was no Discharge of the Tithes of the Copyhold Lands And in this Case it was also Adjudged That a Farmer of Lands might Prescribe in Modo Decimandi but not in non Decimando The Statute of 31 H. 8. gave all Colledges Dissolved to the Crown in which there is a Clause That the King and his Patentees should hold Discharged of Tithes as the Abbots held Afterwards the Statute of 1 Ed. 6. gave all Colledges to the Crown but there is in it no Clause of the Discharge of Tithes The Parson Libelled in the Ecclesiastical Court and the Farmer of the Lands of the Colledge of Maidstone in Kent brought a Prohibition upon the Statute of 31 H. 8. The Court was clear of Opinion That the King had the Lands of the Colledge by the Statute of 1 Ed. 6. and not by the Statute of 31 H. 8. But the Justices doubted the Lands coming to the King by that Statute whether they should be Discharged of Tithes by the Statute of 31 H. 8. there being no Clause in the Statute of 1 Ed. 6. for Discharge of Tithes But it was Resolved by the Justices That Unity without Composition or Prescription was a sufficient Discharge of Tithes by the Statute of 31 H. 8. The Templers were Dissolved and their Possessions and Priviledges by Act of Parliament 17 Ed. 2. transferred to St. Johns of Jerusalem and their Possessions by Act of Parliament 32 H. 8. cap. 24. given to the King It was Resolved That the King and his Patentees should pay Tithes of those Lands although the Lands propriis sumptibus excolantur because the Priviledges to be Discharged of Tithes were proper to Spiritual persons and ceased when the person Spiritual was removed And the Statute of 31 H. 8. of Dissolutions did not extend to such Lands as came to the King by Special Act of Parliament as those Lands of St. Johns of Jerusalem did And Mich. 6. Jac. C. B. in a Case de Modo Decimandi it was said That one may be Discharged of Tithes five waies 1 By the Law of the Realm viz. the Common Law as tithes shall not be paid of Coles Quarries Bricks Tiles c. F. N. B. 53. and Reg. 54. nor of the After-pasture of a Meadow c. nor of Rakings nor of Wood to make Pales or Mounds or Hedges c. 2 By the Statutes of the Realm as 31 H. 8. 13. 45. Ed. 3. c. 3 By Priviledge as those of St. Johns of Jerusalem in England the Cistertains Templers c. as appears 10 H. 7. 277. Dyer 4 By Prescription as by Modus Decimandi annual recompence in satisfaction 5 By real Composition By all which it appears that a man may be Discharged of payment of Tithes yet a Lay-man ought not to prescribe in non Decimando albeit the may in modo Decimandi And this in effect agrees with Tho. Aquinas in his Secunda Secundae Quaest 86. art ult vid. Dr. Stu. lib. 2. c. 55. fo 164. And the Causes why the Judges of the Common Law permit not the Ecclesiastical Judges to try Modum Decimandi being pleaded in their Courts is because that if the Recompence which is to be given to the Parson in satisfaction of his Tithes doth not amount to the value of this Tithes in kind they might overthrow the same And that appears by Lindwood Constit Mepham de Decim c. Quoniam propter verb. Consuetudines For this Reason it is said a Prohibition lies and therewith agrees 8 Ed. 4. 14. vid. 7 Ed. 6. Dyer 79. and 18 Eliz. Dyer 349. In a Prohibition upon a Suit in the Ecclesiastical Court by the Defendant the Vicar of D. for Tithes A Prohibition prayed upon his Plea thereof a Modus Decimandi to pay so much yearly to the Parson of Dale in Discharge of his Tithes and the same Plea there disallowed The whole Court agreed that this Modus between him and the Parson will not discharge him from payment of Tithes as to the Vicar and therefore by the Rule of the Court a Consultation was granted Also the Court was of Opinion That where a Bishop holds Lands discharged of Tithes and he makes a Feoffment of the Land the Feoffee shall be discharged of Tithes and the like if the King hath ancient Forest Lands discharges of Tithes and the King grants this Land the Grantee is discharged of Tithes And it is a General Rule That he which may have Tithes may be Discharged of Tithes So long as the Land is occupied by him who hath the Fee-simple which did formerly belong to the Order of Cistertians it shall pay no Tithes but if he lett it for years or life the Tenant shall pay Tithes For anciently there were many large Estates wholly exempted from paying Tithes as Land belonging to the said Cistertian Monks to the Knights Templers and Hospitallers As in the Earl of Clanrickard's Case who Libelled in the Ecclesiastical Court for the Tithes of Hay of a certain Meadow against Dame Denton who pleaded That the Prior of A. was seised of that Meadow as parcel of the Possessions of the Priory and that they held it discharged time out of mind c. whereupon Issue was joyned upon a Prohibition and it was found for the Plaintiff for that the Land was only discharged when it was in the hands of the Priory and