Custuma

Duties. See Consuetudo. CUSTUMA ANTIQUA SIVE MAGNA (Lat. ancient or great duties). The duties on wool, sheepskin or wool-pelts and leather exported were so called, and were payable by every merchant, stranger as well as native, with the exception that merchant strangers paid one-half more than natives. 1 Bla. Com. 314. CUSTUMA PARVA ET NOVA (Lat). An impost of threepence in the pound sterling on all commodities exported or imported by merchant strangers. Called at first the alien's duty, and first granted by stat 31 Edw. I. Maddox, Hist Exch. 526, 532; 1 Bla. Com. 314.

/. I In old English law. Customs, duties or imposts. Custuma autiqua sive magna: ancient or great customs; export duties formerly payable on wool, sheepskins or woelfels,.and leather. Custuma parva et nova: small and new customs; duties on goods Cy, I fr. Here. Cy apres: hereafter; thereafter. Cy avant: heretofore. Cy, si, Z./c So; as. Cy bien: as well. Cy court: so speedily. Cypres: so near; as near; as near as possible; the doctrine of construing instruments as near to the intention of the parties as possible; particularly the equitable doctrine by which where it is impossible or unreasonable to carry out a will according to its literal meaning it is carried out as near as it may be to the general intention.

Lat. [from Fr. coustum, toll or tribute.] In old English law. Customs, duties or imposts. 1 Bl. Com, 314. Crabb's Hist, Eng, Law, 266. According to Spelman, who is supported by the Register, the proper word is custumce. Reg, Orig, 138. •