which is the time of the limitation of all Prescriptions at the Common Law 2 Inst 653. which rejects the practice of the Civil Law which as should seem allows the limitation of a prescription or custom to forty years It may reasonably be demanded how this manner of discharge can be made out at this day since there is now no Person living that can prove how the Abbots held and enjoyed their Lands to which I answer that what was done before the dissolution of Abbeys must now be proved by what has been done since for if Monastery Lands have been held all the time of memory since the dissolution freed from the payment of Tithes it shall be intended that they were so held before and therefore they have not paid or been questioned since The fourth sort of discharge is by order Discharge by Order and this discharge also for the most part depends upon Popes Bulls or grants who at pleasure granted exemption to what orders they pleased About the Year of our Lord 1150. 2 Inst 652⸪ Seld. Hist decim 120. the most Religious orders then in being were discharged of the payment of Tithes but about that time Pope Adrian the fourth reduced them to Cistertians Hospitaliers and Templers and about the Year 1215. Seld. de decim 406. Pope Innocent the third added the Praemonstratenses But the Priviledges granted to these orders extended only to the Lands Dyer 277 278. these orders held in their own manurance and not to any which was held by their Tenants or Farmers But about the beginning of the Raign of H. 4. the Cistertians attempted to have enlarged their priviledg to their Tenants and Farmers which tending to the ruine of many poor Parsons and Vicars that had cure of Souls was complained of in a Parliament held in the second Year of H. 4. whereupon it was enacted that not only the Cistertians but all other orders that put any Bulls in execution for the discharging any of their Lands from the payment of Tithes in the Lands of their Tenants and Farmers shall incur a Premunire that is forfeit all their Goods and the profits of their Lands during life and be likewise imprisoned during the offenders life which gave such a check to that proceeding that I do not find any thing of that nature after attempted The Templers after in the Councel of Vienna The Templers 2 Inst 432⸫ which was held in the Year of our Lord 1311. and in the fourth Year of E. 2. were condemned for Heresy And all their possessions by Act of Parliament made in the seventeenth Year of the same King were transferred to the Hospitaliers or Knights of St. Stat. 17. E. 2. c. John of Jerusalem who enjoyed them till the thirty second Year of the Reign of King H. 8. at which time by Act of Parliament they were setled upon the Crown 32 H. 8. c. 24. But where it is said in Kelway that the Templers were condemned of heresie in the eight Year E. 2. and their Lands given the same year to the Hospitaliers it is a great error for it is clear that the Council of Vienna was held in the fourth year of that King and chiefly called against the Templers and it is as clear that their Lands were not here in England setled upon the Hospitaliers till the seventeenth of the same King And though the Lands of the lesser Monasteries be not within the benefit of the Statute of 31 H. 8. Where the lesser Abbeys may be freed of Tithes to be freed of the payment of Tithes yet they ought to enjoy all such priviledges as are annext to the Land and therefore such Lands in whose hands soever they come shall be freed of the payment of Tithes yet they ought to enjoy all such priviledges as are annext to the Land and therefore such Lands in whose hands soever they come shall be freed of the payment of Tithes by real compositions and prescriptions de modo decimandi Jones 3. but not by prescriptions de non decimando unity of possession order or Bulls of Popes but in all the cases the Parsons and Vicars have the advantage by the dissolution of all those Abbies that were dissolved by the Statute of twenty seven H. 8. and the Parsons and Vicars shall in such case be restored to their Tithes again which in all Justice they ought in all other cases if the Parliament had not seen reason to the contrary The lesser Monasteries that is which were under 200 l. per annum of the orders of Cistertians and Praemonstratenses were as has been said dissolved by the Statute of 27 H. 8. have lost the priviledg of being discharged of the payment of Tithes unless they were continued as the Abbey of Crouden was but those Monasteries of those orders that came to the Crown by the Statute of 31. H. 8. retain the priviledg of those orders in not paying Tithes but this is to be understood only for such time as the Owners hold them in their own manurance for if they let them out to Tenants they shall have no more priviledg than the Tenants of those orders of the Cistertians and Praemonstratenses had which was none at all But note Jones 2 3 c. Cro. Jac 6â—7 Hob. 6â—8 Lands of the lesser Abbeys granted to the bieger not freed that if the King after the dissolution of the lesser Monasteries which had been of any of the orders that were discharged of the payment of Tithes had granted any of their Lands to any of the greater Monasteries which were not dissolved till the Statute of 31 H. 8. yet those shall not retain the priviledges the Abbots had at the time of the former dissolution the right immediately reverting by the dissolution to the Parsons and Vicars to whom the Tithes of right did belong the greater Abbyes could not hold them legally discharged at the time of the second dissolution So that there is a manifest difference between this and the case of Walkelate and Wilshaw before remembred for in that case the Monastery was continued and not dissolved till the Statute of 31 H. 8. And it is to be observed that no Lands acquired by any of the Monasteries of those orders which were so freed from payment of Tithes after the Councel of Lateran Lands purchased after the Friviledges granted not freed which was in the Year of our Lord 1215. and by consequence none that were founded after that Councel are discharged of the payment of Tithes either in their own Seldens hist of Tithes 121. or their Tenants hands for by that Councel the Priviledg was limited to such Lands as these orders had at the time of that Councel And although any Abbey Lands of the great Abbeys which were of the Cistertian and Praemonstratensian orders were in the hands of Tenants for years at the time of the dissolution Dyer 277 b⸪ p. 60. Cro. Jac. 559. yet the King and
between lay Persons And it is held in the 25 H. 8. 25 H. 8. Br. Jurisdiction 95. that where the Lord of a Mannor claimed Tithes in consideration of finding a Chaplain at such a Chappel and the Parishioners claimed them likewise upon the same consideration that the right of these Tithes being between Lay Persons was triable at Common Law only And by the Statute of 32 H. 8. Stat. 32. H. 8. cap. 7. it is enacted that in all cases where any Person c. which then had or then after should have any Estate of Inheritance Free-hold c. in or to any Parsonage Vicarage Portion Pension Tithes Oblations and which then were or then after should be made Temporal or admitted to be abide and go to or in temporal hands and Lay uses and profits by the Law c. should then after fortune to be disseised deforced wronged or otherwise kept or put out from their Lawful Inheritance Estate Seisine Possession Occupation Term Right or Interest of in or to the same or c. by any other Person or c. claiming or pretending to have Interest or Title to the same that then and in every such case c. the Person c. so disseised c. the Heirs Wives c. shall and may have their remedy in the Kings Temporal Courts or other Temporal Courts as the Case shall require for the recovering c. such inheritance c. by Writs Original of quod ei deferat praecipe quod reddat Assise c. as the Case shall require c. So that since this Statute the Case is put out of all doubt that for such Tithes c. which are become Lay-fee the right Title and possession is become determinable at the Common Law and all manner of real Actions Ejectments and other personal Actions are brought of them as the Case requires daily And now having shewed in how many Courts Conclusion and how many ways Tithes may be recovered it calls to my mind the Fable of the Fox and the Cat who had but one way to shift for her self when the Hunts men came but that one proved better and more secure than all the shifts the Fox had boasted of for upon the whole matter it were much better for the Reverend Clergy if they had one ready way to recover single damages with their costs of Suits at Common Law where they might not be interrupted by Prohibitions and clashing of Jurisdictions and tost from one Court to another than all these ways I have mentioned And it is a wonder to me that there being hardly a Lord in Parliament nor many of the House of Commons that have not some part of their Estates in impropriations though they had no kindness to the Church yet for their own interest and concerns have not to that purpose preferred some Law in Parliament before this time which might be done in a few lines by giving an Action of the Case at Common Law for the subtraction of Tithes with costs or if the Parliament should think fit the smaller sort of Tithes might be determined in a Summary way by the Justices of Peace with an appeal to the Judges of Assise but this I humbly submit as I do all the rest to better Judgments I have now finished this small Tract whereby I wish the Reverend Clergy may receive as much satisfaction as I desire The conclusion of the whole or they can expect And I shall now conclude all with a List of those Monasteries the Lands of which are only capable to be discharged of the payment of Tithes by Order Bull Prescription real composition or otherwise that every Clergy man may satisfy himself without further enquiry whether such Monastery Lands as shall happen to be in his Parish c. may have the benefit of the Statute of 31 H. 8. to be freed of the payment of Tithes and in the List following I have set down the times of the foundations of the several Monasteries that being material to know for if they were founded since the first year of R. 1. they cannot prescribe in non decimando I have also for the most part set down what order the Houses were of that the Reader may satisfy himself whether they were of any of those Orders that were priviledged from the payment of Tithes for the valuations I have followed Mr. Dugdale as being a sure Author having observed many Errors in that of Mr. Speed In the perusal of this Catalogue you will find how many Foundations were made of Monasteries in the first Century after the Conquest and till the Raign of King John that if they had continued at that rate the greatest part if not all the Land in England had by this day been Monastery Land but in King John's time they begun to slack and in the ninth of H. Magna Charta 3. the Statute of Mortmain was made after which you will find but few Religious Houses as they were called founded The Cistertian order came into England about the year of our Lord 1128. and in the ensuing Table you may see how well they prospered that in so short a time there should be so many of the greater Abbies of that order The black Canons regular of St. Stows Survey of London 930⸪ Augustine first came into England as Mr. Stow says in the Year 1108. and were first placed in Trinity Church within Algate London but I rather think he is mistaken in the time for I find some Monasteries of that order before that time however the ensuing Catalogue will inform you of their increase And it is without dispute that the increase of Monasteries especially those of priviledged Orders tended very much to the prejudice of the Secular Clergy that had the Cure of Souls for beside the orders that were priviledged they appropriated all the Churches they could obtain and how ill they were served a Man may in some measure observe that peruses the Statute of 15 R. 2. and 4 H. 4. for it appears by them that they endowed no Vicarage at all upon the appropriating Churches or so meanly Endowment of Vicarages that the Vicars could not live upon them and not at all Hospitality practised And therefore the Parliament of England which has always put a stop to the usurpations and exorbitances of Rome and to prevent the Religious Houses destroying the Church in the 15. Year of the Raign of King Richard the second made a Law 15 R. 2. cap. 6. that the Diocesan of the place where any Church was to be appropriated should take care the Vicarage should be well and sufficiently endowed besides a Portion to the poor But this Act not having the effect was desired and expected the Bishops of those times being overawed by his Holinesses mandates or participating too much of his qualities a second good Act was made in the 14. Year of King H. 4 H. 4. cap. 12. 4. whereby it was enacted that
