Scottish Court of Session Decisions

Subject_1 HEREZELD.

Catharine Simson, and David Keltie her Son,
v.
Halliday of Tilliboll, and Others

Date: 23 June 1715
Case No. No 8.

No herezeld due by feuers but by tenants only.

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A declarator being raised at the instance of the said David Keltie, Tilliboll's feuer, against his superior, who had exacted both at his father's and his own entry a triple of the feu-duty, whereas, by his charter, he is only liable to pay a double primo anno introitus, and had also taken away a cow and a mare upon the pursuer's father's decease by way of herezeld; and concluding restitution of the two years feu-duty indebite paid; as also restitution and violent profits for the cow and mare, as in a common spuilzie; concluding also a declarator of his freedom from these in time coming;

As to the point of right, answered for the defender, That a feu-duty being only a taxing of the service during the time that the fee is full, as when the fee falls in the superior's hands by the death of the vassal in feudis rectis, the vassal must either pay a full year's rent, or whatever is taxed by the original charter; so in feu holding, the obligement to double the feu farm is nothing but a taxing the relief to a double feu-duty, and is quite different from the annual prestation. Therefore, as in other holdings, the vassals are bound to pay the relief beside the ordinary prestations, so in feu holdings, by and attour the current feu-duty, the vassal ought to pay the sum to which his relief is taxed, which does not respect the annual prestation, which is due ex natura feudi.

Replied for the pursuer; That there can be nothing with more clearness exprest than commonly the reddendo of these charters is, viz. duplicando feudifirmam; which, according to the defender's way of arguing, would be triplicando. But it is plain, from the general custom of the country, and from the words of such charters, that one year's duty is payable as the current prestation, and another as the laudemium or relief; which is also consonant to the common feudal customs; besides that, the Crown (whose practice in such cases ought to be a rule and standard for all subaltern superiors) never exacts more from feu vassals but the double.

Duplied for the defender; That though the Sovereign ex gratia gives abatement of one year, (which is no rule for others) yet the capiendo securitatem is always for three years.

As to the herezeld, answered for the defender; 1mo, That a feu-charter being a mixed right, having something in it of the nature of vassallage, and something in it of the nature of tenantry, the vassal considered as the superior's tenant may be liable to the prestations of tenants. 2do, The defender's charter not being granted cum herezeldis, he as vassal, not being thus exeemed from that burden, may be liable, as all are who die upon a master's ground.

Replied for the pursuer; 1mo, That it is the first time it was ever pleaded that a vassal was liable in the herezeld; and it is redargued not only by the reddendo of the charter, (which is certainly the rule as to the vassal's prestations), but by the uniform custom of the nation. 2do, Though the defender's charter be not granted cum herezeldis, yet that imports no more but that he shall not have right to exact the herezeld from his own tenants, which otherwise he could do if that clause were inserted in his charter; but the want of that clause can never import that he is liable in the herezeld, since, by the nature of his feudal, contract, he is exempt from all burdens whatsoever, except either such as are expressly contained in his reddendo, or are the naturalia of his fee, whereof the herezeld is none.

As to the second thing libelled, viz. Restitution, answered for the defender That whatever may be said as to the point of right, yet he cannot be liable to repeat what is already paid, because payment was made by way of transaction wherein quid pro quo was given by the defender, viz. his granting precept of clare, and so saving the pursuer the trouble of serving, retouring, charging the superior, &c.

Replied for the pursuer; That the said payment being made ignorantly, repetition is undoubtedly competent; besides, that there could be no proper transaction here, since the superior, in receiving his vassal, did nothing but what by law be might have been compelled to.

As to the restitution of the herezeld, violent profits, &c. answered for the defender, 1mo, That his infeftment cum herezeldis is sufficient to excuse a spuilzie; 2do, That masters in that part of the country, particularly the defender, have been in Constant use of exacting an herezeld, nor has ever such exaction been quarrelled to this day.

Replied for the pursuer; 1mo, That such a clause in the defender's charter can never afford him any title to exact a herezeld from a vassal, whose reddendo is his sole rule. 2do, The constant use of such an oppression rather loads than excuses the defender.

The Lords found Tillibole liable in repetition; to which their Lordship adhered, after a reclaiming bill, without answers.

Act. Abercrombie. Alt. Falconer, sen. Clerk, Gibson. Fol. Dic. v. 1. p. 353. Bruce, v. 1. No 105. p. 129.