discern by the Degree of Parentage in the Lord Coke upon Lit. fol. 15. Yet it may be here to the purpose in hand and expected that something more be said concerning the Descent of Lands Therefore take these Rules following borrowed from Mr. Noy that Learned Expositor of the Law Nota That Lands or an Estate of Inheritance which is to a Man and his Heirs for ever doth always descend for it may not lineally ascend from the Son which is seized in Fee and dieth to his Father but descendeth to his Uncle or Brother and to his Heirs which is the next of the whole Blood for the half Blood shall not Inherit but the most worthy of Blood as of the Blood of the Father before the Mother and of the elder Brother before the other if Born within Espousals See Noys Max. p. 22. But note That if Lands be once setled or entailed in the Blood of the Father the Heir of the Mother shall never have them because they are not of the Blood of him that was last seized Idem page 23. For a Descent shall be intended to the Heir of him that was last actually seized Idem p. 22. And if a Man disseiseth another and dieth seized and his Heir entreth or maketh a Feoffment to another in Fee or in Tail and he dieth and his Heir entreth these Descents put the disseised c. from an Entry Noys Max. p. 34. But a dying seized of a Term for Life or of a Remainder or Reversion doth not take away an Entry for he must die seized in Fee Idem pa. 34 35. The Sister of the whole Blood where her elder Brother did enter after the death of his Father shall inherit before his Brother of the half Blood or any other Collateral Cousin Ibid. Yet notwithstanding such a one may be Heir to a Common Ancestor as if the Land Rent Advowson or such like do descend to the elder Son and he die before any Entry or Receipt of the Rent or Presentment to the Church c. then the Heir of him that was last actually seized shall Inherit as the younger Son c. and the reason is because that in all Inheritances in Possession he which claimeth Title thereunto as Heir ought to make himself Heir to him that was last actually seized Idem p. 22 23. Note The Possession of a Lessee for Years or of a Guardian shall invest the actual Possession and Frank-tenement in the elder Brother Idem p. 23. But if he die seized of a Reversion or Remainder or an Estate for Life or in Tail there he which claimeth the Reversion or Remainder as Heir ought to make himself Heir to him that had the Gift Ibid. And so in case of a Purchase it shall descend to the Heir of the Blood of the first Purchasor As if the Father purchase Land and it descendeth to his Son who entreth and dieth without Heirs of the Fathers part then the Land shall descend to the Heirs of the Mother of the Father or of the Father of the Father as the Heirs may be and not to the Heirs of the Mother of the Son although they are more near of Blood to him that was last seized yet they are not of the Blood of the first Purchasor Ibid. If the Heirs be Females in equal degree as Daughters Sisters Aunts c. they shall Inherit together and are but one Heir and are called Parceners Idem p. 24. But note If a Man be seized of Lands or Tenements to hold to him and his Heirs for ever It is the best Inheritance a Man may have and he may Sell or Grant or make his Will of those Lands but if otherwise he die they do descend to his Heir of the whole Blood ut supra with respect to the several Cases c. See Idem pa. 20. Property by Escheat It where the Owner of Land dieth in possession without Child or other Heir then the Land for lack of Heir is said to escheat to the Lord of whom t is holden And it is to be understood That all Lands are said to be holden of the Crown either immediately or mediately and the Escheat pertaineth to the immediate Lord not to the mediate Lord See Camb. Brit. pag. 93. Cowels Interp. Tit. eod ' The lack of Heir happeneth principally in two Cases Magna Charta 31. Fitz. N. B. fol 143. T. c. the one where the Owner of the Land is a Bastard the other where the Owner is attainted of Treason or Felony for neither can a Bastard have an Heir unless he be his Child nor a Man attainted of Treason or Felony have any Heir though he be his own Child Property by Conveyance 4. Divers Estates by Conveyance Is distributed into divers Estates Viz. for 1. Years 2. Life Viz. in 3. Tail 4. Fee simple And these Estates are created either by Word Writing or Record 1. By Word or Parol By Parol as Leases for Years 2. By Writing By Writing as by Indenture Grant c. 3. By Record By Record as by Fine Bargain and Sale c. But note Nota. That Leases parol are void if they exceed three Years from the making and if they do not exceed yet two third parts of the improved value of the thing demised must be reserved to the Landlord See Stat. 29 Car. 2. Leases for Years 1. Of Leases for Years are mostly made by Indenture by words of Demise Grant and to Farm let with such Conditions and Covenants as the parties agree upon Co. Lit. fol. 45. Bro. Leases 60. 