for the space of these eight years now last past detained the said Gift of thirty shillings from the said charitable Use to and for which the same was Devised assigned and limited as aforesaid And that at the Feast of c. there was and yet is the summ of c. of the said yearly payment of thirty shillings per ann. so Devised limited assigned and appoined by the said M G. to and for the charitable use intent and purpose aforesaid behind arrear and unpaid In witness c. AN Inquisition indented taken at the S. at B. in the said County the day of c. before J. W. W. E. c. Gent. by vertue of a Commission under the Great Seal of England bearing date c. to them and divers other persons directed for the due execution of a Statute made in the High Court of Parliament holden the 27 day of October in the three and fortieth year of the Reign of the late Queen Elizabeth intituled An Act to redresse the misimployment of Lands Goods and Stocks of Money heretofore given to charitable uses by the oaths of J. F. R. L. c. honest and lawfull men of the said County who being duly returned impannelled and sworn according to the said Statute and Commission do say upon their oaths That one M. B. on or about the day of c. was seized in his Demesne as of Fee of and in one Messuage c. And that the said M. B. being so seized of the said Messuages and Premisses aforesaid he the said M. B. made his last Will and Testament in Writing bearing date the day of c. and by the same his said Will did amongst other things give demise and bequeath the said Messuages called C. to A. his wife during her life and after her decease to the Church of T. aforesaid in these words following Item I give c. And the Jurors aforesaid do further say upon their oaths That one T. K. on or about the day of c. did enter into the said Messuages and Premisses called C. and by himself and his under Tenants possessed and enjoyed the same and took and received the rents and profits thereof during his life paying onely seven Nobles per ann out of the rents and profits of the same to the Churchwardens and Parish of T. to and for the charitable Use aforesaid And the Jurors aforesaid do further say upon their oaths That after the death of the said T. K. E. K. Son of the said T. K. now also deceased entred into the said Messuages and Premisses and by himself and his under tenants did take and receive the rents and profits thereof during his life and continued the payment of the said seven Nobles per ann. for the same to the said Church untill about twelve years last past at which time the said E. K. did refuse to continue the payment of the said seven Nobles per ann. any longer And the Jurors aforesaid do further say upon their oaths that the said Messuages so as aforesaid divised was divers years since made divided and converted into severall Tenements And that the said Massuage or Tenement called C. and now commonly called by the name of the Church-House is now and for divers years last past hath been in the possession of E. C. And that the said Houses Tenements and Cottages in T. aforesaid now in the Tenure or Occupation of E. P. Widow were formerly out-houses belonging to and parcell of the said Messuage and Premisses with the Appurtenances called C. alias the Church-House And the said Jurors do further say upon their oaths That the said Messuage or Tenement Houses and Premisses now are and for these six years last past have been of the clear yearly value of c. above the moneys payable out of the Rents and Profits thereof to and for the superstitious uses above mentioned and all other charges and reprizes And the Jurors aforesaid do further say upon their oaths That sithence the death of the said E. K. which happened about two years since the rents of the Messuage Tement and other the Premisses have been claimed by T. K. Son and Heir of E. K. as belonging to him as Son and Heir to his said Father and that the said Messuage Tenement and Premisses have been enjoyed and disposed of by him the said T. K. and his under Tenants and the Issues Rents and Profits growing and arising out of the same for these two years last past have been received and enjoyed by the said T. K. and by him converted to his own particular use and benefit In witnesse whereof to one part of this present Inquisition delivered by the said Jurors to the said Commissioners and by them to be returned into the high Court of Chancery as well the said Commissioners as the said Jurors have set their Hands and Seals And the other part thereof remaining with the Fore-man of the said Jurors the said Commissioners have set their Hands and Seals the day and year first above written AN Inquisition c. By the oaths of c. who being duly returned impannelled and sworn according to the said Statute and Commission say upon their oath That on or about the tenth day of J. in the twentieth year of the Reign of Henry the eighth late King of England J. C. R. A. J. C. T. B. W. C. W. S. T. T and T. W. as Feoffees in Trust for one J. B. sometimes of E. in the said County Yeoman deceased stood joyntly seise of and in their Demesne as of Fee in one Messuage with the Appurtenances scituate and being in G. in the County aforesaid c. And that the said J C. R. A. and other the aforesaid Feoffees being so of the said Messuage Lands and Premisses seised in Trust as aforesaid the said J. B. made his last Will and Testament in Writing bearing date the sixteenth day of A. in the said twentieth year of the Reign of the said late King H. 8. and by the same did will declare and appoint that they the said J. C. R. A. and other his Trustees aforesaid their Heirs and Assignes and all such other person and persons as should stand seised of the said Messuage Lands and Premisses with the Appurtenances from time to time of the issues and profits coming and growing of the said Tenement and Lands should sufficiently repair new build and maintain the Houses Edifices and Buildings of the said Tenement as often and when as need should be for evermore And further that the said Feoffees of the issues and profits coming of the said Tenement Lands and other the Premisses with the Appurtenance should do keep and find on the day of the Moneth that the said J. B. deceased or within six days before or within six days after an yearly obit or anniversary within the aforesaid Parish Church of E. for the Souls of the said J. B. the Souls of his father and mother his wife and children and all
other person and persons now holding occupying or enjoying the same Messuages Lands Tenements and Premises before mentioned to and for the maintenance of the Charitable use before mentioned and every of them shall within one month next after notice of this Decree leave surrender and yeild up the Possession of the said Messuages Lands Tenements and Premises unto or for the Church-wardens of T. aforesaid and that the said Church-wardens shall within three months next after they shall be actually possessed of the said Lands Tenements and Premises make and execute a Feoffment of the same Lands Tenements and Premises to the use of themselves and thirteen others of the Parishioners of T. aforesaid and their heirs in such manner as by Councell learned shall be advised and directed to the end intent and purpose that the Feoffes in such Feoffment to be named and their heirs may stand and be seized of the same Lands Tenements and Premises upon trust and confidence that they and their heirs shall permit and suffer the Church-wardens of the same Parish for the time being to receive and take the Rents and Profits of the same Premises from time to time as the fame shall arise become due and payable to and for the reparation of the said Parish-Church of S. aforesaid as often and when as need shall require and that when ten or more of the said Feoffes of the Premises shall be dead or before if it shall be thought expedient the surviving Feoffes shall make a new Feoffment of the same Premises to the use of themselves and of so many more of the Parishioners of T. aforesaid as shall make it the number of fifteen And that that order and rule shall be observed in all succeeding Generations And the Commissioners aforesaid do further order adjudge decree that the Church-wardens of T. aforesaid for the time being shall upon Tuesday in the Easter week yearly give up true and perfect accounts in writing to the Feoffes of the Premises or the Major part of them in the Parish-Church of T. aforesaid of their Receits and Disbursements of touching and concerning the Rents and Profits of the Premises And if it shall upon such account appeare that any monies are remaining in their hands that then the said Church-wardens so accounting shall within one month then next following deliver and pay over the said Monies so remaining in their hands to the succeeding Church-wardens to and for the Charitable use before mentioned And forasmuch as it appeareth unto the said Commissioners that the said T. H. the Grandchild hath in his custody an ancient Deed or Writing whereby the said Messuages or Tenements and Premises were conveyed to the said A. B. and his heirs and likewise the Originall Will of the said A. B. whereby the Premises are demised limited appointed or assigned to and for the Charitable use before mentioned The said Commissioners do further order adjudge and decree that the said T. H. shall within one month after notice of this Decree deliver un-the Church-wardens of T. aforesaid for the time being the said Deed and Will and all other Deeds Evidences and Writings touching and concerning the said Messuages Tenements and Premises or any of them which now are or have been in his hands or custody or in the hands or custody of any other person or persons to his use or by his consent or delivery at any time sithence the death of the said E. H. And lastly the said Commissioners do further order adjudge and decree that the said T. H. the Grandchilde shall within one month next after notice of this Decree pay unto the Church-wardens of the said Parish-Church of T. for the time being the sum of twenty pounds of lawful mony of England for the Rents and Profits of the said Messuages Tenements and Premises by him received since the death of his said Father E. H. Which the said Church-wardens are to imploy and bestow in and about the repaire of the said Parish Church as need and occasion shall be and require In witnesse whereof the Commissioners aforesaid have hereunto set their hands and seals the day and year above written Exceptions to a Decree EXceptions taken by T. H. Gent. to a Decree made at R. in the County of D. on Tuesday the ninth day of September in the year of our Lord 1645. made by W. C. J. H. C. M. and G. M Commissioners appointed and authorized by a Commission under the great Seal of England bearing date the eighth day of February 1643. directed to the said Commissioners and to divers other persons in the County of D. grounded upon the Statute made in the three and fourtieth year of the reign of the late Queen Elizabeth Intituled An Act made to redress misimployments of Lands Goods and stocks of Money given to charitable Uses as followeth WHereas it is set forth by the said Decree that one A. B. by his Will in Writing bearing date the 17. day of January 1524. did Devise and bequeath a Messuage or Tenement with certain houses and a Garden thereunto belonging with the Appurtenances in T. in the said County of D. commonly called or known by the dame of C. to A. his Wife during her life and after her decease unto the Church of T. aforesaid in these words following Item I Will after my decease that A. my wife have my House called C. during her naturall life and she to keep up the reparations of the said House and the Lords Rent to pay and she to find four Tapers of four pound of Wax that is one before the Rude under the Rude loft and another before our Lady another before St. Thomas and one before St. Anthony Item I Will that she keep mine Obit every year during her life and to have every year three Priests and they to have eight pence a piece and two dozen of bread and a kinder kin of double Beer and two Cheeses price of twenty pence Item I Will and appoint after my decease that all and singular my Evidences and my Copies that they be delivered into the custody of the Churchwardens of the Parish of Peter and Paul of T. aforesaid Item I will that after the naturall life of A. my Wife that then my House called C. with all the Appurtenances belonging thereunto as is more plainly specified by my Deeds that it shall remain evermore unto the Church aforesaid First to keep mine Obit yearly and the four Tapers of four pounds of Wax Moreover I Will that after the decease of A. my wife that the Churchwardens do buy six pounds of Wax and make the common light and the Tapes before the Rude to the full of two pounds of Wax a piece and so to continue for evermore and the residue of the Rent to remain to the reparations of the Church aforesaid And whereas it is set forth by the said Decree that the said A. and B. and A. B. are long since dead and that T. H. Esquire deceased on or about
the six and twentieth day of January in the thirtieth year of the reign of the late Queen Elizabeth did enter into the said Messuage and Premisses called C. and was possessed thereof and during his life took the Rents and profits thereof paying onely five Nobles per ann. out of the Rents and profits of the same Messuage and Premisses to the Churchwardens and Church of T. to the charitable use aforesaid and that E. H. Esq deceased son of the said T. also entred upon the Premisses and paid the five Nobles a yeare as abovesaid untill about twelve years last past at which time the said E. H. refused to pay it and that the same premisses is now divided into severall Tenements and that since the death of the said E. H. who died about two years before the Decree the said Exceptant T. H. Son and Heir of the said E. H. came to the said Messuage and Premisses called C. as Son and Heir to the said E. H. And the said Commissioners have ordered that the said Exceptant T. H. and his Tenants should surrender and yeild up the Possession of the said Messuage and Premisses unto the Church-wardens of T. aforesaid and to deliver up the Deeds and Evidences of the same Premisses and to pay unto the said Churchwardens the summ of twenty pounds to be imployed for the repairs of the said Church Unto which Decree this Exceptant T. H. doth except and conceives and is advised by his Counsel that he is not nor ought to be bound by the said Decree and Order made by the said Commissioners as aforesaid for the Causes and Reasons hereafter following And first For that it appeareth by an ancient Deed of Feoffment bearing date the two and twentieh day of June in the tenth year of the Reign of the late King Henry the eighth that one J. K. and J. his wife W. F. W. T. J. S. and R. M. did grant and confirm unto the before named A. B. R. F. R. F. and J. R. to the use of the said A. B. and his Heirs and Assigns forever all that the Messuage with the buildings gardens and Appurtenances called C. scituate lying and being in T. in the County of D. between c. as by the said Deed of Feoffment ready to be produced may appear Which said last mentioned Messuage and Premisses called C. is not the Messuage Lands and Premisses in the occupation of this Exceptant and his Tenants and which are charged and decreed to the charitable use by the said Commissioners as aforesaid For this Exceptant saith that the aforesaid Messuage or Tenement called C. so conveyed by the last mentioned Deed of Feoffment to A. B. as aforesaid was held of the Mannor of G. in the said County of D. by fealty suit of Court and the yearly Rent of two shillings eight pence per ann. as by the Surveys and Records of the said Mannor may appear which said Messuage and Premisses afterwards came to be the Inheritance of one R. E. and was then called by the name of C. otherwise E. Hall And this Exceptant further saith that the said R. E. being seized in Fee of the said Messuage and Premisses did upon or about the twelfth day of November in the eighth year of the Reign of the late Queen Elizabeth acknowledge a Statute of one hundred and fifty pounds unto one T. O. for the payment of the summ of one hundred and sixteen pounds at a day shortly after which was not paid which Statute was extended about the tenth day of April in the fourteenth year of the Reign of the said late Queen Elizabeth upon the said Messuage and Premisses which was aftewards assigned over unto T. H. this Exceptants Grandfather upon or about the five and twentieth day of January in the fourteenth year of the Reign of the said late Queen Elizabeth And it appeareth by the said Extent that the said R. E. had sold the said Messuage and Premisses unto one S. F. and his Heirs by Deed bearing date upon or about the twentieth day of June in the twentieth year of the Reign of the said late Queen Elizabeth And this Exceptant saith that the said T. H. this Exceptants Grandfather having the said Premisses so in Extent and the same being but of small value and the money that was owing thereupon being more worth then the said Messuage and Premisses he did by his Deed bearing date upon or about the five and twentieth day of January in the thirteenth year of the Reign of the late Queen Elizabeth grant to severall Trustees one Annuity or yearly Rent of fourty six shillings eight pence to be issuing and going out of the said Messuage called C. to be imployed for the repairs of the Parish Church of T. aforesaid which said summ of fourty six shillings and eight pence is the seven Nobles mentioned in the said Decree And this Exceptant saith that when the said Extent is ended the inheritance of the said Messuage and Premises will come unto T. F. Son and Heir of S. F. deceased as by an Office after the decease of the said S. F. found at L. the three and twentieth day of November in the four and fourtieth year of the Reign of the late Queen Elizabeth may appear which said Massuage and Premises last before mentioned if any at all ought onely to be charged with the said charitable use and none other The second Exception And secondly This Exceptant saith that the Messuage and Premises in the Decree mentioned to be in this Exceptants occupation and the other Messuages and Premises therein mentioned to be in the occupation of him this Exceptant and his Tenants are not the Messuages and Lands given to the said charitable use nor ought not to be charged therewith for this Exceptant saith that the late King Edward the sixth by his betters Patents under the great Seal of England bearing date the tenth day of April in the third year of his Reign did amongst other things give and grant unto one R. W. and W. P. and their Heirs all that his Messuage or Tenement called C. and all Lands Meadows Pastures Feedings and Hereditaments whatsover thereunto belonging then or late in the occupation of N. P. to hold of the said King as of his Mannor of C. in the County of D. in Fee-socage and not in Capite for all Rents Services and demands whatsoever And this Exceptant saith that the said Messuage called C. alias E. Hall charged and given to the said charitable use is held of the said Mannor of G. by fealty suit of Court and the yearly Rent of two shillings and eight pence as is herein before mentioned and therefore the same is differenced and plainly distinguished from the said Messuage and Premises called C. in the possession of this Exceptant and his Tenants And this Exceptant further saith that afterwards that is to say the nine and twentieth day of April in the third year of the Reign of the said
