because that had this Condition annexed viz. I ordain A. mine Heir and if he will not be Heir then my will is that B. shall be my Heir e Inflit. eod now this of ours iâ— not bound but is rather tacitely imposed contrary to the Legator as namely thus I give and bequeath such a Fee to A. and if he accept it then I will that such or such shall be his Heir or Successor f Westminst 2 c. 1. Dr. Stu. l. 7. c. 24. 2. In like manner if we bequeath any thing conditionally to any one we make Substitution to another in Case the condition be not performed for Example I give a hundred pounds to A. when he shall marry a Wife or if he shall not get a son of my Daughter lawfully then I give the said hundred pounds to B. Of Pupillary Substitution TIT. XVI IN this Substitution we do not so much regard the power of our Countrey as the liberty of tâ—e Testator so that a Legat oâ— may make a Substitution Pupillary either to his own chidren or to strangers Legatees who are under age As I give to A. my own child or anothers a hundred pounds when he shall come to age and if he shall die before then I bequeath the same one hundred pounds to B. But in regard that Cases of Wills are for the most part tried in the Ecclesiasticall Courts and by the Rules of the Civill and Pontificiall Law a Bra. l. 2. c. 26 n 2. therefore our Law hath as it were past by for the most part this and other things of the same nature and leaveth them to be determined by the Civill and Pontificiall Law How Wills are invalidated TIT. XVII WIl ls cannot be justly made ab initio by those who are not permitted to make Wills those who are we have mentioned before they may also be nulled by a later Will a Perk. 476. 479. 480. Fulb. paral Devises fo 47. or invalidated by Treason c. as where one is condemned for Treason or Felony after his Will made b Stan. pl. corp l. 3 c. 20. and c. 32. or if the Testator revoke his Will or be deprived of the Executor whom he named c Bro. Exec. throughout 1. Suppose A. make two Wills one in the sixth the other in the eighth year of Eliz. at length he is sick and speechlesse B. his familiar friend comes unto him giveth him into his hands both the Wills and desires him to return that which he would have stand for his Will A. returns that which was made the sixth yeare in this Case that will which he returned shall be esteemed the later d Perk. 479 2. And it happens sometimes that a mans will which according to the Civill Law is ambulatory or alterable untill Death cannot be altered in regard of prejudicing another Contract upon which account the will was made for Example A. is seised of Lands in Fee which he alienates to B. upon condition that they shall be his for life to the use of the said A. the Remainder e in ip Co. I am arcisc l. omnium 19 C. de Testa f Dier fo 49. n. 12. to C. and his Heires for ever and upon this A. makes his last will after having given the possession to B. This will quatenus to the alienation cannot be nulled by a later and the Reason is because the use of the said Lands do immediately belong to C. to whom the Remainder is transferred so that he may immediately sell them if he please g Id fo 325. n. 73. Perr 480. Of those Wills which were called by the Civilians Testamenta inofficiosa TIT. XVIII THe Plaint or Action in the Case of Testamentum inofficiosum is not in use with us for as concerning Lands holden by Knights Service in case the Father do not leave his lawfull Heir either while he lives or at his death a third part according to the Statute the will is void as to that part a 32 H. 8. c. 1 so that the Heir may notwithstanding take possession thereof or else if he have gotten it he may immediately himself refuse b Brac. l. 2. c 30 n 2 the parcell bequeathed or quit it or remove it by Law c Id ib 1. For the disposing of Chattells there are severall Customes in severall places of which there remain very clear signes in the ancient writers of our Law d Glan l 7 c 5 and 7 Brac l 2 c 26 n 2 but by the Common Law the Testator had alwayes a Free will of disposing e Id ib wherefore that writ which is called Breve derationabili partebonorum which liâ—s for the wife or children against the Executors for the recovery of part of the Goods f Regist fo 142 b F n 122 â— is not generall but peculiar to certain Countreys where the Custome is that Debts being paid the Remainder should be divided into parts viz. one part to the wife the other to the Children and the third to be left at the will of the Testator Of the Quality and difference of Heirs TIT. XIX HEirs as they are taken with us were necessary in time past as to the driving an Inheritance from our ancient Predecessors to the next Ancestor a Glan l 7 c 1 as they are now with us as to part b 32 H 8 c 1 and that not onely as to a Succession in the Estate but also as to the drawing upon themselves the Debt of their Ancestor c Brac l 2 c 16 n 7 and they were also for ever bound and obliged to warranties that is to the assurances which either they or their ancestors ingaged and promised to those to whom they sold any Land 1. But for that it is evident that children naturall and legitimate are preferred before others to Succession it were not amisse to see the Estate and difference of Children which really is very much for of Children some are naturall and legitimate and of this sort some are Sons and Heirs some Sons but not Heirs some also are Heirs of the Father some of the Mother some both of Father and Mother some also are not Heirs although legitimate and naturall some by accident begin to be Heires and some cease to be so so also of naturall and legitimate Issue some are near some more near some are removed some more removed d Brac. l. 2. c. 29 30. Brit. c. 118. Coo. l. 3. Ratc. Case fo 40 41 42. Plow 28. Flet. l. 6. c. 1. but of this elsewhere Of Devises TIT. XX. THat kind of Donation which is in Case of Death is where the Testator had rather that himself should injoy the thing bequeathed then that the party to whom it is bequeathed should have it and yet that he had rather that the party to whom it is bequeathed shall have it then his owne Heire a Brac. l. 2. c. 21. n. 1. 1. Our Common Law
