if A. dies his Executors not his Heirs shall have it for it is no Inheritance Or if such a Termer grant a Rent out of the Land to A. and his Heirs or the Heirs Male of his body yet shall it go to the Executor not to the Heir for it being derived out of a Chattel it self remains a meer Chattel and becomes not any Inheritance Also if a Rent be granted out of Land to one in Fee-Simple Fee-Taile for Life or Years and it be not paid to him in his life-time the Arrerages shall go to his Executor not to his Heir Or if a man seized of Land and possessed of a stock of Cattel Let it for Years and Covenant with the Lessee that he pay to Him and his Wife their Heirs and Assigns one hundred pound per annum during the Term in this Case after the death of the Lessor his Wife surviving him her Executor and not his Heir shall receive this payment Again if A. grant the next Presentation of the Church of B. unto D. In this Case if D. dies his Executor shall have it as a Chattel Not the Heir Or if A. grant a Lease for years of Land to D. and his Heirs and dies his Executor and not his Heir shall have this Term. And if A. possessed of a Term of years of Land grant it by Deed or give it by Will to D. and his Heirs or to D. and his Heirs Males or devise it by Will to B. for life the remainder to D. and his Heirs in these Cases D. shall have these Terms of years as Chattels and after his death his Executor shall have them Also if a Lessee for life make a Lease for years absolutely This in Law is a Lease for so many years if the life live so long and shall go to the Executor after his death And if one makes a Feoffment in Fee of Land the Feoffee covenanting to do divers things to the Feoffor and to forfeit five pound to him and his Heirs as oft as he shall fail performance and the Feoffee doth fail and break his Covenant divers wayes and the Feoffor dieth in this case his Executor not his Heir shall have and recover all the Forfeitures that are past and unpaid Also if any Goods or Chattels be granted to any Heads of Bodies Politick and their Successors their Executors and not their Successors shall have them In like manner if a Lease for years be made to a Bishop and his Successors and he die his Executor not his Successor is to have it 4. Among the living Chattels Personal that go to the Executor may be comprehended an Apprentice for years the interest of a Debtor in Execution for debt and in a Prisoner taken Jure belli Also Cattel of all kind yea and Fishes in a Pond Conies in a Warren Deer in a Park Pigeons in a Dove-house where the Testator was but a Termer or Lessee thereof for then they are to go to his Executor as Accessory Chattel following the State of their Principal viz. the Pond Warren Park and Dove-house Or if the Conies Pigeons or Deer were all tame they are then likewise to go to the Executor and not to the Heir so likewise are Hawkes reclaimed yea it is felony to steal Hawkes young in the Nest which implyes that they are Goods and belong to the Executor 5. Chattels Personal without life and moveable as all Householdstuff Implements and Utensils Money Plate Jewels Corn Pulse Hay Wood felled Wares Merchandise Ships Carts Plows Coaches c. are evident to belong to the Executor not to the Heir And generally all things sowed and not arising from the Earth without manuring go to the Executorsâ— and such things as grow of themselves to the Heir therefore Corn in the field growing or standing shall go to the Executor Also Hops though not sowen if planted likewise Hemp and Saffron do like Corn growing pertain to the Executor Also after Corn reaped and before the Tythes set out the Inheritor of the Tythes dying his Executor and not his Heir seems to have the best right to the Tythe after set out Also things above ground in Gardens as Mellons of all kind and the like go to the Executor not to the Heir as also all other things as have such a yearly setting or manurance as severs them in interest from the soile Also the Writings and Evidences that concern not the inheritance but only Leases Terms Goods Chattels or Debts pertain to the Executor If one that holdeth Land for the Life of A. B. sow the Land and A. B. happen to die ere it be ripe and cut and he that so holdeth the Land happen to die also before it be ripe the Executor of the Tenant shall have the Corn. And if the Tenant in Tayl sow the Land he doth so hold and die ere it be cut the Executor not he in Reversion nor the Heir nor the Issue in Tayl shall have it Also if A. make a Feoffment of Land to B. excepting the Trees thereon which he afterwards grants to B. for years in this Case the Trees are in the nature of a Chattel and if B. dies his Executor shall enjoy them Or if A. seized in Fee of Lands whereon Trees grow sell these Trees to B. who then dies before they be felled in this Case the Executor or Administrator of B. shall have them and may sell or cut them down Lastly The Executor without contradiction of the Heir may in any convenient time after the Testators death enter into the house descended to the Heir for the removing and taking away of the Goods so as the door be open or at least the key be in the door but he cannot justifie the breaking open of the door of any Chamber to take Goods thence But if the Goods be not removed in convenient time the Heir may distrain them as Dammage Fesante 6. If a Lease for years be made to a Bishop and his Successors and he die his Executor not his Successor is to have it If a Presentment to a Church happen to a Tenant in Tayle and he die before he Presents his Executor not his Issue in Tayle shall Present because the Chattel is not devested Likewise if a Termer have a Presentment which doth happen during the Term though he do not Present yet he shall have it If a Parson Vicar Master of a Hospital or any Body Politick be possessed of any Goods or Chattels in their own Right and die they shall go to their Executors or Administrators not to their Successors If a Lease be made for years or the next Advowson of a Church or Covenant for payment of money or the like be granted or an Obligation made to one and to his Heirs In all these Cases he hath this as a Chattel and it shall go to his
all Devisable and Two parts of Three though held in Knight-service But then the Will must be in Scriptis not Nuncupative Now though Land be thus Deviseable partly by Custom partly by Statute yet there are certain persons incapable of Devising Lands and there are certain Lands incapable of being Devised as appears by what follows in this Chapter 2. As Lands are now Devisable so there are certain Things in some certain cases that pass by way of Bequest by and under a Devise of Lands As thus A Man Seized of Land Devisable Buildeth a House thereupon the House is Devisable the Law is the same as to a Rent-charge de novo created Also a Man Disseisee of Land Deviseable Deviseth to the Disseisor in Fee in Recompence of a Release which the Disseisor made unto him This is a good Devise Also where a Man hath Land in Right of his Wife and he granteth parcel of it to another and after Deviseth the Residue to another This also is good Likewise where a Man hath a Seigniory to him descended of the part of his Mother and after the Tenancy descendeth unto him of the part of his Father both being Devisable and he not having any Issue In this case he may make Devises to several persons that is the Seigniory to one and the Tenancy to another The Lord Dyer also saith That a Termor of Land which is not Deviseable erecting a Furnace and fixing it in the midst of a House in the said Land may Devise this Furnace Also that where a Man is Seized of Land Deviseable and Deviseth totum statum suum to one and his Heirs This shall be a good Devise for the Land Likewise where a Man deviseth primam vesturam seu tonsuram prati which is Deviseable it is good and the Law is the same as to Trees growing and to grow for ever Also Tenant in Fee-simple or in fee-Fee-taile may Devise the Corn though the Land be not Deviseable but as to Trees in that case the Law is otherwise Also a Man Seized of a Mill may Devise the Runner Stone but not the under Stone unless the Mill it self be Devised Likewise a Man Seized of a Common granteth a Rent out of the Land although that the Land be Deviseable yet that Grant is void and by consequence a Devise thereof Nor is an Advowson in gross Deviseable nor any other Thing which lyeth not in Tenure but a Mesnalty or Seigniory is Deviseable because they lye in Tenure And if the Husband Devise the Corn upon his Wives Land and dyes This is good whether the Corn were Sowen before the Marriage or after 3. The persons not qualified to Devise Lands by Will are such as These viz. A Bishop may not Devise the Land of his Bishoprick but of the Arrearages of the Rent of the Bishoprick he may make a Devise by Testament The Law is the same as to a Deane or Parson of a Church Also the Master of an Hospital cannot Devise the Lands of the Hospital nor the Arrearages of Rent issuing out of the same In a word Spiritual Persons Arch-Bishops Bishops Deanes Arch-Deacons Prebends Parsons Vicars or any Member of a Corporation may not Devise the Land or Goods which they have in right of their Churches or Corporations For the Head or any of the Members of a Corporation cannot make a Testament or a Devise of such Lands or goods they have in Common because they are to go in Succession Also an Infant of the Age of 16. Years Seized of Lands Deviseable who may Alien it by the Custom yet he cannot make a Testament or a Devise thereof or if an Infant maketh a Will of his Land within Age and dyeth after that he cometh to full Age making no Revocation This is not a good Will And yet although an Infant until he be of the Age of 21. Years can make no Devise of his Lands Yet it is held that by special Custom in some places where Land is Deviseable by Custom they may Devise it sooner Also a Woman under Covert cannot make a Devise of her Land with or without her Husbands consent neither to her Husband nor to any other Yet of the Goods she hath as Executrix to another she may make an Executor without his consent but of them she can make no Devise either with or without his consent because they are not Deviseable and if she do Devise them the Devise is void Touching such as are Born both Deaf and Dumb The Lord Dyer says They may make a Will of their Land by Signs Though others Affirm That a Man that is both Deaf and Dumb and that is so by Nature cannot make a Testament but that a Man that is so only by Accident may by Writing or Signs so also may a Man that is only Deaf or Dumb whether by Nature or Accident Also an Alien Born and not Denizon'd cannot make a Testament of his Lands yet if an Alien Purchaseth Land in Fee and maketh a Will and after the King maketh him a Denizon after he dyeth his Will is then good as to his Lands or Goods Also a Traytor Attainted from the Time of the Treason committed can make no Devise either of his his Land or Goods for they are all forfeited to the King yet a Pardon from the King restores him to a capacity of dying Testate as to both Likewise a Man Attainted or Convicted of Felony cannot by Testament Devise either Lands or Goods for they are also forfeited but if he be only Indicted and die before Attainder he is then Testable as to both or being Indicted will not Answer upon his Arraignment his standing Mute may possibly preserve him a power of Devising his Lands And although the Testament of a Felo de se be void as to his Goods and Chattels yet as to his Lands it is good So likewise although a Person Outlawed in a Personal Action cannot so long as the Outlawry doth continue in force make a Testament of his Goods and Chattels yet of his Lands he may not so of Persons Outlawed for Felony the Law is the same as to a Man Attainted of a Praemunire It is otherwise if a Man be only Excommunicated 4. Regularly all Persons who may be Grantees may be also Devisees Insomuch that a Devise of Lands is good within the Statute of Wills even to such persons as to whom a Legacy by the Civil Law is void except in certain cases such as Hereticks Apostates Traytors Felons Excommunicates Out-laws Bastards unlawful Colledges Libellers Sodomites manifect Usurers and Recusants Convict It is a Rule That the Devisee must be capable of the thing Devised at the Time of the Devisors death if it be then to take effect in Possession or if it be a Remainder he must be capable of it at the Time when the Remainder shall happen otherwise the Devise is void If so then a Devise to an Infant
in the Womb at the Testators death seems to be void Yet if a Man Devise to such an Infant and he happen to be Born before the Testators death it seems that in this case the Devise is good Again A Devise made to a person altogether uncertain and not certainly Named or Described is altogether void yet a plain Description of a Person without naming him is sufficient so that a Devise made to the Dean of Pauls without naming him is good A Man Deviseth his Land to Elianor the Daughter of I. S. who hath divers Daughters whereof one is named Hellen and none Eleanor This is a good Devise to Hellen. Likewise if a Man hath Two Wives and he Deviseth his Land to his latter Wife in Fee the first Wife shall have it or if he hath Two Sons called John and one of them is a Bastard born before Marriage and he makes a Devise to his Son John the Legitimate John shall have it and not the Bastard The Husband can be no Devisee as to a Devise of Lands from his Wife There are Three Brothers by the same Father and Mother and the middle Brother Seized of Land Deviseable giveth it by his Testament Propinquiori fratri suo it seems that neither of them shall have it Suppose a Man who hath a Term Deviseth the Land to one and his Heirs the Devisee dyeth leaving Executors his Heirs shall have the Land and not his Executors the Law is otherwise in case the Entire Term were so Devised A Devise of Land made to the Canons of a certain Cathedral for ever or Canonicis Ecclesiae D. Pauli Lond. in perpetuum is a good Devise to all the Canons joyntly in Fee and the Survivor shall have the Entierty If a Man willeth that his Executors shall Sell his Land for the Payment of his Debts and they all die save one who maketh the Sale in this case the Vendee shall not have the Land the Law were otherwise if the Land had been Devised to the Executors to be Sold. If a Man hath Issue a Son and Land is Devised to the Father Habend sibi Hered de Corpore suo Legitime procreand and after the Devisee hath Issue another Son the second shall have the Land If a Man Deviseth by the Will That after the death of his Wife the Land Devisable shall go to I. S. his Wife shall have it for her Life by this Devise Or if a Man willeth that after 20. Years after the death of the Devisor I. S shall have the Land in Fee the Heir of the Devisor shall have the Land during the Term and not the Executor 5 A Testament Nuncupative is not good for a Devise of Land nor a Testament made in Print if it were never written yet a Testament written though no Executor be named therein is good for Lands but not for Goods Likewise a Testament without Sealing or Subscribing is good enough for a Devise of Land so as it be put into Writing in the Testators Life Time although it be never proved before the Ordinary But if in a Testament there are these words viz. Haec est voluntas intentio mea A. B. c. This is not good for the disposition or devise of Land without saying ultima voluntas according to the Lord Dyers Opinion who in his Learned Readings on the Stat. of Wills 32. and 38. H. 8. if he were indeed the Author of that Impression 1648. doth further Affirm That if a Man makes a Testament of his Land in one County and long after makes a Testament of his Land in another County These are good Also that if Two Men severally Seized of Lands make a Joynt-Testament of their Land This shall be good and several Testaments Also that where a man is in making his Testament and having Devised a parcel of his Land dies before the perfection and finishing thereof This shall be good for so much as is Devised That a Man willing by his Testament that his Lands shall be Sold to pay his Debts not declaring by whom This is a good Will and shall be performed by his Executors or Administrators That a Man making a Will of Land in which he hath nothing and after Purchaseth the same Land and dyeth This is not good That a Woman Covert making a Will of her Land and after taking a Husband who hath Issue the Husband dyeth the Wife dyeth this is not a good Will That if a Man make a Will of his Land and after alien this Land in Fee and after repurchaseth the same Land This is not a good Will That a Man making a Will and after making a new Will and after on his Death-bed saith That the first Will shall be his last Will This is good Also that where a Man giveth Land by his Will in Fee and after by another Will giveth the same Land to another but for Term of Life This is a Revocation of the Entire first Will. Also if a Man Devise another Mans Land This Devise is void but if he after the Devise made Purchase this Land then the Devise is good CHAP VIII Certain Cases touching Devises of Land Void or not 1. Lands What and how Devisable 2. Certain void Devises of Land 3. To what Persons and in what Cases Devises of Land may be good or not 4. The same Lands twice Devised to several Persons in the same Will how both Devises may stand good 5. The Profits of Land Devised do pass the Land it self in which Case Testaments more favourably construed then Deeds 6. How Lands Purchased after a Devise of Lands made may pass by that Devise or not 7. Several Cases in Law referring to this Subject 1. ALthough Lands made Devisable by Statute cannot be Devised otherwise then by Will in Writing yet Lands and Tenements Devisable by Custom may be Devised by a Nuncupative Will without any Writing But Copy-hold Land is not Devisable nor can Tenants in Tail or pur auter vie or joynt-Joynt-Tenants Devise their Eestate in the Land they so hold no more then they could before the making of the said Statute which doth not impower them thereunto But such as are Seized of Land in Common or Coparcenary may devise the same And if there be Two joynt-Joynt-Tenants for Life and the Fee-simple to one of them he that hath the Fee-simple may Devise his Fee-simple after the death of the other Joynt-Tenant for Life And in such places where Lands were Devisable by Custom before the making of the Stat. of 32. H. 8. a Devise of Lands may be good against the Heir for the whole but by the Stat. impowering to dispose of Lands by Will a Devise of Land is not good against the Heir save only for Two parts in Three 2. He that Deviseth Land ought to have a Right to and possession of the Land he Deviseth otherwise the Devise is not good and therefore if
remembred them But for the foresaid Reasons it was adjudged for the Plaintiff That those Lands well passed by the Will Suppose a Man hath Two Sons both named John and conceiving his Eldest Son to be dead he Deviseth his Land by his Will to his Son John generally when in Truth the Eldest Son is living In this Case the Younger Son may alleadge and give in Evidence the Devise to him and may produce Witnesses to prove the Intent of his Father And if no Proof can be made the Devise shall be void for the uncertainty of it Glanvile Serjeant prayed the Opinion of the Court in this Case A Man had Issue a Son and a Daughter and Devised his Lands to his Son in Tail and if he dyed without Issue That it should remain to the next of his Name and dyed The Son dyed without Issue the Daughter being then Married whether she should have the Land was the Question And held per Curiam That she should not For she had lost her Name by her Marriage but it should go to the next Heir-male of the Name But if she had not been Married at the Time of her Brothers death the Daughter should have had it for she was the next of the Name One Devised certain Lands in N. in Tail the Remainder to the next of the Kin of his Name and at the Time of the Devise the next of his Kin was his Brothers Daughter who was then Married to I. S. the Devisor dyed The Tenant in Tail dyed afterwards without Issue Whether the Daughter should have the Land was the Question upon a special Verdict and adjudged without Argument that she should not For she is not now of the Name of the Devisor but of her Husbands Name But if she had been unmarried at the Time of the Devise and death of the Donor although she had been Married at the Time of the death of the Tenant in Tail without Issue yet she should have had the Land Wherefore it was adjudged accordingly Ejectione Firmae For certain Lands in A. upon Evidence to a Jury a Devise was shewn of an House with the Appurtenances and thereby Land in the Field was claimed And Popham doubted whether it should pass But Fenner said That it well might pass And that upon Demurrer in 28. Eliz. it was adjudged accordingly The Defendant then to make it clear shewed That the House was Copyhold and the Land Freehold And the whole Court thereupon conceived That it could not be said Appurtenant although it had been used with it Wherefore the Plaintiff was Nonsuited In the Case between H. and H. all agreed the Case of 13. H. 7. That a Testators Devise to his Heir of his Land after the death of his Feme is a good Devise by Implication to the Feme of that Land during her life for it appears he intended his Heir should not have it until the death of his Feme And none other can have it besides the Feme And therefore it is a good Devise to the Feme by Implication But if such a Devise had been to a Stranger after the death of his Feme it might peradventure have been otherwise for the Heir in the Interim might have had it Note That the Opinion of all the Justices was That if one make his Testament wherein are these words viz. I Release all my Lands c. to A. and to his Heirs It is a good Devise of the said Lands to A. and his Heirs Upon a special Verdict the Case was this A Woman Seised of Lands made her Will and devised the same to one and his Heirs after they Intermarry After Marriage the Woman intending to revoke her Will doth revoke it by words after Marriage and saith That her Husband shall not have the Land by her Will and after dyes Whether the Husband by that Will or the next Heir to his Wife shall have the Land was the Question The Case was Argued Pro Con several Arguments on both sides In fine it was Adjudged That the Will was void and that the Husband could take nothing thereby A Man Devised his Lands to his Wife from Year to Year until his Son I. come to the Age of 20. Years and dies the Wife enters I. dies before he attain the Age of 20. Years And it was moved by Harper whether her Interest were thereby determined And it was held by all the Justices That by the death of the Son the Estate of the Wife was determined and that she had no longer any Estate therein For it is to be intended that the Will of the Devisor was That his Wife should have the Land during the Minority of his Son for that he himself could not Legally dispose of the Land being within Age. And Dyer said That by these words de anno in annum It is intended that the Will of the Devisor was That the Interest of the Wife should determine by the death of his Son But if the Words had been until his Son should Come or might Come to that Age of 20. Years then notwithstanding his death the Estate of the Wife had continued A. Seised of the Mannor of Chessam extending into Chessam and the Town of Hertford and also of Lands in Hertford Devised by Will the Mannor of Chessam to B. his Eldest Son in Tail and the Lands in Hertford to C. his Younger Son It was held by all the Justices That the Younger Son should have all that part of the Mannor of Chessam which lay in the Town of Hertford A. Devised that his Lands should descend to his Son but Willed That his Wife should take the Profits thereof until the full Age of the Son for his Education and bringing up and dyed The Wife Married another Husband and dyed before the full Age of the Son It was the Opinion of the Justices in this Case That the second Husband should not have the Profits of those Lands till the full Age of the Son For nothing is Devised to the Wife but a Confidence and she is a Guardian or Bailiff for to help the Infant which by her death is determined and the same Confidence cannot be transferred to the Husband A Man Seised of a Messuage to which a Garden and a Curtilage did belong Enclosed with a Wall and there was no way to the Garden but through the Messuage He Devised the Messuage to his second Son in Fee not mentioning the Garden nor Curtelage nor saith cum pertinentijs It was Adjudged in this Case That the Garden and Curtelage did pass by this Devise They said a Curtelage is parcel of the House as a Stable and a Dovehouse and the Garden shall pass because it is as well for Necessity to it as for Pleasure A. Seised of Lands had Two Daughters and Devised the Lands to the Eldest and her Heirs that she pay to her Younger Sister yearly 30 l. It was the Opinion of all the
