Legal Classic Series

VOLUME ONE

GLANVILLE

Index

TO
SIR SAMUEL ROMILLY,
THE FOLLOWING WORK
IS INSCRIBED
AS A MARK OF THE HIGH RESPECT
WITH WHICH
HIS ABILITIES, AS A SENATOR,
AND HIS
TALENTS, AS AN ADVOCATE,
ARE VIEWED BY
THE TRANSLATOR.

COMPOSED IN THE TIME OF KING HENRY THE SECOND

BY JOSEPH HENRY BEALE, JR., A.M., LL.B., PROFESSOR
OF LAW IN HARVARD UNIVERSITY.

I. RANULPH DE GLANVILLE.

Ranulph de Glanville was born in the Suffolk Stratford, about 1130 A.D. He is believed to have been the son of Sir Hervey de Glanville, Chamberlain to King Stephen, and the grandson of that Ranulph de Glanville who came over with the Conqueror. The family was an important one, owning much land in the counties of Suffolk and Norfolk. Glanville’s public life began in 1164, when he was appointed sheriff of Yorkshire; an office which he continued to hold for six years. In 1171 he was appointed Governor of Richmond Castle, and in 1174, sheriff of Lancashire. The Scots having invaded England in that year, he led the forces of Lancashire and Richmond against them, and (joining the sheriff of Yorkshire and his forces) surprised and routed the Scots at Alnwick, and took King William the Lion prisoner. For this victory Glanville deserved, as he certainly received, the credit; and from that time no man stood higher than he in the favor of King Henry II. He was sheriff of Westmoreland from 1175 to 1179; sheriff of Yorkshire a second time, from-iv- 1177 to his death; judge of the King’s Court in 1176, and Chief Justiciar in 1180. He was also employed in many distinguished public services. In 1177 he was sent as ambassador to Flanders. In 1182 he led an army against the Welsh. In 1184, with Archbishop Baldwin, he was sent as ambassador to Rice ap Griffin, Prince of South Wales. In his next Welsh expedition, a few years later (again with Baldwin), he preached a crusade. In 1186 he was ambassador to the King of France, and was active in negotiating the peace of Gisors. In 1189, while Henry was struggling with his rebellious sons and with Philip of France in Normandy, he was sent to Canterbury to treat with the Chapter; was soon again in Normandy with Henry; and finally returned to England to raise an army for his master’s service, a work in which he was engaged at the time of Henry’s death.

These great offices were due to his personal merit and to the great services he rendered to his country; but they appear to have been the result, also, of the personal friendship and affection of the King. He was one of the witnesses to Henry’s will, and a trustee of the King’s bequest of 5,000 marks of silver to certain religious and charitable institutions, and of 300 marks of gold for marrying poor free women of England. He was named by Henry as custodian of Queen Eleanor, and as treasurer of his private fortune. A pretty picture of the King’s feeling toward him occurs in the account of the arrival of Glanville’s messenger in London, after the battle of Alnwick.-v- The messenger arrived at midnight and insisted on seeing the King. Being admitted to the royal chamber he boldly approached the King’s bed and roused him from sleep. He, springing up, cried, “Who is it?” “I am the messenger of Ranulph of Glanville, your faithful subject, and I come from him to your highness as a bearer of good tidings.” “Is our Ranulph well?” cried the King, moved less by the promised good tidings than by his love for the sender of them. “My lord is well,” was the answer, “and he holds your enemy, the King of the Scots, a prisoner at Richmond.”

Upon the death of Henry, Glanville’s position was a difficult one. Henry, conservative, though a reformer, had established the government of his kingdom on a foundation of law and justice, and had created an effective and pure administrative machine. The new King appeared to have no sympathy with his father’s principles of government. He was rash, radical and careless of regular details of administration, and Glanville, in the words of a contemporary, “In his old age saw the King doing many things in a newfangled way, without wisdom or forethought.” He was present at the coronation of Richard, and was sent by him to quell a riot against the Jews which disgraced the ceremony. About his next acts we have different accounts. He had taken the cross in 1186. Whether he asked and received his dismissal from Richard in order to join the army, then about to start for the Holy Land, or whether, as another account has it,-vi- he was removed and imprisoned by Richard and obliged to purchase his freedom by a fine of 15,000 pounds of silver, we cannot certainly tell. At any rate, he set out for Palestine together with Baldwin, Archbishop of Canterbury, and his nephew Hubert, then bishop of Salisbury; the three were placed in command of the English forces by Richard (who was obliged to delay his own departure), and Glanville in 1190 died before Acre, by disease, the result of the unhealthy climate. He left one son and three daughters, whom he had already enriched from his great fortune. He founded the priory of Butley, the Abbey of Leiston, and a hospital at Somerton.

Glanville impressed his contemporaries as a man strong both in body and in mind. A man of integrity and prudence, “most faithful in fortune or misfortune,” “Wise, grave and eloquent,” “The King’s eye;” “A name above every name, who spoke among the princes and was adored by the people.” He was a man wise, just and charitable, whose fellowship was sought and opinions valued by wits and by scholars. One scandal only attacked him. He is charged with falsely condemning to death for rape Sir Gilbert de Plumpton, in order that his widow might be married to Glanville’s friend and steward, Rainer; Sir Gilbert’s punishment was commuted by the King to imprisonment for life. The tale is quite inconsistent with all we know of Glanville’s character and with his position in the King’s affection, and may safely be disbelieved.

His family shared in his success. No less than seven-vii- of his near relatives held high judicial position under Henry or his sons. Few other families have rendered greater service to England than that of Ranulph de Glanville, ambassador, administrator, general, judge and jurist.

II. THE AUTHORSHIP OF THE TREATISE.

The following “Treatise on the Laws and Customs of the Kingdom of England,” was published between 1187 and 1189; it mentions a fine made in the former year, and it is filled with references to Henry, as then King. It had a high contemporary reputation. Copies of the book were multiplied, and many manuscripts still exist. It forms part of several collections of laws made by contemporaries of Glanville himself. It was translated, or partly translated, into French immediately after Glanville’s death, and it was revised and an attempt made to bring it down to date two generations-viii- later. It was finally superseded by Bracton’s completer and more elaborate treatise.

The work itself is anonymous, the manuscripts stating only that it was composed in the time of Henry II., “Glanville then holding the helm of justice.” Early tradition, however, asserts that it was written by Glanville himself, and that fact was accepted as undoubted from the thirteenth to the nineteenth century. Modern scholars have expressed doubt of it. Littleton’s objection (in his “Life of Henry II.”) that Glanville could not have written the book because he was not in orders, may be dismissed at once. The greater officers of the administration, whether in orders or not, must have had sufficient Latin to dictate a Latin treatise to a clerk, and Glanville was particularly commended for his eloquence by more than one contemporary. Hunter’s objection (in the preface to his “Fines”) is that Glanville, at the time the treatise was written, was too busy in public affairs to have composed such a work, and he suggests that the author may have been William de Glanville, a justice in the next reign; who was, in fact, Glanville’s son, and (from 1186) his secretary. But this is the merest guess. Professor Maitland conjectures (for a rather fanciful reason, perhaps) that the author may have been Hubert Walter. Liebermann, on the other hand, defends Glanville’s authorship. Certainly there is little external proof that Glanville was the author of the treatise, though it must have been written by some one in high position and repute to have obtained so immediate-ix- a success. The internal evidence does not lead us much further. The style is that of a person speaking with authority, but not necessarily the authority of the Chief Justiciar himself. The claim of Hubert Walter to the authorship cannot be dismissed without further examination.

Hubert was a nephew of Glanville’s wife; according to one account, of Glanville himself, Glanville’s younger brother having married his wife’s sister. Whether Hervey Walter, Hubert’s father, was really, as this account has it, Hervey de Glanville or not, it is certain that Hubert was brought up in intimacy with Glanville’s family, became his secretary, and was regarded by him as a valued counsellor. He was made Dean of York in 1186, being succeeded as secretary by Glanville’s son William. He soon became Bishop of Salisbury, Archbishop of Canterbury, and later Chief Justiciar and Chancellor of the Kingdom. He is described as a man of foresight and wisdom; it is said of him that his heart was in human affairs rather than divine, and that he knew all the laws of the kingdom. He was, however, a man “of little eloquence;” indeed, one chronicler ridicules his Latin style.

Did Glanville write the whole treatise? or did Hubert Walter write it? Or did they collaborate on it? Perhaps we can reach a conjectural conclusion by a more careful examination of the treatise itself.

The most striking feature of the treatise is, that it is based upon a collection of writs. Omitting the Introduction and the last book, on Pleas of the Crown, just-x- one-third of the chapters into which it is divided consists of writs. These are of all kinds, directed to Lords’ Courts, to County Courts, and to Ecclesiastical Courts, as well as writs returnable in the King’s Courts. Later writers have made free use of writs, but here they are the skeleton of the whole treatise. They fulfil the function of judgment-rolls in Bracton’s book, and of decisions in Coke and later writers. The collection of these eighty writs must have been a work of several years, since some of the writs were certainly of rare occurrence. The Chief Justice, or his clerk, attested all the writs, and either of them had both opportunity and reason for making such a collection; hardly another man in the kingdom would have been likely to do it.

A large part of the treatise is written in a crabbed and inelegant, though usually a clear style. In a few passages, however, near the beginning of the book, we find an elevation of thought and elegance of diction often admired and imitated. The Introduction, in particular, and the seventh chapter of the second book, in praise of the assize (which, according to tradition, Glanville had a hand in inventing, or, at least, in establishing), are worthy of a man “sapiens simul et eloquens”; in sharp contrast with other parts of the work, which indicate an author who “omnia regni novit jura,” but was surely “non eloquio pollens.”

The first ten books of the treatise are carefully written, the commentary is full, the subject well developed. The last four books, on the other hand, seem-xi- to have been hurriedly thrown together. The proportion of writ to text is more than twice that in the preceding books; indeed, in the book devoted to the County Courts (in which Glanville had presided for years, and must have become as familiar with the law and procedure as with those of the King’s Courts), there is almost no comment. It seems possible that a proposed full commentary on the County Court practice, for which an elaborate collection of writs was at hand, was abandoned.

The exact date of the work is fixed by the only two dated documents—two fines, of June 27 and about November 1, 1187. Fines were then novel, and they were described carefully. It seems likely that the passage, which occurs toward the end of the treatise, was written soon after the dates of enrollment. Both fines were enrolled in Glanville’s presence.

We may now conjecture that the author, or authors, of the treatise had for years been collecting writs, either for preservation as useful precedents, or possibly with the object of composing a commentary upon them. The collection finished, it would not be a matter of much time or difficulty for one who knew the law, writs in hand, to dictate his commentary to a secretary also learned in the law. If the collector was Glanville, and the secretary Hubert, we may suppose that the actual work of composition was begun in 1185, or 1186; not, apparently, a time of strenuous labor for either. Passages of particular importance or of especial interest to Glanville would be composed by-xii- him with care; the actual form of the remainder might safely be left to his competent secretary, subject only to revision by himself. In 1186 the Dean of York died, and the succession was given to Hubert; and Glanville soon set out on his embassy to the King of France. In spite of this, however, time still remained for the completion of the work in the rather less polished form of the later books. In February, 1187, Glanville and Hubert were sitting together in the Court at Westminster; and from that month to the beginning of 1189 (with the exception of Lent, 1188, when Glanville was preaching his crusade in Wales), both appear to have remained in England, without serious interruption from public business. The year 1188, in fact, seems to have been one of the least busy of Glanville’s official life; and, until his time was absorbed by the troubles of the closing year of the reign, there was nothing to prevent a continuance of the work. The last hurried chapters may well, therefore, have been completed in 1188.

There is, then, nothing against the early and persistent tradition that Glanville wrote the treatise, and much in its favor; though most of the actual composition may have been the work of Hubert Walter.

III. THE CHARACTER OF THE TREATISE.

“A Treatise on the Law and Customs of the Kingdom of England” is the earliest systematic treatise on law written in modern times. A few collections of law and decretals, like the Decretum of Gratian and the “Assises of Jerusalem,” had, to be sure, been published earlier; but they were not, like this book, regular expositions of an existing system of law. Bracton’s work was modelled on Glanville, and, through Bracton, Glanville thus fixed the type of the modern commentary on law. An imitation, in many parts an exact copy, of this book was later published in Scotland under the title “Regiam Majestatem,” and the claim was vigorously made for a time that it was the original, Glanville the imitation. This notion, improbable on its face, was absolutely disproved by arguments set forth in Beames’ Introduction.

The first edition of the treatise was printed by R. Tottel in small 12mo, about the year 1554. Coke says that this was done by suggestion of Sir William Stanford, the learned judge and author. The second edition was printed by Thomas Wright in 1604. The text was corrected by the collation of “various manuscripts.”-xiv- This edition was exactly reprinted, omitting the preface, in 1673. The treatise was again printed in the first volume of Houard’s “Traités sur les Coutumes Anglo-Normandes” in quarto, Rouen, 1776. The last Latin edition was published by John Rayner, 8vo, 1780, collated with the Bodleian, the Cottonian, the Harleian and Doctor Milles’s manuscripts by J.E. Wilmot. The Latin text is also printed as an appendix to Phillips’s “Englische Reichs und Rechtsgeschichte,” ii, 335: Berlin, 1828. A collation of Glanville with the “Regiam Majestatem” may be found in the Acts of the Parliament of Scotland, i, 133. An English translation by John Beames, with notes, was published in octavo, London, 1812, and is reprinted in the present edition.

This treatise is more than a mere law book. It is a monument to the genius of one of the greatest legal reformers of all time. Henry II. came to the throne, after a long period of anarchy, to find countless systems of law administered by a confused and confusing mass of popular courts and feudal courts. He at once set himself to bring order and unity out of anarchy and chaos. He made the King’s Court the common court of the land; he determined its jurisdiction as against the church, the lords and the sheriffs; and he made it the guardian of a King’s peace, which should protect high and low throughout the whole land. The establishment of peace was in fact the chief object of his stormy career. Glanville’s treatise shows us the method he took to secure his object.

-xv-

By a free use of writs running from the King or his Justiciar, he limited the jurisdiction of all other courts, and subordinated them to the King’s Court. By a regular system of removal from lord to county, and from county to King, he secured the gradual unification of the law. The lord’s courts had administered the customs of each manor; each county court, too, had its customs, all based upon the Germanic law, but differing materially in the several counties, and especially in the several ancient divisions of the kingdom. The King’s Court now began to develop a common law, partly Anglo-Saxon in its origin, partly Norman, but molded largely by Henry’s formal or informal legislation, and tempered, as Glanville several times asserts, by equity.

To increase the influence of the King’s courts and to bring them to the people, Henry relied on an already existing institution, the iter or eyre; but he so improved the system as to make it almost a new invention. The Kingdom was divided into circuits, each made up of a number of neighboring counties; and judges were appointed to ride each circuit, holding a King’s court in each county, and thus bringing every part of the Kingdom under the direct control of the King. Glanville himself became one of the first judges of the Northern Circuit.

One of the most important of Henry’s provisions for securing the King’s peace was the invention of writs for the protection of peaceful seisin, and the prevention of disseisin, even by the true owner. These writs-xvi- put an end to forcible self-help, and brought every legal dispute over dispossession into the King’s Court. The writs of novel disseisin, of mort d’auncestor, and of darrein presentment, established by Henry’s legislation, became the basis of the land law.

Another reform, of even more far-reaching consequence, was his invention of a more rational method of establishing the truth of facts. In place of trial by ordeal, by compurgation, or by battle, he provided the assise (soon followed by the jury) as a means of eliciting truth. Trial by jury in the King’s Court, by favor or by right, became so popular as eventually to deprive the other courts of their litigation; and so satisfactory as to cultivate in the people of England a respect for law and a willingness to abide by its decisions that have been characteristic of the race for centuries.

The doctrine of res judicata seems to have been adopted at this time as another rule tending to the preservation of peace. When Glanville wrote, it had not been fully settled that the judgment even in a writ of right was necessarily final; Glanville’s strong opinion that it was so no doubt settled the law as we now have it.

In the work of reform Henry appears to have found in Glanville an enthusiastic and an able helper. This treatise is full of praise of the King and his legislation. The peaceful governing of its people is a great object of regal power, it is asserted. The king, who loves peace and is the author of it, conducts himself justly,-xvii- discreetly, and mercifully toward his subjects. His will is law, if promulgated as such by the advice of his nobles; that and reasonable customs, long used, form the Laws of England, which may usefully, in part at least, be reduced to writing.

IV. THE TREATISE AND THE LAW.

It is possible from Glanville’s treatise to get a rather complete picture of the common law at the end of the reign of Henry II. In the lord’s courts were regularly brought not only the suits of the villein tenants, but all suits concerning land held of the lord. Suits of the latter sort, however, must be begun by the King’s writ; if the lord refused justice, resort might be had to the county court in all suits involving freehold land; and the lord might on his own motion adjourn a question of difficulty into the King’s court. The county court had original jurisdiction of questions of villeinage and of customary service, and of any question sent to it by the King’s writ; and it had jurisdiction over writs of right removed from the lord’s court. It apparently, also, had jurisdiction of disputes as to title or possession of personal property. The ecclesiastical courts had jurisdiction of questions of marriage and legitimacy, of wills, and of disputes involving ecclesiastical questions only; the King’s court would prohibit them by writ from interfering in other matters.

The procedure in the King’s court did not differ greatly from the present procedure. A suit was begun by writ, served by the sheriff, and enforced by the-xviii- distraint of the defendant’s land. The most important feature of the procedure was the elaborate system of rules governing essoins or continuances. By a skilful use of essoins the defendant or tenant could prolong proceedings on a writ of right for years; the fact that in the new possessory assises few essoins were allowed, and the proceedings were therefore much prompter, contributed greatly to the favor with which they were received. Final judgment in the King’s court was by this time enrolled; and the method of conveying land by levying a fine was in full operation.

The law of real property in its essential features was fully formed. The whole law of tenures and incidents had been finally settled; but the rules of inheritance and of transfer by will were still uncertain. The doctrines of warranty (now obsolete), according to which the grantor of a party could be called into a suit, or in the technical phrase vouched to warranty, and thus substituted for the original party, were still of the highest importance in practice. The modern mortgage, i.e. the grant on condition, was as yet unknown: Glanville’s mortgage of land, like the pledge of personalty in his time, is a mere grant of custody by way of security.

The law of personal property was little developed. Doctrines as to pledge and bailment, derived from the old Germanic law, were applied in the county courts; there, for instance, the absolute responsibility of the bailee was still enforced. Through the writ of detinue and the action on the case, the King’s courts were soon-xix- to take control of these subjects, and to establish the modern law of bailments and carriers.

Certain formal contracts were enforced by the King’s court. The writ of debt would lie as a result of a loan, a sale, or an obligation created by charter. Redress for breach of ordinary contracts could be obtained only in the ecclesiastical courts, which might deal with the sin of deceit. Not for three centuries did the King’s court work out a doctrine by which a party might be held to perform his simple contract.

No action of damages for tort would lie. There is as yet no trace of the process by which (working from appeals of felony to writ of trespass against the King’s peace and actions on the case) the King’s court would eventually work out the modern law of tort. So far as there was any remedy for torts it was in the inferior courts.

The King’s court could at this time punish all felonies except theft, jurisdiction over which it obtained by Magna Carta. It was a long time before it obtained exclusive jurisdiction over felony, or took control, as “custos morum,” of misdemeanors.

Such law, it may be admitted, was rude and unsatisfactory; but it was a long advance over what had gone before, and it had within itself the germ of the modern Common Law.

Joseph H. Beale, Jr.

Harvard University,
October, 1900.

-xx-

Of Ranulph de Glanville, the reputed Author of the following Treatise, Lord Coke speaks in terms of the highest encomium. He informs us, that Glanville was Chief Justice in the Reign of Henry the Second, that he wrote profoundly on part of the Laws of England, and that his Works were extant at that day. “And,” continues his Lordship, “in token of my thankfulness to that worthy Judge, whom I cite many times in these Reports, (as I have done in my former) for the fruit which I confess myself to-xxi- have reaped out of the fair field of his Labors, I will for the honor of him and of his name and posterity, which remain to this day (as I have good cause to know) impart and publish, both to all future and succeeding Ages, what I found of great antiquity and of undoubted verity, the original whereof remaineth with me at this day, and followeth in these words: Ranulphus de Glanvilla, Justiciarius Angliæ, Fundator fuit domus de Butteley, in Comitatu Suffolciæ, quæ fundata erat anno Regis Henrici, filii Imperatricis, decimo septimo, et anno Domini 1171. quo anno Thomas Becket, Cantuariensis Archiepiscopus, erat occisus. Et dictus Ranulphus nascebatur in Villa de Stratford, in comitatu Suffolciæ, et habuit Manerium de Benhall, cum toto Dominio, e dono dicti Regis Henrici. Et duxit in uxorem quandam Bertam, filiam Domini Theobaldi de Valeymz, Senioris domini de Parham: qui Theobaldus per Chartam-xxii- suam dedit dicto Ranulpho et Bertæ Uxori suæ totam terram de Brochous, cum pertinentiis, in qua domus de Butteley sita est, cum aliis terris et tenementis, in libero maritagio. Prædictus vero Ranulphus procreavit tres filias de dicta Berta (viz.) Matildam, Amabiliam, et Helewisam, quibus dedit terram suam ante progressum suum versus Terram Sanctam.” The document then proceeds with a minute accuracy to trace our Author’s Descendants, and finishes the sketch by informing us—“quod præfatus Ranulphus de Glanvilla fuit vir præclarissimus genere, utpote de nobili sanguine, vir insuper strenuissimus corpore, qui provectiori ætate, ad Terram sanctam properavit, et ibidem contra inimicos Crucis Christi strenuissime usque ad necem dimicavit.”[1] The paucity of these facts may be, in some measure, remedied, by consulting the Annals of our Second-xxiii- Henry, where the name of Glanville not unfrequently occurs. We hear of him in 1171, as Fermour of the Honor of Earl Conan:[2]—in 1172, as having the custody of that Honor, and the Fair of Hoiland;[3]—and in 1174, as still retaining the same Honor, and accounting for the Capture and Ransoms of Prisoners, &c. taken in War.[4] In the latter year he is said to have distinguished himself, as the General who took the King of Scotland Prisoner.[5] In 1175, he still retained the Honor of Earl Conan,[6] and filled the Office of Sheriff of Yorkshire.[7] In 1176, he was made a Justice of the King’s Court, and a Justice Itinerant.[8] In the same year, he accounted for Westmoreland by the hands of Reiner, his Dapifer or Steward, a privilege conceded to the great alone.[9]-xxiv- In 1180, he was made Chief Justiciary of all England, as we are informed by his cotemporary Roger Hoveden, whose words are too remarkable to be omitted. Henricus Rex Angliæ pater constituit Ranulphum de Glanvilla summum Justiciarium totius Angliæ, cujus sapientia conditæ sunt leges subscriptæ, quas Anglicanas vocamus.[10] The Chief Justiciary, presided in the Curia Regis next to the King, as Chief Judge in all civil and criminal questions; and governed the Realm like a Vice-Roy, when the King was beyond Sea, an event of frequent recurrence in that age. In fine, this officer was invested with a power that placed him far above every other subject. No sooner had Glanville arrived at this elevated post, than he exerted himself to restore and confirm many ancient Laws calculated for the good of the Realm.[11] How much to the satisfaction of-xxv- Henry the Second Glanville filled this arduous situation, we may infer, from finding additional honors heaped upon him by that able and politic Prince. In 1183, our Author held the place of Dapifer to the King,[12] and, in the same year, he was appointed Fermour of Yorkshire:[13] situations, it is to be presumed, not incompatible with that of Chief Justiciary, which he appears to have retained, until the death of Henry the Second,[14] and that with undiminished honor, if we except the imputation cast upon him for condemning Sir Gilbert de Plumptun to death, but which seems to be refuted by the confidence continued to be reposed in him by the discerning Henry.[15] Immediately after the death of that Prince, he assumed the Order of the Cross, and perished fighting-xxvi- valiantly at the Siege of Acon in the year 1190.[16]

But, whether the same identical person successively occupied these various situations, and, at different periods of his life, filled the rather opposite and inconsistent characters of an able General and a profound Lawyer—a skilful Courtier and an enlightened Legislator, is a doubt which has been entertained by some very respectable Writers. Nor has it passed without a question, whether the present Treatise was really composed by the person whose name it bears. Lord Littleton, indeed, is inclined to infer, that it was not written by Glanville, but by some Clergyman under his direction.[17] These doubts may serve to evince the ingenuity of those who have suggested them, but they prove nothing. When the various situations-xxvii- Glanville is stated to have filled are represented as incompatible, and we start at beholding the grave Lawyer divest himself of his robes to girt on the armour of the soldier, we forget the manners of the age when Glanville florished. When we suppose, that because the work is composed in Latin, it was not written by a Layman, we beg the question: and, having assumed, that no Layman, whatever his parts, whatever his application, could have been sufficiently skilled to write such Latin as our Author has employed, we pay but a sorry compliment to the age, and rather too hastily conclude that we have proved, what, indeed, we have merely taken for granted. When, in fine, we infer, that the knowledge of Law displayed in the Work, and the labor consumed in composing it, are no less inconsistent with the high and elevated station of Glanville, than incompatible with his employments, we forget, that his rise was progressive, and-xxviii- that, as there are but few things to which a truly great mind is inadequate, the production of a small volume upon that Law which it was daily in the habit of dispensing, ought not, whatever the merit of the work may be, to be ranked amongst the number. It must not, however, be concealed, that Mr. Selden mentions a circumstance which, at the first glance, appears to go a great way in determining the question. “I know the authority of that Treatise,” says he, in speaking of the present work, “is suspected, and some of the best and ancientest copies having the name of E. de N. which I have heard from diligent searchers in this kind of Learning affirmed to have been sometimes E. de Narbrough, and not R. de Glanvilla, it hath been thought to be another’s work, and of later time. But as, on the other side, I dare not be confident that it is Glanville’s, so I make little question, that it is as ancient-xxix- as his time, if not his work. The teste of the precedents of writs under his name, the language, especially the name of Justitia always for that which we now from ancient time called Justiciarius, (and Justitia was so used in writers under Henry the Second) and the Law delivered in it tasteth not of any later age.”[18] Though the latter part of this Extract may be reasonably thought to furnish a sufficient answer to the doubt expressed in the former part, the Translator cannot but observe upon the singularity, that none “of the best and ancientest copies” are forthcoming in support of the fact they are said to prove.

With respect to the Work itself now submitted to the Public in an English dress, it is said to be the first performance that has any thing like the appearance of-xxx- a Treatise on the subject of Jurisprudence, since the dissolution of the Roman Empire.[19] But this is not correct, if the Assises of Jerusalem, compiled, as we are informed in the preamble, in 1099—the System of Feudal Law, composed by the two Milanese Lawyers in 1150, and the Decretum of Gratian, published about the same time, be considered as Treatises on Law. It seems, however, to be unquestionable, that the present Treatise is the earliest and most ancient work on the subject of English Jurisprudence, from which any clear and coherent account of it is to be obtained. Dr. Robertson, indeed, informs us, “that in no country of Europe was there at that time, any collection of Customs, nor had any attempt been made to render Law fixed. The first undertaking of that kind was by Glanville, Lord Chief Justice of England, in his Tractatus de Legibus-xxxi- et consuetudinibus,[20] composed about the Year 1181.”[21]

It has been thought, that Glanville drew up this compendium of the Laws of England for the public use, by the express command of Henry the Second, a conjecture which, Mr. Madox observes, is not only favored by a certain MS. remaining in the Library of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, written in a hand of the age of Edward the Second, in which there is a Treatise entituled Leges Henrici Secundi, agreeing in many passages with the printed copy of Glanville, but also by the manner of our Author’s writing, especially in the Prologue.[22] There is also in the Cottonian collection a MS. of Glanville, which bears the Title of Laws of Henry the Second. But Mr. Reeves informs us, this manner-xxxii- of entituling Treatises was not then uncommon.[23]

The present work appears to have remained in MS. until the Year 1554, when, as Sir Edward Coke apprises us, it was, by the persuasion and procurement of Sir William Stanford, a grave and learned Judge of the common Pleas, first printed.[24] With many peculiar circumstances, however, to create an Interest in its favor, the fate of the work has been most singular. Indebted to its intrinsic merit alone for the high compliment it has long enjoyed, in being looked up to as an authority from which there was no appeal, curiosity has given way to an opinion, that whilst it was venerable for its antiquity, it was also useless, for it was obsolete. That many parts of it are obsolete, it would be idle to deny; but that the work itself is-xxxiii- by no means so entirely obsolete as generally assumed, will be fully evident to every impartial and candid Reader. But were it entirely obsolete, it would not necessarily follow, that it would be useless, the terms not being, at least in the science of Jurisprudence, either convertible or synonymous, however fashionable, or, more properly speaking, convenient it may be to esteem them such. Multa ignoramus quæ nobis non laterent, si Veterum lectio nobis esset familiaris. The Law of Modern Times is intimately connected with that of our Forefathers, and the decisions of the present day are not unfrequently built upon principles that are enveloped in the almost impervious mist of far distant ages. But to these principles must the Student ascend, if he would merit the name of a Lawyer; and, if the labor be severe, he must reconcile it to himself by reflecting, that it was submitted to by a Coke, a Hale, a Blackstone. Led by the soundness of-xxxiv- their judgments, to investigate the earlier ages of our Jurisprudence, those great men considered nothing useless, though it possibly might happen to be obsolete, which tended to enlighten their minds, and shew them the fundamental principles of those Laws, which they afterwards no less admirably illustrated, than ably administered. But the brightness of the example instead of exciting emulation seems to have depressed it: and Glanville, Bracton, and Fleta have been suffered to crumble on the shelf, whilst Edition has rapidly followed Edition of those more modern Authors, who have advocated their cause, by drawing so deeply from the rich and inexhaustible mines, which their pages present to the English Lawyer.

It remains to speak of the Translation now submitted to the Public. Fidelity has been the principal object of the Translator. If more be demanded, he would shelter-xxxv- himself under the high name of Sir William Jones. “Elegance, on a subject so delicate as Law, must be sacrificed, without mercy, to exactness.” Next to fidelity, simplicity has been aimed at, as most in unison with the original, and, perhaps, the best adapted for transfusing its spirit into the English Language. Not that with these two objects immediately before him, the Translator would be understood as conceding, that he has sacrificed any beauty, any elegance of expression generally abounding in, or spread over, the original work. He could not sacrifice that which never existed. The style of Glanville, destitute of every grace, and dry and harsh in the extreme, professedly aims at the peculiar qualities which characterise it. Stilo vulgari et verbis curialibus utens ex industria, ad notitiam comparandum eis, qui hujusmodi vulgaritate minus sunt exercitati, are the very terms in which he describes his own manner of writing. So successfully has he-xxxvi- accomplished his object, that he imposes upon his Translator a Task not altogether unlike that of acquiring a new language. Yet to these difficulties the Translator reluctantly alludes, for though they may, in some measure, atone for those errors into which he is apprehensive he has often fallen, he is conscious, the merit of his attempt is not to be estimated by its arduousness, but its utility.

With respect to the Annotations, it was the Translator’s original intention to have confined himself to a mere explanation of the obsolete Terms. But, anxious to render the work more extensively useful, he has not unfrequently departed from his first design. Among the works occasionally referred to, the Reader will recognise the Regiam Majestatem—so termed from the words with which it commences. This work has been sometimes received, as containing the genuine ancient Law of Scotland—sometimes-xxxvii- rejected, as a mere spurious fabrication. Among the names in collision on this point are those of Skene, Erskine, Lord Kaims, Houard, Dalrymple, Craig, Lord Stair and Dr. Robertson. Nor has there been less dispute whether Glanville, or the Regiam Majestatem be the original work. But this question is said to be satisfactorily disposed of by Mr. Davidson, who has published a pamphlet expressly on the subject, and has proved, if it were necessary to prove, what is rendered indubitable by the internal Evidence of the two Works, that Glanville is the original; observing, at the same time, “that Glanville is regular, methodical, and consistent throughout; whereas the Regiam Majestatem goes out of Glanville’s method for no other assignable reason, than to disguise the matter, and is thereby rendered confused, unsystematical, and in many places contradictory.” The Translator has not been able to meet with Mr. Davidson’s-xxxviii- work, but is indebted to the preface attached to the last Edition of Glanville for this Summary of it. “To this observation upon the method of the Regiam Majestatem,” says Mr. Reeves, “it may be added, that, on a comparison of the account given of things in that and in Glanville, it plainly appears, that the Scotch Author is more clear, explicit, and defined; and that he writes very often with a view to explain the other, in the same manner in which the writer of our Fleta, explains his predecessor Bracton. This is remarkable in numberless instances all through the Book, and is, perhaps, as decisive a mark of a copy as can be. The other Scotch Laws, which follow the Regiam Majestatem in Skene’s collection, contribute greatly to confirm the suspicion. These, as they are of a later date than several English Statutes which they resemble, must be admitted to be copied from them; and-xxxix- so closely are the originals followed, that the very words of them are retained. This is particularly remarkable of the Reign of Robert the Second, in which is the Statute of quia Emptores, and others plainly copied from our Laws, without any attempt to conceal the imitation. These Laws, at least, can impose upon no one; and when viewed with the Regiam Majestatem at their head, and compared with Glanville and the English Statute Book, they seem to declare very intelligibly to the world, that this piece of Scotch Jurisprudence is borrowed from ours.”[25] Nor is the enlightened and liberal Historian Dr. Robertson more favorably disposed towards that claim, which some of his countrymen have put in, for the originality of the Regiam Majestatem. “The Regiam Majestatem ascribed to David the first seems,” he observes, “to-xl- be an imitation and a servile one, of Glanville. Several Scottish Antiquaries, under the influence of that pious credulity, which disposes men to assent without hesitation to whatever they deem for the honor of their native country, contend zealously, that the Regiam Majestatem is a production prior to the Treatise of Glanville; and have brought themselves to believe, that a nation, in a superior state of improvement, borrowed its Laws from one considerably less advanced in its political progress. The internal Evidence (were it my province to examine it) by which this theory might be refuted is in my opinion decisive. The external circumstances, which have seduced Scottish Authors into this mistake, have been explained with so much precision and candor by Sir David Dalrymple, in his Examination of some of the arguments for the high antiquity of the Regiam Majestatem, Eding, 1767.-xli- 4to, that it is to be hoped, the controversy will not be again revived.”[26]

In dismissing this subject, it may be remarked in the words of Mr. Reeves, that it seems unnecessary to contend for the originality of the Regiam Majestatem, whilst a doubt of much more importance remains unsettled—whether that Treatise, as well as the others in the publication of Skene, are now, or ever were, any part of the Law of Scotland, on which, as we have already observed, so many eminent men differ. On the other hand, the authenticity of Glanville, as the code of Law existing in this country during the Reign of Henry the Second, has been admitted, either expressly or impliedly by all the English Lawyers, who have florished in the long interval which has elapsed from that period to the present, and never has been questioned, if we except a solitary dictum,-xlii- which, as it equally affected the credit of Bracton, and was totally unauthorised, is refuted by a thousand circumstances, if it were an object to mention them.[27] But to return from this digression.

