and Seale put to the Transcript ingrossed and not to the Testament it self and so out of the Statute and the Statute extends only when the Probat and Seale is put to the Testament it self and for the ingrossing of it after the Probate no certain Fee is provided by the Statute But for the Registring of it after it is proved there is an expresse Fee in the Statute But I conceived that the said taking of the fourteen shillings ten pence in the Case at Bar was directly against the Statute For the Act is in the Negative and if the Executor requireth the Testament to be ingrossed in Parchment he ought to agree with him who he requireth to do it as he may But the Ordinary Officiall c. ought not to exact any Fee for the same of the party as a thing due to him for divers Causes 1. Because the words of the Act are expressed for the Probation c. and for the registring sealing writing praysing making of Inventories Fines giving of Acquittances c. which word writing extends expresly to this Case 2. The words are Or any thing concerning the same Probate and when the Seal and Probate is put to the Transcript the same without question concerns the Probate for the Probat is not put to any writing but only to that therefore the same concerns the Probate 3. Such a Construction should make the Act idle and vain for if the Ordinary Officiall c. might take as much as he pleaseth for the ingrossing done by his Ministers as a Fee due to him all the purview of the Statute which is penned so precisely concerning persons scil Bishops Ordinaries and all persons who have power to prove Wills and Testaments Registers Scribes Summoners Apparations or any other the Ministers as for the thing it self scil the probation insinuation approbation registring sealing writing praysing making of Inventories Fines giving of Acquittances or any other thing concerning the same should be all in vain by that evasion of Transcribing of it as well against the expresse Letter of the Act as the intention and moving of it Also the Statute saith five shillings and not above so as the manner of precise penning of it excludes all nice evasions And the Act ought to be expounded to suppresse Extortion which is a great affliction and impoverishing of the poor Subjects 4. As this Case is he annexeth the Probate and Seale to the Transcript ingrossed which the Plaintiff brought with him and offered to the Defendant so as the Case at Bar was without question And generally the Ordinary Officiall c. cannot exact or take any Fee for any thing which concerns the Probate of a Will or Testament but that which the Statute limits And afterwards the Iury found for the Plaintiff and of such opinion was Walmesley Warberton Daniel and Foster Iustices the next Term in all things But upon exception in Arrest of Iudgment for not pursuing of the Act in the Information Iudgment is not yet given c. X. Hillar Anno 6 Jacobi Regis In the Common Pleas. NOta that in this Terme a Question was moved to the Court Aide to make the Kings eldest Son Knight which was this If Tenant in Burgage should pay Ayde unto the King to make his eldest Son Knight And the Point rests upon this If the Tenure in Burgage be a Tenure in Socage For by the ancient Commmon Law every Tenant in Knights Service and every Tenant in Socage was to give to his Lord a reasonable Ayde to make his eldest Son a Knight and to marry his eldest Daughter and that was incertain at the Common Law and also incertain when the same Vide F. N. B. 82. 20. should be paid And this appeareth by Glanvil Lib. 9. cap. 8. fol. 70. who wrote in the time of Henry the second Nihil autem certum Statutum de hujusmodi auxiliis dandis vel exigendis c. sunt alii praeterea See the statute of 27 H. 8 cap 10 of uses in the Preamble concerning Aides to make the eldest Son Knight and to marry the Daughter Casus in quibus licet Dominis auxilia solvenda sunt certa forma praescripta ab hominibus suiis ut silius suus haeres fiat miles vel si primogenitam suam filiam maritaverit c. And in the beginning of the Chapter it is called Rationabile Auxilium because that then it was not certain but to be moderated by reason in respect of Circumstances And by the Preamble of the Statute of West 1. An. 3 E. 1. cap. 35. Where it is said Forasmuch as before that time reasonable Ayde to make ones Son Knight or to marry his Daughter was never put in certain nor when the same ought to be payd nor how much be taken the said Act put the said two incertainties to a certainty 1. That for a whole Knights Fee there be taken but 20 s. and of 20 l. Lands holden in Socage 20 s. and of more more and of less less according to the rate by which the Ayd it self was set certain 2. That none might levy such Ayd to make his son a Knight until his son be of the age of fifteen years nor to marry his daughter until she be of the age of seven years And Fleta who wrote after the said Act calls them rationabilia auxilia ad filium militem faciendum vel ad filiam primogenitam maritandum And by the Statute of 25 E. 1. where it is provided That no Taxes shall be taken but by common consent of the Realm there is an exception of the ancient Ayds c. which is to be intended of these Ayds due unto the King by the ancient Common Law But notwithstanding the said Act of VVestm 1. it was doubted whether the King because he is not expresly named were bound by it and therefore in the twentieth year of E. 3. the King took an Ayd of 40 s. of every Knights Fee for to make the Black Prince Knight and nothing then of Lands holden in Socage and to take away all question concerning the same the same was confirmed to him in Parliament and afterwards anno 25 E. 3. cap. 11. it is enacted That reasonable Ayd to make the Kings eldest Son Knight and to marry his eldest Daughter shall be demanded and levyed after the form of the Statute made thereof and not in other manner that is to say Of every Fee holden of the King without Mean 20 s. and no more and of every 20 l. Land holden of the King without Mean in Socage 20 s. and no more Now Littleton lib. 2. cap. 10. fol. 36. b. Burgage Tenure is where an ancient Borough is of which the King is Lord and those who have Tenements within the Borough hold of the King their Tenements that every Tenant for his Tenement ought to pay to the King a certain Rent and such Tenure is but Tenure in Socage and all Socage Land is contributary to
Ayd and therefore a Tenant in Burgage shall be contributary to it And it is to be observed and so it appeareth in the Register fo 1 2. That in a Writ of Right if the Lands or Tenements are holden by Knights service it is said Quas clamat tenere de te per servitium unius feodi Militis and if the Lands be holden in Socage the Writ is Quis clamat tenere de te per liberum servitium unius libri cumini c. so as Socage Tenure in all Writs is called Liberum servitium And by the Writ of Ayd Fitz. N. B. 82. it is commanded to the Sheriff Quod juste c. facias habere A. rationabile Auxilium de Militibus liberis tenentibus suis in Baliva tua c. so as the same Writ makes a distinction of Knights service by the name of Militibus and of Socage by the name of Liberis tenentibus And in the Register fol. 2. 6. the Writ of Right for a House in London which is holden of the King in Burgage is in these words Rex Majori vel Custodi Vicecom London Praecipimus vobis quod sine dilatione teneatis G. de uno Messuagio c. in London quae clamat tenere de nobis per liberum servitium c. which proves That Tenure in Burgage is a Tenure in Socage But it appeareth by the Books of Avowry 26. and 10 H. 6. so Ancient Demesne 11. it was resolved by all the Iustices in the Exchequer Chamber That no Tenure should pay for a reasonable Ayd to marry the Daughter or to make the Son a Knight but Tenure by Knights service and Tenure by Socage but not Tenure by Grandserjanty nor no other and 13 H. 4. 34. agrees to the Case of Grandserjanty and by the said Books it appeareth that Tenure by Frankalmoign and Tenure by Divine Service shall not pay for they are none of them but Tenure in Burgage is a Tenure in Socage and therefore the said Books prove that such a Tenure shall pay Ayd And I conceive that Tenure by Petit-Serjanty shall pay also Ayd for Litt. lib. 2. cap. 8. fo 36. says That such a Tenure is but Socage in effect but Fitz. N. B. 83. a. avoucheth 13 H. 4. 34. That Tenant by Petit-Serjanty shall not pay Ayd but the Book onely extends to Grand-Serjanty If the Houses in a City or Borough are holden of the King in Burgage and the King grant the Seignories to one and the City or Borough to another to hold of him then those Houses shall not be contributary to Ayd for they are not immediately holden of the King as is required by the Law And I conceive that he who holdeth a Rent of the King by Knights service or in Socage shall pay Ayd for the words of the Act of VVestm 1. cap. 35. are From henceforth of a whole Knights Fee onely be taken 20 s. of 20 l. Land holden in Socage 20 s. and the Mean is said in supposition of Law to hold the Land and it is not reason that the Tenant by his Feoffment before the Statute should prejudice the Lord of his benefit And although it was said that a Tenure in Socage in servitium Socae as Littleton saith and the same cannot be applyed to Houses to that it was answered That the Land upon which the House is built or if the House falleth down may be made arable and be ploughed And a Rent may be holden in Socage and yet it is not subject to be plowed but by a possibility after words escheat to the Lord of the Land See Huntington Polidor Virgill and Hollinsheds Chronicle fol. 35. 