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A64510 The third part of Modern reports being a collection of several special cases in the Court of Kings-Bench: in the last years of the reign of K. Charles II. In the reign of King James II. And in the two first years of his present Majesty. Together with the resolutions and judgments thereupon. None of these cases ever printed before. Carefully collected by a learned hand.; Reports. 1660-1726. Vol.3. England. Court of King's Bench. 1700 (1700) Wing T911; ESTC R222186 312,709 406

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The Third PART OF Modern Reports BEING A COLLECTION Of Several SPECIAL CASES IN THE COURT OF King's-Bench In the last Years of the Reign of King Charles II. In the Reign of King James II. And in the two first Years of his present MAJESTY TOGETHER WITH The Resolutions and Judgments thereupon None of these Cases ever Printed before Indignor quicquam reprehendi non quia crassè Compositum illepidéve putetur sed quia nuper Hor. Epist 2.1 Carefully Collected by a Learned Hand LONDON Printed by the Assigns of Rich. and Edw. Atkins Esqrs for Charles Harper at the Flower de Luce over-against St. Dunstan's Church in Fleetstreet 1700. Mr Ambrose Holbech of Mollington. in the County of Warwick 1702 TO THE PROFESSORS OF THE Common Law OF ENGLAND Gentlemen ALL Human Laws are either Natural or Civil The Law of Nature which is also the Moral Law is at all times and in all places the same and so will always continue By Civil Laws I mean such as are established by Human Policy which with us are either Customs or Statutes and these have also some resemblance to Natural Laws because they are for the most part introduced by the concurrent Reason of Men and Reason is the Law of Nature Customs are made by Time and Usage and do thereby obtain the force of Laws in particular places and Nations but no otherwise than upon supposition that they were reasonable at the beginning To these may be added such Laws which are usually called Responsa Prudentum which together with Customs make a great part of our Municipal Laws And because 't is impossible that future Evils should be foreseen by the Wisdom of Mankind so as to prevent them therefore 't is very reasonable that positive Laws should be instituted by the Legislative Power which we call Statutes and those are either Commands or Prohibitions always enacted upon some present Emergencies and may be altered or repealed according as the Manners of Men change or as the Conjuncture of Affairs require for the publick Good I do not find this Nation was governed by any settled Laws from the time of William called the Conqueror till 9 H. 3. but by the irregular Power of the Norman King and of those who immediately succeeded him 'T is true he swore to preserve approbatas antiquas Leges Angliae but 't is as true that the same Force which compelled our Forefathers to submit did likewise exact their Obedience to the Customs of Normandy some of which we retain to this very day It was then a term of Reproach to be called an Englishman as if that denomination imported to be a Slave This made the lesser Barons that is the Freeholders or those which had such Lordships which are now called Court-Barons take up Arms to regain their ancient Rights and by that means they obtained a Grant of their old Laws from some of those Kings which was called Magna Charta Libertatum but living in a tumultuous Age they did never quietly enjoy those Liberties for notwithstanding that Charter many Infringements were made upon them which they continued in Arms to defend insomuch that in the Seventeenth Year of King John they delivered to that King a Schedule of their ancient Customs in Writing desiring that he would establish them by another Grant which was done accordingly But this Charter was as little observed as the former for the Norman Customs did still interfere with St. Edward's Laws and the People were miserably divided by those Innovations till Anno 9 H. 3. the Great Charter was established by Authority of Parliament From that time those ancient Laws and Customs were had again in repute they were revived by that Grant which was only declaratory of them and because a more exact Obedience and Conformity might be given to them for the future therefore did his Successor the good King Edward I. encourage the Lawyers in his time to reduce them into Order and Writing which was done accordingly about the middle of his Reign by John Breton not the Bishop of Hereford but a Judge of the King's Bench for as Mr. Selden has observed the Bishop of that Name died Anno 3 E. 1. And in that Book which is now called Breton the Statute of W. 2. is cited which was made 13 E. 1. and therefore it could not be penned by the Bishop unless he could quote a Statute which was not made till above ten years after his Death This is one of the first Systems extant of our Laws 'T is true the Book called The Mirror of Justice was written before but many Additions were made to it in this King's Reign by Andrew Horn a learned Man in that Age. There was likewise a small Tract then written by Sir Ralph Hengham Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas which only treats of Essoins and Defaults in Writs of Right Writs of Assize and Dower and therefore cannot be called a Body of our Laws I must admit that two such Books were written by the Lord Chief Justice Glanvil and Justice Bracton the one in the Reign of Henry the Second and the other in the time of Henry the Third but not one more of that Nature almost in the space of two hundred Years for I do not think the Book which the Lord Chancellor Fortescue wrote in the Reign of King Henry the Sixth can be properly called a System of Law It was published by him for these purposes first to obviate the design of two great Favourites the Dukes of Exeter and Suffolk who had used some endeavours to introduce the Imperial Law and therefore he shewed the Excellency of the Common Law above that and in the next place it was intended to soften the warlike Temper of the young Prince Edward by inclining him to the Study of those Laws by which he was to govern his People and to instruct him in some Occurrences therein The Abridgment by Baron Statham and the Year-Books are for the most part made up with Cases then depending in the several Courts at Westminster and with the Opinions and Resolutions of Judges which I rather call Responsa Prudentum than Systems of Law The next Attempt in that kind was made by Justice Littleton in the Seventh Year of Edward the Fourth who hath taught succeeding Ages with great Judgment and Learning in his Profession but 't is now two hundred and thirty Years since he wrote and many alterations have been made in the Law since his time I only mention these things to shew the necessity of new Books and that the old Volumes are not so useful now as formerly because many of the great Titles of which they were composed are now quite disused they are mentioned by my Lord Hales in his Preface to the Lord Chief Justice Roll's Abridgment which I shall not repeat and those very Titles make the greatest part of Justice Littleton's Tenures But amongst all the Old Tenures and Customs I admire that of Burrough English should still
' ac qd ' Record ' ill ' in nullo vitiosum aut defectivum existit Ideo considerat ' est qd ' Judicium praed ' adjudication ' executionis superinde in omnibus affirmetur ac in omni suo robore stet effectu dict' causis materiis superius pro Error ' assign ' in aliquo non obstante Et ulterius per Cur. Judgment affirmed Domini Regis Dominae Reginae nunc hic cons est qd ' praedict ' Abel Ram recuperet versus praefatum Donatum Obrian octodecim libras eidem Abel per Curiam Domini Regis Dominae Reginae nunc hic secundum formam Statuti in hujusmodi casu edit ' provis adjudicat ' pro mis custag ' dampn ' suis quae sustin ' occasione dilationis executionis Judicij praedict ' praetextu prosecutionis praedict ' Brevis de Errore Et qd ' praedictus Abel habeat inde executionem c. Obrian versus Ram. ERror to reverse a Iudgment given in Ireland Whether a Sci. fa. will lie against the Husband alone after the death of the Wife upon a Judgment had against her dum sola upon a Scire Fac. brought against the Plaintiff in the Errors setting forth that Debt was brought upon a Bond against Elizabeth Grey and a Iudgment was thereupon obtained for 800 l. dum sola That the said Elizabeth afterwards intermarried with Mr. Obrian That a Scire Facias was brought upon that Iudgment against Husband and Wife to shew cause why the Plaintiff should not have execution That upon this Scire Facias there were two Nichils returned and thereupon Iudgment was had against Husband and Wife It rested for a year and a day and then the Wife died and the Plaintiff brought a new Scire Fac. against the Husband alone to shew cause why he should not have Execution upon the first Iudgmont The Defendant pleaded that there was another Scire Fac. brought against him and his Wife for the same Cause c. And upon a Demurrer to this Plea Iudgment was given in Ireland against him The Question now was whether this Scire Fa. will lye against the Husband alone after the death of his Wife This Case was argued by Mr. Finch and Mr. Pollexfen that the Husband was not chargable It was admitted on all sides that if a Feme sole is indebted and marries that an Action will lye against the Husband and Wife and he is lyable to the payment of her Debts It was agreed also that if a Iudgment be had against a Feme sole and she marries and afterwards dies that the Husband is not chargable because her Debts before Coverture shall not charge him unless recovered in her Life-time In like manner no Debts which are due to her dum sola shall go to the Husband by virtue of the inter-marriage if she dye before those are recovered but her Administrator will be entituled to them which may be the Husband but then he hath a Right only as Administrator 1 Roll Abr. 351. and the reason is because such Debts before they are recoverd are only choses in Action And from hence the Council did inferr that the Iudgment in this Case against the Wife dum sola did not charge the Husband Then the Question will be if the Husband is not chargeable by the Original Iudgment whether the Iudgment on the Scire Fac. had not made an alteration and charged him after the death of his Wife And as to that it was said that this Iudgment upon the Scire Fac. made no new charge for 't is only quod habeat executionem c. and carries the first Iudgment no farther than it was before for 't is introduced by the Sci. Fac. At the Common Law no Execution could be had upon a Iudgment after a year and a day and there was then no remedy but to bring an Action of Debt upon that Iudgment This Inconvenience was remedied by the Statute of Westm W. 2. cap. 45. the 2. which gives a Scire Fac. upon the Iudgment to shew cause why Execution should not be had which can be no more than a liberty to take Execution upon the Original Iudgment which cannot charge the Husband in this case because 't is only a consequence of that Iudgment and creates no new charge for a Release of all Actions will discharge this award of Execution But the Reasons why the original Iudgment shall not be carried farther by the Iudgment in the Scire Fac. are as follow 1. By considering the nature of a Scire Fac. which lay not at the Common Law but is given by the Statute in all persosonal Actions the words whereof are these Viz. 2 Inst 469. Sid. 351. Observandum est de caetero quod ea quae inveniuntur irrotulat c. Vpon which words it is evident that the execution of the first Iudgment on Record is all which is given by this Act after the year and day and it takes off that bar which was incurred by the lapse of time and gives a speedy Execution of the Iudgment recorded 2. The Proceedings upon a Scire Facias shew the same thing for the Writ recites the first Iudgment and then demands the Defendant to shew cause why the Plaintiff should not have Execution thereon juxta vim formam effectum recuperationis praed but prays no new thing 3. A Scire Facias is not an Original but a Iudicial Writ which depends purely upon the first Iudgment 1 Roll. Abr. 777. pl. 6. 8 Co. 143 Dr. Drurie's Case and a Writ of Error suspends the execution of both so likewise if the Original Iudgment be reversed even a Iudgment obtained upon a Scire Facias will be reversed in like manner 4. The Law doth not charge a Man without an Appearance but here is none and the Statute can never operate upon this Case because that extends only to such Iudgments upon which there has been a Recovery and here is nothing recovered upon this Scire Facias for 't is only to have Execution upon the first Iudgment If the Law should be otherwise this absurdity would follow Viz. There would be a Recovery without a Record for the purport of the Scire Facias is only to have Execution according to the form and effect of the Record and the very Record it self doth not charge the Husband Besides the first Iudgment did charge the Lands of the Wife which are still liable to satisfie the Debt why therefore must the Lands of the Husband be charged Cannot the Administrator of the Wife bring a Writ of Error to reverse this Iudgment and if it should be reversed shall the Husband pay the Debt and the Administrator of the Wife be restored The Objections made by the Council on the other side against this Opinion were viz. That if an Action of Debt will lie upon a Iudgment in a Scire Facias the Original Iudgment is by this means carried farther for without
certain or 't is not good 134 4. Must be taken strictly when it goes to the destruction of an Estate 224 5. A Custom that every Copyholder who leases his Land shall forfeit it doth not bind an Infant 229 6. Amongst Merchants where it must be particularly set forth 226 7. It must be certain and therefore where it was laid for an Infant to sell his Land when he can measure an Ell of Cloth 't is void for the incertainty 290 8. To have solam separalem pasturam hath been held good 291 9. Prescription must have a lawful commencement but 't is sufficient for a Custom to be certain and reasonable 292 10. Whether a Custom likewise ought to have a lawful commencement 293 D. Damages See Ejectment 3. Ioint Action 2. Trespass 2. Baron and Feme brought an Action for words spoken of the Wife and concluded ad damnum ipsorum 't is good for if she survive the Damages will go to her 120 Det See Admittance 5. Assignment 1. Iudgment 1. Quantum meruit Where 't is brought upon a Specialty for less than the whole Sum it must be shewed how the other was discharged 41 2. Whether it lies for a Fine upon an admission to a Copyhold Estate for it doth not arise upon any Contract 240 3. There must be a personal Contract or a Contract implyed by Law to maintain an Action of Debt ibid. Deceit See Action on the Case Deputy See Office 6 7 9. Devise See Tail Where it shall not be extended by implication 82 2. Where the word Estate passeth a Fee where not 45 105. 3. I give All to my Mother passeth only an Estate for Life for the Particle All is a Relative without a Substantive 32 4. To A. and the Testator's Name is omitted in the Will yet 't is good by averring his Name and proving his Intention to devise it 217 5. The Testator after several Specifick Legacies and Devises of Lands gave all the rest and remaining part of his Estate c. by those Words the Reversion in Fee passed 228 6. By the Devise of an Hereditament the Reversion in Fee passeth 229 Disseisin See Election 1. Interest 2. The Son Purchased in Fee and was disseised by his Father who made a Feoffment with Warranty the Son is bound for ever 91 2. Lessor made a Lease for Life and died his Son suffered a Common Recovery this is a Disseisin ibid. 3. Where an Estate for Life or years cannot be gained by a Disseisin ibid. 4. A wrongful Entry is never satisfied with any particular Estate nor can gain any thing but a Fee-simple 92 Distribution Before the Statute if there was but one Child he had a right of Administration but it was only personal so that if he died before Administration his Executor could not have it 62 E. Ejectment THE Demise was laid to be the 12th of Junii habendum a praed duodecimo die Junii which must be the 13th day by vertue whereof he entred and that the Defendant Postea eod 12 die Junii did Eject him which must be before the Plaintiff had any Title for his Lease commenced on the 13th day not good 199 2. De uno Messuagio sive Tenemento not good because the word Tenementum is of an incertain signification but with this addition vocat ' the Black Swan 't is good 238 3. If the Term should expire pending the Suit the Plaintiff may proceed for his Damages for though the Action is expired quoad the possession yet it continues for the Damages 249 Election Where the Cause of Action ariseth in two places the Plaintiff may choose to try it where he pleases 165 2. Tenant at Will made a Lease for years the Lessee entreth this is no disseisin but at the Election of him who had the Interest in it 197 Entry In Feoffments Partitions and Exchanges which are Conveyances at the Common Law no Estate is changed until actual Entry 297 2. Lease for years not good without Entry 297 3. Tenant for Life Remainder in Tail Male levied a Fine and made a Feoffment having but one Son then born and afterwards had another Son the eldest died without Issue the Contingent Remainder to the second was not destroy'd by this Feoffment for it was preserved by the right of Entry which his elder Brother had at the time of the Feoffment made 305 Escape Debt upon an Escape would not lie at the Common Law against the Goaler it was given by the Statute of W. 2. 145 2. The superior Officer is liable to the voluntary Escapes suffered by his Deputy unless the Deputation is for life 146 3. If an Escape is by negligence it must be particularly found 151 4. A person was in Execution upon an erroneous Judgment and escaped and Judgment and Execution was had against the Gaoler and then the first Judgment was reversed yet that against the Gaoler shall stand 325 Evidence See Witness An Affidavit made in Chancery shall not be read as Evidence but only as a Letter unless Oath is made by a Witness that he was present when it was taken before the Master 36 2. What shall be Evidence of a fraudulent Settlement ibid. 3. An Answer of a Guardian in Chancery shall not be read as Evidence to conclude an Infant 259 4. Whether the return of the Commissioners in a Chancery Cause that the person made Oath before them is sufficient Evidence to convict of Perjury 116 5. Whether a true Copy of an Affidavit made before the Chief Justice is sufficient to convict the person for the like Offence 117 6. A Verdict may be given in Evidence between the same Parties but not where there are different persons unless they are all united in the same interest 142 7. Conviction for having two Wives shall not be given in Evidence to prove the unlawfulness of a Marriage but the Writ must go to the Bishop because at Law one Jury may find it no Marriage and another otherwise 164 Exchange Ought to be executed by each Party in their Life time otherwise 't is void 135 Excommunication Stat. 5 Eliz. For not coming to the Parish Church the Penalties shall not incurr if the person hears Divine Service in any other Church 42 2. The Causes are enumerated in the Statute which must be contained in the Significavit otherwise the Penalties are not to incurr 89 Executor See Grants Notice 5. Whether an Executor de son tort can have any interest in a Term for years 91 93 2. An Executor may sell the Goods before Probate 92 3. May pay Debt upon a simple Contract before a Bond of which he had no notice 115 4. Whether an Action of Debt will lie against an Executor upon a Mutuatus 5. By what words he hath an Authority only without an Interest in the thing devised 209 210 6. He had both Goods of his Testator and of his own and granted omnia bona sua that which he hath as Executor will not pass for
remain amongst us 't is a Custom contrary to the positive Laws of God and which inverts the very order of Nature it was introduced amongst us in a barbarous Age and by a very wicked and adulterous practice after this manner viz. The Lords of certain Lands which were held of them in Villenage did usually lye with their Tenants Wives the first Night after Marriage this Usage was continued after those very Lands were purchased by Freemen who in time obtained this Custom on purpose that their eldest Sons who might be their Lord's Bastards should be incapable to inherit their Estates I could never yet find any tolerable reason for the support or continuance of this Custom but the Reason of it which was given by a learned Lawyer is because the youngest is least able to defend himself certainly he could never mean Ability of Body because 't is frequently seen that the youngest Son is the Champion of the Family and if he intended Ability in Estate I would fain know what the elder Brother hath to defend himself when by this unnatural Custom the youngest is entitled to the whole I am not setting up for a Reformer of the Law or the Abuses of it 't is not a work for a single person but rather for a Committee of able and skilful Men of that Profession appointed by the Government Neither will I object against the Practice of it as heretofore in the year 1654. it hath been done viz. That great part consists in known and apparent Untruths That a Common Recovery ought not to be suffered in a Christian Nation because 't is Fictio Juris which is an abuse of the Law That when 't is suffered at the Bar by the Tenant and Demandant there is scarce a true word in all the Colloquium amongst the Serjeants and that therefore an Estate Tail may more righteously be discontinued by a Feoffment with Livery than by the Statute de Donis This was the Language of those times They found fault likewise with that wicked Process of Latitat that it was framed upon a supposed Falshood by suggesting of a Bill of Middlesex sued out which is never actually done and that the Defendant could not be taken there because he is sculking about in another County which is seldom or never true and presently afterwards he is in Custodia Marescalli which is as false as the rest and that John Doe and Richard Roe are Pledges de Prosequendo when there are no such Men in Nature these things and many more I could name of the like Nature I esteem as trivial Matters for no Injury is done to any Body by such Formalities But when there is danger of Corruption in that which was originally intended for the great preservative of our Liberties I mean in Trials by ordinary Juries it may be worth a great deal of Pains and Study to propose some effectual means to prevent it which is the chief end of this Preface that you may at some time employ your Thoughts in so useful a piece of Service to your Country I shall only give you a short History of such Trials which is as followeth viz. There are Opinions that such Trials were had in this Nation by a Jury of Twelve Men long before the time of the English Saxons though the Writers in those Ages give no account of this Matter This is collected from that great esteem the Chaldeans had for the number 12. because of so many Signs in the Zodiack those People applying themselves chiefly to the Study of Astrology That from them this Number came to the Aegyptians and so to Greece where Mars himself was tryed for a Murder by a Jury of that Number and acquitted by an equality of Votes which is the first Trial mentioned in History by a Jury of Twelve That the Greeks frequenting this Island to export our Tin became acquainted with the Natives and in process of time cohabited with them who being a more polite People did introduce this way of Trials here and 't is very probable that some of our Customs came from them because some of our Law-Terms as Chirographer Protonotary and many more are derived from their Language After the Conquest of Greece by the Romans new Laws were instituted by them to govern this Nation which was then a Province to the Conquerors and though such Trials were then disused yet they had that Number in several subordinate forms of their Administration Afterwards when that great Empire declined when the Britains were forsaken by them and left to the Depredations of the Pagan Saxons then were other Trials introduced by that barbarous People which was by Battle in doubtful cases and when that could not be joyned then Purgations by Ordeal were allowed Trials very agreeable to the uncultivated Temper of those People Thus it continued till about two hundred years before the Norman Conquest and then Ethelbert an English Saxon King received Christianity and by his Example the Dispositions of the People were qualified into a more civil and peaceable deportment then were those Trials for the most part laid aside and that good King being at Wantage now a Market-Town in Berk-shire did there by the Advice of his Council ordain that Trials should be had by Juries consisting of twelve Men which Law doth still continue But notwithstanding such were then and are still the best and most effectual Methods to discover the Truth yet Ordeals were used here for above one hundred and fifty years after the Conquest and then about the beginning of the Reign of H. 3. were abolished by Act of Parliament But Combates continued here till 6 Car. 1. so difficult are the English to part with any ancient Usage of their Ancestors though in no wise suitable to them who live in a more polite and learned Age. Juries being thus confined to the Number 12. it was afterwards enacted by the Statute of 2. H. 5. That all Jurors returned for Trials of Issues c. should have 40 s. per annum This Law continued for the space of an hundred and ninety years or thereabouts and then the Wisdom of the Nation considering that to be a very mean Estate for the support of a Jury-Man a farther Provision was made by a Statute Anno 27 Eliz. That such Jurors should have 4 l. per Annum And thus the Law stood for above an hundred years in all which time this Kingdom hath been growing in Riches its Trade is now extended to most parts of the World and as that hath been enlarged so the Price of our Lands the Value of our Rents of our natural Commodities and of all our Manufactures have wonderfully encreased so that a Man of 4 l. per Annum is now in so mean a condition of life that he is no longer to be entrusted with the Trial of an ordinary Cause and therefore by the Statute of 4 5 Willielmi Mariae such Jurors are to have 10 l. per Annum Now upon a moderate
