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England and Wales High Court (Exchequer Court) Decisions |
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You are here: BAILII >> Databases >> England and Wales High Court (Exchequer Court) Decisions >> Heydon's Case [1584] EWHC Exch J36 (01 January 1584) URL: http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Exch/1584/J36.html Cite as: 76 ER 637, [1584] EWHC Exch J36, 3 Co Rep 7, Pasch 26 Eliz, (1584) 3 Co Rep 7, [1584] EngR 9 |
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76 ER 637, Pasch 26 Eliz, plea began 20 Eliz Rot 140 |
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B e f o r e :
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Heydon | Appellant |
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[5]1st. What was the common law before the making of the Act.
[6]2nd. What was the mischief and defect for which the common law did not provide.
3rd. What remedy the Parliament hath resolved and appointed to cure the disease of the commonwealth.
Note 1 As to an information of intrusion, see ante i. p. 16 a. (A). (ED.) [Back] Note 3 Moor. 128. Say. 66. 6 Co. 37 b. Cro. Car. 45. 83. [Vin. Abr. Statutes E. 6. pl. 137. Bac. Abr. Statutes, I. 4. vi. 333.] [Back] Note 4 Penal statutes are in general to be construed strictly, and are not to be-enlarged by parity of reason, nor extended by equitable construction, but even in penal laws, the intention of the Legislature is the best method to construe the law, The King v. Gage, 8 Mod. 65; and equity will aid remedial laws though penal, not by making them more penal, but so as to let them have their course. Per Wright, Lord Keeper, Attorney General v. Sadell, Prec. Ch. 215. As to the construing statutes by equity in general, see 1 Inst. 24 b. 54 b. i. 29. Plowd. 9, 10. 17, 18. 36. 46. 53. 57. 59. 82. 88. 109. 124. 177. 204. 244. 363. 364. 366. 371. 464. 466. Hatt. Treat. on Stat. Ash. Exposit. of Stat. by Eq. Vin. Abr. Statutes E. 6. Com. Dig. Parliament R. 10. Bac. Abr. Statutes I. 6. With respect to the different kinds of statutes, see 1 Inst. 98 b. i. 25-27. and a. (16.) (N.).ib. 2 Eun. 80. 1. Bl. Com. 85. (ED.) [Back] Note 7 Hard. 27. 2 Rol Rep. 314. Cro. Car. 83. 533. Co. Lit. 381 b. 1 Co. 123 a. 11 Co. 73 b. 2 Siderf. 41. 2 Bulst. 187. Hob. 97. 1 Rol. Rep. 162. 166. Cro. Argument 40. [2 Wils. 193. 6 T. R. 385. Bac. Abr. Statute I. 6. 8, 9. vi. 387. 389, 390.] [Back] Note 8 Co. Lit. 44 a. 31 H. 8. c. 13. 3 Bulstr. 152. Moor 60. 1 Leon. 333. [Com. Dig. Copyhold N. - Vin. Abr. Estate, R. a. 9. pl. 7. Bac. Abr. Leases, &c. E. 2. iv. 73.] [Back] Note 9 Cro. Car. 41. 43, 44. Moor 128. Godb. 369. 0. Benl. 163. 3 Bulst. 152. Hard. 433. Cawly 106. [2 Cowp. 707. 6 East, 480. 1 Bro. C, C. 24. Watk. Gilb. Ten. 164. Com. Dig. Copyhold N. 0. Bac. Abr. Copyhold B. i. 709, 710.] [Back] Note 10 Moor 128. Cro. Car. 42, 43. O. Benl. 163. 1 Rol. Rep. 48. [2 Cowp. 707. 1 Bro. C. C. 24. Watk. Gilb. Ten. 164.] [Back] Note 11 As to what statutes extend to copyholds, see post p. 23. n. (P). (ED.) [Back] Note 12 See 1 Wils. 27. 2 Wils. 400. Moor 188, 189. Say. 67. Cro. Eliz. 391. 307. 149. 1 Leon. 175. Poph. 34. 128. 2 Saund. 422. Hard. 433. 