Anâ—…rew as of one from whom he claims but only as â—…awing his Descent from him by way of Pedigree and â—…ot by way of Title and therefore it was compared to â—…obbes Case Litt. fol. where the Father is attainted of â—…elony having Issue two Sons and the one of them â—…urchaseth Lands and dies without Issue it shall not bar â—…e other Son to claim as Heir to his Brother And the Corruption of Blood in the Father shall not hurt him â—…nd Berkley compared it to the Case 10 Eliz. Dyer â—…74 where there were two Brothers the Eldest hath good Cause del petition de droit the Youngest hath â—…ssue a Son and is attainted of Felony and executed The Eldest Son dieth without Issue the Issue of the Younger Brother is barred of the Petition because his Blood is corrupt and he cannot claim but by mentioning his Father and from him c. But here forasmuch as he doth not claim nor derive by him who levied the Fine they field he should not be barred by the Fine XII QUERY Whether the Custody of an Idiot holding by Copy of Couâ—… Roll belongs to the King by his Prerogative or to 〈◊〉 Lord of the Copy-hold Mannor SOLUTION The King say the Judgâ—… Co. Lib. 4. f. 127. b. in Beverley's Case shall 〈◊〉 have the Custody of the Lands of an Idiot holden by Câ—…py for the same is but an Estate at Will by the Coâ—…mon Law And if the King should have the Custoâ—… thereof it would be mischievous to the Lord of the Maâ—…nor but yet an Alienation made by an Idiot of 〈◊〉 Copyhold-Land after Office found shall be avoideâ—… Vide 11 El. Dyer 302. It is a Rule in the Court of Wards That if an Idiâ—… has not any Goods or Châ—…tels or Lands but Copyhold-Lands Pasch. 13 Eliz. Iohn Roger's Case C. W. f. 74. held of a common Person the King shâ—… not have the Custody but the Lord of whom the Copy-hold is holden but if he has any other Land then thâ—… Copyhold-Land also In the Court of Wards it was clearly agreed by thâ—… Council of that Court That a Copyholder who 〈◊〉 13 14 El. Dyer 302. b. 303. a. 2 H. 7. 3. Noy 27. an Idiot ought not to bâ—… ordered in this Court foâ—… his Copyhold but shall be done in the Court of the Lorâ—… of the Mannor Sheppard in his Court-Keeper's Guide tells us That â—…e Lord shall retain the â—…opyhold-Land of the Idiâ—…t Cap. 19. p. 119. The Fourth Edit 1656. or Lunatick till he â—…ome to himself Note One Sir Edward Champernon being Committee 〈◊〉 a Ward who had a Mannor wherein were divers Copyâ—…olders amongst whom â—…e was Mutus Surdus Concerning such as are deaf and dumb See Bracton lib. 5. tract 5. cap. 20. n. 2. f. 421. a. Fleta l. 6. c. 40. nu 2. Instit. 2. 12. 3. D. 28. 1. 6. 1. Swinburn 2d Part § 10. Cod. 6. 22. 10. â—…ranted the Custody of that Copyhold-Land to another â—…ho entred the Prochein Amie of the Copyholder â—…ntred And which of â—…em should have the Custody Or If none of them â—…as the Question And it was resolved That the Lord â—…ould have the Custody for otherwise he should be â—…rejudiced in his Rents and Services and his Grant was Good Wherefore it was adjudged for the Grantee Cro. â—…ac f. 105. Eavers v. Skinner C. XIII QUERY Whether there be any Difference between an Estate made or conveyed in Person or by Attorney as to an Idiot or any other Non compos mentis SOLUTION There is a diversity taken in the Books of Law between an Estate made or conveyed in Person and by Co. l. 4. f. 125. Beverley's Case of Non compos mentis Attorney For if an Idiot or other Non compos mentis makes a Feoffment in Fee in propria persona and dieth his Heir within Age he shall not be in Ward or if he dieth without Heir the Land shall not Escheat but 〈◊〉 the Feoffment be made by Letter of Attorney altho' 〈◊〉 shall not avoid the same yet after his Death as to 〈◊〉 others in Judgment of Law the Estate was void anâ—… therefore in such Case if his Heir be within Age he shaâ—… be in Ward or if he dieth without Heir the Land shaâ—… Escheat And likewise in the Case of an Infant if 〈◊〉 maketh a Feoffment in Person if he dieth without Hâ—… the Land shall not Escheat but otherwise if it were maâ—… by Letter of Attorney but the Infant himself shall 〈◊〉 avoid it but others shall But things done by matter 〈◊〉 Record as Fines Recoveries Judgments Statutes Râ—… cognisances shall bind as well the Idiot as he who is Noâ—… compos mentis 31 E. 3. Saver Default 371. 1 Maâ—… Dum fuit infra aetatem 7. A Grant of an Infant saith Finch under the Age 〈◊〉 21 Years and one out 〈◊〉 his right Mind whom 〈◊〉 Lib. 2. c. 2. of Possessions p. 102 103. Edit 1627. call Non sane memorie 〈◊〉 Non compos mentis as 〈◊〉 Idiot may be avoided at any time by Entry Action c. or a Feoffment by Letter of Attorney c. if they deliver it with their Hands as in a Feoffment and themselves make Livery or a Gift of Goods and themselves deliver them but if they deliver not with their Hand as in a Grant of a Rent Advowson c. it is meerly void and nothing at all passeth so as they may have a Trespass or Assize and remain Tenant to the Lord and therefore shall be in Ward notwithstanding such Feoffment XIV QUERY A Man dies seised of Land his Heir being an Idiot or Sot Natural and before Office he levies a Fine whether the King shall have the Lands per Praerogativam Regis cap. 9. or not SOLUTION Home devie seisi de Terre son Heire esteant sotte natural avant Office il leva fine le Roy navera les terres per Praerogativam Regis Crompton fol. 117. a. tit Court de Gards Liveries Edit 1594. cap. 9. Car ne serra intende que fuit sotte Conuter le Fine Car ceo va encounter le credit del Iustice que prist le fine car serra intend que le Iustice ne voile prender fine de luy si ust este Ideot Englished thus A Man seized of Land his Heir being an Idiot and before any Office this Idiot levieth a Fine the King shall not have the Custody of the Lands by his Prerogative for that it shall not be intended or presumed that he was a Natural Fool against the Fine levied because this will impeach the Reputation or Credit of the Judge before whom the Caption of the Fine was For it shall be presumed that the Judge would not take the Fine if he had not been an Idiot XV. QUERY Idiots in the Custody of the Prince whether the Custody of an Idiot can be devised by the Testator SOLUTION Concerning Idiots such is the Prerogative of the Princes