computation of the price of Provisions and other Necessaries in 2 H. 5. and how they encreased in Value from that time till the Queen's Reign it may be reasonably affirmed that 40 s. per Annum about the time when that King lived would bear an equal proportion to 40 l. a year in her Reign and if so it may as reasonably be said that 4 l. per Annum in her days would almost bear the like proportion to 80 l. per annum now because of the vast encrease of Riches by Commerce and otherwise in this last Age and such an Estate doth now qualifie a Man to be of the Grand Jury The 40 s. per annum in King H's Reign was esteemed a sufficient Estate to supply all the common Necessities of Life Wheat being then sold for 12 d. per Quarter and good Gascoign Wine for 40 s. per Tun. It was an Age when 20 Marks per Annum was a very good Allowance to maintain a Student at the Inns of Court but too great a Charge for a Commoner to bear and therefore the Lord Chancellor Fortescue tells us that none but the Sons of Noblemen in Hospitiis illis Leges addiscebant The Jurors in those days were all Knights but are now mean and illiterate persons for 't is a very poor Estate which qualifies them for that Service How can Matters of Fact which often require great Examination be tryed by Men of such narrow Capacities which are generally found amongst Men of 10 l. per Annum for so it will be so long as the Degrees of Fortune make such a vast inequality amongst us Experience teacheth us that Men of such low Fortunes and whose Education is generally amongst the Beasts of the Plow have not the same sense of Honour and Vertue with Men of more elevated Qualities and Conversation there must be danger of Subornation and Perjury among such Jurors And what will the villanous Judgment in Attaint signifie I mean in respect to their Estates viz. That their Goods be confiscate their Lands and Possessions seised into the King's Hands their Houses demolished their Woods felled and their Meadows plowed This is a very dreadful Sentence to a Man of a good Estate which by the very Form of this old Judgment every Juror was supposed to have but 't is an empty sound to a Man of 10 l. per Annum who cannot have all those Possessions and but a very small proportion of either It may be therefore thought necessary that a farther Provision be made that none should be impanelled to try such Issues but Men of 40 l. per Annum or at least such as like the Jurors in Attaint qui multa majora habent Patrimonia than what will qualifie a Petty Juror at this day Gentlemen The following Collection is the Product of your Labours It was borrowed from you at the Bar and 't is but just to restore it I know Men have generally very faint Inclinations to approve any Writings beside their own and seldom declare in favour of a Book till they hear what success it has in the World and even then are biassed by the Multitude who very often condemn without reading or read without Understanding I have heard it often objected though I am still to learn upon what accompt that we have too many Printed Books of the Law already and that it was more certain and intelligible when fewer Volumes of it were published I must confess some of the late Reports are collected with very little Judgment But still there is a necessity of new Books tho' not of such for I would feign know how any Lawyer can now be able to advise his Client with the help and direction only of the Old Books 'T is true we have but few of them but 't is because in former Ages all Causes where the thing in demand did not exceed 40 s. were tried either in the County Court in the Hundred Court or in the Court Baron of the Mannor In those days the great Courts of Record at Westminster were not so full of Suitors as now When Bracton wrote the Justices in Eyre who had the same Power with our Justices of Assise went their Circuits but once in seven years and a long time afterwards even in the Reign of King Henry the Eighth the Judges would often rise from the Bench in Term-time without hearing a Motion or trying of a Cause and I think the Practice did not much encrease till this last Age for Anno 10 Eliz. there was but one Serjeant at the Common-Pleas Barr for a whole Term together and that was Serjeant Bendloes and I do not read that he had any Business there Nay at that time the Court of Chancery had no greater share of Practice than the Courts of the Common Law for in the two and twentieth Year of King Henry the Eighth Sir Thomas Moor being then Lord Chancellor did usually read all the Bills which were exhibited into that Court but Business is now so much encreased that all the Council can scarce find time enough to read the Briefs of such Bills which are filed every Term. But the Law hath now its Residence in Westminster-Hall most Causes of Value are there determined and the great Number of Country Attornies in our days who according to my Lord Coke's Opinion by dayly multiplying Suits have so wonderfully encreased the Business of those Courts that it seems very necessary that the judicial determinations there should by new Books be transmitted to future Ages And though some Cases in this Collection which were adjudged in the late Reign may not have the Authority of Presidents because they taste a little of the Times wherein the Administration of Justice was not so nicely regarded as the Dispensation of such things which were then thought Political Rights yet the Reader will find some good Arguments of Learned Men then at the Bar who endeavoured to support our sinking Laws I do acknowledge that if Men were just honest and impartial to themselves and others there would be no occasion for Books of this nature and because they are not so I will not make an Apology for the Publishing of this I think the Book being done with so much Care may be of good use to the Professors of the Law but submit it to your Judgments I confess I am led by my Profession to Affairs of this nature though my Circumstances disingage me from the suspicion of being an Author Vale. A TABLE OF THE CASES Contained in the THIRD PART OF Modern Reports A. ALdridge versus Duke 110 Ashcomb versus Inhabitants Hundred de Eltham 287 Ayres versus Huntington 251 B. BAxter's Case 68 Baldwyn versus Flower 120 Ball versus Cock 140 Barker Mil ' versus Damer 336 Barnes versus Eggard 39 Beak versus Tyrrwhite 194 Banson versus Offley 121 Bishops their Case 212 Bisse versus Harcoutt 281 Blaxton versus Stone 123 Boyle versus Boyle 164 Boson versus Sandford 321 Bowyer versus Lenthal 190
and Lodington cited in Mathew Manning's Case which was A Man being possessed of a Term for years devised it to his Wife for life and after her death to her Children unpreferred and made her Executrix and died she married again and had but one Daughter unpreferred and after the death of the Mother this Executory Devise was held good to the Daughter though it was by the Name of Children and she enjoyed the Term. 3. Object That this Act should be construed according to the Spiritual Law Answ That cannot be for all Statutes ought to be expounded according to the Rules of the Common Law and not according to their Law for they have no Law which gives power to sue nor to distribute to the Wife or next of Kin but the usual course was for the Ordinary to dispose of Intestates Goods to pious uses Then admitting this to be an Interest vested the consequence will be that it shall go to the Administrator and then Administration must be granted where the Estate legally ought to go The Administration of the Husband to the Goods of the Wife is grounded upon this reason 4 Co. 51. Ognel's Case 1 Cro. 106. because the Marriage is quasi a gift to him in Law It was not the only mischief before this Law that the Administrator run away with the whole Estate for if a Man died intestate leaving but one Son then beyond Sea and Administration was granted to a Stranger he who had right could not appeal after fourteen days which the Son could not do at that distance and so by this means a wrongful Administrator was entituled to the whole and he whose right it was had no remedy to recover at his return But now this inconvenience is likewise redressed by the Statute of Distributions for when the Son returns he may put the Bond in suit and for these reasons it was prayed that the Prohibition might stand Mr. E contra Williams argued for the Defendant in Easter-Term 2 Jacobi the substance of whose Argument was that though the Plaintiff had gotten Administration yet no Interest was thereby vested in him but that the Appeal was proper and for this he cited the Case of Beamond and Long Cro. Car. 208. which was Baron and Feme Administratrix of her former Husband recover in Debt the Feme died the surviving Husband brought a Scire Facias to have Execution and upon a Demurrer all the Court but Hide agreed that the Scire Facias would not lie for the Husband alone because it was a debt demanded by the Administratrix in auter droit This Statute hath not wholly altered the Common Law in this matter it only limits the Practice of Ecclesiastical Courts and makes provision for particular purposes viz. That Distribution shall be made to the Wife and Children and their Children which is so far introductory of a new Law but no farther so that the Right of Administration is as it was before and therefore must be granted to the next of Kin of the Father This Court hath no power to grant a Prohibition in such a Case and if it should 't is the first which ever was granted of this kind for it ought not to be determined here but in an Ecclesiastical Court which hath an original Iurisdiction of this Cause and the Appeal is in proprio loco To which Mr. Pollexfen answered that the contrary was very plain for here have been many Prohibitions granted even upon this very Act and the Question now before the Court is not concerning the manner of Distribution but the Right of Administration whether any Interest is vested in the Son or not 'T is true the Estate in Law goes to the Administrator but the Interest and Right to sue for and to recover the Estate goes to the Son so that if he should die before he is in actual possession his Administrator shall have it to pay Debts and to distribute c. In the Case of a Will if a Man should devise his Estate to his Wife and Children after Debts and Legacies paid an Interest vests in those Children which doth not differ from the Case at the Bar but that in the one Case the Testator makes the Will and in the other 't is made by an Act of Parliament Some Inconveniencies have been already mentioned if the Law should be otherwise taken but there be many more for if no Interest should vest in the Child till actual Distribution he could neither be trusted for his Education or Necessaries whilst living and no body would bury him if he should happen to die before the year and a day for the Funeral Charges would be lost It will likewise occasion delays in Administrators to make Distribution in hopes of gain neither will any honest man take an Administration upon himself because he can neither pay Mony safely or take a Release for if the Infant die before distribution it is void But notwithstanding these Reasons the Court gave Iudgment in Michaelmas-Term following That a Consultation should go the Chief Iustice being absent DE Termino Paschae Anno 1 Jac. II. in Banco Regis 1685. Coram Georgio Jefferies Mil ' Capital ' Justic ' Francisco Wythyns Mil ' Justiciariis Richardo Holloway Mil ' Justiciariis Thoma Walcot Mil ' Justiciariis Rex versus Marsh and others JAmes Marsh Information for a Forgery John W. and John L. were indicted upon the Coroners Inquest for the Murder of R. D. at H. in Kent and upon this Indictment they were arraigned and tried at the Barr this Term. The Fact upon the Evidence appeared to be that the Prisoners were Custom-House Officers who suspecting that some Wool would be transported went to the Sea-side in the Night time where there happened an Afray and the Prisoner Marsh was twice knocked down and recovering himself shot the deceased they were all acquitted of the Murder and then upon complaint made that Marsh was only found guilty upon the Coroners Enquest two of the said Iury were now sworn in Court who deposed that they upon the Coroners Enquest found the Indictment against Marsh alone which Indictment was in English but that one J.D. who was then Mayor of H. and who by virtue of that Office was also Coroner took the Indictment and told the Iury it must be turn'd into Latin which was done and he then inserted the Names of the two other Prisoners now at the Barr whereupon the said Mr. D. was now called and he appearing was bound in a Recognizance to answer this matter and the two Prisoners who were acquitted were likewise bound to prosecute him and the Iury Men were ordered to put their Affidavit in writing and swear it in Court An Information was afterwards exhibited against Mr. D. which was tried at the Barr in Trinity-Term following and he was found guilty but having spoke with the Prosecutor in the long Vacation he was only fined 20 Nobles in Michaelmas-Term Roberts versus Pain IN a Prohibition to
it because the words were an entire Sentence and spoken altogether at the same time and therefore if a Prohibition should not go it would be a double vexation DE Termino Paschae Anno 1 Jac. II. in Banco Regis 1685. Earl of Yarmouth versus Darrel THE Plaintiff brought an Action on the Case Grant of the King of sole Printing not good setting forth Letters Patents of King Charles the II. by which the Sole Printing of Blank Writs Bonds and Indentures were granted to him excepting such Forms which belonged to the Custom-House and which were formerly granted to Sir Roger L'Estrange that this Grant was to continue for the space of 30 Years and that the Defendant had notice thereof and had printed 500 Blank Bonds which he laid to his damage of the sum of 40 l. Vpon Not Guilty pleaded the Iury found a special Verdict the substance of which was that the Defendant was a Stationer and that the Company of Stationers for the space of 40 years last past before the granting of these Letters Patents had constantly printed Blank Bonds and so made a general conclusion Mr. Trindar argued for the Plaintiff and the only Question was Whether this Patent did vest a sole Interest in the Plaintiff exclusive to all others In his Argument he insisted on these Points 1. That the King hath a Prerogative in Printing and may grant it Exclusive to others 2. That this Prerogative extends to the Case at the Bar. That he hath such a Prerogative 't is confirm'd by constant Vsage for such Grants have been made by the Kings of England ever since Printing was invented But to instance in a few Viz. The Patent for Printing of Law-Books was granted to one More on the 19th day of January in the 15th year of King James the I. And when that Patent was expired another was granted to Atkyns and others on the 15th day of November in the 12th year of King Charles the II. In 23. Eliz. a Patent was granted to the Company of Stationers for the sole Printing of Psalm-Books and Psalters for the space of 30 years And on the 8th of August 31 Eliz. the like Patent was granted to Christopher Barker for Life Another Patent to the Company of Stationers for printing of Corderius c. These and many more of the like nature shew what the constant usage hath been Now the Statute of Monopolies doth not reach to this Case because of the Proviso therein to exempt all such Grants of sole Printing and by the Statute of King Charles the II. for regulating of the Press 14 Car. 2. cap. 33. 't is Enacted That no person shall Print any Copy which any other hath or shall be granted to him by Letters Patents and whereof he hath the sole Right and Priviledge to Print And upon the breaches of these Statutes several Iudgments have been given Between Streater and Roper in this Court Mich. 24 Car. 2. Rot. 237. 't is true the Iudgment was against the Plaintiff but upon a Writ of Error brought in Parliament that Iudgment was reversed The same Term there was a Iudgment given upon a special Verdict in the Common-Pleas for the Plaintiffs Hill 35 Car. 2. B. R. Rot. 99. who were the Company of Stationers against Seymour for Printing of Almanacks And they obtained the like Iudgment against Wright for Printing of Psalters and Psalm-Books Now to apply this to the principal Case 't is to be considered that these Books for which the sole Printing was so claimed were of a publick nature and importance relating to the good and benefit of the Subjects and so likewise are Blank Bonds for there may be false and vitious Impressions to the ruin and destruction of many innocent people And as a farther Argument that the King hath this Prerogative 't is likewise to be considered that where no individual person can claim a Property in a thing there the King hath a Right vested in him by Law and it cannot be pretended that any particular person hath a Right to Print those Bonds therefore the finding that such were printed by the Company for above 40 years is immaterial because there being an inherent Prerogative in the King whenever he exerts it all other persons are bound up who were at liberty before To prove which the Iudgment in the Case of the East-India Company is express in point for before that Patent the subject had liberty to Trade to those places prohibited by that Grant but afterwards they were restrained by that Grant Neither is this in the nature of a Monopoly 11 Co. 84. 't is not like that of the sole Grant of making Cards which hath been adjudged void and with great reason because that Grant reached to prohibit a whole Trade and therefore differs from this Case for the Defendant may print other Instruments or Books and exercise his Trade in some other lawful and profitable Commodities and so might the Merchants in the Case of the East-India Company for they were restrained by the Patent as to particular places but might Trade to any other part of the World Neither will the Subjects in general receive any prejudice by this or such like Grants for if the Patentees make ill use of their Priviledges tho' it cannot be properly called an Office yet 't is a Trust and a Scire Facias will lie to repeal their Grants It was argued by the Councel for the Defendant E contra That the Verdict having found that the Company of Stationers had used to print those Bonds for above 40 years before the making of this Grant the Question will be Whether they are now divested of a Right so long enjoyed And as to that 't is not a new thing to object That notwithstanding such Grants yet other persons have insisted on a Right to Print and have printed accordingly Thus the sole Printing of Law-Books was granted to one Atkyns yet the Reports of Iustice Jones and my Lord Chief Iustice Vaughan were printed without the direction of the Patentees Printing as 't is a manual Occupation makes no alteration in this Case for the King hath as great a Prerogative in Writing any thing that is of a publick Nature as he hath in Printing of it Now considering Printing as an Art exclusive from the thing printed this Patent is not good For if a Man invent a new Art and another should learn it before the Inventor can obtain a Patent if afterwards granted 't is void Then consider it in relation to the thing printed 1 Roll. 4. 11 Co. 53. id which in this Case are Blank-Bonds 't is not a new Invention because the Company of Stationers have printed such above 40 years and for that reason this Patent is void for where the Invention is not New there Trade shall not be restrained No Man can receive any prejudice by the printing of such Bonds for they are of no Vse till filled up 't is only a bare Manufacture
