Grand-father and if the Father dyes in the life of the Grand-father the Grand-child though born after the denization doth not remove neither the personal nor consequential impediments or incapacity of the Father In collateral descents the Father a natural born Subject has issue two Sons Aliens who are both made Denizons and dyes without issue the other shall not inherite him A. an Alien marries an English woman who is seized of Lands and has issue the Father and Mother dyes yet the issue may inherite the Mother non obstante the incapacity of the Father being an Alien VII The Statute de Natis ultra Mare declares the issue born of an English-man upon an English-woman shall be a Denizon yet the construction has been though an English Merchant marry a Forraigner and has issue by her born beyond the Seas that issue is a natural born Subject But if an English-woman go beyond the Sea and there marry an Alien and have issue born beyond the Sea that issue are Aliens If an English-woman marries an Alien beyond the Seas and than comes into England and has issue they are not Aliens but may inherit My Lord Cook in his Commentaries on Littleton seems to be of opinion that if an Alien has issue two Sons born in England one dying without issue the other shall not inherit him But the Law is otherwise taken at this day as I conceive the reasons that have been given are I. Though the descent from one Brother to another Brother be a collateral descent yet it is an immediate descent and consequently if no disability or impediment can be found in them no impediment in another Ancestor will hinder the descent between them That this is an immediate descent appears First In point of pleading one Brother shall derive himself as Heir to another without mentioning any other Ancestor Secondly According to the computation of degrees Brother and Brother make but one degree and the Brother is distant from his Brother or Sister in the first degree of consanguinity and no more by the Laws of England According to the Civil Law Brother and Brother make but one degree for the Brother is in the second degree from the Brother yet both make but one degree According to the Canon Law Frater Frater or Frater Soror sunt in primo gradu And therefore the Laws prohibiting marriage between Kindred in the fourth degree takes Brother and Sister to be the first degree of the four The Laws of England in computation of the degrees of consanguinity agrees with the Canon Law and reckons the Brother and Brother to be the first degree Herewith agrees the Customs of Normandy which though in some cases differs from the Laws of England yet herein and in divers other particulars touching descents they agree Another evidence to prove that the descent between Brother is immediate is this viz. the descent between Brothers differs from all other collateral descents whatsoever for in other descents collateral the half blood does inherit but in a descent between Brother the half blood does impede the descent which argues that the descent is immediate The Uncle of the part of the Father has no more of the blood of the Mother than the Brother by the second venter the Brother by the second venter has the immediate blood of the Father with the Uncle viz. the Fathers Brother has not but only as they meet in the Grand father the Brother of the half blood is nearer of blood then the Uncle and therefore shall be preferred in Administration It is apparent that if in the line between Brother and Brother the Law takes notice how the Father was the medium thereof the Brother of the second venter should rather succeed the other Brother because he is Heir to the Father therefore in a descent between Brothers the Law respects only the immediate relation of the Brothers as Brothers and not in respect of the Father though it is true the foundation of their consanguinity is in their Father or Mother Again if the Father in case of a descent between Brothers were such an Ancestor as the Law lookt upon as the medium that derives the descent from the one Brother to the other then the Attainder of the Father would hinder the descent between the Brothers But the Attainder of the Father does not hinder the descent between the Brothers the reason is because the Father is not such a medium or nexus that is look'd upon by the Law as the means deriving such a descent between the two Brothers As for instance of three cases two whereof evince the first preposition viz. That although the descent from one Brother to another Brother though it be a Collateral descent yet is an immediate descent and that if no disability or impediment arises in them no impediment in another Ancestor will hinder them The younger Brother has issue and is attainted of Treason and dyes the elder Brother has title to a petition of right dyes sans issue without a restitution the younger Brothers Son has lost that title for though the title were in the Ancestor that was not attaint yet his Father that is the medium whereby he must convey that title was attaint and so the descent was obstructed Henry Courtney had issue Edward and was attainted of Treason and dyed Edward purchased Lands and dyed without issue the Sisters and Heirs of Henry were disabled to inherit Edward yet neither Edward nor his Aunts were attainted or their blood corrupted yet because Henry was the medium through whom the Aunts must derive their pedigree and consanguinity to Edward who was attainted the descent was obstructed till a restitution in blood But if the Grand-father of Edward had been attainted and not Henry this would not have hindred the descent from Edward to the Aunts because that Attainder had been paramount