15 H. 4. Ayd was levyed by Hen. 7. 1. to marry Mawd his eldest Daughter to the Emperor viz. 3 l. of every Hide of Land c. And see The Grand Customary of Normandy cap. 35. there is a Chapter of Ayds whereof the first is to make the eldest Son of his Lord a Knight and the second to marry his eldest Daughter And see a Statute made in anno 19 H. 7. which begineth thus Item praefati Communes in Parliamento praedicto existentes ex assensu duorum Spiritualium Temporalium in dicto Parliamento similiter existen concesserunt praefato Regi quandà m pecuniae summam in loco duorum rationabilium auxiliorum suae Majestatis de jure debit tam ratione creationis nobilissimi filii sui primogeniti bonae memoriae Domini Arthuri nuper Principis VValliae quam ratione Matrimonii traductionis nobilissimi Principis Margaritae filiae suae primogenit quam etiam multiplicare pro Regni sui perpetua pace tranquillitate c. certis viis modis levand cujus quidem concessionis Tenor c. sequitur in haec verba For as much as the King our Soveraign Lord is rightfully intituled to have two reasonable Ayds according to the Laws of this Land the one for the making Knight the right honorable his first begotten Son Arthur late Prince of VVales deceased and the other for that the marriage of the Right Noble Princess his first begotten Daughter Margaret now marryed to the King of Scots and also that his Highness hath born great and inestimable charges for the defence of the Realm c. considering the premisses And if the same Ayds should be levyed and had by reason of their Tenures according to the ancient Laws of the Land should be to them doubtful and uncertain and great unquietness for the search and not knowledg of their several Tenures and their Lands chargeable to the same have made humble Petition unto his Highness graciously to accept and take of them the sum of 40000 l. as well in recompence and satisfaction of the said two Ayds as for the said great and inestimable charges c. as is aforesaid The King to eschew and avoyd the great vexation troubles and unquietness which to them should have ensued if the said Ayds were levyed after the ancient Laws and for the good and acceptable services of the Nobles of this Realm and other his faithful Subjects in their own persons and otherwise done to his Grace and thereby sustained manifold costs and charges to his great honor and pleasure doth pardon the said two Ayds and accepteth the offer aforesaid and that the poorest of his said Commons should not be contributary to the said sum of 40000 l. hath pardoned 10000 l. parcel thereof and doth accept of 30000 l. in full satisfaction c. And that the Cities and Boroughs Towns and places being in every Shire not by themselves accountable in the Exchequer for Fifteens and Tenths be chargeable with the Shires c. And all Cities and Boroughs not contributary c. but accountable by themselves c. shall be chargeable by themselves towards the payment of the said 30000 l. with such sums as under the Act particularly appear c. And there under the Act appear the several Taxations of every several County City
the Feoffee and another is not any new thing but the pernancy of the old profits of the Land which well may be limited to the Feoffee and another joyntly But if the use had been onely limited to the Feoffee and his Heirs there because there is not any limitation to another person nec in praesenti nec in futuro he shall be in by force of the Feoffment And it was resolved That Ioynt-tenants might be seised to an use although that they come to it at several times as if a man maketh a Feoffment in Fee to the use of himself and to such a woman which he shall after marry for term of their lives or in tayl or in fee in this case if after he marryeth a Wife she shall take joyntly with him although that they take the use at several times for they derive the use out of the same fountain and Freehold scil the Feoffment See 17 Eliz. Dyer 340. So if a Disseisin be had to the use of two and one of them agreeth at one time and the other at another time they shall be Ioynt-tenants but otherwise it is of Estates which pass by the common Law and therefore if a Grant be made by deed to one man for term of life the Remainder to the right Heirs of A. and B. in Fee and A. hath issue and dyeth and afterwards B. hath issue and dyeth and then the Tenant for life dyeth in that case the Heirs of A. and B. are not Ioynt-tenants nor shall joyn in a Scire facias to execute the Fine 24 E. 3. Joynder in Action 10. because that although the remainder be limited by one Fine and by joynt words yet because that by the death of A. the Remainder as unto the moyety vested in his Heir and by the death of B. the other moyety vested in his Heir at several times they cannot be Ioynt tenants But in the case of a use the Husband taketh all the use in the mean time and when he marryeth the Wife takes it by force of the Feoffment and the limitation of the use joyntly with him for there is not any fraction and several vesting by parcels as in the other case and such is the difference See 18 E. 3. 28. And upon the whole matter it was resolved That because in the principal case the Father and Son were Ioynt-tenants by the original purchase that the Son having the Land by Survivor should not be in Ward and accordingly it was so decreed XXIV Pasc 39 Eliz. Rot. 233. In the Kings-Bench Collins and Hardings Case THe Case between Collins and Harding was A man seised of Lands in Fee and also of Lands by Copy of Court Roll in Fee according to the Custom of the Mannor made one entire Demise of the Lands in Fee and of the Lands holden by Copy according to the Custom to Harding for years rendering one entire Rent and afterwards the Lessor surrendered the Copyhold Land to the use of Collins and his Heirs and at another time granted by Deed the Reversion of the Freehold Lands to Collins in Fee and Harding attorned and afterwards for the Rent behinde Collins brought an Action of Debt for the whole Rent And it was objected That the reservation of the Rent was an entire contract and by the Act of the Lessee the same cannot be apportioned and therefore if one demiseth three Acres rendering 3 s. Rent and afterwards bargaineth and selleth by Deed indented and inrolled the Reversion of one Acre the whole Rent is gone because that the Contract is entire and cannot be severed by the Act of the Lessor Also the Lessee by that shall be subject to two Fealties where he was subject but to one before As to these points it was answered and resolved That the Contract was not entire but that the same by the Act of the Lessor and the assent of the Lessee might be divided and severed for the Rent is incident to the Reversion and the Reversion is severable and by consequence the Rent also for accessorium sequitur naturam sui principalis and that cannot be severed or divided by the assent of the Lessee or express attornment or implyed by force of an Act of Parliament to which every one is a party as by force of the Statute of Inrolments or of Vses c. And as to the two Fealties to that the Lessee shall be subject although that the Rent shall be extinct for Fealty is by necessity of Law incident to the Reversion and to every part of it but the Rent shall be divided pro rata portionis and so it was adjudged And it was also adjudged That although Collins cometh to the Reversion by several Conveyances and at several times yet he might bring an Action of Debt for the whole Rent Hill 43 Eliz. Rot. 243. West and Lassels Case A man made a Lease for years of certain Lands and afterwards deviseth the Reversion of two parts to one he shall have two parts of the Rent and he may have an Action of Debt for the same and have Iudgment to recover Hill 42 Eliz. Rot. 108. in the Common-Pleas Ewer and Moyls Case The Devisee of the Reversion of part shall avow for part of the Rent and such Avowry shall be good and maintainable Note well these Cases and Iudgments for they are given upon great reason and consideration for otherwise great inconvenience would ensue if by severance of part of the Reversion the entire Rent should be lost and the opinion reported by Serjeant Bendloes in Hill 6 and 7 E. 6. to the contrary nihil valet scil That the Rent in such case shall be lost because that no contract can be apportioned which is not Law For 1. A Rent reserved upon a Lease for years is more then a Contract for it is a Rent-service 2. It is incident to the Reversion which is severable 3. Vpon recovery of part in Waste or upon entry in part for a forfeiture or upon surrender of part the Rent is apportionable 25. Note It was adjudged 19 Eliz. in the Kings-Bench That where one obtained a Prohibition upon Prescription de Modo Decimandi by payment of a certain sum of mony at a certain day upon which Issue was taken and the Iury found the Modus Decimandi by payment of the said sum but that it had been payd at another day and the Case was well debated and at the last it was resolved That no Consultation should be granted for although that the day of payment be mistaken yet it appeareth to the Court that no Tythes in kinde were due for which the suit was in the spiritual Court and the Tryal of the Custom de Modo Decimandi belongeth to the Common Law and a Consultation shall not be granted where the Spiritual Court hath not Iurisdiction of the Cause Tanfield chief Baron hath the Report of this Case XXV Mich. 7 Jacobi Regis IN an Ejectione Firmae the Writ and Declaration were of two parts of
