 4. 21 In an Action of forger of false déedes One sealeth a déed by an others commandement the Defendant pleaded that the Plaintife being seised of certaine land did couenant with a stranger to enfeoffe him of the same land whereupon the same stranger came to the defendant being a Clerk and requested him to make a déed of feoffment of the same land which he did and after by the plaintifes commaundement he sealed the same déede and after did reade the déede at the time of the liuerie and seisin which is the same forgerie and proclamation and that was adiudged a good Plea for when the defendant sealed the feoffement by the plaintifes commaundement and in his presence it was the plaintifes owne act and déede and his owne sealing and not the defendants for the plaintife did vse the defendants hand but as his instrument therein as men vnlearned doe vse an other mans hand to helpe or direct them to subscribe their names to a Deede 9. H. 6. 26. 7. H. 6. 34. 22 If the father do forge a déede and after dieth One forgeth and another doth publish and then his sonne doth find the same déede and doth pronounce publish or shew forth in euidence the same déede knowing the same to be false and forged to the intent the estate of fréehold or inheritance of any person of in or to any lands c. should be molested troubled defeated or recouered this is forgerie in the sonne and he shall be punished according to the foresaid Stat. of 5. El. And the same law is if one man do forge a déed or c. and an other man knowing thereof shall publish it to any of the intents aforesaid this is forgerie prohibited by the same statute for the same stat of 5. Eliz. is in the disiunctiue viz. if any person shall forge or publish Forgerie by antedating of a deed 23 If a man doe make a feoffement to one person of certaine land 27. H. 6. 3. and doth deliuer possession therof accordingly and after he doth make a feoffement to another person of the same land bearing date before the first feoffement but doth not deliuer it this last feoffement is not the feoffors déed But yet if hée do publish it to be his déed the first feoffée may haue an action of forger of false déeds against him for when he had made the first feoffement of the land hée then had nothing left in him of the same land And therefore when hée made the second antedated déed of that land it was a false and forged déed and then after publishing pronouncing or shewing it forth to be his déed it was with intent to molest trouble defeat recouer or charge the land of the first and lawfull feoffée and so he is punishable according to the foresaid stat of 5. El. as hée was before by the stat of 1. H. 5. 24 Though the foresaid two statutes of 1. H. 5. and 5. Eliz. were ordained to punish those who should forge any false déed or c. to the intent to molest trouble charge or recouer the right or title of any person in his lands tenements or hereditaments or to the intent that any person should claime any lease for yeares or annuitie or should forge any Obligation Bill obligatorie Release Acquitance or other discharge of any debt account action suit demaund or other thing personall yet was there no prouision in either of them to punish those who should get into their hands any money goods cattels iewels or things of any other persons by colour of a false token or forged or counterfeit letter for the redresse whereof by a statute made anno 33. H. 8. St. 33. H. 8. 1 it was enacted That if any person or persons of what estate or degrée soeuer hee or they be Getting of other mens goods by counterfeit tokens or letters shall falsely and deceitfully obtaine or get into his or their hands or possession any money goods cattels iewels or other things of any other person or persons by colour or means of any false tokē or counterfeit letter made in another mans name that then euerie such person persons so offending being thereof lawfully conuict by witnesses taken before the L. Chauncelor of England for the time being or by examination of witnesses or confession taken in the Star chamber before the K. honorable Counsel or before the Iust of Assise in their circuits for the time being or before the Iust of peace within any part of the K. dominions in their generall Sessions or by action in any of the K. courts of record shal haue suffer such correction punishment by imprisonment of his body setting vpō the pillorie or otherwise by any corporal pain except pain of death as shal be vnto him or them limited adiudged or appointed by the person and persons before whom he shal be so conuicted of the said offences or any of them Suspected persons called before the Iustices 25 As wel the Iust of Assise for the time being as also ij St. 33. H. 8. 1 Iust of peace in euerie countie whereof one to be of the Quorū shal haue power authoritie to call and conuent by proces otherwise to the said Assises or generall sessions any person or persons being suspected of any of the aforesaid offences to cōmit him or thē toward or to let him or thē to baile vntil the next Assises or general sessiōs there to be examined and further to be ordered by their discretions as is abouesayd Prouided alwayes that the Iustices of peace within euerie Citie Borough Towne and Franchise within this Realme or other the kings dominions shall haue like iurisdiction power and authoritie at their generall Sessions and otherwise to do and execute all and euerie
thing and things in all points as other Iustices of Assise in their circuits or Iustices of peace in the Counties by vertue of this Act be limited and appointed to do and execute for the punishment and correction of like offendors as beforesaid is limited Sauing to the partie grieued by such deceit such remedie by way of action The remedie of the partie grieued or otherwise of for the same money goods cattels iewels or other things so obtained as he might haue had if this Act had neuer bin made Any thing in this Act c. notwithstanding 26 Forgerie of writings hath béene alwayes so hatefull in this realme that our law-makers haue pursued the practisers therof with sharpe and bitter punishment though in some cases the same was not put in vse to molest or euict any man of his land lease annuitie debt account action suit or other demaund nor to get into his hands any others goods cattels or iewels but only to escape the ordinance and censure of the law As by a statute made anno 5. Eliz. it is established St. 5. El. 7. That no person retained in husbandry or in certain inferior arts or faculties in the said statute mentioned shal depart out of one citie towne or parish into another nor out of the Lathe Rape Wapentake or Hundred nor out of the County or Shire where he last serued to serue in another Citie Towne Forging of a testimoniall c. vnlesse he haue a Testimoniall of the said Citie or town corporat from whence he departed or of the Constable or other officer c. And if any such person shall be taken with any counterfeit or forged testimoniall then he shal be whipped as a vagabond ⧠Periurie Subornation of witnesses Truth tried by the othes of men 1 THe Law of the Realme desirous to trie out truth in all causes called in question before her to the end she might procéed in iudgement and execute iustice accordingly hath in all ages prooued it to bee the best meanes to search out this truth by the othes of honest lawful and indifferent persons intending that the man who doth professe God to bee his Creator Redéemer and Sanctifier and hopeth to be saued by his blood when hee doth come in the presence of that God and his people and doth aduisely sweare that he will declare the trueth according to his knowledge in that matter in question as God shall help him which is to say as he will expect the blessing of God in this life and eternall saluation in the life to come is void of all partialitie and priuat affection in all respects to be credited and will tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth And therefore an othe is aptly termed Sacramentum a holy band or sacred tie or godly vow The credit of an othe some do call it firmamētum veritatis the foundation ground of truth and some other vinculum pacis a meane of the knot or lincke of peace And if it be taken and found by a whole Iurie consisting vpon twelue persons or aboue it is called veredictum viz. a presentment of truth And others doe hold it a ceremonie instituted by God wherein himselfe is a partie and therefore he will see it verified or sharply punished Wée know that the proofe of most of our acts déeds and writings doe depend vpon the othes of others and whatsoeuer men do for their owne particular account most certaine is altogether in most cases vncertaine vnlesse it may be iustified by the othes of others As if one doe commit murder rape burglarie robberie or other offence whatsoeuer and it be denied and cannot be prooued by the othe of some other the offendor shall escape vnpunished for it And likewise if a man do buy land of another if the feoffor doe make him a déed of feoffement thereof do seale and deliuer it and giue him possession and after will denie it vnlesse it can be prooued by the othe of some other the feoffée shall loose his land and money And so it is of leases annuities releases acquitances obligations bargaines contracts couenants promises offences entries disseisins and other matters in fait if they be denied trauersed and called in question the proof and validitie of them doth depend wholly vpon the othes and testimonie of others And there is no case so plaine which commeth in question betweene partie and partie but one of the parties to the sute may pleade such a plea as shall come to be tried by the othes of others 2 Therefore as the Lawe doth reuerently respect the othes of men What sorts of persons are to be deposed taketh her intelligence of matters in fait from them doth cleaue leane vnto them and giueth such credite and approbation vnto them that shée doth found and build her iudgements in most cases of greatest importance vpon them So shée retaineth a vigilant and carefull eye that those othes be taken by men of sinceritie of life and maturitie of iudgement persons not stained with Periurie or other gréeuous or foule offences men indifferently affected and such as will in swearing respect the trueth of their knowledge and not the face of the person for if shée espie any of those defects in him she doth either wholly reiect his othe or else shée giueth little or no credite vnto it and further inflicteth condigne punishment vpon him according to his desert Mag. Char. 9. H. 3. 29. 3 And because the King himselfe at his Coronation is sworne that iustice shall be solde deferred or denied to no man nor that any man shall be condemned but by lawfull triall and euery of his Iudges be sworne that hée shall doe equall Lawe and execution of iustice to all the Kings Subiects Sta. 18. Ed. 3 rich and poore without hauing regard to any person All the parties to the execution of iustice sworne Therefore the law hath deuised that those Iudges before whome any cause is called in question and is brought to an issue shall be informed of the trueth of that issue by the othes and verdict of twelue Iurors who are impannelled returned and sworne to trie that issue to the end the same Iudges may ground their iudgement thereupon and so doe equall iustice to the parties according to their oathes and also that the saide Iurors shall be ascertained of the veritie of the fact by the Othes of witnesses or other euidences that they may giue their verdict thereupon according to their Othes And séeing those Iurors being the greatest number of persons that be vsually sworne for the furtherance and execution of iustice be returned by the Shiriffe of the Countie where the cause dependeth in question his vndershirife or the Bailife of some Libertie or for some default in them by the Coroners Therefore the Lawe hath further ordained that the saide Shiriffe Vndershiriffe or c. shall be indifferent persons of themselues and also deale vprightly
of the Iurors and that the Iuror in respect thereof doth beare an extraordinarie affection and is to make a recompence to the same partie and that therefore in this triall hée will fauour him and be a meane of Periurie and therefore if the Iuror be challenged for that cause he shall be drawen And some doe affirme the same cause of challenge and feare of Periurie to be 7. H. 6. 40. 19. H. 6. 66. if a Iuror hath béene godfather to either of the parties to that triall or to any childe of his 14 The Lawe expecting to be satisfied per Veredictum Iuratorum of the trueth of such causes as doe come to an issue dooth carefully foresée that those Iurors who are to deliuer the trueth by their verdict Periurie suspected in respect of ignorance of the cause should either before the time of the triall vpon their owne priuate knowledge or by their Euidence at the time of the triall be certainely informed of that trueth of the thing in question lest by ignorance mistaking falshoode for trueth they should slide into Periurie And because those that be dwelling or haue some land where the land lease or thing in question doth lie are more likely to haue intelligence of the trueth of the cause in question both to satisfie themselues and informe their Companions than other strangers of the same Countie are who dwell farre off the Lawe hath ordained by the Statute of Anno 27. Elizab. That there shall be sixe sufficient Hundredors impannelled vppon euery Issue ioyned which is to be tried in any of the Courts of the Kings Bench Stt. 27. El. 6. Common Pleas and the Exchequer Want of Hundredors or before the Iustices of Assise in all cases where euerie Iuror by the auncient lawes of this Realme ought to haue fortie shillings of fréeholde at the least And that at or vppon the triall of any personall action there shall two sufficient Hundredors at the least appeare And for that cause if in those cases there be not so many Hundredors at the least the Lawe doth conceiue they be ignorant of the truth of the Issue in triall And to that end for the auoiding of Periurie she will reiect the whole Iurie if they be challenged And so it is in an Assise where the plaintife is to be put in possession per Visum Iuratorum if he recouer or in any action where the Iurie is to haue the view of the land in question 8. Ed. 3. 69. Fitz. Chall 102. 169. if the same Iurors Want of the view or some of them had not the view of the land in question nor did know it before the Lawe will suspect that they will commit Periurie if they should be sworne séeing they be ignorant of the land and know it not in specie And therefore vpon challenge they shall be remooued 1. R. 3. 4. 15 Because our Law-makers haue in seuerall ages found by experience that nothing is a greater motiue enticement Periurie in respect of pouertie or rather inforcement to Periurie than néede and pouertie Therefore they haue endeuoured by many Statutes to prouide that such as be returned of Enquests should not onely be men of good behauiour and credite but also of conuenient liueliehoode estate and abilitie to liue of themselues for that Necessitie which hath no lawe nor bridle should not compell them to sell truth for rewardes nor to plunge themselues into Periurie for bribes And for the preuention of this Periurie in poore persons and such as bee of meane and weake estate Stt. 21. Ed. 1 by a Statute made Anno 21. Ed. 1. it was ordained That no Shiriffe Vndershiriffe or Bayliffe of Libertie shall put in any Recognisaunces of Assises Iuries Enquests or Attaints Iurors impanelled that shal passe out of their owne Counties that shall passe out of their proper County any person of their Bayliwickes except he hath lands and tenements to the yearely value of a hundred shillings at the least or that shall passe within the Countie except hée hath lands to the yearely value of xl s. And for the same cause vpon the same reason of preuention of periurie in poore and néedy persons by a Statute made Anno 3. H. 5. it was established St. 3. H. 5. 3 That no persons shall be admitted to passe in any enquest vpon triall of the death of a man or in any enquest betwéene partie and partie in plea reall or in plea personall whereof the debt or dammages declared do amount to xl Markes if the same person hath not lands and tenements of the yerely value of xl s̄ aboue all charges so that he be challenged for that cause by the party But by the Statute of An̄ 23. H. 8. St. 23. H. 8. 13. euery person being the Kings naturall subiect borne which by the name of a Citizen a fréeman Iurors to try felonies in corporat townes or any other name doth inioy the liberties of any Citie borough or town corporat where he dwelleth being worth in goods to the cléere value of xl li. shall be admitted in triall of Murders and felonies in euery Sessions and gaoles of deliuery kept in and for the libertie of such Cities Boroughes or Townes corporat albeit he hath no fréehold But this Act extendeth not to any Knight or Esquire dwelling abyding or resorting in or to any such citie borough c. And by the Statute of An̄ 27. Eliz. it was enacted Sta. 27. El. 6. That in all cases where any Iuror to bee returned for the triall of any issue or issues ioyned in any of the Courts of the Kings Bench common Pleas the Exchequer or before Iustices of Assise by the Lawes of the Realme now in force ought to haue estate of fréehold in lands Where Iurors must haue 4. li. land tenements or hereditaments of the cléere yerely value of xl s̄ in euery such case the Iurors that shal be returned shall euery of them haue estate of fréehold in lands c. to the cléere yearely value of foure pounds at the least out of auncient demesne within the Countie where the issue is to be tried By the Statute of 11. H. 7. it is prouided St. 11. H. 7. 21. That no person shal be impannelled summoned or sworne in any Iury or Enquest in Courts within the citie of London Iurors in London except he be of lands tenements goods or cattels to the value of xl Markes And no person shall be impannelled summoned or sworne in Iuries or Enquests in any Court within the said Citie for lands or tenements or action personall wherein the debt or dammages amounteth to the summe of xl markes except he be in lands tenemēts goods or cattels to the value of one hundred marks St 19. H. 7. 13. By the Statute of Anno 19. H. 7. it was ordained That euery of the xxiiij persons dwelling within the shire where any riot
Iurors to enquire of riots rout or vnlawfull assembly shall be committed which shall be returned by the Sherife to enquire thereof shall haue lands and tenements within the same shire to the yearely value of xx s. of Charter land or freehold or twentie sixe shillings eight pence of copiehold or of both aboue all charges But in that case by the Statute of Anno 2. H 5. St. 2. H. 5. 8. if they be returned by the Coroners then euery of them shall haue lands and tenements or rents to the yearely value of tenne pounds at the least By the Statute of Anno 1. St. 1. R. 3. 4. R. 3. it was enacted That no officer shall returne in any panell to be taken or put in Iurors in the sherifs Turne or vpon any inquisition or inquirie before the Sherife in his Turne other than such which bee of good name and fame and which haue lands or tenements of freehold within the same countie to the yearly value of xx s̄ at the least or else copyhold lands to the yearely value of xxvj s̄ viij d. at the least aboue all charges By the Statute of An̄ 8. H. 6. Sta. 8. H. 6. 9 it was prouided That euery person which shall be returned to inquire of any forcible entrie into lands Iurors to inquire of forcible entrie or detayning of lands by force shall be a sufficient indifferent person and shall haue lands and tenements to the cléere yearely value of xl s̄ By the Statute of An̄ 1. H. 8. it was established Sta. 1. H. 8. 8. That euery Iuror which is returned before any escheator Iurors returned before Escheators or commissioner to inquire of lands or tenements or some other to his vse shall haue lands or tenements of the yearely value of xl s. aboue all charges in the same shire where the inquirie shall be made St. 11. H. 7. 21. 23. H. 8. 3. 37. H. 8. 5. And by the stat made An̄ 11. H. 7. An̄ 23. H. 8. An̄ 37. H. 8. The Iurors returned vpon an attaint in London or els where shal be of more or greater ability in lands tenements goods or cattels then is before specified 16 The law hauing first vsed al good deuises to cause shirifes vndershirifes Bailifes of liberties coroners al others authorized to return impannel Iuries to be indifferent to returne the said Iuries Iurors without al partiality that they shal be no furtherers maintainors nor assistors to periury subornation or embracery also hauing prouided that all those Iurors which be so returned vpon Enquests to try issues betwéen party party may again one by one be sifted tried examined whether they standing vnsworne be indifferent or not She doth then expect to receiue from those Iurors Veredictū a true tale that is to say a true verdit or presentment of such things as be giuen them in charge according to their euidence But if the same Iurors will decline from truth and make a false presentment contrarie to their euidence then is it not to be termed Veredictum but Periurium and it will be returned to them as Maledictum for by the common Law they being attainted by the verdict of xxiiij other Iurors shall receiue a cursed and villanous iudgement therefore viz. the said Iurors shall loose the fréedom of the Law their wiues children shall be thrust out of their houses Fit Ass 396. 46. Ed. 3. 23. 42. Ed. 3. 26 6. Assi◠p. 7. 30. Ass p. 24 40. Ass p. 20. 41. Ass p. 18. Li. Int. fo 92 The iudgement in an at the common law of a Iury proued periured their houses shall be pulled downe to the ground their orchards gardens shall be supplanted their trées shall be digged vp by the roots their meadowes shall be eyred vp All the goods cattels which they had at the time of the Attaint brought or at any time after shal be forfeited to the King The King shall haue all the profits of their lands during their liues And they shall be committed to perpetuall prison Which iudgement was deuised many yeres put in execution to the intent it might be knowen how much the common Law did detest and punish wilfull Periurie and falshood in those who shée trusted in place of justice and from whom shée accompted to receiue truth 17 But sithence by the Statute of An̄ 11. H. 7. and An̄ 23. H. 8. the said iudgement against a petit Iurie attainted is in some cases altered and qualified Sta. 11. H. 7. 21. for by the Statute of 11. H. 7. it is ordained That the party grieued by any false verdict giuen in any of the Courts of the Citie of London shall and may sue Attaint by Bill in the Hustings of London The iudgement in Attaint in London holden for common Pleas before the Maior Aldermen of the same Citie And if the graund Iurie sworne in the same Attaint find that the petit Iurie haue giuen an vntrue verdict then the iudgement shal be against the defendant as is vsed in attaint sued by writ at the common Law And the iudgement shall be against the petit Iurie that euery of them shall loose xx li. or more by the discretion of the Maior and Aldermen of the said Citie kéeping the Hustings to such vses as other issues and penalties béen forfeited in any action or plaint commenced before the Mayor and Aldermen of the said citie and his bodie to bee imprisoned there to remaine without baile or mainprise vj. moneths or lesse by the discretion of the Mayor and Aldermen and to be disabled for euer to be sworn in any Iurie before any temporall Iudge But the iudgement in such Attaint shall not extend to any lands or tenements St. 23. H. 8. 3 An. 13. El. 25. ne to other punishment of the petit Iurie And by the before mentioned Statute of Anno 23. H. 8. it was enacted That vpon euery vntrue verdit giuen betwéene partie and partie in any suit plaint or demaund before any Iustices or Iudges of Record where the thing in demaund and verdict thereupon giuen extendeth to the value of fourtie pounds An attaint where the thing eetendeth to xl l. and concerneth not the ieopardie of mans life the partie grieued by the same verdict shall haue a writ of Attaint against euery person so giuing an vntrue verdict and euery of them and against the partie which shall haue iudgement vpon the same verdict And euery one that shall passe in the same Attaint shall haue lands and tenements to the value of twentie markes by yeare of fréehold out of auncient demesne And if the graund Iurie find that the petit Iurie gaue an vntrue verdict then euery of the said petit Iurie shall forfeit twentie pounds whereof one halfe shall be to the King and the other halfe to him that sueth to be leuied by Capias ad satisfaciendum fieri facias
or meanes of any others or by his owne act consent or agréement shall wilfully and corruptly commit any manner of wilfull Periury Periury committed by witnesses for Bankrupts by his deposition to be taken before the said Commissioners or the greater part of them as is aforesaid Then the party or parties so offending and all and euery person and persons that shall vnlawfully and corruptly procure any such vnlawfull wilfull and corrupt Periurie shall or may therefore be indited in any of the Kings Courts of Record and after his or their conuiction thereof shall incurre such forfeiture and receiue and haue such paines and punishment as are limitted by the statute made concerning Periury St. an̄ 5. El. 9. Anno 5. Eliz. 9. Co. li. 5. f. 99 28 A man cannot be indited for Periurie vpon the foresaid statute of 5. Periury committed vpon an indictment of Riot El. for giuing false euidence on his oath to the Enquest at a Sessions vpon an Indictment of Riot For the statute was ordained against procurers of Periurie in a matter depending in suit and variance by any Writ Action Bill Complaint or Information and so procurement of Periurie vpon an indictment is out of this braunch of the said statute And the second braunch of the same statute touching committing of Periury shal haue the same construction which the first hath though it be not there in words and shall haue reference to the first And it shal be expounded as if the words of the statute had béene If any person shall wilfully and corruptly commit any wilfull Periurie in any cause depending in suit by any Writ Bill Action c. And the same law is if a man commit wilfull Periury Periury vpon an indictment of Felony vpon euidence giuen to the great Enquest vpon an indictment of Felony he is not to be punished by force of the foresaid statute of Anno 5. Eliz. Periury in prouing a suggestion for a prohibition 29 If wilfull Periurie be committed in the Kings bench 7. 8. Eliz. Dyer 243. by any witnesse produced to proue a Suggestion for a Prohibition there graunted against an Ecclesiasticall Iudge according to the statute of 2. 3. E. 6. St. 2. E. 6. 13 whereby the party is staied of this consultation this shall not be examined and punished in the Starre chamber for the statute of 3. H. 7. St. 3. H. 7. 1 which maketh mention of such things as the Court of Starre chamber is to hold plea of prouideth no more punishment by speciall words for Periurie then it doth for Murder or Rape There is a prouiso in the foresaid statute of Anno 5. El. That the Lord Chancelor and others of the Qu. Counsell shall and may procéed in the punishment of all offences in such wise as they might haue done and vsed to do before the making of the said Act to all purposes so that they set vpon the offendors no lesse punishment then is contained in the said Act. 30 A Bill of Periurie may be sued in the Chancery for a periurie committed in the same Court A suit vpon periury in the Chancery contrary to the foresaid statute of Anno 5. 12. El. Dy. 288. El. and if the defendant do plead vnto it not guilty he shall be sworne to his plea and also shall answer to Interrogatories as it is vsually done in the Starre chamber for the L. Chauncellor had absolute power before the said statute of Ann̄ 5. El. to punish Periury And therefore by a prouiso in the said statute his power therein is not restrained by the same statute And if the Court of Chauncery will examine Periury committed there it must be done by a bill in Latin and pleaded in Latin and the issue shal be ioyned there and tried in the K. Bench as it is vsed in the like cases Where periury shal be punished in the tēporall court where in the spirituall 31 There is no remedy or punishment for Periurie in a spirituall Court against indictors that do endite a man of felony which be periured 22. H. 8. Kel 39. or against a Iury which doth giue a false verdict betwéene party and party And if a suit be commenced in the spirituall court against an offendor in Periurie in either of those cases he may haue a prohibition for this periury doth rise vpon a cause that is temporall viz. the Treason or Felony Debt Trespas or plea of land and for this periury the offendors shall be punished by attaint by the common law or otherwise And so it is if a man be defamed by a false indictment there is no remedy in the spirituall Court for his defamation for that it groweth vpon a matter which is temporall But where the Periury doth rise vpon a matter which is spirituall as vpon a Testament Matrimony or Legacie or such like then the spirituall Iudge hath authority to punish it and in that case a Prohibition will not lie And as there is no punishment in the Ecclesiastical Court for Periury that doth rise vpon a cause that is temporall So the Law hath prouided Co. lib. 4. 20 that defamation Defamation which is another euill fruit of a malicious and corrupt heart and of a leud and venomous tongue shall not be punished in the Ecclesiasticall Court vnlesse it concerne matter that is méerely spirituall and determinable in the Ecclesiasticall Court as to call a man Hereticke Schismaticke Adulterer Fornicator c. and vnlesse it doth concerne matter that is méerely spirituall onely For if such a defamation doe concerne any thing that is determinable at the common Law the Ecclesiasticall Iudge shal not hold plea thereof And yet if such a defamation be méerely spirituall and onely spirituall notwithstanding he that doth sue in the Ecclesiasticall Court for being defamed cannot sue there for recompence or dammages but only for the punishment of the offence ⧠Maintenance Champertie Embracerie and Buying of Titles MAintenance is where a man giueth to another that is demaundant What maintenance is the enormities thereof or tenant plaintife or defendant in any suit or to any other in his behalfe or to his vse any summe of money or other reward for to maintaine his plea or suit Or otherwise vseth persuasion or maketh labour for him or vseth other meanes to countenance aid or assist him when he himselfe hath nothing therewith to doe Which is an offence that the wisdome of the Realme from age to age hath condemned and hath indeuored to inflict diuers punishments vpon the transgressors therein as it may appeare by the statutes of West 1. West 2. 28. Ed. 1. 33. Ed. 1. 8. H. 6. 19. H. 7. 32. H. 8. 18. El. The law doth so greatly desire the continuance of peace betwéene one member of the Commonweale and another so much condemneth variance suits without cause that many times and in many causes the plaintife is amerced
right to another and if any doe and bée attainted thereof the taker shall forfeit to the King so much of his lands and goods as doth amount to the value of the part that he hath purchased for such Maintenance and to obtaine that any person that will shall be receiued to sue for the king before those Iustices before whom the suit doth depend and the iudgement shal be giuen by them But it may not be vnderstood in this case Pleaders may giue counsell for their fées that a man may not haue counsell of pleaders and learned men for his fée nor of his next friends And after to the intent to impose a sharper punishment vpō such as should be offendors in Maintenance Champerty or the like by a statute made Ann̄ 33. E. 1. it was enacted St. 33. Ed. 1. That if any person do take vpō him for Maintenance Champerty or the like bargaine any manner of suit or plea against another The punishment of champertors is attainted of such assumption suit or bargaine or of consent thereunto he shal be thrée yeares imprisoned and further punished at the kings pleasure 8 And so it appeareth by the foresaid statutes that it is Champerty Fit Nat. Br. 171. 7. Ed. 3. 9. Fit champ 6. where a man by couenant or agréement made by writing or word What is chāperty what not doth bargaine to haue parcell of the land debt or other thing which is in suit if it be recouered to aid and maintain the party to that suit and in this case he that is the other party to that suit oppressed or grieued by this Maintenance may prosecute a writ of Champerty against the same offendor 9. H. 6. 64. or a writ of Maintenance at his choice for euery Champerty is Maintenance but euery Maintenance is not Champerty And in this case of Champerty he that selleth his land or demiseth his land for life or yeares or any part thereof during the time that the same land is in suit shall be punished according to the foresaid statute of 28. Ed. 1. as well as he that purchaseth the same land Fit champ 5. 30. Ass p. 5. 8. Ed. 4. 13. And the writ of Champerty may be brought against the buyer alone or against the seller alone And it is all one penalty where he selleth his land for mony or other consideration and where hée fréely doth giue his land for if it be giuen during the time that the land is in suit it is Champertie for the Law doth prohibite euery man to obtaine land when it is in suit But if a man purchase land after iudgement it is no Champertie for then there is no suit depending touching that land and if a man that is learned in the Law and doth giue counsell therein 13. H. 4. 19. doe take part of the land that was in variance of his client for his fées after the same is recorded this is no Champerty So that the bargaine be made after the recouery of the land and not depending the suit 47. E. 3. 9. 7. E. 4. 15. And if a man doe bring an action against another and do recouer the thing in question against the defendant yet the plaintife may haue an action of Maintenance against euery person that shall maintaine the defendant in that suit though he hath lost nothing by that Maintenance for that the same Statute of 28. Edw. 1. is a prohibition of Champertie And if a man doe bargaine for land before any suit is commenced for the same and after a suit is prosecuted against the tenant of the land for the same Fit champ 15. if the same tenant doe make a feoffement or other assurance to the purchasor according to his bargaine of the same land during the time of the same suit yet this is no Champertie For in this case the seller did not assure this land to the purchasor vpon couenant to haue Maintenance but to performe his former bargaine and the sale was before the suit though the performance thereof was after And if a man doe make a feoffement of land to others to his owne vse 8. E. 4. 13 during the time that a suit is depending for the same land this is no Champertie for the feoffement was not made to haue Maintenance in that suit but to haue the possession of the land to bée transferred to others and yet to the same vse it was before And a man may giue land to his sonne in Franke-marriage 6 E. 3. 33. or for the terme of his life during the time that a suit is depending against him of the same land and it is no Champertie for that the words of the statute of Anno 28. Edw. 1. be But it is not intended that a man shall not haue counsell of pleaders and of learned for his fée nor of his next friends and the father is bound to relieue and helpe his sonne as much as he may and it is no Maintenance nor Champertie in him to assure the land to his sonne nor in the sonne to take it 21. Ed. 3. 52. And in a writ of Champertie it is a good plea for the defendant to plead That he purchased the land of him who recouered it for his money and not for Champertie to maintaine the suit And if a man doe make a lease for the terme of life of land Fit champ 14. and after the tenant for life is impleaded for the same land and depending that plea the tenant for life doth surrender his estate for life to him in Reuersion this is no Champertie 6 Maintenance may also bée committed in other sorts then be aforesaid Maintenance by Embracery viz. by Embraceors St. 33. Ed. 1. and by Iuries By the Statute of Anno 33. Edw. 1. an Embraceor is described to be one that commeth to the barre with the party and speaketh in the matter and is there to suruey the Iurie And he is accounted an Embraceor Fit Nat. Br. 171. who will threaten the Iurie or any of them if they doe not giue their verdict by his direction and he also who is a procuror of a Iurie to appeare 13. H. 4. 19. that is commonly called a leader of Enquests And the punishment of Maintenance both in Embraceors and Iurors is assigned by the Statutes of Anno 34. Edw. 3. Anno 38. Edw. 3. whereby it is ordained St. 34. E. 3. 8. 38. Ed. 3. 12. That if any Iuror sworne in Assises Maintenance by Iurors or other Enquests to be taken betwéene the King and the party or betwéene party and party doe by himselfe or any other take any thing of the plaintife or defendant to giue his verdict and thereof is attainted at the suit of the party which will sue for himselfe or for the king or of any other person entring his plaint by Bill immediatly before the Iustices before whom the Iurie was sworne the