not when it was in the hands of their Farmers and they were of the Order of Cistertians whereupon a Consultation was granted And now a new Prohibition was prayed for that in the Ecclesiastical Court they had added to the former Libel when the Statute of 50 Ed. 3. cap. 4. is That whereas a Consultation is duly granted upon a Prohibition that the same Judge may proceed in the same case by virtue of the former Consultation notwithstanding any other Prohibition Provided alwaies that the matter in the Libel of the said cause be not altered enlarged or otherwise changed Dr. Pope Doctor of the Civil Law said That there was not any enlarging or changing in substance of the Libel in question for whereas in the former Libel it was That they had used to pay Tithes time out of mind now in the second Libel is added That although the Prior was discharged yet they viz. the Farmers have paid Tithes for 20 30 or 40 years and time out of mind Montague Ch. Justice said That it seem'd that that was not an alteration but Doderidge and Houghton Justices held That that was an alteration of the Libel for now by that last Libel They could fetch them in for Tithes though they were discharged in the hands of the Abbot and for that the Tithes had been paid for 20 30 or 40 years since the Statute aforesaid the which is a sufficient time to make a Prescription according to the Law of the Civilians they would charge the Land with Tithes in whose soever hands they are when by the Statute it ought to be discharged only in
1 Jac. cap. 3. vid. 17 Ed. 3. cap. 40. 2. The Congé d'Eslire being granted to the Dean and Chapter they proceed accordingly to Election which in the sense here intended as appropriated to this Subject is that Regular Choice which is made of an Ecclesiastical person to succeed in the office and dignity of Bishop in and of that Diocess whose See at the time of such Election is vacant This Election referring to an Episcopacy or the choice of a new Bishop in a vacant See is done by a Dean and Chapter but there are also other Elections Ecclesiastical relating to a Regular choice of other persons to other Offices and Dignities in the Church subordinate to the former but here it is specially meant of such an Election or choice of a new Bishop as is precedent to Confirmation Consecration and Investure or Instalment being made as aforesaid by the Dean and Chapter of a Cathedral Church by vertue of the Kings License and Letters Missive according to his Majesties nomination and pleasure contained in such Letters Missive in pursuance of such License to Elect under the Great Seal of England which Election being made accordingly the Dean and Chapter are to return a Certificate thereof under their Common Seal unto his Majesty This Election alone and of it self be it to an Archbishoprick or Bishoprick if the person Elected were before the Parson or Vicar of any Church Presentative or Dean of any Cathedral or held any other Episcopal Dignity doth not ipso facto make void in Law such former Benefice or Dignity or Deanry because he is not compleat and absolute Bishop meerly by such Election but only Bishop Elect And an Election only of such one to a Bishoprick who had before a Benefice with Cure or any other Ecclesiastical Dignity or promotion doth not make a Cession thereof And it hath been adjudged that a Commendam retinere made to such a person of such a Parsonage Deanry or other dignity Ecclesiastical which the said Parson had before his Election to the Bishoprick is yet good to him notwithstanding such Election and so remains good to him until his Consecration 3. Confirmation hath various senses according to the different Acceptation of the word but here it is mainly intended for that which in order to an Investure of a Bishop is done by the Archbishop or Metropolitan of that Province in which a Bishoprick is void and unto which a new Bishop is to be Invested with such usual Benedictions and Ceremonies as are requisite to the same Note That before an Archbishop or other Bishop is Confirmed Consecrated or Invested he must take the Oath of Fealty unto the Kings Majesty only after which the King under his Great Seal doth signifie his Election to one Archbishop and two other Bishops otherwise unto four Bishops within his Majesties Dominions thereby requiring them to Confirm his Election and to Consecrate and Invest the person Elected After which Confirmation and Consecration he is compleat Bishop to all intents and purposes as well to Temporalties as Spiritualties And now he hath plenam potestatem tam Jurisdictionis quam Ordinis and may therefore after his Consecration certifie an Excommengment and upon his Confirmation the power of the Guardian of the Spiritualties doth cease and a Writ for Admission of a Clerk to a Benefice awarded Episcopo Electo Confirmato hath been held to be good Likewise the King may by his Letters Patents after such