though it is the observation of the Philosopher 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 All men love their own Works Arist 4. Eth. c. 1. as Parents and Poets do yet doth the Author acknowledge with Cicero Quod nihil meorum magnopere miror That he never admired any of his own works but saith with Ovid Ipse mihi nunquam Judice me placui That he could never as yet by his own Judgment please himself though it alwaies hath been his ambition to please others according to the option of the Consular Poet Optabam ut placeam sin minus ut taceam And this modest lesson hath the Author learned of the great Legist Sir Edw. Coke Nulla scientia Coke com f. 494. nulla virtus locum suum dignitatem conservare potest sine modestia no science nor virtue can preserve its place and dignity without modesty and accordingly doth he close up his discourse with the conclusion of Bracton postulans a Lectore Brac. l. 1. f. 1. ut siquid superfluum vel perperam positum in hoc opere invenerit illud corrigat vel emendet vel connuiventibus oculis pertranseat requesting this of the Reader that if he shall finde any thing superfluous or placed amisse in this worke that he will either correct or amend it or with conniving eyes passe it by Or rather with our great Master Littleton Si componere magnis Ovid. Parva mihi fas sit That he would not have you beleive that all that he hath said in this Booke is Law for he will not presume to take that upon him but of such things which are not Law enquire and learne of his Sage Masters learned in the Law THE GROUNDS OF THE LAWES OF ENGLAND Extracted out of the Root and Fountaine of other ARTS SCIENCES LIB I. SECT I. IT is the observation of Cicero who excelled in the knowledge of all humane Arts and Sciences Cic. 3. de orot Omnes aâ—tes quae ad humanitatem pertinent habent commune quoddam vinculum quasi cognatione quadam inter se continentur All Arts and Sciences which appertaine unto humanity have a certain common bond and tye and are as it were contained by a certain alliance and affinity amongst themselves and truly for they are the issue of one Womb descending from the same intellect and are by nature so linked and chained together that those principles which are true in one Art and science are reciprocally true in the other for truth absolutely and materially is one and the same though formally or relatively either in respect of the Artists or the diverse objects of Sciences it bee severed which proceeds from the various mode of the application and consideration of it Neither is Theologicall and Philosophicall truth opposite but subordinate and Theologie is not against Philosophie but above it neither doe the principles of one science supplant the principles of another science but mutually aide and assist each other with their principles in searching and sifting out of the truth which is practically appâ—rent in the art and discipline of the Law Nomot f. 6. which borroweth most of her principles from other sciences in so much as Sir Henry Finch elegantly The sparks of all Sciences are raked up in the ashes of the Law for which reason Sir Edward Coke aptly stileth it scientia socialis L. 5. â—8 a sociable science because it agreeth with other excellent sciences both divine and humane and therefore the Author deemeth it operae p ecium a work worth the labour to demonstrate as it were in a mirror and blazon the affinity and aliance that the grâ—unds of the Lawes of Engâ—and have with the principles of other arts and sciences who by an intellectuall chaine are divinely linked and conjoyned and because Theologie is the prime and divine Metaphysicks ars â—rtium scientia scientiarum and the cynosure of all lawes for as Augustine in illa temporali lâ—ge nihil est justum ac legitimum quod non ex hac aeteâ—na homines derivaverint in this temporall Law nothing is just and lawfull that men have not derived from the law eternall and therefore doth the Author deduce his exordium from it because as Sir Edwa d â—oke it is causa causarum and that the common law is grounded on the Law of God and as the mirror of justice the common Law is nothing else but ancient usages warranted by Scriptures from hence are drawne these grounds and maxims 1. Summa ratio est quae pâ—o religione facit Reg. l. c. Coke l. 5. f. 18 a. it is the cheifest reason which makes for religion as in many cases the King is bound by Act of Parliament though he be not named in it nor bound by expresse words And therefore all Statutes which are made for suppressing of wrong or to prevent the decay of religion shall bind the King though he be not named