that consanguinity which was between Henry and his Sister and that is proved by this third case William Hobby had issue Phillip and Mary and was attainted of Treason and dyed Phillip purchases Lands and dyed without issue it was adjudged in that case that non obstante the Attainder of William Hobby Mary should inherit because the descent and pedigree between Phillip and Mary was immediate and the Law regards not the disability of the Father If the Heir of the part of the Father be attaint the Land shall escheat and shall never descend to the Heir of the part of the Mother but if the Son purchase Lands and has no kindred of the part of the Father but an Alien it shall descend to the Heirs of the part of the Mother IX Those that are born sub side legiantia obedientia Domini Reges are not Aliens and therefore those that were born in Gascoyne Normandy Acquitaine Turnay Callice Guyan whilst they were under the Dominion of the Kings of England were natural born Subjects and
an Action as a Feme sole 4. He shall forfeit those Lands which he shall purchase in the Realm during his Banishment for he during his Banishment is as much disabled to purchase as an Alien for fit alienigena by his Banishment and he is observed to be in a worse Condition than an Alien for he is marked with Indignatio principis 'T is true he cannot forfeit neither Title of Honour nor Knighthood nor the Lands he had before Exile unless there be special Sentence or Judgment as that of the Spencers If the Father be in Exile this hinders not the Freedom of the Son for the same is not a thing descendable for should it be so then the Banishmens of the Father would make a Forfeiture of the Freedom but the Son has this Freedom by his own Birth as a Purchase and not by the death of his Father by descent Like the Case where J. S. hath many Children and then he confesseth himself a Villain to J. D. in Court of Record yet his Children formerly Born are Free-men and no Villains the Reason is because they were Free by their own Births but the Inheritance is Inthralled because it is to come to the Heir by descent XI A Free-man of a City or Burrough may be made divers ways as my Lord Cooke observes 1. By Service 2. By Birth by being the Son of a Free-man 3. By Purchase or Redemption At Bristol by Marriage Sir John Davies in his Irish Reports observes the same for Law St. Paul was born at Tarsus in Cicilia which was under the obedience of the Romans by vertue of which he challenged the priviledge of a Roman Citizen but it was accounted no more than a National Freedom like that of Calvin who claimed the general Freedom of an English-man being born in Scotland but under the obedience of the King of England but that Challenge made not St. Paul Free of the Private Customs Priviledges and Franchises of Rome no more than Calvins Birth made him a Free Citizen of London to the particular Customs of that City The King by his Letters Patents cannot make one a Free-man of London yet he may thereby make him a Free-man of his Kingdom If one be Born in a City of Parents that are not Free the Child hereby is no Citizen by Birth and if one be born of Free Parents out of the place of Priviledges as London c. he yet is a Free-man by Birth yet in the Charter Granted to Yarmouth the words were concessimus Burgensibus de magna Yarmutha de Villa praedict ' Oriundis that they should have such and such Liberties So that Special words may alter the Case London had many Royal Franchises granted them from time to time and were often by former Kings successively confirmed nor wanted they a share when the great Charter was granted to have their ancient liberties secured nor were the succeeding Princes slack in their Royal grants and confirmations but especially Richard the Second who in Parliament granted and confirmed to them all their ancient customes and liberties with this clause Licet usi non fuerint vel abusi fuerint and notwithstanding any Statute to the contrary amongst the number of their many Priviledges the freedom of the same was accounted of no small importance since in divers Parliaments it was very much aimed at and endeavoured to be impaired but at last they obtained a most gracious and Royal Confirmation in Parliament of their ancient liberties amongst which it is declared that no Merchant being a Stranger to the Liberty of the said City should sell any Commodities within the Liberty of the said City to other Merchant-Strangers nor that such Merchant-Stranger should buy of anyother Merchant-Stranger such Merchandize within the Liberty of the said City without forfeiture thereof saving that any Person Lord Knight c. may buy within the Liberties of any Merchant-Stranger Merchandizes in gross for their own use so that they do not sell them again to any other And as this City by Custom may pre-clude any Person not being free of the same to sell in such manner upon such pain so any other City which are Burroughs or Cities by prescription within this Realm may have the like Custom and the goods sould or bought by such may be subjected to forfeiture but the same cannot be good by Charter or Grant A compleat Free-man is such a one as hath challenged his freedom and taken the Free-mans Oath and is admitted into the Society and Fellowship of the Free-men Citizens and Burgesses otherwise he hath but a bare right to his freedom CHAP. II. Of Aliens as in relation to their Estates real and personal I. Of an Alien his ability and disability in the taking and enjoying of Estates real and personal II. Of his capacity in purchasing and disability to transfer by an hereditary descent III. Of the rules of descents according to the Laws of several Countreys