of the stat of 18. El. 14 Maintenance Champertie buying of titles Embracery haue bin accounted so offensiue professed enemies to the iustice peace of the realm that though by the stat of an 18. El. it is ordained Stat. 18. El. 5 That euery informer vpon any other penall stat shal exhibit his suit in proper person pursue the same onely by himselfe or by his Atturney in court and that none shal be admitted to pursue against any person vpon any penall stat but by way of information or originall writ and not otherwise nor shall haue any deputy at all And that vpon euerie such information which shal be exhibited a speciall note shall be made of the very day moneth yere of the exhibiting therof into any office or to any officer which lawfully may receiue the same without any maner of antedate to be made thereof And that vpon euery such proces shal be indorced aswel the parties name that pursueth the same proces as also the stat vpon which the information in that behalfe made is grounded and that no Informer or plaintife shall compound or agrée with any person that shall offend or shal be surmised to offend against any penal statute for such offence but after answer made in court vnto the information or suit in that behalfe exhibited or prosecuted nor after answer but by the order or consent of the court in which the same information or suit shal be depending Yet in the said stat of 18. El. there is a prouiso That it shal be lawfull for any person or persons grieued by means of any maintenāce chāpertie buying of titles or other embracery to pursue vpō any stat prouided against maintenance champerty buying of titles or embracery as he or they might haue done before the making of the said act Which prouiso was made to the end that all persons grieued by reasons of any maintenance champertie buying of titles or embracery should be left at libertie to pursue chasten the offendors therin by all such means as former laws haue authorised thē not be restrained by any of the ordinances or articles before rehearsed for that the said offēces were by the makers of the said stat adiudged to be greater impedimēts obstacles to the execution of iustice than other penal stat were 15 As the policie of the realme hath deuised the foresaid popular actions and suits to enable euery person that will Assurances to haue mainte void in diuers cases to pursue prosecute maintainors champertors buyers of pretenced rights c. to the intent the sooner to root out extirpat those offendors who indeuor to wrest the execution of lawes out of their due course to subuert iustice thereby to hinder the peace of the realme so hath it in some cases gone further ordained that some assurances made for maintenance shal be presently void as it appeareth by the stat of an 8. St. 8. H. 6. 9 H. 6. wherby it was enacted Lands gotten by force assured to haue maintenance That if any person after his entry into lands or tenements holden with force do make a feoffement or other discontinuance to any Lord or other person to haue maintenance or to toll defraud the possessor of his recouerie in any wise If alter in an Assise or other action thereof to be takē or pursued before the Iust of Assise or other the kings Iustices whatsoeuer they be by due inquiry therof to be taken the same feoffements and discontinuances may be duly proued to be made for maintenance as is aforesaid that then such feoffements or other discontinuances so as before made shall be void St. 4. H. 4. 8. holdē for none And by the stat made an 4. H. 4. it was established That if any man great or small of what estate or condition they be Lands forcibly gotten by maintenance make any forcible entry in his own right or to his own vse or in anothers right to his vse by the way of maintenāce therof is attained at the suit of the party grieued he shal be one yere imprisoned pay to the partie grieued his double dammages And also he shall answer to the partie grieued damages for his goods cattels if vpon the said forcible disseisin he tooke away any 16 As by the before mentioned stat maintenance champerty What maintenance is punishable and what iustifiable embracerie buying of titles be in generall termes deciphered together with their seuerall penalties so haue the learned Iudges Sages of the law expounded the particular branches of euery of those stat as they grew in question were prosecuted in suit before them also resolued what maintenance is punishable and what iustifiable who may pursue an action writ bill or information c. of maintenance champerty c. against whom the same is to be brought for what offēce or cause the same is maintenable what pleas are to be pleaded to the writ or in bar of the said actions writs informations c. what iudgemēt shall ensue thereupon As euerie champertie is an vnlawful maintenāce prohibited by the foresaid stat of West 1. West 2. 9. H. 6. 64. St. 28. E. 1. 11. and punishable according to the before rehearsed stat of An. 28. E. 1. and euerie chāpertie is a maintenance the partie grieued may haue aswel a writ of Maintenance as of Champertie for by that meanes the champertor hauing bargained to haue part of the land or thing in question doth ofttimes moue further the suit suborneth witnesses corrupteth the Iurie and so subuerteth iustice but there must be a suit depending before it can be adiudged maintenance in any sort for if one man wil giue money to another to beginne and prosecute a suit against a third person 3. H. 6. 55. 8. H. 5. 8. 10. Ed. 4. 19. 30. Ed. 3. 3. this is no maintenance for that this mony was giuen when there was no suit depending and if there be a writ brought and neuer returned it is no maintenance No maintenance in a Iuror for giuing his verdict 17 If there be a suit depending betwéene two and they do ioyne an issue 18. E. 4. 2. 28. H. 6. 6. which is tried by xij men found for the plaintife in this case the defendant cannot haue an action of maintenance against the said Iurors or any of them for this verdit giuē for that they gaue their verdit according to their euidence and their knowledge of the truth of the matter and besides they did not thrust thēselues into that cause but were compelled to appeare by an ordinarie course of law being impanelled returned by the Sherife or some other lawfull officer Maintenance by a Iuror suing for iudgement but if after the verdit giuen any of the Iurie wil solicit or labor to the Iudge or Iudges of the court where the said suit
maintaine the suit and so may A. for either of them hath interest in this debt and one of them may aid assist and maintaine the other to recouer his debt against C. in respect of their seuerall interests in the same debt But if in this case A. had promised to B. but part of this debt to haue prosecuted and maintained this suit then it had beene Champertie and vnlawfull maintenance in B. And the same law is 34. H. 6. 30. if one man be bound by Obligation to pay another man xx l. to the vse of a third man the Obligée and hee to whose vse the Obligation was made may both meddle in the suit of this Obligation 27 And so it is in goods for he that hath any propertie title Maintenance in respect of his title to goods or lawfull possession in goods 39. H. 6. 20. may maintaine a suit that is prosecuted against another touching the same goods As B. brought an action of Debt against A. in London and the Sherife returned that A. had nothing c. Wherupon at the plaintifes surmise certain goods of A. were attached in the hands of I. according to the custome of the said Citie and a Scire facias was awarded against the same I. to answer for those goods in which A. did maintaine the same I. in nominating vnto him a learned man in the law to whom by his aduice he went for his counsell and this was awarded maintenance iustifiable for that the propertie of the goods fo attached in the hands of I. were and did continue in the said A. Maintenance in detaing of a writing deliuered in trust So it is if one man doe deliuer a déed or other writing to another to be kept if a straunger will bring an action of Detinue against him to whom the same was deliuered the partie who deliuered that writing may lawfully maintaine him in that suit for the interest hee hath in the same writing And yet the recouerie of that writing would not haue bound him that did deliuer it but hée might haue had his action for the same against him that did recouer it Maintenance in respect of his ioynt interest with others 28 As euerie person may lawfully maintaine any suit that shall be prosecuted which concerneth his priuat and particular land lease rent debt or goods so may he maintaine a suit touching any land or other thing which hée hath ioyntly or in common with others 18. E. 4. 2. As the Parson of a Church brought an action of Trespasse against one of his Parishioners for digging of his ground and spoyling of his grasse Whereunto the defendant pleaded That the place where the Trespasse was supposed to be done is a Churchyard consecrate by the Bishop and that he and all those who are inhabitants in the same Parish haue vsed to haue their Sacraments and buriall for their dead there And that one of the inhabitants of the same Parish dyed and hee with others brought his bodie to the Church and after made a graue for him in the same Churchyard and there buried him which is the same digging whereof the plaintife hath conceiued his action Whereupon they were at issue In this case it was agreed by all the Iustices that euerie inhabitant of the same Parish may lawfully giue euidence and otherwise maintaine this issue though they be not parties thereunto for euerie of them hath the like interest in the Churchyard Maintenance by all the inhabitants of a parish as the partie to that suit And the same reason and law seemeth to be if there be a suit commenced betweene one or more inhabitants of a village Hamlet or Parish and some other person or persons for a common or way or for the digging of a pit of stone marle grauell morter sand c. vsed or claimed to belong or of right to bee due to the inhabitants of the same Village Hamlet or Parish after issue ioyned touching the right or title of the same common way or pit the residue of the inhabitants of the said Village Hamlet or Parish may aide and assist their neighbour or neighbours partie to that issue and it is lawfull maintenance for it tendeth to the benefit or preiudice of all the said inhabitants and is in a sort their owne case Maintenance of a poore man in his suit 29 In a Writ of Maintenance the plaintife supposed that the defendant did maintaine one A. in an action which the plaintife brought against the sayd A. Whereunto the defendant pleaded That the same A. was a poore man 32. H. 6. 35. 21. H. 6. 15. and had nothing to defend himselfe in the suit which the plaintif had commenced against him and that the defendant of his almes gaue him xx s. which is the same maintenance This was allowed a lawfull maintenance and iustifiable for any man to doe for whereas vnlawfull maintenance is in case when a man doth maintaine a suit to haue the whole or parcell of the land 9. H. 6. 64. or thing in question or to haue some other consideration to further or vphold that suit or where a man hauing nothing to do nor colour to meddle yet wil vndertake for euill will to maintaine that cause in question this giuing mony to a poore man to defend his right is not to either of the intents aforesaid but bestowed vpon a charitable disposition to search out truth and further the execution of iustice which appeareth by the stat of 11. H. 7. wherin the king and the whole parliament willing indifferent iustice to be ministred according to the common laws as wel to the poore as to the rich and perceiuing that the poore were not of abilitie to sue according to the law of the realme for the redresse of their iniuries and wrongs ordained that the king himselfe the L. Chancellor and some of each profession towards the law should in a sort aid and assist them the words of which stat be these St. 11. H. 7. 12 viz Euerie poore person which shall haue cause of action against any other shal haue by the discretion of the Chancellor Proces counsellors and Atturneyes assigned to aid the poore writs originall writs of Subpena according to the nature of his cause nothing paying to the K. for the seales of the same nor to any person for the writing of the same writs And the said Chancellor shall assigne such of the clerkes which shal vse the making and writing of the writs to write the same readie to be sealed and also learned Counsell Atturneyes for the same without taking any reward therefore And after the said writs be returned if it bee before the King in his Bench the Iustices there shal assigne to the same poore person counsel learned by their discretions which shall giue their counsell nothing taking for the same And likewise the Iustices shall appoint Atturneyes for the same poore person all other
officers requisit to be had for the spéed of the said suits which shall do their dueties without any rewards for their counsels helpe and businesse in the same And the same law and order shal be obserued in all such suits to be made before the K. Iustices of his Common pleas Barons of his Exchequer and all other Iust in Courts of Record where any such suits shal be 30 As Maintenance in the cases aforesaid is lawfull and iustifiable Maintenance in respect of kindred or alliance in respect of the parties priuat profit or interest in the thing in question or when it is done without malice or hope of profit vpon a charitable disposition so is it in diuers cases allowable in regard of the linke or bond of nature whereby one person is by loue or dutie tied to another 34. H. 6. 26. 6. Ed. 3. 33. as the father may maintaine his son and heire and giue money of his owne in defence of him or his title or suit for he is bound to find him but so he may not doe for another kinsman And the sonne may maintaine the father and mother and one brother another and one néere kinsman another 21. H. 6. 16. 14. H. 7. 2. 20. H. 6. 1. 19. Ed. 4. 3. 21. H. 6. 16. and one ally another in some cases and in some sort as if a man be impleaded another that is his brother or kinsmā or of his alliance may go to the bar with him stand by him comfort him or he may ride to his counsell with him or he may request a man that is learned in the law to bée of counsell with him in that cause 9. Ed. 4. 32. but he must not retaine that learned man nor giue him any mony of his own to be of counsel neither must he giue or promise money to the Iurors or any of them to giue their verdict for him for then it is vnlawfull maintenance in him so it is in a stranger who hath nothing to do in that cause if he doe goe to the barre with him that is impleaded or do stand by him of purpose for to countenance the cause in question or doe request a learned man in the law to bée of counsell with him or doe giue money to any of the Iurors for their verdict this is vnlawfull Maintenance in him And in the cases aforesayd and all other cases of Maintenance Vnlawfull maintenance is continuall this vnlawfull Maintenance is a continuall Maintenance during that suit vnlesse the partie grieued doe in the meane time release the same But if the same Maintenance bee in respect of alliance and that hee who is supposed to bee the maintainor hath maried the daughter sister néece or other kinswoman of one of the parties to the first suit wherein the maintenance was supposed be he must pleade 6. Ed. 4. that his wife was liuing at the time of the maintenance supposed to be for if she were then dead the alliance betwéene them is dissolued and then he had no cause to maintaine that suit but shal be punished as a stranger And yet in that case 14. H. 7. 2. if the same woman hath any issue of her bodie begotten who may inherit the land of him whose suit that husband of the deceased woman and the father of that issue did maintaine then is the maintenance lawfull in any action brought against the same partie in respect of the kindred and also of the benefit that may come to his owne issue And in a writ of maintenance it is a good plea for the defendant to plead Maintenance in respect of gossiprie that hee was gossip to him whose cause he was supposed to maintaine 6. Ed. 4. 5. for that gossiprie is in law adiudged a kind of affinitie Maintenance in respect the partie could not speake English 31 A. brought a writ of Maintenance against B. and supposed 34. H. 6. 26. 15. H. 7. 2. that the same B. did maintaine L. in an action which he brought against the said L. on the part of the said L. Whereunto the sayd B. pleaded that the same L. was a Dutchman borne out of the Kings obedience and could not speake the English or Latine tongue and therefore being acquainted with B. the defendant who could speake the Dutch tongue he desired him to bring him to some man learned in the law to be of his counsell in that suit and to informe that learned man of the truth of his cause in question whereupon hee brought him to one M. a man learned in the law and opened the truth of his case vnto the said M. as he receiued it from the said L. in Dutch which is the same maintenance And this was adiudged a good plea in barre and a lawfull maintenance for it is a déed of charitie to aid and helpe him who could not helpe himselfe And the Dutchman had no meanes to helpe himselfe being a straunger borne and not vnderstanding the English nor Latine tongue but by the assistance and information of some English man Maintenance in a professor of the Law 32 If a Serieant at law an Apprentice or other Councellor 6. Ed. 4. 5. being retained for his fee doe giue vnto his Client the best counsell that he can for the recouerie or defence of the suit which he vndertaketh according to the ordinarie course of the law or doth enforce the euidence at the barre so much as he can at the tryall of his clients cause this is lawfull maintenance and iustifiable But if he doe pay or promise money to any of the Iurie to giue his verdict for his client or do threaten any of them to be killed beaten 22. H. 6. 6. or otherwise euill intreated if they do giue their verdit against his client or if he do spēd 11. H. 6. 13. or do offer to spend his own mony in defence of his clients cause this is vnlawful mainnance and punishable according to the before rehearsed stat of ann 1. R. 2. for those things he doth not as a lawyer or according to the course of the law nor by the warrant of law but by iniustice and vpon his owne corruption and wrong But in the first specified case if a man that is not learned in the law 22. H. 6. 5 hauing himselfe no interest in the cause in question will declare to the Iurie or to the partie or to his counsell the cause in question and the circumstances thereof as a man learned in the law this is vnlawfull Maintenance in him though hee doe it as well as a man learned in the law for hee doeth it vpon Maintenance where the learned man doeth it for his fee. And so it is if a man that hath land in suit or question will bring and shew his euidences and writings to a Nobleman Fitz. Maint 21. Gentleman or other man of countenance that is not learned in the law and
to haue execution of a fine if the shirife returne the tenant of the land summoned by two summoners whereas he was not summoned by which returne the demaundant shall recouer and haue execution of the land if the tenant do not appeare and the tenant shall loose the land in this case the tenant may haue a writ of Deceit against the shirife and the demaundant that did recouer and him that is then tenant of the land and shal be restored to his former possession And the like law is 17. Ed. 3. 12. if a man sue a Scire facias vpon a Recognizance against another for a debt before recouered Deceit to auoid a recouery of debt if the shirife returne the defendant summoned whereas he was not summoned by reason wherof the defendant hath execution awarded against him of the debt then the defendant may haue a writ of Deceit against him that had the execution and the shirife and the shirife shall be punished for his false returne and the party who did recouer shall make restitution of that which he recouered and if the defendant die his executors may haue a writ of Deceit Where executors shall haue a writ of Deceit and be restored if the deceit be proued and that the Testator was not garnished whereupon the garnishers shal be examined And so it is if a man recouer in a writ of Annuity Annuity and after doth sue a Scire facias and recouereth by default of garnishment Fitz. Deceit 42. the defendant may haue a writ of Deceit For by the statute of Anno 2. Ed. 3. St. 2. E. 3. 17. 17. a writ of Deceit holdeth place and is maintenable as well in case of garnishment which toucheth plea of land where such garnishment is giuen as in case of Summons in a plea of land for in all the cases aforesaid a Deceit was wrought by the shirife to the Court and the party grieued by his false returne and the Law hath ordained That euery of those deceits shal be reformed by the writ of Deceit And a recouerie and iudgement had made and giuen to the intent to defraud and frustrate the true meaning of a statute shal be void as amongst others it appeareth by the statute of Anno 43. A iudgement to defraud the meaning of a statute Eliz. whereby it was ordained St. 43. Eli. 9. That all iudgements which shal be had for the intent to haue enioy any lease of a benefite with cure or any bonds contracts promises couenants made for any person to enioy the same contrary to the statute of An. 13. El. 20. An. 14. El. 11. or any of them shal be void in such sort as bands couenāts are appointed to be void which are made void for that purpose for that the suits whereupon the same iudgements be giued were commenced prosecuted vpon collusion fraud to defeat and make frustrate the true intent and meaning of the said statutes or of one of them Deceit vhon recouery in a Quare impedit 8 If any person do recouer against another in a Quare impedit by default of the defendant whereas he was not summoned 27. H. 6. 5. Fitz. Deceit 57. 19. Eliz. Dyer 353. then the same defendant may haue a writ of Deceit and the Summoners and the pledges vpon the attachment and the mainpernors vpon the distresse shall be examined and if the deceit be found the first iudgement shal be reuersed and there shal be a writ awarded to the Bishop to remoue the Clerke that was in the Church And so it is Deceit vpon a recouery in wast if any person do bring an action of Wast against another 29. Ed. 3. 42. 48. Ed. 3. 20. Fitz. Deceit 30. the plaintife doe recouer against the defendant by default whereupon a writ is awarded to the shirife to inquire of the wast whereas the defendant was not summoned the defendant may haue a writ of Deceit against him that recouered in the same action of Wast and he shall suppose that hee was not summoned attached nor distrained and proces shal be awarded against the summoners the pledges and the mainpernors who shal be seuerally examined and if they all did not their duty according to the Law the plaintife in the writ of Deceit shal recouer and be restored to that which before he lost in the action of Wast Deceit vpon a recouery by a Praecipe in capite 9 And the like law is 17. Ed. 3. 31. 36. if any person doe recouer land against another by a Praecipe in capite where the same land is not holden of the King in chiefe but of a meane lord by other seruices and where the demaundant had no licence of the chiefe lord to sue at the common place then the chiefe lord may haue a writ of Deceit against him that recouered the same land wherein he shall recouer his dammages the demandant shal be imprisoned for the deceit and also the lord shal retaine his seigniory in the same land But the recouery shal remain in force and he that did recouer shall also hold of the K. in chiefe by the way of estoppell And this writ of Deceit is maintenable in this case by force of the stat of Magna Charta 9. H. 3. 24. whereby it is ordained That the writ which is called Praecipe in capite shal be granted to no man wherby any fréeman may loose his Court. 10 Couin is accounted so professed an enemy to iustice Where a good title shal be impaired by a couenous recouery therefore is so hated by the law that she adiudgeth that bad and vnlawful which is mixed with couin though before of it selfe it were good lawful as if the issue in taile who hath good cause to bring a Formedon in discender vpon a discontinuance made of certaine lands by one of his auncestors 44. Ass p. 28 41. Ass p. 28 be of couin that a stranger shall disseise the tenant of the land against which stranger he doth bring his action doth recouer this land and hath execution in this case he shall not be remitted to his former estate though his title be good but shall be adiudged in possession by disseisin 44. Ed. 3. 46. 15. E. 4. 4. 7. H. 7. 11 Co. lib. 5. 31 in respect of the couin And so it is if a woman that hath good cause to be indowed of her late husbands lands will be of couin that a stranger shall disseise the tenant of the land wherof she is indowable against which stranger she will bring a writ of Dower and recouer hath execution she shal be adiudged in possession against the disseisée but as a disseisor in respect of her couin though she had good title to be indowed And so couin mingling together vertue vice persuadeth the law to reiect condemne a lawfull title which is vnlawfully atchieued 11
any person or persons or to his or their right heires Or at any time since the said 20. day of Iuly hath conueyed or hereafter shall conuey or make by couin contrarie to the true intent of the Act prouided 34. H. 8. for the making of Wils any estates conditions mesnalties tenures or conueyāces to the intent to defraud or deceiue the King of his Prerogatiue primer seisin liuerie reliefe wardships mariages or rights or any other Lords of their wardships reliefes heriots or other profits which should or ought to accrue growe or come vnto them or any of them by or after the death of his or their tenant by force and according to the Statutes made 32. H. 8. 1. 34. H. 8. 5. and the same estates and other conueyances béeing found by office to be so made by couin fraud or deceit contrary to the true intent of the said Acts Then the king shal haue as wel the wardship of the bodie and custodie of the lands c. as liuery primer seision reliefe and other profits which should or ought to appertaine to him according to the true meaning of the said acts as though no such estates or conueyances by couin had neuer béene had or made vntill the said office be lawfully vndone by trauerse or otherwise And the other Lord and Lords of whom any such lands c. shal be holden by Knights seruice as is aforesaid shall haue their remedy in such cases for his or their wardships of bodies and lands by writ of right of ward and shall distraine and make auowrie or cognisance by themselues or their bailifes for their reliefes heriots and other profits which should haue béene to them due by or after the death of their tenant as if no such estate or conueyance had béene had or made Sauing the right and title of the donees feoffées leasées and deuisées thereof against the said deuisor and his heyres after the interest and title of the King or other Lord therein ended 24 If the father doe make a feoffment of his lands holden by Knights seruice Fitz. Collusion 29. 33. H. 6. 14. Co. li. 1. 122. to his eldest sonne He that is not partie to a fraud shall sustaine no losse then by the foresaid Statute of Marlebridge the Lord of whom the same lands be holden is inpossibilitie to haue the wardship of the said sonne if the father die his said sonne being within age But if the same sonne doe after make a feoffment of the same land to an other bona fide and after the father doth die leauing his sonne within age there this possibilitie is destroyed for that the stranger who had no notice of this fraud hath purchased the land bona fide and therefore shall sustaine no preiudice by it And yet in that case if the sonne had made the Feoffment after the fathers death Co. li. 2. 94. this alienation had not depriued the Lord of his wardship which was once lawfully deuolued vnto him 25 And it is a deceit collusion and defrauding of the lawe and a great disheritance and preiudice to the Lords of the Fee of whome any lands bee holden to giue the same lands in Mortmaine or to doe any Act or procure any thing to be done whereby they may come into Mortmaine contrarie to the statutes of Magna Charta 7. Ed. 2. 13. Ed. 1. 15. R. 2. and 23. H. 8. for the Lordes doe loose the wardships mariages reliefes and other seruices of their Tenants by that meanes And therefore by the Statute of West 2. it was enacted That if any religious or Ecclesiasticall person doe impleade an other St. 13. E. 1. 31. by a Reall action of land and the Tenant will make default after default whereby hee ought to loose the land Then hee which doth recouer shall not haue Execution of the same Land recouered vntill he hath sued forth the kings writ of Quale ius directed to the Escheator of the same countie to make enquirie by a Iurie what right hee that recouered the land hath to the same And if he hath right Deceit and Collusion to bring land into mortmaine iudgement shal be giuen for him he shall haue execution of the same land And if it be found that he hath no right to recouer by his said action but that the lands were lost by collusion betwéen him and the tenant of the land then the land shall accrue to the next Lord of the fee if hée demaund it within a yéere next after the Enquest taken And if he doth not demaund it within a yeare it shall accrue to the next Lord aboue if he demaund it within halfe a yeare after the same And so euery Lord after the next Lord immediat shall haue halfe a yeare to demaund it successiuely vntill it come to the King to whom through the default of other Lords the land shall accrue For this recouerie of land by default by a compact and couin before agreed vpon betwéene the demaundant being a religious or Ecclesiasticall person and the tenant is to defraud the intent and meaning of the Statutes of Magna Charta and an 7. Ed. 1. whereby it was ordained St. 9. H. 3. 37 St. 7. Ed. 1. That if any religious person or other whatsoeuer will buy or sel any lands or tenements or wil receiue the same by colour of any gift or lease or by reason of any other title whatsoeuer or will by other practise or deuise procure the same to himselfe whereby such lands or tenements may come into mortmayne he shall forfeite the same lands And by the equitie of the foresaid Statute of Westminster 2. if any Ecclesiastical person doe recouer land against another by reddition 3. Ed. 4. 14. confession or action tried yet the collusion shal be inquired of for that the same recouerie may be by collusion before had betweene the demaundant and the tenant And because that by feoffments fines recoueries and other assurances made of trust of lands to the vse of parish Churches Lands assured in Mortmaine to churches chappels Guilds c. Chappels Guildes Fraternities c. there groweth to the King and other Lords and subiects of the Realme the like losses inconueniences and is as much preiudiciall to them as doth and is where lands be aliened in mortmaine Therefore for the eschuing and auoydance of them by a Statute made an 23. H. 8. it was enacted St. 23. H. 8. 10. That all feoffments fines recoueries wills and other estates deuised or in any wise made of trust of any mannors lands tenements or hereditaments to the vse of any parish churches chappels churchwardēs Guildes fraternities or brotherhoods erected or made of deuotion or by common assent of the people without any corporation Or that the Feoffees Conisees Recouerées or other persons and their heires thereof seised shall take leuie or perceiue or cause to be taken c. the issues and profites thereof and the same to
dispose or otherwise imploy or suffer or cause to be paid disposed or imploied to any of the foresaid vses or to any of the like vses aboue the terme of 20. yeares next after the first making and beginning of any such vses shal be vtterly voide But for the preuenting of collusion and fraud which might bee deuised for the further establishing or corroboration of such vses by the said Statute of an 23. H. 8. Collaterall conueyaunces to defraud the assurance to Churches it was moreouer prouided That if any person or persons in defraud of the said Statute doth bind or ordaine any of their heirs or successors or any other persons that they shall suffer such vses intents or purposes to continue contrarie to the said statute vpon paine of losse of any other lands or of any other thing or doe deuise by any colour craft or meanes any thing to make such vses declared contrarie to the meaning of the said Act to continue for any longer time then is aboue limitted for the same Then euerie such penaltie craft colour and euery other thing that is made or deuised in defraud of the said act shal be voide for the said Statute shal be interpreted as beneficiallie as may be to the destruction or vtter auoyding of the vses aboue remembred and of all other like other then such as are before expressed Co. lib. 1. 26 Notwithstanding the foresaid Statute of An̄ 23. H. 8. To what vses lands may be giuen it is lawfull for any person at this day to giue his lands tenements or hereditaments to any person or persons to his or their heirs for to find a preacher for the maintenāce of a Schoole for the reliefe of maihemed souldiers for the sustentation of poore people for the reparation of churches highwayes bridges cawseis for the discharge of the poore inhabitants of a towne of cōmon charges for to make a stock for poore labourers in husbandrie poore apprentices for the mariage of poore maids or for such other charitable vses for the said stat was made onely to restraine the assuring of lands to superstitious vses and not to charitable vses And in this case it shal be expedient that the feoffor which doth assure his land to any of the vses aforesaid doe reserue to himselfe some annuall rent or take some money of the feoffées at the first for then the feoffement or assurance shal be good to the feoffées and their heires though the vse be vnlawfull And it appeareth by the stat made an 43. Stat. 43. El. 4. El. that they be accounted good and charitable vses no superstitious vses to giue lands tenements rents annuities profits hereditaments goods chattels money and stocks of money for the reliefe of aged impotent and poore people or for the maintenance of sicke and maihemed souldiers mariners schooles of learning frée schooles schollers in Vniuersities or for repaire of bridges ports hauens cawseys churches sea-bāks high waies or for education or preferment of orphans or for or toward reliefe stocke or maintenance for houses of correction or for mariage of poore maids or for supportation helpe ayd of yong trades-men handicrafts-men and persons decaied or for reliefe or redemption of prisoners or captiues or for aid or ease of any poore inhabitants concerning paiment of fifteens setting out of souldiers and other taxes For the said Stat. of 43. El. doth giue authoritie to the L. Chauncelor the L. Kéeper c. to the Chauncelor of the Duchie to award commissions from time to time into all or any parts of this Realme to certaine persons to enquire of al singular such gifts assignments appointments and of the abuses breaches of the truce negligences misimployments not imploying concealing defrauding misconuerting or misgouernment of any lands tenements rents c. goods chattels money c. heretofore giuen or assigned or which hereafter shal be giuen limited or assigned to or for any the charitable or godly vses before rehearsed And after such enquiry hearing and examining thereof to set downe such orders iudgements and decrées as the same lands tenements rents goods money c. may be duly and faithfully imployed to and for such of the charitable vses and intents aforesaid respectiuely for which they were giuen or appointed by the donors and founders thereof 26 Because when tenants for terme of life tenants in dower or by the curtesie of England or tenants after possibilitie of issue extinct were impleaded they would often be of couin with the demandants that the tenemēts demanded should be recouered against them they would not pray in ayde nor vouch to warrantie them in the reuersiō but plead in chiefe such a plea wherby they knew the tenements should be lost for the preuention and eschewing of which couin St. 13. R. 2. 16. by a stat made an 13. R. 2. it was ordained That if any such tenant be impleaded and he in the reuersion come into the Court and prayeth to be receiued to defend his right at the day that the tenant doth plead to the action or before he shal be receiued to plead in chiefe to the action without taking delay by voucher ayd-prayer nonage or other delay whatsoeuer Couin by a particular tenant to defraud him in the reuersion so that after such receipt he shal haue no delay by protection essoine of the Kings seruice or common Essoine but the sute shal be hastened as much as it may be by the lawe And dayes of grace shal be giuen by discretion of the Iudges betwixt the demaundant and him which is receiued and not the common daies giuen in pleas of land except the demaundant will thereunto assent to the intent the demaundant shal not be too much delaied which must plead with two aduersaries And he in the Reuersion which praieth to be receiued shall finde sureties for the issues of the Land aswel where the receite is counter-pleaded as where it is grauted Stat. West 2. 13. Ed. 1. 3 And by the Statute of Westminster 2 it was established That if by default or yeelding of such tenant in dower or c. iudgement shal be giuen then the heyres or they which haue the reuersion shal recouer after the death of such tenants by a writ of Entrie ad communem legem The wiues receit vpon the husbands default And by the same Statute of Westminster 2. it is also ordained That if in an Action brought against the husband and the wife of lands which bee the right of the wife the husband will absent himselfe and will not defend his wiues right or will against his wiues consent yeeld the land If the wife wil come before iudgement and be ready to answere to the demaundant and to defend her right she shal be thereunto admitted And for the further auoiding of Couin in Recoueries suffred by particular tenants by the Statute of Anno 14. Eliz. it was enacted Stat. 14. El. 8.