although for the most part it leaves the Cases of wills to be tried by the Ecclefiasticall Courts according to the Rules of the Civil and Common Law yet are there certan particular Cases of Lands and Chattells really and which she hath reserved to her self and those with as much brevity as we can we shall sum up 2. And in the first place all may give Legacies who are capable of making wills and who they are we have formerly mentioned but no man can rightly bequeath Lands or Tenements who hath not the possession of them at the time of the making of the will b Fulb. Par. e. Devises fo 37. a. 32. 34. H. 8. which is to be understood if no other person be not also in possession in his right or name for one may bequeath a Reversion 3. All men also are capable of Legacies who are not especially excepted by the Law which are religious persons and persons not yet in being although they afterwards shall be As if one makes a bequest to such a Colledge or Chantry of which name though there be not any at the time of the Testators death yet there happens to be one afterwards c Perk. 505 Fulb. ib. fo 35. b. but a Post humus in favour of Testaments Although he be in the Wombe is notwitstanding supposed to have being d Tearmes v. devise 4 A Husband although he cannot make a Gift to his wife in his life time because they are both adjudged one and the same person during Matrimony yet he may give and bequeath Lands unto her by will in regard that Legacies take no Effect before the death of the Testator by which this conjunction is dissolved e Fulb. ib. 36. a. 5. One may also give a Legacy to an uncertain person which may afterwards be rendred certain as an annuity is given to A. for life and after his death to him who shall first in the Morning enter Saint Pauls Church and to his Heires B. enters in the morning before any one else this Legacy shall inure not only to A. but to B. and his Heires also f Id. ib. 6. A Body politick unlesse by the Kings particuler Charter is not in capacity of receiving an Estate bequeathed g Perk. 505 7. By our ancient Law Fees could not be bequeathed by will h Id. 537. Brit. c. 34. 27. H. 8. c. 10. Dr. Stu. l. 1. c. 7. and c. 20. Dier fo 74. n. 14. but necessarily discended to the next Heires i Glan l. 7. c. 1. Bract. l. 2. c. 26. Dier fo 127. n. 54. except contrary to the Common Law the particular custome of any City or Corporation permitted k Lit. l. 2. c. 18. F. N. B. 198. I. unlesse the Heir consented to such bequests Whosoever therefore would by his will give Lands to another did first infeoff one in them to the use of himself and his Heirs l Perk. 528. and by this means he might bequeath the use of the said Lands although he could not the Lands themselves unto a third person m Id. ib. 97. but later times have remedied this inconveniency or rather poor and weak comment and hath deereed that not only uses but even the Lands themselves with some moderation may be bequeathed n 32. H. 8. c. 1. Bro. testam 19. Swinb part 3. S. 4. Coo. l. 7. Case Butler fo 30. for of a Knights Fee we are yet obliged to leave the Heir a third part and we are prohibited the bequeathing of Lands by a will nuncupative in regard of the deceit and fraud they are subject unto o Dier 155. n. 21. 8. If a man and his Wife ioyntly purchase Lands to them and the Heirs of the man and the Husband bequeath them after the death of him and his wife to a stranger this is good For in this case the Husband hath the Fee-simple p Perk. 539. 9. If there be two Joynt-Tenants in Fee-simple where by the custome of the place Lands and Tenements may be given by will and one of them bequeaths his right to a third person this is void For since a Will is not in force untill the death of the Testator the right of a Joynt-Tenant at the very instant of his death is transferred by law unto his fellow q Inst Jur. Com. c. 15 which notwithstanding is otherwise in Partners because Partners have their Lands by blood and Inheritance and not by the Courtesy or pleasure of a Donor Joynt-Tenant have theirs r Ib. 10. A man may also appoint by his will that his Executors may sell those Lands which he hath in Fee and which he may bequeath and that the profits arising from such Saile may be imployed for pious uses or for the good of his Soul s Perk. 422. 541. 543. 21. H. 8. c. 4. but iâ— they shall cease to fulfill the command of the Testator within two years the Heir may enter upon them and eject them t Fulb. par c. Devises fo 40. Plow fo 523. 11. A. being Tenant in Socage gives the Lands which he hath in Fee-simple to his wife for tearm of life the Remainder to B. his Brothers Son and the Heires males of his Body and if it shall happen the said B. to dy without Heires of his Body begotten not expresly nor implicitely naming males there the said Remainder to C. another Kinsman and his Heires males in Fee-simple and for defect of Heires males of the said C. then to the next Heirs males of the said lineage lawfully begotten B. dies leaving only Issue D. a Daughter the question is whether D. shall have the Lands by force of those words and if it shall happen c. or some other Heir male more remote But it was adiudged that those words did not create a general Tail to the Heirs of B. or hinder the Lands from remaining to the Heirs males according as devised u Dier 171. n. 7. 12. Chattells of any sort may be bequeathed by will w Perk. 511. wherefore the profits arising either from the custody of a Body or Lands of a Ward a Lease for years Horses Oxen Sheep Gold Silver either in Plate or Money Rings all manner of Vessells without exception are diviseable x Id. 525. unlesse the Testator had but a Joynt possession of them at the time of his death y Dr. and. Stu. l 1. c. 6. Lit. l. 3. c. 3. and unlesse they be affixed to the Fee or Free-hold and cannot being reputed parcell of it be removed without wast z Bro. Execut. 65. 13. Monies also due upon Bond or Condition may be devised for that after they are paid to the Executors they are due to the Legatee a Perk. 527. 14. Chattells which a man hath in right of his Wife as Leases for years c. are deviseable b Id. 560. 15. A thing uncertain may be also devised so long as it may be reduced to
