to him might have been barr'd and interrupted by non-claim so in case of forfeiture the reason of the Rule is because the Law conceives he will have that knowledge to preserve his right when he is of full Age Carter's Rep. 86. in Smith and Painton's Case It was holden in Rumny and Eve's Case Not bound during his Minority to pray Admittance 1 Leon. p. 100 Pl. 128. If a Copy-holder dyeth his Heir within Age he is not bound to come into any Court during his non-age to pray admittance or to tender his Fine An Infant who surrenders his Copy-hold Land within Age may enter at his full Age Infant Surrenders he may enter at full Age. without being put to any Suit for it A Case cited in Popham 39. in Bullock and Dibler's Case Infant Copy-holder in Fee makes a Lease for years without Licence Infant shall not forfeit by making a Lease without Licence Acceptance at full Age makes it good to Lessee rendring Rent at full Age he accepts the Rent and after outs the Lessee Lessee brings Ejectment and Judgment for Lessee Per Cur. this Lease may be affirmed by acceptance and such a Forfeiture shall not bind an Infant 8 Rep. 44. Noy 92. Of Copy-holds and Copy-holders in respect of the King and his Prerogative Per Stat. 2 Ed. 6. Cap. 8. Copy-holders shall enjoy their Estates where the King is intituled by Office though they be not found by Inquisition The Statute of Chantries gives no Copy-hold Land to the King 1 Ed. 6.14 The Estates of the Kings Copy-holders confirmed by Decree in the Exchequer or Dutchy-Chamber shall be good according to the same Decree Stat. 7 Jac. Cap. 21. A Popish Recusant shall forfeit all his Copy-hold Land 35 Eliz. Cap. 2. Whether the King shall have the Copy-hold granted in Trust for an Alien It was a Question in Car. 1. between the King and Holland whether the King shall have a Copy-hold which is granted to one in Trust for an Alien The better Opinion seems to be that he shall Styles Rep. p. 20.37 75. Vide this Case Reported in Rolls 1. Abr. 194. Tit. Alien If an Alien Amy Purchase Copy-hold in Fee in the Name of J. S. in Trust for himself and his Heirs It was a great Question and much Argued whether the King shall have the Trust of this Copy-hold but no Opinion given as to this Point But the Trust being traversed and found for the King yet Judgment was given against the King because by the Inquisition by which this Trust and matter was found J. S. who was the person trusted and who had the Estate in Fee in the Law in him Where the King hath no possion by force of the Inquisition was put out of possession of it by the Inquisition where the Alien had but the Trust and no possession and therefore admitting that the Trust should have been given to the King yet the King may not have the possession by force of this but ought to have sued to have the Trust executed in a Court of Equity The King is seized of a Manor in Fee in which is a Copy-hold demisable at Will according to the Custom of the Manor The King demised this Copy-hold to J. G. for Life King need not recite in his Grant that it is Copy-hold by Letters Patents J. G. dyes The great Question was if it be destroyed or the King may grant it again by Copy Per Cur. 1. The King need not recite in the Grant that it is Copy-hold 24 H. 8.21 2. Copy-holder for Life dyes the King may regrant That after the Estate for Life determined the King may grant this House and Land again by Copy of Court Roll It is otherwise in the Case of a common person The Rule That a Custom is an entire thing and cannot be apportioned shall not bind the King although it do bind a Common person The Kings Gifts shall be taken favourably and not extended to two intents where there is no necessity for it Kings Grants favourably construed as there is not here and we are not here to intend a collateral intent and so the Copy-hold is not destroyed for the Law takes care to preserve the Inheritance of the King for his Successors and it may be a benefit to the King to have it continue Copy-hold viz. to have Common Stiles p. 266. Cremer and Burnet If a Bishop Tenant in Tayl for Life or Years le ts a Copy-hold yet this shall not bind the Successor Issue in Tayl or him in Reversion to grant this by Copy again neither shall it bind an Infant Lord of Manor and the Estates and Possessions of the King are in like manner under the protection of the Law And if this Copy-hold should be extinguished Extinguishment perhaps a common Appendant or Appurtenant would be lost 2 Rolls Abr. p. 197. mesme Case If the King grants a Manor in which are Copy-holders in Fee-farm the Lands or Goods of the Copy-holder are not lyable to the Fee-farm Rent although the Freehold is Fee-Farm Rent because the Copy-holders are elder than the Rent being by Prescription 2 Rolls Abridgment p. 157. Loss of Issues If the Lord of a Manor lose Issues being summoned upon a Jury Process shall issue out of the Exchequer to levy them upon the Lands of the Copy-holders Lessees for Life or Years for the loss of Issues lyes upon the Land as an inherent Servitude by the Law in whose Hands soever it comes 1 Rolls Abr. 157. Surrender to the King without other matter of Record A Surrender of a Copy-hold to the King Lord of a Manor was in Lee and Boothby's Case 1 Keb. 720. adjudged good without other matter of Record All the Demesn Lands The King grants all his Demesn Lands in W. his Copy-hold Lands shall not pass Aliter in a common person 1 Rep. 46. Alton Wood's Case CAP. IV. The Nature of Custom in general Maxims of Customs What things are requisite to make a good Custom Time out of Memory Explained What shall be said to be an Interruption of Custom or not The reasonableness of Customs how to be judged of Several particular Customs Ratione Loci Of Customs enabling and disabling Of Customs and Prescriptions their difference and the different manner of Pleading them The several sorts of Prescription and how Prescription to be made and when and when not and by whom And when a Custom shall be said to be pursued or not Custom The Nature of Custom in general A Custom which hath obtained the force of a Law is always said to be Jus non scriptum for it cannot be made or created either by Charter or by Parliament which are Acts reduced to Writing and are always matter of Record But being only matter of Fact and consisting in Use and Practice it can be recorded and registred no where but in the Memory of the People For a Custom taketh beginning and
Statute by Equity work to make it an Estate Tayl also of this nature of the Land Popham's Rep. 33. Gravenor and Brooks so Bullen and Grant's Case A Copy-holder Surrendred to the Use of J. for Life the Remainder to H. and the Heirs of his Body it was a Question if this Estate limitted to H. was an Estate Tayl or a Fee-simple conditional for if it were a Fee-simple conditional then there cannot be an other Estate over but yet in Case of a Devise an Estate may depend upon a Fee-simple precedent but not as a Will but as an executory Devise Per Wray it is an Estate Tayl. Coke then said They who would prove the Custom to Entayl Copy-hold Lands within a Manor it is not sufficient to shew Copies of Grants to persons and the Heirs of their Bodies but they ought to shew that Surrenders made by such persons have been avoided by such matter But by Wray that is not so for customary Lands may be granted in Tayl and yet no Surrenders have been made within time of memory 1 Leon. p. 174. Bullen and Grant Cro. El. 148. mesme Case Heyden's Case in 3 Rep. 8. is clear That neither Statute without the Custom nor the Custom without the Statute but both co-operating may create Tayl. And as for Custom if the Custom be to grant Lands in Fee-simple this without question may be granted to one and the Heirs of his Body by Copy for omne majus includit minus My Lord Chief Justice Bridgman seems to argue this point very accutely and succinctly in Carters Rep. 22. Taylor and Shaws Case First says he a Copy-hold may be Entayled not Entayled as within the Statute of W. 2. nor by vertue of any Construction of the Statute W. 2. but there may be such an Estate before W. 2. of a Copy-hold which is a kind of base Estate and which might be grantable to one and the Heirs of his Body according to the Custom and if he dyed without Issue it might be aliened again and that a Copy-holder could not bar his Issue unless by a Recovery such an Estate might be by Custom I hold saith he That the Evidence may fall out to be such that we may take it for granted that Lands granted by Copy to one and the Heirs of his Body the Remainder over may be a good Remainder and the Reversion may continue in the Copy-holder the Donor may have a good Reversion and all this without the help of W. 2. That which confirms me is the constant practice of most Copyholds to have Estates over As for the reason of it if we shall give in Evidence for the purpose a Surrender in H. 7ths time wherein Lands are limited to one and the Heirs of his Body the Remainder over this is an Evidence that it was so in H. 7ths time and we have reason to think so it was past time of memory of Man And as your Evidence is for Custom so may your Case be to make an immemorial Custom Then all the Question is whether it will bear it or not In this Case of a Copy-hold being an Estate at will you may have it at will according to the nature of the Custom it is not against the Analogy and Reason of the Law and it may bear it the Evidence may be such If in H. 7th or E. the 4ths time it appears so it is a good warrant for matter of Evidence for a Jury to find That there were such Copy-hold Estates with limitation over Now before the Statute of W. 2. it had been a good Custom to grant Copy-hold to one and the Heirs of his Body the Remainder over or to grant the Land by the name of a Reversion for here is no alteration of Common Law Estates The reasonableness of this Custom appears by the Statute of W. 2. That Act doth not create the Estate Proofs of an Estate Tayl. neither a Remainder nor a Reversion but the Act prohibiting Alienations Quo minus ad exitum illorum quibus tenementum sic fuerit datum remaneat post obitum illorum vel ad donatorem si exitus ejus deficiat revertatur by operation of Law it comes to a Remainder or Reversion if by Custom such Estates may remain or revert so may Copy-holds by Custom because they are Tenants at will Now as by that construction W. 2. did make a Remainder or a Reversion so the Custom of prohibiting Alienations by Copy may make Reversions or Remainders of Copy-hold Estates If the Reader hath a mind to see other Cases about the Entayling of Copy-holds though they are all reduced to what is before cited he may peruse 2 Brownl 42 76. Keymer and Poel 121. Hill and Upchurch 1 Rolls Rep. 48. Warn and Sawyer Cro. El. 717. Erish and Rives c. 2 Brownl 121. The Law about Entayling of Copy-holds is setled and agreed by the Judges B. R. 17 Car. 2. Newton and Shaftoe's Case That it is by Custom and not by the Statute so agreed M. 18. Car. Pilkington and Stanhop's Case queux vide apres Of docking or barring Copy-hold Estates being barred by Fine or Recovery or otherwise It is agreed by all the Judges 1 Rolls Rep. 48. Warn and Sawyer's Case That if an Estate Tayl may be of a Copy-hold by Custom that by Custom it may be dock'd and destroyed See More n. 877. A Copy-hold may be Entayled by Custom and barred by a Recovery by special Custom and it was agreed that a Surrender may bar the Issue by special Custom Chard and Wyat so Lee and Brown M. 15 Jac. B. R. And it was agreed to be a strong proof of the Custom that they to whose Use such Surrenders had been made had enjoyed the Land against the Issue in Tayl 1 Rolls Abr. 506. mesme Case The Custom of the Manor of Wakefield was That they may Entayl their Copy-hold Lands and the Custom of the Manor to bar the Entayls and the Remainders there is That the Tenant in Tayl shall commit a Forfeiture as by making a Lease without Licenc c. and then for the Lord to make three Proclamations and to seize the Copyhold and then to grant this to the Copy-holder and his Heirs allowed to be a good Custom Also this Custom there was good That if Tenant in Tayl make a Surrender to a Purchaser and his Heirs of his Copy-hold and such Purchasor intending to bar the Entayl and the Remainders commits a Forfeiture upon which there is a seizure by the Lord and three Proclamations c. and so for him to grant these were adjuged good Customs though the Tenant in Tayl nor his Issue are privy See as to this last Custom in a Tryal at Bar in Ejectment Siderfin p. 314. Lessee of Pilkington contra Stanhop So in Ejectment in Grantham and Coplies Case 2 Sanders 422. And it was faâ—ther adjudged If such Forfeiture be presented in the Copy-hold Court and the Land seized in Manus Domini the Lord may not
At the Court Baron of the Honour of Hampton J. S. and J. D. Tenants of the Honour of Hampton do present An Honour That J. R. did Surrender into the Hands of two Tenants of the Honour Per Jones This being a Court of the Honour and into the Hands of the Tenants of the Honour it s not good but by the other three Justices its good enough For Toddington being in the Margent it shall be said a distinct Court by it self For an Honour consisteth of many Manors yet all the Courts for the Manors are distinguished and have several Copyholders Cro. Car. 366. Seagood and Hone. Special Verdict was That Copy-holder of Inheritance bargained and sold his Copy-hold Land c. to the Lessee of the Manor and this was by Indenture and the Indenture was to this effect Verdict found not according to the Indenture That he bargained and sold all his Lands and Tenements as well Copy-holds as other Lands bought of John Culpepper in such a Town but it is not found by the Verdict nor averred by the Party That the Land was bought of John Culpepper and so ill Winch Rep. p. 67. Hasset and Hanson Custom not well found A Copy-holder of Inheritance made a Letter of Attorny to two Joyntly and severally to Surrender his Copy-hold Lands in Fee to certain Uses after his death but the Verdict doth not find that the two Attornies were custumary Tenants nor doth it appear that they were customary Tenants at the time of the Admittance and the primier possession will make a disseisin by the Defendant if the Custom be not well found It is not found that the two Attornies were customary Tenants but it was objected here is so much found as shall make it to be presumed that they were Tenants of the Manor for it is found that the party is admitted secundum consuetud Manerij which cannot be a good Admittance if they were not Tenants But Rolls answered to be admitted secundum consuetudinem goes to the Admittance not to the Letter of Attorny the Custom is not good neither is it found that the Land is demisable at the will of the Lord c. and so it may be free Land and the Custom reaches it not Stiles p. 311. Wallis and Bucknal The Plaintiff entitles himself to have Common of Pasture c. to his Copy-hold and the Custom was traversed it was found he ought to have the same Common but that every Copy-holder used to pay time out of mind c. pro ead communia unam gallinam quinque ova annuatim upon this Verdict the Plaintiff shall have Judgment Failure of Custom found this is not a common sub modo for the Ter-Tenant had remedy for the Hen and Eggs by distress and it is not parcel of the Issue but had the Jury found that the Plaintiff shall have Common paying so many Hens and Eggs the Issue had been against him and it had been parcel of the Custom it s not Modus Communiae but collateral recompence One prescribes to carry Water out of the River the Jury find he ought to have this paying 6 d. yearly Failure of Prsecription found Per Cur. he hath failed of his Prescription for he had prescribed absolutely and the Jury found it conditionally or sub modo and the Ter-Tenant in this Case hath no remedy but by disturbance 5 Rep. 68. Gray's Case If the Issue be whether Jury must find directly and not argumentatively where a Copy-hold is granted to three for the Lives of two he who dies seized c. ought to pay an Harriot Custom and the Jury find there never was a Grant of such Estate within the said Manor This is not well found for this is but an argument that no Harriot ought to be paid but they ought to have found it directly M. 15 Jac. B. R. Ven and Howel If the Issue be whether by the Custom of the Manor a Copy-hold may be granted to three for the Life of two and they find that by the Custom it may be granted for three Lives this is not well found because it is only by Argument because if a greater Estate may be granted a lesser may be So if the Issue be whether a Copy-hold may be granted in Tail and they find it may be granted in Fee mesme Case What shall be intended by the Juries finding if c. then for the Plaintiff Special Verdict upon a Patent from King H. 8. which Patent was adjudged void to pass the Estate the Jury find if it were a good Patent then for the Defendant if otherwise they find for the Plaintiff It is intended there is a sufficient Title found for the Plaintiff unless by this Patent it be defeated If Jury be satisfied the Plaintiff hath Title the Court ought not to doubt thereof so that if the Jury be satisfied that the Plaintiff hath any good Right by any other manner of Title the Court ought not to doubt thereof and so is Goodal's Case 5 Rep. 97. Cro. Car. 21. Castle and Hobbs Custom was pleaded by the Defendant That if a Copy-holder in Fee hath a Wife at the time of his death and two Sons or more that the Wife shall have her Free-Bench during her Life and that if the eldest Son dye living the Wife though he hath Issue his Issue shall not have it Custom must be found in the manner that he pleads it but the second Son The Jury found the Custom that the youngest Son should have it unless the eldest Son was admitted thereto as to the Reversion or made a Fine for it with the Lord in his Life-time Per Cur. The Custom is not found in that manner that he pleaded it therefore it is found against him that pleaded it for he pleaded a general Custom without exception and the Custom found is with an exception and special as the Case is in Dyer 192. Where a Custom was pleaded That a Feme should have it and it was found she should have it Verdict not aptly concluded durante viduitate but in this Case there was not any Verdict upon this Issue for they concluded their Verdict Si c. they found the Defendant guilty if otherwise not guilty and so there is not any conclusion of the point in Issue Per Cur. a gross fault and a Venire Facias de novo was awarded Cro. El. 415. Boraston and Hay In Trespass the Plaintiff in his Replication makes Title That this Land is parcel of the Manor of D. and demisable c. by Copy in Fee in Tail for Life or years c. and the Land was let to him by Copy in Fee Substance found the Prescription was traversed and found that it was demisable c. in Fee but never in Tail and that it was granted to the Plaintiff in Fee this was found for the Plaintiff for the Allegation That the Land was demisable in Fee or in Tail
c. is but a Conveyance to his Title and for that it was found that it was demisable in Fee and that it was demised unto him in Fee this is the substance of his Title and so sufficient Cro. Eliz. p. 431. Doyle and Wood. In Eject Fir. If the Jury find a special Verdict That J. S. was seized of the Manor of D. in his Demesn as of Fee in which Manor was a Copy-holder of the place where c. and commits Waste by cutting down an Oak and that after J. S. dies and the Lessor of the Plaintiff being his Cousin and Heir enters in the Manor in the place where c. for the said Forfeiture and was of this seized in his Demesn as of Fee and concludes si super totam materiam c. This is not a good Verdict because it is not found that J. S. died seized of the Manor and that this descends to the Lessor Seisin and descent as Cousin and Heir as his Cousin and Heir for it may be that J. S. aliened the Land and that the Father of the Lessor or the Lessor himself re-purchased this and that he was also Cousin and Heir to J. S. and although it be in a Verdict it shall not be intended that the Fee continued in J. S. at the time of his death and that he died thereof seized without finding it 2 Rolls Abr. 699. Cornwallis and Hammond Part found the Issue upon the whole not good In Replevin The Defendant justifies by reason of Common to such a Copy-hold for all Beasts Levant and Couchant and avers that these Beasts were Levant and Couchant c. upon which the Parties are at issue and it is found that part of the Beasts were Levant and Couchant and part not this is found for the Defendant for the whole for the issue was upon the whole and the contrary is found 2 Rolls Abr. 707. Sloper and Allen. Presidents in Special Verdicts Quod Tenementa sunt custumaria dimissibilia per Copiam dimissio per Dominum ex traditione propria 1 Rep. 117. Chudleigh 's Case Sursum redditio admissio in feodo Co. Entr. 207. Simile in Tallio communis recuperatio inde Co. Entr. 206. Tenementa concessa per copiam la A. B. super vixit Co. Ent. 273. Consuetudo infra manerium de devisatione devisatio in haec verba Co. Ent. 124. Littera Attornat ' ad sursum reddend ' tenementa custumaria sursum redditio admissio superinde Coke Entr. 576 577. Et si sit sufficiens in Lege Manerium Tenementa ab antiquo discendebant 2 percenariis qui fecer ' partitionem de terris dominicalibus ac Tenementa Custumaria servitia remanser ' in communi Coke Entr. 711. Officium Seneschalli manerij execut ' per deput ' contentio inter 2 Seneschallos de Cur. Baron Tenend 9 Rep. 45. In Ejectment Jury find that the Lands are demisable by Lives in possession or reversion and that the Widow in possession held the Lands so long as she remained sole and chaste and that M. C. Widow was seized for Life durante viduitate the Lord grants the Reversion of the said Lands by Copy to R. C. the Son of M. for Life to commence after the death forfeiture or surrender of M. M. surrenders one moiety of the Premisses to R. The Lord dies discent of the Manor to C. S. his Cousin and Heir R. Tenant for Life of one moiety and M. Tenant in Free-Bench of the other moiety the Lord by Indenture demiseth to the Lessor of the Plaintiff for 99 years if he and J. and B. his Sons shall so long live to commence after the death and determination of the Estates of the said M. and R. and of the viduity of such person as shall be his Wife at the time of his death M. surrenders her moiety to R. R. dies seized of both moieties P. C. the Defendant his Wife is admitted she commits Fornication and had a Bastard Jury find the entry of the Lessor If the Lease shall commence before P. dies was the Question Winch Ent. 455. Jury found that the Messuage and Lands tempore quo c. tempore hors memory were custumary part of the Manor of B. a Prebend of S. demisable by Copy of Court Roll for one two or three Lives and that by the Custom of the Manor every Tenant for Life sole seized of any customary Estate for Life in possession may nominate one to succeed him to be Tenant to the Lord for Life and that the party nominated used to require his Admittance and pay such Fines as were taxed by the Homage Another Custom was That every customary Tenant sole seized in possession may cut Timber Trees c. and that Mason the Defendant being Copy-holder for Life 1 May 40 Eliz. named R. P. to be his succeeding Tenant They also find that Robert P. being Prebendary of the said Prebend and seized in Fee of the said Manor 20 March 40 Eliz. demised by Indenture the Manor of B. to Peter Hoskins for three Lives and by the said Indenture Bargains and Sells to him all the Timber Trees c. by which Indenture is a Letter of Attorny to make Livery and they find the Indorsement on the Indenture to this effect Midd. That J. B. one of the Attornies entred into part and made Livery Midd. That J. G. the other Attorny entred into part and made Livery The Livery made in the House of the Lord was Endorsed but it is not mentioned to be part of the Manor The Jury find the entry of Peter Hoskins and seisin for three Lives according to the Lease which aids the other Imperfections Verdict aided 1 Jan. 43 Eliz. Peter Hoskins demiseth to J. Hoskins Masons Tenement and Lands for 99 years March 3 Jac. Mason continuing customary Tenant for Life after his nomination aforesaid cut down 20 Trees off his Copy-hold upon which J. Hoskins 6 Jac. entred upon the Land and demised to the Plaintiff who enters upon Mason who re-enters and if his re-entry be lawful they find for Mason After non-suit one of the Defendants was dead this suggestion must be entred on the Roll. and if not lawful they find for the Defendant Winch Ent. 440. Rowls and Mason In Ejectment to try the Custom of E. of Copies for three Lives the Plaintiff was non-suit and one of the Defendants being dead Hales Chief Justice advised to enter a Suggestion on the Roll That one was dead or else the Judgment for the Defendant on the non-suit will be erroneous as to all 2 Keb. 832. Hawthorn versus Bawden CAP. XXXV Copy-holders relieved in Chancery or what things in respect of Copy-hold Estates are relievable in Chancery or not NOW I conceive it will not be impertinent but rather a thing well approved of to cite some Cases Resolutions and Decrees wherein Copy-holders have been relieved and what remedy the Chancellor will give in respect of Lords
