272 'C i* Anno tricefimo fecundo Henrici VIII. A.D. 1540, e Year : In the laft Seflion thereof, begun the fame twelfth Day of April, and from the fame holden unto e the eleventh Day of May, in the two and thirtieth Year of his moft profperous Reign, from the which ' it was by Prorogation continued until the five and twentieth of the fame Month of May, and holden until ' the four and twentieth Day of July, the faid two and thirtieth Year; at which Day the faid Parliament 4 was by his Grace's Authority finifhed and diffolved : (2) Amongft many other, the Acts following, by
- his Highnefs, with the Aflent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and the Commons, affembled in the
' .faid Parliament, have been eftablilhed, ordained and enacted.' CAP. I. The Act of Wills, Wards and Primer Seifins, whereby a Man may devife two Parts of his Land. The tteafons for .making thisAiT:. 2 Roll 383,415, 427. Dy?r 192. .3 Anderf. 206. -3 Bulflr. i?4. Lands holden in Socage, and none in chief, or ly Knights Ser- vice. ] Bu'i/t. 165. I Roll 65. Godbolt 17. pi. HERE the King's moft Royal Majefty in all the Time of his moft gracious and noble Reign hath ever been a merciful, loving, benevolent and moft gracious Sovereign Lord, unto all and lingular his loving and obedint Subjects, and by many times paft hath not only fhewed and imparted to them ge- nerally by his many, often, and beneficial Pardons heretofore by Authority of his Parliament granted, but alfo by divers other Ways and Means many great and ample Grants and Benignities, in fuch wife as all his faid Subjects been moft bounden to the uttermoft of all their Powers and Graces by them received of God, to render and give unto his Majefty their moft humble Reverence and obedient Thanks and Services, with their daily and continual Prayer to Almighty God, for the continual Prefervation of his moft Royal Eftate in moft Kingly Honour and Profperity ; (2) yet always his Majefty being repleat and endowed by God with Grace, Goodnefs and Liberality, moft tenderly confidering, that his faid obedient and loving Subjects cannot ufe or exercife themfelves according to their Eftates, Degrees, Faculties and Qualities, or to bear themfelves in fuch wife, as that they may conveniently keep and maintain their Hofpitalities and Families, nor the good Education and bringing up of their lawful Generations, which in this Realm (Laud be to God) is in all Parts very great and abundant, but that in manner of Neceflity, as by daily Experience" is manifefted and known, they fhall not be able of their proper Goods, Chattels and other moveable Subftance, to difcharge their Debts, and after their Degrees fet forth and advance their Chil- dren and Pofterities : (3) Wherefore our faid Sovereign Lord, moft virtuoufly confidering the Mortality that is to every Perfon at God's Will and Pleafure moft common and uncertain, of his moft bleffed Dif- pofition and Liberality, being willing to relieve and help his faid Subjects in their faid Neceflities and De- bility, is contented and pleafed that it be ordained and enacted by Authority of this prefent Parliament, in Manner and Form as hereafter followeth ; that is to fay,' (4) That all and every Perfon and Perfons, w II J iviainn-i anuiuiiii aa iii.]i.aii.i iwiluwtLlij lilac 13 ICJ lay, 14/ 1 Hal nil anu lvli y i uiuii ana i uiirnsj ill 4pi. having, or which hereafter fliall have, any Manors, Lands, Tenements or Hereditaments, holden in Soc- Cro. El. too- cage, or of the Nature of Soccage Tenure, and not having any Manors, Lands, Tenements or Heredita- Dyer, f. 72, 127. rnents, holden of the King our Sovereign Lord by Knights Service, by Soccage Tenure in chief, or of the •3 I.eon. 5, 276. ]r ature f Soccage Tenure in chief, nor of any other Perfon or Perfons by Knights Service, from the twen- g C °' 34 '" p ' tieth Day of July in the Year of our Lord God M.D.XL. fhall have full and free Liberty, Power and Au- l.ands devifed by thority to give, difpofc, will and devife, as well by his laft Will and Teftament in Writing, or otherwife Will in Writing, by Act or Acts lawfully executed in his Life, all his faid Manors, Lands, Tenements or Hereditaments, or ExpLinei! 1 by 34 an y of them, at his free Will and Pleafure ; any Law, Statute or other Thing heretofore had, made or & 95 H - s - c - 5' u f ec [ to the contrary notwithftanding. a Leon. 113, 252, 267. 3 Leon. 28, 79. Moor 625.//. 85S. Cm. Car. 34. Lands_ holden of II. And that all and every Perfon and Perfons, having Manors, Lands, Tenements or Hereditaments, theKingmSo- holden of the King our Sovereign Lord, his Heirs or Succeffors, in Soccage, or of the Nature of Soccage an? none holden T enure ' n chief, and having any other Manors, Lands, Tenements or Hereditaments, holden of any other hy Knights Scr- Perfon or Perfons in Soccage, or of the Nature of Soccage Tenure, and not having any Manors, Lands, vrce. Tenements or Hereditaments, holden of the King our Sovereign Lord by Knights Service, nor of any other Xee 53. Lord or Perfon by like Service, from the twentieth Day of July in the faid Year of our Lord God M.D.XL. fhall have full and free Liberty, Power and Authority to give, will, difpofe and devife, as well by his laft Will or Teftament in Writing, or otherwife by any Act or Acts lawfully executed in his Life, all his faid Manors, Lands, Tenements and Hereditaments, or any of them, at his free Will and Pleafure ; any Law, Statute, Cuftom or other Thing heretofore had, made or ufed to the contrary notwithftanding. A Saving of the HI. Saving alway and referving to the King our Sovereign Lord, his Heirs and Succefibrs, all his Right, Explained by 34 his Highnefs, his Heirs and Succeffors, by the Perfon or Perfons to whom any fuch Manors, Lands, Te- & 35 H. 8. c.. 5 . nements or Hereditaments fliall be difpofed, willed or devifed, in fuch and like Manner and Form, as hath ■§* 9* been ufed by any Heir or Heirs before the making of this Statute ; (3) and faving and referving alfo Fines for Alienations of fuch Manors, Lands, Tenements, or Hereditaments holden of the King our Sovereign Lord in Soccage, or of the Nature of Soccage Tenure in chief, whereof there fhall be any Alteration of Freehold or Inheritance, made by Will or otherwife, as is aforefaid. Land? holden of jy And it is further enacted by the Authority aforefaid, That all and fingular Perfon and Perfons hav- Knichts&irvice " n S an Y Manors, Lands, Tenements, or Hereditaments of Eftate of Inheritance holden of the King's irichief. Highnefs in chief by Knights Service, or of the Nature of Knights Service in chief, from the faid twen- 1 Anderf. 147. tieth Day of July fliall have full Power and Authority, by his laft Will, by Writing, or otherwife by any Moor 726. pi. Act, or Acts lawfully executed in his Life, to give, difpofe, will or affign two Farts of the fame Manors, »«3- Lands,