as it were swallowed up nor can any thing be reassumed by the Wife surviving but her womans apparell and so of imoveables and realls if allened by the Husband in his life time but for those which are not alienated he being dead they shall return to the Wife a Plow 418. 4â—9 but if a Wife being Executrix or Administratrix to a former Husband marries a second and survives him she shall have all those Goods both personall and and reall which she brought unto him as possessed of by reason of that relation and office and which are not alienated by her second husband restored unto her without diminution b Vid. infra tit 11. par 7. The other consequence of Marriage is that lawfull or reasonable Dower under which notion she shall have the third part of all such Lands and Tenements which her Husband was seised of in Fee for her life c Flet. l. 5. c. 22. 27. An. 3. 6 Id. 6. in provis Dyer 140. but in case the husband shall happen to be attainted of treason or felony there the wife shall loose her Dower d 1 Jac. ses 1. c. 11. 12. Of Adoptions TIT. XI a Bract. l. 2â— c. 29. n. 4 5. BRacton in the place before mentioned calls silence and Patience in the case of adulterate Issue adoption which creates such Children being in our power free and legitimate I have also heard of that kind of Adoption amongst us which the Romans used But this seemes rather to be by private will and agreement of the persons adopting and adopted then by any Law for this is at our own election that we may give Lands purchased by our selves or which we have by discent unlesse they be given conditionally or as we tearm it by intail to whomsoever we please whether to one of our Kindred or whether it be to a stranger without having any relation to those Children which we have whence it is apparent that the custome which the Romans had of Adoption was either never received amongst us or else that it is long since as with the French wholy extinct b V. Equinarium Baronem in particula posteriori suorum comment super Instit hoc Tit. How and by what means Paternall Jurisdiction is dissolved TIT. XII WE have spoken before how paternall Jurisdiction is occasioned and constituted now we are to declare how it is dissolved and taken away And we must know that this is done three manner of waies By naturall death by civill death and by dignity or honour For if the Father in whose power the Son is dieth the Son remains at his own disposing although sometime in the custody of a Lord or the care of Freinds or Parents But the Grandfather on the Fathers side being dead the grandchildren are not in their own power but remain under the Jurisdiction of the Father if he survive the Grandfather and do not at all go out of his power as in the case of a Emancipation or Dignity a Bract. l. 1. c. 10. Flet. l. 1. c. 7. 1. So by a civill death as in case the Father be condemned for Felony committed or exiled But if he be banished but for a time he shal retain his Children under his power because whatever is his he shall injoy at his coming back b Id. ibid. 2. Paternall Jurisdiction is dissolved also by Emancipation As if a man discharge his Son from his family with any part of his Inheritance as it was the custome in former times c Id. eod for this kind is a kind of a civill death of the Son as is the entrance into Religion d 4 H. 4. c. 17 3. This power is dissolved also by dignity as in a case the Son be made a Bishop e Bract. ubi supra 4. But as this Bond of paternall power is not so strict with us as it was with the Romans so neither is the releasing of it by Emancipation so usuall For I finde nothing in our Lawes which hinders a son or daughter from disposing of themselves even against their Fathers consent so soon as they shall come to the age of one and twenty years It is most certain that they may then enter Marriage or Contract with any one and be no lesse obliged by a Contract then â—f they were threescore For this age with us is perfect and full maturity f Bract. l. 1. c. 10. n. 2. Lit. l. 2. c. 4. Of Wardships TIT. XIII OF those which are under the power or Jurisdiction of others there are some which are in the custody or protection of Lords some are under the care of Parents and Friends and some are not obliged by either as those which are at full age a Bract. l. 1. c. 10. num 2. 1. The word protection is not so frequent with us as Custody For as we have many Species of Law from the Normans so have we words also now they call him 〈◊〉 Guardian which the Romans tearmed Tutor or which was rather meant and comprehended under their appellations of Tutor and Curator together In which we imitate them in calling them Guardians 2. These Guardians are appointed sometimes by the Fathers will sometimes by the Law and sometimes by the Magistrate Foâ— where the Father hath only an Estate of Money or Chattells to leave to those Children which being under age are in his power he may commit the care and Government 〈◊〉 them together with the Legacies to any 〈◊〉 his Friends b Cook l. 3. case Ratcl f. 37 38. he also hath the like power with a Father who shall infeost an Infant iâ— Lawes for he may commit the Custody 〈◊〉 him according to his pleasure to whom 〈◊〉 pleaseth c Flet. l. 1. c. â— and what is here mentioned of Children born may be understood of Post humi Who they are that by Testament may appear Guardians TIT. XIIII WHosoever hath a Free administration and power of dispensing his Goods may constitute a Guardian by his will provided he be of perfect age and sound memory a Glan l. 7. c. 6. and this also may be performed by a Woman b Brit. c. 35. But if an Infant or one that is not Compos mentis be ordained he cannot be admitted untill the defect be removed c Swinb part 3. Sect. 10. 1. A man may constitute his own Villain or Native Guardian over his Children or anothers with the permission of his Lord but it is worthy consideration whether a Villaine by this Act shall gain his Liberty d Sus de libertinis tit 5. 2. One may also constitute his Apprentice e Brook Testament 8. whosoever may be an Executor may also be a Guardian f Swinb part 3. Sect. 10. Of the lawfull Guardian-ship of Kindred TIT. XV. WEE have spoken allready of Guardians which are appointed by Law and this is by reason of an Estate in Fee which shall discend to Infants