of setting of so many Letters together but filling up the Blanks makes them of another nature Grants of things of less moment have been adjudged Monopolies 2 Rol. Abr. 215. pl. 5. as a Patent for the sole making of all Bills Pleas and Briefs in the Council of York for by the same reason a like Patent might be granted to make all Declarations in the Courts of Westminster Hall Curia The King hath a Prerogative to Grant the sole Printing to a particular person all the Cases cited for the Plaintiff do not reach the reason of this Case for there is a difference between things of a publick Vse and those which are publick in their Nature even Almanacks have been used to ill purposes as to foretel future Events yet they are of publick Vse to shew the Feasts and Fasts of the Church The Court enclined that the Patent was not good Jackson versus Warren A Motion was made in arrest of Iudgment Amendment for that the day when the Assises were to be held and the place where were left out of the Distringas and so a mis-tryal But the Court were of another Opinion 1 Roll. Abr. 201. for if there had been no Distringas the Tryal had been good because they Jurata is the Warrant to try the Cause which was right and therefore the Distringas was ordered to be amended by the Roll. Dominus Rex versus Sparks 'T IS Enacted by the Statute of 1 Eliz. Where a Punishment is directed by a Statute the Judgment must be pursuant 1 Eliz. cap. 2.13 14 Car. 2. cap. 4. That every Minister shall use the Church-Service in such Form as is mentioned in the Book of Common-Prayer and if he shall be convicted to use any other Form he shall forfeit one whole Years profit of all his Spiritual Promotions and suffer six Months Imprisonment And by the Statute of King Charles the II. All Ministers are to use the publick Prayers in such Order and Form as is mentioned in the Common-Prayer-Book with such Alterations as have been made therein by the Convocation then sitting The Defendant was indicted at the Quarter-Sessions in Devonshire for using alias Preces in the Church alio modo than mentioned in the said Book and concludes contra formam Statuti He was found Guilty and fined 100 Marks and upon a Writ of Error brought Mr. Polexfen and Mr. Shower argued for the Plaintiff in Error that this Indictment was not warranted by any Law and the Verdict shall not help in the case of an Indictment for all the Statutes of Jeofails have left them as they were before Now the Fact as 't is said in this Indictment may be no offence because to use Prayers alio modo than enjoyn'd by the Book of Common-Prayer may be upon an extraordinary occasion and so no Crime But if this should not be allowed the Iustices of Peace have not power in their Sessions to enquire into this matter or if they had power they could not give such a Iudgment because the punishment is directed by the Statute and of this Opinion was the whole Court The Chief Iustice said that the Statute of the 23 Eliz. 23 Eliz. cap. 1. could have no influence upon this Case because another Form is now enjoyned by later Statutes but admitted that Offences against that Statute were enquitable by the Iustices The Indictment ought to have alledged that the Defendant used other Forms and Prayers instead of those enjoyned which were neglected by him for otherwise every Parson may be indicted that useth prayers before his Sermon other than such which are required by the Book of Common-Prayer Clerk versus Hoskins DEbt upon a Bond for the performance of Covenants in certain Articles of Agreement in which it was recited That whereas the now Defendant had found out a Mystery in colouring Stuffs and had entred into a Partnership with the Plaintiff for the term of seven Years he did thereupon Covenant with him that he would not procure any person to obtain Letters Patents within that Term to exercise that Mystery alone The Defendant pleaded that he did not procure any person to obtain Letters Patents c. The Plaintiff replied and assigned for breach that the Defendant did within that term procure Letters Patents for another person to use this Mystery alone for a certain time Et hoc petit quod inquiratur per patriam And upon a Demurrer to the Replication these Exceptions were taken 1. That the Plaintiff hath not set forth what Term is contained in the Letters Patents 2. That he had pleaded both Record and Fact together for the procuring is the Fact and the Letters Patents are the Record and then he ought not to have concluded to the Country Prout patet per Recordum To which it was answered That the Plaintiff was a Stranger to the Term contained in the Letters Patents and therefore could not possibly shew it but if he hath assigned a full breach 't is well enough Then as to the other Exception viz. the pleading of the Letters Patents here is not matter of Record here is a plain negative and affirmative upon which the Issue is joyned and therefore ought to conclude hoc petit c. Curia There is a Covenant that the Defendant shall not procure Letters Patents to hinder the Plaintiff within the seven Years of the Partnership Now this must be the matter upon which the breach ariseth and not the Letters Patents so that it had been very improper to conclude prout patet per Recordum Iudgment for the Plaintiff Rex versus Hethersal THE Defendant was Felo de se Melius inquireddum not granted but for misdemeanor of the Jury and the Coroners Inquest found him a Lunatick and now Mr. Jones moved for a Melius inquirendum but it was denied because there was no defect in the Inquisition but the Court told him that if he could produce an Affidavit that the Iury did not go according to their Evidence or of any indirect Proceedings of the Coroner then they would grant it But it was afterwards quashed because they had omitted the year of the King Friend versus Bouchier Trin. 34 Car. 2. Rot. 920. EJectment upon the Demise of Henry Jones What words in a Will make a general Tail of certain Lands in Hampshire The Iury found this Special Verdict following Viz. That William Holms was seised in Fee of the Lands in question who by his last Will dated in the year 1633. devised it to Dorothy Hopkins for Life Remainder to her first Son and to the Heirs of the Body of such first Son c. and for default of such Issue to his Cousin W. with several Remainders over And in default of such Issue to Anne Jones and to her Heirs who was the Lessor of the Plaintiff That before the sealing and publishing of this Will he made this Memorandum Viz. Memorandum that my Will and Meaning is That Dorothy Hopkins
the Goods before Administration granted Neither can any Entry or Claim make the Defendant an Executor de son tort of a Term for years because a wrongful Entry can never gain any Estate but a Fee-simple for 't is not to be satisfied with any particular or certain Estate as for life or years It cannot be gained by Act of Law because that abhors all manner of wrong If it should be objected that though this Executor doth not gain any Estate for his own benefit yet he in the Reversion may take him for a Disseisor and it shall be in his election either to make him so or a Tenant for years To this it may be answered that the Defendant doth not claim by colour of any Grant if he did then he might be a Disseisor at the Election of him in the Reversion and this was the very difference taken in the Case of Blunden and Baugh Cro. Car. 302. 1 Roll. Abr. 661. Jones 115. Latch 53. So likewise if it be objected that the Defendant is an Occupant and therefore punishable for Waste but the reason is not the same because the Entry of an Occupant is lawful and he gains an Estate for life which is not this Case An Executor de son tort is not a person taken notice of in the Law in respect to him in the Reversion but in respect of the Creditors of the Intestate and therefore if what he doth may be advantageous to them the Law will make a Construction upon it for their benefit but if such a person should be within the intention or meaning of this Statute then the natural Consequences will be 1. That the place wasted would be recovered 2. That the Plaintiff would also have treble damages Both which would be a manifest means to defeat the Creditors of their Debts for which reasons he prayed Iudgment for the Plaintiff in the Errors It was argued by the Council on the other side E contra That it is plain that the Defendant was Executor de son tort for such must that person be who intermeddles with the Intestates Estate where there is no rightful Executor or Administrator Now a Man may be Executor of his own wrong of a Term for years as appears even in that case cited out of Moor on the other side and if so the Defendant must be liable to this Action The Statute may be expounded as well against a wrongful as a rightful Executor 't is plain here is a Dissesin and the Law is now settled that it shall be in the election of him in the Reversion to make it so This Defendant would justifie one wrong by another for he confesseth that he hath committed a Disseisin and therefore will not be answerable for committing of Waste As to the Objection that an Executor de son tort is liable only in respect of Creditors and that if he should be punished for Waste it would be an injury to them because of the treble damages recovered against him Resp Such damages must be answered out of his own Estate for even in the Case of a rightful Executor if he commit Waste 5 Co. Poulter's Case he will be chargeable in a Devastavit de bonis propriis This is not properly a penal but a remedial Law and as such may be construed according to Equity 'T is true Tenants by Elegit or by Statute are not within this Statute because Waste by them committed is no wrong for if they should fell the Timber it sinks the Debt and the Cognizor may have a Scire Facias ad computandum Curia It would be an infinite trouble for him in the Reversion to seek his remedy for Waste done if the Law did oblige him to stay till there was a rightful Administrator and 't is not to be doubted but that there may be an Executor de son tort of a Term for years This is a remedial and yet a penal Law and therefore shall have a favourable Construction The Iudgment was affirmed Bridgham versus Frontee DEBT upon a Bond for performance of Covenants in a Lease of a House for a certain Term of years rendring Rent c. And the Breach assigned was That there was 66 l. Rent in arrear The Defendant pleaded the Statute of H. 32 H. 8. c. 16. 8. That all Leases of Dwelling-Houses or Shops made to any Stranger or Alien Artificer shall be void and sets forth that the Defendant was a Vintner and an Alien Artificer And upon a Demurrer Mr. Thompson for the Defendant said that a Vintner was an Artificer within the meaning of the Act which was made to prevent a mischief by Foreigners encroaching upon the Trades of the King's Subjects by which they gained their Livelihood and therefore shall be expounded largely and beneficially for them A Mercer a Draper or Grocer are not properly Artificers yet they are within the meaning of this Act. Chief Iustice 1 R. 2. cap. 9. This Statute refers to another of R. 2. Which prohibits Alien Artificers to exercise any Handycraft in England unless as a Servant to a Subject skilful in the same Art upon pain to forfeit his Goods so that 't is plain that such who used any Art or manual Occupation were restrained from using it here to the prejudice of the King's Subjects Now the Mystery of a Vintner chiefly consists in mingling of Wines and that is not properly an Art but a Cheat so the Plaintiff had his Iudgment Rex versus Plowright and others A Distress was taken for Chimny-Mony and the Parties distrained apply themselves to the two next Iustices of the Peace before whom it did appear that Plowright let a Cottage to Hunt which was not of the yearly value of 10 s. The Collectors of this Duty distrained upon the Land-Lord which the said Iustices thought to be illegal and therefore they ordered a Restitution And a Certiorari being brought to remove the Order into this Court Mr. Attorny prayed that it might be ●●●d But it was opposed by Mr. Pollexfen for that the Statute of King Charles II. enacts 16 Car. 2. c. 3. That no person inhabiting an House which hath more than two Chimnies shall be exempted from the payment of the Duty c. and then these Words do follow viz. That if any question shall arise about the taking of any distress the same shall be heard and finally determined by one or more Justices of the Peace near adjoining c. Now here was Mony levyed by virtue of this Act and a Controversie did arise by reason of the Distress and an Order was made by the Iustices which according to the letter and meaning of the Act ought to be final the intention whereof was to prevent the charge and trouble of poor Men in Suits at Law about small Matters and therefore it gave the Iustices power to determine particular Offences and Oppressions Mr. Attorney contra If the Iustices of Peace have power to determine c.
the Common Law for a false Oath made by any Witness and therefore an Action will not lye for a scandalous Affidavit Adjornatur Anonymus NOta An Action of Assault and Battery Release of one Def. shall not discharge the rest of a personal thing and false imprisonment was brought against four Defendants the Plaintiff had Iudgment and they brought a Writ of Error The Plaintiff in the Action pleaded the Release of one of them and to this Plea all four jointly demur The Opinion of the Court was that Iudgment might be given severally for they being compelled by Law to join in a Writ of Error the release of one shall not discharge the rest of a personal thing But where divers are to recover in the personalty 6 Co. Ruddock's Case the Release of one is a Bar to all but it is not so in point of discharge If two Coparceners make a Lease of a House and the Rent is in arrear and one of them brings the Action and recovers the Iudgment shall be arrested because one alone hath recovered in Debt for a moiety when both ought to join But it is agreed that if one Tenant in Common make a Lease rendring Rent which afterwards is in arrear Litt. Sect. 316. they must join in an Action of Debt because it savours of the Personalty But 't is otherwise in case of the Realty DE Term. Sanct. Trin. Anno 2 Jac. II. in Banco Regis 1686. Herbert Chief Justice Wythens Justices Holloway Justices Wright Justices Sawyer Attorny General Powis Sollicitor General Aldridge versus Duke ASsault Trespass continued many years and the Statute of Limitations pleaded the Jury gives Damages only for the last six years Battery Wounding and Imprisoning of him from the 10th of August 24 Car. 2. usque exhibitionem Billae The Defendant pleaded not Guilty infra sex infra Annos The Plaintiff replied that the Writ was sued out 2 Octobris 1 Jacobi 2. And that the Defendant was Guilty within six years next before the Writ brought Vpon this Issue was joyned and a Verdict was given for the Plaintiff and entire damages given Mr. Pollexfen moved two Exceptions in Arrest of Iudgment 1. That a Verdict cannot help what appears to be otherwise upon the face of the Record Now here the Plaintiff declared that he was imprisoned the 10th of August 24 Car. 2. which is 13 years since and being one entire Trespass the Issue is found as laid in the Declaration which cannot be for so many years between the cause of Action and bringing of the Writ for if a Trespass be continued several years the Plaintiff must sue only for the last six years for which he hath a compleat cause of Action but when those are expired he is barred by the Statute When the Plaintiff hath any cause of Action Sid. 25. then the Statute of Limitations begins as in an Action on the Case for words if they are actionable in themselves without alledging special damages the Plaintiff will recover Damages from the time of the speaking and not according to what loss may follow So in Trover and Conversion when there is a cause of Action vested and the Goods continue in the same possession for seven years afterwards in such case 't is the first conversion which entitles the Plaintiff to an Action So in the Case at Bar tho' this be a continued imprisonment yet so much as was before the Writ brought is barred by the Statute Thompson contra The Verdict is good for the Iury reject the beginning of the trespass and give Damages only for that which falls within the six years and this may be done because 't is laid usque exhibitionem Billae If the Defendant had pleaded not Guilty generally Cro. Car. 160 381 404. then Damages must be for the 13 years though the Plaintiff of his own shewing had brought his Action for a thing done beyond the time limited by the Statute but having pleaded not Guilty at any time within six years if the Verdict find him guilty within that time 't is against him As to the Objection that the Cause of Action ariseth beyond six years tho' it doth appear so in the Declaration yet that doth not exclude the Plaintiff for there might have been Process out before or he might be disabled by an Outlawry which may be now reversed or he might be in Prison and newly discharged from which time he hath six years to begin his Action for being under either of these circumstances the Statute doth not hurt him Curia If an Action of false Imprisonment be brought for seven years and the Jury find the Defendant guilty but for two days 't is a Trespass within the Declaration This Statute relates to a distinct and not to a continued Act for after six years it will be difficult to prove a Trespass many accidents may happen within that time as the death or removal of Witnesses c. Iudgment was given for the Plaintiff Dobson versus Thornistone THE Plaintiff was a Husbandman Words spoken of a Farmer actionable who brought an Action against the Defendant for these words He owes more mony than he is worth he is run away and is broke He had a Verdict and it was moved now in Arrest of Iudgment that the Words being spoken of a Farmer are not actionable To say that a Gentleman is a Cozener Hill 28 Eliz. B.R. Godb. 40. a Bankrupt and hath got an Occupation to deceive Men though he used to Buy and Sell yet being no Merchant 't was the better Opinion of the Court that the Words were not actionable So to say of a Farmer Stiles 420. that he is a Whoreson Bankrupt Rogue and it not appearing that he got his living by Buying and Selling or that the Words were spoken of him relating to his Occupation 't is not actionable For it must not only appear that the Plaintiff hath a Trade Sid. 299. Hutt 50. but that he gets his Living by it otherwise the Words spoken of him will not bear an Action But the Court held the Words to be actionable the like Iudgment was given in the Case of a Carpenter Mich. 3 Jac. for Words Viz. He is broke and run away Anonymus NOta Misentry of a Writ of Enquiry amendable without paying Costs Iudgment was given upon a Demurrer and a Writ of Enquiry was awarded and in the Entry thereof upon the Roll the Words per Sacramenum duodecim proborum legalium hominum were left out and now the Question was Whether it shall be amended It was said that a Capiatur for a Misericordia shall be amended upon the new Statute of Jeofails after a Verdict but whether upon a Demurrer it was doubted In a Quo Warranto Iudgment was entred by disclaimer Cro. Car. 184. by the consent of all Parties and the Words virtute praetextu literarum patentium geren dat 17 Jacobi were wrote in the Margin of the
Sir Edward Herbert who was removed into the Common Pleas and made Chief Justice there and Sir Francis Wythens had his Quietus the Night before The same 21st day of April after this Removal the Souldier was brought again to the Barr and upon the Motion of Mr. Attorny was ordered by the new Chief Iustice to be executed at Plymouth which was done accordingly Wright Chief Justice Holloway Justices Powel Justices Allibon Justices Monday May 2d NOTA. A Writ of Error was brought upon a Iudgment given in this Court returnable in Parliament which was Prorogued from the 28th day of April to the 22d day of November following Sir George Treby moved that it might be discharged for it could not be a Supersedeas to this Execution because there was a whole Term which intervened between the Teste and Return of the Writ of Error viz. Trinity-Term On the other side it was said that the Proclamation was no Record it only shews the present Intention of the King which he may recal at any time But the Court made no Rule DE Term. Sanct. Trin. Anno 2 Jac. II. in Banco Regis 1686. Wright Chief Justice Holloway Justices Powel Justices Allibon Justices Sawyer Attorny General Powis Sollicitor General The Company of Merchant Adventurers versus Rebow IN a special Action on the Case Whether the King hath a Prerogative to restrain Trade to a particular number of Men. the Plaintiffs declared that in the Reign of H. 4. there was a Society of Merchants Adventurers in England and that afterwards Queen Elizabeth did by her Letters Patents incorporate them by the Name of the Governour and Company of the Merchants Adventurers c. and gave them Priviledge to trade into Holland Zealand Flanders Brabant the Country belonging to the Duke of Lunenburgh and Hamburgh prohibiting all others not free of that Company by virtue whereof they did trade into those parts and had thereby great Priviledges and Advantages that the Defendant not being free of the said Company did trade into those Parts without their authority and imported Goods from thence into this Kingdom ad damnum c. The Defendant pleaded as to Hamburgh Not-guilty 15 E. 3. c. 3. and as to the other places he pleaded the Statute of Ed. 3. That the Seas shall be open to all Merchants to pass with their Merchandize whither they please The Plaintiff demurred and the Defendant joined in Demurrer This Case was now argued by Councel on both sides The Councel for the Plaintiff in their Arguments made these Points 1. What Power the King had by his Prerogative to restrain his Subjects from trading to particular places 2. Admitting he had such a Prerogative whether an Action on the Case will lie As to the first Point it was said Magna Charta cap. 30. 2 Inst 57. that all Trades must be under some Regulation and that the Subject hath not an absolute power to trade without the leave of the King for it is said in our Books Omnes Mercatores nisi publice prohibiti fuerint habeant salvum securum conductum which is meant of Merchant Strangers in Amity with us and nisi publice prohibiti must be by the King Now if Merchants Strangers may be prohibited from coming into England by the same reason the Kings Subjects may be restrained to go out of the Kingdom and for that purpose the Writ of Ne exeat Regnum was framed F. N. B. 85. 3 Inst 179. which is grounded upon the Common Law and not given by any particular Statute The Kings Prerogative in this and such like Cases is so much favoured by Law 1 Leon. 9. More 172. that he may by his Privy Seal command any of his Subjects to return out of a Foreign Nation or seize their Lands The first Statute which regulates Trade is 27 E. 3. cap. 1. that which confined the Staple to certain places that persons might not go about in Companies to trade without the King's Licence and from thence came Markets and if such were kept without the King 's Grant a Quo Warranto would lie against them who continued it and the People who frequented those Markets were punishable by Fine The Law is plain F. N. B. 125. 2 Roll. Abr. 140. that the King is sole Iudge of the place where Markets shall be kept for if he grant one to be kept in such a place which may not be convenient for the Country yet the Subjects can go to no other and if they do the Owner of the Soil where they meet is liable to an Action at the Suit of the Grantee of the Market A Custom to restrain a Man from the exercising of his Trade in a particular place hath been adjudged good Sir G. Farmer 's Case cired in 8 Co. 127. as to have a Bake-house in such a Mannor and that no other should use that Trade there And as a Man may be restrained by Custom so he may restrain himself from using of a Trade in a certain place 2 Cro. Brown versus Joliffe as if he promise upon a valuable consideration not to use the Trade of a Mercer in such a place And 't is very necessary that Trade should in some measure be restrained so as to be managed only by Freemen because 't is of more advantage to the King that it should be carried on by a Company especially in London who may manage it with Order and Government that is by some power to restrain particular persons from that Liberty which otherwise they would use and therefore such Companies have always power to make By Laws to regulate Trade which is the cheif End of their Incorporation And if such Corporations have power to judge and determine who are fit persons to exercise Trades within their Iurisdiction the King hath certainly a greater Prerogative to determine which of his Subjects are fit to trade to particular places exclusive from the Rest That the Governors of Corporations have taken upon them such Authority appears in Townsend's Case Sid. 107. who served an Apprentiship to a Taylor in Oxford and was refused by the Mayor to be made a Freeman of that City which shews that if a person be not qualified he may be excluded This is a very ancient Company for Cloth was first brought into this Realm in the Reign of Ed. 3. and was always under some Government My Lord Rolls quoting the Parliament Roll of H. 1 H. 5. no. 41. 2 Abr. Roll. 174. placit 39. 5. wherein the Commons pray that all Merchants might import or export their Goods to any place except such as were of the Staple paying the Customs takes notice that this Prayer was made against the Companies which prohibited such Trading This shews that even in those days Trade was under a Regulation King Ed. 34 E. 3. c. 18. 38 E. 3. c. 11. 3. gave Licence to all Merchants Denizens who were not Artificers to go into Gascoigne for Wines