Though the Translator had not the good fortune to meet with Mr. Davidson’s Pamphlet, he was more successful in discovering Skene’s translation of the Regiam Majestatem, deposited in Lincoln’s Inn Library. The Translator intended to have noticed such parts of the Regiam Majestatem, as coincided with Glanville. But, after having, with some attention, perused the former Book, he found the similarity between the two works so very general, and the correspondence so exact, that the Regiam Majestatem might frequently be taken verbal Translation of Glanville, or, at least, as another Edition of the same Treatise, in-xliii- which the writer had made some slight additions and alterations, and had capriciously amused himself in contriving an arrangement totally different, though far less happy and systematical. The Translator has, therefore, generally contented himself with noticing those deviations between the two works, which were more immediately relevant to his subjects. Nor has he always stopped here, but has availed himself of the Regiam Majestatem, whenever it was less ambiguous, or more decided than Glanville, which from the very circumstance of its being a posterior publication, it sometimes naturally will happen to be. In addition to the Regiam Majestatem, reference has been occasionally made to the Grand Custumary of Normandy, Bracton, Fleta, Britton, Coke, Hale, &c. &c. Some of these references serve to corroborate—some to illustrate the Text: some tend to shew that a Law was not peculiar to this Country, and some that a similar-xliv- Rule has been adopted even in Modern Times by a neighboring State. In consulting the Laws of that state, and noticing those instances of strong or faint resemblance between them and the Code of Henry the Second, the Translator acted in deference to the suggestions of a Gentleman, who, though possessed of the most profound legal knowledge, is yet more entitled to our admiration for his singular liberality of sentiment, and urbanity of manners. If the more enlightened mind derive no benefit from the plan which has been adopted in the notes, and anticipate the Result; yet, it is hoped, the Student may receive some advantage from it. But, if the Translator has been too diffuse in some instances, he has, on other occasions, contented himself with a bare reference. He has been averse to swell the Notes, where a bare citation would serve to direct the Student, if disposed to extend his inquiries. In addition to the Translator’s own Notes, the Reader is furnished-xlv- with a few annotations extracted from a copy of Glanville, formerly belonging to Mr. Justice Aland, and now deposited in the collection of the Royal Institution. Yet, should it be observed, it is not perfectly clear whether these annotations were made by that learned Judge, or by the Reverend Mr. Elstob, a gentleman deeply versed in Anglo-Saxon Literature. By way of distinction, these Annotations are particularised by (Al. MS.)

In order to render the work as complete as the limited ability of the Translator would allow, he has subjoined the more important, and only the more important various Readings, as furnished by the Bodleian, the Cottonian, the Harleian and Dr. Milles’s MSS. The MS. of Glanville deposited in Lincoln’s Inn Library has not been consulted.

The Translator concludes these cursory observations with a brief summary of the-xlvi- contents of Glanville, availing himself, in some measure, of that contained in Mr. Reeves’s History.

Our Author in general confines himself to such matters only as were the objects of jurisdiction in the Curia Regis, and divides his work into fourteen Books. The two first of which treat of the Writ of Right, when originally commenced in the Curia Regis, and of all its stages, the Summons—Essoins—Appearance—Pleadings—Duel or Grand Assise—Judgment and Execution. The third speaks of vouching to Warranty, which with the two former Books, comprises a lucid account of the proceedings in a Writ of Right for the recovery of Land. The fourth Book is employed upon rights of Advowson, the fifth upon Villenage, and the sixth upon Dower. The seventh treats upon Alienation, Descents, Succession, Wardship, and Testaments. The eighth is upon final Concords,-xlvii- and Records in general. The ninth is upon Homage, Relief, Fealty, Services, and Purprestures. The tenth treats of Debts and matters of Contract; and the eleventh upon Attornies. Having thus disposed of Actions commenced originally in the Curia Regis, our author, in his twelfth Book, speaks of Writs of Right, when brought in the Lord’s Court, and the manner of removing them from thence to the County Court and Curia Regis, which leads him to mention some other Writs determinable before the Sheriff. In his thirteenth Book, he treats of Assises, and Disseisins. The last Book is wholly taken up in discussing the doctrine of Pleas of the Crown.

JOHN BEAMES.

It was intended to have added the names of all those Gentlemen, who subscribed for the work. But the list having been consumed in the fire which destroyed Mr. Reed’s Premises, and many of the names having been thereby lost, it is become impossible.

The Regal Power should not merely be decorated with Arms to restrain Rebels and Nations making head against it and its realm, but ought likewise to be adorned with Laws for the peaceful governing of its Subjects and its People.[28] With such felicity may our Most Illustrious King conduct himself, in the periods both of Peace and of War, by the force of his right hand, crushing the insolence of the violent and intractable, and, with the sceptre of Equity, moderating his Justice towards the humble and obedient, that as he may be always-xlix- victorious in subduing his Enemies, so may he on all occasions shew himself impartially just in the government of his Subjects. But how gracefully—how vigorously—how skilfully, in counteracting the malice of his Foes, our Most Excellent King has, in the season of hostility, conducted his Arms, is manifest to all: since his fame has now spread over the whole World, and his splendid actions reached even the confines of the Globe. How justly—how discreetly—and how mercifully—he, who loves Peace and is the Author of it, has conducted himself towards his subjects in the time of Peace, is evident, since the Court of his Highness is regulated with so strict a regard to Equity, that none of the Judges have so hardened a front, or so rash a presumption, as to dare to deviate, however slightly, from the path of Justice, or to utter a sentence, in any measure contrary to the truth. For there, indeed, the power of his adversary oppresses not-l- the poor Man, nor does either the favor or credit of another’s Friends, drive any person from the seat of Judgment. Since each decision is governed by the Laws of the Realm, and by those Customs which, founded on reason in their introduction, have for a long time prevailed; and, what is still more laudable, our King disdains not to avail himself of the advice of such men (although his subjects) whom, in gravity of manners, in skill in the Law and Customs of the Realm, in the superiority of their wisdom and Eloquence, he knows to surpass others, and whom he has found by experience most prompt, as far as consistent with reason, in the administration of Justice, by determining Causes and ending suits, acting now with more severity, and now with more lenity, as they see most expedient.[29] For the-li- English Laws, although not written, may as it should seem, and that without any absurdity, be termed Laws, (since this itself is a Law—that which pleases the Prince has the force of Law[30]) I mean, those Laws which it is evident were promulgated by the advice of the Nobles and the authority of the Prince, concerning doubts to be settled in their Assembly. For, if from the mere want of writing only, they should not be considered as Laws, then, unquestionably, writing would seem to confer more authority-lii- upon Laws themselves, than either the Equity of the persons constituting, or the reason of those framing, them. But, to reduce in every instance the Laws and Constitutions of the Realm into writing, would be, in our times, absolutely impossible, as well on account of the ignorance of writers, as of the confused multiplicity of the Laws. But, there are some, which, as they more generally occur in Court, and are more frequently used, it appears to me not presumptuous to put into writing, but rather very useful to most persons, and highly necessary to assist the memory. A certain portion of those I therefore intend to reduce into writing, purposely making use of a vulgar style, and of words occurring in Court, in order to instruct those who are less accustomed to this kind of vulgarity. In proof of which, I have distinguished the present work by Books and Chapters.

CHAP. I.

Pleas are either Criminal or Civil.[31] The former are divided into such as appertain to the King’s Crown, and such as belong to the Sheriffs of Counties. These Pleas belong to the King’s Crown.[32]

CHAP. II.

The crime which, in legal phrase, is termed that of-2- Læse Majesty, as the death of the King, or a sedition moved in the Realm, or Army[33]—the fraudulent concealment of Treasure-trove—The Plea concerning the breaking of the King’s peace—Homicide—Burning—Robbery—Rape—the crime of Falsifying,[34] and such other Pleas as are of a similar nature.[35] These crimes are either punished capitally, or with loss of Member.[36] We must, however, except the crime of Theft, which belongs to the Sheriffs of Counties, and is discussed and determined in the County Courts.[37] It also appertains-3- to Sheriffs, in case of neglect on the part of Lords of Franchise, to take cognizance of Scuffles,[38] blows, and wounds, unless the Accuser subjoin to his charge, that the offence was committed against the King’s Peace.[39]

CHAP. III.

Civil Pleas are divided into such as are discussed and determined in the King’s Court only, and such as fall within the Jurisdiction of the Sheriffs of Counties. In the former Court, are discussed and determined, all such Pleas as concern Baronies, Advowsons of Churches, questions of condition, Dower, when the Woman has been entirely debarred from receiving it; for breach of Fine made in the King’s Court; concerning the performing of Homage, and the receiving of-4- Reliefs, and concerning Purprestures,[40] and Debts owing by lay persons. These Pleas, indeed, relate to the propriety of the thing only: concerning those which refer to the possession, and which are discussed and decided by Recognitions,[41] we shall speak in their proper place.

CHAP. IV.

To the Sheriffs of Counties these Pleas appertain: the Plea concerning the Right of Freehold, when the Courts of the Lords are proved to have failed in doing justice, the nature of which we shall speak of in another place; and the Plea concerning Villeins-born: such Pleas being, in each instance,[42] sanctioned by the King’s Writ.[43]

-5-

CHAP. V.

When any one complains[44] to the King, or his Justices, concerning his Fee, or his Freehold, if the complaint be such as be proper for the determination of the King’s Court, or the King is pleased that it should be decided there, then the party complaining shall have the following Writ of summons.

CHAP. VI.

“The King to the Sheriff, Health.[45] Command A. that, without delay, he render to B. one Hyde of Land, in such a Vill, of which the said B. complains, that the aforesaid A. hath deforced him; and, unless he does so, summon him by good summoners, that he be there, before me, or my Justices, in crastino post octabas clausi Paschæ at such a place, to show wherefore he has failed; and have there the Summoners and this Writ. Witness Ranulph de Glanville, at Clarendon.”

-6-

CHAP. VII.

The party who is thus summoned either appears at the day appointed, or makes default, or sends a Messenger, or Essoin,[46] or neither. If he neither appear, nor send an Essoin, his adversary, the Demandant, should, on the day appointed, appear before the Justices, and offer to proceed against him in the suit; and he shall thus await in Court during three days. If the Tenant appear not on the fourth day, the summoners being present, and alledging that they had duly cited him, and offering to prove it, according to the course of the Court, another Writ shall Issue to summon the Tenant to appear at the distance of fifteen days[47] at-7- least, in which Writ he shall be required as well to answer to the original Suit, as for his default in disobeying the first summons.[48] In this manner, three Summonses shall issue; and, if the Tenant neither appear at the third summons, nor send, the Tenement shall be taken into the King’s hands, and shall so remain, during fifteen days.

And, if, within that period, he appear not, the Seisin[49] shall be adjudged to his adversary, so that from thenceforth the Tenant shall not be heard, unless in a suit concerning the propriety, and that authorised by the King’s Writ of Right.[50] If, however, he appear within the fifteen days, and be desirous of replevying the Tenement, he shall be commanded to appear on the fourth day, and he shall have that which he is legally entitled unto; and thus, if he appear, he may recover-8- the Seisin. Should he, however, appear at the third Summons, and confess the former Summonses, he shall instantly lose the Seisin, unless he can excuse his default by the King’s Warrant, and by the Writ, which he should instantly produce.

CHAP. VIII.

“The King to the Justices, Health. I warrant B. who was at such a place, by my precept, on such a day, in my service, and, therefore, could not be present before you on that day at your Assizes; and I command you, that you put him not in default for his absence that day, nor that he in any respect suffer loss.

Witness, &c.”[51]

CHAP. IX.

If he should deny all the summonses, he shall, as to each of them individually, corroborate his denial with the oaths of twelve.[52] Should it happen on the day-9- appointed that either of the Compurgators[53] fail, or should the person of either of them be justly excepted to, and the vacancy occasioned by either of these circumstances not be filled up, the Tenant shall, on account of his default, immediately lose his Seisin.[54] But, if the Tenant thus completely disprove the summonses, he shall on the same day answer to the Action.[55]

CHAP. X.

If the Tenant, being summoned, appear not on the first day, but Essoin himself, such Essoin shall, if reasonable, be received; and he may, in this manner, essoin himself three times successively; and, since the-10- causes, on account of which a person may justly essoin himself, are various, let us consider the different kinds of Essoins.

CHAP. XI.

Of Essoins, some arise on account of ill health, others from other sources. Of those Essoins which arise from ill health—one kind is that ex infirmitate veniendi—another ex infirmitate de reseantisâ.[56]

CHAP. XII.

If the Tenant, being summoned, should, on the first day, cast the Essoin de infirmitate veniendi,[57] it is in the election of his Adversary, being present, either to-11- require from the Essoiner a lawful proof of the truth of the Essoin in question, on that very day,[58] or that he should find pledges, or bind himself solemnly, that at the day appointed he will have his Warrantor of the Essoin; and he may thus Essoin himself three times successively. If, on the third day,[59] he neither appear nor essoin himself, then let it be ordered, that he be forthcoming in proper person on another day; or that he send a fit Attorney in his place, to gain or lose for him. Thus, whoever on the appointed day may appear in the place of the Tenant, offering to undertake his defence, whether authorised by his Letters, or without them, is immaterial, if it be known, that he be allied to the absent Tenant, he shall be received for him in Court, either to gain or lose.[60] It may be asked, what will be the consequence if the Tenant appear at the fourth day, after having cast three Essoins, and warrant all the Essoins? In that case, he shall prove the truth of each Essoin[61] by his own oath and that of another; and, on the same day, he shall answer to the suit. If, on the fourth day, he-12- neither appear nor send an Attorney, let the Tenement be taken into the King’s hands, a Writ being issued by the Court for that purpose, directed to the Sheriff of the County, in which such Tenement is situated, which Writ is in the following words:

CHAP. XIII.

“The King to the Sheriff, Health. I command you that, without delay, you take into my hands the half of the lands in such a will, which M. claims, as her Dower, against R. concerning which there is a suit between them in my Court, and that you make known the day of the caption to my justices. And summon, by good Summoners, the aforesaid R., that he be before me[62] or my Justices at Westminster a crastino octabus clausi Paschæ in quindecim dies, to hear his judgment, and have there the Summoners and this Writ. Witness Ranulph de Glanville at Westminster, &c.” In addition, let the Sheriff of the County be commanded to take the Essoiners, as Defaulters, and to detain them, and for this purpose the following writ shall Issue:

CHAP. XIV.

“The King to the Sheriff, Health. I command you that, without delay, you diligently seek, through-13- your County, A. who has falsely Essoined B. against C. in my Court, and that you safely keep him, until you have my other precept. Witness, &c.” The Defendant himself shall also, in the mean time, be summoned to appear before the King, or his Justices, to show why he has not warranted his Essoiner, and to answer to the principal suit. Besides, the Pledges of the Essoiners shall be summoned, by the following Writ.

CHAP. XV.

“The King to the Sheriff, Health. Summon by good Summoners T. that he be before me, or my Justices, at Westminster, in fifteen days from the Pentecost, to show why he has not had I. before me at Westminster, on such a day, to warrant the Essoin that I. made for him in my Court against M. as he pledged himself to have him. And have there the Summoners, and this Writ. Witness, &c.”

CHAP. XVI.

But, if the Tenant appear within the fifteen days, and be willing to replevy the Tenement, let him be commanded to attend, on a day appointed, that he may then have justice done him; and, if he appear on that day, and find pledges, he shall recover his seisin, and may retain it. If he deny all the Summonses, and-14- all the Essoins, and disprove them individually with the oaths of twelve, or if he acknowledge the first Summons, and warrant the three Essoins, and save the fourth day by the King’s Writ of warranty, which he should forthwith produce, he may also retain his Seisin. But, if the Tenant appear not within the fifteen days, the seisin shall, on the following day, be adjudged to his adversary, so that the Tenant shall never again be heard concerning it, unless by the King’s Writ concerning the Right.[63] But the Demandant shall be put into the possession of the Tenement, by the following Writ, directed to the Sheriff.

CHAP. XVII.

“The King to the Sheriff, Health. I command you that, without delay, you deliver possession to M. of so much land in such a Vill, of which there was a suit in my Court, between him and R.; because the Seisin of such Land is adjudged to the said M. in my Court, for the default of R. Witness, &c.”

CHAP. XVIII.

If any one desire to cast the Essoin de infirmitate-15- de Reseantisâ, he may thrice do it.[64] Yet should the Essoiner, on the third day preceding that appointed, at a proper place, and before a proper person, present his Essoin. If, on the third summons, the Tenant appear not, the Court should direct, that it may be seen whether his indisposition amount to a languor,[65] or not. For this purpose, let the following Writ issue directed to the Sheriff.

CHAP. XIX.

“The King to the Sheriff, Health. I command you that, without delay, you send four lawful men[66] of your County to see of the infirmity of which B. hath essoined himself in my Court, against R. be a languor or not. And, if they perceive that it is a languor, then, that they should put to him a day of one year and one day, from the day of the view, to appear before me, or my justices, or that he send a sufficient Attorney to answer for him. And if they see that it be not a languor, then, that they put him-16- a certain day, on which he shall appear, or send a sufficient Attorney to answer for him. And Summon, by good Summoners, the aforesaid four Knights, that they be then there to testify their view, and the day they put him; and have there the summoners and this Writ. Witness, &c.” It should be observed, that two Essoiners, at least, are necessary to cast this Essoin.

CHAP. XX.

It should also be remarked, that the two first essoins may be cast de infirmitate veniendi, and the third de reseantisâ.

Should that course be adopted, the Court should send to ascertain, whether the indisposition amount to a languor, or not. If, however, the two first essoins should be de reseantisâ, and the third de infirmitate veniendi, it shall be ordered as if they were all de infirmitate veniendi, because the judgment must always follow the nature of the last essoin.

CHAP. XXI.

Should it upon any of these occasions happen, that the party himself should answer in Court, and whilst he was present, a future day should have been appointed him; if, at that day, he neither come nor-17- send an Attorney, let his land be taken into the King’s hands, and let him be debarred the power of replevying it. And he shall be summoned to appear and hear the judgment at an appointed day—and thus, whether he appear or not, he shall lose the Seisin, on account of his default; because he cannot afterwards deny the summons, unless by the King’s Writ, which he should forthwith produce, and by which he may save his default. But although on any of the days appointed for his appearance, the Tenant should answer in Court, if he lawfully depart, he may recur to his three Essoins, unless he has precluded himself by an agreement to waive them. If, on the first day, the party should essoin himself, but, on the second, should neither appear nor essoin himself, let the Sheriff be commanded to attach the Essoiner, as a defaulter, and for this purpose let the foregoing Writ be directed to him.

CHAP. XXII.

But it should be observed, that when a party to a suit has Essoined himself, the Essoiner may also avail himself of a reasonable Essoin. For if any one desirous of casting a reasonable Essoin, should commission a person for this purpose, and the Essoiner meets with some reasonable impediment in the way, by which he is prevented being present at the appointed day, he shall be awaited until the fourth day, as his Principal would-18- have been; and if within that period he appear, his Essoin shall be received, on whatever day he should come; and he may thus save the days which are past for the same causes for which his principal[67] could.

CHAP. XXIII.

The principal Essoiner is also at liberty, if so disposed, to essoin himself by another Essoiner. In this case the second Essoiner must state to the Court, that the Tenant, having a just cause of Essoin, had been detained, so that he could not appear at the day appointed, neither to lose nor gain, and that, therefore, he had appointed a certain other person to essoin him; and that the Essoiner himself had met with such an impediment, which had prevented his appearance on that day:—and this he is prepared to prove according to the practice of the Court. By these means, such Essoiner shall be received, and a day shall be granted to the Tenant, through the medium of such Essoiner, upon his undertaking to produce his Warrantor on such a given day, when the Tenant ought to guarantee his principal Essoiner, and to prove his Essoin in the usual manner. In the same manner, the first Essoiner is to guarantee the second, unless on the first day he himself has proved his Essoins, upon the requisition of the adverse party.

-19-

CHAP. XXIV.

But if the Tenant, desirous of proceeding in the cause, should, after his Essoin cast in Court and within the fourth day, appear, then, if the day was in the first instance fixed through the intervention of the Essoiner, and the adverse party has under these circumstances left the Court, the Demandant[68] cannot recover, as he might on the day past.

CHAP. XXV.

There is another species of Essoin; which is permitted from the necessity of the case; and this happens when any one casts the Essoin de ultra mare.[69] In that case, if the Essoin be received, the period of forty days, at least, shall be given to the party essoined. But if, by means of this or any other reasonable Essoin, a man would essoin himself for a longer period, the usual course of the Court shall be followed in giving time.

-20-

CHAP. XXVI.

There are other Essoins which eventually may be resorted to, in order to save the four days, or one of them, by means of which Essoins the adverse party should be awaited in Court: as, for Example, a sudden inundation, or any other unexpected event which could not be foreseen.

CHAP. XXVII.

The service of the King is also another reasonable cause of Essoin,[70] and when this Essoin is proved in Court and allowed, the Suit shall stand over sine die, until it appear that the party has returned from the King’s service. Hence those who are continually in the King’s service, as his Servants,[71] shall not avail themselves-21- of this Essoin; but, with respect to their persons, the ordinary course of the Court, and the order of the Law, shall be observed. We must, however, make a distinction, with respect to the foregoing Essoin. The party desirous of availing himself of the Essoin per servitium Regis, will either have been summoned by his adversary previously to entering into such service, or he will have entered into such service in the first instance, and have afterwards been summoned.

If he were in the first instance in the King’s service, and in the mean time be summoned to answer the suit, the Rule we have above laid down must unquestionably prevail. On the other hand, if a party be impleaded in the first instance, and he afterwards cast the Essoin per servitium Regis, it is material to ascertain, whether he act by a mandate of the King, or a general or special precept, and be from necessity in such service, or otherwise. If he were called by a precept of the King into his service, then, indeed, the same Law prevails, as in the former instance. But if, on the other hand, voluntarily and without any such precept, he has recently entered into the King’s service, it must be distinguished, whether he has gone beyond sea in that service, or remains within the Realm. If-22- he has gone beyond Sea, a respite[72] of forty days, at least, shall be allowed him, but, if he should not return within that period, the accustomed course of the Court, and the order of Law shall be observed. At whatever period he appears in Court, and whether personally, or by his Attorney, he must immediately produce the King’s Writ, to warrant his preceding Essoins. But if, on the other hand, the Defendant be within the Realm, and in the service of the King, in that Case it must be regulated by the will and pleasure of the King’s Justices, whether a less or a greater period[73] be allowed him to appear and answer, according as it may best suit the King, and may be consistent with the course of Justice.

CHAP. XXVIII.

It may also happen, that a party is essoined in Court, on account of some indisposition by which he is confined in the same Town where the Court is sitting, having arrived there to prosecute his plea. In this case, let the Court direct, that he appear on the morrow;-23- and thus let him be awaited during three successive days—and for this cause, he shall have a delay of three successive days. If, on the third day, he then so essoin himself, then four Knights should be directed by the Court to attend him for the purpose of ascertaining, whether he is in such a state as to be able to make his appearance in Court, or not; and, should they be of opinion that he is able, then, they should command him, to attend in Court, and do that which he ought. But, if they should think him unable, and should testify this to the Court, then shall a reasonable time, a delay of fifteen days at the least, be allowed him.

CHAP. XXIX.

There is also another Essoin, which is sometimes presented in Court—I allude to that, de esse in peregrinatione. But here a distinction must be made, whether the party who would thus essoin himself was impleaded before he undertook his Voyage, or not. Because, in the former case, the course of the Court and the order of Justice shall be observed. But, if he was not summoned previously to his beginning his Travels, then again it must be distinguished whether he went to Jerusalem, or to another place. If to the former place, then a year and a day, at least, is generally allowed him; but with respect to other Travels, the time allowed must be regulated by the Will and pleasure of the King, or his Justices, who, keeping in-24- view the length or shortness of the Journey, are to temper the Rule as they may think proper.[74]

CHAP. XXX.

In the Writ directed to the Sheriff, for the purpose of summoning the party, there is the following clause inserted, “and have there the summoners and this Writ.”

When, therefore, the Demandant offers himself in Court on the appointed day, the first inquiry is, whether the Sheriff has the Summoners, and the Writ there present or not; if he have, and the Summons be proved, the Suit must be proceeded in, in the manner we have mentioned. But, if the Sheriff should neither be present on that day, nor appear within the fourth day, to which time the Tenant must be awaited, then let the Sheriff be again commanded by the King’s Writ, to summon the Tenant, concerning the principal cause, by a Writ of second Summons, and that he himself appear to shew why he neglected to make the Summons, as enjoined him by the first Writ. The Writ of second Summons contains that which first issued, with the addition of the following clause: “and be you yourself then there present to shew wherefore you did not-25- summon him, as it was commanded you by my other Writ, and have there this Writ, and that other Writ.” At the day appointed, the Sheriff appearing, either says that he executed the King’s precept, or confesses that he has not done it.

Should he acknowledge the latter, then he shall be amerced to the King. But, in this case, the Demandant shall lose his first day, and the Tenant must be again summoned. But should the Sheriff allege that he had injoined lawful Summoners to execute the first Summons—and they, being present, acknowledge the fact, then not only the Sheriff, but the Summoners shall be amerced,[75] if they have not executed such Summons as it was their duty to do; and thus again the first day will become useless to the Demandant.

But if those whom the Sheriff nominated as Summoners, being present, should assert that the Sheriff did not injoin them to summon the Tenant, we must then distinguish, whether the Sheriff delivered his order to them in the County Court, as he always ought to do, (in order that, if the complaint be presented some time before a County Court, the party may be attached until the County Court, and then there may be a full Summons,) or in any other manner. If the Sheriff gave his orders to them in the County Court, and this be properly proved, the Summoners shall be amerced, because they cannot contradict a fact, which-26- has been transacted in a County Court.[76] But if the Sheriff, being out of the County Court, and less publicly than he ought, injoin them to summon the Tenant, and they deny that he did so injoin them, the Sheriff shall be amerced for not having executed the King’s Writ in the manner that he ought. For public Acts of this nature, such as, the injoining Summoners—the taking of Pledges for the prosecuting of Actions—and for Appearances,[77] ought to be publicly transacted, lest concerning these steps, which are merely preparatory to a final determination, a difficulty should arise, in itself the occasion of procrastinating the decision. But if, on the first day, the Summoners should not appear and assert that they had in a legal way executed the first Summons, but should send their Essoiners on the first day, who essoin them, and add, that they had properly executed the first Summons, then the Demandant shall not lose his first day, and they shall be amerced, because they have not appeared at the first day to prove that they had executed the Summons as was injoined them, unless they can excuse their default on that day, by the King’s Warrant. We must, however, not forget, that either the one or the other of the Summoners is permitted legally to excuse himself on the first day, and in that case the Demandant shall not lose the day in question.

-27-

CHAP. XXXI.

We have spoken concerning the absence of the Tenant, when he is merely summoned, and no Pledges are given. But, if the suit be of a nature to make it requisite, that the Tenant should find Pledges for his appearance, and the Justices or the County Court have recorded them, (which happens in the civil matter of a breach of a Final Concord made in the King’s Court before the King or his Justices, and in Novel Desseisins) then, if the Tenant neither appear at the first day, nor essoin himself, the Pledges are adjudged to be amerced to the King; and the Pledges shall be increased as to the principal Cause; and thus, should the Tenant absent himself on all the three days, the Suit must be proceeded in; and if at the third Summons he should not appear,[78] let his Tenement be taken into the King’s Hands, and retained in the manner before expressed; the Pledges being amerced, who are to be summoned to be present in Court on a certain day, to hear their Judgment. Should, however, the Plea be of a criminal nature, as, for example, concerning a breach of the King’s Peace, then, the proceedings must be according to the course of the Law, as in the above case, with this only difference, that as the party is accused,[79] if he fail to appear at the third Summons,-28- his body shall be taken, and his Pledges shall be amerced.[80]

CHAP. XXXII.

Having discussed those points which more frequently arise, in consequence of the absence of the Tenant, it remains to speak, concerning the Demandant’s not appearing. If the Demandant indeed appear not on the first day, he may avail himself of the same reasonable Essoins as the Tenant, and that by the same means.

If, however, he neither appear nor essoin himself, then, the Court should award, that the Tenant, if present, either personally, or by another, as he ought to be, should be unconditionally dismissed. Yet this is not to preclude the Demandant from recovering, under certain restrictions, the same property, if he feel inclined to institute another suit concerning it.

And, if the Demandant be again inclined to implead the same Tenant, it may be questioned, what the Law is in that case, and how his default should be punished? As to this, opinions differ. For some say, he shall lose-29- nothing but his Cost[81] and his Expenses, and his first Writ, but not his cause of Action; but merely be obliged again to begin his suit. Others say, that he shall forfeit his Action against the Tenant totally, and irrevocably, and, on account of the contempt he has been guilty of towards the Court, that he shall likewise be amerced to the King. Others again are of opinion, that he must be amerced to the King, and that it afterwards depends upon the King’s pleasure, whether he will be admitted again to institute that Action, or reinstated either unconditionally, or subject to certain restrictions. Thus far it will suffice to have treated, where the Action is prosecuted without any Pledges being given. But, if the Demandant find Pledges for prosecuting his Suit and fail to appear, either personally or by another, on the day appointed, then the Tenant shall be unconditionally dismissed. And the Demandant shall lose his Writ, according to the opinion of some, and the whole of his Cost; and his Pledges shall be amerced, as before stated.

But others think, that he shall forfeit his Action,-30- and his Pledges, &c. But this is the consequence when the suit belongs to the Demandant only, as it generally does in civil cases. When, however, the Suit does not belong to him only, but the King has an interest in it, as in a criminal Plea, concerning a breach of the King’s peace, then, as the Demandant cannot lose the suit, unless as to himself, but is bound to prosecute it, his Body shall afterwards be imprisoned and kept safely, until he chuses to prosecute his Appeal,[82] and, in addition, his Pledges shall be amerced.

CHAP. XXXIII.

When it happens that the Demandant and Tenant are both absent, then the King or his Justices may at their pleasure, if so disposed, punish both parties, the one for his contempt of Court, and the other for his false claim.

CHAP. I.

When, at last, both the litigating Parties are present in Court, and the Demandant has proceeded to claim the Tenement in question, the Tenant may pray a View of the Land.

But, with respect to the time which should be allowed him for this purpose, a distinction is to be made, whether the Tenant has more land in the Vill, where the Land in question is situated, or not. In the latter case, no delay shall be conceded him: but, if he has more Land in the Vill, further time shall be allowed him, and another day given him to appear in Court.[83]-32- If he then depart from Court, he may again avail himself of three reasonable Essoins, and the Sheriff of the County, where the Lands in question are situated, shall be directed to send free men of his County to view the Land, by the following Writ:

CHAP. II.

“The King, to the Sheriff, Health. I command you that, without delay, you send free and lawful men of the neighbourhood[84] of such a Vill, to view one Hyde of Land in such a Vill, which M. claims against R. and of which there is a suit between them in my Court; and have four of them before me, or my Justices, such a day, to testify of their view, and what day they put to him. Witness, &c.”

CHAP. III.

After the three reasonable Essoins which accompany the view of the Land,[85] both parties being again-33- present in Court, the Demandant should set forth his demand[86] and claim in this manner: “I demand against this H. half a Knight’s Fee or two ploughlands, in such a Vill, as my Right and Inheritance, of which my Father, or my Grand Father, was seised in his Demesne as of Fee in the time of King Henry the First, or after the first Coronation of our Lord the King, and from whence he took the profits to the Value of five shillings at least, as in Corn,[87] Hay, and other produce; and this I am ready to prove by my Freeman I. and, if any accident happen to him, by such a one, or by a third” (and the Demandant may thus name, as many as he chuses, but one of them only-34- shall wage the Duel,[88]) “who saw this or heard it:”[89] or the Demandant may use other words thus—“and this I am ready to prove by my Freeman I. to whom his Father, when on his death-bed, injoined by the Faith which a Son owes to his Father, that if he ever heard a claim concerning that Land, he should prove this as that which his Father saw and heard.”[90]

-35-

The demand and claim of the Demandant being thus made, it shall be at the election of the Tenant, either to defend himself against the Demandant by the Duel,[91] or to put himself upon the King’s Grand Assise, and-36- require a Recognition to ascertain, which of the two have the greater Right to the Land in dispute.

If he elect the former mode of proceeding, he must deny the right of the Demandant, word for word as the Demandant has set it forth, and this, either in person, or by some other fit man. But here we should observe, that after the Tenant has once waged the Duel he must abide by his choice, and cannot afterwards put himself upon the Assise.[92] In this stage of the suit, the Tenant may again avail himself of three reasonable Essoins in succession, with respect to his own person and of the same number with regard to the person of his Champion.[93] All the Essoins which can with propriety be resorted to having expired, it is requisite, before the Duel can take place, that the Demandant should appear in Court, accompanied by his Champion armed for the contest. Nor will it suffice, if he then produce any other Champion than one of-37- those, upon whom he put the proof of his claim: neither, indeed, can any other contend for him, after the Duel has been once waged.

But if he who has waged the Duel should, in the interval pending the Suit, happen to die, a distinction is to be made. If he died a natural death, and this is declared by the Vicinage, (as it ought always to be, if there exist any doubt concerning the fact,) the Demandant may in the first place recur to one of those upon whom he placed his proof, or to another proper person, even if he have not named any other, provided that such other be an unobjectionable Witness—and thus the Plea may begin again. If, however, his death was occasioned by his own fault, his Principal shall lose the cause. It may be asked, whether the Champion of the Demandant can substitute another in Court, to make that proof which he took upon himself? According, indeed, to the Law, and ancient custom of the Realm,[94] he cannot appoint any other, unless it be his legitimate Son;[95] and here it may be observed, that the Champion of the Demandant should be such a person as is a proper Witness of the fact. Nor is it lawful for the Demandant to prosecute his appeal in his own person, because it is not permitted unless by the intervention of a proper Witness, who has both heard and seen the fact.

-38-

But the Tenant may defend himself, either in his own proper person, if he chuse so to do, or by any other unobjectionable Witness, if he prefer that course. But, if he has produced a Champion, and such Champion should die in the interval, it may be asked, what the Law is, whether the Tenant may defend himself by another Champion, or whether he ought to lose his suit, or his seisin only? We must here have recourse to our former distinction. It should also be remarked, that the Champion of the Tenant cannot substitute another in Court for the purpose of undertaking the defence, unless it be his own lawful[96] Son.

But, it frequently happens, that a hired Champion is produced in court, who, on account of a reward, has undertaken the proof. If the adverse party should except to the person of such a Champion, alleging him to be an improper witness, because he had accepted a reward to undertake the proof, and should add, that he was prepared to prove this accusation against the Champion, (if the latter chose to deny it) either by himself or by another, who was present when the Champion had taken the reward, the party shall be heard upon this charge, and the principal Duel shall-39- be deferred. If, upon this charge, the Champion of the Demandant should be convicted and conquered in the Duel, then, his Principal shall lose the suit, and the Champion himself, as conquered, shall lose his law, namely, he shall from thenceforth never be admitted in Court, as a Witness, for the purpose of making proof by Duel, for any other person;[97] but, with respect to himself, he may be admitted, either in defending his own body, or in prosecuting any atrocious personal injury, as being a violation of the King’s Peace. He may also defend by Duel his right to his own Fee and Inheritance.