the Son a Knight or to marry the Daughter Quit-Rents and others which for that they depend upon divers Customes of severall places and upon the severall will of Lords is impossible punctually to reckon p Bro. Tit. Tenures n. 50. 53. 58. 29. Secta ad Curiam is a service which binds the Tenant to frequent the Court of his Lord q F. N. B. fol. 158. But they are not Feodaries alone who are obliged to this For wee have mention made of a four-fold suit of Court One by Covenant and Oligation Viz. when another who is not the Lord of my Fee Covenants with me or my Ancestors though not his Feodaries to performe this suite of Court Another by Custome where any one and his Ancestors time out of mind were wont to come to the Court of another and his Ancestors though not Lord of their Fee The third we may call a Servile suit which the Feodary performs to the Lord under the notion of service The fourth is Royall by which are found to goe twice a year to the Sheriffs Courts or Leet Courts that they may not be ignorant of what is done there for the peace of the Common-wealth Now our Authors call it Royall though by corruption some rearm it reall because the maine reason of it is to perform Legiance to the King for there all above 12. yeares old r Termes of the Law Tit. sug take the Oath before mentioned 30. Secta ad molendinum is a service by which the Feodaries as bound by Custome to carry their Corn to be ground at the Mill of their Lord. Å¿ F. N. B. sol 122. 31. Heriot otherwise Hariat is compounded of the Saxon words Here Geat Here signifying an Army and Geat a Journey and it was a Tribute payedunto the Lord when hee went to Warre t Lamb. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vero. Heriot Bracton sayes that Heriot is alone with Releife u L. 2. c. 36. And Britton w C. 69. Flet. l. 1. c. 18. That it is the Gift of the Feodary at his Death given to his Lord by which he leaves unto him the best Beast he hath or some other thing according to Assignment And he saith that this doth not touch the Lord nor the Heir or Inheritance not that it is to be likened to Releif But that it rather springs from the love and courtesie of the Tenant coming either from a Right or necessity of Duty and that both from villains and Free-Tenants Heriot is at this day a service by which the Tenant is bound to leave to his Lord the best Beast or for defect of that some other moveable which hee hath at the time of his Death And this is two-sold namely servile which Tenant in Fee simple payeth or constumary which is â—yed by Tenant for life according to the â—ustome x Bro. Tit. Heriot n. 5. Of Uses and Profits TIT. IV. IT appears from what hath been said that Services are either reall or personall a Brac. l. 4. tr 1. c. 39. 〈◊〉 reall we have already spoken personall â—re such as are due unto the person b Id. ibid. and â—is kind is twofold one due from the perâ—on of one to the person of another of which â—lso we have made mention before the other which is due from an estate to a person of which sort are profits uses Habitation whereâ—â—re uses and profits in respect of the perâ—on to whom they are due is a Right in reâ—pect of the thing which is due a Serâ—ice c Id. l. 4. tr 1. c. 37. n. 1. 1. Since there are none in England besides the Soveraigne power who hath a plenary and absolute dominion over immoveables it is not hard to discern who they are that are Possessors of estates as to the profits the estates being not wholly theirs which we shall tearm usufructuarii and who nor namely whether all Subjects by what Title soever they hold or onely some who hold by this or that Title for those which have a Fee have onely a power profitable d Wesenbec dâ— feod c. 1. n. 4. which according to the Feodists ceaseth they violate the faith due to their Lord 〈◊〉 not by our Law save in Case of Felony e Stanf. plac Coron l. 3. c. 30 now he which hath any use or profits loâ—â— hath some way or other a power also f Bra. l. 4 tr 1. c. 36. n. 2. Moreover he which hath a Fee-farm whoâ— the Civill Law of the Romanes called Eâ—phytenticus g vectigal ager which is one that hath anâ— state to improve although he have a perpâ—tuity yet he payes a yearly Rent by 〈◊〉 of an acknowledgement of the Seignâ—rie h Brit. c. 66. Lastly he that hath a Freehold and abuseth it is liable to an Action 〈◊〉 Waste i F. n. b. fo 55 Dr. Stu. l. 1. c 23 flet l 1. c. 12 which should not be were 〈◊〉 sole Lord and had absolute power in 〈◊〉 disposing of it but Bracton is very clear 〈◊〉 declaring what Titles our Lawyers incâ—â—â— under the notion of uses and profits for 〈◊〉 stinguishing between a Free-hold and aâ—â— state in profits he is much more diligentâ— distinguishing between Fee k l 4 tr 1 c. 36 Plow fo 83 and Fâ—â— Farm or farming of the profits for thâ— in those the possessor hath a perpetuity in theâ—â— only an estate for life whence it follows thâ— he onely is an usufructuary in an Estate 〈◊〉 us who hath Lands or Tenements for Teâ— of years or at the will of another or 〈◊〉 who hath Lands by way of pledge or security which we call Mortgage or by way of Eâ—â—cution whom we call according to the â—â—versity of the cause Tenant by Elegit Tenant by Statute Staple or Statute Merchant or lastly he who hath the Lands of an 〈◊〉 in Right of Guardianship untill he come to full age Now an estate of profits may be created with us either by gift and bequest or by conditional agreement l Inst com c. 5 Flet l. 1. c. 12. and it appears that our ancestors did sever the profits of a Fee from the propriety untill it was changed by Act of Parliament m 27. H. 8. c. 10. Coâ— l. 1. Chudleys Case but those estates which are held by Copy of Court Roll or by the Verge at the will of the Lord cannot be Leased out without the consent of the Lord above a year n Instit com nor can they be bequeathed or aliened by any agreement without being first surrendred into the hands of the Lord and from thence received by him to whom the former Tenant desires to alienate them o Id c. 15. 3. It is held also amongst us that uses and profits may be of those things which are extinguished by use and daily change so that without all doubt one may bequeath or by agreement create an use of Servants Money Oxen Cowes