the Son to the Plow So the Custom that the Wife shall have the whole for her free Bench is against the Maxim of Common Law for Dower These Customs might have a reasonable beginning where they are not prejudicial to the Common-wealth nor to the present Interest of any particular person yet a Custom may be prejudicial to the Interest of a particular person and reasonable also where it is for the benefit of the Common-wealth in general as to make Bulwarks upon another mans Land in time of War c. But Custom which is contrary to the publick Good or injurious to a Multitude and beneficial only to some particular Person such Custom is repugnant to the Law of Reason and void ab initio and no Prescription can make it good therefore the Custom of a Manor was That no Commoner should put in his Beasts till the Lord had put in his and it was adjudged void 2 H. 4.24 For if the Lord would never put in his Beast the Commoners should lose their Common As to Customs being reasonable or unreasonable vide several more instances in the Argument of Rolls and Mason's Case 2 Brownl 86 88. Customs may be reasonable ratione loci Custom is Several particular Customs in several places where Copy-holder had Issue only Daughters the eldest shall have this for Life and after her death it shall go to the next Heir Male of the Father to him and his Heirs and if no such Heir then it shall Escheat to the Lord. Copy-holder dyes Borderers on Scotland his Wife hath it durante viduitate leaving two Daughters and during this time the eldest dyes The Question was if the second Daughter or the Lord by Escheat had the better Title Per Cur. 1. The Custom is good and the Estate which the Daughter had is an excrescent Estate and not properly a descent 2. She that was eldest at the time of the death of the Mother shall have it and not only Primogenita filia Siderfin p. 267. Newton and Shafto This Custom was good ratione loci for such Manor is bordering on Scotland where were frequent Invasions And Feme sole Merchant is good ratione loci Feme Sole Merchant London The Custom of the Isle of Man That one shall be hanged for stealing a Capon Isle Man but not for stealing an Ox is good In the Manor of Bemister in Dorset Bemister is this Custom That a Copy-holder ought to nominate his Successor otherwise the Land shall Escheat and it has been allowed to be a good Custom So the Manor of Taunton Taunton Dean That the Wife of the Copy-holder shall have the Inheritance of her Husband Siderfin p. 267. id Case The Custom of Millan in Norfolk is Millan in Norfolk If any Copy-holder will sell his Land and agree upon the Price at the next Court the next of his Blood and if he refuse any other of his Blood may have the Land And such like Custom there is at Ham in Middlesex Ham in Middlesex The next Clivener which is he that dwelleth next to him shall have the refusal giving as much as another will and he which inhabits on the East the first and then the South c. 2 Brownl 177. As for the other Rules of the validities of Customs as that they ought to be on good Considerations and beneficial to the Prescriber as Calthrop and Cokes Copyholder treat of they may be referred to the forgoing Rules Now you see there are three supporters of a Copy-hold Custom 1. Time and that must be out of the memory of Man so that Copy-hold cannot begin at this day 2. That the Tenements be parcel of the Manor or within the Manor 3. That it hath been demised and demisible by Copy of Court Roll Demised and demisible how understood for it need not be demised time out of mind by Copy of Court Roll but if it be demisible it is sufficient For Example If a Copy-hold Tenement Escheat to the Lord and the Lord keeps it in his hands many years during this time it is not demised but demisible for the Lord hath power to demise it again Coke Lit. 58. b. Customs of Manors are Disabling Enabling Disabling is That the Tenant by a particular Custom shall not be allowed to do that which he might by the general Custom of Manors As a man may sell Land to whom he will by the general Custom of Manors yet in some Manors by special Custom he must make an offer to the next of Blood Vide supra Customs ratione loci Enabling is where the Tenant by a particular Custom shall be enabled to do that from which he is restrained by the general Custom of Manors By the general Custom of Manors the granting of Copy-hold Land for more than one year without Licence is a Forfeiture yet in some Manors they may do it and it shall not be a Forfeiture Coke Copy-hold 79. Sect. 33. You will find Prescription mentioned in the ensuing Cases therefore it will be of good use a little to open the nature of Custom and Prescription and to shew how and wherein they agree and wherein they differ and also the difference as to Pleadings Custom Prescription and Usage are of great Affinity yet they differ thus Custom is where by continuance of time a Right is obtained concerning divers persons in Common Prescription is where by continuance of time one particular person obtaineth Right against another either a Person or Body Politick Usage is by continuance of time and an efficient cause of both Limitation is where a Right may be obtained by reason of Non-claim by the space of a certain number of years Calthrops Reading 1. Prescription is made in the Person and so the Pleading is That he and all his Ancestors c. Or he and all those whose Estate he hath time out of mind used to have Common of Pasture in such a place c. being the Land of some other c. as pertaining to the said Manor Custom is a Copy-holder of the Manor of D. doth plead That within the same Manor there is and hath been such a Custom timeout of mind used that all the Copy-holders of the said Manor have and used to have Common c. Coke Lit. 113. b. So Custom lyes upon the Land As infra manerium talis habetur consuetudo c. 8 Rep. Swain's Case And such Custom binds the Land as Gavel-kind Borough English c. Prescription ought to have a Lawful beginning not so of Custom So is Coke 6 Rep. Gateward's Case Prescription is alledged in the Person and a Custom ought always to be alledged upon the Land for every Prescription by common intendment ought to have a lawful beginning but it is otherwise of a Custom for this ought to be reasonable and Ex certa rationabili causa usitata but it need not to have an intendment of a lawful commencement as Custom to have Land devisable
Manor after the Grant made hath stablish'd and fixed this firm to the Grantee So if the Copy-holders for Life used to have Common in the Lords Wastes or Woods and the Lord aliens the Wastes or Woods to another in Fee and after grants certain Copy-hold Lands or Houses for Lives such Grantees shall have Common of Pasture or Estovers notwithstanding the Severance for the Title of Copy-holder is paramount the Severance and the Custom unites the Common or Estovers which are but accessories and incidents so long as the House and Land being the principal is maintained by the Custom which customary Appurtenants are not pertaining to the Estate of the Lord for he is Owner of the Free-hold and Inheritance of the whole Manor but they are appertaining to the customary Estate of the Copy-holder after the Grant made 8 Rep. 63. Swain's Case Voluntary Grants made by Feoffee of Manor on Condition good Feoffee of a Manor upon Condition grants Land by Copy and afterwards the Manor becomes forfeited and the Feoffor entreth yet the Copy-hold Estate remains untouched so if Feoffee of a Manor on Condition to Enfeoff a Stranger and the next day makes a voluntary Grant by Copy this shall bind Coke Cop. Voluntary Estates granted during the time of the Lords Interest shall be good though the Lords Estate be avoided ab initio Nay though the Estate of the Lord in the Manor by Relation happen to be void ab initio yet if he grant by Copy during the continuance of his Interest it is good So Copy-holders Estates granted before a Divorce causa praecontractus shall be good So if a man espouseth the Lady of a Manor under the Age of consent and after she disagreeeth though the Marriage by relation was void ab initio yet Copy-holds granted before disagreement shall never be avoided So by Popham in Rowse's Case Owen 28. If a Manor be devised to one and the Devisee enters and makes Copies and then the Devise is found to be void yet such Copies of Surrenders are good Aliter where such Devisee makes new or voluntary Copies If the Lord of a Manor commits Felony or Murder and Process of Outlawry is awarded against him after the Exigent he granteth Copyhold Estates according to the Custom and then is Attainted these Grants are good though by relation the Manor was forfeited from the time of the Exigent awarded So if the Lord had been Attainted by Verdict or Confession If the Lord of a Manor acknowledgeth a Statute and then granteth Lands by Copy Grant after Stat. acknowledged and the Manor extended yet shall be good and after the Manor is delivered to the Conusee in Extent the Grant cannot by this be impeached Lease for years is made of a Manor and to be void upon breach of a Condition Condition is broken and Lessee before entry of the Lessor grants Estates by Copy these Grants shall never exclude the Lessor for upon breach of the Condition the Lease is void But in case of a Lease for Life or Grant in Tayl or Fee of the Manor on such Condition the granting Estates by Copy before Entry of the Lessor c. may be good for before his Title be executed by Entry the Tenant c. hath a lawful Interest to grant by Copy Coke Cop. p. 100 101. Sect. 34. But if a Parson before Induction grant Lands by Copy being parcel of a Manor which is Glebe Land this admitting binds not though he be afterwards Inducted Ibid. Tenant in Dower shall not avoid such Grant If the Lord of a Manor taketh a Wife and after that granteth Copy-hold Estates according to the Custom and dyeth and the Feme hath this Manor assigned to her in Dower yet she cannot avoid these Copy-hold Estates because the Copy-holders are in by a Title paramount to the Feme viz. by Custom Coke 8 Rep. 63. b. Swain's Case But if the Lords Heir make such assignment of Dower she may avoid them But in all these Cases before put observe these three Rules 1. These Grants must be according to the Custom of the Manor and Rents and Services customary must be reserved 2. Though it is not material what Estate or Interest the Lord hath Tenant at sufferance Grants c. shall not bind yet it must be an Estate or Interest and therefore Tenant Pur auer vie of a Manor is Cesty que vie dyes the Tenant continued possession of the Manor and held Courts and made voluntary Grants by Copy Per Cur. This shall not bind the Lord for he was but Tenant at sufferance who had not any Interest and so he was a Disseisor of the Manor More n. 369. Rouse and Artois 3. As to the Lords Grant of the Copy-hold Estate in respect of his Estate in the Copy-hold there the quantity of the Lords Estate is to be regarded for if a Copy-holder in Fee surrender to the use of the Lord for Life the remainder over to a Stranger or reserving the reversion to himself if the Lord will grant this by Copy in Fee whatsoever Estate the Lord hath in the Manor yet having but an Estate for Life in the Copy-hold no larger Estate shall pass than he himself hath Coke Cop. 96. What acts of the Lord in granting Copy-holds are not confirmed by Custom but only strengthned by the Power Interest and Authority of the Lord have no longer continuance than the Lords Estate continueth Therefore if a Tenant for Life of a Manor granteth a Licence to a Copy-holder to alien and dyeth the Licence is destroyed and the power of Alienation ceaseth Now as to the Quality of the Lords Estate he must be Legitimus Dominus he must have a lawful Estate in the Manor The Rule in Cokes 4 Rep. Clark and Pennyfeather's Case is universally true Grant by one that hath a tortious Title not Good If a Disseisor or Feoffee of a Disseisor or any other who had a tortious or defeazable Estate or Interest subject to the Action or Entry of another hold Court and make any voluntary Grant upon Escheat or Forfeiture of a Copy-hold such voluntary Grant shall not bind him that hath right when he hath re-continued the Manor by Action or Entry for to this intent the said Custom shall be understood of a Lord who hath a lawful Estate or Interest A Grant upon an usurped Title shall never bind the right Owner but that by Action or Entry he may avoid them for the Law will not support a Custom which shall work or tend to the disherison of the right owner If the Heir of a Disseisor who comes in by descent Grants any Copy-hold Estate it may be avoided by the Disseisee So of a Feoffee of a Disseisor who comes in by Title If Tenant in Tayl of a Manor discontinueth the Tayl and after the discontinuance granteth Copy-hold Estates and dyeth now the Discontinuee comes in under a just Title and shall enjoy against all the World during the
The nature and effect of a Presentment 139 Two Surrender and the second Surrender is first presented 140 What will make a possessio fratris so as to inherit a Copy-hold Priviledges of Copy-hold 18 19 20 R. Popish Recusant shall forfeit all his Copy-hold Land within 25 El. c. 10. 253 Copy-hold Rents apportioned 188 Action of Debt lyes not for Arrears of Rent within the Statute 32 H. 8. 250 One Lease of Freehold and Copy-hold the Rent issues out of both 187 Avowry for Rent by Lessee of a Copy-holder 262 S. Steward 75 Deputy acts done by him or his Servant shall be good so by a reputed Steward 76 77 Infant cannot be a Steward 77 Surrender 95 The nature of a Surrender ib. Where and in what respects Estates may pass otherwise than by Surrender 99 The Lord not compellable to make a Surrender 49 Where Surrender is sufficient without Admittance 102 Where Admittance is sufficient without Surrender 102 103 Of Surrenderss out of Court who may take them and what are good or not 105 In whom the Reversion after a particular Estate remains 104 Surrender by Attorny and form of the Entry 107 108 What shall pass and by what words in a Surrender 109 Construction of a Surrender where no use is limitted 110 Surrender passeth no Estate by Implicacition Where an Use is limitted in a Surrender how far the construction shall be according to the Rule of the Common Law 113 Surrender to an Use upon an Use ibid. Surrender to the Use of ones Wife 13 125 Where a Surrender is void for uncertainty 113 Surrender to the Use of a person not in esse 115 to the Use of one in ventre sa mere 116 Of a Surrender to take effect in futuro ibid. Construction of Surrenders and limitations in Remainder or Reversion 118 119 If a Surrender makes a discontinuance 217 Surrender to the Use of a Mans last Will and how to be construed 124 Surrenders upon condition or contingency 120 221 122 129 Where a Surrender before Admittance shall be good and where not 130 Surrender by Husband of the Wifes Land Surrender by Joynt-Tenants 127 131 Surrender by a Feme Covert 133 Surrender of the Wives Land 134 Surrender to the Steward to the Use of the Steward is good ibid. Countermand of a Surrender 135 What remedy to force a Trustee to surrender 135 Surrender not good till presented 136 Heir decreed to Surrender on Contract with the Ancestor 327 Relief in equity as to Surrender 323 Defendant decreed to Surrender according to Agreement ibid. hold shall not be extended 237 If the Copy-holder bind himself in a Statute the Copy Within what Statutes of Parliament Copy-hold Lands are contained and within what not 247 c. Services not to be performed by Attorny T. How Copy-holds are Entayl'd and how dockt and barred 165 166 c. How the Statute VV. 2. creates an Estate Tayl 166 167 In what cases Trespass may be brought by the Copy-holder against his Lord 257 Trespass by a Copy-holder for Beasts depasturing on the Common 260 Tryal The time of the Surrender or of the Courts being held to be tryed by the Jury and not by the Court-Rolls 307 When Issue is taken upon a Surrender where to be tryed 310 Traversing the day of the Grant Traversing the dying seized of the Copy-hold 246 205 Where a particular Custom is confessed in the Rejoynder he ought to Traverse the general Custom 228 V. Copy-hold not determined or forfeited by Utlawry Special Verdict 311 Custom not well found 312 Failer of Prescription 313 Jury must find directly and not argumentatively ib. Custom must be found in the manner that he pleads it 314 Verdict aided 318 Statute 27 H. 8. of Uses extends not to Copy-hold 252 Venue 310 VV. Surrender to the Use ef a Man's last Will 115 Copy-hold devised without Surrender executed by decree in Chancery 326 Customs as to Woods Underwoods 58 What Copy-holders may cut Trees and in what cases and to what purposes Custom to sell Trees 58 Copy-hold Lands are not within the Words of the Statute 34 H. 8.5 of Wills Quaere If within the Equity 253 A TABLE OF THE Precedents A Settlement before Marriage of a Copy-hold Estate where according to the Custom of the Manor there is a dead Year after the death of every Tenant grantable by the Tenant in his Life-time and his Widow enjoys the Estate durante castitate if he surrender or alien it not in his Life-time with permission That the Goods of the Wife shall remain at her disposal and that her Husbands name may be made use of to sue for her Debts but the Monies to be secured by the Trustees to her use 329 Covenant to Surrender Copy-hold Land after bargain and sale of Free-hold 334 Covenant that he is rightfully seized of Copy-hold Land 335 A Covenant to surrender Copy-hold Lands ibid. A Covenant in nature of a Mortgage upon a Surrender of Copy-hold Land to pay mony at a certain time 337 A Bargain and Sale of Copy-hold Lands by Commissioners of Bankrupts 339 A Surrender in Trust and the Trust declared Trustees covenant not to commit c. any thing that may amount to a Forfeiture 342 An Infranchisement of Copy-hold Lands made by a Lord of a Manor to his Copy-holder 344 A Lease of Copy-hold Land with the Lords Licence 348 A Release of Copy-hold Estate 350 Precedents of Copies of Court Rolls Presentments Surrenders Admittances Releases Proclamations for not coming in c. A Surrender 253 A Surrender of Copy-hold Lands for Life the Remainder in Fee taken by the Steward out of Court 355 A Surrender out of Court of a Reversion to the use of a Man and his Wife and the Heirs of the Body of the Husband the Remainder to the Heirs of the Body of the Wife the Remainder to the Husband of the present Tenant for Life in Tayl the Remainder to the present Tenant for Life in Tayl the Remainder to another in Fee with the Lords acknowledgment of satisfaction of a Fine The Surrendror surrenders all his Right c. to the Husband and Wife the present Tenant for Life to the Uses aforesaid 356 After abatement and intrusion the Lord seiseth the Lands and grants them to the Abator for term of Life the Remainder to the next Heir of the Disseisee in Tayl remainder in Fee 358 Surrender out of Court to several Uses upon a Marriage Settlement 360 Presentment of a Surrender made in Court with the Admittance of the Tenant next Heir 361 The finding the death of a Tenant and of the Lands and Heir with the Admission of the Tenant and a Presentment made in Court between the Heir and his Mother touching her Dower and the Mothers Release of her Dower 362 Presentment of the Copy-hold Customs of a Manor 376 367 Surrender by Baron and Feme 369 Surrender to the Use of ones last Will 370 Grant of the wardship of a Tenant ibid. Surrender of right Title and Interest
Newly Printed THE Modern Conveyancer Or Conveyancing Improved being a choice Collection of PRESIDENTS on most Occasions Drawn after the manner of Conveyancing now in Use By the greatest Hands of the present Age of which some are still living Consisting of Settlements of Estates upon Marriages Mortgages Assignments c. With an Introduction concerning Conveyancing in General in large 8 vo Printed for J. Walthoe in Vine-Court Middle Temple LEX CVSTVMARIA OR A TREATISE OF Copy-hold Estates In respect of the Lord Copy-holder WHEREIN The Nature of CUSTOMS in general and of particular Customs Grants and Surrenders and their Constructions and Expositions in reference to the thing granted or surrendred and the Uses or Limitations of Estates are clearly Illustrated Admittances Presentments Fines and Forfeitures are fully handled and many Quaeries and Difficulties by late Resolutions setled Leases Licences Extinguishments of Copy-hold Estates and what Statutes extend to Copy-hold Estates are explained AND ALSO Of Actions by Lord or Tenant and the manner of declaring and pleading either Generally or as to particular Customs with Tryal and Evidence of Custom and of Special Verdicts TOGETHER With a Collection of many CASES wherein a Copy-holder may receive relief in the Court of Chancery To which are Annexed PRESIDENTS of Conveyances respecting Copy-holds Releases Surrenders Grants Presentments and the like As also PRESIDENTS of Court Rolls Surrenders Admittances Presentments c. By S. C. Barister at Law LONDON Printed by the Assigns of Richard and Edward Atkins Esquires for Iohn Walthoe and are to be sold at his Shop in Vine Court Middle Temple adjoyning to the Cloyster 1696. THE PREFACE TO THE PRACTICERS OF THE LAW SIR Edward Coke in Bagnal and Tucker's Case in Brownl 2 Rep. is of Opinion That the third part of this Realm is in Copy-hold If we consider the long and continued Series of Practice that this Great Man was Conversant in either at the Bar or Bench and to whom persons from all parts and corners of the Nation resorted as to the Oracle of the Law we shall not easily conceive his Judgment was not Temerarious but rather that he had good Reason for such positive conjecture However it is most certain That a vast number of Estates and those considerable too depend upon no other than Custom in point of Title and are no other ways preserved in point of Evidence then by Copies of Court Rolls Now we find large and very elaborate Volumes published concerning Estates and Tenures at Common Law and yet very little hath been professedly wrote upon this Subject tho' so great a part of the Lands and Estates of this Nation are protected and preserved by it which I the more wonder at for that to know when a Custom is good and allowable in Law requires a more than ordinary skill and amongst the infinity of Customs to try them by and pertinently to apply them to those four standing Essentials Antiquity Continuance Certainty and Reasonableness is a Work of great Judgment and Dexterity besides Constructions and Expositions of Grants and Surrenders the Penalty and fatal Consequence of Forfeitures under an obstinate Lord especially such as are wilful the nicety and variety of Customs seem very well to deserve a particular and designed Treatise I remember but two that have professedly handled this piece of Learning my Lord Coke in his Compleat Copy-holder and Mr. Calthrop in his Readings which tho' they are done with good Judgment yet as they do totally omit many Titles which are of great Use so they extend to very few more Cases than those which are amast together in the 4th Report since which we have thousands of Cases Argued and Debated and some Points started which are primae impressionis and in truth it is not fit to croud so much excellent Learning and of such general Use into a Manual In this Treatise you will find Totum Domini Totum Tenentis The Lord may see his power tho' moderated and the Tenant may understand his Duty and his Priviledge For Tempora mutantur when Bracton and Fleta wrote poor Copy-holders tempestive intempestive pro voluntate Domini possent resumi revocari But the Lord now is not Enthroned like a Grand Seigniour whose Proceedings are Arbitrary and his Humors Laws no he is a mixt Monarch he is bound up by the Customs and Constitutions of his little Empire 'T is true they are Tenants Ad voluntatem Domini yet this Will is abridged clogged and restrained secundum consuetudinem Manerii The Learning of Copy-holds is subtle and curious in the Arguments and Pleadings As for the purpose That great Question whether and how Copy-holds may be Intayled has been Argued with great subtilty and penetration as you may read Popham p. 32. Gravenor's Case Cro. Car. 42. Rowden and Malster's Case And in Carter's Reports 22. Taylor and Shaw's Case Now the mentioning of this Argument hath presented me with an Answer to what I foresee will be imputed as Faults to me In some Cases I am thought too tedious and write a great part thereof Verbatim and I think I have reason so to do tho' that is but seldom The reason of some Cases will ill bear abstracting as to Instance in that Great Man's Reports I mean my Lord Hobart and Mr. Justice Yelverton's Cases They that can satisfie themselves with half a Case let them dabble in those silly Abridgments of Moor Croke c. I was always of this mind That in the gelding a close and well compacted Argument the Vigour of it is in a great measure dwindled and emasculated Another Crime perhaps may be that I cite one Case two or three times and I do so when I meet with a copious prolifick Case which brancheth it self into several Points I thought it more Intelligible and Methodical to Graft each Shoot into its proper Title whether it be a point in Law or a Formality in Pleading But not to spend time in creating Apologies for Crimes perhaps which I shall never be accused Gentlemen I surrender the whole to your Use and hope thereby to gain Admittance into your favourable Opinion THE CONTENTS OF THE CHAPTERS IN THE Ensuing TREATISE CAP. I. OF the Original and nature of a Manor and of what it consists Of a Manor real and by reputation Of a customary Manor Of Grants and Leases of Manors chiefly respecting Copy-hold Estates and what shall be said parcel of a Manor and what shall be said severance of Copy-hold from the Manor CAP. II. The notion and nature of a Copy-hold as to its Basis and Foundation How a Copy-holder and a Tenant at Will at Common Law differ The general Maxims and Rules of Copy-hold Estates together with the several differences and diversities by the perusal whereof the ensuing Cases will be rendred the more easy and Intelligible CAP. III. The Priviledge of Copy-hold Estates Priviledges of the Lord. Of the Tenant Of Infants Copy-holders Of the Kings Prerogative and Priviledge in respect of Copy-holds CAP.