Confirmation and before Consecration grant unto such Bishop his Temporalties which Grant from his Majesty is held to be potius de gratia quam de jure but if the Bishop of one Diocess be translated to a Bishoprick in another there needs no new Confirmation of him In the Canon de Confirmatione Episcoporum of Othobon's Constitutions it is Ordained in haec verba viz. Vt cujus Electionis Episcopalis Confirmatio postulatur inter caetera super quibus Inquisitio Examinatio praecedere debet Secundum Canonum Instituta illud exactissime inquiratur utrum plura Beneficia cum animarum cura qui Electus est antequam eligeretur habuerit Et si habuisse inveniatur an cum eo super hoc fuerit dispensatum Et an Dispensatio si quam exhibuerit vera sit ad omnia beneficia quae obtinuit extendatur Et si in aliquo Praemissorum is ad quem Confirmatio spectat Electam deficere sua discussione compererit eidem nullatenus munus Confirmationis impendat 4. There is also Confirmation of another kind and far remote in sense from the former not of any Ecclesiastical consideration nor of any Affinity with the other otherwise than Nominal and that is the ratifying or confirming of an Office or an estate in a Place or Office to one who hath or formerly had the possession thereof by a good Title but voidable though not actually and at present void To explain this A Bishop grants his Chancellorship by Patent to one for term of his Natural life this Grant is good to the Patentee and not in it self void yet upon the Bishops death it is voidable unless it be corroborated and ratified by the Confirmation of the Dean and Chapter This is not the Confirmation here intended but the Confirmation of the Election of a new Bishop in order to his Consecration and Investure which though heretofore was by the Bishop of Rome when he claimed a Spiritual Jurisdiction in this Realm yet now since the Stat. of 25 H. 8. c. 20. the same is at his Majesties Command performed by the Archbishop or Metropolitan of the Province wherein such Bishoprick is void and two other Bishops otherwise by four such Bishops within his Majesties Dominions as to whom under his Broad Seal he shall signifie such Election commanding them to Confirm the same as also to Consecrate and Invest the person whose Election to the Bishoprick is so Confirmed as aforesaid 5. The Confirmation of the Election of Bishops to vacant Sees according to the Canon Law and as practised in such Kingdoms beyond Sea where the Pope doth claim and exercise a Spiritual Jurisdiction is as to the mode and solemnity thereof quite another thing to what the practice is with us in this Realm 6. In France though the Nomination of a Bishop to succeed in a vacant See belongs to the French King yet if he doth not Nominate within Six or Nine months next after the death of the former Bishop Jus devolutum est ad Papam if a Bishoprick be there void be it quomodocunque whether by Cession or otherwise the Law speaks indefinitely in that case the King shall Nominate in France who shall be the new Bishop but then he must Nominate within Six or Nine months which being Elapsed and no Nomination he cannot afterwards Nominate Nam jus sit ad Papam devâ—lutum nec poterit purgare moram For the Law in that Case and in that Kingdom is that
of Advowson of a Church he may only say that he was seized as of Fee and not in his Demesn as of Fee whether it be an Advowson in Gross or Appendant which Appendancy is held to be for the most part by Prescription and must relate to such things as are in their own nature of a perpetual continuance for which reason it is That Advowsons cannot be said to be Appendant to Rents Services and the like because such things are extinguishable And although an Advowson be not properly said to be a Demesn yet it may be Appendant to a Demesn as of Lands or things Corporeal and Perpetual and therefore as supposed not to a House of habitation meerly quatenus such yet to the Soyl whereon the House is erected whereby the Law which hath the clearest prospect of Casualties at a distance hath provided that the Advowson shall stand though the House fall but an Advowson Disappendant and in Gross which in man hath alone and not by reason of any other thing but severed from the Lands to which it was Appendant such an Advowson is exempt from divers prejudicial Incidents which the other viz. the Appendant cannot well avoid And where a Subject or Common person hath an Advowson Appendant to a Mannor and there be an Usurpation upon him by a Presentation made by a Stranger whose Clerk is in for Six months though this makes the Advowson of such Common person Disappendant to his Mannor yet it is otherwise in case of the King who may grant the Advowson notwithstanding such Usurpation for a man cannot put the King out of possession either by Presentation or Usurpation as hath been Adjudged Nor doth the King's Presentation by Lapse sever the Advowson