lor religion and justice are the sure supporters of the Crowne and diadem of Kings So the act of 1 Eliz. which restraineth ecclesiasticall persons from spoyling and wasting their possessions which were given to maintaine the service of God shall bind the King unlesse that speciall provision had been made to the contrary by the said Act 2. Coke l. 11. f. 70. a. b. Magdalens Colledge Case the Master and fellowes of Magdalens Colledge by Indenture inrowlled did grant to the Queene an house paying fifteen pounds rent yearely c. and it was resolved by all the Judges that the Act of the 13. Eliz. did extend to restraine them to convey the said house parcell of the said colledge to the Queene though she was not in that expresly named because it was for the advancement of Religion c. for out of those Colledges the Church was furnished with grave and reverend Divines for the instruction of Christians in the true Religion which is a maine Pillar of the Crowne and if the King should be exempted out of it the utter impoverishment of the successors and by consequence the decay of Religion would ensue vide 3. Coke l. 2. f. 44. b. A lay man concerning payment of Tythes may prescribe in modo decimandi but not in non decimando because he is not but in speciall cases capable of Tythes by the common Law and therefore without speciall matter shewed he shall not bee intended to have a legall discharge And therefore in favour of religion and the Church though he may have a legall beginning yet the law will not suffer such a prescription in this case nor put it upon the triall of the lay people who will rather straine their consciences for their owne private gaine and benefit then give the Church its due And the Law hath great policy in it for the decay of the Revenues of the Church in the end will be the subversion of Religion and the service of God c. vide 4 Ecclesia fungitur vice minoris meliorem facere potest conditionem
except in case where the Owner is bound to inclose 4. E. 4 19. 10. E. 4. 7. But if a man erect a wall part on my Land and part on his own if I distroy that on my Land and the rest by that meanes falleth downe it is excusable If a Feoffment be made to two joyntly one of them cannot dereigne the warranty without the other 48. E. 3. 17. Yet if a villaine and another purchase joyntly and the Lord of the villaine enter into a moyety he may dereigne the Warranty alone for therein the severance groweth by act in Law He that commeth into a Taverne and will not goe out in reasonable time or distraine for rent and killeth the distresse shall be a wrong doer ab initio 12. E. 4. 8. Because he misdemeaneth that the authority the Law giveth him Otherwise it is if I lend my horse to one to ride to York and he rideth him further yet the riding further is not unlawfull neither a generall action of Trespass lyeth against him upon the accord upon the case because he misdemeaneth but the authority that another hath given him Finch Nomot f. 47. If I be distrained and pay my rent and after am denied to have my goods delivered an action of Trespasse or detinue lyeth 21. H. 7. If I deliver a chest to one who breaketh it Trespasse lyeth 2. H. 8. If a Sheriff maketh an arrest and returneth not the Capias an action of Trespasse lyeth 8. E. 49. An executor commandeth the taking of the goods of the Testator and refuseth to prove the will a Trespasse lyeth 8. E. 4. 9. The Sheriff seiseth the goods of one outlawed and doth not charge himselfe in account the Outlawry being reversed or the party pardoned he shall have an action of Trespasse against the Sheriff 21. H. 7. 23. Injuria illata incorpus non potest remitti Reg. I. C. injury which is offered to the body cannot be remitted and the reason given by the Civilians is quia nemo membrorum suorum Dominus because no man is Lord and Master of his members but the power of them appertaine to God our Creator and the Prince our Protector which accordeth with the reason of the common Law which maintaineth as Bracton saith quod cita membra sunt in postate Regis as it is in the record of 19. E. 1. Rot. 36. vita membra sunt in manu Regis that the life and member of every Subject are under the safe-guard and protection of the King to the intent they may serve the King and their Country when occasion shall be offered Nay the Lord of a villaine for the cause aforesaid cannot maihme his villaine but the King shall punish him for mayming of his Subjects by Fine Ransome and Imprisonment untill the Fine and Ransome be paid for that hereby he hath disabled him to doe the King service Coke com f. 127. a. And therefore also