Page:An Essay on a Registry for Titles of Lands - Asgill (1698).djvu/15

 in course of Law, were by Law presumed to be just and lawful, tho' they were done in Fraudem Legis.

To drive them out of this Hold, the Sta­tute of Westminster 2. makes all Lands so re­covered to be forfeited to the Lords of the Fee, and for want of their Entry to the King.

To evade this Statute, the Lawyers advised the Clergy two things. First, That for all Lands lying found the Church, they might enter into them by assent of the Tenants, and make them Church-yards by Bulls of the Pope, (whether they had this by precedent from the Origi­nal Purchase, or according to the Proverb, That good Wits jump, is not material.) Secondly, They advised them, that they might purchase Lands in the Names of other Persons to their Use.

To hunt them out of these Holds, the Sta­tute of 15 R. 2. prohibits both these.

To evade this, the Lawyers advised the Clergy, that they might purchase in the Names of other Persons, in Trust for them­selves; which Trust was not within the precise words of Use.

And thus the Priests continued to Cheat the People of their Estates, and the Lawyers the King of his Eschaets, for above three hundred years together, in spight of all Laws made to the contrary.