That all recoueries to be had or prosecuted by agreement of the parties Recoueries against particular tenants by Couin to defraud him in the reuertion or by Couin against any tenants by the Curtesie of England Tenants in taile after possibilitie of issue extinct or otherwise onely for the terme of life or liues or of estates determinable vpon life or liues of any lands Tenements or hereditaments whereof the same particular Tenant is or shal be seised of any such particular estate as is aforesaid or against any other with Voucher ouer of any such particular Tenant or of any hauing or that had right or title to any such particular estate or tenancie as is aforesaid shal as against such person or persons to whom any reuersion or remainder thereof by force of any Conueyance or deuise before that time had or made shall ought or lawfully may appertaine and against their heyres and successors be vtterly voide Prouided alwaies that this Act shall not extend to any person or persons that shall by good title recouer any lands tenemēts or hereditaments without fraud or Couin by reason of any former right or title But al euery such recouerie and recoueries vpon former rights and titles shall stand and be in like force as they were before the making of this Acte And in all and euerie recouerie and recoueries to be had or prosecuted of any lands tenements or hereditaments by the assent and agreement of any person or persons to whom any reuersion or remainder thereof then shall or ought to appertaine so that the same assent and agréement doe appeare of record in any of the Kings Courts shall stand in like strength and of like effect against such person and persons that shal so assent and agree their heyres successors as they were before the making of this act 27 And for that Couin and fraud should be restrained and punished when it shall be put in practise or intended by those in reuersion to defeate their Lessees of their termes for yeares as it was by the aforesaid Statutes when it was executed by particular Tenants to the preiudice or disheritance of them in the Reuersion Couin by him in the reuersion to defeate his Lessee for yeeres Therefore by a Statute made Anno 21. H. 8. Stat. 21. H. 8. 15 Stat. 6. E. 1. 11. it was enacted That if any persons doe make leases of their lands tenements or other hereditaments by Indentures or without writing to other persons for terme of yeares if after the same Lessors their heires or assignes do cause or suffer recoueries to be had against them in the Kings or any other Lordes Court vpon fained and vntrue title by craft and Couin to put the said Termors from their Termes all such Termor shall and may falsifie for his terme only such recouerie in such wise and forme as a tenant of fréehold shall may doe by the course of the cōmon law where such tenant was neither priuie nor party to such recouerie And the same Termors their Executors assignees notwithstanding such recouerie so had shall enioy retaine and hold their said termes according to their said leases against all such recouerors their heyres and assignees And the said recouerers their heyres and assignees after such recouerie so had shal haue like remedy against the said termors their Executors and assignees by auowrie or action of debt for the rents and seruices reserued vpon the same leases being due after the same recoueries also like actions against them for waste done after the same recoueries so had in like manner and forme as the said Lessors should or might haue had if the same recoueries had neuer beene had No manner of Statute of the Staple Couin to auoide a Statute or recognisance statute marchant nor execution by Elegit shal be auoided by meanes of any such feyned recouerie but all persons hauing any lands tenements or other hereditaments in execution or being intituled to haue execution of any lands or tenements by any such meanes shal haue like remedie to auoide and falsifie the same recouerie as before is prouided for the lessee for terme of yeares 28 There haue beene many lawes and Statutes deuised from age to age to restraine and punish seueral sorts of deceits Couins collusions and frauds but most to encounter and checke fraudulent deeds cōtriued of malice or guile to defeate Stat. 50 Ed. 3. 6. 1. R. 2. 9. 2. R. 2. 3. 3. H. 7. 4. 13. El. 5. 27. El. 4. delay or hinder others of their lands leases goods cattels debts c. as it appeareth by the statute made A. 50. Ed. 3. 1. R. 2. 2. R. 2. 3. H. 7. 13. El. 27. El. But as deceit and fraud increased in this realme so new penalties and greater punishments were inuented from time to time to inflict vpon the transgressors therin And because fained couenous and fraudulent Feoffmēts gifts graunts alienations conueyances bonds sutes iudgements executions of lands and tenements goods and cattels being deuised of Couin guile to defraud creditors and others of their iust and lawful actions dets c. be not only to the let of the due course and execution of law iustice but also to the ouerthrow of all true and plaine dealing bargaining and cheuisance betweene man and man without the which no common weale or ciuill societie can bee maintained or continued Therefore by a Statute made A. 13. El. it was enacted Stat. 13. El. 5 Stat 29. El. 5. That all and euery Feoffment gift graunt bargaine alienation Fraudulent deeds to auoide other mens debts and duties and conueyaunce of lands tenements hereditaments goods cattels or of any of them or of any lease rent common or other profite or charge out of the same lands hereditaments goods c. or any of them by writing or otherwise And all and euery bond sute iudgement and execution at any time had or made sithence the beginning of Queen Elizabeths raigne or at any time hereafter to be had or made which haue beene and are deuised contriued of malice fraud couin collusion or guile to the intent c. to delay hinder or defraud creditors others of their iust lawfull actions sutes debts accompts damages penalties forfeitures hariots mortuaries or reliefes shal be taken deemed onely as against that person his heires executors successors or assignes whose actions sutes debts accoūts c. by such guileful couenous or fraudulēt deeds deuises practises as is aforesaid are shall or mought be in any wise disturbed hindered delaied or defrauded to be cléerly void of none effect any colour fayned cōsideration expressing of vse or any other matter to the cōtrary notwtstanding And al euery the parties to such fained or fraudulēt feoffment gift graunt alienation bargaine conueyance bond sute iudgement execution Parties to fraudulent deedes c. or being priuie and knowing of the same or any of them which
shall willingly and wittingly put in vre auowe maintaine iustifie or defend the same or any of them as true simple and done or made bona fide and vpon good consideration or shall alien or assigne any the lands tenements goods leases c. to them conueied or any part thereof shall forfeit to the Queene c. and the partie grieued by such fraudulent feoffement gift bond suit c. one yeares value of the said lands c. leases rents or other profits and the whole value of the said goods and cattels and so much money as shall be contained in such couenous and fained bond to bée recouered by A. I. B. P. c. wherein no W. E. P. c. And béeing thereof lawfully conuicted shall suffer imprisonment one halfe yeare Common recoueries without Baile or Mainprise But common Recoueries had against Tenant in taile or other tenant of the fréehold of lands the Reuersion or Remainder or right of Reuersion or Remainder whereof then shall bée in any other person shall as touching such person and his heires which hath the Reuersion or Remainder thereof be of like force and none other Voucher in Formedon as the same should haue béene if this Act had not béene made And no estate or conueyance by reason whereof any person shall vse any voucher in any writ of Formedon shall bée made void by this Act But euery such voucher in any writ of Formedon shall be of like force as if this act had not béene made Lands or goods assured bona fide and vpon good cōsideration Prouided alwaies that this Statute shall not extend to any estate or interest in lands leases goods c. lawfully assured vpon good consideration and bona fide to any person or persons bodies politique or corporat not hauing at the time of such conueyance c. any knowledge of such fraud or collusion as is aforesaid Fraudulent déeds to auoid forfeitures 29 If a man to preuent a forfeiture for a felonie or vpon an outlarie Co. li. 3. 82. will make a gift of all his goods and after is attainted of felonie or outlawed these goods shall be forfeited notwithstanding this gift for this word forfeitures specified in the foresaid Statute of Anno 13. St. 13. El. 5. El. shall not be intended onely of the forfeiture of an obligation Recognisance or such like but also of euery thing which by the Law may be forfeited to the King or to a Subiect And the same Act of Anno 13. El. shall not extend onely to creditors but also to all others who haue cause of Action or suit or to haue any penaltie or forfeiture And if a man do bind himselfe and his heirs to pay to another a certaine sūme of money at a day assigned and before the day doth come of paiment Co. li. 5. 60. the obligor dieth leauing to his sonne and heire sufficient land to pay the same debt the heire doth enter and alien the same land before the obligée doth commence his suit vpon the said obligatiō If vpon the suit of the same obligation the heire do plead nothing but discent and vpon the trial of that issue the foresaid alienation be found by the Iurie to be made by fraud to deceiue the said creditor of his debt or that be pleaded the said alienation shal be void by the foresaid statute of 13. El. and the plaintife shall recouer A déed of gift must be vpon good consideration and bona fide 30 In the said Statute of Anno 13. El. there is one Prouiso St. 13. El. 5. That the said Act shall not extend to any estate or interest in lands tenements or hereditaments leases rents commons profits goods or cattels which is or hereafter shall be lawfully had made conueyed or assured vpon good consideration bona fide to any person or persons or bodies politique or corporat not hauing at the time of such conueyance or assurance to them made any manner of notice or knowledge of such couin fraud or collusion By which Prouiso it appeareth that the gift which is within the compasse of the same Prouiso must be both vpon good consideration and also bona fide And therefore whereas A. did owe to B. CC. l. and to L. a hundred pounds Co. li. 3. 80. payable by two seuerall obligations L. brought an Action of debt against A. vpon his said obligation of a hundred pound during which sute A. being possessed of goods and cattells to the valew of two hundred pounds in secret made a generall déede of gift by writing of all his goodes and cattells Realls and Personalls whatsoeuer to B. in satisfaction of his debt and notwithstanding A. continued in possession of the same goods and sold some of them and did share and brand the shéepe with his owne brand and after L. had iudgement to recouer against A. and had a Fieri facias directed to the Shiriffe of the Countie where A. dwelt who by force of the Writ came to make execution of the same goodes but B. resisted him by force clayming those to be his goodes in respect of his said déede of gift and reported that it was a good déed of gift and made vpon lawfull consideration But in the Starrechamber this was adiudged a fraudulent déede and within the statute of 13. Infallible markes of a fraudulent deede of gift Eliz. for this déed of gift had all the badges and markes of fraud for it was generall and without any exception of his apparrell bedding or any other necessary thing and the owner continued in possession of all the goods and vsed them as his owne and the déede of gift was made in secret and not sealed deliuered nor published amongst his neighbours And it was made whilest the sute was depending betwéene L. and A. And héere was a trust betwéene the Donor of these goods and the Donée for the Donor possessed the goodes and vsed them as his owne and fraude is alwayes shaddowed with trust and trust is the couer of fraud and the writing purported that the déede was made honestly truely and Bona fide which be not accustomed words in a déede of gift and vnusuall termes in any Instrument doe bréed suspition And though this was a true debt due to B. and the consideration was good yet this was not within the before specified Prouiso for that the déede of gift was not made also Bona fide for no déede shall be adiudged to be made Bona fide according to the said Prouiso which is accompanied with any trust and the words of the Prouiso be in the copulatiue vpon good consideration and Bona fide So that good consideration will not serue vnles the gift be also Bona fide viz. to the intent that the Donée shall haue carry away and enioy to his owne vse the possession of the same goodes without any trust expressed or implied and therefore whosoeuer will make a déede
contrary héereof notwithstanding St. 27. El. 4. If any person or persons haue heretofore sithence the beginning of the Q. raigne that now is made or hereafter shall make any conueiance gift grant Conueiances with condition of reuocation or alteration demise charge limitation of vse or vses or assurance of in or out of any lands tenements or hereditaments with any clause prouision article or condition of reuocation determination or alteration at his or their will or pleasure of such conueiance assurance grants limitations of vses or estates of in or out of the said lands tenements or hereditaments or of in or out of any part of parcell of them contained or mentioned in any writing déede or indenture of such assurance conueiance grant or gift and after such conueiance grant gift demise charge limitation of vses or assurance so made or had shal or doe bargaine sell demise grant conuey or charge the same lands tenements or hereditaments or any parcel thereof to any person or persons bodies politike or corporate for money or other good consideration paid or giuen the said first conueiance assurance gift grant demise charge or limitation not by him or them reuoked made voyde or altered according to the power and authoritie reserued or expressed vnto him or them in and by the said secret conueiance assurance gift or grant Then the said former conueiance assurance gift demise and grant as touching the said lands tenements and hereditaments so after bargained sold conueied demised or charged against the said bargainées vendées lessées grauntées and euery of them their heirs successors executors administrators and assignes and against all and euery person and persons which haue shall or may lawfully claime any thing by from vnder them or any of them shall be déemed taken and adiudged to be voide frustrate and of none effect by vertue and force of this present Act. St. 27. El. 4. Prouided neuerthelesse that no lawfull morgage made or to be made Bona fide and without fraud or couin vpon good consideration Morgages shall be impeached or impaired by force of this Act but shall stand in the like force and effect as the same should haue done if this act had neuer béene had or made Anie thing c. This Act nor any thing therin contained St. 27. Eli. 4. shall extend or be construed to make good any purchase Assurances of lands defeated before the Statute grant lease charge or profit of in or out of any lāds tenements or hereditaments héeretofore made void defeated or vndone by reason or any former conueiance graunt or assurance so as the partie or parties or their heirs or assignes which haue so defeated or made void the same were in actuall possession the first day of this present Parliament of or in the said lands The authority of the court of Starre-chamber tenements or hereditaments whereof or out of which any such purchase graunt lease charge or profite was made Neither this Act nor any thing therein contained shall extend in any sort to restraine or impaire the iurisdiction power or authoritie of the Court of Starrechamber A purchasor doth know before of a fraudulent déede 32 If a man seised of land in fée Co. li. 5. 60. do make a fraudulent conueiance thereof to the intent to deceiue and defraud purchasors contrary to the said Statute of Anno 27. Eliz. and doth continue in possession of it and taketh the profite of it and doth after enter into communication with a stranger for the sale of it to him and by chaunce the same stranger hath knowledge of the same fraudulent assurance and notwithstanding he doth bargaine with the same party for his land doth conclude with him and taketh his assurance from him in this case the same purchaser shal auoide this former fraudulent cōueiance made by the seller of this land though hée had notice thereof before for the said Act of Anno 27. Elizab. by expresse words doth make the fraudulent conueiance voide touching the purchasor and séeing it is within the expresse puruiew of the same Statute it is to be so taken and construed in repressing of fraud and it is not the purchasors knowledge thereof that doth make the fraudulent conueiance good which the said statute hath made voide The father maketh a fraudulent lease and the sonne selleth the land 33 If the father doe make a lease for yeares of his land by couin Co. li. 6. 72. to defraud others to whom he will demise or sell the same land as all fraudulent leases shall be intended to be made to that end and before he doth sell or demise the same land he dieth and his sonne and next heire knowing or not knowing of the said lease doth sell the same land for good consideration Then the purchasor shall auoide this lease by force of the foresaide Statute of Anno 27. Elizab. for séeing the Lawe doth presume that euery fraudulent lease is made generally to defeate purchasors lessées c. within this generality euerie particular purchasor farmor lessée c. is included And it is not materiall though he who sold the land did not make the former fraudulent lease estate or incombrance but if the estate be fraudulent the purchasor shall auoide it whosoeuer selleth the land A womans iointure made by fraud 34 And the same Lawe is if a man doe conuey land to the vse of his wife Co. li. 6. 73 for her iointure by deceit and couin to defraud a purchasor to whom he intendeth to sell the same land in this case if the same fraud be prooued by euidence or confessed by pleading the purchasor shall auoide the said wiues estate Fraudulent déeds to defeat successors of disapidations 35 Because diuers Ecclesiasticall persons being possessed of mansion houses and other buildings belonging to their Ecclesiasticall Benefices or liuings did suffer the same for want of due reparations partly to decay and partly to fall downe conuerting the timber lead and stone to their owne vses and also made déedes of gift and colourable alienations and other conueiances of like effect of their good and cattels in their life time of purpose after their deaths to defraud their successours of such iust Actions and remedies as otherwise they might and should haue had against the executours or administratours of their goodes by the Lawes Ecclesiasticall of this Realme for the redresse whereof by a Statute made Anno 13. Elizab. it was enacted St. 13. El. 10 St. 1. Iac. 25 That if any Archbishop Bishop Deane Archdeacon Fraudulent déedes to defeate successors of dilapidations Prouost Treasurer Chancellor Chaunter Prebendarie or any other hauing any dignitie or office in any Cathedrall or Collegiat Church within this Realme or any Parson Vicar or other Incumbent of any Ecclesiasticall liuing whereunto doe belong any houses or buildings which by lawe or custome hée is bound to maintaine in reparation doe suffer any
yeare vnder their couent seales within one yeare next before the making of the said act should be vtterly void St. 31. H. 8. 13 And by a like statute made Anno 31. H. 8. it was ordayned That all leases of lands tenements or other hereditaments not vsually let leases of lands c. in reuersion leases of lands c. not reseruing the old and accustomed rent sales of wood assurances of lands of the kings gift or auncient foundation without the kings licence made by any abbots or gouernours of any Monasteries or other religious houses which were before the making of the said act dissolued within one yeare before the comming to the K. hands of the same Monasteries religious houses c. or which after that should bee dissolued or come to the kings hands should be vtterly void for the same leases sales of wood and assurances were intended to be made by fraud to deceiue the king of certaine commodities which the makers of that statute did meane and intend to giue him 40 Where maidens and women children of noblemen gentlemen and others as well such as were heires apparant to their auncestors as others hauing left vnto thē by their father or other auncestor friends lands tenemēts hereditaments or other great substance in goods cattels moueable for and to the intent to aduaunce them in marriage somewhat like according to their degrées and as might be most for their surety comfort as wel for themselues as of all other their friends kinsfolks were ofttimes vnawares to their said friends or kinsfolkes by flattery trifling gifts faire promises and other such deceitfull fraudulent practises of many vnthrifty light persons therunto by the intreaty of lewd persons others that for rewards bought and sold the said children secretly allured and woon to contract matrimonie with the said vnthrifty light persons and thereupon either with sleight or force oft times were taken conueyed away from their said parents friends or kinsfolkes to the displeasure of God disparagement of the said children continuall heauinesse of all their friends For the redresse and preuention wherof by a statute made Anno 4. St. 4. 5. P. M. 8. 5. P. M. it was enacted Deceitfull conueying a maid inheritable vnder xvj yeares of age That it shall not be lawfull to any person or persons to take or conuey away or cause to be taken or conueyed away any maid or woman child vnmaried being within the age of xvj yeares out of or from the possession custodie or gouernance and against the will of the father of such maid or woman child or of such person or persons to whom the father of such maid or woman child by his last Will or by any other act in his life time shall assigne bequeath giue or graunt the order kéeping education or gouernance of such maid or woman child except such taking conueying away as shal be had made or done by or for such persō or persons as without fraud or couin then shal be the master or mistresse or the gardian in socage or gardian in chiualry of or to such maid or woman child St. 4. 5. P. M. 8. If any person or persons aboue the age of xiiij yeares shal vnlawfully take or conuey The forf for taking away a maid vnder 16 yeares of age or cause to be taken or conueied any maid or woman child vnmaried being within the age of xvj yeares out of or from the possession against the will of the father or mother of such child or out of or from the possession of such person or persons as then shall haue by any lawfull wayes or meanes the order kéeping or education or gouernance of any such maid or woman child then euery such person persons so offending being thereof lawfully attainted or conuicted by the due course of the law of this realme other then such of whō such person taken away shall hold any lands or tenements by knights seruice shal be 2. yéeres imprisoned of his or their bodies without baile or mainprise or els shall pay such fine for his or their said offence to the Q. and party grieued as shal be assessed by the Q. counsell in the starre chamber at Westminster If any such person or persons shall so take away St. 4 5. P. M. 8. or cause to be taken away as is aforesaid Taking away deflouring or cōtracting matrimony with a woman c. and defloure any such maid or woman child as is aforesaid Or shall against the will or vnknowing of or to the father of such maid or woman child if the father be in life or of or to the mother of such maid or woman child hauing the custody gouernance of such child if the father be dead by secret letters messages or otherwise contract matrimony with any such maiden or woman child except such contracts of matrimony as shal be made by the cōsent of such person or persons as by the title of wardship shall then haue or be intituled to haue the mariage of such maid or woman child then euery such person or persons so offending being thereof lawfully conuicted as is aforesaid shall suffer imprisonment of his or their bodies by the space of fiue yeares without baile or maineprise or els shall pay such fine for his or their offence to the Quéene and party grieued as shal be assessed by the Quéenes Counsell in the Starre-Chamber The Quéenes Counsell of the Starre-chamber by bill of complaint or information Who may hear and determine these offences and Iustices of Assise by inquisition or indictment St. 4 5. P. M. 8. haue authority to heare and determine the said offences vpon euery which indictments and inquisitions such processe shall be awarded as vpon an indictment of Trespas at the common law If any woman child or maiden being aboue the age of xij St. 4 5. P. M. 8. yeres and vnder xvj A woman consenting to an vnlawfull contract doe at any time cōsent to such person that so shall make any contract of matrimonie contrary to the forme and effect of this statute then the next of her kinne to whom the inheritance should returne or come after her decease shall from the time of such assent haue and enioy all such lands tenements and hereditamēts as she had in possession reuersion or remainder at the time of such assent during the life of such person that so shall contract matrimony and after the decease of such person so cōtracting matrimony thē the said lands shall discend reuert remaine and come to such person or persons as they should haue done in case this act had neuer béen made other then to him onely that so shall contract matrimony But this act shall not extend to take away or diminish any liberty custome St. 4 5. P. M. 8. or authority cōcerning any
lesse without award of the Kings Court he shall make fine according to the quantitie of the trespas and neuerthelesse sufficient amends shal be to them which haue receiued losse by such distresse Distraining out of his fee. Or if one do distrain another to come to his Court which is not of his fée or vpon whom hee hath no iurisdiction by reason of his Hundred or Bailiwike or doe take a distresse without his fée or the place where he hath iurisdiction or bailiwike hee shall make fine according to the quantitie of his offence Excessiue distresse Or if one do take any vnreasonable excessiue distresses which is grieuous and more than the quantitie of the debt or damages this is an oppression an he shall be amerced 41. Ed. 3. 26 29. Ed. 3. 23. As a man auowed the distraining of 200. shéepe and 16. beasts for ij pence rent and he was amerced therefore for all that he tooke aboue vj. shéepe were adiudged an oppression and so vnlawful But if a man distraine for homage 28. Ass p. 50 42. Ed. 3. 26. Co. li. 4. 8. Fitz. Na. Br. 178. 27. Ass p. 51 28. Ass p. 50 the distresse cannot be too excessiue how many beasts soeuer he doth take for that homage is not valuable though for rent fealtie and other seruices it may be excessiue And in like sort Oppression by often distresse if the Lord of a Mannor or any other who hath rent issuing forth of certaine land do distraine the tenant of the same land diuers times for rent or seruices where none is behind vnpaid this is an oppression of the same tenant who is distrained for in this case the partie who claimeth this rent cannot distraine for rent séeing none was due to him but his distresse is onely taken to vexe the tenant of the land and so to oppresse him And therefore the sayd tenant may haue an Assise of Souent foits distresse against the same Lord and recouer dammages of him according to the losse he hath receiued by the same distresses viz. for not plowing or for not manuring his land Lib. in t 82. Co. li. 4. 8. or for taking no profit thereby But it is otherwise if the same seuerall distresses were taken for homage Seueral distresses for one thing And so it is if a man do distraine for rent or seruices or for any other thing Fit Nat. Br. 71. and depending a suit betwéene the parties for the same rent seruice or other thing he who did distrain doth distrain again for the same rent seruice or thing for the which he did distrain before the beasts or goods of him whose hée did first distraine this is an oppression of him whose goods be twice distrained For the redresse whereof hée may haue a writ of Recaption A writ of Recaption against him who so did distraine his goods twice for one cause whereby hée shall recouer dammages for his second distresse And also hée that did take the same distresse shall make fine to the King for his oppression and wrong though the first distresse were lawfully taken yea and though the rent or seruice for the which he did distraine were behind vnpayed or vndone séeing by the first distresse the cause being prooued true and lawfull hée might haue had returne of the goods or cattell which hee did distraine vntill hée had béene satisfied of the rent seruice or thing for the which hée did distraine But a man may distraine the cattell of him who bée eating of his corne or grasse Distresses for damages for t or doing any other hurt in his ground 47. Ed. 3. 7 so often as he shall find them doing hurt therein and it is no oppression or wrong so to do for he doth not distraine twice for one cause as in the former case but distraineth seuerall times for seuerall new offences 4 And euerie Trespasse which the law doth interpret to bee iniuriously committed vi armis may also fitly be termed an oppression for it is done vpon the offendors owne wrong without warrant of law St. 5. R. 2. â— As if one person doe enter vpon anothers land expell him out of the possession therof whereas his entry is not giuen by the law or doth enter with strong hand or multitude of people Fitz. Tresp 13. 45. 234 20. H. 6. 22. 9. Ed. 4. 28. 9. H. 6. 64. 21. H. 6. 5. 21. Ed. 4. 18. 9. Ed. 4. 29. 10. Ed. 4. 4. 21. Ed. 4. 4. 1. H. 7. 10. 37. H. 6. 36. 21. H. 7. 1â— 11. H. 4. 64. 20. H. 6. 14. 3. H. 6. 12. 10. H. 6. 16. 43. Ed 3. 13. 4. Ed. 3. 48 47. Ed. 3. 22 43. Ed. 3. 35 1. H. 5. 1. and not in peaceable manner this is an oppression And so it is Oppression by Trespasses if one person doe pull downe breake or impaire anothers house or any part thereof Or if one person doe fell cut downe or carrie away the Timber Trées or Wood of another Or if one person doe fell cut tread downe or carrie away the corne or grasse of another Or if one person doe with his cattell depasture feed or eat the corne grasse or hay of another Or if one person doe take and carrie away the money plate iewels houshold-stuffe cattell corne hay or any kind of goods of anothers Or if one person doe plough till eyre or digge the ground or soyle of another Or if one person doe mayme imprison wound or beat another or doth mayme wound or beat the seruant of another whereby he looseth his seruice Or if one person doe hunt chase or hawke in the frée Warren of another or doe take kill or destroy his game there Or if one person doe fish in the Pond Poole Mildam Stew or other seuerall fishing of another Or if one person doe breake the doue-house of another or destroy the flight of the doues of another Or if one person doe digge the Myne of Tinne Lead Stone Coale Grauell Sand Matle Chalke c. of another Or if one person doe pull vp take away the meerestones which by consent haue béen set betwéen his own ground and anothers In all and euerie of which cases the partie grieued may pursue an Action of Trespasse against the offendor and declare that hée committed any of the said offences vi armâ—s wherein if the defendant be attainted hée shall pay to the plaintife his dammages sustained and to the King a fine for that he hath done an oppression to one of his subiects and made an offence to the law Fit Nat. Br. 183. 4. Ass p. 3. 5 Euerie Nusance which one person doth to the land of another Oppression by Nusances wherein the owner hath an estate for the terme of life in tayle or in fée simple may also bée accounted an oppression for those Nusances be put in practise by the offendors onely will and by his owne open playne and manifest
