Le primer report des cases & matters en ley resolues & adiudges en les courts del Roy en Ireland. Collect et digest per Sr. Iohn Dauys Chiualer Atturney Generall del Roy en cest realme — Reports des cases & matters en ley, resolves & adjudges en les courts del roy en Ireland

Author: Davies, John, Sir, 1569-1626.1615

LE PRIMER REport des Cases & Matters en Ley resolues & adiudges en les Courts del Roy en Ireland.

Collect et digest per S^r. Iohn Dauys Chiualer Atturney Generall del Roy en cest Realme.

Liber librum aperit.

DVBLIN. Printed by Iohn Franckton Printer to the Kings most excellent Maiestie Anno. 1615.

TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE MY SINGVLAR GOOD LORD, THOMAS LORD ELLESMERE LORD CHAVNcellor of England.

KIng Henry the Second (my most honorable good Lord) was the first King of England after the Norman Conquest, that was styled Lord of Ireland. Yet are there no recordes of that kings time remaining, whereby it may appeare, that he established any forme of Civill gouernment in this land. But it is manifest by many recordes, and stories, that his sonne King Iohn made the first division of Counties in Ireland, published the lawes of England, and commaunded the due execution thereof in all those countries which he had made, erected the Courts of Iustice, made the Standard of Irish moneys equall with the English: Breefely, hee did order & settle the government heere in all pointes, according to the Modell of the common-wealth of England. And to that end, when himselfe in person came over into Ireland the second time (which was in the twelfth yeare of his raigne) he brought with him many learned persons in the lawe, and other Officers, & ministers of all sorts, to put the English lawes in execution: whereof there is a notable record in the Tower of London, 11. Henr. 3. Patent. Membr. 3. agreeing with that which is related by Matth. Paris. histor. magn. sol. 220 b.

After which time the recordes of all legall Actes & proceedings, namely the Piperolls, containing the charge of the revenue both Certaine & casuall, the Plearolls, containing as well Common pleas, as pleas of the Crowne, Parliament Rolls, Charters, Patents, Commissions, & Inquisitions, [Page] were made vp in good forme in euery kings time, till the later end of the raigne of King Henry VI, when by reason of the dissension of the two Royall houses, the state of England neglecting the gouernment of this Realme, the Clarks and Officers grewe also negligent in the execution of theire severall places. And though many of those auncient recordes haue beene embezeled, & many haue perished by carlesse keeping, yet divers of all sortes doe yet remaine, as faire & authentique, as any I haue seene in England. Howbeit during all the time that the lawes of England haue had theire course in Ireland, which is nowe full foure hundred yeares, there hath not beene any Report made & published of any Case in lawe, argued, or adiudged in this Kingdome: but all the arguments & reasons of the iudgements & resolutions giuen in the Courts of Ireland, haue hitherto beene vtterly lost, & buried in oblivion.

Which seemeth to me the more straunge, because there haue beene within this Realme, in euery age since the raigne of King Iohn, men sufficienly learned in the lawes, who haue deriued theire learning out of the fountaines of lawe in England, the Innes of Court there (being the most florishing & honorable Academy of gentlemen, that euer was established in any nation, for the study & learning of the Municipall lawes thereof) And therefore they might haue beene induced to imitate the learned men of England, who from the Norman Conquest downewards, did continually preseiue the memory of such notable cases as did from time to time arise, & where argued and ruled in the Courts of Iustice in England, by reducing the same into bookes of Reports, which may bee called, not improperly, the Annalles of the lawe.

For albeit our Reports at large which are published in Print, doe beginn with the raigne of king Edw. III. And the broken Cases of elder times, which are scattered in the Abridgements, are not found higher then the time of king Henry III. yet assuredly there were other Reports digested in yeares & Tearmes, as auncient as the time of king William the Conqueror: as appeareth by that which Chaucer writteth of the Seriaunt at lawe

In Termes had hee Cases and Doomes all,

That fro that time of King William were fall.

Neither doth Glanuill or Bracton disaffirme this antiquity of the Reports of the lawe, in that they affirme that the lawe of England was Ius non scriptum in theire times, as your Lordship hath noted in that most learned, graue, & prudent speech of yours, touching the Postnati of Scotland. For indeede those Reports are but Comments or interpretations vppon the Text of the Common lawe: which Text was neuer originally written, but hath euer bin preserued in the memory [Page] of men, though no mans memory can reach to the originall thereof.

For the Common lawe of England is nothing else but the Common custome of the Realme: And a custome which hath obtained the force of a lawe, is alwayes said to bee Ius non scriptum, for it cannot bee made or created, either by Charter, or by Parliament, which are actes reduced to writting, & are alwayes matter of Record, but being onely matter of fact and consisting in vse & practise, it can bee recorded and registred no where, but in the memory of the people.

For a Custome taketh beginning & groweth to perfection in this manner. When a reasonable act once done, is found to bee good & beneficiall to the people, & agreeable to theîre nature & disposition, then do they vse it, & practise it, againe, & agaîne, & so by often iteration & multiplication of the act, it becometh a Custome, & being continued without interruption time out of minde, it obtaineth the force of a lawe.

And this Custumary lawe is the most perfect, & most excellent, and without comparison the best, to make & preserue a commonwealth, for the written lawes which are made either by the edicts of Princes, or by Counselles of estate, are imposed vppon the subiect before any Triall or Probation made, whether the same bee fitt & agreeable to the nature & disposition of the people, or whether they will breed any inconvenience or no. But a Custome doth neuer become a lawe to binde the people, vntill it hath bin tried & approued time out of minde, during all which time there did thereby arise no inconuenience, for if it had beene found inconuenient at any time, it had beene vsed no longer, but had beene interrupted, & consequently it had lost the vertue & force of a lawe.

Therefore as the lawe of nature, which the schoolmen call Ius commune, & which is also Ius non scriptum, being written only in the hart of man, is better then all the written lawes in the worlde to make men honest & happy in this life, if they would obserue the rules thereof: So the custumary lawe of England, which wee do likewise call Ius commune as comming neerest to the lawe of Nature, which is the roote & touchstone of all good lawes, & which is also Ius non scriptum, & written onely in the memory of man (for euery custome though it tooke beginning beyond the memory of any liuing man, yet it is continued & preserued in the memory of men liuing) doth farre excell our written lawes, namely our Statutes or Actes of Parliament: which is manifest in this, that when our Parliaments haue altered or changed any fundamentall pointes of the Common lawe, those alterations haue beene found by experience to bee so inconuenient for the commonwealth, as that the common lawe hath in effect beene restored againe, in the same points, by other Actes of Parliament, in suceedîng ages.

[Page] And as our Custumary vnwritten lawe doth excell our Parliament lawes, which are written, so for the gouernment of the Common-weale of England (which is as well instituted & established as any Common-weale in Christendome.) Our natiue Common lawe is farre more apt & agreeable, then the Ciuill or Canon lawe, or any other written lawe in the worlde besides: howsoeuer some of our owne Countrimen, who are Ciues in aliena Republica, & hospites in sua, may per [...]ppes affirme the contrary. But certaine it is, That the greate and wise-men of England in the Parliament of Merton did not preferre a Forreine lawe before theire owne, when motion being made by the Clergie that Children borne before Marriage might be adiudged legitumate, They all made aunswere with one voice, Nolumus Leges Angliae mutari, And againe in II. R. 2. when a newe course of proceeding in Criminall Causes, according to the forme of the Ciuill lawe was propounded in that vnruly Parliament, Aunswere was made by all the Estates, That the Realme of England, neither had bin in former times, nor hereafter should bee Ruled and gouerned by the Ciuill law. Rot Parliam II. R. 2. in Archiv. Turris.

And heere I may obserue for the Honour of our Nation, and of our Auncestors who haue founded this Common-weale wherein wee liue, and enioy so many felicities, That England hauing had a good and happie Genius from the beginning, hath bin enhabited alwaies with a vertuous & wise people, who euer embraced honest and good Customes, full of Reason and conveniencie, which being confirmed by common vse & practise, and continued time out of minde, became the common lawe of the Land. And though this lawe bee the peculiar inuention of this Nation, and deliuered ouer from age to age by Tradition (for the common lawe of England is a Tradition, & learned by Tradition as well as by Bookes) yet may wee truly say, That no humaine lawe written or vnwritten hath more certainty in the Rules and Maximes, more coherence in the parts thereof, or more harmony of reason in it: nay wee may confidently averr, that it doth excell all other lawes in vpholding a free Monarchie, which is the most excellent forme of gouernment, exalting the prerogatiue Royall, and being very tender and watchfull to preserue it, and yet maintaining withall the ingenuous liberty of the subiect.

Breefely, it is [...]o framed and sitted to the nature & disposition of this people, as wee may properly say, it is connaturall to the Nation, so as it cannot possibly bee ruled by any other lawe. This lawe therefore doth demonstrate the strength of witt and reason, and selfe sufficiencie which hath beene alwayes in the people of this land, which haue made theire owne lawes out of their wisdome & experience (like a silke worme that formeth all her webb out of her selfe onely) not begging or borrowing a forme of a common-weale either from Rome, or from Greece, as all other nations of Europe haue done, but hauing sufficient [Page] prouision of lawe & Iustice within the land, haue no neede Iustitiam & iudicium a [...] alienigenis emendicare, as King Iohn wrote most nobly to Pope Innocent the third. Matth Parishistor. magn pag 215. En populus sapiens & intelligens, gens magna: As it is said of Gods chosen people 4. Deuter. Neither could any one man euer vaunt, that, like Minos, Solon, or Lycurgus, he was the first Lawegiuer to our Nation: for neither did the King make his owne prerogatiue, nor the Iudges make the Rules or Maximes of the lawe, nor the common subiect prescribe and limitt the liberties which he enioyeth by the lawe: but as it is said of euery Art or Science which is brought to perfection, Per varios vsus artem experientia fecit, so may it properly bee said of our lawe, Per varios vsus legem experientia fecit. Long experience, & many trialles of what was best for the common good, did make the Common lawe.

But vppon what reason then doth Polidor Virgill & other writers affirme, that King William the Conqueror was our Lawegiuer, & caused all our lawes to bee written in French? Assuredly, the Norman Conqueror found the auncient lawes of England so honorable, & profitable, both for the Prince & people, as that he thought it not fitt to make any alteration in the fundamentall pointes or substance thereof: the change that was made was but in formulis iuris: he altered some legall formes of proceeding, & to honor his owne language, & for a marke of Conquest withall, he caused the pleading of diuers Actions to be made & entred in French, & sett forth his publique Ordinances & Acts of Counsell in the same tongue: which forme of pleading in French continued till 36. Edw. 3. when (in regard that the French tongue begann to growe out of vse, which for many yeares after the Norman Conquest was as common as the English among the Gentry of England) it was ordained by Parliament, that all pleas should bee pleaded, debated, & Iudged in the English tongue, & entred, & enrolled in Latine. And as for our statutes or Acts of Parliament, the billes were for the most part exhibited in French, & passed and enrolled in the same language, euen till the time of King H. 7. And so are they printed in Rastalles first Abridgment of statutes published in the yeare 1559. But after the begining of King Henry 7. his raigne, wee finde all our Acts of Parliament recorded in English. Onely our Reports of the Cases, resolutions, and Iudgments in the lawe, whereof our bookes of the lawe do consist, haue euer vntill this day beene penned & published in that mixt kinde of speech which wee call the lawe French, differing indeede not a litle from the French tongue, as it is now refined and spoken in Fraunce, as well by reason of the words of Art and forme, called the Tearmes of the lawe, as for that wee doe still retaine many other old wordes & Phrases of speech which were vsed foure hundred yeares since, & are now become obsolete & out of vse among them, but are growne by long & continuall [Page] vse so apt, so naturall, & so proper for the matter & subiect of these Reports, as no other language is significant enough to expresse the same, but onely this lawe french wherein they are written.

And this is the true & onely cause, why our Reports & other books of the lawe for the most part, are not sett forth in English, Latine, or the moderne french, for that the proper & peculiar phrase of the common lawe cannot bee so well exprest, nor any case in lawe bee so succinctly, sensibly, & whithall so fully reported, as in this speech, which is in deede mixte & compounded of all these three languages. Which reason hath not beene well vnderstood by those, who obiect it as a fault to the Professors of our lawe, that, forsooth, they write their Reports and bookes of the lawe in a straunge vnknowne tongue which none can vnderstand but themselues, to the end, that the people, being keept in ignorance of the lawe, may the more admire their skill & knowledge, & esteeme & value it at a higher price. As Cicero in his first booke de Oratore doth testifie, that the like conceite was held of the first Professors of the Ciuill lawe, Quia veteres illi qui huic scientiae praesuerunt, obtinendae atque augendae potentiae suae causa, pervulgari artem suam no [...]uerunt. And Cesar speaking of the Druides, who were Iudges, and interpreters of the lawe among the auncient Brittaines, doth report of them, that though they spent twenty yeares in the study of those lawes, Non existimabant fas esse [...]a literis mandare.

But the weaknes of this obiection against the Authors of our lawe bookes will easily appeare, if wee consider how easie the Lawe french is to bee learned: in somuch that the meanest witt that euer came to the study of the lawe, doth come to vnderstand it almost perfectly within ten dayes without a Reader. So as wee doe not seale or locke vp the mysteries of our lawe in Hieroglyphickes, or in a darke language that cannot bee vnderstood: But wee expresse the Cases, arguments, & Iudgements of the lawe in a forme of speech, so plaine, so significant, and in a tongue so soone learned by any man, that can speake English, and vnderstand Latine, as I dare say, there is no rationall science in the world, hauing so many wordes & Tearmes of art and forme, that is so clearely deliuered in any language. And I may truely say withall, that if the bookes of our lawe were all translated into English, they would not bee better, nay, they would not bee so well vnderstood by the students thereof, as in this proper & peculiar language wherein they are now written.

And as this obiection touching the speech or language wherein our Reports are penned doth arise out of ignorance of the cause thereof, as is before declared, so are there other vulgar imputations cast vppon the lawe & lawiers, which may bee as easily cleared, as hauing indeede no other ground but the meere misvnderstanding of such as are strangers to the profession: namely 1. that there is much vncerteinty in the reasons & Iudgements of the lawe. 2. that there are extreame [Page] & vnnecessary delayes in the proceedings of the lawe. [...]. that many bad and dishonest causes are wittingly defended by the professors of the lawe. But Sapientia iustificatur à filijs suis.

1 Therefore first touching the incerteinty of the lawe▪ Certeine it is, that lawe is nothing but a rule of reason, & humaine reason is Lesbia regula, pliable euery way, or like a cupp with two eares, as the French proue [...]b is, which may bee taken vp on either side, as well with the left hand as with the right: so as not onely the knowledge of the lawe, but all other rationall sciences that are subiect to Argument & discourse, must needes bee subiect to vncerteinty & to error: & therefore vppon Iudgements giuen in our Ordinary Courts of Iustice the lawe doth admitt & allow writts of error to bee brought, without any touch or dishonor to the Iudges, though there Iudgements bee reuersed for error in point of lawe.

Howbeit there is no art or science that standeth vppon discourse of reason, that hath her Rules & Maximes so certeine & infallible, & so little subiect to diuers interpretation as the common lawe of England, as it is obserued by the Lord cheefe Iustice Cooke in his Preface to the second part of his Reports, that in all his time, there haue not beene moued in the Courts of Iustice in England, two quest [...]ons touching the right of discents or escheats, or the like fundamentall points of the common lawe: So certaine, sure, & without question are the principles & grounds thereof.

But whence then doe so many debates & controuersis arise? wherevppon doe wee plead, & contend so much in the Courts of Iustice, it there bee so few doubtes & vncerteinties in lawe? doubtlesse this question is soone resolued, by one plaine & common distinction. In all the causes that are controuerted, there is either Quastio Iuris, or quaestio facti. But for one cause wherein a question of lawe doth arise, that is indeede with the debating, there are a thousand causes at least wherein the fact is onely in question, & wherein if the truth of the fact were knowne, the lawe were cleere & without question. So as the pleading & contention in Westminster hall, & the rest of the Courts of Iustice in both realmes, is for the most parte touching matters of fact. In the Chauncery whether there bee Trust or no trust, Fraud or no fraud: In the Starchamber whither a Riot [...] or no riott, Forgery or no forgery. Per [...]u [...]y or no periu [...]y: and the like matters of fact come onely in question in all other Courts which proceed to the hearing & determining of causes by examination of witnesses. And in the Co [...] of lawe where the triall is by Iurors, are there not a thousand issues ioyned vppon matters of fact, for one demurrer that is ioyned vppon a point in lawe? & when all these issues are tried either at the Barre or at the A [...]s [...]sses, how many hundreds of generall verdictes are there giuen which determine matters in fact, for one speciall verdict whereuppon doe result questions in lawe?

[Page] And againe of all the questions in lawe which doe arise vppon demurrers or speciall verdicts, or which are moued in arrest of Iudgment, how many of them are there ouer ruled vppon the first opening or putting of the Case? and how few of them are there that are malleable or can endure the hammer, so as they come to bee solemnely argued at the Barre, and at the Bench? As for the Eschequer-chamber cases which are of such difficultie as that they drawe an assembly of all the Iudges of the lawe for the resolution thereof, they are so rare as scarce twise in a yeare are those Iudges drawne out of there proper Courtes to deliuer theire opinions vppon those doubtfull pointes. So as it is to bee ascribed to the greate learning, wisdome, grauity, & constancie of our Iudges, & to the certeinty & excellent harmony of reason in our lawe, that there are no more diuersities of opinion among the Iudges, or doubtfull questions in the lawe then there are.

For if the Rules & Maximes of the lawe were a thousand times as many as they bee indeede, yet would they carry no proportion with the infinite diuersitie of mens actions, & of other accidents which make the cases that are to bee decided by the lawe. Besides, it must bee a worke of singular Iudgement, to apply the groundes and rules of the lawe which are fixt & certeine, to all humaine acts & accidents which are in perpetuall motion & mutation.

And therefore wee may truly say for the honor of our lawe, notwithstanding that vulgar imputation of incerteinty, that the Iudgement & reason of it is more certeine then of any other humane lawe in the world: As well because the groundes of our common lawe haue from the beginning beene laid with such deepe wisdome, policie, & prouidence, as that they doe prouide for, & meete with, almost all cases that can possibly fall out in our common-wealth, as also because those groundes are so plaine, & so cleare, as that the professors of our lawe haue not thought it needefull to make so many glosses & interpretations therevppon, as other lawes are perplexed & confounded withall: which glosses, as one doth well obserue, do encrease doubt and ignorance in all Arts and Sciences. And therefore the Ciuilians themselues confesse, that their lawe is a sea full of waues, the Text whereof being digested into so many volumes, & so many Doctors interpreting the Text, & twise as many more Commenting vppon their interpretations, & so glosse vppon glosse, & booke vppon booke, & euery Doctors opinion being a good authority fitt to bee cited & vouched among them, must needes breed distraction of opinions & vncerteinty in that lawe. The like may bee said of the Canon lawe, albeit the Text thereof bee scarce foure hundred yeares old. But of the professors of our lawe, who euer yet hath made any glosse or interpretation vppon our Master Litleton? though into that litle booke of his, he hath reduced the principall groundes of the common lawe [Page] with exceeding great Iudgement & authority, & with singular Method & order? & yet if hee had beene an author in the Ciuill or Canon lawe, I dare say, there had beene, by this time, so many Comments & glosses made vppon him, as the bookes written vppon this booke onely, would haue beene more in number, then all the volumes of our lawe at this day.

But the learned men in our lawe haue euer thought, that Littleton being a learned & reuerend Iudge, wrote with a purpose to bee vnderstoode, & that therefore an other man, specially if he were of lesse learning then hee, could hardly expresse him better then he hath expressed himselfe. And therefore his booke hath euer beene read [...] of our yongest students, without any Commentary or interpretation at all.

But for all this, it is obiected, that our later Iudgements doe many times crosse & contradict the former, directly, in one & the same pointe of lawe, which is a manifest argument of incerteinty in the lawe.

Assuredly, there are very few precedents of such contrary Iudgements, scarce two in one age. And yet if the reasons of the later Iudgements did appeare of record, wee should finde them grounded vppon mischeefes & inconueniencies arising since the former Iudgements, or vppon other weighty considerations respecting the good of the common-wealth in generall. Otherwise there are no Iudges in any State or Kingdome vnder the Sunne, that do more reuerence the opinions & Iudgements of their predecessors then the Iudges of England haue euer done, as your Lordship, for their honor hath obserued in that most worthy speech of the Postnati, wherein, among other thinges, your Lords [...]ip doth noate the memorable saying of Askue 37. Henr. 6 fol. 22. Such a Charter hath beene allowed in the time of our predecessors, who were as sage & learned as wee bee, & of Markham 4. Edw. 4. fol. 41. It is good, sayeth hee, for vs to do, as it hath beene vsed in former time, & not to keepe one way one day for one partie, & another day the contrary for th'other partie: the former precedents are enough for vs to followe.

But on the other side, let vs heare what a learned Canonist, Lodo [...]icus Gomez in regula de Triennali possessore cap. 5. is bold to say, Non est inconueniens sayeth he iudicium esse vno tempore iustum, & postea eius contrarium iustius: & hoc malum videtur imponi mortalibus in p [...]nam, vt corum opiniones secundum varietatem temporum senescant & intermoriantur, aliaeque [...]iuersae vel priorihus contrariae renascantur & deinde pubescant. Talis enim est humani iuris disciplina, vt nulla in [...]a opinio [...]odem statu diú stare possit. Dies d [...]i [...]ructat verbum, & nox noct [...] indicat scientiam.

And againe, Opiniones hominum [...]orum corpora sequuntur, quae cum tempore vetara [...]unt & pereunt, & s [...]ut rerum omnium, ita quoque & opinionum est quaedam vicissitudo. And in another place, Stilus hodiern [...]s propter [Page] ma [...]orem temporum experientiam videtur magis iure fundatus, & ideo solet dic [...] quod moderni sunt sicut Culices in capite Elephantis, quae vident priora & posteriora: quanto juniores tanto perspicatiores. And thus much may suffice to bee spoken to remoue that scandall of vncerteinty, which ignorance doth vnworthily cast vppon the common lawe.

2 But if the reason & ludgement of our lawe be so litle subiect to vncerteinty, how cometh it to passe that the proceedings of our laws are so much subiect to delay? for this is another vulgar obiection against our lawe & the professors thereof. But who are they that make this obiection? haue they themselues beene engaged in any suites of importance? haue they passed through the Courts of Iustice either in course of lawe, or in course of equity? if they haue not, they speake but by hearesay, & then their testimony in this behalf is of litle credit. If they haue had any long depending suites of their owne, then let them examine, whither their owne spleene & wilfulnesse, or the corruption of some needy sollicitors, (who picke their liuing out of the busines they followe, & are loath to quench the fur that maketh them warme) haue not rather drawne their causes to an extraordinary length, then the ordinary proces of lawe, or the aduise of learned Counsell. For such as are learned Counsellors indeede are like good Pilots, who though their skill bee best tried in a long & difficult voiage, do rather desire faire weather, & a speedy arriuall with their passengers in the hauen.

But the troth is, it is the stomack or malice of such clients as will not stick to say, that they will spend all they are worth to haue their will of their aduersaries (& therefore will not bee satisfied with any Iudgement or decree) that doth produce & prolong suites in lawe: who when their learned Counsell indeede do refuse to nourish that peccant humor in them, doe seeke out discarded impostors or Idolls of whome there is an opinion among light & ignorant people, of extraordinary cunning & sleight in carying of busines with aduantage, & in curing of foild & desperate causes. These men giue them counsell according to their owne hart because they sooth them in their litigious humor: howbeit in the end when they haue wearied & wasted themselues, they finde how weake those wiles & craftie courses are, & learne of Esope, that that one onely plaine way which the Cart had to escape from the dogges, was better & safer then those hundred trickes of euasion whereof the Fox did vaunt before he was taken: and they finde withall, the saying of Cicero true, ignoratio iuris litigiosa est potius quam scientia.

Besides this malignant & vnquiet disposition of many Clients, there is another cause why suites are not brought so soone to an end as perhappes they were in former ages: namely, the multitude of causes now depending in euery Court of [...]ustice, euery of which causes must haue conuenient time allowed, as well to prepare it, & make it ripe to be [Page] heard or tried, as for the triall & hearing it selfe. And the true cause of the multitude of causes doth proceed from this, that the comodities of the earth being more improued, there is more wealth, & consequently there are more contracts reall, & personall, then there were in former ages. Besides there is more luxury & excesse in the world, which breedeth vnthryftes, banckruptes, & bad debtors, more coueteousnesse & more malice, which begetteth force & fraud, oppression & extortion, breath of the peace, & breach of trust. Out of these fountaînes innumerable suites do spring, which make the Courts of Iustice so to swell: and hence it is that our statute lawes since Henr. 8. his time, do make vp so greate a volume: & hence it is, that the professors of the lawe are growne withall to so greate a number, for where there is magna messis there must bee of necessity operarij multi.

Indeed, if wee all liu'd according to the lawe of nature, wee should neede fewe lawes, & fewer lawiers. Do as thou wouldest bee done vnto were a rule sufficient to rule vs all: & euery mans conscience would supplie both the place of an Aduocate & a Iudge, & then wee should suffer no costs of suite, nor delay of proces.

And againe if wee were a poore & a naked people, as many nations in America bee, wee should easily agree to bee iudged by the next man wee meete, & so make a short end of euerie controuersie. When the people of Rome were litle better then Sheepards & heardsmen, all their lawes were contained in ten or twelue Iuory tables. But when they became Lordes of all the world, what a world of bookes were there written of the Roman ciuill lawe? The like wee see in euery common-wealth when it once beginnes to flourish, & to growe rich & mighty: the people growe proud withall, & their pride makes them contentious & litigious, so as there is neede of many lawes to bridle them, & many Officers to execute those lawes, & many Lawyers to interpret those lawes, & all litle enough: as when a bodie growes full & grosse, it needes more Physicke then when it was leane.

And yet though our suites and causes bee very many, & our Courts of Iustice but a fewe, whereby it must needs come to passe, that euerie particular busines mouing in his turne must haue the slower motion: yet if wee compare our legall proceedings with the proces of other Kingdomes & common-weales, specially of France, wee shall finde, that according to the vsua [...]l clause in diuers writts, wee haue indeede plenam & celerem iustitiam (though the breefest Iustice bee not alwayes best) & that our causes for the most parte beîng orderly pursued may come to their Period in a yeare, with the course of the Sunne, when there are many processes in foreine countries that seeme to be gouerned by Saturne, which planet doth fearce finnish his course in the space of thirty yeares: as Bodin doth testifie of his owne country, [Page] that their were more suites in lawe depending in France, then in all Europe besides, & that many of those causes were an hundred yeare old: as that of the countie of Rais, saieth hee, which suite hath beene so well entertained in all the Chambers of Iustice, as albeit the parties that began it, are long since deade, yet the suit it selfe is still aliue. Besides, wee haue not so many Appeales, nor so many reuiewes of causes, as the Ciuill & Canon lawes do admitt, neither haue wee at this day so many delaies by Essoines, viewes, vouchers, & protections, as were in vse in former ages, when titles of land were tried onely in actions Reall, which are now growne almost out of vse, & a more speedy course of triall inuented by m [...]xt & personall actions.

Lastly there is no Nation in the world (I speake it for the honor of our Nation, & of our land) that hath a course of Iustice so speedy, & withall so commodious & easie for the subiect, as our trialles by Assise & nisi prius are. For what Kingdome is there vnder the Sunne, wherein euery halfe yeare the publike Iustice doth make her progresse into euery part thereof, as it doth in the kingdomes of England & Ireland? whereby it commeth to passe, that whereas the people of other contries do trauell farr to seeke Iustice in their fixt & setled Courts, as it were at fountaines, or Cesternes, the streames of Iustice are deriued vnto our people, & brought by conduit pipes or quilles euen home, as it were, to their owne doores. And thus much I thought fitt to obserue for the clearing of that vniust imputation of long & vnnecessary delaies in our legal proceedings.

3 But there is yet another exception against the professors of our lawe, namely, that wittingly & willingly they take vppon them the defence of many bad causes, knowing the same to bee vniust, when they are first consulted with & retained. And this is obiected by such as presume to censure our Profession in this manner. In euery cause betweene partie & partie (say they) there is a right, & there is a wrong, yet neither the one partie, nor the other did euer want a Counsellor to maintaine his cause. This may bee true for the most part, & yet in truth the learned Counsell whose fortune it is to light on the wrong side, may be free from imputation of any blame. For when doth the right or wrong in euery cause appeare? when is that distinguished & made manifest? can it bee discouered vppon the first Commencement of the suite, & before it bee knowne what can bee alleaged & proued by either partie? Assueredly it cannot: & therefore the Counsellor when he is first retained cannot possibly Iudge of the cause, whether it bee iust or vniust, because be heares onely one part of the matter, and that also he receaues by information from his Client, who doth euer put the case with the best aduantage for himselfe. But when the parties haue pleaded, & are at issue: when they haue examined witnesses in course of equity, or bee descended to a triall in course of lawe: after publication & hearing in th [...]one [Page] cause, & full euidence deliuered in the other: then the learned Counsell of eîther side may perhappes discerne the right from the wrong, & not before. But then are the causes come to their Catastrophe, & the Counsellors Act their last part. And yet vntill then the true state of the cause on both sides could not possibly bee discouered.

If then the causes that are prosecuted, do for the most part hang in a doubtfull ballance, vntill the hearing or triall thereof (for if a cause bee vndoubtedly & apparantly naught on the one side, no man is so vnwise as to followe it to the end, with the expence of money, & hazard of his credit) how can it bee iustly said that the Counsellor against whose Client a decree or verdict doth passe, hath wittingly defended an vniust cause, when hee wist not how the ballance would incline, vntill hee had made his vttermost defence? howbeit if any of our Counsellors do either in the prosecution of their Clients causes, giue sinister & craftie Counsell, or vppon the hearing or triall thereof, make an ouer bold defence of any dishonest action, our Iudges are so tender & iealous of the honor of our profession, as they lay a noate of Infamy vppon such persons, so as they seldome or neuer after are permitted to rise to any higher degree in the lawe, or any Office of trust in the common-wealth.

Whereby it commeth to passe, that no men of any other calling or profession whatsoeuer are more carefull to preserue their good name & reputation, & stand more precisely vppon their good behauiour then the learned professors of the common lawe.

And as our Iudges do discountenance bad Counsellors, so doth our lawe abhorre the defence & maintenance of bad causes, more then any other lawe in the world besides. For by what other lawe is vnlawfull maintenance, champertie, or buying of titles, so seuerely punished? By what othet lawe doth the plaintife, pro falso clamore, or vniust vexation, or the defendant for pleading a false plea pay an amercement or fine to the publike Iustice? And this is one cause, among others why our lawe doth not allowe Counsell vnto such as are indicted of Treason, Murder, Rape, or other capitall crimes: So as neuer any Professor of the lawe of England hath beene knowne to defend (for the matter of fact) any Traytor, Murderer, Rauisher, or Theefe, being indicted & prosecuted at the suite of the King. Turpe reos empta miseros defendere lingua, saieth the Poet, & therefore it is an honor vnto our lawe that it doth not suffer the Professors thereof to dishonor themselues (as the Aduocats & Orators in other countries do) by defending such offendors. For example whereof wee haue extant diuers Orations of Cicero, one pro C. Rabirio perduellionis reo, another pro Roscio Amerino who was accused of Parricide, & another pro Milone who was accused of Murder.

But good Lawyers haue not with vs that libertie which good Physitians haue. For a good Physitian may lawfully vndertake the [Page] cure of a foule and desperate disease, but a good Lawyer cannot honestly vndertake the defence of a foule & desperate cause. But if hee fortune to bee engaged in a cause, which seeming honest in the beginning, doth in the proceeding appeare to bee vniust, he followeth the good Counsell of the Schooleman Thom. Aquinas 22. quaest. 71. art. 3. Aduocatus si in principio credidit causam iustam esse, quae postea in processu appareat esse iniusta, non debet eam prodere, vt scilicet alteram partem iuuet, reuelando causae suae secretas: Potest tamen, & debet causam deserere, vel eum cuius causam agit, inducere ad cedendum, siue ad componendum, sine aduersarij da nno.

And thus I conceaue, that the most common & colourable exceptions which are taken against our lawe & Lawyers, may bee answered & cleared by the plaine reasons & demonstrations before expressed: So as our Profession may stand & bee iustified in all pointes against Ignorance, Enuie, & ill-contented suitors, who like cholerick Chesse-plaiers, when they haue had a mate giuen them, could finde in their harts to cast both the Chessebord, & Chessemen into the fier.

These vulgar errors being thus reuersed, so as wee may truly say, that there is no such vncerteinty in the rules of the lawe, no such delay in the proceedings, no such preuarication or corruption in the Professors thereof, as it is by some vniustly pretended: why may wee not proceed further & affirme confidently, that the profession of the lawe is to bee preferred before all other humane professions & sciences, as being most noble for the matter, & subiect thereof, most necessary for the common & continuall vse thereof, & most meritorious for the good effectes it doth produce in the common wealth?

For what is the matter & subiect of our Profession but Iustice, the Lady & Queene of all morall vertues? and what are our Professors of the lawe but her Counsellors, her Secretaries, her Interpretors, her Seruants? againe, what is the King himselfe but the cleare fountaine of Iustice? & what are the Professors of the lawe but conduit pipes deriuing & conueying the streames of his Iustice vnto all the subiects of his seuerall kingdomes? so as if Iustice bee rightly resembled to the Sunne in the firmament, in that shee spreadeth her light & vertue vnto all creatures: how can shee but communicate part of her goodnesse & glory, vnto that science that is her handmaid and waites vppon her? And if Kings bee Gods schollers (as Homer writeth) & that the rules of Iustice bee their principall lesson, & if God doe honor Kings with his owne name, Dixi quod dij estis (as a more diuine Poet then Homer singeth) specially for that they sitt vppon Gods owne seate when they minister Iustice vnto the people, do not Kings againe highly honor those persons, whose subordinate ministrie & seruice they vse in performing that principall part of their kingly office? Vndoubtedly, touching the aduancement of such persons, Solomon the King speaketh, that they shall stand before Kings, & God will sett [Page] them, saieth Dauid, with Princes, euen with the Princes of his people.

Neither is this Profession ennobled in regard of the dignity of her imploiment onely, but shee is to bee honored so much the more for the necessity & continuall vse of her seruice in the common-weale. For if wee must honor the Physitian, propter necessitatem, as the wise man prescribeth: much more must wee honor, for the same cause, the professors & ministers of the lawe. For neither do all men at any time, nor any one man at all times, stand in neede of the Physition: for they that are in health (which are the greatest number of men) non egent medico, saieth the greate Physition of our soules, & our onely Aduocate which is in heauen. But all men, at all times, & in all places do stand in neede of Iustice, & of lawe, which is the rule of Iustice, & of the interpreters & ministers of the lawe, which giue life & motion vnto Iustice.

For do not all persons stand in neede of Iustice, when without her rule the Prince himselfe knowes not how to rule, nor his people how to obey? When without her support, the noble man cannot vphold his honor, nor the common subiect hold his liberty? When without her safegard, the rich man cannot bee free from spoile, nor the poore man from oppression? Breefely, when without her no man liuing, bee hee vertuous or vicious, can enioy his life, nor any thing that makes his life delightfull? For the couetous man cannot encrease his profitt, nor the sensuall man enioy his pleasure, but vnder the shadowe of her wings.

Againe, is not Iustice needefull at all times, when wee can neither trauell safely by day, nor sleepe securely by night with out her protection? when if such a lawe were made indeede, as was propounded by a wicked Emperor, That all lawes should cease for foure & twenty houres, that short cessation would bee suffitient to giue opportunity to wicked men to make a greater combustion in the whole world, then that which happened when the Chariot of the Sunne did want a guide but halfe a day, as it is liuely expressed in the fable of Phaëton.

Lastly, is not iustice necessary in all places, when wee cannot without perill make a voiage by Sea, vnlesse shee wafte vs, nor a iourney by land vnlesse shee conuoy vs? when wee should bee opprest by force in the country, if shee not defend vs, & vndone by fraud in the Citty, if shee did not releeue vs? When shee encloseth euery mans garden & feild, & makes euery mans cottage his Castle of defence? So as wee haue not such an vniuersall & continuall vse neither of the light, of the Sunne, nor of fier & water, as wee haue of the light, & heate, & comfort of iustice: for a man may remaine aliue some howres without the vse of those common benefitts, but a common-wealth, wherein each priuate mans weale consisteth, cannot stand & continue one minute of an houre, if Iustice, which is her soule, bee departed from her.

[Page] If therefore Iustice, & the lawe, which is but a Rule or lesson of Iustice, bee so necessary for all persons, times & places, as no family, no Citty, no common-wealth, no Kingdome, can stand without the support thereof: how needefull is the seruice of learned men in the lawe without which Iustice it selfe cannot possibly stand? for Iustitia periret saieth the President Cassanaeus, si d [...]esset qui iustitiam allegaret. For if no man did study the reason of the lawe, if no man kept in memory the rules of the lawe, if no man knewe the forme of pleading, or the course of proceeding in the lawe, what would become of the publike Iustice in a short time? or how should the benefitt of the lawe bee deriued & communicated vnto the people? for as in a naturall bodie the reasonable soule cannot vse or transmitt any of her powers, but by speciall Organs of the same body disposed & fitted by nature for euerie function, as the eie to see, the eare to heare, the tongue to speake, & the like of the rest: so in the body politike of a common wealth, the lawe which is the soule thereof, produceth no effect or operation at all, but by such of her ministers, as by art & experience are enabled & qualified for her seruice. For lex est iustitia inanimata, saieth the schoolman, Lex est mutus magistratus saieth Cicero: the lawe of it selfe is dumbe & speakes not, but by the tongue of a learned & eloquent Lawyer: shee is deafe & heareth no complaints, but by the eare of a graue & patient Iudge: shee is blinde & seeth no enormities, but by the eie of a watchfull & diligent Officer.

Againe, the lawe is nothing else but a Rule, that is made to measure the actions of men. But a Rule is dead & measures nothing, vnlesse the hand of the Architect doe apply it. It is indeede an excellent Instrument, to make harmony & concord in the common-wealth: but the best Lute that euer was made, could neuer make musicke of it selfe alone, without the learned hand of the Luteplaier.

Therefore though Iuppiter (as Protagoras in Plato telleth vs) did first inuent & giue the lawe, yet was Mercury sent with that heauenly guift, to deliuer it euer vnto mankinde. So as it is manifest, that without the ministry of these Mercuries, of these interpretors of the lawe, namely the learned Professors thereof, there can bee no vse or application of the lawe, & consequently the lawe or Iustice it selfe cannot consist without them.

But as the estimation & price of this Profession is exceedingly raised by the necessary & vniuersall vse thereof, so doe her great merits to the common-wealth deserue a farr greater exaltation of honor. For first the common-wealth is indebted vnto the lawe for all her temporall blessings & felicities whatsoeuer. For all our peace, plenty, ciuility, & morall honestie dependeth vppon the lawe. That wee enioy our liues, our wiues, our children, our lands, our goodes, our good names, or whatsoeuer is sweete & deare vnto vs, wee are beholding to the lawe for it. Quid sunt regna nisi latrocinia sine iustitia? [Page] saieth Sainct Augustine? without Iustice the land would bee full of theeues, the Sea full of Pirats, the Commons would rise against the Nobility, the Nobility against the Crowne: wee should not knowe what were our owne, what another mans, what wee should haue from our Auncestors, what wee should leaue to our Children: Maios haereditas venit vnicuique nostrum à Iure & legibus, quam á parentibus saieth Cicero: in a word there would bee nothing certeine, nothing sure, no contracts, no commerce, no conuersation among men, but all Kingdomes, & states would bee brought to confusion, & all humane society would bee dissolued.

But on the other side, the lawe is a fortresse for the weake to retire vnto, a Sanctuary for the oppressed to fly vnto, it restraineth the boldnesse of the insolent, it tieth with Manacles the handes of the potent, & like Orpheus harpe or Noahes Arke, it charmeth the fiercenes of the Lion & the Tiger, so as the poore lambe may ly in safety by them.

If then the lawe it selfe doth merit so highly of all mankinde in generall, for that it is the fountaine of all these benefitts, what do the Professors of the lawe deserue, which drawe these benefitts out of that fountaine, & deriue the same vnto euery particuler person? Nam si non habes quo haurias, & puteus altus est, as the woman of Samaria saieth of Iacobs well in the Gospell, how canst thou refresh thy selfe with the water of that well? Si veritas sit in profundo demersa, as Democritus was wont to say, if humane actions bee so carried in cloudes, as it is hard to finde what is true & what is false, & when the truth of the fact is found, it is many times as hard to distinguish what is iust & what is vniust, if in all causes that come in question, either quaestio facti or questio Iuris must first bee decided, before a man can receaue the benefitt of the lawe (for as the wise man saieth, Deus fecit hominem rectum, sed ipse miscuit se infinitis quaestionibus) what a meritorious worke is it, to resolue these troublesome questions which arise in the Ciuill life of man, either by laying open the truth of the fact, or by clearing the doubtfull point in lawe, that speedie & equall Iustice may bee done vnto all, & euery one may haue & enioy his owne in peace? how often would the truth bee concealed & suppressed? How oft would fraud ly hid & vndiscouered? How many times would wrong escape & passe vnpunished, but for the wisdome & diligence of the Professors of the lawe? Doth not this profession euery day comfort such as are greeued, counsell such as are perplexed, releeue such as are circumuented, preuent the ruine of the improuident, saue the innocent, support the impotent, take the Pray out of the mouth of the oppressor, protect the Orphan, the widowe, & the stranger? Is shee not Oculus caeco, & pes claudo as Iob speaketh? Doth shee not withall many times stretch forth brachium saculare in defence of the Church & true Religion? All which are workes of mercy, & of [Page] singular merit. Againe, doth shee not register & keepe in memory [...]he best Antiquities of our Nation? Doth shee not preserue our auncient Customes & forme of gouernment, wherein the wisedome of our Auncestors doth shine farr aboue the policie of other kingdomes? Are not the Recordes of her actes & proceedings so precious, as they are kept in the Kinges Treasury, like Iewelles of the Crowne, & reputed a principall part of the Roiall treasure? Lastly, is not a worthie Prosessor of the lawe a starr in the firmament of the common-wealth? Is he not Lux in tenebris wheresoeuer hee dwelleth? Is not his house as it were an Oracle not onely to a Towne or Citty, but to a whole country round about him? So as hee may truly say of the people that seeke his counsell, as Apollo Pithius spoke in Ennius of such as resorted vnto his Temple.

Suarum rerum incerti, quos ego ope mea
Ex incertis Certos, compotesque consilij
De [...]itto, ne res temere tractent turbidas.

Therefore one of the Romaine Emperors doth not without cause giue this honorable testimony of the Professors of the lawe, Aduocati, qui dirimunt ambigua facta causarum, suaeque desensionis viribus, tam publicis in rebus quam in priuatis, lapsa erigunt, satigata reficiunt, non minus human [...] generi prouident, quam si praelijs atque vulneribus patriam parentesque saluarent: neque enim solos nostro Imperio militare credimus, qui gladijs, elypeis, & Thoracibus nituntur, sed etiam aduocatos. Militant namque causarum Patroni, qui laborantium spem, vitam, & posteros defendunt. For if it bee a worthie deede (as doubtlesse it is) for a man to defend his freindes or country with his right hand & his sword onely: what an excellent seruice is it to defend them with his speech, his reason, & wisedome wherein the excellency of man doth principally consist.

Therefore both the Schooleman & the Politike do preferr Iustice before Fortitude, & the Statute of 31. Henr. 8. cap. 10. which ranketh the great Officers of the kingdome in their due places, doth place the Constable & Marshall beneath the Chauncellor in all assemblies of Counsell. For Ille semel (saieth Cicero) speaking of the Martiall man, Hic semper proderit Reipublicae, meaning the learned man of the long robe.

And in very troth, as the common-wealth is much beholding to the Profession of the lawe, so are the Professors of the lawe not a litle beholding to the common-wealth. For if they procure & preserue her peace & her plenty, doth not shee requite them againe with riches & with honor? Doth shee not aduance them to her cheefe Benches & Offices, & trust them with the liuelyhoode & liues of all her people? Neither do our learned men of the lawe growe to good estates in the common-wealth, by any illiberall meanes (as enuy [Page] sometime suggesteth) but in a most ingenous & worthie manner. For the fees or rewardes which they receaue are not of the nature of wages, or pay, or that which wee call salery or hire, which are indeede duties certeine, & growe due by contract for labour or seruice, but that which is giuen to a learned Counsellor, is called honorarium & not merces, being indeede a gift which giueth honor as well to the Taker as to the giuer: neither is it certeine or contracted for, for no price or rate can bee sett vppon Counsell, which is vnualuable & inestimable, so as it is more or lesse according to circumstances, namely the ability of the Client, the worthinesse of the Counsellor, the weightynesse of the cause, & the custome of [...]he Country. Breefely, it is a gift of such a nature, & giuen & taken vppon such tearmes, as albeit the able Client may not neglect to giue it, without noate of ingratitude (for it is but a gratuity or token of thankefullnesse) yet the worthie Counsellor may not demaund it, without doing wrong to his reputation: according vnto that morall rule, Multa honestè accipi possunt, quae tamen honesté peti non possunt.

Lastly, it is an infallible argument, that the estates of such as rise by the lawe, are builded vppon the foundation of vertue, in that Gods blessing is so manifestly vppon them, not onely in raising, but in preseruing their houses & posterities: whereof there are examples not a fewe, & those not obscure, in euery shire of England, & of the English Pale in this kingdome of Ireland.

If then our common lawe of England bee cleare from those vulgar imputations, which ignorance doth conceaue, & enuy report thereof, if the Profession or science of the lawe bee more noble, more necessary, more meritorious then any other temporall Art or Science: & if the dignity of this profession do accordingly dignifie all the Professors thereof which are qualified with learning and vertue fitt for so worthy a Calling (for such as are ignorant or dishonest, as they are to receiue no grace by the Profession, so the profession is to suffer no disgrace by them) how highly is that person honored, whose true merit hath aduaunced him to the most transcendent place of honor, that can possibly bee attained by that Profession? This is that great place or Office which your Lordship most worthily holdeth (& long may you hold the same) vnder his Maiestie, which though it bee the highest pinnacle of honor, that any secular person of the long Robe can in re or spe aspire to, vnder any Monarch, yet was it giuen vnto your Lordship, nec expetenti, nec expectanti, by the wisest & most renowned Queene that euer raigned in Europe: who leauing her Crowne together with the faithfull seruants thereof vnto the wisest & Iustest King vppon earth, his Maiestie in his infallible Iudgement & wisedome confirmed this honorable Office vnto your Lordship, not onely with a fulnesse of grace to your selse, but with an augmentation of honor to your posterity. For what encrease of honor can the Lord Chauncellor [Page] receaue in his owne person, being that in England which Ioseph was in Egypt, the second person of the Realme in the administration of all Ciuill affaires? being made (as it were) cheefe Steward of his masters house, the cheefe dispenser of his bounty & Iustice, by the deliuery & custodie of the great Seale, which may properly bee called the key of the Kingdome? Being the Sole Iudge of that high Court, which is Sedes misericordie, & therefore exalted aboue all seates of Iustice: where hee hath Potestatem absolutam as well as regulatam in binding & loosing the proceedings of the lawe, & in deciding of causes by the rules of his owne conscience.

Breefely what can there bee more done to the man whom the King will honor? Is hee not ad latus Principis, to attend him? Is hee not Auricularius Principis to aduise him? Doth not the King make him a conduit of his wisedome, when hee vseth his voice & tongue to declare his Roiall pleasure? And doth he not make him an Organ of his goodnesse, when hee trusteth him with his mercy & conscience, in sweetening the bitter waters of Summum ius, & in mittigating the rigour of the lawe vnto his people? In a word doth he not represent reuerentiam Principis in the power & authority of his Office? And do not the people feare & honor the King euen in the grauity & dignity of his person? And are not all these honors made more honorable, & exceedingly raised in true estimation & value, when the same are enioyed in a most famou [...] & flourishing common-wealth, & do proceede as Sunne beames from the most religious, learned, wise, the most renowned & excellent King of the world? If then the greatest honors do of right belong to the greatest vertues (for what is honor but a reflection & reward of vertue?) how vertuous a person must he bee, with what giftes & graces, with what abilities, & ornaments, both of art & nature must hee bee endowed, who can worthily supply that great & honorable Office?

Assuredly, besides the naturall faculties & powers of his mind which hee ought to haue in great perfection, & besides the outward comelinesse & dignity of his person, for Gratior est pulchro veniens [...] corpore virtus, & Sapientia hominis lucet in vul [...]ueius, saieth Solomon, he must bee furnished withall learning that hath any relation to the publike good: Diuinity, Lawe, Policie, Morality, & specially Eloquence, to impart & communicate all the rest. Hee must withall haue a long & vniuersall experience in all the affaires of the common-wealth: he must be accomplished & absolute in all points of Grauity, Constancy, Wisedome, Temperance, Courage, Iustice, Piety, Integrity, & all other vertues fitt for Magistracy & gouernment, yet so, as the same bee seasoned & tempered with affability, gentlenesse, humanity, courtesie, howbeit without descending or diminishing of himselfe, but still retaining his dignity, state, & honor. Breefely, hee must bee a person of such vertue & worthinesse, as his life may bee a Censure, & his [Page] example a Mirror for all other Magistrates. These are the excellencies & perfections wherewith that great Officer must bee qualified & adorned: And this Idaea haue I conceaued of him, not out of mine owne imagination or weake discourse of reason, but out of an humble obseruation of your Lordship in whom not onely those abilities & vertues before expressed, but many other graces & ornaments do shine so brightly, as the weakest Iudgement may collect out of the same a most exquisite Patterne of a most excellent Chauncellor.

But perhappes it would bee thought more comely for mee to pronounce this of your Lordship to others collaterally, then to speake it to your Lordship of your selfe directly (though what can I declare in this kinde to others, but that which the world hath long since knowne & acknowledged?) yet is there no man liuing whom it may better become then my selfe to praise & honor your Lordship euery way, whose fauor hath beene (as it were) a good Angell vnto mee, & to whom I stand bound for so many benefits, as that which might carry a shewe of adulation in another, must needes bee thought but Duty & gratitude in mee.

Howbeit, besides my particular obligation, there is no Professor of the lawe, that is not obliged to do your Lordship all honor, for the honor you haue done to the Profession of the lawe, whereof your Lordship hath beene, during all your time, a principall light & ornament.

And nowe (my most honorable good Lord) my deuotion to the Profession of the lawe, & to your Lordship the most noble Patron of the Professors thereof, hauing enlarged this discourse beyond the measure & limitts of an Epistle (& therefore I giue it the name of a Preface) it remaineth that I present vnto your Lordship the [...]ude collection of a fewe selected Cases, which since the beginning of his Maiesties Raigne haue beene argued, resolued, & adiudged in this Realme of Ireland.

These are the first fruites of my labor in this kinde of learning, & are therefore a due & proper oblation to your Lordship, for that my studie haue yealded the better fruite, being cherished by the Sunnebeames of your Lordships fauor. This is also the first Report of Cases arising in Ireland & ruled in the Courts of Iustice there, that euer was made & published to the world, since the lawes of England were first established in this kingdome. Lastly, I haue made choise of such speciall Cases, as are either proper for this kingdome onely, or else doe conteine for the most part points of learning not common, or at least not largely debated, in our bookes of the lawe.

But for as much as Natura incipit ab imperfectis as the Schooleman saieth, Therefore these weake & imperfect beginnings do seeke your Lordships protection, till time shall giue them more strength & reputation. In the meane time, if your Lordships Iudgement shall [Page] allowe the publication heereof, I shall haue the lesse cause to doubt the censure of any other, specially of my Maisters of the lawe in England, if any of these bookes happen to come to their handes: to whom I may truly make this protestation, that these Cases being resolued & adiudged in the Courts of Iustice in Ireland, are not collected & published by mee, to encrease the number of the bookes of lawe in England, or to interrupt the better studies of the Students there, by reading of this collection, but principally for the vse and benefitt of our practisers heere in Ireland, and to moue and incite others in this Kingdome, by this first example, which doth onely open & shew them the way, to performe the like seruice heereafter to posterity.

Neither haue I besought your Lordships patronage for these Cases of Ireland in respect of my selfe onely, but also in regard of that relation which your Lordsh [...]p hath vnto this kingdome. For albeit pour Lordship bee Lord Chauncellor of England, yet the great Seal [...] which you keepe there, is also of force & power within this Realme. Neither can wee forgett, without ingratitude, that your Lorship in that high place of Counsell which you hold in England, is vppon all occasions watchfull & carefull of the publike good & welfare of Ireland.

Nowe therefore the onely wise God who hath giuen vnto your Lordship those blessings which wisedome hath in store for them that loue her, Longitudo dierum in dextra [...]ius, & in sinistra [...]ius diuitiae & gloria, preserue your Lordship for many yeares in health and honor, that you may long continue a prudent and principall Counsellor vnto your Soueraigne, a louing & prouident father vnto your country, a comfort and countenance to your particular freindes, and all others who pertake of your honorable fauors, among which I remaine.

Most bound, & most deuoted to do your Lordship all humble seruice. Io: Dauys.

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[Page 1]

Trin. 2. Iacobi en [...]eschecquer.
Le Case de Proxies.

ENter le Roy & Sir Ambrose Forth, Doctor del ciuil Ley, & un des Maisters del Chauncery, le case fuit tiel.

L'Evesque de Meth, devantle dissolution des Monasteries, avoit vn Proxie de xv. [...]. iiii. d. payable annualment hors del cōmaund [...]y de Kells en le county de Meth, parcell del possessions del Hospital de Saint Iohn de Ierusalem en Ireland; & vn auter Proxie de xx s. paiable annualmēt hors del impropriate Rectory de Trevet en mesme le countie, parcell del possessions del Abbey de Thomascourt en le countie de Dublin.

Anno 33. Henr. 8. le dit Hospitall de S. Iohn de Ierusalem, & le dit Abbey de Thomascourt fueront suppresse & dissol [...]e, & touts les possessions des ambideux ditz measons fueront [...]est en le actual & real possession del Corone per act del Parliament. Mes en mesme le act est vn expresse Saving de Proxies a [...] touts Evesques & lour successors.

Apres ceo, l'Evesque de Meth & son Clergie, (car cest evesquery [...]ad Deane & Chapter) per fait enroll dat: 16. Martij 36. H. 8 graunt les Proxies a [...]antdit (enter auters) al Roy Henr. 8. ses heires & successors; le dit Roy esteant al temps del graunt & puis, en actuall possession del dit cōmaundry & Rectory, hors de queux les ditz Proxies fueront payable.

Puis, la Ronne Elizabeth, per ses letters patēts dat 1. Novembris en l'an. 33. de sa raigne, demise le dit commaundry et Rectory al Doctor Forth, rendant rent, sa [...]s ascun reseruation des Proxies. Et si ore il serra charge o [...]e les dits Proxies, [Page] & les arrerages d'yceux encurrues depuis le comencemēt de son leas, fuit le question. Et fuit adiudge que il serroit charge. Et 3. points fuerōt move, & debate en l'argumēt de cest Case.

1 Si les Proxies fueront tout ousterment extinct per le suppression & dissolution des dits religious measons de S. Iohn de Ierusalē, & de Thomascourt, nient obstant le dit Saving, deins l'act de Dissolution.
2 Si l'Evesque puissoit graunter les Proxies al Roy.
3 Si les Proxies fueront extinct en maines del Roy per l'Unity de possession.

PUr le Primer point, fuit obiect per le counsel del Sir Ambrose Forth, que les Proxies fueront extinct per le suppression & dissolution de les religious measons: pur ceo que le Visitatiō de les religious measons fuit la sole cause de paymēt des Proxies. Et cessante causa cessat effectus. Car les religious persons esteant deraigne, & disperse, ne fueront, apres ceo, subiect al visitation, & donques, quant le visitation cease, le Proxie, esteant solement vn Exhibition doneal visitor purses travayling charges, cessera auxi. Car Procuratio (come les Canonists define ceo) est exhibitio sumptuum necessariorum facta praelatis, qui diocoeses peragrando Ecclesias subiectas visitant.

Uncore ils agreeont, que le Visitation ne cessa immediatement per le surrender, ouper l'act de Parliamēt, que done les religious measons & lour possessiōs al Corone; car per ceo, lour Corporations ne fueront dissolve; come est tenus en le case de Deane & Chapter de Norwich en le 3. part des Reports de le Seignior Coke. 15. Ass. p. 8. 32. H. 8 Br. Corporations 78. mes quant les religious persons fueront deraigne, & avoent relinquish lour habit, rule, & order, pur queux ils fueront visitable, adonques le Corporation fuit ousterment dissolve, & sur ceo le visitation cessa.

Et ils reseinblont le proxie due pur Visitation al Annuity pro Consilio, ou pro Servitio impēdendo; si le counsell, ou le service soit withdraw, le Annuity est determin: issint si Rent charge soit graunt pur vn chimin, stopp le chimin, & le Rent charge serra auxi stopp. 9. Edw. 4. 19. 15. Edw. 4. 2. 21. Edw. 3. 7. 45. Ed. 3. 8. Dier. 6. H. 8. 2. & 6. Ed. 6. 76. issint ou Corody est graunt pur certein service destre fait; omission del service, determin le Corody. 20. Edw. 4. fol. vltimo.

[Page 2] Fuit auxi dit, que cest duty ne fuit annuall, mes cōtingent; & payable tantsolement sur chescun Visitation, come Escuage sur chescum iourney roiall, ou come Aide pur [...]le marier, on pur fair fitz chivaler; en queux darrain cases, si avowry soit fait pur l'ayde, est bon plea en barr d'avowry, a dire, que l'avowant nad teil fitz ou [...]ile en vie, al temps del Ayde levie. N. N. Br. 82. g.

Et pur le Saving, ils diont, que ceo fuit vn Flattring Saving, que ne poer preserver les proxies en esse, queux la Ley ad extinguish, come est tenus 14. Eliz. Dier. 313. que les Tenures del Obitou Chauntry terres tenus del subiects, sont extinct per lact del 1, E. 6. ment obstant le Saving en le dit act, propter absurditatem; issint les Proxies icy serront extinct propter absurditatē. Car come est absurd que le Roy serra subiect al attendance en respect de Tenute, issint est absurd, que le Roy serra subiect al visitation ou al ascun duty en respect de ceo. De mesme le nature sont plusors Savings mise en Walsinghams case, Plow. Com. 563. queux so [...]t la appell Flattring Savings.

PUr le second point, fuit obiect, que l'Evesque ne puissoit graunter les proxies al Roy, pur: 2. reasons: l'u [...] deduce del person del Roy, l'auter del person del Evesque. 1. pur le Roy, admitt que il [...]uit capable de teil spirituall office, come destre Visitor des religious persons, vncor il navera Poxies pur l'inconveniency, & indecency, & auxi pur l'impossibility. Car nest convenient, ou decent, que les poures religious persons porteront les charges de Roy, & est auxi impossible. Car per le Canon Ley, Procuratio exhibēda est secundum qualitatem personae visitantis; & le Maiesty del person del Roy, & le grandeur de son Trayne est teil, que per presumption del ley, nul priuate person poet porter ses necessary charges, ou fair a luy entertaynment aggreeable al quality de son person. Et pur ceo est tenus 27. Henr. 8. 10 b que ou common sans number fuit graunt al Abbe & ses successors hors del Mannor de Dale, que apres le dissolution, le Roy na [...]era le common sans number: car la est dit, que si le Roy ave [...]oit, il puissoit surcharge la terre, que la ley ne voet suffer. Come si vn villaine purchase common sans number, le Seignior navera ceo, pur le reason avantdi [...], car donques le ter [...]nant perdroit la profitt de sa terre.

Pur l'Evesque, coment que il poet graunter ses Temporall [Page] Possessions ove l'assent de son Chapter ou Clergy: uncore ceux dutyes queux il ad per prerogative de [...]on Episcopall Chaire, ou come incident a son spirituall function, il ne poet graunter: queux per la rule del Cahon ley sout de 3. Kindes. 1. Subsidium Cathedratieum, que est duty de prerogative & superiority. 2. quarta Episcopalis, que est done a luy pur rep [...]ratiòn de les Esglises. 3. Procurationes, pur son visitation, vt supra, que est perquisite ou profit de son spiritual iurisdiction. Come creation money done al Duke, ou Earle, pur maintenance de [...]on honor, ne poet estre graunt ouster. 6. Henr. 8. Dier. 2. a.