Schools 5 Schollars in Vniversities 6 Houses of Correction 7 For repaire of Bridges 8 Of Ports and Havens 9 Of Cawsies 10 Of Churches 11 Of Sea bancks 12 And of High wayes 13 For education and preferment of Orphans 14 For marriage of poor Maids 15 For supportation and helpe of young Tradesmen 16 Of Handicraftsmen 17 Of persons decayed 18 For Redemption or reliefe of Prisoners or Captives 19 For ease and aide of poore Inhabitants concerning payment of fifteens 20 Setting out of Souldiers 21 And other Taxes And the Commissioners have power to enquire of these nine things 1 Of abuses 2 Of breaches of trust 3 Of negligences 4 Of misimployment 5 Of not imploying 6 Of concealing 7 Of defrauding 8 Of misconverting 9 Of misgovernment of any lands tenements rents annuities profits hereditaments goods chattels money stocks of money given to any of the charitable uses aforesaid But this Act doth not extend to all Lands c. nor to all Goods and Chattels money or stocks of money given to any Charitable use aforesaid but certaine are exempted in these eight several Cases viz. 1 Of the Colledges and Halls in either of the Vniversities of Cambridge and Oxford 2 Of the Colledge of Westminster 3 Of the Colledge of Eaton 4 Of the Colledge of Winchester 5 Of any City or Town corporate where there is a speciall Governour or governours of such Lands 6 Of any Colledge Hospitall or Free-school which have speciall Visitors or Governors or Over-seers appointed to them by the Founders 7 Of Purchasors having these three qualities 1 For valuable consideration of money or land 2 Without fraud or covin. 3 Having no notice of the same charitable use But albeit the Commissioners cannot make a Decree against any such purchasors yet may they make Decrees for recompence to be made by any person or persons who being put in trust or having notice of the charitable Uses abovesaid have or shall break the said trust or defraud the same uses by any conveyance gift grant lease release or conversion and against his or their Heirs Executors Administrators having assets in Law or Equity so far as the same assets will extend 8. Of purchasors of Lands Tenements and Hereditaments assured conveyed or come to Queen Elizabeth Queen Mary Henry 8. or Edw. 6 by Act of Parliament surrender exchange relinquishment escheat attornment conveyance or otherwise but if any such Mannors Lands c. have since the beginning of Queen Elizabeths Reign been given c. to any of the charitable uses before expressed then this Act doth extend to the same Concerning the Certificate of the Commissioners these four things are to be observed 1. That they certifie their Order and Decree respectively either into the Court of Chancery of England or into the Chancery of the County Palatine of Lancaster as the case shall require 2. That it ought to be in Parchment under the hands and seals of the Commissioners 3. It must be within the time limited in the Commission 4. That the Lord Chancellor or Lord Keeper and the said Chancellor of the Dutchie shall and may within their severll jurisdictions take such order for the due execution of all or any of the said Judgements Decrees and Orders so certified as to either of them shall seem fit and convenient In the Remedie for the parties grieved with such Decrees so certified these five things are to be considered 1. That he complain to the Lord Chancellor or Lord Keeper or to the Chancellor of the Dutchie according to their severall jurisdictions for redresse thereof And this Complaint is to be by Bill 2. Vpon such complaint first they shall respectively by such course as to their wisdomes shall seem meetest the circumstances of the case considered proceed to the hearing examination and determining thereof and upon hearing thereof shall or may adnull the whole diminish part or enlarge that is confirm the former and enlarge the same by adding something thereunto the Judgements and Decrees so certified 3. As shall be thought to stand with equitie and good conscience 4. According to the true intent and meaning of the Donors and Founders thereof and this is lapis ductitius whereby the Commissioners and Chancellors must steer their course 5. And shall and may tax and award good costs of suit by their discretion respectively against such persons as shall complain to them respectively without just and sufficient cause of the Orders Judgements and Decrees before mentioned But this Order being given and limited by an Act of Parliament no costs if the Order Judgement or Decree be adnulled diminished or enlarged ought to be given to the partie complaining Proceedings upon the Statute of charitable Uses A Warrant to call the Parties interessed in the Goods or Lands misimployed to appear before the Commissioners WHereas by a Commission under the Great Seal of England bearing date at Westminster the 21 day of July 1659. We whose names are hereunder written for the due execution of a certain Statute made in the fourty third year of the Reign of the late Queen Elizabeth Entituled An Act to redresse the misimployment of Lands Goods and Stocks of Money heretofore given to charitable Vses are among others authorized and impowered to make such enquiring Orders Judgements and Decrees touching the Premisses as in the said Statute and Commission are mentioned And whereas complaint hath been made unto us by divers of the Inhabitants of C. in the County of E. That the rents issues and profits of certain Messuages and Lands in great Chesterford in the said County heretofore given and appointed by one T. H. deceased for the aid of the Inhabitants of C. aforesaid touching the payment of Fifteens reliefe of the poor and maintenance of the Highways and other charitable Uses there have been misgoverned misemployed misconverted by you of which they desire that enquirie and redresse may be made Now according to the directions of the said Statute and Commission we do hereby give you notice of the said complaint and also that we do intend to meet for the execution of the said Statute and Commission and to make enquirie of and touching the matters complained of as aforesaid on the twentieth day of July at the house of T. W. in G. in the said County of E. at which time and place we do desire you to be present to make your defence therein if you shall think it expedient So fare you well Your loving friends A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H. To the Sheriff of the County of E. BY vertue of a Commission under the Great Seal of England bearing date at Westminster the 6 day of May instant to us whose names are hereunder written and others directed for the due execution of a Statute made the three and fourtieth year of the Reign of the late Queen Elizabeth entituled An Act to redresse the misimployment of Lands Goods and Stocks of money heretofore given to charitable Uses We do will end
Christian souls and that the Feoffees or their Assignes should expend yearly at every Obit so kept and for his Name to be had in the Bedroll 6 s 8 d And that all other issues and profits coming and growing of the said Tenement Lands and other the Premisses with the Appurtenances over and above the said Edifices and reparations and the said 6 s 8 d for the said Obit and Bedroll should be expended distributed and laid out in making and mending of the Highways between H. in the said County and the City of L. and in other deeds of Piety and Charity by the discretion of two of the said Feoffees Provided always that the profits of all Woods and Wood-sale that should come and grow of the Grove called R. should be distributed one time to the use of the aforesaid Parish Church of E. and at another time to the use of the Parish Church of T. G. aforesaid the profits of the first Wood-sale to the use of the Parish Church of E. And further that two Persons being Feoffees of and in the said Tenement and Lands and other the Premises with the appurtenances should take and levie to the uses aforesaid all the issues and profits of the same and to distribute and dispose them in manner and form as the said J. B. hath before willed and declared Provided always that no person which should have the levying and gathering of the same issues and profits of the said Tenements Lands and other the Premisses with the Appurtenances should levie and gather them over and above one whole year together but that yearly an Election to be made of two persons of the said Feoffees to be Renters and Gatherers of the said issues and profits to the use and intent before expressed And that the said persons so elected and named Renters and Gatherers should yearly give up their accompt before the residue of the said Feoffees which shall stand seised of and in the said Tenement Lands and other the Premisses with the Appurtenances or before the most part of them on the day of Saint J. in Christmas week and that every person so levying and gathering the said issues of the said Tenement and Lands shall have for their labour and businesse in that behalf 12 d And that such persons as were seised and infeoffed at the making and declaring of his said Testament and last Will of in the said Tenement Lands and other the Premises with the Appurtenances should make an Estate and Feoffment of and in the same unto twenty four honest persons dwelling and inhabiting within the aforesaid Parishes of E. and T. G. And that the said twenty persons and their heires should stand seised and enfeoffed of and in the said Tenement Lands and other the premises with the appurtenances to the use and performance of the said Testament and last Will of the aforesaid I. B. And at such time and when it should fortune the said twenty four persons to decease or void the said Parishes to the number of eight persons so that there were not liveing and inhabiting within the said two Parishes of the said Feoffees over and above eight persons That then the said eight persons so surviving and inhabiting should make an Estate and Feofment of the said Tenement Lands and other the premises with the appurtenances unto twenty four honest persons dwelling and inhabiting within the said Parishes To have and to hold the said Tenement Lands and other the Premises with the appurtenances unto the said twenty four and to their heires to the use and performance of the said Testament and last Will of the aforesaid I. B. And as often as it shall happen the said Feoffees to come to the number of eight in form aforesaid The same eight persons so often to make an Estate and Refeoffment of the said Tenement Lands and other the Premises with the Appurtenances to twenty four honest persons of the said Parishes and so from time to time as often as any such case shall happen or fall for evermore as by a certain Indenture bearing date the 29. day of D. in the year of our Lord God 1518. and in the said tenth year of the Reign of King H. the eighth now shewed forth in evidence to the said Jurors by the present Feoffees of the said Tenement and Premises more at large it doth and may appear And the said Jurors do further say upon their oathes that the said I. C. R. A. and others the Trustees aforesaid being so seised of the said Tenement Land and Premises in Trust as aforesaid They the said I. C. R. A. and others the Trustees aforesaid did by a certain Deed or Writing bearing date on or about the said twentieth day of D. in the said tenth year of the Reign of the said King H. the eighth convey the said Tenement Lands and Premises with the Appurtenances unto I. A of E. aforesaid Mercer and I. W. of the same Yeoman their Heires and Assignes to fulfil the Will of the said I. B. And that they the said I. A and I. W. being of said Tenement Lands and Premises with the Appurtenances seised They the said I. A. and I. W. did by their Deed of Feoffment executed by Livery and Seisin bearing date the said 29. day of D. in the said tenth year of the Reign of the said King H. the eighth convey the said Tenement Lands and Premises with the Appurtenances unto R. A. of T. G. aforesaid R. A. and W. A. sons of the said R. W. A. the elder F. A. son of the said W. A. the elder T. T. alias T. R. I. T. son of the said T. T. H. A. son of the said I. A. H. B. R. B. son of the said H. B. W. N. the younger I. P. W. P. sons of R. P. R. P. the younger T. M. the elder of T. G. aforesaid T. T. son of H. T. W. C. W. S. W. A. son of I. A. W. S. I. S. son of the said W. S. T. S. I. S. son of the said T. S. I. W. son of R. W. I. B. the elder H. H. the younger and S. son of W. S. W. B. son of B. B. and I. P. of E. aforesaid as by the said last recited Deed of Feoffment now also shewed forth in evidence to the said Jurors by the said now present Feoffees of the said premises may appear And the said Jurors do further say upon their oathes That about N. in the sixth year of the Reign of the late Queen Eliz. H. A. and R. A. sons of W A. deceased I. R. and I. R. son of the said I. F. A. and R. A. son of the said F. S. A. son of H. A. deceased I. W. son of I. W. deceased I. A. son of I. A. of B. deceased W. C. son of W. C. of T. G. aforesaid W. A. and I. A. and I. A. son of the said W. S. A. and T. A. sons of the said H. A. deceased I. S. and A. S. son of
Stocks of Money may be duly and faithfully imployed to and for the charitable Use and Intents for which they were given limited assigned or appointed by the Donors and Founders thereof according to a Statute made in the 43. year of the Reign of the late Queen Elizabeth intituled An Act to Redresse the Misimployments of Lands Goods and Stocks of Money given to charitable Vses And whereas the said Sir W. R. c. being seven of the Commissioners named and authorized in and by the said Commission meeting for the execution of the said Commission at the day and place aforesaid it was then and there found by the oaths of F. M. J. B. c. good and lawfull men of the said County duly summoned impannelled and sworn according to the said Statute and Commission that A. B. c. and J. his wife by their Writing under their Seals bearing date the 20 day of J. in the fifth year of the Reign of the said Queen and by and according to a Grant and License from the said Queen duly obtained did Found Erect and incorporate a Free School in C. by the name of the School-Master and Guardians of the Lands Tenements and possessions of the Grammar-School of A. B. Esq in C. in the County of D. and did name and appoint G. H. Presbyter School-master and A. B. and C. D. Guardians of the said Lands Tenements and Possessions who by vertue thereof were School-master and Guardians of the Lands Tenements and Possessions of the said Grammar-School and became and were one body Corporate and politick both in name thing And that the said School being so erected founded and established and the School-master thereof and the Guardians of the Lands Tenements and Possessions of the same School being a body Corporate and Politick as aforesaid the said A. B. did make his last Will and Testament in Writing bearing date c. and by the same his said last Will according to the license of the said Queen in that behalf granted did among other things give and bequeath to J. G. the Mannor of D. with the Appurtenances in the said County of D. for the term of 21. years paying yearly during the said term the Rent of 20 l And that the said A. B. by the same his said Will did give and bequeath the Reversion and Remainder thereof with the said Rent to the said School-master and Guardians To have and to hold the said Mannor and the said Rent and the Reversion thereof to them and their successors for ever to the intent that with the Issues and Profits thereof they should find six poor folks in S. in such manner as by him or his Executors should be appointed And that afterwards in the Term of Easter viz. On Wednesday being the third day of May in the twentieth year of the Reign of our said late Soveraign Lady Queen Eliz. It was among other things by the Right Honorable Sir N. B. Knight then Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England and her Majesties Court of Chancery by the assent and consent of W. B. Esq Cosin and Heir to the said A. B. Patron of the said Grammar-School Ordered adjudged and Decreed That the Statutes Ordinances and Constitutions of and for the said Grammar-School and of and for the relief of certain poor people within the Parish of S. aforesaid of the foundation of the said A. B. and Dame J. his wife should be made and ordered by the appointment of E. then Bishop of Exeter or of his Successors and of A. N. then Dean of the Cathedrall Church of St. P. in E. or his Successors and of the said W. B. or his Heirs and that G. late Bishop of E. Successor to the said E. Bishop of London or A. B. of S. aforesaid Knight Cosin and Heir to the said A. B. deceased and Cosin and Heir to the said W. B. Esquire