is an oppression and for the redresse thereof the same tenant may pursue against his lord a Writ of Ne iniuste vexes grounded vpon a braunch of the statute of Magna Charta St. 9. H. 3. 10 thereby commaunding the Lord that he shall not oppresse nor vniustly vexe his tenant for more rent or seruices then hée ought to pay or doe 12. E. 4. 7. 28. Ass p. 33 5. Ed. 4. 82. Or otherwise the tenant may auoid this surplusage of rent in an Assise Writ of Rescous or Cessauit brought against him by his lord but in a Repleuin he cannot auoid his lord of this rent newly incroched séeing the same lord hath had seisin thereof and so it is if the lord of a Manor 40. Ed. 3. 44. 49. Ed. 3. 22. 39. E. 3. 6. which is auncient demesne will encroch vpon his tenants and distraine them or any of them that hold their lands by Charter fréely to doe other seruices or customes to the same lord then they ought to doe or that their auncestors were accustomed to do this is an oppression of the same tenants and for the redresse thereof all the tenants of the said auncient demesne Manor may haue against their said lord the kings writ of Monstrauerunt directed to the said lord commaunding him thereby that hée shall not require nor cause to bée required of his said tenants more seruices or customes then they ought to doe Fitz. Na. Br. 14. or had wont to doe And if after the said writ directed he will distraine the goods of them or any of them againe to doe more seruices then they ought to doe Then the same tenants or such or so many of them as bee so distrained may procure an attachment against their said lord Fitz. Na. Br. 15. returnable in the K. Bench or common place for this oppression and contempt wherin euery of the same tenants shall recouer his dammages seuerally according to his losse 8 Euery excessiue amerciament which one person doth take of another Oppression by excessiue amerciament is also to be accounted an oppression of the party so amerced for by the Statutes of Magna Charta West 1. St. 9. H. 3. 14 3. Ed. 1 6. it is ordained That no Citie Borough Towne or man shall be amerced but for a reasonable cause and according to the quantitie of his offence and euery fréeman shall bée amerced sauing his fréehold a marchant sauing his marchandize and euery other mans villaine besides the kings sauing his villaine tenure and the same amerciaments shall bee assessed by the oath of honest and lawfull men of the same vicenage So that if one person doe take a much greater amerciament of another then the quantitie of his offence doth require in a Court Baron or other Court which is not of record or doe take that amerciament of his owne authoritie without being before assessed by others vpon their oathes and so maketh himselfe iudge in his owne cause this is an oppression of the party amerced for the redresse whereof the party grieued may procure to be directed to the lord of the said Manor or to his Baylife a Writ of Moderata misericordia which was founded vpon the said stat of Magna Charta commaunding them thereby Fitz. Na. Br. 75. that they shall take a moderat and indifferent amerciament of the same person according to the quantity of his offence And if the lord or his baylife will not then cease to distraine for the said excessiue amerciament the partie so oppressed may haue against the offendor an attachment directed to the Shirife of that Countie where the same Distresse is taken to attach him to appeare in the kings Court and to answere his said offence Oppression by committing of wast 9 The Wast and Estrepement which one person hauing a particular estate in another persons land doth make or commit to the disheritance of him in the reuersion or remainder of the same land without his consent may also be accounted an oppression of him in whom the said inheritance is for when one person doth lease or otherwise conuey his land to another for the terme of life liues or yeares he doth in effect but lend the same land to the sayd particular tenant for the terme betwéene them agréed vpon expecting to haue the same againe at the end of the terme in as good plight and in such sort as it was when he first did deliuer and lend it And therefore if the particular tenant during the continuance of his estate doe commit any wast in the same land he cannot deliuer it againe at the end of his terme in such plight and sort as at the first he did receiue and borrow it but by the wast the perpetuall profit of the land is impaired and therefore of so much in value hée in the reuersion or remainder is disherited And for the preuention thereof by the statute of Marlebridge it was ordained St. 52. H. 3. 24. That Farmors during their termes shall not make wast sale or exile of houses woods or men nor of any thing belonging to the Tenements which they haue in farme without they haue speciall graunt in writing making mention of a couenant that they may doe it And to the intent that condigne punishment might bée prouided and inflicted vpon such as should be transgressors and oppressors in these cases of Wast by the statute of Gloucester it was enacted St. 6. Ed. 1. 5 That a man shall haue an action of Wast in the Chauncerie against him which is tenant by the courtesie of England The tenants forf which cōmitteth wast or otherwise tenant for terme of life or for terme of yeares or against a woman which holdeth in Dower and he which shall bée attainted of Wast shall forfeit the thing wasted and besides shall pay treble so much as the Wast shall be taxed and after by the statute of Westminster the second the same was in a sort confirmed St. 13. E. 1. 14 and the said action of Wast was againe giuen against the foresaid tenants by the courtesie in dower for terme of life or yeares and also ordained to extend against Gardens And by the same statute the proces to be vsed in the said action of Wast was assigned to be Summons Attachment and Distresse and if the party defendant doe not appeare at the distresse then a writ shall be awarded to the Shirife to inquire of the wast by the oathes of twelue men And because diuers persons did let their lands to others sometime for terme of life or anothers life and sometime for terme of yeares and after the said tenants did graunt their estates which they had in the same Lands and Tenements to others to the intent that they in the reuersion viz. their lessors their heires or assignées should not take knowledge of their names and yet the first lessees did continually occupie the said Lands and tooke the profites to
then doe sue execution of the said Statute against the same Conusor 47. E. 3. 3. 45. E. 3. 17. 3. H. 4. 12. 31. E. 3. or any feoffée of any part of his land this is a great iniurie and oppression and therefore in this case the said Conusor or his feoffée is to bée relieued by an Audita querela If a statute be made acknowledged by one person to another and then committed in ouell maine to a straunger to bée deliuered to the Conusée vpon certaine conditions performed 12. H. 4. 13. 43. E. 3. 17. and after the same stranger doe deliuer the said Statute to the Conusée before the conditions performed whereupon he doth sue execution thereof against the Conusor this is a great wrong and oppression of the Conusor and therefore hée may haue an Audita querela vpon this matter in fact stay the the exeeution and thereby redresse this iniury If one person be bound to another by Statute or Recognisance for the paiment of a summe of money 45. E. 3. 17. 47. E. 3. 3. 9. H. 4. 5. 13. H. 7. 22. 16. El. Dyer 332. and after the Conusor doth make seuerall feoffements of seuerall parcels of his land to diuers persons and then the Statute or Recognisance is forfeited and the Conusée doth sue execution thereof against one of those feoffees onely this is a wrong and oppression of him for that al the land of the conusor which he had at the time of the said stat or recognisance acknowledged or at any time after ought to be charged and extended for the paiment of this debt to the intent the money might be the sooner paid and the execution more spéedily discharged And therefore the same feoffée whose land is so extended may haue an Audita querela or a Scire facias as the case requireth to defeat the execution against him Co. li. 3. 14. 23. Ed. 3. Execution 127. and thereby hee shal be restored to all the meane profits and to compell the conusée to sue execution of all the land which was the conusors at the time of the said Statute or Recognisance acknowledged or at any time after and so the land of euery terre-tenant shall bee equally charged and each person contributorie to the same extent in respect of his land If the conusor after a Statute or Recognisance acknowledged doe make many feoffements of seuerall parcels of his land to diuers persons and then all or any of those feoffées lands bee extended by force of the same Statute c. the partie or parties grieued by the same extent 9. H. 4. 5. may procure an Audita querela to cause the lands of the conusor to bée likewise extended for hée or they be wronged and oppressed by the said conusors former Act and meanes But on the other side if the land remaining in the hands of the conusor bée extended by the conusée by force of the said Statute or Recognisance the conusor cannot maintaine an Audita querela against his seoffées or any of them 23. Ed. 3. Fitz. Execution 127. 45. Ed. 3. 22. to cause their lands to be extended for hée is not vexed or oppressed by the same extent by any of their meanes nor for any of their debts but for his owne debt though in the case before rehearsed they bee troubled and oppressed for his debt for when any person doth become bound by Statute or Recognisance to another and after alieneth his land or any part thereof to a stranger the body of the conusor remaineth debtor to the conusee in respect of his acknowledgement and confession of the same made of record before a competent Iudge or officer thereunto lawfully assigned and the debt is his and the burden thereof is his and the land is onely chargeable in respect that it was in his hands at the time of the Statute or Recognisance acknowledged or after and so the conusors person and the land in his hands is onely chargeable in that case As in like case if a man doe become bound by Statute or Recognisance to another and after the conusée doth purchase parcell of the land of the conusor 11. H. 7. 4. 13. H. 7. 22 45. Ed. 3. 22 2. El. Dyer 193. Plo. Com. 72. and then the Statute is forfeited the conusée may extend the Statute take and imprison the bodie of the conusor and haue the residue of his land deliuered to him in execution and the conusor shall haue no remedie by Audita querela against the conusée for that the conusor is not wronged or oppressed by this extent seeing hée himselfe is the onely debtor of the conusée and his body lands and goods are liable to the payment of this debt and not the lands in the hands of the conusee And so it is if a man bée bound by Statute or Recognisance to another and after the conusée doe purchasse parcell of the land of the conusor and a stranger purchaseth another parcell of land of him and then the Statute is forfeited and the conusée doth sue execution of the land of that stranger the other purchaser that is a wrong and oppression and therefore the said straunger may sue an Audita querela against the said conusée 11. H. 7. 4. 13. H. 7. 22. Fitz. N.B. 105. and thereby discharge his land of execution for that the said conusée hath discharged this land by his own Act viz. by purchasing of parcell of the land charged for by the Statute or Recognisance acknowledged the whole land was charged and by purchasing of parcell by the conusée hée hath discharged the whole sauing that which remaineth in the hands of the Conusor If an Infant within the age of one and twentie yeares be bound by Statute or Recognisance and the Conusor will extend the same the Infant may pursue an Audita querela to auoid the same either during his minoritie if by inspection the Court shall adiudge him within age 6. Ed. 3. 39. 23. Ed. 3. Au. qu. 26. Fi. N.B. 104 or after he shall accomplish his full age for it was a wrong and oppression practised by the Conusée to abuse the tender age of the Infant and to vrge a Statute of him before the Law did enable him to acknowledge it And the like Law is if one person will acknowledge to another a Statute by Dures of imprisonment and then the Conusée doe sue execution of the same the Conusor may prosecute an Audita querela and auoyd the Statute for in this case the Conusée hath done to the Conusor a double wrong and oppression viz. first to imprison him and thereby to exact act a Statute of him and then contrarie to the warrant of Law to extend the same against him And as in the cases aforesaid so likewise in all other cases where any person hath iust and lawfull cause to seeke and haue reliefe by an Audita querela Fi. N.B. 104 20. Ed. 3. Au. qu. 27.
any person which shall haue shéepe at the time of the marriage by reason whereof the said person shall by such meanes haue aboue the number of 200 then he shall loose no penalty for hauing aboue the number of 2000. shéepe by such meanes so that within one yeare next after such aduancement he do put to sale or otherwise dispose so many of the said shéepe so to him aduanced or els of his owne shéepe that he had before so that aboue one yéere he shall not kéepe haue or occupy by any such means or otherwise by any fraud any more number of them then is before limitted vpon paine before rehearsed If any person by his last Will giue to any child within age any number of shéepe Sheepe giuen by will to a child within age appoint them by his last will to be kept by his executors St. 25. H. 8. 13. or by any other person vntill the foresaid child shall come to a certaine age limitted by his last will then after the death of the Testator the said shéepe so being in possession of the executors or of any other person to the vse of any such child within age for the time that he shall be limitted to haue the said shéepe by the will of the Testator shal not be accounted against the said executors nor any person hauing the shéepe for the intent aforesaid any of the number of the said shéep prohibited by this act Euery person being the kings temporall subiect 25. H. 8. 13 or borne vnder his obeysance Shéepe kept vpon inheritance or fréehold which shall haue or be seised of inheritance in possession or in vse or that shall haue a iointure in vse or in possession or shal be tenant in dower or by the courtesie of or in any manors lands tenements pastures féedings or liberty of foldage within any part of this realme of England Wales or the Marches of the same may haue kéepe maintain vpō the same his own demesn lands all other his pastures féedings fold courses which he so hath as many his own shéepe lambs in number to his own proper behoofe as he lawfully might haue had kept vpon the same at any time before the making of this act In case any such person hauing any such estate in vse or in possession of 25. H. 8. 13 or in any lands He that kéepeth his number vpon his inheritance shall not keepe vpon a farme tenements pastures féedings or liberties of fold courses do kéep vpon the same the number of 2000. shéepe or aboue then he shall not in any wise kéepe or haue any shéepe aboue the number of 2000. vpon any lands pastures or féedings which he shal haue in farme or otherwise vpon pain of forf for euery shéepe besides the said number of 2000. 3. s̄ 4. d. In case the said demesne lands tenements pastures féedings 25. H. 8. 13 liberties of fold courses of any person before rehersed Shéepe kept vpon demesns and farmes suffice not for the féeding pasturing kéeping of 2000. shéepe then any such person may haue or féed vpon the said demesn lands vpon his farme holds which he lawfully may haue to the said number of 2000. shéepe not aboue vpon paine of forf for euery shéepe aboue that number 3. s̄ 4. d. It shal be lawfull to euery person kéeping a houshold 25. H. 8. 13 to haue frō time to time such conuenient number of shéepe Shéepe kept for the maintenance of a mans house aboue the number expressed in this act as shal be necessary for the only expences of his houshold to be prouided kept and fed in and vpon his own lands or other lands such as he lawfully can prouide for in farme or otherwise so that he at no time shall haue for the expence of his houshold or by colour of the same aboue the number to him limitted by this act any number of shéepe moe then shall suffice for the onely expences of his household for one yeare without fraud or couin And it is lawfull for all spirituall persons Spirituall persons to kéepe such and as many shéepe vpon their owne lands and after such manner and none otherwise as they might haue done before the making of this act 20 As it is a thing farre vnfit and not consorting with their function that spirituall persons who ought to liue of the altar and to be chiefely imployed deuoted to the seruice of God the administration of his sacraments preaching of his Word instruction of his people should busie themselues with taking of farmes buying selling for gaine in faires markets occupying of Parsonages or Vicarages by farme or with the vsing or keeping of Tanne houses or Brewhouses So it is an oppression and meanes of impouerishment of other temporall persons who do chiefely or partly liue by the same trades and therfore by a stat made An. 21. St. 21. H. 8. 13 H. 8. it was enacted Oppression by spirituall persons in taking of farmes That no spirituall person shall take to farme to himselfe or to any person to his vse of the lease or grant of the K. or any other person or persons by letters patents indentures writings by word or otherwise by any manner of means any manors lands tenements or other hereditaments for terme of life yeares or at will vpon paine to forf for euery moneth that he or they to his vse doe occupy such farme by reason of such graunt or lease x. l. to the king and him that will sue to be recouered in any of the kings Courts by A.B.P. I. wherein no W.E.P. Oppression by thē in buying and selling And that no spirituall person of what estate or degree soeuer he be shall by himselfe or any other for him to his vse bargaine and buy to sell againe for gaine in any markets faires or other places any manner of Cattell Corne Lead Tin Hides Leather Tallow Fish Wooll Wood or any manner of victuall or marchandize of what kind soeuer they be vpon paine to forfeit treble the value of the things so bought to sell againe to the king and him that will sue to be recouered in any of the kings Courts by A.B.P.I. wherein no W.E.P. But a spirituall person who without fraud buyeth any horses cattell goods c. with only intent at the buying thereof to imploy the same to the necessary apparrell of himselfe his seruants or houshold or for the only occupying or manuring of his glebe or demesne lands annexed to his church or for the necessary expences of his household and after the buying or exercising thereof misliketh the same that they should not be good profitable and conuenient for the purposes abouesaid for the which they were bought then he may lawfully bargain and put them away And also other spirituall persons not hauing sufficient glebe or demesne lands in their owne hands in the right of
amend his vessels 25 It is an oppression to many thousand woollen cardmakers cardwierdrawers of this realme who do liue by the same trade Oppression by bringing in of woollen cards to haue cards for wooll brought out of forraine regions into this Realme here sold to the hinderance of the sale of their like wares And therefore if any person shall bring or send or cause to be brought or sent any such cards for wooll to be bartered or sold in England or Wales St. 39. El. 14 St. 1. Iac. 25 by the stat of An. 39. El. he shall forf them or the very value of them to the K. and him that will seise or sue for the same 26 If any person shall erect a new weare along the sea shore Oppression by erecting of weares or in any hauen harbour or créeke or within 5. miles of the mouth of any hauen or créeke or shall willingly take destroy or spoile any spawne fry or brood of any Sea fish in any weare or other engine or deuice whatsoeuer Oppression by destroying of fish this is an oppression to all those that liue by or vse fishing in those parts and a hinderance to the coÌ„monwealth St. 3. Iac. 11 And therefore by the stat of An. 3. Iac. the offendor shal forfeit for euery time so erecting setting vp taking or destroying of fish x. l. to the king I. And if any person shall fish with any drawnet or dagnet vnder three ynches meash viz. one ynch and a halfe from knot to knot except for the taking of Smoulds in Norfolke only or with any net with cannas Oppression by nets or other engine or deuice wherby the spawne fry or brood of sea fish may be destroied this is also an oppression to all those that liue by or vse fishing a hinderance to the commonwealth and therefore the offendor shall forf such net for euery time so doing x. sÌ„ whereof the one halfe to him that will sue and the other halfe to the poore of the city towne parish or liberty where the offence shal be committed 27 For that buying selling and regrating of wood by gréedy and couetous persons is a meane to make the same déerer and is a great oppression hurt to the commonwealth St. 7. E. 6. 7. therefore it is ordained by the stat of An. 7. Ed. 6. That if any person shall buy any fuell coales or wood but onely such as will burne or consume the same Oppression by buying selling of fuell or such persons as shall sell the same again by retaile to such as shall burne or consume the same for their owne occupying without fraud or couin or wharfingers or bargemen he shall forf to the K. I. the treble vâ—lue of the same wood coales or fuell as shal be otherwise bought for lucre gaine St. 15. H. 8. 2 28 If any person shall carrie and conuey Oppression by transporting of victuals or cause to bee carried and conueyed any victuals necessarie for mens sustenance to any parts beyond the Sea vnlesse it be by licence vnder the Kings great seale sauing for the victualling of Mariners and Marchants of Shippes passing the Sea and sauing barrelled butter and meale to be carried to the parts of Ireland as hath bin accustomed this is a meane to enhaunce the prices of victuals within this Realme an so an oppression to the inhabitants of the Realme And therefore by the Statute of Anno 25. H. 8. the partie offending shall forfeit the value of the thing carried to the K. and I. St. 37. H. 8. 9 St. 13. El. 8 St. 39. El. 18. 29 By the Statute of Anno 37. H. 8. Oppression by vsurie and confirmed and explaned by the Statute of Anno 13. El. it is ordained to be vnlawfull vsurie and an oppression if any man do sell any marchandises or wares to another and buy the same againe within thrée months for a lesse price knowing them to be the same that he sold And so it is if any person by any bargaine loane exchange or shift of any wares or other things shall take in gaines for the forbearing of his money or other thing one whole yeare aboue x. l. in the 100. l. And so it is if any person shall take aboue x. l. for the forbearing of 100. l. for a yeare vpon sale or morgage of lands of the profites of the same lands and in the cases aforesaid the offendor shall forfeit for euery such offence the treble value of the wares marchandizes and other things so bargained sold changed c. and the treble value of the issues and profits of the said lands so taken by bargaine sale or morgage to the K. and I. and shall suffer imprisonment make fine at the kings pleasure And all bands contracts and assurances collaterall made for payment of any principall or money to be lent or couenant to bée performed for any vsurie in lending or doing of any thing vpon or by which loane there shal be reserued or taken aboue the rate of x. l. for the 100. l. for one yeare shall be vtterly void and he that doth take or couenant or reserue to take x. l. for the forbearance of 100. l. for one yeare and so after that rate or any summe vnder x. l. shal forf only that x. l. or other lesse summe which he doth so take or couenant or reserue to take though it be but a penny or lesse then a penny to the K. and I. c. Fraudulent shadowing of vsurious bargaines If A. doe lend to B. 100. Co. li. 5. 70 l. and do bargaine agrée with him that if I. S. do liue one whole yéere next comming that then B. shal pay him xx l. for the loane of his 100. l. for a yéere and if I. S. doe die within the yéere that then B. shall pay him but his 100. l. again this is an oppression of B. and an vsurious bargaine and A. is to be punished according to the foresaid stat of 37. H. 8. For as he made reserued the interest of xx l. payable if I. S. should liue one yéere so he might as lawfully haue put in the liues of xx other persons and so deluded the true meaning of the makers of the said Statute And in like sort if A. do lend to B. 100. l. for a yéere do bargaine with B. that if I. S. shall liue vntill the end of that yéere then B. shal pay him xx l. for the interest or loane of his 100. l. for that yéere and if the same I. S. doe die within the said yéere that then B. shall repay to A. but lxxx l. of his principall money this is an vsurious contract and an oppression to be punished according to the said statute for in both the foresaid cases there was but a shaddow deuised by the lender to protect him from the penalty of that statute which at
that he did cause some lawfull punishment to be inflicted vpon certaine of them for their crimes notwithstanding all these or such like misdemeanors be neither Treason nor Felony by the Law but a Riot and yet in respect of the basenesse of the parties which committed this wrong of the cause for the which they put it in practise of the worthinesse of the person and of his place vpon whom it was executed of the barbarous course taken in the performance therof of the perillous exāple giuen to other malefactors these riotors deserue to bée censured with a much sharper punishment then the former For as there be no bounds obserued by leud and wicked persons of their outrages so be there no certaine means or limits assigned of their punishments but the said most honourable Court of estate may draw forth his Maiesties sword of iustice and first punish the said offences according to the particuler lawes and statutes prouided therfore and then euery person transgressing by himselfe according to the circumstance of his demerits as partly may appeare by the statute of anno 3. H. 7. St. 3. H. 7. 1. which expresseth some parts of the authority giuen to the Lords of the said Court and more by a branch of the statute of Magna Charta whereby it is enacted St. 9. H. 3. 14 That euery fréeman shall be amerced viz. punished for reasonable cause according to the quantity of his offence And further by the statute of Anno 33. H. 8. St. 33. H. 8. 1 which giueth the lords of the said Court of Starre-chamber authority to punish those who by counterfeit letters or tokens shall get other mens goods into their hands by imprisonment setting vpon the pillory or other corporall paine whatsoeuer except death ⧠Treasons 1 CRimen lesae Maiestatis What is Treason in our English tongue called Treason is a great offence done to the Maiesty of gouernement and the peace of the land which the wisdome of this Realme hath from age to age so much hated and abhorred that they haue persecuted those that were guiltie therin with most violent and vntimely death and with extreame and seuere tortures they haue ordained that an offendor therein shall be hanged and cut downe aliue that his bowels shall bée cut off and burned in his sight that his head shall bée seuered from his bodie that his quarters shall bée diuided asunder and disposed at the Kings pleasure and made food for the birds of the aire or the beasts of the field and that his wife and children shall be thrust out of his house and liuings that his séed and blood shall be corrupted that his lands and goods shall be confiscated and as by the statute of 29. H. 6. 1. it is ordained of the Traitor Iohn Cade he shall be called a false Traytor for euer And as our respectiue and considerat forefathers haue deuised to yéeld vnto those grieuous offendors Legem talionis and to teare their bodies lands and goods who doe practise to rent and pull asunder this Maiestie of gouernement by destroying the head or such as are like to be the principall succéeding members thereof or by diuiding the bodie into parts or by weakning the force and strength thereof or by subuerting the chiefe Magistrats of iustice or by counterfeiting staining or blemishing of the peculiar and royall Ensignes Cognisances and Sinewes thereof so haue they béene carefull and prouident that there should be no greater number of those dreadfull sharpe and bitter lawes than vrgent necessitie for the preseruation of that Maiestie of gouernment required And because it was in former times greatly doubted and ofttimes called in question amongst the Sages of the Realme and learned in the lawes which offences were by the common law high Treason and which not and which were petit Treason and which not and seuerall men were of seuerall opinions therein and to the intent that al future ages might know and be more vigilant to eschew the penalties thereof King Edward the third at his Parliament begun at Westminster the thirtéenth day of Ianuarie St. 25. E. 3. 2 in the 25. yere of his raign at the request of his Lords and petition of his Commons made a declaration thereof in manner as hereafter followeth viz. It is high Treason where a man doth compasse High treason or imagin the death of our Soueraigne Lord the King or of our Ladie the Quéene his wife or of their eldest sonne and heire or if a man doth deflower the Kings wife or the Kings eldest daughter being vnmaried or the kings eldest sonne and heires wife or if a man doe leuie warre against our Lord the king in his Realme or be adherent to the kings enemies in his Realme giuing to them aid and comfort in his Realme or else where and thereof be probably attainted of open deed by people of their owne condition And if a man do counterfeit the Kings great Seale or his priuie Seale or his money which offences Bracton doth terme Crimen falsi And if a man bring false money into this Realme counterfeit to the money of England knowing the money to be false Bracton de Corona cap. 3. to marchandise or make paiment in deceit of our Lord the King and his people And if a man kill the Chauncellor Treasurer or the Kings Iustice of the one Bench or the other Iustices of Eire and of Assises and all other Iustices assigned to heare and determine beeing in their places doing their Offices And it is to bée vnderstood that in the cases aforesaid it ought to bee adiudged Treason which extendeth to our Lord the King and his royall Maiestie And of such Treason the forfeiture of the escheat doth appertaine to our Lord the King as well of the lands and tenements holden of others as of himselfe And moreouer there is another manner of Treason Petit treason that is to say When a seruant killeth his Master or a wife her husband or when a secular or religious man killeth his Prelat to whom he oweth faith and obedience And such manner of Treason giueth the escheats to euery Lord of his owne fée And because many other cases of like Treason may happen in time to come which a man cannot thinke of nor declare at this present It is accorded that if any other case supposed to be treason that is not before specified doth happen of new before Iustices the Iustices shall stay without proceeding to iudgement of Treason vntill the case be declared and shewed before the King and his Parliament whether it ought to be adiudged Treason or other Felonie And in case any man of this Realme doe ride armed openly or secretly with people armed against another for to kill or rob him or to take and detaine him vntill he hath made fine and ransome to be deliuered it is not the King or his Counsels wil that in such case it shall be adiudged Treason but it shall be