that Copy-hold Land may well be parcel of the Demesns and the Frank-tenements are resting in the Lord but indeed the customary Inheritance is in the Copy-holder and he shall plead That he is seized with this farther addition In Dominico suo ut de feodo secundum consuetudinem Manerij Services As for Services whether Corporeal Annual or Accidental they are Duties accrewing to the Lord by reason of his Seigniory And respecting Copy-holds I shall under their proper Titles hereafter speak of Herriots Forfeitures Amerciaments and Fines for not doing Suit and Service and the like It was ingeniously said by Doddridge in Herns and Strouds Case Latch 63. That no Case resembles a Manor more than a Rectory as a Manor is intire so is a Rectory and the Glebe Lands resemble the Demesns and the Tythes the Services If I let my Manor excepting the Demesns the Exception is void Winch p. 23. Description of a Manor The New Expositor of Law-Terms describes a Manor as a thing compounded of divers things as of an House Land Arable Pasture Meadow Wood Rent Advowson Court Baron and the like and this ought to be by long continuance of Time to the contrary whereof Man's Memory cannot occur So that a Manor consists of Demesns and Services Manor not made at this day and a Court Baron as Incident and this must be time out of Memory for a Manor cannot be made at this day because a Court Baron cannot now be made To a Manor a Court-Baron is incident and two Suitors at least and a Manor cannot be without a Court Baron and Suitors or Freeholders Two at the least for if all the Free-holds except one Escheat to the Lord or if he purchase all except one there his Manor is gone for that it cannot be a Manor without a Court Baron and a Court Baron cannot be holden but before Two Suitors at the least A Court Baron is incident to a Manor as a Court of Pye-powders to a Fair. By the Grant of a Manor cum pertinentijs the Court passeth and a Man cannot grant his Court but he may grant the Profits of his Court 1 Brownl 175. Browns Case Now though a Man cannot make a Manor at this day yet he may make Gifts in Tayl reserving a Tenure and Suit of Court Yet a Tenure may be created because though he may create a Tenure yet he may not create a Court and a Court cannot be but with a continuance time out of mind 35 H. 8. Broke Tenure 102. A Manor as I said before may not be made at this day neither by a common person The King cannot make a Manor or parcel of a Manor at this day nor by the King himself and the King cannot make a thing parcel of a Manor at this day as if he grants Lands to hold of him as of the Manor of Greenwich by a certain Rent this Rent is not parcel of the Manor Yet though a Seigniory or Appendancy cannot be made at this day yet if an Advowson be Appendant to a Manor Advowson appendant and the Lord grants part of the Manor with the Advowson to J. S. it is now Appendant to that part Cro. El. p. 39. Morris and Smith In truth Manors cannot at this day be created but by way of derivation as being derived out of an ancient Manor Manor by derivation or by act in Law as in the Case of Copartners Vide infra A Manor is entire A Manor is an entire thing and cannot be divided If the Lord will transfer over unto a Stranger the Services of all his Tenants and reserve unto himself the Demesns or if he will pass away the Demesns and reserve the Services Now in both Cases the Lord hath not a Manor really but nominally only and in reputation Manor in reputation and if I am disseised of a Manor and the disseisor sever the Demesns from the Services as it is 4 E. 4. I which have right ought to make my demand according to my right and not to take notice of his severance for to me it is a Manor still Manor in suspence If a Manor descendeth to Co-partners and they make partition and the entire Demesns are allotted to one and the entire Services to the other the Manor is now in suspence for neither hath a Manor but in name only but if part of the Demesns and part of the Services be allotted to each then they each of them have a real Manor 26 H. 4.8 6 Rep. 64. Sir Moyle Finch's Case To Explain this I shall cite a Case or two Joynt-tenants make partition of a Manor yet both keep but one Court If two Joynt-Tenants make partition this day of a Manor and each of them hath Demesns and Services yet each of them hath not a Manor nor can keep several Courts but must both keep one Court Croke El. p. 39. Morris's Case A. seized of a Manor whereof part of the Tenants were Freeholders and part Copy-holders had Issue two Daughters and dy'd the Daughters entred and made partition of the Demesns only but the Services of the Free-holders and Copy-holders remain'd in Common By the partition the Demesns are now become in gross and severed from the Manor and if partition be made of a Manor so as the Demesns be allotted to one Sister and the Services to another now the Manor is dissolved or rather suspended Manor suspended and revived yet if the other Sister dyes without Issue and her part descendeth to the other now it is become a Manor again 1 Leon. p. 204. Thetford's Case By this you see we read in our Books of two sorts of Manors 1. A real and perfect Manor such as is before described 2. A nominal Manor a Manor by reputation A Manor nominal as you may see by several Instances before Some call it a Manor in gross as Manor in gross a man may have the Right and Interest of a Court Baron with the Perquisites thereunto belonging but this is improperly called a Manor in a strict sense and another may have the Scite and every Foot of Land thereunto belonging And as to this I will only cite a Case which refers to practice 6 Rep. 64 65. Sir Moyle Finch's Case Reputation is sufficient to pass a thing in a Conveyance by the name of a Manor Manor in reputation will pass by the name of a Manor in a Conveyance not in a Fine which is not re vera a Manor yet it ought to be in truth and not reputation which ought to challenge and hold Priviledge of a Manor as to have a Court Baron c. But a Manor in reputation which is not in truth a Manor will not pass by the name of a Manor in a Fine or Common Recovery for they shall not be taken by intendment Croke Eliz. 524. Mallet's Case Of Customary Manors A customary Manor may be held by Copy and such customary
4. Rep. 29. Bunting and Lepingwel 5. Copy-hold ought to be dimissa dimissibilis as it is in Murrels Case 4 Rep. vide infra Tit. Custom Yet this Rule is not Infallible For if a Copy-hold Land be in the hand of a Subject who is after preferred to Dignity Royal the Copy-hold is extinct for it is below the Majesty of a King to perform servile Services and yet after his Decease the next who hath right shall be admitted and the Tenure shall be revived in him 2 Siderfin 82. CAP. III. Priviledges of Copy-hold Estates 1. Priviledges of the Lord. 2. Of the Tenant 3. Priviledges of Infants Copy-holders 4. Of Copy-holds in respect of the Kings Prerogative and Priviledge BEfore I come to Treat farther of Copy-holds I thought it might not be amiss to set down the Priviledges of Copy-holders and Lords and Prerogative of the King that so the Student being well setled in these they need not be mentioned or explicated hereafter though they may lye here and there scattered in the following Cases Priviledges of the Lord. The Lord may upon Seizure of a Copy-hold maintain an Ejectment till the Heir come to be admitted 1 Keb. 287. Pateson and Danges The King shall not have the custody of the Land that the Ideot holds by Copy The Lord to have the custody of an Ideot for this is no more than an Estate at Will at Common Law and if the King should have the custody of the Land he would much prejudice the Lord. Yet alienation made of it by the Ideot after Office found shall be avoided Coke 4 Rep. 126. Beverly's Case Copy-hold Lands granted to three for the Lives of two if the Tenants pur auter vie dye Living cesty que vie the Lord shall have it for there shall no be Occupancy 1 Rolls Abridg. 511. Ven and Howel's Case No Occupancy The Lord shall have the custody and not the Prochein Amy. The Copy-holder is surdus mutus the Lord shall have the Custody and not the Prochein Amy for otherwise he should be prejudiced in his Rents and Services Cro. Jac. 105. Evers and Skinner The Lord is Chancellor in his own Court to dispose of the Estate when the Tenant leaves it uncertain Vide infra sub Tit. Customs in reference to Estates sparsim per tout If a Copy-holder surrender to the use of one and the Lord refuseth to admit him no Action of the Case lyeth against him so if such Copy-holder prays the Lord to hold a Court and he refuseth Where a Surrender is to be made to a Tenant of the Manor if he will not take such Surrender yet no Action of the Case lyes against him 1 Rolls Abr. 108. In what capacity the Lord stands in reference to the Copy-holder's Estate He is an Instrument of Conveyance upon Surrenders and a Conveyer himself upon voluntary Grants He is Chancellor in his own Court and may proceed by Bill vide infra Of the Priviledges of Copy-holders In this Chapter I shall sum up some general Priviledges of Copy-holders which lye scattered in the several Customs hereafter treated of A Copy-holder may make a Lease for a year without Licence of the Lord vide Lease Lease Copy-holders of a Manor may have Solam separalem pasturam in the Soyl of the Lord Sola separalis pastura and exclude him 2 Sanders 326 327 328. If a man be obliged in a Statute Staple Stat. Staple Elegit his Copy-hold Land is not extendible but aliter upon a Statute of Bankrupts vide Tit. Grant It s not extendible upon Elegit If a Copy-holder Lease for years by Licence of the Lord this is not extendible in the Hands of the Lessee Rolls Abr. 888. Picto's Case Copy-holder of Inheritance may dig for Mines in his Land So the Parson in his Glebe as it seems Siderfin p. 152. The Lord of Rutland against Gee per Hobart and Warburton Copy-holder may dig for Marle without any danger of Forfeiture Digging for Marle but he ought to lay the said Marle upon the same Copy-hold Land Winch p. 8. A Custom is that the Lord of a Manor may dig for Coals and open Mines in the Land of his Copy-holder Coals It was made a doubt in Goodrick and Gascoin's Case if Lessee of the Manor may have this liberty and whether such liberty can pass by Grant of the Manor without special words Latch p. 189. A Copy-holder may hedge and enclose but not where it was never enclosed before Winch p. 8. Note a difference between Priviledges which are annexed to the Seigniory and Priviledges annexed to the Tenancy The first the Lord may destroy but not the last Therefore If Tenant at Will be Out-lawed his Estate is determined Outlawry but a Copy-hold is not forfeited or determined by Outlawry Lit. Rep. 234. cited to be adjudged in 44 Eliz. Yet vide 1 Leon. p. 99. Where a Copy-holder is Outlawed the King shall have the Profits of his Copy-hold Lands and the Lord hath not any remedy for the Rent If the King grants a Manor in which are Copy-holders in Fee-farm Fee-Farm Rent the Lands or Goods of the Copy-holders are not liable to the Fee-farm Rent although the Free-hold is for the Copy-holders are elder than the Rent being by Prescription So Rent by Prescription If the King had a Rent by Prescription out of the Manor in which there are Copy-holders if the King had not used to Levy this upon the Copy-holds it seems he cannot charge them forasmuch as they are in by Prescription also M. 12 Jac. B. 2 Rolls Abr. 157. Assets Copy-hold Inheritance shall not be Assets to charge the Heir Popham 188. Copy-holder makes a Lease for years by Licence and dyes this shall not be Assets in the Hands of his Executors Popham 188. Copy-holder shall have Ayd of the Lord where the right of the Seigniory comes in question upon the Issue taken Ayd 21 H. 6.37 But where he hath Ayd of a Bishop and after the King hath the Temporalties he shall not have Ayd of the King for so the Plaintiff may be perpetually delay'd 21 H. 6.37.39 Priviledge of Infants Copy-holders Or Resolutions concerning Infants in respect of Fines Admittances barring Estates and being bound by Customs or not Custom of a Manor is That if a Copy-hold descends to any man that Proclamation shall be made at three several Courts that he shall come in to be admitted Infant not comprehended within the Custom of coming in after three Proclamations and if he come not in it shall be a forfeiture to the Lord yet an Infant shall not be comprehended within this Custom for he by intendment of Law is not at discretion to make his Claim 8 Rep. 100. Letchford's Case It seems to be a Rule in Law An Infant cannot be protected by the Law by his non-age in any Case but where his Right which he had while an Infant and descended
pleading we say such Lands or Tenements are demised and demisable A tempore cujus contrarij memoria hominum non existit And yet this Rule fails in the Kings Case vide supra It was said by Rolls Chief Justice in Pilkington and Bagshaw's Case Stiles 450. That a Custom cannot be urged for a thing that had its beginning since the time of Richard 1. if a Record can be shewed to the contrary But what measure of time shall make a Custom many differ Some judge it from the time of Henry 1. to the Stat. of Merton Cap. 8. which appointeth the Limitation in a Writ of Right and others say otherwise And by the Statute W. 1. the Limitation was from the time of R. 1. and these are Limitations as to Writs but this is since altered by 32 H. 8. What shall be said time out of memory which is reduced to sixty years next before the Teste of the Writ But the true measure is Littleton's Rule Where a Custom hath been used so long that man's Memory cannot remember the contrary that is when such a thing is pleaded that no man then living hath heard or known any proof to the contrary for if there be any sufficient proof of Record or Writing to the contrary albeit it exceed the memory of any man living yet it is within the memory of man and therefore regularly a man cannot prescribe or alledge a Custom against a Statute for that is the highest Record but affirmative Acts do not take away a Custom If Land hath been demised by Copy for fifty years and yet some alive remember the same occupied by Indenture this is not a good Copy hold And if Land hath been demised by 40 years by Copy and none alive can remember the same to be otherwise demised this is a good Copy But sixty or eighty or an hundred years may make a good Limitation Calthrop's Reading Coke Lit. 114 115. 2. Continuance Custom ought to have continuance without interruption time out of memory for if it be discontinued time out memory the Custom is gone As if a Copy-hold be let by the Lord for life or for years according to the course of the Common Law it shall never be demised as Copy-hold according to the Custom afterwards Consuetudo semel reprobata non potest amplius induci and as Continuance makes the Custom so discontinuance destroys it The Continuance for fifty years is enough to fasten customary Conditions upon the Land against the Lord And per Cur. Though the original Commencement and the customary Interest did commence 10 H. 8. from which time sixty years passed yet the seizure for a Forfeiture in the mean time interrupted utterly the Continuance from the time which might by the Law have perfected the customary Interest What shall be said an interruption of a customary Estate or not Within the time of forty seven years a customary Interest cannot be Attached upon the Land 3 Leon. 107. Tavernor and Cromwel If the Lord of a Manor is seized of an ancient Copy-hold for Forfeiture or by Escheat and let the same at Will without Copy for divers years this is not any interruption of the customary nature of the Land but that he may grant it again by Copy Ibid. Interruption If customary Land hath been of ancient time grantable in Fee and now of late times for the space of forty years the Lord hath granted the same for Life only yet he may if he please resort to his ancient Custom and grant it in Fee 1 Leon. p. 56. Kemp and Carter Customary Land within a Manor hath been grantable in Fee and it Escheats the Lord may grant the same to another for Life for the Custom which enables him to grant in Fee shall enable him to grant for Life and after the death of Tenant pur vie the Lord may grant the same again in Fee for the grant for Life was not any interruption of the Custom 1 Leon. 56. id Case 3. Certainty Custom ought to be certain for incerta pro nullis habentur 13 Ed. 3. Fitzh dum fuit infra aetatem 3. A Writ of Dum fuit infra aetatem was brought against an Infant the Tenant pleads a Custom That when the Infant is within such an Age as that he may count twelve Pence or measure an Ell of Cloth that then his Feoffment shall be good this Custom is adjudged void for the incertainty Why an uncertain Custom shall be void Now the Reasons why an uncertain Custom shall be void are 1. Because an uncertain thing may not be continued time out of memory 2. A man cannot prescribe in a thing which may not at the beginning be well granted and an uncertain thing cannot well commence by Grant And if Tenants of a Manor prescribe that they ought not to pay for a Fine to renew their Copy-hold Estates more than the Rent of two years but ought to pay the Rent for two years or less this is not a good Prescription for the uncertainty for sometimes they are to pay two years Rent and sometimes less 2 Rolls Abridg. 264 265. Green and Berry 4. Reason Custom must be reasonable therefore it must not be against common Right or purely against the Law of the Land as is Littleton's Case The Lord prescibes That there hath been a Custom within his Manor that every Tenant who marries his Daughter without Licence of the Lord shall make Fine c. This Prescription is void it is against the freedom of a Freeman who is not bound thereto by particular Tenure Alit if it be upon a special Reservation of Gift of Lands or Tenure in Villanage Lit. Sect. 209. So in Sect. 212. To prescribe that the Lord of the Manor hath used to distrain Cattel Damage feasant and to retain the Distress till Fine were made to him for the Damages at his will This Prescription is void for it s against reason a man should be Judge in his own Cause If the Lord will prescribe to have of every Copy-holder belonging to his Manor for every Court he keepeth a certain Sum of Mony this is a void Prescription because it is not according to common Right for he ought to do it gratis for Justice sake But if the Lord Prescribe to have a certain Fee of his Tenants for keeping an extraordinary Court which is purchased only for the benefit of some particular Tenants to take up their Copy-holds and such like this is a good Prescription and according to common Right Coke Cop. 81. But now to distinguish what Customs are unreasonable and what not observe these differences Every Custom is not unreasonable which is contrary to a particular Rule or Maxim of the positive Law For its a Rule Consuetudo ex certa causa rationabili privat communem Legem As the Customs of Gavel-kind and Burrough English are against the Maxim of descent of Inheritance and the Maxim of Escheat as in Kent the Father to the Bough and
or of the nature of Gavel-kind c. but by common intendment they may not have a lawful commencement by Grant or Agreement but by Act of Parliament Gatward's Case 6 Rep. So 4 Rep. 32. in Foyston's Case Prescription is personal and is always made in the name of a person certain and his Ancestors or of those whose Estate he hath But Custom is local and alledged in no person but that within a Manor c. is such a Custom and this shall serve for those which cannot Prescribe in their own name nor in the name of a person certain In Gateward's Case 6 Rep. Defendant justifies in Trespass by Custom That all the Inhabitants in such an Ancient Messuage within the Vill of D. ratione commorationis have used to have common of Pasture in loco in quo c. this is ill pleaded for in this word Inhabitants are included Tenants in Fee for Life Years by Elegit at Will and also he that hath no Interest but Habitation only Now Tenant in Fee ought to Prescribe in his own Name Tenant in Fee in whose name to Prescribe in whose name others and the others which have Interest in the name of the Lord and he that hath no Interest cannot have Common But there is no one that hath an Interest be he Tenant at Will but by good Pleading he may enjoy it Now Copy-holder in Fee or for Life may by Custom of the Manor have Common in the Demesns of the Lord of the Manor but then he ought to alledge the Custom of the Manor to be Quod quilibet tenens customar cujuslibet anti qui Mesuagii Custumarii c. How a Copy-holder shall plead and not Quod quilibet Inhabitans infra aliquod antiquum Mesuag Custumar c. And a Prescription for the Inhabitants to be discharged of Tythes by a Modus or Freemen of London to be discharged of Wharfage c. must be pleaded by way of Custom When a thing must be pleaded by way of Custom and when by way of Prescription and not by way of Prescription because the Inhabitants or Freemen cannot Prescribe in their persons and therefore are allowed to lay a Custom for their Discharge and the nature of the things is not changed but remains still a Prescription in his kind though it be allowed to be pleaded by way of Custom for necessity sake And in Gateward's Case a thing lying properly in Prescription as Common did in that Case being an Interest which must inhere in some body Common for Copy-holders in the Lords Soyl must be pleaded by a Custom in the Soyl of another by Prescription cannot be pleaded by way of Custom as there they would have made it for Inhabitants that are not permanent to Prescribe but yet Common for Copy-holders in the Lords Soyl is allowed to be pleaded by Custom for necessities sake whereas in the Soyl of another it must be laid by Prescription in the Lord and yet the nature of both is a Prescription but a matter of discharge may be laid by way of Custom for that is not an Interest but an Exemption thus that great man my Lord Hobart p. 86. in Day and Savage his Case My Lord Coke in the Argument of Rowls and Mason's Case makes four differences between Prescription and Custom 1. In the beginning pugnant ex diametro for nothing may be good by Prescription but that which may have beginning by Grant 2. Prescription is incident to the Person and Custom to some Place and holds place in many Cases which cannot be by Grant As Lands may be devised by Custom So Gavel-kind and Burrough English c. which cannot have their beginning by Grant But Prescription and Custom are Brothers and ought to have the same Age and Reason ought to be the Father and Congruence the Mother and Use the Nurse and Time out of Memory to Fortifie them both 3. They vary in Quality for Prescription is for one man only and Custom for many if all but one be not dead 4. They vary in Extent and Latitude for Prescription extends to Fee-simple only but Custom extends to all Interests and Estates whatsoever as appears by the Pleading Prescription that a Copy-holder of Inheritance may sell the Trees is not good but such a Custom is good Tenant in Tayl for Life or Years cannot Prescribe in a Que Estate nor against the Lord in his Demesns Who may prescribe in a Que Estate or not but they ought to alledge the Custom and against a Stranger they ought to Prescribe in the name of the Lord 2 Brownl 198. In a Manor the Custom was That every Copy-holder for Life had Estovers for Fuel c. in the customary Lands Now if the Lord aliens the Woods c. in Fee and after Grant Copy-hold Lands and Houses for Lives the Grantees shall have Common of Estovers Pasture c. notwithstanding the Severance but after such Severance of the Waste or Woods Common is due to the Copy-holder notwithstanding Severance by the Lord and how to be pleaded the Copy-holder when he would entitle himself to Common or Estovers the Copy-holder shall not plead generally Quod infra Manerium praed talis habetur c. consuetudo c. for after the Severance this Waste or Wood is not within the Manor but absolutely divided from it but he shall plead That until such a time viz. before the Severance Talis habebatur a toto tempore c. consuetudo c. and then shew the Severance as in Murrel's Case 4 Rep. So he must do where the Lord aliens the Freehold and Inheritance of the Copy-holder Swain's Case 8 Rep. 2. It is said a Prescription goeth to one man and a Custom to many 1 Brownl Rep. 133. in Rowls and Mason and yet in Foystons Case 4 Rep. the Custom for Common may be applied to one single Copy-holder 3. The Allegation of a Custom shall serve when it is referred to a thing insensible as that such Lands are devisable c. Foystons Case There is nothing more common than for the Lord to Prescribe for his Tenants by Copy in another mans Land whereas if it be laid in his own it shall ever be laid by Custom Hobart p. 286. Roberts and Young There is a difference between a Prescription for Freehold Land and for Copy-hold Land for Custom which concerneth Freehold Difference between a Prescription for Freehold Land and for Copy-hold Land ought to be throughout the County and cannot be in a particular place 45 Ass but Precription concerning Copy-hold Land is good in one particular Cro. El. p. 353. Taverner and Cromwel 4. A Prescription must be in a thing done and not in posse therefore a Custom that Quaelibet femina vira cooperta poterit devisare her Copy-hold Inheritance to her Husband is not good 3 Leon. 83. Skipwith's Case To Customs and Prescriptions these two things are inseparable Incidents viz. Possession or Usage Interruption
in the possession in the right and Time Possession must be Longa continua pacifica Now observe a Title once gained by Custom or Prescription cannot be lost by interruption of the Possession for ten or twenty years but by interruption in the Right As if a man hath had a Rent or Common by Prescription unity of Possession of as high and perdurable Estate is an interruption in the Right Co. Lit. 114. b. And if a man hath Common by Prescription and takes a Lease of the Land for twenty years the Common is suspended for that time and after the years ended he may claim the Common again by Prescription 1. Personal Prescription and in that Inhabitants may Prescribe as for a Way or matter of Ease or Discharge Gateward's Case 2. Real Prescription and this is inherent to the Estate and this is where a man Prescribeth That he and all those whose Estate he hath c. Prescription as to the Estate of the Land and not to the Land it self 3. Local Prescription not as to Land but to the Estate and therefore the Custom was That the Copy-holder should have Common in the Waste of the Lord the Lord by Deed confirms to a Copy-holder to have to him and his Heirs with its Appurtenances The Question was whether his Copy-hold now being destroyed he shall have Common by the word Appurtenances Per Cur. the Common is extinct and not revived for this is a local Prescription not to the Land but only to the Estate and this proves well the words of the Prescription for the Copy-holder ought to Prescribe That every customary Tenant within the Manor c. So he hath his Common in respect that he is customary Tenant and this is in respect of the Estate which he hath by the Custom and not in respect of the Land 2 Brownl 210. Marsham and Hunter Copy-holder for Life cannot Prescribe against his Lord but Copy-holder in Fee may Copy-holder for Life may not Prescribe against his Lord. Copy-holder in Fee may and how for he hath the Copy-hold in nature of Land of Inheritance Stiles 233. Cage and Dod. Per Cur. a Copy-holder may Prescribe by an usitatum est against his Lord but against a Stranger he must Prescibe in the name of the Lord More n. 647. 6. Rep. 60. Copy-holder of Inheritance may Prescribe in the name of the Lord to be discharged of Tythes Noy p. 132. Copy-holders may not Prescribe against their own Lord omnino nor against any other but only in the name of their Lord and the manner of laying it is by a Custom when they claim any thing or profit out of the Lords Soyl vide Sanders 324 5 6. Hoskin and Roberts What shall be said a pursuance of a Custom or not If the Custom be That the Lord may Demises Copy-hold in Fee he may Demise them for Life Years or in Tayl for these Estates are included in a Fee which is greater 1 Roll. Abr. Staunton and Barns Cok. Lit. 52. Vide supra Maxims and Customs 4 Rep. 23. The Case of the Manor of Allesly in Warwickshire Solummodo how expounded If the Custom be That the Lord may solummodo Demise his Copy-hold Land in Fee yet the Lord may Demise this for Life or Years or in Tayl though there was never any such Estate made before for the word solummodo is not to be taken so strictly to restrain the Lord of this liberty which the Law gives upon the general Custom but that he had used solummodo to grant in Fee which doth not take away the liberty which the Law gives 1 Rolls Abr. 511. mesme Case Custom is to Grant for one two or three Lives a Grant to one durante viduitate is within the Custom for the Estate granted was less than the Custom warranted The Custom was That the Wife shall have the Land for term of her Life The Evidence was That the Custom was that she shall have it durante viduitate Per Cur. This Evidence doth not maintain the Custom 4 Rep. 30. Downe and Hopkin's Case A Grant to three for the Lives of two is within the Custom of three Lives If the Custom be That Copyholds may be granted for three Lives a Copy may be granted to three for the Lives of two within this Custom For it is no inconvenience to the Lord although it be pur auter vie for there shall be no occupancy of it but the Lord shall have it if the Tenants pur auter vie dye living cesty que vies and this is not a greater Estate than three Lives but lesser Rolls Abr. 511. Ven and Howel But to one for Life Remainder to another for Life c. is not good A Copy-holder where the Custom was to Demise for three Lives demised to one for Life the remainder to such an one as he should marry and the first Son of his Body resolved that both the remainders were void but the Estate for his own Life is good More n. 922. Webster and Allen. Custom is when any Tenant sells his Tenement three Proclamations shall be made the next Court day and if any of the Blood of the Vendor will give as much mony as the Vendor will he shall have it A Tenant in consideration of one hundred pounds in Mony and that the Vendee being his Physician had cured him sold it to him and the next of Blood at next Court offers a hundred pound yet he shall not have it for it was given partly for the other consideration and the Custom shall be for mony only 1 Rolls Abr. 568. So if he had sold it in consideration of a Lease for years and 1 d. ibid. CAP. V. Of particular Customs either enabling or disabling in respect of the Lord of the Tenant and of the Estate Limited or Leased and in respect of Discents WHAT particular Customs have been adjudged good or what not either enabling or disabling Customs Vide supra of Customs ratione loci And they may be considered in three respects Of the Lord. Of the Tenant Of the Estate 1. In respect of the Lord and his Priviledge The Wife of the Lord shall not be endowed against a Copy-holder for the title of Dower is not consummate before the death of her Husband Dower so as the title of the Copy-holder is paramount and compleated before the title of Dower Leon. 152. Waste The succeeding Lord shall not take advantage of Waste done in the time of the preceeding Lord 2 Siderfin p. 9. Chamberlain and Drake Vide infra Common A Custom That none shall put his Cattel into the Common before the Lord puts in his is not good Vide supra the Rules of Customs 1 Bulstr Earl of Northumberland vers Wheeler 21 Ed. 4. 28 b. Fine A Custom that a Copy-holder shall upon the change of every Lord pay a Fine is void Vide the Rules of Customs For the Lord may change his Manor every day Had it been that
