and again Mutually and on the other side the said Farmours and Grantees for term of years life or lives their Executors Administratours and Assigns shall have like advantage against them for any Condition Covenant and Agreement contained in the said Indenture as they might have had against their said Lessors and Granters their Heirs Successors all benefits and advantage of recoveries in value by reason of any warranty of deed or in Law by voucher or otherwise only except Provided that this Act shall not extend to charge any Person for Breach of any Covenant or Condition comprised in any such writing but for such as shall be broken and not performed after the first day of September in the 32. Year of this King and not before CHAP. XXIII Livery of Seisin and Atturnement IN all Feoffments gifts in tayle Leases for term of anothers life of Lands or Tenements there can be no Alteration Transmutation of Possession by the Antient Laws of this Realme unless there be a certain Ceremony Adhibited and Solemnized in the presence and sight of neighbours or others which Ceremony is called Livery of Seisin And ye shall understand The manner Livery of Seisin that this Ceremony of Livery of Seisin is done when the Feoffour Donour Lessour or other Deputy come with the Neighbours Solemnly to the Lands or Tenements and they put the Feoffe Donee or Lessee in possession of the said Lands or Tenements by delivering to him a Clod of Earth or the ring of the Door or some other thing in the name of Seisin and for this self cause this Ceremony of Law is called Livery of Seisin that is to say a Tradition or giving of Seisin But this Ceremony is not required in Leases for term of years Diversity between Possession and Seisin or in Leases at will For as much as the Lessour in such Lease remaineth still seized and the Lessee only hath possession without any Livery of Seisin and therefore the terms of the Law be that such a man is possessed whereas in Feoffments gifts in tayle and Leases for life he is called seized Wherefore if a Feoffment or Lease for life be made of Lands or Tenements and before that the Livery of a Seisin be made the Feoffour dieth the Heir of the Feoffour shall have Lands Per summum jus that is to say by the Rigour of the Law Notwithstanding that the Feoffee have paid to the Feoffour the price of the Land and although the Feoffee be in possession but otherwise it is of a Lease for term of Years A like Ceremonie is used Atturnment when Rent-charge Rent-service Rent in gross a Villain in gross common in gross common for Beasts certain Estovers and such other things as pass by way of grant be granted for it is no full and perfect grant till it be consignat and sealed as it were with the Ceremonie of Atturnment this Atturnment is nothing else but when the Tenant of Land of which a Rent granted is granted or out of which a Rent is granted doth make some evident signification and token that he accepteth the person to whom the grant is made to be in the same respect unto him that the granter was as for an example if the Tenant of the Land after he have heard of the grant cometh to the grantee that is to wit to the person to whom the grant was made and say in this wise or in like effect I agree unto the Grant made unto you by such a man How attu nment shall be made or I am well apaid and contented of the Grant that such a man hath made unto you but the most usuall frequent form of Atturnment is to say Sr I atturn unto you by force of the said Grant or I become your Tenant or to deliver unto the grantee a Peny or a Halfpeny by way of atturnement If a man maketh first one grant to one person and after another to another person that grant shall stand to which the Tenant will atturn although it be to the later grant And ye shall note That if a man be seized of a Mannour which is parcell in demean and parcell in service and doth alien the same Mannour to another unless the Tenant of the Mannor do atturn the Service shall not pass only Tenants at will excepted for it needeth not to cause them to atturn Note furthermore Diversity there is a great difference between giving a Peny in name of Seisin and giving by way of Atturnement for when it is given by the Tenant to the Grantee in the name of Seisin it doth not only imply an Atturnment Assize but also it giveth him such a seizin that if the Rent afterward were behind and not paid he may now upon the seisin of the Peny after a lawfull distress taken and after Rescous made Writ of Rescous bring an Assize of Novel Disseizin whereas if it were given only by way of Atturnement he could not bring the Assize but his Writ of Rescous only if Rescous were made Also ye shall understand That where Lands be deviseable by Testament by the custome of any ancient Borough or City if the reversion of any Lands be by Testament bequeathed to a man in fee and the Testator which we call the devisor dieth the devisee that is to wit he to whom the devise was made hath forthwith the reversion in him without further ceremonie of Atturnement Atturnment likewise it is if a man by testament doth bequeath a Rent-charge that he is seized of or of a Rent-service there needeth none atturnement at all If two Joyntenants of Land and the Lord granteth the services to another if one of the Joyntenants atturneth it is enough Finally If a Lease be made for terme of life the remainder to another in tayl the remainder over to the right Heir of the Tenant for terme of life in this case if the Tenant for terme of life will grant his remainder in fee to another by his deed this remainder passeth forthwith without any atturnement For if any Atturnement were requisite it should be made of the Tenant for terme of life Not Requisite which in this case is the granter himself And in vain it is that the granter should be inforced to atturn sith an atturnment is adhibited and had to none other purpose then to have the consent and agreement of the particular Tenant to the intent that it may appear that he hath notice and knowledg of this grantee but here where the particular Tenant himself is the granter an atturnement were superfluous and more then needed Note furthermore That where there is Lord and Tenant and the Tenant leaseth his Tenements to a woman for life the remainder over in fee the woman taketh a Husband and after the Lord granteth the services c. to the Husband in this case during the coverture the services be put in suspence Suspence but if the Wife die leaving the Husband
this Rent is but Rent Seck because John at Stile that hath the Rent hath nothing in Reversion of the Land But if he granteth the Reversion of the Land to John at Noke for term of life and the Tenant Atturneth accordingly then hath John at Noke the Rent as Rent Service because he hath the Reversion for term of his life Likewise it is If a man giveth Lands or Tenements in tayle Rent is incident to a reversion Reserving to him and to his Heirs certain Rent or maketh a Lease of the Land for term of life Reserving certain Rent if he granteth the Reversion to another and the Tenant Atturneth accordingly the whole Rent and Service shall pass by this word Reversion because the Rent and Service in such case be Incident to the Reversion and do pass by the grant of the Reversion But if he had Granted the Rent only it had been Rent Seck CHAP. XXXIX What remedy a man hath to recover his Rent when it is behind I Shewed you before that for a Rent-service if it be behind you may distrain in the ground even of Common right though there be no such Clause of distress mentioned in the Deed of Feoffment Grant or Lease Also for a Rent-charge ye may distrain or bring your Writ of Annuity at your choice and election as before is declared But of a Rent Seck if you were never seized of it nor of any Parcell thereof ye be without remedy by course of the Common Law for ye cannot distrain for it nor yet bring your Writ of Annuity but if you were once seized of it or of Parcell thereof and it is eft-soones behind then your remedy shall be this ye must go either by your self or by your Deputy to the Land or Tenement out of which the Rent is coming Disseisin of Rent Seck and there demand the Arrerages of the Rent which if the Tenant denyeth to pay this deniall is desesin of the Rent Also if the Tenant be not then ready to pay it this countervaileth a deniall which is a disesin Moreover if neither the Tenant nor no other man be remaining upon the ground to pay the Rent when ye demand they Arrerages this also is a deniall in the Law Assize and is in very deed a diseisin And for these diseisins you may have an Assize of Novel diseisin against the Tenant and shall recover seisin of the Rent and the Arrerages and your Dammages and Costs of your Writ and of your Plea And if after such Recovery and Execution had In Rediseisin double damages the Rent be again at another time denied you then you may have a Writ of Rediseisin and shall recover your double Dammages It shall therefore be wisdom for a man Therecauses of disseisin of Rent service when a Rent is granted by any person unto him to take of the Tenant of the Land a Penny or half Penny in name of seisin of the Rent and then if at the next day of payment the Rent be denied him he may have an Assize of Novel diseisin And ye shall note That there be three Causes of diseisin of Rent-service that is to wit Rescous Replevin and Inclosure Rescous is when the Lord upon Land holden of him distraineth for his Rent behind and the distress be rescued from him or if the Lord cometh upon the Land to distrein and the Tenant or any other man for him will not suffer him that is called Rescous Replevin is when the Lord hath distrained Replevin and Replevin is made of the distress by Writ or by Plaint Enclosure is where Lands or Tenements be so enclosed Enclosure that the Lord cannot come within the Lands or Tenements for to distrain And the chief case why such things so made be diseisin to the Lord is forasmuch as the Lord is by this way disturbed of the mean and remedy whereby he ought to come and have his Rent that is to wit by distress And there be four Causes of diseisin of Rent-charge Four Causes of Diseisin of Rent-charged that is to wit Recous Rplevin Enclosure and Denier For Denier or deniall is as well a diseisin of a Rent-charge as it is of a Rent-secke Finally You shall understand that there be two cases of deseisin of Rent-secke that is deniall and Inclosure And it seemeth that there is yet another cause of diseisin of all the three Rents aforesaid that is to wit And two of Rent-secke this when the Lord cometh to the Land holden of him or when he that hath a Rent-charge or a Rent-secke cometh to the Land to distrain for the Rent behind or to demand the Rent and the Tenant hearing this encountreth him and forestalleth him the way with force and Arms and menaceth him in such sort as he dare not come to the ground for to distrain for his Rent behind for fear of death or mutilation of his members This is a Diseisin because the party is disturbed of his mean and lawfull remedy whereby he ought to come to his Rent Finally Ye shall observe and mark That by an Act of Parliament made in the 22th year of our Sovereign Lord King Henry 8 it is lawfull for the Executors and Administrators of Tenants in Fee-simple Tenants in Fee-tayl Tenants for terme of life of Rent-services Rent-charges Rent Seckes and of Fee-farmes for Arrereages of such Rents as were due to the Testators in their lives either to distrein for the same or at their Election to bring an Action of debt except in such Lordships in Wales Distress or Action of Debt or in the Marches thereof whereas the Tenants have useed time out of mind to pay unto every Lord at his first entry into the Lordship any summe of Money for the redemption of all manner of Outcries and Penalties incurred at any time before their Lords entry Also by force of the said Act the Husband which was seized in the right of his Wife may after the death of his Wife either distrein or bring an Action of Debt for the Arrerages of such Rents as were due and unpaid in her life Likewise it is of him that hath a Rent for the term of another mans life if he for term of whose life he hath the Rent dieth yet by vertue of the said Act he or his Executors and Administrators may either distrein or bring an Action of Debt for the Arrerages due before the death of him for term of whose he had the Rent CHAP. XL. How Recoveries ought to be made of Rents and Services UPon a Replevin sued an Avowry may be made by the Lord or Conusance and Justification by his Bayliff or Servant upon the Land holden of the said Lord without naming any person certain to be Tenant thereof The like Law is also upon every Writ sued of second deliverance In any Replegiare or second deliverance for Rents Customes Services or dammage Feasant if the Avowry Conusance or Justification be found