NON COMPOS MENTIS OR THE LAW RELATING TO NATURAL FOOLS MAD-FOLKS and LUNATICK PERSONS Inquisited and Explained for Common Benefit By IOHN BRYDALL Esq of LINCOLN'S-INN SENECA Lib. XIV Epistolarum Epist. 94. Siquis furioso praecepta det quomodo loqui debeat quomodo procedere quomodo in publico se gerere quomodo in privatoâ—…â—…it ipso quem monebit insanior LONDON Printed by the Assigns of Richard and Edward Atkins Esquires for Isaac Cleave at the Star next Serjeants-Inn in Chancery-Lane 1700. THE AUTHOR TO THE READER SEeing there have been exposed to Publick View a couple of Tracts the one entituled The Woman's Lawyer and the other stiled The Infant 's Lawyer I have been induced to 〈◊〉 a Publication of this perexiguous â—…iece and have named it The Law of Non Compos Mentis It being no other than a Collection methodically digested of such Laws with the Cases Opinions and Resolutions of our common Law Sages as do properly concern the Rights of all such as are wholly destitute of Reason Some whereof are become so by a perpetual Infirmity as Idiots or Fools Natural Some who were once of good and sound Memory but by the Visitation of God are deprived of it as Persons in a high Degree Distracted Some that have their lucid Intervals sometimes in their Wits sometimes out as Lunatick Persons And some who are made so by their own Default as Persons overcome with Drink who during the time of their Drunkenness are compared to Mad-Folks All which Sorts of Non Compos Mentis are the Subject Matter of the ensuing Sheets I shall no longer detain the Reader from the perusal of them than by tendering him the good Advice given by an ingenious Author touching Witless Persons which is as follows Take no Pleasure in the Folly of an Idiot nor in the Fancy of a Lunatick nor in the Frenzy of a Drunkard make them the Object of thy Pity not of thy Pastime When thou beholdest them behold how thou art beholding to Him that suffered thee not to be like them This wholsome Counsel of his to embrace will be look'd on as an Act of Prudence But to reject it will be such a piece of Folly as will undoubtedly bring him that shall be guilty of it under the hard Sentence of our old English Proverb Let him be begg'd for a Fool. A TABLE OF THE QUERIES RELATING First To IDIOTS 1. IF the King commit the Body or Estate of an Idiot to J. S. to do with him as he pleases whether this Grant be good 26 2. Whether the King shall have the Mean Profits from the time of the first Seisure of the Idiot or from the time of the Office found 27 3. At what time was the Prerogative in the Custody of Idiots Lands conferred on the Crown during the Life of an Idiot or Natural Fool 29 4. Whether the Ter-Tenant shall be allowed to Traverse an Office of Idiocy upon a Scire Facias brought against him by the King 32 5. Whether there be any Diversity in the Case of the King to answer either to the Tenure or the Possession 32 6. Whether an Idiot or Fool Natural can be bound by the Sale of his Goods in Market Overt 33 7. Whether a Stranger may tender Money in Performance of a Condition to save the Estate of an Idiot 33 8. If an Idiot should make his Testament wisely and reasonably to the Shew whether this Testament of his be good or not 34 9. If an Idiot above the Age of 21 Years makes a Feoffment in Fee of his Inheritance how and in what manner that Feoffment may be avoided during his Life 39 10. A Fine levied by an Idiot what it operates 40 11. A Fine levied by J. S. Uncle of an Idiot who was seised of an Inheritance the said J. S. dying in the Life of H. the Idiot whether this Fine so levied can bar the Grand-Child of J. S. 42 12. Whether the Custody of an Idiot holding by Copy of Court-Roll belongs to the King by his Prerogative or to the Lord of the Copyhold Mannor 44 13. Whether there be any Difference between an Estate made in Person or by Attorney as to an Idiot or any other Non Compos Mentis 45 14. A Man dies seised of Land his Heir being an Idiot and before Office he levies a Fine whether the King shall have the Custody of the Lands or not 47 15. Idiots in the Custody of the Prince whether such Custody can be devised by the Testator 47 16. Idiocy whether in any Case triable in the Ecclesiastical Court 48 17. An Executor having obtained Iudgment in an Accompt and having the Defendant in Execution for Arrearages and the Testament being afterwards annulled for Idiocy in the Testator whether the Testament being disapproved an Audita Querela will lie for the Defendant 49 18. Whether an Attornment made to a Grant by an Idiot or other Non Compos Mentis can be good in Law 50 19. Whether an Inquisition shall bind an Idiot without an Examination by the Council 51 20. No Possessions in Lands descending to an Idiot but only a Right whether the King can enter and have the Custody of it 51 Secondly To Persons Furious or Distracted 1. WHether Madness or Insanity of Mind ought to be proved by him that objecteth the same 66 2. Madness before the making of a Testament whether it can be presumed to continue 67 3. Furor or Madness whether hard to be proved 68 4. Madness whether it may be proved by singular Witness 69 5. Whether the Grant of a Copyhold Estate made by the Lord of the Copyhold Mannor that is a Mad-man can be good in Law 69 6. A Mad-man being seised of Land and granting a Rent-Charge out of this same Land dies his Heir entring and the Grantee distraining for Rent-Arrears whether the Heir may bring an Action of Trespass 70 7. A Man of Sane Memorie seised of Land makes a Feoffment and after when he is besides himself or distracted makes a Letter of Attorney for Livery of Seisin which is executed accordingly the Feoffor dies whether the Heir may lawfully enter upon the Feoffee 71 8. Whether the Entry of the Heir of a Furor Man be lawful maugre a Descent had in the Life of his Ancestors 71 9. What kind of Privies can disable him who was deprived of the Use of Reason and Understanding Or by whom and what Acts done by a Mad-man can â—…e avoided 72 10. Whether a Man Distracted or out of his Wits be relievable in a Court of Equity to avoid a Deed made by himself 73 11. Whether this Maxim That the Party cannot disable himself shall hold good in Criminal Causes as Felony Murther and Petit Treason 74 12. If a Man while he is Non Compos Mentis destroys himself whether he can be said to be Felo de se 78 13. Whether he that is Non Compos Mentis and totally deprived of all Compassings and Imaginations can commit High-Treason
