as is he that hath a free holde at the common law but the determination of this question I remit to my great maysters which caÌ„ solue the knottes and enigmaes of the lawe For asmoche as yet styl of this matter Causidici certant adhuc subiudice liâ— est ⧠Also ye shall vnderstand that the vsage of some Manour is when the tenaunte wyll surrender his land to the vse of an other that he shall take a wande in his hande and deliuer it to the stewarde of the court and the stewarde shal deliuer the same wand in name of seisin to him that shall take the lande and suche a tenaunte is called tenaunte by the verge Diuerse other customes there be of surrendryng of copy hold landes which here for tediousnes I wyll omytte And forasmoch as tenauntes by custome of the Manoure haue by the course of the common lawe no free holde therfore they be called tenauÌ„tes of base tenure Hytherto I haue treated of the first membre of oure diuision that is to wytte of chatelles for as I sayde all leases for terme of yeres and at will be accoÌ„pted in the law but as cateles and be comprysed vnder that name saue that they be called cateles reals where as kyne oxen horses moneye plate corne and suche lyke be called chatell personalles Nowe we wyll procede to thexplanicioÌ„ of the second membre that is to say of free holdes ⧠A diuision of free holdes FRee holdes or franke tenemeÌ„tes a man may haue in suÌ„dry wyses for ether he is seased for terme of his owne lyfe or for terme of an other mans life Yf he be sesed for terme of his owne life either he haue gotten such estate by way of purchase or els the law hath entiteled him therunto I call it by purchase whether he commeth vnto it by his owne barganing and procuremeÌ„t or by the gyft of his frende and I call it by the operation and intitelynge of the lawe whan a man maryeth a woman that is an in heritres and hath issue by her and she dyeth nowe shal he haue the landes durynge his life by the course of the lawe and shal be called tenaunte by the curtesye of Englande In likewise yf a man be seased in feâ— simple or fee tayle of landes and taketh a wyfe and he dyeth the law giueth vnto the wyfe the thyrde parte of her husbandes laÌ„des for terme of her life and she shal be called tenauÌ„t in dower ⧠Tenaunt for terme of life TEnaunte for terme of life is he that holdeth landes or tenemeÌ„tes for terme of his owne life or for terme of an others lyfe Howe be it the most frequent and common maner of speakynge is to call him that hath estate for terme of his own life tenaunte for life and him that hath estate for terme of an others life tenaunt pour terme dautre vie that is to saye tenaunte for terme of an others life Ye shal note that like as he that maketh the lease is called the lessoure he to whome the lease is made is called the lessee so he that maketh a feffement is called the feffoure and he to whome the feffement is made the feffee Also if tenaunte for terme of lyfe or tenaunte for terme of an other mans life do wast the lessour or he in the reuersion shall maynteyne very wel an action of waste agaynste hym and shall by the same recouer treble damages Finally ye shall vnderstand that by an acte of parliameÌ„t made in the xxvii yere of oure Souerayne lorde that now is king Henry the eight it is enacted that no free holde nor estate of inheritance shal passe ne take effecte but by dede indented sealed enrolled in one of the kynges courtê at Westmynster or els wythin the same countie where the lande dothe lye as by the sayd acte more at large appereth ⧠Tenaunt by the curtesi TEnaunt by the curtesye of Englande is he that hath maryed a wyfe inherited and hath had issue by her and she is deade in this case the lawe of Englande permytteth and suffreth the husbande of suche wyfe to reteyne all his wyues landes that she had either in fee simple or fee tayle so longe as he lyueth And this is by the curtesye and vrâ—anitie of Englande for this thing is vsed in none other region But in thys case it is requyred that the chylde ve vitall that is to saye be borne and broughte forth iâ— to this worlde aliue and therfore the common sayeng hath bene that onles the chylde be harde crye the father shall not be tenaunte by the curtesye for the onelye proue and argument of lyfe in an infaunt new borne is the vagite and cryenge Ye shal furthermore vnderstand that onlesse the husbande be in actual and reall possession of his wyues landes seased of them in her right he shall not be tenaunte by curtesye after her death And therfore yf landes descende to a mans wyfe so that she is tenaunt in the lawe and to euery mans accion yet if the husbande haue not made an actuall entreedurynge the couerture and matrimony betwene theâ— he shall not be tenauÌ„â— by the curtesye for it shall be reputed and iugged his foly and negligence that he wolde not entre in her lyfe tyme. Otherwyse it is of aduousons â—â—Ì„tes and such other thynges which forthwyth when they descende be in a man or woman wythout any entre or further ceremonye of lawe Note that if tenaunte by the curtesye of England wyl suffre or make any wast in the landes or tenemeÌ„tes that he so holdeth he is punyshable therfore by action of wast Also it is to be knowne that of thinges that be in suspense a man shall not be tenaunt by the curâ—â—sye and therfore yf a man be the tenaunt in fee simple of certayne lande and doth entremary wyth a woman that is the seignoresse or lady of the same and hath issue by her and she dyeth yet he shal not be tenaunt by the curtesye of the lordshyp of seignorye bycause himself is tenaunt of the land and therfore the lordeship is suspended for the time for a man can not be both lorde and tenaunt of one thing but if he had not bene tenaunt of the lande he shulde haue had the lordeshyp after the deathe of his wyfe by the curtesie of Englande very well Of tenaunt in dower TEnaunte in dower is she that hath bene maried to an husbaÌ„d that was during the matrimony betwene them seised of landes â–ª or 〈◊〉 in fee simple or fee tayl â–ª which is nowe dede and she seased of the thyâ— departe of her husbande 's sayde landes for terme of her life For by the common lawe of the lande if the husbande be at any tyme duryng the couerture seased lawfully whether 〈◊〉 be by purchase or by discent 〈◊〉 theâ— in fee or in tayle dye his 〈◊〉 to be indowed by the course of the coÌ„mon lawe of the thyrde foâ—e And in some places
applied to that whyche commeth by discente from a mannes auncestours but also to euery purchase in fee simple or fee taile Fee tayle Ye shall vnderstande that before a certayne statute called the statute of Westminster seconde there was no state tayle but all was fee simple eyther purely that is to saye wythout condition or condicinallye as appereth by the pretence of yâ— said statute but now sythens the promulgating of that statute diuers formes of state tayles haue rysen Fee tayle is whan it is prescribed and lymytted in the gifte what heyres and by whome engendred shall inherite As for exemple I gyue landes to a man and to his heyres and go no further this is fee simple but if I make a limitation and adde of his hody begotten now is it fee taile that is to saye a fee or inheritaunce limitted prescribed determinate or assigned So that if I gyue landes to a man and to his heyres he hathe fee simple but yf I gyue landes to hym and to hys heyres of hys bodye lawfully begotten he hathe but a fee tayle for asmoche as I appoynte lymytte prescribe and determyne the heyres and for lacke of suche heyres the gyfte shall be expired and worne out the landes shall reuerte agayn to the gyuer or his heyres But ye muste obserue that there bo two kyndes of fee tayle There is a generall tayle and there is a speciall tayle Fee tayle generall is as where landes be giuen to a man and to his heyres of his bodye begotten without anye mencyonynge and expressynge by what woman they are to be begotten And therefore yfa maÌ„ be tenaunte in the generall tayle of landes and taketh a wyfe and hathe issue by her and she dyeth and afterwarde he takethe an other wyfe of whom he hath also other issue here either of these issue is inheritable to this land entayled But if I expresse in the gifte by what womaÌ„ the heires shall be procreate and ingeÌ„dred then is it an especiall tayle as for exemple to make the thynge playne if landes be gyuen to a man and to the heyres of his body lawfully begotten by Katherin his wyfe this is an especiall tayle for the issue of him begotten by an other woman shal neuer inherite by force vertue of the tayle Lykewyse it is if landes be giuen to a woman and to yâ— heires of her body law fully begotten shewe not by what man this is a general taile but if I adde saye by suche a man her husbande than is it an especiall taylle Also yf I gyue landes to a man and to hys wyfe and to the heyres of there two bodyes lawfully begotten thys ys an especyal tayle as wel in the husbande as in the wyfe Semblably it is yf a man gyueth landes to an other man wyth hys daughter or kynswoman in francke mariage thys emplyeth a state tayle especiall and in thys case as wel the man as the woman hathe estate in in the speciall tayle But yf I gyue landes to a man and to suche a woman and to hys heyres that he shall begette of her here the woman hathe estate but for terme of her lyfe and the husbands an estate in the especyall tayle In lykewise it is on the womaÌ„s behalfe as if I gyue landes to a man and to hys wyfe and to her heyres of the bodye of her said husbande engendred he hathe an estate but for terme of lyfe and she an estate in the specyall tayle But in bothe cases yf I hadde sayde to the heyres and not hys or her heyres than shulde eyther of them haue hadde an estate in the specyall tayle bycause thys worde heytes is as well referred to the one as to the other Ye shall also vnderstande that yf landes be giuen to a man ond to the heyres males of his bodye this ys a state tayle and in this case the heyre femalle shall neuer inherite Finally it is to be noted that of landes whych a man hath in fee simple the possession of the brother shall cause the syster germayne that is to saye the syster bothe by the fathers syde mothers to inherite and not the brother by the halfe blod as here tofore was said but of landes which be entayled otherwise it is Therfore if a man be seysed of landes in the generall tayle and hath issue by hys furst wyfe a sonne and a daughter and also a sonne by an other wyfe dyeth and the eldest sonne entreth in to the landes after dyeth the suster germayne shall not haue the landes but the yonger brother of the halfe blode bycause whosoeuer shall inherite landes in taile must claym them as nexte and immediate heyre not to hym that dyeth last seased of the landê but to hym vnto whome the landes were fyrst gyuen whyche in the case before remembred is the sonne and not the daughter Thus ye shal marke obserue a great diuersitie bytwene the forme of successyon in landes of fee simple and the forme in fee tayle Tenaunt after possibilitie of issue extincte WHan landes or tenementes be giuen to a maÌ„ and to his wife and to the heires of there two bodies lawfully begotten yf in thys case either of them chaunce to dye before they haue issue betwene them he or she that ouerlyueth hys styl tenaunt in tayle but wythout all possibilitie of any issue that can be heyre to these landes entayled and for thys cause he or she thus ouerlyuynge is called tenaunte after possibilitie of issue extincte for in suche a tenaunte is all possibilitie of issue that maye be inherytable to these landes by force of the gyfte in tayle vtterlye extincte and quenched and by his or her deth the state tayle shall expyre cease and be abolyshed for euer and shall reuerte agayn to the gyuer or donoure from whence it came Yet forasmoche as thys tenaunt after possibilitie of issue hadde ones an inheritaunce in hym he shall not be punyshede by an action of waste though he makethe neuer so moche waste in the landes and tenementes whereas yet in effecte he is but a tenaunte for terme of lyfe Of perceners Hitherunto I haue made a compendious and short declaracyon of estates of al sortes But where I sayde that among susters there is no prerogatyue or preminence concernyng the inheriting of theyr auncestoures landes but that they shall be al togither inheritours and make as it were but one heyre it is expedient to make a further processe in this behalfe and to shew howe in what maner this partition shall be made But ye shall vnderstande that there be besyde parceners at the common lawe whyche be onelye susters also parciners by custome whiche is amonges brothers contrarye to the course of the common lawe and this custome is in Kent and in other places where landes and tenemeÌ„tes be of the tenure of Gauel kynde Ye shall thefore knowe yâ— whan a maÌ„ is seised of landes in fee simple or see tayle and hath no