from the Mannor or cause it to become disappendant as in Gawdy's Case against the Archbishop of Canterbury and Others was likewise Adjudged in which Case it was also said by Habard Chief Justice That neither doth a wrongful Collation of the Bishops make any Disappendancy nor any binding Plenarty against the true Patron but that he may not only bring his Quare Impedit when he please but also Present upon him seven years after Also whereas it was said before That an Advowson cannot be Appendant to things Extinguishable as to Rents Services and the like so it seems at the Common Law an Advowson in Possession cannot be Appendant to a Reversion expectant upon an Estate for life for the Case was The King seized of a Mannor with an Advowson Appendant granted the Mannor to J. S. for life and then granted the Mannor to J. D. after the death of J. S. Habendum una cum Advocatione and then by Parliament the King reciting both the Grants confirmed them by Parliament yet the Advowson passed not Finally whereas also it hath been Adjudged as aforesaid that the King cannot be put out of possession either by Presentation or Usurpation this seems to refer only as to the Kings Advowson and not as to his present Presentation for the Opinion of Sir H. Hobart Chief Justice is That although the King may be dispossessed of his present Presentation he cannot be so of his Advowson and therefore he may still grant it notwithstanding the Usurpation as was Judged in a Writ of Error upon a Judgment given to the contrary between the King and Campion for the Vicarage of Newton Valence 23. A Donative in the Kings Gift may be with Cure of Souls as the Church of the Tower of London is a Donative in the Kings Gift with Cure as in the Case of Fletcher and Mackaller where Information was brought upon the Stat. 31 Eliz. of Simony for procuring him to be promoted to the Church of the Tower for money and per Curiam it well lies 24. The Queen hath the Advowson of the Vicarage of H. and grants the Vicarage to J. S. It was the Opinion of all the Justices that the Advowson passeth not for that the Vicarage is another thing than the Advowson of the Vicarage The Queen seized of a Mannor to which an Advowson was appendant granted the Mannor cum Advocatione Ecclesiae the Church being then void It was Adjudged the Avoidance did not pass but the Queen should Present pro hac vice And in the Queen and Hussie's Case it was Resolved That a double Presentation would not put the Queen out of possession if she hath Right And in Stephens and Clarks Case it was Resolved That the Grant of the next Avoidance to one during the Avoidance is void in Law CHAP. XX. Of Appropriations 1. The great Antiquity of Appropriations a Conjecture of their Original whether Charles Martell was the occasion thereof they were prohibited in England anciently by the Pope whether they can be otherwise than by the King or some Authority derived from him 2. How the End and use of Appropriations is changed at this day from what it was in the Original Institution thereof 3. Appropriators why called Proprietarii The care of R. 2. in making Provision for thé Vicar in case of Appropriations Requisites of Law to make an Appropriation 4. A further discovery of the Original use and ends of Appropriations and under what qualifications 5. Whether Appropriations were anciently grantable to Nunneries 6. Appropriations not now to be questioned as to their Original 7. A Vicarage endowed may be Appropriated but not to a Parson 8. Three considerable Points of Law resolved by the Justices touching Appropriations 9. Whether an Advowson may be Appropriated without a Succession Appropriations usually were to Corporations or Persons Spiritual 10. How a Church Appropriate may be disappropriated 11. In Appropriations the Patron and his Successors are perpetual Parsons 12. Whether an Appropriation of a Parsonage without endowment of the Vicarage be good Also whether an Appropriation may be made without the Kings License 1. IT is a question at this day undecided Whether Princes or Popes were the first Authors of Appropriations the practice whereof by each of them is of great Antiquity but whether in imitation of Charles Martell's Sacrilegious President the first by whom Tithes were ever violated in the Christian World is but a Supposition rather than any Assertion among Historians It was long since Traditionally Recorded in History that about the year 650. when the said Charles Martell Father of Pipin after King of France in defence of his Country against the Hunnes Gothes and Vandals had slain no less than 34500 of those Infidel Sarazens in one Battel he did not restore to such of the Clergy of France their Tithes as from whom under a fair pretence of supporting the charges of the War thereby he had upon a Promise of Restitution thereof so soon as the War should cease obtained the same but instead thereof gratified such of the Nobility as had assisted him in the War by the grant thereof to them and their Heirs for ever But whether this Sacriledge if it be true had
