Two statutes of very general importance are constantly referred to in this volume. The first, 21 Hen. VIII, Cap. 6, passed at the Parliament holden at Westminster in 1530, relates to mortuaries. In the preamble it states that mortuaries or corse presents were demanded and levied for such as, at the time of their death, had no property in any goods or chattels, and many times for travailing and wayfaring men, in places where they had fortuned to die.
The other statute, called the Statute of Wills, 32 Hen. VIII, Cap. 1, is still in operation. The preamble is so good an example of the language habitually used at that period in speaking of or to the King, that it seems worth while to give it at length.