seruice but is of the tenure of socage as shall be herafter more amplye shewed Of warde mariage and reliefe EUery knyghtes seruice draweth vnto it warde mariage and releife Wherfore it is now ryght expedient somewhat to entrete of them Ye shall therfore be admonished that whan the tenaunte whyche holdeth hys lande by knyghtes seruyce dyeth his heyre male beynge at that tyme wtin thage of .xxj. yeares the lorde shall haue the warde that is to saye the custodye or kepynge of the landes so holden of hym to hys own vse and profyte tyl the heyre cōmeth to the full age of .xxj. yeares For the law here presumeth that tyl he cōme to this age he is not able to do such seruice as is of this tenure requyred Furthermore yf such heyre be vnmaryed at the tyme of the deathe of the tenaunte than the lorde shal haue also the warde and bestowynge of the maryage of hym But yf tenaunt by knyghtes seruice dyeth hys heyre female being of thage of .xiiii. yeres or aboue thā the lord shal haue the ward neyther of the lande ne yet of the bodye of suche an heir and the reason herof is bycause a woman of that age maye haue a husbande hable to do knyghtes seruice that is to saye to wayte vpon the kynges maiesties persone whan he auaunceth into Scotlande wyth hys armye royall But if suche an heyre femalle be within the age of .xiiii. yeres and not maryed at the tyme of the deathe of her auncestoure than the lorde shall haue the warde of the lande holden of hym tyll suche heyre female commeth to the age of .xvi. yeres by force of an acte of parliamēt in the statute of Westm̄ the fyrste Note that there is a great diuersitie in the lawe bytwene the ages of females and of males for the female hath these manye ages apoynted by the lawe Fyrste at .vii. yeares of age the lored her father maye distreyne his tenauntes for ayde to mary her Seconde at .ix. yeares of age she is dowable Thyrdlye at .xii. yers she is hable to assent to matrymonye Fourthly at .xiiii. yeares she is able to haue her lande and shall be oute of warde if she be of thys age at the geantye but of the kynge onelye Homage auncestrell TEnaunt by homage auncestrel is he whyche holdeth his lande of his lorde by homage and bothe he and his auncestours whose heyre he is haue holden the same lande of the saide lord of his auncestours tyme out of mynde by homage and haue done vnto them homage and this is called homage auncestrell by reason of the longe continuaunce whyche hath bene by title of prescription as well concernynge the tenauncye in the bloude of the tenaunte as concernynge the lordeshyp in the blode of the lord And this seruice of homage auncestrell drawethe vnto it warrantye that is to saye yf the lorde which is nowe in lyfe hathe ones receyued the homage of his tenant he oughte to warrant the same tenaunte what tyme so euer he shal be impleaded or sued for such lande so holden of him by homage auncestrell Moreouer suche seruice of homage auncestrell draweth to it acquitall that is to saye the lorde oughte to acquyte the tenaunt agaynste all other lordes that can demaūd any maner of seruice out of the tenauncye Wherfore yf in thys case the tenaunte whyche holdethe by homage auncestrell be impleaded of hys landes and voucheth his lorde to warrauntye who commeth in by processe and demaundethe of the tenaunte what he hath to bynde hym to the warrantye and the tenaunt sheweth howe he and his auncestours whose heyre he is haue holden his lande of hym and of his auncestoures tyme ease or continuall infirmitie All these and suche lyke be dispargementes But here also ye shal vnderstande that it shall be sayd no dispargement onlesse the heyre be so maryed when he is wythin the age of discretion that is to say within the age of .xiiii. yeres For if he be of that age or aboue and consenteth to such mariage it is no dispargement neyther shall the lorde for suche mariage lose his warde bycause it shal be reputed and assigned to the folye of the heire beynge of age of discretion to consēt to suche mariage Now yf the gardeyne offre to the heyre beyng in his warde a conuenient mariage wythout dispargement and the heyre refuseth it as he maye very wel do than the lord shall haue the value of the mariage of suche heyre whan he commethe to hys full age But yet yf he marye hymselfe being so in warde agaynste the wyll of hys gardeyne than he shal paye the double value by force of the statute of Merton before remembred And ye shall note that if landes holden by knyghtes seruice descende to an infaunte from hys mother or from any of hys auncestours his father beyng yet alyue in thys case the lorde shall not haue the mariage of this heyre for during the lyfe of the father the sonne shall be in warde to no man Finally it is to be knowne that he whyche is gardeyne in cheualrye in ryght maye after he hathe seased the warde graunte the same eyther by dede or wythout dede to an other man than he to whom suche graūt is made is called gardeyne in fayte Now as touching reliefe ye shal knowe that yf a man holdethe hys lande by knightes seruice and dyeth hys heyre beynge of full age the full age of the male is .xxi. yeares of the female .xiiii. then y◠lord of whome the land is holden shal haue of the heyr reliefe Reliefe of a hole knightes fee is C s. of halfe a knightes fee fyftye s Also a man maye holde landes of a lord by two knyghtes fees and thā the heyre beynge of full age at the death of his auncestoure shal paye to his lorde for reliefe .x. poundes Seruice of castel garder YE shal vnderstande that a man may holde by knyghtes seruice and yet not hold by escuage nor shal paye no escuage for he may holde by castell garder that is to saye by seruyce to kepe a tower of hys lordes castell or some other place vpō a reasonable warnynge whan hys lorde heareth that enemyes wyll come or be alredy come into Englande Thys seruyce is also knyghtes seruice and drawethe to it warde mariage reliefe as the common knyghtes seruyce dothe Of graunde sergeauntie THere is also an other kynde of knightes seruice called grande sergeantye whyche is where a man holdeth is landes or tenementes of the kynge by suche seruice as he oweth in proper person to do as to bear the baner of oure soueraigne lorde the kynge or his spere or to conduct hys hoste or to be his marshall or to be the sewar caruar or butler at the feaste of the coronation or to be one of the chamberlaynes of the receypt of his eschequere or to do lyke seruices to the kyng in propre persone such maner of seruyce I saye is called grande
sergeantye that is to saye a greate or hygh seruice and the cause why it is so called is bicause it is the moste honorable and moste worthye seruice that is for he that holdeth by escuage is not appoynted by hys tenure to do anye other more specyall seruice than an other is bounde that holdethe by escuage but he that holdeth by grande sergeantye is bound to do some speciall seruice to the king Also if he that holdeth of the king by grante sergeanty dyeth his heire beyng of ful age than the heyre shal paye to the kynge for reliefe not onlye C.S. as he that holdethe by escuage shall do but moreouer the clere yearly value of those landes and tenementes whych he so holdeth of the kynge by grande sergeantye Furthermore ye shal obserue that in the marches of Scotlande some men holde of the kynge by coruage that is to say by blowing of an horn to the intent to warne the men of the contrey whan they heare that the Scottes or other theyr enemyes be commynge or be alreadye entred in to Englande whyche seruice is also a kynde of grande sergeantie Grande sergeantie therfore is as moche to saye in latyn as magnum seruitium that is to saye a greate or hyghe seruice lyke as petite sergeantye is called paruum seruitium that is to saye a lytle or smale seruice But to reuerte agayne to the mamatier ye shall note yf any tenaunte holdeth of any other lord than of the king by such seruice of cornage then it is no graunde sergeantye but yet neuertheles it is knyghtes seruice draweth to it ward mariage and reliefe for this is a rule infallible that none can holde by grande sergeanty but of the kynges owne maiestie Finallye ye shall vnderstande that al they whych holde of the king by thys seruice called graunde sergeauntye do holde of the kynge by knyghtes seruyce and by vertue of thys tenure the kynge shall haue of them warde mariage and reliefe but escuage yet he shal not haue of them oneles they holde by escuage of him by expresse and speciall wordes Petite sergeantie TEnaunte by petite sergeantye is he that holdeth his land immediatly of oure soueraygne lorde the kynge by thys maner of seruice to paye to the kynge yearelye eyther a vowe a spere a dagger a swerde a payre of gantlettes a paire of spores of golde a shafte or such other smale thynges apperteynyng to the warre this seruice is in effect but socage bycause that suche a tenaunte is not bounde by hys tenure to go ne do anye thing in his owne propre person touchyng the warre but only to rendre and pay yerely certayne thynges to the kynge as a man ought to pay a rente wherfore thys seruice of petite sergeantye is no knyghtes seruyce but yet ye shal note that a man can not holde neyther by petite sergeauntye neyther by graunde sergeantye out of mynde surely the lorde yf he can not denye this and if he hath receiued the homage of such a tenauÌ„t is bounde by the lawe to warrante hym his lande so that if the tenaunt lose his lande in defaute of the lorde thus vouched that is to saye called to warranty he shal recouer against hym so moche in value of those landes and tenementes whyche the lord had at the tyme of callynge to warrantye or at any tyme after But yf the lorde neuer receyued the homage of hys tenante than he maye verye well whan he is thus vouched disclaime in the lordeshyp or seignorye and so put out the tenaunte of hys warrantye Where ye shal note that in euery case where the lord disclaim in his seignorye in courte of recorde his seignorye or lordeshyp is extinct and the tenaunte shall holde from thensforthe of the nexte lorde to him that thus disclaymed Thus ye perceyue that homage auncestrell is not but where as is a long coÌ„tinuauÌ„ce as well in the blode of the tenaunte in respecte of hys tenauncye as in the bloude of the lord in respecte of his seignorye Wherfore if the tenaunte doth ones aliene hys landes to an other although he purchasethe the same agayne yet he shal not hold any longer by homage auncestrell bycause of thys discontinuaunce but shall holde it nowe by the vulgare accustomed homage Of socage SOcage is properly where the tenant is bound to come wyth his soke that is to saye with his plough to eare and sowe parcell of the demene landes of hys lorde which seruyce in auÌ„cient tyme was very commen frequeÌ„te but nowe by the mutuall consent bothe of the lorde and of the tenant yt ys conuerted for the moost parte in to a yerely rente How be it the name of socage abideth styll wherfore now al that is not knyghtes seruice is caled by yâ— name of socage So yâ— yf a man holdeth by fealtye onely or by fealtye and homage for all maner of seruyce it is but socage tenure for homage alone makith not knyghtes seruyce yea yf a man holdeth by escuage certayne as I haue said here tofore he holdeth in effecte but by socage Nowe where a man holdethe hys landes by socage and dyeth hys heyre beynge wythyn thage of .xiiii. yeres the lord shal not haue yâ— warde but the next of kynne to the heyre to whome the heritage can not descend shall haue the wardeshyp as well of the lande as of the heyre tyll the heir come to the age of .xiiij. yeares and suche gardeine is called gardeine in socage and shal rendre accomptes to the heyre for the issues and profytes that he hathe receiued of the landes durynge suche tyme hys reasonable costes and expeÌ„ses deducted so that he shall not haue the wardeshyp to his owne vse profyte as gardeine in cheualrye hath Finally ye shal vnderstande that whan tenaunte in socage dyethe the lorde shall haue reliefe that is to say the value of the rent that is yearlye due vnto hym of the tenauncye besyde the yerly rente so that in effecte after the death of his tenante he shal haue of the heyre .ii. rentes saue that for the reliefe he may distreyne forth wyth but for the accustomed rent he can not distreyne tyl the vsuall daye of payment be come Francke almoyne TEnaunte in francke almoygne that is to saye in free almesse is where a byshop deane or any other ecclesiasticall persone holdeth of his lorde in pure and perpetuall almes and suche tenure began firste in olde time after this maner Whan a man was seased in ancient time of certain landes or tenementes in his demene as of fee of the same tenementes enfeoffed an abbot his couent or a priour his couent or any other persone ecclesiastical as a deane of a colege mayster of an hospitall or suche like to haue to hold the same landê to them and to theyr successoures for euer in pure and perpetuall almesse or in francke almes in these two cases the tenementes shulde be holden in franke