Stamfoâ—… saith to this Point ' This Prerogative of the King quoth he to have the Custody of an Idiot begun in the time of King E. 1. as it should seem to him because he finds none that wrote of it before Britton for Bracton speaks but little Competit exceptio peremptoria tenenti ex persona petentis si petens fuerit non sanae mentis quod discernere nesciat vel omnino nullam habeat discretionem Talis enim non multum distat a Bruto quod Ratione caret Sed discussio hujusmodi exceptionis discretioni judicis relinquatur Bracton lib. 5. tract 5. c. 20. nu 1. of Idiots in his Fifth Book in the Title of Exceptions against the Plaintiff where he saith It is a good Exception for the Person of him that complaineth or bringeth any Action to say He is a Fool Natural because such a one differeth not much from a Beast that wants Reason But the discussion of such a kind of Exception is left to the discretion of the Judge Howbeit Britton f. 167. b. saith That the King ought to have this Prerogative herein for these be his very words Et pur ceo que ascun foitz avient que ascun Heir est Sot â—…aistre par quoy il nest my able a heritage demaunder â—…arner volons que tielz Heires de qui qu'il unques teâ—…ent malles femelles demoergent en nostre garde ovesque â—…out autres services que a luy appendent de terre tenue de â—…uy issint remeynent en nostre garde taunt come ils â—…urent en lour sotise Upon these words of Britton by the by Stamford notes three things 1. That the King shall not have the Custody during their Lives but during their Idiocy 2. That notwithstanding the Land is in the King's Hands yet the Lords shall have their Seigniories which is by way of Petition 3. That the other Lord shall not have the Wardship of the Heir nor of his Lands but only the King which third thing says he by the Statute of Prerogative is not so plainly set forth IV. QUERY Whether the Ter-Tenant shall be allowed to traverse an Office of Idiocy upon a Scire Facias brought against him by the King SOLUTION It was found by an Inquest of Office returned into Chancery that W. N. was seized of certain Mannors and they were held of the King in Chief and died 50 Ass. Pl. 2. Br. Gr. Abridgement Tit. Idiots seized and the Tenements descended to R. a Fool Natural from his Nativity as Son and Heir and that N held the Tenements Whereupon the King sued a Scire Facias against N. to shew Cause why the King should not seize the Lands into his Hands for the Idiocy of R. who comes and says That R. such a Day released all his Right to the Possession to M. at the making of which Deed R. was of good Memory which M. infeoffed him without that R. was a Fool Natural from his Nativity and it was not denied but that the Ter-Tenant may traverse the Office in this Form V. QUERY Whether there be any Diversity in the Case of the King to Answer either to the Tenure or to the Possession SOLUTION An Office was found 1 H. 7. 18 19. 2 H. 7. 3. Broke's Grand Abridgment Tit. Idiots that I. S. died seized of such Lands by Gift in Tail made to him which descended to W. his Son and Heir who was an Idiot and N. comes and traverseth the Office making Title Absque hoc quod dict J. S. fuit seisie proâ—…t c. the Day he died and it was found against the King And by Hussey and Fairfax the Case of Idiocy is not like to the Case of the Ward of Land and Heir For there the King shall answer to the Tenure but in the Case of an Idiot the King shall answer only to the possession For if an Idiot has Title to Land either by Entry or by Action if he has it not in possession the King â—…hall not have it and so Judgment was given upon the Traverse for the Issue was upon the possession and it matters not whether the Idiot had Right or not if he had not the possession VI. QUERY Whether an Idiot or Fool Natural can be bound by the Sale of his Goods in Market Overt SOLUTION Regularly the Sale by a Stranger in Market Overt bindeth an Infant a Feme Covert that hath Right Coke in his Exposition of the Stat. of 31 El. c. 12. f. 713. either in her own Right or as Executor or Administrator Idiots Non Compos Mentis Men beyond Sea and â—…n Prison that right have to the same VII QUERY Whether a Stranger may tender Money in performance of a Condition to save the Estate of an Idiot SOLUTION If an Heir be an Idiot of what Age soever any Man make the Tender for him in respect of the absolute Coke in his Comment on Littleton § 334. f. 206. b. disability and the Law in this Case is grounded on Charity And so in like Cases But note It is otherwise in the Case of an Infant for it has been adjudged Trin. 27 El. That where one Cro. El. f. 134. Watkins v. Ashwick tendred Money upon a Mortgage for an Infant who was not Guardian nor was to have any Interest in the Land that it was adjudged a void Tender Vide Co. Litt. f. 206. b. VIII QUERY If an Idiot or Natural Fool should make his Testament wisely and reasonably to the shew whether this Testament of his be good or not SOLUTION If an Idiot or Natural Fool should make his Testament so well and wisely in Apparence that the same may seem rather to be made by a reasonable Man than by one void of Discretion â—… some have been of Opinion that such a Testament is good and available in Law * Ita fuisse decisum in Senatu Romano Commemorant Io. And. And. Barba cum aliis in c. ad nostram de consuetud extra because Almighty God doth sometimes so illuminate the Minds of the Foolish that for that present in that Case they are not much inferiour to the Wise. And to this purpose divers credible Writers do remember a merry Accident which if they say truly was no Fable but an undoubted Fact * Io. And. panor Barba alii in C. ad nostram Hyero Franc. in L. Furiosi de Reg. Iur. D. Boer decis 13. n. 58. and this it is At Paris one Morning a hungry poor Man begging his Alms from Door to Door did at the last espy very good Cheer at a Cook 's House whereat by and by his Teeth began to water and the Spur of his empty and eager Stomach pricking him forwards he made as much haste towards the place as his feeble Feet would give him leave where he was no sooner come but the pleasant Smell partly of the Meat and partly of the Sauce did catch such sure hold of the