eighteen months and the last quarter part thereof at the end of two years And by a Statute made 1 Eliz. all Vicarages not exceeding ten pounds 1 Eliz cap. 4. and all Parsonages not exceeding ten Marks according to the valuation in the first fruits Office are discharged from the payment of first fruits And if an Incumbent die or be legally removed out of his Living without fraud then after such death or removal the remaining half yearly payments of the first fruits which were not become due are discharged by the said Statute of 1. Eliz. And by that Statute the Dean and Canons of Windsor are discharged of the payment of first fruits And by the Statute made in the 26th St 26 H. 8. c. 3. When the first Fruits are to be paid year of H. 8. before mentioned It is enacted That every Archbishop Bishop Dean Prebendary Archdeacon Parson Vicar c. before he have any actual or real possession or medling with the profits of his Living this must be between Institution Collation and Induction must pay or compound for or give security for the payment of his first fruits in the first fruits Office And that an Obligation taken for the same should be of the force of a Statute of the Staple and that if any such presume to enter into his Living before such payment or security given or composition made he is to forfeit double the value But his Majesty and his Royal Predecessors have not been severe in this Case to take the penalty but upon faileur their Officers of the Exchequer have sent our Process to the Sheriff to put the negligent Parsons Vicars c. in mind of this duty and upon coming in and paying the charge of the Process and paying or giving security for the first fruits they are discharged But the Parsons Vicars c. must be careful to pay in their half yearly payments as the same become due and take up their bonds or else new Process will issue to the increase of their charge Perhaps some may be so curious Why Vicarages are charged higher in the first fruits Office than Parsonages and desire to know why Vicarages not exceeding ten pound should be freed of this charge and Parsonages of ten marks should pay them now the reason of that was that the Vicarages in time of Popery and when the Valuation was taken had a great income by voluntary Offerings which falling to little or nothing upon the dissolution of Monasteries this favour was afforded them in their first fruits The next charge Parsons and Vicars are subject to are the Tenths Tenths that is a tenth part of the yearly value of all their Church Livings this payment was first exacted from the Clergy by the Pope about the twentieth year of E. 1. 2 Inst 628⸫ and a Valuation was then made by his authority of all Church Livings at which rate the Pope was answered his Tenths but he never had any Tenths of such Land as was given to the Church after that time these payments as appears by our Histories the Popes of Rome sometimes granted to Kings of England when the Kings pleased him or rather when he seared their power but upon the abolishing the Popes power which was in the 25th Stat. 25. H. 8. cap. year of H. 8. these Tenths were given to the King the year following by the aforesaid Statute of 26. H. 8. Stat. 26 H. 8. cap. 3. and to be paid at Christmas yearly and the Bishop of the Diocess is to collect them and they are to be paid according to the valuation taken the same year and now in the first fruits Office and are not paid that year the first fruits are paid but are allowed out of them because 't is intended that the King has the whole years profit But immediately upon the Reformation many Clergy men scrupled and denyed to pay these Tenths to the King being a duty properly due to the Pope and therefore the refusal or neglect to pay them to the King being certified by the Bishop that had the Collection of them is made a Cause of Deprivation not only of the Living St. 26. H. 8. c. 3. for which they refused to pay their Tenths but also of all their spiritual Preferments But by the Stat. St. 2 3 E. 6. c. 20. of 2 and 3 E. 6. that severity was moderated so that now the refusal or neglect to pay them and so certified by the Bishop makes only that Living void for which the Tenths shall be so refused But his Majesty and his Royal Predecessors have rarely put the severity of this Law in Execution but make out Process in the Exchequer to compel the payment however since the penalty is so great every Clergy man ought to be very careful to avoid the danger There is a Provision made by an Act of Parliament in the 27 Year of H. St. 27 H. 8. c. 8. The remedy where the Successor pays Tenths due by his Predecessor 8. for those Incumbents that shall be forced to pay the Tenthes due in the time of their Predecessors that they may levy the same upon any Goods they can find of their Predecessors upon the Church Living and if they be not redeemed within twelve days after they shall be distrained that then the same shall be praised by two or three indifferent Persons to be sworn and so many of them sold as will satisfy the arrear with cost and if no such Goods can be found then the Successor to take his remedy against his Predecessor his Executors or Administrators or others to whom his Goods shall come by hill in Chancery or an Action of Debt at Common Law There is another charge Procreationâ—â— to which the Parsons Vicars c. are subject for their Church Livings Sir John Davies Rep. 1 2 3. which is called Procreations or Proxies and these are duties due and payable to the Bishops and Arch-Deacons at the time of their visitations which are not paid by any certain Rule but by some antient Taxation for antiently the Religious Houses and Clergy-Men at their own charge entertained the Bishops and Arch-Deacons in their visitations See more of this matter Lind. cap. ut singula Ecclesiastica That by a Canon made by Steph. Langton about 1222 the Archdeacons were to bring but seven horses in their Trains and stay but one day and to invite no body but at length their attendants were so many and their trains so great that the Clergy and Religious Houses were horribly oppressed with entertaining of them to avoid which the Clergy and Religious Houses came to this composition every one to pay such a proportion to their visitors to be freed of that great oppession and therefore the Canonists define them to be Exhibitio sumptuum necessariorum facta praelatis qui Diocaeses peragrando Ecclesias subjectas visitant and this payment is continued to this day not only of those Livings
manner inform me of them for Humanum est errare and though I may have cause to be ashamed of them yet I will never be ashamed to amend Vale. The Contents The Contents of the several Chapters contained in the first part of this Book Intitled the Parsons Counsellor CHAP. Who may be a Parson 1. sheweth who may or may not be a compleat Parson Vicar c. Chap. How he must proceed in taking a Living 2. sheweth how one that is a Person fitly qualified to be a Parson Vicar c. ought to proceed in the obtaining and accepting of the same Chap. Jure Patronatus 3. shews in what cases 't is necessary for the Bishop to have a jure patronatus and how to proceed in the same and what is the force and effect thereof Chap. Pluralities 4. shews how the Law stood concerning pluralities before the Stat. of 21 H. 8. who are qualified within that Law to have pluralities and how they ought to behave themselves in taking the second Livings so that the first may not be made void Chap. Simony 5. shews what Simony is and who shall be said to be guilty of it and what are the dangers ensuing thereupon Chap. What he is to do at before and after institution and induction 6. shews what one is to do before and at institution and after induction to make himself a compleat Parson Chap. Non-residence 7. shews what is required further of Parsons c. after induction and what non-residence is and the dangers incurred thereby and what matters will excuse the same Chap. 8. shews Dilapidations what shall be said to be dilapidations and how the same is remedied and punished Chap. 9. shews for what cause a Parson Deprivation Vicar c. may be deprived according to the rules of the Common Laws Chap. 10. shews what Leases a Parson Leases Vicar c. may make of his Glebe Tithes and what Farms he may or may not take Farms and within the danger of what other Statutes they may fall Chap. 11. shews Priviledges of the Clergy what Priviledges are allowed to the Clergy in Holy Orders by the Statute and Common Laws of this Realm The Contents of the several Chapters contained in the second part of this Book Intituled the Law of Tithes or Tithing CHAP. 1. shews what Tithes are Quid quot◠plex quo modo debet the several sorts and kinds thereof and how the same become due Chap. 2. shews By whom and to whom due by whom and to whom Tithes ought to be paid Chap. 3. shews What things are Tithable Corn Hay c. of what things Tithes are due to be paid and in what manner the Tithes of Corn Hay c. are to be paid Chap. 4. shews Wood. where and in what cases the Tithes of wood ought to be paid Chap. 5. shews Herbage where Tithes are due for Herbage or Agistment of Cattle and who is to pay the same Chap. Calves Milk Cheese Wool Lambs Pigs c. Seeds Fruit Mast Bees Hony things ferae naturae 6. shews where and in what manner the Tithes of Calves Milk Cheese Wool Lambs Pigs c. are payable Chap. 7. shews in what manner the Tithes of Seeds Fruit Mast Bees c. are to be paid Chap. 8. shews where and in what manner the Tithes of Pigeons Conyes Fish Deer and other Birds and Beasts ferae naturae are Tithable Chap. Mills 9. shews of what nature the Tithes of Mills are and in what cases payable Chap. Personal Tithes 10. Treats of the Tithes of Hawking Hunting Fishing Fowling c. and other personal Tithes Chap. Domestick Birds 11. Treats of the Tithes of Ducks Geese Swans Turkeys and other domestick Fowls and Birds Chap. Of what things Tithes are not payable 12. shews of what things Tithes are not due by the Common Laws of this Realm Chap. Customs 13. shews what force Customs have as well in the form and manner of Tithing as in the discharging the payment thereof and the difference between Custom and Prescription Chap. Interest in the Lands 14. shews what Priviledges the Parson Vicar c. have in the Grounds where the Tithes arise for the drying making and carrying away the same Chap. To what charge subject 15. shews to what charges the Glebe and Tithes are subject and liable Chap. Modus decimandi 16. shews how far Prescription will prevail in the manner of Tithing and in what Cases a modus decimandi will bind the Parson c. Chap. 17. shews How to be destroy'd how a modus decimandi may be destroyed Chap. 18. shews by what conveyances How to be convey'd and by what names Tithes may be granted demised c. and what Demises and Leases made by Parsons Vicars and other Ecclesiasticks c. are good Of Leases Chap. 19. shews Barren Ground what barren Lands are freed from payment of Tithes within the Statute of 2 E. 6. Chap. 20. shews Real Compositions what a Real composition is and in what cases Lands shall be freed from the payment of Tithes thereby Chap. 21. shews Monastery Lands what Monastery Lands are or may be freed from the payment of Tithes Chap. 22. shews what personal Tithes are Personal Tithes and in what cases due and payable Chap. 23. shews what Oblations Offerings Oblations c. are and where due and payable Chap. 24. shews what Mortuaries are Mortuaries and in what cases they are due and payable Chap. 25. shews London how Tithes are to be paid in London and several resolutions upon the Statute made for the payment thereof Chap. 26. shews in what Courts How recovereble and in what manner Tithes may be sued for and in what Cases Prohibitions lye for the staying of Suits for Tithes in the Ecclesiastical Courts and how to proceed therein Prohibitions Note that in my references to printed Books in this Treatise Directions in the Marginal references I for the most part refer to the page and part of the page where the matter is to be found in this manner if the matter be at the upper end of the page I mark it with three pricks thus ⸫ if in the middle thus .. if at the lower part thus ⸪ and where the Book is numbred by Fol. I add the A. or B. side as it happens THE TABLE A ACceptance of Rent where it shall affirm a Lease 117. not by Parson Vicar or Prebend 118. whereby the acceptance of Fealty by a Parson shall bind 118. a Bishop accepts the rent upon a Lease for Life of Tithes 118. upon a Lease for years of Tithes ibid. Admission in what manner to be made 6. not to be done hastily ibid. Atfermathes where Tithe is due of them 155. Agistment vide Herbage Alternagium quid 145. Annates qd vide First-Fruits B. Barren Lands in what Cases free from the payment of Tithes 221. Bees what Tithe is due for them 177. Bishop what time he hath to examine a Clerk 5 and 6. admits a Clerk before the Church becomes litigious 13. not bound by