PUrle 3. point, ils diont, que coment que Proxie soit vn personall chose, payable tantsolement en respect des persons Visitable: vncor admitt que ceux Proxies sont devenus reall, & que le commaundry & rectory sont charges ove ceux Proxies, donques le vnity de possession extinguish euxen Maines del Roy: come Seigniory, rent charge, common, & similia sont extinguish per le purchase del Terrtenant, sil ad equall estate en le terre, & en la chose que charge la terre. Et a cest entent le case de 2. H 4. 19. a. fuit mise, ou vn Prior an annuity ho [...]s▪ del personage per Prescription, le personage est appropriate al Priory, l'annuity est extinguish a touts iours.

MEs d'auter part, fuit respond per le counsell del Roy, & resolve per le Court, que les dits Proxies ne fueront extinguish per le dissolution des dits religious measous, mes fueront bien preserue & saves al Evesque: Et que l'evesque ad eux bien graunt al Roy: & que le vnity de posses on en maines del Roy fesoit forsque vn suspension, & nemi extinguishment des dits Proxies.

QUant al Primer point, primerment fuit observe, que les Proxies n'avoent lour Originall en le Primitive Church. Car Saint Paule en visitant touts les Esglises queux il ad plant en Asia & Europe, ne demaundoit ascun Proxies, mes laboroit ove ses proper maines, pur son sustenance, ne serroit burthensome al Esglises. Uncor long temps apres, le Canon ley, que declare que Proxies sont due al Euesques en lour Visitations, dit, que ceo est agreeable [Page 3] al doctrine de S. Paule, vt à quibus spiritualia recipimus, eisdem Temporalia cōmunicemus. Iustit. Iuris Canon libr 2. c. deCēsib.

Secondment fuit note, que ceo que nous appellons Proxie ou procuracy, est appell per les Canonists, Procuratio, pur ceo que sur chescun visitation les persons visitable procuront necessary prouisions pur les visitors: queux prouisiōs al primes fueront fait en refections ou victualls, viz. in esculentis & Poculentis, mes ceo fuit ove measure & Tēperance, ne ieiuniorū doctrinā rubētibus buccis praedicēt, come est dit en vndes Canōs

Mes apres, quant le pompe & excesse des visitors requiroit tant des prouisions que fueront greeuous & intollerable al Esglises, & religious measons: adonques chescun Esglise & meason fuit reasonablement tax, & per ceo [...], chescun Proxie fuit reduce al certeyn summe de money, payable annualment, en nature de pension, al Ordinary, que ad le power de visitation de mero Iure, come est dit. 10. Eliz. Dier. 273. b.

Et ceo fuit aptement resemble al Socage en nostre Ley, de que Littleton dit, que en auncient temps, devant le limitation de Temps de memory, grand part de les Tenants queux tiendront de lou [...] Seigniors per Socage, devoent vener ove lour Sokes per certeyn iours per an, pur arer & semer les demesnes del Seignior; & pur ceo que tiels overages fueront fait pur le viver & sustenance de lour Seigniors, ils fueront quites envers lour Seigniors de touts auters services; & puis apres tiels services fuetout changes en Deniers, per consent des Seigniors, & per desire des tenants, en vn Annuel Rent▪ &c. Et sicome les tenants en Socage apres le dit change, payerent lour Rents annualment al Seignior, coment que il ad alien ses Demesnes, & ad null terre destre Are ou seme: issint les Esglises & Religious measons, apres que le procuration de victualls fuit reduce al summe certeyn, payeront ceo al Ordinary annualment, coment que il ne fesoit ascun Visitation. Et issint le Rule de Cessante causa cessat effectus, ne tient en ceux Cases. Et a cest entent directment est le case de Sir William Capel, mise en Luttrels Case, en le. 4. part. des Reports de le Seignior Coke, ou fuit resolve: que ou home tient certeyn terre per Rent pur Castle Garde, coment que le Castle soit dirute o [...] decay, vncor le rent remayne; Car la est dit, que quant [Page] le Tenant regnoit del Seignior, de garder, ou repaire le Castle del Seignior, & puis teil service (come Littleton dit en Case de Socage) fuit en auncient temps, per mutuall consent del Seignior & tenant, change en vn Annuel Rent; coment que soit dit rent Pro warda Castri, vncor le Seignior ne poet aver le Castle Gard arrere, quant il voet, mes, apres le composition & change fait, le Castle Gard est tout ousterment ale; & Pro ne import condition, come en le case d'annuity graunt Pro consilio impendendo, mes plein & perpetuel recompense & satsfaction. Pur mesme le reason en nostre case, coment que les personages impropriate sont fait ore lay fee, & devenus en maines des Lays gents, queux ne sont visitable; & coment que les religious measons sont suppresse, dissolve, & dirute, come le Castle en Sir William Capels Case; vncor les dits certeyn summes de money queux veignont en liew de Proxies, & retaynont le nosme de Proxies, & per auncient composition sont fait parcel del certeyn & setled revenewes del Evesque, remaineront a touts iours, & ne serront subiect al extinguishment; nient plus que Annuites, pensions, ou portions de Tithes, queux sont pay a cest iour hors del plusors Abbeyes, & impropriate Rectories, & l'originall causes, pur queux ils fueront grount ou pay, ne serront ore examine, ou brought en question. Et a cest iour le Roy mesme pay & allow Proxies hors de touts impropriations queux il ad en son possession; & put ceo en quescun lease fait per le Roy del impropriate rectory, il y ad vn [...]ovenant del part del lessee, que il portera & payera touts Proxies, Synodalls, pensions, &c. Et Sir Humfrey Winch adonques cheef Baron disoit, que devant le dissolution des Monasteries, ou rectory fuit appropriate al Abbey, immediatement le Visitation cessoit quant [...]l Rectory; car l'Abbe ne fuit visitable come Rector, pur son doctrine, mes come Abbe, pur son rule & order: & vncor sans question le Ordinary ad ses Proxies hors de touts personages appropriate al Abbeyes, cibien devant le Dissolution, que apres.

Et pur le Saving en l'act de 33. H. 8. c. 5. ceo nest idle, ou Flattring Saving, mes real & effectuall; car est agree devant, que ceux Proxies sueront en esse all temps del fesans del Act, & nient extinguish per le Surrender des religious [Page 4] measons, car lour Corporations ne fueront dissolve, tant que les religious persons ont relinquish lour measons, & ont estre disperse: Et donques tiels choses, queux fueront en esse al temps del fesans del act, poent estre bien preserve, & save per l'act, coment que choses extinct devant, ne poent estre revive per vn Saviug, sans expresse parolx de graunt & restitution. Et cest difference appiect pleinment en le case de Kekewich. 27. H. 8. Brooke Parliaments 77. Et en Sir Iohn Molins Case en le. 6. part. des Reports de le Seignior Coke.

2 QUant al Second point, fuit resolve, que les Proxies en lour Originall nature esteant duties payable pur Visitation, fueront grauntable al Roy, & le Roy fuit capable de tiel graunt, specialment, quant les dits duties fueront convert al Summe de money certein, en nature de pension ou Annuity. Car per le auncient Ley del Realme, le Roy ad power de visiter, reformer, & correcter touts abuses & enormities en l'Esglise: & per le statutes fait en temps H. 8. le Corone fuit forsque remitt & restore a son auncient iurisdiction; que fuit vsurpe per L'evesque de Rome. 33. E. 3. fitz. Aid del Roy. 103. Reges sacro oleo vncti spiritualis iurisdictionis sunt capaces. Et Proxie est profit del Irisdiction. 10 H. 7. 18. Rex est mixta persona cum Saccrdote. Auxi le Roy avera Tithes per le common ley, de queux nul lay person fuit capable. 22. Ass. p. 75 21. H. 7. 1. Le Roy mesme visitera ses frank Chappels, & Hospitalls. 8. Ass. p. 29. N. Br. 42. a. Et Cassaneus in Catalogo Gloriae mundi part. 5. consideratione. 24. Cite vn text del Canon Ley, Viz. quod omnes reges dicuntur Clerici, Et vn auter text, que dit, Quod causa spiritualis committi potest Principi laico.

Et ou fuit dit, que en respect del grandeur del Roy, & de son trayne, competent Proxies ne poent estre exhibit a luy, & per consequence, ne poent estre grauut a luy; test obiection est toll, en ceo que les Proxies al temps de cest graunt fueront reduce al certeyn reasonable summes de money: Auxi le rule del Canon Ley nest pleiriment cite devant, car le rule est. Procuratio exhibenda est secundum qualitatem personae visitantis, & substantiam visitatorum.

Fuit auxi resolve, que L'evesque, ove lassent de son Clergy, [Page] puissoit bien graunter les Proxies al Roy, pur ceo que la Ley ad qualifie le person del Roy de receaver teil graunt, coment que ceo [...]oit tiel prerogative del Evesque que ne poet esire assigne al auter person: come le creation money del Duke ou Countee, poet estre graunt & surrender al Roy, coment que ne poet estre graunt al subiect. Auxi les Proxies esteant ore reduce al certeyn summe de Argent, & issint [...]air part del certeyn, setled, & perpetuall revenew del Evesque, poent estre cibien graunt per luy, come portion de Tithes, ou Annuity, ou ascun de ses Rents, services, ou auters hereditaments temporall.

3 QUant al Tierce point, fuit auxi resolve & adindge, que le vnity de possession des Proxies ove les rectories impropriate & religious measons, hors de queux les Proxies sont payable, ne Extinguish les Proxies en maines del Roy, mes Suspend le Payment de eux Tantum, pro tempore, quovsque le Roy per son graunt ad sever l'nn del auter.

Pur trover la Ley en cest point, le nature de ceux choses fuit consider, queux en ascun manner poent estre subiect al Drowning, ou Extinguishment, per Unity de possession. Et ceux sont de 3. Kindes. 1. Estates en terre. 2. Actions Reall & Titles al terre. 3. choses issuant ou provenant hors del Terre, ou prises & eu sur terre.

1 E [...]ates en terre, sont properment merge ou confound, quant meinder estate concurre ove greinder estate, en mesme le person, & en mesme le droit: come, Terminus & feodum non possunt constare simul in vnâ eádemque personâ. Et le pregnant reason de ceo est mise en le case de Bracebridge Plow. Com. 319. b. Pur ceo que Terme est temps finite, & Fee simple est temps infinite, & le finite de necessity covient estre merge & confound en le infinite. Mes ceo est Confounding & nemi Extinguishment: car si particular tenant graunt ou surrender son estate al cesty en reversion, le particular estate nest extinct, coment que soit merge & confound: car si particular tenant ad charge le Terre ove rent, ou anter encumbrance, l'Estate remainera en essea cest entent. Et revera Estates en terre, & Droit al terre, sont choses de tiel Substance, queux ne poent estre extinct, ou interire [Page 5] interire penitus. Et pur ceo Littleton dit, que si disseisee, quant son entry est toll, relessa al terrtenant tout son droit, que ceo ne envrera per voy de Extinguishment; car le droit que il avoit passa al tenant per son Releas: Et serroit inconvenient, que tiel ancient droit serroit extinct tout ousterment, Car droit ne poet pas morier.

Mes choses queux issuont hors del terre, come Seignory, rent charge, &c. sout subiect al Extinguishment a touts entents. Come [...] Seignior graunt son Seigniory al Tertenant & estrange, la serra nul ioyntenancy, ou survivor enter eux, carle moity del Seigniory est extinct a touts entents & purposes. Plow. Com. 419. a. Et si Seignior releas al tenant tout son droit en le Seigniory, ou en la terre, tiel releas va per voy D'extinguishment vers touts persons. Littleton. 112. b.

2 Reall actions auxi, & conditions, sont subiect al Extinguishment, & ceo est quasi per vnity de possession. Come en touts cases de Remitter, la cestuy que ad droit d'Action pur terre, ad le possession de mesme le terre, issint que nest ascun person vers que il poet porter son action, & pur ce [...] l'Action est Extinguish a touts iours.

Et sur mesme le reason, condition que done title de Reenter en terre est Extinguish per purchase del terre, ou part de ceo. 8. H. 7. 8. b. 33. H. 8. Br. Extinguishment. 49. issint Garranty est Extinguish per reenfeffment, ou Discent del terre al mesme le person que ad le Garranty. 40. E. 3. 13.

3 Choses issuant ou provement hors del Terre, ou prise & eu sur Terre, sont de 3. Kindes: & sur ceux different Kindes de choses, surdont ceux differences.

1 Si les choses ont iour Originall & commencement hors del terre, & nemi aliors, & sont due en respect del Terre tantum, & sont part des profits de terre, tiel choses serront touts foitz Extinguish per vnity de possession, si home ad equall estate, & vn droit, en ambideux ensemble. de cest nature est Seigniory & reall services. 3. H. 6. 1. a. 40. E. 3. 40. b. Littl. 49. a. 122. b. 34. Ass. p. 15. Rent charge. Littleton 48. b. Dier. 140. b. Common. 11 H. 4. 5. a. 24. E. 3. 25. b. Chimin 21. E. 3. a. 11. H. 4. 5. a. Et. 2. reasons de cest rule fueront mise: vn, pur ceo que le chose que est extract hors de terre, quant ceo vient al terre arrere, serra naturelment [Page] extinct, car est, Revolutio ad materiam primam dont vient le naturall Extinguishment, cibien del home, que de touts auters Terrestriall choses. L'auter plus legal reason est, que cestuy que ad touts les profitz entierment, ne serra dit daver part des profitz, car part est cōfound en le Tout, & pur ceo home ne poet aver Seigniory, rent, common, on Chimin en son terre demesme.

2 Mes del auter part, choses que ne sont issuant hors del terre, come parcel des profitz del terre, mes sont derive aliors, & due pur auter respect, coment que sont prise & eu deins certeyn Terre, vncor, vnity de possession ne Extinguish tiels choses. De cest nature sont touts Francheses: come si home ad Warren ou Purlieu en le terre de vn auter, & apres purchase la terre, cest vnity de possession ne Exringuish les Francheses, mes il avera eux en sa terre demesne. 28. H. 8. Dier. 30. b. 16. Eliz. Dier. 327. a. 35. H. 6. 56. a. issint est de Waif, Stray, Wreck, Leet, &c.

3 Auxi, coment que chose soit part des profitz de terre, & payable per tiel person tantum que ad le terre, vncor si tiel chose ad son commencement & Originall pur ascun Personall respect, & nemi en respect del Terre, & issint le person est solement charge, & nemile Terre, tiel chose ne serra subiect al Extinguishment per vnity de possession: & de cest nature sont Annuities, Dismes, Proxies.

1 Si Annuity soit graunt en fee per apt parols, de charger l'heir, ou successor, coment que l'heir ou successor ne serront charge sans Assets de terre, vncor, si grauntee del Annuity enter en cest terre, ceo ne suspend, ne Extinguish l'Annuity: car le terre nest charge, mes le person en respect del Terre, car si le terre fuissoit charge, ne serroit Annuity tantum, mes Rent charge, & serroit recover per distresse & avowry, quel remedy la ley ne done pur vn meere annuity. Auxi sur assignement ouster de tiel Annuity, Atturnament serroit necessary, que ne besoigne sur assignement del Annuity, come est note per Yaxley. 21. H. 7. 1. b.

Cest point est fait plus cleer. 10. E. 4. 10. a. Abbe port Scire facias vers vicar, sur Idgment en Annuity eu vers le predecessor del vicar, le defendant dit, que l'Annuity issuist hors del Mannor de B. & les dismes, oblations, & obventions del vicarage, quel mannor & dismes font le vicarage: [Page 6] Et que le Pl. ad enter en 43. acres parcel del mannor, & ad pris les dismes, Idgment sil execution doet aver. Et tout le Court tient, que nest plea, pur ceo que cest recovery [...]uit sur breef de Annuity: car en breefe d'annuity le person solement est charge, & nemi le terre, per que adire, que il ad enter en la terre, ou per son suit appiert que le rent ne issuist hors▪ del terre, nest plea. Et est auxi la resolve, que en Annuity vers Abbe, sur title de prescription, nest plea, que le Pl. ad enter en parcel des possessions del Abbey. Et en annuity vers heir, coment que il ne serra charge sil n'ad per discent, vncor nest plea, adire, que le Pl. ad enter en le terre discendue.

Mes. 21. H. 7. 1. le Case est plus fort: Person del Esglise fuit charge ove annuity al auter Person per prescription: le personage, hors de quel l'annuity fuit payable, fuit appropriate al Priory des Aliens, quel Priory esteant suppresse per E. 3 fuit graunt per Parliament al. H. 5. Apres E. 4. graunt le personage impropriate al Deane de S. Stevens, [...]ers que breef d'Annuity est port per le Person que avoit l'annuity per prescription. Et l'opinion del Court la fuit, que l'annuity nest extinguish per le gtaunt del personage al H. 5. per Act de Parliament, coment que ne soit Saving de ceo, & que cest annuity nest done Inclusivè ove le Rectory, car le rectory 'ne fuit charge ove l'annuity, mes le person del Rector tantum. Et coment que le payment de cest Annuity soit suspend en maines del Roy, vncor quant le Roy ad graunt le personage ouster, serra revive.

2 Quant al Dismes, ceux sont part des profits de terre, & sont provenant, & renovant, de, & hors del Terre, vncor ne serront extinct, per vnity de possession, pur ceo que sont Originalment due en Personal respect. Car le ignorance & weaknes des lay persons, que besoigne d'aver Instruction, & confirmation en matter de Religion, fuit l'Original cause del payment de Tithes. Et le Person d'esglise ne claime Tithes en respect del terre, mes en respect del person de parishioner. Et que vnity de possession ne extinguish Tithes, Vid 30. H. 8. Dier. 43. 32. H. 8. Br. Dismes. 17. Cest case de Dismes est vn Paralell del case de Proxies, & concurre ove ceo en touts points. Car sicome Instruction fuit le cause de payment des Dismes, issint Visitation [Page] que fuit touts foits accompany ove Instruction Littl. c. de Frankalmoigne. 30. b. fuit la cause de Proxies. Et sicome Dismes sont ore due & payable al lay persons queux ont purchase impropriate rectories, coment que ils ne donont ascun Instruction, issint Proxies sont due & payable al Ordinaries hors del impropriations & Religious measons dissolved, coment que lour Visitation cessa. Et sicome nul paet prescribe de non Decimando, come est communement dit en nostre livers, issint le Canon Ley ad vn rule, Quod nulla est adversus procurationem praescriptio. Instit. Iuris Canonici libr. 2. cap. de Censibus. Et pur ceo Proxies, que resem [...]ont Tithes en auter points, poent estre bien compare a eux en cest point, viz. que ne serront subiect al Extinguishment per vnity de possession.

Cest case dependoit plusors Termes sur Demurrer, que fuit ioyne en temps de Sir Edmund Pelham cheef Baron, & adiudge en temps de Sir Humfrey Winch. Et fuit argue per l'Atturney generall pur le Roy, & per Henry Linch del Middle Temple, pur Sir Ambrose Forth.

[Page 7]

Mich. 5. Iacobi en Bank le Roy.
Le Case de Customes payable pur Marchandises.

INformation fuit exhibite en Bank le Roy, per L'atturney generall, vers le Maior, vicounts, & citizens de Waterfod, en que il monstre, qu [...] le dit Maior, Vicountes, & Citizenz, pur le space d'un an devant, ont receave, & convert a lour proper vse, le Grand & Petit Customes, & le Subsidie de Pondage, de touts marchandises importes, & exportes, in & de le Port de Waterford, & que ils ont auxi fait & ordaine vn Customer ou Collector des Customes, vn Controller des customes, vn Searcher, & vn Gageor, deins le dit Port, al preindice del Roy, & sans ascun Garrant: & sur ceo il prie proces vers le dit corporation, de fair eux venir & responder, Qu [...] warranto ils ont prise les dits Customes, & Subsidie a lour proper vse, & ont create & ordaine les Officers avāt dit.

A cest information ils pleadont vn speciall plea, en que ils iustisiont le receaving des dits Customes & Subsidie, & le ordaining des dits Officers, per vertue de 4 seuerall Charters.

Per le primer Charter, dat. 8. Nouembris, anno Regis Iohannis nono, Le dit Roy graunt al Cittizens de Citty de Waterford (que ado [...]ques fuit lour nosme de corporation) Custumam vocat. le Murage, de omnibus rebus Venalibus & Mercimonijs, infra dictam Civitatem emptis, seu venditis, [Page] ita benè, & integrè, sicut Burgenses Villae suae Bristoll habebant, vel melius habere consueverunt. Et ils averrone in facto, que les Burgesses de Bristoll, al temps del dit graunt, avoent le dit custome de Murage, de touts choses & merchandises achates & vendues deins le dit Uilie de Bristoll.

2 Per le second Charter Dat. 6. Maij. 1. Henr. 5. le dit Roy graunt al Maior, Baylives, & Cittizens del citty de Waterford (per quel nosme ils fueront donques incorporate) Custumam eiusdem civitatis vocat. Le Cocquet, capiendam per manus dicti Maioris & Ballivorum imperpetuum absque aliquo computo, &c.

3 Per le tierce Charter dat. 12. Maij. 3. Hen. 7. le dit Roy graunt al Maior, Ballives, & cittizens del citty de Waterford, & successoribus suis, quod ipsi & successores s [...]i, & eorum quilibet, ac omnes & singuli cives & inhabitantes eiusdem civitatis Waterford, qui tunc erant, & qui pro tempore futuri essent, & eorum quilibet, pro bonis catallis & merchandisis suis quibuscnnque, infra civitatem suam Waterford praed. ac portum, praecinctum, & libertates eiusdem, & in omnibus & singulis alijs portubus, crecijs, & locis, infra terram suam Hyberniae, de nova Custuma, viz. De praestatione sive solutione duodecim denariorum de librâ, Pondagio vulgariter nuncu [...]ato, erga dictum dominum Regem, haeredes, & successores suos imperpetuum sint quieti, exonerati.

Et vt maior concursus tam hominum quam mercandisarum ad eandem civitatem penè in extremae desolationis & paupertatis abyssum deductam, de caetero confluat & accrescat, vlterius dedit & concessit praed. Maiori, Ballivis, & civibus, &c. Quod omnes & singuli mercatores, & homines, tam indigenae, quam alienigenae, & eorum quilibet, ad praedictam civitatem suam Waterford, ac portum & praecinctum eiusdem causa mercandizandi venientes, pro catallis & merchandisis suis quibuscunque, infra civitatem praedictam, & praecinctum & libertates eiusdem, de dictâ novâ Custumâ, sive Pondagio, erga dictum dominum Regem, haeredes, & successores suos, similiter sint quieti & exonerati imperpetuum.

4 Per le 4. Charter dat. 8. Februar. 11. Eliz. La dit Roigne graunt al dit Maior, Ballives, & citizens, & successoribus suis, quod imperpetuum, annuatim, de seipsis eligere valeant & [Page 8] possint, Scrutatorem, Geageatorem, & alios officiarios & ministros quoscunque, infra eandem civitatem & libertates eiusdem, vsuales & necessarios, ove averment, que le Customer & Controller de Customes fueront necessary Officers deins le dit Citty, pur ceo que le Roy Henr. 5. ver son Charter avant dit, ad graunt a eux le Cocquet custome. Et ils concludont lour plea, que per le dits Warrantes, ils ont receave les dits Customes, & Subsidie de pondage, a lour proper vse, & ont fait & ordaine les dits Officers deins lour Citty. Et sur cest plea l'Atturney del Roy demurr en Ley.

Et en argument de cest demurrer. 2. principall maters fucrent consider. 1. quel manner de duties Customes & Subsedies sont, & lour Originall, & Difference. 2. Le quel les dits Charters sont sufficient warrantes al corporation de Waterford, a receaver les dits Customes & Subsidies a lour proper vse, & de fair Customer, Controller, Searcher, &c.

QUant al primer matter, pur le explanation de cest learning de Customes, fuit primerment observe, que les Duties payable al Roy hors de Merchandises exported ou imported sont de 3. Kindes. 1. Customes. 2. Subsidies. 3. Imposts ou Impositions. Queux fuerent define, & divide, en cest Manner.

1 CVstomes sont duties certeyn, & perpetuall, payable al Roy, come inheritance de son Corone, pur merchandises, transportes de Travers le Mer, del vn Realme en auter. Car pur choses vendible per voy de marchandise, caries de vn port, al auter port, deins mesme le Realme, per Mer, ou per Terre, nul marchant est tenus de payer ascun Custome.

Ceux duties appell Customes sont divide en. 3. Kindes.

1 Magna & antiqua Custuma.
2 Parva & nova Custuma.
3 Prisage & Butlerage.

Et en touts ceux la Corone ad vn cerceyn & perpetuall enheritance.

1 Le Graund & Auncient custome est payable hors de Native ou hoamebred commodities de. 3. Sorts: viz. Wooll, Wooltells, & Hydes. Et est in certenty. vi. s. 8. d. pur vn Sack [Page] de wooll. vi. s. 8 d. pur. 300. woolfells. vi. s. 8. d. pur vn Last de Hydes. xlii. s. iiii. d. Et est destre note, que chescun Sack de wooll coateyn. 26. stone, & chescun stone. 14. pound. & que le Last de hydes est 20. Dikar, & enescun Dikar. 10. hydes.

Ceo est l'auncient custome payable per chescun Denizen pur rexportation des commodities avantdits: mes les Marchants Strangers payout vn tierce part plus, pur remission de prises, & auters privileges a eux grauntes per le charter de. 31. E. 1. Dier. 1. Eliz. 165. b.

2 Le Novel & petit custome est. 3. d. de le pound payable per Marchants Strangers tantsolement, pur touts commodities per eux imported & exported come est expresse en le dit charter de. 31. E. 1.

3 Prisage est Custome prise de Wines de touts sorts, & est en certenty. 2. Tunnes de Uine hors de cheseun Nief laden ove. 20. Tunncou pluis, l'un Tunne destre prise devant le Mast del Nief, & l'auter darriere le Mast. Et pur teo que cest Custome est part del merchandise unported, & Prise in specie, est appell Prisage.

Et [...]ell Custome de Prisage fuit payable en Engleterre per touts Marchants Denizens, & Aliens, devant le dit Charter de. 31 E. [...]. per que le Roy remise al Marchants strangers touts prises: & en mesme le charter est expresse que en consideration de ceo, les Marchants strangers ont graunt de payer al Roy & ses heires Nomine Custumae. 2. [...]. de quolibet Dolio vini, quod adducent vel adduci facient infra Regnum, &c. quel custome de. 2. s. del Tunne, est ore, en Engleterre appell Butlerage, & payable la per touts Marchants Strangers. vid. stat. de extreat. ad Scacc. 15. E. 2.

Et ceo est le'Nature de ceux severall Duties, quenx sont properment appell Customes.

Pur le Originall de ceux Customes.

1 Le dit Auncient & Graund Custome est parcel del auncient enheritance de la Corone, & cy auncient que la Corone mesme. Inhaeret sceptro, & est due de common droit, & per prescription, & nemi per graunt ou benevolence des Marchants, ou per act de Parliament. Dier. 1. Eliz. 165. b. Et ceo primerment fuit raise hors del Native, proper, & primer commodities del nostre Pais, viz. Wooll, Woolfels, & Hydes, queux accrewont per les avers depasturant la [Page 9] terre, sans industry des inhabitants, & sont Reverâ les Naturall riches d'Engleterre. Car invention & industry des homes, ont trove & produce Tynne, & Plumbe, & Drapes, & Iron en severall Ages. Mes les. 3. primer commodities, viz. Wooll, Woolfells, & hydes fueront properment & auncientment dit, les Staple commodities del Realme (coment que per le staiut de. 27. E. 3. c. 1. Plumbe soit auxi declare destre vn Staple commodity, & pur ceo cestuy que est oblige en statute Staple, conust que il est indebt, Pro lanis, corijs, & plumbis, &c.) Et fueront appell Staple commodities, pur ceo que fueront destre port al Staple del Roy, destre exported la, & nemi aliors, pur le melior Collection des Customes due al Roy. Vide les Statutes de. 27 E. 3. cap. 1. & 43. E. 3. c. 1. On est expresse en queux Uilles d'Engleterre, Ireland, & Gales les Staples del Roy fueront establish pur l'exportation de ceux commodities. Et appiert auxi per divers Statutes, que Caleys fuit ascun foits appoint pur vn Generall Staple, vncore ceo fuit [...]oll & ousted arrere, & les auncient Staples reestablish.

Mes pur ceux. 3. primer commodities tantsolement viz. Wooll, Woolfells, & Hydes, le dit auncient & certeyn Custome fuit due & payable. Car pur Plumbe, coment que fuit dit vn Staple commodity, le petit Custome de. 3. d. sur le pound tantum fuit pay, come appiert per le Statut de 27. E. 3. cap. 1. Et in libr. Rubro Scaccar. hîc. fol. 8. a.

Et que le Roy ad estate de enheritance en cest Graund & auncient Custome, appiert pleinment. 3 [...] H. 8. Dier. 43. b. du est dit, que Custome est enheritance del Roy per course de Common ley, & Subsidy est vn tax assesse per Parliament. Uide auxi. 1. Mar. Dier. 92. ou le Roy. E. 6. ad graunt licence al vn Marchant stranger, de transporter touts merchandises payant pro Custumis & Subsidijs tot & tantas denariorum summas, quot & quantas ascun Angleis marchant ou Denizen payerott, & non vltrâ. Et fuit resolve per touts les Istices, que apres le mort del. E. 6. le graunt fuit von pur le Custome. & voyd per le Subsidie: pur ceo que le Roy ad enheritance en le Custome, come prerogative annex a son Corone, & en les Subsidies il n'avoit estate forsque pur son vie, per act de Parliament. Issint. 9. H. 6. 12. a. La Roigne ad part de sa Dower assigne, Ex magna Custuma [Page] de London: que est argument, que le Roy ad greinder estate en le Graund Custome que pur son vie demesne: Et pur ceo, l'opinion de Babington la, que le Roy nad enheritance en le Graund Custome, mes en le Petit Custome tantum, n'ad ascun colour de reason. Issint per l'estatute de 18 H. 6. Est provide, que les Gages des Istices serront Perpetualme [...]t pay hors des primer deniers provenants des Customes, que ne puissoit estre, si le Roy n'avoit estate de perpetuity en les Customes. 1. H. 7. 4. a. Darrainment, est vn rule infallible, que si home ad chose de common droit, & per prescription, que il ad estate de fee simple en mesme la chose, car de particular estate le commencement poet, & doet estre monstre. 21. H. 7. 15. a.

Mes pur ceo que chescun chose que est due de common droit, & per prescription, doet aver reasonable cause de Commencement, fuit note & observe que, cest Custome fuit primerment pay al Corone, pur. 4. principall causes, ou reasons.

1 Pur Conge de departer le Realme, & de carrier les commodities del Realme hors de ceo. Vide Dier. 1. Eliz. 165. b. & l'estatut de. 18. E. 3. c. 3.
2 Pur l'interest que le Roy ad en le Mer, & en les Braches de ceo. 22. Ass. p. 93. 15. Eliz. Dier. 326. b.
3 Pur ceo, que le Roy est Gardein de touts les Ports & havens del Realme, queux sont Ostia seu Ianuae regni, & le Roy est Custos totius regni.
4 Pur waftage, & protection des Marchants sur le Mer, vers les Enimies del Realme, & vers Pirates, queux sont Common enimies de touts Nations.

2 Le Petit & novel Custome payable per Marchants Strangers solement, avoet commencement en temps. E. 1. Car devant cest temps, les Duties payable per Marchants Strangers pur touts Forein commodities imported (except wines) & pur touts Native commodities Exported (except les dits Staple wares, de Wooll, Woolfells, & Hydes) fueront vncerteyn. Car le Roy per son prerogative Prisoit a son vse, & a son price, tant, & tiels portions de lour marchandises, grant il ad besoigne, per nosme de prises, queux fueront touts foits vncerteyn.

Mes le Roy E. 1. person Charter dat. 1. Februarijanno. 31. [Page 10] de son Raigne, en favour des Marchants Strangers, & de traher lour commerce, Remitt a eux touts prises, & graunt a enx divers auters Privileges. Et pro supradictis libertatibus obtinendis, & prisis remittendis (ceux sont les parols del charter) Supradicti Mercatores vniversi & singuli pro se, & omnibus alijs de partibus suis, concorditer & vnanimiter concesserunt que ils payeront al Roy, & ses hetres Tres denarios de librâ pur touts Merchandises Imported ou Exported per eux, come est expresse plus particularment en le dit Charter, que est destre trove en l'Office de cheef Remembrancer en l'Eschecquer del Engleterre, & in libro Rubro Scaccarij hîc. Et cest Charter del. E. 1. en touts points, fuit ratifie & confirme per act de Parliament. 27. E. 3. c. 26. Et ceo est l'Originall del Petit Custome.

Mes est destre note, qne cest Petit Custome pur Forein commodities, fuit accept per le Roy, quant forsque petit quantity de teils forein wares fuit import en Engleterre. Car en temps. E. 1. Et apres ceo, en temps. E. 3. les Native Commodities D'engleterre exported fueront de greinder qnantity & valew per. 2. parts de. 3. al meins, que les Forein marchandises imported: per que le Roy. E. 3. raso [...]t cy graund revenew hors del Native commodities de ses dominions: que est note de bon husbandry en cest Roy. Car Oportet Patremfamilias Vendacem esse, & non Emacem. Come Cato le Senior disoit. Mes ore est tout contrary: Car a cest temps, le Outgate est meinder que le Ingate: les Forein wares imported sont de Greinder quantity & valew per. 2 parts, que nostre Native commodities exported. Que est graund honte a nostre Nation, destre issint enamore ove les Mercery & Grocery wares importes per strangers, & d'expender sur eux plus que le valew de touts les Staple & reall commodities de nostre Pais: que serra en fine le ruin del Commonweale.

3 Prisage de wines, est auxi Custome due per prescription, & parcel del ancient enheritance de la Corone. Et que le Roy ad enheritance en le Prifage de wines, appiert per les Charters grauntes al Citizens de London, & al ceux de les Cinque Portes destre discharge de Prisage en touts Ports, a touts iour [...]. Vid. stat. 1. H. 8. c. 5. Et le Countee de Ormond ad estate de d'enheritance en le Prisage de [Page] wines en cest Realme per graunt del Roy. Er le charte [...] de London fuit allow en cest point en l'eschecquer D'engleterre. 44. Eliz. Mes le question la fuit, si vn Citizen de London que n'ad famely, ne pay Scott & Lott, ines soi [...]urne en le meason d'un autet, avera le benefit del dit Charter. En l'argument de quel Case, Coke donques Atturney Generall miloir cest dif [...]erence de Citizens, viz. que il y ad Citizen Nomine, Citizen Re, & citizen Re & nomine. Mes fuit resolve, que solement le citizen Re & Nomine, viz. cestuy que est freeman de London, & est auxi enhabitant, & pay Scott & Lott la, serra free de Prisage per le dit Charter. Pur l'Originall de Butlerage que est pay per Marchants Strangers, ceo aboit commencement per le Charter de. 31. E. 1. come est avantdit, & est limitt destre pay al Roy & ses heires en perpetuity.

Et ceo est le nature, Originall, & difference de les ancient Duties payable pur marchandises, queux sont properment appell Customes, & sont l'enheritance de la Corone.

SVbsidies auxi son duties payable pur merchandises exported & imported, mes sont graunt per act de Parliament. Dier. 31. H. 8 43. b. 1. Mar. Dier. 92. a. Et sont de 3. divers sorts, accordant al diversity des commodities, & sont appell,

1 Aides ou Subsidies, esteant graunt hors des dits native commodities, viz. Wooll, Woolfels, & Hydes, vltrâ & praeter le ancient Custome avantdit.
2 Tunnage, graūt hors de Wines de touts sortes, vltrâ & praeter le Prisage, & le dit Custome de. 25. de Dolio graunt per le Charter de. 31. E. 1. ore appell Butlerage.
3 Pondage, graunt hors de touts commodities imported, & exported, except Wines, & les Staple commodities avantdit, & payable per Marchants Strangers, vltrâ & praeter le Petit Custome.

Pur l'Originall de ceux duties.

1 Aides & Subsidies payable hors des dits Native & Staple commodities exported, ne fueront soventfoits graunt per Parliament, devant le temps del. E. 3. mes a cest Roy pur maintenance de ses Guerres en Fraunce, per Parliament [Page 11] 14. E. 3 (que fuit le primer an de son Raigne de Fraunce) vn Aide ou Subsidie fuit graunt de. 40. s. hors de chescun Sacke de Wooll. 40. s. hors de. 300. Woolfels, &. 4. l. hors de chescun Last de Hydes. Et ceo de continuer pur vn An tantum, & que apres les marchants payeront forsqne l'auncient Custome.

Apres ceo per Parliament. 31. E. 3. vn Subsidie fuit graunt al dit Roy de. 50. s. sur chescun Sacke de Wooll. 50. s. sur chescun. 300. Woolfels, &. 5. l sur chescun Last de hydes.

Per act de Parliament. 31. H. 6. vn Subsidie fuit graunt al dit Roy de. 43. s. iiii. d. hors de chescun Sack de Wooll, & 43. s. iiii. d. de chescun. 240. Woolfels: mes apres en mesme le Parliament cest Subsidie fuit abate, & reduce al. 33. s. iiii. d. pur Sack de Wooll, &. 33. s. iiii. d. pur. 240. Woolfels, & le payment limitt pur. 5. ans Tantum. Issint que ceux Aides ou Subsidies ne fueront del vn certein quantity, ou continuance, iusques al temps del. E. 6. a quel Roy, en le primer Parliament de son Raigne, fuit graunt vn Subsidie de. 33. s. iiii. d. de chescun Sack de Wooll. 33. s. iiii. d. pur chescun. 240. Woolfels, &. 3. l. 6. s. viii. d. de chescun Last de Hydes exported per Denizens. Pur chescun Sack de Wooll exported per Aliens. 3. l. 6. s. viii. d. & pur chescun. 240. Woolfels. 3. l. 6. s. viii. d. & pur chescun Last de Hydes. 3. l. 13. s. iiii. d. Et cest Subsidie fuit graunt de cōtinuer durāt le vie natural del [...]oy: & puis le mort de cest Roy, mesme le Subsidie ad estre graunt al Q Mary, Q. Elizabeth, & al nostre Seignior le Roy que ore est, durant lour severall vies, per severall acts de Parliament.

2 Tunnage, que est Subsidy hors de Wines de touts sorts, suit primerment graunt per Parliament. 5. R. 2. ou. 2. s. de chescun Tunne de wine destre imported en Engleterre, fuit graunt al Roy pur. 2. ans, & ceo fuit pur maintenance d'un fleet sur le Mer, a suppresser les Pirates. Mes apres, per Parliament. 3. E. 4. Tunnage fuit graunt al cest Roy pur terme de son vie naturall en cest manner, viz. 3. s. pur chescun Tunne de wines, & (ouster ceux. 3. s.) pur chescun Tunne de Sweet wines. 3. s. pluis. Vide statut. 12. E. 4. c. 3. & cest Subsidie, fuit apres graunt al. H. 8. &. E. 6. ove cest addition en temps. E. 6. que de chescun Awme de Remish wine auxi. xii d. serra pay: & puis le temps del. E. 6. cest Subsidy de Tunnage [Page] ad estre graunt en Engleterre per severall acts de Parliament al Q. Mary, Q. Elizabeth, & al nostre Seignior le Roy que ore est, durant lour severall naturall vies.

3 Pondage, que est Subsidy graunt hors de touts commodities exported & imported, except wines, & les auncient Staple wares, vt suprä, & payable per touts marchants Den: zens & Aliens, est vicesima pars del valew des Marchandises, viz. xii. d. de le pound, & fuit primerment graunt per Parliament en Engleterre 31. H. 6. durant le vie de cest Ro [...]: quel graunt fuit immediatement resume. Mes apres ceo, viz. 3. E. 4. ce [...] Subsidy de Pondage fuit graunt al dit Roy durant son vie, vide statut. 12. E. 4. c. 3. & puis mesme le Subsidy fuit graunt al. Henr. 8. durant son vie, & mesme le graunt ad estre renew al. E. 6. Q. Mary, Q. Elizabeth & al nostre Seignior le Roy que ore est, durant [...]out severall vies per severall actes de Parliament en Engleterre.

Mes icy en cest Realme de Ireland le Subsidy de Pondage ad commencement en cest manner. Anno. 14. E 4. vn Fraternity des Armes fuit erect per act de Parliament, consistant de. 13. plus honorable, & loialment disposed persons en les Counties de Dublin, Kildare, Meth, & Louth: Et vn certeyn number des homes a chival, ove lour pages, & des archers a chival fuit assigne a eux, ove certeyn enterteynment & Gages, [...]ayable a [...] chescun des dits homes a chival, & archers. Queux Freres des armes, ove lour dit retinew serront touts temps prist a defender le English pale encounter Rebelles & Outlawes. Et pur le payment des gages des dits Archers & homes a chival, fuit enact, que les dits Freres des Armes, & lour successors averont. xii. d. de le pound de touts marchandises imported, & exported, hors de cest Terre de Ireland (Hydes, & Wines, & les marchandises del freemen de Dublin & Drogheda solement except.)

Apres, 10. H. 7. [...]n le Parliament tenus per Sir Edw. Poynings fuit enact, que pur tant que le dit. xii. d. de le pound graunt al dit Fraternity (que est la appell le Fraternity de Saint George) fuit expend & convert al private vses, & nemi en discharge de publick service, pur ceo le Roy averoit le dit Pondage pur. 5. ans ensuant, & que touts auters graunts fait del dit Pondage soent repeal & adiudge voyd, &c.

Les dits. 5. ans esteant expire, viz. Anno. 15. Honr. 7. novel [Page 12] Pondage fuit graunt per act de Parliament al dit Roy ses heires & successors in perpetuity, ove vn Proviso, que cest act ne serroit preiudiciall al freemen de Dublin, Waterford, & Drogheda esteant free per Birth, Mariage, ou Prētishood, &c. Et issint le Roy ad estate d'Enheritance en cest Subsidy de Pondage en Ireland, ou il n'ad ceo forsque durant son natural vie en Engleterre.

3 IMposts ou Impositions sont le Tierce kind de duties payable pur marchandises, & sont ascun [...]oits rates & assese per Parliament, & donques sont en nature de Subsidies, & ascunfoits sont impose per Praerogatiue Royall, pur supporter les necessary charges de la Corone, & donques, Nihil magis iustum est, quam quod necessarium est, come vn auncient Senator de Rome disoit.

L'Impost sur Wines en cest Realme, fuit primerment assesse per Parliament, & limit destre pay pur certeyn terme d'ans, quel esteant expire, ceo est ore continew per pre rogative del Roy.

CEux, sont les duties payable al Roy d'Engleterre pur l'exportation & importation de marchandises. Et coment que cest revenew del Corone ad estre graundement improche en cest darrein age, vncor si les Customes, Subsidies, & impositions d'Engleterre sont compare al duties & payments de cest kind, en forein countreyes, serront trove destre moderate & fort reasonable.

Les auncient Romaines (car cest revenew payable hors de merchandises, est le pluis auncient, honorable, & reasonable que appertient al ascun Prince ou state) avoent ceux duties per nosme de Vectigalia, à mercibus evectis, & invectis, queux l'Emperour Iustinian appell Exagogica & Isagogica. Et touchant la Nature d'eux, les Rules de nostre Ley, sont agreeable al ceux de la Imperiall Ley.

1 Nous diomus, que Custome est l'auncient enheritance de la Corone D'engleterre, ils diont, Vectigal origine ipsâ Ius Caesarum, & Regum Patrimoniale est. 2. En nostre Ley, Wastage & Protection de marchants sur le Mer, est vn des principall causes de payment de ceux duties: & en la Ley del Empire, Primaria Vectigalium causa, ac ratio fuit, [Page] vt plana, tutaque mercatori praetereunti itinera praestarentur. Et Plin. lib. 19. cap. 4. dit, Merces praetiosae, vt ex Indiâ, Arabiâ, Aethiopia, tuto à mercatoribus in Europam conveherentur, necessariò classem parandam esse adversus Piraticas incursiones. Inde maritimi exercitus alendi causâ, Vectigal Rubri maris institutum.

Et cest Vectigal, octava rerum pars erat, & pur ceo, suit vn sort des Publicanes, queux fueront appell Octonari [...]: mes les Merchants queux avoent le priviledge des Citizens de Rome, payeront forsque Vicesimam partem ou Pondage, & les Publicanes ou Collectors de cest Custome, fueront appell vicesimari [...].

Et ceo fuit le auncient Custome payable per marchants deins l'estate del Empire. Et en Britanie, devant que cest Iland fuit fait Province subiect al Empire, est credible que les marchants payeront greinder Rates pur Exportation des commodities, que ils payont ore. Lay Strabo dit, Britanni Victigalia tollebant gravia earum rerum, quas in Galliam, tametsi brevi maris trajectu, importabant.

Mes a cest iour, est certeine, que en auters Realmes de Europe, les Customes sont plus haute, & heavy que nostres.

En Spaine, le Roy prist octavam partem de ses proper subiects, mes des Marchants Strangers il prist ascunfoits le Cinque part, ascunfoits le Quart part, del valew de lour merchandises.

En Fraunce, les Customes payable per strangers amountont al huict de Cent. Bodin. de Republ. libr. 6. cap. 2. Mes les impositions & Gabells que le Roy la prist de ses subiects pur Sel, Wine, & Blees, & touts choses vendible, sont extraordinarie, & fort excessive. Issint poet estre dit del Graund Duke de Tuscany, & auters states de Italie.

Le Graund Seignior de Turky prist le Tenth part de Marchants Strangers, & le Vint part ou Pondage de ses subiects.

QUant a les Officers queux ont a faire ove les Customes.

1 Le Customer fuit le pluis auncient, & al primes le sole Officer, que fuit le Collector des Customes, & accomptable pur eux al Roy. 9. Henr. 6. 12. b. 1. H. 7. 4. b.
[Page 13] 2 Apres en aide de Customer put trover les concealments & substractions des Customes & Subsidies, & pur seiser marchandises for [...]ited, le Searcher fuit ordaine.
3 Donques, pur ceo que le Customer fuit accomptant al Roy, mes ne puissoit estre charge forsque per son proper liver de Cocque [...]ts, ou son oath, Controller fuit assigne a luy.
4 Darrainment, pur discover & preventer les fraudes de touts ceux, vn Office de Supervisor ad estre erect.

CEux diversities, touchant la nature de les severall duties payable pur merchandises, esteant declare & aggree, le. 2. Matter [...]uit consider, viz. Si les points de les severall Charters pleade, come avant est monstre, per le corporation de Waterford, soent sufficient Warrants a eux, de receaver, a lour proper vse, les dits Customes, & Subsidies, & de fair les dits Officers de Customer, Searcher & Controller des Customes.

QUant al primer Charter de le Roy Iohn, per que [...] graunt al dit Corporation, Custumam vocatam le Murage, de omnibus rebus venalibus infra dictam civitatem emptis seu venditis, adeò benè & integrè sicut Burgenses villae de Bristoll habebant, &c. Fuit resolve, que per ceux parolx nul Custome ou Subsidy est graunt a eux, pur divers reasons.

1 Pur ceo que Murage nest rien que Toll, payable, pur reparation des Mures, hors de choses vend en market overt per retayle. N. N. Br. 228. D. ou Custome est pay pur marchandises imported ou exported a travers le Mer, & vend en grosse. Et est auxi cest difference, que [...]eil Toll covent estre pay touts dits per cestuy que Achate le chose, & Custome per marchant que vende le chose. N. N. Br. 228. E. Et que Murage nest forsque Toll appiert per le Register. 159. a. En breef de Essendo quiet. de Theoloneo. Et per le dit Charter. 31, E. 1. per que touts Marchants Strangers sont acquit de Murage, Pannage, & Pontage, & vncor ils payont le Graund & petit Custome. Uide auxi Iehu Webbes Case en le. 8. part. des Reports de le Seignior Cooke. 47. a.

2 Murage ne gift en graunt, mes en prescription: Larsicome ascun choses ne gisont en prescription, mes en grafit, [Page] come conusans de pleas, Catalla Felon. &c. 1. Henr. 7. 22. b. 9. Henr. 7. 20. a. Issint sont auters choses que ne gisont en graunt, mes [...]n prescription, come d'aver free Garren en auter terre, ou de prender Murage, Pontage, ou Picage. 13. Henr. 4. 14. b.

3 Le Reference all vill de Bristoll, est vncerteyn & voyd, pur ceo que nest tiel vill ou Burgh appell Bristoll, en cest Realme de Ireland, & le vill de Bristoll entend en le Charter, esteant en Engleterre, l'averment que les Burgesses de Bristoll avoent Murage al temps de cest graunt, ne poet estre try icy. Auxi ils doent averre en lour plea que les Burgesses de Bristoll avoent tiel certeyn Toll ou Custome de chescun chose vende & achate deins le vill, & que ils avoent ceo per graunt del Roy, car donques le Reference fuissoit al certenty. Come est tenus. 20. E. 3. Fitz. Avowry. 120. En Quo warranto port en Eire, vers Baylives & Comminalty de Lancaster, ils pleadont vn charter del Roy Iohn que graunt a eux touts Francheses que le Burgh de Northampton ad, & pur ceo que nul franchise fuit la expresse, ou monstre de record, seisure fuit agard des francheses.

2 QUant al. 2. Charter, per que. H. 5. graunt al Maior, Balives, & Citizens de Waterford Custumam dictae civitatis vocat. Le Cocquett, capiendam per manus dicti Maioris & Ballivorum in perpetuum: & coment que fuit obiect per l'Atturney generall, que le Cocquett nest forsque acquittance ou bill testifiant que le Custome est pay, que fuit al primes appell Coquitt, pur ceo que per teil bill, le marchant est de Costuma quietus: Per quel parol, le auncient Custome, esteant vn speciall enheritance de la Corone, ne poet passer: & coment que fuit auxi obiect que Costume est payable per chescun severall marchant Denizen & Alien, & pur ceo ne poet estre dit Custuma dictae civitatis: & nient obstant que soit limitt destre prise per maines del Maior & Baylives, vncor l'officer del Roy, viz. le Customer est charge ove ceo, & ils doent aver allowance per peticion, come est rule. 1. H. 7. 4. a ou R. 3. ad graunt licence al certeyn marchants a transporter laines, &c Et de ceo de retayner lour Customes, en cest case, nient obstāt le dit graūt, [Page 14] les Customers fueront charge & accomptable pur les Customes.

Uncore fuit resolve, que l'auncient Custome de Woolls, Woolfels, & Hydes, fuit bien graunt al dit corporation per les parolx de Custome vocat. le Cocquett. Car cest auncient Custome est communement appell, & conus, per nosme de le Cocquet Custome, en touts Ports de'Engleterre, & Irelād. Et Custuma dictae civitatis serra entend Custome payable pur marchandises in dictâ civitate. Car favorable interpretation serra fait de teilx graunts solonque le vsage & allowance. 10. H. 7. 14. a. Et pur ceo que le Custome est graunt al eux, ils poent ceo Collecter per lour proper Officer, & l'Officer del Roy nest accomptable pur ceo, come en le dit Case de licence de retayner. 1. Hen. 7.

3 QUant al. 3. Charter dat. 12. Maij. 3. H. 7. per que le dit Roy graunt al Corporation de Waterford, quod omnes & singuli cives & inhabitantes dictae civitatis, & omnes & singuli mercatores, tam indigenae, quam alienigenae de Novâ Custumâ vocat, le Pondage, viz. de praestatione. xii. denariorum de librâ imperpetuum sint quieti & exonerati, &c. fuit resolve, que cest Charter ne fuit sufficient Warrant al eux, de receaver, a lour proper vse, le Pondage de touts marchants, Denizens, & Aliens, deins le Port de Waterford. Et reo pur. 2. principall reasons.

1 Pur ceo que cest graunt tend al discharge de chescun particular Marchant, & ne dona le Pondage al Corporation. 4. H. 6. b. a. le Roy. E. 4. graunt al Maior & Burgesses de Oxford, que ils ne serront Ires ove foreiners, ne foreners ove ceux, &c. Per totam Curiam les Burgesses que sont impannell, quant ils sont demaund destre Ires, poent monstrer le Charter, & pleader ceo, mes nemi le Maior & Corporation: a mesme lentent est. 21. E. 4. 55. &. 56. Le Case de Norwich. Et pur ceo fuit dit, que si le Roy grannt al Abbe que touts ses possessions serront discharge de Dismes graūt en Parliament (come le Rector de Edingtons Case est, 19. H. 6. 63. a.) L'Abbe en cest Case, ne poet collecter les Dismes de ses tenants, & retayner a son proper vse: Issint ou le Roy ad graunt al Corporation de London, que les Citizens de London serront discharge de Prisage, le Corporation [Page] per force de cest graunt, ne prist le Prisage de les Citizens. Mes chescun particular home avera le benefit de le Charter, sil voet demaunder ceo, auterment nient.

2 Cest graunt fuit fait Anno. 3. Henr. 7. a quel temps, le Pondage que fuit graunt per Parliament Anno. 14. Edw. 4. al Fraternity de Saint George, come devant est monstre, fuit en Esse. Mes apres, Anno. 10. Henr. 7. cest graunt al Fraternity de Saint George fuit repeal per auter act de Parliament, & Novel Subsidie de Pondage graunt al Roy pur. 5. ans. Apres quel temps, viz. 15. Henr. 7. vn auter Subsidy de Pondage fuit graunt al Corone en perpetuity, que est le Pondage ore en question, issint que le novel Pondage que fuit graunt per Parliament. 15. Henr. 7. ne puissoit estre Graunt ou discharge per charter fait. xii. ans devant, viz. 3. Henr. 7. Car quant al Graunt en tiel Case, est tenus. 22. Edw. 4. Fitz. Graunts. 29. en l'Abbe de Walthams Case, que le Roy ne poet graunt ascun parcel del Dismes del clergy, devant que soit graunt per le Convocation. Et quant al Exoneration ou discharge en teil case, cest point en le case de Rector de Edington. 19. Henr. 6. 63 a. Nest rule, ne resolve. Mes admitt que le Rector en cest Case la serroit discharge de Dismes per graunt le Roy fait devant le Parliament, vncor ceo ne serroit rule de cest case, pur ceo queen le graunt fait al Rector sont parolx de future temps, viz. que quant ascun tax, tallage, ou Tenth serroit graunt per Parliament, que il, ses terres, & chateux serront discharge. Mes cest Charter de. 3. H. 7. parle de Novâ Custumâ de Pondage donques En esse. Car ceo que est Novel, est Novelment past, & nemi future. Et pur ceo cest Charter ne v [...] en discharge de auter Pondage, que serroit graunt apres per act de Parliament. A cest entent, vid. 34. H. 8. Dier. 52. a. ou est tenus que le Roy ne poet discharge penalty del act de Parliament, que est destre fait en apres. Come ou Roy graunt licence al vn de transporter Bell Mettall, nient obstant ascun statutes fait, ou destre fait al contrary: Apres act est fait, que prohibit l'exportation de Bell Mettall sur certeyn paine: Le licence graunt devant, ne discharger [...] cest penalty. Mes la est dit, que le Roy poet dispenser ove future chose en que il ad enheritance. Mes al temps de cest Charter graunt, viz. 3. Henr. 7. le Roy n'avoit [...]nheritance [Page 15] en le Subsidy de Pondage. Car le Pondage donques en Esse fuit graunt al dit Fraternity de Saint George, quel graunt esteaut repeal, come e [...] avantdit, novel Pondage fuit graunt al Roy pur. 5. ans Anno. 10. Henr. 7. Et apres Anno. 15. Henr. 7. le Pondage, ore en question, fuit graunt al Roy & ses heires per act de Parliament. Mes si le Roy ad eu enheritance en cest Pondage al temps de cest Charter graunt al Waterford, viz. 3. Henr. 7. le discharge, sans question, ad estre bon. Come le Roy poet graunt que l'heir de son Tenant ne serra en Gard, ou que son Tenant ne serra puny en cessauit. Car coment que ceux sont future & casuell choses, vncor le Roy ad enheritance en le Seigniory al temps. 36. Henr. 6. 48.

Auxi en plusors cases, coment que graunt del Roy Extend al future Temps, vncor serra entend des choses Praesent & [...]n Esse al temps del graunt. Come en. 38. Henr. 6. 10. a. Si le Roy graunt a moy liberties en touts mes terres, ieo avera les liberties en les terres queux ieo avoy al temps del graunt, & nemi en les terres queux ieo purchase apres. Issint si le Roy graunt liberties en touts mes Demesnes, & apres Tenancy escheat, ieo navera les liberties en le terre novelment escheated. Issint si le Roy graunt Catalla felonum quorumcunque, & apres per Parliament, vn act est fait Felony que ne fuit Felony devant, le grauntee navera les viens de person attainted de tiel Felony. Issint ou l'Evesque de Durham ad Iura Regalia, & escheates de Treason deins son county Palatine, il nauera les terres de Tenant en taile attaint de Treason, queux sont forfeit per le Statute de. 26. Henr. 8. come est resolve. 12. Elizabeth. Dier. 289.

Et pur ceo fuit resolve, que test Charter que exonerate les Marchants de Waterford de Pondage in anno. 3. Henr. 7. nepoet estre extend pur acquitter eux De nouel Pondage que fuit graunt per Parliament Anno. 15. Henr. 7. Mes que touts Marchants Denizens & Aliens payeront Pondage en cest Port, forsque ceux que sont exempt per le Prouiso del dit act de. 15. Henr. 7.

QUant al. 4. Charter, concernant les Officers des Customes, fuit resolve que ou les Customes & Subsidies [Page] [...]emaynont en la Corone, & ne sont bien graunt al dit corporation, le Roy mesme appointera ses Officers pur le Collection & due answering de ceux Dutyes, nient obstant cest Charter, que ennable eux de creater teils Officers. Mes en case ou Custome ou Subsidy est bien graunt al Corporation, adonques le Constitution de teils Officers appertient a eux, & lour Officers poent entermedier ove taunt que est bien graunt a eux, & nient pluis, mes ou lour Charter va en Discharge & exoneration tantum, ils ne po [...]nt appointer teils Officers, car ne sont necessary en teil Case.

CEst Case dependoit plusors Termes en Bank le Roy icy, ou les points avantdit fueront resolve: mes devant ascun Idgement done en ceo, le dit Citty de Waterford, & les auters Maritimes Cittyes, & Port Townes de cest Realme, per speciall direction del Roy, transmittoent en Engleterre certein Agents, ove lour seuerall Charters, al entent, que touts questions queux ont estre move touchant les Customes & Subsidies payable al Roy pur Merchandises en les severall Ports de Ireland, sur view [...] dits Charters per les Idges en Engleterre, poent estre resolve & determin, sans auter fait [...] le Roy, & les dits Corporations.

Et sur ceo, Termino Michaelis. 6. Iacobi, speciall letters del Seigniors de priuy Counsell fueront direct al Sir Laurence Tanfeild cheefe Baron, Baron Heron, Sir [...] Doddrige vn des Serjants del Roy, & Sir Henry Hobarte Aaturney generall del Roy en Engleterre Et auxi al Sir Iames Ley donques cheefe Iustice de Ireland▪ Sir Anthony Se [...]tliger Maister del Rolls, & l'Atturney generall del Roy en cest Realme icy: (queux servitors d'Ireland adonques fueront present en Engleterre, & attendant al Court▪ pur dispacth des auters services) per queux letters, le dit Cheefe Baron, & les auters fueront require, d'appeller devant eux les dits Agents, & sur pervsall & consideration eu de lour severall Charters, de certifie lour opinions & resolutions, en queux des dits Cittyes & Port Townes, les Customes & Subsidies payable pur Marchandises doent estre respond & pay al Roy, & en queux les marchants Denizens, ou Aliens, doent estre discharge [Page 16] de payment de ceux duties, & pur quant, &c.

Et accordant a cest direction, les dits Agents fueront appoint d'attender les dits Referres ove lour Charters, & ove lour learned Counsell, al Serjants Inne en Chancery Lane, al plusors tours en le dit Michelmas Terme: & la devant le Seigmor cheefe Baron, & les auters, les questions & points avantdit, surdant sur les severall Charters de Waterford, fueront move, & debate, & resolve, vt supra. Et divers auters Charters fueront produce, mes nul point de difficulty fuit move sur ascun de cux. Tantsolement, Bolton Recorder de Dublin, insistoit fortment, lur vn auncient Charter del Henr. 2. per que le dit Roy ad graunt Burgensibus de Dublin, quod sint quieti de Theoloneo, Passagio, Pontagio, & omni consuetudine per totam terram nostram Angliae, Normanniae, Walliae, & Hyberniae vbicunque venerint ipsi & eorum Res, &c. Et il affirmoit, que les parols de Theoloneum, & Consuetudo, fueront apt parols de acquitter les Cittizens de Dublin de le Graund & Auncient Custome. Et pur le signification de le parol Theoloneum, il cite le Text e [...] Saint Matth. Gospell. Cum autem praetergredetur Iesus, vidit quendam sedentem ad Theoloneum, &c. que est interpret desire al resceit del Custome. Mes a ceo fuit dit, que pur trover le signification de Theoloneum en cest Case, ne besoigne de resorter al interpreters del Gospell, mes al interpreters del nostre Ley. Et que en nostre ley, le proper Terme o [...] Parol de Art que signifie teil▪ Royall duty que est payable pur Marchandises crossant le Mer, est Custuma, & nemi Theoloneum: quel parol Theoloneum, en nostre ley, signifie rien forsque vn Toll, & Toll (que est derive del Theoloneum) nest forsque vn petty Duty payable en Markets & Fayers, per cesty que achate le chose, o [...] Custome est payable per Marchant que est vendor. N. N. Br. 126. b. & per le Register. 260. a. vn difference perenter Toll & Custome payable pur Marchandises appiert. Car en le breefe d'acquitter les biens del Ecclesiasticall person de Theoloneo, Pannagio, Muragio▪ &c. [...]est Clause est mise, Dum tamen merchandisas aliquas non exerceat de eisdem, issint le difference est apparant, & pur ceo il fuit over rule pur cest parol, Theoloneum.

