DE DONIS

Lit. 'concerning gifts'. One of the chapters of the Second Statute of Westminster, 1285. It was an attempt to prevent land which had been given to younger sons or daughters being alienated. It stipulated that this could happen only after the third generation. Should they not survive until the fourth, the land reverted to the main line of inheritance. -

Cf. Alienation; Enfeoffment to use; Quia Emptores, Statute of