This leads us to observe, that some Heirs are evidently of Age, some as clearly not of full age, but others of whom it may be doubtful, whether they have attained their age or not. The first description of Heirs may, immediately upon the deaths of their Ancestors, hold themselves in possession of their Inheritance,[246] although their Lords may take the Fee, together with the Heir, into their hands. This, however, ought to be done with such moderation, as not to cause any Disseisin to the Heirs, who may, indeed, should it be necessary, resist the violence of their Lords, provided they are prepared to pay their Reliefs, and to render to them such other services as are justly due. But, if it be evident that the Heir is under age, and he hold by Military service, he is considered to be in the Custody[247] of his Lord, until he attains his full age. [Footnote 246: Vide Statute of Marlebridge, chap. 16. and Lord Coke’s Comment thereon. (2 Inst. 133.)] [Footnote 247: Of the Custody and Marriage of the Minor, we may form a general notion, when we understand, that they were considered as chattels and moveables, which the Lord might dispose of _in extremis_. See Fleta and Bracton, Sparsim.] The full age of an Heir, if the son of a Knight, or of one holding by Military service, is when he has completed his twenty-first Year.[248] But, if the Heir be the Son of a Sockman, he is esteemed to be of full age when he has completed his fifteenth Year.[249] If he is the son of a Burgess, he is understood to have attained his full age,[250] when he has discretion to count Money and measure Cloth, and in like manner to manage his Father’s other concerns. [Footnote 248: Vide Craig Jus feud. L. 2. D. 17. s. 17. and L. 2. D. 20. s. 17.—Bracton 86. b.] [Footnote 249: Vide Craig Jus feud. L. 2. D. 17. s. 37.—LL. Hen. 1. c. 70.—Bracton 86. b. This, it seems, is still the age by the custom of Gavelkynd. (Robins. on Gavelk. 185.)] [Footnote 250: At fourteen, or when he can attend to his Parent’s concerns, according to Reg. Maj. L. 2. c. 41. See Bracton 86. b.] In so extensive a sense have Lords the Custody of the Sons and Heirs of their Homagers and of their Fee, that they, for example, exercise an absolute controul with respect to presenting to Churches in their Custody, in marrying Females, (if they fall into wardship), and in regulating other matters, in the same manner as if they were their own. The Law, however, does not permit the Lords to make any absolute disposition of the Inheritance. In the mean time, the Lord should maintain the Heir in a manner suitable to his Dignity and the extent of his Inheritance, and should discharge the Debts of the deceased, so far as the Estate and the length of the Custody will admit.[251] Hence they are bound by the Law to answer the Debts of the Ancestors.