ABSTRACT
Following the Northern Rebellion of 1569, Parliament passed a bill of attainder against the earls of Westmorland and Northumberland and several dozen followers. It contained a savings clause and several rudimentary provisions against fraudulent conveyances. Northumberland’s estate was preserved for his brother Henry Percy, who was assured of any properties that might pass to him by “any gift, grant or letters patent whatsoever heretofore made” (13 Eliz., c. 16). Since these grants included a patent of 1557 issued by Philip and Mary, Henry was duly rewarded for his loyalty. The other provisions worked somewhat negatively: The bill said that all conveyances made “before the said several treasons by the said several offenders” were valid for everyone except those people attainted. The statute presumed that a conveyance made to a conspirator was invalid, but one made to anyone else should stand. Five years later 18 Eliz., c. 4 specifically addressed “frauds in certain conveyances and assurances made by the late Rebels in the North.” It enhanced the administration of the law by calling for registration within two years of any property conveyed from the rebels, thereby allowing the justice system to consider more deeply the possibility of fraud.