The Duel being finished, a fine of sixty shillings[98] shall be imposed upon the party conquered, in the name of Recreantise,[99] and besides which he shall lose-40- his Law; and, if the Champion of the Tenant should be conquered, his Principal shall lose the Land in question, with all the fruits and produce found upon it at the time of Seisin of the Fee, and never again shall be heard in Court concerning the same Land.[100] For those matters, which have been once determined in the King’s Court by Duel, remain for ever after unalterable. Upon the determination of the suit, let the Sheriff be commanded by the following Writ, to give possession of the Land to the successful party.

CHAP. IV.

“The King to the Sheriff, Health. I command you that, without delay, you give possession to M. of one Hyde of Land, in such a Vill, concerning which there was a suit between him and R. in my Court; because such Hyde of Land is adjudged to him in my Court, by the Duel. Witness, &c.”

-41-

CHAP. V.

This is the course of proceeding, when the Demandant has been successful in the Duel. But if he has been conquered, in the person of his Champion, then the Tenant shall be freed from his claim, without any possibility of being again disturbed by him. Thus far concerning the Duel,[101] where the Tenant should chuse or elect that mode of defending himself, against his Adversary.

CHAP. VI.

But, if the Tenant should prefer putting himself upon the King’s Grand Assise, the Demandant must either adopt the same course, or decline it. If the Demandant has once conceded in Court that he would put himself upon the Assise, and has so expressed himself before the Justices of the Common Pleas,[102] he cannot-42- afterwards retract, but ought either to stand or fall by the Assise.

If he object to put himself upon the Grand Assise, he ought in such case to shew some cause, why the Assise should not proceed between them—such as, that they were of the same blood, and sprung from the same kindred stock from whence the Inheritance itself descended; and if the Demandant take this objection, the Tenant will either admit its validity, or deny it. If he admit it in Court, the Assise itself shall thereby cease, so that the matter shall be verbally pleaded and determined in Court; because it is then a question in Law, which of the parties is the nearer to the original stock, and as such, the Heir most justly entitled to the-43- inheritance; and, in this manner, the nearer Heir shall prove his title, unless his adversary can allege in Court any reason, why such Heir has lost his right, either for a time or perpetually, or that any Ancestor of his had so done; as, for Example, that he has given or sold or exchanged the Land in question, or, by any other mode which the Law permits, has alienated it; or if the Heir, or any of his Ancestors, have committed Felony,[103] and forfeited their rights entirely, concerning which we shall treat more fully hereafter. Should the suit on any of these grounds be delayed, the matter may incidentally, through the Effect of Pleading having such a tendency, be regularly brought to the Duel. But if he, who has put himself upon the Assise, deny all Relationship between him and the Demandant, or, at least, insist, that they were not sprung from the same stock, from which the Inheritance descended, then, recourse must be had to the[104] common Kindred of both parties, who for this purpose are to be called into Court, in order that the Relationship of the parties to the suit may be investigated on their testimony. If the Relations unanimously affirm, that the-44- litigating parties have descended from the same stock, from whence the Inheritance moved, their assertion is conclusive, unless one of the parties strongly persist in asserting the contrary; and, in such case, recourse shall be had to the Vicinage, whose testimony upon this subject, if it coincide with that of the Relations, must be unreservedly acquiesced in. The same course must be pursued, if the Relations differ in their Testimony; for then the parties must abide by the Verdict of the Vicinage. The Inquisition having been made, if the Parties be unquestionably found and proved to have sprung from the same stock, from which the Inheritance descended, the Assise shall cease, and the suit must verbally proceed, as I have before mentioned. But, if the contrary should appear to the Court and the King’s Justices, then, the Demandant who took the objection, that both parties were sprung from the same stock, in order maliciously to prevent the Assise, shall lose his suit. If nothing intervene to impede the progress of the Assise, then the question shall be as finally terminated by that mode of decision as by the Duel.

CHAP. VII.

The Grand[105] Assise is a certain royal benefit bestowed-45- upon the people, and emanating from the clemency of the prince, with the advice of his nobles. So effectually does this proceeding preserve the lives and civil condition of Men,[106] that every one may now possess his right in safety, at the same time that he avoids the doubtful event of the Duel. Nor is this all: the severe punishment of an unexpected and premature Death is evaded, or, at least the opprobrium of a lasting infamy, of that dreadful and ignominious word[107]-46- that so disgracefully resounds from the mouth of the conquered Champion.

This legal Institution flows from the most profound Equity. For that Justice, which, after many and long delays, is scarcely, if ever, elicited by the Duel, is more advantageously and expeditiously attained, through the benefit of this Institution. This Assise, indeed, allows not so many Essoins as the Duel, as will be seen in the sequel. And by this course of proceeding, both the labor of Men, and the expences of the poor are saved. Besides, by so much as the testimony of many credible witnesses, in judicial proceedings, preponderates over that of one only, by so much greater Equity is this Institution regulated than that of the Duel. For since the Duel proceeds upon the testimony of one Juror, this constitution requires the oaths of twelve lawful men, at least. These are the proceedings which lead to the Assise. The party who puts himself upon the Assise should, from the first, and in order to prevent his Adversary from subsequently impleading him, sue out a Writ for keeping the peace, the suit being already pending between the parties concerning the Tenement, and the Tenant having put himself upon the Assise.

CHAP. VIII.

“The King to the Sheriff, Health. Prohibit N. that he hold not in his Court the Plea which is between M. and R. of one Hyde of Land, in such a-47- Vill, which the said R. claims against the aforesaid M. by my Writ, unless the Duel be waged; because M. the Tenant hath put himself upon my Assise, and prays a Recognition to be made, which of them have the greater right to that Land. Witness &c.” If the suit be concerning a service, on account of which the Tenant has put himself on the Assise, as he is at liberty to do if he chuse, then, the Writ will be as follows.

CHAP. IX.

“The King to the Sheriff, Health. Prohibit N. that he holds not in his Court the Plea which is between M. and R. of the service of eight shillings, and of one Quart[108] of Honey, and two stikes[109] of Eels which the aforesaid M. exacts of the aforesaid R. for the Yearly service of his free Tenement that he holds of him, in such a Vill, for which Tenement the said R. acknowledges that he owes him eight shillings a year for every service, unless the Duel be waged between them, because R. from whom the service is required, puts himself on my Assise, and prays a Recognition, whether he owes eight Shillings a year for every service, and besides one Quart of Honey, and two stikes of Eels. Witness &c.”

-48-

CHAP. X.

By means of such Writs, the Tenant may protect himself, and may put himself upon the Assise, until his Adversary, appearing in Court, pray another Writ, in order that four lawful Knights of the County, and of the Vicinage, might elect twelve lawful Knights from the same Vicinage, who should say, upon their oaths, which of the litigating parties, have the greater right to the Land in question. The Writ for the summoning of the four Knights is as follows——

CHAP. XI.

“The King to the Sheriff, Health.[110] Summon, by good summoners, four lawful Knights of the Vicinage of Stoke, that they be at the Pentecost before me, or my Justices, at Westminster, to elect on their oaths, twelve lawful Knights of that Vicinage, who better know the truth, to return, on their oaths, whether M. or R. have the greater right in one Hyde of Land in Stoke, which M. claims against R. by my Writ, and of which R. the Tenant, hath put himself upon my Assise and prays a Recognition to be made, which of them have the greater right in that Land; and, cause their names to be imbreviated. And summon, by good Summoners, R. who holds the Land, that-49- he be then there to hear the election, and have there the Summoners, &c.”

CHAP. XII.

At such day the Tenant may essoin himself, and again have recourse to three reasonable Essoins.

And this, indeed, appears but right; since, as we have explained in a former part of this Treatise, as often as any one appears in Court, and there performs that which the Law requires of him, he may again recur to his Essoins.

But, then, it would happen, or, at least it might so, that as many, if not a greater number, of Essoins, may intervene in the remedy of the Grand Assise, as of the Duel, which is by no means compatible with what we have already laid down. Let us, then, suppose, that the Tenant has cast three successive Essoins against the election of the twelve, by the four Knights. After these three Essoins, and upon the Tenant appearing in Court, one or more of the four Knights may on the same day cast an Essoin; and, if this be conceded, the Tenant might again, after the Essoins of the four Knights were expired, essoin himself afresh, and thus the Assise could scarcely, if ever, be brought to a conclusion. We should, therefore, observe, that a certain just Constitution[111] has been passed, under which the-50- Court is authorised to expedite the suit, upon the four Knights appearing in Court on the day appointed them, and being prepared to proceed to the election of the twelve Knights. Upon this occasion, whether the Tenant appear or absent himself, the four Knights shall proceed upon their oaths to elect the twelve. But, if the Tenant himself be present in Court, he may possibly have a just cause of Exception against one or more of the Twelve, and concerning this he should be heard in Court. It is usual, indeed, for the purpose of satisfying the absent party, not to confine the number to be elected to twelve, but to comprise as many more as may incontrovertibly satisfy such absent party, when he return to Court. For Jurors may be excepted against by the same means by which Witnesses in the Court Christian are justly rejected.[112] It should also be observed, that if the party, who has put himself upon the grand Assise, appear, although some of the four Knights are absent, the twelve may be elected by one of the four taking to himself two or three other Knights from the same County, if such happen to be in Court, though not summoned for the purpose, provided such course of proceeding meet with the approbation of the Court, and be mutually consented to by the litigating parties. But, for greater caution, and to avoid all possible cavil, it is usual to summon six or more Knights to Court, for the purpose of making the election.

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Indeed, if the object be to expedite the proceedings, it will more avail to follow the direction of the Court, than to observe the accustomed course of the Law. It is, therefore, committed to the discretion, and Judgment of the King or his Justices, so to temper the proceeding, as to render it more beneficial and equitable.

CHAP. XIII.

But any person may put himself upon the Assise concerning a Service, or Land, and besides, concerning demands of service, and concerning the Right of Advowson to any Church. Nor is the party confined to this remedy, as against a stranger merely, but he may avail himself of it against his Lord for the purpose of ascertaining, whether the Lord has greater Right to retain the object in question in his Demesne, or the Tenant to hold it of him. It is easy to form a Writ, adapted to the variety of circumstances.

CHAP. XIV.

The Election of the twelve Knights having been made, they should be summoned to appear in Court, prepared upon their oaths to declare, which of them, namely, whether the Tenant, or the Demandant, possess the greater right to the property in question. Let the Summons be made by the following Writ——

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CHAP. XV.

“The King to the Sheriff, Health. Summon, by good Summoners, those twelve Knights R. and N. (naming each) that they be, on such a day, before me or my Justices at such a place, prepared on their oaths to return, whether R. or N. have greater right, in one Hyde of Land, or in the subject matter of dispute, which the aforesaid R. claims against the aforesaid N. and of which the aforesaid N. the Tenant, has put himself upon our Assise, and has prayed a Recognition, which of them have the greater right to the thing in question; and, in the mean time, let them view the Land or Tenement itself, of which the service is demanded; and Summon, by good Summoners, N. the Tenant, that he be then there to hear that Recognition, &c.”

CHAP. XVI.

On the day fixed for the attendance of the twelve Knights to take the Recognition, whether the Tenant appear, or absent himself, the Recognition shall proceed without delay; nor shall any Essoin avail the Tenant, because as his presence is not requisite, the Recognition may proceed without him;[113] since, if he-53- were present, he would, by having, when in Court, put himself upon the Grand Assise, be precluded from alleging any reason, why it should be deferred. It is different with respect to the absence of the Demandant. If he should essoin himself, the Assise shall, for that day, be deferred, and another day shall be given in Court; because though a Party may lose by his default, no one when absent shall gain anything.

CHAP. XVII.

When the Assise proceeds to make the Recognition, the right will be well known either to all the Jurors, or some may know it, and some not, or all may be alike ignorant concerning it. If none of them are acquainted with the truth of the matter, and this be testified upon their oaths in Court, recourse must be had to others, until such can be found who do know the truth of it. Should it, however, happen that some of them know the truth of the matter, and some not, the latter are to be rejected, and others summoned to Court, until twelve, at least, can be found who are unanimous.[114] But, if some of the Jurors should decide for one party, and some of them for the other, then, others must be added, until twelve, at least, can be obtained-54- who agree in favor of one side. Each of the Knights summoned for this purpose ought to swear, that he will neither utter that which is false, nor knowingly conceal the truth. With respect to the knowledge requisite on the part of those sworn, they should be acquainted with the merits of the cause, either from what they have personally seen and heard, or from the declarations of their Fathers, and from other sources equally entitled to credit, as if falling within their own immediate knowledge.[115]

CHAP. XVIII.

When the twelve Knights, who have appeared for the purpose of making Recognition, entertain no doubt about the truth of the thing, then, the Assise must proceed to ascertain, whether the Demandant, or Tenant, have the greater right to the subject in dispute.

But if they decide in favor of the Tenant, or make any other declaration, by which it should sufficiently appear to the King, or his Justices, that the Tenant has greater right to the subject in dispute, then, by the Judgment of the Court, he shall be dismissed, for ever released from the claim of the Demandant, who shall-55- never again be heard in Court with effect concerning the matter. For those questions which have been once lawfully determined by the King’s Grand Assise, shall upon no subsequent occasion be with propriety revived. But, if by this Assise it be decided in Court in favor of the Demandant, then, his Adversary shall lose the Land in question, which shall be restored to the Demandant, together with all the fruits and produce found upon the Land at the time of Seisin.[116]

CHAP. XIX.[117]

A punishment is ordained for those who rashly swear in this Assise, and is with much propriety inserted in that Royal Institution.[118] For if the Jurors-56- shall, by due course of Law, be convicted, or, by legal Confession, be proved to have perjured themselves in Court, they shall be despoiled of all their Chattels and Moveables, which shall be forfeited to the King, although by the great clemency of the Prince, their freehold Tenements are spared. They shall also be thrown into prison, and be there detained for one year at least. In fine, deprived for ever after of their Law, they shall justly incur the mark of perpetual infamy. This penalty is properly ordained, in order that a similarity[119] of punishment may deter Men in such a Case, from the unlawful use of an Oath.

It should be observed, that the Duel never shall be waged in a case where the Assise cannot be resorted to. The converse of the proposition equally holds.

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If the Land in question be adjudged to the Demandant, he shall be remitted to the Sheriff of the County, where the Land is situated, in order to recover his possession.

And, for this purpose, he shall have the following Writ——

CHAP. XX.

“The King to the Sheriff, Health. I command you that, without delay, you deliver possession to N. of one Hyde of Land, in such a Vill, which he claims against R. of which the said R. put himself upon my Assise, because the said R.[120] has recovered that Land, in my Court by a Recognition. Witness, &c.”

CHAP. XXI.

But, if there are not any Knights to be found in the Vicinage, nor in the County itself, who are acquainted with the truth of the matter in dispute, it is a question, what steps shall be resorted to?

Whether, from that circumstance alone, the Tenant shall prevail against his Adversary?

If this be answered in the affirmative, shall the Demandant lose his Right, supposing he has any? A doubt, indeed, may be entertained upon this subject.-58- Let us suppose that two or three lawful men, or even more, provided the number did not exceed twelve, who, as Witnesses of the fact, should offer themselves in Court, to prove it. Let us, even, suppose that they were of such an age as to be qualified to make proof by the Duel, and should make use of all such words in Court, on account of which the Duel is generally awarded. After all this, it may be doubted, whether any of them shall be heard upon the subject.

CHAP. I.

When the presence of the Tenant only happens to be requisite, and in itself precludes the necessity of any other person appearing to answer, the order of Pleading which is observed in Court is such as we have described.

But the presence of another party becomes no less necessary than that of the Tenant, if the latter declare in Court, that the subject in dispute is not his own, but that he merely holds it, as a Loan,[121] or a Hireing, or a Pledge, or as committed to his Custody, or in some other mode entrusted to him by another; or if he should allege, that the property were his own, but that he had a Warrantor[122] from whom he had received-60- it, either as a Gift, or Sale, or in Exchange, or, generally, found his Title to the thing upon any other cause of this nature.

If the Tenant should declare in Court, that the property is not his own, but belongs to another, then, such other person must be summoned by another Writ, but yet of a similar nature—and thus the plea shall be commenced anew against him. And when such other person at last appears in Court, he in the same manner will declare, either that the property belongs to him, or not. If the latter, then, the party who had first asserted in Court, that the property did belong to him, shall thereby lose the Land irretrievably, and he shall be summoned to appear in Court, and hear his Judgment; and thus, whether he appear or absent himself, his Adversary shall recover possession. When the Tenant call a person into Court to warrant the Land, then, a reasonable day shall be given him in Court to produce such person there; and thus he may anew recur to three Essoins, with respect to his own person, and to the same number, with regard to the person of-61- his Warrantor. The person cited to warrant having at last appeared in Court, he will either enter into the warranty of the subject in dispute, or decline it. If he adopt the former course, he then becomes a Principal Party in the suit, so that the remainder of the cause shall be entirely carried on in his name; but if, previous to this step, he essoin himself, the Tenant cannot excuse himself by an Essoin, but, if absent, shall be adjudged in default. If, however, the person called to warrant, being present in Court, should fail in entering into the warranty, then, the plea must altogether be continued between him and the party who has called him—and thus, by means of pleading conducive to such an end, the matter may come to the decision of the Duel, and that, whether the Tenant can produce his Charter of Warranty, or not, if he be prepared with an unobjectionable Witness to make proof, and he is willing to undertake it. It should be observed, that when it is once ascertained, that the person cited to warrant ought to take that obligation upon him, the Tenant shall not afterwards lose the property in dispute, because if such property should be recovered in Court, the Warrantor shall be bound to make the Tenant a competent equivalent[123] if he possess sufficient means so to do.

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CHAP. II.

But it sometimes happens, that the person called to Court to warrant is unwilling to appear there, either for that purpose, or to shew that he ought not to warrant to the Tenant the property in question. In that case, upon the petition of the Tenant, and by the order and indulgence of the Court, the reluctant party shall be compelled to do so, and he shall be summoned by the following Writ.

CHAP. III.

“The King to the Sheriff, Health. Summon, by good Summoners, N. that he be before me, or my Justices, there on a certain day to warrant to R. one Hyde of Land, in such a Vill, which he claims as his Gift, or the Gift of M. his Father, if he will warrant-63- it to him, or to shew wherefore he ought not to warrant it to him; and have the Summoners and this Writ. Witness Ranuph, &c.”

CHAP. IV.

On the day appointed, the Warrantor can either essoin himself, or not. If not, then, that indulgence which is allowed to another would be denied him, not being culpable; which would be no less inconvenient than unjust.[124] If he may essoin himself, let us suppose that he has properly essoined himself three times successively, it should on the third day, according to the Law and practice of the Court, be ordered, that he appear on the fourth day, or send an Attorney. If, on that day, he neither appear nor send an Attorney, it seems a question what steps are to be pursued. Because were the Tenement to be taken into the King’s hands, such a step would seem an injustice committed on the right of the Tenant, since he has not been adjudged in default.

But if this course be not pursued, then the right of the Demandant, supposing he possesses any, would be unjustly deferred. And, indeed, the course mentioned-64- shall be adopted, as most consonant to the Law and Custom of the Realm. Because, if any one should lose his Land, or merely the possession of it, through the default of his Warrantor, the latter shall be compelled to make him an equivalent recompense, and may, therefore, by means of the foregoing Writ, be distrained to appear in Court, and warrant the Tenement itself, or shew some reason on account of which, he should be exempt from the obligation of warranty.

CHAP. V.

It sometimes happens, that the Tenant, although he has a Warrantor, does not call him into Court, but takes upon himself entirely to dispute the Demandant’s claim.

If the Tenant should pursue this course, and should lose the Land in question by the Duel, he cannot afterwards recover any thing against the Warrantor.[125]

But, according to this, a question may be proposed, whether, as any one can defend himself by the Duel, without the assent and presence of his Warrantor, he can put himself upon the King’s Grand Assise, without the assent and presence[126] of the Warrantor? And, indeed, he may defend himself by the Assise upon a parity of reason as by the Duel.

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CHAP. VI.

But it sometimes happens, that the matter is deferred on account of the absence of the Lords, when, for example, the Demandant claims the Tenement in question, as belonging to the fee of one Lord, and the Tenant, as belonging to that of another. In such a case, both the Lords must be summoned to Court, in order that, in their presence, the Plea may be heard, and, in the accustomed manner, decided, least any injustice should seem to be done to them when absent.

But upon the day on which they are summoned to appear in Court, both or either of them may lawfully cast an Essoin, and this three times in the usual manner. Should the Lord of the Tenant have recurred to three Essoins, it should be ordered, that he appear personally in Court, or send his Attorney.

If after this, he neither appear, nor send his Attorney, let the Tenant be directed to Answer and take the defence upon himself; and, if he should prevail, he shall retain the Land to himself, and from thenceforth shall do service to the King, because his Lord shall lose his service through his default, until he appear and perform there that which he ought to do.

In the same manner, may the Lord of the Demandant essoin himself; but, when he at last appear in Court, it may be asked, whether the Lord of the Tenant can again essoin himself? He may, indeed, until-66- he has once appeared in Court; because it is, then, incumbent upon him to allege some reason, why he ought not to wait any longer; and this Rule equally prevails with respect to the person of either Lord. But if, after having availed himself of three Essoins, the Lord of the Demandant should be absent, it may be a question, what the Law is? If, indeed, he should have first essoined himself, the Essoiners themselves shall be taken into custody, and the body of the Demandant himself shall be attached,[127] on account of his contempt of Court; and thus he shall be distrained to appear in Court, that it may be heard what he has to allege.

CHAP. VII.

When both the Lords appear in Court, the Lord of the Tenant will warrant the Land in question, as in-67- his Fee, or he will deny that it is so. If he adopt the former course, it remains for him, either to take the defence upon himself, or entrust it to the Tenant, as he may feel disposed; and whichever course he pursues, the right of each of them will be saved, as well that of the Lord as of the Tenant, if their party should prevail in the contest. But, if the contrary should be the result, the Lord shall lose his services, and the Tenant his Land irretrievably. If the Lord of the Tenant, being present in Court, fail in the Warranty, the matter may be interpleaded between them, provided that the Tenant declare, that his Lord had unjustly failed in the Warranty, and, therefore unjustly, because he or his Ancestors had performed such and such specific services to the Lord or his Ancestors, as Lords of that fee, adding that of this fact he has those who have heard and seen it, and, in particular, a proper witness to prove it, or some other adequate and sufficient testimony ready to be adduced, as the Court shall direct.

CHAP. VIII.

A similar distinction must be made, in respect of the person of the Lord of the Demandant. When he appears in Court, he will either claim the Land in question, as in his fee, or not. And thus if he warrant the Title of the Demandant, and claim the Land as within his Fee, it is at his option, either to hold himself to the proof made by the Demandant, if he be so-68- inclined, or to take upon himself to prove his Right against the other, saving the Right of both of them, namely, as well his own as that of the Demandant, if their party prevail in the suit. If, however, it happen to be unsuccessful, both the Demandant and his Lord shall lose their right. On the other hand, if the Lord decline to warrant the claim of the Demandant, then, the latter shall be amerced to the King on account of his false claim.

CHAP. I.

Pleas concerning Ecclesiastical Advowsons[128] are accustomed to be agitated, as well when the church is vacant, as when it is not vacant. If, upon a vacancy of a church, he who is seised of the Advowson should present a Parson[129] to it, and any one should question the Presentation and claim it, then, it must be distinguished, whether the dispute be concerning the Advowson itself, in other words, the right itself of presenting a Parson, or whether it merely relates to the-70- last Presentation, that is, the Seisin of the right of presenting a Parson. If the dispute merely concern the last Presentation, and the Claimant allege, that he or one of his Ancestors had the last Donation and Presentation, then, the Plea shall be discussed by the Assise appointed concerning Ecclesiastical Advowsons; and an Assise shall be summoned to make Recognition, what Patron in time of peace presented the Parson who last died to that Church; and concerning this Assise we shall speak more fully hereafter,[130] when we come to treat of other Recognitions. The party who by this Assise proves in Court the last Presentation, shall thereby recover Seisin of the Presentation of the vacant Church, concerning which the dispute is; so that he shall lawfully present a Parson to the Church, saving the right and claim of the Demandant with respect to the Right of Advowson.

But, if the right of Advowson be the sole subject of dispute, then the Demandant should subjoin to his claim, that he, or one of his Ancestors, had the last Presentation of that Church; or, he should concede, that his Adversary, or one of his Ancestors, had the last Presentation; or, he should allege, that some third person had the last Presentation; or, in fine, that he knows not who had it.

Whichever of these courses he pursues, if his Adversary claim the last Presentation, as made in his own person, or in that of one of his Ancestors, the Recognition-71- shall in every instance proceed upon the Right of Presentation, unless in one only of the foregoing cases, namely, when the Demandant concedes to his Adversary, that he or one of his Ancestors, enjoyed the last Presentation, for then, without having recourse to a Recognition, he shall present one Person at least. The last Presentation being decided by the Assise or by some other legal mode, and a Parson being instituted into the Church upon the Presentation of the successful party, then shall the person, who is inclined to contend for the Right of Advowson, have the following Writ.

CHAP. II.

“The King to the Sheriff, Health. Command N. that, justly and without delay, he relinquishes to R. the Advowson of the Church, in such a Vill, which he claims to belong to him, and of which he complains that he unjustly deforced him; and, unless he do so, summon him by good Summoners, that he be on such a day before us, or our Justices, to shew why he has failed; and have there the Summoners and this Writ &c.”

CHAP. III.

The Party[131] being summoned may avail himself of the same number of Essoins, and that by the same-72- means, as we have already detailed, in treating concerning Pleas affecting Land. Supposing, then, that after having cast three Essoins, he should neither appear nor send an Attorney on the fourth day, it may be asked what the Law is?

In such a case, the seisin of the Presentation of the Church shall be taken into the King’s hands, and that by the following Writ.

CHAP. IV.

“The King to the Sheriff, Health. I command you that, without delay, you take into my hands the Presentation of the Church, in such a Vill, which N. claims against R. and concerning which, there is a Plea in my Court between them, and make known the day of the Caption to my Justices, &c.”

CHAP. V.

The Sheriff is bound to execute this Writ, in the following manner: he should go to the Church in question, and there in a public manner, and in the presence of respectable men, declare, that he had seised the Presentation[132] of such Church into the King’s hands, in which the Seisin shall continue for fifteen days. The Tenant, if he feel so disposed, may[133] replevy,[134]-73- and thus recover it, in the same manner as stated in the first Book.

CHAP. VI.

All the Essoins to which the Defendant can have recourse being terminated, at the day appointed for the parties in Court, either both, or neither, or one only, of the parties will appear. If one only, or both of them, be absent, the matter must be ordered in a manner similar to that we have formerly explained, in treating of Pleas concerning Land. But if both parties appear in Court, the Demandant should then propound his right as against his Adversary, in the following words: “I demand the Advowson of this Church, as my right, and appertaining to my Inheritance, and of which Advowson I was seised, or one of my Ancestors was seised, in the time of King Henry the 1st, the Grandfather of our Lord King Henry, or after the Coronation of our Lord the King; and being so seised, I presented a Parson to the same Church when vacant, at one of the before-mentioned periods; and I so presented him, that upon my presentation he was instituted Parson into that Church; and if any one would deny this, I have some credible Men who both saw and heard the fact, and are ready to prove it as the Court shall award, and particularly such, and such persons.” The claim of the Demandant-74- being heard, the Tenant may defend himself by the Duel; and the proceedings will accordingly, from that period, be conducted in the manner we have formerly explained. Should, however, the Tenant chuse to put himself upon the Grand Assise, he is perfectly at liberty so to do; and the Assise must then proceed in the form we have previously detailed.

CHAP. VII.

But, although a Church be not vacant, a dispute may arise concerning the Advowson of it, if the Parson of the Church, or he who is invested with that Character, derive his Title from one Patron, at the same time as another Person, conceiving himself to be the more rightful Patron of such Church, lay claim to the Advowson. In such case, the following Writ shall be issued upon his application.

CHAP. VIII.

“The King to the Sheriff, Health. Summon, by good Summoners, the Clerk N., Parson of such a Church, that he be before me, or my Justices, at Westminster, on such a day, to shew of what Patron he holds himself in that Church, the Advowson of which the Knight M. claims to belong to him. Summon also, by good Summoners, N. who deforced him-75- of the Advowson, that he be there to shew why he deforced him of that Advowson, and have there the Summoners and this Writ. Witness, &c.”

CHAP. IX.

If, after the Clerk has been summoned, he neither appear on the appointed day, nor send any one to excuse his absence, neither on the first, second, nor third summons, it may be doubted, by what mode he should be distrained to appear in Court, especially if he possess no lay Fee, to which recourse can be had for such purpose.[135] A similar doubt may be proposed upon the course to be pursued, should he, after having thrice essoined himself in Court, neither appear on the fourth day, nor send an Attorney to answer for him.

Should either of these cases occur, let the Bishop of the place, or his Official, if there happen to be no Bishop, be enjoined to distrain the Clerk to appear in Court, or to punish his default, by taking the Church into his hands, or to distrain the Clerk by some other lawful means.

When, at last, the Clerk appear in Court, he will-76- either acknowledge the Demandant as Patron, and admit that he was instituted upon his Presentation, or upon that of one of his Ancestors, or he will allege some other person to be the Patron.

In the former case, the Plea shall cease in the King’s Court. If the Patron deny the assertion of the Clerk, alleging himself to have been instituted upon his Presentation, or that of one of his Ancestors, and be disposed to contest this point against the Clerk, the Plea shall be discussed before his Ecclesiastical Judge. But, if the Clerk name another Patron, such Patron should be summoned to appear in Court, which Summons he will either obey, or not. In the latter case, if he neither appear at the first, second, nor third Summons; or if, having essoined himself in Court the first, second, and third times, he should neither appear nor send an Attorney on the fourth day, it may be asked, by what means he shall be distrained, and how his default shall be punished? The Advowson of the Church in question shall indeed be taken into the King’s hands, and thus remain for fifteen days; and if, within that period, the Clerk should not appear, then, the Demandant shall have the Seisin delivered to him. But what shall be done to the Clerk himself? Whether shall he from that circumstance, lose his Church?[136]

But, if the Party summoned appear in Court, he-77- will either acknowledge himself Patron of the Church in question, or disclaim all right to the Advowson.

Should he pursue the latter course, the Suit shall cease in the King’s Court, and the cause must be discussed between the Patron and the Clerk, in the Ecclesiastical Court. But if, whilst the Suit be pending, the Church itself happen to become vacant, it may be asked, to whom the intervening Presentation belongs? If, indeed, there be no doubt moved concerning the last Presentation, but the person against whom the Right of Advowson be sought, or one of his Ancestors had the last Presentation, then, he shall present the Parson in the mean time, and until he lose his Seisin. It is a consequence of the same principle, that if the Advowson of any Church should be seised into the King’s hands on account of the default of the Patron, and, during the fifteen days, it should happen to become vacant, the Patron shall not within that period lose his Presentation. But, if the party summoned, should claim the Right of Advowson, and elect to defend it as his own, then, indeed, the Suit must proceed in the order we have already explained. If he should prevail, he and his Clerk shall be freed from the Claim of their Adversary; but, if he fail in the Suit, then, he and his Heirs shall for ever lose the Advowson.

CHAP. X.

But what course shall be pursued with the Clerk, the Parson of the Church, who has declared in Court,-78- that he held the living upon his[137] Presentation? In the King’s Court, indeed, nothing farther is to be done in the matter, unless as it concerns the Advowson between the two Patrons.

But the Patron, who has recently recovered the Right of Advowson, shall proceed against the Clerk in the Ecclesiastical Court before the Bishop or his Official, under these restrictions—if, at the time of Presentation, the Person presenting such Clerk was considered to be the Patron, then, the Church shall continue to be held by the Clerk, during the remainder of his life. For, upon this subject, a Statute has been passed in the Reign of the present King, concerning those Clerks who have obtained Livings upon the Presentation of such Patrons as have, in time of war, violently intruded themselves into Ecclesiastical Advowsons; and by such Statute it is provided, that Clerks thus presented shall not lose their Churches during their lives. Thus is the question above proposed, resolved. But, after the decease of Clerks so presented, the Presentations of the Churches shall return to the rightful Patrons.

CHAP. XI.

As connected with the preceding subject, a question arises. Let us suppose that a Patron has, in the King’s Court, recovered the Advowson as against-79- another; and that afterwards, in process of time, the Clerk of the Church should die. In such a case, can the party against whom the Advowson had been recovered again demand an Assise, concerning the last Presentation; and, if he should obtain a Writ to summon the Assise, what step must his Adversary resort to? Let us suppose, that he himself had never presented an Incumbent to the church in question, but that his Father, or at least one of his Ancestors, had so done, and it be objected to him by his Adversary, that he ought not to have a Recognition, because he had already lost the Advowson by the former Judgment of the Court, whether, it may be asked, shall the Assise cease on that account, or not? It appears that it ought[138] to cease, because, not having the last Presentation, he never had the Seisin of the Advowson; but, it seems, that he might well found his claim upon the Seisin of his Father, notwithstanding any thing that may have been done, concerning the Right itself of Presentation. But if the point of the last Presentation can be again agitated, then, it should seem, that the Judgments of the King’s Court are not of perpetual obligation. For if the Advowson of a Church were once adjudged to any person, it does not appear consistent with Justice that the Adverse party should by any means, which can be subsequently resorted to, recover any Seisin in that Court, especially against him in whose favor the Advowson has been already-80- decided, unless any new circumstance should intervene, on account of which he ought again to be heard. If therefore, an Assise should be summoned for that purpose, it should cease from this circumstance, that although it were conceded that the Claimant, or one of his Ancestors, had the last Presentation, yet it might be alleged, that, if he or his Ancestors had any Right, they lost it by the Judgment of the King’s Court; and, this being proved by the Record of the Court, the Complainant shall lose his cause, and shall in addition be amerced to the King.

CHAP. XII.

It should be observed, that it sometimes happens, that one Clerk sues another in the Ecclesiastical Court, concerning a Church. Should they derive their Titles through different Patrons, the Ecclesiastical Court may, upon the petition of either of the Patrons, be prohibited from proceeding in the Suit, until it be ascertained, in the King’s Court, to which Patron the Advowson of the Church belongs. For this purpose the following Writ shall Issue.

CHAP. XIII.

“The King to such Ecclesiastical Judges, Health. R. hath made known to us, that when I. his Clerk held the Church, in such a Vill, on his Presentation,-81- the Advowson being his, as he says, N. a Clerk, demanding the same, as of the Advowson of M. a Knight, draws the said I. into a suit before you in the Court Christian. But if the aforesaid N. should recover the Church under the Advowson of the aforesaid M. it is clear that the said R. would incur the loss of his Advowson. And since suits concerning the Advowsons of Churches belong to my Crown and Dignity, I prohibit you from proceeding in that cause, until it be proved in my Court, to which of them the Advowson of such Church belongs. Witness, &c.”

But if, after this Prohibition, they proceed in the cause, then, they shall be summoned to appear in the King’s Court, and answer for their conduct, by the following Writ.

CHAP. XIV.