but for his life this reservation is void to make a Tenure likewise it is where Tenements be given to two and the Heirs of the body of one of them engendred the one hath a free-hold and the other fee-tayle Note Rent-charge granted by a joyntenant If two Joyntenants be seized of an estate of fee-simple and the one granteth a Rent-charge by his deed to another out of that which to him belongeth in this case during the life of the graunter the Rent-charge is good and effectuall but after his decease the Rent-charge is void as to charge the Lands for he that hath the Land by the Survivour shall hold all the Land discharged the cause is for that he that surveieth claimeth to have the Land by the Surviour and not by discent of his fellow Diversitie but otherwise it is of Parcener or Co-heirs for if there be two Parceners in fee-simple and before any partition be made the one chargeth that that to him belongeth by his deed of a Rent-charge and dieth without Issue here that which to him belongeth descendeth to the other Parcener and in this case the other Parcener shall hold the Land charged because he cometh to the half by descent as heir Also if there be two Joyntenants in fee-simple within one Borough where the Lands and Tenements within the same Borough be devisable by Testament If the one of the said Joyntenants devise that which to him belongeth by Testament and die Divise by Testament this devise and legation is void And the cause is for that no devise may take effect till after the death of the Testator which bequeathed and devised the same and by his death all the Land incontinent cometh by the Law to his fellow that Surviveth by the Survivor which neither claimeth nor hath any thing in the Land by the devise but in his own right by the Survivor after the course of the Law and for this cause such a devise is void But otherwise it is of Parceners A ground of the Law seized of Tenements devisable in such case of devise for the cause above remembred and it is commonly said that every Joyntenant is seized of the Land that he holdeth joyntly per my et per tont that is throughout and by all and this is as much to say that he is seized by every parcell and by all which saying is true for in every parcell and part and throughout all the Lands and Tenements he is joyntly seized with his fellow and therefore if the one Joyntenant make a Feofment to his companion that is void because he can make no Livery of seizin to him Diversity Also if two joyntenants be seized of certain Lands in fee-simple and the one letteth that that to him belongeth to a stranger for the term of Fourty years and dyeth within the term in this case after his death the Lessee may enter and ocupy the half to him letten during the said Term though the Lessee never had possession of it in the life of the Lessour by force of the Lease Diversity between a grant of a Rent and Lease and the difference between the case of the grant of a Rent-charge and this case is this that in the grant of Rent-charge by a joyntenant the Lands or Tenements abide alway as they were afore without that that any hath right to have parcell of the Tenements but themselves and the Tenements abide in such pitty as they were before the Charge but where a Lease is made by a Joyntenant to another for term of years incontinent by force of the Lease the Lessee hath right in the same Land that is to say of all that that to his Lessour belongeth by force of the same Lease during his term and if the Lessor in this case die the other joyntenant shall have the Rent or Term during the said Term because the reversion is come to him by Survivor Finally if a joynt estate be made of Land to the Husband and Wife and to the third person in this case the Husband and the Wife have not in the Law in their right but the half and the third person shall have as much as the Husband and the Wife have that is to say the other half and the cause is for that the Husband and Wife be but as one person in the eye of the Law and it is here in like case as if an estate be made to two joynt-Tenants where the one hath by force of the Joynture the one half and the other the other half in semblable wise it is where an estate is made to the Husband and Wife and to other two men in this case the Husband and the Wife have not but the third part and the other two men the other two parts Also if two or three together disseiseth another of Lands and Tenements to their own uses then such disseisors be called Joyntenants More shall be said of this matter touching Joyntenants in the next Chapter CHAP. XVIII Tenants in Common TEnants is Common as I said before be they that have Lands or Tenements in fee-simple fee-tayle or for term of life which have such Lands and Tenements by severall Titles and not by one joynt Title and none of them knoweth that which is severall to him and in this case they ought by the Law before partition made between them to occupy such Lands and Tenements in common and undevided and to take the profits in Common and because they come to such Lands and Tenements by severall Titles and not by one self joynt Title and their ocupation and possession in the same is among them in Common they be called Tenants in Common or Tenants pro indiviso as for example If a man Enfeoff two Joyntenants in fee-simple and the one of them alieneth that that to him belongeth to another in fee now the other Joyntenant and he to whom the Alienation was made be Tenants in Common for that they be seized of such Tenements by severall Titles for the one cometh to the one half by the Feoffment of the Joyntenant and the other hath the other half by force of the first Feoffment made to him and to his first fellow and so they be in by severall Titles and by severall Feofments And it is to wit Diffinition of fee only that when it is said in any Book that a man is seized in fee without more saying or addition it shall be understood fee-simple for it shall not be understood by such a word in fee that a man is seized in fee-tayle except there be put in it such addition in tayle Also if three joyntenants be Joyntenants and the one of them alieneth that which unto him belongeth to another in fee in this case the alience is Tenant in Common with the other two Joyntenants But yet the other two Joyntenants be seized of the two parts Joyntly and of these two parts the Survivor between them holdeth place
on the feoffees behalf as when I infeoff you of Lands or Tenements upon Condition that you shall do such an act as to pay unto me or mine Heirs such an annuall Rent on the feoffors behalf as when I make a feoffment unto you upon Condition that if I pay or cause to be paid unto you before such a day such a summe of money then it shall be lawfull for me to enter again and retain my Lands in my former estate Tenants in Mortgage in this case he that is the feoffee is called Tenant in Mortgage which is as much to say as dead-gage and it seemeth that the cause why it is so called is forasmuch as it is doubtfull whether the feoffor will pay at the day limited and prescribed such a summe of money for the redemption of his Lands or not for if he do not his Title or interest in the Lands thus gaged and oppignorate is utterly extinct and gone without all hope of renewing Ye shall also note That if the mortgager dieth before the day of payment his Heir may redeem the Land very well even as well as his Ancestour that mortgaged the Land might have done although there be no mention made of Heirs in the writing Also if when the money is lawfully by the mortgager or his Heir tendered and profered and the Lessour refuseth to receive the same the feoffour or his Heir may enter and then hath the feoffee no remedy for his money at the Common Law Ye shall understand also that some conditions be utterly void in the Law and of none efficacy Conditions void vertue or strength As if a feoffment be made of Lands in fee-simple upon condition that the feoffee shall not alien or put away the same to none other this condition I say is void because the feoffee is restrained of his whole power that the Law giveth in such case unto him and with power and liberty is manner included in every feoffment yet I may abridg him of part of his power as to condition with him that he shall not alien the Lands to such a person or such but of Gifts in Tayl otherwise it is for if I give Lands to a man and to the Heirs of his body lawfully begotten Gift in Tayl upon Condition upon condition that he nor his Heirs shall alien the Lands to none other person this Condition is good and effectuall in the Law and if he or his Heirs contrary to the Condition do alien them then the giver or his Heirs may very well enter and retain the Lands for ever because this Condition shall stand with the forenamed Statute of Westminster the second which prohibiteth such alienations to be made Hitherunto have I spoken of Conditions in Deed now will I shew what be Conditions in Law that be annexed to any Estates Know ye therefore Estates upon conditions in Law that if the Office of a Parker Steward Constable Bedle or Baliff or such like Office be granted to a man for term of his life though there be no condition at all mentioned in the grant yet the Law speaketh of a condition in this case which is that if the party to whom such Office is given shall not execute all points appertaining unto his Office accordingly by himself or his Lawfull Deputy it shall be Lawfull for the grantor to Enter and discharge him of his Office and this condition is called a condition in Law There be also three other manner of Estates upon Condition that is to say Conditions against the Law Conditions Depugnant and Conditions Impossible First Estates upon Conditions against the Law be as if a man make a Feoffment gift grant or Lease upon Condition that if the Feoffors Donours Grantours or Lessours kill J. S. which is not the Kings enemy or burn his house that then it shall be Lawfull to the Feoffors Donours c. To re-enter this Condition is void and the Estate good And like Law is Conditions against the Land if such Conditions be to be performed of the part of the Feoffee Grantee c. But if it be that a Lease for term of years be made of Land upon Condition that if the Lessees kill J. S. that then he shall have fee simple although that he in his case perform the Condition his Estate is nothing thereby inlarged because the Condition is against the Law And ye shall understand that where an Obligation is Indorsed with a Condition which is against the Law both the Obligation Conditions Repugnant and also the Condition be clearly void in the Law Estates upon Conditions Repugnant be as if a Feoffment or a gift in tayle be made upon Condition that the Feoffee or Donee shall take no profit or shall do no wast and such other like such Conditions be void and the State good and effectuall in the Law notwithstanding Also if a Lease be made for term of life upon Condition that he shall not doe Fealty that is as a void Condition Likewise it is if a man that hath nothing in the Manour of Sale granteth a Rent-charge going out of the same upon Condition that the person shall not be charged this grant is good and the Condition is void Estates upon Conditions impossible be as if a Feoffment be made upon Condition that if the Feoffee goeth not through the Sea on foot to Calice in one day Conditions Imposble then it shall be Lawfull to the Feoffor to re-enter this is a frustrate and void Condition and yet the estate is good Like Law is of a Lease made for term of years c. or an Obligation with a Condition impossible ut supra the Obligation or Lease is good and the Condition void to all purposses CHAP. XXII An Act how strangers shall take advantage of Conditions made An. 32. H. 8. IT is enacted that as well persons which have or shall have any gift or grant of the King by his Letters Patents of any Lands Personages Titles or other Hereditaments or any reversion of the same which did belong to any Monastry or other Ecclesiasticall House disolved or otherwise come into the Kings hands since the fourth day of February in the twenty eight Year of our Sovereign Lord King Henry the Eight or which at any time heretofore did belong to any other Person and after come into the Kings hands as also all other Persons being Graunters or Assigns to the King or to any other Person their Heirs Executors Successors and Assigns shall have like advantage against the Farmours and their Executor Administrators and Assigns by Entry for Non-Payment of the Rent or for doing wast or other forfeiture and also shall have the same advantage by Action only of not performing of other Conditions Covenants or Agreements contained in the Indentures of their Leases or Grants against the said Farmours and Grantees their Executors Administrators and Assigns as the said Lessors or Granters themselves might have had at any time
