Page:William Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England (3rd ed, 1768, vol II).djvu/133

 Ch. 8. for life maybe created, not only by the expres words before-mentioned, but alo by a general grant, without defining or limiting any pecific etate. As, if one grants to A. B. the manor of Dale, this makes him tenant for life. For though, as there are no words of inheritance, or heirs, mentioned in the grant, it cannot be contrued to be a fee, it hall however be contrued to be as large an etate as the words of the donation will bear, and therefore an etate for life. Alo uch a grant at large, or a grant for term of life generally, hall be contrued to be an etate for the life of the grantee ; in cae the grantor hath authority to make uch a grant: for an etate for a man's own life is more beneficial and of a higher nature than for any other life; and the rule of law is, that all grants are to be taken mot trongly againt the grantor, unles in the cae of the king.

etates for life will, generally peaking, endure as long as the life for which they are granted: but there are ome etates for life, which may determine upon future contingencies, before the life, for which they are created, expires. As, if an etate be granted to a woman during her widowhood, or to a man until he be promoted to a benefice; in thee, and imilar caes, whenever the contingency happens, when the widow marries, or when the grantee obtains a benefice, the repective etates are abolutely determined and gone. Yet, while they ubit, they are reckoned etates for life; becaue, the time for which they will endure being uncertain, they may by poibility lat for life, if the contingencies upon which they are to determine do not ooner happen. And, moreover, in cae an etate be granted to a man for his life, generally, it may alo determine by his civil death; as if he enters into a monatery, whereby he is dead in law : for which reaon in conveyances the grant is uually made "for the term of a man's natural life;" which can only determine by his natural death. Rh