in what cases Deans Prehends c. are restrained by 13 Eliz. 97. Parsons and Vicars restrained by it 98. where upon a concurrent lease the former must determine within three years 98 but not so for Bishops 99. where a Parsons lease shall be void by non residence 99 100 110 whether void against himself ibid. houses in Corporations how to be leased 100. not in reversion 101. what by Bishops and Archbishops 103. by Deans Prebends and Colledges where good 105. from what time leases must commence 105. a Parson leases and resigns 112 Parson leases which is confirmed and then becomes non-resident 112. Bonds and Covenants for leases where void 99. and Promises 101 113. of Colledges and Hospitals where good 114. where a lease shall be good a former in being 115. Surrender enter sealing and delivery ibid. L. Litigious where a Church shall be said to be so 11. where by a Jure patronatus 12. where after a Jure patronatus 12. The Bishop may admit either Clerk without a Jure patronatus at his peril 14. London How Tithes are to be paid 256. M. Marriage of Priests forbid by Canons presented and by whom and how 122. Jo. de Lerma who prosecuted it taken in bed with a whore 123. how forbidden by the Apost Canons 123. made Felony to use their Wives or company 127. after mitigated ibid. to affirm a Priest might Marry made Heresie and Treason 128. all Laws against their Marriage repealed and their Children legitimated 128. that Act repealed and after revived ibid. Mast vide Seed Milk vide Calves Modus vide Prescription Monastery Lands where freed of Tithes 230. how many ways they may be discharged 231. what orders were free from payment of Tithes 233. in what Cases the lesser Abbies may be free 235. not of Lands purchased after 1215.237 Mortuaries what and how and where due 251. N. Notice of Resignation Deprivation where requisite and how to be given 9. 10. O. Oblations and Offerings what and in what Cases due 247. Ordinary vide Bishops P. Parliament 22. Pardon of Simony the effect 54. Parson what he is to do at before and after Institution and Induction 159. he must be a Priest ibid. he must subscribe and have a Certificate ibid. he must read the 39. Articles and how 60. he must declare his assent and the form 60. the danger of failing in any of these 61. they must be repeated upon taking a new Living 61. good advice to the Parsons ibid. what age a Parson must be 64. of a Living of 30. pounds per annum who may be 64. he must be conformable 65. when and how oft he must use the Common Prayer 65. before every Lecture 66. the penalty for using other Forms 66. he must maintain no Doctrine Repugnant to the 39. Articles 67. who may be a Parson 1. 2. 3. Personal Tithes quid and where due 243. Piggs vide Calves Pluralities quid 19. Canons against them 19. the mischief of them 20. acceptance of a second Living makes the first void 21. as to the Patron without sentence ibid. but not as to lapse ibid. Act of Parliament against it 22. which shall be said a Living of 8 pounds per annum c. 23. a Parson not qualified may have a plurality 24. who are qualified by service to have them 24. who by birth 25. who by degree ibid. he that takes a plurality must have a Testimonial 26. how to proceed in the taking of them 27. the first void by institution into the second 27. which Chaplains where above the number is retained 28. the Master dies before preferment 28. the Mistress Marries before 29. becomes a Widow again ibid. Marries under her degree ibid. what Livings and preferments do not make a plurality 22. none has a double capacity to qualifie cap. 30. Chaplains retain per filium in vita prioris 30. Master discharges Chaplain after he is preferred 30. retains a greater number than he ought which shall be qualified 30. is instituted before a dispensation 31. the King cannot dispence with this Law 31. inducted in a second Living and does not read the 39. Articles and 31. a Clerk qualified is made a Bishop his qualification ceases 31. plurality by union 32. a Vicar is made Parson of the same Church 32. two Rectories in one Church but one Curate 32. the effect of taking the power of dispensation from the Pope and putting it in the Nobility 33. the prejudice introduced 19. how many qualifications there are in England 33. in Margin of what Livings at first ibid. Pope several Acts of Parliament to restrain his usurpations 21. and 22. a damnable Custom alledged to be in his Court of Rome to exact undue Fees 22. Priests who may be and at what age 64. Prescription and modus decimandi qd and why Ecclesiastical Courts reject customs and modus decimandi 203. how they differ from customs and justified by reason 204. confirmed by Parliament 204. who may prescribe in non decimando 206. who in modo decimandi 208. a modus to do two things and one fails 209. for Houses 209. which Prescriptions de modo decimandi are good 210. for Wool and Lamb ibid. for Corn 211. for Wood 212. for Calves and Milk ibid. Eggs ibid. for Lands in lieu of Tithes 213. for Head lands Balks c. 213. Bees 214. Herbage ibid. for fewel 215. for Parks ibid. to the Vicar for Parsons Tithes 216. how it may be lost 218. from what time 232 c. Presentation the form thereof 4. how to proceed upon it 5. what time the Patron has to present 8. and 9. where his Clerk is refused for just cause ibid. Priviledges what the Clergy have at this day in England may not be compelled to serve temporal Offices 129. 133. not to appear at the Sheriffs turn 132. not to be arrested in what cases upon a Statute 131. not to be disturbed 130. pay no toll 132. nor pontage murage c. ibid. sue in the Spiritual Court for battery 133. Collector of Tenthes may not disturb them 133. in criminal causes 133. freed from purveyance 134. amerced for their Church livings no execution on the Goods of the Church ibid. confirmed by several Acts of Parliament 135. Procurations qd where due and how 201. Prohibitions granted sur modus decimandi 279. to try the bounds 279. for Monastery Lands ibid. quia suit for Tithes of things not Tithable 28. quia matter triable at Law ibid. because they proceed against Law or reason 280 must present a Copy of the libel 281. where the suggestion must be drawn up 281. where peremtory 282. how to be prosecuted and defended 283. where grantable after Consultation 284 286. Consultation special ibid. must prove the suggestion within six months 281. how they must be accompted 285. the benefit and damage by them 287. R. Real Composition qd and the effect 226. Recovery in what Courts antiently 263. where the Spiritual Court may determine the right of Tithes 264. and where not
Collegiate Persons or others of any of their Ecclesiastical c. Lands c. whereof any former Lease for years is in being and not expired surrendred or ended within three years next after the making of any such new Lease should be utterly void frustrate and of none effect any Law c. By this Proviso it should seem the Parliament was of opinion that concurrent Leases might be made but has by this Proviso so restrained them that they cannot be made but within three years before the Determination of the former But Bishops are conceived not to be comprehended within this Proviso Bishops not in this Act. for though the words are general enough yet the particulars mentioned before the general words being of an inferiour rank the general words cannot draw in the more worthy And there is a Provision in this Act of 18 Eliz. Which Bonds and Covenants shall be void That all Bonds and Covenants then after made for the making or renewing of any Lease contrary to the intent of that Statute or of the Statute of 13 Eliz cap. 10. should be utterly void By a Statute made in the 13th 13 Eliz. c. 20 Leases of Parsons to be void by non-Residence Year of Queen Elizabeth there is an Act of Parliament made whereby it is enacted That no Lease made after the 15th day of May following of any Benefice or Ecclesiastical Promotion with Cure or any part thereof and not being impropriated should endure any longer than while the Leasor should be ordinarily resident and serving the Cure of such Benefice without absence above fourscore days in any one year These wordt within the are repealed by 14 El. c. 11. but that every such Lease so soon as it or any part thereof should come to any possession above forbidden or immediately upon such absence shall cease and be void and the Incumbent so offending shall c. lose one years profit of his said Benefice to be distributed by the Ordinary to the poor of the Parish And by the same Statute Charging Parsonages void it is further enacted That all charging of such Benefices with Cure then after with any pension or with any profit out of the same to be yielded or taken other than Rents reserved upon Leases should be void But where any Person should be qualified to have two Livings Where a Parson may devise and be non-resident he may devise the one of them where he is not ordinarily resident to his Curate only that shall there serve the Cure And such Lease shall endure no longer than during such Curate's residence without absence above fourty days in any one year And by the 14. 14 El. cap. 11. Leases Bonds and Covenants to be void of Eliz. it is enacted That all Leases Bonds Promises and Covenants of and concerning Benefices and Ecclesiastical Livings with Cure to be made by any Curate shall be of no other or better force validity or continuance than if the same had been made by the beneficed person himself that shall demise the same to such Curate And by the same Statute it is enacted Houses Incorporations c. how to he leased That the restrictive Statute of 13 Eliz. cap. 10. before shall not extend to any Grant Assurance or Lease of any houses belonging to any the persons c. in the said Stat. of 13. nor to any grounds to any such houses appertaining c. in any City Burrough Town Corporate or Market Town or the Suburbs of any of them but that all such houses and grounds may be granted demised and assured as they might have been before the making of the said Act so always as such house being not the Capital or dwelling house used for the Habitation of the Parsons c. nor have above ten Acres to the same Provided Not to lease in reversion That no Lease be made by vertue of this Act in reversion nor without reserving the accustomed yearly Rent at least nor for a longer term than for fourty years at most charging the Leasee with repairs and no alienation in Fee unless lands of as good yearly value be settled c. in lieu thereof There is likewise another Proviso in this act that all Bonds Conrracts Bonds Contracts Covenants Promises where to be void Promises and Covenants to be made for the suffering or permitting any person to enjoy any Benefice or Ecclesiastical Promotion with Cure or to take the profits or fruits thereof other than such Bonds and Covenants as shall he made for assurance of any Lease heretofore made shall be of no other force than Leases made by the same person And by another Statute made in the 18th year of the same Queen Eliz. 18 Eliz. c. 11. It is enacted That after complaint made to the Ordinary and Sentence given upon any offence committed by the Incumbent against the Statute of 13 Eliz. cap. 20. whereby he shall or ought to lose a years profit of his Benefice c. That then the Ordinary within two months after such Sentence and request made by the Churchwardens of the Parish where c. or one of them shall grant the Sequestration of such profits to such Inhabitant or Inhabitants within the same Parish c. as to him shall seem meet c. And that upon default of the Ordinary it shall be lawful for every Parishioner Every Parishioner may take advantage c. to retain c. his Tithes and for the Church-wardens to enter upon the glebe-Glebe-land Rents and Duties of every such Benenefice to be imployed to the use of the poor c. until such time as Sequestration shall be committed by the Ordinary and then the Church-wardens and Parishioners to accompt to such to whom the Sequestration shall be committed who is to imploy the whole profits according to the act upon pain to forfeit the double value of the profits with-holden to be recovered in the Ecclesiastical Court by the poor of the Parish Having thus briefly for the Readers satisfaction given him a brief Abstract of all the Statutes concerning the Leases of Ecclesiasticks of all kinds I shall briefly sum them all up and proceed to take a view of such other Statutes as the Parsons Vicars c. are in any manner in danger of Upon the whole matter it appears What Leases may be made by Bishops and Arch-bishops that Arch-bishops and Bishops may make Leases for twenty one years or for one two or three Lives with the qualifications before mentioned without any Confirmations at all and they may make concurrent Leases for twnety one years upon Leases for tweny one years from the making with confirmation of the Dean and Chapter with such qualifications as is aforesaid though there be above three years in being of the old Lease at the time of the making the new and where the Bishop has two Chapters there the concurrent Lease must be confirmed by both Chapters unless it be as it