67. h. And such Leases be called Chattels Real They are called Chattels Real c. and are not inheritable by Heirs but go to the Executors or Administrators they be saleable for Debt in the Life of the Owner or in the Executors or Administrators hands by Writ of Execution They be forfeited to the Crown by Outlary Are saleable c. or by Attainder for Felony Treason or Praemunire c. 32 L. Ass pl. 6. See Wentworths Executor pa. 76. If a Lease be for 500 Years it is but a Chattel Extents for Debts are of the same Nature as Leases for Years and cannot be entailed Registr Practical p. 192. Of like nature are Interests gotten in other Mens Lands by Extents for Debt upon Judgment in any Court of Record upon Statute-Merchant or of the Staple or Recognizances and the Tenants thereby are called Tenants by Elegit All these also be called Chattels Real and do go to the Executors or Administrators and not to the Heir and are saleable and forfeitable as Leases for Years are Idem pa. ead See more hereafter Ch. 2. Leases for Lives Are called Freeholds 2. Leases for Lives are Freeholds Bract. lib. 2. c. 9. which are also made by Writing or Record And when by Writing there must be Livery and Seisin given at the making of the Lease the manner of which Livery and Seisin is set
down Ch. 4. This Lease for life is not saleable by the Sheriff for Debt but the Land is to be extended Not saleable but extendable at a yearly value Not forfeited except c. to satisfie the Debt neither is it forfeited by Outlary except in Felony nor by any of those means before mentioned to which Leases for years are liable and subject saving only Attainders for Treason Felony or Praemunire and then only to the Crown not to the Lord of the Escheat Vide 25 Ed. 3. Stat. 5. cap. 2. This Estate will go to the Heirs Will go to the Heir if the word Heirs be contained in the Grant if not contain'd Then to the Executor Or Executor in case of no special Occupancy as before Page 2 3. A Lease for life or for years How Leases for Life may be made may also be made by Fine of Record Bargain and Sale or by Covenants to stand seised to uses upon good consideration of Marriage or of Blood See Bro. Fines 106. Note If a Man have a Lease for never so many years determinable upon life or lives which some Persons call a Lease for lives it is but a Chattel Wentworths Executor page 28. Of Entails Entail signifies Fee entailed 3. Entail defined That is Fee scanted or limited and tied to certain Conditions See Cowels Int. Tit. eod These Entails may be created by a Gift with Livery and Seisin to a Man and the Heirs of his Body How created This word Body making the Tail may be restrained to Males or Females to the Heirs of the Bodies of the Husband and Wife to the Body of his Father or Grand-father in Tail special or general When they began Entails began by a Statute in Edward the Firsts time Westm ca. 2. de Donis Conditionalibus for before that Statute Feoffees after they had Issue had power to alien and disinherit the Issue contrary to the mind of the Donees By Statute West ca. 2. And by this Statute they were made so strong as that the Tenants in Tail could not put away the Land from the Heir by any Act of Conveyance or Attainder nor let it or any way charge or incumber it longer than for his own life see the Statute The inconveniencies by that Stature But the inconveniency thereof was very great for by this means the Lands were so surely tied upon the Heir as the Father could not put it from him It made the Son disobedient negligent and wastful Marrying often without the Fathers consent and to grow insolent in Vice knowing there could be no check of disinheritance to restrain him It made also the Owners of entailed Lands less fearful themselves to commit Felonies Murders Manslaughters and Treasons Committing Felonies Murders Manslaughters and Treasons for that they knew that none of their Acts could hurt their Heir in his Inheritance It hindred Men that had entailed Lands that they could not make the least Profit of their Lands by taking Fines or other Improvements Hindred Improvement of Lands For that none upon so uncertain an Estate of the Owners life would give him a Fine of any value nor lay any great Stock upon the Land that it might yield an improv'd Rent And lastly These entailed Lands defrauded the Crown and many Subjects of their Debts Defrauded the Crown and Subjects of their Debts for that the Land was not liable thereto longer than for his own life which made that the King could not safely commit any Office of account to such whose Lands were entailed Hindred the Owners to borrow Mony nor other Men to dare to lend them Mony These Inconveniencies were all remedied by later Statutes The Inconveniencies remedied by Fine c. as namely by the Statutes of 4 Hen. 7. and 32 Hen. 8.36 A Tenant in Tail may disinherit his Son by Fine and Proclamations And by that means also may make it subject to his Debts and Sales Grant by several Statutes And by a Statute made in 26 Hen. 8. cap. 13. Tenant in Tail doth forfeit hiâ— Land for Treason Which make Tenants in Tail forfeit for Treason and they may make Leases And by another Statute made in the 32 of H. 8 cap. 28. He may make Leases