adiudged Felonie or Trespasse according to the law of the land in auncient time vsed and according as the case doth require And if in such case or any like the Iustices haue adiudged it Treason before this time and there by the offendors lands and tenements haue come into the kings hands as forfeit the chiefe Lords of the fée shal haue their Escheats of those tenements which be holden of them whether the same tenements be in the hands of the King or of any other by gift or in other manner sauing to our Lord the King the yeare and wast and the forfeiture of the chattels which doe belong vnto him in the cases aforesaid And in such cases writs of Scire facias shal be awarded against the tenants of the land without any other originall and without allowing the kings protection in the same suit And touching those lands which be in the kings hands there shal be writs granted to the Sherifes of the Counties where the lands be to deliuer them out of the kings hands without delay 2 By which statute it doth appeare that there be two sorts of Treason by the auncient common lawes of this Realme viz. High Treason and Petit Treason High treason High Treason when any of the grieuous offences aforesaid be done or attempted to the vniuersall and generall Maiestie of gouernment that is to say to the bodie of the whole Commonwealth or to the King the head ruler and directer thereof Petit treason in his person wife issues or authoritie Petit Treason is when the bloudie and grieuous offence of wilfull murder is done and committed by an inferiour person and one in subiection to another that hath a dominion or a kind of Maiestie in gouernmēt ouer the same partie And though sithence the before mentioned Statute of 25. Ed. 3. diuers other offences haue béene made Treason by the Statutes of 21. R. 2. 3. H. 5. 4. H. 5. 8. H. 6. 14. H. 6. 20. H. 6. 4. H. 7. 22. H. 8. 26. H. 8. 27. H. 8. 28. H. 8. 31. H. 8. 32. H. 8. 33. H. 8. 35. H. 8. 1. Ed. 6. yet euerie of the succéeding ages were soone wearie of the sayd new Treasons and thought that the grieuous paines and most hainous punishments of them were too heauy and vnsupportable for the Subiects of this Realme to endure As the Lords and Commons in the Parliament holden Anno 4. St. 4. H. 4. 10 H. 4. 10. did complaine that diuers paines were ordained to be Treason by the statute of 21. R. 2. insomuch that no man did know how he ought to behaue himselfe to doe to speake or say for doubt of such paines and thereupon it was enacted That in no time to come any treason shall bée adiudged otherwise than was ordained by the Statute of 25. Ed. 3. And long time after the makers of the statute of Anno 1. Mar. considering and rehearsing that the state of euerie King Ruler and Gouernour of any Realme Dominion or Comminaltie consisteth more assured by the loue and fauour of the subiects towards their Gouernour than in the dread and feare of lawes made with rigorous paynes and extreame punishment and that lawes iustly made for the preseruation of the Commonwealth without extreame punishment or great penaltie are more often obeyed and kept than lawes and statutes made with great and extreame punishments and in speciall such lawes and statutes so made whereby not only the ignorant vnlearned and rude people but also learned and expert persons minding honestie are often trapped and snared yea many times for words only without any other fact or déed done or perpetrated and therefore to the intent that the seueritie of such like extreame dangerous and perillous laws might be abolished A repeale of former treasons and adnulled St. 1. M. by the said statute of Anno 1. M. Parl. 1. it was ordained That from thenceforth none act déed or offence being by act of Parliament or stat made Treason Petit Treason or Misprisiō of Treasō by words writing ciphering déeds or otherwise whatsoeuer shal be taken had déemed or adiudged to bee High treason Petit treason or Misprisiō of treason but only such as be declared expressed to be high Treason Petit treason or Misprision of Treason in or by the stat of 25. E. 3. concerning Treason or the declarations of Treasons and none other Nor that any paines of death penalty or forfeiture in any wise ensue or be to any offendor or offendors for the doing or committing of any Treason Petit Treason or Misprision of Treason other than such as bée in the said stat of 25. E. 3. ordained and prouided By force of which stat made Anno 1. M. the subiects of this Realme were eased and vnburdened of al acts déeds and offences made or declared to be treason by the space of two hundred and more years before Or as it may more aptly be said of all offences made Treason by any stat or act of parliament whatsoeuer But sithence the stat of repeale made Anno 1. M. there haue béen diuers other offences made or declared to be treason by the stat of An. 1. M. 6. 1. 2. P. M. 11. 5. El. 11. 18. Offences made treason by Statutes El. 1. 5. El. 1. 13. El. 2. 23. El. 1. 27. El. 2. 3. Iac. 4. whereof the first foure were but as an addition augmentation enlargement or exposition of the before specified Treasons ordained by the common law or declared by the foresaid stat of 25. E. 3. All which said last mentioned Treasons I will set downe and expresse verbatim after I haue somewhat more particularly expressed how the Sages and Iudges of this Realme haue construed and expounded seueral branches of the said statute of explanation made Anno 25. Ed. 3. 3 The foresaid statute of 25. Ed. 3. doth confirme it to be high treason for any person to compasse or imagine the death of our Soueraigne Lord the K. the Quéen c. by which words it doth approue what a great regard and reuerend respect the common law hath alwayes had to the person of the K. which it hath endeuored religiously carefully to preserue as a thing consecrated by almightie God and by him ordained to be the head health wealth of the kingdome and therefore it hath ingrafted a déepe and setled feare in the hearts of all sorts of subiects to offer violence or force vnto it vnder the paine of high treason Leges Aluredi cap. 4. Co. li. 4. 124 in somuch as if he that is non compos mentis do kil or attempt to kill the K. it shal be adiudged in him high treason though if he do cōmit petit treason homicide or larceny it shall not be imputed vnto him as felonie for that hee knew not what he did neither had he malice prepenced nor a felonious intent And this law doth not only restrain al persons from laying
counterfeit money any such false and counterfeit coine of money being currant within this realme as is aforesaid knowing the same coine or mony to be false counterfeit to the intent to vtter or make paiment with the same within this realme or any the dominions of the same by marchandizing or otherwise then all euery such person or persons so offending as is aforesaid their counsellors procurers aiders and abettors in that behalfe shal be déemed and adiudged to be offendors in high Treason and shall suffer after lawfull conuiction or attainder thereof such paines of death losse and forf of lands goods and cattels as other offendors shall do in cases of high Treason And all euery person and persons By what euidence an offendor shal be indicted or attainted that shal be accused or impeached of any of the offences contained and prouided for in this stat or of any other offence or offences cōcerning the impairing coūterfeiting or forging of any coin currant within this realme shal and may be indicted conuicted or attainted by such like euidence in such manner and forme as hath béene vsed within this realme at any time before Anno 1. Ed. 6. Any Statute custome law c. notwithstanding 12 Because diuers false and euill disposed persons for wicked lucre gains sake did diminish impaire and falsifie the money and coynes currant within this Realme Clipping washing roūding or filing of money by clipping washing rounding and filing therof to the dishonor of the Quéene and losse of the subiects of this Realme for the remedy wherof by a stat made An. 5. El. it was enacted That clipping washing rounding St. 5. El. 11. or filing for wicked lucre or gaines sake of any the proper monies or coynes of this realme or the dominions therof or of the monies or coines of any other realme allowed and suffered to be currant within this realme or the dominions thereof at this present or that hereafter at any time shal be the lawful monies or coines of this realme or the dominions thereof or of any other realme and by proclamation allowed and suffered to bee currant here by the Qu. her heires or successors shal be taken and adiudged by vertue of this act to be treason and the offendors therein their counsellors consenters and aiders shal be taken déemed and adiudged as offendors in Treason and being thereof lawfully conuicted or attainted according to the due order of the law shall suffer death and lose forf all his and their goods and cattels and also shall lose and forf all his and their lands and tenements during his and their naturall life or liues onely To whom the forfeiture shall accrue And euery person which hath any lawfull grant to haue and enioy the forf of lands goods or cattels of offendors and men attainted of high treason within any Manor Lordship Towne Parish Hundred or other precinct within this realme of England or Wales shall may at all times hereafter haue like libertie to take seise enioy all such forf of lands tenements goods and cattels as shall come or grow within their liberties by force of the attainder of any person or persons for vpon any offence and offences made treason by this act as they or any of them should ought or might by vertue of any good and lawfull grant to them or any of them heretofore had or made Prouided alwayes No corruptiō of blood or forf of dower and be it enacted That this act nor any attainder or attainders of any person or persons for any offence or offences made treason by this act shall extend or be expounded to make any corruption of blood to any the heire or heirs of any such offendor or offendors or to make the wife of any such offendor to lose or forf her dower of or in any lands tenements or hereditaments or her title action or interest in the same Any thing in this act contained or attainder c. notwithstanding Tryall of a Peere If any of the Lords of the Parliament or Péere of the realme shal be indicted of any offence made treason by this act then they shall haue their triall by their Péeres as heretofore hath béene vsed in cases of High Treason By a stat made An. 3. H. 5. it was ordained That clipping St. 3. H. 5. 6 washing or filing of the money of the land shold be adiudged treason but that stat was repealed by the before rehearsed stat of An. 1. M. as is aforesaid 13 For that diuers euill disposed persons knowing that the said act of an 5. El. 11. being penall ought to be expounded strictly according to the words therof the like offences not by any equitie to receiue the like punishment did sithence the making of the said stat practise for gaines sake other vndue means to falsifie impaire diminish and lighten as wel the proper mony of this realm as also of other realms Diminishing scaling or lightning of money allowed to be currant within this realm and the dominions thereof by the Qu. proclamation to the great losse and deceit of the Q. and her subiects for the redresse whereof by a Statute made Anno 18. St. 18. El. 1. Eliz. it was established That if any person or persons shall for wicked lucre or gaines sake by any act waies or means whatsoeuer impaire diminish falsifie scale or lighten the proper monies or coynes of this Realme or any the Dominions thereof or the monies or coines of any other Realmes allowed and suffered to bée currant at the time of the offence committed within this Realme of England or any the Dominions of the same by the proclamation of the Qu. her heires or successors it shall be taken déemed and adiudged to be Treason and the offendors therein their counsellors consentors and aydors shall bee likewise déemed and adiudged as offendors in treason and being thereof lawfully conuict or attainted according to the due course of the laws of this realm shall suffer death lose and forf all their goods and cattels to the Quéene her heires and successors and shall lose and forfeit to the Quéene her heires and successors all their lands tenements and hereditaments during his or their naturall life or liues onely Prouided alwayes that this Act No corruptiō of blood nor forf of dower nor any attainder or attainders for any offence or offences made treason by this Act shall in any wise extend or be iudged or expounded to make any corruption of blood to any the heire or heires of such offendor or offendors or to make the wise of any such offendor to lose or forfeit the dower of or in any lands tenements or hereditaments or her title action or interest to the same Any thing in this Act contained or any attainder hereafter to be had c. notwithstanding If any Lord of the Parliament or Péere of this Realme Tryall of a Peere shal
such offence of returning or being in this realme or c. without submission as is aforesaid shall be adiudged a Traitor and suffer and loose and forfeit as in case of high Treason 20 Hauing treated of Treasons generally and first shewed which be high Treasons and which petit Treasons by the common lawe and which be made treasons by Statutes It resteth that I declare what is Misprision of treason how many sortes thereof there be and what is the penaltie or punishment of the offendors therein What misprision of treason is Misprision of treason or felony is most properly when any person doth vnderstand or know that another person hath committed treason or felony and he will not disclose it to the King or his Councell or to some Magistrate that it may be repressed and punished but doth conceale it Bracton writeth Bracton de Corona cap. 3 That if any man doth know another to be guilty of a treason or to be vehemently suspected thereof he ought presently and without any delay come to the King if he can or send to him if he be not able to come or to some other néere about the King and to declare euery thing in order he ought not tarrie in one place two daies or two nights before he doth sée the Kings person neither must he attend any other busines be it of neuer so great importance for hée is scarcely allowed to looke backe because if he doe delay and conceale the matter for a time he shall be accounted a manifest deceiuer of the King and as consenting and agreeing to the offence whether the partie which is accused be his familiar friend or a stranger and if he would after accuse the offendor he shall not be heard vnlesse he can prooue that he was hindered vpon good cause And to the intent it might be certainely knowen what misprision of treason is the Statutes of 5. 6. Ed. 6. St. 5. E. 6. 11 1. 2. P. M. 10. and 1. 2. Ph. M. haue defined it in this manner viz. concealement or kéeping secret of any high treason shal be déemed and taken only misprision of treason the offendors therein to forfeit and suffer as in cases of misprision of treason as héeretofore hath béene vsed The forfeture in misprision And in all cases of misprision of treason the offendor shall forfeit to the King his goodes and his lands during this life 2. R. 3. 10. and he shall be imprisoned during his life And euery treason or felony doth include Misprision so that where any person hath committed treason or felony the King if hée will may cause the offendor to be indicted and arraigned but of misprision But some other offences partly by the common Lawe and partly by Statute be misprision of treason besides concealement or kéeping secret of treason which be héereafter expressed 21 By reason that diuers euill disposed persons as well without this Realme as within were boldened to counterfait and forge such kinde of golde and siluer and vtter the same in the Realme as is not the proper coine of this Realme nor currant in paiment in this Realme because before there was no condigne punishment prouided for such offences For the redresse whereof St. 14. El. 3 by a Statute made Anno 14. Elizab. 3. it was enacted That if any person or persons shall héereafter falsely forge Counterfaiting of money not currant or counterfait any such coine of golde or siluer as is not the proper coine of this Realme nor permitted to be currant within this Realme Then euery such offence shall be déemed and adiudged Misprision of high Treason And the offendors therein their procurors aiders and abettors being conuicted according to the Lawes of this Realme of such offences shall be imprisoned and forfeit such Landes goodes and Chattells as in cases of Misprision of treason for concealement of treason S. Br. 6. St. 23. Eli. 1 22 By the Statute made Anno 23. Elizab. 1. Aiding of perswaders to Romish religion it is enacted and declared That all and euerie person and persons that shall wittingly bée Aidors or Maintainors of such persons as shall offend in perswading or reconciling to the Romish Religion or in being reconciled thereunto or in any of the same offences knowing the same or which shall conceale any of the saide offences and shall not within twentie daies at the furthest after such persons knowledge of such offence disclose the same to some Iustice of Peace or other higher officer shall be taken tried and iudged and shall suffer and forfeit as offendors in misprision of Treason S. Br. 17. Concealing of reconciliation offered 23 By the Statute made Anno 13. Elizab. 2. it was ordained St. 13. Eli. 2. That if any person or persons to whom anie absolution reconciliation bull writing or instrument obtained from the Bishop of Rome or any of his successors or from any other claiming authoritie from or by them shall be offered mooued or perswaded to be vsed put in vre or executed shall conceale the same offer motion or perswasion and not disclose and signifie the same by writing or otherwise within sixe wéekes then next following to some of the Quéenes priuie Councell or to the president or vicepresident established in the North or the Marches of Wales for the time being Then the same person or persons so concealing shall incurre the penaltie and forfeit of misprision of high Treason But no person or persons shall be troubled in or for misprision of high Treason for any offence made Treason by this Act other than such as by this Act before are declared to be in case of misprision of high Treason S. Br. 16. Recording an indictment not found 24 If a Iustice of Peace doe inroll a bill of indictment not found by the Countrey amongst other indictments which be found 2. R. 3. 10. This is a great misprision and fineable and he shall loose his office Drawing a sword to strike a Iustice 25 If one draw his sword to strike a Iustice assigned Mi. 22. Ed. 3 13. sitting in place of Iudgement this is misprision of Treason and the offender being indicted and found guiltie thereof shall haue iudgement to forfeit his landes and chattels to haue his right hand cut off to be perpetually imprisoned for that the Iustice assigned by the Kings Commission to execute iustice sitteth in the place and stead of the King and so the offender opposeth himselfe against the King and the office of iustice Striking a Iuror in a Iustices presence 26 If in the presence of a Iustice assigned M. 19. Ed. 3. Fitz. Iudgement 174. one doe strike a Iurour that is returned vpon an Enquest this is misprision of Treason and the offender being indicted thereof shall haue iudgement to loose his lands and goodes to the King to haue his right hand stricken off and to be committed to perpetuall prison
Striking in Westminster Hall 27 And the same Law is Fitz. Cor. 280. M. 2. 3. P. M. Dy. 188. if one strike another in Westminster Hall during the time that the Kings Courts be sitting there and be indicted thereof this is misprision of Treason and an indignitie offered to the Magistrates and place of iustice Therefore in this case the offender shall haue iudgement to haue his right hand cut off to loose his lands and goods and to be perpetually imprisoned Reâ—scuing a prisoner arrested by a Iudge 28 If one of the Kings Iustices assigned M. 22. Ed. 3. 13. doe arrest any person which hath made a fray before him and a stranger will rescue the prisoner whereby he doth escape this is misprision of Treason and in this case as well the prisoner as he that made the rescous shall forfeit to the King his landes and goods and be imprisoned during their liues Because the attachment of such a Iustice is the Kings owne attachment in the construction of Lawe 29 Because striking in the Kings pallace or where he shall remaine in person is a kinde of disgrace offered vnto or contempt had of the maiestie of the king who is the head of the common wealth and the chiefe preseruer of peace therein and therefore it is to be accounted a great Misprision and worthy of seuere punishment wherefore for the preuention thereof Shedding of blood within the kings palace by a Statute made Anno 33. St. 33. H. 8. 12. H. 8. 12. it was established That if any person or persons shall malitiously strike any other person whereby blood shall be shedde in any of the Kings houses or Palaces or any other house wherein the king his heires or successors shall bee at that time abiding in his royall person viz. within any edifices courts places gardens orchards or houses within the Porters ward of any of the houses aboue rehearsed or within any Gardens priuie walkes orchards tilt-yards wood-yards tennice-plaies cocke-fights bowling alleyes néere adioyning to the said houses and béeing part of the same or within two hundred foot of the Standard of any outward gate or gates of any of the said houses commonly vsed for passage from any of the houses c. and shal be thereof indicted arraigned and attainted according to the forme of the said Statute he so offending shall haue his right hand cut off bee imprisoned during his life and make fine to the King at his pleasure But this Act and the paines and forfeitures before rehearsed shall not extend to any Noble man nor other person that shall strike his seruant within the said Palaces or Houses or the limits of the same with his hand or fist or any small staffe or sticke for correction for any offence committed Nor to any of the Kings officers that in execution of his office shall strike any person with his hand fist or small staffe sticke or tipstaffe Nor to any other person that in doing seruice at any triumph or any other time of seruice by the Kings or any of his Councel or other his head officers commandement shal for the execution of his said seruice strike any person with his hand fist smal staffe or stick or any tipstaffe within the same palace house c. although by reason of the same stroke or strokes there happen to bée any blood-shed of such person as shal be so stricken except the person so stricken die of the same stroke within one yeare next after And so it is to be noted by the foresaid Statute of 33. H. 8. and the foure cases next precedent that striking in the Kings Palace or House where himselfe doth make his abode is not so penall as striking or drawing a weapon to strike is where he is but represented by others in time and place of Iustice for the law doth inflict a more seuere punishment vpon him who striketh or draweth his weapon to strike in place time of execution of Iustice than it doth to him who offereth the like violence in the house and at the time where the kings owne person is remaining In which case the offendor receiueth no punishment at all for striking or drawing of his weapons to strike vnlesse blood be shed thereby Which lawes doe procéed of the great care and reuerend respect that is had of Iustice and of peace ensuing thereof 30 For as much as some doubts and questions were mooued that certaine kinds of Treasons Misprisions and concealements of Treasons committed out of this Realme could not by the common lawes of this Realme be enquired of heard and determined within this Realme of England for a plaine declaration whereof St. 35. H. 8. 2 26. H. 8. 13. 5. Ed. 6. 11. by a Statute made Anno 35. H. 8. it was enacted That all manner of offences béeing alreadie made or declared or hereafter to bee made or declared to be Treasons Misprisions of Treasons or concealements of Treasons and done perpetrated or committed by any person or persons out of this Realme of England shal be enquired of heard and determined before the Kings Iustices of his Bench for pleas to be holden before himselfe Trial of treasons committed out of the Realme by good and lawfull men of the same shire where the said Bench shall sit and bée kept or else before such Commissioners and in such shire of the Realme as shall be assigned by the Kings Commission and by good and lawfull men of the same Shire in like manner and forme to all intents as if such treasons c. had béene committed in the same shire where they shall be so inquired of heard and determined as is aforesaid And if any Péere of this Realme shall be indicted of any such Treasons c. then he shall haue his triall by his Péeres c. Which foresaid Statute of Anno 35. H. 8. remaineth in force notwithstanding the Statute of Anno 1. 2. P. M. 10. By which it is ordered h. 13. El. Dyer 298. That all Trials had awarded or made for any Treason shall bee had and vsed onely according to the course of the common lawes of this Realme and not otherwise Outlawrie of offendors in Treason beeing beyond Sea 31 By a branch of a Statute made Anno 26. H. 8. it was ordained That all Proces of Outlawrie to be made within this Realme against any offendors in Treason being resiant or inhabiting out of this Realme or beyond the Sea at the time of the Outlawrie pronounced shal be as good and effectuall in the law to all intents as if any such offendors had béene resiant within this Realme at the time of such Proces awarded Outlawrie pronounced And after by a Statute made Anno 5. E. 6. it was conditioned and prouided St. 5. E. 6. 11. That if the partie so outlawed shall within one yeare after the said Outlawrie pronounced or iudgement giuen thereupon yéeld himselfe to the chiefe Iustice