[...]uant al auter parol, Consuetudo, il dit, que ceo f [...]it [Page] [...]omen aequiuocum & ad. 3. significations. 1. Vsage de temps dont memory ne Court, est appell Consuetudo. 2. Auncient Rents & seruices, sont appell consuetudines. 3. auxi les Customes payable pur marchandises sont appell consuetudines. Et ceo appiert in magna Charta cap. 30. Omnes mercatores, nisi publicé antea prohibiti fuerint, habeant saluum & securum conductum, exire de Anglia, & venire in Angliam, & morari & ire per Angliam, tam per terram, quam per aquam, ad emendum, & vendend [...]m, sine omnibus malis Tolnetis, per rectas & antiquas consuetudines. Per quel parol Consuetudines, il dit que les auncient Customes payable pur exportation de marchandiles sont signifie. En mesme le sense (dit il) cest parol est vse en Bracton lib. 2. cap. 24. Si [...]ui concedatur talis libertas, quod quietus sit de Theoloneo & consuetudinibus dandis per totum regnum Angliae in terra & mari, & quod Tolnetum & consuetudines capiat, infra libertatem suam, de vendentibus & ementibus, statim erit quasi in possessione, & possessionem retinebit, cum Tolnetum & consuetudines receperit.

I [...] monstre auxi les copies de certein accompts, contein en les auncient Pipe-Rolls en Engleterre, viz. vn de. 15. Henr. 2. en ceux parols, Geruasius Draper vicecomes Northfolk & Suffolk reddit Compotum de. 45. l. 16. s. vi. d. de consuetudine nauium de Oreford: & in magno Rotulo. 5. R. 1 cest entry est trove. Albericus de Billingesgate debet. 72. s. 4. d. de consuetudine de Billingesgate & Buttolphesgate, sur que il conclude, que en auncient temps, quant Henr. 2. fessoit cest graunt, le parol Consuetudo signifioit la dutie del Custome payable pur merchandises. Uncor il agree, que a cest iour [...]iel speciall dutyes de prerogative, come Customes sont, ne poent passer per tiel generall parol de Consuetudines. Mes auncient graunts ont touts foits vn favorable interpretation, solonque le Vsage & allowance. Et sur cest ground il mise plusors livers. 14. Henr. 6. 12. a. Del graunt fait per H. 2. 34. Ass. p. 14. del graunt de Will. le Conquerour. 37. Ass. p. 6. 40. Ass. p. 21. 5. Edw. 4. 121. 10. Henr. 7. 13. b.

Mes fuit resolve per le Seignior Chiefe Baron, & les auters Referres, que le dit Graunt, que ils serront quieti de omni Consuetudine, ne discharge eux de le Graund Custome. Et principalment, pur mesme le reason, que ad estre vse del auter part, viz. pur ceo, que Consuetudo 'est nomen [Page 17] aequivocum, & signifie plusors kindes de Customes. Et issint esteant generall parol, ne vnques passera cest speciall Roial duty. Come ou le Roy graunt omnes piscarias, & piscationes, Roiall fishings ne passont: Roy graunt touts Mines. Roial mines d'or & Argent ne passont: Roy graunt touts Amercements, Roiall Amercements ne passont. 3. Edw. 3. Fitz. 445. presentment fuit fait vers Abbe, que il a [...] suffer vn pont deschuer, que il & [...]es predecessors Seigniors del vill, ont vse de repairer de tēps dont memory ne Court, &c. L'Abbe pleade Charter del. Henr. 3. desire quitt de reparation de touts ponts, mures, & causeyes, & que cest Charter ad estre allow en Quo warranto, &c. Uncor cest plea ne fuit allow. Car ceo fuit speciall charge ou duty per reason de son Seigniory, que nest discharge per cest generall Clause. Car ou sont parolx en graunt le Roy, que desouth vn generall nosme, comprehend choses Roiall, & choses base, [...]erra prise en favor del Roy, & les base choses passeront, & les Roiall demurreront en le Corone. Plow. Com. 333.

Et le Seignior cheef Baron misoit vn notable Case a cest purpose, adiudge en L'eschecquer D'engleterre, que fuit tiel. Le Roy ad graunt al vn Venetian marchant, que il serroi [...] quitt De omnibus Custumis Subsidijs, & impositionibus, & omnibus alijs denariorum summis debitis & solubilibus pro quibuscunque merchandisis importandis, &c. & que il serroit cy free come les Cityzens de London. Per colour de cest Charter, il claime de [...]re free de Prisage, pur ceo que per special Charter les Cityzens de London sont free de Prisage. Uncor fuit adiudge que cest Graunt del Roy ne discharge luy de Prisage, pur ceo que Prisage nest specialment expresse en mesme le Graunt. Et sur mesme le reason fuit ore resolve, per le dit Cheef Barron, & les auters Referres, sur le charter de Drogheda, per que les Burgesses de cest vill sont discharge de Theoloneo, passagio, Pannagio, Lastagio, &c. que per force de cest parol Lastagio ils ne serront discharge de Graund Custome de. 13. s. 4. d. payable pur chescun Last de Hydes, pu [...] ceo que il y ad vn Last de Herrings, & Last de Powder, & de plusors auters choses [...]ybien que de Hydes.

Et adarrainment fuit resolve per le dit Cheef Baron & les auters, que vn subiect ne poet praescriber destre free & [Page] discharge de le auncient Custome payable pur marchandises, ou de receaver ceo a son vse deinesue, pur ceo que ceo est vn certeyn revenew del Corone, mes en auters choses que sont Casuall, come Wai [...], Stray, Wreck, vn subiect poet Praescriber.

Et apres ceo, viz. 16. Decembris. 6. Iacobi, le dit Cheef Baron & les auters Referres returnont al Seigniors del priuy Counsell en Engleterre vn Certificate de lou [...] Opinion & Resolution, ou, & en quel manner, les dits Auucient Customes & le Subsidy de Pondage doent estre pay & respond al Roy, en les severall Port-Townes del Ireland. A quel Certificate, les Agents pur les dits Ports Townes submittont eux mesmes, devant les dits Seigniors del Counsell, & agreeont, que dehorsenavant, les dits Customes & Pondage serront pay accordant. Et sur ceo, cest Certificate fuit transmitt en cest Realme, & enroll en L'eschecquer icy, & accordant a ceo, depuis cest Temps, les dits Customes & Pondage ont estre respond, & pay al Roy, en touts les Ports del Ireland.

[Page 18]

Trin. 2. Iacobi
Le Case de Mixt Monyes.

LA Roigne Elizabeth, pur payer les gages del Army Royall que fuit mainteine en cest Realme pur plusors ans, a suppresser le rebellion de Tyrone, causast vn graund quantity de Mixt Moneyes, ove le vsuall Stampe del Armes del Corone, & Inscription de sa Royall Stile, desire coine in le Tower de London, & transmitt ceux Monies en cest Realme, ove Proclamation portant date. 24. Maij. Anno. 43. de sa Raigne: per que sa Maiestie declare & establish ceux Mixt Monies, immediatment apres le dit Proclamation fait, destre le Loyal & currant Money de cest Realme de Ireland, & expressement comaund, que ceux Monyes serrout issint vse, accept, & repute, per touts ses subiects, & auters, vsant ascun traffique ou Commerce deins cest Realme: & que si ascun ascun person ou persons refuseront de receaver ceux Mixt Monyes, solonque le Denomination ou valuation de ceux, viz. Shillings pur shillings, & les pieces de vi. d. pur vi. d. Et sic de caeteris, esteant tender pur paymēt des ascuns wages, fees, stipendes, ou debtes, &c. Ils serront punish come contempners de sa Royall prerogative & commaundement. Et al entent que ceux Mixt Monyes avoient le melieur course & passage, fuit ouster declare per mesme le Proclamation, que apres le. 10. iour de Iune prochein ensuant, touts auters Monyes queux ont estre currant deins cest Realme, devant le dit proclamation, serrōt decry & adnull, & esteeme [Page] come Bullion, & nemy come Loyall & currant Money deins cest Realme.

En Aprill, devant que cest proclamation fuit publish, quant le pure coine D'engleterre fuit currant deins ceit Realme, vn Brett de Drogheda marchant, aiant achate certeine wares d'un Gilbert en London devient oblige al dit Gilbert en obligation de. 200. l. sur condition que il payera al dit Gilbert ses executors, ou assignes. 100. l Sterling currāt & Loyall Money D'engleterre, a le Tombe del Earle Strongbowe in Christ-Church, Dublin, al certeine iour avener: quel iour happoit destre apresle dit proclamation, & establishmēt, del Standard de Mixt Moneys deins cest Realme: per que, al dit iour & Liew, Brett fist Tender del. 100. l. en les Mixt Moneys del novel Standard, en performance del condition del obligation avandit. Et si cest Tender fuit sufficient de saver le forfeiture del dit obligation, & si le dit Brett ore sur le change ou alteration des Moneys deins cest Realme, serra compell de payer le dit. 100. l. en auter, ou melicur Coine, que en les Mixt Moneys, solonque le rate & valuation d'eux al temps del Tender, fuit le question al Counselltable, ou le dit Gilbert esteant marchant de London ad exhibit peticion vers le dit Brett pur le speedy recovery de son debt avantdit.

Et pur ceo que cest fuit le generall Case del Realme, & fuit auxi de grand importance en consideration & reason de state, Sir George Cary esteant donques Deputie & auxi Treasourer del Roy, requiroit les cheef Idges esteant del priuy Counsell de conferer & considerer de cest case, & de retourner a luy lour resolution touchant ceo. Queux sur conference & consideration eu sur touts points del dit proclamation, fueront resolve, que le Tender del dit. 100. l. en les Mixt Moneys, al iour, & liew avantdit, fuit bon & sufficient en la ley de saver le forfeiture del dit obligation. Et que Brett ne serra enforce al ascun tēps apres, de paier auter Money en discharge de cest debte, forsque cest Mixt Money solonque le Rate & valuation que ceo avoit al temps de Tender. Et cest resolution fuit certifie per eux a le Seignior Deputie, & le certificate enter en le Counsell Booke. Et en cest Case divers points sueront consider, & resolve.

[Page 19] PRimerment fuit consider, que en chescun Common-wealth il besoigne daver vn certeine Stādard de Moneys. Car nul Commonwealth poet estre sans contracts, & nul contracts sans equality, & null equality en contracts sans Money. Car coment que en les primer Societics del mounde, Permutation del vn chose pur auter fuit vse, vncor bien toft ceo fuit trove cumbersome, & le transportatien & division des choses fuit trove difficult & impossible: & pur ceo Money fuit invent, cibien pur facility de commerce, que pur reducer concracts al equality. Cum non facilè concurrebat, vt cum tu haberes quod ego desiderarem, ego invicem haberem, quod tu accipere velles: electa materia est, cuius publica & perpetua aestimatio difficultatibus permutationum subveniret. Paulus libr. 1. ff. de Contrahendis Empt. Et pur ceo Money est dit Per Bodin, mensura publica, & Budelius libr. 1. de re Nummaria cap. 3. dit, Moneta est iustum medium & mensura rerum commutabilium: nam per medium monetae fit omnium rerum, quae in mundo sunt, conveniens & iusta aestimatio. Et a cest entent Keble dit. 12. Henr. 7. fol. 23. b. que chescun those poet estre value per Argent, per quel parol Argent il entend Money coined. Et le graund vtility del vn certeine Standard des Moneys & des measures, est bien monstre per Budelius en cest vers.

Vna Fides, Pondus, Mensura, Moneta sitvna,

Et status illaesus totius Orbis erit.

2 SEcondment fuit resolve, que appertient solement al Roy D'engleterre, de fair ou coiner money deins ses dominions, issint que nul auter person poet ceo faire, sans speciall licence ou commaundment del Roy. Et si ascum presume de faier ceo de son Teste demeine, ceo est Treason envers le person del Roy per le common Ley. Et ceo appiert per le statute de. 25. Edw. 3. cap. 2. que est forsque declaration del common ley, & per Glanvill, Britton, & Bracton devant cest Statute. Stamford. fol. 2. & 3. & en le Case de Mines, Plow. Comment. fol. 316. a. cest point est expresse plus cleerement, ou est dit, que le Roy avera les Mines d'Or & Argent: Car si le subiect averoit, il per la ley ne poet Coigner teilx Metalles, ne metter Print, ne valew sur [Page] eux; car appertient al Roy solemen [...] de metter Valew al coigne, & fair le Price del quantity, & de metter Print a ceo: le quel esteant fait, le Coine est currant. & si subiect ceo fait, ceo est graund Treason al common ley, come appiert. 23. Ass. p. 2. Et est graund Treason al Roy, pur ceo que il ad sole power de faire Money, &c.

En cest liver. 3. choses sont expresse, queux sont requisite al fesans de Loyall Money, viz. Authority del Prince, le Print, & le value. Mes sur le consideration del case en question, fuit note & observe, que. 6. choses ou circūstances doent cōcurre, pur faier Loyall & currant Money. 1. weight. 2. finenes. 3. impression. 4. Denomination. 5. Authority del Prince. 6. Proclamation. Car chescun piece de Money doet aver vn certeine proportion de weight ou poize, & vn certeine proportion de puritie ou finenes que est appell Alloy. Auxi chescun piece doet aver vn certeine forme del Impression, que serra cognoscibilis & discernibilis car sicome cere nest Seale, sans-print, issint mettall nest Money sans impression. Et Moneta dicitur à monendo, quia impressione nos moneat cuius sit moneta. Cuius imago & superscriptio est haec? Caesaris: date Caesari quae sunt Caesaris. Auxi chescun piece de Money covient aver Denomination ou valuation pur quant ceo serra accept ou pay, come per vn penny, vn groate, ou vn shilling. Ettout ceo covient estre fait per authority & commaundment del Prince, car auterment le money nest Loiall, & doet estre publish per proclamation del Prince, car devant ceo, le money nest currant.

Ceux circumstances appearont en les auncient Ordinances fait per le Roy, pur le Coinage de monyes, cibien en cest Realme, que en Engleterre, queux sont destre trove en le Tower de London la, & en le Castle de Dublin icy. Auxi les Indentures enter le Roy & les Maisters del Mint, prescribont le proportion de poize, finenes, & alloy, l'impression, ou inscription, le nosme & le value, vid. statut. 2. H. 6. cap. 12. ou mention est fait de ceux Indentures, vide auxi Wades Case en le. 5. part des Reports de le Seignior Cooke. 114. b. que le Roy per son proclamation poet fair ascun Coigne Loyall money de Engleterre: à fortiori, il poet, per son proclamation tantum establish le Standard des monies coined per son authority deins ses proper dominions.

[Page 20] Et que le Roy per son prerogative poet auxi metter prize ou valuation sur touts coines, appiert per vn notable Case. 21. Edw. 3. fol. 60. b. En temps del William le Conquerour, le Abbe de Saint Edmundes Bury complainoit al Roy en Parliament, que ou il fuit exempt del Irisoiction del Ordinary per divers auncient Charters, que L'evesque de Norwich ad visitt son meason encounter ceux Charters d'exemption. Per que fuit graunte & ordeine in Parliament, que si de cel temps en avant, L'evesque de Norwich ou ascun de ses successors alassent encounter l'exemption avantdit, que ils payeront al Roy, ou a ses heires. 30. Talentes ou Besauntes. Apres ceo, viz. entemps Ed. 3. L'evesque de Norwich visitt la meason arrere, encounter l'ordinance avantdit, & cest contempt esteant trove en Banck le Roy, Scire facias issist vers L'evesque a monstrer pur que il ne payeroit al Roy les. 30. Talentes ou Besauntes. Et sur insufficient plea pleade per L'evesque, le Court agard que le Roy recovera les Talentes ou Besauntes, & que la prize soit interpret per le Roy mesme, de quel prize ils serront plus [...]ou meins. Per que est manifest que ou Talētes ou Besaūtes ou auters teils pieces ou quantities d'Or ou Argent, sont de vncerteine valew (car Budeus dit, quod Talenta sunt varia, & pondera sunt, potius quam numismata) le Roy mesme ad power de metter certeiue valew sur eux: solonque le rule bien conus al civilians Monetae aestimationem dat, qui cudendi potestatem habet. Et en cest point la common ley D'engleterre agree bien ove les rules del civil ley, lus cudendae Monetae ad solum Principem, hoc est, Imperatorem de Iure pertinet. Monetandi Ius Principum ossibus inhaeret. Ius monetae cōprehenditur in Regalibus, quae nunquam à Regio sceptro abdicantur.

Uncor per auncient Charters, cest privilege ou prerogative ad estre communicate al ascuns subiects en Engleterre: come al Archevesque de Canterbury per Charter del Roy Athelstane. Lambert. peramb. Kanc. fol. 291. Et L'archebesque de Yorke, & Evesque de Durham avoent Mintes, & power de Coigner moneys, come appiert per le statute de 14. Henr. 8. cap. 12. & le Deane de Saint Martins le Graund ad mesme le priviledge, come est manifest per le statute de. 17. Edw. 4. cap. 1. Et cest Ius cudendae monetae ad estre graunt al plusors graundes personages en Fraunce, en temps paravant, [Page] come Choppinus recite lib. de Domanio Franc. fol. 217. a. Et cest prerogative a cest iour, est impart trop generalment al toates inferior Princes & States de Germany, per graunt ou permission del Emperour. Car cest vn l'ey del Empire, Ius cudendae monetae, nisi cui ab Imperatore concessum fuerit, nemo vsurpato.

TIercement fuit resolve, que sicome le Roy per son prerogative poet fair Monyes de quel matter & forme luy plerra, & d'establisher le standart de ceo, issint poet il changer son Mony en substance, & impression, & enhauncer ou abaser le valewe de ceo, ou tout ousterment decrier & adnuller ceo, [...]ssint que soit forsque Bullion, a son pleasure. Et nota que Bullion, que dicitur latine, Billio, est moneta defensa & prohibita, quae videlicet, vsu caret.

Et que le Roy ad vse cest prerogative en Engleterre, appiert per plusors notorious changes del Money, fait en temps del severall Royes depuis le Norman Conquest. An. 26. H. 2. Monetâ veteri reprobatâ, nova successit. Matth. Paris. hist. magn. fol. 35. a. Anno 7. Iohannis novel Money fuit coine, a quel temps le primer Sterling Money fuit fait solonque l'opinion de Camden, ou il parle de Sterling Castle en Scotland. fol. 700. b. An. 32. H. 3. le Roy fuit enforce de fair novel Money, cum moneta Angliae circumcidebatur à circumcisis Iudaeis, come Matth. Paris. dit. fol. 703. a. Anno. 7. Edw. 1. le Standart del Moneys fuit renewe, quant le sterling penny fuit establish de conteiner vicesimam partem vnciae, come appiert en veteri magnà Chartà, en l'Ordinance appell Compositio mensurarum, ou est ordeine, quod viginti denarij faciant vnciam. Anno. 29. Edw. 1. quant les Moneys appell Pollardes fueront decrie, novel sterling money fuit auxi coine, vid. 6. Edw. 6. Dier. 82. b. & lib. Rubro Scaccarij Dublin, part, 2. fol. 1. b. Apres ceo novel moneis ont estre fait. 9. Edw. 3. & 13. Henr. 4. & 5. Edw. 4. & 19. Henr. 7. & 36. Henr. 8. Et derrainement. 2. Elizabethae, quant toutes Mixt & base Moneyes fueront decrie, & le standard de pure silver establish, que continue a cest iour, de que Bodin fait honorable mention libr. 6. de Republica cap. 3.

Et semble, ceux changes de Moneys en Engleterre fueront fait per l'authority del Roy sans Parliament, coment [Page 21] que plusors actes de Parliament ont estre fait, pur ordering del eschaunge, & a prohibiter l'exportation des Monies faites & ordaines per le Roy, & l'importation & vtterance de foreine & faux monies, sur certeine paines & penalties, dont ascuns fueront capitall, & ascuns pecuniary. Et plusors ordinances del Roy fait sans Parliament, sont appell Statutes, come Statutum de moneta magnum, & statutum de moneta paruum, que sont issint nosme Statutes, put ceo, que l'ordinance del Roy ove proclamation en tiel case, ad le force del act de Parliament.

Et sicome le Roy ad vse de Chaunger le standard de ses monies, cesta scavoir le forme & le substance, issint ad il vse per son prerogative de enchaunser ou abaser le valuation de ceo, ment obstant que le forme, & substance continewe come il fuit devant. Et ceo fuit fait. 5 Edw. 4. come appiert per le liver de. 9. Edw. 4. fol. 49. a. ou Danby dit, que vn noble est melior ore, que il fuit Anno. 20. de cest Roy, 20. d. en chescun noble: & le Roy. Henr. 8. per speciall commission Dat. 24. Iulij anno. 18. de son raigne, authorize le Cardinall Wolsey ove l'advise des auters del Counsell del Roy, de meiter valuation sur touts monies de Engleterre, de temps en temps, solonque les Rates & valewes del monies de foreine nations, queux fueront adonques trop en, hanses, specialment per L'emperour, & le Roy de Fraunce, come est expresse en le dit commission. Vid. auxi. 6. &. 7. Ed. 6. Dier, 82. & 83. divers cases sur imbasement des Monies.

Et est d'estre noate, que enter l'an. 36, Henr. 8. quant plusors sortes de base monies fucront coigne en Engliterre, & 2. Elizabeth, quant le pure standard des silver monyes fuit establish, il y ad. 3. notorious falles ou decries de base monyes publish per proclamation: le primer. 9. Iulij. 5. Edw. 6. le second. 17. Augusti eodem anno, come est expresse en Dier. 83. a. le tierce. 28. September. 2. Eliz.

Et sicome le Roy ad touts foits vse de fair & chaunger les monyes D'engleterre, il ad auxi vse mesme le prerogative en Ireland touts temps depuis le. 12. An. del Roy Iohn, quant le primer standard des English monyes fuit establish en cest Realme: come est record Per Matth. Paris. magna hist. fol. 220. b. ou il dit, que cest Roy csteant in Ireland [Page] constituit ibidem leges & consuetudines Anglicanas, ponens ibidem Vicecomites, aliosque ministros, qui populum regni illius iuxta leges Anglicanas iudicarent. Praesecit autem ibidem Iohannem de Gray Episcopum Norwicensem Iustitiarium, qui denarium terrae illius ad pondus numismatis Angliae fecerat publicari, & tam obulum quam quadrantem rotundum fieri praecepit: iussit quoque Rex, vt illius monetae vsus tam in Anglia quam in Hybernia communis ab omnibus haberetur, & vtriusque regni denarius in th [...]sauris suis indifferenter poneretur.

Per que appiert, que le Standard de monyes en Engleterre & en Ireland fuit equall al primes, & que le English money ne fuit vn quart part melior in valewe que le Irish, come ceo ad estre depuis le temps del Edward. 4. Car devant, sicome fuit vn mesme Standard de monyes en ambideux Realmes, [...]ssint touts foits quant le monye fuit chaunge in Engleterre, fuit auxi change in Ireland come en [...]an 1279. viz. 7. Edw. 1. quant Edw. 1. establish novel money en Engleterre, come devant est monstre, fuit auxi mutation des monyes en Ireland, come est noate [...]les Annalles de cest Realme, publish per Camden en son liver de Britannia, ou est dit, que Anno. 1279. Dominus Robertus [...]e Vfford iustitiarius Hyberniae intravit Angliam, & constituit loco suo fratre [...] Robertum de Fulbourne Episcopum Waterford, cuius tempore mutata est moneta. Issint. 29. Edw. 1. quant per speciall ordinaunce del Roy les Pollardes & Crockardes fueront decrie & adnull, mesme l'ordinance fuit transmitt en cest Realme, & enroll en l'eschecquer icy, come est trove in libro Rubro Scaccarii hic part. 2. fol. 2. b. auxi en les annaies avantdit, est note en mesme l'an, Numisma Pollardarum prohibetur in Anglia & Hybernia.

Et sicome le Standard des moneys fuit equall, issint les mintes & coinage en cest Realme fuit order & governe en mesme le manner come en Engleterre, come appiert per l'accompt del Donate & Andrewe de Sperdsholt maisters del Eschaunge al Dublin. 9. & 10. E. 1. in Archivis castri Dublin, & in libro Rubro Scaccar. hic part. 2. fol. 1. & en Rot. Parliament. in Castro Dublin. 12. Edw. 4. cap. 60. vid. auxi [...]sors ordinances la touchaunt le Mint & monies. 7. E. 4. c. [...] 16. E. 4. c. 2. 19. E. 4. c. 1. 1. R. 3. c. 7.

[Page 22] Mes le primer difference & inaequality enter les Standardes del English monies, & Irish monies, est trove en. 5. Edw. 4. Car donques fuit declare en Parliament icy, que le Noble fait en temps. Edw. 3. R. 2. Henr. 4. Henr. 5. & Henr. 6. serroit de cest temps en avant currant en cest Realme, pur x. s. & issint le demy Noble, & toutes auters coines solonque mesme le rate. vid. Rot. Parliament. 5. Edw. 4. cap. 40. & 11. Edw. 4. cap. 6. & 15. Edw. 4. cap. 5. in l'office del Rolles in Castro Dublin, Apres quel temps, le money fait en Ireland, ou pur Ireland, fuit tout foits meinder in valuation que le money de Engleterre, & le vsuall proportion del difference fuit le quart part tantum, viz. le Irish shilling fuit torsque 9. d. del money del Engleterre. vid. le Proclamation avantdit, dat. 24. Maij. 43. Eliz. enroll en le Chauncery icy, ou la Roigne fait mention de cest difference fait per ses progenitors enter le Standard des monyes fait pur cest Realme, & les monyes D'engleterre. Et nota que ceo que est appell Standard del money en cest case, est mesme ceo que est appell per le French Pied de monoy, per Bodin, Pes monetarum, quasi Princeps ibi pedem figat aiant fix & establish le pois & purity del money en vn certeine proportion, que ne serra transgresse per les Monyers.

Et issint est manifest, que les Royes de Engleterre ont toutfoits ew et exercise cest prerogative de coiner, & chaunger le forme, & quant ils trovant expedient, de enhanser & abaser le valewe de monyes, deins lour dominions. Et cest prerogative est allowe & approove non solement per le common ley, mes auxi per les Rules del Imperiall Ley. Budelius de re numaria libr. 1. cap. 5. Princeps ad arbitrium suum, irrequisito assensu subditorum, valorem monetae constituere potest, quia populus, quantum ad hoc, omnem potestatem & iurisdictionem in Principem seu Imperatorem transtulisse dicitur. Et paulo post en mesme le Chapter, coment que ascuns. D D. sont de opinion, Principem sine assensu populi monetam mutare non posse, vncor il conclude. Si Princeps consuevisset mutare monetam auctoritate propria, sine consensu populi, à tempore, cuius initij memoria non existit, tunc libere imposterum eum hoc facere posse. [...]. hoc Iure paragr ductus aquae. ff. de aqua quotidian. &c. Et Couarruuias libro de Collatione veterum numismatum, cap. de mutatione [Page] monetae dit, Princeps potest mutare monetam ratione publicae vtilitatis, viz. tempore belli, vel si alias vtile populo sit futurum, ita etiam, vt ex Corio fieri possit. Et pur ceo est note per Molineum libro de mutatione Monetae cap. 100. que le slate de Rome in le primer Punick guerre, quant Anniball ad possesse graund part de Italy, & tout lour treasoure t [...]t exhaust, enhansoit base monyes al graund valewes, pur payment de lour Armies, & vncor le Istice de cest State fuit donques famous per tout le mounde. Mes [...]l est magis iustum quam quod necessarium, per que appiert, que les mixt monyes fueront fait per la Roigne Eliz. su [...] [...]st & honorable cause.

4 F [...]it resolve, que le dit Mixt money aiant Impression & l'inscription de la Roigne D'engleterre, & esteant proclaime pur loyall & currant money deins cest Realme de Ireland, doet es [...]re prise & accept pur Sterling money: & sur consideration de cest point, le nosme & le nature de Sterling money fuit enquire & discover. Pur le nosme de sterling, ascuns Doctors de la Ley Civil esteant deceave pur l'erronious report del Polidor. Virgill, ont conceave, que cest English money fuit appell Sterling, pur ceo que le forme d'un stare, dont le deminuitive est Starling fuit imprint ou stamp sur ceo. Et pur ceo Couarruuias lib. de Collatione veterum numismatum cap. 2. Sterling (dit il) est argenteus nummus Anglicus ex vicesima sexta parte vnciae, nam viginti sex nummi argentei sterlingi, pendebant vnciam, Auto [...]e Polidoro Virgilio in historia Anglicâ libr. 16. Dictus autem est hic nummus, vt idem author tradit, Sterling, quod Sturnus auis, Anglicè, sterling, in altera parte nummi esset impressa. A mesme l'entent Choppinus de domanio Franc. libr. 2. tit. 7. ad cest noate. Caeterum Errico 3. Britanniae Rege, primum percussa est nunc vsitatissima Sterlingorum moneta, ab effigie sturni sic dicta, anno. 1249. Ceux DD. esteant aliens, fueront come semble, misinforme per Polidor Virgill, que fuit auxi vn Alien, & hospes in nostra Respublicâ: mes nostre Linwood auxi (que fesoit son glosse sur les Prouinciall constitutions D'engleterre, en temps Henr. 6.) titul. de Testamentis C. item quia, verbo, Centum solidos, dit, que Sterlingorum nomen erat argenteae monetae, & habebat similitudinem [Page 23] denarij vsualis, hoc salvo, quod in vnâ quartâ habebat effigiem avis, quae vocatur Sturnus, Anglice sterling.

Auters ont estre d'opinion, que cest English money avoit le nosme de Sterling, pur ceo que le primer money de cest Standard fuit coigne in le Castle de Sterling in Scotlād per le Roy Edw. 1. Mes ceo est auxi erro [...]ious opinion, come est noate per Camden in Scotiâ pag. 700. on il pariant del Castle de Sterling dit, Quod quidam monetam probam Angliae, quae sterling money, dicitur, hinc denominatam volunt, frustra sunt, à Germanis enim, quos Angli Esterlinges ab Oriē tali situ vocarunt, facta est appellatio, quos Iohannes Rex ad argentum in suam puritatem redigendum, primus euocauit, & eiusmodi nummi, Esterlingi, in antiquis scripturis semper reperiuntur.

Et cest derraine opinion, sans doubt, est le melieur & plus probable, per le Idgement de touts les bien doctes Antiquaries D'engleterre. Car en touts les auncient statutes, queux fe [...]ont mention de cest money, ceo cest appell Esterling. Come. 9. Ed. 3. cap. 2. &c. Null faux money counterfeate Esterling ne soit emport en nostre Realme. Et eodem Anno cap. 3. Nul Esterlinge maile, ne ferlinge, soit found pur vessell, &c. Et 25. Edw. 3. cap. 13. que le money d'Or & Argent que ore court, ne soit pas empaire en pois ne en Alloy, mes soit mise en l'auncient estate come en l'Esterling. Et Matth. Paris. Magn. histor. fol. 403. ou il expresse le forme del obligation per le Clergy del Engleterre fait al Bankers del Pape resident en London, fait mention de cest money per nomen Esterlingorum: noueritis nos recipisse ab A. & B. &c. centum vncias bonorum & legalium Esterlingorum, tresdecim solidis & quatuor sterlingis pro qualibet vncia computatis & en mesme l'Autor fol. 710. eodem tempore, dit il, Moneta Esterlingorum propter sui materiam desiderabilem, detestabili circumcisione coepit deteriorari & corrumpi & fol. 575. Comitissa de Biarde venit ad Regem cum 60. militibus, ducta cupidine Este [...]lingorum, quibus noverat Regem Angliae abundare, & accepit à Rege qualibet die pro stipendio tresdecim libras Esterlingorum, &c. Et Hovenden in Richard. 1. fol. 377. b. fait mention de cest money [...]n ceux parols, Videns igitur Galfridus Eboracensis electus, quod nisi mediante pecunia amorem Regis fratris sui nullatenus habere possit, promisit ei tria milia librarum [Page] sterlingorum pro amore eius habendo: & ceo fuit devant le temps del Roy Iohn, per que semble, que le temps quant cest money fuit primerment coigne est incerteine. Car ascuns diont, que fuit fait per Osbright vn Roy de Saxon race. 160. ans devant le Norman Conquest. Et issint, Sicut nummus dicitur á Numa que fuit le primer Roy que fesoit monyes [...]n Rome, issint sterling dicitur ab Esterlinges, queux primes fesoent le money de cest Standard en Engleterre, per Metonymiam, cum inuentorem pro re inuenta ponimus, vt Ceres pro frumento, Bacchus pro vino, &c.

Et est destre observe, que les Esterlinges fueront les primer founders de les. 4. principal Cityes del Ireland, viz. Dublin, Waterford, Corke, & Limrick, & del auters maritime villes en cest Realme, & fueront le sole maintainours de traffique & commerce, que fuit tout ousterment neglect per les Irish. Ceux Cittyes & villes fueront desouth le protection del Roy Edgar, & Edw. le Confessor devant le Norman Conquest. Et ceux Esterlinges en les auncient records de cest Realme sont appell Ostmanni. Et pur ceo, quant Henr. 2. sur le primer conquest, pensoit mieux de peopler ceux Cittyes & villes o [...]e English Coloines deduce de Bristowe, & Chester, &c. il assignoit al ceux Ostmen certeine proportion de terre procheine adioynant a [...] chescun des dits Cityes, quel portion est appell en les Recordes de auncient temps, Cantreda Ostmannorum. Et tout ceo fuit observe sur le nosine de Sterling.

Pur le nature ou substance de cest money, primerment fuit note, que le coigne que fuit properment appell le sterling, fuit le denier ou penny de silver, come appiert en l'Ordinance appell Compositio mensurarum fait en temps Edw. 1. ou est dit, quod denarius Angliae, qui nominatur sterlingus, rotundus, sine tonsura, ponderabit triginta & duo grana in medio spicae, &c. Et chescun auter co [...]gne ou piece de silver fuit measure per le sterling penny, come le groate containoit le valew de. 4. sterlinges, & le halfe groate le valew de. 2. sterlings. 25. Edw. 3. cap. 6. & le shillinge consistoit de 12. sterlinges, Linwood de testamentis C. Item quia, verb. Cē tum solidos. Et le Marke consistoit de. 13. solidis & quatuor sterlingis, come devant est monstre, Matth. Paris. hist. magn. pag. 710. & le maile fuit noate per cest parol demi, viz. Demidia [Page 24] pars sterlingi, & le farthing per quâ, viz. quarta pars sterlingi. vid. vn Ordinaunce sans date in magna Charta imprime per Totell Anno. 1556. fol. 167. & en le vieux abridgment de Rastall, money. 52. Quia multorum Regum temporibus provisum fuit, quod propter pauperes denarius argenti, viz. Sterlingus diuideretur in obulum & quadrantem, ex parte domini Regis praecipitur, quod quicunque recusauerit obulum vel quadrantem debitam habentem formam, capiatur, &c. Vid. 6. & 7 Edw. 6. Dier. en le Case de Pollardes, ou appiert que sterlingus & denarius sont tout vn, car la est dit quod duo Pollardi currebant pro vno sterlingo, & accordant duo sterlingi fueront pay pro vno denario, Et revera en auncient temps, chescun sort de money, fait de les severall mettalls dont money [...]uit vsualment coigne, fuit properment denarius: & pur ceo les French & Italians parlont properment, ou ils appellont touts monies deniers, & danari, car nummi fueront vel cuprei vel argentei, vel aurei: singuli argentei valebant decem cupreos, & sic denari [...] sont appellati, & singuli aurei valebant decem argenteos, & en cest respect ceux [...]ueront auxi denarij, & le auncient proportion del Or al argent fuit. 10. al. 1. Et cest proportion (come semble) Dauid ad observe en le treasure d'Or & Argent que il ad prepare pur l'erection del Temple: car le Text dit, Chron. cap. 22. vers. 14. que il ad provide a cest purpose cent mill talents d'Or, & dix cent mill Talents d'Argent. Issint le primer & proper Sterling coine fuit denarius.

Et pur le substance de cest denier ou sterling penny in pondere & puritate. Quant al pois, ceo [...]uit al primes vicessima pars vnciae, viz. vn ounce fuit tallie [...]n. 20. Sterling deniers, & ment plus. vid. compositio mensurarum fait en temps. Edw. 1. in veteri libro de magnâ Charta fol. 113. b. Et en le vieux Abridgement de Rastall. Tit. weights & measures. 4. ou est dit, Quod viginti denarij faciunt vnciam, & duodecim vnciae faciunt libram. Et issint le Sterling penny fuit le vint part del ounce tanque. 9. Edw. 3. a quel temps le ounce del silver fuit tallie en. 26. [...]ence. annales del Rob. de Avesbury. M. S. vid. plu [...]ors ordinaunces touchant le novel sterling money, fait. 9. Edw. 3. Rastall. money. 345. Et tiel proportion fuit continew [...]anque. 2. Henr. 6. quant le ounce del silver [...]esoit. 32. pence, & ceo appi [...]rt per le statute de. 2. H. [Page] 6. cap. 13. Et auxi per Linwood. de testamentis cap. Item quia. verb. Centum solidos. hic solidus (dit il) sumitur pro duodecim denarijs Anglicanis: horum viginti sex ponderabant vnciam, cum tamen iam. 32. denarij vix faciant vnciam. Et cest glosse fuit escrite en commencement del raigne del Henr. 6. come il mesure expresse en le Preface a son liver. Cest standard fuit continew iusques al. 5. Edw. 4. & donques le ounce del silver fesoit 40. pence vid. 9. Edw. 4. 49. a. & 12. Edw. 4. cap. 60. in Rot. Parliament. Dublin, & ceo continuoit iusques al. 36. Henr. 8. quant le Roy preparoit son iorney al Bulloigne, & & donques vn ounce del silver fuit divide en 45. pence, que ne fuit alter iusques al 2. Elizabeth, quant le ounce de pure silver fuit tallie en 60. pence, & cest standard remaine a cest iour: & issint le sterling penny que fuit al primes vicesima pars vnciae est ore sexagessima pars vnciae, & per consequence le auncient sterling penny containoit tant de silver, quant est containe en le piece de trois deniers que est currant a cest iour.

Et quant al purity de cest sterling money. 18. s. v. d. ob. argenti purissimi continebatur in qualibet libra, & quaelibet libra de sterling money avoit 18. d. ob. d'allay de Copper, & nient plus, & de cest allay de sterling money les Ordinaunces ou statutes de 25. Edw. 3. cap. 13. & 2. Henr. 6. cap. 13. font mention. Mes ceo est [...]ien conus al touts Moniers, & est conteine en touts les Indentures fait enter le Roy, & les maisters del Minte.

Donques, le sterling money esteant de tiel pois, & de tiel finenes, le doubte, prima facie, fuit, coment cest Mixt Money serra dit sterling. Et pur le clearing de cest doubt, fuit dit, que en che [...]run coine ou piece de money est bonitas intrinseca, & bonitas extrinseca: Intrinseca consistit in praeciositate materiae & pondere, viz. finenesse & weight: Extrinseca bonitas consistit in valuatione seu denominatione, & in forma seu charectere. Budelius de re Nummaria libr. 1. cap. 7. Et cest bonitas extrinseca que est auxi dit aestimatio siue valor imposititius est formalis & essentialis bonitas monetae & cest forme dat nomen & esse a le money, car sans [...]iel forme le plus precious & pure mettall que poet estre, nest pas money. Et pur ceo Molineus libro de mutatione Monetae dit, non materia naturalis corporis monetae, sed valor imposititius est forma [Page 25] & substantia monetae, quae non est corpus Physicum sed artificiale come Aristotle dit Ethycorum libr. 5. Et auxi Politicorum primo, il dit a cest effect, que money fuit primerment signe & imprinte ove certeine charecter, al entent, que le people acceptera ceo, sur credit del Prince ou state que publish ceo, sans examination ou triall del Pois ou Purity. Et a cest entent Molineus ad cest rule Q. 99. De Iure non refert, siue plus, siue minus argenti insit, modo publica, proba, & & legitima moneta sit. Et Baldus l. singulari, dit, in pecunia potius attenditur vsus & cursus quam materia. Et Seneca lib. 5. de beneficijs, aes alienum habere dicitur, & qui aureos debet, & qui corium forma publica percussum. Et fuit dit que le Roy ad mesme le prerogative a doner valewe al base mettall per son Impression ou Charecter, come il ad a doner estimation al vn meane person per imparting le Charecter del honor a luy: Sic fiet viro quem Rex honorare desiderat.

Et issint fuit conclude, que apres que les Esterlings per commaundment del Roy del Engleterre, ont fait cest pure English money, que á nomine opificum fuit appell Esterlinge ou sterling money (le standard de quel money ad estre touts foits le plus fixt & vnmoueable standard de money en tout le mounde, que ad estre grand honor al nostre nation, car en touts auters Realmes & states, les Standardes de lour monies sont plus vnsteddy & variable) Touts monies coigne per l'authority del Roy D'engleterre, & aiant son Charecter & impression non solement en Engleterre, mes auxi en Scotland & Ireland ont estre sterlinge monies, & issint appell, repute, & accept per toutes gents, soit le matter de ceo mixt ou pure. Et ceo appiert per l'Ordinance que est appell statutum de moneta magnum, per quel touts monies sont prohibit forsque le money del Engleterre, de Ireland, & de Escosse, que fuit properment le sterling money. Et pur ceo Freherus libro de re Nummaria, vbi enumerat varias variarum gentium monetas. Sterlingi, inquit, habentur in Angliâ, Scotiâ, & Hybernia. Et Bodin. libr. 6. de Republica. cap. 3. parlant del money de Scotland, en Escosse, dit il, sont deux Livers fort differentes, l'un de Esterlinges, l'autre vsagere. Et certes le vsuall Scottish liver est semble al French liver, & le Liver de Esterlings currant la, est celle D'engleterre. Et que base ou Mixt Money [Page] poet estre currant pur sterling, appiert per le dit Case de Pollards Dier. 82. b. ou est dit, Quod currebat quaedam moneta in Anglia loco sterlingi quae vocabatur Pollardes, scilicet duo Pollardi pro vno sterlingo.

5 FUit resolve, que coment que cest Mixt Money suit fait destre currant deins cest Realme de Ireland solement, vncor ceo poet estre bien dit, Currant & loyall money D'engleterre, pur. 2. causes. 1. pur ceo que cest Realme est forsque member del Imperiall Corone D'engleterre, & ceo appiert. 3. Henr. 7. fol. 10. a. ou question fuit propound a les Istices per Hobart Atturney generall, Si quis sciens monetam ad similitudinem monetae Regis Angliae contrafactam, talem monetam in Angliam extra Hyberniam deferat, si sit proditio necne: & dixerunt quod Hybernia est quasi membrum Angliae, & ibidem legibus Angliae vtuntur, & authoritate Regia faciunt monetam. Et a cest entent est recite en le statute de faculties enact en cest Realme 28. Henr. 8. cap. 19. That this the Kings land of Ireland is a member appendant and rightfully belonging to the Imperiall Crowne of the Realme of England, and vnited to the same. Et en l'Act de. 33. Henr. 8. cap. 1. per que le stile & title del Roy de Ireland fuit done al Henr 8. ses heires & successors, est ouster enact que le Roy enioyera cest stile & title & touts auters Royall preheminences, prerogatives, & dignities, As vnited and annexed to the Imperiall Crowne of the Realme of England.

2 Est appell loyall money D'engleterre en respect del lieu de Coinage, que fuit en Engleterre, viz. En le Tower de London. Car coment que en auncient temps le Roy avoit plusors Mints en cest Realme, sicome il avoit en Engleterre, vncor depuis le commencement del raigne de la Roigne Elizabeth, touts les Mints ont estre reduce al vn lieu, viz. al Tower de London. Et [...]eo fuit fait sur von reason de state, pur avoider falsification des monies. Et pur ceo, devant le Norman Conquest, touts monies fueront coigne en Monasteries: Car fuit presume que en tielx measons nul falsity ou corruption serroit [...]rove: & ceo agree ove le prudence del Romaine state, que navoit forsque vn Minte pur tout Italy: Et ceo fuit en le Temple [Page 26] de Iuno al Rome, que pur cest cause fuit appell Iuno moneta: & a cest entent l'Emperour Charle Maine fesoit vn ley en ceux parolx viz. De falsis monetis, quia in diuersis locis contra Iustitiam fiunt, volumus, vt in nullo alio loco moneta, nisi in Palatio nostro, fiat. Choppinus de Domanio Franciae, fol. 217. a. vncor en 28. Edw. 1. cest prudent Roy pur le facility d'eschaunge, causast plusors Mintes desire establish en seuerall villes de Engleterre: vn en le Tower de London ove 30. furnasses, auter al Canterbury ove 8. furnasses, auter al Kingston super Hull ove. 4. furnasses, auter al Newcastle sur Tine, ove. 2. furnasses, auter al Bristow, ove. 4. furnasses, & auter al Excester ove. 2. furnasses. Tractat. de moneta Angliae fait en temps Edw. 1. que [...]eo trove en le Library de Sir Robert Cotton, que fuit le liver de Seignior Burleigh iadis Graund Treasurer D'engleterre, vid. auxi les Closerolls. 29. Edw. 1. in Turri London: & ceo appiert auxi per l'inscription de divers auncient Coines, sur queux sont expresse les nosmes des Cytties ou fueront coined, accordant al verse fait en temps Edw. 1. & prise per Stow hors de Robert le Brun vn auncient M. S.

Edward did smite round penny, halfepenny, farthing.

& donques ensuist.

On the kinges side, was his head and his name written,

On the Crosse side the Citty where it was smitten.

Et mesme cest Roy aiant establish vn Mint al Dublin ove. 4. furnasses, & aiant constitute Alexander Norman de Luik maister des monies la, come appiert en plusors Recordes in Archivis Castri Dublini, apres, viz. 32. Ed. 1. quant il avoit alter le forme del coigne, [...] causast divers stamps consistant de 2. partes, dont l'un contenoit le Pile, & l'auter le Crosse, des [...]re transmitt al Treasourer de cest Realme, come est Record in libro Rubro Scacar. hic, en cest manner Magister Gulielmus de Wimundham costos Cambiorum domini Regis in Anglia, de praecepto venerabilis Patris Bathon. & Wellensis Episcopi, Thesaurarij eiusdem domini Regis, misit domino Gulielmo de Esenden thesaurario in Hybernia, viginti quatuor pecias Cuneorum, Pro monetâ ibidem facienda, viz. [Page] tres pilas cum sex crucellis pro denarijs, tres pilas cum sex crucellis pro obolis, & duas pilas cum quatuor crucellis pro ferlingis, per Iohannem le Minor, Thomas Dowle, & Iohannem de Shordich Clericos de societate operariorum & monetariorum London, per [...]osdem ad monetam praedictam operandam & monetandam, & la est auxi expresse entry fait devant queux Tesmoignes les dits stampes fueront deliver. Car Cuneus monetae tanquam sigillum regni custodiri debet, come est dit en le Treatise de monetâ Angliae, fait en le temps, Edw. 1. mention devant: & le reason est, pur ceo que de counterfeater l'un & l'auter est hault treason.

Et a cest temps fuit forsque vn Minte in Ireland, cest a scavoir al Dublin: mes longe temps apres, viz. 3. Ed. 4. vn Minte fuit establish al Waterford, & auter al Trim, & auter al Gallway, Rot. Parliament. 3. Edw. 4. in Castro Dublin. Et 12. Edw. 4. Rot. Parliament. ibidem, est ordeine que les Maisters de Minte in Ireland faieront en les Castles de Dublin, & Trim, & en ville de Drogheda, cinque sortes de Coines, le Groate, le halfegroate, le penny, halfepenny, farthing, per que est manifest que en temps paravant, ont estre. 5. severall Mintes in Ireland en les severall villes avant dit. Mes touts ceux fueront discontinew en temps Edw. 6. issint que depuis le raigne de cest Roy toutes les monies faits pur Ireland, ont estre coigne en Engleterre, & pur ceo cest Mixt Money coined en le Tower de London poet estre dit properment currant & loyall money D'engleterre.

6 DEtrainement fuit resolve, que coment que al temps del cōtract & obligatiō fait en le Case avant dit, pure money d'Or & Argent fuit currant deins cest Realme, ou le liewe de payment fuit assigne, vncor le Mixt Money esteant establish en cest Realme devant le iour de payment, poet estre bien tender en discharge del dit obligation, & le obligee est lie d'accepter ceo: & [...]l ceo refuse, & targe tant que le money soit chaunge arrere, l'obligor nest tenus de payer auter money de melieur substance, mes suffist sil soit touts temps prist, de payer les Mixt Moneys, solonque le rate, pur que ceux fueront currant al temps del tender. Et cest point fuit resolve, sur consideration de [Page 27] 2. Circumstances, viz. le temps & le liewe de payment. Car le temps est future, That if the said Brett shall pay or cause to be paid one hundred poundes sterling currant money, &c. Et pur ceo tiel money serra pay que serra currant a tiel future temps, issint que le temps del payment, & nemi le temps del contract serra respect.

Auxi le future temps est entend per les parols Currant money, car chose que est passe nest in cursu. Et pur ceo tout les Doctors queur escriant de re Nun maria agreeont en cest rule, Verba currentis monetae tempus solutionis designant. Et a cest entent sont plusors Cases ruled in nostre livers. 6. & 7. Edw. 6. Dier. 81. b. Apres le fall & embasement des monyes. 5. Edw. 6. Debt fuit port vers executors de Lessee pur ans, pur rent arrere pur 2. aus finie al Mich. 2. Edw. 6. a quel temps le shillinge, que al temps del action port, fuit decrie al vi. d. fuit currant pur xii. d. en cest Case les defendants pleadont Tender del rent al iours quant ceo fuit due, in pecijs monetae Angliae vocat. shillinges & que chescun shilling al temps del Tender fuit solubilis pur xii. d. Mes le plaintife ne nul auter pur lui fuit prist de receaver ceo, &c. Et concludont, que ils [...]ont vncor prist de payer les arrerages in dictis peci [...]s vocat. shillinges secundam ratam praedictam, &c. Sur cest plea coment que le plaintise demurroit, vncor il fuit content de prender l'Argent secundam ratam praedictam, sans costs ou damages. A mesme l'entent est le Case de Pollardes adiuge. 29. Edw. 1. & Report per Dier. 7. Edw. 6. fol. 82. b. ou en debt sur obligacion pur paiment de 24. l. al. 2. several iours, le defendant plead que al iours limit pur payment de debt en demaund, currebat quaedam moneta quae vocabatur Pollardes loco sterlingi, &c. Et que le defendant al primer iour de paiment ad Tender le moity del debt en le money appell Pollardes, que le plaintife refuse, & que il est vncor prist, &c. Et offer ceo in Court, que nest deny per le plaintife, ideo concessum est que il recover vn moiety en Pollardes & l'auter in pure sterling money. vid. 9. Edw. 4. 49. a. Un notable case sur chaunge de monies, ou est dit que si home en action de debt demaund, 40. l. serraentend money que curge al temps de breefe purchase. Et la vn case de temps. Ed. 1. est mise, que est direct a cest purpose. En debt port sur fait, [Page] de 30. quarters de orge, price. 20. l. fuit t [...]obe pu [...] le plaintife, & le Iry fuit charge d'enquire del price al [...]emps del, payment, & fuit dit, que al temps del payment vn quarter fuit al 32. s. Mes al temps de fesans de fait fuit for [...]ue al. [...]. s. & le plaintife recover. 18. l. pur le blee, accordant al price que fuit al temps del payment. Auxi a cest entent Linwood ad vn notable glosse sur le constitution de Simon Mepham libr. 3. de Testamentis, cap. Item quia. Car, ou le constitution est tiel, Pro publicatione testamenti pauperis, cuius inuentarium bonorum non excedit centum solidos sterlingorum, nihil penitus exigatur, il fait cest glosse: hic solidus sumitur pro duodecim denarijs Anglicanis, &c. Sed quaero, inquit, ille, nunquid circa hos centum solidos debeat considerari valor in moneta iam currente, vel valor sterlingorum qui currebant tempore statuti & la il resolve, quod vbi dispositio surgit ex statuto, vt hîc, licet moneta sit diminuta in valore, tamen debet considerari respectu monetae nouae currentis, & non respectu antiquae. Nam mutata moneta, mutari videtur statutum, vt scilicet intelligatur de noua, & non de veteri, vide Registr. fol. 50. a. & 54 b. ou le Roy maunde son breefe destre certifie de [...] valewe del Esglise, les parolx del breefe sont Secundum taxationem decimae iam currentis. Et 31. Edw. 3. Fitz Annuity 28. Annuity fuit graunt al I. S. tantque il f [...]t promote per ie grauntor al sufficient benefice I. S. port breefe d'annuity vers le grauntor, que pleade que il ad Tender al plaintife sufficient benefice, & la issue est prise sur le valewe del benefice al temps del Tender.

Mes fuit dit, que coment que en contracts ceux parolx Currentis monetae, serront referre al temps del payment, vncor en derraine volunts serront referre ad temps conditi Testamenti, car le bequeast est en le present temps, Item I giue and bequeath, &c. Et pur ceo legacies serront pay en tiel money que fuit currant al temps del fesans del Testament, ou solonque le rate de ceo. Fuit auxi dit, que si home ad 1000. l. pure silver en Marriage ove sa femme, & apres ils soent divorce causa praecontractus, per que la feme recevera sa portion, ou si home recover per erroneous Idgement 100. l. en debt, & ad execution en pure silver money, & apres le Idgement est revers, issint que [Page 28] il serra restore a tout ceo que il ad perd, coment que base money solt establsh en le meane temps, restitution serra en tiel money que fuit currant ad temps del Marriage, & al temps del recovery. Mes ceux derraine Cases ne fueront resolve.

Et pur le circumstance de lieu, fuit resolve, que coment que le contract fuit fait en London, vncor le lieu de payment esteant appointe in Dublin, il covient de necessity que l'obligor feroit son tender en le Mixt Money al temps de payment. Car tout auter money fuit & decrie fait bullion per le proclamation avant dit, & cest money solement establish: issint que si l'obligee ad refuse cest Mixt Money, il ad comit contempt pur que il serroit punish. Auxi les Idges de la Ley ne sont tenus de prender notice del ascun money que nest currant per Proclamation. Et pur ceo, Prisott dit 34. Henr. 6. fol. 12. a. nous ne somus apprise de 6. l. Flemish, come somus de cent Nobles. Et pur ceo en touts contracts de Marchants, Consuetudo & statuta loci in quem est destinata solutio, respicienda sunt, Budelius de re Nummaria lib. 2. cap. 21. Et pur ceo fuit dit, que si a cest iour la Ley serra prise, come fuit prise en temps, Edw. 1. que sur Idgement en debt done en Engleterre, sur Testatum que le defendant n'ad rieus en Engleterre, mes que il ad biens & terres en Ireland, breefe d'execution serra agard al Iustice ou Deputy de Ireland de levier le debt la, quel breefe est trove in Registro breuium Iudicialium, fol. 43. b Le summe en tiel Case serroit levie solonque le rate de Irish money, & nemi de English money, & en tiel coine que serroit currant en cest Realme al temps d'execution fait.

Et accordant a cest resolution, plusors auters Cases sur mesme le point fueront apres rule & aduidge, en les severall Courts de Record al Dublin.

[Page]

Hill. 5. Iacobi. En Bank le Roy.
Le Case de Tanistry.

EN eiectione firmae enter Murrough mac Brien Pl. & Cahir O Callaghan Def. sur Generall issue ioyne, le Iry trove speciall verdict, a cest effect, viz. Que le Castle & terres de Drominyn, ou l'entry & eiectment est suppose destre fait, gisont deins certein lieu, ou precinct de terre, appell Poblicallaghan aliâs O callaghans country deins le coū tie de Corke. Et de temps dont memory ne Court, &c. o [...]t estre de Tenure & Nature de Tanistry. Et que en touts les terres de Tenure & Nature de Tanistry deins Poblicallaghan avantdit, teil Custome ad estre vse & aproove, de temps dont memory ne Court, &c. viz. Que quant ascun person morust seisie des ascuns Castles, mannors, terres, ou Tenements del Nature, & Tenure avantdit, que donques mesme les Castles, Mannors, terres, & Te [...]ements doent descender, & de tout temps avantdit, ont vse de descender, Seniori & dignissimo viro Sanguinis & Cognominis de teil person, que issint morrust seis [...]e. Et que la File ou les Files de teil person issint morant seisie, [Page 29] de touts temps avantdit, ne fueront enheritables, de teilx terres ou Tenements, ou d'ascun part de eux.

Le Iury trove ouster, que (accordant a cest Pettigree.)

Donogh mac Teige O callaghan.
- Conoghor.
  - Tieg.
    - Donogh mac Teig. le puisne.
  - Eleanor. = Art Okiffe.
    - Manus Okiffe.

Donogh mac Teig O callaghan, cheefe de son nosme, fuit seisie del Seigniorie ou cheifetaineship de Poblicallaghan, & des terres avantdit, solonque le [...]nstome & course del Tanistay, & issint seisie ad issue Conoghor O callaghan. Conoghor ad issue fitz & file, viz. Teige & Eleanor, Teige ad issue Donogh mac Teige le puisne, Eleanor esteant marrie al Art Okiffe, ad issue Manus Okiffe: Conoghor O callaghan, & Teige son fitz deviont en le vie del Donogh mac Teige le eigne. Apres, le dit Donogh mac Teige le eigne, per feoffinent solonque le course del common Ley, execute estate al Donogh mac Teige he puisne, & al heires males de son corps, Remainder al droit heires del seoffor. Donogh mac Teige le eigne morust, Donogh mac Teige le puisne morust sans issue male. Apres que mort, vn auter Conoghor O callaghan est [...]ant le pluis eigne & le pluis digne del sang & surnosine del O callaghan, enter [...]n laterre ou &c. Et claime de tenercco come Seignior ou cheifetaine [Page] de Poblicallaghan, solonque le course del Tanistry, & fuit de ceo seisie, prout lex postulabat.

Est trove ouster, que le dit Conoghor, issint seisie surrender le dit terre, & tout son estate, droit, & interest en ceo, al Roigne Elizabeth, sur que le dit Roigne, per letters patents dat. 7. Decembris, Anno 37. de sa raigne, en cons [...]deration del dit surrender, regraunt la dit terre, al dit Conoghor, & ses heires, que enter, & enfeoffe vn Fagan, que enfeoffe Brien mac Owen lessor del plaintife.

Et est darrainement trove, que Art Okieffe, & Eleanor sa feme deviont, & que apres lour mort, Manus Okieffe enter, & enfeoffe Cahir O callaghan le defendant, que enter & eiect le lessee del Brien mac Owen, & sur tout cest matter, les Irors priont l'advise del Court, &c.

Sur que vn maine question surdoit, viz. si le title del heire al common Ley, que le defendant ad, ou le title del Tanist que estate le lessor del plaintife ad, serra preferre, come cest Case est. Et en le discussing de cest question 3. principall pointes fueront move & argue.

1 Si le dit custome de Tanistry soit voide ou nemi en luy mesme, ou auterment abolish per le Introduction del common ley D'engleterre.
2 Admitt, que soit bon custome, & nient abolish per le common ley, si soit discontinue & destroy per le feoffment, que create & limitt estate taile en la terre, solonque le course del common ley, issint que ne serra reduce al course de Tanistry, quant le estate taile est determine.
3 Si Conoghor O callaghan que enter come Tanist apres le estate taile determine, ad gaine melieur estate per son s [...]rrender al Roigne Elizabeth, & le regraunt fait aluy, per letters patents.

