Executors he that doth appear by Distress shall answer doth extend by Equity to Administrators for such of them as appear first by Distress shall answer by Equity of the said Act because they are of the like kind So likewise the Statutes of Gloucester gives the Action of Waste and the Penalty of it against him that holds for Life or Years and by the Equity thereof a man shall have an Action of Waste against him that holds but for one year or half a year yet this is without the words of the Statute for he that holds but for half a year or one year doth not hold for years but that is the meaning and the words that Enact the one by Equity Enact the other Errant ERrant id est Itenerans comes from the French word Errer id est Errare or if the old word Erre id est Iter and is appropriated unto Iustices that go Circuit and to the Bailiffs at large who are therefore called Justices Errants and Bailiffs Errants because they go and travel from place to place the one to do Iustice and the other to execute Process See Eire Error ERror is a Fault in Iudgement or in the Process or Proceeding to Iudgment or in the Execution upon the same in a Court of Record which in the Civil Law is called a Nullitie Error is also the name of a Writ that lies where Iudgment is given in the Common place or before the Iustice in Assise or Oyer and Terminer or before the Major and Sheriffs of London or in other Court of Record against the Law or upon undue and ill Process then the party grieved shall have this Wrft and thereupon cause the Record and Process to be removed before the Iustices of the Kings Bench and if the Error be found it shall be reversed But if an erroneous Iudgment be given in the Kings Bench then it could not be reversed but by Parliament until the Statute of 27 Eliz. cap. 8. Also if such a Default in Iudgment be given in a Court not of Record as in a County Hundred or Court-Baron the party shall have a Writ of False Iudgment to cause the Record to be brought before a Iustice of the Common-place Also if Error be found in the Exchequer it shall be redressed by the Chancellor and Treasurer as it appeas by the Statute E. 3. an 31. c. 12. 31 El. c. 1. Also there is another Writ of Error upon a Iudgment in the Kings Bench and that is where the Plaintiff assign matter of Fact for Error And this lies in the same Court for this Court can redress their Errors in Fact but not their errors in Law But the Court of common B. cannot do so Escape EScape is where one that is arrested comes to his liberty before he be delivered by Award of any Iustice or by order of Law Escape is in two sorts voluntary and negligent Voluntary Escape is when one doth arrest another for Felony or other Crime and after he in whose custody he is lets him go where he will And if the Arrest were for Felony then shall it be Felony in him that suffered the Escape if for Treason then Treason in him and if for Trespass then Trespass and so in all other When one is arrested after escapes against the will of him that did arrest him and is not freshly pursued and taken before the pursuer loses the sight of him this shall be said a negligent Escape notwithstanding that he out of whose possession he escaped do take him after he lost sight of him A so if one be arrested and after escape and is at his liberty and he in whose ward he was take him afterward and bring him to the prison yet it is an Escape in him If a Felon be arrested by the Constable and brought to the Goal in the County and the Goaler will not receive him and the Constable lets him go and the Goaler also and so he escapes this is an Escape in the Goaler for that in such case the Goaler is bound to receive him by the hand of the Constable without any Precept of the Iustice of Peace But otherwise it is if a common person arrest another upon suspicion of Felony there the Goaler is not bound to receive him without a Precept of some Iustice of Peace There is an Escape also without an Arrest as if Murder be made in the day and the Murderer be not taken then it is an escape for which the Town where the Murder was done shall be amerced And it is to be observed That a man may be said to escape notwithstanding he always continues in Prison As if a man be in Prison upon two Executions at the Suit of two several men and the old Sheriff delivers over this Prisoner to the new Sheriff by Indenture according to the usual course and in the said Indenture makes no mention of one of the said Executions this Omission shall be said an Escape in Law instantly for which the Old Sheriff shall answer although the Execution was matter of Record whereof the new Sheriff might have taken notice But otherwise it is where the old Sheriff dies for in such case it behoves the new Sheriff at his peril to take notice of all the Executions that are against any person that he finds in the Gaol But in the said Case where the Sheriff dies and before another is made one that is in Execution breaks the Gaol and goes at large this is no Escape for when a Sheriff dies all the Prisoners are in the custody of the Law until a new Sheriff be made See Coke lib. 3. fol. 72. If the Sheriff upon a Capias ad satisfaciendum to him directed makes Return That he hath taken the Body and yet hath not the Body in Court at the day of the Return the Plaintiff may have his Action against the Sheriff for the Escape although the party so taken be in the Gaol See 7 H. 4. 11. Br. 107. Escheat EScheat is where a Tenant in Fee-simple commits Felony for which he is hanged or abjured the Realm or Outlawed of Felony Murder or Pety Treason or if the Tenant die without Heir general or special then the Lord of whom the Tenant held the Land may enter by way of Escheat or if any other enter the Lord shall have against him a Writ called a Writ of Escheat Escheator EScheator is the name of an Officer that observes the Escheats of the King in the County whereof he is Escheator and certifies them into the Exchequer This Officer is appointed by the L. Treasurer and by Letters Patents from him and continues in his Office but one year neither can any be Escheator but once in three years An. 1. H. 8. cap. 8. and an 3 ejusdem cap. 2. See more of this Officer and his Authority in Crompton's Justice of Peace See An. 21 Ed. 1. The form of the Oath of the Escheator see in the Regist orig fol. 301. b.
same Statute And when any Waste or destruction is made by the Recognisee his Executors or him that hath his Estate the Recognisor or his Heirs shall have the same Law as is before said of the Tenant by Elegit If Tenant by Statute-Merchant hold over his term he that hath right may sue against him a Venire fac ' ad computandum or else enter immediately as upon Tenant by Elegit See the Statute 11 E. 1. and of Acton Burnel and 13 E. 1. De Mercatoribus Starr-chamber STarr-chamber was an High Court held in the Star-Chamber at Westm before the King Peers and Iudges abolished per Stat. 17 Car. cap. 10. Sterbrech STerbrech alias Strebrech is the Breaking Obstructing or or making less of a Way Stilyard STilyard is a word used in the Statute of 22 H. 8. chap. 8. where the Ha â— se-Merchants are called the Merchants of the Sti yard which is a place in London where these Merchants or their Brotherhood had their thode And the House is said to be so called because bullt upon a Court-yard near the Thames where Steel was wont to be much sold Sub poena SUb poena is the name of a Writ made in divers Courts of Law and Equity viz. in Chancery and all other Courts to summon Witnesses and in that Court and in the Exchequer in Law and Equity and in the Common Pleas upon Informations qui tam c. to summon Defendants and in the Crown Office upon Informations Suffragan SUffragan is a word used in the Statut of 26 H. 8. cap. 14. and signifies a Titular Bishop appointed to aid and assist the Bishop of the Diocess in his Spiritual Function And he is called Suffraganeus in Latin because by his Suffrage Ecclesiastical Causes are to be adjudged Suggestion SUggestion is an Information drawn in Writing shewing cause to have a Prohibition which is left in Court and is mentioned in the Statute 2 E. 6. cap. 13. Sumage SUmage seems to be Toll for Carriage on Horseback Cro. Jurisd f. 191. Summons ad Warrantizandum c. SUmmons ad Warrantizandum and Sequatur sub suo periculo See of them after in the Title Voucher Supercargo ou Supracargo SUpercargo ou Supracargo is a Factor or Agent which goes with a Ship beyond the Seas by order of the Owner of the Wares therein and disposes thereof And the Master of the Ship is obliged to perform the Orders of such Factor or Supereargo Supersedeas SUpersedeas is a Writ that lies in divers cases as appears by F. N. B. f. 236. A. but it is always a command to stay some ordinary Proceedings in Law which ought otherwise to proceed Supplicavit SUpplicavit is a Writ issuing out of the Chaucery directed to the Sheriff and some Iustices of the Peace in the County or to one or more Iustices without the Sheriff for taking Surety of such a one as it is prayed against that he should keep the Peace and this is by the Statute of 1 E. 3. c. 16. See F. N. B. f. 80. C and see the Stat. 21 Jac. c. 8. Sur cui in vita SUr cui in vita is a Writ that lies for the Heir of an Inheritrix whose Husband aliened the Inheritance of his Wife and the Wife died before she recovered in a Cui in vita See for this F. N. B. 194. C. Surplusage SUrplusage comes of the French Surplus that is an Overplus and signifies in the Law an Addition of more then needs which sometimes is the cause that a Writ shall abate but in pleading many times it is absolutely void and the residue of the Plea shall stand good Surrejoynder SUrrejoynder is an Answer to the Defendants Rejoynder or a second inforcing of the Plaintiffs Declaration Surrender SUrrender is the Consent of a particular Tenant that he in the Reversion or the Remainder shall presently have the possession And this is either Surrender in Deed by an actual yielding up of the Estate or in Law by the taking of the new Lease or such other act See of this Perkins c. 9. Also it is an act done to the Lord of a Mannor or his Steward of a Copy-hold Estate or done by special Custom of some Mannors to two Copy-hold Tenants of Mannors which surrender ought to be presented at the next Court Baron Swainmote SWainmote or Swannimote is a Court held thrice in a year within a Forrest by the Statute of Charta de Foresta c. 8. for all the Free-holders of the Forrest for so much the Etymology of the word imports Mote in the Norman speech signifying a Court and Swain in the Saxon a Charterer or Free-holder so that Swannimore is the Court of the Free-holder See of this Manwoods Forrest Laws cap. 23. f. 217 c. at large Swainmote in this Court Presentments of Offences done to the Forrest or Game are made given into the Iustices in Eyre Syb Som. SYb Som i. Peace and Security L. L. Eccles. Canuti Regis c. 17. Symony SYmony is an unlawful Contract made to have a man presented to a Rectory or Vicarage which is prohibited by Stat. 31 Eliz. cap. 6. T. Fee-tail TO hold in the Tail is where a man holds certain Lands or Tenements to him and to his Heirs of his Body begotten If the Land be given to a man and to his Heires males and he hath Issue male he hath Fee-simple which was adjudged in Parliament But where Lands are given to a man and to his Heirs males of his body begotten then he hath Fee-tale and the issue Female shall not inherit as appears in the 14 year of E. 3. in an Assise 18 E. 3. 45. Fee-tail is where the Land is given to a Man and the Heirs of his Body begotten and he is called Tenant in Taile general If Lands are given to the Husband and Wife and the Heirs of their two Bodies begotten then the Husband and the Wife are Tenants in Tail especial And if one of them die he that survives is Tenant in Tail after possibility of issue extinct and if he make Waste he shall not be impeached for it See Littleton But if the King give Lands to a man to his Heires males and the Donee dies without issue male then the Cousin collateral of the Donee shall not inherit but the King shall re-enter and so it was adjudged in the Exchequer-chamber 18 H. 8. in an Information made against the Heir of Sir T. Lovel Knight Tail after possibility TO hold in the Tail after possibility of Issue extinct is where Land is given to a Man and his Wife and the Heirs of their two Bodies engendred and one of them overlives the other without issue between them begotten he shall hold the Land for term of his own life as Tenant in the Tail after possibility of Issue extinct and notwithstanding that he do Waste he shall never be Impeached of it And if he alien he in the Reversion shall not have a Writ of Entry in consimili casu
Lease to any other the Executors shall have the Lease because they are his Assignees in Law And so it is in other cases Assise ASsise is a Writ that lies where any man is pur out of his lands tenements or of any profit to be taken in a certain place and so disseised of his Free-hold Free-hold to any man is where he is seised of lands and tenements or profit to be taken in Fee-simple Fee-tail for term of his own or another mans life But Tenant by Elegit Tenant by Stat Merchant and Stat. Staple may have Assise though they have no Free-hold and this is ordained by divers Statutes In an Assise it is needful always that there be one Disseisor and one Tenant or otherwise the writ shall abate Also where a man is disseised and recovers by Assise of Novel Disseisin and afterward is again disseised by the same Disseisor he shall have against him a Writ of Redisteisin directed to the Sheriff to make inquisition and if the Redisseisin be found he shall be sent to prison Also if one recover by assise of Mortduncaster or by other Iury or default or by reddition and if he be another time disseised then he shall have a Writ of Post Disseisin and he who is taken and imprisoned for Redisseisin shall not be delivered without special commandment of the King See the Statutes Merton c. 3. Marlebridge cap. 8. and Westminster 2. c. 26. There is also another assise called Assise of Fresh force and lies where a man is disseised of tenements which are devisable as in the City of London or other Boroughs or Towns that are Franchises then the Defendant shall come unto the Court of the said Town and enter his Plaint and shall have a Writ directed to the Mayor or Batleffs c. and thereupon shall pass a Iury in manner of Assise of Novel Disseisin But he must enter his Plaint within forty days as it is said or otherwise he shall be sent to the Common Law And if the Officers delay the Execution then the Plaintiff shall have another Writ to have Execution and a Sicut alias and a Pluries c. See Littleton cap. Rents Assise de darrain Presentment ASsise de darrain Presentment See Quare impedit Also there is an Assise of Nusance called Assisa Nocumenti Assise of the last Presentation Assise de Mortdancestor ASsise de Mortdancastor Look in the title of Cosinage Association ASsociation is a Patent sent by the King either of his own motion or at the suit of the party Plaintiff to the Iustices of Assise to have other persons associated to them to take the Assise And upon this Patent of Association the King will send his Writ to the Iustices of Assise by it commanding them to admit them that are so sent If the King makes three Iustices of Assise and afterwards one of them dies there the King may make a Patent of Association to another to associate him to the two in place of him that is dead and a Writ which shall be close directed to the two Iustices that are alive to admit him F. N. B. 185. Assoil ASsoil comes from the Latin absolvere and signifies to deliver or discharge a man of an Excommunication and so it is used by Stamford in his Plcas of the Crown lib. 2. cap 18. fol. 71. b. Assumpsit See Nude Contract ASsumpsit is a voluntary promise made by word by which a man assumes and takes upon him to perform or pay any thing to another This word contains in it any verbal Promise made upon consideration which the Civilians express by several words according to the nature of the Promise calling it sometimes Pactum Promissionem other times Sponsionem Pollicitationem or Constitutum Attach ATtach is a Taking or Apprehending by Command or Writ There are some differences between an Arrest and an Attachment for an Arrest proceeds out of the inferiour Courts by Precept and Attachment out of the Superior Courts by Precept or Writ Lamb. Eiren. lib. 1. cap. 16. Also an Arrest lies only upon the Body of a man whereas an Attachment is sometimes upon the Goods only as Kitch fol. 279. b. saith a man may attach a Cow and in another case that a man may be attached by an hundred Sheep and it is sometimes awarded upon the Body and Goods together at one and the same Attachment differs from a Capias for Kit. fol. 79. b. hath these words Note that in a Court of Baron a man shall be attached by goods and a Capias shall not go out thence By which it seems Attachment is more general extending to the taking of Goods where a Capias extends to the taking of the Body only An Attachment differs from a Distress as appears by Kit. fol. 78. a. where he saith Process in Court Baron is Summons Attachment and Distress which are Process at the Common Law There is also an Attachment of Priviledge and this is twofold either giving power to apprehend a man in a place priviledged or by vertue of an Office or Priviledge as to call another to that Court to which he himself belongs and in respect of which he is priviledged New Book of Entries fol. 431. a. And there is a Process called a Foreign Attachment which is used to attach the goods of Foreigners found within any Liberty or City for a Debt due to the party himself And by the custome of some places a man may attach goods in the hands of a stranger As if A. ows to B. ten pounds and C owes A. another Summe of money B. may attach the goods of A. in the hands of C. to satisfie himself in part or all as the Debt is Also there is Attachment of the Forest which is a Court there held every forty days throughout the year In which the Verderors have not any authority but to receive and inrol the Attachment of offenders against Vert and Venison taken by the other Officers that they may be presented at the next Iustice seat in Eyre Manwood part 1. pag. 93. cap. 22. Attainder ATtainder is a Conviction of of any person of a Crime or fault whereof he was not convict before As if a man have committed Felony Treason or such like and thereof is convicted arraigned and found guilty and hath Iudgment then he is said to be Attainted And this may be two ways the one upon Appearance the other upon default The Attainder upon Appearance is by Confession Batrail or Verdict the Attainder upon Default is by Process until he be outlawed Attaint ATtaint is a Writ that lies where false Verdict is given by twelve men and Iudgment given thereon then the party against whom they have passed shall have a Writ against the twelve men and when they are at issue it shall be tried by twenty four Iurors and if the false Verdict be found the twelve men are attaint and then the Iudgment shall be That their Meadows shall be eyred their Houses broken down their
Money is not to be accounted Goods or Catals nor Hawks nor Hounds for they are ferae naturae But it seems that Money is not a Chattel because it is not in it self valuable but rather in imagination than in Deed. Catals are either real or personal Catals real are either such as do not immediately appertain to the person but to some other thing by way of dependance as a Box with writings of Laud the body of a Ward the Apples upon the tree or the Tree it self growing upon the ground Crom. fol. 33. b. Or else such as are issuing out of some thing immovable to the person as a Lease for Rent or term of years Personal may be so called in two respects The one because they belong immediately to the person of a man as a Horse c. The other because when they are wrongfully detained we have no other means for their recovery but personal Actions The Civilians comprehend these things and also Lands of all natures and tenures under the word Goods which are by them divided into Moveable and Immovable See Bract. lib. 3. c. 3. num 3 4. Cepi corpus CEpi corpus is a Return made by the Sheriff that upon an Exigend or other Writ he has taken the body of the party F N. B. fol. 26. Certificate CErtificate is a Writing made in some Court to give notice to another Court of something done there as a Certificate of the cause of Attaint is a transcript briefly made by the Clerks of the Crown Clerks of the Peace or Clerks of Assise to the Court of Kings Bench containing the tenor and effect of every Indictment Outlawry or Conviction and Clerk attainted made or declared in any other Court But note that this Certificate ought to be made by him that is the immediate Officer to the Court and therefore if the Commissary or Official of the Bishop certifie an Excommunication in bar of an action at the Common Law this is not good as was resolved in Coke lib. 8. fol. 68. but such Excommunication ought to be certified by the Bishop himself Yet the Certificate of an Excommunication by special Commissioners Delegates under their Common Seal was allowed and held good enough in the Common-place Dyer fol. 371. pla 4. Certification of Assise CErtification of Assise of Novel disseisin c. is a Writ awarded to re-examine or review a matter passed hy Assise before any Iustices and is used when a man appears by his Bailiff to an assise brought by another and loses the day and having some other matter to plead farther for himself as a Deed of Release or c. which the Bailiff did not plead or might not plead for him desires a better Examination of the Cause either before the same or other Iustices and obtains Letters Pa â— ents see their form F. N. B. 181. and then brings a Writ to the Sheriff to call the party for whom the Assise had passed and also the Iury which was impannelled upon the same Assise before the said Iustices at a day and place certain And it is called a Certificate because therein mention is made to the Sheriff that upon the parties complaint of the defective Examination or doubts remaining yet upon the Assise passed the King hath directed his Letters Patents to the Iustices for the better certifying of themselves whether all the points of the said Assise were duly examined or not Certiorari CErtiorari is a Writ that lies where a man is impleaded in a base Court that is of Record and he purposes that he may not have equal Iustice there then upon a Bill in the Chancery comprising some matter of Conscience he shall have this Writ to remove all the Record into the Chancery there to be determined by Conscience but if he prove not his Bill then the other party shall have a Writ of Procedendo to send again the Record into the base Court and there to be determined And it lies in many other cases to remove Records for the King as Indictments and others This Writ is also granted out of the Court of Kings Bench or Common Pleas to remove any Action thither out of Inferior Courts of Record and so the Plaintiff must declare and proceed in the Superior Court Also to certifie original writs or proceedings out of any Courts of Record into the Kings Bench where nullum tale Recordum is pleaded Also upon Writs of Error of a Iudgment in the Common Pleas each party may have this Writ to bring any of the Proceedings into the Kings Bench upon alledging Diminution as appears Coke Entr. 232 233 242. 2 Cro. 131 479. Cessavit CEssavit is a Writ that lies where my very Tenant holds of me certain Lands or Tenements yielding certain Rent by the year and the Rent is behind for two years and no sufficient Distress may be found upon the Land then I shall have this Writ by which I shall recover the Land But if the Tenant come into the Court before Iudgment given and tender the Arrearges and Damages and find Surety that he shall cease no more in payment of the said Rent I shall be compelled to take the Arrerages and the Damages and then the Tenant shall not lose the Land The heir may not maintain this Writ for Cessure made in the time of his Ancestor And it lies not but for Annual service as Rent and such other and not for Homage and Fealty Also there is another Writ called Cessavit de cantaria which lies where a man gives Land to a House of Religion to find for the soul of him his ancestors and his heirs yearly a Candle or Lamp in the Church or to say Divine Service feed the poor or other Alms or to do some other thing then if the said Services be not done in two years the Donor or his Heirs shall have this Writ against whosoever holds the things given after such Cessure See the Statute W. 2. cap. 41. Cession CEssion is when an Ecclesiastical Person is created Bishop or when a Parson of a Parsonage takes another Benefice without dispensation or otherwise not qualified c. In both cases their first Benefices are become void and are said to become void by Cession And to those that he had who was created Bishop the King shall present for that time whosoever is Patron of them And in the other case the Patron may present See 41 E. 3. 5. 11 H. 4. 37. Cestuy a que vie cestuy a que use CEstuy a que vie is he for whose life another holds an estate and cestuy a que use is he who is a Feoffee for the use of another Challenge CHallenge is an Exception taken either against Persons or Things Persons as in an Assise the Iurors or any one or more of them or in case of Felony by the Prisoner at the Bar against Things as a Declaration Old N. B. 76. Challenge made to the Jurors is either made to the Array or
to the Polls Challenge to the Array is where Exception is taken to the whole number as impannelled partially Challenge to or by the Poll is where Exception is taken to any one or more as not indifferent Challenge to the Iurors is also divided into challenge principal and challenge for cause that is upon cause or reason Challenge principal or peremptory is that which the Law allows without cause alledged or Examination as a Prisoner at the Bar arraigned upon Felony may peremptorily challenge to the number of twenty one after another of the Iury impanuelled upon him not alledging any cause at all but his own dislike and they shall be discharged and new put into their places and this is in favor of life But in the case of High Treason no peremptory challenge is allowed See 25 H. 8. cap. 3. And a difference may be observed between challenge principal and challenge peremptory because challenge peremptory seems only to be used in matters Criminal and meerly without any cause alledged more than only the Prisoner's fansie Stamf. Pl. Cor. fol. 124. and principal for the most part in Civil Actions and with the namning of some Exception which being found true the Law presently allows As for example if any party saith that one of the Iurors is the Son Brother Cousin or Tenant to the other party or married to his daughter this is a good and strong Exception if it be true without farther examination of the credit of the party challenged And of how large extent this Challenge of Kindred is does well appear in Plow fol. 425. Also in the Plea of the death of any man and in every Action real and also in every Action personal where the debt or damages amounts to 40 marks it is a good challenge to any of the Iury impanelled That he cannot dispend forty shillings by the year of his own Free-hold An. 11 H. 7. cap. 21. Challenge upon reason or cause is when the party alledges any such Exception against one or more of the Iurors which is not forthwith sufficient upon acknowledgment of the truth thereof but rather arbitrable and consiverable by the rest of the Iurors as if the son of the Iuror had married the daughter of the adverse party This Challenge by cause seems to be termed by Kitch fo 92. Challenge for favor or rather Challenge for favor is there said to be a Species of Challenge by cause Where you may also read what Challenges are commonly accounted for principal and what not Chamberdekins CHamberdekins are Irish Beggars which by the Statute of 1 H. 5. c. 8. were by a certain time within the said Statute limited to avoid this Land Champertie CHampertie is a Writ that lies where two men are impleading and one gives the half or part of a thing in plea to a stranger to maintain him against the other then the party grieved shall have this Writ against the stranger And it seems that this hath been an ancient grievance in our Realm For notwithstanding divers Statutes and a form of a Writ framed unto them yet Anno 4 E. 3. c. 11. it was enacted That where the former Statutes provided redresse for this only in the King's Bench which then followed the Court it should be lawful for the Iustices of the Common Pleas likewise and Iustices of Assise in their Circuits to enquire hear and determine these and such cases as well at the Kings Suit as at the Suit of the party Also it was ordained by the Statute of 33 H. 8. which was confirmed by the Statute of 37 H. 8. c. 7. That Iustices of Peace at their Quarter Sessions should have authority to enquire as well by the Oaths of 12 men as by the information given to them by any person or persons of the defaults contempts and offences committed against the Laws and Statutes made and provided touching Champerty Maintenance c. and to hear and determine the said faults and offences Champertors are they that move Pleas and Suits or cause to be moved by their own or oothers procurement and sue them at their own costs to have part of the Lands or gains in variance See the Stat. Articuli suê‘ chartas c. 11. Chance-medley CHance medley is when a man without any evil intent doth a lawful thing or that is not prohibited by Law and yet another is slain or comes to his death thereby as if a man casts a stone which hits a man or woman who after dies thereof or if a man shoots an arrow and another that passes by is killed and such like this manner of killing is Man-slaughter by misadventure or Chance-medley for which the offendor shall have his pardon of course as appears by the Statute of 6 E. 1. c. 9. and he shall forfeit his goods in such manner as he that kills a man in his own defence But in this case it is to be considered whether he that commits this Man-slaughter by Chance-medley was in doing a lawfull thing for if the act was unlawfull as to fight at Barriers or run at Tilt without the Kings commandment or cast stones in a High-way where men usually pass or shoot arrows in a Market-place or such like whereby a man is killed in all these cases it is Felony at least that is Manssaughter if not Murther for the Offendor being doing an unlawful act of his own will the Law shall construe his meaning and will herein by the success of the act As if two are fighting together and a third man comes to part them and is killed by one of the two without any malice forethought or evil intent in him that killed the man yet this is Murther in him and not Man-slaughter by Chance-medley or Misadventure because they two that fought together were in doing an unlawful act And if they were met with prepensed malice the one intending to kill the other then it is Murther in them both Chancery CHancery is a Court of Law at Westminster for Suits for and against Attorneys Clerks and Officers of this Court this part of it and also the intelments of Deeds Patents is of Record And there is also a Court for Equity and their proceedings therein are entred in English and the Lord Chancellor or Keeper of the great Seal and Master of the Rolls are Iudges and the Writs are returnable there Coram Rege in Cancellaria Co. 4. Instit 78. Chapiter CHapiter is a Summary or content of all such matters as are enquirable before Iustices in Eyre Iustices of Assise or of the Peace in their Sessions so it is used 3 E. 1. c. 27. in these words And that no Clerk of any Iustice Escheator or Commissioner in Eyre shall take any thing for delivery of Chapiters but only Clerks of Iustices in their Circuits and likewise 13 E. 1. c. 10. in these words And when the time comes the Sheriff shall certifie the Chapiters before the Iustices in Eyre how many Writs he hath Also Britton uses it
had the Government of any such Manor or House was called the Commander who had nothing to do to dispose of it but to the use of the Priory and to have only his sustenance from it according to his degree which was usually a Brother of the same Priory who had been made Knight in the Wars against Infidels and they were lately called Knights of the Rhodes or Knights of Malta of the places where their grand Master did dwell See the said Statute and the old Statute intituled De Templariis whose decay was a great increase of this Order And many of these Commandries are called in the Country by the name of Temple Commandam COmmendam is a Benefice that being void is commended to the care of some sufficient Clerk to be supplied untill it may be conveniently provided of a Pastor And the true original of these Commendams was either evident profit or necessity He to whom the Church is commended hath the fruits and profits thereof only for a certain time and the nature of the Church is not changed thereby but is as a thing deposited in the hands of him to whom it is commended who hath nothing but the Custody thereof which may be revoked Commissary COmmissary is a title of Ecclesiastical Iurisdiction appertaining to him that exercises Spiritual Iurisdiction in places of the Diocess so far distant from the chief City that the Chancellor cannot call the Subjects to the Bishop's principal Consistory without their great trouble This Commissary is called by the Canonists Commissary or Officialis foraneus and is ordained to this special end that he should supply the Office and Iurisdiction of the Bishop in the out-places of the Diocess or in such Parishes as are peculiars to the Bishop and exempted from the Archdeacon's Iurisdiction for where by prescription or by composition there are Archdeacons who have Iurisdiction in their Archdeaconries as in most places they have there this Commissary is superfluous and rather to the prejudice then good of the people Commission COmmission is as much in the Common Law as the word Delegate in the Civil and is taken for the Warrant or Letters Patents which all men using Iurisdiction either ordinary or extraordinary have for their power to hear or determine any matter or action Yet this word sometimes extends more largely then to matters of Iudgement as the Commission of Purveyors or Cakers 11 H. 4. c. 28. But with this Epithete High it is most commonly used for the High-Commission Court instituted and founded upon the Stat. of 1 Eliz. c. 1. for the ordering and reforming of all offences in any thing appertaining to the Iurisdiction Ecclesiastical but especially such as are of highest nature or at least require greater puishment then the ordinary Iurisdiction call afford See the Statutes 17 Car. 1. c. 11. and 13 Car. 2. c. 12. by which the said Court is wholly abolished Commission of Rebellion Com̄ission of Rebellion otherwise called a Writ of Rebellion is used when a man after Proclamation made by the Sheriff upon an Order or Process of the Chancery under penalty of Allegeance to present himself to the Court by a day certain appears not And this Commission is directed by way of command to certain persons to the end they three two or one of them shall apprehend or cause to be apprehended the party as a Rebell and contemner of the Kings Laws in what place s ◠ever they shall find him within the Kingdom and bring or cause him to be brought to the Court upon a day therein assigned Committee COmmittee is he or they to whom the consideration or ordering of any matter is referred either by some Court or consent of the parties to whom it appertains as in Parliament a Bill being read is either consented unto and passed or denied and referred to the consideration of some certain man appointed by the House who hereupon are called a Committee But this word is otherwise used by Kitchen f. 160. where the widdow of the Kings Tenant is called the Committee of the King that is one committed by the ancient Law of the Land to the Kings care and protection Common COmmon is the right that a man hath to put his Beasts to Pasture or to use the ground that is not his own And note that there are divers Commons that is Common in grosse Common appendant Cōmon appurtenant and Common because of neighbourhood Common in Gross is where I by my Deed grant to another that he shall have Common in my Land Common appendant is where a man is seised of certain land to which he hath Common in anothers ground only for those beasts which compost the land to which it is appendant excepting Geese Goats and H ◠gs which Common is by prescription and of common right and appendant to arable land only Common appurtenant is of the same nature with Common appendant but with all manner of beasts as well Hogs and Goats as Horses Kine and such as compost the ground And this Common may be made at this day and severed from the land to which it is appurtenant but so cannot Common appendant Common because of neighbourhood is where the Tenants of two Lords are seised of two Mannors adjoyning to each other and the Tenants have time out of mind intercommoned each with other with all manner of beasts commonable Yet the one may not put his Cattel in the others ground for so they of the other Town may distrain them Dammage fesant or have an Action of Trespass but they may put them into their own fields and if they stray into the fields of the other Town there they ough to suffer them And the inhabitants of the one Town ought not to put in as many beasts as they will but with regard to the inhabitants of the other for otherwise it were no good Neighbourhood upon which all this depends Common Fine COmmon Fine is a certain summe of Money which the Resiants in a Leet pay unto the Lord of the Leet and it is called in some places Head-silver in some places Certum Letae and was as it seems first granted to the Lord towards the charge of his purchase of the Leet whereby the Resiants had now an ease to do their Suit royal within the Mannor and not be compelled to go to the Sherifs Tourn to do it And for this Common Fine the Lord must prescribe and cannot distrain for it without a prescription as it appears in Godfrey's Case in 11. Rep. fo 44. b. Common Law COmmon Law is for the most part taken three ways First for the Laws of this Realm simply without any other Law as Customary Civil Spiritual or whatever other Law joyned to it as when it is disputed in our Laws of England what ought of right to be determined by the Common Law and what by the Spiritual Law or Admirals Court or such like Secondly it is taken for the Kings Courts as the Kings Bench or Common Place only
to shew a difference between them and base Courts as Customary Courts Court-Barons County Courts Pipowders and such like as when a Plea of land is removed out of ancient Demesne because the land is Frank-fee and pleadable at the Common Law that is to say in the Kings Court and not in ancient Demesne or in any other base Court Thirdly and most usually by Common Law is understood such Laws as were generally taken and holden for Law before any Statute was made to alter the same as for example Tenant for life nor for years were not to be punished for doing Waste at the common Law till the Statute of Gloucester cap. 5. which gives an Action of Waste against them But Tenant by the courtesie and Tenant in dower were punishable for Waste at the Common Law that is by the usual and common received Laws of the Realm before the said Statute was made Common Pleas. COmmon Pleas is the Kings Court now held in Westminster-Hall but in ancient time moveable as appears by Magna Charta cap. 11. But Gwyn in the Preface to his Reading saith That untill the time that Henry the third granted the Great Charter there were but two Courts only called the Kings Courts the Exchequer and Kings Bench which was called Aula Regia because it followed the Court and that upon the grant of that Charter the Court of Common Pleas was erected and setled in a place certain viz. at Westminster and therefore all the Writs were made with this Return Quid sit coram Justiciariis meis apud Westmonasteriū where before the partie was commanded by them to appear coram Me vel Justiciariis meis without any addition of any place certain All Civil causes as well Real as Personal are or were in ancient time tried in this Court according to the strict Law of the Kingdom And by Fortescue cap. 50. it seems to have been the only Court for Real Causes The thief Iudge thereof is called The Lord chief Justice of the Common pleas accompanied with three or four Assistants or Associates who are created by the Kings Letters Patents and as it were installed or placed upon the Bench by the Lord Chancellor and Lord Chief Iustice of the Court as appears by Fortescue cap. 51. who expresses all the circumstances of this Admission The rest of the Officers appertaining to this Court are these The Custos Brevium three Prothenataries Chirographer fourteen Philasers four Exigenters Clerk of the Warrants Clerk of the Iuries Clerk of the Treasurie Clerk of the Kings Silver Clerk of the Essoines Clerk of the Outlawries Common day in plea of land COmmon day in plea of land Anno 13 R. 2. Stat. 1. cap. 17. signifies an ordinary day in the Court as Octabis Michaelis Quindena Paschae c. as you may see in the Statute ◠1 Hen. 3. concerning general days in the Bench. Commotes COmmotes seems to be a compound word of the Preposition Con and Motio that is Dictio Verbum and signifies in Wales part of a County or Hundred An. 28 H. 8. cap. 3. It is written Commoithes Anno 4 H. 4. cap. 17. and is used for a Gathering made upon the people of this or that Hundred by Welsh Minstrels Communi Custodia COmmuni Custodia is a Writ which didlie for that Lord whose Tenant holding by Knights service dies his eldest son within age against a stranger who entred the land and obtained the Ward of the body It seems to take name from the common Custome or right in this case which is That the Lord shall have the wardship of his Tenant untill his full age or because that it is common for the recovery both of the Land and Tenant as appears by the form thereof Old N. B. 89. Regist Orig. 161. Compromise COmpromise is a mutual Promise of two or more parties that are at controversie to submit themselves and all differences between them unto the Award Arbitrement or Iudgment of one or more Arbitrators indifferently chosen between them to determine and adjudge upon all matters referred and upon which the parties differ Computation COmputation is used in the Common Law for the true and indifferent Construction of time so that neither the one party shall do wrong to the other nor the determination of times referred at large be taken one way or other but computed according to the just censure of the Law As if Indentures of Demise are ingrossed bearing date the eleventh day of May 1665. to have and to hold the land in S. for three years from henceforth and the Indentures are delivered the fourth day of June in the year aforesaid In this case from henceforth shall be accounted from the day of the Delivery of the Indentures and not by any computation from the Date And if the said Indenture be delivered at four of the clock in the afternoon of the said fourth day this Lease shall end the third day of June in the third year for the Law in this Computation rejects all fractions or divisions of the day for the incertainty which alwayes is the Mother of contention So where the Statute of Inrollments made Anno 27 Henr. 8. cap. 16. is That the Writings shall be inrolled within six moneths after the Date of the same Writings indented if such Writings have Date the six months shall be accounted from the Date and not from the Delivery but if they want Date then it shall be accounted from the Delivery Co. li. 5. fol. 1. If any Deed be shewed to a Court at Westminster the Deed by Iudgment of the Law shall remain in Court all the Term in which it is shewed for all the Term in Law is but one day Co. lib. 5. fol. 74. If a Church be void and the true Patron doth not present within six months then the Bishop of the Diocess may collate his Chaplain but these six months shall not be computed according to 28 days to the month but according to the Kalendar And there is great diversity in our common speech in the singular number as a Twelve-moneth which includes all the Year according to the Kalendar and twelve-months which shall be computed according to 28 days to every month See Coke lib. 6. f. 61. b. Computo COmputo is a Writ so called of the effect because it compells a Bayliff Chamberlain or Receiver to yield his Account Old Nat. Brev. fol. 53. It is founded upon the Statute of Westm 2. cap 2. which you may for your better understanding read And it also lies for Executors of Executors 15 Ed. 3. Star de Provis Victual cap. 5. Thirdly against the Gardian in Secage for Waste made in the Minority of the Heir Malbr cap. 17. And see farther in what other cases it lies Reg. Orig. fol. 135. Old N. B. fol. 58. F. N. B. fol. 116. Concealers COncealers are such as find out lands concealed that is such lands as are secretly detained from the King by common persons having nothing to shew