himself before the making of his Testament altho' he do not prove the Testator's Madness at the very time of the making of the Testament the Reason is It being proved that the Testator was once mad the Law presumeth him to continue still in that Case * Praesumptioni standum est nisi contrarium probetur D. 23. 3. 57. in fine D. 4. 2. 23. D. 12. 4. 6. 10. 2 Inst. 477. 10. Litt. 373 b. Bracton l. 1. c. 9. n. 4. Fleta l. 1. c. 6. unless the contrary be proved For like as the Law presumeth every Man to be an honest Man unless the contrary be proved and being proved then he which is evil to be evil still So concerning Furor the Law presumeth every Man to have the use of Reason and Understanding unless the contrary be proved which being proved accordingly then he is presumed in Law to continue still void of the use of Reason and Understanding unless the Testator were besides himself but for a short time and in some peculiar Actions and not continually for a long space as for a Month or more or unless the Testator fell into some Frenzy upon some accidental Cause which Cause is afterwards taken away or unless it be a long time since the Testator was assaulted with the Malady for in these Cases the Testator is not presumed to continue in his former Furor or Frenzy III. QUERY Furor or Madness whether hard to be proved And how it may be proved SOLUTION It is a hard and difficult Point to prove a Man not to have the use of Reason and therefore it is not sufficient Swinburn Part 2. § 3. f. 38. a. Edit 1590. for the Witnesses to depose that the Testator was mad or besides his Wits unless they yield a sufficient Reason to prove this their Deposition as that they did see him to do such Things or heard speak such Words as a Man having Wit or Reason would not have done or spoken namely they did see him throw Stones against the Windows or did see him usually to spit in Mens Faces or being asked a Question they did see him hiss like a Goose or bark like a Dog or play such other Parts as Mad-folks use to do This or the like Reason whereby the Judge may be induced to esteem the Testator not to be of sound Mind ought the Witnesses to yield altho' they be not interrogated of the Cause of their Knowledge IV. QUERY Madness whether it may be proved by singular Witnesses SOLUTION This Furor or Madness may be proved by singular Witness so that the Witnesses be not singular in Swinburn in his Treatise of Wills Part 2. § 3. f. 38. a b. time for if one Witness depose of the Madness of the Testator at one time and another Witness of his Madness at another time this doth not sufficiently prove that the Testator was mad But when the Witnesses agreeing in time one deposeth of one mad Prank another Witness of another mad Act at the same time these prove that the Testator was then mad tho' they do not both depose of one and the same mad Act But if some Witnesses do depose That the Testator was of perfect Mind and Memory and others depose the contrary their Testimony is to be preferred which depose he was of sound Memory as well for that their Testimony tendeth to the Favour and Validity of the Testament as for that the same is more agreeable to the Disposition of Nature for every Man is a Creature reasonable V. QUERY Whether the Grant of a Copyhold Estate made by the Lord of the Copyhold Mannor that is a Mad-man can be good in Law SOLUTION It is to be known That any Person who may be a Grantor in a Deed may be a good Grantor of a Copyhold Estate For this any Person Coke of Copyholds f. 89. 4 Co. f. 23. Clerk Penifather's Case Sheppard's Court-Keeper's Guide cap. 19. p. 108 109 4th Edit 1656. 8 Co. f. 63. b. Swain's Case Man or Woman that hath a lawful Estate in a Mannor for a time may be a good Lord to grant Copyholds take Surrenders make Estates and Admittances according to the Custom of the Mannor notwithstanding the Disability of his Person or Exility of his Estate and therefore 't is held that an Infant an Excommunicate Person a Person Outlawed in an Action Personal a Felon before his Attainder by Outlawry Verdict or Confession a Lunatick or a Man distracted being Lord of a Mannor may grant Copyhold Estates for any time according to the Custom of the Mannor as another Man may do and the Estates made by them are unavoidable VI. QUERY A Mad-man being seized of Land and granting a Rent-Charge out of this same Land dies his Heir entring and the Grantee distraining for Rent-Arrear whether the Heir may bring an Action of Trespass SOLUTION If a Man Non Sanae Memoriae being seized of a Carve of Land in Fee and die and his Heir enter and the P. 12 E. 4. 8 H. 39. H. 6. Perkins § 21. Tit. Grants Grantee distrein for the Rent behind the Heir shall have an Action of Trespass but if the Grantee had distreined in the Life of the Grantor for the Rent behind the Grantor should not have an Action of Trespass for he cannot avoid his own Deed by disabling of himself VII QUERY A Man of Sane Memorie seised of Land makes a Feoffment in Fee and after when he is besides himself or distracted makes a Letter of Attorney for Livery of Seizin which is executed accordingly the Feoffor dies whether the Heir may lawfully enter upon the Feoffee SOLUTION If a Letter of Attorney to make Livery of Seisin is made of certain Land by a Man of unsound Memory 17 Ass. Pl. 17. Perkins § 23. Tit. Grants and the Charter of Feoffment of the same Land was made before when he was of good Memory and then Livery of Seisin was made by force of the Letter of Attorney without other Assent of the Feoffor and the Feoffor die now his Heir may enter upon the Feoffee but the Feoffor himself cannot enter VIII QUERY Whether the Entry of the Heir of a Furor Man be lawful maugre a Descent had in the Life of his Ancestors SOLUTION If a Man that is bereft of his Wits hath cause to enter into his Lands and Tenements Littleton Sect. 405. which another hath in Fee c. and suffers a Discent during the time he was out of his Wits and after dies the Heir of Non Sane Memorie may well enter upon him that is in by Discent for the Heir in this case can well disable the Person of his Ancestors for his own Advantage because no Latches can be adjudged by the Law in him which hath no Discretion in such case And yet his Ancestors which had the same Title could not enter For he who was out of his Memory at the time of such Discent if he will enter after such a Discent