“The King to the Sheriff, Health.[139] Prohibit such Judges, least they hold plea in the Court Christian, concerning the Advowson of such a Church, of which R. the Patron of that Church complains, that N. draws him into a Suit in the Court Christian; because Pleas concerning the Advowson of Churches appertain to my Crown, and Dignity. And summon, by good Summoners, such Judges, that they appear before me, or my Justices, on such a day, to shew wherefore,-82- they held that Plea, contrary to my Dignity, in the Court Christian. Summon also, by good Summoners, the aforesaid N., that he be then there to shew wherefore, he drew the aforesaid R. into a Suit, in the Court Christian. And have, &c. Witness, &c.”

CHAP. I.

Our subject leads us in the next place to treat of Pleas concerning the Conditions of persons. Questions upon this subject arise, when any one would draw another, from a state of freedom, into that of Villenage;[140] or when any one, being in the latter state, seeks to emancipate himself. When any one claims another who is in Villenage as his Villein-born,[141] he shall have the Writ de nativis, directed to the Sheriff; and-84- by that Writ he shall, before the Sheriff of the County, claim the Villein against him, who holds him in Villenage. And, if his Villenage be not denied before the Sheriff in the County Court, then the Plea concerning such Villein-born shall proceed before the Sheriff, as we shall presently explain, between the person claiming, and the person in possession, of the Villein. But, if the Villein allege himself to be a freeman, and give security to the Sheriff to prove the fact, then, the suit shall cease, as far as applies to the County Court; because the Sheriff ought not any farther to interfere in it.[142] But, if the Sheriff persist in hearing the suit, then, he whose condition is questioned shall complain to the Justices, and shall obtain the King’s Writ, in order that, if he should give security to the Sheriff to prove his freedom, the suit may be removed before the Justices of the King’s Court, and in the mean time, the party be unmolested. The Writ is as follows.—

CHAP. II.

“The King to the Sheriff, Health.[143] R. complains to me that N. draws him to Villenage, although he is a freeman, as he says. And, therefore, I command you that, if the said R. make you secure of prosecuting his claim, then, that you put the suit before me, or my Justices, on such a day; and, in the mean time, you cause that he be in peace; and summon,-85- by good Summoners, the aforesaid N. that he be then there to shew why, he unjustly draws him to Villenage. And have there, &c.”

CHAP. III.

By the same Writ, the party who lays claim to the other, as being his Villein, shall be summoned; and a day shall be appointed him on which he may prosecute his claim. But, if on the day appointed, the person who is claimed as a Villein should neither appear, nor send a Messenger, nor Essoin, let the same course be pursued, as that before described in treating of Pleas, where the Pledges are to be attached. But, if he chuse to essoin himself, he may avail himself of the same number of Essoins, and on the same occasions as we have already mentioned. But if the party who claims the other as his Villein, neither appear on that day, nor send, let the other party, if present, be dismissed unconditionally, under such form, namely, that the claimant shall recover so much as by Law he ought to recover, concerning which principle we have spoken more fully, in the preceding part of this Treatise. In the mean time, the party who is claimed as a Villein shall be in Seisin of his freedom.

CHAP. IV.

Both parties being present in Court, the freedom shall be there proved in this manner: the party who-86- claims his liberty, shall produce a number of his nearest relations and kindred, springing from the same stock from which he descended. If their freedom be recognized and proved in Court, the party who demands[144] his freedom shall be liberated from the yoke of servitude. But, if the free condition of those produced be denied,[145] or a doubt be entertained respecting it, recourse shall be had to the Vicinage, whose Verdict shall ascertain the fact, whether those produced are free, or not: and, according to its decision, the matter shall be adjudged. But, if the party who claims the other as his Villein, should bring forward other persons to prove the contrary, namely, that such persons as the claimant has now brought forward are his Villeins-born, and that they sprung from the same common stock with him, whom he claims as a Villein-born, then, in like manner, should those produced by both sides be recognized as of common kindred, let it be inquired by-87- the Vicinage,[146] which of them are the nearest to him; and, according as the inquiry turns out, let the Judgment be given. In a similar manner, if those produced by one party should[147] deny in any respect his relationship, or, if a question arise concerning it, every doubt of this nature shall be determined by the Vicinage. The freedom having been sufficiently proved in Court, then, the party whose liberty has been questioned shall be absolved from the claim of him who would draw him to Villenage, and for ever freed from it. If, however, he should fail in his proof, or, if he should be recovered by his Adversary as his Villein-born, he shall be irrecoverably adjudged to belong to his Lord, together with all the Chattels he possesses. The same form and order are observed in pleading, when a freeman is claimed as a Villein, or when any one, in a state of Villenage, aspires of his own accord to freedom. For this purpose, the party whose freedom is impeached shall come to the King’s Court, and pray, that the suit might be removed into the same, which being conceded, the suit will then proceed in the form before stated. It must be remarked concerning this Plea, that the Duel cannot be resorted to, in order to prove the freedom of any one from his Birth.[148]

-88-

CHAP. V.

There are many modes by which a Man, in a state of Villenage, may acquire his freedom.[149] Thus if his Lord, being desirous of emancipating him, releases him, as well from all his own claims, as those of the Lord’s Heirs: or, if the Lord give or sell him to another, for the purpose of liberating him. It must,-89- however, be observed, that no one in a state of Villenage can purchase his freedom with his own Money; for, in such case, he may, according to the Law and Custom of the Realm, be again recalled by his Lord to a state of Villenage, all the Chattels of a Villein-born being understood as so absolutely in the power of his Lord, as to preclude the former, at least with his own Money, and as against his Lord, from redeeming himself from Villenage. But, if a stranger with his own Money purchase the Villein’s freedom, the Villein may for ever after maintain his freedom against his Lord, who has sold him. When any one has released a Villein, from all right which he, or his Heirs, could claim in him, or has sold him to a stranger, the Villein who has been thus enfranchised may for ever after defend his freedom, as well against the Lord himself, as his Heirs; whilst he can prove the fact in Court, either by a Charter, or by any other lawful means. And the question may even be decided by the Duel, if any one deny, that the party has been liberated from his state of Villenage, and, there be a proper Witness, who, having both seen and heard the very fact of Enfranchisement, is ready to prove his freedom in Court.

It should here be remarked, that a man may enfranchise his Villein-born, so far as the consequences affect the persons of himself, or his Heirs, but not as they apply to others. Because, if a man born a Villein, but thus rendered free, should be produced in Court, to make proof against a stranger, or to wage his Law, he-90- may be justly precluded, if it be objected against him, and proved in Court, that he was born in a state of Villenage, although his condition was such that he had been Knighted subsequently to his being enfranchised.[150] If a Villein-born peaceably remain during a year and a day[151] in any privileged Town[152] so that he be received in their community or Guild[153] as a Citizen, he shall from such circumstance be freed from Villenage.

-91-

CHAP. VI.

Villeins-born are such from their Birth. Thus, if both the parents are Villeins-born, the Offspring is a Villein-born.[154] The same may be said where the Father is free but the Mother a Villein-born. If, however, the Mother be free, and the Father a Villein-born, the same rule prevails, as far as the purity of Condition be in question.

If a freeman take to wife a woman born in Villenage, whilst he so continues bound to the state of Villenage, he shall as a consequence lose his Law, as if he himself were a Villein-born.[155] If there be any children resulting-92- from the connection of a Woman born in Villenage belonging to one person, and a Man born in that state belonging to another, the children shall be proportionably divided between the two Lords.[156]

CHAP. I.

The term Dower is used in two senses. Dower,[158] in the sense in which it is commonly used, means-94- that which any free man at the time of his being affianced,[159] gives to his Bride at the Church Door.[160] For every Man is bound as well by the Ecclesiastical Law, as by the secular, to endow his Bride, at the time of his being affianced to her. When a man endows his Bride, he either names the Dower, or not. In the latter case, the third part of all the Husband’s freehold Land is understood to be the Wife’s Dower; and the third part of all such freehold Lands as her Husband held, at the time of affiancing,[161] and of which he-95- was seised in his Demesne, is termed a Woman’s reasonable Dower. If, however, the Man name the Dower, and mention more than a third part, such designation shall not avail, as far as it applies to the quantity. It shall be reduced by admeasurement to the third part;[162] because a Man may endow a Woman of less, but cannot of more, than a third part of his Land.[163]

CHAP. II.

Should it happen, as it sometimes does, that a man endows a Woman, having but a small freehold at the time of his being affianced, he may afterwards enlarge her Dower to the third part or less of the Lands, he may have[164] purchased.

But if upon the Assignment of Dower, no mention was made concerning purchases, even admitting that at the time of affiance he possessed but a small Estate,-96- and that he afterwards much increased it, the Wife cannot claim as Dower more than a third part of such Land as her Husband held, at the time of being affianced, and when he endowed her. The same Rule prevails if a Man, not being possessed of any Land, should endow his Wife with his Chattels,[165] and other things, or even with Money. Should he afterwards make considerable purchases in Land and Tenements, the Wife cannot claim any part of such property so acquired by purchase; it being, with respect to the quantity or quality of the Dower assigned to any Woman, a general principle, that if she is satisfied to the extent of her endowment at the door of the Church, she can never afterwards claim as Dower anything beyond it.[166]

-97-

CHAP. III.

It should be understood, that a Woman[167] cannot, during the life of her Husband, make any disposition of her Dower.[168] For since the Wife herself is in a legal sense under the absolute power of her Husband, it is not singular, if the Dower, as well as the Woman herself and all other things belonging to her, should be considered to be fully at the disposal of the Husband. But any one, having a Wife, may either give or sell her Dower, or, by any other mode he pleases, may alienate it in his lifetime; so that the Wife shall be bound to conform to his will in this as in all other respects which are not contrary to the Law of God. And so far is the Woman bound to obey her Husband, that if her Husband chuses to sell her Dower, and she refuses her consent, and the Dower be afterwards sold and bought under these circumstances, the Wife cannot[169] after the death of her Husband claim her Dower-98- as against the Purchaser, if she confess in Court or is convicted upon the fact that, although she opposed her Husband, the Dower was sold by him.

CHAP. IV.

Upon the death of the Husband of a Woman, her Dower, if it has been named, will either be vacant or not.

In the former case, the woman may, with the consent of the Heir, enter upon her Dower,[170] and retain the-99- possession of it. If, however, the Dower be not vacant, either the whole will be so circumstanced, or some part will be vacant, and some not. If a certain part be vacant, and a certain part not, she may pursue the course we have described, and enter into the part which is vacant; and for the residue, she shall have a Writ of Right, directed to her Warrantor[171] in order to compel him to do complete Justice concerning the Land, which she claims as appertaining to her reasonable Dower, which Writ shall be as follows:——

CHAP. V.

“The King to M. Health.[172] I command you that, without delay, you hold full right to A. who was the Wife of E. of one Hyde of Land, in such a Vill, which she claims to belong to her reasonable Dower, which she holds of you in the same Vill by the free service of ten shillings, by the year, for every service, of which N. has deforced her: and unless you do so, the Sheriff shall,[173] least she should anymore complain, for want of Justice. Witness &c.”

-100-

CHAP. VI.

The Plea shall be discussed in the Court of the Warrantor by virtue of this Writ, until it be proved that such Court has failed in doing Justice, concerning the nature of which, we shall speak in another place.[174] Upon proof of this, the Suit shall be removed into the County Court, through the medium of which, the Suit may, at the pleasure of the King or his Chief Justiciary, be lawfully transferred to the King’s Court by the following Writ:[175]——

CHAP. VII.

“The King to the Sheriff, Health. Put before me or my Justices, on such a day, the suit which is in your County Court, between A. and N. concerning one Hyde of Land in such a Vill, which the said A. claims against the aforesaid N. as her reasonable Dower. And Summon, by good Summoners, the aforesaid N. who holds that Land, that he be then there with his Plea. And have there,” &c.

-101-

CHAP. VIII.

Pleas of this description, as, indeed, some others, may be transferred from the County Court to the supreme Court of the King for a variety of Causes: as, on account of any doubt which may arise in the County Court concerning the plea itself, and which that court is unable to decide; (and when any suit is thus transferred to the Court, then both parties, as well the Tenant as the Demandant, shall be summoned.) But, when it has been removed upon the Petition of one of the parties, it will then suffice, if that party be summoned who did not require the removal: but, if the suit should be transferred to Court by the consent and prayer of both parties, being present in Court together, then, neither party ought to be summoned, because the day appointed in Court is known to both of them. Upon the day appointed in Court, either both parties will be absent, or only one will be so, or both will appear. We have already sufficiently treated concerning the absence of both, or of one only of the parties. If both be present in Court, the Woman shall set forth her claim against her Adversary in the following words. “I demand such Land, as appertaining to such Land, which was named to me in Dower, and of which my Husband endowed me at the door of the Church, the day he espoused me, as that of which he was invested and seised at the time when he endowed me.”[176]

-102-

Various are the Answers which the Adverse party usually gives to a claim of this kind; in substance, however, he will either deny that she was so endowed, or concede it.

But, whatever he may allege, the Suit ought not to proceed, without the Heir of the Woman’s Husband. He shall, therefore, be summoned to appear in Court to hear the Suit, by the following Writ:——

CHAP. IX.

“The King to the Sheriff, Health. Summon, by good Summoners, N. the Son and Heir of E. that he be before me, or my Justices, on such a day, to warrant to A. who was the Wife of the said E. his Father, one Hyde of Land in such a Vill, which she claims to belong to her reasonable Dower of the Gift of the said E. her Husband, against N. and of which there is a Suit between them in my Court, if he will warrant that Land; or to shew to her why he ought not to do so. And have there &c. Witness &c.”

CHAP. X.

Should the Heir, after having been summoned, neither appear, nor essoin himself, on the first, second,-103- nor third day; or if, after having cast the usual Essoins, he should on the fourth day, neither appear nor send his Attorney, it may be a question, by what means he ought or can be distrained, consistently with the Law and Custom of the Realm. In the opinion of some, his appearance in Court, shall be compelled, by distraining his Fee.[177]

And that, therefore, by the direction of the Court so much of his Fee[178] shall be taken into the King’s hands as may be necessary to distrain him to appear in Court to shew, whether he ought to warrant the Land in question or not. Whilst others[179] think, that his appearance in Court for such purpose may be effected, by attaching him by Pledges.

CHAP. XI.

When, at last, the Heir of the Husband of the Woman, the complainant, appear in Court, either he-104- will affirm the fact, and concede that the Land in question appertains to the Dower of the Woman, and that she was endowed of it, and that his Ancestor at the time he endowed her was seised of it as an appurtenant to the Land which he named in chief, as her Dower, or, he will deny it. If the Heir admit this in Court, he shall then be bound to recover the Land against the Tenant, if he be disposed to dispute the matter, and then deliver it to the woman; and thus the contest will be changed into one between the Tenant and the Heir.

If, however, the Heir be unwilling to contest the point, he shall be bound to give to the Woman a competent equivalent; because, the Woman herself shall not afterwards sustain any loss. But, if the Heir himself neither admit nor concede to the Woman that which she alleges against the Tenant, then, the suit may proceed between the Woman and the Heir. For a Woman cannot with Effect bring an Action against any one, without the Warrantor of her Dower.[180] If, therefore, the Heir should absolutely deny the Right of the Woman, alleging in Court, that she never was endowed by his Ancestor, the matter may be decided by the Duel, provided the Woman produce in Court those who heard and saw the Endowment, or any proper Witness who may have heard and seen the fact of her-105- being endowed by the Ancestor of the Heir at the Church door, at the time of the Espousals, and be ready to prove such fact against him.

Should the Woman prevail against the Heir in the Duel, then the Heir shall be bound to deliver the Land in question to the Woman,[181] or to give her an adequate recompense.

CHAP. XII.

It should be observed, that when any one endow his Wife in these words, “I give to thee this Land, or Vill, by name, with all its appurtenances”—if, at that period, he held not any thing appurtenant to it in his Demesne, nor of which he was seised at the time of his Espousals, and he in his lifetime recover it, or by any other lawful means acquire it, the Wife, after the death of her Husband, may, by the Law of Dower, justly demand such appurtenant, together with the other property of which she was endowed.

-106-

CHAP. XIII.

It must also be understood, that if the Husband of any Woman, after having endowed her as his Wife, should sell her Dower to any one, his Heir shall be obliged to deliver the Dower to the Woman, if he possibly can; at the same time he shall be bound to render a reasonable equivalent to the Purchaser, on account of the Sale, or Gift of his Ancestor.[182] If, however, the Heir be unable so to do, he shall be bound to make to the woman a reasonable compensation.

CHAP. XIV.

When the Dower of a Woman happen to be so circumstanced, that she is prevented from obtaining any part of it, then, the suit shall from the beginning be carried on in the King’s Court, and the person in possession of the Dower shall be summoned, by the following Writ:——

CHAP. XV.

“The King to the Sheriff, Health.[183] Command N. that, justly and without delay, he cause A. who was the Wife of E., to have her reasonable Dower in such-107- a Vill, which she claims to have of the Gift of the said E., her Husband, and of which she has no part, as she says; and of which she complains that he has unjustly deforced her; and, unless he does so, summon him, by good Summoners, that he be, on such a day, before us, or our Justices, to shew wherefore he has not done it; and have there, &c. Witness, &c.”

CHAP. XVI.

Whoever happens to be in possession of the Dower, whether the Heir or another person, the Heir ought always to be present to answer the Woman claiming her Dower. If, therefore, a stranger, and not the Heir, deforce the Woman of her Dower, he shall be summoned by this Writ; but the Heir shall be summoned by the former Writ.

CHAP. XVII.

The suit between the Heir and the Widow, may be infinitely varied. For the Woman will either claim her Dower, as named, or her reasonable Dower as not named. The Heir also may admit that her Dower was named, but that it differs from that she demands; or he may allege, that no Dower was specified.

If the contest between them be concerning Dower which was named, or concerning different nominations-108- of it, then, the Plea may proceed in the manner we have above described. But if a reasonable Dower be demanded, no specific nomination having been made, the Law is perfectly clear, that the Heir is bound to assign to the Woman as her Dower, a third part of all the freehold Tenements that his Ancestor held in his Demesne, on the day of the Espousals, and this unreservedly, in every thing, as in Lands, and Tenements, and Ecclesiastical Advowsons,[184] so that if there should be but one Church in the whole Inheritance, and such happen to fall vacant in the life of the woman, and after the death of her Husband, the Heir shall not, without the Assent of the woman, present a Parson to such Church. From the generality of this Rule we must except the Capital Messuage, which cannot be given in Dower, nor can it be divided, but shall remain entire.[185] Nor shall a division be made of those things which other women, who have been previously endowed,-109- still hold in Dower.[186] Besides, if there should be two or more Manors to be divided, the Chief Manor shall not be divided, but, together with the capital Messuage, shall remain entire to the Heir, so that the Widow shall be fully satisfied from the other Manor or Manors. It should also be remarked, that the Assignment of the Dower shall not be postponed, on account of the Infancy of the Heir. In addition, should any Land have been given by name to a Woman, in Dower, and should a Church have been founded in that Fee, the Woman, after the death of her Husband, shall have the free Presentation; so as to have it in her power, in case such Church should become vacant, to bestow it upon any proper Clerk.[187] But she cannot confer it upon a College,[188] because, by so doing, she would for ever destroy the Right of the Heir.

But if the Husband of the woman happen in his lifetime to bestow the Church upon the Clerk, the latter shall, during the whole of his life, retain such Church; although he were presented subsequently to the period when the woman was endowed of that Land. If, however, the Husband should, in the interval, bestow the Church upon any religious House, the Church ought, after the death of the Husband, to be delivered to his Widow, so that in the course of her life she may have-110- a free Presentation.[189] But, after the death of the woman, and of the Clerk instituted Parson upon her Presentation, the Church shall revert to the religious House, and shall for ever after so remain. It may also be observed, that if the wife should, in the lifetime of her Husband, be separated from him on account of incontinence, the Woman shall not be heard upon a claim of Dower.[190] The same rule prevails, if she be separated from him on account of Relationship[191]—she shall be debarred from claiming her Dower. And yet her children may inherit, and, by the Law of the Realm, shall succeed to their Father by hereditary Right.[192]-111- Observe also, that when the Son and Heir of any one marries, with the consent of his Father, and, by the Assignment of his Father, endow his Wife with a certain part of the Land of his Father,[193] it may be questioned whether the Wife can demand any more as dower?[194] If her Husband die previously to his Father, it may be doubted, whether she can retain the Land in question, as her Dower, and whether the Father of her Husband be bound to warrant such Land to her?[195] If-112- a woman have more Land in Dower than she ought, that is, more than belongs to her, let the Sheriff be commanded to admeasure it, and for this purpose the following Writ shall issue——

CHAP. XVIII.

“The King to the Sheriff, Health.[196] N. complains to us, that A. his Mother, has more in Dower of his Inheritance, than she ought to have, and than belongs to her to have, to wit, her reasonable Dower. Therefore, I command you, that justly and without delay, you cause it to be admeasured; and that, justly and without delay, you cause the said N. to have what he ought of right to have of his inheritance; and, justly and without delay, cause the said A. to have what she ought to have, and what belongs to her to have, to wit, her reasonable Dower, least he should again complain for want of Justice. Witness, &c.”

CHAP. I.

The term Dower is received in a different acceptation in the Roman Code, according to which, that portion which is given to a Man with a Woman is, properly speaking, termed Dower; but this corresponds with what is usually called, Marriage-hood.[197] Every-114- freeman possessed of Land may give a certain part of it with his Daughter, or with any other Woman, in Marriage-hood, whether he has any Heir, or not; or whether his Heir, supposing he has one, consent to such a disposition, or not—nay, though the Heir expressly dissent from, and forbid it. Every one may also give a certain part of his freehold Estate[198] to any person he chuses, in remuneration of his services, or to a religious Establishment in Free-Alms;[199] that, if seisin follow up the Donation, the Land shall perpetually remain to the person to whom it is given and his Heirs, if the terms of the Gift go to that extent. But, if such a Donation should not be followed up by seisin, nothing can, after the death of the Donor, be claimed with effect in virtue of it, contrary to the will of the Heir; because such a disposition is usually interpreted by the Law of the Realm, rather as a naked promise, than a real promise or donation. Though it is thus, generally speaking, lawful for a man, in his lifetime, freely to dispose of the reasonable part[200] of his Land,-115- in such manner as he may feel inclined, yet the same permission is not allowed to any one on his death-bed; because the distribution of the Inheritance would, probably, be then highly imprudent,[201] were such an indulgence conceded to men, who, in the glow of a sudden impulse, not unfrequently lose both their memory and reason.

Hence, it is to be presumed, that if a Man laboring under a mortal disease, should then for the first time set about making a disposition of his Land, a thing never thought of by him in the hour of health, that the act is rather the result of the Mind’s Insanity than of its deliberation. But yet a Gift of this description,-116- if made to any one by the last Will, shall be valid, if done with the consent of the Heir, and confirmed by his acquiescence in it. When a Man gives part of his Land in Marriage-hood, or in any other manner, his Land consists either of that which is inheritable only, or of that which he has purchased only, or of both descriptions. If he possess inheritable Land only, he may, as we have already observed, give a certain portion of it to any stranger at his pleasure.[202] But if he has many sons born in Wedlock,[203] he cannot, correctly speaking, without the consent of his Heir, give any part of his Inheritance to a younger son; because, if this were permitted, it would then frequently happen that the Eldest son would be disinherited, owing to the greater affection which Parents often feel towards their younger children.

But, it may be asked, whether a man, having a Son and Heir, can give any part of his Inheritance to his illegitimate son? If he can, it follows, that the condition of the illegitimate son would, in this respect, be preferable to that of the younger son born in Wedlock;-117- and yet the Law is so.[204] But, if the person, desirous of making a donation of part of his Lands, possess only such as he has purchased, he may then make such Gift; provided it does not extend to the whole of his purchased Lands, because he cannot disinherit his Son and Heir.[205] Yet, if he has not any Heir, male or female, of his own Body, he may, indeed, consult his own inclination in making an absolute gift, either of part or of the whole of his purchased Lands.[206] And, if the person to whom the gift be made obtain Seisin of it, during the life of the Donor, it is not in the power of any more remote[207] Heir to invalidate such-118- Gift. Thus may a man give, in his lifetime, the whole of his purchased Land; but he cannot make any one his Heir to it, neither a College, nor any particular individual, it being an Established Rule of Law, that God alone, and not Man, can make an Heir.[208] If, however, a Man possess both inheritable and purchased Lands, it is then unquestionably true, that he may absolutely give any part or the whole of the latter to such person as he pleases;[209] and of his inheritance he may notwithstanding dispose, according to what we have already observed, provided such disposition be a reasonable one. It should be observed, that, if a Man, having Lands in free socage,[210] has many sons, who are all in equal proportions to be admitted to the Inheritance,-119- then, it is unquestionably true, that their Father cannot give a greater part of his inheritable Land or of his purchased, if he possess no inheritable, to any one of the sons, than the reasonable part which would fall to such son of the whole paternal Inheritance.[211] But the Father can in his lifetime give to either of his Sons such a part only of his inheritable free socage Land, as such son would be intitled to upon the death of his father by the Rule of succession. Yet, by reason of the liberality which Parents are in the habit of exercising towards their sons, or even towards other persons, questions of Law frequently arise concerning donations of this description. Let us suppose, that a Knight or a freeman, having four, or a greater number of sons, all born in Wedlock of one Mother, should, with the consent of the Heir previously obtained, (in order to prevent disputes) give to one of his sons—let us say, to the second and his Heirs, a certain reasonable part of his Inheritance—Let us suppose, that the son, to whom the Gift has been made, received Seisin, and, during his Life, took the profits and proceeds, and that he died in such Seisin, leaving not only his Father, but all his Brothers yet living.

Very obscure, indeed, is the Law, and considerable the debate and contention among the most skilful of-120- that Profession, when this point occurs or may occur in the King’s Court, in order to ascertain, who ought by law to succeed to the Inheritance. The Father contends, that he ought to retain to himself the Seisin of his departed son, and thus desires, that the Land which had emanated from his Bounty should again return to him. Upon this question being agitated in Court, the Eldest son will answer to the Father, in the act of claiming the Land, that the latter ought not to be heard upon the subject, as it is a general principle of the Law of the Realm, that no one can be at once Lord and Heir of the same Tenement.[212] But, by force of the same principle, the third son attempts to repel the Eldest son, from the inheritance in question.

For, since the Eldest son is the Heir to the whole Inheritance, he cannot be at once Lord of it and Heir; especially, if the father of the Eldest son happen to be dead, such son would be Lord of the whole Inheritance.-121- But, then, by the Law of the Realm, the Land cannot remain to him, for the reason we have mentioned. If, therefore, he cannot retain it absolutely, how can he claim it by the rule of succession? By a parity of reasoning it seems, that the third son shall exclude all the others.

A similar doubt arises, when any one has conceded and given a certain portion of his Land to his younger Brother, and his Heirs. Let us suppose, that the latter dies, without leaving any Heir of his own body, and the former seizes into his own hands the Land of his deceased Brother, as being vacant and within his Fee, against whom his own two sons pray an Assise, concerning the death of their Uncle. Upon the suit proceeding, the Eldest son may plead against his Father, and the youngest son against his Elder Brother, in the manner before mentioned. But it is evident, that the Father cannot by any means, consistently with the Law of the Realm, retain the Land in question, as he cannot at once be Lord and Heir. Nor, indeed, does the Law admit of Land so given again reverting to the Donor, when Homage has followed the Gift,[213] if the person to whom the Gift is made has any Heir, of his own body, or even more remote. Besides, Land which is thus given, like certain other Inheritances, naturally descends to the Heirs by the rule of succession, but-122- never naturally ascends.[214] Thus the Plea, between the Father and the Eldest son, shall cease—but it shall proceed, between the Eldest son and the youngest, in the manner we have already described.

But, when this last case has occurred in the King’s Court, it has sometimes been ordered by the Court, acting upon equitable principles, that the Land so given should remain to the Eldest son, especially if he has not any other Fee in possession, until the paternal Inheritance fall to him. Because, in the mean time, as he is not the Lord of the paternal Inheritance, the Rule, that no one can at once be Heir and Lord, does not stand in his way. But since by the Rule of succession, he must become Lord of that part of the Inheritance,-123- it may be asked, whether he is not to be considered as Heir of the part in question, when he is Heir of the whole Inheritance? To this we answer, that it is as yet uncertain and in contingency, whether the Eldest son will be the Heir or not. If, indeed, his Father should die before him, then it is no longer doubtful, because he is his Heir. Should it so happen, he ceases to be the Owner of the Land he formerly acquired by succeeding to his Uncle; and, then, such Land shall descend to the younger son, as the right Heir. If, however, the Eldest son should die before his Father, it is, then, equally clear, that he will not be the future Heir of his Father; and, therefore, those two accidents of Law, the Hereditary Right and Dominion[215] never concur in his person. It should be remarked, that Bishops and Abbots cannot, without the consent and confirmation of the King, make an absolute disposition of any part of their Demesnes, their Baronies being held in Frankalmoigne of the Gift of the King and his Ancestors.[216]

-124-

CHAP. II.

But Heirs are bound, so far at least as the Donations of their Ancestors are reasonable, to warrant them, and the things comprised in them, to the persons to whom they are made, and to their Heirs.[217]

CHAP. III.

Of Heirs, some are nearest,[218] others more remote. A Man’s nearest Heirs are those of his Body, as a Son, or a Daughter.[219] Upon the failure of these, the more remote Heirs are called, namely, the Grandson, or Granddaughter descending in a right line from the Son or Daughter, in infinitum. Then the Brother and Sister, and those descending from them in a transverse-125- line. After these, the Uncle,[220] as well on the part of the Father, as of the Mother, and in like manner the Aunt, and their Descendants.[221]

When, therefore, a Man possessed of an Inheritance dies, leaving one Son only his Heir, it is unquestionably true, that such son shall succeed entirely to his Father. If, however, he leaves more sons, then, a distinction must be made, whether the deceased was a Knight, or one holding by Military Tenure, or whether he was a Free Sockman.[222] Because, if he were a Knight, or holding by Military Tenure, then, according to the Law of the English Realm, his Eldest son shall succeed to the whole Inheritance, so that none of his Brothers can by right claim any part of it.[223] But, if the Parent-126- were a free Sockman,[224] then, indeed, the Inheritance shall be equally divided amongst all the sons, however numerous, provided such Socage Land has been anciently divisible,[225] reserving, however, to the Eldest son-127- as a mark of respect to his seniority,[226] the Capital Messuage, upon his making a Compensation to the others equal to the value.[227] If, however, the Estate was not anciently divisible, then, the Eldest son shall, according to some customs, take the whole Inheritance,-128- whilst, according to other Customs, the younger son shall succeed as Heir.[228] In like manner, should any person leave one Daughter only, his Heir, then what we have laid down with respect to a son shall unquestionably prevail. If, however, he leave more Daughters, then, the Inheritance shall, without distinction, be divided between them, whether their Father was a Knight or a Sockman, reserving to the Eldest Daughter, the Capital Messuage, under the conditions before mentioned. But it should be observed, if either of the Brothers or Sisters, amongst whom the Inheritance is divided, should die, without leaving any Heir of his or her Body, then the portion of the person so dying shall be divided amongst the survivors. But the Husband of the Eldest Daughter shall do Homage[229] to the Chief Lord for the whole Fee. But the Younger Daughters, or their Husbands, are bound to perform to the Chief Lord the services due for their Land, by the hand of the Eldest Daughter, or her Husband. Yet the Husbands-129- of the Younger Daughters are not bound to perform any Homage, or even Fealty, to the Husband of the Eldest Daughter, in her lifetime.

Nor are their Heirs in the first and second degrees; but those in the third descent from the Younger Daughters are bound by the Law of the Realm, to do Homage for their Tenement to the Heir of the Eldest Daughter, and to pay a reasonable Relief.[230] In addition it should be known, that Husbands cannot give any part of the Inheritance of their Wives, without the consent of their Heirs, nor can they remit any part of the right of the Heirs, unless in her lifetime.[231] If, however, a Man leaves a son and Heir, and has besides one Daughter or more, the son succeeds entirely to the Inheritance—from whence it follows, that if a Man should have married many Wives,[232] and by each of them have had one or more Daughters, and at length an only son by the last of them, the son alone shall obtain the Inheritance of the Father; because, it is a general Rule, that a Female can never share an Inheritance with a Male, unless perhaps a special Exception to this exist in some particular City, grounded upon a-130- Custom which has long prevailed there. But, if a man should marry different Women, and by each of them should have one Daughter, or more, all the Daughters are equally entitled to the Inheritance of the Father, in the same manner as if they were all sprung from the same Mother.[233] But when a Man dies without leaving any Son, or Daughter, his Heir, if he has any Grand Children, then, undoubtedly, they shall succeed to him, in the same manner as we have above mentioned, his Son or Daughter would have succeeded, and under similar distinctions. For the Descendants in the right line, are always to be preferred to those who are in the tranverse line. But when any one dies, leaving a younger son, and a Grandson, the Child of his Eldest son, great doubt exists, as to which of the two the Law prefers in the succession to the other, whether the Son or the Grandson. Some think, the Younger Son has more right to the Inheritance than such Grandson, for this reason—that the Eldest Son did not survive his Father, and was not in existence when the Inheritance fell, but the Younger Son did out-live both his Brother and his Father, and it is, therefore, right, as they contend, that he should succeed to his Father. But others incline to think, that the Grandson ought of right to be preferred to his Uncle.

For since the Grandson descended from the Eldest-131- Son and is the Heir of his Body, he would have succeeded to all his Father’s rights had he still lived, and he ought therefore to succeed. In which opinion I concur, if his Father was not portioned off[234] by the Grandfather.

For a Son may, in the lifetime of his Father, be portioned off by him, if the father assigns a certain part of his Land to the Son, and deliver him Seisin in his lifetime, at the request and with the unrestrained consent of the Son, in such manner, that the latter be fully satisfied with such part. In such case, the Heirs of the Son’s Body, cannot claim, as against their Uncle, or any other person, any greater portion of the residue of the Grandfather’s Inheritance, than the part of their Father, although the Father himself might, if he had survived the Grandfather. Besides, if the Eldest Son, after having in his Father’s lifetime done Homage to the Chief Lord for his paternal Inheritance, should die before his Father, there is no question but that his Son shall be preferred to the Uncle. Upon this subject, however, a contest may arise, between the Grandson and the Chief Lord, if the latter refuse the Homage of the Grandson; or between the Chief Lord and the Uncle, if the Chief Lord has warranted the Homage of the Grandson. In both these cases, there is no reasonable objection to prevent the matter coming to the Duel, unless the Homage can be proved; for then,-132- indeed, (as the Law now obtains between the Uncle and the Grandson) Melior est conditio possidentis.[235]

CHAP. IV.

Upon a failure of Descendants in the right line,[236] then the Brother or Brothers succeed; or, if no Brothers can be found, the Sisters are to be called; and, these being dead, their children are to be called. After these, the Uncles are to be called, and their children; and, lastly, recourse must be had to the Aunts, or their children; the distinction above-mentioned being always observed and kept in view, between the sons of a-133- Knight, and of a Sockman, and in like manner, between their Grandchildren. The distinction between Males and Females is likewise to be observed.

CHAP. V.