Curia nostra non alibi tractari sicut praedict est cedere poterit attentetis sive attentim faciatis quovismodo By which also it appeareth That Tithes may be discharged and that the matter of discharge ought to be determined by the Common Law and not in the Spirituall Court And it is to be observed That in the said Iudgment nor in the Register any averment is taken of the value of the thing given in satisfaction of the Tithes Also by the Act of Circumspecte agatis made 13 E. 1. It is said S. Rector petat versus parochianos oblationes decimas debitas seu consuetas c. which proves that there are Tithes due in kind and other Tithes due by Custome as a Modus Decimandi c. And yet it is resolved in 19 E. 3. Jurisdiction 28. That the Ordinance of Circumspecte agatis is not a Statute and that the Prelates made the same and yet then the Prelates acknowledged That there were Tithes due by Custome which is a Modus Decimandi By which it appeareth also That Tithes by Custome may be altered into another thing So where a man grants a parcel of his Mannor to a Parson in Fee to be quit of Tithes and makes an Indenture and the Parson with the assent of the Ordinary without the Patron grants to him that he shall be quit of Tithes of his Mannor for that parcell of Land Afterwards if he or his Assignee be sued in the Spirituall Court for Tithes of his Mannor he or his Assignee shall have a Prohibition upon that Deed. And if that Deed was made before time of memory and he hath so continued to be quit of Tithes he shall have a Prohibition upon that Deed if he be sued for the Tithes of that Mannor or of any parcell of the same upon that matter shewed See 8 E. 4. 14. F. N. B. 41. g. vi 3. E. 3. 17. 16 E. 3. t. Annuity 24. 40 E. 3. 3. b. and F. N. B. 152. And therefore if the Lord of a Mannor hath alwaies holden his Mannor discharged of tithes and the Parson had before time of memory or in ancient times divers Lands in the same Parish of the Gift of the Lord of which the Parson is seised at this day in Fee in respect of which the Parson nor any of his Predecessors ever had received any tithes of the said Mannor If the Parson now sueth for tithes of the Mannor the Owner of the Mannor may shew that speciall matter and that the Parson and his Successors time out of mind have holden those Lands c. of the Gift of one who was Lord of the said Mannor in full satisfaction of the tithes of the said Mannor And the proof that the Lord of the Mannor gave the Lands that tithes should never be paid at this day is good evidence to prove the surmise of the Prohibition And so of the like and 19 E. 3. t. Jurisdiction 28. it is adjudged That Title of Prescription shall be determined in the Kings Court And therefore a Modus Decimandi which accrueth by Custome and Prescription in the Kings Court And it appeareth by the Statute of 6 H. 4. cap. 6. That the Pope by his Bulls discharged divers from payment of tithes against which the Act of Parliament was made and by the Statute of 31 H. 8. cap. 13. That the Possessions of Religious persons given to the King were discharged of payment of tithes in certain Cases and by the Statute of 32 H. 8. cap. 7. it is provided That all and singular persons shall divide set out yeild and pay all and singular tithes and Offerings aforesaid according to the lawfull customes and usages of the Parishes and places where such tithes or Duties shall come or immediatly arise or be due Provided alwaies and be it enacted That no person or persons shall be sued or otherwise compelled to pay any manner of tithes for any Mannors Lands Tenements or Hereditaments which by the Laws or Statutes of this Realm are discharged or not chargable with the payment of any such tithes And the Statute of 2 E. 6. cap. 13. Enacts That every of the Kings Subjects shall from henceforth justifie and truly without fraud or guile divide set out c. all manner of their prediall tithes in their proper kind as they will rise and happen in such manner and form as hath been of right yeilded and paid within forty years next before the making of this Act or of Right or Custome ought to be paid So as it appeareth by this that tithe is due of Right and by Custom And also in the same Act there is a Proviso in these words Provided alwaies and be it enacted That no person shall be sued or otherwise compelled to yeild give or pay any manner of tithes for any Mannors Lands Tenements or Hereditaments which by the Laws and Statutes of this Realm or by any Priviledge or Prescription are not chargable with the payment of any such tithes or that he discharged by any composition reall so as it appeareth by that Act that one may be discharged from the payment of tithes five manner of waies 1. By the Law of the Realm that is the Common Law As Tithes shall not be paid of Coals Quarries Brick Tiles c. F. N. B 53. and Register 54 Nor of the after Pasture of a Meadow c. nor of Rakings nor of Wood to make Pales or Mounds or Hedges c. 2. By the Statutes of the Realm As by the Statute of 31 H. 8. cap. 13. the Statute of 45 E. 3. c. 3. By Priviledge as those of S. Johns of Jerusalem in England The Cistertians Temptors c. as it appeareth by 10 H. 7. 277. Dyer 4. By Prescription As by Modus Decimandi or an annuall Recompence in satisfaction of them as appeareth before by the Authorities aforesaid 5. By reall Composition as appeareth by the said Writ cited out of the Register And so you have one or two examples for many others which may be added of these five manners of discharges of Tithes And by them all it appeareth That a man may be discharged of the payment of Tithes as before is said So as now it apparently appeareth by the Laws of England both Ancient and Modern That a Lay-man ought prescribe in modo Decimandi but not in non Decimando and that in effect agrees with the Opinion of Thomas Aquinas in his Secunda secundae Quaest 86. ar ultimo For there he saith Quod in veteri lege praeceptum de solutione Decimarum partim erat morali inditum ratione naturali quae dictat Quod iis Qui Divino Cultui ministrant ad salutem totius populi necessaria victui debent ministr juxta illud 1 Cor. 9. Quis militat c. Who goeth to War at his own charges c. Partim autem erat judiciale ex Divina institutione robur habens scil Quantum ad determinationem certae partis And all that
agrees with our Law And he goeth further In tempore vero Novae Legis etiam est determinatio partis solvendae authoritate Ecclesiae That is by their Canons Instituta secundum quandam humanitatem ut scilicet non minus populus Novae Legis Ministros novi Testamenti exuberat quam populus veteris Legis ministris veteris Testamenti exhibebat praesertim cum Ministri Novae Legis sunt Majores Dignitate ut probat Apostolus 2 Cor. 3. Sic ergo patet Quod ad solutionem Decimarum tenentur homines partim quidem ex jure naturali quantum ad hoc quod aliqua portio data est ministris Ecclesiae partim vero ex institutione Ecclesiae quantum ad determinationem Decimae Partis See Doctor and Student Lib. 2. cap. 55. fol. 164. That the tenth part is not due by the Law of God nor by the Law of Nature which he calleth the Law of Reason And he citeth John Gerson who was a Doctor of Divinity in a Treatise which he calleth Regulae morales scil Solutio Decimaram sacerdotibus est de jure Divino quatenus inde sustententur sed quo ad tam hanc vel illam assignare aut in alios redditus Commutare positivi juris est And afterwards Non vocatur Portio Curatis debita propterea Decimae eo quod est Decima pars imo est interdum vicesima aut tricesima And he holdeth That a Portion is due by the Law of Nature which is the Law of God but it appertaineth to the Law of Man to assign Hanc vel illam portionem as necessity requireth for their Sustenance And further he saith That Tithes may be exchanged into Lands Annuity or Rent which shall be sufficient for the Minister c. And there he saith That in Italy and in other the East Countries they pay no Tithes but a certain Portion according to the Custome c. And all this is true if not that Tithes be discharged or changed by one of the said five waies And forasmuch as it appeareth by themselves that the part or value was part of the Iudiciall Law certainly the same doth not bind any Christian Common-wealth but that the same may be altered by reason of time place or other consideration as it appeareth in all punishments inflicted by the Iudiciall Law they do not bind none for Felony is now punished by death c. which was not so by the Iudiciall Law c. Also forasmuch as now it is confessed that the tenth part is now due Ex institutione Ecclesiae that is to say By their Canons and it appeareth by the Statute of 25 H. 8. cap. 19. That all Canons c. made against the Prerogative of the King in his Laws Statutes or Customes of the Realm are void and that was but a Declaratory Law For no Statute or Custome of the Realm can be taken away or abrogated by any Canon c. made out or within the Realm but only by Act of Parliament and that well appeareth by 10 H. 7. f. 17. c. 18. That there is a Canon or Constitution That no Priest ought to be impleaded at the Common Law And there Brian saith That a grave Doctor of the Law once said unto him That Priests and Clarks might be sued at the Common Law well enough For he said that Rex est persona mixta and is Persona unita cum Sacerdotibus Statutis Ecclesiae In which case the King might maintain his Iurisdiction by prescription By which it appeareth that prescription doth prevail against expresse Canons or Constitutions and is not taken away by them which proves that the Statute of 25 H. 8. was but a Declaration of the ancient Law before And there is an expresse Prohibition in Numb 18. Nihil aliud possedebunt Decimarum oblatione contenti quas in usus eoram necessaria separavi Which was not part of the Morall Law or Law of Nature but part of the Iudiciall And therefore men of the holy Church at this day do possesse Houses Lands and Tenements and not Tithes only The second point which agrees with the Law at this day which was adjudged in the said Record of 25 H. 3. is That the limits and bounds of Towns and Parishes shall be tried by the Common Law and not in the Spirituall Court and in this the Law hath great reason for thereupon depends the Title of Inheritance of the Lay Fee whereof the Tithes were demanded for Fines and Recoveries are the common assurances of Lay Inheritances and if the Spirituall Court should try the bounds of Towns if they determine that my Land lyeth in another Town then is contained in my Fine Recovery or other assurance I shall be in danger to lose my Inheritance and therewith agreeth 39 E. 3. 