Purchaser SOLUTION A Man of Non sane Memorie may without the Consent of any other purchase Lands but he himself cannot wave it But if he die in his Madness or after his Coke in his Comment on Littleton § 1. f. 2. b. Memory recovered without agreement thereunto his Heir may wave and disagree to the State without any Cause shewed and so of an Idiot But if a Man of Non sane Memorie recovers his Memory and agree unto it it is unavoidable So it is if a Mad-man makes a Gift or Grant and then recovering his Wits confirms it this Gift or Grant is unavoidable as appears by Bracton and Fleta The former speaks thus Convalescit Donatio facta a Furioso si sanae mentis effectus donum illud confirmaverit vel ratum habuerit Lib. 2. cap. 5. nu 4. f. 11. b. 12. a. The later saith in this wise Dare poterit Furiosus quandâ—…que fatuus dum tamen donum ex post facto confirmaverit cum recuperaverit sanitatem Lib. 3. cap. 3. nu 8. With which Authors does agree Dionysius Gothofredus's Note upon D. 24. 3. 22. 10. Furiosus ad suam mentem reversus ratam rem habere potest Ratamque habendo facit utilem XVI QUERY Whether the Will of one that afterwards becomes mad or distracted shall stand good in Law SOLUTION If a Man that is of good and perfect Memory makes his Will and afterwards by the Visitation of God he 4 Co f. 61. b. Forse and Hembling's Case becomes of unsound Memory this Act of God shall not be a Revocation of his Will which he made when he was of good and perfect Memory With this Resolution do concur our old Jurists Bracton and Fleta as also the Texts of the Civil Law 1. Bracton Furor superveniens nihil adimit non magis quam morbus incurabilis sicut Lepra Secundum Lib. 5. Tract 5. Cap. 20. nu 1. f. 420. b. quod dicitur quod multa impediunt contrahendo quae non dirimunt Contractum ita sunt multa quae impediunt promovendo quae non dejiciunt jam promotum 2. Fleta Furor alienationem prius factam non perimit sicut multa impediunt contrahenda quae non Lib. 6. Cap. 40. nu 1. dirimunt Contractum ita sunt multa quae impediunt promovendum quae non dejiciunt jam promotum 3. Civil Texts Neque Testamentum recte factum neque ullum aliud negotium recte gestum postea furor interveniens perimit Siquis Instit. 2. 12. in Fine post testamentum factum adversa valetudine aut Instit. 2. 12. 3. in Fine quolibet alio casu mutus aut surdus esse caeperit ratum nihilominus manet ejus Testamentum Vide D. 28. 1. 20. 4. XVII QUERY Whether a Fine before a Iudge of Non sane Memorie or a Grant of an Office made by him be good in Law SOLUTION There is a Diversity taken between a Fine levied before a Judge of Non sane Memorie and a Grant of an Office made by him For Si Iudge ou Iustice soit de non sane Memorie uncore les Fines Iudgements auters Records que sont devant luy serra bon Mes e contra del done d'Office vel hujusmodi per luy car ceo est matter en fait l'auters sont matters de Record Car matters en fait poient estre avoid per non sane Memorie Contra de matter de Record If a Judge or Justice be distracted yet the Fines Judgments and other Records that are before him shall be good But otherwise it is of the Grant of an Office or the like by him made For this is Matter in Fact and the others are Matters of Record for Matters in Fact may be avoided by Non sane Memorie otherwise it is in the Case of Matter of Record Br. Dum non fuit Compos mentis 7. XVIII QUERY A Mad-man makes an Exchange of his Land with J. S. for other Land and the Exchange is accordingly executed the Non sane Man dies whether his Heir can avrid this Exchange having first entred into the Land taken in Exchange SOLUTION If a Man of unsound Memory being seized of Land in Fee exchangeth the same Land with a Stranger for another Acre of Land in Fee and the Exchange is executed and he of unsound Memory dieth and his Heir enters into the Land taken in Exchange by his Father he shall not avoid this Exchange Perkin Sect. 298. Tit. Exchanges XIX QUERY Whether and in what Cases Lachesse can prejudice an Idiot Mad-man or other Non compos mentis SOLUTION There are some who have made a Difference between Bar of Non compos mentis's Right and Bar of his Entry 4 Co. fol. 125. a. b. Beverley's Case of Non compos mentis for in Case of Bar of his Right his Lachesse or Negligence shall not be prejudicial to him but in such special Case if he become of unsound Memory he shall shew that he was not Compos mentis As if a Man Non compos mentis be disseised and the Disseizor levieth a Fiâ—… in this Case at the Common Law altho' the Year 〈◊〉 Day be past yet he who was Non compos mentis shall not be bound thereby but he may well enter and that they say is proved by the Statute De modo levandi Fines made 18 E. 1. which is but a Declaration of the Common Law scil That a Fine is so high a Bar and of so great force and of so high nature in it self that it barreth not only those who are Parties and Privies to the Fine and their Heirs but all other of the World who are of full Age. out of Prison and of good Memory and within the four Seas the Day of the Fine levied if they put not in their Claim by their Action or Entry in the County within the Year and the Day by which it appeareth that no Lachesse * Excusatur ille saith Flet a cujus interfuerit quod Clamium infra annum diem non apposuerit multis modis ut si fuerit infra aetatem tempore quo finis fuit levatus vel furiosus vel mente captus non sanae mentis vel Idiotus vel surdus vel mutus vel si detentus fuerit in Prisona c. Lib. 6. c. 54. nu 1. de Excusationibus of a Man Non compos mentis shall bar him of his Right Also it appeareth by the Statute of 4 H. 7. c. 24. That in such Case if a Man levieth a Fine with Proclamations and at the time of the Fine levied he who hath Right is Non compos mentis and afterward he recovers his Memory that in this Case he ought to sue his Action or Entry within five Years after he becometh of sound Memory and in such Case in Pleading he shall shew that at the time of the Fine levied he was Non compos mentis and all the special Matter But if