Heirs are also bound to observe the Testaments of their Fathers, and of their other Ancestors. Of such, I mean, to whom they are Heirs; and to discharge their Debts. For every Freeman, not involved in Debt beyond his circumstances, may on his death-bed make a reasonable division[237] of his Effects, under this form, as prescribed by the custom of certain places. In the first place, he should remember his Lord, by the Gift of the best and chief thing he possesses: then the[238] Church, and afterwards other persons at his pleasure. But, whatever the Custom of different places inculcate with reference to this point, yet, according to the Law of the Realm, no man is bound to leave any thing by Will to any person in particular, unless it be his inclination; for every Man’s last Will is said to be free, according to the spirit of these Laws, as well as others.

-134-

A woman, indeed, when at her own disposal, may make a Testament; but, if married, she cannot, without the Authority of her Husband, make any Will of the Effects of her Husband.[239] Yet it would be a mark of affection and highly creditable to the Husband, if he concede a reasonable portion of his Effects to his Wife; in other words, a third part, which, indeed, she would be entitled to, should she out-live him, as will be more fully seen hereafter. Husbands indeed, much to their honor, frequently grant to their Wives this indulgence.

When, therefore, any one being indisposed wishes to make his Will, if he be not involved in Debt, all his moveables should be divided into three equal parts; of which one belongs to his Heir,[240] another to his Wife, and the third is reserved to himself.[241] Of this third, he-135- has the free power of disposing. But, if he dies without leaving any Wife, the half is reserved to him.[242]-136- But of his Inheritance, he cannot by his last Will make any disposition, as before observed.

CHAP. VI.

The Testament ought to be made in the presence of two or more lawful Men, either clergy or lay, and such as can be proper witnesses of it. The Executors of a Testament should be such persons, as the Testator has chosen for that purpose, and to whom he has committed the charge.

But, if he should not nominate any person for this-137- purpose, the nearest of Kin and Relatives of the deceased may take upon them the charge; and this, so effectually, that should they find the Heir or any other person detaining the Effects of the deceased, they shall have the King’s Writ directed to the Sheriff in these words——

CHAP. VII.

“The King to the Sheriff, Health.[243] I command you that, justly and without delay, you cause to stand the reasonable division of N. as it can be reasonably shewn that he made it, and that it ought to stand. Witness, &c.”

CHAP. VIII.

When a party, summoned by authority of this Writ, alleges any thing against the Testament itself; either that it was not reasonably made, or that the thing claimed was not as asserted left by it, then, the Plea ought to be heard and determined in the Court Christian; because Pleas concerning Testaments ought to be agitated before the Ecclesiastical Judge, and decided according to the course of Law, on the Testimony of those who were present at the time of the making of the Will. But if the person, who intends to make a will, should be overburthened with Debts, he cannot-138- (beyond the payment of his Debts) make any disposition of his Effects, without the consent of his Heir.

Should it, however, happen, after payment of the Debts, that any thing remains, then it is divided into three parts in the manner before stated; and he may, as observed, make a Testament of a third part of it. If, however, the Effects of the deceased are insufficient to pay his Debts, then his Heir is bound to make up the deficiency out of his own; I mean, if he is of Age.[244]

CHAP. IX.[245]

This leads us to observe, that some Heirs are evidently of Age, some as clearly not of full age, but others of whom it may be doubtful, whether they have attained their age or not. The first description of Heirs may, immediately upon the deaths of their Ancestors, hold themselves in possession of their Inheritance,[246] although their Lords may take the Fee, together with the Heir, into their hands. This, however,-139- ought to be done with such moderation, as not to cause any Disseisin to the Heirs, who may, indeed, should it be necessary, resist the violence of their Lords, provided they are prepared to pay their Reliefs, and to render to them such other services as are justly due. But, if it be evident that the Heir is under age, and he hold by Military service, he is considered to be in the Custody[247] of his Lord, until he attains his full age.

The full age of an Heir, if the son of a Knight, or of one holding by Military service, is when he has completed his twenty-first Year.[248] But, if the Heir be the Son of a Sockman, he is esteemed to be of full age when he has completed his fifteenth Year.[249] If he is the son of a Burgess, he is understood to have attained his full age,[250] when he has discretion to count Money and measure Cloth, and in like manner to manage his Father’s other concerns.

In so extensive a sense have Lords the Custody of the Sons and Heirs of their Homagers and of their Fee, that they, for example, exercise an absolute controul-140- with respect to presenting to Churches in their Custody, in marrying Females, (if they fall into wardship), and in regulating other matters, in the same manner as if they were their own. The Law, however, does not permit the Lords to make any absolute disposition of the Inheritance. In the mean time, the Lord should maintain the Heir in a manner suitable to his Dignity and the extent of his Inheritance, and should discharge the Debts of the deceased, so far as the Estate and the length of the Custody will admit.[251] Hence they are bound by the Law to answer the Debts of the Ancestors.

The Lords may also manage the concerns of the Heir, and commence and prosecute all Suits for the recovery of his rights, provided no exception be taken on account of the Minor’s Age.[252] But the Lord is not bound to answer for the Heir, neither in a question of Right nor of Disseisin, except in one instance—when one Minor has the Custody of another, after the decease of his Father. Should the latter Minor, upon his attaining his full age, be refused his Inheritance, he may have an Assise and Recognition of the Death of his Ancestor; nor shall the Recognition, in such case,-141- cease, on Account of the Minority of the Lord. But if a Minor be appealed of any Felony,[253] then he shall be attached by safe and secure pledges. Yet, whilst he continues within age, he shall not be compelled to answer, nor until he has attained his full age. Those persons who have the Custody are bound to restore the Inheritance to the Heirs in good condition,[254] and discharged from Debts, in proportion to the duration of the Custody, and the extent of the Inheritance. But if it be doubtful, whether the Heir be of full age or a Minor, then, undoubtedly, the Lord shall have the Custody as well of the Heir as of his Inheritance, until the full age of the Heir be reasonably proved by the oaths of lawful men of the Vicinage.

CHAP. X.

If those Heirs, liable to be in Custody, have more Lords than one, the chief Lord, that is, the one to whom the Heir owes allegiance for his first Fee, shall have the Custody. But this is not to deprive the Lords of the other Fees of their Beliefs and rightful-142- services; but the Custody shall remain to them entire, under the form before mentioned. Yet should it be observed, that when any one hold of the King in Capite, the Custody of him belongs exclusively to the King, whether the Heir has any other Lords or not; because the King[255] can have no equal, much less a superior.[256] But yet, by reason of Burgage Tenure,[257] the King is not preferred in the Custody to others. If the King should commit the Custody to another,[258] then, a distinction is to be made, whether it is unconditionally, and in such manner as not to render the person to whom it was committed accountable to the Exchequer, or whether it is under restrictions. If it is committed to him in such unconditional manner, then he can present to vacant Churches, and, generally, as far as consistent with Justice, manage the concerns of the Heir, as if they were his own.

CHAP. XI.

The Heirs of Sock-men upon the death of their Ancestors, shall be in the Custody[259] of their nearest-143- Kindred, with this distinction, that if the Inheritance itself descended from the paternal side, the Custody shall be conferred upon the kindred, the descendants on the maternal side; but, if the Inheritance descend on the part of the Mother, then the Custody belongs to the Kindred on the Father’s side. For the custody of a person shall never by Law be committed to another, of whom a suspicion can be entertained, that he either could or might wish to claim any right in the Inheritance itself.[260]

CHAP. XII.

But if the Heirs are females, they shall remain in the Custody of their Lords. If they are Minors, they-144- shall continue in Custody until they are of full age,[261] at which period the Lord is bound to find them a Marriage, delivering to each of them her reasonable portion. But if they were of full age, then also they shall remain in the Custody of their Lord, until with his Advice and disposal they are married; because without the disposal or assent of her Lord no female, the Heir to Land,[262] can by the Law and Custom of the Realm be married.

Hence it is, that if a Man, having only a Daughter or Daughters, his Heirs, should in his lifetime marry off one or more of them without the assent of the Lord, he is justly, according to the Law and Custom of the Realm, for ever deprived of his Inheritance; and that in such manner, that he can never afterwards recover any part of it, unless by the indulgence of the Lord. The reason is simply this—that as the Husband of an Heiress is bound to do Homage to the Lord for her Estate, the approbation and consent of the Lord is requisite for such purpose; least he should be compelled to receive from his Enemy, or from some other improper person, the Homage due in respect of his Fee.[263] But if any one demands of his Lord a License-145- to marry his Daughter and Heir to another, the Lord is bound either to consent, or to shew some just cause, why he refuses;[264] otherwise the woman may, with the advice and approbation of her Father, be married, even contrary to the Lord’s inclination. Upon this occasion it may be asked, if a Woman, having Lands in Dower, may, without the consent of her Warrantor,[265] follow her own inclination in marrying another; and, if she do so, whether she shall on that account lose her whole Dower? It does not appear that she ought for that reason to lose her Dower, since her Husband, by the Law and Custom of the Realm, owes no Homage to her Warrantor, but merely Fealty with an Oath, least if the Woman herself should die before her Husband, the Homage should be entirely lost, no Tenure being retained. Yet the Woman is bound to obtain the consent-146- of her Warrantor to her marriage, or she shall lose her Dower,[266] unless, indeed, she holds other Land in Marriage-hood or by Inheritance; for then it suffices, if she has obtained the consent of the Chief Lord. This Rule obtains not on account of the Homage but of the other Fealty, which the Husband is bound to perform to the Lord as we have observed. But, if the Inheritance be within the Fees of many different Lords, it is then sufficient, if the consent of the Chief Lord be obtained to the Marriage of the female Heir. If female Heirs, during such time as they are in Custody, are guilty of incontinence,[267] and this be proved, then, those who have thus erred shall be excluded from the Inheritance; and their portion shall accrue to the others, who are free from the same stain. But if, in this manner, all of them should err, then, the whole Inheritance shall devolve-147- upon the Lord, as an Escheat. Yet, if such female Heirs are once lawfully married, and afterwards become widows, they shall not again be under the Custody of their Lords; although they are, for the reason formerly explained, bound to ask his consent to their marriage.[268] Nor, in such case, shall they forfeit their Inheritance, if guilty of incontinence.[269]

But the assertion which is generally made, that incontinence[270] is no forfeiture of the Inheritance, is to be understood of the crime of the Mother; because, that Son is the lawful Heir, whom marriage proves to be such.[271]

CHAP. XIII.

Neither a Bastard,[272] nor any other person not born in lawful wedlock, can be, in the legal sense of the-148- term, an Heir.[273] But if any one claims an Inheritance in the character of Heir, and the other party object to him, that he cannot be Heir, because he was not born in lawful wedlock, then, indeed, the Plea shall cease in the King’s Court, and the Arch-Bishop or Bishop of the place shall be commanded, to inquire concerning such marriage, and to make known his decision, either to the King or his Justices.

For this purpose, the following Writ shall Issue:——

CHAP. XIV.

“The King to the Arch-Bishop, Health. W. appearing before me in my Court has demanded against R. his Brother, the fourth part of one Knight’s Fee, in such a Vill, as his right, and in which the said R. has no right, as W. says, because he is a Bastard born before the Marriage of their Mother. And, since it does not belong to my Court to inquire concerning Bastardy, I send them unto you commanding, that you do in the Court Christian that which belongs to you. And when the Suit is brought to its proper end before you, inform me by your Letter-149- what has been done before you concerning it. Witness, &c.”

CHAP. XV.

Upon this subject it has been made a question whether if any one was begotten or born before his Father married the Mother, such Son is the lawful Heir, if the Father afterwards married his Mother? Although, indeed, the Canons and the Roman Laws consider such Son as the lawful Heir,[274] yet, according to the Law and Custom of this Realm, he shall in no measure be supported as Heir in his claim upon the Inheritance; nor can he demand the Inheritance, by the Law of the Realm.[275] But yet if a question should-150- arise, whether such a Son was begotten or born before marriage, or after, it should, as we have observed, be discussed before the Ecclesiastical Judge; and of his decision he shall inform the King, or his Justices. And thus, according to the Judgment of the Court Christian concerning the marriage, namely, whether the Demandant was born or begotten before marriage contracted, or after, the King’s Court shall supply that which is necessary, in adjudging or refusing the Inheritance respecting which the dispute is; so that by its decision the Demandant shall either obtain such inheritance, or lose his claim.

CHAP. XVI.

As a Bastard can have no Heir, unless it be one of his own Body, a question arises respecting a Bastard. If any one has given Land to him, reserving a service or any other thing, and has received his Homage for it, so that the Bastard has died in the Seisin of such Land, without leaving any Heir of his own Body, who is entitled by law to succeed to him, as his Lord cannot for the reasons before stated?[276] But when any one dies-151- intestate, all his chattels are understood to belong to his Lord; and, if he has more Lords than one, each of them shall recover such Chattels, as may be found within his Fee. But all the Effects of a Usurer (whether he make a Will or not) belong to the King.[277] But it is not the Custom for any one, whilst living, to be appealed or convicted of the crime of Usury—but, among other Regal Inquisitions, it is usually inquired[278]-152- and proved, who have died in this Offence,[279] and that by the oaths of twelve lawful Men of the Vicinage. Which being proved in Court, all the Moveables and Chattels which belonged to the deceased Usurer shall be seised to the King’s use, without any regard to the person in whose hands they may be found. His Heir is for the same reason deprived of the Inheritance according to the Law of the Realm, the Inheritance itself reverting to the Lord. It should, however, be observed, that if any one has, during a certain period of his life, been guilty of this Crime, and be publicly accused[280] of it in the Community where he lived, if he desisted from his error before his death, and was penitent, neither he, nor his property, shall after his death be liable to the penalties of Usury. It ought, therefore, to be evident,-153- that a Man has died a Usurer, in order that he may be so adjudged after his death, and his Effects disposed of as those of a Usurer.

CHAP. XVII.

The Ultimate Heir of any person is his Lord.[281] When, therefore, a Man dies without leaving any certain Heir, such, for example, as a Son, or Daughter, or without any such Heir of whom there can exist no doubt,[282] but that he is the nearer and right Heir, the Lords of the Fee may, and indeed, usually do, take the Vacant Inheritances into their hands, and retain them as Escheats,[283] whoever such Lord may be, whether the King, or any other person. But, if any one appear and assert himself to be the right Heir, if by the indulgence of his Lord, or by the King’s precept, he can effect it, he shall prosecute his claim; and thus he may establish his right, if he has any such; but, in the mean time, the Land in question shall remain in the hands of the Lord of the Fee: because, whenever a Lord entertains a doubt concerning the Heir of his Tenant, whether he be the right Heir or not, he may retain the Land until-154- the fact be lawfully proved to him.[284] The same rule is laid down, in a former part of this Treatise, where a doubt arises with respect to the full age or Minority of the Heir. There is, however, this difference, that in the one case, the Inheritance itself is in the mean time to be considered as the Lord’s Escheat: but in the other case, it is not considered to be the Lord’s—nothing, indeed, but the Custody. But if no one should appear to claim the Inheritance in question as Heir, then it shall absolutely revert to the Lord as an Escheat; so that he may dispose of it at his pleasure as his own property. Besides, if a Female Heir, in the Custody of her Lord, be guilty of Incontinence, her Inheritance shall escheat to her Lord, on account of her crime. And if any person be convicted of Felony, or confess his Guilt in Court, deprived by the Law of the Realm of his Inheritance, his Land shall remain to the Lord, as an Escheat.[285] It is to be observed, that if any one hold of the King in Capite, then, as well his Land, as all his Moveables and Chattels, in whose-ever possession they may be found, shall be seised to the King’s use, and the Heir shall be for ever debarred from recovering them. But if an outlaw,[286] or one convicted of Felony, hold of any other person than the King, then also all his Moveables shall belong to the King; his-155- Lands also shall remain in the King’s hands during one year, which period being expired, such Land shall revert to the right Lord, in other words, to him to whose Fee it belongs, the Houses, however, being thrown down, and the Trees extirpated.[287] And, generally speaking, whenever a person has done or said any thing in Court for which he has been, by a Judgment of the Court, disinherited, his Inheritance is accustomed-156- to return as an Escheat to the Lord of the Fee of whom it is held. But a forfeiture, committed by the Son and Heir of any one, shall not disinherit the Father, nor the Brother, nor, indeed, any other person but himself. It should also be added, that when a Man has been condemned of Theft, all his Moveables and Chattels generally devolve on the Sheriff of the County; but his Land, if he has any, shall immediately revert to the Lord of the Fee, without awaiting the year.[288] When any one has been outlawed by the Law of the Land, and has afterwards, by the indulgence of the Prince, been restored to the Peace, he cannot on that account recover his Inheritance, supposing that he or his Heirs possess such, as against his Lord (unless by the mercy and indulgence of the Lord himself.) The King, indeed, is accustomed to remit the pains of Forfeiture and Outlawry, yet cannot he, under colour of this prerogative, infringe upon the rights of others.

CHAP. XVIII.

Of Marriage-hood—the one kind is free, the other, liable to the performance of services.[289] Marriage-hood is called free, when any freeman gives a certain part of his Land with a Woman in Marriage to another, so that such Land be exempt from every kind of service,-157- and acquitted on the part of him and his Heirs, as against the Chief Lord. The Land in question shall enjoy this immunity, even to the third Heir;[290] nor, during the interval, are the Heirs bound to do any Homage for it; but, after the third Heir,[291] the Land again becomes subject to its original services, and Homage shall be received for it, and, if it be part of a Military Fee, the Tenant shall perform the service of the Fee, with reference to the quantity of the Land. But sometimes Land is given in Marriage-hood, saving and reserving the services due to the Chief[292] Lord; and then indeed, the Husband of the Woman and his Heirs must perform the services, with the Exception of Homage, even to the third Heir.[293]

But the third Heir shall do Homage for the first time, and all his Heirs afterwards. But another Fealty,[294] with the interposition of a solemn promise or oath, shall, in the intervening period, be performed by the Women and their Heirs, almost in the same form-158- and in the same words in which Homage is commonly performed.

When, therefore, any one has received Lands with his Wife in Marriage-hood, and has by her an Heir, Male or Female, heard to cry within the four Walls, then, if the man survive his wife, whether the Heir live or not, the Marriage-hood shall notwithstanding remain to the Husband, during his life; but, after his death, it shall revert to the original Donor, or his Heirs.[295] But if he never had an Heir from his Wife, then, immediately after her death, the Marriage-hood shall revert to the Donor or his Heirs.[296]

-159-

And this is some reason why Homage is not usually received for Lands in Marriage-hood.

For if Land were so given in Marriage-hood, or in any other way, that Homage was received for it, then, it would never afterwards revert to the Donor, or his Heirs, as we have explained. If, however, such Woman take a second Husband, the same Rule prevails, as to the second, as we have stated concerning the first, whether the first should have left an Heir or not. But when any one sues for Land as the Marriage-hood of his Wife, or when the Woman or her Heir does so, then, a distinction must be made, whether the Land is demanded as against the Donor, or his Heir, or against a stranger. If the Suit be against the Donor, or his Heir, then, it is at the Election of the Demandant, whether he would proceed in the Court Christian, or in the Secular Court.

For if the Demandant chuses to resort to such Tribunal, it belongs to the Ecclesiastical Judge to hold pleas of Marriage-hood; a Jurisdiction he acquires from the mutual Troth usually plighted, when any one promises to marry a Woman, and she in her turn promises marriage to him. Nor, indeed, is the Ecclesiastical Judge prohibited by the King’s Court from holding such plea, although it concern a Lay-fee, if it be clear that the demand relate to Marriage. But if the Suit be brought against a Stranger, then, indeed, it shall be determined in the Lay Court, and that, in the same manner and order in which Pleas concerning other Lay Fees are generally conducted.

-160-

Yet, should it be observed, that the Suit ought not to be proceeded in, without the Warrantor, as we formerly mentioned when treating of Dower. The Suit, indeed, must be proceeded in, as far as respects the Warrantor, in the same manner as a Plea in Dower. What we, therefore, said on the former occasion with respect to this point, is applicable to the present. It remains to add, that the third Heir, after he has once done Homage, can[297] proceed in the suit without the authority of the Warrantor.

CHAP. I.

But it often happens, that Pleas moved in the King’s Court are determined by an amicable composition and final Concord, but with the consent and License of the King or his Justices, whatever the Plea may concern, whether Land, or any other thing. Such a Concord is, with the general consent of the persons interested, usually reduced into a writing, common to all the parties,[298] which is recited before the King’s Justices of the Common Pleas,[299] in whose presence each person’s part of the writing, agreeing in all things with the other’s, is delivered to the party. The Concord is in the following form——

-162-

CHAP. II.

“This is the final Concord, made in the Court of our Lord the King, at Westminster, on the Vigil of the blessed Peter, the Apostle, in the Thirty-third[300] Year of the Reign of King Henry the Second; before Ranulph de Glanville, Justiciary of our Lord the King, and before H.R.W. and T. and other faithful subjects of our Lord the King, then there present, between the Prior and Brethren of the Hospital of Jerusalem, and W.T., the Son of Norman, and Alan his Son, whom he appointed Attorney in the Court of our Lord the King to gain or lose, concerning all such Land and its Appurtenances (except one Oxland[301] and three Tofts[302]) which the said W. held: concerning-163- all which Land (except the aforesaid Oxland and three Tofts) there was a Plea between them in the Court of our Lord the King; to wit, that the aforesaid W. and Alan concede and attest the Gift which Norman the Father of the said W. made to them; and they quit-claim all that Land from them and their Heirs to the Hospital and the aforesaid Prior and Brethren for ever: except the one Oxland aforesaid, and the three Tofts, which remain to the said W. and Alan and their Heirs, to be held of the Hospital and the aforesaid Prior and Brethren for ever, by the free service of four pence a year, for all service. And for this concession, and attestation, and quit-claim, the aforesaid Prior and Brethren of the Hospital have given to the said W. and Alan one hundred Shillings sterling.” Or in these Terms——

CHAP. III.

“This is the final Concord, made in the Court of Galfred, the Son of Peter, and afterwards recorded and inrolled[303] in the Court of our Lord the King, at Westminster, in the Thirty-third Year of the Reign of King Henry the Second, on Tuesday after the feast of the Apostles Simon and Jude, before[304] E. Bishop of Ely, and I. Bishop of Norwich, and-164- R. de Glanville, Justice of our Lord the King, and other faithful and trusty servants of our Lord the King, then there present, between the aforesaid G. the Son of Peter and R. the son of Reginald, of the Advowson of the Church of All Saints of Shuldham, and common of pasture of Heddon, concerning which there was a dispute between them; to wit, that the aforesaid R. has acknowledged to the aforesaid G., as his Right, the Advowson of the aforesaid Church, and has quitted-claim to the aforesaid G. and his Heirs, from him and his Heirs for ever, if he had any right in the Advowson of the aforesaid Church: also the aforesaid R. quit-claims to the aforesaid G. the Common of Pasture of Heddon—And all the purprestures[305] which G. has made in Shuldham, in the Woodland[306] and Mills and Crofts[307] and Turbaries[308] of Shuldham, of which the said R. reserves nothing, unless that which is necessary to burn in his House for him and his Heirs, without making any sale; and-165- all[309] external folds,[310] (except his own) and the bidden days[311] of external ploughs, and the Customs[312] of Hens-166- and Eggs. And for this Concord and quit-claim, the aforesaid G. has given to the said R. twenty marks of silver.” And observe, that such a Concord is termed final, because it puts an end to the matter,[313] so that neither of the litigating parties can ever after recede from it. For if either of them fail to adhere to it, or to perform his part of it, and the other party complain, the Sheriff shall be directed to put him by safe pledges, that he appear before the King’s Justices to answer, wherefore he has not kept such fine. I mean, if the party complaining, has previously given the Sheriff security, to prosecute his claim. For this purpose, the following writ shall issue——

CHAP. IV.

“The King to the Sheriff, Health. Command N., that justly and without delay, he hold the Fine made in my Court, between him and R. of one Hyde of Land, in that Vill, concerning which a Suit was between them in my Court; and, unless he do so, and-167- the aforesaid A. make you secure of prosecuting his claim, then, put him by Gage and safe Pledges that he be before me or my Justices on such a day, to shew why he has not done it. And have there this Writ. Witness, &c.”

CHAP. V.

Should the party, thus summoned, neither appear, nor essoin himself, on the day appointed, or if, after having cast three Essoins, he neither appear, nor send an Attorney, the course in such case to be pursued has been already pointed out, in that part of this Treatise which applies to Pleas, where the Pledges are to be attached, and in the first Book. Both parties being present in Court, if each of them should acknowledge the writing (containing the Concord made between them) or if the Concord is stated to be such by the King’s Justices before whom it was made, and this be properly testified by their Record, then the Party who has broken the Concord shall be amerced to the King, and shall be safely attached, until he find good security that he will from thenceforth keep the Concord, by adhering to its terms, if possible, or will otherwise make his Adversary a reasonable recompense. For, it is a consequence which naturally results from acknowledging a fact in the King’s Court in the presence of the King or his Justices, or undertaking to do any particular Act, that the Party should be compelled to abide by or perform it. If, however, such a Concord-168- be made in a suit concerning Land, then, the party convicted in Court, or confessing that he had not properly observed the Fine, if a Tenant, shall thereby lose his Land, but, if a Demandant, his Suit. But if the parties, either the one or the other of them, deny the Common Chirograph, then, the same Justices shall be summoned to appear on a day appointed to them in Court, and there record, how the suit came to an end which was before them in the King’s Court, between such and such parties, of so much Land, in that Vill, which the one claimed against the other; and, if the parties, by the license of the Justices and in their presence, came to an agreement, under what form the Concord was made. But here a distinction must be taken, whether such Concord was made in the King’s chief Court, or before the Justices Itinerant.

In the latter case, such Justices must be summoned to appear in Court, with certain discreet Knights, of the County where the Concord in question was made, who were present when it was entered into, and know the truth of the fact; in order that such Justices may make a Record of the Suit, with the assistance of the Knights, who are to be called to Court for that purpose, from the whole body of the County, by the following Writ——

CHAP. VI.

“The King to the Sheriff, Health. Summon, by good Summoners, N. and R. that they appear before-169- me, or my Justices, such a day, to record, with discreet Knights of that County, how the Plea of one Hyde of Land, which N. claimed against R., in that Vill, and of which there was a Suit before them, on their Eyre, ceased in my Court.” The Sheriff of the County, in which the Suit was decided before the Justices, shall also be commanded to transmit at the same time a Record of the Suit in question to the King, or his Justices, by the hands of discreet Knights of his County. This shall be done by the following Writ, for presenting such Record in Court——

CHAP. VII.

“The King to the Sheriff, Health. I command you, that you cause to be recorded in your County Court, the plea which is between such and such person, concerning so much Land, in that Vill,” &c. as in the following Chapter but two.

CHAP. VIII.

The Justices being present in Court, and perfectly concurring as to the Record, it necessarily follows, that their Record must be abided by, neither party being allowed to deny it, as we have already observed.

But if the Justices entertain any doubt upon the subject, and it cannot be ascertained, then, the Plea must be again commenced and proceeded on in Court.

-170-

CHAP. IX.

It should be understood, that no Court, generally speaking, has a Record, except the King’s Court.[314] For in other Courts, if a Man should say a thing, which he would afterwards retract, he may deny[315] it against the whole Court, by the oath of three witnesses, affirming that he had not said the thing imputed to him, or, indeed, by a greater or less number of witnesses, according to the custom of different Courts. Yet, in some cases, the County and other inferior Courts are by a particular Law of the Realm allowed to have Records; thus, if the Duel has been waged in any inferior Court, and the Suit should be afterwards transferred into the King’s Court; then, as to the claim of the Demandant, the defence of the Tenant, and the words in which such Duel was adjudged and waged, the former Court shall have its Record even in the King’s Court; but, in other respects, such inferior Court has no Record, unless concerning the change of a Champion. For if, after the suit has been transferred into the King’s-171- Court, a different Champion should be produced, than the one who has waged the Duel in the inferior Court, and a dispute arise upon this point, the Record of the inferior Court shall by a Law of the Realm be conclusive upon the subject. It should also be understood, with respect to the Record of an inferior Court, that any one may add, that he had said more than is contained in such Record—and that he did in Court say it, he may prove against the whole Court, by the oaths of two or more lawful Men, according as the custom of different Courts vary; because no Court is bound, either to prove or defend its Record by the Duel. But it is not allowed to any one to take exceptions against one part, and admit the other; and this rule is grounded on a Law of the Realm: since he may from the first deny the whole Record, an oath being taken in the manner before mentioned. But, although a Court is not obliged to defend its Record by the Duel, yet is it bound to defend its Judgment by the Duel.[316] If, therefore, any one should declare against the Court for passing a false Judgment, and, therefore false, because when one party had said thus, and the other answered thus, the Court in question had judged falsely of their allegations by deciding in such words; and that the Court had given such false Judgment by the mouth of N.; and, if he were disposed to deny the present charge, the other was prepared to prove it against him, chiefly by such proper witness, who was ready to enter upon the proof. Thus may the matter, and-172- that very properly, be decided by the Duel.[317] But, whether such Court is obliged to defend itself by one of its own members, or may have recourse to a stranger, may be questioned?

It ought, indeed, to defend itself chiefly by the person who has passed the Judgment[318] and, if the Court should be convicted of the charge, the Lord of the Court shall be amerced to the King, and shall for ever be deprived of his Court. Besides which, the whole Court shall be amerced to the King. But, if the person bringing the charge forward should fail in his proof, he shall thereby lose his principal suit. A Court may also have a Record, by the indulgence of the Prince. Thus, if the King, influenced by some reasonable motive, should cause any Court to be summoned to make a Record in his Court; so that the King chuses, that such Record shall not be contradicted. Courts are frequently summoned to have a Record of some particular suit before the King, or his-173- Justices, although they have not from this circumstance any Record but what may be contradicted; because, by the consent of the parties, the suit may be proceeded in upon that Record.

If they agree as to the Record, the Summons may be made, by a writ of the following description——

CHAP. X.

“The King to the Sheriff, Health. I command you, that you cause to be recorded in your County Court, the suit which is between such and such persons, of so much Land, in such a Vill; and have the Record of that suit before me, or my Justices, at such a day,[319] by four Lawful Knights, who were present at the making of such Record—And Summon, by good Summoners, the party claiming the Land, that he be then there with his Plea; and the party who holds the Land, that he be then there to hear it.[320] And have, &c.”

CHAP. XI.

Inferior Courts have also Records concerning things transacted in them, which are received as such in the King’s Court. This happens when a Lord[321] has a Plea in his Court, concerning which a reasonable difficulty-174- arises, and the Court is incompetent to determine it. On such an occasion, the Lord himself may adjourn his Court[322] into the King’s Court, in order to have the advice and assent of the latter, in determining what is proper to be done. The King, indeed, owes this assistance to his Barons, who may on such an occasion, as a matter of right, adjourn their Courts into the King’s Court, in order to obtain from the skilful men who preside there, that advice they stand in need of. But, when they have been certified in the King’s Court, concerning the doubtful point, they may return with the Suit, resume the consideration of it, and finally determine it in their own Court.[323] The County Court has a Record, as to the giving and receiving pledges there, and of similar matters.

CHAP. I.

It remains to resume the subject of performing Homages,[324] and receiving Reliefs.[325] Upon the death of-176- the Father, or any other Ancestor, the Lord of the Fee is bound, from the first, to receive the Homage of the Right Heir, whether the Heir has attained his full age, or not, if he be a Male. For, Females cannot by Law perform any Homage,[326] although, generally speaking, they are to do Fealty to their Lords.

-177-

But, if they are married, their Husbands ought to do Homage to their Lords for their Fees; I mean, if Homage be due in respect of such Fees. If, however, the Heir be a Male and a Minor, the Lord of the Fee is not entitled by Law to the Custody, either of the Heir, or his Inheritance, until he has received the Homage of the Heir; because, it is a general principle, that no one can exact from an Heir, whether he is of age, or not, any service, consisting in a Relief or otherwise, until he has received the Homage of the Heir, in respect of that Tenement, for which the service is claimed. But a person may perform Homage to several Lords on account of different Fees; but, of these Homages, one should be the chief, and accompanied with allegiance,[327] and this must be made to the Lord, from whom the person performing Homage, holds his Chief Estate. Homage ought to be done in this form, namely, the party performing it shall so become the-178- Man of his Lord, that he shall bear faith to him for the Tenement in respect of which he does Homage,[328] and shall preserve the Lord’s terrene Honor in all things, saving the faith due to the King,[329] and his Heirs.

From this it is evident, that a Vassal cannot injure his Lord, consistently with the Faith implied in Homage; unless, possibly, in his own defence, or unless, in compliance with the King’s precept, he join his Army when it proceeds against his Lord; and, generally speaking, no one can by Law, consistently with the Faith implied in Homage, do any thing which tends to deprive his Lord of his Inheritance, or to affix a personal stain upon him.[330] If, then, a Tenant has in respect of several Fees done Homage to different Lords, who afterwards make war on each other; and the Chief Lord should command the Tenant to accompany him in person against another of his Lords, he ought to yield-179- obedience to this Mandate, saving however the service due to the other Lord for the Fee held of him.

From what has gone before it is evident, that if a Tenant should do any thing to the disinherison of his Lord, and should be convicted of it, he and his Heirs shall according to the Law for ever lose the Fee held of such Lord.[331] The same consequence will follow, if the Tenant lay violent hands on his Lord to hurt him, or to commit any atrocious injury upon him, and this be lawfully proved in Court against the Tenant. But, it may be asked, whether any one can be compelled in the Lord’s Court, to defend himself against the Lord from such charges; and whether his Lord can, by the Judgment of his own Court, distrain the Tenant so to do, without the Precept of the King, or his Justices, or without the King’s Writ, or that of his Chief Justice?

The Law, indeed, permits a Lord by the Judgment of his Court to call upon and distrain his Homager to appear in Court, and, unless he can purge himself against the charge of his Lord by three persons, or as many as the Court should award, he shall be amerced to the Lord, to the extent of the whole Fee that he holds of him.

It may also be enquired, whether a Lord can distrain his Homager to appear in Court, and answer for a service,-180- of which the former complains the Tenant has deforced him, or of which some part is unpaid?

The Lord, indeed, by Law may well do so, even without the precept of the King, or his Justices. And thus the Lord and his Homager may proceed to the Duel, or the Grand Assise, by means of one of the Peers,[332] who chuses to make himself a Witness[333] of the fact, as having seen the Tenant himself, or his Ancestors, perform such service for the Fee in dispute to the Lord or his Ancestors, and is prepared to prove the fact. But, if the Tenant be convicted of this charge, he shall by Law be disinherited of the whole Fee, which he holds of his Lord. If, however, any one is unable to constrain his Tenants, it then becomes necessary to have recourse to the Court.[334] Every free Male person may perform Homage, whether of full age, or otherwise, whether a Clergyman or Layman. But consecrated Bishops are not in the habit of doing Homage to the King, even for their Baronies; but merely Fealty, accompanied with an oath. But Bishops elect-181- are accustomed to do Homage, previous to their Consecration.[335]

CHAP. II.