and so the Custom of Taunton-Dean That if a Copy-holder in Fee marries a Wife If the Wife survives she shall have the Fee if the Wife survives she shall have the Fee sic e converso agreed to be good Noy Rep. p. 2. There can be no Dower nor Tenancy by the Curtesie of the Copy-hold unless by special Custom 1 Anderson 292. Lease made before admittance A man may be Tenant by the Curtesie by Custom Though the Husband enter into the Land in the right of the Wife before admittance and the Wife dyes before admittance his Lease shall be good 1 Anderson 192. Ewer and Astwick It was admitted by the Court to be a good Custom That an Executor or Administrator shall have an year in the Land of the Copy-holder Custom that the Executor shall have an year in the Copy-hold against the Wife that claims her Free-Bench Noy p. 29. Remington and Cole If a Woman be Dowable of Copy-hold by Custom if the Husband after the marriage makes a Lease for years good by the Custom Tenant in Dower shall not avoid a Lease made by the Husband the Tenant in Dower shall not avoid it but it shall precede the Dower More n. 147. Holder and Fairly For he comes under the Custom as well as the Feme The Custom of a Manor was Quod quilibet tenens per Copiam poterit dimittere terras suas pur vie or in Fee or in Tayl Custom that the Wife Feme covert may Devise and that a Woman cooperta viro poterit devisare her Copy-hold Land to her Husband or to any other by the assent of her Husband Per Cur. The Custom is not unreasonable But because it was poterit devisare which is a word of justification and it should have been usi sunt devisare by way of excuse it was adjudged against the Plaintiff More n. 268. And so was one Welsh's Case in C. B. 41 El. 3 Leon. p. 81. Skipwith's Case The Custom was That Widows should enjoy during their Widow-hood Where the severance of the customary Tenants from the Manor shall not prejudice the Widow in her customary Estate The Lord Grants a customary Tenement of the Manor unto J. B. for Life by Copy and after conveys the whole Manor to W. who conveyed the Inheritance and Free-hold of B's Tenement for mony paid by B. to J. S. and others and their Heirs during the Life of J. B. the remainder to Ellen then Wife of J. B. the remainder to J. B. in Fee J. B. Grants his remainder in Fee to his Son and his Heirs The Son having Issue a Son dyed and then Ellen dyed J. B. marries Frances and dyes seized of his customary Estate Frances shall enter and enjoy her Widows Estate for it is clear That the customary Estate of J. B. remained as it was during his Life not extinct nor altered by the purchase of the Fee-simple which during his Life was in others not in him and then it follows by consequence That all customary Incidents to such a customary Estate remain whereof this is one which by Custom and Law grows of it self out of that Estate as a Descent should have done if J. B. had been a Copy-holder in Fee and the Freehold had been granted to another in Fee Hobart p. 181. Howard and Bartlet It is not in the power of the Lord to destroy Widows Estates By the severance Incidents to the Tenancy are not destroyed but Incidents to the Seigniory are The Law vests the Estate in a Woman that is to hold durante viduitate before admittance The Custom is That a Woman shall hold durante viduitate she shall make a Lease before admittance for in that case there is no Fine due to the Lord and the Law vests the Estate in her Noy 29. Remington and Cole Hobart 181. Vide Admittance The Lord Enfeoffs the Copy-holder this destroys Free-Bench A Custom of a Manor was found to be That if a Copy-holder in Fee dyes seized his Wife should hold it during her Life as Free-Bench the Lord Enfeoffs the Copy-holder who dyed seized Per Cur. she shall not hold her Free-Bench aliter if the Lord had enfeoffed a Stranger of that Land yet the Land remained Copy-hold and the Custom is not taken away Crok Jac. 126. Lashmer and Avery Damages recovered in Dower A Woman recovered Dower in the Lords Court and 40 l. because her Husband dyed seized and she brought Debt for the Damages in the Kings-Bench Per Cur. The Action lyes not because the Court-Baron could not hold Plea nor award Execution of 40 l. Damages although the Damages were there well assessed More n. 559. If a Feme Copy-holder holds the Land durante viduitate and then takes Husband the Lord shall have the Corn Oland's Case Vide Emblements The Widows customary Estate is due to her Divorce though there was a Divorce a mensa thoro Hobart p. 181. Howard and Bartlet Tenant of a Copy-hold for Life Whether the Widow attaint for Felony shall have her Estate of viduity in which the Custom was That the Wife should have her Widows Estate and the Husband was attaint of Felony and Executed The Question was whether she should have it Winch not without a special Custom Winch Rep. 27. Allen and Branch That the Wife shall not have her Dower The Wife to claim her Dower within a year and day except she claim it within a year and a day it s said to be a good Custom 3 Leon. p. 226. Pleadings Custom Quod Uxores habeant Tenementa custumaria durante viduitate sua Dyer 192. 3 Br. 403 476. Hern 73. Quod Uxores Tenen custumar in feodo habeant pro vita Tenementa unde viri obierunt seisita Et si viri dimiser tunc revers reddit Cok. Ent. 123. CAP. VII Custom as to Timber Woods and Vnder-Woods and what Prescription by a Copy-holder to cut Trees shall be good or not TEnant by Copy of Court Roll cannot by the Common Law take Trees for House-bote Hedge-bote and Cart-bote c. as Tenant for Life or Years may do who have an Estate certain but a Copy-holder by special Custom may do it Cro. El. p. 5. Lord Mountague against Sheppard Where a Custom was alledged to be That every Copy holder may cut down Trees at his pleasure this Custom is against Common Law Winch p. 1. If a Custom be That a Copy-holder may not cut down Trees it is good or not good with this difference If he be a Copy-holde of Inheritance such a Custom is good but if he be a Copy-holder for Life its noâ— good 1 Bulstr 150. Earl of Northumberlanâ— against Wheeler The Tenant prescribes to câ—â— and dispose all the Trees upon his Tenancy its an ill Prescription Aliter of a Copy-holde of Inheritance Noy p. 2. So it is adjudged it 1 Rolls Abr. 650. Glascock and Peche It s a good Custom Copy-holder in Fee
Inheritances at the Common Law have unless it be by Custom for though they are Estates of Inheritance according to the Custom yet they are not Estates of Inheritance simpliciter that is to have all collateral Qualities as Estates in Fee-simple have but only such which Custom hath setled and allowed 4 Rep. 22. Brown's Case And accordingly my Lord Hobart in Cox and Darsen's Case p. 215. c. saith The collateral Incidents of Estates as Dower Tenancy by the Curtesie Wardship c. are not without special Custom And therefore Copy-hold Inheritance shall not be Assets to charge the Heir in an Action of Debt upon Bond made by his Father Copy-hold Lands not Assets in the Heir tho' he has therein bound his Heirs neither shall the Wife of such customary Estate be indowed nor the Husband be Tenant by the Curtesie neither shall the descent of any such Estate toll the Entry of him that had customary Right c. But to explain this in these before-mentioned Qualities and others I shall Illustrate it by several Cases and Resolutions Dower The Wife shall have Dower of a Copy-hold by special Custom otherwise not and when she is to be endowed of a Copy-hold by the Custom then she shall have all the incidents to Dower as to recover Damages for the Profits from the death of her Husband by the Statute of Merton C. 1. De viduis 4 Rep. 30. Shaw and Tompson Tenant by the Curtesie and that without admittance of the Wife The Custom of a Manor was That if any man had a Wife who was a Copy-holder in Fee of the Manor and had Issue by her that he should be Tenant by the Curtesie of the Land A. a Copy-holder was seized and had Issue a Daughter who was married to J. S. who had Issue A. dyed his Wife entred the Wife dyed before admittance The Question was if by the Entry of the Husband without admittance of the Wife he should be Tenant by the Curtesie Per Cur. he shall the delay of the admittance of the Wife shall not prejudice the Husband being a third person More n. 425. Ever and Aston but if a Woman Copy-holder in Fee takes Husband who had Issue and the Wife dyes there the Husband shall not be Tenant by the Curtesie without special Custom 4 Rep. 22. Ryers Case Descent tolls not an Entry Discontinuance The Descent of a Copy-hold doth not toll an Entry 4 Rep. 22 23. Bullock and Dibly and 3 Rep. 9. You may see there where the Entry shall be congeable by the Issue after a Surrender or Lease by Licence of the Lord made by the Ancestor and shall not be a Discontinuance The Lord seized a Copy-hold without cause and grants it to another in Fee Grantee dyes seized and his Heir is admitted The first Copy-holder dyes his Heir enters and Surrenders to the use of a Stranger Per Cur. 1. Descent of a Copy-hold shall not take away the Entry of another Copy-holder who hath right 2. The Entry of the Heir without admission is lawful and being in his Surrender is good Cro. Jac. 36. Joyner and Lambert If one seized of Copy-hold Land in the Right of his Wife Surrender this to the use of another in Fee who is admitted accordingly the Husband dyes this is no discontinuance to the Wife nor her Heirs but the Wife may enter and not be put to her cui in vita nor her Heir to her sur cui in vita If Copy-holder for Life Surrender to the use of another in Fee this is no Forfeiture Surrender by Copy-holder for Life to one in Fee is no forfeiture for this passeth by Surrender to the Lord and not by Livery And Copy-hold Estates shall not have such qualities as Estates at Common Law have without special Custom 4 Rep. 4. Clun and Pearse and therefore where by Custom of the Manor But recovery by Pleint in a real Action shall be a discontinuance Pleints have been made in the Court of the Manor in the nature of real Actions That if a Recovery be in a Pleint in the nature of a real Action against a Tenant Copy-holder in Tayl it s adjudged that this shall be a discontinuance and shall take away the Entry of the Heir in Tayl for these Pleints in the nature of real Actions are warranted by the Custom this is an incident which the Law annexeth to the said Custom and such recovery shall be a discontinuance 4 Rep. 23. Deal and Rigden Having finished the Learning of Customs in order to the understanding of Copy-hold Estates it will be convenient to say something of the customary Tenant and of the Court and the Steward which shall be attempted briefly in the next Chapter CAP. X. The several sorts of Coph-holders and who shall be said to be customary Tenants Of Copy-hold Burrough-English Of the Court Two sorts of Courts Baron Of the Copy-holders Court. Who may keep Courts and to what purposes and where Of the Steward his Office and power of Deputation what he may do ex officio or not WE read of three kinds of Copy-holders in our Book I. Terra Nativa These were called Bond-Lands also because they held in Villenage II. Custumary And this was held by Free-Tenants III. Mensales As also Dominica because by this the Table of the Lord is maintained Some Copy-hold Land is called Poadland and some Molland a molli redditu where some small Rent was reserved There were two other manner of Copy-holds Old Aster and new Aster Aster signifies a Chimney those Copy-hold Lands which had had usually for a long time an House on them they called Old Aster Lands but those which of late had an House built on them they called New Asters And in old Records the Bastard Eigne did plead That he was Filius Askarius as much as to say Born in the House 2 Rolls Rep. 235. M. 20 Jac. B. R. Smith and Reynard Some Copy-hold Land is in the nature of Burrough-English Cro. Jac. 56. Curtis's Case Copy-hold Burrough-English And so shall descend to the youngest Son Some Copy-hold is of the nature of Burrough-English as well for the Brother as the Son Cro. Jac. 101. Whitton and Williams Between a Copy-hold in Burrough-English and a Freehold in Burrough-English there is not any difference as to descents Cro. Car. 411. Baron and Feme Copy holders for Life of Copy-hold of the nature of Burrough-English Reversion to the Husband in Fee he had Issue three Sons William George and Charles The Father dyed seized of this Reversion which descended to Charles Charles dies without Issue the Wife dyes Question was whether William Brother and Heir of Charles or George should have it Berkly and Bramston were for George because there being a Reversion expectant upon Estate for Life George shall take his Title from his Father and take by descent from him who had seisin of the Free-hold and not make mention of him who had the
more full to the purpose 1 Rolls Abr. 498. If the King be seized of a Manor whereof Blackacre is parcel and demisable by Copy in Fee Grant by the King good tho not recited to be Copy-hold and this comes to the King by Escheat or Surrender and after the King lets Blackacre to J. S. for Life not taking conusance that this was demisable by Copy this is a good Grant though the King recites not that this was demisable by Copy and by consequence this will destroy the power to grant this by Copy at any time after M. 15 Car. 2. Voluntary Grants by the Lord may be considered in respect of his Person Estate Disability oâ— person no hinderance to the Lord to grant As for his Person notwithstanding his disability yet his Grants of Copy-hold shall be good and valid in the Law as suppose he be an Infant Non compos mentis Lunatick Outlawed Excommunicate yet he is capable to make a voluntary Grant by Copy So a Feme Lady of a Manor takes Husband and they two joyn in a voluntary Grant by Copy this shall for ever bind the Wife and her Heirs and the reason is the Custom of the Manor being the main Foundation on which is built the whole Fabrick of the Copy-hold Estate what the Custom doth confirm to the Copy-holder the Law will ever allow and support it notwithstanding any such Imperfections in the Grantors person Co. Lit. f. 58. b. 8 Rep. 63. a. b. Swain's Case Noy p. 21. Grant by an Infant is good as well as presentation to a Benefice If the Lord release to a Copy-holder in Fee Habendum to him in Fee to the use of another this is a good use for upon such Release a Rent may be reserved 2 Rolls Abr. 788. Sams's Case What voluntary Grants by the Lord shall be good or not in respect of the Estate or Interest which he hath in the Manor and what not Voluntary Grants of Copy-hold Estates are of such as come to the Lords hands by Escheat or Forfeiture and the Lord may grant them by Copy again It was adjudged in Harris and Jay's Case Cro. El. 699. M. 41 El. B. R. That a Copy-hold Escheated and which hath been kept in the Lords hands divers years may be granted over by the Lord himself or by his Steward This may be considered in respect of the Quantity and Quality of his Estate He must be Legitimus Dominus a lawful Lord at the time of his voluntary Grant and then as to the quantity of his Estate in the Manor be it great or little is not material whether he be seized of or interested in the Manor in Fee or Tayl Dower or Curtesie for Life or Years Tenant per Statute Elegit or at Will or on Condition he may grant any Copy-hold Escheated to him for as long time as the Custom doth allow the Rents and Services being truly reserved and these Grants shall bind them that have the Inheritance or Freehold of the Manor the Reason is well delivered in Coke For a Copy-holder upon voluntary Grants made by Copy doth not derive his Estate out of the Lords Estate only for then the Copy-holders Estate should cease when the Lords Interest determineth but the Life of the Copyholders Estate is the Custom of the Manor and therefore whatsoever befalleth the Lords Interest in his Manor be it determined by course of time death forfeiture or other means yet if the Lord were Legitimus Dominus pro Tempore though his Estate in it be very small yet that is enough for the same Custom that fixeth a Copy-holder instantly in his Land upon his Admittance will likewise protect and support his Interest to the end in such manner that though the Lords Interest faileth yet the Copy-holders Interest shall not fall being upheld by such a Pillar unless he forfeit it by his own act Where Lord may augment the Rent and where not Where Copy-hold Land comes into the Hands of the Lord by Escheat or Forfeiture the Lord may grant this Land by Copy rendring greater Rent but not when he admits a Tenant Blewet Lord of a Manor wherein are many Copy-holders grants the Stewardship to S. for Life and after becomes a Lunatick and found upon Inquisition and thereupon commited W. to E. C. and others under the Seal of the Court of Wards The Lord Lunatick by his Steward may grant Copy-holds but the Committees by their Steward cannot c. The Question was whether the Committees by their Steward may grant Estates by Copy according to the Custom Per Cur. they cannot for by the Law they have no Estate in the Manor nor are Lords thereof for the time being but the Lunatick by his Steward may grant Copy holds and so it was decreed But it was ordered that the Steward should grant none without the privity of the Committees and warrant from the Court but this was only for caution Sir James Ley's Rep. f. 47. Blewit's Case Therefore if the Lord sever a Copy-hold from the Manor Severance from the Manor what it operates by granting the Inheritance to a Stranger now though one of the chief Pillars of a Copy-hold Estate is wanting viz. to be parcel of the Manor yet because the Land at the time of the Copy-holders admittance was customary and had this necessary incident this severance being a matter ex post facto and being the Lords own act shall not amount to the destruction of the Copy-hold There is this Custom in a Manor That every Copy-holder Tenant for Life had used to take all Trees growing upon his Land to be employed for Fuel and Repairs and Estovers Queen Eliz. being Seized of this Manor demiseth it to J. W. except Omnibus boscis subboscis arboribus maremiis Habend except pre-except for twenty one years who assigns all his Interest to J. P. and others Queen Eliz. dyes King James grants reversionem praed ac premissa sic ut prefertur except to A. F. R. S. and P. W. and their Heirs the Lessees Attorn A. F. and P. W. release to R. S. and his Heirs Lessees and their Steward c. grant to W. B. Def. a Messuage and a Vierge of Land whereon the Trees grew for term of Life secundum consuetudinem Manerij The Question was inasmuch as the Lessees hold the Court by virtue of the said Lease of the Manor out of which Lease the said Trees were excepted if the Def. the Grantee of the Lessees may take the Trees Per Cur. he may notwithstanding the Severance by the Exception and notwithstanding he comes in by Voluntary Grant and not by Surrender for the Estate of the Copy-holder which comes in by Voluntary Grant is not derived out of the Estate or Interest of the Lord of the Manor for he is but as an Instrument to make the Grant The Estate of the Copy-holder who comes in by voluntary Grant is not derived out of the Lord. but the Custom of the
severance of the Copyhold from the Manor the Copy-hold is not destroyed but it is not parcel of the Manor now if one would alien this he cannot do it by Surrender for it s not parcel of the Manor neither can the Feoffee make Admittance for he is not Dominus but if such Copy-holder will alien there is no way but to have a Decree against him and his Heirs in Chancery and so to bind his person but by it the Interest of the Land is not bound 4 Rep. 24 25. By the Statute of 13 El. Cap. 7. Copy-hold Lands are to be sold by Deed Indented and Inrolled in any of his Majesties Courts of Record as other the Bankrupts Land but by the same Statute it is provided That all Persons to whom any such Sale shall be made shall before such time as they shall enter and take the Profit of the same agree and compound with the Lord of the Manor of whom the same shall be holden for such Fines or Incomes as heretofore hath been usual and accustomed to be yielded or paid therefore and upon every such Composition the Lord for the time being at the next Court to be holden at and for the said Manor shall not only grant to such Vendee upon request the same Copy or customary Lands or Tenements by Copy of Court Roll of the said Manors for such Estate or Interest as to them shall be sold and reserving the ancient Rents Customs and Services but also in the same Court admit them Tenants of the same Copy or customary Lands as other Copy-holders of the same Manor have been wont to be admitted as also to receive their Fealty accordingly Note Copy-hold Lands are within all the Statutes of Bankrupt Cro. Car. 550. Crisp and Plat. Title to a Copy-hold cannot be made by the Commissioners without Surrender or Admittance 1 Keb. 24. How and to what purpose such Estate Vests before Admittance Cro. Car. 569. In Parker and Bleke's Case it is adjudged That by Bargain and Sale made by the Commissioners of Bankrupts the Estate of the Copy-holder is vested in the Bargainee before Admittance though he may not enter and take the Profits till Admittance The Bargain and Sale binds the Copy-holder and bars his Estate and he is no Copy-holder after the Bargain and Sale enrolled And where the Bargainee is admitted by the Lord it shall have relation to the Bargain and Sale And where the Custom was That the Wife of a Copy-holder dying Tenant shall have a Life Estate it was adjudged the Copy-holder dying after the Bargain and Sale his Wife shall be barr'd of her Widows Estate A Bankrupt purchaseth a Copy-hold and the Tenant Surrenders into two Tenants Hands to the use of the Bankrupt and now he will not be admitted This may be sold by the Commissioners and the Vendee may pay the Admittance Of Surrender Now I shall treat of Surrenders then of Presentment and Admittance for that they make up but one Copy-hold Title First of Surrenders We have seen in the last Chapter how that in some Cases Copy-hold Lands may pass without Surrender Now In some few Cases a Surrender is sufficient without Admittance or Presentment Where Surrenders is sufficient without Admittance as if the Copy-holder Surrender to the Lords use there needs no Admittance And In some Cases Admittance will do without a Surrender Where Admittance is sufficient without a Surrender as if the Lord make a voluntary Grant of the Copy-hold in his hands no Surrender is needful but Admittance only But regularly Estates of Copy-hold must pass by Surrender and Admittance and if the Surrender be out of Court there must be a Presentment Of a Surrender in Court By what words a Surrender will pass It cannot well pass by any other word then sursum reddidit Surrender if it pass in the Court by the words Give Grant Bargain Sell this will not so pass it but the Heirs of the Copy-holder shall avoid it It is vocabulum artis as Warrantizare and some other Law words are What will amount to a Surrender in Court or not By Hobart in Hutton Rep. p. 81. What Words If a Copy-holder comes into Court and saith That he is weary of his Copy-hold and requests the Lord to take it that is a Surrender And by some if he come into the Court and desire the Lord to admit his Son into the Copy-hold this is a good Surrender to the use of the Son But if a Copy-holder comes into Court and saith He renounceth his Copy this is not any Surrender and if the Copy-holder say in the presence of any other Copy-holders He is content to Surrender to the use of J. S. This is not a good Surrender Any words in the Court that declare his intention of surrendring into the Lords Hands is good 3 Rep. 80. in Belfield's Case What Acts. It was agreed between the Lord of a Manor and J. S. That in Consideration of 5 l. paid to the Lord J. S. should enjoy the customary Lands for his Life and also of Alice his Wife durante viduitate and that J. S. should have election whether the said Lands should be assured to him and his Wife by Copy or by Bill c. and he chose by Bill which was made accordingly Per Cur. Here is a good Surrender of the said Lands and that for Life only 1 Leon. p. 191. Collman and Sir H. Portman's Case Cannot be surrendred but by actual Surrender If a Copy-holder in Fee takes the same Lands of the Lord by other Copy for Life this is not any Surrender or Determination of his Copy-hold Inheritance for a Copy-hold may not be surrendred but by actual Surrender in Court and not by a Surrender in Law 1 Rolls Abr. 501. Shepard and Adams But in 3 Bulst p. 80. Belfield and Adams its Reported thus Copy-holder in Fee comes into the Lord's Court and there takes a new Estate of his Copy-hold from the Lord to himself for his Life after to his Wife for Life and after to his Son for Life this was admitted a Surrender and so was the other Case in 1 Roll 501. In whom the Reversion after a particular Estate remains Postea 13 Jac. But the Reversion is in the Surrenderor no disposition having been made of it So in this Case this is not a giving up his Estate of Inheritance but only it shall enure by way of Surrender to the use of himself for Life after to the use of his Wife for Life and after to the use of his Son for Life But if a Copy-holder of Inheritance takes a Lease by Indenture for years by this his Copy-hold Estate is gone and this is a Surrender of his Inheritance in the other Case the Inheritance remains in him and is thus Reported by Rolls If a Copy-holder in Fee comes into Court Copy-holder by accepting of an Estate is not Estopt from claiming another Estate and accepts by Copy an