29. 5 H. 5. 10. 32 E. 4. t. Consultation 3 E. 4. 12 19 H. 6. 20. 50 E. 3. 20. many other Presidents untill this day And note there is a Rule in Law that when the Right of tithes shall be tried in the Spiritual Court the Spirit Court hath jurisdiction therof that our Courts shall be ousted of the Iurisdiction 35 H. 6. 47. 38 H. 6. 21. 2 E 4. 15. 22 E. 4. 23. 38 E. 3. 36. 14 H 7. 17. 13 H. 2. Jurisd 19. but that is when debate is between Parson and Vicar or when all is in one Parish but when they are in severall Parishes then this Court shall not be ousted of the Iurisdiction See 12 H. 2. to Jurisdiction 17. 13 R. 2. ibid. 19. 7 H. 4. 34. 14 H. 4. 17. 38 E 3. 56. 42 E. 3. 12. And yet there is a Canon expresly against this which see in Linwood titulo de penis 55. And so fol. 227 228. amongst the Canons or Constitutions of Bonaface An. Dom. 1277. And the causes wherefore the Iudges of the Common Law would not permit the Ecclesiasticall Iudges to try Modum Decimandi being pleaded in their Court is because that if the Recompence which is to be given to the Parson in satisfaction of his tythes both not amount to the value of the Tythes in kinde they would overthrow Note this difference Although that the parties do admit the Jurisdiction of the Court yet upon the pleading if the right of the Tythes shall come in debate there this Court shall be ousted of the Jurisdiction the Spiritual Court shall have Jurisdiction But when the right of tythes cometh in debate and the Spiritual Court cannot have Jurisdiction or Conusance of it as where a Lay-man is Plaintiff as Farmor or Defendant as Servant of the Parson as a Lay man Farmor cannot sue there nor he who justifies as Servant cannot be sued in Trespass But if the Suit be between Parson and Vicar or Parson and Parson and other Spiritual persons if the Kings Court be ousted of the Jurisdiction after severance of the ninth part yet the Libel ought to be for substraction of Tythes for of that they have jurisdiction and
in the Information was denied in the Kings Bench was utterly denied for the same was moved when two Iudges were in Court who gave not any opinion therein but required Serjeant Hutton who moved it to move the same again when the Court was full c. XII Pasch 7 Jacobi Regis NOte that this Term a Question was moved at Serjeants-Inne Who by the Common Law ought to repair the Bridges common Rivers and Sewers and the High-waies and by what means they shall be compelled to it and first of the Bridges And as to them it is to be known That of common Right all the Country shall be charged to the Reparation of a Bridge and therewith agreeth 10 E. 3. 28. b. That a Bridge shall be levied by the whole Country because it is a common Easement for the whole Country and as to that Point the Statute of 22 H. 8. cap. 5. was but an affirmance of the Common Law And this is true when no other is bound by the Law to repair it but he who hath the Toll of the men or Cattell which passe over a Bridge or Cawsey ought to repaire the same for he hath the Toll to that purpose Et qui sentit commodum sentire debet onus and therewith agrees 14 E. 3. Bar 276. Also a man may be bounden to repaire a Bridge ratione Tenurae of certain Land But a particular person cannot be bound by prescription scil That he and all his Ancestors have repaired the Bridge if it be not in respect of the Tenure of his Land taking of Toll or other profit for the Act of the Ancestor cannot charge the Heir without profit But an Abbot or other Corporation who hath a lawfull being may be charged scil That he and his Predecessors time out of mind c. have repaired the Bridge For the Abbot and Covent may bind their Successors vide 21 E. 4. 28. 27 E. 3. 8. 22 Ass 8. 5 H. 7. 3. And if an Abbot and his Predecessors time out of mind have repaired a Bridge of Almes they shall be compelled to repaire it and therewith agreeth 10 E. 3. 28. So it is of a High-way of common Right all the Country ought for to repaire it because that the Country have their ease and passage by it which stands with the reason of the Case of the Bridge but yet some may be particularly bounden to repaire it as is aforesaid He who hath the Land adjoyning ought of common Right without prescription to scoure and cleanse the Ditches next to the way to his Land and therewith agreeth the Book of 8 H. 7. 5. But he who hath Land adjoyning without prescription is not bound to repair the way So of a common River of common Right all who have ease and passage by it ought to cleanse and scoure it For a common River is as a common Street as it is said in 22 Ass and 37 Ass 10. But he who hath Land adjoyning to the River is not bounden to cleanse the River unlesse he hath the benefit of it scil a Toll or a Fishing or other profit See 37 Ass p. 10. XIII Pasch 7 Jacobi Sir William Reades and Boothes Case IN the great Case in the Star-Chamber of a Forgery Between Sir William Read Plaintiff and Roger Booth and Cutbert Booth and others Defendants the Case was this The said Roger Booth 38 Eliz. was convicted in that Court of the publication of a Writing under Seal forged in the name of Sir Thomas Gresham of a Rent-charge of a hundred pounds cut of all his Lands and Tenements to one Markham for ninety nine years bearing date the one and twentieth year of Queen Elizabeth the said Roger knowing it to be forged And afterwards the said Sir William Read exhibited the said Bill against the said Boothes and others for forging of another writing under Seal bearing date the twentieth of Eliz. in the name of the said Sir Thomas Gresham purporting a Deed of Feoffment of all his Lands except certain to Sir Rowland Heyward and Edward Hoogon and their Heirs to certain uses which was in effect to the use of Markham the younger and his Heirs And for the publication of the said Writing knowing the same to be forged was the Bill exhibited And now upon the hearing of the Cause in the Star-Chamber this Term These doubts were moved upon the Statute of 5 Eliz 1. If one who is convicted of publication of a Deed of Feoffment of Rent-charge knowing the same to be forged Again at another day forge another Deed of Feoffment or Rent-charge if he be within the case of Felony within the said Act which doubt ariseth upon these words eftsoons committed again any of the said Offences And therefore it was objected that he ought to commit again the same natute of Offence scil If he were convicted of Forgery he ought to forge again and not only publish knowing c. And if first he were convicted of publishing knowing c. he ought to offend again in publication knowing c. and not in Forgery for eftsoons which is iterum implyeth that it ought to be of the same nature of Offence The second doubt was If a man committeth two Forgeries the one in 37 of Eliz. and the other in 38. and he is first convicted of the last if he may be now impeached for the first The third doubt was when Roger Booth was convicted in 38 Eliz. and afterwards is charged with a new Forgery in 37 Eliz. If the Witnesses proving in truth that it was forged after the first conviction if the Star Chamber hath Iurisdiction of it The last doubt was when Cutbert Booth who never was convicted of Forgery before if in truth the Forgery was done and so proved in 38 Eliz If he might be convicted upon this Bill because that the Forgery is alledged before that it was done As to the first and second doubts it was resolved by the two chief Iustices and the chief Baron that if any one be convicted of Forgery or publication of any Writing concerning Freehold c. within the first Branch or concerning Interest or Term for years c. within the second Branch and be convicted if afterwards he offend either against the first Branch or second that the same is Felony As if he forgeth a Writing concerning interest for years within the second branch and be convicted and afterwards he forgeth a Charter of Feoffment within the first branch or è converso that that is Felony and that by expresse words of the Act That if any person or persons being hereafter convicted or condemned of any of the said Offences which words any of the said Offences extend to all the Offences mentioned before either in the first branch or in the second branch by any the waies or means above limited shall after any such conviction or condemnation eftsoons commit or perpetrate any of the said Offences in form aforesaid which words Any of the said Offences c.