doth the Law more carefully provide for the preventing and punishing of such forcible injury in particular between person and person because as Coke com f. 161. b. Max. paci sunt contraria vis injuria forcible injuries are most contrary to the quiet and repose of the Common-wealth which is the publick felicity both of Prince and people As if one doe but menace another with a weapon or staff or if he stretch out his arme or give any other token whereby his intention of striking doth appeare though never a stroake be given yet is it actionable 22. Ass Pl. 60. And upon an assault the Writ was Quare insultum fecit vulneravit maihemavit and though the injury did not appear to be a maihm yet was it allowed 43 E. 4. For the Law favoreth the Plaintiff in such Actions And though force be an enemy to peace yet is it a maxime in our Law Quod quisque in tutelam corporis sui fecerit jure fecisse videatur Fulb. l. 1. f. 91. whatsoever any one doth in defence of his body it seemeth to be done by Law according to the opinion of the Poet. Judice me fraus est concessa repellere fraudâ—m A maque in armatos sumere jura sinunt I doe conceive it a good fraud to be To repell fraud and lawfull eke for me To take up armes ' gainst those I armed see As 2. H. 4 8. Bract. If any man beat me I may lawfully beat him if I cannot escape without stâ—ips wounds or maihmes Nay 9. E 4. 3. I may beate him in defence of my goods or wife contrary to the resolve of 43. Ass 39. That it is not lawfull for me to beat him if I may escape with my life And 9. E 4. A servant may justify a battery in defence of his Master and 17. E. 4. 4. He that cometh in company of him who maketh the assault or cometh in to aid him is a principall Trespassor and if a Justice of Peace see a man doing of an assault he may presently arrest him by commandment or word to the intent that he may find surety of peace 9. E. 4. 3 And by the civill Law if any one do keep or nourish a Masty Dog Beare or Fox or some like beast which doth hurt or damnify another man he that receiveth the hurt shall recover damages against the Owner of the beast Fulb. l. 1. f. 81. And so at the common Law if a man hath a Dog which killeth Sheep and hath notice of the condition of the Dog the master shall be punished for it as may be gathered out of Dyer 28. H. 8. f. 25. Pl. 162. Otherwise if he be ignorant thereof or if it be done without the Masters incitation ibidem f. 19. And whereas in many cases that concerne Lands and Goods the Law doth deprive a man of present remedy and rather then to suffer an inconvenience turneth him over to a further remedy yet if the question be of a personall paine the Law doth give him present remedy because he holdeth no damage a sufficient remedy for a corporall injury which ground as Sir Francis Bacon ingâ—niously observeth some of the Canonists do aptly inferr out of Christs sacred mouth Amen corpus est suâ—ra vestimentum verily the body is more worth then rayment where they say vestimentum comprehendeth all outward things appertaining to a mans condition as Lands and Goods which they say are not in the same degree with that which is corporall Bacon Max. f. 30. As if a Sheriff make a false returne whereby I loose my Land yet because of the inconvenience of drawing things to delays if the Sheriffs returne should not be credited I am excluded of my averrement against it and am put to my action of deceite against the Sheriff and Summoners 5. E. 4. 80. But if the Sheriff upon a Capias returne a Cepy Corpus quod languidus est in prisona I may come in and falsify the returne of the Sheriff to save my imprisonment 3. H. 6. 3. So if a man
by misadventure as by an Arrow at Butts this hath a pardon of course but if a man be hurt or maimed onely an Action of Trespass lyeth though it be done against the parties will and he shall be punished in the Law as grievously as if he had done it of malice Stanf. 16.6 E. 4.7 So if a Chyrurgion authorized to practise do through negligence of his cure cause the party to dye this Chyrurgion shall not be questioned for his life yet if he do onely hurt the Wound whereby the cure is cast back and death ensueth not he is subject to an Action of the Case for it Stanf. 16. So if Baron and Feme commit Felony together the Feme in regard of the subjection of her will to her husband shal neither be principal not accessary but if they joyn in committing a Trespass upon land or otherwise the Action may be brought against them both So if an Infant wanting discretion or a mad-man kill another he shall not be impeached thereof but if they do him any corpâ—rall hurt he shall be punished in Trespass 35 H. 6. 