Court of Iustice Magistracy or Title of land for which the party shall be punished according to the nature and quality of his offence sometimes by Action upon the Case for Slander at the Common Law and other times in the Ecclesiastical Court. As if a man contrive any False news or horrible and false Lies of Prelates Dukes Earls c. then an Action De Scandalis Magnatum will lie against him by the Statute of 2 R. 2. cap. 5. and this being proved the party offending shall be grievously punished But for words of Defamation against a private man there the party grieved shall have his Action upon the Case for the Slander and shall recover in dammages according to the quality of the fault wherein the quality of the person who is so defamed is much to be considered But for Defamations determinable in the Spiritual Court they ought to have three incidents First it ought to concern matter meerly Spiritual and determinable in the Ecclesiastical Court as for calling him Heretick Schismatick Adulterer Fornicator c. Secondly that it concern matter meerly Spiritual only for if such Defamation concern any thing determinable at the Common Law the Ecclesiastical Iudge shall not have conusance thereof As if a Divine is to be presented to a Benefice and one to defeat him thereof saith to the Patron that he is an Heretick or a Bastard or that he is Excommunicated whereby the Patron refuses to present him and he loses his Preferment he shall have an Action upon the Case for these Defamations tending to such an end Also if a woman be bound that she shall live continent for if a Lease be made to her so long as she shall live chaste in these cases Incontinency shall be tryed by the Common Law Thirdly although such Defamation be meerly and only Spiritual yet he that is defamed cannot sue there for amends or Dammages but the Suit ought to be only for punishment of the fault for the Soul's health of him that so offends And as for the Slander of a Title to Land if A. saith that B. hath right in the Lands of C. whereby C. is damnified then he may have an Action upon the Case for the Defamation of his Title against A. And although B. hath a colourable Title yet A. shall be punished forasmuch as he hath taken upon him knowledge of the Law and medled in a matter which concerned him not But if a man saith that he himself hath right to the Land of another in this case no Action for Defamation lies although he knows his Title to be false Cok lib. 4. fol. 18. Defeisance DEfeisance is a Condition relating to a Deed as an Obligation Recognisance or Statute which being performed by the Obligor or Recognisor the Act is disabled and made void as if it had never been done And there is no Warrantie Recognisance Rent-charge Annuity Covenant Lease for years or such like but that they may by a Defeasance made with the mutual consent of all those who were parties to the creation thereof by Deed be adnulled discharged and defeated And the difference between a Proviso or Condition in Deed and a Defeasance is in this That the Proviso or Condition is annexed or inserted in the Deed or Grant whereas a Defeasance is usually a Deed by it self concluded and agreed on between the parties and having relation to another Deed. And therefore if the Condition of an Obligation be repugnant to the Deed the Condition is void and the Obligation good As if the Condition be that he shall not sue the Obligation this is void as well as it is of a Feoffment upon Condition that the Feoffee shall not take the Profits But a Defeasance is a Grant that is made after the Obligation to defeat the same Obligation and this is good though it be repugnant and so not like a Condition 21 H. 7. fol. 24. b. For the form and manner of Defeasances according to the diversity of the Case see West part 1. Symb. lib. 2. sect 230 231 c. Defence DEfence is that which the Defendant ought to make immediately after the Count or Declaration made that is that he defends all the Wrong Force and Dammage where and when he ought and then to proceed farther to his Plea or to imparl And note that by defending the Force and Wrong he doth excuse himself of the Wrong against him surmised and makes himself party to the Plea and by defending the Dammage he affirms the Plaintiff able to be answered unto And for the residue of the Defence he accepts the power of the Court to hear and determine their Pleas of this matter For if he will plead to the Iurisdiction he ought to omit in his Defence these words ou quant il devera and if he will shew any disability in the Plaintiff and demand Iudgment if the party shall be answered unto then he ought to omit the Defence of the Dammage Defendant DEfendant is he that is sued in Action personal who is called Tenant in an Action real Defendemus DEfendemus is an ordinary word in a Feoffment or Donation and hath this force that it binds the Donor and his Heirs to defend the Donee if any man go about to lay any Servitude upon the thing given other then is contained in the Donation Braction lib. 2. cap. 16. num 10. See also Warrantizantibus Defender of the Faith DEfender of the Faith is a peculiar Title given to the King of England by the Pope as Catholicus to the King of Spain and Christianissimus to the French King It was first given by Leo. x. to K. Hen. 8. for writing against Martin Luther in behalf of the Church of Rome Stow's Annals p. 863. Deforceor DEforceor is he that overcomes and casts out with Force who differs from a Disseisor first in this that a man may disseise another without Force which act is called Simple Dissesin Britton cap. 33. Then because a man may deforce another that never was in possession as if many have right to Lands as common Heirs and one keeps them out the Law saith that he deforces them though he never disseised them Old Nat. Brev. fol. 118. If Tenant in tail makes a Feoffment in fee by which the Feoffee is in and afterward the Tenant in tail dies and his issue sues a Writ of Formedon against the Feoffee the Writ shall say and also the Count c. that the Feoffee wrongfully deforced him c. though he did not disseise him because he entred in the life of the Tenant in tail and the Heir had no present right Lit fol. 138. And a Deforceor differs from an Intrudor because a Deforceor keeps out the right Heir as aforesaid and a man is made an Intrudor by a wrongful Entry only in Lands or Tentments void of a Possessor Bract. lib. 4. cap. 1. And because Force and Forcible entry into Lands is so opposite to the Peace and Iustice of the Realm and a
who is therefore called the Incumbent of that Church because he doth bend all his study to the discharge of the Cure there Indicavit INdicavit is a Writ or Prohibition that lies for the Patron of a Church whose Clerk is Defendant in Court-Christian in an Action for Tithes commenced by another Clerk and extending to the fourth part of the Church or of its Tithes in which case the Suit belongs to the Kings Court by Westm 1. c. 5. Wherefore the Defendants Patron being like to be prejudiced in his Church and Advowson if the Plaintiff obtain in the Court-Christian has this means to remove it to the Kings Court Reg. orig fol. 35. and Britton c. 109. This Writ is not returnable but if they cease not their Suit he shall have an Attachment Inditement INditement See Enditement Indorsement INdorsement is that which is written upon the Back of a Deed as the Condition of an Obligation is said to be indorsed because it is commonly written on the Back of the Obligation Induction INduction is a lay act made by prescept of the Ordinary by which actual possession of the Church is given to the Rector or Vicar after his Presentation and Institution to it Infangtheef INfangtheef is a Priviledge or Liberty granted to Lords of certain Mannors to judge any Thief taken within their Fee Information INformation for the King is that which for a common person is called a Declaration and is not always done directly by the King or his Attorney but rather by some other man who sues as well for the King as for himself upon the breach of some penal Law or Statute wherein a Penalty is given to the party that will sue for the same but no Action of Debt to recover it therefore it must be had by Information Ingrosser INgrosser comes of the French word Grosier that is one that sells by Whole-sale But in our Law an Ingrosser is one that buys Corn Grain Butter Cheese Fish or other dead Victuals with an intent to sell the same again And so he is defined in the Stat. of 5 E. 6. c. 14. made against such Ingrossing Inheritance INheritance See Enheritance Inhibition INhibition is a Writ to inhibit a Iudge to proceed farther in the Cause depending before him And there is another Writ where after the Kings Presentment to a Benefice he presents another and inhibiteth the Bishop to give Induction to the first Presentee Plo. Com. 528. See F. N. B. f. 39. where he puts Prohibition and Inhibition together Inhibition is most commonly a Writ issuing forth of an higher Court-Cheistian to a lower and inferiour upon an Appeal Anno 24 H. 8. c. 12. and Prohibition out of the Kings Court of Record at Westminster to a Court-Christian or to an inferiour Temporal Court Injunction INjunction is an interlocutory Decree out of the Chancery sometimes to give Possession to the Plaintiff for defect of Apparance in the Defendant sometimes to the ordinary Courts of the King and sometimes to the Court-Christian to stay Proceeding in a Cause upon suggestiou made that if the rigor of the Law take place it is against Equity and Conscience in that Case See West part 2. tit Proceedings in Chancery sect 25. Inlagary INlagary or Inlagation is a Restitution of one outlawed to the Kings Protection or to the benefit condition of a Subject Inlaugh INlaugh signifies him that is sub Lege in some Frank-pledge not out-lawed of whom see Bract. l. 3. tract 2. c. 11. Inmates INmates are those persons of one Family that are suffered to come and dwell in one Cottage together with another Family by which the poor of the Parish will be increased And therefore by the Statute of 31 Eliz. c. 7. there is a Penalty of ten shillings a Month set upon every one that shall receive or continue such an Iumate Inquisition INquisition See Enquest Inrolment INrolment is the Registring Recording or Entring of any Act or Deed in the Chancery or elsewhere as of a Recognizance Fine Statute or Deed indented by the Statute of 27 H. 8. c. 16. by which a Freehold shall pass Instant INstant in Latine Instans is defined by the Logicians A thing not dividable in Time which is not any Time nor part of Time to which yet the parts of time are conjoyned and much considered in the Law and though it cannot be actually divided yet in consideration and conceit it may be divided and applied to several purposes as if they were several times whereof see in Plowdens Commentaries in the Case between Fulmerston and Stuard where the Statute of 31 H. 8. which Enacted That if an Abbot within a year before the Statute had letten Lands to one who at the time of making that Lease had the same Land to farm for a term of years then not expired that the Lessee should have that Land only for twenty one years is expounded And there it is debated That when the Termor takes the second Lease he surrenders his former term and so at the same instant of taking the second Lease the former term is expired And in the Case between Petit and Hales he who kills himself commits not Felony till he be dead and when dead he is not in being so as to be termed a Felon but at the instant is in the Law so adjudged And there are many other Cases in Law where the instant time that is not dividable in nature in the consideration of the mind and understanding of the Sages of the Law is divided upon which arise many arguments of great use and profound learning Institution INstitution is a Faculty made by the Ordinary by which a Vicar or Rector is approved to be Inducted to a Rectory or Vicarage Interdiction INterdiction has the same signification in the Common as in the Canon Law where it is thus defined Interdictio est Censura Ecclesiastica prohibens administrationem Divinorum And so it is used 22 H. 8. cap. 12. Intrusion INtrusion is a Writ that lies against him that enters after the death of Tenant in Dower or other Tenant for Life and holds out him in the Reversion or Remainder for which see Fitz. N. B. fol. 203. E. And every entry upon the possession of the King is called an Intrusion as where the Heir of the Kings Tenant enters after Office and before Livery this is called an Intrusion upon the King as appears in Stanf. Prerog fol. 40. and many other Books Intrusion INtrusion See Entrusion Inventary AN Inventary is a Catalogue or Recital in Writing of all the Goods and Chattels of one that is dead with the Valuation of them by four several persons which every Executor and Administrator ought to exhibit to the Ordinary at the time appointed Jointenans JOintenants are where two men come to any Lands and Tenements by one joynt Title as if a man give Lands to two men and to their Heirs Tenants in common are where two have Lands by several Titles or by Feoffment to two
Law and for not performance thereof no Action lies for Ex nudo Pacto non oritur Actio Nuper obiit NUper obiit is a Writ and it lies where one hath many Heirs that is many Daughters or many Sons if it be in Gavelkind in Kent and dies seised and one Heir enters into all the Land then the others whom he holds out shall have this Writ against the Coheir that is in But a Writ of â— ationabili parte lies in such ca â— e where the Ancestor was once seised and died not seised of the Possession but in Revertion Nusance NUsance is where any Man raises any Wall or stops any Water or doth any thing upon his own Ground to the unlawful hurt or annoyance of his neighbor he that is grieved may have thereof an Assise of Nusance And if he that makes the Nusance aliens the Land to another then this Writ shall be brought against them both as it appears by the Stat. of Westm 2. c. 24. It may be also by stopping Lights in an House or causing water to run over House or Lands for remedy whereof an Action upon the Case or Assise lyeth O. Oblations OBlations are what things soever are offered to God and his Church by pious and faithful Christians Occupant OCcupant Is when a man makes a Lease to another for the Term of the Life of a third person The Lessee dies He who first enters shall hold the land as occupant during the life of the third person To prevent which such Leases are now made to the Lessee his heirs nnd assigns 2 Cro. 554. Co. 6. r. 37. Odio Atia ODio Atia is an old Writ mentioned in the Statute of Westm 1. made in 3 E. 1. cap. 11. and it was directed to the Sheriff to inquire whether a man committed to prison upon Suspicion of Murther were committed upon just cause of Suspicion or for Malice only And if upon an inquisition it were found that he were not guilty then there came another Writ to the Sheriff to bail him But now that course is taken away by the Statute of 28 E. 3. cap. 9. as it appears in Stamford's Pl. of the Crown fol. 77. G. Aud see Coke lib. 9. fol. 56. a. b. Ordael ORdael is as much as to say as Not guilty and was an ancient manner of Trial in Criminal causes for when the Defendant being arraigned pleaded Not guilty he might chuse whether he would put himself upon God and the Country which is upon the Verdict of twelve men as they are at this day or upon God onely and therefore it was called The Judgment of God presuming that God would deliver the innocent and that was if he were of Free estate by Fire that is to say to go bare-footed over nine Plow-shares fire-hot and if he escaped unhurt he should be acquitted and if not then he should be condemned And if the party were of Servile condition then he should be tried by Water which was in divers manners For which see Lambert in the word Ordalium But now this Trial is prohibited by Parliament See Coke lib. 9. fol. 32. b. Ordelfe ORdelfe is where one claims to have the Ore that is sound in his Soil or Ground Ordinary ORdinary is a term of the Civil Law and there signifies any Iudge that hath authority to take Conusance of Causes in his own Right and not by Deputation But in the Common Law it is properly taken for the Bishop of the Diocess who is the true Ordinary to certifie Excommunications lawful Marriages and such Ecclesiastical and Spiritual acts within his Diocess to the Iudges of the Common Law for he is the party to whom the Court ought to write upon such occasions And yet the word Ordinary is usually taken in the Common Law and Statutes for every Commissary or Official of the Bishop or other Iudge Ecclesiastical that hath Iudicial Authority within his Iurisdictio â— as appears in Coke l. 9. Hensloe's C. fol. 36. b. and the Statute of Westm 2. cap. 19. 31 E. 3. cap. 11. and many others Orfgild ORfgild signifies a payment or restoring of Cattel from the Sax. Orf. Pecus and Guild Solut â— o Redditio Ouster le maine OUster le maine is a Writ directed to the Escheator to deliver Seisin or Possession out of the Kings hands unto the party that sues the Writ for that the Lands seised are not holden of the King or for that he ought not to have the wardship of them or for that the Kings Title is determined c. It is also the Iudgement given in a Monstrans de Droit or upon a Traverse or Petition for when it appears upon the matter discussed that the King hath no Right or Title to the thing that he seised then Iudgment shall be given that the Kings hand be amoved and thereupon an Amoveas manum shall be awarded to the Escheator which is as much as if Iudgment were given that the party should have his Lands again And see for this Stamf. Prerog cap. 24. Outfangtheef OUtfangtheef is that Thieves or Felons belonging to your Land or Fee but taken out of it shall be brought back to your Court and there judged Outlary OUtlary See Utlary Owelty OWelty is when there is Lord Mesne and Tenant and the Tenant holds of the Mesne by the same Service that the Mesne holds over of the Lord above him as if the Tenant holds of the Mesne by Homage Fealty and xx s. Rent and the Mesne holds over of the Lord above by Homage Fealty and xx s. Rent also this is called Owelty of Services Hearing of Records and Deeds c. HEaring of Records and Deeds is where an Action of Debt is brought against a man upon an Obligation and the Defendant appears and then prays that he may hear the Obligation wherewith the Plaintiff charges him So it is when Executors bring an Action of Debt and the Defendant demands to hear the Testament upon this demand it shall be read unto him But if it be in another Term or after the Defendant hath imparled then he shall not hear it And so as is said of Deeds is to be understood of Records that are alledged against him But in the Kings Bench the Defendant may at any time before Plea and the Plaintiff have Oyer of Deed and Record See the Title Monstrans de Fait Oyer and Terminer OYer and Terminer is a Writ called in Latine de Audiendo Terminando and it lies where any great or sudden Insurrection is made or any other sudden Trespass which requires hasty Reformation then the King shall direct a Commission to certain Iustices to hear and to determine the same Note that the Iustices of Assise have also one Commission of Oyer and Terminer directed to them and divers other Inhabitants within the Shires whereunto their Circuit extends whereof each of the Iustices of Assise are of the Quorum for the hearing and determining of divers Offences which may
happen in their Circuit which without this Commission they could not do See Fitzh N. B. fol. 110. b. P. Paine fort dure PAine fort dure is an especial Punishment for such as being arraigned for Felony refuse to put themselves upon the common Trial of God and the Country and thereby are Mute or as Mute in Law See this at large in Stamford Pl. Cor. fol. 150. Palace Court palace-PAlace-Court is a Court of Record erect by King James by his Letters Patents and held at Southwark and is a Court of Common Law See Marshalsea Pannage PAnnage See Paunage Pannel PAnnel comes of the French word Panne that is a Skin signifies in our Common Law a Schedule or Roll containing the names of the Iurors which the Sheriff hath returned to pass upon any Trial. And therefore the Empannelling of the Iury is nothing but the entring of their Names into the Sheriffs Roll. Pape or Pope PApe Papa is a name that signifies Father and anciently was applyed to other Clergy-men in the Greek Church but by usage is particularly appropriated in the Latine Church to the Bishop of Rome a name very frequent in our ancient Year-Books especially in the times of those Kings who too much abandoning their Imperial Authority and abasing themselves beneath their estate suffered an Alien an Outhlandish Bishop that dwelt 1000 miles off to take from them the disposition of many Spiritual preferments sometimes by Lapse sometimes by Provision or otherwise For redress whereof divers Statutes were made while the Kingdom was of the Roman Communion but his whole Poer was not taken away till towards the latter end of Henry the Eighths Reign Paramount PAramount is compounded of two French words par and monter and it signifies in our Law the Highest Lord of the Fee For the better understanding of this see F. N. B. f. 135. M. in his Writ of Mesne Paraphernalia PAraphernalia in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 praeter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dos They are Goods which a Wife challengeth above her Dower 1 Cro. Lord Hastings against Douglas Paravaile PAravaile is also compounded of two French words par and availer and signifies in our Law the lowest Tenant of the Fee who is Tenant to one that helds over of another See for the use of this word F. N. B. in his Writ of Mesne f. 135. M. Parceners PArceners are according to the course of the Common Law and according to Custom Parceners according to the Common Law are where one seised of an Estate of Inheritance of Tenements hath no Issue but Daughters and dies and the Tenements descend to the Daughters then they are called Parceners and are but as one Heir The same Law is if he have not any Issue and that his Sisters should be his Heirs But if a Man hath but one Daughter she is not called Parcener but the Daughter and Heir And if there are no Daughters nor Sisters the Land shall discend to the Aunts and they are called Parceners When Lands discend to divers Parceners they may make Partition between themselves by Agreement but if any of them will not make Partition then the others shall have a Writ de Partitione facienda directed to the Sheriff who shall make Partition between them by the Oath of xij lawful men of the Bailywick Also Partition by Agreement may be made by the Law as well by Word without Deed as by Deed. And if they are of full age the Partition shall remain for ever and shall never be defeated But if the Lands be to them in tail though they are concluded during their lives yet the Issue of him who hath the lesser part in value may disagree from the Partition and enter and occupy in common with the other part And if the Husbands of the Parceners make Partition when the Husband dies the Wife may disagree from the Partition Also if the Parcener who is within Age makes Partition when she comes to full age she may disagree But she must take good heed when she comes to her full Age that she take not all the Profits to her own use of the Lands which were to her allotted for then she agrees to the Partition and the age shall alway be intended the age of one and twenty years If there be divers Parceners that have made Partition between them and one of their parts is recovered by lawful Title then she shall compel the other to make a new Partition Parceners according to Custom are where a man is seised of Lands in Gavelkind as in Kent and other places franchised and hath issue divers Sons and dies then the Sons are Parceners by Custom Parco fracto PArco fracto is a Writ that lies against him that breaks any Pound and takes out the Beasts which are there lawfully impounded See of this F. N. B. 100. E. Park PArk is a place in which by Prescription or by the Kings Grant a Subject preservs his Game of Beasts ferae naturae See Stat. W. 1. 3 E. 1. cap. 20. Parliament PArliament See the Lord Cook 's 4th Institutes and Mr. Cowels Interpreter Title Parliament Parson imparsonee PArson imparsonee is he that is in possession of a Church appropriate or presentative for so it is used in both cases in Dyer f. 40. b. and f. 221. b. Parties PArties to a Fine or Deed are those which are named in a Deed or Fine as Parties to it as those that levy the Fine and they to whom the Fine is levied And they that make a Deed of Feoffment and they to whom it is made are called Parties to the Deed and so in many other like cases Note that if an Iudenture be made between two as Parties thereto in the beginning and in the Deed one of them grants or lets a thing to another who is not named in the beginning he is not Party to the Deed nor shall take any thing thereby Partition PArtition is a Dividing of Lands descended by the Common Law or by Custome among Co-heirs or Parceners where there are two at least whether they be Sons Daughters Sisters Aunts or otherwise of kin to the Ancestor from whom the Land descended to them And this Partition is made four ways for the most part whereof three are at pleasure and by Agreement among them the fourth is by Compulsion One Partition by Agreement is when they themselves divide the Land equally into so many parts as there are of them Coparceners and each to chuse one share or part the Eldest first and so the one after the other as they be of age except that the eldest by consent made the Partition then the choice belongs to the next and so the eldest last according as it is said Who makes the Partition the other must have the Choice Another Partition by Agreement is when they chuse certain of their Friends to make Division for them The third Partition by Agreement is by drawing Lots thus First to divide the Land into so many
is a Writ that lies where the Tenant holds of the King in chief as of his Crown and he is deforced that is put out of his Land then he shall have this Writ and it shall be Close and shall be pleaded in the Common Pleas. Also if any Tenant that holds of any Lord be deforced it behoves him to sue a Writ of Right Patent which shall be determined in the Lords Court But if the Land be holden of the King the Writ of Right Patent shall be brought to the Kings Court and the Writ may be removed from the Lords Court unto the County by a To â— t and from the County into the Common Place by a Pone Look therefore before in the Title Drolt Praecipe PRaecipe are of divers sorts Quod reddat terras as dower formedon c. debitum bona catalla Quod teneat conventionem Quod faciat sectam ad molendinum Quod permittat c. Preignotary PReignotary is compounded of two Latine words prae and Notarius and is used in our Law for the chief Clerks of the Kings Courts whereof there is one in the Kings Bench and three in the Common Pleas. He in the Kings Bench records all Actions Civil sued in that Court and they of the Common Pleas inrol all Declarations Pleadings and Iudgments and make out all Iudicial Writs they Inroll all Fines and Recognisances and exemplifie all Records the same Term before the Rolls are delivered out of their hands In 15 E. 4. 26 b. This Officer is called Praesignator And one of the three in the Common Bench Praesignator pauperum Premisses PRemisses See Habendum Praemunire PRaemunire is a Writ that lies where any man sues another in the Spiritual Court for any thing that is determinable in the Kings Court for which great punishment is ordained by divers Statutes viz. that he shall be out of the Kings protection and put in Prison without Bail or Mainprise till he have made Fine at the Kings Will and that his Lands and Goods shall be forfeited if he come not within two months And his Provisors Procurators Atturneys Executors Notaries and Maintainers shall be punished in the same manner Therefore look the Statute Also some say if a Clerk sue another man in the Court of Rome for a thing Spiritual where he may have remedy within the Realm in the Court of his Ordinary that he shall be within the case of the Statute And upon divers other offences is imposed by Statutes lately made the Penalty that they incur who are attainted in Praemunire As by 13 Eliz. cap 8. they who are aiding to make a corrupt Bargain whereupon Vsury is reserved above x. l. in the hundred for a year c. Prender PRender is the power or right of Taking a thing before it be offered from the French prendre i. accipere Prescription PRescription is when a Man claims any thing because he his Ancestors or Predecessors or they whose Estate he hath have had or used it all the time whereof no memory is to the contrary But one may not prescribe against a Statute except he have another Statute that serves for him Presentment PResentment is of two significations One is to a Church as when a man hath right to give any Benefice Spiritual and names the person to the Bishop to whom he will give it and makes a Writing to the Bishop for him that is a Presentation or Presentment If divers Coheirs cannot agree in Presentment the Presentee of the eldest shall be admitted But if Ioyntenants and Tenants in common agree not within six moneths the Bishop shall present by lapse The other is a Presentment or Information by a Iury in a Court before any Officer who hath Authority to punish any offence done contrary to the Law Pretensed Right or Title PRetensed Right or Title is where one is in possession of Lands or Tenements and another who is out claims it and sues for it now the pretensed Right or Title is said in him who so doth sue claim And if he afterward come to the possession his Right or Title is annexed to the Land and possession and not then called Right Primer Seisin PRimer Seisin is used in the Common Law for a branch of the Kings Prerogative by which he hath the first possession that is the intire Profits for a year of all the Lands and Tenements whereof his Tenant that held of him in capite died seised in his Demesne as of Fee his Heir then being at full age and thus the King takes in lieu of the intire Profits which he may take if he will until Livery be sued or at the least tendered Prerog Reg. c. 3. Stamf. f. 11. B. See the Stat. 12 Car. 2. c. 24. Prisage PRisage is that part or portion that belongs to the King of such Merchandizes as are taken at Sea by way of lawful Prise And this word you shall find in the Statute of 31 Ell â— cap. 5. Prisage of Wines PRisage of Wines mentioned in the Stat. 1 H. 8. c. 5. is a custom by which the King out of every Bark laden with Wine under 40 Tun claims to have two Tun at his own price Privie or Privities PRivie or Privities is where a Lease is made to hold at will for years for life or a Feoffment in fee and in divers other cases now because of this that hath passed between these parties they are called Privies in respect of strangers between whom no such Conveyantes have been Also if there be Lord and Tenant and the Tenant holds of the Lord by certain Service there is a Privity between them because of the Tenure and if the Tenant be disseised by a stranger there is no Privity between the Disseisor and the Lord but the Privity still remains between the Lord and the Tenant that is disseised and the Lord shall avow upon him for that he is his Tenant in right and in Iudgment of the Law Privies are in divers sorts as namely Privies in Estate Privies in Deed Privies in Law Privies in Right and Privies in Blood Privies in Estate is where a Lease is made of the Mannor of Dale to A for life the Remainder to B in fee there both A and B are Privies in Estate for their Estates were both made at one time And so it is in the first case here where a Lease is made at will for life or years or a Feoffment in fee the Lessees or Feoffees are called Privies in Estate and so are their Hairs c. Privies in Deed is where a Lease is made for life and afterward by another Deed the Reversion is granted to a stranger in fee this Grantee of the Reversion is called Privy in Deed because he hath the Reversion by Deed. Privy in Law is where there is Lord and Tenant the Tenant leases the Tenancy for life and dies without Heir and the Reversion escheats to the Lord he is said Privy in Law because he hath his Estate
hath or might have against him Bracton l. 5. tract 5. ca. 9. nu 9. Quo jure QUo jure is a Writ that lies where a man hath had Common of Pasture in anothers Several within the time of memory then he to whom the Several belongs shall have this Writ to charge him to shew by what Title he claims the Common Quo minus QUo minus is a Writ that lies where a man hath granted to another Housebote and Heybote in his wood and the Grantor makes such waste and destruction that the Grantee cannot have his reasonable Estovers then the Grantee shall have the aforesaid Writ which is in nature of a Writ of Waste And note that Housebote is certain Estovers to mend the House and Heybote certain Estovers to mend Heyes and Hedges There is another Writ called a Quo â— inus in the Exchequer which any Termor or Debtor to the king shall have against any other for Debt or Trespass in the Excheques Office called the Common Pleas by which the Plaintiff shall surmise that for the wrong which the Defendant doth him he is less able to pay the King his Debt or Term which is surmised to give Iurisdiction to the Court of Exchequer to hear and determine the cause of the Suit between them which otherwise should be determined in another Court Quo warranto QUo warranto is a Writ that lies where a man usurps to have any Franchise upon the King then the King shall have this Writ to make him come before his Iustices to shew by what Title he claims such Franchise Quod ei deforceat QUod ei deforceat is a Writ that lies where Tenant in Tail Tenant in Dower or Tenant for Life loses by Default in any Action then he shall have this Writ against him that recovers or against his Heir if he think he hath better right than he who recovered See the Statute West 2. cap. 4. Quod permittat QUod permittat is a Writ that lies where a man is disseised of his Common of Pasture and the Disseisor aliens or dies seised and his Heir enters then if the Disseisee die his Heir shall have this Writ Quod permittat Habere Chiminum Rast Entr. 538. Co. Entr. 526. Estoverium turbarum F. N. B. 124. Passagium ê‘ aquam Rast Entr. 538. Liberam chaceam 2 Institut 654. Liberum raurum F. N. B. 124. Liberam faldam Ibid. 6. E. 4. 1. Liberam piscar c. Ibidem Prosternere Domum murum sepem 5 Coke 100. Ripam c. 9 Coke 53. R. Ran. RAn signifies so open a Spoiling of a man that it cannot be denied Lambert Arch. fol. 125. Ranger RAnger comes from the French word Rang that is Ordo vel Series and signifies an Officer of the Forrest that is appointed to walk every day through the Purlieu whereof he is Ranger to drive back the wilde Beasts into the Forrest again to see hear and inquire of Offenders there and to present their Offences See Manwood cap. 20. fol. 185. c. Ransome RAnsome signifies properly the Sum that is paid for the redeeming of one that is taken Captive in War But it is also for a Sum of money paid for the pardoning of some great Offence as in the Statute of 1 H. 4. cap. 7. and in other Statutes Fine and Ransome going together 23 H. 8. cap. 3. and elsewhere Rape RApe hath two significations The first is when it is taken for part of a County as Sussex is divided into six parts which by a peculiar name are called Rapes Cambd. Britan. pag. 225. and these parts in other Countries are called Hundreds Tithings Lathes or Wapentakes In the other sense it is the violent Deflouring a Woman against her will and this offence is Felony as well in the Principal as in his Aidors See 11 H. 4. c. 13. 1 Ed. 4. c. 1. West 2. c. 13. CroÌ„pt Just of Peace f. 43 44. Rationabili parte bonorum RAtionabili parte bonorum is a Writ that lies for the Wife against the Executors of her Husband to have the third part of his Goods after Debts paid and Funeral expences discharged But whether this Writ lies by the Common Law or only by the Custom of some Countries is a question in our Books See F. N. B. fol. 122. L. Rationabilibus divisis RAtionabilibus divisis is a Writ that lies where there are two Lordships in divers towns and one nigh the other and any parcel of one Lordship or Waste hath been incroched by little parcels then the said Lord from whom the parcel of Ground or Waste hath been incroched shall have this Writ against the Lord that hath so incroched Ravishment de Gard. RAvishment de Gard is a Writ that lies for the Gardian by Knights Service or in Soccage against him that takes from him the Body of his Ward And of this see F. N. B. fol. 140. E. c. Rebutter REbut â— er is when one by Deed or Fine grants to warrant any Land or Hereditament to another and he who made the Warranty or his Heir s â— es him to whom the Warranty is made or his Heir or Assignee for the same thing now if he who is so sued pleads the said Deed or Fine with Warranty and demands Iudgment if the Plaintiff shall be received to demand the thing which he ought to warrant against that Warranty by Fine or Deed aforesaid comprehending such Warranty such Pleading of the Warranty is called a Rebutter This word is also a denomination of a Plea which followeth a Rejoynder And after the Rebutter followeth the Surrebutter See Cokes Entries fol. 284. Recaption REcaption is a second Distress of one former distrained for the self-same cause and that during the Plea grounded upon the former Distress It is also the name of the Writ or Remedy that the Law gives him who is thus twice distrained for one thing the form and use of which Writ you may see in Fitz. N. B. fol. 71. E. c. Recluse REcluse is one that by reason of his Order in Religion may not stir or depart out of his House or Cloister And of such Littleton speaks sect 434. Recognizance REcognizance is an Obligation made before a Master of the Court of Chancery for a Debt or to perform Covenants or an Order or Decree of the Court upon which an Extent issues if the Condition be not performed But no Capias lies upon it against the Cognizors or his Executors Quaere vide 2 Len. 84. Recordare REcordare is a Writ directed to the Sheriff to remove a Cause out of an inferior Court as a Court of Ancient Demesne Hundred Court or County Court into the Kings Bench or Common Pleas. And of this see Fitz. N. B. fol. 70. B. Record REcord is a Writing or Parchment wherein are Enrolled Pleas of Land or Common Pleas Deeds or Criminal Proceedings in any Court of Record But in Courts not of Record as Admiralty Courts Christian Courts Baron c. Their