to rest in Peace Vide 4. Ed. 6. tit Estates 78. 29. H. 8. Br. Testam 18. Dyer 371. Wellock Hamonds Case 32. 33. Eliz. Cited in Borastons Case Co. 3. 20 21. And Colliers Case Co. 6. 16. A Man by the Premises of his Will Deviseth his Land to I. S. in Fee and by the Sequele he Deviseth the same Land to I. N. in Fee they both shall take by this Testament and shall be joynt-Joynt-Tenants A Devise made Canonicis Ecclesiae Catholicae Pauli Lond. in perpetuum is a good Devise to all the Canons joyntly in Fee and the Survivor shall have the Entierty the Law is otherwise in Case of a Devise made Civitati Lond. in perpetuum the Corporation of the Mayor and Commonalty shall take by this Devise A Man hath Two Wives and he Deviseth his Land to his latter Wife in Fee the first Wife shall have it Likewise if one hath Two Sons called I. and one of them is a Bastard and Born before Marriage and he makes a Devise to his Son I. the Legitimate I. shall have it and not the Bastard A Man hath Issue a Son and Land is Devised to the Father Habend sibi Haered de corpore suo Legitime procreand and after the Devisee hath Issue another Son the second shall have the Land A Man Seised of Three Messuages Devised by his Testament to his Son A. one of them Naming it and A. to enter after his Wives death and Devised another of the Messuages to his second Son paying 10 l. to his Sister and he to enter at his Age of 21. Years and Devised the Third Messuage to his Third Son in like manner as to his Second Son And after in his Testament willed That if either of his Sons dyed before 21. Years of Age that then his part should be divided among the Survivors and each of them to be the others Heir they all attain to the full Age and the Two Younger Sons paid their Sister the several Sums as was appointed in the Will The Question being what Estate the Two Younger Sons had in those Messuages Devised them by the Will it was held a Fee-simple CHAP. X. Certain Cases touching Devises of Land by way of Entail 1. How Lands Devised by way of Entail may happen to be devested out of one and be vested in another upon the birth of an Issue in Tail 2. Tenant in Tail may not by any Devise Condition or Limitation be Barred from Alienating by suffering a Common Recocovery 3. A Difference in Point of Entail between Devises by Will and Grants by Deed. 4. The several ways of Entails by Devise with the difference between Devising Semini suo and Sanguini suo 5. The Question whether Issue born or not at the time of making the Devise may put a difference between an Estate-Tail and Joynt-Tenancy 6. What shall be a Fee-simple by Deed which is but an Estate-Tail by Devise 7. In what Case the Younger Son may have Fee-simple and the Elder but an Estate-Tail 8. Otherways how an Estate-Tail may be Created by Devise 9. Instances of Law for further illustration of Entails by way of Devise 10. In what case the Word Or shall be taken for And to Create an Estate-Tail by Devise 11. Other Cases of Estates-Tail by Devise with Cross-Remainders 12. An Estate-Tail by Devise with implyed Remainder 13. How there may be a Devise of an Estate-Tail of Rent as well as of Land and how a Tail limited to some Lands shall not extend to others therewith Devised 1. A Man Seised of Lands in Fee Devised them to his Wife for life and after to his Two Sons if they had not Issue Males for their lives and if they had Issue Males then to their Issue Males and if they had not Issue Males then if any of them had Issue Male to the said Issue Male The Wife dyed the Sons entred into the Lands and then the Eldest Son had Issue Male who afterwards entered the Younger Son put out the Issue In this Case the Lands by the birth of the Issue Males are divested out of the Two Sons and vested in the Issue Male of the Eldest and he hath an Estate-Tail therein 2. A Man Seised of Lands in Capite Devised them to his Wife for life and after her decease his Son John to have it and if his Son John marry and have by his Wife any Issue Male of his Body Lawfully begotten then his Son to have it if no Issue Male then his Son Thomas to have the House and if Thomas marry having Issue Males of his Body his Son to have the House after his decease And if any of his Sons or Issue Males go about to Alien or Mortgage the House then the next Heir to enter c. In this Case it was 1 Resolved That the Sons had an Estate-Tail in them severally and to the Heirs Males of their Bodies for that these words if he have no Issue Male his Son Thomas to have it are sufficient to create Tail to John and so of the rest 2 Resolved That no Condition or Limitation be it by Act Executed or by Limitation of Use or by Devise by last Will can Bar Tenant in Tail to Alien by suffering a Common Recovery 3. If a Devise be made of Land to A. B. and the Heirs Males of his Body and he hath Issue only a Daughter who hath Issue a Son the Son shall not take by this Devise Or if such Devise be made to him and the Heirs Females of his Body and he hath Issue only a Son who hath Issue a Daughter she shall not take by this Devise And here Note That in point of Entails there is a Difference between Devises by Will and Grants by Deed for if a Devise of Land be made to A. B. and to his Heirs Males by this Devise A. B. hath an Estate-Tail Otherwise it is if such a Limitation be made by Deed for if one by Deed give Land to another and his Heirs Males by this the Donee hath a Fee-simple and his Heirs General shall have it But if a Devise of Land be to A. B. and to the Eldest Heirs Females of his Body by this Devise all his Daughters and not one of them only shall have it And if a Man Devise his Land to his Wife for life and after to his own right Heirs Males and he hath Issue Three Daughters whereof one after his death hath a Son In this Case and by this Devise the next Collateral Heir Male of the Devisor and not the Son of the Daughter shall have the Land If a Man Devise his Land to A. B. and to his or to the Heirs Males or Heirs Females of his Body or of his Body begotten or to him and his Issues Male or his Issues Female or to him and the Heirs Male of his Body begotten on M. or to him and E. his Wife and the Heirs
a Disseisor Devise the Land he hath gotten by Disseizin this Devise as to the Disseizee is void Likewise if a Man be Disseized of his Land so that he hath nothing but a Right thereof left and then he Devise this Right or the Land this Devise is also void So if one Contract for Land and pay his Money for the same but hath no Assurance made him of the Land and he Devise the same to another such Devise cannot be good yet possibly he that received the Money may be compellable in a Court of Equity to Assure and Settle the Land according to the Devise Likewise if one Devise another Mans Land such Devise is void but if after such Devise made he Purchase this Land and die without Revocation now is that Devise good Also if A. Bargain and Sell Land to B. on Condition of Re-entry if he pay to B. Twenty Pounds and B. Covenants that he will not take the Profits until default of Payment and A. make a Lease of Seven Years thereof to another and after break the Condition in this case B. may Devise the Land and the Devise will be good 3. If one Devise his Land to the Children of A. B. by this Devise the Children that A. B. hath at the Time of the Devise made or at most at the Time of the Testators death and not such as shall be Born after his death shall take by that Devise and have the Land Also if a Devise of Lands or Goods be made to the Heirs of A. B. he then and at the Time of the Testators death being alive this Devise is void because the person to whom a Devise is made must be capable of the Devise by that Name by which the Devise is made to him when there is no other description whereby to infer the Testators meaning yet if Lands or Goods be Devised to the Executors of A. B. and he die before the Testator and make Executors This is a good Devise to such Executors or if a Man make a Feofment of his Land to the use of his last Will and then Devise that his Feoffees shall be Seized to the use of B. C. This is a good Devise of the Land per intentionem Also a Devise of Land to one paying so much a Year to another with a Clause of Distress upon failure of Payment is a good Devise but a Warranty cannot be made by a a Will Yet if Land be Devised for Life or in Tail Reserving a Rent in this case the Devisors Heirs shall be bound to the Warranty in Law and the Devisee shall take advantage thereof Also a Devise of Land may be made to one and a Devise of a Rent out of the same Land to another in the same Will and both stand good Likewise Land may be Devised to one in Fee and after the same Land in the same Will may be Devised to another for Life or for Years and both these Devises may be good and may well consist together 4. In like manner if a Man in the former part of his Will Devise all his Lands by general words to one in Fee and in the latter part of his Will Devise some special part thereof unto another in Fee Both these Devises are good and may stand together that is The former Devise is good for as much as is not afterwards more specially Devised notwithstanding the Subsequent Specification and the latter is good for so much as is so specially Devised notwithstanding the precedent general Disposition It is otherwise when the general Clause comes last for then the first Devise is void So also it is supposed to be where both the Devises are particular that then the first Devise is void As suppose a Man doth first in his Will Devise Long-acre to A. and his Heirs afterwards in the same Will he doth Devise the same Land to B. and his Heirs in this case some have held the first Devise to A. is void which others have denyed holding that both the Devises are good and that A. and B. in this case shall be joynt-Joynt-Tenants 5. If a Man Devise the Use Profits or Occupation of his Land by this Devise the Land it self is Devised Or if a Man Devise only the Profits of his Land this is a Devise of the Land it self For Lands will pass by words in a Will which will not pass by the same words in a Deed but whatsoever will pass by any Words in a Deed will pass by the same Words in a Will The Reason is because Wills are always more favourably interpreted than Deeds and there is good Reason for that also If a Man says in his Will I give all my Land or all my Tenements to A. B. he shall have not only all the Lands whereof the Devisor is Sole Seized but also all the Lands whereof he is Seized in Common or Co-parcenary with another and not only all the Lands he hath in possession but also the Lands he hath in Reversion of any Estate he hath in Fee-simple But if he say I give all my Lands in Possession only then the Lands he hath in Reversion are excluded out of that Devise 6. If a Man Seized of Land of Fee-simple in the Parish of Grade saith in his Will I give all my Lands in the said Parish to A. B. and after the Will made and published he doth Purchase other Lands in the said Parish and dyeth in this case and by this Devise A. B. shall not have the new Purchased Lands Yet by a new Publication of the Will after the Purchasing of such Lands they will pass to A. B. the Devisee Yea though he hath no Land in the said Parish at the Time of making the said Devise yet if afterwards he doth Purchase Lands in that Parish in this case such ne 〈…〉 Purchased Lands will pass by the said Devise because it shall in that case be intended that he meant to Purchase them Also if a Man hath some Lands in Fee-simple and other Lands only for Years in Dale and he Devise all all his Lands and Tenements in Dale by this Devise the Lands and Tenements he hath for Years doth not pass but if he hath no other Lands in Dale but those for Years in this case probably they will pass 7. A. Deviseth his Lands to M. his Wife until E his Daughter shall accomplish the Age of 21. Years the Reversion to the said E. and the Heirs of her Body upon Condition that she shall pay unto his said Wife during her Life in Recompence of her Dower of all his Lands 20 l. and upon default of Payment he wills his Wife shall enter and enjoy all the Lands during her life the Remainder ut supra the Remainder to I. S. in Tail and dies M. the Wife enters E. the Daughter being within the Age of 14. Years M. takes to Husband I. D. The Husband and
Wife came and demanded the 20 l. and none ready to pay it Whereupon the Husband and Wife brought a Writ of Devise and Recovered In this Case it was Resolved were the 20 l. Rent or a Sum in gross That by the bringing of the Writ of Dower the Wife of the Devisor had lost all the benefit which was to come to her by the Devise because the said Rent was Devised to her in Recompence of her Dower so that it was not the meaning of the Devisor that the Wife should have both In the Time of Queen Mary Benloes Serjeant moved this Case A Man Seized of Lands and Tenements in London devised them by these Words viz. I Will and bequeath unto my Wife A. my livelihood in London for Term of her Life and that by this Will the Lands in London pass to the Wife by this Word Livelihood Note for Brook Justice said That it was in ancient Time used so in divers places of this Realm and had been taken for an Inheritance Unto which Dyer also agreed A. having Two Sons by Two Wives devised his Land to I. his Eldest Son and his Heirs after the death of his Wife to whom he devised them for her Life The Question was Whether the Son should take them by Devise as a Purchasor or as Heir at Common Law by descent The Court held that the Devise was void and that it was not in the power of the Son to make Election to take by descent or by Purchase but he must of necessity take the Land as the Law directs which is by descent And it is against a Maxime of Law to give a Thing to such a person to whom the Law gives it if it had not been given A Man made his Will in these Words viz. I give and Bequeath one half of my Lands to my Wife and after her death I give all my Lands to the Heirs Males of any of my Sons or next of Kin. In this Case it was held That the Devise was void because of uncertainty and the words being in the disjunctive and we ought not to frame a Sense upon the Words of a Will where we cannot find out the Testators meaning Likewise it hath been adjudged That Lands devised to a Mans Issue was uncertain and therefore such Devise void If a Man hath in his Occupation several Farms together and then doth Devise one of the Farms called D. and all the Lands to the same belonging the other Farms shall not pass with it although they be occupied altogether If a Man doth Will and Devise That A. and B. his Feoffees shall stand Seised and be Seised to the use of I. S. for his Life the Remainder over c. when in Truth he hath no Feoffees It is a good Devise to I. S. by reason of the Intention Or if a Man make a Feofment to his own use and afterwards Devise That his Feoffees shall be Seised to the use of his Daughter A. who in Truth is a Bastard it is a good Devise of the Lands by Intention Three Brothers are of one Father and Mother the middle Brother Seised of Land Devisable giveth this by his Testament Propinquiori fratrisuo It seemeth that none of them shall have it Note it was held by the Justices That if a Man Seised in Fee of a Mannor and Lands Deviseth the same by his Will to his Son and afterwards in another part of the same Will deviseth a Third part of the same Lands to another of his Sons That they are joynt-Joynt-Tenants of the Lands And so if a Man in one part of his Will deviseth his Lands to A. in Fee and afterwards by another Clause in the same Will he deviseth the same Lands to another in Fee they are joynt-Joynt-Tenants Between B. and P. the Case was this I. W. being Seised of the Mannors of W. and C. in Socage made his Testament devised the Two Mannors in Form following viz. The Mannor of W. to the Eldest Son of R. F. his Cousin and his Heirs and further he devised the other Mannor to M. W. during her life and if she dies and then any of my Cousin F's Sons Living then I will my said Mannor of C. to him that shall have my Manner of W. R. F. had Two Sons G. and I. G. enters on the Mannor of W. and the said M. enters on the other Mannor After G. dies without Issue I. enters on the Mannor of W. and alienates the Fee thereof Afterwards M. dies I living The Question was Whether I. ought to have the M. of C. or not The Court agreed That he could not have it for that he was not such Person as was named or limited to take by the Will for that he had not the Mannor of W. at the Time of the decease of M. and therefore not the Person intended by the Will The Case was That R. P. Seised of divers Lands in A. and having Issue Four Daughters B. I. F. M. made his Will 27. Eliz. in Writing and thereby all his Land in A. he devised to B. and I. his Daughters and made them his Executrices and after in 33. Eliz. Purchased other Lands in A. which are the Lands in Question and after one I. S. came to the Devisor and desired that he would Sell unto him those Lands which he lately Purchased And he said No they shall go with my other Lands in A. to my Executrices Afterwards in 34. Eliz. he fell Sick the Will was read unto him and he said nothing thereto but then gave divers Legacies of Goods to others and caused them to be written and annexed in a Codicil thereto and dyed Whether these Lands newly Purchased shall pass to the Executrices by that Will was the Question viz. Whether by those words used to a Stranger or the annexing of a Codicil to the Will being only concerning Goods be as a new Publication of his Will to make these Lands to pass c. First It was agreed by the Council on both sides and by the Justices That if the Devisor after the Purchase of that Land had made new Publication of his Will and shewed his Intent that those Lands should pass it had been a good Devise of them For the Words in the Will are all his Lands in A. which are apt enough and sufficient to carry them and he could not have added more apt words thereto But afterwards all the Justices Gawdy absente held that it is a new Publication of his Will and sufficient by the words to I. S. For that shews his intent sufficiently and the Will writ hath words sufficient And Fenner held That the annexing of the Codicil thereto is a new Publication as to it For therein he Affirmed That it should be his Will at that Time But the other Justices doubted thereof because he doth not shew thereby any intent That this Will should be for his Purchased Lands nor that he then
C. and his Heirs or to him and the Heirs of his Body This is a good Devise of the Land in Fee-simple or Fee-tail There are also several other ways of Fee-simple by Will For suppose Land be given to a Man Habend sibi Haeredi suo This indeed is not Fee-simple otherwise it is if it be given sibi duobus Haeredibus suis tantum So if Land be given to a Man Habend sibi Haered with warranty of the Land sibi Haeredibus suis This is a good Fee-simple Or if a Man Devise Land to A. B. for his Life and after to the Heirs or to the right Heirs of A. B. By these Devises A. B. hath a Fee-simple in the Land Also if one Devise his Land to his Wife to dispose thereof at her will and pleasure and to give it to one of her Sons by this Devise she hath a Fee-simple but it is qualified for she must Convey it to one of her Children and cannot Convey it to another 2. When in a Will power is given to a Devisee of Land by the Testator to Sell that Land such Devisee hath a Fee-simple in that Land for power to Sell giveth by Implication an Estate in Fee-simple Also if one Devise his Land to A. B. paying 10 l. without other words By this the Devisee hath the Fee-simple of the Land albeit the 10 l. be not the Dundredth partvalue of the Land In like manner If one Devise Land whereof he is Seized in Fee to A. B. paying 10 l. to G. D. By this Devise albeit there be no Estate expressed yet A. B. hath the Fee-simple of the Land in respect of the Payment of the Money This holds True only in case the Intent of the Testator doth not appear to be otherwise 3. If one in his will devise his Land to his Wife in the first place and then saith my Will is That my Son A. shall have it after my Wives death and if my Wife dye before my Son B. that then my Son A. shall pay to B. 10 l. by the Year during the Life of B. and also 100 l. to I. S. In this Case A. shall have the Fee-simple of the Land Also if one Devise his Land in this manner viz. I give White-acre to my Eldest Son and his Heirs for his part Item Black-acre to my youngest Son for his part by this Devise the the Youngest Son shall have the Fee-simple of Black-acre Or thus I give White-acre to A. B. Item Black-acre to A. B. and his Heirs by this Devise A. B. shall have the Fee-simple as well of White-acre as of Black-acre 4. If a Man Devise his Land in this manner Item I give to A. B. and C. D. and their Hoirs my Land in Kent equally or my Land in Kent equally to be divided by these words A. B. and C. D. shall have and hold the Land not as joynt-Joynt-Tenants but as Tenants in Common so that the Heir and not the Survivor shall have his part that first dyeth And yet in case of such a Limitation by Deed it is otherwise But if one Devise his Land to A. B. and C. D. and their Heirs without more words it seems that by this Devise they shall take and hold as joynt-Joynt-Tenants Yet if one Devise Land to A. B. and C. D. and the Heirs of either of their Bodies lawfully begotten it seems that by this Devise A. B. and C. D. shall take and hold as Tenants in Common and not as Joynt-Tenants Likewise the Case is the same if one Devise his Land to A. B. and C. D. in this manner viz. I Will that A. B. and C. D. shall have my Lands in Kent and occupy them indifferently to them and their Heirs But if one who hath Two Daughters only give or Devise his Land to them in Fee by this Devise they shall take as joynt-Joynt-Tenants and not be in by Descent as Partners for the Testators Will shall take place 5. If Land be given to the Mayor and Commonalty of London or any other Corporation to have and to hold for Term of their Lives it is a Fee-simple Or if a Man say I give to A. B. my House with all the Lands for 21. Years and that A. B. shall have all my Inheritance provided it be not contrary to Law In this Case A. B. shall have the Fee Or if he give it to his right Heirs Males and Issue of his Issue of his Name this also is a Fee-simple And although it be affirmed by some That if the Testator Devise his Land to A. B. and his Assigns without saying For ever A. B. shall have an Estate only for Life Yet the contrary is Asserted by others and that it is a Fee-simple 6. If a Testator saith I will my Land to my Son A. during his Life and after his decease to my Son B. And in case my Son A. shall hereafter Purchase Lands of as good Value as that Land for my Son B. that then my Son A. shall Sell the Land Devised to my Son B. as his own and shall pay 20 l. to C. D. In this Case A. hath a Fee-simple implyed by the Power which A. hath to Sell beside the Payment of Money Also if one Devise Land to me and my Heirs and in Case the Heir at Law put me out that then I shall have other Land instead thereof in this Case and by this Devise I have the Fee-simple of the first Land notwithstanding the latter words Likewise if a Testator Devise Land to me for my life the Remainder to his own Son and the Heirs Males of his Body and in default of such Issue the Remainder to the next Heir-male of the Testator and the Heirs-males of his Body In this Case the next Heir-male of the Son hath an Estate in Fee-simple 7. Suppose a Man Seised of Lands make his Will in this manner viz. Imp. I Devise to my Wife Black-acre for her life the Remainder to my Son T. in Tail Item I Will to my Son T. all my Lands in D. also all my Lands in S. also my Lands in V. Also I give to the said T. my Son all my Island or Land enclosed with Water which I Purchased of I. S. To have and to hold all the said last before Devised Premises to the said T. my Son and the Heir of his Body In this Case the Habendum shall extend to all the Lands in D. S. and V. and shall not limit the Devise only to the Island because the thing last Devised by the Will was an Island in the Singular Number which cannot Answer to the Habendum in the Plural which if extensive to the Island only T. then should have but for Life in the Lands of D. S. and V. But it was otherwise Resolved viz. That the Habendum should extend to all the Lands in D. S. and V.