1 Rol. 838. Lit. sect. 76. 9 Co. 105 a. Co. Lit. 60 a. b. 4 Co. 22 a. [2 Bl. Com. 113. 3 Wood. 506. 1 Prest. Cony. 153. Com. Dig. Copyhold C. 8. N. Bac. Abr. Copyhold C. 1.] [Back] Note 13 Cr. Car. 43, 44. [Co. Lit. 23 a. 143 a.] [Back] Note 14 Before the Statutes Quia Emptores Terrarum, if tenant in fee simple made a feoffment in fee without any reservation of services, the feoffee held by the same services by which the feoffor held over, because the services being an incumbrance upon the land, which the tenant could not discharge without his lord's consent, must follow the land into whose hands soever it comes; but that statute only extended to cases where the fee simple was transferred; and when, after the Statute de Donis, the feudal right of reverter was turned into a reversion, the law obliged the donee to do the same services to the donor which he was bound to do to his superior lord, because this was an estate of inheritance which possibly might have continued for ever, 1 Inst. 43. a. 143. a. i. 445. 527. This construction was not extended to leases for lives or years; for if the lessor made no reservation, the law implied none except fealty, which is due from every tenant having any determinate interest. Ib. (ED.) [Back] Note 15 Lit. sect. 77. 2 Co. 17 a. 6 Co. 37 b. Co. Lit. 60 b. Cro. Car. 45. 4 Co. 21 a. Hetl. 6. 9 Co. 105 a. [Vin. Abr. Copyhold (A) pl. 4.] [Back] Note 16 But as Lord Coke elsewhere observes, this was not Littleton's own opinion, but his opinion was rather to the contrary, 1 Inst. 60. b. i. 65-67.; and it has been long settled, that, though a copyholder has an estate at the will of the lord, yet it is according to the custom of the manor; and if he be ousted contrary to the custom, he shall not only sue by petition to the lord, but may have trespass against him. Ibid. (ED.) [Back] Note 17 Moor 189. Sav. 67. Cro. El. 149. 307. 391. 1 Leon. 175. Poph. 34. 128. 2 Saund. 422. Hard. 433 a. 9 Co. 105 a. 1 Rol. 838. Co. Lit. 60 a. b. 1 Rol. Rep. 48. 4 Co. 22 a. Moor. 188. [Watk. Gilb. Ten. 166, 7.] [Back] Note 18 Ace.Rowden v. Malster, Cro. Car. 45. 5 Cru. Dig. 214.; as to the mode of barring entails of copyholds, infra n. (N). (ED.) [Back] Note 19 Cro. Car. 43. 45. Godb. 368. 0. Benl. 165. Poph. 35. Cro. Eliz. 391. Cart. 238. Cro. Car. 45. [1 Wils. 26. Watk. Gilb. Ten. 166, 7.] [Back] Note 20 This point has been the subject of much controversy, see Gilb. Ten. 165. 418 1 Watk. Coph. 155. Vin. Abr. Coph. (F. e); 1 Cru. Dig. 2 edit. 364. Bac. Abr. Copyhold C.; but it has been long settled agreeably to the decision in this case and inRowden v. Malster, Cro. Cha. 42. that the Statute De Donis does not extend to copyholds without a special custom, but that where there has been a custom of entailing copyholds, the statute co-operating with the custom, will give to such an estate all the qualities of an estate tail, Roe d. Crow v. Baldwere, 5 T. R. 111. As to what will amount to a proof that a copyhold has been entailed, see infra, 1 Inst. 60. b. i. 671. Where copyholds are intailable, and the custom has not prescribed any particular mode of barring, the intail may be barred, 1st. By forfeiture and regrant, as where the custom is either for the tenant in tail to commit a forfeiture of the copyhold, and the lord to seize, and after making three proclamations, to regrant it to the old tenant, or to another person; or the tenant in tail, to make a surrender to a purchaser in fee, and then for the purchaser to commit a forfeiture, and the lord to seize, &c. seePilkington v. Stanhope, Sid. 314. Sty. 452.Grantham v. Coply, 2 Saund. 