are to be determined in our Law he shall have a Consultation because that the principal belongeth to them 38 E. 3. 5. Right of Tythes between two spiritual persons shall be determined in the Ecclesiastical Court And 38 E. 3. 6. where the Right of Tythes comes in debate between two spiritual persons the one claiming the Tythes as of common Right within his Parish and the other claiming to be discharged by real composition the Ecclesiastical Court shall have Iurisdiction of it And the said Iudges made humble suit to the King That for as much as they perceived that the King in his Princely Wisdom did detest Innovations and Novelties that he would vouchsafe to suffer them with his gracious favor to inform him of one Innovation and Novelty which they conceived would tend to the hinderance of the good administration and execution of Iustice within his Realm Your Majesty for the great zeal which you have to Iustice and for the due administration thereof hath constituted and made fourteen Iudges to whom you have committed not onely the administration of Ordinary Iustice of the Realm but crimina laesae Majestatis touching your Royal person for the legal proceeding also in Parliament we are called by Writ to give to your Majesty and to the Lords of the Parliament our advice and counsel when we are required We two chief Iustices sit in the Star-Chamber and are oftentimes called into the Chancery Court of Wards and other High Courts of Iustice we in our Circuits do visit twice in the year your Realm and execute Iustice according to your Laws and if we who are your publique Iudges receive any diminution of such reverence and respect in our places which our predecessors had we shall not be able to do you such acceptable service as they did without having such reverence and respect as Iudges ought to have The state of this Question is not in statu deliberativo but in statu judiciali it is not disputed de bono but de vero non de Lege fienda sed de Lege lata not to frame or devise new Laws but to inform your Majesty what your Law of England is and therefore it was never seen before that when the Question is of the Law that your Iudges of the Law have been made Disputants with him who is inferior to them who day by day plead before them at their several Courts at Westminster and although we are not afraid to dispute with Mr. Bennet and Mr. Bacon yet this example being primae impressionis and your Majesty detesting Novelties and innovations we leave it to your Grace and Princely consideration whether your Majesty will permit our answering in hoc statu judiciali upon your publique Iudges of the Realm But in Obedience to your Majesties command We with your Majesties gracious favor in most humble manner will inform your Majesty touching the said Question which we and our predecessors before us have oftentimes adjudged upon judicial proceedings in your Courts of Iustice at Westminster which Iudgments cannot be reversed or examined for any Error in Law if not by a Writ of Error in a more high and supream Court of Iustice upon legal and judicial proceedings and that is the ancient Law of England as appeareth by the Statute of 4 H. 4. cap. 22. And we being commanded to proceed all that which was said by us the Iudges was to this effect That the Tryal De Modo Decimandi ought to be by the Common Law by a Iury of twelve men it appeareth in three manners First by the Common Law Secondly by Acts of Parliament And lastly by infinite judgments and judicial proceedings long times past without any impeachment or interruption But first it is to see What is a Modus Decimandi Modus Decimandi is when Lands Tenements or Hereditaments have been given to the Parson and his successors or an annual certain sum or other profit always time out of minde to the Parson and his successors in full satisfaction and discharge of all the Tythes in kinde in such a place and such manner of Tything is now confessed by the other party to be a good bar of Tythes in kinde I. That Modus Decimandi shall be tryed by the Common Law that is that all satisfactions given in discharge of Tythes shall be tryed by the Common Law and therefore put that which is the most common case That the Lord of the Mannor of Dale prescribes to give to the Parson 40 s. yearly in full satisfaction and discharge of all Tythes growing and renewing within the Mannor of Dale at the Feast of Easter The Parson sueth the Lord of the Mannor of Dale for his Tythes of his Mannor in kinde and he in Bar prescribes in manner ut supra The Question is if the Lord of the Mannor of Dale may upon that have a Prohibition for if the Prohibition lyeth then the Spiritual Court ought not to try it for the end of the Prohibition is That they do not try that which belongs to the Tryal of the Common Law the words of the Prohibition being that they would draw the same ad aliud examen First the Law of England is divided into Common-Law Statute-Law and Customs of England and therefore the Customs of England are to be tryed by the Tryal which the Law of England doth appoint Secondly Prescriptions by the Law of the Holy Church and by the Common Law differ in the times of limitation and therefore Prescriptions and Customs of England shall be tryed by the Common Law See 20 H. 6. fo 17. 19 E. 3. Jurisdiction 28. The Bishop of Winchester brought a Writ of Annuity against the Archdeacon of Surry and declared how that he and his successors were seised by the hands of the Defendant by title of Prescription and the Defendant demanded Iudgment if the Court would hold Iurisdiction being between spiritual persons c. Stone Iustice Be assured that upon title of prescription we will here hold Iurisdiction and upon that Wilby chief Iustice gave the Rule Answer Vpon which it follows that if a Modus Decimandi which is an annual sum for Tythes by prescription comes in debate between spiritual persons that the same shall be tryed here For the Rule of the Book is general scil upon title of prescription we will hold Iurisdiction and that is fortified with an Asseveration Know assuredly as if he should say that it is so certain that it is without question 32 E. 3. Jurisd 26. There was a Vicar who had onely Tythes and Oblations and an Abbot claimed an Annuity or Pension of him by prescription and it was adjudged that the same prescription although it was betwixt spiritual persons should be tryed by the Common Law Vide 22 H. 6. 46. and 47. A prescription that an Abby time out of minde had found a Chaplain in his Chappel to say Divine Service and to minister Sacraments tryed at the Common Law 3. See the Record of 25 H. 3. cited
in the case of Modus Decimandi before and see Register fo 38. when Lands are given in satisfaction and discharge of Tythes 4. See the Statute of Circumspecte agatis Decimae debitae seu consuetae which proves that Tythes in kinde and a Modus by custom c. 5. 8 E. 4. 14. and Fitz. N. B. 41. g. A Prohibition lieth for Lands given in discharge of Tythes 28 E. 3. 97. a. There Suit was for Tythes and a Prohibition lieth and so abridged by the Book which of necessity ought to be upon matter De Modo Decimandi or discharge 7. 7 E. 6. 79. If Tythes are sold for mony by the sale the things spiritual are made temporal and so in the case De modo Decimandi 42 E. 3. 12. agrees 8. 22 E. 3. 2. Because an Appropriation is mixt with the Temporalty scil the Kings Letters Patents the same ought to be shewed how c. otherwise of that which is meer Temporal and so it is of real composition in which the Patron ought to joyn Vide 11 H. 4. 85. Composition by writing that the one shall have the Tythes and the other shall have mony the Suit shall be at the Common Law Secondly By Acts of Parliament 1. The said Act of Circumspecte agatis which giveth power to the Ecclesiastical Iudg to sue for Tythes due first in kinde or by custom i. e. Modus Decimandi so as by authority of that Act although that the yearly sum soundeth in the Temporalty which was payd by Custom in discharge of Tythes yet because the same cometh in the place of Tythes and by constitution the Tythes are changed into mony and the Parson hath not any remedy for the same which is the Modus Decimandi at the Common Law for that cause the Act is clear that the same was a doubt at the Common Law And the Statute of Articuli Cleri cap. 1. If corporal pennance be changed in poenam pecuniariam for that pain Suit lieth in the Spiritual Court For see Mich. 8 H. 3. Rot. 6. in Thesaur A Prohibition lieth pro eo quod Rector de Chesterton exigit de Hagone de Logis de certa portione pro Decimis Molendinarium so as it appeareth it was a doubt before the said Statute if Suit lay in the Spiritual Court de Modo Decimandi And by the Statute of 27 H. 8. cap. 20. it is provided and enacted That every of the subjects of this Realm according to the Ecclesiastical Laws of the Church and after the laudable usages and customs of the Parish c. shall yield and pay his Tythes Offerings and other duties and that for substraction of any of the said Tythes offerings or other duties the Parson c. may by due Proces of the Kings Ecclesiastical Laws convent the person offending before a competent Iudg having authority to hear and determine the Right of Tythes and also to compel him to yeild the Duties i. e. as well Modus Decimandi by laudable usage or Custom of the Parish as Tythes in kinde and with that in effect agrees the Statute of 32 H. 8. cap. 7. By the Statute of 2 E. 3. cap. 13. it is enacted That every of the Kings Subjects shall from henceforth truly and justly without fraud or guile divide c. and