8. A Man Seised of a Messuage holden in Socage in Fee Devised the same by these words I Devise my Messuage where I dwell to A. B. and her Assigns for 10. Years and A. B. shall have all my Inheritances if the Law will In this Case the Devise in Fee of the Messuage is good and by the general words of the Will all his Inheritances do also pass 9. If a Man Devise Lands to one for ever there he hath a Fee for such an Estate might be conveyed by Act Executed But if he further Devise That if the Devisee do such an Act that then another shall have the Land to him and his Heirs the same is void for when as he hath disposed of the Estate in Fee to one he hath not power after in the same Will to dispose the same to another it being a Rule in Law That such an Estate which cannot by the Rules of the Common Law be conveyed by Grant Executed in his life time by Advice of Council learned in the Law such an Estate cannot be Devised by the Will of a Man who is presumed to be void of Council 10. A Man having Lands in Fee-simple and goods to the Value of 5 l. only Devised to his Wife all his Estate paying his Debts and Legacies his Debts and Legacies amounting to 40 l. It was Adjuged in this Case That all his Lands did pass by the Devise and that the Devisee had a Fee-simple in the Lands the word Paying enforcing it for they are to be paid presently which cannot be if the Lands pass not in Fee And if a Man Deviseth all his Rents It was held That all his Lands do pass 11. Note That by intendment of Law a Devise shall be for the benefit of the Devisee and not to his prejudice As if Land to the Value of 3 l. per annum be Devised to A. and that A. shall pay out of it 50 s. per annum In this Case A. hath but an Estate for life for he may pay it out of the Profits of the Lands and is sure to be at no loss But if it be Devised to B. for life the Remainder to A. paying 50 s. per annum out of it In this Case A. hath a Fee-simple by Implication because after the Payment thereof A. may dye before he can receive satisfaction for the same out of the Profits of the Land and therefore such Devise shall be a Fee-simple because the Law intends that the Devise was for the benefit of the Devisee 12. Note also That if a Man hath Lands in Fee and Lands for Years and he Deviseth all his Lands and Tenements the Fee-simple Lands pass only and not the Lease for Years 2 If a Man hath a Lease for Years and no Freehold and Deviseth all his Lands and Tenements the Lease for Years passeth 3 That if one Deviseth his Lands which he hath by Lease to his Executor for life the Remainder over that there ought to be a special Assent thereunto by the Executors as to a Legacy otherwise it is not Executed 13. A. Devised his Lands in London to his Son and his Heirs after the decease of his Wife and in Case his Daughter should Survive his Wife and his Son and his Heirs that then the Daughters should have it for Life and after their death I. and R. should have the same and that they should pay 6 l. 16 s. yearly to the Company of Merchant-Taylors to be disposed of to Charitable Uses In this Case three Points were Argued 1 Whether the Wife had an Estate for life by Implication of the Will And it was Resolved That she had 2 Whether the Son had a Fee-simple or Fee-tail And it was Resolved That he had a Fee-tail by Implication of these words viz. if his Daughters Survive his Wife and his Son and his Heirs whereby it is plainly implyed That the Heirs there intended are the Heirs of his Body and not his Heirs in Fee for so long as the Daughters live the Son could not dye without a Collateral Heir 3 What Estate I. and R. have after the death of the Daughters And as to That it was Resolved That they have a Fee-simple by Reason of the Annual Payment of Money and it is not to be regarded what Annual Value the Land is of over and above the Sums they pay for every Sum of Money paid or payable doth cause the Devisee to have a Fee-simple And Coke Chief Justice said That a Devise to A. and his Successors is a Devise of a Fee-simple without the word Heirs because it implyes a Fee-simple although it wants the express words Between L. Plaintiff and B. Defendant L. Seised of Land in Fee Devised it unto Two Persons Equaliter and to their Heirs Whether this made them joynt-Joynt-Tenants or Tenants in Common was the Question It was holden by the whole Court That they were Joynt-Tenants and not Tenants in Common A Man Seised of Lands Devised them by his Testament to his Wife to dispose and imploy them for her and his Sons at her own Will and Pleasure And it was held by Dyer Weston and Welch That she had a Fee by such words as if he had Devised the Lands for ever For the Construction of Law supplies the defect in these words of the Devisor according to his meaning And it was held by Dyer and Welch That the Estate in her is Conditional because these words ea intentione make a Condition in every Devise but not in a Feofment Gift or Grant unless it be in Case of the King And these words do amount as much as to say she should not convey it away to a Stranger but keep it and give it to his Sons S. Seised of Land in Fee holden in Socage and Devisable in Gavelkind Devised it to his Feme for her life paying 3 l. per annum to T. his Son during his life and that he should take but Two Load of Wood for Fire-boot And if she dyed before the said T. then he Devised all his Lands to R. his Son paying to the said T. 3 l. per annum and paying to such one of his Sisters 20 s. and to another Sister 20 s. The Feme dyes R. enters The Question was what Estate R. had by this Devise And it was Adjudged he had a Fee For when he Devised it to his Feme for life expresly c. and to R. generally without limiting the Estate and apppointed him to pay to T. 3 l. per annum during his life That carries in it an Intendment that he should have Fee especially when his Father therein further willed That his Son R. should pay two other Sums in Gross and none of them to be out of the Profits it is by Intendment and by Implication a Fee wherefore upon the first Argument it was Adjudged for the Defendant for they said That these Things which have been so often Adjudged ought
One Devised all his Lands to another and the Heirs of his Body begotten and after in the same Will Devised That if the Devisee die the said Lands should remain to another in Fee The Court held That the Devisee hath notwithstanding an Estate Tail by the first words and no Estate pass'd by the last words One Devised his Land to W. his Son for Term of his Life and after his decease to the Men-children of his Body and in case the said W. dyed without any Man-child of his Body that then the Land should remain to another c. The Testator dies W. dies without Issue Male of his Body c. and the Question was What Estate he had the Justices of the Bench held that he had an Estate to him and the Heirs Males of his Body F. Seised of Land in Gavelkind had Three Sons and Devised part to one part to another the other part to the Third and if either of them dyed without Issue the other should be his Heir It was Adjudged an Entail in each and a Fee-simple by the words Heir to other And so it was Adjudged Hill 32. Eliz. in Carters Case C. B. If a Devise be made to one and his Heirs and in Case that he hath Issue a Daughter that she shall have the Lands If the Devisee hath Issue a Son and a Daughter and die the Son shall have the Land and although the Daughter afterwards take a Husband and hath Issue a Son he shall not eject the other CHAP. XI Certain Cases in Law touching Devises of Land for Life only 1. A Devise of Land to one not saying How long is an Estate only for life 2. Power of Distraining Devised to one without other words on Non-payment of a certain Annual Sum is only an Estate for Life 3. A Devise of Land to one and his Heir in the Singular Number or to one and his Children is but an Estate for life 4. Several Instances of Law touching Estates only for Life by way of Devise 5. Several Instances of Estates for Life by Implication Devised 6. A Devise of Land to one thereby obliged to a present Payment Creates a Fee-simple But if Payment be to Issue out of the Profits of the Land Devised it makes only an Estate Tail 7. A Devise of an Estate for Life in Reversion 8. A Devise of Two Estates for Lives the one to some in Being the other to others in Reversion 9. A. Devise of Lands in Esse or Posse Conditioned upon an Annual Payment to be made by the Devisee during his or her life which Devise is made by one in the Remainder in Fee and not in Possession doth pass an Estate only for life 10. A Devise by general words of all a Mans Estate Mortgages c. may pass as to the Real no more than an Estate for Life and not a Fee by Implication 11. The Law ever accommodates the Testators words whatever they be as nigh as possible to his intent and meaning 1. IF a Man Deviseth his Land to A. B. and say not how long nor for what Time by this Devise A. B. hath an Estate only for Life in the Land But if a Man Devise his Land to A. B. and his Assigns without saying For ever it hath been a Question whether he hath only an Estate for Life as was held by some or a Fee-simple as hath been Affirmed by others 2. In the latter part of the last Chapt. it was said That it was an Estate Tail of the Rent if one Devised to A. B. that if he and the Heirs of his Body be not paid 20 l. Rent yearly he and they shall distrain But now if the Devise only be That if A. B. be not paid 20. l. yearly he shall distrain c. by this Devise A. B. hath only an Estate for Life Likewise if one devise a Rent of 10 l. out of his Land to be paid quarterly and say not how long the Rent shall continue this is but an Estate in the Rent only for Life 3. If one Devise his Land to A. B. for his Life or to him without any more words or to him and his Heir in the Singular Number or to him and his Children he then having Children By all these and such like Devises A. B. hath only an Estate for life in the thing Devised And if one Devise That A. B. shall have and occupy his Land in D. and say not how long by this Devise A. B. shall have the Land as aforesaid only for life But If I Devise that A. B. shall enter into my Land and say no more by this Devise A. B. hath no Estate at all but power to enter into the Land only 4. A Man having a Son and a Daughter dies Lands are Devised to the Daughter and the Heirs Females of the Body of the Father by this Devise the Daughter hath only an Estate for her life for there is no such person for she is not Heir Likewise if one Devise his Land in D. unto A. B. for life and after to the next right Heir in the Singular Number and to his right Heirs for ever by this Devise A. B. hath only an Estate for life Or if one Devise Land to A. B. for life and after to the next Heir Male of A. B. and to the Heirs Males of the Body of such next Heir Male by this Devise also A. B. hath but an Estate only for life But if he Devise his Land to A. B. for his life and after to the Heirs or to the right Heirs of A. B. by these Devises A. B. hath the Fee-simple of the Land And if it be to him for life and after to his Heirs Males then he hath an Estate Tail But if one Devise Land to F. G. and M. his Wife and after their decease or the Remainder to their Children by this Devise whether they have or have not Children at the time F. G. and M. his Wife have Estates only for their lives 5. If one Devise his Land to A. B. in Fee after the death of C. D. being his Son and Heir apparent by this Devise C. D. hath an Estate for life by Implication and till the Devise take effect the Law gives it to him by descent The Law is the same where one doth devise his Land to A. B. after the death of his Wife by this Devise the Wife hath an Estate for life by Implication Likewise if a Man Devise in this manner I give my Goods to my Wife and that after her decease my Son and Heir shall have the House where the goods are it is held That by this Devise the Wife hath an Estate for life in the House by Implication But if a Man Devise his Land to A. B. after the death of I. G. a Stranger to the Devisor it seems that by this Devise I. G. hath no Estate at all by Implication
made his Testament in writing and Devised the Mannor to his Wife for the Term of 30. Years in these words viz. For and to these Intents and Purposes following viz. I will and my mind and intent is That B. my Wife shall yearly Content and Pay out of the Issues and Profits of the said Mannor to Sir A. I. and others 30 l. And further Wills That the other Legacies given in his Will should be paid by her and therein Devised divers Legacies And further Willed That his Wife should be bound to Sir A. and others for the performance of his Will F. C. the Devisor dies the Wife enters on the Land c. takes the Profits and thereof pays the Legacies but not to Sir A. and others c. Whereupon the Heir Enters as for breach of Condition It was held by the Justices that it was no Condition but a Declaration of the Testators intention for to what end or purpose should the Wife be bound if it were a Condition But Judgment was not given in the Case for the Parties agreed CHAP. XV. Touching Devises of Rents 1. Rents Issuing out of Lands are as Devisable as the Land it self so as it be the Testators own Land 2. A Grantee may not Devise the Rent which he hath only for another Mans Life 3. Rent to be Issuing out of a Common is not Devisable 4. Several ways how Rents may be Devised 5. The Devise of the Reversion of a Rent upon a false suggestion is a void Devise 1. A Seigniory Rent or the like is Devisable as Land is and will pass without the Atturnment of the Tenant So that a Man may Devise a Rent de novo issuing out of Land or a Rent issuing out of Land that is in esse before And therefore if one make a Lease for Life or Years Rendring Rent the Lessor may Devise this Rent Likewise if a Rent be granted to one and his Heirs the Grantee may Devise this Rent Also a Man that is Seised of Land in Fee may Devise any Rent out of it at his pleasure But a Man cannot Devise a Rent out of another Mans Land that is none of his own nor out of that which he hath not and therefore if one Devise Twenty Pounds to be issuing out of his Mannor of Dale when in Truth he hath no such Mannor that Devise is void 2. If Rent be granted to one Man for the life of another it seems the Grantee may not Devise this Rent but that on failure of other disposal thereof in the Grantees life Time the Terre-tenant shall hold it as an Occupant And if one Devise a Rent of any certain Sum out of his Land to be paid quarterly and say not how long the Rent shall continue this is but an Fstate for life of that Rent 3. If a Man Seised of a Common granteth a Rent out of the Land although that the Land be Devisable yet the Grant is void and by Consequence the Devise 4. If a Tenant for life make a Lease for Years Rendring Rent and after the Tenant for life Surrender to the Lessor all his Right and then the Lessor Devise this Rent this is a good Devise during the life of the Lessee for life Or if a Man make a Lease for life Reserving Rent to him and his Heirs and the Lessor Devise this Rent this also is a good Devise of the Rent otherwise it is if he Reserve the Rent to him and his Assigns Or if a Lessee for Term of Ten Years make a Lease over for Term of 40. Years and the Lessor confirm the Estate Reserving a Rent to him and his Heirs and after by his Will Devise the Rent in Fee this also is a good Devise of the Rent after the Ten Years but not before 5. A Man Seised of a Rent makes a Deed reciting that whereas I. S. holdeth the said Rent of his Grant for Term of life he grants the Reversion of the said Rent after the decease of I. S. to the Grantee and his Heirs in Fee and in Truth I. S. had nothing in the Rent the Grantee Deviseth this Rent this is no good Devise of the Rent If the Husband make a Leafe for life to the Daughter and Heir apparent of his Wife being Covert Rendring Rent and the Wife-Mother die and the Husband Devise the Rent this is a void Devise of that Rent In an Action of the Case upon Trover the Defendant justified and pleaded Rent granted to A. his Executors and Assigns for the life of B. out of Black-acre and shewed that A. was dead and that he as Administrator to A. distrayned for the Rent on Black-acre in Arrears after the death of A. and that he is to have it during the life of B. It was Adjudged That the justification was not good either for matter or manner for that after the death of A. the Rent determined and cannot come to his Executors or Administrators for it was not a Thing Testamentary but a Frank-tenement and nothing in the Grant to A. and his Heirs for the others life If Rent be granted out of Land Devisable by Custom the Rent may be Devised within the Custom for it is of the same nature with the Land CHAP. XVI Of Devises touching the Sale of Land by Executors or others 1. The mean Profits of Lands Devised to be sold are not Assets in the Executors hands unless the Testator shall specially so Appoint it 2. The Heir and not a stranger though appointed in the Devise shall take the advantage of a Breach of Condition annexed to a Devise touching sale of Lands 3. Where the Executors have only an Authority and not an Interest in the Lands Devised to be sold the Heir of the Devisor shall have the mean Profits thereof till it be sold 4. Otherwise where the Executors have an Interest in which case the Money or Proceed upon the sale but not the mean Profits shall be Assets in their hands 5. Several Devises touching sales of Land with or without the Assent of another 6. By the word Appurtenances shall pass in a Devise Lands commonly used with a Messuage 7. A Copy-holders Case of Devise of Land to his Wife 8. Where one who hath but an Estate for life and no Interest to sell may yet have an Authority to Appoint who shall sell the Lands Devised 9. In what Case relating to this matter a Prohibition may Lye or not 10. A Case of Law wherein one Executor alone where there are two can not sell the Land Devised 11. How a sale of Lands Devised to be sold may be void for want of sufficient Authority 12. In what case a Sale of Lands Devised to be sold may be made by one Executor where there are two Appointed by Name 13. Where there is an Interest as well as an Authority and Trust the Executor of the surviving Executor may sell the Lands of the first Testator Devised to be sold 14.