almoyne By force of whyche tenure they that holde in francke almoyne after thys sorte be bounde of ryght before god to make orisones and prayers to celebrate masses and to do other diuine seruices for yâ— soules of their graunters and feffers and for the soules of theyr heires whych be dead and for yâ— prosperous estate of their heyres that be nowe alyue And bycause of ryghte they be bounde to thys diuine seruice they be discharged by the lawe to do any other prophane or corporall seruice as fealtye or suche other lyke But neuerthelesse if suche as hold theyr tenementes in franke almoyne do omyt and leaue vndone these deuine seruices wheruÌ„to they be bouÌ„d before god the lorde can not distrein them ne yet compell them by any other meanes by the course of the coÌ„mon lawe but the onelye remedy is to complayne of them to theyr ordinarye who of ryght ought to compel suche ecclesiasticall persones to do the deuyne seruice due as afore said But here ye shall note that yf a persone of a chyrche or any other ecclesiasticall persone holdethe of hys lorde by certeyne diuine seruice to be done as to synge masse euery frydaye in the weke or placebo and â—irige or to fynde a preest to synge masse or to distribute in almes C. pence to a hondred men at suche daye in all these cases yf such diuyne seruice be vndone the lorde mayne very wel distrayn bycause the seruice is put here in certayntye Now I sayde that if in olde time a man dyd infeoffe suche ecclesiasticall persone after such sorte he shuld holde hys lande in franke almoyne but at this day it is otherwise for by the reasone of a statute called Quia emptores terrarum no man can aliene ne graunt landes or tenementes in fee simple to holde of hym selfe so that nowe yf a man beynge seased of landes in fee simple graunteth the same by liceÌ„ce to an ecclesiastical person in franke almoyne these wordes franke almoyne be voyde the ecclesiastical persone shal holde them immediatlye of yâ— lorde of the feoffer by the same seruyces yâ— the feoffer helde so that no man can hold in franke almoyne but by force of a grante made before the sayd statute onely the kinges maiesty excepted for he is out of the compasse of the-statute Finally ye shall note that where as a man holdeth in frank almoyne his lorde is bounde by the lawe to acquite him of al maner of seruice that any other lorde can haue or demauÌ„d out of the sayde landes That yf he dothe not acquyte him but suffre him to be distreyned than he shall haue agaynst his lorde a certayne wryt called a wryt of meane and shall recouer agaynste hym hys damages and costes of his suite Of burgage A Tenure in burgage is where an auÌ„cieÌ„t broughe is of which the kynge is lorde and they whyche haue tenemeÌ„tes wtin yâ— same brough holde the same of the kyng payenge a certeyne yearly rent whych tenure in effecte is but socage tenure Lykewyse it is where as any other lorde spirituall or temporal is lord of such broughe Here ye shal note that for the most parte suche auncient burghes haue dyuers customes and vsages which other townes haue not For some burghes haue a custome that the yongest sonne shal inherite before the eldeste whyche custome is called commonlye broughe Englyshe Also in some burghes by the custome the woman shall haue for her dower al the landes and tenementes wherof her husbande was seased at anye tyme durynge the couerture Moreouer in some burghes a maÌ„ may deuise his landes or tenemeÌ„tes by testameÌ„t at the tyme of his death and by force of suche deuyse or legacye he to whome the bequeste was made after the death of the testatour maye by force of thys auncient custome entre in to the landes so to him bequethed or deuised without anye lyuery of seasone to him made or further ceremonye of lawe Dyuers other customes in Englande there be contrary to the course of the common lawe whyche if they be anye thynge probable and maye stande wyth reason are good and effectuall not withstandynge they be agaynste the common lawe Of villenage or bonde seruice A Tenant in villenage is proper lye whan a villayne that is to saye a bondman holdeth of his lord whose bondman he is certayne landes or tenementes accordynge to the custome of the Manoure or otherwyse at the wyll of hys lorde and to do his lorde villayne seruice as to beare to carye yâ— donge of his lorde out of the citie or out of hys lordê Manoure to lay it vpon the demeane landes of his lorde or to do such like seruyle villayne seruice How be it fre men in some places holde theyr tenementes laÌ„des of their lordes by custome by such sorte of seruice and theyr tenure is called tenure in villenage yet they themselues be no villaines ne of seruile condicion but fre meÌ„ For the land holden in villenage maketh not the tenant a villayn but contrary wyse a villayne may make fre land to be villayne land vnto his lorde As if a villayn purchaseth laÌ„d in fee simple or in fee tayle the lorde of the villayne maye entre into the lande so purchased by hys bondman and put hym and his heyres out for euer and this done the lord if he wil maye lease the same lande to his villayne to holde of hym in villenage And here ye shall vnderstande that seruitute or villenage is the ordinance not of the law of nature but of that law which is called Ius gentium by whyche a man is made subiecte contrary to nature vnto an other mannes dominioÌ„ For he that is a villayne or bondman eyther he is so by title of prescription that is to saye he and hys auncestoures haue bene villaynes tyme out of minde or elles he is a villayne by his owne coÌ„fession in court of recorde so that all villaynes either they be borne villaynes or elles they be made so They be borne villaines when theyr father beynge a bonde man himselfe begetteth them in lawfull wedlocke either of a fre woman or of a bond woman for so that the father be bonde the issue of him lawfully begotten muste nedes be bonde by the lawes of Englande hauynge no regarde to the coÌ„dicion of the mother where as in the ciuill lawe it is clene contrarye For there partus sequitur ventrem that is to say the seruitute or bondage of the mother maketh the chylde bonde and not of the father Howe be it the bastarde sonne of a bondeman shall not be bonde bycause a bastarde is nullius filius in the law that is to say nomans sonne They be made vyllaynes two wayes eyther by theyr owne propre acte as whan a free man beynge of full age wyll come into a court of recorde there confesse himselfe bonâ—e to an other man Or elles by the lawes of armes called Ius gentium as whan a man is taken
though there be no clause of distresse in the dede of feffemente or lease But here ye wyl aske me when in the case before remembred a man at this daye gyuethe cleane aweye the lande or tenement from himselfe in fee simple so that there is no maner of reuersion of the same remaynyng in him at all and yet neuertheles reserueth vnto hym by hys dede a certaine rent what maner rent this shal be called I answer if there be in the dede indented any clause of distresse put that is that if the rent be behind vnpayed it shal be lawful for the feffoure to entre and to distreyne it is called a rente charge forasmoche as the lande is charged therwyth but howe of common right no but only by vertue and force of the wrytynge But on the other syde if there be no suche clause of distresse put in the indenture thaÌ„ the rent so reserued shal be called a rent secke Likewyse if a man that is seised of certaine landes wyll graunte eyther by indeÌ„ture or by his dede polle that is to saye single and not indented a yearly rent out of the same landes to an other whether it be in fe simple fe tayle for terme of lyfe for yeares or at wyll wyth clause of distresse then this rent is called a rente charge and he to whom suche rente is graunted may for defaulte of payment therof entre and distreine But contrarely if the graunte be made wythout any such clause of distresse it is called reÌ„t secke that is to say a dry rent bicause he can not come to it in case it be denied by way of distresse in so moch that if he were neuer seysed of it he is by the course of the common lawe without remedie Otherwise it is of a rent charge for here he to whoÌ„ the graunt is made whaÌ„ the rent is behinde may chose whether he wyll sue a wrytte of annuitie againste the grauntoure or distreyne for the rent behynde and reteine the distresse tyll tyme he be paid accordingly But he caÌ„ not haue both remedies to gither but muste take him to the one for if he ones recouer by a wrytte of annuitie then is the lande discharged And if he sewe not his writte of annuitie but distrayne for the arreragies and the tenauâ—te seweth a â—epleuin wherupon yâ— other auoweth the taking of the distresse in court of recorde then is the land charged and the person of the grauntour discharged of the action of annuitie Ye shal also vnderstand that if a maÌ„ wyll that an other shall haue a rent charge coÌ„myng out of his lande and yet wyll not that his person shuld be by any meanes charged by wrytte of aÌ„nuitie he may thaÌ„ haue such clause in the ende of his dede Prouiso ê™ praesens scriptum nec quicquam in eo conteÌ„tum ullo pacto se extendat ad oneraÌ„dam personam meam per breue seu actionem de annuitate sed tantuÌ„ modo ualeat ad onerandum terras fuÌ„dos tenementa mea de annuo redditu praedicto If thys or suche lyke clause be added then the land is charged and the person of the grauntour is discharged Also if a man wyll make a dede of graunte in this wise that if Iohn at Style be not yearly payd at the feast of Christms for terme of his life .xx. shillinges sterlyng that then it shall be lawfull for the sayd IhoÌ„ at Style to distreyne for it in the Manoure of Dale this is a good rent charge bycause the Manoure is charged with the rent by wey of distresse and yet neuerthelesse in this case the persone of him that made such dede is discharged of any action of annuitie forasmoch as he graunted not by his dede any aÌ„nuitie to the sayd Ihon at Style but onely grauÌ„ted that he might distreyne for suche yearly rent Furthermore ye shall note that if a man hath a rent charge to him and to his heires coÌ„myng out of certeyne landes and doth purchase any parcel of this land to him and to his heires in thys case the hole rente charge is qwenched and gone and the annuite also the cause is this the a rent charge can not be in suche case apporcioned Otherwise it is of a rent service for if one whiche hath a rent seruice as for exemple xx d. by yeare doth purchase parcel of the lande out of which this yearly rent of xx d. is commyng this shal not extinguish ne drowne yâ— hole rent but for that parcell only For reÌ„t seruice in suche case may very wel be apporcionate and rated according to