Denisation

By obtaining from the crown letters patent of denisation, foreigners were relieved from these disabilities so far that they could hold and transmit all kinds of real and personal property, but they could only transmit real property to such of their children as might have been born subsequent to their denisation.

From 1532 the authorities in England and Calais attempted to solve the 'problem' of aliens by forcing them to buy bills of denisation.

Even though until 1709 no act of general naturalisation was passed in Parliament, the Crown took advantage of its right to grant denisation.