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as to that point void. The statute of[1] Carlisle, made anno 35 E. 1. enacts, that the order of the Cistercians and Augustines, who have a convent and common seal, that the common seal shall be in the keeping of the Prior, who is under the Abbot, and four others of the most grave of the house, and that any deed sealed with the common seal, which is not so in keeping shall be void: and the opinion of the court (in an. 27 H. 6. Annuity 41.) was, that this statute was[2] void, for it is impertinent to be observed, for the seal being in their keeping, the Abbot cannot seal any thing with it, and when it is in the Abbot's hands, it is out of their keeping ipso facto; and if the statute should be[3] observed, every common seal shall be defeated upon a simple surmise, which cannot be tried. Note reader the words of the said statute at Carlisle, anno 35 E. 1. (which is called Statutum religiosorum) are, Et insuper ordinavit dominus Rex & statuit, quod Abbates Cisterc' & Præmonstraten' ordin' religiosorum, &c. de cætero habeant sigillum commune, et illud in custodia Prioris monasterii seu domus, et quatuor de dignioribus et discretioribus ejusdem loci conventus sub privato sigillo Abbatis ipsius loci custod' depo, &c. Et si forsan aliqua scripta obligationum, donationum, emptionum, venditionum, alienationum, seu aliorum quorumcunque, contractuum alio sigillo quam tali sigillo, communi sicut præmittit' custodit inveniant' a modo sigillat', pro nullo penitus habeantur omnique careant firmitate. So the statute of 1 E. 6. c. 14. gives chauntries, &c. to the King, saving to the donor, &c. all such rents, services, &c. and the common law controuls it, and adjudges it void as to services, and the donor shall have the rent, as a rentseck, distrainable of common right, for it would be against common right and reason that the[4] King should hold of any, or do service to any of his subjects, 14 Eliz. Dyer 313. and

  1. 2 Inst. 580, 581, 582, &c. Skinner 464.
  2. 2 Inst. 588. 2 Brownl. 198, 265.
  3. 2 Brownl. 265. 2 Inst. 587.
  4. Dy. 313. pl. 91. 1 Co. 47. a. Dav. 2. a. Co. Lit. 1. b. Cro. Car. 82, 83. 2 Roll. Rep. 246, 247. 1 Jones 234. Lit. Rep. 43.