by Compassing and Imagining the Death of the King 79 14. Whether a Mad-man be punishable in Trespass 83 15. Whether a Furor Man can be a Purchaser 84 16. Whether the Will of one that afterwards becomes Mad or Distracted shall stand good in Law 84 17. Whether a Fine before a Iudge of Non sane Memorie or a Grant of an Office made by him be good in Law 86 18. A Mad-man makes an Exchange of his Lands with J. S. for other Lands and the Exchange is accordingly executed the Non sane Man dies whether his Heir can avoid this Exchange 86 19. Whether and in what Cases Lachess can prejudice an Idiot Mad-man or other Non Compos Mentis 87 20. Whether he that is a Furor Man can be appointed Tutor 89 21. Whether a King or other Sovereign Prince during the time of his Insanity of Mind be capable of making Peace 90 22. Whether it be lawful to speak Untruth to Mad-men 90 Thirdly To LUNATICKS 1. WHether the Testament made by a Lunatick during his mad Fits be valid in Law when he is come to himself 103 2. Whether a Testament can be made by a Lunatick Person betwixt his Fits 103 3. If a Testament be made by a Lunatick Person and the time of the making unknown whether this Testament be good or not 104 4. Whether the Dying seised of a Bastard Eigne without Interruption shall bar the Right of a Mulier Puisne that is a Mad-man or a Lunatick 105 5. Whether a Lunatick can be prejudiced by Laches of suing Livery 106 6. Whether a Lunatick be punishable for hurting a Man 107 7. Whether a Devise by a Lunatick be aided by the Statute of 43 Eliz. Of charitable Uses 107 8. Actions touching a Lunatick's Lands whether they must be brought in his own Name 108 9. Whether the Lord of a Mannor can grant the Custody of a Copihold belonging to a Lunatick without a special Custom 109 10. Whether the Acts of a Lunatick during his Intermissions or lucid Intervals be binding 110 11. Whether the King who is to keep the Lunatick his Wife and Children with the Profits of the Lands can grant them over to the proper use of another Person 110 12. Whether the Committee of a Lunatick can grant Copyhold Estates 111 13. If a Dean of Paul's happen to be a Lunatick who shall have the Custody of him 112 14. If a Man in Criminal Cases be suspected to counterfeit Madness or Lunacy how shall it be discerned whether he be mad or not 113 15. A Bargain by a Lunatick before the Lunacy found whether avoidable by being found a Lunatick with a Retrospect of several Years 115 16. Whether the View of Land according to the Statute of Westm. 2. c. 48. be grantable in all Cases to Infants to Men in Prison to Lunaticks or such-like 117 Fourthly To DRUNKARDS 1. WHether a Man's Drunkenness can be any good Plea in the Courts at Westminster either in Criminal or Civil Acts 122 2. A Drunken Person whether he may make a Testament 123 3. Such as violate the good Name of others with opprobrious Words through Weakness of their Brain either by Frenzy Drink or other Lightness how are they to be dealt withal 125 The Reader is desired to Correct these Faults before he begins Other minuter Faults of literal Errors and Pointings it is expected his Candor will pass over INstead of Doth the Law read Doth not the Law p. 2. l. 22. Instead of Br 4. r. Br. Idiot 4. p. 23. Instead of an Act r. a Tract p. 26. Instead of Thompson's Case r. Tourson's Case p. 27. Instead of any Man make r. any Man may make p. 34. Instead of a Man seised r. a Man died seised p. 47. Instead of being seised of a Carve of Land in Fee r. being seised of a Carve of Land grant a Rent issuing out of the same Land in Fee p. 70. Instead of tuentur r. tenentur p. 77. Instead of de prodictionibus r. de actionibus p 72. Instead of detus r. vetus p. 94. THE LAW OF NON COMPOS MENTIS Inquisited and Explained BEFORE I come to Treat of the Law relating to persons of Non Sane Memorie I shall by way of Introduction shew the Reader upon what Right the Dominion of Infants Idiots and Mad-men is grounded In performance whereof I must be beholding to Hugo Grotius that Prodigy of Learning whose Words are these following If we respect saith he the Laws of Nature only no Right of Propriety can be admitted to those who have not the Use of Reason But Ius Gentium Lib. 2. Cap. 3. Sect. 6. De jure belli pacis the Law of Nations for the Common Good doth indulge this Favour unto Infants Idiots and Mad-Men that they may lawfully receive and retain the propriety of things All Mankind in the mean time sustaining their Persons For Humane Laws may constitute many things that were Preternatural but not any thing that is against Humana jura multa constituere possunt praeter naturam contra naturam nihil Nature And therefore that right of Dominioâ—… that in favour to such is by the unanimous consent of all Civiliz'd Natioâ—… thus introduced may haply consist with the first Acâ—… of Dominion which is a power to have and to holâ—… things in Propriety but not with the second Act which is freely and voluntarily to dispose of them with out a Guardian it being but Equal 〈◊〉 those that caâ—… not govern themselves should be govern'd by 〈◊〉 Aequum est ut qui se regere non potest regatur aliunde thers For as to the righâ—… of Alienation and thâ—… like because in their own Nature they imply the Act 〈◊〉 a Will guided with a Alienatio rerum solidum desiderat habere judicium Cassiodorus 11 11. Reason which Infants Idâ—… ots and Madmen havâ—… not Therefore 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Law permit these 〈◊〉 unto them as to the 〈◊〉 and free Exercise of their Rights But here may be started a Question or two Quest. One whereof is this If there be found a Peâ—…ple that have no use of Natural Reason at all Whethâ—… all Right and Dominion may be taken from them Sol. It is not sufficient saith Grotius to justifie War to pretend that we were the first Discoverers 〈◊〉 any place in case it be possest tho' by Pagans and Inâ—…dels or by Men of dull Apprehension for to entitle our selves to be the first Founders 't is necessary that the Inventio est eorum quae nullius sunt Land so found should belong to none Neither is it necessary to Propriety or Dominion that a Man should be endued with Virtues Moral or a A true Maxim in Divinity Dominion is not founded in Grace Bishop Brownrig 1 Vol. of Sermons p. 50. And Amesius in his Cases of Conscience Lib. 5. Cap. 41. Qu. 1. Numb 7. Theological or to be of a quick Understanding yet may this seem to be justifiable That in case there