pay all manner of their predial Tythes in their proper kinde as they rise and happen in such manner and form as they have been of Right yielded and payd within forty years next before the making of this Act or of Right or Custom ought to have been payd And after in the same Act there is this clause and Proviso Provided always and be it enacted That no person shall be sued or otherwise compelled to yield give or pay any manner of Tythes for any Mannors Lands Tenements or Hereditaments which by the Laws and Statutes of this Realm or by any priviledg or prescription are not chargeable with the payment of any such Tythes or that be discharged by any compositions real And afterwards there is another Branch in the said Act And be it further enacted That if any person do substract or withdraw any manner of Tythes Obventions Profits Commodities or other Duties before mentioned which extends to Custom of Tything i. e. Modus Decimandi mentioned before in the Act c. that then the party so substracting c. may be convented and sued in the Kings Ecclesiastical Court c. And upon the said Branch which is in the Negative That no person shall be sued for any Tythes of any Lands which are not chargeable with the payment of such Tythes by any Law Statute Priviledg Prescription or Real Composition And always when an Act of Parliament commands or prohibits any Court be it Temporal or Spiritual to do any thing temporal or spiritual if the Statute be not obeyed a Prohibition lieth as upon the Statute de articulis super Cartas ca. 4. Quod Communia Placita non tenentur in Scaccario a Prohibition lieth to the Court of Exchequer if the Barons hold a Common-Plea there as appeareth in the Register 187. b. So upon the Statute of West 2. Quod inquisitiones quae magnae sunt examinationis non capiantur in patria a Prohibition lieth to the Iustices of Nisi Prius So upon the Statute of Articuli super Cartas cap. 7. Quod Constabularius Castr Dover non teneat Placitum forinsecum quod non tangit Custodiam Castri Register 185. So upon the same Statute cap. 3. Quod See Lib. Entr. 450. a Prohibition was upon the Statute that one shall not maintain and so upon every penal Law See F. N. B 39. b. Prohibition to the Common Pleas upon the Stat. of Magna Charta that they do not proceed in a Writ of Praecipe in Capite where the Land is not holden of the King 1 2 Eliz. Dy. 170 171. Prohibition upon the Statute of barrenes and pettit is onely prohibited by implication Senescallus Mariscallus non teneant Placita de libero tenemento de debito conventione c. a Prohibition lieth 185. And yet by none of these Statutes no Prohibition or Supersedeas is given by express words of the Statute So upon the Statutes 13 R. 2. cap. 3. 15 R. 2. cap. 2. 2 H. 4. cap. 11. by which it is provided That Admirals do not meddle with any thing done within the Realm but onely with things done upon the Seas c. a Prohibition lieth to the Court of Admiralty So upon the Statute of West 2. cap. 43. against Hospitalers and Templers if they do against the same Statute Regist 39. a. So upon the Statute de Prohibitione regia Ne laici ad citationem Episcopi conveniant ad recognitionem faciend vel Sacrament praestanda nisi in casubus matrimonialibus Testamentariis a Prohibition lieth Regist 36. b. And so upon the Statute of 2 H. 5. cap. 3. at what time the Libel is grantable by the Law that it be granted and
of Iustice And this was the end of these three days consultations And note That Dr. Bennet in his discourse inveighed much against the opinion in 8 E. 4. 14. and in my Reports in Wrights Case That the Ecclesiastical Iudg would not allow a Modus Decimandi and said That that was the mystery of iniquity and that they would allow it And the King asked for what cause it was so said in the said Books To which I answered that it appeareth in Linwood who was Dean of the Arches and of profound knowledg in the Canon and Civil Law and who wrote in the Reign of King Henry the sixth a little before the said Case in 8 E. 4. in his title de Decimis cap. Quoniam propter c. fo 139. b. Quod Decimae solvantur c. absque ulla diminutione and in the gloss it is said Quod Consuetudo de non Decimando aut de non bene Decimando non valet And that being written by a great Canonist of England was the cause of the said saying in 8 E. 4. that they would not allow the said plea de Modo Decimandi for always the Modus Decimandi is lesse in value then the Tithes in specie and then the same is against their Canon Quod decimae solvantur absque diminutione quod consuetudo de non plene Decimando non valet And it seemed to the King that that Book was a good Cause for them in the time of King Edward the fourth to say as they had said but I said That I did not relie upon that but upon the grounds aforesaid scil The common Law Statute-Laws and the continuall and infinite judgements and judiciall proceedings and that if any Canon or Constitution be against the same such Canon and Constitution c. is void by the Statute of 25. H. 8. Cap. 19. which see and note For all Canons Constitutions c. against the Prerogative of the King the common Laws Statutes or Customs of the Realm are void Lastly the King said That the high Commission ought not to meddle with any thing but that which is enormious and exorbitant and cannot permit the ordinary Proces of the Ecclesiasticall Law and which the same Law cannot punish And that was the cause of the institution of the same Commission and therefore although every offence ex vi termini is enormious yet in the Statute it is to be intended of such an offence is extra omnem normam as Heresie Schisme Incest and the like great offences For the King said That it was not reason that the high Commission should have conusance of common offences but to leave them to Ordinaries scil because that the party cannot have any appeal in case the high Commisson shall determine of it And the King thought that two high Commissions for either Province one should be sufficient for all England and no more XV. Mich. 39 and 40 Eliz. in the Kings Bench. Bedell and Shermans Case MIch 39 and 40 Eliz. which is entred Mich. 40 Eliz. in the com-Pleas Rot. 699 Cantabr the Case was this Robert Bedel Gent. and Sarah his wife Farmors of the Rectory of Litlington in the County of Cambridge brought an Action of Debt against John Sherman in the custody of the Marshall of the Marshalsey and demanded 550 l. And declared that the Master and Fellows of Clare-Hall in Cambridge were seised of the said Rectory in fee in right of the said Colledge and in June 10. 29 Eliz. by Indenture demised to Christopher Phesant the said Rectorie for 21 years rendering 17 l. 15 s. 5 d. and reserving Rent-corn according to the Statute c. which Rent was the ancient Rent who entred into the said Rectory and was possessed and assigned all his interest thereof to one Matthew Batâ— who made his last Will and Testament and made Sarah his wife his Executrix and died Sarah proved the Will and entred and was thereof possessed as Executrix and took to husband the said Robert Bedel by force whereof they in the Right of the said Sarah entred and were possessed thereof and that the Defendant was then Tenant and seised for his life of 300 acres of arable Lands in Litlington aforesaid which ought to pay Tithes to the Rector of Litlington and in anno 38 Eliz. the Defendant grano seminavit 200 acres parcel c. And that the Tithes of the same did amount to 150 l. and that the Defendant did not divide nor set forth the same from the 9 parts but took and carried them away against the form and effect of the Statute of 2 E. 6 c. And the Defendant pleaded Nihil debet and the Iury found that the Defendant did owe 55 l. and to the residue they found Nihil debet c. and in arrest of Iudgement divers matters were moved 1. That grano seminata is too generall and incertain but it ought to be expressed with what kinde of corn the same was sowed 2. It was moved If the Parson ought to have the treble value the forfeiture being by expresse words limited to none by the Act or that the same did belong to the Queen 3. If the same did belong to the Parson if he ought to sue for the same in the Ecclesiasticall Court or in the Kings Temporall Court 4. If the husband and wife should joyn in the Action or the husband alone should have the Action and upon solemn argunent at the Barre and at the Bench the Iudgement was affirmed XVI Trinity Term 7 Jocob in the Court of Wards John Bailies Case IT was found by Writ of Diem clausit extremum That the said John Bailie was seised of a Messuage or Tenement and of and in the fourth part of one acre of land late parcel of the Demesne lands of the Mannor of Newton in the County of Hereford in his Demesne as of fee and found the other points of the Writ and it was holden by the two chief Iustices and the chief Barons 1. That Messuagium vel Tenementum is uncertain for Tenementum is nomen collectivum and may contain land or any thing which is holden 2. It was holden that is was void for the whole because that no Town is mentioned in the Office where the Messuage or Tenement or the fourth part of the acre lieth and from the Visne of the Mannor upon a Traverse none can come because it is not affirmed by by the Office that they are parcel of the Mannor but Nuper parcel of the Mannor which implieth that now they are not and it was holden by them that no Melius inquirendum shall issue forth because that the whole Office is incertain and void XVII Trinity 7 Jacobi Regis in the Court of Wards THe Attorney of the Court of Wards moved the two chief Iustices and chief Baron in this Case That a man seised of lands in fee-simple covenants for the advancement of his son and of his name and blood and posterity that he will stand seised