not Knights Service whereas the other is called Escuage uncertain Finally Escuage Uncertain ye shall understand that Escuage uncertain is alwaies adjudged to be Knights Service and draweth unto it Warde Marriage and Relief but Escuage certain is not Knights Service but is of the Tenure of Sucage as shall be hereafter more amply shewed CHAP. XXVI Of Warde Marriage and Relief EVery Knights-Service draweth unto it Warde Marriage and Relief wherefore it is now right expedient somewhat to entreat of them Ye shall therefore be admonished Warde that when the Tenant which holdeth his Lands by Knights-service dieth his Heir male being at that time within the age of twenty one years the Lord shall have the Warde that is to say the custody or keeping of the Lands so holden of him to his own use and profit till the Heir cometh to the full age of twenty one years For the Law here presumeth that till he cometh to his age he is not able to do such Service as is of his Tenure required Furthermore Marriage if such Heirs be unmarried at the time of the death of the Tenant then the Lord shall have also the Warde and the bestowing of the Marriage of him But if a Tenant by Knights-service dieth The full age of a woman his Heir Female being of the age of thirteen years or above then the Lord shall have the Warde neither of the Land nor yet of the Body of such an Heir and the reason hereof is because a woman of that age may have a Husband able to do Knights-service that is to say To wait upon the Kings Majesties Person when he goeth into Scotland with his Army Royal. But if such an Heir Female be within age of fourteen years and not married at the time of the death of her Ancester then the Lord shall have the Wards of the Land holden of him till such Heir Female cometh to the age of sixteen years by force of an Act of Parliament in the Statute of Westminster 1 Cap. 12. Note that there is a great diversity in the Law between the ages of Females Diversity of age and of Males for the Female hath these many ages appointed by the Law Age of a woman First At seven years of age the Lord her Father may distrein his Tenants for aid to marry her Secondly At nine years of age she is dowable Thirdly At twelve years she is able to assent to Matrimony Fourthly At fourteen years she is able to have her Land and shall be out of Warde if she be of this age at the death of her Ancester Fifthly At sixteen years she shall be out of Warde though at the death of her Ancester she was within the age of fourteen years Sixthly At twenty one years she is able to make alienations of her Lands or Tenements whereas the man hath but two ages the one at fourteen years to have his Lands holden in Socage The age of a man and to assent to Matrimony the other at twenty one to make Alienations Ye shall understand that by the Statute of Merton 6 Chap. it is enacted That if in case the Lord do marry their Ward to villains or others whereby is disparagement if such Heirs so married be within the age of fourteen years or such age that the said Warde cannot consent to the marriage then if the friends of this Heir complain and feel themselves grieved with this unmeet marriage the next of kinne to the Heir unto whom the Heritage cannot descend may enter into the Lands and put out the Lord which is Gardian in Chivalry And if the next Kins-man will not thus do another Kins man of the Infant may do it and shall take the Issues and Profits to the behoof and use of the Heir and yeeld account thereof unto him Account given when he cometh to his full age And there be divers other disparagements which be not expressed in the said Statute Divers Disparagements as if the Heir being within age of consent and in Ward be married to a decreped Person or Creeple as to one that hath but one foot or one hand or that is a deformed creature or having any horrible disease or continuall infirmity All these and such like be disparagements But here also ye shall understand that it shall be said no disparagement unless the Heir be so married when he is within age of discretion that is to say within the age of fourteen years For if he be of that age or above and assenteth to such marriage it is no disparagement neither shall the Lord for such marriage loose his Ward because it shall be reputed and assigned to the folly of the Heir being of age of discretion to consent to such marriage Now if the Lord then being a Gardian after to the Heir being his Ward a convenient marriage without disparagement and the Heir refuseth it Value of Marriage as he may at his choice and election very well do then the Lord shall have the value of the marriage of such an Heir when he cometh to his full age But yet if he marry himself being so in Ward against the will of his Gardein then he shall pay the double value Double value of Marriage by force of the said Statute of Merton before remembred And ye shall Note that if Lands holden by Knights-service One shall not be Ward living his Father descend to an Infant or Child within age from his Mother or from any of his Ancesters his Father being yet alive in this case the Lord shall not have the marriage of his Heir for during the life of his Father the Sonne shall be Ward to no man Finally it is to be known that he which is Gardian in Chivalry in right may before he hath seised the Ward grant the same either by Deed or without Deed to another man and then he to whom such a grant is made is called Gardein in Fait Now as touching Relief ye shall know that if a man holdeth his Land by Knights-service and dyeth his Heir being of full age the full age of the Male is twenty one years of the Female fourteen then the Lord of whom the Land his holden shall have of the Heir Relief Note ye that all Earls Barons or other the Kings Tenants holding of him in chief by Knights-service which die their Heir being of full age at the time of their deaths that is to say twenty one years of age they ought to pay the old Relief for their Inheritance that is the Heir or Heirs of an Earl for an whole Earldome 100l the Heir or Heirs of a Baron for an whole Barony an 100 Markes the Heir or Heirs of a Knight One 100 Shillings and he that hath less shall give less according to the old Custom of Fees Like Law is observed of all others that hold of any other Lords immediately Vt supra Also a man may hold Lands of a Lord
the Feoffer and the Feoffee otherwise it is of Feoffments in Fee simple made before the Statute of Westminster the third Cap. 1. called Quiae emptores terrarum For before the making of that Statute if a man had made a Feoffment in Fee-simple reserving to him a certain Rent yet though it had been without Deed here had been begun and Created a new Tenure between the Feoffor and the Feoffee and the Feoffee should have holden of the Feoffor who by virtue of the same might of Common right have distrained for such Rent but at this day by force of the said Act there can be no such holding or Tenure Created or begun and consequently no Rent-Service can be at this day reserved upon any gift in Fee-simple except it be in the Kings case who being chief Lord of all ever might and may give Lands to be holden of him thus ye see that at this day no Subject can reserve any Rent Service unto him unless the reversion of the Lands or Tenements that he shall grant be still in him as where he granteth them in Fee-tayle or maketh but a Lease for term of life or for certain years or else at Will For in all these cases the reversion of the Fee-simple remaineth still in him and therefore if there be any Rent reserved it is to be called a Rent-Service and is of Common right distrainable though there be no Clause of distress in the Deeed of Feoffment or Lease But here ye will ask me when in the case before remembred a man at this day giveth clean away the Land or Tenement from himself in fee-simple so that there is no manner of Reversion of the same remaining in him at all and yet nevertheless reserveth unto him by his deed a certain Rent what manner of Rent shall this be called I answer if there be in the Deed indented any clause of distress Charge that is that if the Rent be behind unpaid it shall be Lawfull for the Feoffour to enter and to distrain it is called a Rent-charge for as much as the Land is charged therewith but how of Common Right no but only by virtue and force of the wriing but on the other side if there be no such Clause of distress put in the Indenture then the Rent so reserved shall be called a Rent secke Likewise if a man that is seized of certain Land will grant either by Indenture or by Deed-poll that is to say single and not indented a Yearly Rent out of the same Lands to another whether it be in the Fee-simple Fee-tayle for term of Life for Years or at Will with Clause of distress then this Rent is called a Rent-Charge and he to whom such Rent is granted may for default of Payment thereof enter and distraine But contrary if the grant be made without any such Clause of distress it is called a Rent-seck that is to say a drie Rent because he cannot come to it in Case it be deemed by way of distress Insomuch that if he were never seized of it he is by Course of the Common Law without remedy otherwise it is of a Rent Charge for here he to whom the grant is made when the Rent is behind may chuse whether he will sue a Writ of Annuity against the granter or distrain for the Rent behind and retain the distress till the time he be paid accordingly but he cannot have both remedies together but must take him to the one for if he once recover by a Writ of Annuity Annuity then is the Land discharged and if he Sue not his Writ of Annuity but distraine for the Arrerages and the Tenant Sueth a Replevin whereupon the other anoweth the taking of the distress in Court of Record then is the Land charged and the Person of the Granter dischared of the Action of Annuity Estopple Ye shall understand That if a man will that another shall have a Rent-charge coming out of his Land and yet will not that his Person shall be by any means charged by Writ of Annuity he may then have such Clause in the end of his deed Proviso Proviso quod praeseus Scriptum nec quicquam in eo contentum ullo pacto se extendat ad onerandum Personam meam per breve seu Actionem de Annuitate sed tantum modo valeat ad onerandum Terras Fundas Tenementa mea de annuo redditu Praedicto If this or such like Clause be added then the Land is charged and the Person of the Granter is discharged Also if a man will make a Deed of Grant in this wise that if John at Stile be not Yearly paid at the Feast of Christmas for term of his life Twenty Shillings Sterling that then it shall be Lawfull for the said John at Stile to distrain for it in the manner of Dale this is a good Rent charge because the mannour is Charged with the Rent by way of distress and yet nevertheless in this Case the Person of him that made such Deed is discharged of any Action of Annuity For as much as he granted not by his Deed any Annuity to the said John at Stile but only granted that he might distrain for such Yearly Rent Furthermore ye shall note That if a man hath a Rent-charge to him and to his Heirs coming out of certain Lands and doth Purchase any parcell of these Lands to him and to his Heirs in this Case the whole Rent-charge is quenched and gone and the Annuity also Extinguishment the Cause is this that a Rent-charge cannot be in such Case apportioned Otherwise it is of a Rent-Service as for example If one which hath a Rent-Service of 20d by Year doth Purchase parcell of the Land out of which this Yarely Rent of 20d is coming this shall not extinguish or drown the whole Rent but for the parcell only For Rent Service in such case may very well be apportioned and rated according to the value of the Land Yet there be some sort of Rents-Services Rent service cannot be apportioned which in no wise can be apportioned As where a Tenant holdeth his Land of his Lord by the service to render to his Lord Yearly at such a Feast a Horse lading of Gold a red Rose a Gilliver or such like If in this case the Lord doth Purchase parcell of the Land thus of him holden this Service is gone because such Service cannot be Severed and apportioned Also Escuage is a Service that may be very well apportioned according to the difference and rate of the Land But where any Land is holden by Homage and Fealty if the Lord purchase parcell of the Land yet he shall have his Homage and Fealty still of his Tenant Ye shall mark also That if a man maketh a Lease of Land to another for term of life reserving to him certain Rent if in this case he granteth that Rent to John at Stile saving to himself the Reversion of the said Land