the Kings Bench for that he did beate a woman great with childe with two children AnÌ„ 3. Ass pl. 2. M. 1. E. 3. 24 so that one of the children died presently and the other was borne baptised and had a name of Baptisme giuen and within two daies after that childe also died by the hurt it receiued by the foresaid beating this was adiudged no felonie for the reasons aforesaide But if a woman being deliuered of a childe doth presently kill it before it be baptized Fit cor 418 M. 2. El. Di. 186. this is felony in her though the childe had no name of Baptisme because the childe was in rerum natura before it was killed and it is knowen by whom and what meanes that childe came to his death 40 If a man doe beate or otherwise hurt another whereby hée dieth In homicide the pâ—rty must die within a yeare and a day it is requisite to make it Homicide Fit cor 303 that the partie doe die within a yeere and a day next after the batterie or hurt done Or else the Lawe will not adiudge it homicide or that the partie stricken did die of that beating or hurt And the same Lawe is if poison be giuen by one man to an other whereby hée dieth the Lawe will not construe it to be murder vnlesse the partie doe die within a yeere and a day next after the poison receiued 41 As a man may commit felonie in killing of an other Homicide by felo de se so he may commit felonie in killing of himselfe and then the Law doth aptly call him felo de se for though Homicide is most fitly and commonly termed where one man doth kill an other yet the same phrase may in good congruitie of speach be well applied to one that killeth himselfe for there is an Agent and a Patient a killer and one slaine and both in one and the selfe same person And though there may be many causes why a man may kill himselfe as there be many and seuerall humours opinions distractions and fantasies in men yet most coÌ„monly he becommeth felo de se Bracton de coro ca. 31. feloniously killeth himselfe who being guilty of any grieuous crime is apprehended for the same or vehemently suspected or accused thereof or being wearie of his life for extreamitie of paine or pouertie as being not able to kill his enemie or to be reuenged of him according to his desire doth therefore kill himselfe c. which felon of himselfe shall forfeit to the King his goodes chattells reall and personall Plow com 260. 261. Fitz. Cor. 362. 301. 426. and debts but not his lands for the Lawe doth so greatly fauour inheritance that it shall not escheate without attainder indéede Neither shall his wife forfeit her dower nor his blood shall be corrupt And the reason why the King shall haue the goodes chattels and debts of felo de se forfeited vnto him The cause of the forfeiture of felo de se is for that the King hath lost a subiect and the same subiect hath broken the Kings peace in killing of himselfe and giuen an euill example to his people and hath fled from and escaped the triall of the Lawe and he himselfe was the cause why he could not be tried by the Lawe Co. l. 5. 110. But the goodes of felo de se be not forfeited vntill his death be presented and found of Record And therefore those goods cannot be claimed by prescription And if felo de se be cast into the Sea or a great Riuer or so secretly buried that the Coroner cannot haue the sight of his body and by thgt meanes can not enquire thereof Then all such Iustices of Peace and Oier and Determiner which haue authoritie to enquire of felonies shall enquire thereof An Enfant or Lunatike killeth himselfe 42 If an Enfant furious or frantike man doe drowne Bracton de coron ca 31 21. H. 7. 31 Fitz. cor 244. Co. li. 1. 99. Plow com 260. or otherwise kill himselfe hée shall not forfeit his goodes c. because he wanteth reason and iudgement And if a man that is lunatike doe strike himselfe with his knife or other weapon and after doth recouer and notwithstanding dieth of the same stroke that himselfe did giue within one yéere and a day after the stroke giuen yet he shall not be adiudged felo de se nor forfeit his goods or any thing therefore for the Lawe doth respect what he was at the beginning when hee gaue himselfe the stroke which was the cause of his death and not what he was when he died For if a man that is frantike from day to day doe kill himselfe he shall not forfeit his goods But the Lawe is otherwise if a man doe kill himselfe who is frantike but at certaine times Fitz. coron 324. viz. per lucida interualla Killing of him selfe in the stead of an other 43 If a man doe strike an other to the ground and then draweth his knife to kill him and the defendant lying vpon the ground draweth his knife to defend himselfe H. 44. Ed. 3 44. and the assailant is so hastie to kill the defendant that hee falleth vpon the defendants knife and so is slaine In this case the assailant is felo de se for he had an intention to kill though not himselfe yet the defendant And so as the death intended by him was by his hast transferred from the defendant to himselfe so is the name of a murderer transfered to felo de se 44 If a lease of lands be made to the husband Plow com 258. and the wife for the terme of certaine yeares and the husband goeth into the water and drowneth himselfe in this case Forfeiture of lease made to felo de se and his wife after the death of the husband shal be found by the Coroner vpon the sight of the dead body and the title of this land shal be likewise found by an inquisition taken before commissioners authorised thereunto the foresaid lease and whole terme of yeeres shal be forfeited to the King and the wife shall haue no part thereof for this forfeiture shall haue relation to the husbands going into the water whereupon the drowning did ensue at the which goeing into the water hée had the whole interest of the lease in him so to dispose that hée might haue aliened the whole interest thereof from his wife and this going into the water wherupon this drowning and death did ensue was a forfeiture or alienation in law of the terme and was as much in construction of the law as if hée had then aliened the whole terme to the King And the finding of the death of this man before the Coroner vpon the sight of the bodie and the finding of the title of this lease before Commissioners bée equiuolent to a iudgement that might haue béene giuen against him in his
diuers euill disposed persons being married did run out of one countrey into another or into places where they were not knowne and there became to be maried hauing another husband or wife liuing to the great dishonor of God vtter vndoing of diuers honest mens children and others therfore by a stat made anÌ„ 1. Felony in marying vntill the former husband or wife be dead Iac. it was enacted St. 1. Iac. 11 That if any person or persons within his Ma. dominioÌ„s of England Wales being maried or which hereafter shall marry do marry any person or persons the former husband or wife being aliue that then euery such offence shal be felony and the party parties so offending shall receiue such the like procéeding triall and execution in such county where such person or persons shal be apprehended as if the offence had bin committed in such county where such person or persons shal be takeÌ„ or apprehended Prouided alwaies that this act shall not extend to any person or persons whose husband or wife shal be continually remaining beyond the seas by the space of 7. yéeres together or whose husband or wife shall absent him or her selfe the one from the other by the space of 7. yeares together in any parts within his Ma. Dominions the one of theÌ„ not knowing the other to be liuing within that time Prouided also that this act shall not extend to any person or persons that are or shal be at the time of such mariage diuorced by any sentence had or hereafter to be had in the Ecclesiasticall Court or to any person or persons where the former mariage hath bin or hereafter shal be by sentence in the Ecclesiasticall court declared to be void and of no effect Nor to any person or persons for or by reason of any former mariage had or made or hereafter to be had or made within age of consent No corruptioÌ„ of blood or disheritance Prouided also that no attainder for this offence made felony by this act shall make or worke any corruption of blood losse of dower or disinherison of heire or heires Infected with the plague 8 By the stat made anÌ„ 1. Iac. it was ordained St. 1. Iac. 31 That if any person or persons infected with the plague shal be by the Maior Bailifes Constables or other head officers of any City Borough Town corporat priuiledged place or Market Towne or by any I. of Peace Constable Headborough or other officer of the county if any such infection be out of any City Borough Towne corporate priuiledged place or market towne commaunded or appointed to kéepe his or their house for auoiding of further infection shall notwithstanding contrary to such commandement wilfully contemptuously goe abroad shall conuerse in company hauing any infectious sore vpon him vncured then such person persons shal be taken adiudged a felon and suffer death as in case of Felony But if such person shall not haue such sore found about him theÌ„ for his said offence to be punished as a vagabond should or ought to be by the stat made 39. El. 4. for the punishment of vagabonds and further to be bound to his or their good behauior for one yéere but no attainder of felony by vertue of this act shal extend to any attainder or corruption of blood No corruptioÌ„ of blood or forfeiture or forf of any goods chattels lands tenements or hereditaments St. 35. El. 1 St. 2. Iac. 25 9 By the stat made AnÌ„ 35. El. it was ordained That if any such offendor Abiuration by a Recusant which by the tenor effect of the said act intituled an act to retaine the Quéens subiects in due obedience is to be abiured shal refuse to make such abiuration as by the said stat is appointed Or after such abiuration shall not goe to such hauen and within such time as is appointed and from thence depart forth of the realme according to the said statute Or after his departure shall returne and come againe into any of the Q. Realmes or Dominions without her speciall licence in that behalfe first had and obtained Then in euery such case the person so offending shall be adiudged a felon suffer as in case of felony without benefit of clergy Prouided that the wife of such offendor by force of this act shal not loose her dower nor that any corruption of blood shal grow or be by reason of any offence mentioned in this act But the heire of such offendor by force of this act shall and may after the death of euery such offendor haue and enioy the lands tenements and hereditaments of such offendor as if this act had not bin made Prouided that no Popish Recusant or feme couert shall be bound to abiure by vertue of this act St. 35. El. 2. 10 By a stat made an 35. El. it was enacted That any such offendor Abiuration of a Recusant which by the tenor intent of the act made to restrain Popiâ—h Recusants to some certaine place or abode is to be abiured shal refuse to make such abiuration or after such abiuration made shal not go to such hauen and wiâ—hâ—n such time as is appointed and from thence depart out of the realme according to this act Or after such his departure shall returne or come againe into any of her maiesties realmes or dominions without her maiesties speciall licence in that behalfe first had and obtained then in euery such case the person so offâ—nding shall be adiudged a felon and shall suffer and loose as in case of felony without benefit of Clergy St. 25. H. 8 6 St. 5. Eli. 17. 11 By a stat ordained anÌ„ 25. H. 8. and made perpetuall an 5. El. it was enacted That the detestable abominable vice of Buggery Buggery committed with mankind or beast shal be adiudged felony and such order forme of proceâ— therein shal be vsed against the offendors as in cases of felony at the common law And the offendors being thereof conuict by verdict confession or â—â—iclary shal suffer such pains of death losses penaltâ—es of goods catteâ—s debts lands tenemeÌ„ts and hereditaments as felons be accustomed to do according to the order of the common law of this Realme And no person offending in such offence No clergy shall be admitted to his Clergy And I. of Peace shall haue authority within the limits of their iurisdiction and commission to heare and determine the same as they haue in cases of other felonies St. 21. H. 8. 7 St. 5. El. 10. 12 By a statute prouided An. 21. H. 8. and made perpetuall AnÌ„ 5. Seruants imbesiling their masters goods El. it was established That all and singular seruants to whom any caskets iewels money goods or cattels by his or their master or mistresse shall be deliuered to kéepe if any such seruant or seruants withdraw him or them from their
graine or to abate or diminish the Rents or yearely value of any Mannors Lands or Tenements or the price of any victuals corne or graine or any other thing vsuall for the sustenance of men and béeing required and commaunded by any Iustice of Peace or by the Sherife of the Countie or by the Maior Bailife or Bailifs or other head Officers of any Citie or Towne Corporat where such assembly shall bee had by Proclamation to bée made in the Quéenes name to retire or returne in peaceable manner to their places and houses from whence they came and they or any of them notwithstanding such Proclamation shall remaine or make their abode or continue together by the space of one whole houre after such commaundement or request made by Proclamation or after shall in that forcible manner doe or put in vre any of these things last before mentioned then as well euerie such abode or continuing together as euerie such act that after such commaundement or request by Proclamation had or made shall bée done practised or put in vre by any persons béeing aboue the number of twelue shall bee adiudged Felonie and the offendors therein shall be adiudged Felons and shall suffer onely execution of death as in case of Felonie If any person or persons vnlawfully and without authoritie Raising of vnlawful assemblies by some act or words by ringing of any Bell or Bells sounding of any Trumpet Drumme Horne or other instrument whatsoeuer or by firing of any Beacon or by malitious speaking or vttering of any words or making of any outcrye or by setting vp or casting of any bills or bill or writing whatsoeuer or by any other déed or act shall raise or cause to bée raysed or assembled any persons to the number of twelue or aboue to the intent that the same persons should doe or put in vre any of the acts or things abouesaid and that the persons to the number of twelue or aboue so raysed and assembled after request or commaundement had or giuen in forme aforesayd shall make their abode or continue together as is aforesayd or vnlawfully and in forcible manner perpetrate doe commit or put in vre any of the acts or things abouesayd then all and singular persons by whose speaking déed act or any other the meanes aboue specified any persons to the number of twelue shall bée raysed or assembled for the doing committing or putting in vre any of the acts or things aboue mentioned shall bée adiudged for his so speaking or doing a Felon and shall suffer execution of death as in case of Felonie Reléeuing them which be assembled If any wife or seruant of any of the same persons or any other person whatsoeuer shall willingly and without compulsion bring send deliuer or conuey any Money Harneyes Artillerie Weapons Meat Bread Drinke or other Victuall to any person or persons so being assembled as is aforesayd during such time as hée or they shall bee so assembled together in forcible manner as is aforesaid then euerie wise seruant or other person so bringing or conueying c. any of the foresayd things to the same persons so béeing assembled together in forcible manner or to any of them and not departing to their houses or dwelling places vpon request or commaundement made vnto them as is aforesaid shal be adiudged a felon and shall suffer execution of death as in case of felonie Vnlawful assembly by xl and more If any persons to the number of fortie or more shall assemble together in forcible manner vnlawfully and of their owne authoritie to the intent to execute doe or put in vre any of the things aboue specified or to do other felonious or rebellious act or acts and so shall continue together by the space of thrée houres after Proclamation shall bée made at or nigh the place where they shall bée so assembled or in some Market Towne thereunto next adioyning and after notice thereof to them giuen then euerie person so willingly assembled in forcible maner and so continuing together by the space of thrée houres after such Proclamation made and notice thereof giuen shal be adiudged a felon S. Riots c. 32. c. 32 By the Statute made Anno 39. Eliz. it was enacted St. 39. El. 17 That all idle and wandring Souldiers or Mariners Wandring souldiers and mariners or idle persons which now are or hereafter shall bée wandring as Souldiers or Mariners shall settle themselues in some seruice labour or other lawfull course of life without wandring or otherwise repaire to the places where they were borne or to their dwelling places if they haue any and there remaine betaking themselues to some lawfull trade or course of life vpon payne that all persons offending contrarie to this Act to bée reputed as Felons and to suffer as in case of Felonie without any benefit of Cleargie to bee allowed And euerie idle and wandring Souldier or Mariner which comming from his Captaine from the Seas or from beyond the Seas shall not haue a Testimoniall vnder the hand of some one Iustice of Peace of or néere the place where hee landed setting downe therein the place and time where and when hée landed and the place of his dwelling or birth vnto which he is to passe as aforesaid and a conuenient time therein limited for his passage or hauing such testimoniall shall wilfully excéed the time therein limited aboue fouretéene dayes And also as well euerie such idle and wandring Souldier or Mariner as euerie other idle person wandring as a Souldier or Mariner which shall at any time hereafter forge or counterfeit any such Testimoniall Forging a Testimoniall or haue with him or them any such Testimoniall forged or counterfeited as aforesayd knowing the same to bée counterfeited or forged in all these cases euerie such act or acts to bée Felonie and the offendors to suffer as aforesayd without any benefit of Clergie It shall and may bée lawfull for the Iustices of Assises Iustices of Gaole deliuerie and Iustices of Peace of euerie Countie and for all Iustices of Peace in Townes Corporat hauing authoritie to heare and determine Felonies to heare and determine all such offences in their generall Sessions and to execute the offendors which shall bée conuicted before them as in cases of Felonie is accustomed Except some honest person Retaining an offendor into seruice valued at the last Subsidie next before that time to tenne pounds in goods or fortie shillings in lands or else some honest Freeholder as by the sayd Iustices shall bee allowed will bee contented before such Iustices as such person shall bee arraigned of Felonie to take him or them into his seruice for one whole yeare then next following and before the sayd Iustices will bee bound in Recognisaunce of tenne pounds to bee leuied of his lands goods tenements and cattels to the vse of the King if hée kéepe not the sayd person or persons for one whole yeare and bring him
partie most interessed or grieued by the same murder or felonie is to prosecute sute against the saide offendor by Appeale and thereby to séeke reuenge against him for the wrong done to himselfe or his auncestor or else the offendor is to be indited at the Kings sute whose peace hée hath broken and whose lawe he hath offended and who hath a speciall interest in all manner of treasons and felonies to punish them to wéede them out of his kingdomes and dominions and to defend his subiects from them And therefore I am to expresse in this Chapter and the next what an Appeale of felonie is and what an Indictment is by whom for whom and against whom and in what cases they are to be begunne prosecuted and maintained what defences or pleas are to be made or pleaded by the supposed offendors vnto them and what counterpleas may be obiected against the same plees Appeale of death An Appeale is a plaint of one person made against another with an intent to attaint him of felonie by a course of Lawe prouided therefore which appeale may be brought against a woman couert without her husband against an infant and all others that can commit felonie and a woman may haue an appeale for the death of her husband Appeale by a woman of the death of her husband because the husband and wife be one flesh but of the death of none other by force of the Statute of Magna Charta which hath ordained That none shall be taken St. 9. H. 3.34 or imprisoned by the appeale of any woman for the death of any other than of her husband And therefore if a woman doe bring an appeale of the death of her father and the Defendant would admit it yet the Court will abate it 10. Ed. 4.7 Plow Com. fol. 85. because it is contrary to the said Statute Appellāt conueieth his title by a woman 2 As a woman shall haue no Appeale of the death of any other but of her husband No more shall any cosin of him that was slaine who maketh his conueiance in kinred by a woman haue any appeale of the death of him that is killed notwithstanding he be issue male and not female Appellant conueyeth his title by a woman and notwithstanding that the woman by whom he maketh his conueiance died in the life time of him 20. H. 6.46 Fi. Cor. 385 17. Ed. 4.1 of whose death the appeale is commenced As if a man haue issue one onely daughter who marrieth a husband hath issue a sonne and dieth and after the father of that woman is slaine In this case the sonne of the woman shall not haue an appeale of the death of his saide grandfather though hee be his next heire at the common lawe and inheritable to his land because his mother was foreclosed of it by the foresaid statute of Magna Charta and so likewise he which hath none other title thereunto but that which he deriueth from his saide mother Fi. Cor. 384 17. Ed. 4.1 But if he that was slaine haue none heire on the fathers side then the vncle or next of kinne on the mothers side shall haue the appeale yea though he doe conuey his title thereunto by a woman 3 By the auntient lawe of this Realme a woman could not haue an appeale of the death of her husband vnlesse her said husband were slaine betwéene her armes within the yéere and day before Neither could shée or any other haue an appeale vnlesse she or he were present at the death of the partie slaine and sée it But that Lawe was altered by the Statute of Gloucester St. 6. Ed. 1.9 whereby it was ordained That no Appeale shall be abated so soone as they haue béene heeretofore But if the appellant in an appeale doe declare the déede the yeare the day the houre The declaration in appeale of murder the time of the King and the Towne where the déede was done and with what weapon hée was slaine the appeale shall stand in effect And the appeale shall not be abated for default of fresh sute where a man doth sue within the yeare and the day after the déede done 50. Ed. 3.15 28. Ed. 3.91 27. Ass p. 3. 4 If a woman will haue an appeale of the death of her husband The woman must be the deads lawfull wife it is requisite that shée be not onely his wife indéede viz. de facto but also lawfully and in right viz. de iure for neuer accoupled in lawfull marriage is a good plea to barre her of her appeale And it shall be tried by the Bishop whether she be his lawfull wife or not 20. H. 6.46 12. El. Dyer 296. 5 It is requisite that a woman who will maintaine an appeale of the death of her husband shall liue sole and vnmarried The woman must liue vnmarried for by her second marriage her appeale is extinct though her second husband doe die within a yeare and day after the death of her first husband And if a woman doe bring an appeale of the death of her husband and hanging the Writ shée doth marry another husband her appeale shall abate for euer 11. H. 4.46 6 If a woman doe bring an appeale of the death of her husband A woman marrieth betweene iudgemēt executiō and doe pursue the Defendant vntill Iudgement And then after iudgement and before execution shée marrieth an other husband In this case shée shall not obtaine execution viz. the Defendant shall not be hanged at her sute for shée hath willingly lost the name of her first husband before shée hath obtained the effect of her sute and the reuenge which shée brought her appeale for Where appeale lieth but no dower 7 There be some Cases where a woman shall haue an appeale of the death of her husband though she be not endowable of the possession of the same husband As where her husband is attainted of treason 27. As p. 41 35. H. 6.58 and after one doth kill him his wife shall haue an appeale and yet she shall haue no dower And in like sort if a woman doe elope from her husband and after one doth kill him she may maintaine an appeale against the offendour but no writ of dower against his heire And many other Cases there be where a man was so seised of his lands that his wife is not thereof endowable by the Lawe And yet if hee be slaine she may maintaine an appeale against the manqueller Where the wife may haue appeale none other shall 8 Where a woman may haue an appeale of the death of her husband 20. H. 6.47 Kel fol. 120 none other shall haue it during her life nor after her death though the wife doe die within the yeare and day after the death of her husband and before the appeale commenced for that the appeale was once out of the blood it shall not be restored to his
be passed And if the same Felons Murderers and Accessories or any of them so arraigned be acquited or the principall of the sayd felonie or any of them be attainted the wife or next heire to him so slaine as case shall require may take their Appeale of the same death and murder within the yeare and day after the same felonie and murder done against the said person so arraigned and acquit and all other their accessories or against the accessories of the sayd principall or any of them so attainted or against the sayd principall so attainted if they be then liuing and the benefit of the Clergie thereof before not had And the appellant shall haue such aduantages as if the sayd acquitall and attainder had not béene the acquitall or attainder notwithstanding The wife or heire of the person so slaine or murdered as case shall require may commence their Appeale in proper person at any time within the yeare after the felonie done before the Sherif and Coroners of the Countie where the sayd felony and murder was done or before the King in his Bench or Iustices of gaole deliuerie And though that by force of the sayd statute of 3. H. 7. at another time acquited is no plea in an Appeale of death at this day Another time acquit no plea in Appeale but in Indictment yet in an indictment of death it is a good plea to plead that he was at another time acquited in an Appeale brought of the same parties death S. Appeales 93. 48 And so it appeareth that the before rehearsed enormities that were at the common law and some others touching the indicting and arraigning of murderers and manquellers be remedied by the foresaid statute of 3. H. 7. but in other Appeales the rules of the common law doe continue in force For if a man be indicted of robberie and hee that was robbed hath an Appeale depending of the same robberie No indictmēt of robbery vntil the Appeal be tryed against the partie indicted in which Appeale he hath procéeded so farre that the Iust may perceiue that it is of the same robbery they ought to surcease to try the Appellée vpon the indictment 31. H. 6. 11 vntill the plaintife hath made his declaration For in an Appeale by writ the robbery cannot be certainly known vntil he hath made his declaration though it be otherwise in an Appeale commenced by bill 49 Though at another time conuicted or attainted of the same felony Another time conuict of the same felonie was and is a good plea for him that is the second time or more often indicted and arraigned againe vpon the same felony yet by the common law if one had béen indicted and arraigned of felonie and deliuered to the Ordinarie as a Clerke conuict and before he had made his purgation of the same felony he had broken the Ordinaries prison and escaped he might haue bin another time arraigned vpon the same indictment And it was no plea for him to plead Fitz. Cor. 232. that hee was another time conuict of the same felony and deliuered to the Ordinarie or that he was a Clerke and could not answer without his Ordinarie because hée remained vnpurged of the felonie and did loose the benefit of his Clergie by the breaking of prison And yet at that time if hee had not broken the Ordinaries prison but departed by his licence then at another time conuict shold haue bin a good plea for him vpon his second arraignmēt But now sithence by the stat of an 18. El. St. 18. El. 6. euery person which shal be admitted to haue the benefit of his clergie shal not therupō be deliuered to the Ordinarie as hath bin accustomed but after such clergie allowed and burning in the hand shal forthwith be enlarged and deliuered out of prison by the Iust before whō such clergy shal be granted Therefore at this day if one bee conuicted of felonie and hath the benefit of his Clergie Co. li. 4. 40. 45. and is burned in the hand if after in any case he shall be indicted and arraigned of the same felonie it shal be a good plea for him to plead that hée was another time conuict of the same felonie because the life of a man shall not be twice put in ieopardie for one offence yea though he shall breake the prison and depart from thence within that time after his conuiction which the Iustices shall thinke conuenient to detaine him in prison for his further correction for now he is not in prison for felonie but for correction 50 It is a good plea for him that is arraigned of felonie to plead that he is attainted of felonie Another time attainted of felonie and to demand iudgement if during this attainder he shal be put to answer to that felony whereof he is attainted or to any other felonie for if he should be put to answer no more could be recouered of him than is recouered 28. E. 3. 90 neither can he forf more than he hath forfeited hauing forfeited life lands goods and all that he hath and therefore it should bee to no purpose to trouble him any more But it is otherwise where it is to any end or purpose to put him to answer and plead againe to a new indictment as in some speciall cases it may be done As a man attainted of felony hath also committed treason at the time of the felonie committed in this case he shal answer to the treason for the K. aduantage 1. H. 6. 5. notwithstanding his attainder of felony before because if he be attainted of treason the king shall haue the escheat of his lands of whomsoeuer they be holden but if the treason were committed after the felony or at the least after the attainder of felony then it were otherwise for then the title which was vested in the chiefe Lord of whom his lands were holden 4. E. 4. 11. cannot be deuested by a matter accrued ex post facto And also where diuers men haue seuerall Appeals of robbery against one man though he be attainted at the suit of one of them yet to the intent that euerie of them may recouer his goods which were robbed and taken from him vpon his fresh suit hée shal be againe arraigned at euery of their suits And it is no plea for him in this case to plead that he was another time attainted of felony 51 In all cases where the defendant would discharge himselfe by pleading that he was attainted of another felony thē this whereof he is now arraigned The K. pard◠obiected against another time attainted it may be replied for the party or the king that after the same attainder the K. did pardon him that felony whereof he saith he was attainted and his attainder thereof 6. H. 4. 6. whereby he was restored to the law and so he ought to answer to all other felonies notwithstanding they were committed before this