the value of the lande Yet there be some sortes of rentes seruices which in no wyse can be apporcioned As where a tenaunt holdeth his lande of his lorde by the seruice to reÌ„dre to his lorde yearly at suche a feast an horse a ring of gold a redde rose a gylouer 〈◊〉 suche lyke if in this case the lorde doth purchase parcell of yâ— land thus of him holden this seruice is gone bicause such seruice can not be seuered ne apporcioned Also escuage is a seruice that may very well be apporcioned accordinge to the afferaunce and rate of the lande But where any lande is holden by homage and fealtie if the lorde purchaseth parcel of the land yet he shal haue hys homage and fealtie styll of his tenaunte Ye shall marke also that if a man maketh a lease of landes to an other for terme of lyfe reseruing to him certaine rent if in this case he grauÌ„teth the rent to Iohn at Style sauing to himselfe the reuersion of the said laÌ„d thys rente is but rente secke bycause Iohn at Style yâ— hath the rent hath nothing in the reuersion of the land But if he graunteth the reuersion of the lande to Iohn at Noke for terme of lyfe and the tenaunt atturneth accordingly then hath Iohn at Noke the rente as rente seruice bycause he hath yâ— reuersion for terme of his life Lykewise it is if a man giueth laÌ„des or tenementes in taile reseruing to him to his heires certaine rente or maketh a lease of the land for terme of life reseruinge certayne rent if he graunteth the reuersion to an other and the tenaunt atturneth accordingly the hole rent and seruice shal passe by this worde reuersion bicause the rent and seruice in suche case be incident to the reuersion and do passe by the graunt of the reuersion But if he had graunted the rent only the reuersion had not passed ¶ What remedy a man hath to recouer his rent when it is behynde I Shewed you before that for a reÌ„t seruice if it be behynde ye may distrayne in the grounde euen of common ryght thoughe there be no suche clause of distresse meÌ„cioned in yâ— dede of feoffement grauÌ„t or lease Also for a rente charge ye maye distreyne or bryng your wryt of annuitie at your choise and election as before is declared But of a rent secke if ye were neuer seised of
sayd termes according to their leases agaynst suche recoueries euen as yf none such had be suffered In whiche case neuertheles the recouerer after such recouery had shal haue lyke remedy against the termers by auowry or action of dette for rentes and seruices reserued vpon the same lesses being dew afore the same recoueries and lyke actions for waste done after the same recoueries as the lessours myght haue had if no such recouery had be had Furthermore no statute staple statute marchant nor executioÌ„ by elegit shal be herafter auoyded by any such fayned recouery but like remedy shal be had to auoyd and falsefie the said recoueries as by the premisses is ordeined for the fermour or lessee for terme of yeares ⧠An acte for auoiding of recoueries by collusion against tenaÌ„tes for terme of lyfe aÌ„ 32. HeÌ„ 8. WHere diuerse persons being seased of landes tenementes and hereditameÌ„tes as tenaÌ„tes by yâ— courtesy of Englande or otherwise onely for terme of life or liues haue heretofore suffred other persons by agremeÌ„t or couin betwene them had to recouer the same against them in the kinges court by reason whereof those ê‘sons to whome the reuersion or remainder thereof hath belonged haue after the dethes of the same particular tenantes bene driuen to their actions for the recontinuance and obteyning of the said landes and tenementes so recouered to their greate importable charges and expenses and somtime haue bene clerely disherited of yâ— same it is therfore inacted that all suche recoueries herafter to be had or prosecuted by agrement of the parties or by couin against any suche particular tenant of any landes or hereditamentes wherof the same particular tenant is or herafter shal be seased as tenaÌ„t by the curtasie of England tenant in taile after possibilitie of issue extincte or otherwise for terme of lyfe shal from hensforth as against such persons to whoÌ„ the reuersioÌ„ or remainder therof shal then appertayn ageinst their heires and successours be clerely voyde and of none effecte Prouided alway that this act shal not extend to any person that shal hereafter by good title recouer any hereditamentes without frawde or couin against any such partituclar tenant by reasone of any former right or title nor to auoyd any recouery hereafter to be had against any such particular tenaunt by thassent and agrement of those in the reuersion or remaynder so that the same assent and agrement do appere of record in the kinges court ⧠Of discontinuance IT is called a discontinuaÌ„ce by the lawes of Englande when he that hath the possession of landes or tenementes for the time present yet not hauing the fe simple in himselfe nor in his own right only maketh an altâ—enation of the same laÌ„des to an other person by reasoÌ„ wherof he that shuld haue them after him and which then hath right vnto them can not entre into them but is driuen to his remedy by wey of action in such wise that the sayd landes be not vtterly shifted and gone troÌ„ such person of persons as haue right vnto them but be aloÌ„ly discontinued for a time til the person which after the death of such discontinuer hath right vnto them do recoÌ„tinew bring them home againe not by entrye but by sute and wey of action As for exemple if tenaÌ„t in taile of certaine landes doth infeffe an other in the same in se simple or fe taile and hath issue and â—peth his issue can not entre into the landes though he hath title and right vnto them but is put to his action whiche is called â— formedone in the descendre And if such tenaÌ„t in taile which maketh such a feoffement hath no issue at tyme of his death it is yet neuerthelesse a discontinuance to him which is either in the reuersion or in the remaindre so that neither th one nor thother can entre but they be driuen to their action he in the reuersion to his formedone in the reuertir and he in the remaindre to his formdone in the remaindre In like maner if a bishop doth aliene landes which be parcel of his bishoprich and dyeth this is a discontinuance to his successour forasmoch as he can not entre but is driuen to his writ of entre sine asseÌ„su capituli Semblably if a Deane be sole seised of laÌ„des as in yâ— right of his deanrye and maketh suche an alienation this is a discontinuance to his successour Also if the maistre of an hospital alieneth certaine laÌ„dâ—s of his hospital this is a discontinuaÌ„ce and his successour can not entre but is put to his writte de Ãngressu sÃne assensu coÌ„fratrum sororum But if a persoÌ„ or vicare of a church will alien any landes or tenementes whiche be parcell of his glebe landes to an other in fe simple or in fe taile and dyeth or resigneth his benefice this is no discontinuance to his successour but that he may very wel entre not wtstandinge suche alienation made by his predecessour The cause of this difference Master Litletonne doth largely declare in his boke of Tenures which to auoid ê“lixitie I here omitte and remitte you to him Only of this one thing I wil admonishe you that in the .xxxij. yeare of this kingê most noble reigne it is inacted that no fine feffement or other acte to be made or suffred by the husband only of any landes or tenemeÌ„tê being the inheritaÌ„ce or frehold of his wife duringe the couerture betwene them shal be any discoÌ„tinuaÌ„ce therof or be preiudicial or hurtful to the said wife or to her heires or to such as shal haue right title or interest to the same by the death of such wife but that the same wife and her heires and such other to whom such right shall apperteine after her decesse shal may thaÌ„ lawfully entre into all such landes tenemeÌ„tes according to their rightes and titles therin ⧠That wrongful disseisin is no discent in the law inacted aÌ„ of wrongful disseisin 32. Hen. 8. WHere diuers persons afore this time haue by strength and wtout title entered into laÌ„des tenemeÌ„tes and other hereditamentes and wroÌ„gfully disseased dispossessed yâ— rightful owners and possessours therof so being seased by disseisin haue therof died seased by reason of whiche dieng sesed the parties yâ— were so disseised and dispossessed or such other persons as before suche discent myght haue laufully entred into yâ— said laÌ„des and tenementes be therby clerely excluded of their entre into yâ— said laÌ„des and tenementes put to their action for their remedy and recouery therin it is inacted that the diâ—g seased herafter of any such disseisour of any laÌ„des tenemeÌ„tes or other hereditameÌ„ts hauing no right or title therin shall not be taken or demed any such discent in the lawe for to take away the entrie of any suche persons or their heires whiche at the tyme of the same discent had good and lawful title of entre into the saide landes
THE PRINcipal lawes customes and estatutes of England which be at this present day in vre compendiously gathered togither for the weale and benefit of the kinges Maiesties most louing subiectê newely recognised and augmented ⧠LONDINI M.D.XL ⧠Cum priuilegio ad imprimendum solum ¶ The prologe of Richarde Tauerner to the reader DEmosthenes the renowmed Orator defyneth law in this wise The law sayth he is yâ— thing that all men ought to obey for many skylles but in especial bicause law is the inueÌ„tion also the gifte of god the decree of prudeÌ„t men the chastisement of wilful vnwilfull offenses finally the common suretie of a realme wherby it becommeth al men to liue which be conuersant in the same Chrysippus also an excelleÌ„t philosopher thus beginneth his boke of lawes The lawe is kinge of all aswel diuine as humane affaires the presideÌ„t and comptroller of thinges honest and dishonest the prince captaine and ruler of the iuste and iniust it is of ciuile-creatures aswell the commaunder what they ought to do as the forbydder what they ought not to do These auntike sayenges of wise meÌ„ assuredly ought moch to inflame vs to the knowledge of those thinges wtout which we shal be estemed no men but as brute and sauage beastes Let vs not commyt that it be sayd of vs English men as it was ones said of the men of Athens that is that we make very goodly profytable lawes but we vse theÌ„ not Certainly there can be no greater reproche to a common weale then thys One lesson I wolde we lerned of the auncient lawyer Romain named Celsus and that is this The knowledge of lawes is not to beare awey the wordê but the pyth power of them This he wrote bicause there be many which when good holsom lawes be made seke not to se them executed obserued but rather how to defraude them and to haue them vnexecuted whiche kinde of people after the sentence of most ancient lawmakers be no lesse worthy of reprehensioÌ„ thaÌ„ they which do expresly against the law Now they do say they against the law which do the thing that the law forbyddeth And they defraude a law or statute which the wordes of the law saued do circuÌ„uent the meaning and sentence of it Let vs thaÌ„ so read the lawes that we may beare awey the sentence mynd of them and so fulfyl and obserue the lawes that it maye appeare that they were not made in vayn Thus doing we shal please god we shal be obedient subiectes to oure prince and finally we shall seke our own weale and sauetye THE TABLE OF THIS ⧠BOKE ⧠WHat is law iustice and the prudence of lawes fol. i. ¶ A diuision of estates in landes or tenementes fol. i. ¶ Of tenaÌ„t for terme of yeres fol. i. ¶ Tenant at wyl fol. iii. ¶ TenaÌ„t by copy of court rol fo iiii ¶ A diuisioÌ„ of freholdes fol. vii ¶ TenaÌ„t for terme of life fol. viii ¶ TenaÌ„t by the curtesy fol. ix ¶ Of tenant in dower fol. x. ¶ A diuisioÌ„ of inheritaÌ„ces fol. xiiii ¶ Fe simple fol. xv ¶ Fe tayle fol. xx ¶ Tenante after possibilitie of issue extincte fol. xxiii ¶ Of parceners fol. xxiiii ¶ Of condicions fol. xxvi ¶ Of liuery of seisin and of atturnement fol. xxix ¶ Of seruices fol. xxxii ¶ Knightes seruice fol. xxxiii ⧠Of warde mariage and reliefe fol. xxxvii ¶ Seruice of castel garder fol. xl ⧠Of grande sergeantie fol. xli ¶ Of petite sergeantie fol. xliii ☞ Of