and Patron of the said Grammar-School and J. D. Dean of the said Cathedral Church of St. P. in E. by a certain Writing indented bearing date the 8. day of J. in the tenth year of the Reign of our late Soveraign Lord King James over this Realm of England An. Dom. 1612. did in performance of the said Decree make ordain publish and declare divers Statutes Ordinances and Constitutions concerning the said Grammar-School the School-master Guardians and Possessions of the same and that they the said G. Bishop of E. Sir A. B. the Heir of J. D. Dean of St. P. did in and by the said Writing indented amongst other things by vertue of the said Decree in particular make ordain publish and declare certain Ordinances and Constitutions concerning the Lands Tenements and Possessions of the said School in these words following 1. Item All Leases to be made by the said Corporation of any their Lands Tenements or Hereditaments being in the hands of any Farmer or Farmers by vertue of any old or former Lease for years shall be utterly void unlesse the same old or former Lease for years be within 14. years expiration of the said years by effluction of time at the making of the said new Lease and be surrendered within one year next after the making of the same Lease 2. Item The said Corporation shall do their best endeavour for the preservation and advancement of their Possessions Rents and Revenues without making or consenting to any disherison to be had or made to the said Corporation in any thing 3. Item The said School-master and Guardians shall not have any power to do or suffer any act to the disherison of the said Corporation without the consent of the Bishop of E. and of the Patron for the time being And that G. H. late School master of the said Grammar-School and J. W. and W. C. late Guardians of the Lands Tenements and Possessions of the same School by a certain Deed indented written in Parliament and sealed with the common Seal of the said Corporation bearing date the 10. day of J. in the second year of the Reign of his Majesty that now is did with one assent and consent Demise Grant betake and to Farm let unto one F. R. late of L. Gent. his Executors and Assignes the said Mannor of D. with the Appurtenances thereunto belonging for the term of one and twenty years to commence from the Feast day of the birth of our Lord God then last past before the date of the same Indenture of Demise at for and under the yearly Rent of 20 l of lawfull money of England And the said T. W. late School-master of the said Grammar-School Successor to the said G. H. and J. F. and G. O. Guardians of the Lands Tenements and Possessions of the same School by a certain Indenture bearing date the 8. day of N. in the 13. year of his now Majesties Reign reciting the said former Lease so made to the said F. R. as aforesaid did Demise Grant set and to Farm let unto H. J. late of P. in the said County of
late King Edward the sixth the said R. W. and W. P. did by Deed of Feoffment and by other good Conveyances and Assurance in the Law convey and assure the aforesaid last mentioned Messuage called C. amongst other things to W. C. and J. W. and their Heirs and afterwards G. C. Son and Heir of the said W. C. who had the said last mentioned Messuage called C. by survivorship did by his Indenture of Bargain and Sale inrolled in Chancery dated the thirteenth day of October in the twelfth year of the late Queen Elizabeth bargain and sell the said last mentioned Messuage called C. amongst other things to W. L. and his Heirs and afterwards the said W. did by his Deed indented inrolled in Chancery dated the tenth of July in the thirteenth year of the Reign of the late Queen Elizabeth convey and assure the said last mentioned Messuage called C. unto T. H. and his Heirs which said T. H. was Grandfather of this Exceptant and the same is by descent and other good Conveyance and Assurance in the Law lawfully vested and come unto this Exceptant and he now is lawfully seised thereof and ought to hold and enjoy the same free from the said charitable use The third Exception And thirdly This Exceptant saith that the said T. H. his Grandfather at the time of his purchase of the said last mentioned Messuage called C. had no notice of the said charitable use and if the said Messuage were charged or chargeable therewith or liable thereunto as in truth it is not yet ought the same not to be charged therewith For that by the said Statute made in the three and fourtieth year of the Reign of the late Queen Elizabeth made for charitable uses it is provided and ordained that no Lands Tenements or Hereditaments given or appointed to any charitable uses shall be impeached by any Decrees or Orders of Commissioners for charitable uses the Purchasers having no notice of the said charitable uses The fourth Exception And fourthly This Exceptant saith that if it were true as in truth it is not That the said last mentioned Messuages called C. were charged or chargeable with the said charitable use yet ought not the said Order or Decree made by the said Commissioners any ways to impeach or charge the said Messuage or Premises with the said charitable use or any ways to deprive this Exceptant thereof For that by the said Statute made in the three and fourtieth year of the Reign of the said late Queen Elizabeth It is Enacted that the said Act for charitable uses shall not extend to give power and authority to any Commissioners for charitable uses to make any Order Judgment or Decrees for or concerning any Mannors Lands Tenements or other Hereditaments assured conveyed granted or come unto the Queens Majesty the late King Henry the eighth King Edward the sixt or Queen Mary by Act of Parliament surrender exchange relinquishment Escheat Attainder Conveyance or otherwise And forasmuch as it appeareth that the said Messuage and Premises last before mentioned called C. was by the said late King Edward 6. by his Leters Patents dated the eighth day of April in the third year of his Reign granted amongst other things unto the said R. W. and W. P. and their Heirs as is herein before mentioned And therefore if the same had been any ways given to the said charitable use as in truth it was not yet ought the same now to be free from the same by force and vertue of the said Act of Parliament The fifth Exception And fifthly This Exceptant saith that the said Commission grounded upon the said Statute to the said Commissioners directed in pursuance whereof they made their Decree is not returned into this Honourable Court into the Office of the Petty-bag as it ought to be for all which Causes this Exceptant doth humbly pray the said Order Decree may be reversed and made void and his said Messuage and Premises may be freed from the same And that this Exceptant may be dismissed with his reasonable costs and charges in this behalf wrongfully sustained Answers to Exceptions The Answer of J. L. and S. W. Church-wardens of G. T. in the County of D. Respondants to the Exceptions of T. H. Gent. by him taken to the Decree in the said Exceptions mentioned WHereas the said Exceptant doth except to and against the said Decree for that the Messuage or Tenement called C. given by the Will of A. B. therein named to the charitable use therein specified are not the Messuage Tenement and Lands in the occupation of the said Exceptant and his Tenants and which are charged and Decreed to the said charitable use And also for that the Exceptants Grandfather T. H. therein named had at the time of his Purchase of the Premises in the occupation of him and his Tenants no notice of the said charitable use and that the said Premises were heretofore conveyed by Letters Patents from King Edward the sixth And lastly for that the Commission directed to the Commissioners in the said Decree named wherein they made the said Decree was not returned into this Court at the time of the said Exception unto which Exceptions these Respondents saving unto themselves all advantages of Exception to the incertainties and insufficiencies thereof say That they are upon the matter strangers to the matters set forth by the said Exceptions having not lived very long in the said Parish and being no otherwise concerned then as Churchwardens thereof and it cannot be presumed they should know the facts and titles alledged by the said Exceptions of their own knowledge But they say that the said Exceptant was severall times summoned and heard before the Commissioners that made the said Decree and the Jury by them impannelled And he brought his Learned Counsel with him who urged before the said Jury and Commissioners who were learned in the Law and good and honest men before their Verdict given or Decree made the substance and matter of the said Exception and what ever could be alledged against the decreeing of the Premises and the same Decree was made upon a full hearing of both sides And one of the main points insisted on before the said Jury and Commissioners was the matter of the aforesaid first two Exceptions whether the Premises decreed to be charged with the charitable use were the Messuage Tenement and Lands given by the said Will yea or no it being a proper issue for a Jury of parcel or no parcel the same Premises in the occupation of the Exceptant were after a full and deliberate hearing and evidence on both sides found by the said Jury to be the same Tenements and Lands devised by the said Will And the matter of the said two next Exceptions Whether the said Exceptants Grandfather had notice of the charitable use before or at his Purchase of the Premises or that the Premises were in the Crown yea or no being also proper for a Jury
THE LAW OF Charitable Uses WHEREIN The Statute of 43. Eliz. Chap. 4. is set forth and Explained with Directions how to Sue out and prosecute Commissions grounded upon that Statute Also Presidents Inquisitions and Decrees with divers Judgements and Resolutions upon Exceptions and Appeals against Decrees and other Proceedings upon the said Statute By JOHN HERNE LONDON Printed by T. R. for Timothy Twyford and are to be sold at his Shop within the Inner-Temple-Gate 1660. To the Reader TO commend the Piety of this Statute or to lament the want of a thorough Explanation would afford abundant matter for a long Preface but intending as I ought charity without ostentation I shall onely inform the Reader that being frequently present at Commissions grounded on this Statute of Charitable Uses I have found the Gentlemen of the Countrey Commissioners Jurors and parties prosecuting by want of experience in Clerks attending such Commissioners forced to unnecessary attendance and charge Whereupon grown almost weary of well-doing with ill direction they never cheerfully embraced the Commissions Nay many Inquisitions and Decrees which have been returned miscarried and were rendered ineffectuall through the unskilfulnesse of those that drew them I have therefore to prevent such inconveniences in future published the Statute with severall Observations thereupon with divers Resolutions and Judgments of Lord Chancellors Keepers and Judges upon the same and upon Exceptions taken to severall Inquisitions and Decrees made by Commissioners on such Commissions To which I have added some good forms of Inquisitions Decrees and Exceptions to Decrees that those Gentlemen who are Authorized to execute such Commissions may be better acquainted with the Statute and by it understand their power and duty with the best method of proceeding thereupon And that the Clerks attending such Commissions may be furnished with Presidents of all sorts for the readier dispatch of the same my onely aim herein being to ease the Countrey and the Prosecutors of unnecessary charge and trouble and to render the proceedings upon such Commissions effectuall and my hope is that this Work will take that good effect for which it is intended J. H. THE STATUTE Of Charitable Uses 43. Eliz. CHAP. 4. An Act to redresse the mis-imployment of Lands Goods and Stocks of Money heretofore given to Charitable Uses WHereas Lands Tenements Rents Annuities Profits Hereditaments Goods Chattells Money and Stocks of Money have been heretofore given limited appointed and assigned as well by the Queens most excellent Majesty and her most noble Progenitors as by sundry other well disposed persons some for relief of aged impotent and poor people some for maintenance of sick and maimed soldiers and Mariners Schools of Learning free Schools and Scholars of Vniversities some for repair of Bridges Ports Havens Causways Churches Sea-bancks and High-ways Some for education and preferment of Orphans some for or towards the Relief Stock or Maintenance for houses of Correction some for marriages of poor Maids some for supportation aid and help of young Tradesmen Handy-crafts-men and persons decayed and others for relief or redemption of Prisoners or Captives and for aid or ease of any poor Inhabitants concerning payment of Fifteens setting out of Soldiers and other Taxes which Lands Tenements Rents Annuities Profits Hereditaments Goods Chattels Money and Stocks of Money Neverthelesse have not been imployed according to the charitable intent of the Givers and Founders thereof by reason of frauds breaches of Trust and negligence in those that should pay deliver imploy the same For redresse and remedy whereof Be it enacted by Authority of this present Parliament That it shall and may be lawfull to and for the Lord Chancellor or Keeper of the great Seal of England for the time being And for the Chancellor of the Dutchie of Lancaster for the time being for Lands within the County Palatine of Lancaster from time to time to award Commissions under the great Seal of England or the Seal of the County Palatine as the case shall require into all or any part or parts of this Realm respectively according to their severall Iurisdictions as aforesaid to the Bishops of every severall Diocesse and his Chancellor in case there shall be any Bishop of that Diocesse at the time of awarding of the same Commissions and to other persons of good and sound behaviour authorizing them thereby or any four or more of them to enquire as well by the Oaths of twelve men or more of the County as by all other good and lawfull ways and means of all and singular such Gifts Limitations Assignments and Appointments aforesaid and of the abuses breaches of Trust negligences mis-imployments not imploying concealing defrauding misconverting or misgoverning of any Lands Tenements Rents Annuites Profits Hereditaments Goods Chattels Money or Stocks of Money heretofore given limited appointed or assigned or which hereafter shall be given limited appointed or assigned to or for any the charitable and godly uses before rehearsed and after the said Commissioners or any four or more of them upon calling the parties interessed in any such Lands Tenements Rents Annuities Profits Hereditaments Goods Chattels Money and Stocks of Money shall make enquirie by the oaths of twelve men or more of the said county whereunto the persons interessed shall and may have and take their lawfull challenge and challenges and upon such enquiry hearing and examining thereof set down such Orders Iudgements and Decrees as the said Lands Tenements Rents Annuities Profits Goods Chattels Money or Stocks of money may be duly and faithfully imployed to and for such of the charitable uses and intents before rehearsed respectively for which they were given limited assigned or appointed by the Donors and Founders thereof which Orders Iudgements and Decrees not being contrary or repugnant to the Orders Statuts or Decrees of the Donors or Founders shall by the authority of this present Parliament stand firm good according to the Tenor Purport thereof and shall be executed accordingly untill the same shall be undone and altered by the Lord Chancellor of England or Lord Keeper of the great Seal of England or the Chancellor of the county Palatine of Lancaster respectively within their severall Iurisdictions upon complaint by any party grieved to be made to them Provided always that neither this Act nor any thing therein contained shall in any wise extend to any Lands Tenements Rents Annuities profits goods chattells money or stocks of money given limited assigned or appointed or which shall be given limited appointed or assigned to any Colledge Hall or house of Learning within the Vniversities of Oxford or Cambridge or to the Colledges of Westminster Eaton or Winchester or any of them or to any Cathedrall or Collegiat Church within this Realm And Provided also That neither this Act nor any thing therein shall extend to any City or Town corporate or to any the Lands or Tenements given to the uses aforesaid within any such city or town corporate where there is a speciall Governor or Governors