422. and n. (1) ib.; 2nd, By a recovery in the manor court, which, it seems, from several authorities, may be suffered without a particular custom to warrant it, seeBrowne's case, post, 10 Co. 23. a.Dell v. Higden, Moor. 358.Oldcat v. Level, id. 753. Gilb. Ten. 176. Cart. Rep. 23.Carr v. Singer, 2 Yes. 604.; or 3rd, By a surrender, though only to the use of a will, 2 Vez. 596. 2 Stra. 1197. 2 Burr. 979. 3P. Wms. 10. Watk. Copyhold. 162. A custom to bar the entail by surrender may be concurrent with a custom to bar by recovery, Everall v. Smalley, 1 Wils. 26. 2 Stra. 1197. Roe d. Bennettv. Jeffery, 2 Maul. and S. 92. As to equitable entails of copyholds, see n. (N) infra. (ED.) [Back] Note 21 1 Rol. 838. Co. Lit. 60 b. [1 Wils. 27. 3 Wood, 506. 2 B1. Com. 143. Watk. Gilb. Ten. 166. 170. 1 Fonbl. Tr. Eq. 300 n. 1 Cru. Dig. 304. 1 Prest. Cony. 111. Con. Dig. Copyhold C. 8. Bac. Abr. Copyhold C. i. 170.] [Back] Note 22 Lit. sect. 77, Co. Lit. 60 b. Rep. Q. A. 98. 160. Skin. 269, 297. [Back] Note 23 See infra n. 29 ib. [Back] Note 24 But see the remarks of Gilb. Ten. 166. upon this opinion of my Lord Ch. Baron. See also the books cited in the last note but one. (ED.) [Back] Note 25 Co. Lit. 19 a. Cro. Car. 45. Poph. 34. 1 Co. 103 b. 6 Co. 40 a. (f) Co. Lit. 45. 114 b. 115 a. [Watk. Gilb. Ten. 170, 1.] [Back] Note 26 But this position that all estates of inheritance were, before the Statute De Donis, either in fee absolute or conditional, has been questioned by several distinguished writers, see Wright Ten. 189. Watk. Gilb. Ten. 424. 1 Inst. 19 a. i. 508. (A 1). (ED.) [Back] Note 27 See 1 Inst. 113 a. 115 b. i. 35, 36. and n. (S). ib. 2 Bl. Com. 31. (ED.) [Back] Note 28 Co. Lit. 60 b. 280 b. 19 a. Lit. sect. 481. F. N. B. 217. D. Poph. 34. [Vin. Abr. Formedon B. pl. 1.] [Back] Note 29 That where the heir could not have an assise ofmort d'ancestor, he might, according to his special case, have a formedon in descender at common law, but then he was to recover a fee-simple. Per Bendlow, Plowd. 239 b. 1 Inst. 60 b. i. 671. For the nature and different kinds offormedon, see 1 Inst. 326. b. iii. 214. and n. 32 ib. 2 Inst. 336. Plowd. 240. Booth, 139, 140. 3 Bl. Con. 192. Bac. Abr. Formedon, (A). Vin. Abr. Formedon. Com. Dig. Pleader, 3 E. 1,,&c. (ED.) [Back] Note 30 O. Benl. 165. 1 Rol. Rep. 4. Co. Lit. 60 b. [Back] Note 31 Godb. 20. Poph. 35. 1 Leon. 56. Cro. Eliz. 323. 373. 4 Leon. 64. 1 Rol. 511. 4 Co. 23 a. Co. Lit. 52 b. [1 Prest. Est. 2nd edit. 487.] [Back] Note 32 Where the custom of a manor does not admit of an entail of a copyhold, a K. B. v.