Customary Laws Act 1422

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CUSTOMARY LAWS ACT 1422

Customary Laws Act 1422 Index


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CUSTOMARY LAWS ACT 1422

Index Section Page

4 [Repealed] ........................................................................................................................ 5
5 Royal Fish......................................................................................................................... 5
13 Lieutenant may take Enquest ........................................................................................ 5
32 and 33 [Repealed] ........................................................................................................... 5
45 Partiality and misgovernment prohibited ................................................................... 5
49 Coroners ........................................................................................................................... 6
50 Coroners to hold office one year only .......................................................................... 6
57 Gifts to Officers forbidden ............................................................................................. 6
ENDNOTES 7

TABLE OF ENDNOTE REFERENCES 7

Customary Laws Act 1422 Section 4


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CUSTOMARY LAWS ACT 1422

Passed: 14221
AN ACT
[concerning customary laws.]
Short title given by Pre-Revestment Written Laws (Ascertainment) Act 1978 Sch. Ss 4,
5, 13, 32, 33, 45, 49, 50 and 57 confirmed by Pre-Revestment Written Laws
(Ascertainment) Act 1978 Sch.
4 [Repealed]
1

5 Royal Fish

Alsoe if any Porpus, Sturgeon, or Whale, be taken within the Heads of Man,
they be the Lord’s by his Prerogatives.
13 Lieutenant may take Enquest

Alsoe we give for Law, that our Lord or his Lieutennant may take any Enquest
at his own Will and Pleasure.
32 and 33 [Repealed]
2

45 Partiality and misgovernment prohibited

Forasmuch as before this Time, by Misrule and Willfullness of the Lieutennant
and Receiver, the Law of Mann hath been misgoverned to them that they hated
too rigorous, and to them that they did like over favourable, soe that oft Times,
through this Misgovernment, the People have been wronged, and Profitt taken
to the Lord, otherwise than the Law would. And whereas Profitt should be
taken not done as the Law would for Favour. Wherefore be it ordained from
henceforth, that the Officers be true principally to the Lord and the Laws of the
1 Note to aid readers: The date of adoption cannot be stated more precisely. These provisions
were answers given by the Deemsters and the Keys in response to questions put to them by Sir
John Stanley, Lord of Mann on “the Vigill of our L:ady St Mary 1422”. It is unclear which of the
Feasts of our Lady was intended.
Section 49 Customary Laws Act 1422


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Land, to be governed duely and truely betwixt the Lord and his Commons, and
betwixt Party and Party, without Rigour, Fraud, or Colour. And that the
Deemsters may give their Judgment at their Perills, saving ever the Lord’s
Prerogatives, and to be ruled by Advice of the Councel and the Deemsters.
49 Coroners

And for as much as the Officers of the Mylenis Leads and Corroners be sett by
the Lieutennant and [not] given by the Clearke of the Rolls, that he might give
them out by Times in Straites to the Moares, but holden still unto the Yeare’s
End. Therefore be it ordained that at the next Court after Midsomer the
Coroners be made, and their Names entered into the Rolls of the Court, with the
Sume that he taketh for to serve.3

50 Coroners to hold office one year only

Alsoe Milnes at the same Time, and Leades at the setting Time. And for as much
as Coroners against the Law stand in Office for two or three Yeares together,
and take Enquests of their own Affinity, and be lovers to indite where he ought
evill Will for Malice. And also where that Enquest hath indited certain Persons,
then the Coroner will defend them that be indited, and acquitt them that are soe
indited, and indite them that were acquitted. And also where no Presept or
Charge is use to send Arreast upon the People and sett Fine upon them, which
put them to great Value, to the Hinderance and Distruction of the Comonalty;
wherefore be it ordained, nor that he take noe Enquest but twice in the Yeare, by
Commandment of the Lieutennant in open Court, by Enquest sworne before the
Deemster, and there to be recorded, that he arreast noe Man without a Warrent,
sealed recoverable, but for Treason and Fellony, or that the Peace be broken,
and so governed as the Law of the Land will, in his Presence, or els required at
the Suite of the Partie, and the Surities, at the next Court after be required.4

57 Gifts to Officers forbidden

Be it ordained also, that noe Officer take any Guifts of any Tennant, nor of any
Person, upon Pain of forfeiting their Fee; and also that noe Officer nor Feedman
be in Fee with noe Barron, upon Pain of the Forfeiture.
Customary Laws Act 1422 Endnotes


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ENDNOTES

Table of Endnote References

1
S4 repealed by Wreck and Salvage (Ships and Aircraft) Act 1979 Sch 2. 2
Ss 32 and 33 repealed by High Court Act 1991 Sch 5. 3
The word [not] omitted in original copy but added in later MS copies. 4
S 50 amended by Coroners Act 1930 Sch 1.