Registry of Proceedings are not properly called Records But Courts of Law held by the Kings Grant are Courts of Record Recovery REcovery is commonly intended a common recovery by assent of parties to dock an Intail and is founded upon a Writ of Entry Also every Iudgment is a Recovery by the words Ideo consideratum est quod recuperet Recusants REcusants are all those who separate from the Church and Congregation by the Laws and Statutes established in this Realm of what opinion or Sect they are of As all the Iudges have expounded the Statute 35 Eliz. cap. 1. and divers other Stat. Redisseisin REdisseisin Look of that before in the Title Assise Reextent REextent is a second Extent made upon Lands or Tenements open complaint made that the Former Extent was partially performed Broke tit Extent fol. 313. Regarder REgarder comes of the French Regardeur id est Spectator and signifies an Officer of the Kings Forest sworn to take care of the Verr and Venison and to view and inquire of all the Offences committed within the Forrest and of all the concealments of them and if all the Officers of the Forrest do well execute their Offices or no. See Manwood's Forrest Laws cap. 21. fol. 191. b. Regrator REgrator is he that hath Corn Victuals or other things sufficient for his own necessary use or spending and doth nevertheless ingross and buy up into his hands more Corn Victuals or other such things to the intent to sell the same again at a higher and dearer price in Fairs Markets or other such like places whereof see the Statute 5 E. 6. cap. 14. He shall be punished as a Forestaller Rejoynder REjoynder is when the Desendant makes answer to the Replication of the Plaintiff And every Rejoynder ought to have these two properties specially that is it ought to be a sufficient Answer to the Replication and to follow and enforce the matter of the Barre Relation RElation is where in consideration of Law two times or other things are considered so as if they were all one and by this the thing subsequent is said to take his effect by relation at the time preceding As if one deliver a writing to another to be delivered to a third person as the Deed of him who delivered it when the other to whom it should be delivered hath paid a summ of mony now when the money is paid and the Writing delivered this shall be taken as the Deed of him who delivered it at the time when it was first delivered So Petitions of Parliament to which the King assents on the last day of Parliament shall relate and be of force from the first day of the beginning of the Parliament And so it is of divers other like things Release RElease is the Giving or Discharging of the Right or Action which any hath or claims against another or his Land And a Release of Right is commonly made when one makes a Deed to another by these or the like words Remised released and utterly for me and my Heirs quite claimed to A. B. all my right that I had have or by any means may have hereafter in one Messuage c. But these words whatsoever I may have hereafter are void For if the Father be disseised and the Son release by his Deed without Warranty all his right by those words whatsoever I may have hereafter c. and the Father dies the Son may lawfully enter in the possession of the Disseisor Also in a Release of Right it is needful that he to whom the Release is made have a Freehold or a Possession in the Lands in Deed or in a Law or a reverston at the time of the release made for if he have nothing in the Land at the time of the release made the Release shall not be to him available See more hereof in Littl. lib. 3. cap. 8. Relicta verificatione RElicta Verificatione is when a Defendant hath pleaded and the issue is entred of Record And after that the Defendant relicta verificatione que est son Plea acknowledges the Action and thereupon Iudgment is entred for the Plaintiff Relief RElief is sometimes a certain summ of mony that the Heir shall pay to the Lord of whom his Lands are holden which after the decease of his Ancestor are to him descended as next Heir Sometimes it is the Payment of another thing and not mony And therefore Relief is not certain and alike for all Tenures but every several Tenure hath for the most part his special Relief certain in it self Neither is it to be paid always at a certain age but varies according to the Tenure As if the Tenant have Lands holden by Knights Service except grand Serjeanty and dies his Heir being at full age and holding his Lands by the Service of a whole Knights Fee the Lord of whom these Lands are so holden shall have of the Heir an hundred shillings in the name of the Relief and if he held by less than a Knights Fee he shall pay less and if more then more having respect always to the rate for every Knights Fee Cs. And if he held by grand Serjeanty which is always of the King and is also Knights Service then the Relief shall be the value of the Land by the year besides all charges issuing out of the same And if the Land be holden in Petit Serjeantie or in Socage then for the Relief the Heir shall pay at one time as much as he ought to pay yearly for his Service which is commonly called the Doubling of the Rent And if a man hold of the King in chief and of other Lords the King shall have the Ward of all the Lands and the Heir shall pay Relief to all the Lords at his full age but the Lords shall sue to the King by petition and shall have the Rent for the time that the Infant was in Ward But see now that by the Statute of 2 E. 6. cap. 8. the mesne Lords are not put unto their Petition but shall have all the Rents paid them by the Kings Officers upon request yearly during the Kings possession And note that always when the Relief is due it must be paid at one whole payment and not by parts although the Rent be to be paid at several Feasts See the Statute 12 Car. 2. cap. 24. Remainder REmainder of Land is the Land that shall remain after the particular Estate determined As if one grant Land for term of years or for life the Reinainder to J. S. that is to say when the Lease for years is determined or the Lessee for life is dead then the Land shall remain or abide with to or in J. S. See Reversion Remembrancer del Eschequer REmembrancer del Eschequer there are three Officers or Clerks there called by that name one is called the Remembrancer of the King the other of the Lord Treasurer and the third of the First fruits The Kings Remembrancer enters in his Office all Recognisances for
and not retornable And if the Sheriff do it not then there shall go forth another Writ Sicut alias and afterward another Writ Sicut pluries vel causam nobis significes which shall be retornable And if the Sheriff yet make no Replevin then there shall issue an Attachment directed to the Coroners to attach the Sheriff and to bring him before the Iustices at a certain day and farther that they make execution of the first Writ Replication REplication is when the Defendant in any Action makes an Answer and the Plaintiff replies to that that is called the Replication of the Plaintiff Reprises REprises are Deductions Payments and Duties that go yearly and are paid out of a Mannor as Rent chare Rent seck Pensions Corrodies Annuities Fees of Stewards or Bailiffts and such like Reprieve REprieve comes from the French Repris that is taken back so that to reprieve is properly to take back or suspe â— d a Prisoner from the Execution and proceedings of the Law for that time Requests REquests is a Court held in the Kings Palace before the Master of the Requests by Petition and it seems is a Court of Equity Rere County REre County is a word used in the Statutes of Westm 2. cap. 39. and 2 E. 3. c. 5. and seems by those Statutes to be some publick place which the Sheriff appointed for the receiving of the Kings mony after his County Court was done Resceit REsceit is when any Action is brought against the Tenant for term of life or years and he in the Reversion comes in and prays to be received to defend the Land and plead with the Demandant And when he comes it behoves that he be alway ready to plead with the Demandant In the same manner a Wife shall be received for the default of her Husband in an Action brought against them both And Tenant for years shall be received to defend his Right where in an Action brought against the Tenant of the Free-hold he pleads faintly Rescous REscous is a Writ that lies when any man takes a Distress and another takes it again from him and will not suffer him to carry the Disress away this is a Rescous upon which he may have this Writ and shall recover dammages Also if one distrain Beasts for dammage Feasant in his Ground and drives them in the High way to Impound them and in going they enter into the House of the owner and he withholds them there and will not suffer the other to impound them that withholding is a Rescous Also if a Sheriff takes my Debtor by an Execution or by mesne Process and J. S. rescue him out of the Custody of the Sheriff I may have an Action of Rescous against J. S. for this wrong and recover Dammages and Debt Reservation REservation is taken divers ways and hath divers natures As sometimes by way of exception to keep that which a man had before in him As if a Lease be made for years of Ground reserving the great Trees growing upon the same now the Lessee may not meddle with them nor with any thing that comes of them so long as it abides in or upon the Trees as Mast of Oak Chesnut Apples or such like but if they fall from the Trees to the ground then they are by right the Lessees for the Ground is let to him and all thereupon not reserved c. Sometimes a Reservation doth produce and bring forth another thing which was not before As if a man Lease his Lands reserving yearly for the same xxli c. And divers other such Reservations there be And note that in ancient time their Reservations were as well in Victuals whether Flesh Fish Corn Bread Drink or what else as in Money until at last and that chiefly in the Reign of King Henry 1. by agreement the Reservation of Victuals was changed into ready Money as it hath hitherto continued Residence REsidence comes from the Latine Residere and is all one with Resiance but that this word Residence is oftner appropriated to the Continuance of a Parson or Vicar upon his Church or Benefice and so it is used in the Statute of 28 H. 8. cap. 13. Resignation REsignation is where an Incumbent of a Church resigns or leaves it to the Ordinary who did admit him to it or to his Successors which differs from Surrender since by that he to whom the Resignation is made hath no interest in the thing so resigned but he to whom the Surrender is made hath by that the thing it self Restitution REstitution is when a Iudgment is reversed by Error then a Writ of Restitution shall issue to restore to the Defendant in the Action what he hath lost And there is a Writ of restitution of stolen goods upon conviction of the Thief which is made at the Sessions or Assises on the Statute of 21 H. 8. 11. Noy rep 128. Resummons REsummons is a Second Summons of a man to answer an Action where the first Summons is defeated by the Demise of the King or such other cause And of this see Coke lib. 7. fol. 29. b. Also if a Terr-tenant returned upon a Scire facias or Defendant in another Action plead non-age and the Plea stays until c. When he comes of full age the Plaintiff upon a suggestion may have a Scire facias or resummons And so when a Plea is staid by pleadiny Protection Excommunication or such other disability Resumption REsumption is a word used in the Statute of 31 H 6. c. 7. and is there taken for the Taking again into the Kings hands such Lands or Tenements as upon false suggestion or other error he had made Livery of to an Heir or granted by Patent to any man Retraxit REtraxit is the Preterperfect tense of Retraho to pull back and is when the party Plaintiff or Demandant comes in proper person into the Court where his Plea is and saith he will not proceed any farther in the same c. this will be a Bar to the Action for ever Reve or Reeve REeve is an Officer more known in ancient time then at this day for almost every Mannor had then a Reeve and yet still in many Copyhold-Mannors where the old custom prevails the name and office is not altogether forgotten And it is in effect that which now every Bayliff of a Mannor practises although the name of Bayliff was not then in use amongst us being siuce brought in by the Normans But the name of Reeve anciently called Greeve which Particle Ge in continuance of time was altogether left out and lost came from the Saxon word Geresa which signifies a Ruler And so indeed his Rule and Authority was large within the compass of his Lords Mannor and among his men and Tenants as well in matters of Government in peace and war as in the skilful use and trade of Husbandry For as he did gather his Lords Rents pay Reprises or Duties issuing out of the Manor set the Servants
Personal Actions quant le Plaintiff recover l' Entrie est quod Recuperet damna sua a tiel value tant pro misis custagiis La est auxy un auter acception ou signification de cest parol en Ley lou est prise pur l' Issue â— estre trie per Battaile ou Grand Assise Et issint est use en Littleton sect 478 482. divers auters lou joinder del Mise sur le m â— re droit est mitter ceo en issue que avoit le melieur ou plus cleere droit Misericordia MIsericordia est use en le Common Ley pur un Amerciament ou Peine mife sur asc ' pÌ„ un offence coÌ„e lou le Plaintiff ou Defendant en asc ' Action est amerce l' Entrie est touts foits Ideo in misericordia c. Et est pÌ„ c'appel Misericordia come Fitzh dit N. B. fol. 75 H. eo que doit estrÌ„ forsque petite meins que le offence salvo Contenemento come le Statute de Mag. Chart. cap. 14. ê‘le Et pur ceo si home soit outragiousment amercie en un Court que est de Record come en Court-Baron c. la est un BrÌ„e appel Moderata Misericordia destre direct al SnÌ„r ou Baily eux commandant que ils prenderont moderates Amerciaments solonque le quantitie del trespas Et de ceo veies Fitz. N. B. fol. 75. A. Moderata Misericordia apres Misnomer MIsnomer est le Mistake â— un NomÌ„ ou le using de un NomÌ„ pÌ„ un auter Veies Broke tit Misnomer Misprision MIsprision est qnÌ„t ascun sciet que un auter ad fait Treason ou Felonie il ne voile luy discover al Roy ou son Councel ou a asc ' Magistrate mes conceala son offence Divers auters offences sont appelle Misprision sicomÌ„ un Chaplein ad fixe un antient Seal dun Patent a un novel Patent de Non-residence ceo fuit tenus des â— re Misprision de Treason tantum nul counter â— eit del Seal del Roy. Issint eÌ„ tenus en 37 H. 8. Bro. tit Treason 3. in fine mes 2 H. 4. fol. 25. A. est adjudge contra Stamf. Pl. cor fol. 3. B. cite ceo pÌ„ Treason issint est tenus a cest jour Item si un auter sc â— et Money destre faux port ceo hors de Ireland en Angleterre utter ceo en paymÌ„t ceo est forsque Misprision de Treason nemy Treason issint est en divers semblables cases En touts cases de Misprision de Treason le partie offendor forfeitera ses Biens a touts jours les profits de ses Terres pur son vie son Corps al prison al pleasure del Roy. Et pur Misprision de Felonie ou Trespasse l' Offendor serra commit al Prison tanque il ad trove Sureties ou Pledges pÌ„ son Fine que serra assesse per le discretion de les Justices devant que il fuit convict Et nota Que en chescun Treason ou Felonie est include Misprision lou asc ' ad fait Treason ou Felonie le Roy poit causer luy destre endicte arraigne forsque de Misprision solement si il voile Vide plus de ceo Stamf. lib. 1. cap. 39. Mittimus MIttimus est un Brief per qÌ„ Records sont transferÌ„ del un Court al auter ascun foits immediatement come appiert en le Stat. 5 R. 2. cap. 15. come hors del Bank le Roy en l' Exchequer asc ' foits per un Certiorari en le Chancerie dillonques per un Mittimus en auter Court come poies veier en 28 H. 8. Dyer fol. 29. a b. 29 H. 8. Dyer fol. 32. a b. Cest parol est auxy use pur le Precept que est direct per un Justice del Peace al Gaoler pÌ„ le receiver safement garder dun Felon ou auter Offendor commit per le dit Justice al Gaole Moderata Misericordia MOderata Misericordia est un Brief que gist lou come est amercie en Court-Baron ou Countie plus que devoit est re donques il avera cest Brief direct al Viscount si soit en le Countie ou al Bailiff si soit en Court-Baron eux commandant que ils ne luy amerciont mes eyent regard al quantitie del Trespasse sils ne obey cel BrÌ„e donques issera vers eux un Sicut alias Causam nobis significes apres ceo un Attachment Modus decimandi MOdus decimandi est denyers on auter chose de value done antiuaiment en lieu de dismes Le tryal de quel appertaine al common Ley nemy al ascun Court Christian Ridleys view of the Civil Law 141. En quel il dit que en le temps de William le primer Roy fuit un modus decimandi per totum regnum pro omnibus rebus Monstrans de Droit MOnstrans de Droit est un Suit en le Chancery pÌ„ le Subject destrÌ„ restore as TrÌ„s Tenements queux il monstre destrÌ„ son Droit mes sont ê‘ Office troves destre en le possession dun qÌ„ darreinment morust ê‘ quel Office le Roy est entitle al un Chattel Frank â— enement ou Inheritance en les dits Terres Et cest Monstrance de Droit est donÌ„ ê‘ les Statutes 〈◊〉 34 E. 3. cap. 14. 36 E. 3. cap. 13. Veies Coke lib. 4. fol. 54. B. en le Case del Wardens Communaltie des Sadlers Monstrans de Faits ou Records MOnstrans de Faits ou Records est sicome pur example un Action 〈◊〉 Det soit port envers A sur un Obligation ê‘ B ou ê‘ Executors c. Apres le Plaintife ad delcare il doit monstre son Obligation le Executor le Testament al Court Et issint est de Records Et le diversitie perenter Monstrance de Faits ou Records Oyer de Faits ou Records est issint Il que pleade le Fait ou Record ou declare sur ceo doit monstre ceo lauter vers que tiel Fait ou Record est pleade ou declare est per ceo destre charge poit demand Oyer de ceo Fait ou Record que son adversarie port ou plead vers luy Monstraverunt MOnstraverunt est un Brief que gist pur l' Tenants en Ancient demesne est direct al Seignour luy commandant que il ne distraine son Tenant pÌ„ fair auter Service que il doit ils poient aver cest Brief direct al Vic' que il ne suffer le Seigniour a distraine les dits Tenant pur faire auter Service Si les Tenants ne poient estre en quiet ils poient aver un Attachment vers le SnÌ„r de appearer devant les Justices touts les nosmes des TenaÌ„ts serront mise en le Brief coment que forsque un de eux foit
LES TERMES DE LA LEY OR Certain difficult and obscure Words and Terms of the Common Laws and Statutes of this Realm now in use expounded and explained Now Corrected and Enlarged With very great Additions throughout the whole Book never Printed in any other Impression Hor. Multa renascentur quae jam cecidere cadentque Quae nunc sunt in honore vocabula si volet usus LONDON Printed by W. Rawlins S. Roycroft and M. Flesher Assigns of Richard and Edward Atkins Esquires For G. Walbanke S. Heyrick J. Place J. Poole and R. Sare 1685. To the READER I Need not strive much to prove the necessity of this Book if you consider that the most accomplished Pleader that ever charm'd his Author with Eloquence and Reason began with it much less shall I have difficulty to shew its profitableness to any who looks about and sees how many fair Estates are every day gained by the Professors of this Noble Science to which this little Book must open the door and let them in But least of all need I suspect that whoever is convinced of these two Points its Necessity and Profitableness will fail to peruse and esteem it Though no name of any Authour appears to it yet my Lord Cook in his preface to his Tenth Report ascribes it to William Rastal that reverend Judge who was eminently knowing both in the Common and Statute Law of this Land as appears by the many Leraned Expositions and Excellent Cases which every where occur in it And we may probably guess it to be written by him originally in French only having some cause to suspect the Translation to be done by a less skilful Hand For though by the many Impressions of it and carelesness of Printers it has suffered much as other Books of like nature daily do yet some Objection lay against the Translator himself as to omit others Chapter is defined to be Locum in quo fiunt communes tractatus Collegiatorum which was Englished thus odly A Place wherein common Tracts of men Collegiate are made And for Errors of the Press they were very numerous and strangely unhappy as disseised for die seized Common Law for Canon Law deep for deer necessary for accessary tiel for viel rather for either owner for power c. In devastaverunt sans compulsion was Englished by compulsion In the word Gild two whole Lines were omitted in the English and the French imperfect so likewise in Garranty and other words There was also a mistake in Geography in the word Pape where Rome was said to be 1500 miles from hence full 500 too much And still as Impressions were iterated Errat's increased Besides the very many Faults which were thus crept into this Book it was so extreamly misalphabeted that some words could not be found without much difficulty I had almost said not at all for if the Reader finds not the word he seeks in its true place he commonly lays by the Book with despair To remedy these encreasing Evils I was willing to bestow my endeavour First by adding above an hundred Words with Explications in their proper places and making references to others where needful Secondly by Correcting the whole Work in what I found amiss and retrenching some antiquated and tautological Expressions as they occurred Thirdly by adding to some old words such late Statutes as alter or concern the Law established by them And lastly by digesting the whole into an exact Alphabet and taking care to prevent Errors of the Press That I intended well I can give you but my word how I have performed I make my Reader Judge Inner Temple T. B. TERMS OF THE LAW EXPOUNDED Abate ABate seems to come from the French Abbatre is to destroy or defeat utterly and has several significations As to Abate a Castle or Fortlet Old Natura brev fo 45. which in Westem 1. cap. 17. is interpreted to beat down And to abate a Writ is to defeat or overthrow it by some Error or Exception Britton cap. 48. And he that steps in between the former possessor and his Heir is said to abate in the Lands See Abatement Abatement of a Writ or Plaint ABatement of a Writ or Plaint is when an Action is brought by Writ or Plaint wherein is want of sufficient and good matter or else the matter alledged is not certainly set down or if the Plaintiff or Defendant or Place are misnamed or if there appear variance between the Writ and the Specialty or Record or that the Writ or the Declaration be uncertain or for Death of the Plaintiff or Defendant and for divers other like causes then upon those defaults the Defendant may pray that the Writ or Plaint may abate that is to say that the Plaintiffs Suit against him may cease for that time and that he shall begin again his Suit and bring a new Writ or Plaint if he be so disposed But if the Defendant in any Action plead a matter in Bar to annul the Action for ever he shall not come afterwards to plead in Abatement of the writ but if after it appear in the Record that there is some matter apparent for which the Writ ought to be abated then the Defendant or any person as a friend to the Court may well plead and shew it in Arrest of Iudgement See the titles of Writ Misnosmer and Variance in the Abridgements and the Book called The Digests of Writs in which this matter especially is very well handled There are also other matters Which abate and stay Actions and Writs that is to say Variance between the Writ and the Count. If the Plaintiff be an alien Enemy For want of naming the Defendant of what Town Trade or degree he is where the Suit is by Writ That a Woman Plaintiff is married before or hanging the Suit That the Plaintiff hath another Action depending for the same cause That the Writ is dated before the Action accrued For that the Defendant ought to be sued in another Court of which he is an Attorney or Officer For that the Land is ancient demesne For that the matter in Suit was done upon the high Sea in which case the Admiral hath Iurisdiction These csuses underneath do not abate the Writ or Action but suspend the prosecution for a time If the Plaintiff in Action personal be out-law'd or convicted of Recusancy or Excommunicated Vpon a Scire facias against ter ' tenants for Debt plea that there are other Lands liable to the same Debt which are not returned doth stay the Proceedings until they be also returned Abatement in Lands ABatement in Lands or Tenements is when a man dies seised of Lands or Tenements and one that hath no right enters into the same before the Heir this Entry is called an Abatement and he an Abator But if the Heir enter first after the death of his Ancestor and the other enter upon the possession of the Heir this last entry is a Disseisin to the Heir Look in
the Book of Entries fo 63 c. 205. d. 519. c. where this word Abatement is called in Latin Intrusio And I think it better to call it in Latin Interpositio ot Intratio per interpos â— ionem make a difference between this word and Intrusio after the death of the Tenant for life Abbot ABbot was the sovereign head or Chief of those Houses which when they stood were called Abbies and this Abbot with the Monks of the same House who were called the Covent made a Corporation Such a Sovereign of any such House shall not be charged by the Act of his Predecessor if it be not by common Seal nor for such things which come to the use of his House Also an Abbot shall not be charged for the debt of his Monk before his entry in Religion though the Creditor have an especialty thereof except it have come to the use of his House but the Executors of the Monk shall be charged therewith Look for this in the Abridgements the same Title under which you shall see that some of them were elective some presentative and how they were made Governours and their Authority And in this Title are also comprehended all other Corporations Spiritual as Prior and his Covent Friers and Canons Dean and Chapter Abettors ABettors are in divers Cases diversly taken One Kind of Abettors are they that maliciously without just cause or desert do procure others to sue false Appeals of Murther or Felony against men to the intent to trouble and grieve them and to bring them to infamy and slander Abettors in Murthers are those that command or procure counsel or comfort others to Murther And in some case Abettors shall be taken as Principals and in some case but as Accessories So in other Felonies And their presence at the deed doing and their absence makes a difference in the case There are Abettors also in Treason but they are as Principals for in Treason there are no Accessories See more in the Book called Pleas of the Crown made by the Reverend Judge Sir W. Stamford in the Titles of Accessories and Dammages in Appeal Abeyance ABeyance is when a Lease is made for term of life the Remainder to the right Heirs of J. S. who is living at the time of the Grant now by this Grant the Remainder passes from the Grantor presently yet it vests not presently nor takes hold in the Grantee that is the right Heir of J. S. but is said to be in Abeyance or as the Logicians term it in posle or in understanding and as we say in the Clouds that is in the Consideration of the Law That if J. S. die having a right Heir and living the Lessee for life then this is a good Remainder and now vests and comes to the right Heir in such sort as that he may grant forfeit or otherwise dispose the same and ceases to be any more in Abeyance for that there is one now of ability to take it because J. S. is dead and hath left a right Heir in life which could not be living J. S. for that during his life none could properly be said to be his Heir Also if a man be Patron of a Church and presents one to the same now the Fee of the Lands and Tenements pertaining to the Rectory is in the Parson But if the Parson die and the Church become void then is the Fee in Abeyance until there be a new Parson presented admitted and inducted for the Patron hath not the Fee but only the right to present and the Fee is in the Incumbent that is presented and after his death it is in no body but in Abeyance till there be a new Incumbent as is aforesaid See Litt. Lib. 3 cap. 11. fo 145. and Perkins fol. 12. Abishersing ABishersing and in some Copies Mishersing is to be quit of Amerciaments before whomsoever of Transgression proved Abjuration ABjuration is an Oath that a Man or Woman shall take when they have committed Felony and fly to the Church or Church-yard or to any other place priviledged for safeguard or their lives chusing rather perpetual Banishment out of the Realm than to stand to the Law and be tryed for the Felony In which Case before the Coroner he shall make such Confession which may make a sufficient Indictment of Felony Then the Coroner at the Common Law shall make him forswear the Realm and assign to him what Port he shall go and shall swear him that he go not out of the High way and that he abide not at the Port if he may have good passage above one flood and one ebb and if he cannot have Passage then he shall go every day during xl days in the Sea to the knees But if such a Felon as abjures goes out of the High way and flies to another place if he be taken he shall be brought before the Iudge and there shall have Iudgment to be hanged And if he who so prays the privilege will not abjure then he shall have the priviledge for xl days and every man may give him meat and drink And if any give him sustenance after xl days although it be his Wife such giving is Felony Also he that doth abjure shall be delivered from one Constable to another and from one Franchise to another till he come to his Port and if the Constable will not receive him he shall be grievously amerced See the Oath in the Treatise De abjuratione Latronum This Law was instituted by S. Edward the Confessor a King of this Realm before the Conquest and was grounded upon the Law of mercy and for the Love and Reverence he and others his Successors did bear unto the House of God or place of Prayer and Administration of his Word and Sacraments which we call the Church Note this Law is now changed by the Statutes 21 H 8. cap. 2. 22 H. 8. cap. 14. and 32 H. 8. cap. 12. by which it appears that he at this day shall not abjure the Realm but all his Liberty of this Realm and all his liberal and free habitations resorts and passages from all places of this Realm to one certain place in this Realm thereto limited by 32 H. 8. cap. 13. and 33 H. 8. c. 15. See more in Stamf. li. 2. c. 10. and see the Statutes 1 Jac. c. 25. and 21 Jac. c. 28. for the repeal of all Statutes concerning Abjured persons and the taking away of all Sanctuaries See the Statutes of 35 El. chap. 12. for the Abjuration of Recusants and Stat. 1 Jac. c. 25. Abridgement of a Plaint or Demand ABridgement of a Plaint or Demand is where one brings an Assise Writ of Dower Writ of ward or such like in which cases for that the Writ of Assise is de libero tenemento as in a Writ of Dower the Writ is Rationabilem dotem quae contingit de libero tenemento W. her husband and in a Writ of ward the Writ is Custo â— terrarum
haeredis c. without shewing any certainty in these Writs bnt in the Plaint of the Assise or Demand in the Writ of Dower and in the count in the Writ of Ward the Plaintiff or Demandant is to shew the certainty of the acres or parcels of Land then if the Tenant pleads Nontenure or Ioyntenancy or some other such like Plea to parcel of the Land demanded in abatement of the Writ the Plaintiff or Demandant may abridge his Plaint or Demand to that Parcel that is he may leave out that part and pray that the Tenant may answer the rest to which he hath not yet pleaded any thing The cause is for that in such Writs the certainty is not set down but is generally and notwithstanding the Demandant hath abridged his Plaint or Demand in part yet the Writ remains good still for the rest Accedas ad Curiam ACcedas ad Curiam is a Writ directed to the Sheriff commanding him to go to such a Court of some Lord or Franchise where a Plaint is sued for taking of beasts as a Distress or any false Iudgment is supposed to be made in any Suit in such a Court which is not of Record and that the Sheriff shall there make Record of the said Suit in presence of the Suitors of the same Court and of four other Knights of the County and certiffe it into the Kings Court and at the day that is limited in the Writ This Writ is made out of Chancery and returnable into the Kings Bench or Common Pleas. Accedas ad Vicecomitem ACcedas ad Vicecomitem is a Writ directed to the Coroner commanding him to deliver a writ to the Sheriff who having a Pone delivered him suppresses it Regist orig 8. 3. Acceptance ACceptance is a taking in good part and as it were an Agreeing unto some act done before which might have been undone and avoided if such Acceptance had not been by him or them that so accepted for example if a Bishop before the Statute made 1 Eliz. lease part of the possessions of his Bishoprick for term of years reserving rent and dies and after another is made Bishop who accepts that is takes or receives the Rent when it is due and ought to be paid now by this Acceptance the Lease is made perfect and good which else the new Bishop might very well have avoided The like law is if a man and his wife seised of Land in right of the wife joyn and make a Lease or Feoffment by Deed reserving rent and the husband dies she accepts or receives the rent by this the Feoffment or Lease is made perfect and good and shall bar her of bringing a Cui in vita Accessories ACcessories are of two sorts by the Common Law and by the Statute Law Accessory by the Common Law is also of two sorts the one before the offence is done the other after Accessory before the Fact is he that commends or procures another to do Felony and is not there present himself when the other does it but if he be present then he is called Principal Accessory after the offence is he that receives favours aids assists or comforts any man that hath done any Murther or Felony whereof he hath knowledge Such an Accessory shall be punished and shall have judgment of life and member as well as the Principal which did the Felony but such an Accessory shall never be put to answer that till the Principal be attaint or convict or be outlawed thereupon In Manslaughter a man cannot be Accessory before the fact for Manslaughter ought to ensue upon a sudden debate or affray for if it be premeditated it is Murther Co. l. 4. fo 44. â— But a Woman in such case shall not be Accessory for helping her husband In great or high Treason as well the commanders as the Assisters and receivers are always Principals If a man councels a Woman to murther the child in her body and after the child is born and then is Murthered by the woman in the absence of him that so gave the counsel yet he is Accessory by his counselling before the birth of the Infant and not countermanding it Dyer fo 186. pl. 2. Also one may be Accessory to an Accessory as if one feloniously receive another that is accessory to Felony there the Receiver is an Accessory Accessory by the Statute is such an one as abets counsels or receives any may who commits or hath committed any offence made Felony by Statute For although the Statute doth not make mention of Accessories Abettors c. yet they are included by the interpretation of the said Statutes Stamf. Pl. cor li. 1. c. 45 46 47 48. See more of Accessory in the said Book of Plees lib. 1. cap. 44 59 50. Accompt ACcompt is a Writ and it lies where a Bailiff or Receiver to any Lord or other man who ought to render Accompt will not give his Accompt then he to whom the Accompt ought to be given shall have this Writ And by the Statute of Westm 2. c. 10. if the Accomptant be found in arrerages the Auditors that are assigned to him have power to award him to prison there to abide till he have made satisfaction to the party But if the Auditors will not allow reasonable expence and costs or if they charge him with more receipts than they ought then his next friend that will sue for him shall sue a Writ of Ex parte talis out of the Chancery directed to the Sheriff to take four Mainpernors to bring his body before the Barons of the Exchequer at a certain day and to warn the Lord to appear there the same day Accord ACcord is an agreement between two at the least to satisfie an offence or Trespass that the one hath made to the other for which he hath agreed to satisfie and content him with some Recompence which if it be executed and performed then because this Recompence is a full satisfaction for the offence it shall be a good bar in Law if the other after the Accord performed should sue again any Action for the same Trespass Note that the first is properly called an Accord the other a Contract Acquital ACquital is where there is a Lord Mesne and Tenant and the Tenant holds of the Mesne certain Lands or Tenements in Frank-almoign Frank-marriage or such like and the Mesne holds over also of the Lord paramount or above him Now ought the Mesne to acquit or discharge the Tenant of all and every manner of Service that any other would have and demand of him concerning the same Lands or Tenements because the Tenant must do his Service to the Mesne only and not to divers Lords for one Tenement or parcel of Land The same Law is where there is Lord Mesne and Tenant as aforesaid and the Mesne grants to the Tenant upon the tenure made between them to acquit and discharge him of all Rents Services and such like This Discharge is called Acquital Like
Law is if the Tenant holds of his Mesne by like Service as the Mesne holds over of the Lord and the Tenant doth or pays his Services to the Mesne but the Mesne doth not his Services to the chief Lord wherefore he distrains the Beasts of the Tenant In this case the Mesne for the equalness of the Services ought to acquit the Tenant of the Service due unto the Lord. Also there is Acquital in Law acquital in fact Acquital in Law is when two are appealed or indicted of Felony the one as Principal the other as Accessory the Principal being discharged the Accessory by consequence is also acquitted And in this case as the Accessory is acquitted by the Law so is the Principal in Fact Stamf. pl. cor fol. 168. Acquittance ACquittance is a Discharge in Writting of a Sum of money other Duty which ought to be paid or done As if one be bound to pay money upon Obligation or Rent reserved upon a Lease or such like and the party to whom the money or duty should be paid or done upon the Receipt thereof or upon other agreement between them had makes a writing or Bill of his hand in discharge thereof witnessing that he is paid or otherwise contented and therefore doth acquit and discharge him of the same Which Acquittance is such a Discharge and Bar in the Law that he cannot demand and recover the sum or duty again if he produce the Acquittance This word differs from that which in the Civil Law is called Acceptation because that may be by word without writting and is nothing but a feigned Payment and discharge though no payment be had Nor can it be said to be Apocha which is a witnessing the payment or delivery of money whch disscharges not unless the money be paid Acre ACre is a certain parcel of Land that contains in length forty Perches and in breadth four Perches or of this quantity be the length more or less And if a man will erect a new Cottage he ought to lay four Acres of Land unto it according to this measure 31 Eliz. cap. 7. And with this measure agrees Master Crompton in his Jurisdiction of Courts fol. 222. Yet he saith that according to divers customs of several Countries the Perch differs being in some places and most usually but sixteen foot and an half But in the County of Stafford the Perch is twenty four foot as was heretofore adjudged in the Exchequer In the Stat. made an 24 H. 8. c. 14 for the sowing of Flax 166 Perches make au Acre The Ordinance of Measuring of land made an 34 E. 1. St. 1. agrees with this account Action ACtion is the form of a Suit given by the Law to recover a thing as an Action of Debt and such like or as it is Co. 8. f. 151 a. An Action is a right of prosecuting to judgment that which is due to any one See the Lexicon of the Law for Action Action of a Writ ACtion of a Writ is a phrase of speech used when one pleads some matter by which he shews that the Plaintiff had no cause to have the writ which he brought and yet it may be that he may have another writ or Action for the same matter Such a Plea is called a Plea to the Action of the Writ whereas if by the Plea it should appear that the Plaintiff hath no cause to have an Action for the thing demanded then it shall be called a Plea to the Action Action upon the Case ACtion upon the Case is a writ brought against one for an offence done without force as for not performing promise made by the Defendant to the Plaintiff or for speaking of words by which the Plaintiff is defamed or for other misdemaenour or deceit where the whole case shall be contained in the Writ Trover Nusance Slander of the person Trade Title Escape on mesne Process For negligent keeping Fire for inartificial performing work for turning an ancient Water-course for a Commoner against one who digs the soil of his Common or puts his Cattel into it without right or incloses part of the Cemmon Action mixt ACtion mixt is a Suit given by the Law to recover the thing demanded and damages for the wrong done as in Ass of Novel dis which Writ if the Disseisor make a Feoffm to another the Diseissce shall have against the Disseissor and the Feoffee or other Tertenant and thereby shall recover his Seissn of the land and his damages for the mean profits and for the wrong done him And so is an Action of Waste Quare impedit But an Action of Detinue is not called an Action mixt although by it the thing withheld is demanded and shall be recovered if it may be found and damages for the withholding and if it cannot be found then damages for the thing and the detaining But that is called only an Action personal because it should be brought only for Goods and Chattels or Charters Action upon the Statute ACtion upon the Statute is a Writ founded upon any Statute whereby an Action is given to one in any case where no action was before As where one commits perjury to the prejudice of another who is indamaged shall have a Writ upon the Statute and his case And the difference between an Action upon the Statute and Action popular is That where the Statute gives the Suit or Action to the party grieved or otherwise to one person certain that is called Action upon the Statute But where by the Statute Authority is given to every one that will to sue that is termed Action popular Actions personal ACtions personal are such Actions whereby a man claims debt or other Goods and Chattels or damage for them or damages for wrong done to his person and it is properly that which in the Civil Law is called Actio in personam which is brought against him who is bound by Covenant or Default to give or grant any thing Action Popular ACtion popular is an Action given upon the breach of some penal Statute which Action every man that will may sue for himself and the King by information or otherwise as the Statute allows and the case requires Aud of these Actions there are an infinite number but one for example as when any of the Iury that are impannelled and sworn to pass between party and party indifferently do take any thing of the one side or other or of both parties to say their Verdicts on that side then any man that will within the year following the offence may sue a writ called Decies tantum against him or them that so did take to give his Verdict And because this Action is not given to one especially but generally to any of the Kings people that will sue it is called an Action popular But in this case when one hath begun to pursue an Action no other may sue it and in this as it seems it varies from an Action popular by the Civil
