And, if, within that period, he appear not, the Seisin[49] shall be
adjudged to his adversary, so that from thenceforth the Tenant shall
not be heard, unless in a suit concerning the propriety, and that
authorised by the King’s Writ of Right.[50] If, however, he appear
within the fifteen days, and be desirous of replevying the Tenement,
he shall be commanded to appear on the fourth day, and he shall have
that which he is legally entitled unto; and thus, if he appear, he may
recover the Seisin. Should he, however, appear at the third Summons,
and confess the former Summonses, he shall instantly lose the Seisin,
unless he can excuse his default by the King’s Warrant, and by the
Writ, which he should instantly produce.
[Footnote 49: _Seisina_ “is borrowed of the French _seisine_,
‘_possessio_,’ and so it signifieth in our common Law.” (Cowell ad
voc.) _Craig_ concludes, that as we had the term, so we had the
doctrine from the French. (Craig Jus Feud. L. 2. Dieg. 7. s. 1.) Sir
Edward Coke and Sir Henry Spelman coincided with Cowell and Craig in
the derivation. (Co. Litt. 17. a. Spelm. Gloss. ad voc.) The term,
it seems, was used, both by the canonists and civilians. (Cowell
ubi supra: vide also Index ad Anglo-Sax. LL. verb. _saisiare_ and
references there.)]
[Footnote 50: Vide Bracton 367. a.]
CHAP. VIII.
“The King to the Justices, Health. I warrant _B._ who was at such a
place, by my precept, on such a day, in my service, and, therefore,
could not be present before you on that day at your Assizes; and I
command you, that you put him not in default for his absence that day,
nor that he in any respect suffer loss.
Witness, &c.”[51]
[Footnote 51: Vide F.N.B. 36. 37. Ed. 1687.]
CHAP. IX.
If he should deny all the summonses, he shall, as to each of them
individually, corroborate his denial with the oaths of twelve.[52]
Should it happen on the day appointed that either of the
Compurgators[53] fail, or should the person of either of them be
justly excepted to, and the vacancy occasioned by either of these
circumstances not be filled up, the Tenant shall, on account of his
default, immediately lose his Seisin.[54] But, if the Tenant thus
completely disprove the summonses, he shall on the same day answer to
the Action.[55]
[Footnote 52: _Duodecimâ manu._ The author of the commentaries renders
this expression eleven, besides the principal, an interpretation which
is more or less confirmed by the following authorities: Co. Litt. 295.
a. 2. Inst. 44, and the Diversity of Courts, p. 324. On the other hand,
Les Termes de la Ley, in describing the ceremony as applied to the
very object of the text, expressly says, that the principal should be
accompanied by twelve. (Ibid. ad voc. _ley_.)
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account