Duchy of Cornwall Act 1625

II. Such Leases shall not exceed the Term of Three Lives or Thirty-one Years, under ancient or reasonable Rent.

Provided alwaies, That every such Lease so to be made of any Mannors Lands Tenements or Hereditaments in possession, shalbe made but for three lives or fewer or for one and thirtie yeares or under, or some other terme of yeares determinable uppon one two or three lives, and not above. And if such Leases be made in revercion, that then the same together with the Estates in possession do not exceed three lives or the terme of one and thirtie yeares, and not in any wise dispunishable of wast: and so as uppon every such Lease shalbe reserved the auncient or most usuall Rent, or such Rent as hath beene yeilded or paid for the greater part of twentie yeares next before the making of the said Leases, and shalbe reserved due and payable, by, or to him or her that shall have the inheritance or other Estate of the said Mannors Lands Tenements or Hereditaments. And where no such Rent hath bene reserved or payable, that then uppon every such Lease; there shalbe reserved a reasonable Rent, not being under the twentith part of the cleere yearelie value of the Mannors, Landes, Tenements, or Hereditaments, contayned in such Lease.