seised either in his life time or at his death namely upon the day on which he died and if the right discend to more Heires successively and without Seisin yet the Heir hath the same Seisin appertaining to him as the Ancestor had in the time of his life or at his death And where there is a participation or meeting of Propriety with the Seisin the Heir hath immediately Ipso facto a Free-hold b Glan and. Bract. ib. 25. E. 3. Stat. 2. and 42. E. 3. c. 10. Flet. l. 6. c. 1. 3. Our Authors do not make in the case of Heirs a like division some distinguish them into nere and more Remote c Glan l. 7. c. 3 and some into neer and more neer remote and more remote d Bract. l. 20. c. 30. n. 1 Brit. c. 118. Flet. l. 6. c. 1. and 2. 4. If one have many Sonns they are all neer Heirs those that were last born and those that were born before them e Bract. ib. and so are Daughters when Sons faile f Glan ib. The next Heir is he who was born first g Bract. ib. unlesse the custome of the place hinder h Glan ib. or that he be a stranger and the younger Brother a Denizen i Dr. and Stu. l. 1. c. 7. and c. 20. 6. An Heir remote is where one hath many Sons and Daughters the Sons are neer heirs and the Daughters remote this holding alwaies for a Rule that the males shall be preferred before the females of the same degree k Bract. l. 2. c. 30. n. 3. 7. If there be many Sons and no Daughters but Grandsons the Sons shall be neere Heires and the Grandsons remote l Id. ib. if there be many Daughters and no Sons they shall be all next Heirs m Glan ib. 8. So may they be tearmed more remote in respect of the Inheritance being more remote as the lineall Nephew or Neices Son his Grand-son his great Grand-son his great great Grand-son c. In the direct line or if there want of that line then in the transverse Ad infinitum n Bract. l. 2. c. 20. 9. It is the ancient custome of England that the eldest Son should succeed as Heir to his Father but where there is no Son but Daughters then all the Daughters shall be Co-heirs o Dr. and. Stu. ib. Glan ib. Flc. l. 6. c. 1. which is also true in Nephews their Children where males are wanting 10. And this was alwaies a Maxime that a Fee-simple could never ascend from a Son â—o a Father or Mother or any other Ancestor â—n a direct line p Coo. l. 3. fo 40. Ratlifes case Dr. and. Stu. ib. Bract. l. 2. c. 29. Lit. l. 1. c. 1. Brit. c. 119. nor can any one in a â—ransverse line succeed so long as there is an Heir to whom it may discend in the direct q Bract. l. 2. c. 31. n. 1. Flet. l. 6. c. 2. 11. That Issue which is born before marriage is by our Law a Bastard nor can it succeed in an Inheritance nor can a Bastard have any Heir save of his own Body r Dr. and Stu. ib. 20. H. 3. c. 4. Perk. 49. 50. 12. Chattells neither personall nor reall come unto the Heir but by the custome of the Kingdome to the Executors or from an Intestate to the Ordinary and from him to the Administrators whom hee shall appoint s Glan l. 7. c. 16. Perk. 48. or if no body will administer then ought the Ordinary to sequester them upon his own perill t 13. E. 1. c. 19. 31. E. 3. c. 1â— 21. H. 8. c. 5. Flet. l. 2. c. 57. Dier fo 277. n. 57. 13. The Lord of the Mannor is in stead of Heir when either through defect or in case of Felony the blood is extinguished u Flet. l. 6. c. 1. yet at this day this is not without distinction Of the legall Succession on the Fathers side TIT. II. IN the transverse or collaterall line the Rule is that those are Heirs who partake of the whole Blood with the party deceased For example A. hath Issue B. a Son and C. a Daughter by one Venter and D. a Son by a second Venter and dies B. succeeds him and dies without Issue in this case C. the Sister shall succeed and not D. a Lit. l. 1. c. 1. Brit. c. 119. n. 7. Flet. l. 6. c. 1. 1. So also A. having a Brother B. and two Sons viz. C. by one Venter and D. by another dieth to whom C. succeeds and dies without Issue in this case B. the uncle who is of whole-blood shall succeed and not D. the Brother b Lit. ib. Coo. l. 3. Rat. case fo 40. but if B. dy without Issue then D. shall succeed being of intire blood with him both by the Grandfathers side and Grandmothers And therefore if B. had not been Brother to A. both by Fathers side and Mothers side it should have been otherwise 2. The collaterall line is double one descending by the Brother to his Children the other ascending by the uncle but none succeed on the ascending line but for default of Heirs on the descending c Bract. l. 2. c. 30. n. 1. Brit. c. 119. 3. He is Heir in the collaterall discending line who is neerest in degree and if this line fail then he who is next to the party deceased in the ascending collaterall line d Bract. ib. Flc. l. 6. c. 2. 4. If there be two in the same degree and both males the elder is to be preferred but if they be male and female the male is Heir as in the direct and right line e Brit ib. n. 1. 2. and 7. 5. Where an Estate comes by the Mothers side there the Son dying without Issue the next of kinn on the Mothers side is Heir and not the Brother of the Father f Id. ib. but where the Son purchaseth an Estate with his own Mony and dyeth without Issue there the next of kinn on the Fathers side shall succeed and not on the Mothers side unlesse for defect of Heirs on the Fathers side g Lit. l. 1. c. 1. Coo. l. 3. Rat. case fo 39. but the Heir on the mothers side shall succeed rather then the Land shall escheat to the Lord. h Plow 444. 6. A. hath two Sons B. and C. B. in his Fathers life time commits Felony and is punished with Death after which A. dies the question is whether the Fee whereof A. died seised shall escheat to the Lord or discend to C. the second Son And here it is to be considered whether B. dyed without Issue for then it discends to C. otherwise it shall escheat i Dier fo 48. n. 15. but if B. had been condemned living his Father and survived him In this case notwithstanding his dying without Issue the estate should have escheated and not discended to C. k