in strictness of Law by the words cum pertinentiis yet it shall be intended in respect of the Ancient and continued possession that there was a lawful Grant of the King to H. B. c. and all shall be presumed to be done which might make the Ancient Appropriation good And the Reason thereof there given is for that if the Appropriation had been drawn in question in the Life-time of any of the Parties to it they might have shewed the truth of the matter But after so many Successions of Ages in which the Church was esteemed to be rightfully Appropriated the Appropriation shall not now be drawn in question For the same reason a Procedendo was refused to be granted in Chancery in the Case of the Lord St. John of Bletso and the Dean and Chapter of Gloucester the Court then giving for Reason because the Defendant and those from whom he claimed time out of mind had had the possession of a Parsonage as Impropriate saving for some short time and because it shall be a dangerous President for Owners of Impropriations to maintain the Appropriations to be Perfect in all points and circumstances requisite to an Absolute Appropriation the Appropriations being made of Ancient time The like Resolution was given by the Court in Hunston and Cockett's Case viz. That whether an Appropriation be good or not cannot now be called into question but shall be intended to be good and to all requisite Circumstances 7. An Appropriation cannot in any case be made by the Patron himself only yet where the King is Patron it may be made by him Sole And although upon every Appropriation there ought to be an Endowment of a Vicar yet a Vicarage it self Endowed may as hath been held by the whole Court be Appropriated but not to the Parson and as in the Book 21 H. 6. is such a Vicarage as may afterwards be dissolved And if a Lease be made of a Parsonage Impropriate by one who hath not any thing therein during the life of the Incumbent it will be void nor can an Appropriation be made to a Church which is Full of an Incumbent but by Special words It hath also been held That a Vicarage Perpetual could not be dissolved after the Statute of 4 H. 4. and that the Pope had not any power to make any Ordinance against that Statute by which he hath not any Right to meddle with Advowsons Benefices c. and that by his Bulls he cannot dispence with the Law though they tend in ordine ad Spiritualia 8. Touching Appropriations there were Three considerable Points in Law Resolved by the Justices in Grendon's Case 1 That none is capable of Appropriation but a Body Corporate or Politick Spiritual which hath a Succession For that the effect of an Appropriation as to the first Institution thereof was to make the Body Politick perpetual Incumbent and to have the Rectory and that he hath the Cure of all the Souls of the Parishioners and therefore he must be a Spiritual person 2 That the King Ordinary and Patron ought to be assenting unto every Appropriation and that the Authority which the Pope had usurped in this Realm was by Parliament An. 25 H. 8 acknowledged to be in the King and the King being Supream Ordinary might of his own Authority and Jurisdiction make an Appropriation without the Assent of the Bishop 3 That an Appropriation may be made by Apt words when the Church is Full as to say That the Parson who is a Spiritual person after that the Church shall be void shall be Parson and may retain the Glebe and the Fruits of the Church to his proper use and that the same shall be a good Appropriation when the Church shall be void by death or otherwise 9. It is brought by way of Report to us That it was the Opinion of the Master of the Rolls in the great Case of Consultation which was argued in the Exchequer Chamber the 18 H. 6. 21. a. That an Advowson could not be Appropriate without a Succession although that the Incumbent purchased the Advowson by License to hold to his Own use Where it was further said That if a Prior were seized of an Advowson to him and his Heirs and he purchase License of Appropriation and that he and his Successors might hold the Advowson to their own use yet the Advowson shall descend to his Heirs But in such case if he would have the Appropriation to be good it were best to alien the Advowson and after to re-purchase it to him and his Successors and then the Appropriation will be good All Appropriations have been usually to Corporations or persons Spiritual and not to Bodies Politick consisting of meer Lay-men or Lay-Corporations And in Alden and Tothil's Case it was in question Whether the King since the Statute of 25 H. 8. might by his Letters Patents Appropriate a Church Parochial which was before Presentative unto a Lay-Corporation all the Members of the Corporation being meer Lay-men which Case was not then Resolved 10. As a Church Parochial might be Appropriated so a Church which is Appropriated to a Spiritual Corporation may become disappropriate if the Corporation be-dissolved Also if the Advowson of a Church were by License granted to a Prior and his Successors and afterwards the same Church were Appropriated to him and his Successors so as thereby they became perpetual Parsons Imparsonees In that Case if the Wife of a Grantor were endowed of the Advowson and Presented a Clerk who was Admitted Instituted and Inducted the Appropriation would be defeated for ever for the whole Estate of the Parson Imparsonee is thereby avoided And so it was Adjudged 2 E. 3. 