11. So in Felony if the principall dye or be pardoned the proceeding against the accessory faileth But in a Trespass if one commandeth his man to beat you and after the Battery the Servant dyeth yet you may have an Action of Trespass against the Master 17 H 4.19 Aestimatio praeteriti delicti post facta nunquam crescit Bac. Max f. 32. In penall Lawes and Facts the Law considereth the degree of the offence not as it standeth at this time when it is committed but for any circumstance or matter subsequent the Law doth not extend or amplifie the same As if a man be wounded and the Percussor is voluntarily let to go at liberty by the Goalor and after the party wounded dyeth yet it is no Felonious escape in the Goaler 11 H. 4.12 So if one conspire the death of one who after cometh to be King not being within the Statute of 25 E. 3. this is high not high Treason but otherwise it is in civill and common cases vide ibidem Plur. Ipsae etenim leges cupiunt ut jure regantur Co. l. 2. f. 25. In omnibus quidem maxime tamen in jure aequitas est Reg. I. C. In all things but especially in the Law there is equity and the Lawes themselves desire to be ruled by equity For inasmuch as no Legislators can foresee all things which may happen it was therfore convenient as Ploydon saith that that fault should be reformed by equity And is either an amplification or diminution of the Law and no part of the Law but a morall vertue which reformeth the Law for dirigens and directum are diverse things and equity is not a Law but the emendation of the Law and therefore the Lawes themselves desire to be ruled by equity As whereas the Debtor after he is become Bankrupt may prefer one and defraud others the Act of 13 Eliz. c. 7. hath appointed certain Commissioners of indifferency and credit to releive the Creditors of the Bankrupt equally and that there shall be an equall and rateable proportion observed in the distribution of the Goods of the Bankrupt among his Creditors having regard to the quantity of their severall debts so that one shall not prevent the other but all shall be in aequali jure and so we see in many cases as well at the Common Law as upon the like statutes such constructions have been made for as Cato said Ipsae etenim leges cupiunt ut jure regantur and therefore is it holden 35 H. 8. Title Testaments V. de plura in Herberts case lib. 7. Bro. 19. A man holdeth three Mannors of three severall Lords by Knights-service every Mannor being of equall value he cannot devise two Mannors and leave the third to descend according to the generality of the Acts of 32. 34. H. 8. of Wills for then it shall prejudice the other two Lords but by equall construction he cannot devise but two parts of every Mannor and so as equality shall be observed among them and so at the Common Law an equality is required as in 11 H. 7. 12. b. a man is bound in an Obligation and his Heirs and he hath Heirs and hath lands of the part of his Father and part of his Mother both the Heirs shall be equally charged vide ibidem plura Co. Com. f. 10. a. If partition be made between Parceners of lands in Fee simple and for novelty of partition one granted a rent to the other generally the Grantee shall have a Fee-simple without this word Heirs because the Grantor hath a Fee-simple in consideration whereof he granted the rent Ipsae etenim leges c. And Co. Com. f. 271. a. b. when a Feoffment is made to a future use as to the performance of his last Will the Feoffee shall be seised to the use of the Feoffor and his Heires in the mean time for the Lawes desire to be ruled by right and equity And reason would that seeing the Feoffment is made without consideration and the Feoffor hath not disposed of the profits in the mean time that by construction and intendment of Law the Feoffor ought to occupy the same in the mean time And so it is when the Feoffor disposeth the profits for a particular time in presenti the use of the Inheritance shall be to him and his Heires as a thing not disposed of Co. ibidem Co. l. 5. f. 100. a. The Commissioners of Sewers by the Statute of 6 H. 6. c. 5. and 23 H. 8. c. 5. ought to tax all equally which are in danger to be endamaged by not repairing the Banks and not him onely who hath land adjoyning to the River for otherwise the rage and force of the water may be so great as the value of the land adjoyning shall not serve to repaire the Banks and therefore the Statutes will have all who be in the same perill and are to receive commodity by it to be contributory and the statutes require equality which well standeth