other Ornaments or Oxen either giving or promising hire such a care is required of him as a diligent Master of a Family would have which being had if the thing by accident happen to be lost hee is not bound to make restitution unlesse it be agreed otherwise Nor is it sufficient that he have such a care of them as of his own goods o Brac. ib. Dr. Stu. l. 1. c. 23. l. 2. 6. 4. Flet. l. 2. c. 59. 5. Letting of Lands and Immoveables is at this day the greatest occasion of suits of all others wherefore it is requisite that wee should speak more largely in this place of these particulars Every one may make a lease of Lands who holds them in Fee whether he have Fee-simple or Fee-taile and whether he be possessed in his own Right in the Right of his Wise or of a Church p 32. H. 8. c. 28. which is also true in those who hold as Partners q Lit. l. 3. c. 3 So also Cestuy qui use r Id. ib. c. 5. a body politick may make a lease but not without writing s Bro. lease 32. 42. As also he who hath a Free-hold t Id. ib. 4. or a Lease provided he exceed not his term and Guardians until their Pupils and Wards come to age 6. He that hath a Fee-simple in his owne Right may make a lease for as many years as he pleaseth provided it be not to a Body politick lest by exceeding it seem a Demise in Mortmaine u Bro. ib. 47. He who hath a Fee-tail in his owne or Fee-simple in anothers Right viz. either in the right of a Church or of his Wife is tied a little more strictly for that they cannot lease Land by a new lease which is already let for above the term of a yeare Nor any which were not usually wont to be let within the space of 20. yeares past nor those for a lesse rent then they formerly were let for or for a longer terme then 21. years or three lives and that without permission of waste To these also may be added that he who hath a Fee in right of his Wife may let it joyntly with his Wife but hath no power to alienate the Rent but it shall come to the right Heir of his wife after her decease w 32. H. 8. c. 28. 7. Arch-bishops Bishops cannot let the Lands of their Churches for above 21. years or 3. lives to be accompted from the beginning of the lease nor for lesse Rent then it formerly went for nor for lesse then formerly it used to be let for x 1 Eliz. not printed Dyer fo 145. n. 65. 8. Masters and Fellowes of Colledges Deans and Chapters Wardens of Hospitalls and all Ecclesiasticall persons are prohibted y 13. Eliz. c. 10. to let their Church or Colledge Lands for more then 3. lives or 21. years to be accompted from the beginning of the lease nor this without their private Statutes permit Nor so unlesse the lease which is on foot if there be any be within three yeares of expiring z 18. Eliz. c. 11. Besides the Colledges of both Universities as of Eaton and Winchester are obliged to take the third part of their Rent in Corn a 14. Eliz. c. 11. Yet are they not prohibited from letting freely those Houses which they have in any City Burrough Towne corporate or publique Market Town with the Lands belonging to them provided they exceed not ten Acres according to the Common Law of England if it be not contrary to the private Statutes of their Colledges b Id. ib. 9. It is not without reason questioned whether a Prebendary of a Cathedrall Church may lawfully let part of his Prebendary procuring the said Lease to be confirmed by the Dean and Chapter without any consent of the Bishop the Bishop being both Patron and Ordinary of every Prebendary but continuall and daily Custome hath rendred his consent unnecessary and uselesse c Dyâ—r fol. 61. n. 30. 10. Those who have Benefices cannot make a Lease for any time longer then they reside there the liberty of being absent 80. dayes every yeare being alwayes permitted them unlesse by the Lawes they are permitted to have two In which case in regard hee cannot possible continually reside at both he may let one to his Curate d 13. Eliz. c. 20. 11. Lands and Tenements are often let for the life of the Lessee e Lit. l. 1. c. 6. or anothers life f Id. ib. or for more lives g Id. ib. or for terme of years h Id. ib. or lastly for a life and afterwards that being expired for a term of years i Bro. leas 51. and that either by writing or without k Littl. ib. nor by Indenture only but by Deed-Pol l F N B 148 12. But if any one letteth his Lands by writing or without not mentioning any tearm but giving the Lessee possession He is presumed to let them for the life of the Lessee m Lit. l. 2 c. l Plow 152. 13. There is no need of giving possession to a Lessee for years for he may enter by vertue of his Lease unlesse besides the Lease there be a Grant of a Remainder to another for life or in fee in the same Deed n Lit. l. 1 c. 7. for if a man makes a Lease of lands for years though he were Lessee before yet he doth rightly take possession of the said Lands by this means o Id ib 14. Lessor is bound to warranty to the Lessee for the Lessee being ejected before the terme ended may have his Action of Covenant against the Lessor p F N B fo 145 M Dier 328 n 8 and that whether he be disseised by the Lessor himself or by a more ancient Title nor only he but his Assignee q Id. ib 15. But if a third person eject him against Right he shall recover damages against the Ejector r Id ib unlesse the Lessor agreed by Indenture that in case the Lessee were ejected he should have his action of Covenant against him s Id id 16. Lessee for life by Indenture in regard he hath a Free-hold shall not have an action of Covenant against the Lessor in case he eject him before his tearm ended but an Assise t Id. ib. 17. Where a Lease is but for a year and so from year to year the Lessor cannot eject the Lessee at the end of the Tearm nor can the Lessee go out against the will of the Lessor For whosoever of them would recede from the agreement ought to give the other warning u Bro. lease 13. 22. 18. Lessor cannot remove his Tenant at Will so as to hinder him from taking the profits of his Seed or Corn sowen or without granting him convenient time to remove his Houshold stuff because the time is well enough force-seen and known to him
