Tenures Abolition Act 1660

[I.]–II.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F1E+W

III. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F2E+W

IV All Tenures to be created by the King hereafter to be in free and common Socage.E+W

And that all tenures hereafter to be created by the Kings Majestie his Heires or Successors upon any gifts or grants of any Mannours Lands Tenements or Hereditaments of any Estate of Inheritance at the common Law shall be in free and common Soccage, and shall be adjudged to be in free and common Soccage onely, and not by Knight service or in Capite, and shall be discharged of all Wardship value and forfeiture of Marriage Livery Primer-Seizin Ouster le main Aide pur faier fitz Chivalier & pur file marrier, Any Law Statute or reservation to the contrary thereof any wise notwithstanding.

V–VI. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F3E+W

VII. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F4E+W

VIII Fathers may dispose of the custody of children during their minority. Except Popish Recusants. Actions of Ravishment of Ward for Guardians.E+W

[F5And where any person hath or shall have any Child or Children under the age of [F6eighteen years] and not married at the time of his death that it shall and may be lawfull to and for the Father of such child or children, [X1whether borne at the time of the decease of the Father or at that time in ventre sa mere, or whether such Father be within the age] of [F6eighteen years] or of full age by his deed executed in his life time, or by his last Will and Testament in writeing in the presence of two or more credible witnesses in such manner and from time to time as he shall respectively thinke fitt to dispose of the custody and tuition of such child or children for and dureing such time as he or they shall respectively remaine under the age of twenty one yeares or any lesser time to any person or persons in possession or remainder other than Popish Recusants, And that such disposition of the custodie of such childe or children made since the twenty fourth of February One thousand six hundred forty five or hereafter to be made shall be good and effectuall against all and every person or persons claiming the custody or tuition of such childe or children as Guardian in soccage or otherwise; And that such person or persons to whom the custodie of such childe or children hath beene or shall be soe disposed or devised as aforesaid shall and may maintaine an action of Ravishment of Ward or trespasse against any person or persons which shall wrongfully take away or detaine such childe or children for the Recovery of such childe or children and shall and may recover damages for the same in the said Action for the use and benefit of such childe or children.]

IX. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F7E+W

X–XI. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F8E+W

XII. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F9E+W

XIII. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F10E+W

XIV. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F11E+W

XV. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F12E+W

XVI–XVIII. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F13E+W

XIX–XXIII. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F14E+W

XXIV. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F15E+W

XXV–XLII. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F16E+W