Lib. 8. f. 170. Thompson's Case â—…intly seized with his Elâ—…er Brother for Term of â—…eir Lives the Lessor did purchase the Estate of the Elâ—…er Brother and took the Body of the Idiot and all the Profits of the Lands and afterwards William Tourson was found Idiot from his Birth by Inquitision The Question was Whether the King shall have the mean Profits of the Moiety from the time of the first Seizin of â—…he Idiot or from the time of the Office And it was â—…esolved That the King should not have the Profits but after the Office and yet to some intent the Office shall have relation from the time of the Birth Scilicet to avoid all mean Acts done by the Idiot and therewith agreeth F. N. B. 202 E. and 18 E. 3. Scire Fac. 10. 32 E. 3. Scire Fac. 106. 50 Ass. Pl. 2. But for the mean Profits it shall not have relation but from the time of the Office found for the same appeareth of Record that the King hath Right to seize the Lands As if the King's Tenant commit Felony Anno 1 Iac. and afterwards Anno 3. he is attainted for the same Felony and afterwards Anno 4. all is found by Office Noâ—… this Office shall have relation to the time of the Felony tâ—… avoid all mean Alienations and Incumbrances but foâ—… the mean Profits it shall have relation to the time oâ—… the Attainder for then the King's Title appeareth of Record and there is a difference where the King shall havâ—… the Custody by reason of a Seigniory as in the Case oâ—… Wardship there the King after Office found shall havâ—… the mean Profits from the time of the Death of the Ancâ—…stor for the King hath Wardship by reason of his Seigniory and he loseth his Rent and Services in the mean time But the King hath the Custody of an Idiot noâ—… in respect of any Seigniory but in the Right of hiâ—… Royal Protection because that his Subject is not able to govern himself nor his Lands or Tenements which he hath and this Protection doth begin by the Office found And the Statute of Praerogativa Regis c. 9. saith The King shall have the Ward of Lands of Natural Fools taking the Profits c. to find them Necessaries c. By which it appeareth that the King shall take the Profits from the time that he is charged with the finding of the Idiot and his Family Necessaries c. and that is after the Office found so that when the King seizeth in the Right of his Regal Protection as in the Case at Bar or Nomine districtionis as in Case of Alienation of Lands in Capite without License or of Marriage of his Widow without License there after Office found the King shall not have any of the mean Profits before the Office as it is holden in 8 E. 4. 4. 40 Ass. Pl. 36. But when the King seizeth by reason of a form'd Right or Title there the King shall have the mean Profits from the time of his Right or Title first accrued as 18 Ass. Pl. 18. from the time of a Condition broken 41 E. 3. 21. from the time of the Alienation of his Tenant in Mortmain And if the Lands holden of others from the time the Title came to him 46 E. 3. Forfeiture 18. upon the â—…atute of West 2. c. 45. which giveth the Contra forâ—…am Collationis from the time of the Alienation for these Acts the King's Title and Right doth accrue â—…nd in the principal Case no Precedent can be found at the King was answered the mean Profits before the â—…ffice found but only after the Office and so the Quere Stamford's Praerogativa Regis 34. is well resolved III. QUERY â—…t what time was the Prerogative in the Custody of Idiots Lands conferred on the Crown during the Life of an Idiot or Natural Fool SOLUTION Sir Edward Cook tells us That at the making of the â—…atute of Magna Charta c. 4. Anno nono Henrici terâ—… the King had not any Prerogative in the Custody of 〈◊〉 Lands of Idiots during the Life of the Idiot For if 〈◊〉 had had this Act of Magna Charta would have proâ—…ded against Waste c. committed by the Committee 〈◊〉 Assignee of the King to be done in their Possessions 〈◊〉 well as in the Possessions of Wards but at this time â—…e Guardianship of Idiots c. was to the Lords and â—…thers according to the Course of the Common Law â—…nd Idiots from their Nativity were accounted alâ—…ays within Age and therefore the Custody of them â—…as perpetual so long as they lived for that their Imâ—…otency was perpetual And the Lord of whom the â—…and was holden had not a Tenant that was able to do â—…im Service and therefore within the Reason of a Custoâ—…y of a Minor or of an Heir within Age in Case of Wardship And this appeareth by Fleta who attesteth â—…hat anciently Idiots or Natural Fools were in the Cuâ—…tody of the Lords Solent says he Tutores terras Idioâ—…rum Stultorum cum Corporibus eorum Custodire suo perpetuo quod licitum 〈◊〉 Lib. 1. c. 11. nu 10. p. 6. Vide Bracton lib. 5. tract 5. c. 20. nu 1. f. 420. b. Cowell's Instit. lib. 1. tit 23. sect 1. de Curatoribus permissum eo quod sâ—… sos regere non noveruâ—… nam semper judicabaâ—… infra aetatem vel quâ—… verum quia plures per â—… jusmodi Custodiam Exhaeredationem compatiebantur â—… visum fuit communiter concessum quod Rex Corporâ—… Haereditatum hujusmodi Idiotarum Stultorumâ—… perpetuis Custodiam obtineret dum tamen a nativiâ—… fuerint Idiotae Stulti Secus autem si tarde a â—… cunque Domino tenuerunt ipsos maritaret ex oâ—… exhaeredatione salvaret hoc tamen adjecto quod Doâ—… nis Feodorum aliis quorum interfuerit ut in Serâ—… tiis Redditibus Custodiis usque ad legitimam aetaâ—… secundum Conditionem Feodorum releviis hujusmoâ—… nihil juris deperiret But then it is demanded When was this Prerogaâ—… given to the King Certain it is that the King had it â—… fore the Statute of 17 E. 2. de Praerogativa Regis â—… it appeareth in our Books that the King had this Preâ—… gative Anno 3 E 2. And before that it is maniâ—… that the King had it before Britton wrote in the Reigâ—… E. 1. as you may read in his Book Cap. 66. De Gardâ—… f. 167. b. And it is as clear that when Bracton wrote wâ—… wrote about the end of the Reign of H. 3. that the Kiâ—… had not then this Prerogative And therefore it folloâ—… eth that this Prerogative was given to King E. 1. befoâ—… that Britton wrote by some Act of Parliament which not now extant And it appeareth by the Mirror of Iâ—… stices agreeing with Fleta that this Prerogative wâ—… granted by Common Assent Vide Lib. 4. f. 125. Bevâ—… ley's Case Hitherto Coke And now let us see what