appointed to govern or direct such Lands Tenements or things disposed to any the uses aforesaid neither to any Colledge Hospitall or Free-school which have speciall Visitors or Governors or Overseers appointed them by their Founders Provided also and be it enacted by the Authority aforesaid that neither this Act nor any thing therein contained shall be any way prejudiciall or hurtfull to the jurisdiction of the Ordinary or power of the Ordinary but that he may lawfully in every cause execute and perform the same as though this Act had never been had or made Provided also and be it enacted That no person or persons that hath or shall have any of the said Lands Tenements Rents Annuities Profits Hereditaments goods Chattels Money or Stocks of Money in his hands or possession or doth or shall pretend Title thereunto shall be named a Commissioner or a Iuror for any the causes aforesaid or being named shall execute or serve in the same And Provided also That no person or persons which hath purchased or obtained or shall purchase or obtain upon valuable consideration of Money or Land any Estate in or Interest of in to or out of any Lands Tenements Rents Annuities Hereditaments Goods or Chattels that have been or shall be given limited or appionted to any of the charitable Vses above mentioned without fraud or covin having no notice of the same charitable Vses shall not be impeached by any Decrees or Orders of Commissioners above mentioned for or concerning the same his Estate or Interest And yet neverthelesse be it enacted that the said Commissioners or any four or more of them shall and may make Decrees and Orders for recompence to be made by any person or persons who being put in trust or having notice of the charitable Vses above mentioned hath or shall break the same trust or defraud the same Vses by any conveyance gift grant lease demise release or conversion whatsoever and against the Heirs Executors and Administrators of him them or any of them having assets in Law or equity so far as the same assets will extend Provided always that this Act shall not extend to give power or authority to any Commissioners before mentioned to make any Orders Iudgements or Decrees for or concerning any Mannors Lands Tenements or other Hereditaments assured conveyed granted or come unto the Queens Majesty to the late King Hen. the 8. King Edw. the 6. or Q. Mary by Act of Parliament surrender exchange relinquishment escheat attainder conveyance or otherwise And yet neverthelesse be it enacted That if any such Mannors Lands Tenements or Hereditaments or any of them or any Estate rent or profit thereof or out of the same or any part thereof have or hath been given granted limited appointed or assigned to or for any the charitable Vses before expressed at any time since her Majesties Reign that then the said Commissioners or any four or more of them shall and may as concerning the same Lands Tenements Hereditaments Estate Rent or Profit so given limited appointed or assigned proceed to enquire and to make Orders Iudgements and Decrees according to the purport and meaning of this Act as before is mentioned in the last said mentioned Proviso notwithstanding And be it further enacted that all Orders Iudgements and Decrees of the said Commissioners or of any four or more of them shal be certified under the seals of the said Commissioners or any four or more of them either into the Court of the Chancery of England or into the Court of the Chancery within the County Palatine of Lancaster as the case shall require respectively according to their severall jurisdictions within such convenient time as shall be limited in the said Commission And that the said Lord Chancellor or Lord Keeper and the said Chancellor of the Dutchie shall and may within their said severall jurisdictions take such order for the due execution of all or any of the said Iudgments Orders Decrees as to either of them shall seem fit and convenient And that if after any such certificate or certificates made any person or persons shall find themselves grieved with any of the said Orders Iudgments or Decrees that then it shall and may be lawfull to and for them or any of them to complain in that behalf unto the said Lord Chancellor or Lord Keeper or to the Chancellor of the said Dutchie of Lancaster according to their severall jurisdictions for redresse therein and that upon such complaint the said Lord Chancellor or Lord Keeper or the said Chancellor of the Dutchie may according to their said severall jurisdictions by such course as to their wisdome shall seem meetest the circumstances of the case considered proceed to the examination hearing and determining thereof and upon hearing thereof shall and may adnull diminish alter or enlarge the said Orders Iudgements and Decrees of the said Commissioners or any four or more of them as to either of them in their said severall jurisdictions shall be thought to stand with equity and good conscience according to the true intent and meaning of the Donors and Founders thereof and shall and may tax and award good costs of suit by their discretions against such persons as they shall finde to complain unto them without just and sufficient cause of the Orders Iudgements and Decrees before mentioned The heads of the Statute of Charitable Uses BY this Statute Authority is given to the Lord Chancellor or Lord Keeper and to the Chancellor of the Dutchy respectively to grant Commissions under their severall seales Concerning these Commissions these six things are to be observed 1. The number the Commissioners must be four or more 2. The Commissioners must be the Bishop and Chancellor of the Diocesse if there be a Bishop and other persons of good and sound behaviour 3. In that Commission any four of them doe suffice to make Orders and Decrees for therein none is of the Quorum 4. None shall be Commissioners that have any part of the Land c. or goods or chattels money or stocks in question 5. The Commission is to limit a certain time within which the Commissioners are to order decree and certifie 6. Their Authority is to enquire as well by the Oaths of twelve men or more as by all other good wayes and means Concerning the Jurors or Enquest of enquiry these two things are to be observed 1. The parties interessed may have their lawfull challenge and challenges 2. None that pretend title to any of the lands c. goods chattels money or stocks in question shall be a Juror c. They are to enquire of all and singular gifts limitations and appointments of any Lands Tenemens Rents Annuities Profits Hereditaments Goods Chattels Money Stocks of money for 21 Charitable uses in relieving maintaining repairing educating preferring marrying supporting aiding helping redressing and easing 1 For reliefe of aged and impotent and poor people 2 For maintenance of sicke and maymed soldiers 3 Schools of Learning 4 Free
require you That you cause to come before us and others the said Commissioners or any four of us at the house of A. B. called or known by the Name or Sign of the Crown in B. in the County aforesaid on the 10 day of June now next ensuing by nine of the clock in the morning of the same day twenty four honest and lawful men of your said County to enquire upon their oaths according to the tenor of the said Commission what Lands Tenements rents annuities profits Hereditaments Goods Chattels Moneys and Stocks of Mony have at any time heretofore been given limited appointed or assigned for any the charitable Uses in the said Statute and Commission mentioned and that have been misimployed misconverted or misgoverned and of other the matters and things in the said Commission mentioned in that behalf and hereof you are not to fail Given under our Hands and Seals the 22 day of May in the year of our Lord 1658. When four or more of the Commissioners are mett then read the Commission Then call the Sheriff to return his Precept Then call the Jury When the Jury are full then call the parties Defendants that they may take their challenges to the Jury Then swear the Foreman as followeth The Oath to the Foreman of the Jury YOu shall diligently enquire what Lands Tenements Rents Annuities Profits Hereditaments Goods Chattels Money and Stocks of Money have been heretofore given limited appointed or assigned as well by any King or Queen of England as any other well disposed person or persons for relief of aged impotent and poor people maintenance of sick and maimed Soldiers Mariners Schools of Learning Free Schools and Schollars of Vniversities repair of Bridges Ports Havens Cawsies Churches Sea-banks and Highways education and preferment of Orphans marriage of poor maids supportation help of young Tradesmen Handicraftsmen persons decayed redemption or relief of prisoners and captives ease and aid of poor Inhabitants concerning payment of Fifteens setting out of Soldiers and other taxes and of the abuses breaches of trust negligences misimployment not imploying concealing defrauding misconverting and misgovernment of the same Lands Tenements Stocks of money and other things given to any the charitable Vses aforesaid And thereof you shall make a true presentment according to your evidence and the best of your knowledge So God help you It is convenient to have the Inquisition ready drawn in Paper especially as to Wills and Deeds and the breaches of Trust c. and matters of Fact that so the Jury having a draught ready may with ease amend and make it ready to be engrossed and so save the Jury the trouble of another meeting Inquisitions AN Inquisition indented taken at L. in the County aforesaid the four and twentieth day of M. in the year of our Lord 1658. before W. C. R. S. c. by vertue of a Commission under the Great Seal of England to them and others directed for the due executing of a Statute made in the High Court of Parliament holden the 27 day of October in the three and fortieth year of the Reign of the late Queen intituled An Act to redresse the misimployment of Lands Goods and Stocks of Money heretofore given to charitable Vses By the oaths of c. honest and lawfull men of the County aforesaid who being duly returned impannelled and sworn according to the said Statute and Commission say upon their oath That M G. late of W. in the County of E. Widow deceased long before her death did hold to her and her Heirs of the then Lady of the Mannor of W. in the said County of E. by Copy of Court-Roll according to the custom of the said Mannor all that Messuage with the Appurtenances scituate and lying at P. of the yearly value of c. above all charges and reprizes And the Jurors aforesaid do further say upon their oath That the said Tenement and Premises were divers years in the life time of the said M. G. held and enjoyed by D. B. late of S. deceased and that the said M. G. did in her life time and long before her death assigne limit and appoint that thirty shillings of the rent of the said Tenement and Premises should be yearly imployed and bestowed in and for the reliefe of the poor people for the time and from time to time being in W. aforesaid for ever and that the summ of thirty shillings per ann. was yearly for divers years together in the life time of the said M. G. and by her direction gift and appointment paid to the Churchwardens of the said Parish for the relief of the poor there And the Jurors aforesaid do further say upon their oath That the said M. G. to the intent the said yearly summ of thirty shillings might be the better secured to be paid unto the poor of the said Parish of W. in her life time to wit the c. did surrender the same Tenement and Premisses according to the custom of the said Mannor into the hands of the then Lady of the said Mannor to the use of such person and persons and to the use and intent of the Testament or last Will of the said M. G. as by the Copy of the Court-Roll of the same Mannor to the Jurors aforesaid in evidence now shewed it doth and may appear And the Jurors aforesaid do further say upon their oath that the said M. G. after the making of the said surrender did declare her Will minde and desire to be and did assign limit and appoint That thirty shillings out of the said Rents Issues and Profits of the said Tenement and Premisses should yearly and every year for ever then after be paid to the Churchwardens of the Parish of W. aforesaid for the time and from time to time being for and towards the relief of the poor people of the Parish of W. aforesaid And the Jurors aforesaid do further say upon their oath That the said M. G. on or about the day of c. died and that the said D. B. having notice of the charitable Devise Assignment and appointment of the said M. G. aforesaid to and for the pious use aforesaid did for some years after the death of the said M. G. hold and enjoy the said Tenement and Premisses and did pay the same thirty shillings yearly to the Church-wardens of the said Parish for the relief of the poor of W. aforesaid accordingly And the Jurors aforesaid do further say upon their oath That since the death of the said M. G. the said D. B. during his life and from and after his death R. B. Son of the said D. B. have held and enjoyed the said Tenement and Premises and received and hath taken the Rents and Profits thereof as owners of the same Premisses by vertue as they affirm of some surrender or other assurance thereof made by J. G. deceased who was Son and Heir of M. G. And that the said R. B. and B. have
the said I. S. son of T. S. deceased and S. son of T. S. I. S. son of E. S. deceased and I. B. the Elder of E. aforesaid being then Feoffees of the said Tenement Lands and Premises with the Appurtenances they the said last mentioned Feoffees did then exchange with one F. L. a certain parcel of meadow called C. parcel of the said Lands before mentioned containing by estimation two Acres and a half or thereabouts for two Acres and a half of Land called A. lying amongst other Lands that were the said B. the which two Acres and a half of Lands so taken and exchanged by the said Feoffees from the said F. L. the said Feoffees and their Assignes have quietly enjoyed ever since but whether the said Lands taken in exchange be of equal yearly value with the meadow given in exchange by the said Feoffees to the said F. L. the said Jurors know not And the said Jurors do further say upon their oathes That the said Tenement Lands and Premises with the Appurtenances that were the said I. B. have been ever since the said B. death continued in Feoffment to divers and sundry persons by several Conveyances to the use performance of the will of the said I. B. as appears by diverse Deeds unto the Jurors aforesaid in evidence therein at the time of the taking of this Inquisition and that upon view of the said evidences it appeared that divers Feoffments have been made of the said Premises by surviving Feoffees to their children and others of their alliance by which means the interest of the said Premises hath been continued in the name and blood of several families that have lived in the said Parishes and that thereby diverse Knights Esquires and Gentlemen of worth and qualitie have been left out that have been then Inhabitants of the said Parishes And the Jury aforesaid do further say upon their oathes that the said Tenement Lands and Premises with the Appurtenances are now by mean Conveyance and Assurance come unto I. S. of E. aforesaid Gent. W. C. of T. G. aforesaid Gent. A. S. of E. aforesaid Gent. and to divers other being in all about eighteen in number and that the said I. S. and A. S. and their Ancestors have been Feoffees of the said Premises ever since the year of our Lord God 1611 and that they and the other Feoffees now living claim no interest in the said Premises but as Feoffees in Trust for performance of the Will of the said I. B. and the said I. S. W. C. A. S. and divers other of the now Feoffees appearing before the said Commissioners and the said Jurors at the time and place first above mentioned and did then and there produce two Books that have been kept by them and others under whom they claim wherein are set down the Accompts of the yearly Revenues and Profits that have been made of the said Premises from the year of our Lord God 1587 and divers years before until this present And upon our view of the said books it appeareth that the Trust of the said Will hath been managed by some few of the twenty four Feoffees the residue giving an implicite consent to what such few should do both concerning the bestowing of the yearly Revenue of the said premises and of the said Woodsales as also in Election of Rent gatherers and in making up an allowance of the yearly Accompts And it did also further appear by view of the said books that the yearly Accompts therein set down are imperfect and that there are many alterations in the figures of the sums of money expended by the said Rent gatherers And that the Accompts therein specified are for the most part made by disbursments of Sums of money in the general wiith reference unto particular bills not set down in the said Books and that at one time or in two or three years together no Accompts were made by the Rent-gatherers And that the said Feoffees have failed to elect yearly new Rent-gatherers And that they have allowed unto the Tenant of the said House and Lands out of his Rent sometimes 40. s for a dinner at their meeting And that the said Feoffees and Rent-gatherers have from time to time kept monies in their hands which they have received for Rent of the said House and Lands which they call in their books of Accompts house money And divers sums of money which they have received by sale of the wood in R. W. which they call Church money And that sometimes they have expended the house mony upon the Church And sometimes the Church money upon the Highwaies and have entered their Accompts as money borrowed of the Church for the house and of the house for the Church And they have brought into Accompt divers sums of money to have been expended by them yearly upon the said Churches of E. and T. G. And the Ms. and Cs. having Certificates in writing what moneys have been expended yearly by the said Rent-gatherers in repair of the said Churches from the year 1611 until this present time and upon comparing the said Certificates with the said books of Accompt It doth appear That in some years wherein the said Rent-gatherers have set down in their Accompts to have expended moneys in the repair of the said Churches that nothing was then set down in the said Church Books to have been expended by the said Rent-gatherers in some yeares the summes of Expenses do agree with the Church-book in some years more is set down in the Rent-gatherers book to have been expended upon the said Churches then is in the said Church-book And the said Jurors do further say upon their oathes That fithence the said year 1611 until this present divers Feoffees some whereof are yet living have been at several times Rent-gatherers and Feoffees And that for the most part of that time the yearly Revenue and Rent of the said House and Lands have been about 20 l which according to their Accompts hath been expended yearly in repair of the Highwaies between M. and some three or four miles of E. and for their dinner at their meetings and by giving of 40 s or more in some yeares to several poor persons Inhabiting in the said Parishes And that in that time Woodsales have been made of the Woods growing in R. Grove And that the moneys thereupon arising have been kept in their hands these three years and they have new built the said house called S. and improved the said Tenement and Lands to be worth 26 l 13 s 4 d per annum to be letten And further the said Jurors do say upon their oathes that the yearly expenses of the said Feoffees have been by Auditors appointed by the said Commissioners in the presence of some of the said Feoffees cast and upon and by the said Auditors Certificate it appears that over and above all charges and expenses by the said Feoffees until this present time in building the said house