of his last Will how the Estate stands in the Surrenderer Copy-holder surrenders to the Use of himself for Life and after to the Use of R. his Son for Life and after to the Use of his last Will. R. dyes the Father afterwards surrenders it to the Use of J. S. in Fee and dyes without making any Will It s a good Surrender for a Copy-holder may surrender parcel of the Estate and the residue shall be in himself and the Fee Simple of the Copy-hold being limited to the Use of his Will remains in the Copy-holder and not in the Lord Cro. El. 441. Co. 4 Rep. 23. Finch and Hockly and that the Fee lyes not in the Lord is Bullen and Grants Case 1 Leon. p. 174. When one surrenders to the Use of his last Will and thereby deviseth Copy-hold Lands to his middle Son and the Heirs of his Body who dyes without Issue and the Lord grants it to the youngest the eldest Son may enter and Admittance is not necessary Copy-hold devised to pay Debis J. S. seized in Fee of Copy-hold Lands devised it to his Wife for Life and that she should sell the Reversion for the payment of his Debts and after in Court did Surrender the Lands to the Use of his Wife for Life according to the Will and Deed she may sell the Land he surrendered and referred to the Will and she surrendred upon Condition to pay 12. l. this was held to be a good Sale according to the Will Cro. El. 68. Bright and Hubbard If there be two Joynt-Tenants By Joynt-Tenants and the one Surrenders into the Hands of two Tenants to the Use of his last Will and makes a Will of the Land and dyes the Surrender is afterwards presented Per Cur. It s a severance of the Joynture and shall bind the Survivor for being presented it shall relate to the first time of the Surrender Cro. Jac. 800. Porter's Case 1 Brownl Rep. 127. Allen and Nash Pleadings Quod tenens custumar in feodo possit devisare in feodo pro termino vitae vel annorum Coke Ent. 124. Surrender upon Condition or Contingency Copy-holder may Surrender to the Use of another on Condition if the Copy-holder pay to the Surrendree c. ad Domum suam Mansionalem c. that then the Surrender shall be void 5 Rep. 114. Wade's Case A Copy-holder may Surrender to the Use of another reserving Rent Condition Re entry for non-payment of Rent with Condition of re-entry for non-payment and for default of payment he may re-enter 4 H. 6.11.21 H. 6.37 A Copy-holder surrenders upon Condition and afterwards by his Deed releaseth the Condition its good without surrender for properly a Right or Condition cannot be given or determined by Surrender but by Release Cro. Jac. 36. Hull and Shardbrook 4 Rep. Kite and Quinton Surrender to the Use of one in Fee upon Condition to pay 100 l. to a Stranger it was a Question if the tender of 100 l. to a Stranger and he refusing the Condition is saved By Beaumont it is saved aliter in Case of an Obligation where he takes upon him to do it Cro. El. p. 361. Paulter's Case K. L. Father of the Defendant Copyholder in Fee surrendred to the Use of the Defendant in Fee upon Condition he should perform the Covenants in such an Indenture the Defendant was admitted and after surrenders the Land to the Use of the Plaintiff in Fee upon Condition if the Defendant paid 10 l. the Surrender to be void The Defendant neither paid the 10 l. nor performed the Covenant in the Indentures The Father enters and dyes seized and it descends to the Defendant Additional Surrenders defeated by Entry and he enters upon whom the Plaintiff enters The Question was if this Entry were lawful and adjudged it was not for by the Entry of the Father both the Surrenders are defeated So the Defendant may confess and avoid what was done to the Plaintiff Judgment pro Defendente Cro. Eliz. 239. Simonds and Lawnd Trin. 33. Eliz. One cannot pass a Copy-hold Estate to begin at a day to come no not upon a Contingency A Copy-holder saith he surrenders his Copy-hold Estate and if his Child which shall be Born dyes before his Age of 21 years that then his Brother shall have it it s not good This Case falls upon a Rule in Law That one cannot pass a Copy-hold Estate to begin from a day to come nor yet upon a Contingency no more than a Free-hold at Common Law 2 Bulstr 274. Simpson and Southern If a Copy-holder surrenders his Copy-hold of Inheritance into the hands of the Lord Use vests presently the Condition to take effect in futuro to the Use of J. S. paying of an 100 l. to his Executors within such a time after his death he to whose Use this Surrender is made takes by force of this presently Per Dodridge 2 Bulst p. 275. idem Case Surrender upon Condition or Contingency Copy-holder may surrender to the Use of another on condition if the Copy-holder pay 250 l. ad domum suam mansionalem c. that then the Surrender shall be void 5 Rep. 114. Wade's Case A Copy-holder may surrender to the Use of another reserving Rent Condition of re-entry for non-payment of Rent with condition of re-entry for non-payment and for default of payment he may re-enter 4 H. 6.11.21 H. 6.37 A Copy-holder surrenders upon condition and afterwards by his Deed releaseth the condition its good without surrender for properly a right or condition cannot be given or determined by Surrender but by Release Cro. Jac. 36. Hull and Sharebrook 4 Rep. Kite and Quinton Surrender to the Use of one in Fee upon condition to pay 100 l. to a Stranger it was a Question if the tender of the 100 l. to the Stranger and he refusing the condition is saved By Beaumont it is saved aliter in Case of an Obligation where he takes upon him to do it Cro. El. p. 361. Poulter's Case The Form of a Surrender of Copy-hold Land upon Condition Vide Conveyancers Light p. 827. Vide infra Presidents Of Surrender before Admittance whether it shall be good or not Purchaser hath nothing before Admittance neither can he Surrender A Surrender to J. S. J. S. Surrenders to a Stranger who is Admitted The Stranger takes nothing for J. S. had no Estate before Admittance and the right and possession still remains in him who surrendred and this shall descend to his Heir But the diversity is an Heir to whom a Copy-hold descends or comes in remainder he may surrender before Admittance because he is in by course of Law for he Custom which makes him Heir to the Estate casts the Possession upon him from his Ancestors But a Stranger to whom the Copy-hold is surrendred had nothing before Admittance because he is a Purchaser and the Copy made to him upon his Admittance is his Evidence by the Custom and before
Lord recover his Fine Debt Debt lyes for a Fine against the Copy-holder by the Lord Siderfin p. 58. agreed in the Case of Wheeler and Honor. Copy-holder Heir waves the possession If Copy-holder in Fee dyes where the Fine is certain and the Heir waves the possession and refuseth to be admitted it seems the Lord shall not have an Action of Debt against him and yet some hold he may not wave the possession because being Inheritance Interest descends and for this reason praecipe quod reddat lyes against the Heir at Common Law before his Entry Siderfin p. 58. Wheeler and Honor. Pled Vide Presidents infra Custome quod Dominus habeat rationabilem finem pro admissione Co. Ent. 646. 13 Rep. 1. CAP. XIX Of the Entayling of Copy-hold Estates The different Opinion of the Judges with an Abstract of the Reasons and Arguments how Copy-holds are or may be Entayled and the Law setled as to that Point How such Copy-hold Entayls may be barred or dock'd And what acts of Tenant Copy-holder in Tayl c. shall amount to a Discontinuance or not Of Copy-hold Estates being Entayled AS to Copy-hold Lands being Entayled whether there be any such Estate Tayl by any particular Custom to be allowed and how such Entayls arose it hath been vexatio quaestio This Question hath been curiously debated in our Books and therefore I shall be the larger upon it It is clear That the Statute de donis per se doth not create an Estate Tayl in a Copy-hold 9 Rep. 105. the Case of Thornton and Lucas there cited for the Statute de donis doth not extend to such base Estates at will The Question is if the Statute may co-opperate with the Custom as to make an Estate Tayl. Coke in the Case of Warn and Sawyer 1 Rolls Rep. 48. cited one Haslerick and Grays Case to be so adjudged and in one Hills Case a Custom was pleaded that a Copy-hold might be granted to one and the Heirs of his Body with remainder over but saith he we of the other side durst not hazard the matter upon this but we devised a Plea That there was another Custom there that if a Tenant in Tayl alien this shall be a bar to the Remainder and upon issue that Custom was found for it was agreed Per totam Curiam That if an Estate Tayl may be of a Copy-hold by Custom that by a Custom it may be dock'd and destroyed It hath been often moved in our Books When a Copy-holder in Fee surrenders to the Use of one in Tayl there being no Custom to warrant such an Entayl whether it be an Estate Tayl by the Statute of De donis conditionalibus or a Fee-simple conditional at the Common Law This point is well argued and setled in Rowden and Malster's Case Cro. Car. p. 42. Copy-hold cannot be Entayled within the Statute de donis Yelverton held That it was an Estate Tayl by the Equity and intent of the Statute de donis but Hutton Harvy and Croke That it was not an Entayl but a Fee-simple conditional at Common Law 1. Because it would be prejudicial to Lords for by this means the tenure would be altered for the Donee in Tayl without a special reservation ought to hold of the Donor by the same Services that the Donor holdeth over and he who comes in by Surrender and the Admittance of the Lord to hold to him and the Heirs of his Body cannot hold of him who surrendred but shall hold of the Lord and is Tenant at will unto him and shall do the Services unto him as Lord. 2. In respect of the baseness of their Estate the Statute never intended to provide remedy for them nor their Alienations for the words of the Statute are Quod voluntas donatoris in Charta sua manifeste expressa de caetero observetur which proveth that the intent of the makers of the Statute was That no Hereditament should be intayled within this Statute but such as either was or might be given by Charter or Deed and other Reasons out of the words of the Statute Carters Rep. 8. But Copy-holds are no such Hereditaments and therefore not within the meaning of the Act. 3. If Copy-holds might be Entayled then the perpetuity of such Estates might be maintained for a Fine cannot be levied of Copy-hold Lands to bar the Entayl nor can a Recovery in value be intended of such an Estate where warranty cannot be annexed to it Ceo reason come jeo pense ne vault rien pas Car est agree per touts que poet estre dock't per recovery en curia del Baron Vide apres They held also That neither Estate Tayl nor Estate after possibility of issue extinct which had a necessary dependance upon an Estate Tayl can by any particular Custom be allowed Cave Lecteur for it s agreed by all That a Custom co-operating with the Statute may create an Estate Tayl. Observe Plowden in Manxel's Case is no Law 2 Rolls Rep. 383. mesme Case Co. Lit. 60. As there may be an Estate Tayl by Custom with the co-operation of the Statute of W. 2. Cap. 1. So may he have a Formedon in discender i. e. a Writing in the nature of a Formedon in Descender in the Lords Court But as the Statute without a Custom extendeth not to Copy-holds so a Custom without the Statute cannot create an Estate Tayl. Now it is not a sufficient proof that Lands have been granted in Tayl for albeit Lands have anciently and usually been granted by Copy to many men and to the Heirs of their Bodies that may be a Fee-simple conditional as it was at the Common Law but if a Remainder hath been limited over such Estates and enjoyed or if the Issues in Tayl have avoided the alienation of the Ancestor or if they have recovered the same in Writs of Formedon in the Discender these and such like are proofs of an Estate Tayl But if by Custom Copy-hold may be Entayled the same by like Custom may be cut off Plow Com. 240. This was the first Opinion and by Clench and Gaudy agreed to in Grovener's Case Popham 32. The other Opinion is That an Estate is wrought out by the Equity of the Statute de donis for otherwise it cannot be that there should be any Estate Tayl of Copy-hold Land for by Usage it cannot be maintained because that no Estate Tayl was known in Law before this Statute and after this Statute it cannot be by Usage because this is within the time of limitation aftet which an Usage cannot make a Prescription for a Custom cannot be made after the Statute de donis And it appeareth by Littleton and Brook That a Plaint lyes of Copy-hold Land in the nature of a Formedon in Discender at Common Law and therefore the Statue helps them for their remedy for Entayled Lands which is but customary by Equity and if the Action shall be given by Equity for this Land why shall not the
the principal and reversed the Outlawry and was found Not Guilty and the Heir of him which was hang'd entred upon the Lord adjudged inasmuch as there cannot be an accessary unless there be a principal that the Entry of the Heir was lawful 2 Brownl 217. Gittins and Cooper So it s a good Custom in 1 Leon. p. 1. Burnford and Packington Copy-holder for Life was arraigned for Felony and convicted and prayed his Clergy whereupon the Plaintiff as Lord entred for the Forfeiture without alledging any special Custom or Attainder Q. 2 Keb. 451 456. Jury and Pawlet Of other acts which are Forfeitures If a Copy-holder forgeth a Customary containing divers false Customs and pretending them to be true Customs Quaere if this be a Forfeiture 3 Leon. 107 108. Tavernor and Cromwel By Inclosure Custom is That the Lord hath a Field-course for five hundred Ewes over the Lands of the Copy-holder from Michaelmas till Lady-day in all the Lands of the Copy-holders not inclosed the Custom was too That if they did Inclose he might Fine them Per Cur. Inclosure is no Forfeiture Paston and Utbert 5 Car. 1. Hutton p. 102. Lit. Rep. 246. mesme Case Rescous Rescous by a Copy-holder is a Forfeiture Replevin by a Copy-holder If a Copy-holder bring a Replevin it is a Forfeiture 1 Rolls Rep. 48. in the case of Warn and Sawyer Outlawry A Copy-hold is not forfeited by Outlawry in a personal Action for the Lord is not prejudiced by it and yet the King shall have the Profits Inclosure Bare Inclosure is not Forfeiture of a Copy-hold Hetly p. 7 8. The manuring of Land to Hop Ground was agreed to be a Forfeiture If Doal Marks are about a Copy-hold and the Copy-holder makes such Ditches that he defaceth the Doal Marks this may be a Forfeiture for in time it may prove to the disheritance and loss of the Copy-hold What Acts of the Husband shall forfeit the Wives Land or not Feme Copy-holder of Inheritance takes Husband Husband makes a Lease for years Lease of a Copy-hold shall not bind the Wives Estate of Inheritance the Lord enters for a Forfeiture Husband dies the Feme dies the Heir of the Wife enters and his entry was adjudged lawful Palmer's Rep. 387. Savern and Smith 35 El. Sandley's Case 2 Rolls 344. mesme Case Denial of Rent by the Husband shall be a Forfeiture against the Wife and so shall waste Denyal of Rent by the Husband Quaere if waste be not a Forfeiture by the Statute of Gloucester which extends to Copy-holds but not collateral acts as cutting Trees c. By Doddridge waste at Common Law by the Husband shall bind the Wife but not a Feoffment and he took this difference Diversity where the Copyhold came to the Woman after Coverture his Forfeiture shall not bind her for then it cannot be said it was her folly to take an Husband that would forfeit c. Palmer's Rep. 387. Savern and Smith If a Feme Copy-holder pur vie Waste committed by Husband takes Husband who commits waste this shall bind the Wife and the difference is as to this and the Husbands making a Lease In waste the Forfeiture goes to the Inheritance of the waste which continues for ever but in Savern and Smith's Case this Forfeiture determines with the Lease But if a stranger commits waste without the assent of the Husband By Estranger this is no Forfeiture 4 Rep. 27. Clifton and Molineux Vide pluis infra A Feme Copy-holder takes an Husband who lets the Land for more years than the Custom doth warrant it is Quaere whether this shall bind the Wife as a condition in Law Per Wray If the Husband deny to pay the Rent or to do Suit of Court these are present Forfeitures which shall bind the Wife for they are things that the Lord must of necessity have but Quaere of the Lease saith the Book Cro. El. 149. Hedd and Challener But it hath been resolved ut supra in Savern's Case Who shall take advantage or enter for a Forfeiture and of what Forfeitures or not After a Copy-hold is dismembred from the Manor yet of what Forfeitures the Grantee or Feoffee shall take advantage It was a Question in East and Harding's Case If the dismembring of the Inheritance of the Copy-hold Land by the Feoffment of the Manor had disabled from taking the advantage of the Forfeiture It was ruled with this difference that all Forfeitures which accrew by reason of any matters of the Court are discharged but not Forfeitures at Common Law as Waste or Leases made to the disherison of the Lord but the Feoffee of them made in his time shall enter and take advantage thereof Moor n. 508. Lessee for years Dom. pro tempore Lessee for years of a Manor shall take advantage of a Forfeiture committed by a Copy-holder for he is Dominus pro tempore East and Harding's Case So Tr. 10. Jac. B. C. Rowls and Mason Lessee for years shall take advantage of a Forfeiture by waste after his Lease made and before the commencement of his Term Moor n. 508. If the Lord of a Manor in which are Copy-holders Tenants of the Manor and the Lord grant to a Stranger the Free-hold of a Copy-hold in Fee although by this his Tenement is divided from the Manor and not demisable per Copy again yet the Grantee of the Free-hold shall take advantage of a Forfeiture committed after by the Copy-holder for he ought to pay his Rent to the Grantee So in this case if the Grantee of the Frank-Tenement make a Lease for years of the Frank-Tenement this Lessee for years shall take advantage of a Forfeiture committed after by the Copy-holder for that he is Dominus pro tempore 1 Rolls Abr. 509. East and Harding Cro. El. 499. mesme Case For Copy-holder as to the Forfeiture of his Estate remains in all degrees as before the severance thereof from the Manor If a Copy-holder makes a Lease for years Where Lessee or Feoffee shall take advantage which is a Forfeiture at Common Law and afterwards the Lord make a Feoffment or a Lease for years of the Free-hold of this Copy-hold to another the Feoffee or Lessee shall not take advantage of it for the Lease of the Freehold made by the Lord before Entry is an assent that the Copy-holder shall continue his Estate and so is in nature of an affirmance or confirmation of the Lease Owen p. 63. Pen and Merival But If the Lord of a Copy-holder for Life Where he shall Lease the Copy-hold for years to commence after the end forfeiture or determination of the Tenant for Life and after the Tenant for Life commits a Forfeiture by making a Feoffment if the Lord will not enter for the Forfeiture yet the Lessee for years may 8 Rolls Abr. 858. Mere and Ridealt He in Remainder Copy-holder for Life the Remainder for Life
yet if he that hath the pure right to the Copy-hold Release to the wrong doer before the Lord enters that is good for until the Lord enter he is Tenant in fait 4 Rep. 15. I Brownl 149. in Odingsal and Jackson's Case Quaere Acceptance Copy-holder sold Timber off the Land Lord enters Copy-holder dyes Lord seises a Beast the Heir brought Trespass the Plaintiff justified the seizure for an Harriot Per Cur. in Ejectment this being the Defendants Evidence Justification for Harriot Service or Seisin of Ancestor is an acceptance of Heir as Tenant and purgeth the Forfeiture contra on Acceptance Justication or Avowry for Harriot Custom but now there being an actual Entry in the Life-time of the Ancestor by the Lord for the Forfeiture no acceptance after will purge it 3 Keb. 641. Pascal and Wood. Repairs of waste If a Tenant permit Waste and after repair yet it seems this doth not purge the Forfeiture Lach. 227. But Moor n. 508. is contra If a Copy-holder cut down Trees without a Custom it is a Forfeiture unless it be for Reparation Note The Repairing with Timber though after five years cut and after Action brought is a dispensation of the Forfeiture Affirmance or confirmation by the Lord Feoffment or Lease of the Freehold If a Copy-holder makes a Lease for years which is a Forfeiture at common Law and afterwards the Lord makes a Feoffment or a Lease for years of the Freehold of this Copy-hold to another the Feoffee or Lessee shall not take advantage of it for the Lease of the Freehold made by the Lord before Entry is an assent that the Lessee of the Copy-holder shall continue his Estate and so is in nature of an affirmance or a confirmation of the Lease Owen p. 63. Pen and Merival So the difference is when the Lord enters or not and also whether the Forfeiture be committed before the Lords feoffment c. or after Whether Forfeiteres in the time of the Ancestors of the Lord shall descend to the Heir Copy-holder doth waste the Lord dyes Where the Heir shall not take advantage of a Forfeiture the waste is presented in the Court and the Lords Heir enters the better Opinion is he cannot enter Per Dodderidge Actions ancestrel shall descend to the Heir but not Forfeitures which is in the Will of the Lord to take advantage or not Palmers Rep. 416. Cornwallis and Hammond 18 Eliz. in Harpers Rep. cited by Lach. p. 227. in Cornwallis's Case The Case was Lord and two Co-partners Copy-holders the one makes a Feoffment and the Lord makes a Lease of the Manor the Lessee shall not take advantage of this Forfeiture because he is not privy to the Title but if the Lessor dyes it was agreed the Heir should take advantage of it Ideo Quaere It s a mischievous Case if the Lord should be suffered to rake up old Forfeitures a long time past and yet on the other side there is no reason that the Lords should be abridged of their Rights And it s adjudged 2 Siderfin p. 8. Chamberlain and Drake's Case That the succeeding Lord shall not take advantage of waste made in the time of the preceeding Lord. Upon Entry for a Forfeiture who shall have the Emblements Upon Entry by the Lord for a Forfeiture he shall have the Emblements then growing as if a Feme Copy-holder durante viduitate sows the Land and before severance takes a Husband the Lord shall have the Emblements for her own act is the cause of the determination of the Estate If such Woman let for years and the Lessee sows the Land and after the Widow takes Husband the Lessee shall not have the Emblements for although his Estate is determined by the act of a Stranger yet as to the first Lessor he shall not be in better case than his Lessor was 5 Rep. Oland's Case Vide Emblements The Lords Remedy for a Forfeiture For Forfeitures presented by the homage the Lord may distrain or seize 1 Keb. 287. Pateson and Danges By Entry the Lord shall have the Emblements CAP. XXIII Of extinguishment of Copy-holds How they are destroyed by the act of the Lord or of the Copy-holder VVhere and how a Right to a Copy-hold shall be Estopped or Extinguished by Acceptance or Release VVhere a Copy-hold shall be suspended and where it may be regranted Where and by what acts a Copy-hold shall grow extinct and destroyed for ever and where not and to what purposes and to what not By the act of the Lord Copy-holder BY the act of the Lord. And here observe two Rules By the severance of the Inheritance of the Copy-hold from the Manor the Copy-hold is not destroyed for though the Copy-hold must be parcel of the Manor yet severance made by the Lord shall not destroy the Estate of the Copy-holder Custom has so fixt and established his Estate In all cases where the Copy-hold is gone by the Grant of the Reversion it is not so gone but that the Tenant shall hold his Estate still and subject to Forfeiture as before To Illustrate this I shall cite two or three Cases That the Lords act shall not prejudice the Copy-holders Estate If the Lord makes a Lease for an hundred years the Lands are not so severed from the Manor as that the Copy-hold is extinct and the customary Interest is not determined but the Lord himself hath destroyed the Custom as to the Services for the Services reserved upon the Copy Copy-hold extinct as to Services but remains as to the Customary Estate and the advantage of waste and other Forfeitures are extinct But by Anderson the Rents and Services remain and waste shall be a Forfeiture though such waste cannot be found by an ordinary Presentment and that the Lord shall have the Rents and Services and not the Lessee quod mirum saith the Reporter against his own Lease 2 Leon. 208. Beal and Langley But this point is well setled in Murrel and Smith's Case 4 Rep. 25. though the Reversion of the Copy-hold be granted and so severed from the Manor yet the Copy-holder shall hold his Estate and subject to Forfeiture as before and shall perform the same Services suit of Court excepted as before and the Custom incident to the Land as Burrough English Gavel-kind continue still but Fine upon Alienations and Suit of Court and Admittances are gone The Lord Grants an ancient Copy-hold to S. in Fee and after he grants the Inheritance of that Copy-hold to a Stranger in Fee S. makes his Will and deviseth it to M. in Fee which was surrendred at next Court Per Cur. 1. Copy-hold though severed from the Manor not destroyed by the Lords act By the severance of the Inheritance of the Copy-hold from the Manor the Copy-hold is not destroyed being the Lords act 2. The Surrender after the Severance of the said Copy-hold was void and so was the Will for the Lands were not parcel of the Manor at the time of
the Surrender and the devise only cannot transfer for such customary Estate 3. After the severance the Copy-holder shall pay his Rent to the Feoffee and other Services which are due without Admittance as Harriot c. But not Fine or Suit of Court After severance Forfeitures continue But such Forfeitures as were Forfeitures before the Severance as Feoffment Lease Waste are Forfeitures after 4 Rep. 24 25. In Lee and Boothby's Case Cro. Car. 521. The Question was If a Copy-holder in Fee surrender to the Lord of the Manor his Copy-hold Estate and the Lord makes a Lease for years of the Manor and of the said Copy-hold by the name of his Tenement called H. whether it was a determination of his Copy-hold Per Curiam it is not because when he lets the Manor it is included as parcel of the Manor the Manor being demised includes the Copy-hold as parcel of the Manor and the naming of the Copy-hold is surplusage But if he though he had been but Dominus pro tempore or for half a year though by parol had made a Lease for years of the Copy-hold by it self that had destroyed the Copy-hold for it was then during that time severed from the Manor and so could never after be demised by Copy Lease for years of a particular Copy-hold by name together with the Manor by the King hath not so extinguished that the Copy-hold though by the surrender of it it is parcel of the Manor in the King but that after such Lease the Patentee of the Reversion may regrant it as Copy-hold 1 Keb. 720. Act of the Lord with consent of the Tenant where it destroys it or not But the act of the Lord with consent and acceptance of the Tenant will destroy the Copy-hold otherwise it shall not prejudice the Copy-holder But in some sense the Copy-holder may assent and yet not be prejudiced as in Howard and Bartlet's Case Hob. 181. The Custom was Copy hold Estate may remain to some purpose notwithstanding the severance from the Freehold if Copy-holders for Life dye seized their Wives shall have this during their Widowhood and A. being Copy-holder for Life the Lord conveys the Freehold and Inheritance of the Copy-hold of A. by the procurement of A. to J. S. a Stranger and his Heirs during the Life of A. Remainder to B. the Wife of A. for Life Remainder to A. and after A. grants the Remainder to W. his Son after this B. the Wife of A. dyes and A. marries C. and dyes seized now though here appears the Copy-holders privity and consent in that he takes the Remainder in Fee and grants it over to his Son that it should be destroyed and though this Copy-hold Estate was destroyed before her marriage yet the viduity of C. is not extinguished for the Freehold being in J. S. during the Life of A. the Estate of A. was not so extinct but the Custom shall continue quoad her The Copy-hold Estate here remains notwithstanding the severance from the Free-hold and though the Remainder was in him and he granted it over yet he lived and dyed a Copy-holder Hobart p. 181. Howard and Bartlet 1 Rolls Abr. 510. Cro. Jac. 573. the same Case by the name of Waldee and Bartlet Copy-holder in Tayl accepts a Feoffment from the Lord it destroys not the Copy-hold so as to conclude his Issue Carters Rep. 6 7. 2. By the act of the Copy-holder If a Copy-holder accept a Lease for years of his Copy-hold Acceptance of a Lease by this his Copy-hold is destroyed whether it be immediately from the Lord or mediately as was Lane's Case 2 Rep. 16. b. The King seized of a Manor in Fee grants Copy-hold Lands parcel of this Manor to another in Fee by Copy of Court Roll according to the Custom of the Manor And after the King by his Letters Patents under the Exchequer Seal makes a Lease for 21 years to another of these Lands the Lessee grants his Term to the Copy-holder afterwards Queen Elizabeth reciting the Lease for 21 years grants the Reversion in Fee the 21 years expire and the Patentee of the Reversion enters upon the Copy-holder his Entry adjudged good for Per Cur. by the acceptance of the Term by the Copy-holder the Copy-hold Estate was determined as well as if the Copy-holder had immediately accepted a Lease for years of his Copy-hold The reason of the Extinguishment the reason is the same in both Cases A Copy-hold Interest and an Estate for years of one and the same Land may not stand together in one and the same person at one time without confounding the lesser and if one of them ought to be determined it ought to be the Copy-hold Estate Also they are of divers natures and so cannot stand together in the same person the Estate at the Common-Law cannot drown it being the more worthy than the customary Estate and the customary must Vide mesme Case in Anderson 1 Rep. 191. and 1 Leon. 170. So it was resolved in Hide and Newport's Case A Copy-holder in Fee took a Lease for years of the Manor the Copy-hold is extinct for ever and not only during the Lease Moor Rep. n. 330. Acceptance to hold the Land by Bill and not by Copy Copy-holder accepts to hold his Land by Bill under the Lords Hand and not by Copy this determines the Copy-hold 1 Anderson 199. Colman and Bedil If a Copy-holder takes a Lease for years of the Manor by this his Copy-hold is destroyed 4 Rep. 21. French's Case But such Lessee may re-grant the Copy-hold to whom he will for the Land was always demised and demisable If the Lord make a Lease for Life to the Copy-holder by parol this shall confound the Copy-hold if Livery be made otherwise not Latch 213. If there be a Lease for years of the Manor and one of the Copy-holders doth purchase the Reversion in Fee by this the Copy-hold is destroyed and the Lessee of the Manor shall oust the Copy-holder and hold the Land for the time Calth p. 97. By the Tenants Release to the Lord. By the Copy-holders Release to the Lord. If a Copy-holder releaseth to his Lord that extinguisheth his Copy-hold although it be contrary to the nature of a Release to give possession Hutton p. 81. Or to a Purchasor The Lord sells the Freehold interest of a Copy-holder of Inheritance unto another so as it is divided from the Manor and afterwards the Copy-holder releaseth to the Purchaser by it the Copy-hold Interest is extinct but if the Lord be disseised and the Copy-holder releaseth to the Disseisor Nihil operatur 1 Leon. 102. Wakeford's Case Cro. Eliz. 21. For if a Copy-holder is ousted and so the Lord is disseised and the Copy-holder releaseth all his right to the disseisor and dyes his Heir Enters and brings an Action of Trespass against the disseisor who pleads his Frank-tenement Per Cur. the Release is void the disseisor not being admitted
