Page:William Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England (3rd ed, 1768, vol II).djvu/396

 380 et conequentibus fit optima interpretatio ." And therefore that every part of it, be (if poible) made to take effect; and no word but what may operate in ome hape or other . "Nam verba debent intelligi cum effectu, ut res magis valeat quem pereat ."

4. the deed be taken mot trongly agalnt him that is the agent or contractor, and in favour of the other party. "Verba fortius accipiuntur contra proferentem." For the principle of elf-preervation will make men ufficiently careful, not to prejudice their own interet by the too extenive meaning of their words: and hereby all manner of deceit in any grant is avoided; for men would always affect ambiguous and intricate expreions, provided they were afterwards at liberty to put their own contruction upon them. But here a ditinction mut be taken between an indenture and a deed poll: for the words of an indenture, executed by both parties, are to be conidered as the words of them both; for, though delivered as the words of one party, yet they are not his words only, but the other party hath given his conent to every one of them. But in a deed poll, executed only by the grantor, they are the words of the grantor only, and hall be taken mot trongly againt him. However, this, being a rule of ome trictnes and rigor, is the lat to be reorted to, and is never to be relied upon, but where all other rules of expoition fail.

5., if the words will bear two enes, one agreeable to, and another againt law; that ene be preferred, which is mot agreeable thereto. As if tenant in tail lets a leae for life generally, it hall be contrued for his own life only, for that tands with the law; and not for the life of the lee, which is beyond his power to grant. Rh