3. If one be possessed of a Term of Years of Land and Devise the same to his Wife during all the Term and if she die within the Years of the Term then to A. and B. his Two Sons if they have no Issue Male but if they or either of them have Issue Male then that it shall go the use of those Issues Male the Wife dies and the Two Sons dye without Issue Born one of their Wives being privily with Child of a Son who after his Fathers death is Born In this Case and by this Devise the Issue Male shall have it as soon as he is Born 4. Suppose a Man possessed of an Estate to the value of 721 l. hi Wife being with Child did Devise in this manner viz. Whereas my Wife is with Child I Will that if she be delivered of a Son that then that Son shall have 480 l. 13 s. 4 d. And my Wife shall have 240 l. 6 s. 8 d. But in Case she be delivered of a Daughter then my Will is That that Daughter shall have the 240 l. 6 s. 8 d. and my Wife shall have the 480 l. 13 s. 4 d. and dies It happens That the Wife is after delivered both of a Son and a Daughter The Question is How each Legatary shall be satisfied his and her Legacy according to the Intention of the Testator for by the Will a Legacy is given to each of them It is Resolved That according to the Testators Intention which is the Index of the Testament the Son shall have double to the Wife and the Wife double to the Daughter and consequently the Son shall have 412 l. the Wife 206 l. and the Daughter 103 l. Which in all amounts to 721 l. the full value of the Testators said Estate So that each person is to have a Portion answerable to the Rate of Proportion mentioned in the Will But if the Child which the Mother brings forth be an Hermophrodite then it shall have the Portion due to that Sex whereof the Hermophrodite doth most participate But if that also be doubtful it is to be presumed according to the more worthy Sex viz. the Masculine 5. In Case a Testator saith If my Wife bring forth any Child I give to the same 100 l. and she bring forth Two or Three Children In this Case every Child may obtain a Hundred Pounds if there be Assets sufficient and the Testators Goods will suffice to satisfie the same otherwise there must be a proportionable deduction 6. There is a Case wherein by the Birth of a Child after his Father the Testators death a Devise becomes good to another which otherwise would be void when none is given to himself As thus If one Devise his Land to his Daughter and Heir apparent in Fee-simple this Devise is void yet if in this Case the Wife of the Devisor be privily with Child of a Son which is born after his death now is the Devise become good for now she is not Heir to her Father Q. Mead and Pyriam Justices in the C. B. Affirmed That it had been there Adjudged in the Lord Dyers Time That if Lands are Devised to Two Men and the Child where with the Devisors Wife then goeth that such Devise is good and the Child shall take by such Devise But whether they shall take in Common or Joynt-tenancy the Lord Dyer doubted A. possessed of a Lease for Years Devised the same to his Eldest Son and the Heirs of his Body and if he dyed without Issue then to P. his Younger Son and the Heirs of his Body and for default of such Issue that the Term should remain to his Daughters The Testator dies leaving Two Daughters and afterwards another Daughter is Born The Eldest Son Sells the Term and dies without Issue the Younger Son dies also without Issue the Three Daughters enter and the Term was Adjudged to them Three although the Youngest Daughter was not Born at the Time of the death of the Devisor otherwise if he had named the Two Daughters in the said Devise by their proper Names CHAP. XIX Certain Cases of Devises touching Lands and Chattels-real 1. The difference in Power of Devising between him in Fee and Tenant in Tail for Life 2. What Vses are Devisable 3. Money payable on a Mortgage is Devisable though Devised before the day of Payment 4. Obligations or Chattels-real in right of a Wife as Executrix or not are not Devisable by the Husband 5. A void Presentation is not Devisable in what kind an Advowson in Fee may be 6. Whether Leases and Rents may pass under the Notion of Immoveables as also Bonds and Specialties under the Notion of Moveables 7. What shall pass by a Devise of all Goods Chattels Moveables or Immoveables 8. The difference between an universal Successor and a naked Executor or particular Legatary 9. Devise made under Coverture may be good by new Publication of the Husbands death otherwise not 10. The same Law as to a Devise made by an Infant during Minority disqualified 11. Not full Payment Equivalent to no Payment 12. A Personal Charge incumbent on a Legacy is to be defrayed by the Executor not the Legatary 13. Equity in Election to be Regulated by the Testators Intention 14. Circumstances of a Devise not Restrictive nor joyned to the Devise it self ought not to minorate the same 15. A Devise shall be interpreted to the utmost Consistency with the Devisors words to the best advantage of the Devisee 16. Comprehensive words ought not to be extended beyond what is Rational in Construction of Law 17. The Advantage of a Residuary-Legatary when others refuse 18. Discrepancy among the DD. touching a Legacy to the Poor 19. Accessory Advantages to a Legatary between the making the Testament and the Testators death 20. The Devise of a Thing not in rerum natura at the Testators death is void 21. The Testators Estimation of a Legacy doth not alter the Condition thereof 22. The Executor may not exceed his Testators Estimate to a Legataries prejudice 23. The Devise of a part not expressing what part implyes a Moity 24. Constructions of Law to avoid uncertainty and the Law touching Elections 25. Where a Legacy is given Nomine poenae and failure in the Executor the Legatary may take either but not both Legacy and Penalty 26. Where there happen Two Elections in one Devise the Legatary shall have the first the Executor the second 27. The Law touching a Devise of a House where the Testator had none or many or burnt or ruin'd or pull'd down or demolish'd or re-edified 28. In what Case a Mill joyning to a House shall pass by a Devise of the House or not 29. One Thing ought not to be Compriz'd under the Appellation of another beside the Testators Intention 30. One Stable or one Kitchin to Two Houses shall pass with that Devised House whereto they are most nigh or most Contiguous 31. The Law touching
the Devise of a House with all things therein 32. The Difference between a Devise of a Chamber and the Devise of a Shop 33. The Devise of a Field carries also the Edifice erected thereon 34. The Civil Law where the Fee of Land is Devised to one and the Rents of the same Land to another 35. in what Case an error or mistake in the Testator may be a prejudice to the Legatee 36. A Legacy or Devise may be inferr'd as well from the Testators Intention as Expression 37. A Devise by Reason of an Omission of that whereof the Testator said he would make a description is not void 38. A Legacy to Two whereof one is not accrews in the whole to the other that is 39. Further Exemplifications of Law touching Devise of Houses altered burnt and re-edified 40. An Exception of a Thing which is not is no prejudice to the Devisee 41. The same thing Conditionally twice Devised by two Testators to several Persons how or in what Case good to either or not 42. By a Devise of ground doth pass the Edifice thereon albeit it were erected after the Devise made 43. How a Devise is to be apportioned where the Devisees are joyned in the thing Devised but disjoyned in the manner of Devising 44. A Devise of Lands by a certain Name carries all of that Name though otherwise distinct unless the Testator intended otherwise 45. Any words that do but plainly declare the Testators meaning may serve for a Devise 46. The Executor shall pay the Land-lords Rent for Ground in Lease the Fruit or Proceed whereof is Devised to another for the Term. 47. A mistake in the Testator only of the Scituation of the Lands Devised shall not prejudice the Devise 48. The difference between necessary and voluntary Alienations prohibited to Devisees by a Testator 49 A Tripartite Case in point of Alienation prohibited by a Testator 50. How the disjunctive Or in Legacies and Devises is frequently understood for the conjunctive And. WHere a Man is Seised of a House in Fee or of Land in Fee and may devise such House or Land in such case may Devise the Doors Windows Wainscot or the like Incidents of the House also the Trees and Grass growing upon such Land Otherwise it is with a Tenant in Tail for Life or Years in Houses or Land 2 If a man hath an Use that is not Executed by the Stat. of Uses but remains at the Common Law he may make a good Devise thereof And therefore if one possessed of a Term of years grant it over to another to the use of the Grantor he may Dispose this use by his Will for it is in the Nature of a Chattel 3. One that hath Money to be paid him on a Mortgage may Devise this Money when it comes If A. Enfeoffe B. of Land upon Condition that if B. do not pay A. 100 l. such a day that then A. may Re-enter In this case A. may Devise this 100 l. if it be paid and the Legacy is good albeit it be made before the day of Payment come 4. A Man cannot Devisc by his Will any Real Chattels that he hath only in right of his Wife nor the Obligations that are made to her alone before or during the Coverture nor the Chattels Real or Personal which she hath in right only of another as Executrix But all her own proper Goods and Chattels Personal and all Obligations made to them both during Coverture he may Devise by Testament 5. A Bishop cannot by his Testament Devise the Presentation of a Church that became void in his time yet if he or the Parson of a Church have the Advowson thereof in Fee and Devise that Two or Three of his Executors shall present at the next Avoidance this is a good Devise 6. By a Devise of Immoveables which are Chattels real do pass Leases Rents and the like and by a Bequest of Moveables which are Chattels Personal will pass Bonds and Specialties but Debts pass not by either of these Devises By Immoveables are understood not only the foresaid Chattels-real but also in some sense Trees growing on the Ground Fruit on the Trees Terms of Years and the like and by Moveables are Regularly understood all Goods both Actually Moving and Passively Moveable 7. If a Man Bequeath to A. B. all his Goods he shall thereby have the Testators whole Estate his Lands Tenements and Freehold excepted and thereby the Debts and Money If he Bequeath to him all his Chattels he shall have thereby all as in the former Case If he Bequeath to him all his Moveables he shall have all his Personal Goods both quick and dead and if he Beqneath to him all his Immoveables he shall have all the Testators Leases and all the Natural Fruits thereof as Grass on the Ground Fruit on the Trees and the like consequently Fishes in a Pond Pidgeons in the Dovehouse c. as Appurtenances to the Ground Devised as well as the Natural Fruits or Grass growing on the same 8. If a Man Devise all his Goods and Chattels to A. B. and die and A. B. die also before he hath proved the Testators Will in this Case the Administration of the Goods and Chattels of the said Testator shall be committed to the next of Kin of the said A. B. and not to the next of Kin of the said Testator because in this Case A. B. was the universal Successor 9. If a Woman under Coverture Devise her Land then publish and approve it after her her Husbands death when she is sole by this means that Devise which was Originally void is now become good But if she make and publish it during the Coverture albeit her Husband doth afterward die and she become sole yet this accident alone without a new publication after her Husbands death will not make that Devise good The Law is the same as to Goods and Chattels 10. In like Manner if an Infant within Age as to Lands or within Age as to Goods Devise the one or Bequeath the other and publish the Will and after he come to full and competent Age publish and Approve it again By this means the Devise or Legacy becomes good otherwise it is in Case he do not Publish and Approve it when he attains to Full and Competent Age. 11. Suppose the Testator doth Devise in this manner viz. I Will that my Executor shall pay 100 l. to A. B. by the Tenth day of March next after my decease and if otherwise then my Will is That my Executor shall Surrender to him all the Right I have in a Lease of my Ground called Black-acre and dies The Executor doth not pay to A. B. above 90 l. by the day Appointed In this Case A. B. restoring the said 90 l. to the Executor shall have the said Ground and he may detain the Money till he recover the Land 12. Suppose the Testator doth Devise the
Fruits of an Orchard or other Lands which at a Rent certain he hath taken to Farm for Seven Years who shall pay the said Rent the Executor or the Legatary It is Answered That the Executor shall pay it because it is a Personal Charge Or if he Devise certain Lands which he had lately bought but the whole purchase-money not paid at the Testators death the Executor and not the Devisee is lyable for the same But the Devise shall not take effect till the same be paid if there be no other Assets wherewith to pay it 13. A Man possessed of Three Fields whereof Two called Rushcrofts the one being of much better value then the other the third called Longlands doth Devise one of his Rushcrofts or Longlands which he will to A. B. and dies In this case A. B. hath his Election whether he will have one of the Rushcrofts or Longlands but if he chuses one of the Rushcrofts it shall be that which is nearest in value to Longlands 14. A Man made his Will and therein Devised to A. B. all the Lands which he had in the Tenure or Occupation of his Tenant C. D. Consisting of Meadow Pasture and Arrable Grounds Scituate about the Farm-house of the said C. D. and dies The Question was Whether other Pasture and Arable Grounds belonging to the Testator in the Tenure or Occupation of the said C. D. and by him Rented of the said A. B. but not Scituate as aforesaid were to be Comprized within this Devise In this Case it was Resolved in the Affirmitive The Reason is because the quality or Circumstance of the Place or Scituation is not here joyned with the Devise for any Restrictions sake but only by way of Demonstration 15. A Man bought certain Lands of A. B. with a Clause or Covenant of Redemption within a certain Time in the Nature of a Mortgage The Time of Redemption being Elapsed the Purchaser made his Will and therein ordered That his Executor should Restore the said Lands to A. B. paying what Costs and Charges the Testator had been at and Expended about the said Lands The Question was Whether the Mortgagor or Vendor now the Legatary or Devisee were in this Case obliged to pay the Redemption-money over and above the said Costs and Charges which the Testator had Expended about the Lands as aforesaid In this Case it is Resolved in the Negative viz. That the Devisee shall have the Land paying only the said Charges and without paying the Redemption-money 16. A. B. by his last Will and Testament makes his Two Sons C D. and D. B. the Joynt-Executors of all his Estate and dies C. B. for a certain Sum of Money Sells his Part or Interest in the said Estate unto D. B. his Brother After D. B. makes his will and therein Devises to the said C. B. all his Interest in the said Estate by his Father and dies The Queston was Whether C. B. by that Devise should have all the said Estate whereof the Two Brothers were made Joynt-Executors by their Father or only so much thereof as accrewed to D. B. by vertue of his Co-executorship In this Case the D. D. are somewhat divided but the prevailing Opinion is That C. B. by this Devise shall have no more then accrewed to D. B. by virtue of his Co-executorship because the other part of the Estate was his by Purchase and not by being Executor to his Father and the Property being altered by the Sale it ceased to be the Fathers Estate or any Estate to D. B. by the Father and became his own proper Estate by Purchase But the Question is put a little further as whether the said Devise shall be made good as the said part was when the Father dyed or as it was at the time of D. B. the Testators death In this it is Agreed That the said Devise shall be considered only as the Estate was at the Time of the death of the Devisor D. B. and not as it was at the Time of the death of his Father 17. A. B. being possessed of several Houses by Lease doth Devise Two of them in his last will and Testament unto C. D. such as he shall chuse or Two of them to C. D. which he will the rest to I. G. In this Case if C. D. refuse to take by this Devise and will chuse neither of the said Houses I. G. shall have them all 18. A. B. makes his Will and thereof C. D. his Son the sole Executor in which Will he appoints that a Fourth part of his Estate shall be given to the Poor in Case C. B. die without Issue C. B. Survives the Testator hath a Son makes his Will and therein Ordains That if his Son should happen to die Intestate and without Issue that then the Contents of A. B. his Fathers Will should be performed and dies leaving Issue a Son After the said Son of C. B. dies Intestate and without Issue In this Case In this Case some are of Opinion That the said Fourth part of A. B. the first Testators Estate is not due to the Poor because that general disposal which C. B. made in his Will ought to be understood only of such Things as might be claimed by the first Will and which could be due only by the same Others conceive That it is due to them in Case there were no other Legacies contained in the Will of A. B. which his Son C. B. was to see performed and discharged 19. If a Man doth Devise Land whereon is no House at the Time when the Testament was made but One is built thereon before the Testator dies in this Case the House as well as the Land shall pass by this Devise Likewise if a Testator Devise a Bond or Debt owving to him by some Goldsmith or Banker the principal whereof hath produced an encrease by the Interest thereof since the time of making the Devise In this Case by the Civil Law the Legatary shall have such Interest in the Bankers Hands as well as the Principal which accrewed by vertue of the Principal during the Testators life after the making of the Testament which by that Law holds true in all Credits producing an Interest or Accessory profit yet it is otherwise even by that Law as to annual Rents payable out of Land for therein the Civil doth agree with the Common Law That the Arrears of such Rents behind at the Testators shall go to the Executor and not to the Legatary to whom the Land is Devised 20. If the Legacy be not in being in rerum natura at the Time of the Testators death then neither the Thing bequeathed nor the value thereof is due to the Legatary but if the Thing Devised is only by any Impediment obstructed from being delivered in kind then the Devisee shall recover the true value thereof 21. If a Testator Devise in these words viz. I give
Will only to Land and a Testament only to Chattels requiring Executors which a Will only for Land doth not require For it seems that by the Common Law where Lands or Tenements are only devised by writing albeit there be no Executor named yet that is properly called a Last Will and where it concerns only Chattels a Testament The truth is a Testament taken strictly according to the said definition differeth from a Last Will yet not as opposite thereto but only as the Special differeth from the General for every Testament is a Last Will but every Last Will is not a Testament In a word a Last Will is a general word and agrees with each several kind of Last Wills or Testaments But a Testament properly so called is only that kind of Last Will wherein an Executor is named or appointed Plowden in his Commentaries doth define a Testament to be the Witness of the mind and to be compounded of these two words viz. Testatio and Mentis But this is no adequate definition of a Testament neither is it a compound word but a single word such as is Calceamentum Paludamentum and the like And if it be demanded whether a Testament may be good in Law without a Seal it is Answered in the Affirmative for a Seal is not absolutely necessary to a Testament though it may be fit and expedient For a Will not being properly and legally a Deed may be good enough without a Seal which is one essential part of a Deed yet hath a Will the force and effect of a Deed. CHAP. II. Of the several Distinctions or kinds of Testaments A Testament is either Solemn or Vnsolemn This though the first and greatest distinction of Testaments yet of least force or use with us now in England 2. Testaments are either written or Nuncupative 3. They are either priviledged or unpriviledged Of Priviledged Testaments there are three sorts whereof some are called Militarie Testaments others are called Testaments only among the Testators own Children and others are Testaments to Charitable and Pious uses But if no Executor be named or appointed then it hath not the name of a Testament yet it shall retain the name of a Last Will and comprehends one of these three viz. either a Codicil or a Legacy and Devise or a Gift in regard or by reason of death CHAP. III. Of Testaments Solemn and Vnsolemn IN Solemn Testaments are comprehended the Solemnities of the Civil Law as the presence of seven Witnesses their subscription or subsignation the making or expediting the act of the Will it self at one and the same time with divers other Solemnities necessarily required by the Civil Law as Essential to a Testament whereof we have no use here in England being not obliged to such Ceremonies In Vnsolemn Testaments the said Ceremonies are omitted and such are our Testaments here in England wherein we are no further obliged than to the observation of such Requisites as are necessary Jure Gentium which requires but two Witnesses And saving in a Devise of Land wherein Writing is also necessary and that it be made in the Testators life time The Testator if he please may make use of more than two witnesses and procure their subscription yea for prevention of Forgery to every page of the Testament but no obligation hereto CHAP. IV. Of Testaments Written and Nuncupative 1. Testament Written what 2. Difference between Devise of Lands and Bequest of Goods 3. Lands of Burgage tenure and by Custome deviseable may pass Nuncupatively 4. Naming Executor not necessary in a Will only for devise of Lands 5. Notes taken in writing-sufficient for devise of Lands 6. Testament Nuncupative what 7. The Will whether Nuncupative or Written in case the Executors Name be omitted out of the writing 8. Law Cases relating to this subject § 1. A Written Testament is such as at the time of making thereof is committed to writing By which words are excluded such Testaments as are afterwards put into writing For being first made by word of mouth they still remain Nuncupative notwithstanding the reducing thereof into writing after the Testators death Among other advantages that a Testator hath by a written Will this is one that he may conceal the Contents thereof from the Witnesses which in a Nuncupative Will he cannot do And it is sufficient if taking his Will in his hand he say unto the Witnesses This is my Last Will and Testament or herein is contained my Last Will or other words to the like effect 2. As touching the disposition of Land of Inheritance by Will if it be not fully written before the Testators death so far at least as concerns the disposition of the said Land it may not be for that part made good by reducing it to writing after the Testators death but as touching Goods and Chattels it may Nevertheless if it be written before the Testators death though it be never brought nor read to him after the writing thereof yet is it good enough and that not only for Land but also for Goods and Chattels provided that there be an Executor named And this shall be a Will in writing and not verbal only yea though it want the subscription of the Testators Name For many cannot write at all and some want hands Nor is the subscribing the name of the Maker any essential part of a Deed much less of a Will which needs not sealing as a Deed doth 3. Lands and Tenements deviseable by Custome may pass by a Nuncupative Will for any time whatsoever for in a Devise of Lands Tenements and Hereditaments held in Burgage-tenure it is not necessary that the same should be written because such may pass sufficiently by Will Nuncupative because such Lands were deviseable before the making of the Statute of H. 8. enabling to devise Lands Tenements and Hereditaments by Will in writing in the Testators life-time which cannot pass by a Nuncupative Testament or Will without writing So that Lands of Burgage-tenure and by Custome deviseable may pass Nuncupatively though Lands of other tenures are not deviseable but by Will in writing 4. Though the naming or appointing of an Executor be essential to constitute a Testament or Last Will yet this properly refers only as to Goods and Chattels for a man may by his Last Will in writing devise his Lands Tenements and Hereditaments though he make no Executors because an Executor hath nothing to do with the freehold of Land 5. If the Writer doth only take Notes from the mouth of the Testator of his Last Will for the devise of Lands Tenements and Hereditaments and afterwards write the same but the Testator dies before it be shewed unto him yet this is sufficient for a Will in writing for the coveying of Lands Tenements and Hereditaments Likewise it is sufficient if Notes or Articles be made and read to
