During this period important laws (De Donis, or Entail, and Quia
Emptores) respecting land were passed, which had the effect of keeping
estates in families, and also of preventing their possessors from
evading their feudal duties to the King. At the same time the Statute
of Mortmain (a restriction on the acquisition of land by the Church,
which was exempt from paying certain feudal dues) was imposed to
prevent the King's revenue from being diminished.