for the Defendant or the Plaintiff be non-suit or otherwise barred the Defendant shall recover such Dammages and Costs as the Plaintiff should have had if he had recorded Both Parties shall in such Writs have like pleas aid prayers and Joynder in age as at the Common Law notwithstanding this Act Pleas in Avoury Pleas of Disclaymer only excepted 2 H. 8.19 CHAP. XLI For the Assurance of Farmers made ALl Leases hereafter to be made of any Lands or other Hereditamens by writing indented under Seal for term of years or for term of life by any persons being of the age of twenty one years having any estate of Inheritance either in Fee-simple or in Fee-tayl in their own right or in the right of their Charges or Wives or joyntly with their Wives shall be good and effectual against the Lessors their Wives Heirs and Successors according to the estate comprized in such Indenture of Lease Surrender of the old Lease This Statue shall not extend to any Lease to be made of Lands in the hands of any Farmer by force of any old Lease unless such old Leases expired within a year after the making of the new nor to any Grant to be made of any Reversions of Mannours Lands c. nor to any Leases of such Mannours Lands c. which have not been lett to Farme or occupied by Farmers twenty years before such Lease made nor to any Lease to be made without impeachment of wast nor to any Lease to be made for above twenty one years or three lives from the day of the making thereof and that upon every such Lease there be reserved so much yearly Rent as hath been usually paid for the Lands so lett within twenty years next before such Lease made and the Reversioners of the Mannours Lands c. so lett after the death of such Lessor or his Heirs may have such remedy against such Lessee his Executors Assignes as such Lessor might have had against such Lessee Provided that all Leases made by the Husband of Mannours Lands The Wife shall be party to the Lease c. being the Inheritance of the Wife shall be made by Indenture in the name of the Husband and Wife and she to seal to the same and the Rent shall be reserved to the Husband and Wife and the Heirs of the Wife And here the Husband shall not alien or discharge the Rent or any part thereof longer then during the Coverture unless it be by fine levied by Husband and Wife Provided furthermore that this Act extend not to give liberty to take more Farmes or Leases then might have been taken before this Act Vide Stat. 25. H. 8.13 Sheepe nor to any Parson or Vicar to make any Lease otherwise then they might have done before It is furthermore enacted What grant by a Corporation is good that the Grant Lease or gift or Election of the Governour or Ruler of any Hospitall Colledge Deanry or other corporation with the assent of the more part of such of the same as have voice thereunto shall be good and effectuall any Rule or Statute made by any Founder to the contrary notwithstanding 32 H. 8. CHAP. XLII Of falsifying of recoveries by Farmers 21. H. 15. A Termer for yeares may falsifie a feigned recovery had against them in the reversion and shall retain and enjoy his Term against the recoverer his Heirs and Assigns according to his Lease Also the recoverer shall have like remedy against the termer Avowry or Action of Debt his Executors or Assigns by Avowry or Action of debt for Rents and Services reserved upon such Lease and due after such recovery and also like Action for wast done after such recovery as the Lessor might have had if such recovery had never been No Statute of the staple Statute Merchant or execution by Elegit shall be avoided by such feigned recovery but such Tenants shall also have such remedy to falsifie such recoveries as is here provided for the Lessee for years CHAP. XLIII Of Tythes and how they shall be recovered 33. H. 8.7 ALl Persons shall duely set forth and pay all Tythes and offerings according to the custome of the places where they grow due If Tythes or offerings be not so set out and paid the party grieved may convent him that so detain them before the Ecclesiasticall Judg who hath power to hear and determine the matter in question Ordinarily or Summarily according to the Ecclesiasticall Lawes and to give sentence thereupon accordingly Here if any of the parties appeale the Judg upon such appeale shall adjudge to the other party reasonable cases and compell the Appealant to satisfie them by process and censures Ecclesiasticall taking surety of the other party to whom the costs shall be adjudged to restore the costs in case the principall case pass against him If any Person after such sentence given refuse to pay Tythes or Summes of Money so adjudged then two just of P. 1. Qu. shall upon Certificate thereof from the Judge commit the Party so refusing the next Goale there to remain till he have found Sureties to be bound by Recognisance or otherwise before the same Judge to the King to performe the said Sentence Howbeit none shall be thereby compelled to pay Tythes for Lands or other Hereditaments which by the Laws and Statutes of this Realm are discharged and not chargeable with the payment of Tythes neither shall it extend to the City of London or the Suburbs thereof In all cases where any Person who hath any Estate of Inheritance Free-hold Term right or interest in any Parsonage Vicarage or other Ecclesiasticall profit which now be or hereafter shall be made Temporall and admitted to be and abide in Temporall hand and to lay uses by the Laws and Statutes of this Realm shall happen to be hereafter outed or otherwise wronged from or concerning the same he or she shall have remedy for the same in the Kings Temporall Courts or other Temporall Courts as the case shall require by Writs of precipe quod reddat Assize of novell disseisin Mordancester quod ei defoveat Writs of Dower and other Originall Writs as the case shall require in like manner as for Lands Tenements and other Hereditaments in such manner to be demanded Also Writs of Covenant and other Writs for Fines to be Levied and all other assurances to be had and made of Parsonages Vicarages and other profits called Spirituall shall be devised and granted in Chancery as hath been used for Fines and Assurances of other Land Likewise all Judgements given and Fines Levied for and of such Parsonages c. shall be of like effect as judgments given and Fines levied of other Lands 32. H. 8. CHAP. XLIII Of Mortuaries 21. H. 8.6 NO Spirituall Person his Bayliffe or Lessee shall take or demand more for a Mortuary then as is hereafter expressed nor shall convent any Person before any Ecclesiasticall Judge for the recovery of more for the same then
suffereth the husband of such a wife to receive and keep still all his wives Land that she had either in fee-simple or fee-taile so long as he liveth and this is by the curtesie and urbanity of England for this thing is used in none other Country nor Region But in this it is required that the Child be vitall that is to say be born and brought forth into this world alive and therefore the common saying is and hath been that unless the Child be heard cry the Father shall not be Tenant by the courtesie for the only proof and argument of life in an Infant born is the vagite and crying Ye shall furthermore understand that unless the husband be in actuall and reall possession of his wives Lands and seized of them in her right he shall not be Tenant by the courtesie after her death And therefore if Lands descend to a mans Wife so that she is Tenant in the Law and to every mans Actions yet if the Husband have not made an actuall entrie during coverture and matrimony between them he shall not be Tenant by the courtesie for it shall be reputed and judged his folly and negligence that he would not enter in her life time Otherwise it is of Advowsons Rents Commons and such other things which forthwith when they descend be in man or in a woman without any entrie or further ceremonie in Law Note That if a Tenant by the courtesie of England will suffer or make any waste in the Lands or Tenements that he so holdeth he is punishable therefore by Action of Waste brought by him in the reversion Also it is to be known That of things that be in suspense a man shall not be Tenant by the courtesie and therefore if a man be Tenant in fee-simple of certain Land and doth intermarry with a woman that is the Seignioress or Lady of the same and hath issue by her and she dieth yet shall he not be Tenant by the curtesie of the Lordship or Seigniory because himself is Tenant of the Land and therefore the Lordship is suspended for the time for a man cannot be both Lord and Tenant of one thing but if he had not been Tenant of Land he should have had the Lordship after the death of his wife by the curtesie of England very well Also note That of a right only a man shall not be Tenant by the curtesie as if a woman sole seized in fee of Lands or Tenements be disseized and after take a husband and they have issue and she die before any reentrie be made the husband shall not be Tenant by the curtesie Note further That of a reversion a man shall not be Tenant by the curtesie as if a woman sole seized of Land in fee make a Lease to S. for terme of life after taketh a husband and they have issue and she die living the Lessee for terme of life the husband shall not be Tenant by the curtesie CHAP. XI Of Tenant in Dower TEnant in Dower is she that hath been married to a husband that was during the matrimony between them seized of Lands or Tenements in fee-simple or fee-taile which is now dead and she seized of the third part of her husbands said Lands for terme of her life for by the Common Law of the Land Dower at the Common Law if the husband be at any time during the coverture seized lawfully whether it be by purchase or by discent either in fee or in fee-taile and die his wife shall be endowed by the course of the Common Law of the third foot Dower by custome and in some places by an ancient custome she shall be endowed of the Moitie yea and though the husband were never seized actually during the coverture yet if the Lands be cast upon him by the Law so that the Law calleth him Tenant to every mans Action it sufficeth the woman to demand her dower for it were unreasonable that the negligence and slackness of entring of the husband should hurt the wives Title Otherwise it is as it is said before of Tenant by the courtesie Tenant by the Courtesie for if Lands descend to a woman covert and the husband for slothfullness or negligence doth not enter in his wives life he shall not be Tenant by the courtesie for by all Laws the wife oweth obedience and subjection to her husband and therefore she cannot compel him to enter but when Lands discend to the wife the husband only hath power to enter at his pleasure And ye shall understand that unless the wife be above the age of Nine years at the time of her husbands death she shall not be endowed by the Common Law But it is to be known A Woman shall have no Dower that a woman may by divers wayes estoppe and prejudice her self of her dower as if she commit any crime for which she is attainted of Treason Murder or felony she shall have in this case no dower notwithstanding she hath obtained her pardon Allo if after the death of her husband she taketh a Lease for terme of life of the same Lands whereof she is indowable she loseth her dower of the same Moreover if she depart from her husband and lieth in adulterie with another man and is not reconciled again to her husband without cohersion of the Ecclesiasticall power she loseth her dower after her husbands death she shall be also barred of her dower if she will withhold from the heir the Charters and Evidence concerning that Land whereof she asketh dower but none other save the Heir can withhold dower for this cause No Dower It ought not to be unknown also of what things she may demand dower and of what things not of Lands Messuages Advowsons Rent-charge Rent-services or Seigniories in gross or otherwise of Villains of Commons certain of Estovers certain of Milles and Offices or of the profit of them she is dowable but of Commons and Estovers saus number also of Annuities of Homages of things of Pleasure as of Service of paiment of Roses and semblable she shall not be endowed Note There be yet two other kinds of Dower Dowment ex assensu Patris the one is called Dowment ex assensu patris that is to say by the assent of the father and the other is called Dowment de la plus beale part that is to say of the fairest part Dowment ex assensu patris is when the Father is seized of Lands in fee simple and his Sonne which is Heir apparant indoweth his Wife at the Church door when he is espoused of parcel of his Fathers Lands with the assent of his Father in writing testifying the same assent if in this case her Husband die she may forthwith enter into the Land so assigned unto her without further procurement of process of Law although the Father of her said Husband be yet alive and in actuall possession of the Land but if she thus do and