of Wills and Testaments afterwards to be made as if the Testator sayes Whatsoever Testament I shall hereafter make I will the same to be void and of no force In this case it is not infringed by a later Testament unless in that later there be mention thereof sufficiently made to amount unto a legal revocation of that former Testament or clause derogatory 5. If a man saith that he will revoke his Will hereafter which he hath made that is not any revocation without the doing of some other Act. Likewise if one saith that he will make a Feoffment thereof to another that is no revocation before it be done But if a man Devise Land to another by his Will in writing and after Devise it unto another per paroll albeit that is void as a Will yet it is a revocation of the former Will If a Devisor alien the Land Devised and afterwards repurchase the same Land yet the Will is revoked as to that Land 44 Ed. 3. 33. 44. Ass D. 3 4 P. M. 143. 55. Contra. 2 R. 3. 3. b. Trespass upon evidence where one hath made his Will in writing and devised his Land to A. and her heirs and afterwards being sick and lying upon his death-bed because A. did not come to visit him affirmed that A. should not have any part of his Lands or Goods It was held by all the Court that it was not any revocation of his Will being but by way of discourse and not mentioning his Will But the revocation ought to be by express words that he did revoke his Will and that she should not have his Lands given unto her by his Will or such like words which might shew his intent to make an express revocation thereof Ejectione Firmae Upon evidence to a Jury it was resolved by the Court and so delivered to the Jury that if one makes his Will in writing of Land and afterwards upon Communication saith That he hath made his Will but it shall not stand or I will alter my Will c. These words are not any revocation of the Will for they are words but in futuro and a declaration what he intends to do but if he saith I do revoke it and bear witness thereof he doth hereby absolutely declare his purpose to revoke it in praesenti and it is then a revocation Also Mountague said to the Jury and it was not denied by any other of the Justices That as one ought to be of a good and sane memorie at the disposing so ought he to be of as good and sane memory when he revokes it And as he ought to make a Will by his own Directions and not by Questions so ought he to revoke it of himself and not by Questions CHAP. XIX Of a Reviver of a Will Revoked 1. How a Will Revoked may be Revived 2. How an Executor Revoked may be Revived 3. How one may dye both Testate and Intestate 1. OF a Will Revoked there may be a Reviver by a new publication of that revoked Will also a Will revoked may without making a New Will be revived and set on foot again by annexing a Codicil thereunto or by adding any thing to the Will or by making a new Executor or by express speech and word that it shall stand good and be his Will yea and sometimes without either of these as thus A man makes his Will many years after he makes another then in his sickness both these Wills are put into his hands and being demanded which of these Two he will have to stand for his Last Will and Testament and being required to deliver back that which he will have to stand and to detain the other in his hands he delivers back the Will he first made possibly many years before the later In this case the former Will though once made void by the later is now revived again and shall stand as the parties Last Will and Testament 2. If one of the Executors Names be stricken out of the Will and afterwards a stet be written over it by the Testator or by his appointment he is then a revived Executor but then Note that if the stet shall stand good the Executors Name over which it is written ought not to be so blotted out but that it may be read and discerned otherwise the stet is over nothing at all Or if the Testator express by word in the presence of witnesses that the party put out shall yet be Executor he is then also a revived Executor Lastly if the verbal re-affirmance renew the Executorship then is the Will partly in Writing partly Nuncupative his Name not being to be found in the written Will for the appointing of the Executor doth create the Will though it hath not life till the Testators death which is Divinity as well as Law 3. If a man seized of Lands in Fee-simple dispose of the same or part thereof by his Will in writing it shall stand good for the whole or part according to the difference of Tenure though no Executor be named or appointed so that the party shall die Intestate as touching his Goods whereof Administration is to be committed yet shall have a Will as touching his Lands because Land is not properly Testamentary And so a Will may be good in part only But where the strictness of the Civil Law is observed there a man cannot die partly Testate and partly Intestate though here in England where that Ceremonial strictness is not observed but all immunities enjoyed being not obliged to any other observance in making of Testaments than what is Juris Gentium a man may thus and several other wayes die partly Testate and partly Intestate CHAP. XX. Of the Probate of Testaments 1. Where and before whom the Will is to be proved 2. By whom and at whose instance the Will is to be proved 3. When is the Will to be proved 4. How and in what manner is a Will to be proved 5. What are the Fees upon Probate of a Testament 6. Touching refusal to prove the Will 1. EVery Last Will and Testament after the Testators death ought to be duly Proved before a Competent Judge in the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction A Testament or Last Will is to be Proved before the Bishop of that Diocess within which the Testator had his Domicil or Habitation or before his Official unless by Custome or Prescription within certain Lordships or Mannors it appertains to the Chief Lord or unless the Testator died within some peculiar Jurisdiction in which case the Probation of the Testament may be Prescription or Composition belong to the Judge of the peculiar or unless the Testament be such as wherein only Lands Tenements and Hereditaments and no Goods be devised or unless the Testator had Bona Notabilia at his death in divers Diocesses in which Case the Probation of the Testament appertains to that Arch-Bishop within whose
Province such Bona Notabilia are Or unless by Custome it appertains to the Major of some Borough for ordinarily and regularly though Wills and Testaments are to be Proved before the Judge of that Jurisdiction within which the Testator died or rather within which he had his usual habitation and made his last aboad yet some Testaments may be Proved in some Boroughs before the Major thereof by Custome where it shall be understood to be only in respect of the Burgages within such places deviseable but in respect of their Goods they shall be Proved according to the Law Communi Formā and there only where the Lands are bequeathed which is nothing strange when as aforesaid in some Mannors by Prescription Testaments may be Proved before the Stewards thereof yea though no Lands be bequeathed therein The Probate of Testaments did belong to Ordinaries but of later Times de Consuetudine Angliae non de Communi Jure and the power to grant Administration was granted to the Ordinary by the Stat. of 31 Ed. 3. cap. 11. And before that time the King was accustomed to seize the Goods of the Intestate to the intent they might be bestowed for the burial of the dead and the payment of the Intestates Debts and the advancement of his Wife and Children and the Ordinary himself hath not power to sell the Goods of the Intestate though they be in danger of perishing nor release a Debt due to the Intestate by the Stat. of 31 Ed. 3. The Commissary of the Bishop of the Diocess granted Letters ad colligendum ad vendendum ea quae peritura essent inde computum reddere the Grantee sold Goods which would not keep but perished and an action of Debt was brought against him as Executor in his own wrong and it was adjudged maintainable because the Ordinary himself had not such power and therefore he could not give it to another 7 Eliz. Dyer 256. Again the practice hath been when Testaments have been Proved before other than such as are mentioned in the Premises as appears by this Case A Testament is disproved in the Ecclesiastical Court and the party appeals to the Metropolitan and it is there disproved and afterwards there is an Appeal to the Court of Delegates and it is there disproved also and at last the party appealed to the Queen in Chancery by the Stat. 25 H. 8. and there also it was disproved before the Commissioners And if the Queen ex Authoritate sua Regali might grant Letters of Administration was the Question The Opinion of the Justices of the Common Pleas was That she might because the said Court of Chancery is the Highest Court and the matter being once there it cannot be determined in any Inferiour Court and then the party may shew in his Declaration generally the matter and that Administration was granted to him by the Queen Ex sua Regali Authoritate under the Seal of the Court of Delegates Mich. 24 Eliz. in C. B. See after 10 Jae in B. R. Stephenson's Contrary That the Court of Delegates cannot grant Letters of Administration A Lessee for years of Lands by his Last Will Devised his Term to one whom he made his Executor and died the Devisee entered before any Probate of the Will and held the Land for a year and more without any Probate and then died The Question was whether his Executor or Administrator should have the Term or that the Ordinary should commit Administration of the Goods of the first Testator It was the Opinion of the Court That the property of the Term was lawfully in the Executor by his Entry and the Devise well executed without any Probate In Debt against Executors it was Resolved That if any of the Exccutors refuse before the Ordinary yet he that refused may Administer the Testators Goods at his pleasure and Prove the Will but if all the Exccutors do refuse before the Ordinary there Administration shall be granted and they cannot after Administer 2. That in Debt brought against an Executor it is a good Plea That the Testator made him and another Executor who is alive not named without saying that the Testament is Proved 3. Resolved That the Lords of Mannors in former times had the Probate of Wills in their Courts and in ancient time when a man died Intestate and had made no disposition of his Goods the trust of them was committed to the King who was and is Parens Patriae And the Ordinary was Constituted by the King in loco Parentis and his Power was given to him by the Stat. of 31 E. 3. cap. 11. 4. Resolved that although the Ordinary had the Power given to him as before yet no Power thereby is given to the Ordinary to sell or dispose of the Goods either to his own use or to the use of any other and that he hath not any absolute property in the Goods but a property only secundum quid 2. The Testament is to be Proved by the Executor whom the competent Judge either ex Officio or at the instance of the interessed may call before him to Prove the same and to declare his acceptance or refusal of the Execution thereof yea some think it may be done at the instance of such as have no interest to the intent that thereby they may be certified whether the Testator left them a Legacy And because it often happens that a Last Will or Testament is left in the Custody of some other Friend than the Executor the Law hath provided that in whose hands soever it remains he is compellable to produce the same and to exhibite such Testament And if he once had it the Law presumes him to have it still untill he prove the contrary by good evidence or by his own oath at least Also an Executor dying before he hath Proved his Testators Will his Executor that is the Executors Executor may not Prove both the Wills and so become Executor to both the Testators but in case the Goods of the first Testator were after Debts paid bequeathed to the first Executor then may his Executor take Administration of the first Testators Goods with the Will annexed 3. The time when the Will is to be Proved is somewhat uncertain and left to the discretion of the Judge according to the distance of the place the weight of the Will the quality of the Executors the absence of the Witnesses the importunity of Creditors and Legataries and other circumstances incident hereunto Yet regularly Testaments ought to be insinuated to the Official or Commissary of the Bishop of the Diocess within four months next after the Testators death And the Ordinary may sequester the Goods of the deceased untill the Executors have Proved the Testament so may the Metropolitan if the Goods be in divers Diocesses Also the Ordinary may compell the Executor to Prove the Will and to accept or refuse
as 8 El. 4. 3. And Nichols Justice said That a Personal Action once suspended by the act of the party as here by the act of the Obligee in making the Wife of one of the Obligors his Executrix shall be Extinct for ever otherwise if by the act of Law And it seemed to the Court That by the last clause of the Devise of all his Goods to the Wife after his Debts and Legacies paid the Obligation passed to the Wife And inasmuch as that the duty and debt thereof is a thing in action which by our Law cannot be transferred by a Devise yet it shall enure as a Declaration of the intent of the Obligor that the debt is extinct and the Civil Law allows a Devise of debts due to the Testator to be good And it is averred in the Principal Case That the Debts and Legacies are all paid whereupon Judgement was given Quòd quaerens nihil capiat c. The suggestion was That whereas one was in debt to J. S. in Thirty pound who after by deed of Gift in his life-time conveyed all his Goods and Chattels to A. and after made the Plaintiff and B. his Executors and devised that the Plaintiff should pay out of the Thirty pound which he owed him Ten pound to the Defendant for a Legacy who brought the Plaintiff into the Ecclesiastical Court for the same where by the Law the Thirty pound debt is extinct by making the Plaintiff Executor and shewed that he had Proved the Will c. And per Curiam the Defendant shall have a Consultation forasmuch as the joynt-Executor hath no remedy to recover the Thirty pound against the Plaintiff his Co-Executor nor can have any Action for the same during the Plaintiffs life yet the debt not extinct but remains as Assets to any other Creditor as is 8 E. 4. And by the same reason that one debt shall satisfie another debt it shall satisfie a Legacy also and much the rather in regard the express intent of the Testator was to that purpose having precisely limited the Legacy to be paid out of the debt Quod not a per totam Curiam And Consultation was granted accordingly Yelv. Council for the Plaintiff CHAP. XII The general difference between an Executor and an Administrator and wherein they generally agree THey differ thus viz. An Executor is made either by the Testator or by his own Acts but an Administrator is appointed only by the Judge An Executor may appoint an Executor to the first Testator so cannot an Administrator yet a bare and meer Executor or a naked Executor to whom nothing is bequeathed in the Will made choice of meerly for his care and not at all for his profit cannot bequeath the Testators Goods in his Will by Legacies no more than an Administrator for these Goods are to be imployed only for the behoof of the Testator in which respect such Executor is accountable as well as an Administrator But of the Profits and Fruits which happen and arise of those Goods which belong to any as Executor he may make his Testament though not of the Goods themselves and so also in some cases may an Administrator They agree thus viz. An Administrator is entitled to all the Goods and Chattels of the Intestate as well as an Executor to all the Goods and Chattels that belonged to the Testator they are both alike liable to the payment of Debts and Legacies and they are both accountable These are the most general things wherein they differ and agree Their more particular agreements and disagreements are very many according to their distinct Beings Interests and Offices For which reason the Reader for his fuller satisfaction in this point is referred to his own Observations from the Contents of the several Chapters of this Testamentary Treatise CHAP. XIII Of the Executors Rights exclusively to the Heirs 1. The several divisions and distinctions of such things as come to the Executor and what Chattels are 2. Of such Chattels real living and moveable as accrew to the Executor 3. Of such Chattels real without life and immoveable as go to the Executor 4. Of Chattels personal living and moveable belonging to the Executor 5. Of Chattels personal without life and moveable pertaining to the Executor 6. Several Laws in reference to this subject 1. ALL things that come unto an Executor may be divided into things possessory and actually in the Testator or into things only in action and not actually in him and the things possessory may be divided into Chattels real and immoveable or into Chattels personal and moveable Again the possessory Chattels real may be divided into things living or into things without life Also the personal Chattels or Goods moveable may be divided into things living or things inanimate and without life There are also comprehensive of some of these Chattels principal and Chattels accessory that follow the principal So that Chattels are all possessions of Goods moveable and unmoveable except such as are in the nature of a Free-hold or parcel of it And they are called real or immoveable either because they are such in their own nature or because they appertain to something real by way of dependance as a Box with writings of Land the body of a Ward the fruit of a Tree or the Tree it self upon the Land or because they issue out of things immoveable and of a more real nature as Leases for years at Will Wardships Tenants Estates by Statute Merchant Staple or Elegit and Grants of the next Advowson 2. The Chattels Real Living and Moveable which did accrew to the Executor were such as these viz. Wardship being a real Chattel in respect of a Tenure of Land whereby was intended such Wardship as was by Knights Service and not such as is by Socage Tenure also a Villain for years as by Grant for a Term from him that had the Inheritance 3. The Chattels Real without Life and Immoveable that go to the Executors are generally and for the most part in Houses or Lands by Lease or extent upon Judgements Statutes or Recognizances or in things issuing out of Houses or Lands as Rents Commons and the like as arrerages of Rent behind at the Testators death also Advowsons Tithes Fairs Markets Profits of Leets and the like which the Testator had only for years Also the Title accrewed to the Crown upon Attainder of Felony where the party held not of the King viz. the Annum Diem Vastum that is power not only to take the Profits for a year but also to wast and demolish c. is but a Chattel And therefore though granted to one and his Heirs by the King yet shall go to the Executor not to the Heir Also a Lease for years determinable upon lives which is a Chattel and shall go to the Executor As also doth an Extent upon a Statute Likewise if a Termer for years grant his Term by Bequest or otherwise to A. and his Heirs
per parol and Cited a Rule in the Civil Law Non vult esse haeres qui ad alium vult transferre haereditatem and Haereditas est totum jus quod defunctus habuit And to the second matter he said Qui semel repudiaverit haereditatem amplius haereditatem petere non potest and Qui semel repudiaverit shall not after be Executor quia transit in contractum And that Executors cannot refuse for one time but for ever but they may pray time to Advise or Consider of taking upon them the Executorship and it ought to be granted and in that Case the Ordinary is to grant in the mean time Letters ad Colligendum c. but is not to grant Administration And for these Reasons there being a refusal the Grant made after Administration committed was void and so was the Opinion of the Court. CHAP. XX. Touching what Acts may or may not be done by an Executor as well before as after Probate of the Will 1. An Executor may before Probate of the Will enter into the house of the Heir to seize on the Testators Goods 2. A limitation or qualification of that Power 3. In what Case payment must be made by or to an Executor though no Will yet Proved by him 4. What Actions an Executor before Probate of the Will may or may not maintain 5. An Executor may before Probate of the Will make an Inventory of the Testators Goods and Chattels 6. Several other things which an Executor may do before he hath Proved the Will 7. An Executor may retain the Testators Goods to satisfie his own Debt 1. THe Power of an Executor dependeth wholly upon the Will and designment of the Testator Now an Executor may before his Proving of the Will seize and take into his hands any of the Testators Goods yea enter into the house of the Heir if not locked so to do and to take the Specialties of debts and generally he may do all things which to the Office of an Executor pertaineth except only bringing of Actions and prosecution of Sutes for they cannot Sue till they have the Will under the Seal of the Probat-Office 2. Although an Executor may after the Testators death enter into the house where he lived and died and where his Goods are and thence take them away even before Probate of the Testament yet understand it with this caution That he must do this within convenient and reasonable time as within or about thirty dayes next after the Testators death and that also in a due and peaceable manner when the doors are open 3. An Executor may also before Probat of the Will pay debts and receive debts and make acquittances of debts owing to the Testator Yea if before such Proving of the Will the day be come for payment upon Bond made by or to the Testator payment must be made by or to this Executor though the Will be not yet Proved and that upon like pain of forfeiture as if the Will were Proved Also an Executor may before Probate give or sell any of the Goods and Chattels of the Testator not otherwise bequeathed in the Wiil and for the same may maintain his Action 4. For an Executor for Goods of the Testator taken from him or for a Trespass done upon the Lease Lands or for a distraining or impownding of the Goods or Cattel may maintain Actions of Trespass or Replevin or Detinue even before the Will be Proved because these Actions arise out of the Executors own possession But an Action of Debt or the like contracted by the Testator he cannot maintain before the Will be Proved for therein he must shew forth the Will Proved under the Court-Seal And as at the Common Law If a man be bound to another in a certain summ of money to pay at a certain day and the Obligee before the said day Release unto the Obligor all Actions he is barred of the duty for ever though he could not have an Action at the time of the Release made even so may an Executor before Probate of the Testament Release an Action And the Reason of both is because the right of Action is in them for that the Debt is a thing consisting meerly in Action and therefore though no Action as yet then lieth for the Debt yet because the Right of Action is in them the Release of all Actions is a discharge of the Debt it self 5. Another thing that an Executor may do before the Proving of the Will and which is expedient for him though as yet not so necessary is the making of an Inventory for the Executor had need be cautious that he do not intermeddle with or Administer the Testators Goods until he hath made an Inventory for although the Act of an Executor is said to hold in Law before the Proving of the Will and the making of an Inventory yet for intermeddling with the Testators goods as Executor before he hath made an Inventory or caused the same to be made though not exhibited he was according to Law punishable unless it were for doing such things as could not conveniently be deferred till the Inventory were made as concerning things relating to the Funerals or disposing such things as Servando servari non possint and such like Besides if he make not an Inventory and yet Administer he may be compelled to discharge out of his own purse more Debts and Legacies than happily the Testators Goods and Chattels did amount to 6. There are several other things which an Executor may do before he hath Proved the Will and he may also keep any of the Goods of the Testator so as he pay out of his own money the value thereof in Administration of the Testators Estate he may also if he want money to pay Funerals or discharge Debts sell any of the Chattels Real or Personal whereof the Testator died possessed yea though that thing were particularly bequeathed As if a man be possessed of a Term of years and bequeath the same to A. B. the Executor may notwithstanding the bequest at any time before his Assent given to the Legacy if he have not Assets sufficient to pay the Debts sell this Term of years and the Legatee is remediless So also he may do although there be Assets enough besides to pay the Debts but in such Case the Legatee may not be without all relief in a Court of Equity against the Executor as to Dammages but the Sale is unavoidable Lessee for years Devised his Term to one whom he made his Executor and died The Devisee entered before any Probate of the Will and held and enjoyed the Land for a year and more without Proving of the Will and then died it was a Question whether his Executor or in Case he died Intestate his Administrator should have the Term It was the Opinion of the Court That the Term was lawfully setled in the Executor by his Entry and it