homage ancestrel fol. xliii ¶ Of socage fol. xlv ¶ Of frank almoyne fol. xlvi ⧠Of burgage fol. xlviii ¶ Of villenage or bonde seruice fol. xlix ⧠Of rentes of the diuers kindes of them fol. liiii ¶ what remedye a man hath to recouer his rent whaÌ„ it is behynd fol. lx ¶ How auowries ought to be made of rentes and seruices fol. xliii ☞ An act for assignes or grantees of reuersions to take auantage of coÌ„dicions vpon fermers fol. xlv ¶ A newe arte how tithes and other profites ecclesiastical shal be recouered fol. xl vi ⧠Of mortuaries fol. xl ix ¶ An newe arte made for th assuraÌ„ce of fermers to holde their fermes against tenaÌ„tes in tayl c. fol. lxxi ⧠That fermers shal take auantage of condicioÌ„s couenaÌ„tes againste grantees of reuersions fol. lxxiii ⧠That fermers or tenaÌ„tê for terme of yeares shal falsefye recoueries for their terme fol. lxxiiij ¶ An acte for thaduoydinge of recoueries by collusion against tenantes for terme of life fol. lxxv ☞ Of discontinuance and of a newe acte coÌ„cerning yâ— same fol. lxxvi ¶ That wrongful disseisin is no discent in the lawe fol. lxxviii ⧠The limitatioÌ„ of prescription newly inacted fol. lxxix ¶ Of times and how they shall conclude the issue in taile fol. lxxxiii ¶ Of testamentes or laste willes fol. lxxxv ⧠An acte for probate of testameÌ„tes fol. lxxxvii ¶ Of disposing of landes by testament or otherwise newly inacted fol. lxxxxi ⧠Of mariagies and towching the degrees of consaÌ„guinitie fol. xcvi ⧠An ende of the table of this present volume What is lawe THe law is the direction ministratioÌ„ of iustice iustice is as Iustinian sayth in hys institutions a constante permanent minde and will to render vnto euery persone his right and duty The prudencye of lawe is a knowledge of diuine and of humane thynges a science and perfyte notice of equite and iniquitie of rightuousnes and vnrightuousnes And forasmoche as a great porcion of the prudencie or science of the lawes of this realme consisteth in the perfyte knowlege of estates that men haue in landes and tenementes we shal first as compendiously and as simply and playnlye as we can treate of estates ⧠A diuision of estates YE shal therfore vndersand that who so euer hath anye estate in landes or tenements either he hath in the same onelye a chatell or a free holde or an inheritaunce Yf he hath an estate in any landes or tenementê but for terme of certayne yeares or at his landlordes wyll so is it called a chatell if for terme of his life or of an other mans lyfe it is called a free holde or franke tenement And if he hath it to hym and to hys heyres in fee simple or in tayle then we saye he hathe an estate of inheritaunce ⧠Tenaunte for terme of yeares TEnaunte for terme of yeres is he to whome landes or tenementes be dimised and lessed for the terme of certayne yeres as is agreed bitwene the landlorde the tenaunt And when the lessee I meane him to whom such lease is made doth entre by force of the sayd lees and is in actuall possession of the same than he is called tenaunt for terme of yeres And here ye shall note that if the lessour that made the lees hath reserued vnto him a yerely rent vpon the sayd lees as it is accustomably vsed to be done yf the
rent be behynd vnpayde it shal be in his free libertie election either to entre and distrayne for the rent or to brynge an action of dette againste him at the law for the arreragies of the same But in this case it is requyred that the lessoure were seased of yâ— landes or tenemeÌ„tes at the time of the makiÌ„g of the lease for otherwise it shall be a good plee in the action of dette for the tenaunt to saye that the lessour had nothinge in the lande or tenement at the time of the lease made excepte the leasâ— were made by dede indeÌ„ted for than the plee shall not lye in the mouthe of the tenaunte or lessee to plede And it is to be knowne that in a lease for terme of yeares by dede or without dede there nede no lyuerye of seasone to be made to the lesse but he may entre when he wyl by vertue of his lease wythout any further ceremonye of lawe Note also that yf a man lesseth landes for terme of yeares thoughe the lessoure chaunceth to dye before the lessee doth entre yet the maye entre well ynoughe Otherwyse it is where as lyuerye of seasone is to be made as in free holdes and in inheritaunces Also yf the tenauÌ„t for yeres doth waste the landlorde maye brynge an action of waste agaynste hym and shall recouer the place wasted and his treble damages Tenaunte at wyll TEnaunte at wyl is he to whom landes or tenementes be lessed to haue holde the same at the wyll of the lessoure And in this case the lessoure may put out his tenaunte at what tyme hym lysteth But yet neuertheles if the tenaunte haue sowed the groundes with corne in thys case if the lessoure wyl entre and put out his tenaunte before haruest the lawe wyll gyue hym free commynge and going to repe and cary his corne awaye wythout any punyshment or dammage to be susteyned for his sodoynge bicause he knew not at what time the lessoure wolde entre But otherwise it is of the tenaunt for certeine yeres for if he soweth yâ— ground and the terme of hys lease be come out and expired before the corne be type in thys case that lessoure or he in the reuersion maye entre and take the corne bycause it was the folye of the tenaunte to sowe the grounde knowynge the ende of his terme In lyke wyse tenaunte at wyll shall haue free commyng and going after the time of the lessoures entree to carye awaye hys housholde stuffe and goodes for a reasonable space ⧠Ye shal also vnderstande that he that maketh a lease at wyll maye reserue an annuell or yearely rente in whiche case if the rent be behynde he may entre very well and distreyn the goodes and catells of the tenaunte or at his election bryng an action of dette agaynst him Also it is to be knowne that tenaunt at wyl of a mese or tenemente is not bound by the order of lawe to susteyne and repaire the houses that be ruynouse as is the tenaunte for yeares and therfore none action of waste lyeth agaynst him Yet if he do wylful waste as if he plucketh down the houses or cuttethe downe the trees it hath bene thought by the sages of the lawe that the lessoure may brynge an action of trespace against hym and recouer hys losses therby susteyned ⧠Tenaunt by copy of courte rolle THere is an other kynde of tenaunt at wyll whiche is called tenaunt by copy of the courte rolles And this is when a man is ceased of a maner wythin whiche it hath bene vsed tyme out of mynde that the tenauntes within the precincte of the said maner haue holden landes and tenementes to them to their heyres in fee simple fee tayle or for terme of life at the wyll of the lorde according to the custom of the maner And such a tenaunte can not aliene or sell his land by his dede for if he do the laÌ„de or tenemente that is so aliened and sold is forfayted into the lordes handes but if he wol alien his copy hold lande to an other he must according to the custome come into the lordes courte and there surrender it vnto the lordes hande to the vse of hym that shall haue the state The formâ— of which surrender is coÌ„monlye vsed to be this Ad haÌ„c curiam uenit A. de A. sursum reddit in eadem curia unum mesuagium c. in manus domini ad usum C. de D. heredum suorâ— uel heredum de corpore c. Et super hoc uenit praedictus C. de D. coepit de domino in eadeÌ„ curia mesuagium praedictum habendum tenendum sibi c. ad uoluntatem domini secundum consuetudinem manerij faciend reddend inde redditus seruitia consuetudines inde prius debitas consuetas c. Et dat domino pro fine c. Et fecit domino fidelitatem These as I said be called tenauntes by copye of courte rolle bicause they haue none other euidence to shewe concernyng theyr landes saue onely the copies of the rolles of theyr lordes courte Neyther can these tenauntes sue or be sued for such landes in yâ— kynges courte by wryte or otherwyse but if they wyll implede or sue others for suche copye landes they must do it by way of playnt in the lordes court after this sorte A. de B. queritur uersus C. de D. de placito terrae uidelicet de uno mesuagio xl acris terrae .iiij. acris prati c. cum pertinenÌ„ Et facit potestationem sequi quaerelam istam in natura breuis domini regis assise mortis antecessoris ad coÌ„em legem uel c. plegii de prosequeÌ„do F. G. c. ⧠Nowe althoughe some suche tenauntes haue an inheritaunce accordynge to the custome of the maner yet in very dede they are but tenantê at the wyll of the lorde For as some men thynke if the lorde wyll expell them and put them forth they haue no remedy at al but to sue vnto their lorde by weye of peticion desyrynge him to be good vnto theÌ„ For if they myght haue any remedye by the law then shulde they not be called saye they tenauntes at the wyl of the lord after the custome of the maner But other men of no lesse lernynge and prudency haue bene of contrary sentence as lorde Bryan chiefe iustice in the time of king Ed. the iiij whose opinion was alwayes that if suche tenaunt by the custome payenge his seruices be eiected and put forthe by his lorde without cause reasonable he maye very wel bryng and maynteyne an action of trespace agaynste his lord at yâ— coÌ„mon law as appereth termino Hilarij anno xxj E. iij. Also lorde Danby chiefe iustice in likewyse was of the same iudgement as appeareth Termino Mich. anno vii Ed. iiij where he saith that the tenaÌ„t by the custome is as wel inheritable to haue his lande after the custome
issue but doughters and die and the doughters do enter in to the landes thus desceÌ„ded vnto them nowe they be called parceners or coheyres by a wryt called De ê‘titione facienda brought by on of them agaynst the others they shal be constrayned by the lawe to suffre an egall particion to be made of the landes bytwene them Nowe partycion maye be made in sundrye wayes One waye is whaÌ„ they them selues do make particion bytwene them of the hole herytage and do agree vnto the same and entre euery one in to her parte so alotted vnto her An other is whan by all they re agremente an consente one common frende do make the particion In whych case the eldest syster shal haue the fyrst election and after her the seconde suster and so forth But if they agree that theldest suster shall make the particion and she maketh it then theldest shal not chuse fyrst but shall suffer all her susters to chose before her as it is thought There is also an other forme of particion whiche is egally to diuide the landes into so manye partes as there be coheires or parciners and to wryte euery parte so diuided in a seuerall scroule of paper and to putte the sayde scroulles in to a bonette or to enclose them seuerally in balles of waxe and than the eldeste suster to chuse whyche balle she wyt or to put her hande in to the bonet and to take a scroule to holde her to her chauÌ„ce and allotment and so consequentlye euery suster after other And ye shall note that particion by agrement maye as well be made by nude and bare wordes wythout wrytynge as by wrytynge That yf any of the parceners wil not suffre any particion to be made than may the other that wolde haue partition purchase a write called De partitione facienda agaynste them that refuse partition to compell the same to suffer partition to be made accordyngly and than by the iudgement of the courte the sheryfe by the seremente of twelue men shall make particion bytwene them and shal assigne to eche suster her porcion as he shall thynke good wythout gyuyng anye election to the eldeste And if two Manours of meeses descende to two susters and the maners be not of egall value than may she to whom the lesse maner is allotted haue assigned vnto her a rente proportionably out of the others maner Finally ye shall vnderstande that if a man be seased of landes in fee semple hath issue two daughters and giueth wyth one of his daughters to an other man that is to mary her the thirde or fourth parte of his lande in franke mariage and dyeth if in thys case the daughter that is in this wise auaunced wyll haue her porcyon of her fathers heritage she muste putte her lande gyuen vnto her in francke mariage in hochepot newe agayne I meane she must be conteÌ„ted to suffer her sayde landes to be