Maintenance and Embracery Act 1540

II. None shall buy, sell, or bargain for any Right in Lands, unless the Seller hath been in Possession or taken the Profits for One Year:

Penalty, of the Value of the Lands, on the Seller and Buyer.

Application of Penalty.

AND over that be it further enacted by thauctoritie aforesaid that no psonne or psonnes, of what estate degree or condition soever he or they be, shall fromhensfurthe bargaine bye or sell, or by any waies or meanes obtayne get or have, any pretensed rightis or titles, or take promise graunte or covenant to have any right or title of anny psonne or psonnes in or to any mannours landis tentis or hereditamentis, but if such psonne or psonnes which shall so bargaine sell give graunte covenante or promise the same their antecessours or they by whome he or they clayme the same, have ben in possession of the same, or of the reversion or remaindre therof, or taken the rentis or profites therof, by the space of one hole yere next bifore the said bargaine covenant graunte or promise made; uppon payne that he thatt shall make any suche bargaine sale promise covenante or graunte to forfaicte the hole value of the landis tenementis or hereditamentis so bargayned solde promised covenanted or graunted contraire to the fourme of this acte; And the byer or taker therof knowing the same to forfaicte also the value of the said landis tenementis or hereditamentis so by him bought or taken as is abovesaid: Thone half of the said forfaictures to be to the King our souveraine lorde, and thother half to the partie that woll sue for the same in any of the Kinges Courtes of recorde by action of dett bill playnt or information; In whiche action bill plainte or information none essoyne protection wager of lawe nor Injunction shalbe allowed.