with the rule of equity for equitas in Bracton est quasi aequalitas and though the Owner of the Land next adjoyning to the River was bound by prescription to repaire the banks of the River yet the Commissioners ought not to charge him only with all but to take all those which have lands in danger for otherwise it may that all the country shall be surrounded before that one person onely can repaire the Banks vide ibidem plura In Fooks case Coke l 7. f. 123. b. When the King granteth any Land without the reservation of any Tenure or without any thing from thence to be rendred or the like that land by the operation of Law shall be holden of the King in Capite by the service of Chivalry according to the rate and proportion of land that affereth to one fee of Chivalry and so of more more and of lesse lesse for the
Statute allwayes been expounded that they who were ignorant of the first retainer should not run into any penalty of the Statute So whosoever retaineth one is a ward to another not knowing that he is ward also if homage be due and the tenant after maketh a Feoffment and the Lord not knowing of the Feoffment distraineth for the homage his ignorance shall excuse him of his damages in a replevin though he cannot avow for the homage but if he had known the Feoffment he should have yeelded damages ibidem If a resignation be made by an imcumbent to a Bishop the Bishop is bound to give the Patron notice or otherwise he shall not have the advantage of the lapse and if the same Bishop dye his Successor shall be bound in the same manner although the resignation was not made to him for he shall have advantage by reason of the avoidance of the said resignation then he is bound to do that thing his successor should do upon the pain of a Quare Impedit for it is intended that the books of resignation to the successor remain with him Calloway 18 H. 7. f. 49. f. by Frowick If a Patron who is a Lay-man present his Clark to the Ordinary and he is not well lettered it is lawfull for the Ordinary to refuse him and of it to give notice to the Patron for to present another before there shall be a collation by Lapse because the Patron could not have Cognisance whether he be a Clark or no but if a Patron be a spirituall man and present one not well lettered and the Ordinary refuse him he shall not give notice of it to the Patron because it is intended that a Clark may have Conusance of the sufficiency of another before he presentted him to the Bishop ibidem by Frowick So when a man doth an act as to enter into Land seise goods take a distresse or such other he must by the Law see at his perill that it be lawfully done Doctor and Student ibidem As if a Servant cometh with his masters horse to Towne where by custome goods may be attached for debt and upon a Plaint against the servant an officer of the Towne attached the masters horse thinking it to be the Servants that ignorance excuseth not ibidem So if the Sheriff by a replevin deliver other beasts then were distrained though the party that distrained shew him they were the same beasts yet an action of Trespasse lyeth against him for he shall be compelled by Law as all Officers commonly be to execute the Kings Writ at his perill according to the tenor of it and to see that the act that he doth be lawfully done ibidem But some say if upon a Summons in a praecipe quod reddat the Sheriff by information of the Detendant summoneth the tenant in another mans Land thinking it to be the tenants Land there he shall be excused for he doth not seise Land but onely summoneth the tenant on the Land and that upon the information of the Demandant and though he be ignorant that that is the Land yet that sufficeth to the Sheriff as to his entry for the summoning as they say though it be not the tenants Land Ibidem SECT VII From the Politicks THe last Fountaine from whence the law deriveth grounds is the politicall Science which of all therof as Plato is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Ar. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Queen and Regent for shee prescribeth certain Laws by which they may be soundly taught and gloriously published and graciously ministreth to them her protection and shee is the Lady and Mistresse of all humane actions for though other Sciences and especially the Ethicall instructeth men how to live well and happily yet many Egregious Philosophers which professe the protection of that Art and Science are observed to live loosely and vitiously and as Cicero alios esse pecunia Cupidos gloriae non nullos multos libidinum servos some to be coveteous of Gold others ambitious of glory and many to serve their lusts so as if they were not restrained by the Scepter of this Science by which Magistrates and Laws are ordained to curbe those who will not be adduced for the love of virtue to doe that which is right and just and formidine paenae for feare of punishment to fright and force them into 〈◊〉 more vertuous and civill manner of living 〈◊〉 magisterio as Camerarius fully vita communis 〈◊〉 ur constituitur jure legibus ut societates hoâ— num quae res publicae vocantur in terris conserventuâ— â—nâ— by whose magisteriall rule the lives of all men are so ordered and disposed by right and Lawes that the societies of men which are called republicks may be preserved on the earth Without doubt therefore many principall and royall grounds of the Law must spring and grow from this soveraign Science from which the Law receiveth its constitution and confirmation as the grounds ensuing will manifest Salus populi prima lex esta Lâ—x 12. tabularum and Coke l. 11. f. 113. b. Salus populi suprema est lex the health and welfare of the people is the prime and cheifest Law that is the prime and principall scope to which all our actions ought to tend is the publick good of the people and Common-weale and therefore doth our Law favour things for the Common-weale and as Dyer f. 36. Pl 40. In cases which sound for the good of the Common-weale a man may justify the doing of a wrong As in time of War a man may justifie the raising of Bulwarks in another mans soile and so may he justifie the raising of an house that burneth â—â—r the safeguard of the houses of the Neighbors So if the Sheriff pursue a Felon to an house and for to have the Felon he breaketh the door of the house he may justifie it because it is for the Common-weale that such Felons should be taken but it is otherwise in particular cases as if the Sheriff break the house to arrest one in the house by vertue of a Capias in debt or trespass he shall be punished for that was a particular case and not for the good of the Common If the Lessor have Villains and one or divers of them commit felony and that the Lessee pursueth them as Felons by which he exileth them of the Mannor he is not punishable in wast but if the Villains slander him for which he doth them exile it is punishable by Knighâ—ly Fisher-men may justifie their comming upon land adjoyning to the Sea to dry their Nets though it be anothers ground for fishing is for the Common-weale and sustenance of all the Realm 8 E. 4. 18. b. and upon this reason the Civilians say Si piscator ligat navem ad arborem dominus eam incidere non potest If a Fisher-man tyeth his Ship to a tree the Master of that soil cannot cut the tree And for this reason the King before the Statute
quae quidem diaturnitate temporis efficit L. 1 de repub f. 2. ut nonnulla toleranda esse videantur que contra jus boni aequi esse videantur we are to yeild something to custome which certainly by long continuance of time doth effect that some things may seem to be tolerated which seem to be against the rule of right and equity so Moses tolerated and suffered the Jewes libello repudii by a bill of refusall to forsake their wives though the indissoluble bond of matrimony was ordained of God and this dispensation as our Saviour saith was permitted for the hardnesse of their hearts because their hearts through inveterate custome were hardned against that divine ordinance Consuetudo more utentiam approbata vim legis obtinet Bract. l. 3. c. 1. Coke l. 4. f. 21. Consuetudo est altera lex a custome approved by the manner of the users obtaineth the force of a Law and is another Law Arist 1. R. for those things are done by custome as the Phylosopher saith which therefore we doe because we have often done them and when a reasonable act once done was found to be beneficiall and agreeable to the people then did they use and practise it often and so by the reiteration and multiplication of the same became a custome and so being without interruption time out of mind practised for the quiet by the approbation of the people obtained the vigor of a law for as Bo. princep legum Sod de repub l. 1. c. 1. pulus morum magister the Prince is the master founder of laws ordinances and the people of manners and customes Just l. 1. tit 2. which accordeth with the description of Justian quod quisque populus sibi jus constituit id ipsius proprium civitatis est what every people ordaine to be a Law to themselves that is a proper and municipall Law of the City Cicer. in La. Maxima est vis consuetudinis saith the eminent Legist of Rome the force of custome