commixte and mengled wyth the other landes of whyche her father dyed seased in fee simple so that an equall diuision maye be made of the hole or elles she shall haue no parte of those landes of which her father died seased But if her father had made vnto her but a common gifte in taile or a feffemeÌ„t in fee she shulde not nede to put her landes in hochepot but may retayne them styl also haue as good a part of the rest of the landes of which her father dyed seased as her other sister or sisters For a gyfte in francke maryage is accompted the moste free or moste liberall gyfte that can be and that whyche the lawe iudgethe to be onelye for the aduauncement and be stowynge of the daughter where as feffementes in fee and also common giftes in taile be accustomably for other causes and for the aduauntage rather of the gyuour or feffour then of the taker Of condicions FOrasmoche as euery estate is either pure or condicionall it were not amysse somwhat to make a declaration of the nature and efficacye of condicions Wherfore ye shal vnder stande that of condicions some be actuall condicions be called expresse condicions or coÌ„dicions in dede and other some be coÌ„dicioÌ„s in law whych be called also in latine Condiciones tacitae siue condiciones implicitae bycause they be secretely implyed by the lawe and not expressed Condicions in dede be such as be knyt and annexed by expresse wordê to the feffemente lease or graunter either in writing or without as for exeÌ„ple if I infeffe a man in certayne landes reseruynge to me to my heires so moche rente yerlye to be payde at suche a feast and for defaute of payment that it shal be lawfull for me to reentre thys is a feffement vpon condicion of paymente For the not payment of the rent shal dissolue the fefment Semblably it is of gyftes in tayle leases c. But yf the condicion be that for defaulte of paymente of the rent it shal be lawfull for the feffoure to entre agayne in to the landes and to holde them tyll he be satisfied of the rente this condition not performed dothe not dissolue the feffement but only gyueth to the feffour an authorytie to reteine the landes as it were by way of distresse tyll he hath leuyed the arrâ—ragyes of the rent And ye shall obserue that condicions be somtyme made to be performed on the feffees behalfe and somtyme on the feffours behalfe On the feffees behalfe as whan I infeffe you of landes vpon coÌ„dicion that ye shall do suche an acte as to pay vnto me or to myne heyres such annuall rent On the feffours behalfe as whaÌ„ I make a feffement vnto you vpon coÌ„dicion that yf I pay or cause to be payde vnto you before suche a daye suche a somme of money than it shal be lawfull for me to entre agayne retein my landes in my former estate In this case ye that be the feffee are called tenaunt in morgage which is as moch to saye as a dede gage and it semethe that the cause why it is so called is for asmoche as it is doubtfull whether the feffoure wyll pay at the daye prescribed suche somme of monye for the redemption of hys landes or no for if he do not his title or intresse in the landes thus gaged oppignorated is vtterly extinct with out all hope of renuynge Ye shall note that yf the morgageoure dyeth before the daye of payment hys heyre maye redeme the laÌ„d very well euen as well as his auncestoure that morgaged the land might haue done although there be no mencion made of heyres in the wrytinge And yf whan the monye is lawfully by the morgageour or his heire profered and the feffee refuseth to receyue the same the feffoure or hys heyre maye entre and then hath the feffee no remedy for his mony at the common lawe Ye shal vnderstaÌ„d also that some condicions be vtterlye voyde in the lawe and of none efficacy or streÌ„gth as if a
feffement be made of landes in fee simple vpon condicioÌ„ that the feffee shal not alien or put awey this same to none other this condicion I saye is voyde bycause the feffee is restrayned of hys hole poure that the lawe giueth in suche case vnto hym and whyche power and libertie is in maner included in euery feffement Yet I maye abbrydge hym of parte of his powre as to condicion wyth hym that he shal not aliene the landê to suche a personne or suche But of gyftes in tayle other wyse it is for yf I gyue landes to a man and to the heyres of his body lawfully begotteÌ„ vpon condicioÌ„ that he nor his heires shall aliene the landes to none other persone this condicion is good and effectuall in the lawe and if he or his heyres contrary to the condicion do aliene them than the gyuer or hys heyres maye very well entre and reteyne the laÌ„des for euer bicause this condicion doth stande wyth the forenamed statute of WestmÌ„ seconde whyche prohibiteth suche alienacioÌ„s to be made Hitherunto I haue spoken of condicions in dede now will I shew what be condicions in lawe that be annexed to any estates Knowe ye therfore that if the office of a parker or stewarde or suche lyke office be graunted to a man for terme of his lyfe though there be no coÌ„dicion at al meÌ„cioned in the grauÌ„t yet the lawe speaketh a condicion in thys case whiche is that yf the partye to whome suche offyce is gyuen shall not execute all poyntes apperteynynge vnto hys office accordingly it shal be lawfull for the grauÌ„tour to entre and dyscharge hym of hys offyce and thys condicion is called a condicion in lawe Of lyuery of season and of atturnement IN al feffemeÌ„tes giftes in tayle leeses for terme of lyfe or for terme of an others lyfe of landes or tenementes there can be no alteration or transmutacion of possession by the aunciente lawes of thys realme on lesse there be a certayne cerimonye adhibited and solempnised in the presence and syght of neyghbours or others whych ceremony is called liuerye of seasone And ye shal vnderstand that this ceremonye of lyuerye of seasone is done whan the feffoure donour lessoure or theyr deputy come wyth the neighboures solemply to the landes or tenementes and there put the feffee donee or lessee in possession of the said landes or tenementes by deliuering vnto him a clod of earth or the ring of the dore orsome other thyng in the name of seasone for this self cause this ceremonye of lawe is called lyuerye of seasone that is to witt a tradicion or gyuynge of seasone But this ceremony is not required in lessees for terme of yeares or in leeses at wyll in as moche as the lessoure in suche case remaineth styll seased and the lessee hath onelye the possession wythout the seasine and 〈◊〉 the termes of the lawe be that suche a man is possessed where as in feffementes giftes in taile and leeses for lyfe he is called seased Wherfore yf a feffemente or lees for life be made of laÌ„des or tenemeÌ„ts and before that the liuery of seasine be made the feffoure dyeth the heyr of the feffoure shall haue the landes per summum ius that is to lay by the rigoure of the lawe notwithstandyng that the feffee hath payde to the feffour the price of the land although the feffee be in possession But otherwise it is of a lese for terme of yeres I lyke ceremonye is vsed whan rente charges whan rente seruyces and suche other thynges as passe by wey of graunt be graunted for it is no full and perfyte graunt tyll it be consygnate as it were wyth the ceremonye of atturnement This atturnemente is nothynge elles but whan the tenaunte of the land of which the reuersion is grauÌ„ted or out of whyche a rente is grauÌ„ted do make some euident signification and token that he accepteth the persone to whom the grauÌ„t is made to be in the same respecte vnto hym that the grauntoure was As for an exemple if the tenaunte of the lande after he haue herde of the graunt coÌ„meth to the grauntee that is to wyt to the persone to whom the graunte was made and saye in thys wyse or in lyke effecte I agree me to the graunte made vnto you by suche a man or I am well a payde and contented of the graunt that suche a man hath made vnto you But the moste vsuall and frequent forme of atturnement is to saye Syr I atturne vnto you by force of the said graunt or I become your tenaunt or to delyuer vnto the grauntee a penye or a halfe penye by waye of atturnemente Yf a man maketh fyrst one grauÌ„t to one persone and after an other to ane other persone that graunte shal stande to whyche the tenaunte wyll atturne althoughe it be the latter And ye shal note that if a man be seased of a Manoure whyche is percell in demene and percell in seruice and doth aliene the same Manoure to an other onlesse the tenauntes of the Manoure do atturne the seruices shal not passe only tenauntes at wyll excepted for it nedethe not to cause them to atturne Note furthermore that there is a greate difference bytwene giuynge a penye in name of seasin and gyuyng it by waye of atturnement for whan it is gyuen of the tenaunt to yâ— grauÌ„tee in name of seasin it dothe not only implye an atturnement but also it gyueth him suche a seasin that if the rente afterwarde be behinde and not payd he may now vppon yâ— seasin of the penye after a lawfull distres and after rescus made brynge an assyce of nouel disseasin where as if it were gyuen only by waye of atturnement he coulde not brynge the assyse but hys wryt of rescus onely Also ye shall vnderstande that wher landes be deuisable by testamente by the custome of any auncyent boroughe or cyty yf there the reuersion of any landes be by testament bequethed to a man in fee and testatour which we call the dyuysour dyeth yâ— deuisee that is to wytte he to whom the deuise was made hath forthw t yâ— reuersion in hym wythout further ceremonye of atturnement Lykewyse it is if a man by testament dothe bequeth a rent charge that he is seased of or a reÌ„t seruice there nedethe none atturnement at all Yf two ioyntenauntes be of land and the lorde graunteth the seruyces to an other if one of yâ— ioynteâ—auÌ„â—eÌ„s atturneth it is ynoughe Finally if a lease be made for terme of lyfe the remayndre to an other in tayle the remayndre ouer to the ryght heyres of the tenauÌ„t for terme of lyfe if in this case the tenauÌ„t for terme of lyfe wyll graunte hys remayndre in fee to an other by hys dede thys remayndre passeth forthwyth without any atturnement for if any atturnement were requisite it shulde be made of the tenauÌ„t for terme of life whyche in this case is the grauntour hym selfe And in vayne
it is that the grauntoure shulde be enforced to atturne sith an atturnement is adhibited to none other purpose than to haue the conseÌ„t and agremente of the particular tenaunte to the intent that it may appere that he hath notice or knowlege of this grauÌ„te but here where as the particular tenaunte hymselfe is the grauntour an atturnement were superfluous and more than neded Of seruices HYtherunto I haue brefely touched and ouerrun the sundrye kyndes and formes of estates Now forasmoch as there is no tenure but hathe vnto it some seruice knyt and annexed it were very necessary to declare howe many kyndes of seruices there be and what seruyce is due to euery tenure For the knowledge her of ye shal vnderstande that the principall and moste common kynde of seruyce that the tenauÌ„t oweth to hys lorde is called knyghtes seruyce Knyghtes seruice KNyghtes seruice includeth homage fealeie and for moste ê‘te escuage and whosoeuer holdeth his laÌ„des by knyghtes seruice is bound by the law of this realme to do vnto his lorde homage and fealtie and to paye for most parte escuage when it shal be assesed by authoritie of parliamente as hereafter more playnlye shal be declared vnto you Homage is the most huÌ„ble and reuerent seruice that a man of free condition can do for whan the tenaunte shall do homage to his lord the lord shal sytte and the tenaunt shal knele before hym vpon bothe knees and shall holde his handes bitwene hys lordes handes and saye in this wise I become your man from this daye forthward of life and of membre and of earthly honoure and to you shall be faythfull and loyall and faithe to you shall beare for the landes that I clayme to holde of you sauynge the faythe that I beare vnto oure soueraigne lorde the kynge and than the lorde so syttynge shal kysse him But if an ecclesiasticall persone whych by hys ordre and profession hath addicted himselfe to