Investiture

The act of giving possession of lands by actual seisin. When livery of seisin was made to a person by the common law, he was invested with the whole fee. This the foreign feudists, and sometimes our own law writers, call "investiture"; but, generally speaking, it is termed by the common-law writers the "seisin of the fee." 2 Bl. Comm. 209, 313; Feme, Cent. Rem. 223. note (z). By the canon law, investiture was made per baculum et annulum, by the ring and crosier, which were regarded as symbols of the Episcopal jurisdiction. Ecclesiastical and secular fiefs were governed by the same rule in this respect, — ^that previously to investiture neither a bishop, abbot, or lay lord could take possession of a fief conferred upon them by the prince. Pope Gregory VI. first disputed the right of sovereigns to give investiture of ecclesiastical fiefs, A. D. 1045; but Pope Gregory

The act of giving possession of lands by actual seisin. The ceremonial introduction to some office of dignity. When livery of seisin was made to a person by the common law, he was invested with the whole fee; this the foreign feudists, and sometimes our own law-writers, call investiture; but generally speaking. It is termed by the common-law writers the seisin of the fee. 2 Bla. Com. 209, 313; Fearne, Rem. 223, n. (z).

By the canon law. Investiture was made per haculum et omnulum, by the ilng and crosier, which were regarded as symbols of the episcopal Jurisdiction. Ecclesiastical and secular fiefs were governed by the same rule in this respect, — that previously to Inve.stiture neither a bishop, abbot, nor lay lord could take possession of a fief conferred upon him by the prince. Pope Gregory VI. first disputed the right of sovereigns to give investiture of ecclesiastical fiefs, A. D. 1045; but Pope Gregory’

A ceremony which accompanied the grant of lands in the feudal ages, and consisted in the open and notorious delivery of possession in the presence of the other vassals, which perpetuated among them the æra of their new acquisition at the time when the art of writing was very little known; and thus the evidence of the property was reposed in the memory of the neighborhood, who, in case of disputed title, were afterwards called upon to decide upon it. Brown.

In ecolesiastical law. Investiture is one of the formalities by which the election of a bishop is confirmed by the archbishop. See Phillim. Ecc. Law, 42, et seq.

In feudal law. The sion of lands or tenements given or solemnities.

Giving possession, whether