Tenements were holden of the King in capite for this cause the suing of the Writ shall conclude the Heir onely which sueth the Livery and after his death the Iurors in a new Writ of Diem clausit extremum are at large as before is said And if that Iury finde falsly in a Tenure of the King also the Lord of whom the Land is holden may traverse that Office Or if Land be holden of the King c. in Socage the Heir may traverse the last Office for by that he is grieved onely and he shall not be driven to traverse the first Office and when the Father sueth Livery and dyeth the conclusion is executed and past as before is said And note that there is a special Livery but that proceeds of the Grace of the King and is not the Suit of the Heir and the King may grant it either at full age before aetate probanda c. or to the Heir within age as it appeareth in 21 E. 3. 40. And that is general and shall not comprehend any Tenure as the general Livery doth and therefore it is not any estoppel without question And at the Common Law a special Livery might have been granted before any Office found but now by the Statute of 33 H 8. cap. 22. it is provided That no person or persons having Lands or Tenements above the yearly value of 20 l. shall have or sue any Livery before inquisition or Office found before the Escheator or other Commission But by an express clause in the same Act Livery may be made of the Lands and Tenements comprized or not comprized in such Office so that if Office be found of any parcel it is sufficient And if the Land in the Office doth exceed 20 l. then the Heir may sue a general Livery after Office thereof found as is aforesaid but if the Land doth not exceed 5 l. by the year then a general Livery may be sued without Office by Warrant of the Master of the Wards c. See 23 Eliz. Dyer 177. That the Queen ex debito Justitiae is not bound at this day after the said Act of 33 H 8 to grant a special Livery but it is at her election to grant a special Livery or to drive the Heir to a general Livery It was also resolved in this Case That the Office of 35 H. 8. was not traversable for his own Traverse shall prove that the King had cause to have Wardship by reason of Ward And when the King cometh to the possession by a false Office or other means upon a pretence of right where in truth he hath no right if it appeareth that the King hath any other right or interest to have the Land there none shall traverse the Office or Title of the King because that the Iudgment in the Traverse is Ideo consideratum est quod manus Domini Regis a possessione amoveantur c. which ought not to be when it appeareth to the Court that the King hath right or interest to have the Land and to hold the same accordingly See 4 H. 4. fo 33. in the Earl of Kents Case c. XXIX Mich. 7 Jacobi Regis NOte The Priviledg Order or Custom of Parliament either Parliament of the Vpper House or of the House of Commons belongs to the determination or decision onely of the Court of Parliament and this appeareth by two notable Presidents The one at the Parliament holden in the 27 year of King Henry the sixth There was a Controversie moved in the Vpper House between the Earls of Arundel and of Devonshire for their seats places and preheminences of the same to be had in the Kings presence as well in the High Court of Parliament as in his Councels and elsewhere The King by the advice of the Lords spiritual and temporal committed the same to certain Lords of Parliament who for that they had not leisure to examine the same it pleased the King by the advice of the Lords at his Parliament in anno 27 of his Reign That the Iudges of the Land should hear see and examine the Title c. and to report what they conceive herein The Iudges made report as followeth That this matter viz. of Honor and precedency between the two Earls Lords of Parliament was a matter of Parliament and belonged to the Kings Highness and the Lords spiritual and temporal in Parliament by them to be decided and determined yet being there so commanded they shewed what they found upon examination and their Opinions thereupon Another Parliament in 31 H. 6. which Parliament begun the sixth of March and after it had continued sometime it was prorogued until the fourteenth of February and afterwards in Michaelmas Term anno 31 H. 6. Thomas Thorp the Speaker of the Commons House at the Suit of the Duke of Buckingham was condemned in the Exchequer in 1000 l. damages for a Trespass done to him The 14 of February the Commons moved in the Vpper House That their Speaker might be set at liberty to exercise his place The Lords refer this Case to the Iudges and Fortescue and Prisoit the two chief Iustices in the name of all the Iudges after sad consideration and mature deliberation had amongst them answered and said That they ought not to answer to this question for it hath not been used aforetime That the Iustices should in any wise determine the Priviledg of this High Court of Parliament for it is so high and mighty in its nature that it may make Laws and that that is Law it may make no Law and the determination and knowledg of that Priviledg belongeth to the Lords of the Parliament and not to the Iustices But as for proceedings in the lower Courts in such cases they delivered their Opinions And in 12 E. 4. 2. in Sir John Pastons case it is holden that every Court shall determine and decide the Priviledges and Customs of the same Court c. XXX Hillary Term 7 Jacobi Regis In the Star-Chamber Heyward and Sir Iohn Whitbrokes Case IN the Case between Heyward and Sir John Whitbroke in the Star-Chamber the Defendant was convicted of divers Misdemeanors and Fine and Imprisonment imposed upon him and damages to the Plaintiff and it was moved that a special Proces might be made out of that Court to levy the said damages upon the Goods and Lands of the Defendant and it was referred to the two chief Iustices whether any such Proces might be made who this Term moved the Case to the chief Baron and to the other Iudges and Barons and it was unanimously resolved by them That no such Proces could or ought to be made neither for the damages nor for the costs given to the Plaintiff for the Court hath not any power or Iurisdiction to do it but onely to keep the Defendant in prison until he pay them For for the Fine due to the King the Court of Star-Chamber cannot make forth any Proces for the levying of the
Lease be made to one for the lives of J. S. and J. N. there the Freehold doth not determine by the death of one of them for the reasons and causes given in the Case of Brudnel in the fifth part of my Reports fol. 9 Which Case was affirmed to be good Law by the whole Court XXXIII Easter Term anno 8 Jacobi In the Common-Pleas Heydon and Smiths Case RIchard Heydon brought an Action of Trespass against Michael Smith and others of breaking of his Close called the Moor in Ugley in the County of Essex the 25 day of June in the fifth year of the King quendam arborem suum ad valentiam 40 s. ibidem nuper crescen succiderunt The Defendants said that the Close is and at the time of the Trespass was the Freehold of Sir John Leventhrop Knight c. and that the said Oak was a Timber Tree of the growth of thirty years and more and justifies the cutting down of the Tree by his commandment The Plaintiff replyeth and saith That the said Close and a House and 28 Acres of Land in Ugley are Copyhold and parcel of the said Mannor of Ugley c. of which Mannor Edward Leventhrop Esquire Father of the said Sir John Leventhrop was seised in Fee and granted the said House Lands and Close to the said Richard Heydon and his Heirs by the Rod at the Will of the Lord according to the custom of the said Mannor and that within the said Mannor there is such a custom Quod quilibet tenens Customar ejusdem Manerii sibi haeredibus suis ad voluntatem Domini c. a toto tempore supradicto usus fuit consuevit ad ejus libitum amputare ramos omnimodum arborum called Pollingers or Husbords super terris tenem suis Customar crescen pro ligno combustibili ad like libitum suum applicand in praedicto Messuagio comburend and also to cut down and take at their pleasure all manner of Trees called Pollengers or Husbords and all other Timber trees super ejusdem Custumariis suis crescen for the reparation of their Houses built upon the said Lands and customary Tenements and also for Ploughbote and Cartbote and that all Trees called Pollengers or Husbords and all other trees at the time of the Trespass aforesaid or hitherto growing upon the aforesaid Lands and Tenements customary of the said Richard Heydon were not sufficient nor did serve for the necessary uses aforesaid And that the said Richard Heydon from the time of the said Grant made unto him had maintained and preserved all trees c. growing upon the said Lands and Tenements to him granted And that after the death of the said Edward Leventhrop the said Mannor descended to the said Sir John Leventhorp and that at the time of the Trespass the aforesaid Messuage of the said Richard Heydon was in decay egebat necessariis reparationibus in Maremio ejusdem Vpon which the Defendant did demur in Law And this Case was oftentimes argued at the Bar and now this Term it was argued at the Bench by the Iustices And in this case these points were resolved 1. That the first part of the Custom was absurd and repugnant scil Quod quilibet tenens Customarii ejusdem Manerii habens tenens aliqua terras seu tenementa Custom c. usus fuit amputare ramos omnimodum arborum vocat Pollingers c. pro ligno combustabili c. in praedicto Messuagio comburend which ought to be in the Messuage of the Plaintiff for no other Messuage is mentioned before which is absurd and repugnant That every customary Tenant should burn his Fuel in the Plaintiffs house But that Branch of the Custom doth not extend unto this case for the last part of the custom which concerneth the cuting down of the Trees concerns the point in question and so the first part of the custom is not material It was objected That the pleading that the Messuage of the Plaintiff was in decay egebat necessariis reparationibus in maremio ejusdem was too general for the Plaintiff ought to have shewed in particular in what the Messuage was in decay as the Book is in 10 E. 4. 