the seruice of god in especiall shall do homage to his lord he shall not say I become your man bycause he hath professed himselfe to be the onely man of god but shal say I do to you homage and shall be to you faythfull and true and fayth to you shall beare for the tenementes yâ— I holde of you sauynge the faythe whyche I do owe to our soueraygne lorde the kynge Ye shal note also that when a woman not maried doth homage to her lord she shal not say I become your woman for it is not conuenient that a woman shulde be the woman of any other than of her husbande that she shall mary but she shal saye euen as the ecclesiasticall persone sayeth I do vnto you homage c. That yf perchaunce a man holdeth sundry landes and tenementes of sundrye lordes and euery of them by knyghtes seruice than in the ende of his homage makinge he shal say sauynge the fayth that I owe to our soueraygne lorde the kynge and to myne other lordes And it is to be knoewn that none is bounde to do homage to the lord onles it be suche a tenaunte as hath in the tenauncye an estate of fee simple or fee tayle eyther in hys owne ryght or in the ryght of an other For if a woman haue landes or tenementes in fee simple or fee tayle whyche she holdethe of her lorde by knyghtes seruice and taketh an husbande and haue issue in this case the husbande in the lyfe of his wyfe shal do the homage bycause he hath a title to haue the landes by the curtesy of Englande yf he ouerlyueth her also he holdeth them nowe in his wiues ryghte yet before issue had bytwene them yâ— homage shal be made in theyr both names But if the woman dieth before any homage made by her husbande in her lyfe and the husbande kepeth styll the landes as tenaunt by the curtesye now he shall not do homage to hys lorde bycause he hath nowe an estate but for terme of lyfe Fealtie is as moche to saye as a fidelitie or faythefulnes in doynge wherof the tenaunte shall holde hys hand vpon a boke say thus Heare you this my lorde I to you shall be faythfull and true and fayth to you shall beare for the landes and tenementes whyche I clayme to holde of you and duelye shall do you the customes and seruices whiche I owe to do you at the termes assigned as me helpethe god and hys sayntes And than he shall kysse the boke but he shal not knele as he the doth homage And ye shal obserue that homage can not be done but to the lorde hym self where as the steward of the lordes courte or the bailife may take fealtie for the lorde Also tenaunte for terme of life shal do fealte but homage as is sayde he can not do Nowe as concernynge escuage that is to saye the seruice of the shild ye shal vnderstand that he that holdeth his laÌ„des by escuage whan the kynge makethe a viage royall in to Scotlande for the subduynge of the Scottes is bounde to be wythe the Kinges Maiestye by the space of .xl. dayes well and conuenientlye arayed and appointed for the warre And he that holdeth his lande but by the moitie of the fee of knightes seruice is bounde by the force of his tenure to be wyth the kynge by the space of xx dayes and so proporcionably accordyng to the rate and quantitte of hys tenure But now to our institute and purpose after thys viage royall in to Scotlande in whyche the kynge goeth in persone and after the retyre in to Englande agayne a parliamente is wont to be sommoned in whyche shal be prescribed asseised what euerye persone that helde hys lande by homage and went not wyth the king neither by hymselfe nor by his deputye shall paye to hys lorde in satisfaction of his not seruynge and accordynge to the taxacion herof euery tenaunte shall paye to hys immediate lorde whether it be the kyng or other after the rate and porcion of hys tenure if he holdeth by an hoole fee he shall paye the hoole escuage if by a moitie the halfe yf by the fourth ê‘te of a fee the fourth parte c. and this money thus asseysed is called scurage or escuage for whyche the lorde to whome it is due maye verye well for the non paymeÌ„t therof distreyne But here it is to be noted that some tenauÌ„tes by custom vsed tyme out of mynde are bound to pay but the moitie or the thyrde parte of that which shall be asseised and limited by acte of parliament Yea and the custome is in some place that to what somme of money so euer escuage is asseised yâ— tenauÌ„tê shall paye neuer but such a certeyne somme of mony and this escuage is called escuage certeyne where as the other is called escuage vncertayne Finally ye shall vnderstande that escuage vncertayne is alwayes adiuged to be knightes seruice and draweth vnto it warde mariage reliefe but escuage certaine is no knyghtes
vnder the value of x. marke Also no Mortuarie shal be taken but onely where Mortuaries haue bene vsed to be payde and there after the forme hereafter mencioned Nor in no mo places but one that is to were there where his most abiding is and there but one Nor no persone shal take for a Mortuarie of any person being at his death of the value of x. markes aboue his dettes paid and vnder xxxli aboue .iij s iiij d And of the value of xxx li. and vnder lx lj not aboue vi s viii d And of the value of lx li. or aboue to any summe what so euer it be not aboue x. s. Prouided that no Mortuarie shal be asked nor payd for any woman couert baron or child or any person not keping house or for any wayfaring man but the mortuaries of such wayfaring men be an sweâ—able in that place where they had their most dwelling at yâ— time of their death Prouided that any such spiritual persoÌ„ may take any thing which shal be disposed or bequethed to him or to the high aulter of the church Also no thing shal be taken for Mortuaries in wales nor the marches of yâ— same nor in Calys or Berwyke or the marches of the same but only in such places of yâ— same where mortuaries haue bene accustomed to be paid and there but onely after the forme aboue specified Prouided that the byshops of Bangour Landaffe saint Dauies saint Asse the archdeken of Chester may take such mortuaries of yâ— prestê°â— within their diosices iurisdictions as heretofore haue bene accustomed Prouided also that in such places where mortuaries haue bene accustomed to be taken of lesse value none shal be compelled to paye any other mortuarie or more for any mortuarie then hath bene accustomed nor no mortuarie there shal be demaunded of any person exempt by this acte vpon payne afore lymyted ¶ An acte for the assuraunce of fermoures made aÌ„ 32. Hen. 8. AL leases heereafter to be made of any manours laÌ„des tenementes or other hereditamentes by wryting inâ—cted vnder seale for terme of yeres or for terme of life by any persons being of ful age of one and twenty yers hauyng any state of inheritaÌ„ce either in 〈◊〉 simple or in fee tayl in their own right or in the right of their churches or wyâ—es or ioyntly with their wiues of any estate of inheritaÌ„ce made before yâ— câ—uerture or after shal be good effectual in the law agaynst yâ— lessours their wyues hâ—yres and successours according to such estate as is comprised in euery such indenâ—iâ—ee of lease Prouided that this acte shal not extende to any leases to be made of any laÌ„des tenemeÌ„tes or hereditameÌ„tes being in the handes of any fermoâ—t by vertue of any olde lease onles the same olde lease be expired futrendâ—ed or ended within one yeare nexte after the making of the sayd new lease nor yet shal extende to any graunt to be made of any reuertion of any landes tenementes or hereditamentes nor to any lease of any such landes tenementes or hereditamentes as haue not most commonly bene letten to ferme or occupied by the fermours therof by the space of .xx. years nexte before such lease therof made nor to any lese to be made without impeachment of waste nor to any lease to be made aboue the numbre of xxi yeares or thre liues at the most from the day of making therof And that vpon euery such lease there be reserued yearly during the same lease dewe payable to the lessours their heires and successours to whom the same landes shuld haue come after the dethes of the lessours if no such lease had bene therof made and to whom the reuersion therof shal perteine according to their estates interestes so moch yerly rent or more as hath bene most accustomably yelden for the same within .xx. yeres next before such leases therof made that euery person to whome the reuersion therof shal perteine after the deathes of such lessours or their heires shal haue such lyke remedy and auantage to al ententes and purposes against the fermours therof their executours and assignes as the same lessour shuld or myght haue had Prouided also that yâ— wyfe be made partie to euery such lease as shall be made by her husbande of any landes being the inheritance of the wife and that euery such lease be made by indenture in the name of the husbande his wife and she to seale yâ— to same And that the rent be reserued to the husbande and to the wife and to the heires of yâ— wife accordiÌ„g to her estatâ— of inheritance in the same And that the husbande shall in no wise aliene discharge grauÌ„t or giue awey yâ— same reÌ„t reserued nor any parte therof longer then during the couerture without it be by fyne leuyed by the sayde husband and wyfe Prouided furthermore that this acte extende not to giue any lybertie or power to any persons to take any mo fermes leases or takings of any manours laÌ„des tenementes or other hereditamentes than they myghte lawfully haue done before yâ— making of this acte nor yet extende to giue any libertie or power to any person or vicar of any church or vicarage for to make any lease or graunt of any their messuages landes tenementes tithes profytes or hereditameÌ„tes belonging to their churches or vicaragies otherwise than they myght haue done before the making of this acte ⧠An acte that fermoures shall take auantage of condicions and couenantes against grauÌ„tees of reuersions aÌ„ 32. Hen 8. AL fermours and grauntees of lordships landes rentes personages tithes portioÌ„s or any other hereditamentes for terme of yeares life or liues their executours administratours and assignes shal haue like action and remedy against all persons and bodyes polytike their heires successours and assignes whiche haue or shall haue any gift or graunte of the king or of any other person of the reuersion of the same lordships landes tenementes and other hereditameÌ„tes so letten or any parcel therof for any condicion couenant or agrement conteyned in the indentures of their lease as they might haue had against their sayd lessours and grauntours their heires or successours al benefytes aduantagies of recouries in value by reason of any warranty in dede or in law by voucher or otherwise onely excepted Prouided that this acte shall not extende to hinder or charge any person for the breche of any couenant or condition comprised in any such writing as is aforesayd but for such couenantes and condicions as shall be broken or not perfourmed after the fyrst day of Septembre in the .xxxii. yeare of this king and not before ⧠Of falsifieng of recoueries by fermers inacted aÌ„ 21. Hen. 8. All fermers or lessees for terme of yeares may herafter falsefie for their terme onely recouerees had by fayned titles aswell as a tenaunt of frehold might at the comen law And the same fermers or termers their executours and assignes shal enioy their