IV. Of descents according to the rules of the Common Law of England lineal and collateral V. Of Impediments in one that is not the medius antecessor VI. Of Impediments in one that is the medius antecessor lineal and collateral VII Of the Statute of Natis ultra Mare and of issues born beyond the Seas VIII The Lord Cokes opinion that if an Allien has issue two Sons Denizons the one purchases Lands and dyes the other cannot inherit them debated and refuted IX Of Foreign births which do not create a disability X. Of Aliens not disabled by Law to bring either real or personal actions XI Of Office that must entitle the King to an Aliens Estate XII Of some particular immunities and other matters relating to an Alien AN Alien is one born in a strange Countrey under the obedience of a strange Prince and State and out of the legeance of the King of England and can have no real or personal action for or concerning Lands and therefore if he purchase Lands Tenements and Hereditaments to him and his Heirs albeit he can have no Heir yet he is of capacity to take a fee-simple but not to hold for the King upon Office found shall have it by his Prerogative So it is if he purchase Lands and dyes the Law doth cast the free-hold and inheritance upon the King But if he purchase or take a Lease for years of a House or Ware-house which is for the accommodating him as a Merchant-stranger whose Prince or State is in League with ours there he may hold the same for that the same is incident to Commerce And in that case if he departs and relinquishes the Realm the King shall have the same so it is if he be no Merchant The like Law is if he takes a Lease of Meadows Lands Woods or Pastures the King shall have the same for the Law provides him nothing but a habitation to Trade and traffique in as a Merchant II. Though he may take
by purchase by his own Contract that which he cannot retain against the King yet the Law will not enable him by an Act of its own to transfer by hereditary descent the Alien dying his issue a Denizon born the Land will not descend or to take by an Act in Law for the Law Quae nihil facit frustra will not give him an inheritance or free-hold by an Act in Law for he cannot keep it Therefore the Law will not give him 1. By discent 2. By courtesey 3. By Dower 4. By Guardianship And in respect of that incapacity he ressembles a Person Attaint but with this difference The Law looks upon a Person attaint as one that it takes notice of and therefore the eldest Son attainted over-living the Father though he shall not take by descent in respect of his disability yet he shall hinder the descent to the younger But if the eldest Son be an Alien the Law takes no notice of him and therefore as he shall not take by descent so he shall not impede the descent to the yonger Brother As for instance if there be three Brothers the eldest an Alien the other two naturalized and the middle Brother purchase and dyes without issue the younger Brother shall have the Lands III. Concerning the Rules of descents we are not to govern our selves therein by the general notions of love or proximity of nature but by the municipal Ltws of the Countrey wherein the question ariseth for the various Laws of divers Countreys have variously disposed the manner of descents even in the same line and degree of proximity For instance the Father certainly is as near of kin to the Son as the Son is to the Father and is nearer in proximity than a Brother and therefore shall he preferred as next of kin in administration to the Sons Estate According to the Jews for want of issue of the Son the Father succeeds excluding the Brothers and that hath been the use and construction of the Jewish Doctors upon numb 27. 9. but the Mother was wholly excluded 2. According to the provision of the Greeks for the succession or exclusion of the Father is left doubtful 3. By the Roman or Civil Law according to the estimation of the twelve Tables the Father succeeded in the purchase of the Son for want of issue of the Son under the title proximit agnato and so was the use but my Lord Cook supposes the contrary But taking the whole Institution of Justinian the Son dying without issue his Brothers Sisters Father or Mother do succeed him as well to Land as goods in a kind of Copercenary 4. According to the Laws of Normandy which in some things have a cognition with our Law his Brothers are preferred before the Father if the Son dye issueless but his Father before his Uncle 5. According to the Laws of England the Son dying sans issue or Brothers or Sisters the Father cannot succeed but it descends to the Uncle IV. There be two kinds of descents according to the Common Laws of this Realm 1. Lineal from the Father or Grand-father to Son or Grand-son 2. Collateral or transversed as from Brother to Sister Uncle to Nephew and e converso And both these again of two sorts 1. Immediate as in lineals from Father to Son 2. Mediate as in lineals from Grand-father to Grand-child where the Father dying in the life time of the Grand-father is the medium differens of the descent Collateral as in lineal from Uncle to Nephew or e converso And this meditae descent or meditate Ancestor though to many purposes it be immediate for the Father dying in the life of the Grand-father the Son succeeds in point of descent in the Lands immediately to the Grand-father and in a writ of Entry shall be supposed to be in by the Grand-father and not in the post cui This is called a mediate descent because the Father is the medium through whom the Son derives his title to the Grand-father In immediate descents there can be no impediment but what arises in the parties themselves For