1 QUant al primer point, fuit obiect per le Counsell del plaintife, que le dit custome de Tanistry, come est trove, est bon per les rules del common Ley. Car 3. choses doent concurre, pur fair bon custome, Antiquity, Continuance, & Reason. Et est expressment trove, que cest custome est auncient devant temps de memory, & continuall de temps dont memorie ne Court, & pur ceo si soit reasonable auxi, ceo ad touts qualities de bon custome. [Page 30] Et certes, cest custome que done la terre al pluis eigne & pluis digne home del sang & surnosme, del cesty que morust seisie, est fort reasonable, en cest Realme, pur ceo que il poet mieux manure la terre, & defender ceo, que vn enfant ou feme. Et le continuance de terre en le sang, & surnosme est bon reason & consideration de raiser vse, Plow. Comment. fol. 305. Baintons case, ou le dignitie del heire male est expresse en plusors Cases: pur que cest custome ne fault reason pur defence de ceo, & Lit. libr. 1. fol. 17. a. mise cest rule, cestascavoir, que en divers Seignories & divers Mannors sont plusors & divers customes, quant a prender Tenements, & quant a pleader, & quant al auters choses, & tout ceo que nest pas encounter reason, poet bien estre admitt & allowe.

Et coment que cest custome serroit repugnant al rule del common ley, ceo ne prove ceo destre vnreasonable: car les customes de Borough English & de Gavelkinde sont contrarie al common ley en le point de discent de inheritance, & vncor sont approve come reasonable customes: issint le custome del turning le plow sur headland d'un auter, & de drier nettes sur auter terre. 21. Edw. 4. 50. 8. Edw. 4. 19. Issint que feffment ove garranty fait per temant en taile, ne serra discontinuance, ceo est contrary al rule del Ley, & vncor bon custome. 30. Ass. p. 47. Et plusors Cases fueront mise a cest entent.

Et sicome cest custome nest voide pur fault de reason, issint nest voide pur fault de certenty. Car la terre descendera al pluis eigne & pluis digne: le pluis eigne poet estre certeinment conus, mes le pluis digne semble destre vncerteine. car que serra Idge de ceo? certes la Ley, que est tout foites certeine & infallible en sa Idgement. Et la Ley dirra, que le pluis eigne est le pluis digne, cibien en cest Case come en auter Cases de cest nature. Et pur ceo Litt. dit en le Case de 3. freres, si le mulnes purchase terres, & morust saus issue, le eigne frere avera la terre per discent, pur ceo que le eigne est pluis digne de sang: Et en le chapter de Remitter, il dit, lon home ad 2. titles a terres & Tenements, viz. vn plus auncient, & auter plus darraine, la Ley adiudgera luy eins per force del pluis eigne title, pur ceo, que le pluis eigne title, est le plus sure, title, & le plus digne [Page] title, vid. Plow. Comment. 259. a. Mes admitt, que l'affirmatiue part del custome, viz. que la terre descendera al pluis eigne, & pluis digne home, &c. serroit voide, vncor le negatiue part del custome, viz. que les files ne serront inveritable, cest bon: car sont plusors bon customes en le negatiue, enconter les expresse Maximes & rules del common ley. Come que feme navera dower, ou el ad receave part des deniers pur le sale del terre, 20. Ed. 3. Br. customes 53. Et le custome en Kent, que le Seignior navera terre per Elcheat, The father to the bough, and the sonne to the plowe. Et le custome de que Kitchin parle, fol. 149. b. que si home marrie widowe el navera dower. Et donque si cest part del cu [...]ome soit bon, Idgemēt serra done encounter le defendant, pur ceo que il derive son title del file, que est heire generall al common Ley.

Et cest custome nest abolish per l'Introduction del common ley, pur divers reasons.

1 Pur ceo que est reasonable custome & agreeable al rules del common ley, come devant est monstre: & sur cest reason est resolve 21. Eliz. Dier. 363. que le custome de vill de Denbigh in Gales, que vn feme covert, ovesque sa Baron, poet alien sa terre per surrender, & examination en Court la, & ceo liera la feme, & ses heires come fine, nest toll per le statue de 27. Henr. 8. coment que cest act introduce le common ley en Gales, come appiert per le title de ceo, For lawes and Iustice to be ministred in Wales, in like force as in the Realme of England.

2 Com [...]nt que le Brehon ley que fuit le common ley del Irisbrie devant le Conquest, soit abolish per establishment del common ley d'engleterre, que fuit iustment fait solonque la ley del nations, nient obstant que ceo fuit vn Christian kingdome, come appiert en Caluins Case en le 7. part. de les Reports de le Seignior Cooke. 17. b. vncor les particular customes poent estoier, come le custome de Gavelkinde in Kent, & auters customes en auter particular liewes en Engleterre remainont apres le Norman Conquest.

3 Poet estre collect per le Idgement de Parliament 12. Elizabeth cap. 5. que cest custome de Tanistry ne fuit toll per le common ley, pur ceo que per cest Act, The pretended Lords, gentlemen, and freeholders of the Irishrie, and degenerated [Page 31] men of English name, holding theire land by Irish custome, ont per cest Act power de surrender lour terres al Roigne, & de prender estates per letters patentes, queux serront bon & effectuall en la ley, envers touts persons, forsque ceux, que ont estate, title, ou droit al dits terres per le due course del common ley.

QUant al second point, fuit obiect quele done en taile le rēmainder al dro [...]t heires del donor, nad destroy cest custome, pnr 2. reasons.

1 Pur ceo que cesty que ad terre de tenure & nature del Tanistry, nad tiel estate, que il poet alien la terre en perpetuity, mes solement pur son vie, & son estate est qualifie come l'estate del person ou prebend, issint que le fee simple est en Abeiance.

2 Pur ceo que cest custome est enherent en la terre, & courge ove la terre, & ne poet estre extinguish per ascun alienation, mes continue en quecunque mains, cibien en possession del Roy, que del subiect: come customes de Borough English, & Gavelkinde. Car si terre en Borough English soit done en taile, le puisne fitz avera formedone 11. Edw. 3. fitz. Formedone 30. 32. Edw. 3. fitz. Age. 81. 2. Eliz. 176. b. Et si terre en Gavelkinde soit done en taile le Remainder al droit heires del donor, come nostre Case est, cibien le Remainder, que le possession irra al heires per le custome, & nemie al heires per le common ley, 26. Henr. 8. 4. b. 6. Edw. 6. Dier. 72. b. Et coment que soit tenus, 37. H. 8. Brooke Done & Rem. 42. que si terre en Gavelkinde, soit lesse pur vie, Remainder al droit heires de I. S. Si I. S. ad 4. fitz, & devie, que le Remainder irra al eigne, car il est droit heire, & ceo est nosme del purchase, vncor ceo differ de nostre Case, car le Remainder limitt al droit heires del donor nest forsque reversion, & le heire avera ceo per discente. Et que le possession del Roy ne extinguish tiel custome, vid. 8. Henr. 7. 10. 21. Edw. 3. 46. 14. Henr. 4. 2. 3.

QUant al tierce point fuit obiect, que Conoghor O callaghan le darraine Tanist ad gaine bone estate, per le graunt de Roigne Elizabeth. Car admitt que cestuy que tient terres per le custome de Tanistry nad asascun [Page] estate per le common ley, que il poet surrender, vntor [...]'Act del Parliament. 12. Eliz. cap. 5. enable luy de surrender, & authorise le Seignior Deputie & Counsell de faire warrantes al Chauncellour, de passer letters patents a [...] tiel pretended Seignior ou freeholder del Irisbrie, & ceo [...]eant fait, est ouster enact, que tiels letters patents, serront bon & effectuall en la ley, accordant al tenor & effect de mesme les letters patents, envers touts persons sorsque ceux, que ont droit al dites terres, per le due course de la common ley. Donque le graunt fait al Conoghor, esteant donques pretended Seignior del Poblicallaghan, serro [...]t bon & effectuall, coment que il ne surrender bon estate al common ley. Car le surrender nest que ceremonie prescribed per l'act destre fait per le Irishrie, al fine q [...]e serront estopp en [...]apres de claimer lour Irisb cheefe [...]es & exactions, ou ascun auter title forsque de south les letters patentes. Mes le finall purpose de fesors del act fuit, de setle touts les possessions de cest Realme en [...]e course del common l [...]y.

Auxi cest graunt serra bon versus le defendant, que derive son estate del El [...]anor, que fuit le droit heire del Donogh mac Teige le donor, car si le custome continue come ils ont argue, el ne fuit enheritable, & issint nad ascun estate per la course del common ley.

MEs d'auter part, fuit respond per le Counsell del defendant, & resolve per le Court, que le dit custome del Tanistrie fuit voyd en luy mesme & abolish quant la common ley D [...]engleterre fuit establish. Mes admitt que le custome ad estre bon vncor le conveiance de la terre, accordant al course bon, que del common ley, ad destroy cest custome en cest terre a touts iours: Et que le dit Conoghor O callaghan, ad gaine nul estate per les letters patents dat. 37. de la Roigne Eliz. come ceo graunt est trove en le speciall verdict.

ET pur le primer point touchant le custome, fuit primerment dit, que custome en l'entendment del ley, est tiel vsage, que ad obtaine vim legis, & est revera vn binding ley al tiel particuler lieu, persons, & choses que [Page 32] [...]eo concerne: & tîel custome ne poet estre establish per graunt del Roy. 49. Edw. 3. 3. a. ne per act de Parliament. Mes est ius non scriptum, & fait per le people tantum de tiel lieu, ou le custome curge. Car lou le people trode ascun act destre bon & beneficiall, & apt & agreeable a lour nature & disposition, ils vsont & practisont ceo de temps en tēps, & issint per frequent iteration & multiplication de cest act, custome est fait, & esteant vse de temps dont memorie ne court, obtaine le force d'un ley. Et issint le rule. 44. Edw. 3. 19. est vray que nul ley oblige le people, forsque ceo, que est fait per consent del people. Car consent poet estre expresse cibien facto que verbo, & ceo que est expresse facto, est plus fort, que ceo que est expresse verbo, & ceo que est expresse per plusors actes, & continuall actes de mesme le kinde, est custome. Et issint breefement, custome est vn reasonable act, iterated, multiplied, & continued per le people, de temps dont memorie ne Court. Et ceo est le difinition de custome, que ad le vertue & force del ley.

2 Secondment fuit d [...]t, que tiel custome doet aver 4. vnseperable properties, 1. doet aver reasonable commencement, 2. doet estre certeine & nemi ambiguous, 3. doet aver continuance sans interruption, de temps dont memorie ne Court, 4. doet estre submit al prerogative del Roy, & nient exalt encounter ceo.

1 Le commencement del custome (car chescun custome ad vn commencement, coment que le memorie del home ne extend aceo, come le River Nilus, ad vn fountaine, coment que les Geographers ne poent trover ceo) doet estre sur reasonable ground & cause. Car si fuit vnreasonable en [...]'Originall, nul vsage ou continuance poet faire ceo bon. Quod ab initio non valuit, tractu temporis non conualescet.

Mes pur distinguisher, que est vnreasonable custome, & que nemi, ceux differences sueront mise. Chescun custome nest vnreasonable que est contrarie al particular rule ou Maxime del [...]ositive ley: Car consuetudo ex certa causa rationabili vsitata priuat communem legem, Litt. 37. b. Come les customes de Gavelkinde, & Borough English sont encounter le Maxime de descent de inheritance, 35. Henr. 6. 26. a. & le custome de Kent, The father to the bough, the sonne to the plowe, est encounter le Maxime des Escheates, [Page] & que lessee en taile entra, nient obstant le feoffment de son pere ove garranty, est encounter le Maxime de discontinuance. Et issint plusors auters customes queux sont contrary al particular rules del ley, sont vncore tenus & adi [...]dge reasonable, car poent aver reasonable commencement, lou ne sont preiudiciall al commonweal, ne al present interest del ascun particular person.

Uncore custome poet estre preiuoiciall al interest de particular person, & reasonable auxi, lou est pur le beneff [...]t del commonweale in generall. Come custome de fair Bulwarks sur terre d'vn auter pur le defense del Realme, 36. Henr. 8. Dier. 60. b. & derazer measons in publico incendio. 29. Henr. 8. Dier. 36. b. Issint de turner le plow sur le headland d'un auter, en favour de husbandry, & de drier netts sur terre d'un auter, en favour de fishing & maintenance de navigation, 8. Edw. 4. 18. 21. E. 4. 28. Mes custome que est contrarie al publick bien, que est le scope & generall end de tous leyes (Salus populi suprema lex) ou in [...]urious & preiudiciall al multitude, & beneficiall tantum al a [...]nn particular person, teil custome est repugnant al ley de reason, que est desuis touts positive le [...]es, & pur c [...]o ne poet aver reasonable ou loyall commencement, mes est void ab initio & nul prescription de temps poet fair ceo bon.

Et pur ceo plusors customes queux ont estre adiudge void en nostre livers, come esteant vnreasonable, encounter common droit, ou purement encounter ley, si lour nature & quality sont consider, serront trove iniurious al multitude, & pr [...]iudiciall al commonwealth, & d'aver lour commencement (pur le plus part) pet oppression & extortion des Seigniors & graund homes. 2. Henr. 4. 24. En replevin le defendāt avow, que la terre ou &c. est vn pree, ou le plaintife doet aver common apres le fein fanche: mes que est teil custome deius le Mannor, que nul commoner mettra eins ses avers tantque le Seignior ad mist eins ses avers. Et la Markham dit, ceo est marvelous custome, si le Seignior ne voet vn [...]ues metter eins ses avers, les commoners perdront lour common. Cest custome la fuit ad [...]dge voyd, [...]ur ceo que ceo fuit iniurious al multitude de commoners, & beneficiall tantum al Seignior de la vill. Issint per Littleton fol. 46. Custome que le Seignior avera fine de [Page 33] son franktenant pur mariage de sa file, est tenus voyd: & custome que le Seignior del Mannor detaynera distresse pris sur les demeasnes, tantque fine soit fait a luy pur le damage a sa volont, est auxi voyd issint. 3. Eliz. Dier. 199. b. custume que le Seignior prendra pur harriot le beast d'estraunger le vant & couchant sur la terre de Tenant: Et 21. Henr. 40. custome que le Seignior del Mannor avera 3. l. pur poundbreach chescun estraunger. Et 21. Henr. 7 20. custome que tenant serra amerce sil ne mist ses avers en le pound del Seignior. Touts ceux customes coment que sont beneficiall al Seigniors en particular vncor pur ceo que sont preiudiciall al multitude de subiects, ou al commonwealth en generall, & commenceont per tort & v [...]u [...]pation, & ne [...] per voluntary consent del people, pu [...] ceo sont adiudge vnreasonable & voyd en ley.

2 Custome doet estre certeine. Car incerta pro nullis habentur. Et consuetudo ex certa causa rationabili vsitata priuat communem legem. La. 3. des essentiall qualities de bon custome sont expresse, viz. Certenty, reasonablenes, & vsage ou continuance. 13. Edw. 3. Fi [...]z. Dum fuit infra aetatem. 3. Breefe de dum fuit infra aetatem fuit port vers enfant, le Tenant pleade custome, que quant enfant est de teil age que il poet counter, xii. d. ou measure vn Alne de Drape que son feoffment serra bon. Cest custome est adiudge void pur l'incertenty. 14. Edw. 3. Fitz Barr. 277. En trespas des arbers emportes, le def. pleade custome, que cesty des Tenants del Mannor que primes vient al lieu, ou, &c. avera touts windfalls la: cest custome est voyd auxi, pur l'incertenty. Et la reason alleage la est, que ceo ne gist en prescription, que gist en volunt del home, car la volunt del home est incerteine. 42. Edw. 3. 46. en Rep. port per Priores de Shafton, le def. avow come bailife al vicount de Dorsett, que prescribe de tener son turne en le liew ou, &c. Et d'aver de tertenant demi mark, ou chivall, come vn reward al chescun turne. Cest prescription est tenus voyd pur l'incertenty. Car est auxi dit la, que ceo gist en le volunt del donor, que est incer [...]em.

Et ouster ceo, 2. reasons fueront mise pur que vncertein custome serroit void, 1. pur ceo que vncertein chose ne poet estre continew de temps dont memory ne Court, sans [Page] interruption, 2. pur ceo que home ne poet prescriber en c [...]ose que ne puissoit al commencement estre b [...]en graunt 13. Hen [...]. 7. 16. b. mes vncertein chose ne puissoit vnques estre vien graunt, & pur ceo prescription de vncertein chose est void anxi.

3 Custome doet aver continuance sans interruption, de temps d'ont memory ne Court, &c. Car si foit discontinue deins temps de memory, le custome est ale: come si Copyhold soit lesse pur le Seignior del Mannor, pur vie ou pur ans, accordant al course de common ley, ne serra iammais demise come Copihold accordant al custome apres. 28. Henr. 8. Dier. 30. b. Consuetudo semel reprobata non potest a [...]plius induci. Car sicome continuance fait custome, discontinuance destroy ceo. Nihil tam conueniens est naturali aequitati, quam vnumquodque dissolui, eo ligamine quo ligatum est.

4 Custome que se exalt sur le prerogative del Roy, ceo est void auxi envers le Roy. Car prescription de temps fait custome, mes nullum tempus occurrit Regi. 49. Edw. 3. 3. en le Case de Whit Tawers, le custome de London de fair Corporations est tenus void. Car le Roy so [...]ement poet ceo fair pur son prerogative. 35. H. 6. 26. a. custome de London de retainer biens mise en mortage, tantque satisfaction soit fait del money sur eux apprompt, ne extend al Iwels del Roy. Et si home ad Toll, ou wreck, ou Stray, per prescription, ceo ne extend al biens del Roy. Issint prescription d'aver sanctuary pur treason, ou d'aver Catalla felonum, &c. est void vers le Roy, pur ceo que ti [...]l priviledge exaltat se in praerogatiuam regis. 1. Henr. 7. 23. b.

PEr ceux rules de customes en generall, cest particular custome de Tanistry fuit examine. Et primerment fuit resolve, que cest custome fuit vnreasonable, & voyd ab initio. Car est encounter le commonwealth, & va en destruction de ceo tout ousterment. Car commonwealth ne poet estoier, sans certeine ownorship de terre, ou si le droit d'enheritance de les terres ne rest en nulluy.

Car si homes navoent tiel estate en lour terres, que lour issues, ou prochem cosins de lour sang poent enherit, issint que ils scavoent en certein pur quel person ils travaylent, [Page 34] & defraudont lour ames de pleasure, come Solomon dit, ils ne violent vnques improuer lour terre a le melieur vse & profitt, ne edifier measons de ascun valew, ne doner civil education a lour infants, mes aiant respect al present temps tant solement, serront tout ousterment careles de lour posterity. Et ceo est le veray cause del Barbarisme & desolation que fuit en touts les Irish contries ou cest custome de Tanistry fuit en vse.

Auxi, ceo ad estre graund cause de les continuall felonies & treasons committ per les Irish en temps paravant. Car quant ils scavoent que lour femmes ne serro [...]t endowes, ne lour islues enheritable de lour terres, ils committoent teils crimes ove, greinder audac [...]ty: car pur affection a lour femmes, & enfants, hemmes plus esc [...]noent a fair ascun felonies, come Litt. dit 196. b.

Pur que, cest custome que lessa l'enheritance destre en Abetance, & le freehold auxi, apres le mort de chescun tenant est, vnreasonable, & va en destruction del common wealth. Et pur ceo nostre ley (que est le melior ley de monnde pur fair & preserver vn commonwealth) coment que ceo suffer le fee simple en ascun Case desire en Abeiance pur vn peu de temps, vncor ne voet vnques suffer ie freehold destre en suspens, mes abhorre le suspension de freehold, come natura abhorret vacuum. Et pur cest reason, si leas pur ans soit fait, le remainder al droit heires de I. S. le limitation de remainder est void. Et si tenant del Roy morust sans heire, ou si donee del Roy en taile morust sans issue, la terre immediatment e [...]t en possession del Roy sans office, pur avoider cest absurdity. 9. Henr. 7. 2. b. & pur cest reason. 6. Edw. 6. Dier. 71. Terre ne poet estre appendant al Office pur vie, mes al office d'enheritance tantum, car si serroit appendant al office pur vie, ensuerroit graund inconvenience, come est la dit, viz. le franktenement serroit en suspens apres le mort del officer tantque novel officer soit fait ou create, si l'office ne discend al vn heire, ou al vn home que ad perpetuall succession per le common ley. Et cest le plus apt case en la ley destre resemble al case en question. Car per le custome de Tanistry, le plus eigne, & plus digne home ne vient eins come heire (car heire est tout [...]o [...]ts le plus prochein de sang) mes [Page] come vn successor vncore pur ceo que nest encorporate per le common ley, come vn person, ou prehend, 40. Edw. 3. 27. ne vient eins en course de perpetuall succession, mes come officer pur vie tantum, & per election: mes tantque election fait, le franktenement del terre fuit en suspens, & le fee simple & enheritance fuit touts foits en Abeiance, & issint fuit nul fee simple in actu al ascun temps, contrary al principle del common ley, que de chescun terre il y ad fee simple Litt. 144. b.

Cest custome est auxi vnreasonable pur auter reason, viz. pur ceo que cest custome (come est trove per le speciall verdict) que la terre descendra Seniori & dignissimo viro, &c. appiert plainement d'aver commencement per le vsurpation & Tyranny deceux que fuerout plus potent enter eux. Come plusors customes, dont mention est fait devant, adiudge en nostre li [...]errs destre voyd en ley, commenceont per oppression & extortion de Seigniors. Car le auncient Brehon ley fuit, que teil terre irroit al plus eigne del Sept, que fuit le veray Tanist, & appell en Latin Secundus, esteant successor apparant: mes pur ceo que le pluis eigne ne fuit tout foits le plus active, ou n'avoit le greinder number des followers, vn auter plus powerfull person per faction & fort main intrudoit sur le pluis eigne, & procuroit luy mesme destre elect come esteant pluis digne. Et coment que cest custome ad estre vse de temps dont memory ne Court, viz. de estiet vn teil oue sort pluis digne en [...] del people, vncore ceo fuit malveyes en le commencement, & malveys en le continuance, car fuit la cause de graund effussion de sang, & mults auters mischeefes.

3 Auxi le negatiue part de cest custome est vnreasonable que tout ousterment exclude les files d'enheriter estate de fee simple. Car le Tanist, sil ad ascun estate d'enheritance, ad fee simple, car nad ascun particular estate en taile limitt a luy & les heires males de son corps: & est encounter le nature de fee simple d'excluder le heire female, si le heire male faile. Et pur ceo si feoffment soit fait al I. S. & ses heires, prouiso que ses files ne enheriteront, ceo est voyd prouiso. Et si terre soit done al I. S. & ses heires males, il ad fee simple, & le heire female enheritera en default del [Page 35] heire male. Et ceo fuit adiudge en Parliament en le Case de Multon, viz. que en teil case ses Soers enheriteront, 18. Ass. p. 5. 27. Henr. 8. 27. a. 9. Henr. 6. 22. Litt. fol. 6. b.

Et pur ceo per le Statut de Rutland. 12. Edw. 1. que establish le common ley en North Gales, ou le veray Irish custome de Gavelkind fuit donques v [...]e, per quel custome le vastard enheritoit ove le legitimate, & les females fueront tout ousterment exclude d'enheriter, come en cest Case icy, fuit ordaine, Quod haereditates remaneant partibiles inter haeredes masculos, sicut esse consueuerunt, & fiat partitio sicut fieri consueuit, hoc excepto, quod bastardi de caetero non habeant haereditates, nec habeant propartes cum legitimis nec sine legitimis. Et si forté haereditas aliqua extunc pro defectu haeredis masculi, descendat ad legitimas mulieres haeredes vltimi antecessoris sui inde seisiti, volumus de gratia nostra speciali, quod mulieres legitimae habeant propartes suas inde sibi in Curia nostra assignandas, licet hoc fit contra consu [...]tudinem Wallensicam ante vsitatam. Et cest Ordinance accord ove le divine Ordinance en le Case de Zelaphaad, num. cap. 27.

SEcondment fuit resolve, que cest custome fuit voyd pur l'incertenty. Car ou per cest custome le terre descendroit, Seniori & dignissimo viro sanguinis & cognominis de cesty que morust sesie, 1. le person est vncertein, 2. l'estate est vncertein.

1 Pur le person a que le terre descendroit, coment que seniori soit nosme assets certein de prender estate, 26. Eliz. Dier. 337. a. W. Humfreston convey terre al vse de sa femme pur vie, le remainder Seniori puero de corpore ipsius W. legitimè procreato, cest limitation d'estate fuit assets certein & bon. Car seniority consist en priority de temps, & les distinctions & periods de temps secundum prius & posterius sont certein, & poent estre bien prove & trie. Et pur ceo le S [...]ignior per priority (quant al gard del corps del heir) serra preferre devant le Seignior per posteriority, 11. Henr. 4. 18. 21. Edw. 3. 11. Stat. de W. 2. cap. 16. Et si leas pur vie soit fait, le remainder al cesty que primes viendra al Powles, le remainder est bon. 12. Henr. 7. 28. issint, 14. Ed. 3. Fitz. Barr. 277. Custome que le tenant que primes vien [...]ra [Page] al Bois, avera les windfalls, cest bon, car le temps de primer vener poet estre [...]ien trie, ou si limitation fuisloit al pluis prochein de sang, ceo ad estre assets certein. 30. Ass. p. 47.

Mes cest parol dignissimo est cy vncertein, que ne poet estre reduce al certenty per ascun triall ou proof. Lar le dignity de teil home gi [...]t en l'opinion de multitude, que est le plus incerteine chose de mounde.

Scinditur incertum studia in contraria vulgus.

Issint que ascuns dirront, que le plus docte & scavant home est le plus digne, ascuns que le plus valiant home, ascuns que le plus riche home, ascuns que le plus liberall home. Et issint le multitude ne puissoit vnques agreer, & pur ceo le plus potent home fuit toutfoits preferre, que est contrary al touts leyes.

Inde datae leges, ne fortior omnia posset.

Mes si serroit referre al Idgement de plus sage home que fuit vnques, de Idger que est le pluis digne home deins ascun pais, il preudroit bien long temps d'advisement en cest case.

Mes fuit dit, que la ley voet Idger de plus digne, & adiudgera le plus eigne destre le plus digne. Certes, en cases de descent d'enheritance la ley respect le primogeniture, birthright & le proximity & entierty de sang, mes ne done asrun regard al worthines & sufficiency del heire. Et pur [...]o la ley iect enheritance cyb [...]en sur Ideott, ou enfant, come sur home de descretion. Pur que cest difforence est prise en Sir Henry Neuils Case Plow. Comment. 379. b. que vn Officer pur vie, ne poet assigne ouster son office, sans speciall parolx en le graunt, car la ley entend luy destre vn officer de Trust, & chosen pur son science, & diligence, viz. pur son worthines. Mes officer d'enheritance poet graunt ouster son office, car la ley ne entend [...]ue le graunt fuit fait sur confidence del sufficiency del officer, car poet descend al femme, al enfant, ou al Ideott. Et pur ceo la ley ne respect dignity de person en case de [Page 36] [...]escent del enheritance. Lar coment que primogeniture aiant vn prerogative done a ceo per la ley de Dieu, soit preferre auxi en nostre ley, & issint le plus eigne, soit en ascun sense le plus digne, vncor per cest custome la dignity est entend desire vn auter quality que seniority, viz. vn auter vertue ou meritt en le person que doet concurre ove le seniority. Car auterment le parol seniori ad estre sufficient, & le parol dignissimo ad estre idle, & pur ceo le person nest plus certein en cest case, que en ie case, 11. Edw. 4. 1. b. ou done est fait al vn des enfants de I. S. ou 11. Henr. 7. 13. ou graunt est fait al Is ou In, ou, 1. Mar. Dier. 91. a. ou graunt est fait de tant des arbers que poent reasonablement estre spare. Et psusors cases de incertein graunts fueront mise: & fuit conclude, que teil Graunt seniori & dignissimo serroit voyd, & pur ceo teil limitation per prescription est voyd auxi, solonque le rule prise, 13. Henr. 7. 16. b.

2. L'estate est vncertein. Car chescun que ad estate d'enheri [...]ance, ad ceo, ou en naturall capacity, ou en politique capacity. Mes [...]anist n'ad estate d'enheritance en son naturall capacity, pur ceo que le plus eigne & plus digne nest pas heire. Car le plus digne vient eins per election, & donques nest heire, Lar Deus solus haeredem facere potest non homo. Bracton. 62. b. & nest trove que la terre descendroit Seniori & dignissimo vt haeredi. Mes en Gavelkind touts les fitz sont appell heires, libr Intrac. 143. a. ou le custome est pleade en cest Manner, viz. Quod terrae & tenementa de Tenura & Natura de Gavelkind sunt de tempore, &c. Inter haeredes masculos partita & partibilia, & descendere debent dict. A. B. C. vt filiis & haeredibus, &c. Issint le pui [...]ne fitz en Burron of English est touts foits nosme heire.

Auxi le Tanist n'ad enheritance per succession en politique capacity, pur ceo que nest encorporate per le common ley, come person, ou prebend, &c. Et sil n'ad forsque estate pur vie, ceo ne poet discender. Et issint il ad nul estate d'enheritance de que la ley poet prender notice, & pur consequence l'incertenty de son estate fait ceo voyd en ley.

[Page] TIercement fuit resolve, que cest custome fuit interrupt & destroy en cest terre, quant Donogh mac Tieg execute estate taile de ceo solonque le course del common Ley. Car est difference, ou custome courge ove le Seigniory, & ou ceo courge ove le Tenancy: car ou custome courge ove le Tenancy ne serra destroy per conveiance secundum cursum communis legis: come si fine soit levie de terre tenus en Gauelkind, coment que soit vn quaere. 6. Edw. 6. Dier. 72. 6. Si le course d'enheritance soit alter & fait descendable al heire al common ley, vncor fuit agree per le Court icy que le custome ne fuit alter, & issint fuit t [...]nus de terre en Burrough English, 2. Eliz. Dier. 179. b.

Mes cest terre en question est parcel des Demesnes del cheeftaine ou Seignior del Poblicallaghan. (Car les terres queux [...]aont ove les cheefries tantsolement, sont de Tenure & Nature de Tanistry) & pur ceo est semble al Copyhold terre que est parcel des demesnes del Seignior, & si le Seignior execute estate de ceo accordant al course del common ley, le custome est ale a touts iours. Issint est del Homage Auncesirell, que est per prescription, & continuance de Seigniory en sang del Seignior, & del Tenancy en sang del Tenant, per vn alienation s [...]lement le Homage ancestrell est ale, & le garranty est destroy & reprisall de mesme l'estate ne iammais reducera ceo. Litt. 33. b.

Auxi cest custome de Tanistry, nest enherent en la terre, come le custome de Gauelkind, ou Burrough English, mes est plustoft vn personall custome que va ove person de pluis eigne & plus digne, & pur ceo quant la terre est vn foits convey al auter person, viz. al heire al common ley, cest custome est anient a touts iours.

4 DArrainment cest custome de Tanistry serroit void envers le Roy, come esteant preiudiciall al profitt & prerogative del Roy. Car ou touts terres sont tenus mediatment ou immediament del Roy, per cest custome le Roy perdroit tout le benefitt de son Seigniory paramount en cest terre, que fuit quasi in manu mortua, dont le Roy ne puissoit vnques aver ne wardship, ne Es [...]heat, ne ascun manner de service testi [...]ant que il fuit [Page 37] Seignior de la terre. Et Litt. 31. a. dit, que serroit inconvenient, & encounter reason, que ascun serra tenant al auter d'estate d'enheritance, & vncore le Seignior avera nul manner de service de luy. Et pur cest reason, le custome de Kent, the father to the Bough, the sonne to the plough extend forsque all felony, & toll l'escheat de common person solement, mes ne extend al Treason, ou le Roy avera l'escheat, 22. Edw. 3. Fitz. praescr. 40. issint prescription d'aver sanctuary pur Treason est void. 1. Henr. 7. 23. Et pur ceo comment que teil Tanist navoit estate d'enheritance per le custome, vncor sil ad estre attaint de treason, le course d'Escheequer icy ad touts foits estre, de seisier la terre come forfeit on'escheat al Corone, nient obstant cest custome de Tanistry.

MEs admitt, que cest custome n'ad estre void en luy mesme, vncor l'introduction & establishment del cōmō ley D'engleterre ad abolish ceo. Car cest custome de Tanistry [...]uit le common custome del terre d'Ireland devantle conquest, & generalment vse en touts les Irish countries, en mesme le nature & forme come est [...]rove icy. Et pur ceo covient de necessity estre abolish per l'establishment d'un auter generall ley en mesme le point.

Mes pur l'introduction del common ley D'engleterre en cest Realme d'Ireland, est ascavoir, que sicome cest Iland ne fuit pleinment conquer, & reduce al subiection de la Corone D'engleterre, tout al vn temps, mes 'per parcells, & en severall ages? issint la common ley D'engleterre, ne fuit communicate a touts les inhabitants simul & semel, mes de temps en temps, & al speciall persons, & famelies del Irisbrie, a queux le Roy fuit please de graunter le benefitt & protection de ses leyes.

Car coment que l'ordinance per que la common ley D'engleterre fuit establish en Ireland, fuit generall come est, trove in Archiuis Turris London. 30. H. 3. patent. Membr. 3. en cest forme. Quia pro communi vtilitate terrae Hyberniae & pro vnitate terrarum (note cest parol de vnion) prouisum est quod omnes leges & consuetudines quae in regno Angliae tenentur, in Hybernia teneantur, & eadem Terra [...]isdem legibus subiaceat, & per easdem regatur, sicut Iohannes Rex cum [Page] illuc esset, statuit, & firmiter mandauit, ideo volumus, quod omnia breuia de communi Iure quae currunt in Anglia, similiter currant in Hybernia sub nouo sigillo nostro, &c. in cuius rei, &c. Teste me ipso apud Woodstok, &c. Loment que cest ordinance on breefe del Roy soit generall, vucor est manifest per touts les auncient Records de cest Realme, que la common ley D'engleterre fuit solement mise en execution en cest part de Ireland, que fuit reduce & divide en counties, & possesse per les English Lolonies & nemi en les Irish contries ou territories, que ne fueront reduce en counties, iusques al temps de Q. Mary & Q. Elizabeth, & vncor fueronc en extent de terre plus que 2. third parts de cest Iland.

Lar le Roy Iohn fesoit forsque 12. counties en Leymster & Mounster viz. Dublin, Meth, Vriel, Kildare, Caterlagh, Kilkennny, Wexford, Waterford, Corke, Kery, Limeric, lypperary. Mes les auters Provicces & territories de cest Realme, que sont ore divide en 21. counties alarge, esteant donques enhabit, pur le plus part, per les meere Irish, fueront hors des limitts de tout shyre ground, pur le space de 300. ans apres le fesans de les primer 12. counties.

Et pur ceo fuit impossible que la common ley D'engleterre puissoit estre execute en ceux contries ou territories. Lar la ley ne poet estre mise en execution ou breue domini Regis non currit, & le breefe del Roy ne poet courger, mes ou est countie, & vicount, ou auters ministers de la ley, de server & returner les breefes del Roy.

Et pur cest cause appiert per les auncient Records, que les meere Irish fueront hors del protection del Roy. Lar Litt. dit fol. 43. b. que la ley del Roy, & les breefes del Roy sont choses per queux home est protect & aide, & issint durant le temps que home est hors del protection del Roy, il est hors destre aide ou protect per la ley del Roy, ou per le breefe del Roy. Et que les meere Irish homes n'avoent le benefitt de la ley D'engleterre, sans speciall charters del Roy d'enabler eux, ceux records ensuant, entex auters, fueront monstre.

1. 2. E. 3. Claus. membr. 17. in Archiuis Turr. London. Rex dilecto & fideli suo Iohanni Darcy le Neuieu Iustitiario suo Hyberniae salutem. Ex parte quorundam hominum de Hybernia [Page 38] nobis extitit supplicatum, vt per statutum inde faciendum concedere velimus, quod omnes Hybernici, qui voluerint legibus vtantur Anglicanis, ita quod necesse non habeant, super hoc, Chartas aliquas a nobis impetrare. Nos igitur certiorari volentes, si sine alieno praeiudicio, praemissis annuere valeamus, vobis mandamus, quod voluntatem magnatum terrae illius, in proximo Parliamento nostro ibidem tenendo, super hoc cum diligentia perscrutari facias, & de eo quod inde inueneritis, vna cum vestro consilio & aduisamento, nos distincté & aperté cum celeritate, qua potestis, certificetis, hoc breue nostrum nobis remittentes, &c.

2 Inter communia placita. 28. Edw. 3. in Archiuis Castri Dublin. Simon Neal quaeritur de Willielmo Newlagh, de placito quare vi & armis, apud Clandalkan in Comitatu Dublin, die lunae proximé post festum sanctae Margaretae virginis anno regni Regis nune 28. Clausum ipsius Simonis fregit, & herbam suam ibidem cum bestijs suis, viz. afris, vitulis, & bidentibus conculcauit & consumpsit, contra pacem, &c. Vnde dicit quod deterioratus est, & damnum habet ad valentiam, 20. s. & inde producit sectam, &c.

Et praedictus Willielmus modo venit, & dicit, quod praedictus Simon est Hybernicus, & non de Quinque sanguinibus, & petit iudicium, si ipse ei respondere teneatur.

Et praedictus Simon dicit, quod ipse est de Quinque sanguinibus, viz. de les Oneyles de Vltonia, qui per concessionem progenitorum Domini Regis libertatibus Anglicis gaudere debent, & vtuntur, & pro liberis hominibus reputantur, & hoc offert verificare, &c.

Et praedictus Willielmus dicit quod ipse Simon est Hybernicus, & non est de les Oneyles de Vltonia nec de Quinque sanguinibus, & de hoc &c. Ideo fiat inde iurata, &c.

Qui iurati dicunt super Sacramentum suum, quod praedictus Simon est de Natione des les Oneyles de Vltonia, & sic est de Quinque sanguinibus, &c. Et assidunt damna ad sex denarios, ideo consideratum est quod praedictus Simon recuperet versus praedictum Willielmum damna sua praedicta, & praedictus Willielmus committatur Gaalae quousque, &c.

Per cest Idgement appiert, que fueront Linque principall septs ou sangues del Irisbry, enable per graunt del Roy, d'aver le benefitt del ley D'engleterre, & appiert per [Page] vn auter record queux fueront les dits Linque Septes ou langues.

3. 3. E. 2 Inter placita coram domino Iustitiario, &c. in Archiu. Turr. Bremingham in Castro Dublin. Frater Philippus de Mō sterworth, & frater Richardus de Abbedley Canonici del Anthony iuxta Glocester, Richardus Fox, & Willielmus de Stowell attachiati fuerunt ad respondendum Willielmo o Kelly de placito, quare, cum dominus Rex cepisset in protectionem suam specialem praedictum Willielmum o Kelly, homines, terras, tes, redditus, & omnes possessiones suas, inhibens omnibus & singulis, ne quis ijs inferret, vel inferri permitteret iniuriam &c. I [...]dem Philippus, Richardus, Richardus, & Gullielmus, in ipsum Willielmum o Kelly apud Duleek, vi & armis insultum fecerunt, ac ipsum ibidem torstallauerunt, ceperunt, & imprisonauerunt, & alia enormia ei intulerunt ad damnum, &c. & contra pacem & protectionem domini Regis, &c.

Et praedictus Philippus, Richardus, Richardus, & Willielmus ven. & defendunt vim & iniuriam quando, &c. & dicunt quod non tenentur praedicto Willielmo ad hoc breue respō dere, quia dicunt, quod praedictus Willielmus o Kelly est Hybernicus, & non de sanguine aut progenie eorum, qui gaudeant lege Anglicana, quoad breuia portanda, qui sunt Oneil de Vltonia, O Conoghor de Connacia, O Prien de Thotmonia, O Molaghlin de Midia, & Mac Murghogh de Lagenia, & petunt iudicium, &c.

Et praedictus Willielmus O Kelly dicit, quod reuera ipse est Hybernicus, sed de progenie de Oneil de Vltonia, habens ortum suum de sexu Masculino eiusdem progeniei, & petit instanter: iudicium & praedictus, Philippus. Richardus, Richardus, & Willielmus dicunt, quod idem Willielmus O Kelley admitti non debet ad dicendum quod sit de praedicta progenie de Oneil, quia si esset de progenie illa, hoc appareret in eius cognomine, quia tunc diceretur Willielmus Oneil, & non Willielmus O Kelley, & vnde dicunt, quod ipse non est de progenie de Oneil, &c. Et hoc parati sunt verificare, &c. Ideo inquiratur per patriam. Et praeceptum est vic. quod venire faciat coram, &c. à die Paschae in 15. dies vbicunque, &c. duodecim, &c. qui nec &c. per quos &c. ad recognoscendum, &c. Idem dies datus est partibus praedictis, &c. Postea ad diem illū venerunt praedicti Philippus, Richardus, Richardus, & Willielmus, [Page 39] & praedictus Willielmus O Kelley, primo, secundo, tertio, & quarto die solemniter vocatus non venit, &c.

Apres cest temps viz. anno 40. Edw. 3. en le Parliament tenus al Kilkenny devant Ltonel Duke de Liarence, fuit enact, que nul compaternity, nurture des enfants, ou mariage soit fait enter les Anglois, ou auters esteant a la peace del Roy, ove les Irish, sur paine de vie & member, & coment que pur mesine l'estatut de Kilkenny le Brehon ley, que fuit le common ley del Irisbry, soit declare destre nul ley mes vn leud custome, vncor ceo ne fuit tout oustetment abolish enter les Irish, mes tautsolement detend & prohibit desire vse enter ceux queux fueront de English race, & les Irish fueront lesse alarge, destre rule per lour barbarous customes, come devant.

Et apres le fesans de cest statut de Kilkenny, en touts auters statutes faites en temps del severall Royes, iusques al temps de Henr. 8. ou aseun mention est fait des trobles & guerres en cest Realme, les Englois sont appell Rebells, & les Irish sont appell Enimies.

Mes apres l'Act de 33. Henr. 8. cap. 1. per que est recite, que coment que le Roy D'engleterre per le nosme del Seignior de Ireland, avoit tout manner de Royall power, & Irisdiction en cest Terre, vncor pur ceo que il n'ad assume le nosme & style del Roy, les Irish enhabitants de cest Realme navoent estre cy obedient al Roy D'engleterre, & ses leyes come de droit tis devoent estre: Pur que est enact, que le Roy Henr. 8. ses heires & successors serront a touts tours Royes de Ireland, & avoent le nosme, style, & Title de Roy de cest Terre, ove touts honors, prerogatives, & dignities apperteinant al State & Maiestie del Roy, come vnite & annex al Imperiall Lrown, D'engleterre, &c. Apres le fesans de cest Act, le dit difference de English Rebelles, & Irish Enimies, nest destre trove de Record, mes touts les meer Irish fueront de horsenavant accept & repute subiects & liege homes a les Royes & Roynes D'engleterre, & avoent le benefitt & protection de la ley D'engleterre, quant ils violent vser on demander ceo.

Et al entent eue la ley D'engleterre puissoit aver vn free course in & per tout le Realme de Ireland (come est [Page] expresse en l'estatut de 11. Eliz. cap. 9. fuit provide en severall Parliaments, viz. 3. & 4. Phil. & Mary cap. 3. & 11. Eliz. c. 9. que commissions serront agard, de reducer en Shyres & hūdreds, touts les Irish countries que ne fueront Shyre ground devant: & accordant a ced en les severall governments de Thomas countee de Suffex, Sir Henry Sidney, & Sir Io. Perrott, non solement les Irish territories en les confines de Leymster, mes auxi les entire provinces de Conaght, & Vlster, esteant hors de tout shyre ground devant, fueront divide & distinguish en severall counties, & hundreds, & severall vicounts, Coroners, Istices de Peace, & auters officers, & ministers de la ley D'engleterre ont estre de temps en temps constitute en ceux counties, per severall Patents & Commissions desouth le grand Seale de Ireland: & per cest meane la common ley ad estre communicate a touts persons, & execute per tout cest Realme per plusors ans passees.

D'arcainment, nostre Seignior le Roy que ore est, per vn speciall proclamation in anno 3. de son raigne, declare publish, que il ad receave touts les natives de cest Realme en son Royall protection, &c. Per que fuit cleerment resolve, que la common ley D'engleterre est ore establish vniversalment per tout cest Realme d'Ireland, & que touts persons & possessions deins cest Realme doent estre govern per les rules de cest ley, & que chescun subiect enheritera son terre en Ireland, per mesme la ley, per que le Roy en herit la Corone de Ireland, viz. per le iust & honorable ley D'engleterre. En cest manner, & per ceux degrees, le common ley fuit introduce & establish en cest Realme.

Et quāt al cest Terre en question, ceo gist en le coūtie de Corke, que est vn des auncient counties fait per le Roy Iohn, & en que le common ley D'engleterre ad sa course pur le space de 150. ans al meins apres le Conquest. Per que, coment que per l'incursion del Irishry le course del common ley D'engleterre fuit interrupt & discontinew en cest countie per vn long space de temps, vncor l'execution del common ley esteant revive & restore, le custome de Tanistry & touts auters Irish customes nient agreeable al rules del common ley, sont anients & abolish, come ils fueront sur le primer introductiō de la ley D'engleterre en cest coūty.

[Page 40] Et coment que cest custome de Tanistry ad estre custome d'un particular liew tantsolement, vncor esteant repugnant a les rules del common ley, serroit abolish per le introduction & establishmēt del cōmon ley en cest Realme: & nest semble al Case de Wales Dier. 21. Eliz. 363. b. on particular custome de Denbigh continew nient obstant le statut, que establish le common ley en Wales: car l'entent del fesors de cest statut appiert d'estre, que les customes de Wales agreeable al ascun cūstomes d'Engleterre serront preserue, car per mesme l'estatute est provide, que commission issera d'examiner les Welsh customes, & que ceux que serront trove reasonable, sur certificate des commissioners serront allow.

Auxi cest custome ne poet estre resemble al custome de Gauelkind en Kent que a [...]oit continuance apres le Norman Conquest: car le common ley D'engleterre ne fuit introduce per le Conqueror, come ad estre observe, & prove tresdoctement per le Seignior Cooke en le Preface al tierce part de ses Reports.

FUit auxi resolve, que rien passe per le graūt de la Royne Elizabeth fait al Conoghor O Callaghan, come ceo est trove per le verdict: car le graunt est fait en consideration de son surrender, & il ne claymoit eins mes come Tanist que ad nul estate dont la common ley prist notice, & issint son entry fuit forsque abatement apres le mort del Donogh mac Teig le piusne, per que le Graunt del Royne fait en consideration de teil estate surrendred, est void en ley, Barwicks Case 5. part des Reports del Seiuior Cooke 93. b. le Case del Alton Woods. 1. part des Reports del Seignior Cooke 43. b. 18. Eliz. Dier. 252.

Et quant al statut de 12. Eliz. cap. 5. pur accepting surrenders del Irish Seigniors, ceo ne fait le graunt von. Car rest graunt ne fuit fait per force de cest statut, ne accordant al forme prescribe en cest statut. Car le statut require divers necessary circumstances, queux fueront omitt, en le obteyning & passing de cest graunt. Car primerment, le pretended Irish Seignior doet offer de surrender, donques cest offer doet estre advertise al Royne, & sur ceo la Royne doet signifier sa pleasure al Deputy, ou auter [Page] cheefe Governor per ses letters ou instructions desouth sa signature, que le surrender serra accept, & graunt fait al tiel pretended Seignior per letters patents. Et sur ceo, le Deputy & gre [...]nder part del Counsell de cest Realme doent fair warrant al Chauncellor d'accepter le surrender, & passer les letters patents, accordant a tiel letter ou instructions. Ceux circumstances ne sont trove per le verdict desire observe en le passing de cest graunt, & pur ceo ne lerra entend destre fait per force de cest statut, & per consequence ne serra fait bon & effectuall per ceo.

DArrainment, ou fuit obiect per vn del Counsell ove le plaintife, que la Royne Eliz. serra dit en possession de cest terre, per vertue del primer Conquest de Ireland, envers Donogh mac Teig O Callaghan le fe [...]or, que ne puissoit deriver ascun title al cest terre de la Corone, & pur ceo, son feoffment, per que le def. claime, fuit void, esteant fait per intrudor sur le possession de la Royne: fuit resolve, encounter cest obiection, que la Royne Eliz. ne serra dit en actuall possession de cest terre per vertue del primer Conquest, si ne appiert per ascun record que le primer Conqueror ad seisie cest terre al temps d [...]l Conquest, & appropriate ceo particularment a luy mesme, come parcel de ses proper demesnes.

Car les Royes D'engleterre ont toutsfoits clayme, & eu deins lour Dominions, vn Monarchy Royall, & nemi vn Monarchy Seigniorall ou Tiranny. Et desouth vn Monarchy Royall les subiects sout franck-homes, & ont property en lour biens, & francktenement & enheritance en lour terres: mes desouth vn Monarchy Seigniorall ou Tiranny, ils sont touts come villeins ou esclaves, & proprietors de rien forsque a volunt de lour Grand Seignior ou Tyrant, come en Turkey & Moscony. Et pur ceo quant teil Monarch Royall que voet governer ses subiects per vn iust & post five ley, ad fait novel Conquest d'un Realme, coment qu ipso facto il ad le Seigniory Paramount de tou [...]s les terres deins teil Realme, issint que touts les terres sont tenus de luy mediaté vel immediaté, & il ad auxi le possession de touts les terres queux il voet actualment seiser, & retainer en ses proper mains, pur son profitt ou pleasure, [Page 41] & poet auxi per ses graunts distributer teil portions que luy plerra, a ses serviteurs & gens de guerre, ou al te [...]s Colonies queux il voile planter immediatment sur le Conquest: come les auncient Romaines, sur lour conquests, out vse d'appropriate le septiesme part del territory conquered, pur plantation de lour Colonies: & les Vandalls en Italy prisoent le tierce part: vncor Sir Iames Ley cheefe Iustice disoit, que si tiel Conquerour receave ascun de les natives on auncient enhabitants en son protection, & avow eux pur ses subiects, & permitt eux de continuer lour possessions, & de mourir en son peace & allegeaunce, que lour heires serront adiudge eins per bon title sans graūt ou confirmation del Conquerour, & enioteront lour terres solonque les rules de la ley, que le Conquerour ad allow, ou establish: sils violent submitter eux mesmes a la ley que est allow ou establish per le Conquerour, & tener lour terres accordant al rules de ceo, & nemi auterment. Et sur cest reason, ou William le Conquerour ad graunt al Warren vn Norman de principall quality, le Castle de Shirbourne in Northfolk, their de Shirbourne l'auntient enheritor de cest Castle, monstre al Conquerour, que il fuit son subiect & liege home, & enheritoit le dit Castle per mesme la ley que le Conquerour ad allow & establish en Engleterre, & pur ceo pria, que il poet tener le dit Castle en peace: le Conqueror, en cest. Case dona Idgment put Shirbourne encounter Warren. de quel Idgment Camden fait mention en le description de Northfolk, & Calthrop Istice disoit que il ad vien vn authentique Copy de cest Idgement en le Library de Sir Christopher Heydon al Baconsthorp en Northfolk.

Car reuera le Norman Conquerour (coment que il fesort plus absolute & entier conquest D'engleterre, que Henr. 2. fesoit de Ireland) vncor il ne seisist tout, ne avoit le actuall possession de touts les terres deins le Rea [...]me D'engleterre vest en luy per le Conquest, mes le contrary appiert per le liver de Domesday, que est exact description de tout le Realme, fait en temps de cest Roy. Car per cest record est manifest, que le Conquerour avoit certeine terres en Demesne, viz. les terres queux fueront en la Main de Saint Edward & sont la entitle, Terrae Edwardi [Page] Regis, & auters terres, queux il mesine ad seisie sur le conquest, & sont entitle Terrae Regis sans pluts, come est note ea 49. Edw. 3. 23. 2. Et ceux terres sont ore appell les Aunc ent demesnes del Roy, ou le auncient demesne de la Corone D'engleterre. Fitz. N. Br. 14. Mes en cest liver les possessions des auters Seigniors sont expresse & mise en certein, cybien que les possessions del Roy, & ceux terres queux sont desouth auters titles, come Terrae Episcopi de Excester, &c. Et touts auters terres queux fueront en auter main, & nosines en cest liver, sont franckfee, 40. E. 3. 45. Fitz. N. Br. 16. D.

Et pur ceo Bodin ne fuit bien informe, quant il escrit, libr. 6. de Republ. cap. 2. que Guiliaume le Conquerant apres avoir Conqueste la Roialme d'Angleterre, declaira tour le pais en general, & les heritages de chascun en particulier, aluy acquis, & confisques per droit de guerre, traitant les Anglois come ses Fermiers, &c.

Et issint est Renatus Choppinus deceave en son liver de Domanio Franciae ou il parlant de moderation vse per les auncient Romains, & Lombards en lour conquests, Quanto iniquius, dit il Willielmus ille Britannicus, lata lege Agraria, se omnium possessionum Dominum iactabat, vt non modo priuatorum bona censerentur, sed quicunque in futurum possideret, graue annuum vectigal quasi nudus fructuarius exuolueret, vt à Polidoro traditum est. Mes nostre record de Domesday est, en cest point, de melieur credit, que touts les forein discourses ou Chronicles de mounde.

Auxi le Roy Edw. 1. fesoit vn conquest de Dominion de Wales, & chaungeoit lour leyes & customes, come il ad expresse en son Charter ou statut de Ruthland, ou il dit, Diuina prouidentia terram Walliae cum incolis suis prius nobis iure feodali subiectam, in proprietatis nostrae Dominium totaliter & cum integritate conuertit, & Coronae Regni nostrae annexit, & quant a lour leyes & customes il dit, quasdam illarum de consilio procerum regni nostri deleuimus, quasdam permisimus, quasdam correximus, ac etiam quasdam alias ad [...]ciendas & faciendas decreuimus, &c. Coment que cest Roy ad donques gaine le propriety de cest Dominion, issint que les inhabitants de ceo ont submitt eux mesmes a son volunt de Alto & Basso, come est recite en mesme le [Page 42] Charter, vncor il appiert, que il admitt ceux queux voloent estre rules & govern per le common ley D'engleterre, que il ad establish enter eux per mesme le Charter, d'aver francktenement & enheritance en lour terres: car la il prescribe vn forme de breefe d'assise de nouel disseisin, de Mordancester, & de Dower, destre port de terres en Wales [...]olonque le course del common ley D'engleterre. Vid. Bulkleyes Case Plow. Comment. 125.

Cest case dependoit en Bank le Roy per le space de 3. ou 4. ans, & fuit argue plusors forts, & les Istices al severall temps, ont deliver lour opinions en les severall points avantdit. Mes apres, Sir Humfrey Winch esteant cheefe Istice, les parties, ove conge del Court, descendoent al agreement, per que reasonable division fuit fait de cest territory enter eux, en quel division le Castle & terre en question, enter auters, fuit allott al Cahir O Callaghan le defendant. Et ore, preter lour mutuall assurances, ils ont obtaine severall graunts del Roy per vertue de commission pur strenghtning de defectiue titles. Et issint cest countrey est bten settle. Bolton Recorder de Dublin & Io-Meade fueront a counsell ove le plaintife, & l'Atturney generall ove le defendant.

[Page]

Pascae 5. Iacobi. En Bank le Roy.
Le Case del Deane & Chap. de Fernes, siue, De Capitulariter Congregatis.

EN eiectione firmae port per Richard Pemerton plaintife vers Iohn Allen def. lur speciall verdict trobe, le case en substance fuit tiel.

Le Deanry de Fernes que est Donatiue per le Roy, & nemi Electiue, esteant void, la Royne Eliz. anno 20. de sa raigne, done & graunt cest Deauty per letters patents al Walter Turnor Clerk, sans limitation del ascun estate, pur vie, ou auterment.

Apres Turnor est depriue per sentence del Hugh Allen adonques Evesque de Fernes, pur cest cause, viz. pur ceo que le dit Turnor fuit meere lay home & nient capable de teil dignity.

Apres ceo la Royne Eliz. anno 26. de sa raigne, done & grant mesine le Deanry al vn Campion durant son vie. Puis, le dit Evesque de Fernes fist lease del Mannor de Fiddert en le county de Wexford esteant parcel del temporall possessions del dit Evesquery, al Iohn Allen le defendant: quel lease fuit confirme per le Deane & Chapter de Fernes, en cest manner, viz. le Chapter adonques consistoit de 11. persons en number, viz. le Deane & 10. prebends [Page 43] Turnor & Campion esteant ambideux eu plein vie, Campion fist vn Gray, esteant en meere lay home, son proctor ou substitute pur doner son assent al touts leases & grauntes, &c. Cest proctor & 3. des Prebends tantum convenont ensemble, & fixont le Chapter seale al Confirmation de cest lease, quel consirmation fuit fait en le nosme del Deane & Chapter. Apres ceo, 3. auters des Prebends al severall iours, chescun aperluy, subscribont lour nosmes al dit Confirmation. Puis, l'Evesque que feso [...]t le lease morust, & Thomas Ram est fait Evesque de Fernes, que enter sur le def. & fait leas al plaintife. Et si le primer leas fait al defendant soit bien confirme per le Deane & Chapter, ou soit void pur fault de bon Confirmation, fuit le question. Et fuit adiudge, que le leas fuit void apres le mort del Evesque que fesoit ceo, pur fault de bon Confirmation del Deane & Chapter.

Et en cest Case 3. points fueront move & debate.

1 Si le donation del Deanry fait per la Royne Eliz. al Turnor sans limitation del ascun estate, soit void, ou quel estate il avera.
2 Admitt, que le Deanry soit bien graunt al Turnor sans limitation del estate, si le sentence de depriuation fait luy null Deane, issint que le Deanry estcant void per ceo, le donation fait al Campion serroit von.
3 Admitt, que Campion fuit loiall Deane al temps del Confirmation fait, si le Deane & le greinder part del Chapter ont bien confirme cest leas, ou nemi.

ET primerment fuit obiect per le counsell del defendant, que le graunt de le Deanry per la Royne Eliz. al Turnor sans limitation del estate, fuit void tout ousterment pur l'incertenty del graunt: car l'intent de la Royne nest expresse en'certein, sil avera le Deanry pur vie, a volunt, ou auterment. Come si Roy graunt terre al IS habendum a luy & ses heires males, sans dire, de son corps, le habendum ou limitation de l'estate en cest graunt esteant void pur l'incerteinty, tout le graunt est tenus void a touts entents, issint que le grauntee ne serra tenant a volunt le Roy. Alton woods Case en le 1. part des Reportes de le Seignior Cooke, fol. 43. b. & 49. a. 18. Henr. 8. Br. Patents 104. le Seignior Louels Case.

[Page] Mes admitt, que le graunt ne fuit ousterment void, le melior estate que passa per ceo, fuit for [...]que a volunt del Royne, come appiert per le liver de 17. Edw. 3. fol. 45. que est authority direct e [...] le point. Car la, scire facias fuit port vers vn Deane del frank Chappel del Roy, d'a [...]er execution del Annuity recover vers son predecessor: Thorp, [...]ous vous diomus que le Roy per son Charter, que cy est, a nous dona le Dean [...]y, & [...]n la Charter nest pas termine, coment, & come longement a tener, issint que ceo ne poet estre intend forsque a volunt le Roy: Idgement, si le breefe gi [...]e vers nou [...]. R. Th. il ne clayme nul estate en certeinty, & ne dit pas cause pur que le breefe ne girroit vers luy, Idgment, & priomus execution. Tho. Si auter person face tiel fait, & done en non certeine, certum est que franektenement passa, mes quant al Roy, il nest pas issint, car si il done terre o [...] tenement per le manner, il navera forsque a volunt.

Accordant a cest opinion de Thorp, fuit tenus pur ley in Camera Stellata 1. Mar. Dier. 100. a. que si la Royne per sa Charter graunt terre probis hominibus villae de Islington, sans dire, habendum eijs haeredibus vel sucessoribus suis, rendant Ren [...], que ceo est bon Corporation a cest entent, mes que ils ne sont forsque tenants a volunt del terre. Vid. 5. Edw. 4. 8. b. le Case del Garter Roy des Heraulds, ou cest office fuit graunt al vn sans limitation del estate, & est tenus que il fuit Officer a volunt del Roy.

Donques si Turnor fuit Deane forsque a volunt del Royne, el ad determin sa volunt, per sa second graunt fait al Campion, pur ceo que cest second graunt fuit a comencer in praesenti: & ne besoigne de signifier le determination de sa volunt per expresse parols, come est tenus, 1. & 2. Phil. & Mar. Dier. 107. en le Case del Almoner, & en le Case de Alton woods cite devant fol. 50. a. Et ceo appiert auxi per le Idgement del Parliament en l'Act de 6. Henr. 8. cap. 15. que provide, que le second patent recitera le primer patent fait per la Royne durante beneplacito, auterment le primer ne serroit void, come fuit per la ley, devant le fesans del dit Act. Mes cest Act nest en force icy.