to the Rector of the Parish Church wherein they arise yet notwithstanding the Parson of one Parish may prescribe to have a Portion of Tithes in the Parish of another 14 H. 4.17 a 44 Ass p. 25. Roll 1.657 o. and so might Abbot Priors and other religious persons prescribe to have portions of Tithes in Parishes How Prescriptiont are to be proved Seld. hist decim 364⸪ 290⸪ whereof they had not the Advowsons and by consequence the Patentees from the Crown and the Impropriators may claim the same by prescriptions in the Abbots Priors c. and the usage since the dissolution will serve to prove the prescription and usage in the Abbots c. that they held the same so time out of mind As for extra-parochial Tithes Extra-parechial Tithes 7 E. 3. there has been some differing Opinions Sir William Herle was of opinion that they belonged to the Bishop of the Diocess as general Parson of his whole Diocess grounding his opinion as it should seem Seld. hist decim 108. upon the Canon Law But there was never any such Canon received or approved in this Kingdom But it hath been resolved both in Parliament 21 Ass 75. 2 Inst 647⸫ Roll 1.657 o. p. Seld hist decim 365. and by several Judgments at Common Law that all extra-parochial Tithes belong to the King who is a mixt Person and capable of Tithes at the Common Law in pernancy Now having shewed in general who are capable of Tithes in pernancy at this day In Particular Cases to whom Tithes are due and to whom of Common right they belong I shall proceed to shew to whom they are due in some particular Cases If a Parson Lease his Glebe-Lands Cro. El. 161. Against the Parsons own Lease Portman vers Hind in 31 32 El. B. R. Co. 11.13 b⸪ Dyer 43. p. 22 est Quaere and do not also grant the Tithes thereof the Tenant shall pay the Parson Tithes nay though the Parson Lease his Lands cum omnibus proficuis commoditatibus eidem spectantibus rendering Rent pro omnibus exactionibus demandis quibuscunque Yet notwithstanding the Tenant shall pay the Parson the Tithes arising upon these Lands The like Law it is if an Impropriator Vicar c. make such Lease c. And as the Parson shall have Tithe of his own Tenant Against his Feoffment Co. 1.111 a⸪ Co. 11.13 b⸪ so he shall have of his Feoffee And if a Parson have Lands in the same Parish whereof he is Parson and demises his Tithes he shall pay Tithes to his Farmer If a Parson sow his ground Dyer 43. p. 21. Moyle ver Ewre Hill 1 Jac. B. R. Roll 655. k. 2. Lease Roll 655. k. 1. and then sell the emblements I mean the Corn growing upon the ground the buyer of the Corn shall pay the Tithe of it to the Parson that sowed and sold the Corn. So if a Parson sow his Glebe-Land and then Lease the Land the Tenant shall pay his Parson Landlord Tithe of this Corn. There has been some opinions Co. 10.88 b⸪ 21 H. 6.30 a. that if the Parishioner sow his Lands and before severance the Parson die that in this case the Parson's Executors Uphaven ver Humfries 40 El. per Poph. Gaudy vers Fenner and not his Successor should have the Tithes And there has been some Opinions that if the Parson sow his Glebe and die before severance that his Executors should not pay Tithes of this Corn. But both these Cases To whom the Tithes in the Vacation belong St. 28. H. 8. c. 11. if they had been Law are put out of doubt by the Stat. of 28 H. 8. which hath given all the Tithes and other profits belonging to the Rectory to the Successor from the death of the last Incumbent which hath taken away all pretence the Executors could have in such Cases But notwithstanding this Statute I take the Law to be clear that the Executor of the Parson shall have the Corn sown by his Testator in his life time Rolls 655. k. 3. as the Executors of other Tenants for life have by the Law It hath been held Whether the Vicar and Parson shall pay to each other Crompt Case P. 7. Car. 1. B. R. Cro. El. 578. that the Vicar upon a general indowment shall not pay Tithes of his Glebe to the Parson or the fruits that arise from the same Quia decimas Ecclesia Ecclesiae reddere non debet So if a Vicar be endowed of all the small Tithes arising within the Parish yet he shall not have the small Tithes arising upon the Glebe-Lands of the Parson Tithes may belong to a Chappel 13 Ass p. 2. Dyer 87. Tithes by prescription may be appendant to an antient Chappel CHAP. III. The third Chapter shews of what things Tithes are due and in what manner the Tithes of Hay and Corn are to be paid Tithes Regularly are to be paid of all things annually arising from the gound Of what things Tithes are to be paid Co. 11.160 F. N. B 53 E. either of themselves or by the Culture and Industry of the Parishioner without any deduction of Averg in their proper kinds as soon as the same may be separated and divided from the nine parts in Sheaves Garbs or Heaps Lind wood c. Quoniam propter verb. non deductis expensis But the manner and form of the payment of Tithes is for the most part governed by the Custom of the place and therefore if by Custom the tenth part How Tithes of Corn are to be paid of Corn or Hay hath been measured forth growing upon the Lands as 't is in some parts of Lincolnshire this manner of Tithing is to be observed for in what manner soever the Tithe hath been paid time out of mind St. 27 II 8. c. 20. 32 II. 8. cap. 7. in such manner it still ought to be paid and therefore where Tithe Corn hath used to be paid time out mind in Sheaves or Garbs bound up it is no good payment to leave it in bonds unbound as I have known some contentious Parishioners do So for the Tithe of Hay How the Tythe of Hay is to be paid if the Parishioner have used to make it into Hay-cocks before they have set forth their Tithes they must do so still Roll 1.644 y. 1256. but where there is no such Custom they may set it forth in Grass-cocks The same order ought to be observed in all other things arising from the Ground as Rape Saffron Apples c. and other fruit But no Tithes are to be paid for the Rakings of Corn Rakings 2 Inst 652⸫ Cro El. 660. More 278. Crok Jac. 42 Yelver 86. Hetley 133. Rolls 1.645 z. 11 12 13. Aftermaths unless the Parishioner fraudulently scatter his Corn to cozen the Parson of his Tithes Neither are Tithes to be paid of the aftermaths of Meadows nor of balks in Corn Fields
by Custom to be free from payment of Tithe Wood Hob. 266⸪ Bulst 2. 285. Doct. Stud. cap. ult Roll 1. 642. b. 1. p. 5 6 8. Co. 11.16 a⸪ Custom to pay Tithes of things not Tithable or any thing in lieu of it and so in several Countries they pay no Tithe of their Milk And as Custom may prevail in not Tithing so it may as has been said make things Tithable which in their own natures are not Tithable as the Rents of Houses Pigeons eaten in the House Wood spent in the House and by Custom Tithe may be paid of Salt Brick Lime Ale Chickens and other things not Tithable Now the difference between a Custom and a prescription is this Difference between Custom and Prescription every Custom must have dimension and alledged to be within some certain Province County City Hundred c. for if it be a general Custom of England it is Common Law and such Custom must be common to all within such limits but if it be confined to one certain Person House Land or other thing there it becomes a prescription which is a younger daughter to Custom and therefore when a Man comes to plead a Custom the manner of pleading is to alledg that within such a County Hundred or Town there is and from the time whereof in the memory of Man is not to the contrary there hath been such a Custom used and approved in the same that is to say that c. alledging the Custom as it is But when you come to plead a prescription you only alledg that you and all those whose Estate you have in such Lands have time out of mind paid so much annually to the Parson of D. How to plead a Prescription in full satisfaction and exoncration of all the Tithes arising upon the said Lands c. So that Custom and prescription differ in these things Wherein Custom and Prescription differ that Custom must be limited and confined to some certain place prescription is at large Custom is common to all the Persons and Lands within the limits wherein it is alledged but Prescription is confined to certain Persons or things but in this they agree that they must be constant without interruption and perpetual from the time whereof the memory of Man is not to the contrary for if there have been frequent interruptions there can be no Custom or Prescription obtained but after a Custom or Prescription is once duly obtained a disturbance for ten or twenty Years shall not destroy it 1 Inst 114. b. 2 Inst 653⸪ 2 Inst 654⸫ for Multiplex interruptio non tollit praescriptionem semel obtentam But I must here observe to the Reader How the Ecclesiastical Laws look upon Customs and Prescriptions that though the Civil and Ecclesiastical Laws do in some cases take notice of Custom and Prescription yet in this they differ from the Common Law In what they differ from the Common Law in this matter that they allow a usage for forty Years to be a good proof of a Custom or Prescription grounding their judgments upon a decretal Epistle of Pope Alexander the third Anno Domini 1180. But this Kingdom never allowed of that Epistle or yielded any obedience thereunto so that as well in Spiritual as Temporal Prescriptions and Customs if they come to be tried at Common Law as all Prescriptions concerning Tithes must be they must be proved to have been used beyond the memory of any Man to the contrary for if any Man living or any authentick Record or other evidence prove it was otherwise at any time since the first Year of Richard the first which was Anno Domini 1189. 2 Inst 653. the Custom or Prescription fails And the Influence Custom What Influence Custom and Prescription have in the manner of Tithing 27 H. 8. c. 20. and Prescription have in the Manner of Tithing is confirmed by three several Acts of Parliament First by the Stat. of 27 H. 8. whereby it is enacted that every Subject of England c. according to the Ecclesiastical Laws and Ordinances of the Church of England and after the laudable Vsages and Customs of the Parish or other place where he dwelleth or occupieth shall yield and pay his Tithes Offerings and other duties of Holy Church c. By this Statute the Ecclesiastical Laws and Canons are affirmed for the payment of Tithes but in such cases as they are contrary to the Common-Law or Customs of the place they do not bind Next this Act confirms and allows all Usages and Customs of the place where the Tithes arise which are to be preferred before all Canons and constitutions in the manner of Tithing The next Statute is that of 32 H. 32 H. 8. c. 7. 8. whereby it is enacted That every Person c. shall fully truly and effectually set out yield or pay all and singular Tithes and offerings aforesaid according to the Lawful Customs and usages of the Parishes and places where such Tithes or duties should grow arise come or be due This Act seems only to extend to customary Tithes and so doth the Statute of 2 E. 6. which is That every of the King's Subjects should from thenceforth 2 E. 6. c. 13. truly and justly without fraud or guile divide set out yield and pay all manner of their predial Tithes in their proper kind as they arise and happen in such manner and form as hath been of right yielded and paid within forty Years next before the making of the said Act or of right or Custom ought to have been paid But more of these Statutes in their proper place I shall now proceed to shew what liberty and priviledg the Parson Vicar c. hath in the grounds where the Tithes arise for the drying ordering and carrying away their Tithes CHAP. XIV The Fourteenth Chapter shews what Priviledg and Liberty the Parson Vicar c. hath in the ground where the Tithes arise for the drying making ordering and carrying away the same BY the Stat. of 2 E. 6. It is enacted 2 E. 6. cap. 13. What Friviledg the Parson c. hath in the Lands where the Tithes grow that at the Tithing time of Predial Tithes it should be lawful for every party to whom any Tithes ought to be paid or his Deputy or Servant to see the said Tithes to be set forth and severed from the nine parts and the same quietly to take and carry away This Statute as to the taking and carrying away seems only declarative of the Common Law but as to comeing upon the Lands to see the Tithes set forth seems to me to be a new Authority given by this Law for the owners of the Land are de jure bound to set forth their Tithes duly and rightly and if they fail therein the Parson Vicar c. have their remedies and if the Parishioner do justly and truly set forth his Tithes although the Parson Vicar