instance the Father seized of Lands the impediment that hinders the descent must be in the Father or Son as if either of them attaint or an Alien In mediate descents a disability of being an Alien or Attaint in him that is called the medius antecessor will disable a Person to take by descent though he himself have no such disability In lineal descents if the Father be Attaint or an Alien and hath issue a Denizon born and dye in the life time of the Grand-father the Grand-father dyes seized the Son shall not take but the Land shall escheat In Collateral descents A. and B. brothers A. is an Alien or attaint has issue C. a Denizon born B. purchases Lands and dyes without issue C. shall not inherit because A. which was the medius antecessor or medium differens is uncapable V. But in any descents the impediment in an Ancestor that is not medius antecessor from whom and to whom will not impede the discent As for instance the Grand-father and Grand-mother both Aliens or attaint of Treason have issue the Father a Denizon who hath issue the Son a natural born subject the Father purchases Lands and dyes the Son shall be Heir to the Father notwithstanding the disability of the Grand-father and yet all the blood which the Father hath is derived from his disabled Parents for they are not medii antecessores between the Father and the Son but paramont The Law does not hinder but that an Alien is of the same degree and relation of consanguinity as natural born Subjects or Denizons born the Son Father and Brother though Aliens the Son Father and Brother our Law takes notice of as well as natural born Subjects and so it was adjudged for he shall be preferred in Administration though an Alien as next of Kin. But in cases of Inheritance the Law takes no notice of him and therefore as he shall not take by descent so he shall not impede the descent to the younger Brother As for instance A an Alien B. and C. naturalized by Act of Parliament brothers B. purchases Lands and dyes sine prole C. shall inherit and not A. A. an Alien B. and C. his Brothers both naturalized by Act of Parliament B. purchases Lands and dâ—…es wâ—…th out issue the same shall not come to A nor to his issue though a Denizon but shall come to C. and his issue the Law taking no notice of A. as to impede the succession of C. or his issue though it work a consequential disability to bar the issue of A. parallel to what the Law calls corruption of blood which is a consequent of Attainder VI. Again in lineal descents if there be a Grandfather natural born Subject Father an Alien Son natural born subject the Father is made Denizon he shall not inherit the
not Aliens Scotland is a Kingdom by union and therefore those that were born in Scotland under the allegiance of the King as of his Kingdom of Scotland before the Crown came united were Aliens born and such plea against such Persons was a good plea but those that were born since the Crown of England descended to King James are not Aliens for they were born sub side legiantia Domini Regis so those that are born at this day in Uirginia New England Barbadoes Jamaiâ—…a or any other of his Majesties Plantations and Dominions are natural born Subjects and not Aliens so likewise those that are born upon the King of England's Seas are not Aliens X. But if an Alien be made an Abbot Prior Bishop or Dean the plea of an Alien we shall not disable him to to bring any real or mixt action concerning the possessions that he hold in his politique capacity because the same is brought in auter droit The like Law is for an Executor or Administrator because the recovery is to anothers use If an action is brought against an Alien and there is a Verdict and Judgment against him yet he may bring a writ of Error and be plaintif there and that such plea is not good in that case Though an Alien may purchase and take that which he cannot keep nor retain yet the Law hath provided a mean of enquiry before he can be devested of the same for until Office be found the free-hold is in him And this Office which is to gain to the King a Fee or Free-hold must be under the Great Seal of England for a Commission under the Exchequer Seal is not sufficient to entitle the King to the Lands of an Alien born for the Commission is that which gives a title to the King for before that the King hath no title but in cases of Treason there upon Attainder the Lands are in the King without Office and in that case to inform the Court a Commission may go out under the Echequer Seal XI If an Alien and a Subject born purchase Lands to them and to their Heirs they are joint tenants and shall join in Assize and the Survivor shall hold place till Office found By the finding of this Office the party is out of possession if the same be of Houses or Lands or such things as do lye in livery but of Rents Common advowsons and other Inheritances incorporeal which lye in grant the Alien is not out of possession be they appendant or in gross therefore if an Information or an Action be brought for the same the party may traverse the Office in that Court where the Action or Information is brought for the King And if the King obtains not the possession within the year after the Office found he cannot seize without a scire facias It is not for the Honour of the King an Alien purchasing of a Copyhold to seize the same for that the same is a base tenure and so it was adjudged where a Copy-hold was surrendred to J. S. in trust that one Holland an Alien should take the profits thereof to his own use and benefit upon an Inquisition taken it was adjudged the same was void and should be quashed because the King cannot be entitled to the Copyhold Lands of