whence it came Yet forasmuch as the Tenant after possibility of Issue had once an Inheritance in him he shall not be punished by an Action of Waste though he make never so much waste in the Lands and Tenements whereas yet in effect he is but a Tenant for terme of life But if this Tenant doth alien in fee such Lands he in the reversion may enter for the forfeiture And this for Estates at this present time shall suffice Forfeiture but to the intent that ye may the more easily comprehend all the members of the division of Possessions and Estates which men have in Lands Tenements and other Hereditaments it shall not be evill done to set forth as it were in a Table before your eyes the division thereof which is this A Figure of the Division of Possessions Possession de Frank-tenement Selon comonley Estate Dinheritance Fee simple Fee-tayl generall speciall Frank-tenement Apres possibilitie dissue extinct Curtesie Dangl ' Dower Terme de vie Terme daut vie Selon custome que poet este divide en mesme le maner come franktenement al common ley Chattell Reall Terme daus Gard de terre Tener a volunt Personal Biens moveables CHAP. XVI Of Parceners or other Coheirs HItherunto I have made a compendious and short declaration of Estates of all sorts but where I said that among Sisters there is no prerogative or preheminence concerning the inheriting of their Ancestors Lands but that they shall be all together inheritours and make as it were but one Heir it is expedient to make a further declaration and process in this behalf and to shew how and in what manner this partition shall be made But ye shall understand Division of Parceners at the Common Law and Parceners by Custome That there be besides Parceners at the Common Law which be only Sisters also Parceners by Custome which is amongst Brothers contrary to the course of the Common Law and this custome is in some places of Rent and in other places where Lands and Tenements be of the tenure of Gavelkind Ye shall therefore kow That when a man is seized of Land in fee-simple or fee tayle and hath no issue but Daughters and die and the Daughters do enter into the Lands thus descended unto them now they be called Parceners or Co-heirs Writ de partione facienda and by a Writ called de partitione facienda brought by one of them against the others they shall be constrained by the Law to suffer an equall partition to be made of the Lands between them Now partition may be made in sundry wayes one way is when they themselves do make partition between them of the whole heritage and do agree unto the same and do enter every one into her part so allotted unto her Another way is Partition in divers manners when by all their agreements and consent one common friend doth make the partition in which case the eldest Sister shall have the first election and after her the second Sister and so forth but if they agree that the eldest Sister shall make the partition and she maketh it then the eldest shall not choose first but shall suffer all her Sisters to choose before her as it is thought There is also another form of partition which is equally to divide the Lands into so many parts as there are Co-heirs or Parceners and to write every part so divided in a severall scroule of paper and so put the said scroules in a bonet or to inclose them severally in balls of wax and then the eldest Sister to choose which ball she will or to put her hand into the bonet and take a scroule and to hould her to her chance and allotment and so consequently every Sister after other And ye shall note Nota. That Partition by agreement may as well be made by nude and bare words without writing as by writing And if any of the Parceners will not suffer any partition to be made then may the other that would have partition A writ de partritone facienda purchase a Writ called De partitione facienda against them that refuse partition to compell the same to suffer partition to be made accordingly and then by the judgment of the Court the Sheriff by the serement and Oath of twelve men shall make partition between them and shall assign to each Sister her portion as he shall think good without giving any election of choice to the eldest And if two Mannors or Meases happen to descend to two Sisters and the Mannors be not of equall value then may she to whom the less Mannor or Mease is allotted have assigned unto her a Rent proportionably out of the other Mannor for the which Rent she and her Heirs may distrain of common right though they have no writing thereof Finally ye shall understand Distress of Common Right That if a man be seized of Lands in fee-simple and hath Issue two Daughters and giveth with one of his Daughters to another man that shall marry her the third or fourth part of his Land in frank-marriage and dieth if in this case the Daughter that is in this wise bestowed and advanced will have her portion of her fathers heritage she must put her Land given unto her in frank-marriage in hochpot new again Hochpot I mean she must be contented to suffer her said Lands to be commixed and mingled with the other Lands of which her Father died seized in fee-simple so that an equall division may be made of the whole or or else she shall have no part of those Lands of which her Father died seized but if her Father had made unto her a common gift in tayl or feofment in fee she should not need to put her Lands in hochpot but may very well keep and retain them still and also have as good part of the rest of the Lands of which her Father died seized as her other sister or Sisters have Frank-marriage for a gift in frank-marriage is accounted the most free and most liberall gift that can be and that gift which the Law judgeth to be only for the advancement and bestowing of the Daughter whereas feofments in fee-simple and also common gifts in tayle be accustomarily for other causes and for the advantage rather of the giver or feoffer then of the taker And if Parceners make partition of Lands being within age that partition is void And if Parceners in fee-simple make partition and the part of the one is better then the other being of full age of 21. years then the partition is good and cannot be defeated but if it be of Lands in fee-tayle the one part being better then the other that partition may be defeated by their Heirs CHAP. XVII Of Joyntenants HItherunto briefly have we spoken of Coheirs called Parceners of the the Common Law which as is heretofore declared do come to Lands and other hereditaments joyntly by the course operation and act of
the Law Now shall we speak somewhat of them that either joyntly or severally come to Lands Tenements or other Hereditaments by their own purchase act procurement and working and of these they that come to them by joynt title way or colour be called joyntenants but they that come by severall titles wayes or colours to Lands or Tenements be named Tenants in common So then if a man being seized of Lands or Tenements Tenants in common or other Hereditaments shall thereof enfeoff two three four or more to have and to hold to them in fee-simple fee-tayle or for terme of their lives or for terme of anothers life these persons so enfeoffed and seized be called Joyntenants also also if two or more do expell and disseize another man of any Lands or Tenements to their own behoof and use these disseizors and wrong doers are now become Joyntenants because by their own act they come joyntly to this Land but if they do disseize another man to the use only of one of them in this case they be not Joyntenants but he to whose use the disseizin is made is Tenant alone of the same and the others have nothing in the tenancy but be called aydours or coadjutors to the disseizin And ye shall understand Disseisin Survivour taketh place That a Disseizin is properly where a man entreth into any Lands or Tenements there where his entry is not lawfull and putteth out him which hath the freehold of the same And ye shall further know That the nature of Joyntenancy is that he which surviveth and overliveth the other shall have to himself alone the whole and entire tenancie according to that estate which he should have had if the joynture had been continued as for example three Joyntenants be of Lands in fee-simple and the one half hath Issue and die in this case the two which do over-live their fellow shall have the whole Lands between them and the Issue of him that is departed getteth nothing and if the second Joyntenant hath Issue also and die the third which hath overlived them both shall now have and enjoy the whole to him and to his Heirs for evermore But otherwise it is of Coheirs Diversitie which in our Law are called Parceners for if there be three such Coheirs and Parceners and before any partition made the one have Issue a Sonne or a Daughter and dieth her portion shall descend and fall to his child and shall not runne amongst the other joynt-heirs or Coparceners howbeit if such Parcener or Coheir had died without Issue then should his portion have descended to his Coheirs but how not by force of surviver or overliving which in Latine is ealled jus acrescendi but by very descent for where any of the Coheirs die without Issue who can be Heir to him or her so dying but the other Coheirs to him or her so dying or the rest of the Coheirs if there be many And like as this right of survivor or overliving holdeth place amongst Joyntenants of Lands and Tenements so in like manner it holdeth place amongst them which have joynt estate or possession with others of Chattels whether they be reall or personall as for example if a Lease of Lands or Tenements be made to many for terme of certain years the overliver or overlivers shall have the whole during the terme by force of the same Lease Joyntenants of reall and personall goods so of Chattels personall if an Horse Oxe grain or other such personall Chattell be given to many he which overliveth shall have the same alone in semblable wise it is of Debts and duties for if an Obligation be made to many for one debt and of some other Covenants and Contracts the Law is likewise so Also some Joyntenants may be which may have joynt estate and be Joyntenants for terme of their lives Joyntenants of severall Inheritances and yet have severall Inheritances as where Lands be given to two men and to the Heirs of their two bodies engendred in this case these two persons have joynt estate for terme of their two lives and yet they have severall Inheritance for if the one have Issue and die the other that surviveth shall have all by force of the survivour for terme of his life and if he that surviveth hath also Issue and die then the Issue of the one shall have the half of the Lands and the Issue of the other shall have the other half and they shall hold the Land between them in common and shall not be Joyntenants but Tenants in common Tenants in common and the cause and reason why such Donees in such cases have a joynt estate for terme of their lives is for that at the begining the Lands were given to them two which words without more saying make a joynt estate to them for terme of their lives for if a man will let Land to another by Deed or without Deed not making mention what estate he hath and of this maketh livery of seisin in this case the Lessee shall have an estate for terme of his life and if he have no livery of seisin he is Tenant at will and so forasmuch as the Lands were given unto them they have a joynt estate for terme of their lives but the cause why they have severall Inheritance is this for that they cannot by possibility have an Heir between them engendred as a man and a woman may have wherefore the Law will that their estate and their Inheritance shall be such as reason will after the form and effect of the words of the gift and that is to the Heirs that the one engendred of his body by and of his Wives and to the Heirs that the other engendreth of his body by any of his Wives so it behoveth by necessity of reason that they have severall Inheritances and in such case if the Issue of one of them after the death of them both doth die so that he hath no Issue alive of his body engendred then the Donor which gave the Land or his Heirs may enter in the half as in his reversion though the other hath Issue alive and the cause is that forasmuch as the Inheritances be severall therefore the reversion in the Law is severed and the survivour of the Issue of the other shall hold no place to have the whole and as it is said of Males in the same manner it is where Lands be given to two Females and to the Heirs of their two bodies begotten Also if Lands be given to two Survivor holdeth no place and to the Heirs of one of them this is a good contenancy and the one hath a freehold and the other hath a fee-simple and if he which hath fee-simple die he that hath the free-hold shall have the whole by the Survivor for term of his life And if these two Joyntenants joyn in a gift in the tayle to a stranger reserving a Rent to him that hath an estate