Copy-holder It hath been a Question when a Copy-holder bargains and sells his Copy-hold to the Lord of a Manor in Lease for years whether the Copyhold Estate was extinguished But in Hutton p. 81. it is agreed that this Copy-hold is not extinguished but that the Lord who is Lessee for years is Dominus pro tempore and may grant it by Copy de novo The Lord of a Manor demised Copy-hold Lands to three Sisters Habend to them for their Lives successive the eldest Sister married one C. after which the Lord by Indenture leased the same Land to the eldest Sister the Remainder to the Husband Remainder to the second Sister and no Agreement was made thereunto by the second Sister by Deed before or after making the said Indenture but four days after the Lease made she agreed to it in pais and then married a Husband Agreement to an Indenture by one in Remainder for Life and they claim the Land The point is if by Agreement of the second Sister her Right to the Copy-hold were extinct The Interest of the eldest Sister is gone by her acceptance of the Estate by Indenture now if the second Sister may come and claim her customary Interest Per Cur. it s no extinguishment in the second Sister and yet Judgment was against her for Per Gaudy none can take advantage of the eldest Sister's Estate being determined the Lord against his Lease cannot enter or claim and the second Sister cannot enter during the Life of the eldest Sister for her Remainder takes effect in possession after the death of her said Sister 1 Leon. p. 73. Curtis and Cottell's Case 28 Eliz. Trin. B. R. By acceptance of a new Estate of Free-hold Baron and Feme Copy-holders to them and their Heirs the Baron in consideration of mony paid by him to the Lord obtaineth an Estate of the Freehold to him and his Wife and to the Heirs of their Bodies Baron dieth having Issue the Feme enters and suffers a Recovery and his Heir enters Per Statute 11 H. 7. Per Cur. the Entry is lawful for the Copy-hold by the Acceptance of the new Estate was extinguished Cro. El. 24. Stockbridge's Case Where and how Right to a Copy-hold shall be Extinguished by Release A man makes a Surrender of his Copy-hold Land to J. S. which is not good and after J. S. is admitted he which made the Surrender releaseth to him being in possession and after enters upon him The Question was if his Entry be congeable and if by the Release by Deed the customary Right of the Copy-holder was extinct And Per Cur. it is extinct by the Release for he to whom the Release was made was Copy-holder in possession and admitted to the Tenements and therefore the Release of a customary right may enure to him and the Lord hath no prejudice for he hath received his Fine for Admittance and he to whom the Release is made is in by Title viz. by Admittance of the Lord and so this Release enures by way of extinguishment And there is great difference between transferring of an Estate and an extinguishment of a Right Diversity between the transferring of an Estate and the extinguishment of a Right But if a Copy-holder be ousted per Tort there his Release to the disseisor or other wrong doer does not transfer his Right or Bar him 1. Because there is no customary Estate upon which a Release of any customary Right may enure and then 2. It would be a prejudice to the Lord who would lose his Fines and Services Co. 4 Rep. 25. b. Kite and Queinton In Replevin bar to the Conisance That K.D. was seized of the Manor of R. in Fee and that the Tenements in which c. were customary held of the said Manor and that at such a Court a Copy was granted to the Plaintiff whereby he entred and put in his Beasts The Defendant protesting the Premisses were not customary for Plea saith That before the Plaintiffs Title J. Abbot of the Monastery of B. was seized of the Manor of R. c. and one R. T. being seized of the customary Lands in which c. in Fee at the will of the Lord the said R. surrendred to the Abbot who was possessed and occupied the said Premisses for divers years and afterwards demised the said Manor for 40 years to W. M. and then surrendred the entire Manor and Abbathy to H. 8. who granted the entire Manor to the Duke of Norfolk in Fee and he with the assent of the Termor made a Feoffment to Drury of the Manor to whom the Termor surrendred his Lease Drury dyes and it descends to his Heir who granted the Land in which c. again by Copy to Tillot for his Life who entred and put in his Beasts Demurrer The Question was if the Custom is destroyed or if Drury the Defendant may avoid his Grant by Copy Note The custumary Land was never severed from the Manor but granted with the Manor as part of it and was demisable by Copy by all the Lords of the Manor and so it remained till the 15th of Eliz. when the Defendant granted the Copy to the Plaintiff Winch Ent. 991 992. Where a Copy-hold shall be perpetually extinct or where it shall after become a Copy-hold by regrant Forfeit Escheat If a Copy-hold Estate be forfeit or escheat to the Lord or otherwise come into the Hands of the Lord if the Lord make a Lease for years or for Life or other Estate by Deed or without Deed this Land shall never after be granted again by Copy for the Custom is destroyed for that during such Estates the Land was not demised nor demisable by Copy of Court Roll So if the Lord make a Feoffment and enter for the Condition broken it shall never be granted again by Copy But if the Lord keep it in his Hands a long time or let this at will then he may re-grant it Lach p. 213. 1 Rolls Abr. 498. Downcliff and Minors So if the interruption be tortious as if the Lord be disseised and the disseisor dye seized or the Land be recovered against the Lord by false Verdict or erroneous Judgment yet after the Land recovered or the judgment reversed this is grantable again by Copy Legal Interruptions But if the Land so Forfeited or Escheated before any new Grant be extended upon a Statute or Recognizance acknowledged by the Lord or the Lords Wife hath this assigned to her in a Writ of Dower though these are impediments by acts in Law yet the interruptions are lawful and the Lands may never again be granted by Copy 4 Rep. 31. Frenches Case If Copy-holder takes a Lease for years of the Manor by this his Copy-hold is destroyed but such Lessee may re-grant the Copy-hold again to whom he will for the Land was always demised or demisable If a Copy-hold be surrendred to the Lessor of a Manor or be Forfeited to him he his Executors or Assigns may well
per quod quer ' communiam suam predict pro averiis suis c. in tam amplo beneficiali modo prout antea habuit c. habere non potuit This is a good Declaration though the Commoner cannot have any Damage for the taking and carrying away the Turffs yet the coming on the Land with Horse and Carts is a prejudice to the Common and the per quod the Common is impaired is the cause of Action and the carrying away a means to impair it 1 Rolls Abr. 89. Terry and Goodier and good tho' Damages were entire Action shall be brought in a Copy-holder Lunaticks name for though the custody of the Land was granted to one by the Lord yet no Interest was gained by this commitment and the Lord hath not power over the Lunaticks Lands without a Custom Hobart p. 215 216. Cox and Darson Trespass Quare clausum fregit Copy-holder of Under-Wood without the Soil shall have Trespass Quare clausum fregit Moor n. 480. Account for Profits Account lies not for an Heir Copy-holder for the Profits of his Copy-hold Lands taken during his non-Age where the Defendant hath not entred and taken the Profits as Prochein Amy but claims by Custom and Grant of the Lord to the Use of the Assignee which Custom is good 1 Leon. p. 226. n. 356. Anonymus Faux Judgment Writ of faux Judgment lies not for a Copy-holder Vide supra Writ of Right Close Writ of Right Close lies not for a Copy-holder 4 Rep. 21. Avowry for Rent by Lessee of a Copy-holder Lessee for years of a Manor distrains a Copy-holder for Rent he Replevins Lessee Avows Per Curiam Avowry may be made for the Rent of a Copy-holder in the Kings-Bench and there is difference between an Ejectione Firmae and this Case For the Ejectione Firmae is brought for the Copy-hold it self But this Avowry is for Rent due to the Lord which is a duty at the Common Law and therefore an Avowry may well be for it Cro. El. p. 524. Laughter and Humphry A Copy-holder in Fee by Licence made a Lease for 21 years by Indenture rendring Rent Covenant by Assignee of a Reversion wherein the Lessee Covenants for himself his Executors and Assigns That he will erect a c. The Lessor surrendred to the Use of the Plaintiff and his Heirs who was admitted accordingly and the Plaintiff as Assignee brings his Action of Covenant Whether the Assignee may maintain this Action by the Common Law or by the Statute 32 H. 8. Cap. 34. was the Question for the Defendant demurred upon the Declaration it was adjourned in Cro. Car. 24. Plat and Plummer But it seems by 1 Keb. 356. Baker and Berisford's Case That the Assignee is not within this Statute to have a Covenant Action of Debt doth not lye for Arrearages of Copy Rents for the Stat. of 32 H. 8. Action of Debt for Rent does not extend to them but to Rents out of Free Land Yelv. p. 135. Appleton and Doily And so Executors shall not have Debt for Arreages of such Rents due in the life-Life-time of the Testator The Lord of a Manor is and Fines No Remedy for Fines Rents c. after vendition for Admittances and Copy-hold Rents are Arrear and then he sells the Manor he is without Remedy both in Law and Equity He hath deprived himself of the Remedy by his own act viz. the vendition 1 Rolls Abr. 374. Serjeant Hitcham and Finch Copy-holder for Life becomes Lunatick A. Action of Trover to be brought in the Lunaticks name he being a Copy-holder sows the Land The Lord grants the custody of the Lunatick to B. A. takes the Corn to the Use of the Lunatick B. Brought Trover in his own name it s ill brought It ought to be brought in the Lunaticks name and not in the name of the Committee Noy p. 27. Cox and Dawson Covenant by Rent Custom is when a Copy-holder dies seized of Copy-hold Lands or Rent That his Wife shall have the one moiety and his Issues the other moiety A. B. so seized takes Mary to Wife and they have Issue John A. B. dies so that Mary is seized of the moiety for her Life and John of the other moiety in Fee and of the first moiety as his Reversion Mary and John her Son make a Lease to J. B. for twenty one years rendring fifty pounds Rent to Mary and fifty pounds to John and after the death of Mary one hundred pounds to John John marries Margaret they have Issue three Sons John dies so that a fourth part comes to his Wife and the other fourth part to his three Sons Rent is behind Margaret brought Debt on Covenant for the Rent Per Curiam it was well brought by her sole Joynder in Action without joyning Mary with her Tenant in Commonn shall joyn in Action so long as the privity of Contract remains but when the privity is determined as it is here they may sever and such Contract shall ensue the nature of the Land and also there is a vesting by Custom and express several Reservations 2 Siderfin p. 9. Baker and Berisford CAP. XXX Of Copy-holders being Impleaded and Impleadable in the Lords Court Vide supra Tit. Customs COpy-hold Lands are as the Demesns of the Manor and are the Lords Freehold and therefore are not impleadable but in the Lords Court Croke Jac. 559. Pymmock and Hilder One recovered certain Copyhold Lands in the Court of the Lord of the Manor by Plaint in the nature of a Writ of Right A Precept cannot be made and awarded out of the Court to execute the said Recovery Posse Manerij and to put him who recovered into possession with the Posse Manerij for force in such cases is not justifiable but by command out of the Kings Courts 3 Leon. 99. A Woman recovered Dower of a Copy-hold within the Manor and 40 l. Damages 40 l. Damages recovered yet no Execution or remedy but by Petition and she brought Debt for the Damages in B.R. Per Cur. it lyes not because the Court Baron cannot hold Plea nor award Execution of 40 l. Damages though the Damages were there well assessed and because no Writ of Error or Faux Judgment lyes upon such a Recovery of a Copy-hold but only a Petition to the Lord of a Manor so that Copy-hold Plaints are not within the Jurisdiction of this Court of Kings-Bench Moor n. 559. Shaw and Tompson If an erroneous Judgment be given in a Copy-hold Court of a common Lord in an Action in nature of a Formedon a Bill may be exhibited in Chancery Faux Judgment how relieved in nature of a Faux Judgment to reverse this Pateshall's Case in Scaccario 1 Rolls Abr. 373. and Co. on Lit. p. 60. a. He cannot have the Kings Writ of false Judgment in respect of the baseness of the Estate and Tenure being in the Eye of the Law but a
alledge this as a Grant How a Copy-holder shall plead in making Title to a Copy-hold and this the Law allows for avoiding an inconvenience which will otherwise happen for if the Copy-holder in Pleading shall be put to shew the full Grant either it was before the time of memory and then it is not pleadable or within time of memory and then the Custom fails Admittance pleaded as a Grant and for this cause the Law hath allowed the Copy-holder in Pleading to alledge any Admittance upon a Descent or upon a Surrender as a Grant and yet he may if he will alledge the Admittance of his Ancestor as a Grant and shew the Descent to himself and that he entred and good without any Admittance of him but the Heir cannot plead That his Father was seized in Fee at the Will of the Lord by Copy of Court Roll of such a Manor according to the Custom of the Manor and that he died seized and that it descended to him for in truth such an Interest is but a particular Interest at Will in judgment of Law although it is descendible by the Custom for he is Tenant at Will of the Lord according to the Custom of the Manor 4 Rep. 22. Brown's Case If one Surrender to the intent that the Lord shall grant it to another and he admitts him it was adjuded good yet he ought to plead it as a Grant Lit. Rep. 175. Tenant in Dower may Grant a Copy-hold in Reversion which shall be good Grant of Copy-hold Land in Reversion must be pleaded as a Grant in Reversion and not as a Grant in possession nor by a per nomen though not executed in the Life of Tenant in Dower But then it must be pleaded as a Grant in Reversion and not as a Grant in Possession therefore in Gray's Case Cro. El. p. 661 662. It was there pleaded That he granted Tenementa praedicta per nomen of a Messuage which A. P. held for Life and Per Cur. it s an uncurable Fault for it is not alledged that he granted the Tenement in Reversion and the per nomen will not help Averment del ' vâ—e Tenant by curtesie of Copy-hold brings Ejectment or Action it must appear that he is in Life or else he cannot have Judgment 1 Anderson p. 292. Ewer and Astwick Where in Pleading the Commencement of the. Estate must be shewn or by whom granted or not In matter of Conveyance to a Title need not shew the Conveyance Replevin the Plaintiff in bar to the Avowry shews that the Land was Copy-hold Land grantable in possession or reversion for Life or in Fee and that the Lord granted the Reversion to him after the death of W. who was Tenant pur vie and shews the death of W. whereby he entred And demurred because he did not shew the beginning of W. his Estate nor by whom W. had the Estate granted him Per. Cur. this is no cause of Demurrer because it is not the Plaintiffs Title but matter of Conveyance thereunto Cro. Jac. 52. Lodge and Fry Admittance of the last Heir to be shewed instead of an ancient Grant If one pleads Seisin of a Copy-holder in Fee and claims under him he ought to shew of whose Grant as he ought to shew of any other particular Estate but perhaps that is so ancient that it cannot be shewn who was the first Grantee yet it was held sufficient to shew the Admittance of the last Heir which is in nature of a Grant and may be pleaded by way of Grant Cro. Jac. 103. Pyster and Hembling In Trespass the Defendant justifies he confesseth the Close to be Copy-hold Land but pleads That long time before it was parcel of the Manor of c. and that long before the supposed Trespass one Pole and M. his Wife was Lord of the Manor in right of his Wife for Life remainder to Stephen in Tayl and he made a Lease of this Land to the Defendant it s an ill Plea because the Defendant hath not shewed as he ought how Pole and his Wife came to this Estate for Life the remainder over they ought to shew how this particular Estate hath its commencement they claiming a derivative Estate from Pole and his Wife for years 3 Bulstr 281. Sandford and Stephens None may entitle himself to any Copy-hold but he ought to shew a Grant thereof In Trespass the Plaintiff in his Rejoynder intitles himself because the place where is customary Land parcel of such a Manor whereof J. S. is seized in Fee and demisable by Copy at Will in Fee and that J. N. was seized in Fee by Copy c. and dyed seized so as it descended to two Daughters as Heirs of J. N. and that at such a Court Dominus concessit eis extra manus suas c. Habend tenend Tenementa praedicta to the said Daughters and their Heirs whereby they were seized in Fee and afterwards demised to the Plaintiff for years The Plaintiff hath not made a good Title and he shewing such an one was seized in Fee without shewing the Grant thereof Per Cur. it s not good Cro. Car. 190. Shepherd's Case yet it was but default of form and Issue for the Plaintiff being found it is a Jeofail Pleading Custom or Prescription A Copy-holder in Pleading need not alledge a Custom to make a Surrender for that is the Custom of all England A Copy-holder need not alledge a Custom to make a Lease for a year It must be pleaded that he used to do it It is not sufficient to alledge a Custom that one might do such an Act but that he used to do it as to alledge dimissibile and dimissum therefore in Brown and Foster's Case the Defendant avows in Replevin for Damage feasant the Plaintiff makes Title as Copy-holder and shews that within the Manor of A. time whereof c. Talis habebatur habetur consuetudo c. That any Copy-holder may surrender into the Hands of two Customary Tenants c. this is not well pleaded for it is pleaded by Usage and Custom but he doth not plead that ever it was put in ure in that manner which ought to be alledged as in Sir William Hatton's Case where it was pleaded Quod Talis habebatur consuetudo within a Manor Quod licebit Seneschallâ— to impose a Fine c. But in the principal Case the not naming the Steward made the Avowry ill and then Per Cur. the Avowry being ill although the bar to the Avowry were ill Not naming the Steward in the Avowry ill yet he cannot have return Cro. p. 37. El. 392. Brown and Foster Copy-holder pleads Quod infra Manerium praed talis habetur nec non a toto tempore cujus contrarij memoria hominum non existit habebatur consuetudo videl quod quilibet tenens custumar ' praedict tenementa c. hath used to have Common in such a place parcel of the Manor Question was if the
Custom may be alledged within the Manor and applied but to a single Copy-hold Per Cur. such Custom as well for the form as the matter is good for a Copy-holder cannot prescribe in his own name for the exility of his Estate Precribe for Common in one Copy-holder but he ought to prescribe in the Lords name when he claims Common c. out of the Land of a Stranger but if he claim such profit in the Manor he must lay it by way of Custom for then he cannot prescribe in the Lords Name for the Lord cannot prescribe to have Common in his own Soil and one Copy-holder may have such Common c. It may have a lawful commencement and all the other Copyholds may be extinct 4 Rep. 31 32. Foyston's Case vide for Prescription devant In Trespass the Defendant justifies as Copy-holder for Common he saith these are customary Lands but doth not say ad voluntatem Dom. which is uncertain whether Tenant-right Lands or Burrough-English or Free-hold Judgment Pro Quer. 3 Keb. 368. Walker and Wilson Customs must be pursued in Pleadings A man cannot plead a Prescription against a Prescription A Prescription not to be pleaded against Prescription but he ought to answer the Prescription alledged in the Count when two Customs repugne Cro. Car. 432. Spooner and Day 's Case Carter's Rep. 88. Custom alledged to be That if any Copy-holder seised of customary Lands of the said Copy-hold die seized thereof having many Sons that the youngest shall Inherit and the Defendant in Replevin makes his Title That a customary Estate was granted to the Father and Mother and the Heirs of the Father and the Mother survived This Estate is not within the Letter of the Custom Per Walmsly and cited Sir John Savage's Case Quod vide supra sub Tit. Custom 2 Leon. 208. Beal and Langly A particular Tenant at Will may not prescribe in his sole Tenancy Prescription by a particular Tenant at Will but when the Prescription and the Custom runs half through the Manor he may well lay it by Custom Kelloway 76 77. Tropnel's Case Tenant may plead a Custom to enjoy without interruption of the Lord. Copy-holder may plead a Custom That every Tenant after he hath paid the Lord his Fine may enjoy his Lands and Tenements granted by Copy during their Estates Terms or Interests without interruption or expulsion of the Lord for the time being they performing their Services and doing nothing that may Forfeit Kelloway 76 77. Ann Tropnel's Case Vide supra When the Copy-holder claims any thing by Prescription in the Soil of another in Pleading he ought to prescribe in the name of the Lord but if he claim any thing in the Soil of the Lord When it must be pleaded by way of Custom and when by way of Prescription within the Manor then he shall plead the Custom of the Manor for there he cannot plead in the name of the Lord in as much as the Lord cannot prescribe in his own Soil Foyston's Case and 4 Rep. 31. Cooper's Case 6 Rep. 60. Gateward's Case Rule There is nothing more common than for the Lord to prescribe for his Tenants by Copy in another mans Land whereas if it be in his own it shall ever be laid per Custom Hob. p. 28 61. Of Pleading a Custom for Common by Prescription Defendant pleads in Trespass That there are divers Freehold Tenements time out of mind in the said Manor c. and that there were and are infra eand villan divers customary Tenements parcel of the said Manor grantable ad voluntatem Dom. by Copy That all the Tenants of the Free Tenements time out of mind Habuerunt usi fuerunt and all the Tenants of the customary Tenements per consuetudinem ejusdem manerij in eodem manerio a toto tempore supra dict usitat approbat habuerunt habere consueverunt solam separalem pasturam c. for all their Cattel Hogs Sheep and Steers excepted Levant and Couchant upon their respective Messuages and Tenements every year for all times of the year except c. as belonging and appertaining to their several Tenements and that at the time of the Trespass the Defendant put in his own Cattel Levant and Couchant upon this said Messuage prout ei bene licuit c. Exceptions to this Pleading were 1. That he was seised de Antiquo Messuagio and of no Land is not proper for in common intention Cattel cannot be said to be Levant upon a Messuage only 2. He saith he put in his own Levant and Couchant but avers not as he ought That none of them were Porci Oves or Steers 3. The Plea doth not set forth the Custom of the Manor but implicitely That the Freehold and customary Tenants have had and enjoyed Per Consuetudinem Manerij solam separalem Pasturam for all their Cattel which is a double Plea both of the Custom of the Manor and of the claim by reason of the Custom which ought to be several and the Court shall judge and not the Jury whether the claim be according to the Custom alledged the Custom may be different from the Claim Per Consuetudinem Manerij if particularly alledged Vaughan's Rep. 253. North and Cole In Replevin Defendant makes Conuzance as Bayliff to c. Damage Fesant In bar of this Cognizance the Plaintiff pleads That H. Earl of H. was seized of the Manor of A. whereof one Messuage c. is parcel and demisable by Copy and that within the said Manor there is this Custom That every customary Tenant of the said Messuage c. have used to have Pasture c. in the said place called Land-Mead The Form how to apply the Custom of a Manor to a particular Messuage in pleading and so derives his Title by Grant by Copy the Issue was upon the Traverse Absque hoc quod infra manerium praed talis habetur consuetudo quod quilibet tenens custumarius c. have used to have Common c. prout c. Here is no Custom alledged because it did not appear in Pleading That the place where the taking was supposed to be was within the said Manor and no Custom of the Manor can extend out of the Manor but he ought to prescribe in the Manor Note he ought to have pleaded That the place in which c. was parcel of the Manor and then the Plea had been good Hob. p. 286. 1 Brownl 172. Roberts and Young Plaintiff in Replevin rejoyns by Custom of all the Copyholders of Blackacre in the Manor of D. used to have Common in A. to which the Avowant demurred because he should have prescribed in the Lords name A. being out of the Manor but the truth being that A. was anciently parcel and lately severed by the Lord this destroys not the Common Per Cur. But the Copy-holder ought to prescribe specially That Talis consuetudo suit till such a day Special Prescription
in Case of severance and that after the Lord granted over c. as on change of a Corporation in Lutterell's Case 1 Keeble 652. Davy and Watts The Case was The King was seized of a Manor Common appendant where there were divers Copy-holders for Life and was also seized of 8 Acres of Land in another Manor in which the Copy-holders have used time out of mind c. to have Common and after the King grants the Manor to one and the 8 Acres to another and a Copy-holder puts in his Beasts into the 8 Acres And in Trespass brought against him by the Patentee of the 8 Acres he prescribes That the Lord of the Manor and all those whose Estates he hath in the Manor have used time out of mind c. for them selves and their Copy-holders to have Common in the said Acres of Land And he farther pleads That he was Copy-holder for Life by Grant after the said unity of possession in the King and so demanded Judgment si actio Against which the unity of possession was pleaded The Defendant demurs Per Cur. as this Prescription was pleaded the Common was extinct but by special pleading he might have been helped and save his Common for this was Common appendant 2 Brownl 47. Vide James and Read Tirringhams Case 4 Rep. 38. Custom was alledged Sola separalis pastura That all the customary Tenements Habuerunt habuere consuever separalem pasturam c. it was excepted to this Plea That the Copy-holders have not shewed what Estate they have in their customary Tenements And 2dly It s not alledged that they have solam pasturam for their Beasts Levant and Couchant Per Cur. it s not material for be their Estates what they will in Fee or Life or Years Custom hath annexed this sole feeding as a profit apprender to their Estates and this they claim by the Custom of the Manor and not by Prescription As to the other Exception True it is if one claim only Common appurtenant to his Land he ought to say for his Beasts Levant and Couchant for in such case he claims but part of the Herbage and the residue the Lord is to have and therefore if he put in any Beasts that are not Levant and Couchant he doth a wrong to his Lord and the Lord shall have Trespass But here the Commoners claim all the Herbage and so exclude the Lord totally and so it s no mischief to the Lord 2 Sanders 326 327. Hoskins and Robins Estovers If a Copy-holder for Life had used to have Common in the Waste of the Lord or certain Estovers in his Wood and the Lord alien the Waste and the Wood to a Stranger and after grants certain Copy-hold Lands and Houses for Lives such Grantees shall have Common and Estovers in the Lands and Woods which were aliened notwithstanding the Severance But after such severance the Copy-holder shall not plead generally Quod infra manerium praed talis habetur consuetudo for after such severance the Waste or Wood is not parcel of the Manor but he may plead That before and until such time of the severance Talis habebatur a toto tempore c. consuetudo c. and then shew the severance as in Murrel's Case where the Lord severs the Freehold and Inheritance from the Copy-hold Co. 8 Rep. Swain's Case Where a Copy-holder prescribes for Estovers in the Soil of another and he saith That all Copy-holders Ejusdem tenementi usi sunt c. where he ought to have said Ejusdem manerij c. This Prescription was adjudged void 21 Ed. 4.36 b. 63. b. Prescription Pro ligno combustibili is good 2 Brownl 330. Trees A Prescription for a Copy-holder to cut Boughs of Trees is well laid by way of a Custom 2 Brownl 329. The manner of Pleading when a Lease is to be answered which is set forth in the Avowry In Replevin B. avowed for Damage feasant and sets forth That the Lady J. was seized of such a Manor whereof the place where c. and leased the same to the Defendant for years c. The Plaintiff saith That long time before King H. 8. was seized of the said Manor and that the place where c. is parcel of the said Manor demised and demisable by Copy c. and that the said King by such an one his Steward demised and granted the said parcel unto the Ancestor of the Plaintiff whose Heir he is by Copy in Fee and upon this there was a Demurrer because by that bar to the Avowry the Lease set forth in the Avowry is not answered for the Plaintiff in bar to the Avowry ought to have concluded And so he was seized by the Custom until the Avowant pretextu of the said Term for years entred And so it was adjudged 1 Leon. p. 81. Herring and Badcock In Ejectment the Defendant pleads Ejectment That the Lessor of the Plaintiff was Copy-holder in Fee of that Land parcel of the Manor of H. which is in the Queens possession by reason of a Ward and that the Lessor surrendred to the Use of the Defendant in Fee who was admitted and that afterwards the Lessor entred upon him and expelled him and let to the Plaintiff prout in the Declaration and the Defendant re-entred as he lawfully might Lease as at Common Law and plead Lease of Copy-hold Land Custom or Licence must specially be shewed The Plaintiff dedemurs Per Cur. the Plea is naught for there is no confession and avoydance of the Lease let by the Plaintiff for the Action is brought as of a Lease of Land at Common Law and this proves that the Land was Copy-hold Land and a Copy-holder cannot make a Lease for years unless by Custom or by Licence of the Lord which ought specially to be shewed Cro. El. 728. Kensey and Richardson In Ejectione Firmae brought by the Lessee of a Copy-holder Lessee pleading a Licence how it is sufficient that the Count be general without any mention of the Licence and if the Defendant plead not Guilty then the Plaintiff ought to shew the Licence in Evidence but if the Defendant plead specially then the Plaintiff ought to plead the Licence certainly in his Replication and the time and place when it was made And if the Plaintiff replies That the Copy-holder by Licence first then had of the Lord did demise and did not shew what Estate the Lord had nor the place and time when it was made it s not good Per tot Cur. For the Licence is traversable for if the Copy-holder without Licence make a Lease for years the Lessee which enters by colour of that is a disseisor and a disseisor cannot maintain an Ejectione Firmae and the Defendant cannot plead That the Plaintiff by Licence did not demise for this is a negative pregnant also it ought to appear what Estate the Lord had for he cannot Lease for a longer time than he had in the