8. sed Quaere For in the Case of Lancaster and Lucas it was held by the Court That in such Case the Church was Disappropriated but during the life of the Wife and after her death it should remain as Appropriated 11. Sir H. Hobart Chief Justice in the Case of Colt and Glover against the Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield says That the proper and operative word that doth Appropriate is to make the Patron and his Successors Perpetual Parsons and in the Case of Wright against Gilbert Gerrard and Richard Hildersham That the Instrument of Appropriation runs in these words That they and their Successors not their Assigns shall be Parsons or by Periphrasis hold the Church in proper use and the words of Appropriating are that they may hold Ecclesiam Rectoriam in proprios usus as in Grindon's Case and says further that Appropriations cannot endure longer than the Bodies whereunto they were first Appropriate because it carries not only the Glebe and Tithes but doth also give the Spiritual Function makes the Parsons of the Church and supplies Institution and Induction 12. A Prior was seized of the Advowson of a Parsonage the Church being void the Bishop gave him License to hold
Rule for the Judges in that Court to proceed also And then the Plaintiff may if he will have a new Prohibition against the Executors c. 46. In Norton's Case Finâ—h Recorder said de Communi jure for Estovers burnt in an House Tithes ought not to be paid by the Common Law there was not any Tithes paid for Wood And although the Statute of 25 E. 3. gives a Prohibition for Timber yet Vnder-woods were discharged of Tithes Vid. Dr Stud. 171. It is express that Estovers are not Tithable because they are not renewing every year and it is parcel of the Inheritance for to destroy all the Underwoods is Waste c. Dawley's Case was Resolved for the Wild of Sussex and Mich. 13 Jac. B. R. in the Case of Porter and Dyke for the Wild of Kent of the same Prescription Resolved to be good and so is the Common Experience that a whole County may Prescribe so And the reason is for that by the Common Law it was not due but by the Constitution of Winchelsey Lindwood 104. it was Ordained to be paid for then the Prelates imputed a great Pestilence that then was for the negligence of paying Tithes and appointed Tithes of Wood. And the Commons were desirous to have the Statute of Sylva c. otherwise explained than the Clergy declares it for they say that they ought not to pay Tithes of any Wood that is of the growth of ten years Hutton Wood is Tithable in their nature and then there may be a Custome to discharge them And the Case of Hearthpeny cannot be answered for if he Sues for the peny a Prohibition shall not be granted quod concessum fuit per Crook Yelverton But of things not Tithable Tithes of them cannot be sued without alledging a Custome Crook It is known that Hearthpeny is good by Prescription This Case is when there is not Land belonging to the House so that the Parson is not answered for his Tithes another way But when there are Ten Servants kept for the maintaining it then by the Law of the Land it appears that Tithes ought not to be paid although Custome had been alledged it is nothing to the purpose As if a Custome be alledged to pay 4 d. for every Acre in discharge of Tithes and the Verdict find 3 d. no Consultation shall be granted Hutton the Herbage of Barren Cattel is Tithable because there is a Custome which discharges those that are for the Cart. And he said That the Custome only makes that Legem terrae And he cited Dr. Grauut's Case He Libels for Tithes of a House and the party brought a Prohibition and alledged Modum Decimandi c. And it was alledged in Arrest of Judgment that Houses were not Tithable de Communi jure and yet a Consultation was granted c. 47. A Case between Stone and Walsingham having been formerly in the Court touching Tithes the Case was again moved in Court which was that they agreed de anno in annum so long as the one should be Parson and the other Parishioner Si ambabus partibus tam diu placuerit he should retain his Tithes for 6 s. 8 d. per An. And Richardson Justice said and it was not denied That the Suggestion is naught for the uncertainty of it