the grant is made and the other shall hold and Occupie in Common Also if two Joyntenants have the Ward of the Body Joyntenants of a Wa d. and of the Lands of an Heir within age and the one of them granteth to another that that unto him belongth of the same Ward then he to whom the grant is made and the other that granteth not shall have and hold it in Common Of Chattels Personalls as if two have a joynt estate either by gift or by buying of an Horse or of an Oxe or such like and the one of them granteth that that to him belongeth here shall the grantee and he that granteth not have and possess such Chattels personall in common And in such case where divers persons have Chattels reals or personals in common and by divers Titles if one of them die the other that surviveth shall not have his fellows part by the survivour but the Executors of him that dieth shall hold and occupy it with him that surviveth in like form as their Testator did or ought in his life forasmuch as their rights and Titles were severall also in the Case aforesaid if two have an estate in common for terme of years and the one doth occupy all and put the other out of his possession and occupation then shall he that is put out have against the other a Writ de Ejectione firmae for the half A Writ de ejectione firmae in semblable manner where two hold the Ward of Lands or Tenements during the nonage of a Childe if one shall put out the other of his possession he that is out shall have a Writ Ejectione custodiae De ejectione custodiae of the half because these things be Chattells Realls and may be opportionted and severed but no Action of Trespass lieth for one against the other as for example quare olausum fregit herbam suam conculcavit consumpsit nor such like Actions forasmuch as each of them may enter and occupy in common but if two be possessed of Chattels personall in common by divers Titles as of an Horse an Oxe or a Cow if the one take it all to himself out of the possession of the other the other hath none other remedy but to take it again from him that hath done him the wrong when he may see his time In like manner of Chattels realls which may not be severed as in the case aforesaid where two be possessors of the wardship of the body of a Childe within age if one of them shall take the Childe out of the possession of the other the other hath no remedy by any Action at the Law but to take the Childe out of the others possession when he seeth his time Finally ye shall understand Form of Pleading That when a man in pleading and declaring his Cause will shew a Deed of Feoffment made unto him or a gift in fee-tayle or a Lease for terme of life of any Lands or Tenements he shall use his termes in this wise and say By force of such Feoffment Gift or Lease he was seized c. But where a man will declare or plead a Lease or Grant made unto him of a Chattell reall or personall then he shall say By force of which he was possessed CHAP. XX. Of partition to be made by Joyntenants and Tenants in Common enacted by two Statutes made the one in An. 31. H. 8. and the other in 32. H. ALl Joyntenants and Tenants in Common of any estate of Inheritance in their own rights or in the right of their Wives of any Lands or Hereditaments within this Realm of England Wales or the Marches of the same shall and may be compelled to make partition between them of the same which they so hold as Joyntenants or Tenants in common by a Writ de partitione facienda Writ de partitione facienda to be devised in the Chancery in like manner as Coparceners are compelled to do and the same Writ to be pursued at the Common Law Aide prayed And after such partition made every of the said Joyntenants and Tenants in common shall and may have aide of the other or of their Heirs to the intent to dereigne the warranty paramount and to recover for the rate as is used between Coparceners after partition made by the order of the Common Law Item In the thirty second year of King Henry the eight Chap. 32. it is further enacted That all Joyntenants and Tenants in common which hold joyntly or in common for terme of life year or years or Joyntenants or Tenants in common where one or some of them have an estate for terme of life or years with other that have an estate of Inheritance or free-hold in any Lands or other Hereditaments shall be compellable by Writ of Partition to be pursued out of the Chancery upon their Cases to make severance and partition of all such Lands and Hereditaments as they hold joyntly or in common for terme of life or lives year or years or where one or some of them hold joyntly or in common for terme of life or years with other that have an estate of Inheritance of free-hold Provided that no such partition nor severance be hurtfull to any person other then such as be parties unto the said partition their Executors or Assignes CHAP. XXI Of Conditions FOrasmuch as every Estate is either pure or conditionall it were not amiss to make some declaration of the nature and efficacy of Conditions Wherefore ye shall understand that of Conditions some be actuall conditions and be called express Conditions or Conditions indeed and other some be Conditions in Law which be called in Latine Conditiones tacitae sive Conditiones implicitae because they be secretly implied by the Law and not expressed Conditions indeed be such as be knit and annexed by express words to the Feoffment Division Lease or Grant either in writing or without as for example if I infeoff a man of certain Lands reserving to me and to my Heirs so much Rent yearly to be paid at such a Feast and for default of payment that it shall be lawfull for me to reenter this is a feoffment upon condition of payment And here the reenter of the feoffor for the not payment of the Rent shall dissolve and utterly defeat the feoffment Semblamble it is of Gifts in tayle Leases c. but if the Condition be that for default of payment of the Rent it shall be lawfull for the feoffor to enter again into the Lands and to hold them till he be contented and satisfied of the Rent this Condition not performed doth not dissolve nor undoe the feoffment but only giveth to the Feoffor an authority to retain the Lands as it were by way of Distress till he hath levied the arrerages of Rent Distress And ye shall well mark and observe That Conditions be sometime made to be performed on the Feoffees behalf and sometime on the Feoffors behalf
discontinuance but shall hold now by the vulgar and accustomed Homage CHAP. XXXI Of Liveries WHen one dieth which held of the King by Knights-service in Capite that is to say in chief Tenant in chief of the King his Heirs being within age the King as before is declared shall have the wardship and custody as well of the Lands as of the body that is to wit the marriage if he be unmarried but if the Heir be of full age at the time of the death of such ancestor yet shall the King by his Prerogative royall have primer Seisin of all the Lands Tenements Primer seisin and other Hereditaments whereof such his Tenant was seized in his demeane as of see Intruder upon the Kings possession And if such an Heir will enter into his Lands when he cometh to his full age before he sue his Livery and receive Seizin by the King no Freehold shall accrew nor grow unto him but he shall be deemed an intruder into the Kings possession yea and if he die so seized in the mean time his Wife shall have no Dowrie of such Lands wherefore it behoveth in any wise that such Heir as well male as female coming to full age before he or she enter into their Land to sue Livery the manner and form whereof according to the Act of Parliament lately promulgated and set forth I intend briefly to recite CHAP. XXXII How Heirs ought to sue their Liveries enacted 33 H. 6. Cap. 21. NO Person or Persons having Lands or Tenements about the yearly value of five Pound Writ Diem clausit extremum shall have any Livery before Inquisition or Office found before the Eschetor or other Commissioner by virtue of the Kings Writ of Diem clausit extremum or Commission directed out of the Chancery or other Courts having authority to make such a Writ or Commission which shall not pass out of the same but by Warrant or Bill assigned and subscribed by the Master of Wards or Liveries the Surveyor Atturney and recoverer of the said Court or three two or one of them to be directed and delivered to the Chancellor of England or to any other Chancellor or Officer having power to awarde such Writs and for the writing and sealing of the same shall be paid of the accustomed Fees But if the Land exceed not the said yearly value of five Pounds then they shall pay for the Seals of every such Writ or mission eight Pence and for the Comwriting six Pence and not above And the Inquisitions and Offices hereupon found shall be returned by the said Escheters or Commissioners into the same Court from whence the Writ or Commission was awarded which done the Clerks of the Petty-bogg shall receive the same Offices and and make a Transcript thereof to the Master of the Wards and Liveries And then the said Master and the Surveyor Atturney and generall Receiver or three of them whereof the Master or Surveyor to be one shall Covenant and Indent with such Persons for their Livery of the Castles Mannours Lordships Lands Tenements and Hereditaments comprized or not comprized in such Offices and shall make and set a rate and price of the same and appoint the daies of payment thereof by Obligation to be taken for the same to the King And every Bill for any speciall or generall Livery assigned by the hands of the said Master Surveyor Atturney Receiver or three of them whereof the Master or Surveyor to be one shall be Warrant sufficient to the Lord Chancellor or other Officer having power to pass Liveries under any of the Kings Seals accordingly In which case the Clerks of the Petty-bogge or other Clerks by whom the Liveries be written shall receive as well for themselves as for other such Fees as hath been accustomed Item Generall Livery Every person may sue at his pleasure a generall Livery for any Mannours Lands Tenements Rents Reversions Remainders or other Hereditaments whereof the clearly yearly value shall not exceed twenty Pounds provided that an Office be thereof found and a Warrant first obtained of the said Master and others as is aforesaid And where such generall Livery is sued if the Lands exceed the yearly value of five Pounds they shall pay for the Seal twenty Shillings four Pence and all other Fees accustomed as afterwards shall be declared But if they exceed not the yearly value of five pound they shall pay but these Fees following that is to say for the Seal of the Livery twelve Pence to the Clerks of the Petty-bogge for the writing and the inrolling twenty Pence for the respect of the Homage in the Hanapar eight Pence to the Lord great Chamberlaine twenty Pence to the Master of the Rolles twenty Pence and the Clerk of the Liveries for the Warrant and Inrolling of the Livery twenty Pence Item Respect of Homage No person or persons shall pay in the Exchequer or any other Rents for the respect of Homage for any Lands or Hereditaments not exceeding the yearly value of five Pound above eight Pence and for the entering thereof and Warrant of Atturney above four Pence And the value of such Lands and He-Hereditaments not exceeding the yearly value of twenty Pound shall be taken as it is limited in the Offices founden thereof except by the examinations and Certificate of the said Master Surveyor Atturney and Receiver or three of them It shall otherwise appear and be declared in any of the Kings Courts Also no Eschetor shall sit only by virtue of his Office for the inquiry of the Tenure Title or value of any Lands or other Hereditaments holden of the King being of the yearly value of five Pounds Paines of forfeit or above without the Kings Writ to him directed upon pain to forfeit five Pound for every time he shall so do neither shall he take for the finding of any Office of Lands Fees of Office not exceeding the yearly value of five Pound above fifteen Shillings That is to say six Shillings eight Pence for his own Fee and three Shillings four Pence for the writing of the Office and for the Charges of the Jury three Shillings and for the Officers that shall receive the Offices in any Court of Record two Shillings upon pain that the Eschetor doing otherwise shall for every time forfeit five Pound And upon like pain the Officers of every Court of Record where such Inquisitions shall be returned being offered unto them within one Moneth next after the finding thereof shall receive them the one Moity of all with forfeitures to the King and the other to the Party that will sue for the same c. And they which hereafter shall be in case to sue Livery whose Lands and Tenements exceed not the yearly value of five Pound may lawfully sue forth that general Livery by Warrant from the said Courts as is aforesaid although none other Inquisition be thereof had nor certified paying nevertheless the Fees above