Law Actions real ACtions real are such Actions whereby the Demandant claims title to any Lands or Tenements Rents or Commons in Fee simple Fee-tail or for Term of life Every Action real is either possessory that is of his own possession or seisin or ancestrel scil of the seisin or possession of his ancestor Co. lib. 6. fol. 3. Acts. ACts of Parliament are positive Laws which consist of two parts that is to say of the words of the Act and of the sense and they both joyned together make the Law Additions ADdition is that which is given to a man besides his proper name and Surname that is to shew of what Estate Degree or Mystery he is and of what Town Hamlet or County Additions of Estate are these Yeoman Gentleman Esquire and such like Additions of Degree are these which we call names of Dignity as Knight Earl Marquess Duke Additions of Mystery are Scrivener Painter Mason Carpenter and all other of like nature for Mystery is the craft or occupation whereby a man gets his living Additions of Town as Sale Dale and so of the rest And where a man hath a houshold in two places he shall be said to dwell in both of them so that his Addition in one of them doth sufice By the Statute An. 1 H. 5. c. 5. it was or dained that in Suits or Actions where process of Vtlagary lies such Additions should be to the name of the Defendant to shew his estate mystery and place where he dwells and that such writs shall abate if they have not such Additions if the Defendant take exception thereto but they shall not abate by the Office of the Court. Also Duke Marquess Earl or Knight are none of those Additions but names of Dignity which should have been given before the Statute And this was ordained by the said Statute to the iutent that one man might not be grieved nor troubled by the Vtlary of another But that by reason of the certain Addition every man might be certainly known and bear his own burthen Adjournment ADjournment is when any Court is dissolved and determined for the present and afsigned to be kept again at another place or time and methinks is compounded of two words ad or al and jour Admeasurement of Dower ADmeasurement of Dower is a writ that lies where a woman is endowed by an Infant or by a Gardian of more than she ought to have the Heir in such case shall have this writ whereby the woman shall be admeasured and the Heir restored to the overplus But if one abate that is one who hath no right enter after the death of the husband and indow the wife of him that is dead of more than she ought to have the Heir shall not have this Writ but Assise â— Mort dancestor against the Woman and if she plead that she was indowed of the Land as of the Free-hold of her husband the Heir shall shew how she was indowed by the Abator and that she had more than she ought to have and shall pray that he may be restored to the surplusage and if it be found he shall be restored Admeasurement of Pasture ADmeasurement of Pasture is a Writ that lies where many Tenants have Common appendant in another ground and one overcharges the Common with many Beasts then the other Commoners may have this Writ against him And also it may be brought by one Commoner only but then it ought to be brought against all the other Commoners against him that surcharged for that all the Commoners shall be admeasured And this Writ lies not against him nor for him that hath Common appurtenant or Common in gross but those who have Common appendant or Common because of vicinage See the diversity of all these Commons afterwards in the title of Common Also this Writ lies not for the Lord nor against the Lord but the Lord may distrain the beasts of the Tenant that are surplusage But if the Lord overcharge the Common the Commoner hath no remedy by the Common Law but an Assise of his Common Administrator ADministrator is he to whom the Ordinary commits the Administration of the goods of a dead man for default of an Executor and an Action shall lie against him and for him as for an Executor and he shall be charged to the value of the Goods of the dead man and no further unless it be by his own false Plea or by wasting the goods of the dead If the Administrator die his Executors are not Administrators but it behoves the Ordinary to commit a new Administration And if a stranger that is not Administrator nor Executor take the Goods of the dead and administer of his own wrong he shall be charged and sued as an Executor and not as Administrator in any Action brought against him by any Creditor But if the Ordinary make a Letter ad colligendum bona defuncti he that hath such a Letter is not Administrator but the Action lieth against the Ordinary as well as if he take the goods in his own hand or by the hand of any of his Servants by any other Commandment There is also another sort of Administrator where one makes his will and makes an infant under the age of 17 his Executor The Bishop commits Administration to some friend during the nonage of the Executor which Administrator if he sue does not declare that the deceased died intestate Which Administration ceases when the Infant is 17 years old Admiral ADmiral is a high Officer that has the Government of the Kings Navy and the hearing and determining of all Causes as well civil as criminal belonging to the Sea and to that purpose hath his Court called the Admiralty He may cause his Citation to be served upon the Land and take the paries body or goods in execution upon the Land Also he hath cognizance of the death or maihem of a man committed in any great Ship fleeting in great Rivers in the Realm beneath the Bridges of the same next the Sea Also to arrest Ships in the great Streams for the Voiages of the King and Realm and hath Iurisdiction in the said Streams during the same Voiages Ad quod damnum AD quod Damnum is a Writ which ought to be sued before the King grant certain Liberties as a Fair Market or such like which may be prejudicial to others And thereby it shall be required if it should be a prejudice to grant them and to whom it shall be prejudicial and what prejudice shall come thereby There is also another Writ of Ad quod damnum if any one will turn a Common high-way and lay out another way as veneficial Both which though found to be prejudicial may be traversed in another Action although the King hath made his grant pursuant to the Verdicts of the Iury. Advent ADvent is a time which contains about a month next before the Feast of the Nativity of our Saviour Christ In which our
Ancestors repossed great reverence for the nearness of that solemn Feast so that all Suits in Law were then remitted for a season wherefore there was a Statute ordained Westm 1. cap. 48. that not withstanding the said Solemnity it might be lawful in respect of Iustice and Charity to take Assies of Novel disseisin and Darreigne Presentment in the times of Advent Septuagesima and Lent This is one of the times from the beginning of which until the Octaves of Epiphany the solemnizing of Marriages is prohibited to be Solemnized without special Licence according to the Verses Advent all Marriage forbids Hilarys Feast to Nuptials tends And Septuagint no Wedding rids Yet Easters Octaves that amends Rogation hinders hasty Loves But Trinity that lett removes But the Bishop may dispense with a Marriage within these times and it is good Advowson ADvowson is where a man and his heirs have a right to present their Clerk to a Personage or other spiritual Benefice when it becomes void And he which hath such right to present is called Patron In gross is when one is seised of it only by it self And there is an Advowson appendant to a Mannor or to a Rectory and this may be sold by it self and then it is in gross and is severed from the Mannor and Rectory Affeerors AFfeerors are such as be appointed in Court-leets c. to mulct those who have committed any fault which is arbitrably punishable and for which no express penalty is prescribed by Statute You may see the form of their Oath in Kitchin fol. 46. If the Iurors in the Leet receive the Articles and being commanded to answer to them and present they refuse so to do then they shall be amerced yet the Amerciament of every Iuror shall be affeered according to his offence So in Assise of Novel disseisin all the Disseisors shall be amerced and every one shall be affeered by himself But if a Town be amerced there the Afferance shall be general for there is not any certain person named as in the cases aforesaid And if a Iury in a Leet tax an Amerciament this suffices without any Affeerment for the Amerciament is the act of the Court and the Affeerment is the act of the Iury. Coke lib. 8. fol. 39 40. b. Affiance AFfiance is the plighting of troth betwixt a man and a woman upon an agreement of a Marriage to be had between them and affidare from whence this word is derived is as much as fidem ad alium dare And this word Affiance is used by Littleton Chap. Dower Sect. 39. Afforest AFforest is to turn ground into Forest Charta de Foreseta cap. 1. 30. Anno 9 Hen. 3. Affray AFfray comes of the French word effrayer which signifies to affright or scare therefore an Affray may be without word or blow given and so this word is used in the Statute of North. 2. E. 3. cap. 3. But it is in our Books many times confounded with the word Assault as it appears by Lambert in his Eirenarch lib. 1. cap. 17. Yet as it is there said they differ in this that an Assault is but a wrong to the party but an Affray is a wrong to the Common-wealth and therefore an Affray is inquirable and punishable in a Leet Also an Assault is made most commonly but on one side but an Affray is the fighting of many together Age prier AGE prier is when an Action is brought against an Infant for Land which he hath by descent there he shall shew the matter to the Court and shall pray that the action may stay till his full age of 21 years and so by award of the Court the Suit shall surcease But in a Writ of Dower and in Assise and also in such actions where the Infant is supposed to come to the Land demanded by his own wrong he shall not have his age And note well that there are many diversities of ages For the Lord shall have aide of his Tenant in Socage to marry his daughter when the daughter is of the age of 7 years and aid to make his son and Heir a Knight when he is of the age of 7 years A woman who is married at the age of 9 years if her husband die seised shall have dower and not before And 14 years is the age of a Woman who shall not be in ward if she were of such age at the time of the death of her Ancestor but if she were within the age of 14 years and in ward of the Lord then she shall be in ward till the age of 16 years And 21 years is the age of the Heir male to be in ward and after that out of ward Also that is the age of male and female to sue and to be sued for Lands which they have or claim by descent and to make all manner of Contracts and Bargains and not before but if such an infant within the age of 21 years give his goods and the Donee take them the infant may have an Action of Trespass but otherwise it is if he deliver them himself See Coke lib. 3. fol 13. a. l. 6. f. 3. Agent Patient AGent Patient is when a man is the doer of a thing and the party to whom it is done as where a Woman endows her self of the fairest possession of her husband So if a man hath ten pounds issuing out of certain land and he disseises the Tenant of the Land in an Assise brought by the Disseisee the Disseisor shall recoup the Rent in the damages so that where the mean profits of the land in such case were to the value of 13 l. the Disseisee shall recover but three pounds Also if a man be indebted to another and after makes the party to whom he is so indebted his Executor and dies the Executor may retain so much of the goods of the dead in his hands as his own Debt amounts to and by this Retainer he is the Agent and the Patient that is the party to whom the Debt is due and the party that pays the same But a man shall not be judge in his own case as is resolved Coke lib. 8. fol. 118. in Bonham's Case That the Censors cannot be Iudges Ministers and Parties Iudges to give sentence or judgment Ministers to make summons and Parties to have the half of the forfeiture And although an Act of Parliament yields to any one to hold or to have conusance of all manner of Pleas arising before him within his Mannor of D. yet he shall hold no Plea to which he himself is party Quia iniquum est aliquem suae rei esse judicem Agist AGist seems to come of the French Giser i jacere or of Gister i. stabulari a word proper to Deer and therefore Budaeus lib. poster Philologiae says that Gist idem est quod Lustrum vel Cubile And Agist in our Common Law signifies to take in and feed the Cattel of a stranger in the Kings Forests and
therefore those Officers in the Forest that thus take in Cattel and gather the money for the Feed of them are called Agistors and the feed or herbage of the Cattel is called Agistment which in a large signification extends to all manner of Common of Herbage of any kind of ground or land or woods or the money that is due or received for the same as well out of Forests as within them See Manwood's Forest Laws c. 11. fol. 80. Agreement AGreement is thus defined or expounded in Plowdens's Commentaries Aggreamentum is compounded of two words namely Aggregatio and Mentium that is Agreement of minds So that Agreement is a consent of minds in some things done or to be done and by drawing together the two words Aggregatio and Mentium and by the hasty and short pronouncing of them they are made one word to wit Aggreamentum which is no other than a joyning coupling and knitting together of two or more minds in any thing done or to be done See after in Testament And this Agreement is in three manners The first is an Agreement executed already at the beginning The second is an Agreement after an act done by another and is an Agreement executed also The third is an Agreement executory or to be done in time yet to come The first which is an Agreement executed already at the beginning is such whereof mention is made in the Stat. of 25 E. 3. c 3. of Clothes in the 4 th Sat. which saith That the goods and things bought by forestallers being thereof attainted shall be forfeit to the King if the buyer have made gree with the seller In which case the word gree which is otherwise called Agreement shall be extended to Agreement executed that is payment for the things The second manner of Agreement is where one doth a thing or act and another agrees or assents thereunto afterwards as if one make a Disseisin to my use afterwards I agree to it now I shall be a Disseisor from the beginning And such Agreement is an Agreement after an act done The third agreement is when both parties at one time are agreed that such a thing shall be done in time to come and this agreement is executory in as much as the thing shall be done after and yet there their minds agreed at one time But because the performance shall be afterward and the thing upon which the Agreement was made remains to be done that Agreement shall be called Executory And that the Stat. of 26 H. 8. c. 3. doth prove which saith That every Vicar Parson and such liks c. before their actual possession or medling with the profits of their Benefices shall satisfie content c. or agree to pay the King the First-fruits c. if any such Parson or Vicar c. enter in actual possession c. this Agreement is to be understood executory as common usage proves for it is used that he with one or two with him do make two or three Obligations for it is to be paid at certain days after And this Agreement executory is divideded into two points One is an Agreement executory which is certain at the beginning as is said last before of the First-fruits The other is when the certainty doth not appear at the first and the parties are agreed that the thing shall be performed or payed upon the certainty known as if one sell to another all his Wheat in such a bay of his Barn unthres ed and it is agreed between them that he shall pay for every bushel 3s when it is threshed clean and measured Aid AID is when a Tenant for term of Life Tenant in dower Tenant by courtesie or Tenant in Tail after possibility of issue extinct is impleaded then for that they have no estate but for term of life they shall pray in aid of them in the Reversion and process shall be made by Writ against him to come and plead with the tenant in the defence of the land if he will But it behoves that they agree in the Plea for if they vary the plea of the Tenant shall be taken and then the aid-prayer is void but if he come not at the second Writ then the tenant shall answer sole Also Tenant for years Tenant at will Tenant by Elegit and Tenant by Statute-Merchant shall have aid of him in the Reversion and the Servant and Bailiff of their Master when they have done any thing lawfully in the right of their Master shall have aid This word is sometimes applied to Subsidies as in 14 E. 3. Stat. 2. cap. 1. Other times to a Prestation due from the Tenants to their Lords as for relief due to the Lord paramount or for the making of his Son a Knight or for marrying of his Daughter Glan lib. 9. c. 8. This aid the K. or other Lord by the ancient Law of England may lay upon their Tenants to make his son Knight at the age of 15 years and to marry his daughter at the age of 7 years Regist orig fol. 87. a. and that at what rate they please But the Stat. of West 1. made An. 3. Ed. 1. ordained a restraint for any great or large demand made by common persons being Lords in this case and hath tied them to a certain rate and the Stat. of 25 Ed. 3. Stat. 5. c. 11. provides that the rate which is appointed by the former Stat. shall be held in the King as well as in other Lords Aid of the King AID of the King is in like case as it is said before of a common person also in many other cases where the King may have loss although the Tenant be Tenant in fee-simple he shall have aid as if a Rent be demanded against the Kings Tenant who holds in chief he shall have aid so he shall nor of a common person And where a City or Borough hath a Fee-farm of the King and any thing is demanded against them which belongs to the Fee-farm they shall have aid for it of the King Also a man shall have aid of the King in the stead of Voucher And the Kings Baliff the Collector and the Purveyor shall have aid of the King as well as the Officers of other persons Aile AILE is a Writ which lies where Land descends from the grandfather to his nephews sc the son or daughter of the son of the grandfather the father being dead before the entry by him and one abates the heir shall have against the Abator this Writ Aler sans jour ALer sans jour is word for word to go without day that is to be dismist the Court because there is no day of farther Appearance assigned Ale-Taster ALe-taster is an Officer appointed and sworn in every Leet to look that the due Assise be kept of all the Bread Ale and Beer sold within the Iurisdiction of the Leet Alien ALien is a Subject born out of the liegeance of our King and he cannot
have any real or personal Action concerning land but in every such Action the Tenant or Defendant may plead that he was born in such a place which is not within the Kings liegeance and demand judgment if he shall be answered Every alien friend may by the Common Law have and get within this realm by gift trade or other lawful ways any treasure or personal goods whatsoever as well as any Englishman and may maintain any Action for the same But Land within this realm or houses if not for their dwelling only Alien friends connot have nor get nor maintain any Action real or personal for any Land or House unless the House be for their necessary dwelling An Alien enemy cannot maintain any Action nor get any thing within this Realm And the reasons why aliens born are not capable of inheritance within England are 1. The Secrets of the Realm may by this be discovered 2. The Revenues of the Realm shall be taken and injoyed by Strangers born 3. This will tend to the destruction of the Realm First in the time of war for then Strangers may fortifie themselves in the heart of the Realm and set in combustion the Common-wealth Secondly in the time of peace for by such means many Aliens born may get a great part of the Inheritance and free-hold of the Realm by which there would ensue a want of Iustice the supporter of the Common-wealth for this that Aliens cannot be returned of Iuries nor sworn for the tryal of Issues between the King and Subject or between Subject and Subject Vide Coke lib. 7. Calvins Case Alienation ALienation is as much to say as to make a thing another mans or to alter or put the possession of Lands or other things from one man to another And in some cases a man hath power in himself so to do without the assent or licence of any other and in some not As if Tenant in chief alien his estate without the Kings licence then by the St. of 1 Ed. 3. c. 12. a reasonadle Fine shall be taken where at the Common Law before the said St. the Lands and tenements held in chief of the K. and aliened without licence have been held forfeited And if the K's Tenant that holds in chief intended to alien unto C. to the use of D. and hereupon if he purchase Licence to alien to C. and accordingly aliens to C. to the use of D. which use is not mentioned in the Licence in this case he shall pay but one Fiue for it is but one Alienation Coke lib. 6 fol. 28. But if a man will alien Lands in Fee-simple to an House of Religion or to a body incorporate it behoves him to have the Kings Licence to make this Grant or Alienation and the chief Lords of whom such lands are held c. otherwise the land so alienated in Mortmain shall be forfeited by the Statute of 15 R. 2. cap. 5. Allay ALlay is the Temper or mixture of Gold and Silver with baser metal for the increasing the weight of it so much as might countervail the Kings charge in the coyning This word is used in the Statute of 9 H. 5. cap. 11. for the payment of English Gold by the Kings weight Almner ALmner is an Officer of the Kings house whose Office is to distribute the Kings Alms every day and to that purpose he hath the collecting of all Forfeitures of Deodands and of the goods of Felons de se which the King allows him to dispose in Alms to the poor And of his Office see Flets lib. 2. cap. 22. Almoin ALmoin See Aumone Alnager ALnager is an Officer of the Kings who by himself or by his Deputy looks to the Assise of all Cloth made of Wool throughout the Land and to put a Seal for that purpose ordained unto them 35 E. 3. Stat. 4. c. 1. Anno 3. R. 2. c. 2. And he is to be accomptable to tae King for every Cloth that is so sealed in a Fee or Custom hppertaining to it Altarage ALtarage in Latin Altaragium signifie Duties and Offerings to holy Altars mention'd 2 Cro. Rep. 516. that a Vicarage was endowed with it and small Tythes Ambidexter AMbidexter is he that when a matter is in suit between men takes money of the one side and of the other either to labour the Suit or such like or if he be of the Iury to give his Verdict Amendment AMendment is When Error is in the Process the Iustices may amend it after Iudgment But if there be Error in giving Iudgment they may not amend it but the party is put to his Writ of Error And in many cases where the default appears in the Clerks that writ the Record it shall be amended but such things as come by information of the party as the Town Mystery and such like shall not be amended for he must inform true upon his peril Amercement AMercement most properly is a Penalty assessed by the Peers or equals of the party amerced for an offence done as for want of Suit of Court or for not amending someting that he was appointed to redress by a certain time before or for such like cause in which case the party who offends puts himself in the mercy of the King or Lord and thereupon this Penalty is called Amerciament And there is a difference between Amerciaments and Fines Kitch 214. For Fines are Punishments certain which grow expressy from some Statute and Amerciaments are such which are arbitrarity imposed by the Affeerors which Kitchin seems to confirm fol â— 8. in these words The Amerciament is affeered by Equals Also it appears Coke lib. 8. fol. 39. That a Fine is always imposed and assessed by the Court but Amerciament which is called in Latin Misericordia is assessed by the Country Another diversity there is as if a man be convict before the Sheriff of the County of a Recaption he shall be only amerced but if he be convict of this in the Common Bench he shall be fined And the reason of this diversity is That the County Court is not a Court of Record and therefore cannot impose a Fine for no Court can impose a Fine but such a Court as is of Record Cok. lib. 8. fol. 41. a. If the Defendant or Tenant plead a false Deed to him or deny his own Deed and this is found against him or he leaving his own Verification acknowledges the Action he shall be fined for his falsity because we ought to be sure of our own Acts. But if one deny the Deed of his Ancestor and this is found against him yet he shall not be fined but amerced only because it was the act of a Stranger Co. lib. 8. fol. 60. a. see more there Amercement royal AMercement royal is when a Sheriff Coroner or other such Officer of the King is amerced by the Iustices for his abuse in the Office Learn if it should not be called a Fine Amoveas manus AMoveas manus See Ouster le
Augmentation remains to this day wherein there are many Records of great use and importance Aumone AUmone or Tenure in Almoin is Tenure by Divine Service for so says Britton fol. 164. Tenure in Aumone is Land or Tenements given for Aims whereof some Service is reserved to the Feoffer or Donor Auncel weight AUncel weight was an ancient manner of Weighing in England by the hanging of balances or hooks at each end of a staff which the party lifted up upon his finger or with his hand and so discerned the equality or difference of the things weighed But this weight being subject to much deceit many Statutes were made to out it as the Stat. of 25 E. 3. c. 9. 34 E. 3. c. 5. 8 H. 6. c. 5. and others And it was called Auncel weight as much as to say Handsale Weight Ancient or Ancient Demesne ANcient demesne is a certain Tenure whereby all those Manors that were in the hands of S. Edward the Confessor and which he caused to be written in a Book called Dooms-day sub titulo Regis and all the Lands holden of the said Manors are held and the Tenants shall not be impleaded out of the said Manors and if they be they may shew the matter and abate the Writ but if they answer to the Writ and Iudgment be given then the Lands become frank-free for ever until that Iudgment be reversed by writ of Disceit Ra. Ent. 100 221. 2 R. 1. 11 H. 4. 36. 21 E. 3. 20. Also the Tenants in Ancient demesne are free of T â— ll for all things concerning their sustenance and Husbandry in ancient Demesne and for such Lands they shall not be put or impannelled upon any Enquest But all the Lands in Ancient Demes â— e that are in the Kings hands are frank-free and pleadable at the Common Law See more after in the Title Sokmans Avoir de pois AVoir de pois is as much as to say true or just weight And it signifies in our Law Two things first a kind of weight diverse from that which is called Troy Weight which hath but 12 ounces to the pound whereas Avoir de pois hath 16. Secondly it signifies such Merchandises as are weighed by this weight and not by Troy weight As you may see in the Statute of York 9. E. 3. 27 E. 3. c. 19 Stat. 2. c. 10. and the Statute of Glocester 2 R. 2. c. 1. Avowry AVowry is where one takes a Distress for Rent or other thing and the other sues Replevin then he that hath taken it shall Iustifie in his Plea for what cause he took it and if he took it in his own right he ought to shew that and so avow the taking and that is called his Avowry But if he took it in or for the right of another then when he hath shewed the cause he shall make conusance of the taking as Bailiff or servant to whom in whose right took it Avowterer AVowterer is an Adulterer with whom a married woman continues in Adultery the Crime is called Avowtry 43 E. 3. 19. Awme AWme is a Vessel that contains 40 galons of Rhen â— sh wine and is mentioned in the Statute made 1 Jac. c. 23. B Backberind Thief BAckberind Thief is a Thief taken with the manner that is having that found upon him being followed with a Hue and Cry which he hath stollen whether it be Money Linnen Wollen or other stuff but it is most properly said when he is taken carrying those things that he hath stolen in a bundle or fardel upon his Back Manwood in part 2. notes this for one of the circumstances or cases in which a Forester may arrest the body of any offender against Vert or Venison in the Forest which are Dog-draw Stable-stand Back-berind and Bloody-hand Badger BAdger is as much as to say Bagger of the French word Baggage id est Sarcina And it is used with us for one that is licenced to buy Corn or other Victuals in one place and carry them to another and such a one is exempted in the Statute made in the 5 and 6 of E. 6. cap. 14 from the punishment of an Ingrosser within that Statute Bail BAIL is when a man is taken or arrested for Felony suspicion of Felony indicted of Felony or any such case so that he is restrained of his liberty and being by Law bailable offers Surcties to those who have authority to bail him which Sureties are bound for him to the Kings use in a certain Sum of money or body for body that he shall appear before the Iustices of Goal-delivery at the next Sessions c. Then upon the Bonds of these Sureties as is aforesaid he is bailed that is set at liberty until the day appointed for his appearance Manwood in the first part of his Forest Law pag. 167. says There is a great diversity between Bail and Mainprise for he that is mainprised is always said to be at large and to go at his own liberty out of ward after he is put to Mainprise until the day of his Appearance by reason of Common Summons or otherwise But it is not so where a man is put to bail by four or two men by my Lord chief Iustice in Eyre of the Forest until a certain day for there he is always accounted by the Law to be in their ward and custody for the time and they may if they will hold him in ward or in Prison till that time or otherwise at their will so that he that is bail'd â— hall not be said by the Law to be at large or at his own liberty Bailement Bailement is a Delivery of things whether Writings Goods or Stuff to another sometimes to be delivered back to the Bailor that is to him that so delivered it sometimes to the use of the Bailee that is of him to whom it is delivered and sometimes also it is delivered to a third person This delivery is called a Bailment Bailiff BAiliff is an Officer that belongs to a Mannor to order the husbandry and hath authority to pay Quit-rents issuing out of the Mannor fei â— Trees repair Houses make Pales Hedges distrain Beasts doing hurt upon the ground and divers such like This Officer is he whom the ancient Saxons called a Reeve for the name Bailiff was not then known amongst them but came in with the Normans and is called in Latin Villicus There are two other sorts of Bailiffs that is Bailiffs errant and Bailiffs of Franchises Bailiffs errant are those that the Sheriff makes and appoints to go about the Country to execute Writs to summon the County Sessions Assises and such like Bailiffs of Franchises are those that are appointed by every Lord within his Liberty to do such Offices within his Precincts as the Bailiff errant doth abroad in the County This Bailiff distrains for Amerciaments in Courts held within the Mannor of which he is Bailiff But if such Court is by prescription to be
woman at such a place within such a Diocess and that she is dead and that he hath married another woman within the same Diocess or within some other Diocess and so is Bigamus Or if he have been but once married then to say that she whom he hath married is or was a Widow that is the Relict of such a one c. which shall be tried by the Bishop of the Diocess where the Marriages are alledged And being so certified by the Bishop the prisoner shall lose the Benefit of the Clergy But at this day by force of the Act made 1 E. 6. ca. 12. this is no Plea but he may have his Clergy notwithstanding So is Brook titulo Clergie Placito 20. to the same purpose By-laws BY-laws are Orders made in Court-Leets or Court-Barons by a common consent for the good of them that are the makers of them And they are called by-By-laws quasi Birlaws or Bawrlaws of the Dutch word Bawr that is a Countrey-man and so Bawrlaws or By-laws is as much as the Laws of Country-men Bilinguis BIlinguis in general is a man with a double tongue but is commonly used for that Iury which passes between an English man and an Alien whereof part ought to be Englishmen and part Strangers And for this cause it is enacted by the Statute of 28 E. 3. cap. 13. That if any variance chance to be about the packing of Wooll before the Mayor of the Staple between the Merchants or Ministers of the same thereupon to try the truth thereof Enquest shall be taken and if the one party and the other be Denizons it shall be tried by Denizons or if the one party be Denison and the other Alien the half of the Enquest or of the proof shall be Denizons and the other half Aliens Bill BILL is all one with an Obligation saving that when it is in English it is commonly called a Bill in Latin an Obligation Also a Declaration in writing that expresses either the grievance and wrong which the Complainant has suffered by the party complained of or else some fault by him committed against some Law or Statute of the Realm By a Bill we now ordinarily understand a single Bond without a Condition by an Obligation a Bond with a Penalty and Condition West part 2. Symbol tit Supplications sect 52. Billa vera BIlla vera is the Indorsement of the grand Inquest upon any Presentment or Indictment which they find to be probably true Blackmail BLackmail is a word used in the Statute of 43 Eliz. c. 13. and signifies a certainty of Money Corn Cattel or other consideration given by the poor people in the North of England to men of great name and alliance in those parts to be by them protected from such as usually rob and steal there Black rod. BLack Rod is the Huissier belonging to the most Noble Order of the Garter so called of the Black rod he carries in his hand He is also Huissier of the Lords house in Parliament Bloodwit BLoodwit is to be quit of Amerciaments for Blood-shedding and what Pleas are holden in your Court you shall have the Amerciaments thereof coming because Wit in English is Misericordia in Latin Bloody hand BLoody hand is the apprehension of a Trespasser in the Forest against Venison with his hands or other part bloody though he be not found chasing or hunting Of which see Manwood part 2. c. 18. Bockland BOckland in the Saxons time was that we at this day cail Free-hold Land or Land held by Charter and it was by that name distinguished from Folkland which was Copy-hold Land Bona notabilia BOna notabilia is where a man dies having goods to the value of five pound in divers Diocesses then the Archbishop ought to grant Administration and if any inferior Bishop do grant it it is void 37 H. 6. 27. 28 10 H. 7. 18. Dyer 305. Bordlands BOrdlands signifie the Demesns which Lords keep in their own hand â— for he maintenance of their Bord or Table Bracton l. 4. Tract 3. c. 9. num 5. Borow BOrow which with us signifies an ancient Town as appears by Littleton sect 164. is a word derived either of the French Burg id est Pagus or of the Saxon Borhoe id est â— ignus for that anciently the Neighbours of a Town became Pledges one for another and from thence comes Headborow for the chief Pledge or Borhoe-Aldere with us now called the Borow-holder or Bursholder Borow English BOrow English is a customary Descent of Lands or Tenements in some places whereby they come to the youngest son or if the owner have no issue to his youngest brother as in Edmunton Kitchin fol. 102. Borowhead BOrohead See Head-borow Bote. BOte is an old word signifying Help Succor Aid or Advantage and is commonly joyned with another word whose signification is doth augment as these Bridgebote Burgbote Firebote Hedgebote Plowbote divers other for whose significations look in their proper Titles Bottomry vulgo Bomry IS when a Master of a Ship in case of necessity doth engage his Ship for money for use of the Ship Bribor BRibor Fr. Bribeur i. Mendicus seems to signifie one that pilfers other mans goods Anno 28 E. 2. Stat. 1. Brief BRief Breve signifies most properly in our Law the Process that issues out of the Chancery or other Court commanding the Sheriff to summon or attach A. to answer to the Suit of B. c. But more largely it is taken for any Precept of the King in writing under Seal issuing out of any Court whereby he commands any thing to be done for the furtherance of Iustice and good order And they are therefore called Briefs because they briessy comprehend the cause of the action And some of them are Original and some judicial as you may see at large in the Register of Writs Broadhalpeny BRoadhalpeny in some Copies Broadhalfpeny that is to be quit of a certain custome exacted for setting up of Tables or Boards in Fairs or Markets and those that were freed by the Kings Charter of this Custome had this word put in their Letters Patents by reason whereof at this day the Freedom it self for brevity of speech is called Broadhalfpeny Broker BRoker seems to come of the French word Broieur id est Tritor he that grinds or breaks a thing into small pieces And the true trade of a Broker as it appears in the Statute made 1 Jac. c. 21. is to beat contrive make and conclude Bargains between Merchants and Tradesmen But the word is now also appropriated to those that buy and sell old and broken apparel and Houshold-stuff Brugbote BRugbote and in some copies Bridgebote is to be quit of giving aid to the repair of Bridges Bull. BULL is an Instrument so called granted by the Bishop of Rome and sealed with a Seal of Lead containing in it his Decrees Commandments or other Acts according to the nature of the thing for which it is granted And these
Instruments have been heretofore used and of force in this Land but by the Statute of 28 H. 8. c. 16. it was e â— acted That all Bulls Breves Faculties and Dispensations of whatsoever name or nature that it was had or obtained from the B. of Rome should be altogether void and of no effect See Rastal 328. C. D. Bullion BUllion comes from the French word Billon which is the place where Gold is tryed And so Bullion is taken in the Statutes made in 27. E. 3. Stat 2. c. 14. and in 4 H 4. Stat. 1. c. 10. for the place whither Gold or Silver is brought to be tryed or exchanged But Bullion is also taken in the Stat. 9 E. 3. Stat. 2. c. 2. for Gold or Silver in the Mass or Billet Burbreach BUrbreach is to be quit of Trespasses done in City or Borough against the Peace Burgage TO hold in Burgage is to hold as the Burgagers hold of the King or of another Lord lands or tenements yielding him a certain Rent yearly or else where another man then Burgers holds of any Lord Lands or Tenements in Burgage yielding him a certain Rent Burghbote BUrghbote is to be quit of giving aid to make a Burrough Castle City or Walls thrown down Burgh English BUrgh English or Borough English is a Custome in some ancient Borough that if a man hath issue divers sons and dies yet the youngest son only shall inherit and have all the Lands and Tenements that were his fathers whereof he died seised within the same Borough by descent as Heir to his Father by force of the Custome of the same Borough This Tenure is also of Copyhold Estates by Custome of divers Mannors Burglary BUrglary is when one breaks and enters into the House of another in the night with felonious intent to rob or kill or to do some other Felony in which cases although he carry away nothing yet it is Felony for which he shall suffer death Otherwise it is if it be in the day-time or that he break the House in the night and enter no therein at that time But if a Servant conspire with other men to rob his Master and to that intent opens his Masters doors and windows in the night for them and they come into the house by that way this is Burglary in the Strangers and the Servant is a Thief but no Burglar And this was the opinion of Sir Roger Manwood Knight Lord chief Baron of the Cxchequer at the quarter Sessions holden at Canterbury in Jannary 1579. 21 Eliz. Buttlerage IS an old Duty to the Kings of this Realm for Wine imported by Aliens Moor Rep. 833. C Cablish CAblish among the Writers of the Forest Laws signifies Brushwood Manwood pag. 84. Cromp. Jur. fol. 165. Cantred CAntred is as much in Wales as an Hundred in England for Cantre in the British tongue signifies Centum The word is used An. 28. H. 8. c. 3. Capacity CApacity is when a man or Body politick or corporate is able to give or take Lands or other things or sue Actions As an Alien born hath sufficient Capacity to sue in any personal Action but in a real Action it is a good Plea to say he is an Alien born and pray if he shall be answered Dyer f. 3. pla 8. If a man enfeoff an Alien and another man to the use of themselves or c. it seems that the King shall have the moiety of the Land for ever by reason of the Incapacity of the Alien Dyer f. 283. pla 31. By the Common Law no man hath Capacity to take Tythes but Spiritual persons and the King who is a person mixt but a Lay-man who is not capable of taking Tithes was yet capable of discharge of Tithes in the Common Law in his own land as well as a Spiritual man See Coke l. 2. f. 44. Cape CApe is a Writ judicial touching Plea of Lands or Tenements so called as the most part of Writs are of that word which in it self carries the especiallest intention or end thereof And this Writ is divided into Grand Cape and Petit Cape both which take hold of things immovable and seem to differ in these Points First because Grand Cape lies before Apparance and Petit Cape after Secondly by the Grand Cape the Tenant is summoned to answer to the default and over to the Demandant Petit Cape summons the Tenant to answer to the default only and therefore it is called Petit Cape in the Old N. B. 161 162. Yet Ingham saith that it is not called Petit Cape because it is of small force but because it is a little Writ in words This Writ seems to contain in it a Process with the Civilians called Missio in possessionem ex primo secundo Decreto For as the first Decree seises the thing and the second gives it from him that made the second default in his Appearance so this Capias seises the Land and also assigns over to the party a day of Appearance at which if he comes not in the Land is forfeited Yet there is difference between these two courses of the Common and Civil Law for this Missio in possessionem extends to touch as well Goods movable as immovable where a Cape extends only to the immovable Secondly in this That the party being satisfied of his demand the residue is restored to him that defaulted but by the Cape all is seised without restitution Thirdly That is to the use of the party agent the Cape is to the use of the King See Bract. l. 5. tract 3. c. 1. num 4 5 6 Regist Judic fol. 2. a. Cape ad Valentiam CApe ad Valentiam is a Writ or Execution and is thus defined in the Old Nat. Brev. fo 161. 162. This writ lies where the Tenant is impleaded of certain Lands and he vouches to Warranty another against whom the Summons ad warrantizan â— hath been awarded and the Vouchee comes not in at the day given then if the Demandant recover against the Tenant he shall have this Writ against the Vouchee and shall recover so much in value of the Vouchees land if he have so much and if he hath not so much then the Tenant shall have Execution by this Writ of such Lands and Tenements as descend to him in Fee-simple or if he purchase afterwards the Tenant shall have against him a Resummons and if he can say nothing he shall recover the value And know that this Writ lies before Apparance Of these and their divers uses see the Table of the Reg. jud the word Cape Capias CApias is of two sorts The one before Iudgment called Capias ad respondendum in an action personal if the Sheriff return upon the first Writ Nihil habet in Balliva nostra And the other is a Writ of Execution after Iudgment which also is of divers natures which see in the Title Process Capite CApite is a Tenure that holds immediately of the King as of his Crown