SEcondment, fuit obiect, que admitt que le graunt fait al [Page 44] Turnor serroit bon durant son vie, vncor il fuit depriue per le sentence del Evesque, per que le Deanry deveignoit void, devant le second graunt fait al Campion: quel sentence de depriuation, coment que le Deanry soit Donative per letters patents del Roy, nest void, mes estoit en force tantque soit revers per appeal. Car vn Deanry est spirituall dignity, come [...] tenus en Goodmans Case, 10. Eliz Dier. 273. Et l'Evesque per common entendment ad Ordinary Irisdiction sur touts Ecclesiasticall causes deins son Diocese, & coment que il ad committ contempt en visiting le Donative del Roy, & en donant le sentence del depriuation, come Barlow Evesque de Bath encurroit le penalty de praemunire en teil Case. Brook. Praemunire 21. vncor la sentence nest void. Et a cest entent est le difference prise per Parning 13. Ass. p. 2. que si home ad nosme de dignity, & soit ouste per celuy, que ad colour de luy ouster de sa dignity, come per Ordinary, mesque ceo soit per depriuation [...]ent due, la il covient suer d'aver restitution de sa dignity, devant que il po [...]t suer per cest nosine, aliter est sil soit ouste per auter. Et accordant a ceo, est l'opinion de Herle & Scroope 8. Ass. p. 21. vid. auxi le Case de Vere & Ieffreys en le 5. part des Reports de le Seignior Cooke fol. 30. a.

TIercement fuit obiect, que le Confirmation fait en teil manner come est trove per le verdict est assetts bon. Car primerment le Deane poet bien doner son assent, & fixer le seale del Chapter per proctor ou substitute, & serra cy avayable, come s'il ad estre personally present. Qui per alium facit, per seipsum facere videtur. Et issint les Barons en Parliament donont lour assent per lour Proxies. Et coment que cest very point soit fait vn question 3. & 4. Philip. & Mar. Dier. 145. b. ou Evesque ad graunt fee farme de terre que il en droit de son Evesquery, & Confirmation suit fait per Decanum & Capitulum, absente Decano in remotis, sed praesente Praesidente Decani, quem per simplex verbum Decanus constituit suum locum tenentem, & tradidit ei claues suas, vna cum voce & autoritate Decani, & hoc intratur in registro iuxta antiquam consuetudinem. Si le successor poet avoider cest graunt, fuit move coram iusticiarijs, [Page] &c. Coment que lour resolution en cest point ne appiert, vncor appiert que fuit vn auncient custome que le Deane puissoit fair vn substitute en teux cases, & si tiel custome ad estre vse, les acts fait per teil substitute serront bon & avayleable en ley, purle reason mise en [...]e Case de Corporations, en le 4. part des Reports de le S [...]igoior Cooke fol. 77. b.

Auxi le Confirmation est assets bon, coment que les parparticular prebends, queux fesoent le greinder part del Chapter, ont done lour assents al severall [...]ours. Car sicome en fesans de lour common acts ils ne sont lies al ascun lieu certeine, come a lour Chapter-house, car chescun lieu en queux ils voylont assembler pur fair lour common acts, est bon Chapter-house, 21. Edw 26. 9. Edw. 4. 39. 14 Henr. 6. 16 Issint ils ne sout lyes al ascun Temps certeine pur doner [...]our consents. Mes si lour consent appiert pre teil demonstration que la ley require, cest sufficient. Et quel demonstration est ceo? certes, le fixing de lour Common seale. 14. Henr. 6. 17. a. car la est dit, que le fixing del seale monstre lour agreement, & la Paston dit, coment poet lour assent estre mieux prove, que per [...]ensealer de lour common Seale. vid. 4. Edw. 2. fitz. obligation 16. Et coment que ils expressont lour assents al severall iours, per pa [...]ol, ou signature, vncor le sixing del Seale vnite les several assents, & fait vn ioynt assent de touts.

Et le fait d'un Corporation ne besoigne delivery, come le fait d'un naturall person, mes l'apposition del common Seale, done perfection a ceo solement. Auxi en plusors Cases assent apres vn act fait, [...]onera force a ceo, come Atturnament done force al graunt de reversion fait devant, & si disseisin soit fait al vse de IS son agreement apres, faira luy disseisor, sicome il ad estre present al temps del committing de le disseisin. 37. Ass. p. 8. 38. Ass. p. 9.

MEs d'auter part, fuit respond per le Counsell del plaintife, & resolve per le Court, primerment, que le done ou graunt de le Deanry de Fernes fait per la Royne Eliz. al Turnor sans limitation d'ascun estate en ceo, fuit bon, & que il ad cy large estate en cest Deaury per cest graunt, come ascun Deane que est Electiue poet [Page 45] aver en son Deanry que il ad per election.

Et pur cleering de cest point 3 diversities fueront prise: vn surdant sur le difference des persons queux sont grauntors, auter, hors del divers quality des choses graunted, & le tierce del different capacities en queux des grauntees poent prender les thoses.

1 Pur le primer difference: si common person graunt rent, ou auter chose que gist en graunt tantum, sans limitation del ascun estate, per delivery del fait tantum francktenement passa 17. Edw 3. 45. a. Et le reason est, pur ceo que le graunt del common person serra prise plus fort envers le graunter 7. Ass. p. 1. Mes si le Roy graunt rent ou terre sans limitation del ascun estate, le graunt est meerement void pur l'incerteinty, & le grauntee ne serra tenant a volunt al Roy, come est rule en le Case de Altonwoods cite devant: & la reason est, pur ceo que le graunt del Roy serra pris plus fort pur son benefitt & advantage, & si poet estre prise a double entent: serra adiudge void pur le doubtfulnes de ceo. Et cest diversity surd sur le difference des persons queux sont grauntors.

2 Le difference que result hors de divers quality des choses graunted, est tiel.

Si le chose graunt soit de teil nature, issint que diuers estates poent estre limitt de ceo, come de terre, Seigniory, rent, & huiusmodi, si le Roy en son graunt de tiel chose no limitt ascun certeine estate al grauntee, rien passer [...] per cest graunt, mes serra adiudge meerement void pur l'incerteinty, come est monstre devant: Mes si le chose graunted soit tiel dont diuers estates ne poent estre limited, mes vn estate tantum est incident a ceo, que la ley limitt, sans ascun limitation fait per le grauntor, de teil chose le graunt del Roy ne poet estre doubtfull, ou vncerteine, le Roy ne poet estre deceave, ne poet erre, car Error est in biuio, & nul error poet estre, ou est forsque vn voy destre prise.

Mes quel chose est ceo a que vn estate tantum est incident per la ley, & de que diuers estates ne poent estre limitt? Certes, ceo est vn office. Mes quel office? Certes, tiel office, que per la ley courge en perpetuall succession, & nemi en course de discent, & dont l'Officer est toutsfoits [Page] corps politique: & de cest nature, sont touts offices Ecclesiasticall, Grendons Case Plow. Commen. 497. a. Cat de divers secular offices severall estates poent el [...]ce lunict, come des offices de Constable D'engleterre, Marshall, Uicount, Gardeyn del Fleet, &c. queux poent estre graunt, en fee, en tayle, pur vie, ou a volunt. Et la reason est, pur ceo que teilr temporall Officers ont lour offices en lour naturall capacities, & le Roy en policy poet suppresser, & reviver ceux offices pro loco & tempore, & per consequence poet limitt temporary estates en iceux.

Mes Ecclesiasticall offices come Evesquery, Deanry, Rectory, queux sont institute pur le government de la Saint Esglise, besoigne destre continew en course de perpetuall succession, vsque ad finem saeculi: Et pur ceo nul home poet prender teil office en son naturall capacity, mes chescun tell Ecclesiasticall Officer est corps politique ipso facto, come Person est encorporate per le common ley 40. Edw. 3. 27. Et issint est Evesque, & Deane, &c. & touts ceux ont lour offices en politique capacity, & en course de successiō, & ceux sont les offices dōt la ley determin vn estate certein, & dont diversity des estates ne poet estre limitt.

3 Et issint le tierce difference appiert. viz. ceo que surd hors del divers capacities des Grauntees. Car grauntee del temporall office, come del office de Constable, ou Marshall, poet prender ceo en son naturall capacity, & son heir po tprender ceo en course de discent, si estate d'enheritance soit limitt be ceo, mes grauntee de spirituall office, viz. d'Evesquery, ou Deanry, &c. ne poet ceo prender en naturall capacity, ne en course de discent, mes en politique capacity, & en course be succession solement, car auter estate il ne poet aver en ceo, ne autir estate poet estre limitt de ceo. Evesque ne poet aver estate a volunt, pur ans, ou pur vie, ou en tayle en son Evesquery, ne Deane poet aver ascun tiel particular estate en son Deanry, mes ils ont estate en fee al meins: mes ceo nest a eux & lour heires, mes solement a eux & lour successors.

Pur cest reason, quant le Roy graunt & done Evesquery (car touts Evesqueryes en cest Realme sont done & graunt per letters patents per l'estatut de 2. Eliz. cap. 14.) ne besoigne ascun limitation del estate en le donation, nient [Page 46] plus que en l'investiture per Annulum & Baculum fait perles auncient Royes D'engleterre devant le Norman Conquest, & apres. Car le Roy Iohn fuit le primer Roy que per son Charter Dat. 15. Iannuary anno 16. de son raigne grauntoit power & liberty al touts Esglises Cathedrall & Conventuall en Engleterre de fair Canonical election delour Prelates, petita priùs de luy ses heires, & successors licentia eligendi, &c. quel Charter est trove en Matth. Paris. histor. magn. fol. 253.

Mes ou le Roy a cest iour en cest Realme, done & graunt Evesquery ou Deanry per ses letters patents, la ne besoigne ascun limitation del estate, car la let ad limitt l'estate devant, come en assignement de Dower al widow del Roy nul estate est limitt, N. Br. 263. c. Car la ley create sa estate devant. Issint sur Presentation, Institution, ou Induction del person al Rectory est nul limitation del estate que le person auera en le Rectory, vncor la ley done a luy fee in iure Ecclesiae.

Et sicome en graunt del Deanry fait per le Roy, ne besoigne d'aver ascun limitation del estate, issint si particular estate serroit limitt, come pur vie, ou pur ans, ceo serroit repugnant & contradictory al graunt. Car le Deanene poet prender le Deanrymes a luy & ses successors que est estate en fee, & pur ceo tiel limitation serroit void. Come si feoffment soit fait al IS & ses heires, habendum pur vie, cest habendum est void, car est contrary a les premisses 21. Henr. 8. Br. Estates 50. vid. 11. Henr. 7. 12. a. Siterre soit graunt al Maior & Commonalty sans pluis dire, ils averont fee simple.

Auxi Deanry que est donative ne poet estre graunt purans, ou a volunt tantum pur reason d'un graund inconvenience que ensueroit. Car le francktenement des terres qneux le Deane ad en droit del Deanry tantum serroit percest meane en perpetuall abeiance quel inconvenience la ley ne voet suffer.

Auxi Deanry ou Evesquery ne poent estre graunt pur vie tantum, pur auter inconveniēce, car Deane ou Evesque poēt aver breef de droit Litt. 143. b. quel breefe ne poet estre port percestyque ad estate forsque pur vte, & pur tell meane l'Esglise serroit dishenherit, & sans remedy, que la ley ne boet permitt.

[Page] 2 QUant al second obiection, viz. que Turnor fuit depriue per sentence oel Evesque, quel sentence ne fuit vnques reverse per Appeall, & tssint le Deanry fuit void, quant le graunt fuit fait al Compion, per que Campion fuit loiall Deane, quant le lease en question fuit confirme, fuit fortement argue per le Counsell del plaintife, que le sentence de depriuation fuit tout ousterment void, & que Turnor remaynoit Deane nient obstant cest sentence.

Car cest Deanry est Donatiue per letters Patents del Roy, nient visitable per l'Evesque, & per consequence hors de son Irisdiction, & issint le sentence del depriuation est void, esteaut Coram non Iudice. Come Idgement de fraack see en Court de auncient Demesne 7. Henr. 4. 17. Idgement done en le Marshalsie sur contract fait hors del [...]ierge, & ou nul des parties est del hostel del Roy, & Idgement en le Court del Admiralty, De re facta in corpore comitatus 19. Edw. 4. 8. 20. Edw. 4. 15. Et Idgment done en le common Bank sur Appeall de murder port la 22. Edw. 4. 33. teilx Idgments sont void ou les Idges n'ont Irisdiction en teilx causes: per que cest sentence fuit void en cest case icy, pur ceo que cest Deanry esteant vn Donatiue del Roy est exempt & hors del Irisdiction del Evesque.

Car l'Ordinary nad rien a Medler ove vn Donatiue que port passer per done de lay Patron sans institution ou induction come est dit 8. Ass. p. 31. Et que les Donatives del Roy sont nors del Irisdiction del Ordinary, & nient visitable per luy, vid. 20. Edw. 3. Fitz. Excomm. 9. 16. Edw. 3. Fitz Breef. 660. 21. Edw. 3. 60. 6. Henr. 7. 14. Cawdreyes Case in le 5. des Reports de le Setgnior Cooke fol. 15. a. Mes le visitation de touts donatives del Roy appent properment al Seignior Chauncellor del Realme N. Br. 42. a. ou auttrment le Roy poet fair speciall Commissioners a cest purpo'e 6. Henr. 4. 14. & Goodmans Case 10. Eliz. Dier. 273 ou l'Evesque de Bath & Wells ad speciall Commission agard a luy per le Roy Edw. 6. de visiter le Deane & Chapter de Wells, per force de quel auctority Goodman fuit depriue. Mes en cest Case l'Evesque de Fernes ad nul Commission de visiter le Deane, & pur ceo coment que il ad committ [Page 47] contempt envers le Royne, pur que il fuit punisbable, vncor esteant vn nullity en le sentence de Depriuation, ceo ne greevera le Deane, nient plus que vn Idgment al Common ley esteant done Coram non Iudice greevera le party vers que tiel Idgement est done. Et le reason del Idgement en Vere & leffryes Case semble destre vn rule de cest point. Car la est tenus, que si Ordinary d'un Diocese committ administration de biens d'un intestate que ad bona notabilia en divers Dioceses, teil administration est meerement void, cibien quant al biens deins son Diocese, come aliors: pur ceo que per nul meane il poet aver Irisdiction del cause. Isint en cest case le sentence de depriuation est meerment void, pur ceo que l'Evesque come ordinary poet per nul meane aver Irisdiction sur le donative del Roy, que est exempt de son Iurisdiction tout ousterment per la ley.

Mes quant a cest point Ley cheefe Istice haesitauit, & fuit plus toft d'opinion que le sentence de depriuation fuit effectuall en ley tantque futt reverse per appeal. Et sur Vere & Ieffreyes case il prist difference, enter Ministeriall act & Iudiciall act. Committall d'Administration nest que Ministeriall act, & pur ceo serra void en le Case avantdit, mes depriuation est Iudiciall act que ne serra void forsque per auter Idgement sur Appeal. Auxi ou Fitz. N. Br. 42. a. dit que prohibition serra direct al Ordinary que il ne visitera les donatives del Roy, ceo prove que l'Ecclesiacall Court ad Irisdiction en causes de mesme le nature, & issiut ad colour de proceeder al sentence, & si prohibition ne vient devant le sentence, ceo esloiera, tanque soit adnul sur appeall.

MEs quant al tierce point, fuit resolve per tout le Court, que coment que Turnor ad estre bien depriue, & Campion ad eslre loiall Deane al temps de Confirmation fait, vncor le leas fait al def. ne fuit bien Coufirme, ne per le Deane, ne per le gremder part del Chapter, come devoit estre per la ley, en teil Case.

1 Primerment nul Confirmation fuit fait per le Deane. Car il ad fait vn proctor que fuit mecrement estraunger al Chapter, & uient capable de tiel procuration, & pur ceo [Page] tout que il ad fait est void, per le rule de Canon ley, & per le rule del Common ley. Le rule del Canon ley en cest Case est. Absens non potest demandare votum suum nisi vni de Capitulo. Instit. luris Can. lib. 1. cap. Electionibus. Et est auter rule. Oportet quod procurator semper institutus sit de Collegio. Et auter, Votum dari non potest per literas.

Le rule del common ley est agreeable al Canon ley en cest point. Car en le hault Court de Parliament, come ad estre dit devant, les Barrons poent doner lour votes per procuracy ou proxie. Mes lour proctor covient estre Barons, & members de mesme le meason, Car es [...]raunger nest capable de teil proxie. Mes ou corporation passara ascun interest, le common ley ne voet suffer que les members del corporation doneront lour assent per proctors ou substitutes. Et pur ceo 11. Henr. 4. fol. 64. Sur composition pur Dismes, vn person graunt aunuity al Abbe de Battell, quel graunt est confirme per Euesque, Deane & Chapter esteant Patrons. Et [...] applert per le fait del Confirmetion, que le Deane fuit absent, & ne mist le seale a ceo, mes le Chauntor fuit son Commissary & misoit le Scale pur luy. Et la est tenus, que coment que le Deane poet aver vn President ou Commissary, per exerciser son spirituall Irisdiction, vncor tell Commissary ne [...]oet charger les possessions del Esglise. Et issint le question move en 3. & 4. Philip. & Mar. Dier. 145. Cite devant, est resolve per le rule de cest liver.

2 Secondment, le maior part del Chapter nont done lour consent al ce [...] Confirmation Car l'entier Chapter consistoit de 11. persons, & 3. d'eux tantum ove le proctor del Deane fueront present quant le Seale fuit affix al cest Confirmation. Et que le Maior part del corporation doent cousenter al touts acts queux lieront le corporation, est manifest auxi per rules les del Canon & Common ley.

Le rule del Canon ley app [...]ert en Panormit. cap. cum in cunctis, ou est dit, que Authoritas & potestas capituli consistit in maiori parte eius & saniori, & sic totum capitulum facere dicitur, quod facit maior & sanior pars. Et hoc verum est in omnibus actionibus & electionibus, praeterquam in electione Romani Pontificis, vbi oportet quod duae partes consentiant.

Le common ley ad mesme le rule 14. Henr. 8. 29. ou est [Page 48] dit, que le Deane & le maior part del Chapter font le Corporation, & lour act est l'act del Corporation, coment que les auters ne agreeont. Issint 21. Edw. 4. 27. est dit, vbi maior pars ibi tota 15. Edw. 4. 2 a. 9. Henr. 6. 32. a mesme l'entent.

Et cest difference fuit prise, viz. que en colleges & corporations le maior part des members doent doner lour voices in numero distincto: mes en confused & incertein numbers, come en election de Chivalers al Parliament, ou de Coroners ou Uerderours en le county de Court, le greinder voice ou acclamation est sufficient, pur monstrer l'assent del greinder part des freeholders queux font l'election. Plow. Comment. 126. a. Et sicome le maior part del Chapter doet consenter en fesans de cest Confirmation, & cest consent doet e [...]re expresse per le fixing del Seale, come est tenus 14. Henr. 6. 17. Issint ils doent ceo fair en vn lieu & al vn tiemps, car auterment poet estre dit Assensus, mes nemi Consensus, ou le leas doet estre confirme cum Assensu & Consensu del Deane & Chapter. Car sicome vn corps naturall ne poet fair ascun persect act, si soit dismember, viz. si le test soit en lieu, & les mains en auter lieu, & sic de caeteris, issint est [...]e corps politique, les persons queux sont members de ceo doent estre Capitulariter congregati en vn lieu certein, auterment, si ils sont scatter & disperse en severall lieues, ceo que ils font ne serra dit l'act del corporation, mes serra dit factum singulorum. Et pur ceo Panormitan. dit, Vniuersiras vel corporatio non dicitur aliquid facere, nisi id sit collegialiter deliberatum, etiamsi maior pars id faciat. Vid. 15 Edw. 4. 2. a. ou le maior part des Moignes ont subcribe lour nosmes al vn fait del Abbe, mes ne fuit expresse que ceo fuit fait ove assent & consent del covent, ceo serra dit destre fait per les particular persons queux ont subscribe, & nemi per le corporation, & teil fait ne liera le meason.

Uncor fuit agree, come ad estre dit devant, que le Deane & Chapter ne sont consine a lour Chapter house, mes que ils poent assembler, & fair lour acts aliors. Et pur ceo est tenus 21. Edw. 4. 26. que ou fait port date in domo capitulari, averment poet estre, que cest fait fuit deliver en auter lieu. Et a cest entent est 27. Ass. p. 23. le Case de Prior [Page] Alien. Uncor il covient que ils s'assemblont en ascun certein lieu, & que le maior part soit present en cest lieu quant ils donont lour consent al ascun common Act. Et pur ceo l'election des Coroners doet estre fait in pleno comitatu come appiert per le breefe de Coronatore eligendo? Quia nuper vnus Coronatorum in comitatu tuo diem clausit extremum, &c. Tibi praecipimus, quod si ita sit, tunc in pleno comitatu tuo de assensu eiusdem comitatus elegi facias, &c. vid. Registr. 177. a.

Auxi le Consent del maior part del Chapter doet estre done al vn temps, simul & semel, & nemi scattringly, & al severall iours. Car nest Consensus si ne soit simul. Car Consensus est voluntas multorum ad quos res pertinet, simul iuncta. Et pur ceo Panormit. cap. cum in Ecclesia dit, si consentiant singuli, vt singuli & non collegialiter, cum actus per communem consensum debeat expediri, non valet. Et en institut. Iuris Canon libr. 1. cap. de electionibus est dit en le glosse Electio quae à principio fuit nulla, quia facta á minori parte capituli, non potest conualidari per consensus particulares superuenientes.

Agreeable a cest rule est le reason del Case mise en le Doct. & Stud. Br. Idgments 148. que si femme suffer recovery de sa ioynture encounter le statut de 11. Henr. 7. sans l'assent del cesty en reversion, & apres cesty en reversion releas al recoveror per fine, cest assent vient trop tard, & ne voet fair le recovery bon, que fuit vnforts void. Issint en cest case, quant le fait del confirmation ad le chapter Seale fix a ceo, donques ceo fuit void pur fault del consent del maior part del chapter, & pur ceo per le straggling assents de 3. auters prebends done apres, ue serra fait bon, ou fuit void devant.

Et sur cest derrain point principalment, apres plusors arguments, le Court donoit Idgment per le plaintife. Et per cest Idgment l'Evesque de Fernes recoveroit vn meason pur son habitation, ou devant routs les mannors & mansions del Evesquery esteant alien perses predecessors il navoit, vbi reclinaret caput suum. L'Atturney generall & Bolton Recorder de Dublin fueront a Counsell ove le plaintife, & le Sollicitor generall, & Io. Meade del Midle Temple ove le defendant.

[Page 49]

Hill. 3. Iacobi.
Le Resolution des Iustices touchant le Irish Custome de Gauelkind.

PRimerment est a scauoir, que les terres possesse per les meer Irish deins cest Realme, fueront divide en severall Territories ou Countries: & les enhabitants de chescun Irish countrey, fueront divide en severall Septs ou linages.

Secondment, en chescun Irish Territory fuit vn Seignior ou Cheefetaine, & vn Tanist que fuit son successor apparant. Et de chescun Irish Sept ou linage fuit auxi vn Cheefe, que fuit appell Canfinny, ou caput cognationis.

Tiercement, touts les possessions deins ceux Irish Territories (devant que le common ley D'engleterre fuit establish per tout le Realme, come ore est) curgeont toutfoits, ou en course de Tanistry, ou en course de Gauelkind. Chescun Seigniory ou Cheefry ove le portion de terre que passoit ove ceo, aloit sans partition al Tanist, que toutsfoits veignoit eins per election, ou fort main, & nemi per discent. Mes touts les inferior Tenancies fueront partible enter les males, en Gauelkind.

Uncor l'estate que le Seignior avoit en le Cheefry ou que les inferior Tenants avoent en Gauelkind, ne fuit estate d'enheritance, mes vn temporary, ou transitory possession. Car sicome le prochin heir del Seignior ou cheeftain, ne enheriteroit le Cheefry, mes le plus eigne & plus digne del Sept [Page] (come est monstre devant en le Case de Tanistry) que soventfoits fuit remove & expell per vn auter que fuit plus ac [...]ue ou fort que luy: issint les terres de nature de Gauelkind [...]e fueront partible enter les prochein heires males del cesty que morust se [...]sie, mes enter touts les males de son Sept, en cest Manner.

Le Canfinny ou cheefe de Sept (que fuit communement le plus auncient del Sept) fesoit touts les partitions person discretion. Cest Canfinny, apres le mort de chescun Tertenant que avoit competent portion de Terre, assembloit tout le Sept, & aiant mise touts lour possessions en Hotchpotch fesoit novel partition de tout: En quel partition il ne assignoit a les fitz de cesty que morust, le portion que lour Pere avoit, mes il allottoit al chescun del Sept, solonque son antiquity, le melieur ou greinder purpartie.

Ceux portions ou purparties issint esteant allott & assigne, fueront possesse & enioy accordant, tantque Nouel partition fuit fait, que al discretion ou volunt del Canfinny puissoit estre fait sur le mort del chescun inferior tenant. Et issint per reason de ceux frequent partitions & removentes o [...] translations des tenants del vn portion al auter, touts les possessions fueront vncertein, & [...]unce [...]teinty des possessions fuit la very cause que nul Civil habitations fueront erected, nul enclosure ou improvement fuit fait des terres, [...]n les Irish countries ou cest custome de Gauelkind fuit en v [...]e, specialment en Vlster, que sembloit per tout destre vn wildernes, devant cest novel plantation fait per les English vndertakers la. Et ceo fuit le fruit de cest Irish Gauelkind.

Auxi per cest Irish cu [...]ome de Gauelkind les Bastards avoent lour purparties ove les legitimate, les femmes fueront tout ousterment exclude de Dower, & les files ne fueront enheritables, coment que lour Pere morust sans issue male. Issint que cest custome differoit del custome de Gauelkind en Kent en 4. points.

Car 1. per le custome de Kent le terre del nature & Ternure de Gauelkind est partible enter les prochien heires males tantum: & tiels coperce [...]ers apres partition avoent certein estate d'enheritance en lour purparties.
[Page 50]2 Les Bastards ne sont admitt d'enheriter ovelment avesque les fitz legitimate.
3 La femme de chescun terretenant en Gauelkind est endowable del moitie.
4 Pur default des males les heires females enheriteront. vid. Lambert en le Peramb. de Kent. fol. 570.

Et pur ceo cest custome de Gauelkind vse in Kent ad estre toutfoits allow & approve pur [...]o [...] & loiall custome per la ley D'engleterre.

Mes cest Irish custome de Gauelkind fuit aggreeable en plusors de ceux points al custome de Gauelkind que fuit en vse en North Gales: quel custome fuit reprove & reforme per le statut de Rutland fait 12. Edw. 1. Car la est dit, Quia hactenus mulieres non extiterant dotatae in Wallia, Rex concedit quod dotentur. Et apres ceo est dit, quod aliter vsitatum est in Wallia, quam in Anglia, quoad successionem haereditatis, eo quod haereditas partibilis est inter haeredes masculos, & á tempore cuius non extiterit memoria, partibilis extitit: Dominus Rex non vult, quod consuetudo illa penitus abrogetur, sed quod haereditates remaneant partibiles inter consimiles haeredes, sicut esse consueuerunt, hoc excepto, quod bastardi non habeant de caetero haereditates, ac etiam quod non habeant propartes cum legitimis, n [...] sine legitimis. Etsi forté haereditas aliqua extunc, pro defectu haeredis masculi, descendat ad legitimas mulieres haeredes vltimi antecessoris sui inde seisiti, volumus de gratia nostra speciali quod eodem modo mulieres legitimae habeant propartes suas sibi inde in Curia nostra assignandas: licet hoc sit contra consuetudinem Wallensicam ante vsitatam. vid. le statut de 34. Henr. 8. cap. 28. Rastall Wales 32. ou le custome de Gauelkind en Wales est tout ousterment abolish, ove divers auters vsages semblable al auters customes des Irish.

Pur ceux reasons, & pur ceo que touts les dits Irish countries, & les inhabitants d'yceux de hors en avant fueront destre govern per les rules de la common ley D'engleterre, fuit resolve & declare per touts les Istices, que [...]e dit Irish custome de Gauelkind fuit void en ley, non solement pur l'inconvenience & vnreasonablenes de ceo, mes pur ceo que fuit vn meere personall custome & ne puissoit alter le discent d'enheritance.

[Page] Et pur ceo touts les terres en ceux Irish countryes serront ore adiudge be discender accordant at course de common ley, & que les femmes serront endow, & les files serront enheritables de ceux terres, nient obstant cest Irish vsage ou Custome.

Et ou les femmes des Irish Seigniors ou cheeftaines, clamont d'aver sole propertie en certeine portion de Biens durant le coverture, ove power de disposer tiels biens fans l'assent de lour Barons. Fuit resolve & declare per touts les Istices, que le propertie de teils biens serroit adiudge destre en les Barons, & nemi en les femmes covert, come la common ley est en tiel Case.

Cest resolution des Istices, per le speciall order de Seignior Deputy, fuit register enter les Acts del Counsell: mes la cest prouision fuit ad a ceo, que si ascun de les meere Irish ad possesse & enioy ascun portion de terre per cest custome de Irish Gauelkind, devant le commencement del Raigne de nostre Seignior le Roy que ore est, que il ne serroit disturbe en son possession, mes serroit continew & establish en ceo. Mes que apres le commencement de sa Maiesties Raigne, touts tiels terres serront adiudge de discender ales heires per la common ley, & lerront dehors en avant possesse & enioy accordant.

[Page 51]

Mich. 9. Iacobi. En le Court de Castlechamber.
Le course del Triall de Legitimation & Bastardy.

VN information fuit exhibit en le Castle Chamber envers le Evesque de K. & C. B. & auters, queux per practise & combination enter eux, & per vndue course de proceeding, out endeavour de prover le dit C. B. que fuit tout temps devant reputed vn bastard, desire le legitimate fitz, & heire de G. B. esquier, al deherison, & defamation, del E. B. que fuit la sole file & heire, del dit G. B. Et sur le Dier de cest cause, le Case appieroit destre tiel.

Environ 26. ans devant le bill exhibit, le dit G. B. ad issue le dit C. B. sur le corps d'un Irrois Damosel, la quel durant la vie de G. B. ne fuit repute sa feme, mes sa concubine: & le dit C. B. pur tout le temps avantdit, fuit solement accept, pur le naturall fitz de G. B. Mes nemi pur legimate.

Apres ceo, viz. 16. ans depuis la naissance de C. B. sa Mere esteant en pleine vie. G. B. prist al femme vn dame de bonne estate & reputation, ove l'assent de ses Am [...]es, & ad issue per luy la dit E. B. & morust. Apres la mort del dit G. B. C. B. son reputed fitz, ne sa Mere, que est vncor [Page] en vie, [...]e parlont riens per le space de 9. ans, mes ore tard, ils ont practise & combine ove le dit Evesque de K. esteant de lour consanguinity, & ove plusors auters, de prover le legitimation del dit C. B. per vn irregular, & vndue course, al entent de bastardise & desenherit le dit E. B.

Accordant a quel practise & combination l'Evesque sans ascun suit comence ou moue en ascun temporall Court del Roy, ou ascun breefe direct a luy, de certifier Bastardy ou legitimation en cest Case, & que plus est, sans ascun [...]bell exhibit en son Ecclesiasticall Court touchant cest matter, de son teste demesne, privatement, & nemi conuocatis conuocandis, 9. ans apres le mort del dit G B. prist dispositious de plusors [...]esmoignes, a prover que le dit G. B. 29. ans devant ad loialment marry, & prist al feme la dit Irrois Damosell Mere del dit C. B. Et que le dit C. B. fuit le legitimate fitz & heire del dit G. B. Et ceux depositions issint prises, le dit Evesque causast destre engrosse, & reduce en forme de vn solemne Act, & a [...]ant mise son signature & Seale a cest Instrument, deliver ceo al C. B. que publish ceo, & per colour de cest Instrument ou Act, declare luy mesome, destre le fitz, & heire legitimate del dit G. B. &c. Et pur cest practise & misdemeanor, le dit Evesque de K. & auters fueront censure, & sur ceo ceux pointes fueront resolve.

1 Coment que touts Matrimoniall causes ont estre de long temps determinable en les Ecclesiasticall Courtes, & sont ore properment deins le Irisdiction & conusans del Clergie, vncor ab initio non fuit sic: car [...]ibien causes de Matrimony, que causes Testamentary, sneront Ciuill causes, & apperteignont al Irisdiction de Ciuill Magistrate, come est bien conus al touts Civilians: tantque les Christian Emperours & Royes, pur fair honor al Prelates del Clergy, ont graunt, ou allowe al [...]ux co [...]sans & Irisdiction en ceux Cases.

Et pur ceo, le Roy l'engleterre, que est, & toutsfoits de droit fuit le fountaine de tout Istice & Irisdiction en touts causes, ci [...]ien Ecclesiasticall, que Ciuill, deins ses Dominions, coment que il allowe les Prelates del Esglise, de exerciser lour severall Irisdictions, en ceux causes, queur properment appierteignont a lour conusans, [Page 52] vncor per les rules del common ley, il ad superintendency sur lour proceedings, ove power de direction, quant, & coment ils proceederont, & de restraint, & correction, sils ne proceederont duement en plusors Cases: come est manifest per les breefes de severall natures, direct al Evesques per queux le Roy commaund eux de certifier Bastardie, Excommunication, Profession, accouplement en loiall Matrimony, de admitter Clarkes, de cautione admittenda, &c. Et auxi per les breefes de Prohibition, Consultation, & Attachment sur Prohibition.

2 Fuit resolve, que le question de Bastardy, ou legitimacy, doent estre primerment moue en le temporall Court del Roy, & issue sur ceo doet estre ioyne la: & donques doet estre transmitt al Ecclesiasticall Court, per breefe del Roy destre examine & trie la: & sur ceo l'Evesque faira certificate al Court del Roy, a quel certificate esteant fait en tiel due manner, la ley done tiel creditt, que tout le monde serra lie & estoppe per ceo. Mes d'auter part, si ascun Suit a prover Bastardie o [...] legitimacy soit primerment comence en l'Ecclesiasticall Court, devant que ascun question soit moue de tiel matter en le temporall Court del Roy, prohibition gist de restraine tiel suit, & si soit accompaine ove practise & fraud, come en cest case, ceo est, vn misdemeanor p [...]nishable en le Starchamber.

A cest purpose, le Case de Corbett fuit mise, 22 Edw. 4. fitz. Consultation 6. Sir Robert Corbett ad issue 2. fitz, Robert & Roger, Robert le fitz esteant deins le age de 14. ans, prist al femme Matild, ove quel a son pleine age, il cohabit, & cogniti & reputati sunt pro viro & vxore palam. Uncor apres, Robert le fitz, demitt de luy la dit Matild, & viuant la dit Matild, espouse vn Lettice, & aiant issue per Lettice vn fitz, morust, apres que mort Lettice preach & declare overtment, que el fuit la loiall semme de Robert, & que son fitz fuit mulier & legitimate. Sur que Roger le puisne fitz del Sir Robert Corbett commence suit en le spirituall Court a reverser les espousels, enter Lettice & Robert, & a metter Lettice al silence, &c. per que Lettice purchase prohibition, & sur ceo Roger monstre tout cest matter & pria consultation, que suit a luy deny, pur cest reason principalment, viz. que l'entent del suit, en le spirituall [Page] Court, [...]uit de Pastardizer le issue enter Lettice & Robert, & de prover Roger heire al Robert, & l'Action & Originall de bastard home, ne serra primes moue en le spirituall Court, mes eu le temporall Court, &c. Et pur fair cest point plus cleare, 2. Cases mise per Bracton, libr. 5. titul. de Exceptionibus cap. 6. fueront remember.

1 B. aiant issue del corps d'un feme enheritrix nee devant espousels, per colour de ceo claime destre tenant per le Curtesie, mes est [...]ant pur cest cause barr en Assise port per luy vers A. il obtaine Bull del Pape, & per authority de ceo comence suit en Ecclesisticall Court, de prover [...]on issue legitimate, quod facere non debuit, come Bracton la dit, & pur ceo prohibition fuit grant de staier cest suit, monstrant tout le matter, & quod praedictus B. ad deceptionem Curiae nostrae &, ad infirmandum iudicium in Curia nostra factum, trahit ipsum A. in placitum coram vobis, in Curia Christianitatis, authoritate literarum domini Papae, ad praedictum puerum legitimandum, &c. Et cum non possint iudices aliqui de legitimitate cognolcere, nisi fuerit loquela prius in Curia nostra incepta per breue, & ibi bastardia obiecta, & postea ad Curiam Christianita [...]is transmissa, vobis prohibemus, quod in placito illo vlterius non procedatis, &c.

2 En mesme le Chapter, Bracton mist le forme d'un auter prohibition, que fait le difference avant mise, plus evident, Rex talibus iudicibus, &c. Ostensum est nobis ex parte A. quod cum in Curia nostra, coram iustitiarijs nostris itenerantibus, in tali com [...]tatu, arraniauit quandam Assisam mortis antecessoris versus B. de quadam terra in N. idem B. timens sibi posse oppon [...] notam bastardiae in eadem Assisa, & ante praedictum aduentum iustitiariorum, & antequam ei bastardia opponatur in Curia nostra in dicta assisa, & antequam fuerit per nos ordinario loci Inquisitio, de legitimate probanda, secundum regni nostri consuetudinem, demandata, literas domini Pap [...] ad vos directas impetrauit, vt de legitimatate sua cognoscatis, & ad probationem illius, testes admittatis, vt per hoc remaneat haereditas & successio contra consuetudinem regni nostri, quae huc vsque obtinuit, vt approbata, & Sede Apostolica confirmata, quod in causa successionis, & haereditatis petitione, debet prius moueri placitum in Curia nostra, & cum ibi obiecta fuerit bastardia, tunc deinde transmitti debet Recordum [Page 53] loquelae, & cognitio bastardiae ad Curiam Christianitatis, vt ibi ad mandatum nostrum de legitimitate inquiratur, quod quidem in hac parte non est obseruatum, & cum hoc sit manifesté contra consuetudinem regni nostri, quod habita vel habenda inter alios contentione de iure successionis, debeatis ad inquisitionem de legitimitate procedere antequam á nobis hoc fuerit vobis demandatum, vobis prohibemus, &c.

Per que est assets manifest, que si l'Ecclesiasticall Court proceed al examination de Bastardy ou legitimation, sans direction del temporall Court, serra restraine per prohibition, & si soit fraud o [...] practise en tiel proceeding, que ceo est censurable in le Starchamber, le notable Case del Babington Chauncellor de Litchfeild, Trin. 3. Iacobi est direct President en le point.

3 Sicome l'Ecclesiasticall Idge ne poet enquire de Bastardy ou legitimation sans speciall direction ou mandement del Roy, issint quant il ad receave le breefe del Roy pur fair cest inquisition, il ne doet surcease, pur ascun appeale ou inhibition, mes doet toutsfoits proceed tanque il ad certifie la Court del Roy: & ceo auxi appiert, en Bracton. libr. 5. cap. de Exceptiombus, 14. Cum autem iudex Ecclesiasticus inquisitionem fecerit, non erit ab [...]o appellandum, nec â petente, nec à tenente: à petente non, quia talem iurisdictionem & talem iudicem elegit, á tenente non, quia sic posset causam in infinitum prorrahere de iudice in iudicem, vsque ad Papam, & sic posset Papa de laico feodo indirecte cognoscere. Mes cest point est plus manifest, per vn notable record compernant vn Case de cest Realme, in Archiu. Turris claus. 8. Henr. 3 membr. 29 in dorso, en cest forme. Rex Dublin Archiepiscopo Iustitiario Hyberniae Salutem: ad ea quae vobis nuper dedimus in mandatis, vt nobis reseriberetis, quatenus fuislet processum in causa Nicholai de la Felda, qui contra Abbatem & Canonicos Sancti Thomae Dublimensis in Curia nostra, coram Iustitiarijs nostris, peti [...]t duas carucatas terrae cum pertinentijs in Kilredhery, per Assisam demorte antecessoris, cui etiam coram eisdem iustitiarijs, obiecta fuit bastardia, per quod ab ipsis iustitiarijs nostris ad vos fuit transmissum, vt in foro Ecclesiastico de Bastardia siue legitimitate agnosceretis: nobis per literas vestras significastis, quod cum in foro ciuili, [Page] terram praedictam peteret per literas nostras de morte antecessoris, versus memoratos Abbatem & Canonicos, obiecta fuit ei nota bastardiae, quare in foro eodem tunc non fuit vlterius processum: memoratus etiam Nicholaus de mandato iustitiariorum nos [...]rorum, in foro Ecclesiastico coram vobis volens probare se esse legitimum, testes produxit, & publicatis attestationibus suis, post diutinas alterationes & disputationes, tam ex parte Abbatis, quam ipsius Nicholai, cum ad calculum diffinitiuae sententiae procedere velletis, comparuerunt duae puellae minoris aetatis, filiae Richardi de la Felda Patris praedicti Nicholai, & appellauerunt ne ad sententiam ferendam procederetis, quia in hoc manifestum earum verteretur praeiudicium, eo quod alias praecluderetur eis via pete [...] di haereditatem petitam, nec possit [...]is subueniri per restitutionem in integrum. Vnde de consilio virorum prudentium (vt dicitis) appello deferentes, causam secundum quod coram nobis agitata est, domino Papae transmisistis instructam, de quo plurimum admirantes non immerito mouemur, cum de legitimate praedicti Nicholai per testium productiones & attestationum publicationes plene vobis constiterit, vos propter appellationem puellarum praedictarum, contra quas non agebatur, vel etiam de quibus nulla fiebat mentio in Assisa memorata, nec fuerunt aliquae partes illarum in causa praedicta, sententiam diffinitiuam, pro eo distulistis pronuntiare, & male, quia nostrum declinantes examen, id quod per nostram determinandum esset iurisdictionem, ad alienam transferūt dignitatem, quod valde perniciosum esset exemplo. Cum, etiamsi adeptus esset praedictus Nicholaus possessionem terrae praedictae, per Assisam praedictam, beneficium petitionis haereditatis praedictis puellis plane suppetat in Curia nostra per breue de recto, maxime cum per literas de morte antecessoris agatur de possessione, & non de proprietate, & ex officio nostro in casu proposito, nihil aliud ad nos pertinebat, nisi tantum de ipsius Nicholai legitimitate probationes admittere, & ipsum cum literis nostris testimonialibus, ad iustitiarios nostros remittere. De consilio igitur Magnatum & fidelium nobis assistentium vobis mandamus, quatenus non obstante appellatione praemissa, non differatis pro eo sententiare, ipsum ad iustitiarios nostros remittentes cum literis nostris testimonialibus, vt de loquela coram eis agitata postmodum possint secundum legem [Page 54] & consuetudinem terrae nostrae Hyberniae iustitiae plenitudinem exhibere. Teste H. apud Glocester. 19. die Nouembris, vid. auxi a cest entent 39. Edw. 3. 20. a. o [...] en breefe de Dower, ne vnques accouple en totall Matrimony fuit plead, & issue sur ceo ioyne, per que mande fuit al Evesque de certifier, que certifie que il ne poet riens fair per reason d'un inhibition que a luy vient hors del Arches, cest returne fuit tenus insufficient, car la est dit, que il ne doet surceaser de fair le commaundement del Roy pur nul inhibition.

4 Darraiument fuit dit, que le verry cause & reason pur que l'Ecclesiasticall Idge ne poet enquire de legitimation ou bastardy, devant que il ad receave direction ou mandment hors del temporall Court del Roy, consist [...]n ceo, que le Court Christian navoit vnques Irisdiction ou power de entermedler ove temporall enheritance, directè ou indirecté. Car fuit note, que Christ mesme re [...]uso [...]t de medler en cause de tiel nature, quand sur petition fait a luy Luc. 12. Magister dic fratri meo, vt diuidat mecum haereditatem, il respond. Quis me constituit iudicem, aut diuisorem super vos? Et pur ceo en le temps del Henr. 3. quant le vsurped Irisdiction del Pape fuit elevate plus hault, que vnques devant, ou puis, en les Dominions del Roy D'engleterre, le Pape Alexander 3. aiant graunt commission al Evesques de Winton & Exon de enquire de legitima natiuitate del Agatha Mere del vn Robert de Ardenna, & si el serroit trove legitimate, de restorer le dit Robert al possession de certeine terres, dont il fuit dispossesse, esteant informe que le Roy D'engleterre fuit graundment offend ove cest commission il revoke & countermaund ceo en cest point del restitution de possession, conusant & confessant que le establishment de possessions appertient al Roy, & nemi al Eglise: quel Case est report en le Canon ley, Decretal. Antiquae collectiones 1. libr. 4 titul. qui filij su [...]t legitimi cap. 4. & cap. 7. en le 4. Chapter, le commission est expresse, mes cap. 7. la revocation ou countermaundment appiert en cest forme. Causam quae fuit inter Fr. & R. de Ardenna, super eo quod mater iam dicti R. dicitur non fuisse de legitimo Matrimonio nata, experientiae nostrae commissimus terminandam verum, quia in literis nostris inseri fecimus, vt praefatus R. possessionibus, quarum possessor extitit, faceretis [Page] restitui, si eadem possessione spoliatus esset, nos attendentes quod ad Regem, non ad Ecclesiam spectat, de talibus possessionibus iudicare, ne videamur iuri & dignitatibus charissimi in Christo filij Henrici Regis Anglorum detrahere, qui, sieut accepimus, motus est, & turbatus, quod de possessionibus scipsimus, cum ipsorum iudicium ad se asserat pertinere, volumus quod Regi possessionum iudicium relinquentes, de causa principali cognoseatis, &c.

[Page 55]

Mich. 8. Iacobi.
Le Case del Royal Piscarie de le Banne.

EN le river de le Banne en Vlster, que divide le county de Antrim, de le county del Colrane, enviren 2. leagues de la Mer, ou le streame est nauigable, il y ad vn rich piscarie des Salmons, que fuit parceil del auncient inheritance de la Corone, come appiert per plusors Pipe Rolles, & surveies, ou ceo est trove en chardge come severall piscarie: mes ore ceo est graunt per le Roy al Citty de London en fee ferme. Le profitt de cest piscarie, per le space de 200. ans passes, fuit pris & share enter les Irish Seigniors queux ont fait incursion, & intrusion sur les possessions del Corone in Vlster, & ont possesse per fort main les territories adioinant al dit river de le Banne, iusques al primer an del raigne del nostre Seignior le Roy que ore est.

Anno primo Iacobi, Sir Randall mac Donell ad obtaine vn graunt a luy & ses heires per letters patents de le Territory del Rout, que est parcell del county de Antrim, & Adioinant al river de le Banne, in ea parte, ou le dit piscary est, & ad tout temps estre. Per ceux letters patents le Roy graunt a luy omnia Castra, mesuagia, tofta, molendina, columbaria, gardina, hortos, pomaria, terras. prata, pascua, pasturas, boscos, subboseos, redditus, reuersiones, & seruitia, piscarias, piscationes, aquas, aquarum cursus, &c. Ac omnia alia [Page] haereditamenta in vel infra dictum territorium de le Rout in comitatu Antrim, exceptis & ex hac concessione nobis haeredibus, & successoribus nostris reseruatis, tribus partibus piscationis fluminis de le Banne.

Et sur cest graunt, Sir Randall mac Donell fait petition a le Seignior Deputy, destre mise en quiet possession del quart part del dit piscarie, que adonques per speciall ordel del Counsell Table fuit mise en sequestration. Le Seignior Deputy esteant informe per l'Atturney del Roy, que nul part de cest piscarie passoit al Randall mac Donell per cest graunt, requiroit le resolution de les cheefe Idges esteant del priuy Counsell en cest matter, queux sur view de plusors Pipe-Rolls, en que cest piscarie fuit trove severallment en chardge, come parcell del auncient enheritance de la Corone, & sur consideration ew del dit graunt fait al Sir Randall mac Donell, certifiont lour opinion & resolution, que nul part del dit piscarie passoit al dit Sir Randall mac Donell, per les letters patents avantdit. Et en cest Case divers points fueront consider, & resolve.

1 Primerment, coment que le rule del Civil ley soit, que Flumina & portus publica sunt, ideoque ius piscandi omnibus commune est in portu fluminibusque, quel rule est trove en Bracton. libr. 2. cap. 12. Uncor per le common ley del Engleterre home poet aver proper & severall interest, cybien en vn caw ou riuer, come en vn piscary: & pur ceo vn eaw poet estre graunt 11. R. 2. Plow. Comment 154. a. Si vn graunt al auter aquam suam, le piscary en ceo passera, per ceo que est enclude in ceo paroll aqua. Et N. Br. 123. quod permittat gist de libera piscaria, en tiel forme: Praecipe A. quod permittat B. habere liberam piscariam in aqua ipsius A. in N. que monstre que A. ad interest in le eaw. Auxi piscary gist en graunt & en tenure, & per graunt de ceo, le soile passa: car 40. Edw. 3. 45. Monstraverunt gist d'un piscary, que imply, que ceo containe terre & demesne: Car auterment distresse ne poet estre prise en ceo, come est noate Plow. Comment. 154. a. vid. 34. Ass. p. 11. graunt del piscarie en le riuer de Tese, al Abbe de Riuaux saluo stagno molendini. Auxi piscarie est demaundable per praecipe. N. Br. fol. 2. c. Et assise gist de piscarie N. Br. 179. l. Car home poet aver estate de francktenement en piscary, Fitz. Ass. 422. temps Edw. 1. en assise [Page 56] de nusans, le plaintife count que per lever de Gors, il est disturb de son piscarie: exception fuit pris al count, pur ceo que nul francktenement fuit assigne, a que le piscarie fuit appendant, & la est dit, que piscarie est francktenement per soy, per que ne besoigne de monstrer a quel francktenement ceo est appendant. Vid. auxi fitz. Ass. 427. 12. Henr. 3. assise de libeto tenemento, & se pleint d'un piscary, & recover. Auxi home poet faire bailife de son piscary 11. Henr. 7. 20. a. 10. Henr. 7. 24. b. Nat. br. 88 H. vid. auxi 23. Henr. 3. Brooke assise 450, & 34. Ass. p. 11. Et de prouentu fluminum decimae solui debent. Linwood. fol. 101. (vncor Pisces non offerebantur in templo, Thom. Aquin. 1. 2. q. 102.) & est noate per Linwood supra, quod fluuius est perennis decursus aquarum, flumen vero proprié est ipsa aqua. Et la glosse sur le rule del Ciuil ley avantdit est tiel, flumen ipsum, nisi alueum mutet, semper in eodem loco manet, sed aqua profluens est communis, quia non manet, sed procul fluit extra ditionem eius cuius flumen est, vt ad mare tandem perueniat.

Secondment il yad 2. kindes de rivers: nauigable, & nient nauigable: chescun nauigable river cy hault que le Mer flow & reflow en ceo, est flumen regale, & le piscary de ceo est auxi piscary Roiall, & appent al Roy per son prerogative: mes en chescun auter river nient nauigable & en le piscary de tiel river, les Tertenants ex vtraque parte aquae, ont interest de common droit. Le reason pur que le Roy ad interest en tiel nauigable river, cy hault que le mer flow & reflow en ceo, est, pur ceo, que tiel river participate del nature del Mer, & est dit brache del Mer tant avant que el flow. 22. Ass. p. 93. 8. E 2. fitz. Corone 399. Et la Mer neft solement desouth le Dominion del Roy, come est dit 6. R▪ 2. fitz. protection 46. La mer est del ligeance del Roy, come de son Corone D'engleterre: mes est auxi son proper inheritance: & pur ceo le Roy avera le terre que est gained hors del Mer, Dier. 15. Eliz. 226. b. 22. Ass. p. 93. Auxi le Roy avera les graund poissons del Mer, Balenas & Sturgiones &c. queux sont pisces regales, & nul subiect poet eux aver sans speciall graunt del Roy, praerogatiu. Regis cap. 11. Stanford. 37. 38. Bracton. lib. 3. cap. 3. 39. Ed. 3. 35. a. Et le Roy avera wilde Swannes, come volatilia regalia sur le Mer & braches de ceo. Le Case de Swannes, en le 7. part des Reports [Page] del Seignior Cooke? issint wreck del Mer est perquisit Royall 5. Cooke 107. Sir Henry Counstables case: & sur cest reason, devant le Statute de 18. E. 3. nul subiect puissoit passer oustre le Mer, sans speciall licence del Roy: mes la est enact, que la Mer soit overt a touts merchaunts. Et touts Ports & havens, que sont ostia & ianuae regni, apperteinont al Roy, pur ceo que il est custos totius regni: & fitz. Na. Br. 113. a. le Roy doet de droit saver & defender son Realme, civien vers le Mer, que vers ses Enemies: & que le Roy ad mesme le prerogative & interest en les braches del Mer, & nauigable Rivers, cy hault que le Mer flow & reflow en eux, que il ad in alto mari, est manifest per plusors authorities & Records.

1 Le Roy per ses letters patents fait al graund Admirall D'engleterre, graunt a luy non solement Irisdiction & power de determine maritime causes, mes omnia bona, wauiata, Flotzon, Ietzon, & Lagan, ac omnia bona, mercimonia, & Catalla in mari deperdita, seu extra mare proiecta, ac omnia & singula casualia, tam in vel super mare, vel littora, crecas, vel costeras maris, quam in vel super aquas dulces, portus, flumina, Riuos, aut alia loca superinundata quaecunque, infra fluxum & refluxum maris, seu aquae ad plenitudinem, á quibuscunque á primis Pontibus versus mare, per totum regnum Angliae, aut Hyberniae, &c. Emergentia, Contingentia, seu Prouenientia, &c.

2 Le commission de Sewers, que fuit agard per le Roy, per vertue de son prerogative Royall, devant ascun statute fait en tiel Case, extend non solement al walles & bankes del Mer, mes auxi del nauigable Rivers, & freshwaters, Registr. fol. 127. a. b. N. B. 113. a. Et est recite en le statute de 25. Henr. 8. cap. 10. que le Roy per reason de son dignity & prerogative Royall, doet provider, que nauigable streames sont fait passable, &c.

3 Le Citty de London per vn Charter del Roy, ad le River de Thames graunt a eux, mes pur ceo que fuit conceave, que le soile & ground del River ne passoit per cest graunt, ils purchasont vn auter Charter, per que le Roy graunt al eux solum & fundum del dit River, per force de quel graunt, le Citty a cest iour receave rents de ceux, queux [...]ixont posts, ou font wharfes, ou auters edifices, [Page 57] sur le soile del dit River.

4 Enter les pleas del Corone, 40. Edw. 3. in Archiu. Castri Dublin, cest entry est trove, Domini Reges Angliae & domini Hyberniae de Iure Coronae habent per totam aquam de Boine á Villa de Droghedagh, vsque ad Trim, filum aquae vulgariter vocatum le Watershard, continens in latitudine 24. pedes in loco profundiore eiusdem aquae, ita quod Batellae, Maremium, & Marchandizae per huiusmodi filum, hinc atque illinc, ire & redire possint per filum aquae praedictae, abs (que) impedimēto &c. & la vn Idgment est enter en mesme le Roll, que vn weare erect per l'Abbe de Mellefont en le dit River serroit abate, & fine impose sur l'Abbe, &c. Et ceo agree ove Glanuill que dit, que vn perpresture poet estre fait civien in aquis Regijs, quam in vijs Regijs, vid. 19. Ass. p. 6. que le River de Lee est trove per Inquisition le hault streame del Roy, & 1. & 2. Phil. & Mar. Dier. 117. a. Le Thames est appell le Kinges streame, & en le statute de 28. Henr. 8. c. 22. enact en cest Realme, les Rivers de Barrow, Noyr & Suir, sont appell the Kinges Riuers & les weares erect en eux sont appell purprestures: & coment que le Roy permitt son people pur lour case & commodity d'aver common passage sur tiel nauigable Rivers, vncor il ad sole interest en le soile de tiels Rivers, & auxi en le piscary, coment que le profitt de ceo nest communement pris & appropriate per le Roy, sine soit de extraordinary & certeine annuall valcw, come cest piscary de le Banne ad tout foits estre. vid. en le Case de Swannes 7. Cooke 16. a. le Roy Henr. 8. graunt al Strangewayes totam illam liberam piscariam vocatam le fleet en Abbotsbury, que est vn bay ou creeke del Mer, & comēt que l'Abbe ad piscary la devant le dissolution, est desire entende, que l'Abbe al commencement avoit ceo per graūt del Roy, esteant vn seuerall piscary sur brach del Mer, & per consequens vn piscary Royall. vid. Plow. Comment. 31. 5. b.

Per que fuit resolve, que le River del Banne, cy avant come le Mer flow & reflow en ceo, est flumen regale, & le piscary del Salmons la vn Royall piscary, que appent al Roy come vn seuerall piscary, & nemi al ceux queux ont le soile ex vtraque parte aquae. Mes d'auter part fuit agree, que chescun Inland River nient nauigable, appertient al ownors del soile, ou il ad son course. 28. Ass. p. 93. Et si tiel [Page] River courge anter 2. mannors, & est le Meare & boundary enter eux, l'un moity del River & piscary appent al vn Seignior, & l'auter moiety al auter, & ceo appiert libr. Intrac. fol 666. b. en trespas quare piscatus fuit in seperali piscaria, & piscem inde, viz. 2. Salmones, &c. cepit, &c. le defendant dit, que il fuit seisie del mannor de B. quod se extendit vsque ad finem aquae de W. quae est eadem piscaria, in qua supponitur piscationem praedictam fieri, ex australi parte, & quod le plaintife eodem tempore quo, &c. fuit seisitus de manerio de A. cum pertinentijs quod se extendit ad medium fili aquae praedictae ex parte Boreali eiusdem aquae, maneriaque praedicta ab Oriente aequa longitudine versus Occidentem se extendunt, & quod ipse le defendant, & omnes illi quorum statum ipse habet in manerio de B. á tempore quo non extat memoria, seisiti fuerunt de parte Australi praedictae aquae, vt de seperali piscaria sua, sua, vt de parcella manerij sui praedicti, & similiter habuit communiam piscariae in praedicta parte Boreali eiusdem aquae, dicto manerio de A. pertinentem. Le plaintife reply, quod aqua praedicta ex vtraque parte est son seuerall piscary, sans ceo que le defendant ad common de piscary in Boreali parte dictae aquae. Vid. 2. R. 2. fol. 5. a. que breefe de rationabilibus diuisis gist de tiel piscary.

3 [...]iercement fuit resolve, que nul part de cest Royall piscary de le Banne poet passet per le graunt del terre adioinant per generall graunt de touts piscaries: car cest Royall piscary nest appurtenant al terre, mes est piscary en grosse, & parcell del enheritance del Corone aperluy. Et generall: parolls en graunt del Roy ne passeront tiel speciall Royalty que appent al Corone per prerogative, come mines Royall, americaments Royall, Escheats Royall, ne passeront per generall parolls de touts mines, amerciaments, & Escheates. Eta cest entent sont plusors Cases direct en le point, en le Case de Mines. Plow. Comment. 333. b. 334. a. & 9. & 10. Eliz. 268. 269.

Darrainment fuit agree, que ou le Roy ad graunt al Sir Randall mac Donell tout le territory adioinant a cest river, & touts piscaries deins cest Territory, exceptis tribus partibus piscariae de le Banne, que le quart part de cest piscary ne passera a luy per cest graunt, car le graunt del Roy ne passera rien per implication, 2. H7. 13. &.

[Page 57] Ceux points fueront resolve en cest Case, per les rules & authorities del common ley. Mes ouster ceo, divers rules del Civill ley, & custumary ley del Fraunce, agreeable al nostre ley, en cest point, fueront cite hors de Renatus Choppinus vn tresbon auteur en son Tractate de Domanio Franciae libr. 1. titul. 16. de Fluminibus. Fluminum sunt duo genera, dit il, Regalia quaedam, alia Bannalia, siue priuata. Regalia dicuntur, ex quibus Princeps iure patrimoniali vectigal capir, & in quibus modum & tempus piscationis constituit, vid. Stat. W. 2. cap. 47. Et non solum regalia flumina nuncupantur, quod Regum dominio sunt attributa, sed etiam quod corum curam sibi Reges ac Principes assumpserunt, nec non ex eo, quod piscarias, caeterosque publicorum fluminum redditus, qui aerarij publici fueré, in fiscum suum redigerunt. Sunt & lacus publici regales, fluuiorum superiorum instar: nam lacus publicos locant, & vectigalia in fiscum suum referunt, ideoque publicano, qui lacum vel stagnum conduxit, si piscari prohibeatur, vtile interdictum competit. Iustissimum enim est ob vectigalis fauorem, interdicto eum tueri. Et quant al auters rivers queux courge per confinium praediorum, il dit que per prescription, ou permission des Princes, aut alio iusto titulo, omnia talia flumina facta sunt priuata, quae natura publica erant, & quod piscatio in certa parte fluuij potest expacto constitui, vel continenti multorum annorum vsu acquiri: & sic potentiores amnis accolae, si pluribus annis soli piscati sunt, caeteros pari iure vti prohibent, quamuis Mari, quod natura omnibus patet, seruitus imponi priuatorum cautione non potest. Et ouster il monstre, que les auncient Royes de Fraunce piscationi in fluminibus publicis modum praescripserunt, & piscarias, ac reliquos fluminum prouentus, qui aerario publico olim ascribebantur, passim in fiscum suum retulerunt. Pur le prerogative del Roy deins le Mer il cite vn verse de Iuuenal. Quicquid conspicuum pulchrumque ex aequore toto est,

Res fisci est vbicunque natat. Et Cuiatius de feodis fol. 205. a. fuit auxi cite, ou il dit. regalia sunt viae publicae, flumina nauigabilia, & ex quibus fiunt nauigabilia, portus, vectigalia, monetae, &c.