an Alien nor to the use of Copyhold Lands as the principal case was An Alien Infant under the age of 21 years cannot be a Merchant Trader within this Realm nor can he enter any goods in his own name at the Custom-house If an Englishman shall go beyond the Seas and shall there become a sworn Subject to any Forraign Prince or State he shall be look'd upon in the nature of an Alien and shall pay such Impositions as Aliens if he comes and lives in England again he shall be restored to his liberties An Alien is robbed and then he makes his Executor and dyes and afterwards the goods are waift the Lord of the Franchise shall not have them but the Executors Vide Stat. 13. E. 4. All personal actions he may sue as on a Bond so likewise for words for the Common Law according to the Laws of Nations protects Trade and Traffique and not to have the benefit of the Law in such cases is to deny Trade CHAP. III. Of Naturalization and Denization I. Whether the Kings of England can naturalize without Act of Parliament II. What operation Naturalization hath in reference to remove the disability arising from themselves III. What operation naturalization hath as in reference to remove deffects arising from a lineal or collateral Ancestor IV. A Kingdom conquered and united to the Crown of England whether by granting them a power to make Laws can implicitely create in them such a Soveraignty as to impose on the Realm of England V. Of Persons naturalized by a Kingdom dependant whether capable of imposing on one that is absolute VI. Of Kingdoms obtained by conquest how the Empire of the same is acquired and how the Conqueror succeeds VII Ireland what condition it was accounted before the Conquest as in reference to the Natives of the same and whether by making it a Kingdom they can create a Forraigner as a natural born subject of England VIII Of Aliens as in reference to the transmission of their Goods Chattels by the Laws of France IX Of the Priviledges the Kings of England of old claimed in the Estates of Jews dying comorant here and how the same at this day stands X. Of Persons born in places annexed or claimed by the Crown of England how esteemed by the Laws of the same XI Of Denization and what operation it hath according to the Laws of England XII Where an Alien is capable of Dower by the Laws of England and where not and of the total incapacity of a Jew XIII Whether a Denizon is capable of the creation and retention of Honour by the Laws of England I. THe Father and the Mother are the fountain of the blood natural and as it is that that makes their Issue Sons or Daughters so it is that that makes them Brothers and Sisters but it is the civil qualifications of the blood that makes them inheritable one to the other and capable of enjoying the immunities and priviledges of the Kingdom but that is from another fountain viz. The Law of the Land which finding them legitimate doth transplant them into the Civil rights of the Land by an Act called Naturalization which does superinduce and cloath that natural consanguinity with a Civil hereditary quality whereby they are enabled not only to inherit each other but also to enjoy all the immunities and priviledges that meer natural born Subjects may or can challenge II. According to the Laws of Normandy the Prince might naturalize but such naturalization could not divest the descent already vested But according to our Law by no way but by Act of Parliament and that cures the defect as
yet it does not wholly remove the disease or non-ability as to the points of descent or hereditary transmission and resembles a Person in case of an Attainder and therefore if he purchases Lands and dyes without issue the Lord by Escheat shall have the Lands And therefore in lineal descents if there be a Grand-father natural born Subject Father an Alien Son natural Subject the Father is made Denizon he shall not inherit the Grand-father and if the Father dyes in the life of the Grand-father the Grand-child though born after the Denization shall not inherit the Grand-father for the Denization does not remove neither the personal nor the consequential impediment or incapacity of the Father So likewise in Collateral descents As for instance the Father a Natural born Subject has issue two Sons Aliens who are both made Denizens and one dyes the other shall not inherit him XII The like Law in Dower a Man seized of Lands in Fee and takes an Alien to Wife and then dyes the Wife shall not be endowed But if the King takes an Alien to Wife and dyes his Widdow Queen shall be endowed by the Law of the Crown Edmund Brother of King Edward the I. married the Queen of Navarre and dyed and it was resolved by all the Judges that she should be endowed of the third part of all the Lands whereof her Husband was seized in Fee A Jew born in England takes to Wife a Jew born also in England the Husband is converted to the Christian Faith purchaseth Lands and enfeoffeth another and dyeth the Wife brought a Writ of Dower and was barred of her Dower Quia vero contra justitiam est quod ipsa dotem petat vel habeat de temento quod fuit viri sui ex quo in conversione sua noluit cum eo adhaerere cum eo convert If an Alien be a Disseisor and obtains Letters of Denization and then the Disseisor release unto him the King shall not have the Land for the release hath altered the Estate and it is as it were a new purchase otherwise it is as if the Alien had been the feo ffee of the Deseissee And though Aliens are enabled by Charter of Denization to a transmission Hereditary to their posterity of Lands yet a Denizon is not capable of Honour nor a transmission of the same without Naturalization by Parliament for