c. have had an Acre or piece of Meadow ground time out of mind in discharge of all the Tithe Hay arising upon such a Farm this shall only discharge the Hay upon the antient Meadowing and not the Hay of Ground converted from Pasture or Tillage to Meadowing But if one have a modus for all the demesn of his Mannor Roll 1.651 E. 1. 2 Inst 490. and erect a new Mill this shall be comprehended within the modus and shall not pay any Tithe But if a Man have a modus for all the Hay and Grass upon twenty Acres of Land Roll 1.651 E. 2. and converts the same to Tillage or into a Hop Yard he shall pay Tithes thereof Where a modus to the Vicar shall discharge against the Parson and è converso More 907. Cokes Select Cases 45.1 Cro. El. 137. Hutton 57 m. 10. Jac. r. 641. Modus to pay a rate to the Vicar for Tithes due to the Parson So it appears a great difference where the modus goes to all manner of Tithes in general and where to particular Tithes Where a modus is alledged to pay a certain Summ to the Vicar in discharge of any Tithes due the Parson this being a dispute of the right between two Clergy Men ought to be determined in the Ecclesiastical Court but it seems to be a good modus as to the Parishioner and so it was held in the case of Pool and Reynels in the Kings Bench. Mich. 10. Jac. But Mr. Ware reports a case to be adjudged H. 18. Jac. B. R. that it was no good modus and that Henden vouched one Bankes Case to be adjudged accordingly Ideo quaere But it seems to me a good modus for this being Originally a modus between the Parson and Parishioner the Vicar might be indowed with the modus but this must be intended also where the indowment is time out of mind and not to be produced or where the Vicar hath it specially in his indowment But to pay a rate to the Parish Clerk is no good discharge of Tithes against the Parson or Vicar Leonard 1.94 Croke El. 71. Bulst 1.220 Wintel vers Child m. 14. Jac. B. R. unless the Parson be bound by Custom to find the Parish Clerk nor is a modus to the Parson a good discharge against the Vicar And so having shewed what Prescriptions de modo decimandi and de non decimando are good and allowable at the Common Law in the next place I shall shew how a modus decimandi or Prescription may be destroyed or lost CHAP. XVII The Seventeenth Chapter shews how a modus decimandi or Prescription may be lost or destroyed IF a Man have a modus for a Mill which is removed of necessity to a new place because the water invito has changed its course Roll 1.652 f. 2. What matter will destroy a Modus here though the Mill be removed the modus remains But if the Owner of such a Mill shall of his own accord and without any cause of necessity remove his Mill to a new place in this case he shall lose his modus If a Man have a modus decimandi for two Messuages and two Mills to pay twenty shillings per annum Roll 1.652 f. 2. and he erects a new Mill in one of the Messuages the modus shall not extend to free the new Mill. There have been Opinions that Unity of Possession Stepney vers Warren P. 41. El. B. R. that is to have fee-simple in the Rectory and likewise in the Land to which the modus is annexed should destroy a Prescription or modus decimandi But if a Man have four Water Corn Mills for which he hath time out of mind paid a modus of four shillings per annum Sir John Hollys Case T. 9. Jac. B. R. and pulls down one of them yet the modus remains and he shall still pay the four shillings CHAP. XVIII The Eighteenth Chapter shews by what Conveyances and by what names Tithes may be granted conveyed demised c. and what Demises Parsons and Vicars may make of their Glebe and Tithes REgularly Tithes at this day cannot be granted or demised but by Deed in Writing under Hand and Seal Stiles 261. By what Conveyances Tithes will pass Hungerford vers Haml. T. 36. El. ro 506. per Owen Cro. El. 814. or by matter of a higher nature as Fines Recoveries c. But in such cases as they are become Lay-see they may be devised by will in writing as Lands may but they cannot be granted by Copy of Court Roll because they cannot be parcel of a Mannor But Tithes cannot be conveyed or demised by any paroll agreement Brettyman vers Woodward P. 31. Eliz. 10.17 B. R. B. Noy 89. Hetley 3. Hughes 373. Bellamy vers Bapthorp in 2 Car. 10.179 B. R. Co. 4.35 a⸪ unless it be to the Owner of the Land for one year by way of retainer Tithes impropriate are at this day by the several Statutes of dissolution become Lay-fee and will pass by the name of Hereditaments but by the grant of a portion of Tithes the Tithes belonging to a Rectory will not pass Tithes impropriate may be past from one to another by Deeds of Bargain and Sale St. 32 H. 8. cap. 7. inrolled according to the Statute of 27 H. 8. they may be transferred in use upon good consideration by Deeds of Covenant to stand seized or by Fines or common Recoveries and may be sued for by Writs of Assise of novel disseisine Writs of Entry Writs of Right or other real Actions or by ejectione firmae But upon a Lease for Lives of Tithes no Rent can be reserved to be recovered at or by the Common Law for no Action of debt will lie or distress can be taken ubi non est remedium ibi non est jus But upon a demise of Tithes for Years a Rent may be reserved because an Action of debt will lye upon such Lease upon the Contract CHAP. XIX The Nineteenth Chapter shews what barren Lands are free from the payment of Tithes within the Statute of 2 E. 6. cap. 13. IN the Statute of 2 E. 6. 2 E. 6. cap. 13. there is a Proviso to this effect That all such barren Heath or wast Ground other than such as be discharged from the payment of Tithes by Act of Parliament which before this time have lain barren and paid no Tithes by reason of the same barrenness and now be or hereafter shall be improved and converted into arable ground or meadow shall from henceforth after the end and term of seven years next after such Improvement fully ended and determined pay Tithe of Corn and Hay growing upon the same any thing in this Act to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding This Clause was added for the Incouragement of Tillage and Improvement of lands by water or otherwise and therefore though here be no words of discharge of the payment of Tithes
during the first seven years yet by a reasonable intendment 2 Inst 656⸪ Dyer 170. b⸪ P. 5. Plow 204. a. 396. b. the same shall be discharged from the payment of Corn and Hay for the first seven years after the Improvement and that is proved by the subsequent Clause whereby it is provided That if any such barren waste or heath ground hath before this time been charged with the payment of any Tithes and that the same be hereafter improved and converted into arable or Meadow that then the owner or owners thereof shall during the seven years next following from and after the same Improvement pay such kind of Tithe as was paid for the same before the said Improvement any thing in this Act c. So that it appears plainly by this Proviso that it was the intent of the makers of this Law only to free these improved Lands from the payment of such Tithes as were produced by the improvement which must be Hay or Corn and no other Next suppose a Man have barren Lands within this Law which are free from the payment of Tithes by prescription real composition c. It should seem by the penning of the aforesaid Proviso that he should pay Tithes for the same after the seven years this Proviso only providing for such Lands as are freed by Act of Parliament But that doubt seems cleared by the next precedent Proviso in this very Act whereby it is provided That no Person shall be sued or otherwise compelled to yield give or pay any manner of Tithes for any Mannors Lands Tenements or Hereditaments which by the Laws and Statutes of this Realm or by any Priviledg or Prescription are not chargeable with the payment of any such Tithes or that be discharged by any composition real So that this Proviso preserves all former legal discharges But the great question upon this Law is what shall be said to be barren Heath or wast Ground within this Law And Sir Edward Coke defines barren Land in these words Terra sterilis est terra infoecunda nullum ferens fructum 2 Inst 655⸪ But that definition will not hold in this Case for it does appear by the second Proviso that such barren Lands are intended that are barren quoad Agriculturam that is Dyer 170. p. 5. Co. Ent. 462.463 such barren Heath or wast Ground that of its own nature without improvement by Lime Marle Manure c. will not bring forth Corn or Hay 6 E. 6. per Bendloes 2 Inst 656⸫ Hill 9. Jac. C. B. ex motione Houghton But if Ground be not fit for Tillage yet if it be not suapte natura barren it is not within this Law As if a Wood be stubbed and grub'd up and made fit for the Plow and reduced to Tillage it shall pay Tithes presently for Wood Ground is Terra fertilis Faecunda So if Marish 2 Inst 656⸫ More 969. Meadow or other Land by neglecting to scowr the Trenches or Sewers or by sudden inundation be drowned or if by ill husbandry or negligence fertile Land be over-run with goss whynns broom fern bushes briars c. yet they shall not have the benefit of this Proviso because of their own natures they are fertile and apt for Tillage and the Parson Vicar c. shall not lose his Tithe by the ill husbandry of the Parishioner If Lands were barren Heath or wast Ground at the time of the making of this and were improved and had or might have had the benefit of this Law and after return to their barrenness Co. 10.86 b⸪ Co. 6.18 a⸪ the Owner of such Lands shall not have the benefit of this Law a second time upon a second improvement but I take the Law to be otherwise if the Lands had been improved before the time of the making of this Law and were then become barren again for there I take it upon a new improvement the Owner of such Land shall have the benefit of this Law Marsh Lands new gained from the Seas More 430. Bulft 165. 2 Inst 656⸫ and fenn Lands gained from the fresh waters by draining banking c. are not within the meaning of this Law to be freed from the payment of Tithes during the first seven years after the gaining But the Determination of this point which is or which is not barren Land within this Statute commonly falls out to be determined by common Jurors which notwithstanding the Direction of the Judge are seldom so favourable to the Church as they ought This Proviso only charges the payment of Corn and Hay after the seven years and the second Proviso provides only for the payment of such like Tithes as were formerly paid before the improvement for the first seven years after the improvement 27 H. 8. c. 20. 32 H. 8. c. 7. confirmed by the St. of 2 E. 6. Canons provincial cap. Quia quid maledictionis cap. Erroris damnabilis cap. Quoniam propter cap. Quoniam ut audivimus c. and makes no provision for the payment of other Tithes save Corn and Hay after the seven years So that it may seem to imply a discharge of all Tithes but Corn and Hay after the seven years but to this I answer that there being several Laws both Statute and Canon made formerly for the due payment of Tithes and no negative words in this act it shall not abrogate those Laws to the prejudice of the Church by implication CHAP. XX. The Twentieth Chapter shews what a real Composition is and in what Cases Lands shall be freed of the payment of Tithes by such Composition real THat which we call a real Composition is Where Tithes shall be discharged by a real Composition and what it is where the present Incumbent of any Church together with his Patron and Ordinary do agree by Deed under their hands and seals or by fine in the Kings Court that such Lands shall be freed and discharged of the payment of all manner of Tithes for ever paying some annual payment or doing some other thing to the ease profit or advantage of the Parson or Vicar c. to whom the Tithes did belong Co. 4.44 a⸪ 2 Inst 655⸪ Doct. Stud. l. 2. cap. 55. f. ult And these real Compositions have ever been held and allowed here in England to be a good Discharge of the payment of Tithes And from these real Compositions it is intended all Prescriptions de modo decimandi first took their rise and beginning though I doubt most at this day have grown up from the negligence and carelesness of the Clergy themselves And such Compositions may be made by the Parishioner alone without the Patron and Ordinary Vide Lindw cap. Quoniam propter verbo Redemptionem Upon this matter but it then binds only for the Life of the Incumbent and will be avoided by his Resignation Deprivation or being absent eighty days in a year from his Cure if he have Cure of Souls