Lit. l. 3. c. 4. unlesse the Donees be a Body Politick and receive under that notion or at least one of them in which case they are tenants in Common g Id. ibid. 3. Partners and joint-tenants differ two wayes the former being joyned by necessity and are called Partners meerly in respect of their inheritance Joint-tenants have their name either from purchase or Gift and are joyned together by their own Wills and not by necessity h See the former quotations 4. Thereare also some who are Joint-tenants only for life and yet have severall inheritances as where Lands are given to two men or two women and to the Heirs of their bodies in this Cafe so long as they live they are called Joint-tenants for one of them having Issue and dying his fellow shall have the whole during his life who also if he shall leave Issue and die his Heir with the Heir of him that died before shall hold the said Lands in common i Iâ—st c. 15. and if one of the Donees die without Heire his part for defect of an Heire shall after the death of his fellow revert to the Donor k Littl. l. 3. c. 3. 5. Tenants in common are they who hold the same thing as Lands or Tenements Chattells personall or reall jointly but by severall Titles l Id. ibid. c. 4. for if one parcener alienate or give his Right to a stranger the stranger and the rest are Tenants in Common though the rest amongst themselves enioy their former appellation 6. Wherefore Tenants in Common differ from partners in this that these do not possesse any thing in Common by Right of inheritance as do the others nor are they ioyned by any necessity and from Joint-tenant in that they hold a thing in Common by divers Titles or at least the Tenants are naturally so unequall that they cannot admit of any coniunction such are bodies politick among themselves or with single persons m Id. ibid. 7. First for partners these though they die before Partition transmit and leave their part to their children if they have any otherwise to the rest of their fellows n Id. ibid. c. 2. Inst c. 14. 8. Partition may be made either by mutuall consent o Dier fo 179. or if some refuse by the power of the Judge for he who desireth to have his part divided may have a Writ of Partition by which he shall compell the rest to divide p F. n. b. 61. K. 259. C. 260. B 261. C. but if one woman Partner entermarry and having Issue dieth the Husband being Tenant by the courtesie may compell them to a Partition if it be not already made q Littl. l. 3. c. 2. 9. Littleton doth very fully describe the manner of making Partition both by consent and compulsion but this is rather matter of fact then of Law that onely is observable that if Partition be made by consent one or more of the Partners being under age it may afterwards be corrected wheâ— they come to full age provided they do not confirm it when they come of age by receiving the profits r Id ib. and if it be a Fee-Tail although all be at age at the time of the Partition made yet their Heirs may disagree to 〈◊〉 s id ib. so also if an unequall Partition be made by the Husband of co-Heirs after Marrimony is dissolved either of them may disagree t Id. ib. F. n. b. 62 E. 10. If after Partition any part of either oâ— the Partners Estate lye evicted by Law He or she whose part it was may compell the rest to a new Partition and recover a lawfull part in those Lands which the rest hold u Little ib. c. 2. 11. If there be an Advowson in the inheritance and the Partners will not consent in the Presentation of a Clerk then the eldest shall present in the first vacancy and the rest according to their Case and to this they may be compelled if they refuse to agree and every one hath therr lawfull remedy if they be hindred from presenting in their turn w F. n. b. 34 T and 36 C. 12. If there be two Joint-tenants of a Fee simple withi a Burrough where Lands and Tenemenrs are divisible by Will and one of them devises his Right to a stranger and dies this Devise is void and the reason is because that part which by the Law at his death comes unto the other by the Right of â—â—crease and out of Descent cannot any way 〈◊〉 conveighed to another by a Will which â—â—es not its Operation till the Death 〈◊〉 the Testator from him that claims the â—â—ole x Littl l 3 c 3 13. Two take a Lease joyntly for years â—â—th this condition agreed to between the â—â—ssor and them that if the Lessees die beâ—â—â—e the Terme ended the Lease shall be â—â—id The Lessees make Division and one 〈◊〉 them alienateth his part and dies the 〈◊〉 Lessor cannot reassume the part of him â—â—at died but the Alience shall hold it duâ—ing the life of him that surviveth nor hath â—ccupation in this Case any force but it two â—â—ke a Lease for theit lives and make parâ—â—tion either of them dying his part immeâ—iately reverts to the Lessor y Dier fo 67. c 18 14. Two are Joint-tenants for life one of which lets out his part by Indenture to a third person for years reserving a Rent from it to him and his Heirs and dies the question is whether by his death the ritle did wholly vanish or whether the surviving Joint-tenant ought to hold the whole for his life if he ought then whether he were left to his own libertty notwitstanding the Lease of his fellow or to take onely the Rent reserved upon that moity and it was adiudged by the Justices that the surviver ought to hold the whole Lands for life and that free and disobliged from the others Lease z Id fo 178 n 5 15. And this is the difference between Joint-tenants in Fee and Partners that neither of the Donees can charge his Lands whiâ—â— he holds pro Indiviso with any Rent longâ—â— then for life but a Partner may and the râ—â—son is it cannot preiudice his fellow or 〈◊〉 Heir who derives his Right not from hiâ— but from the Donor but Partners succeedinâ— one the other for defect of Heires may froâ— one anotherr derive their Right a Littl. ib. c. 3. 16. Which notwitstanding in letting 〈◊〉 clearly otherwise for if one of the Doneeâ— who holds pro Indiviso to him and his Heiâ—â— let out his Right for a compleat Term 〈◊〉 dies the Lessee after his death may retain 〈◊〉 during the Term nay he may enter into tâ—â— Lands although they were not delivered unto him in the Lessors life time or anâ— wayes possessed by him b Id. ib. and the reason 〈◊〉 diversity between a Rent Charge and a Lease is iudiciously given by Littleton