by the Charter of Denization he is made quasi seu tanquam ligens but to be a Member of Parliament he must be ligens revera non quasi for by his becoming a Noble-man he claims the place of Judicature in Parliament the which he cannot till naturalized by Act of Parliament and then he may claim as eligible to the same or any other CHAP. IV. Of Aliens and Crials per meditatem where allowed and where not I. Of the manner of Aliens obtaining Trials per medietatem at the Common-Law and of the Antiquity of the same II. Of the making the same a Law universal within this Realm as to some Persons afterwards general as to all III. Of the Writ and some Observations on the summons of such an Inquest IV. Of the opportunity lost or gained by praying this immunity V. Of the awarding of Tales upon request on such Enquiries VI. Where this immunity does not extend in Aliens and where it does in matters Civil and Criminal VII Of the validity of a witness Alien and of an Infidel VIII The tittle of a Renegadoe IX Of the benefit of the Kings Pardon whether it extends to an Alien whose abode is here but happens to be absent at the time of the promulging I. TRiatio Bilinguis or per medietatem linguae by the Common-Law was wont to be obtained by Grant of the King made to any Company of Strangers as to the Society of Lumbards or Almaignes or to any other Corporation or Company when any of them were impleaded the moyety of the Enquest should be of their own Tongue this Trial per medietatem in England is of great Antiquity for in some cases Trials per medietatem was before the Conquest Viri duodeni Jure Consulti sex Walliae totidem Anglis Wallis jus dicanto and as the Commentator observes it was called duodecem Virale Judicium II. This immunity afterwards being found commodious to us Islanders became universal for by the Statute of 27. E. 3. cap. 8. It was enacted that in Pleas before the Major of the Staple if both Parties were Strangers the Trial should be by Strangers but if one Party was a Stranger and the other a Denizon then the Trial should be per medietatem Linguae But this Statute extended but to a narrow compass viz. Only where both Parties were Merchants or Ministers of the Staple and Pleas before the Major of the Staple But afterwards in the 28th Year of the same Kings Reign it was enacted That all manner of Enquests which was to be taken or made amongst Aliens and Denizons be they Merchants or others as well before the Maior of the Staple as before any other Justices or Ministers Although the King be party the one half of the Enquest or proof shall be Denizens the other half Aliens if so many Aliens and Forreigners be in the Town or Place where such Enquest or proof is to be taken that be not Parties nor with the Parties in Contract in Plea or other quarrel whereof such Enquest or proof ought to be taken and if there be not so many Aliens then shall there be put in such Enquests or proofs as many Aliens as shall be found in the same Town or Places which be not thereto Parties as aforesaid is said and the remnant of Denizens which be good men and not suspicious to the one Party or other By which Statute the same Custom or immunity was made a Law universal although it be in the Case of the King for the Alien shall have his Trial per medietatem It matters not whether the moyety of Aliens be of the same Country as the Alien party to the action is for he may be a Dutch-man and they Spaniards French Walloons c. because the Statute speaks generally of Aliens III. The Form of the Venire facias in this case is De Nicenet c. quorum una medietas fit de Indigenis altera medietas fit de aliegenis natis c. And the Sheriff ought to return twelve Aliens and twelve Denizâ—…ns one by the other with Addition which of them are Aliens and so they are to be sworn but if this Order be not observed it is holpen as a misreturn It has been conceived of some that it is not proper to call it a Trial per medietatem Linguae because any Alien of any Tongue may serve but that surely is no Objection for People are distinguished by their Language and medietas Linguae is as much as to say half English and half of another
if they had been born in England and no man shall be received against an Act of Parliament to say the contrary Therefore if the Father an Alien has issue a Son born here and then the Son is naturalized the Son shall inherit If the Father a natural born Subject has issue an Alien who is naturalized the Father dyes the Son shall inherit III. Naturalization does remove all that disability and incapacity which is in Aliens in respect of themselves and so puts them entyrely in the condition as if they had been born in England The Relative terms as if born in England is generally used to supply the personal defect of the parties naturalized arising from their birth out of England and therefore shall never be carryed to a collateral purpose nor cures a disease of another nature as half blood illegitimation and the like but all diseases whether in the parties themselves or resulting from the Ancestor it cures Acts of Parliament of this nature may be so pen'd as to cure defects in the Father or Ancestor or in the parties themselves If restitution in blood be granted to the Son by Act of Parliament this cures that disability that resulted from the Fathers Attainder and that not only to the Son but also to the collateral Heirs of the Father the true reason of this is because the corruption of the blood by the Attainder is only of the blood of the Father for the Sons blood or coliateral Heir was not at all corrupted for the scope of the Act is taking notice of the Fathers Attainder does intentionally provide against