Statutes of Westminster

Statutes of Westminster in medieval English history, legislative promulgations made by Edward I in Parliament at Westminster. Westminster I (1275) practically constitutes a code of law; it covers a wide range, incorporating much unwritten law into the written code, and is a sweeping ordinance against administrative abuses. Westminster II (1285) is similar in purpose and scope; it is especially remarkable for its judicial reforms and for the clause De donis conditionalibus, which fostered the entailing of estates (see entail ) and thus fundamentally altered English landholding. Westminster III (1290), also called Quia emptores, provided that in the case of alienation of an estate or part of an estate the new holder should hold directly from the overlord rather than from the old holder. Thus, the statute stopped the process of subinfeudation.

Westminster, Statutes of English Acts in the reign of Edward I. The First (1275) and Second (1285) Statutes enshrined Edward's extensive overhaul of medieval English law. A further statute of 1290 is sometimes called the Third Statute of Westminster. The Statute of Westminster of 1931 granted autonomy to the dominions in the British Empire.

Westminster, statute of, 1290. The statute 18 Edw. I, known as Westminster III, was intended to prevent magnates being deprived of their feudal rights, such as escheat, marriage, or wardship, by the sale of estates. It is generally accepted that the statute failed to hold the position.