But it seems some of the Canonists and Civilians are of opinion that all Compositions between the Lay and Clergy to be discharged wholely of payment of Tithes or to pay less in recompence than the full value are invalid but otherwise between Clergy-men but by the common Law which must govern here there is no such difference allowed but all real Compositions made as aforesaid are good and valid But note Hob. 176⸪ that no Composition made by parol or word of mouth only and not reduced into writing under hand and seal is binding at all unless it be upon Record as by Fine c. But I conceive at this day no real Composition can be made to bind the Successor of the Parson or Vicar that makes the same for they are now restrained by the Stat. of 13 El. 13 El. cap. 10. to make any Grants other than for twenty one years or for three Lives with the other qualifications mentioned in the said Act. So that it seems clear to me that Parsons and Vicars at this day notwithstanding the confirmation of the Patron and Ordinary cannot charge their Benefices or any thing belonging to them other than for twenty one years or three Lives as aforesaid and that only by Leases confirmed by Patron and Ordinary of things usually demised whereupon the accustomed yearly Rent or more is reserved So that what has been said concerning real Compositions is only to be intended of such as were made before that and other later Statutes for I take it a real Composition at this day will only bind the Parson himself whilst he is Parson Resident and serving the Cure quod nota CHAP. XXI The One and Twentieth Chapter shews what Monastery Lands are or may be free from the Payment of Tithes IT is without Dispute Jones 373⸪ 188⸫ Stat. 27 H. 8. cap. 28. What Monastery Lands shall be freed from payment of Tithes that none of the Abby Priory Lands that came to the Crown by the Statute of 27 H. 8. or before are freed or discharged of the payment of Tithes by the Statute of 31 H. 8. c. 8. or by any other Law or Act of Parliament But in the Statute of 27 H. 8. there was a Proviso that notwithstanding that Act the King might by his Letters Patents under the great Seal of England continue any of the said Monasteries and that Proviso is left out of all the modern Prints only Rastal in his abridging of that Statute makes some mention of it Now the Reader must observe once for all that all Monasteries under two hundred pounds per annum were to have been dissolved by the Statute of 27 H. 8. and are therefore usually called the smaller Abbeys and those of two hundred pounds a year and upwards were not dissolved till the 31 year of H. 8. and are commonly called the great Abbeys And upon these two Statutes this Case lately happened in the Exchequer Chamber between Walklate Farmer of the Rectory of Vttoxater in the County of Staff to the Dean of Windsor and Wilshau Owner of a Farm in that Parish that was parcel of the possessions of the Abbey of Croxden in the same County which was one of the small Abbeys and of the Cistertian Order which was freed of the payment of Tithes as shall be shewed hereafter and this Abbey was discovered by the Defendant Wilshau to be continued by Letters Patents under the great Seal of England 31 H. 8. c. 13. and so not dissolved till the Statute of 31 H. 8. whereupon the Defendant was dismissed and discharged of payment of Tithes by the Stat. of 31 H. I mention this Case at large for the singularity not for any nicety in the Learning of it By the Statute of 31 H. 31 H. 8. c. 8. 8. before mentioned there is a Clause to this effect That the King and his Patentees The Clause of 31 H. 8. that frees Abbey Lands which then had or then after should have any Monasteries Abbathies Priories Nunneries Colledges Hospitals Houses of Fryars c. or any Mannors Lands c. which did belong to them should have hold retain keep and enjoy the said Mannors c. according to their Estates and Titles discharged and acquitted of the payment of Tithes as freely and in as large and ample manner as the said Abbots c. or any of them had held occupied possessed used retained or enjoyed the same or any part thereof at the days of their dissolution And the Reader is to observe that the Abbots c. at the time of their dissolution held their Lands discharged four manner of legal and regular ways which were allowed by the Laws of this Realm to wit 1. By the Bulls of Popes 2. By real Compositions with the Parson c. Patron and Ordinary 3. By Prescription And 4. By Order But there is another sort of discharge though not a Legal one has been allowed in this Case to make a 5. sort of discharge and that is perpetual unity where the Abbot has had the Rectory of any Church and Lands in the same Parish time out of mind which have been held free from the payment of Tithes by all the time of memory and of these several discharges I will speak in order And first of discharges by the Popes Bulls it is to be understood Bulls that when the Pope usurped a power over the Clergy here in England he did at his pleasure grant Exemptions to this or that Abbey or to whom else he pleased to be freed from the payment of Tithes which was allowed as a good discharge against the Parsons and Vicars who in many places suffer by these Bulls to this day these Bulls being turned into Prescriptions c. The second sort of discharges was by real Compositions between the Parson or Vicar Real Compositions and the Abbots Priors c. confirmed by the Patron and Ordinary of these we have spoken at large before in the twentieth Chapter and therefore shall not repeat it but pass to the third sort of discharges The third sort of Discharges is by Prescription of which we have likewise spoken at large before in the sixteenth Chapter to which I shall refer the Reader I shall only observe to the Reader again in this place That the Abbots Priors and other religious persons might prescribe generally to be free from the payment or to be discharged of the payment of Tithes without any recompence to the Parson c. but a Layman could not prescribe absolutely to be free from payment of Tithes but sub modo that is paying or doing something to or for the Parson Vicar c. in recompence and satisfaction of the Tithes as you may at large see in the Chapter here before And it is to be observed that no Abbot Prior c. could make any such Prescription by the Common Law that was not founded before the time of memory that is before the first year of R. 1.
his Patentees after the Leases determined shall hold them discharged whilst the Patentees and Owners hold them in their own hands but the Kings Tenants shall hold them discharged because of the Royal Prerogative of his Person not being intended fit for Husbandry Having now said thus much of the four legal manner of discharges beforementioned 5 Perpetual unity Co. 1.47 b⸪ c. Co. 11.14 b. Dyer 349. p. 16. More 528. Hob. 311⸪ 306 298⸫ 300⸫ 2 Inst 655⸫ More 46 47. Cro. Jac. 608. I shall proceed to that of perpetual unity which cannot be said to be a legal discharge of the payment of Tithes Yet because the Abbots Priors c. at the time of the dissolution held the Lands discharged of the payment of Tithes though not legally discharged of Tithes it hath been resolved by many Judgments and setled that this is a good discharge within the meaning of the aforesaid clause of 31 H. 8. Now that which we call a perpetual unity is as hath been said where an Abbot Definition Prior c. time out of mind have been seized of the Lands out of which the Tithes arise and the Rectory within which Parish the Lands lye And it is to be observed that every perpetual unity that shall discharge the Lands from the payment of Tithes must have these four qualities First Co. 11.44 b⸪ Hob. 300⸪ it must be justa that is by good and lawful Titles Secondly It must be perpetual that is the Abbey must be founded and indowed with the Land and Rectory before the time of memory which by the rules of the Common Law as has been said must be before the first Year of R. 1. for if by any Records Deeds or other legal and good evidence it can be made appear that either the Land or Rectory came to the Abbey since the said first Year of R. 1. the union is not perpetual and yet if the appropriation be antient as in the time of E. 4. or before though the Lands cannot be discharged upon the score of perpetual unity yet they may by prescription if in truth the Lands were held discharged of the payment of Tithes Thirdly such unity as shall discharge Lands of the payment of Tithes within this Law must be aequalis That is the Abbots Priors c. must be seized in fee-simple as well of the Lands upon which c. as of the Rectory Lastly such unity must be libera that is free from the payment of any manner of Tithes for if their Farmers at will years c. have paid any manner of Tithes to the Abbots Priors c. Cro. Jac. 454 482. or their Farmers of the Rectories the perpetual unity will not serve And therefore where such perpetual unity is pleaded in discharge of Tithes the adverse party may reply that the Tenants or Farmers before the dissolution paid some sort of Tithes and so avoid the perpetual unity Having first given the Reader satisfaction that all the Lands that came to the Crown by the Statute of 27 H. 8. and before can have no benefit of the discharge given by the Statute of 31 H. 8. and having also shewed how many ways Lands may be discharged from payment of Tithes that came to the Crown by the said Statute of 31 H. 8. It rests now that I should say something of those Lands that have since come to the Crown by the Statutes of 32 H. 8. cap. 24. 37 H. 8. cap. 4. and 1 E. Co. 2.47 a. How other Lands stand that came not to the Crown by 31 H 8. 6. cap. 14. It is a Rule taken in the Arch-Bishop of Canterburies Case that neither the Letter nor the meaning of the Statute of 31 H. 8. extended to free or discharge any Lands from the payment of Tithes save those that came to the Crown by that Act for as that Book says it is absurd that the branch of the Statute of 31 H. 8. concerning Tithes should be extended to a future Act that the makers of the Statute of 31 H. 8. without the Spirit of Prophesy could not have the prescience of And as to those that came to the Crown by the Statute of 32 H. More 913. Cro. Jac 57. Hill 2 Jac. 8. cap. 24. It was adjudged in the case of Spurling and Quarles that they are not discharged of the payment of Tithes Jones 182 c. Latch 89. Hughes 392. Bridgm. 32. But there is a later Judgment that seems to oppose these former resolutions it was between one Witton and Sir Richard Weston that was after Lord Treasurer Trin. 4. Car. 1. B. R. and the question was whether those Lands of the Hospitaliers that came to the Crown by the Statute of 3 H. cap. 24. were discharged of the payment of Tithes by that Statute of 32 H. 8. or by the former Statute of 31. and in that case Dodridg and Jones Justices held that they were discharged within the Statute of 31 H. 8. and they did in effect deny the Books before cited to be Law the chief Justice Hide was of opinion that they were not discharged by the Statute of 31 H. 8. but by that of 32. So that by their three opinions the defendant Sir Richard Weston had judgment but Whitlock was of opinion that those Lands were not discharged of the payment of Tithes by the one Statute or the other now upon the whole matter I shall submit to the Judicious Readers Judgment whether this later resolution be of any weight to shake the former resolutions since in this case though there were three for giving Judgment for the Defendant yet to the point controverted upon the Statute of 31 H. 8. they were two against two and that they were not discharged by the Statute of 32. there were three against the chief Justice Hide So that I conceive the Law remains according to the former resolutions that there are no Lands freed from the payment of Tithes by any Statute but those that came to the Crown by the Statute of 31 H. 8. I must confess I have met with no Judgments upon those Lands which came to the Crown by the Statute of 37 H. 8. but those being the same with those that came to the Crown by the Statute of 1 E. 6. cap. 14. I conceive neither those that came to the Crown by either of those later Statutes have any priviledg at all and it is agreed in that very case of Witton and Weston that those Lands that came to the Crown by 1 E. Jones 185. Cro. 2.470 .. Co. 2.47 a. 6. could not have any benefit by the clause of discharge in the Statute of 31 H. 8. So that I shall conclude that there is no Land can have any priviledg at this day to be discharged of Tithes that belonged to the Abbots Priors c. but such only as came to the Crown by the Statute of 31 H. 8. cap. 13. CHAP. XXII The Two and Twentieth Chapter