Seigniory as suppose he is only for Life and he licenseth for 21 years and dies it s determined 2 Brownl 40. Petty and Evans In Ejectment The Defendant pleaded a Surrender of a Copy-hold by the Hand of F. then Steward of the Manor Issue was joyned absque hoc that he was Steward Per tot Cur. it s no Issue Pleading a Surrender how for the Traverse ought to be general that he did not surrender for if he were not Steward the Surrender is void So of a Surrender pleaded into the Hands of the Tenants of the Manor Cro. El. p. 260. Wood and Butts Pleads Prescription to be discharged of Tythes Copy-holders of Inheritance who held of a Bishop as of his Manor may prescribe That the Bishop and his Predecessors seized of the said Manor for themselves their Tenants for Lives Years and Tenants by Copy of Court Roll of the said Manor time out of memory c. have been discharged from payment of Tythes for their Lands parcel of the said Manor for this is a good Prescription for their Tenements are parcel of the Demesns of the Manor and this may commence upon a real composition of all the Manor 1 Rolls Abr. 652. The Case was thus A Parson sues a Copy-holder in the Spiritual Court for Tythes arising upon the Copy-hold Land he brought his Prohibition and suggests that the Bishop of Winchester Lord of the Manor whereof his Copy-hold is parcel and his Predecessors c. time out of memory c. for them their Tenants and Farmers have been discharged of Tythes arising upon the Manor and shews that he had been Copy-holder of the said Manor time out of memory c. and prescribes in his Lord the Bishop of Winchester's Name the Spiritual Court would not allow this Plea but Per Cur. a Prohibition was granted although here be a Prescription upon a Prescription Prescription upon a Prescription one in the Copy-holder to make his Estate good the other in the Bishop to make his Discharge good yet it was allowed for all Copy-holds are derived out of the Manor and it shall be intended That this Prescription had its commencement at such time when all was in the Lords Hands and the one Prescription is not contrariant to the other although both were from time whereof c. Prescription in the Lord ought of necessity to precede the Prescription in the Estate of the Copy-hold and the discharge of Tythes in the Lord which may well be in this case because he is a Spiritual person trenches to the benefit of the Tenant who is a Copy-holder for by this means it may be presumed that the Lord had greater Fines and Rents Yelv. 2. Croucher and Fryar which case is more largely Reported by Cro. El. 784. Otherwise a Copy-holder which is a Temporal person cannot prescribe in non decimando Prohibition granted out of B. C. against the Ordinary of G. and one Branch the surmise was That the Land out of which the Tythes were demanded is Copy-hold parcel of a Manor of which a Prior was seized in Fee and was also Parson imparsonee Union by which Union the Tythes were extinct Per Cur. the surmise is not good and a Consultation was awarded it was no good Prescription to discharge the Tythes Moor Rep. n. 356. Branches Case A Prohibition prayed upon a surmise that the Dean and Chapter of C. seized of the Manor and Rectory of M. and one G. a customary Tenant prescribes That every Tenant of his Tenement hath used to pay 3 s. 4 d. to the Lord who is also a Parson in discharge of his Rent and a fourth part of the Tythe of B. Per Cur. it s no good Prescription for the Parson cannot libel for the Rent nor the Lord for the Tythe Uncertain and non constat what each should have and the Parson must have a satisfaction or else there can be no discharge 1 Keb. 886 906. Wilkinson and Richardson Traverses Traversing the day of the Grant In Ejectment The Defendant entitles himself by Copy granted 44 Eliz. The Plaintiff by Replication intitles himself by Grant 1 June 43 Eliz. The Defendant maintains his bar and traverseth absque hoc that the Queen 1 June 43 regni sui granted the Land by Copy modo forma prout c. This Replication is not good for the day and year of granting the Copy is not material but only whether it were granted before the Copy made to the Defendant therefore he ought to have traversed absque hoc That the Queen granted modo forma prout c. and this is matter of substance and not aided the traversing of the day where it ought not is matter of substance for thereby he makes it parcel of the Issue which ought not to be Cro. Jac. 202. Lane and Alexander 1 Brownl 140. mesme Case In Ejectment The Defendant pleads the Land is Copy-hold parcel of the Manor of S. whereof the King was and is seised who by his Steward granted the same such a day to him in Fee Habend c. by vertue whereof he was admitted entred and was seized and so justifies The Plaintiff replies That long before the King had any thing in the Manor Queen Elizabeth was seized in Fee in Jure Coronae who by her Steward at such a Court granted the Land in question by Copy to him in Fee Habend c. secundum consuet c. who was admitted and entred Confessing and avoyding Per Cur. the Replication is good and the Plaintiff need not Traverse the Grant alledged in the Bar by the Defendant for the Plaintiff hath confessed and avoided the Defendants Title by a former Copy granted by Queen Elizabeth and so need not traverse and as no man can have a Lease for years without assignment no more can a man have a Copy without a Grant made in Court Cro. Jac. p. 299. Rice and Harrison 1 Brownl p. 147. mesme Case The Plaintiffs Replication is good without any Traverse for how can the Defendant have this when as the Plaintiff had it before as by his Replication appears for that his Lease being first in time avoids the Defendants Lease being the latter and therefore the Defendant in this case ought to have rejoyned and so to have traversed the first Lease but by his Demurrer to the Replication he hath confessed the Lease under which the Plaintiff claims mesme Case 2 Bulstrode p. 1. 6 Rep. Helliar's Case A man pleads a descent of a Copy-hold in Fee the Defendant to take away the descent pleaded That the Ancestor did Surrender to the Use of another Traversing the dying seized absque hoc That the Copy-holder died seized Per Cur. the Traverse is ill because that he traversed that which needed not to be traversed for being Copy-hold and having pleaded a Surrender of it Difference between that and at Common Law the Party cannot have it again if not by Surrender But if a man plead
and Judgment pro Quer for that the Replication doth not confess or avoid nor deny the bar to the Avowry Winch Entur p 997 998 999. Foster and Woodcock Eject Bar que W. seisitus de Manor grants custumar terÌ„es in Reversion al Def. auters pur vies Repl que W. demised ceo Manor al C. R. determinable pur vie del M. ilsÌ„ assigne al M. qui grant Reversion de terÌ„es al H. pur vie Rej. que D. fuit prius seisitus de Manor que descend al 3 Coheirs quas W. disseise c. Surrej ê‘ maintenance de Replic Traverse le disseisin Demur inde Co. Ent. 184. Replev Quod Reg. Eliz. seisita de manerio unde c. concessit terÌ„as custumar R. M. Vxori ejus hered Vxoris qui sursum reddider ad usum Def. Bar quod W. prius seisitus de maner concessit terras al J. de quo descend al P. qut sursum reddidit al A. qui sursum reddidit al M. pur vie qui dimisit quer Repl quod W. ante concession al J. concessit terÌ„as al B. de quo discend al M. qui sursum reddidit Def. travers grant al J. issue inde Co. Ent. 575. Quod J. seisitus de maner unde c. concessit Def. pro vita in Reversion terÌ„as custumar dimissibil pro 2 vitis tam in Possessione quam in Reversione Hern 724. TrnsÌ„ quod C. seisitus de manerio concessit terÌ„as customar in feod al B. de quo descend Def. Repl C. fuit sisitus de manerio unde c. quod discend quer traverse quod terÌ„e sunt custum U. B. 153. TrnsÌ„ Def. justif sub tenentur custum monstroit le Estate de Copyhold durante viduitate Tomps 395. TrnÌ„s novel assignmtur Def. dicit quod pmissa tempore c. parcel custmaria dimissibilia ê‘ cop cuicunque ê‘sone ill capere volent in Talliatur seu pro vita Et quod F. G. pd fuit seisitus ad cur tentur 26 Martij dimisit cuidam W. in feodo qui dimisit Def. pro Anno virtute cujus c. done Colour Repl quod pmissa sunt liberum tenementum quer sic manutenet narÌ„ationem traverse que pmisse fuer parcel manerij de L. Rej. exitus sur traverse Keb. 465 467. In Repl Copyhold in Reversion ê‘ copiam tenentur in possessione advocat captionem pur Damage fesant custom del Manor granter Estates en possession ou reversion Hern 777. CAP. XXXIII Evidence Tryal Issue What shall be a good Evidence to prove the Custom alledged or not Presumptive Evidence Where Copy of a Lease is good Evidence What shall be tryed by the Jury and what by the Court-Rolls Substance found in special Verdict Who may be admitted to give Evidence When Issue is taken upon a Surrender where to be Tryed Venue What shall be a good Evidence to prove the Custom or not THE Custom of a Manor was laid to be That if a Copy-holder hath two Sons and a Wife and dyes and the eldest Son hath Issue and dies in the Life of the Wife that the younger Son shall have the Land the Issue being upon the Custom the Jury found the Custom to be That the younger Son shall have the Land unless the eldest was admitted in his Life and paid the Lords Fine Per Curiam the Verdict is not sufficient to prove the Issue Moor n. 566. In Replevin If the Defendant justifies the taking as Damage fesant The Plaintiff in bar pleads by reason of a Common to such a Copy-hold for all Beasts Levant and Couchant and avers that these Beasts were Levant and Couchant c. upon which the Parties were at Issue and it is found that part of the Beasts were Levant and Couchant Part found for the whole and part not this is found for the Defendant for the Issue is upon the whole and the contrary to it is found Trin. 17 Jac. B. Sloper and Allen. The Issue was in Kemp and Carters Case 1 Leon Case 70. p. 55. If the Lord of the Manor granted the Lands in question Per copiam rotulorum curiae Manerij praed secundum consuetud Manerij praed It was given in Evidence That within the said Manor were divers custumary Lands and that the Lord now of late at the Court of the said Manor granted the Land per Copiam Rotulorum curiae where it was never granted by Copy before Per Cur. the Jury are bound to find Dominus non concessit for notwithstanding de facto Dominus concessit per Copiam Rotulorum curiae Non concessit yet non concessit secundum consuetudinem manerij predict for the said Land was not custumary nor had the Custom taken hold of it Several Customs within several limits ought to be specially shewed It was shewed then That within the said Manor some customary Lands are demisable for Life only and some in Fee By Anderson Chief Justice He who will give in Evidence these several Customs ought to shew the several Limits wherein the several Customs are severally running as that the Manor extends into two Towns and that the Lands in one of the said Towns are grantable for Lives only and the Lands in the other in Fee and he ought not to shew the several Customs promiscue valere through the whole Manor In an Action brought The Defendant alledgeth a Custom of a Copy-hold to be demised in Fee Tayl or for Life and made Title by a demise in Fee to himself The Plaintiff traversed the Custom and the Custom was found to be Substance found to demise in Fee or for Life but not in Tayl Per Cur. the Issue was found for the Defendant because the substance was found for him and the Tayl was but inducement Moor n. 490. Dorley and Wood. Wadsworth's Case before Judge Crawley at York Assises was upon an Intail of a Copy-hold within the Manor of W. and several antient Intails shewed in Evidence in Edward III. time and remainders limited over upon such Intails and Plaints in nature of Formedons brought there for such Remainders and Recoveries thereupon and several Issues after had taken their Admittances as of Fee simple Land as Heirs in Fee and for this cause Purchasers look at the Copies Presumptive Evidence and seeing Fee-simple in Admittances are secure the Estate is so and apply their Assurances accordingly the Jury found for the Plaintiff against this Intail and it shall be presumed the Intail hath been cut off some way when many Admittances have been in Fee simple The Custom of a Manor is Less Estate than the Custom That the Wife shall have it during her Life and on Evidence it appears that she shall have it durante viduitate this Evidence doth not maintain the Custom 4 Rep. 30. If the Parties be at Issue upon the time of the Surrender made or the Court holden The time of the Surrender or of the
Attornies by their appointment in the Name or Names of them the said T. S. and M. in case the same Marriage take effect to commence Suit against sue and prosecute all and every the person or persons as occasion shall require for all every of any the said monies that are now owing to the said M. And that he the said T. S. shall justifie all and every such Actions and Suits That he shall not release the Action and shall not Release or discharge the same or any Judgment or Judgments or Execution thereupon to be had without the consent of the said Trustees but shall suffer the said Trustees to receive the same monies and every Sum thereof That what is received shall be at her disposal and all and other the Sum and Sums above the Sum of 300 l. and to preserve and dispose of the same according to the Trust in them reposed by the aforeseid M. And that the said M. shall have full power of the disposal thereof to any person or persons other than the said T. S. without any contradiction of him the said T. S. or any threats or uncivil carriage to deter her thereunto That neither of the Estates be charged with the others Debts due before Marriage And it is farther agreed by and between the said T. S. and M. F. That neither of them nor their Estates shall be charged with the Debts or Engagements of either of the other of them due or payable before the date of these presents And to that end the said T. S. doth covenant promise and grant to and with the said Trustees before named and to and with every of them That he will pay and discharge all his own particular Debts or which he is bound for or stands chargable to pay to any person or persons out of his own particular Estate without having or craving any of the now personal Estate of her the said M. other than the aforesaid 300 l. before mentioned If there appear any Debts on her part Trustees to pay them out of her personal Estate in their Hands And also the said M. F. doth hereby agree That in case the said T. S. after the said intended Marriage shall take effect and be solemnized shall be questioned or molested for any the proper Debts of her the said M. contracted or owing by her before the solemnization of the said intended Marriage or for any Legacy or Legacies which she is any ways chargable to pay to any person or person That the Trustees shall have power and authority hereby to pay and discharge the said Debts and Legacies which she the said M. is so chargable to pay and that out of any her now proper Estate other than the aforesaid 300 l. and in so doing the Trustees shall be discharged of any other account thereof unto the said M. or to the said T. S. after the solemnization of the said intended Marriage And the said Trustees and every of them do hereby declare That they will perform the Trust in them reposed by these presents according to the true intent and meaning thereof And do hereby Covenant every one of them one with the other respectively not to act or do any thing touching the Premisses without the consent of them all In Witness whereof to the first part of these presents remaining with the said T. S. the said M. F. and the said Trustees have put their Hands and Seals to the second part of these Indentures remaining with the said Trustees the said M. F. and T. S. have put their Hands and Seals to the third part of these Indentures remaining with the said M. F. the said T. S. and the said Trustees have put their Hands and Seals the day and year first above written Covenant to Surrender Copy-hold Land after a Bargain and Sale of Free-hold And whereas the said I. W. holdeth to him and his Heirs by Copy of Court Roll at the Will of the Lord according to the Custom of the Manor of S. aforesaid the said Parcel of Land in S. aforesaid before excepted It is Covenanted and agreed by and between the said Parties to these presents and the said I. W. for himself his Heirs Executors and Administrators for the Considerations aforesaid doth Covenant to and with the said H. A. RG and I. A. their Heirs and Assigns by these presents That he the said I. W. shall and will before the Feast of St. John Baptist now next ensuing surrender according to the Custom of the said Manor the said Parcels of customary Lands before excepted unto the use and behoof of the said H. A. R. G. and I. A. and their Heirs for ever and procure them to be admitted unto the same accordingly To hold according to the Custom of the said Manor freed and discharged of all Forferfeitures Charges and Incumbrances done or suffered by him the said J. W. or F. W. his Father or either of them In Witness c. Covenant that he is rightfully seized of Copy-hold Land And the said A. B. for the Considerations aforesaid doth for himself his Heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns and for every of them covenant promise and grant to and with the said I. G. his Heirs and Assigns by these presents that he the said A. B. now at the sealing and delivery of this c. is solely lawfully and rightfully seized of and in all and singular the said Copy-hold Lands and Premisses herein before mentioned to be granted with their c. Appurtenances of a good Estate in Fee-simple according to the Custom of the Manor of which the same Premisses are holden If the Copy-holds belong to two Manors then thus of a good Estate in Fee-simple according to the Custom of the several Manors of which the said Premisses are respectively holden Covenant to Surrender Copy-hold Lands And also that he the said A. B. or his Heirs shall and will at the next Court-Baron to be held for the Manor of W. in the said County c. or at any other time or times upon the request of the said I. G. his Heirs or Assigns but at the proper Costs and Charges of the said A. B. or his Heirs surrender into the Hands of the Lord of the Manor or to the Steward thereof or otherwise according to the Custom of the said Manor to the use of the said I.G. his Heirs and Assigns all those Lands Tenements and Hereditaments herein after mentioned which he the said A. B. doth hold of the said Manor aforesaid by Copy of Court Roll according to the Custom of the said Manor viz. one piece of Land called c. And all other the Copy-hold or customary Lands of the said A. B. held of the said Manor of W. And the said A. B. for himself c. doth farther Covenant c. to and with the said I. G. his Heirs and Assigns c. that he the said A. B. his Heirs Executors or Administrators shall and will pay the Fines
due for Admittances of the said I. G. or his Heirs into the said Copy-hold Lands unto the Lords of the said Manors respectively And that he the said A. B. and his Heirs from time to time and at all times hereafter within the space of seven years next ensuing the date hereof c. at and upon the reasonable Request and proper Costs and Charges in the Law of the said I. G. his Heirs or Assigns shall and will make and do all and every such farther and other lawful and reasonable acts and things for the farther better and more perfect assuring and conveying all and singular the said Copy-hold Lands and Tenements and all other the Copy-hold Lands of the said A. B. in the County of S. to or to the Use of the said I. G. his Heirs or Assigns or by his or their Councel learned in the Law shall be reasonably devised or advised and required And that at the time of such Surrender or Surrenders or other Assurance or Assurances to be made of the same Copy-hold Lands and Premisses all and singular the said Copy-hold Lands and Premisses so to be surrendred or otherwise conveyed as aforesaid shall be free and clear and freely and clearly and absolutely acquitted freed and discharged of and from all former Surrenders and Forfeitures and other Incumbrances whatsoever had made done or wittingly and willingly suffered by him the said A. B. or by any other person and persons whatsoever one Lease made by the Licence of the Lord of the Manor aforesaid to K. F. c. of c. of one Copy-hold Messuage c. excepted A Covenant in nature of a Mortgage upon a Surrender of Copy-hold Land to pay mony at a certain time This Indenture made c. between Sir T. D. of P. c. of the one part and I. H. of c. of the other part Witneseth That whereas the said Sir T. D. hath now lately surrendred into the Hands of the Lord or Lords of the Manor of W. in the said County of S. by the Rod according to the Custom of the said Manor by the Hands and acceptanc of R. C. and E. M. two of the customary Tenants of the said Manor all that Messuage c. To the Use of the said I. H. his Heirs and Assigns to hold according to the Custom of the said Manor with a proviso and upon condition That if the said Sir T. D. his c. shall and do well and truly pay or cause to be paid c. at c. then the said Surrender to be void and of none effect as by a Note or Memorandum of the said Surrender taken out of the Court the day of the date hereof relation c. more plainly appeareth Now the said Sir T. D. doth for himself his Heirs Executors and Administrators Covenant c. to and with the said I. H. his Executors and Administrators by these presents to pay the Mony at the day and place and in manner and form in the said Proviso or Condition of the said Surrender before recited limited and appointed for the payment thereof And farther also That the said Sir T. D. at the time of the making of the said Surrender before recited had a good Estate of Inheritance in Fee-simple according to the Custom of the said Manor of W. of and in all and singular the said Messuages c. before mentioned to be surrendred and had good right and lawful and absolute power and authority in himself to surrender the same and every part thereof unto the said I. H. and his Heirs in manner and form aforesaid and that the same are free from all former Surrenders and Incumbranses whatsoever In default of payment I. H. and his Heirs to enjoy the Premisses for ever After default in payment Sir T. D. covenants for farther Assurance be it by Fine or Recovery according to the Custom of the said Manor Surrender Release or Confirmation or all or any of the said wayes or means in the Law whatsoever as by the said I. H. his Heirs or Assigns or his or their Councel learned in the Law shall be reasonably devised advised or required Till default of payment I. H. to permit and suffer Sir T. D. to enjoy c. A Bargain and Sale of Copy-hold Lands by Commissioners of Bankrupts This Indenture c. Between A. B. c. the Commissioners of the one part and C. D. c. Assignees of the other part Whereas the King and Queens Majesties Commission under the Great Seal of England grounded upon the several Statutes made concerning Bankrupts bearing date at Westminster the day of c. last past hath been awarded against E. F. of c. and directed to the said Commissioners thereby giving full power and authority unto the said Commissioners four or three of them whereof the said A. B. and P. B. to be one to execute the same as by the said Commission more at large appeareth And whereas the Commissioners parties to these presents or the major part of them or the major part of the Commissioners by the said Commission authorized having begun to put the said Commission in Execution upon due examination of Witnesses and other good proof and upon Oath before them taken do find That the said E. D. hath for the space of six years last past or thereabouts used and exercised the Trade and profession of a c. in buying and selling of c. at his House and Shop in S. aforesaid and sought and endeavoured to get his living by buying and selling And that the said E. F. so seeking and endeavouring to get his living by buying and selling during the time of his said Trading did become justly and truly indebted and still doth owe and stand indebted unto the above-named C. D. and other his Creditors in the sum of c. and being so indebted he the said E. F. did in the judgment of the said Commissioners parties to these presents become Bankrupt to all intents and purposes within the compass true intent and meaning of several Statutes made concerning Bankrupts or within some or one of them before the date and suing forth the said Commission And whereas also the said Commissioners parties to these presents or the major part of the Commissioners by the said Commission authorized having also found out and discovered that he the said E. F. at the time and since he became Bankrupt was and stood seized to him and his Heirs according to the Custom of the Manor of L. in the County of L. of and in c. All which Copy-hold or customary Premisses the greater part of the above-named Commissioners by the said Commission authorized have caused to be viewed and rented and the same to be appraised to the best value they can or may and accordingly the same have been viewed rented and appraised by R. S. and T. V. men of sufficient skill and ability for the doing thereof in manner and form following that is to say
and Assigns all those Messuages Cottages Lands Tenements Pastures Feedings and Hereditaments whatsoever situate lying and being in K. and S. or any other Town in the said County of Norfolk which are Copy-hold or customary Lands holden of the Manor of H. within the said County of Norfolk and which the said T. P. holdeth by Copy of Court-Roll of the Manor aforesaid or of right ought to hold as Copy-hold or of some customary Tenure of the said Manor of H. or of the Lord or Lords thereof or of any other Manor or Lordship now or late of the said A. B. and E. B. or either of them and the Free-hold of all and singular the said Messuages Cottages Lands Tenements Pastures Feedings and Hereditaments whatsoever with the Appurtenances and also all the Freehold of the Inheritance of all those Copy-hold and customary Messuages Cottages Lands Tenements and Hereditaments whatsoever which were surrendred lately by J. G. unto the use of the said T. P. and his Heirs and also all such Rents and Arrearages of Rents Services Suits and other Demands whatsoever which now or at any time heretofore have been due or payable or that shall or ought to be hereafter due payable or done for all or any of the said Messuages Cottages Lands Tenements Pastures Feedings and Hereditaments whatsoever all which said Messuages Cottages Lands Tenements Pastures Feedings and Hereditaments with the Appurtenances were late in the occupation of c. and the Reversion and Reversions Remainder and Remainders of all and singular the Premisses all Rents and Reservations reserved or payable by or upon any Demises Leases or Grants heretofore made or granted of the said Premisses or any part or parcel thereof To have and to hold all and singular the said Messuages Cottages Lands Pastures Feedings and Hereditaments and all and singular the above-mentioned or intended to be hereby granted and bargained Premisses with their and every of their Appurtenances unto the said T. P. R. S. and T. P. their Heirs and Assigns to the only proper and absolute use and behoof of them the said T. P. R. S. and T. P. their Heirs and Assigns for ever and the said A. B. and E. B. for themselves and every of them their and either of their Heirs Executors and Administrators and every of them do covenant and grant to and with the said T. P. R. S. and T. P. their Heirs Executors and Assigns and every of them by these presents in manner and form following That is to say that they the said A. B. and E. B. or one of them are or is at the time of the sealing and delivery of these presents lawfully joyntly or solely seized in their or one of their Demesns as of Fee of and in the said Manor of H. and of and in all and singular the said bargained Premisses and every part and parcel thereof with the Appurtenances of a good perfect and absolute Estate of Inheritance in Fee-simple without c. and unto the use of them or one of their Heirs and Assigns without any manner of Condition power of Revocation Limitation of Use or Uses Trust or other matter or thing whatsoever to alter change charge incumber impeach determine or make void the same And that they the said A. B. and E. B. or one of them have or hath at the time of the sealing and delivery of these presents and at the time of the execution of the first Estate hereby to be made and granted shall have full Power good Right and lawful Authority to Grant Bargain and Sell all and every the said Messuages Cottages Lands Tenements Pastures Feedings Hereditaments and Premisses before-mentioned to be hereby granted bargained and sold with their and every of their Appurtenances unto the said T. P. R. S. and T. P. their Heirs and Assigns in manner and form aforesaid and according to the effect of these presents And also that all and every the said afore-mentioned to be hereby granted and bargained Messuages Cottages Lands Tenements Pastures Feedings Hereditaments and Premisses and every part and parcel thereof now are and at all times hereafter shall and may be remain and continue unto the said T. P. R. S. and T. P. their Heirs and Assigns and every or any of them free and clear and freely and clearly acquitted exonerated and discharged or otherwise upon reasonable request well and sufficiently saved and kept harmless and indemnified by the said A. B. and E. B. their Heirs Executors or Administrators or some or one of them of and from all and all manner of former and other Gifts Grants Bargains Sales Estates Wills Entails Alienations Joyntures Right and Title of Dower Statutes Merchant and of the Staple Judgments Executions Rents arrearages of Rents Mortgages and of and from all other Charges Titles Claims and Incumbrances whatsoever And farther the said A. B. and E. B. for themselves their Heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns and for every of them do covenant and grant to and with the said T. P. R. S. and T. P. their Heirs Executors and Administrators and every of them by these presents That they the said A. B. and E. B. and either of them their and either of their Heirs and Assigns lawfully having claiming or pretending to have or which hereafter shall or may lawfully claim or pretend to have any Estate Right Title Interest Claim or Demand of in or to the said bargained Premisses or of in or to any part or parcel thereof by from or under them the said A. B. and E. B. or either of them their or either of their Heirs and Assigns shall and will from time to time and at all times hereafter at the reasonable request costs and charges in the Law of the said T. P. R. S. and T. P. their Heirs and Assigns make do acknowledge or cause to be made done executed acknowledged and suffered all and every such farther act and acts thing and things devise and devises assurances and conveyances in the Law whatsoever of the said Premisses as by the said T. P. R. S. and T. P. their Heirs or Assigns their or any of their Councel Learned in the Law shall be reasonably advised or required be it by Fine or Feoffment Deed or Deeds Inrolled or not Inrolled Recovery or Recoveries with single double or more Voucher or Vouchers or by any other lawful ways or means whatsoever for the better assurance and sure making of the said bargained Premisses and every part and parcel thereof with their and every of their Appurtenances unto the said T. P. R. S. and T. P. their Heirs and Assigns for ever c. A Letter of Attorny to deliver seisin A Lease of Copy-hold Land with the Lords Licence recited This Indenture c. Between A. B. of c. of the one part and C. D. of c. of the other part Witnesseth That the said A. B. by virtue of a Licence before the sealing and delivery of these presents by him procured and obtained of