But Homage is due only for Lands, free Tenements, Services, Rents in certain, whether in Money, or in other things. But, in respect of Dominion[336] alone, Homage ought not to be rendered to any one, except to the King. Yet Homage is not always performed for every species of Land. Thus, it is not due for Land in Dower, nor for free Marriage-hood, nor from the Fee of Younger Sisters holding of the Eldest, within the third descent on both sides[337]; nor is it due from a-182- Fee given in Free-Alms, nor for any Tenement given in any way in Marriage-hood, as far as concerns the person of the Husband of the Woman to whom the property belongs as her Marriage-hood.

CHAP. III.

But Homage may be done to any free person, whether Male or Female, whether of full age or otherwise, whether Clergy or Lay. Yet should it be understood, that if a person has done Homage for a Tenement to a Woman who afterwards marries any man, he shall be compelled to repeat it to her Husband for the same Tenement. But, if any one has by Concord made in Court recovered a Tenement against another who had previously paid a Relief for it to the Chief Lord, it may be questioned, whether the person so recovering the Tenement ought to pay any Relief for it.[338]

CHAP. IV.

Reciprocal, indeed, ought to be the Relation of Fidelity between Dominion and Homage.[339] Nor does-183- the Tenant owe more to his Lord, in respect of Homage, than the Lord owes to the Tenant on account of Dominion, Reverence alone excepted. Hence, if one person give to another any Land in return for Service and Homage, which is afterwards recovered against the Tenant by a third person, the Lord shall be bound to warrant such Land to him, or to return him an adequate equivalent. It is different, however, with respect to him who holds a Fee of another, as his Inheritance, and, in this character, has done Homage; because although he lose the Land, the Lord shall not be bound to give him an equivalent.[340] In the case we have formerly mentioned, of the death of the Father or Ancestor, leaving an Heir, a Minor, the Lord of the Fee has no right to the Custody of the Heir, or his Inheritance, unless he has first received the Homage of the Heir. But the Homage having been received, the Heir, with his Inheritance, shall continue in the manner before mentioned, in the Custody of his Lord, until he has attained his full age. Having at last arrived at such age, and received restitution of his Inheritance, he shall, by reason of his having been in Custody, be exempt from the payment of any Relief.[341] But a-184- Female Heir, whether she has attained her full age, or not, shall remain in the Custody of her Lord, until, with his advice, she is married.[342] If, however, she was within age, when the Lord received her into Custody, then, upon her marriage, the Inheritance shall be discharged from the Relief, so far as respects herself and her Husband.[343] But, if she was of full age at that time, although she continue some time in her Lord’s Custody before she is married, her Husband shall pay a Relief. When, however, the Relief has been once paid by the Husband of a Woman, it shall exempt both the Husband and the Wife during their several lives from payment of another Relief, on account of such Inheritance; because, neither the Woman herself, nor her second Husband, if she should espouse a second upon the death of the former, nor her first Husband, should he survive her, shall again pay a Relief for the same Land. But when a Male Heir is left of full age, and known to be the Heir, he shall hold himself in his Inheritance, as-185- we have formerly observed, even though his Lord be unwilling, provided he make a Tender to his Lord, as he ought to do, of his Homage, and reasonable Relief,[344] in the presence of creditable persons. A person’s Relief is said to be reasonable, with reference to the Custom of the Realm, according to which the Relief of a Knight’s Fee is one hundred Shillings,[345] whilst that of Land in Socage is one Year’s Value.[346] But as to Baronies[347] nothing certain is enacted,[348] because Barons holding of the King in Capite are accustomed to pay their Reliefs to the King, according to his pleasure, and indulgence.[349] The same Rule prevails as to Serjeanties.[350]-186- If, however, the Lord will neither receive the Homage nor reasonable Relief of the Heir, then, the latter should safely keep the Relief, and frequently tender it to his Lord, by the hands of respectable persons. If the Lord will by no means receive it, then, the Heir should make complaint of him to the King, or his Justices; and shall have the following Writ.

CHAP. V.

“The King to the Sheriff, Health.[351] Command N. that, justly and without delay, he receive the Homage, and reasonable Relief of R. concerning the free Tenement which he holds, in such a Vill, and that he claims to hold of him; and, unless he does so, summon him by good Summoners, that he be before me or my Justices on such a day, to shew why he has not done it. And have there the Summoners, and this Writ. Witness &c.”

CHAP. VI.

As to the proceedings which are to be resorted to, in case the Lord should not obey this Summons, and the-187- means by which he shall be distrained to appear in Court, they may be collected from the former part of this Treatise. When, at last, he appears in Court, he will either acknowledge that the Tenant is the right Heir, or deny that he is the Heir, or he will doubt, whether he is the right Heir or not. If he should acknowledge him to be the Heir, he will, then, either deny that the Tenant has tendered him the Homage and reasonable Relief, or he will admit it. If he confess both the one and the other, he shall either immediately receive the Tenant’s Homage and reasonable Relief in Court, or he shall appoint him a fit day for doing it. The same observation may be made, although he deny that the Tenant has proffered to him his Homage or Relief, provided he admit the Tenant to be the Heir. But if in decided terms he denies the Tenant to be the Heir, then, indeed, may the latter, if out of possession, require against his Lord an Assise de morte Antecessoris sui. Should the Tenant, however, happen to be in possession, he may hold himself in it, and patiently await, until it pleases his Lord to accept his Homage; because, no one is previously bound to answer his Lord as to the Relief, until the latter has received his Homage for the Fee, on account of which Homage is due to him. But if the Lord doubts, whether the person tendering the Homage be the right Heir or not,[352] being for example unknown to the Lord himself,-188- or even to the Vicinage in the character of Heir, then the Lord of the Fee may take the Land into his own hands, and retain it, until the point be fully cleared up, a course of proceeding, which the King generally adopts with respect to all his Barons holding of him in Capite.

For, upon the death of a Baron holding of him in chief, the King immediately retains[353] the Barony in his own hands, until the Heir has given security for the Relief, although the Heir should be of full age. But Lords, for a reasonable cause, may sometimes postpone receiving Homage and Relief for their Fees. Suppose, for Example, another person, than the one who asserts himself to be the Heir, should claim a right in the Inheritance. During the pendency of this Suit, Homage ought not to be received, nor a Relief given. Or, if the Lord think that he himself has a right to hold the Inheritance in his own Demesne.-189- And if in such case he should, by force of the King’s Writ or that of his Justices, implead the person in possession, the Tenant may put himself upon the King’s Grand Assise, the form of which proceeding is explained in the second Book, unless in some respects there should be a variation, an Example of which we have in the following Writ for such purpose——

CHAP. VII.

“The King to the Sheriff, Health. Summon, by good Summoners, four lawful Knights, from the Neighbourhood of such a Vill, that they be before me, or my Justices, on a certain day there to elect, upon their oaths, twelve &c. who better know the truth of the thing, and will say, for the purpose of making a Recognition, whether N. has greater right of holding one Hyde of Land in that Vill of I. or whether R. of holding it in his Demesne, which the said R. claims by my Writ against the aforesaid N. and of which N. who holds the Land, hath put himself upon my Assise, and prays a Recognition to be made, whether he has greater right of holding that Land in his Demesne or the aforesaid N. of holding it of him: And summon, by good Summoners, the aforesaid N. who holds the Land, that he be then there to hear that Election. And have there, &c. Witness, &c.”

-190-

CHAP. VIII.

But after it has been settled between the Lord and the Heir of the Tenant concerning the giving and receiving of the reasonable Relief, the latter may exact reasonable Aids from his Homagers.[354] This, however, must be done[355] with moderation, keeping in view the extent of their Fees, and the circumstances of the Tenants, least they should be too much oppressed, or lose their Contenement.[356] But nothing certain is fixed, concerning the giving or exacting Aids of this description, unless that the form we have mentioned should-191- be inviolably observed. There are also other cases, in which a Lord can exact from his Homagers similar Aids, observing, however, the principle we have laid down: as if his Son and Heir should be made a Knight, or if he should marry off his Eldest Daughter.[357] But, whether Lords can exact these Aids to maintain their own Wars, is doubtful. The opinion that prevails is, that they cannot by right distrain their Tenants for such purpose, unless so far as the Tenants may feel disposed. But, with respect to the rendering of reasonable Aids, Lords may of right, without the King’s precept, or that of his Justices, but by the Judgment of their own Court, distrain their Tenants by such of their chattels as may be found within their Fees, or by their Fees, if necessary; provided the Tenants are dealt with according to the Judgment of the Court, and consistently with the reasonable Custom of it. If, therefore, a Lord may thus distrain his Tenants[358] to render-192- such reasonable Aids, much stronger is the argument in favor of its being lawful for him to distrain in the same manner for a Relief, as also for any other service necessarily due to him, in respect of the Fee. But if a Lord is unable to compel[359] his Tenant to render his services or Customs, then recourse must be had to the Assistance of the King, or his Chief Justice, and he shall obtain the following Writ——

CHAP. IX.

“The King to the Sheriff, Health.[360] I command you that you adjudge N. that, justly and without delay, he render to R. the Customs and right Services which he ought to render him, for the Tenement that he holds of him, in such a Vill, as can be reasonably shewn to be due to him, least he again complains for want of right. Witness, &c.”

CHAP. X.

When the Plea proceeds by virtue of this Writ, the complainant shall, in the County Court, and before the Sheriff, recover his services, whether they consist in-193- Reliefs or other things, according to the Custom of the County Court. And, if he should prove his right, the Adverse party shall render the reasonable Relief to his Lord, and shall, in addition, be amerced to the Sheriff; it being a general principle, that the Amercement which results from every suit, which has been carried on and determined in the County Court, belongs to the Sheriff. The amount of it, indeed, has been ascertained by no general Assise,[361] but is regulated by the Customs of different Counties; in one County more, in another less.

CHAP. XI.

It follows that we speak concerning Purprestures. A Purpresture, or more properly speaking, a Porpresture,[362] is when any thing is unjustly encroached upon;[363] against the King; as in the Royal Demesnes, or in obstructing public ways, or in turning public waters from-194- their right course; or when any one has built an Edifice in a City upon the King’s Street. And, generally speaking, whenever a Nuisance is committed affecting the King’s Lands, or the King’s High Way, or a City, the suit concerning it belongs to the King’s Crown. But Purprestures of this description are enquired after, either in the King’s Chief Court, or before his Justices sent into the different parts of the Kingdom[364] for the purpose of making such Inquisitions, by a Jury of the Place,[365] or Vicinage. And if, by such Jury, a man be convicted of having made any Purpresture of this kind, he shall be amerced to the King to the extent of the whole Fee that he holds of him, and shall restore that which he has encroached upon; and, if convicted of having encroached by building in a City upon the King’s Street, the Edifices shall belong to the King; those, at least, which are found to be constructed within the Royal District; and, notwithstanding, he shall be amerced to the King.

-195-

An Amercement[366] to the King is, when any one has been so far amerced, by the oaths of lawful Men of the Vicinage, as not to lose any part of his Honorable Contenement.[367] When a person has made a purpresture against any other than the King, he will either have made it against his own Lord, or against another. In the former Case, if the offence come not within the Assise,[368] then, the offender shall be distrained to appear in the Lord’s Court, to answer concerning it—I mean, if he holds any other Tenement of the Lord. For this purpose the following Writ shall issue——

CHAP. XII.

“The King to the Sheriff, Health. I command you, that you compel N., that without delay, he appear-196- in the Court of I. his Lord, and there abide by the right concerning his free Tenement, that he hath encroached against him, as he says, least, &c. Witness, &c.”

CHAP. XIII.

If the party be convicted of this offence in the Lord’s Court, he shall irrecoverably lose the Tenement he holds of such Lord.

But, if he hold no other Tenement of the same Lord, then, the latter shall implead him in the Court of the Chief Lord by a Writ of Right. In like manner, if any one commit an encroachment in this way upon a person, not being his Lord, and the case fall not within the Assise,[369] the matter shall be decided by Writ of Right. But, if the fact happen within the Assise, then, recourse must be had to a Recognition of Novel Disseisin to recover possession, of which proceeding we shall presently speak. In Purprestures of this description, the Boundaries of Land are sometimes destroyed and encroached upon. In such case, upon a complaint being made in Court by any of the Neighbours, let the Sheriff be commanded, that a View of the Boundaries in question be taken in his presence by Lawful Men of the Vicinage, and, upon their oaths, that he cause the boundaries to be as they ought to be,-197- and were accustomed to be in the time of King Henry the First: for this purpose, the following Writ shall issue——

CHAP. XIV.

“The King to the Sheriff, Health.[370] I command you, that justly and without delay, you make reasonable divisions[371] between the Land of R. in such a Vill, and the Land of Adam of Byre, as they ought to be, and were accustomed to be, and as they were in the time of King Henry, my Grandfather, of which R. complains that Adam, unjustly and without judgment, has encroached more than belongs to his free Tenement of Byre, least I again hear complaint for want of Justice. Witness, &c.”

CHAP. I.

Pleas concerning the Debts of the Laity also belong to the King’s Crown and Dignity. When, therefore, any one complains to the Court, concerning a Debt that is due to him, and be desirous of drawing the suit to the King’s Court, he shall have the following Writ, for making the first Summons——

CHAP. II.

“The King to the Sheriff, Health. Command N., that justly and without delay, he render to R., one hundred Marks which he owes him, as he says, and of which he complains that he has unjustly deforced him. And, unless he does so, summon him, by good Summoners, that he be before me or my Justices at-199- Westminster in fifteen days from the Pentecost, to shew wherefore he has not done it. And have there the Summoners and this Writ. Witness, &c.”

CHAP. III.

We have sufficiently explained the course of proceeding to be adopted, in case of the absence of either of the parties, or of default, before the suit is entered upon. We should, however, remark that, it is not usual for the King’s Court to compel any one by distraining his Chattels to appear in Court, on account of any suit. In such a Suit, therefore, any one may by the Judgment of the Court be distrained by his Fee, or by attaching his Pledges, as is usually done in other suits. Both parties being present in Court, the Plaintiff may found his demand on a variety of causes. His Debt may arise either upon a Lending,[372] or a Sale, or a Borrowing, or a Letting out, or a Deposit, or from some other just cause inducing a Debt.

A Debt of the first description arises, when one person entrusts another with any such thing as consists in Number, or Weight, or Measure.[373] When one person so entrusts another, if he should receive back more-200- than he lent, he commits Usury; and, if he die in such Crime, he shall, by the Law of the Land, be punished as a Usurer, of which, indeed, we have spoken more fully in the preceding pages.[374] But when any thing is entrusted to another, it is, generally, confided upon the giving of Pledges:[375] sometimes, indeed, upon the putting things in Pledge: sometimes, under a solemn promise; sometimes upon the Exposition of a Charter: and at other times upon the conjoined strength of many of these Securities. When, therefore, any Debt is secured upon the giving of Pledges alone, if the principal Debtor should be so much reduced as to be incapable of discharging it, then, recourse must be had to the Pledges; and they shall be summoned by the following Writ——

CHAP. IV.

“The King to the Sheriff, Health. Command N., that justly and without delay, he acquit R. of the-201- Hundred Marks against N., for which he became his surety, as he says, and of which he complains he has not acquitted him. And, unless he does so, summon him, by good Summoners, &c.”

CHAP. V.

When the Pledges appear in Court, they will either confess their Suretyship, or they will deny it. Should they adopt the former course, they are then bound[376] to satisfy the Creditor, at a convenient time appointed in Court for such purpose; or they are bound in a legal manner to prove, that they are discharged from such suretyship by payment, or by some other lawful means. But, if there are many Pledges, each of them is answerable for the whole Debt, unless it was otherwise stipulated when they became Sureties; and they are all to be distrained to satisfy the Debt.

Hence, if there were many Sureties, and one or more of them prove incapable of answering the engagement, the burthen of the Debt shall fall upon the others, either entirely, or to the extent of the Deficiency. But if, in becoming sureties for a person indebted, the Pledges assumed the responsibility of certain parts-202- only, whatever may happen as to some of the Pledges, the others shall not be compelled to answer, except for their own proportion. From this it is evident that a dispute may sometimes arise between the Creditor and the Pledges—sometimes between the Pledges themselves, if any one of them should allege that he had become the surety of the principal Debtor for a less sum, whilst, on the other hand, it is asserted that he became so for a greater. For when the Pledges are individually bound for certain parts, it follows of necessity, that the Creditor himself must sue the one, who confesses to owe less upon his undertaking than he ought. But, should some of them become Pledges for the whole, some for certain parts, then, indeed, it will be requisite, that those who have become sureties for the whole should sue those who will only confess themselves indebted in a less sum than they really owe. How these different points are to be proved, will be seen in the sequel. The Sureties, having discharged the Debt, may have recourse to the principal Debtor, should he afterwards acquire sufficient to repay them; and this by an original Action of Debt, of which we shall presently speak. It should, however, be observed, that if a Man has become a Pledge for another’s appearance, and he should, in consequence of the default of his Principal, happen to be amerced, and in respect of it pay any sum, he cannot afterwards on this account recover any thing against him for whom he became Surety.[377] Whoever, indeed, has become a Pledge for-203- another’s appearance in any suit that belongs to the King’s Crown, as, concerning the breaking of the King’s peace, or otherwise, if he do not produce his Principal, he shall, as a consequence of his suretyship, be amerced to the King, of the nature of which we spoke on a former occasion. But the effect of this will be to liberate him from his suretyship.

Should, however, the Pledges deny in Court their Suretyship, then, if there were many Pledges, either all of them will deny such suretyship, or some will admit, and some deny it. But, if some admit, and some deny it, then, there may be a Suit, as well between the Creditor himself and the Pledges, as between those Pledges who confess, and those who deny their engagement, according to what we have previously observed.

But, what shall be the proof required of those, between whom the suit is to be conducted, is a question? Whether, for example, it should be made by the Duel, or by any other mode; or whether the Pledges can, by the oaths of such a number of men as the Court may require, deny their undertaking? With respect to this point, some persons assert, that the Creditor himself, by his own oath and that of lawful Witnesses, can by Law prove it against the Pledges, unless the Pledges will prevent him from the oath; and this may now be done when the Demandant appears prepared-204- to take the oath, though formerly it ought to have been done before the Law was waged.

Thus in such case the Duel may be resorted to.

CHAP. VI.

A Loan[378] is sometimes made, upon the Credit of a putting in Pledge. When a Loan of this description takes place, sometimes moveables, as Chattels, are put in pledge: sometimes immoveables, as Lands and Tenements, and Rents, whether consisting in Money, or in other things. When a Compact is made between a Creditor and Debtor, concerning the putting any thing in pledge, then, whatever be the mode of pledging, the Debtor upon his receiving the thing lent to him, either immediately delivers possession of the Pledge to the Creditor, or not. Sometimes also a thing is pledged for a certain period, sometimes indefinitely.

Again, sometimes, a thing is pledged as a Mortgage, sometimes not. A pledge is designated by the Term Mortgage,[379] when the fruits and Rents, which are-205- received in the interval, in no measure tend to reduce the demand for which the pledge has been given.

When, therefore, moveables are put in pledge, so that possession be delivered to the Creditor for a certain period, he is bound to keep the pledge safely, and neither to use it, nor in any other manner employ it, so as to render it of less Value. But should it, whilst in Custody and within the Term, suffer deterioration, by the fault of the creditor, a Computation shall be made to the extent of the detriment, and deducted from the Debt. But, if the thing be of such a description that it necessarily requires some expence and cost, for Example, that it might be fed or repaired, then the stipulation of the parties on that subject shall be abided by. In addition—when a thing is pledged for a definite period, it is either agreed between the Creditor and Debtor, that if, at the time appointed, the Debtor should not redeem his pledge, it should then belong to the Creditor so that he might dispose of it as his own; or no such agreement is entered into between them. In the former case, the Agreement must be adhered to; in the latter, the Term being unexpired[380] without the Debtor’s discharging the Debt, the-206- Creditor may complain of him, and the Debtor shall be compelled to appear in Court, and answer by the following Writ.

CHAP. VII.

“The King to the Sheriff, Health. Command N., that justly and without delay, he redeem such a thing which he has pledged to R., for a hundred Marks, for a Term which is past, as he says, and of which he complains that he has not redeemed it; and, unless he does so, &c.”

CHAP. VIII.[381]

In what manner the Debtor shall be distrained to appear in Court, whether by the Pledge itself, or by another mode, is doubtful. But that may be left to the discretion of the Court, as the matter can be sufficiently expedited whichever mode is resorted to. It is, however, sometimes requisite that he should be-207- present in Court, before the thing in question be adjudged absolutely to the Creditor; since, were he present, he might alledge some reason, why the thing should not irrevocably belong to the Creditor. But when the Debtor appear in Court, he will either confess, that he pledged the thing in question for the Debt, or he will deny it. If he confess it, as he has in so doing confessed the Debt, he shall be commanded at a reasonable period to redeem his pledge; and, unless he should comply, liberty shall be given to the Creditor, from that time, to treat the pledge as his own property, and do whatever he chuses with it. Should the Debtor, however, deny it, he will then either acknowledge that the thing is his property, but that for some cause it happened to be out of his possession, and to have got into the hands of the other, as a Loan, or as being intrusted to him for Custody or from some other cause of this nature; or he will confess in Court, that the thing is not his property, which if he should do, liberty shall immediately be conceded to the Creditor, to dispose of the thing in question, as his own. But, if he alledge that the thing is his property, but denies as well the pledge as the Debt; then, the Creditor shall be obliged to prove against him, that he intrusted the other to the extent of the present demand, and that the Debtor in return pledged to him the specific object in dispute. The nature of this proof may be collected from what we formerly laid down, in treating of Pledges who deny their suretyship. But, previous to the period fixed for the payment, the-208- Debt cannot be demanded; although, if a thing be pledged indefinitely, and without any period being fixed, the Creditor may, at any time he chuses, demand the Debt. The Debt being discharged by the person owing it, the Creditor is bound to restore to him the thing pledged, without its having suffered any deterioration; nor, if the thing should by any accident be lost or injured whilst in his Custody, is the Creditor from that circumstance liberated from the Debtor’s claim; because he is decidedly bound, either to restore the thing pledged or to make satisfaction for it, or to lose his Debt. When a Compact is entered into between a Debtor and Creditor, concerning the pledging of a particular thing, if the Debtor, after having received the Loan, should not deliver the pledge,[382] it may be asked, what step should the Creditor have recourse to in such a case, especially as the same thing may be pledged to many other Creditors, both previously and subsequently? Upon this subject, it should be remarked, that the King’s Court is not in the habit of giving protection to or warranting private Agreements of this description, concerning the giving or accepting things in pledge, or others of this kind, made out of-209- Court, or even in any other Court than that of the King. If, therefore, such Compacts are not observed, the King’s Court does not interfere: and hence it is not bound to answer concerning the right of different Creditors, as prior or subsequent, or respecting their privileges. But, when an immoveable thing is put into pledge, and Seisin of it has been delivered to the Creditor for a definite term, it has either been agreed between the Creditor and Debtor, that the proceeds and rents shall in the mean time reduce the Debt, or that they shall in no measure be so applied. The former Agreement is just and binding: the other, unjust and dishonest, and is that called a Mortgage, but this is not prohibited by the King’s Court, although it considers such a pledge as a species of Usury.[383] Hence, if any one die having such pledge, and this be proved after his death, his property shall be disposed of no otherwise than as the Effects of a Usurer.

-210-

In other respects, the same Rules should be observed, as in pledges of moveables, concerning which we have already spoken. But, it must be remarked, that if, after any one has paid his Debt, or has in a proper manner tendered it, the Creditor should maliciously detain the pledge, the Debtor upon complaining to the Court shall have the following Writ——

CHAP. IX.

“The King to the Sheriff, Health. Command N. that justly and without delay, he render to R. the whole Lands, or such Lands, in such a Vill, which he has pledged to him for a Hundred Marks for a term which is past, as he says, and has received his Money, or which he has redeemed, as he says; and, unless he does so Summon him by good &c.”

CHAP. X.

Upon the Creditor’s appearing in Court, being summoned for this purpose, he will either acknowledge the Land in question, as his pledge, or he will say, he holds such Land, as his Fee. In the former case, he ought either to return the pledge, or shew to the Court some reasonable cause, why he should not be compelled to do so. In the latter case, it shall, upon the prayer either of the Creditor or Debtor, be put upon a Recognition of the County, whether the Creditor-211- holds the Land in question, as his Fee, or his Pledge; or whether his Father, or any other of his Ancestors, was seised of it, as in Fee or in Pledge, on the day of his death; and, so it may be objected to him who seeks the Land upon the seisin of his Father.

Thus the Recognition upon this subject may be infinitely varied, to correspond with the Claim and the Defence. But, if the Recognition be not prayed by either party, the Plea may proceed in Court upon the Right.

CHAP. XI.

If the Creditor lose his Seisin, either by means of the Debtor, or any other person, he cannot recover it through the assistance of the Court; not even by a Recognition of Novel Disseisin.

For if he was unjustly and without a judgment disseised of his pledge, by any other person than the Debtor himself, the Debtor may have an Assise of Novel Disseisin. If, however, the Creditor was disseised by the Debtor himself, the Court will not assist him against the Debtor, in recovering his pledge, or in giving him a Re-entry, unless through the Debtor himself; for the Creditor should resort to an original Plea of Debt, in order that the Debtor may be compelled to render him satisfaction for his Debt. In such case, the Debtor shall be summoned by the foregoing Writ of first summons.

-212-

CHAP. XII.

Upon the Debtor’s appearing on the day appointed in Court, if the Creditor has neither Pledge, nor Sureties, nor any other proof, unless the mere faith of the other, this will not be received as any proof in the King’s Court.[384] Yet, he may proceed for the breach or violation of faith in the Court Christian. But, though the Ecclesiastical Judge can hold cognizance of such crime, and either impose penance on the convicted party, or enjoin him to make satisfaction, yet, with respect to Pleas concerning the Debts of the Laity, or affecting Tenements, the Court Christian cannot by a Law of the Realm hold or decide them, under the pretence of the party having pledged his promise.[385] The Creditor ought, therefore, to adduce other proof, if the Debtor deny the Debt in question.

For if he admit it, then, he is bound to discharge it, in manner similar to that we have already explained, in speaking of Pledges, confessing their suretyship.[386] Should he, however, deny it, the Creditor may prove-213- his demand, either by a proper Witness, or by the Duel, or by a Charter. When, therefore, any one offer in Court, as proof of the Debt, the Charter of his Adversary, or his Ancestor, the Defendant will either admit such Charter, or deny it. In the latter case, he may deny or controvert it in two ways: thus, he may acknowledge in Court the seal to be his own, but deny that the Charter was made either by him, or with his consent, or that of his Ancestor; or he may absolutely deny, both the Seal and the Charter. In the first case, when he has publicly in court acknowledged the Seal to be his own, he is bound to warrant the terms of the Charter, and, in all respects, to observe the compact expressed in the Charter as contained in it, without question, and to impute it to his own indiscretion, if he incur any loss by negligently preserving his own Seal. But in the latter case, the Charter may be proved in Court by the Duel by any proper Witness, especially if his name be inserted in the Charter itself. There is another mode by which the Credit of a Charter is accustomed to be established in Court, namely, by some certain and unquestionable signs. As, for Example, by other Charters, impressed with the same Seal, and concerning which it is clear, that they are the Charters of the party, who denies the present Charter, because he has openly warranted them in Court. If in such case the impressions coincide in every respect with one another, so that there is no suspicion of any difference between the Seals, it is usual to consider the fact as proved; and, whether-214- by this, or by any other legal mode, the party should be overcome, he shall lose his suit on the occasion, whether it be a Plea of Debt, or concerning Land, or any other thing whatever; and he shall, in addition, be amerced to the King. For, it is a general Rule, that whenever a person has said any thing in Court or in a Plea which he afterwards denies, or of which he has neither suit, nor Warrantor, nor sufficient proof,[387] or has been distrained to assert the contrary, or to deny it by sufficient proof, he shall be amerced to the King. But, if the person, against whom the Charter is produced to prove a certain Debt, acknowledge it from the first, then he shall be compelled to satisfy the Creditor, according to the tenor of the Charter. When any thing is lent on the joint strength of many of the proceeding securities, then, from the moment the Debtor makes default, he is liable to be distrained by all the securities being put in force against him at the same time. It is on this account, therefore, that many securities are taken, that in case of the inability of the Debtor, the Creditor may more readily be satisfied, than if there exist but one security only.

CHAP. XIII.

A debt sometimes arises when a thing is borrowed;[388] as if I lend a thing to you gratuitously, to be made-215- use of in your service. The service being finished, you are bound to restore my property to me, without deterioration,[389] if it be in existence.

But, if the thing itself be destroyed, or has by any means been lost, whilst in your Custody, you are absolutely bound to return me a reasonable price. But by what, or whose proof,[390] it is to be shewn—or if any one has lent his property to be used in a certain place, or for a certain Term, and he who thus received it has used it, either in another place, or at another time, the extent to which he ought to make a recompense, or upon what proof, or whose property it is to be adjudged, are points that may be questioned. The party, indeed, shall be absolutely excused from the imputation of Theft, by reason that his possession of the thing detained originated through the owner of the property.

It may also be doubted, whether the Owner can recall his property so lent to another, within the time or place allotted, especially if he himself should have occasion to use it in the interval.[391]

-216-

CHAP. XIV.[392]

A debt also arises by reason of a Purchase and Sale. When any person sells a thing to another, the price is due to the Vendor, and the thing contracted for to the Purchaser.[393]

But a purchase and sale are effectually perfected from the moment the price is settled between the contracting parties; provided possession of the thing purchased and sold be delivered,[394] or that the price, either wholly, or in part, be paid, or, at least, that Earnest[395] be given and received.[396]

-217-

But, in the two former cases, neither of the Contracting parties can by any means at his own option recede from the Agreement, unless for some just and reasonable cause; as, if the terms of the contract were, that either of the parties may with impunity retract within a certain period; then, indeed, either party may within the period prescribed avail himself of the terms of the Contract and recede, without being liable to any penalty: since it is, generally speaking, unquestionable that, Conventio legem vincit.[397] Besides, if the Vendor sold the thing to the Purchaser as being sound and without fault,[398] and the Purchaser can afterwards satisfactorily shew, that the thing at the time of the contract was not sound, but faulty, then, indeed, the Vendor shall be compelled to take back his property. But it is sufficient, if the thing was in a proper state, at the time of the Contract, whatever may afterwards happen to it. But I doubt, as to the period within which this should be proved, or complaint made concerning it, especially where there is no special Agreement. Where, however, Earnest only has been given, if the Purchaser would recede from the Contract, he may do so, with the loss of the Earnest. But if, in such case, the Vendor would retract, it is a question whether he-218- can do so without incurring a penalty.[399] It does not seem that he can; because he would then be in a better situation than the Purchaser. But, if it cannot be done with impunity, what punishment shall such conduct incur?[400] The risk of the thing sold and purchased generally belongs to the person who has possession of it,[401] unless it has been differently arranged.

CHAP. XV.

The Vendor and his Heirs are bound to warrant the thing sold to the purchaser and his Heirs, if the thing be an immoveable; and hence, the Purchaser[402] and his Heirs may be sued in the manner we have formerly explained, in treating of Warranties.

If any person sue the Purchaser with respect to a moveable, on the ground that the thing in question was first sold or given to him, or from any other just cause was acquired, unconnected with the imputation of Felony, the same rule may be laid down as that we have mentioned concerning immoveables. But if, under-219- an imputation of Theft,[403] the Purchaser is sued for the thing, he is bound in the clearest manner to remove from himself every such an imputation, or to call a Warrantor.[404] If, therefore, he adopt the latter course, he will name either a certain Warrantor, or an uncertain one. If he call a certain Warrantor to Court, alleging that he desires to have him to Warrant at a reasonable period, then a day is to be given him in Court for that purpose.

And, if the person called to Warrant appear on that day, and warrant in Court, both the sale and the thing sold to the Purchaser, then, the latter shall be entirely discharged, and that so effectually, that he shall not afterwards sustain any loss. But, if he should fail in entering into the Warranty, then, the Plea shall proceed between the Purchaser and his Warrantor; and thus may it come to the Duel. But, it may be asked, can the Warrantor call another Warrantor into Court? If that be permitted, at what Warrantor must it stop?[405] It should be added, that when any one has so named-220- a Warrantor of a thing which is sued for as stolen, the Warrantor is usually attached by virtue of the following Writ, directed to the Sheriff:—

CHAP. XVI.

“The King to the Sheriff, Health. I command you, that justly and without delay, you cause N. to be attached, by safe and secure Pledges, that he be before me, or my Justices, on a certain day, to warrant R. such a thing which H. claims against R. as stolen, and of which the aforesaid R. has drawn him to warrant in my Court; or to shew wherefore, he ought not to warrant to him. And have there the Summoners and this Writ, &c.”

CHAP. XVII.

But, if the Purchaser should call an uncertain Warrantor, in such case, if he have sufficient proof of its being a lawful purchase, that shall discharge him from the Felony.[406] Yet it shall not protect him from the-221- loss, I mean, of the thing in question. But, if upon this point he has not a sufficient suit, he is in danger.

Debts arising either from a purchase or a borrowing are usually substantiated by the general mode of proof in Court; in other words, either by a Writing, or by Duel.

CHAP. XVIII.

A debt sometimes arises from a Letting out and a Hiring:[407] as when any one lets out a thing to another for a certain period, in consideration of receiving a certain reward. In such case, the former is bound to concede the use of the thing, and the latter to pay the price. But, it should be observed, upon the expiration of the term stipulated, the former may lawfully and of his own authority resume possession of his property.[408] But, if the person engaging to hire the thing should not pay the price at the appointed time, it may be asked, whether the other party can in such case forcibly resume possession by his own authority?

But we briefly pass over the foregoing Contracts, arising as they do from the consent of private individuals;-222- because, as it has already been observed, the King’s Court does not usually take cognizance of them; nor, indeed, with such Contracts, as may be considered in the light of private Agreements, does the King’s Court intermeddle.

CHAP. I.

The Suits discussed in the former part of this Treatise concern the Right and Propriety of the thing, which a person may prosecute, as indeed, some other Civil Pleas, as well by himself, as by an Attorney[409] put in his place to gain or lose. But the person, who thus puts another in his place, ought to be present[410] in Court.

It is usually done in the presence of the King’s Justices-224- of the Common Pleas. But on no account, otherwise than as having been appointed by his Principal, when present in Court, ought any one to be received as an Attorney.[411] It is not requisite, that the adverse party should on that account be present in Court;[412] nor, indeed, the person who is so put in the place of the other, if he be known to the Court. One person alone may be put in the place of another; or two or more, either collectively or separately; so that, if one of them is unable to attend, the other or others may follow up the Plea. Through the medium of such an Attorney, a Plea may be commenced in Court, and determined, whether by Judgment, or final Concord; and that, as fully and effectually, as by the Principal himself.

But, it should be understood that, it will not suffice-225- for any one to constitute another his Bailiff[413] or Steward[414] for the managing his Lands and affairs, even if it be made to appear to the Court, in order that he should be received in Court in any Suit in the place of his Principal.[415] But, it is necessary that, a special authority should be delegated for this purpose; and that the Attorney should, in the manner before described, be put in his place, expressly in that particular Action, to lose or gain for him.

It should also be observed, that any one may in the King’s Court put another in his place, to gain or lose-226- for him, even in a suit that he has in another Court; and it shall be commanded, that the Attorney shall be received in such Court in the place of his Principal, by the following Writ——

CHAP. II.

