Duchy of Cornwall Act 1685

III. Grant to be for no more than Three Lives or Thirty-one Years on the antient or most usual Rent.

Where no ancient Rent, then a reasonable Rent.

Provided alwayes That every such Lease or Grant soe made or to be made be not made for more then One Two or Three Lives or for Thirty one yeares or under or for some Terme of yeares determinable upon One Two or Three Lives and not above And if such Leases or Grants be made in Reversion or Expectancy That then the same together with the Estates in possession doe not exceede Three Lives or the Terme of Thirty one yeares and not in any wise dispunishable of waste and soe as upon every such Lease shall be reserved the auntient or most usuall Rent or more or such Rent as hath beene reserved yielded or paid for the same Lands for the greater part of Twenty yeares next before the yeare of our Lord One thousand six hundred and sixtie and shall be reserved due or payable to him or her that shall have the Inheritance or other Estate of the said Dutchy And where noe such Rent hath beene reserved or payable That then upon every such Lease there shall be reserved a reasonable Rent not being under the Twentieth part of the cleare yearely value of the Messuages Parks Lands Tenements or Hereditaments contained in such Lease and all Leases and Grants otherwise made or to be made shall be null and void