lastly to be out of Court voluntarily Confession of Offence COnfession of Offence is when a prisoner is appealed or indicted of Treason or Felony and broughe to the Bar to be arraigned and his Indictment is read unto him and he is demanded by the Court what he can say thereto then either he confesses the Offence and the Indictment to be true or he estranges himself from the Offence and pleads not guilty or else gives an indirect answer and so in effect stands mute Confession may be made in two sorts and to two several ends The one is he may confesse the offence whereof he is indicted openly in the Court before the Iudge and submit himself to the censure and judgement of the Law which Confession is the most certain answer and best satisfaction that may be given to the Iudge to condemn the Offendor so that it proceeds freely and of his own accord without any threats force or extremity used for if the Confession arise from any of these causes it ought not to be recorded As a woman was indicted for the felonious taking of Bread to the value of two shillings and being thereof arraigned she confessed the Felony and said that she did it by the commandment of her husband and the Iudges in pity would not record her Confession but caused her to plead Not guilty to the Felony whereupon the Iury found that she stole the Bread by the compulsion of her husband against her will for which cause she was discharged 27 Assis pla 50. The other kind of Confession is when the prisoner confesses the Indictment to be true and that he hath committed the Offence whereof he is indicted and then becomes an Approver that is an Accuser of others who have committed the same Offence whereof he is indicted or other Offences with him and then prayes the Iudge to have a Coroner assigned him to whom he may make relation of those Offences and the full circumstances thereof There is also a third kind of Confession made by an Offendor in Felony which is not in Court before the Iudge as the other two are but before a Coroner in a Church or other priviledged place upon which the Offendor by the ancient Law of the Realm is to abjure the Realm Confirmation COnfirmation is when one who hath right to any Lands or Tenements makes a Deed to another who hath the possession or some Estate with these words Ratificasse Approbasse Confirmasse with intent to enlarge his Estate or make his possession perfect and not defesible by him that makes the Confirmation nor by any other that may have his right Whereof see more in Littl. l. 3. cap. 9. of Confirmation Confiscate COnfiscate is derived from the Latine Fiscus which originally signifies a Hamper or Basket but metonymically the Princes Treasure because in ancient time it was put in the Hampers or Frails And though our King doth not put his Treasure in such things yet as the Romans have said that such goods as were forfeited to the Emperors Treasury were Bona Confiscata in like manner do we say of such goods as are forfeited to the Kings Exchequer And the title to have these goods is given to the King by the Law when they are not claimed by some other As if a man be indicted that he feloniously stole the goods of another man where in truth they are the proper goods of him indicted and they are brought in Court against him as the manner and he there asked what he says to the said goods to which he disclaimes by this Disclaimer he shall lose the goods although that afterwards he be acquitted of the Felony and the King shall have them as confiscated But otherwise it is if he doth not disclaim them The same Law is where goods are found in the Felons possession which he disavows and afterwards is attainted of other goods and not of them there the goods which he disavows are confiscate to the King But had he been attainted of the same goods they should have been said to be forfeited and not confiscate notwithstanding his Disavowment So if an Appeal of Robbery be brought and the Plaintiff leaves out some of his goods he shall not be received to enlarge his Appeal and forasmuch as there is none to have the goods so left out the King shall have them as confiscate according to the old rule Quod non capit Christus capit Fiscus And as in the case aforesaid the Law punishes the owner for his negligence and connivency so the Law abhors malice in seeking the bloud of any without just cause And therefore if A. hath the goods of B. by delivery or finding and B. brings an Appeal against A. for taking them feloniously and it is found that they were the Plaintiffs goods and that the Defendant came lawfully by them in this case these goods are confiscate to the King because of the false and malicious Appeal Congeable COngeable comes of the French word Conge id est venia and signifies in our Common Law as much as Lawfull or lawfully done and so Littleton uses it in his 410. sect where he says that the Entry of the Disâ— elsee is Congeable Conged ' eslire COnge Ä‘ eslire i Leave to chuse or Power of chusing is the Kings Royal Permission to any Dean and Chapter in time of Vacancy to chuse a Bishop or to an Abbey or Priory of his own foundation to chuse their Abbot or Prior. Fitzh Nat. Brev. fol. 169. b. 170. b. c. c. Master Gwin in the Preface to his Readings saith That the King of England as Soveraign Patron of all Archbishopricks Bishopricks and other Ecclesiastical Benefices had of ancient time free disposition of all Ecclesiastical Dignities whensoever they happen'd to be void investing them first per baculum annulum and afterwards by his Letters Patents and that in progress of time they gave power to others to make Election under certain forms and conditions as namely that they upon e â— ery Vacation should beg of the K. Conge de eslire that is licence to proceed to Election and after to crave his Royal Assent c. And farther he affirms by good proof out of the Common-Law Books that King John was the first that granted it and that it was afterward confirmed by Westm 1. c. 1. which Statute was made Anno 3 E. 1. and again by the Statute de Art Cleri c. 2. which was ordained Anno 25 E. 3 Stat. 3. Conjuration COnjuration is a Compact or Plot made by men combining themselves together by oath or promise to do any publick harm But it is more commonly used for such as have personal Conference with the Devil or evil Spirit to know any secret or to effect any purpose Anno 5 Eliz. c 16. And the difference between Conjuration and Witchcraft may be this Because the one seems by Prayers and Invocation upon the powerful Name of God to compell the Devil to say or do what he
commands and the other doth it rather by a friendly and voluntary Conference or agreement between him or her and the Devil or Familiar to have his or her desires and purposes effected instead of blood or other gift offered him especially of his or her Soul And both these differ from Enchantments or Sorceries because they are personal Conferences with the Devil as is said but these are but Medicines and ceremonial forms of words commonly called Charms without apparition Conservator of the Peace COnservator of the Peace is he that hath an especial charge by virtue of his Office to see the Kings Peace kept Which Peace in effect is defined to be A with-holding or abstinence from that injurious force and violence that unruly and boisterous men are in their natures prone to use towards others were they not restrained by Laws and fear of Punishment Of these Conservators Lambert farther saith That before the time of King E. 3 who first appointed Iustices of Peace there were sundry persons who by the Common Law had interest in keeping of the Peace Of those some had that charge as incident to their Offices and so included within the same and yet notwithstanding were called by the name of their Office only others had it simply as of it self and were thereof named Custodes Pacis Wardens or Conservators of the Peace And both these sorts are again subdivided by Lambert in his Eirenarcha l. 1. c. 3. Conservator of the Truce COnservator of the Truce was an Officer appointed in every Port of the Sea under the Kings Letters Patents and had 40 li. for his yearly stipend at the least His charge was to enquire of all Offences done against the Kings Truce and Sa â— e conducts upon the main Sea out of the Countries and Liberties of the Cinque-Ports of the King as the Admirals have accustomedly done and such other things as are declared Anno 2 H. 5. cap. 6. Touching this matter you may read the other Statute of Anno 4 H. 5. c. 7. Consideration COnsideration is the material cause of a Contract without which no Contract can bind the party This Consideration is either expressed as when a man bargains to give twenty shillings for an Horse or is implied as when the Law it self inforces a Consideration as if a man comes into a common Inne and there staying some time takes meat or lodging or either for himself or his horse the Law presumes he intends to pay for both notwithstanding that nothing be covenanted between him and his Host and therefore if he discharges not the house the Host may stay his horse Also there is Consideration of nature and blood and Valuable Consideration and therefore if a man be indebted to divers others and yet in consideration of natural affection gives all his goods to his son or cousin this shall be construed a fraudulent Gift within the Act of 13 Eliz. c. 5. because this Act intends a Valuable consideration Consistory COnsistory is a word borrowed of the Italians or rather Lombards and signifies as much as Tribunal It is vocabulum utriusque Juris and is used for the place of Iustice in the Courts Christian or Spiritual Consolidation COnsolidation is used for the Combining and uniting of two Benefices in one And this word is taken from the Civil Law where it properly signifies an Vniting of the possession occupation or profit with the property As if a man hath by Legacy usum fructum fundi and after purchases the Property or Fee-simple of the Heir in this case a Consolidation is made of the Profits and Property Vide Brook tit Union Conspiracie COnspiracie notwithstanding that in Latine and French it is used for an Agreement of men to do a good or evil thing yet it is commonly taken in our Law in the evil part and is defined in 34 E. 1. Stat. 2. to be an Agreement of such as confeder or bind themselves by Oath Covenant or other alliance that every of them shall bear and aid the other falsly and maliciously to indict or falsly to move or maintain Pleas and also such as cause Children within age to appeal men of Felony whereby they are imprisoned and sore grieved and such as maintain men in the Country with Liveries and Fees to maintain their malicious enterprises and this extends as well to the takers as to the givers Also Stewards and Bayliffs of great Lords who by their Selgniory Office or power undertake to bear or maintain Quarrels Pleas or Debates that concern other parties then such as touch the Estate of their Lords or of themselves Anno 4 E. 3. c. 11. 3 H. 7. c. 13 And hereof see more 1 H. 5. c. 3. 18 H. 6. c. 12. also in the old Book of Entries word Conspiracie This word in the place before rehearsed is taken more generally and is confounded with Maintenance and Champerty but in a more special signification it is taken for a Confederacy between two or more falsly to indict one or to procure one to be indicted of Felony And the punishment of Conspiracy upon an Indictment of Felony at the Suit of the King is That the party attainted shall lose his frank law so that he shall not be impanelled upon Iuries or Assises or such like imployments for testifying of the truth and if he hath to do in the Kings Court he shall make his Attorney and his lands goods and chattels shall be seised into the Kings hands his lands estreaped his trees digged up and his body committed to prison 27 lib. Assise 59 Crompton 156. b. this is called villanous Judgement But if the party grieved will sue a Writ of Conspiracy then see Fitzh Nat. Brev. 114. d. 115. i. c. Constable COnstable is diversely used in the Common Law And first the Constable of England who is also called Marshal Stanf. Pl. Cor. fol. 65. of whose authority and dignity a man may find many arguments and signs as well in the Statutes as in the Chronicles of this Realm His power consists in the care of the common Peace of the Land in deeds of Arms and matters of War Lamb. Duties of Constables num 4. wherewith agrees the Statute of 13 R. 2. c. 2. Stat. 1. Of this Officer or Magistrate Gwyn in the Preface to his Readings saith to this purpose The Court of the Coustable and Marshal determines Contracts touching Deeds of arms out of the Realm and handles things concerning Wars within the Realm as Combats Blazons of armory and suth like but he hath nothing to do with Battel in appeal nor generally with any other thing that may be tried by the Law of the Land See Fortesc ' cap. 32. This Office heretofore was appertaining to the Lords of certain Manors Jure feudi and why it is discontinued see Dyer 285. pl. 39. Out of this Magistracie saith Lambert were drawn these inferior Constables which we call Constables of Hundreds and Liberties and first ordained by the Statute of
Winchester 13 Edw. 1. which appoints for the conservation of the Peace and view of Armour two Constables in every Hundred and Liberty and these are at this day called High Constables because the increase of people and offences hath again under these made others in every Town called Pe ◠ie Constables who are of the like nature but of inferiour authority to the other Besides these there are Officers of particular places called by this name as Constable of the Tower Stan. 152. 1 H. 4. 13. Constable of the Exchequer 15 H. 3. Stat. 5. Constable of Dover Castle Camb. Brit. pag. 239. F. N. B. otherwise called Castellain Manw. part 1. cap. 13. of his Forest Law makes mention of a Constable of the Forest Customes and Services See Prescription CUstomes and Services is a Writ and lies where I or my ancestors after the limitation of Assise for which see the Title of Limitation in the Collection of Statutes were not seised of the Customes or Services of the Tenant before then I shall have this Writ to recover those Services Also the Tenant may have this Writ against his Lord but after the Tenant hath declared the Lord shall defend the words of the Declaration and replying shall say that he distrained not for the Customes whereof the Declaration is and then he shall declare all the Declaration of the Customes and Services and then the Tenant who was Plaintiff shall become Defendant and shall defend by Battel or great Assise Consultation COnsultation is a Writ whereby a Cause being formerly removed by Prohibition out of the Ecclesiastical Court or Court Christian to the Kings Court is returned thither again For if the Iudges of the Kings Court comparing the Libell with the Suggestion of the party find the Suggestion false or not proved and therefore the Cause to be wrongfully called from the Court Christian then upon this Consultation or Deliberation they decree it to be returned again whereupon the Writ in this case obtained is called a Consultation Of this you may read the Regist Orig. fol. 44. untill fol. 58. Old Nat. Brev. fol. 32. Fitzh Nat. Brev. fol. 50. Contenement COntenement seems to be the Freehold-land that lies to the Tenement or Dwelling-house that is in his own occupation for in Magna Charta cap. 14. there are these words A Free-man shall not be amerced for a small fault but according to the quantity of the fault and for a great fault according to the manner thereof saving unto him his Conteuement or Free-hold And a Merchant shall also be amerced saving to him his Merchandizes and a Villain saving to him his Wainage Continual Claime COntinual claim is where a man hath right to e ◠ter into certain lands whereof another is seised in Fee or Fee-tail and dares not enter for fear of death or beating but approaches as nigh as he dares and makes Claim thereto within the year and day before the death of him that hath the Lands if that he who hath the Land die seised and his Heir is in by discent yet he that makes such Claim may enter upon the Heir notwithstanding such discent because he hath made such Continual claim But such Claim must always be made within the year and the day before the death of the Tenant for if such Tenant do not die seised within a year and a day after such Claim made and yet he that hath right dares not enter then it behoves him that hath such right to make another Claim within the year and day after the first Claim and after such second Claim to make the third Claim within the year and day if he will be sure to save his Entry But if the Disseisor die seised within the year and day after the Disseisin and no Claim made then the entrie of the Disseisee is taken away for the year and day shall not be taken from the time of the title of the Entry to him grown but only from the time of the last Claim by him made as is aforesaid See more hereof in Littl. li. 3. c. 7. and see the Stat. 32 H. 8. cap. 33. Continuance COntinuance in the Common Law is of the same signification with Prorogatio in the Civil as Continuance until the next Assise Fitzh Nat. Brev. 154. f and 244. d. in both which places it is said That if a Record in the Treasury be alledged by the one party and denyed by the other a Certiorari shall be sued to the Treasurer and the Chamherlain of the Exchequer and if they do not certifie in the Chancery that such Record is there or that it is like to be in the Tower the King shall send to the Iustices repeating the said Certificate and commanding them to continue the Assise In this signification it is also used by Kitchen 202. and 119. also Anno 11 H. 6. cap. 4. Contract COntract is a Bargain or Covenant between two parties where one thing is given for another which is called Quid pro quo as if I sell my Horse for money or if I covenant to make you a Lease of my Mannor of Dale in consideration of twenty pound that you shall give me these are good Contracts because there is one thing for another But if a man make promise to me that I shall have xx s. and that he will be debtor to me thereof and after I ask the xx s. and he will not deliver it yet I shall never have any Action to recover this xx s. because this Promise was no Contract but a bare Promise and Ex nudo Pacto non oritur Actio But if any thing were given for the twenty shillings though it were but to the value of a peny then it had been a good Contract Contra forma Collationis COntra formam Collationis is a Writ that lies where a man hath given Lands in perpetual Almes to any of the late Houses of Religion as to an Abbot and Convent or other Soveraign or to the Warden or Master of any Hospital and his Covent to find certain poor men and to do other Divine Service if they alien the Lands then the Donor or his heirs shall have the said Writ to recover the Land But this Writ shall be alway brought against the Abbot or his successor and not against the Alienee although he be Tenant but in all other Actions where a man demands Free-hold the Writ shall be brought against the Tenant of the Land See the Stat. West 2. cap. 41. Contra formam Feoffamenti COntra formā Feoffamenti is a Writ that lies where a man before the Statute of Quia emptores terrarum made 18 Edw. 1. infeoffed another by Deed to do certain Service if the Feoffor or his heirs distrain him to do other Service then is comprised in the Deed then the Tenant shall have this Writ commanding him not to distrain him to do other Service then is comprised in the Deed. But this Writ lies not for the Plaintiff who
the Law gives much credit and authority to Coroners Corporation Corporation is a permanent thing that may have succession And it is an Assembly and joyning together of many into one Fellowship Brotherhood and mind whereof one is Head and chief the rest are the Body and this Head and Body knit together make the Corporation And of Corporations some are Spiritual some Temporal and of Spiritual some are Corporations of dead persons in Law and some otherwise and some are by authority of the King only and some have been of a mixt authority And of those that are Temporal some are by the authority of the King also and some by the Common Law of the Realm Corporation Spiritual and of dead persons in the Law is where the Corporation consists of an Abbot and Covent which had beginning of the King and the Pope when he had to do here Corporation Spiritual and of able persons in Law is where the Corporation consists of a Dean and Chapter Master of a Colledge or Hospital and this Corporation had beginning of the King only Corporation Temporal by the King is where there is a Mayor and Commonalty Corporation Temporal by authority of the Common Law is the Assembly in Parliament which consists of the King the Head of the Corporation the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and the Commons of the Realm the Body of the Corporation Bodies politick BOdies politick are Bishops Abbots Priors Deans Parsons of Churches and such like which have succession in one person only If land be given to a Maior and Commonalty for their lives they have an Estate by intendment not determinable So it is if a Feoffment be made of land to a Dean and Chapter without speaking of Successors Release of a Mayor for any summ of money due to the Corporation in his own name is not good in Law In case of a sole Corporation or Body politick as Bishop Parson Vicar Master of Hospital c. no Chattel either in action or possession shall go in succession but the Executors or Administrators of the Bishop Parson c. shall have them for Succession in a Body politick is as Inheritance in case of a body private But otherwise is in case of a Corporation composed of many as a Dean and Chapter Mayor and Commonalty and such like for there they in judgement of the Law never die Yet the case of the Chamberlain of London differs from all these and his Successors may in his own name have Execution of a Recognisance acknowledged to his Predecessor for Orphanagemoney and the reason is because in this case the Corporation of the Chamberlain is by Custome and the same Custome that hath created him and made a Corporation in Succession as to the said special purpose concerning Orphanage hath enabled the Successor to take such Recognisances Obligations c. that are made to his Predecessor And this Custom is founded upon great reason for the Executors or Administrators of the Chamberlain ought not to intermeddle with such Recognisances Obligations c. which by the said Custom are taken in the corporate capacity of the Chamberlain and not in his private But a Bishop Parson c. or any sole Corporation that are Bodies politick by prescription cannot take a Recognisance or Obligation but only to their private and not in their politick capacity for they want Custome to take a Chattel in their politick or corporate capacity Corpus cum Causa or Habeas Corpus COrpus cum Causa is a Writ issuing out of the Chancery to remove both the body and the Record of the Cause of any man lying in Execution upon a Iudgement for Debt into the Kings Bench c. there to lie till he have satisfied the Iudgement Fitzh Nat. Brev. fol. 251. e. It lies also to remove any Action from inferiour Courts of Record into any of the 3 Courts in Westm Corruption of Blood COrruption of Blood is when any one is attainted of Felony or Treason then his Bloud is said to be corrupt by means whereof neither his children nor any of his bloud can be heirs to him or to any other Ancestor for which they ought to claim by him And if he were a Noble or Gentleman before he and all his children are made thereby ignoble and ungentle having regard to the Nobility or Gentry they claim by their father which cannot be restored by the Kings Grant without authority of Parliament But if the King will pardon the offendor it will cleanse the corruption of the Blood of those children which are born after the Pardon and they may inherit the land of their Ancestor purchased at the time of the Pardon or afterwards but so cannot they who were born before the Pardon Also he that is attainted of Treason or Felony shall not be heir to his father but this disability shall hinder others to be heir so that during his life the land shall rather escheat to the Lord of the Fee then discend to another But if he who is attainted dies without issue of his body during the life of his Ancestor then his younger Brother Sister or Cousin shall inherit for if the eldest Son be hanged or abjure the Realm for Felony during the life of the Father it is no impediment but that the youngest Son may inherit 27 Edw. 3. c. 77. And if he who is attaint of Treason or Felony in the life of his Ancestor purchase the Kings Pardon before the death of his Ancestor yet he shall not be Heir to the said Ancestor but the Land shall rather escheat to the Lord of the Fee by the Corruption of bloud 26 Ass pla 2. But if the eldest son be a Clerk convict in the life of his Father and after his Father dies in this case he shall inherit his Fathers Land because he was not attainted of Felony for by the Common Law he should inherit after he had made his Purgation And now by the Statute of 18 El. cap. 6. he shall be forthwith enlarged after burning in the hand and delivered out of prison and not committed to the Ordinary to make his Purgation but he is in the same case as if he had made his Purgation If a man that hath Land in right of his wife hath issue and his Bloud is corrupt by Attainder of Felony and the King pardons him in this case if the wife dies before him he shall not be Tenant by the courtesse for the corruption of the blood of that issue But it is otherwise if he hath issue after the Pardon for then he shall be Tenant although the issue which he had before the Pardon be not inheritable 13 H. 7. c. 17. If a man seised of Land hath issue two sons and the eldest is attainted in the life of his Father of Felony and therefore executed or otherwise dies during the life of his Father and after the Father dies seised the Land shall descend to the youngest son as Heir unto his Father if
and the issue is â—â— pt forth of her belly alive there he shall not be Tenant by the Curtesie for this ought to begin by the issue and consummate by the death of the woman and the Estate of the Tenant by the Curtesie ought to avoid the immediate discent But if the husband hath issue by his wife and after Land discends to the woman be the issue then dead or alive he shall be Tenant by the Curtesie for the time of the birth of the issue is not material if it be in the life of the woman If Lands be given to a woman and the heirs males of her body and she takes an hu â— band and hath issue a daughter and dies the husband shall not be Tenant by the Curtesie for the issue cannot by any possibility inherit the same Tenements Also as a woman alien marrying one of the Kings subjects shall not be endowed in the same manner a man alien shall not be Tenant by the Curtesie Also if a man seised of Land in right of his wife be attainted of Felony having issue and then purchases the Kings Pardon and after his wife dies there he shall not be Tenant by the Curtesie But if he hath issue by his wife born after the Pardon in such case he shall Curtilage CUrtilage is a Garden Yard Field or piece of void ground lying near and belonging to the Messuage West part 2. sect 26. And so it is used 35 H. 8. c. 4. 39 Eliz. 2 Coke l. 6. fol. 64. Customary Tenants CUstomary Tenants are such Tenants as hold by the Custome of the Mannor as their special Evidence Custome CUstome may be defined to be a Law or Right not written which being established by long use and consent of our Ancestors hath been and dayly is put in practice Custome is either general or particular General is that which is current through England whereof you may read in Doctor and Student l. 1. c. 7. many very worthy to be known Particular is that which belongs to this or that County as Gavelkind to Kent or to this or that Lordship City or Town Custome differs from Prescription because Custome is common to many and Prescription by the opinion of some is particular to this or that man Again Prescription may be for a shorter time than Custome sc for five years or less As if a Fine be duly levied of Lands or Tenements and be not gainsaid within five years this is a Bar to all Claim for ever If a man omits his Continual Claim for a year and a day then the Tenant in possession prescribes an Immunity against the Entry of the Demandant and his Heir Fitzh Nat. Brev. 79. Out of our Statutes you may have greater diversity so that this seems to be a true saying That Prescription is an Exception founded upon so long time gone and past as the Law limits for the pursuit of any Action An example may be taken out of the Statute of 1 H. 8. c. 4. which enacts That in all Actions popular information shall be made within three years after the offence committed otherwise to be of no force Custome is also used for the Tribute or Toll that Merchants pay to the King to carry in and out Merchandizes 14 E. 3. Stat. 1. c. 21. In which signification it is called Custuma in Latine Reg. Orig. 129. a. 138. a. And lastly for such Services as Tenants of a Manor owe unto their Lord. Old Book of Entries word Custome See Consuetud Servitiis Custos Brevium CUstos Brevium is the chief Clerk belonging to the Court of Common Pleas or Kings Bench whose office is to receive and keep all the Writs and to put them upon Files every Return by it self and at the end of every Term to receive of the Prothonotaries all the Records of Nisi prius called the Postea The Custos Brevium also makes entry of Writs of Covenant and the Concord upon every Fine and makes out Exemplifications and Copies of all the Writs and Records in his Office and of all the Fines levied The parts of the Fines after they are ingrossed are divided between the Custos Brevium and the Chirographer whereof the Chirographer keeps always the Writ of Covenant and the Note the Custos Brevium keeps the Concord and the Foot of the Fine upon which Foot the Chirographer causes the Proclamations to be indorsed when they are all proclaimed Custos Rotulorum CUstos Rotulorum is he that hath the keeping of the Rolls or Records of the Sessions of the Peace and as some think of the Commission of the Peace it self Lam. l. 4. c. 3. p. 373. He is always Iustice of the Peace and Quorum in the County where he hath his Office and by his Office he is rather termed an Officer or Minister then a Iudge because the Commission of the Peace lays this special Charge by express words upon him That he should cause the Writs Precepts Process and Indictments aforesaid to come and be before him and his fellow-Justices at the days and places aforesaid Gardian of the Spiritualties GArdian of the Spiritualties is he that exercises the spiritual and Ecclesiastical Iurisdiction of any Diocess during the Vacancy of the See the appointment of whom by the Canon Law pertains to the Dean and Chapter lest in the Vacancie of the See some Innovation should be introduced But in Engl. the Archbishop of the Province hath it by Prescription Howbeit many Deans and Chapters a â— M. Gwyn saith in his Preface to his Readings challenge this by ancient Charters from the Kings of this Land Cuynage CUynage is a word used in the Statute of 11 H. 7. c. 4. for the making up of Tinne into that fashion as it is used to be framed for the better carriage of it into other parts D. Dammage DAmmage is part of that which the Iurors are to enquire of in giving their Verdict for the Complainant or Demandant in an Action real or personal For after the Verdict given upon the principal matter they are also asked their Consciences touching Costs which are the Expences of the Suit and Dammages which contain the prejudice which the Plaintiff or Demandant hath suffered by means of the wrong doue him by the Defendant or Tenant And forasmuch as Iustice and Reason require that when the life credit lands goods corruption of bloud and all that a man hath to forfeit in this world are put in peril without just cause but only upon the malicious Accusation of another by Appeal that the Appellee should have satisfaction therefore against his false Accuser and if he hath not sufficient then against him or them that abbetted or procured him to pursue the Appeal Therefore the Common Law gave Dammages to the Defendant in an Appeal and assigned him a means for the recovery thereof when he was acquitted of the Felony as it is 48 E. 3. 22. But forasmuch as the Dammages against the Procurors and Abbettors were to be recovered
both are Records yet the Iudgment in the Kings Court upon judicial and ordinary proceeding is more notorious and conspicuous and of a more high and eminent degree then a Statute or Recognisance taken in private and by consent of parties and is therefore preferred in judgment of the Law before Recognisance or Statute and if the Executors do not satisfie this first then if they have no goods of the dead in their hands they shall pay it of their own So the Ordinary having goods of one that dies intestate in his hands by Sequestration and an Action of Debt upon an Obligation to the value of the said goods is brought against him as Ordinary he shall not dispose or administer any parcell of the said Goods to the other Creditors at his pleasure but is bound to satisfie the Debt first for which an Action is brought against him Dyer fol. 232. placit 5. If a Sheriff retorne ex officio without inquest that the Executor hath wasted goods the Execution goes de bonis propriis of the Executor and if the retorn be false then the Executor may have an Action upon the Case against the Sheriff for his false retorn because the Executor hath no day to plead But if the Sheriff retorn a devastavit upon an Inquiry by a Iury the Executor may appear and traverse quod non devastavit and try it 1 Cro. Mounson and Bourn Proctor versus Chamberlain Devenerunt DEvenerunt is a Writ directed to the Escheator when any of the Kings Tenants holding in Capite dies and when his son and heir within age and in the Kings custody dies then shall this Writ go forth commanding the Escheator that he by the oath of good and lawful men enquire what Lands or Tenements by the death of the Tenant come to the King c. See Dyer f. 360. pla 4. But see the Stat. 12. Car. 2. cap. 24. Devest DEvest is a word contrary to Invest for as Invest signifies to deliver the possession of a thing so Devest signifies the taking it away Devise DEvise is where a man in his Testament gives or bequeaths his Goods or Lands to another after his decease And where such Devise is made of Goods if the Executors will nor deliver them to the Devisee he hath no remedy by the Common Law but it behoves him to have a Citation against the Executors of the Testator to appear before the Ordinary to shew why he performs not the Will of the Testator for the Devisee may not take the Legacy and serve himself but it must be delivered to him by the Executors See the Stat. 32 H. 8. ca. 1. 34 H. 8. ca. 5. 29 Car. 2. ca. 3. By which last Statute the Law of Testameuts is altered But by the Common Law if a man be sole seised of Lands in fee and devises them by Testament this Devise was void unless the Lands were in City or Borough where Lands are devisable by Custome But if any man were infeoffed to the use of another and his heirs and he to whose use he was so seised did make Devise of his Lands this Devise was good though it were not in a Town where Lands are devisable Also if any man devise Lands in City Town or Borough devisable and the Devisor dies if his Heir or any other abate in the Lands then the Devisee shall have a Writ of Ex gravi querela But this Writ shall never be pleaded before the Kings Iustice but always before the Maior or Bailiffs in the same Town And here to the end to shew how much the Laws of this Realm and the discreet Iudges of the same who are the Interpreters of it do favour Wills and Testaments and Devises in yielding to them such a reasonable construction as they think might best agree with the minds of the dead considering that Wills and Testaments are for the most part and by common intendment made when the Testatour is very sick weak and past all hope of recovery for it is a received opinion in the Countrey amongst most that if a man should chance to be so wise as to make his Will in his good health when he is strong of good memory and hath time and leisure to ask counsell if any doubt were of the Learned that then he should not live long after and therefore they deferre it to such time when it were more convenient to apply themselves to the dispositions of their Souls than of their Lands or Goods except it were that by the fresh memory and recital of them at that time it might be a cause to put them in mind of some of their goods or lands falsly gotten and so move them to restitution c. And at that time the penning of such Wills is commonly committed to the Minister of the Parish or to some other more ignorant who knows not what words are necessary to make an Estate in Fee-simple Fee-tail for term of life or such like besides many other mischiefs I will therefore here set down some of those Cases that are most common in ignorant mens mouths and carry by the wise interpretations of the Judges a larger and more favourable sense in Wills than in Deeds First therefore if one devise to J. S. by his Will all his Lands and Tenements here not only all those Lands that he hath in possession do pass but all those that he hath in Reversion by virtue of those words Tenements And if Lands be devised to a man to have to him for ever or to have to him and his Assigns in these two cases the Devisee shall have a Fee-simple But if it be given by Feoffment in such manner he hath but an Estate for term of life And if a man devise his Land to another to give sell or do therewith at his pleasure or will this is Fee-simple A Devise made to one and to his Heirs males doth make an Estate-tail But if such words be put in a Deed of Feoffment it shall be taken for Fee-simple because it doth not appear of what body the Heirs males shall be begotten If Lands be given by Deed to J. S. and to the Heirs males of his body c. who hath issue a daughter who hath issue a son and dies there the Land shall return to the Donor and the son of the Daughter shall nor have it because he cannot convey himself by Heirs males for his mother is a let thereto But otherwise it is of such a Devise for there the son of the daughter shall have it rather then the Will shall be void If one devise to an Infant in his mothers belly it is a good Devise but otherwise by Feoffment Grant or Gift for in those cases there ought to be one of ability to take presently or otherwise it is void See 14. El. Dy. 304. A Devise made in Fee-simple without expresse words of Heirs is good in Fee-simple But if a Devise be made to J. N. he
Finite is that which is limited by Law how often it shall be made to bring the party to trial of the Action as once or twice Old Nat. Brev. f. 43. Distresse infinite is without limitation untill the party comes as against a Iury that refuses to appear upon Certificate of Assise the Process is a Venire facias Habeas corpora and distresse infinite Old nar Brev. f. 113. Then it is divided into the grand Distresse as Anno 52 H. 3. c. 7. which Fitzh calls in Latine Magnam Districtionem Nat. Brev. 126. a. and an ordinary distresse A grand Distresse is that which is made of all the goods and chattels which the party had within the County Brit. c. 6. f. 52. But see whether it be not sometimes all one with Distresse infinite idem fol. 80. with whom also the Statute of Marlbridge seems to agree Anno 52 H. 3. c. 7. 9 12. See the Old Nat. Brev. 71. b. Distringas DIstringas is a Writ directed to the Sheriff or any other Officer commanding him to distrain for a Debt to the King c. or for his appearing at a day See the great diversity of this Writ in the Table of the Reg. judic verbo Distringas Also there is a Writ to distrein Iurors to try an issue in a Suit at Common Law And also another Writ to distrein the adjacent Villages to make good Hedges and fences thrown down in the night by unknown men Of which see 1 Cro. Rep. 204. in t ' Reg. Inhabit ' de Epworth Dividend DIvidend is a word used in the Statute of Rutland Anno 10 E. 1. where it seems to signifie one part of an Indenture See Anno 28 ejusdem Stat. 3. c. 2. Divorce DIvorce See Devorce Docket DOcket is a Little piece of Payer or Parchment written that contains in it the effect of a Greater Writing See the Statute 2 3 P. M. c. 6. M. West part 2. tit Fines sect 106. calls it Dogget Dog-draw DOg-draw is an apparent Deprehension of an offendor against Venison in the Forrest There are four kinds of them observed by Manwood part 2. c. 18. num 9. of his Forest Laws that is Dog-draw Stable stand Back-bear and Bloudy-hand Dog-draw is when one is found drawing after a Deer by the sent of a Hound led in his hand Dogger DOgger is a kind of Ship Anno 31 E. 3. Stat. 3. c. 1. Dogger-fish ib. c. 2 seems to be Fish brought in those Ships to Blackney Haven c. Doggermen Anno 2 H. 8. c. 4. Dole-fish DOlefish seems to be those Fishes which the Fishermen yearly imployed in the North seas do of custome receive for their allowance See the Statute Anno 35 H. 8. c. 7. Dominus litis IS the Advocate in the Civil Law who after the death of his Client prosecutes a Suit to sentence for the Executors use Domo reparan â—â— DOmo reparanda is a Vr. that lies for one against his neighbour by the fall of whose House he fears some hurt will come to his own Reg. orig fol. 123. Doom DOom from the Saxon Dom signifies Iudgment a word much used in References to Arbitrators Dooms-day DOoms-day is a Book that was written in the time of S. Edward the Confessor as the Author of Old Nat. Brev. saith fol. 15. and before in the title of Ancient demesne containing in it not only all the Lands through England but also all the names of those in whose hands they were at that time when the Book was made Lambert proves that this Book was made in the time of William the Conquerour with whom Cambden in his Britan. pag. 94. agrees proving it out of Ingulphus that flourished the same time who touching the contents thereof hath these words It describes the whole Land neither was there one Hide in all England whose Value and Possessour was unknown nor any Pool or place not describ'd in the Kings Roll and the Rent profits Possession it self and Possessor not made known to the King according to the fidelity of the Taxers who described the same Country wherein they were elected That Roll is called Rotulus Wint. and by the English for its generality in that it contains all the Tenements contained throughout the Land it is surnamed Dooms-day And this Book is sometimes called Liber Judicatorius because in it is contained a diligent Description of the Kingdom and it expresses the value of all the ground thereof as well in the time of King Edward as in the time of King William under whom it was compiled Doomsman SEem to be Suitors in a Court of a Mannor in Auntient demesne who are Iudges there Donative DOnative is a Benefice meerly given and collated by the Patron to a man without either Presentation to or Institution by the Ordinary or Induction by his commandment F. N. B. 35. e. See the Statute of 8. R. 2. c. 4. Peter Gregory de Beneficiis c. 11. num 1. hath these words But if Chappels founded by Lay-men were not approved of the Diocesan and as they term it spiritualized they are not accounted Benefices neither can they be conferred by the Bishop but remain to the pious disposition of the Founders Wherefore the founders and their Heirs may give such Chappels if they will without the Bishop M. Gwyn in the Preface to his Readings saith That the King might of antient time found a free Chappel and exempt it from the Iurisdiction of the Diocesan So also he may by his Letters Patents give licence to a common person to found such a Chappel and to ordain that it shall be Donative and not presentable and that the Chaplain shall be deprivable by the Founder or his heir and not by the Bishop and this seems to be the original of Donatives in England Fitzherbert saith fol. 33. c. that there are some Chauntries which a man may give by his Letters Patents And all Bishopricks were of the Foundation of the Kings of England and therefore in the antient time they were Donative and given by the Kings yet now the Bishopricks are become by the Grants of the Kings eligible by their Chapter Coke l. 3. f. 76. Donor and Donee DOnor is he who gives Lands or Tenements to another in tail and he to whom the same is given is called Donee Dorture DOrture is a common Room place or Chamber where all the Religious of one Covent slept and lay all night Anno 25 H. 8. cap. 11. Double Plea DOuble Plea is where the Defendant or Tenant in any Action pleads a Plea in which two matters are comprehended and each one by it self is a sufficient Bar or Answer to the Action then such double Plea shall not be admitted for a Plea except one depend upon another and in such case if he may not have the last Plea without the first then such a double Plea shall be well received Double Quarel DOuble Quarel is a Complaint made by any Clerk or other to the Archbishop of