as is hereafter declared in pain to forfeit so much as he takes or demands more and likewise 40s to the party grieved to be recovered by Action of Debt wherein no essence c. shall be allowed None shall take or demand for a Mortuary any thing at all where by the Custome they have not been usually paid nor upon the death of a Woman covert a Child a Person not keeping house a Wayfaring man one not residing in the place where he happens to dye nor where the goods of the dead Person Debts deducted amount not to the value of 10. Marks nor above the Summe of 3s 4d when they exceed not 30lb nor above 6s 8d when they exceed 30lb but not 40lb nor above 10s when they amount to 40lb or above And if the Person dye in a place where he or she dwelleth not their Mortuary shall be paid in the place where they had their most abode This Act shall not abridge Spirituall Persons to receive Legacies bequeathed to them or to the Kings Altar No Mortuaries shall be paid in Wales Callais or Barwick or in any of their Marches save only in Wales and the Marches thereof where they have been accustomed to be paid and such as are there paid shall be regulated according to the order prescribed by this Act. The B P of Bangor Landaff S. Davids and S. Assaph and the Arch Deacon of Chester shall take Mortuaries of the Priests within their Jurisdiction as hath been accustomed notwithstanding his Act. Lesse Mortuaris already setled by custome shall not be increased and there also persons exempted by this Act shall not hereafter be chargeable CHAP. XLV Of Discontinuance IT is called a Discontinuance by the Laws of England whereby he hath the possession of Lands or Tenements for the time present and yet not haveing the Fee-simple in himself nor in his own right only maketh an Alienation of the same to another by reason whereof he that should have them after him and which then hath right unto them cannot enter but is driven to his remedy by way of Action in such wise that the said Lands be not utterly shifted c. gone from such Person or Persons as have right unto them but be all only discontinued for a time till the Person which after the death of such discontinuer hath right unto them do continue and bring them home again not by entry but by suit and way of action As for example a Tenant in tayl of certain Lands doth Enfeoff another in the same in Fee-simple or Fee-tayle and hath Issue and dyeth his Issue cannot enter into the Lands though he hath Title and right unto them Formedon in the descender but is but to his Action which is called a Formedon in the descender And if such Tenant in tayle which maketh such a Feoffment hath no Issue at time of his death it is yet neverthelesse a discontinuance to him which is either in the reversion or in the remainder so that neither the one nor the other can enter Formedon in the reverter or remainder but be driven to their Action he in the reversion of his Formedon in the reverter and he in the remainder to his Formedon in the remainder In like manner if a Bishop doth alien Lands Entre sine assensue Capitali which be parcell of his Bishoprick and dyeth this is a discontinuance of his Successor Forasmuch as he cannot enter but is driven to his Writ of entre sine assensu Capitali Semblable if a Deane be sold seized of Lands in the right of his Deanry and maketh such an Alienation this is a discontinuance to his Successor Also the Master of an Hospitall alieneth any Lands of his Hospitall that is a discontinuance and his Successor cannot enter but is put to his Writ Igressu sine assensu confratrum sororum De ingressu sine ascensu confratrum sororum But if a Parson or a Vicar of a Church will alien any of his glebe-Lands to another in Fee-simple or Fee-tayl and dieth or resigneth his Benefice this is no discontinuance to his Successor but he may very well enter notwithstanding such Alienation made by his Predecessor And the highest Writ that a Parson can have if his Predecessor have aliened his Glebe-Land or lost it by default or Reddition is a Juris utrum Reddition that is voluntarily yielding And furthermore note That no Tenant of the Land can by his or their Act discontinue the right of him in the Reversion unless it be by Feoffment with Livery and Seisin or else by a Release with Warranty And note That such things as pass by way of Grant by Deed without Livery and Seisin cannnot be discontinued as an Advowson Common or a Villain in Gross Reversion Rent-charge Common for Beasts certain and such other like And ye shall understand That in 32 H. 8. it was enacted that no fine Feoffment or other Act to be made or suffered by the Husband only of any Lands or Tenements being the Inheritance or the Free-hold of his Wife during the Coverture between them should be any discontinuance thereof or be prejudiciall or hurtfull to the said Wife or to her Heirs or to such as should have right title or interest to the same by the death of such Wife but that the same Wife and her Heirs and such other to whom such right should appertain after her decease may then lawfully enter in all such Lands and Tenements according to their rights and titles therein CHAP. LXVI How Recoveries by Collusion against Tenants for term of life is no Discontinuance An. 32. H. 8. WHere divers Persons seized of Lands and Hereditaments as Tenants by the Courtesie of England or otherwise only for term of life or lives have heretofore suffered other persons by agreement or covine between them had to recover the same against them in the Kings Court by reason whereof they to whom the reversion or remainder thereof have belonged have after the deaths of such Tenants been driven to their Actions for the recontinuance and obtaining the said Lands and Tenements so recovered and sometimes have been clearly disherited of the same It is enacted that all such Recoveries hereafter to be had by agreement of the Party or by covine or against any such particular Tenant of Lands or Hereditaments whereof he is or hereafter shall be seized as Tenant by the Courtesie of England Tenant in tayl after possibility of issue extinct or otherwise for term of life shall from henceforth as against such persons to whom the reversion or remainder shall then appertain and against their Heirs and Successors be clearly void Provided that this Act extend not to any person that shall by good title recover any Hereditaments without fraud or covine against any such particular Tenant by reason of any former right or title nor to avoid any recovery to be had against any such particular Tenant by the assent and agreement of those in the
reversion or remainder so that such assent and agreement to appear of record in the Kings Court. CHAP. XLVII How wrongfull Diseisin is no discent in the Law Enact Anno 32. H. 8. WHere divers persons have by strength and without title entered into Lands and Tenements and wrongfully diseised and dispossessed the rightfull owners and possessors thereof and so being seized by diseisin have died seized thereof by reason of which dying seized the Parties that were so diseized and dispossessed or such other persons as before such descent might have lawfully entered into the said Lands and Tenements be thereby clearly excluded of their entry into the Land and put to their Action for their remedy and recovery thereof It is enacted that the dying seized hereafter of any such diseisour having no right or title therein shall not be deemed any such discent in the Law as to take away the entry of such persons or the Heirs which at the time of the same discent had good title of entry into the same Except that such diseisor had the peaceable possession of his Lands or Tenements whereof he shall so die seized by the space of five years next after the diseisin by him committed without entrie or continuall claim by such as have lawfull title thereunto CHAP. LXVIII The Limitation of Prescription Enacted Anno 32. H. 82. SEisin in a Writ of Right shall be within sixty years before the teste of the same Writ Limitation of years In a Mordancester Cosenage Ayel Writ of Entry Sur diseisin Limitation of 50 years or any other possessory Action upon the possession of his Ancester or Predecessor it shall be within 50 years before the teste of the Original of any such Writ In a Writ upon the Parties own seisin or possession Limitation of 30 years it shall be within 30 years before the teste of the original of the same Writ In an Avowry or Cognizance for rent sute or services of the seisin of his Ancester Predecessor or his his own or of any other whose estate he pretends to have it shall be within 40 years befor the making such Avowry or Cognizance Avowry Formedons in reverter or remainder scire facias upon fines shall be sued within 50 years after the title or cause of Action accrued and not after The Party Demandant Plaintiff or Avowant that upon traverse or deiner by the other Party cannot prove actuall possession or seisin within the times above limitted shall be for ever after barred in all such Writs Actions Barre Avowries Cognizance Prescription c. Provided that in any of the said Actions Attaint upon false Verdict Avowries Prescriptions c. the party grieved may have an Attaint upon a false Verdict given CHAP. XLIX Of Fines FInes have their Names because they make a finall end and determination of all sutes strifes and debates between men For the due levying whereof it was enacted in the fourth year of King Henry the seventh That every Fine after the engrossing shall be proclaimed in the Court the same Term and the three next four severall daies in every Term and in the mean time all Pleas shall cease The Proclamation being so made they shall conclude all Persons both Princes and strangers except women covert persons under age in prison out of the Realm or of none sane memory being not Parties to the Fine The right and interest that any person or persons other then Parties hath or have at the time of the Fine ingrossed is saved so that they or their Heirs pursue such the r right or interest by Action or Lawfull entry within five years after the Proclamations so made so also is the right and interest saved which accrues after the ingrossing of the Fine so that the parties having the same pursue within five years after it so accrues and in this case the Action may be brought against the pernor of the profits If at the time of the Fine ingrossed or of such accruer as aforesaid the persons be covert and no parties to the Fine under age in prison out of the Realm or of none sane memory they or their Heirs have time to pursue their Actions within five years after such imperfection removed The exception that none of the parties nor any to their use had any thing in the Lands at the time of the Fine levied is saved to all persons except parties and Princes Fines at the Common Law have the same force that they had before the making of this Act and a Fine may be levied this way or at the Common Law at the pleasure of the parties ☜ Furthermore in 32. Year of _____ for the avoiding of certain doubts and ambiguities it was enacted that all Fines levied of any person or persons of full age of Lands intailed before the same Fine to themselves or to any of their Ancestors in possession reversion remainder or use shall immediately after the Fine ingressed and Proclamations made be a sufficient barre against them and their Heirs claiming only by such En-tayle and against all others claiming only to their use or to the use of any Heir of their bodies Howbeit this Act shall not barre the interest of any persons accrued by reason of any Fine levied by a Woman after her Husbands death contrary to the Statute of V. H. 7.20 A Fine levied by him who is restrained by any express Act of Parliament so to do shall be void notwithstanding this Act. This Act shall not extend to any Fine heretofore levied of Lands now in suit or heretofore Lawfully recovered in any court by Judgement or otherwise Nor to any Fine of Lands entayled by the Kings Letters-patents or any Act of Parliament the reversion thereof at the time of such fine levied being in the King CHAP. L. Of Testaments or last Wills TEstamentum in Latin is as much to say as mentis Testatio Division that is a Declaration or witnessing of a mans mind And there be two sorts of Testaments The other is called Testamentum Scriptum Written Testament that is a written Testament or last Will by writing and the other is called Testamentum Nuncupaticum The Testament Nuncupative a Testament Nuncupative which is when a man doth express by Mouth his last Will and Testament without writing by calling before him certain of his Neighbours in whose presence he doth signifie by words of his last mind and Will And this for the most part men use to do when for fear of suddenness of death they dare not abide the writing of their Will And this Will unless it be in certain cases is as strong and as sure as is a Testament or last Will put in writing and Sealed with the Seale of the Testator Also though a Testament by writing be not Sealed with the Seale of the Testator yet is the Testament good and effectuall in the Law And ye shall also mark That where a man maketh once his Testament