gooâ— against his Issue for twenty onâ— years or three lives so it be noâ— his chief Lands or Demeans noâ— a Lease in Reversion nor a lesseâ— Rent reserved than the Tenants for the most part of twenty years before have paid And so as such Lease have not any matter of discharge for doing Wasts or Spoils and by a Statute made the 33 H. 8. Tenants in tailed Lands are liable by Extent for the Kings Debt They are liable to the Kings Debt and are saleable but And by a Statute 13 Eliz. 4. they are saleable for his Arrearages upon his account for his Office not forfeited for Felony So that now it resteth that entailed Lands have these two Priviledges only viz. Not to be forfeited for Felonies nor extended Not extended for Debt after the Parties Death except the Tail be cut off Except the Tail be cut off by Fine or Recovery Note These entails are now usually created by settlements upon Marriage for the benefit of the Posterity and may be cut off as before is shewn And these settlements entailing such Land unto the Issue or Posterity describes the Uses Behoofs Intents Purposes Provisos Conditions Powers and Limitations of the Parties thereto and thereby meant and the Lands are usually made over to Trustees by Fine and Recovery to stand seised to such Uses c. The last and greatest Estate of Land is Fee-simple Fee-simple what which is an Estate absolute to one and his Heirs for ever To one and his Heirs for ever Therefore he that maketh a Lease for life to one or a Gift in Tail may appoint a Remainder after that Estate to another for life or in Tail and a third in Fee-simple but after a Fee-simple he can limit no further Estate And if a Man does not dispose of a Fee-simple by way of Remainder when he maketh the Gift in Tail or for life or for lives then the Fee-simple resteth in himself as a Reversion Co. on Lit. fol. 112 113. Brook Tit. Don. Remainder fol. 245 Glanv li. 7. cap. 1. And the difference between Remainder and Reversion Difference between Remainder and Reversion is this The Remainder is alway a succeeding Estate at the time when the precedent is appointed But the Reversion is the Estate left in the Giver after a particular Estate Note A particular Estate is such as is derived from a General Estate made by him for years life or in tail See hereafter Ch. 5. Bract. lib. 2. cap. 25. Where the Remainder is made with the particular Estate then it must be done by Deed in Writing with Livery and Seisin and if the Giver will after dispose of the
1688. Attorn and become Tenants unto the above named A. B. according to the purport of the Lease within mentioned Notice of the Grant having notice of the said Grant and for proof thereof every one of them did give unto the said A. B. one Peny in the Name of Attornment Witness hereto G. H. I. K. L. M. Here let the Tenants set their Names A. B. C. D. E. F. It may be indorsed together with the Livery of Seisin Indorsed with Livery of Seisin to an Attorny thus Memorandum That Possession and Seisin of the Lands and Tenements within mentioned was taken by c. and afterwards delivered to the within written S. P. 10. die Junij Anno Domini 1688. to the use within written And also the same day the within named J. V. Tenant of the Premisses for the Term of his Life Quere if the Tenant that attorns be named in the Deed otherwise that Clause to be left out did attorn Tenant to the said S. P. according to the Tenor of this present Deed and the said J. V. did give unto the said S. P. one Peny in the name of Attornment in the presence of It may be declared by Deed Poll thus Attornment declared by Deed Poll. To all People c. I A. B. of c. send greeting Whereas I the said A. B. have and hold for the Term of my Life one Tenement with the Appurtenances lying and being in c. the Reversion of which said Tenement should belong to one C. D. and being at present satisfied that the said C. D. hath by his Deed bearing date c. granted bargained sold and confirmed unto E. F. of c. the Reversion of the said Tenement as by the said Deed may appear Know ye that I the said A. B. Tenant of the said Tenement of my free will have attorned unto the said E. F. by payment unto him of one Peny in the name thereof and do by these Presents as much as in me lies ratifie and confirm unto the said E. F. the Reversion aforesaid In witness c. See West Symb. part 1. Lib. 2. sect 383 384 385 c. Note A voluntary Attornment where it is needful may be made by an Infant Voluntary Attornment by an Infant or one that is Deaf and Dumb may do it by signs but one that is not Compos mentis cannot make an Attornment Co. Lit. fol. 315. Co. Rep. fol. 84. Note It must be certain Certainty Co. Lit. 310. In all Cases for the most part where there is no means provided by Law to compel the Tenant to attorn in such Cases Attornment Deed or in Law is not necessary Where it needs not as in the grant of a Seigniory c. by Letters Patents from the King or where such things are granted by matter of Record from a Subject to the King but a Seigniory a Rent-charge a Remainder or a Reversion will not pass without Attornment but by matter