-21 surrender to the use of a person and the heirs of his body, gives him a conditional fee; and in that case a surrender after issue had, will bar the estate, Hanton v. Barnes, Co. Suppl. s. 12.Pullen v. Middleton, 9 Mod. 483. But all copyholds may be entailed in effect, either by custom at law, or in equity without it; thus, if a surrender be made to a person and his heirs, and a trust be declared of such estate to another and the heirs of his body, a Court of Equity will see it observed; for the custom only binds the tenancy, and has nothing to do with the trust, 2 Yes. 304. 633. 1 Stra. 454. 2 Bl. Com. 357. And such equitable entail may be barred in the same mode as if it were a legal entail, see 9 Mod. 484. 5 Cru. Dig. 611. And if the tenant in tail of the trust of a copyhold accepts a surrender of the legal estate from the trustees, it will bar the entail and remainder over, Grayme v. Grayme, 1 Watk. Copyh. 2nd edit. 277. But an equitable entail of a copyhold is not barred by a devise without a surrender, Rose v. Lowe, 1 H. Bl. 461. (ED.) [Back] Note 33 1 Rol. 888. Cro. Car. 44. Hard. 433. 0. Benl. 163. Say. 67. [2 Cowp. 709. 4 Bart. Prec. 209. n. Vin. Abr. Copyhold 0. 2. pl. 4. Com. Dig. Copyhold N. Bac. Abr. Copyhold C. 2. i. 712. Execution C. 2. ii. 713.] [Back] Note 34 S. P. Co. Copyh. 149. Gilb. Ten. 185. 3 Read. Stat. Law. 123. 2 Inst. 396. Yin. Abr. Copyholds (0. d.) pl. 4. Bac. Abr. Copyhold (C. 2). Com. Dig. Copyhold N.; and see the books cited ace. in n. (d). sup. (ED.) [Back] Note 35 Cro. Car. 43. 2 Inst. 343. Sav. 67. 4 Co. 23 a. [Vin. Abr. Copyhold 0. 2. pl. 2, 3. 46. Corn. Dig. Copyhold N. 0.] [Back] Note 36 In conformity to the principles laid down in this case, it is held, that the statute 4 H. 7. of Fines, as to their being a bar after five years' non-claim, the Statutes, of Limitations, the Statutes of Bankruptcy, the Statutes of Mortmain, the statutes 7 Ann. relative to conveyances by infant trustees, the 4th section of the Statute of Frauds, 29 Cha. 2. c. 3. concerning the sale of lands, and the 7th section which requires declarations of trusts to be in writing, and many other statutes, extend to copyholds; but they are not within the statute 11 H. 7. respecting alienations by a wife of the lands of her husband, the Statute of Uses and Jointures, the Statute of "Wills, the statute 32 H. 8. as to discontinuances by the husband of the wife's lands, the statute respecting partitions (1 Inst. 187 a. (2). i. 753. (83). Burrell v. Dodd, 3 Bos. & P. 378.), the statute 13 Eliz. for making accountants' lands liable to the debts of the Crown, the statutes 29 Cha. 2. c. 3. s. 12. and 14 Geo. 2. c. 20. s. 9. relating to occupancy (see 1 Inst. i. 626. (16).Zouch d. Forse v. Forse, 7 East. 186), nor those sections of the Statute of Frauds which relate to devises of lands; and they are excepted out of the Register Acts, 2 & 3 Ann. c. 4. 6 Ann. c. 35. 7 Ann. c. 20. 8 Geo. 2. c. 6. See further as to what statutes extend to copyholds, Vin. Abr. Copyhold, O. d. Bac. Abr. Copyhold C. Com. Dig. Copyhold N. 0. (ED.) [Back] Note 37 4 Co. 65 b. Hob. 55. 262. 1 Leon. 333. 2 Rol. 700. 9 Co. 74 a. Cro. Jac. 413. Post 42 b. [Watk. Gilb. Ten. 184, 5.] [Back] Note 38 S. P. Com. Dig. Pleader, S. 31. As to what shall be a sufficient finding by verdict, and when it may be aided by intendment or special conclusion, see Com. Dig. TPleader, S. 26. to S. 43. and the books cited ante, i. p. 4 a. n. (R). (ED.) [Back]