“But, in general, the first species of fine, ‘sur cognizance de droit come ceo, etc.,’ is the most used, as it conveys a clean and absolute freehold, and gives the cognizee a seisin in law, without an actual livery; and is therefore called a fine executed, whereas the others are but executory.” 2 William Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England 353 (1766).
finesur cognizance de droit come ceo que il ad de son done
fine sur cognizance de droit, come ceo que il ad de son done (fIn s[schwa]r kon-[schwa]-z[schwa]nts d[schwa] droyt, kom say-oh kweel ad d[schwa]sawni dawin). [Law French “a fine upon acknowledgment of the right, as that which he has of his gift”] Hist. The most common fine of conveyance, by which the defendant (also called the deforciant) acknowledged in court that he had already conveyed the property to the cognizee. • This form of conveyance took the place of an actual livery of seisin. See FINE(1).