the Province against any inferiour Ordinary for Delaying Iustice in any Cause Ecclesiastical as to give sentence or to institute a Clerk presented or such like the effect of which is That the Archbishop taking knowledge of such Delay directs his Letters under his authentical Seal to all and singular Clerks of his Province thereby commanding and giving authority to them and every of them to admonish the said Ordinary within nine days to do the Iustice required or otherwise to cite him to appear before him or his Official at a day in the said Letters prefixed and there to alledge the cause of his Delay and lastly to intimate to the said Ordinary that if he performs not the thing injoyned nor appears at the day assigned he himself without other Delay will proceed to perform the Iustice required And it seems to be called a Double Quarel because it is most commonly made against the Iudge and him at whose request Iustice is delayed Dower DOwer by the Law of the Realm is a Portion which a Widow hath of the Lands of her husband which by the Common Law is the third part but by her husbands assignment by his fathers assent at the Church-door she may have so much of his fathers Land as is so assigned and so of the husbands assignment of part of his own Land And Dower by the Custome of some places is to have half the husbands Land Dower is also a Writ that lies where a man is sole seised during the Coverture between him and his wife of Lands or Tenements in Fee-simple or Fee-tail where by possibility the issue between them may inherit if such a man die his wife shall recover the third part of all the Lands whereof the husband was sole seised any time during the Coverture by a Writ of Dower unde nihil habet though he died not seised and though he made Alienation thereof in his life But if a man before the Statute of Vses 27 H. 8. had Lands in which another man or other men were seised to his use always during the Coverture and he to whose use they were seised died before the said Statute his wife should not be endowed And if before the said Statute two men were seised of Lands to the use of one of them and he to whose use c. died before the said Statute his wife should not be endowed Also if a woman bring a Writ of Dower she should recover Dammages for the profit run after the death of her husband if he died seised thereof but if any Alienation or Estate were made during the Coverture so that the husband died not seised then though she should recover the Land yet no Dammages Also there is another Writ of Dower called a Writ of Right of Dower which lies where a woman hath recovered part of her Dower in one Town and the other part she is to recover But in divers cases a woman shall not have Dower as if the husband commit Treason for which he is attainted then his wife shall have no Dower And if she elope from her husband with another man in Adultery and be not reconciled to him of her own will without coercion of the Church she shall not be endowed See Lit. l. 1. cap. 4. And note where in the Civil Law Dower is that which the husband hath with his wife in Marriage to maintain the married estate by the Laws of this Realm the word Dower signifies such Portion as the wife after her husbands death shall have to live on Dozeine DOzeine See Deciners Drie Exchange DRie Exchange Anno 3 H. 7. cap. 5. Seems to be a subtile term invented to disguise Vsury in which something is pretended to pass on both sides whereas in truth nothing passes on the one side Drift of the Forest DRift of the Forrest is nothing else but an exact view or Examination taken once twice or oftner in a year as occasion shall require what Beasts there are in the Forrest to the end that the Common in the Forrest be not over-charged that the Beasts of Foreiners that have no Common there be not permitted and that Beasts not commonable may be put out See for this the Statute of 32 H. 8. cap. 35. and Manwoods Forrest Laws cap. 15. Right RIght is where one hath a thing that was taken from another wrongfully as by Disseisin Discontinuance or such like the Challenge or Claim of him that ought to have it is called Right If a woman release all her Right to him in Reversion her Dower is extinct for when the Right which is the foundation and principal is released by Consequence the Action which is but the means to recover is also released By Release of all Title to the Land all his Right is extinct So when a man hath Title either by Condition or by Alienation in Mortmain the Release of all his Right shall extinguish this Title Cok. lib. 8. fol. 151 153. Right of Entry RIght of Entrie is when one seised of Land in fee is thereof disseised now the Disseisee hath Right to enter into the Land and may so do when he will or else may have a Writ of Right against the Disseisor Duces tecum DUces tecum is a Writ out of the Chancery commanding a man to appear there and to bring with him some piece of Evidence or other thing that the Court would have a sight of Dum fuit infra Aetatem DUM fuit infra aetatem is a Writ that lies where an Infant aliens his Land in Fee-simple or for term of life when he comes to his full age he shall have this Writ or he may enter if he will but he must be of full age the day of his Writ brought Also if an Infant alien his Land and die his issue at his full age shall have this Writ or he may enter but the issue shall not have this Writ within his age Dum non fuit compos mentis DUM non fuit compos mentis is a Writ that lies when a man that is out of his wit viz. Mad or Lunatick aliens his Land in Fee-simple and dies then his Heir after his decease shall have this Writ but he himself shall not have it for that a man shall not be received to disable himself Also this Writ may be made in the Per Cui and Post Duplicat DUplicat is a Second Letters Patents granted by the Lord Chancellour in case where he hath granted the same before and therefore they are held void by Crompton in his Jur. of Courts fol. 215. Duresse DUresse is where one is kept in Prison or restrained from his Liberty contrary to the order of Law or threatned to be killed maimed or greatly beaten and if such person so in Prison or in fear of such Threatnings make any Specialty or Obligation by reason of such Imprisonment such a Deed is void in Law and in an Action brought upon such a Specialty he may say it was made by Duresse
ei dimisit qui inde eum injuste disseisivit c. But if the Disseisor alien and the Alienee dies seised or aliens over to another or if the Disseisor dies and his Heir enters and that Heir aliens or dies and his Heir enters then the Disseisee or his Heir shall have a Writ of Entre sur Disseisin in the Per and Cui and the Writ shall say In quod idem A non habet Ingressum nisi per B cui C illud ei dimisit qui inde injuste c. A Writ of Entry in the Per and Cui shall be maintainable against none but where the Tenant is in by Purchase or Discent For if the Alienation or Discent be put out of the Degrees upon which no Writ may be made in the Per or in the Per and Cui then it shall be made in the Post and the Writ shall say In quod A non habet Ingressum nisi Post Disseis â— nam quam B inde injuste sine judicio fecit praef t. N. vel M. proavo N. cujus haeres ipse est Also there are five things which put the Wri â— of Entrie out of the Degrees viz. Intrusâ—on Succession Disseisin upon Disseisin Iudgment and Escheat 1. Intrusion is when the Disseisor dies seised and a stranger abates 2. Diss â— isin upon Disseisin is when the Disseisor is disseised by another 3. Succession is when the Disseisor is a man of Religion and dies or is deposed and his Successor enters 4. Judgment is when one recovers against the Disseisor 5. Escheat is when the Disseisor dies without Heir or doth Felony whereby he is attaint by which the Lord enters as in his Escheat In all these cases the Disseisee or his Heir shall not have a Writ of Entrie within the degrees of the Per but in the Post because in those cases they are not in by Discent nor by Purchase Entrie ad Communem Legem ALso there is a Writ of Entrie ad Communem Legem which lies where Tenant for term of Life Tenant for term of anothers Life Tenant by the curtesie or Tenant in Dower aliens and dies he in the Revetsion shall have this Writ against whomsoever is in after in the Tenement Entrie in the Case provided A Writ of Entrie in Casu proviso lies if Tenant in Dower alien in fee or for term of life or for anothers life living the Tenant in Dower he in the Reversion shall have this Writ which is provided by the Stat. of Gloc. c. 7. Entrie in Casu consimili A Writ of Entrie in Casu consimili lies where Tenant for life or Tenant by the courtesie aliens in Fee he in Reversion shall have this Writ by the Statute of Westmin 2. cap. 24. Entrie ad Terminum qui praeteriit THe Writ of Entrie ad terminum qui praeteriit lies where a man leases Land to another for term of years and the Tenant holds over his term the Lessor shall have this Writ And if Lands be leased to a Man for term of anothers life and he for whose life the Lands are leased dies and the Lessee holds over then the Lessor shall have this Writ Entrie without Assent of the Chapter A Writ of Entrie sine Assensu Capituli lies where an Abbot Prior or such as hath Covent or common Seal aliens Lands or Tenements of the right of his Church without the Assent of the Covent or Chapter and dies then the Successor shall have this Writ Entrie for Marriage in Speech A Writ of Entrie causa Matrimonii praeloquuti lies where Lands or Tenements are given to a man upon Condition that he shall take the Donor to his wife within a certain time and he does not espouse her within the said term or espouses another woman or makes himself Priest or enters in Religion or disables himself so that he cannot take her according to the said Condition then the Donor and her Heirs shall have the said Writ against him or against whosoever is in the said Land But this Condition must be made by Indenture otherwise this Writ doth not lie And all these and other Writs of Entry may be made in the Per Cui and Post Entrusion ENtrusion is a Writ that lies where a Tenant for Life dies seised of certain Lands or tenements and a Stranger enters he in the Reversion shall have this writ against the Abator or whosoever is in after their Entrusion Also a writ of Entrusion shall be maintainable by the Successour of an Abbot against the Abator who shall enter in Lands or tenements in the time of Vacation that belong to the Church by the Statute of Marlebridge the last Chapter And it seems the difference between an Intrudor and an Abator is this that an Abator is he that enters into Lands void by the death of a Tenant in Fee and an Intrudor is he that enters into Lands void by the death of a Tenant for Life or Years See F. N. B. fol. 203. Entrusion de Gard. ENtrusion de Gard is a Writ which lies where the Heir within age enters in his Lands and holds out his Lord for in such case the Lord shall not have the Writ de Communi Custodia but this Writ of Entrusion of the Ward Old N. B. Enure ENure signifies to take place or effect to be available As a Release shall enure by way of Extinguishment Lit. Cha. Release Equity EQuity is in two sorts and those of contrary effects for the one doth abridge and take from the letter of the Law the other doth enlarge and add thereunto The first is thus defined Equity is the Correction of a Law generally made in that part wherein it fails which correction of the general words is much used in our Law As for example When an Act of Parliament is made that whosoever doth such a thing shall be a Feion and shall suffer death yet if a Mad-man or an Infant that hath no discretion do the same they shall be no Felons nor suffer death ther fore Also if a Statute were made That all persons that shall receive or giv â— me â— t and drink or other succor to any that shall do any such thing shall be accessary to his Offence and shall suffer death if they knew of the Fact yet one doth such an act and comes to his wife who knowing thereof doth receive him and gives him meat and drink she shall not be Accessary nor Felon for by the generality of the said words neither the M â— d-man Infant nor Wife were included in the intent of the Law And thus Equity doth correct the generality of the Law in those cases and the general words are by Equity abridged The other Equity is defined to be an Extension of the words of the Law to Cases unexpressed yet having the same reason So that when the words enact one thing they enact all other things that are of like degree As the Statute which ordains That in an Action of Debt against
satisfied but with the death of the enemy such is that amongst the people in Scotland and in the Northern parts of England which is a Combination of all the Kindred to revenge the death of any of the Blood upon the Slayer and all his race And this word is mentioned in the Stat. of 43 Eliz. c. 13. Fieri facias FIeri facias is a Writ judicial and lies where a â—â— an recovers Debt or Da â—â— nages in the Kings Court 〈◊〉 a he shall have this Writ to the Sheriff commanding him that he levy the Debt and Dammages of the goods of him against whom the Recovery is had and it lies only within a year and a day and after the year he must sue a Scire facias and if the party be warned and doth not come at the day c. or if he come and can say nothing then he who recovers shall have a Writ of Fieri facias directed to the Sheriff that he make Execution of Iudgment But if a man recover against a woman and she takes a husband within the year and the day then he that recovers must have a Scire facias against the husband So it is if an Abbot or Prior recover and die his Successor within the year shall have a Scire facias See thereof more in the Title Scire facias and Title Execution There is also another manner of Fieri facias against a Rector where upon a general Fieri facias the Sheriff returns quod nulla habet bona seu catalla and thereupon a Writ is directed to the Bishop of the Diocess where he is Rector and thereupon the Bishop levies the Debt of the Profits of the Gleab Tithes of the Rectory Fifteenth FIfteent â— See Quinzisme F â— lazer FIlazer of the French word Filace id est a Thread is the name of an Officer in the Common Pleas of which there are 14. They make dut all the Original Process there and the Distress infinite upon Summons returned in personal Actions and the Capias upon the return of Nihil and all Writs of View in cases where the View is prayed And where the Appearance is with them they enter the Impariance and the general Issue in common Actions and Iudgments by Confession before Issue joyned and make out Writs of Execution upon them And they make Writs of Supersedeas after a Capias awarded when the Defendant appears in their Office And this Officer is mentioned in the Statutes of 10 H 6. c. 4. 18 H. 6. c. 9. File FIle Filacium is a Thread or Wire upon which Writs and other Exhibits in Courts are put for the safer keeping of them together Finders FInders is a word used in many Statutes as in 14 R. 2. c. 10. 17 R. 2. c. 5. 1 H. 4 c. 13. and 31 H. 6. c. 5. and seems to be all one with those Officers which we now call Searchers imployed for the discovery of Goods which are imported or exported without paying Custom Fine FIne sometimes is taken for a Sum of money which one is to pay to the King for any Contempt or Offence which Fine every one that commits any Trespass or is convict that he falsly denies his own Deed or did any thing in contempt of Law shall pay to the King which is called Fine to the King Sometime a Fine is taken for a Final Agreement which is had between any persons concerning any Land or Rent or other thing whereof any Suit or Writ is between them hanging in any Court which may be divers ways One is when any party acknowledges that to be the right of the other as that he hath of the Gift of him that made the Recognizance which always supposes a Feoffment going before and is called a Fine executed Or if he acknowledged that to be the right of another omitting these words coÌ„e ceo que il eit de son Done this being a Fine upon acknowledging of â— ight only if it be levied to him which hath the Freehold of the Land is a Fine upon a Release If he that acknowledged it is seised and he to whom it is levied hath not the Free-hold of the Land then it is called a Fine executory which he to whom the Land is acknowledged may execute by Entry or Scire facias Sometime such a Fine Sur conusance de droit only is to make a Surrender wherein is rehearsed that the Reconusor hath an Estate for life and the other a Reversion Sometime it is taken to pass a Reversion where a particular Estate is recited to be in another and that the Reconusor will that the other shall have the Reversion or that the Land shall remain to another after the particular Estate spent And sometime he to whom the right is acknowledged as that which he hath of the Gift of the Reconusor shall yield the Land or a Rent out thereof to the Conusor And that sometime for the whole Fee sometime for one particular Estate with Remainder or Remainders over and sometime with Reversion of Rents with Distress and Grant thereof over by the said Fine It is called a Fine because thereby the Suit is ended and if it be recorded with Proclamation according to the Statute 4 H. 7. it bars Strangers Fine force FIne force signifies an absolute Necessity as when a man is compelled to do that which he can no way avoid we say he doth it de Fine force So this word is used in Perk. sect 321. in Mantel and Woodlands Case in Plowden f. 94. b. and in Eatons Case cited in Foxly's Case in the 6 Rep. f. 111. a. Finors FInors are those that purifie Gold and Silver and part them by fire and water from courser Metals and therefore in the Statute of 4 H. 7. c. 2. they are also called Parters Fire-bote FIre-bote is necessary Wood to burn which by the Common Law Lessee for years or for life may take in his Ground although it be not expressed in his Lease and although it be a Lease by Word only without Writing But if he take more then is needful he shall be punished in Waste First-fruits FIrst-fruits Primitiae are the Profits of every Spiritual Living for a year which were anciently given to the Pope but by the Statute of 26 H. 8. â— 3. are now transferred to the King Fledwite FLedwite is to be quit from Amerciaments when an outlawed Fugitive comes to the Kings Peace of his own will or being licensed Flemeswite FLemeswite is that you may have the Cattel or Amerciaments of your Fugitive man Fletwit FLetwit or Flitwit is to be quit from Contention and Convicts and that you may have a Plea thereof in your Court and the Amerciaments for Flit in English is Treason in French Floatsam FLoatsam or Flotson is when a Ship is sunk or otherwise perished and the Goods float upon the Sea and they are given to the Lord Admiral by his Letters Patents See Cok. lib. 5. fol. 106. Fold Fould-course FOld Fould-course
Forestall FOrestall is to be quit of Amerciaments and Cattels arrested within your Land and the Amerciaments thereof coming Founder FOunder is he that uses the Art of Melting or Dissolving Metals and making any thing thereof by casting in Molds He seems to have his name from the Latine word Fundere and is mentioned in the Statute of 17 R. 2. cap. 1. Fourcher FOurcher is a device used to delay the Plaintiff or Demandant in a Suit against two who thereto are not to answer till they both appear and the Appearance or Essoin of one will excuse the others Default at that day and they agree that the one shall be essoined or appear one day and for lack of the Appearance of the other have day over to appear and the other party shall have the same day and at that day the other will appear or be essoined and he that appeared or was essoined before will not then appear because he hoped to have another day by the Adjournment of the party who then appeared or was essoined This is called Fourcher and in some cases the mischief thereby is remedied by the Statute of Gloucest cap. 10. and Westm̄ 1. cap. 42. Franchise FRanchise is a French word and signifies in our Law an Immunity or Exemption from ordinary Iurisdiction as for a Corporation to hold Pleas within themselves to such a value and the like See of this in the Old Nat. Brev. fol. 4. a b. Franchise Royal. FRanchise Royal is where the King grants to one and his Heirs that they shall be quit of Toll or such like Free Almes FRee Almes is where in ancient times Lands were given to an Abbot and his Covent or to a Dean and his Chapter and to their Successors in pure and perpetual Almes without expressing any Service certain this is Frank-almoigne and such are bound before God to make Oraisons and Prayers for the Donor and his Heirs and therefore they do no Fealty and if such as have Lands in Frank-almoigne perform no Prayers nor Divine Service for the Souls of the Donors they shall not be compelled by the Donors to do it but the Donors may complain to the Ordinary praying him that such negligence be no more and the Ordinary of right ought to redress it But if an Abbot c. holds Lands of his Lord for certain Divine Service to be done as to sing every Friday a Mass or do some other thing if such Divine Service be not done the Lord may distrain and in such case the Abbot ought to do Fealty to the Lord and therefore it is not said Tenure in Frank-almoign but Tenure by Divine-Service for none can hold by Frank-almoign if any certain Service be expressed Frank Bank FRank Bank or Free Bench are Copihold-Lands which the Wife being married a Virgin hath after the decease of her husband for her Dower Kitch f. 102. Bract lib. 4. tract 6. cap. 13. num 2. hath these words There is a custom in those parts that the Wives their Husbands being dead should have Frank Bank of Lands of Sockmans and hold it in name of Dower Fitzh calls this a Custome by which in some Cities the Wife shall have all the Lands of her Husband for Dower N. B. fol. 150. See Plow fol. 411. Frank Chase FRank Chase is a Liberty by which all men having Land within this compass are prohibited to cut down the Wood or discover c. without the view of the Forrester although it be his own Crom. Jur. f. 187. Frank Fee TO hold in Frank Fee is to hold in Fee-simple Lands pleadable at the Common Law and not in ancient Demesne Frank Law FRank Law See Crom. Just of Peace f. 151. where you may find what this is by the contrary for he that for an Offence as Conspiracy loses his Frank Law is said to fall into these Mischiefs First that he shall never be Impanelled upon any Iury or Assize or otherwise used in saying any Truth Also if he have any thing to do in the Kings Court he shall not approach thither in person but must appoint his Attourney 3 His Lands Goods and Chattels are to be seised into the Kings hands and his Lands must be estrepped his Trees rooted up and his Body committed to prison Free Marriage FRee Marriage is when a man seised of Land in Fee-simple gives it to another man and his wife who is the daughter sister or otherwise of kin to the Donor in Free Marriage by virtue of which wards they have an Estate in special tail and shall hold the Land of the Donor quit of all manner of Services until the fourth degree be past accounting themselves in the first degree except Fealty which they shall do because it is incident to all Tenures saving Free alms And such Gift may be made as well after Marriage solemnized as before And a man may give Lands to his Soir in Free Marriage as well as to his Daughter by the opinion of Fitzh in his Writ of Champertie H. But it appears otherwise in Littleton and in Broke tit Frank-marriage pla 10. And so it was holden clear in Grays-Inne in Lent an 1576. 18 Eliz. by M. Rhodes then Reader there Frank-plege FRank-plege signifies a Pledge or Surety for Free-men according to the ancient Custom of England for preservation of the publick Peace See the Statute for View of Frank-pledge Anno 18 Ed. 2. and see View of Frank-pledge Free-hold FRee-hold is an Estate that a man hath in Lands or Tenements or Profit to be taken in Fee-simple Tail for term of his own or anothers life in Dower or by the Courtesse of England and under that there is no Free-hold for he that hath Estate for years or holds at will hath no Free-hōld but they are called Chatels And of Free-holds there are two sorts viz. Free-hold in Deed and Free-hold in Law Free-hold in Deed is when a man hath entred into Lands or Tenements and is seised thereof really and actually As if the Father seised of Lands or Teuements in Fee-simple dies and his son enters into the same as heir to his Father then he hath a Free-hold in Deed by his Entry Free-hold in Law is when Lands or Tenements are discended to a man and he may enter into them when he will but hath not yet made his Entry in Deed As in the case aforesaid if the Father being seised of Lands in Fee die seised and they discend to his Son but the Son hath not entred into them in Deed now befo rt his Entry he hath a Free-hold in Law French-man FRench-man was wont to be used for every Outlandish-man Bracton Lib. 3. Tract 2. cap. 15. See Engleshery Frendless man FRendless man was the old Saxon word for him we call an Outlaw nam forisfecit Amcos suos Bracton Lib. 3. Tract 2. cap. 12. Fresh Force FResh Force Frisca Forcia is a force committed in any City or Borough as by Disseisin Abatement Intrusion or Deforcement of any Lands or
only But the Gardian in Socage hath the profit only to the use of the Heir until he accomplish the age of 14 years and must yield therefore an account to the Heir See more hereof Littleton lib. 2. cap. 4 5. and Stamford upon the Statute of Prerogat cap. 1 2 6. Church-wardens CHurch-wardens are Officers chosen in every Parish to have the care and custody of the Church Goods and they may have an Action for the Goods of the Church and divers other things they may do for the benefit of the Church and by the Statute of 43 Eliz. cap. 2. they are to joyn with the Overseers for the making of Rates and other Provisions for the Poor of the Parish Gardian of the Spiritualties GArdian of the Spiritualties by the general Law is the Dean and Chapter of the Diocess unless there be a Custom that the Arch-bishop of the Province should be the Gardein sede vacante His office is to hold Courts prove Wills grant Administrations and supply the Bishops room Garnishment GArnishment If an Action of Detinue of Charters be brought against one and the Defendant saith that the Charters were delivered to him by the Plaintiff and by another upon certain Conditions and prays That the other may be warned to plead with the Plaintiff if the Conditions be performed or no and thereupon a Writ of Scire facias shall go forth against him this is called Garnishment and the other when he comes shall plead with the Plaintiff and that is called Enterpleader Garranty GArranty is when one is bound to another who hath Land to warrant the same to him which may be two ways that is by Deed of Law As if one and his Ancestors hath held Land of another and his Ancestors time out of mind by Homage which is called Homage Auncestrel Or by Deed of the party who grants by Deed or Fine to the Tenant of the Land to Warrant it to him upon which if the Tenant be impleaded by him who ought to warrant or his Heirs the Tenant shall bar the Demandant by pleading the Warranty against him which is called Rebutter or if he be impleaded by another in an Action wherein he may vouch he shall vouch him who warranted or his Heirs and if the Plaintiff recover the Tenant shall recover in value against the Voucher Garranty is of three sorts that is Garranty Lineal Garranty Collateral and Garranty that begins by Disseisin Warranty Lineal is where a man seised in fee or in tail makes a Feoffment to another and binds him and his heirs to Warranty and hath issue a son and dies and the warranty disceuds to his son For if no Deed with Warranty had been made then the right of the Lands should have discended to the son as heir to his father and he shall convey the Discent from the father to the son But if Tenant in tail discontinues the tail and hath issue and dies and the Vncle of the Issue releases to the Discontinuee with Warranty c. and dies without issue this is a Collateral Warranty to issue in tail for that the Warranty discends upon the Issue who may not convey himself to the tail by mean of his Vncle. And in every Case where a man demands Lands in Fee-tail by Writ of Formedon if any Ancestor of the Issue in tail makes a Warranty and he that sues a Writ of Formedon by possibility of matter that may be done conveys to him Title by force of his Gift that made the Warranty c. that is then a Lineal Warranty whereby the Issue in tail shall not be barred except he have Assets to him discended in Fee-simple But if he may not by any possibility convey to him Title by force of his Gift that made the warranty then that is a Collateral Warranty and thereby the Issue in tail shall be barred without any Assets And the cause that such a Collateral Warranty is a Bar to the Issue in the tail is for that all Warranties before the Statute of Gloucester which discended to those who are Heirs to the warrantors were Bars to the same Heirs to demand any Lands except the warranties that began by Disseisin and for that the said Statute hath ordained That the warranty of the Father shall be no Bar to his Son for the Lands which come by the Heritage of the Mother nor the Warranty of the Mother shall be no Bar to the Son for the Lands which come by the Heritage of the Father and neither the Stat. 11 H. 7. cap. 20. nor any other Statute hath ordained any remedy against any other Collateral Warranty therefore such Warranty is yet in force and shall be a bar to the Issue in tail as it was before the Statute And it behoves that every Warranty whereby the Heir shall be barred discend by course of the Common Law to him who is Heir to the Warrantor else it shall be no Bar for if the Tenant in Tail of Lands in Borough English where the youngest son shall Inherit by the Custome discontinues the tail and hath Issue two sons and the Vncle releases to the Discontinuee with Warranty and dies and the younger Son brings a Formedon yet he shall not be barred by such Warranty causa qua supra And if any man make a Deed with Warranty whereby his Heir should be barred and after the Warrantor be attaint of Felony his Heir shall not be barred by such Warranty for that such Warranty cannot discend upon him the blood being corrupt Warranty beginning by Disfeisin is if the son purchase Lands and let them to his Father for years and the Father by the Deed infeoffs a stranger and binds him and his Heirs to Warranty and the Father dies whereby the warranty discends to the son yet this warranty shall not bar the son but the son may well enter notwithstanding because this Warranty began by Disseisin when the Father made the Feoffment which was a Disseisin to the son And as it is said of the Father so it may be said of every other Ancestor And the same Law is if the Ancestor be Tenant by Elegit or by Statute-Merchant and make a Feoffment with warranty such Warranties shall be no Bars because they begin by Disseisin Garranty of Charters GArranty of Charters is a Writ that lies where any Deed is made that comprehends a clause of Warranty that is to say Dedi or Concessi or this word Warrantizabo and if the Tenant be impleaded by a Stranger in Assise or such Action where he may not vouch to warranty then he shall hate this Writ against his Feoffor or his Heir and if the Land be recovered against him he shall recover as much Land in value against him that made the Warranty But this Writ ought to be sued depending the first Writ against him else he hath lost his advantage Also upon a Warranty in the Law as upon Homage auncestrel or upon Rent reserved upon a Lease for Life or a
King certain Land by the Service of carrying his Banner or Launce or to lead his Host or to be his Carver or Butler at his Coronation or the like and that is the most Honorable Service that a Tenant may do and for that it is called Grand Serjeanty But Petit Serjeanty is when one holds of the King paying him yearly a Bow a Sword a Spear or such like and that is but Socage in effect but a man cannot hold in Grand Serjeanty or Petit Serjeanty but of the King Also if a Tenant by Grand Serjeanty dies his Heir being of full age shall pay to the King for Relief the value of the Lands besides the charges that he pays to the King by Grand Serjeanty but he that holds by Escuage shall pay for his Relief but C. 5. Those that are in the Marches of Scotland who hold of the King by Cornage that is to blow an Horn when the Scots enter England are Tenants in Grand Serjeanty Also where a man holds of the King to find a man in his Wars within the Realm that is called Grand Serjeanty because it is done by a mans Body And if the Tenant cannot find a man to do it he is bound to do it himself But see the Stat. 12 Car. 2. c. 24. whereby all Tenures are now turned into Free and Common Socage Gree. GRee comes of the French word Gre good liking and it signifies in our Law Contentment or Satisfaction as in the Statute of 1 R. 2. c. 15. to make Gree to the parties is to give them Contentment or Satisfaction for an Offence done unto them Green hew GReen hew is all one with Vert as appears by Manwood in his Forest Laws cap. 6. sect 5. And for it see Vert. Green Wax GReen Wax is a word used in the Statutes of 42 E. 3. c. 9. and 7 H. 4. c. 3. and signifies the Estreats of Issues Fines and Amerciaments in the Exchequer and delivered out to the Sheriffs under the Seal of the Court to be levied by them in their several Counties Grithbreach GRithbreach that is the Kings Peace broken because Grith in English is Pax in Latine Gule of August GUle of August is the first day or the Calends of August which in the time of E. 1. and E. 3. was called ordinarily the Gule of August as appears by F. N. B. f. 62. l. and Plowdens Com. f. 316. b. It is the very day of S. Peter ad vincula and the reason why it was called the Gule of August is conceived upon a Story recorded by Durandus in his Rationale Divinorum l. 7. c. 19. of a Miracle wrought by S. Peter's Chain upon the daughter of one Quirinus a Tribune of Rome who by the kissing of that Chain was healed of the Kings Evil in her Throat gula And see Hospinian de origine festornm f. 85. b. Gultwit GUltwit is an Amends for Trespass according to Saxton in his Description of England c. 11. H. Habeas Corpus HAbeas Corpus is a writ which a man indited of any Trespass before Iustices of the Peace or in a Court of any Franchise and upon his Apprehenston being laid in Prisost for the same may have out of the Kings Bench thereby to remove himself hither at his own Costs and to answer the Cause there F. N. B. f. 250. h. And the order in this case is first to procure a Certiorari out of the Chancery directed to the said Iustices for the removing of the Indictment into the Kings Bench and upon that to procure this writ to the Sheriff to cause his Body to be brought at a day Reg. Judic f. 81. where you may find many cases wherein this writ shall be used Habeas Corpora HAbeas Corpora is a writ which lies against a Iury or any of them that refuse to come upon the Venire facias for the Trial of a Cause brought to issue Habendum HAbendum is a word of form in a Conveyance to the true understanding whereof it is to be observed That in every Deed or Conveyance there are two principal parts the Premisse and the Habendum The Office of the Premisses is to express the Name of the Grantor the Grantee and the thing to be granted The Office of the Habendum is to limit the Estate so that the general Implication of the Estate which by construction of Law passes in the Premisses is by the Habendum controlled and qualified as in a Lease to two men Habendum to the one for life the Remainder to the other for life alters the general Implication of the Joynt-tenancy in the Free-hold which passes by the Premisses if the Habendum were not See Coke l. 2. c. 55. HAbere facias Seisinam Habere facias Seisinam is a Writ Iudicial that lies where one hath recovered certain Lands in the Kings Court then he shall have this writ directed to the Sheriff commanding him to give him Seisin of that Land and it shall not be retornable Habere facias Visum HAbere facias Visum is a writ that lies in divers Cases where view is to be taken of the Lands or Tenements in question See F. N. B. In Indice verbo View Bract. l. 5. tract 3. c. 8. Half-blood HAlf blood See Demysank Half Seal HAlf Seal is a Seal used in Chancery for the Sealing of Commissions to Delegates upon an Appeal in a Cause civil or marine as it appears by the Statute made in 8 Eliz. c. 3. Halymote HAlymote is a Court-Baron as appears by Manwood in his Forest Laws c. 23. f. 217. a. And it is called Halymote that is the Meeting of the Tenants of one Hall or Mannor Hambling or Hoxing of Dogs HAmbling or Hoxing or Hock-sinewing of Dogs are old Forrest terms for the Lawing of Dogs when the Custom was as appears in Manwood's Forrest Laws c. 16. sect 12. to cut or gash Dogs in the Hamms but now they use to do it in their Feet Of which see Expeditate Hand-gun HAnd-gun is an Engine which is prohibited to be used and carryed about by the Statute of 33 H. 8. c. 6. And though a Dag was invented of late time and after the making of the said Act and is not known by the name of Hand-gun but a special name yet the carrying of a Dag is within the said Act and comprehended within the word Hand-gun So whereas Cross-bows are forbidden by the said Act thereby Stone-bows are also forbidden See Coke l. 5. f. 71 72. Hangwit HAngwit is to be quit of a Thief or Felon hanged without Iudgment or escaped out of your custody Hanper HAnper of the Chancery Anno 10 R. 2. c. 1. seems to signifie as Fiscus originally does in Latine Haque HAque is a little Hand-gun of three quarters of a yard long and it is mentioned in the Statutes of 33 H. 8. c. 6. and 2 3 E. 6. c. 14. There is also mention made of an half Haque Haquebut HAquebut is a Gun mentioned in the
