Chap. XVI
As a Bastard can have no Heir, unless it be one of his own Body, a question arises respecting a Bastard. If any one has given Land to him, reserving a service or any other thing, and has received his Homage for it, so that the Bastard has died in the Seisin of such Land, without leaving any Heir of his own Body, who is entitled by law to succeed to him, as his Lord cannot for the reasons before stated?276 But when any one dies intestate, all his chattels are understood to belong to his Lord; and, if he has more Lords than one, each of them shall recover such Chattels, as may be found within his Fee. But all the Effects of a Usurer (whether he make a Will or not) belong to the King.277 But it is not the Custom for any one, whilst living, to be appealed or convicted of the crime of Usury—but, among other Regal Inquisitions, it is usually inquired278 and proved, who have died in this Offence,279 and that by the oaths of twelve lawful Men of the Vicinage. Which being proved in Court, all the Moveables and Chattels which belonged to the deceased Usurer shall be seised to the King’s use, without any regard to the person in whose hands they may be found. His Heir is for the same reason deprived of the Inheritance according to the Law of the Realm, the Inheritance itself reverting to the Lord. It should, however, be observed, that if any one has, during a certain period of his life, been guilty of this Crime, and be publicly accused280 of it in the Community where he lived, if he desisted from his error before his death, and was penitent, neither he, nor his property, shall after his death be liable to the penalties of Usury. It ought, therefore, to be evident, that a Man has died a Usurer, in order that he may be so adjudged after his death, and his Effects disposed of as those of a Usurer.