partie greued may haue his attaint vpon euery such verdit so giuen and the plaintiffe in the same attaint vpon iudgement for him giuen shal haue his recouery execution and other aduaÌ„tage in like maner as heretofore hath bene vsed ⧠Of fines FInes haue theire name bycause they make a final ende and determination of all suites strifes and debates betwene men For the due leuieng wherof it was inacted in the .iiii. yere of King Henry the seuenth that they muste be solemnly before yâ— iustices of the common place red and proclamed the same terme three termes next folowing yâ— ingrosmeÌ„t at whiche tymes al yâ— plees must cease And such fines shal be a sufficient barre and discharge against al persons sauing against women that be couert baron if such women be not priuie to the same fine or such as be within age in prisoÌ„ out of the realme or out of their right myndes But these fines shall not coÌ„clude ne barre all straungers whiche haue right to entre or to haue any action if they come within .v. yeares astre suche proclamations made or in case the cause of action falleth vnto them after the fyne so duely leuied if they come and commence their action and suite within .v. yeares nexte after such cause of action to them accrued And they may sue against the takers of the profittes But if they that haue right to the same be within age in prison couert baron out of the realme or not in their right memory then their title or entrie shal be saued vnto them tyl they be of ful age out of 〈◊〉 discouered and sole within the realâ—e or of â—ight mynde and then within fyue yeres after their action or entrie must be sued or made with effecte Also ye shal vnderstand that by the said stature of Henry the .vii. it shal be a good plee for al straungers to saye that they that were parties to the fine nor none other to theire vse had any thing in the tenementes or landes at the tyme of the leuying of the fine Furthermore ye shal note that in the .xxxii. yeare of this king for thaduoyding of certaine doubtes and ambiguities it was inacted that al fines aswel hertofore leuied as hereafter to be leuied according to the sayd statute of Henry the .vii. by any person of the ful age of .xxi. yeres of any landes or other hereditamentes beinge before yâ— fine leuied in any wise intayled vnto him or to any of his ancestors in possession reuersion remaindre or in vse shal be immediatly after the same fine leuied ingrossed and proclamations made a sufficient barre and discharge for euer aswel against him his heirs clayming the same onely by force of any such entaile as against al other to their vse so that the same fines be not leuied by any woman after the death of her husband contrary to the statute made the .xi. yeare of Henry the seueÌ„th of landes and tenementes of th inheritance or purchase of her husbande or of any his ancestours giuen to her in dower for terme of lyfe or in tayle in vse or in possession Excepted also al fines leuied or to be leuied of any such landes or other hereditamentes as the owners therof by any special acte of parliament made sith the said fourth yeare of Henry the .vij. be restreined from making any alyenations discontinuancies or other alterations of the same Also of such landes as be now in sute and variaÌ„ce in any of the kinges courtes or wherof any euidences be now in demande in the Chancery or which be already couered Excepted also fines leuied or to be leuied by any person of landes or tenementes granted to him or to his ancestours in taile either by the kingê letters patentes or by vertue of any acte of parliament wherof the reuersion is in the king ⧠Of testamentes or last willes TEstamentuÌ„ in latyn is as moche to say as mentis testatio that is a declaratioÌ„ or witnessinge of a mans mynd And there be two sortes of testamentes The one is called testamentum scriptum that is a written testament or a last wil by writing and the other is called testamentum nuncupatuÌ„ a testament nuncupatiue which is when a man wyl expresse by mouth his last wil and testament wtout wryting onely by calling before him certayn of his neighbours in whose presence he doth signifie by wordes his last minde and wil. And this for most parte men vse to do when for feare of sodennes of deth they dare not abyde the writing of their wil. And this wil onlesse it be in certaine cases is as strong and as sure as is a testament or laste will put in writing and sealed with the seale of the testatour Also ye shal vnderstaÌ„d that though a testament by writinge be not sealed with the seale of the testatoure yet is the testament good effectual in the lawe And ye shal also marke that where a man maketh ones his testament wil and afterwarde maketh an other wil by wordes if his laste will be proued before the Ordinary and by him put in wryting and insealed with his seale such last wyl shal auoid the first wil onles it be in special cases and so alweyes the latter wil and testament shal auoyd the former Finally ye shal obserue that by an acte of Parliament made in the .xxi. yeare of our soueraigne lorde Kinge Henry theight it was ordeyned that where part of therecutours named in the testament of their testator wherin any landes or tenementes be willed to be solde by them refuseth to take vpon them the administration the residue do take the charge and administration therof vpon them in thys case al bargaines and sales of the said landes made only by those executors that toke the administratioÌ„ of yâ— testament vpon them shal be as good and as effectual in the law as if as the residue of yâ— same executors so refusing had ioyned with them or him if it be but one person in the makinge of the bargaine and sole ⧠An acte for probate of testamentes made aÌ„ xxi HeÌ„ viii NOthing shal be takeÌ„ by any person that hath auctoritie to take probation insinuation or approbation of any testament for the probation of the same where the goodes of the testatour do not amounte aboue the value of C. shillinges Excepte to the scribe for writing therof .vi d And for the commission of ministration of the goodes of any dieng intestate not being likewise aboue C. shilliÌ„ges vi d Also none hauing power to take probation of testamentes shall refuse to approue such testamentes being lawfully offred vnto them in writinge with wax therto affixed redy to be sealed so that the same be lawfully proued before yâ— same ordinarie to be trew And when the goodes of the testatour do amount aboue the value of C. shillinges not excede the summe of xl li none shal take for the probation regestring sealing and writinge of any such testament
by an aunciente custom she shal be indowed of the 〈◊〉 â–ª yea and thoughe 〈…〉 seased actually durying the courture yet if the landes be caste vpon 〈◊〉 by the lawe so that the law calleth him tenaunt to euery mans action it suffiseth for the woman to demaunde her dower for it were vnreasonable that the negligence 〈…〉 of entrynge of the husbande shulde hurte the wyues 〈…〉 Otherwise it is as I sayde before of tenauÌ„t by the curtesy for if landes descende to a woman couert and the husbande for slouthfulnes or negligence doth not entre in his wyues life he shal not be tenaunt by the curtesi◠〈◊〉 by all lawes the wyfe oweth obedience and subiectioÌ„ to her husbande and therfore she can not compel him to entre but when landes descend to the wyfe the husbande onelye haue power to entre at his pleasure And ye shall vnderstand that onlesse the wyfe be passed the age of ix yeares at the tyme of her husbandes deathe she shall not be endowed by the common lawe But it is to be knowen that a womaÌ„ maye by diuers wayes estoppe and preuidiâ—e her selfe of her dower as if she commyt any crime for which she is atteynted of treasone murdre or felonye â—he gettâ—â—no dower not wythstandyng she hath obteyned her pardone Also yf after the deathe of her husband she taketh a lease for terme of lyfe of the same landes wherof she is indowable she losed her dower of the same Moreouer yf she departethe from her husbande and lyuethe in aduoutrye wyth an other man and not reconcieled agayne to her husbande wythout coercion of the ecclesiasticall power she lesethe her dower after her husbandes deathe She shall be also barred of dower yf she wyll wythholde from the heire the charters and euidence concernynge that lande wherof she asketh dower But none other saue the heyre can wytholde her dower for thys cause It maye not be vnknowne also of what thynges she maye demaunde dower and of what thinges not Of landes messuagies aduousons rent charges rente seruyses or signories in grosse or otherwyse of villaynes of coÌ„mons certayne of estouers certayne she is dowable But of commons and estouers sans nombre also of annuities of homage of thingê of pleasure as of seruyces of paimet of roses and semblable she shall not be endowed There be yet two other kindes of dower the one is called dowment ex asseÌ„su patrâ—is and the other is called dowment de la plus beale ê‘tie that is to saye of the fairest parte Dowment ex assensu patris is whan the father is seased of landes in fee and his sonne whiche is heyre apparaunt endoweth his wife at the churche dore whan he is espoused of parcell of hys fathers landes wyth the assente of his father in wrytinge testifienge the same assent if in thys case her husband dye she may forthwyth entre into the laudes so assigned vnto her wtout further appâ—yntynge or proces of law although the father of her husbande be yet aliue in actual possession of the lande But if she thus do and take her to thys endowment at the churche dore she can not haue her dower by the common lawe of the thyrde parte of all her husbandes landes or any parcell of them how be it if she wyll refuse this assignement made vnto her at the church dore and demaund dower at the common lawe she maye verye well A man maye also endow his wyfe at the time of the spousailes of his own landes whiche he hath in his owne possession and that dower is called dower ad ostium ecclesiae Dowment Dela plus beale that is to saye dowmente of the fayreste parte shall be in thys case Whan a man is seased of landes whiche he holdethe of an other man by knyghtes seruice and of other laÌ„des which be of socage tenure and hathe issue whyche is wythin the age of .xiiij. yeares dye and the lorde of whom the lande is holden by knyghtes seruyce entrethe in to the lande holden of hym and the mother of the chylde entrethe in to the socage tenure as gardeyne in socage yf in thys case the woman wyll brynge a wrytte of dower agaynste the lorde whyche is gardeyne in cheualrye he may plede the speciall mater and shewe howe she as gardeyne in socage hath so moche lande and pray the court that she maye be suffred to endowe her selfe of so moche lande beynge in her owne custodie as amounteth to the thyrde parte of the hole landes And than the iudgemente shall be that the gardeyne in chyualrye shall reteyne the lande holden of hym quyte from the woman duerynge the non age of the warde After which iudgement she maye go and in presence of her neighboures endowe her selfe of the beste parte of that whyche is in her custodye amountynge to the thyrde parte of the hole and than is she called tenaunte in dower de la plus beale A diuision of inheritaunces HYtherunto I haue spoken of free holdes nowe it remayneth to treate of inheritauÌ„ces not that inheritauÌ„ces be no free holdes for they be free holdes also but the other estates of whiche I haue here tofore treated be onely free holde and of no hygher nature where as a state of in heritance although it â—e a free hold yet it is not to be called by that name sythe it is a farre more excellent and greater estate But ye shall vnderstande that of inheritaunces some be of more amplitude and excellencye than other some be as that inheritaunce whyche is pure simple and without limitacion of what heyres is it called fee simple But when I make a limitacioÌ„ of what heyres thaÌ„ is it called fee tayle of which also be two sortes as herafter more at large shal be declared Nowe the nature of fee simple is to be setforth wyth oure accustomed compendiousnes Fee simple FEe simple is as I sayd the most ample large inheritaunce that can be in this realme diuised or excogiâ—ate as that whiche a man hath to hym and to his heyres simply without any further limitacion for whether they be of his owne bodye begot ten or not so that they be the next of his kinne and wythin the degrees it suffiseth So then tenaunte in fee simple is he that hath landes or tenementes whether it be by purchase or by discent to him to his heires for euer For if a man will purchase landes in fee simple he must nedes haue these wordes his heyres in his purchase for these be the onlye wordes that make an estate of inheritaunce Therfore yf landes be gyuen to a man for euer no mencion be made of his heyres he hath an estate but for terme of his lyfe bycause these wordes his heyres do lacke Yet neuertheles if a maÌ„ by his testament doth deuise landes to an other in suche where the custome wyl serue so to do though he maketh no mencion of heyres but saythe that he bequethethe to suche a