(3.) The third was that of estates held on quit-rents, or, in the law language of the time, Rotures.
Valuation of an Estate held in Fief.—The valuation was less, according as the feudal burdens on it were greater.
(1.) In the parts of the country where written law was observed, and in many of the coutumes, the fiefs lay only under the obligation of what was called ‘la bouche et les mains,’ that is to say, that of doing homage.
(2.) In other coutumes the fiefs, besides the obligation of ‘la bouche et les mains,’ were what was called ‘de danger,’ as in Burgundy, and were subject to the commise, or feudal resumption, in case the holder of the property should take possession without having rendered submission or homage.
(3.) Other coutumes, again, as in that of Paris and many others, subject the fiefs not only to the obligation of doing homage, but to the rachat, the quint, and the requint.
(4.) By other coutumes, also, such as that of Poitou and a few others, they were subjected to chambellage dues, the cheval de service, &c.
Of these four all estates of the first category were valued more highly than the others.
The coutume of Paris laid their valuation at 20 years’ purchase, which is looked upon by our author as tolerably correct.
Valuation of Estates ‘en roture’ and ‘en censive.’—In order to come to a proper valuation, these lands have to be divided into three classes:—
(1.) Estates held simply on quit-rents.