Finch contra The chief Objection is the incertainty of this Custom now if a Custom as incertain as this hath been held good in this Court 't is a good Authority to support this Custom And as to that it was said that a Custom for a person whom a Copy holder should name to have his Land after his death and that he should pay a Fine for his admitance And if the Lord and Tenant cannot agree about the Fine that then the rest of the Tenants should assess it 1 Rol. Rep. 48. 2 Cro. 368. 4 Leon. 238. Noy 3. 2 Brownl 85. this was adjudged a good Custom by the Court of Common-Pleas and affirmed upon a Writ of Error in this Court It was the Case of Crab and Bevis cited in Warne and Sawyers Case Adjornatur Afterwards the first Iudgment was affirmed and all the Court held the Custom to be a good Custom Hacket versus Herne JVdgment was had in Debt upon a Bond against Father and Son Where the Defendants in the Action must joyn in a Writ of Error and afterwards the Father alone brought a Writ of Error and the Error assingned was that his Son was under Age but because the Son did not join in the Errors the Court ordered the Writ to be abated If a Quare impedit be brought against a Bishop and others and Iudgment be against them all they must likewise all join in a Writ of Error unless it be where the Bishop claims only as Ordinary 'T is true Rol. Abr. 929. pl. 30. this is against the Opinion of my Lord Rolls in his Abridgment who puts the Case that where a Scire Facias was brought against four Executors who pleaded plene administraverunt the Iury find Assets in the Hands of two of them and that the other eant inde sine die two bring a Writ of Error and altho' at the opening of the Case it was held that the Writ should abate for that reason because brought only by two yet he says the Iudgment was afterwards affirmed and the Writ held good But there is a difference where a Writ of Error is brought by the Plaintiffs in the original Action 5 Co. 25. a Ruddock's Case and when by the Defendants for if two Plaintiffs are barred by an erronious Iudgment and afterwards bring a Writ of Error the Release of one shall bar the other because they are both actors in a personal thing to charge another and it shall be presumed a Folly in him to join with another who might release all But where the Defendants bring a Writ of Error 't is otherwise for it being brought to discharge themselves of a Iudgment the Release of one cannot barr the other because they have not a joint Interest but a joint burthen and by Law are compelled to join in Errors Mosse versus Archer COvenant by an Assignee of an Assignee of Lands which were exchanged the Breach assigned was Breach not well assigned that a Stranger habens jus titulum did enter c. There was a Uerdict for the Plaintiff and it was now moved in Arrest of Iudgment that the Plaintiff had not shewed a sufficient breach for he sets forth the Entry of a Stranger habens jus titulum but doth not shew what Title and it may be he had a Title under the Plaintiff himself 2 Cro. 315. Hob. 35. after the Exchange made and to prove this the Case of Kirby and Hansaker was cited in point and of that Opinion was all the Court. Nota It was said in this Case that an Exchange ought to be executed by either Party in their Life-time or else it is void Taylor versus Brindley THE Original in Trespass was quare Clausum fregit Variance between the Original and Declaration where 't is no Error and the Plaintiff declared quare Clausum Domum fregit and had Iudgment in the Common-Pleas and a Writ of Error was brought in this Court and the variance between the Original and Declaration was assigned for Error and that one was not warranted by the other But Serjeant Levinz argued that because the Original was certified three Terms since 2 Cro. 674. 1 Rol. Abr. 790. n. 7. Cro. Car. 272. 18 Eliz. cap. and no Continuances between it and the Declaration therefore that could not be the Original to this Action and that the Court might for that reason intend a Verdict without an Original which is helped by the Statute of Jeofails But he argued that where the Original varies from the Declaration and is not warranted by it 't is not aided by this Statute Iudgment was affrmed DE Term. Sancti Mich. Anno 3 Jac. II. in Banco Regis 1687. Wright Chief Justice Holloway Justices Powel Justices Allibon Justices Sawyer Attorny General Powis Sollicitor General Mathews versus Cary Pasch 3 Jac. Rot. 320. TRespass for entring of his House and taking of a Silver Tankard Where the Defendant justifies by way of excuse he must set forth the Warrant and that he took the Goods virtute Warranti The Defendant made conusance as Bayliff of the Dean and Chapter of Westminster for that the place where c. was within the Iurisdiction of the Leet of the said Dean who was seised of a Court Leet which was held there such a day c. And that the Iury did present the Plaintiff being a Tallow-Chandler for melting of stinking Tallow to the annoyance of the Neighbours for which he was amerced and that the Amerciament was affered to 5 l. which not being paid the Defendant by a Mandate of the said Dean and Chapter distreined the Tankard c. The Plaintiff replied de injuria sua propria absque hoc that he did melt Tallow to the annoyance of the Neighbours c. And upon a Demurrer to this Replication it was argued this Term by Mr. Pollexfen for the Defendant and Tremaine for the Plaintiff and afterwards in Michaelmas Term 1 Will. Mariae by Mr. Bonithan and Serjeant Thompson for the Defendant It was said for the Defendant that a Presentment in a Court Leet which concerns the person as in this Case and not the Free hold 5 H. 7.3 Fitz. Bar. 271. Bro. Abr. tit Travers sans ceo pl. 183. Presentment in Court pl. 15. was not traversable and that the Amerciament was a Duty vested in the Lord for which he may distrain or bring an Action of Debt Co. Entr. 572. But on the other side it was said that if such a Presentment is not traversable the party hath no remedy 't is contrary to the Opinion of Fitzherbert in Dyer Dyer 13. b. who affimed the Law to be that it was traversable and that if upon such a Presentment a Fine should be imposed erroniously 11 Co. 42. 1 Rol. Rep. 79. it may be avoided by Plea and this agrees with the second Resolution in Godfrey 's Case 2. It was objected to the Plea that it was not good for it sets
to Sir Edward Biggs against the Countess as Administratrix of the Earl of Plymouth wherein the Plaintiff sets forth a Writing by which the Earl had given power to Sir Edward to be the Collector and Receiver of his Mony and Rents and that he promised to allow him 100 l. per Annum for his pains and in default of payment thereof that Sir Edward should detein the same which Writing was in these Words following viz. I do direct and appoint Sir Edward Biggs to take and receive to his own use 100 l. of lawful Mony of England out of the first Mony which he shall receive of mine The Action was brought for 75 l. being his Salary for three quarters of a year and Iudgment by Nil dicit It was argued this Term and in Easter Term by Councel on both sides It was agreed on all sides that the Earl left sufficient Assets to satisfie all his Bond Creditors but not enough to pay Debts upon simple Contract First it was said for the Plaintiff in the Errors that no Action of Debt will lie against an Executor upon a Mutuatus 11 Co. Godfreys Case because the Testator might have waged his Law but this was not much insisted on 2. That admitting an Action would lye yet this is an erronious Iudgment because the Suit was for 75 l. for three quarters Salary when by the Writing Sir Edward was to serve the Earl a whole year and this being an entire Contract shall not be seperated Therefore he cannot be well entituled to the Actionn unless his Testator had served a year and he had averred it so in his Declaration As where a Covenant was to pay 2 s. Yelv. 133. 7 Co. 10. Allen 9. for copying every Quire of Paper and the Breach assigned that he copyed 4 Quire and 3 sheets for which 8 s. and 3 d. was due to the Plaintiff 't is true he had Iudgment but it was reversed because it was an entire Covenant of which no apportionment could be made pro rata 3. That which was chiefly insisted on was to make these words amount to an Obligation that so it might be satisfied amongst the Bond Creditors But those who argued for the Plaintiff in the Errors said that it cannot be an Obligation for it was only a bare Letter of Attorney and an Authority and no more for there were no words to oblige the Earl or which can make a Warranty and therefore if the Mony was not received the Party to whom the Note was given could not resort back to him who made it had they been both living neither shall the Plaintiff now to his Administratrix Like the common Cases of the assigning of Iudgment if the Assignee doth not receive the Mony he cannot have an Action against the Assignor who only directs and appoints him so to do But on the other side Ex parte Def. the second Objection was thus answered viz. That this being only an Executory thing the Plaintiff may now bring an Action for so long time as his Testator served and this may be apportioned secundum ratam if the Law should be otherwise the Case of all Servants would be bad for they are generally hired for a year and not usually serve so long In an Assumpsit to pay for a years board Sid. 225. and the Plaintiff had declared only for three quarters of a year but yet had Iudgment because as the Book saith if there be any variance in the Agreement 't is for the advantage of the Defendant The 3d. Vaughan 92 93. Pl. Com. 182. Dyer 21. Objection answered viz. When a Man is indebted to another by simple Contract which is aknowledged by Deed an Action of Debt will lie against his Executor for any thing which is under Hand and Seal will amount to an Obligation especially where the Debt is confessed Now there are words in this Deed to shew that Mony was due and that makes it a Bond. But the Court was of Opinion that this was an entire Agreement and therefore the Action not well brought for three quarters Salary and for this reason the Iudgment was reversed Nisi c. Chapman versus Lamphire AN Action on the Case was brought for scandalous words spoken of the Plaintiff Words spoken of a Carpenter where actionable who declared that he was a Carpenter and a Freeman of the City of London and that he got great Sums of Mony by buying of Timber and Materials and by building of Houses and that the Defendant having discourse of him and of his Trade spoke these words viz. He is broken and run away and will never return again There was a Verdict for the Plaintiff and a Motion was now made in arrest of Iudgment for that a Carpenter was not a Trade within the Statute of Bankrupts and a day being given to speak to it again Mr. Pollexfen argued that before the Statutes made against Bankrupts words spoken reflecting upon a man in his Trade were actionable even at the Common Law because it might be the occasion of the loss of his Livelyhood 1 Rol. Abr. 59. pl. 6. Hutton 60. and therefore it was actionable to say of a Scrivener that he is broken and run away and dares not shew his Face and yet a Scrivener was not within the Statutes of Bankrupcy before the Act of 21 Jac. therefore the Action must lie at the Common Law because words disparage him in his Trade But the Councel for the Defendant said that these words were not actionable for they do not tend to his disparagement he may be broke and yet as good a Carpenter as before The Case of one Hill in 2 Car. Latch 114. in this Court was much stronger than this the words spoken of him were viz. Hill is a base broken Rascal and hath broken twice already and I will make him break the third time the Plaintiff had Iudgment but it was arrested A Carpenter builds upon the Credit of other men and so long as the words do not touch him in the skill and knowledge of his Profession they cannot injure him Chief Iustice The Credit which the Defendant hath in the World may be a means to support his skill for he may not have an opportunity to shew his Workmanship without those Materials for which he is entrusted The Iudges were divided in Opinion two against two and so the Plaintiff had his Iudgment there being no Rule made to stay it so that he had his Iudgment upon his general Rule for Iudgment but if it had been upon a Demurrer or Special Verdict then it would have been adjourned to the Exchequer Chamber Goring versus Deering IN an Appeal for the Murder of Henry Goring Esq Auterfoits convict of Manslaughter no good Plea in an Appeal for Murder brought by his Widow The Defendant pleaded that he was indicted for the said Murder at the Sessions-house in the Old Bayly in Middlesex that he was found guilty of Manslaughter
and not of Murder prout patet per Recordum that he was Clericus paratus fuit legere ut Clericus if the Court would have admitted him and that he is the same person c. To this Plea the Appellant demurred The truth of this Case was that after the Conviction and before the Sentence an Appeal was brought so that the Defendant had not an opportunity to pray his Book It was argued by Mr. Pollexfen for the Appellant and by Sir George Treby for the Appellee If the Statute of 3 H. 3 H. 7. c. 1. 7. was not in the way this Plea might be a good Barr to the Appeal because before the making of that Law Auterfoits convict c. had been a good Plea but now that Statute deprives the Defendant of that benefit for 't is enacted That if any man be acquitted of Murder at the King's Suit or the Principal attainted the Wife or next Heir to him so slain may take and have their Appeal of the Murder within a year and a day after the said Murder done against the said persons so acquitted or attainted if they be alive and the Benefit of * Nota At this time Clergy was allowed for Murder but now taken away by the Statute of 23 H. 8. c. 1. Hales Pl. Cor. 232. Clergy before not had Now though the Party be neither acquitted or attainted but is only convicted of Manslaughter yet the word Attaint in this Statute signifies the same with Convict and this appears by the penning of the Act in that Clause which mentions the benefit of Clergy viz. That if any man be attainted of Murder the Heir shall have an Appeal if the benefit of Clergy be not had Now an Attainder supposeth a Conviction for one is the consequence of the other and if it should not signifie the same thing in this place then that Clause would be in vain because if it should be taken for the Iudgment given upon the Conviction then 't is too late for the Party to have any benefit of his Clergy Thus it was held in the second Resolution of Wrot and Wigg's Case that the word Attaint in this very Act shall not be intended only of a person who hath Iudgment of Life 4 Co. 46. a. but also of one Convict by Confession or Verdict 'T is true 2 Anders 68. 't is said in that case and so likewise in Holecroft's Case that Auterfoits convict of Manslaughter upon an Indictment of Murder is a good Bar to an Appeal at the Common Law as well as if the Clergy had been allowed the reason may be because in both those Cases the Iudgments were by Confession so that the Court ought to have granted the Clergy but this is a Conviction by Verdict which alters the Case E contra Auterfoits convict is a good Plea at the Common Law in all other Cases Treason only excepted at this day it appears by the Statute of H. 7. that the year and day which was the time allowed for the Appeal and in which time the Kings Indictment could not be tried was an usage but not a Law therefore that Act provides that the King shall proceed upon the Indictment within the year and a day and not stay for the Appeal of the Party If the Party be attainted or acquitted the Wife or next Heir shall have an Appeal but not if he be convicted But now admitting that the word Attaint hath the same signification with the word Convict yet this is a good Plea both within the Words and the Equity of the Statute This appears upon the Construction of that Law which must be expounded according to the vulgar Sense and signification of the words and therefore where the Statute saith That an Appeal lies where the benefit of Clergy is not had is that it is not had de Jure but the Clergy in this Case was de Jure and the Defendant was ready to read if he had been admitted thereunto by the Court. Thus is the Statute of Malbridge about the taking away of Wards viz. Si parentes conqueruntur that is if they had cause to complain 2. This Statute hath been expounded according to Equity for though it gives an Appeal to the Wife or next Heir of him slain yet if a Woman be killed her next of Kin shall bring an Appeal Therefore by the same Equity these words viz. The benefit of Clergy not had shall be construed had by the Grant of the Court Co. Ent. 355. for if a Man be indicted without the addition of Clerk he cannot demand his Clergy unless the Court ask him but if he be indicted with that addition then he may demand it because 't is supposed by the Court that he can read That this Appeal was not well brought these Exceptions were taken grounded upon the Statute of Gloucester by which seven things are required in an Appeal of Murder 6 E. 1. ca. 9. That the Appellor declare the Fact the Year the Day the Hour the Year of the King the Town where the Fact was done and with what Weapon the Party was slain Now in this Case there is a defect in two of the things required by that Statute 1. That of the Hour which is laid too general for 't is circa horam octavam which is not certain enough 2. They have laid no Vill for 't is that the Defendant did assault the Husband of the Appellant in Parochia Sancti Martini in Campis now though that word Parochia has crept into Fines and Recoveries and likewise into Indictments it must not be allowed in Appeals There may be several Vills in one Parish and though this is ruled good in Indictments it ought not to be so here because of the difference between an Indictment and an Appeal Stamf. 80. b. Doct. Stud. 48. for in Indictments you need not mention the Hour but it must be done in Appeals A Parish is an Ecclesiastical Division and though such may be a Vill 't is not necessary Ex vi termini that it should be so But afterwards in Trinity-Term 4 Jac. the Chief Iustice delivered the Opinion of all the Iudges except Iustice Street who were assembled for that purpose at Serjeants-Inn that this was no good Plea and that the Court ought not to ask the Prisoner what he had to say and so to let him into the benefit of his Clergy Tamen quaere for 't is otherwise resolved The Company of Horners versus Barlow DEBT upon a By-Law wherein the Company set forth A By-Law restrained to London and not to extend farther that they were incorporated by Letters Patents of King Charles I. and were thereby empowred to make By-Laws for the better Government of their Corporation and that the Master Warden and Assistants of the Company made a Law viz. That two Men appointed by them should buy rough Horns for the Company and bring them to the Hall there to be distributed every Month by
contra As to the first Exception it was said that the Wardmote Court was held before the Mayor for the Iuries there are not to try any Matter but only to make Presentments which are carried before the Mayor Exceptions were taken against the Indictment which was for not serving at a Wardmote Inquest for such a year 1. Because 't is a thing not known at the Common Law that a Man should be of a Iury for a whole year The Indictment was that the Defendant was an Inhabitant of such a place and elected a Iury Man 2. But doth not say that he ought to hold the Office to which he was elected It was quashed Calthrop versus Axtel THE Husband being seized in Fee had Issue two Daughters Ejectment upon the Statute of Ph. Mar. for marrying under 16 without the Parents Consent Antea Hicks versus Gore and dyed his Wife survived who was then by Law Guardian in Socage to her Children one of which under the Age of sixteen years married one Mr. B. without her Mother's Consent by reason whereof her Estate became forfeited during life to her Sister by vertue of the Statute of 4 5 Ph. Mar. who now brought an Ejectment which was tried at the Bar. The Mother was produced as a Witness at this Trial against the married Daughter but it was objected against her that she was Tenant in Possession of the Lands in question under her other Daughter that some part of the Estate was in Houses and that she had made Leases thereof to several Tenants for 99 years c. and covenanted with the Lessees that she together with the Infants when of Age shall and will joyn to do any ●●●rther Act for the quiet enjoyment thereof therefore this is like the Case of a Bailiff or Steward who if they put themselves under such Covenants shall never be admitted as Witnesses in any Cause where the Title of such Lands shall come in question The Proofs that the Mother did not consent were That she made Affidavit of the whole matter and got the Lord Chief Iustice's Warrant to search Mr. B's Houss for her Daughter and upon application made to my Lord Chancellor she obtained a Writ of Ne exeat Regnum and got a Homine replegiando and gave notice of the Fact in the Gazett and exhibited an Information in the Crown Office against Mr. B. and his Father and his Maid Attorny General contra E contra The Preamble of this Act will be a Guide in this Case which is For that Maids of great Substance in Goods c. or having Lands in Fee have by Rewards and Gifts been allowed to contract Matrimony with unthrifty persons and thereupon have been conveied from their Parents by sleight or force c. Then it enacts That no person shall convey away a Maid under 16 years without her Parents Consent which Assent is not necessary within the meaning of this Act unless the Child be taken away either by sleight or force which must be proved The Mother was no good Guardian to these Children for she did set up one G. to be a Curator for her Daughter in the Spiritual Court to call her self to an accompt for the personal Estate of which her Husband died possessed she having given Security to exhibit a true Inventory This Accompt was stated in the Prerogative Court between her and the Curator to 300 l. only for which she gave Bond when in truth the Personal Estate was worth more and afterwards obtained a Decree in Chancery thinking thereby to bind the interest of the Infants In this Case it was said that there must be a continued refusal of the Mother for if she once agree though afterwards she disassent yet 't is an assent within the Statute There must likewise be proof of the stealing away Obrian versus Ram. Mich. 3 Jac. 2. Rot. 192. Angl ' ss Entry of a Writ of Error out of Ireland DOminus Rex mandavit praedilecto fideli Conciliario suo Willielmo Davis Militi Capitali Justic suo ad placita in Curia ipsius Domini Regis coram ipso Rege in Regno suo Hiberniae tenend ' assign ' Breve suum Clausum in haec verba ss Jacobus secundus Dei gratia Angliae Scotiae Franciae Hiberniae Rex Fidei defensor c. pradilecto fideli Conciliario nostro Willielmo Davis Militi Capital ' Justic ' nostro ad placita in Curia nostra coram nobis in Regno nostro Hiberniae tenend ' assign ' salutem Quia in Recordo Processu acetiam in redditione Judicii loquelae quae fuit in Curia nostra coram nobis in praed Regno nostro Hiberniae per Billam inter Abel Ram Mil. nuper dict Abel Ram de Civitate Dublin Alderman ' Elizabetham Grey de Civitate Dublin Viduam de quodam debito quod idem Abel a praefat ' Elizabetha exigebat Quae quidem Elizabetha postea cepit Donnough Obrian Armigerum in virum suum obiit Necnon in adjudications executions ejusdem Judicij super Breve nr̄um de Scire Fac̄ extra eandem Curiam nostram coram nobis emanen ' versus ipsum praed In adjudicatione Executionis super Scire Fac. Donnogh in loquela praed ut dicitur Error intervenit manifestus ad grave dampnum ipsius Donnogh sicut ex querela sua accepimus Nos Error si quis fuerit modo debito corrigi partibus praed plenam celerem justiciam fieri volentes in hac parte vobis mandamus qd ' si judicium in loquela praed ' reddit ' ac adjudicationem executionis judicii praed super breve nostrum de Scire fac̄ praed adjudicat̄ tunc record ' process tam loquel ' quam adjudicationis executionis judicii praed ' cum omnibus ea tangen ' nobis sub sigillo vestro distincte aperte mittatis hoc Breve ita qd ' ea habeamus in Crastino Ascentionis Domini ubicunque tunc fuerimus in Angl ' Ut inspect ' record ' process praed ' ulterius inde pro Errore illo corrigendo Fieri fac ' quod de jure fuerit faciend ' Et Scire fac praefat ' Abel qd ' tunc sit ibi ad procedend ' in loquela praed ' faciend ' ulterius recipiend ' quod dicta Curia consideraverit in praemissis Teste meipso apud Westm xxii Januarii Anno Regni nostri secundo Price Record ' Process The Return loquelae unde infra fir mentio cum omnibus ea tangen ' coram Dno Rege ubicunque c. ad diem locum infracontent ' mitto in quodam Record ' huic Brevi annex ' Scire feci Abel Ram qd ' tunc sit ibi ad procedend ' in loquela praed prout interius mihi praecipitur Respons ' W. Davis Placita coram Domino Rege apud the Kings Courts de Termino Sanctae Trinitatis Anno Regni Domini