and a Prohibition cannot be granted upon that For the words de annâ— in annum make an Estate for a year and the next words make an Estate for Life and the last words but an Estate at Will and what shall be Traversed here It appears that for Years it is good without Deed but not for life and if it be but at Will when the other demands his Tithes the Will is determined But at another day the Suggestion was made That he made several Agreements with his Parishioner that he pay 6 s. 8 d. for his Tithes for four years And then a Prohibition was granted Harvey sufficit If an Agreement be proved for these four years 48. Sâ—â—t moved for a Prohibition That whereas he had twenty Acres of Wheat and had set out the Tenth part for Tithe the Defendant pretending that there was a Custome of Tithing that the Owner should have fifty four Sheaves and the Parson five and so he sued for Tithes for that there was no such Custome And the Court said That the Modus decimandi must be sued for as well in the Ecclesiastical Court as for the Tithe it self And if it be allowed between the parties they shall proceed there but if the Custome be denied it must be tried at the Common Law For if it be found for a Custome Consultation must be granted if not then the Prohibition is to stand 49. Napper against Steward the Parson had a Prohibition against divers of his Parishioners that Libelled in the Ecclesiastical Court to make Proof by Witness of divers manner of Tithing in perpetuam rei memoriam 50. A Prohibition for H. against E. Farmer of the Rectory of S. and prescribed That all Tenants and Occupiers of Meadow had used to cut the Grass and to straw it abroad called Tetting and then gathered into Wind-rows and then put it into Grass-Coâ—ks in equal parts without any fraud to set out the Tenth-Cock great and small to the Parson in full satisfaction as well of the first as of the latter Math Upon Traverse of the Custome it was â—ound for the Plaintiff and exception was taken That the Custome was void because it imports no more than what every Owner ought to do and so no recompence for the two Maths But the Court gave Judgment â—or the Plaintiff for Dismes naturally are but the Tenth of the Revenue of any Ground and not of any labour or Industry Where it may be divided as in Gross it may though not in Corn and in divers places they sâ—t out the Tenth acre of Wood standing and so of Grass And the Jury having found his Form of Tithing there it is sufficient and the like Judgment upon the like Custome was in the Kings Bench. Pasch 2 Jac. Rot. 191 or 192. inter Hall Symonds 51. In Johnson's Case if a Prohibition be granted upon matter at Common Law as upon a Personal Agreement between Parson and Parishioner for his Tithes and not upon matter within the Stat. of 2 E. 6. 13. the Suggestion shall not be Proved within the Six months as the Statute limits and as it is Agreed by the whole Court 52. The Defendant here in the Prohibition Libels for Tithes of Hay in the Ecclesiastical Court The Plaintiff suggests that the Hay was growing upon Greenskips Deals and Headlands and that there is a Custome that the Parishioners in a Meadow there used to make the Tithe-Hay for the Parson and in consideration of that to be discharged of all Tithes of Hay growing ut supra and also that for the Hay of the Land no Tithe ought to be paid of such Hay but does
interdum vicesima aut tricesima And in Heâ—sloe's Case Co. 9. par it is said That Tithes Quatenus Tithes were Spiritual things and due ex jure Divino and were not accounted as Temporal Inheritances Hence it is That where a Parson leased all his Glebe Lands with all Profits and Commodities rendring 13 s. 4 d. pro omnibus exactionibus demandis and afterwards Libelled in the Spiritual Court against his Lessees for the Tithes thereof It was the Opinion of the Court That Tithes are not things issuing out of Lands nor any Rent or duty but Spiritual and if the Parson doth Release to his Parishioners all Demands in his Lands his Tithes thereby are not extinct and therefore a Consultation was granted And in the like case it hath been Adjudged That the Lessee should pay Tithes to the Parson for that they are jure Divino due and cannot be included in Rent If a Parishioner sets forth his Tithes and sever the Tenth part from the Nine parts justly and truly although he doth not give Personal notice to the Parson nor general notice in the Church of the time of setting forth his Tithes whereby the Parson might be present at the setting of them forth and to see that it be justly done yet it is a good setting forth of the Tithes as in the Case between Chase and Ware in a Writ of Error upon a Judgment in an Action upon the Case against the Parson for leaving his Tithe of Hay upon the Parishioners ground after notice of setting them forth whereby the Parishioner lost his Grass there But it was not alledged that the Parson had notice