Stat. of 2 E. 6. 6. This Law extends as the former did to all manner of Tithes and Offerings 7. London is excepted out of this Act as it was in the former 8. This Law only extends to customary Tithes and not for Tithes due by Canon and Ecclesiastical Laws 9. This Act only extends to such as shall obstinately and wilfully refuse to perform the Sentence of the Ecclesiastical Judge and for no other contempt or neglect 10. Lastly this Act restrains the Suit to the Ecclesiastical Court upon this Statute otherwise an Action as should seem might have been brought at Common Law upon this statute for not setting forth c. of their Tithes But diverse defects appearing in this Law especially to the Lay Impropriators they obtained a more effectual Law for their purpose in the 2 E. 6. by which it is enacted That if any Person carry away his Corn or Hay Stat. 2. E. 6. cap. 13. or other predial Tithes before the Tithe thereof be set forth or willingly withdraw his Tithes of the same c. that then upon due proof thereof made before the Spiritual Judge or any other Judge to whom heretofore he might have made complaint the Party so carrying away withdrawing letting or stopping shall pay double the value of the Tenth or Tithe so taken lost withdrawn or carried away over and besides the costs charges and expences of the Suit in the same the same to be recovered before the Ecclesiastical Judge according to the Ecclesiastical Laws There is a Proviso in this Act that gives occasion of many Prohibitions to this effect That no person shall be sued or otherwise compelled to yield give or pay any manner of Tithes for any Mannors Lands Tenements or Hereditaments which by the Laws and Statutes of this Realm or by any Priviledg or Prescription are not chargeable with the payment of such Tithes or that be discharged by any Composition real Extends only to Predial Tithes This Paragraph of this statute as to the double value extends only to predial Tithes as Corn Hay Wood Flax Hemp Fruit c. but for mixt and personal Tithes there is a Provision after in this Act. There is also another Proviso in this Statute as in the former Sole Jurisdiction to the Spiritual Courts which restrains all Suits for Subtraction of Tithes to be sued in the Ecclesiastical Court and that it shall not be lawful to sue any with-holder of Tithes obventions c. in any other Court and that if the Ecclesiastical Judge shall give Sentence no Prohibition or Appeal depending and the Party condemned do not obey the Sentence that then such Judge may excommunicate the Party and if he wilfully stand excommunicated by the space of forty days next after publication thereof in the Parish Church or the Place or Parish Excommunicato capiendo given where the Party excommunicated is dwelling or most abiding then the Judge Ecclesiastical may certifie the King in Chancery and require Process of Excommunicato capiendo This Clause extends to all manner of Tithes Offerings c. but this gives no double damages for them as the former Clause doth for Predial Tithes There is another Clause in this Act that gives ground likewise for many Prohibitions which is to this effect That the aforesaid Clause shall not extend to give any Judge Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction to hold Plea of any matter cause or thing repugnant to or against the effect intent or meaning of the Stat. of Westm the second cap. 5. the Stat. of Articuli Cleri circumspecte Agatis sylvae coeduae the Treatise de Regia Prohibitione Stat. 1. E. 3. cap. 10. or any of them or to hold Plea in any matter wherein the Kings Court ought to have Jurisdiction any thing therein c. Note that by these three Statutes before mentioned the Jurisdiction of Tithes is confirmed and restrained to the Ecclesiastical Courts That by the Stat. of 27 H. 8. Observations upon all the Statutes Process for contempt is given before Sentence By that of 32 H. 8. Process for contempt is given after Sentence definitive but observe the different penning And by this last statute a Writ of Excommunicato capiendo is given if the Party continue obstinate by the space of forty days after an Excommunication published against him so that a man would think here were as good remedies provided for the Recovery of Tithes in the Ecclesiastical Court as could be imagined but the Interruptions that are frequently given by Prohibitions as shall be shewed hereafter in due place very much frustrate the effect of the proceedings in those Courts And note 2 Inst 490⸫ that a modus decimandi is properly to be sued for in the Ecclesiastical Courts And so having said so much concerning the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction for the determining the right of Tithes and relief against subtraction of Tithes I shall in the next place shew in what Courts in what Cases and in what manner they are determinable in the Temporal Courts Mr. Selden 422. In what Cases the Temporal Courts have and may determine the Right of Tithes Selden in his History of Tithes reckons up five manner of ways whereby the Right of Tithes may be determined in the Temporal Courts 1. In Prohibitions whereby the Spiritual Courts are forbidden to hold Plea where matters happen which are only triable in the Kings Court or where those Courts proceed against any statute or the Common Law c. 2. By Writs of Right of Advowson whereunto may be annexed the Writ of Judicavit 3. By Scire facias 4. By Process mandatory to command the payment of Tithes 5. By Suits and Actions upon the before mentioned Statute of 27 H. 8. 32 H. 8. and of 2 E. 6. to which may be added the Trials at Common Law by Actions of Trespass Assise c. And of these in order And first of Prohibitions In what Cases Prohibitions use to be granted which are frequently obtained out of the Courts at Westminster Courts of great Sessions in Wales and the County Palatines c. upon these grounds following First upon a modus decimandi Hob. 286. 42⸫ 247⸪ 2 Inst 610⸪ Co. Entr. 459. d. 460. b. Co. 2.44 Dyer 74. p 49. Modus decimandi where the Defendant in the Spiritual Court suggests that he and all those whose Estate he hath in the Lands c. in which c. have time out of mind paid so much yearly in money or giving some other recompence in satisfaction of all the Tithes arising upon the Lands or of all the Tithe Hay or Corn c. this manner of Tithing being by Prescription which is only and properly tryable at Common Law if pleaded in the spiritual Court or not pleaded or allowed or not allowed as a good Plea there is a ground of a Prohibition and what Prescriptions and modus decimandi are in this Case approved of by the Common Law I must refer the Reader to the proper
almost penned in the same words for the double value would make a man at a stand what the meaning of the Parliament was and it was forty years when almost all that were at the making of this Act were dead before it was found out 2 Inst 650⸫ that an Action of Debt lay upon this Clause at Common Law for the treble damages To wit Pasch 29. Eliz In the Exchequer in an Information by the Queens Attorney against one Wood for the treble value as forfeited to the Queen In which Cause it was resolved that an Action of Debt lay at the Common Law for the treble damage for not setting forth of Tithes for wheresoever an Act of Parliament gives a forfeiture against him that doth dispossess c. the Owner of his property as here he doth of his Tithes there the forfeiture is given to the Party grieved or dispossessed since which resolution Actions of Debt have been frequently brought in all the Courts of Westminster by Parsons Vicars Propriators Owners and Farmers of Tithes as well Lay as Spiritual upon this Statute but being so long before it was found out that an Action lay at Common Law upon this Statute the Plaintiffs in the recital of the Statute alledged it to be made the fourth of February 2 E. 6. whereas in truth the Parliament begun the 1 of E. 6. and was held by Prorogation the fourth of February 2 E. 6. And this being discovered in an Action between Oliver and Colier P. 6. Jac. B. R. brought upon this Statute wherein the Statute was misrecited as aforesaid and exception taken to it in arrest of Judgment 1 Brownlow 100. Yelver 126. Dyer 171. p. 6. Stile 122. the Court upon good advisement overruled the exception by reason of the multitude of Presidents and affirmed the Rule that multitudo errantium parit errori Patrocinium Now considering that this is become a very frequent Action in use I conceive it will not be improper to the present occasion to communicate to the Reader what I have observed and learned in this kind of Actions not only concerning the Forms of Declarations Pleadings Verdicts and Judgments but likewise what evidence is necessary upon the general Issues of non culpa and nil debet for the Plaintiff and Defendant and in the first Case consider in what Cases and by whom and against whom this Action may be brought If two be Joynt Tenants Hutton 121⸪ 122⸫ By whom and against whom Actions lye in this Statute and they enter and occupy jointly the Action must be brought against them joyntly but if one only enter and occupie them the Action must be brought against him that only occupies alone But if there be two Tenants in Common and one of them sets out his Tithe and the other carries it all away there the Action shall be brought against him that carries it all away alone If the Husband and Wife in the right of the Wife be intitled to Tithes Noy 3.136 1 Brown 86. Yelv. 63. Cro. Jac. 68. they shall joyn in this Action because the damage is to survive but a Parson and a Vicar cannot joyn but if they joyn in a Lease to a third person their Farmer may sue for all in one Action but in the first Case I see no reason but that the Husband may bring the Action alone and so I have known it often done In an Action brought upon this Statute The Form of the Declar. Bellet vers Henworth P. 1657 B. R. the Severance was alledged before the sowing and exception taken after Verdict but the Exception was disallowed because the shewing of the sowing was superfluous and so aided by the Verdict The taking was alledged after the Plaintiffs Term was ended Cro. Car. 324. and yet held good M. More 911. 40 and 41 Eliz. A Judgment was arrested because the Suit was brought ad respondend tam Domino Regi quam Parti but this Case I very much doubt for being against a Statute Law it is a contempt finable though the Plaintiff have the forfeit as upon the Statute of Huy and Cry Hetley 121. c. And I take the Case inter Luvered and Owen M. 4. Jac. C. B. for the better Law where it was held good Upon an Action brought by two upon this Statute Cro. El. 170. who made their Title by a Lease from a Patentee of the King and exception was taken because they did not shew the Patent but disallowed 1. Because the Letters Patents did not belong to the Plaintiffs 2. Because the Plaintiffs did not demand the Tithes themselves but damages for a tort another Exception was taken to the Declaration because the Plaintiff alledged the Defendant did not agree with them and did not say or either of them but held good by Intendment And it hath been adjudged 2 Bulst 65.228.183 1 Brown 86. Noy 3. Yelv. 63. Cro. Jac. 68.361 that in this Action the Plaintiff needs not to shew his Title especially but it is enough for him to alledg that he is Propriator Farmer or Rector generally without shewing how And it hath been held good 2 Brown 70 71. though the Plaintiff in his Declaration do not express the quantities or loads of the Corn or Hay carried away 2 Inst 650. And so it is though you do not express in your Declaration the kinds of the Grain carried away Where a man alledged Coke vers Smith H. 7. Car. 1.10 587. B. R. per Lat. that he was Farmer of all the Tithe Corn arising c. upon sixty Acres of Land in D. and did not alledg which they were in certain and yet allowed for good 2. The Plaintiff alledged the Defendants Occupiers but did not say whether joyntly or in common and yet held good 3. The Plaintiff had alledged no time of the carrying away but having alledged the time of the severance and the carrying away coming in with a Conjunction Copulative it was held well enough In an Action brought upon this Statute Cto Jac. 324. 2 Bulst 114. the Plaintiff averred in his Declaration that he was subditus dictii Domini Regis having recited the Statute and it was held nought because it must necessarily be intended E. 6. and not of the present King In an Action upon this Stat. Pleas in this Action Porter vers Rochester Hill 9 Jac. B. R. the Defendant pleaded a Recovery in the Ecclesiastical Court but it was held no good Plea at Common Law but I conceive it would be a good evidence upon nil debet pleaded otherwise the Parishioner were in an ill Condition In this Action non culpa and nil debet have been both held good Issues Wortley vers Empringham P. 42. El. B. R. Hob. 218. Cro. El. 766. Cro. Jac. 361. but it is no good Plea to plead that the Plaintiff sowed the Corn and sold it to the Defendant because this matter will not excuse the payment of Tithes Now having