is very great in so much that as by the Law of nature consuetudo est altera natura so by the Law of Nations consuetudo est altera lex for as Coke l. 5. Epist ad lectorem of his own knowledge professeth that at this time all Kingdomes and common Wealths are governed by Laws and that every Nation hath his peculiar and approved Customes which are the most usuall binding and firmest Lawes so as it is said per varios casus artem experientia fecit it may be said per varios usus legem experientia fecit Co. com f. 97. b. There are particular Customes and generall Customes particular Customes are such as are used in some certain County City Towne or Lord-ship and generall Customes are such as are used throughout all England which are the common Law of England In his preface for as Davis the common Law of England is nothing but the common Custome of the Realme and Coke the common Law is nothing else but a common opinion generally received and Finch the common Law is a Law used by prescription throughout the Realme of England Finch Nomot f. 75. Ployd f. 95. a. The common Law is nothing else but common use and the mirror of Justice c. 1. l. 9 The Law is ancient uses warranted by Scriptures and is called the common Law Dav. pref because given to all in generall and to conclude this point with this definition which seemeth to me to include all Custome is a reasonable act iterated multiplied and continued by the people L. 1. R. c. 3. de temps dont memoire ne court time out of minde Aristotle saith injustum est apud omnes praeter consuetudines patrias quicquam agere all Nations hold it unjust to doe any thing against the Customes of the Country which is a principle in our Law that Custome is another Law Ennig Frag. and that we may say with the ancient Roman Poet as he sung of the Romans Moribus antiquis stat resque Britanna virisque The state of England standeth on the ancient Law And though it be jus non scriptum and onely written in the memory of man yet as Sir John Davis it doth far excell our written Lawes namely our Statutes or Acts of Parliament which is manifest in this that when our Parliament have altered In his preface and changed any fundamentall point of the common Law those alterations have been found to be so inconvenient for the Common-Wealth as that the common Law hath been in effect restored againe in some points by other Acts of Parliament in succeeding ages as it is a fundamentall principle of the common Law Quod haereditarium jus omne per feodum simplex transit that all estates of inheritance are fee-simple which the Statute of 13. Ed. 1. de donis conditionalibus intended to limit and to give every man power to create a new estate in taile and establish a perpetuity of his Lands so as the same should not be aliened or letten but during the life of tenant in taile whereupon these inconveniences ensued purchases defeated leases evicted and other estates and grants made upon good consideration avoided creditors defrauded of their just debts and offendors enboldened to commit capitall offences c. who therefore were first barred by common recoveries and then docked by fines 15. E. 3. 14. by Herb. Coke l. 4. Ep. ad lectorem So the Statute of non-claime of 34. E. 3. is against a main point of the common Law whereby ensued the universall trouble of the Kings Subjects and therefore was it altered by the Statute of H. 7. c. 24. Coke ibidem 32. So by the grounds of the Law Lands were not devisable before the Statute of 32 34. H. 8. concerning which dayly experience teacheth us that many subtile and intricate questions arise concerning the construction of Wils to the ruine of many and hindrance of multitudes Coke ibi And it is a politick axiom that the alteration of any fundamentall point of the common Law which is ratified by use and experience is most dangerous and therefore we ought to vote and resolve with all the Earles and Barons in Parliament holden in the twentieth yeare of H. 3. against the Bishops who would have introduced the civil Law Nolumus leges Angliae mutare we will not change the Lawes of England To which purpose I add the asseveration of Cicero ante nostram memoriam terterum morem Frey Cil. de repub ac majorum instituta retinebant excellentes viri before our memory excellent men did retaine the custome of the ancient and the institutes of their elders Optimus legum interpres Consuetudo Co. l. 2. f. 81. a. The best expounder of the Law is custome If land holden by grand Serjanty be aliened without licence it is forfeited by the Common Law because the service of the body cannot be transferred to another 14 E. 3.