and remove it for otherwise the same had been useless But in naturalization without express words it takes no notice of the defects in the Father or other Ancestor noâ—… amoves them And therefore such Acts of Parliament as take no other notice but of the Person naturalized's Forreign birth the same cures not any disability of transmission hereditary between the Father Brother or any other Ancestor resulting from the disability of them without actually naming of them As for instance the Father an Alien the Son naturalized by Act of Parliament the Father or any other Ancestor an Alien purchases Lands and dyes the Son shall not take by reason of the disability in the Father but there may be words inserted in the Act that may take away the impediment IV. Those that are born in Ireland and those that are born in Scotland are all alike for their birth are within the Kings Dominions and they are born under the like subjection and obedience to the King and have the like band of allegeance ad fidem Regis yet if a Spaniard comes into Ireland and by the Parliament is there naturalized though perhaps this may qualifie and cloath him with the title of a natural born Subject of Ireland yet it has been conceived that it will not make him a natural born Subject of England For the union of Ireland to that of England is different from that of Scotland for the first is dependant as a Kingdom conquered the latter independant Though Henry the II. after his Conquest of that Nation did remit over from England the Ancient modus tenendi Parliamentum enabling them to hold Parliaments which after was confirmed by King John yet that was by no other sorce then bare Letters Patents Now when a Nation is once conquered there remains no Law but that of the Conqueror and though he may incorporate such conquered Nations with his own and grant unto them their ancient Parliamentary wayes of making of Laws yet the Conqueror can no wayes grant unto them a power by vertue of such Grant or Confirmation as to impose upon his own Countrey for he himself before such Conquest could not make a natural born Subject without Act of Parliament and most certainly his Conquest adds nothing to his power though it does increase his Dominion V. Again Kingdoms that are absolute under one Prince ad fidem Regis there the Acts of each other are reciprocate and one naturalized by the Parliament of Scotland is as naturalized in England because Scotland is a Kingdom absolute but Ireland is a Kingdom dependant and subordinate to the Parliament of England for the Parliament in England can make an Act to bind Ireland but not e converso Now to be a Native of Ireland is the same as to be born in Ireland but that is by the Laws of Ireland but to be born in Ireland and to be the same as to be born in England must be by the Laws of England But there is no Law that hath enabled them with such a power as to naturalize further then their own Laws extend but the Law of Ireland does not extend in England therefore Naturalization in Ireland operates only in Ireland because of the failer of power VI. Again Kingdoms that are Conquered the Empire of the same may be acquired by the Conqueror only as it is in a King or other Governour and then the Conqueror only succeeds into his right and no further or also as 't is in the People in which case the Conqueror hath Empire so as that he may dispose of it or alienate it as the People themselves might for 't is one thing to enquire of the thing another of the manner of holding of it the which are applicable not only to corporal things but incorporal also For as a Field is a thing possessed so is a passage an Act a way but these things some hold by a full right of property others by a right of usufructuary others by a temporary right Again by the will of the Conqueror the Kingdom or Republique that is so conquered may cease to be a Kingdom or Common-wealth either so that it may be an accession of another Kingdom or Common-wealth as the Roman Provinces or that it may no wayes add here to any Kingdom or Common-wealth as if a King waging War at his own charge so conquer and subject a People to himself that he will have them governed not for the profit of the People chiefly but of the Governour which is a property of that we call Heril Empire not of Civil for Government is either for the profit of the Governour or for the utility of the Governed this hath place among Free-men that among Masters and and Servants The People then that are kept under such command will be alwayes for the future not a Common-wealth but a great Family hence it is that we may plainly understand what kind of Empire is that which is mixt of Civil and Heril that is where Servitude is mixt and mingled with some personal Liberty For if the People are deprived of Armes commanded to have no Iron for Agriculture to change their language and course of life and abstain from the use of many of their Customes to be confined to their own Houses Castles or Plantations not wander abroad to be governed by such Laws