of the time of setting them forth and yet the Court affirmed the Judgment against the Parson A. Parson in Consideration of 20 s. yearly promised to B. that B. should pay no Tithe for a certain Wood per parol and in Consideration thereof B. promised to pay the 20 s. yearly and this Agreement was during their Lives B. made a Lease at Will of the Wood the Lessee had a Prohibition against him for the Agreement was good and Jermyn demanded what Remedy against the Lesse for the 20 s. Doderidge None but he shall have Action on the Case against B. or his Executors but the Lessee for years may have Action against the Parson if he Sue him in the Ecclesiastical Court. For the Case was There was an Agreement per parol made between S. Parson and B. the Parishioner B. promised to S. for himself his Executors and Assigns to pay him Ten load of Wood and 10 s. for the Tithe of a Wood during the life of S. And S. promised not to Sue him c. for any other Tithe B. dies his Executor made a Lease at Will of the Wood the Question is whether the Tenant at Will may take his Action against the Parson who sued him for other Tithes c. In a Prohibition against a Parson who sued for Tithes it was Surmized That the Clerk of the Parish and his Predecessors Assistants to the Minister had used to have five shillings for the Tithe of the Lands where c. It was the Opinion of the Court That if this Special matter be shewed in the Surmize it might perhaps be good by reason of long continuance But they held that by Common intendment Tithes are not payable to a Parish-Clerk and he is no party in whom a Prescription can be alledged wherefore a Consultation was awarded The Parson of T. sued for Tithe-Wood of the Park of T. for a Prohibition it was surmized That he and all those c. time out of mind c. had used to pay to the Vicar of T. ten shillings yearly for all Tithes of Wood growing in the place and the proof was That he paid ten shillings for discharge of Tithe-Wood in the Park and two other places The Prohibition was denied and a Consultation awarded because the right of Tithes between the Parson and the Vicar came in question and because the party failed in the proof of his Prescription In a Prohibition to stay Suit for Tithes surmizing that he set forth his Tithes and for some reasonable cause he detained part of them And the Parson sued him in the Ecclesiastical Court upon which it was Demurred because by the fetting forth they were Lay-Chattels But the Court held That the Prohibition did not lie for against the party himself who setteth forth his Tithes a Suit is maintainable in the Ecclesiastical Court if he detains them although he might have his Remedy for them at the Common Law Otherwise if they were taken away by a Stranger after they were set forth For a Prohibition it was Surmized That he had used to pay the Tenth sheaf of Corn the Tenth Cock of Hay the Tenth Fleece of Wool and so the like in satisfaction of all Hay Corn Cattel c. And it was held That it was no sufficient Surmize for a Prohibition because that which he used to pay is but the Tenth in kind In Sands and Pruries Case the question was whether Tithes were grantable by Copy It was Objected they could not because it is against the nature of Tithes whereof none could have property before the Council of Lateran and it was impossible there should be any Custome to demise them by Copy when none had interest in them and they cannot be parcel of a Mannor for they are of several natures though united in one mans hands But by the Court Resolved they might be granted by Copy so it had been time so out of mind A Parishioner severed his Tithes but being in a Close the Gate was locked so as the Parson could not come at them The question was whether the Gate were locked or open and thereupon a Prohibition brought The Court was of Opinion that although the Tithes were severed yet they remain Suable in the Ecclesiastical Court and then the other is but a consequent thereof and Triable there and the Prohibition denied In Sharington and Fleetwood's Case it was Resolved That if a Parson Libels for Tithes and a Prohibition is granted and after he Libelleth for the Tithes of another year the first Suit not being determined an Attachment upon the Prohibition lieth against him And in the Case between Talentire and Denton where the Bishop of Carlisle being seized in Fee of Tithes in right of his Bishoprick made a Lease of them for Three Lives rendring the ancient Rent the Tithes having been usually demised for the same Rent It was Resolved That the Lease was not good against his Successor because he had not remedy for the Rent by Distress or Action of Debt Otherwise it had been if only a Lease for years for there Debt lieth for the Rent In Leigh and Wood's Case it was Resolved That if the Owner sets forth his Tithe and a Stranger takes them no Suit shall be for the same in the Ecclesiastical Court