27. H. 8. 19. 32. H. 8. 3. 32. H. 8. 12. And by that means abiuration at the common law is restored to his former course I will therefore write so much of abiuration and abiured persons as is warranted by the common lawes of this Realme onely and not by any Statute sauing by the statute of Articuli cleri made an̄ 9. Ed. 2. 10. which is rather a confirmation or exposition of the common law than a new law and except so much as is contained or mentioned in the statute of 35. Eliz. 1. 2. or in any other law made sithence that time which I doe rather set downe that the Reader may knowe what the law hath beene or is then how it is vsed and put in practise 4 Abiuration doth not lie for him which offendeth in high treason No abiuration for high treason because the Coroner cannot attaint him vpon his confession thereof for that he is not his Iudge of that offence neither can he be Iudge as Coroner though hée haue a commission from the King to doe it And if the offendor béeing in a Church would of purpose confesse a felonie to the intent to escape Treason yet if the Coroner be informed that hee is charged with treason hée ought not to suffer him to abiure and that for the Kings aduantage for it is better for the King to attaint him of Treason than of felonie in respect of the Escheat which in case of Treason doth wholly belong to the King of whomsoeuer the offendors lands be holden And the same law is in petit Treason for the Coroner ought not to record his abiuration thereof No abiuratiō for petit treason any more than hee may doe of high Treason Neither the Coroner ought to let him passe by abiuration of another felonie if he be informed that the offendor hath committed petit treason and that for the grieuousnesse of the offence though the king shall receiue no more benefit in petit treason than in felonie And the statutes which were made in the time of k. H. 8. St. 21. H. 8. 2 22. H. 8. 14. 27 H. 8. 19 32. H. 8. 12 touching abiuration be a speciall argument and proofe thereof which doe onely make mention of abiuration for murder and felonie but not for petit treason Fi. Cor. 420 9. Ed. 4. 28 5 If a man doe robbe a Church and flie to another Church for the said offence and there would abiure No abiuratiō for the robber of a Church he shall not be receiued thereunto but shall violently be pulled forth of the Church and thrust into prison Quia frustra legis auxilium inuocat qui in lege delinquit Fit cor 313 9. E. 4. 28. 6 If a man that is attainted of felonie and in carrying to the gallowes to be put to death doe escape from the Sherife and flie to a Church No abiuratiō for a man attainted he cannot abiure and though the Coroner would take his abiuration and let him goe at libertie the Sherife may take him againe and put him to execution notwithstanding the said abiuration for it is void and the Coroner in that case shal be grieuously amerced for this escape and so shall the towne where he was let at libertie and the reason is for that a man cannot haue two Iudgements for one offence Fi. Cor. 335 And so it is and for the same reason if a man that is attainted of felonie and is carried to the gallowes and hanged breaketh the halter falleth downe and then riseth vp and doth flie to a Church he cannot abiure but must be taken againe by the sherife hanged vntil he be dead according to his iudgement No abiuratiō for a man before abiured 7 If a man doe abiure the Realme before a Coroner for felonie 9. Ed. 4. 28 8. H. 4. 3. Fi. Cor. 410 and after doth returne into the Realme without the Kings pardon and then flie to a Church and would abiure againe he shall not be allowed so to do but shall be taken forth by violence and put to execution for that he was before attainted of felonie vpon his owne confession and had his iudgement of abiuration and cannot be twice attainted or haue two iudgements Where an offendor may by violence bee drawne out of a Church 8 If a man doe flie to a Church claiming the priuiledge therof for the safeguard of his life in some cases he may be drawne forth of the same by violence as if he come into the Church to claime the benefit thereof for an vnlawfull cause at the beginning viz. for treason robbing of a Church beeing formerly abiured or such like in those cases he may be drawne forth of the Church by violence by the people of the same towne and in like sort 3. H. 7. 12. Bro Cor. 180. if he doe flie to a Church and saith he doth take it for the safeguard of his life and will not declare that he hath committed felonie and that therefore he claimeth the priuiledge of the Church in that case the officers of the towne may by strength take him out of the Church But if he doe say that he doth take the Church for felonie that is sufficient without declaring what felonie or the manner thereof for he is not bound to shewe that but to the Coroner before whom hee doth make his abiuration The offendors confessiō before the Coroner and then he must confesse and shew the yeare day and place where and when the felonie was committed for that iudgement is to be giuen vpon his confession which must be grounded vpon certaintie Tarrying in a Church aboue the time appointed 9 If an offendors being in a Church were once lawfull although he tarrie there aboue the time which the law hath appointed him yet hee ought not for that cause be drawne out of the Church by violence Fi. Cor. 313 but meat and drinke shall be withholden from him and euery person shall be forbidden to succour him and he that doth relieue him shal be punished at the Kings suit which punishment some doe affirme shal be for a lay man death Britton Bracton and for a Clerke banishment for he that taketh a Church for felonie ought not to tarrie there aboue one night if a Coroner will come vnto him and be ready to take his abiuration otherwise he may tarrie there fourtie daies The manner of abiuration 10 The manner of abiuration is that he who taketh a Church ought to declare that he doth take it for felonie which he hath committed and when the Coroner commeth he must confesse before him the felonie certainely viz. the yeare day and place where and when hee committed the felonie and pray to abiure the Realme and to haue the tuition of the Church vntill he can prouide for his iourney and this confession must be taken by the Coroner himselfe and not by his deputie And then he
Trial of treason committed in Ireland 5 If an Earle 19. 20. El. Dy. fo 360 or a Lord of Ireland doth commit treason in Ireland by open rebellion he cannot be arraigned and put to his triall therefore in England for he can neither be tried by his Péeres nor by any Iurie of twelue men in England because he is not a subiect of England but of Ireland and therefore his triall shall be in Ireland And the custome there is to attaint a Péere by parliament and not by his Péeres Misprision 6 This order of triall by the Péeres is likewise to be obserued where one of the Péeres of this realme is indicted but of misprision of treason or felonie in which triall the same forme shall be kept as it shall be where any Péere is indicted of treason or felonie and arraigned thereupon And the number of Péeres which shall be to trie a Péere indicted of treason The number of Péeres at the Triall felonie or misprision shall be twelue at the least and more if it shall please the King Triall by Peeres in all cases of treason and felony 7 In euery case where any offence or fact is of new made treason by any Statute the Lords of the Parliament and Péeres of the Realme offending therein shall haue their triall by their Péeres though the Statute doth not prouide for it by speciall words as other inferiour persons offending in the like crimes shal haue their triall by the verdict of twelue men their péeres viz. their equals so that the words which be commonly put into new Statutes that Péeres of the Realme offending therein shal be tried by their Péeres bée not of necessity inserted But because the course of the common law is in some sort altered by the statute of an̄ 33. H. 8. 23. St. 33. H. 8 23. authorizing the King to graunt a commission vnto such persons and into such shires as he will for the triall of any murder committed in any other countie or place of the Realme whatsoeuer And also by the Statute of 35. H. 8. 2. St. 35. H. 8. 2 giuing the King like power to direct a commission into any countie of this Realme and to any persons that he will for the triall of treasons and misprisions of treasons committed out of the Realme yet for that the triall in both those cases might be made by such persons as the common law hath appointed viz. of péeres by their péeres it is so prouided and ordained by the special words of both those statutes ⧠Triall by the Countrie TRiall by the Countrie Triall by the Country is a triall by twelue common persons of that vicenage or neighborhoode where the treason or felony was committed which kinde of triall séemeth also to be warranted and approued though not at the first begunne by the before rehearsed Statute of Magna Charta St. 9. H. 3. 29 which saith Neither shall any passe or sit in iudgement vpon him but by the lawfull iudgement of his Péeres or by the Law of the realme And thereupon it is accordingly vsed that Knights Esquiers and Gentlemen of great estate being indited of treason or felony be tried by their péeres viz. by their equalls in degrée being also Knights Esquiers Gentlemen or Merchants of good estate 1. M. Dy. 99 and inferiour persons be likewise tried by their péeres or equalls viz. by men of their owne degrée or most commonly by men of better or greater estate or degrée 2 If he that is charged to be an offendour in petit treason murder or felonie doe pleade to an Indictment found against him matter triable by an other Countie than the Countie which did indict him although by the common lawe he ought to haue béene tried in that forraine countie yet now by the Statute of Anno 22. H. 8. St. 22. H. 8. 14. 32. H. 8. 3 he shall be tried by the countie which did indict him the words of which Statute be these viz. For more spéedie trialles of murders and felonies Be it enacted c. That all manner of forraine pleas Triall of forraine pleas triable by the Countrie hereafter to be pleaded by any person or persons arraigned vpon any Indictment for any petit treason murder or felonie shal be forthwith tried before the same Iustices before whom such persons shall be arraigned and by the same Iurors of the same countie that shall trie the petit treason murder or felonie whereof he shall so be arraigned without any further respite or delay in whatsoeuer countie or counties place or places of this Realme the matter of the same pleas be supposed or alleadged This statute maketh no mētion of high treason therfore forrain pleas in high treason remaine to be tried in those forren counties as they were at the cōmon lawe And so be they in an appeale Appeale for this statute extendeth to Indictments onely But if A. doe strike B. vpon the Sea and there giue him a mortall wound whereof B. dieth in the Countie of L. in this case A. Coke 2.93 shall be discharged of the death of B. for they of the Countie of L. cannot inquire of the death without inquirie of the wound A man stricken vpon the Sea dieth vpon the Land and of the wound they cannot inquire because it was giuen vpon the Sea and not in any Countie or place in this Realme And they of the Admiralles Iurisdiction can not inquire as of a felonie of the wound without inquiring of the death and of the death they can not inquire because it was within the body of a Countie where by the statute of 13. R. 2. 15. R. 2. St. 13. R. 2. 5 St. 15. R. 2. 3. they are forbidden to meddle 3 The processe which shal be awarded against the Iury The Processe against the Iurie to trie an issue in an appeale is commonly a Venire facias Habeas corpora and Distringas as it is vsed in other actions sauing in the Kings Bench 27. H. 6. 10 for by the custome of that Court the first processe against the Iurie is an Habeas corpora and after a Distresse without suing a Venire facias And some say that in the K. Bench they vse to haue no Habeas corpora at the first day but a Venire facias and then a Distresse leauing out the Habeas corpora The processe which is to be awarded against the Iury Processe in an Appeale not in an In is for the most part intended in an appeale for in an Indictment though they may graunt processe against the Iury yet it is not vsed by the Iustices of Gaole deliuerie Fit Enquest 55 because they doe take the pannell which is returned by the Shirife without making any precept vnto him for that they giue a generall commandement to the Shirife before their comming to cause the Countrie to appeare before them But so do not Iustices of Oyer
the sayd auntient law for they would not deliuer the prisoner vnto the Ordinarie vntill hée was indicted and also arraigned and that it was enquired by an Enquest of Office whether hée were guiltie or not In which case if he were found not guiltie they would discharge him and if he were found guiltie his goods should bée forfeited his lands taken into the Kings hands and his bodie deliuered to the Ordinarie And the cause of chaunging this law was that the Ordinarie might take greater charge of the prisoner being now indicted than before and to benefit the King by the forfeiture of the prisoners goods and to bréed a greater feare in Clerkes after that they should not offend Which alteration was obserued for law vntill the raigne of King Henry the sixt at which time the Iudges would not admit a prisoner to demaund his Clergie vpon his arraignment but put himselfe first to answer to the Felonie and if hée were found guiltie of the Felonie at his owne suit then to heare him demaund his Clergie and not before 3. H. 7. 1. 12. which is a more reasonable law than the former for before hee should haue forfeited his goods vpon an Enquest of Office whereunto hée could haue no challenge and now he shal be tryed at his owne suit and shall haue his challenge to the Enquest and then if he be found guiltie hée shall forfeit his goods and for the sauing of his life and his lands hée is to pray his Clergie Which hath bin vsed euer sithence and is obserued for law at this time vnlesse the prisoner himselfe will refuse the benefit thereof and pray to haue his booke without hearing the verdict As if a prisoner after an Enquest is charged vpon him Clergy demanded before verdict and before their returne againe will say that he is a Clerke and desire his booke at his perill in this case the Court hath allowed him his Clergie and yet after hath receiued a verdict as well in fauour of life as in fauour of the King for if he be found not guiltie the prisoner shall be discharged and if he bée found guiltie the King shall haue his goods as forfeit And the request of his booke in that case is more for the prisoners disaduantage than the Kings for it may bée a meane that the Iurie vnderstanding thereof will the rather find him guiltie of the felonie than otherwise they would haue done 26. Ass p. 19 33 If a prisoner doe say that hée is no Clerke Denying to be a Clerke and yet is yet after if before iudgement hée doe pray his Clergie where Clergie is allowable by the law and then doth read as a Clerke hée shall haue his Clergie notwithstanding his former words But it hath béene a question Whether clergie is allowable without request whether the Iudges ought to allow any man his Clergie without praying of it though the offendor be indicted by the name of Priest Fi. Cor. 254 Clerke c. or that by some other meanes the Iudges themselues doe know that hée is a Clerke or that without praying of his Clergie they shall giue iudgement of death against him And in this case some doe affirme that if the prisoner doth not pray his Clergie hée shall not haue it though the Iudge doth vpon his owne priuat knowledge vnderstand that hée is a Clerke for the Iudge must in those cases procéed according to his iudiciall knowledge and as by record things bée found proued and tryed before him and not according to his owne naturall knowledge And they bée the rather so induced to thinke by the words of the aforesayd statute of 1. Edw. 6. St. 1. E. 6. 12 which ordayned That a Péere of the Realme shall vpon request haue the benefit of his Clergie and so inferre that without request he shall not haue it nor any other without request which is to haue it vpon request 34 The temporall Court shall be Iudge to allow or disallow of Clergy Who shall allow of clergy and not the Ordinary 15. H. 7. 9. for it was entred into the roll of the court legit vt Clericus ideo tradatur Ordinario by which words it doth appear that the court doth giue allowance therof for the felony being the act which is cōmitted is temporal and the Iudge which did commit him to the Ordinary is temporal so is the authority wherby he did commit him And the Ordinary should haue bin punished if before the stat of 18. Eli. St. 18. El. 6. he had letten to baile or at liberty any prisoner cōmitted to him or if he had imprisoned him too straitly or too easily or would not haue suffered him to haue made his purgation and in that case the king might haue sent his Writ vnto the Ordinarie commaunding him to suffer his prisoner to make his purgation or might haue pardoned him or set him at liberty Fitz. Cor. 44. 17 without making his purgation and if one read as a Clerke and yet the Ordinarie will refuse him notwithstanding hee shall haue the benefite of his Clergie and on the other side if the Ordinarie will say that hee doth read as a Clerke whereas in truth hee doth not read as a Clerke the Court must giue iudgement that hée shall bee hanged and cause execution to bee done of him And further to prooue that the Temporall Court is Iudge of the reading the Court doth appoint the verse or place to the prisoner to read and not the Ordinarie And also doth set a fine vpon the Ordinary 34. H. 6. 49. 21. Ed. 4. 21. 9. E. 4. 28. for saying that the prisoner doth read as a Clerk where he doth not which the court could not do if the reading were referred to the Ordinarie A felon doth read vnder the gallowes 35 If a felon doth not read as a Clerke before the Iudge at the time of his arraignment whereupon he is adiudged to be hanged yet in fauor of life 34. H. 6. 49. if hée arraignment whereupon he is adiudged to be hanged yet in fauor of life if hée do demand it at another time vnder the gallows if any of the Iudges do passe that way and doth read as a Clerke he shall haue the benefit of his Clergie although there be no Ordinary there to demaund him But this is in case where the felon is arraigned and iudged before the Iust of the K. Bench 3. 4. El. Dy. fo 205. or else in case where he is arraigned and iudged before the Iust of gaole deliucrie and it is entred by the Court non legit vt Clericus and then for some cause he is repried vntill the next Session and then againe he is demanded if he can read and then he can and doth read in this case he shall haue his Clergy in fauor of life And though he was taught to read in the gaole this shall saue his life but the
and then be cut downe aliue and his intrals and priuie members be cut from his bodie and be burned in his sight and his head to be cut off and his body to bée diuided into foure parts 6. El. Dyer 230. and then to be disposed at the Kings pleasure Sauing that the iudgement of a man which is attainted for clipping the Kings money contrarie to the Statute of an̄ 25. Ed. 3. 2. shal be onely that he shalbée drawne and hanged though it was high treason by the common law so is expounded confirmed by that Statute But if any man shal be attainted of treson for cōmitting any of the offences made high treason by either of the Stat. of an̄ 1. M. 6. 1. 2. P. M. 11. 5. El. 11. 18. El. 1. 5. El. 1. 13. El. 2. 23 El. 1. 27. El. 2. 3. Iac. 4. he shal be adiudged a traitour S. Treasons and shall haue iudgement and suffer as in cases of high treason viz. he shal be drawne hanged and quartered as is before mentioned And though there be no mention made thereof in the iudgement yet he that is attainted of treason or felonie by verdict confession outlawrie or abiuration shall also forfeit his lands and goods his wife shall loose her dower and his blood shal be corrupted sauing in certaine cases 3 The iudgement of a woman which shal be attainred of high Treason or petite treason The iudgement of a woman traitour is 1. R. 3. 4 That she shall be ledde backe againe to the place from whence shée came and from thence be drawne vpon a hurdle to the place of execution and there be burned to death 8. El. Dy. 254. But if one man doe murder an other and the wife of him that was murdered be accessorie to her husbandes death the murderer and the wife both shall be hanged and she shall not be burned because she was but accessory 4 The iudgement of a man attainted of petit treason Iudgement of a man in petit treason is That hée shall be ledde backe againe to the place from whence hee came and from thence drawne vpon an hurdle to the place of execution and there to be hanged by the necke vntill he be dead Iudgement in felonie 5 The iudgement of a man attainted of murder burglarie robberie or other felonie is That he shall be ledde backe againe to the place from whence he came and from thence carried to the place of execution and there be hanged by the necke vntill he be dead And the like iudgement is giuen against a woman being attainted of anie of the same offences 6 The iudgement in misprision Misprision of treason is That the offendor shall forfeit to the King his goodes and his lands during his life and shall be perpetually imprisoned during his life Attainder of treason by the common lawe 7 In the foresaide iudgement giuen in high treason by the order of the common Lawe there can be no errour assigned St. 33. H. 8. 20. but it is as strong as if it had béene doone by Act of Parliament For the Statute made Anno 33. H. 8. hath ordained That if any person or persons shall be attainted of high treason by the course of the common Lawes or Statutes of this Realme that in euery such case such attainder by the common Lawe shall be of as good strength value force and effect as if it had beene done by authoritie of Parliament Iudgement of pennance 8 The iudgement of him who being indited of felonie will stand mute of malice or not answer directly or will refuse lawfull triall P. 4. E. 4. 11. being called Pennaunce or paine for t dure is That the prisoner shall be sent to the place from whence he came c. S. Standing mute c. 9. Iudgements in felony by Iustices of Nisi prius 9 As touching those who shall giue iudgement against the offendors aforesaide it is ordained by the Statute of Anno 14. H. 6. St. 14. H. 6. 1 That the Iustices before whome Inquisitions Enquests and Iuries shall be taken by the Kings Writte called Nisi prius according to the forme of the Statute thereof made haue power of all the cases of felonie and of treason to giue their iudgements as well where a man is acquitte of felonie or of treason as where he is thereof attainted at the day and place where the saide Inquisitions Enquests and Iuries shall be taken and then from thenceforth to awarde Execution to be made by force of the saide Iudgements 10 Because it oft times falleth out that an offendor is found guiltie of treason or felonie before some Iustices of Gaole Deliuerie for the which Iudgement of death should or might ensue and yet that person is reposed to prison without iudgement at that time giuen against him and then before the next Gaole deliuerie the same Iustices of Gaole deliuerie doe die or be remooued and others be assigned Iustices of Gaole deliuerie in their places by the Kings Commission which as many did conceiue it could not giue iudgement of that prisoner so repried by the former Iustices by warrant of the foresaide Statute of 14. H. 6. 1. or for some other cause For the remedy whereof by a Statute made Anno 1. Edw. 6. St. 1. E. 6. 7. it is enacted Iudgement by new Iustices That in all Cases where any person shall be found guiltie of any Treason Murder Manslaughter Rape or other felonie whatsoeuer for the which iudgement of death should or may ensue and shall be repried to prison without iudgement at that time giuen against him Those persons that at any time shall by the Kings Letters patents be assigned Iustices to deliuer the Gaole where anie such person found guiltie shall remaine shall haue full power to giue Iudgement of death against such person so found guiltie and repried as the same Iustices before whome such person was found guiltie might haue done if their Commission of Gaole Deliuerie had remained in full force 11 The Iudgement in petit Larceny Iudgement in petit larcenie is that the offendor shall be ledde backe againe to the Gaole Stockes or place from whence hee came and there to remaine a wéeke a moneth or c. and then in such a Citie Borough Market towne Village where the fact was done or other place assigned by the Iustices to be tied to a carte stripped from the girdle vpward and whipped vntill his bodie doe bléede once twice or thrice c. according to the Iustices discretion 12 If a woman be indicted and arraigned of felonie Stay of a womans execution being with childe it is no plea for her to say that shée is with childe but she must pleade to the felonie Not guiltie and if she be found guiltie then shee may alleadge that shée is with childe and then the Marshall or Sherife shall be commanded to returne an
enquest of twelue women before the Iustices 22. As p. 71 25. Ed. 3. 42. 12. As p. 11 23. As p. 2. Fitz. Cor. 240. 253. who being then sworne to examine and trie the trueth shall take that woman into a chamber and search and trie whether she be quicke with childe or not and if she be found to be quicke with childe then execution of her shall be staied vntill she shall be deliuered But if shée be not quicke with child she shal be hanged presently for it will not auaile her to be yong with childe And yet whether shée be with child or not Iudgement shall not be delayed but shal be presently giuen against her that she shal be hanged but only the execution of that iudgement shal be stayed If after she is repried and deliuered of her childe and before the next Gaole deliuerie she be with child againe though she be quicke with childe execution shall not be staied but she shal be put to execution presently And yet in that case the truth of the matter being inquired of and found the shirife marshall or gaoler which had the custodie of her shal be fined for kéeping her so slackly that shée had the company of a man 13 If a man attainted of felonie be adiudged to be hanged Fi. Cor. 335 and the sherife doth carrie him to the place of execution and doth hang him and he breaketh the Rope and falleth downe before he be dead A man hanged falleth downe before he be dead In this case the sherife must take him and hang him againe for his iudgement is that he shal be carried to the place of execution and there be hanged vntill he be dead And so vntill he be dead the iudgement is not fully executed ⧠Forfeiture AFter an offendor is attainted of treason or felonie A felon shal forfeit lands and goods and hath had iudgement of death hée shall presently thereby forfeit his goods and also his lands sauing in certaine cases hereafter expressed though it be not mentioned in the iudgement And notwithstanding there is a difference betwéene treason and felonie concerning the forfeiture of lands yet touching the forfeiture of goodes they be all one for they shall be forfeited to the King St. 17. Ed. 2 16 as it appeareth by the Statute intituled Prerogatiua Regis which hath ordained That the King shall haue all the goodes of felons which be condemned and which be fugitiue wheresoeuer they be found and if they haue any fréeholde it shall be forthwith seised into the Kings hands and the King shall haue the profites thereof by the space of a yéere and a day and the land shall be wasted and destroyed in the houses woodes and gardeins and in all things belonging to the same except men of certaine priuiledged places And after the King hath had the yeare day and waste the land shall be restored to the chiefe Lord of the same Fée vnlesse that before hée redéeme the same yéere day and waste of the King by payment of a fine But there is a custome in the countie of Gloucester that after a yeare and day the lands and tenements of felons in that Shire shall reuert and be restored to the next heire to whom they ought to haue descended if the felonie had not béene committed And in Kent in Gauelkinde the Father to the Bough the Sonne to the Plough there all the heires males shall diuide their inheritaunce and likewise women but women shall not make partition with men And a woman after the death of her husband shall be endowed of the moitie And if a woman doe committe fornication in her widdowhoode or take any husband she shall loose her Dower 22. As p. 96 Fit forfeiture 35. 2 A man being indicted before the Coroner of the death of an other man Forfeiture of goods and if it be further found by the same indictment that hée did flie for the said felonie although after he be acquitte of the same felonie 7. Eli. 35. Dy. 238. Co. l. 5. 109 and notwithstanding that the Enquest which did acquitte him doe say that he did not flie for the felonie yet his goodes shall be forfeited to the King For the King shal take holde of that Record which is most for his benefit and that is the Coroners Record And in like sort if one that is indicted of felonie Fitz. forf 32. Fi. Cor. 290 344. is acquitte thereof by verdict Flying for felonie if the Iury which did acquitte him will say that he did flie for the felonie he shall forfeit his goodes which he had at the time of the verdict giuen which being an auncient lawe of this Realme is grounded vpon this reason that notwithstanding his acquitall of the felonie yet he is to be suspected of the felonie for the vehement presumption which is risen of him as well in respect of his flying away as by the indictment And though the Enquest which did finde that he fled for the felonie be as touching that part of their verdict but an Enquest of office yet it is not trauersable because it is onely touching goodes for the which goodes no trauerse against the King is allowed by the Lawe for the Lawe doth accompt goodes inter minima de minimis non curat lex And though goods be in comparison of mans life or his lands in the eie of the Lawe called and accompted Minima yet they be not of so small value or so little to be regarded but the Iudge or the Coroner ought with all due circumspection foresée that the Iurie be not vpon ignoraunce or small euidence seduced to finde an vntrueth to the vtter vndooing of the partie indicted or accused Fi. Cor. 308 338. And in like sort if a man be indicted and arraigned of felonie and it is found by the Enquest or the Coroners Roll that hée fledde for the felonie he shall forfeit his goodes though hée hath the Kings pardon of the felonie for the charter of pardon doth containe the presumption of him that he is guiltie of the felonie An accessorie fled for the felonie 3 If a man be indited before the Coroner as accessorie to the death of an other man and it be found that he fled for the felonie 4. H. 7. 18 in this Case hée shall forfeit his goodes if hée were accessorie before the felonie committed But if it be found before the Coroner that hée was accessorie to the felonie after the offence committed and that he fled for the felonie hée shall not forfeit his goodes for the Coroner hath no authoritie to meddle with any that was accessorie after the homicide committed but onely with such by whose meanes the dead man was slaine or who were the causes of his death which the accessorie after the offence committed could not be And therefore when hée indicted one for receiuing of a murderer and that he fled this inditement of the receipt of the