[Page]

Trin. 9. Iacobi. En l'eschecquer.
Le Case del County Palatine de VVexford.

FUit trove per Office en le county de Wexford, que vn Prendegrast anno 27. Henr. 8. fuit seisie en fee de certein terre en le dit county, & ceo teignoit del George donques countee de Salop & Waterford, & Seignior de Wexford, vt de persona dicti Comitis existen. Comit. Palatin. Comitatus Wexford.

Fuit trove ouster, que per l'estatute de 28. Henr. 8. cap. 3. que est entitle Le statut de Absenrees, fuit enact, que le Roy Henr. 8. ses heires & successors averont & enioteront come en droit del Corone D'engleterre, touts Honors, Mannors, Casiles, Seigniories, Francheses, liberties, counties Palatine, Irisdictions, Fees de chivaler, advonsons, &c. queux le dit countee de Salop avoit deins le Realme de Ireland. Apres que, le dit Prendergrast morust seisie de cest terre, son heir esteant de plein age.

Et si ore, sur cest office, le terra serra seisie en mains del Roy, pur primer seisin, fuit le question. Et sur ceo vn point solement fuit consider, viz. si l'heir del dit Prendergrast▪ [...]endra del Boy in Capite, ou per quel tenure il tiendra le dit terre. Et fuit resolve, que ore il tiendra cest terre del Roy en Capite.

[Page 59] MEs fuit obiect per le Counsell del Prendergast, què le tenure que est trove per l'office ne serra ore vn Tenure del Roy in Capite, mes Tenure en common Socage per fealty tantum, pur 3. Reasons.

1 Tenure en capite covient estre ab antiquo de Corona, come est expresse en le statute de praerogatiua Regis cap. 1. Et est dit 30. Henr. 8. Dier. 44. a. que Tenure en cheefe cō menceoit en auncient temps, sur Graunts del Roy pur defense de son person & sa Corone: mes cest Tenure est nouelment devenus al Roy Henr. 8. per l'act de Absentees, & pur ceo ne poet estre Tenure del Roy en Capite.

2 Tenure en Capite est toutsfoits Tenure de Person del Roy. N. Br. fol. 5. Et est de cy hault nature, que nul home poet creater ceo ou aver ceo, forsque le Roy mesme. Carnul subiect est able de reserver tiel Tenure, ou capable del graunt de tiel Tenure. Car si le Prince l'eigne fitz del Roy, devant le Statute de Quia emptores terrarum, ad fait feoffment de terte, a tener de son person, ceo ne serroit Tenure en Capite. Come est tenus 30. H. 8. Dier. 44. b. & ou les Tenant de vn auncient honor, come Berkhamsted teignoit del Roy en Capite, coment que le Roy graunt le dit honor al Prince, & a ses heires Royes D'engleterre, vncor le Prince n'avera le prerogative del Capite Tenure en cest Case, durant le vie del Roy. 21. Edw. 3. 41. b.

3 Nul Tenure create per subiect, coment que soit Tenure en gros de son person (car subiect poet aver Tenure en gros de son person 8. Henr. 4. 1. 19. Edw. 4. 9. 13. Eliz. Dier. 290. b.) poet per ascun possibility grow ou aspire d'estre vn Tenure en Capite del Roy. Et pur ceo, si le Prince, ou auter subiect create teil Tenure de son person, & apres est fait Roy, ceo ne devient Tenure en cheefe. Et si le Roy vient al Seigniory en gros per attainder d'un subiect de felony, ou per common Escheat, ou per discent, ou per purchase, le tenant ne tiendra de luy en Capite, mes come il teignoit devant 30. H. 8. Dier. 44. b. Issint si le Roy purchase vn Manor de que I. S. est tenant, si le Roy graūt le Mannor al auter reservant les services de I. S. ore I. S. tient del person del Roy, car les services sont en gros, vncor il ne tiendra en Capite. 29. Henr. 8. Br. Tenures 61 & Br. Liuery 57. Et le Case 17. Eliz. Dier. 345. a. semble plus [Page] sort que le case en question. Car la fuit trove devant l'escheator de Carnaruan, que certein terre en Gales fuit auncientment tenus del Prince de Gales, per le service de alex en guerre del Prince, ales charges del Prince, & que vn Owen ap Dauid teignoit la dit terre del Royne Elizabeth come de sa principality de Gales en Capite: vncor fuit tenus per counsell del Court de Wards nul Tenure en Capite. vid. le Statut de Magna Charta cap. 32. & le liver de 28. Henr. 6. fol. 11. b. a cest purpose.

Mes d'auter part fuit argue per le Counsell del Roy, & resolve per Sir Io. Denham cheefe Baron & tout le Court, que cest Tenure, come ceo est trove, est Tenure del Roy in Capite. Et en l'argument de cest point plus alarge 2. choses fueront principalment consider, 1. le Originall, & nature de county Palatine, 2. le nature & quality del Tenure in Capite.

Et pur le primer, fuit primerment observe, que Comes [...]u Countee, est vn noime ou title del honor, & dicitur á comitando, vel sequendo Principem: & ceux persons queux fueront advance a cest title fueront Summi Proceres, & á Rege proximi, come Cassaneus in Catologo gloriae Mundi dit. Et cest nosme ou title de honor fuit ab initio accompaine ove vn honorable Office. Car cesty que fuit Comes ad vnterritory assigne a luy, pur garder & governer, que fuit appell Comitatus. Cest title ne commenceoit destre frequent, tanque le declination del Roman Impire, cestascavoir en le temps del Charlemaine, que ordaine & institute divers countees in Germany, Italy, & Fraunce, & done a eux non solement vn absolute commaund in Martiall affaires deins lour severall territories, mes auxi ordinary Iurisdiction in Ciuill & Criminall causes: & pur ceo est dit en le Imperiall law, Quod Comes est iudex ordinarius, & Graue en Dutch, signifie vn Idge, cybien que vn Earle.

Mes ceux Countees ne fueront touts de equall degree: car fueront de 2. sorts, viz. Comites simplices, & Comites Palatini, ou del primer & second order. Car coment que Comites simplices avoient tiel commaund & Irisdiction, come avant est monstre, vncor Comites Palatini, fueront de plus hault Ranck, & avoent divers Royall Francheses & priviledges, que ne fueront graunts al simple countees. [Page 60] Cest nosme & office de Countee fuit introduce en Engletere hors del Cermany, per les Saxons long temps devant le Norman Conquest. Mittons Case 4. Cooke 34. & le Record de Dome [...]day prove ceo, que fait mention de severall countyes en Engleterre. Mes le primer county Palatine, viz. le County Palatine de Chester fuit erect en temps de Will. le Conqueror. Cambden. 464.

Pur le nosme del Countee en nostre ley, certes, ceo est le plus auncient nosme de dignity & honor, & devant le tēps del Edw. 3. fuit le sole nosme de dignity & honor en Engleterre. Car le nosme & title de Duke, Marques, & Vicount sont de puisne temps. Car le primer Duke fuit create en temps Edw. 3. le primer Marques en temps R. 2. & le primer Viscount en temps Henr. 6. & le nosme ou title de Baron, nest nosme de dignity ne addition. 8. Henr. 6. 10. a. le Seignior Louels Case. Mes Countee est parcell del nosme, & del substance del nosme, & si soit omitt en breefe, le breefe abatera 39. Edw. 3. 35. le Case del Gilbert Vmfreuill Countee de Angus, & 14. Edw. 3. Breefe 278. le Case de Hugh de Audelay Countee de Glocester. Et cest title de Countee est instar cognominis, & ne besoigne de vser auter surnosme, come si action soit port vers Io. Countee de Oxford, sans auter surnosme est sufficient 7. Henr. 6. 27. 12. Edw. 3. Breefe 454. Auxi cest title nest merge ou confounded per title de Duke, car si Countee soit fait Duke pendant le breefe, ceo ne abatera le breefe. Come ou le Countee de Lancaster fuit fait Duke de Lancaster 25. Edw. 3. 39. breefe. 409. issint ou action fuit port vers countee de Richmound, il plead que il fuit Duke de Brittaine, & non allocatur 11. Edw. 3. Br. 473.

Pur l'office, del simple ou Ordinary Countee per nostre ley, il avoit custodiam comitatus, & authority de raiser, posse comitatus, a suppresser rebellions, & riotts, &c. que fuit vn Martiall commaund: il avoit auxi Iurisdiction, in ciuill & criminall causes, & a cest entent, il avoit 2. Courts 1. son Turne ou view pur criminall causes 2. le county court pur civill causes. Le primer fuit le Court del Roy, car pleas del Corone ne poent estre tenus en ascun Court forsque en Court del Roy: le second fuit le Court del coū tee mesme, & pur ceo est appell le County Court: mes pur ceo que il fuit auxi immediate officer al Court del Roy, pur [Page] fair execution del breefes del Roy, & le Comes ou counted mesme comitabatur Principem, & fuit pur le plus part attendant sur luy, ou en son Counsell, du en ses guerres, le Roy fesoit vn Lientenant ou Deputy a luy, come Fineux dit, 12. Henr. 7. 17. b. cestascavoir le Vicount, que ore execute mesme l'office en touts points. Et est destre note, que en touts counties que sont simple counties, & subiect al ordinary Irisdiction del Courts del Roy, le Roy mesme fait le Vicount: mes deins counties Palatine, ou le countee ad iura regalia, le countee mesme, & nemi le Roy fait le Vicount 12. Henr. 7. 17. & 18. & 4. Cooke 33. Mittons case. 22. Edw. 4. 22. Et tout ceo fuit note sur l'Originall del countee in generall & sur le nosme & office del Ordinary countee.

PUr l'originall, nosme, & prerogatiue del Countee Palatine que fuit vn extraordinarie coūtee: 1. fuit noate & observe, que fuit appell Palatinus, vel Comes Palatij pur ceo que il fuit theife officer & Coūsellor en le Pallace del Emperour, & est dit que il ne fuit solement companion del person del Prince, mes comes curarum. Par extans curis, solo diademate dispar: & pur cest reason, le Prince communcate a luy plusors de ses Roiall prerogatives. 2. fuit observe, que cest honor de coū ty Palatine fuit primerment institute per l'Emperour, apres que le Empire fuit translate al Germany. Et pur ceo les Doctors del Imperiall ley teignont, Quod solus Princeps, qui est Monarcha & Imperator in regno suo, ex plenitudine potestatis, potest creare Comitem Palatinum. Baldus titul, Rescript. 6. de precibus Imperatori offerendis.

FUit auxi resolve, que accordant a cest rule, le Roy del Engleterre poet bien creater vn countee Palatine: car il est Monarcha & Imperator in regno suo: come est apparant per plusors recordes, & Idgementes en Parliament.

En le Preface del Seignior Cooke al quart part de ses Reports, vn auncient Charter del Roy Edgar que rerire le stile del Roy, est tiel, Ego Edgarus Anglorum Basileus, omnium Insularum Oceani quae Brittaniam circumiacent, cunctarumque nationum, quae infra eam includuntur, Imperator & Dominus, &c.

[Page 61] Et a cest entent Matth. Paris. in historia maiori fol. 17. a. dit que quant vn difference surdoit perenter le Roy William Rufus, & Anselme Archevesque de Canterbury touchant le Irisdiction del Pape en Engleterre, Rex Willielmus allegauit, quod spectabat ad officium Imperatoris, quem vellet Papam eligere, & ob candem rationem, quod nullus Archiepiscopus vel Episcopus regni sui Curiae Romanae vel Papae subesset, praecipuè cum ipse omnes libertates haberet in regno suo, quas Imperator vindicabat in Imperio.

Per l'estatute de 28. Henr. 8. cap. 2. enact en cest Realme, est declare, que les Royes de Engleterre, are lawfull Kinges and Emperours of the said Realme of England, and of this land of Ireland.

Issint per l'act de 16. R. 2. cap. 5. communement appell le Statute de Praemunire est auxi declare, That the Crowne of England hath euer bin so free, as that it hath bin subiect to none, but immediatly vnto God; & per le Statute de 25. H. 8. enact en Engleterre & establish en cest Realme 28. Henr. 8. cap. 20. ou est recite que les Realmes d'Engleterre & de Ireland, recognising no Superior vnder God, but onely the King, haue bin and yet are free from subiection to any mans lawes, but onely to such, as haue bin made and ordained within the faid Realmes, &c.

Darrainment, la Corone D'engleterre en plusors auters acts de Parliament, est appell Imperiall Crowne, & la Corone de Ireland est appendant a ceo 28. Henr. 8. cap. 20. & vnite & knitt al Imperiall Corone D'engleterre 33. H. 1. cap. 1. Car coment que Brittany fuit vnfoits subiect al Empyre de Rome, que Ireland ne fuit vnques, vncor ceo fuit abandon, & tout ousterment relinquish per le Emperour de Rome Anno Domini 428. & quant ceo fuit apres reduce al Monarchy, tiel Monarcha fuit, & vncor est, vn absolute Emperour: accordant a ceo que Cassaneus in Catologo gloriae Mundi, dit, Reges absoluti habent Imperium, & dici possunt Imperatores. Et il cite le text 1. Regum cap. 8. Hoc erit ius Regis qui imperaturus est vobis, auxi il dit, Rex Angliae est absolutus Monarcha in Regno suo. Et pur ceo le Roy D'engleterre esteant vn Emperout deins ses Dominions, poet accordant al rule avantdit, creare Comitem Palatinum.

[Page] Et sicome le Roy D'engleterre ad absolute power de creater countee Palatine, issint il ad create plusors countees Palatines en ambideux Realmes. 1. En Engleterre, le countee Palatine de Chester suit create en temps del Williain le Conquerour. Camden fol. 464. Et Matth. Paris histor. magn. 406. appell le countee de Chester Comes Palati [...]. 2. le county Palatine de Durham, qui statim á tempore conquestus comitatus Palatinus iudicatus est, Camden fol. 600. Mes le common opinion est, que R. 1. create l'Evesque Pudsey le primer countee Palatine de Durham. 3. le county Palatine de Lancaster, que fuit erect en temps Edw. 3. Plow. Comment. 215. b. Et ceux 3. counties tantsolement ont estre counties Palatines en Engleterre. Lar Ely, coment que fuit vn liberty d'aver conusans de touts causes secular, graunt per le Roy Edgar appell Saint Etheldreds liberty, ne fuit vnques county Palatine: & les Seigniors Marchers, sur les Marches de Gales, coment que ils avoent Roiall Seigniories en lour severall Territories 19. Henr. 6. 12. & 152. 11. Henr. 4. 40. vncor nul d'eux avoit touts les priviledges del countee Palatine.

En Ireland 3. Palatinates fueront create en temps H. 2. le primer en Leinster, que fuit graunt al county Strongbow per tout cest Province: le second en Meth, graunt al Sir Hugh de Lacy l'eigne: le 3. en Vlster, graunt al Sir Hugh de Lacy le puisne. Mes apres quant William le Marshall D'engleterre, aiant marrie le file & heire de Strongbow, ad issue 5. fitz & 5. files, & le. 5. sitz esteant morts sans issue, le Seigniory de Leinster discendoit a les 5. files, sur partition fait enter eux, chescun ad entire county allott a luy viz. le county de Catherlogh fuit allott al eigne, le coū ty de Wexford al second, le county de Kilkenny al tierce, le county de Kildare al quart, le Territory de Leix, que est ore le Queenes county, al cinquesme: & sur ceo chescun de eux, ad vn severall county Palatine, & touts les liberties & prerogatives en sa severall purparty, come Strongbow & le Marshall, avoent en l'entier Seigniory de Leinster. Come si 3. parceners sont d'un Mannor, queux font partition, chescun d'eux avera Mannor & court Baron deins sa purparty 26. Henr. 8. 4. Ily avoit auxi certeyn Roiall liberty deins le county de Kerry & Desmond graunt [Page 62] per Edw. 1. al Thomas fitz Anthony: & autiel en county de Typperary graunt al countee de Ormound per Edw. 3. que solement continue a cest iour, ou touts les auters sont resume ou extinguish.

AUxi chescun countee Palatine create per le Roy D'engleterre, est Seignior del vn entier county, & ad en ceo iura regalia, quae iura regalia consistont en 2. principall points, viz. en Royall iurisdiction, & en Royall Seigniory. Per reason de son Royall iurisdiction, il ad touts les hault Courts, & Officers de Iustice, que le Roy ad: & per reason de son Royall Seigniory, il ad touts les Royall seruices, & Royall Escheats que le Roy ad: & pur ceo cest county est meerement disioine, & seperate del Lorone, come est dit en le Case del Dutchy Plow. 215. b. Issint que nul breefe del Roy courge la, forsque breefe de Error, que esteāt le dernier ressort & appeall, est solement except hors de touts lour Charters. 15. Eliz. Diet. 321. & 345. & 34. Henr. 6. 42. Issint en Ireland, que est realme aperluy, erroneous Idgement done en le cheefe place la, serra revers en Banke le Roy en Engleterre. Et Bracton lib. 3. titul. de Corona cap. 8. dit, que Comites Palatini regalem habent potestatem in omnibus, saluo Dominio domino Regi sicut Principi.

Le Royall iurisdiction de countee Palatine app [...]e [...]t en l [...] Charter del Edw. 3. graunt per authority de Parliament per que le Palatinate de Lancaster est erect: ou le Roy graunt al Iohn de G. Duke de Lancaster, quod habeat infra comitatum Lancastriae Cancellariam suam, ac breuia sua, sub sigillo suo pro officio Cancellariae deputando, consignanda: Iustitiarios suos tam ad placita Coronae, quam ad quaecunque alia placita communem legem tangentia tenend. ac cognitiones corundem, & quascunque executiones per breuia sua & ministros suos ibidem faciend. & quaecunque alia libertates & iura regalia ad comitatum Palatinum pertinentia, adeò liberé & intogré, sicut Comes Cestriae infra [...]undem comitatum Cestriae dignoscitur obtinere, &c. Lest Charter de Lancaster ad relation al Roiall liberties del county Palatine de Chester, que avoit mesme les Courts & iurisdiction, coment que le Charter del Wil. le Conquerour que fait Hugh Lupus le primer countee de Chester, soit generall, viz. d'aver & tene [...] [Page] tout cest county a luy & a cest heires, ita liberè ad gladium sicut ipse Rex tenebat Angliam ad Coronam. Leit auncient graunt, per auncient allowance done touts les liberties & prerogatives del county Palatine [...] issint le countee ad Royall Irisdiction la, coment que les Courts del hault Istice ne sont expresse en le dit Charter, & sur cest reason, come semble, est dit 12. E. 4. 16. que le countee Palatine de Lancaster fuit per Parliament tempore Ed. 3. mes Chester & Durham sont per prescription: mes ceo nest desire ente [...]d meerement per prescription, car nul Franches que se exaltat in praerogatiuam Regis, poet estre gaine per prescription, 1. Henr. 7. 23. b. Mes pur ceo que ti [...]l generall parols en ies auncient graunts per vsage & allowance douont royall Irisdiction, ou tiels graunts a cest iour ne passeront cy [...]ault liberties. 1. Henr. 7. 13. b. vid. lib. Intrac. 419. a. ou est plead que Chestor fuit county Palatine per prescription, & demurrer sur cest plea.

Mes que Chester & Durham sont counties Palatine, & ont touts les Courts de Istice, & mesme le Irisdiction Roiall, que est particularment graunt al Duke de Lancaster per le Charter del Edw. 3. est apparant per plusors authorities, Pur Chester 22. Edw. 4. Fitz Irisdiction 61. 34. Henr. 6. 42. 19. Edw. 3. Fitz Irisdiction 29. 15. Eliz. Dier. 321. a. b. Pur Durham 5. Edw. 3. 58. Fitz Irisdiction 30. ou est dit que le countee Palatine de Durham ad ses Istices & Chauncery demesne, 1. E. 4. 10. 45. Edw. 3. 17. 5. Edw. 2. Fitz Quare impedit 165. 12. Eliz. Dier. 288. per que est manifest que touts les countees Palatine en Engleterre avoent Royall Irisdiction deins lour Territories.

2 Ils avoent auxi vn Royall Seigniory, que consistoit en 2. points, 1. en Royall seruices. 2. en Royall Escheates. Quant al Royall seruices, il avoent power de creater Tenures en capite de eux mesmes, & auxi per graund s [...]rianty: car ils avoent power de creater Barons: come le primer countee de Chester immediatment sur son creation substituit Barones viz. le Baron de Haulton, le Baron de Malbank, le Baron de Malpas, le Baron de Kindreton, &c. Camden Cheshire 464. & issint les auters Palatines avoent tiels Barons deins lour counties, come le Baron de Walton en Lancaster, & le Baron Hilton en le Bishoprick. Et chescun Barony est tenus [Page 63] per graund Serianty. 2. Cooke, le Seignior Crownwells Case 81. a. & cest capite Tenure del county Palatine est accompany ove les prerogatives, que sont incident al Tenure en capite del Roy: car le heire suera liuerie hors del Chauncery del Seignior, & [...] enter devant liuery, il serra adiudge intrudor, & rendra [...] meane profits, &c. Et auxi pai [...]ra [...] pur alienation. 14. Henr. 4. fol. 5. & 6. & 26. Henr. 8. 9. De terre tenus deins le county de Lancaster liuerie serra sue, car le Duke la, ad iura regalia. 28. Henr. 8. Br. titul. Liuery 55. liuerie serra de terre en le county de Lancaster parcel del Dutchy, contra de terres hors del county. 13. Eliz. Dier. fol. 303. a. Office trove per commission hors del Chauncery al Westminster, del terre tenus in capite del county Palatine de Chester, est void: Mes serra trove per commission hors del Chauncery in l'Eschequer la, 19. Eliz. Dier. 359. b. Iames Manley tenuit de Arthuro Principe vt Comite Cestriae, & avoit liuery fait a luy, que fuit imperfect & void en ley, per que il enter, & fuit tenus intrudor sur possession del Roy, apres le mort de Prince Arthure.

Quant al Royall Escheates, le countee Palatine avoit les Escheats de Treasons, que le Roy per son prerogative avera, de terres tenus de touts auters Seigniors: mes ceo est destre entend des Treasons que fueront al temps quant le countee Palatine fuit erect, & nemi de novell treasons per Act de Parliament apres. 12. Elizab. Dier. 288. b. 289. a.

Et sicome chescun countee Palatine en Engleterre avoit tiel Royall iurisdiction, & tiel Royall Seigniory come appiert per les authorities devant mises: Issint chescun county Palatine en Ireland, avoit mesme les prerogatives, come appiert per plusors records de cest Realme.

PUr le Seigniory de Leinster, dont le county de Wexford fuit parcell, le countee Strongbow aiant gaine ceo cibien per conquest, que per marriage del [...] & heire de Mac Morough Prince de Leinster, surrender tout le dit Territory al Roy Henr. 2. & reprist graunt del Roy de tout que il ad surrender, forsque del Litty de Dublin cum cantredis adiacentibus, ac Villis maritimis & Castris: de quel surrender & graunt, Giraldus Cambrensis fait mention, [Page] libro primo de Hybernia expugnata cap. 28. Et coment que cest Originall graunt nest trove de Record icy, vncor est manifest per plusors Records, que William le Marshall countee de Penbroke que marioit la file & heire de Strongbow, & ses 5. fitz successivement, & apres ses 5. files Coperceners en lour severall purparties de cest graund Seigniory avoent iura regalia cibien en point de iurisdiction, queen point de Seigniory.

Le Charter de Callan vn vill en le county de Kilkenny dat. 20. Martij 40. Edw. 3. prove ceo expressment, que fuit monstre avant, en cest forme, Lionellus dux Clarentiae, Radulphus Comes Stafford, & Anna la Dispenser domini libertatis de Kilkenny, omnibus ad quos praesentes literae peruenerint salutem. Inspeximus chartam Will Mareschalli comitis Pē broke domini Lageniae Burgensibus villae de Callan, non rasam, non abolitam, nec in aliquo viciatam, sub hac forma, viz. Sciatis quod ego Willielmus Mareschallus Comes Pen broke, &c. concessi Burgensibus meis de Callan, omnimodas libertates quas decet Burgenses habere, & mihi licet conferre, viz. quod nullus Burgensis, trahatur in causam, vel respondeat de vllo placito, quod proueniat infra metas Burgi, in Castello, vel alibi, nisi in Hundredo villae, exceptis placitis quae sunt de hominibus hospiti [...] mei: concessi etiam eisdem Burgensibus matrimonium contrahere sibi & filijs, & filiabus, & viduis, sine licentia dominorum suorum, nisi forté forinseca tenementa tenuerint de me in Capite extra Burgum, &c.

Auxi le Charter de noua Rosse aliás Rossepontis en le county de Wexford graunt al dit vill per Roger le Bigod countee de Northfolke, que marriot la file eigne del William le Marshall, ad mesme les clauses, come appiert per l'enrolment de ceo en le Chauncery icy. Et ceux Charters fueront monstres a prover que le Seignior de Leinster avoit Tenures en capite, & per consequens vn Royall Seigniory deins cest Territory.

Et a prover auxi que il avoit Royall iurisdiction que est auter marke de county Palatine 2. auters Charters fuerōt produce 1. fuit inspeximus portant date 1. Henr. 4. en tiel forme, Inspeximus quasdam libertates vsus & consuetudines per Burgenses villae de Kilkenny in eadem villa habitos & vsitatos, ac inter caeteras libertates, ijs per chartas Willielmi Mareschalli [Page 64] quondam Comitis Pembroke concessas, & sub magno sigillo, quo Domini libertatis regalis de Kilkenny in Cancellaria sua ibidem dudum vtebantur consignatas, & coram nobis in Cancellaria nostra ostensas in haec verba, &c. per que appiert, que il avoit hault Court de Chauncery, & graund Seale, que est vn certeine argument, que il avoit iurisdiction Royall, en touts auters points, come les countees Palatines en Engleterre.

Et a cest entent fuit auxi monstre le Charter de foundation del Abbey de Dusque, en mesme le county de Kilkenny, per que le dit William le Marshall ad done al dit meason divers Francheses & liberties, Et quod habeant sibi omnimodam forisfacturam hominum suorum: sola iustitia vitae & membrorum mihi & haeredibus meis retenta. queux parols monstront que il avoit power de exerciser hault iustice en capitalls causes, ou pleas del Corone, que est auter manifest proofe de Royall iurisdiction.

Et coment que ceux records parlont tantsolement del county de Kilkenny, vncor est bien prove per eux, que le Seignior de Leinster ad mesme les prerogatives en le county de Wexford, car il avoit forsque vn entier Palatinate per tout le Territorie de Leinster, dont Wexford est parcell, tanque le partition avantdit fuit fait.

Mes a prover expressment, que le Seignior de Wexford, apres le partition fait, avoit iura regalia deins cest county, le Statute de Absentees 28. Henr. 8. cap. 3. fuit monstre, per que le Seigniory de Catherlogh, que fuit l'enheritance del Duke de Northfolke, & le Seigniory de Wexford que fuit l'enheritance del countee de Salop, fueront resume, & vest en la Corone: car en le preamble del act est recite, que les dit Seigniors en dits severall counties avoent power de tener touts manner de pleas, issint que les breefes del Roy ne courgeont pas la, & en le corps del act, touts counties Palatine & Royall iurisdictions sont per expresse parols resume. Et vn auter act fait en mesme le Parliament de 28. Henr. 8. cap. 24. nient printed, fuit auxi produce, per que le Royall liberty de Wexford esteant extinct per le dit act de Absentees, fuit revive en touts points, forsque en le power de graunter pardons, & ove prouiso, que serra loiall al Istices de common Banke al [Page] Dublin de tener plea sur breefe d'entry en le post, & accepcepter conusans des fines des ascuns terres deins le county de Wexford. Et plusors auters recordes fueront monsire avant, per que fuit manifest, que Wexford fuit vn absolute county Palatine, & per consequens le Seignior la avoet cibien vn Royall Seigniory, que vn Royall Iurisdiction. vid. les Plea Rolles del Eschequer 3. Edw. 3. in Breminghams Tower, ou Adam le Rous & sa feme pleadont licence de alienation de terres tenus de Seignior de Wexford, quant le dit Seigniory fuit en mains del Roy. vid. auxi in Archiu. Turris London le liuery fait al Laurence Hastinges countee de Pembroke & Seignior de Wexford de touts ses terres en cest Realme, en que son countee Palatine & iura regalia sont speciallment expresse & mention.

ET a prover cest point plus pleinment, divers auters recordes fueront monstres, per queux fuit manifest que les auters countees Palatine avant mention en cest Realme av [...]ent mesme les prerogatives del Seigniory & Iurisdiction Royall, 1. Come le Seigniory de Meth, que coment que fuit graunt per Henr. 2. al Sir Hugh de Lacy en generall parols en cest forme, viz. Henricus Rex, &c. Sciatis me dedisse & concessisse Hugoni de Lacy pro seruitio suo terram de Midia, cum omnibus pertinentijs suis, pe [...] seruitia quinquaginta militum sibi & haeredibus suis, tenend. & habendum á me & haeredibus meis sicut Murchardus O Melaghlin (que fuit le Irish Roy de Meth devant le conquest) eam tenuit, vel aliquis alius ante illum, vel postea. Quare volo & firmiter praecipio, quod ipse Hugo & haeredes sui post cum iufra praedictam terram habeant omnes libertates & liberas consuetudines quas ibi habeo, vel illi dare possum, &c. quel Charter fuit enroll en le Court del common pleas 1. E. 2. al petition de Geff. de Geneuill, que avoit marie vn des coparceners de cest territory, & est ore trove enter les Recordes de Breminghams Tower. Uncor les Seigniors de cest Territory, tantque cest Seigniory discendoit al Roy Edw. 4. ont en iura regalia la, come le countee Palatine de Chester, que avoit auxi son Palatinate graunt a luy per generall parols, come devant est monsire, cibien en point de Seigniory, que en point de Iurisdiction.

[Page 65] Et a prover ceo le Charter de Geff. de Geneuill avantdic facta magnatibus suis Midiae, fuit monstre, esteant registred en le Lidger Booke de Tristernagh en ceux parols. Sciant praesentes & futuri quod ego G. de Geneuill, auditis & intellectis chartis & munumentis magnatum meorum Midiae, & antecessorum suorum, ipsorum, viz. qui cum Hugone de Lacy seniore ad conquestum suum primo venerunt in Hyberniam similiter & eorum qui de Waltero de Lacy filio & haerede dicti Hugonis sunt feoffati, per assensum & consensum Matildae de Lacy vxoris meae, concessi & hac praesenti charta confirmaui pro me & praedicta Matilda & haeredibus praedictae Matildae, magnatibus supradictis & haeredibus eorum, placitum Namij vetiti de omnibus tenentibus in eorum terris, in curijs suis terminare, & si per aliquem dictorum magnatum placitum de vetito Nauio moueatur per querelam alterius magnatis, qui de nobis tenet in capite, in Curia mea, vel praedictae Matildae vel haeredum praedictae Matildae huiusmodi placitum ibidem terminetur: praeterea si in terris dictorum magnatum Hutesium leuari contingat, vel clamor, Vicecomes de Trim inquisitionem capiat, vtrum tales transgressiones spectant ad Coronam vel non, & si transgressiones illae spectant ad Coronam in Curia mea vel dictae Matildae vel haeredum dictae Matildae omnino terminentur, & si non spectant ad Coronam in ipsorum Curijs terminentur in quorum tenementis oriuntur. Cest Charter prove ambideux points, scilicet le Roiall iurisdiction, & le Roiall Seigniory: car appiert pet ceo que le Seignior de Meth avoet power de determine touts pleas del Corone, que est principall point de iurisdiction Roiall, & que il ad auxi Tenures en capite, & magnates, deins son Territorie, queux magnates sont tiels Barons come le countee de Chester ad create deins son county Palatine come est avantdit. Et pur ceo plusors gentlehomes cybien en Meth que en auters Territories, queux avoent tiels Royall liberties, avoent le title de Barons, come le Baron de Skreene, le Baron de Nauan, le Baron de Galtrim en Meth: le Baron de le Narow, & le Baron de Rhebane in Kildare: le Baron de Idrone in Catherlogh: le Baron de Burnchurch in Kilkenny: le Baron de Neuill in Wexford: le Baron de Loughmo in Typperary: le Baron Misset & le Baron Sauage in Vlster.

[Page] Et pur ceo, tout temps depuis que cest Seigniory de Meth deveignoit al Corone per discent al Edw. 4. c [...]o ad estre tenus come vn certein ley en l'Eschequer i [...]y, viz. que si trove soit per office que ascun terre deins le county de Meth soit tenus del Roy come de son Mannor de Trim per regale seruitium, que ceo est vn Tenure en capite, & [...]out [...]oitz liueries ont estre sue de tiels terres: come appiert per innumerable records de cest Court, pur ceo que cest regale seruitium fuit Tenure en capite del Seignior de Meth quant le county Palatine fuit en Esse la.

Et ouster ceo, a prover le Royall iurisdiction del Seignior de Meth, vn record fuit monstre del tout le proceeding en Assisse de novell disseisin port per Iohn countee de Salop versus Willielmum Nugent & sa feme, pur certeine terres en Moyrath: per quel record appiert, que Anno. 25▪ H. 6. Rich. Duke de Yorke adonques Seignior de cest liberty, grauntoit le commission de prender cest Assisse, desouth le teste de son Seneschall en cest forme: Richardus dux Eborum, Comes Marchiae, & Vltoniae, dominus de Wigmore, Clare, Trim, & Connaght, dilectis & fidelibus suis Willielmo Boys iustitiatio suo ad placita coram Seneschallo suo libertatis suae Midiae, Richardo Bath milit. Edwardo Somerton armigero, Willielmo Sutton armigero, & Roberto de la Feild armigero salutem. Sciatis quod constituimus vos iustitiarios nostros, vna cum ijs quos vobis associauerimus, ad Assisam nouae disseisiuae capiendam, quam Iohannes Talbot Comes Salopiae arraniauit coram vobis, per breue nostrum versus Willielmum Nugent armigerum & Ioannam vxorem eius, de tenementis en Moyrath, &c. Ideo vobis mandamus, quod ad certos diem & locum quos ad hoc prouideritis, assisam illam capiatis, facturi inde quod ad iustitiam pertinet, secundum legem & confuetudinem libertatis nostrae praedictae. Saluis nobis amerciamentis inde prouenientibus. Mandamus etiam Vicecomiti nostro libertatis nostrae praedictae, &c.

Per quel record, & infinite auters de mesme le nature, trove en chesc [...]n Court de record al Dublin, est manifest, que le Seignior de Meth fuit vn County Palatine, & ad ius regale en point de Irisdiction.

Ouster ceo, tout le Territory de Vlster fuit vn county Palatine, & avoit touts les prerogatives avantdit, tant [Page 66] que ceo discendoit al Roy Edw. 4. & a prover ceo vn record hors del Breminghams: Tower fuit produce que remaine enter les common plea Rolles la. 3, Edw. 2. membr. 26. ou cest entry est fait. Hugo de Lacy quondam Comes Vltoniae tenuit totam Vltoniam, exemptam & seperatam á quolibet comitatu &c. Et placitauit in Curia sua omnia placita quae ad Iustitiarios, & Vicecomitem pertinent, & habuit propriam Cancellariam, absque hoc quod reciperet returna alicuius Vicecomitis.

Darraimment, le Royall liberty de Kildare avoit continuance tantque l'attainder del Gerald countee de Kildare, per act de Parliament. 28. Henr. 8. cap. 1. Mes apres quant son fitz fuit restore a son auncient enheritance per letters patents dated. 1. Maij. 1. & 2. Philip. & Mar. coment que touts liberties, priviledges, honors, Irisdictions, conusans de pleas, &c. fueront regraunt a luy, vncor cest speciall exception fuit fait. Magna Curia de recordo; & libertate Comitatus de Kildare tantummodo exceptis. Leux records & auters a mesme le entent fueront monstres avant a prover le Royall iurisdiction & les Royall Seigniories des countees Palatines en Ireland: queux recordes sont les sole authorities queux avomus icy, comēt la ley ad estre prise avant ceux heures, en cest realme: Lar devant cest temps nul Reportes ont estre fait & preserve des cases argues adiudge icy, come ad estre vse en Engleterre.

Et issint sur consideration del nature de county Palatine, & des prerogatives incident a ceo, fuit resolve, que tiel countee aboit vn Royall Seigniory [...]ybien en Ireland, que [...]n Engleterre, & que tiel Royall Seignior poet bien aver vn Tenure en capite de son person.

SEcondment, sur consideration del nature & quality del Tenure en capite del Roy, fuit argue & resolve, que cest Tenure en question, que fuit del person del countee Palatine de Wexford, esteant vest en la Corone per act de Parliament, serra ore vn Tenure en capite del Roy.

Lar coment que fuit agree, que Tenure en capite est properment del person del Roy, ou del Corone del Roy immediatment, pur ceo que le service incident a cest Tenure [Page] fuit primerment ordeine pur le defence del person del Roy, & sa Corone, & issint est properment vn Tenure en grosse, & memi del honor ou del Mannor. N. Br. fol. 5. k. Et coment que cest Tenure ne poet estre create per vn subiect, esteāt meerement en condition d'un subiect, car le Prince le sitz [...]igne del Roy ne poet creater Tenure en capite. 30. Henr. 8. Dier. 44. b. Uncor, [...]come le Roy per annexing del honor ou Mannor al Corone, done a ceo tiel prerogative que ses Tenants de cest honor ou mannor teignont de luy in capite, come le honor de Raliegh, que fuit annex al Corone. 11. Henr. 7. 33. Henr. 8. Br. Tenures. 94. Et issint fuit le honor de Berkhamsteed en auncient temps, devant ceo que fuit annex al Duchy de Cornewall. 21. Edw. 3. 41. & [...]n cest Realme le mannor de Trim est auxi annex al Corone, come appiert per l'estatute 10. Henr. 7. cap. 15.

En mesme le manner le Roy, per exempting & seperating vn county, ou auter graund Territory del Corone, poet fair le Seigniory de ceo cy Royall & absolute, & issint qualifie le person del Seignior per communicating a luy ses Royall prerogatives, que les Tenures de son person serront Tenures en capite: & tiel Seigniory est chescun county Palatine, que esteant hors del ordinary Irisdiction de Corone, fait le Seignior [...]n cest respect, plus hault que vn ordinary subiect, & per consequens hors del Maxime ou Rule de nostre Ley: que vn subiect nest capable d'un Tenure en capite: Lar accordant al rule del Civill ley que est mise per Cassaneus in Catologo gloriae mundi, qui habent regale feodum sunt reguli quidam: & ove ceo come est devant expresse, Bracton agreea. libr. 3. titul. de Corona cap. 8. Comites Palatii regalem habent potestatem in omnibus, saluo Dominio domino Regi sicut Principi.

Fuit auxi resolve, que ne besoigne de necessity que chescun capite Tenure soit ab antiquo, nient obstant les parols de praerogatiua Regis cap. 1. que declare que le Roy avera primer seisin de ipsis qui tenent ab antiquo de Corona. Lar si le Roy a cest iour graunt terres, tenendum de luy sans expresser ascun service certeine, ceo est Tenure en capite de son person 29. Henr. 8. Br. liuery 57. Issint poet le Roy per expresse parols reserver Tenure per service de Chivale [...] de son person, que est auxi Tenure en capite.

[Page 67] Auxi nest vn generall rule sans exception, que nul Tenure create originalment per vn lubiect poet deveigner vn Tenure en capite. Car coment, que la ley soit issint come est tenus 30. Henr 8. Dier. 44. b. que s [...] mesnalty soit tenus del Roy in capite, & le Tenant tient del mesne pet service del Chivaler, si ceo mesnalty escheat per mort del mesne sans heire, le Tennant ne tiendra en capite del Roy, mes per service del Chivaler come devant: Issint si le Roy Purchase tiel mesnalty, ou ad tiel mesnalty per discent: Uncor ou le mesnalty est tenus del Roy in capite, & le tenancy vient en lieu del mesnalty per l'act del tenant, il tiendra, come le mesne teignoit, en capite. 19. Eliz. Dier. 349. Seignior, mesne, & tenant, le Roy est Seignior, le mesne tient del Roy in capite, & le tenant tient de luy in Socage, si le Tenant obtaine releas del mesne, ou foriudge le mesne, il ore tiendra en capite: Car volenti non fit iuiuria. Et serroit iniurious al Roy, sil perdroit son Tenure en capite per [...]'act del Tenant, & averoit en lieu de ceo tant solement vn Tenure en Socage.

Darrainment, vn manifest difference fuit mise enter le Case de Principality de Gales. 17. Eliz. 345. a. & cest Case de county Palatine. Car ou devant le subiection de Gales al Corone D'engleterre, home teignoit terre del Prince de Gales per service de al [...]r en son guerre, ceo ne fuit Tenure dont la common ley poet prender notice: Car cest Principality de Gales ne fuit gouerne per la common ley, mes fuit dominion aperluy, & avoit ses proper leyes & customes: & pur cest reason quant cest pais fuit reduce desouth le subiection del Corone D'engleterre, tiel Tenure que fuit del person de Prince de Gales, ne poet devenir vn capite Tenure del Roy D'engleterre: Mes chescun county Palatine cibien en Ireland, que en Engleterre, fuit originalment parcell del mesme le Realme, & derive del Corone, & fuit toutsfoits governe per la ley D'engleterre, & les terres la fueront tenus per services & tenures dont la common ley prist notice, coment que le Seignior avoit severall Irisdiction, & Seigniory seperate de la Corone: & pur ceo le Tenure en capite del countee Palatine, est de mesme le nature que le tenure en capite del Roy, & issint esteant devenus al Corone serra Tenure en cheefe del [Page] Roy, come ceo fuit devant del county Palatine: & le reason de cest difference appiert pleinment. 19. Henr. 6. fol. 12. Cest Case fuit argue per l'Atturney generall pur le Roy, & per Io▪ Meade & Edw. Fitz. Harris pur Prendergast.

[Page 68]

Pascae 9. Iacobi. En le Common Banke.
Le case de Commenda.

EN quare impedit port per le Roy vers Cyprian Horsefall & Robert Wale, sur speciall plea pleade per Wale l'encumbent, l'Atturney del Roy de [...]urre en ley: & sur ceo le Case en substance fuit [...]iel.

Le corporation de Kilkenny esteant patrons d'un Vicarage deins le Diocese de Ossory, ont present a ceo vn Patricke Fynne, que sur lour presentation fuit admitt, institute, & induct. Apres ceo, durant l'encumbency del dit Fynne, Adam Loftus Archeuesque de Dublin, & Ambrose Forth Doctor del Civill ley esteant Commissioners Delegates pur graunting de faculties & dispensations en cest Realme, accordant al statute de. 28. Henr. 8. cap. 20. per lour letters de Grace dat. 9. Octobr. 33. Elizab. grauntont al lo. Horssall adonques Evesque d'Ossory, que le dit Evesque vnum vel plura beneficia, curata, vel non curata, sui vel alieni iuris patronatus, non excedentia annuum valorem quadraginta librarum, adtunc vacantia, vel quae imposterum vacare contigerint, perpetuae Commendae titulo, adipisei, occupare, retinere, omnesque fructus ad familiae suae sustentationem conuertere possit, iuribus siue institutis quibuscunque in contrarium non obstantibus: quel faculty ou dispensation fuit apres confirme [Page] & ratifie per letters patents descuth le graund Scale de Ireland, accordant al dit Statute de 28. Henr. 8. cap. 20. Apres c [...]o, viz. 20. Maii. anno. 38. Eliz. Patricke Fynne l'incū [...]nt moru [...], per que le d [...]t Uicarage esteant void, & iss [...]nt continuant void per tempus semestre, per que l'Evesque ad title de collater a c [...]o p [...]r laps, le dit Evesque, per vertue del dit faculty ou dispensation, adeptus est, occupa [...]it, & retinuit le dit vicarage perpetuae Commendae titulo, & [...]rist les fruits de c [...]o a son vse, [...]usques al 13. iour de Febr. Anno Domini 1609. aquel iour le dit Ev [...]sque morust. Apres que mort, le dit Cyprian Horssall a [...]ant purchase le prochein avoidance de cest U [...]carage, prese [...]t le dit Wale, que fuit admit [...], institute & induc [...]: [...] a [...]res le [...]oy present vn Winch, que est [...]ant disturb per l [...] dit Hors [...]all & Wale, le Roy port Quare impedit.

Et si le dit Evesque, quant il ad obtaine & occupie cest Uicarage per vertue de cest faculty o [...] dispensation, fuit fait per ceo perfect incumbent de ceo, issint que l'Es [...]lise esteant p [...]in de luy, nul t [...]t [...]e per laps puisto [...] devolver al Roy durant le v [...]e del Eveique, fuit le principall point move & debate en cest Case.

Et [...]n l'argument de cest point (que fuit argue al Barre prim [...]rment per le counsell al common ley, & apres per 2. advocates b [...]n aprise [...]n le Canon ley, & al B [...]nch per touts les Istices, 2. choses fuero [...]t principalment consider p [...]r ceux queux arguont pur le Clarke del Roy.

1 [...] Evesque puissoit, per ascun ley, aver & tener cest benifice sans t [...]el dispensation ou faculty.
2 Quel effect ou operation cest faculty ou dispensation avera per la ley.

QUant al primer, ils teignont pur cleere ley, que vn Evesque, per l'auncient Ecclestasticall ley D'engleterre, ne puissoit tener vn auter benefice ove Cure deins son Diocese: & sil avoit tiel benefice dev [...]nt son promotion al Eveschery, que ceo devient void, quāt il est create [...]n Evesque. Et ceo est l'auncient ley D'engleterre, come est soventfoits dit en le case del Evesque de S. Dauids 11. Henr 4. & 41. Edw. 3. 5. b. accorde a ceo. Et le reason est, pur ceo que l'Evesque ne poet visiter luy mesme, & cesty [Page 69] que ad le office de Soueraigne, ne retiendra l'office de subiect, come Hankford d [...]t en le dit ease de. 11. Henr. 4. & su [...] cest reason est dit en. 5. E. 3. 9. que si Person soit f [...]it Deane, le personage devient void, pur ceo que dignity & benefice ne sont compatible. Auxi nul Ecclesiasticall person, per les auncient Canōs & Counsells, puissoit aver. 2. benefices ove cure simul & semel, mes le primer fuit void per le prisel del second: & ceo fuit l'auncient ley del Esglise vse en Engleterre long temps devant l'estatute de. 21. Henr. 8. que fuit fait en affirmance de cest auncient ley, come ap [...]ert en. Hollands case, en le 4. part des Reports de le Seignior Cooke: & ove ceo accordont les l [...]ers de. 24. Ed. 3. 33. 39. Edw. 3. 44. a. Et N. Br. 34. l. E [...] le text del Canon ley, que est le proper fountaine de cest learning, libr. Decretal. titul. de Praebendis & dignitatibus cap. de multa, prove ceo pleinment, ou est dit. De multa prouidentia fuit in Lateran [...]nsi Concilio prohibitum, vt nullus diuersas dignitates Ecclesiasticas, vel plures Ecclesias parochiales reciperet, contra Sanctorum Canonum instituta. Et quia veró propter praesumptiones & quorundam cupiditates, nullus hactenus, aut rarus de praedicto statuto fructus prouenit: nos euidentius & expressius occurrere cupientes, praesenti decreto statuimus, vt quicunque receperit aliquod beneficium curam habens animarum annexam, si prius tale beneficium habebat, eo sit ipso iure priuatus, & si forté illud retinere contenderit, etiam alio spolietur, &c. Circa sublimes tamen & literatas personas quae maioribus beneficijs sunt honorandae (cum ratio postulauerit) per Sedem Apostolicam poterit dispensari. Et ove ceo accord le Text in libr. Deeretorum causa 21. quaest. 1. in duabus Ecclesijs Clericus conscribi nullo modo potest. Et issint est apparant, que l'Evesque, per nul ley, poet aver ou retainer cest benefice deins son Diocese, sans Dispensation, que est relaxatio iuris, & permitt ceo destre fait, que la ley ad prohibit devant. 12. Henr. 8. 6. a.

SEcondment ils arguont, que le faculty ou dispensation avantdit graunt a [...] Evesque d'Ossory fuit void a touts entents: & si ceo prendroit effect v [...]cor ceo ne fait l'Evesque perfect encumbent de cest Vicarage, quant il prist & occupie ceo esteant void per vertue de cest faculty, mes que [Page] ceo continew void, issint que le Roy ad title a presente [...] p [...] laps. Et pur clearing de cest point. 1. l'originall & l'inconvenience de Dispensations & non obstantes tuit consider. 2. fuit enquire quant, & en quel manner le Canon ley de Rome fait introduce & admitt en les Dominions del Roy D'engleterre: & le quel le Roy ou le Pape puissoit de iure dispenser ove l'Ecclesiasticall ley en cest, & auters cases, devant le fe [...]ans de cest statute de faculties.

Et fuit dit, que le non obstante fuit invent & primerment vse en le Court del Rome pur que Ma [...]sil▪ Pat. pronounce vn vae envers la dit Court, pur introducing cest clause de Non obstante: que ad estre vn malveys precedent, & mischeevous al touts common weales de Christendome. Carles temporall Princes perceavant que le Pape dispensoit ove ses Canons, en imitation de luy, ont vse lour prerogative de dispenser ove lou [...] penall leyes & statutes, ou devant ils out cause lour leyes desire religiousment observe, come les leyes de Medes & Persians queux ne puissont estre dispensed with, come est dit le liver de Hester. vid. le Case de Penall statutes. 7. Coke fol. 36. b. Et pur ceo vn Canonist dit, Dispensatio est vulnus, quod vulnerat ius commune. Et vn auter du, que touts abuses ferront reforme, Si duo tantum verba, viz. Non obstante, non impedirent. Et Matth. Paris. in Anno Domini. 1246. aiant recite certein decrees fait en le Counfell de Lions queux fueront beneficiall pur l'Eglise D'engleterre, fed omnia haec, & alia, dit il, per hoc repagulum, Non obstante, infirmantur.

Et pur monstrer quant, & coment le Canon ley fuit introduce en Engleterre, & quel person de iure puissoi [...] dispenser ove l'Ecclesiasticall ley en cest case, devant le fesans del statut de faculties: [...]uit noate & observe, que apres que l'Euesque de Rome ad assume sur l [...]y des [...]re spirituall Prince ou Monarch de tout le Mounde, il ad attempt auxi de do [...]er leyes al touts nations, come vn Reall mark de son Monarchy. Mes il sachant bien quod vbi non est condendi authoritas, ibi non est parendi necessitas, ne unposeses leyes, al primes, peremptoriment sur touts gents fans distinction, mes offer eux timide & precario. Et pur ceo primerme [...]t il causast certeine rules des [...]re collect pur le government del Clergy tantum, queux il appell Decreta, [...] [Page 70] nemi leges vel statuta. Ceux Decrees fueront publish en l'an. 1150. que fuit durant le Raigne del Roy Stephen: & pur ceo ou le Seignior Cooke ad noate en le Preface al. 8. part de ses Reports, quod Rogorus Bacon, frater ille per quam eruditus, in libro de impedimentis sapientiae, dicit, Rex quidem Stephanus allatis legibus Italiae in Angliam publico edicto prohibuit, ne ab aliquo detinerent [...]r, fuit probablement coniecture, que ceo est destre entend de ceux Decrees, queux fueront adonques novelmēt compile & publish. Uncor ceux Decrees esteant receave & observe per le Clergy des Western Esglises tantum (car le East Church ne vnques receavoit ascuns de ses rules ou Canons. Kellawayes Rep. 7. Henr. 8. fol. 184.) l'Evesque de Rome attempt auxi de trahir le Liaty al obedience de ses ordinances per degrees: & a cest intent, primerment il propound certein rules ou ordinances pur abstinence ou iours de fasting, destre observe per le Laity cibien que per le Clergy, queux fueront sur le primer institution, appell per vn gentle parol, Rogationes, come Marsilius Pat. libr. Defensor. pacis. part. 2. cap. 23. ad observe, & inde come semble, le semaigne de abstinence prochein devant le feast de Penthecost fuit appell le Rogation weeke, cest temps de abstinence esteant appoint al comencement per tiel Ordinance que fuit appell Rogatio, & nemi praeceptum vol statutum. Quant les lay homes de lour devotion avoent receave & obey ceux ordinances d'abstinence, donques l'Euesque de Rome passoit ouste [...] (de vna praesumptione ad aliam transiuit Romanus Pontifex, come Marsil. Pat. la dit) & fesoit plusors rescripts, & orders, per nomen Decre [...]alium, queux fueront publish en l'An. 1230. que fuit Anno. 14. Henr. 3. aut eo circiter. vid. Matth. Paris histor. magn. 403. & ceux fueront fai [...] de lier tout le laytie, cybien Soueraigne Princes, come lour subiects, en tiels choses queux concernont lour civill & tēporall estates. Come que nul lay home averoit le donation del Ecclesiasticall benefice: que nul lay home marrioit deins certein degrees, ouster les degrees limitt per la Leuiticall ley: que touts enfants nees devant espousels serront adiudge apres les espousels legitimate, & capable de temporall enheritance: que touts Clerks serront exempt de secular power: & auters de mesine le nature.

[Page] Mes ceux Decretalls esteant publish ne fueront entirement & absolutement receave & obey en aicun part de Christendome, mes solement en le temporall Territory del Pape, que est appell per les Cano [...]isis, Patria obedientiae. Mes del auter part, plusors de ceux Canons fueront tout ousterment reiect & disobey en France, & Engleterre, & auters Christian Realmes, queux sont appell patriae consuetudinariae. Come, le Canon que prohibuit le donation des benefices per manum laicam, fuit toutsfoits disobey en France, en Engleterre, le realme de Naples, & divers auters Countries & Common-weales. Et le Canon de fairles enfan [...]s leg [...]timate, queux sont nees devant espousels, fui [...] specialment reiect en Engleterre, quant en le Parliament tenus al Merton▪ omnes Comites & Barones vna voco responderūt, nolumus leges Angliae mutari, quae huc vsque vsitatae sunt, &c. Et le Canon que exempt Clerks de secular power ne fuit vnques pleinment observe en ascun part de Christendome. Kellaway. 7 Henr. 8. 181. b. que est vn infallible argument, que ceux ordinances navoent lour force per ascun authority que le Court de Rome ad de imposer leyes sur touts nations sans [...]our consent: Mes per l'approbation & vsage del people, que ceux ad receave & vse. Car per mesine le reason que ils puisso [...]t [...] er vn Canon, ils puissont reiecter touts les auters. vid. Bodin. lib. 1. de Rep. cap. 8. on il dit, que les Royes de France, sur erection de [...]onts Universities la, [...]nt declare en lour Charters, que ils voylent receaver le profession del Ciuill & Canon leyes pur vser a lour discretion, & nemi desire oblige per ceux leyes.

Mes quant a ceux Canons queux fueront receave, accept, & vse en ascun Christian Realme ou common-weale, ceux, per tiel acceptation & vsage, ont obtaine le force de leyes en tiel particular Realme ou slate, & sont deveigne part des Ecclesiasticall leyes de tiel Nation. Et issint ceux que fueront embrace, allow, & vse en Engleterre fueront fait, per tiel allowance & vsage, part de les Ecclesiasticall leyes D'engleterre. Per que, l'interpretation, dispensation, ou execution de ceux Canons, esteant devenus leyes D'engleterre, apperteignoit solement al Roy D'engleterre & ses Magestrates, deins ses Dominions, & il [Page 71] & ses magistrates avoent sole Irisdiction en tiels cases, & l'Evesque de Rome n'ad [...]ien a fair en l'interpretation, dispensation, o [...] execution de ceux leyes en Engleterre, coment que fueront primerment devise en le Court de Rome. Nient plus que le cheefe Magesirate del Athens ou Lacedaemon puissoit claimer Irisdiction en l'auncient Citty de Rome, pur ceo que les leyes de les. 12. Tables fueront apprompt & import de ceux Cittyes de Greece. Et nient plus que le Maister del New Colledge en Oxford avera commaund ou Irisdiction en le Kings Colledge de Cambridge, pur ceo que les private statutes per que le Kings Colledge est govern, fueront, pur le plus part, borrow & prise hors del liver de foundation del New Colledge en Oxford. Et certes per cest reason, l'Emperour puissoit claimer Irisdiction en Maritime causes deins les Dominions del Roy D'engleterre, pur ceo que nous avomus, de long temps, receave & admitt l'imperiall ley pur le determination de tiels causes. vid. Cawdreys Case en le 5. part. des Reports dele Seignior Cooke: & Kellawayes Reports. 184. a.

Uncor l'Evesque de Rome perceavant que plusors de ses Canons fueront receave & vse per divers nations de Christendome, per colour de ceo, il claimoit d'aver Etclesiasticall Irisdiction en chescun Realme & State, ou ses Canons fueront receave, & misoit ses Legates ove severall commissions, en severall realmes de Christendome, de over & determiner causes, solonque ceux Canons: queux Canons, coment que le Pape, ne ses ministers, sur le primer venting & vtterance, n'oseront appeller leyes, Ne committerent crimen laesae Maiestatis in Principes, come Marsil. Pat. ad bien observe libr. Defensor. Pacis. part. 2. cap. 23. que dit auxi la, que ceux Canons, entant que sont fait per le Pape, neque sunt humanae leges, neque diuinae, sed documenta quaedam, & narrationes: Uncor, quant il perceavoit que ceux Canons fueront receave, allow, & vse en part, per severall nations, il compile eux en volumes, & appell eux, Ius Canonicum, & ordaine que serront lyes, & expound en publik Schooles & Universities, come l'Imperiall ley fuit lie & expound, & commaund que serront obey per touts Christians sur paine de excommunication, & contend sovent [Page] foits de metter eux en execution per coactive power, & assume sur luy de interpreter, & abrogater, & dispenser ove ceux leyes en touts les Realmes de Christendome a son pleasure: i sint que les Canonists ascribont a luy cest prerogative, Papa in omn bus pure positiuis, & in quibusdam ad ius diuinum pertinentibus dispensare potest, quia dicitur omnia iura habere in scrinio pectoris sui, quantum ad interpretationem & dispensationem. libr. 6. de Const. cap. licet.

Pur le temps. Anno. 25. Ed. 1. Simon vn Moigne de Walden commen [...]oit de lier le Canon ley en le University de Cambridge. vid. Stow, & Walsingham en meime l'Au & le Manusc. libr. 6. Decretal. en le Library Noui Coll. Oxon. ad cest inscription in fronte: Anno Domini. 1298. que fuit l'An 26. Edw. 1. 19. Nouembr. in Ecclesia fratrum Praedicator. Oxon. fuit facta publicatio lib. 6. Decretal. per que appiert quant le Canon ley fuit introduce en Engleterre. Mes le Irisdiction que le Pape per colour de ceo claimoit en Engleterre, fuit vn meer vsurpation, a quel les Royes D'engleterre, de temps en temps, fesoent opposition iusques al temps del. Henr. 8.

Et certes le Idgment del Parliament expresse en le Preamble de cest Statut de faculties est notable a cest purpose. Ou est recite que l'Evesque de Rome ad deceave & abuse les subiects del Corone D'engleterre, Pretending and persuading to them that hee had full power to dispense with all humane lawes, vses, & customes of all Realmes, in all causes, which bee called Spirituall: which matter hath beene vsurped and practised by him and his predecessors, for many yeares, to the great derogation of the Imperiall Crowne of England. For whereas the said Realme of England recognising no superior vnder God, but the King, hath beene, & yet is, free from subiection to any mans lawes, but onely to such as haue beene deuised, made, and ordained within this Realme, for the wealth of the same, or to such other, as by sufferāce of the King & his progenitors, the people of this Realme haue taken at their free libertie, & by their owne consent, to bee vsed among them, & haue bound themselues by long vse & custome to the obseruance of the same, not as to the obseruance of the lawes of any forein Prince, Potentate, or Prelate, but as to the accustomed & auncient lawes of this Realme [Page 72] originally established as lawes of the same, by the said sufferance, consent, & custome, & not otherwise: it standeth with naturall equity & good reason, that all such humane lawes made within this Realme, or induced into this Realme by the said sufferance, consent, & custome, should bee dispensed with, abrogated, amplified, or diminished by the King & his Parliament, or by such persons as the King & Parliament should authorise, &c. vid. 21. H. 7. 4 a. ou est dit, que certeine priests fueront deprive de lour benefices per Act de Parliament en temps R. 2.