“The King to the Sheriff, or to any other presiding in his Court, Health. Know that N. hath before me, or my Justices, put R. in his place to gain or lose for him, in the Plea which is between him and R.[416] concerning one ploughland or concerning any other thing, (naming it) and, therefore, I command you, that you receive the aforesaid R. in the place of the said N., in such Plea, to gain or lose. Witness, &c.”

CHAP. III.

When any one, therefore, according to the form, before mentioned, is put in the place of another in any suit, it may be asked, whether Essoins shall hold with reference to the person of the Attorney only, or the person of his Principal only, or with regard to both of them? And, indeed, the Essoins of the Attorney himself only shall in such case be allowed, until his appointment is revoked.[417] When any one, so put in the-227- place of another in Court, answer to the suit, and does that which appertains to him, it may be asked, whether his Principal can at his pleasure remove him, and substitute another Attorney, especially if any great degree of Enmity should subsequently arise between them?

That the Principal himself, indeed, may follow up the Suit, the Attorney being removed, is unquestionable; because every Man is understood to put another in his place, under the tacit condition, that he himself cannot be present. The prevailing practice permits a Principal to remove such Attorney, in any part of the Suit, and also to replace him by substituting another in Court, in the manner before mentioned. A Father may thus substitute his Son, and vice versa: one stranger may also substitute another; and a Wife her husband. When a Husband, put in the place of his Wife in a suit concerning her marriage-hood or Dower, should lose any part of the property of his Wife, or should, by a Judgment or a Concord, remit any right of the Wife, whether, it may be asked, can the Wife herself again agitate the question, or whether is she absolutely bound, after the death of her Husband, to abide by his Act? It does not seem that the woman in such a case ought, by the Act of her Husband, to lose any part of her right; because, whilst in the power of her Husband, she can in no measure oppose or controvert-228- his Will, and, therefore, she could not, contrary to his pleasure, look into her rights.[418] But, on the other hand, it may be contended, that those Acts which are transacted in the King’s Court, ought to be held settled and unalterable.

CHAP. IV.

The Principal is to be distrained to abide by what has been done by his Attorney, whether it be so done by Judgment or by Concord. But what must be done, if the Principal is incompetent to pay, and has nothing whereby he can be distrained, although the Attorney has? The Attorney, indeed, must not be distrained.

CHAP. V.

The principle that we have just laid down, that no one, unless present in Court, can effectually put another in his place, seems contrary to what is contained in the first Book, upon the doctrine of Essoins.[419] For, it is there stated, that if any one should, after his third Essoin, send an Attorney, whoever he happen to be, with Letters, he should be received in Court. But this happens by force of the Judgment. A different Rule-229- prevails where, urged by an order of the Court, or by a Distress, a person prays to put another in his place in a Suit, to gain or lose for him. It should also be observed, that Abbots and Priors of Canons Regular are received in Court, upon their own authority, without even the Letters of their Convents.

Other Priors, whether of Canons or Monks, if Cellarii[420] even though Aliens, are by no means to be admitted in Court, without the Letters of their Abbot or Grand Prior.[421] The Master of the Knight-Templars and the Chief Prior of the Hospital of Jerusalem[422] are also received upon their own authority; but none of their Orders of a Rank inferior to them are in the habit of being received. When one or more have been substituted in Court to conduct a Suit for another, in the manner before mentioned, whether the one can-230- delegate his authority to another, or whether one of the two can nominate the other, or a third, in his place, or in that of his Principal, to gain or lose for him in that Suit, are points at least questionable.[423]

CHAP. I.

The preceding Pleas of Right are, directly and in the first instance, commenced in the King’s Court, where, as we have observed, they are discussed and terminated. But some Pleas of Right, although not in the first place commenced in the King’s Court, are sometimes removed there, when the Courts of different Lords are proved to have failed in doing Justice; for then such Pleas may, through the medium of the County Court, be transferred from thence to the Chief Court of the King, for the various causes shewn in a former part of this Treatise.[424]

CHAP. II.

When, therefore, a person claims any Freehold Tenement, or a Service, as held of another by free service, he cannot draw the person holding it into a Suit, without the King’s Writ, or that of his Justices. He shall,-232- therefore, have a Writ of Right, directed to the Lord of whom he claims to hold. If the Plea concern Land, such Writ will be as follows——

CHAP. III.

“The King to the Earl of W., Health.[425] I command you, that without delay, you hold full Right to N. of ten ploughlands in Middleton, which he claims to hold of you by the free service of one Knight’s fee for every service; or by the free service of one Hundred Shillings by the Year for every service; or by the free service of which twelve ploughlands make a Knight’s Fee for every service; or which he claims to belong to his free Tenement that he holds of you in the same Vill, or in Mortune by the free service, &c. or by the service, &c.; or which he claims to hold of you as the free Marriage-hood of M. his Mother; or in free Burgage; or in free Alms; or by the free service of going with you in the King’s Army with two horses at his own cost for every service; or by the free service of finding you one Cross-Bowman[426] in the King’s Army for forty days for every service; of which R., the Son of W., had deforced him; and, unless you do so, the Sheriff of-233- Northampton shall, least I should hear any more complaint for want of Justice. Witness, &c.” But Writs of Right of this kind are usually infinitely diversified for different causes, as, indeed, will appear from the various forms we shall presently give. But, if the Plea concern a service, the Writ will be as follows——

CHAP. IV.

“The King to N. Health. I command you, that without delay, you hold full Right to N. of a hundred shillings of Rent in such a Vill, which he claims to hold of you by free service, &c. or the service, &c.; and, unless you do so, the Sheriff of Oxford shall do it, least I should any more hear a complaint for want of Justice. Witness, &c.”

CHAP. V.

“The King to R., Health. I command you, that justly and without delay, you cause N. and A. his Wife to have their reasonable part which belongs to them of one Messuage, in such a Vill, which they claim to belong to their free Tenement, that they hold of our Lord the King, in such a Vill, by the free service of two shillings by the year; or of one Mark Rent, in such a Vill, which they claim of the free Marriage-hood of the said A., of which they complain that B., the sister of A., has deforced them, or that-234- G. has deforced them. And, unless you do so, the Sheriff shall do it, least any further complaint should be made for want of Justice. Witness, &c.”

CHAP. VI.

These Suits are in the habit of being conducted in the Courts of Lords, or of those who fill their places, according to the reasonable Customs prevailing in their Courts; which are so numerous and various, that it is scarcely possible to reduce them into writing.[427]

CHAP. VII.

These Courts are proved to have failed in doing Justice in this manner. Upon the Demandant’s complaining to the Sheriff in the County Courts, and producing the King’s Writ, the Sheriff shall send one of his Officers to the Lord’s Court on the day appointed the parties by the Lord of such Court, in order that the Officer, in the presence of four or a greater number of the lawful Knights of the County, who by the Sheriff’s command shall attend there, might hear and see the proof of the Demandant, namely, that such Court had failed to do him Justice in his Suit. That the fact is-235- so, the Demandant shall prove, by his own oath and that of two others, who have heard and known the fact, and shall swear with him.

Under such solemnity, then, Pleas are generally removed from these Courts into the County Court, and are there again discussed and finally terminated, without any contradiction or recovery on the part of such Courts, or the Lords of them, or their Heirs, so far as concerns the Plea in question. But if, previously to such Court being proved in the manner we have stated to have failed in doing right, any Plea should be drawn from it to the superior Court, the Lord of the inferior Court may take advantage of such circumstance and on the day appointed for the Trial of the cause reclaim his Jurisdiction; because his Court has not been proved to have failed in doing Justice; and thus he shall be adjudged to recover it, unless it be there proved, that his Court failed in doing Justice, as before remarked. It should, however, be observed, that if a Plea has been so drawn to the King’s Chief Court, it will be in vain for the Lord to reclaim it on the day of trial, unless, on the third day preceding, he had claimed it, in the presence of lawful Men.

But if no day be given to the Demandant on which to make his Complaint, and he has experienced a delay, it will suffice for him to falsify the Court, under the form before mentioned, in whatever part of the Fee he may chuse, if the Lord has no residence[428] within-236- the Fee, it being lawful for him, as Lord, to hold his Court there, and put a day to the Demandant, in whatever part of his Fee he chuses. But he cannot legally do so out of his Fee.[429]

CHAP. VIII.

But the Writ to be obtained ought to be directed to him only, of whom the Demandant claims to hold, and not to another, nor even to the Chief Lord. But, it may here be asked, what will be the consequence, if the Demandant claim to hold of one Lord, and the Tenant of another? In such a case, since the Lord to whom the Writ is directed cannot take cognizance of the suit, and unjustly and without a Judgment disseise another Lord of the right of holding a Court, of which he is understood to be seised, recourse must necessarily be had to the County Court, where the Suit shall proceed; or, in the Chief Court, so that both the Lords ought to be present there by Summons, in order that the thing should be discussed before them, in the manner we formerly mentioned when treating of Warranties.

CHAP. IX.

To the Sheriffs, indeed, not only belong the foregoing Pleas of Right, when the Courts of the Lords are proved to have failed in doing Justice, but some-237- other Pleas. When, for Example, any one complains to the Court, that his Lord exacts Customs and Services that are not due, or greater services, in respect to the freehold the Tenant holds of him, than he ought:[430] when the Plea concern a Villein-born, as before observed: or when, generally speaking, any other matter occur of which the Sheriff has the King’s Writ, or that of his Chief Justice, for the purpose of holding Jurisdiction over any one, or that he himself should do right, unless another does so, as before mentioned; whenever any such Pleas occur, it belongs to the Sheriff to hear and decide upon them. Some of which appear from the following Writs.

CHAP. X.

“The King to N. Health.[431] I prohibit you, least you unjustly disturb H. or permit him to be disturbed, concerning his Free Tenement, that he holds of you in such a Vill. Nor exact from him, nor suffer to be exacted, Customs or Services which he ought not to render you, or which his Ancestors did not, nor ought to have done, in the time of King Henry my Grandfather; and, unless you do so, the Sheriff shall, least he should any more complain.——Witness &c.”

CHAP. XI.

“The King to the Sheriff, Health. I command you, that justly and without delay, you cause M. to-238- have R. his Villein-born and fugitive, with all his Chattels, and with his whole issue,[432] wheresoever he is found in your Bailiwick, unless the fugitive be in my Demesne, after my first Coronation. And I prohibit, least any one unjustly detain him under forfeiture, &c. Witness &c.”

CHAP. XII.

“The King to the Sheriff, Health.[433] I command you, that justly and without delay, you cause G. to have his Beasts by Gage and pledges, of which he complains that R. has taken them, and unjustly detains them, for the Customs which he exacts from him, and which he does not acknowledge to owe him; and, in the mean time, cause him justly &c. least &c.”

CHAP. XIII.

“The King to the Sheriff, Health. I command you, that justly and without delay, you cause to be admeasured the pasture in such a Vill, which I. who-239- was the wife of P. and R. her sister, complain that H. had unjustly surcharged; nor permit that the aforesaid H. should have in that Pasture more beasts than he ought to have, and than belongs to him to have, according to the extent of the Fee which he has in that Vill, least &c. Witness &c.”

CHAP. XIV.

“The King to the Sheriff, Health. I command you, that without delay, you command R. that, justly and without delay, he permit H. to have his Easements[434] in the Wood[435] and in the Pasture of such a Vill, which he ought to have, as he says; as he ought to have them, and usually has had them; and that you permit not the aforesaid R. or any other to molest or injure him, least &c. Witness &c.”

CHAP. XV.

“The King to the Sheriff, Health. I prohibit you, least you permit, that R. unjustly exact from S. for the free Tenement which he holds of N. of the Fee of the said R. in such a Vill, more service than belongs-240- to that free Tenement that he holds; and that you cause to be replevied to him his Beasts, which were taken for that demand, which he does not acknowledge, as belonging to the Free Tenement he holds; until the Plea be heard before us, and it be known, whether such service is due or not. Witness &c.”

CHAP. XVI.

“The King to the Sheriff, Health.[436] I command you, that justly and without delay, you make reasonable divisions between the Land of R. in such a Vill and its appurtenances, and the Land of D. in such Vill, as they ought to be, and are accustomed to be, and as they were in the time of King Henry my Grandfather, of which R. complains, that A. has, unjustly and without Judgment, encroached more than belongs to his free Tenement in that Vill, least &c. Witness &c.”

CHAP. XVII.

“The King to the Sheriff, Health. I command you that justly and without delay, you cause to abide, the reasonable Division which R. made to the Brethren of the Hospital of Jerusalem of his Chattels, as it can be reasonably shewn that he made it, and that it ought to be abided by. Witness &c.”

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CHAP. XVIII.

“The King to the Sheriff, Health. I command you, that you compel R. that justly and without delay, he returns to N. his Chattels, which he claims that he took, unjustly and without a judgment, in his Freehold, in such a Vill, since the Disseisin which he did him, since my Assise, of which he recovered his Seisin before my Justices by a Recognition of Novel Disseisin, as it can be reasonably shewn that he ought to have them, least &c.”[437]

CHAP. XIX.

“The King to the Sheriff, Health. I command you, that you cause a delay until a certain fit time, when you can be present, of the Recognition which is summoned between R. and M. concerning the divisions[438] of such Vills, which by my Justices of those parts is injoined to you and H. to take before you; for the taking of which, as it is said, you have deputed others in your place, because it is not the Custom that when any matter appertaining to my Judges[439] is injoined-242- to others to be executed, that they should transfer over to others again any thing which appertains to my Judge. Witness &c.”

CHAP. XX.

“The King to the Sheriff, Health. I command you, that justly and without delay, you cause A. who was the Wife of R. to have her reasonable Dower of the whole Fee that was the said R.’s, exactly and in every thing, save to his Heir the capital Messuage, and that you cause the said Wife to have another messuage, unless any Land in which there is no Messuage may have been named to her in Dower; and it shall not cease, because the Fee of the aforesaid R. is held of my Barony, because, I will not, nor does the Law require, that the Wives of Knights should on account of this lose their Dower. But, of the Chattels that were of the aforesaid R. I command you, that you cause them all to be in peace, so that no part be removed, neither to make division, nor for any other purpose, until his debts are entirely discharged; and of the residue there shall be afterwards a reasonable division made, according to the Custom of my Land. And, if any part of the Chattels of the aforesaid R. shall have been removed since his death, it shall be-243- returned to his other Chattels to pay his Debts. Witness &c.”

CHAP. XXI.

“The King to the Ecclesiastical Judges, Health.[440] I prohibit you, least you hold the Plea in Court Christian, which is between N. and R. of the lay Fee of the aforesaid R. of which he complains that N. draws him into Plea in Court Christian, before you, because such Plea belongs to my Crown and Dignity. Witness &c.”

CHAP. XXII.

“The King to the Sheriff, Health. Prohibit R. least he should follow the Plea in the Court Christian which is between N. and him of the lay Fee of the aforesaid R. in such a Vill, of which he complains that the aforesaid N. draws him into Plea in Court Christian before those Judges. And, if the aforesaid R. shall make you secure of prosecuting his claim, then, put by Gage and safe Pledges, the aforesaid N. that he be before me, or my Justices, such a day, to shew wherefore, he has drawn him into Plea in Court Christian, concerning his lay Fee, in such a Vill, as such Plea belongs to my Crown and Dignity. Witness &c.”[441]

-244-

CHAP. XXIII.

With respect to the manner or the right of commencing or terminating these Pleas, or others in different County Courts, I forbear to speak, as well on account of the different Customs which prevail in different Counties, each observing its own peculiar Customs, as of the brevity of my proposed object, no Pleas coming within the scope of it, but those which are usually discussed in the King’s Chief Court.

CHAP. XXIV.

It should also be observed, that in a Writ of Right sometimes less is comprised than is inserted in the Count in Court, as well respecting the Appurtenances as other things; but sometimes more is included. Sometimes there is an Error in the Writ, as to the name inserted in it, sometimes concerning the quantity of Services. When, indeed, less is contained in the Writ than in the Count, the party cannot demand more by force of the Writ, than is comprised in it. But when more is contained in the Writ, than in the Count, the Excess which is comprised in it may be remitted, and the residue may be claimed by virtue of the Writ. But, if there be an Error in the name, then, by strictness of Law, another Writ must be sued out. But when the Error concern the quantity of service, the Writ, in strictness of Law, is also lost.

-245-

Yet, as it sometimes happens, that a Tenement is demanded by less service than is due in respect of it, or than has been accustomed to be rendered to the Lord, it may be asked, whether the Lord is bound by the Writ to do right to the detriment of his own service? He is, indeed, bound; but should the Demandant happen to prevail, the Lord after Eviction may recover against the party evicting him.[442]

CHAP. XXV.

It should also be added, that, according to the Customs of the Realm, no one is bound to answer in his Lord’s Court, concerning his Freehold Tenement, without the King’s precept, or that of his Chief Justice; I mean, if the Fee in question be a lay one.

But, if the Plea should be between two Clerks, concerning a Tenement held in Frankalmoigne of an Ecclesiastical Fee, or if the Tenant, a Clerk, hold an Ecclesiastical Fee in Frankalmoigne, whoever may happen to be the Demandant, the Plea concerning the Right ought to be in the Ecclesiastical Court, unless a Recognition should be demanded, whether the Fee in question be Ecclesiastical or lay, of which we shall presently speak. For then such Recognition, as, indeed, certain others, must be held in the King’s Court.

CHAP. I.

The general course of Proceedings, as they more usually occur in Court upon the foregoing Writs of Right, having been so far treated of, it now remains to speak concerning the steps commonly resorted to, where Seisin alone is in question. As these questions are, under the beneficial provisions of a Law of the Realm, which is termed an Assise, usually and for the most part decided by a Recognition, our subject leads us to treat of the different kinds of Recognitions.

CHAP. II.

There is one species of Recognition which is called Mort d’Auncestor[443]—another de ultimis presentationibus of Parsons to their churches—another, whether a Tenement be an Ecclesiastical Fee or Lay Fee—another, whether any one was seised of a Freehold on the day of his death, as of fee or as of pledge—another,-247- whether any one be under age or of full age—another whether any one died seised of a certain Freehold as of fee, or as of ward—another, whether any one presented the last Parson to a Church, by virtue of the Fee that he held in his Demesne, or by virtue of a Wardship.—And others of a similar description, which, as they frequently arise in Court when the parties are present, are, with their consent and the advice of the Court, directed, in order to determine the point in controversy. But there is another Recognition which is called Novel Disseisin. When, therefore, any one dies seised of a Freehold in his Demesne as of Fee, the Heir may justly claim the seisin of his Ancestor; and, if he be of full age, he shall have the following Writ——

CHAP. III.

“The King to the Sheriff, Health.[444] If G., the son of T. shall make you secure of prosecuting his claim, then, summon by good Summoners, twelve free and lawful Men of the Neighbourhood of such a Vill, that they be before me, or my Justices, on such a day, prepared on their oath to return, if T. the father of the aforesaid G. was seised in his Demesne as of Fee, of one Yardland, in that Vill, on the day of his death—if he died after my first Coronation,[445] and if-248- the said G. be his nearer Heir. And, in the mean time, let them view the Land and cause their names to be imbreviated; and summon, by good Summoners, R. who holds that Land, that he be then there to hear such Recognition; and have there the Summoners &c. Witness &c.” But, if the Ancestor was seised in the manner before mentioned, and had begun a Voyage, then, the Writ will be as follows——

CHAP. IV.

“The King to the Sheriff, Health.[446] If G. the Son of T. shall make you secure of prosecuting his claim, then summon by good Summoners, twelve free and lawful Men of the Neighbourhood of such a Vill, that they be before me, or my Justices,[447] such a day, prepared upon their oaths to return, if T. the father of the aforesaid G. was seised in his Demesne as of Fee of one Yardland, in such a Vill, the day on which he began his Journey to Jerusalem, or to St. Jago, in which Journey he died.——And, if he began his-249- Journey since my first Coronation, and if the aforesaid G. be his nearer Heir. And, in the mean time &c.” as before. But, if the Heir be within age, then the Writ will be as follows——

CHAP. V.

“The King to the Sheriff, Health. Summon by good Summoners, &c.” in all respects as in the foregoing, except that in the present Writ this clause in the beginning shall be omitted, “if G. the Son of T. shall make you secure of prosecuting his claim.”[448]

Also this clause in the body of the Writ is omitted, “if T. the Father of the aforesaid G. died after my first Coronation.” But, if he assumed the habit of Religion, then the Writ, in conformity to this circumstance, will be varied in the following manner——

CHAP. VI.

“The King to the Sheriff, Health. If G. the Son of T. make you secure &c.” in all respects as before, excepting that in the present Writ there must be inserted in the Body of it, “prepared upon their oath to return if T. the father of the aforesaid G. was seised in his Demesne as of Fee, of so much Land in-250- such a Vill, the day on which he assumed the habit of Religion; and, if he assumed such habit after my first Coronation; and, if the aforesaid G. be his nearer Heir; and, in the mean time, that they view the Land &c.” as before.

CHAP. VII.

The Writ of Mort d’Auncestor[449] having been received by the Sheriff, and security given by the Demandant in the County Court to prosecute his claim, the Proceeding in this manner comes to an Assise. In the first place, twelve free and lawful Men of the Neighbourhood are to be elected, according to the form expressed in the Writ, both parties being present, as well the Demandant, as the Tenant, or the latter being absent, provided he has been summoned once, at least, to be present at the Election. He is, indeed, to be once summoned in order that he may be present, and hear who are elected to make such Recognition. Some of them he may for a reasonable cause object to, if he is so inclined, and they shall be-251- excluded from the Recognition. If he should not appear at the first Summons, regularly proved in Court, he shall not be awaited any longer; but, though he be absent, the twelve Jurors shall be elected, and then sent by the Sheriff to take a View of the Land or other Tenement in question. Yet the Tenant shall have one Summons on this account. The Sheriff shall cause the names of the twelve persons elected to be imbreviated. Having done this, the Sheriff shall cause the Tenant to be summoned to appear on the day appointed by the King’s Writ, or that of his Justices, before the King, or his Justices, to hear the Recognition.

But, if the Demandant be of full age, the Tenant may essoin himself on the first and second day,[450] but on the third day he cannot do so, since the Recognition shall be then taken, whether the Tenant appear or not; because in no Recognition, where Seisin alone be in question, are more than two Essoins allowed.

But, in a Recognition of Novel Disseisin, no Essoin is permitted. On the third day, therefore, whether the Tenant appear or not, the Assise must be taken, as we have observed; and, if the Jurors should decide for the Demandant, Seisin shall be adjudged him, and the Sheriff shall be directed to put him into Seisin, by the following Writ——

-252-

CHAP. VIII.

“The King to the Sheriff, Health. Know, that N. has, in my Court, recovered Seisin of so much Land, in such a Vill, by a Recognition of Mort d’Auncestor against R. and, therefore, I command you, that you cause him to have the Seisin without delay—Witness &c.”

CHAP. IX.

But, together with the Seisin, the successful party shall recover the possession of all the chattels and other things found in the Fee, at the time of delivering Seisin. But, after the Seisin has been fully recovered, the party who has lost it may sue concerning the Right, by means of a Writ of Right. Yet it may be questioned, to what time this is to be restricted, after restitution has been fully made.

CHAP. X.

But, if the decision be in favor of the absent Tenant, the Seisin shall then remain to him, without his Adversary being able to recover it. But such Seisin shall be no bar to a Suit concerning the Right. Nor shall a Plea of Right concerning any Tenement, prevent a Recognition for recovering the Seisin of a person’s Ancestor-253- in the same Tenement, previously to the waging of the Duel. But, how then shall his contempt of Court be punished?

CHAP. XI.

Both Parties being present in Court, it is usual to inquire of the Tenant whether he can shew any reason, why the Assise should not proceed? And, here it should be observed, that a person of full age sometimes demands a Recognition of this kind[451] against a Minor—sometimes a Minor demands it against one of full age—sometimes a Minor against a Minor—sometimes one of full age against another of that description.[452] Generally speaking, the Assise shall not proceed, if the Tenant admits in Court, that the Ancestor, on the strength of whose Seisin the Demandant founds his claim, was seised on the day of his death in his Demesne as of Fee, with the other circumstances expressed in the Writ.

But, if the Seisin only be conceded, the other circumstances not being admitted, then, the Assise shall proceed upon the circumstance or circumstances not conceded. An Assise of this kind is accustomed to cease for many causes—if, for example, it should be-254- alleged by the Tenant, that the Demandant was seised after the death of his Father, or any one of his Ancestors, whether the Ancestor was seised or not, on the day of his death; and, whilst the Demandant was in such Seisin, that he had done, with respect to himself, some such act as debarred him of subsequently resorting to the Assise—as if he had sold, given, or quitted claim, or, by any other lawful means, had disposed of the Land in question to the Tenant.[453]

Should such a defence be set up, recourse may be had to the Duel, or to any other usual mode of proof, consistent with the practice of the Court, where the Right to any property is in question. The same observation applies, should it be alleged by his Adversary, that the Demandant had, on a former occasion, impleaded him, when a Fine was made between them in the King’s Court; or that the Land belonged to the Tenant by the decision of the Duel, in whatever Court it may have been waged; or by a Judgment, or by quit-claim.[454] Villenage, also, if it be in Court objected and proved against the Demandant, takes away the Assise.[455] An exception of Bastardy has the same effect.[456] The King’s Charter, also, in which the Land, the Seisin of which is demanded by the Assise, is specifically named or confirmed to the Tenant, as, indeed, the conjunction of more Heirs than one, of-255- Females, for example, in a Military Fee, or of Males or Females in free socage Tenure.[457]

Again—if it be conceded, that the Ancestor upon whose Seisin the Demandant founds his claim, had a certain degree of Seisin, namely—one derived through the Tenant himself or his Ancestor, as from a Pledge, a Loan or any other cause of this nature, the Assise shall not go forward, but recourse must be had to another mode of proceeding.

Consanguinity, also, takes away the Assise; namely, if the Demandant and Tenant should have sprung from the same stock from which the Inheritance, the Seisin of which is in question, has descended, and such fact has been objected and proved in Court.[458] Another cause has been mentioned in treating of Marriage-hood, when the Eldest Son has given a certain part of his Lands to his Younger Brother, who dies without leaving any Heir of his Body.[459] In this case, as in others of a similar description, the Assise we are now treating of shall cease, since the same person cannot be both Heir and Lord of an Estate.[460] If, also, the Demandant be convicted, or, indeed, confess, that he was formerly in Arms against the King, the Assise which he so demands in Court shall from such circumstance cease.[461] By reason, also, of Burgage Tenure, the Assise does not usually proceed. This is in compliance with a particular-256- Law of the Realm,[462] having for its object greater utility. But, if no exception be taken in Court, on account of which the Assise ought to cease, the Recognition shall proceed; and, in the presence of both parties, the Seisin shall, on the oaths of the twelve Jurors, and according to their verdict, be adjudged to the one or the other, in the manner described in a former part of this Book.

CHAP. XII.

But, when a Minor prays an Assise of the kind we are treating of against one of full age, then, indeed, the latter shall not be allowed any Essoin against the former, because, on the first day, the Recognition shall proceed, whether the Tenant appear, or absent himself. And this upon a general principle.

For, whenever it happens, that the Tenant, if present in Court, cannot allege any cause why such Assise ought not to proceed, the Recognition ought by right-257- to proceed, without awaiting the appearance of the adverse party. But, if the Tenant were present, he could not, as we observed, allege that the Minor had done any thing on account of which the Assise should cease; and, therefore, the Recognition shall unquestionably proceed, whether the Tenant, being of full age, appear or not, according to the form before mentioned; and thus, restitution having been made to the Minor through the Recognition, the full age of the Minor shall be awaited, if it be intended to sue him concerning the Right. But when one Minor sues another, the Recognition shall proceed in the same manner, and without any variation, as it usually does between a Minor and one of full age.

CHAP. XIII.

But, when a person of full age proceeds against a Minor, the latter, indeed, may avail himself of an Essoin against his Adversary, in the usual manner. When he appears, he may pray a delay, on account of his Age, and that the Recognition may not be taken, until he is of full age; and, thus, on account of Age, the Recognition of Mort d’Auncestor usually stands over. But here we should observe, upon the necessity which exists, in order that such Assise should stand over on account of his age, that the Minor should allege himself to be in Seisin of the Tenement in question, and, therefore, that the Recognition ought not to proceed, before he has attained his full age: nor should he-258- omit, that his Father or some other Ancestor was seised on the day of his death; since, neither a Recognition against a Minor, nor even a suit concerning the propriety, shall cease, by reason of the Seisin of a Tenement which any Minor has himself acquired and retains only by his own right. But, if it be replied to a Minor, that his Ancestor died seised of the Tenement, the Seisin of which is sought by the Recognition, not as of Fee, but as of Ward, then, indeed, although the principal Recognition ought to cease, on account of the Minor’s age, yet another Recognition shall proceed upon the point, whether the Minor’s Ancestor was seised as of Fee or of Ward, on the day of his death; and the Assise shall be summoned, by the following Writ.

CHAP. XIV.

“The King to the Sheriff, Health. Summon by good Summoners, twelve free and lawful Men of the Neighbourhood of such a Vill, that they be before me, or my Justices, at such a day, prepared upon their oaths, to return, if R. the Father of N. who is within age, was seised in his Demesne of one ploughland in that Vill, of which M. the Son and Heir of I. prays a Recognition of the death of the said I. his Father, against the said N. as of his Fee on the day he died, or as of Ward. And, in the mean time, let them view that Land; and cause their names to be imbreviated. And summon, by good Summoners,-259- the aforesaid N. who holds such Land, that he be then there to hear the Recognition. And have &c.”

CHAP. XV.

But, it should be observed, that if a day has been given for this purpose to both parties, when present in Court, then, the Tenant ought not to be summoned. But thereupon, a Recognition shall proceed to be taken on the oaths of twelve Jurors, and, according to their Verdict, shall it be declared, what Seisin the Minor’s Ancestor had, on the day of his death, in the Tenement in question; and, if it should be proved, that the Ancestor of the Minor had no Seisin on the day of his death, unless as of Ward, then, the Demandant shall recover Seisin against the Minor. But, it may be questioned, whether this alone be sufficient to enable him to recover Seisin.

It does not appear to be so; because this by no means proves, that the Demandant’s Ancestor was seised in his Demesne as of Fee, on the day of his death; nor even that the Demandant be his nearer Heir. But, on the contrary, it may be said, that this being proved, the Minor has consequently no right afterwards to retain the Seisin. But if this assertion be correct, to whom is the possession to be restored? whether, in such a case, must recourse be had to the principal Recognition? If, however, it be proved by-260- the oaths of the twelve Jurors, that the Minor’s Ancestor was seised on the day of his death, as of Fee, then, the Seisin shall continue to the Minor without disturbance, until he arrives at his full age.

But, in such a case, can his Adversary or his Heirs on any future occasion be again heard? He may at least with respect to the Propriety of that Tenement, as against the Minor, when he has attained his full age, or against his Heirs. In addition, the Assise should proceed against a Minor in that one case only, which we observed, in treating concerning Heirs within age.[463] Upon the Assise proceeding against a Minor, if the Seisin should be awarded to continue with him, he shall not answer concerning the Right, until he has attained his full age. For, it is a general principle, that a Minor is not obliged to answer to any suit by which he may possibly be deprived of his Inheritance, or by which he can lose life or member, until he attain his full age. Yet, in certain other cases, he is bound, as, for example, respecting his paternal Debts, or his own, and in case of a Novel Disseisin. Should, however, the Seisin be adjudged against the Minor, in favor of the Demandant, restitution shall be made to him in the form before mentioned, nor shall he answer to the Minor upon the question of Right, until such Minor has attained his full age, as the latter would not be bound to answer the Demandant. The reason is of general force: because, such transactions, as take place-261- with Minors, in Pleas of this description, ought not to be held firm and unalterable.

But if, on a Minor alleging himself intitled to the privilege of his age, it should in Court be objected, that he is of full age, this is usually ascertained by a Recognition of eight free and lawful Men, who are to be summoned for such purpose, by the following Writ——

CHAP. XVI.

“The King to the Sheriff, Health. Summon, by good Summoners, eight[464] free and lawful Men of the Neighbourhood of such a Vill, where the Tenement in question is, that they be before me or my Justices, on such a day, prepared on their oaths to return, whether N., who claims one Hyde of Land in that Vill by my Writ against R., be of such age, that he can and ought to sue; and, in the mean time, let them view that Land, and cause their Names to be imbreviated; and Summon, by good Summoners, him who holds the Land, that he be then there to hear that Recognition. And have, &c.”

CHAP. XVII.

If, therefore, the full age of the person whose age is in dispute shall be proved by such Recognition, from-262- thenceforward he must be treated as one of full age, so far as respects the principal Recognition. But, it may be doubted, whether, generally speaking, and with reference to the suits[465] of others, he should, by force of the present Recognition, be considered as of full age, in such manner as not to be able to protect himself under the privilege of age. But, if such Recognition should find him a Minor, he shall avail himself of the privilege of infancy, so far as respects the principal Recognition; but, it may be questioned, how far he can avail himself of it on other occasions and in other suits.

CHAP. XVIII.

It follows, that we speak of the Recognition de ultimâ presentatione.[466] If, upon the vacancy of a Church, there be a controversy concerning the Presentation, it-263- may be decided by a Recognition de ultimâ presentatione, upon either of the litigating parties requiring it in Court. On such an occasion, he shall obtain the following Writ——

CHAP. XIX.

“The King to the Sheriff, Health.[467] Summon, by good Summoners, twelve free and lawful Men of the Neighbourhood of such a Vill, that they be before me, or my Justices, such a day, prepared on their oaths to return, what Patron presented the last Parson who died, to the Church of such a Vill, which is, as it is said, vacant, and of which N. claims the Advowson; and cause their names to be imbreviated; and summon, by good Summoners, R., who deforced that Presentation, that he be then there to hear the Recognition—and have there, &c.”

CHAP. XX.

As to the Essoins allowed in this species of Recognition, they may be collected from what has gone before. Upon the Recognition proceeding, whether both of the parties be present, or one of them be absent, the person, to whom, on his own, or his Ancestor’s Seisin, the last Presentation shall be adjudged, is understood-264- thereby to have recovered Seisin of the Advowson itself; so that, upon his Presentation, the Bishop of the place shall institute the first Parson, if a proper person,[468] into the vacant Church, which he shall retain during his whole life upon his Patron’s Presentation, whatever may afterwards happen, with respect to the Right of Advowson. For the person, against whom the last Presentation has been awarded by the Recognition, may proceed against the other, or his Heirs, upon the Right of Advowson, the nature of which has been explained, in a former part of this Treatise. It may be asked, whether, from the first, any thing can be alleged to prevent the Assise from going forward. In order to effect such object, the Tenant may admit, that the Ancestor of the Demandant made the last Presentation, as the real Lord and the Eldest Heir, but that he afterwards transferred the Fee, to which the Advowson is appendant, to the Tenant or his Ancestors, by a good Title; and thus upon this allegation the Assise shall cease, and a Plea may then be had recourse to between the litigating parties, upon this exception. Upon this exception, either of the parties may desire a Recognition, and is intitled to have it. But either of the litigating parties may admit, that the other, or one of his Ancestors, made the last Presentation, but not as of Fee, but of Ward, and may demand, and shall obtain, a Recognition upon this point. Such Recognition shall be summoned by the following Writ——

-265-

CHAP. XXI.