Statute of 2 3 E. 6. c. 14. and it is all one with an Harquebuze Hariot or Heriot HAriot is of two sorts Hariot Custome and Hariot Service Hariot Service is often expressed in a mans Grant or Deed that he holds by such Service to pay Hariot at the time of his death And this Hariot is payable after the death of the Tenant in Fee-simple Hariot Custom is where Hariots have been paid time out of mind by Custom And this may be after the death of the Tenant for life c. But to speak thereof generally Hariot is the best Beast whether it be Horse Ox or Cow that the Tenant had at the time of his death And a Distress may be either seised or taken for it whether it be Hariot Service or Hariot Custom to the Lords use of whom the Tenant held by his Bayliff or other Officers But of right neither the Lord nor his Officer should take Hariot before it be presented at the next Court holden after the Tenant is dead that such a Beast is due for his Hariot Haward HAward or Hayward is an Officer appointed in every Town to be the Common Herd of the Town and he is so called either for that it is one part of his Office to keep the Hedges of inclosed Grounds so that they be not cropped or broken down or because he keeps the Grass from hurt and destruction of Cattel so that Hay may be made thereof He is an Officer sworn in the Lords Court For which Oath see Kitch fol. 46. Hawkers HAwkers is a word used in the Statutes 25 H. 8. cap. 9. and 33 Hen. 8. cap. 4. for Tinkers that go from place to place through the Country and by colour of the Kings Letters Patents or Placards buy and sell Brass and Pewter and cozens the Kings people both in the weight and in the stuff Hey-bote or Hedge-bote HEy-bote ou Hedge-bote is necessary Stuff to make and mend Hedges which the Lessee for years or for life of common right may take upon the Ground to him leased although it be not expressed in his Lease and although it be a Lease by Word without Writing Heybote also may be taken for necessary Stuff to make Rakes Forks and such like Instruments wherewith men use in Summer to redde and make Hay And so Lessee for years took it and it was allowed him by his Lessor the rather as I suppose for that such Instruments are commonly made of slendtr Vnder-wood which by the Common Law the Lessee for years may cut and take as aforesaid Head-borow HEad-borow is compounded of two words Heofed id est Head and Borhe id est Pledge So that Head-borow signifies the chief of the three Pledges in a Decennary within a Lect or he that had the Government of those that are within his own Pledge And he was called Head-borough or Borow-head or Boroughs-holder or Third-borough or Tithing-man or Chief-Pledge or Borow-Elder according to the diversity of speech in divers places And to this day he is now called a Constable Head-silver HEadsilver See Common Fine Heireloome HEireloome is any piece of Houshold-stuff which by the Custom of some Countries having belonged to a House for certain discents goes with the House after the death of the Owner unto the Heir and not to the Executors Herbage HErbage is the Fruit of the Earth provided by Nature for the bit or mouth of the Cattel But it is commonly used for a Liberty to feed ones Cattel in anothers mans ground as in the Forest c. Cromp. Juris fol. 197. Heretico or Haeretico comburendo HAEretico comburendo is a Writ that lies against him who is an Heretick that is who having been once convicted of Heresie by the Bishop and having abjured it afterwards falls into it again or into some other and is thereupon committed to the Secular Power And Brit. lib. 1. cap. 17. saith That by the Common Law those persons who Feloniously burn the Corn or Houses of others Sorcerers and Sorcecesses Sodomitical persons and Hereticks should be burnt and consumed This Writ is taken away by the Statute of K. C. 2. Hermitage Hermite HErmite is a Religious Man who devotes himself to live solitary in any private Place Church Monastery c. And his place is called an Hermitage And of it a Prohibition lies Nat. Br. 34. G. Hidage HIdage is to be quit if the King shall tax all the Land by Hides Note that a Hide of Land is a whole Plough-land And this kind of Taxing by Hides was much used in old time as well for provision of Armour as payments of Money and that chiefly in King Etheldred's days who in the year of Christ 1006. when the Danes landed at Sandwich in Kent taxed all his Land by Hides thus That every 310 Hides of Land should find one Ship furnished and every eight Hides should find one Iack and one Saddle for the defence of the Realm Hoblers HOblers are mentioned in the Statute of 25 E. 3. Stat. 5. cap. 8. to be such men as by their Tenure are bound to keep a little Nag to give notice of any Invasion or other danger that happens near the Sea-side where they dwell Hoghenhine HOghenhine is he who comes Guest-wise to a house and there lies the third night after which time he is accounted one of his Family in whose house he lies and if he offend the Kings Peace his Host must be answerable for him Bract. lib. 3. tract 2. cap. 10. In the Laws of King Eâ—ward set forth by Lambert he is called Agenhine where you may read more of this matter Homage HOmage in our Books is twofold viz. Homagium ligeum and that is as much as Ligeance of which Bracton speaks lib. 3. cap. 35. fol. 79. Soli Regi debetur sine Dominio seu Servitio And the other is Homagium feudale which hath his original by Tenure In Fitzh N. B. fol. 269. there is a Writ for respiting this later Homage which is due by reason of the Fee or Tenure But Homagium ligeum is inherent and inseparable and cannot be respited Homage by reason of Fee or Tenure is defined to be a Service which shall be made in this manner The Tenant in Fee or Fee-tail that holds by Homage shall kneel upon both his knees ungirded and the Lord shall sit and hold the hands of his Tenant between his hands and the Tenant shall say I become your man from this day forward of life and member and of earthly honor and to you shall be faithful and true and shall bear to you faith for the Lands that I claim to hold of you saving that Faith I owe to our Lord the King and then the Lord so sitting shall kiss him How Fealty shall be done look before in Fealty The Steward of the Lord may take Fealty but not Homage See the Statute 12 Car. 2. cap. 24. Homage auncestrel HOmage auncestrel is where a man and his Ancestors time out of mind held
to have and tohold the one half to one and his Heirs aud the other half to another and his Heirs in all these cases none of them knows his several If there be two or three Ioyntenants and one hath Issue and dies then he or those Ioyntenants that overlive shall have the whole by Survivorship If two Iointenants by agreement make Partition between them by Deed then they are several Tenants But if one Ioyntenant grant that which belongs to him to a Strang â—â— then the other Ioyntenantand the Stranger are Tenants in common And though two Tenants in common be seised throughly and of the whole and none knows his several yet if one die the other shall not make the whole by Survivorship but the Heir of him that dies shall have the half And so if there be three Ioyntenants and one of them makes a Feoffment of his part to another and the Feoffee dies then his Heir shall have the third part and the other two are Ioyntenants as they were because they two are seised by one joynt Title Also if Lands be given to the baron and his wife and the husband aliens and dies the wife shall recover the whole But if they were Ioyntenants before the Coverture then he shall recover but the half If Land be given to the husband and his wife and a third person if the third person grant that which belongs to him the one half passes by this Grant for that the baron and his wife are but one person in Law and in this case they have right but to half Also if two Ioyntenants are of Lands in a Town that is Borough-English where Land is devisable and one by his Testament devises that which belongs to him to a Stranger and dies this Devise is void and the other shall have the whole by Sutviver for that the Devise may not take effect till after the death of the Devisor and immediately after the death of the Devisor the right comes to the other Ioyntenant by Surviver who claims nothing by the Devisor but in his own right by Surviver But otherwise it is of Parceners seised of Lands devisable causa qua supra Journies accounts JOurnies accounts Dietae computatae is a term in the Law which is understood thus If a Writ be abated without the default of the Plaintiff or Demandant he may purchase a new Writ which if it be purchased by Journies accounts that is within as little time as he possibly can after the Abatement of the first Writ then this second Writ shall be as a Continuance of the first and so shall ouste the Tenant or Defendant of his Voucher Plea of Non-tenure Ioyntenancy fully administred c. or any other Plea which arises upon matter hapning after the date of the first Writ And fifteen days have been held a convenient time for the purchase of the new Writ See for this Writ by Journies accounts Spencers Case Coke lib. 6. fol. 9. b. Joynture JOynture is an Estate and Assurance made to a Woman in consideration of Marriage for term of her life or otherwise as is mentioned in the Statute of 27 H. 8. cap. 10. whether it be before or after Marriage And if it be after then she may at her liberty after the death of her husband refuse to take or have the Lands so assured for her Ioynture and demand her Dower at the Common Law But if it be made before Marriage then she may not refuse such Ioynture nor have Dower according to the Common Law unless that when she brings her Writ of Dower the Defendant pleads such a Plea as will not bar her of her Dower as if he say in Bar that her husband was not seised of such Estate whereof she might be endowed or any such Plea and doth not shew that she hath a Ioynture made c. and therefore demands Iudgment of that Action or any such like Plea c. And this was the opinion of Master Brograve at his Reading in Grays-Inn in Summer An. 1567. 18 Eliz. upon a Branch of the Statute made 27 H. 8. cap. 10. concerning Joyntures and Dowers And of those things whereof a Woman may be endowed she may have Ioynture as of Mines Vesturam terrae Woods Towns Is â— es Meadows and such like Also of an Advowson Reversion depending upon an Estate for Life Wind-mill high Chamber Rectory and such other and they are called Tenements Also of a Villain for he is an Hereditament And of all these profit may come to the woman But of those things whereof no profit will come but rather a charge a Ioynture cannot be made See Coke lib. 4. fol. 1. Vernons Case Jurisdiction JUrisdiction is a Dignity which a Man hath by a power to do Iustice in Causes of complaint made before him Juris utrum JUris utrum is a Writ that lies for the succeeding Incumbent of a Benefice to recover the Lands or Tenements belonging to the Church which were aliened by his Predecessor And see of this Fitz. N. B. fol. 48. R. and see after in the Title Utrum Juror JUror is one of those 24 or 12 men which are sworn to deliver a truth upon such Evidence as shall be given them touching the matter in question of which see Fitz. Nat. B. fol. 165. D. and the Statute 16 and 17 Car. 2. cap. for returning able and sufficient Jurors Justice seat JUstice seat is the highest Court that is held in a Forrest and it is always held before the Lord Chief Iustice â—â— Eyre of the Forrest upon mâ—â—ning 40 â— ays before And 〈◊〉 the Iudgments are always given and the Fines see for Offences that were presented at the Courts of Attachments and the Offenders indicted at the Swainmotes See concerning this Court Manwoods Forrest Laws cap 2 â— fol. 238. b. Justices in Eire JUstices in Eire See Eire Justicies JUsticies is a Writ directed to the Sheriff for the dispatch of Justice in some special Cases in his County-Court of which he cannot by his ordinary power hold Plea there And of this you may see Precedents in Fitzh N. B. fol. 117. C. in Account and fol. 152. B. in Annuity and fol. 119. G. in Debt and many others And it is called a Justicies because it is a Commission to the Sheriff to do a man right and it requires no Return or Certificate of what he hath done K. Keelage KEelage in Latine Killagium is a Custom paid at Hartlepool in Durham for every Ship coming into that Port. R of Parl. 21 E. 1. Kiddle KIddle or Kidel is a Dam or Wear in a River All Kidels shall from henceforth be utterly put down in the Thames and Medway and throughout all England except upon the Sea-coast Mag. Char. cap. 24. KIngs silver Kings silver is the Money which is due to the King in the Court of Common Pleas for a License there granted to any man to pass a Fine Coke lib. 6. fol. 39 43. Kintal KIntal is a Weight
of 13 R. 2. cap. 2. and 1 H. 4. c. 7. 14. the Marshal of the Kings House of whom you may read F. N. B. f. 241. B. and in the Statute of Artic. sup Chart. c. 3. 18 E. 3. c. 7. 2 H. 4. c. 23. 15 H 6. c. 1. and others There are also other inferior Marshals mentioned in our Books as the Marshal of the Kings Bench in the Statute of 5 E. 3. c. 8. and F. N. B. f. 251. l. who hath the custody of all the Prisoners of that Court and the Marshal of the Exchequer mentioned in the Statute of 51 H. 3. Stat. 5. called the Statute of the Exchequer Marshal is a French word and is as much to say as Master of the Horse for it seems to come of the German Marschalk which hath that signification Marshalsea MArshalsea is the Court or Seat of the Marshal of the Kings House of which you may read at large in Coke l. 6. f. 20. B. l. 10. f. 68. B. It is also taken for the Prison belonging to the Court of the Kings Bench of which the Marshal of that Court is the Keeper for so are the forms of the Bills there that A complains of B in the custody of the Marshal of the Marshalsea of our Lord the King c. Maugre MAugre is a word compound of two French words Mal and Gree so that it is as much as to say with an unwilling mind or in despight of another And so it is used in Littleton sect 672. where it is said that the Husband and Wife shall be remitted maugre the Husband that is in despight or against the will of the Husband Maximes MAximes are the Foundations of the Law and the Conclusions of Reason and are Causes efficient and certain universal Propositions so sure and perfect that they may not be at any time Impeached or Impugned but ought always to be observed and holden as strong Principles and Authorities of themselves although they cannot be proved by force of Argument or Demonstrations Logical but are known by Induction by the way of Sense and Memory For example it is a Maxime that If a man have Issue two Sons by divers women and the one purchases Lands in Fee and dies without issue the other shall never be his Heir c. And it is another Maxime that Lands shall discend from the Father to the Son but not from the Son to the Father for that is an Ascension c. And divers such there are whereof see Doctor and Student Maynour MAynour is when a Thief hath stollen and is followed with Hue and Cry and taken having that found about him which he stole that is called Maynour And so we commonly use to say when we find one doing of an unlawful act that we took him with the maynour or manner Meane MEane See Mesne Mease MEase or Messuage seems to come from the French word Maison or Mansion which is no other but a Place of abiding or habitation And yet Messuage in our Law contains more then the very place of habitation for a House and a Messuage differ in that a House cannot be intended other then the matter of Building but a Messuage shall be said all the Mansion-place and the Curtelage shall be taken as parcel of the Messuage 20 H. 7. Keloway fol. 57. a. And by the name of a Messuage the Garden and Curtelage shall pass Plowden fol. 171. a. Measondue MEasondue is an Appellation of divers Hospitals in this Kingdom which are so named Anno 2 3 P. M. cap. 23. 15 Car. 2. c. 7. And it comes of the French Maison de Dieu and is no more but Gods House in English Medietas Linguae MEdietas Linguae is an Inquest Impannelled upon any cause whereof the one half is of Denizens the other Strangers and it is used in Pleas between parties whereof one is a Denizen and the other a Stranger And this manner of Trial was first given by the Statute of 27 E. 3. Stat. 2. cap. 8. And by the Statute of 28 E. 3. c. 13. it was granted in cases where the King himself was party with an Alien Melius inquirendo MElius inquirendo is a Writ directed to the Escheator for a second Inquiry to be made when there is any doubt made of partiality in an Inquiry made upon a Diem clausit extremum after the death of the Kings Tenant See F. N. B. f. 255. C. Merchenlage MErchenlage is one of those three Laws out of which William the Conqueror framed our Common Laws with a mixture of the Laws of Normandy And it was the Law of the Mercians when they had the Government of the third part of this Realm Mesnalty MEsnalty is the right of the Mesne as the Mesnalty is extinct Old Nat. Br. f. 44. Mesne MEsne is where the Owner of Lands or Tenements holds of one by certain Services and he holds them of another by like or other Services then he who holds the Lands is called Tenant paravail and he of whom it is held is called Mesne and he of whom the Mesue holds is called chief Lord or Lord Paramount And in this case if the Lord above distrains the Tenant for the Service of the Mesne who ought to aequit him to the chief Lord then the Tenant shall have a Writ of Mesne so called against the Mesne and if he acquit not the Tenant then the Mesne shall lose the Service of the Tenant and shall be forejudged of his Seigniory and the Tenant shall be immediate Tenant to the chief Lord and shall do him the same Service and Suits as the Mesne did Messuage MEssuage See Mease Metropolitane MEtropolitane signifies the Arch-bishops of whom Centerbury is stiled Totius Angliae Primas Metropol And York the like Title without the word Totius Miscreant MIscreant is one who is perverted to Heresie or a faise Religion Bro. Presentation 54. Mise MIse is a French word and signifies as much as Expensum in Latine and it is so ordinarily used in the Entries of Iudgments in Personal Actions when the Plaintiff recovers the Entry is that Recuperet damna sua to such a value and pro misis custagis for Costs and Charges so much There is also another acception or signification of this word in the Law where it is taken for the Issue to be tried by Battail of Grand Assise And so it is used in Littleton sect 478. 482. and divers others where joyning of the Mise upon the meer right is putting it in Issue who hath the best or clearest right Misericordia MIsericordia is used in the Common Law for an Amerciament or Mulct set upon any for an offence as where the Plaintiff or Defendant in any Action are amerced the Entry is always Ideo in misericordia c. And it is therefore called Misericordia as Fitzh says N. B. fol. 75. H. for that it should be but small and less then the fault and saving his Contenement as
the Statute of Mag. Charta cap. 14. speaks And therefore if a man be outragiously amerced in a Court not of Record as in a Court-Baron c. there is a Writ called Moderata Misericordia to be directed to the Lord or his Baily commanding them that they take moderate Amerciaments according to the quantity of the fault And of that see Fitzh N. B. fol. 75. A. and Moderata Misericordia after Misnomer MIsnomer is the Mistake of a Name or the using of one Name for another See Broke tit Misnomer Misprision MIsprision is when one knows that another hath committed Treason or Felony and will not discover him to the King or his Council or to any Magistrate but conceals the same Divers other offences are called Misprision as when a Chaplain had fixed an old Seal of a Patent to a new Patent of Non-residence this was held to be Misprision of Treason only and no counterfeiting of the Kings Seal So it is holden in 37 H. 8. Bro. tit Treason 3. in Fine but 2 H. 4. f. 25. A. it is adjudged contrary and Stamf. Pl. cor fol. 3. B. cites it Treason and so it is holden at this day And if a man know Money to be counterfeit and bring the same from out of Ireland hither and utter it in payment yet this is but Misprision of Treason and no Treason and so it is in divers like cases In all cases of Misprision of Treason the Party offendor shall forfeit his Goods for ever and the profits of his Lands for his life and his Body to Prison at the Kings pleasure And for Misprision of Felony or Trespass the Offendor shall be committed to Prison until he have found Sureties or Pledges for his Fine which shall be assessed by the discretion of the Iustices before whom he was convict And note That in every Treason or Felony is included Misprision and where any man hath committed Treason or Felony the King may cause him to be Indicted and Arraigned of Misprision only if he will See more hereof Stamf. lib. 1. cap. 39. Mittimus MIttimus is a Writ by which Records are transferred from one Court to another sometimes immediately as it appears in the Statute of 5. R. 2. cap. 15. as out of the Kings Bench into the Exchequer and sometimes by a Certiorari into the Chancery and from thence by a Mittimus into another Court as you may see in 28 H. 8. Dyer fol. 29. a b. 29 H. 8. Dyer fol. 32. a b. This word is used also for the Precept that is directed by a Iustice of Peace to a Goaler for the receiving and safe keeping of a Felon or other Offendor committed by the said Iustice to the Goal Moderata Misericordia MOderata Misericordia is a Writ that lies where a man is amerced in Court-Baton or County more then he ought to be then he shall have this Writ directed to the Sheriff if it be in the County or to the Bayliff if it be in Court-Baron commanding them that they amerce him not but with regard to the quantity of the Trespass and if they obey not this Writ then shall go forth against them a Sicut alias and Causam nobis significes and after that an Attachment Modus decimandi MOdus decimandi is Mony or other thing of value given annually in lie â— of Tithes The tryal of which appertains to the Common Law and not to any Court-Christian Ridley's view del Civil Law 141. In which he says There was one modus decimandi pro omnibus rebus per totum regnum Monstrans de Droit MOnstrans de Droit is a Suit in Chancery for the Subject to be restored to Lands and Tenements which he shews to be his Right but are by Office found to be in the possession of another that is lately dead by which Office the King is intitled to a Chattel Free-hold or Inheritance in the said Lands And this Monstrans de Droit is give by the Statutes of 34 E. 3. cap. 14. and 37 E. 3. cap. 13. See Coke lib. 4. fol. 54. B. in the Case of the Wardens and Commonalty of Sadlers Shewing of Deeds or Records SHewing of Deeds or Records is thus An Action of Debt is brought against A upon an Obligation by B or by Executors c. After the Plaintiff hath declared he ought to shew his Obligation and the Executor the Testament to the Court. And so it is of Records And the diversity between Shewing of Deeds or Records and Hearing of Deeds or Records is this He that pleads the Deed or Record or Declares upon it ought to shew the same and the other against whom such Deed or Record is pleaded or declared and is thereby to be charged may demand hearing of the same Deed or Record which his Adversary brings or pleads against him Monstraverunt MOnstraverunt is a Writ that lies for the Tenants in Ancient Demesne and is directed to the Lord him commanding not to Distain his Tenant to do other Service then he ought and they may have this Writ directed to the Sheriff that he suffer not the Lord to distrain the said Tenant to do other Service If the Tenants cannot be in quiet they may have an Attachment against the Lord to appear before the Iustices and all the names of the Tenants shall be put in the Writ though but one of them be grieved Also if any Land in ancient Demesne be in variance between the Tenants then the Tenant so grieved shall have against the other a Writ which is called of Right close after the Custome of the Mannor and that shall be alway brought in the Lords Court and thereupon he shall declare in the nature of what Writ he will as his case lies and this Writ shall not be removed but for a great cause or non-power of the Court. Also if the Lord in another place out of ancient Demesne distrain his Tenant to do other Service then he ought he shall have a Writ of Right called Ne Injuste vexes and it is a Writ of Right Patent which shall be tried by Battel or Grand Assise Mortdancester MOrtdancester See before in the Title Cosinage MOrtgage or Morgage MOrtgage or Morgage is when a Man makes a Feoffment to another on such condition that if the Feoffor pay the Feoffee at a certain day 40 li. of money then the Feoffor may re-enter c. In this case the Feoffee is called Tenant in Morgage And as a Man may make a Feoffment in Fee in Morgage so he may make a Gift in Tail or a Lease for Life or Years in Morgage And it seems the cause why it is called Morgage is for that it stands it doubt whether the Feoffoe will pay the mony at the day appointed or not and if he fail then the Land which he laid in gage upon condition of payment of the money is gone from him for ever and so dead to him upon condition but if he pay the mony then is the gage dead
parts as there are Parceners then to write every part severally in a Little Scroll or piece of Paper or Parchment and put the same Scroll up close into a Hat or Cap or other such like thing and then each Parcener one after another as they are in age to draw one piece or Scroll wherein is written a part of the Land which by this Drawing is now severally alloted to them in Fee-simple The fourth Partition which is by Compulsion is when one or some of the Coparceners would have Partition and other some will not agree thereto then they that so would have Partition may bring a Writ De Partitione facienda against the others that would not make Partition by virtue whereof they shall be compelled to part c. In Kent where the Lands are of Gavelkind-nature they call at this day their Partition Shifting even the same word that the Saxons used namely Shiftan which signifies to make Partition between Coheirs and to assign to each of them their portion In Latin it is called Herciscere Partition also may be made by Ioyntenants or Tenants in common by their assent by Deed between them or by Writ by the Statutes of 31 H. 8. cap. 1. and 32 H. 8. cap. 32. Pasport PAsport is a word mentioned in the Statute of 2 E. 6. cap. 2. and signifies a Licence made by any that hath authority for the safe passage of any man from one place to another Patron PAtron is he that hath the Advowson of a Parsonage Vicarage Free-chappel or such like Spiritual Promotion belonging to his Manor or otherwise in gross and thereby may or ought to give the same Benefice or present thereto when and as often as it becomes void And this being Patron or Patronage had beginning for the most part by one of these three ways namely either by reason of the Foundation for that the Patron or his Ancestors or those from whom he claims were Founders or Builders of the Church or by reason of Donation for that they did endow or give Lands to the same for maintenance thereof or else by reason of the Ground because the Church was set or built upon their soil or ground and many times by reason of all three Paunage or Pannage PAunage or Pannage is that mony which the Agistors of Forests do gather for the feeding of Hoggs within the Forrest and it is also taken for all manner of Mast of trees within the Forest on which the Hogs do feed See Manw. For. Laws chap. 12. fol. 90. a. Peers PEers are those that are impannelled in an Enquest upon any man for the convicting or clearing him of any offence for which he is called in question The reason of which appellation of the Iury is for that Peers comes from the Latin Pares that is Equals and the custome of our Nation is to try every man by his Equals that is to say by his Peers And so it appears by the Statutes of Magna Charta cap. 29. West 1. cap. 6. This word is also used for the Nobility of the Realm and Lords of the Parliament who are called the Peers of the Realm And of that see Stamf. Pl. of the Crown lib. 3. cap. 1. fol. 152. Perambulatione facienda PErambulatione facienda is a Writ that lies where two Lordships lie one nigh another some Encroachment is made by long time then by assent of both Lords the Sheriff shall take with him the parties and the neighbours and shall make Perambulation and shall make the Bounds as they were before But if a Lord encroach upon another and he will not make Perambulation then the Lord so grieved shall have a Writ against the other which is called de Rationalibus divisis Perjury PErjury is a corrupt or voluntary false Oath given in Chancery or in Evidence to a Iury upon tryal of an issue at Common Law See Stat. 5 El. cap. 9. Perinde valere PErinde valere is a term that belongs to the Ecclesiastical Law and signifies a Dispensation granted to a Clerk who not being capable of a Benefice or other Ecclesiastical Function is de facto admitted to it And it hath the name from the words which make the faculty as effectual to the party as if he were actually capable of the thing for which he hath his Dispensation at the time of his admittance Pernor of Profits PErnor of Profits is he that takes the Profits Pernor of Profits and Cestuy que use is all one Coke lib. 1. Casu Chudley fol. 123. But one may be Pernor of c. and not Cestuy que use by Title but by Coven which see Co. 5. 77 78. Co. Entr. 698. 2 Leo. rep 16. 2 Anderson 25. Stat. 11. H. 6. 3. Perpetuity PErpetuity is used in Law where an Estate is so designed to be settled in Tail c. that it cannot be undone or made void Which the State cannot bear as is said in the end of the case Moo rep 809 810. Co. 1. 84. 130. Co. 6. 40. l. 8. 90. Per quae servitia PEr quae servitia is a Writ Iudicial and goes out upon the Note of a Fine and it lies for the Conusee of a Mannor or Seigniory to compel him that is Tenant of the Land at the time of the Fine levied to attourn to him And of this Writ see the Old N. B. f. 170. a. Perquisites PErquisites are Advantages and Profits that come to a Mannor by casualty and not yearly as Escheats Harriots Reliefs Waifes Estrays Forfeitures Amerciaments in Courts Goods and Lands purchased by Villains of the same Mannor Fines of Copiholds and divers other like things that are not certain but come by chance sometimes more often than at other times See Perkins fol. 20 21. Personalty PErsonalty as the Action is in the Personalty that is to say brought against the right person or the person against whom in Law it lies Petit Cape PEtit Cape is a Writ that lies when any Actios Real that is to say of Plea of Land is brought and the Tenant appears and afterward makes Default then this Petit Cape shall go forth to seise the Lands into the Kings hands But if he appears not at the first Summons then a Grand Cape shall go forth and for such Defalt the Tenant shall lose the Land But if he wage his Law of Non-summons he shall save his Default and then he may plead with the Demandant And in Grand Cape the Tenant shall be summoned to answer to the Default and farther to the Demandant But in Petit Cape he shall be summoned to answer to the Default only and not to the Demandant And it is called Petit Cape for that there is less in this Writ than in the other Pettybag PEttybag is an Office in the Court of Chancery for Suits for and against Attorneys and Officers of that Court And for process and proceedings by extents on Statutes Recognizances Ad quod dampnum c. Parva Baga dicitur Petit
Serjeantie TO hold by Petit Serjeantie is as if a man held Lands or Tenements of the King yielding him a Knife a Buckler an Arrow a Bow without string or other like Service at the will of the first Feoffor and there belongs not Ward Marriage or Relief And mark well that a man may not hold by Grand or Petit Serjeanty but of the King See the Stat. 12. Car. 2. cap. 24. Piccage PIccage is the payment of money or the money paid for the breaking of the ground to set up Booths and Standings in Fairs Picle or Pitle PIcle or Pitle seems to come from the Italian Picco â— o Parvus and signifies with us a little small Close or Inclosure Pillory PIllory is an Engine of punishment ordained by the Statute of 51 H. 3. for the punishment of Bakers but now used for many other Offendors and is called in Latine Collistrigium Pipowders PIpowders is a Court which is incident to every Fair for the determination of differences upon Bargains and disorders therein See more hereof Crom. Jurisd fol. 229. Coke lib. 10. fol. 73. Piscary PIscary is a Liberty of Fishing in another mans waters or his own Placard PLacard is word used in the Statutes of 33 H. 8. cap. 6. 2 3 Ma. cap. 9. and it signifies a Licence to use unlawful Games or to shoot in a Gun Plaintiff PLaintiff is he that sues or complains in an Assise or in an Action personal as in an Action of Debt Trespass Disceit Detinue and such other Pledges PLedges are Sureties either real or formal which the Plaintiff finds to prosecute his suit Pleading PLeadings are all the Sayings of the parties to Suits after the Count or Declaration namely that which is contained in the Bar Replication and Rejoynder and not that contained in the Count it self and therefore defaults in the matter of Count are not comprised within Mispleading or insufficient Pleading nor are remedied by the Statute of Jeofails 32 H. 8. but only the Mispleading or insufficient Pleading committed in the Bar Replication and Rejoynder are there provided for But see those now remedied also by the Statute of 18 Eliz. cap. 13. Plenartie PLenartie is when a Benefice is full directly contrary to Vacation which signifies the being void of a Benefice Stamf. Prerog cap. 8. fol. 32. Plevyn See Replevyn Pluralities PLuralities are where a Uicar or Rector has two or more Ecclesiastical Benefices For which see Stat. 21. H. 8. cap. 13. Policy of Assurance POlicy of Assurance is a course taken by Merchants for the assuring of their Adventures upon the Sea by giving a certain proportion in the Hundred for securing the safe return of the Ship and so much Merchandize as is agreed upon And of this you may read in the Statute of 43 Eliz. cap. 12. Vpon which an Action lies at the common Law or in the Court by the Kings Patent sitting at the Royal Exchange in London the Iudges of which are Civilians common Lawyers and Merchants Pone POne is a Writ whereby a Cause depending in the County-Court is removed into the Common-Pleas See for this Old N. B. fol. 2. a. Pontage POntage is a word mentioned in many Statutes as in Westm 1. cap. 25. 1 H. 8. cap 9. 39 Eliz. cap. 24. and it signifies sometimes the Contribution that is gathered for the Repairing of a Bridge sometimes the Toll paid by the Passengers to that purpose Portgreve See Viscount Portmoot POrtmoot is a word used in the Statute of 43 Eliz. cap. 15. and signifies a Court kept in a Haven-Town Possessio Fratris POssessio Fratris is where a man hath a son and a daughter by one Woman and a son by another Venter and dies the first son enters and dies without Issue the daughter shall have the Land as Heir to her brother although the second son is Heir to the father Litt. Sect. 8. Possession POssession is twofold either actual or in Law Actual Possession is when a man actually enters into lands or tenements to him discended or otherwise Possession in Law is when Lands or Tenements are descended to a man and he hath not as yet really actually and in Deed entred into them And it is called Possession in Law because in the eye and consideration of the Law he is deemed to be in Possession since he is Tenant to every mans Action that will sue concerning the same Lands or Tenements Post diem POst diem is the Return of a Writ after the day assigned for its Return Postd â— sseisin POstdisseisin Look for that before in the Title Assise Postea POstea is the Record of the proceedings upon a Trial by a Writ of Nisi prius which is returned after the Trial by the Iudge before whom it was tried into the Court where the first Suit began to have Iudgment there given upon the Verdict and it is called the Postea because it begins with Postea die loco c. Poundage POundage is a Subsidie to the value of 12 d. in the pound which is granted to the King by every Merchant as well Denizen as Alien for all manner of Merchandize carried out and brought in And of such Subsidies see the Statute 1 2 Ed. 6. cap. 13. 1 Jac. cap. 33. 14 Car. 2. cap. 24. Also by Stat. 29 El. cap. 4. every Sheriff is allowed poundage for levying Debt or Damages by Execution Pounds POunds are in two sorts the one Pound open the other close Pound open is every place wherein a Distress is put whether it be common Pound or Back-side Court Yard Pasture or else whatsoever whereto the Owner of the Distress may come to give them meat without offence for their being there or his coming thither Pound close is such a place where the owner of the Distress may not come to give them meat without offence as in a Close house or whatsoever else place Preamble PReamble takes his name of the preposition prae before and the verb ambulo to go so joyned together they make the compound verb praembulo to go before and hereof the first part or beginning of an Act is called the Preamble of the Act which is a Key to open the minds of the makers of the Act and the mischiefs which they intend to remedy by the same As for example the Statute made at Westm the first the 37 chap. which gives an Attaint the Preamble of which is thus Forasmuch as certain people of the Realm doubt very little to give false Verdicts or Oaths which they ought not to do whereby many people are disherited and lose their right It is provided c. Prebend and Prebendary PRebend and Prebendary are terms often used in our Books and they come of the Latine praebeo Prebend is that portion which every member or Canon of the Cathedral Church receives in right of his place for his maintenance and Prebendary is he that hath such a Prebend Precipe or Praecipe in capite PRecipe in capite
Tenements but only the King in right of his Crown because all the Lands through the Realm are in nature of Fee and hold mediately or immediately of the Town This word nevertheless is used for such right in Lands and Tenements as common persons have in the same And there are three manner of rights of Property that is Property absolute Property qualified and Property possessory Of which see at large Cok. lib. 7. Case de Swans fol. 17. Proprietary PRoprietary is he that hath a Property in any thing but is most commonly used for him who hath the Profits of a Benefice to him and his Heirs or to himself and his Successors as in times past Abbots and Priors had Protection PRotection is a Writ that lies where a man will pass over the Sea in the Kings service then he shall have this Writ whereby he shall be quit of all manner of Pleas between him and any other person except Pleas of Dower Quare impedit Assise of Novel disseisin Darrein presentment and Attaints and Pleas before Iustices in Eyre But there are two Writs of Protection one cum clausula Volumus and another cum clau â— ula Nolumus as appears in the Register But a Protectiou shall not be allowed in any Plea begun before the date of it if it be 〈◊〉 in Veyages where the King himself shall pass or other Voyages Royal or in Messages of the King of affairs of the Realm Nor shall a Protection be allowed for Victual brought for the voyage whereof the Protection makes mention nor in Pleas of Trespass or of Contracts made after the date of the Protection Note that any may attach or begin any Action real against him that hath such Protection and therein proceed until the Defendant comes and shews his Protection in the Court and hath it allowed and then his Plea or Suit shall go without day But if after it appears that the party who hath the Protection goes not about the affairs for which he hath it then the Demandant shall have a Repeal thereof And if he go and return after the business ended the Demandant shall have a Resummons to recontinue the former Suit Protestation PRotestation is a form of Pleading when any will not directly affirm nor directly deny anything that is alledged by another or which he himself alledges And it is in two sorts One is when one pleads any thing which he dare not directly affirm or cannot plead for doubt to make his plea double As if in conveying to himself a Title to any Land he ought to plead divers Discents by divers persons and he dare not affirm that all they were seised at the time of their death or although he could do it it shall be double to plead two Discents of both which each by it self may be a good Bar. Then the Defendant ought to plead and alledged the matter interlacing this word protestando as to say that such a one died by Protestation seised c. And that is to be alledged by Protestation and not to be traversed by the other Another Protestation is when one is to answer to two matters and yet by the Law he ought to plead but to one then in the first part of the Plea he shall say to the one matter protestando and non cognoscendo this matter to be true and makes his Plea farther by these words Sed pro placito dicit c. And this is for saving to the party that so pleads by Protestation the being concluded by any matter alledged or objected against him upon which he cannot joyn issue and is no other but an exclusion of the Conclusion for he that takes the Protestation excludes the other party to conclude him And the Protestation ought to stand with the sequel of the Plea and not to be repugnant or otherwise contrary Provendry PRovendry in the Church of Sarum is called the lesser part of the Altar in the Church of St. Mary 41 E. 3. 5. b. Provision PRovision is used with us as it is in the Common Law for providing of a Bishop or other Ecclesiastical person of an Ecclesiastical Living by the Pope before the Incumbent of it be dead the great abuse whereof appears by several Statutes that have been made from the time of E. 3. to the reign of H. 8. for the avoiding of such Provisions Rast Entries Quare impedit Roy 17. 20. Proviso PRoviso is a Condition inserted in any Deed upon the performance whereof the validity of the Deed consists Sometimes it is only a Covenant whereof see Coke lib 2. in the Lord Cromwels Case It hath also another signification in matters judicial as if the Plaintiff or Demandant desists from prosecuting an Action and brings it not to Trial then the Defendant or Tenant may take forth the Venire facias to the Sheriff which hath in it these words Proviso quod c. to this end that if the Plaintiff takes out any Writ to this purpose the Sheriff shall summon but one Iury upon them both See Old Natura Brevium in the Writ Nisi prius fol. 159. Prov â— sor See Praemunire Proxy Procuratio PRoxy Procuratio is a payment to a Bishop by a Religious house for the charges of his visitation of such Houses Davies rep 2. Purchase PUrchase is the Possession that a man hath in Lands or Tenements by his own act means or agreement and not by title of Discent from any of his Ancestors See Littl. l. 1. c. 1. Purlue PUrlue is all the Ground near any Forrest which being made Forest by Henry the second Richard the first or King John was by Perambulations granted by Henry the third severed again from the same Manwood part 2. of his Forrest Laws c. 20. And it seems that this word is composed either of pouralle that is to go or walk about or purelieu that is a pure place because such Lands as were by those Kings subjected to the Laws and Ordinances of the Forrest are now cleared and freed from the same As the Civilians call that a pure place which is not subject unto Burials fo â—â— kewise this may be called a pure place because it is exempted from the servitude and thraldom which was formerly laid upon it Purlue man is he that hath Lands within the Purlieu and being able to dispenh forty shillings by the year of Free-hold is upon these two points licensed to hunt in his own Purlieu Manwood part 1. p. 151. 177. See now the Stat. made 1 Jac. c. 27. Purpresture PUrpresture is a wo â—â— derived from the French â— ourpr â—â— which signifies to take from another and to app â—â— priate to himself and therefore a Purpresture in a general sense is taken for any such wrong done by one man to another Purpresture in a Forrest is every Incroachment upon the Kings Forrest be it by Building Inclosing or using of any liberty without a lawful warrant so to do And of this see Manwood in his Forrest Laws