to two by Moieties 371 Admittance of a next Heir 372 A surrender by one in extremis by the Hands of two customary Tenants to the Use of his last Will which is recited to one for Life the Remainder over Tenant for Life surrenders to him in Remainder on condition in the Will 373 Licence to demise for Years not exceeding 31 375 Presentment that the customary Tenant died seised and that the Heir came not to take up the Land and Proclamation made ibid. Presentment that the mony mentioned in a Surrender was not paid at the time ideo proclamatio prima ibid. A Fine respiteed at last Court taxed at the next 376 Presentment That a Surrender precedent was chargable with the payment of 100 l. to M. when he should attain the Age of 21 years or day of Marriage which should first happen and with a like Sum to A. payable in the same manner M. upon receit of the 100 l. releaseth and the Surrendree secures the payment of the other 100 l. to A. by Lease 376 Presentment That several Copy-hold Lands were infranchised by the Lord 377 Surrender on condition 378 Surrender to the use of a youngest Son conditional for payment of mony at several days 379 A Surrender and Release in consideration of 400 l. 380 Surrender to the Use of ones last Will to which a Codicil is annexed and which is presented by the Jury and admittance to Tenant for Life 381 Second Proclamation for not coming in and taking up the said Estate 382 Acknowledgment by the Lord that the Copy-hold is infranchised 383 Admittance by the Gardian ibid. 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Reversion expectant upon an Estate for Life In all Writs where a man conveys by discent there shall not be mention of any but those who had seisin And in all Actions and Writs where a man conveys by descent there shall not be mention of any but of those who took the Estate and had seisin and not from others who never had seisin the Law esteeming them as if there had been never any such persons and by consequence he may claim here as youngest Son by the custom as Heir in Burrough-English as if Charles had never been because he hath it in course of descent and this is true at Common Law but Jones and Croke held that William had the better Title for Charles being youngest Son at the time of the death of his Father that makes him Heir in Burrough-English by the Custom and when it rests in the youngest Son as Heir by the Custom the Inheritance is fixed in him and he only who is in esse at the time of his Fathers death shall have as by Custom this seems to be the better Opinion Crok Car. 410. Reeve and Malster Who may be said to be customary Tenants A Wife that hath her Widows Estate according to the Custom of the Manor is a good customary Tenant So Tenant per the Curtesie per the Custom In Gloucestershire there is in a Manor a Custom That Executors shall have the Profits for a year In some sense they are good customary Tenants Under-Tenant in what respect Custom was That for Waste to be amerced and to distrain for such amerciament the Beast of the under-Tenant as well as the Tenant is liable The under-Tenant is a customary Tenant to this purpose and no Stranger Transit terra cum onere he enjoys the Priviledge of a customary Tenant and he shall undergo the Charges March Rep. 161. Thorn and Tyler Note There is difference between customary Lands and Copy-hold Lands Freehold as well as Copy may be customary Lands as ancient Demesn may pass by Surrender in some Manors and by Copy and ancient Demesn may pass by Feoffment as Surrender Vide Peryman's Case Rep. Court The Nature of a Court Baron and who may keep Courts or not A Manor cannot be without a Court Baron Vide supra it is inseperably incident to a Manor without any Grant from the King to keep the same and this is not drawn from the Crown but is to be held de necessitate 1 Bulstr 6. The King and Stafferton The Court Baron must be holden within the Manor Where to be held for if it be holden without the Manor it is void unless a Lord being seized of two or three Manors hath usually time out of mind kept at one of his Manors Courts for for all the said Manors then by Custom such Courts are sufficient in Law albeit they are not holden within the several Manors Co. Lit. 58. a. There may be a customary Manor held by Copy and such a customary Lord may keep Courts and grant Copies 11 Rep. Nevil's Case Cro. Jac. 260. contra Now there are two sorts of Court Baron Two sorts of Court Baron one at Common Law incident to every Manor and is of Freeholders and the Freeholders are Judges There is also a customary Court consisting of customary Tenants for without them it cannot be and this Court may be holden without any Free Tenants or other Suitors except Copy-holders and of this Court the Lord or his Steward is Judge Co. Lit. 58. And when the Court Baron is of this double nature the Court Rolls contain matters appertaining to both Honour what An Honour consists of many Manors yet all the Courts for the Manors are distinguished and have several Copy-holders and though there is for all the Manors but one Court yet are they quasi several and distinct Courts One Court kept for many Manors and so it was usually in the time of the Abbots they kept but one Court for many Manors Cro. Car. 361. Seagood and Hone. When the Lord of a Manor having many ancient Copy-holds in a Vill grants the Inheritance of all his Copy-holds to another Customary Court how made and may be held the Grantee may hold Court for the customary Tenants and accept of Surrenders and make Admittances and Grants for although this is not a Manor in Law because there want Freeholders yet there may be holden a Court for Copy-holders and the Lord or Steward is Judge And as the other being a Court Baron may be called the Freeholders Court this may be called the Copy-holders Court so if all the Freehold do Escheat or if the Lord release the Tenure and Services of all his Free Tenants yet the Lord may hold a customary Court for his Copy-hold Tenants So if the Lord demise all his Lands granted by Copy to another for a thousand years such Lessee may hold Court for the Copy-holders 4 Rep. 26 Melwich's Case and Sir Christopher Hatton's Case cited in Neal and Jackson's Case 27. These number of Copy-holds may support a Custom but a single Copy-hold cannot hold a Court. Tenant at Will of a Copy-hold Manor may grant Copyhold Estates but cannot keep Courts Guardian in Socage keeps Courts in his own name and grants Copies its good and shall bind the Heir Vide Tit. Grants Cro. Jac. 55 98. Shopland and Rider The Lord himself may Grant or make Admittance out of the Manor at what place he pleaseth but so cannot the Steward 4 Rep. 26. Melwich's Case 27 Clifton and Mollineux Court may be held out of the Manor by Custom but by Custom the Court may be held out of the Manor and Grants and Admittances there made be good as divers Abbots Priors c. have kept one Court for many Manors Steward Every Steward of Courts is either by Deed or without Deed for a man may be retained a Steward to keep his Court Baron and Leet without Deed and that retainer shall continue till he be discharged Co. Lit. 61. b. 4 Rep. 30. And such Steward may take Surrender of customary Tenants out of the Court 4 Rep. 30. Holcroft's Case In all real Actions which concern Lands the Suitors are the Judges but in personal Actions under the Sum of forty shillings the Steward is the Judge Steward without Deed may take Surrenders out of Court but the Custom must warrant it Note Difference between a Steward of a Manor and the Steward of a Court. A difference between Steward of a Manor and the Steward of Courts Steward of a Manor may take Surrenders in any place 1 Leon. p. 227. Case 307. Blagrave and Wood. Steward appoints his Deputy to keep a Court ad tradendum Copy-hold Land to W. for Life Deputy the Deputy commands H. his Servant to keep Court and grant the said Land and the Custom found did not extend farther than the Deputy though a Deputy cannot transfer his Authority over being an office of Trust yet
Per Cur. to take a Surrender and grant Land by Copy Act done by the Servant of a Deputy is not any judicial Act and the admitting of a Copy-holder is not any judicial Act for there need not be any Suitors there who are Judges and such a Court may be holden out of the Precincts of the Manor Per Cur. the Grant is good What Court may be held out of the Manor especially if the Lord of the Manor agree to it afterwards 1 Leon. 288. Lord Dacres's Case One is made Steward ad exequendum per se vel sufficien ' deputatum suum J. S. makes A. his Deputy hac vice to take a Surrender ad ulterius faciend c. it s a good deputation and though the authority was to take the Surrender absolute and he takes a Surrender upon a Condition yet its good by reason of these words Et ad ulterius faciend Cro. Eliz. p. 48. Burdets's Case The Kings Copy-holder is attainted of Felony whereby his Copy-hold Escheats the Steward may grant this over ex officio without any especial Grant yet it s his duty before he does it to inform the Lord Chancellor Treasurer and Barons 4 Rep. 30. Harris and Jay Surrender by a Deputy Steward not according to his Warrant Stewardship was granted to A. to execute the Office per se vel sufficien ' Deputat suum A. made a Deputation to M. ad capiend unam sursum redditionem of one J. W. and J. his Wife and to examine J. ea intentione that the said J. W. and J. might take back an Estate for their Lives the remainder over to J. B. in Fee M. took two several Surrenders from the Husband and Wife the remainder to J. B. in Fee upon condition to pay a certain Sum of mony c. Per Cur. The proceedings are well warranted by the Deputation aforesaid 1 Leon. p. 289. Burgess and Foster I can conceive this to be the same Case as the former and one will well help to explain the other If the Surrender and Re-grant is entred in the Roll of the Court dated to be holdâ—â— the second day of May and the Deputation bears date the third day of June after Per. Cur. This misentry of the date of the Court shall not prejudice the Party for this Entry is not matter of Record Vide ibid. The Kings Auditor and Surveyor for the County of N. appointed a Steward for one of the Manors illa vice The Kings Auditor and Surveyor cannot appoint a Steward hac vice He kept Court and granted Copy-hold c. their appointment is not good they have no authority to appoint Stewards the one being to take Accounts the other to survey Land and the Grant is void Things of necessity done by one who is but in a reputed Authority is good if they come in by presentment from the Jury or of necessity are good as the admittance of an Heir upon a presentment or admittance by a Surrender to an Use But acts voluntary Things of necessity by a reputed Steward good not acts voluntary as Grant of a Copy-hold is not good If the Steward diminish the ancient Rents and Services it s a void Copy If a Lord command a Steward that he shall not grant such Land by Copy Lord countermands a Steward if he grant it it is void Cro. El. 699. Harris and Jay 4 Rep. 38. mesme Case They ought to have Letters Patents of the Office of Steward Infant not to be Steward Infant is not capable of the Stewardship of a Manor March p. 41. Copy-holder moved the Court That the Steward might be ordered to bring in the Court Rolls to enable him to defend his Title but the Court denied it Stiles 128. Baron and Feme Copy-holder in right of his Wife surrender out of Court into the Hands of the Steward and she was examined by him and it was not proved that he was Steward by Patent Though it is not proved he is Steward by Patent c. yet Surrender out of Court into his Hands is good nor any special Custom to warrant it yet Per Cur. it was good Cro. Jac. p. 526. Smithson and Cage Declaration Pro Senescallo Cur. Maner ' impedit de Officio unde ei conces pro vita Rast Ent. 5.9 Co. 42. 1 Br. 192. Hern 232. CAP. XI What things way be granted by Copy Of Grants by the Lord legitimus Dominus pro tempore Disseisor Infant And in respect of the Lords person or Estate what shall be good or not Of Grants by the King Lord. VVho shall be said a Lord sufficient to grant Copies VVhat amounts to a Grant at what place to be granted Of Grants by the Copy-holder to the Lord. A Manor may be granted by Copy Câ— Lit. 58. b. i. e. a customary Manor and so a Manor may be parcel of another Manor Generally all Lands and Tenements with in the Manor and whatsoever concerneth Lands and Tenements may be granted by Copy as a Fair appendant to a Manor may be granted by Copy Co. Lit. 58 b. Underwoods without the Soyl may be granted by Copy to one and his Heirs and so may the Herbage or Vesture of Land The Lord granted to one and his Heirs subboscum in M. Wood annuatim succidend by four or five Acres at the least and then made a Lease of the Manor The Lessee cut Trees Copy-holder brought Trespass Lessee justifies with averment That he had left sufficient for the Copy-holder to cut down by four or five Acres yearly 1. Per Cur. Order of direction not of instruction Underwood may be granted by Copy if the Custom permit it 2. That the whole Wood passed and the words annuatm succidend is an Order only appointed for the cutting it and not to restrain the Grant More n. 480. Taylor and Hoe and Cro. El. 413. The Market of Crokeham in Sommersetshire is always demised by Copy 4 H. 6.21 cited in Hoe and Taylor 's Case More n. 480. and Cro. Eliz. 413. Hoe and Taylor The grant of Waste by Copy is void unless so granted time out of mind also were it good it would not bind the Successor in the Case of a Bishop 3 Keb. p. 124. Bishop of London and Rowe Tonsura Prati is grantable by Copy So Herbagia 1 Rolls Abr. 498. Of Grants by the Lord or voluntary Grants Copy-holder Copy-holds come to the Lord by Escheats Note or Forfeiture or Purchase What comes by Escheat or Forfeiture he may grant again H. 8. seized of a Manor in which are Copyholds Grants Copy-hold for Life generally It was a Quaere in March Rep. 206. Fulham's Case and not resolved whether this be a good Grant or not and Per Cur. The Grant is not void it never recites in any Grant of the King what is Copy-hold But the great Question was whether the Copy-hold was destroyed or not It was not there resolved but seems so But Downcliff and Minor's Case is
re-grant it to him again If a Copy-hold Escheat to the Lord Escheat and he alien the Manor by Fine Feoffment c. his Alienee may re-grant this Land by Copy for it was always demised or demisable but if it be a particular Copy-hold Estate otherwise as was said in the beginning of this Case 4 Rep. 31. Frenches Case If a Copy-holder sue Execution of a Statute against the Lord of a Manor Not destroyed by execution of the Manor at the Copy-holders Suit and had the Manor in Execution and after the Debt is levied the Interest of the Copy-hold remains Per Manwood Heydon's Case Savills Rep. A Copy-holder in Fee marries a Woman Suspended Seignioress of the Manor and after they suffer a Common Recovery which was to the Use of themselves for Life Remainder over by some the Copy-hold is extinct for by the Recovery the Husband had gained an Estate of Freehold But Per Cur. by the inter-marriage it was only suspended Cro. El. p. 7. Anonymus If a Copy-holder accept of a Lease for years of the Manor or marry the Lords Wife by this the Copy-hold is not extinct but suspended If a Copy-hold be granted to three for Lives Suspended and the first of them take an Estate by Deed with livery from the Lord by this the Copy-hold for that Life is suspended Dyer 30. 4 Rep. 31. No prejudice to the Wife or to him in reversion Baron seized of a Manor in right of his Feme let Copy-hold Land parcel thereof for years by Indenture and dyed this doth not destroy the Custom as to the Wife but that after the death of her Husband she may demise by Copy as before So If Tenant pur vie of a Manor let a Copy-hold parcel of the Manor for years and dyes it shall not destroy the Custom as to him in Reversion Cro. El. P. 38 Eliz. Conesby and Rusketh for being Tenant pur vie he may not do wrong by destroying of Customs King H. 8. grants Lands being parcel of Copy-hold of a Manor without reciting this to be Copy-hold to Sir J. G. pur vie Sir J. G. morust Queen Mary grants the Manor to Susan Tenny in Fee who let the Manor for years to Lee. Lee before his years expired grants the Land in question to R. L. in Fee according to the Custom of the Manor Lee's years expire R. L. let to Field at will and the Defendant enters as Heir to Tenny Judgment pro Quer. Suspension and not Destruction of a Custom Kings Prerogative The Grant of the King is but a suspension and no destruction of the Custom And though the Maxim is It ought to be demised and demisable c. yet this holds not in the case of the King 2 Siderfin p. 142. Vide contra 1 Rolls Abr. 498. Downcliff and Minors Vide sub Tit. Grants by the Lord. As to the escheating of Copy-holds after escheating it cannot properly be called a Copy-hold Escheat except it be because there is power in him to re-grant it as Copy-hold Were it by Custom that the Wife shall be endowed of the intierty or moiety and such customary Copy-hold Lands Escheat and the Husband dyes The Wife not to be endowed after Escheat his Wife shall not be endowed of the intierty or moiety because the Custom as to her is extinct 2 Siderfin 19. A Copy-hold Escheated may be demised notwithstanding the Lords Continuance of it in his Hands above 20 years 2 Keb. 213. Pemble and Stern Note If the Copy-holder of a Manor hath had time out of memory Copy-hold extinct but not a Way over the Copy-hold Land a Way over the Land of another Copy-holder and he purchaseth the Inheritance of his Copy-hold by which the Copy-hold is extinct yet by this the Way is not extinct 1 Rolls Abr. 933. Empson and Williamson CAP. XXIV How and where Copy-holder shall hold his Lands charged or not by the Lord or Copy-holders as Dowers Rent-charges Statutes And how and where they shall be avoided THE Lord of a Manor in which were Copy-holders for Lives takes a Wife Dower of the Lords Wife and after a Copy-holder dyes the Lord after Coverture grants the Lands again according to the Custom of the Manor for Lives and dyes the Lords Widow shall not avoid these Grants in a Writ of Dower yet the Custom which is the Life of the Grant was long before 4 Rep. 24. If Feoffee of a Manor upon Condition make voluntary Grants of Copy-hold Estates according to Custom and after the Condition is broken By Feoffee a Manor upon condition and Feoffee re-enters yet the Grants by Copy shall stand Earl of Arundel's Case cited in Co. 4 Rep. 24. Copy-holder by voluntary grant not subject to the Lords Charges The Copy-holder which comes in by voluntary Grant shall not be subject to the Charges or Incumbrances of the Lord before the Grant 8 Rep. 63. Swain's Case Lord of a Manor where the Custom was of Land demisable for one two or three Lives that he that was first named in the Copy should enjoy it only for his Life and so the second The Remainder preserves the Estate from Charges c. grants it to J. P. and E. and M. his Daughters for their Lives if the Lord had charged the Inheritance of the Copy-hold J. P. shall not hold it charged during his Life for the mean Estates in Remainder preserve the Estate of J. P. by Copy from the Incumbrances of the Lord 9 Rep. 107. Margaret Podger's Case Rent charge Earl of W. seized of Manor by Copy grants a Rent-charge to Sir W. Cordel for the term of his Life and conveys the Manor to Sir W. Clifton in Tayl the Rent is behind Sir W. Cordrel dyes the Manor descends to Sir John Clifton who grants a Copy-hold to H. The Executors of Sir W. Cordel distrain for the Rent Per Cur. the Copy-holder shall hold the Land charged 2 Leon. p. 152. and 109. Cordel and Clifton But it hath been adjudged That the Wife of the Lord shall not be endowed against the Copy-holder for the Title of Dower is not consummated before the death of the Husband so as the Title of Copy-holder is compleated before the Title of Dower and in this Case the Seisin and possession continues in Sir John Clifton who claims only by Sir William Clifton who was the Tenant in Demesn who ought to pay the Rent Lord and Copy-holder for Life be the Lord grants a Rent-charge out of the Manor Rent charge by the Lord upon the Manor whereof the Copy-hold is parcel the Copy-holder surrenders to the Use of A. who is admitted accordingly he shall not hold it charged but if the Copy-holder dyeth so that his Estate is determined and the Lord granteth to a Stranger de novo to hold the said Land by Copy this new Tenant shall hold the Land charged 1 Leon. p. 4. Lord of a Manor where Lands were
dedemisable for one two or three Lives in which Manor was a Custom that the Lord for the time being might grant Copy-hold Estates for Life in Reversion the Lord granted such Lands for Life by Copy in possession took a Wife and granted the same Copy-hold to a Stranger in Reversion for Life and dyed the Copy-holder in possession dyed this Land inter alia is assigned to the Wife for her Dower Dower the Copy-holder shall hold the Land discharged of the Dower 1 Leon. p. 16. Cham and Dover's Case In Cham and Dover's Case is cited the Case of Slowman who being Lord of a Manor ut supra by his Will devised That his Executors should grant Estates by Copy and dyed having a Wife the Executors make Estates accordingly Dower the Wife in case of Dower shall avoid them Dyer 344. and 1 Leon. p. 16. Lord of such a Manor is bound by Recognizance Recognizance afterwards a Copy-holder for Life dyeth the Lord granteth his Copy-hold de novo the new Grantee shall hold the Land discharged of the Recognizance for the Copy-holder is in by the Custom which was paramount 1 Leon. p. 16. Granted upon an Escheat shall avoid Charges The Lord of a Copy-hold Manor where Copy-holders are for Life grants a Rent-charge out of all the Manor one Copy-hold Escheats the Lord grants that again by Copy the Grantee shall not hold it charged because he comes in above the Grant viz. by the Custom the same Law of Statutes Recognizances Dower and Dyer 270. is deemed for Law in Swain's Case Copyholders Beasts distrainable or not for a Rent charge If one is seized of Rent-charge by Prescription issuing out of the Manor of D. yet it seems he may not distrain the Beasts of the Copy-holders of the Manor unless they have been used to be distrained for that they are in by Prescription also and so as high as the owner of the Rent but it is clear That if the owner of the Rent had this by Grant or otherwise and not by Prescription that the Copy-holders Beasts cannot be distrained for this 1 Rolls Abr. 669 670. Cannon and Turner But by Coke Chief Justice If a Copy-holder be of 20 Acres and the Lord grants Rent out of those 20 Acres in the Tenure or occupation of the said Copy-holder and names him there if this Copy-hold Escheat and be granted again the Copy-holder shall hold it charged for this is now charged by express words Brownl 208. Sammer and Force Tenant by the Curtesie for Life or years of a Manor a Copy-hold comes to his Hands by Forfeiture or Determination and then he was bound in a Statute Statute by the Lord. and afterwards demised the Land again Per Cur. this Copy-hold shall be lyable to the Statute because it was once annexed to the Free-hold of the Lord and bound in his Hands But if a Copy-holder bind himself in a Statute Statute by the Copy holder Diversity it shall not be extended for he had not but an Estate at will and this diversity was agreed in Moor n. 233. Anonymus Lord of a Manor being summoned upon a Jury lose Issues Process for Loss of Issues Process shall issue out of the Exchequer to levy them upon the Lands of the Copyholders and Lessees for Life and years parcel of the Manor for the loss of Issues lies upon the Land as an inherent Servitude by the Law into whose Hands soever it comes and this is the common practice of the Exchequer CAP. XXV Of Harriots The Nature of Harriot Service and Harriot Custom and of their Differences What Custom for Harriots are good or not Where they shall be apportioned and by whose acts Who shall pay Harriot or not And the Pleadings Of Harriots HArriots being one of the ancient Services now most esteemed and kept up and many Copy-holds being Harriotable I shall Treat of Harriots chiefly intending Harriot Customs and so far of Harriot Services as to render the whole Intelligible The Normans upon parcelling out their Lands to inferior Tenants invented this Service and termed it Harriot Service and afterwards upon Infranchisement of their Villains Harriot Customs were given to the Lords for a future continued gratulation and so originally they were de gratia but now they are de jure It is the best Beast or other thing that the Tenant hath at the time of his death and this shall be paid before a Mortuary but the Lord if he will may seize the worst and that seizure gives him property Hob. p. 60.16 H. 7.5 Co. Lit. 185. b. Harriots may be by Tenure Custom or Reservation Plowd Com. Redsole and Mantel There are two sorts of Harriots Harriot Service Custom And the nature of them both will be best explained by these diversities Harriot Service is generally exprest in a mans Grant or Deed by which it is reserved and is in these words or to this effect ac etiam per servitium reddendi post mortem cujuslibet tenentis deceden seisit optimum animal c. 1 Anderson 298 299. Odiam and Smith But Harriot Custom is only due by Custom time out of mind and may be paid after the death of Tenant for Life Terms del Ley. Harriot Service is extinct by Purchase of parcel but not Harriot Custom Co. Lit. 149. b. It hath been made a question in our Books whether the Lord may seize for Harriot Service but it is agreed he must seize for Harriot Custom Plowd 96. a. In the Case of Woodland against Mantel it is said the Lord may seize for Harriot Service but Anderson 1. p. 298 299. in Odiham and Smith's Case saith he ought to distrain and not to seize so is Serjeant Benlows p. 18 39. But the Law is setled in Cro. Car. 260. Mayor versus Brandwood and that it is at the Lords election either to seize it or distrain it if he can find it though the pleading seem to justifie it for in Replevin if one justifie for Harriot Custom it s no Plea for the Plaintiff to say that the place where is hors de son Fee for that he claims this Harriot as his proper Gopds and may seize it wherever he finds it Bendl. p. 18 39. For the Lord may seize for an Harriot Custom in the High-way 2 Inst 132. What Custom for Harriots shall be good or not Custom was That if the best Beast be esloigned then the Lord had used to seize and take the best Beast of any other being Levant and Couchant upon the Land it s a void and unreasonable Custom So if it be the Goods of any Inhabitant or Dweller Dye 199. b. Paxton's Case Benl p. 39. bis Co. Ent. 666. The Custom of having an Harriot whether the man had Goods or not is a void Custom Carter's Rep. p. 86. A Custom That the Lord shall seize the Beasts of a Stranger for an Harriot it is not good because it alters the property but a Custom That he shall distrain