3. He who justifieth for Housebote c. ought to shew that the House hath cause to be repaired c. To which it was answered by Coke chief Iustice That the said Book proved the pleading in the case at Bar was certain enough scil Quod Messuagium praed egebat necessariis reparationibus in maremio without shewing the precise certainty and therewith agrees 7 H. 6. 38. and 34 H. 6. 17. 2. It was also answered and resolved That in this case without question it needs not to alledg more certainty for here the Copyholder according to the custom doth not take it but the Lord of the Mannor doth cut down the Tree and carryeth it away where the rest was not sufficient and so preventeth the Copyholder of his benefit and therefore he needeth not to shew any decay at all but onely for increasing of the damages for the Lord doth the wrong when he cutteth down the Tree which should serve for reparations when need should be 3. It was resolved That of common Right as a thing incident to the Grant the Copyholder may take Housebote Hedgbote and Plowbote upon his Copyhold Quia concesso uno conceduntur omnia sine quibus id consistere non potest Et quando aliquis aliquid concedit concedere videtur id sine quo res ipsa esse non potest and therewith agreeth 9 H. 4. Waste 59. But the same may be restrained by custom scil That the Copyholder shall not take it unless by assignment of the Lord or his Bayliff c. 4. It was resolved That the Lord cannot take all the Timber Trees but he ought to leave sufficient for the Reparation of the Customary houses and for Ploughbote c. for otherwise great Depopulation will follow scil Ruine of the Houses and decay of Tillage and Husbandry And it is to be understood That Bote being an ancient Saxon word hath two significations the one compensatio criminis as Frithbote which is as much as to say to be discharged from giving amends for the breach of the peace Manbote to be discharged of amends for the death of man And secondly in the latter signification scil for Reparation as was Bridgbote Burghbote Castlebote Parkbote c. scil Reparation of a Bridg of a Borough of a Castle of a Park c. And it is to be known that Bote and Estovers are all one Estovers are derived of this French word Estouer i. e. fovere i. e. to keep warm to cherish to sustain to defend And there are four kinds of Estovers scil ardendi arandi construendi claudendi scil Firebote Housebote Ploughbote and Hedgbote 5. It was resolved That the Copyholder shall have a general Action of Trespass against the Lord Quare clausum fregit arborem
Trees and Clay c. which he had not but as things annexed to the Land and therefore he could not have them when he had departed with his whole interest nor he could not take them either for Reparations or otherwise But when Tenant for life Leaseth for years except the Timber Trees the same remaineth yet annexed to his Freehold and he may command the Lessee to take them for necessary Reparations of the Houses And in the said case of Saunders a Iudgment is cited between Foster and Miles Plaintiffs and Spencer and Bourd Defendants That where Lessee for years assigns over his term except the Trees that Waste in such case shal be brought against the Assignee but in this case without question Waste lieth against the Tenant for life and so there is a difference c. XXVIII Mich. Term 7 Jacobi Regis In the Court of Wards Hulmes Case THe King in the right of his Dutchy of Lancaster Lord Richard Hulm seised of the Mannor of Male in the County of Lancaster holden of the King as of his Dutchy by Knights service Mesne and Robert Male seised of Lands in Male holden of the Mesn as of his said Mannor by Knights service Tenant Richard Hulm dyed after whose death 31 Hen. the eight it was found that he dyed seised of the said Menalty and that the same descended to Edward his Son and Heir within age and found the Tenure aforesaid c. And during the time that he was within age Robert Male the Tenant dyed after which in anno 35 H. 8. it was found by Office That Robert Male dyed seised of the said Tenancy peravail and that the same descended to Richard his Son and Heir within age and that the said Tenancy was holden of the King as of his said Dutchy by Knights service whereas in truth the same was holden of Edward Hulm then in Ward of the King as of his Menalty for which the King seised the Ward of the Heir of the Tenant And afterwards anno quarto Jacobi Regis that now is after the death of Richard Male who was lineal Heir of the said Robert Male by another Office it was found That the said Richard dyed seised of the said Tenancy and held the same of the King as of his Dutchy by Knights service his Heir within age whereupon Richard Hulm Cosin and Heir of the said Richard Hulm had preferred a Bill to be admitted to his Traverse of the said Office found in quarto Jacobi Regis And the Question was Whether the Office found in 35 H. 8. be any estoppel to the said Hulm to Traverse the said last Office or if that the said Hulm should be driven first to Traverse the Office of 35 H. 8. And it was objected That he ought first to Traverse the Office of 35 H. 8. as in the Case of 26 E. 3. 65. That if two Fines be levyed of Lands in ancient Demesn the Lord of whom the Land is holden ought to have a Writ of Deceit to reverse the first Fine and in that the second Fine shall not be a Bar And that the first Office shall stand as long as the same remains in force To which it was answered and resolved by the two Chief Iustices and the Chief Baron and the Court of Wards That the finding of an Office is not any estoppel for that is but an enquest of Office and the party grieved shall have a Traverse to it as it hath been confessed and therefore without question the same is no estoppel But when an Office is found falsly that Land is holden of the King by Knights service in capite or of the King himself in Socage if the Heir sueth a general Livery now it is holden in 46 E. 3. 12. by Mowbray and Persey that he shall not after add that the Land is not holden of the King but that is not any estoppel to the Heir himself who sueth the Livery and shall not conclude his Heir for so saith Mowbray himself expresly in 44 Assis pl. 35. That an Estoppel by suing of Livery shall estop onely himself the Heir during his life And in 1 H. 4. 6. b. there the case is put of express confession and suing of Livery by the issue in tayl upon a false Office and there it is holden that the Iurors upon a new Diem clausit extremum after the death of such special Heir are at large according to their conscience to finde that the Land is not holden c. for they are sworn ad veritatem dicendum and their finding is called veredictum quasi dictum veritatis which reason also shall serve when the Heir in Fee-simple sueth Livery upon a false Office and the Iurors after his death ought to finde according to the truth So it is said 33 H. 6. 7. by Laicon that if two sisters be found Heirs whereof the one is a Bastard if they joyn in a Suit of Livery she which joyneth with the Bastard in the Livery shall not alledg Bastardy in the other but there is no Book that saith that the Estoppel shall endure longer then during his life and when Livery is sued by a special Heir the force and effect of the Livery is executed and determined by his death and by that the Estoppel is expired with the death of the Heir but that is to be intended of a general Livery but a special Livery shall not conclude one But as it is expressed the words of a general Livery are When the Heir is found of full age Rex Escheatori c. Scias quod cepimus homigium I. filii haeredis B. defuncti de omnibus terris tenementis quae idem B. Pater suus tenuit de nobis in capite die quo obiit ei terras tenement illa reddidimus ideo tibi praecipimus c. And when the Heir was in Ward at his full age the Writ of Livery shall say Rex c. Quia I. filius haeres B. defuncti qui de nobis tenuit in capite aetatem suam coram te sufficienter probavit c. Ceperimus homagium ipsius I. de omnibus terris tenementis quae idem B. Pater suus tenuit de nobis in capite die quo obiit ei terras tenement illa reddidimus ideo tibi praecipimus ut supra c. Which Writ is the Suit of the Heir and therefore although that all the words of the Writ are the words of the King as all the Writs of the King are and although that the Livery be general de omnibus terris tenementis de quibus B. pater I. tenuit de nobis in capite die quo obiit without direct affirmation that any Mannor in particular is holden in capite and notwithstanding that the same is not at the prosecution of the Kings Writ and no Iudgment upon it yet because the general Livery is founded upon the Office and by the Office it was found That divers Lands or