# Manx Primary Source Archive — Transcription

**Source image:** `20260219_143540-2.jpg`  
**Transcribed:** 2026-02-25 19:26  
**Method:** Automated (Claude Batch API — claude-opus-4-6)

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21

their lands are holden. Originally these had
been freehold: in the lapse of time they had
become of a nature approaching English copy-
holds, rendering to the Lord rents and fixed
fines, but effectually confirmed by the insular
laws in a mode very favorable to the Lord.
These tenures were held to be all invalid by his
Grace, proceeding on the erroneous supposition
that the lands were held literally at his will!
That this grave misapprehension of his Grace
is even at this day removed, many of the in-
habitants take the liberty of doubting.

This great object being, however, unattained,
his Grace next proceeded to introduce into
Parliament bills most materially affecting the
Islanders. He sought to restrain the alienation
of all lands without his consent; to compel the
deposit of all title-deeds with his steward; to
transfer to himself certain services and rights
due to the Crown only; to prohibit the erection
without his licence of all mills and machines
worked by wind or water; to authorise his
servants to enter into the houses of all persons
without exception, to search for dogs, for guns,
and other instruments to destroy game; to au-
thorise him to appoint judges independent of
the sovereign, with other clauses equally unjust
and repulsive.

These bills the Keys thought it their duty to