a new Recovery Debt will not lie F.N.B. 122. E. and to prove this there is and Authority in Fitzherbert where a Prior had Iudgment for an Annuity and brought a Scire Fac. upon that Iudgment against the Successor of the parson who was to pay it and obtained a Iudgment upon that Scire Fac. to recover the arrearages and afterwards brought an Action of Debt upon the last Iudgment and the Book says fuit maintein There is another Case in 2 Leon. 2 Leon. 14. 4 Leon. 186. 15 H. 7.16 where 't is held that an Action of Debt will lye upon a Iudgment in a Scire Facias upon a Recognizance Which Objections may receive this Answer First As to the Case in Fitzherbert 't is admitted to be Law but 't is not an Authority to be objected to this purpose because the first Iudgment for the Annuity charges the Successor but the Original Iudgment in this Case doth not charge the Husband so the Cases are not parallel The like answer may be given to the Case in Leonard for a Recognizance is a Iudgment in it self and Debt will lie upon it without a Sci. Fa. upon that Iudgment But on the other side it was argued E contra that the award of execution is absolute against Husband and Wife for 't is a Recovery against both whereas before it was only the Debt of the Wife but now 't is joynt against the one as well as the other The Iudgment upon the Sci. Fa. is a distinct Action It cannot be denied but that if a Woman be indebted and marrieth the Husband is chargable during the Coverture Bro. Ab. tit Baron and Feme pl. 27. 49 E. 3.35 b. which shews that by the Marriage he is become the principal Creditor As to the Sci. Fa. t is true at the Common Law if a Man had recovered in Debt and did not sue forth Execution within a year and a day he must then bring a new Original 1 H. 5. 5. a 43 Ed. 3.2 b. and the Iudgment thereon had been a new Recovery but now a Sci. Fa. is given by the Statute instead of an Original and therefore a Iudgment thereon shall also be a new Iudgment for tho' t is a Iudicial Writ yet 't is in the nature of an Action because the Defendant may plead any matter in Bar of the Execution upon the first Iudgment 1 Inst 290. b. and 't is for this reason that a Release of all Actions is a good bar to it Besides Rast Ent. 193. 4 Leon. 186. Dyer 214. b. an Action of Debt will lie upon a Iudgment on a Sci. Fa. which shews that 't is an Action distinct from the Original and upon such a Iudgment the Defendant may be comitted to Prison several years afterwards without a new Sci. Fa. The Husband may have execution of a Iudgment recovered by him and his Wife after the death of his Wife without a Sci. Fa. 1 Mod. Rep. 179. for the Iudgment hath made it a proper Debt due to him and he alone may bring an Action of Debt upon that Iudgment and it seems to be very reasonable that he should have the benefit of such a Iudgment and yet not be charged after the death of his Wife when there hath been a Recovery against both in her life-time This is like the Case where a Devastavit is returned against Husband and Wife as Executrix Moor 299. 3 Cro. 216. Cro. Car. 603. Sid. 337. and a Iudgment thereon quod querens habeat executionem de bonis propriis the Wife dies yet the Husband shall be charged for the Debt is altered If it should be otherwise this inconvenience would follow that if the Wife should die F.N.B. 121. c. 1 Rol. Abr. 351. 10 H. 6.11 the Husband will possess himself of her Estate and defraud the Creditors so that he takes her but not cum onere But the Law is otherwise for if a Feme being Lessee for years doth marry and the Rent is behind and she dies the Husband shall be charged with the Rent arrear because he is entituled to the Profits of the Land by his marriage To which it was answered that if a Man should marry an Exerecutrix and then he and his Wife are sued and Iudgment obtained against them to recover de bonis testatoris and thereupon a Fi. Fa. is awarded to levie the Debt and Damages and the Sheriff returns a Devastavit and then the Wife dies the Husband is not chargeable because the Iudgment is not properly against him who is joyned only for conformity but if upon the return of the Devastavit there had been an award of execution De bonis propriis that would have been a new Iudgment and the old one De bonis testatoris had been discharged 1 Roll. Abr. 351. and then the Husband must be charged for the new wrong Adjornatur Afterwards in 1 Will. Mar. the Iudgment was affirmed Bowyer versus Lenthal INdebitatus Assumpsit quantum meruit ad insimul computasset Valerent for Valebant good after Verdict The Plaintiff had a Iudgment by default in the Court of Common-Pleas and a Writ of Enquiry was brought and entire Damages given and now the Defendant brought a Writ of Error and it was argued that if any of the Promises be ill Iudgment shall be reversed the Error now assigned was in the second Promise Viz. That in consideration that the Plaintiff would let the Defendant have Meat Drink and Lodging he promised to pay so much Quantum rationabiliter valerent it should have been valebant at the time of the Promise made Sed non allocatur So the Iudgment was affirmed DE Termino Paschae Anno 4 Jac. II. in Banco Regis 1688. Wright Chief Justice Holloway Justices Powel Justices Allibon Justices Powis Attorny General Wm. Williams Sollicitor General NOTA Wednesday May 2. being the first day of this Term Sir Bartholomew Shower Recorder of London was called within the Bar. Heyward versus Suppie IN an Action of Covenant which was to make such an Assignment to the Plaintiff Covenant to make an Assignment as Council should advise according to an Agreement made between him and the Defendant as Council should direct and advise and for non-performance thereof this Action was brought the Defendant pleaded non est factum and Iudgment was obtained against him Vpon which a Writ of Error was brought and the common Error assgned It was objected that the Plaintiffs Council should give the advice because he is the person interested This Objection was answered by Mr. Pollexfen who said that the Defendant had likewise an interest in this matter for 't is an advantage to him to make the Assignment that his Covenant might be saved 't is true it had been otherwise if the Covenant had been to make such a Conveyance as Council should advise for then the person to whom the Covenant is made may chuse whether he will have a Feoffment
Release or Confirmation and then his Council should advise what sort of Conveyance is proper But here it is to make an Assignment and such as the Parties had agreed on If a Man should be bound to give another such a Release as the Iudge of the Prerogative Court shall think fit 5 Co. 23. Lambs Case 1 Rol. Abr. 424. pl. 8. the person who is so bound must procure the Iudge to direct what Release shall be given because the Condition is for his benefit and he hath taken upon him to perform it at his Peril 'T is usual for Men to have Council on both sides to put their Agreements into method but in this Case it being left generally as Council shall direct what reason can be given why the Defendants Council shall not be intended especially when it seems by the penning of the Covenant he shall For an Assignment is to be made as Council shall direct and here being a Verdict for the Plaintiff it must now be presumed that the Defendants Council was first to give the advice and then he was to make the Assignment E contra E contra It was argued that first as to the Verdict 't is not materially objected in this Case because the Plea is non est factum so that nothing of the special matter could come in Evidence Now admitting this Covenant to be general yet one of the Parties must make his choice of Council before he can entitle himself to an Action All Deeds are taken according to the general intendment and therefore by this Covenant his Council is to advise to whom the Assignment is to be made 3 Bulstr 168. for if the Council of the Defendant should advise an insufficient Deed that would not have saved his Covenant Befides the Plaintiff hath not averred that Council did not advise and therefore the Defendant could not plead any thing but non est factum Adjornatur Anonymus A Pleint was removed out of the Lord Mayors Court by Habeas Corpus the Return whereof was Exceptions to a By-Law that the City of London was an ancient City Incorporate and that time out of mind there was a Custom that the Portage and unlading of all Coals and Grain coming thither should belong to the Mayor and Aldermen c. That there was a Custom for them to regulate any Custom within the City c. Then they set forth an Act of Common-Council by which the Porters of Billingsgate were made a Fellowship and that the Meeters of Corn should from time to time give notice to the Porters to unlade such Corn as should arrive there and that no Bargeman not being Free of the said Fellowship shall unlade any Corn upon the Forfeiture of 20 s. to be recovered in an Action brought in the Name of the Chamberlain and that the Party offending shall have no Essoign or Wager of Law Then they set forth the Iudgment in the Quo Warranto and the re-grant and that the Defendant not being of the said Fellowship did unlade one hundred Quarters of Malt c. Serjeant Thompson took many Exceptions to this By Law but the most material were 1. It appears upon the Return that the City of London hath assumed an Authority to create a Fellowship by Act of Common Council which they cannot for 't is a Prerogative of the Crown so to do and they have not averred or shewed any special Custom to warrant such an Authority 2. They have made this By-Law too general for if a Man should carry and unlade his own Goods there he is lyable to the Forfeiture in which Case he ought to be excepted 3. This Act of Common Council prohibits Bargemen not being Free of the Fellowship of Porters to unlade any Coals or Grain arriving there and they have not averred that the Malt unladed did arrive c. so they have not pursued the words of the By-Law 4. They say in this Law Godb. 107. that the person offending shall have no Essoign or Wager of Law which is a Parliamentary Power and such as an inferiour Iurisdiction ought not to assume Adjornatur Beak versus Thyrwhit THere was a Sentence in the Court of Admiralty Whether Trover will lie for a Ship after Sentence in Admiralty for the same Ship concerning the Taking of a Ship and afterwards an Executrix brought an Action of Trover and Conversion for the same The Defendant after an Imparlance pleads that at the time of the Conversion he was a Servant to King Charles the Second and a Captain of a Man of War called the Phoenix and that he did seize the said Ship for the Governour of the East-India Company she going in a trading Voiage to the Indies contrary to the King's Prohibition c. And upon a Demurrer these Exceptions were taken to this Plea 1. The Defendant sets forth that he was a Servant to the King but hath not shewed his Commission to be a Captain of a Man of War 2. That he seized the Ship going to the Indies contrary to the King's Prohibition and hath not set forth the Prohibition it self It was Argued by the Council contra That it may be a Question whether this was the Conversion for which this Action is brought for it was upon the Sea and the Defendant might plead to the Iuisdiction of this Court the Matter being then under the Cognizance of the Admiralty But as to the Substance of this Plea 't is not material for the Defendant either to set forth his Commission or the King's Prohibition he hath shewed enough to entitle the Court of Admiralty to a Iurisdiction of this Cause and therefore this Court cannot meddle with it for he expresly affirmeth that he was a Captain of a Man of War and did seize this Ship c. which must be intended upon the Sea so that the Conversion might afterwards be upon the Land Cro. Eliz. 685. yet the original cause arising upon the Sea shall and must be tried in the Admiralty and it having already received a determination there shall not again be controverted in an Action of Trover The Case of Mr. 3 Keb. 785. Hutchinson was cited to this purpose who killed Mr. Colson in Portugal and was acquitted there of the Murder the Exemplification of which Acquittal he woduced under the great Seal of that Kingdom being brought from Newgate by an Habeas Corpus to this Court notwithstanding the King was very willing to have him tried here for that Fact the consideration whereof he referred to the Iudges who all agreed that he being already acquitted by their Law could not be tryed again here Adjornatur Smith versus Pierce A Special Verdict was found in Ejectment A Term for years was devised for payment of Debts the Remainder over in Tail he in Remainder enters and levies a Fine and settles the Land upon his Wife for life and dies the Wife surviving and the Debts not paid whether this Term is barred by
the Fine and Non-claim the Substance of which was That Robert Basket was seized in Fee of the Lands in Question who by Will devised it to Philip Basket and others for 99 years with power to grant Estates for the payment hf the Debts and Legacies of the Testator the Remainder in Tail to John Basket his Brother but that if he gave Security to pay the said Debts and Legacies or should pay the same within a time limited that then the Trustees should assign the Term to him c. John Basket entred after the death of his Brother with the assent of the said Trustees and received the Profits and paid all the Legacies and all the Debts but 18 l. The Iury find that John had Issue a Daughter only by his first Wife after whose death he married another Woman and levied a Fine and made a Settlement in consideration of that Marriage upon himself for Life and upon his Wife for Life with divers Remainders over that he died without Issue by his second Wife who entred and five years were past without any claim c. And now the Heir at Law in the name of the Trustees brought this Action The Questions were 1. Whether the Term for 99 years thus devised to the Trustees was bound by this Fine and Nonclaim or not 2. Whether it was divested and turned to a Right at the time of the Fine levied For if it was not then the Fine could not operate upon it It was agreed that as a Disseisin is to a Freehold so is a divesting to a Term and that a Fine and Non-claim is no Barr but where the Party at the time of the levying thereof had a Will to enter and when the Estate of which 't is levyed is turned to a Right That in the Case at the Barr the Entry of John Basket was tortious because the legal Estate was still in the Trustees But if he had gained any Right by his Entry 't is only a Tenancy at Will to them for they took notice of the Devise and he entred by their consent and such a Right is not assignable and then a Fine levyed is no Barr. To prove this 9 Co. 106. Margaret Prodger's Case was cited where the the Lord granted a Copyhold to John Elizabeth and Mary for their Lives and afterwards by Deed enrolled sold the Land to John in Fee and levyed a Fine to him and his Heirs c. and five years passed without any Claim John dyed his Son entred and levyed another Fine to Trustees to the use of himself and Margaret his Wife for Life the Remainder to his own right Heirs the Son died and his Wife survived who having a Freehold for Life distrained and the Husband of Elizabeth brought a Replevin It was adjudged that this Fine and Nonclaim did not barr those in Remainder becase the Bargain and Sale to John did not divest their Estate and turn it to a Right for the Lord did what he might do and John accepted what he might lawfully take who being in possession by virtue of a particular Estate for Life could not by this acceptance divest the Estate of her who had the Freehold and the Fine and Nonclaim could not do it for to what purpose should he make any Claim when he was in actual possession of the thing to be demanded And he who is so in possession need not make any Claim either to avoid a Fine or a collateral Warranty Now though at the Common Law there must be Livery and Seisin to create an Estate of Freehold 3 Co. Fermer 's Case yet any thing is sufficient to make an Estate at Will in which neither the Inheritance or the Title of the Land is concerned and therefore a Fine levyed by such a Tenant is no Barr. 'T is true Sid. 458. Freeman versus Barns if a Lease be made for an hundred years in Trust to attend the Inheritance and Cestuy que Trust continues in possession and devises to another for fifty years and levies a Fine and the five years pass without Claim he being still in possession after the first Lease made is thereby become Tenant at Will and by making the second Lease the other is divested and turned to a Right though he was not a Disseisor and so 't is barred by the Fine because the Cestuy que Trust of the term of one hundred years was also Owner of the Inheritance But in the Case at the Barr John shall not be a Disseisor but at the Election of the Trustees of the Term of 99 years to prove which there are many Authorities in the Books As if Tenant at Will make a Lease for years and the Lessee enters Latch 53. 1 Leon. 121. Lit. Sect. 588. 't is not a Disseisin but at the Election of him who hath the Freehold and even in such Case if the Tenant of the Freehold should make a Grant of the Land 't is good though not made upon the Land it self for he shall not be taken to be out of possession but at his own Election 'T is like the common Case of a Mortgagee for years where the Mortgagor continues in possession twenty years afterwards and pays the Interest and in that time hath made Leases and levyed a Fine this shall not barr the Mortgagee for the Mortgagor is but Tenant at Will to him The Trustees need not make any claim in this Case because there was no transmutation of the possession so they could take no notice of the Fine 'T is true John Basket entred by their consent but still as Tenant at Will to them and the Acts done by him after his Entry will not didest this Term for though he made a Bargain and Sale of the Lands yet nothing will pass thereby but what of right ought to pass He likewise demised the Lands to Vndertenants for years but 't is not found that they entred but admitting they did enter yet that could not displace this Term for these Tenants claimed no more than for one or two years and made no pretence to the whole Term. But if by either of these Acts the Term should be divested yet still it must be at the election of those who have the Interest in it Dyer 61 62 173. The Case of * Cro. Car. 302. 1 Rol. Abr. 661. Blunden and Baugh which is grounded upon Littleton's Text Sect. 588. is an Authority to this purpose which was The Father was Tenant in Tail and his Son was Tenant at Will who made a Lease for years then both Father and Son join in a Fine to the use of the Son for Life and to Elizabeth his Wife for Life the Remainder to the Heirs Males of the Body of the Son who died without Issue Male the Lessee being in possession made a Conveyance of the Estate by Bargain and Sale to Charles Lord Effingham who was Son and Heir of the Tenant in Tail who made a Lease to the Plaintiff who was ousted by the
question as forfeited to the Lady who entred and made a Lease to the Plaintiff upon whom the Defendant re-entred The single Question upon this special Verdict was whether this was a Forfeiture and so a good seisure to bind the right of an Infant It was argued for the Plaintiff in the Action that it was a good Seisure and a Forfeiture till the Infant should come of Age for as a Copyhold is established by Custom so likewise 't is Custom which obligeth the Infant to the Conditions thereof and therefore where one under Age hath an Estate upon a Condition to be performed by him 8 Co. 44. b. Whittingham 's Case Latch 199. Jones 157. and that Condition is broken during his Minority the Estate is lost for ever In this Case the Custom obligeth the Heir to be admitted that the Lord may be entituled to a Fine which if he should lose because his Tenant is an Infant then that priviledge of Infancy works a wrong which the Law will not permit 'T is true an Infant shall not be prejudiced by the Laches of another but shall be answerable for himself and therefore if he is Tenant of Lands and the Rent should be unpaid for two years and no Distress can be found a Cessavit lies against him and the Lord shall recover the Land because of the Non-performance which arises by his own default So if one under Age be a Keeper of a Gaol and suffer a Prisoner to escape out of Execution 2 Inst 382. an Action of Debt will lie against him upon the Statute of W. 2. It was agreed that such a Custom and Non-claim will not foreclose an Heir 8 Co. 100. Sir Rich. Letchford 's Case who is an Infant and beyond Sea at the time of his Ancestors Death though he is bound by the Custom to claim it at the next Court but that if he will come over and tender himself though after a Seisure he shall be admitted and so shall the person in this Case if after his Minority he offer himself to be admitted But it cannot be denied 2 Cro. 226. but that the Lord may seize when the Heir is beyond Sea till he return and tender himself to be admitted and by the same reason he may also seize in this case during the Minority A Temporary Forfeiture is no new thing in the Law Cro. Car. 7. for if a Feme Covert be a Copyholder and marrieth and her Husband makes a Lease for years without License of the Lord 't is a Forfeiture and shall bind her during the Coverture So the Law is Cro. El. 351. that the Lord may seize the Land till a Fine is paid for 't is a reasonable Custom so to do It hath been a good Custom for the Lord to assign a person to take the Profits of a Copyhold Estate descended to the Infant during his Minority without rendring an Accompt when he came of Age. 1 Leon. 266. 2 Leon. 239. So that all taht is to be done in this Case is to enforce the Infant to be admitted that the Lord may be entituled to a Fine The Inheritance is not bound but the Land is only seized quousque E contra It was argued that here is a general Seizure E contra which cannot extend to an Infant for he is not bound in a Writ of Right much less in an inferior Court after three Proclamations but if this had been a Temporary Seisure the Iury ought to have found it so which is not done There are many Authorities in the Books which affirm that an Infant is not obliged to be admitted during his Non-age 1 Leon. 100. 3 Leon. 221. or to tender the Fine in order to an Admittance that the Law was settled in this Point and therefore without any further Argument he prayed Iudgment for the Defendant Afterwards in Hillary-Term 1 Willielmi Mariae this Case was argued seriatim at the Bench three Iudges being of a contrary Opinion to the Chief Iustice for the affirming of the Iudgment Iustice Eyre premised two things 1. That he could not intend but that this Verdict had found an absolute Forfeiture the Iury having no way qualified it as to a certain time and therefore he would give a Iudgment upon the whole Record 2. He agreed that a Feoffment of an Infant was no Forfeiture at the Common Law and that as a particular Custom may bind an Infant for a time so it may barr him for ever but whether this Custom as 't is found in general words shall bind an Infant after three Proclamations is now the Question he not coming then to be admitted And he held that it shall not and that for these reasons 1. The Right of Infants is much favoured in the Law and their Laches shall not be prejudicial to them as to Entry or Claim upon a Presumption that they understand not their Right 1 Inst 380. 2 Inst 401. and therefore in a Cessavit per biennium which is a remedy given by the Statute of W. 2. and which extends to Infants Westm 2. c. 31. who have not the Land by descent for if a Cesser be in that Case the Infant shall have his Age because the Law intends that he doth not know what Arrerages to tender 'T is admitted that if an Infant doth not present to a Church within six Months or doth not appear within a year that his Right is bound but this is because the Law is more tender of the Church and the life of a Man than of the Priviledges of Infancy So if an Office of Parkship be given or descends to an Infant if the Condition in Law annexed to such an Office which is skill be not observed the Office is forfeited But that a Proclamation in a base Court should bind an Infant when he is not within the reason of the Custom is not agreeable either to Law or Reason 2. Cro. Jac. 80. Cro. El. 879. Noy 42. 1 Rol. Abr. 568. All Customs are to be taken strictly when they go to the destruction of an Estate and therefore a Custom was that if a Copyholder in Fee surrender out of Court and the Surrendree doth not come in after three Proclamations the Lord shall seize it A Copyholder in Fee surrendred to another for Life the Remainder over in Fee if the Tenant for Life will not come in he in the Remainder shall not be barred for the Custom shall be intended to extend only to those in possession But the Infant in this Case is not within the Letter of the Custom for 't is found that the Surrender was made to one Freeman who died before the next Court-day and that John Freeman the Infant was his Son and Heir so they have found a Title in him for the word Heir is not here a word of Purchase but of Limitation 3. Jones 157. Noy 92. Infants are not bound by other Customs like this as a Custom that every Copyholder
