_Shakspeare's Inheritance_ (Vol. ix., pp. 75. 154.).--Probably the
following extracts from Littleton's _Tenures in English, lately perused and
amended_ (1656), may tend to a right understanding of the meaning of
_inheritance_ and _purchase_--if so, you may print them:
"Tenant in fee simple is he which hath lands or tenement to hold to him
and his heires for ever: and it is called in Latine _feodum simplex_;
for _feodum_ is called inheritance, and _simplex_ as much to say as
lawful or pure, and so _feodum simplex_ is as much to say as lawfull or
pure inheritance. For if a man will purchase lands or tenements in fee
simple, it behoveth him to have these words in his purchase, To have
and to hold unto him and to his heires: for these words (his heires)
make the estate of inheritance, _Anno_ 10 _Henrici_ 6. fol. 38.; for if
any man purchase lands in these words, To have and to hold to him for
ever, or by such words, To have and to hold to him and to his assigns
for ever; in these two cases he hath none estate but for terme of life;
for that, that he lacketh these words (his heires), which words only
make the estate of inheritance in all feoffements and grants."
"And it is to be understood that this word (_inheritance_) is not only
understood where a man hath lands or tenements by descent of heritage,
but also every fee simple or fee taile that a man hath by his purchase,
may be said inheritance; for that, thus his heires may inherite them.
For in a Writ of Right that a man bringeth of land that was of his own
purchase, the writ shall say, _Quam clamat esse jus et haereditatem
suam_, this is to say, which he claimeth to be his right and his
inheritance."
"Also _purchase_ is called the possession of lands or tenements that a
man hath by his deed or by his agreement, unto which possession he
commeth, not by descent of any of his ancestors or of his cosins, but
by his own deed."