and Lunatick Persons Dr. Godolphin in his Tract entituled The Orphan's Legacy Part 1. c. 8. nu 2. Instit. 2. 12. 1. c. 6. 22. 9. II. QUERY Whether a Testament can be made by a Lunatick Person betwixt his Fits SOLUTION If a Lunatick Person hath clear or calm Intermissions then during the time of Swinburn Part 2. § 3. Orphan's Legacy Part 1. Chapter 8. such their Quietness and Freedom of Mind he may make his Testament appointing an Executor and disposing of his Goods at his pleasure So that neither the Furor or Madness going before nor following the making of the Testament doth hinder the same Testament begun and finished in the mean time The Lawyer Caius saith thus Hi qui furiosi id est mente insani fuerint non possunt facere testamenta Lib. 2. tit 2. de Testamentis Sed hii qui insani sunt Si intervalla ipsius insaniae habent per intervalla quibus sani sunt possunt facere testamenta The Emperor Iustinian speaks in this manner both in his Institutes and in his Code Furiosi si per id tempus fecerint testamentum quo furor eorum intermissus est jure testati esse videntur Instit. 2. 12. 1. Sancimus tale Testamentum hominis qui in ipso actu Testamenti adversa valetudine tentus est pro nihilo esse Si vero voluerit in dilucidis intervallis aliquod condere Testamentum vel ultimam voluntatem hoc sana mente inceperit facere consummaverit nullo tali morbo interveniente stare Testamentum sive quamcunque ultimam voluntatem censemus c. c. 6. 22. 9. III. QUERY If a Testament be made by a Lunatick Person and the time of the making unknown whether this Testament be good or no SOLUTION If a Lunatick Person or one that is besides himself at some times but not continually make his Testament and it is not known whether the same were made whilst he was of sound Mind and Memory or no then in case the Testament be so conceived as thereby no Argument of Frenzy or Folly can be gathered it is to be presum'd that the same was made Vasq. de Success progress lib. 1. § 9. n. 90. during the time of his Calm and clear Intermissions and so the Testament shall be adjudged for a good Testament Yea altho' it cannot be proved that the Testator useth to have any clear and quiet Intermissions at all yet nevertheless 't is supposed that if the Testament be wisely and orderly framed the same ought to be accepted for a lawful Testament But if in the Testament there be a mixture of Wisdom and Folly 't is presumed that the same was made Angel in L. Furiosum c. qui Testa fac poss during the Testator's Frenzy insomuch that if there be one word sounding to Folly it is presum'd that the Testator was not of sound Mind and Memory when he made the same And therefore Idem Angel in eadem L. Furiosum in this Case is the Testament void unless it may be proved that there was Intermission of Furor the same time Swinburn in his Treatise of Testaments and Last Wills Part 2. Sect. 3. f. 38. b. 39. a. Edit 1590. IV. QUERY Whether the Dying seised of a Bastard Eigne without Interruption shall bar the Right of a Mulier Puisne that is a Mad-man or a Lunatick SOLUTION According to some If a Man be seized of Land and hath Issue two Sons Bastard 8 Co. f. 101. Lechford's Case Eigne and Mulier Puisne and the Father dieth seised the Mulier being beyond Sea or within Age or Imprisoned or Non sanae Memoriae and the Bastard Eigne entreth and continueth in peaceable possession of the Lands and hath Issue and dieth and the Lands descend to his Issue the Right of the Mulier in all the said Cases is bound for ever And others hold the contrary V. QUERY Whether a Lunatick can be prejudiced by Laches of suing Livery SOLUTION Sir Ralph Burcher being seised of divers Mannors in the County of York holden in Hobart's Rep. f. 137. Burchers Case Chief died seised Anno 40 Eliz. and the same descended to William Burcher presently after his Death it Lunatick sueth not Livery no mean Rates run against him was found by Office before Commissioners in the County of Middlesex that the said William Burcher was a Lunatick and so had been long before the Death of his Father and that he was seised of the said Mannors and the Queen granted the Custody of him and his Lands to Sir Francis Barrington After which 42 Eliz. there was an Office found in the County of York of the Seisin of Sir Ralph his Death and Heir ut supra and that he was of full Age And it was resolved That the King And Livery was due to him and the Law presumes that he would have sued it being for his Benefit if he had been Compos mentis was not to have any mean Rates in this Case for default of Livery sued or tendred because no Lachess could be imputed unto the Heir being Lunatick before and ever since the Death of his Ancestors and the Lachess of his Friends shall not hurt him otherwise it were if at any time he had been Sanae Memoriae since the Death of his Ancestors And there was shewed unto the Judges the like Decree made Mich. 10 Iac. in the Cause of one Vaughan which the Attorney of the Court of Wards said was made as a Decree of Equity but they resolved also it was a good Decree in Law upon the Reason aforesaid not because the King had seised and committed by force of the Lunacy for that would have changed with the King 's better Estate for it is better for the King to hold for default of Livery than for Lunacy VI. QUERY Whether a Lunatick be punishable for hurting a Man SOLUTION If a Lunatick kill a Man this is no Felony because Felony must be done Animo Hobart's Reports f. 134. Weaver v. Ward Felonico yet in Trespass which tends only to give Damages according to Hurt or Loss it is not so And therefore if a Lunatick hurt a Man he shall be answerable in Trespass and therefore no Man shall be excused in Trespass for this is the Nature of an Excuse and not of a Justification prout ei bene licuit except it may be judged utterly without his fault VII QUERY Whether a Devise by a Lunatick be aided by the Statute of 43 Eliz. Of charitable Uses SOLUTION Collison 15 H. 8. devised Hobart's Rep. 136. Collison's Case an House in Eltham in Kent to Lettice his Wife for Life and after her Death made one Iohn Bricket and others Feoffees as he called them in the said House to keep it in Reparations and to bestow the rest of the Profits upon the Reparation of certain High-ways there Collison and his Wife are dead and the House is descended to one Oliver Rolt an