Per que fuit conclude, que le Roy D'engleterre, & nemi le Pape, devant le fesans de cest Statute de faculties, puissoit de iure dispenser ove l'Ecclesiasticall ley en cest, & auters cases. Car coment que plusors de nostre Ecclesiasticall leyes ont estre primerment devise en le Court de Rome, vncor ceux esteant establish & confirme en cest realme per acceptance & vsage, sont ore devenus English leyes, & ne serront amplius repute Romish Canons ou Constitutions. Come Rebuffus parlant de regula Cancellariae Romanae de verisimili notitia: haec regula, dit il, vbique in regno Frā ciae est recepta, & est lex Regni effecta, & obseruatur tanquam lex regni, non tanquam Papae regula: & Papa eam reuocare non potest.

Et pur ceo, l'Ecclesiasticall ley que ordaine que quant home est create en Evesque que touts ses inferior benefices serront void, est soventfoits dit en le Case del Evesque de S. Dauids 11. Henr. 4. destre l'auncient ley D'engleterre. Et 29. Edw. 3. 44. a. en le Case del Praebend de Oxgate, est dit, que le constitution que ouste pluralities comenceoit en le Court de Rome, vncor vn Esglise fuit adiudge void en Banke le Roy pur cel cause. Per que appiert, que depuis que cest Constitution fuit receave & allow en Engleterre, ceo fuit devenus ley D'engleterre. vid. statutum de Bigamis cap. 5. ou le Roy & son Counsell en Parliament declaro [...]t coment vn Canon fait en le Counsell de Lions serroit interpret & expound. De Bigamis quos Dominus Papa in Concilio suo Lugdunensi omni priuilegio suo Clericali priuauit, per constitutionem inde editam, & vnde quidam Praelati illos, qui effecti fuerunt Bigami ante praedictam constitutionem, quando de felonia rectati fuerunt, tanquam [Page] Clericos elegerunt sibi deliberandos: concordatum est & declaratum, coram Rege & Consilio, quod constitutio ista intelligenda sit, quod siue effecti fuerint Bigami ante praedictam constitutionem, siue post, de caetero non liberentur Praelatis, sed fiat de ijs iustitia, sicut de laicis.

Uncor touts les Ecclesiasticall leyes D'engleterre ne fueront dirive & apprompt del Court de Rome. Car long temps devant que le Canon ley fuit authorise & publi [...] (que fuit depuis le Norman Conquest, come devant est mōstre) les auncient Royes D'engleterre, viz. Edgar, Athelstan, Alfred, Edw. le Confessor, & auters, ont, ove l'advise de lour Clergy deins le Realme, fait divers ordinances pur le government del Esglise D'engleterre: & depuis le Conquest, divers Provinciall Synodes ont estre tenus, & plusors constitutions ont estre fait en ambideux Realmes D'engleterre, & Ireland: touts queux sont part de nostre Ecclesiasticall leyes a cest iour. vid. le Chart. de William le Conquerour dat. Anno Domini 1066. irrot. 2. R. 2. enteries Charters in Archiu. Turris London. pro Decano & Capitul. Lincoln. Willielmus Dei gratia, Rex Anglorum, &c. Sciatis, &c. quod Episcopales leges, quae non bene, nec secundum Sanctorum Canonum praecepta, vsque ad mea tempora in regno Angliae fuerunt, communi consilio Episcoporum meorum, & caeterorum Episcoporum, & omnium principum regni mei emendandas iudicaui, &c. vid. auxi Girald. Cambren. lib. 2. c. 34. en temps Henr. 2. vn Synode del Clergy d'Ireland fuit tenus al Castell, en que fuit ordaine, Quod omnia diuina, iuxta quod Anglicana obseruat Ecclesia, in omnibus partibus Hyberniae amodo tractentur. Dignum enim & iustissimum est, vt sicut dominum & Regem ex Anglia diuinitus sortita est Hybernia, sic etiam exinde viuendi formam accipiant meliorem.

Et pur ceo les Royes D'engleterre, de temps en tēps, en chescun age devant le temps del Henr. 8. ont vse de graunter dispensations en causes Ecclesiasticall. Car ou la ley del Esglise est, que chescun spirituall person est visitable per l'ordinary, le Roy William le Conquerour per son Charter exempt l'abbey de Battell del visitation & Irisdiction del ordinary, en ceux expresse parols, sitque dicta Ecclesia libera & quieta imperpetuum ab omni subiectione [Page 73] Episcoporum, & quarumlibet personarum dominationes, sicut Ecclesia Christi Cantuariensis, &c. per que il dispense o [...]e la ley del Esguse. en cest case. vid. libr. de vera differentia Regiae potestatis & Ecclesiastic [...], edit. 1534. ou tout le dit charter e [...] tecite alarge. Et tiel charter fuit graunt al abbey de Abingdon per le Roy Kenulphus. 1. Henr. 7. 23. & 25 & Cawdreys Case. 5. fol. 10. a Issint chescun appropriation comprist en ceo vn dispensation al person impersonne [...]a [...]er & retainer le bene [...]ice en perpetuity, come appiert en Grendons Case Plow. Comment. 503. en quel act le Roy per le common ley serra toutfoits actor, non solement come Supreame patron, come est auxi note e [...] Grendons Case, m [...] aux [...] come Supreame ordinary. Car le Roy sole sans l [...] Pape poet fait appropriation. 7 Edw. 3. Fitz. Quare impedit. 19. issint en le dit case del Evesque de S. Dauids. 11. Henr 4. fol. 213. b. Hankford. mist cest question, si le Royv [...] graunt, devant le creation del Evesque, que il pur [...]oit tener vn bene [...]ice & l'Evesquery ensemble, s [...]come l'Apostle ad fait, ne serra my le graunt bon? Norton & Skrene bon asse [...]s. Issint en 11. Henr. 7. 12. a. en le case de malum prohibitum, & malum in se, est la tenus, que le Roy poet dispenser ov [...] vn Priest de tener 2. benefices, & ove vn bas [...]ard que il secra priest, niēt obstant les Ecclesiasticall leys queux sont al contrary. Et s [...]come il po [...]t dispenser ove ceux leyes, issint i [...] poet pardon touts offences encounter ceux leyes, & son pardon est barre en touts suits pro salute animae, ou reformatione morum, & touts suits ex officio en l'Eccles [...]asticall Cour [...]. Halls case en le 5. part de les Reports del Seignior Cooke. fol. 51.

CEst point donques esteant issint probe, viz. [...]ue l [...] Roy D'eugleterre solement puissoit de iure dispenser ove l'Ecclesiasticall ley en cest case, & [...]ers deins ses dominions, devant le fesans del Statute de faculties, l'ef [...]ect & validity de cest faculty [...] dispensation e [...]eant graunt vt supra fuit consider. Cest faculty [...]uit [...]raunt p [...]r Commissioners authori [...]e per letters patents del Royne Eliz. de graunter faculties & dispensations in cest Realme accordant al State de. 28. Henr. 8. cap. 20. enac'ed en cest Realme. Per quel act tiels Commissioners ont me [...]me [Page] l'authority que l'Archevesque de Canterbury ad an Engleterre, per force del Statute de. 25. Henr. 8. cap. 21. enacted en Engleterre. Quel Statute de. 25. Hear. 8. done authority al Archevesque de Canterbury de graunter touts faculties & dispensations, &c. pur causes nient contrary ou repugnant al Sainctes Scriptures & ley de Dieu qutux ont vse en temps parauant destre ew & obtaine en la Court de Rome: & touts auters faculties & dispensations que serront pur le honor del Roy, & profit del Realme, issint que loent pur causes que ne sont repugnant al leyes de Dieu. Et que touts acts destre fait & executed accordant al tenor de tielx faculties & dispensations, serront firme, & tematnecont en force nient obstant ascun forein ley, decree, Canon, ou decretall, &c. per que appiert, quel power & authority ceux Commissioners avoent de graunter facultiet & dispensations. Mes ne appiert que ils avoent power de graunter ascun faculty ou dispensation en tiel forme come le faculty supra est plead destre graunt al Evesque d'Ossory, Car test faculty nest garrant per le dit Statute, pur 2. principall reasons.

1. Pur ceo que nul tiel faculty ou dispensation suit accustome destre graunt en le Court de Rome. Car les faculties graunt la, fueront d'auter forme, & different de cest faculty en divers materiall points: issint que cest faculty, si ceo ad estre obtaine en le Court de Rome, ad estre void per le rule del Canon ley.
2. Admitt que tiel faculty ad vse destre graunt en le Court de Rome, vncor le cause pur que ceo est graunt est repugnant al les sainct Scriptures & ley de Dieu, & per consequence, nest, en ascun sort, garrant per le dit Statute.

1. Pur le forme de cest faculty oue est tiel, viz. que l'Evesque d'Ossory, vnum vel plura beneficia, curata vel non curata, sui, vel alieni iurispatronatus, adtunc vacantia, vel quae imposterum vacare contigerint, & non excedentia, &c. perpetuae commendae titulo adipisci, occupare, retinere, omnesque fructus ad familiae suae sustentationem conuertere possit: iuribus siue institutis quibuscunque in contrarium non obstantibus. Ceo est trop generall, & pur ceo est irregular, & fault certein materiall clauses, queux fueront toutsfoits mise en tiels faculties esteant graunt & obtaine en le Court del Rome. [Page 74] Car en tielx faculties graunt la, fuit toutsfoits vu particular derogation, ou Non obstante del droit de patronage des lay patrons, & del droit del Roy per expresse nosme, ou le patronage appertient a lay: aute [...]ment le faculty ad estre void. (car per le Canon ley les lay patrons doent estre appell de doner lour consents en touts cases de cest nature & si tiel particular: Non obstante ne fuit add en le faculty, vn auter clause fuit mise, viz. Dummodo patronorum expressus aceedat consensus. Auxi pet vn auter clause, authority fuit toutsfoits done al officiall, ou Archedeaton, ou auter Ecclesiasticall minister de metter cesty a que le faculty est. graunt en possession del denefice cum accederit. Ou en cest faculty graunt al Evesque d'Ossory, est nul particular Non obstante ou derogation del droit de patronage, ne del Roy, ne des auters lay patrons, ne ascun mention fait de consent del Roy, ou del ascun auter patron. Auxi per cest faculty cesty que ad obtaine ceo ne vesoigne destre mise en possession per ascun Ecclesiasticall minister, mes il poet, come semble, prender le possession del ascun benefice que serra void, de soy mesme, immediatment, & quasi per saltum, sans praesentation, institution, ou induction, & sans ascun auter formall ou legall collation.

Et a drover que les clauses avantdit fueront toutsfoits mise en tielx faculties grauntes ou purchase en le Court de Rome, Rebuffus de Praxi beneficiorum (vn tresbon authority a cest purpose) fuit vouch: ou traitant alarge de Papae prouisionibus, il dit, quod cum Iuspatronatus laicis á iure reseruatum sit, ob id Papa non solet conferre beneficia sub Iure patronatus laicorum existentia, nisi cum speciali derogatione iurispatronatus laicorum, & non est suae intentionis, vt valeat collatio non facta speciali derogatione, vt dicit: Io. Andreas (que fuit vn auncient Canonist long tēps devant le Statute de faculties) se de hoc vidisse Bullam directam Praelatis Angliae (quod nota) aliás prouisio Papae tanquam subreptitia non valet, quia citra intentionem Papae. Et ouster il dit, quod clausulae genetales derogatoriae non sufficiunt ad derogationem Iurispatronatus laicorum, etiamsi adesset clausula motus propril. & generalis clausula, non obstante (come est en cest faculty) aut clausula, ad quamcunque collationem, praesentationem, vel prouisionem pertineat, quia [Page] illa verba intelligerentur de Clericis, non de laicis. Il auxi dit, quod specialis mentio Regis fieri debet, quia si prouisio á Papa facta fuerit non obstante Iurepatronatus laicorum, si spectaret ad regem, non valeret prouisio, & Rex se opponere posset. [...]ncor il dit, que cest speciall non obstante ne vesoigne, si cest conditionall clause soit mise en le prouision, dummodo patronorum accedat consensus.

Et est destre note, que commenda est quaedam prouisio, & pur ceo Gomes in regula de Idiomate, dit, quod commendare est prouidere, & quod commenda comprehenditur subquibuscunque regulis de prouisione loquentibus.

Et que per le Canon ley le cōtent d [...]l patron est requisite, ou benesice est done en commendam, vid. lib. 6. Decretal. cap-Nemo, ou ie Glosse dit. Ad commendam vocabitur patronus, & si qui alil ex tali commenda laeduntur. Et in legitimis constitut. Othobon. titul. de commendis (queux constitutions sont annex al Linwoods provincials) est dit, quod consensus patroni ad huiusmodi commendam requiritur. Et pur mesme le reason en thesenn faculty, ou licence graunt per le Pape de fa [...]r permutation, vnion, ou appropriation des Esglises, ceux pa: ols fueront a [...] toutsfoits, vocatis quorum interest que est entend principalment d [...]l Patron come Rebuff. & les auters Canonists diont, & que vnion & appropriation ne serront fait sans asient del Patron est manifest per nostre livers. viz. 11. Henr. 7. 8. 6. Henr. 7. 13. 46. Ass. p. 50. E. 3. 26. 40 E. 3. 28. Grendons Case [...] low. Comment. 498. a.

A prover auxi, que en chescun tiel faculty graunt per le Pape d'aver & reteiner beneficium vacans seu vacaturum, vn clause executory fuit toutsfoits mise, per que l'officiall, ou Archedeacon, ou auter Ecclesiasticall minister fuit authorise de meiter cesty que ad tiel faculty graunt a luy en corporall possession de tiel benefice, Rebuffus fuit cite, ou il declare le forme de cest faculty, & la il dit quod intrusus dicitur, qui intrat beneficium propria authoritate. Car il ne enter en loiall manner, & ideo non intrat per pottam. Et accordant a ceo Hankford, dit, 11. Henr. 4. 229. a. que si home ad obtaine Bull de prouision, sil n'ad executors de son Bull, queux luy parront metter eins per authority, & per course del ley, ne serra adiudge eins per provision del Pape, mes intrnoor.

[Page 75] Per que appiert que cest faculty graunt al Evesque de Ossory vary en divers materiall points del forme des faculties graunt en le Court de Rome devant le fesans de Statute de faculties, & pur ceo nest garrant per le dit Statute en cest respect.

2 Admitt que tiel faculty fiut vse & accustome destre graunt & obtaine en le Court de Rome, vncor, nest garrant per le Statute, pur ceo que le cause de cest faculty nest agreeable est al sainct Scripture & ley de Dieu. Car ou l'expresse text de Scripture est. 1. Timoth. c. 2. quod oportet Episcopum esse Doctorem & Hospitalem: experientia docet (dit Innocent. 6. Extrauagan. cap. pastoris) occasione commendarum, Cultum diuinum minui, curam animarum negligi, hospitalitatem consuetam & debitam non seruari, ruinis aedificia supponi, &c. Et ou est dit en mesme le Text, que Evesque serra vnius vxoris vir, per que est entend (come les Canonists expound ceo) que il avera forsque vn Eveschery, on vn Cure, ils diont que per commendam Bigamia contrahitur in Ecclesia. Et pur ceo vn bon & pious Evesque disoit, (quant vn auter benefice fuit offer a luy a tener en commendam) absit, vt cum sponsa habeam concubinam.

Mes per nostre ley, vn faculty graunt & execute en tiel forme come le faculty, graunt vt supra al Evesque d'Ossory est fairoit manifest tort & iniury aux layes Patrons. Car est expresse licence done al Evesque de fair vsurpation sur layes Patrons, & de toller le benefit de lour advonsans esteant iour droit & enheritance. Et ceo esteant tort est malum in se, & encounter la ley de Dieu: & pur ceo ne puissoit estre dispensed with devant le Statute, ne per le Roy, ne per le Pape, & ore tiel faculty ou licence nest confirme ne entend destre confirme per le Statute de faculties.

Et pur ceo quant al Roy est dit. 11. Henr. 7. 12. a. que le Roy ne poet dispenser ove ascun de fair nusance en l'hault chimin, & sil ceo fait, tiel dispensation est void, & 8. Henr. 6. 19. Roy ne poet graunt que si home fait trespas a moy, que ied n'avera action vers luy: ou que home serra son Idge demesne. Et pur ceo est soventfoits dit en nostre livers, que prerogative del Roy ne faira Tort al subiect [Page] 13. Edw. 3. 8. a. 35. H. 6. 29. b. 5. Cooke. 55. b. Knights Case. Auxi coment que le Roy poet dispenser ove vn Statute que prohibit indifferent chose destre fait, vncor il ne poet chaunger le common ley per son Patent. 37. Henr. 8. Br. Patents. 100. 6. Henr. 7. 4. Et ne poet dispenser ove le common ley ove Non obstante. 4. Cooke. 35. Bozoms Case. Et quant al Pape, est soventfoits dit en le dit notable case del Evesque de S. Dauids. 11. Henr. 4. que les Bulls del Pape ne poent chaunger la ley D'engleterre. Et ceo accord ove les rules de Canon ley. Non valet declaratio Papae vel Regis in praeiudicium tertij. Rebuffus in praxi beneficiorum titul. de non tollendo ius quisitum. Et alibi il dit, per clausulam motu proprio &c. Papa non tollit ius tertij. Talis praesumitur mens Papae concedentis, qualis est iuris. Donatio Principis intelligitur, sine praeiudicio tertij.

Si donques tiel faculty, ou dispensation en tiel forme ne puissoit estre graunt per le Roy, ne per le Pape, devant le Statute de faculties, certes les fesors de cest Statute ne vnques entendoent de fair ascun faculty von, que fuissoit vnreasonable, & enconter common droit devant le Statute. Come les Statutes queux confirmont les customes de London ne confirmont ascun vnreasonable custome que ad esire vse en London. Et issint come Litt. dit. 165. a. le Statute de Glocester serra entend, que provide, que si baron esteant seisie de terre en droit sa feme alien la terre ove garranty en la vie del feine, ne serra barr al heir del feme, si nul fine soit levie en le Court del Roy: ceo est destre entend & expound si nul loiall fine so it droiturelment levy en Court del Roy en que le Baron & feme ioynont. Car si fine ove garranty soit levie per le Baron sole sans sa feme ceo ne serra barr al heir del feme.

Mes pur fair cest point vncor plus cleare, le nature & difference de les Commendaes warrantable per le Canon ley fueront declare & consider. Et quant a ceo, fuit dit quod commenda Ecclesiae, est rien forsque commendatio Ecclesiae ad custodiam alterius. Et pur ceo Decret. causa. 21. q. 1. titul. qui plures, le Glosse dit, commendare, nihil aliud est quam deponere. Cest commenda seu commendatio Ecclesiae est divers, solonque le nature del Esglise, & le limitation [Page 76] ou continuance de le commenda. Car commenda poet estre Ecclesiae Curatae, vel non Curatae, & poet estre [...] poranea, viz. pur temps certein, come pur. 6. mois, ou perpetua, viz. durant le vie del commendatary. Esglise ove cure ne poet estre done en commendam, si ne soit pur evident necessity, ou profit del Esglise, viz. de supplier le Cure tantque provision soit fait del sufficient incumbent. Et pur ceo fuit provide per le Counsell de Lions, que vn Parochiall Esglise ne serroit done en commendam, nisi ex euidenti necessitate vel vtilitate Ecclesiae, & quod talis commenda vltra semestris temporis spacium non duraret, & quod secus factum fuerit sit irritum ipso iure, &c. 6. Decretal. cap. Nemo. Mes benefice sans cure poet estre done per le Canon ley pur sustentation del Commendatary vel ad mensam. Et en cest sence les Canonists diont, quod commenda est quasi comedenda, quia Ecclesia quae traditur in commendam quasi comeditur & deuoratur. Et tiel benefice properment poet estre done en perpetuam commendam. Summa summarum, titul. Commenda, articul. 1. & 2. Per que appiert, que le dit Uicarage esteant benefice ove cure ne poet estre done en perpetuam commendam per le Canon avantdit. Et coment que le Glosse sur le dit Canon. 6. Decretal. cap. Nemo, dit, quod ista constitutio non comprehendit Romanum Pontificem, ideo Romanus Pontifex potest in perpetuum commendare, vncor appiert auxi, per ceo que est monstre devant, que le Pape ne vsoit, ne puissoit doner commendam en tiel forme come le faculty on dispensation avantdit est done, per que fuit conclude que cest faculty ou dispensation fuit void a touts entents.

MEs admitt que cest faculty prendroit effect & serroit perpetua commenda, vncor ceo ne fait l'Evesque perpetuum Vicarium, issint que soit perfect incumbent del dit Esglise, & que l'Esglise soit plein de luy durant son vie.

Car per le rule de nostre ley, vn Esglise ne serra dit plein vers common person si l'incumbent ne soit eins pet presentation, institution, ou per formall collation que amount al presentation & institution. Mes vers le Roy serra nul plenarty sans presentation, institution, & induction, 22. Henr. 6. [Page] 27. 44. Edw. 3. 3. 11. Henr. 4. 7. 24. Edw. 3. 30. Et pur cest reason v [...] person enpersonnee ne piedra pienarty vers estraunge patron, pur ceo que il ne vient eius per presentment. 38. Henr. 6. 20. 39. Henr. 6. 21. 46. Ass. p. 4. 14. Henr. 8. 30. vid. auxi te Statute. W. 2. cap. 5. pet que cesty que pleade plenitudinem Ecclesiae doet monstrer de quel presentment. Et en Heckers Case. 13. Henr. 8. 12. ou maister del Hospitall ad present luy mesine al Esglise, de que l'a [...]von [...]on app [...]t addit Hospitall, coment que l'ordinary ad luy admitt, vncor fuit adiudge la, que le presentation esteant void, nul plenarty fuit gain per suy en le dit Esglise. á fortiori en cest case, cest Vicarage ne serra dit plein del Evesque d'Ossory, ou il mesme enter, & prist possession de ceo, sans estre vnques present, institut, ou induct, & sans ordinary coliation, ou ascun legall ceremony.

Et pur ceo per le rule del Canon ley auxi, cesty que vient eins per commendam non est Praelatus, sed procurator tantum, & est nisi custos, seu administrator, & ius in Ecclesia non habet. 6. Decretal. cap. Nemo & constitut. Othoboni, cap. de Commendis Ecclesiarum, fol. 65. Et ove ceo accord. 27. Henr. 8. 15. ou est dit que le Cardinall de York ad l'Abbey de Sainct Albons en Commendam, & vncor ne fuit Abbe.

Vncor cest difference fuit agree, que si clerk soit present al benefice ove cure, & soit ad [...]tt, institute, & indu [...]t a ceo, issint que l'Esglise soit plein de luy, si apres il soit present al auter benefice incompatible, on elect al Evesquery, & devant que il soit institute al second benefice, on soit create en Evesque, il obtaine faculty ou dispensation de retainer le primer benefice perpetuae commendae titulo, que est durant son vie, cest faculty on dispensation serra de tiel effect, que le primer benefice ne serra void per le acceptance del second, on per le promotion al Evesquery, mes que il remainera plein & perfect incumbent del primer benefice durant son vie.

Et le faculty on dispensation en cest case ne fait ascun Tort ou iniury al patron. Car le Patron ne presenteroit arrere tantque le prochein avoidance, & l'Esglise en cest case ne devient vnques void, per reason del dispensation, que prevent l'avoidance. vid. Rebuff. de praxi beneficiorum. 3. part. signatur. Si Papa dispensat cum promoto ad [Page 77] Episcopatum vt retineat sua beneficia, poterit retinere etiam quae sub patronatu laicorum sunt, quia non agitur de praeiudicio Patroni, cum non vacet beneficium, que ad estre adiudge dit il, in Decis. Rotae. 331. Car la ley que ordaine que [...]e primer benefice serra void per acceptance del second, poet estre dispensed with, & issint est de la ley que ordaine que quant home est fait Evesque, que ses auters benefices serront void, come Thirning dit. 11. Henr. 4. 213. b. Car ceux leyes fueront faits per Ecclesiasticall policy, & pur ceo mesine le policy poet dispenser ove ceux leyes. Mes la ley que prohibit [...]ort on iniury al tierce person, ne poet estre dispensed with pur les reasons avantdit. Et pur ceo le benefice que est vnfoits void, & le prochein avoydance de ceo eschue al Patron, ne poet estre prise & occupie per vertue del ascun tiel licence on faculty. Er accordant a cest difference sont plusors cases ruled en nostre libers.

11. Henr. 4. 170. 213. 229. en le notable case del Euesque de Saint Dauids soventfoits cite devant, est resolve per Thirning, Hankford, & le melior opinion de cest liver, que quant vn prevendary de Sarum fuit elect al Evesquery de Saint. Dauids, & devant que il fuit create en Evesque, il obtaine dispensation del Pape de retainer touts ses auters benefices nient obstant, &c. Et apres il est create & consecrate Evesque, que le Roy en cest, case n'avera Quare impedit vers l'Evesque pur le prebend, ne action sur le Statute de. 25. Edw. 3. que done presentment al Roy, ou le Pape per provision done ascun benefice dont le Patronage appent al spirituall person. Car en ambideux cases il covient estre vn avoydance del benefice devant que le Roy poet presenter, ou en cest case devant, l'Esglise ne devient void, mes l'incumbent continue eins de son eigne title. Et put ceo Hankford la dit, que l'Evesque, sur cest dispensation de retainer, ne paiera first fruites arrere pur cest benefice. Et si le Roy ad primer & prochein avoidance d'un benefice, & apres graunt tiel faculty ou dispensation al incumbent de retainer cest benefice, nient obstant que il serroit create en Evesque, & apres l'incumbent est fait l'Evesque, vncor ceo ne amount al presentation, mes que apres le mort del incumbent le Roy presentera vn auter Clerk a ceo: eat nul [Page] aboidance fuit de cest benefice, dcvant le mort del incumbent: mes de auter part fuit cleerment resolve en le dit case del Evesque de Saint Dauids, que si le dispeniation ad estre fait apres que le prebendary vst estre create Evesque, que le prebend ad estre void, & nul faculty puisloit luy ennabler de retainer ceo envers le Roy.

Et pur ceo en temps Henr. 6. quant Henry Beaufort graund vncle del Roy esteant Evesque de Winchester tuit fait Cardinall, & apres ceo il purchase del Pape vn Bull declaratory, que ment obstant que il fuit fait Cardinall, que son Evesquery de Winchester ne fuit void, pur que il puissoit ceo retainer come devant: vncor fuit tenus que le Sea del Winchester fuit void per l'assumption del Cardinalship, que exempt l'Evesque del Iriediction de son Metropolitan. Et pur ceo le Cardinall fuit en Case de Praemunire, per que il purchase son pardon cue est destre trove enter les Charters. 4. Henr. 6. in Archiuis Turr. London. 6. & 7. Eliz. Dier. 233. a Io. Packhurst esteant elect al Evesquery de Norwich, devant que il fuit create Evesque, obtaine dispensation d'Archevesque de Canterbury (per bertue del Statute de faculties) de retainer vn perlonage, que il avoit devant, in commendam, pro tribus annis, viz á festo sancti Michaelis in Anno Dom. 1560. vsque adidem festum que serroit en l'An. 1563. devant le primer feast de Saint Michael, Packhurst est create Evesque, & puis il resigne le benefice: & le question fuit, si cest benefice vacauit per resignation del Packhurst, ou per son promotion al Evesquery: & fuit adiudge, que l'Esglise se voida per son resignation: que prove que per vertue del dit dispensation il continue person tant que il ad resigne. vid. N. Br. 36. h, si person que ad dispensation de tener son rectory, soit cree on Evesque, & puis le Patron present auter incumbent que est institute, & induct, ore l'Evesque avera spoliation vers cesty incuinbent, que prove, que son reall possessien en le personage tout sfoits continue per vertue del dispensation. Issint que faculty ou dispensation a tener benefice en perpecuam commendam est bon & effectuall a tiel person tantum que est plein & perfect incumbent al temps del dispensation fait aluy, & nemi a cesty que n'ad riens en le benefice.

Ce [...] appiert auxi per Hollands Case en le. 4. part de les [Page 78] Reports del Seignior Cooke. 75. Car la Io. May aiant le personage de Northcreake que fuit ouster le annuel value de 8. li. accept auter benefice incompatible, issint que le primner benefice fuit void. Apres il fuit elect al Evesquery de Carlile, & devant son creation, il obtaine faculty de retainer le personage de Northcreake in commendam, & fructus & emolumenta ad vsus suos conuertere, &c. Uacor fuit aiudge, que cest faculty ne luy aydera pur le benefice que fuit void, car il ne fuit person al temps del dispensation graunt a luy.

Ame [...]me l'entent est Digbyes Case en le. 4. des Reports del Seignior Cooke. 79 vn Merrick person de Norton que fuit del annuel value del. 8. li. fuit present al Esglise de Stanes & admitt, & institute a ceo, per quel institution le primer benefice fuit void, vncor devant induction, il obtaine qualification & dispensation, Ecclesiam de Stanes recipere, & retinere, quoad vixerit, &c. Uncor ceo vient trop tard de preserver le primer benefice, que fuit void devant, vid. 18. Eliz. Dier. 347. Doctor Westons Case.

Sur touts ceux reasons & authorities ils concludont, que cest faculty ou dispensation de prender vn void benefice en perpetuam commendam fuit void. Mes si benefice soit plein d'incumbent, faculty post estre graunt a cest incumbent de retainer ceo in perpetuam commendam, nient obstant que il prist auter benefice incompatible. Et pur ceo les Bulls de prouision graunt per le Pape, queux fueront en nature de faculties de prender beneficia vacantia, vel vacatura, ne vnques fesoent le prouisor able de prender & occupier vn benefice que serroit void de sa teste demesne, sans institution, admission, ou induction. Car sil ad enter en tiel manner, la ley vst adiudge luy abator, & disturbor, & quare impedit gisoit bers luy. Mes si tiel prouisor ad estre admitt, institute, & induct, donques serroit remove per l'estatut de prouisoribus. 29. Edw. 3. 44. a. & 11. Henr. 4. 213. 229. Mes le Roy removeroit tiel provisor per Quare impedit, apres institution & induction. 19. Edw. 3. Fitz. Quare non admisit. 7. 8.

Et issint hors de tout ceo que est dit devant, result cest difference enter faculty de prender benefice, & faculty de retainer benefice viz. que faculty graunt al vn que nest incumbent de prender vn void benefice, est void: & faculty al vn [Page] que incumbent d'un benefice, de retainer mesine le benefice, est von. Et per consequence cest faculty graunt al Evesque d'Ossory esteant void, le Uicarage abantdit ne fuit vnques plein de luy, per que le Roy ad bon title a presenter a ceo per laps.

MEs del auter part, fuit argue per le Counsell des defendants. 1. que cest faculty graunt en le forme avantdit, fuit bon, & doet estre approbe & allow pur bon en cest Court. 2. que cest faculty fuit bien execute per l'entry del Evesque en le Uicarage sans aseun presentation, institution, & induction. 3. Que l'Evesque aiant enter & occupie cest benefice per vertue de cest faculty, l'Elglise fuit fait plein de luy, issint que null title puistoit devolver al Roy per lapsum temporis durant le vie del Evesque.

Quant al primer point, ils arguont, que cest faculty fuit bon, & doet estre allow pur bon in cest Court, pur eco que est bien garrant per vn positive ley del Realme, viz. per le Statute de. 28. Henr. 8. cap. 20. per que les Commissioners ont power & authority a doner & graunter per lour discretions, tielx dispensations, licences, ou faculties pur causes nient repugnant a les saint Scriptures, & leyes de Dieu, come en temps paravant ont estre vse & accustome destre en obtaine al See de Rome: & que chescun dispensation, licence, ou faculty graunt per vertue de cest act, serra approve pur bon & effectuall en ley en touts Courts & Irisdictions eibien Spirituall que Temporall, &c.

Et a prover, que cest faculty ou dispensation graunt al Evesque d'Ossory fuit bien garrant per le dit Act de Parliament, fuit monstre, 1. que tiel faculty ou dispensation ad vse & accuslome destre graunt & obtaine en le Court de Rome devant le fcsans de cest Statute, 2. que la cause pur que cest faculty ou dispensation est graunt nest repugnant ou contrary a la saint Scripture ou ley de Dieu, 3. que le faculty en cause de ceo nest vnreasonable, ou meerement encounter ley, mes est aggreeable, & poet bien estoier, ove les rules de la ley D'engleterre.

1 Et pur monstrer que tielx faculties ou disponsations ont vse destre graunt en le Court de Rome, devant le Statute, l'originall del Commenda fuit primerment enquire. Et [Page 79] suit dit, que le Pape Leo 4. Anno Domini. 848. aut co circiter primerment invent le Commendam. Come appiert libr. Decretorum causa 23. quaest. 2. ou est dit, vnde Leo 4. scribit, qui plures Ecclesias retinet, vnam quidem titulatam, alteram vero sub commendatione tenere debet. Car ou per les auncient Canons & Counsells, vn home ne puissoit aver forsque vn benefice, & vncor per experience tuit trove convenient que ascunfoits, viz. en case de necessity ou vtility del Esglise, vn home averoit le charge & les fruits de plusors benefices, cest distinction fuit invent & allow, que coment que home naveroit forsque vn benefice in litulo, vncor il puissoit aver auter benefice in Commenda, viz. que auter benefice puissoit estre commend & committ a son custody & cure, tantque vn able incumbent fuissoit provide pur ceo.

Mes apres, grand abuse esteant trove en le graunting de ceux Commendas per les Ordinaries (car omnium rerum, quarum est vsus, potest esse abusus, virtute solum excepta, dit, Aristotle) vn auter Canon fuit fait en le Counsell de Lions Anno Domini 1274. pur reformation de ceo, come appiert libr. 6. Decretal. de Elect. & Elect. potestate, cap. Nemo. Nemo deinceps parochialem Ecclesiam alicui non constituto in legitima aetate, vel sacerdotio commendare praesumat, nec tali, nisi vnam, & euidenti necessitate vel vtilitate Ecclesiae suadente. Huiusmodi autem Commendam rité factam declaramus vltra semestre temporis spatium non durare, &c. Mes la glo se la dit (come est monstre devant) ista constitutio non comprehendit Romanum Pontificem, ideo Romanus Pontifex potest perpetuo commendare, issint que le Pape, nient obstant rest Canon, ad power de doner benefices in perpetuam Commendam.

Et reuera depuis le dit Counsell de Lions, sicome lc Pape ad reserve a luy mesme le sole power a doner benefices in perpetuam Commendam, issint il reducoit cest power in actum, & vsoit & practisoit ceo en touts Realmes de Christendome. Specialment les Papes queux fueront resident al Auignion en France en le temps Henr. 2. Ed. 1. Ed. 2. E. 3. suerout fort liberall, non solement en graunting des Prouisions (encounter queux nostre statutes fueront fait en temps Ed. 1. & Ed. 3.) mes en donant touts sortes d'Ecclestasticall [Page] benefices in Commendam perpetuam. Et coment que primerment ceo fuit fait pur supporter le dignity des Cardinals, come fuit protesse per le Pape Clement. 6. en son Epistle al Ed. 3. que est en le history de Walsingham fol. 150. b. Uncor apres, ceux Graces fverant purchase per auters Ecclesiasticall persons de touts degrees, en touts nations de Christendome. Et specialment en Engleterre, & Ireland. Car domesticis exemplis abundamus en ceit point viz. que tiels faculties ou dispensations a tener Ecclesiasticall dignities & benefices in Commendam perpetuam fueront graunt & obtaine en le Court de Rome.

En temps Henr. 3. viz. Anno Domini 1253. Matth. Paris. histor magn. 848. le grand Clerke Rob. Grosthead Evesque de Lincoln, que se opposoit fortment encounter les prouisions del Pape, complaine la de cest novel provision per voy de Commenda. Caeterum, dit il, quod videre non consueuit, concedit Papa, vt aliquis Episcopatum obtineat, nec tamen Episcopus existat, sed electus sempiternus. Et per mesine cesty Matth. Paris. en mesine l'history 914. est record, que Anno Domini 1257. Aegidius de Bridleford Electus Sarisburiensis, manifestauit palam, quod Romae strenuè impetrauerat, vt scilicet liceret ei pristinos redditus retinere, ac etiam Decanatum, quod nuper nouum habebatur, sed iam toties permistum nulli stuporem generauit.

Apres ceo, appiert per le liver 41. Edw. 3. 5. que vn W. aiant vn Prebend en le Cathedrall Esglise de Sarum, & que le Pape, devant son consecration, ad done a luy ses benefices queux il avoit devant, & le Roy recitant cest done del Pape ad graunt a luy ses temporalties, sur que fuit adiudge que cest Prebend ne devient void, mes que l'Evesque retiendra ceo apres son consecration.

Il appiert auxi en le dit Case del Evesque de S. Dauids. 11. Henr. 4. sovent foits cite devant, que en temps del Edw. 3. Edmund le Moigne de Bury, que fuit attendant en le Court del Edw. 3. avoit plusors benefices per tiel dispensation, come est noate la per Thirning. fol. 229. b. Auxi Hankford dit en mesine le Case fol. 191. a. que il ad estre view, que vn home ad estre Abbe de Glastonbury & Evesque auxi d'un auter Esglise simul & semel, & avoit le possession d'eux & les dignities a vn mesine temps.

[Page 80] Auxi le dit principall Case en 11. Henr. 4. monstre, que Henr. Chicheley (que fuit apres Archevesque de Canterbury) esteant vn prebend en le Cathedrall Esglise de Sarum, fuit elect Evesque de Saint Dauids, & devant son consecration, le Pape recitant per son Bull, que il fuit elect Evesque de Saint Dauids, graunt a luy faculty & power, de tener & enioyer touts ses auters benefices, tantque le Pape ad auterment ordaine, &c. vid. Nou. Decision. Rotae. 331. mesme cesty point, que fuit argue. 11. Henr. 4. bien debate.

Et que ceux faculties ou dispensations a tener benefices in Commendam fueront graunt en le Court dei Rome en temps del Henr. 5. appiert en Linwood libr. 3. de Praebend. cap. Audistis, verb. Dispensatione. Et en temps Henr. 6. Henry Beaufort le graund vncle del Roy, esteant fait Cardinall obtaine dispensation del Pape de retainer l'Evesquery de Winchester en Commendam, come devant est monstre, & coment que fuit tenus adonques que cest dispensation veignoit trop tard esteant graunt apres que l'Evesque fuit create Cardinall, vncor apres, en temps Henr. 8. le Cardinal Wolsey aiant devant que il fuit create Cardinall, obtaine Bull del Pape de retainer l'Archevesquery de Yorke come perpetuall administrator, & l'Abbey de Saint Albons en perpetuam commendam, il teignoit ambideux durant son vie, per vertue de cest dispensation vid. 27. Henr. 8. 15. b.

Per ceux examples & auctorities est manifest, que devant le fesans de cest statut de faculties, tiels dispensations fueront eu & obtaine en le Court de Rome, a tener in Commendam Ecclesiasticall benefices en Engleterre.

Et quant a cest Realme de Ireland, ceux dispensations de Pape fueront cy frequent icy, que en temps Edw. 4. vn speciall act de Parliament fuit fait encounter les Commendams graunt per le Pape al Ecclesiasticall persons de cest Realme. vid. l'estatut de 7. Edw. 4. cap. 2. per que est recite, That now of late diuers men of holy Church suing to the Court of Rome, haue purchased Bulls from the holy father the Pope, to haue as well Abbeyes, Priories, and other dignities, as Personages, & Vicarages in Commendam, to the extinguishment of diuine seruice, &c. per que il est ordaine, That whatsoeuer man of holy Church doe purchase any manner of dignity, Personage, or Vicarage by Bulls of the Pope, to hold in [Page] Commendam, and the said Bulls, Personages, or Vicarages doe accept, he shalbe out of the Kings protection, &c. And that no pardon or licence of the King made, or to be made, bee avayleable in this behalfe, but bee vterly voyd, if it bee not by act of Parliament. Et cest speciall act encounter les Commendams dei Pape fuit fait en cest Realme pur ceo que les Statutes faites encounter Provisors en temps Edw. 3. parlont tant solement de Reseruations, Collations & Prouisions del Pape queux parols n'extendont al Commendams come Hankford tient 11. Henr. 4. 213. a.

2 La cause pur que cest faculty ou dispensation fnit graunt nest repugnant ou contrary al Saint Escripture ou ley de Dieu. Car plurality de benefices nest prohibit per le Scripture ou ley de Dieu, mes é contra est vn expresse Text que dit, 1. Timoth. c. 5. Qui bené praesunt presbyteri duplici honore digni habeantur, dicit enim Scriptura non alligabis os boui trituranti, &c. Et est alter Text que require, vt Episcopus sit Hospitalis. Et le principall cause de graunting cest faculty fuit pur enabler le Evesque a maintener hospitality, come touts appropriations & vnions fueront fait pur mesme le cause. Auxi l'Office que l'Evesque ad en l'Esglise est de grand dignity, quel dignity ne poet estre preserue sans countenance & maintenance. Pur que quant les revenewes del Evesquery ne sont sufficient, l'Ecclesiasticall policy, que done competent addition per voy de Commendam, ne serra dit repugnant ou contrary al ley de Dieu.

Auxi il poet bien estoier ove reason & religion, que vn Evesque avera & retainera vn particular benefice ove Cure deins son Diocese demesne, pur ceo que il ad le generall Cure de touts Esglises la: habet curam Curarum, pur que sur chescun institution il dit, accipe curam tuam & meam. Et sur cest reason en auncient temps plusors Rectories ove Cure ont estre appropriate al Evesqueries: come les Rectories de Eastmeane & Hambleden sont appropriate ad mensam Episcopi Winton, & l'Evesque de Sarum ad plusors Rectories appropriate a son Sea: en mesme le manner avoent le Primate de Armagh, & l'Archevesque de Dublin en cest Realme certeine Rectories appropriate ad mensam en lour severall Dioceses. Et reuera devant le division de parishes, chescun Evesque avoit [Page 81] le destribution de touts les dismes deins son Diocese, come Beda dit en son Ecclesiasticall history. lib. 1. cap. 28.

3 Cest faculty ou dispensation (coment que dispensationes non debent trahi ad communem legem come les Canonists diont) nest repugnant al rules del Common ley D'engleterre. Car la Common ley D'engleterre ne prohibit pluralities, ne fait l'inferior benefice void, si incumbent soit create en Evesque, mes l'auncient l'Ecclesiasticall ley D'engleterre, ove que le Roy puissoit toutsfoits dispenser per le rule del Common ley, come avant est monstre. 11. Henr. 4. 213. a. b. Plow. Comment. Grendons Case. 503. b. 11. Henr. 4. 12. a.

Et nota que le dit statute 7. Edw. 4. cap. 2. enact en cest Realme, que ordaine que cesty que purchase Bull del Pape de tener benefice en Commendam serra hors del Protection del Roy, provide auxi que pardon ou licence del Roy ne serra availeable en cest Case, que imply, que le Idgment del Parliament adonques fuit, que licence del Roy serroit availeable per le rule del Common ley en tiel Case, accordant al opinion de Hankford. 11. Henr. 4. cite devant. Et estoit ove bon reason que le Roy dispensera ove l'Ecclesiasticall ley touchant benefices, pur ceo que le Roy & ses lay subiects fueront les donors de touts benefices al Ecclesiasticall persons, & pur ceo Marsil. Patauinus appell les benefices del Esglise Eleemosinas laicorum.

Mes la verity est, que tielx faculties ou dispensations graunt per le Pape touchant Ecclesiasticall benefices en Engleterre, fueront toutfoits encounter la ley del Realme, car fuit meere vsurpation sur la Corone D'engleterre devant les statutes faites encounter Proui [...]ors. Et ceux statutes fueront fait en declaration del common ley en cest point. 12. Edw. 2. Fitz. Quar. Imp. 169. 19. Ed. 2. Fitz. Quar. non admisit. 7. 15. Edw. 3. Fitz. Quar. Imp. 160. 21. Fdw. 3. 40. 11. Henr. 4. 230. a.

Et quant al iniury que est suppose destre fait al Patron per le graunting & executing de cest faculty, en cest Case, est manifest, come cest Case est, que le Patron nest preiudice. Car l'Evesque ne enter en le Uicarage, tantque ceo ad estre void per tempus semestre, & issint title accrew al Evesque mesine a collater per laps. Et sur cest reason Rebuffus libr. de praxi beneficiorum mist vn rule [Page] quod quando laici patroni non praesentauerint infra tempuc á iure praefixum, ita quod collatio dcuoluta sit ad superiorem per lapsum temporis, Papa de iure prouidere potest, sine derogatione iuris patronatus laicorum.

SEcondment fuit argue per le counsell des defendants, que cest faculty fuit bien execute per acceptance & entre del Evesque en le dit vitarage, sans presentation, institution, ou induction, car ceux acts ou ceremontes ne sont toutfoits de necessity destre vse en conterring d'un personage ou U carage, que poet estre bien tait divers voies sans presentation, institution, & induction. 1. per Roy d'appropriation. 2. per voy de voion. 3. per voy de permutation. 4. per voy de Commendam, & en temps. parabant, quant [...] Pape vsurpoit iurisdiction in Engleterre, fuit vn. 5. voy viz. per voy de Prouision. 1. Quant al appropriation, vid. Plow. Comment. Grendons Case. 500. a. 503. a. ou appurt que ie Roy (que ad sufficient autority a fair teo, come Plow la dit) ad en son patent d'appropriation la, dispense ove admission, institution, & induction, & ad done power al Deane & Chapter de Wigorn a que l'appropriation fuit fait, d'enter en le personage, & de retainer ceo sans auter ceremony & ceo fuit resolve & adiudge bon dispensation en cest case. vid le [...]orme del patent d'appropriation en le dit Case de Grendons Plow. Comment 494. a. & compare ceo ove le faculty supra. Car est graund resemblance, come semble, enter Commendam perpetuam, & appropriation le difference est en le temps de continuance, car Commenda perpetua est durant le vie del commendatary. tantum, & appropriation est en perpetuity,

2 Quant al vnion, vid 11. Henr. 7. 8. ou Chappell esteant plein d'un incumbent fuit vnite al Magdalen Colledge en Oxford, & apres l'incumbent resigne, le President & Schollers entront en le Chappell, sans auter donation ou induction: & ce [...] agree ove Rebuffus in regula de vnionibus ou il dit, possessio apprehendi potest propria authoritate in vnione vid. auxi. 50 Edw. 3. 27. 40. Edw. 3. 48.

3 Quant al permutation, vid. 2. Henr. 4. 11. a. ou est dit. que sur permutation entry est loiall sans pluis, vid. auxi. 21. E. 3. 6. 7. vid. Rebuffus in praxi beneficiorum titulo de collationibus. 663. quot sunt requisita in permutatione beneficiorum.

[Page 82] Et fuit dit, que tiel faculty de prender beneficium vaca [...]rum apres le mort del encumbent, fuit semble al graunt del vn reversion de terre apres le mort del tenant pur vie, en quel case coment que tenant pur vie besoigne d'aver livery de Seisin, vncor le grauntee del reversion apres le mort del tenant put vie poet enter propria auctoritate sans tiel ceremony de livery.

Fuit auxi dit, que la iey dispensera ove formall institution, collation, & induction en cest case, pur ceo que l'Evesque mesme est destre invest en le benefice, & pur ceo son acceptance & entry est sufficient. Come la common ley dispense ove expresse Atturnament, ou reversion est graunt al cesty que doet atturner, & ove actuall delivery del legacy ou legatary est fait executor (que poet auxi payer luy mesme per voy de retainer) & ove assignement de Dower ou feme est gardein en Socage, & voet endower luy mesme de la pluis Beal.

Et sicome en auncient temps prouision del Pape amanto [...] al collation, & sur ceo le prouisor puissoit enter, come est tenus per Plow. en Grendons Case. 500. & 11. Henr. 4. 220. Hankford dit, que prouision est come institution & acceptan [...] come induction: issint cest faculty de prender le benefice, ove acceptance & entry del Evesque, amount al collation & induction.

DArrainment, fuit argue per le counsell des defendants que quant l'Evesque ad enter & occupie cest benefice per vertue de cest faculty, que immediatement l'Esglise fuit fait plein de luy, & issint nul Title de presentation fuit devolve al Roy per lapsum temporis, durant la vie del Evesque.

Et a prover cest darrain point, ils diont que ce [...]y que ad vn benefice per Canonicall title, est plein & perfect incumbent, & l'Esglise est plein de luy. Mes cesty que ad benefice virtute commendae perpetuae ad ceo per Canonicall title, & pur ceo tiel commendatary est plein & perfect incumbent, & l'Esglise est plein de luy. A prover cest argument Linwood. fuit cite de Filiis Presbyt. cap. cum á iu [...]e. verb. vllo titulo, ou il define Canonicall title en cest manner. Titulus Canonicus est ius spirituale, siue causa habendi beneficium [Page] Ecclesiasticum, qui potest esse per viam Institutionis, Collationis, Electionis, Commendae, vel alterius prouisionis. Et in Constitut. Othoboni annex al Linwood. cap. Miserabilis, verb. Commendare, fol. 65. est dit, quod habens commendam habet titulū Canonicum approbatum á iure propter necessitatem vel vtilitatem Ecclesiae, & ideo concessa Commenda Ecclesia non vacat.

Et pur ceo, sicome admission, & institution tantum est bon Title, & fait plenarty enter common persons, & institution & induction ou installation est bon Title vers le Roy. 22. Henr. 6. 27. 44. Ed. 3. 3. & sans tiel Title home navera breefe al Evesque en Quare impedit. 33. Henr. 6. 1. 12. Henr. 4. 11. 22. Henr. 6. 44. 45. 19. Edw. 4. 9. Issint Commenda que amount al admission & institution, & l'entry del Commendatary virtute Commendae est bon Title, & fait plenarty en cest Case Et cest ius spirituale, siue causa habendi beneficium Ecclesiasticum est appe [...]l Title, pur ceo que qui titulum habet ad beneficium come Rebuffus dit, potest nominari & subscribi sub titulo illius beneficii, adeo vt beneficium suum dici possit. Et habet in eo plenum ius, & fructus suos facit, vt maritus habet ius in vxore & omnibus bonis eius.

Mes ou est dit, que home ad Canonicall Title per vertue del Commenda, ceo est destre entend del Commenda perpetua, & nemi del Commenda temporalis. Car Commenda temporalis est forsque sequestration, & poet estre graunt per quescun ordinary pur tempus semestre, come est monstre debant. Et pur ceo tiel Commendatary non est Praelatus, nee Maritus Ecclesiae, nec facit fructus suos, sed est administrator tantum, & custos Ecclesiae. Et tiel Commenda non est titulus, nec facit titulum, sed est quoddam depositum, iusques a ceo que sufficient encumbent soit provide pur l'Esglise, & pur ceo tiel Commenda est communement graunt, quant le patron ne present vn able person, ou quant l'Esglise est litigious.

Mes Commenda perpetua que continew durant le vie del Commendatary, ne poet estre graunt per ascun inferior ordinary, mes solement per le Pape en tiel pais ou il ad iurisdiction, ou per le Roy ou ses Delegates en cest Realme, & cest Commenda est titulus Canonicus, nam militat eadem ratio in perpetuis Commendis quae in aliis titulis libr. 6. de Electionibus cap. Nemo, & issint ad estre sovent [Page 8]foits adiuge in Rota, come Gomes dit, in regula de Triennali possessore ou il argue cest point pro & contra alarge, ou il dit, que le faculty del perpetua Commenda est amplissima dispositio, & habet vbertatem verborum, viz. licentiam & facultatem fructus omnes percipiendi & in proprios vsus conuertendi, &c. Quae verba important collationem & titulum, & non simplex depositum. Et ouster il dit, ille dicitur verus & legitimus titulus qui á lege, vel homine potestatem habente est concessus, & signa veri & legitimi tituli sunt, perpetuitas, & fructuum dispositio, quae duo concurrunt in Commenda perpetua. Il dit auxi la, quod permutatio potest esse de Commenda perpetua ad commendam perpetuam, & de tiel Commenda ad titulum, & quod talis Commendatarius potest locare omni a bona Ecclesiae: quod Commenda est instar Collationis, & sicut reseruatio Papae vacat per Collationem, sie per Commendam perpetuam, secus per temporalem: quodque per Commendam perpetuam beneficium desinit vacare, & fit plenum, quasi per viam Collationis.

Rebuffus auxi in libr de praxi beneficiorum. 135. agree ove Gomes, ou il dit, per mortem Commendatarii perpetui beneficium vacat, non vt prius, sed per mortem, & haee est praxis in Francia. Commenda perpetua permutari potest cum titulo, quod saepius vidi. Commendatarius perpetuus fructus recipit, confert, locat, ac alia omnia facit, sicut habens titulum. Commenda perpetua non potest reuocari.

Fuit ouster note & observe, que en le Canon ley il y ad 2. sorts de Uicarages, Vicaria temporalis, & Viearia perpetua. Vicaria temporalis fuit compare al Commenda temporalis, pur ceo que tiel temporal vicar non habet titulum, sed seruit alieno nomine, & proprié curam non habet. Secus est de Vicaria perpetua, quae est incompatibilis cum alio beneficio & habet curain animarum, & talis Vicarius habet titulum Canonicum, & Quar. impedit gist de tiel perpetuall vicarage. Fitz. N. Br. 32. h. Registr. 31. a. Et tiel vicar avera iuris vtrum de terres annex on done a luy perpetualment, per le Statut de. 14. Edw. 3. cap. 17. vid. 40. Edw. 3. 28. b. ou Finchden dit, que comment que ad estre tenus que vicar navera action de ses possessions vers null person, vncor la ley est change en cest point, & per reason, quant il est endow a luy & ses successors perpetualment.

[Page] Et ceo fuit le substance des arguments ex vtraque parte fait en cest Case. Car nul Idgement est vncor [...] one en ceo. I Atturney generall & Bolton Recorder de Dublin & Oliuer Eustace [...]e Ciuilian suero [...]t a Counsell le o [...]e Clark del Roy & William Talbot, [...]ames Briuer, & Iohn Haly Doctor del Ciuil ley ove les defendants.

[Page 84]

Hill. 4. Iacobi
The Case of Praemunire or The Conuiction and Attainder of Robert Lalor Priest, being endited vppon the statute of 16. Rich. 2. cap 5.

Of what quality, & credit Robert Lalor was. THis Robert Lalor being a Natiue of this Kingdome receaued his Orders of priesthood aboue 30 years since at the hāds of one Richard Brady to whome the Pope had giuen the title of Bishop of Kilmore in V [...]ster, & for the space of twenty yeares together his authority and credit was not [...] within the Prouince of Leinster. Hee had also made his name knowen in the Court of Rome, & held intelligence with the Cardinall who was Protector of this nation, by meanes whereof hee obtained the title and iurisdiction of Vicar generall of the Sea Apostolike within the Archbyshopricke of Dublin, and the Pyshopricks of Kildare, and Fernes. This pretended iurisdiction extending welny ouer all the Prouince of [...]einster, hee exercised boldly and securely many yeares together, vntill the proclamation was published, whereby all Iesuites and Priests ordained by forreine authority were commaunded to depart out of this kingdome by a certaine time prefixed. After which time hee began to lurke & to change his name, howbeit at last he was apprehended in Dublin and committed to prison in the Castle there. His apprehension and first examsnation.Vppon his first examination taken by the Lord Deputie himselfe, hee acknowledged that hee was a Priest and ordained by a popish Titulari Bishop, that hee had accepted the title and Office of the Popes Vicar generall in the. 3. Dioceses before named, and had exercised spirituall iurisdiction in foro conscientia, and in sundry other points hee maintained and iusti [Page] fied the Popes authority, onely hee said, hee was of opinion, that the Pope had no power to excommunicate or depose his Maiestie, because the King is not of the Popes Religion.

His first in [...]ment & conuiction.The next terme after, hee was indicted vppon the statute of 2. Eliz. enacted in this Realme, against such as should wilfullie and aduisedly maintaine and vphould the iurisdiction of any foreine Prince or Prelat in any Causes Ecclesiasticall or Ciuill within this Realme. By which statute the first offence of that kind is punished with losse of goods, and one yeares imprisonment, the second offence incurreth the penaltie of the Praemunire. And the third offence is made high Treason Vppon this Indictment hee was arrained, conuicted, and condemned, and so rested in prison during the next two Tearmes without any further question. His second examination.He then made peticion vnto the Lord Deputie to be set at libertie, wherevppon his Lordship caused him to be examined by Sir Olliuer Seint Iohn, Sir Iames Fullerton, Sit Iefferie Fenton, the Atturney & Solicitor generall At first he made some euasiue and indirect aunsweres, but at last voluntarily, and freely he made this ensuing acknowledgement or confession, which being set downe in writing word for word, as hee made it, was aduisedly read by him and subscribed with his owne hand, and with the hands of those who tooke his examination, and afterwards hee confirmed it by his oath before the Lord Deputie and Connsell.

The confession or acknowledgement of Robert Lalor Priest made the 22. of December. 1606.

His confession or acknowledgement.FIrst hee doth acknowledge that hee is not a lawfull Vicar generall in the Dioceses of Dublin, Kildare, and Fernes, and thinketh in his conscience that hee cannot lawfully take vppon him the said Office.

Item hee doth acknowledge our Soueraigne Lord King Iames that now is, to bee his lawfull, cheefe, and Supreme gouernour, in all causes, as well Ecclesiasticall as Ciuill, and that hee [...]is bound in conscience to obey him in all the said causes, and that neither the Pope, nor any other forreine Prelate, Prince, or Potentate hath any power to controll the King in any cause Ecclesiasticall or Ciuill within this kingdome, or any of his Maiesties Dominions.

Item he doth in his conscience beleeue, that all Bishops ordained and made by the Kings authority within any of his Dominions, are lawfull Bishops, and that no Bishop made by the Pope, or by any authority deriued from the Pope within the Kings Dominions hath any power or authority to impugne disanull, or controll any Act, done by any Bishop made by his Maiesties authority as aforesaid.

[Page 85] Item he professeth himselfe willing and ready to obey the King as a good and obedient Subiect ought to doe, in all his lawfull commaundements, either concerning his function of priesthood, or any other duty belonging to a good subiect.

After this confession made, the State heere had no purpose to proceed against him seuerely, either for his contempt of the proclamation, or offence against the law: So as hee had more liberty then before, and many of his friends had accesse vnto him, who telling him what thy heard of his confession, hee protested vnto them, that hee had onely acknowledged the Kings Ciuill and Temporall power, without any confession or admittance of his authority in spirituall causes. This being reported vnto the Lord Deputie by sundry gentlemen who gaue faith vnto what hee said, his Lordship thought sitt, that since hee had incurred the paine of Praemunire by exercising Episcopall iurisdiction as Vicar generall to the Pope, that hee should bee attainted of that offence, as well to make him an example to others of his profession (for almost in euerie Dioces of this kingdome there is a Titulary Bishop ordained by the Pope) as also, that at the time of his triall a iust occasion might bee taken, to publish the confession and acknowledgment which hee had voluntarily made, signed, and confirmed by oath before the Lord Deputie and Counsell, who haue likewise subscribed their names as witnesles thereof.

The inditement of Lalor vpon the statut of 16 Rich. 2.Heerevppon, in Hillary Tearme 4 Iacobi, an inditement was framed against him in the Kings Bench vppon the statute of 16. Rich. 2. cap. 5. containing these seuerall points.

1 That he had receaued a Bull or Breefe purchased or procured in the Court of Rome, which Bull or Breeue did touch or concerne the Kings Crowne and dignitie Royall, conteining a Commission of Authoritie from the Pope of Rome vnto Richard Brady and Dauid Magragh to constitute a Vicar generall for the Sea of Rome, by the name of the Sea Apostolike, in the seuerall Dioceses of Dublin, Kildare, and Fernes within this Kingdome of Ireland.

2 That by pretext or collour of that Bull or Breeue hee was constituted Vicar generall of the Sea of Rome, and tooke vppon him the stile and title of vicar generall in the said seuerall dioceses.

3 That hee did exercise Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction as Vicar generall of the Sea of Rome, by instituting diuers persons to benefices with cure of soules by graunting dispensations in causes Matrimoniall, by pronouncing sentences of diuorce betwene diuers married persons, and by doing all other actes and things pertayning to Episcopall iurisdiction within the said seuerall Dioceses, against our Souerainge Lord the King his Crowne and dignitie Royall, and in contempt of his Maiestie, and disherison of his Crowne, and contrary to the forme and effect of the statute &c.