of Record Co. Lit. 314 321. Co. 6. Rep. 68. Noys Max. p. 64. Attornment necessary upon a Devise Devise Noys Max. p. 65. In all Cases where tho Grant is in the personalty there needs no Attornment Needless as in Annuities which do charge the Person only and not the Land And in all Cases where there is an Attornment in Law there needs none in Deed M. 3. Jac. in C. B. agreed in Curnocks Case Noy saith in his Maxims p. 65. That if the Tenant have true notice of all the Grant then such Attornment is void Void Attornment But quere Common of Pasture for a certain number or Common of Estovers certain will pass by Granâ— without Attornment Needless for where there is no Tenure Attendance Remainder Rent or Service to be paid or done Attornment is not necessary 31 H. 8. 59. Kitchin 103. a. Note Attornment is a solemn Act and ought to be done Time when it must be done so that notice may be taken of it and therefore Attornment after Sun-set is not good for it shall not be presumed that notice can be taken in the Night M. 23 Car. 1. in B. R. Registr practicale p. 30. Concerning Possessions The difference between Possession and Seisin Difference of Possession and Seisin is A Lessee for Years is possessed Possession what and yet the Lessor is still seized and therefore the Terms of the Law are That of Chattels Seisin what a Man is possessed whereas in Feoffments Gifts in Tail and Leases for Life he is called seized Noys Max. page 20. Of Estates And note that all Estates that have their being are in Possession Reversion Remainder or in Right but of all these Possession is the principal Idem page 119. There are two Degrees of Possession in Law and Deed. In Deed is the actual Possession Possession in Deed. In Law In Law is that Possession which the Law it self casteth upon a Man before any entry or pernancy of the Profits Example As where the Father dieth seized of Lands in Fee and the same is to descend to the Son as his next Heir in this Case before any Entry the Son hath a Possession in Law Ibid. p. 120. And so of a Reversion expectant Reversion Expectant c. or a Remainder dependent upon a particular Estate for Life Example As if Tenant for Life die he in Reversion or Remainder before his Entry hath only a Possession in Law And note That all manner of Possessions that are not Possessions in Fait or Deed are only Possessions in Law Noys Max. p. 120. Of a Particular Estate A Particular Estate is such as is derived from a General Estate Defined by seperation of one from the other Noys Max. p. 117. As an Estate Tail for Life or for Years created by Gift or Grant out of a Fee-simple is in the Donee or Lessee a particular Estate in Possession derived and separated from the Fee-simple Ibid. similia And of particular Estates Twofold some are created by Agreement between the Parties and some by Act of Law By Agreement By Agreement as those before specified By Law By Law as Estates in Tail after possibility of Issue Extinct Estates by the Courtesie of England Dower c. for in Dower the Party is compellable by Law to compleat the Estate Ibid. Of a Remainder Defined A Remainder is the Residue of an Estate at the same time appointed over and must be grounded upon some particular Estate given before granted for Years or Life and so forth Noys Max. p. 31. When it begins And ought to begin in Possession when the particular Estate endeth there may be no mean time between either by Grant or Will Ibid. Where cannot be No Remainder can be made oâ— a Chattel Personal A Remaindeâ— cannot depend on a Matter ex posâ— facto to be done in futuro as upon Estate Tail upon Condition thaâ— if the Tenant
THE ART OF CONVEYANCING ARS CLERICALIS THE ART OF Conveyancing EXPLAINED Being a Collection gathered with great Care and Industry out of the many Books of the Law Wherein the Nature and Effect of such Deeds and Instruments by which Lands are conveyed from one Man to another are clearly demonstrated Also the Forms and orderly Parts which ought to be observed in Deeds and Conveyances are laid open and explained By R. G. Gent. LONDON Printed by the Assigns of Richard and Edward Atkins Esquires For Thomas Basset at the George near St. Dustans Church in Fleet-street 1690. TO THE READER THE Law of England consists of several curious Parts or Branches some whereof have relation to the Theory others more immediately to the Practice Of the later not one hath given greater Reputation or contributed more to the enriching its Professors than the Art of Conveyancing which proceeds chiefly from the Necessity attending it in regard no Estate or Property can possibly be setled or secured without it There are several Books indeed in all Volumes already extant of Conveyanceing but many of them being desicient either in Matter or Form heap't together without Judgment and backt with no manner of Authority do instead of instructing the Tyro's of the Law lead them into manifest Errors neither is any of them express upon this Subject though most of them treat something thereof Therefore to demonstrate to the World by a small Essay what may be further performed