his estates, lands, goods, and chattels, as in the case of felony, or other notorious crimes *. Kalendar. THE style according to the new kalendar established and to be observed in this island. All fairs depending upon the moveable feasts to be holden according to the new kalendar; but such fairs as have been fixed to certain nominal days of the month, or depend upon the beginning of any certain day of any month, and the Tynwald court usually held with the fair on the feast of St John the Baptist, at which the several coroners were and hereafter are intended by this act to be chosen and sworn; and the times of hir ing, giving warning, and discharging of servants shall be held and done upon the same natural days on which they would have happened in case this act had not been made. And whereas, according to divers usages within this isle, the entering upon the possession of lands and houses, either by the recoveries of titles, or by setting and letting, or opening of grounds for pasture and other purposes, are often, on particular nominal days and times in the year, and, on the other hand, the owners of such lands and houses on determination of such settings, and of the letting of pastures have a right to enter upon, shut up, and inclose the same for their own use; and there is, in many other instances, a temporary and distinct property vested in different persons, in and to such lands and houses, according to certain nominal days and times in the year. And whereas, the anticipating the said days and times by eleven days, according to the new kalendar, might be * A. T. 1665. attended with inconvenience, it is therefore provided, that the times and days aforesaid shall be observed according to the old style, that is to say, eleven days later than the same would have happened according to the new style. And that this act shall not accelerate or alter the accustomed times of paying the lord's chief rents, fines, or other dues whatsoever *. Carriages. WHEREAS, by the ancient laws of this island, the tenants and inhabitants thereof are and have been accustomed to do their duties and service to the lord and his ancestors at the building or repairing of his forts or houses in the island, by the service of themselves in person, or by the service of some sufficient and able labourer in his or their behalf, fit for the work in hand: contrary to which many and divers of the farmers and tenants of the better sort usually send boys and children to such work, by means whereof the burden lies upon the poor people, who are constrained to serve in their own persons, and such works are neglected or not well performed, notwithstanding that they are for the honour and safety of the country: It is now therefore ordered and enacted, that every farmer, tenant, and inhabitant of this island so neglecting to do such duty or duties in his or their own person or persons, or in default thereof, shall not fail to send some able and sufficient labourer in his stead: he or they so offending, shall, for every time, forfeit sixpence to the lord, upon the presentment of the officer or officers that shall be put in charge with such works †. * A. T. 1753. + A. T. 1645. Castle-Maze. THAT a castle-maze be paid out of five maze of her rings in a boat taken; and half a maze out of two maze and a half gotten in a boat, as oft as they go to sea and gotten so and that is our law, the custom and usage. And the lord to pay sixpence for a maze thereof; Provided that the bringers of the first maze shall for the same have three shillings and fourpence. At every herring fishing on the coast of Man, all manner of persons whethersoever they be, barons, officers, or soldiers, to pay the castle-maze and customs, as hath been heretofore used. Note. The castle-maze hath, of late years, been commuted for a yearly payment in money, which bears the name of herring custom, and hath been appropriated by an act of the British parliament to the repairs of the harbours of the island. The laws relating to castle-maze are inserted for the purpose of throwing a light upon the nature and origin of this custom. Children. In case a man dieth. intestate, the bishop or his vicars-general shall order his children legitimately begotten to be joint executors Also, if any make their testament, and leave not sixpence legacy to their children unmarried, legitimately begotten, or the value thereof, then the ordinary may make him or her executor with the rest †. A man having married two wives, and having chil❤ dren by the first wife, being under age, the father is bound to bring them up until fourteen years of age, Temp. Customs, 1577. * Sp. Customs. without taking any part of the goods by the mother; and then he may turn them away giving them the said goods *. If either father or mother depart this life having children, if the said children be of years of discretion, that is fourteen years, they may divide goods either with father or mother, and repair to whom they will. If there be but one child between man and wife, and the father die, the father's kindred shall have the custody of the child and his goods until fourteen years of age, except the father order otherwise by his will; then that to be observed. And if there be two children, then the mother to have one that is the eldest. And if the mother die before the child comes to years of discretion, she may leave the custody of the said child to whom she will, and the next of kin of the father's side and mother's side supervisors t. If any man having but one child dieth, the next of kin of the father's side shall have the custody of the child and his goods till fourteen years of he may go to whom he pleaseth. age, and then And if the child die under fourteen years of age, then the said goods to come to the next of kin upon the father's side legitimately begotten. And if the goods come by the mother's side, then the next of kin by the mother's side to have it. If there be two children, then the father's side to have the youngest, and the other kindred to have the eldest and his goods ‡. Children entering upon their goods and livings at fourteen years of age, shall not be at liberty to make sale or dispose of the same (unless they be enforced through necessity,) before they attain to the age of twenty one years, and that made known to the captain and the rest of the officers §. * Ord. 1525. + Sp. Customs. Whereas it is complained that children and poor per sons not of ability to make satisfaction, cut grass and corn in the lands of other persons, dig, pull, and carry away ling, and turf in others rented premises, dig, and take away timber out of the curraghs, and put horses or cattle into neighbours corn and grass in the night time, and take them out before morning: It is therefore ordered, that as often as children, or poor persons offend in that kind, and be thereof lawfully convicted by sufficient or probable testimony, they shall be whipped, or otherwise punished at the discretion of the governor and officers, according to their condition and age *. No person shall entice, inveigle, countenance, and entertain any servants at unseasonable times; for that it hath been accustomed to be a great motive to convey and purloin their master's goods, and so bring such servants into a course of pilfering, and wasting their wages: It is therefore ordered that whosoever shall entertain servants, or children, in that kind, shall (if of ability), for the first offence be fined; for the second be fined and punished, besides making restitution to the party grieved; and for the third offence be proceeded against as the receivers and abettors of felony, according to the statute of pilferies, if the goods purloined and received amount to the value of sixpence halfpenny, and that by indictment and arraignment, and the servant to be punished at discretion; and to give security for his honest dealing in future †. All children and servants unconfirmed, of such a di vision of the parish as the minister shall appoint, (which shall be at least a fourth part thereof,) shall constantly come to evening prayers, to be instructed in the Christian religion; at which time, every rector, vicar, and curate shall employ at least half an hour in their instruction in the church catechism. And all parents and masters, who shail be observed by the ignorance of their + A. T. 1667. * A. T. 1665. |