Executors if they have no further Authority or Interest than only to sell the Land and distribute the money for then the Frank-Tenement doth descend to the Heir and the Executors are bound to perform the Devise in convenient time But if the money for the same be to be distributed in pios usus then the Frank-Tenement is in the Executors after the death of the Testator and not in the Heir So that in such Case he may not Enter as in the former Yea if Lands Devised to be sold be not accordingly so done by the Executors the Law will then enforce them to sell the Lands so soon as they can because the mean Profits in that Case taken before Sale are not Assets to charge the Executors as compellable to pay debts of the same But if a man Devise that his Executors shall sell his Land there they may sell it at any time for that they have but a bare and naked Power and no Profit 4. If many Executors be named in a Will wherein Power is given to them to sell Land for any purpose and some of these Executors refuse the Executorship In this Case the other Executors who stand to the Will may dispose and sell the Land without the consent of the other who so refused the Executorship But Note That an Executors Executor cannot sell the Land of the first Testator who by his Will gave Power to his Executor to sell the same unless there be a Co-Executor surviving 5. Although the surviving Executor may sell the Land which a Testator doth bequeath to his Executors to be Sold because as the State so the Trust shall survive yet in case the Executors in that part of the Will impowering them to Sell be particularly Named each by his particular Name and one of them refuse and dye before Sale made then the Survivors cannot sell the same because the words of the Testator one of the Executors refusing or being dead cannot be satisfied unless the Testator express in his Will a Power to the Survivors or Survivor of them or to such or so many of them as take upon them the Probate of the Will without which words the Executors being particularly Named it is otherwise But if the Land to be Sold be left to his Executors generally not particularizing their Names then Sale made by some of them only in this Case is good for that now by the Statute of 21 H. 8. cap. 4. it is Provided That where Lands be Willed to be sold by Executors though part of them refuse yet the residue may sell But here Note That they may not sell to him that so refused because he is yet a party and privy to the Last Will and remains an Executor still so long as any Co-Executor lives For it was the Opinion of the c. Note that by the Opinion of the Justices if a man makes his Last Will and Wills that his Executors shall sell his Land and Devises his Land to his Executors to be sold and one of the Executors refuse the Administration of the Testators Goods before the Ordinary the other Executors cannot sell the said Land to the Executor so refusing the Administration by the Statute 21 H. 8. cap. 4. For that Executor notwithstanding such his refusal is still a party and privy to the said Testament and is one of the Executors at his pleasure It was adjudged in B. R. between Vincent and Lee where a man devised That his Sons in Law should sell the Reversion of his Land without mentioning their particular Names if some of them dye that the others may sell Upon a special Verdict the Case was A man seised of Lands in Possession and of other Lands in Reversion upon an Estate for life Deviseth by his Will in writing That his Executors should have all his Lands Free and Customary in D. for Ten Years to perform his Will and the Will of his Father with the Profits thereof and that after the Ten Years his Executors or any of them should sell it for the payment of his Debts He makes Three Executors and dies The one dies the Ten Years expire Tenant for Life dies the Two surviving Executors sell the Land c. Spurling This Sale is not good 1. The Reversion of the Estate for Life passed not because he had other Lands there to satisfie the words and it was not his intent to pass it because there were not any Profits to be taken thereby 2. The Sale by the Two surviving Executors is not good for it ought to have been by all or by one of them only But the Court resolved to the contrary in both wherefore it was adjudged accordingly The same Case is Reported by Anderson thus viz. J. T. brought Ejectione Firmae against J. W. and others The Defendants pleaded Non Culp whereupon Special Verdict was given the which in effect was That one Smith being seised of Twenty Acres of Land made a Lease thereof to one for Life and being also seised of Sixty other Acres made his Will in manner following viz. I Will and Charge my Executors and every of them to fulfill my Fathers Will and this my Last Will in which were divers Legacies In Consideration whereof I give all my Lands and Tenements to my Executors and they to take the Profits thereof by the space of Ten Years and those Ten Years ended I will the same to be sold by my said Executors or by one of them And made Three Executors and died after the Tenant for life died one of the Executors died also The Two Executors Enter on the Sixty Acres and receive the Profits thereof for Ten Years but Entered not on the Twenty Acres but after the Ten Years ended the surviving Executors sold the Twenty Acres to J. H. who Entered and Leased the same whereon the Action is brought It was said That the Executors did not Sell but it was adjudged that the surviving Executors might Sell For it appeared that the Intention of the Testator was That the Land should be sold for the performance of his Will which the surviving Executors might Execute and consequently do what the Testator appointed in order thereunto CHAP. XXVIII Of Debts Legacies and Mortuaries and the Executors method in the payment thereof 1. Debts to be paid before Legacies 2. The Executor may pay himself first 3. What Debts to the Crown shall have priority of payment before Debts to the Subject 4. Judgements upon Record to be satisfied next after the Debts due to the Crown 5. Next after Judgements upon Record Debts by Statutes or Recognizances are payable before meer Personal Debts 6. After Statutes and Recognizances Debts due by Obligations or penal or single Bills are to have the next precedency in payment 7. Debts upon Specialties Bonds and Bills are to be satisfied before Debts upon a simple Contract 8. After Obligations Debts due upon simple Bills Merchants Books and other Specialties are
are to be sued for in that Court only yet the Ordinary cannot take Cognizance of Freehold devised And whereas it is said That the Devisee may not take the Legacy and serve himself but that it must be Delivered to him by the Executor yet the Law is otherwise in Case Lands or any Rents or other Profit to be taken out of Lands be Devised to a Man in Fee-simple Fee-tayle for Life or Years for in these Cases the Devisee may enter into and take the thing Devised without the Executors leave for so doing CHAP. II. Of Devisors and Devisees or Legataries 1. Who may be a Devisor or Devisee or Legatary 2. What persons are incapable of being Legataries 3. Whether an Infant in the Womb may be a Legatary or a Feme Covert to her own Husband 4. Whether Bastards may be Legataries 1. REgularly every one that is qualified to make a Testament may make a Devise of the same thing whereof he may make such Testament and whosoever is disabled to the one is disabled to the other also And therefore Infants under the age of 21. years may not be Devisors of Land nor of Goods under the age of 14. as to the Male or under the age of 12. Years as to the Female Nor may a Woman under Covert Baron Devise her Lands to her own Husband or to others with or without his Consent Nor may any Ecclesiastical person or Member of a Body Corporate Devise the Lands or Goods which they have in right of the Church or Corporation So that every Devisor ought to be a person qualified to devise and that both in respect of his Person and the thing Devised he must also have at the same time Animum Testandi and the thing Devised must be such as is Devisable And as to the Devisee or Legatary all such by the Civil Law as are uncapable of Inheritances and Goods are excluded from being Legataries or Devisees and indeed from being Executors But every one by that Law that may be made an Heir or Executor may also be a Legatary or Devisee and as to any others no Devise may be made Yet with this Difference that the Executor must be a Person capable both when the Testament is made and when the Testator dyes But it is sufficient for the Legatary that he be capable at the Testators death Indeed at the Common Law it is otherwise for there a Devise or Legacy may be given to all persons to whom a Grant may be made save in some few Cases And the Devise ought to be good and sufficient in Law at the time of the Testators death Therefore if a Man Devise Lands to an Hospital or the like when there is none such at the Testators death though afterwards made or erected such Devise is Null and Void The Reason is Because Devises at Common Law are Purchases and he that taketh Lands by Purchase must be capable to take the same when it falleth to him by the Purchase Thus by the Common Law the Devisee ought to be capable at the time of the death of the Devisor which holds also True by the Civil Law Hence it is that though a Man may not grant nor give Lands to his Wife during the Coverture because they both are but one Person in Law yet by Custom heretofore he might and by Statute now he may Devise his Lands to his Wife to have in Fee-simple or otherwise because such Devise taketh not effect till the death of the Devisor and then they are not one person So then Regularly whosoever may be a Grantee may also be a Devisee or Legatee 2. For which Reason a Cominalty not Incorporate by the Kings Charter to Purchase Lands is Incapable therefore if a Man Devise Lands Devisable in Fee to A. for Life upon a certain Condition the Remainder to certain Men of a Fraternity upon the same Condition not Incorporate by the Kings Charter and enabled to Purchase this Remainder is void Therefore a Legacy given to an unlawful Colledge is void for by that is meant all Companies Societies Fraternities and other Assemblies not so Constituted by the Prince and therefore incapable of being Legataries But generally a Devise may be good to any Person or Persons not specially rendred incapable by Law for by the Civil and Ecclesiastical Law the Legacy is void if it be given to an Heretick Apostate Traytor Felon Persons Excommunicate outlawed Persons Bastard unlawful Colledge as aforesaid Libeller ler Sodomite Manifest and Notorious Usurer except in some special Cases And yet it seems that a Devise of Lands to any such Persons is good within the Statute of Wills Likewise an uncertain Person can be no Competent Legatary no more then he is of being an Executor insomuch that if a Man Bequeath any thing to a person by a certain Name without other description of his person and there be more then one of the same Name known To the Testator in this Case neither of them shall be Legatary by Reason of the uncertainty Hence it is that Devises made in these words viz. To his best Friend or to his best Friends are void Devises Or to his Son A. B when he hath two Sons of the same Name unless you can help it by an Averment which Son the Testator meant but persons named Alternatively or Disjunctively are not so uncertain but may be admitted as Legataries And therefore if the Testator Bequeath 10 l. to A. or B. or to such or such a person both of them shall have the Legacy equally betwixt them Because this word Or is in favour of Testaments taken for and when it is so placed between two persons either as to the appointing of Executors or to the making of Legataries unless it can be well proved That the Testator did bear more affection to the one then to the other Or that he gave Authority to some other person of making the Election which of the two should be the Legatary Or when one of the persons is Incapable of being a Legatary for any of the Reasons aforesaid And if the Devisor doth Bequeath to his Brother or his Children such a thing saying I give to my Brother or his Children in this Case upon the presumption of Affection the Brother shall enjoy the Legacy during his life and after him the Children shall be the Legataries But if it be Devised to him and his Children then are both the Parent and his Children equal and Joynt-Legataries And whereas it is formerly hinted That an Heretick may not be a Legatary or Devisee understand it of an Heretick that is such at the time of the Devisors death for it doth not prejudice the Legatary that fie was an Heretick at the time of the making of the Testament so as he be not one at the Testators death Add nnto this Anabaptists for the Law Civil and Canon excludes them
is due because it was not the Testators mind to Bequeath any thing to him but rather to lessen or diminish it if any thing had been given him For a Deminution Ademption or taking from in such case hath its operation to evince by how much the less not by how much the more the Legacy is due But if the Testator say I Bequeath 100 l. to A. B. beside my Field Long-acre In this case Long-acre is presumed to be Bequeathed as well as the Hundred Pounds And whereas it is heresaid That a false Demonstration doth not vitiate or make void the Legacy Understand it thus That is if the Demonstration be altogether and totally False But if it be False only in part Then the Legacy is void only for that part and it may hold for another part To this may be added Case If the Testator say I Bequeath to A. B. the Hundred pounds which I have in my Chest there is nothing due to A. B. and the Legacy is void if it be not in his Chest because he that so says doth not Bequeath a Hundred pounds simply but the Hundred pounds in his Chest And these words which are in his Chest doth demonstrate That the Testators meaning was to Bequeath rather by way of certainty as to the Species or Corpus then as to the quantity 4. If the Testator say I Depute such a thing to A. B. Or I Assign such a thing to C. D. This is a good Bequest or Legacy Yet withall here observe That a Legacy may be Given or Bequeathed only by Signs or Becks or Nodds by the Head Hands or Eyes But this is more clear and less Dubitable when a Legacy in such manner is left by a Testator who by Reason of the violence and surprize of some Disease is deprived of his Speech at least of speaking articulately though not deprived of his Speech totally The greatest doubt is concerning him who though he can speak articulately yet doth Bequeath by Signs or Nodds for some are of Opinion That such cannot dispose of a Legacy in that manner But this is commonly rejected as the more unsound Opinion Now a Legacy is then understood to be left in this case when the Testator being asked by some one whether he will leave a Hundred pounds or such a thing to â—imself or some other doth not Answer to the Question but by Signs or by Nodding his Head shewing a pleased or displeased Countenance or by other motion of the Body doth plainly discover his Will and Pleasure therein 5. Suppose the Testator speak only after this manner viz. If my Son A. B. Marry with C. D. let not my Executor give him a Hundred Pounds whether from these words by the contrary sense is the Legacy of a Hundred Pounds understood to be left to his Son A. B. under the contrary Condition viz. If he do not Marry with C. D. This is held in the Affirmitive Yet this would not hold if he should appoint an Executor after this manner and say If my Son A. B. Marry with C. D. let him not be my Executor or one of my Executors The Reason is because an Executor may not be Instituted nor the Office of an Executor inferred only by Conjecturals Again a Legacy taken away under a Condition is not only from thence understood to be given under the contrary Condition because a Legacy due only under a Condition may not be argued or inferred from a contrary sense by force of a bare ademption but by force of a Legacy formerly so Bequeathed as may not be understood to be taken away though the Condition fails but only when the Condition takes place or effect 6. In Cases doubtfull touching Legacies and the Testators Mind or Meaning as to the same Recourse must be had rather to what he doth Express by Words then what he doth imply by any Acts or Deeds when there appears any discrepancy between them Hence suppose a Parent having divers Sons and Daughters doth appoint them all his Executors and to his eldest Daughter doth deliver all his Keys and his Signet Ring which he commonly used And having delivered these to her to keep doth withall Order and Assign That his said Daughters Son or Servant be it expresly either shall have such Apparel Moneys or other things as he hath in his Care and under his Custody Whether in this case doth the Parent seem to Bequeath to that eldest Daughter whatsoever is under Lock shut up or Sealed The Answer is in the Negative 7. Lastly The Testators words may possibly be such and carry in them such a sense by direct implication as whereby the Legacy may casually become greater then at first was apprehensively express'd by him For Explanation whereof add to the former this one Memorable Case more Suppose a Legacy be given by a Testator to the Son of him who is indebted to the Testator adding withall these Words viz. I should or I would leave him more if his Father had paid me what he owes me In this case it is held That if afterwards that Son happen to be his Fathers Executor he is by these Words freed from that Debt which his Father owed to the Testator If there be a Devise of a Legacy to one and his Assigns though the Devisee die before Payment yet his Administrator shall have it as his Assign Amersam said to Moore That Popham now Chief Justice of England held in his Readings That if one by a Letter express his Will for the Disposal of his Lands it is sufficient For it was the Case of one Weast who went beyond Sea and wrote such a Letter wherein he will'd That his Lands should go in such manner And it was held a good Devise CHAP IV. Of Conditions and their Resemblancies Incident unto Legacies 1 A False Necessary Demonstration doth vitiate a Legacy but not a False Snperfluous Demonstration 2. The Parity of Operation between a False Cause and a False Demonstration and whether a False Cause doth vitiate a Legacy 3. Whether a False Condition doth vitiate a Legacy 4. The Difference between Modus and Conditio 5. In what Cases the Word if doth not amount to a Condition 1. WHat Conditio is or by what Words it is express'd or implyed with the several Kinds thereof incident to Testaments hath been formerly hinted at And as a Condition relates to Legacies It is such a Quality added or annexed to the Devise or Legacy as whereby the effect thereof is suspended till some future Event whereon it depends doth come to pass For in the Bequeathing of Legacies as well as in the Appointing of Executors there is for the most part either That which the Law calls Conditio or Modus or Causa or Demonstratio The two former whereof refer to the Time to Come The two Latter to the Time Present or the Time Past And a Demonstration is instead of
whereof he dyed actually Possessed or Interessed in Expectancy in his own and not in anothers Right nor in Joynt-Tenancy with another saving in some certain Cases in the Law specially excepted are Deviseable As now also are Lands Tenements and Hereditaments whereof some are Deviseable by Custom as Gavelkind and Burgage Tenure others by virtue of certain Statutes But more specifically first as to Chattels Real all Leases in Lands or Houses either for Years or Years Determinable upon Life or Lives or by Extents Statutes or Recognizances or Rents not Rents reserved by the Inheritor yet the Arraerages of them also Likewise Commons Advowsons Tithes Faires Markets Profits of Leet and the like in the Testator for Years and all such Creatures as a Termer hath in a Warren Park Pond Dove-house or the like in the Testator for Years Secondly as to Chattels Personal all Debtors taken in Execution Captives Apprentices all Cattle of all kinds Creatures naturally Tame or being otherwise are by Act reduced thereto as Hawks reclaimed or the like also Hounds Greyhounds Spannels Mastiffs Ferrits and the like also all Merchandable Goods and Commodities whatever Likewise Ships and other Vessels Naval with their Guns Rigging Tackle Apparel Furniture and Provisions Likewise Weapons for War Books Musical Instruments and the like Also Corn whether in the Ground Field or Barn And Trees Fell'd or not Fell'd being Sold from the Inheritance of the Ground or excepted by the Seller of the Inheritance of the Land Also all other Grain as Corn Also Hops Saffron Hemp and the like whether on the Ground or in the House Likewise Hay and all Fruits gathered but not Grass ready to be cut for Hay nor Fruits on the Trees but such as are seperate from the Inheritance therefore not Garden-Fruits in the Ground or not seperate from it Also Bills Bonds Mortgages Statutes and the like Also Money Plate and Jewels Likewise all Householdstuff Implements and Utinsils not fixed to the Freehold All Coaches Carts Waggons Plows and the like with their Appurtenances Likewise Desks Cabinets Trunks Chests and Boxes Excepting such as contain only the Evidences of the Inheritance and have used so to do Also all Linnen Bedding Pewter Brass and Iron that is Moveable and not fastened to the Freehold as aforesaid Therefore not such Coppers Cesterns or Furnices nor Locks and Keys Waynscot or Window-glass Finally here Note That Things in Action as Debts or the like are Deviseable so are Obligations and Counterparts of Leases Likewise Uses not Executed by the Statute of Uses but remaining at the Common Law And though Actions altogether uncertain are not Deviseable yet possibilities and uncertainties in divers cases are Deviseable 2. In and by the Question Whether a Testator may Bequeath any thing which is anothers and not his own is meant and intended any thing wherein neither the Testator nor the Executor nor the Legatary hath any just Propriety or which doth not of Right belong to either of them Now in order to the Resolution of this Question according to the Civil Law discrepant from the Common Law in this point the known Distinction is That if the Testator did certainly know the thing Devised to belong unto another and not unto himself at the Time when he Devised the same Then such Devise is good and the Executor if there be Assets sufficient is to purchase the same and Deliver it to the Devisee Otherwise it is in case the Testator were Ignorant thereof and supposed it to be his own unless the True Owner consent to the Legacy or that it was Bequeathed to Pious used And in case the Owner thereof will not Sell the same at least not at any reasonable Rate the Executor is to pay the Legatary the just value thereof 3. Suppose a Testator doth Bequeath something that is his Executors In this case the Legatary shall have it whether the Testator did or did not know it to be his The Law is the same though there be Co-Executors and the thing so Bequeathed belong only to one of them But in that case they shall all bear a proportion to be allowed them in Assets but if Assets fail the Legacy fails also 4. If a Testator Bequeath to A. B. the same thing which did appertain to A. B. in his own proper Right at the Time when the Testament was made it is a void Devise yea though A. B. should afterwards alienate the Thing so as that the property thereof were out of him at the Time of the Testators death 5. Notwithstanding what hath hitherto been said according to the Civil Law yet by the Common Law the Goods and Chattels that are another Mans are not Deviseable and therefore if one Man gives or devises another Mans House it is a void Devise So also if one Devise the Things that by special Custom of some Places as the Heir-looms do belong to the Heir this Devise is void for it is not Devisable from him 6. The Law with us is so far from countenancing a Devise of what is another Mans that it doth not allow the Goods and Chattels which the Testator himself hath joyntly with another to be Devisable and therefore if there be Two Joynt-Tenants of Goods and Chattels as when such Things are given to Two or Two do Buy such Things together and one of them Devise his part of the Things to a Stranger This Devise is void Insomuch that if in this case the Testator make the other Joynt-Tenant his Executor the Will as to this is void and he shall not be charged as Executor for these Goods but he shall have them altogether by Survivorship Nay the Goods and Chattels which the Testator hath but not in his own Right but in Right of another are not Devisable And therefore an Administrator cannot Devise the Goods and Chattels he hath as Administrator for such Devise is void Howbeit an Executor may appoint an Executor of the Goods of the first Testator which an Administrator cannot do CHAP. VII Of Lands Deviseable by Will 1. Whether Lands are Deviseable what Lands and how much thereof 2. What things may be Bequeathed under a Devise of Lands and what not 3. What Persons incapable of Devising Lands 4. Who may be Devisees or what Persons may take by a Devise of Lands and what not 5. What kind of Testament sufficient for a Devise of Land and what not 1 LAnds Tenements and Hereditaments held in Gavelkind are Customarily Devisable by Will So likewise are Lands held in Burgage-tenure whereof the Will may be only Nuncupative and without Writing and into which the Devisee after the Testators death may enter without any Livery of Seysin thereof made unto him yet this shall not prevent Survivorship in case of Joynt-Tenancy in such Tenure And though by the Common Law of this Realm Lands Tenements and Hereditaments are not Devisable yet now by Statute they are if held in Socage