in this Nature by more time and thought this little Tract hath ventured abroad â—eing a brief Collection out â—f those many Books where â—ou have a Prospect altogether and in Order not â—rowded with Precedents nor mixt with improper Matter but full and clear to the understanding of the whole Art and scarce a Paragraph in the whole but what is warranted by two or three Authorities It was chiefly intended for a help to Young Clerks though perhaps none of the old Ones will have occasion to repent the perusing it 'T is true there is no new Invention in it as to Matter neither indeed can it be expected in Books of this Nature which are or ought to be govern'd by Authorities and Precedents and as to the Form or Method 't is wholly new and perhaps more compact and orderly than any Book of this kind Vale fruere THE CONTENTS THIS Treatise is divided into six Chapters CHAP. I. Shews how Property in Lands is â—en and transferred from one to â—ther CHAP. II. Shews the Nature and Effect of such â—â—eds by which Lands usually pass â—nd are conveyed from one to anoâ—hâ—r CHAP. III. Shews the Forms and orderly Parts â—hich ought to be observed in Deeds â—nd Instruments CHAP. IV. Shews what Things are required tâ— the perfecting a good Deed or Instrument CHAP. V. Shews the Form and Effect oâ— Livery of Seisin and Attornment c. And what is a Reversion Remainder and particular Estate c. CHAP. VI. Shews the several Ways whereby Men get Property in Goods and Chattels Advertisement LEgis Series Or the Process of the Law in order with some Entries both in Kings Bench and Common Pleas useful for Young Clerks to direct them in their first â—teps to Clerkship per R. G. Gent. price 6 d. CHAP. I. Shewing how property in Lands is gotten and transferred from one to another Of Property in Lands THE intent of this Treatise being to lay down and explain the Art of Conveyancing whereby the property in Lands is transferred from one to another I shall first shew the several ways by which property in Lands is or may be gotten And note That property in Lands is gotten and transferred from one to another four ways Viz. 1. Entry 2. Descent 3. Escheat 4. Conveyance I. Property in Lands by Entry Property by Entry formally and strictly taken was where a Man found a piece of Land that no other possessed or had Title to and entred thereon This Entry gained him the property of it and this seemeth to be grounded upon the Text Terram dedit Filiis hominum c. In the Case of Occupancy Occupancy which ariseth by Conveyance as Where Lands are conveyed to A. for the Life of B. and A. dies without making any Estate or Assignment thereof here whosoever first entreth after the death of A. getteth property in that Land during the Life of B. for the Land cannot revert to him that leased to A. till B. die and to the Heir of A. it cannot go for it is not any Estate of Inheritance nor descendable to the Heir without special words And as for the Executors of A. they cannot have it for that it is not an Estate Testamentary to go to them as the Goods and Chattels do so as in truth no Man can entitle himself to the Land and therefore the Law preferreth him that first entreth and he is called Occupans and shall hold it during the Life of B. but yet such a one must pay the Rent perform the Conditions and do no wast or harm N. B. fol. 83. Co. Lit. 41. But this Estate of the Occupant may be prevented at the making of the Grant 1. Occupancy how prevented by adding these words To have and to hold to A. and his Heirs during the Life of B. for then t is descendable to the Heir It may also be prevented after â—he making of the Grant or Lease for Life though the word Heirs be â—mitted by assigning the Estate â—ver to some Friends and their Heirs 〈◊〉 trust during the Life of B. c. â—o Lit. fol. 41. Shepards Touchstone â—ag 108. And note that the Statute 29 Car. 〈◊〉 29 Car. 2. hath provided That the Lessee â—r Grantee may devise such Estate or anothers Life by his Will in â—resence of three or more Witâ—esses If he devise it not Ibid. and his Heir â—ecome Occupant it shall be chargeble in his hands as Assets by Deâ—ent as in case of Lands by Fee-â—mple Stat. eod ' And in case there be no special Occupant Ibid. then it shall go to the â—xecutors or Administrators of the party that had the Grant and shall be Assets Stat. eod See the Statute Property by Descent 2. Inheritance is Fee-simple to a Man and his Heirs for ever Property in Lands gotten by Descent is where a Man having Lands of Inheritance dieth not making any disposition thereof but leaveth it to go as the Law appointeth and the Law appointeth that it be cast upon the Heir that is called a Descent in Law and upon whom this Descent is to light is the question Now Descent is either Lineal Lineal Descent or Collateral Lineal Descent is conveyed downward in a right-line from the Grand-father to the Father and from the Father to the Son and from the Son to the Nephew c. Collateral Descent Collateral Descent is springing out of the side of the whole Blood as Grand-fathers Brother Fathers Brother c. as you may plainly