Dorothy Margery survived and is since dead The Question was whether upon this Reservation the Beast of any person being upon the Land may be distreined for an Heriot Mr. Pollexfen argued that it could not because the words in the Reservation ought to be taken very strictly and not to be carryed farther than the plain expression Where words are doubtful they have been always expounded against the Lessor Cro. Eliz. 217. 2 Roll. Abr. 448. Latch 99. as if a Lease be made for years reserving a Rent durante termino to the Lessor his Executors or Assigns the Lessor dies his Heir shall not have the Rent because 't is reserved to the Executors But here is no room for any doubt upon these words for if a Lease for years be made in which there is a Covenant that the Lessee shall pay the Rent without any other words this determines upon the death of the Lessee So where a Lease was made for 99 years if A. B. C. 2 Rol. Abr. 451. Hetley 58. Cro. Car. 314. or any of them should so long live reserving Rent to him and his Executors and also at or upon the death of either his or their best Beast in the name of an Heriot provided that if B. or C. die living A. no Heriot shall be paid after their deaths A. assigns his Term and the Beast of the Assignee was taken for an Heriot but adjudged that it could not for the words his or their shall not be carried farther than to the persons named in the Limitation The Books that affirm that a Man may seize for an Heriot Service cannot be brought as Authorities in this Case because they are all upon Tenures between Lord and Tenant and not upon particular Reservations as this is The old Books say that if a Tenant by Fealty and Heriot-Service Broke tit Heriot 2. made his Executor and died that the Lord might seize the best Beast of his Tenant in the Hands of the Executor and if he could not find any Beast then he might distrain the Executor Plo. Com. 95. and the reason of this seizure was because immediately upon the death of the Tenant a Property was vested in the Lord but it was held always unreasonable to put him to distrain when he might seise And it is now held that for Heriot-Service the Lord may either distrain or seise but then if he makes a seisure Cro. Car. 260. Jones 300. it must be the very Beast of the Tenant but if he distrain he may take any persons Cattle upon the Land So that admitting this to be Law yet it proves nothing to this matter because such Services being by Tenure shall not be extended to those which are created within time of memory upon particular reservations for by those ancient Tenures the Lords had many Priviledges which cannot be upon Reservations Besides the seisures in those Cases were by the Lords who continued so to be at the very time of the seisure but in our Case the Lease is determined by the death of the last Life so the Priviledge is lost and then it must stand upon the particular words in the Deed. Sed adjornatur into the Exchequer Chamber the Iudges being divided in Opinion Vid. 2 Sand. 165. Shipley versus Chappel Pasch 3 Jac. Rot. 404. THE Plaintiff Shipley as Administrator of Hannah his Wife Condition of two parts in the disjunctive and one part becomes impossible to be done yet the other must be performed according to the subsequent matter brought an Action of Debt upon a Bond against Chappel an Attorny for 140 l. The Defendant craved Dyer of the Condition which was Viz. Whereas Hannah Goddard who was Wife to the Plaintiff and Thomas Chappel of Greys-Inn in the County of Middlesex are Coparceners according to the Common-Law of one House with the Appurtenances in Sheffeild in the possession of William White and whereas the said Hannah Goddard hath paid unto Thomas Chappel the Father for the use of his Son the Sum of 72 l. in consideration that the said Thomas Chappel the Son when he attains the Age of 21 years which will be about Midsomer next do by good Conveyance in the Law at the costs and charges of the said Hannah Goddard convey his said moiety of the said House with the Appurtenances unto her and her Heirs Now the Condition of this Obligation is such That if the said Thomas Chappel the Son shall at the Age of 21 years convey his said moiety of the said House or otherwise if the said Thomas Chappel the Father his Heirs Executors or Administrators shall pay or cause to be paid the sum of 72 l. with lawful Interest for the same unto the said Hannah Goddard her Executors Administrators or Assigns that then this Obligation to be void Then he pleaded that his Son Thomas Chappel was Coparcener with Hannah Goddard as Co-heires of Elizabeth Goddard that Thomas came of Age and that before that time Hannah died without Issue The Plaintiff replied that true it is that before Thomas Chappel the Son came of Age the said Hannah died without Issue of her Body that Elizabeth Goddard before the making of the said Bond died seised in Fee of the said Messuage but that she first married with one Malm Stacy by whom she had Issue Lydia that Malm her Husband died and Elizabeth married John Goddard by whom he had Issue Hannah their only Daughter and Heir that John Goddard died and that Lydia Stacy married the Defendant Thomas Chappel by whom he had Issue Thomas Chappel his Son that Lydia died in the life-time of Elizabeth that Thomas Chappel hath not paid the 72 l. to Hannah in her life time or to John Shipley after her death The Defendant demurred and the Plaintiff joyned in Demurrer The Question was since the word Heirs in the Condition being a word of Limitation and not of any designation of the person whether the death of Hannah Goddard before Chappel the Son came of Age and who was to make the Conveyance shall excuse the Defendant from the payment of the Mony Those who argued for the Defendant 5 Co. 21. b. chiefly relied upon Laughter's Case which was viz. Laughter and Rainsford were bound that if R. after marriage with G. together with the said G. shall sell a Messuage c. if then R. do or shall in his life-time purchase for the said G. and her Heirs and Assigns Lands of as good value as the Mony by him received by the said Sale or leave her as much Mony at his decease then c. G. died R. did not purchase Lands of an equal value with that he sold and upon Demurrer it was held that where a Condition consisteth of two parts in the disjunctive and both possible at the time of the Bond made and afterwards one is become impossible by the act of God there the Obligor is not bound to perform the other part because the Condition is made for
Cattle to be his own sciens the same to be the Goods of another or that he sold them to the Plaintiff fraudulenter deceptive or that there was any Warranty for this Action will not lie upon a bare Communication But notwithstanding these Exceptions the Plaintiff had his Iudgment it might have been good upon Demurrer but after Verdict 't is well enough Lea versus Libb IN Ejectione firmae for Lands in Hampshire Two Witnesses to a Will and two to a Codicil one whereof was a Witness to the Will these are not three Witnesses to the Will it self the Iury found a special Verdict the substance of which was this viz. That the Lessor of the Plaintiff was Heir at Law to one John Denham his Ancestor who being seised in Fee of the Lands in question did by Will bearing date the 28th day of January in the year 1678. devise the same to the Defendant which he subscribed and published in the presence of two Witnesses and they likewise attested it in his presence They find that on the 29th day of December 1679. he made another Will or Codicil in Writing reciting that he had made a former Will and confirming the same except what was excepted in the Codicil and declared his Will to be that the Codicil should be taken and adjudged as part of his Will They find that he published this Codicil in the presence likewise of two Winesses one of which was Witness to the first Will bue the other was a new Man They find that these were distinct Writings c. The Question was whether this was a good Will attested by three Witnesses since one of the Witnesses to the Codicil was likewise a Witness to the Will so that the new Man if any must make the third Witness Serjeant Thompson argued that it was not a good Will The Clause of the Statute is That all Devises of Lands shall be in Writing and signed by the Testator in the presence of three Witnesses and they to attest it in his presence But here are not three subscribing Witnesses in the presence of the Testator so that the first Will must be void for one of the Witnesses to the Codicil did never see that Will Besides the Codicil is not the same thing with the Will 't is a confirmation of it and this being in a Case wherein an Heir is to be disinherited ought not to have a favourable Construction Attorney General contra A Will may be contained in several Writings and yet but one entire Will 'T is true if it be attested only by two Witnesses 't is not good but if the Testator call in a third person and he attests that individual Witing in his presence this is a good Will though the Witnesses were not all present together and at the same time for there is the Credit of three persons to such a Will which is according to the intent of the Statute And therefore it cannot be objected that these are distinct Wills or that the Papers are not annexed for no such thing is required by Law for a Man may make his Will in several Sheets of Paper and if the Witnesses subscribe the last Sheet 't is well enough or if he doth put up all the Sheets in a blank piece of Paper and the Witnesses attest that Sheet 't is a good Will In these Cases the intent of the Law-makers must and ought to be chiefly regarded and for what reasons and purposes such Laws were made and what Iudgments have been given in parallel Cases If a Man grants a Rent-Charge to his youngest Son for Life 2 Cro. 144. Noy 117. and afterwards devises that he shall have the Rent as expressed in the Grant Now though the Writing was no part of the Will but of another nature yet the Will referring to the Deed is a good Devise of the Rent-charge within the Statute of Wills But in this Case the Codicil is part of the Will 't is of the same nature and being made animo restandi the end of the Statute is performed for both Will and Codicil joined together make a good Devise the first was a Will to all purposes it only wanted that circumstance of a third Witness to attest it which the Testator compleated after by calling in of a third person for that purpose Curia If a Man makes a Will in several pieces of Paper and there are three Witnesses to the last Paper and none of them did ever see the first this is not a good Will Afterwards in Hillary-Term Iudgment was given that this was not a good Will Tippet versus Hawkey TIppet the Elder and his Son covenant with John Hawkey to sell and convey Land to him free from all Incumbrances and that they will levy a Fine c. and deliver up Writings Where two covenant the Action may be brought in the name of one Item 'T is agreed between the Parties that the said Hawkey shall pay to Tippet the younger so much Mony c. The Action is brought in the name of both and upon a Demurrer to the Declaration it was held ill for the Duty is vested in Tipper the younger and he only ought to have brought this Action Iudgment for the Defendant Rees versus Phelps DEBT upon a Bond conditioned for performance of an Award Award where good Vpon nullum fecerunt arbitrium pleaded the Plaintiff replied and shewed an Award that the Defendant should pay 5 l. to the Plaintiff presently and give Bond for the payment of 10 l. more on the 29th day of November following and that this should be for and towards the Charges and Expences in and about certain differences then depending between the Parties and that they should now sign general Releases And upon a Demurrer it was argued to be a void Award because mutual Releases were then to be given which would discharge the Bond payable in November following 1 Roll. Abr. 259 260. But the Court held it to be good for the Releases shall discharge such Matters only which were depending at the time of the Submission Godfrey al' versus Eversden THere was a Parish Church and a Chappel of Ease in the Parish of Hitchen Prohibition denied upon Suggestion that there was a Chappel of Ease and so ought not to repair the Parish Church the Defendant was taxed towards the Repairs of the Church and a Livel was brought against him for the refusing of the payment of that Tax He now suggests that there was a Chappel of Ease in the same Parish to which the Inhabitants do go and that they have always repaired that Chappel and so prayed a Prohibition But Serjeant Tremain moved for a Consultation because the Parishioners of common right ought to repair the Church and though there is a Chappel of Ease in the same Parish yet that ought not to excuse them from repairing of the Mother Church He produced an Affidavit that there had been no Divine Service there for
be in his possession and not of the Servant the Master being then present which is all the difference between that Case and this at the Barr so that the Master is the person robbed within the meaning of the Statute of Winton although the Mony be in the hands of the Servant Suppose the Servant had received 1000 l. and not being able to carry it himself had employed ten Men each to carry 100 l. and they had been all robbed the Owner may have an Action against the Hundred upon the Affidavit of one of the persons robbed the reason is because the possession shall follow the property and the possession of the whole will follow every part There are Authorities to prove that if the Servant is robbed the Master may give Evidence what Mony was delivered to him 2 Roll. Abr. 685. though that might be as well proved by another Witness Now though all this be admitted yet an Action will not lie against the Hundred by the Master in the Case at the Barr for the Statute of Queen Elizabeth being made so much in favour of the Hundred ought to be pursued The Reasons why an Oath is injoyned by that Statute are 1. That the person robbed should enter into a Recognizance to prosecute the Robbers if he knew them or any of them 2. That the Hundred might be excused upon the Conviction of such person or persons 3. To prevent a Robbery by Fraud Now suppose the Servant is entrusted with Mony and robbed by Confederacy shall the Hundred be answerable because the Servant hath broke his Trust Cro. Eliz. 142. 1 Leon. 323. No the Servant ought to be sworn for the purposes mentioned in that Act which if he refuse the Master hath lost his Action But if the Servant is robbed in the Company or presence of his Master the Mony is still in Iudgment of the Law in the possession of the Master Stiles 156 319 and that was the reason of the Iudgment in Jones's Case This is not like the Case of a common Carrier who though he may be said to be a Servant yet he is entrusted by this Law Curia This Action might have been well brought for the whole by Coxhead alone but 't is now too late the year being expired for where a Servant is robbed of part of his Master's Goods and part of his own he may have an Action Brownl 155. and recover Iudgment for the whole and therefore at another day the Plaintiff had Iudgment for 26 s. only Pain versus Patrick and others Pasch 2 Gulielmi Rot. 43. THIS was a Special Action on the Case brought by Isaac Pain against Edward Patrick and William Boulter for hindring the Plaintiff to go over a Ferry Action on the Case will not lie for disturbing or hindring a passage in a Common High-way but it must be by Indictment The Declaration sets forth that the Vill of Littleport in the Isle of Ely is an ancient Vill within which there is a River called Wilner River over which there was an ancient passage in a Ferry-Boat from the North East part of the said Vill to the end of Ferry-Lane and from thence to another place called Adventurers Bank that this passage was for all People at a certain price c. excepting the Inhabitants of Littleport living in ancient Houses there who by reason of an ancient Custom in the said Vill were to pass ad libitum suum with paying Coll c. That the Plaintiff was an Inhabitant in an ancient Mesuage in the said Vill and that there was an ancient Ferry-Boat kept there by the Owners thereof till the first day of May in such a year after which day the Defendants did not keep the same per quod the Plaintiff lost his Passage c. The Defendants protestando that the Passage was not in a Ferry-Boat protestando etiam that there was no such Custom c. and that the Plaintiff was not an Inhabitant in an ancient Mesuage in Littleport Pro Placito dicunt that before the exhibiting of the Bill they did erect a Bridge over the said River where the Passage was anciently and this was done and maintained at their own Costs and that the Plaintiff melius celerius could pass over the said Bridge c. This was pleaded in Barr. The Plaintiff replied that he per aliquem Pontem libertatem passagii trans ultra Rivum praedict ' secundum consuetudinem praed in narratione mentionat ' habere non permissus fuit contra consuetudinem praed Et hoc paratus est verificare c. The Defendants demurred and the Plaintiff joined in Demurrer The Questions were 1. Whether this was a good Custom as laid in the Declaration for the Inhabitants of a Vill to claim to be discharged of Coll ratione comorantiae 2. If the Custom is good then whether the Defendants Plea in Barr is also good to discharge themselves from keeping of the Boat 3. Whether the Plaintiff can maintain this Action This Case was argued now and in Easter-Term following by Council for the Defendants and in the same Term by Council for the Plaintiff Those who argued for the Defendants said that as to the first Point though this is set forth by way of Custom yet 't is in the nature of a Prescription which is always alledged in the person but here 't is for the Inhabitants of a Vill c. Now this cannot be good by way of Prescription because in such Case there must be a certain and permanent Interest abiding in some person which cannot be here for a meer Habitation or dwelling in an House will not give a Man such an Interest That which makes a Prescription good is Vsage and reasonableness 1 Leon. 142. 3 Leon. 41. but it cannot be ex rationabili causa to prescribe ad libitum suum for the Ferry-Man hath neither any consideration or recompence for the keeping of his Boat when the Inhabitants may pass over at their pleasure without paying Toll 'T is true a Man may prescribe to have Common sans nombre which in strictness is to put in as many Cattle as he will but if he lays his prescription ad libitum suum 't is not good If therefore this is not good by way of Prescription it cannot be supported by Custom because that also must extend to what hath some certainty and which must likewise have a reasonable beginning Now there can be no certainty in this Custom Hob. 86. 6 Co. 60. because the Plaintiff claimeth it only during his Comorancy in a Mesuage in which he had neither a certain time or Estate and this is such a transitory interest which is not allowed in the Law And therefore it hath been adjudged that a Custom for an Infant to sell his Lands when he can measure an Ell of Cloth is void 1 Rol. Rep. 32. because 't is incertain of what Age he may then be and 't is equally as incertain how
afterwards suffered If so then the contingent Remainders to the first and other Sons is destroyed 2. If the Estate was not vested in the Surrendree till his actual assent such assent shall not relate though after the execution of the Deed so as to pass the Estate at the very time it was sealed and delivered Iudgment being given in the Common-Pleas by the Opinion of three Iustices against Iustice Ventris that the contingent Remainder was not destroied by this Surrender because it was not good without the acceptance and till the actual assent of the Surrendree this Writ of Error was now brought upon that Iudgment This Case depended several Terms and those who argued to maintain the Iudgment insisted that here was neither a mutual agreement between the Parties or acceptance or entry of the Surrendree which must be in every Surrender these being solemn acts in such Cases required to the alteration of Possessions and to prevent Frauds That the Law hath a greater regard to the transmutation of Possessions than to the alteration of Personal things and therefore more Ceremonies are made requisite to that than to transfer a Chattel from one to another In all Feoffments there must be Livery and Seisin Quaere For if Tenant for Life surrender to him in Reversion the Surrendree hath a Freehold in Law before Entry Co. Lit. 266. b. 1 Inst 266. b. so in Partitions and in Exchanges which are Conveyances at the Common Law no Estate is changed until an actual Entry though in the Deed it self such Entry is fully expressed Here the Surrendree is a Purchaser of the Estate and yet did not know any thing of it than which nothing can be more absurd 'T is admitted that every Gift and Grant enures to the benefit of the Donee and Grantee but not where the assent of the Parties is required to compleat the act Assent and Dis-assent are acts of the Mind now 't is impertinent to say that a Man gave his Assent to a thing which he never heard A Lease for years is not good without Entry nor a Surrender without Acceptance Lane 4. 3 Cro. 43. 'T is no new thing to compare a Surrender to a resignation of a Benefice 2 Cro. 198. Dyer 294. Br. Abr. tit Bar 81. Yelv. 61. Sid. 387. now if an Incumbent should resign to the Ordinary and the Patron should afterwards present to that Living such presentation is void if the Ordinary had not accepted the resignation the reason is because a resignation doth not pass the Freehold to the Bishop but puts it only in Abeyance till his acceptance and 't is not an Objection to say that this is grounded upon an Ecclesiastical Right and not at the Common Law or that a Formedon will not lie of a Rectory for tho' 't is of Ecclesiastical Right yet 't is of Temporal Cognizance and shall be tried at Law The president in Rastal may be objected where the surviving Lessee for years brought an Action of Covenant against the Lessor for disturbing of him in his possession Rast Ent. tit Covenant 136. b. Owen 97. Dyer 28. Rast Enttit Debt 183 176. b. 177. a. Br. Sur. 39. Cro. Car. 101. Fitz. Abr. tit Bar 262. Co. Ent. 335. and the Lessor pleaded a Surrender to himself without an acceptance but the Plaintiff in that Case said nothing of a Surrender In the same Book a Surrender was pleaded ad quam quidem sursum redditionem the Plaintiff agreavit so in Fitzherbert 's Abridgment issue was joyned upon the acceptance which shews 't is a material point No inconvenience can be objected that an Assent is made a Legal Ceremony to a Surrender for 't is not inconvenient even in the Case of an Infant who by reason of his non-age is not capable to take such a Conveyance because he cannot give his assent but he may take the Land by way of Feoffment or Grant or any Conveyance of like nature without his Assent By the very definition of a Surrender Co. Lit. 337. b. Bro. tit Surrender pl. 45. Dyer 110. b. Fitz. 39. it plainly appears that there must be an assent to it for 't is nothing else but a yielding up of an Estate to him who hath the immediate Reversion or Remainder wherein the Estate for Life or Years may drown by mutual Agreement between the Parties 'T is true an Agreement is not necessary in Devises nor in any other Conveyances which are directed by particular Statutes or by Custom but 't is absolutely necessary in a Surrender which is a Conveyance at the Common Law 't is such an essential Circumstance that the Deed it self is void without it 't is as necessary as an Attornment to the Grant of a Reversion or an Entry to a Deed of Exchange which are both likewise Conveyances at the Common Law There are various Circumstances in the Books which declare what acts shall amount to an Acceptance or Agreement Cro. Eliz. 488. Owen 97. 31 Ass pl. 26. but it was never yet doubted but that an acceptance was necessary to a Surrender So in the Entries Fitz. tit Debt 149. 9 E 3.7 b. contra Rast Ent. 136. a Surrender is sometimes pleaded without an Acceptance but 't is always that the Surrendree by vertue of the Surrender expulit ejecit the Plaintiff which amounts to an Agreement The Law is so careful in these Conveyances Kelwway 194 195. Dyer 358. pl. 48. that it will not presume an assent without some act done if therefore a Deed cannot operate as a Surrender without an acceptance then in this Case no such shall be presumed because the Iury have found it expresly otherwise then by the birth of Charles Leach the contingent Remainder is vested in him which arising before the Assent of the Surrendree makes such assent afterwards void for there can be no intermediate Estate Besides if an Assent should not be necessary to a Surrender this inconvenience would follow viz. if a Purchaser should take in several Mortgages and Extents and keep them all on foot in a third persons name which is usual to prevent mean incumbrances and the Mortgagor should afterwards Surrender his Estate without the assent of the Purchaser if this should be held a good Conveyance in Law it would be of very mischievous consequence 2. If the Estate is not immediately transferred to the Surrendree at the sealing of the Deed without the assent of the Surrenderor it shall not pass afterwards when he gives his consent and that by way of Relation for if that should be allowed then the Surrenderor might have kept the Deed in his Pocket as well fifty as five years after the execution thereof which would be so prejudicial that no Man could be assured of his Title 'T is true when a Bargain and Sale is made of Land 2 Inst 675. 3 Co. 36. such a day c. and two days afterwards the Bargainor enters into a Recognizance then the Deed is inrolled within