repair of the Highwaies Gifts of money to poor people moneys expended in Dinners and repair of the said Churches there doth at this time remain in the hands of I. S. c. the now Feoffees of the said Tenement Lands and Premises or in the hands of some of them the summe of 54 l 14 s 5 d or thereabouts to the Church of E. and 56 l 5 s 1 d or thereabouts unto the Church of T. G. The which several summes divers of the Parishioners of the said several Parishes of T. G. and E. of good abilitie have desired the said Feoffees to deliver unto them for a Church Stock for their several Parishes to be by them bestowed to the use of the said several Churches according to the said Will of the I. B. But they the said now Feoffees or some of them have and do refuse to deliver the same unto them And the said Jurors do further say upon their oathes That sometimes the surviving Feoffees have suffered the interest of the said Premises to continue in them untill under the number of eight Feoffees were surviving and Inhabitants of the said Parishes And that the said last Feoffment made of the said Premises by the then surviving Feoffees divers of the said last Feoffees are since dead so that at this Present there are but to the number of nineteen Feoffees living and inhabiting within the said Parishes of E. and T. G. In witnesse c. Decrees AT L. S. in the County of E. aforesaid the last day of M. in the yeare of our Lord Christ 1659. Whereas by an Inquisition taken at L. S. aforesaid the 24th day of this instant M. before W. C. Serjeant at Law R. S. Esquire c. By vertue of a Commission under the great Seale of England to them and others directed for the due execution of a Statute made in the High Court of Parliament holden the 27. day of O. in the 43. yeare of the Reign of the late Queen E. Intituled an Act to redress the mis-imployments of lands goods and stocks of money heretofore given to charitable uses by the oaths of J. A. Gent. R. B. Esquire c. honest and lawfull men of the County aforesaid It is found and doth appeare that M. W. Widow deceased long before her death did hold to her and her heirs of the then Lady of the Mannor of W. in the said County of E. by copy of Court Roll according to the custome of the said Mannor all that Tenement c. as by the said Inquisition hereunto annexed may appear Now we the said W. C. R. S. c. Having first called the said R. B. being the party interessed in the Tenement and premisses in the said Inquisition mentioned who appeared before us by her Councell before the taking of the said Inquisition and was fully heard touching the premisses and having examined and considered the matters and things in and by the said Inquisition found and thereby appearing do by vertue of the said Statute and Commission and the power and authority to us thereby given order adjudge and decree that the said R. B. her Executors and Administrators shall within one moneth next after notice of this Decree Order and Judgement pay unto the Church-wardens of the said Parish of W. for the time being the sum of 20 l of lawful money of England for the arrearages of the said yearly payment of 30 l per annum so by her with-held and detained from the charitable use aforesaid to and for the reliefe of the poore people of VV. aforesaid And also the sum of ten pounds more for damages for the detaining of the said money and for the costs and charges of the Parishioners of VV. aforesaid by them expended and by the suing forth of the Commission aforesaid and in the prosecution thereof And in and about the obtaining of the said Inquisition and this Decree And we the said VV. C. R. S. c. do further order adjudge and decree that the said R. B. her Heirs and Assignes owners and proprietors of the Tenement and Premisses aforesaid and all and every other person and persons whatsoever claiming by from or under the said M. VV. and D. B. deceased or either of them shall from henceforth for ever hereafter out of the rents issues and profits of the said Tenements and Premisses yearly and every yeare pay unto the Church-wardens of the parish of VV. aforesaid for the time and from time to time being the sum of thirty pounds of lawful money of England upon the Feast of the Epiphany in every year yearly for ever to and for the relief of the poor of VV. aforesaid according to the true direction appointment intent and meaning of the said M. G. the Donor thereof In witnesse whereof c. AT E. in the said County upon the twentieth day of November in the fourteenth yeare of the Reign of our Soveraign Lord Charles by the grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the Faith c. Whereas by an Inquisition indented taken at E. aforesaid the one and twentieth day of September last past before Thomas Winniff Dean of St. Pauls Church London c. By vertue of his Majesties Commission under the great Seal of England bearing date the sixth day of March in the thirteenth year of his said Highnesse Reign directed to the right Reverend Father in God the Lord Bishop of London c. Authorizing them or any four or more of them for enquiring and reformation of Deceits and Breaches of trust concerning Lands Tenements and other things given limited and appointed to any the charitable Uses named in the said Commission within the said County according to a Statute of the three and fortieth year of the Reign of the late Queen Eliz. in such cases made and provided by the oaths c. It was found that H. L. late of W. in the said County of Essex deceased did in his life time amongst other things purchase of one N. S. a certain customary Messuage or Tenement with the Appurtenances in W. aforesaid late in the Tenure or Occupation of one J. E. Gent. and holden of the Lord of the said Mannor by Copy of Court Roll according to the custom of the said Mannor And he the said H. L. took surrender thereof in the names of his Sons H. L. and J. L. being then Infants of tender years And afterwards during his life did take and receive the rents issues and profits of the said Messuage or Tenement with the Appurtenances to his own proper use and behoof And that the said H. L. having purchased the said Messuage or Tenement with the Appurtenances amongst other things as aforesaid he the said H. L. did make his last Will and Testament in Writing bearing date the 28 day of November 1619. And by the same his last Will and Testament did limit and appoint one yearly Rent of forty shillings to be issuing and payable yearly for ever
purposes But they may Decree Lands held in Capite or in Socage to a Corporation already incorporate to be Trustees to perform a Charitable use and it shall be no Mortmain Also they may Decree Lands given to charitable uses to sundry persons and their Heirs to the said uses and enable them to demise the same Lands for the best profit of the said Charitable use and that when such a number of them dye the survivers shall make a Conveyance to settle the said lands in themselves that survive and others to make up and continue the number by them appointed 6. If lands that lye in the body of a County be given to a Corporation to maintain charitable uses the Commissioners of the Country may make orders to reform the breaches of Trusts and misimployment of such lands by the Corporation Trin. 9. Caroli East-greensteds Case THese points were resolved by the Lord Coventry 1. That whereas Robert Earl of Dorset had granted a Rent charge of 330 l per ann. out of divers his Mannors and Lands in London and several Counties for maintenance of an Almshouse in East-greensted erected by himself First That if a Rent be granted out of Lands in several Counties for maintenance of charitable uses in one County The Commissioners in that County where the charitable use is to be performed may make a Decree to charge the lands in other Counties to pay an equal contribution of charge in payment of the said Rent and there needs not several Inquisitions in each County for that the Rent is an entire grant by the Deed or Will 2. If the devisees of a Rent-charge or the grantees thereof to a charitable use do purchase part of the lands out of which the rent is issuing or all the land Although in extremity of Law the Rent-charge is extinguished yet if the Commissioners Decree the Rent to be revived and settle it upon others to maintain the charitable use the Rent is revived by the said Decree 3. If a Rent-charge be granted out of land to a charitable use and the land is afterwards sold for valuable consideration of money or land to one that had no notice of the Rent yet the Rent remaineth For that the purchase was of another thing that was not given to the charitable use 4. By the Statute the parties interessed are to have notice from the Commissioners of the time and place of their sitting to execute the Commission Yet if the Commissioners make a Decree without giving such notice to the parties interessed it is good And if the parties upon their Appeal do take exception that they had not any notice of the time of the executing of the Commission from the Commissioners That shall not avoid the Decree unless they shew withal in their exception that for lack of such notice they lost the benefit of such an exception to the Commissioners or some of them or of such a challenge to a Juror expressing the cause in certain And if the Lord Keeper adjudge the cause shewen to be a sufficient exception and challenge the Decree or Orders of the Commissioners shall be adnulled and reversed without further examination for the intent of such notice to be given is That the parties interessed may make their lawful challenges to the Commissioners or Jurors as the Statute alloweth them 5. Resolved that the notice which a Purchasor of lands given to charitable uses ought to have ought to be certain and a general notice is not sufficient As if land given to charitable uses be intended to be sold by Act of Parliament and when the Bill is read in the house of Parliament it is there spoken unto and declared that the land is chargeable with a charitable use and recompence is offered otherwise to assure the charitable use then by that land and afterwards the Bill doth not passe and the Land is sold to one of the Members of the House that spake unto the Bill for money Yet this notice in Parliament is not sufficient notice within the intent of the Statute because it was not known to such a Purchasor but as a Parliament man in another capacity 6. If a Purchasor of Land given to charitable uses for consideration of money hath Legal notice of the use and afterwards selleth the Land to another for money who hath no notice of the use This second Purchasor shall hold the Land chargeable with the charitable Use for that the first Purchasor held it so and the second Purchasor coming under his Title must hold it subject to the charges the first Purchasor held it for that he claims under him But if the first Purchasor had no notice of the Use then is the Land discharged of the charitable Use and if he aftewards sell it to another for money that hath notice of the Use yet he shall not hold it subject to the charitable Use for that the Land was discharged thereof upon the first Purchase 7. That if a Rent-charge be granted to a charitale Use out of Lands in severall Counties the Commissioners are to charge this Rent by their Decree upon all the Lands in every County according to an equall distribution having regard to the yearly value of all the Lands chargeable with the Rent and cannot by their Decree charge one or two Mannors with all the Rent and discharge the residue in other Counties or places for that their Decree will then be contrary to the Will of Founders or Donors 16. Martii 4. BEtween the poor of Walthamstow in Essex and upon a Devise of money by one Colby to relieve the poor there these points were resolved First S. took exception upon his appeal in Chancery that he had no notice of the time and place of the Execution of the Commission from the Commissioners whereby he lost the benefit of his challenge to some of the Jurors that were Inhabitants in Walthamstow as being parties interessed and upon proof it appeared that the number of eighteen were sworn upon the Jury whereof three of them were substantiall men of Walthamstow and none of the poor there to take benefit by the Gift and the Lord Keeper disallowed the Exception for that it appeared fifteen others were of the Jury against whom no ception is taken and a Verdict of twelve or more is good although others of the Jury above the number of twelve dissent also the three Inhabitants were no parties interessed in the Gift and may be Jury-men they being none of the poor of the said Parish Secondly if one be authorized by a party subject to the Decree of the Commissioners for a charitable Use as a Counsellor Solicitor or Attorney to solicit and defend his Suits and notice is given to his Attorney Counsellor or Solicitor by the Commissioners of the time and place for execution of the Commission against the person so entertaining him telling and advising him to acquaint the party interessed therewith and giveth him timely notice to acquaint him accordingly and
not also payd to the charitable use that is breach of trust which the Commissioners may reform if no other use of imployment of the revenue be expressed in the Donors Deed Fifthly resolved if Land be given to a Corporation or other particular persons to perform a charitable use and the Donor appoint them Visitors also of the use according to his intent if the said Visitors do break the trust either in detaining part of the revenue misimploying or any other ways defrauding the charitable use this may be restored by Decree of the Commissioners notwithstanding the Statute of 43 Eliz. which disables Commissioners to meddle with Lands given to charitable uses where speciall Visitors are appointed for the intent of the Statute is to disable Commissioners to meddle with such a case where the Land is given to persons in trust to perform a charitable use and the Donor appoint speciall Visitors to see these trustees to perform the use according to his intent if the Trustees defraud the trust the Commissioners cannot meddle but the Visitors are to perform it but where the Visitors are Trustees also there the Commissioners may by their Decree reform the abuse of the charitable use Hynshaw and Pydwers the Mayor of the Corporation of Morpeth in Northumberland 5. Car. KIng Edw. 6. gives Land to the Mayor and Commonalty of Morpeth of the value of 20 l per ann. to maintain a School-master there and appoints them Visitors of the School-master and Schollars that they behave themselves according to his Orders this Land increaseth to 100 l by the year and the Corporation did onely bestow on the School-master the 20 l per ann. accordding to the value at the time of the first Gift A commission is granted to reform this breach of trust and the Corporation upon summons refused to appear before the Commissioners for that they are appointed Visitors and the Proviso of the Statute doth exempt in such cases the power of the Commissioners the Commissioners certifie this to the Lord Keeper and that the Visitors were the persons trusted and did break the trust and Serjeant Thomas Crew moving the Lord Keeper upon this Certificate the 22 of May 5 Car. the Lord Keeper declared his opinion to be that the Commissioners might proceed in the execution of their Commission for the Visitors being Trustees and Parties breaking the Trusts are not within the intent of the Proviso and if it should be otherwise construed this breach of Trust would escape unpunished unlesse in Chancery or in Parliament which were a tedious and chargeable Suit for poor persons And the Lord Keeper said That the not bestowing of the increased value of the Land given was a breach of trust in the Corporation if no other use be expressed in the Letters Patents Also it was then said If Land be given to maintain a charitable use for relief of poor and also that the School-master or poor shall pray for the Donors soul that the charitable use shall be said the principall intent of the Donor and the praying for his soul but an accessary and therefore the charitable use shall support and preserve the Land The Case of the Inhabitants of Woodford in Essex against Parkhurst Hill 14. SIr Henry Leigh did purchase Copyhold lands in Woodford in the name of two of his younger sons and their Heirs they being within age and by his Will Deviseth to Sir William Martin and other Parishioners of Woodford and their Heirs a Rent-charge of 40 s per annum out of this Copyhold land for relief of the poor there and dyes Sir William Martin purchaseth this land and enjoyes it for many years and then sells the land unto Packhurst and his Heirs Parkhurst hath notice of the Charitable use between the Surrender and his admittance the Commissioners Decree Parkhurst to pay all the arrerages since Sir Henry Leighs death and upon his appeal the Lord Keeper resoved these points First that the Rent is well Devised although Sir Henry had nothing in the land in strictness of Law for that the Estate in Law was in the children yet Sir Henry making the Purchase and enjoying the land as owner and receiving the Profits of it he shall be said in Equity to have power to dispose to a Charitable use Also it being objected that there wanted a Surrender to enable him to Devise the Lord keeper said yet the Devise was good enough and shall be said a good gift limitation and appointment within the Statute in favour of Charitable uses Secondly resolved that the Rent although it was extinct in Law by Sir William Martin purchased yet by the Commissioners Decree it is revived Thirdly Resolved the Rent is not extinct by this Purchase although he had no notice of the same for that the Purchase is of another thing then was given to the Charitable use Fourthly Resoved that the Rent is a charge which goes with the Land in whose hands soever it comes and a Distress may be taken for the arrerages upon the ter-tenant for the time it was arrear in others hands and the owners remedy to have contribution against all others that enjoyed the Land before him is by Suit in Chancery and here Parkhurst by the Decree had contribution against all others that enjoyed the Land charged and suffered arrerages to accrew in their time Lastly Resolved that the notice of the Rent given to Parkhurst after the Surrender and agreement for the Purchaser and before his admittance was a sufficient notice within the Statute if notice in this case had been requisite for that Parkhurst was no compleat and absolute Purchasor before admittance so of notice given to a Purchasor of a Charitable use chargeable upon the Land mean between his agreement and sealing of the Writings before the perfecting of the settling of the Estate in him by Attornment Livery or Inrolment of the Deed of Conveyance Hennington Hastings in Com. Warr 6. Jacob ONe Humfrey Davis erected an Almshouse in Hennington Hastings for eight poor men and being Seised of lands in Tennington Monton and â—urbery then let for 10 l Rent per annum doth devise the rents of his said lands for maintenance of the said poor in the said Almshouse and dyes his heir paies the Ten pound yearely for maintenance of the poor at the Almshouse and at the end of the term doth Demise the land at 40 l per annum The Commissioners doth Decree the whole land for maintenance of the Charitable use and the arrerages of the improved Rent taken by the Heir from the time of the expiration of the old Lease until the Decree and that the new Lease shall be void and surrendred and upon the Heirs appeal in Chancery and acceptions taken to the Decree the Lord Keeper referred the Case to the Judges principally whether if one Devise the Rents of his Land to a Charitable use if by this Devise the Land passed and they certified their opinions that by Devise of the Rents of the