brought the cause to issue upon nil debet or non culpa we will shew in the next place what will be good and material evidence as well for the Plaintiff as Defendant First What Evidence is necessary in this Action ex parte quere If the Plaintiff be a Parson Vicar or other Ecclesiastick and have not been some considerable time in possession of his Living in which I have not observed any constant rule amongst the Judges in their practice but ten years quiet possession for the most part is allowed by the Judges for an evidence of the Plaintiffs Title unless some material objection be made against it to draw it into question but if the Plaintiff have been but for some short time in possession or the possession litigious then the Judges usually put the Plaintiff to prove his institution and induction and now he must prove that he was in Episcopal Orders at the time of his institution otherwise his institution is void by the late Act of Uniformity he must produce a Certificate under the Hand and Seal of the Bishop c. that instituted him that he subscribed the declaration mentioned in the Act of Uniformity and must prove he subscribed the same in the presence of the Bishop or c. and he must prove that within two Months after he was inducted upon some Sunday or Lords day during Divine Service he read the thirty nine Articles of Religion in the Parish Church into which he was inducted and that he did declare his unfeigned assent and consent to all things therein contained and he must likewise prove that within two Months after actual possession of his Living he read Morning and Evening Prayer in his Church upon some Lords day and openly and publickly before the congregation declared his assent and consent to the use of all things therein contained and prescribed in these words I A. B. do here declare my unfeigned assent and consent to all and every thing contaiend and prescribed in and by the Book Intitled the Book of Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments and other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church according to the use of the Church of England together with the Psalter or Psalms of David pointed as they are to be sung or said in Churches and the form or manner of making or Ordaining and Consecrating Bishops Priests and Deacons The Parson Vicar c. having thus made himself a Title must proceed to prove the taking and carrying away the Corn Hay c. and the value and if need be that the Land lies within the Parish c. but this the Judges put them to prove first of all commonly But if the Plaintiff be a Farmer or Patentee under the Crown he must prove his Title but if he have been any considerable time in possession and the Title not controverted the Judges seldom put the Plaintiff to shew any more Title but his bare possession and enjoyment and that others pay him Tithes And so having shewed what is necessary the Plaintiff should be prepared to prove I will proceed to shew what defence the Defendant may make The Defendant upon the general issue of not guilty Ex Parte Defendentis Brown 1. 34. c. may prove that he duly set forth his Tithes but if he afterwards carried them away it will not serve his turn so if he sell his Corn privately to another and after he has sold it privately 2 Inst 649⸪ cuts and carries it away the Action lies against the first Owner the same Law is where the Owner of the land privately sells his Corn to another who privately cuts and carries it away And the Defendant may prove that another has a better Title to whom he has paid his Tithes or compounded with him for them Or he may prove that the Parson came in by Simony or any other matter that makes his presentation institution or induction void or any other defect in not reading the Articles c. Or he may prove that he set forth his Tithes and a Stranger carried them away or may give in evidence a Lease or Grant from the Plaintiff himself or any other to whom he can make a good Title but such Leases and Grants must be in writing unless for one year only to the Owner of the Land which hath been held good by way of retainer The Jury if they find for the Plaintiff Verdict are to find how much of the debt demanded by the declaration is due to the Plaintiff which they are to do by trebling the value of the Tithe subtracted wherein they are usually assisted by the Court. The judgment is always given for the debt found by the Jury without costs Judgment because this Action is grounded upon a penal Law where no Action lay at Common Law neither shall the Defendant have any costs if the Verdict pass for him but if judgment be given for the Plaintiff in an Action brought upon this Statute by nihil dicit non sum informatus Cro. Jac. 361 362. or demurrer the Plaintiff shall have Judgment for the whole debt demanded by his declaration And if an Action upon this Statute be brought against two or more and Verdict only pass against one or part of the Defendants the Plaintiff shall have Judgment against those against whom the Verdict passes Stiles 317 318. though the others be acquitted quod nota Note that this Statute as to the treble value and double value extends only to Predial Tithes Nota. and not to Personal mixt or other Church duties The Exchequer likewise by English bill holds plea for the single value Jurisdiction of the Exchequer for subtraction of all manner of Tithes Oblations c. of which great use hath been made since the late Wars and there they decree the single value with costs and the future payment which is of great advantage to the Plaintiffs and these suits are not interrupted with prohibitions but these suits are often very costly too for if a modus decimandi or the bounds of the Parish come in question and the proof not very clear they are frequently sent to Trials at Law which gives delay and increases the charges very much this Jurisdiction I take it is much fortified since Tenths and first-fruits were annexed to the Crown but Suits of this nature were early brought in this Court before the War however there are some antient Books prove that this Court on the Law side has assumed Jurisdiction of Tithes 38 Ass p. 20. 44 E. 3.43 44. but the reporter reports it with a quod mirum Lastly 50 E. 3.20 2 H. 4.15 20 H. 6.17 1 H. 6.5 2 E. 4 5. 44 Ass p. 25. it is evident in our Books of Law that the rights of Tithes were frequently determined at Common Law in Actions of Trespass for taking away of Tithes unless both parties were Clergy-men and sometimes Assises have been brought at Common Law for Tithes
as to Rakings without fraud To prescribe to have paid the Tenth sheaf or shock Roll 1.648 b. 6. as it falls out is no good Prescription to free the Parishioner of any other Tithe it being no more than is due A modus that in consideration Roll 1.649 d. 4. that the Parishioner hath sowed reapt bound and set up the Corn one year to be free from the payment of herbage the next year of the same Land was held good tamen quaere inde But it is no good consideration Roll 1.650 d. 11. that in consideration the Parishioner has plowed sowed mowed cockt and set out the Tithes of part that therefore he should be freed of paying Tithes of a small parcel left standing A man may prescribe to pay the Tenth Acre or Rood of wood standing Wood. Roll 1.648 H. 7. and the Parson c. cut it himself as is used in some parts of Lincolnshire It hath been held a good modus to pay one Calf at seven Calves and milk and if under a half penny a piece and if he sell any Calf to pay the tenth part of the price and it hath been held a good modus to pay Tithe Cheese from Mayday till Michaelmas to be discharged of the whole Tithe of the Cows Roll 1.651 d. 19. Cro. El. 609.786 and no Tithe is due for Cheese but by Custom and the labour of milking and making into Cheese is added whereas nothing but the Tithe of milk is due by Law But it is no good modus to pay for every milch Cow 2 d. Roll 1.651 d. 17. and for every Calf 1 d. in discharge of the Tithes of all other Cattle but it is a good modus for the Calves and milk only so a modus to pay a Tithe-Calf in satisfaction of the Tithe of all manner of Cattle is not good Roll 1.651 d. 18. Eggs. Roll 1.648 c. 3. A modus to pay thirty Eggs in Lent in satisfaction of all the Tithe of Eggs has been hold a good modus It is a good modus that the Parson time out of mind hath had so much Land in lieu of Tithes Roll 1.649 d. 6. Cro. El. 587. 8 E. 4.14 a⸫ or such a parcel of meadow or Land in satisfaction and discharge of all the Tithes of Hay c. arising upon such Land It is no good modus to be free from the payment of Tithe Hay Headlands Balks c. and Hay Roll 650. d. 10. Noy contra 15. arising upon Hades Balks Greenslips or Doals eaten by Beasts of the Plow in regard the Parishioner hath sow'd mown reapt shockt and prepared the Corn c. but the contrary hath been held ideo quaere But in consideration Herley 147. that the Parishioner hath made the Grass growing in such a Close and then paid the Tithe of it he hath been free of the payment of the Tithes of the balks and hades has been held good It is not a good modus Roll 1.650 d. 3. that the Parishioner having spent all his Hay upon the Beasts of the plow that therefore he should be free from payment of Tithe Hay But a modus that in consideration the Parishioner hath cut Roll 650. d. 13. dryed and shockt the Corn he hath been freed from the payment of Tithe Hay has been held a good Prescription A modus That the Parishioner hath time out of mind got Rushes and strewed the Church Noy 31. and in consideration thereof hath been discharged of the payment of Tithe Hay Cro. El. 276. has been adjudged no good modus but if it had been to strew the Parsons Seat or to deliver straw to the Parson to strew the Church had been a good modus And it hath been held a good modus Roll 1.647 b. 1 2 3 4. 648. d. 1 2. 649. d. 3. Hetley 133. Hob. 250⸪ More 910. Cro. El. 660. that in consideration the Parishioner has made the Hay into Grass Cock that therefore he hath been discharged of the Tithe of the aftermath but Sir Edward Coke declares for Law that there needs no modus to be alledged but that after-math is of it self freed from the payment of Tithes 2 Inst 652. and so I take it the Law is held at this day A modus to pay the tenth part of all the honey and wax of Bees killed Bees Roll 1.651 d. 15. has been held a good modus for the Tithe of Bees But there have been some opinions that there is no Tithe due by the Law for Bees because they are ferae naturae But nevertheless by Custom they may be Tithable and so they are in most places A Custom or Prescription to pay no Tithe for the Herbage of Beasts bred up for the Plow and Payl hath been allowed to be a good Custom Herbage Bulst 2. Price vers Mascal More 909. but of this see more before in the fifth Chapter It is no good modus that the Owner of the Land has paid all his Tithe for his Cattel there depastured Guest Horses Roll 1.650 d. 14. therefore to be free of the Tithe Herbage for guest Horses It hath been held that no Tithes shall be paid for the fewel spent in the dwelling Houses in the same Parish it grew Fewel More 909. without alledging any modus at all But it should seem that in this last Case there needs no modus at all to be alledged Cro. Car. 113. Norton vers Farmer T 4. Car. 1. C. B. but that for the fewel spent in the Owners House in the same Parish there is no Tithe due of Common right Ideo quaere If a man prescribe to pay six shillings and eight pence Parks Roll 1.651 E. 1. and 4. Mascal vers Price P. 13. Jac. B. R. Hob. 39⸪ Hutton 58. for all the Tithes arising and happening in such a Park and the Park is disparkt and turned to tillage the Prescription is gone But if in this Case he had made his Prescription that in consideration of six shillings and eight pence yearly paid to the Parson c. he had been freed of all the Tithes arising upon six hundred Acres of Land called a D. Park this had been a good Prescription and should have freed the Park So if the Prescription of a Park have been to pay six shillings and eight pence Roll 1.652 E. 5. and a shoulder of every Buck kill'd in the Park in discharge of all Tithes arising within the same in this case though the Park be disparked and no Deer left Boothâ—y vers Reynells m. 20. Jac. B. R. m. 10. Jac. ro 641. B. R. Hutton 57. Noy 146. yet the modus remains and shall discharge the whole Tithes And it has been held a good modus to give a Buck and a Doe yearly to the Rector c. in discharge of all the Tithes arising within the Park although they be ferae naturae If a Parson Modus for Land Hutton 58.