first Son of the Body of the said Simon Leach my Brother lawfully to be begotten and to the Heirs Males of the Body of such first Son lawfully to be begotten with like Remainder in Tail Male to the second third fourth c. Sons and for default of such Issue to Sir Simon Leach my Kinsman being Son and Heir of Simon Leach of Cadley in the County of Devon ' Esquire deceased and to the Heirs Males of his Body lawfully to be begotten and for default of such Issue to the right Heirs of me the said Nicholas Leach for ever They find that Nicholas Leach died without Issue that Simon Leach his Brother and Heir with Remainder over in Contingency as aforesaid entered and afterwards married Anne the Daughter of Unton Croke and that after the said Marriage viz. 20 August 25 Car. 2. he executed a Deed purporting a * Two months before a Son was born Surrender of the said Lands and Tenements to Sir Simon Leach in manner following viz. To all Christian People c. I Simon Leach of Elsefield in the County of Oxon Esquire send greeting Know ye that I the said Simon Leach for divers good Causes and valuable Considerations me hereunto moving have granted surrendred remised released and for ever quit claimed and confirmed and by these Presents do grant surrender remise release and for ever quit claim and confirm unto Sir Simon Leach of Cadley in the County of Devon Knight of the Bath and his Heirs and Assigns for ever all and every the Mannors c. To have and to hold the same to the said Sir Simon Leach for ever They find that Simon Leach Brother of the Testator was not compos mentis at the time of the sealing and delivery of the said Surrender That on the 10th day of November 25 Car. 2. which was two Months after this Surrender made the said Simon Leach had Issue of his Body Charles Leach who is his Son and Heir that he after the death of his Father entred and made a Lease to Tompson by vertue whereof he was possessed until the Defendant Sir Simon Leach entred upon him c. Two Questions were made upon this Special Verdict 1. Whether this Surrender by a person Non compos mentis was void ab initio and so could pass no Estate to the Surrendree for if so then though the Ideot himself is estopped by his own Act yet that can be no Barr to him in the Remainder because the Act being void the Estate in Law still remains in him 2. If it is not void in its self then whether it is voidable after the death of the Party by Charles Leach he claiming by virtue of a collateral Remainder and not as Heir at Law to the Devisor As to the first Point it was argued that the Cases of Lunaticks and Infants go hand in hand and that the same Reasons govern both that the Law is clear that a Surrender made by an Infant is void therefore a Surrender made by a person Non compos mentis is also void Fleta lib. 1. c. 11. num 10. the reason is because they know not how to govern themselves And as Fleta saith Semper judicabuntur infra aetatem F.N.B. 202. a. Regist 238. b. if he makes any Conveyance of his Land the Law hath provided a remedial Writ even for himself to avoid his own Alienation His Feoffments are void 39 H. 6.42 Bract. fol. 12. no. 5. fol. 100 120. Brit. cap. 34. fol. 88. Perk. 5. pl. 21. and if Warranties are annexed those they are also void if he granteth a Rent-Charge out of his Land that is likewise void and if the Grantee should distrain for this Rent after the death of the Grantor his Heir shall have an Action of Trespas against him and therefore by parity of Reason this Surrender must be void In Fitzherbert Tit. Grantee pl. 80. there is a Case to this purpose viz. An Assize was brought against the Tenant supposing that he had no right of Entry unless under a Disseisor by whom the Brother of the Demandant was disseised The Tenant pleaded that the supposed Disseisor was the Father of the Demandant whose Heir he then was and that his said Father made a Feoffment of the Land to the Tenant with Warranty and demanded Iudgment c. The Demandant replied that his Father at that time was Non compos mentis and the Tenant was compelled to rejoin and take Issue upon the Insanity which shews that if he was Non compos he could not have made such a Feoffment So if he maketh a Feoffment in Fee and afterwards taketh back an Estate for Life Fitz. Remitter pl. 23. the Non compos shall be remitted to his ancient Title which shews likewise that such Feoffment was void for the Remitter supposeth a former Right 'T is incongruous to say that Acts done by persons of no discretion shall be good and valid in the Law such are Infants and Lunaticks and it stands with great reason that what they do should be void especially when it goes to the destruction of their Estates Therefore 't is held that if a person Non compos releaseth his right that shall not barr the King in his Life time but he shall seize the Land and if he die his Heir may bring the Writ Dum non fuit compos mentis and may enter 'T is for this reason that a Release made by an Infant Executor is no barr because it works in destruction of his Interest 5 Co. 27. Russel 's Case 34 Ass pl. 10. the reason is the same where a person Non compos maketh a Feoffment for that likewise destroys his Estate So likewise an Infant can neither surrender a future Interest by his acceptance of a new Lease Cro. Car. 502. nor make an absolute Surrender of a Term of which he is possessed for such a Surrender by Deed is void 'T is agreed that if a Man Non compos maketh a Feoffment by Letter of Attorny 't is meerly void because 't is not delivered to the Feoffee by the hands of the Feoffor but 't is said that if it be delivered by him in person then 't is only voidable at any time by Action or Entry Finch 's Law 102. And of this Opinion was Sir Henry Finch in his Discourse of the Law who in the Margen of his Book quotes several Authorities in the Year Books to justifie this Opinion and amongst the rest he cites Sir Anthony Fitzherberts Natura Brevium 35 Ass pl. 10. who taking notice of the old Authorities seems to reject their Reasons who affirm a person Non compos shall not avoid his own Act when he recovers his memory because he cannot then tell what he did when he was in his former Condition But certainly when he recovers his Iudgment he is then of Ability to consider what was done during his Insanity and to avoid such Acts by shewing how his indisposition came by the
not avoid such Acts done by their Ancestors as well as Privies in Blood because the Incapacity of the Grantor goes to both Those who argued on the other side held that the Acts of Infants and persons non compos were not void in themselves but only voidable E contra 'T is true some Deeds made by an Infant are void not meerly Cro. Car. 502. because executed by him for some are good and those only are void which are made to his prejudice Such also are void which give Authority to a third person to do an Act as if an Infant enter into a Bond Perk. Sect. 139. March 141. and give it to a Stranger to deliver to the Obligee when he shall attain his full Age this is void because the person derived his Authority from an Infant who by reason of his Nonage could not give such a Power but if the Infant himself had delivered the Bond to the Obligee it had been only voidable Lit. Sect. 259. The Father of the Demandant was an Infant when he sold his Estate 46 E. 3.34 his Son brought the Writ Dum fuit infra-aetatem against the Alienee and it was held good which would not have been allowed if the Grant had been void All the old Authorities prove that the Acts of Infants and Ideots are not void but voidable If an Infant is bound in an Obligation 't is not void Cro. Eliz. 127. 2 Inst 483. for he may agree to it when of Age he cannot plead Non est factum and he may refuse to plead his Infancy If he be entituled to a Term for years Cro. Eliz. 126. Cro. Car. 502. and maketh a Surrender by the acceptance of a new Lease 't is good if 't is for his advantage either by the lessening of the Rent or the encreasing of the Term but if he hath no benefit by it 't is voidable only So he may purchase Lands because the Law intends it for his benefit and he can receive no damage by such a Purchase for he may either perfect or avoid it at his full Age which shews that such Acts are not voidable ab intio but only voidable as the Case shall require The Statute of 23 H. 6. Enacts 23 H. 6. c. 10. That Sheriffs shall take no Bonds upon an Arrest but for the Appearance of the Party and to themselves only and that a Bond otherwise taken colore officii shall be void that is not in its self but by pleading the Statute for 't is not to be avoided by pleading Non est factum So upon the Statute of Additions 1 H. 5. c. 5. 3 Co. 59. a. where a Man is outlawed without the addition of his condition or place of abode in the original Writ such Outlawry shall be void not of its self but it may be avoided by Writ of Error In like manner there are many Authorities to prove that the Acts of a person non compos are not void but voidable So is the first Resolution in Beverly 's Case that a Deed or Feoffment made by him is to be avoided by any other person but not by himself Thus stood the Law in the time of E. 35 Ass pl. 10. 3. For in an Assize the Defendant pleaded that the Plaintiff had released to him by Deed who replied that at the time of the making of the Deed he was Non compos The Court of Common Pleas seemed then to be of Opinion that the Replication was not good which shews that the Deed in its self was not void 't is true the Assize was then adjourned because that Opinion was directly against the Register which is that the Writ of Dum non fuit compos may be brought by the person himself notwithstanding his own Alienation But this hath since been denied to be Law Cro. Eliz. 398. for in Debt upon Bond the Defendant pleaded that he was Non compos and upon a Demurrer the Plea was over-ruled And of this Opinion was Sir William Herle Chief Iustice of the Common Pleas in 5 E. 5 E. 3.70 3. which was long before the Book of Assize So the Law continued till the Reign of H. 35 H. 6. f. 42. 6. viz. that the person himself could not avoid his own Feoffment either by Entry or Action The Writs de Ideota inquirendo and Dum non fuit compos import the same thing viz. that Acts done by them are not void for the first recites that the Ideot alienavit and the other that the Lunatick * Dimisit is there intended where the Estate is conveyed by Livery or for life and Alienavit is a Conveiance by Feoffment 17 E. 2. Stamf. Praerog 34. Dimisit terras Now if their Acts had been void ab initio then they cannot be supposed either to alien or lease their Lands which shews that such Acts are only voidable And as a farther Argument to enforce this the Statute de Praerogativa Regis was mentioned which gives the Custody of the Ideots Lands to the King during their Lives provided that afterwards it be given to their right Heirs ita quod nullatenus per eofdem fatuos alienetur Now to what purpose were these Words added if such an Alienation was void in it self Besides the Cases of Ideots mentioned on the other side and Lunaticks are not parellel for an Ideot hath a different incapacity from one Non compos 't is perpetual in an Ideot and for that reason the Law gives the King an Interest in him But a person non compos may recover his Senses Co. Lit. 2. b. Fitz. tit Issue 53. he may purchase Lands may grant a Rent-charge out of his Estate and shall not plead his insanity to defeat his own act If therefore this Surrender was not void at the time of the execution thereof but voidable only during the Life of the Surrenderor by office found then the Question cannot properly be whether the Lessor of the Plaintiff shall avoid it for that would be to revest the Estate in some body but the Surrender was good and the Estate for Life was utterly determined so that nothing being left to support the contingent Remainders those are also destroied And to prove this Chudleigh 's Case was relied on which was Co. 120. Sir R. C. was seised in Fee of the Manor of Hescot in Devon and having Issue Christopher and three other Sons made a Feoffment to the use of himself and his Heirs on the Body of Mary then the Wife of Mr. Carew to be begotten and for default of such Issue then to the use of his last Will c. for ten years and after the Expiration of that Term then to his Feoffees and their Heirs during the Life of Christopher Remainder to the Issue Male of Christopher in Tail with like Remainder to his other Sons Remainder to his own right Heirs He died without Issue by Mrs. Carew But before Christopher had any Son born the
As the Statute of Westm W. 2. c. 11. 2. which gives an Action of Debt against a Goaler for an Escape and that per breve yet by the Equity thereof it hath been adjudged that a Bill of Debt will lie For the Statute of R. 1 R. 2. c. 12. 2. gives the like Action against the Warden of the Fleet for the Escape of a Prisoner in Execution which by Construction hath been adjudged to extend to all Goalers and Sheriffs 1 Sand. 38. If this Statute should not be expounded according to Equity then if the Plaintiff himself should be beyond Sea six years after the cause of Action and die there his Executor or Administrator cannot sue for a Debt Curia This Case is out of the Equity of the Statute which provides a remedy when the Plaintiff is beyond Sea but not when the Defendant is there it was never intended to make any Provision for him since the Plaintiff might file an Original and sue him to the Outlawry But Iustice Dolben making some doubt Adjornarur DE Term. Sancti Mich. Anno 2 Gulielmi Mariae Regis Reginae in Banco Regis 1690. Hobbs qui tam c. versus Young AN Information was brought upon the Statute of the 5th of Eliz. for exercising the Trade of a Cloth-Worker Employing Workmen in a Man 's own House he being not Apprentice to the Trade is an exercising that Trade within the Statute 5 Eliz. 4. not being an Apprentice to the same and likewise for setting people to work at that Trade not having served an Apprentiship to it Vpon Not Guilty pleaded the Iury found a special Verdict to this purpose Viz. That the Defendant was a Merchant who Exported Cloath to Turkey and that for the space of a Month he had emploied Men in his House in the Trade of a Cloath-Worker which Men had been educated in the said Mystery for the space of 7 years that he provided Materials for them and paid them weekly Wages but that he himself was not an Apprentice to the said Trade That it was a Trade at the time of the making of the Statute c. The Question was Whether this should be accounted exercising of a Trade within the meaning of the Statute or no Those who argued for the Plaintiff said that true it is any Man might exercise what Trade he thought fit at the Common Law but this confusion had been remedied by several Statutes The first is the Statute of Edw. 3. 37 E. 3. c. 5. that Merchants shall not engross Goods to enhance the Prices nor use but one sort of Merchandise Afterwards in the 38th of Edw. 3. 38 E. 3. c. 2. the former Statute was repealed and liberty given to Merchants only to use what Merchandise they would Then comes the Statute of Queen Elizabeth and the Remedies intended by that and the former Acts were Viz. 1. The restraining of ignorant pretenders to Trade 2. To make a distinction of Trades and to fit them to different ranks of Men. 3. To encourage those who had undergone an Apprentiship by prohibiting others to exercise their Trades The words of this latter Statute are That no person other than such who do now lawfully use or exercise any Art or Mystery or Manual Occupation shall exercise any Craft Mystery or Manual Occupation now used within this Realm except he shall be brought up therein seven years at the least as an Apprentice nor set any person on work in such Mystery c. being not a Workman at the time of making the Statute except he shall have been an Apprentice as aforesaid or else having served as an Apprentice shall become a Journy-Man or hired by the Year under the pain of 40 s. per Month. 'T is plain by this Law that he who cannot use a Mystery himself is prohibited to employ other Men in that Trade for if this should be allowed then the care which hath been taken to keep up Mysteries by erecting Guilds and Fraternities would signifie little In the Case of Morstyn and Nightingale 3 Jac. 2. upon this Statute it was proved that the Defendant emploied none but Pinmakers in that Trade yet not having served an Apprentiship himself the Plaintiff had a Verdict It was insisted on the Defendants behalf that as this Offence is laid in the Information E contra it was not within the first branch of that Clause in the Statute for no Man will say that when the Defendant sets other persons to work such employing them was an exercising the Trade within the first branch of that Paragraph Neither is it within the second Branch the meaning whereof is that no person shall be employed but such as have served an Apprenticeship c. Now the person who sets such People to work is not punishable by this Law but the Men themselves who do work not being qualified and those are not punishable in this Case because the Verdict hath found that they were Apprentices and had served seven years to the Trade 'T is not material to say that the Men thus employed by the Defendant in this Trade are his Servants and that by their working the Company of Clothworkers may be damnified for the Act is not restrained to particular Companies but taketh care in general that the work should be well done No Man will say that a Merchant is within this Statute for the Preamble it self shews 'tis for the Reformation of Trades and Manual Occupations so that as a Merchant is not within the Letter neither is he within the meaning of the Law because he is of a superiour Order and Degree of Men. The chief design therefore of this Law being that unskilful Men should not employ themselves in Trades and the Defendant having set none to work but such who were of that Trade and Artists in it the meaning of the Act is fully pursued and no injury is done to any person Besides it doth not appear by this Verdict that any thing was done by the Defendant but in his own Family and probably it might be for their use and then 't is no offence But if it is a Crime in the Defendant then all the Petty-Chapmen in England are within this Statute for they use several goods belonging to particular Trades and few of them have been Apprentices to any Trade It was said by some of the Council who now argued this Case that they had formerly attended my Lord Hales upon the like matter whose Opinion was that such Petty Chapmen were not within the Statute but that they were warranted by the Custom of those places where they lived Afterwards in Trinity-Term 3 Gulielmi Mariae Iudgment was given for the Plaintiff by the Opinion of three Iudges The Questions are two 1. Whether this is a setting up of a Trade within the express words of the Statute 2. Whether the working of these Cloths in the Defendant's House will be using a Trade c. It cannot be denied but
IT lies to remove Causes and Orders from an inferior Jurisdiction where 't is not prohibited in express words by any Statute 95 2. Will not lie to the Grand Sessions nor to a County Palatine to remove Civil Causes quaere whether it lies to the Royal Franchise of Ely 230 Charter Usage shall expound ancient Charters 9 2 The Common Law doth operate with it ibid. 3. One Clause of a Charter may expound another 10 4. A Charter which establishes a Corporation must provide for a new Election in order to a Succession otherwise the Common Law will not help 13 Church See Prohibition Commitment By the Lord Chancellor and several others Dominos Concilii for a Misdemeanour whether it should not be Dominos in Concilio 213 2. Of a Peer for a Misdemeanour which amounts to a Breach of the Peace for which Sureties are to be given 214 3. When a person is brought in by a Capias for any offence he ought to plead instanter 215 Common and Commoner See Ioytenancy 4 Ioynt Action 7 Prescription 7 A Common cannot pass without Deed and if the Plaintiff sheweth a Que Estate he must produce the Deed 52 2. If a Prescription is made for a Common and doth not say for Cattle Levant and Couchant 't is not good 162 246 3. But this fault is cured by a Verdict 162 Confederacy See Indictment Condition See Infant 2. Notice 2 4. A bare denial without doing any more is no Breach of the Condition 31 2. How it differs from a Limitation 32 3. To restrain Marriage to the consent of particular persons is void ibid. 4. Where 't is of two parts in the disjunctive and both possible at the time of the Bond given and one becomes impossible afterwards by the Act of God the Obligor is not bound to perform the other part for the Condition being made for his benefit shall be taken very beneficially for him who had election to perform either part 233 5. When the Condition is but of one part 't is otherwise as if A. promise B. that if C. do not appear such a day at Westminster he will pay 20 s. C. died before the day the Mony must be paid 234 6. Condition was to pay Rent at Michaelmas or Lady-day during the Life of a Woman or within thirty days after she died after the Feast but within the thirty days the payment which was due at the Feast was discharged thereby ibid. 7. To save harmless Non damnificatus generally is a good Plea but if it be to save harmless acquit and discharge then 't is not good without shewing how acquitted and discharged 252 Confederacy See Agreement Consideration See Action on the Case Construction Where it shall be made of an Act of Parliament according to the intent of the Law-makers 33 2. Where it shall be made of an entire Sentence so as the intent of the Law may appear 220 3. Where particular words are in the first part of a Sentence and general words follow both shall stand 278 279 Contract Where an Agreement is entire to do or perform a thing for a certain Sum it shall not be apportioned pro rata for the performance of part 153 2. There must be a recompence of each side to make the Contract good 237 Copyhold and Copyholders See Baron and Feme 8 9. Lord may seize the Land of a Copyholder till a Fine is paid 222 2. A Man by Custom may assign a person to take the Profits of a Copyhold Estate during the Minority of an Infant without rendring an accompt when he comes of Age ibid. Corporation See Charter 4. In all proceedings which concern a Corporation it must be alledged that there is one and how erected whether by Grant or Prescription 6 2. Mayor hath no more Power than an Alderman in the Coporation where he is Mayor 9 3. Is not of the Quorum for electing of an Alderman 10 4. The Mayor is named in the Grant as part of the Name of the Corporation and is not of the Quorum without naming him to be so 9 10 5. He is a Mayor in respect of Reverence but not of Power 11 6. At the Common Law neither his Name or Office require his presence at the choosing of an Alderman 11 14 7. He cannot act eo nomine but by the express Power given in the Charter 12 8. Elections of Officers of a Corporation must be free 21 9. Mayor of a Corporation is no Officer at the Common Law 12 10. Original of Corporation was preservation of Trade ibid. 11. Corporation by Charter without setting forth their Duty or Office hath no Power ibid. 12. A Company in London made a By-Law that none of them should buy such a Commodity within 24 Miles of London but two Men 't is too large to bind at such a distance out of their Jurisdiction 159 Costs See Amendment 3. Trespass for breaking of a Close and impounding of Cattel and Damages given under 40 s. the Plaintiff shall have his Costs 39 2. Amendment after a Writ of Error brought Costs must be paid 113 Covenant See Local Action Where a thing is lawful at the time of the Covenant made and afterterwards prohibited by Law yet the Covenant is binding 39 2. To find Meat Drink and other Necessaries the Breach was assigned in not finding Meat Drink alia necessaria and entire Damages though this Breach was too general yet 't is good for it may be as general as the Covenant 69 3. There must be such certainty in it that if the Defendant should be sued again he may plead the former Recovery in Bar ibid. 4. Need not so much certainty in assigning a Breach upon a Covenant as upon a Bond for performance of Covenants ibid. 5. For quiet enjoyment the Breach was that a Stranger habens jus titulum and doth not say what Title for it may be under the Plaintiff himself therefore not well assigned 135 6. To make an Assignment according to an Agreement between the Partis as Council should direct whether the Council of the Plaintiff or Defendant should advise 192 7. Give grant and confirm are words at the Common Law where they shall be taken to amount to a Covenant to stand seized 237 Court Cause not to be removed out of an inferiour Court unless the Habeas Corpus is delivered to the Steward before Issue or Demurrer joyned so as 't is joyned within six Weeks after Arrest or Appearance 85 2. If the Cause is tried in an inferior Court the Steward not being an Utter Barister an Attachment shall go ibid. 3. Amerciament in a Court Leet is a Duty vested in the Lord for which he may distrain 138 4. Presentment in a Court Leet is the proper remedy when a Man is disturbed in a common Passage or Way 294 Custom See Admittance Infant 10. Prescription 8. Pleading 12. Must have nothing to support it but Usuage 133 2. 'T is made of repeated Acts ibid. 3. Must be very