taken had and sued out of the Kings hands by the person or persons to whom they shall be so disposed willed or devised in like manner as hath been used by any Heir or Heirs before the making of this Statute Every person having Mannours Lands c. of Estate in Inheritance holden of the King in chief by Knights-service or of the nature of Knights-service in chief hath power by his last Will in writing or by any other Act executed in his life to give dispose will or assign two parts thereof in three parts to be divided or else so much thereof as shall amount to the yearly value of two parts thereof in three parts to be divided in certainty and by speciall divisions that it may be known in severalty for the advancement of his Wife preferment of his Children and payment of his debts or otherwise at his pleasure Here also the custody Wardship and Primer Seisin or any of them as the case shall require of as much of such Mannours Lands c. as shall amount to the clear yearly value of the third part thereof as also all fines for Alienations upon such alteration of the Free-hold or Inheritance are saved to the King Every person having Mannours Lands c. of Estate of Inheritance holden of the King in chief by Knight-service and having other Mannours Lands c. holden of the King or any other by Knight-service or otherwise hath power to give dispose or will or assign by Will in writing or otherwise by Act executed in his life two parts thereof in three parts to be divided or so much thereof as shall amount to the yearly value of two parts thereof to be severed as aforesaid for the advancement of his Wife preferment of his Children and payment of his Debts or otherwise at his pleasure Here likewise the Custody Wardship Primer Seisin and Fines for Alienation are saved to the King as before Every person having Mannours Lands c. of estate of Inheritance holden of any other Lord by Knight-service and other Lands in Socage or of the nature of Socage may give dispose assure by will or otherwise by Act executed in his life two parts of the Knight-service Land or so much thereof as shall amount to the yearly value of two parts as aforesaid and also all the Socage Land at his pleasure saving to such Lord for his Custody and Wardship so much of the Knight-service Land as shall amount to the yearlyly value of the third part thereof Every person having Mannours Lands c. holden of the King by Knight-service and not in chief or any Mannours Lands c. holden of the King by Knight-service and not in chief and other Mannours Lands c. holden of any other person by Knight-service and also other Mannours Lands c. holden of any other person in Soccage or in the nature of Soccage may give dispose will devise and assure by his last Will or otherwise by Act executed in his life two parts of the said Knight-service Land or so much thereof as shall amount to two parts of the yearly value thereof as aforesaid all the Soccage Land at his will and pleasure Howbeit here also the Custody and Wardship of so much of the said Knight-service Mannours Lands c. as shall amount to the yearly value of the third part thereof are saved to the King and other Lords respectively and if the King or other Lord have not in this case a full third part set out for them they may respectively take into their possession so much of the other two parts as will make it a full third part Provided that all persons shall sue Liverie for Possessions Reversions or Remainders and pay Reliefs and Heriots as they did before the making of this Act. Fines for Alienations shall be paid in Chancery upon Writs of Entry in the Post for common Recoveries suffered of any Mannours Lands c. holden of the King in chief in like manner as upon Alienations of such Mannours Lands c. by Fine or Feoffment Howbeit no other Fine shall be paid there for any such Writs but only such Fines for Alienations Where two or more hold any Mannours Lands c. of the King by Knight-service joyntly to them and their Heirs of one of them and he that hath the Inheritance dieth his Heir being within age the King shall have the Ward and Marriage of such Heir the life of Free holder or Free holders notwithstanding saving to every Woman her Interest of Dower in such Lands to be assigned out of the two parts thereof severed from the third part as abovesaid and not otherwise and saving also the King the Reversions of all such Tenants by joynt-Tenure and Dower after the death of such Tenants in case they happen to die during the Nonage of the Kings Ward CHAP. LIV. Matrimony and Marriage ALl Marriages shall be adjudged lawfull which are not prohibited by Gods Law What marriages shall be lawfull Spirituall persons may marry 32 H. 8.38 All Laws Canons Constitutions and Ordinances which prohibit Marriages to spirituall Persons who by Gods Law may marry and all forfeitures therein shall be void 2 3. E. 6.21 Bigamus is Felony A Bigamus shall suffer death as a Felon unless he or she have had no notice that the Husband or Wife was living within seaven years before or the Marriage be severed by Divorce This Felony shall cause no corruption of blood Bigamy causeth no corruption of blood c. or loss of Dower or inheritance 1 Jac. 11. CHAP. LV. Of Voucher VOucher is when a Praecipe quod reddat of Land is brought against a man What Voucher is and another ought to Warrant the Land to the Tenant then the Tenant shall Vouch him to Warranty and thereupon he shall have a Writ called Summoneas ad Warrantizandum And if the Sheriff return that he hath nothing by the which he may be Summoned then there shall go forth a Writ called Sequatur sub suo periculo and when he cometh he shall plead with the Demandant and if he come not or if he come and cannot barre the Demandant then the Demandant shall recover the Land against the Tenant and the Tenant shall recover as much Land in value against the Vouchee and thereupon shall have a Writ called Capias ad valentiam against the Vouchee CHAP. LIV. Voucher and Connter-Plea of Voucher WHen any demandeth Land against another A Tenant impleaded voucheth the vouchee denieth the Warranty and the party that is impleaded Voucheth to Warranty and the Vouchee denieth his Warranty in this case like as the Tenant should loose the Land in Demand in case where he Vouched and the Vouchee could discharge himself of the Warranty In the same wise shall the Vouchee loose in case where he denieth his Warranty and if it be found and tryed against him that he is bound to Warranty And if an Enquest be depending between the Tenant and the
the disseisour maketh a feoffment to two men in fee if the person disseized release to one of the feoffees in fee by his Deed then such Release shall inure to both the feoffees because the feoffees have their estate by the Law that is to say by the feoffment and not by wrong done to any other And in like manner if the disseizour make a Lease to a man for terme of life A Release shall inure to him in the remainder the remainder over to another in fee if the disseises will release to the Tenant for terme of life all his right this Release serveth as well to him in the remainder as the Tenant for terme of life And the cause is for that the Tenant for terme of life cometh to his estate by the course of the Law and for this cause the Lease shall inure and take effect by way of extinguishment of the right of him that hath released and by this Release the Tenant for terme of life hath no greater estate then he had before the Release made unto him And yet the right of him that released is all utterly extinct and gone wherefore for as much as such a Release cannot enlarge the estate of the Tenant for term of life it is reason that it shall serve him in the remainder Also if there be two Parceners and the one alieneth his part to another the other Parcener and the alience be Tenants in Common Furthermore Tenants in Common by Title of prescription Tenants in Common may be by Title of Prescription if that one and his Ancestors or they whose estate he hath in the half have holden in Common the same half with the other Tenant that hath the other half and with his Ancestours or them whose estate he hath as undenied time out of mind and ye shall mark that in some case Tenants in Common ought to have of their possession severall actions and in some case they shall joyn in one action Actions severall for if there be two Tenants in Common and they be disseised they ought to have against the Disseisor two Assizes and not one Assize for every one of them ought to have an Assize of his half Assize because they were seized by severall Titles but otherwise it is of Joyntenants for if there be twenty Joyntenants and they be disseised they shall have in all their names but one Assize Assize because they have but one Joynt-Title Also if there be three Joyntenants of whom the one Releaseth to one of his fellowes all the right he hath and afterward the other two be disseised of the whole in this case they shall have in both their names one of the two parts And as to the third part he to whom the Release was made ought to have hereof an Assize in his own name because as to the third part he is Tenant in Common Also as to sue Actions that touch the Realty Diversity there is a Diversity between Parceners that are in by divers discents and Tenants in Common For if a man seized of certain Lands in fee hath Issue two Daughters and die and they enter into the Lands as Co-heirs and each of them have Issue a Son and die without partition made between them so that the one half discendeth to the Son of the one Parcener and the other half to the Sonne of the other and they Enter and Occupie in Common and be disseised in this case they shall have in their two names one Assize and not two Assizes and yet the cause is though they come in by divers Discents yet they be Coheirs and Parceners Also if two Tenants in Common of certain Lands in fee give the same to another man in the tayl or let it to another for term of life yielding an annunity or certain Rent or a pound of Pepper or an Hawk or an Horse and they be seized of these services and afterward all the Rent is behinde and they Distrain for it and the Tenant maketh Rescous in this case Rescous as to the Rent and the pound of Pepper they shall have two Assizes and as to the Hawk and the Horse but one Assize and the cause why they have two Assizes as to the Rent and pound of Pepper is for that they were Tenants in Common by severall Titles and when they made a gift in the tayle for Lease of term of life saving and reserving to them the Reversion and yielding to them certain Rent This Reservation is incident to their Reversion and because their Reversion is in Common and by severall Titles even as their possession was before the Rent and other things which may be severed and which were to them reserved upon the gift or upon the Lease which be incident by the Law to the Reversion Plaint in Assize Therefore such things so severed be of the nature of the Reversion wherefore it behoveth that the Rent and the pound of Pepper which may be severed to be then in Common by severall Titles and of this they shall have two Assizes and every of them in his Assize shall make his Plaint of the half of the Rent and of the half of the pound of Pepper but of the Hawk and the Horse which cannot be severed they shall have but one Assize for it were an absurdity and thing inconvenient to make a plaint in Assize of the half of an Hawk or of the half of an Horse In like manner it is of the other Rents and services that Tenants in Common have in ground by divers Titles And ye shall understand Personall Action that concerning Actions personalls Tenants in Common ought to have them Joyntly in all their names that is to say Of trespass or of offences that touch their Tenements in Common as of breaking of their Houses breaking of their Closes and Pastures wasting and defouling of their Grass cutting of their Weeds and of Fishing in their Ponds and such other they shall recover joyntly damages because the action is in the personalty and not in the realty Damages Also if Tenants in Common make a Lease of their Tenements to another for term of years Tenants in Common shall have one Action of Debt yiedling unto them yearly a certain Rent if the Rent be behind they shall have one action of debt against the Lessee and not divers actions because the action is in the Personalty but in an Avowry for the said Rent they ought to be severed because it is in the realty as be the Assizes CHAP. XIX Of Chattells IT is to be known that as there be Tenants in Common of Lands or Tenements so there be Tenants in Common of possessions and property of Chattells as well Reall as Personall Of Reall as if a Lease be made of certain Lands to two Men for term of Twenty years and when they be thereof Possessed the one granteth that that unto him belongeth during the term to another he to whom