and that this doth but set forth the Time when the Estate of A. B. shall begin and that the Intent of the Testator is That his Heir shall have it until that Time The Reason of the difference is because a Man is bound to provide for his own not so for a Stranger and so the Law presumes what Nature doth teach 6. If one Devise his Land in this manner viz. I give my Land in D. to A. B. to the intent that with the Profits thereof he shall bring up my Child or my Children or to the intent that with the Profits thereof he shall pay to I. M. 10 l. or to the intent that out of the Profits thereof he shall pay yearly 10 l. By these Devises A. B. hath only an Estate for life albeit the Payments to be made be greater than the Rents of the Land Otherwise it is in case the Sum of Money is to be paid presently and not appointed to be paid out of the Profits of the Land in which case A. B. should have a Fee-simple in the Land 7. If the Father of A. be Tenant for life of Land the Remainder to A. in Fee And A. devise the Land to his Wife Rendring for her natural life 5 l. to the right Heir of the Father of A. by this Devise the Wife of A. hath an Estate for life after the death of his Father 8. Land was Devised to Husband and Wife and after their decease to their Children they then having Issue a Son and a Daughter In this case the Husband and Wife have but an Estate for Term of their lives the Remainder to their Children for life and no Estate Tail for the intent of the Testator here shall be construed according to the Rules of the Common Law and by the Common Law the Husband and Wife have but an Estate for their lives with a Remainder to their Children for their lives 9. The Son Seised of a Remainder in Fee after the death of his Father who was Tenant for life devised the same by these Words viz. I Devise to D. my Wife the Lands which I have or may have in Reversion after the death of my Father paying therefore yearly during her life to the right Heirs of my Father 40 s. and dyed his Father living It was the Opinion of the Court That no Estate passed by this Devise but for Term of the life of the Wife and that she should not pay the 40 s. until the Reversion did fall after the death of the Father 10. A. Seised of divers Lands in A. B. and C. the Lands in C. being in him by Mortgage forfeited Devised the Lands in A. and B. to several Persons and then adds this Clause in his Will All the rest of the Goods Chattels Leases Estates Mortgages whereof he was possessed he devised to his Wife after his Debts and Legacies paid made his Wife his Executrix and dyed The Wife entered into the Mortgaged Lands and devised it to the Defendant and his Heirs and dyed The Question was whether the Fee passed to the Wife by this Devise by the Name of all his Estate Mortgages c. It was the Opinion of the whole Court That an Estate for life only passed unto her and not a Fee by Implication of the general words in the Will 11. Note That there is a difference when one Deviseth his Term for life the Remainder over and when a Man Deviseth the Land or his Lease or Farm or the Occupation or Use or Profits of his Land For in a Will the intent and meaning of the Devisor is to be observed and the Law makes construction of the Words to answer and satisfie his intent and puts them into such order that his Will shall take effect And when a Man deviseth his Lease to one for life it is as much as to say He shall have so many Years in it as he shall live and that if he dyeth within the Term that another shall have it for the Residue of the Years And although at the beginning it is uncertain how may Years he shall live yet when he dyeth it is certain how many Years he hath lived and how many Years the other shall have and so by a subsequent Act all is made certain A Man made his Will in this manner Item I give my Mannor of Dale to my second Son Item I give my Mannor of Sale to my said Son and his Heirs what Estate he had in the Mannor of Dale was the Question It was held by Dyer Weston and Welch That in the first he had but an Estate for life for that it is as much as to say as if he would give his Mannor of Dale to him for his life for that as much is included therein without saying His Heirs And that Item seems a new Gift to a greater degree in the second place to make amends for the other Brown e Contra and that the Item is a Conjuntion Copulative and that the word Heirs expressed in the latter Clause extends to both the Mannors But if the Word Heirs were put in the Gift of the former Lands it would be otherwise Dyer if in the first place or Clause there were not any person named but that the words were Item I give the Mannor of D. Item I give the Mannor of S. to I. K. and his Heirs there and in that Case it would refer to both the Mannors W. C. by his Will Devised a Messuage in these words viz. I give to A. L. my Cousin the Fee-simple of my House and after her decease to W. her Son The Judges held That A. L. had an Estate for life and her Son a Fee-simple in Remainder And so it was adjudged R. D. Seised in Fee of a House and Possess'd of Goods made his Will in these words viz. The rest of my Goods Lands and Moveables whatsoever after my Debts Legacies and Funeralls paid to my Three Children I. T. and M. equally to be divided amongst them And it was Adjudged That they have an Estate only for life in the House and are Tenants in Common not Joynt-tenants CHAP. XII Certain Cases in the Law touching Devises of Leases or for a Term of Years 1. In what Case the Word Shall is taken for Should in Devise of a Term. 2. A Devise of Lands for 99. Years may be only for no more of that Term then the Issue Male of the Devisee shall continue 3. The Devise of a Term to one and his Heirs shall go to the Devisees Executors or Administrators and not to his Heirs 4. Chattel-Leases and Leases for Years pass not by a Devise of all his Lands and Tenements 5. By a Lease for Years Devised for Life doth pass the whole Term yet is it not an Estate for Life 6. The whole Interest of a Lessee in his Lease-Lands doth pass by a Devise of his Lease Term Farm Profits Tenure or Occupation thereof as
well as by any other words 7. The Residue of a Term is as the Term it self 8. A Man may Devise such an Estate by Will which he cannot make by Act Executed Or he may Create an Interest by his Will which by Grant or Conveyance in his life time he could not do 9. That may be the Devise of a Lease for Years in Law which doth not seem to appear such in Fact 10. The whole Term though not named shall pass by a Devise where no other can pass by Implication 1. IF one Devise his Land unto his Executors until his Son shall come unto the Age of 21. Years the Profits to be imployed towards the performance of his Will and when he shall come to that Age that then his Son and his Heirs shall have it By this Devise the Executors shall have it until he be of 21. years of Age and if he die before that time the Executors shall also have it until the time he should have been 21. Years of Age if he had lived so long and the word Shall in this case is taken for Should Likewise if one Devise his Land to his Executors for the payment of his Debts and until his Debts be paid by this Devise the Executors have but a Chattel and an uncertain Interest and they and their Executors shall hold it until the Debts be paid and no longer 2. If one Devise his Land to A. B. and the Heirs males of his Body for the Term of 99. Years it seems that by this Devise A. B. hath but a Lease for so many Years if the Heirs Males of his Body shall so long continue and that for want of Issue Male the Term of Years shall expire And in this case the Executor or Administrator not the Heirs Males of A. B. shall have it after his death 3. If one possessed of a Term of Years Devise the same to another and his Heirs or his Heirs Male by this Devise the Executors or Administrators not the Heirs of the Legatee shall have it So that if a Lessee for Years of Land Devise all his Interest therein to his Wife if she live so long and after her death if any part of the Term be to come Devise the same to A. B. his Son and to the Heirs of his Body in this Case and by this Devise the Executors or Administrators of A. B. and not his Heirs shall have it 4. If a Man Devise all his Lands and Tenements in D. yet Leases for Years do not pass by these words for by Lands and Tenements is intended Frank-tenements or Free-hold and not Chattels 5. If one hath a Lease for Years of Land and Devise it to A. B. for life by this Devise the whole Term is Devised and A. B. shall have the whole Term if he live so long and yet A. B. shall not have an Estate for life by this Devise So likewise the Law seems to be the same upon a Grant by Deed made in that manner And if a Man possessed of a Term of Years of Land Devise his Term or his Lease or the Land it self by a Devise in either of these words the whole Term doth pass A Term of Years is Devised to the Church-wardens of the Church of D. and to their Successors This is not good but for Goods so Devised the Law is otherwise A Man who hath a Term Deviseth the Land to one and his Heirs the Devisee dyeth and hath Executors his Heirs shall have the Land and not his Executors The Law is otherwise if the entire Term were so Devised 6. If a Lessee Devise his Lease or his Term or his Farm or his Profits Tenure or Occupation thereof by either of these Devises his whole Lease and all his Interest in the Land is bequeathed as well as by any other form of words But if a Man Devise his Land only for so many Years as his Executor shall name it seems this Devise is not good Yet if it be for so many Years as A. B. shall name and he name a certain Number of Years in the Testators Life Time this is a good Devise 7 A Man possessed of a Term of Years may Devise all the Residue of that Term of Years that shall be to come at the Time of his death And if a Testator having only a Term of Years in certain Lands doth Devise the said Land to A. B. and doth not say for what Time it seems that by this Devise the whole Term is devised unless the Testators Intent doth appear to be otherwise 8. A Man possessed of a Term for 40. Years by his Will Deviseth the same to I. S. after the death of his Wife and that the Wife should enjoy it during her life and that I. S. should neither Devise it nor Sell it but leave it to descend to his Son and in the mean Time my Will is That my Wife shall have the use thereof during her life yielding 10 l. Yearly to I. S. during her life at Two Feasts and made his Wife Executrix and dyed The Wife entered and paid the 10 l. Yearly according to the Will In this Case Three Points are Resolved 1 That I. S. doth not take by way of Remainder but by way of Executory Devise And a Man may Devise such an Estate by his Will which he cannot make by Act executed And that the Case is no more but this That after the death of I. S. the Wife should have the Residue of the Term. 2 The Devise is good being but a Chattel which may vest and devest at the pleasure of the Devisor 3 That there is no difference when one Deviseth his Term the Remainder over and when a Man Deviseth his Land or his Lease or the Use or Occupation or the Profits of his Land That a Man by his Will may Create an Interest which by Grant or Conveyance he cannot Create in his life Time 9. A. Devised his Lands to his Daughter and her Heirs when she came to the Age of 18. Years and that the Wife should take the Profits of the Land to her Use without any accompt to be made until the Daughter come to 18. Years and made his Wife his Executrix and dyed provided the Wife should pay the old Rents and find the Daughter at School the Wife enters proves the Will takes Husband and dyes It was found that all the Conditions were performed and that the Daughter was within the Age of 18. Years It was Resolved in this Case That it was a Term for Years in the Wife and a good Lease 10. A Man was Lessee for 40. Years of a House and by his Will gave the House to I. S. without limiting any Estate That he should have in it It was the Opinion of the Court That he should have the whole for no other Estate in the House either for Life or at Will shall pass by Implication or for one Year
in Case of Lands Conditionally devised to one and his Heirs for ever or for life the Heir of the Devisor shall keep the Land till the contingent Condition happen to take effect 2. If one Devise Land of the value of 100 l. per annum to A. for life the Remainder to B. paying 50 l. to C. by this Devise B. shall have the Fee-simple of the Remainder upon Condition 3. If one Devise his Land to his Wife for her life and if she live till his Son come to the Age of 25. Years that then he shall have the Land and if she die before he comes to that Age that then A. B. shall have it till his Son come to that Age. A. B. dies before the Wife and after she dies before the Son comes to the Age of 25. Years In this Case the Executors of A. B. shall not have the Land till the Son comes to the Age of 25. Years 4. A. Seised of Lands in Fee had Issue Six Sons and one Daughter and Devised the said Lands to I. S. for 90. Years if the said I. S. and G. his Wife or any of them should so long live the Remainder to P. his Eldest Son and the Heirs Male of his Body the Remainder to these other Sons the Remainder to his Daughter Provided that if the said P. his Son or any of the Sons of the said Devisor or any of the Heirs Males of their Body should endeavour by any Act to Alien Bargain or Discontinue then after such Attempt or Endeavour and before any such Bargain Sale c. were Executed that the Estate of such person attempting c. should cease as if he were naturally dead and that then the Premises should descend remain and come to such person to whom the same ought to come remain and be by the intent and meaning of his Will and dyed P. Levyed a Fine of the Lands he in the next Remainder entered and claimed the Reversion by force of the Devise It was Adjudged in this Case That the Conuzee had the Reversion in him and might maintain an Action of wast because the Proviso of Restraint in the Will of A. was void and repugnant to Law and a Proviso Condition or Limitation ought to defeat the whole Estate and it cannot continue it for part and defeat it for the Residue 5. A Copy-holder of Lands in Borough-English having Three Sons and one Daughter Deviseth his Lands to his Eldest Son paying to his Daughter and every one of his other Sons Five Pounds within Two Years and surrendred to the use of his Will The Eldest Son was admitted and did not pay the Five Pounds within Two Years In this Case it was Resolved 1 That although the yearly Profits of the Lands for Two Year did exceed the Money to be paid yet the Eldest Son had a Fee-simple 2 Although this word Paying in the Case of a Will makes a Condition yet in this Case the Law shall Construe this unapt word Paying a Limitation For if it should be a Condition the same should descend to the Eldest Son and then it should be at his pleasure whether the Daughter or Brothers should be paid or not and therefore in this Case the Law should judg the same a Limitation of which the youngest Son should take advantage 6. A Man Devised Lands to his Wife upon Condition that she should bring up his Son at School c. and that after the death of his Wife the Land should remain to his second Son in Fee and dyed The Wife entered the Condition was broken the Eldest Son after his full Age entered for the Condition broken in this Case it was held 1 That a Condition might be annexed to a will by the Stat. of 32. H. 8. of Wills which gives liberty to a Man to Devise for the advancement of his Wife c. That a particular Estate may be upon Condition though the Remainder be without Condition 3 That he in the Remainder should not take advantage of the Condition but the Heir because he is prejudiced in the Inheritance by the Devise 7. If a Man make Two Men his Executors Proviso that one of them shall not Administer his Goods the Proviso is void because it restrains the Authority which was given by the first part of the will and agrees not with the Law for by Law every Executor may Administer the Goods And such was the Opinion of Baldwin and Egglesfield But Fitzh conceived the Proviso to be good for that he might bring an Action although he did not Administer 8. A Man Seised of Tenements in London Devised the same to Two Persons upon Condition that they should pay to his Wife 10 l. per annum issuing out of the said Tenements at Two Feasts and if the Rent be behind by the space of Six Weeks being demanded that it should be lawful for the Wife to distrain It was held a good Condition and that if the Rent be behind yet the Wife cannot distrain before a demand of the Rent but the Heir of the Husband might enter for the condition broken though the Wife did not demand the Rent A Man Devised his Land to his Younger Son when he should accomplish the Age of 24. Years upon Condition that he should pay 20 l. to the Daughter of the Devisor and if he shall die before the Age of 24. Years then his Eldest Son shall have the Land upon Condition that he pay the said 20 l. and if both his Sons failed that the Land should remain to his Daughter and dyed The Younger Son entered after 24. Years of Age and did not pay the 20 l. to the Daughter the Eldest Brother entered upon him It was Resolved by the Court in this Case That the same was a Limitation and not a Condition and therefore the entry of the Elder Brother was not lawful 10. A Man made a Lease for Years upon Condition That if the Lessee shall Demise the Premises or any part of it other than for one Year to any person or persons then the Lessor and his Heirs to re-enter the Lessee afterwards Devised it by his Will to his Son It was held by the Court That it was a breach of the Condition 11. If Lands be Devised upon Condition of superstitious Uses as to find a Chaplain to say Mass or the like superstitious Uses mentioned in the Will the Remainder over for the like Uses and if they in Remainder perform not the Condition then to forfeit their Estate and the Lands to remain to the right Heirs of the Devisor In this Case it was held That although the Land was Devised but Conditionally to find a Priest to say Mass yet that it was within the Stat. of 1. Ed. 6. Cap. 13. whereby the Lands were vested in the Crown because the said Uses were superstitious Uses to which the Condition of the Devised Lands did refer F. C. Seised of the Mannor of S.
this case she hath those Lands for life and she having no Issue hath not any Interest to dispose but hath an Authority to nominate two who shall dispose of the Lands and they may make Sale thereof 9. A man did Devise his Lands which were held in Socage to be sold by his Executors and that the Money thereof coming should be disposed of in payment of special Legacies which he Appointed by his said Will the Executors sold the Lands One of the Legatees after the Will was Proved sued the Executors in the Ecclesiastical Court for his Legacy whereupon a Prohibition was prayed It was resolved in that Case 1 That the Money was Assets in the Executors hands 2 That there was no Remedy for it but by Suit in the Ecclesiastical Court and therefore a Prohibition did not lye in the Case But Querie of the second payment for it was held by all the Justices of both Benches Where a man Deviseth that his Executors shall sell Lands and of the Money coming shall give such a Portion to his Daughter That this was not a Legacy because going out of Lands and that Suit did not lye for it in the Ecclesiastical Court But an Accompt lyes at Law for the Money And therefore in that case a Prohibition was granted to stay the Suit in the Ecclesiastical Court 10. A Devise was made to A. B. for life the Remainder to C. D. in tayle and if C. D. dye without Issue of his body that then the Land shall be sold by his Executors he maketh two Executors and dyeth A. B. dyeth C. D. dyeth without Issue of his body In this case it seemeth that one of these Executors alone can not sell the Lands 11. A man Devised his Lands to his Wife for term of her life the Remainder to D. his Daughter in tayle and if she dyed without Issue that then after the death of his Wife the Lands should be sold for the best value by his Executors with the Assent of A. and B. And made his Wife and a Stranger his Executors and dyed the Wife Entered and dyed A. and B. dyed and the Executor who survived sold the Land alone The Opinion of the Court was That the Sale was not good because he wanted sufficient Authority 12. A man seised of divers Mannors and Lands Devised all the said Mannors and Lands to his Sister and her Heirs for ever Except out of this General Grant my Mannor of R. which I do Appoint to pay my Debts and made two Executors by Name and dyed One of the Executors dyed the other took upon him the charge and Execution of the Will and afterward sold the Mannor of R. for 300 l. for the purpose aforesaid in Fee It was the Opinion of the Court that he might well sell it for by the Circumstances it appeareth That such was the Testators intent and not to leave the Reversion to Discend to his Heir but to trust his Executors with the Sale of it for the payment of his Debts 13. A. made B. and C. his Executors and by his Will appointed that they should have and hold the Issues and Profits of his Lands until his Heir should come to the age of 21 years to the intent that the Executors with the Profits thereof should pay his Debts and Legacies and bring up his Children One of the Executors dyed the surviving Executor made his Executor and dyed also the Heir being within age It was the Opinion of the Court in this case that the Executor of the survivor might receive the profits of the Lands and dispose of them during the Non-age of the Heir because it was an Interest in the Executors and not an Authority or a Trust only 14. If a man hath Feoffees and makes his Will That his Executors shall alien his Land if the Executors Refuse the Administration of his Goods yet they may sell the Lands because the Will is not of a thing Testamentary But the Executors have not a power to meddle with the Land unless such a special power be given to them If a man makes his Will of his Lands and that his Executors without naming them by their proper Names shall sell them if they refuse to be Executors yet they may sell the Land But if a man makes his Will that his Lands which his Feoffees have shall be sold and doth not say by whom the Executors shall sell the same and not his Feoffees because the Moneys which come by the Sale shall be Assets in the hands of the Executors which is a proof that they may sell them And if his Will be That the Executors shall sell the Lands before the Alienation the Heir may take and Receive the profits thereof and if no Sale be made the Heir shall hold the Land for ever 15. A man Deviseth That his Executors shall sell his Lands Now by the Stat. of 21. H. 8. cap. 4. If the one refuseth the other may sell the Lands but the Sale can not be made to him who refuseth 16. A man made his Will and made A. B. C. D. his Executors and Devised his Lands to the said A. B. C. D. by their special Names and to their Heirs And further Devised that the Devisees should sell the Lands to F. G. if he would give for it before such a day 100 l. and if he would not that then they should sell it to any other to the performance of his Will viz. the payment of his Debts F. G. would not give the 100 l. one of the Executors refused to intermeddle the other three sold the Land It was the Opinion of the Court that the same being a special and a Joynt-Trust that it could not survive and that the Sale by the Three was void 17. By the Premises it is Evident That if a man Willeth that his Executors shall sell his Lands for the payment of his Debts and they all dye but one and the survivor make the Sale the Vendee shall not have the Land and that the Law is otherwise if the Lands were Devised to the Executors to be sold The Reason is as aforesaid because in the former case the Executors have only an Authority in the other case they have an Interest But if a man maketh two Executors and willeth that they shall sell the Lands for the payment of his Debts And they sell it only for term of life the Remainder to one of themselves and the Vendee dyeth he in the Remainder may Enter Sed Q. CHAP. XVII Of Legacies and Devises in respect of Marriage As also Between Husband and Wife 1. A Condition of Marriage may be annexed to a Legacy but an unlawful Condition thereof is void and doth not prejudice the same 2. A Condition of Marriage with the Consent of a Third person doth oblige the Legatary to Marry if he will have the Legacy but doth not oblige him to have such Consent 3. A
Son to his Mother 10. A man bequeaths the House wherein he lives to A. B. his Wife quamdiu she shall continue a Widdow and dyes A. B. doth not Re-marry but lives and dyes a Widdow In this case the said House by the Civil Law comes to A. B. and his Heirs for ever Note that what in the premises hath been said touching the invallidity of Conditions against Marriage annexed to Legacies in relation to Females holds the same in Law touching the like illegal Conditions in reference to Males or Masculines 11. A man Devised to his Daughter 500 l. towards her Marriage In this Case it was the Opinion of the Court That if she die before Marriage her Executors shall have it But if the words were To be paid at the day of her Marriage or at the age of 21 years and she dyeth before both it is otherwise The latter part of which Judgment seems not to agree with the Civil Law in that point which sayes the time of the age of a Legatary may be joyned either to the substance of the Legacy or to the execution and performance of the same if the time of the age of the Legatary be joyned to the substance of the Legacy as when the Testator doth give thee 100 l. when thou shalt be of the age of 21 years In this case if thou dyest before that time thy Executors cannot recover the 100 l. But if the time of the age of the Legatary be joyned only to the execution or performance of the Legacy as when the Testator doth give thee 100 l. which he willeth shall be paid when thou accomplish the age of 21 years In this case although thou dye before thou accomplish the age of 21 years yet thy Executors or Administrators shall recover the same when the time is accomplished wherein thy self if thou hadst been then living mightst have recovered the same 12. Consonant whereunto is that which we find Reported viz. That it was agreed by the Court That if a man Deviseth to his Daughter 100 l. when she shall be Married or to his Son when he shall be of full age and they dye before the time appointed and make Executors their Executors shall not have it But it is otherwise if the Devise were to them to be paid at their full ages and they dye before that time and make Executors there the Executors shall have it Which difference was since likewise so Agreed and Adjudged 13. A Feme Sole Deviseth Lands to A. B. in Fee to whom afterwards she was Married and during the Coverture Countermands her Will saying her Husband should not have the Land nor any other benefit by her Will and dyes In this case the Husband shall not have the Land not only because of her Countermand but because of the disability of a Feme Covert to make a Will which takes no effect till the parties death And therefore if a Feme sole Deviseth Lands to a man and then takes him to Husband and dyes This Inter-marriage is a reversion of the Devise and the Heir of the Woman shall have the Lands and not the Husband because after Marriage the Will of the Wife in Judgment of Law is subject to the Will of her Husband and a Feme Covert hath not any Will for the making of the Will is but the Inception thereof and takes no effect till the death of the Devisor 14. If a man Deviseth Lands generally to his Wife for the Term of her life It cannot be averred to be for the Joynture of the Wife and in satisfaction of her Dower But if a man Deviseth Lands to his Wife for life or in tail for her Joynture and in satisfaction of her Dower the same is a good Joynture within the Stat. of 27 H. 8. 15. A man Devised the Moiety of his Goods to his Wife and dyed It was the opinion of the Court That she should have the Moiety of them as they were at the time of his death if his Executors had Assets sufficient to pay his Debts If a Legacy be given to a Woman Covert and her Husband give a Release and afterwards he and his Wife sue in the Ecclesiastical Court for the Legacy the party sued shall not have a Prohibition upon the Husbands Release because the Temporal Judges cannot meddle with a Legacy nor consequently determine whether the Release will extinguish the same As the Case 29 Eliz. Adjudged The Husband may Devise to his Wife although they are but one person in Law for it takes no effect till after his Death CHAP. XVIII Of Legacies and Devices to a Child in the Womb. 1. A Devise to an Infant in the Womb is good 2. It may be good though the Infant be rip'd alive out of the Womb. 3. It is good though it be a Devise in Remainder or in Tail 4. How the Divident of a Devise shall be in case of Twins unexpected or an Hermophrodite 5. How the Legacy shall be apportioned when bequeathed to any Child in the Womb and more then One or Two happen to be Born 6. Where a Devise void or voidable in his Inception may become good by matter ex post facto 1. THat a Child in the Womb to whom a Legacy is bequeathed or Lands Divised is after his or her Birth though subsequent to the Testators death capable of taking by such Devise is a Truth now not to be controverted though it hath been Contradicted and otherwise Resolved for we find it Reported in a Case thus stated viz. A Man had Issue Five Sons his Wife being with Child with the Sixth at the time of his death and by his last Will declared That the Third Part of his Land should descend and come to his Son and Heir the other Two Parts he bequeathed to his Four Younger Sons by Name and to the Heirs Males of their Bodies and if the Infant in the Mothers Womb be a Son then he to have a Fifth Part as Co-heir with his Four Elder Brothers The Sixth Son was Born after the death of his Father in this Case it was Resolved That the Son Born after the death of the Father should not have any thing because he was uncapable as a Purchasor when the Devise was first to take effect because he was not then in esse or rerum natura Notwithstanding which it was not long after in another Case otherwise understood in which Case it was Admitted That a Devise to an Infant in his Mothers Belly was good It is presumed the intendment is of such an Infant as was born after the Testators death In other Cases also it hath been held That Devise to an Infant in his Mothers Belly is good 2. A Man Deviseth his Land to his Wife being with Child the Remainder to the Issue en ventre safeme his Wife in Travail dyeth and the Son is rip'd from his Mother alive he shall have the said Remainder