lands to a Charitable use the land it self did passe and in twelve Jac. in the Case of one Kerry and Dethick it was adjudged that if one Devise to another and his Heires the Rents and Profits of his Lands that this is a Devise of the Land it self also they resolved that when one Deviseth the Rent of his Land to a Charitable use it shall be taken largely for a Devise of the Rent then reserved or afterwards to be reserved upon an improved value and the Lord Keeper did afterwards confirm the Commissioners Decree in all things The Schoole of Thetfords Case upon a Bill exhited in Parliament 8. Jacobi 8. Coke fol. 130. LAnd of the value of 35 l by the year was by Sir Thomas Fulmerston 9. Eliz. Devised to certain persons in Trust and their Heirs for maintenance of a Preacher Schoole master and poor people in Thetford and by the Will a special distribution was made how much the Preacher Schoole-master and poor should have amounting in the whole unto 35 l by the year which was the value of the Land at the time of the Devise and afterwards the land increaseth to be by the value of 100 l by the year and upon a Reference to the Chief Justices and Judge Walmsley they certified their opinions that the Revenew of the Lands shall be imployed to increase the several stipends of the persons appointed to be maintained by the Devisor and if any surplusage do remain it shall be imployed for the maintenance of a greater number of people and nothing shall be converted by the Devisees to their own use for that it appeareth by the distribution of the Devisor that he intended that all the Profits of his lands shall be imployed in the Charitable works by him Founded and left nothing to his Heirs or Executors of the Profits of his Lands as they were in value at his death and as if the value of the Lands had decreased the poor should have lost in their stipends so when the Revenue of the Revenue of the Lands increase they shall gain and the Lord Coke said that this resolution did concern all the Colledges in the Vniversities and elsewhere for when the lands were first given for their maintenance and that every Scholler should have a penny half peny a day this was then a competent allowance for a Scholler in respect of the price of victuals then and yearly value of the Land and now the price of victuals being increased the first maintenance for Schollars is not competent for them and as the value of the lands increase so ought the allowance for the Schollars to increase for the Colledges seised in Jure Collegii to the intent that the members of the Colledge shall be maintained according to the intent of the Founder which is that all the Revenue and Increase of the Profits of their Lands shall be bestowed in the works of Charity which the Founder hath expressed and that nothing should be committed to any other private uses for panis egentum est vitae pauperum qui defraudat eos homo sanguinis est and upon conference with all the Judges of England they agreed to the opinion of both the aforesaid Judges and both Houses of Parliament passed the Bill accordingly and the King assented to the Bill Dame Billingsleys Case 12. Jac. THe Lady Billingsley being a feme covert and Administatrix unto Martin her first husband made her Will and gave 400 l unto Charitable uses out of 1800 l debt due unto Martin upon a Statute and dyes Administration of Martins goods is committed unto others the Executors of the Lady Billingsley prove the Will and have asseâ—â— Commissioners for charitable uses make a Decree against the Executors for payment of the 400 l given by her unto the Charitable use Upon an Appeal the Executors take exception against the Decree first that the Will is void being made by a feme covert for that the Demise of the Charitable use is to be paid but of money due upon a Statute which is a thing in action and the Administrators of Martyn have now the debt out of which the charitable use ought to be payd but the Lord Keeper did confirm the Decree and declared that the Will of a Femecovert is not meerly voyd unlesse her Husband did contradict it and it shall stand good in this case and be a good Declaration of money to a charitable Use within the Statute Secondly this Declaration shall be good to charge her Executors to pay the charitable use it being found that they have Assets and they shall be liable to pay it out of her Estate but it shall not charge the Administrators of Martin for that they be Administrators to another and claimed immediately from Martin above the Will Decimo quinto Jac. Collisons Case COllison seized of Lands in Fee in Pape street of Eltham in 25 H. 8. Deviseth the Rents of his Lands to his Executors for reparations of High ways within the Parish for ever and upon a Reference to Mountague and Hoboard chief Justices out of the Chancerie they certified that this was a good Demise of the Land and that if one do Demise the Rents and profits of his Lands to another and his Heirs this is a good Demise of the Land it self Secondly although this was a voyd Demise in Law because it was made in 25 H. 8. at which time no Land was Demisable by the Common Law but customary Land and the Statute of 32 34 H. 8. were made divers years after yet by the Statute 43 Eliz. it is made good and shall be taken within that Statute for a good limitation and appointment to a charitable use and it was Decreed according to their certificate Sir Tho. Middletons Case 1617. SOldiers and Marriners by a voluntary contribution amongst themselves abates out of their wages of six shillings a Month 4 d by the Month and he which taketh five shillings by the Month 3 d by the Month and appoints this to be payd to Sir Tho. Middleton to the intent that he shall imploy it for relief of maimed Souldiers and Marriners upon the Seas their wives and children and Sir Tho. receives by this appointment 400 l which he keeps in his hands about twenty years This voluntary contribution was made by the Marriners and Soldiers attending Sir Francis Drake and Sir John Hawkins in their voyages to the West Indies upon a Commission upon the Statute of Charitable Vses this voluntary agreement and constitution of the Souldiers and Marriners was proved before them and that Sir Tho. Middleton had received by reason thereof 400 l which he had detained in his hands twenty years The Commissioners make a Decree for payment of the said money with some damages and upon Appeal to the Lord Keeper he confirmed this Decree Rivetts Case 15 Jac. A Copyholder of Land in Fee Deviseth the same to a charitable Use without a surrrender Commissioners make a Decree for the Land and
upon Appeal the Decree was confirmed for although it be a voyd Devise by the common Law yet it is a good limitation and appointment of Land to a charitable use and it shall bind the Heir but not the Lord for his Fine This Devise was made unto the Devisors Son and Heir and his Heir upon condition that he and his Heirs should imploy the profits of the Land for the relief of Stow Market in Suffolk and after the Devisor died without a Surrender to the use of his Will In 6 Jac. the Heir having sold the Land to one Flick for valuable consideration of money sues out a Commission upon the Statute of charitable Vses by fraud and covin between him and Flick to discharge this Land of the charitable use upon which Commission it was proved before the Commissioners that Flick had any notice of this charitable use but it was proved that the Heir that sold the Land had Assets both in Law and Equity to give allowance out of his Estate to maintain this charitable use whereupon the Commissioners Decreed that the Son and Heir should grant out of his own Land the summ of five Marks and to maintain this charitable use it being then proved that the Land Devised for the charitable Use was of no great value and they further Decree that Flick should hold his Land discharged of the charitable use And this Decree being certified into the Chancery and prosecuted by the Heir and Flick with intent to discharge the Land Devised of the charitable use the Lord Keeper confirmed it Afterwards the Parishoners of Stow Market having notice of this fraud and that the Land Devised was worth 7 l 10 s per ann. they in 14. Jac. sue out another Commission upon the said Statute and before the Commissioners it was proved that Flick had notice of this charitable use before he bought the Land Secondly it was proved that the first Commission was sued out by fraud and combination between the Heir and Flick on purpose to discharge the Land Devised of this charitable use Thirdly it was proved that the Land Devised was worth 7 l 10 s per an. And fourthly that the Heir had not payd the 5 Marks Decreed by the former Commission to be payd upon all which proofs the latter Commissioners Decree Flicks Land for maintenance of the charitable use appointed and the Jury having found the former Commission to be prosecuted by fraud and combination as aforesaid they Decree that Flick shall pay the full value of his Land by the year to the charitable use from the time of his Purchase And lastly they Decree that the Heir that ought to have paid the 5 Marks per ann. for divers years and hath not paid it at any time should pay the arrerages and then his Land to be discharged from further payment of it This latter Decree being certified in the Chancery Flick took exception that the second Commission issued out illegally there having been a former Commission and Decree to discharge the Land of the charitable use which was confirmed by Decree of this Court which ought to be finall and is not to be reversed but in Parliament according to Andrew Hynstors Case before and if a Commission upon a Commission should issue out upon this Statute such multiplicity of Suits would arise as that it would prove inconvenient and multiplicity of Suits is not allowed in Law But the Lord Keeper did confirm the second Decree because of the fraud and combination between the Heir and Flick in suing out the first Commission which was found by the Jury and proved before the L. Keeper and therefore he now reversed the first Decree and confirmed this for that by the Law Fraus dolus nemini patrociniam debet but if a Decree be legally made without fraud by the Commissioners for charitable uses and upon Appeal this is confirmed in the Chancery and where a Decree is made by Commissioners for charitable uses and this Decree confirmed in Chancery if the Decree be not performed accordingly now no Commission need be sued out for upon an Affidavit made of a breach of the Decree an Attachment and other Proces of course is to issue out to compell the parties concerned to perform the Decree yet if a second Commission do issue out it is not illegall if nothing be decreed against the first Decree and upon this second Commission they are to decree by form of the first Decree if they find a breach Barnard Hides Case TRinity 4 Car. Barnard Hides Case against the Parishoners of Gillingham Darford and Sutton in Kent Katherine Banne grants by Deed a Rentseek out of 208 acres of Land for relief of the poor in those Parishes and limits this to commence after her death and gives seisin of this in her life the Rent is behind for thirty six years Hide Purchaseth the Land having notice of the charitable use and in the Grant there was a nomine poenae of 50 s if the Rent be not paid by her Heirs within fourteen days after it was due by the Grant and it was found that Hide had held the Land seven years upon a Commission for charitable uses the Commissioners Decree that Hide shall pay all the arrerages for thirty six years and also the arrerages of the nomine poenae for seven years being the time he had enjoyed the Land and Decree that the Grantor shall distrain for the Rent for ever after And the Commissioners Decree being returned in Chancery the Lord Keeper referred it to the Judges who resolved these points First that Hide should pay all the arrerages for thirty six years for that the Land is chargeable with the Rent in whose hands soever it cometh Secondly that the seisin given by the Grantor in her life is good although the Rent did not commence or was in esse at the time of the seisin given Thirdly if Land or Rent be given to a charitable use and misimployed a Purchasor which hath notice of the Gift shall not be further charged then during his own time but where the Rent is concealed a Purchasor shall answer for all the time of the concealment for the Land is a Debtor transit cum onere Fourthly if a Rent be granted out of Land to a charitable use and one buys the Land for a valuable consideration of money having no notice of the charitable Use and Rent yet the Rent remains because it is collaterall to the Land and another thing and the notice required by the Statute is to be given as well of the Land as of the charitable use Fifthly resolved that the Purchasor shall not pay the arrerages of the nomine poenae because it was a personall charge upon the Heir who ought to have paid the Rent and it doth not charge the Land Sixthly when the Heir or others charged to pay a charitable use do break the trust the Commissioners may transfer the trust unto others as to the Churchwardens or
other Parishoners of the Parish where the charitable use is to be distributed Lastly it was resolved that if a Rent seek be granted to a charitable use the Commissioners by their Decree cannot make this a Rent-charge by adding a clause of distresse unlesse it be for that this alters the nature of the Rent in the creation of it and is against the mind of the Donor Mich. 14. Car. Plate and the Masters and Fellows of St. Johns Colledge in Cambridge PLate being seised of Copyhold Land in tayl in Highgate in Midlesex surrenders this in Court to the use of his Will and suffers a Recovery in the Court of the Mannor in which no Judgement is given against the Vouchee and after Deviseth by his Will this Copyhold Land and all his Free-hold Land to his wife for life the remainder to the Master and Fellows of St. Johns Colledge in Cambridge for maintenance of the Schollars there the Heir of Plate enters upon the wife to avoid the Devise and the Master and Fellows prefer a Bill in Chancery to preserve their interest and to have the Devise to them confirmed The Lord Keeper Littleton resolves that if no Judgement be given against the Vouchee to have in value in case of a common recovery to cut off an Estate tayl that it is a voyd recovery and will not cut off an Estate tayl and as to the wife to whom the Land was Devised for life the Heir had liberty given by Law to evict them but as to the Colledge and the remainder limited to them the Lord Keeper did declare that the Devise is good to them by the Statute 43 Elizabeth touching Gifts Limitations and appointments of Lands to charitable uses for there is gift and limitation of the Land to a charitable use which shall not be avoided for want of circumstance of Law to make it good and also the Lord Keeper said that although the Colledge was incorporated by another name then the Devise was to them and therefore might not be capable of it yet the Devise is good to them by the said Statute also if the Heir avoyd the Estate tayl against the Wife at Law yet the remainder to the Colledge shall stand good and be a remainder without a particular Estate which by rules of Law cannot be but these defects in cases of charitable uses are made good by that Statute by a benigne and favourable interpretation thereupon for maintenance of Charity as it is in other cases upon Statutes for Piety and Charity 13 Jacobi Jesus Colledge Case in Court of Wards referred to the Judges DOctor Floyd seised of Lands in Capite Deviseth them to Jesus Colledge in Oxford and their Successors to find a Fellow there which should be of his blood and alliance and it was referred to the Judges Whether this Devise be good or no and they resolved and certified that by the Common Law and Statute of Wills the Devise was void for these Statutes enabled persons to Devise their Lands excepting to Corporations for that is Mortmain also none can Devise all their Capite Lands to any but must leave a third part to descend but they certified and resolved that although it be voyd by the Common Law yet the Statute of 43. Eliz. for charitable Vses doth make this good as a limitation and an appointment and that it was good for all the Land But if an Infant or Lunatick who by Law is disabled to make a Will or Devise of his Land do Devise his Land to a charitable use this is voyd and not made good by the Statute for want of a capacity to make a Will by Law The Lord Edward Mountagues Case in the Court of Wards 17. Jac. SIr Walter Mountague seised in Fee of Capite Lands in Hanging Houghton in Northamptonshire conveys two parts of these lands unto uses limited within the Statute of 32. and 34. H. 8 and by his Will deviseth the third part remaining in him for maintenance of a charitable use in Wales and upon a reference unto Hobart and Tanfield they resolved this Devise to be voyd and was not aided by the Statute of 43. Eliz. for charitable uses for in the instant of his death the Lands descended to the Heir and the Devisor having disposed of two parts in his life according to the Statute of Wills he is disabled by the Common Law and those Statutes as owner of the Lands to Devise any part of his third part remaining See Doctor Floyds Case before in Jesus Colledge Case Seymor against the poor of Twyford Trinity 1634. MOney was given to charitable uses and detained a long time as concealed the Commissioners upon the said Statute Decreed the Money to be paid with interest after the rate of 8 l per cent and this Decree was confirmed by the Lord Keeper So in the Case of the Lady Mountague of Ilford and the Inhabitants of Barking in Essex Sir Charles Mountague her Husband gave by his Will 10 l to the poor of Barking and made his Wife Executrix and died she kept the Money above twelve years in her hands and the Commissioners Decreed her to pay 20 l for the detainig this Money for use and principall and the Lord Keeper Coventry confirmed this Decree about 12. The Poor of East Greenstead against Howard 8. 