his Father and he shall have be no other Recovery against the Tenant or any other because such advantage is given by the Law to the Tenant And note that Fealty of common right belongs to Rent service but not to Rent charge nor Rent seck If a man distrain for Rent charge and the Distress be rescued from him and he was never seised before he hath no recovery but by Writ of Rescous for the Distress first taken gives not Seis â— to him unless he had the Rent before for if he were seised of the Rent before and after the Rent be behind and he distrain and Rescous be made he shall have Assise or a Writ of Rescous In every Assise of Rent charge and annual Rent or in a Writ of Annuity it behoves him that brings the Writ to shew an Especialty or else he shall not maintain the Assise But in an Assise of Mortdancestor or Formedon in the discender or other Writs in which Title is given or comprised brought of Rent charge or annual Rent the Especialty need not be shewn And note well that if a man grant a Rent charge to another and the Grantee release to the Grantor parcel of the Rent yet all that Rent is not extinct If Rent charge be granted to two joyntly and the one release yet the other shall have the half of the Rent And if the one purchase the half of the Land whereout the Rent is going the other shall have the half of the Rent of his companion And if the Disseisor charge the Land to a Stranger and the Disseisee bring an Assise and recover the Charge is defeated But if he that hath right charges the Land and a Stranger feign a false Action against him who hath no right and recovers by Default the charge abides In case Partition be between two Parceners and more Land be allowed to one then to the other and she that hath most of the Land charges her Land to the other and she happeth the Rent she shall maintain Assise without Especialty And it is a Rent seck where a man holds of me by Homage Fealty and other Services yielding to me a certain yearly Rent which I grant to another reserving to me the other Services If Rent seck be granted to a man and to his Heirs and the Rent be behind and the Grantor die the Heir may not distrain nor shall recover the arrearages of the time of his Father as it is said before of Rent services And in the same manner it is of Rent charge or annual Rent But in all these Rents the Heir may have for the arrerages in his own time such advantage as his Father had in his life See the Statute 32 H. 8. cap. 37. And note well that in Rent seck if a man be not seised of the Rent and it be behind he is without recovery for that it was his own folly at the beginning when the Rent was granted him or reserved that he took not Seisin of it as a peny or two pence A man may not have a Cessavit per biennium or any other Writ of Entry sur Cessavit for any Rent seck behind by two years but only for Rent service as it appears in the Stat. West 2. cap. 21. It behoves him that sues for Rent seck to shew a Deed to the Tenant cise the Tenant shall not be charged with the Rent except where the Rent seck was Rent service before as in this case Lord Mesne and Tenant and every of them holds of other by Homage and Fealty and the Tenant of the Mesne by 10 s. rent the Lord paramount purchases the Lands or Tenements of the Tenant all the Seigniory of the Mesne but the rent is extinct and for this cause this rent is become Rent seck and the Rent service changed for he may not distrain for this rent and in this case he that demands the rent shall never be charged to shew a Deed. Also in a Writ of Mordint-cestor Ayle or Besayle of rent seck it needs not to shew a Specialty for that these Writs of Possession comprehend a Title within themselves that is to say that the Ancestor was seised of the same rent and centinued his possession in respect of which Seisin the Law supposes that it is also averrable by the Countrey Yet learn for some suppose a necessity to shew forth a Deed because rent seck is a thing against common right as well as rent charge But in Assise of Novel disseisin and in a Writ of Entry sur disseisin brought of Rent seck it is needful to shew forth a Deed for that Rent seck is a thing against Common Right except in the case aforesaid where it was Rent service before and by the act of Law it is become Rent seck And Assise of Novel disseisin and a Writ of Entry sur disseisin contain within them no Title but suppose a Disseisin to be done to the Plaintiff and by the intendment of the Law the Disseisin gives no cause of Averment against common Right but there is a necessity to shew forth a Deed. Repleader REpleader is where the plea of the Plaintiff or Defendant or both are ill or an impertinent Issue joyned then the Court makes void all the Pleas which are ill and awards the Parties to replead Coke Entr. 152. and 221 224. Replevin REplevin is a Writ that lies where a man is distrained for Rent or other thing then he shall have this Writ to the Sheriff to deliver to him the Distress and shall find Surety to pursue his Action and if he pursue it not or if it be found or judged against him then he that tooks the Distress shall have again the Distress which is called the Return of the Beasts and he shall have in such case a Writ called Returno habendo But if the Defendant avow for Rent he may have Iudgment for the value of the Cattel by the Statute of 17 Car. 2. cap. 7. If it be in any Franchise or Bailiwick the party shall have a Replevin of the Sheriff directed to the Bailiff of the same Franchise to deliver them again and he shall find Surety to pursue his Action at the next County And this Replevin may be removed out of the County unto the Common place by Writ of Recordare See more of Replevin in the Title Distress Also see Mich. 2 E. 3. pl. 31. 7 E. 3. 27. pl. 13. the word Plevin where Land was taken out of the Kings hands and are afterwards delivered or replevied out of the Kings hands For which see Stat. 9. 3. cap. 2. The Writ of Homine replegiando lies where a man is in Prison and not by special commandment of the King nor of his Iustices nor for the death of a man nor for the Kings Forest nor for such cause which is not replevisable then he shall have this Writ directed to the Sheriff that he cause him to be replevied This Writ is a Justcies
to work fell and cut down Trees to repair the Buildings and Inclosures with divers such like for his Lords commodity so also he had Authority to govern and keep the Tenants in peace and if need required to lead them forth to war Reversion REversion of a Land is a certain Estate remaining in the Lessor or Donor after the particular Estate and Possession conveyed to another by Lease for Life or years or Gift in tail And it is called a Reversion in respect of the possession separated from it so that he that hath the one hath not the other at the same time for in one body at the same time there cannot be said a Reversion because by the uniting the one of them is drowned in the other And so the Reversion of Land is the Land it self when it falls Ribaud RIbaud seem to be sturdy Vagabonds Rot. Par. 50 E. 3. 61. Right Right of Entrie RIght and Right of Entry See in Droit Riot RIot is when three at the least or more do some unlawful act as to beat a man enter upon the possession of another or such like Robbery RObbery is when a Man takes any thing from the person of another Feloniously although the thing so taken be to the value but of a penny yet it is Felony for which the Offendor shall suffer death Rood of Land ROod of Land is a certain quantity of Land containing the fourth part of an Aere Anno 5 Eliz. c. 5. Rout. ROut is when people assemble themselves together and after proceed or ride or go forth or move by the instigation of one or more who is their Leader This is called a Rout because they move and proceed in routs and numbers Also where many assemble themselves together upon their own quarrels and brawls as if the Inhabitants of a Town will gather themselves together to break Hedges Walls Ditches Pales or such like to have Common there or to beat another that hath done them a common displeasure or such like that is a Rout and against the Law although they have not done or put in execution their mischievous intent See the Stat. 1 Mar. c. 12. S. Sac or Sake SAke is a Plea and Correction of Trespass in your Court because Sake in English is Encheson in French and sake is put for sick See Keloway in his Cases incerti temporis f. 145. a. that the privilege called Sake is for a man to have the Amerciaments of his Tenants in his own Court Sacrilege SAcrilege is when one steals any Vessels Ornaments or Goods of Holy Church which is Felony 2 Cro. 153 154. Salary SAlary is a word often used in our Books and it signifies a Recompence or Consideration given a man for his pains bestowed upon another mans business And it is so called as Pliny says in the 31 Book of his Nat. Hist cap. 7. because it is as necessary for a man as Salt and makes his labor relish as Salt doth his meat Sanctuary SAnctuary is a Priviledged place by the Prince for the safeguard of mens lives who are Offendors being founded upon the Law of Mercy and upon the great Reverence Honor and Devotion which the Prince bears to the place whereunto he grants such a Privilege which was heretofore so great that the Princes have granted the same in cases of Treason committed against themselves Murder Rape or other Crime whatsoever Hereof see Stamf. Pl. of the Crown l. 2. c. 38. Satisfaction SAtisfaction is when a Defendant hath paid a Debt or Dammages recovered against him it behoveth him to have satisfaction to be entred upon the Record of the Iudgment Sarpler SArpler is a quantity of Wool which in Scotland is called Serplath and contains 80 stone and with us in England a Load of Wool contains by the opinion of some fourscore Tod and every Tod two Stone and every Stone fourteen Pounds and that a Sack of Wool is in common account equal with a Load and a Sarpler the one half of a Sack Scandalum magnatum SCandalum magnatum is an Evil report invented or dispersed to the prejudice or slander of any great personage or Officer of the realm The punishment of which is enacted by divers Statutes viz Westm 1. c. 33. 2 R. 2. c. 5. 12 R. 2. c. 11. Scavage SCavage or Shewage is a Toll exacted by the Mayors Sheriffs and Bayliffs of Cities and Towns Corporate for wares or merchandise shewed to be sold within their precincts or jurisdiction which Exaction being against the priviledge of the Kings subjects was prohibited by a Statute made in 19 H. 7. c. 8. See 21 H. 7. f. 14. a. and see the Statute of 22 H. 8. c. 8 in the end thereof The Mayor c. of London brought debt for this duty by these words Pro supervisu a ê‘cionis H. 18 19 C. 2. B. R. roll 625. Scire facias SCire facias is a Writ judicial going out of the record and lies where one hath recovered Debt or Dammages in the Kings Court and sues not to have Execution within the year and the day then after the year and the day he shall have the said Writ to warn the party and if the party come not or if he come and say nothing to discharge or stay the Execution then he shall have a Writ of Fieri facias directed to the Sheriff commanding him to levy the Debt or Dammages of the goods of him that hath lost The Writ of Fieri facias lies within the year without any Scire facias sued Also if the summ of the same Debt or Dammages may not be levied of the Goods of him that hath lost them he may have a Writ of Elegit commanding the Sheriff to deliver him the one half of his Lands and Goods except his Oxen and implements of Plow When one hath recovered Debt or Dammages in an Action personal where the Preces is a Capias he may have another Writ of Execution called a Capias ad satisfaciendum to take the Body of him that is so condemned which shall be committed to prison there to abide without Bail or mainprise till he hath satisfied the party And when one hath Iudgment to recover any Lands or Tenements he shall have a Writ called Habere facias seisinam directed to the Sheriff commanding him to deliver to him Seisin of the same Land so recovered See more of that in the Titles Fieri facias and Execution The Writ abovesaid is given by the Statute of Westm 2. cap. 45. But there are also other manner of Scire facias Scil. upon Audita Querela Writs of Error as well to hear errors as wherefore the Plaintiff ought to have Execution against terrtenants upon Iudgments and the like Scot. SCot is to be quit of a certain Custom as of common Tallage made to the use of the Sheriff or Bayliff Scotale SCotale is an Extortion prohibited by the Statute of Charta de Forresta cap. 7. and it is where any Officer of the Forrest
ustome of the Mannor and the Monstraverunt to discharge them when their Lord distrains them to do other Services than they ought This Writ of Monstraverunt ought to be brought against their Lord and these Tenants hold all by one certain Service and are free Tenants of Ancient Demesne Soccage in base Tenure is where a man holds in Ancient Demesne that may not have the Monstraverunt and for that it is called the base Tenure Sockmans SOckmans are the Tenants in Ancient Demesne that held their Lands by Soccage that is by Service with the Plow and therefore they are called Sockmans which is as much to say as Tenants or men that hold by Service of the Plow or Plow-men For Sok signifies a Plow And these Sockmans or Tenants in Ancient Demesne have many and divers Liberties given and granted them by the Law as well those Tenants that hold of a common person as those that hold of the King in Ancient Demesne as namely to be free from paying Toll in every Market Fair Town and City throughout the whole Realm as well for their Goods and Chartels that they sell to others as for those things that they buy for their Provision And thereupon every of them may sue to have Letters Patents under the Kings Seal directed to his Officers and to the Mayors Bayitffs and other Officers in the Realm to suffer them to be Toll-free to be exempt from Leets and Sheriffs Turns also to be quit of Pontage Murage and Passage as also of Taxes and Tallages granted by Parliament except that the King tax ancient Demesne as he may at his pleasure for some great cause to be free from payments toward the expences of the Knights of the Shire that come to the Parliament And if the Sheriff will distrain them or any of them to be contributary for their Lands in Ancient Demesne then one of them or all as the case requires may sue a Writ directed to the Sheriff commanding him that he do not compel them to be contributary to the expences of the Knights And the same Writ doth command him also that if he have already distrained them therefore that he redeliver the same Distress Also that they ought not to be impannelled nor put in Iuries and Enquests in the Country out of their Mannor or Lordship of Ancient Demesne for the Lands that they held there except that they have other Lands at the Common Law for which they ought to be charged And if the Sheriff do return in Pannels then they may have a Writ directed to him De non ponendis in Assisis Juratis And if he do the contrary there lies an Attachment against him And so it is also if the Bailiffs of Franchises that have return of Writs will return any of the Tenants which hold in Ancient Demesue in Assises or Iuries Sodomy SOdomy in the Indictment for this offence it is said Rem veneream habuit peccatum illud Sodomiticum inter Christianos non nominandum felonice commisit Spoliation SPoliation is a Suit for the Fruits of a Church or for the Church it self it is to be sued in the Spiritual Court and not in the Temporal And this Suit lies for one Incumbent against another where they both claim by one Patron and where the right of the Patronage doth not come in question or debate As if a Parson be created a Bishop and hath dispensation to keep his Benefice and afterward the Patron presents another Incumbent which is instituted and inducted now the Bishop may have against that Incumbent a Spoliation in the Spiritual Court because they claim both by one Patron and the right of the Patronage doth not come in debate and because the other Incumbent came to the possession of the Benefice by the course of the Spiritual Law that is to say by Institution and Induction so that he hath c â— lour to have it and to be Parson by the Spiritual Law for otherwise if he be not instituted and inducted c. Spoliation lies not against him but rather a Writ of Trespass or an Assise of Novel disseisin c. So it is also where a Parson who hath a Plurality doth accept another Benefice by reason whereof the Patron presents another Clerk who is instituted and inducted now the one of them may have Spoliation against the other and then shall come in debate whether he has a sufficiene Plurality or not And so it is of Deprivation c. The same law is where one saith to the Patron that his Clerk is dead whereupon he presents another there the first Incumbent who was supposed to be dead may have a Spoliation against the other And so it is in divers other like cases whereof see Fitz. Natura Br. f. 36. G. c. Stablestand STablestand is a term of the Forrest Laws when one is sound standing in the Forrest with his Bow bent ready to shoot at any Deer or with his Grey-hounds in a Lease ready to slip See Manw. Forest Laws cap. 18. fol. 133. b. Stallage STallage signifies money paid for pitching Stalls in Fairs or Markets or the right of doing it Standard STandard See Estandard Stannary STannary are Courts by ancient custom held in Cornwal for suits concerning the Trade of Tin Statute-Merchant TO hold by Statute-Merchant is where a man acknowledges to pay mony to another at a certain day before the Mayor Bailif or other Warden of any Town that hath power to make execution of the same Statute and if the Obligor pay not the Debt at the day and nothing of his Goods Lands or Tenements may be found within the Ward of the Mayor or Warden aforesaid but in other places without then the Recognisee shall sue the Recognisance and Obligation with a Certification to the Chancery under the Kings Seal and he shall have out of the Chancery a Capias to the Sheriff of the County where he is to take him and to put him in prison if he be not a Clerk till he have made satisfaction for the Debt And one quarter of a year after he is taken he shall have his Land delivered to himself to make gree to the party for the Debt and he may sell his Land while he is in prison and his sale shall be good And if he do not make satisfaction within a quarter of a year or if it be returned that he is not found and if he be not a Clerk then the Recognisee may have a Writ out of the Chancery called Extendi facias directed to any Sheriff to extend his Lands and Goods and to deliver the Goods to him and to scise him in his Lands to hold them to him his Heirs and Assigns till the Debt be levied or payed and for that tune he is Tenant by Statute-Merchant Note that in a Statute-Merchant the Recognisee shall have Execution of all the Lands which the Recognisor had the day of the Recognisance made and any time after by force of the
Iurors matters in Law by the Iustices matters of Record by the Record it self A Lord of Parliament upon an Indictment of Treason or Felony shall be tried by his Peers without any Oath upon their Honors and Allegiance but in Appeal at the Suit of any Subject they shall be tried per probos legales homines If Ancient Demesne be pleaded of a Mannor and denied this shall be tried by the Record of the Book of Dooms-day in the Exchequer An Apostata shall be certified by the Abbot or other Religious Governor to whom he owed Obedience General Bastardy Excommengement Lawfulness of Marriage Profession and divers other matters Ecclesiastical shall be tried by the Bishops Certificate And a great number of other Trials there are whereof see Coke lib 9. the Case of the Abbot of Scrata Marcella fol. 23. By Witnesses De morte viri in Dower where the Tenant pleads That the Husband of the Demandant is alive Ra â— En. 128. Tronage TRonage is a certain Toll taken for Weighing Westm 2. cap. 25. 13 Edw. 1. Trover TRover is an Action which a Man hath against another that having found any of his Goods refuses to deliver them upon Demand See the Old Book of Entries word Trover Tumbrel TUmbrel see in the Title Cuckingstool and see the Statute of 51 H. 3. cap. 6. for the use of it Turbary TUrbary from the old Latine word Turba which was use â— for a Turf is an interest of digging Turfs upon a Common And you shall find an Assise brought of such a Common of Turbary in 5 Ass pl. 9. 7 E. 3. fol. 43. b. Sheriffs Turn SHeriffs Turne is a Court of Record in all things that pertain to the Turn and it is the Kings Leet through all the County and the Sheriff is Iudge And whosoever hath a Leet hath the same Authority within the Precinct as the Sheriff hath within the Turn This Court is to be kept twice in every year once after Easter and again after Michaelmas and that within one moneth after each Feast Anno 31 Edw. 3. cap 15. From this Court are exempted only Archbishops Bishops Abbots Priors Earls Barons all Religious men and women and all such as have Hundreds of their own to be kept This Court is appertaining and incident to the Office of the Sheriff and ought not to be reserved therefrom and the Sheriff is to appoint Clerks under him in this Court such as he will at his peril answer for But he cannot prescribe to take any thing for the keeping of his Turn because he is an Officer removeable See Coke l. 4. 33. l. 6. 2. and Daltons Book of Sheriffs tit Sheriffs Turn V. Vacation VAcation See Plenartie Vagabonds VAgabonds are idle and unprofitable men punishable by the Statute 39 Eliz. 4. 1 Jac. 7. 25. Value of Marriage VAlore Maritagii is a Writ that lay for the Lord against his Ward to recover against him the Value of his Marriage at his full age for that he was not Married by his Lord within age And this Writ lay although the Lord never rendered unto the Ward any convenient Marriage See Palmers Case Coke l. 5. f. 126. b. and the Stat. 12 Car. 2. c. 24. Venditioni exponas VEnditioni exponas is a Iudicial Writ directed to the Sheriff to sell Goods seised by a Fleri facias Venew or Visne VEne â— or Visne is a term used in the Statute of 35 H. 8. c. 6. and often in our Books and signifies a Place next to that where any thing that comes to be tried is supposed to be done And therefore for the better discovery of the truth of the matter in Fact upon every Trial some of the Iury must be of the same Hundred or sometimes of the same Parish or Neighborhood in which the thing is supposed to be done who by Intendment may have the best knowledge of the matter See Coke 6 Book f. 14. a. Arundels Case Venire facias VEnire facias it is a Process directed to the Sheriff or to the Coroners if the Sheriff be challenged to summon a Iury to try an Issue joined between party and party or the King and a Subject and it is also a Process upon an Audita Querela or upon an Indictment in the Kings Bench or Venire facias ad computandum against Tenant by Elegit Verderor VErderor is an Officer in the Kings Forrest chosen by the Free-holders of the County where the Forrest is by a Writ directed to the Sheriff to do it as appears by the Books of the Register and of the Nature of Writs and they are called in Latine Viridarli of the word Viridis in English Green in French Verd for a great part of their Office is touching the Verd to wit the Wood and Grass growing in the Forrest for which see more in the Charter and Laws of the Forrest Verge VErge is the Compass about the Kings Court their Bounds the Iurisdiction of the Lord Steward and of the Coroner of the Kings House so that he cannot intermeddle in the County forth of the Verge because his Office extends not thereunto as the Coroner of the County cannot intermeddle within the Verge which is exempted out of his Office by the Common Law And it seems against reason that their Offices and Iurisdictions being several should intermeddle one within the Iurisdiction of the other And this Verge seems to be twelve miles See 13 R. 2. Stat. 1. c. 3. F. N. B. f. 241. Britton f. 86. Fleta l. 2. c. 2. Coke l. 4. f. 46. 33 H. 8. c. 12. Verge in another signification is used for a Stick or Rod by which one is admitted Tenant and holding it in his hand takes the Oath of Fealty to the Lord of the Mannor and for that cause is called Tenant by the Verge See Old N. B. f. 17. Littl. l. 1. c. 10. Vert or Verd. VErt comes of the French Verd and signifies with us in the Forrest Laws every thing that doth grow and bears a green Leaf within the Forrest And it is divided into Over Vert and Neather Vert. Over Vert is the Great Woods and Neather Vert is the Vnder Woods There is also in Forrests a Vert called Special Vert and that is all Trees that grow in the Kings own Woods within the Forrest and all Trees that grow there in other Mans Woods if they be such Trees as bear Fruit to feed the Deer which are called Special Vert because the destroying of such Vert is more grievoufly punished then the destruction of other Vert is See Manwoods Forrest Laws c. 6. f. 52. a. Vicountiels VIcountiels are Farms so called for which the Sheriff pays certain Rent to the King and makes the best profit he can of them See the Stat. 33 34 H. 8. c. 16. View VIew is when an Action real is brought and the Tenane knows not well what Land it is that the Demandant asks then the Tenant shall pray
See Yard-land Viscount VIscount is either the name of a degree or State of Honour under an Earl and above a Baron or else the name of a Magistrate and an Officer of great Authority whom we commonly call Sheriff or to speak more truly Shire reve and was at the first called Shire gereve that is the Keeper of the Shire or the Reeve or Ruler of the Shire for Gereve is derived of the Saxon word Gerefa i. a Ruler And hereof comes Portreve or Portgreve a name in old time given to the head Officer of a Town and signifies the Ruler of the Town for that Port coming of the Latine word Portus signifies a Port-town and Greve being derived as aforesaid signifies a Ruler so that Portgreve or as we now shorter speak a Portreve is the Ruler of the Town And thus was the Head Officer or Governor of the City of London long since before they had the name of Mijor or Bayliffs called as it doth appear in divers old Menuments but chiefly in the Saxon Charter of William the Conquerour which begins thus William the King greeteh William the Bishop and Godfrey the Portreve and also the Citizens that in London be c. So also they of Germany from whom we and our Language first came call one Governor Burgreeve another Margreeve and another Lansgreeve with such like c. Thus much is said only to shew the right Etymon and Antiquity of the word Sheriff to which Officer our Common Law hath always given so great Trust and Authority as to be a special Preserver of the Peace And therefore all Obligations that he takes to that end are Recognisances in Law He is a Iudge of Record when he holds the Leets or Turns which are Courts of Record Also he hath the Execution and Return of Writs and impannelling of Iuries and such like c. Uncore prist UNcore prist is a Plea for the Defendant in Debt upon an Obligation who being sued because he did not pay the Debt at the day pleads to save the Forfeiture that he rendred the money at the day and place and that no Body was there to receive it and says over That he is yet ready to pay it And where a man ought to plead over that he is yet ready and where not see in Perkins sect 783 784. Coke 9 book fol. 79. a b in Peyto's Case Volunt VOlunt is when the Tenant holds at the Will of the Lessor or Lord and that is in two manners One is when I make a Lease to a man of Lands to hold at my Will then I may put him out at my pleasure but if he sow the Ground and I put him out then he shall have his Corn with egress and regress till it be ripe to cut and carry it out of the ground Such Tenant at Will is not bound to sustain and repair the House as Tenant for years is But if he make wilful waste the Lessor shall have against him an Action of Trespass Also there is another Tenant at Will of the Lord by Copy of Court-Roll according to the Custome of the Mannor and such a Tenant may surrender the Land into the hands of the Lord according to the Custom to the use of another for Life in fee or in tail and then he shall take the Land of the Lord or his Steward by Copy and shall make Fine to the Lord. But if the Lord put out such a Tenant he hath no remedy but to sue by Petition And if such a Tenant will implead another of the Lands c. he ought to enter a Plaint in the Court and shall declare in the nature of what Writ he will as the case lies Voucher VOucher is when a Praecipe quod reddat of Land is brought against a man and another ought to warrant the Land to the Tenant then the Tenant shall vouch him to Warranty and thereupon he shall have a Writ called Summoneas ad Warrantizandum And if the Sheriff return that he hath nothing by which he may be summoned then there shall go forth a Writ called Sequatur sub suo periculo And when he comes he shall plead with the Demandant And if he come not or if he come and cannot bar the Demandant then the Demandant shall recover the Land against the Tenant and the Tenant shall recover as much Land in value against the Vouchee and thereupon shall have a Writ called Capias ad Valentiam against the Vouchee See more of Voucher before in the Title of Garranty Uses USes of Land had beginning after the Custom of Property began amongst men as where one being seised of Lands in Fee-simple made a Feoffment to another without any Consideration but only meaning that the other should be seised to his Use and that he himself would take the Profits of the Lands and that the feoffee should have the Possession and Franktenement thereof to the same use c. Now after this upon good Considerations and to avoid divers Mischiefs and Inconveniences was the Statute of An. 27 H. 8. c. 10. provided which unites the Use and possession together so that he who hath the Use of the Land hath the Possession thereof according to the Vse he hath therein by virtue of that Statute Usurpation USurpation is most commonly used when any one presents a Rector or Vicar to a Church without a good Title Stat. Westm 2. cap. 5. Co. 6. Rep. 51. 11 Rep. 33. Usury USury is a Gain of any thing above the Principal or that which was lent exacted only in Consideration of the Loan be it as well Corn Meat Apparel Wares or such like as Money And here much might be said and many Cases put concerning Vsury which of purpose I omit only I wish they who account themselves Religious and good Christians would not deceive themselves by colour of the Statute of Usury because the Statute saith that it shall not be lawful for any to take above xi pound in the C. l. for a year c. whereby they gather though falsly that they may therefore take six pounds for the Loan of an Hundred pounds with a good Conscience because the Statute doth after a sort dispense with it because it doth not punish such taking For God will have his Decrees to be kept inviolable who saith Lend looking for nothing thereby c. by which words is excluded either the taking of vi l. v. l. yea or one peny above the Principal But rather let such think that Statute was moved upon like cause that moved Moses to give a Bill of Divorce to the Israelites as namely to avoid a greater mischief and for the hardness of their hearts And the Statute of 21 Jac. cap. 17. hath expresly Ordained That no word in that Law shall be Construed and Expounded to allow the practice of Vsury in point of Religion or Conscience By the Statute of 13 Eliz. c. 8. the Loan of Money was at 10 l. per Cent. by
21 Jac. cap. 17. at 8 l. per Cent. and now by the Statute of 12 Car. 2. c. 17. it is reduced to 6 l. per Cent. Utlary UTlary is when an Exigent goes forth against any man to appear in any Court to make Answer to any Action or Indictment and Proclamation made in five Counties then if the Defendant appear not the Coroner shall give Iudgment that he shall be out of the Protection of the King and out of the aid of the Law By such an Utlary in Actions Personal the party Outlawed shall forfeit all his Goods and Chattels to the King And by an Utlary in Felony he shall forfeit as well all his Lands and Tenements that he hath in Fee-simple or for term of his life as his Goods and Chattels Also though a man be outlawed yet if any Error or Discontinuance be in the Suit of the Proces the party shall have advantage thereof and for such cause the Vtlary shall be reversed and adnulled If the party Defendant be over the Sea at the time of the Vtlary pronounced that is a good cause of Reversal If an Exigent be awarded against a man in one County where he dwells not yet an Exigent with Proclamation shall go forth to the County where he dwells or else if he be thereupon Outlawed the Utlary may be reversed as it appears by the Statute An 6 4 H. 8 c. 4. And if a man be outlawed in Action personal at the Suit of another and after he Purchase his Chatter of Pardon of the King such Charter shall never be allowed till he hath sued a Writ of Scire facias to warn the party Plaintiff and if he appear then the Defendant shall answer him and bar him of his Action or else make Agreement with him Utlaw UTlaw See Waive Utlepe UTlepe signifies the Escape of Theives Fleta lib. 1. cap. 47. Utrum UTrum is a Writ that lies when the Right of any Church is allened and holden in Lay-fee or translated into the possession of any other Church and the Alienor dies then his Successor shall have the said Writ whereof an Enquest shall be charged to try whether it be the Free alms of the Church or Lay-fee And note well that none that have Covent or Common Seal may maintain this Writ but a Writ of Entre sine assensu Capitull for the Alienation made by his Predecessor W. Wage WAge is the Giving Security for the performing of any thing as to wage Law and to wage Deliverance which see before in Gage None wages Law against the King Brook tit Chose en Action num 6. See Law Waife WAife is when a Thief hath feloniously stolen Goods and being nearly followed with Hue and Cry or else overcharged with the burthen or trouble of the Goods for his ease sake and more speedy Travelling without Hue and Cry flies away and leaves the Goods or any part of them behind him c. then the Kings Officer or the Reeve or Bayliff to the Lord of the Mannor within whose Iurisdiction or Circuit they were left who by Prescription or Grant from the King hath the Franchise of Waife may seise the Goods so waived to their Lords use who may keep them as his own proper Goods except the Owner come with fresh Suit after the Felon and sue an Appeal or give in Evidence against him at his Arraignment upon the Indictment and he be attainted thereof c. In which cases the first Owner shall have Restitution of his Goods so stollen and waived And though as hath been said Waife is properly of Goods stollen yet it may be also of Goods not stollen As if a man be pursued with Hue and Cry as a Felon and he flies and leaves his own Goods c. these shall be taken as Goods waived and forfeit as if they had been stollen But see Foxleys Case Coke l. 4. l. 109. b. that these are not Goods waived but Goods of Fugitives which are not forfeited till it be found before the Coroner or otherwise of Record that he fled for the Felony Waive WAive is a Woman that is Outlawed and she is called Waive as left out or forsaken of the Law and not an Outlaw as a man is for Women are not sworn in Leets to the King nor to the Law as men are who therefore are within the Law whereas Women are not and for that cause they cannot be said Outlawed insomuch as they never were within it See Fitz. N. B. fol. 161. A. But a man is called utlaw because he was once sworn to the Law And now for contempt he is put out of the Law and is called utlaw as one should say without benefit of the Law Wapentake WApentake is all one with that which we call Hundred as appears by Bract. lib. 3. tract 2. cap. 1. num 1. in the end Lambert in his Explication of Saxon Words word Centuria saith That this word Wapentake is more especially used at this day in the Countries beyond the River Trent And in the Laws of King Edward by him set forth num 33. it is most plain in these words And what the English term Hundred the foresaid Counties call Wapentake The Statutes An. 3 H. 5. cap. 2. and An. 9 H. 6. cap. 10. and An. 15 H. 6. cap. 7. make mention of Stainctife Wapentake and Friendless Wapentake in Craven in the County of York See Roger Hoveden part poster Annal. fol. 346. Warden WArden is of the same signification with the French Gardein and therefore of this see more in the Title Gardein But it is the most usual word in English for him that hath the Custody and Charge of any person or thing by Office as Wardens of the Fellowships in London Anno 14 H. 8. cap. 2. Warden Courts An. 31 H. 6. c. 3. Warden of the Marches An. 4 H. 7. cap. 8. Ferry Warden An. 18 Eliz. c. 10. An. 27 Eliz. c. 26. Wardens of the Peace Anno 2 Edw. 3. c. 3. Wardens of the West Marches Cambden Brit. p. 606. Warden of the Forrest Manwood part 1. p. 111 112. Warden of the Alnage An. 18 H. 6. c. 16. Warden of the Kings Armor in the Tower An. 1 E. 4. c. 1. Chief Warden of the Forrest Manwood part 1. pag. 42 43. Warden of the Kings Wardrove Anno 5 Hen. 3. Stat. 5. Wardens of the Tables of the Kings Exchange Anno 9 Ed. 3. Stat. 2. c. 7. and Anno 9 Hen. 5. Stat. 2. cap. 4. Warden of the Rolls of the Chancery Anno 1 Edw. 4. cap. 1 5. Wardens and Communalty of Lands contributory to Rochester Bridge Anno 18 Eliz. cap. 17. and Wardens of the Stannary Courts 4 Instit 230. Wardmote WArdmote is a term mentioned in the Stat. of 32 H. 8. c. 17. and signifies a Court that is kept in every Ward in London and is usually called the Warmote-Court or the Wardmote-Inquest Warrantie WArrantie See Garrantie Warrantia chartae WArrantia chartae is a Writ that lies
Brook titulo Clergie placito 20. al mesme purpose By-laws BY-laws sont orders faits en Court-Leets ou Court-Barons ê‘ le comÌ„on consent pÌ„ le bien 〈◊〉 eux Et sont les feasors de eux qÌ„ sont appels by-By-laws quasi Birlaws ou Bawrlaws de parol Germanols Bawr id est Rusticus issint que Bawrlaws ou By-laws est tant adire comÌ„ Leges Rusticorum Bilinguis BIlinguis en general est un homÌ„ ove uÌ„ double langu un â—Ì„ il est comÌ„unemÌ„t use pur cest Jury qÌ„ passont perenter un home 〈◊〉 Angleterre un Alien de que part convient â— eÌ„ homes de Angleterre part Estrangers Et pÌ„c â— o est enact ê‘ le Statute 〈◊〉 28 E. 3. c. 13. Que si ascÌ„ debate happa destrÌ„ sur le packing de Lane devant le Major del Staple ent ' les Merchants ou Ministers del mesme sur ceo de prover la veritie de ceo Enquest serra prise si lun partie laut ' soit Denizen il serra trie per Denizens ou si lun partie soit Denizen lauter al â— en le Moiety 〈◊〉 l'Enquest ou del proof serra Dâ—nizens lauter Moiety d â— Aliens Bill BILL est la mesme chose ove un Obligation f â— rsque quant il est en Anglois il est comÌ„unement appel un 〈◊〉 en Latin un Obligation Auxy un Declaration en escript qÌ„ expresse ou le grievance injury que le Plaintiff ad su â—â— er ê‘ le partie de qÌ„ le plaint est fait ou ascÌ„ fault ê‘ luy comÌ„se contre ascÌ„ Ley ou Statute de le Royalm Per un Bill nous maintenant entendons un single Bond sans Condition ê‘ un Obligation un Bond ove un Penalty Condition West part 2. Symbol tit Supplications sect 52. Billa vera BIlla vera est le Endorsement del grand Inquest sur ascuÌ„ PresentmÌ„t ou Indictment qÌ„ ils trovont estre probablement voyer Blackmail BLackmail est un parol use en le Stat. 43 Eliz. c. 13. signifie uÌ„ certain rate des Deniers Blees Cattel ou auter coÌ„sideration donÌ„ ê‘ les povers homes en le North parts de Angleterre as homes 〈◊〉 grand nosmÌ„ alliance en ceux parts destre ê‘ eux ê‘tects del eux qÌ„ usualmÌ„t robbe embler la. Black rod. BLack rod est le Huissier appurtein a tres Noble Order â— Jarter issint appel de la Black rod qÌ„ il port en son main Il est auxi Huissier 〈◊〉 la Meason des Peers en ParlamÌ„t Bloodwit BLoodwit est quietum ess as Amerciamentis de Sanguine fuso quae teneantur Placita in Curia vestra habebitis Amerciamenta inde provenientia quia Wit en Anglois est Misericordia en Latin Bloody hand BLoody hand est l' apprehension â— un Trespasser en le Forest vers Venison ove ses maines ou ascÌ„ part 〈◊〉 luy embrues en sank comÌ„t qÌ„ il ne soit trove chasing ou hunting De quel veies Manw. par 2. c. 18. Bockland BOckland en temps de Saxons fuit ceo terrÌ„ qÌ„ nous a ceo jour appellomÌ„ FranktenemÌ„t ou terÌ„ tenus ê‘ Charter fuit ê‘ ceo nosme distinguish del Folkland qÌ„ fuit terre tenus ê‘ Copy Bona notabilia BOna notabilia lou un home devy ayant biens al value de 5 l. en divers Diocesses donque le Archievesque doit commit Administration si ascun inferior Evesque graÌ„t ceo est void 37 H. 6. 27 28. 10 H. 7. 18. Dyer 305. Bordlands BOrdlands signifie le Demesnes que Seigniors tenent en leur maines demesne pÌ„ le maintenance de leur Bords ou Tables Bracton l. 4. tract 3. c. 9. num 5. Borow BOrow qÌ„ ovesque nous signifie un ancient Ville comÌ„ appiert ê‘ Littleton sect 164. en uÌ„ parol derive ou del FraÌ„cois Burg id est Pagus ou del Saxon parol Bo hoe id est Pignus pÌ„ ceo qÌ„ en ancient temps vicines dun Ville deveignont Pledges lun pÌ„ lauter 〈◊〉 ceo venust Headborow pÌ„ le chief Pledge ou Borhoe-Aldere que nous appellomus le Borow-holder ou le Bursholder Borow E â— glish BOrow English est un custumary Descent del Terres ou Tenements en quelques lieus ê‘ la quel ils vient a la pluis june fits ou si le ê“prieteur ad nul issue a le pluis june frere comÌ„ en Edmunton Kitch in fol. 102. Borowhead BOrowhead Veies Headborow Bote. BOte est un veil parol signifie Help Succor Aid ou Advantage est comÌ„unemÌ„t joyn ove un aut ' parol qÌ„ significatioÌ„ il augmÌ„t coÌ„e ceux Bridgebote Burgbote Firebote Hedgebote Plowbote divers tiels semblables pÌ„ queux significations veies eÌ„ lour proper Titles Bottomry vulgo Bomry EST quant un Master â— un Neise en case de necessity gage ceo pÌ„ denyers pÌ„ le use de le Neife Bribor BRribor Fr. Bribeur i. Mendicus semble 〈◊〉 signifier luy qÌ„ pilfer les biens des aut ' homÌ„s An. 28 E. 2. Stat. 1. Brief BRief Breve signifie plus ê“propermÌ„t eÌ„ nostre Ley le Process que issuist hors del Chancery ou auter Court commandant le ViscÌ„ de summoner ou attacher A. pÌ„ responder al Suit B. c. Mes pius largemÌ„t est prise pÌ„ ascun Precept del Roy en escript south Seal isiuant hors 〈◊〉 ascÌ„ Court ê‘ qÌ„ il comÌ„and ascun chose deeÌ„ fait pur le furtherance del Justice bone order Et ils font appel Briefs Brevia pÌ„ ceo qÌ„ ils briefmÌ„t coÌ„prehend l' cause del ActioÌ„ rem brevit ' enarraÌ„t Er ascÌ„ â— eux sont Originals ascuÌ„ Judicials come poies veier alarge en le Register des BreÌ„s Broadhalpeny BRoadhalpeny en ascun Copies Broadhalfpeny hoc est quietum esse de q â— adam consuetudine exacta pro Tabulis levie ou Boords en Faires ou Markets ceux qÌ„ esteont enfranchised ê‘ le Charter le Roy de cest cust â— m ont cest parol mise eÌ„ lour Let ' Patents ê‘ reason 〈◊〉 quel a cest jour le EnfranchisemÌ„t mesme pÌ„â— le brevity 〈◊〉 elocution est appel Broadhalfpeny Broker BRoker semble de vener del parol Francois Broieur id est Tritor cestuy qÌ„ grinde ou rumper un chose en petit parcels Et le voyer office dun Broker come appiert ê‘ le Stat. falt 1 Jac. c. 21. est de barÌ„ contriver faire concluder bargains ent ' Merchants Tradesmen Mes le parol est ore auxi appropriate as eux que achate vende vieux broken apparel Houshold-stuff Brugbote BRugbote en ascuns Copies Bridgebote est quietum esse de auxilio dando ad reficiendum Pontes Bull. BULL est un InstrumÌ„t issint appel grant ê‘ l'Evesque â— Rome enseal ove un Seal de plumbe conteinent en