Anne she shall have both And this is the Common opinion from which notwithstanding there are not wanting and they not of the minor DD. who recede in their Judgments and held That a Disjunctive in a Legacy ought to retain its force so as the Executor may be least burdened which seems nothing inferiour to Reason in an impartial ballance yet this may be relyed on as indubitable that where the Disjunctive is placed between two such things as are commonly conceived under the notions of Genus and Species or between the whole and his part then and in such case it shall be taken for a Conjunctive as if the Testator should say I bequeath to my Wife my Plate Jewels or such things as I provided for her the latter words whereof are Generical the former Specifical she shall have both Or if he saith I bequeath to my Wife my Wine which is in the City or in the Port the Port is held as part of the City and she shall have the Wine in both Likewise if any thing be bequeathed to D. E. or F. G. here in this case also the word or shall be taken for the Copulative and so that both of them shall equally take by this Devise unless the one be of nearer kin to the Testator than the other in which case the nearest of kin shall have it for his life the other afterwards or unless it can be proved that the Testator did bear more affection to the one than to the other in which case he to whom the Testator did bear most affection shall be preferred or unless the one of them is not legally capable of the Legacy in which case the word or shall stand as properly it is for a Disjunctive One Devised his Lands to his three Daughters and said further in these words viz. I will that every of them be others Heir by equal portions Whereupon it was doubted when one of them dyed whether the others should hold by survivorship as joynt-Joynt-Tenants Or in this case as Tenants in Common The whole Court was of opinion for the latter and not as Joynt-Tenants for that it appear'd the intention of the Donor was such in saying That each should be others Heir by equal portions which could not be if there were a survivor for thereby it is not possible the words of the Will can be of any force Although properly Houses pass not by the name of the Lands yet in a Devise they shall pass by the Name of all the Lands if the intendment be not otherwise by some Expressions of the Devisor for though in a Writ nothing shall be demanded or recovered but according to its proper signification yet in Wills Expressions shall be taken according to the Common intendment Wherefore in a Will by the Devise of his Land all his Houses may pass or not according as it is phrased by the Devisor For if a man Devise all his Lands his Houses shall pass but if he restrain the word Land according to its genuine propriety as Arable Land or doth couple it with Meadow and Pasture in such case the exposition of the word shall be taken according to the common intendment of the Devisor or having both Houses and Lands in A. and B. doth say I bequeath to C. all my Houses and Lands in A. And to D. all my Lands in B. In such case and by such expression the Devisor seems to exclude the Houses in B. out of the Devise to D. which expresly he includes in the Devise to C. Moore succinctly Reports the case thus viz. Debt for Rent the Defendant pleaded nihil debet Whereupon it was found That J. S. being seised of three Houses and other Lands Pastures and Meadows in Watford in the County of Hertford as also of a House and Land in the County of Oxford Devised the same in this manner viz I give all my Capital Messuage in the County of Oxon and all other my Lands and Meadows and Pasture in the Parish of Watford The Devisee brought Debt against the Lessee for years of the Houses in Watford And it was adjudged Maintainable because the word Land comprehends Houses and the Houses shall pass by the Devise CHAP. XX. Cases in the Law touching Legacies of Chattels Personal 1. CHattels Personal may be bequeathed to one for life and afterwards to another in which case the first hath only the use or occupation the other hath only the Propriety thereof So that if one Will that A. B. shall enjoy the use of his Houshold-stuff during his life and after that it shall remain to J. M. This is a good Devise thereof to J. M. But if the thing it self be bequeathed to the first of them then it is otherwise for the gift of a Chattel Personal though but for one hour is the gift thereof for ever Provided the Testator make it Absolute not Conditional 2. Chattels Personal do pass under the legal Notion of Moveables as Chattels Real do under that of Immoveables of both which the Law makes a Distinction into Creatures Living and Things inanimate albeit of the living Chattels Real there can but very few instances be given Such was Wardship in respect of the Tenure of Land As also Villenage for years or that right which the Lord had in the Villain only for a Term who resembled him whom the Civil Law terms Ascriptitius Glebae or one in perpetual Obligation to the Plow on some certain Lands The Real Chattels Inanimate chiefly consist in Houses or Lands or the issues thereof as by Lease for years or by Extent upon Judgments Statutes or Recognizances Or if the Testator had a Term of years in certain Advowsons Tythes Profits of Fairs Markets or Court Leets the Interest is a Real Chattel among the things inanimate likewise a Presentation to a Church upon the next avoidance and before it come to be void is a Real Chattel But of this and Chattels Personal with their respective Individuals the Reader may have a more exact Description if he hath a retrospect to Cap. 6. Par. 3. whereunto he is referred for clearer satisfaction 3. A. B. having two Brothers and one Son makes his Son his Executor and in his Will saith That he would have his Son let the said two Brothers who are the Sons Uncles have all the goods he hath in D. and M. or elsewhere saying withall That all these things he doth leave them for this Reason because he would not that his Son should have any Difference or Controversie with them In this case and by this Devise A. B. seems to leave his two Brothers only what was in common between him and them and no more This interpretation being grounded on the Reason annexed at the close of the Testators words where he saith Because his Son should have no difference or Controversie with them by which Reason he seems to have a prospect of Differences like to arise between him and
to pay full 600 l. to the Legataries though 400 l. of the 800 l. were first given to himself Which differs from the Law as now practised That after Debts paid a Legatary-Executor may first satisfie himself 21. Any words though in themselves of a defective signification yet if such as whence the Testators mind or meaning is rationally deduceable and consequentially Colligeable are sufficient to uphold a Legacy and therefore if a Testator willing to bequeath 100 l. to A. B. doth but say in his last Will and Testament I desire that A. B. would be contented with 100 l. Or that A. B. would be satisfied with 100 l. or the like It is a good Legacy to him of 100 l. 22. An imperfect Speech by the Testator which in it self leaves the sense incompleat either spoken or written by the Testator in his last Will and Testament is legally reduceable to a good Construction for the upholding of a Legacy if the words precedent or subsequent hold good congruity therewith as thus A man in his last Will and Testament inter alia sayes To my Son William 100 l. In the words precedent he had said I leave my Dwelling-House to my Daughter Anne Or in the words subsequent he sayes I give 10 l. to my Brother George In such case albeit the words I Bequeath or I Give or I Leave or the like be omitted in that imperfect Speech relating to his Son William yet in regard they are joyned with the words precedent or subsequent it shall in construction of Law be understood as if they were joyned also to the words relating to his Son William by reason of its congruity therewith and thereby making the sense perfect Otherwise if it were incongruous As suppose the Testator had said That my Son William 100 l. or from my Son William 100 l. And in the words precedent or subsequent he had said as formerly In such case there would be no congruity with the said last imperfect Speech relating to his Son William nor can they be joyned thereto without plain incongruity and therefore in that case the Rule aforesaid would not hold 23. A Testator makes three Executors and appoints one of them by Name to take care of his Funeral for which purpose he doth order him to receive 100 l. before hand The Testator being dead he receives the 100 l. of his Co-executors but doth not disburse above 60 l. about the Funeral The Question is whether he shall retain the other 40 l. to his own use The Answer is Negative for that it belongs to all the Executors alike 24. If a Sum of Money be bequeathed to certain persons on condition of something to be performed the failure of one of them shall not prejudice the Legacy of another as thus viz. The Testator makes his three Sons his Executors and in his Will saith I give to my Neighbour A. B. 100 l. and to such of my Sons as shall come to my Funeral and dyes Neither of his Sons are at his Funeral The Question is whether A. B. shall have the whole 100 l. It is answered in the Affirmative and that there is nothing in this case to diminish any part of the Legacy to A B. But if the words had been I give to A. B. and such of my Sons as come to my Funeral 100 l. In that case A. B. should have only 50 l. The reason of the difference is evident for in the former case the Legacy is given Disjunctively but not so in the latter As hath been formerly stated and Resolved 25. Suppose a Testator in his Will saith I give 10 l. to A. B. And if he chance to loose it I give him 10 l. more In this short case are three points 1 Whether the second Legacy be good 2 Whether the Executor may require caution of the Legatary That he shall so secure the first 10 l. that he may not be lyable to pay him a second 10 l. 3 Whether in case A. B. lose the 10 l. twice or thrice or oftner the Executor be still obliged to pay him 10 l. more The first of these points hath its solution by answering the second and third Now the Law doth not warrant the Executor to require such caution in this case from the Legatary to whom if he should lose the 10 l. more than once the Executor is not obliged to pay a third 10 l. which resolves the first point in the Affirmative 26. A man dying intestate A. B. pretended as if he would take out Letters of Administrations of his Goods the Intestate dyed indebted 100 l. to C. D. So that A. B. might legally have been sued for it if he had Administred to the Intestates Goods as he pretended he would C. D. makes his Will and therein J. G. his Executor and gives 100 l. to the said A. B. saying withall that his Executor might easily satisfie that 100 l. to the said A. B. for that he the said A. B. owed him the said C. D. the Testator 100 l. by reason of his Administration to the said Intestate C. D. dyes After A. B. would not Administer to the said Intestates Estate as he pretended but demanded the 100 l. Legacy given him by C. D. The Question is whether he ought to have it It is resolved in the Negative because it seems to contradict the main intention of C. D. the Testator who gave him that 100 l. as real Administrator to the said Intestate who owed C. D. 100 l. But after appearing no other than a Pretender to the said Administration the Law for the reason aforesaid excludes him from being a Reall Legatary to the said 100 l. 27. A Testator saith in his Will That his Executor shall give his Lands scituate in S. to A. B. and to C. D. more than this 10 l. The Question is of what import the words more than this are in the Legacy of 10 l. to C. D It is held That by reason of the words C. D. shall have the whole 10 l. and one Moiety of the said Lands Devised in manner aforesaid 28. A Legacy of 100 l. is given to A. B. on this Condition that he buy such a House of C. D. which is worth 50 l. and give it to J. G. The Legatary A. B. offers 50 l. for the House to C. D. He will not sell it him under 100 l. Q. whether A. B. is obliged to give the 100 l. for the House that so he may deliver it to J. G. according to the Testators will and meaning It is resolved in the Negative But he shall give the Testators value and estimate thereof viz. 50 l. to J. G. 29. Suppose the Testator give thee 100 l. That therewith thou mayest do something for a third person specifying the person and the thing which the Testator would have done Thou demandest the 100 l. of the Executor he refuseth to pay it thee unless thou give security to
part not expressed is a Moiety implyed p. 293. § 23. p. 310. § 11. p. 441. § 49 50. Paying In what Sense that word shall be construed only as a Limitation not as a Condition p. 267 268. § 5. Payment not full in what case Equivalent to none at all p. 289. § 11. PiousVses Testaments to that end their Priviledges p. 8. § 4. Poor disagreement among the DD. touching Legacies to the Poor in such generall words p. 291. § 18. Pope whether he may alter the Wills of Testators p. 149. § 107. Portion of Goods not expressing what proportion Bequeathed signifies 〈◊〉 Mâ—ity p. 447. § 100. Portions or Filiall Portions the Law in that case p. 167 c. Possibilities in Expectation are Devisable as well as Possessions in Actual Demes 〈…〉 es p 311 § ult Presentations void not Devisable p 288 § 5. To whom belongs the Presentation in case of Intestation p 82 § 6. Prisoners In what Sense said to be Intestable or not p 15 § 3. Priviledged Testaments what the severall kinds thereof p. 7 § 1. Probate of Testaments the Law thereof when where how by and before whom with the Fees thereof p. 35 c. In what case the Executor may be compelled to Prove the Will notwithstanding his former refusall and thereupon Letters of Administration granted to another p. 165 § 2. What Proof Requisite for the Probate of a Will p. 40. c. Prohibition in what Cases it doth not lie p 113 § 7. In what Cases touching Lands Devised to be Sold a Prohibition may lie or not p 275 § 9. It doth not lie in case of the Husbands Release for the Wives Legacy p. 282 § ult R. Recovery by Fraud against an Executor no Plea in Barre to a just Debt p 108 109 § 7. Refusalls to Prove the Will p 39 40 § 6. How to Proceed in case of Refusall of Executorship p. 91 92 § 1. It is no absolute Barre to a Subsequent Administration p Ibid. § 3. It may be done by a Letter Extrajudicially as well as by a Judiciall Act. p 93 § ult How Refusers to Administer may yet afterwards be admitted or excluded p. 163 § ult Refusall in one to take by a Devise shall not prejudice him in Reversion or Remainder p 263. § 9 13. Release or Discharge in what Sense it may be said to be Bequeathed p 322 § 3 p 439 § 32. To Release is a good word to Devise Lands by p 235 in fin A Release of Actions by an Administrator whose Letters of Administration are after Revoked is void p 216 § ult Action for Executors upon a a Release p. 103. § ult Remainders and Reversions Devised p 261 c. What of that kind may be Devised p Ibid § 1. Remainders and Cross-Remainders by Devise of Estate Tail p 252 § 11. With Implyed Remainders Ibid § 12. Remainders Entail'd by Devise and by Deed how they differ p 262 § 7. Remainders Devised to a Church accrews to the Parson thereof Ibid. § 8 He in Remainder or Reversion shall not be prejudiced by the Refusall of him that should take by a Devise p 263 § 9 13. How the Issue of the Daughters without naming them shall have the Devised Remainder in preference to the Issue of the Sons Ibid. § 10. Several Cases wherein he in Remainder may Devise his Remainder p Ibid. § 13. Reversion of Land for life may be Devised by the Lessor notwithstanding a Feoffment in Fee p 264 § 16. Remainder of a Rent-charge is Devisable to one where the Land out of which it arises is Devised to another Ibid. § 17. A Devise may be good for the Reversion of a Term where it is otherwise for the Rent p 264 § 18. Remainder Devised may be good where yet an Estate Tail precedes Ibid. § 19. He in Remainder may instantly take where the Devisee is incapable Ibid. § 20. Remainder may be Devised by one to his own right Heirs Ibid. § 21. Reversion may be Devised by the name of all a Mans Inheritances or Hereditaments p. 265 § 22. Remainder Devised to the next of Blood Ibid. § 23. In what case Remainder after Remainder makes the former Remainder but an Estate for Life p. Ibid. § 24. Remainders Devised what void p 261. § 2 p 262 § 3 to 6 p 264 § 15. A Hundred Years to come Devised for Life the Remainder over is a void Remainder p. 263 § 11. Remainder in Fee after a Lease Devised by him in Remainder is a void Remainder if the Lessor Re-enter Ibid § 12. Remainder after a Fee Devised is Indeviseable albeit such Devise were but Conditional p 263 § 14. A Term of Years by way of Remainder is Devisable but a Devise by way of Entail with remainders over is void p Ibid § 15. Rents Devised p 270 c. As Devisable as the Land itself Ibid § 1. They are Devisable for another mans life Ibid § 2. Rents issuing out of a Common not Devisable § 3. Several ways of Devising Rents § 4. Reversion of Rents Devised upon a false suggestion a void Devise p 271 § 5. Rent Devised in what case the Land it self doth thereby pass p 138 § ult What Rent not Devisable p 225 § 2. In what case the Rent is due to the Heir not to the Executor p 103 104 § ult Rent due to the Executors of the Husband of the Tenant in Dower Ibid. Rent of Land in Fee received by Executors no Assets because belonging to the Heir p 85 § 3. The Land-lords Rent is payable by the Executor for the Ground whose fruit for the Term may be Devised to another p 298 § 46. Residue of a Term is as Devisable as the Term it self p 258 § 7. Residuary-Regatary hath an Advantage when others Refuse p. 291 § 17. Retainer of a Testators Goods by an Executor to pay himself good p 133 § ult p 149 § ult Reviver of a Will Revoked p. 34 § 1. Revocations Testamentary the severall kinds thereof p 31 § 1. Revocations by Marriage Ibid § 2. Revocation of a Will by a Wife after Marriage whether good or not p. 236 § ult Whether Revocation of Administration may without any Sentence in Court be by the Bishop who granted it p 166 167 § ult Revocations of Legacies and Devises p 331 c. What amounts to a Revocation of a Devise of Land p 228 in fin Severall Cases in Law touching what shall amount to a Revocation or Countermand of a Legacy or Devise p. 443 § ult Four Cases wherein Legacies are irrevocable p 443 § 74. S. Sale of Lands Devised to be made by Executors p 273 c. with or without the Assent of others p 274. § 5. In what case it may or not be by one alone where there are Two or more Executors p 275 276 § 10 12. How it becomes void for want of sufficient Authority p 175 § 11. In what Case it may be made by
cap. 2. h Plow 144. Fitz. Devise 7. a St. 32. H. 8. c. 1. St. 34. H. 8. c. 5 Coke sup Lic III. Perk. Sect. 544. Lit. Sect. 287. Dyer 210. Old N. B. 89 Perk. Sect 500. 539 540. 446. 497 498. A man seized of Land Deviseable Deviseth totum staâ—um suum to one and his Heirs This is good for the Land Dyers Read on Stat. of Wills Sect. 4. §. 6. b Plow 485. c NevillsCase d Plow 144. Fitz. Devise 7. e Adjudged Powscley and Blakemans Case A man Deviseth his Land to Elianor the Daughter of I. S. and he hath divers Daughters whereof one is named Hellen and none Elianor This is a good Devise to Hellen Vid. Dyer's Read Stat. on Wills Sect. 3. §. 15. f Pasch 9. Jac. New mans Case g Co. sup Lit. 386. h Plow 523. 540. Dyer 357. Co. 8. 24. 83. i 38. Eliz. Co. Banc. k Quaere Dyer in his Lect. 1. per Inst Dodr. l Co. 8. 94. Plow 525. m Brownl 80. 1. Part. n Plowd 66. o Plow 343 344. Old N. B. 89. Fitz. Devise 17. p Trin. 37. Eliz. B. R. Breckford vers Parincote q Hill 20. Jac B. R. Loftis vers Baker r Mich. 30. El. in C. B. Geslin Werburrons Case Leon. Rep. p. 137 138. s 5. P. M. vid. Owen 30. Hugh Abridg. t Mich. 24. Car. in B. R. rot 2052. Preston and Holmes's Case Styles 148 149. u Trin. 1649. rot 849. in B. R. Beal and Wyman's Case Styles 240. x 42. Eliz. in C. B. Tayler and Sawyers Case y Trin. 20. Jac. in B. R. rot 811. Knights Case Godbolt 358. z Mich. 2. Car. in B. R. Baffield and Byboro's Case Popham 188. a Dyer's Read on the Stat. of Wills Sect. 3. § 5. b Mich 8. Eli. in C. B. Leon. 3. Part. 11. Hughe's Abr. 3. Vol. in Appen tit Wills Testaments and Devises c Trin. 36. Eliz. Browne and Pease Case Anders Rep. Case 315. d Trin. 37. El. Beckford vers Parnecott Cro. par 3. e Mich 34. El. In the Court of Wards The Lord Cheneys Case Co. 5. part 67. f Mich. 48 39. Eliz. C. B. Bon. vers Smith Cro. par 3. pl. 64. g Trin. 39. Eliz. C. B. Jobsons Case Cro. par 3. h Mich. 41. Eliz. B. R. Yates vers Clinkard Cro. par 3. i Trin. 2. Jac. Horton vers Horton B. R. Cro. par 2. pl. 4 k Mich. 37. H. 8. Anders Case 83. l Mich. 30 31 C. B. Ander Case 117. vid. dict Case m Pasc 5. El. Moo Rep. nu 143. n Mich. 30. El. in c. B. Sir Ant. Denny's Case Leon. 2 Part. 190. Hugh's Abridg. Appen tit Devis o Pasc 16. El. in B. R. Leon. 2. Part. 221. Hughs Abridg. ibid. p Hill 30. Eli. B. R. Carden Tucks Case Cro. 3. Part. 89. Hughe's ibid q Trin. 30. El. B. R. Crickmere Patersons Case Cro. 3. Part. 146. Hughe's ibid. r Mich. 30. El. B. R. Bon Smith's Case Cro. 3 Part. 532. vid. Trin. 39. Eliz. c. B. Johsons Case Cro. 3 Part. 576. Adjudged acc s Pasc 30. El. B. R. Nash Edwards Case Leon. 113. It was the Opinion of the whole Court that the Devise was vaid and Wray Chief Justice said That if he Appoint A. to write his Will and it is Written by B. the Devise is void But if after he ha Written the Will he had Read it to the Devisor and he confirmed it it had been a good Will It was the Opinion of the Court That the Plaintiff being Heir at Law should have Judgement to Recover the Lands against the Three Sisters t Trin. 30. El. Rot. 1160. Whisker Cleytons Case Leon. Rep. p. 156. u Hill 43. Eli. B. R. Beckford Parnecoles Case Goldesb 150. vid. Bret. Rigdens Case Plow Com. 340 w Mich. 45. Eliz. in c. B. Rot. 125. Kerry Dirricks Case Cro. 2. Part. 104. Hughs Abridg. tit Devise x Vid. Plow d Com. 342. in a Bret Rigdens Case a Lit. Broo. Sect. 133. Perk. Sect. 1. 6. Lit. Sect. 586. Kelway 43. Co. sup Lit. 19 20. H. 6. 35. Lit. Bâ— Sect. 432. 19. H. 8. 10. b Dyer Lect. in Stat. Wills cap. 5. §. 1. c Ibid. d Dyer ubi supra cap. 3. §. 3. e Co. 6. 16. Dyer 126. f 18. Jac. B. R. Green vers Dewel g Mic. 13. Jac. B. R. Dyer Sect 307. h Hill 17. Jac. B. R. Adjudge ed. Spicers Case i Trin. 30. El. If I Devise Lands to two equally divided between them they are Tenants in Common But if I Devise Lands to Two equally to be divided between them by I. S. Till such Division be made they are joynt-Joynt-Tenants Mich. 31. Eliz. in B. R. Dickons Marshes Case Goldesbr 182 183. k Adjudged Lowen vers Cox Mich. 37 38. El. Com. B. Dyer 25. Lit. Broo. Sect. 133. Lit. 283. Perk. Sect. 170. Dyer 350. l Dyer 326. m Pasch 9. Jac Newmans Cafe Brown Rep. 1. part 131. 169. n Goldsb 141. Plow 53. o Dyer Lecture in Stat. of Wills Sect. 5. §. 13. p Hob. Rep. 7. q Brown 129. 147. 149. 1. part part 2. 272. 177. r Co. sup Lit. 9. Perk. Sect. 57 239 New Terms of Law tit Devise s Trin. 2. Car. in B. R. t Mich. 18. Jac. B. R. Green vers Dewel u Pasch 14. Jac. in B. R. w Perk. Sect. 567. x Trin. 28. El. in C. B. rot 1458. Wiseman Wisemans Case Leon. Rep. 57. 58. y Mich 11. Jac. in C. B. Wedlock Hardings Case Godbolt 208. z Co. 1. part 85. in Corbets Case a Trin. 1651. in B. R. Kirman Johnsons case Styles 293 Mich. 45. Eliz. in C. B. Riches case b Ibid. c Coo. 6. part 16. Colliers case d Trin. 7. Car. in B. R. Rose Bartlets case Cro. 1. part 213. Trin. 14. Jac. B. R. Moo Rep. Gu. 1164. Lowen Bedds case Anders par 2. case 10. Pasch 6. El. Moo Rep nu 162. Pasc 17. Jac. B. R. Spicer vers Spicer Coke the Queens Attourney demanded of the Court A Man hath Two Daughters being his Heirs Deviseth his Land to them their Heirs and dyes Whether shall they take as joynt-Joynt-Tenants by Devise or as Coparceners by Descent And all the Justices held clearly That they shall have it as Joynt-Tenants for the Devise giveth it them in another Degree then the Common Law would have given it them and after the benefit of Survivorship between them Anonimus Cro. par 3. B. R. e Dyer's Read on Stat. of Wills Sect. 3. §. 3. f Ibid. §. 8. g Ibid. §. 16. h Ibid. §. 17. i Ibid. §. 18. Mich. 15 16. Eliz. Anders case 100. a Hill 13. Jac. in B. R. Blanfords Case Godbold 266. b Hill 8. Jac. in the Court of Wards Sandays Case Co. 9. part 128. c Terms of Law tit Devise Co. sup Lit. 25. Plow 414. d 27. H. 8. c. 17 e Coo. sup Lit. 27. f Trin. 9.