be supported and maintained with land to vphold the countenāce charge of the owner thereof And therfore this Earldome being by the K. giuen to the Earle the heires males of his body begotten is an inheritance which may discend from one heire male to an other and then by the speciall words of the before rehearsed Statute of 26. H. 8. and 5. Ed. 6. it shall be forfeited to the King by the said heires attainder of high treason for it was in the same heire an hereditament and whereof he had an estate of inheritance And moreouer when the King at the first did giue to this Earle and the heires males of his body begotten the foresaide great title of honour though there was no condition expressed in the same grant yet there was a secret condition implied therein viz. that the said grauntée and the heires males of his body should be assistant and seruiceable to the King his heires and successors by his Councell in the time of peace and by his force and prowesse in the time of warre Therefore when the heire male of this Earle the first grauntée did take Councell to breake the peace of the King and leuied warres and imployed his force and power against him he first brake the same secret condition which was annexed to his ancestors graunt of the Earledome And so there is reason and cause whie his said title of honour depending vpon the same condition should therewith cease and determine and that the same should returne againe to the Crowne from whence it was deriued The forfeture of lands in fée simple 27 Besides the forfeitures aforesaide 30. H. 6. 5. euery person that is attainted of high treason petit treason or felonie shall also forfeit his lands in fée simple which he hath in his owne right in vse or possession sauing that the attainder of treason by force of the Statute of Anno 5. El. 1. St. 5. El. 1. ordained against the maintaining of the authoritie of the Bishops and Sea of Rome shall not extend to make any corruption of bloud the disheritance of any heire forfeiture of any dower nor to preiudice the right or title of any person other than the offendor or offendors during his or their naturall liues onely And sauing that the attainder of treason by force of the Statute of Anno 5. Eliz. 11. St. 5. El. 11 prouided against the clipping washing filing or rounding of money maketh no corruption of bloud in the heire or forfeiture of dower in the wife And sauing that the attainder of treason by force of the Statute established Anno 18. El. 1. against impairing diminishing falsifying skaling St. 18. El. 1 or lightning of money maketh no corruption of bloud nor the wife to loose her dower for he that is attainted of that treason shall suffer death and forfeit all his goods and chattels to the King and all his lands during his life onely And likewise sauing that the attainder of felonie by force of the Statute made Anno 1. Iac. 12. against coniuration witchcraft enchantment St. 1. Iac. 12 charme and sorcerie maketh no corruption of bloud nor the forfeiture of the heires or successors inheritance of any land nor of the wiues title of dower And further sauing that the attainder of felonie by force of the Statute prouided Anno 1. M. 12. against vnlawfull assemblies St. 1. M. 12 maketh no corruption of bloud And moreouer sauing that the attainder of felonie by force of the Statute ordained Anno 5. El. 14. against the forging of Euidences St. 5. El. 14. and writings maketh no corruption of bloud nor forfeiture of land or dower And furthermore sauing that the attainder of felonie by force of the Statute of Anno 31. Eliz. 4. St. 31. El. 4 prouided against the imbeseling of the Quéenes ordnance armour or artillery maketh the offendor to forfeit no lands tenements or hereditaments any longer than during his life St. 4. Iac. 1. S. Triall by the country 10. Co. li. 7. 34 S. Br. 56. no corruption of bloud nor the wife to forfeit her dower And the same lawe is if an Englishman doe commit any felonie in Scotland And if a man haue an annuitie to him and his heires The forfeture of an annuity and he doe commit high treason and is attainted thereof he shall forfeit to the King the same annuitie by force of the before recited Statute of Anno 26. H. 8. 13. for that the same annuitie is an inheritance 28 He that is attainted of high treason petit treason or felonie Forfeiting of a title to land shall also forfeit such lands whereof he hath neither possession reuersion or remainder but onely a title or right or cause of action As if a man be disseised of lands and then the disseisée committeth high treason Co. l. 3. 10 after an office found thereof the king may seise those lands as forfeited and escheated vnto him in respect of the same persons attainder of treason And if the disseisée be attainted of petit treason or felonie the Lord of the Fée of whom the same lands be holden may enter into the same lands as escheated vnto him in respect o◠the attainder of his lawfull tenant But the Lord cannot haue a writ or escheat or other action to recouer the same land because his tenant died not or was not seized thereof but his onely remedie is to enter 6. H. 7. 9 And if a man make a lease for the terme of life of his land and after committeth felony and then the tenant for the terme of life dieth the Lord may enter but cannot haue a writ of escheat 29 As he that is attainted of treason or felony shal forfeit his lands Forfeiting of euidence so shal the Lord to whom those lands be forfeited 49. H. 6. 14 haue the euidēce of the same lands as escheated or forfeited vnto him to maintaine his title in the same lands escheated and to prooue how his late tenant came by and held the same lands St. 9. H. 3. 29 30 Though it is ordained by the statute of Magna Charta That iustice shall not be sold deferred or denied to no man neither shall any man be condemned but by lawfull triall and that it be further established by the statute of Anno 5. Edw. 3. St. 5. E. 3. 9 That no man shal be attached nor foreiudged of life lands or goods against the forme of the great Charter and the Law of the Realme So that the Law of the Realme doth allow to euery man that is an offendor his answere and lawfull triall be his crime supposed to be neuer so great and the proofe thereof neuer so manifest But if a man that is arrested of Treason or Felony or being vehemently suspected to haue committed Treason or Felony is attempted to be arrested be so wilfull stubborne or rebellious Forfeiture without at-attainder that he will
not yéeld to be iustified and tried by the Law but will either kill himselfe or giue cause to other men to slay him Fi. Cor. 289 290 312. S. Br. 5. for resisting and not submitting his obedience to the Law then he shal forfeit his goods so that this offence be found and presented by twelue men before the Coroner or some Iustices after his death for in this case the default is in the offendor and not in the Law that he came not to lawfull triall of his offence for the law requireth no more but that the supposed offendor shal be safely kept sub custodia legis by imprisonment or maineprise vntill it be tried whether he be an offendor or not But though the person thus slaine shall for his disobedience forfeit his goods béeing not attainted either of treason or felonie yet in the like case he shall not forfeit his lands if hee bee slaine in arresting or after arrest or otherwise die before he be attainted St. 34. E. 3. 12. as it appeareth by the Stat. of an̄ 34. Ed. 3. 12. which hath established That for forfeitures of dead persons not attainted nor adiudged in their liues their heires or land-tenants shall not be impeached or challenged nor of any other forfeiture except the forfeitures in old time adiudged after the death of the persons by presentment in Eyre or in the Kings bench or of felons of themselues or others And yet some doe affirme if a man doe leuie warre or open rebellion against the King or is assistant to his enemies in the field and then is slaine in battell he shall forfeit his lands goods And others doe adde thereunto that the same his Treason and manner of death must also after his death be found by a Iurie super visum corporis Co. li. 4. 57 Pl. Com. 262. 263. before the chiefe Iustice of England being the soueraigne Coroner of the realm and he must returne it into the Kings Bench and make a Record therof and then that person shall forfeit his lands and goods And vpon those words of the sayd Statute of 34. Ed. 3. viz. Except the forfeitures in old time adiudged after the death of the persons by presentment in Eire or in the Kings Bench or c. some doe inferre that if a presentment in Eire or in the Kings Bench be made of such an open rebellion and battell thereupon foughten and of those that manifestly shewing themselues to bée open enemies or rebels to the King were slaine therein that by the words of the same Statute they shall forfeit their lands But if a man bée arrested for counterfeiting the K. great or priuie Seale for forging of his money or for a priuy conspiracie of the death of the King or c. and is slaine in resisting the said arrest or for a rescous attempted before or after the sayd arrest hee shall forfeit his goods but not his lands And if he bée arrested for any of the sayd offences and committed to prison for the same and after doth dye in prison before he bee attainted of any of the sayd offences he shall neither forfeit lands nor goods though he be taken with the manoure viz. found hand hauing and backe bearing for though it is a mischiefe that a man committing high Treason shall forfeit neither life lands or goods yet the law doth rather beare with that mischiefe than to suffer such an inconuenience that a man onely accused or but only a supposed offendor should bée attainted and forfeit his lands and goods where being preuented by death viz. by the hand of God hee cannot come to answer and defend himselfe and by that meanes cannot bée condemned by such lawfull tryall which is meant and specified in the before rehearsed Statute of Magna charta But for the auoiding of questiō and doubt in the case aforesaid they which haue béene knowne parties to such open and manifest rebellions St. 29. H. 6. 1 St. 12. El. 16 St. 29. El. 1 St. 35. El. 5. St. 3. Iac. 2. haue béen of late yeares attainted by Act of Parliament and their lands and goods giuen as forfeit to the King As it appeareth by the stat of Anno 29. H. 6. 13. El. 29. El. 35. El. 3. Iac. The forf of the yeare day and wast 31 There is another forfeiture besides the losse of life lands annuities Fi. Cor. 310 290. 327. and goods wherewith the law hath deuised to punish those that doe commit petit Treason or Felonie and be attainted thereof which is called in Latine the forfeiture of Diem annum vastum the forfeiture of the yeare day and wast which is executed vpon the houses and lands of the offendor that be holden of any other sauing of the king That is the felons houses and lands shall bée seised into the Kings hands where they shall remaine by the space of a yeare and day and then the houses shall be throwne downe to the ground the trées shall be pulled vp by the roots the medowes shal be ploughed vp and all things which the felon did build or plant shal be cast downe digged vp Fitz. Cor. 358. and supplanted Which punishment was ordained in despight of offendors and to shew to others how much the law doth detest murderers committers of burglarie robberie and other felonies and as much as may be to terrifie and discourage others to attempt or practise the like 32 It appeareth by Bracton that by the common law the King should haue had but onely the wast of a Felons lands viz. the benefit to pull downe his houses root vp his trées plough vp his medowes and such other commodities as he could haue raised by spoyling and wasting of the felons houses trées and lands and that then the land so wasted should haue béene presently deliuered to the Lord of the fée of whom the same lands were holden which wast and spoyle was then made without redemption And after by a composition made betwéene the King and the Lords it was agréed By what means the K. came by the yere day and wast That the King should haue the benefit of the felons lands a yeare and a day to redeeme the spoyle and wast which hée might make of the sayd felons lands And the K. graunt by the great Charter made Anno 9. H. 3. St. 9. H. 4. 3 22. tendeth to the same effect viz. Wee will not hold the lands of those that bée conuict of felonie but a yere and a day and then they shall bée deliuered to the Lords of the fées And so it séemeth that King Henrie the third and King Edward the first did hold themselues satisfied with the yeare and day of the felons lands without taking the wast thereof St. 17. E. 2. 16 But after Anno 17. Ed. 2. the Kings Prerogatiues royall béeing expressed or enacted by Parliament amongst others it is ordayned That the King shall haue all the goods of felons which be
Maintenance in respect of neighbourhood 35 In what cases the master may maintaine his seruant In what cases the seruant may maintaine his master Deceit Couin Collusion Fraud Fol. 67. 1 The multitude and enormities of deceits and frauds 2 The reward for paines and punishment for deceits of officers towards the Law A Iudge A Clerke A Serieant A Pleader A Philozer An Exigenter No office of Iustice shall be sold or bought No man shal be Iustice of Assise in his owne County 3 Who shal be Atturneyes Sollicitors The penalty for following a suit in anothers name What acts done by Atturneyes in seuerall cases shall bee adiudged deceit 4 The Law reiecteth deceitfull and fraudulent acts A fine leuied of land to defraud the right owner thereof shall bee void 5 A fine leuied of auncient demesne land to defraud the Lord of his Seigniorie is voidable 6 How a recouery of land by deceit shal be auoided 7 A Scire facias vpon a recouery by deceit auoided A recouery of debt by deceit auoided A iudgement to auoid the meaning of a Statute The executors shall haue remedy for a deceitfull recouery against the Testator 8 Deceit vpon a recouery in a Quare impedit Deceit vpon a recouery in wast 9 Deceit vpon a recouery in a Praecipe in capite 10 Where a good Title shal be impaired by a couenous recouery thereof 11 A Warranty deuised by deceit 12 Deceit by getting of a Protection 13 Deceit by purchasing of a writ to charge another 14 Deceit by purchasing of a writ in anothers name Deceit for procuring one to sue another 15 Deceit by acknowledging of a statute in anothers name Deceit by doing of a iudiciall act in anothers name 16 Deceit by forging of a resignation of a Benefice 17 Deceit by conueying of land to one man which before was bargained to another 18 Deceit by not performing of his Warranty 19 Deceit by confession of an action wherein hee hath no interest 20 Deceit by the aliening of the goods of his wife from whom hee meaneth to be diuorced 21 Sale of goods in open Market by deceit and couin 22 A fraudulent assurance to defeat the discontinuee in tayle of his plea of Assets per Discent 23 Fraudulēt assurance to defeat a Lord of his Ward Marriage c. 24 He that is not partie to a fraud shall sustaine no losse by it 25 Deceit collusion to bring land into mortmaine Lands assured in mortmaine to Churches Chappels c. Collaterall assurances to defraud c. Which be charitable and lawfull vses 26 Couin by a particular Tenant to deceiue him in the reuersion 27 Couin by him in the reuersion to deceiue the lessee for yeares Couin to auoid a Statute or Recognizance 28 Fraudulent deeds to auoid other mens duties c. The forfeiture of parties to fraudulent deeds who doe iustifie the same Common recoueries Voucher in Formedon Estates made vpon good consideration and bonafide 29 Fraudulent deedes to auoid forfeitures shal be void 30 A deed without fraud must be made vpon good consideration and bonafide Infallible marks of a fraudulent deed of gift How a deed of gift may be made without fraud 31 Fraudulent assurances to deceiue purchasors The forfeiture of parties to fraudulent conueyances which do iustifie the same Conueiances made vpon good considerations and bona fide Conueiances with condition of reuocation or alteration Morgages 32 A purchasor doth know before of a fraudulent deed 33 The father maketh a fraudulent lease and the sonne selleth the land 34 A womans iointure made by fraud 35 Fraudulent deeds to auoid successors of dilapidations 36 An action popular sued by collusion and fraud 37 Fraudulent possessing of Bankrupts Lands Goods or Debts 38 Fraudulent administration of intestate goods 39 Fraudulent conueyances of Abbey lands 40 Seuerall deceits and frauds in marchandizes and men of trade 41 Deceit by selling of vnholesome victuall Extortion Exaction Fol. 82. 1 What is Extortion What is Exaction 2 Exaction by taking of reward for a report 3 Extortion in the Shirife Coroner or other officers 4 Extortion in a Serieant Crier or Marshall of a Iudge 5 Extortion in a Coroner 6 Extortion in a Sherife vnder-Sherife or Baylife for making of arrests c. 7 Extortion in a Sherife for sparing to returne a Iuror 8 Extortion in a Sherife for the seruing of an Execution 9 Extortion in the Chirographer of the common place 10 Extortion in the kings auditors or their Clerkes 11 Extortion in the Kings Receiuers Extortion in them who do pay fees or pensions 12 Extortion in officers of the Exchequer 13 Extortion in a Clerke of the Signet or priuy Seale 14 Extortion by officers of the faculties 15 Extortion by Gouernours vpon such as be made prentices or freemen 16 Extortion by the officers of the Court of Wards 17 Extortion in taking of Obligations for the payment of first fruits 18 Extortion by Escheators 19 Exaction by the Admirall c. vpon them who trauaile for Fish 20 Extortion by the marshall of the kings house Extortion by a seruitor of bills in the marshals Court. 21 Exaction by Muster-masters to spare the taking of souldiers Exaction by captaines of their souldiers 22 Extortion by taking of Scauage of Marchants 23 Extortion by the Clerke of the Statutes or c. 24 A preuention of extortion by atturneyes in taking of excessiue fees An atturney delaying of a suit or demaunding more then is due 25 A preuention of Extortion in stewards of Courts 26 Extortion in gaugers searchers and packers of fish Extortion in Ordinaries and their Officers for probat of Testaments Administrations c. 28 Extortion in an Ordinarie for the seale of a Citation 29 Extortion in Parsons Vicars c. for Mortuaries 30 Exaction for presenting or collating to a benefice 31 Exaction for admitting to a benefice 32 Exaction for resigning or exchanging of a benefice 33 Exaction for making of ministers or giuing licence to preach 34 Exaction for a voice in electing of a fellow or scholler into a Colledge or c. 35 Exaction by taking money to resigne a place in a Colledge c. 36 Exaction by gathering money which should discharge the fifteene of a Towne 37 Extortion by taking of an amerciament in a Court Baron 38 It is no Extortion to take lawfull fees Taking of barre fees of a prisoner discharged Taking of gloues of an offendor pardoned 39 Extortion by taking of fees of him who doth appeare gratis Oppression Fol. 91. 1 What Oppression is Oppression by disseisins Of what things one may bee disseised 2 Oppression by approuement of common Oppression by surcharge of common 3 Oppression by distresses Powndage money Distraining out of his fee. Excessiue distresse Seuerall distresses for one thing Distresse for damage fesant 4 Oppression by trespasses 5 Oppression by Nusances 6 Oppression by Rescous 7 Oppression by encroachments 8 Oppression by excessiue amerciaments 9 Oppression by committing of wast Wast in land Wast
excommunication in the plaintife 5 Who are mainpernable who not Bailement by the Shirife With-holding of Prisoners mainpernable 6 In what cases no mainprise by the common Law The King or Iustices commandement 7 The Marshall shall baile no prisoner The Iustices ordinarie or absolute commaundement 8 Mainprise for offendors in Vert or Venison 9 In what case hee that is outlawed may be bayled 10 Mainprise during an approuers life 11 Maineprise vpon good name The principall in Burglary and Robbery mainpernable 12 No bailement for a prisoner attainted 13 Bailement of offendors by Iustices of Peace 14 Bailement of offendors by the Shirife 15 Bailement by Shirifes and others 16 Imprisonment at the Kings pleasure 17 The difference betweene bailement in Felony and in a personall Action 18 Mainprise is matter of Record Confession of the offence Fol. 184. 1 An offendor in felony pleadeth one of three pleas 2 Confession of the offence before the Iudge vpon the prisoners arraignement may bee in two sorts Confession of the offence must be free and without menace 3 He that doth confesse his offence before the Iudge doth become an approuer 4 Confession of the offence before the Coroner whereupon abiuration doth ensue Approuer Fol. 185. 1 Who is an Approuer An Approuer shal be banished 2 Of what offences approuement may be 3 Approuement in an Indictment and not in an appeale 4 Before whom one may approue 5 How an Approuer shall vse himselfe No approuing after pleading An Approuer must tell truth 6 An Approuers oath 7 An Approuers wages 8 An Approuer set at liberty An Approuers appeale must be certaine 9 Proces against the appellees after the approuement 10 Pleas for the appellee against the approuer An Approuer attainted or conuict of Felony 11 An appellee cannot appeale others 12 An Approuer not in prison for felony or at liberty 13 The appellee an honest and credible man 14 Generall pleas in barre of the appeale 15 Where the king may pursue an Appeale begun 16 The appellants release to the appellee 17 An Approuer confesseth his Appeale to be false 18 An Appeale abating before declaration A Felon taken with the mannoure 19 No arraignment at the kings suit vpon a false declaration Where if not an appeale yet an Indictment may bee at the kings suit 20 The plaintife in the appeale excommunicat or outlawed 21 An Approuer pardoned the appellee shal be discharged 22 Vanquishing of one of the approuers 23 Examining of an offendor condemned Sanctuary and Abiuration Fol. 189. 1 What Sanctuarie is 2 What Abiuration is 3 All Sanctuaries be extinguished Abiuration by the common Law Abiuration to a place within the Realme 4 No abiuration for Treason 5 No abiuration for the robberie of a Church 6 No abiuration for a man attainted 7 No abiuration for a man before abiured 8 Where an offendor may bee drawne out of the Church by violence The offendors confession before the Coroner 9 Tarrying in a Church aboue the time limitted 10 The manner of Abiuration The oath of Abiuration 11 The attire of an abiured person 12 The vsing of persons abiured 13 The abiuration broken death ensueth A Clarke need not to abiure 14 Where no Felony no abiuration for Felony 15 The abiured pleadeth that he is not the same person The Kings pardon of Abiuration 16 Abiuration by a Recusant 17 Abiuration by a Popish Recusant 18 Abiuration by him that committeth Trespas Pleading not guilty Fol. 192. 1 The plea of not guilty the most common for a prisoner One may plead not guilty after other pleas 2 Where vpon the plea of not guilty counsel shal be allowed and where not Triall by Battaile Fol. 193. 1 Triall of not guilty by Battaile or by the Countrey 2 The forme of triall by Battaile 3 The reason why the defendant in an appeale may be tried by battaile 4 Counterpleas to the Battaile 5 Taken with the manoure 6 Breaking of prison 7 Le ts of triall by battell on the plaintifes part 8 Priuiledges of the appellants person The King A Citizen of London 9 No wager of battell in an appeale of Rape 10 One fighting with seuerall men 11 An Appeale by an approuer 12 The appellee wageth battell and then becommeth blind Triall by Peeres Fol. 196. 1 The triall of the plea of not guilty by Peeres 2 The forme of arraignement and triall of a Peere of this realme 3 By whom Peeres appealed shal be tried By whom Ladies shall be tryed 4 The triall of Bishops Arraignement and Tryall in Parliament 5 Triall of Treason committed in Ireland 6 Triall of Misprision of Treason The number of Peeres at the triall 7 Triall of Peeres by Peeres in all cases of Treason and Felonie Triall by the Countrey Fol. 198. 1 Triall of the plea of not guilty by the countrey 2 Triall by the country of forraine pleas A man stricken vpon the Sea dieth vpon the land 3 The Proces against the Iurie The Proces in an Appeale and not in an Indictment 4 Where a Nisi prius is grauntable in an Appeale 5 Remaunding of prisoners out of the Kings Bench into the Countrey 6 Triall of Felonies committed by English men in Scotland 7 The prosecutors and witnesses bound to giue euidence 8 The accessary tried though the principall be not 9 Euery Iuror must haue fiue pounds of freehold 10 The offendor shall forfeit no lands 11 A like Act made in Scotland 12 Scottishmen repairing into England to giue euidence shal be free from arresting 13 The offence shall be layed where it is done 14 Hee that is once tried shall not be eftsoones called into question 15 None shall bee sent out of England to receiue his tryall 16 The Iurors shall allow of or reiect the witnesses Challenge Fol. 201. 1 Where the prisoner is allowed to challenge peremptorily Seuerance in challenges 2 Which be challenges vpon cause for that hee was an indictor 3 Challenge for want of Medietatem linguae 4 Challenge for want of sufficient freehold 5 Challenge for the king 6 A man outlawed of Felony shall haue his challenge 7 A Iuror challenged for that he is an Alien a Villaine or Outlaw Euidence Fol. 204. 1 Some bound to giue euidence against an offendor let to baile 2 Some bound to giue euidēce against an offendor imprisoned 3 Restitution of goods vpon an attainder by euidence 4 Euidence giuen by a stranger 5 There must be two accusors to giue euidence in Treason 6 Euidence or accusors in high Treason 7 Euidence against abettors to offences 8 Euidence on the defendants part in Felony Verdict Fol. 206. 1 A Verdict at large may bee giuen in Felony 2 The Verdict sometime lesse penall then the Indictment 3 The Verdict sometime more penall then the Indictment 4 Where the Iury shal find who killed the dead man Clergy Fol. 207. 1 What Clergy is 2 Who shal not haue his clergy by the common Law 3 A committer of Sacriledge 4 The habite or tonsure of a Clerke 5 Clergie
said Iuror shall pay tenne times so much as he hath receiued And all those which be Embraceors to lead and procure such Enquests in the Countrey The penalty of Maintenance in Iurors and Embraceors to make againe and profit thereof shal be punished as the Iurors And if the Iuror or Embraceor so attainted haue not wherewith to make recompence in forme aforesaid he shall be one yeare imprisoned which imprisonment shall not bee pardoned for any fine and the party grieued may haue his action before other Iustices if he will But no Iustice or other officer shall inquire of office vpon any of the points of this Statute but onely at the Suite of the partie or of others as is aforesaid See Periurie 18. Maintenance punished by a Decies tantū 7 Vpon the foresaid Statutes of 34. Edw. 3. 38. Edw. 3. is the writ of Decies tantum grounded By the which writ the party grieued by any such Maintenance and taking of money by a Iuror or Embraceor shall recouer against the offendor tenne times so much as he hath taken whereof the King shall haue the onely halfe and the same party who doth recouer the other halfe 40 E. 3. 33. 41. Ed. 3. 9. And a man may haue one writ of Decies tantum against all the Iurors of an Enquest if they all did take money to giue their verdict or against so many of them as did take money Fitz. Decies tantum 1. And so he may haue one writ against the Embraceors and the Iurors and recouer against euery of them tenne times so much as he receiued to giue his verdict or to embrace as if one of them tooke tenne shillings another twenty shillings a third 5. pounds c. and the dammages shall be taxed against euery of them seuerally And therefore when one action is brought against seuerall Iurors for taking of money to giue their verdict euery of them must plead his plea seuerally 21. H. 6. 20. and by himselfe If a Iuror doe take money to giue his verdict on the one part if after he doth giue no verdict or if hee with his companions doe giue a true verdict or such a verdict as the party who bringeth the writ receiueth no hurt thereby or if the plaintife be nonsute 37. H. 6. 31. yet a Decies tantum may bée brought against him For it is not the giuing of the verdict which the Law doth respect and punish but the taking of the money to giue his verdict and so to doe an vnlawfull act But otherwise it is of an Embraceor for if he take money to embrace and yet doth not embrace no action will lye against him for he is no Embraceor if he doe not embrace In a writ of Decies tantum if the Iury find 41. E. 3. 9. that one of the Iurie in the former Issue did take land for fortie pounds lesse then it was worth to giue his verdict the same Iuror shall forfeit to the King and the party tenne times so much viz. foure hundred pounds And so shall the Embraceor forfeit tenne times so much if he hath the land for lesse then it is worth after the Iurie hath giuen their verdict by his meanes or persuasion And the one moytie which is due to the King in this case according to the foresaid Statute of Anno 38. Edward 3. 41. Ed. 3.15 Fitz. Decies tantum 12. 44. Ed. 3. 36. is a fine to the King for his offence and not a debt to the King and therefore the partie grieued shall be first satisfied of his moytie and after him the King shall bée payed in the receit of the Exchquer Men that be learned in the Law may for their fées speake to the Iury 6. E. 4. 5. and enforce their clients euidence vnto them so much as they can openly vpon the triall of the cause But they may not otherwise labour to the Iury to giue their verdict and receiue money to that end for then they be Embraceors If he that is the party grieued who may haue against any Iuror a Decies tantum for taking of money doe release to the same Iuror all actions this will not auaile the same Iuror for by the said statute any person that will being a stranger may haue a Decies tantum against the same Iuror But if the King doe release before any suit commenced it is a good barre against all persons as it is in other popular actions 1. H. 7. 3. 5. E. 4. 2. and yet if the party hath begun his suit the Kings release wil not discharge it but for his owne part for that which was before popular is now become his priuat action and a condemnation or acquitall at his suit is a discharge against the King and all others 8 There is another kind of Maintenance by Iurors Maintenance by Ambidexter that the Law doth prohibite which is when a Iuror doth take money or other thing of the one part and the other who is commonly called Ambidexter for the punishment of whom Sta. 5. E. 3. 10 by a statute made An. 5. E. 3. it was ordained That if any Iuror in Assises Iuries or Enquests take of the one part and of the other and be thereof duly attainted he shall not after be put in any Assises Iuries or Enquests but shall be sent to prison and further punished at the Kings pleasure And the Iustices before whom such Assises Iuries Enquests shall passe haue power to inquire and determine according to this statute As this gréedie Ambidexter doth offend two Lawes so it is prouided to impose two seuerall punishments vpon him vpon a writ of Decies tantum brought against him he shall be compelled to pay to the King and the party grieued ten times so much as he hath receiued to giue his verdict according to the statute of 38. E. 3. And shall be no more put in Enquests but sent to prison and punished at the Kings pleasure according to the foresaid statute of Anno 5. Ed. 3. But no person shall be punished according to the said statute of Anno 5. 44. E. 3. 39. Fit Dec. tantum 12. Ed. 3. vpon any writ of Decies tantum brought against him but only vpon an Indictment at the Kings suit If any Iuror doe take money of eyther of the parties to a suit after his verdict giuen for giuing his verdict without making couenant therefore before hand 39. Ass p. 19 he shall not be punished according to any of the foresaid statutes of Anno 5. E. 3. 34. Ed. 3. or 38. E. 3. for he is out of the danger of the writ of Decies tantum and he shall not be imprisoned by force of the statute of Anno 5 Ed. 3. for he did not take mony contrary to the meaning of that statute But in that case he shall pay a fine to the king 9 As it is Champertie and therewith Maintenance to haue part of