upon their denyall then of any two honest men who are obliged to take true and faithfull Inventory of all the Goods and Chattels Moveables Immoveables which the Party deceased had at the time of his death and to write all and singular the said Goods justly apprized in 2. Charters or Tables indented The one to be reserved to themselves the other to be delivered to the Ordinary But if the Testator had appointed any of his lands or Tenements to be sold the money or profits thence arising are not to be put into the Inventory c 21. H. 8. c. 5. Swinb part 6. Sect. 9. 2. But the Heirs are obliged to satisfie the Debts of their Ancestors which the Chattels will not suffice to doe d Glan Brac. ubi sup Yet if the whole Estate of the Testator would not suffice to pay Debts then the Kings Prerogative excepted there used in former times to be a defalcation every where e Brac. ib. 3. And even at this instant the Law is that Legacies are not to be paid before debts be satisfied for in such cases the Executor is bound to pay the Creditors out of his own Estate f Dr. Stu. l. 2. c. 11. Bro. Execut. 116. Perk. 488. yet is hee not tyed to pay every one that demands a Debt but those only against whom the Testator had he lived could not have waged his Law g Bro. ib. 79. 87. 127. 163. 172. Dr. Stu l. 2. c. 11. Plo. 181. Dyer fol. 23. n. 144 145 fol. 80. n. 53 54 55. 4. The ancient Law seems to be somewhat changed as to the priviledg of Creditors Yet even now it seems that the Executor may in the first place allow moderat Funeral charges and then satisfie Creditors according as the Law prescribes and of those the King is first by his Prerogative h Mag. Char. c. 18. Next him those to whom the Testator was obliged by Statute-Merchant or Recognisance In the third place those who have Judgments against the Testator i Swinb part 6. Sect. 16. Fourthly penall Obligations k Bro. ib. n. 88. 172. And of these those have priority whose dayes for payment are lapsed l Dyer fo 80. n. 54. and of those if there be many they who sue first But if they commence their suits together Or that dayes of payment be not yet come then it is in the power of the Executor to gratifie whom he pleaseth Next to penall Obligations follow simple Bills m Swinb ubi super as wee call them And lastly Contracts without writing against which the Testator could not wage his Law As Servants Sallaries and Rent of Lands or Houses whereof the Testator was Lessee for years or life and the like n Bro ib. n. 33. 87. 127. 163. But as for made Contracts Executors are not obliged to pay them o Id. ib. Yet according to the opinion of some these have their remedy in an Action upon the case upon a promise of the Testator p Termes v. Execut. 5. If a Creditor be made Executor hee may in the first place satisfie himselfe after which he is bound to pay the other Creditors out of the residue q Plow fol. 185. 6. If after Debts paid there remaines enough to satisfie Legacies every Legatee may of right claime his whole Legacy Otherwise only according to the proportion of the Estate and the quantity of all the Legacies Yet so that the Executor may first deduct charges bonafide expended and desperate Debts But under the notion of lex falcidia we have not any thing nor is there any thing in that nature required from the Office of a Judge But as to those Goods which are not devised they are convertible to the use of the Executor r Perk. 525. 7. Executors of Executors are obliged to the payment of the first Testators Debts unlesse his Goods appeare to be fully administred by their Testator s Dyer fo 174. n. 21 22. 25. Ed. 3. Stat. 5. c. 5. Of those Trustees which the Romanâ— called Fidei Commissarii Haeredes ad sanatusconsultum trebellianum TIT. XXIII THese Inheritances are out of use with us yet those Trusts are something parallell to them by which wee are used to give our Lands to Strangers to the use of us and our Heirs or to private persons to the use and profit of a Body politick But those inventions of Uses being injurious to the Prince and to the Lord of the Mannor a Coo. l. 1. Shudleys case fol. 123. are by Acts of Parliament either wholly taken away or at least for the most part altered b 1. R. 3. c. 1. 4 H. 7. c. 7. 27. H. 8. c. 10. Of things left Per fidei commissum TIT. XXIV OF those things which were by the Romans termed Fidei commissa excepting those which are appointed to the next Title we have no mention in our Law they being left wholly to the Civill Lawes definitions Of Codicills TIT. XXV THe terme Codicillus is seldome used with us wherefore in this we only follow that which we borrow from the Civill and Common Law unlesse it containe either a Fee or a Free-hold In which cases they are to be proved only before an Ecclesiasticall Judge and to receive their Interpretation according to the Lawes of the Land The End of the Second Booke THE Third Book of the Institutes of the Lawes of ENGLAND Of Inheritances which are conveighed from such as dye even Intestate TIT. I. THERE is also another way of gaining Dominion which is by Succession and which happens to all Heirs of such things whereof their Ancestors dyed seised in Fee or whereof they were at any time seised as of Fee by Right of Inheritance without having alienated them And this Discent ought to be to the next Heirs Males or Females in a direct or transverse line Wherefore Right like all heavy things falls downwards direâ—â—ly or transversely nor doth it ever ascend 〈◊〉 same way by which by the death of the â—ncestor it discends yet doth it collaterally â—scend sometimes for want of Heirs to whom 〈◊〉 may discend a Glan l. 7. c. 1. Brac. l. 2. c. 29. n. 1. Dr. and Stu. l. 1. c. 7. Flet. l. 6. c. 1. and c. 2. 1. A Right discends to the Heir whereâ—â—ever born whether in the womb or beyond 〈◊〉 on this side the Sea and that whether within or without the Dominions of the King Provided his Parents be the Kings Leige People and that the Mother went over Sea with her Husbands leave nor can any man create to himself an Heir because God only makes them and because Haeres is not ab Haereditate but Haereditas ab Herede 2. Now Inheritance is a Succession to the whole right which the Ancestor deceased had in Fee upon what cause soever whether by Acquisition or Succession with Seisin or without and if by Seisin then at whatsoever he was