To this inditement Lalor pleaded not guiltie, and when the issue was [Page] to bee tried, the name and reputation of the man, and the nature of the cause, drewe all the principall gentlemen both of the Pale and Prouinces that were in towne to the hearing of the matter. At what time a substantiall lury of the Cittie of Dublin being sworne for the triall, and the points of the Inditement being opened and set forth by the Kings Seriant, the Atturney generall thought it not impertinent, but very necessary, before hee descended to the perticular enidence against the prisoner, to informe and satisfie the hearers in two points.

Why Lalor was indited vppon the old statute of 16 R. 2.1 What reason moued vs to grounde this inditement vppon the olde statute of 16 Richard 2. rather then vppon some other later lawe made since the time of King Henr. 8.

2 What were the true causes of the making of this lawe of. 16. Rich. and other former lawes against Prouisors and such as did appeale to the Court of Rome in those times, when both the Prince and people of England did for the most part acknowledge the Pope to be the thirteenth Apostle, and only oracle in matters of Religion, and did followe his doctrine in most of those points, wherein wee now dissent from him.

1 For the first poynt, wee did purposely forbeare to proceede against him vppon any latter law, to the end, that such as were ig [...]onorant, might bee enformed, that long before King Henr 8. was borne, diuers lawes were made, against the vsurpat [...]on of the Bishop of Rome vppon the rights of of the Crowne of England, welny as sharpe and as seuere as any statutes which haue beene made in later times, and that therefore wee made choyse to proceede vppon a lawe made more then 200. yeares past, when the King, the Lords, and Commons which made the lawes, and the Iudges which did interpret the lawes, did for the most part follow the same opinions in Religion, which were taught and held in the Court of Rome.

the tre [...] causeof making the stattute of [...] R 2 & other statuts against pouisors.2 For the second poynt, the causes that moued and almost enforced the English nation to make this, and other statutes of the same nature, were of the greatest importance that could possible arise in any state. For these lawes were made to vphold and maintaine the Soueraingtie of the King, the liberty of the people, the common lawe, and the common-weale, which otherwise had beene vndermined and viterly ruined by the vsurpation of the Bishop of Rome.

For albeit the Kings of England were absolute Emperours within their Dominions, and had vnder them as learned a Prelacie and Cleargie, as valiant and prudent a Nobility, as free and wealthy a Commonalty as any was then in Christendome, yet if wee looke into the stories and records of these two Imperiall kingdomes, wee shall finde, that, if these lawes of Prouision and Praemunire had not beene made, they had lost the name of Imperiall and of Kingdomes too, and had beene long since made Tributary Prouinces to the Bishop of Rome, or rather [Page 86] part of S. Peters patrimony in demesne. Our Kings had had their Scepters wrested out of their hands, their Crownes spurned of from their heads, their neckstrod vppon, they had beene made Laquaies or footmen to the Bishop of Rome, as some of the Emperours and French Kings were, our Prelats had beene made his chaplaines and Clearks, our Nobilitie his vassals and seruants, our Commons his slaues and villaines, if these Acts of manu-mission had not freed them. In a word, before the making of these Lawes, the flourishing Crowne and Common-wealth of England was in extreame danger to haue beene brought into most miserable seruitude and slauery, vnder collour of religion and deuotion to the Sea of Rome. And this was not onely seene and felt by the King, and much repined at, and protested against by the Nobility, but the Commons, the generall multitude of the Subiects did exclame and crie out vppon it. The statuts of praemunire made at praier of the commōsFor the Commons of England may bee an example vnto all other Subiects in the world in this, that they haue euer beene tender and sensible of the wrongs and dishonors offred vnto their Kings, and haue euer contended to vphold and maintaine their honor and Soueraigntie. And their faith and loyaltie hath beene generally such (though euery age hath brought forth some particular monsters of disloyaltie) as no pretence of zeale or religion cold euer withdrawe the greater part of the Subiects to submitt themselues to a foreine yoke, no not when Popery was in her height and exaltation, whereof this Act and diuers other of the same kinde are cleare and manifest testimonies. For this Act of. 16. Richard 2. was made at the prayer of the Commons: which prayer they make not for themselues, neither shew they their owne selfe loue therein (as in other Bills which containe their greeuances) but their loue and zeale to the King and his Crowne. When after the Norman Conquest they importuned their Kings for the great Charter, they sought their owne liberties: and in other bills preferred commonly by the Commons against Shiriffs, Escheators, Purueyors, or the like, they seeke their owne profit and ease: but heere their petition is to the King, to make a lawe for the defence and maintenance of his owne honor. The effect of the statut of. 16. R. 2. cap. 5.They complaine, that by Bulls and processes from Rome the King is depriued of that iurisdiction which belongeth of right to his Imperiall Crowne: that the King doth loose the seruice and counsell of his Prelats, and learned men by translations made by the Bishop of Rome: That the Kings lawes are defeated at his will, the Treasure of the Realme is exhausted and exported to enrich his Court, and that by those meanes the Crowne of England which hath euer beene free, and subiect vnto none, but immediatly vnto God, should be submitted vnto the Bishop of Rome, to the vtter destruction of the King and the whole Realme which God defend, say they: and therevppon out of their exceeding zeale and feruencie they offer to liue and die with the king in defence of the liberties of the Crowne. And [Page] lastly they pray and require the King by way of Iustice, to examine all the Lords in Parliament, what they thought of these manifest wrongs and vsurpations, and whether they would stand with the King in desence of his Royall liberties, or no: which the King did according to their petition: and the Lords Spirituall and Temporall did all answere, that these vsurpations of the Bishop of Rome were against the liberties of the Crowne, and that they were all bound by their alleageance to stand with the King and to mantaine his honor and prerogatiue. And therevppon it was enacted with a full consent of the three Estates, that such as should purchase in the Court of Rome, or elsewhere, any Bulls or Processes or other things which might touch the King in his Crowne and dignitie Royall, and such as should bring them into the Realme, and such as should receaue them, publish them or execute them, they their Notaries, Proctors, Mantainors and Counsellors should bee all out of the Kings protection, their lands and goods forfeited to the King, their bodies attached if they might bee sound, or else processe of Praemunire facias to bee awarded against them. Vppon these motiues, and with this affection and zeale of the people was the statute of 16. Rich 2 made, wherevppon wee haue framed our inditement.

Now let vs looke higher, and see whether the former lawes made by King Edw 3. and King Edw. 1. against the vsurpation of the Bishop of Rome, were not grounded vppon the like cause and reason. The effect of the statut of 38. Edw. 3 cap. 1.The statute of 38. Edw. 3. cap. 1. expressing the mischiefes that did arise by B [...]eues of citation, which drewe the bodies of the people, and by Bulls of prouision and reseruation of Ecclesiasticall benefices which drewe the wealth of the Realme to the Court of Rome, doth declare, that by these meanes the auncient lawes, customes, and franchises of the Realme were consounded, the Crowne of our Soueraigne Lord the King deminished, and his person falsely defamed, the Treasure and riches of the land carried away, the Subiects of the Realme molested and impouerished, the benefices of holy Church wasted and distroyed, Diuine seruice, Hospitalitie, Almesdeeds and other workes of Charitie neglected.

The statute of 27. Ed. 3. cap. 1.Againe 27 Edw 3 cap. 1. vppon the greeuous and clamorous complaint (for that phrase is there vsed) of the great men, and Commons touching Citations and Prouisions, it is enacted, that the offendors shall forfeit their lands, goods, and Chattels, and their bodies bee imprisoned and ransomed at the Kings will. The statute of 25 Ed. 3. reciting the statute of 25. Ed. 1But in the statute of 25. Edw. 3. wherein the first lawe against Prouisors made. 25. Edw. 1. is recited, there is a larger declaration of these inconueniences, then in the two last Actes before mentioned. For there all the Commons of the Realme doe greuously complaine, that where the holy Church of England was first founded in estate of Prelacio by the Kings and Nobilitie of that Realme, and by them endowed with great possessions and reuenewes [Page 87] in lands, rents, and Aduowsons, to the end the people might bee informed in Religion, Hospitality might bee kept, and other works of Charitie might bee exercised within the Realme. And whereas the King and other founders of the said Prelacies were the rightfull Patrons and Adowees thereof, and vppon avoydance of such Ecclesiasticall promotions had power to aduance therevnto their kinsemen, friends, and other learned men of the birth of that Realme, which being so aduanced became able and worthy persons to serue the King in Counsell, and other places in the Common-weale. The Bishop of Rome vsurping the Seigniory of such possessions and benefices did giue and graunt the same to Aliens, which did neuer dwell in England, and to Cardinals which might not dwell there, as if hee were rightfull Patron of those benefices: whereas by the lawe of England hee neuer had right to the Patronage thereof: whereby in short time all the spirituall promotions in the Realme would bee ingrossed into the hands of Strangers, Canonicall Elections of Prelats would be abolished, workes of Charity would cease, the founders & true Patrōs of Churches would be disenherited, the Kings Counsell would bee weak'ned, the whole kingdome impouerished, & the lawes & rights of the Realme destroyed. Vppon this complaint it was resolued in Parliament, that these oppressions & greeuances should not be suffted in any manner: & thereore it was enacted that the King & his Subiects should thenceforth enioy thei rights of Patronage, that free elections of Archbishops, Bishops, and other Prelates electiue should bee made according to the auncient graunts of the Kings progenitors & other founders, that no Bulls of Prouision should be put in execution, but that the Prouisors should be attached fined, & ransomed at the Kings will, & withall imprisoned till they had renounced the benefits of their Bulls, satisfied the partie greeued, and giuen suerties not to committ the like offence againe.

These lawes made by such as did professe the Romish Religion.Nowe, Maister Lalor, what thinke you of these things? did you beleeue that such lawes as these had beene made against the Pope 200. 250. 300. yeares since? was King Henr. 8. the first Prince that opposed the Popes vsurped authority? were our Protestants the first Subiects that euer complained of the Court of Rome? of what Religion, thinke you, were the propoundors and enactors of these lawes? were they good Catholikes? or good Subiects? or what were they? You will not say they were Protestants, for you will not admitt the reformed Religion to bee so auncient as those times, neither can you say they were vndutiefull for they stroue to vpohold their liege Lords Soueraignety. Doubtelesse the people in those daies did generally embrace the vulgar errours and superstitions of the Romish Church, and in that respect were Papists as well as you, but they had not learned the newe doctrine of the Popes Supremacie, and transcendent authority ouer Kings. They did not beleeue hee had power to depose Princes, and discharge Subiects of their alleageance, to abrogate [Page] the fundamentall lawes of kingdomes, and to impose his Canons as binding lawes vppon all nations without their consents: they thought it a good point of Religion to bee good Subiects, to honor their King, to loue their country, and to mantaine the lawes and liberties thereof, howsoeuer in other points they did e [...]re and were mislead with the Church of Rome.

So as now (Maister Lalor) you haue no excuse, no euasion, but your conscience must condemne you as well as the lawe: since the lawemakers in all ages, and all religious Papists and Protestants doe condemne you, vnlesse you thinke your selfe wifer then all the Bishops that were then in England, or all the Iudges who in those daies were learned in the Ciuill and Canon lawes as well as in the Common lawes of England. Lawes against Pro [...]isors made in Ireland.But you, being an Irish man, will say perhaps these lawes were made in England, and that the Irish Nation gaue no particular consent therevnto, onely there was an implicite consent wrapt and folded vp in generall tearmes giuen in the statute of. [...]0. Henr. 7. cap. 22. whereby all statutes made in England are establisht and made of force in Ireland. Assuredly, though the first Parliament held in Ireland, was after the first lawe against Prouisors made in England, yet haue there beene as many particular lawes made in Ireland against Prouisions, Citations, Bulls, and Bre [...]ues of the Court of Rome, as are to bee found in all the Parliament Rolls in England. What will you say if in the selfe same Parliament of. 10. Henr 7. cap. 5. a speciall lawe were made, enacting, authorising, and confirming in this Realme all the statutes of England made against Prouisors? if before this the like lawe were made. 32. Henr. 6. cap 4. and againe. 28 Henr. 6 cap. 30 the like. And before that, the like lawe were made. 40. Edw. 3 cap. 13. in the famous Parliament of Kilkenny. If a statute of the same nature were made. 7. Edw 4. cap 2. and a seuerer lawe then all these. 16. Edw 4 cap. 4. That such as purchase any Bulls of Prouision in the Court of Rome as soone as they haue published or executed the same to the hurt of any incumbent, should bee adiudged traytors: which Act if it bee not repealed by the statute of Queene Mary, may terrifie Maister Lalor more then all the Actes which are before remembred.

But let vs ascend yet higher, to see when the Popes vsurpation, which caused all these complaints began in England, with what successe it was continued, and by what degrees it rose to that heigth, that it weiny ouer topp't the Crowne: whereby it will appeare whether hee had gained a title by prescription by a long and quiet possession, before the making of these lawes.

When the Pope began first to vsurpe vpon theliberties of the Crowne of England.The first encrochment of the Bishop of Rome vppon the liberties of the Crowne of England, was made in the time of King William the Conqu [...]ror. For before that time the Popes writt did not runne in England, his Bulls of excommunication and prouision came not thither, no citation, no appeales were made from thence to the Court of Rome. Our [Page 88] Archbishops did not purchase their Palls there, neither had the Pope the inuestiture of any of our Bishopricks. A comparison of the spirituall Monarchy of y^t Church with the tē porall Monarchies of the world.For it is to bee obserued, that as vnder the Temporall Monarchie of Rome, Brittany was one of the last Prouinces that was wonne, and one of the first that was lost againe, So vnder this spirituall Monarchy of the Pope of Rome, England was one of the last countries of Christendome that receaued his yoke, and was againe one of the first that did reiect and cast it of. And truely, as in this, so in diuers other points, the course of this spirituall Monarchy of the Pope, may bee aptlie compared with the course of the temporall Monarchies of the world. For as the temporall Monarchies were first raised by intrusion vppon other Princes and Common-weales: so did this spirituall Prince (as they now [...] him) growe to his greatnes by vsurping vppon other States and Churches. As the temporall Monarchies, following the course of the Sunne, did rise in the East, and settle in the West, so did the Hierarchie or gouernment of the Church. Of the foure temporall Monarchies the first two were in Asia, the later two in Europe, but the Romane Monarchy did surpasse and suppresse them all: So were there foure great Patriarches or Ecclesiasticall Hierarchies, two in the East, and two in the West, but the Romane Patriarch exalted himselfe and vsurped a Supremacie aboue them all. And as the rising of the Romane Empyre was most opposed by the State of Carthage in Affrica (amula Romae Carthago:) So the Councell of Carthage and the Affrican Bishops did first forbid appeales to Rome, and opposed the Supremacie of the Pope. And doth not Daniels image whose head was of gold, and legges and feete of iron and clay, represent this spirituall Monarchy as w [...]ll as the temporall, whereas the first Bishops of Rome were golden Priests, though they had but wooden Chalices, and that the Popes of later times haue beene sor the most part worldly and earthly minded? And as the Northern Nations first reuolted from the Romane Monarchy, and at last brake it in peeces, haue not the North and Northwest Nations, first fallen away from the Papacie, and are they not like in the end to bring it to ruine?

The Pope had no iurisdiction in England in the time of the Brittons.But to returne to our purpose. The Bishop of Rome before the first Norman Conquest had no iurisdiction in the Realme of England, neither in the time of the Brittons, nor in the time of the Saxons. Eleutherius the Pope within lesse the 200. yeares after Christ, writes to Lucius the Brittish King, and calls him Gods vicar within his kingdome: which title hee would not haue giuen to that King, if himselfe vnder pretence of being Gods Vicar generall in earth had claimed iurisdiction ouer all Christian kingdomes.

Pel [...]gius the Moncke of Bangor about the yeare. 400. being cited to Rome, refused to appeare vppon the Popes citation, affirming that Brittany was neither within his Dioces, nor his prouince.

After that, about the yeare. 600. Augustine the Moncke was sent by Gregory the great into England to conuert the Saxons to Christian [Page] Religion, the Brittish Bishops then remayning in Wales regarded not his Commission nor his doctrine, as not owing any dutie, nor hauing any dependancie on the Court of Rome, but still retained their ceremonies and traditions which they receaued from the East Church vppon the first plantation of the faith in that Iland, being diuers and contrarie to those of the Church of Rome, which Augustine did endeaunor to impose vppon them.

The like doth Beda write of the Irish priests and Bishops▪ For in the yeare 660 hee reporteth, that a conuocation of the Cleargie being called by King Oswif, there rose a disputation betweene Colman one of our Irish Saints, then present in that Synod, and W [...]lfrid a Saxon priest, touching the obseruation of Easter wherein the Brittish and Irish Churches did then differ from the Church of Rome. Colman for the celebration of Easter vsed in Ireland, affirmed it was the same quod beatus Euangelista [...]oannes, discipulus specialiter â Domino dilectus, in omnibus, quibus praerat, Ecclesijs celebrasse legitur. On the other part Wilsrid alleaged that all the Churches of Christendome did then celebrate Easter after the Romane manner, except the Churches of the Brittons and Picts, qui contra totum orbem (said hee) stulto labore pugnant. Wherevnto Colman replied, Miror quar [...] stultum laborem appellas, in quo tanti Apo [...]oli qui super pectus Domini recumbere dignus suit, exempla sectamur. Nunquid reuerendissimum patrem nostrum Columbam, & eius successores, viros à Deo dilectos diu [...]nis pag [...]s contraria sapuisse aut egisse credendum est? In this disputation or dialogue, two things may bee obserued: first, that at this time the authority of the Bishop of Rome was of no estimation in these Ilands: next, that the Primitiue Churches of Bri [...]tany and Ireland were instituted according to the forme and discipline of the East Churches, and not of the West, and planted by the disciples of Iohn, and not of Peter. Thus much for the time of the Brittons. The Pope had no iurisdiction in England in the time of the Saxons.For the Saxons, though King Ina gaue the Peter pence to the Pope partly as Almes, and partly in recompence of a house erected in Rome for entertainment of English pilgrimes, yet it is certaine, that Alfred, and Athelstane, Edgar and Edmund, Canutus, and Edward the Consessor and diuers other Kings of the Saxon race did giue all the Bishopricks in England Per annulum & baculum without any other ceremony, as the Emperour and the French King, and other Christian Princes were wont to doe. They made also seuerall lawes for the gouernment of the Church: Among others Saint Edward begins his lawes with his protestation, that it is his Princely charge Vt populum Domini, & super omnia, sanctam Ecclesiam regat & guber [...]et. And King Edgar in his Oration to his English Cleargie, Eg [...] (saieth hee) Constantini, vos Petri gladium habetis: iungamus dextras, & gladium gladio copulemus, vt ci [...]ciantur extra Castra leprosi, & purgetur sanctuarium Domini. So as the Kings of England with their owne Cleargie did gouerne the Church, and therein sought no ayd of the Court of Rome. And the troth is, that though the Pope had then long hands, yet hee [Page 89] did extend them so farre as England, bycause they were full of businesse neerer home in drawing the Emperour and the French King, vnder his yoke. The first vsurpatiō of the Pope vpon the crowne began in the time of king William the Cō querour.But vppon the conquest made by the Norman hee apprehended the first occasion to vsurpe vppon the liberties of the Crowne of England. For the Conqu [...]rour came in with the Popes Banner, and vnder it wonne the battaile which gott him the garland: and therefore the Pope presumed hee might boldly plucke some flowers from it, being partly gained by his countenance and blessing. Heerevppon hee sent two Legates into England, which were admitted and receaued by the Conquerour. With them hee called a Synod of the Clergie, and deposed old Stigand Archbishop of Canterbury, bycause he had not purchased his Pal in the Court of Rome. hee displaced many Bishops and Abbots to place his Normans in their Romes. By sending Legates into England And amongst the the rest it is to bee noted, that the King hauing earnestly moued Wolstan Bishop of Worcester, being then very aged, to giue vp his staffe, his answere was, that hee would giue vp his staffe onely to him of whome hee first receaued the same. Inter Epist. Lanfr Archiepiscopi Cant. M. S. in Archi [...]. Robert Co [...] [...]on Eq. Aur.And so the old man went to Sanit Edwards Tombe, and there offred vp his staffe and Ring, with these words, Of thee, O holy Edward I receaued my staffe and my Ring, and to thee I doe now surrender the same againe: which p [...]oues, that before the Norman Conquest the King did inuest his Bishops per annulum & baculum, as I said before.

In the time of William Ruffus the Pope attēpted to draw appeales to Rome but pr [...]uailed not.Thus wee see by the admission of the Popes Legates, the first step or entrie made into his vsurped iurisdiction in England. Albeit the King still retained the absolute power of inuesting Bishops, and seemed onely to vse the aduise and assistance of the Legates in Ecclesiasticall matters, for that no dec [...]ee passed, or was put in execution, without his Royall assent therevnto. Besides, how farre forth hee submitted himselfe to the Pope, it appeareth by a short Epistle which hee wrote to Gregory the. 7. in this forme. Excellentissimo sanctae Ecclesiae Pastori Greg [...]rio, gratia Dei anglorum Rex, & Dux Normannorum Willielmus, salutem cum A [...]icitia, Hubertus Legatus t [...]us, Religiose Pater, ad me ve [...]iens ex tua parte me admonuit, vt tibi & successoribus tuis fid [...]l [...]tatem facerem, & de pecunia quam antecessores mei ad Roman [...] Ecclesiam [...]ere solebant, melius cogi [...]arem. Vnum admisi, alterum non admis [...]. fidelitatem facere nolui, nec volo, quia [...]c ego promisi, ncc antecessores [...]os antecessoribus tuis id secrsse comperio. Pecu [...]ia tribus ferè annis, in Gallijs me agente, negligentur collecta est, nunc v [...]ro di [...]ina misericordia me in Regnum meum reuers [...], quod Collectum est per praefatum Legatum mittetur, & quod reliquum est, per Legatos Lan [...]ranci Archichiscopi [...]delis nostri, cum opportunum fuerit, transmittetur, &c.

But in the time of his next successor King William Rufus they attempted to passe one degree farther, that is to drawe appeales to the Court of Rome. For Anselme being made Archbishop of Cauterbury, and being at some difference with the King, besought his leaue to goe to Rome, vnder pretence of fetching his Pall. The King knowing [Page] hee would appeale to the Pope, denied him leaue to goe, and withall told him, that none of his Bishops ought to bee subiect to the Pope, but the Pope himselfe ought to bee subiect to the Emperour, and that the King of England had the same absolute liberties in his Dominions, as the Emperour had in the Empyre: And that it was an auncient custome and lawe in England, vsed time out of minde before the Conquest that none might appeale to the Pope without the Kings leaue, and that hee that breaketh this lawe or custome doth violate the Crowne and dignitie Royall, and hee that violates my Crowne (saieth hee) is mine enemie, and a traytor. How answere you this, quoth the King? Christ himselfe answeres you, saith the Archbishop, Tu es Petrus, & super hanc petram, &c. Wherewith the King was nothing satisfied: And therevppon Anselme departing out of the Realme without licence, the King seised his temporalities, and became so exasperate and implacable towards the Bishop, as hee kept him in perpetuall exile during his Raigne, albeit great intercession were made for his returne, as well by the Pope as the King of France. In the time of king Hē ry the first the Pope vsurpeth the donation of Bishopricks &c.In the time of the next King Henr 1. though hee were a learned and a prudent Prince, yet they sought to gaine a further point vppon him, and to plucke a flower from his Crowne of greater value, namely the patronage and donation of Bishoprickes, and all other benefices Ecclesiasticall. For Anselme being reuok't and reestablished in the Sea of Canterbury, the Bishoprickes of Salisbury, and Hereford fell voyd, which the King bestowed vppon two of his Chapleins. But Anselme their Metropolitane did refuse to consecrate them, so as the Archbishop of Yorke was faine to performe that Office, who with the Chiefe of the English Cleargie stoode with the King, and withstoode Anselme. Herevppon the King requires him to doe his homage: the Bishop denies it: the King demaunds of him whether the patronage and inuestiture of all Bishoprickes were not his rightfull enheritance: the Bishop said it was not his right, bycause Pope Vrban had lately made a decree that no lay person should giue any Ecclesiasticall benefice. This was the first question that euer was made touching the King of Englands right of patronage, and donation of Bishoprickes within his dominions. This new question caused many messages and ambassages to Rome. Histor. Ioranalensis. M. S in Archiu. Rob. Cotton Eq. Aur. At last the King writes plainely to the Pope, Notum habeat sanctitas vestra, quod me viuente (Deo auxiliante) dignitates & vsus regni nostri non minuentur, & si ego (quod absit) in tanta me dei [...]ctione ponerem, magnates mei, imo totius Anglia populus id nullo modo pateretur. Besides, William de Warrenast the Kings procurator in the Court of Rome, told the Pope that the King would rather loose his kingdome then hee would loose the donation of Bishoprickes. The Pope answered, knowe you precisely Sir, I speake it before God, that for the redemption of my head I would nor suffer him to enjoy it.

After this, Anselme being receaued into the Kings fauour, in a Synod [Page 90] of the English Cleargie holden at London in the yeare. 1107. a decree was made, Cui annuit Rex Henricus, saith Matth. Paris. that from thenceforth nunquam per donationem Baculi Pastoralis vel annuli quisquam de Episcopatu, vel Abbathia per Regem, vel quanlibet laicam manum inuestiretur in Anglia. In recompence whereof, the Pope yeelded this fauour to the King, that thenceforth no Legate should bee sent from the Popes side into England, vnlesse the King required it: and that the Archbishop of Canterbury for the time being should bee for euer Legatus natus, and Anselme for the honor of his Sea, obtained, that the Archbishop of Canterbury should in all generall Councells sit at the Popes foote tanquam alterius orbis Papa. Notwithstanding, as the succeding Popes kept not their promise touching the sending of Legates, so this selfe same King, after the death of Anselme, broke the decree touching the inuestiture of the Bishops. For hee gaue the Archbishopricke of Canterbury to Rodolph Bishop of London, saieth Matth. Paris. Et illum per annulum & Pastoralem baculum inuestiuit, as before hee had inuested Willielmum Gifford in the Bishopricke of Winchester, contra noui Concilij statuta as the same author reporteth.

In the time of King Stephen the Pope gained appeales to the Court of Rome.The times of the next succeeding King Stephen were full of Ciuill dissentions, which made the land welny waste so as Saint Peters successor could not take any fish in such troubled waters. Yet during this Kings raigne they wonne that point of iurisdiction which they attempted to gett, but failed thereof, in the time of King William Ruffus: namely, that appeales might bee made to the Court of Rome. For in a Synod at London summoned by Henr. Bishop of Winchester the Popes Legate, it was decreed, that appeales should bee made from Prouinciall Councells to the Pope: before that time appellationes in vsu non erant, saieth a Moncke of that time, Donec Henricus Winton Episcopus malo suo dum Legatus esset, crudeliter intrusit. Thus did the Pope vsurp three maine points of iurisdiction vppon three seuerall Kings after the Conquest (for of William Ruffus hee could winne nothing) namely vppon the Conquerour, the sending of Legates or Commissioners to heare and determine Ecclesiasticall causes, vppon Henr. 1. the donation and inuestitures of Bishoprickes and other benefices, vppon King Stephan the appeales to the Court of Rome.

In the time of King Hē ry. 2. the Pope claymed exemption of Clarkes from the secular power.Now are wee come to king Henr. 2. in whose time they made a further encroachment vppon the Crowne, whereby they endeauored to make him but halfe a king, and to take away halfe his Subiects by exempting all Clarkes from secular power. A breefe of [...]h Beckets troubles or rather treasons.Here vppon rose that long and great contention betweene King Henr. 2. and Thomas Becket, which on Beckets behalfe may bee rightly termed rebellion and treason: the iust cause and ground whereof was the same, that made the late difference betweene the Pope and the Venetians. For a priest had committed a fowle murder, and being thereof indicted and conuicted, prayed the benefit of his Cleargie, which being allowed vnto [Page] him, hee was deliuered to the Bishop of Salisbury being his ordinary, to make his purgation: which the murderer failing to doe, should by the lawe haue beene degraded, and deliuered backe to the secular power. But the Bishop contemning the lawe of the land, to enlarge the liberties of the Church, sent his prisoner to Thomas Becket then Archbishop of Canterbury who shifted him into an Abbey, and so rescued him for the capitall punishment hee had iustly deserued.

This gapp of impunitie being once opened, the Cleargie grew so outragious, as the King was enformed of a hundred murders committed by Clarkes, and yet not one of them executed for the same, for that the Archbishop had protected them all after the same manner. For this the King was iustly incensed against the Archbishop, who iustified his doing herein. The constitutions of Claringdon Wherevppon a common counsell as well of the Bishops, as of the Nobilitie was called, wherein they did reuiue and reestablish the auncient lawes and customes of the kingdome for the gouernment of the Cleargie, and ordering of causes Ecclesiasticall, whereof these were the principall heads or articles.

1 That no Bishop, nor Clarke should depart the Realme without the Kings licence, and that such as obtained licence, should giue suerties that they should procure no hurt or domage to the King or Realme during their absence in forein parts.
2 That all Bishoprickes and Abbeyes being voyd should remaine in the Kings hands as his owne demesnes, vntill hee had chosen and appointed a Prelate therevnto, and that euerie such Prelate should doe his homage to the King before hee were admitted vnto the place.
3 That appeales should bee made in causes Ecclesiasticall in this manner: from the Archedeacon to the Ordinary, from the Ordinary to the Metropolitane, from the Metropolitane to the King, and no further.
4 That Peter pence should bee paid no more to the Pope but to the King.
5 That if any Clarke should committ felony hee should bee hanged, if treason hee should bee drawne and quatered.
6 That it should bee adiudged high treason to bring in Bulls of Excommunication whereby the Realme should bee cursed.
7 That no decree should bee brought from the Pope to bee executed in England vppon paine of imprisonment, and confiscation of goods.

To these and other Constitutions of the like nature made at Claringdon, all the rest of the Bishops and great men did subscribe and bound themselues by oath to obserue the same absolutly, onely the Archbishop would not subscribe, and sweare but with a Sauing, saluosuo ordine & bonore sancte Ecclesi [...]. yet at last hee was content to make the like absolute subscription and oath as the rest had done, but presently hee repented, and to shewe his repentance suspended himselfe from celebrating [Page 91] Masse, till he had receaued absolution from the Pope. Then he began to maintaine and iustifie the exemption of Clarkes againe: whereat the Kings displeasure was kindled a new: and then the Archbishop once againe promised absolute obedience to the Kings lawes. (See the ficklenes & mutability of your constant Martyr.) The King to bind fast this slippery Proteus, called a Parliament of the Bishops and Barons, and sending for the Roll of those lawes, required all the Bishops to set their seales therevnto. They all assented, but the Archbishop, who protested he would not set his seale, nor giue allowance to those lawes. The King being highly offended with his rebellious demeanor, required the Barons in Parliament to giue Iudgement of him, who being his subiect would not be ruled by his lawes: Cito facite mihi iustitiam de illo, qui homo meus ligeus est, & stare Iuri in Curia mearecusat. Wherevppon the Barons proceeding against him, & being ready to condemne him: I prohibit you (quoth the Archbishop) in the name of Almighty God to proceed against mee, for I haue appealed to the Pope: and so departed in contempt of that high Court, Omnibus clamantibus saith Houenden, quo progrederis proditor? expecta & audi iudicium tuum. After this he lurked secretly neere the Sea shore, and changing his apparell and name (like a Iesuit of these times) he tooke shipping with a purpose to flie to Rome, but his passage being hindred by contrary windes, hee was summoned to a Parliament at Northampton, where he made default wilfully, for which contempt, his temporalties were seised, and his body being attacht, he was charged with so great an account to the King, as that he was found in arreare thirty thousand markes, and committed to prison, whence hee found meanes to escape shortly after, and to passe out of the Realme to Rome. Hee was no sooner gone but the King sends writts to all the Shiriffs in England to attach the bodies of all such as made any appeales to the Court of Rome: herevppon many messages and letters passing to & froe, all the suffragans of Canterbury ioyne in a letter to the Pope, wherein they condemne the fugitiue Archbishop, and iustifie the Kings proceedings. Vppon this the Pope sends two Legates to the King being then in Normandy to mediate for the Archbishop. They with the mediation of the French King, preuailed so farre with King Henry, as that he was pleased to accept his submission once againe, and promised the King of France, that if he would be obedient to his lawes, he should enioy as ample liberties as any Archbishop of Canterbury euer had: and so sent him into England with recommendation vnto the young King his Sonne then lately Crowned, who hearing of his comming commaunded him to forbeare to come to his presence, vntill he had absolued the Archbishop of Yorke & others whome he had excommunicated for performing their duties at his Coronation. The Archbishop returned answere that they had done him wrong in vsurping his office, yet if they would take a solmne oath to become obedient to the Popes commaundement in all things concerning the Church, he would absolute them. The Bishops vnderstanding [Page] this, protested they would neuer take that oath vnlesse the King willed them so to doe. King Henry the father being hereof aduertised into France, did rise into great passion and choler, and in the hearing of some of his seruants vttered words to this effect: Will no man reueng mee of mine enemies. Wherevppon the foure Gentlemen named in the storyes of that time passed into England, and first mouing the Archbishop to absolue the Bishops whome he had excommunicated for performing their duties at the young Kings Coronation: and receauing a peremptory answere of deniall from the Archbishop, they laid violent hands vppon him, and slew him, for which the King was faine not onely to suffer corporall pennance, but in token of his humiliation to kisse the knee of the Popes Legate. And this is the abridgement of Beckets troubles, or rather treasons, for which he was celebrated for so famous a Martyr. Foure points of iurisdiction vsurped vppon the crowne of England by the Pope before the raigne of K. Iohn.And thus you see, by what degrees the Court of Rome did within the space of one hundred and odd yeares, vsurpe vppon the Crowne of England foure points of Iurisdiction, viz. First sending of Legats into England. Secōdly drawing of appeales to the Court of Rome. Thirdly donation of bishopricks and other Ecclesiasticall benefices, and fourthly exemption of Clarkes from the secular power. And you see withall, how our Kings and Parliaments haue from time to time opposed and withstood this vniust vsurpation.

Now then the Bishop of Rome hauing claimed and welny recouered full and sole iurisdiction in all causes Ecclesiasticall, and ouer all persons Ecclesiasticall, with power to dispose of all Ecclesiasticall benefices in England, whereby he had vppon the matter made an absolute conquest of more then halfe the kingdome (for euerie one that could read the Psalme of Miserere was a Clarke, & the Cleargie possessed the moytie of all temporall possessions. There remained now nothing to make him owner and proprietor of all, but to ge [...] a surrender of the Crowne, and to make the King his Farmer, and the people his Villaines, which he fully accomplisht and brought to passe in the times of King Iohn, and of Henr. 3.

The cause of the quarrell betweene K. Iohn & the Pope.The quarrell betweene the Pope and King Iohn which wrested the Sceptor out of his hand, and in the end brake his heart, began about the election of the Archbishop of Canterbury. I call it election, and not donation, or inuestiture: for the manner of inuesting of Bishops by the Staffe and Ring after the time of King Henr. 1. was not any more vsed, but by the Kings licence they were Canonically elected, and being elected the King gaue his Roiall assent to their election, and by restitution of their temporalties did fully inuest them. And though this course of election began to be in vse in the time of Rich. 1. and Henr. 2. Yet I finde it not confirmed by any Constitution or Charter before the time of King Iohn, who by his Charter dated the fifteenth of Ianuary, in the sixteenth yeare of his Raigne graunted this priuiledge to the Church of England in these words, viz. Quod qualiscunque consuetudo temporibus praedecessorum [Page 92] [...]ostrorum hactenus in Ecclesia Anglicana fuerit obs [...]r [...]t [...], & quidquid iuris n [...] bis hactenus vindicauerimus, de caetero in vniuersis & singulis Ecclesijs & Monasterijs, Cathedralibus & Conuentualibus, totius regni Angliae liberae sint in perpetuum electiones, quorumcumque Praelatorum ma [...]orum & minorum.When C [...] nicall election began first in England.Salua nobis & haer [...]dibus nostris custodia Ecclesiarum & Monasteriorum vacantium quae [...]d nos pertinent. Promittimus etiam quod nec impediemus nec impediri permittemus per ministros nostros, nec procurabimus, quin in vniu [...]rsis & singulis Monasterijs & Ecclesijs postquā vacaucrint praelaturae, quem [...]que voluerint liberé sibi praeficiā [...] electores Pastorum, petita tamen à nobis prius & haeredibus nostris licentia eligendi quam non denegabimus nec differemus: Et similiter post celebratam electionem, nosler requiratur assensus, quem non denegabimus, nisi aduersus [...]andem rationale proposuerimus, & legitimè probauerimus propter quod non debemus consentire, &c.

But to returne to the cause of his great quarell with the Pope. The Sea of Canterbury being voyd, the Monkes of Canterbury sudenly and secretly without the Kings licence elected one Reignold their Subprior to be Archbishop, who immediatly posted away to be confirmed by the Pope. But when hee came there, the Pope reiected him bycause he came not recommended from the King. Here vppon the Monkes made suite to the King to nominate some fitt person to whose election they might proceed. The King commends Iohn Gray Bishop of N [...]rwich his principall Counsellor, who was afterward Lord Iustice of this kingdome, who with a full consent was elected by them, and afterwards admitted and fully inuested by the King. These two elections bred such a controuersie, as none might determine but the Pope, who gaue a short rule in the Case, for he pronounced both elections void, and caused some of the Monkes of Canterbury who were thē present in the Court of Rome, to proceed to the election of Stephan Langton, lately made Cardinall at the motion and suite of the french King: who being so elected was forthwith confirmed and consecrated by the Pope, & recommended to the King of England with a flattering letter, and a present of foure Rings set with precious stones, which were of great value & estimation in those daies. King Iohns round and Kingly letter to the Pope.Howbeit the King more esteeming this Iewell of the Crowne, namely, the patronage of Bishoprickes, returned a round and Kingly answere to the Pope, that inconsideratly & rashly he had cassed and made void the election of the Bishop of Norwich, and had caused one Langton a man to him vnknowen, and bred vp and nourish't amongst his mortall enemies, to be cōsecrated Archbishop, without any due forme of election, and without his Roiall assent, which was most of all requisite by the auncient lawes and customes of his Realme. That he merueiled much, that the Pope himself & the whole Court of Rome did not consider, what a precious account they ought to make of the King of Englands friendship, in regard that his one kingdome did yeeld them more profit and reuenew then all the other countries on this side the Alpes. To conclude, he would maintaine the liberties of his Crowne to the death, he would restraine all his subiects from going to Rome. And since the Archbishops [Page] Bishops and other Prelates within his dominions were as learned and religious as any other in Christendome, his subiects should bee iudged by them in Ecclesiasticall matters, and should not need to runn out of their owne countrey, to beg Iustice at the hands of strangers.

The Pope curseth the King, & interdicteth the realme.But what followed vppon this? The Pope after a sharpe replie, sendeth forth a Bull of malediction against the King, and of interdiction against the Realme, whereby all the Churches in England were shut vp, the priests and religious persons were forbidden to vse any Liturgies, or diuine seruice, to marry, to bury, or to performe any Christian duety among the people. This put the King into such a rage, that he on the other part seised the temporalties of all Bishops and Abbots, and confiscated the goods of all the Cleargie. Then doeth the Pope by a solemne sentence at Rome depose the King, and by a Bull sent into England dischargeth his subiects of their allegeance, and by a legate sent to the King of France gaue the kingdome of England to him and his successors for euer.

These things brought such confusion and miserie to all estates and degrees of people in England, as the King became odious to all his subiects, as well to the Laytie as to the Cleargie. For as the Bishops and religious people cursed him abroad, so the Barons tooke armes against him at home, till with much bloudshed they forced him by graunting the great Charter to restore King Edwards lawes containing the aun [...]ient liberties of the subiects of England. The Pope being a spectator of this Tragedy, and seeing the King in so weake and desperate estate, sent a Legate to comfort him, and to make a reasonable motion vnto him; to witt, that hee should surrender and giue vp his Crowne and kingdome to the Pope, which should bee regraunted vnto him againe to hold in Feefarme and vassallage of the Church of Rome: And that therevppon the Pope would blesse him and his Realme againe, and curse his rebells and enemies in such sort as he should be better establisht in his kingdome then he was before. King Iohn sendeth his crowne to the Pope & became his farmer.In a word, this motion was presently embraced by that miserable King, so as with his owne hands hee gaue vp the Crowne to the Popes legate, and by an instrument or Charter sealed with a Bull or seale of gold, he graunted to God and and the Church of Rome the Apostles Peter and Paule and to Pope Innocent the third and his successors the whole kingdome of England, and the whole kingdome of Ireland; and tooke backe an estate thereof by an instrument sealed with Lead, yeelding yearely to the Church of Rome ouer and aboue the Peter pence a thousand markes sterling, viz. seuen hundred markes for England, and three hundred markes for Ireland; with a flattering sauing of all his liberties and Royalties. The Pope had no sooner gotten this conueyance, though it were void in law, but he excommunicateth the Barons, and repeales the great Charter, affirming that it contained liberties too great for his subiects, calls the King his vassall, and these kingdomes Saint Peters patrimony, [Page 93] graunts a generall Bull of Prouision for the bestowing of all Ecclesiasticall benefices, & takes vppon him to be absolute and immediate Lord of all. And thus vnder colour of exercising iurisdiction within these kingdomes, the Pope by degrees, gott the very kingdomes themselues. And so would hee doe at this day, if the King would giue way to his iurisdiction.

In the time of King H. 3 the Pope conuerteth the whole profits of both realmes to his owne vse.But what vse did the Pope make of this graunt and surrender of the Crowne vnto him? what did hee gaine by it, if our Kings retained the profits of their kingdomes to their owne vse? Indeed wee doe not finde, that the Feefarme of a thousand markes was euer payd, but that it is all runn in arreare till this present day. For the troth is, the Court of Rome did scorne to accept so poore a reuenew as a thousand markes per annum out of two kingdomes. But after the death of King Iohn, during all the raigne of Henr 3 his Sonne, the Pope did not claime a Se [...]gniory or a rent out of England and Ireland, but did endeauour to conuert all the profits of both lands to his owne vse, as if hee had beene [...]sed of all in deme [...]ne▪ For whosoeuer will read Matth. Paris. his story of the time of King Henr. 3. will say these things spoken of before, were but the beginnings of euils. For the exactions and oppressions of the Court of Rome were so continnuall and intolerable, as that poore Monke who liued in those times▪ though otherwise hee adored the Pope, doth call England Baalams asse loaden, beaten and enforced to speake doth call the Court of Rome Charybdis and barathrum auaritiae, the Popes Collectors Harpies, and the Pope himselfe a stepfather and the Church of Rome a stepmother. Hee sheweth that two third parts of the land being then in the hands of Churchmen, the entier profits thereof were exported to enrich the Pope, and the Court of Rome which was done for the most part by these two waies and meanes. First by con [...]erring the best Ecclesiasticall benefices vppon Italians, and other strangers [...] entan that Court, whose farmers and factors in England tooke the prosits, turned them into money, and returned the money to Rome. Secondly by imposing continuall taxes and tallages (worse then Irish [...]uttings) being sometimes the tenth, sometimes the fifteenth, sometimes the third, sometimes the moytie of all the goods both of the Cleagie and Laytie, vnder colour of maintaining the Popes holy warres against the Emperour, and the Greeke Church, who were then said to bee in rebellion against their Lady and mistresse the Church of Rome. Besides for the speedy leuying and safe returne of these monyes the Pope had his Lumbards and other Italian Bankers and vsurers resident in London and other parts of the Realme, who offered to lend and disburse the moneys taxed, and returne the same by exchange to Rome, taking such penall bands, the forme whereof is set downe in Matth. Paris and such excessiue vsury, as the poore religious houses were faine to sell their Chalices and Copes, and the rest of the cleargie and la [...]ty had their backes bowed, and their estates broken vnder [Page] the burthen. Besides the Pope tooke for perquisits and casualties, the goods of all clarkes that died intestate, the goods of all vsurers, and all goods giuen to charitable vses. Moreouer he had a swarme of Friers (the first corruptors of religion in England) who perswaded the nobility and gentry to put on the signe of the Crosse, and to vow themselues to the holy warres, which they had no sooner done, but they were againe perswaded to receaue dispensations of their vowes, and to giue money for the same to the church of Rome. I omitt diuers other policies then vsed by the Popes collectors to exhaust the wealth of the Realme, which they affirmed they might take with as good a conscience as the Hebrewes tooke the Iewells of the Egiptians. Breefely whereas the King had scarce meanes to maintaine his Ro [...]all famely, they receaued out of England seuenty thousand pounds sterling at least yearely, which amounteth to two hundred and ten thousand pounds sterling of the moneys currant at this day. Besides they exported sixe thousand markes out of Ireland at one time, which the Emperour Fredericke intercepted. Lastly the King himselfe was so much deiected, as at a Royall feast hee placed the Popes legate in his owne Chaire of Estate, himselfe sitting on his right hand, and the Bishop of Yorke on his left, non sine multorum obliquantibus oculis, saieth Matth. Paris.

Thus we see the effect of the Popes pretended iurisdiction within the dominions of the King of England. Wee see to what calamity and seruitude it then reduced both the Prince and people. Was it not therefore high time to meet and oppose those inconueniences? Assuredly if King Edward. 1. who was the Sonne and heire of He [...]r. 3. had enherited the weaknes of his father, and had not resisted this vsurpation and insolencie of the Court of Rome▪ the Pope had beene proprietor of both these Ilands, and there had beene no King of England at this day.

King Edw. 1. opposeth the Popes [...]surpation.But King Edward. 1. may well be styled vindex Anglicae libertatis, the Moses that deliuered his people from slauerie and oppression: and as he was a braue and victorious Prince, so was he the best P [...]ter patriae that euer raigned in England since the Norman Conquest, till the Coronation of our gracious Soueraigne. At the time of the death of his fathet hee was absent in the warre of the holy land, being a principall commaunder of the▪ Christian armie there, so as he returned not before the second yeare of his raigne. But he was no sooner returned and crowned, but the first worke he did, was to shake of the yoke of the Bishop of Rome. For the Pope hauing then summoned a generall Counsell, before he would licence his Bishops to repaire vnto it, he tooke of them a solemne oath, that they should not receaue the Popes blessing. Againe the Pope forbidds the King to warre against Scotland the King regards not his prohibition: he demaunds the first fruits of Ecclesiasticall liuings, the King forbidds the payment thereof vnto him. The [Page 94] Pope sendeth forth a generall Bull prohibiting the cleargie to pay subsidies or tributes to temporall Princes. A tenth was graunted to the King in Parliament, the cleargie refused to pay it: the King seiseth their temporalties for their contempt, and gott payment notwithstanding the Popes Bull. After this he made the statute of Mor [...]main, whereby hee brake the Popes chiefe nett, which within an age or two more would haue drawen to the Church all the temporall possessions of the kingdome, &c. Againe, one of the Kings subiects brought a Bull of excōmunication against another, the King cōmaundeth he should be executed as a traytor, according to the auncient law. But because that law had not of long time beene put in execution the Chauncellor & Treasurer kneeld before the King and obtained grace for him, so as he was onely banished out of the Realme. And as he iudged it treason to bring in Bulls of excommunication, so he held it a high contempt against the Crowne, to bring in Bulls of Prouision, or breeses of citation, and accordingly the law was so declared in Parliament. 25. Edw. 1. which was the first statute made against Prouisors, the execution of which law, during the life of King Edw. 1. did welny abolish the vsurped iurisdiction of the Court of Rome, and did reuiue and restore againe the auncient and absolute Soueraigntie of the King and Crowne of England.

His successor King Edw. 2. being but a weake Prince, the Pope attempted to vsurpe vppon him againe, but the Peeres and people withstood his vsurpation: E. 2. suffereth the pope to vsurp [...] againe. And when that vnhappy King was to bee deposed▪ among many articles framed against him by his enemies, this was one of the most heynous, that he had giuen allowance to the Popes Bulls.

Againe, during the minority of King Edw. 3. and after that, in the heat of the warres in France, the Pope sent many Breefes and Bulls into England, and at last presumed so farre, as that he gaue an Italian the title of a Cardinall in England, and withall by his Bull gaue him power to bestow all Ecclesiasticall promotions as they should fall void from time to time. E. 3. resisteth the vsur pation of the pope.This moued the King and Nobility to write to the Pope, to this effect: wee & our auncestors haue richly indowed the Church of England, and haue founded Abbeyes & other religious houses for the instruction of our people, for maintenance of hospitality, and for the aduancement of our countrymen and kinsmen. Now you prouide and place strangers in our benefices, that come not to keepe residence there vppon, and if they come, vnderstand not our language, and some of them are subiects to our mortall enemies: by reason whereof our people are not instructed, hospitalitie is not kept, our schollers are vnpreferred, & the treasure of the Realme is exported. The Pope returneth answere, that the Emperour had lately submitted himselfe to the Church of Rome in all points, and was become the Popes great friend, and in menacing manner aduised the King of England to doe the like. The [Page] King replies, that if the Emperour and french King both should take his part, he was ready to giue battaile to both, in defence of the liberties of his Crowne. Herevppon the seuerall statutes against prouisors besore recited, were put in execution so seuerely, as the King and his subiects enioyed their right of patronage cleerely, and their exemption of clarkes tooke no place at all, for that the Abbot of Waltham, and Bishop of Winchester were both attainted of high contempts, and the Bishop of Ely of a capitall offence, as appeareth in the Records of this Kings raigne. King Rich. 2.Yet during the nonage of Richard. 2. they began once againe to encroach vppon the crowne by sending Legates, and Bulls and breefes into England, whereof the people were so sensible and impatient, as that at their speciall prayer this law of 16. Rich. 2. Wherevppon our indictment is framed, was enacted, being more sharpe and penall, then all the sormer statutes against prouisors. And yet against this King, as against Edw. 2. it was obiected at the time of his depriuation, that he had allowed the popes bulls to the enthralling of the Crowne.

Aster this in the weake time of King Henr. 6. they made one attempt more to reuiue their vsurped iurisdiction, by this policy. The Commons had denied the King a Subsidy, when he stood in great want of monyes. The Archbishop of Canterbury & the rest of the Bishops offered the King a large supp [...]e of his wants if hee would consent, that all the lawes against prouisors▪ and specially this law of 16 Rich. 2. might be repealed, But H [...]frey Duke of [...]c [...]ster, who had lately before cast the popes Bull into the si [...]e, did likewise cause this motion to be reiected: So as by speciall prouidence these lawes haue stood in force euen till this day in both these kingdomes.

The euidēce against Lalor.Then the Atturney generall descended to the euidence, whereby hee proued fully all the partes of the indictement. First, it was proued by Lalors owne confession vppon seuerall examinations taken besore the Lord Deputie, and Lord Chauncellor and others, that he had accepted the office and title of Vicar generall in the Dioceses of Dublin, Kildare, and Fernes, by vertue of the popes Bull. Secondly, it appeared by the copies of sundry letters found among his papers at his apprehension, that he styled himselfe the popes Vicar in this forme. Robertus Dublinien. & Kildaren. & Fernen D [...]o [...]s. Vicarius Apostolicus. Thirdly there were produced the copies of diuers Acts, and Instruments, written for the most part with La [...]ors owne hand, some of institutions of popish priests to benefices, others of dispensations with mariage within the degrees, others of diuorces, others of dispensation for non payment of T [...]ethes. Whereby it was manifestly proued, that he did execute the popes Bull, in vsurping and exercising Episcopall iu [...]sdiction as Vicar generall of the Sea Apostolike, within the Dioceses before named.

To this euidence he made a threefold answere, first that he was no suitor for the office of Vicar generall, but it was imposed on him, [Page 95] and hee accepted it virtute obedi [...]ntiae, onely to obey his Superiors, next, that he did exercise the office of Vicar generall in foro conscientiae tantum and not in foro iudicij. And lastly, that those copies of institutions, dispensations, and diuorces were many of them written with his mans hand, as precedents of such acts and instruments, without his priuity or direction. Herevppon Sir Iames Ley chiefe Iustice told him, that hee could not well say, that hee accepted that vnlawfull office virtute obedientiae, for there was no vertue in that obedience: that he ow'd an obedience to the lawe, & to the King, who is the true Superior and Soueraigne ouer all his subiects, and hath no Peere within his dominions, and that the Superiors, whome he meant and intended, were but vsurpers vppon the Kings iurisdiction, and therefore this excuse did aggrauate his contempt, in that it appeared he had vowed obedience to those who were apparant enemies to the King and his Crowne. And though it were manifest that he exercised iur [...]sdiction in foro iudicij (for euery institution is a iudgement, and so is euerie sentence of diuorce) yet were his offence nothing diminished, if he had executed his office of Vicar generall in foro conscientiae tantum, for the court of mans conscience is the highest tribunall, and wherein the power of the keyes is exercised in the highst degree.

Lalors confession publikly read▪Herevnto the Atturney generall tooke occasion to add thus much, that Lalor had committed these high offences not only against the lawe, but against his owne conscience, and that he was already condemned in [...]oro conscintiae. For that he vppon his second examination had voluntarily acknowledged himselfe not to be a lawfull Vicar generall, & that he thought in his conscience he could not lawfully take vpon him the said office. He hath also acknowledged our Souerainge Lord King Iames to be his lawfull, Chiefe, and Supreame Gouernour, in all causes as well Ecclesiasticall as Ciuill and that hee is in conscience bound to obey him in all the said causes, and so forth as it is conteined in his acknowledgment or confession before set downe, which being shewed foorth by the Atturney generall, the court caused it to be publikly read, and therevppon demanded of Lalor, if that were not his free and voluntarie confession signed with his owne hand, and confirmed by his oath, before the Lord deputie and Counsell. He was not a little abashed at the publishing of this acknowledgment & confession, in the hearing of so many principall gentelmen, to whome hee had preached a contrary doctrine: therefore said he the shewing foorth of this confession is altogether impertinent and besides the matter. Howbeit he could not deny but that he made it, and signed it and swore it, as it was testified by the Lord deputy and the rest.

Then was it demanded of him, whither since the making of this confession he had not protested to diuers of his friends, that he had not acknowledged the Kings supremacie in Ecclesiasticall causes: his aunswer was, that indeede he had said to some of his frends who visited him i [...] [Page] the Castle of Dublin, that he had not confessed, or acknowledged, that the King was his Supreame Gouernour in spirituall causes, for that the trueth is, in the confession there is no mention made of spirituall causes, but of Ecclesiasticall.

This is a subtile euasion indeede, said the Atturney generall, I pray you what difference doe you make betweene Ecclesiasticall causes, and spirituall causes. This question said Lalor is sudden, and vnexpected at this time, and therfore you shall doe well to take another day to dispute this point, Nay, said the Atturney generall, we can neuer speake of it in a better time, or fitter place, and therefore though you that beare so reuerend a title, and hold the reputation of so great a Clearke, require a further time, yet shall you heare, that wee laymen that serue his Maiestie, and by the dutie of our places are to maintaine the iurisdiction of the Crowne, are neuer so vnprouided but that we can say somewhat touching the nature, and difference of these causes.

When the distinction of Ecclesiasticall and spirituall causes from Ciuill and temporall causes begā in the worldFirst then let vs see, when this distinction of Ecclesiasticall or spirituall causes, from Ciuill and temporall causes, did first begin in point of iurisdiction. Assuredly for the space of three hundred yeares after Christ, this distinction was not knowen, or heard of in the Christian world. For the causes of Testaments, of Matrimony, of Bastardy and Adultery, and the rest which are called Ecclesiasticall or spirituall causes, were meerely ciuill & determined by the rules of the ciuill lawe, and subiect onely to the iurisdiction of the Ciuill Magistrate, as all Ciuillians will testifie with mee.

But after that the Emperours had receaued the Christian faith, out of a zeale and desire they had, to grace and honor the learned and godly Bishops of that time, they were pleased to single out certaine speciall causes, wherein they graunted iurisdiction vnto the Bishops: namely in cases of Tieths, because they were paid to men of the Church, In causes of Matrimony, because mariages were for the most part solemnized in the Church, In causes Testamentary, because testaments were many times made in extremis, when Churchmen were present, giuing spirituall comfort to the testator, and therefore they were thought the fittest persons to take the probates of such testaments. Howbeit these Bishops did not proceed in these causes, according to the Canons and decrees of the Church (for the Canon lawe was not then hatched or dream't of) but according to the rules of the Imperiall law, as the Ciuill magistrate did proceed in other causes, neither did the Emperours in giuing this iurisdiction vnto them, giue away their owne Supreme and absolute power, to correct and punish these iudges, as well as others if they performed not their seuerall duties. This then is most certaine, that the primitiue iurisdiction in all these causes, was in the Ciuill magistrate, and so in right it remaineth at this day, and though it be deriued from him, it remaineth in him as in a fountaine. For euery Christian monarch (as well as the godly Kings of Iuda) is custos vtriusque tabul [...], & cōsequently hath power to punish not onely Treason, Murder, Theft, and all manner of force & [Page 96] fraude, but incest, adultery, vsury, periury, simony, sorcery, idolatry, blasphemy: neither are these causes in respect of their owne quality and vature, to bee distinguished one from another, by the names of Spirituall or Temporall. For why is adultery a spirituall cause rather then murther, when they are both offences a like against the second table, or idolatry rather then periury being both offences likewise against the first table. And indeede if wee consider the natures of these causes, it will seeme somewhat absurd, that they are distinguished by the name of spirituall & tēporall, for to speake properly, that which is opposed to spirituall, should be tearmed carnall, And that which is opposed to temporall should be called eternall. And therefore if things were called by their proper names, adultery should not be called a spirituall offence, but a carnall: But shall I expresse plainely and breefely, why these causes were first denominated some spirituall or Ecclesiasticall, and others temporall and ciuill?

Truely they were so called not from the nature of the causes, as I said before, but from the quality of the persons, whome the Prince had made iudges in those causes. The Cleargie did study spirituall things, and did professe to liue secundum spiritum, and were called spirituall men, and therefore they called the causes, wherein Princes had giuen them iurisdiction spirituall causes, after their owne name and qualitie. But because the Lay magistrates were said to intend the things of this world which are temporall and transitory, the Cleargie called them secular or temporall men and the causes wherein they were iudges, temporall causes. This distinction began first in the Court of Rome, where the Cleargie hauing by this iurisdiction gotten great wealth, their wealth begott pride, their pride begott ingratitude towards Princes, who first gaue them their iurisdiction, & then, according to the nature of all vngratefull persons, they went about to extinguish the memory of the benefit: for whereas their iurisdiction was first deriued from Caesar, in the execution whereof they were Caesars iudges: so as both their Courts, and causes, ought still to haue borne Caesars image and superscription, as belonging vnto Caesar, They blotted Caesars name out of the style of their Courts, and called them Courts Christian, as if the Courts holden by other magistrates had beene in comparison but Courts of Ethnickes, and the causes which in their nature were meerely Ciuill, they called Spirituall and Ecclesiasticall. So as if the Emperour should challenge his Courts, and causes againe, and say, Reddite Caesar [...], quaesunt Caesaris, they would all cry out on the contrarie part and say, date Deo quaesunt Dei, our courts beare the name and title of Christ, the superscription of Caesar is quite worne out, and not to be found vppon them. And this point of their policy is worth the obseruing, that when they found their iurisdiction in matrimoniall causes, to be the most sweete, and gainefull of all other (for of Matrimony they made matter of money indeede) to the end that Caesar might neuer resume so rich a perquisite of their spirituall iurisdiction, they reduced Matrimony into the nūber of the seuen Sacraments. After [Page] which time it had beene sacriledge, if the ciuill magistrate had intermedled with the least matter that had relation to Matrimony, or any dependancy there vppon. So then yet appeareth, that all causes whereof Eccicsiasticall or spirituall persons haue cognisans, or iurisdiction by the graunts or permission of Princes, are called Ecclesiasticall or spirituall causes. And as all their courts are called spirituall courts, so all causes determinable in those courts are called spirituall causes. And therefore where Maister Lalor hath acknowledged the Kings Maiestie to be Supreame gouernour in all Ecclesiasticall causes, he hath therein acknowledged the Kings supremacy in all spirituall causes wherein he hath but rē dered to Caesar but that which is Caesars, and hath giuen vnto his Maiestie no more, then all the Bishops of England haue yeelded to his predecessors, not onely in this later age, but also in former times both before and since the Conquest, as hath beene before at large expressed.

Heere the daie being farre spent, the Court demaunded of the prisoner, if hee had any more to say for himselfe, his answere was, that he did willingly renounce his office of Vicar generall, And did humbly craue his Maiesties grace and pardon. And to that end, he desired the Court to moue the Lord Deputie to bee fauorable vnto him. Then the [...]ury departed from the Barre, and returning within halfe an houre, found the prisoner guilty of the contempts whereof he was indicted. Where vppon the Sollicitor generall moued the Court to proceed to iudgement: And Sir Dominicke Sarsfield knight, one of the Iustices of his Maiesties chiefe place gaue iudgement, according to the forme of the statute, where vppon the indictment was framed.

Printed at Dublin by Iohn Franckton printer to the Kings most excellent Maiesty for Ireland. Anoo 1615.

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