10. REsolved by the Lord Keeper upon Appeal to alter or confirm a Decree made by Commissioners upon the Statute of Charitable Vses the Decree is not perpetuated and not to be altered but by Act of Parliament and is to remain in the Pety Bagg and it is in his power to make a Decree good where it is defective Hungate on the part of the Inhabitants of Sherborn 3. A Debt owing by Statute Bond Judgement or Recognizance which in Law is a thing in action was given for the creation of a School and this was Decreed to be a good appointment within the Statute to maintain a charitable Use Steward against Germyn 41. Eliz. ONe having Lands and Goods appoints by his Will that the same shall be sold to maintain a charitable Use and doth not appoint by whom the sale shall be made the Commissioners do by their Decree appoint that J. S. shall sell these Lands and Goods and Decree his sale to be good and that the money to be raised thereby shall be imployed to maintain the charitable Use according to the Donors Will and this Decree was confirmed by the Lord Keeper upon an Appeal to him Hellams Case 5. Caroli A Devise was made of Lands to the Company of Leather-sellers in London to maintain a charitable Use there upon a Decree by Commissioners to settle the Lands upon the Company an Appeal was and exception taken for that the Company of Leather-sellers was a Corporation and the Statutes of Wills doth except Devises of Land to a Corporation but the Decree was confirmed there being many Presidents in it The Schoole of Rugby in the County of Warwick 2. Caroli ONe seised in
Fee of houses in Grays-Inn Lane London gave these houses to certain persons in Trust to build a School at Rugby in the County of Warwick and upon breach of the Trust a Commission was taken out in Warwickshire to enquire of this Gift and by a Jury there the Gift and breach of Trust was found and a Decree made by the Commissioners in that County to settle the lands according to the Donors Will and upon an Appeal the Decree was reversed for the Inquisition and Decree was not made nor found by Jurors and Commissioners of the County where the Lands given to such uses do lie the words of the Statute be To enquire by the oaths of twelve men or more of the County of such gifts limitations and appointments and of the breaches of Trust of such Lands and Goods c. which is intended to be by Jury and Commissioners of that County where the Lands do lie Kensons Case 41. Eliz. REsolved that a Copyhold may be charged or given to a charitable use Wingfields Case 4. Car. MOney was given for the good of the Church of Dulk and this was resolved to be a good Gift notwithstanding these generall words Goffe cont. Webb 44. Eliz. HVnt seised in Fee of the Rectory of Haynes in the County of Wilts Devised the same to be sold and the Money to be distributed unto twenty of the poor of his kindred and by Egerton and Popham this was adjudged a good Devise notwithstanding it doth not appear that he had any poor kindred Champion contra Smith 3. Jacobi RIdley seised of Copyhold land in Barking in Essex did Devise the same to the Parson and Churchwardens of in Thames-street London to the end that they and four honest men of that Parish should sell this land and imploy the Money for the poor and charitable uses in that Parish And upon an Appeal made it was objected that the Devise was void because the Parson and Churchwardens were not a Corporation to take lands out of London nor to sell it for such uses but it was Decreed that the Devise was good and that they had good authority to sell the same Stoddard 20. Jacobi SToddard Devised by parcell a yearly Rent of 10 l per ann. for ever out of his House called The Swan with 100 Marks in the Old Jury London for maintenance of two Schollars in Oxford and Cambridge and willed that one Hugh the Scrivener should put it into Writing which was done accordingly and this being found by Inquisition was Decreed and the Decree confirmed upon an Appeal for although by Law a Rent cannot be created or granted without Deed or Will in writing yet this Nuncupative Will was good to create the Rent to a charitable use by the words of the Statute of limitation or appointment for although it be not a good Gift yet it is a good limitation or appointment Mayor and Burgesses de Reading contra Lane 43. Eliz. A Devise was made to the poor people maintained in the Hospitall of St. Lawrence in Reading for ever Exception was taken that the poor were not capable by that name for that they were no Corporation yet because the Mayor and Burgesses were capable to take Lands in Mortmain and they did govern the Hospitall it was Decreed that the Defendant Lane should assure the Land to the Mayor and Burgesses for the maintenance of the said Hospitall Mayor of Bristoll against Whitton 8. and 9. Caroli A Man Deviseth Mony to a charitable use to be bestowed amongst poor people and the other of his goods to be imployed for such uses as his Feoffees shall think fit Resolved by the Lord Keeper and the Certificate of two Judges that although Bristoll be a Corporation yet the Devise to them is good Fisher against Hill 10. Jacob WHen no use is mentioned or directed in a Deed it shall be Decreed to the use of the poor although the Feoffees be gentlemen living out of the Town and no Inhabitants within the Town Peacock against Thewer Mich. 14. Car. LAnds are given to a charitable use if a Purchasor buys these lands not having notice of the charitable use it shall not bind the Purchasor but if a Rent be given out of lands to a charitable use and a Purchasor purchaseth the lands for money not having notice of the charitable use yet he shall pay the Rent for that he doth not purchase it but the land out of which the Rent issueth but he shall not pay any more arrerages of the Rent then what was encurred during his time of purchase but every occupier and owner must answer the arrerages for his own time See before Purkhursts Case and the Inhabitants of Wood and Barnard Hides Case before 2. Caroli Pennyman against Jennys LAnds were given to Churchwardens of a Parish to a charitable use although the Devise be voyd in Law it was Decreed good in Chancery by the words limited and appointed within the Statute Trin. 15. Car. Pember against the Inhabitants of Knighton MOney was given to maintain a Preaching Minister this is no charitable use named in the Statute yet by the Lord Keeper and two Judges it was Decreed to be good and the use a charitable use within the Equity of that Statute and the Executor was ordered to pay that money to the charitable use for maintenance of it Trin. 15. Car. Peustred cont. Panyer A Deviseth 20 l per ann. to a Preaching Minister and makes his wife Executrix and dyes leaving Lands and Assets in Goods the Executrix refuseth to buy Lands or a Rent of that value the Lord Keeper and two Judges Decree the Executrix to buy Lands to that value and to assure it for the charitable use Trin. 15. Car. Bramble against the poor of Havering A Feme covert maketh a Will and deviseth 30 s per ann. out of some of her own Lands to a charitable use the Heir submits himself to an Award and is bound to perform it the Arbitrators do Award the payment of it yet by Decree the Heir is discharged to pay it and that the Devise was voyd ab initio so of an Infant and other persons disabled in Law to make a Will or to Devise Lands Mayor de Londons Case LAnds were Devised to the Mayor and Chamberlain of London to the use of the Master and Governors of the Hospitall of St. Bartholomew London Resolved that Devise is good although the Corporation be not incorporated by that name but by the name of Mayor and Commonalty for the intent of the Devisor shall be observed and it appears that the Devisor intended to give it to the Corporation of London Also the Will is To maintain an Hospitall which is a charitable use which the Law ought to favour Pauperes de Chelmsford Sir Henry Mildmay Minh 1649. KIng Edward 6. founded a Free-School in Chelmsford and made it a Corporation of Guardians Master and Usher and gave Chantery to them and their successors to the value of 300 l
per ann. at this day to maintain the Master Vsher and certain poor people in Chelmesford and Moulsham and appointed that the Rents Issues and Profits of their lands should be imployed for their maintenance and not otherwise and appointed the Lord Peter and the Heirs males of his body Sir Tho. Mildmay and the Heirs males of his body Sir Jo. Tirril and the Heirs males of his body and Sir Humfrey Mildmay and the Heirs mals of his body should be Governors of the said Free-School and Lands and that none under the degree of a Knight should be one of the Governors the Governors make Leases of the Lands at under values for Fines and small Rents according as they were at the first Foundation The Commissioners Decree the Government and Ordering of the Lands to others by reason of their breach of Trust Sir Henry Mildmay of Moulsham neer Chelmsford being the chief man that received the Rents let the Leases and defrauded the Trust the rest of the Governors Heirs being within age or beyond the Seas put in Exception to the Decree First that the Corporation had speciall Visitors appointed and so within the Proviso of the Statute Secondly for that the Decree is against the Founders intent who would have none under the degree of Knight to be a Governor to which was answered That when the Visitors break the Trust they may be questioned by Decree of the Commissioners as is the Case of the School of Morpeth and other Cases before cited Thirdly that the generall intent was of Edw. 6. that the Profits of the Lands should be solely converted for the use of the School and poor and that the Visitors and their Heirs should make no profit of it and that of being a Knight was but for the Honour of the Family appointed Governors and they all being persons of great Possessions and living neer Chelmsford But the Lords Commissioners reversed the Decree by reason of the Proviso in the Statute and ordered that a Bill be exhibited against the now Visitors and Governors and that upon proof of their breach of Trust a course should be taken for relief of the School and Poor according to the intent of the Founder The Case where a Tenant in Capite Devised all his Lands to a charitable Vse TH. seised in Fee of the Mannor of L. held in Socage and of 54 acres of Marshland held in Capite deviseth all the Socage-lands to C. Hospitall in L. paying 1000 l after the death of A. the wife of T. H. as she in her life time should appoint the same to be payd Part of the Socage-lands Devised to the Hospitall is by Commission of the Court of Wards set out to N. H. the Heir for his third part A. H. dies and the Hospitall pays the 1000 l The Commissioners for charitable uses have Decreed to the Hospitall all the Socage lands Devised to the use of the poor This being the substance of the Case the questions hereupon arising upon the Appeal were Whether the Devise to the charitable uses be good and whether the Commissioners had power to decree the whole Socage lands devised or but two parts only It was agreed that by the Statutes of 32 and 34 Henry 8. the Devise is voyd for a third part But it was insisted upon that although the Devise be voyd for a third part by those Statutes yet this is such a limitation and appointment within the Statute of 43. Eliz. as doth well enable the Commissioners for charitable uses to Decree the whole First That it hath been generally held that the Statute of 43. Eliz. for charitable Uses doth supply all the defects of assurances where the Donor is of a capacity to dispose and hath such an Estate as is any ways disposeable by him And upon this ground it hath been held That if a Copyholder doth dispose of Copyhold lands to a charitable use without a Surrender or if Tenants in tayl do convey land to a charitable use without a Fine or if a reversion be granted without Attornment or Inrolment and divers other the like cases yet these defects are supplied by the Statute of 43. Eliz. because the Donor had a disposing power of the Estate and this is a good limitation and appointment within this Statute But it is true if an Infant Lunatick or any other person who hath not capacity to dispose an Estate shall grant to a charitable use this defect is not supplied by this Statute and this difference is resolved in Collisons Case 15. Jacob in the Lord Hobarts Reports folio 136. Secondly the words of the Statute of 43. Eliz. are very considerable in this Case for although the Statute doth give power to the Lord Chancellor or Lord Keeper upon complaint to them made to adnull diminish alter or enlarge any Decree made by the Commissioners for charitable uses yet the same is with this limitation so far as may stand with Equity and good conscience according to the true intent and meaning of the Donor and Founder thereof Whereby it doth appear that in all Gifts Appointments Limitations and Assignments within that Statute speciall regard is to be had to the intent of the Donor and this power of adnulling diminishing altering or enlarging Decrees made by the Commissioners for charitable uses is appropriated solely to the Lord Choncellor or Lord Keeper and not to any other and to proceed therein according to Equity and good conscience Thirdly the Case of G. L. Hillar 13. Jac. reported by the Lord Hobart fol. 136. doth resolve the point in question Where the Case being that G. L. being seised in Fee of lands in Cardigan 1571. in August 25. Eliz. Devised the same land to A. his wife for life and after to J. his daughter for life and after these lives ended to the principall Fellows and Schollars of Jesus Colledge in Oxford and their successors to find a Schollar of his Blood from time to time and dyed the lives ended B. L. the Heir of G. L. being the Kings VVard entred and upon a Case made hereof in the Court of Wards and by order of that Court brought to the Lord Hobard then Chief Justice of the Common Pleas and the Lord Chief Baron Tanfield to be resolved of by them who agreed and so certified that the Devise was void in Law because the Statute of Wills did not allow Devises to Corporations in Mortmain yet they held it cleerly within the relief of the Statute of charitable Uses of 43. Eliz. under the words limited and appointed and so it was Decreed that the Colledge should enjoy it against the Ward and his Heirs The Case of Collison 15. Jac. Reported likewise by the Lord Hobard fol. 136. Resolved the point in question where the Case being That Collison 15. Hen. 8. Devised a House in Etham in Kent to L. his Wife for life and after her death made J. K. and others Feoffees as he called them in the said House to keep it in reparations
