A.D.1176. ΤΠΕ ASSIZES OF NORTHAMPTON. 409 are to make division according to the devise of the deceased, and then to seek his lord and to pay him his relief19 and other things which they are bound to pay him out of their fee. And if the heir shall happen to be under age, the lord of the fee is to receive his homage and to keep him in his charge so long as he is entitled ; and, if there are several lords, then let them receive his homage, and let him do unto them what he is bound to do. The wife also of the deceased is to have her dower and the part of his chattels which belongs to her. And if the. lord of the fee shall refuse to give seisin of the fee to the heirs of the deceased at their demand, then the justices of our lord the king are to cause a jury of twelve lawful men to be impannelled, to enquire what seisin the deceased had in the same on the day on which he was living and dead. And, according as they shall find, so are they to make restitution to the heirs. And if any person shall do the contrary of this, and be attainted thereof, let him be amerced. " The king's justices are to cause view to be made, by a jury, of disseisins sur-assize that have been made since the period when our lord the king came to England, shortly after peace had been made between him and the king his son. "The justices are to receive the oaths of fealty to OUT lord the king before the close of Easter,80 and at the latest before the close of Pentecost, from all earls, barons, knights, and freeholders, and from the serfs as well who shall wish to remain in the realm ; and he who shall refuse to do fealty, is to be taken as an enemy to our lord the king. Also, the justices are to command all persons who have not yet done homage and allegiance to our lord the king, to come to them at a time which they shall appoint, and do homage to the king and allegiance to him as their liege lord. " The justices are to exercise all rights and jurisdictions that belong to our lord the king and to his crown, by writ of our lord the king, or of those who shall be in his place, as to fees held by half-knighf s service81 and below it ; unless the question be of such importance that it cannot be settled without the presence of our lord the king, or of such a nature that the 7 9 This was due from the new tenant, when of full age, at the death of the ancestor, to the lord of the feud. 8 0 This took place on the Sunday after Easter. 8 1 Reference is perhaps made to lands held by the " milites parvi," who did not hold by entire knight-service.