Enfranchisement of Copyholds. 127 



lord on the same conditions as their prede- 

 cessors, and became entitled to demand copies 

 of these conditions, which, so long as they were 

 fulfilled, gave them a title to their estates. The 

 conditions of the tenure are governed by the 

 customs of the manor as shown in the rolls of 

 the Manor Courts, and by constant and imme- 

 morial usage ; and the title is simply a copy of 

 the court roll, authenticated by the steward of 

 the manor. Two conditions are essential : first, 

 that the lands are parcel of, and situated within, 

 the manor ; and secondly, that they have been 

 demised, or are demisable by copy of court roll 

 immemorially. 



The ease with which a title can be given is 

 the only advantage which this kind of tenure 

 possesses, the uncertain nature of its services, 

 reliefs, escheats, fines and heriots, and rights to 

 timber, being a great obstacle to any kind of 

 improvement. In 1841, the Legislature, with a 

 view of removing these disadvantages, passed an 

 Act for commuting manorial rights, and facili- 

 tating the enfranchisement of copyhold property. 

 This was amended and extended by subsequent 