him on the face and gave him a push on the back and after this he was Registred for a Freeman This being performed the Servant having his head shaven purposely at that time received a Cap as a Token of Liberty Tertullian observes That at this time of their Manumission the Servants received from their Masters a white Garment a Gold Ring and a new Name added to their former By the Laws of England every Subject Born within the Kings Dominions is a Freeman of this Realm as appears by the Grand Charter Cap. 14. yea though he be a Bond-Slave to a Subject But a Stranger Born is no Free-man till the King have made him a Denizon in whose Power alone without the help of any other one may be made Free To be a Freeman of the Realm the place of Birth is held more considerable than the Quality of the Person Yet by the opinion of Hussey Chief Justice in 1 R. 3. fo 4. And in Calvins Case of the Post Nati it is held for Law That if Ambassadors of this Realm have Children Born in France or else where the Father and Mother being Natural Born Subjects the Children are Free of the Realm of England But if either the Father or the Mother of such Children were an Alien then are not those Children Free But the Law is conceived to be otherwise at this day The Statute de Natis ultra mare 25 E. 3. Cap. declares the Issue Born of an English-man upon an English-woman shall be a Denizon for upon the Construction of this Statute it has been adjudged more than once That if an English-man marry a Foreiner and has Issue by her Born beyond Seas the Issue is a Natural Born Subject IX Disfranchising by the Romans called Capitis diminutio was Three fold Maxima Media Minima the least degree was when the Censors pulled a Man from a higher Tribe down to a lower and less Honourable or when by any Censure they disabled a man from suffraging or giving his Voice in the publick Assemblies such as were thus in the last manner punished were termed Aerarii and in aerarios veluti quia omnia alia jura Civium Romanorum preterquam tributi aeris conferendi amiserunt Gellius relates That P. Scipio Nascica and M. Pompilius being Censors taking a view of the Roman Knights observed one of them to be mounted on a lean starvling Horse himself being exceeding fat whereupon they demanded the Reason why his Horse was so lean himself being so fat his Answer was Quoniam ego inquit me curro statius mens servus By the Ancient Laws of England and by the Great Charter no Freeman shall be taken or Imprisoned but by the Lawful Judgment of his Peers that is by Jury Peers for Peers ordinary Juries for others who are their Peers or by the Law of the Land which is always understood by due process of the Law and not the Law of the Land generally for otherwise that would comprehend Bond-men whom we call Villains who are excluded by the word Liber for such Bond-men might be Imprisoned at the pleasure of his Lord but a Free-man neither could nor can without a just Cause nor does the Priviledge extend to private Actions or Suits between Subject and Subject but even between the Sovereign and the Subject Hence it is that if a Peer of the Realm be Arraigned at the Suit of the King for a Murder he shall be tryed by his Peers that is by the Nobles But if he be appealed of Murder upon the prosecution of a Subject his Tryal shall be by an ordinary Jury of 12 Free-holders and as the Grand Charter did and does protect the Persons of Free-men so likewise their Free-hold For by the same Charter it is declared That the King or His Ministers shall out no man of his Free-hold without reasonable Judgment and so it was rul'd upon a Petition in Parliament setting forth that a Writ under the Privy Seal went to the Guardian of the Great Seal to cause Lands to be seized into the Kings Hands and that thereupon a Writ issued forth to the Escheater to seize against the form of the Great Charter upon debate of which the Party had Judgment to be restored the greatest and most Explanatory Act which succeeded in point of Confirmation was that of Edward the 3d. the words are That no Man of what Estate or Condition soever he be shall be put out of the Lands and Tenements nor taken or imprisoned nor dis-inherited nor put to death without he be brought to answer by due process of the Law that is by the Common Law 2. Diminutio media was an Exilement out of the City without the loss of ones Freedom the words of the Judgment or Sentence were Tibi aquae igni interdico 3. Diminutio maxima was the loss both of the City and the Freedom and by his Judgment or Sentence was obliged and limited to one peculiar Countrey all other places in general being forbidden him There was a Fourth kind of Banishment Disfranchising called relegatio which was the Exilement only for a season as that of Ovid's The Laws of England in this matter have some resemblance with those of the Romans for Bracton observes 4 Distinctions 1. Specialis hoc est interdictio talis Provinciae Civitatis Burgi aut Villae 2. Generalis Interdictio totius Regni aliquando est 3. Temporaria pro duobus tribus quatuor aut pluribus annis aut c. 4. Perpetua pro termino vitae exilium est aliquando ex arbitrio principis sicut in exiliando Duces Hertfordiae Norfolciae per Regem Richardum Secundum aliquando per Judicium Terrae ut fit in Casu Piers de Gaviston etiam in Casu Hugonis de le Spencer Junioris qui ambo fuerunt exilit ' per Judicium in Parliamento So likewise was that of the Banishment of the Earl of Clarendon who dyed beyond the Seas X. Abjuration was also a Legal Exile by the Judgment of the Common Law as also by the Statute Law and in the Statute of Westm the second Cap. 35. He which Ravishes a Ward and cannot render the Ward unmarried or the value of his Marriage must abjure the Realm and this is a General Exile And by the Statute made 31 Ed. 1. Butchers are to be abjured the Town if they offend the Fourth time in selling measled Flesh and this is a Special Banishment A man Exil'd does forfeit these things 1. Hee looseth thereby the Freedom and Liberty of the Nation out of which he is Exiled 2. He forfeits his freedom in the Burrough or City where he was free for he which forfeits the Freedom of the whole Realm forfeits his Freedom in every part 3. The Law accounts him as one dead for his Heir may enter and so may his Wife enter into her own Lands and may sue