“The King to the Sheriff, Health. Summon, by good Summoners, twelve free and lawful Men of the Neighbourhood of such a Vill, that they be before me, or my Justices, at such a day, prepared on their oaths to return, if R., who presented the last Parson, who is dead, to such a Church, by reason of the Tenement that he held in such a Vill, made such Presentation, as of Fee, or as of Ward,[469] and cause their names to be imbreviated; and summon, by good Summoners, him who has deforced the Presentation, that he be then there, &c.”

CHAP. XXII.

The fact being ascertained by the Recognition, if the last Presentation was made as of Ward, the Advowson of the Presentation is at an end, and the Presentation itself shall belong to the other party. But if, as of Fee, the Presentation shall continue to him.

CHAP. XXIII.

It follows to treat of the Recognition to ascertain, whether a Tenement be a Lay, or an Ecclesiastical Fee. Upon either of the parties desiring to have such-266- Recognition, it shall be summoned by the following Writ——

CHAP. XXIV.

“The King to the Sheriff, Health. Summon, by good Summoners, twelve free and lawful Men of the Neighbourhood of such a Vill, that they be before me, or my Justices, such a day, prepared upon their oaths to return, whether one Hyde of Land, which N., the Parson of the Church of that Vill, claims, as held in Frankalmoigne by his Church, against R. in that Vill, be the Lay Fee[470] of the said R., or an Ecclesiastical Fee; and, in the mean time, let them view the Land, and cause their names to be imbreviated. And summon, by good Summoners, the aforesaid R., who holds that Land, that he be then there to hear the Recognition, and have there, &c. Witness, &c.”

CHAP. XXV.

Neither in this Recognition, nor in any other, except the Recognition of the Grand Assise, are more than two Essoins permitted. Because a third Essoin-267- is never allowed, unless where it can be judicially ascertained, whether an illness amount to a languor or not. As this is not usually done in Recognitions, they necessarily preclude a party from casting a third Essoin. The Recognition we are now treating of proceeds in the manner we have described, when discussing other Recognitions. Yet, should it be observed, that if, by the Recognition, a Tenement be proved to be an Ecclesiastical Fee, it cannot afterwards be treated as a Lay Fee, although it may be claimed by the Adverse party to be held of the Church, by a stipulated service.

CHAP. XXVI.

Our subject leads us, in the next place, to consider that species of Recognition which is usually resorted to, in order to ascertain, whether a person died seised of a certain Freehold, as of Fee or as of Pledge. When any one claims a certain Tenement to be restored to him, as pledged, either by himself, or one of his Ancestors, if the Tenant does not acknowledge the Tenement in question to be a pledge, but asserts in Court that he is seised of it as of Fee, recourse is usually had to a Recognition, which shall be summoned by the following Writ——

CHAP. XXVII.

“The King to the Sheriff, Health. Summon, by good Summoners, twelve free and lawful Men of-268- such a Vill, that they be before me, or my Justices, such a day, prepared upon their oaths to return, whether N. holds one ploughland in such a Vill, which R. claims against him by my Writ, in Fee or in Pledge, as pledged to him by the said R. or by H., his Ancestor.” Or thus—“whether that ploughland, which R. claims against N., in such a Vill, by my Writ, be the Fee or Inheritance of the said N., or Pledged to him by the said R., or by the said H., his Ancestor; and, in the mean time, let them view that Land; and cause their names to be imbreviated; and summon, by good Summoners, the aforesaid N., who holds that Land, that he be then there to hear the Recognition—And have there, &c.”

CHAP. XXVIII.

But, it sometimes happens, that a person holds a Tenement as a pledge, and so dies seised of it. His Heir, also, by reason of such a Seisin, prays a Writ of Mort d’Auncestor against the true Heir, who has obtained the Seisin of the Tenement in question. If, indeed, it should then be acknowledged by the Tenant, that the Ancestor of the Demandant had died seised, but as of Pledge, and not as of Fee, the consequence is, that recourse must be had to the before mentioned Recognition, which shall be summoned by the following Writ——

-269-

CHAP. XXIX.

“The King to the Sheriff, Health. Summon, by good Summoners, twelve, &c., that they be, &c. prepared upon their oaths to return, whether N., the father of R., was seised in his Demesne, as of Fee, or as of Pledge, of one ploughland, in such a Vill, the day on which he died. And, in the mean time, &c.”

CHAP. XXX.

It being proved by the Recognition, that the Tenement in question is a pledge, then, the Tenant who has asserted it to be his Fee shall lose the Tenement in question, so that he shall not, by reason of its having been a pledge, recur to it for the recovery of his Debt.[471] But, if it be decided to be the Fee of the Tenant, then, the Demandant shall from henceforth be barred from any recovery unless by a Writ of Right. It may be asked, whether in this Recognition, or in any other, a person’s Warrantor should be awaited, whatever description of Warrantor, or for whatever cause he may be such, especially if the Warrantor should be called into Court upon this subject after two Essoins?

-270-

CHAP. XXXI.

The Recognitions which remain may be partly collected from the preceding Recognitions—and partly from the Judgment of the Court, founded on the allegations of both parties. With respect, for example, to the Recognition to ascertain, whether a person be within age or not—some mention and notice are taken of it in the fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth Chapters of the present Book.

In like manner, concerning the Recognition, whether a person was, on the day of his death, seised of a certain Freehold, as of Fee or of Ward, in the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth Chapters of this Book. In the same manner, concerning the Recognition, whether a person presented the last Parson, in right of his Fee, or his Wardship, in the twentieth, twenty-first, and twenty-second Chapters of the present Book. These Recognitions follow those we have previously treated of with respect to Essoins, and proceed or cease for the same reasons.

CHAP. XXXII.

In the last place, it remains for us to speak, concerning that species of Recognition, which is called Novel Disseisin.[472] When any one, therefore, unjustly and-271- without a Judgment, has disseised another of his Freehold; and the case fall within the King’s Assise, or in other words, within the time for such purpose appointed by the King with the advice of his[473] Nobles (which is sometimes a greater,[474] sometimes, a less period) this Law comes to the aid of the person disseised, who shall have the following Writ——

CHAP. XXXIII.

“The King to the Sheriff, Health.[475] N. complains to me, that R. has, unjustly and without a Judgment,-272- disseised him of his free Tenement, in such a Vill, since my last Voyage into Normandy;[476] and, therefore, I command you, that if the aforesaid N. should make you secure of prosecuting his claim, then, you cause the Tenement to be reseised, with the Chattels taken on it, and that you cause him with his Chattels to be in peace,[477] until the Pentecost; and, in the mean time, you cause twelve free and lawful Men of the Neighbourhood to view the Land, and their names to be imbreviated; and summon them, by good Summoners, that they be then before me, or my Justices, prepared to make the Recognition; and put, by gage and safe pledges, the aforesaid R., or his Bailiff,[478] if he be not to be found, that he be then there to hear such Recognition, and have there, &c. Witness, &c.”

CHAP. XXXIV.

But Writs of Novel Disseisin are varied in different modes, according to the diversity of the Tenements in which Disseisins are committed. But if any Dyke[479]-273- should be raised or thrown down, or the Pond[480] of any Mill be destroyed, to the injury of any person’s Freehold, and such offence has been committed, within the time limited by the King’s Assise, then, according to the subject matter, the Writs are varied in the following manner——

CHAP. XXXV.

“The King to the Sheriff, Health.[481] N. complains to me, that R., unjustly, and without a Judgment, has raised a certain Dyke in such a Vill, or thrown it down, to the nuisance of his Freehold, in the same Vill, since my last Voyage into Normandy—And, therefore, I command you, if the aforesaid N. should make you secure of prosecuting his claim, then, that you cause twelve free, &c. to view such Dyke and Tenement, and cause their names to be imbreviated. And summon, by good Summoners, &c.” as before.

CHAP. XXXVI.

“The King to the Sheriff, Health.[482] N. has complained to me that R., unjustly and without a Judgment, has raised the Pond of his Mill, in such a Vill, to the nuisance[483] of his Freehold, in such Vill, or-274- in another Vill, since my last Voyage into Normandy. And, therefore, I command you, that if the aforesaid N. should make you secure of prosecuting his claim, then, you cause twelve free, &c. to view that Pond and Tenement, &c.” as before.

If, however, the Disseisin concern Common of Pasture, then, the Writ shall be as follows——

CHAP. XXXVII.

“The King to the Sheriff, Health.[484] N. complains to me, that R., unjustly and without a Judgment, has disseised him of his Common of Pasture, in such a Vill, which belongs to his Freehold, in such Vill, or in that other Vill, since my last Voyage into Normandy. And, therefore, I command you, that if the aforesaid N., has made you secure of prosecuting his claim, then, you cause twelve free, &c. to view that Pasture and Tenement, and their names, &c.”

CHAP. XXXVIII.

In this species of Recognition no Essoin is permitted.[485]

For, on the first day, and that whether the party-275- committing the Disseisin should appear or not, the Recognition shall proceed,[486] because it spares no person, neither one of full age, nor a Minor, nor will await even a Warrantor. But, if a party should acknowledge such Disseisin in Court, naming, at the same time, a Warrantor, the Recognition shall thereby cease, and the person who has so acknowledged shall be amerced to the King.

The Warrantor shall be afterwards summoned,[487] and the Plea proceed between him and the person who has, on this occasion, nominated him as Warrantor.

Yet, should it be observed, that the unsuccessful party, whether the Appellor or the appealed,[488] shall in-276- every instance be amerced to the King, on account of the violent Disseisin. In addition, if the Appellor should not keep his day, then, also, his Pledges are to be amerced to the King. The same Rule prevails, with respect to the person of the other party, should he absent himself at the appointed day. The Penalty inflicted by this Constitution is merely an Amercement to the King.

But, in this Recognition, the party who has proved the Novel Disseisin, may obtain, that the Sheriff should be directed to deliver him the Chattels and the Fruits, which have, by the authority of the King’s Writ, or that of his Justices, been in the mean time seised.[489] In no other Recognition does the Judgment of the Court usually make any mention concerning the Chattels or Fruits; and, unless the Sheriff has taken steps to satisfy him out of the Chattels or Fruits, then, the party who complains of it, shall obtain the following Writ——

CHAP. XXXIX.

“The King to the Sheriff, Health.[490] I command you, that you compel N., justly and without delay,-277- to render to R. his Chattels, since he complains that he took them, unjustly and without a Judgment, from his Free Tenement, in such a Vill, since the Disseisin he did to him, since my Assise, of which he will recover the Seisin before my Justices, by a Recognition of Novel Disseisin, as he can reasonably shew that he ought to have them, least more, &c. Witness, &c.”[491]

CHAP. I.

Having thus far treated of those Civil Pleas which are discussed in Court, it remains for us to speak concerning Criminal Pleas. When, therefore, any one is charged with the King’s death, or with having promoted a sedition in the Realm or Army,[492] either a certain Accuser appears, or not. If no certain Accuser should appear, but the public voice alone accuses him,[493]-279- then, from the first, the accused shall be safely attached, either by proper Pledges, or imprisonment.[494] The truth of the fact shall, then, be inquired into, by means of many and various inquisitions and interrogations, made in the presence of the Justices, and that, by taking into consideration the probable circumstances of the facts, and weighing each conjecture that tends in favor of the accused, or makes against him; because he must purge himself by the Ordeal,[495] or entirely absolve-280- himself from the Crime imputed to him. But if on the trial by the Ordeal, a person is convicted of a Capital Crime, then the Judgment is of life and members which are at the King’s mercy,[496] as in other Pleas concerning Felony.

Should, however, a certain accuser appear in the first instance, he shall be attached by Pledges, if he can produce any such, to prosecute his Suit. But, if he is unable to adduce any Pledges, it is usual to trust to his solemn promise,[497] as in all Pleas concerning Felony. Yet is it customary in these cases to confide in a promise, least by exacting too hard a security, others might be deterred from making a similar accusation.[498] Security having been taken from the Accuser to prosecute his Plea, then, the party accused, is, as we have observed, usually attached by safe and secure Pledges; or, if he cannot produce any pledges, he shall-281- be cast into Prison. But, in all Pleas of Felony, the Accused is generally dismissed on pledges,[499] except in a Plea of Homicide, where, for the sake of striking terror, it is otherwise enacted. The next step usually resorted to, is to appoint a day to the parties, pending which, the usual Essoins are allowed to be cast.

At length, the Accuser should propose his charge: that he had seen, or by some other proof in Court, that he perfectly well knew, that the Accused had conspired or done something against the King’s life; or to move a sedition in the Realm or Army; or to have consented, or given Counsel, or delegated an authority, towards effecting such object; and the Accuser should allege, that he was prepared to prove his charge, according to the direction of the Court.[500]

Should the accused, on the other hand, deny, in due manner[501] in Court, every thing the other had asserted, it is usual to decide the Plea by the Duel. And here it should be observed, that from the moment the Duel is waged, in Pleas of the kind we are now treating of, neither of the parties can add nor diminish any thing from the words employed in waging the Duel, or, in any other measure decline or recede from his undertaking, without being held as conquered, and liable to the penal consequences.

-282-

Nor can the parties be afterwards reconciled to each other, by any other mode, than the King’s License, or that of his Justices. But if the Appellor be conquered, he shall be amerced to the King, the nature of which has been sufficiently explained in a former part of this work.

What penalties also and infamy he shall incur, if conquered, have been sufficiently detailed. If the Accused be conquered, the Judgment that awaits him has been mentioned just before, to which may be added, the confiscation of all his Chattels, and the perpetual Disinherison of his Heirs.[502]

Every free Man of full age is admissible as an Accuser, in a prosecution of this kind. Should, however, a Minor bring an Appeal, he shall be attached, in the manner we have before stated. A Rustic[503] is also admissible; but a Woman shall not be received to make an accusation in any plea of Felony, unless in some particular instances, concerning which we shall presently speak. But the Accuser may, in Pleas of the kind we are discussing, decline the Duel, either on account of his age, or by reason of his being adjudged to have received a Mayhem.[504]

-283-

But the age of the party, in such a case, ought to be sixty years or upwards. Mayhem signifies the breaking of any bone, or injuring the head, either by wounding or abrasion. In such case, the Accused is obliged to purge himself by the Ordeal, that is, by the hot Iron, if he be a free Man—by water, if he be a Rustic.[505]

-284-

CHAP. II.

A plea, concerning the fraudulent concealment of Treasure Trove, is usually managed, in the manner and order above stated, where a certain Accuser appears.[506] But, if a Man is accused of this crime by the public voice only, it is not usual, according to the Law of the Land, for him to purge himself by the Ordeal,[507] although by the Assise a different course may be resorted to, unless he has been first convicted, or has confessed in Court, that he has found and taken some-285- kind of Metal in the place in question.[508] But, if upon this fact the party be convicted, the presumption being against him, he shall be obliged to purge himself by the Ordeal, that he had not found or taken any more from the place in question. In other respects, the proceedings are as before stated.

CHAP. III.

When any one is accused of Homicide,[509] the Judgment is regulated by, and proceeds on, the distinction before laid down. It should, however, be observed, that it is not usual to dismiss upon pledges a person accused of this Crime, unless in compliance with the King’s pleasure. But there are two species of Homicide. The first is called Murder which is secretly perpetrated—no one seeing—no one knowing of it,[510] save-286- the person committing it, and his Accomplices, so that Hue and Cry[511] cannot be presently made after the Offenders, as ordained by the Statute[512] upon this subject.

To prosecute an accusation of this kind no one is admissible, unless he be of the blood of the deceased, and under such restrictions is this rule adhered to, that the nearer Heir shall exclude the more remote from the Appeal.[513]

There is also another species of Homicide, as appears from the general Term, which is called simple Homicide.

In this suit also no one is admissible to prove the Accusation, unless he be allied in blood to the deceased,[514] or be connected with him by the tie of Homage, or Dominion, so that he can speak of the death upon the testimony of his own sight. It should also be added, that a Woman[515] is heard in this suit, accusing-287- any one of her Husband’s death,[516] if she speak as being an Eye-witness[517] to the fact, because Husband and Wife are one flesh. And a Woman is generally admitted to be heard, accusing any one of having committed an injury upon her person, as will be presently shewn. It is at the election of the accused either to abide by the Woman’s proof, or to purge himself by the Ordeal, from the crime imputed to him. A person accused of Homicide is sometimes compelled to undergo the legal Purgation, if he was taken in-288- flight by a Crowd pursuing him, and this be regularly proved in Court by a Jury of the County.

CHAP. IV.

The Crime of Burning[518] is proceeded upon, discussed and terminated, under the form and order we have described.

CHAP. V.

The Crime of Robbery[519] may also be passed over, as the suit has nothing to distinguish it from the others.

CHAP. VI.[520]

The Crime of Rape[521] is that with which a Woman charges a Man when she alleges, that he committed a-289- violence on her person, whilst in the King’s peace.[522] A Woman, having suffered any such violence, is bound immediately, whilst the crime is recent, to go to the nearest village, and there state the injury to respectable Men, and shew the external marks of violence.[523] She should, in the next place, do the same thing to the Chief Officer of the Hundred; and, lastly, she should publicly complain of her injury in the next County Court. An accusation of this kind being made, the Judgment is as before laid down. A Woman, accusing any one of such a Crime, is heard in the same manner, as is usual concerning any other personal injury which has been offered her. But it should be understood, that it is at the Election of the Accused in such a Case, either to submit to the burthen of making Purgation, or to sustain the woman’s proof against him. It should likewise be remarked, that if any one be convicted in a suit of this kind, the Judgment will be similar to that in the foregoing suits. Nor will it suffice, after Judgment, if the Malefactor wish to take the Woman he has injured to Wife. For thus it would frequently happen, that Men of servile condition would, by reason of one pollution, bring perpetual disgrace upon Women of noble birth, or that Men of high rank would be disgraced by inferior Women, and thus dishonor their fair lineage. But,-290- previously to Judgment, it is customary for the Woman and the accused to be reconciled, by means of a marriage between them; but this step is authorised by the License of the Prince, or that of his Justices, and the consent of the Parents.

CHAP. VII.

The crime of Falsifying,[524] in a general sense, comprises under it many particular species. As, for example, false Charters—false Measures—false Money—and others of a similar description, which contain such a falsifying, on which a person ought to be accused, and, if convicted, condemned. The manner and order of prosecuting these different species of the crime may be sufficiently collected, from what has gone before. One thing, however, should be observed, that if a person be convicted of falsifying a charter, it becomes necessary to distinguish, whether it be a royal[525] or a private charter; because in the former case, the party, when convicted of this offence, shall be condemned, as in the crime of læse majesty. But, if the charter be a private one, then, the person convicted is to be dealt with in a milder manner, as in other inferior crimes of-291- Falsifying, which are punished by the loss of members only, according to the will and beneficence of the princely disposition, as we formerly observed.

CHAP. VIII.

As to Thefts and other Pleas which fall within the Jurisdiction of the Sheriff,[526] as they are conducted and decided according to the various customs of different Counties, they fall not within the scope of my present plan, which is solely confined to the subject of the Chief Court.

The Book of the Laws of England is finished.

A.

Abbots cannot without King’s consent alien, 123

—— of Canons Regular may appear for their Order, 229

Absence of Lords, 65

—— of Parties, 30

—— of Summoners, 26

—— of Tenant, 27

—— of Demandant, 28

Accusations, 278

Accuser, certain or uncertain, 278, 279

Admeasurement of Dower—Writ of, 112

Administration, who entitled to, 137

Advocatio (Note 1.), 69

Advowsons—general doctrine of, begins at, 69

Æsnecia (Note 1.), 127

Afforciament (Note 1.), 53

Age, Writ to ascertain, 261

Aids (Note 1.), 190

Aisiamenta (Note 1.), 239

Allegiance, 177, 178

Amercements, 202

—— in County Courts belong to Sheriff, 193

Appeal of Felony, 141

Appellans (Note 3.), 275

Appeals, who may prosecute, 282

Arbelastarius (Note 1.), 232

Arrha (Note 4.), 216

Assisa (Note 1.), 36-294-

Assise Grand (see Grand Assise), 44

Assises, general doctrine of, begins at, 246

Assise of darrein presentment, 263

—— mort d’auncestor, 246

—— novel disseisin, 270

—— when it lies not for burgage tenure, 255

Attachment (Note 1.), 66

Attornato faciendo—Writ de, 226

Attornies—general doctrine concerning, begins at, 223

Attorney may cast Essoins for himself, 226

—— may be removed, 228

Avunculus (Note 1.), 125

B.

Bailiff cannot, as such, appear as Attorney, 225

Ballivus (Note 1.), 225

Banco, Justicii in (Note 2.), 41

Baro (Note 3.), 173

Bastards cannot inherit, 147

—— formerly inherited in Wales (Note 1.), 148

—— who succeed to, 150

Bastardy, when bar to an Assise, 254

—— Writ to inquire concerning, 148

Bishops cannot without King’s consent alien, 123

—— do not when consecrated perform Homage, 180

—— do when consecrated perform Fealty, 180

Bladum (Note 2.), 33

Boscus (Note 2.), 239

Breve (Note 4.), 4

Burgage Tenure—not entitles King to Custody, 142

—— when it bars an Assise, 255

C.

Campio (Note 2.), 36

Capital Messuage not allotted in Dower, 108-295-

Cellarii (Note 1.), 229

Champion, when hired, inadmissible, 38

—— if formerly a Villein, objectionable, 89

—— when conquered how punished, 39

—— collusively vouched (Note 2.), 219

Charters, proof of, 214

—— falsifying, 290

Chattels when forfeited, 152, 156

—— of Intestate, 151

—— of Usurer, 151

—— not distrained for non-appearance, 199

Chief Manor not allotted in Dower, 109

Chirograph, 168

Clamat (Note 1.), 5

Clamor popularis, 286

Coin false, 290

Commodatum (Note 2.), 214

Concord, why called Final, 166

—— breach of, how punished, 167

Concords, general doctrine of,—begins at, 161

Conditions, 206

Conductum (Note 1.), 221

Confiscation, 282

Consanguinity in questions of freedom, 85

—— in questions of Intestacy, 137

—— bar to Assise of mort d’auncestor, 255

Constitution (Note 1.), 49

Consuetudines (Note 4.), 165

Consuetudinibus et servitiis—Writ de, 192

Contempt of Court, 30, 66, &c.

Contemptus Brevium (Note 4.), 4

Contenement (Note 3.), 190

Contracts private, 221

Counts, when they vary from Writ, effect of, 244

Courts inferior—when allowed Records, 170, 173-296-

——, County—differ in their Customs, 244

—— of Lords—differ in their Customs, 234

Crimen falsi (Note 2.), 2, 290

Croftum (Note 3.), 164

Curtesy of England (Note 1.), 158

Custody of Heirs, 139

—— discharges Relief—when, 184

Customs, 128, 133

Custum (Note 1.), 29

D.

Darrien presentment—Writ of, 263

Debt—Writ of, 198

Debts—Pleas concerning, 198

—— how proved, 213

Default, how punished, 16

Deposit, 199

Descents, general Canons of, 124

—— amongst Grecians, Normans, Lombardi, &c. (Note 2.), 125

Desponsatio (Note 1.), 94

Disseisins, 270

Distresses, 103, 179, 191, 199, 228, &c.

Divisa (Note 1.), 133

Divorce for Incontinence bars Dower, 110

—— for Relationship bars Dower, 110

Dominium (Note 1.), 123

Dower, general doctrine of, begins at, 93

—— in what senses used, 93

—— ad Ostium Ecclesiæ, 94

—— Ex assensu Patris, 111

—— admeasurement of, 95

—— how demanded, 101

—— not of land already in Dower, 109

—— its assignment not postponed for Heir’s Infancy, 109-297-

—— barred by Divorce for Incontinence or Relationship, 110

—— Writ of Right of, 99

Duel, Trial by, 33

—— its rise and decline (Note 1.), 34

—— reason of (Note 1.), 35

—— not allowed in questions of Villenage, 88

—— not waged by Villein-born though Knighted, 89

—— Courts not bound to defend their Records by, 171

—— Courts bound to defend their Judgments by, 171

—— in Criminal matters, 282

—— when only compromised by License, 282

Duodecimâ Manu (Note 2.), 8

E.

Earnest, 216

Ecclesiastical Court—holds not plea of Debt—when, 212

—— when it has Jurisdiction generally, 245

Election of Knights on Grand Assise, 48

Enfranchisement—modes of effecting, 88

—— under Saxons (Note 1.), 88

Escambium (Note 1.), 61

—— when Bracton wrote (Note 1.), 61

Escheat for want of Heir, 154

—— for incontinence of female Heir, 154

—— for felony, 154

—— for conviction of Theft, 156

—— for Outlawry, 155

Essoins, principal kinds of (Note 1.), 6

—— general doctrine of—begins at, 6

—— not allowed by one of full age against Minor, 256

—— nor in Novel Disseisins, 251

—— may be cast by Attorney for himself, 226

Essoiners may appoint Essoiners, 18

—— Writ to take as Defaulters, 13-298-

Essonium (Note 1.), 6

Exceptions to Jurors, 50

Exchequer, 142

Executors—who, 136

F.

Failure of Justice in Lord’s Court, 234

Faldæ (Note 2.), 165

Faldæ secta (Note 2.), 165

Falsifying Judgments, 172

False-claim, punishable, 30

Famâ publicâ (Note 2.), 278

Fealty, 129, 157

Fee, how lost, 179

Felony—appeal of, 141

—— forfeits Land, 154

Females, Custody of, 143

Feme sole may make a Testament, 134

—— covert cannot without Husband’s consent, 134

Feodum (Note 2.), 103

Fidei interpositio (Note 2.), 280

Final Concord—forms of, 162, 163

Fine—bar to Assise of mort d’auncestor, 254

Fines—general doctrine of—begins at, 161

Forfeitures, 154, 155, 156, 179, 282, &c., &c.

Forgeries, 290

Forinseca (Note 1.), 165

Forisfacio (Note 2.), 146

Forisfamiliatus (Note 1.), 131

Fossatum (Note 4.), 272

Frankalmoigne, 114

Freedom, how proved, 85

—— not to be purchased with Villein’s own money, 89

—— means of acquiring, 88

Frussetum (Note 2.), 164-299-

G.

Gifts of Land—how far allowed, 114

—— —— defective without seisin, 114

Grand Assise, 44

—— —— bars to, 42

—— —— the Essoins it allows, 49

—— —— concerning what things, 51

Gyldam (Note 4.), 90

H.

Heirs—how far bound by Ancestors’ Gifts, 124

—— how divided, 124

—— when disinherited (see Forfeiture, Escheat, &c.)

—— in right line preferred to transverse line, 124, 129

Heres remotior (Note 4.), 117

—— Ultimus, a Man’s Lord, 153

Hiring, 221

Homage, difference between and Fealty (Note 1.), 128

—— performed by Husband of Eldest Daughter, 128

—— general doctrine of, begins at, 175

—— must be received by Lord, when, 177

—— performed to several Lords for different Fees, 177

—— liege, when due, 177

—— form of, 177

—— effect of, 178

—— not performed by Women, 176

—— not by consecrated Bishops, 180

—— for what due, 181

—— to whom, 182

Homicide, its species, 285

—— properly so called, 286

—— not bailable, 281, 285

Hue and Cry, 286

Husbands—their power over their Wives’ Inheritance, 129

—— perform Homage for Wives’ Land, 177-300-

I.

Impetitio (Note 1.), 262

Imprisonment, 279, 281

Incendiaries, 288

Incontinence in female Heirs how punished, 146

—— divorce for, bar to dower, 110

Infamy, 56

Institution (Note 1.), 49

Interrogations in Pleas of Crown, 279

Intestacy, 136, 151

J.

Judgments inferior Courts bound to defend by Duel, 171

—— falsifying, 172

—— in Capital Offences, 280

Judicium Dei, 282

Jurata, 46, 194

Juris Utrum (Note 1.), 266

Jurors, 50, 194

Justices Itinerant (Note 2.), 151

Justicia (Note 3.), 141

Justiciare (Note 1.), 192

Justicii in Banco (Note 2.), 41

K.

King’s Death, crime of, 2, 278

—— Peace, 3, 27, 30, &c.

—— Writ of Warranty, 8

—— Charters falsifying, 290

Knight’s Heir in custody of Lord, 140

Knights summoned as Jurors on Grand Assise, 48

Knight’s Fee, relief of, 185

Knight, if formerly Villein, objectionable as Champion, 90-301-

L.

Languor (Note 2.), 15

Law, loss of, 39

Læse Majesty, 2, 278

Legacy, 137

Lex Apparens (Note 2.), 279

Libertate probanda, writ de, 84

Limitation of mort d’auncestor, 247

—— of Novel Disseisin, 272

Loans, 199

Locatum (Note 1.), 221

Lords may distrain their Tenants, 179

M.

Magna Assisa Eligenda, writ of, 48

Mahemium (Note 3.), 282

Manor chief not to be allotted in Dower, 109

Maritagium (Note 1.), 113

Marriage of female Heirs—Lords consulted on, 144

Marriage-hood, free or not, 156

Mayhem protects from duel, 282

—— what, 282

Measures false, 290

Medletum or Melletum (Note 1.), 3

Messuage capital, 109, 127

Metal discovering, 284

Minor when bound to answer generally, 260

—— must answer Minor in his custody, 140

—— no Essoin against, by one of full age, 256

Minority of Heir of a Knight, 139

—— —— of a Sockman, 139

—— —— of a Burgess, 139

Misericordia (Note 1.), 28

Mort d’Auncestor, Assise of, 257-302-

—— —— bars to, 254

—— —— writ of, 247, &c.

Mortgage, 284

—— when usurious, 209

Mulier (Note 1.), 97

Mulieratus filius (Note 2.), 116

Mutuum (Note 1.), 204

Murder, 285

—— not bailable, 2, 285

N.

Nativus (Note 2.), 83

Ne injuste vexes, writ of, 237

Nihil habet, writ of, 106

Non-plevin (Note 1.), 14

Novel-Disseisin, assise of, 270

—— —— meaning of Term (Note 1.), 270

—— —— allows no Essoin, 250, 274

—— —— allows of vouching warrantor, 275

Nuisances, 194, 273, 274

O.

Ordeal (Note 1.), 283

Outlawry, 154

Oxland (Note 2.), 162

P.

Parage (Note 3.), 181

Parentela (Note 3.), 110

Pares (Note 1.), 180

Pasture, admeasurement of, 238

—— disseisin of, 274

Perjury, 55

Persona (Note 2.), 69-303-

Pleas, how divided, 1

—— criminal appertaining to Crown, 2, 278

—— criminal appertaining to Sheriff, 3

—— civil discussed in King’s Court, 3

—— civil discussed in Sheriff’s Court, 4, 236

Pledges 27, 200

—— in criminal cases, 6, 7, 279

—— of Essoiners, writ to summon, 13

Pone, writ of, 100

Possession, writs to deliver, 14, 40, &c.

Præcipe quod reddat, writ of, 5

Precariæ (Note 3.), 165

Presentation, when devolving on Tenant in Dower, 109

Proclamo (Note 1.), 86

Prohibition, writs of, 46, 82, &c.

Purchase, 216

Purgation by ordeal, 283

Purpresture, or Propresture, 193

Putagium (Note 3.), 147

Q.

Quæstus, or Questus (Note 3.), 95

Quit-claim, 254

R.

Rape, 2, 289

Rationabili parte Bonorum, writ of, 137, 240

Rationabilibus divisis, writ of, 197, 239

Recognitiones (Note 2.), 4

Recognitions, general doctrine of, 246

Record, courts of, 170

Records, of inferior courts not conclusive, 170

—— when allowed to inferior courts, 170

—— no court bound to defend by Duel, 171-304-

Recreantisa (Note 3.), 39

Rectatus (Note 2.), 27

Reliefs, 184

Relief of Knight’s Fee, 185

—— of Socage Lands, 185

—— of Baronies, 185

—— once paid not again due, 184

—— when not due (Note 2.), 184

Replegiare (Note 1.), 73

Replegiare de averiis, writ of, 238

Reseantisâ (Note 1.), 10

Respectus (Note 1.), 22

Responsalis (Note 1.), 223

Right, writs of, 231, 233, &c.

Robbery, 288

Roberia (Note 2.), 288

Rustic may bring an Appeal, 282

—— tried by water-ordeal, 283

S.

Sale, 216

Seals, 213

Sedition, 2, 278

Seisina (Note 2.), 7

Seneschallus (Note 2.), 225

Sequela (Note 1.), 238

Serjeanties, 186

Servientes (Note 1.), 20

—— Domini Regis (Note 1.), 20

Sextarii (Note 1.), 47

Sheriffs, their jurisdiction, 2, 4, 236, &c.

—— entitled to Amercements in county courts, 193

Socagium (Note 3.), 118

Socage Lands, how descendible, 126

—— —— how long partible (Note 2.), 126-305-

—— —— Relief of, 185

Sockman’s Heir in whose custody, 142

Stagnum (Note 1.), 273

Steward cannot, as such, act as Attorney, 225

Stika, or Stica (Note 2.), 47

Succession, Rules of, 124

Suits, how removed from Lord’s to County Court, 235

Summons, doctrine of, begins at, 5

—— writs of, 5, 48, &c.

Suretyship, 201

T.

Tales, 52

Terminus (Note 2.), 22

Testaments, 134

Theft, 2, 156, &c.

—— cognisable by Sheriffs, 2

Toft (Note 3.), 162

Treasure Trove, 2, 284

Treason, 2, 278, &c.

Turbaria (Note 4.), 164

U.

Ultima presentatio, Assise of, 262

Ultimus Heres, a Man’s Lord, 153

Utlagatus (Note 3.), 154

Usury, when Mortgage amounts to, 209

—— punishment of, 151

Usurers, not convicted whilst living, 151

V.

Vassal, 178

Vicinetum (Note 1.), 32

View, 31-306-

—— writ directing, 32

Villa privilegiata (Note 3.), 90

Villeins-born, 91

Villenage, general doctrine of, begins at, 83

—— plea of, not held by Sheriff, 84

—— when bar to an Assise, 254

Villenagium (Note 1.), 83

W.

Wardship, 139, 258, &c.

Warrantia Dici, writ of, 8

Warrantor, writ to compel him to appear, 62

Warrantus (Note 2.), 59

Warranty, general doctrine of, begins at, 59

—— writ of, 62, 102

—— vendors bound in, 218

Waste of Felon’s Lands, 155

Widows must ask Lord’s consent to marry, 145

—— not liable to custody, 147

—— do not forfeit for Incontinence, 147

Wife cannot, in Husband’s life, sell her dower, 97

—— her husband may sell her Dower, 97

—— may appoint Husband her Attorney, 227

Will of Lands not allowed, 115, 136

—— of personal, how far allowed, 134

—— —— —— witnesses to, 136

—— —— —— under Ecclesiastical cognizance, 137

Women can do no Homage, 176

—— in what cases they can prosecute Appeals, 286, 287

Writs, Errors in the effect of, 244

—— forms of, 5, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15, 25, 32, 40, &c., &c.

FINIS.