and to bestow the rest of the profits upon the reparation of certain Highways there Collison and his Wife died and the House descended to O. R. an Infant This Case being in Chancerie between the Parishoners and B. was referred by the Court to the Lord Hobart and the Lord Chief Baron Tanfield who resolved it clearly that though the Devise were utterly void yet it was within the relief of the Statute of 43. Eliz. within the words limited and appointed to charitable Vses This Decree was lately confirmed by the Lords Commissioners Keepers of the Great Seal for that it fully appeared to them that it was the true intent and meaning of A. H. the Donor that all the lands in question should go to the Hospitall Inquisitions AN Inquisition taken c. Before c. By vertue of a Commission under the Great Seal of England bearing date at Westminster the 6. day of M. in the year of our Lord God 1650. to them and divers other persons dwelling and inhabiting within the said County directed for the due execution of a Statute made in the high Court of Parliament holden the 27. day of O. in the 43. year of the Reign of our late Soveraigne Lady Queen Eliz. Intituled An Act to redresse the misimployment of Lands Goods and Stocks of Money heretofore given to charitable Vses by the oaths of c good and lawfull men of the said County of D. who being sworn c. say upon their oath That J. T. late of L. Merchant deceased was in his life time and at the time of his death possessed of a personall Estate of great value And that the said J. T. did heretofore make his last Will and Testament bearing date the tenth day of O. which was in the year of our Lord God 1649. And by the same Will did nominate constitute and appoint W. L. of T. and T. H. of L. in the County of C. Gent. the Executor of the said Will And that afterwards the said J. T. did make a Codicil which was annexed to his said last Will and Testament and which he did appoint to be part of his said Will And that the said J. T. in and by the said Codicil did among other things make such recitall disposition limitation and appointment as followeth in these words That is to say And whereas I have not finished the Almshouses by me already begun and do intend that eight poor people of the said Parish of M. shall be placed therein when finished and receive fifty shillings a piece yearly by quartery payments for their maintenance during their lives and purpose that the same shall be so continued and supplied for ever with poor people of that Parish and with that yearly maintenance Now I J. T. Testator named in the said Will do hereby will and appoint mine Executors W. L. and T. H. in my said Will named to finish the said Almshouses with all speed out of the surpluss of my Estate not disposed by the said Will nor by this Codicil and likewise therewith to purchase so much Freehold land in fee simple and settle assure the same upon Feoffees for the maintenance of eight poor people of M. Parish aforesaid for ever to be placed in the said Almshouses at M. aforesaid as shall be convenient And the Jurors aforesaid do further say upon their oaths That the said J. T. afterwards that is to say on the 22th day of D. died And that the said W. L. and T. H. proved the said Will and Codicil of the said J. T. and took upon them the execution thereof And that they the said W. L. and T. H. after the death of the said J. T. did finish the building of the said Almshouses before mentioned out of the Estate of the said J. T. And that the said T. H. did place eight poor people in the said Almshouses there But the Jurors aforesaid do likewise say upon their oaths That the said W. L. and T. H. in the said Will of the said J. T. named have not nor either of them hath out of the Estate of the said J. T. appointed or limited for that purpose or otherwise as yet purchased settled or assured Freehold Land in Fee simple of the clear yeary value of 20 l by the year as by the said Will and Codicil is intended and appointed upon Feoffees or Trustees for the maintenance of eight poor people of M. aforesaid for ever placed and to be placed in the said Almshouses as by the said Codicil is directed limited and appointed And that in further breach of the Trust in them the said W. L. and T. H. reposed in and by the said Will and Codicil They the said W. L. and T. H. have not paid unto the poor people formerly placed in the said Almshouses and now remaining there namely A B. c. their severall and respective yearly allowances of 50 s the year appointed them by the said J. T. as aforesaid by the space of two years ending at the Feast of the Annunciation of the blessed Virgin Mary last past amounting in all to the summ of 20 l but do detain and withhold the same money from them the said poor people And the said Jurors do further say upon their oaths That the said W. L. and T. H. have Assets of the said J. T. in their hands of the surpluss of his Estate not disposed of by his said Will and Codicil sufficient to purchase so much Freehold land in Fee simple as may be convenient for the maintenance of eight poor people placed and to be placed in the said Almshouses in such manner as the said J. T. hath in and by his said Will and Codicil willed directed limited and appointed In Witnesse c. AT S. in the said County the 19. day of J. in 11. year of the Reign of our Soveraign Lord Charles by the Grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the Faith c. Whereas a Commission under the Great Seal of England bearing date at West the 8. day of Febr. last hath been directed amongst others to Sir W.R. Knt. c. and to divers other persons dwelling and inhabiting within the said County authorizing them or any four or more of them to enquire as well by the oaths of twelve good and lawfull men or more of the said County as by other good and lawfull ways and means of all and singular Lands Tenements Rents Annuities Profits Goods Chattels Money and stocks of Money heretofore given limited appointed and assigned by any well disposed person to or for any the charitable and godly uses in the said Commission mentioned within the said County And of the abuses breaches of Trusts negligences misimployments not imploying concealing defrauding misconverting or misgovernment of the said Lands Tenements Rents Annuities and other things and for the setting down such Orders Judgements and Decrees as that the same Lands Tenements Rents Annuities Profits Goods Chattels Money and
D. Esquire his Executors and Assignes all that the aforesaid Mannor of D. with the Appurtenances together with all the Lands c. thereunto belonging To have and to hold the said Mannor and Premisses to the said H. J. his Executors Administrators and Assignes from the end and expiration of the said first mentioned Indenture of Lease That is to say from the Feast of the Birth of our Lord God which shall be in the year of our Lord God 1642. unto the end and term of one and twenty years from thence forth next and immediately ensuing and fully to be compleat and ended for and under the yearly Rent of 50 l of lawfull money of England and that the same last mentioned Lease or Demise was allowed of by P. L. and Dame E. B. his Wife as Patrons of the same School And that the said old or former Lease made and granted of the said Mannor of D. and Premisses with the Appurtenances by the said J. H. precedent School-master and the said T. C. J. W. and W. C. to the said F. R as aforesaid was not within 14. years of expiration of the years thereby granted by effluction of time at the making of the said new Lease by the said T. C. J. W. and G. G. to the said H. J. as aforesaid neither was the same old or former Lease so made and granted to the said F. R. by the said J. H. and J. B. as aforesaid surrendred or otherwise avoided within one year next after the making of the said new Lease to the said H. J. nor at any time sithence And that the said Mannor of D. yet is and at the time of the making of the said Lease to the said H. J. was worth 60 l of lawfull money of England per ann. And that the said T. C. is dead and that T. O. Presbyter is now School-master of the same Grammar-School of the said A. B. Esq in D. aforesaid And that neither the said A. B. nor J. his Wife made any direction otherwise then as aforesaid touching the Issues and Profits of the said Mannor as by the said Inquisition hereunto annexed relation being thereunto had more at large it doth and may appear Now for as much as it appeareth by the Inquisition before recited That by the Statutes Ordinances and Constitutions concerning the Grammar-School before mentioned and the Lands Tenements and Possessions thereof All Leases made by the said Corporation of any their Lands Tenements or Hereditaments being in the hands of any Farmer or Farmers by vertue of any old or former Lease for years shall be utterly voyd unlesse the same old or former Lease for years be within fourteen years of expiration of the said years by effluction of time at the making of the said new Lease and be surrendred within one year next after the making of the same Lease And for that it appeareth likewise by the said Inquisition That the old or former Lease therein mentioned to be made and granted of the Mannor of D. before mentioned by the said J. H. J. F. and G. O. to the aforesaid R. F. as aforesaid was not within fourteen yeers of expiration of the years thereby granted by effluction of time at the making of the said new Lease by the said T. C. J. W. G. G. to the said J. H. as aforesaid And that the same old or former Lease so made and granted to the same R. F. by the said J. H. and J. F. and G. O. as aforesaid was not surrendred nor otherwise avoided within one year next after the making of the said new Lease to the said R. F. or ever at any time since And for that it appeareth and therefore the making of the said new Lease was a breach of Trust in the said School-master and Guardians Further also it appeareth by the said Inquisition that the said Mannor and Premisses so demised and granted to the said H. J. as aforesaid at the Rent of 50 l per ann. is worth 60 l per ann. to be let therefore and for other the matters and things in the said Inquisition appearing the said Sir W. R. c. being six of the Commissioners named and authorized in and by the said Commission upon full hearing and debating of the matter by the Councell learned in the Laws appearing before the said Commissioners as well on the behalf of T. J. Son of the said H. J. who claimeth an interest in the said Mannor of D. for divers years yet to come under colour of the Lease before mentioned made by the said J. H. J. B. and G. O. to the said H. J. as aforesaid do by vertue of the said Statute and Commission order adjudge and decree that the said Lease made and granted by the said J. A. J. B. and G. O. to the said H. J. was made contrary to the intent of the Donor of the said Lands and contrary to the Ordinances and Constitutions appointed for and concerning the said School and the Lands Tenements and Possessions thereof and is not warranted by all or any of them but was and is an abuse and misgovernment of the said Mannor and Lands and a breach of Trust in the said T. O. School-master of the said Grammar-School J. B. and G. O. Guardians of the Lands Tenements and Possessions of the said School and is a great and apparent prejudice and hinderance to the due and faithfull imployment of the profits of the same according to the intent of the Donor and a defrauding of a charitable Use within the said Statute and that the said Lease and the said Mannor and Lands and the Indenture of Demise for the passing of the same to the said F. R. is and from henceforth shall be utterly void and of none effect And the said Commissioners do further order adjudge and decree That the said T. O. School-master and the Guardians of the Lands Tenements and Possessions of the same School for the time being shall and may Demise grant and to Farm let the said Mannor of D. in such manner as by the same Ordinances and Constitutions concerning the said School School master and the Lands Tenements and Possessions thereof is limited declared ordained and appointed The said Lease so made of the same Mannor and Lands to F. R. aforesaid notwithstanding And they the said Commissioners do further order adjudge and decree that the said T. R. Esquire Son of the said F. R. shall within one Month after notice of this Decree deliver the Indenture of the said Lease made unto the said F. R. of the said Mannor and Premisses as aforesaid to the said T. O. or his Successors and Guardians of the Lands Tenements and Possessions of the same School for the time being to be cancelled and shall likewise within that time pay unto the said T. O. the summ of 10 l of lawfull money of England for his charges and expences in suing out the said Commission and in the prosecution of the said Inquisition and
this Decree Witnesse Directions When a Commission is first sued out it is good to give notice to the Churchwardens and Overseers for the Poor of Parishes neer where the Commissioners sit after this Manner The second day of May 1610. By the Commissioners for Charitable Uses sitting at B. in the County of C. WHereas a Commission under the Great Seal of England bearing date at Westminster the tenth day of January 1610. Hath been directed to divers persons dwelling and inhabiting within the County aforesaid authorizing them or any four or more of them to enquire by such ways and means as in the said Commission is mentioned what Lands Tenements Rents Annuities Profits Hereditaments Goods Chattels Mony and stocks of mony have been heretofore given by any well disposed person or persons for relief of aged impotent and poor people maintenance of sick and maimed Soldier and Marriners Schools of Learning Free-Schools and Schollars of Universities repair of Bridges Ports Havens Causways Churches Sea-bancks and High-ways for Education and Preferment of Orphanes for or towards the relief stock or maintenance for houses of Correction marriage of poor Maids supportation aid and help of young Tradesmen Handycrafts men and persons decayed release and redemption of Captives aid or case of any poor Inhabitants concerning payment of Fifteens setting out of Soldiers and other Taxes and of the abuses breaches of Trust negligences misimployment not imploying concealing defrauding misconverting and misgovernment of the same Lands Tenements stocks of Money and other things given to any of the Charitable Uses aforesaid and to set down such Orders Judgements and Decrees as that the same Lands Tenements Money and other things may be duly imployed to and for such of the Charitable Uses aforesaid for which they were given limited or appointed by the Doxors and Founders thereof It is this day Ordered by the said Commissioners that notice be given to all Parishes and places within the said County of C. of the Commission aforesaid and the power thereby given to the said Commissioners that so all persons that have occasion may take the benefit of the said Commission and have remedy and redresse thereby and withall that directions be given that such persons as do come to the said Commissioners for relief in the Premisses do bring with them the Wills Evidences Charters and Writings whereby the Charitable Vses do appear to be given created limited assigned and appointed and sufficient witnesse to prove the breaches of Trust not imploying or misimployment of such things as shall be so abused not imployed or misimployed as aforesaid By T. W. Clerk attending the said Commissioners Decrees AT R. within the said County on Tuesday the ninth day of September in the one and twentieth year of the raign of our Soveraign Lord Charles by the Grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the Faith c. An. Dom. 1645. Whereas a Commission under the great Seal of England hearing date the eighth day of February last past hath been directed to W. C. J. H. C. M. G. W. Esquires and G. M. Gent. and to divers other persons dwelling and inhabiting within the said County authorizing them or any foure or more of them to enquire by the oathes of twelve good and lawfull men or more of the County as by all other good and lawfull waies and means of all and singular Lands Tenements Rents Annuities Profits Hereditaments Goods Chattels Mony and Stocks of Mony heretofore given limited appointed and assigned by any well disposed Person to or for any the Charitable and Godly uses in the said Commission mentioned within the said County And of the Abuses Breaches of Trusts Negligences Mis-imployments not Imploying Concealing Defrauding Mis-converting or Mis-government of the same Lands Tenements Rents Annuities and other things and for the setting down such Orders Judgments and Decrees as that the same Lands Tenements Rents Annuities Profits Goods Chattels Mony and Stocks of Mony may be duly and faithfully imployed to and for the Charitable uses and intents for which the same were given limited assigned and appointed by the Donors and Foundors thereof according to a Statute made in the three and fortieth year of the raign of the late Queen Eliz. Intituled An Act made to redress the Mis-imployments of Lands Goods and Stocks of Mony heretofore given to Charitable uses And whereas the said W. C. J. H. C. M. and G. M. being foure of the Commissioners named and authorized in and by the said Commission meeting for the execution thereof at the day and place aforesaid It was then and there found by the oaths of J. F. R. L. c. good and lawfull men of the said County That one A. B. as in and by the said Inquâ—sition hereunto annexed it doth and may appear c. Now they the said W. C. J. H. C. M. G. W. and G. M. having heard the said T. H. and his Councell touching the Premises and being of opinion that the gift of the said Messuage Tenements and Premises by the said A. B. in manner and forme aforesaid is a good Gift Limitation Appointment and Assignment of the same Messuage Tenements and Premises to and for the said Charitable use within the intent of the Statute before mentioned And for that it appeareth to the said Commissioners by the said Will and Inquisition that but onely part of the Issues and Revenues of the said Tenements and Premises were appointed by the said Will to be bestowed to the maintenance of the superstitious uses therein mentioned and that the value of the mony appointed for the said superstitious uses doth not amount to above twenty shillings per annum at the most And for that it doth not appear unto the said Commissioners that any part of the Rents and Profits of the said Tenements and Premises were at any time within five years before the first day of the Parliament begun the fourth day of November one thousand five hundred forty seven and in the first year of the reign of King Edward the sixth late King of England imployed paid or bestowed to the maintenance of the said Obit and other the superstitious uses before mentioned or any of them And forasmuch as it appeareth by the intent of the said Will that Feoffes ought to be appointed successively and the said House and Premises were to be conveyed unto them for the more legall and faithfull continuance and imployment of the Rents and Profits of the same to the Charitable use aforesaid to the end intent and purpose therefore that the Rents and Profits of the said Lands Tenements and Premises may be duly and faithfully imployed in and for the charitable use to and for which the same were limited appointed and assigned by the Donor thereof as aforesaid They the said W. C. J. H. C. M. and G. M. do by vertue of the said Statute and Commission Order and Decree that the said T.H. the Grand-child T.C. J. C. and all and every