before a Coroner the person having drowned himself it was suffocat ' emergit fuit if it had stood singly upon the word emergit it had been insensible but the word suffocat ' expressing the sense it was held good 100 4. Where nothing is vested in the King before Office found ibid. 5. It must always be found that there is an Estate in the person offending and a cause of Forfeiture of that Estate to vest it in the King 336 Interest in a thing See Pardon 4. Where a Man may have an interest in a Chattel without a Property 61 2. Devise to a Wife and Children after Debts and Legacies paid an interest vests in the Devisees but 't is otherwise in case of Administration for there no Interest vests till actual distribution 65 3. A Man may have a Property tho' not in himself as in the Case of Joyntenancy 97 Intestate See Administration Innuendo The proper office of it is to make the subject matter certain 53 2. It will not help insensible words 54 Joyntenancy and Tenancy in Common See Abatement 3. Baron and Feme 12. Interest 3. If one Joyntenant bring an Action against the other unless he pleads the Jointenancy in abatement the Plaintiff will recover 97 2. If two Coparceners lease a House and the Rent is arrear and one brings an Action and recovers Judgment shall be arrested because both ought to joyn 109 3. Tenants in Common must join in the personalty but 't is otherwise in real Actions for though their Estates are several yet the Damages to be recovered survive to all 109 251 4. Where one Commoner may bring an Action against his Fellow 251 Joint Action See Action for a wrong 6. Ioyntenancy 2 3. Where an Action may be joint or several at the Election of the Plaintiff 86 2. Where 't is brought against three Defendants who plead jointly the Jury may sever the Damages and the Plaintiff may take Execution de melioribus damnis as well as where their Pleas are several and Tryals at several times 101 102 3. Judgment against two and one brought a Writ of Error and assigned the Infancy of the other for Error the Writ was abated because both did not joyn 134 4. The Defendants in the original Action must joyn in a Writ of Error but it seems otherwise where the Plaintiffs bring Error 135 5. Two covenant to sell Lands and the Purchasor agreed to pay the Mony to one of them he alone ought to bring the Action 263 6 Where there are several Proprietors of a Vessel for carriage of Goods which are damaged by carrying the Action must be brought against all or against the Master alone 321 322 7 Where two Tenants in Common were sued for not setting out of Tythes the Action ought to be brought not against him who set them out but against the other who carried them away 322 8. Two are bound joyntly one is sued he may plead in Abatement that he was bound with another but cannot plead Non est factum 323 9 In all Cases which are grounded upon Contracts the Parties who are Privies must be joyned in the Action ibid. 10 Action must be brought against all where a promise is created by Law 324 Issue Must be joyned upon an affirmative and a negative by concluding to the Country 80 Iudges The making altering and displacing of several Judges Serjeants at Law and King's Council 71 99 100 104 125 143 191 239 Iustices of Peace Offences against the Statute of 23 Eliz c. 1. for not coming to Church may be enquired of by them in their Sessions 79 2. Where a Statute appoints a thing finally to be done by them yet the Court of King's Bench may take Cognizance of it 95 3. Conviction for keeping of a Gun before a Justice of Peace the time when he had not 100 l. per Annum must be precisely alledged 280 Iustification See Pleading 4 5. Where 't is pleaded by way of Excuse to an Action of Trespass for the taking of any thing the Defendant must averr the Fact to be done and set forth the Warrant to him directed and the taking virtute Warranti and not generally that he took it by a Mandate c. 138 2. In Replevin where the Defendant made Conusance in right of the Lord he may Justifie the taking generally ibid. Iudgment 1. At the Common Law no Execution could be of a Judgment after a year and a day but the remedy was to bring an Action of Debt upon Judgment 187 189 2. Now a Scire Fac. is given upon a Judgment after the year by the Statue of W. 2. 189 3. When a Judgment is once execucuted the Goods are in custodia legis and shall not be taken away by an Exchequer Process or by the Commissioners of Bankrupts 236 L. Lapse See Notice Lease A Covenant in a Lease for years that the Lessee should pay the Rent without obliging his Executors or Administrators 't is determined by his Death 231 2. For 99 yeas if three persons or any of them so long live reserving a Rent and an Herriot upon the death of either the Beast of the Assignee shall not be taken for a Herriot for the Lessee is to pay his best Beast and that shall not be carried further than to the person named 231 Libel Where a Fine and Corporal punishment was imposed upon the Offender after Conviction 68 Limitation An Estate was setled upon Trustees to the use of A. and her Heirs provided she marry with the consent of Trustees remainder over to B. This is a Limitation and not a Condition 32 Limitation of Action See 21 Jac. 16. Where a Trespass is laid with a continuando for more than six years and the Statute pleaded and entire Damages it must be intended only for that which falls within the six years and that the Jury rejected the beginning of the Trespass 111 2. This Statute relates to a distinct and not to a continued Account 112 3. It provides a Remedy when the Plaintiff is beyond Sea at the time when his Right accrews and saves it till he returns whether it may be extended in a Case where the Defendant is beyond Sea longer than six years from the time the Plaintiff was entituled to the Action 311 312 Local Actions Whether Covenant will lie by an Assignee of a Reversion against an Assignee of a Lessee in any other place than where the Land lieth 337 2. Debitum contractus sunt nullius loci ibid. 3. Debt for Rent upon a Lease for years brought upon the Contract and Covenant between the same Parties are transitory ibid. 4. If Privity of Contract is gone by making an Assignment and only a privity in Law remains the Action must be brought in the County where the Land lieth ibid. M. Mayor See Corporation Marriage See Condition 3. Evidence 7. Limitation Notice A Maid above 12 and under 16 taken from Parents or Guardian and Married forfeits her Estate to the next in
Remainder during her Life 84 2. There must be proof of the Stealing an Heiress either by slight or force to bring the person within the Statute of Phil. Mar. 169 3. There must be a continued disassent of the Parent or Guardian for if she once agree 't is an assent within the Statute though she or they disagree afterwards 169 4. Marriage de facto is triable in the Temporal Courts but de Jure in the Spiritual Court only 165 Mandamus Denied to restore a person to a Fellowship of a College 265 2. Denied to restore a Proctor to his Office in Doctors Commons 332 3. It hath been granted to restore an Attorny 333 4. It will not lye to restore a Steward of a Court-Baron 334 Master and Servant See Robbery 2. Where the Act of the Servant shall charge the Master 323 2. Where the Master may have an Action for a Robbery done upon the Servant 287 Melius Inquirendum Not granted but for a Misdemeanour in the Jury 80 2. It never helps a defective Inquisition 336 3. Whether it may be granted to a Coroner in the Case of a Felo de se who makes his Enquiry super visum corporis 238 Merchants See Custom Pleas and Pleading Misfeazance Not Guilty is a good Plea to any Misfeazance whatsoever 324 Misprision of Clerk See Amendment Mistrial 'T is not a Mistrial where the day and place of the Assises is left out of the Distringas for the Jurata is the Warrant to try the Cause 78 Mortuary 'T is not due but by particular Custom of the Place 268 Monopoly The Definition of it 131 N. Ne exeat Regum IS a Writ grounded upon the Common Law and not given by any particular Statute 127 2. It was brought to prevent a person who had married an Heiress without her Parents consent to go beyond Sea 169 Nolle prosequi Whether it may be entred after the Jury is sworn 117 Non compos Mentis If he releaseth his Right that shall not bar the King but he shall seize his Lands during Life 303 2. Surrender made by him is void 305 3. He may purchase Lands and may grant a Rent-Charge out of his Estate and shall not plead Insanity to avoid his own Acts 309 Notice See Executor 115. A Settlement was made in Trust for A. provided she married with the consent of Trustees Remainder to B. she married without consent Whether the Trustees ought not to give notice of this Settlement before the Marriage or whether the Estate is forfeited without notice 29 30 2. Where Conditions are annexed to Estates to pay Mony notice is necessary but where Estates are limitted upon performance of collateral acts 't is not necessary 30 3. Lapse shall not incur upon a Deprivation but after notice given to the Patron by the Ordinary himself 31 4. The Heir himself ought to have notice of such Conditions which his Ancestor hath put upon his Estate because he hath a good title by descent 34 5. Where it ought to be given of Debts to an Executor 115 Number Where the singular number shall be intended by the plural as by Children is meant Child 63 O. Obligation Obligor and Obligee DEbt upon Bond will not lie before the day of payment is past but it may be released before 61 2. Where the Debt is confessed under and Hand Seal whether that will amount to an Obligation 154 Office and Officer Whether the Office of Marshal of B.R. can be granted in Trust 145 2. It cannot be granted for years ibid. 3. Non-Attendance whether a Forfeiture or not 146 4. Non-Feazance is a Forfeiture ibid. 5. It lies in Grant and cannot be transferred without Deed 147 6. Neither a Judicial or a Ministerial Officer may make a Deputy unless there is an express Clause in the Grant that it may be executed per se vel Deputatum 147 150 7. Marshal of B. R. may grant that Office for Life but cannot give the Grantee power to make a Deputy 147 8. That Office may be granted at will 149 9. Deputy may be made without Deed 150 Ordinary Probate of Wills did not originally belong to him 24 2. He had no power at Common Law over the Intestate's Estate 25 3. An Action lay against him at Common Law if he got the Goods and refused to pay the Intestate's Debts 25 4. Was alone entrusted by the Common Law as to the distribution of the Intestates Estate 59 5. Afterwards by the Statute of W. 2. was bound to pay Debts so far as he had Assets 60 6. Then and not before an Action of Debt might be brought against him if he did dispose the Goods without paying Debts ibid. 7. By the Statute of the 31st of Ed. I. he was bound to grant Administration to the next of Kin ibid. 8. Afterwards by the Statute of 21 H. 8. was compelled to grant it to the Widow or next of Kin or both ibid. 9. Before the Statute of Distributions he always took Bond of the Administrator to distribute as the Ordinary should direct ibid. Outlary See 5 Ed. 6. For Treason cannot be reversed without the Consent of the Attorney-General 42 2. For Treason the Party was taken within the year but because he was apprehended and did not render himself he had not the benefit of the Statute 47 3. For Treason and a Rule of Court for the Execution of the person 72 4. For Murder against three persons it was reversed because it did not appear that the Court was held pro Comitatu 2dly 't is said Non comperuit but doth not say nee eorum aliquis comperuit 90 P. Pardon THE King hath power to pardon by general words as felonica interfectio for Murder 37 2. Where his Power is restrained by Act of Parliament yet a Non obstante is a Dispensation to it 38 3. A Suit was commenced for Dilapidations which is to have satisfaction for Damages sustained 't is not pardoned by these general words viz. Offences Contempts and Penalties 56 4 If an Interest is vested in the King a Pardon of all Forfeitures will not divest it without particular words of Restitution 101 241 242 5. An Exception in a Pardon ought to be taken as largely as the Pardon it self 242 6. A Pardon of all Offences except Offences in collecting of the King's Revenue that must be of the stated Revenue and not what arises by any Forfeiture ibid. Parish See Indictment Parliament Writ of Error upon a Judgment in B. R. returnable in Parliament Prorogued from the 28th of April to the 29th of November whether this was a Supersedeas to the Execution because a whole Term intervened between the Teste and Return of the Writ of Error 125 Pedegree Where persons are named by way of Title and where by way of Pedegree 255 Perjury See Information Pleading In pleading of the Statute of Usury you must set forth what Agreement was made and what Sum was taken more than six pound in the Hundred 35 2.
the Land 211 5. Not granted for Mariners Wages 244 6. Libel for a Tax upon the Parishioners for not repairing of their Church who suggest that they had a Chappel of Ease in the same Parish the Prohibition was denied for of common right they ought to repair the Mother Church 264 7. Proof of Matter of Fact by one Witness denied to be allowed in the Spiritual Court is a good cause for a Prohibition 284 8. Where the Release of a Legacy offered to be proved by one Witness was denied in the Spiritual Court ibid. 9. Proof of Payment or Subtraction of Tythes denied and a Prohibition granted ibid. 10. Whether a Prohibition ought to be allowed after Sentence an Appeal being then the more proper remedy 284 Property See Interest Q. Quorum MUst be one Justice of the Peace of the Quorum otherwise cannot be a Sessions 14 152 Quantum meruit Will lie for Rent reserved upon a real Contract where the Sum is not certain but if a Sum in gross is reserved then Debt must be brought 73 R. Record ERror shall not be assigned against the Essence of a Record 141 Recovery Common Reversed without a Scire Facias to the Tertenants but it seems not to be good 119 2. For there must be a Scire Facias against the Heir and Tertenants when a Writ of Error is brought to reverse it 274 Relation Where an Estate shall pass by Relation where not 299 300 Release Of a Legacy by one Executor and also of all Actions Suits and Demands whatsoever those general words which follow are tied up to the Legacy and release nothing else 277 2. Of a Demand will not discharge a growing Rent 278 3. A Receipt was given for 10 l. in which there was a Release of all Actions Debts Duties and Demands nothing is released but the 10 l. 277 4. Judgment against four Defendants who all joyned in a Writ of Error and the Plaintiff pleaded a Release of Errors by one it shall not discharge the rest of a personal thing but if there had been four Plaintiffs to recover the Release or death of one is a Barr to all 109 135 249 5. A Release of all Actions will discharge an Award of Execution upon a Scieri Facias 185 187 6. Of all Actions and Demands doth not discharge a Legacy it must be by particular words 279 7. One of the Defendants who made Conusance released the Plaintiff after the taking of the Cattle this was held void upon a Demurrer for he had no Demand or Suit against the Plaintiff having distrained in the right of another ibid. Remainder See Entry 3. Fines levied 4. Must take place eo instanti the particular Estate is determined or else it can never arise 309 2. By the Conveyance of the Reversion in Fee to him who had the Estate for Life before the Birth of a Son the particular Estate is merged and all contingent Remainders are thereby destroyed 311 Replevin Where 't is brought by Writ the Sheriff cannot make deliverance without the taking of Pledges de prosequendo retorn ' Habend ' 35 Replication Where the Plaintiff confesseth and avoideth he ought not to traverse for that would make his Replication double 318 Request When a thing is to be done upon Request the time when the person requires it to be done is the time of the performance 295 Reservation Of a Rent upon a Lease for three years payable at Michaelmas and Lady-Day Debt was brought for 2 years without shewing at which of the Feasts it was due 't is good after Verdict but ill upon a Demurrer 70 Resignation See Abeiance To the Ordinary and Patron presented 'ts void if the Ordinary did not accept the Resignation 297 Reversion See Bargain and Sale Surrender 2. Tenant in Tail who had likewise the Reversion in Fee if he acknowledge a Judgment the Reversion may be extended 256 2. But a Reversion in Fee expectant upon an Estate Tail is not Assets until it comes into possession 257 3. By what words a Reversion in Fee passeth in a Will 228 Revocation A Will shall not be revoked by doubtful words 206 2. It might be revoked by Word without Writing before the Statute of Frauds 207 3. Before that Statute a Will might be revoked by a subsequent Will which was void in it self yet good to revoke the former 207 218 4. A subsequent Will which doth not appear shall not be any Revocation of a written Will which doth appear 204 205 206 5. Whether a subsequent Will which is void in it self may revoke another since the Statute of Frauds 218 6. Such a Will must be good in all circumstances to revoke a former 260 261 Riot See Information Robbery The Hundred was sued and it did not appear that the Parish where the Fact was laid to be done was in the Hundred or that it was done upon the High way or in the day time this was helped after Verdict 258 2. A Servant delivered Mony to a Quaker to carry home for his Master they were both robbed viz. the Servant of 26 s. and the Quaker of 106 l. the Servant made Oath of the Robbery and the Quaker refused the Master brought the Action it doth not lie for him 287 288 S. Scire Facias See Bail 3 4. Baron and Feme 1 4 5. Iudgment 2. Pledges 1. Recovery MUst be to the Tertenants before the Common Recovery shall be reversed by Writ of Error 119 2. Scieri Facias quare Executionem non habet recites the first Judgment but prays no new thing only to have Execution upon that Judgment 187 3. 'T is not an original but a judicial Writ and depends upon the first Judgment 187 4. 'T is suspended by Writ of Error and if the original Judgment is reversed that is so also ibid. 5. Debt will lie upon a Judgment had on a Scire Facias 188 189 6. A Judgment upon a Scire Facias is a distinct Action from the original cause 189 7. Judgment in Dower and a Writ of Enquiry of Damages the Woman marries and dies before the Writ of Enquiry executed the Husband administred and brought a Scire Facias upon the Judgment whether it lieth or not 281 Serjeants at Law See Iudges Surplusage See Inquisition Steward See Court Supersedeas See Parliament Surrender See Assent 1 2. Where it may be pleaded without an acceptance 297 2. No man can take it but he who hath the immediate Reversion 299 3. If pleaded without an Acceptance 't is aided after Verdict which shews 'tis no Substance 301 4. By one Non compos mentis 't is void ab initio 303 T. Tail DEvise to D. for Life the Remainder to her first Son and the Heirs of the Body of such first Son endorsed thus viz. Memorandum that D. shall not alien from the Heirs Males of her Body she had a Son who had Issue a Daughter 't is not an Estate Tail Male for the Memorandum shall not alter the Limitation in the Will
Comissarius especially in the Case of a Fellow of a College which is a thing of private design and doth not concern the Publick 265 Vse If a Letter of Attorny is in a Deed or a Covenant to make Livery nothing passes by way of Use 237 W. Waies See Action for wrong 9. Prescription 1. IN Actions for not repairing them it must be alledged that the Defendant reparare debet 291 2. Action on the Case doth not lie by any particular person for not repairing unless he hath a particular damage but an Indictment is te proper remedy ibid. 3. Custom for all occupyers of a Close in such a Parish to have a Foot-way not good for the Plaintiff ought to prescribe in him who hath the Inheritance 294 Waste See Baron and Feme 7. It lay at common-Common-Law only against Tenant by the Curtesie or in Dower 90 2. It was given by the Statute of Gloucester against Tenant for life or years and treble Damages ibid. 3. It lies against an Executor de son tort of a Term for years 93 4. It lies against an Administrator of a rightful Executor though the Statute doth charge only Executors de son tort and Administrators that they shall be liable as the Executor or intestate 113 Wills See Exposition Devise A subsequent Will may be made so as to consist and stand with a former 204 2. It may also revoke part and confirm part of aformer Will ibid. 3. If two Wills are made without Dates they are both void otherwise of Codicils 208 4. Two Witnesses to a Will and two to a Codicil annexed to the same Will one of the Witnesses to the Codicil was a Witness to the Will the third person is not a good Witness to the Will for he never did see it 262 Witnesses A Witness at a Trial had made a Bargain with the Plaintiff who promised her 1000 l. if she recovered she was not allowed to be sworn 85 2. Informer shall be a good Witness to convict a Man for Deer-stealing tho' he has a Moiety of the Forfeiture 114 115 3. 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By S. Carter of the Inner-Temple Esq Folio An Assistance to Justices of the Peace for the easier performance of their Duty the first part containing the particular Clauses of all such Statutes from Magna Charta until the first of King James II. that do any ways concern a Justice of Peace in the other Part the whole Office of a Justice of Peace is methodically digested with the most approved Presidents under proper Heads to which is now added a Table for the ready finding out the Presidents with a large Table of the Matters never before Printed By Jos Keble of Grays-Inn Esquire An exact Abridgment of the Records in the Tower of London being of great Use for all that are concerned in Parliamentary Affairs and Professors of the Laws of this Realm Collected by Sir Robert Cotton Knight and Baronet Folio The Commentary of Edward Plowden Esq with References whereunto is added his Quaeries Fol. The Laws of Jamaica in II. Parts in Fol. with a large Map of the Island An exact Abridgment of the Statutes of King William and Queen Mary and of King William III. in Force and use Begun by Joseph Washington of the Middle-Temple Esp and since his Death revised and continued to the End of the last Sessions of Parliament April 27. 1696. And thence continued to the 5th of July 1698. 8vo Price 6 s. 6 d. The Scrivener's Guide being choice and approved Forms of Precedents of all sorts of Business now in Use and Practice in a much better Method than any yet Printed being useful for all Gentlemen but chiefly those who Practice the Law 8vo Price 5 s. Styles's Practical Register begun in the Reign of King Charles the First Consisting of Rules Orders and principal Observations concerning the Practice of the Common-Law in the Courts of Westminster particularly the King's-Bench as well in Matters Criminal as Civil Carefully continued down to this time The third Edition 8vo Price 6 s. An exact Abridgment of all the Statutes in Form and Use from the begining of Magna Charta begun by Edmund Wingate and since continued by J. Washington to the Year 1689. In this Impression many hundred of false References are corrected Price 7 s. Two Dialogues in English between a Doctor of Divinity and a Student of the Laws of England of the Grounds of the said Laws c. Price 2 s. 6 d. The New Natura Brevium of the most Reverend Judge Mr. Anthony Fitzherbert Corrected and revised The Laws against